klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Monday
Smackdown got a 2.1, up from last week's 1.8.
Monday Night Raw
Date: March 25, 2013
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler
It's hard to believe that we've got less than two weeks before Wrestlemania. Pretty much everything is set and for the first time in weeks tonight, the WWE Champion is here to hype up the title match against Cena. Other than that we aren't likely to get anything of note because the entire card is either set or obvious at this point. Let's get to it.
We open with a recap of all of the major feuds for Wrestlemania.
Here are Punk and Heyman to open the show. Punk throws the urn in the air before setting it on the mat. He talks about Undertaker being the mystical being that Undertaker is built up as and how the urn gives Undertaker his powers. Apparently “they” say it all the time. Who are they actually? Punk says they are irrelevant and he's the only one that matters. Last year, Undertaker hit 20-0 and the match had the perfect ending. Instead of skipping off with HHH and HBK, Undertaker came out here and pointed at Punk's Wrestlemania sign.
The fans chant for ECW and Punk says “speaking of dead things.” Punk drops the urn because it means nothing to him, just like the Undertaker and his Streak. He's the 1 in 20-1 and at Wrestlemania, the Streak will Rest in Peace. There go the lights and as they come back up, Undertaker is in the ring and pounding away on Punk. Heyman runs off with the urn as Punk escapes.
Fandango omes out for a match but before he can have an opponent announced, Jericho runs out and beats down Fandango with a vengeance. Fandango and his dancing chick run away and here's Dolph Ziggler instead. Apparently this was a match for later but instead it's happening now.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho
Jericho takes him down to the match before pounding away at Ziggler's head. A quick attempt at the Walls are countered but Dolph charges into an elbow in the corner. Jericho hits a top rope cross body for two and we take a break. Back with Jericho in a chinlock before coming back with a rollup for two. Dolph dropkicks him down for two of his own and hooks an abdominal stretch on the Canadian. Chris fights back and hits a top rope ax handle and the bulldog, but has to take out Langston with a springboard dropkick. A DDT gets two for Dolph but a Fameasser attempt is countered into the Walls for the tap at 5:53.
Post match Langston hits the Big Ending on Jericho and here's Fandango for another beating on Jericho.
We get a clip from Smackdown with Sheamus and Big Show arguing after beating 3MB, only to band together to glare at Shield. Sheamus is about to say something about that incident but Shield beats him down. Orton tries to make the save with a chair but gets beaten down as well. Big Show makes the real save.
Mark Henry vs. Usos
I believe that's Jey starting things off but does it really matter? Henry throws him around but the Usos both hit superkicks to actually put him down. The Superfly Splash from Jimmy gets two but Henry sends Jey FLYING off the apron and into the barricade. A big clothesline on Jimmy and the World's Strongest Slam ends Jimmy at 1:45.
Post match Jey gets a Slam of his own. Both guys are splashed too.
Antonio Cesaro vs. Alberto Del Rio
Ricardo is here on crutches and his ankle is in a cast. Feeling out process to start with Cesaro taking over via a European uppercut. Off to a cravate but Del Rio comes back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He loads up the low superkick but here's Zeb Colter for a distraction. Cesaro gets in some shots but as Del Rio loads up a superplex, Swagger comes out and attacks Ricardo again. Del Rio chases after Swagger and beats him up in the crowd for the countout at 3:20. I'm not going to bother rating this as a good deal of the match was spent on the outside interference stuff.
Post match Del Rio beats up Cesaro despite the loss being his own fault.
HELL NO vs. Prime Time Players
Titus and Kane start with the masked man taking over almost immediately. Off to Bryan for some kicks in the corner and it's back to Kane for more punishment of the Players. Here are Ziggler and Langston to distract Bryan and let the Players take over. Titus suplexes Darren onto Bryan for two and it's off to a body vice by Young. Bryan fights up and brings in Kane for the side slam on Darren. Bryan takes out Titus with the running knee to the floor and the chokeslam ends Young at 4:37.
We recap HHH and Lesnar's contract signing from last week.
Here's HHH to talk about the match with Lesnar some more. If he loses at Wrestlemania it's the end of his career. The thing is if you go to the ring thinking you're going to lose, you're already done because Lesnar is a destroyer. HHH has fought like his life and career depended on it every night for twenty years so these stipulations aren't some coup for Heyman. It's Lesnar that needs to fight like his career is on the line because that's what he has to do. HHH isn't coming to wrestle and he isn't coming to fight. He's coming to hurt Brock.
As HHH leaves, Wade Barrett interrupts him and stares HHH down. HHH kicks him low and keeps walking.
Wade Barrett vs. The Miz
Barrett is in agony here so Miz hits a quick atomic drop to mess with Barrett even more. The Figure Four is escaped as the champion (non-title here) bails to the floor. Back in and Miz hits a few more atomic drops but can't hook the Skull Crushing Finale. Barrett pounds away as the announcers talk about movies. Off to a chinlock by the champion but Miz fights up and backdrops Wade out to the floor. An ax handle off the apron puts Wade down again and we take a break.
Back with Barrett pounding away at Miz in the ropes and kicking him out to the floor. Back in and Miz avoids a charge before firing off some left hands. The corner clothesline sets up the top rope ax handle for two but Barrett rolls out of the Finale. The Winds of Change get two for Barrett but Wasteland is countered. Miz dropkicks the knee out but the Figure Four is countered again. Barrett gets a rollup for two and a low kick to the head for the same. The Bull Hammer misses and Barrett crotches himself on the top rope after missing a big boot. Figure Four gets the tap out at 12:08.
Bryan and Kane have a mini-argument about Kane's mental stability before getting into a full argument about AJ. Kaitlyn pops up to say chill because she was the one screwed over by AJ. AJ is behind them as they argue. Kailtyn says AJ is a nutjob and AJ blasts her.
Shield vs. Great Khali/Zack Ryder/Justin Gabriel
Khali chops at Rollins to start but once Ryder comes in things fall apart. A middle rope dropkick misses Ambrose and the Shield takes over. Off to Gabriel vs. Reigns with Justin trying to speed things up. Ambrose gets a blind tag and clotheslines Gabriel's head off. Dean puts on a surfboard hold as Rollins hits a top rope knee drop for the pin on Gabriel at 2:30.
Post match Khali tries to fight off the Shield but gets caught in the TripleBomb. Cue Sheamus, Orton and Big Show for the big brawl.
We recap Jericho and Fandango from earlier. Jericho is MAD and says he's like a target now because of what he's done over the years. He's sporting a black eye here and apparently it's Jericho vs. Fandango at Wrestlemania.
Brodus Clay/Tensai vs. Rhodes Scholars
Brodus and Sandow start things off but it's quickly off to Tensai for some double teaming. Tensai misses a splash though and it's off to Rhodes for an armbar. The not hot tag brings in Brodus who does his usual stuff like the throw and splash on Cody. The Bellas and Funkadactyls get in a brawl on the floor, allowing Rhodes to hit the Disaster Kick for the pin on Clay at 2:30.
Another video on G.I. Joe 2.
3MB vs. Ryback
Handicap match here with Slater starting for the band. A quick Thesz Press puts Heath down and there's a splash for no cover. Off to Drew who is rammed into the corner for some hard shoulder blocks. After cleaning out the ring, Ryback is caught by a big boot from McIntyre to take over. Slater puts on a front facelock but Ryback easily throws him off. After the token beating from 3MB, Ryback fights back and throws Slater around a big. The double Shell Shock to Mahal and Slater are enough to pin Heath at 4:04.
Ryback and Henry have a weightlifting competition on Friday.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is inducting Sammartino into the Hall of Fame.
AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn
Non-title here. Kaitlyn erupts on AJ to start and pounds her down, only to be slapped down by AJ. Kaitlyn will have none of that and hits a fireman's carry gutbuster to send AJ to the outside. The spear misses AJ and hits the barricade, drawing a countout at 2:02.
We run down the Wrestlemania card.
