TNA announced Tuesday that former TNA Champion Jeff Hardy has signed a new contract with the company. Terms were undisclosed.
Hardy had openly talked with friends in recent months about being interested in a WWE run, but TNA has been very aggressive in signing talent of late to significant guaranteed contracts. While not announced yet, given the nature of his recent turn, one would also expect current TNA Champion Matt Hardy to also stay with the company.
Dixie Carter tweeted: “Thrilled to announce @JeffHardyBrand has signed a new contract.” She also noted he would kick off Tuesday’s show on POP TV. A Matt vs. Jeff angle will be featured on Impact, although because of Jeff being unable to go to the U.K., the angle will be delayed somewhat.
TNA also announced the re-signing of TNA Tag Team champions The Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) — two men who were also possibly looking into WWE possibilities.
Titus O’Neil def. Tyler Breeze with the Clash of the Titus.
RAW Notes:
HHH got a good reaction for his entrance but he was being booed by the end of his promo.
Crowd was very into AJ Styles, chanting his name many times and pulling for him over Jericho. It will be interesting to see how long they tease the Styles Clash. That was probably match of the night.
The guys dressed up as Savage, Hogan, Rock, and Undertaker were sitting in the front row facing the hard camera. The Savage guy started to stand and do the Macho Man motion during the Kane vs. Wyatt match. He was asked to cut it out by security. Then he did it again and security swarmed on them. During the commercial break, they were playing some videos on the Tron with the lights out and it appeared that they were being ejected. A few minutes later, they were being escorted to the seats you saw them in during the Rock segment. The fans chanted for them a few more times but they didn’t draw attention to themselves again.
The Miz vs. Kalisto match just destroyed the crowd. Miz’s long period on offense had people begging for the end. They somewhat recovered for the main event but not fully.
They didn’t make a big deal about the Fast Lane announcement in the building after the opening promo. Many forgot that it was even coming, as people started streaming for the exits once Reigns and Ambrose won, and especially when Rusev went through the table.
After the show ended, and Ambrose and Reigns left, Rusev recovered and took another monitor to the back, to add to his collection from last night.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada: – Illio Do Paolo and Billy Red Lyons won the Canadian Open Tag Team Championship over Tiny Mills and Crusher Kowalski in 2 of 3 falls – Nature Boy Buddy Rogers defeated John DeSilva – Duke Keomuko and Sato Keomuko beat Dick Byer and Farmer Boy on count out – Fred Atkins and Mike Gallagher wrestled 20 minutes to a draw – Doc Gallagher defeated Don McClarity
1969
St. Paul, Minnesota: – AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Mitsu Arakawa – Pampero Firpo beat Dr. X COR – Mad Dog Vachon & Butcher Vachon beat Billy Red Lyons & Bill Watts in 2 out of 3 falls – Larry Hennig beat Luke Brown – Lars Anderson beat Joe Scarpello
1974
Punta Gorda, Florida: – Florida Tag Titles: Jos & Paul LeDuc defeated The Texan & Stan Vachon to retain titles – Florida TV Title: Mike Graham defeated Rip Hawk by dq – Harry “Georgia Boy” Smith (sub Danny Hodge) beat Bob Orton, Sr.
1977
Miami, Florida: – Lights Out Match: Dusty Rhodes defeated Harley Race – The Assassin beat Billy Graham by dq – Jos LeDuc & Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco drew Ox Baker & Steve Strong & Buddy Wolff – Mike Graham defeated Pat McGinnis – Steve Keirn defeated Bob Orton, Jr. – Kevin Sullivan defeated Rock Hunter
1979
Okayama, Japan: – Seiji Sakaguchi defeated Johnny Powers to win the NWF North American Heavyweight Title
1980
Bayamon, Puerto Rico: – Mr. Fuji defeated Invader I to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title
1987
Tampa, Florida: – The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) defeated The British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship
Memphis, Tennessee: – Austin Idol beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel by dq – Texas Death Match: Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis beat RPMs to win Southern tag title
1995
Madison Square Garden: New York City – WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Diesel in a steel cage to retain the title – WWF World Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns defeated The Bodydonnas – Savio Vega defeated Intercontinental Champion Goldust by countout
1996
Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico: – Konnan defeated Pierroth Jr. to become the first International Wrestling All Stars World Heavyweight Champion
1999
Tuscon, Arizona: – Mankind defeated the Rock to win the WWF World Title
2001
Rising Sun, Indiana: – Chad Collyer defeated Ace Steele for the Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title
2003
Kobe, Japan: – Jushin Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Pro Wrestling Noah’s Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the New Japan’s IWGP World Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
2014
Royal Rumble: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: – The New Age Outlaws defeated Cody Rhodes and Goldust to win the WWE World Tag Team Titles – Brock Lesnar defeated the Big Show – WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated John Cena to retain the title – Batista won the Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is the most fun show of the year. It’s better than WrestleMania, way better than SummerSlam, and don’t get me started on Fast Lane… But it could be much better. WWE treats the rules of the Royal Rumble so flippantly it weakens the match, and thus draw, of the entire event.
