This Day in History - 3rd Jun, 2019
On this day in history in ....
1964 - Dr. Jerry & Crazy Luke Graham defeat Vittorio Apollo & Don McClarty for the WWWF U.S. Tag Championship.
1991 - Steve Austin defeats Bobby Eaton for the WCW Television Title in Birmingham, Alabama. This would be Austin's first singles championship in WCW, and ended Eaton's only reign with the title.
1996 - The Monday Night Wars continued, with WCW's Nitro beating WWF's Raw, 3.0 to 2.3. Raw featured Jake Roberts defeating Triple H, The Godwins defeating Techno Team 2000, Mankind defeating Barry Horowitz and Steve Austin defeating Bob Holly. Nitro offered The Steiners defeating Sting & Lex Luger via DQ, Scott Norton defeating Hugh Morrus, The Giant defeating Ice Train, Ric Flair & Arn Anderson defeating The Rock N' Roll Express, Kevin Sullivan defeating Prince Iaukea, Steve Regal defeating Hacksaw Duggan, Craig Pittman defeating Disco Inferno, Faces Of Fear defeating High Voltage, and John Tenta defeating Bubba Rogers via countout.
2003 - Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeats Matt Hardy for the WWE Cruiserweight Title in Anaheim, California, beginning his sixth run with the title, but his first run with the belt since it had become a WWE Title (Rey's five previous runs with the belt were when the title was part of WCW).
2004 - After two years as a "PPV Only" company, the very first episode of TNA Impact airs on Fox Sports Net. The show, taped in Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, would later move from it's Friday afternoon slot on FSN to a late night Saturday slot on SpikeTV, before becoming a late night Thursday show for Spike, then finally becoming a primetime show on Thursdays. The show would also see the debut of the six-sided ring in TNA, which was previously a staple of the AAA promotion in Mexico. Here is the original report from that first show, as written by Rob Marco.
Show opens with a pretty impressive video package welcoming us to Stage 21 at Universal Studios in Orlando. Mike Tenay and Don West welcome us and run down the show. 6 sided ring is a neat addition as is the set.
Match 1: 6 Man Tag: Team Canada (Petey Williams, Bobby Rude, Eric Young w/ Scott D'amore) Vs Team International (Red, Sonjay Dutt, and Hector Garza).
Tenay informs us of new rules: 10 minutes for non-title matches, 30 for titles and in the event of a draw judges will render a decision. Rude and Red start off the match. Williams and Rude double team Red and go for a pin but Red kicks out. Garza saves Red from a near pinfall. Red finally gets an advantage over Eric Young and tags Garza with a hot tag. Rude gets Garza from behind and Dutt hits him with a Hurricanrana. Near fall by Red on Young, with the Code Red. Garza gets the pinfall with the tornado moonsault.
Your winners are Team international.
Recap video of King of Mountain match. New voiceover guy by the way. They are hyping Jeff Jarrett's first appearance as NWA champ on the next PPV. They are doing a good job so far of using this show to hype the PPV.
Tenay and West do a brief recap of the history of the company and show a video package of the past 2 years featuring Jarrett's attack on Toby Keith and Keith's revenge on Jarrett. Next week they are going to show the Johnny Fairplay-Brian Urlacher footage.
Another hype for the PPV. Fan's Choice Tag Team Challenge, Frankie Kazarian faces the winner of today's X match, Team Canada vs. Team Mexico vs. Team NWA.
Plug for the TNA DVDs and Website.
Match 2 Shark Boy vs. Abyss (no Goldylocks)
Goldylocks is watching from backstage. Abyss is pretty much squashing Sharky from the start. Shark Boy slips out of the torture rack but then falls in the Black Hole slam and is pinned.
Your winner Abyss
Match 3 World Tag Team Title Match America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) Vs Kid Kash and Dallas
Don West informs us that the winner of this match defends their title on the PPV against who ever we the fans want by voting at NWATNA.com. Storm and Kash start out with a lot of aerial and mat maneuvers. Storm tags in Harris and they double team Kash. 2 count by Dallas. We go to a commercial break. And a plug for the PPV. Same as before but I forgot to mention there is also a 4 way "gut check match" whatever that is. No mention of who is in it. There are a lot of country music commercials, in fact, I'd say 75% of the non TNA/Fox/Universal commercials are country music. Anyways we are back to the match. We get a replay of what happened during the break and there was a near fall by AMW but Dallas broke it up. Kash went for a moonsault off of Dallas's shoulders but missed. Wildcat with a cross body and a near fall on Dallas. Harris gets a clothesline and a nearf all on Dallas but Kash breaks it up. Kash hits a frog splash on Storm but Harris hits him with a spear but Dallas breaks up the pinfall. Then Harris rolls up Dallas for the win.
Your winners and new tag team champions, America's Most Wanted.
X Cup video highlights. Hyping Lynn/Garza/Metal vs. Team Canada this Wednesday.
