House Show/TV tapings random happenings

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4 hours ago, BomberPat said:

Just to add a note on this, the Big Show (or "The Great Wight") match with Hogan in Memphis was actually initially promoted as a Hogan/Lawler match, with WWE being sufficiently mardy with Hulk to pull Lawler from a show in Memphis, something that they have rarely ever felt the need to do. Show was the last-minute replacement, and WWE still weren't happy, and stopped allowing any of their wrestlers to appear in Memphis.

The legal shenanigans there were hilarious - "NBC contracted wrestlers can't appear on VH1" - VH1 being the channel airing Hogan Knows Best.

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JANUARY 2007

New year, same problem in regards to TV, that being champions dropping non title matches… and we’re about to get the mother of them all.

MAIN EVENTS - RAW

13th-14th in Alexandria and Texarkana then 20th-21st in New Orleans (near 10,000) and Biloxi it’s still John Cena vs Umaga with the DQ finish - even though we’ve pinned Umaga at the PPV. That appears to be it.

THE CARDS

Shawn Michaels & Ric Flair vs Randy Orton & Edge with non title wins (boooooo) for the heroes goes on twice, then it’s HBK vs Edge twice with Orton pretending to be injured ringside and Hacksaw Jim Duggan (?) negating his eventual interference. Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro vs Kenny Dykstra for the ICT is mid month - serious high hopes for Kenny here - then week 3 Super Crazy is added (??) making it a four way but he’s blighted by interference from his renewed TV rivalry - speaking of, Chris Masters vs Carlito continues week 2 but in New Orleans and Biloxi Carly has to jobs for Great Khali who’s getting pushed again soon. 

Mickie James vs Victoria for the women’s title happens twice more before it becomes a 50/50 tag with Candice Michelle and Melina as the partners. Cryme Tyme vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch mid month gives way to Shad & JTG vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin, otherwise it’s The Highlanders vs Haas & Benjamin plus Eugene vs Viscera mid month and Daniel Rodimer vs Val Venis throughout.

Triple H does his quad at NYR so will be out until summer.

VARIATIONS - NONE

MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

6th-8th they’re  in Indiana, in Terre Haute, Muncie and a 4000 sellout (bless) in Hammond it’s Batista vs Fit Finlay for the belt. Dave is off 13th in Hidalgo and 14th in Laredo so The Undertaker & Kane vs Ken Kennedy & MVP goes on last. 20th-22nd it’s Louisiana - in Lake Charles, Monroe and Baton Rouge it’s Batista vs Kennedy.

THE CARDS

Kane vs MVP & Ken Kennedy in a handicap is still going on in Indiana, in Louisiana the Big Red Machine is beating Fit Finlay after those Texas main events. Chris Benoit vs Chavo Guerrero Jr is a sandwich, in Texas it’s the Crippler vs the Belfast Bruiser. Both King Booker vs Boogey Man and Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs William Regal & Dave Taylor happen in both Texas and Louisiana. The sole undercard addition on ECW-heavy cards early month is minutes for Deuce & Domino opposite Jimmy Wang Yang & Sho Funaki, with CMLL luchador Sensei getting a tryout pinning Jamie Noble and a cross brand tag of Michelle McCool & Jillian Hall vs Kelly Kelly & Trinity in Texas. Oh, and bikini contests in Louisiana.

ECW has Bobby Lashley defending the belt against first Test, then Hardcore Holly, then in three ways with Test and Rob Van Dam. Robcore vs Bobcore starts the month, along with Tommy Dreamer vs Kevin Thorn, in Texas RVD teams with The Sandman to beat (get this trio) Thorn, Mike Knox and George Murdoch (Brodus Clay) then in Louisiana Tommy and Sandy are swapping wins with the thrown-together Elijah Burke & Matt Striker. Finally CM Punk beats Striker in Indiana then month end has mixed fortunes opposite newly arrived Marcus Cor Von - yes, you may remember this was Monty Brown from TNA.

VARIATIONS - NONE

TVs

1st in Miami Cena loses non title by pinfall to Kevin Federline, and I have nothing else to add. Next night in Lakeland Gymini lose dark to Matt Hardy & Funaki, and SmackDown is also awful to champions with Gregory Helms losing to Booker in one of the risible Beat The Clock matches, a time surpassed when Kennedy pins Benoit non title (FUCK SAKE). 8th in St Louis Vladimir Kozlov beats Eugene dark, the infamous fake Trump vs fake Rosie match happens, Cena has to drop a DQ to new Raw recruit Khali but dark he pins Umaga. 9th in Peoria Funaki & Ace Steel lose to Gymini, on TV Kennedy pins Benoit again (FUCCCKK SAKE!!!!!) and dark, Batista Kane and Taker beat Booker, Ken and MVP. 15th Raw in Bossier City is only worth mentioning because the latest misguided step in Carlito’s face run - after him hooking up with first Trish then Torrie - is for him to stand up to Vince then get flattened by Khali as a consequence. Way to go, hero. Next night in Little Rock Sensei gets another look, pinning Noble in a dark match, on ECW Marcus (or “Marquis” for one week only - Jesus wept) debuts, and on SmackDown Deuce & Domino (with Cherry) debut. Dark, Batista Taker and Kane beat Booker, Finlay and Kennedy. 22nd in Lafayette even with the motivation of Torrie in his corner Carlito does a job to Dykstra. Next night in Mobile dark main has Batista pins Kennedy again. The Rumble has a dark match - JTG beats Cade in singles. Next night in Dallas (a huge 17,000+ sellout) Raw has Rated-RKO squabble over who deserves a shot at Cena - starting a slow burn towards their match at Mania which ends up getting scrubbed - followed by them losing the tag belts to Cena and HBK. Next night in Houston (15,000+) on ECW Vince compares Sabu to a member of the Taliban, and SmackDown has London & Kendrick lose non title to Deuce & Domino (FUCK SAKE).

The WWE Name Generator deserved a bonus this month for “Marquis Cor Von.”

DEPARTURES 

On the 18th there’s a minor cull ; the useless Gymini and Sylvester Terkay are cut, the nostalgia is over for Tatanka and with the authenticity of ECW waning from virtually day one, they don’t really need Tony Mamaluke any more. Rodney Mack and Jazz are let go for the second time, the latter having not been wrestled on TV since the special right before One Night Stand. A loss to Kennedy on TV is the last time Vito will wrestle on the main roster ; he’s sent to Deep South but released in May. Ryan Reeves is cut from his developmental deal which is only notable because when he makes his way back he’ll become Skip Sheffield and eventually Ryback.

Edited July 1, 2023 by air_raid

[air_raid]

FEBRUARY 2007

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

2nd-4th in Madison, Cedar Rapids and Spencer then again 11th in Salt Lake City it's still John Cena vs Umaga with a DQ finish for Christ-knows how many months in a row despite Cena having beaten the monster decisively at the Rumble. We're supposed to move straight into a tag title feud but Shawn Michaels (among others) has transport issues 24th in Reno so its Cena vs Randy Orton vs Edge, with the tag title contested on last as scheduled next night in Sacramento.

THE CARDS

Randy Orton vs Carlito is back on early month. Umaga vs Jeff Hardy starts up for the ICT after the change. Jeff & Matt Hardy vs MNM didn't finish at the Rumble as they said on TV ; they wrestle in Madison and Iowa. It's still Mickie James vs Victoria for the belt early month and after the switch its Melina vs Candice Michelle.

Super Crazy vs Chris Masters and Cryme Tyme vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin continue all month. The old guard are doing the favours early month in Kenny Dykstra vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Scotty Too Hotty vs Vladimir Kozlov plus there's Great Khali vs Eugene - I thought they turned Eugene heel?? The only new run that successfully happens in both Reno and Sacramento is The Highlanders vs Sonny Siaki & Eric Perez.

VARIATIONS

Shawn & Ric Flair vs Rated-RKO is back on in Salt Lake only, where Mickie vs Melina also happens prior to the televised change plus Great Khali smashing Carlito again, Jeff vs Nitro vs Dykstra, Cryme Tyme beating Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch, Crazy losing to Viscera and Val Venis getting a win back from Daniel Rodimer. Shuffle in Reno has Crazy upset Nitro, Haas beat a Bradley Jay, Masters beat Duggan and Carlito back with Shelton. Sacramento has, as planned, Dykstra over Jay and Carlito over Nitro.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

We’ve still got Batista vs Ken Kennedy in Illinois - 3rd in Carbondale (?) 4th in Champaign the afternoon of the SuperBowl. 14th in Yakima Dave tags with The Undertaker to beat Ken and regular buddy MVP, then 23rd/24th we’ve got two 9000 gates in Christchurch and Auckland for the title match back on.

THE CARDS

It’s Chris Benoit vs MVP in Illinois and Auckland or vs Chavo Guerrero Jr in Yakima and Christchurch. Kane vs King Booker happens in Illinois on the way to No Way Out and again in Christchurch. New Zealand is very ECW heavy but Illinois has Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs Deuce & Domino for the tag belts plus Boogey Man vs Fit Finlay. ECW presence is Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Thorn for the belt, Tommy Dreamer & Rob Van Dam vs Elijah Burke & Marcus Cor Von (originals doing the job) and CM Punk vs Matt Striker in Illinois, and nothing consistent on tour.

