Wrestling History Today - Aug 21st
On this day in history in ....
1961 - A card held in Memphia, TN at the Ellis Auditorium featured the following results:
-Mike Paidouise and Don Green fought Tex Riley and Len Rossi to a no contest in the third fall of their tag bout. With Greene too injured to compete, Paidousie was double teamed by his opponents. The Golden Terror finally hit the ring and threw the heels out of the ring.
-The Golden Terror defeated Ken Hill.
-Jackie Fargo defeated Jesse James.
1962 - Verne Gagne defeats Mr. M (Bill Miller) for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota, starting Gagne's third title reign.
1965 - The Crusher defeats Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in St. Paul, Minnesota, ending Vachon's second title reign, and starting Crusher's third, and final, run with the belt.
1967 - A card held at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, TN featured the following results:
-The Blue Infernos defeated Len Rossi and Herb Welsh in a bout that featured "the ring enclosed with bull wire."
-Jackie Fargo defeated Don Greene.
-Steve Kovacs defeated Jack Vansky.
-Billy Hines fought Billy Garrett to a draw.
-Corsica Joe fought Oki Yamaha to a draw.
1979 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Race's second title reign, and starting the first NWA World Title run for the "American Dream", albeit a short one, as Rhodes lost the title back to Race five days later.
1997 - WCW held the Clash of the Champions XXXV, the final Clash ever, at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Here are the results:
- Steve McMichael defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW United States Title when Eddie Guerrero, while trying to hit McMichael with the U.S. Title belt, accidentally hit Jarrett, allowing McMichael to get the pin.
- Raven defeated Stevie Richards in a No Disqualification match with an Evenflow DDT.
- Alex Wright defeated Ultimo Dragon to win the WCW Television Title with a German suplex and bridge.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Eddie Guerrero after coming out on top of a series of pinfall reversals.
- Psicosis, Silver King, Villano IV & Villano V defeated Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Hector Garza & Lizmark Jr. when Psicosis pinned Calo with a top rope legdrop.
- Ric Flair & Curt Hennig defeated Konnan & Syxx when Hennig pinned Konnan with a Perfectplex.
- WCW Tag Team Champions Scott Hall & Randy Savage (subbing for Kevin Nash) defeated Diamond Dallas Page & Lex Luger when Hall pinned Luger after Page (who had been blinded by a Savage thumb to the eye) accidentally gave Luger the Diamond Cutter.
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran The Elks Lodge in Queens, NY with the following results:
-Spike Dudley & Chris Chetti defeated The FBI, Tracy Smothers & Little Guido.
-ECW World TV Champion Taz defeated Prodigy Tom Marquez.
-ECW World Champion Shane Douglas pinned Al Snow.
-Tommy Dreamer (with Beulah McGillicutty) pinned Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso).
-Chris Candido defeated the debuting PG-187 (PJ Walker).
-ECW Tag Team Champions Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten
-Sabu defeated Bobby Duncum Jr.
-Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Spike Dudley.
-New Jack & John Kronus defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley in a streetfight when New Jack pinned D-Von.
1998 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY with the following results:
-Chris Chetti defeated Danny Doring.
-Jerry Lynn defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
-Spike Dudley defeated Sal E. Graziano.
-Lance Storm defeated Balls Mahoney.
-Masato Tanaka defeated Tracy Smothers.
-Tommy Dreamer defeated Jack Victory.
-Justin Credible defeated the Sandman.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions Sabu & ECW World TV Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido and Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley in an elimination match.
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Dalton, Georgia at the Northwest Georgia Convention Center with the following results:
-Chris Chetti & Nova defeated Simon Diamond & Tony Devito.
-Roadkill defeated CW Anderson.
-Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Super Crazy and Little Guido.
-Uganda defeated Vito Lograsso.
-New Jack defeated Angel.
-Jazz (substituting for the injured Tommy Dreamer) & Francine defeated Steve Corino & Jack Victory.
-Sabu defeated Tracy Smothers.
-Justin Credible defeated Jerry Lynn.
-Spike Dudley defeated Buh Buh Ray Dudley.
-ECW World Champion Taz defeated D-Von Dudley.
2002 - Jerry Lynn defeats defending champion Low Ki and AJ Styles in a ladder match to win the TNA X Division Title in Nashville, Tennessee. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
NWA: Total Nonstop Action for August 21st opened with the first in the best of three series between AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn. This was a Falls Count Anywhere match, which was selected by Styles.
Styles went for a baseball slide as Lynn came to ringside, but Lynn caught him and dropped him across the rail. Lynn pounded Styles on the floor and ran him into the rails. Lynn clotheslined him over the rail to the floor, but AJ came back with a stunner on the rail and a superkick. Styles leaped over the rail onto Lynn for a two count. They traded chops, and Lynn booted a charging Styles as he ran at him. The fans chanted "Jerry" as Lynn crotched Styles on the rail. They went into the crowd, and Lynn rammed Styles into a chair and got a two count on the floor. They brawled into the stands, with Styles tossing Lynn off the side of the bleachers. Styles then flipped over the rail on the bleachers into a senton for a two count on the floor. They battled back to ringside, ramming each other into the rails. Styles went to jump off the rail, but Lynn pushed him back and Styles went down chest first on the rail. Lynn hit a vertical suplex on the ringside floor (which is padded) for a two count. Styles floated over a Lynn suplex in the ring, and the two traded reversals on a reverse DDT before Lynn switched to a stunner for a two count. Lynn went for the piledriver, but Styles flipped over into a facebuster for a two count, but Lynn's foot was on the ropes. Lynn and Styles both tried for a suplex, then Styles turned it into a slingshot neckbreaker. Styles got a two count. Styles went for a rana, and went over the top, taking both men to the floor. Styles covered Lynn for a two count. They traded chops on the rampway, and Styles hit an enzugiri. Styles slammed Lynn on the stage. Styles went for a discus lariat, but Lynn ducked it and hit a spear. They battled up to the top stage, and Lynn bulldogged him off, driving Styles into the steps leading to one of the dance cages. They went back to the stage, and Styles fought back and tried for a piledriver, but Lynn backdropped out of it. Lynn then hit the cradle piledriver on the stage and got the pin.
Jerry Lynn wins the first match, Falls Count Anywhere, with the cradle piledriver.
The TNA Girls danced.
Goldylocks interviewed James Storm and Chris Harris. Harris was smoking again. Harris ripped on Storm for doing the Cowboy gimmick, saying that kept them of TNA for the last few weeks. Brian Lee and Ron Harris walked up to them, making fun of Storm's gimmick. They told Harris he needed to find himself a partner.
Brian Lee & Ron Harris vs. James Storm & Chris Harris was next. Lee started with Storm, hitting a shoulderblock and pounding him down in the corner. He missed a charge, and Storm unloaded with right hands. Storm hit a flying forearm, and gave one to Ron when he ran in as well. Chris Harris hit a double axhandle on Ron, and Lee & Harris regrouped on the floor. The fans chanted "DOA" for Lee & Ron Harris. Ron and Chris faced off, and Chris hit a series of armdrags. Ron bailed out, then reentered the ring. Ron pounded Chris down in the corner, and hit a series of clotheslines in the corner. He missed one, and Chris hit a series of punched and backdropped him to the floor. Chris backdropped Storm over the top rope onto the opposition. Back in the ring, Brian Lee hit a tombstone on Chris Harris after an attempted headscissors in the ring, but Storm broke up the cover. Ron worked over Chris, and hit a twirling sideslam for a two count. Lee applied a chinlock on Chris, keeping him from tagging Storm. Chris broke out and hit a Thesz press, but Lee hit a low blow and tossed him to the floor. Ron and Lee took turns slugging Chris on the floor, while Storm tried to come in, but was stopped by the referee. In the ring, Ron hit a big boot on Chris. Brian Lee came in and covered him with one hand, but Chris got a shoulder up. Chris booted a charging Lee and hit a bulldog. Storm got the tag, and slugged away at both opponents. It broke down into a brawl, with all four men in the ring. Lee was sent to the floor by a double clothesline. A "fan" was trying to help Lee up, and Lee grabbed the fan, flipped him over the rail and started pounding him. Ron was distracted, allowing Chris to hit him from the top rope, and Storm to roll him up for the pin. Chris Harris & James Storm remain undefeated as a team. Ron Harris got Lee to stop hitting the fan, and they got back in the ring to lay out James Storm & Chris Harris, then walked away. The fan was helped up by ring announcer Jeremy Borash.
Mike Tenay and Don West talked about the rest of the card for tonight.
Sonny Siaki vs. Jimmy Yang was next. Jorge Estrada came out with Yang. Siaki charged him as he walked out, and Yang hit him with a spinkick. Mike Tenay said this is a two out of three falls match. Yang beat Siaki around ringside, stopping to get in one of the cages and dance with a TNA girl for a moment. Yang dropped Siaki across the guardrail, and brought him into the ring for a dropkick. Yang rammed him into the buckles, hit him with a back elbow when he reversed a whip, and choked him with a legscissors over the top rope. Yang hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Yang applied a rear chinlock, but Siaki slugged him when Yang went for a backdrop. Siaki hit a lift into a stunner for a two count, but Yang reversed a backslide into a neckbreaker then hit Yang Time (twisting moonsault) to get the pin for the first fall.
