Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
March 25th
On this day in history in ....
1924 - Joe Parelli defeats Johnny Meyers for the World Middleweight Title in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1936 - Frank Sexton defeats George McCloud in Columbus, Ohio to become the first Ohio Heavyweight Champion.
1947 - Ruffy Silverstein defeats Midwest Heavyweight Champion Walter Palmer for the title in Rockford, Illinois due to Palmer breaking his leg, but Silverstein doesn't accept the title, and it was vacated.
1951 - Jumbo Tsuruta is born in Makioka, Japan.
1954 - Longtime WWF referee Tim White is born in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
1960 - Jim Bernard defeats Al Warshawski for the Wolverine Wrestling Michigan Heavyweight Title in Flint, Michigan.
1961 - Former AWA World champion Masa Saito aka Mr. Saito in the United States is born.
1963 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, the WWWF's second-ever show at the Garden. The results were:
- Tim Woods fought Pat Barrett to a 15-minute time-limit draw.
- WWWF United States Tag Team Champion The Great Scott defeated Karl Steif.
- Dory Dixon defeated Magnificent Maurice.
- The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) defeated Bobby and Jerry Colt in two straight falls in a best-of-three falls match.
- Chris and John Tolos fought Argentina Apollo and Pedro Morales to a 30-minute time-limit draw.
- Hans Mortier defeated Sailor Art Thomas.
- Bobo Brazil and Bruno Sammartino defeated Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers defeated Johnny Barend.
1965 - Buddy Gilbert and Ron Reed defeat Rocky Hamilton and Dutch Savage to win the Central States NWA North American Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1968 - Don Leo Jonathan and Ski-Hi Jones (Grizzly Smith) defeat The Assassins for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1971 - Jumbo Miyamoto and Maxie Murata defeat Irma Asebedo and Masked Killer in Yokohama, Japan for the American Girls' Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title.
1972 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- Akim Hamuka defeated Rugged Russian Igor.
- Joe Nova defeated Juan Caruso.
- Sonny King defeated Bull Pometti.
- Jimmy Valiant defeated Thomas Marin.
- Victor Rivera defeated Rugged Russian Ivan.
- WWWF World Tag Team Champions King Curtis Iaukea and Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Gorilla Monsoon and Chief Jay Strongbow to retain the title.
- Ernie Ladd defeated Rene Goulet.
- Bruno Sammartino defeated Smasher Sloan.
1972 - Don Carson defeats Masa Saito for the NWA Beat the Champ Television Title in Los Angeles, California.
1978 - The WWWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Joe Turco defeated Pete Reeves.
- Gypsy Rodriguez defeated Pete Austin.
- Dominic DeNucci defeated Davey O'Hannon by countout.
- WWWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund fought Spiros Arion to a double-disqualification to retain the title.
- Bruno Sammartino fought Ken Patera to a double-countout.
- Peter Maivia and Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna and Stan Stasiak.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated The Golden Terror. This match aired on All American Wrestling on December 18, 1983.
- Haystacks Calhoun defeated Nikolai Volkoff.
1979 - Maple Leaf Wrestling held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results:
- John Yachetti defeated Terry Yorkston.
- Dewey Robertson defeated Al Costello.
- Moose Morowski defeated Steve Bolus.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Paul Orndorff and Jimmy Snuka defeated Ken Patera and Big John Studd.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund and AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel fought to a double-countout. This was the first time that the WWWF and AWA champions met one-on-one.
- Greg Valentine defeated NWA Toronto Canadian Heavyweight Champion Dino Bravo by disqualification.
- NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair.
1982 - Roger Kirby and Jerry Valiant win their second NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas, defeating Steve Regal and Dewey Robertson.
1983 - Terry Gordy defeats The Great Kabuki for the World Class Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Dallas, Texas.
1983 - Terry Gibbs and Buddy Landel defeat Gran Apolo and King Tonga to win the WWC North American Tag Team Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The title had been vacated a week earlier when Apolo's former partner Enrique Vera left the WWC.
1984 - The WWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 26,092 fans, with an addition 4,000 downstairs in Felt Forum, attended. The results:
- Special Delivery Jones defeated René Goulet.
- Brian Blair defeated Charlie Fulton.
- Akira Maeda defeated Pierre Lefebvre. Hisashi Shinma, after forming the Universal Wrestling Federation in Japan, awarded Maeda a disputed version of the WWF International Heavyweight Title for the win.
- The Iron Sheik defeated Ivan Putski.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated Mr. Fuji and Tiger Chung Lee in a handicap match.
- Roddy Piper and David Schultz defeated André the Giant and Jimmy Snuka by disqualification.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson fought The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) to a double-disqualification to retain the title.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana fought Paul Orndorff to a 20-minute time-limit draw to retain the title.
- Bob Backlund fought Greg Valentine to a double-countout.
1984 - Steve Regal defeats Buck Zumhofe to win the AWA World Light Heavyweight Title in St. Paul, Minnesota.
1988 - Iceman King Parsons defeats Kerry Von Erich for the World Class World Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas.
1988 - King Ben defeats Alan Kilby in Keighley, England to win the British Light Heavyweight Title.
1989 - The Olympians (Ken Patera and Brad Rheingans) defeat Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka) to win the AWA World Tag Team Title in Rochester, Minnesota.
1992 - Eriko Tsuchiya defeats Miwa Sato to win the FMW World Women's Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1993 - Jacques Mate defeats Apolo Dantes for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
1994 - Ray Odyssey and Vic Steamboat defeat Double Trouble (Tony and Val Puccio) for the Century Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
1995 - The WWF held an event at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. The results were:
- Aldo Montoya defeated Kwang.
- Henry Godwinn defeated Duke Droese.
- Hakushi defeated Bob Holly.
- The British Bulldog and Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart and Jerry Lawler, when Bulldog pinned Lawler.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart) defeated The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard), when Billy pinned Prichard, to retain the title.
- The Undertaker defeated Bam Bam Bigelow by countout.
- Razor Ramon and WWF Champion Diesel defeated Shawn Michaels and WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett, when Diesel pinned Jarrett.
1996 - The Monday Night War continued, with WCW Monday Nitro defeating WWF Monday Night RAW, 3.1 to 2.5 in the ratings.
The 29th WCW Monday Nitro was live from the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The results:
- Randy Savage pinned The Belfast Bruiser.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Konnan pinned Mr. JL to retain the title.
- The Booty Man (with The Booty Babe) pinned Disco Inferno.
- WCW Tag Team Champions Sting and WCW World Television Champion Lex Luger defeated The American Males (Mark Bagwell and Scott Riggs).
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair (with Miss Elizabeth and Woman) fought The Giant to a no-contest to retain the title.
WWF Monday Night RAW, the 151st edition and go-home show for WrestleMania XII, was taped two weeks earlier at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The results were:
- Shawn Michaels (with José Lothario, for the first time) pinned Leif Cassidy (with Marty Jannetty) after the Sweet Chin Music, after Bret Hart stopped Jannetty from interfering.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Aldo Montoya after the Pedigree.
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Owen Hart by disqualification when The British Bulldog interfered. Johnson, Jake Roberts and Yokozuna fought off Hart, Bulldog and Vader after the match ended.
1996 - The Cyberpunks (PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) masked) defeat Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This began PG-13's 12th reign and ended Gilbert and Rich's fourth.
1999 - The Tennessee Volunteers (Steven Dunn and Reno Riggins) defeat Brian Christopher and Spellbinder for the NWA North American Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee.
2000 - Jerry Lawler defeats Bull Pain in a tournament final to become the first Memphis Championship Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Champion in Tunica, Mississippi.
2000 - Lee Wang-Pyou defeats Kurrgan in Seoul, South Korea for the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title. The WWA was the predecessor to NWA Hollywood Wrestling in the 1960s, and the title was revived by the Korean Pro Wrestling Association.
2000 - Blaze defeats 2 Tuff Tony to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Charlestown, Indiana.