VARIATIONS

Yakima has, uniquely, Gregory Helms vs Sho Funaki in an actual CWT defence, Joey Mercury vs Jimmy Wang Yang, "Londrick" beating William Regal & Dave Taylor again, cross brand titilation of Michelle McCool & Jillian Hall vs Kelly Kelly & Layla El (lovely bit of muffin) and ECW has RVD pinning Cor Von, Punk doing a daft job to Thorn, and Dreamer tagging with Balls Mahoney to beat Burke & Striker. The Undertaker vs MVP happens in Christchurch ; in Auckland it’s Taker vs Booker and Kane vs Chavo. In Christchurch Lashley defends three way against RVD and Hardcore Holly, Michelle wrestles Kelly, Punk does another stupid job to Gene Snitsky, and Sabu & Dreamer lose to Burke & Cor Von. In Auckland Snitsky wins a battle royal then later loses to Lashley, RVD knocks off buddy Sabu, and there's a bikini contest.

TVs

5th in Sioux City Vladimir Kozlov beats Val dark again and Raw continues simmering tension between Edge and Orton for the Mania match that won't happen. Next night in Omaha Chuck Palumbo gets his latest dark tryout and he pins Shannon Moore - well maybe it is deja vu, it sounds like it - plus Daivari returns to SmackDown and pins Helms non title (FUCK SAKE) and London and Kendrick lose again non title to Deuce & Domino (FUCKING STOP IT YOU LAZY FUCKWITS). 12th in Portland OR Paul Burchill wins a dark match while patiently awaiting his next repackage. Next night in Seattle Palumbo loses to Matt. No Way Out has a cross brand dark match - RVD pins Shelton. Next night in Bakersfield is a big broadcast and dark HBK & Cena beat Rated-RKO. Next night in sold out (7500) San Diego, Moore & Yang beat Jado & Gedo (huh?), on ECW Los Luchas from PWG appear without their masks to do a job to reunited La Resistance (original Grenier & Dupree version), on SmackDown an injured Rey Mysterio is brutalised by Umaga and dark Batista pins Kennedy again. 26th in Fresno (8700 sell out but this is the Save Mart, not the larger Selland where Shawn won the Rumble) Duggan beats Bradley Jay dark and there’s a far more interesting Heat than usual - Eugene beats Tony Jones of Beyond The Mat fame and Venis actually wins a match, against Haas. Finally next night in San Jose (10,500 paid, 13,000+ in the building sellout) there’s a much discussed tryout in an empty arena for Mistico (who will eventually be Sin Cara) which I believe was running drills with Noble in front of Dean Malenko. In front of fans Funaki pins Jay, for MITB qualifying Finlay beats Benoit and MVP in a non title match by pinning Benoit (FUCK SAKE) and dark Batista pins Booker.

Worth adding that by now “Extreme Expose” includes Brooke Adams who TNA will make into a star as Miss Tessmacher - unusual for WWE to miss the boat on a bankable pair of tits. This being a month the Ashley Massaro push in print intensifies.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CLASH?

It’s Mania season so there are a few big Raw episodes but the night after No Way Out they have two title changes and some big developments.

SmackDown has No Way Out ; Raw 19/02

Non title : John Cena vs Randy Orton

ICT : Jeff Hardy vs Umaga

MITB Qualifier : Rob Van Dam vs Edge

Women’s title : Mickie James vs Melina

Ric Flair & Carlito vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch 

Handicap : Great Khali vs The Highlanders 

DEPARTURE

So, the brief return of Test hits the wall after a pretty strong push in ECW. Roided to the gills, he nets himself a Wellness suspension then mutually (he claims) the company and he realise it’s not going to work out and come to terms on a release. Never the first name on the list when people discuss demons in wrestling he’s finished in the big time at 30 and just three years later dies at 33 from an accidental oxy overdose and later be found to have had CTE. The chair shots weren’t worth it for anyone.

[BomberPat]

It's crazy that Test was only 33. These shows feel so recent, but it's crazy how quickly things moved in the Attitude Era (although we're obviously well past that now). It means he was only 23 when he debuted with the WWF, and had been through the Stephanie marriage angle, T&A, and the Invasion before he turned 27. There are wrestlers today who have been in WWE twice that long, are older than Test was when he died, and have never had a single memorable story or angle.

I also had absolutely no idea Gedo & Jado ever had a WWE match! Even though it was only a dark match, they have to be low-key one of the most well-travelled teams going - WWE, ECW, NJPW, AJPW, Michinoku Pro, FMW, CMLL, ROH, DDT, and plenty more besides....possibly WCW as well, though it may have just been Gedo who worked there. In terms of major promotions of the last 30+ years, there's only really AEW, Impact and AAA missing from the list. 

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1 hour ago, BomberPat said:

It's crazy that Test was only 33. These shows feel so recent, but it's crazy how quickly things moved in the Attitude Era (although we're obviously well past that now). It means he was only 23 when he debuted with the WWF, and had been through the Stephanie marriage angle, T&A, and the Invasion before he turned 27. There are wrestlers today who have been in WWE twice that long, are older than Test was when he died, and have never had a single memorable story or angle.

Another one for the "rate of change" pile. Next to "Brock's been back 11 years, he was only gone for 8."

I think the best one for that may have been Macho Man. When he was between contracts in early 97 and rumours were circulating he'd be back in the WWF, imagine if he walked back in with exactly the same character he'd left with. He'd have looked completely out of place despite barely 2 years having passed.

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MARCH 2007

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

4th in Albuquerque it’s the (to this point) rare sight of John Cena vs Randy Orton for the WWE title. 8th and 10th there’s great sellout business in San Juan (near 17,500) and Guatemala City (near 8000) for reprisal of Cena vs Umaga with everyone’s favourite ref, Ricky Steamboat. 18th in Valparaiso, 24th-25th in Canton and Toledo it’s back to Orton ; the Dragon still refs it.

THE CARDS

Shawn Michaels vs Randy Orton in a streetfight in Central America and Ric Flair vs Kenny Dykstra in Albuquerque, San Juan and Guatemala City all chalk up wins for the good guys. Likewise Carlito vs Chris Masters and The Hardy Boys vs MNM in those exotic locales. In Ohio we move on to Jeff pinning Dykstra and the final fling for MNM is losing to mentor/student pair Flair & Carlito, plus Kane vs Great Khali jumps over from SmackDown shows. 

It’s Melina vs Mickie James for the Women’s title early and mid month but in Ohio maddeningly Melina is losing non title (FUCK SAKE) to Mania opponent Ashley Massaro. We’re back to Cryme Tyme vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin three nights including Valparaiso and for some reason Super Crazy vs Lance Cade as a singles in Puerto Rico and Guatemala. In Ohio the Major Brothers are on board upsetting the WGTT and we have Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Viscera with Duggan winning by pin or getting DQd with the 2x4, and Daniel Rodimer vs Eugene.

VARIATIONS 

Bobby Lashley vs Umaga happens elsewhere (see below) but on Raw shows it’s an exception in Albuquerque. Matt isn’t in Albuquerque so Jeff tags with Super Crazy but still manages to beat regular tandem MNM which should tell you something. There’s also Kofi Kingston losing to Masters, another round of Highlanders vs Cade and Trevor Murdoch and Khali squashing Val Venis. In Valparaiso there’s one more Umaga vs Jeff rematch, the Highlanders beat the Majors, Duggan puts over Dykstra, Super Crazy pins Masters one more time, Vladimir Kozlov beats Eugene and Kofi does a job to future fellow mid-card fixture Nitro.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

A run through Mass and New York has a return of a couple of traditions by a bygone era - Saturday 10th there’s an old-fashioned double shot, both in the Lowell Auditorium, where in the afternoon it’s again Batista vs Ken Kennedy, then evening time it’s a four-way involving The Undertaker and Fit Finlay. Same day, there’s… whisper it… what we might have called a B show back in the day! At Central High School in Liberty NY a fundraiser has a 5 match card featuring the tag titles and topped with Chris Benoit vs MVP which unrestricted by TV constraints goes near 30 minutes. Batista vs Kennedy continues Sunday afternoon in Springfield and 12th at Farrell Hall in Delhi NY (<2000). We’re off to Mexico near month end - near 13,000 on 22nd and over 18,500 23rd in Mexico City, 24th in Chihuahua (honestly) and 11,000 in rain-sodden Monterrey on 25th - it’s still Batista vs Kennedy except night 2 in Mexico City where MVP tags in to make it a handicap. In Monterrey Dave actually opens in case the rain causes the show to be called off ; the US title closes after MVP gets involved with injured Rey Mysterio - who did similar angles on other nights with Umaga.

THE CARDS

The Undertaker vs Fit Finlay gets Taker in ring shape on the road in North East, it’s also Kane vs Great Khali and UST has Chris Benoit vs MVP as Mania matches get dry runs. In Mexico there’s a lend from Raw as Umaga vs Bobby Lashley hits the road, non title plus King Booker vs Matt Hardy with Matt winning is not a result I expected to see.

