While the current tease appears to be Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger at WrestleMania XXX, there is a chance that it may end up being a triple-threat match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, as Big E. is rumored to be added to that potential match.
The seeds for this scenario playing out started at Monday’s RAW, with Big E. attacking both guys after his match with each of them on the show.
WWE Superstars Results from Chicago, IL and the Allstate Arena for airing 3/6/14 (Taped 3/3/14)
* Titus O’Neil defeated Zack Ryder with the “Clash of the Titus”.
* Los Matadores defeated Ryback & Curtis Axel when Fernando pinned Axel.
For this issue of the OH MY GOD! Review, we’re going to go back a couple years from my current 1996 work and take a look at an episode of ECW TV from the WWE Network. It has the same run time as the original TV episode, so all content should be here.
TV 1994-04-26
Champions
ECW: Shane Douglas
TV: The Pitbull
Tag Team: Public Enemy
The show opens with picture highlights of the Terry Funk Sabu match in which Bobby Eaton and Arn Anderson made their ECW debuts.
Opening theme.
We go to Joey Styles in the egales nest and who brings us video footage of last weeks episode Bobby Eaton comes to the ring in a mask and helps Sabu get the win over Terry Funk. Arn Anderson hits the ring and attacks Sabu and Eaton. The four men brawl around the ring and into the dressing room.
Promo with Jason and TV Champion The Pitbull. Pitbull runs down JT Smith who he beat for the title and talks about Tazmaniac his next opponent.
We go to the ring and Pitbull joins Joey on commentary
Tazmaniac vs. “Stormin” Mike Norman ref John Finnegan
Tazmaniac hits a belly to belly suplex and then another one on the floor. Back in the ring half nelson suplex gets the victory for Tazmaniac. Pitbull tells us that on May 14th Pitbull will destroy Tazmaniac and rip out his heart.
Joey shows us highlights from April 16th between the Bruise Brothers and Public Enemy. Mr. Hughes gets involved and costs the Brothers the match.
Bruise Brothers vs. Bad Company ref Jim Molineaux
Paul Diamond starts it off with one of the brothers. Some wrestling by the Bruise Brother to start it off. Joey is impressed that they are wrestling and not brawling. Diamond tries a crossbody to reverse a corner whip but gets caught and hit with a back breaker. He tags out to Pat Tanaka who comes in and gets shoved to the ground. Blue Thunder slam on Tanaka and the Bruise Brothers make a tag. Tanaka gets driven back into the corner and they make anther tag. Double shoulder tackle by the Harris’. Powerslam and clothesline on Tanaka. Diamond fights back and goes low with a diving headbutt. Bad Company double-teams their opponent. Back body drop onto Tanaka but he’s able to make the tag. Harris ducks the double clothesline and hits Bad Company with clotheslines of his own. He makes the tag and they give Tanaka a double big boot and get the win in 10.30
Terry Funk and Arn Anderson from right after the fight last week talk about needing to get some revenge. Funk asks Anderson where he stands in the battle. Anderson says he heard through the grapevine that Eaton was showing up today. Funk wants to know how he can trust Arn. Arn says he’s made mistakes but he will watch Funk’s back.
Paul E. Dangerously now is with Bobby Eaton. Paul E. says that Sabu is crazier then Funk and is the heir to Funks hardcore throne. Paul E. brings up the Dangerous Alliance and that Arn Anderson forgets about his past. Dangerously tells Funk that no one in Funk’s family is man enough to beat Sabu. May 14th Eaton and Sabu are going to take out Funk and Anderson.
With go to highlights of April 16th when Peaches gets to whip Sandman with a belt after “Ironman” Tommy Cairo beat him. Sandman however throws powder into special referee Sal Bellomo and Cairo’s eyes. Sandman goes after Peaches but Cairo makes the save. On their way back to the dressing room Women comes out of the crowd and drags Peaches back to the ring and Sandman lashes her before Cairo can make the save again.
Sandman is in the eagle’s nest with Joey Styles. Coming up on May 14th is a mixed tag team Singapore Canning Match. Sandman can’t wait for the match he’s going to beat Cairo so bad ends the show by canning the camera man.
Tonight’s live edition WWE Main Event opens up with a video package looking at Daniel Bryan’s segment with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon on last night’s RAW. We see Kane getting involved and security pulling them apart plus what happened later on in the main event with Batista.
– We go to a new intro for Main Event.