2000 - Blade wins a battle royal in Memphis, Tennessee, last eliminating Scott Raines, to become the first Power Pro Wrestling Television Champion.
2001 - The PRIDE Fighting Championships held PRIDE 13: Collision Course at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, before 27,000 fans. The results were:
- Vitor Belfort defeated Bobby Southworth by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:09 of round one.
- Guy Mezger defeated Egan Inoue by knockout at 2:25 of round one.
- Heath Herring defeated Denis Sobolev by submission (keylock) at 0:22 of round one.
- Dan Henderson defeated Renzo Gracie by knockout (punch) at 1:40 of round one.
- Mark Coleman defeated Allan Goes by TKO (knees) at 1:19 of round one.
- Tadao Yasuda defeated Masaaki Satake by split decision after three rounds.
- Tra Telligman defeated Igor Vovchanchyn by unanimous decision after three rounds.
- Wanderlei Silva defeated Kazushi Sakuraba by TKO (strikes) at 1:38 of round one.
2001 - Último Vampiro wins his second IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico, defeating Bombero Infernal.
2002 - The WWF held a live RAW, featuring the first WWF Brand Extension Draft, at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. The results:
Dark matches:
- Albert and Scotty 2 hotty defeated Hugh Morrus and Perry Saturn.
- Randy Orton defeated Justin Credible.
Jakked:
- Lance Storm defeated Val Venis.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven.
- Test defeated Spike Dudley.
- Funaki and WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri defeated The Hurricane and Billy Kidman.
RAW:
- Tazz defeated Mr. Perfect by submission with the Tazzmission.
- Booker T and Christian defeated Edge and Diamond Dallas Page, when Booker pinned Page after a scissors kick.
- Trish Stratus pinned Ivory.
- The nWo (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and X-Pac) defeated Hulk Hogan and The Rock by disqualification in a handicap match, after Kane interfered and attacked the nWo.
- Jeff Hardy pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Billy.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Kurt Angle by disqualification.
- WWF Undisputed Champion Triple H defeated Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon in a handicap match to retain the title, by pinning Stephanie after a spinebuster. Due to being pinned, Stephanie had to leave the WWF.
Draft:
- RAW: The Undertaker, The nWo (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and X-Pac), Kane, WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Big Show, Bubba Ray Dudley, Brock Lesnar, WWF European Champion William Regal, Lita, WWF Hardcore Champion Bradshaw, Steven Richards, Matt Hardy, Raven, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Perfect, Spike Dudley, D'Lo Brown, Shawn Stasiak, Terri, Jacqueline, Goldust, Trish Stratus, Justin Credible, Big Bossman, Tommy Dreamer, Crash Holly and Molly Holly.
- SmackDown!: The Rock, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Hulk Hogan, WWF Tag Team Champions Billy and Chuck, Edge, Rikishi, D-Von Dudley, Mark Henry, Maven, Billy Kidman, WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri, Chris Jericho, Ivory, Albert, The Hurricane, Al Snow, Lance Storm, Diamond Dallas Page, Torrie Wilson, Scotty 2 Hotty, Stacy Keibler, Christian, Test, Faarooq, Tazz, Hardcore Holly, Val Venis and Perry Saturn.
- WWF Undisputed Champion Triple H and WWF Women's Champion Jazz were uneligible to be drafted and would wrestle on both shows. Steve Austin was also uneligible to be drafted and would make the decision as to which brand he wanted to be on the following week.
2002 - Daron Smythe is awarded the NWA Tri-State Television Title in Harrisville, West Virginia, when Fabulous Fredrick fails to defend, beginning his second reign.
2003 - WWE taped the March 27 SmackDown! and March 29 Velocity, the last shows before Sunday's WrestleMania XIX, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Sean O'Haire pinned Tommy Drake after the Prophecy.
- Chris Kanyon pinned Chad Collyer after the Flatliner.
Velocity:
- Funaki pinned Jamie Noble after a tornado DDT.
- Bill DeMott defeated Apollo Khan when the referee stopped the match because Khan couldn't continue. After the match, DeMott powerbombed Khan.
- Johnny Stamboli (with Nunzio) pinned Tajiri after a powerslam and interference from Nunzio.
SmackDown!:
- Shannon Moore and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy defeated Brian Kendrick and Rey Mysterio, when Hardy pinned Kendrick after the Twist of Fate.
- Eddie Guerrero (with Chavo Guerrero) pinned WWE Tag Team Champion Charlie Haas (with WWE Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin) with a victory roll.
- Torrie Wilson pinned Nidia (with Jamie Noble) after a DDT.
- Albert and Big Show defeated Chris Benoit and Rhyno by disqualification when Nathan Jones ran in and attacked Albert and Show, with the Undertaker making the save for Jones.
- Chavo Guerrero (with Eddie Guerrero) pinned WWE Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin (with WWE Tag Team Champion Charlie Haas) with a La Magistral crabdle. After the match Team Angle hit the Guerreros with their title belts, and Chris Benoit and Rhyno ran in and hit their finishers on Team Angle.
- John Cena pinned Rikishi after hitting him with his chain and the FU. After the match, Cena and Brock Lesnar fought backstage before Kurt Angle broke a 2x4 over Lesnar's back.
2005 - The Extreme Horsemen (C.W. Anderson and Steve Corino) defeat Minoru Fujita and Ikuto Hidaka for the Premier Wrestling Federation Universal Tag Team Title at a Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX event in Hakodate, Japan, beginning their second reign.
2005 - Nitro, Sangre Azteca and Dr. X defeat Felino, Safari and Volador, Jr. for the Mexican National Trios Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
2006 - The World Wrestling Council held Honor vs. Tradicion III at Guillermo Angulo Coliseum in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The results were:
- Los Adorables (Love and Rick Adonis) defeated The SWAT Team (#1 and #2) in a Humiliation match.
- Eli Rodriguez defeated Disciple and Hammett in a three-way match.
- Ash and Joe Bravo defeated Brent Dail and Gama Singh, Jr.
- Genesis defeated La Bella Carmen, Black Rose, Ivy, Katrina and Lady Demonique in a battle royal to win the vacant WWC Women's Title.
- Tim Arson defeated Abbad.
- Cassidy Riley and James Storm defeated WWC World Tag Team Champions Chris Joel and Alex Montalvo, ending Joel and Montalvo's third reign.
- El Bronco defeated WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion Julio Estrada in a Street Fight to win the title, ending Estrada's second reign and beginning Bronco's fourth.
- Lance Hoyt defeated WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion Amenazá Bryan by forfeit to win the title.
- Black Pain defeated WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion Lance Hoyt to win the title.
- Eddie Colón defeated Matt Morgan.
2006 - Scotty Blaze defeats Brandon Day for the NWA Virginia Alpha Title in Saluda, Virginia.
2006 - Calvin Rose wins his second NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title from Mike Carter in Magee, Mississippi, then loses the title to Jesse Dalton.
2006 - Nikita Allanov and Bigg defeat Devin Devine and Chris Taylor to win the vacant NWA Pro Wrestling eXpress Tag Team Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
2007 - Dragon Gate held Memorial Gate 2007 at the Tsu City Gymnasium in Tsu, Japan. The results were:
- Atsushi Aoki, BxB Hulk, Dragon Kid and Anthony W. Mori defeated Kenichiro Arai, Taku Iwasa, Yuki Ono and Akira Tozawa.
- Yasushi Kanda and Kintaro Kanemura defeated Magnitude Kishiwada and Kengo Takai.
- Genki Horiguchi defeated Open the Brave Gate Champion Matt Sydal to win the title.
- Jun Akiyama defeated Stalker Ichikawa Z in the first match of a 10-match series.
- Masaaki Mochizuki defeated Cyber Kong.
- CIMA, Ryo Saito and Susumu Yokosuka defeated Open the Triangle Gate Champions Naruki Doi, Gamma and Masato Yoshino to win the title, ending their second reign.
- Jushin Liger defeated Open the Dream Gate Champion Don Fujii to win the title.
