This episode has been built up for one of the most devastating finishes of all time. Will it be Hall or Cella to go down? They show an ambulance loading someone into it with one of Sonnen’s coaches standing there in the clips leading up to this weeks episode. Lets see how it will happen as Team Jones’ Adam Cella faces off against Team Sonnen’s Uriah Hall.
Bubba McDaniels is still playing the I told you so card in regards to Team Jones losing the first fight and wanting his fight with Kevin Casey. Casey feels disrespected by the call out but tells McDaniel that it will go down even if it has to happen in the house. Mixed group of TUF competitors are sitting outside by the fire and Hall said some thing along the lines of so and so is smart and is a “professional cooker.” Josh corrected him by telling him he meant “chef” which triggers flash backs for Hall who came from Jamaica and being picked on as a youth so he is determined to call out Josh after the fight.
In training you see Hall’s competitive side come out. As Sonnen said he is one of the best athletes there and pushes himself to be first in everything that they do but Uriah is Uriah’s worst enemy. As Casey gets his arm while they are rolling Hall won’t let the defeat go and wants to go again even though practice is done.
Adam talks that he doesn’t have to do this; he has an education, has a job and will have one when he gets back. He feels that gives him the advantage because he wants to win and doesn’t have to. Jones points out that Hall has broken some ones arm with a kick and that Cella may want to not take too many of them. Jones feels Adam has a lot to improve on grappling so Jones takes the time to show him a basic and efficient technique (short elbows from the guard) that may work better for him.
Sonnen talks game plan as Hall is shown striking with another coach and Sonnen says the plan is to go forward and his team is focused on the offense and making the other team have to adapt while going back wards. Sonnen gives Hall some advice about not beating yourself and that he even saw a sports psychologist. Randy Couture told Chael that it doesn’t go away he has to recognize it and push through it. It is normal to have doubt and its okay to to acknowledge it. That is just part of but ultimately you its your choice to fail or succeed.
When they return from commercial break Casey tells the other guys in the fan that he would rather not face Bubba in the first round of the competition. Chael puts up a picture of Casey in the next fight slot. Cella feels like they are looking past him and McDaniel who wants to fight Casey puts his picture up in the spot that Sonnen had put a question mark.
Its Jones turn to make a visit to the house and brought food for the guys that they bbq and also his puppy. Jones takes his team out to the fire pit and they sit around sharing stories so Jones can get to know his team. Jones plays it up that he is getting choked up and teary eyed hearing their stories.
Team Jones’ Adam Cella vs Team Sonnen’s Uriah Hall
Round 1-
Hall definitely has more of a kick boxer approach with his hands up but further apart. Hall is able to get a couple jabs in and they trade knees to the body as Hall gets the clinch. Cella tries for kick and Hall catches it and takes the fight to the ground. Cella goes for a submission and Hall stands up to punch down at him. Cella is able to get back up and Hall hits him with a hook then a front kick to the body that knocks Cella briefly to the mat. Hall lets him back up and eats a weak right. Hall catches another kick and pulls the leg out from under Cella who briefly goes down again. Hall lands a nice leg kick head kick with out ever letting his foot touch the mat again. Hall lands a side kick that briefly knocks Cella down again. Cella pops up and is trying to go on the offensive. Hall gets the clinch again and delivers another series of knees to the body. Hall is letting his hands drop and Chael has to keep reminding him to jab. Cella tries another spinning back fist but misses by a lot again. Hall lands a spinning heel kick right to the jaw of Cella with 5 seconds left and it is over. That kick connected right in front of the ear but nothing but heel to jaw. Cella is breathing like a fish out of water and the room falls silent. Hall says “Sorry Adam” and that is all that is heard. Hall looks shaken up at what he just did. Cella is in a seated position. Cella says “Spinning heel kick.” Cella is asked if he can see and he says “I can see Uriah.” Docs ask if he has any numbness or weird feeling and he says he doesn’t know what happened. They help him to the stool and every one applauds. Cella is back to his feet and he embraces Hall in the center. The kick was what Barboza finished Etim with but it wasn’t just a clip this time it was a pure connection.
Winner by KO Uriah Hall
Uriah Hall tells the camera that he is sorry about the kick to Adam and hopefully he wont be mad at him and looks forward to see him soon. It is hurt business but he is a human being and he feels bad that he could have really hurt him.
Mazzagati comes in and tells Team Jones’ Adam is okay, just going to have a CAT scan and should have his memory back in about an hour or so.
Up next…
Team Sonnen’s Kevin Casey vs Team Jones’ Collin Hart
Bubba McDaniel is upset; go figure. He figures that Casey or the other team is scared. Will Jones get his first win next week?
Jose Aldo will defend his UFC Featherweight belt for the fifth time this summer and for the third time against a fighter coming down from the UFC’s lightweight ranks.
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will be the man making the extra ten pound weight cut this time. Pettis who is a top contender for the UFC’s Lightweight champion asked Dana White via text after Aldo successfully defended against Edgar last Saturday to get the next shot at the 145 champ.
USA Today first broke the story this morning after speaking with the UFC President Dana White whom they quoted as saying, “Two of the baddest dudes in the fight business are going to fight at 145 pounds. These guys are two of the most amazing, gravity-defying athletes in the sport. I am so pumped for this fight.”
A venue is yet to be determined for this date as of now.
Pettis 16-2 overall is 3-1 so far in the UFC since he came to the organization as WEC’s last Lightweight champion.
Pettis took the belt in a decision victory against then title holder and now current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. In that fight “Showtime” delivered one of the most memorable kicks in MMA history when he jumped off the side of the cage to land the flying kick to the head of Henderson.
In Pettis’ first fight in the UFC he dropped a decision to Clay Guida as well as his shot at then lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Since then, Pettis has rattled off three straight victories over Jeremy Stephens, Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone. The last two fights earned him Knockout of the Night awards for both events.
The 22-1 Jose Aldo hasn’t lost since 2005 and is on a 15 win streak including going 8-0 in the WEC and 4-0 so far in the UFC.
The champ has won 13 of his fights by knockout and 2 by submission. The champ is known for his pin-point striking and vicious kicks. While it is his striking that garners most attention it is not to be forgotten that he holds the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is a four time Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, and world jiu-jitsu champion.
With the boss laid out last week at the hands of Brock Lesnar, who will return to take Mr. McMahon’s place, and what consequences and/or actions could the former WWE Champion face? The Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View is shaping up.
WWE Champion The Rock (still hard to type) and C.M. Punk are booked for a rematch, and the Smackdown Chamber is set for the #1 contender spot to the World Heavyweight Championship?
Between those two matches, what “mind games” can continue tonight? Plus, more from Chris Jericho? Let’s hope so!
All those, and (wishing) much more (and better) tonight, so read on!
Monday Night Raw Report for February 4th, 2013 – “Well Deserved”
Introduction Segment: Recap and Welcoming
Highlights from last week’s Raw air first, then greetings from Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Segment #1: Arena Promo
C.M. Punk angrily marches out to the ring, smashing a fan’s sign on the way down the aisle. He grabs ring announcer Justin Roberts and forces him to announce Punk as “The People’s Champion.”
C.M. asks the crowd if he overreacted, because he held the most important championship in WWE for 434 days. Punk answers his own questions, saying that he only acted as someone would normally act if they were screwed. He claims The Rock does not know what it is to be WWE Champion, and then informs us that people have been asking him regarding the video of Paul Heyman with Brad Maddox and The Shield.