– We’re live from Detroit, Michigan as Kane makes his Byron Saxton and Tom Philips are on commentary.
Kane vs. Daniel Bryan
Kane makes his way out wearing slacks and no shirt. Daniel Bryan is out next to a big pop.
Bryan attacks but Kane beats him into the corner and stomps on him. Fans start chanting for Bryan. Kane with a big right hand and another beatdown in the corner. Kane whips Bryan shoulder first into the corner. A “you sold out” chant starts as Kane keeps control and hits a big knee to the gut. Kane with a low dropkick and a 2 count. Kane catches Bryan on the floor and slams him into the apron then the barrier. Kane pulls Bryan’s body into the ring post and comes back in for a 2 count.
Bryan turns it around with a drop toe hold into the corner. Bryan with a dropkick and more kicks in the corner now. Kane fights back but Bryan takes control with more kicks and right hands in the corner. Bryan slides out of the ring and pulls Kane’s leg around the ring post. Bryan slams Kane’s knee into the ring post twice before running and dropkicking the knee into the post. Bryan comes back in with more kicks and a leg whip. Bryan continues to work on the knee. Kane fires back with a big right hand. Kane comes back and drops an elbow for a 2 count. Bryan dropkicks the knee out again. Bryan with more kicks and another dropkick to the leg. Bryan with dropkicks in the corner but Kane runs over him with a big boot for a 2 count. We cut to a promo break.
Back from the break and Bryan hits another dropkick but Kane clotheslines him for another 2 count. More back and forth. Bryan comes off the top but Kane nails an uppercut for a 2 count. Bryan manages to hit a big DDT off the ropes. Bryan with kicks but Kane with another uppercut. More back and forth action. Bryan nails a dive out of the ring and sends Kane into the barricade. Bryan with a missile dropkick and another 2 count. Bryan with kicks to the chest while Kane is on his knees. Kane catches Bryan with a big sideslam for another 2 count. Kane goes to the top and comes down with a big right hand. Bryan ducks a chokeslam and hits a kick to the head. Bryan goes to the top and hits the headbutt for a 2 count. More kicks from Bryan in the corner. They fight in the corner and Bryan climbs up for a big hurricanrana but misses. Kane with a big DDT for another 2 count. Bryan counters a chokeslam and rolls Kane up to get the win in a long match.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
– We get a look at The Usos winning the titles last night.
– We get a Scooby-Doo promo.
– Josh Mathews interviews Kane backstage. Kane is more upset about Bryan challenging Triple H than he is losing.
Nikki Bella vs. Alicia Fox
We go to the ring and out comes The Bella Twins. Aksana and Alicia Fox are out next.
Average back and forth Divas match that saw interference from Aksana and Brie Bella. Nikki gets the win after her finisher.
Winner: Nikki Bella
– We get promos for Legends House and Big Show’s return to SmackDown this week.
WWE Tag Team Title Match: The New Age Outlaws vs. The Usos (c)
We go to the ring and out comes new WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos. Renee Young interviews them in the ring and they’re excited about going to WrestleMania. The Outlaws are out next but they’re not dressed to wrestle. Road Dogg asks Billy Gunn to escort Renee out of the ring and they start ripping the crowd.
Gunn says The Usos are the luckiest boys alive. Road Dogg says he’s suffered an injury and he’s not 100%. When they are 100% and when they come back, they’re bringing the tag titles home. Brad Maddox comes out and says he checked with WWE doctors to confirm that Dogg is injured. When he’s able to perform, The Outlaws will get their rematch. Maddox brings out their new opponents for tonight – Los Matadores. Here they come with El Torito.
WWE Tag Team Title Match: Los Matadores vs. The Usos (c)
The Outlaws are on commentary as we come back from a promo break. Back and forth to start the match. Jimmy goes at it with Diego and takes control. Diego stops Uso and does an “ole!” chant. Uso yells “uce!” and they both dance around. Jimmy catapults Diego into the corner. Jey Uso tags back in and hits a big splash for a 2 count.
Diego gets sent to the floor and Jimmy leaps out onto him. Fernando leaps out onto them. Jey leaps out next and everyone is down on the floor. We go to another promo break.
Back from the break and Matadores are in control in the ring. Diego tags in for some double teaming and a 2 count. More double teaming and another 2 count by Matadores. Jey tags in Jimmy and he makes the comeback. He misses the splash in the corner and trades counters with Fernando. Fernando with a big DDT and a close 2 count. More back and forth. Jimmy with a Samoan Drop for a 2 count as Diego breaks it up. Diego does a handstand in the corner and Jimmy superkicks him. Fernando catches one also. Jimmy nails a Superfly splash for the win.