2007 - The Frontier Wrestling Alliance, along with International Pro Wrestling, held the FWA's final event, FWA vs. IPW:UK Final Frontiers, at the Orpington Halls in Orpington, England. The results:
- Johnny Phere defeated Dave Moralez.
- Sam Slam defeated FWA All-England Champion Iceman to win the title.
- Team FWA (FWA British Flyweight Champion Ross Jordan, Paul Travell and Zebra Kid) defeated Team IPW:UK (Dragon Phoenix, Paul Robinson and Max Voltage).
- Hade Vansen defeated Spud.
- IPW:UK Champion Andy Boy Simmonz and FWA British Heavyweight Champion Robbie Brookside fought to a double-countout.
- James Tighe defeated Doug Williams.
- IPW:UK's Martin Stone defeated the FWA's Flash Barker in a match in which the losing company had to close.
2007 - Derek Frazier defeats Alex Shelley in Dundalk, Maryland to begin his second Maryland Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Title reign.
2010 - The Acorn Online newspapers has conducted an interview with Vince McMahon as part of their Wrestlemania coverage. In the piece, he also took a shot at TNA saying: "We’re in different businesses. We’re in the entertainment business and they’re in the ‘pro wrasslin’ business. It’s different markets. When they moved to Monday nights they threw the kitchen sink at us and only did a fraction of our audience. It doesn’t speak well for the type of product they’re trying to present with the tawdry, blood-soaked action. I don’t think that’s what the culture wants these days.”
2010 - The Ultimate Warrior has penned a blog in response to rumors that he was originally scheduled to headline the 2010 WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony. Two excerpts from his entry:
On the reports that Warrior was scheduled for the WWE Hall Of Fame this year:
Well, after months of silly speculation and rumor-mongering regarding an appearance by me at this year’s Hall of Fame, and with WM being this weekend, I suppose I should say something about it all. Actually, after first seeing how my decision to decline was reported, I had initially decided it wasn’t worth wasting time to say anything. Always the rumors. The silliness. The lies. The bulls***. Simply telling the truth is a high spot the bottom-feeders of internet wrestling news always find too tough to pull off.
However, over the last couple of weeks I have received thousands of feverish emails from those of you who are absolutely convinced that my silence is absolute evidence that I will be making a surprise appearance at the Hall of Fame ceremony. So, I thought I should let you know the truth: I am not. I will NOT be at Wrestlemania in any capacity.
I did decline induction. Yes, I declined.
I did not “back out” of anything. There was never anything to “back out” of. I never agreed to appear at the Hall of Fame to begin with. The rumor that I did is a lie; an easy one that fits the kooky, fictional groundwork the liars have been laying down for years. It sounded good, made me look bad, so they added it on.
The issue of money never came up, either. I’m not even sure they pay inductees. I don’t think they do. I could be wrong. Don’t know. Don’t care. I never considered asking for any and it was never brought up in any of the discussions I had. Discussions, mind you, I had only with Vince, nobody else.
On his discussions with Vince McMahon regarding the WWE Hall Of Fame:
Vince called me on December 23rd and left a voicemail saying, among other things, “let’s get you in the Hall of Fame where you belong.” After the holidays I returned his call, left a voicemail telling him to call me again when he found time. When we finally connected, I told him I would rather meet with him in person than talk over the phone. He said that would be great. He said he would find time on his calendar and call me back to set it up. When he called back a couple of weeks later he didn’t even mention finding a time scheduled to meet, and throughout the remainder of the conversation, further decided not to find one. So, given only the option to say either yes or no, my answer was quick and clear, I declined Vince’s invitation to headline this year’s HOF event.
2011 - Kurt Angle was arrested in North Dakota after failing a field sobriety test and allegedly operating his car while intoxicated. Angle (who was in the middle of a loop of TNA house shows) was arrested after police found him sitting in his car "in the median separating lanes" in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Angle failed a field sobriety test that was given to him after authorities allegedly smelled alcohol on his breath. Angle was arrested and charged with being in control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Since he wasn't seen driving the car by police, they could not charge him with a DUI. Angle claimed he was sitting in the road due to hitting an icy patch on the road while driving. Angle would make a plea deal on the charges.
2012 - Legendary boxing writer Bert Sugar, well known for his trademark fedora and ever-present cigar, passed away from cardiac arrest, although he was also battling lung cancer at the time, according to the Associated Press.
Although he wasn't truly an expert on pro wrestling, Randolph, because of his connections to boxing, Sugar was often used for mainstream quotes on wrestling as well.
He was involved with several wrestling book projects as well. In the 1990s, he and Lou Albano were both credited as co-authors for the "Idiot's Guide To Pro Wrestling".
In the 1980s, he and famed wrestling photographer George Napolitano co-authored two books, "Wrestling's Greatest Grudge Matches" and "The Pictorial History of Wrestling: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
2013- Matt Hardy and Reby Sky announced their engagement. The two would be married later that year.
2013 - Ric Flair was pulled from a live Raw broadcast a few hours before he was set to appear, being sent to the hospital due to concern over what we are told is a "blood clot."
Flair did not wrestle as scheduled on a January 2013 All Japan show due to a blood clot in his leg. During a recent shoot interview, Flair actually showed off a clot, described to me as looking like an "awful piece of scar tissue."
WWE medical took a look at Flair's leg during the afternoon as he wasn't looking healthy and immediately made the decision to pull from from the show and have him looked over at a local hospital in Philly.
After being examined in Philadelphia, Flair was advised to return home to Charlotte for further medical treatment.
One person who had seen Flair over the weekend noted that he was not looking well at all and was limping badly.
Flair was scheduled for a legends segment alongside Bret Hart, Jerry Lawler and other WWE legends that would involve them talking with Wrestlemania main events John Cena and The Rock. It was a non-physical role.
2013 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We have less than a fortnight until the biggest night in the wrestling year in the biggest media market in the United States. What will the WWE do with only two more episodes of Raw before Wrestlemania? What will Triple H say now that we know that his career is on the line against Brock Lesnar? Has Big Show convinced Sheamus enough to earn his trust against the Shield? What will Brickie do tonight? Will anyone else join the stacked Hall of Fame Class of 2013? The ROCK is back.
We are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Michael ‘Lionel Simmons’ Cole and Jerry ‘Halloween Havoc 1992’ Lawler.
CM Punk, Paul Heyman, and the urn make their way to the ring. Paul tosses the urn to Punk and the pass is complete.
Punk says that they say that the Undertaker’s undefeated streak will never be beaten. This dead man is unstoppable on the grandest stage of them all. They say in hush tones that the urn feeds Undertaker power and is a representation of his spirit. They have a lot of opinions. They say a lot of stupid things . . . don’t THEY.
Who are THEY? He asks Paul Heyman and then Paul Bearer. Do they know what they are talking about? They don’t because everyone has opinions and the only opinion that matters is his. They are irrelevant and he is the only one who matters.
Last year the Undertaker went 20-0. Twenty times he has dispatched his opponent. It should have ended last year with Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels skipping into the sunset. Punk says that Undertaker ruined it all and came onto his show and pointed at his sign. Because of his actions and storybook career at Wrestlemania, it is being rewritten by a man who is not afraid of the dark or of the undefeated streak. It is being rewritten by the best in the world.
Punk says that it is the Undertaker’s fault. Punk says that he did not take the urn to disrespect Paul Bearer. He took it because of what it means to Undertaker. It does not matter to him. Punk tosses the urn to the mat. The streak is the Undertaker’s. Punk will break it. Punk has something that the Undertaker does want. Taker is at a psychological disadvantage.
Taker coming back against any other man would have been great. He would have gone 21-0. He could have gone 30 or 50 and 0. There is nobody in the world who is better than him. There is nobody in the world smarter than him. There is nobody in the world who will beat him at Wrestlemania. Punk says that he is the 1 in 20-1.
Punk says that he is waiting for the lights to go out and the chill to enter the arena. He is waiting for the magic words ‘Rest in Peace’. Rest is something he has never been afforded and he has never been at peace. Punk says that the streak will rest in peace.
