klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Monday
RVD is fine after the ending to last night's main event.
Monday Night Raw
Date: May 14, 2012
Location: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler
It's the last Raw before Sunday's Over The Limit so hopefully we'll get some Cena tonight to sell the show. That being said, the guy is going through a divorce so I think you have to cut him some slack on how effective he's going to be out there. We also have Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for Sunday so expect a lot of staring at each other tonight. Let's get to it.
We open with HHH walking through the back. He runs into Ace who says he had nothing to do with Lesnar attacking him. HHH says he'll respond in front of the world.
Theme song.
Here's HHH but before he talks we get the video from Raw two weeks ago for the 100th time. HHH says everyone wants to know his thoughts on Lesnar. It's not the physical part of it because he's had worse done to him. It's Lesnar saying that he has to bring legitimacy back to the WWE. A few weeks before that, HHH was going toe to toe with Undertaker in the most watched Wrestlemania of all time.
Lesnar's arrogance offends all of the greats in WWE history and it offends HHH as a fans. Two weeks ago he was slightly embarrassed because of Lesnar always bailing when he got challenged. HHH saw the potential in Brock back in 2002, but Brock quit in 2004 after someone challenged him, then he quit UFC when he had to fight and now he came back here and went after Cena, who beat him as well.
Cue Heyman and a lawyer. Heyman says that HHH has blown this and that it's an open and shut case. Lesnar had an agreement with Ace but HHH ripped it up. The lawyer serves HHH with a lawsuit for millions of dollars and Heyman runs his mouth some more. HHH grabs Heyman by the face and says Lesnar will get what he deserves. The Game leaves but Heyman says he's suing HHH for assault and battery.
We get a recap of Show making fun of Ace last week. He gets Kane tonight as a result.
CM Punk/Santino Marella vs. Daniel Bryan/Cody Rhodes
Insert Pretender reference here. Punk and Rhodes start things off with Punk taking control. He sends Cody to the floor and Bryan out on top of him. There's a suicide dive but Santino can't quite bring himself to do one of his own as we take a break. After an ad for a Raw house show in my town in July, we come back with Rhodes beating up Santino. Off to Bryan who drops a bunch of knees for two.
Bryan throws on an armbar and the beating continues. In a funny bit, Santino dives for the tag but misses. Rhodes laughs but gets shoved off, allowing Santino to make the real tag. Bulldog puts Rhodes down but the GTS is avoided. High Kick puts Rhodes down but Bryan avoids one of his own. He heads to the floor and Cody walks into the GTS for the pin at 9:55.
Beth Phoenix vs. Alicia Fox
So Fox is face on here and heel on NXT. Got it. The crowd just goes silent when the bell rings. Layla comes out to watch. Gorilla press and Glam Slam, 1:16.
Alicia is about to get beaten up again but Layla makes the save.
Video on Cena's Make-A-Wish work which is cool.
We see the Ace/Show segment again for some reason.
Ryder vs. Kane is the pre-show match for Sunday.
We get ANOTHER clip from last week with Ace saying that it might be Show's last match in WWE.
Ace and Otunga come out and we take a break, meaning in this TV segment we announced a pre-show match and saw a clip.
Kane vs. Big Show
Show takes it to the mat which gets us nowhere. Kane fires off shoulders in the corner but gets thrown away with ease. The masked man hits a cross body of all things and it's time for the chinlock. Show comes back with clotheslines and a slam to set up the Vader Bomb Elbow. Not that it matters as Kane moves and goes up top. He jumps into a chokeslam attempt but escapes that too. We head to the floor and Kane gets whipped into the barricade and speared. They get back in and Ace wants an apology right now. That allows Kane to use a choke takedown (looked awful) for the pin at 4:14.
Ace says Show has to apologize or he's fired. Show says he's accomplished everything and he can walk away. But he still loves what he does and he doesn't want to be fired. If it means being fined or never getting a title match again, then so be it but don't take away what he loves. If the imitation offended Ace, then he's sorry.
Ace said Show didn't apologize so Show says it again. Ace wants Show to beg for his job on his knees. Show can't bring himself to do it and begs from his feet. Ace says he won't fire him for the sake of business. He leaves but then changes his mind. Show says wait and gets on his knees and apologizes. Ace fires him anyway. Ok the smile on his face helps a bit.
And now for something completely different.
Brodus Clay/Kofi Kingston/R-Truth vs. The Miz/Jack Swagger/Dolph Ziggler
Truth and Swagger start things off and it's off to Clay very quickly. He throws all three heels down as the champions knock Miz to the floor. We take a break and come back with Truth in a Ziggler chinlock. AW Enterprises (with the possibly now signed Mason Ryan) are watching from a sky box. Miz comes in and gets caught in a neckbreaker. Tag to Kofi who speeds things up as he is known to do. SOS gets two and everything breaks down. Ziggler jumps into a headbutt from Brodus, Kofi gets a GREAT sounding Trouble in Paradise on Miz and the Splash ends Miz at 6:58. Most of that was in a commercial so no rating but this was fine.