Tenay introduces the judge for the evening, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes. Dusty talks about how great Impact is and how big of an impact TNA is and how big of an impact Tradition is making and about the history of the championship belt. mentioning Thesz, Rogers, Brisco, and Terry Funk. Then he mentions Styles, Killings and himself. He goes on to talk about Jarrett and thinking he was a protector of Tradition and now he “changed his spots for the almighty dollar".Jarrett's music hits and he comes out to confront good old Dusty. Jarrett tells Dusty he doesn't belong here and that he admired Dusty when he was 15, 16 years old and was grateful to Dusty with what he taught him but that was 20 years ago and Dusty was in the twilight of his career and Jarrett is trying to help him from embarrassing himself. He asking Dusty if he needs money and offers him 50 bucks. He tells Dusty there is a place for people like him and it's not in the ring and to get out or JarretT's going to run him out. Dusty clubbers Jarrett. Jarrett gets his offense and Ron Killings comes in for the save. Jarrett gets his guitar and smashes Killings with it. BG James and Konnan chase JJ out of the ring and BG cuts a promo saying “Jarrett you remind me of Eddie Van Halen, without your guitar you're a mere mortal" and promises he will hear from the 3 Live Kru on Wednesday.
Another video on the X division
Shane Douglas interviews Vince Russo. Shane hypes the X Division and asks Russo who is the 4th man in the X Division match. Russo won't say but says we will be shocked.
Match 5 Elix Skipper vs. Chris Sabin vs. Michael Shane vs. ????
Sabin, Skipper and Shane are in the ring and the surprise man is AJ STYLES. All 4 man go at it at once. Styles gets the 3 on one treatment. Shane and Styles are in the ring alone. Styles gets a nice dropkick to the face on Shane. Sabin hits a nice springboard dropkick on Styles. It is pointed out that Shane is the longest reigning champ in X division history. Styles breaks up a near fall that Shane had on Skipper. Lots of Sabin and AJ chants. Sabin did a reverse DDT off the ropes on Styles. Near pin fall. Shane gets crotched off the top rope, then gets sent off the top rope with a hurricanrana by Skipper. AJ throws Sabin out and does a flip dive into Skipper on the floor. TNA chant breaks out. Shane throw AJ into the post shoulder first. Styles Clash on Shane and Styles gets the pinfall and the title shot on Wednesday as Frankie comes down the ramp and exchanges glances with AJ.
Your winner: AJ Styles
Tenay was cutoff saying his goodbye, which I found weird. Overall a pretty good debut show. Only bad thing I have to really say about it is Don West. The crowd was really hot. Much better than the WCW TV taping crowds.
2008 - WWE broadcast ECW. Buck Woodward filed the following TV report:
ECW for June 3rd opened with security removing items from Armando Estrada's office. Armando asked what they were doing, and one of the men said they were told to do it by "the general manager". Armando said he was the general manager, then Theodore R. Long walked in and said "Not anymore, playa. Holla, holla, holla." The ECW opening then aired.
Fatal Four Way with the winner to face ECW Champion Kane later tonight in a non-title match: CM Punk vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. John Morrison.
Clips of the Singapore Cane match from One Night Stand was shown as Dreamer made his entrance. This might have been done so we didn't have to watch Dreamer walk out in his new (ugly) white and red pants. Tazz and Mike Adamle talked about Big Show's injury and whether he would be ready for his match with Kane at Night Of Champions.
Dreamer and Morrison paired off at the bell in one part of the ring while Punk and Chavo went at it in the other. Morrison gave Dreamer a kick to the back, but missed a legdrop and Dreamer hit an arm drag and dropped an elbow. Punk suplexed Chavo onto "Tommy Morrison" (that's what Adamle said). Punk went for a cover on Morrison, but Dreamer pulled him off. Dreamer and Punk slugged it out while Chavo and Morrison brawled. Punk ran over to Chavo and cradled him for a two count. Morrison mounted Dreamer and pounded him. Dreamer clotheslined Morrison to the floor, then hit a clothesline off the ring apron to the floor on him. Chavo gave Dreamer a pescado. Punk hit Chavo with a tope.
Punk tossed Chavo into the ring, but Morrison hit Punk from behind, then pulled out Chavo and dropped him face first on the apron. Morrison tossed Punk into the ring, but Punk hit a jumping knee. Morrison avoided a Punk bulldog and hit him with a springboard kick. Morrison went for the cover on Punk, but Dreamer broke it up. Dreamer and Morrison went into reversals, with Dreamer ending up applying the Texas Cloverleaf on Morrison. Chavo broke it up and gave Dreamer the Three Amigos. Chavo went to the top rope, but Morrison stopped him and set up for a superplex. Punk jumped on the apron and knocked them down. Morrison fell into the Tree of Woe, while Chavo got hung up in the ropes on the outside of the ring. Dreamer gave Morrison a baseball slide kick. Punk gave Dreamer a springboard clothesline. Chavo pulled himself to the top rope and gave Dreamer a frog splash. Punk grabbed Chavo and gave him the GTS and got the pin at the six minute mark.
Winner: CM Punk
Punk checked on Dreamer, then celebrated with his Money In The Bank briefcase. The announcers noted that Punk had never wrestled Kane before.