Kristal Marshall vs Michelle McCool goes 50/50 in the North East and somehow they haven’t quite had enough of Kristal vs Jillian Hall which also happens in Mexico. Ariel does guest ref spots on occasion. In Mass William Regal & Dave Taylor swapping wins with Henry Godwinn & Ray Gordy (“Cousin Ray”) is not a match I expected to see so often. Mark Henry is back in Mexico, most commonly pinning Sho Funaki. There’s ECW matches too - early month consistently Hardcore Holly swapping wins with Gene Snitsky and an 8-man sees Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, Sabu & Balls Mahoney vs Kevin Thorn, Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von & Matt Striker - in Mexico Rob Van Dam is in for Balls. 

Paul London & Brian Kendrick, who hit 300 days with the SmackDown tag straps this month, barely wrestle on the road.

VARIATIONS

No consistency with the CWT - afternoon in Lowell Chavo Guerrero Jr defends vs Scotty Too Hotty while former champ Gregory Helms works Funaki, in the evening Chavo vs Helms vs Scotty. In Springfield it’s a four way and in Delhi Chavo vs Helms vs Funaki. The evening of Lowell the 8-man gives way to Thorn pinning Balls, Sandman pinning Striker and Dreamer/Sabu losing to Burke & Cor Von. Our little fundraiser at Central High School has London & Kendrick defending against Deuce & Domino, CM Punk vs Mike Knox and Jimmy Wang Yang vs Stevie Richards (plus Holly/Snitsky and the main). Night one in Mexico City there’s some revenge for the Originals from Lowell - Dreamer & Sandy beat Thorn & Striker while Sabu & RVD roll back the years and turn over Burke & Cor Von. Night two has more bodies and a shuffle - Benoit loses to Booker non title (FUCK SAKE), Hardy to Mizark, and added Super Crazy wins a three way over Helms and Funaki ; in Chihuahua it’s Crazy vs Helms one on one, in Monterrey there is no cruiserweight match, Helms loses to Henry and for some reason Dreamer pins Thorn in singles later in the card after the regular 8-man.

TVs

5th in Phoenix the Highlanders beat Navajo Warrior & John Williams (Hawaiian Lion) for Heat, on Raw a lengthy segment airs around who the ref for Vince vs Trump will be featuring Eric Bischoff, book peddler Mick Foley and eventually Steve Austin and a packed episode also has Umaga vs Hardy and Melina vs Mickie rematches - the latter a falls count anywhere. Next night in Tucson fuck all of note happens. 12th at the Verizon (now Capital One, near 15,000) Mike Bennett does a Heat gig losing a tag to Cryme Tyme, and it needs pointing out HBK & Cena beat Haas & Benjamin, Cade & Murdoch then MNM inside a cage in a gauntlet match ; I know they’re tag team champions here but was it worth burying the rest of the division? Dark Cena beats Umaga by DQ yet again. Next night in sold out Trenton, dark HOG & “Cousin Cletus” (Gordy) beat the (eventual) next tag champs Deuce & Dom and after the taping Taker & Kane beat Kennedy & MVP. 19th in Indianapolis The Major Brothers get their first look dark, beating Cade & Murdoch, and after taping Cena beats Umaga by DQ yet again. I’ve never seen one before, no-one has, but I’m guessing it’s a White Hole. Next night in Cleveland our dark match catapults us into about five years of mid cards ; Kofi Kingston pins Mike Mizanin (still in Deep Sourh, waiting for the call) and a noteworthy SmackDown has London & Kendrick win their final rematch against MNM (serving as a backdrop to the Melina vs Ashley enmity) and Yang beat Chavo non title (FUCK SAKE). 27th at the sold out All State (13,000 paid) Kofi pins Murdoch dark, on Raw Chicago Made Punk pins Dykstra (hey, that push hit the wall fast) and Vince beats Lashley non title after loads of interference - that one isn’t quite as bad, and it IS only the ECW belt, plus Lashleys gone over nearly every heel in the company in the preceding weeks. Next night in Grand Rapids the Majors beat D&D again, there’s an unintentionally hilarious 8-man with the MITB competitors on ECW where 7 of them aren’t ECW wrestlers - it’s just another show by this point - then on SmackDown Punk gets a major scalp, pinning Booker.

DEPARTURE

Despite being involved in big TV stories in MNM Joey Mercury is let go on 27th for, WWE believes, his own good, as his substance issues are out of control. He’ll be back of course in the Straight Edge Society in a couple of years.

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APRIL 2007

Mania’s in the books and as is traditional all three rosters are off on tour!

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

It’s John Cena vs Randy Orton vs Edge 14th/15th in Florence & Torino before Milan tapings. 17th in Rome it’s two singles of Cena vs Edge and Shawn Michaels vs Orton, 18th in Forli it’s a tag main. 19th in Munich and 21st in Oberhausen it’s back to Umaga for Big Match John while 20th in Mannheim and 22nd in Bremen it’s Cena vs Edge vs HBK, 24th in Paris it’s back to Cena vs Edge with Ricky Steamboat referee.

THE CARDS

Bobby Lashley vs Umaga is most nights though when Umaga is main event Bob takes a big step down and beats Kevin Thorn. The Hardy Boys vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch is a regular tag match latterly for the belts. We have Ric Flair vs Kenny Dykstra and Carlito vs Johnny Nitro as support, later in the tour Flair swaps a couple with Nitro and Carlito is stuck with Thorn. Women’s match has usually Melina vs Mickie James or a three way with Victoria - Paris having the notorious match in which Vic is too dazed to kick out of Mickie’s pin and the belt changes hands unplanned, prompting an impromptu singles match later for Melina to win it back. After the “miracle of Milan” Santino Marella vs Chris Masters happens a couple of times before Santino starts winning comedy matches over Coach which is a bit more his level. CM Punk vs Gene Snitsky represents ECW and sadly doesn’t always have the result you expect. Later in the tour there are a fair few instances of Val Venis & Super Crazy vs Dykstra & Daniel Rodimer, and Masters stuck with Eugene.

If some of the above and below sounds a bit “thrown together” it’s because Orton is sent home 20th for bad behaviour (should be no surprise by this point) ; allegedly he responds by doing thousands worth of damage to his hotel room.

VARIATIONS 

Shawn Michaels vs Edge in Munich is our headline one off and Shawn & Hardys vs Edge, Cade & Murdoch in Oberhausen is a bit random ; see above. In Florence Rodimer beats Super Crazy and Eugene beats Thorn, next night in Torino Super Crazy jobs to Snitsky, Val beats Rodimer and there’s the only occasion of Torrie Wilson teaming with Mickie against Melina and Vic. Rome is upside down ; Flair & Carlito beat Cade & Murdoch, Crazy upsets Dykstra, Nitro pins Rodimer, Venis beats Masters and Eugene drops old nemesis Coach. In Oberhausen Flair beats Masters and Maria is Mickies partner for a tag. In Bremen Santino actually pins Nitro, Val gets a win over Thorn and Flair & Carlito beat Dykstra & Rodimer. Extra bodies in Paris ; Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin beat Venis & Rodimer and Cade & Murdoch beat Cryme Tyme.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

14th-16th it’s The Undertaker vs Batista vs Ken Kennedy vs Mark Henry in Perugia and Geneva (Italy, not the Swiss one) either side of Taker & Dave vs Kennedy & MVP in Bologna. 18th in Rome, 21st in Vienna it’s Taker, Batista & Kane vs Kennedy, Henry & Fit Finlay, 19th/20th in Ancona and Treviso and 22nd in Brum it’s Ken, Mizark and MVP and 21st in Cardiff a title four-way of Taker vs Batista vs Kennedy vs Henry again.

THE CARDS

It’s usually Chris Benoit vs MVP for the UST or occasionally vs Fit Finlay. When Kane isn’t main event he’s usually with Finlay. Either side of the tag title switch it’s a near perfect split of a straight tag between long term rivals or Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs Deuce & Domino vs William Regal & Dave Taylor. Cruiser champ Chavo Guerrero Jr often defends vs Gregory Helms, some nights it’s TV feud Jimmy Wang Yang - on those nights Helms is losing to Little Guido. An ECW addition of Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs Elijah Burke & Marcus Cor Von plus Tommy Dreamer vs Matt Striker is made into a six man half the nights. When Regal & Taylor are spare, they swap wins with Guido & Yang. Michelle McCool vs Kristal Marshall or vs Jillian Hall happens every night.

VARIATIONS 

Kane vs Mark Henry is a one off in Bologna (DQ finish). In Rome Sabu gets a night off, RVD pins Burke and Striker & Cor Von beat Dreamer and The Sandman. In Birmingham only, often-partners Yang and Guido wrestle each other and Chavo & Helms instead of fighting, tag to lose to Regal & Taylor.