This year, the Royal Rumble match was booked exactly as one would expect. Reigns started strong and was looking like he could go the distance, but was taken out by the dastardly Vince McMahon and the League of Nations (what year is this?), and then made a valiant comeback, only to come up short. Reigns took home the bronze while HHH took home the gold. (Dean Ambrose won the silver.) The story was well executed, and they got where they needed to be in terms of progression, but good Google people, the rules, what happened to the rules?!?!
WWE needs to enforce the rules of the Royal Rumble. As it is explained to the fans, the only way to win is to be the last man in the ring after all 30 (ish) members have entered. Elimination occurs only when a participant goes over the top rope and both feet touch the floor. No DQ, no anything else. It’s a free-for-all. There’s no time limit, there’s no “wrestling” rules. This begs the question… WHY EVER GET IN THE RING!
The huge loophole in the rules is that the wrestlers actually CAN get out of the ring, as long as it’s not over the top rope. Reigns was pulled out of the ring and attacked by the League of Nations and stretchered out. However, since his body never went over the top rope, he was never eliminated. A similar thing happened last year with Curtis Axel. He was never eliminated (yet most didn’t notice). VInce McMahon and Stone Cold Steve Austin pulled a similar stunt like this in 1999, and it was stupid then. This year, Reigns was carted off, only to re-enter, seemingly fine, and nearly win. Hmmm…. Why wouldn’t EVERYONE get out of the ring, under the rope, and NEVER be eliminated? It’s important, because just like Santino in 2011 hiding under the ring and nearly winning at the end, why wouldn’t everyone use this strategy? It’s so glaring that it’s frustrating. I understand that this is the WWE Universe and every competitor has a larger than life ego and thus wants to ALWAYS fight and ALWAYS win and ALWAYS be the best, but if it were real, even slightly, the obvious strategy would be to wait to actually enter until the very end, then roll in as the fresh man and toss out the final guy.
Obviously, we don’t need to hash out every little detail to really put it on the level but here are some rule changes that would make this match more legitimate and more of a draw.
Amendments to the Bill of Royal Rumble Rights:
1) Make the time a complete shoot.
We need a clock, a real clock, on the Tron / TV at all times. Make it transparent. I realize that they are trying to hit certain spots at certain times and it’s easier to do if WWE works the time, but that’s on the performers. Plus, I hate guessing what number they are on and trying to count backwards. “Was Dolph number 7?” Just tell us! Put all that info up as it happens! The WWE claims this event is all about the numbers, but really it’s just about two numbers, 1 and 30. How cool would it be to see Rey Mysterio’s longest run streak on the Tron and see everyone’s time in comparison? “Oh wow! If AJ Styles lasts two more minutes he’ll break the record!” Instead, we have no clue. The announcers are doing a better job of telling us cool stats than in the past, but why not show us the numbers?
2) Once the time is up and the buzzer sounds, you have 10 seconds to get to the ring.
If you dilly dally, and don’t make it, you’re out. Or make it even simpler and explain that if you’re 23 and number 24 gets in the ring before you because you were jaw jacking with the fans, you’re out.
3) If any part of your body touches ANYTHING (including people) outside of the ring, you’re out.
Screw the top rope. You can still eliminate guys over the top, but it’s just not necessary. None of this hopping on one foot, riding Big E’s shoulders, or putting a cookie sheet on the floor, if you’re outside of the ring at all, you’re out. I’m waiting for the year when someone protests, “My shoes touched the floor, not my feet!” As it stands, get yourself a good lawyer, and you could possibly wind up in the main event of WrestleMania.
4) Yes, you can lose by DQ!
Why don’t these guys enter the ring with guns and knives or steel chairs? Why not enter the ring as a gang? There’s no DQ.
5) No managers or posses at ringside.
There’s enough to keep track of already. We don’t need more distractions.
Of course, WWE will do whatever it does, and ignore all of these suggestions and even their own rules because then they could not do the stupid Kofi Kingston plate spinning juggling act spot which is why we all watch. Right.
Hey WWE, rules are important. We need to know the rules of your universe or else it doesn’t make sense and it feels totally contrived. Imagine if we woke up and the rules of our universe just changed. “Uh, red lights now mean green, but just for today. Oh, and when you spit, gravity takes your loogee up.” That wouldn’t end well. Consistency is important when telling a story, and the consistency lies within WWE enforcing the rules of professional wrestling.