“The Straight-Edge Superstar” exists the ring and inquires the fans if they had seen him in that video. Cole confirms that Punk was not in the footage. He continues to claim that Mr. McMahon doctored the video and Heyman was really not a part. Punk declares that Vince got what deserved when Brock Lesnar F-5’ed him.
C.M. will give The Rock his “rematch,” but before he can continue, Smackdown General Manager Booker T. walks out. He says that Monday Night Raw Managing Supervisor allowed him to pick Punk’s fate. However, he is going to leave the choices up to the people.
“The Second-City Saint” protests his potential opponents of Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, or Chris Jericho, all who he faced the last three WrestleManias in a row (26, 27, and 28 respectively). Using the WWE App on their phones, fans will get to pick, which Cole gives a quick tutorial about.
Michael also informs that an “epic” Hall-Of-Fame inductee will be announced tonight, and it is a long-time coming! According to him, ESPN broke the story, so it has to be a huge name to break out of the sports-entertainment world!(Intrigue and anticipation at it’s finest!)
Ryback makes his entrances and he will have a match up next!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Ryback VS. United States Champion Antonio Cesaro (Non-Title)
They lock-up to begin the bout and Ryback shoves Cesaro into the corner. Antonio tries a waistlock, but Ryback flips him over and beats away in the other corner.
He hip-tosses Cesaro and drops a leg on the U.S. Champ. Ryback stomps in the corner to the rhythm calls of “feed me more!” Ryback Thesz-Presses Cesaro, but misses in the corner and gets hammered with a club to the back of the neck.
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Back live, Ryback is in control again, spine-busting him. Cesaro rolls out of the ring, but Ryback gives chase and brings him back into the ring. Antonio jawbreaks Ryback on the ropes and runs him into the steel post and steps.
The referee begins the count, but Ryback slides back in the nick of time. Cesaro takes more advantage, beating Ryback in the corner and slamming him to the mat with double-knees. 1 – 2 – Ryback kicks out! Cesaro runs at him with a clothesline, but gets met with a knee and back body drop!
Ryback is wound up and “meat-hook’s” Antonio. who rolls out of the ring. Ryback catches him, but Cesaro nails a boot. He runs again at Ryback and gets taken down with another powerbomb. One more “meat-hook” clothesline and a Shell-Shock marching Samoan drop for the victory to Ryback!
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback
More replays from both tonight and last week are aired.
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
The same Shield promo, mixed in with footage of their attacks on the various superstars (including last week’s beatdown of John Cena) plays.
Segment #3: Office Promo
Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero tries to convince John Cena not to call out The Shield, but to no avail, as Cena stands up for the WWE as usual.
Segment #4: Hall-Of-Fame Promo
They re-air Trish Stratus’ well-deserved induction montage, then the new inductee will be revealed later tonight.
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Match #2: Single – Santino Marella VS. “The All-American-American” Jack Swagger
(Note: Smackdown General Manager Booker T. is out on commentary) Swagger dominates Santino, forcing him to tap-out to the “Patriot Act,” formerly known as the Ankle Lock.
Winner via Submission: “The All-American-American,” Jack Swagger
Commercials.
Match #3: Single – World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. Cody Rhodes (Non-Title)
Cody is aggressive early, with a kick to the gut and elbows to the head. Del Rio fires back with an elbow to the head and a reverse hurricanrana off the top rope. Alberto drops Rhodes with a flapjack, then kick to the back of the head.
Cody slapped Del Rio, which irritated the World Heavyweight Champion, who punched and kicked Rhodes into the corner. Cody gains an advantage with a kick to Alberto’s knee and then a knee drop. He headbutts him in the corner, but misses a mini-splash, allowing Del Rio to regain momentum with a couple clotheslines and a tilt-a-whirl slam.
Stiff kick to the face for a near-fall by Del Rio, who then signals for the cross armbreaker Submission, but Cody gets out of it and hits the Disaster Kick! 1 – 2 – 2 1/2 – Del Rio kicks out! Alberto quickly catches Rhodes in the cross armbreaker for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio
Post-match, Del Rio takes the microphone. He puts over the fans and his recent (and quite successful, so far) face turn. He says he is the World Heavyweight Champion for all the people who work hard and struggle in life, as well as those who are bullied by “monsters” like The Big Show. He threatens that the 7-footer will pay for beating up his best friend Ricardo Rodriguez.
Big Show himself appears on the Titantron, “live via Satellite.” He demands a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber, or what he will do to Del Rio will be much worse than what he did to Rodriguez.
Segment #5: Results
The choice of C.M. Punk’s opponent is made down, and with an overwhelming 57%, it will be Chris Jericho! (Sweet!)
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Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Kane and Daniel Bryan are arguing once again. They debate who was to blame in their tag-team loss from Friday’s Smackdown (read that fine report on this fine website!). Bryan demands his “Team Hell-No” partner to stay in the back while he goes out for his contest.
Match #4: Single – Rey Mysterio VS. Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan
They circle around and engage in an elbow/collar tie-up. Daniel snapmares Mysterio and kicks him in the back, but Mysterio gets out of a double-handlock cover combo, and flips Daniel over with an armdrag and dropkick. Mysterio knees and kicks Daniel, but gets dropped on his gut with Bryan’s knees.
Mysterio twirls out of a wristlock, but gets chopped on the turnbuckle and hangs upside down. Bryan runs at him, but eats steel and rolls out of the ring.
Commercials.
Bryan is back in control, with another wristlock and then flips Mysterio over. He throws Mysterio out and then baseball slides him. Bryan runs with a suicide-dive, but Rey-Rey counters with an elbow, diving seated-senton and a couple of hurricanranas for a near-fall!
Mysterio attempts the 6-1-9 but Bryan catches him with the “No-Lock” (Crossface) submission, however Rey reverses into a cover for two! Rey does measure Daniel again for the 6-1-9 and nails it! He ascends the top rope, but misses the “Drop of the Dime” splash, allowing the WWE Tag-Team Champion to clamp on the Crossface “No-Lock” again and making Mysterio give up!
Winner via Submission: Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan
As he is celebrating, Bryan is taking out by …. a returning Mark Henry! He also destroys Mysterio and Sin Cara, who tried to make the save. Following a corner splash, Henry yells “that’s what I do!”
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Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Tag-Team Champions “Team Hell-No” bicker again about who was where wells Bryan Mark Henry was decimating Bryan. Kane tells Daniel that “words hurt, and nothing is more powerful than our friendship.” Of course, that is not actually true and Kane walks off!
A recap of last week’s Raw involving Brock Lesnar, Vince McMahon, and Paul Heyman is aired yet again, as well as a pointless video of The Big Show ordering room service and refusing to tip.
Sheamus enters the arena and up next, he will take on Kane!
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Sheamus VS. Tag-Team Champion Kane
Elbow/collar tie-up begins, then Sheamus hammers away in the corner, twice! Kane counters an Irish Whip into a clothesline then uppercuts and kicks Sheamus in the corner. A huge sidewalk slam gets a two-count for Kane, who briefly brawls with Sheamus on the outside before getting the Irish Curse backbreaker.
Both men are quickly to their feet until Sheamus axe-handles Kane over the ropes. Sheamus batters away at Kane on the apron, but Kane jawbreaks him using the top rope.
Kane counters the Brogue kick with a chokeslam attempt, but Sheamus reverses into the White Noise, but Kane wiggles out into the Tombstone, which Sheamus maneuvers out of, into a DDT. (Nice little sequence).