TVs

Mania had a pre-show match but I forget if it was dark or aired in any form - either way, Flair & Carlito beat Chavo & Helms in a lumberjack match to give as many guys a cheque as possible. Next night in Dayton Kofi Kingston pins Stevie Richards dark, and HBK & Cena lose the tag belts to fellow faces the Hardys in the second consecutive 10-team battle royal of the night, and as if it wasn’t underscored enough that Cena and Michaels are better than the tag teams from all three brands, Shawn eliminates Cena when they have a falling out rather than actually lose. We should note this is the first time Nitro & Mike Mizanin tag on TV. Next night in sold out Fort Wayne, dark Kingston & Jamie Noble beat Rob Conway & Sylvain Grenier (La Res mk3), on SmackDown MVP causes Benoit to lose non title to Mizanin (FUCK SAKE) and dark Taker beats Batista in the old immediate Mania rematch. 9th in sold out Bridgeport Rodimer pins Super Crazy dark, and Mike Bennett is on Heat again losing a tag to Cryme Tyme. Next night at a “sold out” Providence Civic Center (8000 for whatever configuration they used… they had near double that for the 94 Rumble) Paul Burchill beats forgotten man Flash Funk dark, on ECW Punk turns heel joining the New Breed (for two weeks) in the wake of RVD losing to Cor Von, on SmackDown Benoit loses to MVP non title (FUCKING CHRIST, ENOUGH) and dark Taker vs Batista goes no contest when all the heels run in. 16th at the Milan Raw taping Punk pins Thorn dark, and Santino debuts “out of the crowd” to take the ICT from Umaga with help from Lashley. Next night Guido jobs to Snitsky (in Italy of all places) on ECW, and on SmackDown London & Kendrick finally lose the tag belts to Deuce & Domino after a reign where they’ve virtually lost as many as won on TV. 23rd Raw in London, Jeff vs Dykstra before cameras sounds like a Coliseum match, Raw has Robbie Brookside do a job for Umaga and the McMahons in a handicap and Cena vs HBK famously goes near an hour - Shawn wins, non title (FUCK SAKE). Next night the Hardys beat Helms & Chavo dark, which is the only thing worth mentioning. Backlash has a dark match - Carlito pins Nitro. Next night in Nashville Chuck Palumbo (riding a motorcycle) pins Dykstra and Antoni Polaski (Roadkill) pins Venis before cameras, Carlito turns on Flair and dark Cena beats Shane McMahon.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CLASH?

There isn’t one. All minor PPVs now also have matches from both brands. They got over excited, clearly, by having Shawn & Cena on No Way Out and all the cross brand fun across all three shows during Mania season. Shame, a lot of guys now see their chances of a PPV cheque disappear.

DEPARTURES 

None, I think.

Edited July 4, 2023 by air_raid

[air_raid]

MAY 2007

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

4th-5th in Johnson City, Greenville and Roanoke we’re back to John Cena vs Umaga finally with pinfalls on the road and Khali lumbering out to stare at Cena after his win - better than having him wrestle, I guess. 11th-12th we’re at Copps Coliseum (7000 isn’t great there) and St John’s (5500+ conversely is a good gate there) for Cena vs Randy Orton, same 18th-19th at Freedom Hall in Louisville and in Cape Girardeau. 26th Ottawa is a bit B show - Orton does a job to Bobby Lashley on last, the night before Montreal where both and the rest of a small crew add to the strength of a SmackDown headlined show.

THE CARDS

After a few decent months we’re suddenly looking bare bones as injuries, indiscipline or emergency trades to SmackDown rob us of nearly anyone top tier. The Hardy Boys vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch goes all month. Ric Flair vs Carlito reoccurs in Missouri, 50/50. Santino Marella vs Chris Masters on and off isn’t the ICT run you were hoping for. Cryme Tyme vs Johnny Nitro & Kenny Dykstra starts off the month though Shad & JTG mostly work Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin - Dykstra gets a few shots at Santino thereafter and also does a few jobs for Chuck Palumbo, likewise Shelton early month does the favour for young Kofi Kingston. We get more of Melina vs Mickie James either side of tags where Candice Michelle and Mick beat Melina and Victoria.

Eugene vs Daniel Rodman is a sandwich month, early month also has Great Khali vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan (ouch) and mid month in Canada it’s Nitro vs Eugene and Val Venis vs Rodman (which has another round in Ottawa). Otherwise we have Palumbo beating Viscera in Missouri and Carlito does two jobs for Sylvan in Ottawa and the joint-brand show in Montreal.

VARIATIONS 

Carlito vs Venis seems to only happen in Greenville; in Roanoke there’s a swap and Carlito beats long term rival Shelton while Val works heel against Kingston. In Louisville only, OVW champ Paul Burchill drops Idol Stevens. In Ottawa Palumbo upsets Nitro and Khali beats the Highlanders in a handicap match, on Montreal Khali resumes hostilities with Kane and the Highlanders win a cross-brand tag against William Regal & Dave Taylor.

MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN

5th in Poughkeepsie - holy shit, another double! In the afternoon (about 1700) it’s Batista & Kane vs Ken Kennedy & Fit Finlay, then it sells out in the evening (2500+) for a six man adding Chris Benoit and MVP. This being former mid-90s Raw venue the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. If I ever had the time and resources to make this into a book, some of the venues would get little bios of their own to break up the results. Anyhoo, the six man gets 3500 (not quite capacity) 6th in Binghamton, Ken’s both injured AND booked for Raw so 7th in Erie it’s Dave & Kane vs Finlay & Mark Henry. 12th and 14th in Syracuse and Reading it’s new champ Edge and MVP swapping wins with Dave and Benoit either side of Edge vs Batista for the belt with a DQ finish in White Plains - the tag actually opens in Reading and Vince gets Edge on his private jet to get him to sold-out Hampton for Raw so he can appear as advertised for the paying public. Same main 19th at the modest Gale Bullman Building (athletics venue) at Missouri Uni of Science & Tech in Rolla the day before Judgment Day and 21st in Topeka. 26th Barrie (Ontario) and 27th in Montreal it’s Canadian civil war - Edge vs Chris Benoit for the belt, Montreal opens with a triple brand battle royal where Benoit outlasts, among others, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, Mark Henry and CM Punk.

THE CARDS

Early month before the switch Chris Benoit vs MVP for the US title concludes. Deuce & Domino vs Paul London & Brian Kendrick for the tag belts continues, sometimes having Chavo Guerrero Jr & Gregory Helms or William Regal & Dave Taylor involved as well. Kane vs Fit Finlay happens a couple of times, randomly Kane also has the odd handicap against Chavo and Greg. Big step down the card for Mark Henry as he’s winning squash matches over Jimmy Wang Yang or Sho Funaki. 

Boogey Man vs Mike Mizanin happens early month, there’s a few wins traded between Funaki and Antoni Polaski (Roadkill), Regal & Taylor job a few times for the Dalton Brothers (Jesse & Festus) and Michelle McCool vs Jillian Hall is still happening. An ECW presence is most often Rob Van Dam vs Marcus Cor Von and initially CM Punk vs Elijah Burke which becomes a tag involving Tommy Dreamer and Matt Striker and on occasion it’s a six man, then later in the month Dreamer loses a few times to Cor Von, though he is permitted to beat him in Barrie.

VARIATIONS 

There are scant few CWT defences for Chavito ; in Topeka he beats Yang and Funaki, in Barrie it’s Yang in singles and in Montreal a four way with Yang, London and Kendrick. Otherwise in the afternoon in Poughkeepsie Funaki pins Miz where in the evening Miz jobs to Yang, Funaki tags with Boogey Man to lose to Regal & Taylor and a swap sees RVD pin Burke and Punk beat Cor Von. In Binghamton Henry drops both Yang & Funaki in a handicap, in Erie Yang & Funaki lose to Regal & Taylor. In White Plains Polaski loses to Yang and Benoit beats Finlay and MVP in a three way. In Barrie MVP drops a title defence to Kane by DQ, Gene Snitsky is on hand to job for Punk, and Burke does the honours for - look who it is! - Cody Rhodes, who’s also one of the bodies in Montreals battle royal.

TVs

1st in Birmingham (AL) Palumbo beats Daivari, Polaski pins Funaki, on ECW the Major Brothers debut on TV and upset Cor Von & Striker, on SmackDown briefcase holder Kennedy does a rather senseless job to Matt Hardy and dark Batista pins Finlay. 7th at State College Palumbo pins Viscera, Xavier & Scotty Charisma job to mates-again Hacksaw & Eugene, Raw has some very shocking results including Candice pinning Melina in a tag, Khali beating Shawn Michaels by stoppage in a No DQ match and most famously Kennedy loses the briefcase to fellow heel Edge. Dark, Edge loses to Cena for the millionth time - hey, maybe that’s where he got the idea to turn up next night in Pittsburgh? There, Eddie Colon pins Shannon Moore dark - Eddie being Carlito’s little brother who soon will be in as Primo. Of course, this being the night they tape SmackDown with Mizark finally returning to TV, waddling out to clobber The Undertaker after a cage match with Batista allowing Edge to cash in. 14th in Hampton (7000+ sold out) Palumbo pins Dykstra, Edge bows out on Raw by losing non-title to HBK (FUCK SAKE) and dark Cena wins a triangle with Orton and Edge - Rated-R wrestles three times in one night. Next night in Baltimore Palumbo pins Daivari, a notable win for Kevin Thorn over Little Guido is taped (see below), Christian York gets on SmackDown losing to Miz and Batista & Benoit beat Edge & MVP dark. Judgment Day has Kane pin Regal before cameras, next night in Moline an interesting Heat has Palumbo return to TV beating Haas and Rodman/Rodimer get on TV the first time beating Eugene, on Raw Candice beats Melina non title (FUCK SAKE) and dark Cena loses to Khali by DQ. 22nd in Des Moines Palumbo pins Daivari again and Rodman pins Funaki, and on SmackDown Chavo loses non title to Yang (FUCK SAKE). 28th in Toronto 14,000 pay for 16,000+ sell out inside - Palumbo pins Tyson Dux dark and on the Saturday Nights Main Event taping Khali pins Cena non title (FUCK SAKE). Next night in London Cody pins Daivari dark and after tapings Batista & Benoit beat Edge & MVP.

