Wrestling History Today - 31st March
On this day in history in ....
1973 - At a WWWF event at the Boston Garden, Moondog Mayne won a battle royale for a title match when the bout came down to himself and Fred Blassie. The two refused to fight each other, so a coin toss was held with Moondog winning. Moondog would go on to challenge, and lose, to WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales.
1985 - Wrestlemania I was held. Mike Johnson penned the following:
WRESTLEMANIA 1
Location: New York City
Arena: Madison Square Garden
Announced Attendance: 19,121
RESULTS
*Tito Santana pinned The Executioner with a flying forearm, followed by a figure four leglock for the submission. The Executioner was Buddy Rose, who promised to work on Santana's "bad knee" from his feud with then-Intercontinental champion Greg Valentine.
*King King Bundy (then managed by Jimmy Hart) pinned SD Jones in 9 seconds after an avalanche in the corner.
*Ricky Steamboat pinned Matt Borne with a flying bodypress.
*David Sammartino (with Bruno Sammartino) fought Brutus Beefcake (with Johnny Valiant) to a double disqualification. The finish of the bout saw Beefcake throw David out of the ring, where Valiant attacked him. Bruno made the save and destroyed Valiant, setting off a brawl and the DDQ.
*The Junkyard Dog defeated WWF Intercontinental champion Greg Valentine by countout. Valentine, then managed by Jimmy Hart, pinned JYD with his feet on the ropes. Tito Santana, who had lost the IC belt to Valentine and been "injured" in the process hit the ring to tell the referee. The bout was restarted but Valentine walked and was counted out. Santana would eventually regain the belt from Valentine to blow off their feud.
*The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeated WWF Tag Team champions The U.S. Express, Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham after manager Freddie Blassie hit Windham with his cane to set up a Volkoff pin. In a great post-match interview, Blassie denies ever having a cane.
*In the $15,000 Bodyslam Challenge, Andre the Giant slams Big John Studd to win the money. Andre starts tossing it out to the fans at ringside, and Studd's manager Bobby Heenan grabs it and runs off.
*Wendi Richter (with manager Cyndi Lauper) pinned Leilani Kai (with The Fabulous Moolah) to win the WWF Ladies championship. Beyond the Mr. T connection, Lauper was the biggest celebrity tie-in WWF had at the time as the connection built to WWF's relationship with MTV. The relationship backfired on Lauper who lost credibility as an artist and never recovered. Richter rolled up Kai for the pin after Kai went for a bodypress and it was reversed. Richter regained the belt from a previous bout where Moolah interfered to cause the loss. Richter would later lose the belt to Moolah, under the mask as The Spider Lady, and leave WWF never to return.
*Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (with Jimmy Snuka) defeated Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff (with Bob Orton) when T pinned Orndorff after Bob Orton, sporting a cast on his arm, accidentally hit Orndorff. The match was a backdrop for a calvacade of celebrities (see below). Mr. T did an airplane spin on Piper, which got a lot of photo coverage in the newspapers.
NOTES: The show featured Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura on commentary and was a huge hit on the video rental market....Gene Okerlund, of all people, sang the national anthem to open the event....Pat Patterson worked the main event as a referee, likely to help Mr. T keep up with the program....There was a story in both Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper's autobiographies that noted Hogan had to literally drag T. to the locker room after he refused to work the show because he wasn't allowed to bring two limos full of guests into the Garden....One longstanding story surrounding the show is that a rival promoter offered the late Bruiser Brody, considered to be among the toughest men in the sport at the time, $100,000 if he would go to the Garden and attack T in the aisle as he entered the ring to ruin the show. Brody turned down the offer.
CELEBRITIES: Beyond Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper performing on the show, former New York Yankees manager Billy Martin was the guest ring announcer, the legendary Liberace was the guest time keeper, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali was the guest referee outside the ring for the main event. The Rockettes danced with Liberace.
JOHNNY VALIANT ON WORKING EARLY WRESTLEMANIA EVENTS: It was like "The Birth of A Nation" to the movie business because it was something totally new. They chose to do it in NYC as it is the entertainment capitol of the world and the first time they went out of the business to get names as big as Ali, Liberace, Lauper. If Liberace or Ali or Lauper would be a part of a wrestling show, it gave it a lot of show business legitimacy and it was electric and you could feel the spark. Even as a manager I felt it. There was so much hype that went into it and there was a grand party afterward in the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center in the NBC building and I was drinking with Billy Martin. He was a fan and Liberace came up to meet me. Muhammed Ali wanted to take a picture with me and he knew who I was! It was very flattering. I managed Beefcake on the first one and then Beefcake and Valentine on the second and then Bravo & Valentine for Wrestlemania 3. I can't believe it was 20 years ago! Time certainly flies.
Dave Scherer: What I remember the most about the first Mania was the pomp and circumstance surrounding the event. The hype for the show was amazing, with the WWF telling anyone who will listen that this was the greatest show on earth. They did an amazing job of starting a tradition with the show. Looking back on it now, that will be the legacy of the first WrestleMania, that while it wasn't named "The granddaddy of them all", in reality that is exactly what it has become
Mike Johnson: Wrestlemania 1 set the standard for today's WWE, mixing a number of celebrities with WWF workers to create a unique atmosphere. With the main event of WWF champion Hulk Hogan and actor Mr. T ("The A-Team", "Rocky III") teaming to defeat top heels Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff, much of the younger audience that WWF needed to grab paid attention and turned WWF into a huge hit. With celebrities ranging from Liberace to Billy Martin, WWF set the idea that Wrestlemania was an event where celebrities from all ventures could transcend and exist in one universe for one evening, to have a little fun and get a payday. Between the celebrities and the charisma of Hulk Hogan, as well as the promotion's placement in the all-important New York market, WWF was set as the force in wrestling. There was nothing truly amazing on the show from an in-ring standpoint, but for the new audience watching wrestling as a new fad for the first time, it set up Hogan, Andre, Piper, and others as the stars of the industry.