There is a gong and the lights go out.
The lights go back on and the Undertaker is in the ring and he punches Punk. Taker with a forearm to the head and Paul picks up the fumble and runs like Keith Byers to the end zone.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Fandango has something to say before his match, but he is interrupted by Chris Jericho’s music.
Jericho with a double leg take down and he punches Fandango. Jericho with chops to Fandango. Fandango goes to the floor and he goes up the ramp.
Dolph Ziggler comes to the ring and we have a match.
Match Number One:Chris Jericho versus Dolph Ziggler (with AJ Lee and Big E Langston)
Jericho takes Ziggler to the mat and he punches Dolph. Jericho with a running back elbow followed by a suplex and a kick to the back. Jericho with a forearm to the back but Ziggler with a kick to the chest. Ziggler with a punch to the head. Jericho with punches and chops. Jericho with a double leg take down and he tries for the Walls of Jericho but Ziggler escapes.
Ziggler runs into an elbow and Jericho goes up top for a cross body and he gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Dolph Ziggler is in control of the match. We see footage from the commercial break when Big E Langston pulled Jericho off the apron. Jericho with a rollup for a near fall. Ziggler with a drop kick for a two count. Ziggler with a splash into the corner. Jericho with chops to Ziggler but Ziggler with a knee and an abdominal stretch.
Jericho with a hip toss to escape. Ziggler misses the Stinger splash and Jericho with shoulder tackles. Ziggler sends Jericho over the top rope but Jericho lands on the apron and he goes up top for a double sledge to the head. Ziggler with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Jericho with a bulldog. Jericho with a springboard drop kick to Langston.
Ziggler with a leaping DDT for a near fall. Ziggler tries for a sleeper but Jericho pushes him off. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho but Ziggler kicks him away. Ziggler has a drop kick blocked and Jericho applies the Walls of Jericho and Ziggler taps out.
Winner: Chris Jericho
After the match, Langston attacks Jericho and then he gives Jericho the Big Ending. Langston tells Jericho that it is over for him.
From out of nowhere, Fandango makes his way to the ring with his Dancing with the Superstars partner. Fandango dances in front of Jericho. Fandango kicks and punches Jericho. He tells Jericho to say his name. Jericho chops Fandango but Fandango with a boot to the head.
Fandango goes up top for the leg drop.
Fandango kneels over Jericho and tells Jericho his name.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus is in the interview area and we see footage from the Smackdown main event involving Sheamus, Big Show, and Randy Orton against 3MB. Then we see the issues between Sheamus and Show only to have Randy Orton play peacemaker while The Shield observed the problems between two of their opponents at Wrestlemania and Big Show.
Matt asks Sheamus if they have buried the hatchet with Show. Sheamus says that when the Shield tucked their tails between their legs . . .
The Shield attack Sheamus and Randy Orton hits Roman Reigns in the back with a chair. Rollins and Ambrose attack Orton. Big Show goes after the Shield and they leave.
Show helps Orton up and they breathe heavily.
Match Number Two: Mark Henry versus Jimmy and Jey Uso
Jey starts off the match and they lock up. Henry sends Jey to the mat and then he biels Jey across the ring. Jimmy tags in and Henry with a kick and punch. Jey makes the blind tag. Jimmy with a drop kick and Jey with a super kick. Jimmy with a super kick and Jey with a superfly splash but Henry kicks out at two.
Jey with punches and Jimmy with a shot from the apron. Mark punches Jey and then he sends Jimmy into the ring post. Mark with a lariat to Jey followed by the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
After the match, Mark sees Jimmy on the floor and he doesn’t think that Jimmy has done enough to qualify for the Hall of Pain. Henry with a World’s Strongest Slam to Jimmy and he tells us that is what he do.
Mark picks up Jey and gives him another World’s Strongest Slam. Henry kicks Jimmy to see if he is still moving and then he hits a splash and he tells Jimmy that nobody splashes him.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Antonio Cesaro versus Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) in a Champion versus Champion Non Title Match
They lock up and Cesaro works on the wrist. Del Rio with a reversal into an arm bar. Cesaro gets to the ropes and then he punches Del Rio. Cesaro with a European uppercut to Del Rio followed by an elbow drop for a near fall. Cesaro with a cravate but Del Rio with punches. Cesaro with knees. Del Rio with two clotheslines. Cesaro misses a clothesline and Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker followed by a super kick set up, but Zeb Colter comes out to the stage.
Cesaro attacks Del Rio from behind and he punches and kicks Del Rio. Del Rio sends Cesaro to the apron and Cesaro with a head butt. Del Rio crotches Cesaro and Del Rio sets for a superplex and he hits it.
Jack Swagger grabs Ricardo and he pushes him into the ring steps. Swagger pulls Ricardo into the ring bell quadrant and he slams the leg into the ringside barrier. Del Rio attacks Swagger and they fight into the crowd.
Del Rio kicks Swagger in the head while the referee continues his count and he gets to ten.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro by count out
Alberto Del Rio grabs Cesaro from the turnbuckles and then he kicks Cesaro in the corner. Del Rio floats over into the cross arm breaker and Cesaro taps because it doesn’t matter.
We have an earlier tonight moment of CM Punk’s comments about the Undertaker and the urn.
Daniel Bryan and Kane walk in the back and we go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Daniel Bryan and Kane versus Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
Kane and Titus start things off and Kane with a kick and clothesline. Bryan tags in and they send Titus into the turnbuckles. Bryan with Kicks of No to Titus. Kane tags back in and Kane sends Bryan into the corner for a forearm. Bryan sends Titus to Kane for a forearm. Kane works on the arm but Titus with kicks and he tags in Young.
Kane with an uppercut and punches to Young. Bryan tags back in and they hit a double hip toss and Bryan with a knee drop for a near fall.
Big E Langston and Dolph Ziggler go to the stage and they distract Bryan for a minute. Bryan with a series of Kicks of NO. Darren with an overhead belly-to-belly throw and then he tags in Titus. Titus with boots to Bryan followed by punches and kicks in the corner. Titus with a European uppercut and it is time to bark.
Darren tags in and Titus with a gourdbuster of Young onto Bryan and Darren gets a near fall. Young with a waist lock. Bryan with elbows and knees. Young with a knee and Bryan with a flying clothesline. Kane tags in and he punches Darren. Kane with a punch to the midsection followed by a kick to the head and a drop kick. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Kane charges into a boot from Young but Young runs into a boot from Kane.
Kane tries for a slam but Young escapes. Young with kicks but Kane with a side slam. Titus breaks up the cover but Bryan sends Titus to the apron and Kane kicks Titus off the apron. Bryan with a flying knee off the apron. Kane holds on to the ropes on an O’Connor Roll attempt and then Kane with a choke slam for the three count.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
We are back and we take a look back at last week when Triple H signed his Wrestlemania contract.
It is Game Time and Triple H makes his way to the ring and we get the Game Fountain.
For the first time ever, he finds his way in a situation where if he loses, he is never allowed to compete in the ring again. His career is over. If you go to the ring against Brock Lesnar, thinking that your career might not be over, you have already lost. He is a destroyer and a machine who can end your career.
Hunter says that he has had a twenty year career where he has gone into the ring each night like his career and life depended on it. If Paul Heyman thinks he has made this grand coup by putting him against a corner, he is mistaken.
Hunter tells Brock to show up at Wrestlemania like his career is on the line. Come to Wrestlemania and fight like your life depends on it. It very well might. He is not coming to Wrestlemania to wrestle or to fight. He is coming to kick his ass.
Wade Barrett’s music plays and he comes to the ring. Triple H does not appreciate that Wade is coming to the ring while he is still in the arena.
They stop short of the ring and Wade tells Hunter to move. Hunter kicks Wade and the Barrett Barrages.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Wade Barrett versus Miz in a Non Title Match
Barrett continues to feel the effects of HHH’s kick and Miz with a reverse atomic drop and Barrett gets to the floor. Barrett returns to the ring and Miz with an atomic drop and a reverse atomic drop and Barrett gets to the floor again.