It's time for the final segment of the show: a Q&A panel with legends asking questions to Rock and Cena. Lawler is moderating and the panel is Booker T, Mick Foley, Dusty Rhodes and Bret Hart. Ric Flair was supposed to be part of this panel but health issues kept him out of the segment. Rock barely gets a reaction as this crowd is exhausted.
Foley gets to ask the first question and talks about losing the fall at Wrestlemania XX which was supposed to be Rock's last match. He says that it was a relief that Cena lost the match because it wasn't Rock's Wrestlemania swan song. Foley's question is to Cena: can he handle losing to Rock again? Cena says that he wins everything at once if he wins but losing is definitely an option as it was last year.
He brings up former Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb who was famous for getting deep into the playoffs but never winning a Super Bowl. The fans don't like McNabb because it's all about winning the big one. Cena is great but he needs that big win. Rock however can't live with failure.
The champion responds by telling a familiar story about getting his mattress out of a dumpster. Then six months later he got his shot in the WWE but blew out his knee six months later. Then he worked even harder and came back, asking for a mic. Then Rock became the youngest WWE Champion ever and headlined Wrestlemania 15, right here in this very city. Cue FINALLY of course. Rock came into Philly with a Pat's cheese steak in one hand and the WWE Title in the other....and Steve Austin beat him for the title. Rock came back as the hardest working man ever and the man that is beating Cena in thirteen days.
Bret (now with gray hair) says that both Rock and Cena are his friends but he didn't like it last year when this became too close to Bret vs. Shawn. What changed? Rock says that it was two guys going at it for over 30 minutes and after Rock won, Cena took it like a man. Cena talks about calling Rock out years ago in an interview and then Rock proved it. After last year, Cena thought Rock was walking out but then Rock said he wanted to be WWE Champion and did just that.
Booker asks why Cena thinks he can win and John says it's because he has to. Rock isn't impressed and wants to know why Cena thinks that. Cena goes off by saying that Rock can't beat him. Cena beat himself last year by making one bad decision. Every single week for ten years, Cena has come out to a mixed reaction but he's walked through it. Only Rock has been able to get inside Cena's head and after Cena survived everything Rock threw at him, Cena tried something stupid by trying the People's Elbow and beat himself. John knows he's better than Rock and says Rock knows it too.
Rock says he knows if Cena knew he had Rock beat, he would have beaten him. Cena threw everything he had at Rock and Rock kept kicking out. Rock talks about growing up idolizing Ric Flair who said to be the man you have to beat the man. Cena can't beat the man, because he isn't the man. John will never, and the Rock means never, beat the Rock.
Dusty likes them taking the gloves off and asks both guys what they want on April 7 (third time they've said the date of the show because the top guys know how to sell a show). Cena wants to win the big one and dominate the Rock. He's going to prove that he's better when Rock is looking up at the sky. Rock says he won't be haunted by Cena and wants to fight right now. Cena says you can't see me and gets shoved. AA is countered into a Rock Bottom and Rock stares at Cena to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Dolph Ziggler – Walls of Jericho
Mark Henry b. Usos – World's Strongest Slam to Jimmy Uso
Antonio Cesaro b. Alberto Del Rio via countout
HELL NO b. Prime Time Players – Chokeslam to Young
Shield b. Great Khali/Justin Gabriel/Zack Ryder – Top rope knee drop to Gabriel
Rhodes Scholars b. Tensai/Brodus Clay – Disaster Kick to Clay
Ryback b. 3MB – Shell Shock to Slater
AJ Lee b. Kaitlyn via countout
Tuesday
Raw got a 3.2, up from last week.
Wednesday
NXT
Date: March 27, 2013
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, William Regal, Jim Ross
After last week's Wyatt Family heavy show, the odds are that we'll be seeing something new this week. That's one of the good things about NXT: they keep things fresh every week while still keeping something from the previous week going. Granted it helped to have only an hour per week to fill in. Let's get to it.
We open with the I'm Coming Home video for Mania.
Welcome Home.
The idea tonight is a Road to Wrestlemania special. We even have The Fink doing the announcing. Nothing wrong with that.
Divas Title: Natalya vs. Katilyn
Kaitlyn grabs a go-behind to start but Natalya takes it to the mat to crank on the leg a bit. Tonight's main event is Orton vs. Sandow. That doesn't like like a very NXT kind of show. Natalya shoves her down but gets caught in a jackknife cover for two. We get the always cool looking bridge up into a backslide for two on Kaitlyn followed by a failed Sharpshooter attempt.
Natalya misses a discus lariat but settles for a snap suplex for two. Off to an abdominal stretch by Natalya and we take a break. Back with Kaitlyn reversing into a bad abdominal stretch of her own. After that gets reversed, Kaitlyn runs over Natalya and hits the fireman's carry gutbuster for two. Natalya comes back with a quick Sharpshooter out of nowhere but Kaitlyn powers out of it. Back up and the spear out of nowhere ends Natalya at around 7:00.
Alberto Del Rio says he's ready for Swagger and “the guy from Jumanji”. Del Rio says he was born in Mexico but made in America.
Brodus Clay vs. El Local
Local is Ricardo Rodriquez under a mask. Brodus easily throws him around to start and even gets two off a jackknife cover. Local goes after the knee in a smart move but can only get two. Brodus has enough of the selling and runs over Local before suplexing him down. A splash in the corner sets up a regular splash for the pin at 2:00. Literally a squash but Local got in a few shots.
The Raw ReBound is about Punk and Undertaker, which is short in the first place so you know the recap is quick.
Shield says they'll be fighting and winning for justice on Wrestlemania Sunday. They talk about starting a new revolution after winning.
Cena talks about Wrestlemania and how big of a deal it is. Last year he had to win but failed, so now the pressure is on Rock. It's Rock's first title defense (second but whatever) and it might be the first time that Rock fails at something in his life. In about two minutes here, Cena said April 7 eight times.
We go to the announcers and Kassius Ohno appears and destroys Regal.
Randy Orton vs. Damien Sandow
Orton grabs a headlock to start but Sandow grabs one of his own. A back elbow to the face puts Sandow down and there's a stomp to the face. Damien comes back with some shots in the corner but Orton hits the Thesz Press to take over again. Sandow bails to the floor and gets taken down by a clothesline as we take a break. Back with Orton stomping away but Damien comes back with a quick elbow and some stomps of his own.
The Elevated DDT is countered and we head to the floor where Orton is sent into the steps. Off to the chinlock back inside followed by the Russian legsweep and the Wind-Up Elbow for two. Orton fights back with right hands and a superplex for a delayed two. The powerslam puts Damien down but he gets a boot up in the corner followed by a neckbreaker for two. Randy comes right back with the Elevated DDT and the RKO finishes at 9:30 shown of 12:00.
Results
Kaitlyn b. Natalya – Spear
Brodus Clay b. El Local – Splash
Randy Orton b. Damien Sandow – RKO
Thursday
Elimination Chamber got 210,000 buys, up from the last two years.
Impact Wrestling
Date: March 28, 2013
Location: ASU Convocation Center, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Commentators: Tazz, Todd Keneley, Mike Tenay
We're live again this week and we're in....Arkansas. That's kind of a drop from Chicago but I'll take what I can get. The main story going on here is that Hardy is #1 contender again with the title match date announced for two weeks in Corpus Christi, Texas. Therefore tonight is going to be about building up to that show. Gut Check and Open Fight Night are back too. Let's get to it.
After another recap of Ray's turn at Lockdown, here's Hardy to open things up. Since it's Open Fight Night, everyone that is called out has to fight. Jeff can't call anyone out yet because here are Aces and 8's to interrupt them. Ray talks about how they're not in Corpus Christi so the title wouldn't be on the line if Jeff called him out tonight.
Anderson interrupts him though and says that Jeff is trying to get yet another chance. Jeff is a disappointment and he's going to be one in Corpus Christi as well. Hardy lunches at Anderson and the group beatdown is on. The TNA troops come out for the save and Hardy calls out Anderson for later tonight.