Buck Woodward: To this day, I don't think people realize how important this show was. Vince McMahon had purchased the company from his father after taking out a loan with a huge balloon payment that was coming due. If Wrestlemania had bombed, McMahon would have lost the WWF, and who knows what would have happened to the world of wrestling. That's why the Brody offer was made. As it turns out, the show was a success across the board, with Closed Circuit locations doing well, except in Dallas, the heart of Von Erich land at the time. ... King Kong Bundy's win was hyped as the fastest match ever, and began a year long push for Bundy that included a feud with Andre The Giant where Andre never got a pin on Bundy, and finished with Bundy being positioned for the Wrestlemania II main event with Hulk Hogan. ... Three months after Wrestlemania, I attended my first live wrestling event, which saw a Mania rematch between Windham & Rotundo vs. Sheik & Volkoff. ... I loved how they had real money in the duffel bag that Andre started tossing out to ringside after the Bodyslam match. ... Who would guess that, of all the wrestlers on this card, Lelani Kai would be the one to wrestle at Mania I and X? ... I still don't understand why WWF had Jimmy Snuka working as a corner man. He was at the tail end of his WWF run, but was still one of the top babyfaces in the company alongside Hogan, Andre and JYD. He really should have had a match. ... Looking back on the card, it was really just a standard MSG card (note the first few matches, which were typical WWF mid-card stuff) but with a lot more hype and a unique main event.
Jess McGrath: Buck was 100% right when he compared the card to a typical Madison Square Garden show of the time. By today's standards, most of the split-brand PPV's have more hype. Even back then, the Starrcade 83 and 84 lineups blew this one away as far as which was more of a "super card". But as Vince proved on that night, and has proved pretty much every day since that point, it's about presentation, not quality. It's an interesting show to reflect back on, as it's really a mix of things Vince was trying at the time, some of which flew and some didn't. Junkyard Dog and Ricky Steamboat getting pushes led to big runs for them as top babyfaces; same for King Kong Bundy as a heel. And let's not forget that this did more to solidify Hulk Hogan as the name synonymous with "pro wrestling" than anything else. The failure side would include Wendi Richter, and more generally, the attempt to promote women's wrestling at the same level as the men's. The whole "David Sammartino as a star" thing didn't work either, although it's not like they didn't play it perfectly with Bruno's involvement and all.
1986 - At a WWF television taping in Poughkeepsie, New York, Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy challenged Andre The Giant and a partner of his choosing for a tag team match. It was announced that Andre had selected Hillbilly Jim, but when the match took place, Andre The Giant didn't appear, and Hillbilly Jim & Ted Arcidi defeated Studd & Bundy via DQ after Studd & Bundy hit the referee. As a result of Andre not appearing, he was suspended by the WWF, setting up the introduction of the masked "Giant Machine".
1989- Sting defeats Mike Rotunda for the NWA World Television Title in the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. This was Sting's first singles title victory.
1994 - The Quebecers defeat Men On A Mission for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Sheffield, England, after losing the belts only two nights earlier in London. This would begin the third title run for the Quebecers.
1996 - Wrestlemania XII takes place. Mike Johnson penned the following:
WRESTLEMANIA XII
Location: Anaheim, CA
Arena: The Arrowhead Pond
Announced Attendance: 18, 853
RESULTS
*Vader & Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith managed by Jim Cornette defeated Yokozuna & Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson when Vader pinned Roberts after a powerbomb. This would be the Wrestlemania debut for the former WCW World champion and the final Mania appearance for Yokozuna, who's babyface run never took off.
*Roddy Piper fought Goldust in a "Hollywood Backlot Brawl." They go back and forth with the fight, leading to Goldust peeling off in a car with Piper following in a white bronco. Piper would chase Goldust across LA in a cute usage of news footage from the OJ Simpson police chase. When they finally got the Arena, it ended with Piper beating Goldust down and stripping him of his clothes (cue Rocky Horror Show outfit), as well as planting a kiss on his lips. Piper was the winner by default in what would be his final Wrestlemania match appearance.
*Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega with a cobra clutch. A very good back and forth match that served as Austin's Wrestlemania debut, but doubly served as the background to the Piper-Goldust car chase using the OJ footage.
*The returning Ultimate Warrior pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Warrior just destroys Triple H, kicking out of the Pedigree, and hits a gorilla press, drops the future McMahon family member and splashes him for the pin. Rena Mero was Helmsley's valet (at the time he had a bevy of beautiful women walking him to the ring.) Helmsley would end up in a backstage confrontation with the debuting Wildman Marc Mero (Imagine that) to set up a feud. Warrior would be gone within 6 months from the company, never to return. Helmsley would...what did ever become of Helmsley, anyway?
*The Undertaker pinned Diesel with a chokeslam and tombstone in Kevin Nash's final Wrestlemania match.
*Shawn Michaels pinned Bret Hart with a superkick in overtime of a 60 minute Iron Man Match. Michaels did the famous zip line entrance from the top of the Arena here. Highlights of the bout saw Shawn take a sick backwards bump over the ringpost to the floor, nearly killing a cameraman along the way. Timekeeper Mark Eaton was superkicked "accidentally" by Michaels when Hart moved out of the way. The finish saw Hart have Shawn in the Sharpshooter but time ran out. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon announced
Celebrities: None. Zilch. Nada.
