The Bryan & Vinny Show is back tonight with three big shows! NXT from Full Sail, Lucha Underground, and NWA World Championship Wrestling from 30 years ago this week! Vinny also has some thoughts on the second NXT house show he went to this week in Portland, OR! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Submitted by Chris Cawley
– Kane and Big Show over Erik Rowan & Braun Strowman
Crowd was real hot for Big Show face to face to Strowman. Strowman screwed up slightly setting up hot tag with Kane. Match went about 15 minutes nothing special but crowd was hot. Show pinned Rowan for the win. Afterward Kane and Show double choke slammed Strowman.
– Sin Cara over Viktor of the Ascension
More than expected from these two. Crowd was real hot for Sin Cara.
– Titus O’ Neil and Jack Swagger over Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas/Curtis Axel) w/Heath Slater ringside.
Match went about 15 minutes.
– Becky Lynch, Paige & Sasha Banks over Dana Brooke, Lana & Eva Marie
Finish came with all 3 face women making the heel women tap out at the same time with their respective submission finishing holds. Crowd popped huge for finish.
Intermission
– Goldust over Fandango
Finish of the match came when Tyler Breeze came down to interfere, R Truth came to even odds. Goldust then got pin on Fandango.
– WWE Tag Team Champions New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods) over Vaudevillians
Crowd had probably biggest pop so far for New Day entrance. Solid match. No Kofi Kingston.
– US Champion Kalisto vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Rusev
Ambrose got the biggest pop of the night by far when he came out. A lot spots outside the ring. Lana was ringside to start the match. At one point, Rusev got on microphone during match and got great heat from crowd. Match was spot fest from beginning to end. Ambrose hit dirty deeds, Lana distracted ref, Ambrose got slapped, Rusev super kicked Ambrose then Lana got tossed. Kalisto then pinned Rusev. Afterwards, Ambrose and Kalisto shook hands and celebrated together.
Overall, a fun show. Bray Wyatt and Kevin Owens were heavily promoted to be here but weren’t.
From Robert Walker, the son of Johnny Walker, regarding his surgery earlier today: “Thank you everyone so much for your thoughts and prayers. The doctor came out of surgery and explained that everything went extremely well and couldn’t have gone any better. Dad is in the ICU recovery for the next few days and should have him up and moving soon. As you may or may not know, an aneurysm on the aorta is a ticking time bomb and could rupture at any minute. He now has dodged a second bullet with this one, as this is the second one for him. Mom is really watching over him and we are truly blessed. Thanks again to all.” (thanks to Crimson Mask)
We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s UFC 198 show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’re looking for reports on these shows also to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Today’s WWE house show in Columbia, SC (Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Usos, Cass, Charlotte, Natalya)
Today’s WWE house show in Charlottesville, VA (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, New Day, Paige, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Kalisto. Friday’s WWE house show in Greeneville, NC
Raw will be Monday in Greensboro. The only thing announced for Raw is that The Shining Stars will debut as a tag team.
Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Greenville, SC.
THE ROUND UP
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Figure Four Weekly 5/9/2016: Hogan and Gawker fight over verdict – Hulk Hogan is suing Gawker a second time, this time for leaking the contents of sealed documents to the tabloids. Now we have the verdict. Find out all the details in this weeks issue of Figure Four Weekly.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
READ IT HERE: May 16, 2016 Wrestling Observer newsletter: Potential UFC sale, WWE releases, plus tons of news
Our lead story updates the talks of a UFC sale, plus an updated look at how the WWE is doing as a business, a look at WWE cuts, the booking behind the ROH Global Wars PPV and how New Japan and ROH are working together even more closely than on the surface, Global Wars coverage, a look at the status of a lot of ROH talent, coverage of the UFC debut in Holland, the hidden story of just how much of the male audience has been lost by WWE, as well as what WWE can learn from the NBA, and historical bios on Billy Wicks and Kato Kung Lee.