We recap Bad Influence interrupting the tag title match last week.
Chavo and Hernandez want to get their hands on Bad Influence.
Hernandez/Chavo Guerrero vs. Bad Influence
Chavo has apparently talked to Hogan and this is a #1 contenders match. Chavo and Kaz get things going but it's quickly off to Hernandez for a splash for two. Daniels tries to rush Hernandez but gets caught in a release overhead belly to belly by the big man. Back to Chavo for a rolling senton onto Daniels who is on Hernandez's knees. Kaz knocks Chavo to the floor and into the announce table but it leaves them alone with Hernandez. Chavo comes back in as house is cleaned, putting Bad Influence down. Hernandez and Chavo head to the ramp and hit stereo dives over the top and into the ring to take out both guys.
Chavo tries Three Amigos on Daniels but it's Kaz to make the save, giving Bad Influence control again as we take a break. Back with Kaz doing the Eddie Guerrero dance with Chavo in trouble. A slingshot legdrop gets two for Kaz and we get some good old fashioned double teaming, followed by some good old fashioned heel miscommunication, allowing for the hot tag to SuperMex. Hernandez cleans house and puts both guys on his shoulder for a backbreaker at the same time.
Daniels wants a time out but gets suplexed from the apron anyway. Kaz tries to sweep Hernandez's leg for a cheap pin but Hernandez is in the ropes. Daniels trips him up in the corner and puts his own feet on the ropes to cheat but gets caught again. A sitout Alpha Bomb puts Daniels down and it's off to Chavo for the Frog Splash, but Kaz breaks it up, allowing Daniels to get a rollup for two. Kazarian is knocked off the ramp and Hernandez takes out Daniels, allowing the Frog Splash to get the pin at 12:14.
Taryn knows who she's calling out tonight.
Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim
Gail comes out and says that Taryn doesn't want to try this on her first night as a Knockout. Instead of fighting, Gail asks Tara to come help her with the beating. Tara comes down the ramp and the double beatdown is on. Velvet finally comes out for the save and cleans house. No match.
Post break Taryn keeps the fight going in the back.
Apparently Gut Check is next week instead of this week so here's a video about how great of an opportunity it is.
The competitors next week are Magno and former NWA World Champion Adam Pearce.
Sting shouts at a security guard.
Hardy is in Hogan's office and talks about the match in Corpus Christi. Hogan talks about Aces and 8's stealing the title from him and how he's made mistakes. Jeff gets to hand pick the stipulations for the match. Sting's music plays so Hogan limps to the arena.
Sting is in the arena and calls Hogan's out for a chat. Hogan gets in Sting's face and says that Sting has caused all of these problems because Sting told Hogan what to do and Hogan did it. Sting finally says what has been obvious all along: this is all Hogan's fault because HE is the boss, not Sting. Hogan goes on a rant and says he had the final decision and now he's making another decision: Sting needs to get out of this ring. He goes to leave before turning around and telling Hogan to make him. They're about to brawl but security breaks it up and Sting is escorted out of the arena.
Post break Matt Morgan says that was yet another Hogan mistake but Sting keeps walking.
We recap the AJ Styles saga with Aces and 8's offering him a spot on the team.
Here's James Storm to call out AJ Styles who is standing in the crowd. Storm says that he was here last year but he came back to fight again. If AJ wants to take his hand and put a beer in it for a talk or make a fist and fight, it's fine with Storm. Before AJ does anything, Aces and 8's runs in for the beatdown. AJ walks away. Eric Young runs in to try to make the save but gets beaten down almost immediately. Cue Kurt Angle for the real save. With the ring cleared we get a call for a six man tag.
Kurt Angle/James Storm/Eric Young vs. Garrett Bischoff/Doc/Wes Brisco
Storm and Bischoff get things going here with James cleaning house. Off to Young who thankfully looks sane here. Garrett gets in a knee to the robs to take over and it's off to Brisco. Brisco pounds away but Young comes back with a forearm to bring in Angle. Kurt stomps away in the corner and lures the other bikers in so Wes can get triple teamed in the corner. Back to Young for a slam and elbow drop for two but it's a cheating knee from Doc to turn momentum.
Off to Garrett again as the match slows down again and we take a break. Back with Young using a jawbreaker to escape a chinlock and there's the hot tag to Storm. Doc finally comes in and gets an elbow up in the corner to break up Storm's momentum. An overhead butterfly suplex gets two for Doc and it's back to Bischoff. After some basic stuff, here's Brisco for some more slow paced stuff.
Wes chinlocks Storm before bringing Doc back in for some right hands. Storm gets a boot up in the corner though and speeds things up before hitting a cross body to put Doc down. The hot tag brings in Angle who cleans house. Angle unleashes the suplexes but D'Lo Brown's distraction lets Brisco roll up Angle with a handful of trunks for the pin at 14:27.
The other bikers celebrate in the back and Anderson is all fired up for the match tonight.
We hear about the first One Night Only shows, which is a series of one off shows which won't be involved in the main storylines.
Next week it's Sonjay Dutt vs. Mason Andrews vs. Petey Williams for a shot at the X Title.
We recap the end of Lockdown with Ray turning on Hogan and TNA.
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
It's a brawl to start with Hardy sending Anderson out to the floor and following up with a clothesline off the apron. They head to the ramp but Anderson misses a charge into the ring to give Hardy control again. Back from a break with Anderson cranking on Hardy's arm after injuring it during the break. After Jeff armdrags out of it they slug it out with Jeff taking over with a forearm.
The basement dropkick gets two on Anderson but he comes back with the fireman's carry senton for two. The Whisper in the Wind misses Anderson so he immediately gets a few two counts. Anderson trips the referee and Bischoff brings out the hammer, only to have Jeff duck and hit the Twisting Stunner. Hardy gets the hammer and blasts Anderson in the ribs for the DQ at 10:47.
Post match Hardy beats up Bischoff and Anderson before pulling out a table, a ladder and a chair. Hardy puts Anderson on the table and climbs the ladder but Bully makes the save. Jeff makes it Full Metal Mayhem for the title, which is TNA's version of TLC.
Results
Chavo Guerrero/Hernandez b. Bad Influence – Frog Splash to Daniels
Aces and 8's b. Kurt Angle/Eric Young/James Storm – Rollup to Angle
Mr. Anderson b. Jeff Hardy via DQ when Hardy hit Anderson with a hammer
Friday
Smackdown
Date: March 29, 2013
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Josh Matthews, John Bradshaw Layfield
This is the last real Smackdown we'll have before we go on to Wrestlemania. Next week's show is likely going to be the Wrestlemania Axxess show which is a glorified commercial for the PPV. Therefore tonight we're likely to hear more about the PPV and not much else. There's also a weightlifting contest between Henry and Ryback. Let's get to it.
After the opening preview, we open with The Rock. Well that's a good way to kick things off. During Rock's entrance we see the physical part of the showdown with Cena on Raw. Bret not moving at all during the Rock Bottom is amusing. Rock holds up a Hershey bar before saying it's time for another Storytime with the Rock. He talks about moving with his family to about an hour away from her in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania when he was fifteen.
We get a picture of Rock at age fifteen in white shorts and “looking like a white bouncer for Menudo.” Rock talks about coming to Hershey Park here in Pennsylvania with his friends and eating a ton of chocolate. Now as an adult, FINALLY he has come back to Hershey. Rock talks about going around looking for a Whatchamacallit (it's a Hershey product) but after going to seven stores he FINALLY found one. As he was reaching for it though, someone stole it. However, that person was the inspiration for Rock's Candy catchphrase. Apparently it was an old lady but who cares?
The point of the story is that you might go to great lengths to get what you want, including beating John Cena at Wrestlemania. On Monday Cena got in his face and got beaten up for it, but Cena is going to be back at Wrestlemania. Rock talks about doing this in front of the millions and millions but is interrupted by.....Johnny freaking Ace. After a break Rock wants to know who Ace is. In case you don't remember, he's John Laurinitis, as in the former Vice President of Talent Relations and GM of both Raw and Smackdown.