Notes: Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler handled commentary....During the countdown show of the PPV, there was a sketch where "The Huckster" fought "The Nacho Man" with McMahon and Lawler handling Mystery Science Theatre 3000-esque commentary to make fun of WCW....The Bodydonnas, Skip and Zip defeated The Godwins to win the WWF Tag Team championships during the PPV preview as well....The marketing of the main event featured Michaels training under Jose Lothario while Bret returned to the dungeon. They teased it would be hard hitting wrestling vs. almost a Lucha Libre style....Razor Ramon was the original opponent for Goldust, but was suspended due failing a drug test. Ramon would serve out the suspension, then head for WCW with Nash....Wrestlemania weekend events including a Slammy Awards at the Anaheim Marriot. The black-tie presentation aired on the USA Network. As a rib on Kevin Nash, he was seated next to the WWF's Ted Turner parody Billionare Ted. Afraid to offend his new bosses, Nash refused and walked away....This event was the first Wrestlemania where the company began issuing main event plaques featuring signed photos of the victor and a piece of the actual ring mat from the show.
Mike Johnson: A mess of a show. Nothing clicked here. They would have been better off advertising it as simply a championship match and doing the 60 minute draw, then having Monsoon say that at Wrestlemania fans deserve a clean finish. WWF fans were bored and watching the clock tick down. The match never really kicks into high gear like you would expect with Bret and Shawn involved. I recall being completely bored watching at home as I expected a classic match and was treated to an endless stream of nothing. WWF was hurting bad at this point as a lot of talented performers (Vader, Owen, Austin) were completely underutilized. WWE pushed the Michaels win as the start of a new generation, but it would be a year later when Steve Austin took the reigns that things really kicked in.
Jess McGrath: Mike is dead-on about what they should have done with Bret and Shawn. Fans at the time were even less into sitting and watching a great match than they are today. The last time that they tried the Ironman match, HHH-Rock, they did a ton of pinfalls and lots of craziness throughout the hour. Here, they did straight wrestling. And I didn't even find it all that interesting. Like Mike, I couldn't wait for them to do the finish everybody knew they were going to do. They would have been better served having the match go to a one hour draw, though I guess some people would have been suspicious if they announced a time limit before the match. I remember there was a lot of hype over the return of Warrior. In particular, they never showed him at all on TV before the match, so it was the "What's he going to look like?" mystery too. A very forgettable Mania. If you've seen Shawn Michaels' ring entrance, you've seen all you need to see.
Buck: My problem with this Wrestlemania was that it seemed very predictable. ... The opening six-man was fine, but nothing special. ... I actually got a kick out of Piper vs. Goldust, but the use of the OJ footage was beyond hokey. ... Austin vs. Vega was actually my favorite match of the show. Vega was so underrated, and Austin was a few months away from starting his huge run with Austin 3:16. ... The Ultimate Warrior squashed Triple H in a match that started up another failed comeback. It also proves that HHH was getting buried even before the clique incident. ... WWE released a statement that Diesel was leaving the company, so the winner of the match with the Undertaker was hardly in doubt. ... I remember being bored with the Ironman match. I love mat wrestling, but after 20 minutes, it became very apparent that they were going to go the full hour with no falls. As a result, it was just waiting for the clock to run down. Still, HBK's entrance would become a permanent Wrestlemania highlight.
Dave Scherer: The best thing I can say about this show is that it was really the last year of the blah WWE product. Thank God that the Attitude era was about to start. With that said, Hart-Michaels and Austin-Vega were good matches, but this just didn't seem like what a WrestleMania should be.
2003 - Kane & Rob Van Dam defeat champions Lance Storm & Sean Morley and The Dudley Boyz in a three way match for the (Raw) World Tag Team Title in San Jose, California during an edition of Raw. On the same show, Bill Goldberg made his WWE debut, interrupting a promo by The Rock and informing him that "He's next" before spearing him.
2008 - WWE gives Ric Flair a "farewell" on Raw the night after Wrestlemania, including a reunion with the Four Horsemen (Tully Blanchard, JJ Dillon, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham). It would be their only televised reunion until later tonight, when they go into the WWE Hall of Fame.
2012 - Ring of Honor held their Showdown in the Sun Night Two iPPV from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of Ring of Honor’s Showdown in the Sun Day 2 from the War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness are in the ring and they welcome everyone to Day Two.
While Nigel and Kevin talk about the Tag Title Match, Jimmy Jacobs comes to the ring. Jimmy says that him and Steve Corino tried to change their ways, but they were stopped by Kevin Steen. Jimmy says that Kevin Steen changed him and he had been celibate for a year when he drove the spike into Steen’s head and he orgasmed for the first time in a year. Jimmy says that Steen was right.
El Generico’s music plays and he comes out.
El Generico punches Jacobs in the corner and Jimmy goes to the floor. Generico with a dive to the floor.
Match Number One: El Generico versus Jimmy Jacobs
Generico punches Jacobs in the head and hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. Generico tries for the arm drag using the ropes but Jacobs crotches Generico on the top rope. Jacobs with a baseball slide. Jacobs sends Generico into the apron and then back into the ring.
Generico punches Jacobs in the corner, but Jacobs rakes the eyes. Jacobs punches Generico and then he snap mares him and continues to punch Generico. Generico gets a few shots in but they do not stop Jacobs. Generico with a clothesline and then he goes to the apron and up top for a cross body and a near fall.
