klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Friday
Impact got a .95, up from last week.
Smackdown
Date: October 4, 2013
Location: Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
It's the final show before Battleground and the company has gone from on fire to limping into the PPV in a matter of weeks. Bryan vs. Orton is the main event on Sunday again but it feels like an afterthought. The problem is it doesn't feel like an afterthought to any specific thing as none of the matches feel like a big deal at all. The main event tonight is Big Show vs. Shield so I guess that's our focus tonight. Let's get to it.
The opening recap shows Orton laying out Bryan to end Raw. The Bellas being involved makes me roll my eyes.
Theme song.
Here's Big Show to open things up. Show says he's been embarrassed of how he's treated some people lately and we get a knockout montage. Big Show talks about Stephanie and HHH holding the job over his head and how some people can understand what it's like to have to do things they don't want to do. He knows he can't be forgiven but asks for some understanding.
After what his wife said to Stephanie he isn't even sure if he's a man anymore. There's so much anger and frustration built up inside of him that he threatened to knock HHH out on Monday. If he had done it though he would have been fired, but just for threatening it he has to face the Shield in a handicap match. However, if he's going down he's taking Shield with him.
Cue HHH because what would an opening segment be without him? He's ashamed that Big Show doesn't like his leadership, but Big Show's frustration and financial and marital problems are all on Big Show. HHH has considered Big Show a friend for the last 20 years, meaning he knew Big Show in college, two years before Show had his first match in WCW.
HHH holds up Big Show's mortgage, which apparently he's paid, meaning Big Show owes him rather than the bank. Therefore, either Big Show gets his emotions in check or HHH moves into Big Show's house. As for tonight, since Big Show is so crazy, we'll make the main event Big Show vs. Shield/Randy Orton. And Big Show is crushed yet again, because there will be NO strong heroes in this company.
Rob Van Dam vs. Fandango
The announcers spend all of Fandango's entrance talking about breast cancer and how pink everything is. Fandango dances to start so RVD does the finger points, earning himself an elbow to the head. Rob comes back with kicks in the corner and a monkey flip to take over. Van Dam goes to the apron but gets knocked to the floor as we take a break. Back with Rob coming off the middle rope with a kick to the face and some regular kicks for good measure. Rolling Thunder connects but Summer breaks up the Five Star for the DQ at 2:30 shown of 5:00. This match needed a break?
Fandango goes to find some weapons post match but Rob gets the upper hand and lays Fandango out with a slingshot DDT. He finds a trashcan and Fandango gets a Van Terminator to pop the crowd.
Ryback vs. R-Truth
Jobber entrance for the monster. Ryback powers him into the corner to start but Truth comes back with some right hands to send Ryback to the floor. Heyman calls Truth a bully and Ryback will have none of that. Back in and Truth escapes a gorilla press before kicking Ryback down for two. The ax kick misses and the Meat Hook and Shell Shock complete the squash of Truth at 2:24. Your #1 contender to the Intercontinental Title everyone.
Post match Axel lays out Truth again to really make sure no one buys him as a contender.
Alberto Del Rio isn't worried about Dolph Ziggler tonight when a stagehand comes up with the trashcan RVD used earlier tonight. The champion isn't pleased.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
Non-title of course and Sandow is on commentary to hype up his Battleground pre-show match with Ziggler. Before the match we get the top ten Van Dam moments video from Raw. Sandow refers to Ziggler as a former Mr. MITB instead of a former world champion. That tells you almost everything you need to know about Dolph at the moment. Feeling out process to start with Ziggler getting a quick rollup for two, sending the champion to the floor.
Back in and Del Rio stomps Ziggler down, only to be dropkicked out to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Alberto holding a chinlock until Ziggler fights back up. Dolph misses a charge into the post and Del Rio has a shoulder to work on. A belly to back suplex gets two on Dolph and we hit the chinlock again. Ziggler fights up and comes back with another dropkick to knock Alberto off the apron, only to have him snap Ziggler's throat across the ropes. Dolph comes right back again though with a top rope X Factor to put both guys down.
JBL tries to talk Sandow into cashing in as Dolph pounds away right hands in the corner. A running clothesline puts Del Rio down but he still avoids the Fameasser and gets two off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Alberto goes up but dives into a dropkick for a close two count. The champ gets back up and hits a LOUD running enziguri in the corner for two of his own. Del Rio loads up a superplex but gets countered into a sunset bomb for another close two.
There's the sleeper from Ziggy but Del Rio rams him face first into the buckle for the break. A middle rope double stomp to the back has Dolph down again but the low superkick is countered into a rollup for two. The second attempt at the kick connects for two for the champion but Ziggler rolls through the armbreaker into the Fameasser for a VERY hot two. Not that it matters as the armbreaker goes on for the submission from Dolph at 10:30 shown of 12:50.
Los Matadores vignette.
3MB vs. Los Matadores
Slater/Mahal again who ranted about Toroito costing them the match. There's no McIntyre in sight for the second straight show. The bullfighters do their flips and bull stuff before the bell. Diego cranks on Slater's arm to start and shouts OLE a lot. Mahal comes in and gets his leg swept out from under him before being double backdropped.
Back up and Los Matadores hit a combination backbreaker/slingshot splash for no cover. Slater comes back in and takes over with a kick to the face and a quickly broken chinlock. Fernando comes back with Ultimo Dragon's corner headstand before it's back to Diego vs. Mahal. Diego hits a reverse Cross Rhodes followed by the double Angle Slam for the pin at 3:20.
Post match Torito dives on 3MB.
Heyman and his Guys are ready for their matches on Sunday. Truth's dream of being Intercontinental Champion is false but at least he's not CM Punk. On Sunday, CM Punk will fight to the death but it just won't be enough. After the beating, Punk will be looking up at his lord, master and owner: Paul Heyman, the best in the world.