A word on the luckless Kennedy, already one serious injury into his run. The week before Penn State with Undertaker needing time off with a torn biceps, Ken is told that despite initial plans to hold the briefcase til Mania 24, he’ll be getting the belt next week - initially in passing by Batista in the hall, then from Vince himself. It’s scuppered when HE needs time off with a triceps injury believed to be a tear and despite Ken (understandably) thinking “I’ve got a year to use it” they move the briefcase to Edge - who up until 3 days before Mania 23 everyone including Kennedy believed was the plan anyway. It’s the best way to get the belt off Taker in a “fast one” is the logic, which doesn’t really hold up considering he works a 25 minute cage match with Batista first. Kennedy later finds out the muscle isn’t torn and he only needs six weeks off after all, compounding his misfortune.

DEPARTURES 

A few more to add to those that disappeared from the road in previous entries ; in Baltimore Sabu refuses to do a televised pinfall job to Thorn and is let go - hey, a PPV match with Cena, a Rumble and a Mania is most of us expected, right? Coincidentally same night Thorns valet Ariel gets into a very heated argument with Batista over, allegedly, a remark Dave made which would get him sacked anywhere with a real HR department but being WWE and Dave being a top draw, they let her go. Same day, Rob Conway is let go. They went positively nowhere with his “Conman” gimmick and he must have seen the writing on the wall when they had Grenier & Dupree be the version of La Res to reunite for ECW despite him carrying the load when Sylvain was injured in mk1 and being half of mk2 when their profile was highest mixing with the main eventers on Raw. Shame, at the time I thought the Ego Trip was the best finish in the company. Scotty Too Hotty finally reaches the end of his run after 10 uninterrupted years under contract. Whether smarmy git in Too Much or over like Rover in Too Cool, I had a lot of time for him but while he never got to the point of “Oh I wish this guy would piss off” it’s probably fair to say there wasn’t much else to do with him. He’ll make appearances including reprising Too Cool in NXT to job to The Ascension and be a coach for a bit. Around this time WWE cuts ties with Deep South and puts all their developmental eggs in the OVW basket ; DSW being where Scorpio has been plying his trade, released this month. They never really knew what they had with him in his prime, it shouldn’t be surprising they didn’t do anything with him ten years later. Finally, I’d forgotten that Henry Godwinn had a contract to be released from, but then, I’d forgotten he’d ever unretired anywhere after his injuries stemming from the Brawl For All, so perhaps my memory shouldn’t be trusted in respect to wrestling pig farmers.

Edited July 7, 2023 by air_raid

[HarmonicGenerator]

3 hours ago, air_raid said:

If I ever had the time and resources to make this into a book, some of the venues would get little bios of their own to break up the results. .

I really hope that one day you have the time and resources to make this into a book. It would be a treat to see it all again in that way.

Quote

Scotty Too Hotty finally reaches the end of his run after an incredible 20 uninterrupted years under contract. 

Scotty had been under contract since 1987?

[air_raid]

1 hour ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

Scotty had been under contract since 1987?

Bad maths! Maybe it just felt like that. 

Edited July 7, 2023 by air_raid

[air_raid]

JUNE 2007

Unspeakable tragedy occurs, about which much has been written concerning events, cause, effect and aftermath, so I feel no need to add to that here. Just wrestling today.

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

It’s tour time again and more sellout business in Europe - it’s alternating cards for two nights each in Dublin and Lisbon 6th-9th for John Cena vs Great Khali or vs Randy Orton for near 60,000 tickets sold altogether. 15th-17th in Lexington, Knoxville and Raleigh, 23rd in College Station TX and 30th in Baton Rouge it’s still Cena vs Orton as it has and will be for several months.

THE CARDS

Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton is a great semi main two nights abroad Cena is with Khali ; after a tag run mid month Jeff gets lumbered with Gene Snitsky. Bobby Lashley vs Umaga is back on after the draft. Ric Flair vs Carlito gets another reprisal on tour, Santino Marella defends the ICT twice against Johnny Nitro and twice against Carlito in Europe and twice more month end, mid month post draft he’s stuck with Snitsky. What a reign. Meanwhile Carlito losing a series with Chuck Palumbo is not something I was expecting to tell you about. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs Cryme Tyme goes on tour for the tag belts, mid month we’re back to The Hardy Boys challenging despite Matt Hardy technically being on SmackDown.

Like last month we alternate Melina vs Mickie James in a title match and Mickie & Candice Michelle vs Mel & Victoria. Otherwise in tour Palumbo beats Kenny Dykstra twice and swaps two wins with Chris Masters, Masters also beats Eugene twice, Val Venis gets a cheque the second night in both cities on tour losing to Nitro. Month end Cody Rhodes picks up wins against Daivari.

VARIATIONS 

Night two in Dublin it’s Jeff vs Khali and Flair beating Dykstra, night 2 in Lisbon Flair & Jeff beat Cade & Murdoch non title (BOOO), Khali beats Cryme Tyme in a handicap and Dykstra jobs for Eugene. In College Station William Regal loses to Palumbo and Cade & Murdoch beat draftees Paul London & Brian Kendrick - for reasons unknown to me Mike McGuirk guest ring announces that one (!). In Baton Rouge Regal loses to Super Crazy and Cade pins London in singles.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN

9th-10th in Johnstown and Newark it’s Edge vs Batista for the belt with a DQ finish, they continue 16th-18th in Dothan, Columbus and Savannah. 23rd in Beaumont the night before Vengeance Dave has a night off, Ric Flair subs for Benoit to lose to Edge in the main then 30th in Abilene Batista and the Nature Boy beat Edge & MVP.

THE CARDS

MVP vs Chris Benoit in UST rematches start the month, post draft Montel is with Fit Finlay and ECW draftee Benoit beats Kevin Thorn. Deuce & Domino vs Paul London & Brian Kendrick for the tag belts meanders on early month and mid month Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Jimmy Wang Yang vs Sho Funaki for the CWT runs through the South. It’s Mark Henry vs Matt Hardy early month and in Abilene with the Worlds Strongest Man again trying a failing to get the bear hug over as a finish.

Yang vs Mike Mizanin, The Daltons vs William Regal & Dave Taylor and Michelle McCool vs Jillian Hall all continue early month. After the draft Chris Masters vs Eugene is a direct transplant from Raw. ECW starts the month with Tommy Dreamer, Stevie Richards & CM Punk vs Marcus Cor Von, Elijah Burke & Gene Snitsky then mid month Punk vs Burke continues in singles and Dreamer & Stevie beat Sonny Siaki & Ryan O’Reilly (Konnor).

Some of the girls are doing various non wrestling shite like limbo or hula hoop contests and the old “best body” stuff. At least it gives me a reason to mention Brooke Adams is still under contract.

VARIATIONS 

In Dothan Benoit works Burke as does Punk Thorn. In Beaumont Chavo vs Funaki is one on one, MVP beats Finlay and new rival Matt in a three way, Punk & Dreamer beat Nitro & Thorn, Henry squashes Eugene and the Major Brothers go over Masters & Dykstra. In Abilene good old Stevie pins Thorn in what I’d call a mild upset, Funaki pins O’Reilly, Palumbo upsets Finlay (fucking hell, Chucks near unstoppable on the road), Nitro makes a first title defence against Punk, for some reason Deuce beats Brian Major (Curt Hawkins) in a singles, and post draft Kane vs Great Khali is back on - DQ finish.