Backstage, Theodore R. Long was showing the letter from the WWE Board Of Directors that made him the new ECW General Manager. He said Armando couldn't be an active member of the roster and General Manager at the same time. Long also said he felt Armando was overpaid. Armando asked Long to "work with him" and Long said he had a match for him tonight. Armando asked who his opponent was, and Long said he had brought over Smackdown's U.S. Champion, Matt Hardy, to face him tonight.
Kofi Kingston joined the announcers for the next match.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Matt Sydal.
The replayed Benjamin attacking Kofi last week during the introductions. Benjamin gave Sydal a pumphandle slam at the start, then choked him against the ropes. Sydal came back with a enzugiri, hurricanrana and a double flying knee to the chest form the top rope for a two count. Benjamin kicked out and hit a flapjack, then brutalized Sydal, including a press slam into a gutbuster. Benjamin flipped Sydal into the corner, then dragged him out and put him in an overhead wristlock. Sydal fought up, but Benjamin hit him with a clothesline. Benjamin tossed Sydal out of the ring, right in front of Kingston. Benjamin came out of the ring and argued with Kofi. Benjamin picked up Sydal for a powerbomb on the floor, then turned and threw him into Kofi instead. Benjamin rolled into the ring as Sydal was counted out at the four minute mark.
Winner via countout: Shelton Benjamin.
Kofi got up and dove into the ring to attack Benjamin. They brawled to the floor, and Adamle said that stupid "Yamakin' me crazy" line. Kofi went to whip Shelton into the steps, but Shelton reversed it and sent Kofi hard into the ringsteps. Benjamin walked off while Kofi clutched at his shoulder.
United States Champion Matt Hardy vs. Armando Estrada.
Armando went for a kick at the bell, but Hardy caught it and gave Armando a clothesline. They traded shots, with Hardy getting the better of it. Matt slammed Estrada, then hit a second rope elbowdrop to the back of the head. Matt hit the Twist Of Fate and got the pin in about a minute.
Winner: Matt Hardy.
Theodore R. Long came out on the stage, and said he was going to give Armando a chance to prove he was worth "all the money in his contract". Long introduced his opponent, Colin Delaney.
Colin Delaney vs. Armando Estrada.
Colin rolled up Estrada in La Magistral before the bell even rang. It rang, and Armando kicked out at two. Armando hit Delaney with a few shots, then went for a reverse suplex, but Colin floated over and rolled up Armando. Armando's feet hit the ropes, and Delaney grabbed the pants of Estrada, but the referee counted three anyway, ending this match even quicker than the last one.
Winner: Colin Delaney.
Matt Hardy got in the ring to raise the hand of Colin Delaney as Estrada rolled to the floor.
After the break, Armando was begging Theodore R. Long to not fire him. Long noted that he lost two straight matches. Armando said he would renegotiate his contract, but wanted to wait until the draft, saying he might go to Raw or Smackdown. Long said he could remain as a wrestler in ECW, but he would not be under contract any longer. Long said Armando had to earn his contract, just like Colin Delaney did. Long left, but said he had one more word for Armando. Armando turned, and Ron Simmons was standing there. "Damn!"
A video package on today's press conference and the million dollar giveaway was shown. Mike Adamle was shown filling out the registration form. I think he entered a bunch of numbers for his address.
ECW Champion Kane vs. CM Punk (non-title).
Punk tried to grab Kane's leg at the bell, but Kane shoved him away. Punk grabbed a headlock, but Kane shoved him off and hit a shoulderblock. Punk grabbed an armwringer, but Kane shoved Punk to the mat. Kane backed Punk into a corner, then worked him over with punches. Punk came back with kicks and forearms, then clotheslined Kane over the top rope and to the floor. Kane landed on his feet, and dragged out Punk. Kane decked Punk with a right hand, then threw him back into the ring. Kane rammed Punk into the turnbuckles and hit him with a forearm and an uppercut. Kane choked Punk in the corner, then lifted him in a Hangman. Kane flipped Punk to the mat, but Punk got up and charged him with a knee to the gut. Punk hit some knees to the head, but when he tried a jumping knee in the corner, Kane lifted him and dropped him across the top rope. Kane gave Punk a big boot, knocking him to the floor as they went to break.
Back from the break, Kane had Punk in an abdominal stretch and was pounding him in the ribs. Punk battled out and tried his own abdominal stretch, but Kane blocked it with a hiptoss. Kane snap mared Punk and dropkicked him in the face for a one count. Punk and Kane exchanged shots, then Kane began pounding Punk in the back. Kane put Punk in a bodyscissors. Punk struggled in the hold, then elbowed out. Punk gave Kane some leg kicks, then Kane reversed a whip and went for a backdrop. Punk dove over Kane into a sunset flip for a two count. Punk hit some punches, but Kane decked him with an uppercut. Kane went for a slam, but Punk floated over and pushed Kane into a corner. Kane charged back with a clothesline for a two count, then put Punk back in a bodyscissors with an armlock.
