Survivor Series - 2008

Survivor Series 2008 is from Boston.

Part 3 of the build is here; or you could click the Road to Survivor Series 2008 label to read the full three part build.  Or just go to the it begins post to read the whole story.  I've been doing this blog for four years now; I think it was 6 years ago that I started writing the story, but 4 since I decided to share it with you. 

(Dark – LWO (w/Primo) d. Tatsu/Noble
             Kingston d. Yakuza)

Your announce – Joey/JR/Striker – in the back, Josh. It's JR's 50th PPV, which gets some notice.

Big night tonight – we’ll get the return of the WWF GM, Ricky Steamboat as the special guest referee in Punk’s title defense against Jericho; MVP has held the IC for a full year and defends against the legendary Rey Mysterio – and in a shocking, shocking turn of events – Edge and the Blood Dragon are teaming up to challenge WMD for the tag straps. In the back, we see Matt enter – Josh asks for a word and Matt blows him off – we see Edge – by himself – Josh asks where the Blood Dragon is – where is Jeff Hardy? Edge says everything’s under control – and tonight he and the Blood Dragon will become tag team champions.

1. Fluorescent Box Match: Bradshaw/Henry d. Undertaker/Rhodes

-Two boxes in opposite corners (the corners where the tag partners aren’t) filled with fluorescent tubes – if a wrestler gets to the box, he can use the tubes. Bradshaw and Undertaker are in a program since summer: Taker got a DQ win at Summer Slam but then had to take a light tube beat down. Taker’s taken Cody under his wing in this program, Cody’s job is to take the beating. He takes it here – the other half of BIG (Khali and Yakuza) enters, trying to get to the light tube boxes – the Undertaker fights them off, but that leaves Cody alone to take a good beating from Bradshaw and Henry – the box gets opened – Cody is about to get smashed with light tubes – when he is saved by a fan who runs into the ring to pull him out.

Dustin Rhodes.

Dustin’s been gone awhile. He’s a former tag champ, he and Austin debuted together – taking the tag titles from Razor and Diesel at Rumble ’96. Dustin had been a two time NWA tag champ (w/Eaton and then with Windham). Austin would turn on him when he became Stone Cold, which would spin Rhodes curiously into the Goldust persona – he’d align with a group of large men also in the Goldust costume (Sid and the Harris brothers) as the Golden Girls. A disgusted Jeff Jarrett convinced him to embrace his southern heritage and he cast off the gimmick. Dustin feuded with Hunter for a year – and notably failed with Jarrett in an attempt to burn the American flag at XV (was it XV?)

Anyway, Dustin pulls his little brother out of the ring and carries him up the ramp – the full force of BIG then teams to take out the Taker – they take him out with light tubes – Bradshaw gets his pinfall - they set upon the prone Taker with light tubes – from the back comes PAUL, Taker’s longtime friend (he and Khali had a draw at Summer Slam) and also Kane (gone for awhile, he and PAUL, and occasionally the Undertaker – and once even Hulk Hogan) were Dead Men Walking, former tag champs – PAUL and Kane clean house – knocking all of BIG out of the ring – and they hit Yakuza with a double chokeslam onto some light tubes to get a pop.

2. Truth Killings (w/Kingston) d. Miz (w/Santino)

-Killings and Kingston are Young Money, protégées of Floyd Mayweather ; Miz and Santino are an enhancement comedy act; they’ve been feuding since summer; Kingston beat Santino at Summer Slam and now Killings beats Miz here. It’s not much more complicated than that. Hit the Auto Tune! Shaw-ty!

3. Match 4 of 7: Johnny Nitro d. Strong Style Shelton Benjamin

-This feud started on the road to WM 24; cocky heel Nitro and white meat babyface Benjamin are oil and water, with only their athleticism and desire to demonstrate that athleticism uniting them. They both lost in the TLC title unification main event at 24 (to Punk), after they left their respective hospitals, they continued their feud over the summer, starting this best of 7 series – that was stalled at 1-0 Benjamin when Nitro attacked Shelton’s knee, and that knee has been the story subsequent. Nitro beat Benjamin twice in the build to Survivor Series – and beats him again here – Nitro goes up 3-1, a seemingly insurmountable advantage, and the announce suggests that Benjamin’s knee may just not be able to hold up to Nitro’s offensive onslaught.

4. Brian Kendrick (w/Colt) d. Matt Hardy

-Big picture – Matt’s been a top guy since Edge slept with Lita. Matt beat Flair at XXII and he and Edge spent a year building to their main event blow off, Hell in a Cell main event for XXIII. Matt won that match – but got the hell kicked out of him by GDI (Punk, Colt, Kendrick, et al.) postmatch. Matt was gone a year – he returned at the close of XXIV, hitting the Twist of Fate on Punk from the top of the ladder. Matt got his shot at Punk and the WWF title at Summer Slam, but fell short (as did Jeff in his IC shot earlier that night) in part because of a Sliced Bread #2 hit by Kendrick. That would be enough for this match – except for the crazy twist over this past week when Edge tabbed the Blood Dragon as his partner tonight (the Matt/Edge storyline has been good, I think – Hardys and E/C came up together as young boys ten years ago, E/C saw an opportunity to get ahead, on the night the Hardys won the tag straps – E/C joined the Clique – kicking off a multi-year long collision feud, where, with the Dudleys, the men nearly killed each other. Edge nailing Lita led to the collapse of the then babyface Clique, and led to Edge beating Christian {he told Christian that “as his brother” he would never lie to him – and he never slept with Lita} in a Loser Leaves Town. Jeff returned after years away to aid his brother in the program {but Jeff couldn’t beat Edge – or CM Punk, and during a several month program with Punk, Jeff adopted the alternate persona of the Blood Dragon, which looks sort of like Jushin Liger}. Punk preyed a little upon the unstable Jeff – and his analysis, oft repeated – was that Jeff’s need no longer to be a Hardy, no longer to be Matt’s brother, led to this schizophrenic breakdown. Jeff’s IC loss at Summer Slam was another crack to his ego – Jeff eliminated Matt from the number one contender’s battle royal – which was another crack in the Hardys relationship. They hadn’t spoken in a couple of months, as Matt had told us, Jeff disappearing after the battle royal – until this past week Edge’s search for a partner ended – when he unveiled the Blood Dragon)

It’s still unfolding here – Matt’s noticeably distracted – shaking his head throughout the match – Kendrick is in his “the Brian Kendrick” chickenshit heel persona (Colt has a cast, Matt broke his arm over the summer). Josh has continued throughout the show his search for the Blood Dragon – and during this match – on the video wall – Josh finds him (there was announce speculation that Jeff would reconsider, that despite whatever’s going on with he and Matt – he just wouldn’t be Edge’s partner) but there he is – in the back – Josh asks him “Why – Jeff – why are you doing this” – and the Blood Dragon (in the costume) just shakes his head and continues walking.

That distraction, distracting both the official and Matt – allows Colt to slip in the ring and club Matt with the cast – which allows Kendrick to take control – soon thereafter is Sliced Bread – and that’s the pinfall for the biggest win of Kendrick’s career.

Kendrick does the big celebration – Matt sits in the ring and stares at the video wall – his brother, his baby brother – is going to team with his mortal enemy – right here, in this very ring!

5. Parking Garage Brawl:  Randy Orton (w/Dean) d. Steve Regal
Surrounded by cars in the parking garage, Orton gets a win in as rough and tumble a brawl as decency will allow and Orton can maintain.  Orton's really looking for gravity here - that's why the alliance with Malenko, in whom we've invested a great deal of time establishing as legitimate.  Orton formed Defiance, a stable with Malenko and the Juggernaut (Umaga) at 24 by aiding the Juggernaut in defeating Fit (Orton debuted his punt to the head, called the Golden Goal - Fit's been out since).

Regal came to the aid of his frenemy Finlay - he took the Juggernaut out, he hit Orton with his car (that's why we're in a parking garage) but tonight he takes a Golden Goal himself.

There's a plot development here that leads to the finish - with Regal in control one of the encircled cars suddenly rams into him - the chaos as the car (with an unseen driver) strikes Regal and then screeches away allows Malenko to put on the clover leaf - and Orton to nail the Golden Goal.

A bloody Orton stands astride the broken body of Regal - Orton/Malenko...and who....who was driving the car....Defiance has taken out another man.

6. Tag Team Titles:  Edge/Blood Dragon d. WMD (w/Arn)
Edge comes out alone to take on Cena/Leviathan, the announce speculating that maybe Jeff thought better of it - maybe whatever demons are currently possessing Jeff's mind that caused him to agree to partner with Edge have taken the evening off.  Edge has to take a bit of a beating early - he deserves it and the muscleheads are happy to oblige.

Then the Blood Dragon (in the full costume/mask) comes to the ring and awaits the the tag.

Now, the announce doesn't refer to this, but there's been enough video in the build so the fans are well aware - but please recall what happened at the Rumble.

At the Rumble - Edge/Jericho took on Michaels/Helmsley for the straps - Edge/Jericho was a surprise alliance, and it appeared that Edge had turned in the aftermath of 23.  He had not - he swerved Jericho in that match and the heels pounced.

So here we are, Edge about the tag in the Blood Dragon - important that the announce never says "wait - remember the Rumble?" as that would tip the hand - I'd like it if the fans thought that was the direction we were going here, that Jeff would turn his back on Edge for the comeuppance.

That doesn't happen - instead what happens is the Blood Dragon goes full house afire and eventually he hits the Swanton and gets the fall on Leviathan. 

Edge and Jeff Hardy, shockingly, are tag team champions. 

Edge is thrilled, raising the belt high - the Blood Dragon (still masked, which isn't weird, as we've been planting that as normal forever) seems conflicted - looking at the belt - staring at Edge -- and Matt Hardy, in absolute disbelief, comes to the top of the ramp.

I like a shot of Edge, sneering, smirking Edge - standing with the Blood Dragon in mid ring - Edge mocking Matt - Matt's mouth agape, Matt frozen - Matt underneath the TitanTron as it all goes down.  The Blood Dragon doesn't celebrate with Edge - Edge extends a hand - but the Blood Dragon blows him off - exiting the ring - the Blood Dragon goes up the ramp with the title belt - and he just walks right by Matt - brushing past him as Matt is frozen in what clearly has to be as traumatic a happening as could ever occur to him in a wrestling ring.  His brother - and his mortal enemy - tag team champions of the world.

7. IC Title: MVP d. Rey Mysterio
-This is just a wrestling match, they go hard, Porter gets him with a roll up.

The build was (1) Porter's hit a year as IC Champ (he's got some type of celebration here, a special fireworks thing or girls, some type of "champ for a year" thing- he's longest running IC champ in over a decade (Cactus Jack) - and that's designed to rebuild this belt since it has to be subordinated while we did that belt split.  Porter's the modern athlete (he's Ochocinco) he tweets during matches, he wears expensive suits, he hits his catchphrase (I Run This) and he wants to build his brand.  Rey's on the short list for greatest wrester ever, he's a triple crown legend, but injuries have taken him away for good parts of the past couple of years.  Is MVP going to ascend further up the ranks - can Rey return to form?