Punk is with Alex Riley of all people when AJ comes up. Riley leaves (Punk: Hey, remember that $50 you owe me!) and AJ wishes Punk luck on Sunday. He doesn't want anything to do with the drama that comes with AJ and Bryan. Punk is worried about a setup because AJ is so unstable so he walks away. AJ looks....sad?
Sheamus comes down for commentary for the next match.
Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho
Feeling out process to start and Orton dropkicks him to the floor as we take a break. These breaks during a match are REALLY getting annoying and have been for years. Back with Jericho holding a chinlock. He takes Orton into the corner and hits a missile dropkick for two. Off to a surfboard hold but Orton escapes. Backbreaker puts Jericho down but the elevated DDT is countered by a backdrop. Jericho throws Orton into Sheamus but back in Orton loads up the DDT again. Sheamus pulls him to the floor and clotheslines him down for the DQ win for Jericho at 8:40.
Orton gets in Sheamus' face and challenges him to a fight right now which Sheamus is more than happy to accept. Referees break it up.
Post break Orton vs. Sheamus is announced for Friday.
Here's Ace to push himself vs. Cena tonight. He talks about how everyone that loves Cena is a bad person because their favorite wrestler reflects themselves. Here's Cena who makes fun of Ace's voice and runs him down for firing Show. Ace has the gall to call himself a winner so we hear Ace's resume. His team won at Wrestlemania.....and that's about it. Punk is still champion and then Lesnar lost and left. That makes him 1-4 and that makes him a loser.
That's fine because at Over The Limit, Ace is going to lose again. Ace has managed to step on everyone during his tenure on top. Tonight he's stepped on everyone in the WWE Universe tonight in the name of people power. Instead it should be person power because that's all that matters to Ace. Cena has a show of hands to see how many people want to punch Ace into the middle of next week. Next question: how many people want to beat up Ace so bad that he squeals like a baby calf? That gets a BIG reaction.
Cena says the reaction is appropriate in Pittsburgh for a few reason. First up is the Steel Curtain (The Steelers' defense from the 70s) which is famous for destroying people, which is what Cena is going to do to Ace on Sunday. The other reason is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ace says that he was going to use the Penguins later in the promo but Cena stole it. Ace tries to talk but Cena keeps calling him a loser. The boss calls the Penguins losers so Cena pulls out a hockey puck and says go puck yourself.
Ace says that he's taller and better looking than Cena which must bother him. Cue Eve with a paper as he's talking. She has something to tell him but he won't listen to her. Finally she gets his attention and hands him the paper which he stops to read. Cena steals it from him (ripping it in half in the process) and says it's from the board of directors. The match will be one on one with no special referee and no one allowed at ringside. You have to win by pin or submission and anyone who interferes is immediately fired. Oh and if Ace loses he's fired.
Cena's music plays but he stops it because Cole mentioned a major announcement from Ace earlier. Cena asks what it is and Ace slaps him to end the show. Ok then.
Results
CM Punk/Santino Marella b. Daniel Bryan/Cody Rhodes GTS to Rhodes
Beth Phoenix b. Alicia Fox Glam Slam
Kane b. Big Show Chokeslam
Brodus Clay/Kofi Kingston/R-Truth b. Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger/The Miz Splash to Miz
Chris Jericho b. Randy Orton via DQ when Sheamus interfered
Tuesday
Raw got a 2.9, down from last week.
Wednesday
NXT
Date: May 16, 2012
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: William Regal, Josh Matthews
This is the final regular taping for NXT as after this the show is going to move to Florida permanently which is probably a good thing. We can now get the FCW guys on the show and give them some time. Also we don't need to sit through this show on Smackdown tapings because about 80% of the fans don't have a clue who these guys are. Let's get to it.
Johnny Curtis vs. Percy Watson
Apparently Curtis has stolen tape (as in Scotch) tape from the announcers at some point. As they talk about Josh's shoes, Watson takes over with an armbar to start. Leg lariat sends Curtis to the apron but he guillotines Watson on the top for two. Quick chinlock goes nowhere and Curtis chokes him a bit. This time the hold of choice is a surfboard with a knee in the back. Watson gets out of that pretty easily and hits a few dropkicks. Heisman gets two. Persecution is escaped and Curtis hits a spinning Falcon's Arrow for the pin at 4:40.
Great Khali/Ezekiel Jackson vs. Curt Hawkins/Tyler Reks
See, THIS is what NXT needs: appearances from bigger names that are regulars on the main shows. It gives us some fresh faces but we don't need to spend a month to figure out who they are. Weren't Hawkins and Reks security guards or something recently? I vaguely remember something about Ace rehiring them but they don't seem to care enough to let us know and neither do the announcers.
Khali and Hawkins start things off. The taller one chops him a lot and tags in Jackson, who seems to scare Hawkins a lot more than Khali did. Off to Reks who gets knocked into the corner with ease. Reks takes him down and Hawkins adds a top rope clothesline before tagging right back out. Jackson plays Ricky Morton, which is one of the most curious casting choices I've ever seen.
Reks is the legal evil one at the moment, kicking away at Jackson followed by a chinlock. A slam gets two. Off to Hawkins who again is only in for a few moments. Back to Reks who has more luck, hitting a big boot for two. Another chinlock goes on but Big Zeke comes back with a backdrop and makes the tag to Khali. He cleans house and the Plunge ends Reks at 6:04.