Just now, Daniel Bryan runs out and Kane is distracted, ordering him away. Kane turns around right into the Brogue Kick for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
The Miz is setup for his talk show, MizTV. He talks about Paul Heyman’s deeds last week, until the man himself interrupts. Heyman addresses him as “Mr. Mizanin,” and says he did agree to clear his name.
He offers his “best wishes” to the Chairman Of WWE but denies all knowledge of Brock Lesnar’s assault on Mr. McMahon. Heyman turns it around on The Miz, asking him if he agrees that C.M. Punk should still be WWE Champion.
Vickie Guerrero interjects, giving Heyman his alibi, as he was the one who re-signed Lesnar. She begins to cry over Mr. McMahon’s condition. They have a moment of silence, until Miz berates them for being phonies. Brock Lesnar now comes out and complete destroys the set of MizTV and The Miz.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Randy Orton VS. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett (Non-Title)
During Wade’s entrance, a side video plays of Bo Dallas putting over his recent success with the Intercontinental Champion. Barrett kicks and punches at Orton in the corner, then Randy returns with a Thesz press and mounted-punches.
He slams Wade’s head twice into the side of the ring, then backdrops him on the barricade. Barrett pops right up and clotheslines Orton, then hits a snap suplex and another clothesline over the top rope.
Barrett runs over and kicks Orton in the head, then slams it into the side of the ring as well. Inside the ring, Wade clutches Orton with a rear chinlock, with “The Viper” battling out.
Two clotheslines and a powerslam follow, plus the slingshot DDT! Orton is “zoning up,” but gets caught into the side spinning slam. 1 – 2 – Randy kicks out!
He goes for Wasteland, but Orton elbows his way out and soon after brings him down with the R.K.O for the duke!
Winner via Pinfall: Randy Orton
Up next, C.M. Punk will take on Chris Jericho!
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Match #7: Single – Chris Jericho VS. C.M. Punk
(Personal note: still can’t get used to Y2J’s tattoo – just seems so out of place on him!). Lockup and chops between the both. Jericho catches Punk off the ropes with an elbow and a suplex.
The fans are chanting for both Y2J and C.M. Punk. A quick two-count for Jericho, then Punk grabs his leg. He whips him off the ropes and hits hard in Jericho’s gut with his knee, then grasps him with a grounding hammerlock.
He runs at Chris in the corner but gets a boot in his face, however does the same to Jericho with knees in the other corner. Jericho counters a Tornado DDT attempt, and soon baseball slides Punk into the announce table, but C.M. guillotines Jericho on the top rope.
Commercials.
Back live, Punk backdrops Jericho, then drops three legs on the back of his head for a two-count. He misses a springboard clothesline, giving Jericho the wind-up with shoulder blocks and a diving axe handle.
Bulldog by Jericho, gets his Walls Of Jericho submission countered. Punk tries to run at Jericho in the corner, but lands on the top rope and is brought down harshly with a top-rope hurricanrana. 1 – 2 – Punk gets the shoulder up!
Punk manages to get Jericho in position for the Go To Sleep, but Jericho reverses into the Walls Of Jericho, which Punk reverses into a small package pin, which Y2J reverses himself! (Also a nice little sequence).
Punk ascends the top rope but misses the top-rope elbow and gets a Lionsault slammed on his body! 1 – 2 – Punk kicks out! Jericho kicks out too, following a stiff kick from C.M., who promptly locks in the Anaconda Vice. Jericho is struggling and manages to grab the bottom rope.
Punk breaks it at four, and Jericho shoulders Punk in the gut twice. He climbs the turnbuckles again, but Punk cuts him off into the Go To Sleep. However, Jericho reverses into a full-on Walls Of Jericho in the middle of the ring!
C.M. makes it to the ropes to preserve the bout! He reverses another Walls by spinning Jericho into the middle turnbuckle and chucking him into the steel ring post. C.M. picks up Jericho and plants him with the G.T.S. for the hard-fought and earned victory!
Winner via Pinfall: C.M. Punk
It’s now time to find out the big name for the next honoree into the WWE Hall Of Fame!
Segment #9: Hall-Of-Fame Induction Promo
Bruno Sammartino! The Living Legend’s career is depicted in a nice highlight package, complete with sincere comments by other legendary Hall Of Fame wrestlers, like Rocky Johnson, George “The Animal” Steele,” “Mean” Gene Okerlund,” J.J. Dillon, and current stars such as John Cena and William Regal.
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Segment #10: Backstage Promo
Matt Striker interviews C.M. Punk and asks him where his head is at. Punk is pissed off because The Rock is walking around with HIS WWE Championship, and that Punk knows he is still the BEST IN THE WORLD.
Segment #11: Backstage Promo
Josh Matthews inquires why John Cena is calling out The Shield tonight. In short, he says because it’s time to push back and “I push back.”
Segment #12: Video Promo
A man delivers the contract to The Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship match at Elimination Chamber, then the champion himself shows up. Alberto and Show engage in a brawl in the hotel hallway, with Del Rio coming out on top.
Segment #13: Arena Promo
Brad Maddox is in the ring with a microphone. He claims that he was manipulated by Paul Heyman into helping out C.M. Punk. He declares himself an innocent victim, and reveals that he was the one who gave Mr. McMahon the clip that exposed the truth.
He also declares himself a hero and wants it to be him that will teach The Shield about justice, NOT John Cena. He calls out the outlaw trio.
In the stands, Dean Ambrose has a microphone and calls Maddox the rat. Seth Rollins wonders if Maddox knows what justice is about, which to Rollins will be them giving Brad the beating he deserves. Reigns says that they will enjoy it this time.
Maddox makes a run for Ambrose, but is quickly disposed of. Cena’s music plays, but instead of through the stage, himself, Ryback, and Sheamus, make like The Shield and run through the fans.
They surround the barricade, and as the three men try to go up the ramp, Randy Orton leads a bunch of the roster to block them off. Ryback, Cena, and Sheamus now enter the ring, brawling with Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns, until they retreat up the stairs again. Ryback, Sheamus, and Cena stand tall in the squared circle to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was a much better show, wrestling-wise, but overall still felt very sub-par. The matches made up for the lackluster “going through the motions” promos.
Excellence: the card – I thought all the bouts were well-executed, especially the mini-sequences of reversals and finishers in the Kane/Sheamus contest and Punk/Jericho match.
Even Swagger and Santino was good because of the pure renewed dominance that Jack had. I am liking this new “Kurt-Angle-esque wrestling machine” reboot for the “All-American-American.”
Of course, the main event match takes the cake, as only Y2J and “The Second-City Saint” can do! Speaking of him, C.M. Punk’s promo was awesome as usual, and that is because of him once again placing importance on the WWE Championship and how he made it significant again. Please keep doing this!
Finally, speaking of WWE Championships, congratulations to Bruno Sammartino. I’m very glad he put his personal feelings for Vince McMahon and the company as a whole aside, to accept the honor and (as many people say) legitimize the WWE Hall Of Fame.
While I wasn’t alive when he was in his prime (I was born in 1986), I do know his body of work a little bit and also the class-act reputation he had while both inside and outside the ring, especially when he was WWWF Champion for 8 years.
Bogus: Other than “The Straight-Edge Superstar’s” and World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio’s, the rest of the interviews for the evening were par for the course. Nothing new was revealed, nothing innovative was said, and frankly, they were just boring.
The one other exception was John Cena too, as at least for this week, he went back to the “passionate, defending the company and wrestling” seriousness he is great at when he wants to be and actually put the product over well.