Yang went for the leg scissors choke again, but Siaki dumped him to the floor, then flung him into and over the rail. Siaki suplexed him at ringside, and hit a neckbreaker in the ring for a two count. Siaki applied a chinlock, then chopped Yang against the ropes. Siaki missed a clothesline, and Yang hit some chops, but Siaki caught him with a pumphandle slam. Siaki covered Yang for a two count. Siaki whipped Yang into the corner, and stomped him down. Siaki snapmared him and hit a legdrop for a two count. Siaki applied a surfboard, but Yang got out and hit a backslide for two, then Siaki floored him with a lariat. Yang came back with a leg lariat off the second rope after being whipped to the corner. He went for a suplex, but Siaki turned it into a Money Clip (neckbreaker) for the pin for the second fall.
Siaki applied an over the shoulder backbreaker, which he dropped down with, and got a two count, but Yang got his foot on the ropes. Yang caught a rolling single leg crab, but Siaki got to the ropes. Yang applied a spinning toe hold, and a leglace. Siaki made the ropes again, then hit a lariat as they both got up. Siaki placed Yang on the top rope, and hit a superplex. Yang got to his feet and hit a variation on the Shining Wizard (running knee to the head). Yang and Siaki both got up slowly, and started slugging it out. Siaki went for a hiptoss, but Yang flipped out of it and hit a pair of lariats for a two count. Yang hit a spin kick to the gut, then walked up Siaki in the corner and started pounding him. Siaki went to pull him down with a powerbomb, Yang tried to turn it into a rana, but Siaki hoisted him back up and dropped him over his head, so Yang fell chestfirst into the buckles. Siaki went to the top rope, but Yang crotched him. Yang and Siaki battled on the ropes, and Yang hit a top rope neckbreaker. Both men were down, and slowly got up. They exchanged punches. Yang grabbed a small package for a two count. Estrada got on the apron and complained about the count. Yang rolled up Siaki with a bodyscissors, but Siaki reversed it, and held the ropes for leverage for the pin. Siaki wins the deciding fall.
Jeff Jarrett came out, demanding they shut off the music, and complaining about Bob Armstrong and his surprise tonight. Brian Lawler ran out and attacked Jarrett, and security had to separate them as they brawled around ringside. Jarrett was escorted to the back, and Goldylocks came out and asked Lawler what it is that Jarrett did to "piss him off". Lawler took the mic, then ordered Goldy from the ring. Lawler said he would tell the world what Jeff Jarrett did, when Slash came out from under the ring and attacked Lawler before he could say what it was. A referee came in, as Slash is Lawler's scheduled opponent tonight.
Slash hit a reverse DDT/elbow and hung Lawler on the ropes. He sent Lawler to the floor, and whipped him into the rail. Slash choked him with a television cable, and pulled up the mats on the floor. Slash tried to piledrive Lawler, who backdropped out of it. Lawler sent Slash into the rails, and tossed him into the ring. Lawler then clotheslines Slash over the ropes and back to the floor. They battled up the ramp, and Lawler bulldogged him on it. Lawler went for a chair, and the same fan as last week wouldn't let him have it. Lawler went to the top rope instead, but Slash crotched him and hit a top rope superplex on Lawler. Slash covered for a two count. Slash hit the Slash N' Burn (twirling powerbomb) for a two count. Lawler ducked a clothesline and hit a floatover DDT. Lawler started to do his old Too Cool dance. Slash caught a kick to the gut, then Lawler hit an enzugiri. Lawler went for a powerbomb, but Slash hit a low blow and put Lawler on the top rope. Lawler slugged him away as he went for another superplex, and Lawler hit the Tennessee Jam (top rope legdrop) for the pin. Brian Lawler wins over Slash.
Backstage, Jeff Jarrett and Bob Armstrong were arguing. Jarrett promised to take down Armstrong, his surprise, The Truth, and everyone.
The X-Division match was next, with Low Ki defending against all three members of the SAT in an elimination match. This time, all four men were in the ring at once. The SAT attacked Low Ki, who fought them off with kicks. Low Ki hit a series of kicks to the chest of Jose, who ducked the last kick, which hit Joel in the head instead. Red dropkicked Low Ki. Joel kicked Red for a two count. It settled into a tag match. Low Ki hit a powerdrive elbow on Red for a two count. Red went for a rana, but Low Ki turned it into a Ki Krusher attempt, but Red got out and dropkicked him. Jose tagged in, and went for a Tornado DDT on Low Ki, but he blocked it and hit some chops. Low Ki hit a whip, and Jose caught him with the Tornado DDT this time. Joel tagged in, and they hit a double team bulldog on Low Ki for a two count. Joel hit a lariat on Low Ki for another two count. Low Ki hit a kick to the head on Joel, and a springboard rana. Low Ki hit a flip kick in the corner on Joel. Low Ki put Jose and Joel in the corner and hit a kick on them. Red tagged in and hit the Red Star Press on Joel for a two count. There are definitely too many spots for me to type in this match. The SAT hit a cartwheel slam into a neckbreaker (Maximo Impact) on Low Ki. Red hit a DDT on Joel and a spinkick on Jose. Red hit a top rope rana on Jose on the apron, sending him into Joel on the floor. Red then went for a tope on Low Ki, who kicked him in the head as he went for the dive. Low Ki then picked up Red for a Ki Krusher, then decided to fling him over the top rope into the Maximos on the floor. Low Ki then hit a twisting moonsault from the top rope onto the Maximos on the floor. Low Ki put Joel in the ring for a two count. Joel hit a kick to the head to send him to the floor. While they fought on the outside, Jose hit a cross armed facebuster on Red. The Maximos then went at it with each other, with Joel pinning Jose with an Overdrive (spinning Pedigree) for a pin. Jose is eliminated.
Low Ki hit a series of short kicks to the head of Joel (ala Toshiaki Kawada). Red hit a corkscrew legdrop on Joel and pinned him. It was down to Red and Low Ki.
They blocked each others strikes, and Low Ki blocked a flip powerbomb attempt and flung Red backfirst into the turnbuckles. Low Ki called for the Ki Krusher, and lifted Red to the middle rope. Red punched out and hit a kick. Red climbed onto the ropes with Low Ki and went for a rana, but Low Ki blocked it, and got him in position to deliver the second rope Ki Krusher. Low Ki then covered Red for the pin.
Low Ki retains the X Division Title.
The TNA Girls danced.
Goldylocks interviewed Ron "The Truth" Killings. Killings said Monty Brown should be thanking him for freeing the "black sports entertainers" the way Abe Lincoln freed the slaves. He promised to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title.
April Hunter and Slyk Wagner Brown were seated at ringside. Mike Tenay revealed that April Hunter had accepted the open challenge from Bruce, and would be challenging for the Miss TNA crown soon.
Monty Brown challenging Ron Killings for the NWA World Heavyweight Title was next. The two got nose to nose in the ring, then locked up. Brown shoved him off, then mocked his old dance bit. Killings slapped him, and Brown punched him down. They exchanged punches, then Brown hit a splash in the corner and a series of punches. Brown hit a trio of shoulderblocks for a two count. Brown whipped Killings into the corner, but he flipped over and pulled down the top rope so when Brown charged in, he would fall to the floor. Killings hit a plancha on Brown, then tossed him into the steps. They brawled around ringside, and Killings rammed Brown into the table. Killings pulled Brown up onto the table, but Brown fought back. Brown called for the Alpha Bomb, but Killings battled out of it and off the table. They continued to fight on the floor, and Brown hit an overhead belly to belly suplex on the outside. Back in the ring, Brown got a two count. Brown hit a series of chops, but Killings came back with a reverse legsweep. Killings went to the top and hit a legdrop for a two count. Killings applied a reverse chinlock, but Brown elbowed out and hit a sunset flip for a two count. Brown hit a reverse elbow, but Killings hit a spinning leg lariat for a two count. Killings hit a boot on a charging Brown, and went for a suplex, but Brown blocked it and hit a snap suplex. Brown hit a series of rights as the two got up, and hit a running powerslam. Brown hit a splash, but Killings kicked out at two. Killings floated over a charge, did a split to avoid clotheslines twice, then hit an ax kick for a two count. Brown floated over a slam, and went for the Alpha Bomb. Killings reversed into the Consequences, but Brown reversed again into the Alpha Bomb, only to have Killings slowly go over him into a sunsetflip for the pin. Ron Killings retains the title.
Jeff Jarrett ran out and hit the referee and Brown with a chair. He went to hit Killings, but he stopped him. Jarrett and Killings slugged it out, and Brian Lawler ran out and attacked Jarrett. All three men surrounded Jarrett, and Killings held him for a Lawler chairshot. Jarrett moved, and Lawler clocked Killings with the chair by mistake. Jarrett took off as security ran out the break things up.