Rock isn't impressed but Ace says he isn't going to talk too long and wind up getting a Rock Bottom. Ace says that he and Rock are a lot alike because Rock is People's Champion and Ace created People Power. Apparently Cena was the reason that Ace was fired but is also the reason he's back. Johnny offers to be in Rock's corner at Wrestlemania because it's a guaranteed win. Ace rips off the “and the Rock says” catchphrase before saying he and Rock are like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
Rock thinks we should ask the people if they want the stale peanut butter to team up with the most electrifying piece of chocolate the world has ever seen. Instead of a Rock Bottom, Rock offers to team up to send a message to Cena. The first part is a handshake and I think you can figure it out from here. There's the Rock Bottom (JBL: “What does Rock have against peanut butter?”
and the People's Elbow for good measure before Rock says Cena goes down again at Wrestlemania. Classic Rock here.
Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett
Non-title here and Miz is on commentary. Barrett takes him down to start but Jericho clotheslines him out to the floor to get himself a breather. A baseball slide puts Barrett down and we head back inside with the champion taking over again. Barrett kicks Jericho off the apron and we take a break. Back with Jericho hitting some shoulder blocks and a top rope fist to the face.
The Lionsault has to be aborted with Jericho landing on his feet, allowing Wade to come back with the Winds of Change. Jericho comes back with a cross body for two but has to escape Wasteland. Barrett punches his way out of the Walls but misses a charge and falls to the floor. Jericho's springboard cross body misses and Barrett throws him back in, but the champion stops to argue with Miz. Back in and the distraction allows Jericho to hit the Codebreaker for the win at 4:43 shown of 7:43.
Post match Jericho says that he's happy about winning the match but since he can see Fandango's entrance, apparently something is about to happen. Jericho does the bit where he can't remember Fandango's name and here's the dancer himself. Chris holds the ropes open for him but Fandango backs off.
We get the same preview for HHH vs. Lesnar from Raw to eat up a few minutes.
Earlier today Josh Matthews sat down with Heyman to talk about the potential end of HHH's career. After Brock ends HHH's in ring career, it means the end of HHH's office career because not being able to get in the ring when he wants to will cripple HHH. Then the locker room will crumble with no leadership, and it's all because HHH loses to Brock at Wrestlemania.
Here are Booker T and Teddy Long to introduce the Bench Press Challenge. Booker introduces Ryback but Teddy cuts him off and introduces Henry himself. If there's physical contact between these two they're both banned from Wrestlemania. Henry won a coin toss and gets to go first. He does 53 reps which is allegedly a new world record. Ryback does 53 and goes for 54 but Henry chokes him ala Barbarian and the Road Warriors from back in the 80s. Ryback has the bar shoved onto his throat and can barely breathe.
Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn/Daniel Bryan
The guys start things off here and they fight over arm control to get us going. Off to the girls with AJ hitting some rolling neckbreakers for two. Kaitlyn runs her over though and it's back to the guys. Bryan tries a top rope rana but Ziggler rolls through into a sunset flip for two. Langston interferes but Kane takes him out as the girls come in. AJ jumps on Bryan's back on the floor as JBL tries to keep track of AJ's love life. AJ goes back in and walks into the spear by Kaitlyn for the pin at 3:15.
Shield talks about the big moment coming up on the grandest stage of them all. Ambrose thinks a viper, a giant and a Celtic warrior don't mix and that they're going to implode. That is if Shield doesn't destroy them first. Believe in the Shield.
Great Khali vs. Jack Swagger
On their way to the ring, Colter and Swagger talk about breaking Ricardo's ankle to strengthen America. Swagger pounds away in the corner to start but gets chopped in the head to put him back down. Khali hits the overhand chop in the corner but Swagger comes back with some knees to the ribs.
The giant comes back with clotheslines but Jack bails to the floor to avoid the big overhead chop. Khali goes after him but gets his own leg wrapped around the post, giving Swagger an opening. They head to the floor again with Swagger putting on the Patriot Lock long enough for the double countout at 2:58. This was short and did no favors for Swagger whatsoever.
Colter and Swagger go after Hornswoggle but here's Ricardo for a distraction. Alberto runs in but Colter stops the armbreaker. Del Rio swings Ricardo's crutch at Swagger but Jack bails to the floor.
We recap Punk vs. Undertaker from Raw.
The new backstage chick Renee Young is with Orton, Sheamus and Big Show and we see a video of the three of them on Raw teaming up to fight Shield. They say they've put their differences aside to fight Shield but Sheamus and Big Show almost fight over who put their differences aside first.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is inducting Bruno Sammartino into the Hall of Fame.
Sheamus/Big Show/Randy Orton vs. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro
Sandow talks about his opponents having nothing in common and how the Scholars have a disdain for ignorance. Cesaro yodels a bit. JBL: “Every time he yodels Daniel Bryan comes running out of the locker room.” Orton and Cesaro get things going and it's Randy taking over with some elbows and shoulders. Off to Sheamus to pound away on Cesaro in the corner before cranking on the arm a bit.
Off to Big Show which sends Cesaro running off to Cody. Show offers Rhodes a free shot before chopping the skin off Rhodes' chest in the corner. Sandow runs away from Big Show as we take a break. Back with Sheamus holding Sandow by the beard so Orton can come in and pummel Damien in the corner. Sandow finally shoves Orton into the heel corner for some triple teaming.
Cesaro comes back in for his gutwrench suplex for two. Cody cranks on the arm for a bit before Sandow hooks the Russian legsweep and drops the Wind-Up Elbow for two. A chinlock is quickly broken by Randy and there's the over the back backbreaker to give Orton a breather. Cesaro tries to interfere but Big Show makes the save, allowing for the double tag to Sheamus and Rhodes. There are the ten forearms to Cody's chest and ten for Sandow as well. Cody tries to jump Sheamus and is caught in White Noise. The WMD takes out Cesaro and it's an RKO for Sandow. Brogue Kick ends Cody at 8:14 shown of 11:14.
Shield's music hits but this time Orton/Sheamus/Big Show go after them. Why has no one thought to do that before? Shield gets beaten up in a box of some kind to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Wade Barrett – Codebreaker
Daniel Bryan/Kaitlyn b. Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee – Spear to Lee
Jack Swagger vs. Great Khali went to a double countout
Big Show/Sheamus/Randy Orton b. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro – Brogue Kick to Rhodes
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Nothing again.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
Chris Jericho b. Dolph Ziggler – Walls of Jericho
Mark Henry b. Usos – World's Strongest Slam to Jimmy Uso
Antonio Cesaro b. Alberto Del Rio via countout
HELL NO b. Prime Time Players – Chokeslam to Young
Shield b. Great Khali/Justin Gabriel/Zack Ryder – Top rope knee drop to Gabriel
Rhodes Scholars b. Tensai/Brodus Clay – Disaster Kick to Clay
Ryback b. 3MB – Shell Shock to Slater
AJ Lee b. Kaitlyn via countout
NXT
Kaitlyn b. Natalya – Spear
Brodus Clay b. El Local – Splash
Randy Orton b. Damien Sandow – RKO
Impact Wrestling
Chavo Guerrero/Hernandez b. Bad Influence – Frog Splash to Daniels
Aces and 8's b. Kurt Angle/Eric Young/James Storm – Rollup to Angle
Mr. Anderson b. Jeff Hardy via DQ when Hardy hit Anderson with a hammer
Smackdown
Chris Jericho b. Wade Barrett – Codebreaker
Daniel Bryan/Kaitlyn b. Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee – Spear to Lee
Jack Swagger vs. Great Khali went to a double countout
Big Show/Sheamus/Randy Orton b. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro – Brogue Kick to Rhodes
Smackdown got a 2.1, up from last week's 1.8.