Brie Bella vs. Aksana
Please for the love of all things good and holy keep this short. Brie moves away from Aksana to start before dropkicking her out to the floor. Back in and Aksana sends her throat first into the middle rope and stomps away for two. We hit the chinlock on Brie before Aksana crawls around on all fours. Brie comes right back with a middle rope Bella Buster for the pin (ignore Aksana's foot on the ropes) at 2:10.
Post match here are AJ with the psycho eyes and Tamina for whatever reason. AJ says after she keeps the title on Sunday, Brie and Bryan can go have a goat faced kid. After the doctor sees the abomination, he'll spank Brie instead of the baby. I'm still wondering why I'm supposed to cheer for the Bellas other than who they sleep with.
Kofi Kingston vs. Big E. Langston
Before the match we get a clip from Smackdown of Bray Wyatt laughing at Kingston but not attacking him. Langston runs Kofi over to start and gets two off a running splash. Kofi goes up for a cross body but gets caught in midair, only to slip down Langston into the rollup for the pin at 52 seconds. Was there no one else that could do the job here? No one at all?
Post match here's Bray on the stage with the Family behind Kofi. Bray talks about calling a hero another facade of a failed generation. This Sunday, the first will fall so follow the buzzards. Kofi still isn't touched.
Post break Bray vs. Kofi is announced for Sunday.
We look back at the Rhodes Family segment from Raw. Word on the street is that Stephanie is ticked off for Dusty going slightly off script and putting his hand on her face. Heaven forbid everything isn't EXACTLY planned out for her for once in her life.
Shield/Randy Orton vs. Big Show
It's Ambrose in first with Show pounding away in the corner and headbutting Ambrose down. Off to Rollins who tries a kick to the ribs before being thrown into the corner for a beating of his own. It's Reigns' turn now but he goes down when trying a shoulder block. Randy gets the tag and tries to keep Big Show away from him in a smart strategy. Show gets him in the corner anyway for the not so loud chop, sending Randy running off to Rollins.
Seth actually knocks Show down with a top rope knee to the jaw and a kick to the face gets two. Randy is out on the floor until Reigns softens Big Show up a bit more. Orton comes in for some stomping and the knee drop for two. A quick DDT gets two more for Orton and it's back to Roman. Show clotheslines Reigns down a few times before hitting his own spear for no cover. All of the heels come in at once but Big Show fights them off until Ambrose brings in a chair, only to have it punched into his face for the DQ at 5:40.
Orton hits Show in the back with the chair but there's no effect. Instead Reigns spears Big Show down as the fans chant for Bryan. There's an RKO for Big Show and Orton wraps the chair around Big Show's neck. Cue the Usos to take care of the Shield and FINALLY Daniel Bryan shows up to fight Orton. Bryan fires off kicks and hooks the YES Lock but Ambrose gets back in for the save. Dean takes the running knee and a staredown ends the show.
Results
Rob Van Dam b. Fandango via DQ when Summer Rae interfered
Ryback b. R-Truth Shell Shock
Alberto Del Rio b. Dolph Ziggler Cross armbreaker
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to Mahal
Brie Bella b. Aksana Middle rope Bella Buster
Kofi Kingston b. Big E. Langston Rollup
Shield/Randy Orton b. Big Show via DQ when Big Show hit a chair into Ambrose's face
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Battleground 2013
Date: October 6, 2013
Location: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield
We've arrived at one of the least interesting shows in recent memory. There's just not much interest in this show and I can't say I'm surprised. The world title matches are both rematches and the other two main matches aren't anything huge. There just isn't much to go on with this show and it's going to be even worse next time with HIAC. Let's get to it.
Pre-Show: Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow
Sandow quotes Benjamin Franklin and talks about progress. Tonight he'll show you what progress is about by beating a former Money in the Bank winner, but if the hardcore match goes the way he thinks, you'll see him again as World Heavyweight Champion. Sandow grabs a headlock to start before taking Ziggler down with some clotheslines. Ziggler comes right back with a dropkick and the ten elbow drops to wake the crowd up. Damien will have none of this being in trouble stuff though and whips Ziggler over the corner as we take a break.
Back with Dolph getting two off a small package, only to get clotheslined down for the same result. We hit an arm stretch by Sandow for a bit before Sandow goes up, only to jump into a dropkick to the shoulder. Ziggler comes back with ten right hands in the corner but misses the Fameasser and gets caught with an Edge-O-Matic for two.
Damien kicks out the knee and hits a flip neckbreaker for two more as this match just keeps going. The Terminus is countered and the Fameasser gets a near fall for Dolph. Damien blocks the Zig Zag and rolls Ziggler up for two but tweaks his knee coming out of the corner, allowing Dolph to hit the Zig Zag for the pin at 10:11.
The opening video recaps the Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton feud.
World Heavyweight Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio is defending and this is a hardcore match. Alberto immediately heads to the floor but gets dropkicked through the ropes to give Van Dam control. A moonsault off the barricade puts the champion down and a slingshot DDT onto a chair gets two back inside. Alberto comes back with a wicked Backstabber for two before a few chair shots get the same. The chair is wedged between the top and middle ropes but Rob comes back with a kick to the face.
Rob pulls out a ladder and blasts Alberto in the face to knock him out to the floor. Back in and Rolling Thunder onto Del Rio onto the ladder only hits the ladder and the champion takes over. He snaps off the enziguri and stomps the ladder onto Rob for two before grabbing a trashcan. Rob dropkicks it back into his face and both guys are down.
A superkick puts the champion down and there's the split legged moonsault onto Del Rio onto the ladder for two. Rolling Thunder hits the ladder again and there's the armbreaker. Ricardo makes the save by hitting Del Rio with the bucket, earning himself a trip to the floor and a whip into the barricade.
