Wrestling Recaps: WCW Saturday Night – July 1995

By

Bob Colling

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December 2, 2014

0

WCW Saturday Night 7/1/1995

Written by: Bob Colling of Wrestling Recaps

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 7/1/1995
From: Atlanta, GA

Matches:
1.)Nasty Boys defeated Los Especialistas
2.)Meng defeated Gary Jackson
3.)Johnny B. Badd fought Diamond Dallas Page to a double count-out

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.Eric Bischoff fills in for Tony Schiavone this week and cuts Heenan off a few times. We will be hearing from Vader and Hogan tonight regarding their cage match at Bash at the Beach.

2.Mean Gene interviewed the Nasty Boys after their squash match. They will be competing against WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat and Blue Bloods at Bash at the Beach. Saggs says everyone will be nastizied. Knobs says that anyone can be tagged in and anyone can win the titles. They are looking to take the whole thing.

3.A video highlighting Dave Sullivan going on a date with the Diamond Doll is shown. They went and saw a movie, apparently the Lion King. Doll says she has been having a good time on the date. Dave is playing the dumb role during the date. Doll says he can call her Kimberly. There is a bunny gram (Disco Inferno). Sullivan leaves because DDP has stolen his rabbit! Doll kisses Sullivan but DDP comes from behind and attacks Sullivan with Maxx Muscle holding him. They run when the police comes over.

4.Mean Gene interviews Col. Robert Parker and Meng after their squash match. Parker talks about WCW United States Champion Sting who he considers to be lucky holding the championship. Parker doesn’t want Gene to mention what happened at the last pay per view. Parker believes that Sting is going to be crimson and yellow at the end of the match at Bash at the Beach.

5.We go to the Dungeon of Doom with Kevin Sullivan and his master. The master gives Sullivan Vader as another present. Vader appears and confronts the master. Vader wants to know why he has been brought to the dungeon. Vader will be put on a roadkill tour which will lead him to Hogan, apparently. Vader leaves and Sullivan laughs because Vader will have to beat Hogan on his own again. I guess Vader joined them.

6.Badd opens the match with an arm drag out of the corner and plays to the crowd. DDP gets the advantage with a front face lock but that didn’t last long as Badd rolls out of it. Badd hits a head scissors to drop DDP. Badd is stopped by DDP with a mule kick and keeps control with several strikes in the corner. DDP nails Badd with a discus clothesline for a two count. Badd ducks under a clothesline and delivers a clothesline of his own. Badd dropkicks DDP to the floor but springboards off the top rope and takes both DDP and Maxx Muscle out! Badd heads to the top and hits a double axe handle back in the ring for a near fall. Badd connects with a sit down powerbomb but Muscle gets on the apron to distract the referee. They trade several pin attempt but neither man can get the win. Badd sends himself and DDP to the floor following a clothesline. Neither man can return to the ring and they are counted out. After the match, Page and Muscle attack Badd by hitting a gut buster and the diamond cutter!

7.Mean Gene interviews Randy Savage to close the show. Savage will be wrestling Big Bubba and Bunkhouse Buck in the next two weeks. Savage wanted to be put in the fire when he joined WCW. Savage says this is nothing compared to what he is going to do Ric Flair!

Final Thoughts:
I like the hour editions of Saturday Night, but I thought this was a boring one. The main event between Badd/Page was okay but it just didn’t make up for the rest of the show. I’m not sure if I like Vader joining the Dungeon of Doom. Actually, I’m not even sure if he actually did since Sullivan seemed to say that they weren’t going to help Vader. Overall, not a good episode of Saturday Night.

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WCW Saturday Night 7/8/1995

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 7/8/1995
From: Atlanta, GA

Matches:
1.)Jim Duggan defeated Kip Abee
2.)WCW Television Champion the Renegade defeated Rick Thames
3.)Hawk defeated Lt. James Earl Wright
4.)Kamala defeated Steve Storm
5.)Blue Bloods defeated Mike Davis & Ron Thompson
6.)Randy Savage defeated Bunkhouse Buck

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.We go back to the Dungeon to see what’s going on with the Dungeon of Doom. There is another man joining that group. The next man to join the group is Shark. He is better known as being Earthquake in the WWF or Avalanche in WCW. Shark has teeth painted on his face and his gear looks like a shark’s mouth. He can’t wait for a fight with Hulkamania.

2.Mean Gene conducted an interview with Hawk. Hawk talks about what he did on July 4th and said he walked fireworks which reminded him of himself because he goes nuts whenever. Hawk is going to have to start punching himself if he doesn’t start getting competition. He believes that no one can hit him as hard as he can hit himself. He sums it up perfectly by saying he isn’t right in the head.

3.After Kamala wins his squash match Sullivan stares at the large man we saw at Great American Bash. It looked like as if Sullivan was smiling at him before walking away.

4.Tony Schiavone conducted an interview with the Blue Bloods after their squash match. Regal says they needed to attack the Nasty Boys back in May to get himself and Eaton the proper attention. It disgusts Regal that the Nasty Boys are even allowed to be in the ring. He believes the only way they lose is if Harlem Heat teams with the Nasty Boys to take them out. This is the war they have been looking for.

5.Savage opens the match gouging Buck’s face after delivering a back elbow. Buck misses a clothesline and is dropped by Savage with a forearm shot. Buck gets offense after Parker distracts Savage. Savage is sent to the floor where Parker gets a few cheap shots in. Buck rams Savage shoulder first into the ring post and slams Savage on the floor! Savage slams Buck off the middle rope and hits the top rope elbow drop to the win the match.

6.Mean Gene interviews Randy Savage to close the show. Savage says that he told Parker and Buck they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Savage is going to stop being a nice guy at Bash at the Beach when he meets Ric Flair. Savage is going to show Flair that he shouldn’t have had mess with him!

Final Thoughts:
Okay, the Dungeon of Doom consists mainly of guys that Hogan has feuded with in the late 80’s and early 90’s. So, the interest in that doesn’t exist at all. This was just another boring edition and if the Dungeon of Doom becomes a top priority for the program, then I guess we are in trouble. Overall, this episode gets a big thumbs down from me.

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WCW Saturday Night 7/15/1995

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 7/15/1995
From: Atlanta, GA

Matches:
1.)WCW World Tag Team Champion Harlem Heat defeated Los Especialists
2.)Dave Sullivan defeated Dino DeMeglo
3.)Meng defeated Chris Sawyer
4.)Kamala defeated Chris Nelson
5.)Johnny B. Badd defeated Lt. James Earl Wright
6.)Jim Duggan defeated Sonny Trout
7.)Diamond Dallas Page defeated Tim Horner
8.)WCW Television Champion The Renegade defeated Butch Long
9.)Blue Bloods defeated Chris Kanyon & Scott Armstrong
10.)Ric Flair defeated Barry Houston

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.Mean Gene conducted an interview with Harlem Heat after their squash match. Booker says that tonight the odds are against them just like they have been their entire life. He tells the Nasty Boys and Blue Bloods to come get some. Stevie Ray believes that history will be made tomorrow night. Sister Sherri chimes in and tells the challengers to step back and look at what they have done. She says neither one of those teams are going to win the tag titles. Mean Gene mentions that Col. Robert Parker called her baby and Sherri freaks out over it.