Punk tried to fight out of the hold again, but Kane held him down, then released the hold and drove one leg across Punk's face. Punk came back with some kicks and punches, but Kane delivered one boot to the face and Punk went down hard. Kane missed a charge in the corner and Punk hit three consecutive jumping knees in the corner. Punk went for the bulldog, but Kane lifted Punk and hit a back suplex for a two count. Kane whipped Punk in a corner and charged, but Punk hit a boot to the face. Punk hit a second rope bulldog for a two count. Punk went for a whip, but Kane blocked it and hit a side slam. Kane went to the top rope and hit a clothesline for a two count. Kane called for a chokeslam. Kane grabbed Punk, but Punk kicked him in the head to get him to release his grip. Kane threw Punk over the top rope, but Punk held on and landed on the apron. Punk went for a springboard clothesline, but Kane grabbed him by the throat. Kane went for the chokeslam, but Punk reversed out and went to lift Kane for the GTS. However, Punk's back gave out on him, and he dropped Kane to his feet. Kane grabbed Punk and hit the chokeslam for the clean pin at the fourteen minute mark.
Winner: Kane.
John Morrison and the Miz ran out and attacked Kane. Punk was kicked to the floor, and wasn't seen again. Kane tried to fight back, but Morrison gave Kane a running knee to the head. Miz then gave Kane the Reality Check neckbreaker. Miz and Morrison stood over Kane. They showed some replays, and when they came back, Miz and Morrison were in the aisle staring back at Kane, who was lying on the mat, staring and Miz & Morrison, while smiling. That ended the show.
2010 - WWE broadcast WWE Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with the Raw brand and your announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Match Number One: Mark Henry versus Primo
Primo avoids Henry and then he does a cartwheel but Henry pushes Primo into the ropes and hits a shoulder tackle. Primo backs into the corner and then he drop kicks Henry in the knee and he continues to kick the leg. Henry with an Irish whip and slam. Henry stands over Primo and tries for a bonsai drop but Primo moves. Primo with a drop kick but Henry emphatically kicks out. Primo with more kicks to the leg. Primo with a front face lock but Henry picks Primo up and throws him to the mat. Primo returns to the leg and he kicks Henry some more to bring him off his vertical base. Primo with more kicks to the knee. Primo goes to the turnbuckles but he is met with a jumping body block from Henry. Henry punches Primo and then he gives Primo a head butt followed by a clothesline. Henry with a slam and then he Irish whips Primo and Primo does the Flair flip but he tries for a springboard cross body but Henry catches him and hits the World Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Gail Kim versus Jillian Hall
They lock up and Jillian with a kick instead of a clean break. Jillian charges but Gail avoids her and gets a near fall with a rollup. Jillian gets a near fall on Gail, but Gail responds with a victory roll and a near fall. Gail with a forearm into the corner followed by a monkey flip and drop kick that sends Jillian through the ropes and to the floor. Jillian blocks a baseball slide but Gail turns it into a head scissors. Jillian sends Gail into the apron and Jillian returns to the ring while Gail remains on the floor. Jillian kicks Gail when Gail returns to the ring and she sends Gail face first into the mat before getting a near fall. Jillian pulls Gail’s hair and the referee warns Jillian. Jillian with a hard Irish whip and gets a near fall. Jillian with a reverse chin lock. Gail pushes Jillian and Jillian responds with a sit out front driver for a near fall. Jillian gets another near fall. Jillian with an Irish whip and she wails before trying the handspring back elbow but Gail blocks it and hits a rana. Jillian pulls Gail down by the hair one more time and Jillian tries for a round off splash but Gail gets her knees up. Gail with a cross body into the turnbuckles and Gail goes up top. Jillian stops Gail and Jillian hits a superplex and both women are down. Jillian gets a near fall. Jillian with a knee and a back slide but Gail rolls through and hits Eat Defeat for the three count.
Winner: Gail Kim
We are back and it is time for the Smackdown half of the show and your announcer is Matt Striker with a guest appearance by Todd Grisham.
Match Number Three: Michelle McCool with Layla versus Tiffany
Michelle with a waist lock but Tiffany with a standing switch and double leg take down. Michelle with a hammer lock and she takes Tiffany to the mat. Tiffany with a hammer lock and bridge but Michelle with an arm bar. Michelle throws Tiffany to the floor and Michelle goes out after Tiffany and she kicks Tiffany in the head as Tiffany lies against the announce table. Tiffany barely makes it back into the ring and Michelle kicks Tiffany but the referee pulls Michelle off. The referee checks on Tiffany and Michelle continues her attack on Tiffany. Michelle with more kicks to Tiffany. Tiffany with a back body drop and a reverse atomic drop. Tiffany with a monkey flip and she sends Michelle down to the mat for a near fall. Tiffany with a kick and a sunset flip but Michelle rolls through into the McCool Clash and she gets the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool
Vickie and Chavo Guerrero are in the back and Vickie points out that Chavo is facing Christian tonight. Chavo says that tonight is his night. Dolph stops by and Vickie starts glowing. Vickie congratulates Dolph on his progress in the WWE and then Vickie conveniently drops some papers so Dolph has to pick them up. Vickie drops them again and then she slips but Dolph keeps her from falling. Vickie suggests that they talk about the show. Vickie turns around and Chavo looks at his aunt wondering what she is up to.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for a look back at the finale of NXT.