Evolve Wrestling closed up a three-day in Florida with their 55th iPPV/event, emanating from Orlando, FL, Sunday.
– Anthony Nese (w/So Cal Val & Andrea) def. Ethan Page, Fred Yehi, and Jason Cade in a four-way after Nese pinned Page following a pump-handle reverse piledriver.
– Caleb Konley def. Tommaso Ciampa after hitting a double jump moonsault.
– Sami Callihan def. Zack Sabre Jr. after hitting two modified tombstones and a running forearm.
– Style Battle 2016 tournament finals: Matt Riddle def. Hot Sauce Williams with a heel hook to win the tourney. He then challenged Evolve champion Timothy Thatcher for a March New York show which the champion accepted. Konley and then Callihan came out to also challenge Thatcher. The segment ended with Riddle, Williams, and Drew Gulak laying out Callihan after he had laid out Thatcher.
– 2nd Chance Tag Team Tournament Finals (Elimination Rules) Team Tremendous (Dan Barry & Bill Carr) defeated Catch Point (Drew Gulak & TJ Perkins), The Bravado Bros. (Harlem & Lancelot Bravado) and Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta). The win give TT a future tag team title shot.
– Evolve Tag Team Championship Finals: Drew Galloway & Johnny Gargano def. Heroes Eventually Die (Chris Hero & Tommy End) to win the first-ever Evolve tag team titles when Gargano submitted End.
Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. and The Panther
This is officially the young lions’ last match before they go to CMLL on their excursion. Nice action from both teams. Pretty quick match with Panther submitting Komatsu with a high angle armbar. Komatsu grabbed a microphone after the match. He promised that they would come back as stars. Tanaka said he had the time of his life as a young lion, and promises to come back stronger than ever.
Tiger Mask, Fuego, Kushida and Stuka Jr. vs. Yoshi-Hashi, Okumura, Hechicero and Bobby Z
Stuka and Kushida brought in girls to dance with them and Fuego while Tiger Mask stood in the distance unamused, I guess because he’s a stick in the mud. Good six man tag with some decent heat. Okumura’s manager Mima Shimoda kept getting involved. The faces wasted no time in laying her out every time she came into the ring. That’s certainly something to see in professional wrestling in 2015. Stuka Jr. won with the torpedo on Okumura and Shimoda.
Virus vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
This was very much a mat wrestling match as both exchanged holds back and forth. These kind of straight up technical matches you don’t see too often, so it’s pretty fun to watch. Virus went for a sharpshooter but Liger reversed it, took him back down and somehow transitioned into a pendulum swing (or the campanara for the submission. Haven’t seen Liger use that move before, but it worked here in the context of the match. It didn’t last too long, but the mat wrestling was good while it lasted.
Ryusuke Taguchi, Atlantis and Mascara Dorada and vs. Tetsuya Naito, Bushi and Evil
This is also Mascara Dorada’s last match as a full time NJPW wrestler as he’s heading back to CMLL. This time when someone removed Taguchi’s pharaoh mask he had his eyes painted like Evil’s, which he didn’t take too kindly to. Solid match, just your typical six man here with some cool dives here and there. Dorada hit a great looking Asai moonsault to the floor, wiping out everyone. Dorada countered Bushi’s codebreaker and went for the Dorada screwdriver but he escaped. Naito came back to the ring and low blowed Dorada, allowing Bushi to get the win with a bridging pin.
Naito faked an injury, so Komatsu came in and gave him ice. Naito put the Ingobernables hat on him and teased like he was a new member, but it was a swerve and laid him out with a clothesline. That was a payoff to what had been going down in the last month with Naito being nice to Komatsu before and after matches.
Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura and Barbaro Cavernario vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson and Titan
The latter team came out in their outfits from Saturday morning, but this time Cavernario had a wheel painted in his back. Okada had a skull mask similar to Nakamuras but was gold colored. Really good six man with, again, lots of crazy dives. Robinson, Titan, Robinson and Tanahashi all did stereo planchas on the outside. Titan did a awesome moonsault from the top rope that took out Nakamura. Robinson threw Cavernario out to the floor but Okada did his comeback and pinned Robinson with the rainmaker.
Hirooki Goto appeared immediately after the bell had rang and laid out Okada, Gedo, Titan – pretty much everyone in his path. He laid out Okada with his reverse neckbreaker on the leg and promptly made his exit. Goto’s kind of had a loose cannon like gimmick attacking Okada at every opportunity.