2.Dave Sullivan is interviewed by Mean Gene as well. Sullivan is going to show DDP that what he did was wrong at the pay per view tomorrow night.

3.Col. Robert Parker talked to Gene after Meng took care of business in the ring. Gene asks what is going in between Parker and Sherri. Parker says he is going to have his way with Sherri. Eventually Parker hypes up the match between Sting and Meng tomorrow night. Parker predicts that Meng will be taking the WCW United States Championship away from Sting.

4.We go to the Dungeon of Doom to see who is the next gift for Kevin Sullivan. This man is a warrior and will be the biggest key of them all. The man is called the Zodiac. This is just the Butcher under a new gimmick. Sullivan wants to know who will be his warrior. Sullivan is told to be patient as the warrior he has picked will be coming soon!

5.Randy Savage comes out to be interviewed by Mean Gene. Savage says he has Ric Flair exactly where he wants to have him. He will be meeting Flair in a lifeguard match tomorrow night. His father told him to do whatever he needs to do to beat Flair. Savage tells Flair he is going to get him at the pay per view!

6.The Blue Bloods were interviewed by Mean Gene after their squash match. Regal says that they are going to have to perform violence which they aren’t use to doing. They are scientific wrestlers. Regal says that they are like Great Britain and they will never lose at war. Regal assures us that they will be prepared for a fight tomorrow night.

7.Ric Flair comes out to end the show with several ladies by his side as he is interviewed by Mean Gene. Flair tells Gene that he is going to have a party when he destroys Randy Savage tomorrow night. Flair is sure he is going to take Savage out! The tells the ladies to go to the ringside area. Flair goes to the ring and beats up a jobber in his street clothes. Randy Savage comes out into the ring and attacks Flair from behind! Flair bails to the floor but Savage gets a hold of him when the ladies grab Flair and roll him back into the ring! Several jobbers run into the ring and hold Savage back as Flair hammers away on Savage and hits him with his shoe! Flair leaves the ring and runs to the backstage area.

8.Mean Gene talks to Randy Savage one more time. Savage tells Gene that he can wait to chase after Flair until tomorrow night. Savage says nothing is going to stop him from ending Flair tomorrow night.

Final Thoughts:
As per usual the go home show before the pay per view was really just a last minute hype job for the top matches. I liked the ending between Flair and Savage as that has probably been the best feud going for WCW at this time. Those two just work so well with each other. The guys involved with the Dungeon of Doom are just not that interesting and whomever the “warrior” is going to be for them better be a surprise or something. I’m sure some people took it as if the Ultimate Warrior was going to be coming in, but that’s not going to happen. Overall, I’ll give the show a thumbs in the middle. It was a nice way to promote the big show the next night.

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WCW Saturday Night 7/22/1995

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 7/22/1995
From: Atlanta, GA

Matches:
1.)Vader defeated John Taylor & Dave Walby in a handicap match
2.)Nasty Boys defeated Tony Vincent & Chris Nelson
3.)Arn Anderson defeated Todd Wilder
4.)Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat to win the titles

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.We see footage from Bash at the Beach where it appears that Vader has turned baby face and is demanding to get Ric Flair and Arn Anderson in the ring because they stuck their noses in his business inside the steel cage. Yeah, Vader lost to WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan yet again.

2.This week, Hulk Hogan will be showing up to the dungeon to see what it is all about. That should be interesting!

3.Footage from Bash at the Beach is shown where during the pregame a giant man gave Hulk Hogan a white t-shirt and it was revealed that it was Andre the Giant’s shirt.

4.Vader took his frustrations out on two jobbers in a handicap match before being interviewed by Mean Gene. Vader says he has lost his mind because he wants both Flair and Anderson on August 6th at the Clash of the Champions. Vader doesn’t care if it’s both of them because he is going to end Ric Flair wherever he finds him! Vader trusted Flair and got behind him but Flair didn’t bring them to the top. Vader tells Flair he is going to feel the intensity of Vader!

5.We got to the Dungeon of Doom which will see Hulk Hogan visiting them. The master says the bait has been set and we see Hogan fall into the dungeon and he looks around saying he has never been here before. Hogan confronts Sullivan and the master saying that they are behind the end of Hulkamania. Sullivan tells Hogan that he is the one who created him! Sullivan says that his demise is etched in stone. We then see the enormous man from BATB to choke Hogan from behind and he says that he is the greatest giant to ever walk the face of the earth and is stronger than Hogan to end the segment. That’s the debut of the Giant, folks.

6.Mean Gene interviews Arn Anderson and Ric Flair after Anderson dominated his opponent. Anderson asks if there was enough air for Vader when he was a child, but apparently there wasn’t. Anderson tells Vader that they are going to dog Vader like he owns them money. Flair chimes in and tells Vader he might just slap him in the face. Vader comes out from the backstage area and confronts them. Vader grabs Flair but Anderson steps in front of Flair. Vader is held back by several jobbers to end the segment.

7.A video promoting the debut of Kurasawa is aired. He is a Japanese wrestler who will strike his opponents and beat them at any means necessary. It looks like a fairly similar gimmick to what Meng has.

8.Booker works on Slater to open the main event and drops him with a clothesline. Ray enters and keeps the control on Buck with a hip toss. Booker nails Buck with a scissors kick for a near fall early on in the contest. Slater drops a knee across Booker’s face to get the upper hand. That offense doesn’t last too long as the champs drop Buck after Ray delivered a back elbow. Booker misses Slater in the corner and crashes to the canvas. The match eventually breaks loose and they are all brawling with the champs getting the better of the challengers with Ray scoop slamming both Slater and Buck. Slater takes his boot off but Sherri grabs it and is knocked off the apron when Booker clotheslines Slater over the top. Col. Robert Parker hits Ray over the back with the boot and Buck delivers an elbow drop to get the three count. I was not expecting the titles to change there! After the match, Col. Parker says that Sherri is going to call him her baby cake. Sherri is flipping out in the ring as the show comes to an end.

Final Thoughts:
It wasn’t a bad show, as they are setting up the feuds for the rest of the summer it looks like. While I’m not all that happy that Vader has turned face, Flair is making it easy to get behind Vader. The Dungeon of Doom angle is silly, but the debut of the Giant gives the group a much needed kick of credibility as Giant isn’t someone Hogan has dominated ever. The tag title switch actually surprised me so I liked that, I thought it came later on. Overall, I’m going to give the show a thumbs up.