The TNA Girls danced.
Goldylocks interviewed Jerry Lynn. Lynn said the feud with AJ Styles would end tonight, and that Styles would respect him tonight. Styles attacked Lynn, and the two brawled out to the arena. The bell rang to begin their second fall, where it is No Disqualification. They fought on the floor, then made it to the ring, where Lynn yanked Styles throat first across the top rope. Lynn pulled out a table and set it up at ringside. Styles attacked, and tossed Lynn back into the ring. Lynn hit a shoulderblock on Styles and tried to powerbomb him through the table. Styles blocked it and tried a dive from the ring, but Lynn avoided it. Lynn set the table back at ringside. Lynn grabbed a chair and came in, but Styles tripped him and legdropped the chair across his face. Styles wedged the table between the top and middle rope. They went into a series of reversals, and Lynn ended up with a catapult into the chair. Lynn covered for a two count. Lynn worked over Styles with chops in the corner. Styles reversed a whip, but Lynn caught him with a guillotine legdrop when Styles tried to shoulderblock him between the ropes. Lynn tried a Tornado DDT off the apron into the table, but AJ blocked it and clotheslined Lynn into the ring. Styles hit a slingshot splash for a two count. Styles kicked Lynn in the corner. The two collided on a clothesline, and both fell on a chair that was laying in the ring. Lynn went for a sunset flip, but Styles had his hands on the chair and hit Lynn with it for a two count. Styles missed a chair shot, and Lynn kicked the chair into Styles face. Lynn got a two count. Lynn put Styles on the top rope, then DDT'd him into the chair in the ring. Lynn refused to pin him though. Lynn put AJ on the top rope, and went for a superplex, but Styles fought him off. Lynn crotched Styles on the top turnbuckle, and hit a rana from the top to the outside, with Styles going through the table setup at ringside earlier. Lynn slowly rolled Styles in the ring, and covered him, but Styles kicked out at two. Lynn placed a chair in the middle of the ring, and put Styles on the top rope. Styles flipped over him and went for a powerbomb, but Lynn tried to turn it into a rana. Styles blocked it and hit the Styles Clash on the chair for the pin. Styles wins the second fall.
This began the ten minute Ironman match. With Lynn still down, Styles pinned him twice in a row, with Lynn kicking out on the third, giving Styles a 2-0 lead. Lynn hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Lynn hit punches on Styles and applied a sleeper, which Styles reversed into his own sleeper. Two minutes gone. Lynn battled up in the sleeper, and elbowed free, but was yanked down by the hair. Styles put him in a reverse chinlock, looking to run the clock out. Lynn elbowed out again, but Styles flipped over a back suplex. Styles went for a rana, Lynn blocked it, and both men went headfirst into the mat as he shoved him off. Lynn grabbed a quick pin. 2-1, Styles. Lynn went for the piledriver, but Styles backdropped him off. Styles hit a kick to the face. Five minutes gone. Styles hit a forearm, but missed a charging kick in the corner. Lynn hit a legdrop off the bottom rope for a two count. Lynn slammed Styles, then went to the top rope, but Styles stopped him and hit a crucifix bomb into a DDT for a three count (it looked like Lynn kicked out). 3-1, Styles. Three minutes left. Styles hit a forearm and pounded Lynn on the ropes. Low Ki came out on the top stage with a ladder and stared at them. Two minutes left. Lynn turned a powerslam attempt into a tombstone and got the pin. 3-2, Styles. Lynn went for the piledriver, had it blocked, then hit a Styles Clash on Styles for the pin. 3-3, tie. One minute left. Styles went for a backslide, two count. Sunset flip by Lynn into a series of reversals for a two count. Backslide attempt by Lynn, low kick by Styles. Styles went for a piledriver as time ran out, but Lynn kept blocking, so Style tried to maneuver Lynn into a pinning position, and got a two count, but Lynn kicked out and time ran out. It was a tie.
Low Ki came down to the ring, as both men staggered up. Lynn raised the hands of both men, then kicked them both down. Low Ki went back to the ladder and his title belt. Low Ki said that the X-Division was not about Jerry Lynn or AJ Styles, it was about the man that held the belt. Low Ki said that next week they would both get a title shot, under his rules, a Triple Ladder match. He said it was not the "size of the fighter, but the size of the fight he will bring" and that Lynn, Styles and TNA should be ready.
Backstage, referee Scott Armstrong was talking to a dressing room door, apparently telling his dad not to "do it" and trying to keep Goldylocks from listening in. The announcers assumed that Bob Armstrong would be coming out as "The Bullet" to take on Jarrett.
Jeff Jarrett came to the ring, and demanded the surprise. Out came the masked Bullet, and Jeff Jarrett mocked him, then attacked him at ringside. Jarrett rammed him into the rails, then tossed him into the ring. Jarrett took the mic and mocked Bullet as he stomped him. Jarrett said he could have given him a battle twenty years ago, but not now. Jarrett said he was going to unmask him after giving him the Stroke. Jarrett went for the Stroke, but Bullet elbowed out and started slugging Jarrett. Bullet clotheslined him to the floor. Bob Armstrong suddenly appeared on the top stage with a chair, and Jarrett realized that the man in the ring was not Bob Armstrong. Jarrett ran off as the show ended, and we still don't know who the mystery man was behind the Bullet mask.
Next Week:
- Low Ki vs. Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles in a Triple Ladder match for the X-Division Title.
2002 - WWE issued the following press release for their first quarter earnings for 2022:
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results: Revenues of $88.1 Million and Earnings Per Common Share of $0.04
STAMFORD, Conn.--Aug. 21, 2002--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended July 26, 2002.
Total revenues for the quarter were $88.1 million as compared to $90.7 million in the prior year quarter. Net income was $2.5 million versus $12.0 million in the first quarter last year. In the current quarter, the Company recorded a favorable settlement with the Parents Television Council (PTC) on an after-tax basis of $2.2 million. The prior year quarter included an after-tax gain of $5.8 million associated with the revaluation and sale of certain equity investments. Earnings per common share were $0.04 for the quarter. Free cash flow (net income plus depreciation and amortization less capital expenditures and payment of long-term debt) for the first quarter was $3.0 million as compared to $7.7 million in the prior year quarter.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding the gain from a favorable PTC litigation settlement (EBITDA) were $2.2 million versus $7.1 million last year.
"This was a difficult quarter as we experienced softness in our key drivers particularly in our television ratings and pay-per-view buys," said Linda E. McMahon, Chief Executive Officer. "During the past few months we focused on establishing two separate and unique brands and introduced a number of new talent and roster changes to both our SmackDown! and Raw brands. As we blend our talent into increasingly more compelling story lines with longer story arcs, we expect to see a positive impact on our attendance, ratings, and pay-per-view buys," said Mrs. McMahon.
"As our brand extension strategy fully engages, we expect our U.S. based touring to improve. On the international touring front, we continue to build on the momentum we established earlier in the year. We recently held our Global Warning Tour in Melbourne, Australia and set a new attendance record at Colonial Stadium where we played to an extremely enthusiastic crowd of approximately 56,700 who attended our first live event tour on the continent in nearly two decades," added Mrs. McMahon.
"Earlier this month we announced initiatives to realign our operating expenses and we expect to see the benefits of these initiatives in subsequent quarters. We are confident that the positive impact of our brand extension and international expansion strategies, together with the reduction and realignment of our operating budgets, will lead to operating results that more accurately reflect the strength of our businesses," concluded Mrs. McMahon.
First Quarter Results
Total revenues were $88.1 million for the quarter. Increases in Branded Merchandise revenues were offset by declines in Live and Televised Entertainment revenues.
Live and Televised Entertainment
Total revenues for our Live and Televised businesses for the quarter were $67.8 million as compared to $72.4 million in the same period last year.
Live Event revenues increased 28% to $19.0 million.
There were 87 events, including 4 international events, during the quarter. This compares to 43 events, including 1 international event, during the same period last year.
Attendance increased 20% to approximately 500,400. This includes attendance of 37,100 from our international live event tour. Total attendance in the prior year quarter was 418,100, which included attendance of 16,000 from our international live event.
The average ticket price increased approximately 7% to $37.92.
Pay-Per-View revenues declined 24% to $19.2 million versus $25.4 million in the prior year quarter.
Total domestic pay-per-view buys for the quarter were 1.1 million as compared to 1.6 million in the prior year quarter.
Television Rights Fees revenues increased to $12.9 million primarily due to the Divas Special on TNN and growth in international rights fees.
Television Advertising revenues were $16.7 million as compared to $19.5 million last year. This decrease was principally due to the impact of lower television ratings.
Branded Merchandise
Total revenues were $20.3 million for the quarter versus $18.3 million last year.
Licensing revenues were $3.1 million as compared to $0.6 million in the prior year quarter. The variance was principally due to the timing of cash receipts of $3.1 million in the prior year that were reflected in the second quarter of Fiscal 2002.