Barrett returns to the ring and Barrett with a kick and elbow to the head. Barrett with kicks in the corner and the referee warns him. Barrett with an Irish whip. Miz floats over but Barrett sends Miz to the apron. Miz goes up top and Barrett with a kick and then he puts Miz on the top turnbuckle and he kicks Miz in the midsection and gets a near fall.
Barrett with an elbow drop and then he punches Miz. Barrett with a rear chin lock. Miz with elbows but Barrett with a knee. Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with the first half of the Reality Check but Barrett avoids the second half. Miz back body drops Barrett over the top rope to the floor. Miz with a double sledge off the apron and then he gets a near fall when they return to the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Barrett gets a near fall and he kicks Miz. We see Barrett sending Miz into the corner of the ringside barrier and then Barrett continues to work on the back. Barrett with knees to Miz in the ropes and then he kicks Miz to the floor. Barrett runs Miz’ back into the apron. Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett stretches Miz.
Barrett runs into an elbow and then Miz with a drop toe hold that sends Barrett into the turnbuckles. Miz with punches to Barrett followed by a forearm and a running knee lift and kick to the head. Miz with the Awesome Clothesline and then he goes up top for the double sledge and he gets a near fall.
Miz sets for the Skull Crushing Finale but Barrett escapes it. Barrett with the Blackpool Slam and he gets a near fall. Barrett gets Miz up for Wasteland but Miz escapes. Miz blocks a back heel kick and Miz goes for a figure four but Barrett counters with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with a drop kick to the knees and then Miz with a kick to the hamstring. Miz is sent into the ring post and Barrett gets a near fall with a rollup.
Barrett with a back heel kick and he gets a near fall. Barrett sets for the Bull Hammer. Miz moves and he gets a near fall with a rollup. Barrett sends Miz to the apron. Barrett crotches himself on the top rope and Miz with the figure four leg lock and Barrett taps out.
Winner: Miz
Daniel Bryan tells Kane that he needs to be focused. Kane tells Daniel Bryan to stop it. Bryan says that Big E Langston and Dolph Ziggler are not the Prime Time Players. Daniel mentions she who would not be named. They argue back and forth. Kaitlyn tells Daniel and Kane to stop focusing on AJ.
Daniel says that AJ is not focusing on Kaitlyn’s title. Kaitlyn tells Kane and Bryan that it is a new AJ. She calls her crazy but Kaitlyn does not realize that AJ has been listening to the whole thing. AJ attacks Kaitlyn and Kane and Bryan have to pull AJ off Kaitlyn.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six:Justin Gabriel, Zack Ryder, and Great Khali versus Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns
Rollins and Khali start things off and Rollins with kicks but Khali with a clothesline. Khali with a chop in the corner and he tags in Ryder. Ryder with a punch and then he sends him into the turnbuckles. Rollins with an Irish whip but Ryder with knees to Rollins. Rollins moves when Ryder tries for a drop kick off the turnbuckles. Rollins punches and kicks Ryder and then he tags in Ambrose who makes a wish with Ryder.
Ambrose with knees and punches. Ambrose rubs his forearm across the face and then he hits a drop kick. Reigns tags in and he punches Ryder when Ambrose Irish whips him. Reigns sends Ryder into the turnbuckles and he kicks him repeatedly. Gabriel tags in and he kicks Reigns. Ambrose makes the blind tag and he hits a lariat to the back of Gabriel’s head. Ambrose with a slam while Reigns takes
Ambrose with a bow and arrow and Rollins with a knee drop to the chest and Rollins gets the three count.
Winners: The Shield
After the match, Khali tries to fight the Shield, but the numbers are too much and they get Khali up for the Cerberus power bomb and they connect.
Sheamus’ music plays and he comes to the stage. Randy Orton joins him on the stage. Orton and Sheamus walk to the ring. Reigns looks around and he sees that Show is at the announce table.
All six men battle in the ring and Reigns and Ambrose get out of the ring and Show with a back body drop to Rollins.
The Shield go into the crowd.
We go back to footage from earlier tonight when Chris Jericho got Dolph Ziggler to tap out to the Liontamer and then Big E Langston attacked Jericho followed by Fandango.
We see Vickie Guerrero’s office door open and Chris Jericho emerges. Josh Mathews asks Chris what they were discussing. Chris says that when you have been in the WWE as long as he has and accomplished what he has, he has a bullseye. Fandango has kicked his ass twice in a row and it means nothing. Fandango gets his chance. On the grandest stage of them all, it will be Fandango versus Y2J Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania. He tells Fandango to be careful what he wishes for because the bullseye is on his head and he will never . . . ever be the same agayne.
Damien Sandow says that they are in a city famous for greasy sandwiches and a stadium that has an actual prison inside of it. He demands silence.
Fear not because tonight the Rhodes Scholars have a gift for everyone. He tells everyone to avert their eyes to avoid the incandescence of the Bella Twins.
Match Number Seven: Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow (with Nikki and Brie Bella) versus Brodus Clay and Tensai (with The Funkettes)
Sandow and Clay start things off and Clay sends Sandow to the mat. Clay with an Irish whip and splash. Clay with a side slam and Tensai with an elbow. Tensai misses a back senton splash and Cody tags in. Cody with jabs to Tensai followed by kicks and a neck breaker. Sandow tags in and he kicks Tensai and he connects with an elbow drop. Cody tags in and he kicks Tensai.
Cody with a quarter nelson and chin lock. Tensai sends Cody into the turnbuckles. Cody comes off the turnbuckles and is met with an uppercut. Clay with a shoulder tackles and then he knocks Sandow off the apron. Clay with a Sheeeeplex and then he sets for the splash into the corner and connects. Cody rolls to the floor and the Bellas are a human shield.
Naomi and Cameron attack the Bellas. Sandow drops Clay on the top rope and Cody with Beautiful Disaster for the three count.
Winners: Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow
Ryback is walking in the back as he gets ready for 3MB.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Eight: Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre versus Ryback in an If Mark Henry can beat two men, I can beat three Match
3MB figure out who will be the first to face Ryback and Slater wins the toss. Ryback goes after Mahal and McIntyre on the apron and that allows Slater to get in a few shots. Ryback with a Thesz Press and then he slams Slater’s head into the mat. Ryback sends McIntyre into the turnbuckles after tagging in. Ryback with chops and then he knocks Slater off the apron and clotheslines Mahal over the top rope.
McIntyre takes Ryback to the mat with a kick and Mahal tags in and he kicks Ryback. Mahal with knees to the head and then Slater tags in. Slater with jabs and Ryback pushes him away but Slater with a leg lariat for a near fall.
Slater with a front face lock. Ryback sends Slater to the mat and McIntyre gets a near fall. Drew with an arm bar and he rubs his forearm across Ryback’s face. McIntyre with a side head lock and Ryback sends Drew into a corner.
Mahal with a running high knee for a near fall. Slater tags in and they Irish whip Ryback into the corner. Slater misses a splash into the corner and Ryback with a clothesline to Mahal and he sends Mahal into Drew. Ryback with a POUNCE and spinebuster. Mahal gets a spinebuster and it is time to finish things. Ryback with a marching muscle buster to Slater and Mahal and Ryback gets the three count.
Winner: Ryback
We are told that on Friday night, Ryback and Mark Henry will participate in a weightlifting competition.
AJ is skipping in the back and she will be in action as we go to commercial.
We are back and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be inducting Bruno Sammartino into the Hall of Fame.
Match Number Nine: AJ Lee versus Kaitlyn in a Non Title Match
Kaitlyn takes AJ to the mat and then she Irish whips AJ into the corner and Kaitlyn with a shoulder. Kaitlyn with more hard Irish whips into the turnbuckles. AJ gets in the ropes to get the referee to stop Kaitlyn. AJ with a few slaps and Kaitlyn with a shoulder tackle. Kaitlyn gets AJ on her shoulders and he hits a gutbuster but AJ rolls to the floor.