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WCW Saturday Night 7/29/1995

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 7/29/1995
From: Atlanta, GA

Matches:
1.)Randy Savage defeated Tom Burton
2.)Vader defeated Tom Torres
3.)WCW Television Champion The Renegade defeated Jack Steel
4.)WCW United States Champion Sting defeated Scott Stevens
5.)Ric Flair defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.The program starts with Mean Gene introducing a sit down interview with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. Hogan says he thinks about Andre the Giant and misses him a lot. Hogan talks about fighting back tears at Andre’s funeral. He felt it was unfair that the fans in Michigan at Mania III weren’t chanting for Andre because he was the best. Hogan had a feeling of fear that made him question himself. He felt that a part of him was buried along with Andre. Uh, Hogan says he can smell and feel Andre. Hogan knows that he can’t run away from the Giant that gave him the Andre shirt. Hogan knew about the rumor that Andre’s son was coming after him or a relative. This promo seems insincere and the idea of Andre’s son coming after Hogan is just awful. Hogan wants a piece of the Dungeon of the Doom and knows at the end of the road he will get his hands on the Giant. Hogan will be wrestling on the Main Event, apparently.

2.Mean Gene conducted an interview with Randy Savage after his squash match. Gene talks to Savage about the man who choked Hogan in the dungeon. Savage says he would be in a state of shock if Hogan were to not show up to the Clash. Savage, Sting and Renegade will be there to watch Hogan’s back.

3.Vader is interviewed by Mean Gene after his easy victory. Vader tells Gene that he hasn’t lost his marbles because he is attempting something that has never been done before, win a handicap match. That’s funny, because Vader has won a crap load of handicap matches in the past two years. He tells Flair and Anderson there is nowhere to run or hide. Vader is begging Flair to not weasel his way out of the match at the Clash.

4.Paul Orndorff cut a promo during Renegade’s match telling us that the WCW Television Championship will be his at the Clash.

5.A video of Col. Robert Parker and Meng meeting Kurasawa is aired. Parker gives Kurasawa a golden spike of sorts.

6.Speaking of Parker he has a confrontation with Sherri Martel back at the arena. Parker insults Sherri and Sherri tells Parker that she will do whatever she can to get a return title match. Sherri tells Parker that she can beat him with one arm tied behind her back. Parker suggests a six man tag match at the Clash. If Sherri can beat Parker then they will get a rematch for the tag titles.

7.The main event this week saw Marcus Alexander Bagwell look to earn the biggest victory of his career against Ric Flair. It’s a rather slow start between the two with Bagwell shoulder blocking Flair after some mat wrestling. Flair cheap shots Bagwell in the corner when the referee stopped Bagwell from using a closed right hand. Bagwell fights back with a series of clotheslines and works on Flair with right hands. Flair stops Bagwell with a big boot in the corner. Flair tosses Bagwell over the top but the referee didn’t see him do it. Arn Anderson attacks Bagwell on the floor while Flair distracted the referee. They both crash to the floor when Flair hits a running cross body. Bagwell counters a pile driver attempt on the floor by hitting a backdrop. Bagwell brings Flair back into the ring with a suplex but only got a two count. Flair flips into the corner and is knocked down on the apron by Bagwell with a clothesline. Bagwell follows up with a superplex but doesn’t go for the cover. Bagwell goes up top but misses a missile dropkick! Flair locks in the figure four and gets the pin as he was getting held by Anderson on the floor. This was a solid television match, actually. After the match, Vader comes down to the ring and Flair drops down to his knee to beg Vader for mercy. Anderson slides into the ring and chop blocks Vader’s leg before hiting the DDT! Vader is beaten down by Flair and Anderson. That’s it for this week.

Final Thoughts:
The whole Hulk Hogan promo was really just funny and was something I couldn’t take seriously. It was just way too phony for my liking. The main event was good this week but there wasn’t anything on here that was all that special or worth viewing. So, I’ll give the show a thumbs in the middle.

Thanks for reading.

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW TV 10/15, 10/22, & 10/29/96

By

Heels Inc

-

December 2, 2014

0

TV 1996-10-15 (Matches taped Ultimate Jeopardy 1996-10-05 ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

We get highlights from last weeks Ultimate Jeopardy Match.

Opening video.

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show and tells us World Champion Sandman will join via satellite from Massachusetts. Lori Fullington now joins Joey via satellite and she just rubs her arm and acts like a heroin addict. Lori says Raven hasn’t just quit wrestling he has quit his life. She says that Raven has taken Tyler and left the country.

Back from break and Joey tells us that Sandman has walk off from his press conference after learning what just happened. Joey talks about the chokeslam Tommy Dreamer took last week. Coming up on October 26th it’s a High Incident Match. Dreamer and “Primetime” Brian Lee will be on a scaffold with the ring below filled with tables.

Submission Match: Taz (w/ Bill Alfonso & Team Taz) vs. Johnny Smith, ref Jim Molineaux
Rematch from last months Arena show. Taz won that one with the tazmission injuring Smith in the process. Mat wrestling to start. Taz drops into the collegiate wrestling position and Taz escapes. Smith does the same and then he escapes. Smith does it a second time but Taz stomps him. Taz takes it to the floor and then hits a northern lights back in the ring. Taz sends Smith into the corner and then locks in a submission but Smith gets to the ropes. Smith with a hip toss and he locks in a cross arm bar but Taz gets to the ropes. Smith stomps away on the arm. Taz ducks a clothesline and locks in a bow and arrow type move that Joey calls the red hook ringer. Taz breaks the hold. Smith ducks a clothesline and locks in another arm bar. Taz gets to the ropes. Smith sends Taz to the corner charges but catches a boot to the face. Taz comes out but gets powerslammed and Smith locks in the STF. Taz to the ropes, Smith goes up top and hits a missile dropkick followed by a clothesline. After a body slam Smith goes back up top but Taz gets the knees up on a splash. Smith blocks a german but Taz hits a wheel barrel suplex instead. Taz quickly puts on the tazmission and Smith is forced to submit in 9.47. Taz and Alfonso want to know who can stop the path of rage. Pretty good match.

A highlights package of the feud between the Eliminators and Terry Gordy and Steve Williams is shown. The two teams will meet on October 26th.