Not complicated - they have the best match they can have, it's 50/50 and Porter gets him with the roll up at the end.  Done.  MVPs run continues. 

8. WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. CM Punk (w/Maria and Colt): Guest referee, Ricky Steamboat.
-Well, look what happened here.

-In 1999, Chris Jericho arrived in the WWF to revive the Hart Foundation - he wore the #7 Foundation hockey jersey (only given to champions - and Jericho was an NWA Champ), he beat Waltman for the IC in his first match at Survivor Series.

A decade later, here we are. 

-In 2006, CM Punk, who had built his WWF name as the man whose refusal to wrestle on TV led to the creation of GDI Wrestling - the Tuesday night Sci Fi program - won the number one contender's battle royal (only man ever to do it from position 1) and beat Ric Flair at Survivor Series to take the Undisputed World Title and end the reign of the 51% Solution.  In a shocking - shocking - turn of events, Punk threw down the WWF (and NWA) title belt, proclaiming himself the GDI World Champion (as represented by the ECW belt) and shattering the company in pieces.

Two years later, here we are.

Ricky Steamboat defended the WWF Title at the first Wrestlemania - and has been in general manager type positions throughout the decade in TNA (where his chief nemesis was Punk) ROH (where his chief nemesis was Punk) and in the WWF in a couple of stints - this most recent starting after Survivor Series 2006 which his task being to put right what CM Punk made wrong.

There have been twists and turns. 

But here we are.

Steamboat, gone on his Asian talent search, returns to accept Punk's demand that he be guest referee.

Jericho, gone over the summer after his loss at 24 to Edge (who swerved him at the Rumble) was a surprise entrant (at #30) at the battle royale - he eliminated Edge and with all the years of history behind him - as a Hart - as the man left to carry on the most important WWF legacy - and as a man who has failed carrying that legacy, who has let the emotional pressure of that legacy break him multiple times - Jericho is here.

And Punk, with his boy Colt and girl Maria - the hated, cocksure Punk - master of mind games, Punk who has withstood every challenge - who has always come out on top in his WWF career - Punk is here.

Steamboat, early in the match, sends Colt and Maria to the back after an attempted distraction.  There are, throughout the match, a few Punk/Steamboat confrontations, in the way you'd expect to see them. 

They go head up - Jericho locks on the Walls - Punk breaks the hold.  Punk hits the Pepsi Plunge, Jericho kicks out.  Eventually Punk's attempt to hit the GTS is turned into another Walls - and Punk submits. 

Jericho wins the WWF Championship.  Jericho wins the Triple Crown. 

He gets the celebration alone - after Steamboat puts the belt around his waist - Jericho gets the moment in the ring by himself - no longer "the cocky Hart" - no longer JerichoDark or the Lizard King - he's #7 - and just like Dynamite, Bret, Davey Boy, Owen, and Benoit - Jericho takes his place as WWF Champion.

It's a big emotional celebration - Punk looks on mournfully, alone in the aisle.

The following night at the close of RAW is another tradition - the passing of the Triple Crown trophy.

All the boys surround the ring, as we've done with every previous winner, and the previous holder of the cup, as we've done every time, hands the Triple Crown to the new holder.  There's a highlight package.  It's what we do.

The last triple crown winner was Benoit.  You may recall that he returned to WWF (his career ended at the hands of Lashley) the week after 23 for Flair's retirement ceremony.  And he gave the trophy to the man who held it before Benoit, Rey Mysterio.

So it's Rey who comes to the ring - he hands Jericho the Hart-Guerrero Memorial Triple Crown - the highlight reel from Jericho's career plays - after which, in the middle of all of the boys out around the ring and up the ramp - Punk/Colt/Kendrick attack Ricky Steamboat.

It's a complete sucker attack, they jump him and pound the WWF GM down until pulled off.  It's full on chaos - Punk/Colt/Kendrick have attacked Ricky Steamboat, leaving the GM bloody and laying in the middle of the triple crown ceremony.

One assumes there will be consequences.

That's Survivor Series 2008 (and the next night).  Steve Regal hit by a Golden Goal, Johnny Nitro up 3-1 on Shelton Benjamin, Edge and The Blood Dragon are, in an unbelievable twist, the new tag champs, and your new WWF Champion and Triple Crown winner -- Chris Jericho.

I'll be back in December for the The road. to the Rumble. 

The History of the Hart-Guerrero Memorial Triple Crown

THE HISTORY OF THE HART-GUERRERO MEMORIAL TRIPLE CROWN
(this is part 4 in a series; the Triple Crown is awarded to those who have won all 3 of the WWF championships (World, IC, tags) during their careers. It has been renamed twice, for Owen Hart and then for Eddy Guerrero. It is symbolized by the Triple Crown trophy, on which are engraved the names of all of the recipients; that trophy is held by the most recent TC winner until he passes it to the next in a ceremony.)

PEDRO MORALES
WWF Champion – 12/71
Tag Team Champion – 8/80
IC Champion – 12/80

BRET HIT MAN HART
Tag Team Champion – Wrestlemania II, 1986
IC Champion – Wrestlemania IV, 1988
WWF Champion – Wrestlemania VIII, 1992

THE HEARTBREAK KID SHAWN MICHAELS
Tag Team Champion – Royal Rumble ‘89
IC Champion – Survivor Series ‘92
WWF Champion – Survivor Series ‘94

OWEN HARTIC Champion – Survivor Series ‘92
WWF Champion – Wrestlemania X 1994
Tag Team Champion – Royal Rumble ‘97

STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
Tag Team Champion – Royal Rumble ‘96
WWF Champion – Wrestlemania XIII 1997
IC Champion – Summer Slam ‘98

CACTUS JACK
IC Champion – Survivor Series ‘96
Tag Team Champion – Royal Rumble ‘98
WWF Champion – Summer Slam ‘98

EDDY GUERRERO
IC Champion – Wrestlemania XVI 2000
Tag Team Champion – Summer Slam ‘02
WWF Champion – Summer Slam ‘03

REY MYSTERIO, JR.IC Champion – Royal Rumble ‘03
Tag Team Champion – Summer Slam ‘04
WWF Champion – Summer Slam ‘05

CHRIS BENOITWWF Champion – Wrestlemania XVI 2000
Tag Team Champion – Summer Slam ‘02
IC Champion – Survivor Series ‘05

Summer Slam 2003

XIX is here.

SummerSlam 2003 (Phoenix)
(Dark: Haas/Benjamin d. London/Spanky)
(Dark: Ultimo Dragon d. Shane Helms)

JR/Taz on the announce.

(Open with a video package spotlighting the four guys around which the company is revolving: Eddy, one of the great wrestlers who ever lived, looking to win the Undisputed Title and the Triple Crown….Brock, the destructive, egotistical bully, a former NCAA Champion, looking like an unstoppable force…Benoit, fighting to be considered the greatest wrestler of all time, a multi-time champion finally away from the Alliance and the Horsemen, gets his long awaited rematch against Angle…and Angle, beloved champion shockingly turned antagonist, he’s making his first return to the ring since neck surgery, still without a professional wrestling defeat…)

1. SpreeKillers draw La Resistance (no contest)
Moore and Rhyno attack the French kids in the back, punking them out, SpreeKiller style, Helms then attacks Moore and Rhyno, furthering the feud over the Spree Killer gimmick – Helms, Moore, and Rhyno – all shirtless with the scrawlings all over them brawl in the back – whenever La Resistance shows signs of recovering, the Spree Killers unite to destroy them quickly, then they go back to the brawl.

We see the TitanTrust (Dean, Arn, Fit) in the back huddling as to what to do without the first match, and then we see Kurt Angle make his way to the ring.

Angle, bald, has the American flag singlet, but now it’s black. He’s Bizarro Angle. Here’s where his turn deviates from Bret’s, the wrestler to whom he is most similar. The weight of being on top, with Owen and Shawn always at his heels, grew too much, Bret grew bitter at his perceived lack of respect from the fans. We got an underlying tease of that with Angle, but we also laid the groundwork, when Angle was beating the NWA guys, that Angle kinda dug being a heel. And that’s what they sell, Angle liked getting booed, he saw that guys like Brock were having a helluva time. He’s always lived his life according to the rules, imagine the life of the amateur wrestler, toiling away in obscurity, sweating out twelve pounds in 7 hours to make weight, turning your body into a machine just for your own community while those football players make all the money – but still, you keep going, because “I’m Kurt Angle” and that’s what you do –you won a gold medal, but where was your parade, why didn’t you become Bruce Jenner or Mary Lou Retton - you won the WWF title, you’re still unbeaten, and you realize you weren’t having half the fun of Brock, taping guys buttcheeks together, snearing himself with Jericho’s blood, mocking the Rock, dropping Helmsley on his head on the white ramp – he just does whatever he feels like, whenever he feels like it.

“And what Kurt Angle felt like doing on Monday, was Angle slamming Vinnie Mac into next week. What Kurt Angle felt like doing on Monday was strapping on a halo, getting into a wheelchair and pretending to be some lame ass cripple, with the drool coming out of my mouth and the girls in the front row crying – it was hiliarous – you should have seen the look on your faces – priceless – and what Kurt Angle felt like doing on Monday was showing Eddy Guerrero that he could win a hundred tournaments and he’ll still never be a champion. And what Kurt Angle feels like doing tonight is beating Chris Benoit – again – to prove once again, that there is no one in this world, who will ever beat Kurt Angle. “

Brock enters. Note that Brock wasn’t in on the plan – he looks at Angle in a little bit of awe, like he’s risen from the dead. Brock says he doesn’t know what happened, but Kurt Angle is the craziest son of a bitch he’s ever met. And tonight, after Angle takes care of Benoit, Brock Lesnar will win the Undisputed Championship by destroying that illegal alien Eddy Guerrero – and the two of them will go out and tear up the town as the two greatest wrestlers of all time. And maybe on RAW, tomorrow night, Brock Lesnar will defend his Undisputed Championship…

“…or maybe instead, I won’t show up at all. Maybe instead, Brock Lesnar is going to win the Undisputed Championship and take the belts back home to Minnesota, maybe I’ll sell them on Ebay, maybe I’ll go play in the NFL, maybe I’ll go off to Hollywood and take jobs away from that punkass Rock, maybe I won’t do any of those things at all – but the only thing you can count on is Brock Lesnar will do what he wants to do, when he wants to do it.”