There is also a look at the ESPN story on the potential sale of the UFC, what we know is legit, numbers being thrown around, who actually owns UFC, Dana White’s reaction to the story, moves UFC has made, Dana White’s long-term future if there is a sale, timing of the sale and sustaining the brand popularity. Plus there’s also a look at the various companies listed that are in talks of buying.
An update on WWE financials is in this issue, plus a look at the WWE Network numbers, what last year’s patterns tell us about the numbers, the company’s profits and losses, how well every division does for WWE and what is the most important for the bottom line, how well the company is doing financially compared to last year, what is projected by WWE this year for the WrestleMania quarter, update on injured wrestlers and their returns, Vince McMahon talks WWE injuries, and how much cash on hand the company has right now.
There is also a look at how WWE is going to be changing how it reports information and what information they are going to be keeping secret as compared to the past. Also, there is a look at the dichotomy between social media numbers and WWE network subscribers and what it says.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
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All the news from the ESPN coverage of the drug deaths in professional wrestling, and more will be in the latest back issue. Check out the latest online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: March 29, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ESPN program on drug deaths in the pro wrestling industry, ECW Living Dangerously review, more. There is also a full break down of ECW’s Living Dangerously PPV, plus tons of news and notes.
SUNDAY NEWS
We had a ton of news to cover in last night’s weekend show, between UFC sale talk, TNA, WWE business, UFC title change and biggest show ever in Brazil last night, Bellator’s moves and more.
It doesn’t look good for either of the Young Bucks as far as being in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament which starts on Saturday at Korakuen Hell. Both were supposed to see doctors today regarding Nick’s rib injury and Matt’s hand injury. Nick likely needs to rest for several weeks.
New Japan will be broadcasting seven of the 14 shows from the tournament live and all tournament matches will be available this year on New Japan World. It’s a tough schedule so the guys are going to have to pace themselves, but there is a Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay Korakuen Hall main event on the 5/27 show at Korakuen Hall.
NXT is running an angle based on the pull-apart brawl last night at the house show in Portland, OR involving Samoa Joe and Finn Balor. William Regal will be doing a live interview on Tuesday morning on Facebook regarding the match at the next Takeover show on 6/8. I don’t know this, but it sounds like they are going to announce the stipulations for the match.
For those into this kind of history, yesterday was 42 years to the day of what many consider the biggest angle in the history of Florida wrestling, when Dusty Rhodes turned babyface against Pak Song and Gary Hart at the Tampa Sportatorium. The match was Eddie & Mike Graham vs. Rhodes & Song.
WWE
UFC
MISCELLANEOUS
Today in professional wrestling history: Rock & Roll Express wins SMW Tag Team Titles; AJ Styles wins NWA/TNA Title
Johnny Walker, one of pro wrestling’s biggest stars of the 70s as Mr. Wrestling II, is currently awaiting surgery for an aneurysm.
Walker, 81, had a long career without a mask, and while respected as both a strong legitimate wrestler and a great worker in the ring, he never really took off until he was past 40 and put on the mask. He had worked previously with a mask and been pushed, but never broke out like he did in Georgia.
Originally Walker was thinking of retirement when a wrestling war broke out in Georgia. With most of the talent leaving the NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling group for Ann Gunkel’s All South Wrestling, the promotion wanted to bring back Tim Woods, as Mr. Wrestling, who had been a big draw a few years earlier but was working full-time in Florida.
Because of Woods’ schedule as one of the key stars in Florida, he couldn’t be in Georgia full-time, only work mostly Atlanta, so the decision was made for him to bring in a protege, Mr. Wrestling II.
Wrestling II ended up being more popular than Mr. Wrestling. The two were a regular tag team on-and-off, and also at one point had a feud which was major box office. Wrestling II was considered one of the key people in the NWA side winning the war and in the regular Georgia markets where Dusty Rhodes didn’t work regularly, Wrestling II was the big draw for years. He was a favorite of the Carter family, and a photo of President Jimmy Carter with a headlock on Wrestling II was used for publicity purposes for years. He had retired years ago to Hawaii, and Steve Corino’s Mr. Wrestling III gimmick is a tribute to Walker.