The Eliminators vs. Samoan Gangsta Party ref Paul Richards
Samoans attack before the bell but the Eliminators are able to fight them off. Sammy the Silk hits a double clothesline though to gain control. Big Matty Smalls is on Kronus, Sammy with Saturn. The Samoans hug and the Eliminators pop off the mat and hit total elimination and get the win in 2.03.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Pitbull 2 (w/ Pitbull 1) ref John Finnegan
Pitbull hits the ring and the fight is on right away. Pitbull nails Shane with the belt but Francine climbs into the ring. Shane picks up the belt and nails Pitbull with it. “She’s a whore” chant to Francine. DDT by Shane but no sold by Pitbull. Pitbull with a press slam into a brain buster! They go the floor. Pitbull puts Shane in a chin lock on the floor. What? Shane sent into the guard rail. Back in the ring a chokeslam by Pitbull gets 2. Pitbull attacking the neck of Shane as the fans chant for him to break it. These people are going to flip their shit if Pitbull ever takes the title from Shane. Shane sent into the corner but he comes out and hits a swinging neckbreaker and a piledriver. Suplex by Shane and then he attacks the neck. Pitbull tries to comeback by sending Shane into the corner but Shane moves out of the way of a charge and again hits a swinging neckbreaker. Pitbull comes back and puts Shane on the turnbuckle but the Eliminators hit the ring. Pitbull clotheslines both of them and then stands there pounding his chest while they give him total elimination. Shane comes off the top with an elbow drop but only gets 2. Again Pitbull tries to come back and sends Shane into the corner and charges but Shane gets a boot up 3 times in a row. Shane goes up top but is knocked down onto the buckle and Pitbull with a super fall away slam. Francine is seen taking something out of her dress. She throws it to Shane and Pitbull grabs her. Haha she goes to her knees to beg him off and the crowd begins to chant “suck his dick”, oh man. He hits her with a running powerslam instead of raping her. Shane throws powder in Pitbulls face. Pitbull can’t see and he belly to bellys the ref. Shane with a single arm DDT and then he puts the dog collar around Pitbull’s neck. Full nelson as Shane tries to break his neck. Pitbull 1 is on the apron cheering on his partner Shane hits a single arm DDT. Pitbull 1 gets in the ring and Shane grabs him by the halo that is screwed into his skull and shakes it!!! Shane goes after Tod Gordon who is now at ringside as multiple fans jump the rail and get tackled by cops and security. Shane is being led out of the back as the locker room empties. Tommy Dreamer goes after Shane in the locker room. Joel Gertner begins to announce Shane as the winner and Gordon punches him. Joey has been in the ring and we have had no commentary for a few minutes. Gertner gets the mic back and this time Paul E. Dangerously attacks him. Wrestlers now begin to threaten him so he leaves. Pitbull is stretchered out and leaves in an ambulance. Things fell apart at around the 17 minute mark.

My thoughts on the show…
Good opening match. With just the main event this was probably one of the best TV episodes I have seen so far. The Shane/Pitbull storyline has been heating up for weeks now and Douglas showed tonight that he will do what ever he can to make sure he hurts his opponents. The fans were so into the match that some even jumped the rail at the end. This is a must see episode!

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TV 1996-10-22 (Matches taped 1996-10-05 Ultimate Jeopardy at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

Recap of last week’s main event.

Opening video.

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show. Joey is scheduled to interview TV Champions “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and Francine. Joey says that he has always done his job like a professional but he will not interview Douglas. Joey turns his attention to the Sandman and Raven. Next week it doesn’t get any easier for the Sandman as he faces the number 1 international contender and his good friend 2 Cold Scorpio. We then get the entire Scorpio and Chris Jericho match from The Doctor is In back in early August.

We go to Hype Central with Joel Gertner and he is outside of the hospital with Shane Douglas and Francine. They make fun of Pitbull 1 for being in the hospital and crippled.

Tag Team Champions The Gangstas vs. The Eliminators, ref Jim Molineaux
They brawl. Saturn hits a cutter on both New Jack and Mustafa and the Eliminators pose. The Gangstas get up and attack from behind. New Jack’s weapons tonight include a nightstick and crutch. Match gets clipped to a bloody New Jack. Mustafa with a running powerslam on Saturn. New Jack is a mess. Clip to the end Mustafa with a running powerslam on Kronus and New Jack comes of the top with the 187. 5.43 is shown and the announced time of the match is 11.13. Eliminators attack after the match and hit total elimination on both Gangstas. They lay a table across the top turnbuckle and Kronus jump off it with a splash to New Jack. Saturn opens a ladder and puts it on the table now! Kronus holds the ladder as Saturn climbs it. Saturn comes off the ladder with an elbow drop! Saturn climbs back up this time hitting a splash on Mustafa.

Hype for High Incident.

“Misirlou” promos. Tommy Dreamer, Bill Alfonso, Shane Douglas and Francine, Doug Furnas, Lori Fullington, Rob Van Dam, The Gangstas, Eliminators and Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and “Dr. Death” Steve Williams all hype there story lines.

My thoughts on the show…
Throw away episode. A two month old match that we have already seen, and a brawl that is clipped like crazy. High Incident looks to be pretty good. Dreamer/Lee in a scaffold match, Furnas and Kroffat take on Van Dam and Sabu, Sandman against Scorpio for the belt and The Eliminators take on Gordy and Williams. That show looks good, this show was not. Skip it!

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TV 1996-10-29 (Matches taped 1996-10-26 High Incident at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

They open with the end of the Tommy Dreamer “Primetime” Brian Lee scaffold match. Dreamer knocks Lee down and just as Lee hits the tables it goes to the opening video.

Joey Styles is in the ring and he welcomes us to the show. Joey says ECW is hardcore but they also like amateur sports. Joey welcomes 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle to the ring. Little Guido comes to the ring and Joey says he is a good amateur wrestling also. Guido says it’s an honor to meet Angle. Joey then introduces Guido’s opponent Taz. Taz shakes Angle’s hand and tells him he is one of the greatest amateur wrestling ever. Taz said he once thought about joining the Olympic team but he would rather do it on TV and make money. Taz is glad Kurt is there to commentate on his match so he can tell the world what a great wrestler Taz is. Taz again says Kurt is a great amateur but that he is a great pro.

Shoot Fight: Taz (w/ Team Taz & Bill Alfonso) vs. Little Guido, ref John “Pee Wee’ Moore
Angle questions why Taz has such a bad attitude. Taz dominates with different submissions and hits a wheel barrel suplex. Taz follows that up with a tbone and locks in the tazmission getting the win in 4.10. Angle talks about how great of a job Taz did. Taz gets on the mic and says that even Angle must agree that it was a gold medal performance. Taz then turns his attention to Sabu. He says for over a year he has been asking for him. His patience is running out and he wants Sabu.