Benoit enters. Says “the two of you idiots mock my passion, this is the WWF, it’s not about you Lesnar, it’s not about you, Angle, it’s about the sacrifice of every man who has ever stepped foot in that locker room to build this ring. It’s about the Dynamite Kid, who wrestled until he was in a wheelchair for real – and when you come out to this ring, Angle, when you come out in a wheelchair – you mock his legend, you mock his sacrifice, you mock the blood that has been spilled in this ring – and you mock me, Angle – when you mock my ring – you mock me – and I will show you what I think about people who mock me, Angle – I’ll show both of you, right now.”

Angle does a Benoit impression, fake seething “I’ll show both of you right now”, he says, “this is exactly what I was talking about, Benoit, your face is all tense, you’re probably close to stroking out here in Phoenix, where they probably don’t even have any doctors, and you just challenged two real athletes to a match.

You are exactly who I don’t want to wind up like, Benoit.

But, I’ll tell you what – we’re a match short, so Brock and I are gonna take you up on this, Chris – we’re gonna make Summer Slam history – because we’re gonna take you apart right now…

Heels beat on Benoit. Benoit comes back. Heels beat on Benoit. Benoit can’t come back, he struggles, he struggles – and then Eddy enters.

Fans should be chanting for Eddy to make the superman save. We’re in Phoenix (and Dallas for Survivor Series) which will mean a large Hispanic fan base. The tournament reads as just one big block of matches, but it’s actually months around which the company is built, and the guy getting the big push is Eddy. He beat Benoit at Mania – then beat Benoit in the tournament – and now has the title shot after the face turn and here we are.

So, Eddy gets the chants, he and Benoit get an advantage – but Angle cheats in some major way to further the heel turn, say he splits Eddy open with one of the title belts which are prominently displayed at ringside. Angle Slams and F5s on both faces.

2. Goldberg d. Diesel
They keep it short. It’s Nash’s first PPV match since he left for the NWA. So, they sell that as a big deal – and we show the Goldberg/Nash partnership from the NWA to familiarize WWF fans with their history.

Goldberg goes over powerfully, clean with the spear and the jackknife, as this finishes Nash up. No Clique presence, Goldberg stands on the buckle yelling out, ‘I’m the Next Big Thing!” Then goes back and F5s Nash. “That’s how you do it!”

3. Cage Match: RVD (w/Heyman) d. Matt (w/Bischoff)
Paul E yells at Van Dam, looking to fire him up, the whole way down the ramp, “this guy beat you twice, he thinks he’s extreme, you’re the legacy of ECW and this guy keeps beating you.” Van Dam keeps the intensity shown after the tournament, this is a classic midcard feud, Matt establishing himself as a singles daredevil against the ECW icon Van Dam. It’s a pinfall match – ending with a frogsplash from the top of the cage. The win’s not enough for Heyman though, ‘cause this is a blood feud between he and Eric – he rams Bischoff’s head into the cage – and then drags him in – Heyman’s got handcuffs – he cuffs Hardy and Bischoff to the cage – bringing in a chair – and he tells RVD to lay them both out with the chair – Van Dam mixed – that’s lots of heel, hitting defenseless men with a chair – but like Bischoff’s sway on Matt – the angle is Heyman’s sway on Van Dam – and he plants the chair into each man’s head. Blood everywhere in the cage, blood spattering onto both Heyman and Van Dam – RVD flips them both off before pointing his thumbs to his head.

4. Y2J d. Flair (w/Leviathan)
Jericho, with the beard growing, with the pyro gone, the costume changed, the music sparse, wins with the Liontamer. The story is Jericho’s aggressiveness toward Leviathan, he doesn’t wait to be attacked from the outside, he attacks Leviathan (still with Cowboy Bob cast) Jericho gets the worst of the exchange, ‘cause it’s Leviathan with a cast, but he keeps going back. The announce at some point, wonders if Jericho has a death wish…

…also, there’s no Chavo, and since he’s not on the card, we speculate about that.

Jericho goes over, won’t release the Liontamer, even when Leviathan hits the ring to beat him down, Jericho just waves Leviathan on over with a free hand.

Flair and Leviathan beat the hell out of Jericho postmatch, leaving him bloody once again and when they exit, he sits in the ring with a sick smile.

They repeat the spot tomorrow on RAW with Dead Men Walking, but I can’t really describe it without tipping the tag finish, so I’ll wait.

5. 30 Minute Iron Man: Kurt Angle draw Chris Benoit (time limit)
And now we get to it. Angle’s full heel, pulls up the mat on the outside, pulls up the turnbuckle pad, holds the tights, goes low, thumb to the eye – does every clichéd heel trick, as if saying to the fans, “I’ll give you something to boo about.”

Benoit, after 15 or so minutes of this, finally does something himself, say, piledriving Angle onto the steel steps after pausing a moment to allow the fans to tell him it was okay.

It’s a 30 minute time limit draw. Benoit asks for five more minutes, fans chant for five more minutes, Angle says nope. He signed for 30, now he’s going home.

Crowd boos. Announce is revolted, Kurt Angle, the Kurt Angle, just walking away from competition? Yup. Angle waves to Benoit who stands in the ring shocked as Angle walks back up the ramp and leaves. Boo. Boo. Boo.

So, Angle doesn’t win, but as he reminds us the following night – he’s still unbeaten.

See what he did there?

6. Tags: No DQ: HBK/HHH d. DMW
Undertaker, of course, has never won a title, so they sell that (I think this is probably his last shot) and it’s a real veteran matchup, with Michaels/Undertaker being a battle of WWF legends.

They book it heavy, PAUL~, the member of DMW not in the match enters at one point, causing London and Spanky to run in and doubleteam him. Say, Michaels was down from a double chokeslam, and then HHH used the sledgehammer to take out Taker and Kane. PAUL entered to chokeslam HHH, and then London and Spanky entered to doubleteam PAUL and send him out of the ring HHH comes to, he’s groggy and grabs the sledgehammer and levels… Spanky.

It’s an accident, of course, ‘cause why would HHH do that? I mean, it couldn’t be that he was pissed that these kids would help him out. Right? He’s not that kinda guy. Right? He couldn’t have been jealous that the young guys were better than he was. Hey – know what’s a good spot – at some point, Hunter’s watching a London/Spanky tag on RAW and says those kids don’t know how to work.

Michaels gets the fall on Kane, Michaels goes over for the keep. He and HHH tend to Spanky, London noticeably is wary of HHH.

7. Worldwide Titles: Tajiri d. Rey
Tajiri wins his second IC, which ties him for second all time with lots of folks. Great match, Ultimo comes down the ringside at one point for some interference, he does his rapid fire kicks at little Rey, helping Tajiri gain control.

Tajiri goes over, beating Rey again, Hispanic crowd unhappy with that. Chavo enters postmatch and beats them both down. Chavo stands alone, holding the three belts in the air triumphantly as he holds up the four fingers for the Horsemen. Announce puts him over hard. Chavo takes out both Rey and Tajiri and holds up the 3 belts.

8. Undisputed Championship: Eddy Guerrero d. Brock Lesnar
Eddy wins the WWF Title and for the first time in like five years, we have a Triple Crown winner.

Same match as they actually had when Eddy won the strap. Brock uses his size advantage to dominate. We’ll get a spot where Angle, who didn’t go home at all, attempts to run in, Benoit stops him from getting to the ring, they fight back up the ramp.

Brock hits the F5, Eddy kicks out. Brock goes for it again, Eddy counters with a DDT and then hits the frog splash for the win.

Emotional moment. Eddy’s family, who we know now from the Guerrero/Hart pieces before the Eddy/Benoit tournament match, is at ringside and they enter, including Mondo, Hector, and Chavo, Sr. Little Rey enters, Paul London enters, he’s Hispanic after all – and the announce notes what an enormous deal it is that here, in Phoenix, a Hispanic man has become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Benoit enters, there’s a bit of a pause, but Benoit raises Eddy’s hand in triumph for the big pop.

And then we Bret/Owen the finish. Chavo hits the ramp. Chavo had the big night, wiping out the two IC competitors, but he’s once again been trumped by Uncle Eddy. He’s always behind Uncle Eddy. Chavo hatefully stares into the ring as his family, even his father, celebrates as Eddy becomes the toast of the wrestling world.

Survivor Series is coming from Dallas, home state of Eddy and Chavo Guerrero.

RAW the night after the PPV opens, for the first time in years, with a shot of the Owen Hart Memorial Triple Crown Trophy in the ring.

PEDRO MORALES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS
OWEN HART
STEVE AUSTIN
CACTUS JACK
EDDY GUERRERO

Hit Foley’s music. Hey, it’s Mick Foley!

Foley returns for the ceremonial passing of the trophy. Foley thanks the fans for remembering, says the Trophy’s been on his shelf for five years and he’s just glad to get rid of the damn thing, he has to clear off some room for the Pulitzer Prizes he’s sure to win for his many books – all available in local bookstores, ask for them by name.

He calls out Eddy. Eddy enters, big pop. Foley says only 6 men in wrestling history have ever won the sport’s highest honor – and he’s proud to award it to the 7 th. Eddy thanks Mick, thanks the fans, says he’s honored to have a trophy which was won by a Hispanic, Pedro Morales (hopefully we can get Pedro for the show) and honored to be the first winner since it was named after Owen Hart.

Eddy and Mick shake. Fans cheer. And here comes Angle.

Angle says he’s sorry to bust up the party, but he’s Kurt Angle, undefeated, and if there’s a man who should be celebrated, it’s Kurt Angle. Eddy Guerrero knows, Mick Foley knows, everyone knows that the real Undisputed Champion is the man who never lost the belt – the real Undisputed Champion is Kurt Angle, the man who always wins. Last night, Eddy might have beaten Brock – but Eddy Guerrero’s never beaten – no man has ever beaten – Kurt Angle.

Here comes Benoit.

Benoit shakes Eddy’s hand. Benoit shakes Foley’s hand. Benoit says that Kurt Angle’s forgetting something – that last night, at Summer Slam, Angle didn’t win. Angle didn’t beat Chris Benoit – and if Angle had any guts, he would have accepted Benoit’s offer to go five more minutes, and then no one would ever have to hear about undefeated Kurt Angle ever again.

Foley interjects. He says he doesn’t mean to be presumptuous, but as a former Triple Crown winner, and a bonafide WWF legend, he has a suggestion. For the Main Event at Survivor Series, how about Eddy Guerrero….vs….Kurt Angle…..vs. Chris Benoit…..

The fans pop.

Here comes Brock.

Lesnar says that idea sucks.

All Eddy and Benoit will do is double team Kurt. And last night, everyone knows that it was a fluke that Eddy Guerrero beat him. If there’s gonna be a title match at Survivor Series, it’s gonna be a four way.

Which, incidentally, is what we’re gonna do.

But Foley tweaks Brock, saying that he’s been watching at his palatial Long Island estate, and it looks to him like Brock’s had two chances to win the Undisputed Championship – and he’s lost both times – what makes him think he deserves a third chance? What’s Brock Lesnar ever done?

Brock says, old man, I’ll show you what I’ve done.

And Brock attacks Foley.