Consistent with the industry, we are seeing signs of strength in video game software as evidenced by WWE WrestleMania X8 which was the #1 GameCube title on the market and #7 on the top 100 video game titles for the month of June.
We have seen a substantial reduction in sales of our action figures as compared to the prior year.
Merchandise revenues increased 27% to $6.3 million as compared to $5.0 million in the prior year quarter. The growth in revenues was due to increases in attendance from the additional live events associated with our brand extension as well as an increase in per capita spending to $8.93 from $7.51 in the first quarter last year.
Publishing revenues were essentially flat at approximately $4.0 million as compared to the same period last year.
Home video revenues increased 26% to $3.5 million from $2.8 million due to a 36% increase in the number of units sold. The number of titles sold in DVD format accounted for about 50% of total units sold versus approximately 18% in the prior year quarter.
According to Billboard Magazine, 6 of our home videos ranked among the 10 best selling home videos in the "Recreational Sports" category as of August 2002.
The World revenues declined 32% to $2.3 million. Revenues continue to be soft principally as a result of the decrease in ratings and the decline in tourism in Times Square.
Profit Contribution
Total profit contribution for the quarter was $29.6 million as compared to $32.4 million in the prior year quarter. Total profit contribution margin decreased to 34% from 36%.
The profit contribution margin for the Live and Televised businesses was approximately 34% versus 38% in the first quarter last year primarily reflecting the decline in pay-per-view revenues.
The profit contribution margin for the Branded Merchandise businesses was 33% as compared to 25% during the same period last year due in part to increased licensing revenues.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A; expenses for the quarter were $23.9 million as compared to $25.3 million last year. The current quarter included a gain from a favorable settlement of a lawsuit against the PTC, L. Brent Bozell III, Media Research Center, and others. This gain was partially offset by an increase in advertising expenses.
As previously announced, the Company reduced and realigned its operating budgets, including a 3% reduction in the workforce, by approximately $20 million which will be reflected throughout the course of the year.
Balance Sheet
Total assets as of quarter end were $456.1 million which includes $277.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $51.0 million in receivables. Long-term debt, including the current portion, as of quarter end was $9.8 million and shareholders' equity totaled $362.7 million.
Capital expenditures for the quarter totaled approximately $2.2 million.
During the quarter, the Company repurchased 2,307,692 of its Class A common shares from NBC at $12.00 per share for a total cost of approximately $27.7 million. The Company also purchased 180,800 shares of our Class A stock at an average price of $10.24 per share in the marketplace as part of its previously announced stock buyback program. The total amount of Class A common stock purchased represents approximately 3% of total common shares outstanding. The total number of common shares outstanding is 70.4 million shares.
-0-
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
As of
---------------------
July 26, April 30,
2002 2002
---------------------
Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments $ 277.0 $ 294.1
Other current assets 67.6 81.5
Property, plant and equipment and other assets 111.5 111.8
---------------------
Total Assets $ 456.1 $ 487.4
=====================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities $ 83.6 $ 88.1
Long-term debt, including current portion 9.8 9.9
---------------------
Total Liabilities 93.4 98.0
Stockholders' Equity 362.7 389.4
---------------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 456.1 $ 487.4
=====================
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
July 26, July 27,
2002 2001
-----------------------
Net revenues $ 88,147 $ 90,669
Cost of revenues 58,519 58,266
Selling, general and administrative expenses 23,903 25,256
Depreciation and amortization 2,814 2,240
-----------------------
Operating income 2,911 4,907
Interest income, net and other income, net 929 14,540
-----------------------
Income from operations before income taxes 3,840 19,447
Provision for income taxes 1,312 7,455
-----------------------
Net income 2,528 11,992
=======================
Earnings per share - Basic and Diluted $ 0.04 $ 0.16
=======================
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares:
Basic 71,110,001 72,932,384
=======================
Diluted 71,129,655 72,948,392
=======================
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, food and beverage, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated.
2004 - Staten Island, New York's Sportsfest, which held numerous Extreme Championship Wrestling events in the late 1990s has shut down and was taken down by wrecking ball. The Sportsfest property, which housed batting cages, indoor golf, video games, and a bowling alley under a huge bubble, was sold and will be turned into housing units, according to an article last week in The Staten Island Advance. The Sportsfest bubble, which had been a local landmark in the area, is already torn down. Extreme Championship Wrestling debuted in the venue in August 1996, headlined by Sabu pinning Rob Van Dam. The promotion ran regular house shows in the venue, including an infamous one which saw police and three ambulances called after a riot involving the Dudley Boyz. After ECW closed up shop, a number of independent promotions including USA Pro Wrestling, Primetime Wrestling and Impact Championship Wrestling ran the venue as well. The Sportfest was also home for the birth of what later became known as the "Strictly ECW" movement as NYC fan Anthony Lewis began collecting signatures at the August 1996 debut ECW event to protest ECW losing its timeslot on the Madison Square Garden network. Lewis' efforts started a near-political career which led to the Strictly ECW group spearheading campaigns to help the company burst onto PPV the following year and get onto cable provider Cablevision when it was the lone holdout of ECW PPVs. There were a number of people within the promotion, including owner Paul Heyman, who publicly cited Lewis as helping the company's growth as well as saving ECW's first PPV "Barely Legal."
2004 - Christopher Daniels won the 3PW championship in the main event of a card promoted at the ECW Arena. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
3PW returned to Philadelphia, PA on Saturday 8/21 at the ECW Arena, drawing an announced 539 paid for what was the strongest match in the history of the promotion, a Four-Way 3PW championship bout with champion Joey Matthews vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles vs. Chris Sabin.
The show opened with Commissioner Tod Gordon coming out to make a number of announcements, including the rules of the two championship matches. Tod also warned Jasmin St. Clair that he was going to get revenge for her Pitbulls (Mike Kruel & Gary Wolfe) taking out Gordon's sex slave (you can't make this up) Talia at the last show. 3PW champion Joey Matthews came out and cut a hell of a promo, noting that Tod has thrown everyone he can against him, including Sabu, Raven, Low Ki, Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles but he's come out on top and defeated all of them. He said that Tod was trying to stack the deck by putting him in the ring with three contenders at once. He said that if there wasn't a rule that the wrestlers couldn't hit the Commissioner, he'd kick the hell out of him.
Gordon went to leave the ring when the ECW theme song started to play and out powerwalked Matt Stryker, dressed like Paul Heyman down to the cap, ponytail, laminates, telephone and all. The crowd popped huge for this and chanted ECW. Stryker had Heyman down pat, even down to the way Heyman would put his leg through the ropes and look to the crowd when he entered the ring. Stryker began talking like Heyman and told Gordon he was "Guilty as Charged." Gordon ran down Stryker and told him since he was goofing around, and didn't have a partner, he would be out of the Tag Team Royal Rumble. Stryker dropped character and said he was just kidding. Gordon sent him out of the ring to the back, putting over the idea that Stryker's partner Rob Eckos wasn't on the same page because of Matt's impressions. Stryker's work was awesome here but the segment started to fizzle a little after he hit the ring.
*Ruckus pinned Slyk Wagner Brown in the opener. The crowd was really into this. Ruckus wore his Blackout t-shirt from his CZW gimmick to the ring.
*Next was the Tag Team Royal Rumble to determine the first 3PW Tag Team champions with two teams starting out and a new team hitting the ring every five minutes. See Notes as to why. It started out with Matt Stryker coming out dressed like one of the Bushwhackers. The second team was Double Trouble, Jack Victory and Rockin' Rebel. After it appeared that Stryker was without his partner, the Bushwhacker music began again with Rob Eckos coming out dressed like a Bushwhacker. Eckos easily got the biggest pop of his career. They did a lot of Bushwhacker trademark moves including biting both guys on the butt and doing the battering ram.
They were eliminated, with the next team out being Pitbulls 2004 (Gary Wolfe and Mike Kruel with Jasmin St. Claire). Kruel and Wolfe need matching outfits if we're supposed to take them seriously as a team. Everyone battled until the next team out was Stryker and Eckos, this time as Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik. Eckos as the Sheik had bananas tied to his boots. Stryker was dressed as Volkoff and sang the Russian national anthem in the middle of the ring. Everyone dumped him over and he kept singing all the way back to the locker room, making up lyrics to the song as he walked.
Next out was The Blue Meanie and Roadkill. By this point, everyone was just brawling and using weapons including an air horn and the ring bell to get pops for the crowd. You could see that while they were stalling for time (see below) everyone was having a blast, especially Jack Victory. It was fun to watch live. Double Trouble was finally tossed out. Slyk Wagner Brown and April Hunter were in next. Gary Wolfe was slamming a chair down across Hunter's back outside the ring. Out came Stryker and Eckos, this time as the Road Warriors. The crowd loved that. They were tossed out again. The crowd chanted "We Want Stryker" through the remainder of the match.