Joey says he and ECW were honored to have Angle there with them after he turned down offers from WWF and WCW.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Cody Michaels, ref Paul Richards

Douglas gets the mic and talks about how he broke Pitbull’s neck again last time he was in the arena. Pitbull 2 hits the ring right after the introductions but he is held back by a bunch of guys. We go to break and when we get back we are joined in progress and Michaels hits a inverted atomic drop and flying forearm. Michaels goes up top and hits a drop kick for 2. After a body slam he goes up again and hits a nice cross body that nearly gets 3. Michaels back drops Shane over the top ropes to the floor and knocks him back into the guardrail with a baseball slide. Michaels nails Douglas with a chair and then sits him in it and dives off the apron with a crossbody. Michaels sends Shane into the rope but Douglas drops him with a single arm DDT and then a tombstone. The ref goes to stop the match because Michaels is out but Francine won’t let him. Shane picks up Michaels and ends it with the belly to belly. 3.32 of the match airs. After the match Douglas puts Michaels in the full nelson. Pitbull 2 hits the ring chasing off Douglas. A bunch of guys follow Pitull into the ring to calm him down but he beats them all up. Douglas comes in the ring with a chair but Pitbull no sells that shot to the head. Douglas again runs as Pitbull chases him around the ring. Francine is in the middle of the ring watching and Shane jumps into the ring and bumps into her knocking her down. Pitbull goes after her but all the other wrestlers are back up and hold him back. Francine and Douglas are able to escape. Joel Gertner gets in the ring to announce Douglas as the winner. Pitbull gets in his face and he actually shoves him back. Pitbull grabs him and throws him out of the ring onto all the other wrestlers. A good showing by Michaels and the fans were into this.

Spike Dudley vs. Chris Candido, ref John Finnegan
Candido makes his return to ECW for the first time in 3 years and after an unsuccessful run in the WWF as Skip. “Skip is dead” chant from the fans. Spike with a head scissor but Candido ducks and clothesline and drops Spike on his head with a german. Spike sent hard into the corner. Snap suplex by Candido followed by a leg drop. Candido picks Spike up for a suplex but hangs him over the top rope instead. Candido puts Spike on the turnbuckle and goes up with him. Candido hits a power bomb off the top rope as the fans go crazy and he gets the win in 3.25. Candido says that the WWF gave him a lot so he isn’t here to complain about them but he is proud to be back in the place that gave him his first big break. He is here to bring ECW to the top and out of the shit hole that it’s in.

World Champion Sandman vs. 2 Cold Scorpio, ref Jim Molineaux
Joined in progress in the opening moments of the match. Former partners facing off tonight. After some back and forth Scorpio gets a chair and Sandman takes his cane. They put down the weapons and hug but Scorpio knees him in the stomach and takes over. Scorpio gets the cane and nails Sandman with it. Scorpio with a side slam and he goes up top. Big leg drop gets a 2 count. He goes back up and hits a moonsault but only gets 2. He goes up again but Sandman nails him with the cane. Super rana gets 2. Scorpio with a powerslam. Scorpio misses the moonsault leg drop and Sandman covers for the win in 6. Tyler Fullington shows up in the ring and he hugs his father. Just then, Raven shows up behind Sandman hits him with the cane and DDTs him. Tyler and Raven pose as we go off the air.

My thoughts on the show…
This was a very good episode. The Douglas Pitbull feud continues to go full steam ahead. Candido returns with a bang. And Raven throws himself right back into his feud with Sandman.

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Recap Of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s Podcast With Vince McMahon

By

Jim Somers

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December 1, 2014

0

Credit: Sean Ross Sapp

– Vince McMahon says subscriptions are good for the Network, and the satisfaction rate is 96 percent. He hopes to have the Network running in England by January, but nothing is set in stone.

– Austin and McMahon argue over what is sports entertainment and what is professional wrestling. Vince says they tell stories, what his dad promoted were pro wrestling. He says some of the match don’t hit. He said he liked the show tonight.

– McMahon seems to be giving really corporate, politically correct answers. Austin says that there aren’t any other options out there for wrestlers, and mentions TNA, but says they aren’t in the same league. Austin says that there’s no room to piss anyone off, and McMahon says “well then just don’t piss anyone off.”

– McMahon points to Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt as guys who are looking to grab the brass ring. He says today’s locker room isn’t as ambitious as in Austin’s heyday because everyone is afraid to fail. Austin challenges the roster to step up.

– Austin says McMahon doesn’t have a magic wand to get someone over. Austin asks what Cesaro is lacking and McMahon says he hasn’t connected yet and is lacking in charisma, and lacking “it.” Austin disagrees and says he organically started to like him and thought that the Heyman pairing slowed him down after the Real Americans split. Austin asks what he can do to fix that as a promoter, and McMahon says he doesn’t have the answer to everything but something is missing. He can’t pinpoint it, but something is missing.

– McMahon says no one man has the answer to booking organizations and he can’t do it all. He says that it’s a mammoth organization. He then changes the subject to pushing Nick Bockwinkel & Dusty Rhodes into a pool.

– Austin asks where Shane McMahon is and Vince says he’s working in Japan, and has his finger in a lot of pots and is living a family life. He says a family business is difficult, and being a dad in a family business and having your wife work with you can be rough.

Vince says he didn’t want Shane & Stephanie to get into the business necessarily, but wanted them to do what they wanted for themselves. He talks about his early days in the business and working for his father.

– Austin asks if Vince wants to talk to CM Punk. Vince apologizes to CM Punk for firing him on his wedding day, and said legal and talent relations aren’t always on the same page, and it was a coincidence. He doesn’t want to air dirty laundry on TV, but hopes that one day they can work together again.

– During the broadcast, CM Punk played off the situation by tweeting the following: “This Habs/Avs game is bonkers. St. Patrick!!!!”

– Austin talks about how he walked out in 2002, and McMahon said he was so hard headed that he was impossible to deal with. They talk about the storyline that forced Austin out, and Austin said leaving was the worst professional decision he ever made. He said that while he was gone Vince left three voicemails trying to reach out, but wouldn’t talk to him. Finally after Jim Ross sent him a card, he spoke to JR and finally arranged a meeting with Vince.

Austin asks if there’s anyone around to bridge the gap between WWE and CM Punk. McMahon says he wishes there was, apparently forgetting Punk’s wife works for him.

– Austin says when he came back in 2003, Vince wanted to fine him $650,000 but was talked down to $250,000. Austin jokingly asks if he could have got it down to $125,000. McMahon said that Austin deserved it for what happened.

– McMahon is asked when the decision was made to end the Undertaker’s streak. Vince says nobody wants to give back to the business more than the Undertaker. McMahon says it was about timing, and there was nobody on the roster that would have fit in that role, and Undertaker agreed. Austin called out McMahon saying there’s no way that was Undertaker’s call. Vince says that’s true, and he ultimately made the decision and thinks he made the right call at the right time.

Austin asks why Brock isn’t on TV, and Vince says he’s a special attraction. He compares Brock being on TV to Jake Roberts bringing a big python in the ring. If you see it each week, you become numb to it. He feels the story draws fans in, not the title.