TVs

Santino vs Masters occurs dark before One Night Stand. Next night in Tampa (10,000) Cade & Murdoch win the tag belts, 5th in Orlando Johnny Jeter gets another look, dark vs Sylvan, on ECW oddly Lashley is booked to win a handicap over babyface originals Dreamer, The Sandman and Balls Mahoney, and dark after SmackDown Batista beats Edge by DQ. 11th in Wilkes-Barre the 3 hour draft Raw is so packed that the Cade & Murdoch v Cryme Tyme title match is a Coliseum Exclusive - the drafts are interesting, the matches not so much, except they further devalue the ICT by having lame ass Santino get pinned non title (BOOOO!) by US Champ MVP. Oh, and Vince gets blown up. Next night at the Wachovia in Philadelphia Shantelle Taylor gets a tryout beating Jillian Hall - Shantelle will later be Taylor Wilde in TNA and it upsets me that she didn’t get a job and Jillian still had hers after this match. Draft picks appear on ECW with Boogey Man (a fucking gimmick like his on “ECW”…) vs Matt Striker and Punk & Benoit beating Cor Von and Burke by DQ when Cor Von ignores the 5 count (in ECW!!!!!). On SmackDown MVP loses non title (BOOOOO!!!!!) to Batista. 18th in Richmond there’s another look at Ryan Wilson (Trytan) beating Val and at for Heat, Christian York losing to Palumbo - a really eventful Raw with the shaken up roster is actually most memorable for a forgotten Mick Foley cameo where he goes to a non-start with Umaga and makes the Bulldozer look unstoppable by being subjected to a ruthless beating. Next night in Charlotte, in a dark match unbelievably the tag team champs D&D senselessly job non title to the nondescript Major Brothers (fuckin BOOOOO!!!!!). The near invisible Super Crazy actually beats Carlito before Vengeance, the PPV itself is near forgotten but worth remembering Foley wrestling in the multi man main and getting pinned by Cena and Candice relieves Melina of the women’s strap. Auto correct tries to change Melina to Melons! Raw is pre-empted, 26th in San Antonio the first match for Nitro as new ECW champ is to lose non title to Cena (OHHHH FUCKKKKK OFFFFFF!!!!!!) and on SmackDown MVP is pinned non title by Kane AND Edge is pinned non title by Batista. I’m running out of words for the cunts writing this and how worthless they’re making the concept of “champion” look on a weekly fucking basis. 

DEPARTURES 

Rob Van Dam lets his contract expire in June, burned out after giving everything for six years straight. Even after the embarrassment of the drugs bust the company put him over strong by letting him actually win his stretcher match against Orton at One Night Stand before getting injured and written out ; still high on him in the ring, they hope he’ll be back. After one shots at 15th Anniversary Raw and the 2009 Rumble and a lengthy spell in TNA, he’ll return for another run between 2013 and 2014 but not quite hit the heights of his first. Which is crazy, because if you think RVD wasn’t good enough to merit a run on top during that particular era of two titles, I’d say you’re out of your mind.

Marcus Cor Von takes a leave of absence to take care of unspecified family, and by September is released, and Monty subsequently retires from wrestling altogether. Unrealised potential, yes, but the real culprit there is TNA, who just two years earlier had him in a prime spot to become a believable and wildly popular babyface World Champion but instead of pulling the trigger beat him on PPV and then turned him heel.

Chris Benoit.

Edited July 8, 2023 by air_raid

[simonworden]

On 7/7/2023 at 2:54 PM, HarmonicGenerator said:

I really hope that one day you have the time and resources to make this into a book. It would be a treat to see it all again in that way.

With the way some wrestling/ sports books are written these days you could probably copy and paste most of the posts here as they are fantastically written. give them a small check through and publish away. 

Then if it makes millions we all get a share under ukff rules right?

Edited July 8, 2023 by simonworden

[air_raid]

JULY 2007

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

1st in Bossier City it’s our most common main on the way to SummerSlam, John Cena vs Randy Orton. We’re off to Mexico! 4th in Tijuana is very special - Cena, Bobby Lashley & Rey Mysterio vs Orton, King Booker & Umaga in Reys first match back from injury in the very city he got beat up by the Bulldozer in spring ; playing out the feud for the locals that had originally been envisioned for Mania 23. There’s then two nights of Cena vs Orton in Mexicali and Mexico City before second night at the latter also gets the six man. Mid month they’re meant to run Canada but unsurprisingly those are cancelled. 20th in Visalia CA Cena beats Bobby Lashley in a Bash dry run then 21st in Anaheim an impressive 15,000 turn out for another Cena vs Orton. Same main 28th in Vegas and 29th at Tim’s Toyota Center (WTF) in Prescott Valley AZ.

THE CARDS

Bobby Lashley vs Carlito runs a couple of times in Mexico, Jeff Hardy vs Gene Snitsky early month gives way, thankfully, to Umaga vs Hardy for the ICT reignited in California but month end we’ve got Lashley vs Umaga non title (booo) in Vegas, the two having most recently wrestled in Bossier City. Month end Carlito recovers from a rough month (see Variations) by beating Super Crazy. Continuation of Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs Paul London & Brian Kendrick for the tag belts goes on as a sandwich month with Cali seeing Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin added to the mix. We still have plenty of Mickie James vs Melina matches but twice in Mexico there’s involvement from Maria and Jillian Hall for either a cross brand tag or a bikini contest. When they reach the West Coast, Melons is getting rematches with Candice Michelle for the belt.

Super Crazy beats Daivari in Bossier City and Tijuana but loses twice elsewhere in Mexico to Snitsky, then beats Sylvan (with new valet Maryse, which makes sense) in Vasalia and Anaheim. There’s some paydays for Val Venis in Mexico have him lose to William Regal but beats Daivari then in the desert he’s beating Sylvan. In Vegas and Arizona, Regal is swapping wins with Hacksaw Jim Duggan in another of those “Thunder 98” matches.

VARIATIONS 

In Bossier City Santino beats Regal and rookie Cody Rhodes actually pins Carlito. Carlito pins Santino in Tijuana, it’s Jeff vs Regal and King Booker vs Santino in Mexicali. Night one in Mexico City the high flying dream team of Rey Mysterio & Jeff beat Booker & Regal in the semi main, Umaga beats Santino yet again. Night two Super Crazy beats fellow face Santino and Carlito beats fellow heel Daivari. Ortons night off from the main in Vasalia he ends up with Val ; next night in Anaheim Lashley pins Ken Kennedy who hadn’t wrestled the night before - the other extra body in Anaheim is Santino who plays heel against Venis and loses. Also in Visalia Hacksaw pinning Carlito (fuck, who did he piss off??) and Regal pinning The Sandman is two singles, next night the heroes win a tag. I can’t imagine how many celebration beers they will have quaffed after the show. Finally in Vegas and Prescott Valley, Booker and Kennedy win one each from Cody and Santino.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN

1st in Wichita Falls is cancelled due to flooding then after TVs 7th-9th in Tupelo, Biloxi and Pensacola it’s Edge vs Batista with Dave pinning the champ in non title matches (FFS). Post cancellations 27th-29th it’s another tour and in Bangkok, Singapore City and Perth it’s Batista & Kane vs Great Khali & Fit Finlay impromptu after Finlay mercifully interferes in Khali vs Batista for the belt.

THE CARDS

MVP vs Fit Finlay vs Matt Hardy for the UST is literally the only SmackDown match beneath the main on the early month cards I’d be happy to call “midcard” instead of “undercard.” Thankfully the international markets get much more star power - Kane vs Finlay as a precursor to the eventual unannounced tag main, Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero Jr is perfect for Rey to continue shaking rust off with an opponent he trusts, there’s Ric Flair vs Chris Masters and Deuce & Domino vs The Major Brothers for the tag belts.

Masters vs Jimmy Wang Yang, Chuck Palumo vs Cassidy O’Reilly, Majors vs Paul Burchill & Dave Taylor and Michelle McCool vs Victoria comprises the rest of the early month card and I’m very upset as to the winner of that last one, though Vic does get some revenge abroad. John Morrison vs CM Punk for the ECW belt is actually a bright spot on those early month cards, on the tour Morrison pins Tommy Dreamer, otherwise it’s Dreamer & Stevie Richards beating Kevin Thorn & Elijah Burke early month and Burke avenging that pinning Stevie overseas.

VARIATIONS 

Unbelievably, none. The whole crew stays fit enough to deliver consistent cards.

It’s been an incredibly challenging year for injuries - Triple H, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Rey, Kennedy, Lashley and Edge have all hit the bench at times as will Cena before the end of the year, to say nothing of Benoit or a series of Wellness suspensions - a raft on the horizon courtesy of Signature Pharmacy.

TVs

2nd in Dallas it’s a 13,500 sellout for a massive taping of all three shows. On Raw Umaga wins the ICT back from Santino, and on SmackDown Palumbo finally returns to TV and pins the by-now-expendable Kenny Dykstra, the Majors debut and MVP loses non title (oh fuck off) to Matt. 10th in New Orleans Shannon Moore & Sho Funaki beat Daivari & Burchill dark, Luke Hawx (aka Altar Boy Luke) does a job for Palumbo on SmackDown and after cameras Batista pins Khali. 16th in Corpus Christi build continues for Dusty Rhodes’ match with Orton - the Viper pins Cody in the junior Rhodes’ first TV match, then dark he loses to Cena. Next night in Laredo, Vis appears on ECW renamed Big Daddy V beating future NWA champ Tim Storm, Nitro is rechristened John Morrison, on SmackDown Edge relinquishes the belt and Khali wins it in the battle royal, and dark there’s a three way between Khali Batista and Kane where Khali gets disqualified… joint winner? No winner? Who cares. The Bash has a dark match - Palumbo beats Masters. Next night in Sacramento Sylvan pins Ryan O’Reilly and our mate Tony Jones jobs to Snitsky. Next night in Fresno Sylvan drops Funaki, and little of note happens on SmackDown except new (and final) Cruiserweight champ Hornswoggle retains over Jamie Noble on a stupid count-out. 30th in Tucson Jeff’s suspended for Wellness violations (not the last we’ll hear of that), O’Reilly loses to Super Crazy dark, Lashley tears a rotator cuff wrestling the cursed Kennedy (more, MUCH more to come in that respect), they wheel out Sgt Slaughter to do another job to Orton, then Randy causes Cena to lose non title (can we fucking not??) to Carlito. Next night in Phoenix, Johnny Stamboli tries again dark pinning Chavo, and after the taping Khali beats Batista by DQ.