Generico tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Jacobs blocks it. Generico is able to hit a spinning sit out power bomb but Jacobs kicks out at two. Jacobs blocks the running Yakuza kick and then Jacobs gets a near fall after a tornado DDT. Jacobs bites Generico in the mask and then the hand.
Jacobs with a cutter after leaping off the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Jacobs takes some time to go up top and that allows Generico to stop Jacobs. Generico sets for the brainbuster on the turnbuckles but Jacobs stops him. Jacobs pushes Generico off. Generico with an Exploder into the turnbuckles. Generico tries for the Yakuza kick again but Jacobs hits End Time. Generico gets his foot on the ropes and Jacbos releases the hold.
Jacobs pulls out the spike and he prepares to us it while the referee is not looking. Jacobs misses and the spike is in the turnbuckle pad. Generico points to that turnbuckle and looks at the spike and thinks about using it. Jacobs with a rollup and he gets the spike. He misses Generico but Jacobs with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Jimmy Jacobs
A good opener. The crowd was into the action. I thought that we might see Dark Generico return.
Match Number Two: Cedric Alexander (with Caprice Coleman) versus Tomasso Ciampa (with the Embassy)
Ciampa attacks Alexander before the bell and he pulls him to the floor. Ciampa sends him into the guardrails and gets a chair. The referee takes the chair. Alexander sends Ciampa into the apron but Ciampa returns the favor. He puts Alexander in the chair and hits a running boot to the head. Ciamapa rolls Alexander back into the ring and connects with a forearm. He kicks Alexander in the corner.
Alexander with forearms and chops but he misses a kicks. They go for waist locks and switches. Alexander with a half nelson front driver for a near fall. Alexander with a forearm to the head. Alexander charges into the corner but Ciampa moves out of the way. They go to the floor and Ciampa sends Alexander into the guardrails and then hits him with a forearm.
Alexander gets a few near falls when the action returns to the ring. Nana says something to Ciampa to motivate him and he ducks when Alexander charges at him. Ciampa sends Alexander into the turnbuckle and then he goes to the apron and pulls down the knee pad. Ciampa with a running knee to the head. Ciampa hits a second one and gets the three count.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
After the match, Coleman goes after Nana and Ciampa attacks Coleman and hits Project Ciampa.
I thought the match was okay. Alexander looked good in the match. I was not expecting the finish but I guess they were saving Project Ciampa for Coleman after the match. I was also surprised that the Embassy really did not get involved in the match.
Match Number Three: Fire Ant versus TJ Perkins
Each man tries to gain the first advantage in the match. They have a Greco Roman knuckle lock followed by a number of leg sweeps to a stalemate. Perkins with a waist lock take down. Fire Ant with a head butt and arm drag but Perkins with a head scissors and side head lock take down. Ant with an arm bar but Perkins with a take down and side head lock. Ant with a wrist lock take down and a springboard arm drag. Ant goes to the turnbuckles and ropes for a springboard double jump arm drag. Perkins puts Ant into the tree of woe but Ant escapes and hits a rana followed by a drop kick that sends Perkins to the floor.
Ant goes for a dive but Perkins returns to the ring and he drops Ant to the mat and gets a near fall after a leg drop. Perkins with a suplex and a near fall. Perkins tries for the Gory Special but Ant escapes and hits a fireman’s carry followed by a back senton for a near fall.
Perkins goes to the ropes and moves when Ant tries for a dive. Ant with a kick to the head and he hits a suicide dive and then returns to the ring for a flip dive. Ant goes up top while Perkins returns to the ring but Perkins is able to hit a drop kick when Ant comes off the turnbuckles. Perkins with a neck breaker followed by running knees. Perkins tries for a power bomb but Ant counters with a jawbreaker and a Shining Wizard.
Fire Ant gets a near fall after a tornado DDT. Ant with a kick and he puts Perkins on the top turnbuckle. Ant with an enzuigiri. Perkins avoids a reverse piledriver from the turnbuckles and hits a running sit out power bomb for a near fall. Perkins goes up top and hits a 450 splash for the three count.
Winner: TJ Perkins
I thought this match was okay but seemed like it was a half beat off for a Chikara style match. The crowd was into the match at parts but the times when the crowd wasn’t into it, the match seemed to suffer a bit.
They probably showed a segment in the back, but it was not broadcast in the building.
Match Number Four: Adam Cole versus Kyle O’Reilly
They lock up and O’Reilly with an arm drag. They go to a knuckle lock and Cole with an arm drag. They lock up and Kyle with a wrist lock into an arm bar. O’Reilly misses a few kicks and Cole misses a drop kick and they go to a stalemate.
Cole has something to say to Kyle and the referee give Kyle a mic. Kyle tells Cole that he doesn’t deserve to be in this ring with him. He says that he was Future Shock. He tells Cole that he is the reason why he is here.
Cole takes the mic and he says that he will do his best Kyle O’Reilly impersonation and he cries and says ‘I love Davey Richards’ and ‘I have PMS every day.’
Kyle says that he doesn’t watch PBS because he doesn’t have cable.
Cole tells Kyle that he will always be Davey’s little bitch.
Kyle says that Cole will always be his bitch.
Cole tells Kyle to shut his mouth so they can wrestle.
Kevin Kelly gets up from the announce table and yells at Kyle and Adam, wanting to know what is going on.
The mics are down and it is time to wrestle. Kyle with a waist lock take down and Cole with a reversal. Kyle escapes and the crowd chants ‘Davey’s bitch’.