CMLL Lightweight Champion Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi
Incredible match, easily blows everything from the last two days out of the water. Just a series of incredible moves and counters that has to be seen to be believed. Lee did a great running rana from the ring, over the ropes and to the floor. Lee did a double footstomp that sent them both to the floor. Lee went for another, this time facing the ring but Kamaitachi avoided him and ended up doing a dropkick that sent Lee to the floor. Kamaitachi followed with a big senton off the top rope that was absolutely crazy. Sinked in a figure four but Lee grabbed the ropes. He had been grabbing his knees during some of the match. Just a ton of flashy, awesome back and forth counters. Crazy nearfalls by Dragon Lee including another double foot stomp and a cradle German suplex. They traded moves back and forth. Awesome heat from the audience. Lee went for a powerbomb but Kamaitachi somehow floated over him and countered with a Canadian destroyer for an incredible finish to win the title.
Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero
This was slightly hard to get into at first after the previous match, but these guys had a very good match that the crowd did get into. They did their same routine from the last few days where Mistico and Guerrero would fight over who got the bigger reaction. Mistico did a lot of great high flying and Guerrero looked good in doing big power spots and keeping him grounded. He powerbombed Mistico off the middle rope, for example. Guerrero hit a top rope reverse suplex for a nearfall but Mistico kicked out. Mistico came back and sank in la mistica and got the submission.
CMLL Welterweight Champion Volador Jr. vs. Mephisto
I saw most of this match, excluding the last couple of minutes as the stream completely died. From what I saw, this was a decent match but not as good as the two prior matches and the crowd wasn’t as into it. Still, they worked hard and had a good match. Volador came to the ring wearing pain inspired by Venom from the Spider Man universe. Basic lucha match. Mephisto did some cool dives, as did Volador Jr. There was a cool spot at one point where Mephisto slid under Volador, and he responded by dishing out a moonsault. Volador kicked out of the double underhook facebuster that had him pinned the previous night. I didn’t catch all of the finish as the stream completely died, but Volador retained with a top rope spanish fly.
Everyone came to the ring after the match and posed for cameras. Volador thanked the crowd and said they’d hope to see them again next year.
*****
All three of these shows were pretty fun to watch. Definitely check out Dragon Lee/Kamaitachi as that’s a match that needs to be seen.
The Rock returned for a 25-minute segment where he dueled with the New Day over the mic. He built up WrestleMania, but there were no plans for him announced for the future. He was still the most entertaining thing on the show, which had its high points. The main event of Fast Lane will be Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar in a triple threat match, with the winner facing HHH in the main event at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. A.J. Styles made his Raw debut. Shock of shocks, he had the best match on the show, defeating Chris Jericho. It looks like those two are headed for another match, likely at Fast Lane, as well. Easily the best Raw of the year, so far.
Vince and Stephanie McMahon came out gloating over Roman Reigns losing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to HHH. Vince said that, just like the fans, Reigns couldn’t rise above adversity. Instead, when adversity faced him, he whimpered and whined. Stephanie said they pulled off a coo in getting HHH into the Royal Rumble. Did she see the odds leading up to the show. She mentioned A.J. Styles, who got a huge pop and “We love A.J.” Chants. Stephanie built up her husband and introduced him.
HHH came out and said Reigns might be among the most amazing athletes he’s ever seen, but he lacks respect because he’s arrogant and cocky. He claimed Reigns lacked respect for Vince, who might as well be God because he’s the one who created all this. The man who went from 6.7 ratings in September 1999 against football to a 2.3 running unopposed? Alrighty…HHH said anyone who disrespects Vince might as well be distracting his religion because the ring was his church.
HHH then spoke to those who said his time had come and gone as a wrestler. He admitted he didn’t have to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but now he wanted to be because people need to show proper respect. That started a light “Roman” chant.
Stephanie said the main event for Fast Lane would be announced tonight, and the winner of that match would face HHH in the main event of WrestleMania.
Kevin Owens defeated Dolph Ziggler (8:45)
As usual, a good match between the two. Kevin Owens won with the Pop-Up Power Bomb. Ziggler went to the top rope trying to give Owens a huracanrana, but Owens crotched him. Owens looked like he was going for the F-Cinq, but they couldn’t get in position for it. The show-long storyline is wrestlers are trying to impress the Authority in order to get the spot in the Fast Lane main event.
Flo Rida is in the building.
JoJo interviewed Reigns backstage. He told her to let the Chairman and the champion know that he was here and he wasn’t leaving until he hears the Fast Lane announcement.