– Austin asks about Randy Savage in the Hall of Fame. McMahon says yes without hesitation, but doesn’t have a timetable.

– McMahon is asked what took so long to get Sting there. He said times are different and you have to roll with the punches.

– McMahon says Ted Turner’s business motive was to hurt the other guy, and his business motive was to make a good show. He said it was just a matter of time before they toppled WCW because they had the better show. He said both shows were going so hard, it came down to who would burn out the quickest.

– McMahon says the AWA put themselves out of business. He tried to buy the company from Verne Gagne, but was shot down. Vince said he kept re-investing in his product, and others wanted to hold on to their money instead. He says Bill Watts is the only person who actually invested his money back into his territory.

McMahon says he only competed with Bill Watts once and learned his lesson until Watts sold to Crockett. He said Crockett wasn’t the brightest branch in the tree and decided to move into his territory after that.

– Austin asks Vince McMahon if there’s any heat between Vince and Jim Ross. Vince says there’s no heat on his half, but the incident in Los Angeles was really unprofessional. McMahon doesn’t rule out working with Jim Ross in the future. Austin puts over Ross’ creativity, and thinks its a mistake to not have him around.

McMahon said Ross wanted to leave Connecticut for Oklahoma, and worked hard and paid his dues like no other. Ross wanted to help some, but didn’t want to commit 24/7 and McMahon said that you couldn’t work half-assed in this job.

– McMahon says he understood the psychology of the Stone Cold/Mr. McMahon feud because he’s no better than anyone else, but nobody else is better than him. He said he could relate to both sides of the feud because he felt like he truly was Stone Cold’s character.

– Austin says they’re counting him down to end the show, and Vince said “I happen to own the Network, so we’re going for 15 more minutes.”

– McMahon says his father didn’t want him to be a wrestler, because he couldn’t be a businessman and a wrestler. Vince said wrestling was one of the greatest thrills in his life.

– Austin talks about how he was pitched the Ringmaster gimmick, and how McMahon didn’t see a superstar in him, so he had to take initiative.

– Austin asks McMahon about the table spot at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. McMahon says he was bruised and had a lot of internal bleeding to create the large bruise.

– Austin talks about the double turn at WrestleMania 13, and said that when they were going over the match, he, Bret and Vince were the only three in the room going over it. Austin says he heard that it would be a Submissions match on TV, and thought it would stink because he wasn’t a submission wrestler. Austin had to stroke at the time so Bret Hart aided him in getting color. Vince admits he was likely pissed at the time while watching because they broke a rule, but it got over with the fans.

– Austin asks if Vince McMahon is truly giving fans what they want, and if WWE is listening. McMahon says he thinks the future is good, despite ratings not being what they were in the 90’s.

– Austin asks how fans can send in their voice. McMahon says he listens to the crowd, to the audience, social media.

– Austin asks McMahon when he’s going to retire. McMahon says he’s enjoying it now more than ever, he’s healthy, he’s working as many hours as ever before. He says physically he isn’t losing a step, and doesn’t think he is mentally. He said some people think he’s out of touch, but those people are just critics.

– The two close the interview.

Brock Lesnar Removed From Next Week’s WWE RAW

By

Jim Somers

-

December 1, 2014

0

WWE has removed WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar from their event listing for next week’s RAW from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Lesnar had been advertised for next week’s show since October.

The official website of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena has also removed Lesnar from the description for next week’s show. The original description read:

“RAW Main Event: John Cena and Dean Ambrose vs Money in the Bank Contract Winner Seth Rollins and Kane. Plus, you’ll see WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, WWE COO Triple H…AND The Slammy Awards will take place live in Greenville!”

Here are the current RAW tapings that WWE has Lesnar advertised for:

* Dec. 15, 2014 – Detroit, MI
* Dec. 29, 2014 – Washington, D.C
* Jan. 12, 2015 – New Orleans, LA
* Jan. 19, 2015 – Dallas, TX
* Jan. 26, 2015 – Hartford, CT

The WWE Raw Report 12/1/14 – Anonynous Raw GM Returns

By

Crazymax Jack

-

December 1, 2014

0

WWE Raw 12/1/14 from BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma

– We’re reminded of the demise of the Authority courtesy of a video package. Daniel Bryan returned, Vince was pissed at his family, and Rollins had to team with jobber stooges in the main. Oh yeah, and the Anonymous Raw GM returns tonight…

The lights flicker, the noise alarms, and Michael Cole is already reading emails. The Laptop is pissed off, WWE need the Anonymous GM. Cole starts to read off the Cyber GM’s announcements but is interrupted by John Cena. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a good thing…

Cena reminds us the Authority is gone and his team won at Survivor Series. The lights keep flickering, the GM noise keeps alarming. This goes on like 20 times… It’s almost so bad it’s funny…. ALMOST…. Cena says he’s not going to let the Laptop GM ruin his celebration of Survivor Series (dwell on things much?). Cena heads towards the laptop when he’s interrupted by the entrance of SETH ROLLINS, along with Noble & Mercury.

It’s like 5 minutes of back and forth crap, bad jokes, namedrops of Sting, JBL, even Eric Bischoff. Blah blah blah. Rollins talks about the new revolving door of GM’s and how whatever Cena does one week could work against him the next. Rollins tries to get Cena to realize that the Authority is best for business, and Cena needs to bring them back before Raw implodes.

Cena makes Seth Rollins politely ask him to bring back the Authority, complete with a “please” and on one need. The Raw GM randomly chimes in to interrupt… I think the segment was running long, because Cena seemed like he wanted to say more…

Per the Anonymous Raw GM, Michael Cole announces that Cena will wrestle Rollins in a Tables Match at TLC, and if Cena loses, then he loses his title shot against Brock Lesnar.

While Cena is distracted by the announcement, Rollins jumps him. Kane and the stooges join in. Rollins grabs a table to put Cena through it, but RYBACK is out… Ryback lays everyone out, but winds up getting pounded down with a steel chair. Erick Rowan is out to the rescue, he destroys all the heels as well, until Big Show comes out and drops Rowan with the steel steps…Dolph Ziggler out next, he launches himself at Big Show, but Show catches him. Ziggle frees himself and Show goes head first into the ring post…

Ziggler grabs a LADDER from under the ring, then stands there for what feels like forever as he waits for… Luke Harper attacks Dolph… Finally… Ziggler just standing there waiting to be attacked. Harper lays Ziggles out with the ladder.

Back in the ring, Seth props the table up to put Cena through, but Cena fights off Rollins and the stooges. Rollins up in the AA, but Luke Harper enters the ring and frees Rollins. Big Show joins in and KNOCKS OUT Cena. Rollins and the stooges then mock the Shield as they Triple Powerbomb Cena through a table.

Dear God, what a long segment of nothing followed by a whole lot of crap to type in the final 3 minutes.