Kyle leaves the ring and threatens to leave but he returns. They lock up and Cole with a side head lock and take down. Kyle with a rollup for a near fall. Kyle with a head scissors and Cole escapes. Kyle returns to the head scissors and Cole tries to bridge out. Cole with an arm drag and O’Reilly tries to roll through and escape but Cole holds on. Kyle with a side head lock.
Kyle with a bow and arrow but Cole with a lateral press for a near fall. Cole with an arm drag into an arm bar. Kyle with a snap mare but Cole with a hammer lock. Kyle escapes and applies a cross arm breaker. Kyle escapes and gets a near fall.
Cole with punches and forearms while Kyle tries to work on the arm. Cole with an enzuigiri and running leg lariat for a near fall. Cole tries for a suplex but Kyle with a knee. Kyle hits a discus clothesline for a near fall. Kyle kicks Cole in the corner and taunts him. Kyle slaps Cole in the head and kicks him in the corner. Cole pushes Kyle away.
Kyle misses a forearm into the corner and Cole with forearms. The referee warns him. Kyle with an Irish whip and running forearm followed by running boot. Kyle with a tornado DDT but Kyle with a shoulder breaker out of a suplex for a near fall.
Kyle with a forearm and Cole with a forearm of his own. They get face to face and each go with forearms until they tire. Then they get a second wind. Cole with a running forearm. Kyle with a running boot to the head. Cole with another forearm. Cole sees Kyle coming off the ropes and hits a super kick and follows it with another kick and gets a near fall.
Cole with a cross body but Kyle rolls through and gets the three count.
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly
The promo during the match really affected the quality of the match. The second part of the match definitely picked up. I thought the finish of the match was real good with Kyle rolling through to get the pin on the move that Cole used to beat Davey Richards at the Tenth Anniversary Show.
Truth Martini comes to the ring and he has something to say. He mentions that today we will have a new champion when Michael Elgin defeats Davey Richards. Truth suggests that the fans are also sick of Davey.
Truth turns his attention to Nigel McGuinness and he makes his way from the announce table. The fans want Nigel to do horrible things to Truth. Truth says that he was kidding.
Bobby Cruise comes out and he tells everyone that they are going to film something for the television show, airing on your local Sinclair affiliate.
It is time for intermission.
We are back from intermission.
Match Number Five: Dual Duel Match: Young Bucks versus All Night Xpress in a Street Fight
The Bucks enter the ring first and they have brooms to wait for Titus and King to come to the ring. King and Titus come through the crowd and throw a trash can into the ring.
Titus and King have street signs and they hit the Bucks. The action moves quickly to the floor and Titus and King are in control. King and Titus work on Nick and they kick him and put a trash can over his head. King with a round kick and Titus with a super kick. They send Nick over the top rope to the floor. They do the same to Matt but with the broomsticks.
Nick hits Rhett with the trash can lid but Titus sends him into the ring post. Titus Irish whips Nick into the guardrail while Kenny sends Matt into the apron. King and Titus send The Bucks into the stage. The Bucks stop Titus and King from sending them onto the stage. Nick with a leaping X Factor to Titus. Matt chokes King on the floor. The Bucks focus on King and send him into the guardrail. Nick grabs the trash can and climbs the turnbuckles before throwing it onto Titus on the floor.
Nick goes to the stage and hits a swanton onto Titus. Matt punches King in the head and then they get the shopping cart. Matt puts King in the shopping cart and he pushes him into a super kick from Nick.
The Bucks return to the ring and pose for the fans. Titus recovers and he gets a chair. Titus hits both Bucks in the ribs and then he hits Matt in the leg a few times. Then he turns his attention to Nick to get revenge for what they did to him. Titus hits Matt in the back. Titus gets another chair but Matt with a jawbreaker.
Nick kicks Titus but Titus sends Nick into the turnbuckles. Titus kicks the chair into Matt’s head and then connects with a clothesline. Nick hits Rhett in the knee with the chair. Nick tries to suplex Rhett into the ring onto the chair but Titus blocks it and he sends Nick to the apron.
They exchange forearms on the apron until Rhett gains control. Nick with an elbow but Titus with a kick to send Nick to the floor. King goes for the running drop kick but he misses Nick. Matt with a double jump DDT onto the apron.
Nick goes for a table but King stops him with a twisting plancha onto Nick. King puts the table into the ring. On the other side of the floor, Titus hot shots Matt on the guardrail. King sets up the table in the ring while Rhett rolls Matt in.
Titus sets for a power bomb and King is on the top turnbuckle. While Titus hits the power bomb through the table, King goes through the table as well on a superplex.
Matt covers King to get the three count.
Winners: Young Bucks
I thought this was a good street fight. I thought having Titus going after the Bucks’ knees was a good thing based on what happened to him in the past.
Mike Bennett comes to the ring with Maria.
The crowd chants CM Punk and Maria says that she has been there and got the t-shirt, but he left her unsatisfied. Last night, the Prodigy proved . . .
The crowd chants ‘Sloppy Seconds’ and Maria says that there is nothing sloppy about her and that she is now with the best.
Mike asks if he can be serious for a minute but he says that he is awesome. He welcomes everyone to the first live Prodigy Service Announcement. ROH came to him and begged for him to be on the show even though he didn’t have a match. He says that people probably wouldn’t have shown up. Mike asks Lance Storm to come out, but he says that Lance is busy healing his wounds from last night. Mike says that he should call himself the World Champion because he is that good. Mike says that they are going to get out of this hell hole of Fort Lauderdale and go to South Beach to hang out with people almost as good looking as him. They are not only going to celebrate that he is the best in the world, but better than the best.
Mike kisses Maria in the center of the ring and it goes for a while.