Monday Night Raw
Date: March 25, 2013
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler
It's hard to believe that we've got less than two weeks before Wrestlemania. Pretty much everything is set and for the first time in weeks tonight, the WWE Champion is here to hype up the title match against Cena. Other than that we aren't likely to get anything of note because the entire card is either set or obvious at this point. Let's get to it.
We open with a recap of all of the major feuds for Wrestlemania.
Here are Punk and Heyman to open the show. Punk throws the urn in the air before setting it on the mat. He talks about Undertaker being the mystical being that Undertaker is built up as and how the urn gives Undertaker his powers. Apparently “they” say it all the time. Who are they actually? Punk says they are irrelevant and he's the only one that matters. Last year, Undertaker hit 20-0 and the match had the perfect ending. Instead of skipping off with HHH and HBK, Undertaker came out here and pointed at Punk's Wrestlemania sign.
The fans chant for ECW and Punk says “speaking of dead things.” Punk drops the urn because it means nothing to him, just like the Undertaker and his Streak. He's the 1 in 20-1 and at Wrestlemania, the Streak will Rest in Peace. There go the lights and as they come back up, Undertaker is in the ring and pounding away on Punk. Heyman runs off with the urn as Punk escapes.
Fandango omes out for a match but before he can have an opponent announced, Jericho runs out and beats down Fandango with a vengeance. Fandango and his dancing chick run away and here's Dolph Ziggler instead. Apparently this was a match for later but instead it's happening now.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho
Jericho takes him down to the match before pounding away at Ziggler's head. A quick attempt at the Walls are countered but Dolph charges into an elbow in the corner. Jericho hits a top rope cross body for two and we take a break. Back with Jericho in a chinlock before coming back with a rollup for two. Dolph dropkicks him down for two of his own and hooks an abdominal stretch on the Canadian. Chris fights back and hits a top rope ax handle and the bulldog, but has to take out Langston with a springboard dropkick. A DDT gets two for Dolph but a Fameasser attempt is countered into the Walls for the tap at 5:53.
Post match Langston hits the Big Ending on Jericho and here's Fandango for another beating on Jericho.
We get a clip from Smackdown with Sheamus and Big Show arguing after beating 3MB, only to band together to glare at Shield. Sheamus is about to say something about that incident but Shield beats him down. Orton tries to make the save with a chair but gets beaten down as well. Big Show makes the real save.
Mark Henry vs. Usos
I believe that's Jey starting things off but does it really matter? Henry throws him around but the Usos both hit superkicks to actually put him down. The Superfly Splash from Jimmy gets two but Henry sends Jey FLYING off the apron and into the barricade. A big clothesline on Jimmy and the World's Strongest Slam ends Jimmy at 1:45.
Post match Jey gets a Slam of his own. Both guys are splashed too.
Antonio Cesaro vs. Alberto Del Rio
Ricardo is here on crutches and his ankle is in a cast. Feeling out process to start with Cesaro taking over via a European uppercut. Off to a cravate but Del Rio comes back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He loads up the low superkick but here's Zeb Colter for a distraction. Cesaro gets in some shots but as Del Rio loads up a superplex, Swagger comes out and attacks Ricardo again. Del Rio chases after Swagger and beats him up in the crowd for the countout at 3:20. I'm not going to bother rating this as a good deal of the match was spent on the outside interference stuff.
Post match Del Rio beats up Cesaro despite the loss being his own fault.
HELL NO vs. Prime Time Players
Titus and Kane start with the masked man taking over almost immediately. Off to Bryan for some kicks in the corner and it's back to Kane for more punishment of the Players. Here are Ziggler and Langston to distract Bryan and let the Players take over. Titus suplexes Darren onto Bryan for two and it's off to a body vice by Young. Bryan fights up and brings in Kane for the side slam on Darren. Bryan takes out Titus with the running knee to the floor and the chokeslam ends Young at 4:37.
We recap HHH and Lesnar's contract signing from last week.
Here's HHH to talk about the match with Lesnar some more. If he loses at Wrestlemania it's the end of his career. The thing is if you go to the ring thinking you're going to lose, you're already done because Lesnar is a destroyer. HHH has fought like his life and career depended on it every night for twenty years so these stipulations aren't some coup for Heyman. It's Lesnar that needs to fight like his career is on the line because that's what he has to do. HHH isn't coming to wrestle and he isn't coming to fight. He's coming to hurt Brock.
As HHH leaves, Wade Barrett interrupts him and stares HHH down. HHH kicks him low and keeps walking.
Wade Barrett vs. The Miz
Barrett is in agony here so Miz hits a quick atomic drop to mess with Barrett even more. The Figure Four is escaped as the champion (non-title here) bails to the floor. Back in and Miz hits a few more atomic drops but can't hook the Skull Crushing Finale. Barrett pounds away as the announcers talk about movies. Off to a chinlock by the champion but Miz fights up and backdrops Wade out to the floor. An ax handle off the apron puts Wade down again and we take a break.
Back with Barrett pounding away at Miz in the ropes and kicking him out to the floor. Back in and Miz avoids a charge before firing off some left hands. The corner clothesline sets up the top rope ax handle for two but Barrett rolls out of the Finale. The Winds of Change get two for Barrett but Wasteland is countered. Miz dropkicks the knee out but the Figure Four is countered again. Barrett gets a rollup for two and a low kick to the head for the same. The Bull Hammer misses and Barrett crotches himself on the top rope after missing a big boot. Figure Four gets the tap out at 12:08.
Bryan and Kane have a mini-argument about Kane's mental stability before getting into a full argument about AJ. Kaitlyn pops up to say chill because she was the one screwed over by AJ. AJ is behind them as they argue. Kailtyn says AJ is a nutjob and AJ blasts her.
Shield vs. Great Khali/Zack Ryder/Justin Gabriel
Khali chops at Rollins to start but once Ryder comes in things fall apart. A middle rope dropkick misses Ambrose and the Shield takes over. Off to Gabriel vs. Reigns with Justin trying to speed things up. Ambrose gets a blind tag and clotheslines Gabriel's head off. Dean puts on a surfboard hold as Rollins hits a top rope knee drop for the pin on Gabriel at 2:30.
Post match Khali tries to fight off the Shield but gets caught in the TripleBomb. Cue Sheamus, Orton and Big Show for the big brawl.
We recap Jericho and Fandango from earlier. Jericho is MAD and says he's like a target now because of what he's done over the years. He's sporting a black eye here and apparently it's Jericho vs. Fandango at Wrestlemania.
Brodus Clay/Tensai vs. Rhodes Scholars
Brodus and Sandow start things off but it's quickly off to Tensai for some double teaming. Tensai misses a splash though and it's off to Rhodes for an armbar. The not hot tag brings in Brodus who does his usual stuff like the throw and splash on Cody. The Bellas and Funkadactyls get in a brawl on the floor, allowing Rhodes to hit the Disaster Kick for the pin on Clay at 2:30.
Another video on G.I. Joe 2.
3MB vs. Ryback
Handicap match here with Slater starting for the band. A quick Thesz Press puts Heath down and there's a splash for no cover. Off to Drew who is rammed into the corner for some hard shoulder blocks. After cleaning out the ring, Ryback is caught by a big boot from McIntyre to take over. Slater puts on a front facelock but Ryback easily throws him off. After the token beating from 3MB, Ryback fights back and throws Slater around a big. The double Shell Shock to Mahal and Slater are enough to pin Heath at 4:04.
Ryback and Henry have a weightlifting competition on Friday.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is inducting Sammartino into the Hall of Fame.
AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn
Non-title here. Kaitlyn erupts on AJ to start and pounds her down, only to be slapped down by AJ. Kaitlyn will have none of that and hits a fireman's carry gutbuster to send AJ to the outside. The spear misses AJ and hits the barricade, drawing a countout at 2:02.
We run down the Wrestlemania card.