Match Number Four: Christian versus Chavo Guerrero
They lock up and Chavo with a waist lock but Christian with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Christian with a shoulder tackle and a near fall. Chavo backs into the ropes. Chavo with a kick and punches but Christian with an Irish whip. Chavo with an elbow but Christian with a back body drop. Christian goes to the second turnbuckle for a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Christian with punches to Chavo but Chavo with a kick. Chavo is sent to the floor on a back body drop and Christian hits the pescado.
Vickie Guerrero comes out and she asks for a moment of Excuse Me. She says that she has a way to make this match far more interesting and competitive. It is now a handicap match. Christian will now face Chavo Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler.
We go to commercial before the match continues.
We are back and Christian with a leap frog and drop kick to Chavo for a near fall. Chavo with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Christian goes to the turnbuckles but Dolph distracts Christian and Chavo pulls him off the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Dolph tags in and he kicks Christian in the back and chokes him in the ropes. Dolph with a near fall and then he hits a leap frog neck snap and gets another near fall. Dolph with a key lock and cross face. Dolph blocks a drop kick and Ziggler catapults Christian into the turnbuckles and hits a splash into the corner for a near fall. Chavo tags in and he kicks Christian in the chest. Chavo with a Latino uppercut and then Chavo rubs his boot on Christian’s face. Christian with punches to Chavo but Chavo with a kick and drop kick for a near fall. Chavo kicks and punches Christian and the referee pulls Chavo out of the corner but that allows Dolph to choke Christian. Dolph tags in and he connects with an elbow. Dolph misses a charge into the corner and Christian with the pendulum kick. Christian with a running forearm and flap jack. Christian with the sunset flip from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Christian with a drop toe hold to Dolph and then he stands on Dolph’s back before he slingshots to the floor and punches Dolph. Christian punches Chavo on the floor. Christian drops Dolph across the top rope and then he goes up top for a frog splash but Dolph moves. Chavo tags in and hits a slingshot senton. Chavo tries for the Three Amigos but Christian avoids the third and hits an inverted DDT. Christian with a baseball slide to Dolph to knock him off the apron. Christian with a back elbow from the turnbuckles. Chavo blocks the Killswitch and hits a modified suplex. Chavo goes up top but Chavo misses the frog splash, but Dolph made the blind tag. Christian hits the Killswitch on Chavo but Dolph is the legal man in the match and he hits the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler and Chavo Guerrero
We see Vickie watching her nephew and obsession in the ring from her office as we go to credits.
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report
Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of TNA Impact!
Tonight: AJ Styles, Frankie Kazarian and Jay Lethal face off in a three way encounter. But before that, let's head to the ring for our opening promo with the #1 contender himself, Sting. Sting says that not everything is as it seems, and if you've followed his career, you know he's been portrayed as an antagonist before and explanations will not do, and he doesn't feel like he owes anyone an explanation anyway. But he does promise that there are meanings behind his actions, and those meanings will be known to all of us soon. But first, at Slammiversary, when he takes the title, the veil will be lifted and everybody's true colors will be exposed. At this point the lights go out and we go to a video of Sting brutalizing Jeff Jarrett, Rob Van Dam, and Eric Bischoff. Speaking of Bischoff, he comes hobbling out on a crutch with Miss Tessmacher in tow, and he says that we just saw Sting's true colors, and he's known Sting for almost 20 years, but he's not the man Bischoff has known. He says Sting has been pretending to be a superhero for so long that he's even fooled himself into believing it, but now he's showing his true colors with some of the things he's done. He says that whatever's going on in Sting's head are his own issues and they have nothing to do with TNA, and he says that he and Hogan are not Sting's problem, Sting is his own problem. Sting puts himself before everything else, and that's not the way we do things around here. Bischoff declares that Sting will be in action right now, and his opponent is...standing right behind him.
Sting vs Samoa Joe
Joe jumps Sting right at the bell and starts kicking the hell out of him in the corner, but within seconds, Matt Morgan comes running out and jumps Joe from behind, choking him on the bottom rope while Sting puts the boots to Joe. RVD's music hits, and he comes running out to make the save. RVD clears Morgan out of the ring, and Sting uses the distraction to bail out to the floor. Let's call this...
No Contest
Bischoff comes back out and says that it's not over, this match is going to continue later on tonight, but this time it will be a tag match pitting Joe and RVD against Sting and Morgan. RVD grabs a mic and says that as champion, he's sometimes expected to speak for everyone, and says that they should make it a four way. Bischoff says he doesn't have that authority, and that he'll have to check with Hogan. Fortunately, we won't have to wait that long because here comes the Orange Goblin himself. Hogan says that since winning the TNA World Title, RVD has raised the bar sky high, and as the champion, RVD has a lot of stroke, so RVD has his wish: tonight's main event will be RVD vs Samoa Joe vs Matt Morgan vs Sting. Sounds good to me!