Maxine vs. Kaitlyn
This is billed as a big showdown, which would make sense if this wasn't what, the third time they've fought in a month or two? Maxine is in more traditional attire here and it's working for me. Kaitlyn immediately takes her down with a rollup for two, followed by a slam for the same. Maxine hooks her guillotine choke but Kaitlyn eventually breaks it up by draping her over the top rope.
Maxine comes back with forearms and a chinlock. She's very fired up this week. There's another chinlock with a knee in the back which is shifted into a kind of camel clutch. Kaitlyn fights up but gets ax handled down for two. Kaitlyn comes back with a dropkick and a bad crossbody for two. Maxine grabs a rollup for two and hooks a Last Chancery. That's easily broken and Kaitlyn grabs a Bubba Bomb. She drops onto her back and puts on a full nelson with her legs for the pin at 6:00.
Raw ReBound is about Big Show getting fired.
Cena Make-A-Wish video.
Tyson Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty vs. Derrick Bateman
They have almost fifteen minutes for this. McGillicutty lets them fight while he chills on the floor. The good guys take turns with armdrags until it's a stalemate. After another stand off the pair goes outside and chases McGillicutty back into the ring. There's a double hiptoss and a LONG delayed double vertical suplex to put Michael down. Bateman has a smart idea and rolls up Kidd for two.
Bateman gets knocked to the floor but McGillicutty breaks up a suicide dive attempt. He hammers on Kidd for awhile until Bateman finally revives from his coma. The pair sends McGillicutty to the floor and Bateman hits a GREAT suicide dive. He may have hurt his knee on that though. Kidd goes up top and tries a moonsault press onto them but mostly lands between them as we take a break. Back with Kidd stomping down on McGillicutty in the corner.
Here's a Sharpshooter attempt but Michael kicks him into Bateman who is on the apron. Saito Suplex gets two for McGillicutty. McGillicutty sends Bateman into the post as Regal talks about having a step ladder because his real ladder left him. Everyone is back in now and Kidd kicks out of a dropkick. McGillicutty and Kidd collide on stereo cross body attempts.
Bateman comes up and hits a few clotheslines on Michael for two. Tornado DDT is broken up but here's Kidd with the kicks to Michael. Bateman hits a flip neckbreaker to Kidd but McGillicutty hits a backbreaker on him for two. Kidd hits a high kick to McGillicutty to send him into a northern lights bridging suplex by Bateman. Kidd breaks that up with a springboard elbow for two. McGillicutty breaks up a rollup and hits a Perfecplex for two on Kidd. Bateman breaks it up and sets for a superplex on McGillicutty but Kidd breaks it up and sends Michael to the floor. Sharpshooter followed by the Dungeon Lock gets the tap at 13:40.
Results
Johnny Curtis b. Percy Watson Spinning Falcon's Arrow
Ezekiel Jackson/Great Khali b. Curt Hawkins/Tyler Reks Punjabi Plunge to Reks
Kaitlyn b. Maxine Leg full nelson
Tyson Kidd b. Michael McGillicutty and Derrick Bateman Dungeon Lock to Bateman
Thursday
Impact will be going live over the summer during the summer.
Raw will be going to three hours a week on July 23. There's a possibility that this is the preshow that has been discussed lately.
Brooke Hogan will be debuting as the Knockouts Boss on May 31. Is anyone really surprised by this?
Impact Wrestling
Date: May 17, 2012
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tazz
It's the first show after Sacrifice and Roode is still champion, which isn't something that should surprise you. Other than that, not a lot changed at the PPV. The only real change is that we have new tag team champions in the form of Daniels and Kazarian. We should begin building up for Slammiversary too. Let's get to it.
Here's Roode to open the show. Gee I wonder what he's going to be saying. It's the same promo you've always heard from him with him talking about how he's the best and no one can stop him. Next week he's going to have The It Factor's Celebration Of Domination, which is a party of some kind. First of all though, he needs Hogan out here. Cue the guy who is somehow still the NEW GM, about six weeks after getting the job.
Roode has demands for Hogan for next week. He wants a redecorated dressing room and five bottles of chilled champagne plus only green M and M's. Also he wants gold confetti flown in from Canada. Hogan takes the list and talks about some great champions. He talks about how Roode brought stability to the show, but he hasn't broken the record yet. Next week is Open Fight Night, and the world title will be on the line.
Hogan talks about taking a poll in the back of people that might want a shot next week. The locker room empties out and apparently they all want a shot next week. Hogan says we need to get this down to four men, so tonight there will be four singles matches. The winners will advance to some kind of competition next week and the winner will get a title match later next week. The matches are Ray vs. RVD, Hardy vs. Anderson (nice job on screwing the PPV fans again guys), Angle vs. Joe, and a battle royal.
We get a clip of Abyss saying Joseph is getting too close to the fire.