It's time for the final segment of the show: a Q&A panel with legends asking questions to Rock and Cena. Lawler is moderating and the panel is Booker T, Mick Foley, Dusty Rhodes and Bret Hart. Ric Flair was supposed to be part of this panel but health issues kept him out of the segment. Rock barely gets a reaction as this crowd is exhausted.
Foley gets to ask the first question and talks about losing the fall at Wrestlemania XX which was supposed to be Rock's last match. He says that it was a relief that Cena lost the match because it wasn't Rock's Wrestlemania swan song. Foley's question is to Cena: can he handle losing to Rock again? Cena says that he wins everything at once if he wins but losing is definitely an option as it was last year.
He brings up former Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb who was famous for getting deep into the playoffs but never winning a Super Bowl. The fans don't like McNabb because it's all about winning the big one. Cena is great but he needs that big win. Rock however can't live with failure.
The champion responds by telling a familiar story about getting his mattress out of a dumpster. Then six months later he got his shot in the WWE but blew out his knee six months later. Then he worked even harder and came back, asking for a mic. Then Rock became the youngest WWE Champion ever and headlined Wrestlemania 15, right here in this very city. Cue FINALLY of course. Rock came into Philly with a Pat's cheese steak in one hand and the WWE Title in the other....and Steve Austin beat him for the title. Rock came back as the hardest working man ever and the man that is beating Cena in thirteen days.
Bret (now with gray hair) says that both Rock and Cena are his friends but he didn't like it last year when this became too close to Bret vs. Shawn. What changed? Rock says that it was two guys going at it for over 30 minutes and after Rock won, Cena took it like a man. Cena talks about calling Rock out years ago in an interview and then Rock proved it. After last year, Cena thought Rock was walking out but then Rock said he wanted to be WWE Champion and did just that.
Booker asks why Cena thinks he can win and John says it's because he has to. Rock isn't impressed and wants to know why Cena thinks that. Cena goes off by saying that Rock can't beat him. Cena beat himself last year by making one bad decision. Every single week for ten years, Cena has come out to a mixed reaction but he's walked through it. Only Rock has been able to get inside Cena's head and after Cena survived everything Rock threw at him, Cena tried something stupid by trying the People's Elbow and beat himself. John knows he's better than Rock and says Rock knows it too.
Rock says he knows if Cena knew he had Rock beat, he would have beaten him. Cena threw everything he had at Rock and Rock kept kicking out. Rock talks about growing up idolizing Ric Flair who said to be the man you have to beat the man. Cena can't beat the man, because he isn't the man. John will never, and the Rock means never, beat the Rock.
Dusty likes them taking the gloves off and asks both guys what they want on April 7 (third time they've said the date of the show because the top guys know how to sell a show). Cena wants to win the big one and dominate the Rock. He's going to prove that he's better when Rock is looking up at the sky. Rock says he won't be haunted by Cena and wants to fight right now. Cena says you can't see me and gets shoved. AA is countered into a Rock Bottom and Rock stares at Cena to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Dolph Ziggler – Walls of Jericho
Mark Henry b. Usos – World's Strongest Slam to Jimmy Uso
Antonio Cesaro b. Alberto Del Rio via countout
HELL NO b. Prime Time Players – Chokeslam to Young
Shield b. Great Khali/Justin Gabriel/Zack Ryder – Top rope knee drop to Gabriel
Rhodes Scholars b. Tensai/Brodus Clay – Disaster Kick to Clay
Ryback b. 3MB – Shell Shock to Slater
AJ Lee b. Kaitlyn via countout
Tuesday
Raw got a 3.2, up from last week.
Wednesday
NXT
Date: March 27, 2013
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, William Regal, Jim Ross
After last week's Wyatt Family heavy show, the odds are that we'll be seeing something new this week. That's one of the good things about NXT: they keep things fresh every week while still keeping something from the previous week going. Granted it helped to have only an hour per week to fill in. Let's get to it.
We open with the I'm Coming Home video for Mania.
Welcome Home.
The idea tonight is a Road to Wrestlemania special. We even have The Fink doing the announcing. Nothing wrong with that.
Divas Title: Natalya vs. Katilyn
Kaitlyn grabs a go-behind to start but Natalya takes it to the mat to crank on the leg a bit. Tonight's main event is Orton vs. Sandow. That doesn't like like a very NXT kind of show. Natalya shoves her down but gets caught in a jackknife cover for two. We get the always cool looking bridge up into a backslide for two on Kaitlyn followed by a failed Sharpshooter attempt.
Natalya misses a discus lariat but settles for a snap suplex for two. Off to an abdominal stretch by Natalya and we take a break. Back with Kaitlyn reversing into a bad abdominal stretch of her own. After that gets reversed, Kaitlyn runs over Natalya and hits the fireman's carry gutbuster for two. Natalya comes back with a quick Sharpshooter out of nowhere but Kaitlyn powers out of it. Back up and the spear out of nowhere ends Natalya at around 7:00.
Alberto Del Rio says he's ready for Swagger and “the guy from Jumanji”. Del Rio says he was born in Mexico but made in America.
Brodus Clay vs. El Local
Local is Ricardo Rodriquez under a mask. Brodus easily throws him around to start and even gets two off a jackknife cover. Local goes after the knee in a smart move but can only get two. Brodus has enough of the selling and runs over Local before suplexing him down. A splash in the corner sets up a regular splash for the pin at 2:00. Literally a squash but Local got in a few shots.
The Raw ReBound is about Punk and Undertaker, which is short in the first place so you know the recap is quick.
Shield says they'll be fighting and winning for justice on Wrestlemania Sunday. They talk about starting a new revolution after winning.
Cena talks about Wrestlemania and how big of a deal it is. Last year he had to win but failed, so now the pressure is on Rock. It's Rock's first title defense (second but whatever) and it might be the first time that Rock fails at something in his life. In about two minutes here, Cena said April 7 eight times.
We go to the announcers and Kassius Ohno appears and destroys Regal.
Randy Orton vs. Damien Sandow
Orton grabs a headlock to start but Sandow grabs one of his own. A back elbow to the face puts Sandow down and there's a stomp to the face. Damien comes back with some shots in the corner but Orton hits the Thesz Press to take over again. Sandow bails to the floor and gets taken down by a clothesline as we take a break. Back with Orton stomping away but Damien comes back with a quick elbow and some stomps of his own.
The Elevated DDT is countered and we head to the floor where Orton is sent into the steps. Off to the chinlock back inside followed by the Russian legsweep and the Wind-Up Elbow for two. Orton fights back with right hands and a superplex for a delayed two. The powerslam puts Damien down but he gets a boot up in the corner followed by a neckbreaker for two. Randy comes right back with the Elevated DDT and the RKO finishes at 9:30 shown of 12:00.
Results
Kaitlyn b. Natalya – Spear
Brodus Clay b. El Local – Splash
Randy Orton b. Damien Sandow – RKO
Thursday
Elimination Chamber got 210,000 buys, up from the last two years.
Impact Wrestling
Date: March 28, 2013
Location: ASU Convocation Center, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Commentators: Tazz, Todd Keneley, Mike Tenay
We're live again this week and we're in....Arkansas. That's kind of a drop from Chicago but I'll take what I can get. The main story going on here is that Hardy is #1 contender again with the title match date announced for two weeks in Corpus Christi, Texas. Therefore tonight is going to be about building up to that show. Gut Check and Open Fight Night are back too. Let's get to it.
After another recap of Ray's turn at Lockdown, here's Hardy to open things up. Since it's Open Fight Night, everyone that is called out has to fight. Jeff can't call anyone out yet because here are Aces and 8's to interrupt them. Ray talks about how they're not in Corpus Christi so the title wouldn't be on the line if Jeff called him out tonight.
Anderson interrupts him though and says that Jeff is trying to get yet another chance. Jeff is a disappointment and he's going to be one in Corpus Christi as well. Hardy lunches at Anderson and the group beatdown is on. The TNA troops come out for the save and Hardy calls out Anderson for later tonight.