It came down to Wagner and Hunter defeating the Pitbulls in 50 minutes total for the belts. Tod Gordon hit the ring at one point and clotheslines St. Clair, so it looks as if they are building to a mixed match there.
After an intermission, they went into a three match impromptu deal. The first bout saw Monsta Mack vs. CJ O'Doyle, which went to a no contest when Brown and Hunter hit the ring and broke it up. This led to Hunter ripping on O'Doyle and pinning him in 31 seconds after locking on a claw around his testicles. Mack came back to the ring and said he was tired of not winning matches because people interrupt his bouts. He challenged Roadkill to a match (see Notes) with Roadkill getting the win.
The main event was the aforementioned Four-Way 3PW championship bout with champion Joey Matthews vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles vs. Chris Sabin, going about 49 minutes total. Based on crowd reactions, the crowd was there to see Daniels and Styles. Styles got a huge reaction. This was Sabin's debut as he was booked when Jerry Lynn pulled out citing his shoulder problems. This was easily the best match in the history of the company and had it happened in ROH, fans would be abuzz online about Joey Matthews' work and posting about a "match of the year" candidate. Matthews' work was even more impressive since he got his bell rung about 18 minutes in when Styles and Sabin did a double running flip dive over the ropes on Matthews and Daniels on the floor, with Styles cracking Matthews in the head as he came down. Matthews pinned Sabin at 23:02. Daniels hit Last Rites on Styles, but Matthews jumped atop for the pin at 30:51. The crowd booed heavily at Styles' elimination. Matthews and Daniels went back and forth with Daniels hitting Last Rites in a little over 40 minutes for the pin. The building exploded for the title change. This was easily the best match in the two plus year of the company.
Notes: This was easily the promotion's most heated show I've attended, as the crowd was into everything and all the characters....Christopher Daniels arrived late in the show, due to his flight out of Atlanta, Georgia being delayed two hours. The promotion stretched the time of the Royal Rumble and added the Mack vs. Roadkill match as a way to give the main eventers more time to prepare....Backstage, the promotion debuted a female interviewer named Bailey who did promos with the main eventers that will end up as extras on the DVD release of the show....The promotion's next event will be Saturday 10/16. The promotion's 9/18 date was canceled by the venue as it will be hosting a boxing event. The building approached 3PW asking them to cancel the September date last week and after 3PW turned down the request, the building pulled the trigger and took the date back anyway.....For more information on 3PW, visit 3PWrestling.com....The video of the show is available at www.smartmarkvideo.com.
2005 - WWE held Summerslam 2005. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
Brief Heat Recap
- Jonathan Coachman and Todd Grisham hosted the show.
- Lilian Garcia interviewed Kurt Angle, who said Eugene taking his gold medals was "criminal", and promised to show that he was the "most vicious son of a b****" in WWE tonight.
- Diva Search Winner Ashley interviewed fans as to who would win in the Michaels-Hogan match tonight. She also interviewed the Fabulous Moolah (picked Hogan) and Mae Young (picked Michaels).
- They showed a video package on Hulk Hogan and John Cena at the Teen Choice Awards.
- Josh Mathews interviewed a confident Orlando Jordan, who said he was going to knock out Chris Benoit tonight.
- Dominick was shown arriving with Mrs. Crabtree (and Michael Cole called her that, so that is the name they are going with), the social worker.
- In the sole match of the show, Chris Masters defeated Hurricane, with Super Stacy & Rosey, with the Masterlock. Masters slapped Stacy's rear end as she left the ring to start the match, and also took out Rosey with a clothesline at ringside.
- The rest of the show was made up of recap videos to set up the various matches on the show, as well as video packages on the Diva Search and the Summerslam Press Conference.
Summerslam
The Navy Ceremonial Guard presented the nation's colors and Lilian Garcia sang the National Anthem to start the show. A "USA" chant then started.
A video package on the top matches on the show was then aired, focusing on all eight of the announced matches for tonight, with the most time spent on Hogan-Michaels.
Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman were the announcers for the Raw matches, with Michael Cole and Tazz handling the Smackdown matches.
U.S. Champion Orlando Jordan vs. Chris Benoit.
They locked up at the bell, and Orlando hit him with a sucker punch as the referee separated them in the corner. Orlando went for another punch, but Benoit ducked it and hit a German suplex. Benoit then locked in the Crippler Crossface and got the tapout win in about 20 seconds.
Winner and new U.S. Champion: Chris Benoit.
Backstage, Eddie Guerrero was approached by his wife. She said that Guerrero didn't care about Dominick, she just wanted to hurt Rey. Eddie said she was crazy, and that he wanted Dominick to carry on the Guerrero name. Eddie's wife said she loved him, and she knew that Eddie was a good person. She said Eddie would not defeat Rey tonight, because she knew deep down Eddie didn't want to hurt Rey by taking Dominick from him. Eddie took that to mean that she didn't believe he could beat Rey, so he ordered her out of the dressing room. Eddie then sat down, and seemed to be trying to convince himself that he could beat Rey.
It was mentioned that tonight's show was being beamed to the Wolverine Army hospital for free.
A video package on the Matt Hardy-Lita-Edge situation was shown.
Edge, with Lita, vs. Matt Hardy.
They started going at it on the floor as Hardy ran down to the ring. They brawled at ringside, until Edge slid into the ring. Hardy came after him, tackling him and punching Edge on the mat. Hardy jumped on Edge's back and put him in a rear naked choke. Edge put his foot on the ropes, and Matt broke the hold, and Edge rolled to the floor. Matt went after Edge, pounding him, and Edge rolled back into the ring. Hardy hit more punches in the corner, until Edge hit a headbutt. Edge threw some punches at Hardy against the ropes. The fans chanted that Lita was a "crack whore" and that she had herpes. Edge hit a spear on Hardy through the ropes, as Hardy stood on the apron, and the two went down on the floor.
Edge got up first and threw Hardy back in the ring. Hardy hit some punches, and started working over Edge in a corner. Edge dropped Hardy face first on the ringpost as Hardy was punching him in the corner. Hardy fell to the floor, and when he got up, he was bleeding from the head. Edge hit Hardy with right hands to the head, with the referee backing him up so he could check the cut. Hardy told Edge to bring it on, and Edge hit a series of knees to the head. Hardy was wearing the "Crimson Mask" as Edge kicked Hardy in the head. The announcers discussed the possibility that Matt suffered a concussion when he hit the ringpost. Hardy collapsed on the mat, and Edge smiled. Edge kicked Hardy in the head again. The referee stopped the match at the six minute mark and awarded it to Edge. The crowd booed and groaned a the announcement.
Winner: Edge.
A dazed Hardy was left laying on the mat, two referees attending to him, as Edge and Lita left triumphant. Hardy walked to the back eventually, with the referees helping him.
A video package on the events leading to the Ladder match were shown.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio, Ladder Match for custody of Dominick.
Dominick was sitting in the front row with the social worker, and Eddie patted him on the head as he came out to the ring. The custody papers are in a briefcase hung above the ring, and the first wrestler to grab the briefcase will win the match, and the kid. A ladder was placed in the aisle. Rey did his jumping bit off a lift, but then walked to the ring with a serious look on his face. Rey went up to Dominick and said something to him, then kissed him on the head. Dominick smiled a little. Rey went into the ring, and Eddie got back out and stood in front of Dominick, then shook hands with the social worker.
The bell rang, and an "Eddie sucks" chant rang out. Rey and Eddie trash talked each other in the ring, and Eddie hit a knee to the gut to start. The referee for the match, Charles Robinson, stood at ringside, since anything goes in a Ladder match. Guerrero hit a back suplex, but Rey came back with a leapfrog and a monkey flip, sending Guerrero to the floor. Rey went outside as well, but Guerrero threw him into the ringsteps, and then into the ladder in the aisle. Guerrero dragged the ladder to the ring, and set it up and started climbing. Rey got to the apron and hit a springboard dropkick to knock Eddie off the ladder. Eddie rolled to the floor and grabbed a second ladder at ringside. Eddie put the ladder in the ring after struggling with Rey over it. Rey tossed Eddie to the floor, and dropkicked a ladder into him.
Eddie was down on the floor, with a ladder on top of him. Eddie got up, picking up the ladder on the floor, and Rey hit a springboard senton to the floor, knocking Eddie back down. Rey started to climb the ladder in the ring, and Eddie got in and climbed up the other side. They slugged it out on the ladder, and Eddie got higher than Rey, but before he could unhook the briefcase, Rey hit him in the gut. Eddie rammed Rey head first into the ladder, then went for a sunset flip-style powerbomb off the ladder, but Eddie fell to the mat first, and Rey awkwardly fell after him, so there were boos from the crowd. Eddie hit Rey with the ladder, then avalanched him with it in the corner. Eddie brought in a second ladder, then dropkicked the first one into Rey as he got up with it.