Rob Van Dam vs. Bully Ray
Rob is very banged up from the ladder match and Ray goes after the bad arm. Van Dam kicks his way out of it as usual and Rolling Thunder gets two. Ray goes after the knee but Rob kicks away again. He goes up top and tries the top rope kick, but hurts his knee in the process. Bubba Cutter (called a 3D by Tenay) gets the pin at 3:22.
Post break Bully Ray rants about......the Kardashians? Apparently they're about anti-bullying now and he wants to fight them. Joseph Park comes in and apologizes for interfering on Sunday. He thinks Ray is the fire that Abyss was talking about. Ray says stay away.
We see a segment from MMA Uncensored of King Mo, an MMA fighter, announcing that he's signing with TNA and fighting for Bellator at the same time. There's some MMA analyst and Dixie Carter there too. Not much is said.
Gail rants to Madison about having to be in a triple threat match tonight. Madison says there's no guy she likes, even though she admitted to there being one recently. Brooke and Velvet come up after Madison leaves to fix her hair. They make fun of Gail for cheating and say one of them will win the title.
Battle Royal
This is a qualifying match as well. Aries gets an entrance pre-break. After a break AJ, ODB and Eric Young get entrances as well. Also in there are guys like Magnus, D-Von, Crimson, Garrett Bischoff and others. ODB and Eric hit a double clothesline on Crimson and all three go out. The Rob's and Gunner are in there too. I think that's everyone. There are eight more I think. Magnus goes to the apron and Aries dropkicks him out. Madison is watching from the apron and is all smiley but we're not sure at whom.
After a few minutes of nothing going on, Robbie E puts out Robbie T. T is annoyed but D-Von puts out E anyway. So it's Gunner, Garrett, D-Von, AJ and Aries as we take a break. Back with all five still in. AJ and Aries work together on Gunner and D-Von kills Garrett with a shoulder. Garrett low bridges D-Von to eliminate him, probably getting a title match later.
AJ Peles the tar out of Garrett and eliminates him. Gunner gets dropkicked down (not eliminated) and it's AJ vs. Aries in a showdown. Aries hits a spinning forearm and it's time for counters. A Superman forearm staggers Aries and AJ goes to the apron, but Aries charges. That lets Gunner knock Aries to the floor but AJ dumps Gunner to advance at 10:56.
We recap the AJ/Dixie photos stuff from the last few weeks.
Back with AJ in the ring. He says he'll win the title next week but now it's time to discuss the pictures. Nothing happened and they're just business partners. They're both married but it's not like that. Things aren't as they seem, but here are Daniels and Kaz. They imply that AJ has slept his way to the top and have video to prove it. They pull out an iPad and show AJ and Dixie going into a hotel room together.
We get a video from Genesis 2006 and Joe's first loss, which was to Angle.
Joe comes up to Angle and they talk about the past. Angle slaps Joe and it's on in the back with Angle getting a beating. Other wrestlers break it up.
Anderson looks at a video and thinks Jeff kicked out.
Moment #7 in TNA history is the Unbreakable triple threat.
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Slow feeling out process to start until Jeff sends him to the floor. Jeff tries a dive of some kind but Anderson grabs the feet and slams him into the mat. Jeff comes back with a slingshot clothesline for two. Anderson hits his neckbreaker for the same. Anderson tries a kick to the head but Jeff chop blocks him to slow things down. A rollup by Jeff is countered into one by Anderson for two. Whisper in the Wind gets two. Anderson hits the Regal Roll but Jeff rolls back on him for the pin at 6:04.
Video on Joe winning the world title from Angle at Lockdown 08.
Knockouts Title: Gail Kim vs. Brooke Tessmacher vs. Velvet Sky
Gail keeps trying to escape but gets double teamed and sent to the floor. The good girls trade small packages and that's about it. Gail comes back in for a Boston Crab on Brooke but Velvet hooks a dragon sleeper at the same time on Gail. Gail tries an Octopus hold on Brooke but Velvet rolls her up for two. Kim doesn't let go and rolls Brooke up for two. A top rope missile dropkick by the champ puts all three girls down. In Yo Face to Brooke but Gail throws Velvet to the floor and pins Brooke with a rollup at 4:42.
Slammiversary video.
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
Joe knocks him to the floor but Angle double legs him down easily. Joe speeds things up and hits his usual strikes and drops his knee for two. The Facewash keeps Angle down in the corner as Roode comes out to do commentary. We take a break and come back with Angle in control. He knocks Joe down for two and hooks a chinlock.
Joe comes back with the powerslam but walks into the Germans to give Kurt control again. The Slam is countered into the Clutch which is countered into the ankle lock which is countered by Joe sending Angle into the corner. Angle hits the Slam for two, which really shouldn't surprise anyone at this point. There's the ankle lock again but Joe sends him into the corner. They go to the corner and Angle headbutts him away. A sunset flip into a rollup off the top gets the pin for Angle at 12:26.
The four challengers surround Roode to end the show.
Results
Bully Ray b. Rob Van Dam Bully Cutter
AJ Styles won a battle royal last eliminating Gunner
Jeff Hardy b. Mr. Anderson Crucifix
Gail Kim b. Brooke Tessmacher and Velvet Sky Rollup to Tessmacher
Kurt Angle b. Samoa Joe Rollup
RVD is fine after the ending to last night's main event.