He remained a headliner in Georgia, and his fame in Georgia from the SuperStation led to him also being used as a major star throughout the Southeast and Mid South areas until the mid-80s. He was one of the key contenders for both Harley Race and Ric Flair as world champion.
Submitted by Pat Laprade from a sold-out Terminal 5 in NYC
– Dark match: Cheeseburger & Davey Vega b J. Diesel & Juan Francisco de Coronado when Cheeseburger hit the Shotei on Coronado
Kevin Kelly and BJ Whitmer on commentary.
– reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King) using the Chasing the Dragon in a good opener.
– Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys) beat Michael Elgin, Moose (w/Stokely Hathaway) & Lio Rush when he pinned Rush after an inverted Whirlybird.
Very good match and very cool spots, including Castle doing a German suplex to Elgin followed by one on Moose, which got a huge “Holy s**t” chant. All four guys were over with the crowd, Castle being the most over guy. Moose is improving every time I see him and Rush, at only 21, is one heck of a prospect.
– Kushida defeated Silas Young with the Kushida Lock
Kushida is the IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion but it was a non-title match. Weakest match so far. Perhaps Young wasn’t the best match up for Kushida. Not bad though, but not on par with the first two.
– Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) beat Trent Baretta & Gedo (w/Rocky Romero)
The Guns pinned Gedo after hitting the Dream Sequence on Gedo and then the stereo boots in the corner on Baretta. Solid match, not as good as the opener but still good.
– Jushin Liger & Mark & Jay Briscoe beat Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa & Adam Page after Liger hit the Liger Bomb on Tonga and Mark finished him with a big elbow from the top.
Good match. Crowd chanting “too sweet” at the Tonga, Loa and Page. Always special to see Liger live and the fans showed respect as he got a big reaction when his music hit and he got a huge chant before leaving.
– During intermission, Taeler Hendrix attacked Mandy Leon at ringside. She got in the ring with a chair and hit Leon with a DDT on it.
– BJ Whitmer got in the ring and cut a promo on Steve Corino. He said that he wasn’t a good father and a good husband and that the video footage he had wasn’t the only one. Corino got in the ring with a chair. Whitmer called him a bitch. Corino said he would beat the s**t out of him on 6/24 and called him a bitch to which the crowd chanted “you’re a bitch!”
– Veda Scott took Whitmer’s spot at commentary.
– Donovan Dijak (w/ Prince Nana) beat Cedric Alexander with his backbreaker rack into a knee lift.
Finish felt really flat. No one actually reacted and the fans were not happy with how the finish came out. After the match, Dijak raised Alexander’s arm and the crowd chanted “Thank you Cedric” and “Please don’t go” as it was Alexander’s ROH’s farewell before heading to WWE. According to PW Insider’s Mike Johnson, Prince Nana has signed a contract with ROH.
– War Machine (Ray Rowe & Hanson) defeated the ROH World Tag Team champions The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) by DQ when Daniels broke a pin using one of the belts.
Match was ok, different from the first two tags. They did a ref bump. Kazarian tried to use the belt but nailed Daniels by accident instead.
– Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Matt Sydal with the high fly flow.
Very good match. Only 10-12 minutes, but I guess they are protecting Tanahashi who’s still injured. Crowd was really into him. Sydal was great too though. I don’t know if underrated is the right word, but he’s definitely one of the best on the indies right now and not getting the push he should have.
– IWGP Heavyweight champion Tetsuya Naito beat ACH in a non-title match with this Destino.
I’m glad Naito could actually wrestle because this was the best match of the show. A lot of dual chants “Let’s go Naito, ACH!” and lots of cool moves from ACH including a crazy kick while Naito was on the top rope. After the match, Naito attacked referee Todd Sinclair and got a huge pop for that.