We recap Bad Influence interrupting the tag title match last week.
Chavo and Hernandez want to get their hands on Bad Influence.
Hernandez/Chavo Guerrero vs. Bad Influence
Chavo has apparently talked to Hogan and this is a #1 contenders match. Chavo and Kaz get things going but it's quickly off to Hernandez for a splash for two. Daniels tries to rush Hernandez but gets caught in a release overhead belly to belly by the big man. Back to Chavo for a rolling senton onto Daniels who is on Hernandez's knees. Kaz knocks Chavo to the floor and into the announce table but it leaves them alone with Hernandez. Chavo comes back in as house is cleaned, putting Bad Influence down. Hernandez and Chavo head to the ramp and hit stereo dives over the top and into the ring to take out both guys.
Chavo tries Three Amigos on Daniels but it's Kaz to make the save, giving Bad Influence control again as we take a break. Back with Kaz doing the Eddie Guerrero dance with Chavo in trouble. A slingshot legdrop gets two for Kaz and we get some good old fashioned double teaming, followed by some good old fashioned heel miscommunication, allowing for the hot tag to SuperMex. Hernandez cleans house and puts both guys on his shoulder for a backbreaker at the same time.
Daniels wants a time out but gets suplexed from the apron anyway. Kaz tries to sweep Hernandez's leg for a cheap pin but Hernandez is in the ropes. Daniels trips him up in the corner and puts his own feet on the ropes to cheat but gets caught again. A sitout Alpha Bomb puts Daniels down and it's off to Chavo for the Frog Splash, but Kaz breaks it up, allowing Daniels to get a rollup for two. Kazarian is knocked off the ramp and Hernandez takes out Daniels, allowing the Frog Splash to get the pin at 12:14.
Taryn knows who she's calling out tonight.
Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim
Gail comes out and says that Taryn doesn't want to try this on her first night as a Knockout. Instead of fighting, Gail asks Tara to come help her with the beating. Tara comes down the ramp and the double beatdown is on. Velvet finally comes out for the save and cleans house. No match.
Post break Taryn keeps the fight going in the back.
Apparently Gut Check is next week instead of this week so here's a video about how great of an opportunity it is.
The competitors next week are Magno and former NWA World Champion Adam Pearce.
Sting shouts at a security guard.
Hardy is in Hogan's office and talks about the match in Corpus Christi. Hogan talks about Aces and 8's stealing the title from him and how he's made mistakes. Jeff gets to hand pick the stipulations for the match. Sting's music plays so Hogan limps to the arena.
Sting is in the arena and calls Hogan's out for a chat. Hogan gets in Sting's face and says that Sting has caused all of these problems because Sting told Hogan what to do and Hogan did it. Sting finally says what has been obvious all along: this is all Hogan's fault because HE is the boss, not Sting. Hogan goes on a rant and says he had the final decision and now he's making another decision: Sting needs to get out of this ring. He goes to leave before turning around and telling Hogan to make him. They're about to brawl but security breaks it up and Sting is escorted out of the arena.
Post break Matt Morgan says that was yet another Hogan mistake but Sting keeps walking.
We recap the AJ Styles saga with Aces and 8's offering him a spot on the team.
Here's James Storm to call out AJ Styles who is standing in the crowd. Storm says that he was here last year but he came back to fight again. If AJ wants to take his hand and put a beer in it for a talk or make a fist and fight, it's fine with Storm. Before AJ does anything, Aces and 8's runs in for the beatdown. AJ walks away. Eric Young runs in to try to make the save but gets beaten down almost immediately. Cue Kurt Angle for the real save. With the ring cleared we get a call for a six man tag.
Kurt Angle/James Storm/Eric Young vs. Garrett Bischoff/Doc/Wes Brisco
Storm and Bischoff get things going here with James cleaning house. Off to Young who thankfully looks sane here. Garrett gets in a knee to the robs to take over and it's off to Brisco. Brisco pounds away but Young comes back with a forearm to bring in Angle. Kurt stomps away in the corner and lures the other bikers in so Wes can get triple teamed in the corner. Back to Young for a slam and elbow drop for two but it's a cheating knee from Doc to turn momentum.
Off to Garrett again as the match slows down again and we take a break. Back with Young using a jawbreaker to escape a chinlock and there's the hot tag to Storm. Doc finally comes in and gets an elbow up in the corner to break up Storm's momentum. An overhead butterfly suplex gets two for Doc and it's back to Bischoff. After some basic stuff, here's Brisco for some more slow paced stuff.
Wes chinlocks Storm before bringing Doc back in for some right hands. Storm gets a boot up in the corner though and speeds things up before hitting a cross body to put Doc down. The hot tag brings in Angle who cleans house. Angle unleashes the suplexes but D'Lo Brown's distraction lets Brisco roll up Angle with a handful of trunks for the pin at 14:27.
The other bikers celebrate in the back and Anderson is all fired up for the match tonight.
We hear about the first One Night Only shows, which is a series of one off shows which won't be involved in the main storylines.
Next week it's Sonjay Dutt vs. Mason Andrews vs. Petey Williams for a shot at the X Title.
We recap the end of Lockdown with Ray turning on Hogan and TNA.
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
It's a brawl to start with Hardy sending Anderson out to the floor and following up with a clothesline off the apron. They head to the ramp but Anderson misses a charge into the ring to give Hardy control again. Back from a break with Anderson cranking on Hardy's arm after injuring it during the break. After Jeff armdrags out of it they slug it out with Jeff taking over with a forearm.
The basement dropkick gets two on Anderson but he comes back with the fireman's carry senton for two. The Whisper in the Wind misses Anderson so he immediately gets a few two counts. Anderson trips the referee and Bischoff brings out the hammer, only to have Jeff duck and hit the Twisting Stunner. Hardy gets the hammer and blasts Anderson in the ribs for the DQ at 10:47.
Post match Hardy beats up Bischoff and Anderson before pulling out a table, a ladder and a chair. Hardy puts Anderson on the table and climbs the ladder but Bully makes the save. Jeff makes it Full Metal Mayhem for the title, which is TNA's version of TLC.
Results
Chavo Guerrero/Hernandez b. Bad Influence – Frog Splash to Daniels
Aces and 8's b. Kurt Angle/Eric Young/James Storm – Rollup to Angle
Mr. Anderson b. Jeff Hardy via DQ when Hardy hit Anderson with a hammer
Friday
Smackdown
Date: March 29, 2013
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Josh Matthews, John Bradshaw Layfield
This is the last real Smackdown we'll have before we go on to Wrestlemania. Next week's show is likely going to be the Wrestlemania Axxess show which is a glorified commercial for the PPV. Therefore tonight we're likely to hear more about the PPV and not much else. There's also a weightlifting contest between Henry and Ryback. Let's get to it.
After the opening preview, we open with The Rock. Well that's a good way to kick things off. During Rock's entrance we see the physical part of the showdown with Cena on Raw. Bret not moving at all during the Rock Bottom is amusing. Rock holds up a Hershey bar before saying it's time for another Storytime with the Rock. He talks about moving with his family to about an hour away from her in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania when he was fifteen.
We get a picture of Rock at age fifteen in white shorts and “looking like a white bouncer for Menudo.” Rock talks about coming to Hershey Park here in Pennsylvania with his friends and eating a ton of chocolate. Now as an adult, FINALLY he has come back to Hershey. Rock talks about going around looking for a Whatchamacallit (it's a Hershey product) but after going to seven stores he FINALLY found one. As he was reaching for it though, someone stole it. However, that person was the inspiration for Rock's Candy catchphrase. Apparently it was an old lady but who cares?
The point of the story is that you might go to great lengths to get what you want, including beating John Cena at Wrestlemania. On Monday Cena got in his face and got beaten up for it, but Cena is going to be back at Wrestlemania. Rock talks about doing this in front of the millions and millions but is interrupted by.....Johnny freaking Ace. After a break Rock wants to know who Ace is. In case you don't remember, he's John Laurinitis, as in the former Vice President of Talent Relations and GM of both Raw and Smackdown.