Eddie slammed Rey on one ladder, then sandwiched him with the second ladder. Eddie the hit a slingshot somersault senton, squishing Rey between the ladders. There was a "Holy S***" chant for the spot. Eddie hit Rey with a ladder twice in the corner, then set up another ladder under the briefcase. Eddie started to climb, but Rey bridged the second ladder against the first on a slant, and walked up his newly constructed ramp to stop Guerrero. Rey backdropped Eddie onto the slanted ladder, but the whole thing collapsed, and Rey took a scary fall with his legs hitting the side of a ladder. Rey set up a ladder and started to climb, but Eddie dropkicked the ladder over. Eddie bridged a ladder across the top rope in a corner. Rey charged Eddie and went for a rana, but Eddie tossed him backwards and Rey went gut first into the ladder in the corner.
Eddie set up a ladder and began climbing, but Dominick ran into the ring and tried to shake the ladder. He was ineffective, but Eddie noticed what he was doing and turned around. Eddie got off the ladder and yelled at Dominick, saying he "could have fallen". Eddie told Dominick to give him a hug, and asked Dominick "if he loved him". Dominick shook his head no. Guerrero said Dominick was going to learn to be a Guerrero, and went to slap him, but Rey stopped him (not really, it was awkward) and started punching it out with Guerrero. Rey put Guerrero against the ropes with a ladder in front of him, and hit a 619 into the ladder, into Guerrero. Guerrero fell to the mat with the ladder on top of him, and Rey hit a springboard legdrop onto the ladder on top of Guerrero.
Rey set up the ladder over Guerrero's body and climbed up. Eddie followed him, and put Rey on his shoulders as if to go for an Electric Chair. Rey spun around, went into a sunset flip and powerbombed Guerrero off the ladder to the mat. Rey climbed the ladder again, but Eddie kicked the ladder out from under him. Rey held onto the cable that held the briefcase, but fell off, and Eddie caught him and, in one motion, powerbombed him. Eddie set up the ladder so the bottom rung was across Rey's chest, trapping him. Eddie climbed up the ladder, trash talking Rey. Eddie grabbed the briefcase, but was unable to unhook it. Rey managed to sway the ladder and knock it down, but Eddie held onto the cable, and was swinging back and forth above the ring. Rey grabbed Eddie by the legs and pulled him down, and the briefcase remained above the ring. Eddie gave Rey the Three Amigos vertical suplexes, hitting the third across a ladder on the mat.
Eddie set up a ladder, and started climbing again. Eddie's wife Vicki ran down as Eddie was about to grab the briefcase, got into the ring, and yelled at him not to do it. Eddie was going to do it anyway, so Vicki knocked the ladder down and Eddie crashed to the mat. Vicki seemed shocked at what she had done. Rey set up the ladder and started to climb. Eddie crawled towards the ladder, but Vicki held Guerrero back, even jumping on his back to keep him down on the mat. Rey got to the briefcase, unhooked it, and fell to the mat at the twenty one minute mark.
Winner: Rey Mysterio.
Dominick ran into the ring and hugged Rey. Eddie stared at his wife, who left the ring. Angie, Rey's wife, came to ringside, and embraced Rey and Dominick. Guerrero started to throw a tantrum in the ring, and Rey ran in and knocked Guerrero out with the briefcase, then rejoined his family in the aisle.
Todd Grisham interviewed Chris Jericho, who said that "the time is now" (making reference to Cena's music) for him to win the WWE Title. Jericho said Cena was the "flavor of the month" and that he defeated "legendary figures" in The Rock and Steve Austin to become the first Undisputed World Champion. Jericho said he too was a legendary figure, and that tonight he would win the title so that everyone (including Eric Bischoff) had a champion they could be proud of.
Eugene, with Christy Hemme, vs. Kurt Angle.
Angle's pyro went off late, as he was already walking down the aisle when it went off. Angle walked right across the ring and slapped Eugene, then pounded him down in a corner. Angle stomped Eugene, but missed a clothesline and Eugene hit a spinebuster. The crowd was booing Eugene. Eugene went for a People's Elbow, but Angle popped up and hit a clothesline. Angle pounded Eugene with punches on the mat. A "Let's Go Angle" chant rang out. Angle hit a pair of German suplexes, then drove his knee into Eugene's throat. Eugene mounted a comeback with punches, but missed a splash in the corner and Angle hit a German suplex. Angle threw Eugene to the mat by his hair and stepped on his throat. Angle rammed Eugene into the corner, and Eugene Hulked Up. Eugene hit some punches, and when Angle went for a clothesline, Eugene grabbed him in a Rock Bottom for a two count. Eugene went for a stunner, but Angle shoved it off. Angle went for an Angle Slam, but Eugene floated over it and hit a stunner for a two count. Eugene pretended to be taking his straps down, and applied an ankle lock. Angle tripped out of it, sending Eugene into the turnbuckles. Angle hit the Angle Slam, and pulled down his straps. Angle then applied the ankle lock. Eugene went for the ropes, but Angle pulled Eugene back into the center of the ring. Eugene tapped out at the four minute mark, to a pop.
Winner: Kurt Angle.
Post-match, Angle grabbed a chair and went after Eugene, but Christy threw herself over him, and eventually dragged him from the ring. Angle then set up the chair, stood on it, and had the referee put his gold medal, which he had won back, around his neck, ala the Olympics. The crowd popped for it as Angle posed on the chair.
In the parking lot, Torrie Wilson, Maria, Candice Michelle, Ashley, and Stacy Keibler were in bikinis washing a limo. The limo had the Presidential Seal on the side of it. The window came down, and Vince McMahon was sitting in the limo. He said "Hey, why not?" and the camera panned around the limo to show a "McMahon For President" bumper sticker.
The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton.
The Undertaker made his usual entrance, but came out first. Orton came out second, and actually posed on the turnbuckles, although he kept looking over his shoulder at the Undertaker. Orton rolled out of the ring at the bell, and smirked at Undertaker from the floor. Orton got back in, and when they locked up, Taker shoved Orton to the mat. Undertaker smacked Orton as he got up, and Orton started dancing around the ring, ducking away from Undertaker's punches. Orton grabbed a side headlock, but Taker shoved it off and hit a shoulderblock for a two count. Taker applied a side headlock, Orton shoved it off, and Taker hit another shoulderblock, but Orton came back with a hiptoss and a clothesline, only to be decked by a boot to the face. Taker covered Orton for a two count and applied a keylock. Undertaker went into an armwringer, and hit a short arm shoulderblock, then went up for the Old School rope walk, but Orton stepped onto the second rope and armdragged Taker to the mat.
Orton hit some forearms and punches in a corner, but Taker reversed positions and worked over Orton with punches. Taker whipped Orton across the ring, but ran into an Orton boot to the face. Orton then ran into an Undertaker boot to the face, which got a two count. Undertaker hit a forearm across the back, then delivered the flying clothesline for a two count. Undertaker hit a right hand to the face, then punched Orton in the ribs before kicking him in the face. Undertaker delivered a running knee in the corner, then slapped Orton before punching him again. Taker hit a back elbow. Taker whipped Orton into the opposite corner, but missed a running kick and got his leg caught up in the ropes. Orton knocked Taker to the ring apron, but Taker hit a back elbow. As Taker got into the ring, Orton hit him with a DDT for two. Orton then went to work on Undertaker's leg, draping it over the bottom rope and dropping his weight on it three times.
Orton went to ringside and yanked Taker's leg down hard across the ring apron. Orton then rammed it into the ringpost, and got back into the ring. Orton kicked at the injured leg over and over, then applied a leglace. Taker used some body punches to break out, but Orton elbowed him in the nose and then hit a kneedrop for a two count. Undertaker, from his knees, hit a series of body blows, but Orton kicked Taker in the head for a two count. Orton went after the leg, wrenching it around the middle rope, but Taker punched him away and hit a back elbow. Orton reversed a whip and powerslammed Undertaker for a two count, then applied a spinning toehold. Orton switched into a standing leg lace, but Taker reversed it, tripping Orton to the mat and then ramming his knee down into the mat. Taker kicked at Orton's leg, then missed a clothesline and Orton hit a chopblock to the leg. Orton went back to the leg lace, then dropped his weight on it again and again. On the third attempt, Taker used his good leg to kick Orton over the top rope and to the floor.
Undertaker rammed Orton into the ringsteps, then draped him across the ring apron. Undertaker hit his ring apron legdrop, then got in the ring, and hobbling, went for the Old School ropewalk. Taker got two steps in, then jumped off and hit the forearm. Taker hit the faceplant for a two count. Taker whipped Orton across the ring, and then lifted him and hit Snake Eyes. Undertaker went off the ropes for a boot to the face, but Orton stopped him with a dropkick. Orton measured for the RKO, but Taker shoved him off. Undertaker went for a Tombstone, but Orton reversed it, then Undertaker reversed it again, then Orton floated over it and hit a side neckbreaker for a two count. Orton pounded Undertaker with forearms to the chest, then went to the top rope. Orton went for a flying bodypress, but Undertaker rolled through it and came up with his hand on Orton's throat. Undertaker hit a chokeslam. Suddenly, a "fan" in a white suit and a red hat, came into the ring. WWE officials came out and slowly escorted him from the ring, with Undertaker having to get involved. With the "fan" removed, Undertaker went back towards Orton, who had been down for quite a while. Orton jumped up and hit the RKO for the pin at the seventeen minute mark.