Social Outcasts came out. Heath Slater saw Flo Rida at ringside and ordered him to not make him mad. Bo Dallas challenged Rida to come in the ring and face the four Superfriends. He got in the ring. Slater challenged him to a rap battle against Bo Rida. Bo ran down Florida and said he had a Full House “just like Danny Tanner.” Had to use Wikipedia to find that Danny Tanner was the role that Bob Saget played on that show. It’s scary that Bo Dallas rapping was ten times more entertaining than that show that Adam Rose hosted, but it’s unlikely we’ll see Bo Rida again. Flo Rida said Social Outcasts had no skills and “Welcome to Dudleyville.” Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley came out to their nu metal song from 2000. It’s more dated than Petey Pablo.
The Dudley Boyz defeated Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel (4:27)
The Dudleys won with the 3-D on Curtis Axel. Devon got the pin. Rida was in the Dudleyz corner. There was a spot when Flo Rida dumped Slater into the ring, and the Dudleys gave him Wazzup. Dallas now has a singlet. He looks like Eric Embry in 1990 Memphis when he let himself go. There’s a spot where the four members of Social Outcasts walked around the ring together that’s called the “Bo Train” Michael Cole announced later this year, the Dudleys would celebrate their “20th year anniversary” together. Thank you, Phil Simms.
Styles did an interview with Rene Young. She asked him, for those who don’t know, tells us exactly who you are. Chris Jericho walked up, called I’m the hottest free agent in the world. Jericho derisively said “Welcome to the Big Leagues, kid.” Why do I have these images of Braden Walker floating through my head?
They announced that Nikki Bella will miss the next six months because of neck fusion surgery. It was supposedly reported by E! To promote Total Divas.
A.J. Styles defeated Chris Jericho (13:43)
A very good match where Styles won by reversing a cradle after Jericho escaped the Styles Clash. Jericho appeared to be calling the match and Styles looked like he was trying find his footing in a new ring. Some of his trademark spots, like the flying drop kicked, weren’t executed perfectly. In the final eight minutes, it was excellent. Jericho got the Liontamer and Styles had a lengthy struggle before getting to the ropes. Crowd popped big for that. Fans embraced this match from the opening bell, chanting “This is awesome” right from the outset. Styles went for a splash but missed, leading to Jericho going for a lionsault, but Styles got his knees up. Afterwards, Styles extended his hand for a handshake. Jericho shook his hand, then pulled Styles together for a face-to-face confrontation. Looks like this could be a program and that’s goodie, goodie gumdrops.
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch went to a no contest (3:33)
Sasha Banks had Becky Lynch in the Bank Statement when Charlotte ran in for the DQ. Charlotte gave Banks Natural Selection and also sent Lynch out of the ring. BK<anks wrestled as the heel even though she got more cheers.
Goldust found R-Truth backstage. Golddust was doing a combination of his original effeminate gimmick and his Tourette’s Syndrome promo, asking R-Truth to be his partner. R-Truth showed him his wedding ring and said he was a married man. After R-Truth bolted, Goldust said he meant tag team partner and claimed they could call the team “Gold and Truth.”
Bray Wyatt defeated Kane (7:05)
Bray Wyatt won with Sistery Abigail after a distraction from Luke Harper. Crowd was dead, which isn’t a good sign since they teased Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar at some point over the next few months. Wyatt is basically a ring entrance now. There was a fan who was dressed up as Randy Savage at ringside who took attention away from the match. Crowd started chanting for him and Wyatt didn’t look happy about it. It looked like the ushers forced to tone it down, which got the ushers more heat than the match. Later, those four men turned up away from the hard camera during the Rock’s segment. Braun Strowman gave Kane the head-and-arm choke afterwards.
A WWE reporter knocked on the door of a limo parked backstage. Crowd chanted for the Rock, but the Miz got out. He started to do an interview, but then a big black truck pulled him. And it was the Rock who got out.
Rock handed Miz the keys of his truck to park it. On his way to the ring, Rock shook hands with Rick Ross. Then Rock saw the Big Show and they talked about the Royal Rumble in 2000 where they were the last two in. They did a finish that year where they went over the top rope together and the Big Show’s feet were supposed to hit first, but it was the Rock who did it by mistake. Rock was awarded the win. Rock admitted the Show should have won that year, and said producers from the Scorpion King were going to give the role in that film to the winner of the Rumble that year. It could have been the Big Show who was in the Fast and Furious sequels, chasing Van Dielsel around. Big Show got this classic sad look on his face and broke a laptop that he was holding for no reason in two. He wasn’t mad at Rock at all, but Show had some great timing and facials here.
Rock stumbled on to Lana, where they talked about the last time Rock confronted Rusev. He claimed that after the show, Lana said she didn’t want to be with Rusev anymore. They went inside a hotel room and did special exercises like the Wisconsin Wheelbarrow, and the D.J. Mustache Ride. Rusev came up from behind. Lana informed Rock they were now engaged to be married. Rock told Rusev that Lana was flexible as all hell.