We go backstage to Christy Hemme with AJ Styles, who is pissed that he just found out he's in a three way tonight. Ric Flair comes in with Frankie Kazarian, who thanks Flair for all the faith Flair's had in him. Flair said that tonight's going to be in for Jay Lethal tonight with both AJ and Kazarian in there. Kazarian goes to leave with Flair, but stops to thank Flair for the real nice watch he got him. Flair shares a laugh with Kazarian as AJ looks on in disbelief.
Rosey Lotta Love vs Roxxi
Rosey looks like one of the fat old ladies they used as ring girls in the really early days of Monday Night Raw. Roxxi chain wrestles around Rosey to stary, but Rosey escapes and bowls over Roxxi with a pair of shoulderblocks and a big slam. Rosey whips Roxxi into the corner, but Rosey misses an avalanche and Roxxi starts the comeback with a roaring elbow and a dropkick, but as Roxxi comes off the ropes, Madison Rayne jumps out of nowhere and nails Roxxi with the Knockouts belt. Rosey sees this and stops to argue with Madison, and the distraction allows Roxxi to...um, large package Rosey for the win.
Winner: Roxxi
Madison gets in the ring and starts screaming at Rosey, but Rosey casually grabs her by the throat and chokeslams her. Rosey walks up the ramp where she is stopped for comments by JB, and she says that the Beautiful People think they can take out one ugly person at a time, but she's going to go through all of the Beautiful People one by one because she's big, bad, and beautiful. Then she plants a big kiss on JB and heads to the back.
AJ Styles vs Frankie Kazarian vs Jay Lethal
AJ bails out of the ring as soon as the bell rings and leaves Kazarian and Lethal to go it alone. Lethal takes out Kazarian with a clothesline, and now AJ jumps in the ring and attacks Lethal. Lethal turns the tables and gets a big flying headscissors, but got disrupted midway through the Lethal Combination by Kazarian. Now AJ and Kazarian start arguing over who gets to go after Lethal, allowing Lethal an opportunity to hit a clothesline/bulldog combo. Lethal goes for a springboard something on AJ, but Kazarian shoves AJ out of the way and catches Lethal coming in with a Diamond Cutter. AJ hits a backbreaker on Lethal and then they stop to argue some more. Now they try to one up one another, as Kazarian hits a hiptoss into a suplex. AJ and Kazarian go back to arguing, allowing Lethal yet another opportunity to recover and make a comeback, but AJ catches a flying headscissors out of nowhere and then he and Kazarian go for a double suplex, but they both try a different suplex and it leads to another argument. AJ goes for a springboard forearm, but Kazarian casually backs into the ropes and AJ comes crashing down to the mat, allowing Lethal to catch AJ with an O'Connor Roll for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Flair gets in the ring and says that he gave AJ the gift of being Ric Flair's protege, and just now AJ got beat by Jay Lethal. AJ tries to explain that it was Kazarian's fault, but Flair said not to worry about Kazarian because he lost the World Title, he's confused, and he needs to go home, look in the mirror, and decide what he wants to be. He tells AJ to go home and think and then give him a phone call, but for now he's outta here because when Ric Flair gives you the gift, you don't drop the ball. Now Kurt Angle's music hits and he comes up to the ramp in his lift and stares down AJ, and AJ is so frustrated that he just walks off. Kurt comes down to the ring, and we'll hear from him...after this commercial!
We're back, and Kurt Angle says he came out to show Frankie Kazarian the proper respect before he makes him his first victim. He likes his opponents to know what he's going to do to them before he does it. He said he gave up his Top Ten ranking to start from the bottom up, so he wants Kazarian at Slammiversary. Flair takes over and says that Angle just walked by him without saying a word, but he and Flair have a lot of history together, and Flair wanted his youngest son to be just like Kurt Angle, and he told Angle that no amateur wrestler has transitioned to pro wrestling the way Kurt Angle has. But now Angle's in Flair's world, and he is God here, and he shows Angle his medals (his ring and his watch) and he says he's got the respect of Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin, and until he gets that respect from Angle, he can take a walk just like AJ. Angle goes to leave but Flair stops him and says that he has a better idea: Flair can leave first and Angle can hold the rope. Angle holds the ropes so Flair can leave, but comes out after him and throws him off the ramp. Kazarian runs out and jumps Angle from behind and tosses him back in the ring, but Angle fires off a few rights at Kazarian and Kazarian bails out.
We go backstage as Matt Morgan is telling Sting that they'll both do anything to win the World Title, so tonight, they should work together and let the chips fall where they may. Sting pauses for a brief second and then just walks off.
We go elsewhere backstage, as AJ Styles is talking to himself, and he says that to get back in Flair's good graces, he needs to kill Jay Lethal, so he's going to go ask Bischoff to make a match between Lethal and himself at Slammiversary.