Rob dropkicks the ladder into Del Rio and hits the Five Star onto the ladder onto Del Rio on the floor. Back in (I guess hardcore no longer means pinfalls count anywhere) Del Rio kicks out at two. A Van Terminator attempt misses and both guys are down. Del Rio gets the chair and drops Rob face first onto the steel before kicking Rob in the head to take over. He wraps it around the arm crushes it in the chair and puts on the armbreaker to retain at 16:03.
The Real Americans want to dip Khali and Santino in boiling hot oil. They also don't like Buffalo that much.
Santino Marella/Great Khali vs. Real Americans
Swagger and Santino fight over a top wristlock to start with Jack taking him to the mat. Santino still can't do the nipup so the fans chant for the Real Americans. Santino loads up the Cobra but Swagger bails to the floor, only to have to deal with Horny's mini-Cobra. Thankfully Jack rips it up and goes back inside so Cesaro can stomp him Marella down a bit. Cesaro steals the stupid sock and it's back to Swagger for a Vader Bomb and a running stomp by Antonio.
We hit the chinlock for a bit before it's back to Swagger to pull on Santino's arms. Santino suplexes out of it and finally brings in Khali. The giant pounds Cesaro down in the corner and hits the loud overhand chop. JBL: That knocked one of the languages out of Cesaro. Khali chops both Real Americans down and Santino dives over the top to take out Swagger. We FINALLY get to the point of the match as Cesaro swings Khali around for a remarkable 17 seconds and gets the pin at 7:05.
Breast cancer is bad.
Intercontinental Title: R-Truth vs. Curtis Axel
This is the result of Truth beating Axel on a fluke earlier this week. Truth takes over to start by pounding away in the corner and sends Axel to the floor. Axel sends Truth into the barricade a few times for two back inside and the match slows down. The champion chokes Truth a bit and gets two off a dropkick before we hit the chinlock. Truth fights up and hits some forearms to set up a rollup for two. The spinning forearm gets the same and so does the sitout gordbuster. Axel sends him into the buckle and the fans chant boring. Thankfully Axel listens to them and hits his neckbreaker into a cutter to retain at 6:32.
We recap the pre-show.
Divas Title: AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella
Brie is challenging and takes AJ down with ease, sending the champion out to the floor. AJ hides behind Tamina and heads back inside to take over. Brie is sent into the post and AJ goes after the arm, wrapping it around the middle rope. Brie's DDT is countered into a DDT on the arm for two before sending her shoulder first into the post.
AJ keeps shouting about being better than Brie before going off on the bad arm with elbows. Off to a Fujiwara Armbar but AJ lets it go to skip around the ring. Brie dropkicks her down and hits some really basic stuff before knocking AJ down with a running knee. Tamina is choking Nikki Bella down though and the distraction lets AJ roll up Brie for the pin with a handful of tights at 6:32.
We recap the Rhodes Family's troubles, setting up the tag match tonight.
Dusty and his kids are ready for Shield. Cody gives a great speech about how his family may not be perfect but they fight for each other.
Cody Rhodes/Goldust vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns
If the Rhodes Family wins, they get their jobs back. If Shield wins, Cody and Goldust are gone forever and Dusty loses his job too. This is also non-title. Dusty is at ringside to counter act Dean Ambrose and Goldust looks like Darth Maul. Cody pounds away on Seth to start and it's quickly off to Roman who gets pounded down in the corner. Shield bails to the floor and stalks Dusty, setting up a cool looking six man standoff with the brothers protecting their dad.
Back in and Roman knees Cody down as the champions take over. Seth comes in but walks into an elbow to the jaw and a stomping in the corner. Rollins sends him into the buckle to escape and it's off to Roman for some power. After an easy pounding it's quickly back to Rollins to crank on the shoulder a bit. Cody gets caught in the Tree of Woe but frees up a leg to kick Seth down. The moonsault press hits Rollins perfectly and the hot tag brings in Goldust.
An atomic drop slows Reigns down and Goldust pounds him down in the corner. Goldust hits a spinning cross body off the top for two but misses a regular cross body, sending him out to the floor. Goldie dives back in at nine but gets caught in a body scissors from Rollins. Back to Reigns for a good looking clothesline for two before it's back to Rollins who gets the same off a hilo. Goldust comes back by avoiding a dropkick and powerslamming Seth down. There's the hot tag off to Cody for an Alabama Slam to Rollins for a very near fall. Something like a Muscle Buster gets two on Rollins and everything breaks down. The Disaster Kick staggers Reigns and Cody clotheslines him to the floor but an Ambrose distraction allows Seth to come back in for the save. Dusty elbows Ambrose down and Seth rolls up Cody for two. Rhodes comes pops back up and hits Cross Rhodes for the pin at 13:55.
The Rhodes family celebrates and some tag teams, Mike Rotundo and Arn Anderson come out to celebrate. The old school fan in me cringes at Dusty and Arn celebrating together.
Hell in a Cell ad with R-Truth preaching against its evils.
The expert panel of Tensai, Titus O'Neil and Miz talk about the show so far.
Brad and Vickie bicker about who is at fault for the Rhodes' win.
Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt
Bray runs him over to start but Kofi comes back with a kick to the face. Kofi gets crotched while going up top so Bray can take over with some shots to the ribs and a neck lock. The fans start the Randy Savage chants as the match drags on. Kofi fights up but gets caught in another chinlock. Back up again and Kofi hits a dropkick followed by the Boom Drop, only to miss Trouble in Paradise.
Bray runs Kingston over with the cross body before going to the corner to bend back and look at Kofi upside down. Wyatt ups the ante a bit though by doing the Exorcist spider walk, sending Kofi running to the floor. Bray follows him out but Kofi runs back in and hits a BIG flip dive to take out the entire Family. Back in and Kofi gets two off a cross body, but the SOS is countered into Sister Abigail's Kiss for the pin at 8:37.