– ROH Champion Jay Lethal (w/Taeler Hendrix) & Roderick Strong beat Adam Cole & Matt Jackson (w/Nick) and Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii when Strong hit his jumping high knee on Ishii.
Great match. I liked the Naito/ACH match better but someone could make a case this was the best match tonight. Okada and the Bucks got the biggest reaction out of the entrances. Even after 4 hours of wrestling, the crowd was super hot. They were really into everything Jackson, Cole and Okada, especially, were doing.
Biggest pops:
Most heat:
Best matches:
1955
– George Dussette and Luther Lindsay defeated Bulldog Curtis and Tommy Martinez to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles
1957
– Ed Francis defeated Luigi Macera for the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title
1958
Minneapolis, Minnesota:
– Verne Gagne and Leo Nomellini defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher for the Minneapolis NWA World Tag Team Titles
1963
Mobile, Alabama:
– Rocket Monroe (Bill Fletcher) defeated Joe Scarpa (Jay Strongbow) and Pancho Villa in a three-way match to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title
1965
Omaha, Nebraska:
– Mighty Igor Vodic defeated Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World (Omaha version only) Heavyweight Title
1970
Sydney, Australia:
– Mark Lewin and Antonio Pugliese defeated Swede Hanson and Rip Hawk to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles
Los Angeles, California:
– Donna Christantello and Kathy O’Day defeated The Fabulous Moolah and Toni Rose to win the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Titles
1971
Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
– Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez defeated Butcher and Mad Dog Vachon to win the AWA World Tag Team Titles
– The Crusher beat Larry Hennig
– Bull Bullinski beat Nick Bockwinkel via dq
1972
Orlando, Florida:
– Boris Malenko defeated Bearcat Wright for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title
1973
Mobile, Alabama:
– The California Hippies (Mike Boyette and Mickey Doyle) won the Gulf Coast NWA United States Tag Team Titles
1975
Greensboro, North Carolina:
– Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel defeated Gene and Ole Anderson to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles
1976
Chicago, Illinois:
– Dick the Bruiser beat Ox Baker in a Chain Match
– In a Loser Leaves Town Match, Larry Hennig & Jos Leduc beat Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Valiant
– Greg Gagne beat Mad Dog Vachon via dq
Detroit, Michigan:
– The Sheik defeated Bobo Brazil for the Detroit NWA United States Heavyweight Title
San Francisco, California:
– Tony Garea and Pat Patterson defeated Invader I and Don Muraco to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Titles
1978
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
– Gene Kiniski defeated John Quinn for the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title
Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
– Billy Red Lyons fought Chris Tolos to a 20-minute draw
– Dewey Robertson defeated the Wildman via disqualification
– Kim Chang pinned Claude Dionne
– Billy Red Lyons & Rufus R. Jones defeated Super Destroyer (Sgt. Slaughter) & Lord Alfred Hayes
– British Champion Billy Robinson defeated Angelo Mosca via disqualification
– WWWF Champion Bob Backlund beat Billy Graham by count out
– AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel went to a double disqualification with Jim Brunzell
1982
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
– The Moondogs (Rex and Spot) defeated Eddie and Tommy Gilbert to win the WWC North American Tag Team Titles
1984
Kummamoto, Japan:
– Pat Tanaka defeated Naoki Sano
– Norio Honaga fought Black Cat to a draw
– Kengo Kimura & Fumihiro Niikura defeated Osamu Kido & Shunji Kosugi
– John Quinn defeated Fujiwara
– The Masked Sueprstar, Ken Patera, & WWF Tag Team Champion Dick Murdoch defeated Animal Hamaguchi, Yoshikai Yatsu, & Kuniaki Kobayashi
– Mr. Saito defeated Otto Wanz
– Andre The Giant & WWF Tag Team Champion Adrian Adonis defeated Seigi Sakaguchi & Tatsumi Fujinami
– WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Riki Choshu via count-out
– Antonio Inoki defeated Big John Studd
1986
Kansas City, Kansas:
– The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Batten Twins (Bart and Brad) to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Titles