Winners: The Usos
– After the match, The Usos leave with their titles while Los Matadores recover in the ring. Road Dogg limps away with Billy Gunn. Billy stops and pushes El Torito over. Torito leaps from the apron to Billy’s shoulders and takes him out with a hurricanrana. Gunn and Dogg try to catch Torito but can’t. Billy ends up in the ring with Matadores and they hit the finisher with Torito. Main Event goes off the air with Matadores and Torito celebrating
Ooooh Yes! Former wrestling manager Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle III (William Moody) was announced as the latest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of tonight’s Monday Night Raw. You can read the full report here .
Raw Pre-Show Notes
Just some quick notes from the Raw Pre-Show on the Network before we get going.
– This week’s panel consists of Josh Matthews acting as the host, along with Booker T, Alex Riley, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
– As the panel runs down some of the things that’ll be going on during Raw, there’s a match being taped for Superstars in the background involving Zack Ryder vs. Titus O’Neil. Smart thinking Titus, you got your wish, the PTP are split, and now you’re working Superstars…
– They hype Bryan vs. Batista for tonight. We’re taken back last week to Daniel Bryan challenging HHH to a match at Mania. Then a interview from Chicago with Bryan where he said he’s ready to face Batista, specifically after the comments Batista made on Smackdown about “195 pound wanna be’s”.
– Which WWE Superstars recent Attitude change has surprised you the most? Batista, Orton, or Christian? Vote Now!
– Wyatt Family/Shield Feud Video Airs.
– Los Matadores on their way down for more “Superstars” Action against Ryback and Curtis Axel.
– Footage from last week involving the Wyatts attack on John Cena and discussion of Cena’s knee “injury”. GIGANTIC “CM PUNK” CHANTS with the match going on in the ring. Josh Matthews then ACKWNOLEDGES the chants!!! hmmm
– NXT Promo
– Tonight the New Age Outlaws will defend their Tag Team Titles against the Usos tonight on Raw! Renee Young interviews the Outlaws, and wouldn’t you know it, they believe they’ll win the match!
– Los Matadores defeat Ryback & Axel. Jerry Lawler interviews Los Matadores, they crack a joke about the King & Torito being “horny”. LOUD CM PUNK CHANTS again!
– The announcers hype the Brock/Taker situation. Renne Young looks for an interview with Brock but finds Heyman. Paul says when Brock’s ready to talk, he’ll be happy to speak!
– Insanely loud Punk chants… Final hype….. and it’s time!!!
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WWE Monday Night RAW Report for 3/3/14 from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL
– We’re at the former “Rosemont Horizon” this week for a very anticipated episode of WWE Raw.
– “Cult of Personality” Plays and the crowd goes INSANE. “We Want Punk” chants as the music continues to play with no Punk. But here comes Paul Heyman! In quite possibly the loudest arena chant ever “CM Punk” chants ring out, and Heyman wants it LOUDER! Heyman does a sit down in the middle of the ring, a la Punk. Paul wants to tell the story of CM Punk. Heyman talks about how Punk wasn’t wanted in WWE from day 1, and they don’t want him there now. “CM PUNK” chants continue. Paul claims CM Punk isn’t here this evening, and the chants continue…
Paul points the finger, he says there is someone to blame for Punk leaving, and he blames the WWE Universe. Paul blames the fans for taking Punk away from him. He blames the Undertaker for beating Punk last year, and Heyman wants revenge on the Taker in the shape of Brock Lesnar taking his streak away this year. Heyman introduces Brock.
Lesnar enters the ring. NOW the fans go back to CM Punk chants as we’ve ATTEMPTED to move on the a completely different storyline. The fans try an “Undertaker” chant but it’s MURDERED by a “CM Punk” chant. LOUD AND LONG. They better hope he’s here instead of taunting the crowd like this. Lesnar cuts a promo on the Undertaker. Nice to see Brock taking a match seriously for once, rather than “say something stupid, Paul”. Brock cuts a fine little promo, but no Undertaker appearance, which was disappointing.
Oh wait!!! We’re not done yet…. Its MARK HENRY, and he wants some revenge from January… Brock tries to jump Henry but gets taken down. Lesnar sends Mark into the steps and bounces the steps off his skull. Lesnar with an F-5 on Henry THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!
And IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BUMP, we get a “CM Punk” Chant.
Amazing genius in Heyman, he had the fans eating out of his fans, both the cheers and the jeers… He had the crowd following his promo instead of sabotaging it… Truly an amazing credit to Paul’s abilities. He had the fans for a good 10 minutes, before Lesnar came out and it became clear they were changing gears.
-Commercial Break-
1. WWE Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws vs. The Usos. Road Dogg says Chicago isn’t worth hearing his catchphrases… They’re just TRYING to rile this crowd up. The Outlaws get the heat immediately, and “Punk” chants throughout. They take an early break with the Outlaws still in complete control.
Back from break, and the commercials were actually longer than the first half of the match. Ridiculous. Jey tries a roll up on Road Dogg but misses a blind tag to Gunn. Jey’s been in the match since the beginning. Crowd shows some support for the Usos as Jimmy gets the hot tag. Sit-out full nelson bomb on the Road Dogg. Jimmy drives his ass into Road Dogg’s head in the corner, and a twisting somersault flip off the top on Gunn for 2!!! Jimmy superkicks Road Dogg off the apron, but Gunn catches Jimmy with a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2…
Jimmy dodges a Fame-Asser and takes a flying dive over the top rope onto Road Dogg on the floor, while simultaneously tagging in Jey on the way over the ropes. Jey steps in, SUPERKICK on Gunn, and the FLYING SPLASH FROM THE TOP!!!! 1………2………..3!!!! THE USOS ARE THE NEW WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!!
Solid 10:00 match and exactly what they needed to feed the crowd to keep the Punk chants down, but let’s see how long they can keep that going…
– There’s some short backstage segment with the Divas. Aksana says something, and everyone seems confused, including me…
-Commercial Break-
2. IC Champion Big E vs. Cesaro (w/Zeb Colter & Jack Swagger). Cesaro with tremendous strength to get things going. CESARO SWING on Big E a minute into the match! Jack Swagger runs in for no reason and hits a Swagger Bomb on Big E to draw a DQ only 2:00 into the match. Well that was crap…
After the match Big E nails Cesaro with the Big Ending.
We had Heyman & Brock, then the Usos, and now Cesaro… Super intelligent booking by the WWE putting all the internet darlings out there during the absence of Punk… Well, the booking of the Cesaro match wasn’t very good, but you get what I’m saying…
And to keep the crowd pleased with the fan favorite workers, the Shield make their way to the ring for the 6-Man next…
-Commercial Break-
3. The Shield (Reigns, Rollins, and Ambrose) vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Rowan, and Harper). The Shield kicks things off with some crazy spots and dives, bumping the Wyatts all around the ring and outside… Rollins goes to the top rope, Harper tries a SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX on Rollins, but ROLLINS LANDS ON HIS FEET!!!! HOLY SHIT!!! Seth knocks Harper and Rowan both to the floor, hits a flying somersault dive onto Harper, then slides back in the ring and hits a twisting plancha on Rowan on the other side of the ring… CRAZY!!!! Bray Wyatt tries to interfere but he’s cut off by Ambrose. Dean accidentally gets knocked into the ropes and it causes Rollins to take a bump off the top to the outside… Rollins is down as we go to commercial…
Back from break, the Wyatts work over Rollins, Seth just about ready to make a hot tag to Ambrose, when Dean conveniently just jumps off the apron and goes after Bray on the floor… Hmmm…. Rollins does eventually manage the hot tag to Ambrose, and Dean comes in and goes to work on the leg of Rowan. WOOOO chants as Dean locks in the Figure Four on Rowan. Harper breaks it up with a DOUBLE STOMP! Reigns sends Harper from the ring and over the barricade!
Back in the ring Bray Wyatt is now working over Ambrose. These six guys win the fans over with a “This is Awesome” chant. It really is a good match. The Wyatts now work over Ambrose, Rowan applies a DOUBLE knuckle gring to the temples of Dean, eat your heart out Sgt. Slaughter!. Dean breaks the hold by grabbing Rowan’s bear, but Erik right back with a side slam for two. Giant “ROMAN REIGNS” chants… Ambrose channels Harper, and gives him a taste of his own medicine with a nasty clothesline. Dean tries to tag Reigns but Bray knocks him off the apron.