Spare a thought, though not much of one, for the writers ; robbed of their long term plan, Edge gets the belt because not one but TWO guys get injured, then he gets injured. But honestly, the choice of Khali as the solution to give Batista someone to chase, at the time definitely made me decide that I would have stopped watching the TV - if I hadn’t in fact already stopped.

DEPARTURES 

So, in the wake of Benoit, a month back from rehab, Rene Dupree asks for his release and is granted it. He has a colourful career across the globe, wrestling as (brilliantly) Rene Bonaparte in Hustle where he’ll team with WWE alumni Travis Tomko and (eventually) Lance Cade, he’ll go to All Japan and inevitably align with Voodoo Murders, even reuniting with Kenso (Suzuki) and then spend years in Noah where he’s held their TV title and tag belts. Still only 39 it’s easy to forget he hasn’t even hit 20 when La Res won their first tag belts, the first time in my lifetime that a WWE belt was won by someone younger than me, and still the youngest proper title winner in company history. No, Nicholas doesn’t count. Fucking pricks.

Secondly, and a far bigger deal, Bobby Lashley gets injured badly wrestling Kennedy and hits the bench, after a huge push seeing him win gold on SmackDown, relieve Vince of the ECW belt (always an endorsement to beat the boss) and then give Cena a run for his money. He’s still either injured come February when his contract runs out or already eyeing up MMA but either way, one or the other party decides to leave it there, which is remarkable looking back. After many years fucking about (including a stint in TNA where he’ll have Kurt Angle’s “last match,” I was there) he’ll return and finally win THE belt twice.

[air_raid]

AUGUST 2007

Ahhh, the month that gives us the first Cena vs Orton match on PPV which isn’t the last in the run (LOL), and the month we were supposed to have Umaga vs Jackass.

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

3rd-5th it’s still John Cena vs Randy Orton for the WWE title (with a finish) in Huntington, Wheeling and Akron OH (me neither) and again 10th-12th in Wildwood, Bethlehem and Kingston (Rhode Island) 17th-19th in Evansville, Bowling Green KY and Chattanooga and 25th in Hershey the Saturday before SummerSlam.

THE CARDS

Early month mid cards are a bit anaemic - King Booker vs Cody Rhodes and Umaga vs Santino Marella are the only matches with at least 50% decent names. In week 2 we get a boost - Umaga vs Carlito vs Ken Kennedy starts running practices for SummerSlam (which comes back round in Hershey) before Ken drops out in week 3. Tag title thus ; Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs The Highlanders is suddenly back on early month, week after Cryme Tyme are back challenging (reprising in Hershey), week after that it’s back to Paul London & Brian Kendrick while Robbie & Rory lose to Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin - though they do beat WGTT in Hershey.

Candice Michelle vs Jillian Hall is at least something different for the Women’s belt week 1 ; in the North East and beyond Candy is suddenly pinning Beth Phoenix, if you can imagine that. William Regal vs Super Crazy, Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Sylvan and Daivari vs Idol Stevens round off first week undercard. Week after Regal beats Johnny Jeter, Cody’s back beating Daivari (again, will reoccur in Hershey), again Super Crazy has to revert to jobbing for Gene Snitsky (which stretches into week 3) and Jay Bradley upsets Haas. In Bowling Green and Chattanooga Cody beats Jeter then GM Regal orders him to face Bradley who he beats when Willys interference backfires, then finally Regal himself - who he also beats. In Evansville Cody has to only beat Bradley - Jeter loses to Regal and once more in Hershey.

VARIATIONS 

In Huntington The King gets a match! He loses to Booker playing off their TV spat. Santino misses Akron so Val Venis subs in against Umaga. Wildwood is a bit jumbled ; Bradley beats Daivari, Kennedy pins Val, Jeter upsets Haas and Carlito avenges some earlier losses to Cody. In Hershey Val does yet another job for Snitsky.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

It’s Batista & Rey Misterio vs Great Khali & Fit Finlay 4th in Manchester NH and 5th in Burlington as an impromptu tag after the same shite title match as last month. We’re in Maine 11th/12th ; it’s Khali vs Batista for the belt (DQ finish) in Bangor and with our old friends in Portland, and in Georgia 18th/19th in Albany and Macon and 25th in Trenton NJ. None of those get the bonus tag.

18th in Venice Beach (brother) there’s also what could, back in the day, passed for a D show - short card, for free, amongst other fan activities like games, contests and giveaways, the biggest match being Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Jimmy Wang Yang.

THE CARDS

Shockingly SmackDown is looking stronger; Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero Jr and Matt Hardy vs Fit Finlay give us a decent midcard early month. Mid month Kane vs Finlay is back in (also Trenton) and Matt actually beats Mark Henry on the old reverse decision DQ ; which I don’t mind as a way of keeping a monster heel looking strong without putting a loss on a popular babyface. In Georgia and Trenton we’re back to Matt challenging MVP for the United States title, Henry starts his month in Burlington and ends it in Trenton squashing Eugene. Deuce & Domino vs The Major Brothers continues for the tag belts for 2 weeks. Chavo vs Jimmy Wang Yang is a good match that only happens in Venice and Trenton.

Chuck Palumbo vs Ryan O’Reilly starts the month then week 2 Chuckie beats Chris Masters (including the mini card in Venice) while Ryan loses to Sho Funaki, which he avenges through Georgia. Perennial TV dark match Jesse & Festus vs Paul Burchill & Dave Taylor gets added to in Maine, in Georgia the would-be Bluebloods lose to the Majors. For ECW early month Big Daddy V vs Little Guido was probably demoralising on a show that already had a Mark Henry squash, Tommy Dreamer & Stevie Richards vs John Morrison & Kevin Thorn may have been fun. In Bangor and Portland V pins Richards and JoMo is back to retaining the belt over Dreamer with the Moonlight Drive, plus Mike Mizanin beating Balls Mahoney. The latter continues in Georgia where CM Punk returns to the road tagging with Tommy to beat Daddy and Morrison - Punk pinning the champ.

VARIATIONS 

In Manchester there’s a body light so Henry beats Eugene and Yang in a handicap ; in Burlington Yang goes over Jamie Noble. Our cross brand D show also has, pulled from a few sources, Eugene vs Kenny Dykstra and Val Venis vs Daivari. In Trenton D&D lose to Jesse & Festus non title (oh fuck off),  Michelle McCool notches another win over Victoria, V beats both Stevie and Guido in a handicap and Punk & Dreamer beat Morrison & Elijah Burke.

TVs

6th in Buffalo Cody pins O’Reilly dark, Sterling James Keenan (Corey Graves) gets himself on Heat doing a job for Venis where also Cryme Tyme beat Cade & Murdoch non title (STOP IT), and after Raw Cena pins Orton. Next night in Youngstown Palumbo pins Burchill and Jesse & Festus beat Nick Nemeth and (still employed) Mike Mondo, on ECW Morrison loses non title to Punk (YOU CUNTS), SJK loses to Mizark on SmackDown and dark Khali beats Batista by DQ. 13th at MSG 13,500 paid for announced 16,500+ sellout is very healthy for the current climate, and dark there’s proof you always get another go - D’Lo Brown beats O’Reilly. The only real point of interest on tapings for Raw and Saturday Nights Main Event is - how am I only learning of this now? - Matt goes to a non finish in a boxing match with the one and only Evander Holyfield when Holyfield gets sick of and decks his second, MVP. Next night in Uncasville D’Lo pins Bradley dark, and fuck all else interesting. 20th in Fayetteville Matt Anoa’i (yes, Rosey) loses to Jeter which happens again next night in Columbia ; Matt will wrestle a bit for OVW but is never back contracted by WWE. Cade & Murdoch lose non title to London & Kendrick (FUCKING STOP) and dark Cena pins Orton again. In Columbia Jesse & Festus beat Burchill & Taylor dark, and after tapings Batista beats Khali by DQ. Dark at the sold out former Meadowlands for SummerSlam Cade & Murdoch retain over London & Kendrick and on the PPV Triple H dives right back in and pins Booker. Next night in sold out Boston Jeter & O’Reilly lose to The Highlanders, and after the show Hunter pins Orton. Finally in Albany Jeter actually pins former Spirit Squad pal Dykstra, Jesse & Festus beat Burchill & Taylor again, Matt & MVP win the tag belts from D&D on SmackDown and dark Batista beats Khali by DQ yet again.