Kaitlyn kicks AJ on the floor and then she goes for a spear but AJ moves and Kaitlyn goes into the ringside barrier. AJ returns to the ring while the referee continues his count. Kaitlyn has trouble regaining her equilibrium and Kaitlyn is counted out.
Winner: AJ Lee
We are back and Michael Cole announces that Big Show is officially the partner of Randy Orton and Sheamus.
Jerry Lawler is in the ring and he says that John Cena will be facing The Rock in a historic match. Tonight, it will be a historic night as well. At Wrestlemania they will answer the question of who is the WWE Champion. Tonight, a panel of Hall of Famers and superstars will ask Rock and Cena the questions.
The first panelist is Booker T. The next panelist is Mick Foley. The third man to ask the questions is Dusty Rhodes. The final panelist is Bret Hart.
When we come back, Rock and John Cena will answer their questions.
We are back and the Rock makes his way to the ring first. Out next is the challenger for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania, John Cena.
Jerry explains the rules. Each man will be asked a question. The other person will be able to answer the same question.
The first question comes from Mick Foley. Mick mentions that he teamed with the Rock at Wrestlemania 20, a match that he lost. He felt bad for losing and costing the Rock for winning what people thought was his final Wrestlemania match. Mick says that he is a John Cena fan, but he felt a weight off his shoulders when Rock beat Cena last year.
Mick asks John if he is ready to live with the type of regret if he loses to Rock for a second time.
Cena says that there is no mistaking that April 7th will be a historic day for the WWE. Whether he wins or loses, it is safe to say that it will change the face of the WWE forever. If he wins, he gets satisfaction, the title, and much needed redemption. If he was asked last year about losing he would not talk about the subject. Then the Rock beat him so he knows that losing is an option. John says that regret is a tougher story and he says that he would feel like Donovan McNabb.
Donovan McNabb is the greatest quarterback to put on an Eagles uniform, but the people in the city he played in treat him the way they do because he could not win the big one. Cena says that Philadelphia deserves someone who can win the big one. Much like the WWE Universe, they need to have someone who can win the big one. If he loses on April 7th, he will carry the legacy of Donovan McNabb. He will get reactions of disdain. He might be statistically superior but he cannot win the big one. He can look in the mirror and handle failure. The Rock does not know about failure . . . not yet, but he soon will.
Rock says that he doesn’t know about failure? He knows about failure. When he was 23 years old, he was so broke he had to get a mattress from the back of a motel. A year later, he got his big break from the WWE. Six months later he flopped and hurt his knee. He was told to go home. He could have quit and given up his career, but he worked his ass off. He returned to the WWE Universe. He said to give him a mic. Two years after that, he became the youngest WWE Champion and he headlined Wrestlemania in this city.
FINALLY . . . the Rock has come back to Philadelphia. He was the youngest champion with the title in one hand and a Pat’s Cheesesteak in the other. That night, he got his ass kicked by Steve Austin. He sat alone in that locker room thinking about the loss and failure. He was going to come back better and stronger. Those failures led him to be the man he is today. The man he is today is going to whip Cena’s ass at Wrestlemania.
Bret Hart is next. He says that it pained them to see them last year because of the bad blood. He can see that something has changed. What happened and changed.
Rock says that last year two men went at it to see who was the best. There were no cheap shots or screwjobs. John didn’t bitch, moan, and complain after the loss and he respected that about John.
John says that he started it when he called out the Rock years ago. He wanted the Rock to prove that he loved WWE. He hosted Wrestlemania 27 and then Rock beat him at Wrestlemania 28. Cena thought that Rock would walk away after winning in his home town. Then Rock came out and said that he wanted to be the WWE Champion. Cena says that Rock has proven his love for the business.
He respects Rock and appreciates what Rock said about taking the loss. We will see how Rock handles his loss in 13 days.
Booker T is next. He points out that he has been in the ring with both men. John says that he thinks that he can beat Rock at Wrestlemania. He wants to know why.
John says that he has to.
Rock asks if that is it. He wants to know what kind of weak and shallow answer that is. Why not wipe a monkey’s ass with ‘I have to’. He wants John to rip himself open and tell everyone why.
John says that Rock cannot beat him. Cena says that he beat himself. One bad decision and he gets caught up in one personal moment. Some people like him and some people don’t like him. For ten years, he has been coming out and half the crowd likes him and half hate him. Rock is the only person who has clouded his decision. John says that he had Rock beat. Cena handled the best that Rock had. Cena figured he had to use Rock’s stupid move and one time, Rock got in the way of making the easiest decision. On April 7th, he will do it his way. He knows that he is better than the Rock. Much more importantly, the Rock knows that Cena is better than the Rock.
Rock says there is one thing that he does know. If Cena had him beat, he would have beaten him. Rock points out that he kicked out of the AA before Cena tried for the People’s Elbow. There is one more legend who Rock wanted to be like. Rock tells Cena ‘to be the man . . . you gotta beat the man’.
Rock tells Cena that between the Rock and him, John Cena will never . . . and means ever be the man.
Dusty says that they need to take the gloves off because Wrestlemania is not about respect. It is about winning and losing. There are no guarantees in this business. You don’t always get what you want and what you want is now what you get.
What do you really want on April 7th.
Cena says that he wants to win the big one and dominate the Rock. At the end of Wrestlemania, he wants the Rock to be looking up at the sky and he will finally realize that this ball cap wearing punk belongs in the Attitude Era. Rock will realize that John Cena is better than the Rock. He wants to do to the Rock what the Rock did to him. He wants to give Rock a loss that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Rock wants to know who Cena is talking to. Rock says that he is not wired that way. The day after Wrestlemania, he will wake up as the WWE Champion. John Cena will wonder why he could not bring it again. If he wants to prove the Rock and the world wrong, prove them wrong at Wrestlemania. He wants Cena to prove him wrong right now.
Lawler tries to get them to calm down. Cena and Rock get face to face and Cena shows Rock he cannot see him. Rock pushes Cena but Cena gets Rock on his shoulders. Rock escapes and hits the Rock Bottom.
2014 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Boston, Massachusetts and your announcers are Tom ‘Dunkin Donuts’ Phillips and Byron ‘North End’ Saxton.
The Intercontinental Champion Big E makes his way to the ring.
Tom Phillips mentions the WWE.com story about Christian not being able to wrestle tonight because of a concussion suffered on Raw.
Byron mentions that the other three men from the match on Raw will wrestle to see who will compete against Big E tonight.
Match Number One: Sheamus versus Dolph Ziggler versus Alberto Del Rio in a Number One Contender Match for the Intercontinental Title
Sheamus kicks Del Rio and punches him in the corner. Ziggler with punches to Del Rio but Sheamus pulls Ziggler out of the corner. Both men work over Del Rio until Ziggler punches Sheamus. Sheamus punches back and he connects with a back elbow. Del Rio with punches and kicks to Sheamus.
Del Rio sends Ziggler over the top rope to the floor but that allows Sheamus to recover and he connects with a clothesline followed by a series of knee drops. Sheamus gets a near fall. Sheamus punches Del Rio in the corner followed by an Irish whip but Del Rio with an elbow. Sheamus with the Finlay Slam for a near fall.
Del Rio rolls to the floor and Ziggler and Sheamus circle each other. They lock up and Sheamus pushes Ziggler into the corner. They lock up again and Sheamus with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Sheamus waits for Ziggler to get up. Ziggler with a waist lock and Sheamus with an elbow and side head lock of his own. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle.
Ziggler with a drop kick to Sheamus for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick to Sheamus but Sheamus with a running forearm and then he punches Del Rio off the apron. Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Sheamus with a slam and elbow drop for a near fall. Sheamus with a quarter nelson and chin lock on Ziggler. Ziggler punches Sheamus and kicks him but he misses the Fameasser. Sheamus sends Ziggler to the apron and Del Rio with an enzuigiri to Sheamus while setting for the forearms to Ziggler. Del Rio sends Ziggler into the ringside barrier as we go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio with a reverse chin lock on Ziggler. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker on Ziggler for a near fall. Del Rio kicks Ziggler and then Del Rio with a baseball slide to Sheamus to keep him out of the ring. Del Rio goes up top but he is met with a Ziggler drop kick when he comes off the turnbuckles.