Dean then tries to tag Rollins, but Seth is still upset from earlier and drops off the apron… Rollins leaves Ambrose to fend for himself, then tells Reigns to figure it out with Ambrose. Seth says he’s sick of being the “glue”. Rollins leaves Reigns & Ambrose to work through the issues.
Reigns comes in and clears house, , even landing an insanely high super jump dropkick on the apron to Harper, then he SPEARS ROWAN OVER THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!!!
Harper with a SUICIDE DIVE on Reigns!!! Ambrose jumps on Harper on the floor!!!
But Bray posts Ambrose and puts him back in the ring for Sister Abigail, as Rollins watches on with confusion from the middle of the aisle way. Bray hits the move and gets the win in 14:00.
– Renee Young with Batista. Batista rips on the “Yes Movement” and who passes for Superstars these days. Batista calls Daniel Bryan an average guy and him being a Superstar is a fantasy.
-Commercial Break-
– A rematch is announced between the Usos and the Outlaws for tomorrow night’s LIVE special edition of The Main Event on the WWE Network.
4. Santino & Emma vs. Fandango & Summer Rae. A little mixed tag action. I don’t know how long I can take this Emma theme music. As I expected loud CM PUNK chants as the match gets going. Silly comedy stuff with Santino & Emma who keep high fiving, which constitutes tags, and leads to the heels having to tag in and out. It’s about as unfunny as it sounds. Fandango finally jumps Santino. Fandango misses a top rope move and Santino hits some type of a Splits into a Stunner. The ladies tag in, Emma goes to work on Summer and locks in the Tarantula! Some Emma dancing and more of her token offense. Santino runs Fandango off with the Cobra… Seriously? Emmalock, Summer Rae taps, and the fan favorites win this mess in about 3:00…
– Clip from Smackdown, Christian attacks Sheamus, so we get yet ANOTHER match between the two, next… Sigh…
-Commercial Break-
5. Sheamus vs. Christian. LOL, they cut Christian’s music before he even gets to the ring… For some reason the matches between these two aren’t clicking for me. Once is fine, but repeated matches? I’ll pass. This would be a great time for some fans to hijack the show and entertain me with some chants… Christian slaps the crap out of Sheamus, and Sheamus chases him outside and tosses him into the barricade. Lawler refers to Sheamus as an Italian… Cole wants to know what’s wrong with the King… Sheamus in control and I could use some chants right now… Chants for anything…
JBL rips Christian’s physical appearance apart, no doubt repeating what Vince tells him in his headset…. Way the “Be a Star”, Vince… Irish Curse backbreaker for 2, and Christian backdrops Sheamus to the floor and hits a solid baseball slide kick, but misses a plancha on the floor as Sheamus just steps aside and laughs. “CM Punk” chants as Christian hides behind the Spanish announce team and we take a commercial…
Back from break, Sheamus yanks Christian off the middle rope. Sheamus goes up top but Christian knocks him off to the floor… Christian takes over and works on Sheamus, until the Celtic Warrior catches Christian off the middle rope and drops him. Both men trade blows and the crowd COULD CARE LESS… Lots of chanting going on, though I can’t make out what it is… Sheamus catches Christian between the ropes for the forearm clubs, but Christian escapes and comes off the top and AGAIN CAUGHT. Sheamus drops Christian across the top rope and lands the forearm clubs and a knee for 2….
Crowd with a “THIS IS AWFUL” chant… And I agree……. Christian with a Frog Splash for 2… “CM Punk” chants start… NOW they want to revolt, where were you the last 15 minutes? Sheamus comes back with White Noise for 2…
DUELING CHANTS of “END THIS NOW” and “BORING”, followed by more “END THIS NOW” chants. Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick from the apron and gets the pin after 14:00 of BLAH…. That was 20 minutes of my life gone forever…
– Scooby Doo WWE commercial
-Commercial Break-
– The match was so great that they treat the fans to MORE Sheamus with an interview. But Christian attacks and beats Sheamus down in the interview area. How is this a feud if Christian just keeps losing? Oh, and the matches suck…
6. The Bella Twins vs. Aksana & Alicia Fox. Yup, the shows dragging now… This is everything opposite of the NXT Divas match from last week, meaning it’s sloppy and where they lack in ring talent they make up for by yelling a lot… Brie takes the heat, hot tag to Nikki. Great job deflating a hot audience WWE… The fans don’t even care… Brie runs Aksana off with a middle rope dropkick, while Nikkia finishes Fox off with a Torture Rack into a kneeling backbreaker… The Bellas win after a 2 or 3 minutes….