We see a video package detailing the history between Ken Anderson and AJ Styles, and then we go to the ring with Christy Hemme, who introduces her guest, Ken Anderson. Anderson says he was preparing for all kinds of probing questions about his big announcement, but seems to have become distracted by her boobs. That doesn't make him a chauvanist or a pig, but maybe an...asshole? The crowd goes nuts for that one. Anderson says everyone's waiting for a wardrobe malfunction, so that makes everyone here an asshole. The crowd starts chanting "we are assholes". Anderson makes his announcement and says that he challenged Beer Money to a match at Slammiversary, but he can't do it alone, so now he's going to introduce his partner...Jeff Hardy! Hardy comes down to the ring, and he gives Anderson the pound. Hardy knows people might be confused about why he would team with Anderson, but he has to admit that he's the funniest asshole he's ever met and the craziest SOB in TNA other than himself. It's going to be a party at Slammiversary, and Anderson makes sure to let Hardy know that he's not just an asshole, but a cheap asshole too, so Slammiversary's going to be BYOB. Beer Money comes out and Roode says it's cute how Hardy and Anderson have become BFFs, but asks them what they really know about tag wrestling. Roode says Matt carried Jeff and they sucked anyway, and tag wrestling isn't about looking cool or being friends or anything like that, it's about being like brothers, putting your egos aside, and putting the team first, and it's pretty obvious they're a mismatch. Roode wants to know what makes them think they'll be a match for Beer Money at Slammiversary? Anderson says this may be off the subject, but wants to know why Roode's hair is always wet, and why Storm always wears sunglasses inside because the only people who do that are blind people and jackoffs. Storm calls Anderson a funny man and says he does a stand up act of his own, and wants to show it to Anderson. His stand up act consists of jumping Anderson and Hardy and breaking out into a brawl. Fortunately, two of these guys are in our next match...
Jeff Hardy vs James Storm
They start by brawling around on the floor, with Hardy getting the better of Storm. Hardy pulls back the mats on the floor and hiptosses Storm on the exposed concrete. Hardy tosses Storm back in the ring as the bell rings to officially start the match. Storm catches Hardy coming in and DDTs him off the second rope for 2, then takes off his shirt and chokes Hardy with it. Storm with a running boot to the head of Hardy and covers for 2, then we HIT THE CHINLOCK! Hardy fights out, but Storm catches him with an STO for another 2. Storm grabs a chair from ringside, but the referee grabs it away from him, allowing Hardy to hit a chinbreaker. They exchange blows but Hardy takes the advantage with a series of clotheslines and then sets up the chair for the triple jump dive into the corner. Storm escapes the Twist Of Fate, but Hardy with a gourdbuster, pulls the shirt off goes up top, but Storm nails him before he can hit the Swanton. Storm goes up top and goes for a top rope Frankensteiner, but Hardy holds on and Storm comes crashing down, and Hardy hits the Whisper In The Wind for 2. Storm takes a sip from his beer and spits it in Hardy's face, then hits the Eye Of The Storm...for 2! Storm grabs the chair against and swings it at Hardy, but Hardy moves and the chair bounces off the top rope back into Storm's face and knocks him silly, allowing Hardy to go up top and hit the Swanton for the win.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After a commercial break, we go right into our next match...
Robert Roode vs Ken Anderson
Anderson comes right out, no posing, no mic, and gets right in the ring. They go to the corner and Anderson nails Roode. Roode comes back with a shoulderblock but misses an elbowdrop and Anderson gets a headlock. Roode sends Anderson off into the ropes and drops down, but Anderson with a knee to the back, then rolls Roode up for 2. Roode bailed to the floor and Anderson went out and gave chase, but Roode caught Anderson with a lowblow coming back into the ring and starts putting the boots to him. Roode with the Mr Perfect necksnap for 2 then chokes Anderson with his boot. Roode with a neck vice, Anderson escapes and they do a reversal sequence that leads to Anderson hitting a backdrop. Roode goes to the eyes and tries a corner charge, but Anderson gets the boot up and goes for a sunset flip, but Roode cradles Anderson and gets the ropes for 3.
Winner: Robert Roode
Anderson and Roode have a staredown after the match, then Anderson's mic drop. Anderson says that any man can be beaten on any day, and he just got beat again. Still, it seems like the only way anyone can beat him is by using chicanery and tomfoolery. The reason they have to do that is because he is no mere mortal, he is...MR AAAAAANDERSON. ANDERSON.
We go backstage to Douglas Williams, who talks about the X-Division style and says he's here to teach the acrobats how to wrestle because what they're doing is unbecoming and he's going to ground them and beat them properly.
Abyss, Rob Terry, and Chelsea are backstage, and they're...WALKING!
Desmond Wolfe & Orlando Jordan vs Abyss & Rob Terry
Orlando is again wearing the Rob Terry pasties and also has a "workout device" that seems designed to simulate an obscene act. Terry is still hobbling around with his knee taped up. Orlando nails Abyss from the outside, allowing Wolfe an opening to go after the arm of Abyss and fire repeated forearms at it in the corner. Orlando tags in and comes off the top with a double axhandle to the arm. Orlando comes off the ropes right into an elbow from Abyss, who follows up with a clothesline in the corner and then pitches Orlando WAY over the ropes. Orlando lands at the feet of Chelsea, and seems mesmerized by her body. Orlando sweet talks her, but Chelsea slaps him, leading to a hilarious segment where Desmond yelled at Orlando for hitting on his girl, and then yells at Chelsea that he doesn't know whether Orlando likes her or him, but that ends when Abyss comes after Desmond on the floor. Meanwhile, Terry yanks Orlando over the top rope and gives him the Freakbuster for the win.