Ziggler avoids a clothesline and he connects with a flying clothesline and then he jumps into the corner for rapid fire punches and then he gives Del Rio a neck breaker for a near fall. Del Rio with a back heel kick, but when he goes for a splash in the ropes, Ziggler moves. Sheamus pulls Ziggler out of the ring and then he connects with the ten forearms to Del Rio on the apron. Sheamus with two running double sledges but Ziggler stops the shoulder in the corner. Sheamus with a uranage back breaker to Ziggler and then one to Del Rio for a near fall.
Sheamus looks around and he pounds the chest for the Brogue Kick but Ziggler with a drop kick to Sheamus. Del Rio with a boot to Ziggler and then Sheamus kicks Del Rio from the corner and Sheamus pulls himself up to the turnbuckles. Sheamus knocks Ziggler off the turnbuckles and Del Rio with a German suplex on Ziggler for a near fall.
Sheamus with a flying shoulder tackle to Del Rio for a near fall. Sheamus with punches to Del Rio but he misses a short arm clothesline. Del Rio with a back heel kick. Sheamus runs Del Rio into the corner and then he hits a knee lift and clothesline that sends Del Rio to the floor. Ziggler with a DDT for a near fall on Sheamus.
Ziggler goes for the neck breaker on Sheamus but Sheamus counters and he tries for White Noise but Ziggler escapes. Sheamus with the Cloverleaf on Ziggler and Del Rio with a super kick to Sheamus for a near fall. Del Rio does not know what to do after not being able to put Sheamus away. Ziggler with a Fameasser on Del Rio for a near fall.
Ziggler goes for a sleeper on Del Rio but he turns around into a Brogue Kick from Sheamus, but Ziggler goes to the floor. Del Rio with a rollup for a near fall on Sheamus. Sheamus hits White Noise on Del Rio but Del Rio kicks out at two. Sheamus goes for the Cloverleaf on Del Rio but he blocks it. Del Rio with an arm breaker on Sheamus and then he locks in the Cross Arm Breaker on Sheamus.
Sheamus rolls over and he picks up Del Rio. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick and he gets his leg caught on the rope. Del Rio with a lungblower to Sheamus and Ziggler pins Del Rio for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Renee Young congratulates Dolph in his victory along with Big E in the ring. Dolph says that he did it. He is going to Wrestlemania. He says that he is going to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He is going to do it as the Intercontinental Champion. Big E knows him better than anyone else. He taught Big E almost everything. Tonight Big E is getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler.
Big E says that he was taught the ins and outs by Dolph and he was there when Dolph won the World Title. He might not be a show off, but he is the Intercontinental Champion. He will walk out of the match as the Intercontinental Champion. He wishes Ziggler luck and they shake hands.
It is time to take a look back at the opening segment from Raw.
Batista will be on Smackdown to address the WWE Universe.
We go to commercial.
We are back and AJ Lee has joined Tom and Byron at the announce table.
Match Number Two: Natalya, Eva Marie, Emma, Naomi, Cameron versus Tamina Snuka, Alicia Fox, Aksana, Summer Rae, and Layla El
Layla and Natalya start things off and Layla with a slap but Natalya with clotheslines. Layla turtles and Natalya spanks her. Natalya with a suplex for a near fall. Emma tags in and she kicks Layla and then she dances. Layla does her own dancing and then she misses a clothesline. Emma with a rollup for a near fall but Layla kicks Emma. Layla with an Irish whip but she misses a charge into the corner.
Emma with the DilEmma on Layla and then she kicks Layla to the mat. Alicia tags in and she is given a drop toe hold. Eva tags in and she rolls up Alicia for a near fall. Eva with a side head lock and take down. Alicia runs Eva into the corner and she connects with shoulders. Eva with elbows to get out of the corner and then everyone gets in the ring and there is pandemonium.
Alicia with a wrist lock on Eva followed by an elbow to the head and a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Summer tags in and she kicks Eva. Summer with a front face lock and she tags in Alicia. Alicia with a snap mare and reverse chin lock and then she pulls Eva to the mat by the hair. Alicia misses a flip leg drop and Tamina and Naomi tag in.
Naomi with a forearm and a round kick from the apron. Tamina gets Naomi on her shoulders but Naomi gets to her feet and she hits a running forearm into the corner followed by a cross body for a near fall. There is more pandemonium in the ring and Emma shows Eva Marie how to dance and Tamina with a double clothesline. Naomi with an uppercut. Tamina with a super kick to Naomi for the three count.
Winners: Summer Rae, Layla El, Alicia Fox, Aksana, and Tamina Snuka
After the match, AJ celebrates with Tamina Snuka and Tamina does not look happy that AJ is sharing the spotlight with her. AJ hugs Tamina and Tamina lets Tamina survive for now.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is now going to be a Fatal Four Way at Wrestlemania for the Tag Titles. The Real Americans and Los Matadores will join Curtis Axel and Ryback as the opponents for the Usos.
We take a look at the John Cena and Bray Wyatt feud.
The Barrett Cylinder rises and Wade asks for some decorum. He is afraid that he has some bad news. It is clear that John Cena is freaked out by Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family. It is the same way that everyone gets freaked out when you look in a mirror. Everyone in this arena and watching at home should wear the same mask that John Cena wore on Raw. This way, your friends, family and the average man on the street will not have to deal with the reality of your hideous faces.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Big E versus Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Title
They lock up and Big E sends Ziggler to the mat. They lock up again and Big E sends Ziggler to the mat again and then he connects with a clothesline. Ziggler gets back to his feet and he applies a waist lock. Big E powers out of the hold and he takes Ziggler down with a hip lock into a side head lock.
Big E with a side head lock take down. Big E with a shoulder tackle but Ziggler with a drop kick and Big E gets to the ropes and the referee pulls Ziggler away. Ziggler with a waist lock but Big E with an elbow and punch. Big E with a clothesline and Ziggler goes to the floor to regroup.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Big E sends Ziggler into the corner but Ziggler moves when Big E charges into the corner and Big E hits the ring post with his shoulder. Ziggler with a cross body and punches to Big E. Ziggler leaps into the corner and he hits a neck breaker for a near fall. Big E with two clotheslines and he ducks a clothesline from Ziggler. Big E with a belly-to-belly suplex. Big E tries for the Ultimate Warrior splash but Ziggler with a drop kick.
Big E with a uranage for a near fall when Ziggler charges at him in the corner. Ziggler with a DDT and he gets a near fall. Ziggler goes for a sleeper but Big E pushes him away. Big E with a clothesline for a near fall. The straps comes down and he picks up Ziggler for the Big Ending but Ziggler escapes and he hits the Fameasser but he can only get a two count.
Big E sends Ziggler high into the air and then he hits the Big Ending for the three count.
Winner: Big E
After the match, Ziggler and Big E stand face to face and they hug and Ziggler raises Big E’s hand in victory.
We go to credits.
2016 - AJ Styles made his Madison Square Garden debut. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
WWE returned to New York City's Madison Square Garden for a live event that was mostly entertaining, but seemed to lack some of the usual energy and zing one comes to expect from a MSG event. The show was one of, if not the first, Garden card to go on without John Cena in about a decade, so that may have accounted for some of it. The show featured some departures from the usual WWE live experience, which made the show feel a little less patterned and a little more like an event that was evolving in real time before your eyes.
*Dolph Ziggler pinned The Miz with a superkick as Miz was leaping off the top for a double axehandle. Big reaction for Ziggler when he came out. Good opener with some nice near falls. Miz used the figure four but Ziggler made it to the ropes. Big pop for Ziggler's win. Good stuff here.