– Daniel Bryan on his way to the ring… NEXT!
-Commercial Break-
Crazy YES chants go out for Bryan who proclaims they’re going to hijack Raw… Bryan isn’t leaving the ring until he hears from HHH….
And here comes the Authority…. LOUD Punk chants for HHH’s entrance… Trips smugly smirks at the fans…
Steph tries to speak and we immediately get Promo Sabotage from the fans who boo the living crap out of her…
Bryan says he’s sick of being screwed out of the WWE Title, but here he stands with the fans behind him! Bryan wants Trips at Mania…
HHH says it’s not going to happen and tells Bryan to accept his failure… Major promo sabotage on HHH by the fans… HHH runs down the entire era of WWE superstars… HHH says the entire Era isn’t good enough… He basically buries the entire era of wrestlers… He says nobody is good enough.
HHH says it’s going to take more than a B+ Player to get him to wrestle at Mania… The fans support Bryan, but Bryan says HHH doesn’t listen to them because HHH doesn’t want to see people like Bryan succeed. Bryan says if he beats the crap out of HHH at Mania, the Authority would finally listen.
Stephanie TRIES to talk, but the crowd drowns her out… Stephanie says that the Authority MADE Bryan… Bryan suggests Stephanie wear HHH’s trunks, and HHH put on her skirt, and Bryan can wrestle Stephanie instead…
HHH reiterates it’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN… Trips says he can’t be baited… WrestleMania is the showcase of the immortals, and Daniel Bryan doesn’t measure up. HHH tells Bryan to get out of his ring… Bryan corrects him, it’s the fans’ ring… HHH clarifies that everyone from the fans to Bryan belong to the Authority….
HHH tells Bryan to leave the ring, Bryan tells HHH to make him. Here comes Kane… UGH…. Bryan takes out Kane…. Stephanie yells for security who FINALLY show up… Bryan is ejected from ringside but not the building, he still has his match with Batista, tonight….
-Commercial Break-
7. Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/Aaron Paul). So this is how Paul is working as a guest host? Okay, I’ll take it… Gets him on and off my screen fast-like… Dolph & Paul drive into the arena in a “Need for Speed” type car. Aaron actually joins commentary for the match, and does okay with himself. Del Rio attacks Dolph to start, Ziggler makes the comeback… Del Rio takes over after the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker… ADR nails the superkick that he gave Dolph a concussion with last year… Aaron Paul climbs onto the announce table, distracts Del Rio… ADR goes for the arm breaker, but Dolph counters with the Zig Zag and actually gets a win on Raw in 2:30.
-Commercial Break-
It’s time to find out the latest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2014…
AND IT’S….
PAUL BEARER!!! Ohhh Yessss!!!!
8. IC Champion Big E vs. Jack Swagger (w/Colter & Cesaro). IMMEDIATELY as the bell sounds, Cesaro nails Big E with the Neutralizer to cause the DQ…. Swagger is pissed, but Cesaro explains that they’re even now. Swagger doesn’t think so… They start to go at it, Cesaro hooks Swagger for a Cesaro Swing, when Colter gets on the mic and talks him out of it. Colter talks the two men into “hugging it out”…. We the People… For at least another week…
This really seemed odd, unannounced, and Big E working twice… It’s almost like this was forced into the show…
-Commercial Break-
– John Cena coming out hobbling to the ring, selling the Wyatt attack from last week… We get out first “CM Punk” chants in a while, Cena thanks them for the welcome… Doctors Orders, Cena won’t have a match tonight… That and it being 20 minutes until the end of the show… The fans chant YES when they learn Cena can’t wrestle… CM Punk chants continue… Cena puts over Punk without saying his name to try and get the fans on his side…
Cena acknowledges the hijacking and admits he knows the Universe wants chants… Cena says respect is EARNED and all changes will have to go through him…
Lights go out… Bray Wyatt promo on the big screen… CM Punk chants over Bray’s promo… Wyatt wants to end Cena….
– Backstage, Batista gets read for the main event… Orton stops him and wishes him luck… Hey, HOW SMART was WWE to keep Orton out of the ring tonight?
-Commercial Break-
– WTF is this??? It’s 10:56 and we’ve got a Lana & Alexander Rusev promo???? On the stage, Rusev steps up onto a platform and cuts a promo in his native Bulgarian language. The fans chant “What?”… Literally… What?