We recap Punk vs. Ryback. There's not much to this one: Punk was about to kill Heyman last month when Ryback interfered as the newest Paul Heyman Guy. Tonight is Punk's first step back towards revenge and Heyman himself.
CM Punk vs. Ryback
They stare at each other to start until Punk fires off some kicks to the legs, sending Ryback out to the floor. Punk follows him out and sends Ryback face first into the barricade and then into the post for good measure. Ryback shrugs it off and takes Punk back inside for a slam off the top to gain control. Punk's ribs are sent into the post and we hit the chinlock.
A legdrop gets two on Punk and Ryback pounds away with some hard kicks. Ryback stays on Punk and shoves him around with his boot as this is still in slow motion. Off to a chinlock with a bodyscissors as the fans are getting restless. Punk finally comes back with some kicks and a swinging neckbreaker but Heyman grabs a mic and brags about beating Punk, allowing Ryback to come back back with a huge powerbomb for two.
Another powerbomb attempt is countered with a kick to the head and the Macho Elbow for two. Ryback fights out of the GTS and powerslams Punk down for two of his own. Punk is choked on the ropes, allowing Heyman to load up a kendo stick shot as the referee pulls Ryback away. The referee does his job for once though and catches Heyman before the swing, allowing Punk to low blow Ryback for the pin at 14:51.
More from the expert panel.
We recap the main event. Orton cashed in on Bryan at Summerslam, Bryan pinned him at Night of Champions but there was a shady referee, meaning the title was held up, setting up tonight's match.
There's a slight delay as the PPV feed cuts out for some reason. We come back to see the announcer and referee standing around in the ring.
WWE Title: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
No champion coming in and after the big match intros we're ready to go. Feeling out process to start as they trade headlocks with Orton taking over. Bryan scores with a dropkick but Orton takes him right back down and rakes his boot over Daniel's eyes. Bryan throws Orton off and fires away with the kicks as the fans finally have something to cheer for tonight. Daniel goes after Orton's knee with a freaky leg hold before hitting some more kicks to the chest.
Orton breaks up a superplex attempt by crotching Bryan on the ropes before clotheslining him down for two. Randy pounds away in the corner and gets two more off a snap powerslam. We hit the chinlock for a bit followed by a knee to the ribs to stop Bryan again. Daniel fights up again and headscissors Orton to the floor for the FLYING GOAT. Back in and Bryan's missile dropkick is countered into a powerbomb and a Boston crab of all things. Bryan slips out and kicks some more but can't get the YES Lock.
They head outside and Orton goes into Predator mode, sending Bryan into the post, the barricade and then the post again. Back in and a superplex gets two on Daniel as the crowd isn't really into this. A backslide gets two for Bryan and there's a big kick to the head for the same. Daniel goes up top again but Orton shoves him off the top and out to the floor with a big thud. Orton loads up the announce table but Bryan comes back with even more kicks and sends Orton into the steps.
A BIG cross body to the floor takes Randy out and the swan dive is good for a very close two. Bryan is all fired up now and hits the corner dropkicks as the fans FINALLY go nuts. Bryan snaps off more kicks but gets caught in a t-bone suplex to put both guys down. There's the Elevated DDT and Orton loads up the RKO, only to have Bryan shove it away and grab the YES Lock.
Cue Big Show to pull the referee out and knock Bryan out cold, albeit against his will. Brad Maddox waves Scott Armstrong to the ring but Big Show pulls him out for a KO punch of his own. Orton looks furious as Big Show gets in the ring and knocks out Orton. Big Show's music plays and the show goes off the air with no winner after about 25:00.
Results
Alberto Del Rio b. Rob Van Dam Cross Armbreaker
Real Americans b. Santino Marella/Great Khali Cesaro Swing to Khali
Curtis Axel b. R-Truth Neckbreaker into a faceplant
AJ Lee b. Brie Bella Rollup
Cody Rhodes/Goldust b. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns Cross Rhodes to Rollins
Bray Wyatt b. Kofi Kingston Sister Abigail's Kiss
CM Punk b. Ryback Low blow
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton went to a no contest
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
CM Punk b. Big E. Langston GTS
Kofi Kingston b. Fandango Trouble in Paradise
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double falling slam to Slater
R-Truth b. Curtis Axel Little Jimmy
Brie Bella b. Alicia Fox Bella Buster
Alberto Del Rio b. Zack Ryder Cross armbreaker
Shield b. Usos/Dolph Ziggler Spear to Ziggler
NXT
Santino Marella/Emma b. Fandango/Summer Rae Cobra to Fandango
Luke Harper b. Kassius Ohno Discus lariat
Ascension b. Adrian Neville/Corey Graves Fall of Man to Graves
Impact Wrestling
Manik/Jeff Hardy b. Chris Sabin/Kenny King Swanton Bomb to King
EGO b. Magnus Ankle lock
Samoa Joe b. Bully Ray via DQ when Ray hit Joe with a chain
Smackdown
Rob Van Dam b. Fandango via DQ when Summer Rae interfered
Ryback b. R-Truth Shell Shock
Alberto Del Rio b. Dolph Ziggler Cross armbreaker
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to Mahal
Brie Bella b. Aksana Middle rope Bella Buster
Kofi Kingston b. Big E. Langston Rollup
Shield/Randy Orton b. Big Show via DQ when Big Show hit a chair into Ambrose's face
Battleground 2013
Alberto Del Rio b. Rob Van Dam Cross Armbreaker
Real Americans b. Santino Marella/Great Khali Cesaro Swing to Khali
Curtis Axel b. R-Truth Neckbreaker into a faceplant
AJ Lee b. Brie Bella Rollup
Cody Rhodes/Goldust b. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns Cross Rhodes to Rollins
Bray Wyatt b. Kofi Kingston Sister Abigail's Kiss
CM Punk b. Ryback Low blow
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton went to a no contest
Impact got a .95, up from last week.