Monday Night Raw
Date: May 14, 2012
Location: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler
It's the last Raw before Sunday's Over The Limit so hopefully we'll get some Cena tonight to sell the show. That being said, the guy is going through a divorce so I think you have to cut him some slack on how effective he's going to be out there. We also have Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for Sunday so expect a lot of staring at each other tonight. Let's get to it.
We open with HHH walking through the back. He runs into Ace who says he had nothing to do with Lesnar attacking him. HHH says he'll respond in front of the world.
Theme song.
Here's HHH but before he talks we get the video from Raw two weeks ago for the 100th time. HHH says everyone wants to know his thoughts on Lesnar. It's not the physical part of it because he's had worse done to him. It's Lesnar saying that he has to bring legitimacy back to the WWE. A few weeks before that, HHH was going toe to toe with Undertaker in the most watched Wrestlemania of all time.
Lesnar's arrogance offends all of the greats in WWE history and it offends HHH as a fans. Two weeks ago he was slightly embarrassed because of Lesnar always bailing when he got challenged. HHH saw the potential in Brock back in 2002, but Brock quit in 2004 after someone challenged him, then he quit UFC when he had to fight and now he came back here and went after Cena, who beat him as well.
Cue Heyman and a lawyer. Heyman says that HHH has blown this and that it's an open and shut case. Lesnar had an agreement with Ace but HHH ripped it up. The lawyer serves HHH with a lawsuit for millions of dollars and Heyman runs his mouth some more. HHH grabs Heyman by the face and says Lesnar will get what he deserves. The Game leaves but Heyman says he's suing HHH for assault and battery.
We get a recap of Show making fun of Ace last week. He gets Kane tonight as a result.
CM Punk/Santino Marella vs. Daniel Bryan/Cody Rhodes
Insert Pretender reference here. Punk and Rhodes start things off with Punk taking control. He sends Cody to the floor and Bryan out on top of him. There's a suicide dive but Santino can't quite bring himself to do one of his own as we take a break. After an ad for a Raw house show in my town in July, we come back with Rhodes beating up Santino. Off to Bryan who drops a bunch of knees for two.
Bryan throws on an armbar and the beating continues. In a funny bit, Santino dives for the tag but misses. Rhodes laughs but gets shoved off, allowing Santino to make the real tag. Bulldog puts Rhodes down but the GTS is avoided. High Kick puts Rhodes down but Bryan avoids one of his own. He heads to the floor and Cody walks into the GTS for the pin at 9:55.
Beth Phoenix vs. Alicia Fox
So Fox is face on here and heel on NXT. Got it. The crowd just goes silent when the bell rings. Layla comes out to watch. Gorilla press and Glam Slam, 1:16.
Alicia is about to get beaten up again but Layla makes the save.
Video on Cena's Make-A-Wish work which is cool.
We see the Ace/Show segment again for some reason.
Ryder vs. Kane is the pre-show match for Sunday.
We get ANOTHER clip from last week with Ace saying that it might be Show's last match in WWE.
Ace and Otunga come out and we take a break, meaning in this TV segment we announced a pre-show match and saw a clip.
Kane vs. Big Show
Show takes it to the mat which gets us nowhere. Kane fires off shoulders in the corner but gets thrown away with ease. The masked man hits a cross body of all things and it's time for the chinlock. Show comes back with clotheslines and a slam to set up the Vader Bomb Elbow. Not that it matters as Kane moves and goes up top. He jumps into a chokeslam attempt but escapes that too. We head to the floor and Kane gets whipped into the barricade and speared. They get back in and Ace wants an apology right now. That allows Kane to use a choke takedown (looked awful) for the pin at 4:14.
Ace says Show has to apologize or he's fired. Show says he's accomplished everything and he can walk away. But he still loves what he does and he doesn't want to be fired. If it means being fined or never getting a title match again, then so be it but don't take away what he loves. If the imitation offended Ace, then he's sorry.
Ace said Show didn't apologize so Show says it again. Ace wants Show to beg for his job on his knees. Show can't bring himself to do it and begs from his feet. Ace says he won't fire him for the sake of business. He leaves but then changes his mind. Show says wait and gets on his knees and apologizes. Ace fires him anyway. Ok the smile on his face helps a bit.
And now for something completely different.
Brodus Clay/Kofi Kingston/R-Truth vs. The Miz/Jack Swagger/Dolph Ziggler
Truth and Swagger start things off and it's off to Clay very quickly. He throws all three heels down as the champions knock Miz to the floor. We take a break and come back with Truth in a Ziggler chinlock. AW Enterprises (with the possibly now signed Mason Ryan) are watching from a sky box. Miz comes in and gets caught in a neckbreaker. Tag to Kofi who speeds things up as he is known to do. SOS gets two and everything breaks down. Ziggler jumps into a headbutt from Brodus, Kofi gets a GREAT sounding Trouble in Paradise on Miz and the Splash ends Miz at 6:58. Most of that was in a commercial so no rating but this was fine.