DEPARTURES 

The duo with Maryse obviously did nothing for his prospects ; Sylvain Grenier is let go after going nowhere for ages post La Resistance. Aaron Stevens is let go but as you probably know he’ll get another go as Damian Sandow. Daniel Rodimer, we hardly knew thee.

Far bigger deal is that the 11 suspensions meted out over Signature Pharmacy on the 30th includes Booker T - to this day he denies purchasing or using anything from the online steroids merchant and he’s so aggravated and embarrassed by what have been his first Wellness suspension that he and Sharmell give their notice and by October are let go. He’ll be back, of course, but at the time this seemed a big deal, especially as he was back mixing with the title pack on Raw.

[air_raid]

SEPTEMBER 2007

What a clusterfuck this is! There’s 11 guys suspended!! OK, one’s serving his notice and Edge is injured anyway but still….

THE MAIN EVENTS - RAW

1st in Terre Haute is utterly cursed as you’ll see below but even with Umaga, Kennedy and Booker all announced but suspended they manage 8 matches including John Cena vs Randy Orton for the belt then 5th-8th they’re in Cape Town, Durban and two nights in Johannesburg (monster business) for Cena vs Orton or vs Carlito. 22nd-23rd in Champaign and Fort Wayne Ortons off because he just got married so Jeff Hardy is winning a battle royal to get a crack at Cena which is going non finish when Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch interfere leading to the two singles champions beating the tag champs in a non title match and I don’t have to tell you how I feel about that. Month end three shows scheduled in New York are rescheduled to June.

THE CARDS

Jeff Hardy vs Carlito occurs in Terre Haute then in South Africa for the ICT where also Jeff works Randy Orton nights Cena doesn’t. Triple H beating Carlito is a hell of a late month addition. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs Paul London & Brian Kendrick goes three out of four nights in South Africa including a hot potato of the titles on the first and last nights. Candice Michelle vs Beth Phoenix for the Women’s belt continues all month. Other matches on tour have Cody Rhodes vs Daivari, Val Venis vs Santino Marella, The Sandman vs Jay Bradley and The Highlanders vs Paul Burchill & Dave Taylor continues after Terre Haute. Month end Shelton Benjamin is doing the job for Cody, Hacksaw Jim Duggan beats Daivari, Val Venis beats Ryan O'Reilly and Super Crazy over Bradley. Suspensions really biting.

VARIATIONS 

Cade & Murdoch defending against Cryme Tyme in Terre Haute is the last of that match as you’ll read below. Also Shelton beats Super Crazy and Candice tags with Mickie James to beat Beth & Melina. In Durban Sandman doesn’t wrestle and Cody beats Daivari & Johnny Jeter in a handicap ; night one in Johannesburg Sandy pins Jeter. Also there a swap has London & Kendrick retain over the Bluebloods and Cade & Murdoch beat Robbie & Rory.

THE MAIN EVENTS - SMACKDOWN 

We’re still stuck with Great Khali vs Batista with a DQ finish 2nd in Toledo, 8th in Rochester (MN) it’s Kane getting the honour. 11th-14th it’s another tour - Batista & Rey Mysterio vs Khali & Fit Finlay tops Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and Paris. 22nd-24th it’s Batista PINNING Khali in St Joseph, Columbia (MO) and Springfield (IL) - funny story there (see below). 29th-30th in Peoria and Hammond Dave’s off so it’s Rey & The Undertaker beating Khali & Mark Henry.

THE CARDS

MVP vs Matt Hardy is still going on at home and abroad. Month end they resume giving the rematch to Deuce & Domino. With the tag champs fighting each other, former champs D&D are left losing to Jesse & Festus in Rochester and on tour. Kane vs Mark Henry goes three nights out of four on tour, Henry having beat Jimmy Wang Yang in Toledo and landing back on him (figuratively) month end. Chuck Palumbo vs Fit Finlay early month is a bit “Thunder” but it’s a good win for Chuck, on tour he beats Kenny Dykstra ever night before returning the favours to the Belfast Bruiser month end. Yang vs Jamie Noble vs Shannon Moore (definite WCW vibes) would be a fine CWT contenders on the tour if they weren’t canning the belt. Michelle McCool vs Victoria continues in Toledo and Rochester, Torrie Wilson vs Vic is back on overseas and month end Michelle beats Krissy Vaine. Month end we add Major Brothers vs Dave Taylor & Paul Burchill, just transplanted over from Raw. CM Punk vs Kevin Thorn for the ECW belt and continuation of Tommy Dreamer & Stevie Richards vs Big Daddy V & Matt Striker in Toledo and Rochester, month end Punks defending against Elijah Burke and V pins Dreamer in singles.

Amusing story thus ; having just wrestled two nights in St Joseph and Columbia - the one in Missouri - Burke could be forgiven for thinking the next nights show in Springfield is also the one in Missouri, so that’s where he drives to, missing the show in Springfield in Illinois.

VARIATIONS 

In Toledo its Deuce & Domino vs Jesse & Festus vs The Major Brothers in a three way and Yang pinning Dykstra. In Rochester Little Guido upsets Burke. In Barcelona only Kane is with Finlay, Matt & MVP give Deuce & Domino the rematch, Festus has a night off as Jesse beats Noble and Henry beats Yang & Moore in a handicap match. In St Joseph Harry Smith apparently is in for Burchill, he’s on his way in.

TVs

Sunday 1st in Cincinnati, Los Locos of OVW do a job dark to Jesse & Festus, Punk relieves John Morrison of the ECW title partly precipitated by Morrison getting suspended, and Hornswoggle retains the CWT against Noble on another dumb count out finish. Next night in Columbus the Heat taping includes Shawn Spears (Tye Dillinger) losing to Super Crazy, on Raw Ken Kennedy claims to be Vinces illegitimate son (remember that mess) but he’s also about to go on suspension so that story (apparently meant to lead to a match with Trips at Mania) goes nowhere. Jeff wins the ICT from Umaga who’s later beaten bloody by Hunter because HE’S off on suspension and dark, Cena pins Kennedy. 9th in Minneapolis though his partner just got shown the door KC James is doing a dark match with Yang, Mike Knox returns on ECW (zzz), Noble does a job to (rare TV outing here) Moore because of Swoggle, and Deuce & Domino beat Matt & MVP non title (GET FUCKED). Next night in Green Bay O’Reilly jobs to Val dark, Sandman beats Santino Marella by DQ in his last match on Raw, and after cameras Cena beats Orton by DQ. Unforgiven has a dark match - Kane pins the fading Dykstra. Next night in Nashville Hardcore Holly is on the comeback trail dark with O’Reilly, James loses to Cody and Johnny Parisi to (huh??) Ron Simmons on Heat, then on Raw some of the worst booking ever has Triple H beat the tag champs in a handicap then attack London & Kendrick and leave them laying after they make a save. Just put the tag belts in the bin now, Vince! Dark, Cena beats Orton by submission. Next night in Atlanta Cody beats James dark, Deuce & Domino beat Matt & MVP non title AGAIN (do, sincerely, FUCK OFF), the wedding of Teddy Long to Kristal Marshall ends in Teddy collapsing and dark Batista and future challenger Undertaker beat Khali & Henry. 24th in Milwaukee the Highlanders beat James and Jay Bradley dark, future ROH alumnus Silas Young loses to Val on Heat, Hardcore gets back on TV pinning Cody, Simmons beats Santino by count out and the first “Save_Us.222” message appears. Next night in Indianapolis, Jesse & Festus (with Maryse? I don’t remember that) beat Deuce & Domino dark, Silas gets on ECW losing to Miz, Vaine attacks Torrie in the first of her two appearances on SmackDown and dark Batista pins Khali.

If you are interested who else got suspended - Charlie Haas, Gregory Helms, William Regal, Chavo Guerrero Jr, Gene Snitsky, Chris Masters and Sho Funaki. And this is the month Horny gets stripped of the CWT for his own safety but they never bother crowning a new champion.

DEPARTURES 

A frankly stunning day on 1st, after a company meeting in Cincinnati about changes to the Wellness policy - on top of 11 guys implicated in the Signature scandal, Eugene tests positive for painkillers for which he can’t produce a prescription, and is let go. Meanwhile in Terre Haute, Cryme Tyme get into an argument with the tag champs before their match, then after the match they do their finish on the ref, steal his belt and give it to fans - which hadn’t been discussed beforehand - leading to heat with both the ref and the road agent, Barry Windham. Next day this ill discipline gets them both canned. They’ll be back. The Sandman is released mid month, years later Jim will admit they let him go because he got into a fight with Ricky Steamboat on the way back from South Africa. Wrestlers and planes. Finally Kristal Marshall is let go hardly any time after the wedding angle - internally it’s alleged she’s become hard to work with. I’m sure this didn’t sit well with then-beau Bobby Lashley either. The plan had been for her to have secretly seducing Teddy for the benefit of Edge, which she wasn’t comfortable with, essentially making her into another Lita. Still, Edge will land on his feet, in time netting the equally desirable Vickie Guerrero. If you like.