Match Number Six: Ring of Honor World Tag Team Title Match: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team versus The Briscoes
The referee wants one person from each team to star and it will be Mark and Haas. Haas goes to the floor before locking up and the crowd is not happy with the challengers’ tactics. They lock up and go to a stalemate. Haas with a takedown and he rolls Mark on the mat while in a front face lock. Haas with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Mark with a big boot to the head and then he punches Haas.
Charlie goes to the floor again. Jay goes after Charlie and punches him before sending Charlie into the guardrails. He sends Charlie into a sign a fan is holding. Mark sends Benjamin into the guardrails and then Mark sends Haas into the sign.
Jay sends Haas into the sign one time before sending him back into the ring. Mark with a boot to the head followed by a punch and more kicks. Jay tags in and they hit a double running shoulder tackle. Jay with a European uppercut or two. Jay with an Irish whip but Benjamin pulls Haas out of the corner and Benjamin kicks Jay. Haas kicks Jay in the hamstring.
Benjamin tags in and he continues to work on the leg with an atomic drop to the knee and then he applies a modified Indian death lock until Mark comes in to break things up. Haas tags back in and he kicks Jay. Haas uses the ropes to add pressure to the leg and then he punches Jay in the leg. Jay fights out of the corner but Haas with a take down to prevent Jay from making the tag.
Benjamin tags in and he kicks Jay. Shelton puts Jay in the tree of woe and kicks him. Shelton pulls on the leg until Mark kicks Shelton. Benjamin with a boot to the head while the referee tells Mark to stay in the corner so Mark chews on the tag rope.
Haas tags in and Benjamin with a suplex followed by a slingshot senton by Haas. Benjamin tags in and Jay with a kick to Haas and he makes the tag to Mark. Mark with chops to both men. Mark lands on his feet on a back body drop and hits an enzuigiri on Benjamin. Mark with a drop kick that sends Haas into the corner before he puts Benjamin on the turnbuckles and hits a cross arm driver.
Mark goes to the apron when Haas pulls down the ropes. Benjamin Irish whips Mark into the ring post and he goes to the floor. Benjamin with a knee to Mark and then he Irish whips him into the guardrails. Shelton attacks Mark on the floor while the referee tells Jay to stay in the corner.
Haas tags in and he sends Mark into the turnbuckles followed by an Irish whip and a running shoulder tackle into the corner. Haas with a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Haas continues to ground Mark with a chin lock and body scissors. Jay has had enough and he attacks Haas until the referee warns him. Haas with a snap mare and kick to the back.
Benjamin tags back in and he suplexes Mark. Benjamin puts Mark on the turnbuckles and sets for a super belly-to-back suplex but Mark is able to rotate and he lands on top of Benjamin. Haas and Jay tag in and Jay with punches and a back body drop. Jay with a Yakuza kick to knock Benjamin off the apron. Jay follows that with a super kick to Haas and a plancha onto Benjamin. Jay goes up top for a cross body and gets a near fall.
Jay with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Jay sets for the Jay Driller but Benjamin with a super kick and Haas gets a near fall with a rollup. Mark takes care of Benjamin. Haas with a running boot Mark. Haas and Jay exchange boots to the head and some pleasantries. They each connect with kicks at the same time and all four men are down in the ring.
They all get up at the same time and they face off in the ring. Haas and Benjamin with punches and then it is the Briscoes’ turn until the champions gain control. Haas with a German supelx to Mark and then Benjamin sends Jay to the apron. Benjamin slingshots to the floor and hits a DDT onto the apron.
Haas with an Olympic Slam to Jay and then he signals that it is over. Haas applies the Haas of Pain. Benjamin sends Mark into the guardrails to prevent him from making the save. Jay gets to the ropes and Haas breaks the hold. They set Jay for the Leap of Faith but Mark hits a missile drop kick and Jay rolls up Haas for the three count.
Winners: The Briscoes
After the match, Jay attacks Haas but Benjamin hits Paydirt on Jay. Haas and Benjamin pull Jay into the ring post the hard way. They decide to do it again. They do it a third time and then Haas and Benjamin take the tag title belts. They attack Mark before going to the back.
I thought this was a good match. I thought the finish was good with the way the Briscoes avoided the Leap of Faith. The post match attack was also good. It sets up a potential rematch.
Match Number Seven: Blind Destiny Match: Eddie Edwards versus Kevin Steen
Before the match starts, Steen takes his frustration out on a photo of Jim Cornette.
The crowd is split as the action starts. They lock up and Steen backs Edwards into the corner. Steen misses a punch and Edwards with a forearm. Steen with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Edwards stays on his feet. They have another shoulder tackle and neither man goes down. They talk about another shoulder tackle and we get the same result. The fourth one has no winner. They apply so much force on the shoulder tackles that they go back and forth. Edwards with a kick but Steen with a drop toe hold and a flip leg drop to the head.
Steen with forearms and then he rakes the eyes until the referee warns him. Steen punches Edwards in the face. Steen chokes Edwards in the ropes and then kicks Edwards in the ribs. Steen with a forearm after a punch from Edwards.
Edwards with a boot and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a Codebreaker followed by a rollup for a near fall. Edwards goes for a crossface but Steen gets to the ropes. Edwards with an Irish whip but Steen sends him to the apron. Edwards with forearms and then Steen kicks Edwards when Eddie goes for a shoulder tackle and hits a DDT. Steen with a cannonball.
Steen with a chop but Edwards responds with one of his own. Steen Irish whips Edwards into the stage. Edwards with an elbow and then he tries for a springboard move but Steen pulls him onto the apron. Edwards with a rana on the floor and Steen responds with a power bomb onto the apron.