Benoit and Guerrero try to react – but now they’re fighting Angle.

Brock F5s Foley, leaving him laid out in the ring.

So, that’s our four way for the title.

Benoit, as it turns out, will wind up wrestling twice. As we get closer to the PPV, Angle will pay off Noble to attack him. He’ll give him, I don’t know, like a gift certificate to WalMart or a Brooks and Dunn autographed CD. All the while telling Noble that if he wants something in this business, he has to take it.

That leads to the completion of Noble’s heel turn as he wipes out Kidman, and then leads to Noble’s jumping Benoit during a Benoit/Eddy v. Angle/Brock tag on RAW. So, we also have Benoit/Noble at the PPV. Benoit’s working twice, including for the big strap, so, that’s rare, you know.

Undertaker and PAUL~ will be wrestling the young Bashams. We get the DMW spot alluded to earlier, Jericho goes to the locker room where the three of them are sitting – and just rips on them for failing to win the tag straps. Again, the announce notes that Jericho seems to have a death wish. And the three monsters destroy him. Jericho, once again, winds up bloody but still smiles sickly.

The next week, Trish, not seen for awhile, cuts a promo on Jericho. She says he’s giving people from Toronto a bad name, that first, he couldn’t hold onto his woman, and now he keeps getting his ass kicked, she says if Jericho wants to get beaten up this week, why doesn’t he come out to the ring and let her do it.

Dark Jericho enters, says he doesn’t have time for a turncoat like Trish. For a Canadian slut to join the Clique makes him sick, and he doesn’t have any interest in being in the same ring with her.

Trish does a psychosexual thing now, bringing up Stacy, coming onto Jericho, saying that maybe if her legs were longer or her hair were straighter, that Chris wouldn’t be so quick to kick her out of the ring. Trish coos, tells Jericho to just close his eyes and pretend she’s Stacy, pretend she’s come back to him, pretend she still loves him…Jericho resists, but the sadness overcomes him and he closes his eyes – and as Trish moves in for a kiss – Christian enters and lays Jericho out.

Heel pop for the returning Christian. As we’ll see, this is the current Christian, short hair, a little more mature and a little less goofy than Christian of E and C fame. He calls his nonexistent fans the Christian Coalition. He calls his facebuster finisher the Crusader. We’re gonna get Jericho/Christian, some Harts/Clique comin’ at ya, at Survivor Series.

RVD and Paul E gloat about taking Matt out. Bitc-off pushed and pushed – he insulted who we were – he tried to pass himself off as the carrying the banner for the NWA – he tried to pass himself off as being the savior for Matt Hardy – and what happened was he got Matt Hardy killed.

Bischoff enters slowly. Says Matt’s home recuperating – but this war isn’t over – it’s just getting started – and it will continue at Survivor Series. Matt’s not here – but Eric’s hired a replacement – Eric’s laid out some cash to hire a man to take out RVD – a man who is more than willing to go to his home state of Texas to do it…

Hit the music…I GOT TO GET PAID!!

Booker enters. If ATM Eric’s got the cash – Book’s got the time. Book tells Van Dam it ain’t personal – but he’s got mouths to feed, suits to buy, and Escalade payments to make. Dolla bill y’all. Big pimpin, spendin’ cheese.


So we’ll get that at the PPV.

Paul E gets another one at the PPV. He’ll promo on HHH/HBK, saying it’s embarrassing that the combined age of the Unified tag champs is 467 years old, saying that’s the kind of thing that never would have happened at ECW.

Michaels and Hunter enter, they promo on Paul E, threaten him, run down ECW…when they are attacked by the Dudley Boys. 3D to Michaels. 3D to Hunter. The two time WWF tag champs have returned – and they’ve turned heel – after being apart during their full run - they finally hug Paul E and the three men pose.

So, we’ll get that at Survivor Series.

Goldberg promos. Says he’s the most dominant man alive. The most dominant man in all of wrestling – he’s the next big thing.

Brock enters, tells Goldberg that he’s going to be too busy at Survivor Series winning the Undisputed Championship to deal with him – but afterward – if Goldberg wants to go, then the two of them – the two most physically imposing men in all the world – will go.

Enter…Scott Steiner.

Steiner, 12 years removed from when he was WWF tag champion (and when he could actually wrestle) returns to the WWF. Steiner, crazy jacked up, says maybe he didn’t hear right, but if we’re going to talk physically imposing, let’s start with Big Poppa Pump. Steiner kisses a bicep.

The three men brawl in the ring. We’re gonna get Goldberg/Steiner at Survivor Series.

Finally, we’re gonna get Chavo and Tajiri for the IC. Tajiri won it at the PPV but was then attacked by Chavo. They’re both heels, they’ll keep Ultimo in the mix, cause he can’t get on the card, but he’s the Ultimo Dragon and he oughta be in the mix. They position him as Flair’s equivalent, as Flair’s gonna be in Chavo’s corner – Ultimo’s in Tajiri’s. We’ll get a tag match on RAW, we’ll get a singles between Ultimo/Flair, as part of the buildup to the PPV.

And of course – the four way in the main event. They tell more Eddy/Benoit story, developing the similarity between Harts and Guerreros – as now Eddy is finally at the top of the sport. They tell more Angle/Brock – as Kurt’s off the rails and Brock’s always Brock. It’s one fall to a finish – Eddy can lose the belt without getting pinned. Will he retain – will the newest Triple Crown Winner retain the belt? Will it be Benoit? Arguably the greatest wrestler who ever lived – will he regain the WWF Championship? And what about the unbeaten Angle? Will Kurt Angle, who had to give up the belt to have neck surgery after Mania, regain the title? Or will it be the kid, Lesnar, as obnoxious as he is talented.


So, it’s Survivor Series ’03 from Dallas. We’ve got the Fatal Four Way for thr big straps: Eddy v. Benoit v. Angle v. Brock, we’ve got Tajiri and Chavo for the Worldwide Titles, with Flair and Ultimo in their corners, we’ve got HBK/HHH defending against the returning Dudleys in a Falls Count Anywhere. We’ve got DarkJericho against the returning Christian. We’ve got RVD against Booker, as always in the ECW Rules match, We’ve got Benoit’s first match of the evening, don’t forget against the Redneck Messiah, Jamie Mothertruckin Noble, we’ve got Goldberg against Scott Steiner, and we’ve got DMW in the opening tag. It’s Survivor Series 2003. Call your thing! Call it today!

Summer Slam 1998

XIV is here.

Summer Slam 1998 Madison Square Garden

JR/Cornette.

(Dark – 2 Cold Scorpio d. Terry Funk)

1. Teioh/Funkai d. Lawler/Taylor
-cause they would. Too Cool may lose every single match.

2. Adam (w/Ring Boys) d. Vader
This will wrap Vader up. They do the big underdog thing. Young Adam coming out of nowhere to beat the monster Vader. Edge is largely dominated, but wins on the fluke roll up – the Ring Crew lifts Edge up afterward – as if he had won a title, Vader, embarrassed, leaves the company. That kinda thing. Now, they can further split between the two halves of the ring boys – no one’s turning, still a way to go – but we start to give E and C the personality that they’d have after their heel turn. A funny coat here – a pair of wild sunglasses there. They can grow their hair, they start to call Adam, Edge. If sometimes the Hardys though they were dicks, that would be okay, but the Hardys are good boys, they don't want to come off as jealous. Owen's pretty busy in this stretch, but when he notices the increasing attitude on his ring boys, he slaps a hold on them and makes them cry. Owen calls Adam, "Adam" and Edge and Christian mutter about that.

3. The Abolitionist Ulysses Morley d. The Southern Man Dustin Rhodes
Morley goes over in a solid match. Wins with the Liberation Falls splash. Jarrett enters after – he and Dustin attack with the Confederate flag. Dustin chokes Val out with the flag while Jarrett attacks. Face save by Mero. Leading us right into...

4. Southern Man Jeff Jarrett (w/Dustin) d. Marc Mero (w/Morley)
This is it for Mero, like with Savio, Jarrett gets Mero in the figure four – won’t break the hold, gets the submission – Mero has to be helped from the ring – Dustin and Jarrett wave the huge confederate flag after the match. Southern Men! “The Southern Man ended that Puerto Rican’s career…The Southern Man just ended Mero’s career. Watch your heads, you goddamn northerners. Read your good book – Read about the Chosen Man – Read about the Southern Man” They wave the Confederate Flag. It’s a good time.

5. Taka d. Togo (w/K-DX)
Workrate! Taka gets the big win, battling all 3 guys to get the fall. If I could use him more he'd get strapped up. If you haven't seen Taka work recently, in 2006 he may be at the top of his game.

6. Tags: Nation (w/Markie/2Cold) d. Outlaws d. HHH/Waltman
Rock and DLo recapture the tag titles. Big hip hop contingent at MSG; I'm looking for more black faces in the crowd, now is where they reach out to the African-American sports fan, keeping Rock and DLo hip hop, having them do whatever's current hopefully widens the base, and the confederate flag stuff then gets more heat and doesn't come off anachronistic.

Things to get over – the Rock/HHH personal feud intensifies. Let’s see Rock get the fall on Hunter. There’s an outside interference spot with 2 Cold – Waltman has the fall on DLo – but 2 Cold interference breaks it up, leading to a 2 Cold/Waltman outside spot. And – we get the break up the Clique. Dogg/Gunn and HHH/Waltman completely break down, they start the match together – with Rock and DLo having to battle four guys – but then, the Outlaws have a chance at the fall – the Clique breaks it up – the Clique has a chance at the fall – the Outlaws break it up. So, they break down into a full on war – and the Nation takes advantage. Rock Bottom on HHH and they regain the straps.

After the match, Billy and the Dogg go off, beating HHH and Waltman down with chairs – injuring HHH. It’s a break up.

7. IC Submission Match: Steve Austin d. Ken Shamrock
They keep Austin white hot here – he wins the IC, wins the Triple Crown (fireworks, fireworks, fireworks) and gets Shamrock to submit. I don’t know to what, Austin didn’t have a submission hold. Well, have his use the million dollar dream. Choke him out. We didn’t do Austin/Ted, of course, but that will be a fun nod to the actual reality. A tear in the space time continuum. That takes most of Shamrock’s heat away of course, first we leave the Octagon – then he gets choked out – now he’s basically just another wrestler. But Steve takes his heat. Austin beat Bret clean and chokes out Shamrock. Austin’s won the IC – Austin’s won the Triple Crown.

As we ready for the main event, the TitanTron lights up...H....B....K.....

Shawn Michaels, gone since the night after Mania, enters, comes to the announce, and joins JR and Cornette. It's babyface Shawn now, Shawn says he's not coming back, his back is shot and it's kind of a weight off his mind, but he couldn't miss the opportunity to watch Owen Hart, his oldest rival, meet Cactus Jack here at Madison Square Garden. Michaels gets a good reaction after being gone 5 months.