Winner: Randy Orton.
Orton got out of the ring, and told the officials to stop escorting the fan out. Orton then helped pull the wig, fake mustache, and prosthetic face off of the "fan" ... revealing Orton's father, Cowboy Bob Orton. In the ring, Undertaker sat up, realized what had happened, and stalked the Orton's down the aisle as they bid a hasty retreat.
A video on the events leading to the WWE Title match was shown.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Chris Jericho.
They went nose to nose at the bell, trash talking each other. They locked up, with neither man getting an advantage. Jericho grabbed a side headlock, then hit a shoulderblock. Cena responded with right hands, and soon they were exchanging chops. Jericho hit a clothesline in the corner, then a vertical suplex. Jericho slapped Cena against the ropes. Cena ducked a clothesline, but Jericho hit a spinning leg lariat. Jericho went for a springboard clothesline onto Cena on the apron, but Cena ducked and Jericho crashed to the floor. Cena tackled Jericho on the outside and pounded him with punches. Cena tossed Jericho into the ring, hit a running elbow in the corner, then hit some punches. Jericho dropkicked a charging Cena, then punched him on the mat and rammed the back of his head into the canvas. Jericho chopped Cena, then rammed him into a corner and kicked him in the gut.
Jericho hit a delayed vertical suplex for a two count, then dropkicked Cena in the head and applied a rear chinlock. Jericho tore at Cena's mouth, then the two traded forearms. Cena got the better of it, but Jericho flung Cena through the ropes and to the floor. Jericho jumped off the apron and hit Cena with a dropkick, then choked him with a camera cable. Back in the ring, Jericho kicked Cena in the gut, then set Cena up for a superplex. Jericho got up on the ropes, and after headbutting Cena, hit the top rope superplex. Jericho was slow to cover, and Cena kicked out at two, twice. Jericho, who had been favoring his leg earlier, was doing so again. Jericho ran into a Cena boot, and Cena then delivered a dropkick and a pair of clotheslines. Jericho ducked a flying shoulderbloc, and hit a bulldog. Jericho went for the Lionsault, Cena moved, and Jericho landed on his feet. Cena went for the FU, but Jericho turned it into a Victory Roll, and as they rolled on the mat, Jericho got his feet under him and went for the Walls Of Jericho, but Cena kicked him through the ropes and to the floor. As Jericho got back into the ring, Cena hit a top rope legdrop to the back of Jericho's head. Cena covered Jericho for a two count. There was a "Let's Go Jericho" chant from many in the crowd. Cena went for the FU, but Jericho turned it into a DDT for a two count.
Jericho kicked Cena in the back, then hit a backbreaker. Jericho delivered a pair of elbowdrops to the back, then a third. There were dueling "Let's Go Jericho" and "Let's Go Cena" chants in the crowd now. Jericho choked Cena against the bottom rope. As the fans were chanting back and forth, Jericho went to bounce off the ropes and straddle Cena, but Cena turned and decked Jericho with a clothesline. The two got to their feet, and Cena hit a series of rights and lefts. Cena hit a pair of clotheslines and a hiptoss, then delivered a back suplex into a sideslam. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and bounced off the ropes for the fistdrop, but Jericho tripped him and applied the Walls Of Jericho. Cena struggled in the hold, and Jericho pulled Cena into the center of the ring. Cena finally made the ropes, forcing the break. Jericho stomped Cena and went to the top rope, but Cena crotched him there. Cena went for a second rope FU, but Jericho floated over it, powerbombed Cena to the mat and got a two count. There was a "That was three" chant from some. Jericho came off the ropes, and Cena grabbed him in a side slam, did a tilt-a-whirl with him, and put Jericho into the fireman's carry. Cena hit the FU and got the pin at the sixteen minute mark.
Winner: John Cena.
A video package on the events leading to the World Title match were shown.
World Champion Batista vs. John Bradshaw Layfied, No Holds Barred.
Dollar bill confetti, with JBL's picture on it, rained down on the crowd as JBL made his entrance. JBL charged Batista in the aisle while Batista's pyro was still going off. They brawled, and Batista hit JBL with the title belt. The fought amongst some road cases, and Batista hit JBL in the back with a fire extinguisher, then pounded him on the ground. JBL reversed a whip and sent Batista into a metal case. JBL rammed Batista into a barricade as they brawled through the crowd. Batista came back with punches, and JBL hit Batista with a chair to the side of the head. JBL went for another chairshot, but Batista charged JBL and tackled him through the ringside safety wall, breaking down a section of it and sending both men into the ringside area. JBL rammed Batista into the ringpost and tossed him into the ring. JBL hit a short-arm clothesline and stomped Batista, then pounded him down with punches in a corner.
JBL went to ringside and took a leather belt off of a ringside official, then got in the ring and whipped him with it. JBL then choked Batista with the belt, but Batista broke free with a back suplex. Batista gasped on the mat from being choked, spitting in the ring. Batista now had the belt, and started whipping JBL with it. Batista hit some shoulderblocks in the corner, but ran into a big boot. JBL hit the Clothesline From Hell, but Batista got his shoulder up at two. JBL, frustrated, went to ringside and grabbed a section of the ring steps (which were a lot bigger than normal), then slid them into the ring. JBL went for a piledriver on the ring steps, but Batista backdropped him to the mat. JBL got to his feet and hit a kick to the head, but then ran into a Batista spinebuster. Batista called for the Batista Bomb, and hit it, but didn't cover. The fans chanted "One More Time" as Batista looked at the steps. Batista then gave JBL a powerbomb onto the section of ring steps and pinned him, on the steps, for the win at the ten minute mark.
Winner: Batista.
Batista got out of the ring, picked up one of the dollar bills with JBL's picture on it, and tore it in half before leaving.
A video package of the events leading to the main event were shown.
Hulk Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels.
They left a lot of silence in between the video package, Michaels' entrance, and Hogan's entrance, to get crowd reaction. Michaels got a mixed reaction, and there were signs in his favor. Hogan got the usual huge pop. A huge American flag was unfurled behind Hogan as his made his entrance. Michaels teased sneaking up behind Hogan, but stayed on the floor as Hogan played to the crowd. Michaels took his time getting into the ring, and the bell rang. They circled each other, and had a staredown. They locked up, and Hogan shoved Michaels to the mat. They locked up again, and again Michaels was thrown to the mat. Michaels got right back up, and Hogan shoved him down. A "You screwed Bret" chant rang out. They locked up and Michaels grabbed a hammerlock, then went into a side headlock. Michaels shoved Hogan into the ropes, and Hogan hit a shoulderblock that sent Michaels to the floor. Michaels, frustrated, regrouped on the floor.
Michaels got back into the ring, and hit a knee to the midsection. Michaels chopped Hogan in a corner, and followed Hogan around the ring, hitting chops. Hogan reversed a whip, and Michaels crashed into the corner, getting laid out across the top rope. Hogan hit a series of kicks, and Michaels bounced up and down on the ropes, landing groin first. Hogan rammed Michaels into the top turnbuckle, and Michaels took a flip bump off the move. Michaels poked Hogan in the eyes and hit some chops, but Hogan reversed a whip and hit a backdrop, then clotheslined Michaels over the top rope and to the floor. Michaels stumbled around on the outside, getting caught up in a camera cable.
Michaels got on the ring aprong, and Hogan slingshotted him back into the ring. Hogan hit a clothesline and went for another backdrop, but Michaels kicked it away. Michaels chopped Hogan in a corner, then went to ram him into the top turnbuckle, but Hogan blocked it. Michaels slapped Hogan, ducked a right hand, then slapped him again. Michaels rammed Hogan into the turnbuckle, then hit some chops. Hogan reversed a whip, and Michaels flipped over the top rope and landed on the ring apron. Michaels slapped Hogan again, and Hogan slapped back, knocking Michaels to the floor. Hogan followed out, ramming Michaels into the security wall and then slamming him on top of the Spanish announcers table. Hogan peppered Michaels with right hands, then rolled into the ring to prevent a countout. Hogan whipped Michaels chest first into the ringpost. Hogan broke up the count again, then put Michaels over his shoulder on the floor. Hogan went to ram him into the post, but Michaels floated over and shoved Hogan headfirst into the post. Shawn shoved Hogan into another ringpost, then hit him with a series of lefts, but Hogan shoved him back.