Rock continued his walk backstage, where he slapped hands with Pat Patterson, to the Gorillia Position. Finally he made his way out to the crowd to the Miami fans, who chanted “This is awesome” before he even started speaking. Rock said he was ready for WretleMania and asked the fans if they were. He pretended not to know Byron Saxton’s name.
Rock saw four guys dressed at ringside and went totally off script. He interviewed the aforementioned Savage impersonator, a Hulk Hogan impersonator, an Undertaker impersonator and someone dressed as Rock.The New Day came out doing this scripted material. Kofi Kingston said the Rock was supposedly the People’s Champion, but he didn’t have any gold around his waist. They were WWE tag team champions.
Big E. Said the Rock was like LeBron James, he bolted Miami for greener pastures. Xavier Woods did an impression of Rikishi saying “He did it for the picture.” Even Rock couldn’t hold back a smile over that one.
Rock said the New Day found a way to be entertaining with llama penises strapped to their heads. Rock said they looked like three Chocolate Cornholes running their mouths all of the time. He said Big E. Was so nerdy, he looked like what would happen if the Incredible Hulk banged Urkel.
Rock challenged them to get in the ring. New Day started to leave. Rock said he had a Plan B: family. The Usos came out. Rock gave Big E. The Rock Bottom, Kingston took a double superkick from the Usos and Woods took the People’s Elbow. Rock delivered his catchphrase and that was that. All of this shows that ther’s only Rock, and there will never be another.
Paige and Natalyia defeated Brie Bella and Alicia Fox (2:45)
Paige pinned Brie Bella with the Rampage. They had to rush because the Rock segment took over 25 minutes.
Kalisto (C) defeated the Miz (10:23) in a nontitle match.
Kalisto won with the Solida Del Sol after Miz attempted the Skull Crushing Finale. OK match, but the U.S. Title around Kalisto’s waist feels like the championship is a secondary belt again. Highlight of the match was when JBL said Rock was ” the number one international box office hit” in 2015. Box office hit as opposed to box office attraction. Even Cole couldn’t hold back a chuckle after that one. JBL launched his candidacy to win the Worst Announcer award again next January in quality fashion tonight.
Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns defeated Rusev and Sheamus (15:19)
Dean Ambrose got the heat after Rusev threw him into the timekeeper’s table. Ambrose, who had his left shoulder taped up after his match with Owens last night, took three Irish Curse backbreakers from Sheamus. Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Reigns, but Ambrose made the save. Sheamus shot Reigns into the ropes, but Reigns came off with a spear for the pin.
Afterwards, to get payback on the League of Nations for jumping Reigns during the Royal Rumble, Ambrose helped Reigns get Rusev up to power bomb him through the announcer’s table.
Stephanie came out to announce that the main event for Fast Lane would be a triple threat match: Ambrose vs. Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar.
SUMMARY:
It’s always so entertaining to see the Rock on Raw because he makes it feel like an event. It’s always so depressing the week after the Rock visits Raw because you know the product will never be as good as it was during his prime. And not just because of his personality and his presence, which comes along once in a generation. It’s because the fabric of what made the Rock special has changed. He would have never become the personality that endeared himself to millions with scripted interviews on weekly three hour shows. When he first appeared, Raw was an one hour show and still relied on syndication for first-run matches. The Rock was only as good as his creative ability, which might be his most underrated quality. Nowadays, most wrestlers don’t get that chance because it’s how the system is. Anyway, hate to sound old, but that’s what it feels like watching so far ahead of the modern pack. Show was largely entertaining. Styles-Jericho was worth going out of your way to see.
If you missed last night’s Royal Rumble, you can check out Dave Meltzer’s coverage here. Spoilers: As expected, HHH won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after entering at number 30 and tossing out DEAN AMBROSE last. Roman Reigns was eliminated 28th by HHH, so we can assume that is the Wrestlemania main event.
Reigns actually lasted 59:50, nearly catching Rey Mysterio’s longest time record of 62:15. Jericho entered 6th and lasted 50:50 before being eliminated by Ambrose. Braun Strowman eliminated the most men with five total. The big surprise of the match was AJ STYLES entering at number 3. The fans went nuts for styles, who lasted 27:53 until being eliminated by Owens. Sami Zayn was also a surprise entrant at number 20.
The only other title change was Kalisto beating Del Rio for the United States Championship. The preshow match was won by Mark Henry and Jack Swagger after Henry unexplainably splashed Bubba Ray and then pinned Viktor. So Henry and Swagger got to enter the Rumble at numbers 22 and 24 respectively.