1992
Fayetteville, North Carolina:
– Big Josh defeated Richard Morton
– Firebreaker Chip & Todd Champion defeated Thomas Rich & Tracy Smothers
– Nikita Koloff defeated Steve Austin
– Ron Simmons defeated Diamond Dallas Page
– WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Terry Taylor defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin
– WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko (substituting for Bobby Eaton)
– WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude defeated Ricky Steamboat
1993
Johnson City, Tennessee:
– The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane and Tom Prichard) for the SMW Tag Team Titles
Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada:
– Michelle Starr defeated Mighty Quinn for the WCCW Heavyweight Title
– Al Tomko won the WCCW Mid-Heavyweight Title from Firefighter Adrian
– The Beautiful Bodies (Rocky Dellaserra and Ole Olson) defeated Firefighter Adrian and Timothy Flowers to win the WCCW International Tag Team Titles
1995
Niigata, Japan:
– Reggie Bennett defeated Manami Toyota for the IWA Women’s World Title
2000
Biloxi, Mississippi:
– Ric Flair defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett to win the title
2001
Louisville, Kentucky:
– The Minnesota Stretching Crew (Shelton Benjamin and Brock Lesnar) defeated The Disciples of Synn (Damian and Payne) to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles.
2002
Jerrersonville, Indiana:
– Nova defeated The Prototype (John Cena) for the OVW Heavyweight Title
2004
Lexington, Massachusetts:
– CM Punk and Colt Cabana defeated Jay and Mark Briscoe to win the ROH Tag Team championship
Caguas, Puerto Rico:
– Hurácan Castillo, Jr. defeated José Rivera, Jr. for the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
2005
TNA Hard Justice: Orlando, Florida:
– Shark Boy defeated David Young
– Team Canada (Eric Young and Petey Williams) (with Coach D’Amore) defeated Apolo and Sonny Siaki
– Michael Shane and Trinity defeated Chris Sabin and Traci
– Raven defeated Sean Waltman in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun match
– Monty Brown and The Outlaw defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Ron Killings
– The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens) defeated America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) to retain the NWA World Tag Team Championship
– Christopher Daniels defeated Shocker to retain the TNA X Division Championship
– Abyss defeated Bobby Roode, Zach Gowen, Eric Young, Cassidy Riley, Elix Skipper, Shark Boy, A-1, Chris Sabin, Petey Williams, Sonny Siaki, Lance Hoyt, Michael Shane, Jerrelle Clarke, Mikey Batts, The Outlaw, Trytan, Ron Killings, Apolo and B.G. James in a Twenty-Man Gauntlet for the Gold to become number contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
– AJ Styles defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA/TNA World Title
2006
Lubbock, Texas:
– Shelton Benjamin won the Intercontinental Title in a match involving John Cena, Rob Van Dam, Triple H, Shelton Benjamin, & Chris Masters
2011
NJPW East Coast Invasion: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
– Kenny Omega defeated Jushin Liger to win the JAPW Light Heavyweight championship
– IWGP Heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi retained the title over Davey Richards
TNA Sacrifice:
– Mexican America (Anarquia and Hernandez) (with Sarita and Rosita) defeated Ink Inc. (Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore)
– Brian Kendrick defeated Robbie E (with Cookie)
– Mickie James defeated Madison Rayne to retain the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship
– Kazarian defeated Max Buck to retain the TNA X Division Championship
– Crimson defeated Abyss
– Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) defeated Immortal (Chris Harris and Matt Hardy) to retain the TNA World Tag Team Championship
– Tommy Dreamer defeated A.J. Styles in a No Disqualification match
– Kurt Angle and Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett
– Sting defeated Rob Van Dam to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Submitted by Mister Oohlala
– No Way Jose d. Murphy
Evidently, today was “No Way Day” on social media. I haven’t the foggiest what that was supposed to indicate, but it did translate into the crowd being into Jose, whom right now is a perfect opening match guy.