On a small tidbit, why was A.D.R. smiling all the way down the ramp when his best friend was beaten up last week? It’s a minor detail, but if he’s that angry, he should show it and just charge to the ring, get the match over with and look for said best friend Ricardo Rodriguez! Lastly, where was Dolph Ziggler? He was a HUGE miss last night!
As always, here’s hoping for story-telling improvement next week, as it will be the last show before Elimination Chamber, so I’ll also be given you my picks for the pay-per-view. Until then, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
Another match was announced for the Elimination Chamber yesterday after RAW went off the air.
While The Shield were among the fans in the stands following the beating they got at the end of RAW, John Cena grabbed the microphone and challenged the trio to a six man tag team match at the pay-per-view with his tag team partners Sheamus and Ryback.
This is the fourth match announced for the show, joining The Rock vs CM Punk for the WWE title, Alberto Del Rio vs Big Show for the World Heavyweight title, and the number one contender match for the World title inside the Elimination Chamber.
Tickets for IMPACT at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on March 14 will run for quite a steep price.
TNA will be using approximately half the arena for these two tapings – one live and one recorded – with tickets priced $15, $25, $45, and $75. For $125, you can get a luxury fan suite which includes appearances by TNA Superstars before and during the show, full food and beverage catering in the room, private restrooms and closed-circuit TV.
Tickets go on sale this coming Friday at SearsCentre.com.
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon underwent hip surgery this past week but is already back in the driving seat of his company and attended RAW last night.
McMahon had to fix a problem which was there before he got F5’ed by Brock Lesnar and it was decided to use the storyline to explain why he’d be off television. The fact that Vince took an ugly looking F5 with a bad hip explains it all about the Chairman and how far he will go.
Meanwhile, the official WWE Twitter account posted a photo of McMahon in bed before his surgery flipping off the camera, although the finger was blurred out!
“Mr. McMahon, watch out for that bedpan,” read the caption, a reference to that time when Steve Austin showed up in a hospital and hit McMahon with a pan on his head during the Attitude Era Days!
WWE issued a press release yesterday announcing Bruno Sammartino entering the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 6, at Madison Square Garden.
“Having sold out more than 200 shows at Madison Square Garden and being the longest reigning WWE champion in history, Bruno Sammartino is truly ‘The Living Legend,’” said Vince McMahon. “This is an extraordinary and historic moment to have Bruno take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”
Sammartino started his WWWF career in 1959 and within a few months he was headlining shows at Madison Square Garden. After he left the WWWF, he returned to the company in 1963 and defeated “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to win the WWWF title in under a minute.
Bruno kept the title for 7 years, 8 months, and 1 day, and eventually lost his title in January 1971 to Ivan Koloff at Madison Square Garden. His second title reign came in December 1973, defeating Stan Stasiak, and then lost the title in 1977 to “Superstar” Billy Graham.
He left WWF and then came back in 1984, helping his son David Sammartino and getting involved in some feuds of his own. He left in 1988 after he moved to doing commentary.
You can see the video that WWE presented about Sammartino yesterday on RAW below.
The world’s strongest man Mark Henry returned on Monday Night RAW yesterday and squashed Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara after Daniel Bryan tapped out Mysterio.
The former World Heavyweight champion has been out of action since May after undergoing surgery for an injury that he never specified what it was. He wrote at the time that if he won’t be back to 100% he will simply walk away.
In August, Henry traveled to London, England, along with WWE officials to scout any Olympians who might one day make it in the world of professional wrestling.
ESPN broke the story that former WWE champion Bruno Sammartino has accepted the invitation to enter this year’s WWE Hall of Fame, a daunting task which was spearheaded by Triple H.
Sammartino and WWE have been at war for decades and he had refused to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for years. Eventually Triple H took over the project to try and convince the longest reigning WWE champion of all-time by having one-on-one meetings over the past few months.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame at Madison Square Gardens is the biggest thing in my life,” Sammartino said in an exclusive interview for ESPN Playbook.
Sammartino credited Triple H for changing his mind. He said that he didn’t like the direction the company was going into since he’s an old-school guy.
“I know what kind of a man he is,” Bruno said of Triple H. “And he is a giant in that field, so I take my hat off to WWE because they took such huge steps to make things better for the wrestlers themselves and making sure they are healthy to perform. That was very, very important.”
Triple H said that it was important for WWE to get Sammartino in the Hall of Fame as he’s one of the biggest names ever in the business.
“So for us to not have him in there, for the legitimacy of the whole thing, it was a major issue. He truly is a living legend,” HHH added.
Triple H also revealed that Bruno and Vince haven’t talked yet and he will be arranging a one-on-one sit-down meeting between the two after he shot down the idea of the two talking over the phone.
“Hall of Fame is probably where we’ll make that happen. Vince and Bruno will see each other for the first time in years and officially, in person, look each other in the eyes and bury that hatchet.”
TNA President Dixie Carter announced on her Twitter account that the TNA ReAction show will be making a comeback this month.
“Happy to announce that “ReACTION” will be returning in mid-February as an online series on YouTube,” Carter wrote. She didn’t give out any more details but said that more info will be coming soon on the TNA website.
The show made its debut in April 2010 and then stated weekly in August, offering a “never-before-seen look at the combustible world of TNA Wrestling with exclusive backstage access and candid interviews featuring the biggest names in wrestling.”
It ran for one hour, airing immediately after the flagship show, IMPACT, on Spike TV.
Unfortunately the docu-style series show – which was produced by Bischoff-Harvey Entertainment – got canned by Spike in December of the same year despite getting good feedback. Bischoff went on record to say that the show was eating into IMPACT’s overrun on Spike and that the show was a “financial burden” for TNA.
Zack Ryder’s “Hoeski” song was released on iTunes today and has already reached #100 in the Top Pop iTunes chart in the United States.
The almost four minute song is selling for $1.29 on iTunes and features his trademark “Woo Woo Woo” and other references to his wrestling character.
“Once in a lifetime we are blessed with a musical gift: The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and now Zack Ryder,” reads a funny review posted on iTunes. “From start to finish, this masterpiece will leave your ears craving for more. Hoeski is a gift from God. Long live Zack Ryder.”
It currently has an average rating of 4 1/2 stars out of 5 with 69 comments at time of this writing and his fellow WWE Superstars are buying it and tweeting about it, giving the former U.S. champ extra exposure.
WWE champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was in two Super Bowl commercials yesterday, one for the ‘got milk?’ campaign and the other a trailer for his upcoming movie Fast & Furious 6.
Johnson will be reprising his role of Luke Hobbs, a Diplomatic Security Service agent who travels to Europe to track down a group of drivers who take down a military convoy and seeks the help of his Fast 5 enemies-turn-friends – Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) and his team.
The film is scheduled for release on May 24 and you can see the Super Bowl trailer below.
Former WWE and UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be appearing on Monday Night RAW tonight, his first time in Atlanta in over 12 years.
Lesnar returned last week and delivered his F5 to Vince McMahon, saving Paul Heyman’s job in the process as he was about to get fired.
Tonight is also one of the few RAW dates that The Rock is not scheduled to appear leading up to Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania so the Atlanta crowd will not be “electrified” by the WWE champion.
WWE Superstar David Otunga was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans yesterday accompanying his fiancé and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson.
The former American Idol contestant sang America The Beautiful before the show kicked off and Otunga posted a photo of him, Hudson, and their son from the field which you can see at http://instagram.com/p/VSZpHakqHk/
Well it is a little late tonight but here is the recap of UFC’s annual Super Bowl weekend show. This was headlined by a Featherweight championship match between Frankie Edgar and champ Jose Aldo.