Punk is with Alex Riley of all people when AJ comes up. Riley leaves (Punk: Hey, remember that $50 you owe me!) and AJ wishes Punk luck on Sunday. He doesn't want anything to do with the drama that comes with AJ and Bryan. Punk is worried about a setup because AJ is so unstable so he walks away. AJ looks....sad?
Sheamus comes down for commentary for the next match.
Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho
Feeling out process to start and Orton dropkicks him to the floor as we take a break. These breaks during a match are REALLY getting annoying and have been for years. Back with Jericho holding a chinlock. He takes Orton into the corner and hits a missile dropkick for two. Off to a surfboard hold but Orton escapes. Backbreaker puts Jericho down but the elevated DDT is countered by a backdrop. Jericho throws Orton into Sheamus but back in Orton loads up the DDT again. Sheamus pulls him to the floor and clotheslines him down for the DQ win for Jericho at 8:40.
Orton gets in Sheamus' face and challenges him to a fight right now which Sheamus is more than happy to accept. Referees break it up.
Post break Orton vs. Sheamus is announced for Friday.
Here's Ace to push himself vs. Cena tonight. He talks about how everyone that loves Cena is a bad person because their favorite wrestler reflects themselves. Here's Cena who makes fun of Ace's voice and runs him down for firing Show. Ace has the gall to call himself a winner so we hear Ace's resume. His team won at Wrestlemania.....and that's about it. Punk is still champion and then Lesnar lost and left. That makes him 1-4 and that makes him a loser.
That's fine because at Over The Limit, Ace is going to lose again. Ace has managed to step on everyone during his tenure on top. Tonight he's stepped on everyone in the WWE Universe tonight in the name of people power. Instead it should be person power because that's all that matters to Ace. Cena has a show of hands to see how many people want to punch Ace into the middle of next week. Next question: how many people want to beat up Ace so bad that he squeals like a baby calf? That gets a BIG reaction.
Cena says the reaction is appropriate in Pittsburgh for a few reason. First up is the Steel Curtain (The Steelers' defense from the 70s) which is famous for destroying people, which is what Cena is going to do to Ace on Sunday. The other reason is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ace says that he was going to use the Penguins later in the promo but Cena stole it. Ace tries to talk but Cena keeps calling him a loser. The boss calls the Penguins losers so Cena pulls out a hockey puck and says go puck yourself.
Ace says that he's taller and better looking than Cena which must bother him. Cue Eve with a paper as he's talking. She has something to tell him but he won't listen to her. Finally she gets his attention and hands him the paper which he stops to read. Cena steals it from him (ripping it in half in the process) and says it's from the board of directors. The match will be one on one with no special referee and no one allowed at ringside. You have to win by pin or submission and anyone who interferes is immediately fired. Oh and if Ace loses he's fired.
Cena's music plays but he stops it because Cole mentioned a major announcement from Ace earlier. Cena asks what it is and Ace slaps him to end the show. Ok then.
Results
CM Punk/Santino Marella b. Daniel Bryan/Cody Rhodes GTS to Rhodes
Beth Phoenix b. Alicia Fox Glam Slam
Kane b. Big Show Chokeslam
Brodus Clay/Kofi Kingston/R-Truth b. Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger/The Miz Splash to Miz
Chris Jericho b. Randy Orton via DQ when Sheamus interfered
Tuesday
Raw got a 2.9, down from last week.
Wednesday
NXT
Date: May 16, 2012
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: William Regal, Josh Matthews
This is the final regular taping for NXT as after this the show is going to move to Florida permanently which is probably a good thing. We can now get the FCW guys on the show and give them some time. Also we don't need to sit through this show on Smackdown tapings because about 80% of the fans don't have a clue who these guys are. Let's get to it.
Johnny Curtis vs. Percy Watson
Apparently Curtis has stolen tape (as in Scotch) tape from the announcers at some point. As they talk about Josh's shoes, Watson takes over with an armbar to start. Leg lariat sends Curtis to the apron but he guillotines Watson on the top for two. Quick chinlock goes nowhere and Curtis chokes him a bit. This time the hold of choice is a surfboard with a knee in the back. Watson gets out of that pretty easily and hits a few dropkicks. Heisman gets two. Persecution is escaped and Curtis hits a spinning Falcon's Arrow for the pin at 4:40.
Great Khali/Ezekiel Jackson vs. Curt Hawkins/Tyler Reks
See, THIS is what NXT needs: appearances from bigger names that are regulars on the main shows. It gives us some fresh faces but we don't need to spend a month to figure out who they are. Weren't Hawkins and Reks security guards or something recently? I vaguely remember something about Ace rehiring them but they don't seem to care enough to let us know and neither do the announcers.
Khali and Hawkins start things off. The taller one chops him a lot and tags in Jackson, who seems to scare Hawkins a lot more than Khali did. Off to Reks who gets knocked into the corner with ease. Reks takes him down and Hawkins adds a top rope clothesline before tagging right back out. Jackson plays Ricky Morton, which is one of the most curious casting choices I've ever seen.
Reks is the legal evil one at the moment, kicking away at Jackson followed by a chinlock. A slam gets two. Off to Hawkins who again is only in for a few moments. Back to Reks who has more luck, hitting a big boot for two. Another chinlock goes on but Big Zeke comes back with a backdrop and makes the tag to Khali. He cleans house and the Plunge ends Reks at 6:04.