*WWE United States champion Kalisto pinned Rusev with the Salida del Sol. Lana was with Rusev and came out knocking New York City and how bad the Knicks play. Just about everyone behind and around me admitted she had a point. She praised Rusev as a real man and her future husband. There was a lot of mic work tonight and it helped give the show a different feel, as opposed to just feeling like the matches were being rushed in and out to get the night over with. Rusev dominated early with power spots. Kalisto actually makes a comeback and at one point bodyslammed Rusev, which got a big pop, but hurt his back in the process. Kalisto made the comeback and used several springboard moves including a spinning headlbutt. Rusev cut him off and nailed a series of suplexes. He grabbed Kalisto and yanked him from the corner, with Kalisto accidentally pulling the turnbuckle cover off as he had grabbed it to try and prevent Rusev from manhandling him. Rusev ended up being sent into the corner and nailed with a Salida del Sol for the pin. Good stuff from bell to bell.
Ryback attacked Kalisto in the aisle after the match, charging down and drilling him from behind. He carried him back to the ring on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes but before he could inflict any damage, Sin Cara ran out. Ryback went back to the floor. The Lucha Dragons left together but Ryback took the mic and began ragging on them, asking when was anyone going to understand that a good little man could never beat a good big man. He made a number of sports comparisons. As you can imagine, he didn't bring up Royce Gracie. He challenged Cara to fight him and Cara took the challenge.
*Ryback pinned Sin Cara. Not a tremendously great match. Ryback pretty much ate him up. Cara made a comeback but was nailed with the Meathook and hit with Shellshock for the pin. As a way to build to Ryback vs. Kalisto at Wrestlemania, this made sense and as a way to move the MSG show along from one segment to the other, it was different and worked. The match itself, didn't click in my opinion.
*Big Show and Kane defeated Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan. No Luke Harper as he's out for several months, based on the chatter backstage at the show. The timing of that really sucks for him and it's a real shame as he was pretty much the most underrated guy on the roster. Lots of selling for chops and punches from the babyfaces and the crowd reacted big-time to all of it. Kane used a chokeslam for the pin on Rowan after Rowan and Bray ate KO Punches from Big Show. No sense of tension between Show and Kane after they had their run-in on Raw. Show was super jovial playing to the kids in the crowd. Everyone got nice reactions for their entrances.
They aired a promo from backstage where The Dudley Boyz said they were home in MSG and were going to win their tenth WWE Tag Team title tonight. Usual good promo.
*Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks defeated Naomi and Tamina as Banks used the Bank Statement on Naomi. This was put together very similar to the bout I saw last week in White Plains, NY and was very good. Lynch received a nice babyface reaction and Banks received a pop that indicated the audience saw she was a star. WWE is onto something with her sure. Very good tag match with Naomi and Tamina working over Lynch for a long time until the Hot Tag. Lynch grabbed Tamina in the Disarmher at the end, but about 30 seconds after Naomi tapped, so they might have been going for the same finish as last week.
Former WWE announcer turned ESPN anchor Jonathan Coachman then made a surprise appearance, announced as a special guest. They had a special Titantron video for him, using old clips and footage of him on ESPN. The ESPN logo was EVERYWHERE on the screens. A portion of the crowd didn't seem to know who Coachman was, but the ones that did booed him. Coachman set up that he was the babyface by saying he had been invited to the show by Shane McMahon, who called him and told him he was going to be the boss soon. Crowd responded favorably to the Shane mention.
Coachman then brought out The Dudley Boyz, who acted as if they were long-lost friends with him. He said that he had been walking around NYC all day and fans stopped him asking questions, but the one question he didn't have an answe to was this: where are the tables? Bubba and D-Von turned on that. Bubba ripped on the crowd and then Coachman with some nice mic work and then they menaced him as if they were going to do something to him. This led to the Usos coming out to prevent anything from happening. The New Day then made their entrance, complete with stopping in the aisle to cut a promo. Big E. quoted A Tribe Called Quest and referenced the late Phife Dawg, who passed away on Wednesday. I thought that was a classy thing. The crowd ate up everything New Day did and you could see they were looked at as a top notch act by the audience.
*WWE Tag Team champions The New Day defeated The Dudley Boyz and The Usos. This was said to have been similar to the type of match they had in Atlantic City last week. There were a lot of old school tag team elements here, including some old Midnight Express comedy where Xavier Woods played the role of the poor soul who continuously ends up getting hurt via chops to the back. Woods was absolutely perfect at selling and reacting to all this. He then tried to walk out but one of the Usos grabbed him and tossed him back in. There was a pretty clever spot as well where Xavier went for a sunset flip on Bubba Ray but couldn't pull him down. One of the Usos grabbed Xavier's legs and nailed a catapult, sending his face into Bubba's nether-regions with Bubba now selling that like a champ. In the end, Kofi scored the pin on D-Von. Solid and different from everything else on the show. Coachman later danced with New Day after the match. The comedy bit was he went for the worm but not only couldn't do it, but couldn't get up without their help.
*WWE Divas champion Charlotte pinned Natalya. Of everyone who came out, Natalya looked the most legitimately moved to be at the Garden and looked like her energy inside was going to burst. This was another really good match between the two. Charlotte had Ric Flair with her. She used the Figure Eight but Natalya reversed it. That didn't get a big reaction as the idea that the momentum of the move was reversed seemed to be unknown to the crowd. Flair distracted her, which allowed Charlotte to use a rollup and steal the pin, just like her Dad used to. Natalya got a really nice standing ovation from a lot of fans after the match and a "Thank you Natty" chant, which you could tell moved her. She limped out, but I believe that was her selling the submission, not a legitimate injury.
*WWE Intercontinental champion Kevin Owens pinned AJ Styles clean with the Popup Powerbomb. The crowd saw both of these men as stars when they came out. Styles received a really good reaction for his debut in Madison Squre Garden. This was pretty much the "working" match of the night as it was 14 minutes of great back and forth wrestling. Styles pulled out everything you'd expect, including the Pele Kick, using it to nail Owens when he was on the top rope. Lots of great near falls. After the match, Owens said he just gave Styles the fight of his life and accused Styles of trying to trip him after. He said he was going to show everyone what a real man was, but when he grabbed Styles, AJ fought back and nailed a Pele Kick to run off Owens. Big round of applause for Styles after the match. He took the mic and addressed MSG, saying they were everything he was told they were, Phenomenal. An excellent debut.
*Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose beat WWE World Heavyweight champion Triple H and Sheamus. HHH easily got the biggest reaction of anyone on the show when it came to ring entrances. Dean got a nice reaction. Roman was playing the role of John Cena here. Lots of kids and women cheering for him, but the men were booing him so loudly, they drowned out everything else. A pretty solid back and forth match. Triple H avoided Roman when he tagged in. Sheamus was in for a lot of the match. When HHH did get in, he and Roman brawled and HHH nailed the Pedigree, which got a big reaction. Ambrose broke up the pin at the last second. Roman speared Sheamus and scored the pin. I got the impression pretty much everyone around me expected to see Sheamus take that loss.
Overall, a good solid night of wrestling.
Notes: The crowd was down slightly from the previous MSG show in terms of attendance, as none of the obstructed view seats behind the entrance stage were sold and there were scattered empty seats, but it was a very strong crowd....Producers who worked the show were Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes and Mike Rotunda....As noted on the main page of PWInsider, Alberto Del Rio was slated to work the show but was pulled a few days ago. It's the second week in a row he didn't work house shows....It was obvious that the New Day unicorns were over as you could see them glowing across the Garden in every direction as they sat on fans' heads....WWE sold signed photos of Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and...Greg Hamilton and JoJo worked as host and ring announcer and did a fine job of getting fans excited and moving things along. However, as you might image, there's no reason for Howard Finkel not to be ring announcing MSG. I'll probably be writing that until the day I die....Betty Skaaland was in the front row and was embraced by Natalya as she made her way around the ring....WWE announced a 7/16 return to MSG. The pre-sale is already going using password WWEGarden.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