This is Edgar’s 7th title fight in a row. He won the first two against BJ Penn, fought to a draw with Gray Maynard, beat Maynard, and than lost the last two fights to current Lightweight champ Benson Henderson. Aldo is on a tear and 21-1 in his pro career and hasn’t lost since 2005. That’s a 14 fight win streak for the champ.
In the co-main event former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and also in a featured bout two former Strikeforce heavyweights take the cage as former champ Alistair Overeem meets Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.
In the UFC on Facebook prelim:
Bantamweights (135lbs)
Edwin “El Feroz” Figueroa vs Francisco “Cisco” Rivera
Rivera over comes getting dropped 90 seconds into the fight to pound out Figueroa with strikes with under a minute left in the second round. This came after he caught Figueroa with a right hook that hurt him.
Winner by TKO Francisco “Cisco” Rivera at 4:20 of round 2
Bantamweights (135lbs)
Chico “The King” Camus vs Dustin “The Diamond” Kimura
Camus lands the straight right early that sends Kimura flailing into the cage. Kimura comes back lands his own right and Camus gets the take down and is full guard of Kimura. Kimura gets the leg up over the shoulder of Camus quickly but Camus is aware of what is going on and twice is able to pop out of danger. Kimura goes for an omoplata and Camus ends up on the bottom as he escapes. Kimura takes his back briefly and Camus rolls back into the guard of Kimura. Great ground skills being shown here by these two. Very technical showing from these two in the first round. Constant submission attempts and working to better their positions. Camus has the edge in the first two minutes of the second with some good leg kicks and avoiding being hit by Kimura. Kimura lands a right and Camus ties him up trying to get the fight to the mat. Camus lands some nice knees from the clinch against the cage. Once they separate Camus immediately gets the low single and is in the guard now. Camus is fighting off arm bars and triangles now very quickly. Kimura locks in the arm in triangle but Camus is able to stay with it for the last 10 seconds to take the fight into the last round. Camus gets the low single but Kimura ends up with the mount and Camus gives up his back and Kimura locks in the rear naked choke to end the fight.
Winner by Submission at 1:50 of round 3 Dustin “The Diamond” Kimura
UFC on FX prelims:
Lightweights (155lbs)
Yves Edwards vs Isaac Valle- Flagg
In the first round Valle-Flagg came out the aggressor and he kept that up most of the fight. He was getting the edge in striking and the first and working for take downs. Valle-Flagg did a good job of mixing up his strikes and shots. In the second round though it was all Edwards as he got control on the ground and delivered some nice strikes on the feet. Edwards had his back for a chunk of the second but was unable to secure the rear naked choke. The third round was back to Valle-Flagg as he came out and pressured Edwards from the go. Valle-Flagg landed some nice elbows from in close and controlled how the fight’s last round went.
Winner by Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Isaac Valle-Flagg
Lightweights (155lbs)
Jacob “Christmas” Volkmann vs Bobby “King” Green
Volkmann gets the take down a minute into the first and briefly gets the back of Green. Green is able to work Volkmann into half-guard and deliver some short lefts to the head and body before he stands up and stacks Green to drop down some punches against the cage. Green explodes and presses Volkmann away and as he tries to get up Volkmann dives back on him and takes Green’s back. Volkmann locks in the body triangle and works hard for the rear naked choke but is not able get it but is able to land some punches in the final minute. Green comes out to start the second with bloody nose. Volkmann gets the take down but Green is able to reverse it and get top position and delivers and bunch of nasty elbows from the top from the guard then half-guard. My least favorite referee in the whole sport Kim Winslow decides to stand them up with two minutes left in the second round while Green is delivering damage from the top. Winslow screws up another fight. The crowd is irate. Green landed 35 strikes their from the top they say. Volkmann is swelling up around the right eye. Volkmann shoots for a take down and is able to get the take down after he drags Green down from behind. Volkmann locks in the body triangle but once again is unable to get the rear naked choke. In the final round Volkmann pulls guard and Green is able to do a little damage but Volkmann tries to get the reverse and Green stands up and wants Volkmann on his feet. Volkamnn is able to get the fight back to the ground two more times and both times Green ends up in the dominant position. The last time Green ends up in the full mount and pounds away on a tired Volkmann. Green locks in the rear naked choke as Volkmann gives up his back; Volkmann taps and Green has his first victory in the octagon.
Winner by Submission at 4:25 of round 3 Bobby “King” Green
Welterweights (170lbs)
Tyron “The Choosen One” Woodley vs Jay “Thoroughbred” Hieron
Woodley blitzes Hieron with a fake left superman and lands the looping right less than 30 seconds into the fight to drop Hieron. Woddley pounces and rains down punches till Herb Dean can get there to stop the fight.
Winner by KO at 36 secs of round 1 Tyron Woodley
Lightweights (155lbs)
Gleison Tibau vs Evan Dunham
These two want to stand and bang the first minute and half these two trade big shots to the chin. Tibau decides its time to take the fight to the ground and powers through for the double. As Dunham gets up Tibau locks in the front choke and Dunham gets to his feet. Tibau pulls guard with the standing front choke but Dunham keeps his hand in the way to keep from getting submitted and gets back to his feet. They take turns alternating big shots and missing big shots. Tibau is looking a bit tired here with a minute left in the first. They spend the last minute jockeying for position from the clinch and alternating knees to the body. Dunham has the crisper strikes while Tibau is winging the punches. I am not sure I have seen Tibau throw a jab yet. Dunham is landing down the middle and Tibau lands the left hook as I say that. Dunham now goes for a take down but Tibau is right back up and Dunham stays glued to him kneeing away against the cage. Dunham is doing a great job as they are striking back in the center of the cage making sure that when he strikes his head is not left out there for Tibau to counter and nail. Dunham starts the third with a nice jab down the center. Tibau briefly gets the take down but has to pull his head out of danger as Dunham latches on as they go down. Now Tibau grabs the neck of Dunham as they get up and tries to pull guard with it but Dunham is quickly back up. Dunham lands another jab and Tibau drops to a knee and pops back up to his feet. Tibau’s right eye looks to be swelling pretty good and possibly cut under it. Tibau looks exhausted but tries another take down and Dunham defends again. Dunham with a jumping knee followed by a series on jabs that are landing over and over as Tibau is throwing the big hay makers that are finding no one home. Dunham lands a pair of knees in the last 10 seconds to put a stamp on this fight.
Winner by Split Decision ( 29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Evan Dunham
UFC 156 Main card:
Flyweights (125lbs)
Joseph Benavidez vs Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall
Both men utilize the kicks early. Benavidez catches McCall twice in the first two minutes with shots to the cup. Benavidez is landing the hooks when they get in close and has rocked McCall twice now. Benavidez with a third cup shot and McCall once again fights through it. Elbow now from McCall as Benavidez than lands the counter. McCall with a left hook that cuts open Benavidez some where in the hair. The cut Rogan says came from an incidental head butt but in the replay it doesn’t look like the heads connect. McCall’s right lead leg is starting to show signs of the damages Benavidez is doing with that leg kick. Benavidez with a good jab as McCall comes forward and Benavidez circles out of the way after landing. The movement from these flyweights is just amazing. Benavidez lands the counter left that grazes McCall as he tries to circle away. Benavidez ducks under a punch and McCall takes his back. Hammer fist from McCall now McCall has the mount. Benavidez turns back over and McCall drops the hammer fist till Benavidez gets back to his feet and eats some knees and the round ends with them tied up on the cage. McCall trying to pump up the crowd as they come out for round three. Benavidez gets McCall back up to the cage and lands some big punches that has McCall showing a big grin. They kick each other at the same time and McCall hits the mat. They are back up and Benavidez lands as they exit. Benavidez is getting the edge in striking here in the last round and McCall gets the take down but only momentarily. Benavidez with a nice left and McCall goes to the body. Close fight but I give it to Benavidez 2-1 which is hard because McCall is one of my favorites but the one take down for McCall wasn’t enough to edge the striking of Benavidez in the final round.