– Tucker Knight d. Tino Sabatelli
Knight is from Portland and carried a Trail Blazers’ “Rip City” sign to the ring. Sabatelli looks like a generic wrestler from 2005, cut from the Randy Orton/Mark Jindrak mold. As basic as a match can get, lots of armbars and chinlocks. Knight won with a rather clumsy powerslam.
– Bayley d. Nia Jax
It’s been repeated ad nauseum, but there’s something special about Bayley. When she entered the arena, a different kind of energy took over the room. She has a Dusty-esque natural everywoman charisma to her. Match was what you would expect, Nia kept using her weight against Bayley, but Bayley ended up winning with a roll up.
– Austin Aries d. Mojo Rawley
Mojo was only below The Drifter as far as drawing crowd hatred, which seemed to amuse Aries. He picked up Mojo’s shirt off the mat and threw it to the crowd, only for the crowd to throw it back. There was a funny spot where Aries and Mojo were running the ropes and Aries stopped and watched Mojo run the ropes a few times like an idiot before he noticed Aries laughing at him. Aries tapped him out.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha d. The Revival
Match of the night. Pretty much the same formula we’ve seen between these two team, but it’s a winning one. One thing I noticed is that Jordan’s facials while he’s on the apron are fantastic. He seems to be totally absorbed in the story and drama of the match and his enthusiasm draws you in. Alpha won with their finish on Dawson whom I finally figured out tonight is the bald one with the handlebar mustache.
– Shinsuke Nakamura d. Elias Samson
Drifter was easily the most hated guy on the show and he ate it up. This was a nothing match really that was just carried by Nakamura’s charisma and mannerisms. Entertaining nonetheless.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka d. Alexa Bliss
Fans responded well to the entrances of these two, but seemed a little drained after the tag match and Nakamura. Asuka tapped Bliss out after about 10 minutes.
– NXT Champion Samoa Joe d. Finn Balor
Balor was only slightly more popular than Joe, and they had a great match. Joe won with a roll up and a handful of tights. Afterwards, a brawl erupted between the two and the entire locker room (Nakamura included) came out to break it up. Once it was cleared out, William Regal came out and scolded Balor from the entrance ramp.
Notes:
Good crowd. The Moda Center was set up in the “Theater Of The Clouds” configuration, which holds about 6,500, and I would say the building was 75-80% full. Only the seats on the far ends of the upper bowls were empty. Crowd was into pretty much everything, and most of the chants were the ones you hear on the NXT TV and TakeOver shows. As Bryan noted from the Seattle show, there were a lot more women at the show than I’m used to seeing at RAW or SmackDown tapings.
Submitted by Steve Lawson
– Before the show, you could vote by Twitter on which Wrestlemania match you wanted to see on the video board: Reigns/HHH, Undertaker/Shane, or Lesnar/Ambrose. Undertaker/Shane won and they showed a clipped version of it. The lower bowl was only 2/3 full and the upper bowl was tarped off. Crowd was pretty hot all night. Mostly families, lots of kids. No matches were advertised for the show.
– Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Good match, Ziggler fought from underneath and got the win with a superkick.
– Apollo Crews vs. Stardust
Kind of a dull match, Stardust’s offense isn’t very interesting. Crews got the win with the Moonsault.
– Big Cass vs. D-Von Dudley
Cass did a pre-match promo. Usual shtick, crowd knew all his catch phrases. Cass got the win with the East River Crossing. Nothing special, but the crowd was into Cass.
– Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Owens ripped the crowd before the match, saying a boy with a terrible father had a vile sign. Couldn’t see what the sign was. Owens riled the crowd up by demanding silence during his match. Excellent match, Zayn got the win with the Helluva Kick.
– WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte vs. Natalya
No Ric, unfortunately. Charlotte got the win with the classic Flair Pin. Good work from these two.