8. WWF Title: No DQ: Cactus Jack d. Owen Hart
And so has Foley. When you think one, you think the other. By and large, you may note, the angle we’re doing here is the angle they did with Foley and Michaels. So, the match here is the one they did with Foley and Michaels at Mind Games. Which was excellent. Owen takes a table bump, Foley takes bumps to the floor. Foley does his cactus clothesline and the apron elbowdrop. We’ll have Foley fight out of the sharpshooter. Owen fights out of the mandible claw. We do barbed wire stuff – and that’s our finish – the finish comes when Jack gets Foley wrapped in the barbed wire – tied up around the ropes – Foley beats Owen savagely with a chair – and then sets Owen on fire.

Which, is a good heel move, setting Owen Hart on fire.

That’s enough to get Owen to submit. Although not immediately, not until JR and Cornette and even HBK are freaking out.

Cactus smiles sickly as Owen’s extinguished, Foley takes the strap and even the MSG crowd should boo him. Hopefully. Foley’s pretty popular in New York. The show ends on the bloody Foley, his sick smile shining through as he raises the WWF belt high. Foley’s won the WWF Title. Cactus Jack has won the Triple Crown.

In the NWA…Davey Boy Smith beats the Anvil. Page wins, Curt Hennig beats Scott Hall, your new tag champs – Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller, who go over Juvie and Silver King. I'm sorry, not my first choice. Saturn regains the US, beating Dean. And Jericho keeps the world title, beating Raven.

Fall Brawl – 1998 Winston Salem
NWA Title: Chris Jericho d. Raven
US: Perry Saturn d. Dean Malenko
Tags: Norman Smiley/Ernest Miller d. Juvie/SKing
Curt Hennig d. Scott Hall

Alex Wright d. Disco Inferno
DDP d. Konnan
Davey Boy Smith d. Anvil
Norman Smiley/Ernest Miller d. Steiners


In ECW…Spike Dudley gets a win, as do Sabu and Shane Douglas. Dreamer beats Bigelow. Justin and Lance keep over the Dudleys again. RVD keeps the TV, beating Jerry Lynn. And Taz keeps the ECW title, beating Masato Tanaka.


November to Remember – 1998 New Orleans
ECW Title: Taz d. Tanaka
TV Title: RVD d. Jerry Lynn
Tags: Justin/Lance d. Dudleys
Tommy Dreamer d. Bam Bam Bigelow

Douglas d. Candido
Sabu d. Nova
Spike d. Danny Doring
Meanie/Roadkill d. Jake Roberts/Mabel


Survivor Series will come from St. Louis.

The night after Summer Slam, the show, of course, opens on the Triple Crown, which is in the ring, and we see the names…

PEDRO MORALES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS
OWEN HART
STEVE AUSTIN
CACTUS JACK

Owen music. Owen – not coming to the ring – but instead, on the video screen. He’s in the hospital after the fire attack the night before. Says he apologizes for not being able to come to the arena, but it is a tradition for the previous holder of the triple crown to pass it onto the next winner – so, even though the doctors wouldn’t let him leave, he had to do this. So, he wants to introduce the man who won the IC Title at Summer Slam – Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Glass. Austin. Big pop. Austin says there aren’t too many things in this world that touch him, six pack, couple of shotguns, pretty much it. But to stand here with the Triple Crown, knowing as all wrestlers do that it’s the ultimate honor in this sport….

Car crash. Cactus. Foley to the ring, big heel pop.

And Owen says, and I also have to introduce, the new WWF Champion, and also now a Triple Crown winner – Cactus Jack….

….Foley says he wants to thank all his hardcore pals out there, and he wants to thank kerosene, and he wants to thank the flammability of Canadians. After a decade of blood and barbed wire – he’s got the Triple Crown!

Austin says not so fast. Each man holding part of the Triple Crown – and they brawl, reprising the finish of that battle royal.

Regal enters, yells at the ruffians to cease and desist. Says to see two grown men, well, perhaps not grown and perhaps not men – but nevertheless, to see them fighting over something as trivial as a trophy is embarrassing. Regal doesn’t care if Steve Austin walks out of that ring with that Triple Crown or not – but Regal will be making his WWF PPV debut at the Survivor Series, and all he cares about is that Steve Austin brings the Intercontinental belt to St Louis, because Steve Regal will be bringing it home to the Queen.

Austin goes after Regal – they brawl in the aisle – Cactus then holds the triple crown high – when he is attacked from behind by Owen…who, of course, is not in the hospital, no, he’s right there, even though he's heavily bandaged – and he goes off on Foley – big pop as Owen attacks Foley – but then Owen is overcome – Foley gets an advantage and Owen can’t make it up – Foley puts it to Owen savagely again – and Owen has to be stretchered out. ‘Cause he was just set on fire and all. And he ain’t working Survivor Series, so they take him out of the picture for a few months.

We’ll get Regal/Austin at Survivor Series. The title match is below. The actual physical possession of the Triple Crown will be held up by the WWF to a point determined later.

The Hardys finally will get their PPV shot (Let them play...Let them play) – and E and C don’t, which frustrates them coming off the Vader win. They'll feed Lawler/Taylor to the Hardys. Also being fed to the Hardys….we meet Trish Stratus, they put her hair in a ponytail, downplay the crazy bombshell make you cry a little bit body, and have her work in the WWF office.

Wrestlers will hit on her, of course, but she politely declines, as we see on RAW.

Except – she kinda has a crush on Jeff.

Jarrett/Bob. Bob now gets to be the good Southerner.

Another Morley/Dustin.

Waltman/2 Cold, coming off the tag title stuff.

We now find out what Al was talking about at the battle royal. He's keeping the crazy Al gimmick from the first run, just adding Head - he now can have these rants about the slights against him to Head - better than that - Head is who is telling him about the slights. Head's talking to him in a David Berkowitz Son of Sam type of way. Crazy ass Al. Anyway, he’s back from barbed wire city, where he saw horrible, horrible things. Man’s inhumanity to man, and Bubba Ray Dudley naked in the shower. When he came back, everyone in the locker room paid their respects, which is the right thing to do for a man let out of prison. The Hardy Boys – paid their respects. Cactus Jack – paid his respects. Well, he didn’t actually say anything, but that’s because he’s pre-verbal. He grunted and clicked his tongue – and that’s enough for me. But the Undertaker – the Legend of the WWF – HE IGNORED ME – HE IGNORED ME AND NOW I’M GOING TO KICK HIS ASS!!!

So, we get Undertaker/Al. This is still Al’s old gimmick, which I enjoyed, but it’s also a rib on the Undertaker and other locker room vets, who get upset when codes like this exact thing are broken. Undertaker tries to explain, “Al, just didn’t see you there man, lighten up.” Al attacks violently. YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT THE SNOWMAN!! The Taker chokeslams, tombstones. When Al comes to – he does his moonsault to nothing. ‘Cause Al’s crazy for doing this. Crazy motherfucking Al. ECW may have sent him totally over the edge. He's talking to a mannequin's head, for the love of Pete.

Tags…Nation v. New Age Outlaws. Rock keeps doing his act. Rock/Dogg are a good verbal mix. Dogg says he's blacker than the Rock.

For the World Title – it’s Jack against a man he’s never beaten – Ken Shamrock. And that’s the interest, can Foley finally get over Shamrock.

Shamrock says he’s sick that Cactus Jack, who he tapped out by the way, is WWF Champion. It’s embarrassing to be part of a company that would put its championship belt on someone so depraved. Jack says speaking of embarrassing – if he had known that all it would take to get Shamrock to submit was a sleeper hold, he would have used it himself. But since it’s the crowd that generally goes to sleep when Shamrock talks, he thought that finish was sort of fitting.

They set up the title match. But now it’s on Jack’s terms. It’s gonna be in something like the Octagon – but instead of that – it’ll be in a 20 foot high completely enclosed cage.

They're gonna call this match…Hell in a Cell.

Yeah, that’s which match we're getting. Except no Undertaker/Foley. We’ll do Shamrock/Foley. And we’re gonna get that match. Foley’s got some bumps to take.

So, Cactus Jack/Shamrock in a Cell for the title, Austin/Regal for the IC, the Nation defending against the New Age Outlaws, Al Snow on a suicide mission against the Undertaker, Waltman and 2 Cold, the Southern Men again – Jarrett against Bob, Dustin against Morley – plus the Hardys finally debut on PPV. It’s Survivor Series '98 – call your local thing!

Royal Rumble 1997

Survivor Series '96 is here.

Royal Rumble 1997 San Antonio
(Dark – Furnas/LaFon d. Billy/Dogg) JR/Cornette

1. Johnny Estrada/Fuerza Guerrera/Heavy Metal/Cibernetico
d.
Pedro Aguayo/Latin Lover/Mil Mascaras/Pierroth

Al is at ringside. Following the match, he gets all the luchas to moonsault onto the canvas. Everyone gets hurt. Al enjoys it. “Scorpio! My cousin Hector is gonna kick your ass tonight! I HAVE THINGS TO WRITE DOWN AND MY PEN WILL BE AVENGED!!”

2. Rocky Maivia (w/Nation) d. Glen Jacobs, not yet Kane

The Rock beats the two undead guys in back to back PPVs. Same stuff, Nation interference, they continue their tyrannical reign of the bottom of the card. Undertaker runs in – he and Jacobs can’t fight them off though, they get beaten good and hard by the NOD, Jacobs, who has been mysteriously following the Undertaker for over a year, now lies atop the dead man, taking the whipping for the Undertaker until the NOD punches themselves out and exit...maybe burning a black cross on the ramp (too much?) Undertaker and Not Yet Kane rise, bloody, their clothes ripped and torn, we notice the Woody Woodpecker tattoo on the Dead Man's chest...

...and we notice that Jacobs has the same tattoo.

"Kane" is the plaintive comment from the Undertaker...

He reaches out. Lights out. Lights on. Jacobs is gone.

He'll be back.

3. Goldust (w/GoldSid) d. HHH (w/Clique JV)
They use this to get the lumberjack angle across. Harts come to ringside to brawl with the JV, allowing for GoldSid to chokeslam HHH – Goldust gets the Curtain Call, he and GoldSid rub themselves all over HHH. So, so wrong.

4. 2 Cold Scorpio d. Hector Garza (w/Al)
Good high flying match, Scorpio goes over. Al waves in the winning lucha team from the opener, they hit the ring and surround Scorpio – all chanting whatever the Spanish for “my pen” is.

The Nation hits the ring. They stand in between Scorpio and the luchas.

Rock: The Nation don’t want no trouble with the Brown Man. We are all oppressed by these White Devils.

Al nods. “White Bastards.” Everyone in the ring looks at Al. Al’s crazy, but he ain’t crazy. “You know, Scorp. Keep the pen. Always smudged anyway.” Al quickly exits.

Rock: But if you want to mess with Brother Scorpio. You’ve gotta mess with the whole Nation.