Winner by Unanimous Decision (29-28×3) Joseph Benavidez
Welterweights (170lbs)
Jon Fitch vs Demian Maia
Winslow is back in the cage and I immediately cringe. Maia comes out and goes for a take down. Maia gets him down and gets the back of Fitch. Maia has the body triangle but Fitch stands up and Maia hangs on with his legs. Maia is pounding away from the back and is trying to work that arm under the chin. Fitch keeping the chin tucked for now. Maia falls of his back but gets the trip once his feet hit the mat and Fitch climbs back up to a standing position and Maia drags him back down and is kneeing away at the body of Fitch. Maia has the body triangle again and Fitch is now on one knee. Maia landing the left hand to the body over and over and Maia has spent the whole round wrapped around Fitch’s back. Fitch’s striking is looking good for the first 50 seconds then Maia gets the take down. Fitch explodes and uses his legs to push Maia away and he is back up. Maia ties him back up on the cage and drags Maia back to the mat and has the back of Fitch as he sits against the cage. Maia gets the neck crank but Fitch is able to fight it off. Maia has the body triangle and is punching away. Maia spends another 4 minutes on Fitch’s back clearly two rounds for Maia. Fitch’s corner is telling him he has to knock him out. Round 3 Maia ducks under the kick of Fitch and latches right back on the back of Fitch. Maia now has him against the cage working for another take down. Maia spreads the legs of Fitch and Fitch is back to the mat with Maia on his back and the crowd is booing. Fitch gets back to his feet with 3 minutes left in the fight and Maia goes for another take down. Fitch goes for a guillotine and Maia is now on his back. Fitch with a big elbow and Maia is back to his feet. Fitch gets free with 90 seconds left and Maia gets another take down and now has the back again of Fitch and Maia will ride out the last minute with the body triangle and Maia switches to the full mount right before the horn.
Winner by Unanimous decision (30-27×3) Demian Maia
Heavyweights
Alistair “The Reem” Overeem vs Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
Overeem is coming in usually landing a single shot clinching against the cage and Overeem punches the body with some big knees to the body. Overeem is getting the better of the striking and looks like he has no worries about the striking of Bigfoot as his fist are down and he is just slipping his head out of the way of Bigfoots punches. Overeem nails him with a single shot and then puts Silva against the cage a knees away and the cycle repeated over and over in round 1. In round two Overeem lands a right after eating a leg kick then gets the take down and is in side control. Silva with nice elbows from the bottom and Overeem resets and is now in the full guard of Bigfoot. Overeem alternates between hammer fist to the head and the short elbows to the body that are making a LOUD thud when they connect. Overeem pounds away a little more now moves to half guard briefly. Dean stands them up with under thirty seconds left in the round. Bigfoot lands a big knee and as he tries for the clinch to do it again Overeem shove him off and backwards into the cage from over half way across the cage. Bigfoot connects in the third and is teeing off on. Overeem is hurt and hurt bad. Silva is swarming. Silva with a head kick. Overeem is backing up but not protecting himself. Silva lands two gnarly right straights then two right uppercuts clean. Right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, from Silva. That last left landed as Overeems legs finally give out and he is going down. Dean is already pulling Silva away. Silva is coming back at Overeem who is out on the mat. Dean is trying to pull him away and Silva is yelling at Overeem with his fingers locked in the cage to keep Dean from dragging him away. Wife and I watched it over and over and we counted 16 clean shots in a row landing for Bigfoot. WOW. What a finish after Overeem dominated him the first two rounds. As Rogan said Overeems lack of respect for Silva’s hands cost him dearly and ended a 12 fight win streak. Silva pounded away on Fedor and now Overeem has felt it too. Silva tells Rogan afterwards that he told Overeem at the press conference before hand that he was going to make him respect him.
Winner by TKO at :25 seconds of round 3 Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
Light Heavyweights(205lbs)
“Suga” Rashad Evans vs Antonio Rogeira Nogueira
Lots of feeling out in the first round Evans has landed a couple kicks but nothing that locks to have fazed Nogueira in any way. Nogueira is starting to look for the straights and jabs down the middle. Rashad with a could right hook that stuns Nogueira briefly as he comes in. Rashad gets the take down with 45 seconds left in the first and is only able to land a couple quick punches before Nogueira is back to his feet. Close round that it looks like Evans edged Nogueira on. In the second round Evans looking to set things up off that inside leg kick and Nogueira really wanting to connect that jab to get going. Evans is quick but Nogueira is now right jab right jab and left connecting behind it. Nogueira defends against a take down and now left from Nogueira again. Evans has a take down stuffed and Nogueira lands a left and right as they stand back up straight. Another close round that could either way I personally see Lil Nog getting the edge in that one. Third round and Nogueira is getting the better of the striking until he gets a poked in the eye and we have to take a break while the doctor checks out the eye with 2 minutes gone in the final round. Nogueira finds a home down the middle again with that straight left and Nogueira defends another take down. Rogan is just peturbed with the unorthodox look of Lil Nogs kicks and Evans fails on another take down. Rashad lands his best right of the fight with under 10 left they tie up and trade knees in the clinch till the horn. Lil Nog edged Evans in a close fight with few highlights.
Winner by Unanimous Decision (29-28×3) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
MAIN EVENT
Featherweight (145lbs) Championship 5 rounds
Jose “Junior” Aldo vs Frankie “The Answer” Edgar
Aldo is looking noticeably bigger than Edgar here. Aldo striking is looking crisp even with Edgar and all his movement Aldo is connecting right down the middle with jabs and the straight right. Aldo is smiling have way through the first and just looking like Edgar has nothing for him. Even back pedaling with Edgar giving chase Aldo is peppering him. Aldo with a left and right while going back wards and now Aldo connects with one of those NASTY leg kicks to the outside of the lead leg of Edgar. Clearly first round belonged to the champ. Aldo’s striking is amazing and he is certainly looking faster than Edgar so far tonight. Aldo is getting that jab in over and over. Edgar unable to get the take down in his first attempt. Edgar with a nice leg kicks but eats a right trying to do so. Edgar with another unsuccessful take down attempt. Aldo with another outside leg kick and Edgar’s leg almost gives out. Okay this time when Aldo kicks him there his butt hits the mat. Edgar is quickly back up and when he charges in eats a jumping knee. Aldo gets briefly taken down with a double but Aldo uses those powerful legs to push off and get back to his feet before Edgar can think about hitting him. Edgar looks to have a small cut under his left eye. Aldo goes for another kick and Edgar briefly gets a take down but Aldo has a spring in him that bounces him right back to his feet each time they hit the mat. Edgar even with his movement eats a thudding front kick from Aldo that busts the nose of Edgar but he stays up and in the fight. Edgar with a nice body kick right under the arm pit but Aldo is unfazed. Edgar now with a leg kick of his own and now another. Edgar catches the big knee from Aldo right before it connects. Edgar with a nice punch. Edgar goes for a take down again and Aldo flicks him off of him. Edgar looks like he may have taken the third round but that was close either way. we are entering the championship rounds now. Aldo’s coach says they are up 3 rounds and to spend the final 30 seconds of the round kicking the leg of Edgar.