Winners: Rob Terry & Abyss
We go to a video package detailing the history between Jesse Neal and Team 3D, mixed it with comments from Devon, who says that Jesse's just doing what they taught him and Brother Ray's letting it get to him, and he needs to stay between them or it'll get ugly.
We go backstage where Jesse Neal has been laid out, and has a playing card resting on his chest, just like Shannon Moore last week.
It's main event time!
Rob Van Dam vs Sting vs Samoa Joe vs Matt Morgan
Joe and Morgan go at it right from the bell as Sting beats up RVD at ringside. Morgan misses a charge in the corner and Joe hits a running forearm and a leaping enziguiri and they head to the floor as Sting and RVD make their way into the ring. RVD with a spinkick, atomic drop, clothesline, and superkick to send Sting to the floor, and now it's RVD and Joe in the ring! This ought to be fun...but before they can hook it up, Morgan and Sting get back in the ring and attack them. Morgan chokes Joe in the corner and then they go back to the floor as Sting tries the Stinger Splash, but RVD gets an elbow up and hits a leaping jump kick and the Rolling Thunder for 2. Morgan takes Sting's head off with a roaring lariat, but Joe tosses him to the floor and nails Sting with a superkick, but Morgan breaks up the fall. Morgan sends Joe into the corner and follows him in with a clothesline before giving Joe a side suplex. Morgan with an F5/uranage combo and the rapid fire elbows in the corner, but then Morgan sees Hernandez up in the crowd! The distraction is enough for Joe to enziguiri Morgan from behind and give him the Muscle Buster, but instead of going for the pin he stands up and eats a superkick from RVD, who follows that up with a Five Star Frog Splash on Morgan for the win.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
RVD celebrates in the ring and we're off the air.
2010 - ABC issued the following press release:
CHRIS JERICHO NAMED HOST OF "DOWNFALL," THE HIGH STAKES AND HIGH DRAMA GAME SHOW PREMIERING JUNE 22 ON ABC
Courage and Smarts Play Against the Clock as Contestants Stand On the Edge of a High-Rise Building Trying to Win $1 Million + Prizes
Chris Jericho, a talented actor, television personality, radio host, rock star and WWE superstar wrestler, has been named as the Host of "Downfall." The unique, high-stakes and adrenaline-pumping game show will put contestants on top of a 10-story building to see who has the focus and fearlessness to avoid his/her own 'downfall' -- literally. Along the way, they'll have the chance to win $1 million and a slew of incredible prizes, such as a pair of jet skis, a grand piano, a trip to Paris or a brand new car. The larger-than-life game show from FremantleMedia North America ("The Price Is Right," "Family Feud," "Let's Make a Deal") will premiere TUESDAY, JUNE 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.
Jericho has established himself as a multifaceted performer. Most recently he completed his first book, A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex, in which he chronicles, with a witty and humorous narrative, his rise in the wrestling business and the pitfalls of the industry. He made the cross-over to film with lead roles in the feature films "Android Apocalypse" and "Albino Farm." He also appeared on stage before sold-out crowds and received standing ovations when he starred in the hilarious Norm Foster play, "Opening Night," at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. In addition, Jericho has been invited to appear as a regular guest performer with legendary comedy troupe The Groundlings in the all-improv show, "Cookin' with Gas." On TV he starred in the comedy pilot "Ebaum's World" for USA Network.
Jericho's knack for comedy is obvious in his regular appearances on VH-1 and E!, lending his talent as a panelist or guest. He's appeared on over a dozen shows, including G4TV's "Attack of the Show" and "Filter"; E!'s "Biggest Celebrity Oops" and "Best Week Ever"; plus the "I Love the 70s, 80s and 90s" (and soon to be released 00s) series for VH1. Other recent guest appearances include "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "The Howard Stern Show," "The Late, Late Show" and "Larry King Live." Jericho also guest hosted "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," "MadTV" and "Headbanger's Ball" on MTV2.
Jericho began wrestling at age 19 and is considered one of the most popular wrestling champions in history. In 2001 he was the first-ever Undisputed Champion of the WWE and is the only performer to have held six different titles in the 44-year history of World Wrestling Entertainment.
For "Downfall," the six-episode series will be played atop the roof of a downtown Los Angeles high-rise, where contestants will try to answer a series of trivia questions against the clock. Fabricated facsimiles of prizes will be placed on the largest conveyor belt ever seen on TV, with a pile of cash at the end ranging from $5,000 to $1 million. In each round, players will try to answer all the questions before their prizes and cash go over the edge, off the roof and crashing 100 feet to the street below. If the cash goes off the roof, the game is over and that player is eliminated. Each player also risks going over the side of the building -- but in this case wearing a decelerator harness to soften the fall.