We’re looking for your thoughts on all three nights of Fantastica Mania as well as the Royal Rumble show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer
We’re also looking for reports from Raw tonight in Miami, with the Superstars matches, dark matches and anything else that wouldn’t be evident from the live show. WWE is teasing a major return on the show. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are not scheduled for the show.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday in Tampa.
We’re looking for your thoughts on all three nights of Fantastica Mania as well as the Royal Rumble show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer
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The 2015 Observer awards issue, the traditional biggest issue of the year,is up on the web site now. The issue not only has the awards winners in more than 40 different categories, but all the top place winners, as well as a history with all the awards winners dating back to 1980, as well as my comments on the placing for many of the awards.
The categories are:
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year), MMA MVP, Most Outstanding Wrestler, Most Outstanding MMA Fighter, Best Box Office Draw, Feud of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Most Improved, Best on Interviews, Most Charismatic, Best Technical Wrestler, Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler), Best Flying Wrestler, Most Overrated, Most Underrated, Promotion of the Year, Best Weekly TV show, Pro Wrestling Match of the Year, MMA Match of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Best Non-Wrestler, Best Television Announcer, Worst Television Announcer, Best Major Wrestling show, Worst Major Wrestling Show, Best Wrestling Maneuver, Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, Worst Television Show, Worst Match of the Year, Worst Feud of the Year, Worst Promotion of the Year, Best Booker, Promoter of the Year, Best Gimmick, Worst Gimmick, Best Pro Wrestling Book and Best Pro Wrestling DVD
Update on the Royal Rumble and Rumble weekend, full coverage of Dominick Cruz’s UFC bantamweight title win and the records set on Sunday’s show and details on the New Japan/Jim Ross announcing deal as well as a look at how this came about and Jim Ross’ overall career.
2017 Wrestlemania, how Smackdown has affected overall ratings for the USA Network, update on A.J. Styles with WWE, WWE injury updates, Daniel Bryan update, more on Mauro Ranallo and Smackdown, Chris Jericho talks his return, new season of Total Divas, How talent is broken down in NXT, the heat on Josh from Tough Enough, new dates for Brock Lesnar, plus notes from the big NXT tour and all the shows, the NXT Florida shows, as well as the WWE shows in India and the WWE weekend domestic shows and all the business notes.
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio, covering Raw tonight, the latest fallout from the Rumble, and the rest of the pro wrestling and MMA news. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
UFC 196 is officially cursed. Fabricio Werdum pulled out of the fight today due to injuries. So there will be no title match nor main event. Cain Velasquez had pulled out yesterday. Here is the story. Ariel Helwani on Twitter wrote that there was still a chance Werdum will fight as he’s going to see a doctor, but it’s not looking good. It was weird that he said he wouldn’t have pulled out if it was Velasquez, who had been training hard, but would beacuse it’s Miocic, who had basically one week to get in shape for five rounds. It is a different style matchup at the last minute.
Federal Judge Kimba Wood today denied UFC’s attempt to get a federal injunction that would bar the New York State attorney general’s office from stopping the proposed 4/23 show in Madison Square Garden. If the injunction was granted, the show would be on. Without it, they would need approval from the attorney general’s office that the show would be allowed, which is difficult with the laws as they are in place and the new bill to legalize professional MMA in New York not yet being passed. The court said that UFC has the right to sue over whether the law should be legal as it is, but the judge would not issue an injunction to allow the show with the current law in place.
Nikki Bella will be undergoing neck surgery on Wednesday, saying to E! that she has a pretty bad herniated disc, and said it’s more difficult than most with the same injury. “We’re gonna pray that the doctors can get the piece behind my vertebrae with just a bone fusion.” She said she’s been hurting since July and in October, looked into it, and after getting an MRI, had stopped working. She said she’ll probably know after surgery if she’ll be able to return at some point and will have an idea of when six months later.
There is nothing new on the Hiroshi Tanahashi injury. He was expected to see a doctor today regarding the shoulder he dislocated in a six-man tag team match yesterday. As noted last night on the radio show, this injury came at a time New Japan can least afford it. Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata were to face Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii in the All-Star match on 1/30 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo which is a major show in Japan because it’s Nakamura’s last bout with the promotion. So it appears the last Tanahashi vs. Nakamura confrontation was last night.
Dwayne Johnson announced an endorsement deal with Under Armour and work with them to create a range of footwear, apparel and accessories and support the company’s fitness initiatives. They will also develop products based on movies Johnson is working on, including a Rock backpack and duffel bag that will hit stores in a few weeks.