Edgar with another nice leg kick to the outside then inside and Edgar eats a spinning back kick to the body. Edgar catches the next kick and Aldo peppers his face with a couple more shots. Edgar can’t get another take down he has gotten 1 of 7 so far. Aldo is getting the edge in striking but not by much Edgar shoots for a take down and picks up Aldo and slams him to the ground but Aldo is back to his feet. That left eye of Edgar is nearly swollen shut. Tough round to score could easily go either way. Aldo’s coaches are saying that they are up 4-0. I am not sure I agree with that I see it much closer. Edgar is the first fighter to take down Aldo twice in the same fight. Aldo with a knee. Aldo is starting to get hit more but Aldo is countering and making sure Edgar is taking something for his troubles. Edgar with a knee to the chin but Aldo still coming. Edgar gets off another leg kick and Aldo makes him pay with a quick combo. Edgar is winning this 5th round but I think it is a little too late. Aldo connects with a superman punch that lands clean as he propels himself off the cage right before the end of the fight. Both men’s corner men have them on their shoulders carrying them around the ring while we wait for the decision.
Winner by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47 ) and still the Featherweight Champion Jose “Junior” Aldo
Bret Hart never shared a big relationship with Triple H and their history dates back from when HHH aligned with HBK when both Bret and Shawn were going into a massive real-life feud towards Bret’s final months with WWE back in 1997.
In a recent interview with WrestleTalk TV Extra, the WWE Hall of Famer somewhat ripped into Triple H and while he admits that he has a certain amount of respect for Triple H, to him, he’s just a good wrestler, but not great.
“Triple H has always been a good wrestler. But great? What is he now, a 1,000 time world champion? How great really is he,” Bret asked.
He compared Triple H’s accomplishments to those like CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio, who he called innovators.
“But you look at someone like Hunter and you wonder, what has he really done,” said Bret. “He’s mostly a guy that just showed up and they made him. He’s always been a decent wrestler. I would consider him a good wrestler and pretty talented. But great? I don’t know, I don’t think so.”
According to Hart, Triple H “never had a great match,” not even his last one with the Undertaker would fall under the “great” category.
“I don’t really mean it as a knock, but I told myself before I watched it because I’m trying to like Paul now these days. That I want to see him do something to make me think he’s got greatness in him.”
He said that he thought his match against Taker inside Hell In A Cell was “mediocre at best,” giving it a rating of 3 or 4 out of 10. He also called him overrated for being great and can’t recall any match that he saw involving him that he could call great.
When fellow WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was asked the question on Twitter about what he thought of Bret’s comments regarding Triple H, Ross – who’s a good friend of both Superstars – said, “Respectfully disagree.”
In comments given to the Orlando Sentinel yesterday, Universal Studios spokesman Tom Schroder said that the company is grateful for the partnership they had with TNA as the relationship between the two companies ends next month.
“We look forward to the opportunity to work with them again in the future,” he added.
TNA will tape its last broadcast of IMPACT at the IMPACT Zone in Universal on March 7 and then the show will go on the road.
Impact has been taping in one of the many of Universal’s sound stages since 2004 and TNA gets no gate money for any of the shows – including pay-per-views – that are taped inside the theme park. Since the sound stage is part of the theme park, guests are allowed to enter any ride or show for free upon paying the ticket to enter Universal Studios.
Thomas Dotterer, the 77 year old who was shot in his eye last week but was more annoyed that Punk lost to The Rock than losing his eye, got a big surprise while he was on The Abe Kanan Show on SiriusXM Howard 101 this morning to discuss the incident.
Dotterer explained how he’s been a life-long wrestling fan and remembers him watching it with his dad in the early 40s. He said that CM Punk is one of his favorites as he is “outstanding in various aspects of wrestling” and because he does a masterful job.
Dotterrer went on to say that he likes wrestling because of all the athleticism, determination, and skill and Punk is outstanding in his art.
The hosts then told Dotterrer that they have CM Punk on the line and he’s been listening the whole time. He thanked Punk and the WWE for their work with the Armed Forces and for the smiles they bring to children.
“You gotta stop talking so I can put you over for a second,” joked Punk, as Dotterrer kept talking over with his excitement.
Punk joked some more telling him that he’s supposed to hate him and that he was ruining his gimmick but he wasn’t there to talk wrestling, but rather to tell everyone how awesome Dotterrer is.
After eight years, TNA is finally taking their flagship show – IMPACT – on the road. The show has always been taped at the IMPACT Zone in Universal Studios in Orlando with the except of a couple of occasions.
The announcement was made yesterday by TNA President Dixie Carter who also said that the last two shows to be filmed at Universal will be on February 28 and March 7.
“This is a tremendous step forward for TNA. Fans from around the world have been coming to us at Universal for more than 8 years to be a part of the IMPACT WRESTLING audience,” said Carter. “It’s now time for us to take the IMPACT WRESTLING television cameras to them.”
Taking the show on the road also means that TNA will finally be able to get gate money for their shows, something that they didn’t get whenever the shows taped at Universal, including pay-per-views.
“We are so grateful to Universal for being such fantastic partners and look forward to finding other ways to work together in the future,” Carter added.
The first show on the road will be on March 14 in Chicago at the Sears Centre Arena, with tickets on sale on February 8 at SearsCentre.com.
Impact begins, as always, with a recap of the evil deeds perpetrated by Aces and Eights in recent weeks. The first two people to the ring are Kazarian and Daniels. The show is being held in Manchester England.
Kaz and Daniels are wearing kilts and sporting blue face paint in homage to the United Kingdom’s TRUE warriors, the Scots. Daniels claims that the only reason he lost to Jeff Hardy last week is because Hardy’s face paint is toxic and he went into shock.
Daniels give the fans permission to worship him, but they are interrupted by Magnus before they get a chance. Magnus say the real reason he lost last week is because Jeff Hardy beat Daniels like he owed him money. Magnus appears to be looking for a fight with Kaz and Daniels, and they attack him and beat him down.
Magnus turns things around and backdrops Daniels to the floor and then clotheslines Kaz to the floor as his English fans cheer him on. Magnus then says he wants to challenge Devon as part of Open Fight night tonight.
Commercial
Match #1: Magnus versus Devon.
Magnus starts the match off with a series of forearms and clotheslines before throwing Devon over the top out to the floor. Magnus beats Devon some more outside the ring before rolling him back in. As Magnus enters the ring, Devon pulls the rope up into his groin.
Devon pounds on Magnus and takes him down with a clothesline. Magnus responds with a punch but Devon rakes the eyes of Magnus. Devon hits Magnus with a legdrop, but Magnus quickly gets back to his feet and lands a punch. Devon responds with a flying shoulder block and a snapmare.
Magnus lands a couple more punches but Devon responds with another clothesline and a bodyslam. Magnus fights back with a clothesline and Michinoku driver. Aces and Eights run in to save Devon, but Magnus promptly throws them out of the ring. Magnus wins by DQ.
Commercial
When we return, Joseph Park is in the ring and he’s decided who his first opponent as a member of the TNA roster for Open Fight Night is going to be.