The Nation attacks, leaving the luchas laying – and then taking a confused Scorpio to the back with them. Will Scorpio join the Nation?? Will he? Will he?

5. Steve Austin d. Vader
You know, terrific brawl, Austin goes over clean. He’s stone cold. Pillman attacks him after the match and the two brawl up the aisle.

6. Tags: Hart Foundation d. Mero/Bart
Tag title switch to Owen and Davey Boy. Mero and Bart, obviously, just transition champs. Much celebrating – Davey Boy wins his 3 rd – and Owen wins the Triple Crown. The passing of the trophy from Shawn will be tomorrow night on RAW.

Much rejoicing – there are fireworks and streamers – Pillman and even Neidhart hit the ring --- Bret comes to the aisle, the WWF title over his shoulder – Bret looks at the celebration – and raises his title belt above his head with one hand– in a nod to his brother’s accomplishment. Owen and Davey Boy respond by raising their title belts above their heads – Bret giving his brother a show of respect as we draw closer to the Lumberjack Match – the last Bret/Shawn singles match…ever….

Bret’s then knocked down in the aisle by the Clique Lumberjacks, who start putting the boots to him – the Harts all leave the ring – a full on brawl in the aisle – Pillman now taking on his referee’s role and grabbing guys from both sides and separating them – Pillman standing in the middle of both groups in the aisle, barking out orders.... Owen’s got the triple crown – what’s gonna happen in the main event!!

7. IC: Death Match: Cactus Jack d. Terry Funk
We get the blood hard here. Barbed wire on the ropes. barbed wire on the tables – explosives going off periodically – Funk doing his moonsault from the second deck of the arena. Foley keeps – he and Funk getting a standing ovation from the crowd as they hug following the match. Vader enters – Vader absolutely destroying Funk – powerbomb through a barbed wire table. Foley and Vader each grab barbed wire chairs and lay into each other until separated by officials.

And the garbage from the last match is moved to the outside for the main event, as the lumberjacks, who have already brawled twice tonight, can use weapons as the main event nears.

8. WWF Title: Lumberjack Match: Bret Hart d. Shawn Michaels (Pillman, guest referee)
Bret keeps. Beating Shawn again, beating Shawn in San Antonio.

Crazy anti-Hart crowd by this point. Pillman enters first as the referee. Harts next, led by Anvil with the Canadian flag, Davey Boy and Owen with their tag straps, and Bret, the WWF Champion.

HHH leads the Clique, maybe with a flag that says Suck It. Billy, Dogg in tow – Michaels following.

Now, what’s important to remember is the Lumberjacks fight a lot on the outside – and fight violently. They can use the debris remaining from the IC. Lots and lots of blood. Everyone bleeds heavily – and they sell how worn out everyone is. All the lumberjacks, exhausted, from this match and from all the work all the men have done all night long. That's what they sell. This match has to go half an hour – it’s their last ever match, so it’s dramatic – it’s a war – Pillman is able to keep order inside the ring, keep the outside interference down, JR and Cornette get over he’s doing a good job – and it makes sense to allow the lumberjacks to all kill each other because it keeps any of them from hitting the ring.

Bret. Sharpshooter. Submission. Shawn is inconsolable as the bloody, exhausted lumberjacks drag themselves into the ring.

Pillman raises Bret’s hand – turns to hand him the WWF belt –

--and bashes him over the head with it. Whoa.

The Harts are shocked and Pillman cackles – and turns to hug Michaels!!!!

---and bashes him over the head with the belt!! Whoa.

What the hell is crazy ass Brian Pillman doing? He’s taken out both Michaels and Bret --- the Clique and the Harts, all exhausted and bleeding, barely standing under their own power – are momentarily stunned as Pillman takes off his black and white striped referee’s shirt to reveal….

…Austin 3:16.

Austin, two chairs in his hand, rushes the ring – he throws a chair to Pillman, and the two of them take apart the Harts and the Clique. Just take them apart. Anyone moves – chairshot. They don’t stop until the ring is motionless. Like killing a bunch of ants.

Pillman makes the “I’m operating a video camera” motion that was the signature for the Hollywood Blonds, Austin sneeringly flips the camera the double middle finger. And the show ends.

Austin and Pillman have set up both the Harts and the Clique - and in one motion have wiped out the two leading factions in the WWF.

That's a push.

At the NWA show, Harlem Heat beats Public Enemy. Page beats Bagwell. Jarrett’s NWA run continues, he beats Piper. Dean goes over Eddy as that feud continues. Sweet. Waltman teams up with Konan to win the straps over the Barbarian and Haku. Rey keeps the US, beating Juvie – and Benoit keeps the NWA title, going over Jericho again. He’ll go to Slamboree as champ for a full year.

Benoit~!

Superbrawl – 1997 San Francisco
NWA Title: Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho
US: Rey Mysterio d. Juventud Guerrera
Tags: Waltman/Konan d. Barbarian/Haku
Dean Malenko d. Eddy Guerrero

Jarrett d. Piper
La Parka d. Villano IV d. Calo
DDP d. Buff Bagwell
Harlem Heat d. Public Enemy



ECW adds a show, running their first ever PPV, Barely Legal. Lance Storm beats Guido, Raven over the Sandman, Taka Michinoku goes over Dick Togo, Taz beats Sabu, the Dudleys win the tag straps over the Eliminators, RVD keeps the US over Great Sasuke, and Terry Funk walks out of the Rumble and right into the ECW World title, beating Shane Douglas. Pretty good stretch for Funk.

Barely Legal – 1997 Philadelphia
ECW Title: Terry Funk d. Shane Douglas
TV Title: RVD d. Great Sasuke
Tags: Dudleys d. Eliminators
Taz d. Sabu

Taka Michinoku d. Dick Togo
Raven d. Sandman
Lance Storm d. Little Guido
Gran Hamada/Yakushiji d. Pit Bull II/Balls Mahoney


With the Blonds now in control of the company, Wrestlemania XIII is around the corner.

The Road Warriors return during a match between the Headbangers and the New Blackjacks, they squash everyone. At this point, they can’t do much of anything, but we’re stuck with what we’re stuck with. They do a little mini-tournament, winners get to be number one contenders.

Furnas and LaFon come away winners, beating the Warriors in the finals, after which, the Warriors are attacked by the Godwinns. Henry says the Warriors are the most revered tag team ever – and they sure have purty mouths. At XIII – Hawk and Animal will squeal like pigs. Henry takes the ball gag out of Phinneas the Gimp’s Mouth for his first words “Aw…what a rush….”

That means Furnas and Lafon go to XIII to face Owen and Davey Boy. And that’s all the tag match a person needs.

Two programs with the Nation. The Legends Match will be between the Undertaker v. Simmons v. Ahmed. It starts off as Undertaker v. Simmons, as Simmons says he’s the leader of the Nation – he’s the Black Man to end the Dead Man’s Legends streak. Lawrence Taylor couldn’t get it done at XI – but another All American, Ron Simmons, will get it done. As it evolves, we have tension between Ahmed and Simmons. Why isn’t Ahmed the leader? Why doesn’t Ahmed get to go to Wrestlemania? Who is Simmons to be the leader of the Nation?

So, they’ll go 3 way, Undertaker/Simmons/Ahmed. The other match is Maivia v. 2 Cold. The Nation tells 2 Cold that he needs to join them – he refuses, he ain’t down with the whole militant bow tie thing – he just likes to chill and smoke and get his swerve on - so, that means they gotta throw down.

The Rock looks to keep his unbeaten streak intact as he goes to XIII against a multi-time singles champ. Funky, funky.

Two Clique matches on the undercard. One more between Hunter and Goldust. They're gonna toss them in a cage, hoping to avoid the outside interference of thr first two matches. And a Billy/Savio singles, as Savio plays his role as hopeless undercard single going against the Clique.

The IC is the rubber match between Cactus and Vader. But after another crazy brawl on RAW, one where they destroy half of the referees - they are both told that the level of violence has just spiraled out of control – that the WWF is concerned at WM one of them might kill the other one. So, they’ve had to go get more than just a special guest referee – they had to go get an enforcer – one who neither one of them, as tough as they are, would ever decide to cross.

The Champion of the UFC. The World’s Most Dangerous Man. Ken Shamrock.

Shamrock’s like how they originally presented him, but more so. No “snapping” – the merit of Shamrock is he projects legitimacy, and that’s what I want. Legit toughness.

In the big angle…

RAW after the Rumble opens up on the Coveted Triple Crown in midring.

PEDRO MORALES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS
OWEN HART

Shawn’s music. He slowly enters, bandaged and beaten. Owen’s music, he slowly enters, bandaged and beaten.

Michaels says he and Owen, he and Bret, the Harts and the Clique, have been feuding for seven years. Seven years of brutal, heartstopping matches. The Harts and the Clique have carried the ball for the WWF.

And tonight, when Shawn presents the Triple Crown to Owen – it’s over.

Shawn’s tired – and he’s ready to go home.

Hit Austin’s music. Austin and Pillman to the aisle. Austin says you’re right it’s over, for years, all they heard was Harts and Clique, Harts and Clique – you’re either a Hart – or you’re in the Clique…

Well, he’s Stone Cold Steve Austin – and he’s Brian F’n Pillman – and they don’t give a damn about the Harts and the Clique. And Shawn’s damn right that it’s over – because Stone Cold said so…but he’s wrong about going home – because tonight – Austin and Pillman are challenging Shawn...and Owen....to a tag match. Harts and Clique. Together! They look at each other warily...then they cut to a shot of Davey Boy and Hunter - tied together in the back - both men unconscious.

Austin and Pillman cackle....then charge the ring, brawling with Shawn and Owen…

…and then Shawn walks out.

…and keeps on walking. And doesn't come back.

Austin and Pillman attacking Owen. Davey Boy knocked out. Now what will happen?

– save by Bret.

Bret and Owen brawl with Austin and Pillman – and they make that tag match for later that night. On the way to Mania – that’s the structure – it’s Austin/Pillman against Harts against Clique, against Clique/Hart combos – until the points where they have to go into their own feuds. Bret and Owen still aren’t buddies, it’s uneasy, in the same way Bret’s turn wasn’t sudden, it was organic – this turn is similar, it’s Bret maintaining a consistency of character, it made sense that he didn’t like he family anymore – it makes sense that they are together now.

Just as it was, the title match at XIII will be Bret and Austin. ‘Cept Austin’s now firmly a heel – after destroying everyone – and Bret has swung back to the face direction.

Wrestlemania XIII from Chicago. Bret defends against Austin. Jack defends against Vader with Shamrock as the referee. Owen and Davey Boy defend against Furnas and Lafon. Maivia/2Cold. Hunter/Goldust in a cage. Undertaker v. Simmons v. Ahmed, what the hell, make that a street fight. Billy/Savio. Road Warriors/Godwinns.

Call. Your. Thing. Wrestlemania 13

Royal Rumble -1995

Survivor Series is here.