Steen rolls in to break up the count. The fans want Steen to put Edwards onto the stage and he obliges the fans. Edwards and Steen with forearms and Edwards with a kick. Steen hits a running boot to the head. Edwards sends Steen to the floor and then hits a leaping double stomp from the stage.
They get back to the ring and Edwards runs into a boot but Edwards hits an enzuigiri followed by a backpack stunner for a near fall. Edwards with chops to Steen and he follows with chops and slaps. Steen with a power bomb for a near fall. Edwards tries for the Achilles lock and he applies it. Steen with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: Kevin Steen
This was a match that I was really looking forward to when it was announced and I liked it. I would have preferred more in ring action from the two men and less outside the ring. I want to see more with these two in the ring in the future. I was a bit surprised by the finish but it was something you wouldn’t expect from Steen and Edwards, but it worked for me. At this point, this has been the best match of the show.
Match Number Eight: Blind Destiny Match for the Ring of Honor World Television Title: Roderick Strong (with Truth Martini) versus Jay Lethal
Before the match starts, Tommaso Ciampa comes out with the ROH Television Title belt. Ciampa asks Jay if he missed him much. Ciampa says that the title belt looks better with him than it ever did with Jay. He says that he is a man of his words. When R.D. Evans uses a lot of lawyer talk to say that he is going to give him back his title belt, he is going to do it. Ciampa says that before he hands it to him. He wants Jay to prove that he is a man of his word and give Roddy Strong a title match tonight. If Jay wants to prove that he is the champion, he can beat Strong and he will give Jay the title belt back and tell him that he is the better man.
Lethal tells Ciampa that he will accept the challenge, but if Ciampa is not a man of his word, he will kick Ciampa’s ass.
They lock up and Lethal with a wrist lock but Strong reverses. Lethal with a reversal of his own. Strong goes for the legs and he takes him down to the mat and applies a front face lock. Lethal with a hammer lock but Strong with a reversal and this continues for a few more reversals.
Lethal with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Lethal with an ankle submission while lifting Strong in the air but Strong does not tap out. Lethal with a suplex and then he goes to the apron for a slingshot senton for a near fall. Lethal with a kick to the midsection followed by a chop.
Strong chops back but Lethal outchops the man known for his chops. Lethal with a slap thrown in. Strong with a kick to the knee but Lethal avoids being sent into the turnbuckles. Lethal with a delayed vertical suplex and he gets a near fall. Lethal sends Strong to the apron and Strong tries to send Lethal into the turnbuckles but Jay blocks it and he sends Strong into the turnbuckles before hitting a springboard drop kick and suicide dive.
Lethal stares at Ciampa on the floor and that allows Strong to recover. Strong tries to get Martini to interfere but Lethal stops him. Strong drops Lethal across the ropes and then hits a belly-to-back suplex onto the apron. Strong with a back breaker for a near fall. Strong punches Lethal and gets a near fall. Strong with a chop and Lethal chops back. Lethal with more chops that turn Strong’s chest red but Strong with a kick to stop Lethal.
Strong gets a near fall and then he applies a waist lock. Lethal gets a second wind and he connects with a series of elbows. Lethal with a hip toss and cartwheel but Strong recovers before the drop kick and he applies the Strong Hold and turns it into a Boston Crab. Lethal gets to the ropes and Strong releases the hold.
Strong with a forearm to the bridge of the nose. Strong hits a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. Lethal with punches to Strong followed by chops. Lethal with the hip toss and cartwheel followed by the drop kick and both men are down.
Strong runs into a boot and Lethal with punches to the head. Lethal alternates punches and chops. Lethal with a series of drop kicks. Strong tries for a drop kick but Lethal holds on to the ropes. Lethal hits the handspring back elbow for a near fall. Strong with an inside cradle for a near fall.
Strong with a knee followed by the alley oop gutbuster but Lethal kicks out at two. Strong sets for the Gibson Driver but Lethal counters with a rana and then hits a super kick for a near fall.
Strong with elbows to avoid the Lethal Combination but Jay is able to hit the move. Lethal goes up top for an elbow drop and he hits it but Strong kicks out at two. Jay calls for the Lethal Injection but Strong with a drop kick as Lethal comes off the ropes. Ciampa sends Lethal into the ring post while the referee dealt with Strong on the other side of the ring.
Strong with a suplex that he turns into a gutbuster for the three count.
Winner: Roderick Strong
I thought this was a really good match that would be considered better if it was in front of a different crowd. Lethal and Strong always deliver in the ring. I thought maybe they were going to go for a time limit draw so Ciampa didn’t have to tell Lethal he was the best, but I liked that there was a finish to the match. It sets up a Ciampa/Strong feud as a way to call in the favor as well as House of Truth/Embassy. We have a new favorite match of the show.
Match Number Nine: Blind Destiny Match for the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Title: Michael Elgin (with Truth Martini) versus Davey Richards
Richards with knees but he cannot get Elgin down with a shoulder tackle. He is able to get the big man down with a drop kick. Elgin goes to the apron and Richards kicks Elgin in the back and sends him to the floor. Richards with a suicide dive onto Elgin. Richards kicks Elgin in the chest as he goes around ringside. Davey goes to the turnbuckles while Elgin is on the apron but Elgin blocks it and chops Richards.
They both go onto the turnbuckles but Richards knocks him to the apron. Elgin clotheslines Richards off the turnbuckles and gets a near fall. Elgin with forearms to the chest. Elgin with a delayed vertical suplex and he keeps Richards in the air for close to a minute before making impact and getting a near fall.