–Commercial Break–

– It’s Big Show vs. Rowan for later. Also Cena, Ryback, Dolph vs. Harper, Rollins, Kane in the main.

#1 Contenders Match TAG TEAM TURMOIL: The Usos vs. Goldust & Stardust vs. The New Day vs. Adam Rose & The Bunny vs. Cesar & Tyson Kidd.

Winners face Miz & Sandow at TLC.

1. Goldust & Stardust vs. New Day (Kofi & Big E).

Cesaro & Tyson Kidd are a team? Adam Rose and the Bunny still team? Where are Los Matadores? Man this tag scene is pathetic. Not sure which New Day guys are wrestling here, they’re all in gear. Crowd doesn’t give a crap about any of the three. This gimmick is over like a fart in the New Day Church. New Day plays Paper, Rock Scissors to determine who wrestles. Xavier pulls Michael Hayes duty and heads to the floor. New Day all over the Dust brothers… Double teaming galore, Kofi & Big E land a double team move and pin Stardust in 1:00… Yeah, 1:00….. The former champs job in 1:00.

We’re already going to commercial. That’s a 25 minute promo segment, and a 1:00 match so far.

–Commercial Break–

2. New Day vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd (w/Natalya).

I know this is technically all one match, but I’m numbering them separately for the hell of it… Match is already in progress. Heels are heeling it up on Kofi. Boring chinlock and choking crap. Kingston gets a hot tag to Big E, and he mauls Tyson, runs him over and lands a belly to belly. Big E pulls a hanky out of his singlet and dries his face before landing a Warrior splash. Big E tries a Big Ending but Cesaro breaks it up. Big E sends both guys outside to the floor. E then launches Kofi over the top out onto Cesaro and Kidd. Kofi lays out Kidd in the ring, but Goldust & Starry return to distract and Kidd rolls up Kofi with a handful of tights for the win in like 2:30 shown. Wow New Day already job.

3. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd vs. The Usos.

The heels try and get the jump, but it’s the Usos in control early on. Jey Uso fakes a dive to the floor on Kidd, but doesn’t notice a blind tag to Cesaro. Cesaro hooks Uso from behind with a GERMAN SUPLEX and Cesaro gets 2 as we head to commercial just over a minute into match #3 in the series.

Back from break, Cesaro lands a powerbomb for 2. Tyson comes in but gets dropped, and we get a hot tag to Jimmy Uso. Jimmy with a Samoan Drop on Tyson for 2, but Cesaro breaks it up. Jey and Cesaro brawl to the floor, Tyson lands a sneaky kick to the head of Jimmy from the apron. Tyson springboards back inside into a Jimmy Uso superkick. Tag to Jey and a Superfly Splash gets the win in 7:15.

4. The Usos vs. Adam Rose & The Bunny.

For some reason they show Naomi watching backstage, I know she’s married to an Uso but for some reason this week they show her watching the match. Rose has control to start, the Bunny lands a Powerbomb from the top rope. The Bunny & Rose argue after Adam tags himself in. Rose turns into a SUPERKICK from Jimmy Uso and Rose cracks heads with the Bunny. Tag to Jey and another Superfly splash ends this fast in 1:00.

– Backstage, the Miz & Sandow confront Naomi. Usos won, they get the title shot. Apparently we get to vote on who will team with AJ tonight in a Divas match. News to me.

– Oh snap, the boss is here. Vince pulls up in a limo. And then… He walks!!!

–Commercial Break–

– The Slammy’s are next week.. Seriously… Seth Green is hosting. Again, no, seriously.

– Backstage interview with Erick Rowan. He only nods to answer questions. We learn that Rowan has a 143 IQ, is a wine maker, and can play guitar… LOL… Whatever. When Rowan is asked why he targeted the Big Show, Rowan responds “he’s a bully”….

– Big Show promo on the way to the ring. He’s a heel again for the record. He is a bully, he has to be, because of the people who betrayed him.

5. Erick Rowan vs. The Big Show.

Rowan plows the Show out of the ring to begin, but Show comes right back and plows down Rowan in the ring. Show just toys with Rowan in boring fashion. Rowan breaks a cobra clutch looking thingy and smashes Show into the corner and then clotheslines Show over the top to the outside… Show sends Rowan into the steps on the floor. Show then grabs the stairs and drives them into the back of Rowan for the DQ in 4:20. Rowan gets a crappy DQ win.

Show smiles as he walks off.

– Vince McMahon is backstage walking past people dressed in costumes, for whatever reason. Renee Young stops Vince for an interview. Vince is excited for his Podcast with Steve Austin tonight. Renee brings up the Authority, Vince says only Cena can bring them back. Vince sells the Austin Poscast a bit more.

– Tonight it’s the Bellas vs. AJ Lee and a partner that the fans choose. Natalya, Naomi, or Alicia Fox. Ohhh, the suspense…

–Commercial Break–

6. Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter) vs. Fandango (w/Rosa Mendes).

You can tell when something sucks, the announcers are forced to put over their entrance like it’s the greatest thing ever. This Fandango revamp needs to go, it gets NO response. I mean ZERO noise, like an empty building. After the Fandango crap, Swagger’s music plays, but we get no Swagger…. We go backstage and Swagger is checking on a laid out Zeb Colter clutching his leg. Colter has been attacked, presumably by Rusev. Fandango wins via forfeit… Quality stuff there.

As Fandango & Rosa celebrate outside the ring, Rusev & Lana head to the ring.

–Commercial Break–

– In the ring, Rusev and Lana admit to the attack on Colter in their own way. Lana craps on America for promising “freedom”, but forcing Rusev and Lana to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Lana and Rusev Pledge the Russian flag when Jack Swagger attacks… Swagger is all over Rusev as the two fight to the floor. Rusev is sent into the barricade. Swagger is all over Rusev until a dozen officials try and separate the two. I’d like this more if they didn’t have Swagger jobbing to low end guys on the C shows.

–Commercial Break–

7. Damien Sandow (w/The Miz) vs. Fernando (w/El Torito).

Miz on commentary, huge “MizDow” chants. Decent little match going on while Miz makes the best of his mic opportunity. Sandow uses Miz moves, Fernando taps to the Figure Four in 2:30.

Miz talks about wanting to give Naomi a shot at Hollywood because she has talent. Out comes hubby Jimmy Uso, who smacks Miz right out of his chair… The fans are a little confused, a light hearted segment got serious real fast.

– Bray Wyatt IS HERE!!!

–Commercial Break–

– The Slamys are just so big they need more time. Start watching the Slammy Awards next week on the WWE Preshow at 7:30 eastern.

– Miz vs. Jimmy Uso for tomorrow night on Main Event.