Royal Rumble 1995 Tampa

We squeeze out one more Gorilla/Cornette. JR's coming back, although still sitting on the sidelines in the actual universe, he'll be front and center here.

(Dark – Hakushi d. Matt Hardy)

Show opens with a shot of the Triple Crown in the ring. We see the list of engraved names:

PEDRO MORALES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS

Bret’s music. Bret enters. Boos. Says tonight, the Real Hart Foundation will beat the hell out of the British Bulldog and Bob Backlund – but before that, he has a job to do – he does’t want to do it – it disgusts him that the Triple Crown – the most prestigious honor in all of sports – is now being passed from him to Shawn Michaels…

Face pop.

Bret shakes his head.

Particularly when Shawn Michaels is a guy who can’t beat me.

Clips of Bret/Shawn from WM VI and from Survivor Series 1990 – the last singles meeting for Bret and Shawn – 4 1/2 years ago – incidentally, in Hartford, CT – home of WM XI…

So, if I have to give away this trophy – give away the Triple Crown to Shawn Michaels – let’s get it out of the way now…

HBK music.

Michaels enters. Face pop.

Shawn to the ring. Asks Bret how’s the family? How’s the tag division? Enjoying working third from the top? Who’s working the Main Event here at the Rumble tonight…oh yeah, that would be _me. The Heart Break Kid, Shawn Michaels.

Bret says he likes having the tag team belts – in fact, looking at the triple crown – he wouldn’t mind being the only man in the history of wrestling to hold all the belts at the same time. The Tag belts – the IC belt – and as soon as Shawn has the guts to face him – the WWF Championship belt.

Shawn says Hit Man, I don’t know when it’s gonna happen – it might be tonight, it might be tomorrow – and it’s gonna come sooner than later – but you and me, Hit Man…you and me are gonna go….

They do a nose to nose. Crowd enjoys that type of thing.

The tag teams for match one now enter – but before the match…

Ted enters, says that the winners of this match will be named the Number One contenders – and go onto face the Tag Champs at Wrestlemania XI!!! There's now a special graphic, music, before the tag matches

The Million Dollar Man Presents....WWF Tag Team Action!

1. Smoking Gunns d. Jarrett/Road Dogg
Ted joins Cornette and Gorilla on the announce. Billy! Bart! Going to Wrestlemania!! Road Dogg gets pinned, obviously, Jarrett is crazy pissed and starts slapping the Dogg around – Road Dogg fights back, their tension from the winter mixed partner tag tournament boiling over, – ta, da – and we have another match for XI. Ted is clearly upset at the announce – this was not the way he wanted it to turn out – and as the Gunns make the sign for the belts – Ted fumes. Ted doesn't like the Gunns. Not a complicated program.

2. Undertaker d. Dick Murdoch
-Another legends win for the Dead Man. A few weeks from now, at a RAW on the road to XI, the WWF will present an honorary championship belt to…Lawrence Taylor.

Come on, it’s WM XI. You know the rules.

LT, obviously all coked up – says he’s honored…but you know, not really. He’s Lawrence Taylor, he’s got 2 Super Bowl rings – he’s going to the Hall of Fame – and he’s supposed to care about some fake piece of shit wrestling belt?

LT tosses the belt down.

Fuck that. LT is shooting, daddy.

It is fucking stupid that I should have to stand here and pretend that I care about this. They even made me watch that last Pay Per View…what do you call that..the Royal Rumble? I saw some guy there named the Undertaker..

Big pop.

Yeah, some big ass guy, and they called him a legend.

A legend? There ain’t no legends in wrestling. You want to see a legend? Hey WWF – you want to see a legend – the only legend that has ever been in any wrestling ring is standing in one right now – so enjoy it – ‘cause this is the last you’ll ever see of Lawrence Taylor.

Undertaker. Duh. And we have another Wrestlemania match.

Yup, they're turning LT heel for a show in Hartford. Fuckin’ A.

3. Lex Luger d. Bam Bam Bigelow
They fight before the match, during, and then after – fighting all the way back to the back. They’re gonna fight on RAW all the way to XI to the point where they’ll meet at XI in a Loser Leaves Town.

4. Alabama Bob Holly d. PJ Walker
New guys! Alabama Bob is a legit pain in the ass – and that's his gimmick, he's just sort of pissed off and mean --- But he’s a face nonetheless – he and PJ both young faces, really here just for some semblance of workrate.

5. Lightning Kid Sean Waltman d. Rick Martel
The Kid embarrasses the vet. It’s a good match but Waltman shows no respect at all – he debuts the Clique crotch chop – and spends much of his match shoving his groin at Martel – which much of the crowd enjoys. Waltman wins with the X Factor – stands above Martel and tells him to suck right on it, Strike Force. Oooh, that Kid. He burns me up. Waltman makes the Clique hand sign as he exits.

6. Tags: British Empire d. Hart Foundation
Anvil submits to the cross face chicken wing. Davey Boy gets his second tag title, with two different partners – as does Backlund, who picks up his first strap since 1983. Big face pop for the mismatched tag champs. “The great Benjamin Disraeli appointed the viceroys in India! Tonight, I am MR. VICEROY BOB BACKLUND! Archduke Bulldog – Archduke Bulldog – the sun will never set on the British Empire!!! I am a Real American! Fight for the Rights of Every Man! I am a Real American! Fight for what’s Right – Fight for your life, Tojos! I will fight for your life! Semper FIIIIIIIIII”

I enjoy me some Backlund.

7. IC: Owen Hart d. Razor Ramon
Owen’s second IC title. Terrific match. It’s face v. face, both guys getting the pops – but it’s Hart v. Clique so they don’t like each other. And Razor once sidekicked Owen into the lockers. Razor gets frustrated during the match, Owen’s very talented – and Razor pulls out the heel stuff, the punching – taking it outside – the steel steps – Razor pulls up the mat outside and tries to hit his chokeslam – Owen counters with a DDT to the concrete that leaves Razor bloody. Owen wins with the pinfall after an enziguiri that shocks the crowd and switches the belt.

After the match – Razor snaps – heel turn - the weight of playing face for over a year now gets to him…Edge to Owen…Edge to Owen…Razor goes for the third….

Davey Boy enters. Davey Boy fights Razor off – getting the face pop…

Waltman runs in. Waltman fights Davey Boy off. Heel pop.

Backlund. Backlund joins his partner, fighting off Waltman. Face pop.

Michaels and Diesel. Who, of course, are meeting next for the title. Which is sort of an odd dynamic. Michaels and Diesel enter – they stand with Razor and Waltman, fighting off the Harts, 'cause Clique v. Harts transcends Face v. Heel - transcends everything. It’s faces and heels mixed together…Diesel and Michaels, who are scheduled next, scheduled next for the WWF Champiosnhip, now on the same side as they brawl against the Harts and Backlund...

And here comes Bret. Bret slowly makes his way to the ring. Bret pausing as he sees the entire scene ------

…..And Bret starts fighting on the side of the Harts! Bret gets shots in at everyone, then goes after Michaels – the two of them brawling heavily -- Davey Boy and Diesel brawl, Razor and Owen, Waltman and Backlund – finally, the officials break it up – everyone’s ejected except for Michaels and Diesel, who go right into their No DQ match when Diesel brings a chair into the ring and lays Shawn out and goes for a flash pin….

8. WWF Title: No DQ: Shawn Michaels d. Diesel
…but doesn’t get it. We’re gonna do the off the chart brawl they had at Good Friends, Better Enemies a year and a half after this. If they could get Mad Dog Vachon to come, we’ll have Diesel pull off his wooden leg and beat Michaels with it. Michaels goes through a table. Michaels comes off a ladder. Michaels hits Diesel with a TV monitor. Michaels with the superkick. Elbowdrop. Pinfall. Crazyhot match. Terrific brawl. Michaels will keep the belt and go to Mania as the champion.

NWA…Earthquake and Hacksaw work as a tag team. Boss Man works. Dustin does a farewell job. The big undercard event is Savage/Hogan – Randy as the face, with the fork, of course, Hogan as Hollywood. They had no feud at all in the WWF – so it’s a far different dynamic – Randy goes over. Harlem Heat keep. As does Arn. Sting retakes over Vader. And that’s the end of Vader’s NWA run.

Superbrawl – 1995 Baltimore
NWA Title: Sting d. Vader
US Title: Arn Anderson d. Marc Mero
Tags: Harlem Heat d. Nastys
Alex Wright d. Paul Orndorff

Mark Bagwell d. Dustin Rhodes
Randy Savage d. Hulk Hogan
The Patriot d. Bubba Rogers
Sullivans d. Earthquake/Hacksaw


On the way to XI….Ted says he hates the Gunns, they don’t make the tag division any money – so before they get their title shot at XI against British Empire, they’ll have to beat, earlier that night, Ron and Don Harris!

Yeah, I know.

We’ve got UT/LT in the legends match.

We’ve got the loser leaves town, Bigelow/Lex.

We’ve got Jarrett/Road Dogg. Jarrett still unbeaten as a single.

We’ve got the tag title, the British Empire v. either the Gunns or the Harris’s.

Now, additionally, they do some 6 man tags on RAW – Owen/Davey Boy/Backlund v. Diesel/Razor/Waltman. They use it to push the Razor/Owen rematch for the IC at XI. They use it to continue the Diesel/Davey Boy rivalry, which has been on hiatus since DBS went tag…since that match isn’t available to Diesel – he’s going to get…

King Kong Bundy.

Bundy returns for the first time since I – gets the nice reaction. Says he’s been gone from the WWF for 11 years – but there’s just something he has to get off his chest.

He shows the clip of Diesel’s first promo after his debut at IX – when Diesel talked about how he was better than the typical WWF fat guy.

Bundy challenges Diesel for XI.

Diesel enters, laughs. Says Bundy needs a remedial lesson in Booking 101 – the marks out there aren’t gonna turn over their grandma’s social security check to buy a PPV – unless they think there’s some possibility that Big Daddy Cool’s gonna get beaten up – and let’s be honest, Bundy – even if you were twice your size – Bundy v. Anyone isn’t on anyone’s t-shirt in 1995.

Bundy says, “twice my size?” You said even if I were twice my size?

“Hey Bundy, even if there were two of you the only thing you could beat me in would be a pie eating contest.”

Bundy says he’ll take Nash up on it. At Wrestlemania XI – Diesel will take on King Kong Bundy and….Yokozuna.

Yoko enters. Face pop. Handicap match at XI.

The RAW after the Rumble – opening promo by Razor and Diesel.

Mixed pop. Razor basically says he heard Diesel’s promo from after Survivor Series and was reminded that they were the Clique and they were bad guys. He also talked to his accountant and found out that merchandise sales were higher when Razor and Diesel were together. He and Nash then create the tweener – saying they’re inviting the fans – just some of the fans, the cool fans, the fans with disposable income or some smoke, or with sisters of questionable morals – to come along with them – ‘cause at Wrestlemania XI – they are gonna hurt some people.