Rock isn't impressed but Ace says he isn't going to talk too long and wind up getting a Rock Bottom. Ace says that he and Rock are a lot alike because Rock is People's Champion and Ace created People Power. Apparently Cena was the reason that Ace was fired but is also the reason he's back. Johnny offers to be in Rock's corner at Wrestlemania because it's a guaranteed win. Ace rips off the “and the Rock says” catchphrase before saying he and Rock are like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
Rock thinks we should ask the people if they want the stale peanut butter to team up with the most electrifying piece of chocolate the world has ever seen. Instead of a Rock Bottom, Rock offers to team up to send a message to Cena. The first part is a handshake and I think you can figure it out from here. There's the Rock Bottom (JBL: “What does Rock have against peanut butter?”
and the People's Elbow for good measure before Rock says Cena goes down again at Wrestlemania. Classic Rock here.Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett
Non-title here and Miz is on commentary. Barrett takes him down to start but Jericho clotheslines him out to the floor to get himself a breather. A baseball slide puts Barrett down and we head back inside with the champion taking over again. Barrett kicks Jericho off the apron and we take a break. Back with Jericho hitting some shoulder blocks and a top rope fist to the face.
The Lionsault has to be aborted with Jericho landing on his feet, allowing Wade to come back with the Winds of Change. Jericho comes back with a cross body for two but has to escape Wasteland. Barrett punches his way out of the Walls but misses a charge and falls to the floor. Jericho's springboard cross body misses and Barrett throws him back in, but the champion stops to argue with Miz. Back in and the distraction allows Jericho to hit the Codebreaker for the win at 4:43 shown of 7:43.
Post match Jericho says that he's happy about winning the match but since he can see Fandango's entrance, apparently something is about to happen. Jericho does the bit where he can't remember Fandango's name and here's the dancer himself. Chris holds the ropes open for him but Fandango backs off.
We get the same preview for HHH vs. Lesnar from Raw to eat up a few minutes.
Earlier today Josh Matthews sat down with Heyman to talk about the potential end of HHH's career. After Brock ends HHH's in ring career, it means the end of HHH's office career because not being able to get in the ring when he wants to will cripple HHH. Then the locker room will crumble with no leadership, and it's all because HHH loses to Brock at Wrestlemania.
Here are Booker T and Teddy Long to introduce the Bench Press Challenge. Booker introduces Ryback but Teddy cuts him off and introduces Henry himself. If there's physical contact between these two they're both banned from Wrestlemania. Henry won a coin toss and gets to go first. He does 53 reps which is allegedly a new world record. Ryback does 53 and goes for 54 but Henry chokes him ala Barbarian and the Road Warriors from back in the 80s. Ryback has the bar shoved onto his throat and can barely breathe.
Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn/Daniel Bryan
The guys start things off here and they fight over arm control to get us going. Off to the girls with AJ hitting some rolling neckbreakers for two. Kaitlyn runs her over though and it's back to the guys. Bryan tries a top rope rana but Ziggler rolls through into a sunset flip for two. Langston interferes but Kane takes him out as the girls come in. AJ jumps on Bryan's back on the floor as JBL tries to keep track of AJ's love life. AJ goes back in and walks into the spear by Kaitlyn for the pin at 3:15.
Shield talks about the big moment coming up on the grandest stage of them all. Ambrose thinks a viper, a giant and a Celtic warrior don't mix and that they're going to implode. That is if Shield doesn't destroy them first. Believe in the Shield.
Great Khali vs. Jack Swagger
On their way to the ring, Colter and Swagger talk about breaking Ricardo's ankle to strengthen America. Swagger pounds away in the corner to start but gets chopped in the head to put him back down. Khali hits the overhand chop in the corner but Swagger comes back with some knees to the ribs.
The giant comes back with clotheslines but Jack bails to the floor to avoid the big overhead chop. Khali goes after him but gets his own leg wrapped around the post, giving Swagger an opening. They head to the floor again with Swagger putting on the Patriot Lock long enough for the double countout at 2:58. This was short and did no favors for Swagger whatsoever.
Colter and Swagger go after Hornswoggle but here's Ricardo for a distraction. Alberto runs in but Colter stops the armbreaker. Del Rio swings Ricardo's crutch at Swagger but Jack bails to the floor.
We recap Punk vs. Undertaker from Raw.
The new backstage chick Renee Young is with Orton, Sheamus and Big Show and we see a video of the three of them on Raw teaming up to fight Shield. They say they've put their differences aside to fight Shield but Sheamus and Big Show almost fight over who put their differences aside first.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is inducting Bruno Sammartino into the Hall of Fame.
Sheamus/Big Show/Randy Orton vs. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro
Sandow talks about his opponents having nothing in common and how the Scholars have a disdain for ignorance. Cesaro yodels a bit. JBL: “Every time he yodels Daniel Bryan comes running out of the locker room.” Orton and Cesaro get things going and it's Randy taking over with some elbows and shoulders. Off to Sheamus to pound away on Cesaro in the corner before cranking on the arm a bit.
Off to Big Show which sends Cesaro running off to Cody. Show offers Rhodes a free shot before chopping the skin off Rhodes' chest in the corner. Sandow runs away from Big Show as we take a break. Back with Sheamus holding Sandow by the beard so Orton can come in and pummel Damien in the corner. Sandow finally shoves Orton into the heel corner for some triple teaming.
Cesaro comes back in for his gutwrench suplex for two. Cody cranks on the arm for a bit before Sandow hooks the Russian legsweep and drops the Wind-Up Elbow for two. A chinlock is quickly broken by Randy and there's the over the back backbreaker to give Orton a breather. Cesaro tries to interfere but Big Show makes the save, allowing for the double tag to Sheamus and Rhodes. There are the ten forearms to Cody's chest and ten for Sandow as well. Cody tries to jump Sheamus and is caught in White Noise. The WMD takes out Cesaro and it's an RKO for Sandow. Brogue Kick ends Cody at 8:14 shown of 11:14.
Shield's music hits but this time Orton/Sheamus/Big Show go after them. Why has no one thought to do that before? Shield gets beaten up in a box of some kind to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Wade Barrett – Codebreaker
Daniel Bryan/Kaitlyn b. Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee – Spear to Lee
Jack Swagger vs. Great Khali went to a double countout
Big Show/Sheamus/Randy Orton b. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro – Brogue Kick to Rhodes
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Nothing again.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
Chris Jericho b. Dolph Ziggler – Walls of Jericho
Mark Henry b. Usos – World's Strongest Slam to Jimmy Uso
Antonio Cesaro b. Alberto Del Rio via countout
HELL NO b. Prime Time Players – Chokeslam to Young
Shield b. Great Khali/Justin Gabriel/Zack Ryder – Top rope knee drop to Gabriel
Rhodes Scholars b. Tensai/Brodus Clay – Disaster Kick to Clay
Ryback b. 3MB – Shell Shock to Slater
AJ Lee b. Kaitlyn via countout
NXT
Kaitlyn b. Natalya – Spear
Brodus Clay b. El Local – Splash
Randy Orton b. Damien Sandow – RKO
Impact Wrestling
Chavo Guerrero/Hernandez b. Bad Influence – Frog Splash to Daniels
Aces and 8's b. Kurt Angle/Eric Young/James Storm – Rollup to Angle
Mr. Anderson b. Jeff Hardy via DQ when Hardy hit Anderson with a hammer
Smackdown
Chris Jericho b. Wade Barrett – Codebreaker
Daniel Bryan/Kaitlyn b. Dolph Ziggler/AJ Lee – Spear to Lee
Jack Swagger vs. Great Khali went to a double countout
Big Show/Sheamus/Randy Orton b. Rhodes Scholars/Antonio Cesaro – Brogue Kick to Rhodes