Smackdown
Date: October 4, 2013
Location: Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
It's the final show before Battleground and the company has gone from on fire to limping into the PPV in a matter of weeks. Bryan vs. Orton is the main event on Sunday again but it feels like an afterthought. The problem is it doesn't feel like an afterthought to any specific thing as none of the matches feel like a big deal at all. The main event tonight is Big Show vs. Shield so I guess that's our focus tonight. Let's get to it.
The opening recap shows Orton laying out Bryan to end Raw. The Bellas being involved makes me roll my eyes.
Theme song.
Here's Big Show to open things up. Show says he's been embarrassed of how he's treated some people lately and we get a knockout montage. Big Show talks about Stephanie and HHH holding the job over his head and how some people can understand what it's like to have to do things they don't want to do. He knows he can't be forgiven but asks for some understanding.
After what his wife said to Stephanie he isn't even sure if he's a man anymore. There's so much anger and frustration built up inside of him that he threatened to knock HHH out on Monday. If he had done it though he would have been fired, but just for threatening it he has to face the Shield in a handicap match. However, if he's going down he's taking Shield with him.
Cue HHH because what would an opening segment be without him? He's ashamed that Big Show doesn't like his leadership, but Big Show's frustration and financial and marital problems are all on Big Show. HHH has considered Big Show a friend for the last 20 years, meaning he knew Big Show in college, two years before Show had his first match in WCW.
HHH holds up Big Show's mortgage, which apparently he's paid, meaning Big Show owes him rather than the bank. Therefore, either Big Show gets his emotions in check or HHH moves into Big Show's house. As for tonight, since Big Show is so crazy, we'll make the main event Big Show vs. Shield/Randy Orton. And Big Show is crushed yet again, because there will be NO strong heroes in this company.
Rob Van Dam vs. Fandango
The announcers spend all of Fandango's entrance talking about breast cancer and how pink everything is. Fandango dances to start so RVD does the finger points, earning himself an elbow to the head. Rob comes back with kicks in the corner and a monkey flip to take over. Van Dam goes to the apron but gets knocked to the floor as we take a break. Back with Rob coming off the middle rope with a kick to the face and some regular kicks for good measure. Rolling Thunder connects but Summer breaks up the Five Star for the DQ at 2:30 shown of 5:00. This match needed a break?
Fandango goes to find some weapons post match but Rob gets the upper hand and lays Fandango out with a slingshot DDT. He finds a trashcan and Fandango gets a Van Terminator to pop the crowd.
Ryback vs. R-Truth
Jobber entrance for the monster. Ryback powers him into the corner to start but Truth comes back with some right hands to send Ryback to the floor. Heyman calls Truth a bully and Ryback will have none of that. Back in and Truth escapes a gorilla press before kicking Ryback down for two. The ax kick misses and the Meat Hook and Shell Shock complete the squash of Truth at 2:24. Your #1 contender to the Intercontinental Title everyone.
Post match Axel lays out Truth again to really make sure no one buys him as a contender.
Alberto Del Rio isn't worried about Dolph Ziggler tonight when a stagehand comes up with the trashcan RVD used earlier tonight. The champion isn't pleased.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
Non-title of course and Sandow is on commentary to hype up his Battleground pre-show match with Ziggler. Before the match we get the top ten Van Dam moments video from Raw. Sandow refers to Ziggler as a former Mr. MITB instead of a former world champion. That tells you almost everything you need to know about Dolph at the moment. Feeling out process to start with Ziggler getting a quick rollup for two, sending the champion to the floor.
Back in and Del Rio stomps Ziggler down, only to be dropkicked out to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Alberto holding a chinlock until Ziggler fights back up. Dolph misses a charge into the post and Del Rio has a shoulder to work on. A belly to back suplex gets two on Dolph and we hit the chinlock again. Ziggler fights up and comes back with another dropkick to knock Alberto off the apron, only to have him snap Ziggler's throat across the ropes. Dolph comes right back again though with a top rope X Factor to put both guys down.
JBL tries to talk Sandow into cashing in as Dolph pounds away right hands in the corner. A running clothesline puts Del Rio down but he still avoids the Fameasser and gets two off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Alberto goes up but dives into a dropkick for a close two count. The champ gets back up and hits a LOUD running enziguri in the corner for two of his own. Del Rio loads up a superplex but gets countered into a sunset bomb for another close two.
There's the sleeper from Ziggy but Del Rio rams him face first into the buckle for the break. A middle rope double stomp to the back has Dolph down again but the low superkick is countered into a rollup for two. The second attempt at the kick connects for two for the champion but Ziggler rolls through the armbreaker into the Fameasser for a VERY hot two. Not that it matters as the armbreaker goes on for the submission from Dolph at 10:30 shown of 12:50.
Los Matadores vignette.
3MB vs. Los Matadores
Slater/Mahal again who ranted about Toroito costing them the match. There's no McIntyre in sight for the second straight show. The bullfighters do their flips and bull stuff before the bell. Diego cranks on Slater's arm to start and shouts OLE a lot. Mahal comes in and gets his leg swept out from under him before being double backdropped.
Back up and Los Matadores hit a combination backbreaker/slingshot splash for no cover. Slater comes back in and takes over with a kick to the face and a quickly broken chinlock. Fernando comes back with Ultimo Dragon's corner headstand before it's back to Diego vs. Mahal. Diego hits a reverse Cross Rhodes followed by the double Angle Slam for the pin at 3:20.
Post match Torito dives on 3MB.
Heyman and his Guys are ready for their matches on Sunday. Truth's dream of being Intercontinental Champion is false but at least he's not CM Punk. On Sunday, CM Punk will fight to the death but it just won't be enough. After the beating, Punk will be looking up at his lord, master and owner: Paul Heyman, the best in the world.