– Now a clip of Hulk Hogan on the Today Show hyping the WWE Network… Seriously? 11pm and we’re getting this??? Something’s up… I’d have to think…. Hulk Hogan promises a Mania 30 announcement next week on Raw…
– And NOW we get WWE Champion Randy Orton coming to ringside…. It’s 11 and we haven’t even got a match yet… Surely they have something good planned for this….
9. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan. The bell sounds at 11:02… Boo-Tista chants… It’s back and forth until Batista mauls Bryan with a clothesline. “You can’t wrestle” chants follow… Batista tosses Bryan to the floor… A commercial at 11:06??? What the poop is going on??? Okay, they take their final break… 6 minutes AFTER 11pm…
Back from break, Batista works the popular chinlock. They must have seen the red light on the camera, because Bryan breaks free immediately and makes his big comeback with dropkicks in the corner… Batista dodges a third one and powders to the floor… Suicide dive by Bryan… Missile dropkick by Bryan and YES! kicks… 1..2… Batista out…
Here comes the Authority…. Steph, HHH, Kane… CM PUNK CHANTS… Things start to become more clear now….
Batista throws Bryan over the announce table onto Randy Orton… Fans chant “overrated”, Batista mocks Bryan with the Yes chant, but Bryan nails a big kick… Orton jumps in and causes a DQ at 10:00 with an attack on Bryan. Orton tries an RKO on Batista, but Bryan nails Orton! Batista with a spear on Bryan!!!
Kane tries to attack Bryan but HHH holds him back… HHH talks trash on Bryan but takes a kick…. BATISTA BOMB ON BRYAN…..
Now HHH wants him some of Daniel…. How that for a big F-U to everyone in the crowd, everyone at home… HHH gets himself over with a pedigree, then stands over Bryan’s body as “Bow Down to the King” plays. “CM Punk” chants continue, as HHH gets to stand over everyone looking like king shit… This truly disgusts me… I don’t get this “piss the fans off” logic they have… I guess they do whatever they want when WrestleMania is $10 a pop…
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Backstage pass picks up where Raw left off. Big Show and Hop-along Cena come to make the save for Bryan…
– Renee Young interviews Stephanie who says Bryan will never main event Mania. She tries to interview HHH, who declines…
– Byron Saxton interviews Curtis Axel & Titus O’Neil on the Authority/Bryan situation… Titus is just ridiculous…
The fans are STILL in the arena… I think they really believe CM Punk is still coming… They cheer for Bryan as he leaves the ring…
It seriously looks like the fans haven’t even started leaving yet at 11:22… Well Heyman said at the top of the program that Punk wasn’t here… So there you go… Major let down…
– Byron Saxton interviews the Usos on their WWE Tag Team Title win.
– Renee Young interviews Aaron Paul. Seems like he doesn’t even know Dolph’s name…
WWE Main Event will be live tomorrow night on the Network with Daniel Bryan vs. Kane, and the Usos defending the tag titles against the Outlaws.
The Big Show returns on Smackdown…. Returns from where???
Wrestling legend Billy Robinson has reportedly died at the age of 74.
Robinson’s death was reported by the co-author of his autobiography, Jake Shannon, according to a report by Slam Wrestling.
Shannon wrote on Facebook: “I hadn’t heard from him in days so I contacted his apartment complex to check in on him. When I called back for a progress report the apartment manager put the police on the phone, it seems he passed peacefully in his sleep.”
Robinson made his name in his home country of England before coming to the U.S. and Canada in the 1970s.
Robinson wrestled for the AWA in the U.S., which led to him starring in the 1974 wrestling movie, “The Wrestler,” along with Verne Gagne.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of U.K.’s legendary Billy Robinson,” said Jim Ross on Twitter. “Met him w/ Danny Hodge. Billy’s hotel room skirmish w/ Jack Brisco classic.”
Robinson’s story was published in the 2012 book, “Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling.”
TV 1996-04-23 (matches taped 1996-04-20)
Champions
World: Raven
TV: 2 Cold Scorpio
Tag Team: The Eliminators
We open the show and Joey Styles is outside the ECW arena with the fans. Hostile City Showdown is about to begin!
Instead of the normal TV opening we get a video package showing what has gone down between Dreamer, Beulah, Kimona Wanalaya, Raven and Shane Douglas.
To Joey who talks about what happened tonight with out giving anything away. He throws it to the opening interview with the Gangstas from Hostile City Showdown.