WWE announced a partnership today with the Boys & Girls Club of America. It was a multi-year deal focusing on bully prevention and the Be a Star alliance. The WWE performers will participate in anti-bullying rallies in local clubs across the country and distribute Be a Star resources and materials.
Stardust tweeted out today that “Stardust is coming to an end.” I believe he later deleted it.
For those who asked, Chris Jericho didn’t suffer a broken nose in the Rumble, but did get a bloody nose shortly after he got in the match.
WWE stock was up 55 cents per share to $17.29 today.
The premiere of the new WWE Network show “Ride Along,” will air tonight after Raw.
As far as the John Cena movies go, Daddy’s Home was No. 8 for the weekend at $5.27 million and Sisters was No. 11 at $3.5 million. In Australia, Sisters was No. 6 and Daddy’s Home was No. 8 (thanks to James Stanios)
HHH has been added to the advertising at some upcoming RAW shows.
Anthony Perosh, who may have been the oldest fighter on the UFC roster with the exception of Dan Henderson, announced his retirement yesterday. Perosh was a ground specialist who was featured when UFC ran in Australia.
MISCELLANEOUS
ROH sent out a Tweet with The Young Bucks, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows and A.J. Styles posed together with a message saying how “now everyone will find out how phenomenal he really is,” which was a classy way to do things.
C4 Wrestling on Saturday night in Ottawa before a turn away crowd of 420: Deeno Benjamin b Marc Mercer, Cuts n Guts & Sebastian Suave b Fight or Flight &Kevin Dunn, Velvet Jones b Decker Lockhart, Twiggy & Space Monkey b Michael Von Payton & Vanessa Kraven, Evil Uno b Jaka, Joey Janela b Viking, Cecil Nyx and Evan Adams in a four-way, Buxx Belmar & Thomas Dubois b Pinkie Sanchez & Chris Dickinson, Stuff Grayson won three-way over 2 Cold Scorpio and Brent Banks, Mathieu St. Jacques b Speedball Mike Bailey. Next show is 2/26 (thanks to Patric Laprade)
Classic Championship Wrestling in Chatham, ONT on 3/6 at 2 p.m. at the WISH Centre.
CWE on 3/11 in Winnipeg at Rookie’s Sports Bar.
Metro Pro Wrestling on 1/30 in Kansas City, KS at the Turner Rec Center with Jeremy Wyatt vs. The Beer City Bruiser for the Metro Pro title and Tracy Smothers vs. Math Magician.
IWF Winter Warfare on 1/30 at the IWF Centre in Nutley, NJ.
Pure Wrestling Alliance on 3/6 in Kitchener, ONT at the Registry Theater.
Ed Loredo has set up a bus for WrestleMania weekend for readers going to Dallas. The first bus sold out immediately so there may be a second bus added. For more info contact him at f4wfan@hotmail.com
More than one year after the actual event took place, it appears that the U.S. air date of the “Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows” hopefully, Vince McMahon willing since half his booking ideas seem to come from attempts to gain some sort of personal retribution, will finally put closure to what without question will go down as the most famous ending of a match in North American history.
Bret Hart is among the leading candidates to be the pro wrestler of this decade. He’s one of the best in-ring performers of this generation. Vince McMahon, is the most successful wrestling promoter ever, and from a historical standpoint is probably the most important one of all-time, although some would argue the latter point. Yet for all of Hart’s great matches and all of McMahon’s business accomplishments, the defining moment in both men’s professional lives and possibly even what both will over the long haul most be remembered for, at least personally, is chronicled in this movie.
The documentary, which aired last month in Canada, and airs from 9-11 p.m. on the A&E Network on 12/20, has gotten unanimously positive reviews from every media source in North America that has reviewed it, which is amazing given the subject of the movie is pro wrestling. Certainly that is a first for any movie on pro wrestling, or even with a theme revolving around pro wrestling. The version of the movie on television will be the “Child Friendly” videotape version, with some language edits from the original version.
WWE has teased a major return to Raw tonight in Miami.
Given that the show is in Miami, Dwayne Johnson, whose roots are in the city, would be the obvious speculative choice to set up his role in the WrestleMania build. Undertaker, who also needs to have a WrestleMania angle set up, would be another possibility as many expected him for last night’s show.
The actual wording of the tweet sent by the company was “Breaking News: Rumors are running rampant that a major star returns to Raw tonight on the road to WrestleMania.”
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, who were never advertised for tonight’s show, are not expected at the show tonight.
We’ll have full coverage of RAW later tonight both with Jeff Hamlin’s RAW Report and with myself and Bryan Alvarez later tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio. Listen to Bryan and I discuss the 2016 Royal Rumble on Wrestling Observer Radio here.