Michaels tossed Hogan back into the ring, then pounded him in a corner, but Hogan shoved him away. Michaels went right back at him, punching in the corner, but Hogan shoved him down again. Michaels charged again, and continued punching Hogan, bringing him to the mat. They were in the ropes, so the referee had to pull Michaels off of Hogan. Hogan was bleeding from the head. Hogan was bleeding as badly as Matt Hardy was earlier, but they didn't stop the match. Michaels hit a series of rights, and the referee separated them to check the cut. Michaels applied a sleeper to a bloody Hogan, and Hogan slowly started to fade. A "Hogan" chant rang out, as the referee checked the arm. Hogan's blood was all over Michaels' arm, as it flowed from his head. Hogan kept his arm up on the third check, and broke out with a back suplex.
Both men were down on the mat, and slow to get up. Michaels went for a whip, Hogan reversed, but Michaels came off the ropes with a flying forearm. Michaels kipped up off the mat, went to the top rope, but missed the flying elbowdrop. Hogan looked at the blood on his hands, pointed at Michaels, then hit a series of right hands. Hogan went for the boot to the face, but Michaels launched himself into another flying forearm, and hit Hogan, and also knocked the referee out of the ring. Michaels kipped up, and went for the top rope again, but stopped and mouthed to a fan at ringside "You want Bret?" Michaels got into the ring, and put Hogan in the Sharpshooter. A second referee was in, and checked with Hogan, who would not submit. Hogan struggled to the ropes, and made it, forcing Michaels to break the hold. There were some boos from the crowd. Michaels tried to apply the hold again, but Hogan kicked him away, and Michaels collided with the referee, knocking the ref out. Hogan got up and limped around the ring, but as he came at Michaels, Michaels hit him with a low blow.
Michaels went to ringside and got a chair, then measured him for a shot. Hogan got up, turned around, and Michaels smacked him in the head with the chair. Michaels then hit a top rope elbowdrop, and revived the second referee a little. Michaels measured Hogan for Sweet Chin Music, and started to stomp in the corner. Michaels hit the superkick, covered Hogan, and the referee crawled over and counted two ... and Hogan threw Michaels off of him. Here we go, kids. Hogan hulked up as Michaels threw ineffective punches at him. Hogan pointed at Michaels, then hit the big boot to the face. Hogan hit the legdrop and got the pin at the twenty one minute mark.
Winner: Hulk Hogan.
Hogan started his post match posing routine, when Michaels got back into the ring and shoved Hogan in the back. The two traded words, and Michaels said "I needed to know, and I found out" and held out his hand to Hogan. There was a mixture of cheers and boos. Hogan shook hands with Michaels. Michaels left the ring, and Hogan led the crowd in applauding Michaels. Hogan then went into his trademark posing to end the show.
2005 - The NWA Legends Fanfest held a live card as part of their gathering in Charlotte, NC. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Pre Show Notes: There are 116 fans in attendance, so many of the convention fans didn't stay for the show. Summerslam was also likely a factor....The original plan was for Chris Sabin to face AJ Styles tonight but since he was unable to work due to his jaw injury, former WWE star Shannon Moore was brought in....Famed NWA enhancement talent George South was in attendance. Oliver Humperdink and Howard Brody were also in attendance.
Chris Escobar vs. George South Jr. - South knocked Escobar out of the ring with a shoulderblock several times. South got a nearfall after a hiptoss. They did some good back and forth wrestling on the mat. Escobar worked over South's neck but he made a comeback. South worked an armbar for a submission attempt. Escobar bit him on the arm in retaliation for South biting him earlier. South got a two count with a legdrop, mocking Hulk Hogan. Escobar locked in a rear chinlock. South got to his feet and dropped backwards for a two count. South backdropped Escobar. South missed a moonsault. Escobar went for a leg lariat off the top but was caught and nearly pinned. South hit a powerbomb for the pin. Solid opener.
Mark Nulty introduced Kharis and Stalker, The Lost Souls, announcing they won a match via forfeit. They are heavy long haired guys in black t-shirts. They said they came tonight to give the fans barbed wire and fire, but their opponents didn't want any part of them. Gary Hart was introduced as a consultant for the AIWF, said to be their home federation. He said it's a shame that some primadonnas prevented the Souls from competing tonight. Hart said he wasn't going to deprive the fans in Virginia (huh?) of quality wrestling. I was told that the part of the promo about an opponent walking out was true as a planned fireball spot was stopped by the venue due to safety concerns. The wrestler then didn't want to take the new planned finish and walked out just before the opening bout.
Eastern States Wrestling Women's champion Bambi vs. Peggy Lee Leather - Bambi got a quick near fall with a rollup. Leather tried to claim Bambi pulled her hair. Leather hit several stiff punches. Bambi got a two count with a sunset flip out of the corner. Bambi took her over with a pair of hiptosses into an armbar. Leather took over working on her arm. Bambi chopped her several times. Bambi was tied to the tree of woe and stomped. Leather locked her in a rear chinlock. Bambi came back with a rollup for a near fall. Leather threw her out of the ring. She slammed Bambi into the apron. Bambi was beaten down but hit a sunset flip for a one count. Leather hit a big splash for a near fall. Bambi hit a clothesline for the big comeback. She unloaded with a ton of chops to the chest and belly. Bambi hit a bulldog out of the corner but Leather got her foot on the ropes. Bambi was tossed out. As the referee counted, leather loaded her glove. Bambi hit a sunset flip over the ropes for a near fall. They chopped the hell out of each other, with Bambi finally getting the pin with a jackrabbit rollup.
Stan Lee vs. Brad Anderson - Lee has bleached blonde hair and a red robe with a black butterfly on the back. He has flames on the front of his tights with "Great Balls of Fire" inscribed in the back. Anderson got a nice reaction coming out. Correction from yesterday: Brad is the son of Gene, the nephew of Ole. Lee slapped Anderson when he broke clean in the corner. Anderson retaliated with a big forearm the next time they broke a clinch. Anderson controlled early. He hit an inverted DDT. Lee worked over his hamstring and ankle. Anderson missed a charge in the corner hitting his leg. Lee worked over the leg. Lee used the ropes while inverting Anderson's ankle but was caught on the third attempt. Anderson tried to slam Lee but his knee buckled. Anderson's leg was slammed into the ringpost. He tried to make a comeback but was cut off. Lee locked in the figure four but Anderson quickly reversed it. Lee went to the top to complete the Ric Flair homage and was tossed off. Anderson hit a hammerlock bodyslam. He hit the old One Man Gang 747 finisher for the pin. Anderson destroyed Lee after with another hammerlock slam and cinched in an armbar making him tap. It was what it was.
Shannon Moore vs. AJ Styles - This was billed as their first ever meeting. Hometown boy Moore got a standing ovation and a bigger pop than Styles. Moore worked in his punk rock persona that never got out of the gate in WWE. This was the first bout for Styles since hurting hiss knee at the TNA PPV. They did a feeling out process and back and forth counter wrestling. Styles did a leapfrog and sold his knee bothering him. AJ scissored his neck but his did a kip up. Styles kicked Moore and worked him over with a headlock. Styles hit a great plancha over the top to the floor. AJ hit a backbreaker over the knee for a near fall, then held up Moore for a vertical suplex before dropping him. Moore took over with a backflip into a dropkick to the knee as Styles charged him out of the corner. Moore worked on the knee with kicks, taking Styles down. Styles missed a kick and Moore continued to focus on the knee. Moore hit a fisherman's suplex for a near fall. The crowd started to rally AJ. Moore snapped a catapult sending AJ into the bottom rope throat first. Styles kept trying to come back. Moore caught his leg and hit a Dragon Screw Legwhip. Moore went back to working the knee and leg. Moore back suplexed Styles. Styles finally nailed a kick to the head. Moore tried to stop his offense but Styles hit the Pele Kick. They exchanged forearms. Styles got a two count with a suplex variation and followed up with a backbreaker. Styles missed a charge into the corner hitting his jaw. Moore hit a leg lariat off the top for a two count. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Moore evaded and went for a one legged crab. Styles made it to the ropes. Styles hit his backflip into an inverted DDT for a near fall. Some fans thought it was three. He went for a tornado DDT out of the corner but it was turned into a Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge for two. Moore locked on a Boston Crab but Styles struggled to the ropes. Styles locked Moore in a forward roll up for the pin. Styles took off his kneepads and checked on his knee immediately.
Styles said that if he has any pull, Shannon Moore will soon be in TNA. He said that whether its in the X Division, the Tag or the World title division, they will face in the ring again. He said that it used to be people worked to make it to WWE but its time for a "new generation". The crowd popped and chanted TNA.
Moore thanked all the fans for their support as he broke into the business and made it to WWE. But said that's in the past. He said he is looking to the future and put over Styles saying that he deserves all the accolades he gets because he busts his ass and gives the fans what they want, professional wrestling. They hugged and left the ring.
A good main event. Both worked really hard and AJ did a good job working around his injury and making it part of the match. I could see some saying the finish was anticlimactic but the work and the circumstances more than excuse that.
Post Show Notes: No Greg Valentine as advertised although he was here earlier today....Not as strong as the first evening of wrestling overall, but for $10 it was more then worth it based on the main event. ... Styles is worth everything he gets paid and more. Moore looked great and seemed to be hungry to prove himself post-WWE.