Brie Bella vs. Aksana
Please for the love of all things good and holy keep this short. Brie moves away from Aksana to start before dropkicking her out to the floor. Back in and Aksana sends her throat first into the middle rope and stomps away for two. We hit the chinlock on Brie before Aksana crawls around on all fours. Brie comes right back with a middle rope Bella Buster for the pin (ignore Aksana's foot on the ropes) at 2:10.
Post match here are AJ with the psycho eyes and Tamina for whatever reason. AJ says after she keeps the title on Sunday, Brie and Bryan can go have a goat faced kid. After the doctor sees the abomination, he'll spank Brie instead of the baby. I'm still wondering why I'm supposed to cheer for the Bellas other than who they sleep with.
Kofi Kingston vs. Big E. Langston
Before the match we get a clip from Smackdown of Bray Wyatt laughing at Kingston but not attacking him. Langston runs Kofi over to start and gets two off a running splash. Kofi goes up for a cross body but gets caught in midair, only to slip down Langston into the rollup for the pin at 52 seconds. Was there no one else that could do the job here? No one at all?
Post match here's Bray on the stage with the Family behind Kofi. Bray talks about calling a hero another facade of a failed generation. This Sunday, the first will fall so follow the buzzards. Kofi still isn't touched.
Post break Bray vs. Kofi is announced for Sunday.
We look back at the Rhodes Family segment from Raw. Word on the street is that Stephanie is ticked off for Dusty going slightly off script and putting his hand on her face. Heaven forbid everything isn't EXACTLY planned out for her for once in her life.
Shield/Randy Orton vs. Big Show
It's Ambrose in first with Show pounding away in the corner and headbutting Ambrose down. Off to Rollins who tries a kick to the ribs before being thrown into the corner for a beating of his own. It's Reigns' turn now but he goes down when trying a shoulder block. Randy gets the tag and tries to keep Big Show away from him in a smart strategy. Show gets him in the corner anyway for the not so loud chop, sending Randy running off to Rollins.
Seth actually knocks Show down with a top rope knee to the jaw and a kick to the face gets two. Randy is out on the floor until Reigns softens Big Show up a bit more. Orton comes in for some stomping and the knee drop for two. A quick DDT gets two more for Orton and it's back to Roman. Show clotheslines Reigns down a few times before hitting his own spear for no cover. All of the heels come in at once but Big Show fights them off until Ambrose brings in a chair, only to have it punched into his face for the DQ at 5:40.
Orton hits Show in the back with the chair but there's no effect. Instead Reigns spears Big Show down as the fans chant for Bryan. There's an RKO for Big Show and Orton wraps the chair around Big Show's neck. Cue the Usos to take care of the Shield and FINALLY Daniel Bryan shows up to fight Orton. Bryan fires off kicks and hooks the YES Lock but Ambrose gets back in for the save. Dean takes the running knee and a staredown ends the show.
Results
Rob Van Dam b. Fandango via DQ when Summer Rae interfered
Ryback b. R-Truth Shell Shock
Alberto Del Rio b. Dolph Ziggler Cross armbreaker
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to Mahal
Brie Bella b. Aksana Middle rope Bella Buster
Kofi Kingston b. Big E. Langston Rollup
Shield/Randy Orton b. Big Show via DQ when Big Show hit a chair into Ambrose's face
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Battleground 2013
Date: October 6, 2013
Location: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield
We've arrived at one of the least interesting shows in recent memory. There's just not much interest in this show and I can't say I'm surprised. The world title matches are both rematches and the other two main matches aren't anything huge. There just isn't much to go on with this show and it's going to be even worse next time with HIAC. Let's get to it.
Pre-Show: Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow
Sandow quotes Benjamin Franklin and talks about progress. Tonight he'll show you what progress is about by beating a former Money in the Bank winner, but if the hardcore match goes the way he thinks, you'll see him again as World Heavyweight Champion. Sandow grabs a headlock to start before taking Ziggler down with some clotheslines. Ziggler comes right back with a dropkick and the ten elbow drops to wake the crowd up. Damien will have none of this being in trouble stuff though and whips Ziggler over the corner as we take a break.
Back with Dolph getting two off a small package, only to get clotheslined down for the same result. We hit an arm stretch by Sandow for a bit before Sandow goes up, only to jump into a dropkick to the shoulder. Ziggler comes back with ten right hands in the corner but misses the Fameasser and gets caught with an Edge-O-Matic for two.
Damien kicks out the knee and hits a flip neckbreaker for two more as this match just keeps going. The Terminus is countered and the Fameasser gets a near fall for Dolph. Damien blocks the Zig Zag and rolls Ziggler up for two but tweaks his knee coming out of the corner, allowing Dolph to hit the Zig Zag for the pin at 10:11.
The opening video recaps the Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton feud.
World Heavyweight Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio is defending and this is a hardcore match. Alberto immediately heads to the floor but gets dropkicked through the ropes to give Van Dam control. A moonsault off the barricade puts the champion down and a slingshot DDT onto a chair gets two back inside. Alberto comes back with a wicked Backstabber for two before a few chair shots get the same. The chair is wedged between the top and middle ropes but Rob comes back with a kick to the face.
Rob pulls out a ladder and blasts Alberto in the face to knock him out to the floor. Back in and Rolling Thunder onto Del Rio onto the ladder only hits the ladder and the champion takes over. He snaps off the enziguri and stomps the ladder onto Rob for two before grabbing a trashcan. Rob dropkicks it back into his face and both guys are down.
A superkick puts the champion down and there's the split legged moonsault onto Del Rio onto the ladder for two. Rolling Thunder hits the ladder again and there's the armbreaker. Ricardo makes the save by hitting Del Rio with the bucket, earning himself a trip to the floor and a whip into the barricade.