Maxine vs. Kaitlyn
This is billed as a big showdown, which would make sense if this wasn't what, the third time they've fought in a month or two? Maxine is in more traditional attire here and it's working for me. Kaitlyn immediately takes her down with a rollup for two, followed by a slam for the same. Maxine hooks her guillotine choke but Kaitlyn eventually breaks it up by draping her over the top rope.
Maxine comes back with forearms and a chinlock. She's very fired up this week. There's another chinlock with a knee in the back which is shifted into a kind of camel clutch. Kaitlyn fights up but gets ax handled down for two. Kaitlyn comes back with a dropkick and a bad crossbody for two. Maxine grabs a rollup for two and hooks a Last Chancery. That's easily broken and Kaitlyn grabs a Bubba Bomb. She drops onto her back and puts on a full nelson with her legs for the pin at 6:00.
Raw ReBound is about Big Show getting fired.
Cena Make-A-Wish video.
Tyson Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty vs. Derrick Bateman
They have almost fifteen minutes for this. McGillicutty lets them fight while he chills on the floor. The good guys take turns with armdrags until it's a stalemate. After another stand off the pair goes outside and chases McGillicutty back into the ring. There's a double hiptoss and a LONG delayed double vertical suplex to put Michael down. Bateman has a smart idea and rolls up Kidd for two.
Bateman gets knocked to the floor but McGillicutty breaks up a suicide dive attempt. He hammers on Kidd for awhile until Bateman finally revives from his coma. The pair sends McGillicutty to the floor and Bateman hits a GREAT suicide dive. He may have hurt his knee on that though. Kidd goes up top and tries a moonsault press onto them but mostly lands between them as we take a break. Back with Kidd stomping down on McGillicutty in the corner.
Here's a Sharpshooter attempt but Michael kicks him into Bateman who is on the apron. Saito Suplex gets two for McGillicutty. McGillicutty sends Bateman into the post as Regal talks about having a step ladder because his real ladder left him. Everyone is back in now and Kidd kicks out of a dropkick. McGillicutty and Kidd collide on stereo cross body attempts.
Bateman comes up and hits a few clotheslines on Michael for two. Tornado DDT is broken up but here's Kidd with the kicks to Michael. Bateman hits a flip neckbreaker to Kidd but McGillicutty hits a backbreaker on him for two. Kidd hits a high kick to McGillicutty to send him into a northern lights bridging suplex by Bateman. Kidd breaks that up with a springboard elbow for two. McGillicutty breaks up a rollup and hits a Perfecplex for two on Kidd. Bateman breaks it up and sets for a superplex on McGillicutty but Kidd breaks it up and sends Michael to the floor. Sharpshooter followed by the Dungeon Lock gets the tap at 13:40.
Results
Johnny Curtis b. Percy Watson Spinning Falcon's Arrow
Ezekiel Jackson/Great Khali b. Curt Hawkins/Tyler Reks Punjabi Plunge to Reks
Kaitlyn b. Maxine Leg full nelson
Tyson Kidd b. Michael McGillicutty and Derrick Bateman Dungeon Lock to Bateman
Thursday
Impact will be going live over the summer during the summer.
Raw will be going to three hours a week on July 23. There's a possibility that this is the preshow that has been discussed lately.
Brooke Hogan will be debuting as the Knockouts Boss on May 31. Is anyone really surprised by this?
Impact Wrestling
Date: May 17, 2012
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tazz
It's the first show after Sacrifice and Roode is still champion, which isn't something that should surprise you. Other than that, not a lot changed at the PPV. The only real change is that we have new tag team champions in the form of Daniels and Kazarian. We should begin building up for Slammiversary too. Let's get to it.
Here's Roode to open the show. Gee I wonder what he's going to be saying. It's the same promo you've always heard from him with him talking about how he's the best and no one can stop him. Next week he's going to have The It Factor's Celebration Of Domination, which is a party of some kind. First of all though, he needs Hogan out here. Cue the guy who is somehow still the NEW GM, about six weeks after getting the job.
Roode has demands for Hogan for next week. He wants a redecorated dressing room and five bottles of chilled champagne plus only green M and M's. Also he wants gold confetti flown in from Canada. Hogan takes the list and talks about some great champions. He talks about how Roode brought stability to the show, but he hasn't broken the record yet. Next week is Open Fight Night, and the world title will be on the line.
Hogan talks about taking a poll in the back of people that might want a shot next week. The locker room empties out and apparently they all want a shot next week. Hogan says we need to get this down to four men, so tonight there will be four singles matches. The winners will advance to some kind of competition next week and the winner will get a title match later next week. The matches are Ray vs. RVD, Hardy vs. Anderson (nice job on screwing the PPV fans again guys), Angle vs. Joe, and a battle royal.
We get a clip of Abyss saying Joseph is getting too close to the fire.