Elgin with forearms across the chest while Davey is hanging over the edge of the ring. Elgin with a leg drop across the chest and he gets a near fall. Elgin tries for a power bomb but Davey blocks it and he sends Elgin into the corner and connects with shoulders.
Elgin blocks a running forearm tries for a Death Valley Driver but Richards escapes. Richards goes for a handspring move but Elgin catches Richards on his shoulders and hits Shock Treatment but can only get a near fall. Elgin tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Richards holds on to the ropes.
Richards punches Elgin and Elgin punches back. Elgin with a chop that sends Richards to the mat and it looks like the champion has no idea how to handle his opponent. Elgin with a forearm to the back. Richards with a jawbreaker but Elgin with a shoulder tackle and a German suplex for a near fall.
Elgin with a surfboard. Richards gets to his feet but when he tries to escape Elgin holds on and continues to work on the back. Richards lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt. Richards with kicks to Elgin including an enzuigiri. Richards with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Richards sets for the running forearm but Elgin with a boot.
Elgin with a forearm and it gets Davey angry. Richards with a forearm of his own and it is time for both men connect with forearms. Richards with a series of forearms and a running forearm followed by an Exploder suplex and Richards gets a near fall.
Richards with a running knee to the chest and then he puts Elgin on top. Richards sets for a superplex. Elgin with forearms but Richards with head butts. Richards hits the superplex but Elgin pops up. Richards with a running boot ot the head and it does nothing to Elgin. Elgin with an enzuigiri. Richards with a kick and German suplex followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Richards with an ankle lock but Elgin gets to the floor.
Richards misses the running kick on the apron and Elgin hits a muscle buster on the floor. Elgin hits a running power bomb into the guardrails. Elgin rolls Richards into the ring and he can only get a two count. Elgin goes up top for a moonsault and he hits a twisting senton for a near fall.
Elgin puts Davey on the turnbuckles but Richards applies a key lock and elbows Elgin in the head. Richards tries for a sunset flip power bomb but Elgin holds on to the turnbuckles. Richards crotches Elgin but Elgin knocks Davey to the mat. Davey tries for a German suplex from the turnbuckles but Elgin holds on. Richards with a kick to the head.
Richards hits a super Dragon suplex but Elgin kicks out at two. Richards applies the ankle lock but Elgin gets to the ropes. Davey kicks Elgin in the chest and it looks like Elgin is struggling to stay on his knees. Richards with a third kick and Elgin is on his feet. Elgin pie faces Richards.
Richards with Kawada kicks but Elgin with a cravate and knees to the head. Richards with more kicks and Elgin with more knees. Richards with a kick to the chest and he puts Elgin against the ropes and hits a series of kicks. Elgin with an O’Connor roll into a German suplex for a near fall. Elgin with a kick followed by a suplex into a side slam for a near fall. Elgin with a crossface and Davey almost taps out.
Richards gets his foot on the ropes and the referee tells Elgin to break the hold. Richards is laying on the apron and Elgin goes to the top turnbuckle. Richards with forearms and then Richards with the dragon screw leg whip in the ropes. Richards goes up top and hits a double stomp onto the apron. Richards goes up top for another double stomp for a two count.
Richards hits the running forearm but Elgin with a kick. Richards with a discus clothesline followed by an Exploder suplex for a near fall. Richards gets to his feet first and he signals that it is all over. Elgin blocks a kick but Davey with an enzuigiri. Elgin with a forearm elbow followed by an inverted suplex into an Island Driver for a near fall.
Elgin is the first to his feet this time and Davey looks to be out on his feet. Elgin with a buckle bomb but Ricahrds with a kick. Elgin with a clothesline. Richards with a sunset flip and he rolls into the ankle lock. Elgin counters into a Crossface but Richards gets a near fall with a rollup. Elgin with a kick to the head followed by a back fist and the spinning sit out power bomb for a near fall.
Elgin returns to the crossface and Richards fights to get to the ropes but Elgin rolls through and gets into the center of the ring. Davey goes for the ankle and he is able to get Elgin into the ankle lock. Elgin reaches for the ropes and Richards pulls him into the center of the ring. Elgin with kicks to the head but Richards holds on to the ankle lock. Elgin wants to tap but he rolls through and sends Richards into the corner. Richards with a kick to the head and he only gets a one count. Richards with a series of kicks for a near fall. Richards with a round kick to the head for the three count.
Winner: Davey Richards
After the match, Davey Richards gets on the mic and he says that he gets a lot of crap for his MMA work, but he says that his heart and soul is in Ring of Honor. He says that everyone in this room are a family and they are part of something very special. He thanks everyone for letting him be a part of it. Davey says that it is funny that they call this weekend the Super Bowl of Wrestling because the Super Bowl is on Sunday, but he thinks that there is only entertainment on Sunday and the real Super Bowl was today and last night in this building.
He tells the people in Connecticut and Orlando to save their money because if they came into the ring with him, they will be sent packing.
Davey says that while he got to walk out of the ring with the title, Michael Elgin is the real champion. Davey says that someday, the belt will be Michael’s. . . but not right now. He says that Michael is one hell of a wrestler, an athlete, and a man. He says that when he was in the ring with Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson, he was taught that things will be better if he has the fan’s support instead of Truth Martini.
This was a good main event. It got the best reaction from the crowd. There were a few too many near falls in the last ten minutes for me considering the moves they were hitting. It definitely brought the crowd in the building back into the show.
Thank you for following PWInsider.com’s coverage of Ring of Honor’s Showdown in the Sun Day Two.