Rob dropkicks the ladder into Del Rio and hits the Five Star onto the ladder onto Del Rio on the floor. Back in (I guess hardcore no longer means pinfalls count anywhere) Del Rio kicks out at two. A Van Terminator attempt misses and both guys are down. Del Rio gets the chair and drops Rob face first onto the steel before kicking Rob in the head to take over. He wraps it around the arm crushes it in the chair and puts on the armbreaker to retain at 16:03.
The Real Americans want to dip Khali and Santino in boiling hot oil. They also don't like Buffalo that much.
Santino Marella/Great Khali vs. Real Americans
Swagger and Santino fight over a top wristlock to start with Jack taking him to the mat. Santino still can't do the nipup so the fans chant for the Real Americans. Santino loads up the Cobra but Swagger bails to the floor, only to have to deal with Horny's mini-Cobra. Thankfully Jack rips it up and goes back inside so Cesaro can stomp him Marella down a bit. Cesaro steals the stupid sock and it's back to Swagger for a Vader Bomb and a running stomp by Antonio.
We hit the chinlock for a bit before it's back to Swagger to pull on Santino's arms. Santino suplexes out of it and finally brings in Khali. The giant pounds Cesaro down in the corner and hits the loud overhand chop. JBL: That knocked one of the languages out of Cesaro. Khali chops both Real Americans down and Santino dives over the top to take out Swagger. We FINALLY get to the point of the match as Cesaro swings Khali around for a remarkable 17 seconds and gets the pin at 7:05.
Breast cancer is bad.
Intercontinental Title: R-Truth vs. Curtis Axel
This is the result of Truth beating Axel on a fluke earlier this week. Truth takes over to start by pounding away in the corner and sends Axel to the floor. Axel sends Truth into the barricade a few times for two back inside and the match slows down. The champion chokes Truth a bit and gets two off a dropkick before we hit the chinlock. Truth fights up and hits some forearms to set up a rollup for two. The spinning forearm gets the same and so does the sitout gordbuster. Axel sends him into the buckle and the fans chant boring. Thankfully Axel listens to them and hits his neckbreaker into a cutter to retain at 6:32.
We recap the pre-show.
Divas Title: AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella
Brie is challenging and takes AJ down with ease, sending the champion out to the floor. AJ hides behind Tamina and heads back inside to take over. Brie is sent into the post and AJ goes after the arm, wrapping it around the middle rope. Brie's DDT is countered into a DDT on the arm for two before sending her shoulder first into the post.
AJ keeps shouting about being better than Brie before going off on the bad arm with elbows. Off to a Fujiwara Armbar but AJ lets it go to skip around the ring. Brie dropkicks her down and hits some really basic stuff before knocking AJ down with a running knee. Tamina is choking Nikki Bella down though and the distraction lets AJ roll up Brie for the pin with a handful of tights at 6:32.
We recap the Rhodes Family's troubles, setting up the tag match tonight.
Dusty and his kids are ready for Shield. Cody gives a great speech about how his family may not be perfect but they fight for each other.
Cody Rhodes/Goldust vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns
If the Rhodes Family wins, they get their jobs back. If Shield wins, Cody and Goldust are gone forever and Dusty loses his job too. This is also non-title. Dusty is at ringside to counter act Dean Ambrose and Goldust looks like Darth Maul. Cody pounds away on Seth to start and it's quickly off to Roman who gets pounded down in the corner. Shield bails to the floor and stalks Dusty, setting up a cool looking six man standoff with the brothers protecting their dad.
Back in and Roman knees Cody down as the champions take over. Seth comes in but walks into an elbow to the jaw and a stomping in the corner. Rollins sends him into the buckle to escape and it's off to Roman for some power. After an easy pounding it's quickly back to Rollins to crank on the shoulder a bit. Cody gets caught in the Tree of Woe but frees up a leg to kick Seth down. The moonsault press hits Rollins perfectly and the hot tag brings in Goldust.
An atomic drop slows Reigns down and Goldust pounds him down in the corner. Goldust hits a spinning cross body off the top for two but misses a regular cross body, sending him out to the floor. Goldie dives back in at nine but gets caught in a body scissors from Rollins. Back to Reigns for a good looking clothesline for two before it's back to Rollins who gets the same off a hilo. Goldust comes back by avoiding a dropkick and powerslamming Seth down. There's the hot tag off to Cody for an Alabama Slam to Rollins for a very near fall. Something like a Muscle Buster gets two on Rollins and everything breaks down. The Disaster Kick staggers Reigns and Cody clotheslines him to the floor but an Ambrose distraction allows Seth to come back in for the save. Dusty elbows Ambrose down and Seth rolls up Cody for two. Rhodes comes pops back up and hits Cross Rhodes for the pin at 13:55.
The Rhodes family celebrates and some tag teams, Mike Rotundo and Arn Anderson come out to celebrate. The old school fan in me cringes at Dusty and Arn celebrating together.
Hell in a Cell ad with R-Truth preaching against its evils.
The expert panel of Tensai, Titus O'Neil and Miz talk about the show so far.
Brad and Vickie bicker about who is at fault for the Rhodes' win.
Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt
Bray runs him over to start but Kofi comes back with a kick to the face. Kofi gets crotched while going up top so Bray can take over with some shots to the ribs and a neck lock. The fans start the Randy Savage chants as the match drags on. Kofi fights up but gets caught in another chinlock. Back up again and Kofi hits a dropkick followed by the Boom Drop, only to miss Trouble in Paradise.
Bray runs Kingston over with the cross body before going to the corner to bend back and look at Kofi upside down. Wyatt ups the ante a bit though by doing the Exorcist spider walk, sending Kofi running to the floor. Bray follows him out but Kofi runs back in and hits a BIG flip dive to take out the entire Family. Back in and Kofi gets two off a cross body, but the SOS is countered into Sister Abigail's Kiss for the pin at 8:37.