Before Joseph can tell us, he’s interrupted by Robbie E and Robbie T. Robbie E says Joseph isn’t even a wrestler, he’s a hamster, just like everyone else in England. Robbie T, who is from England, looks mad.
Robbie E appears to have just remembered that Robbie T is from England and tries to recover by reminding bigger Rob that he lives in the US now so he’s practically American.
Robbie E grabs Joseph Park’s notebook (filled with copious notes on his potential opponents) and wipes his ass with it, sniffs it, and throws it at Joseph. No comment from Robbie what the notebook smelled like when he sniffed it. I’m guessing it smelled like shit.
Joseph had been trying to tell them that he picked someone else, but he looks mad now and agrees to fight Robbie.
Match #2: Robbie E versus Joseph Park.
Robbie starts things off with a kick and a running cross body. Robbie just bounces off the much larger Park. Robbie E starts using his speed advantage and takes over the match, landing several strikes and a clothesline.
Robbie also comes off the second rope a couple times, hitting Park with a clothesline and then a punch. Joseph knocks Robbie down several times and then hits him with a belly to belly suplex and follows up with a second rope splash for the win.
Commercial
When we return, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode are standing in the ring bragging about being the two best stars in Impact wrestling. They claim to be on the same page now, and plan on taking ALL the titles in TNA, including the Knockouts title.
I’m not sure which one of them gets to be women’s champ. They tell us that they’re going to start with the easiest titles to win, the tag titles.
Aries and Roode are calling the English fans “wankers” when current tag champs Chavo and Hernandez come out to confront them. Chavo asks is Roode and Aries are even a tag team and then challenges either of them to a singles match. Aries agrees, provided they get a title shot if Aries wins.
Match #3: Austin Aries versus Chavo Guerrero.
Chavo starts off fast and lands a series of punches. Aries responds by snapping Chavos neck on the rope and then stepping out to the edge of the apron. Aries slingshots himself in onto Chavo, but Chavo gets his knees up in time to block the senton. Chavo steps outside the ropes, hits Aries with a slingshot senton, and then stomps on him.
Commercial
During the break, Aries hits Chavo with a suicide dive. When we get back to the live action, Aries retreats to the floor. Chavo slingshots himself out to the floor onto Aries. The two men re enter the ring and Aries lands a series of strikes and an elbow drop.
Aries puts Chavo in a headlock, but Chavo fights his way out. Aries takes Chavo down with a backdrop and then climbs to the top. Aries goes for a frog splash but Chavo gets out of the way. Chavo and Aries exchange strikes and Chavo knocks Aries down with a drop kick.
Chavo lands several punches and then hits Aries with “Three Amigos” (3 consecutive vertical suplexes) and climbs to the top. Chavo hits the frog splash and goes for the pin, but Roode distracts the ref. Aries hits Chavo with a dropkick and a brainbuster for the win. After the match, Aries and Roode argue over who deserves credit for the win.
Commercial
When we return, Angle, Samoa Joe, Garrett Bischoff and Wes Briscoe are talking in the locker room. Angle is getting ready for his big match with Mr. Anderson in a steel cage later tonight.
Bischoff and Briscoe offer to watch Angle’s back, when Joe starts yelling at them. Joe doesn’t think they need Bischoff and Briscoe and he seems to resent them being around. Joe walks off angrily. Angle tells Wes and Garrett that that was just Joe being Joe.
Commercial
When we return, Bully Ray and his new wife, Brooke Hogan walk to the ring. Bully says that falling in love with Brooke got him suspended by Hulk, but now they have a common enemy: Aces and Eights.
Bully says the only man that can convince Hulk to life the suspension is Sting, and he calls Sting out. Sting comes out and says he can’t make Hogan come out, but the fans can.
The fans chant Hogan and he comes out. Hogan says he’s come to see Bully Ray as family, especially after the way he fought for his daughter last week. Hogan lifts the suspension and also offers his new son in law a present: a tag team tables match with Sting against Devon and Doc from Aces and Eights next week.
Bully looks happy, and shakes Hogan’s hand.
Commercial
When we return, Daisy Carter announces that TNA will be taking Impact on the road, starting with Chicago.
Velvet Sky walks to the ring and says she has something to get off her chest. Apparently she means that figuratively; at first I thought she was getting rid of her implants.
Velvet wants to call out Tara and Jesse for Open Fight Night. They come out thinking this will be a handicap match, but Velvet informs them she has found a partner: James Storm.
Match #4: Velvet Sky and James Storm versus Tara and Jesse.
Jesse and Storm start the match off. Jesse pushes Storm to the corner, but then Storm takes over and lands several punches, a shoulder block, a hip toss and snake eyes in the corner.
Tara distracts Storm long enough for Jesse to land a few strikes and follow up with a key lock. Jesse lands a knee lift and an elbow drop, but Storm responds with Closing Time and tags in Velvet.
Velvet hits Tara with a pair of clotheslines, a hurricanrana, and a side Russian leg sweep. Jesse runs in but Storm hits him with closing time. Tara confronts Storm, but Velvet hits her with a double underhook face plant for the win.
Commercial
When we return, Hogan is talking about the tag match next week featuring his son in law. He made the match a table match as a present to Bully Ray. Elsewhere in the back, Ken Anderson is talking about his cage match tonight with Angle and promises Angle isn’t leaving the building the same way he entered.
Angle and Anderson had a legendary steel cage match a couple years ago that was one of the best TNA matches I’ve ever seen. Back in the locker room Kurt Angle is checking on his friend Samoa Joe: Joe has been attacked and is still unconscious. Wes Briscoe promises to go to the ring with Angle instead.
Match #5: Kurt Angle versus Ken Anderson in a steel cage.
Anderson slams Kurt into the corner and lands several punches. Anderson goes for a suplex but Angle blocks it. The two men exchange strikes with Angle getting the better of the exchange.
Angle hits Anderson with a missile dropkick and follows up with a pair of clotheslines. Anderson lands a kick, Angle responds with a German Suplex. Anderson retaliates with a fireman’s carry roll through. Anderson slams Kurt into the cage and then steps on his hand.
Angle gets to his feet, slams Anderson into the cage, and then hits him with an Angle Slam for a 2 count.
Commercial
When we return, Anderson takes Angle down with a clothesline and then starts to climb the cage. Angle climbs up after him and they exchange punches while balancing on the top rope and clutching the cage. Anderson falls to the mat, but Angle falls balls first on the top rope. Anderson goes for a cover but gets only 2.
Anderson hits Angle with a series of knee strikes and punches and then starts climbing up the cage again. Angle again cuts Anderson off and then hits him with an Angle slam from the top rope! Both men hit hard, but Angle rolls over Anderson for a pin attempt and gets 2.
Anderson hits Angle with a low blow and then the Mic Check for a 2 count. Anderson starts climbing the cage again, and Angle cuts him off with a powerbomb from the top!
Angle goes for a cover and gets 2, then quickly transitions into the ankle lock and Anderson taps. Angle wins by submission!
After the match, a lone masked member of Aces and Eights climbs into the ring. Wes Briscoe comes in to help Angle and Angle orders him to lock the door so no more Aces and Eights come in, although there don’t appear to be any others.
Angle confronts the masked man, who reveals himself to be…Garrett Bischoff. Angle and Wes both look shocked and Angle asks Briscoe if he knew anything about it, but Wes says no.
Angle charges Bischoff, but Briscoe chops Angle’s knee out from behind. Briscoe takes off his jacket to reveal an Aces and Eights vest. Briscoe and Bischoff beat Angle down as Impact goes off the air.