The crowd goes crazy with a loud “New Jack” and “Mu” chant. New Jack tells us that the last time he was in the arena it was the first time in his life he got his ass kicked. He calls out the Tag Team Champions Eliminators for a fight. The champs hit the ring and we’ve got a brawl! After a few minutes the locker room empties to the boos of the crowd.
Back from commercial and Joey who brings us to the opening match of the night.
El Puerto Ricano vs. Super Nova ref Jim Molineaux
Nova hiptosses Ricano over the top rope to the floor and hits a somersault plancha from the top rope. Ricano back in with a drop kick. Nova reverses the corner whip and pulls him out with a powerbomb. Victory roll by Ricano and drop kicks Nova out fo the ring. Springboard moonsault to the floor gets an “Oh my Gooood” from Joey. The Eliminators hit the ring and lay out both Ricano and Nova with some nasty looking suplexes and Total Elimination.
Saturn calls out the Gangstas and we’ve got a brawl!!!! Chairs, garbage cans and garbage are all over the ring. The two teams fight into the crowd. Saturn lands a stiff looking right to New Jack. They go at it for another five minutes until the locker room again clears out. JT Smith and Little Guido hit the ring and Smith tries to make peace between the two times. D-Von comes and chases them away with a chair. The Gangstas and The Eliminators brawl down the aisle to the locker room.
Back from commercial and Styles tells us we are going to see Shane Douglas shock the world tonight. The FBI are getting cheese steaks and arguing with each other because Little Guido is yelling at the people behind the counter. He wants a cannoli instead. JT Smith tells Guido that he has a terrible temper and needs to stop disrespecting everybody. They sing a little bit and thankfully it ends. We got back to Styles who again hypes the announcement from Shane and leads us into our next match.
“Primetime” Brian Lee vs. Tommy Dreamer ref John Finnegan
Prerecorded comments from Lee and he tells us that Dreamer is his. Lee tries to attack Dreamer in the aisle but Tommy takes control. Tommy puts a chair on his head and gives Lee a jawbreaker. Irish whip and a back body drop. They go to the floor Dreamer gets a chair and puts it against Lee’s face and the ropes. Lee moves out of the way of a baseball slide and uses the chair on Dreamer. They go into the crowd as Lee continues to hit Dreamer with the chair. To the stage and Dreamer hits a bulldog and a chair to the head. Tommy with a crossbody from the eagle’s nest to the stage below. Lee fights back with a chair shot. Tommy gets thrown into the bleachers. Tommy gets wedged under the guardrail and Lee shoves it repeatedly it is groin. Dreamer able to fight back and they go to the ring at the five minute mark. Tommy ducks a clothesline and the ref goes down. The Bruise Brothers come to ringside as Tommy hits a DDT. With the ref still down the Bruise Brothers hit the ring with chairs and nail the chair sandwich big boots. Tommy is still able to kick out at 2 though. He hits another DDT but the Brusie Brothers come back in take out Dreamer and but a cinder block on his crotch Lee smashes it with a chair and covers for the win at 6.48 according to my stop watch but its announced as 7.07.
We get a black and white video package of The Sandman and Missy Hyatt with the video to Love is Strong by the Rolling Stones inserted into wrestling footage. These are always well done.
Hype central Hostile City ’96- The Week After April 26th and April 27th. Keep checking “Oh My God” for my reviews on those shows.
Joey tells us when we come back from commercial the biggest story in ECW history is going to be shared.
World Champion Raven (w/ Stevie Richards & The Blue Meanie) vs. “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Kimona Wanalaya) ref John Finnegan
Meanie and Stevie do their HBK/Diesel parody tonight. Shane gets on the mic and tells Raven that Beulah wasn’t only cheating on Raven but she was also cheating on Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer is in the end now and he tells Douglas to just shut up. Douglas tells us that Beulah was never actually pregnant. Tommy wants to know who he is but Douglas tells us “It’s not a he Dreamer!” Kimona lets us know she was the one Beulah was cheating with. Beulah hits the ring. Kimona walks towards her and we get a “…To be Continued Next Week on ECW” “”…You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!” “…It’s About To Get EXTREME”
My thoughts on the show
Well if you’ve been following my reviews and paying attention to what I tell you to do you went and watched Hostile City Showdown already so save yourself 48 minutes and skip this episode. It’s an okay episode, but I’d strongly encourage everyone to watch the entire Hostile City Showdown event than catching the bits and pieces here.