We recap Punk vs. Ryback. There's not much to this one: Punk was about to kill Heyman last month when Ryback interfered as the newest Paul Heyman Guy. Tonight is Punk's first step back towards revenge and Heyman himself.
CM Punk vs. Ryback
They stare at each other to start until Punk fires off some kicks to the legs, sending Ryback out to the floor. Punk follows him out and sends Ryback face first into the barricade and then into the post for good measure. Ryback shrugs it off and takes Punk back inside for a slam off the top to gain control. Punk's ribs are sent into the post and we hit the chinlock.
A legdrop gets two on Punk and Ryback pounds away with some hard kicks. Ryback stays on Punk and shoves him around with his boot as this is still in slow motion. Off to a chinlock with a bodyscissors as the fans are getting restless. Punk finally comes back with some kicks and a swinging neckbreaker but Heyman grabs a mic and brags about beating Punk, allowing Ryback to come back back with a huge powerbomb for two.
Another powerbomb attempt is countered with a kick to the head and the Macho Elbow for two. Ryback fights out of the GTS and powerslams Punk down for two of his own. Punk is choked on the ropes, allowing Heyman to load up a kendo stick shot as the referee pulls Ryback away. The referee does his job for once though and catches Heyman before the swing, allowing Punk to low blow Ryback for the pin at 14:51.
More from the expert panel.
We recap the main event. Orton cashed in on Bryan at Summerslam, Bryan pinned him at Night of Champions but there was a shady referee, meaning the title was held up, setting up tonight's match.
There's a slight delay as the PPV feed cuts out for some reason. We come back to see the announcer and referee standing around in the ring.
WWE Title: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
No champion coming in and after the big match intros we're ready to go. Feeling out process to start as they trade headlocks with Orton taking over. Bryan scores with a dropkick but Orton takes him right back down and rakes his boot over Daniel's eyes. Bryan throws Orton off and fires away with the kicks as the fans finally have something to cheer for tonight. Daniel goes after Orton's knee with a freaky leg hold before hitting some more kicks to the chest.
Orton breaks up a superplex attempt by crotching Bryan on the ropes before clotheslining him down for two. Randy pounds away in the corner and gets two more off a snap powerslam. We hit the chinlock for a bit followed by a knee to the ribs to stop Bryan again. Daniel fights up again and headscissors Orton to the floor for the FLYING GOAT. Back in and Bryan's missile dropkick is countered into a powerbomb and a Boston crab of all things. Bryan slips out and kicks some more but can't get the YES Lock.
They head outside and Orton goes into Predator mode, sending Bryan into the post, the barricade and then the post again. Back in and a superplex gets two on Daniel as the crowd isn't really into this. A backslide gets two for Bryan and there's a big kick to the head for the same. Daniel goes up top again but Orton shoves him off the top and out to the floor with a big thud. Orton loads up the announce table but Bryan comes back with even more kicks and sends Orton into the steps.
A BIG cross body to the floor takes Randy out and the swan dive is good for a very close two. Bryan is all fired up now and hits the corner dropkicks as the fans FINALLY go nuts. Bryan snaps off more kicks but gets caught in a t-bone suplex to put both guys down. There's the Elevated DDT and Orton loads up the RKO, only to have Bryan shove it away and grab the YES Lock.
Cue Big Show to pull the referee out and knock Bryan out cold, albeit against his will. Brad Maddox waves Scott Armstrong to the ring but Big Show pulls him out for a KO punch of his own. Orton looks furious as Big Show gets in the ring and knocks out Orton. Big Show's music plays and the show goes off the air with no winner after about 25:00.
Results
Alberto Del Rio b. Rob Van Dam Cross Armbreaker
Real Americans b. Santino Marella/Great Khali Cesaro Swing to Khali
Curtis Axel b. R-Truth Neckbreaker into a faceplant
AJ Lee b. Brie Bella Rollup
Cody Rhodes/Goldust b. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns Cross Rhodes to Rollins
Bray Wyatt b. Kofi Kingston Sister Abigail's Kiss
CM Punk b. Ryback Low blow
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton went to a no contest
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
CM Punk b. Big E. Langston GTS
Kofi Kingston b. Fandango Trouble in Paradise
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double falling slam to Slater
R-Truth b. Curtis Axel Little Jimmy
Brie Bella b. Alicia Fox Bella Buster
Alberto Del Rio b. Zack Ryder Cross armbreaker
Shield b. Usos/Dolph Ziggler Spear to Ziggler
NXT
Santino Marella/Emma b. Fandango/Summer Rae Cobra to Fandango
Luke Harper b. Kassius Ohno Discus lariat
Ascension b. Adrian Neville/Corey Graves Fall of Man to Graves
Impact Wrestling
Manik/Jeff Hardy b. Chris Sabin/Kenny King Swanton Bomb to King
EGO b. Magnus Ankle lock
Samoa Joe b. Bully Ray via DQ when Ray hit Joe with a chain
Smackdown
Rob Van Dam b. Fandango via DQ when Summer Rae interfered
Ryback b. R-Truth Shell Shock
Alberto Del Rio b. Dolph Ziggler Cross armbreaker
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to Mahal
Brie Bella b. Aksana Middle rope Bella Buster
Kofi Kingston b. Big E. Langston Rollup
Shield/Randy Orton b. Big Show via DQ when Big Show hit a chair into Ambrose's face
Battleground 2013
Alberto Del Rio b. Rob Van Dam Cross Armbreaker
Real Americans b. Santino Marella/Great Khali Cesaro Swing to Khali
Curtis Axel b. R-Truth Neckbreaker into a faceplant
AJ Lee b. Brie Bella Rollup
Cody Rhodes/Goldust b. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns Cross Rhodes to Rollins
Bray Wyatt b. Kofi Kingston Sister Abigail's Kiss
CM Punk b. Ryback Low blow
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton went to a no contest