There’s a feud between young Candido and Waltman, one that largely consists of Waltman salivating over fresh, young Tammy. Whenever he gets a chance – Waltman tries to put his hands on her (you're welcome, Sean, try not to get us sued) – which causes Candido to freak out.

The other element of Candido’s character is he’s the new babyface underdog – he doesn’t have the fancy pyro or much of a ring costume – and he works desperately hard – we constantly see him trying to do anything he can just to get on the WM card.

So, when the card is announced – and he isn’t on it – he’s depressed and he and Tammy might just give up the dream and go back home, gosh darn it.

The Clique has a proposition. An indecent proposal, if you will. On the RAW before XI – Candido will face…Razor Ramon.

Razor has the IC rematch with Owen. If Candido wins – he will get Razor’s shot. He will go to WM XI and wrestle Owen Hart for the IC title. Wow.

If he loses – then at WM – Tammy will become property of the Clique for one night – at Wrestlemania.

Young fresh Tammy. 

Candido of course accepts – he doesn’t want to – but the girl encourages him – you know the drill here – Candido loses a spirited match to Razor – and the Clique openly salivates as they tell Tammy they’ll send a car to pick her up early on Sunday. Underwear optional.

This is no ordinary love.  No ordinary love.

Candido tries to fight back – and they bury him. Jacknife…Edge. Pose.

The main event is Shawn defending against Bret. Shawn/Bret, strap WM XI. It’s the pinnacle of all Hart/Clique hatred – we see “shootlike” backstage interviews with all the Harts and all the Clique where they say they want their guy to win…so, even though Shawn’s the face and Bret’s the heel – Owen and Davey Boy say they’ll be rooting for Bret – and Razor/Diesel/Waltman say they’ll be rooting for Shawn.

We’d get clip packages going into XI recapping the entire Hart/Clique feud – it’s not ending at XI – it may never end – but this is seen as the high water mark – everything from the time that we first saw that Bret and Shawn didn’t like each other back six years ago, has been building to this moment…the ultimate Hart v. the leader of the Clique on wrestling’s biggest stage (and having Razor v. Owen as the IC just feeds right into that, having Diesel and Davey Boy continue their feud, albeit not at Mania feeds into that).

Wrestlemania XI, Chico. Shawn defends against Bret. Owen defends against Razor. Davey Boy and Backlund against the Harris/Gunns winner. Loser Leaves Town: Bigelow v. Lex. Diesel in the Handicap against Bundy/Yoko. Jarrett meets the Dogg. Legends Match: Taker against the heel turned Lawrence Taylor.

It ain't a bad show. I'm guessing you're gonna buy.

Summer Slam 1992

VIII is here.

Summerslam – 1992 London

Vince, at this point, takes the announce, Gorilla does only the Coliseum home video issues. I don’t know why, if it’s Gorilla can’t do live (he comes back when JR gets sick, so that seems less likely) or if Vince just wants to pull the plug.

If it’s the former, I still have Gene, and he’s the choice over Vince. If it’s the latter, and my working assumption is that it is, Gorilla is in the seat one more year. That's what we'll go with. This is Gorilla's 20th PPV.

(Dark – Razor Ramon d. Max Moon)

Show opens with Bret accepting the Triple Crown Trophy – what we’re gonna do is carve his name on a trophy (under Pedro’s, ‘cause he did it first) for guys who won all three belts. The guy who has the trophy keeps it until the next guy wins the Triple Crown. I really need Pedro there to present it to him. ‘Cause the previous winner will always present to the next winner. It’s going to be rare – the Triple Crown – more than just a title – immortality. It's beyond program, outside of storyline, it's the coveted Triple Crown.

See?

Big pop for Bret….enter Davey Boy….bigger pop. London, you know.

Davey Boy congratulates Bret, says it’s a huge accomplishment, first Triple Crown winner in the modern era – says England is proud of him, proud of Stampede wrestling and the entire Hart Family. Davey Boy says one day he’d like to match that feat, since all he needs is the IC title to do so – but tonight he’s about to become the 2 time WWF Champion.

Bret and DBS do the nose to nose…enter Flair.

Flair says if he knew they were passing out trophies, he would have asked for one when he was NWA Champion 4 years straight – or when he kicked Davey Boy’s (insert British slur here) ass for the WWF title twice in a row.

Bret does the – well, you might have kicked his ass – but you never kicked mine –

Davey Boy does the – hey, he never kicked it – you sure never kicked it – but the guy doing the kicking tonight…

They go nose to nose again…Flair laughs, says he doesn’t care who kicks who tonight – because he’s just been named the number one contender – and he’ll meet tonight’s winner for the WWF Title at Survivor Series.

1. Beverly Brothers d. Nasty Boys
-Beau! Blake!

2. Demolition Crush d. Kamala
-Crush doesn’t go Hawaiian, he stays Demolition Crush, with the spikes and the hood and the music…granted, the music only refers to Ax and Smash, so it’s a bad choice for his singles run. But it's fun anyway. In the fall, Crush mows through all opponents - he promos, challenging the locker room to come out and try to stop him...who will enter will be Demolition Smash (no Repo Man gimmick, no) and that feud culminates at Survivor Series.

3. Ultimate Warrior (w/Boss Man) d. Bezerker
-“You say Huss! Huss! – but what will you say when the Hebrew Man takes your job? What will you say to the man with horns when he repossesses your home and takes your guns and turns you into a fairy just like all of these people in England…England used to be a Giant Empire – the sand monkeys and the beaneaters used to tremble at the sight of the Union jack - but now they lose a war to Argentina and they just sit in the corner waiting for the American White Man to give them their orders….”

4. Demolition Smash d. Tito Santana
Arriba! Or not.

5. Shawn Michaels d. Rick Martel
Shawn is a surprise opponent, Martel's introduced, then Shawn - recall, Michaels said he wasn't going to England and that got him out of the Owen match. But here Shawn is, putting one over on everybody. Good match as all that’s left for the face Martel is a couple more jobs against the next wave of guys. Michaels does vile things to the Union Jack before the match. Superkick, pinfall.

6. Tags: Money Inc. d. Road Warriors
Money, Money, Money, Money, Money. Decisive. DiBiase and Rotundo win again, again surprising the people - this is a clean and final win. Ted stuffs a hundred pound note into Hawk’s mouth.

7. IC: Randy Savage d. Jacques Rougeau
Clean. Elbowdrop. Jacques did the French Canadian thing to rile up the crowd. End of his singles push.

8. WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Davey Boy Smith
An all timer, as it was when they actually did it. Owen comes out before the match to join Bobby and Gorilla on the announce for this one – there’s a spot where Bret’s got a sharpshooter locked on – DBS trying not to submit – when Michaels attacks Owen from behind – hitting him with a chair – Michaels drags Owen across the Spanish announce table…

Yeah, we’re giving Michaels the first table spot.

Michaels climbs to the top buckle – the drama is that Bret is watching the entire thing, he has the sharpshooter on DBS – and will he release the sharpshooter to save his little brother…

He doesn’t. Michaels hits the elbowdrop from the top rope sending Owen through the table, a spot not seen before – the crowd goes bonkers – Owen disappears in the rubble - Michaels gets up bleeding…big, big spot.

DBS stays in the sharpshooter forever – earning the “he won’t submit” points – eventually does.

DBS can't stand but tries to crawl to get to Owen – Bret waits a moment to get his hand raised – before trying himself, it's the first table bump in the WWF, ECW is still a couple years away, so it's designed to be shocking - and the place is tumultuous as Owen is lost in the table shards.

A bloody Michaels, celebrating and tauting the fans from the aisle is attacked by Savage, doing the friend of the Harts thing…Savage and Michaels brawling in the aisle

Bret is stopped from getting to his brother by Flair – Flair pummels Bret – save by Hennig. It’s Hennig’s first action in a wrestling ring since losing the title to DBS at SSlam ’91 – Bobby and White Power, the Warrior and Boss Man, run down to the ring – White Power pulling Flair out for the save

Bret, Davey Boy, Hennig, carry Owen back up the aisle as the show ends.

Survivor Series will return to Cleveland for Survivor Series '92.

On the road to SSeries, which includes the last ever episode of Prime Time:
- In a move reminiscent of two years ago, the “Death is Coming” Thanksgiving Night shots on the video screen begin again in arenas – but this time they include a rising sun.

-Razor is everywhere. Everywhere. It's the same Razor schtick, but he adds Hart Foundation digs whenever he can, talks about the Double U, Double U F no longer being about Bret and Ba-by Rock-et...but about the New Blood...about the Bad Guy.

-Hennig attacks the Warrior ferociously, ending his brief return – there’s a save and a beatdown by the Boss Man – as it’s the Boss Man who will be Hennig’s first opponent in his return to the ring – after the Boss Man beatdown of Hennig, Razor enters, just to add some insult – gives Hennig a Razor’s Edge (good god, his back! His back! His back!” and then tosses the toothpick in his face. 'Cause of the AWA thing, after all.

-It’s Shawn/Savage time for the IC. Shawn cuts a, this is the biggest match of my life, because I’m fighting a guy who "used" to be Randy Savage promo. It’s a real generational thing – Shawn says he remembers when Savage was a real man, slapping his bitch around and not listening to the fans. Shawn says that’s why he does the elbowdrop – because he looked up to Savage – but that was 6 years ago – and now at Survivor Series he’s going to prove that he’s the showstopper. Savage and Shawn brawl – Savage is attacked from behind by Razor – superkick, Razor’s Edge. Razor's everywhere.

Razor and Shawn make what will come to be recognized, although isn't yet, as the sign of the Clique as they depart.

-We begin seeing footage of the Steiner Brothers, who will be making their debut at SSeries for the tag titles – we do interviews with other tag teams, both in and out of the WWF, whomever they can get, to say the Steiners are the best tag team of all time.

-And there's Bret/Flair stuff. Not just for the title – but now, with Bret winning the Triple Crown and Flair still being Flair – the talk begins that this match at SSeries might decide who is the best wrestler of all time. And what the hell - they make it a submission match. In the last Prime Time ever, the week before SSeries, Flair beats Davey Boy again with the figure four – after Bret and Bobby were barred from ringside. Flair refused to release the hold after the decision – officials unable to pull him off as DB screams that his leg is broken – Hennig runs in for the save, running off Flair. DB is stretchered out – and that ends this WWF run for him.

There's a lot going at Survivor Series '92. The Bret/Flair submission match. Randy Savage defending against Shawn Michaels. The debut of the Steiner Brothers, taking on Money Inc for the gold. The return to the ring of Mr. Perfect. The PPV debut of Razor Ramon. Crush meets Smash as Demolition explodes. The debut of the mystery "Death Comes to the WWF" wrestler -- oh my, oh my, oh my....you have gotsta call your cable company for this one! Survivor Series '92!