– I-C Champion The Miz (w/Maryse) vs. Sheamus vs. Cesaro
Really good stuff here. Miz cut a long pre-match promo bashing the crowd, doing an homage to Rick Rude calling us “Fat, out of shape sweat hogs.” Cesaro tapped Miz out with the Sharpshooter, but Maryse had the referee distracted. Cesaro hit the Neutralizer, but Miz threw him out of the ring and pinned Sheamus.
– WWE Champion Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. Chris Jericho, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows
Jericho subbing in for AJ, Unfortunately. Jericho did a pre-match promo talking about what an honor it must be for Anderson and Gallows to team with him. The Usos got a huge pop. Kids and women love them. Reigns got mostly cheers, but the men were booing him. Solid match. The heels got heat on one of the Usos until he tagged in Reigns. Reigns kicked Jericho’s ass, but Jericho cut him off and hit a Code Breaker. Jericho yelled at Gallows and Anderson, who walked out on him. Reigns hit Jericho with the Spear and pinned him to end the show.
Image & results courtesy of Katie Latronico who estimates a crowd in the 200 range
– Dan Matha beat Patrick Clarke
First match of the night was Tough Enough contestant Patrick Clarke still using his new heel gimmick, wearing very patriotic pants with his face on them, and a Donald Trump “Make America Great Again” t-shirt. He was against Matha, a genetic freak of nature that looks a lot like Mr. Clean. It was a fun match that Matha won with a pretty sweet finisher, which looks like a pop up stunner set up after a chokeslam.
– Carmella and Daria beat Mandy Rose and Peyton Royce
Carmella teamed up with former Tough Enough contestant Daria “The Jersey Devil” Berenato against the team of Tough enough runner-up Rose and Royce. Carmella and Daria won with Daria looking really good. Carmella ended the match having Mandy tap out.
– Jeet Rama (Satender Dagar) beat Chris Girard
Rama, one of the Indian signees, came out to hardly any reaction, but quickly won the crowd over. Girard is a great heel, very erratic and aggressive. Jeet won with a roll-up after Girard worked on his leg for awhile; he celebrated while still selling the leg, and danced a bit with Jacksonville’s favorite referee, Drake Wuertz.
– Hugo Knox beat Angelo Dawkins
This was a very fun match with Knox picking up the win. Dawkins has really seemed to get his “two headbands” thing over, or at least, it seems in Jacksonville. Knox cut a promo at the end, which seemed to be something along the lines of him being “liquid money” and “a cover model”, but unfortunately, his accent made it hard to understand with him being post-match out of breath and speaking very fast. Got lots of “WHAT?!” chants as a result.
– Adrienne Reese beat Nicola Glencross
After intermission, we saw Reese vs. the former Nikki Storm, which was a spectacular match. The crowd was really into it, and both girls worked very well with one another. Nikki came out and immediately got heat by screaming at everyone that Jacksonville sucked and Scotland was better. She’s extremely aggressive and working the “crazy heel” angle seems to really work with her. Adrienne picked up the win with her finisher.
– Manny Andrade beat Alexander Wolfe via DQ
The next match was supposed to Andrade vs. Wolfe with his tag team partner Fulton in his corner. Wolfe and Fulton have this new Mad Max type of look that really works for them. The singles match was a good one until Sawyer ran in and clotheslined Manny, which led to him and Wolfe beating him down, and Tye Dillinger running in to make the save. That led to…
– Tye Dillinger and Manny Andrade beat Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe
Fun match that was mostly Sawyer and Wolfe, who work very well together, beating down Tye. Eventually, Tye and Manny turned it around for the win. The winning team celebrated in the ring and then outside greeting the fans around ringside before the show ended.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back today with tons to talk about — the latest on the UFC sale, TNA business notes, UFC and Bellator Saturday night fight results including a new UFC heavyweight champion, WWE financial notes, NHL and NBA ratings, notes on the Young Bucks, Naito Lilian Garcia and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!