Rob Van Dam vs. Bully Ray
Rob is very banged up from the ladder match and Ray goes after the bad arm. Van Dam kicks his way out of it as usual and Rolling Thunder gets two. Ray goes after the knee but Rob kicks away again. He goes up top and tries the top rope kick, but hurts his knee in the process. Bubba Cutter (called a 3D by Tenay) gets the pin at 3:22.
Post break Bully Ray rants about......the Kardashians? Apparently they're about anti-bullying now and he wants to fight them. Joseph Park comes in and apologizes for interfering on Sunday. He thinks Ray is the fire that Abyss was talking about. Ray says stay away.
We see a segment from MMA Uncensored of King Mo, an MMA fighter, announcing that he's signing with TNA and fighting for Bellator at the same time. There's some MMA analyst and Dixie Carter there too. Not much is said.
Gail rants to Madison about having to be in a triple threat match tonight. Madison says there's no guy she likes, even though she admitted to there being one recently. Brooke and Velvet come up after Madison leaves to fix her hair. They make fun of Gail for cheating and say one of them will win the title.
Battle Royal
This is a qualifying match as well. Aries gets an entrance pre-break. After a break AJ, ODB and Eric Young get entrances as well. Also in there are guys like Magnus, D-Von, Crimson, Garrett Bischoff and others. ODB and Eric hit a double clothesline on Crimson and all three go out. The Rob's and Gunner are in there too. I think that's everyone. There are eight more I think. Magnus goes to the apron and Aries dropkicks him out. Madison is watching from the apron and is all smiley but we're not sure at whom.
After a few minutes of nothing going on, Robbie E puts out Robbie T. T is annoyed but D-Von puts out E anyway. So it's Gunner, Garrett, D-Von, AJ and Aries as we take a break. Back with all five still in. AJ and Aries work together on Gunner and D-Von kills Garrett with a shoulder. Garrett low bridges D-Von to eliminate him, probably getting a title match later.
AJ Peles the tar out of Garrett and eliminates him. Gunner gets dropkicked down (not eliminated) and it's AJ vs. Aries in a showdown. Aries hits a spinning forearm and it's time for counters. A Superman forearm staggers Aries and AJ goes to the apron, but Aries charges. That lets Gunner knock Aries to the floor but AJ dumps Gunner to advance at 10:56.
We recap the AJ/Dixie photos stuff from the last few weeks.
Back with AJ in the ring. He says he'll win the title next week but now it's time to discuss the pictures. Nothing happened and they're just business partners. They're both married but it's not like that. Things aren't as they seem, but here are Daniels and Kaz. They imply that AJ has slept his way to the top and have video to prove it. They pull out an iPad and show AJ and Dixie going into a hotel room together.
We get a video from Genesis 2006 and Joe's first loss, which was to Angle.
Joe comes up to Angle and they talk about the past. Angle slaps Joe and it's on in the back with Angle getting a beating. Other wrestlers break it up.
Anderson looks at a video and thinks Jeff kicked out.
Moment #7 in TNA history is the Unbreakable triple threat.
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Slow feeling out process to start until Jeff sends him to the floor. Jeff tries a dive of some kind but Anderson grabs the feet and slams him into the mat. Jeff comes back with a slingshot clothesline for two. Anderson hits his neckbreaker for the same. Anderson tries a kick to the head but Jeff chop blocks him to slow things down. A rollup by Jeff is countered into one by Anderson for two. Whisper in the Wind gets two. Anderson hits the Regal Roll but Jeff rolls back on him for the pin at 6:04.
Video on Joe winning the world title from Angle at Lockdown 08.
Knockouts Title: Gail Kim vs. Brooke Tessmacher vs. Velvet Sky
Gail keeps trying to escape but gets double teamed and sent to the floor. The good girls trade small packages and that's about it. Gail comes back in for a Boston Crab on Brooke but Velvet hooks a dragon sleeper at the same time on Gail. Gail tries an Octopus hold on Brooke but Velvet rolls her up for two. Kim doesn't let go and rolls Brooke up for two. A top rope missile dropkick by the champ puts all three girls down. In Yo Face to Brooke but Gail throws Velvet to the floor and pins Brooke with a rollup at 4:42.
Slammiversary video.
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
Joe knocks him to the floor but Angle double legs him down easily. Joe speeds things up and hits his usual strikes and drops his knee for two. The Facewash keeps Angle down in the corner as Roode comes out to do commentary. We take a break and come back with Angle in control. He knocks Joe down for two and hooks a chinlock.
Joe comes back with the powerslam but walks into the Germans to give Kurt control again. The Slam is countered into the Clutch which is countered into the ankle lock which is countered by Joe sending Angle into the corner. Angle hits the Slam for two, which really shouldn't surprise anyone at this point. There's the ankle lock again but Joe sends him into the corner. They go to the corner and Angle headbutts him away. A sunset flip into a rollup off the top gets the pin for Angle at 12:26.
The four challengers surround Roode to end the show.
Results
Bully Ray b. Rob Van Dam Bully Cutter
AJ Styles won a battle royal last eliminating Gunner
Jeff Hardy b. Mr. Anderson Crucifix
Gail Kim b. Brooke Tessmacher and Velvet Sky Rollup to Tessmacher
Kurt Angle b. Samoa Joe Rollup