8. Bray Wyatt vs. R-Truth.

Truth gets the old jobber entrance, already in the ring, no rapping. Bray attacks and handily maintains control as he taunts Dean Ambrose. Truth dodges a senton splash and comes back with his first bit of offense. Truth with a spin kick, spinning forearm, but misses a scissors kick and takes a urinage from Wyatt. Wyatt with sort of a DDT on the apron. Bray goes upside down spider walk and Sister Abigail ends it in 4:21.

Obviously meant as a squash, though Truth made his comeback look good, all 20 seconds of it.

After the match, Wyatt tosses several chairs into the ring, and then a ladder. And then we cut to a commercial at the most random time…

–Commercial Break–

– Bray Wyatt stands in the spotlighted ring with a ladder standing in the center. Bray tells the story of Jacob’s ladder, the ladder to heaven. Wyatt mocks the story. Bray says he too dreams of the great ladder, but in his dreams, Wyatt ascends it to praise no one but rather to look down and laugh at the world the Lord created. Bray sees Tables, Ladders & Chairs in his dreams…

Dean Ambrose interrupts. Oh goody, yet another face rushing the ring to attack the heel angle. We haven’t seen that yet tonight… In almost every segment…

The fight starts outside the ring, and all around the ring. Ambrose puts Bray on the announce table and climbs a ten foot ladder, but Wyatt gets off the table and tries to retreat. Ambrose lands a running dive off the announce table onto Wyatt as the brawl goes on… Just like in all the other segments, officials separate the two men. Wyatt goes staggering up the ramp, upset once again.

Dean Ambrose destroys Bray Wyatt’s rocking chair!!! Wyatt looks disturbed from the incident.

This angle has NO reason to be this flat. Both guys are doing plenty, but the story isn’t there. The rocking chair spot was a good touch. Not sure why Wyatt keeps being made to look like the vulnerable one being the heel and all.

– The Bellas on their way out next. Vote for AJ’s partner now!!!! NOW I SAY!!!

–Commercial Break–

– Okay, the votes are in… Who is AJ’s partner? Natalya, Naomi, or Foxy Cleopatra?

Naomi gets 40% of the votes, Natty 32%, Foxy gets the rest…

9. The Bella Twins vs. AJ Lee & Naomi.

Bellas attack Naomi to start. “CM Punk” chants while the Bellas work over Nay-Nay. Finally, a hot tag to AJ, Lee with a Tornado DDT on Nikki for 2, Brie breaks it up. Naomi comes back in to help, but gets dumped. AJ dumps Brie. AJ with a shining wizard on Nikki and applies the Black Widow for the win in 2:30.

Not really sure the point of Naomi here, but AJ remains a factor in the Divas division.

– WWE Shop Cyber Monday promo with St. Mick… Foley that is. Mick is dressed as Santa, tells some Foley style jokes, and shills the product.

–Commercial Break–

– Rusev vs. Dean Ambrose announced for Smackdown

– Paul Heyman is live via satellite at WWE Headquarters. Heyman is to address the stipulation on if Cena loses at TLC, then he loses his title shot, but first Paul addresses comments about Lesnar never appearing on Raw… Heyman compares Brock to Christmas and WrestleMania, they’re special, they’re once a year, not every week. Heyman then digs into who Lesnar may face next should Cena lose. Paul mentions Rollins, the Undertaker, Sting. Rollins has no authority, the Undertaker ran away, and Sting would be forced to retire. Heyman says Lesnar has the power because he has the gold. Paul puts his client over to finish up the promo.

– Main Event getting set to go… At 10:26???? Uhhhhhhh. Cena on his way to the ring as we go to commercial.

–Commercial Break–

– Wow, we missed nothing… They must really be desperate to kill time… We get ALL SIX intros, even with the commercial break. That’s one way to eat the clock. Between the Cena entrance, the commercial, and the other 5 intros, that entire glop of mookie stink took TEN MINUTES. That’s longer than the entire tag team turmoil….

10. John Cena, Ryback, and Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins, Kane, and Luke Harper.

Everyone taking turns tagging in early on, Kane and Ryback with a little showdown. Ryback using the Thesz Press still throws me off. Kane gets Ryback in the heels corner, and the bad guys take over on the Big Guy for a moment. Ryback manages to clothesline Luke Harper out of his shoes for a 2 count. Harper & Ryback exchange some nasty chops. Ryback blocks a suplex and reverses on Harper with a delayed vertical suplex… And the show cuts to commercial in the middle of the vertical… Shitty timing.

Back from break, Ryback hits another vertical suplex, lol… Ziggler tags in, and the heels take over with Kane tagging in. Ziggler comes back with some of his usual stuff, but takes a big right hand from Kane while coming off the middle rope. Heel heat time on Zigglesworth. Long heat spot until Rollins misses a corner splash. Hot tag to Cena. John hits his signature crap on Seth, but Rollins escapes an AA. Cena AA’s Harper instead. Then Ryback & Cena double suplex Kane. Noble & Mercury trip Cena up to slow down his offense. Rollins takes over on Cena as we head back to commercial…

Back from break… Again… Cena is getting the boots put to him by the heels. Rollins misses something and tags in Harper, but Cena hot tags Ziggler…Famouser on Harper, but we got all 6 men in the ring now. Cena tries an AA on Knae but takes a big boot. Ryback lays out Kane, Rollins takes out Ryback with a flying knee. Ziggler with a jumping DDT on Rollins. Spinning side slam on Ziggler from Harper. Harper tries a powerbomb, but Ziggler floats over into a sunset flip for the win in 25:18…

The brawl continues with all 6 after the match. The crowd boos as Big Show returns and takes out the faces. Erick Rowan then returns with the steel stairs and lays out Kane & Harper with skull shots. Ziggler throws Rollins into the steps Rowan is holding. Rowan gets in the ring with the stairs, but Show hooks him in a choke hold. Show grabs Ryback and Rowan for a double choke slam, but Ziggler nails him with a Superkick… And Cena with the AA on Show…. Then Rowan smashes Show with the steel steps while all three faces throw Show into it. The crowd chants “YES!”. All four faces celebrate.

Woot, it’s the new Dudes With Attitudes… Outdated reference, circa 1990 WCW.

We see Stone Cold sitting at a desk to end the show.

Well, the Anonymous Raw GM gimmick didn’t kill the show, but the show was mediocre at best. Was interested for the Tag Turmoil, but with the teams involved it wasn’t too hot. The opening promo went on forever (and sucked), but the finish of the segment helped things some. Couldn’t tell you a single good match this week save for the paint by numbers main event. Everything was short and rushed this week as far as ring stuff goes, again besides the main. They did their best to add a few matches to the TLC PPV since it’s only 2 weeks away. It felt like “just another Raw”. Nothing special here.

Final reminder about the Stone Cold live Podcast with Vince McMahon that follows Raw on the WWE Network tonight.

Later y’all…