The 10th Day News Report for 1.18.06

Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 01.18.2006

Pissing people off and taking names every single week

MAILBAG

First of all, good column, always an interesting read.

The point I want to make out though is that when Raw was broadcast live in the UK, Sky Sports didn't show a black screen, or show a crowd shot a la Canada. They just showed it unedited! Chances are it'll be taken out of the replays Tonight and on Thursday, but still, the few thousand that did stay up until 4am got to see it. Just wondered if any other countries get it live apart from Canada and the UK?
-Mark, Huddersfield, England

We get it live, we just get it seven second delay live. US censors are squeamish, especially since the Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl boob incident. I am not that interested in seeing Lita's tits, but I would be interested in seeing the look on her face when it happened. Was it ‘holy crap, my boobs are out' or ‘oh yeah, stare at ‘em geeks.'

" Early word from the Smackdown taping last night had Batista giving up his belt and GM Teddy Long booking a battle royal for the end of the show to crown a new champion. Credit: PWInsider.com"

Thanks alot for spoiling that huge spoiler for everybody! Great job!

What was the point of writing that it was a spoiler in the news section (so ppl who didnt want to know wouldn't click on the nw link) and then let you spoil it WITHOUT even saying you were gonna spoil it?

Here I was looking really forward to a smackdown episode for the first time in a long month and then this :(
-RC

In my defense, WWE had the same spoiler on their own website. In fact they had a giant ass picture of Kurt Angle holding the World Title on their MAIN PAGE WEDNESDAY MORNING! Smackdown didn't air until Friday night. They weren't trying to keep events under wraps, why should I? Readers of my movie column will know that I think spoilers are for housewives and little girls anyway. I'm sorry if I caused you undo trauma, but don't cry about it. The fun is not in the destination, but the journey.

You mentioned that your birthday was the reason why Edge is champion (lol). But fear not, for Vince is the one that got screwed. How, you say? Below is the answer (from SmackDown!) in five words...

*SPOILER*




Kurt Angle, WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!!!

That's right, Kurt returns to SmackDown! as one of the opponents for the World Title Battle Royal, and wins by beating Mark Henry (hah, that lawsuit angle is down the drain, THANK GOD)! Batista gave up the title earlier due to his injury getting worse. He did a decent job as champ, but with Angle, the title can truly shine with pride.
And Vince was going to force HBK to fight Angle next week, just to screw with Shawn. This match should take place at Wrestlemania, not on RAW (no matter what happens). HOW DARE VINCE USE THIS SPECIAL 4TH ENCOUNTER TO HIS SICK PLEASURE!!!! This should make Mr. Napier happy. He seems really pissed with RAW and their PPV (I don't blame him, of course).

See Ya Later,
The 1mperfex Collector

You used a spoiler tag, good job. I still thought that Kurt Angle would show up on RAW and wrestle Shawn Michaels anyway. Angle being allowed to move to Smackdown and win the World Title was his reward for kicking the crap out of Michaels for Vince. It didn't work out that way, but I think it works out better than some vague contractual loophole.

Hey Leonard,
I was reading your column and had a good chuckle at the jobber beating a jobber lower down the jobber ladder.

I think a Jobber Ladder would be a great thing to do. Not entirely sure how it would work but we all have our favorite jobber, who we usually think should be in a much better position than they actually are - I mark for Steven Richards though he's not been about for a while, any idea what happened to him? A jobber ladder could help us establish where they are in the pecking order, who's doing something about it, who deserves to break into a non-jobber role and who (if any) are ever likely to break out. What do you think, is it a feasible feature?
Cheers
-Brillo

That's a funny idea. I have a best of the ‘80's scenario for my EWR, I could run an all time jobber fed. Anyway, the Jobber Ladder for WWE at this current time I would peg at looking like this. After Velocity went to an internet only show Stevie Richards was shuffled down to OVW where he is working with up and coming talent.

1) Random indy wrestler
2) Developmental talent
3) Indy wrestler being viewed for possible contract
4) Sgt. Slaughter
5) Danny Basham
6) Torrie's dog Chloe
7) The Heartthrobs
8) Johnny Parisi
9) Gregory Helms
10) Funaki
11) Sylvan
12) The Dicks
13) FBI
14) Lance Cade
15) Trevor Murdoch
16) Scotty 2 Hotty
17) Rene Dupree
18) London and Kendrick
19) Regal and Burchill
20) The Mexicools
21) Rob Conway
22) Matt Striker
23) Val Venis
24) Viscera
25) Simon Dean

NEWS AND NOTES
-In your online Heat report Ken Doane and Mike Mondo defeated Mike the Miz and Chris Cage in a preview of Wrestlemania 30's main event. Trevor Murdoch beat Antonio to qualify for the Royal Rumble. Gene Snitsky jobbed out Val Venis for like the 12th time in as many weeks. Viscera qualified for the Royal Rumble in an over the top rope mini battle royal against Tyson Tomko, Gregory Helms and Lance Cade. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Heidenreich has been released from the company. The exact terms and reasons have not been disclosed. It will be interesting to see if they keep Animal on. Credit: WWE.com

-Former WWE wrestler Matt Morgan was arrested Friday night for impersonating a police officer and pulling over a female motorist. We are so using that in the EWR game. Morgan was also noticed backstage at TNA's Final Resolution ppv on Sunday. Hide in open sight, smart move. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE announced in a press release that they look to instill their new drug policy by the end of the first quarter this year. They have found an unnamed third party to conduct the tests and are close to signing them for the task. Credit: WWE press release

-Ric Flair gave an interview to the Raleigh North Caroline News and Observer, printed out of Floyd's barbershop, on Monday. In it he states the details of his road rage incident are not true. He also says that he is continuing to work and wrestle because of alimony he owes his now ex-wife Beth. Flair also said that he is ok with this. Don't you just picture Flair in the lotus position smelling potpourri while giving this interview. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE has two new job listings up that they won't hire me for. One is for a VP of Interactive Programming the other for a Creative Director of WWE.com. Both positions would heavily involve WWE's new online content as it concerns their programming. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Here is a non-spoiler match listing for Smackdown this coming Friday. You're welcome.
Bobby Lashley vs. JBL
Randy Orton vs. Orlando Jordan
Booker T US Title celebration
Matt Hardy vs. Fit Finlay
Rey Mysterio vs. Mark Henry
The Gymini vs. Brian Kendrick and Paul London
Kurt Angle vs. Daivari
It also probably doesn't spoil anything save your appetite to announce that JBL vs. the Boogeyman has been added to the Royal Rumble. Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

-After only one episode WWE has appeared to have already dumped the online show Talkin' Smack hosted by Tazz and Michel Cole. It is said the cancellation was due to creative issues, the issue being there was no creativity. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE has officially signed Russian Oleg Prudius to a developmental contract. He will be assigned to Deep South. Jerry Jarrett originally brought him to the attention of the company in a special visit he made to WWE back in October. That's a great strategy by TNA, bring in a bunch of untalented huge guys and let Vince hire them away. Credit: PWInsider.com

-The next two weeks of Impact! have been taped and here is a non spoiler match listing.
Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt vs. David Young and Elix Skipper
The James Game vs. Buck Quatermaine and Kenny King
Shannon Moore vs. AJ Styles in a street fight
Matt Bentley vs. Samoa Joe
Jeff Jarrett vs. Jay Lethal
Rhino vs. Abyss
Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

-Steve Austin's wife Debra was at the NWA:TNA's Final Resolution pay per view on Sunday. She was there only to visit friends. She did manage Jeff Jarrett for a time while he was in WWE. Or is she Austin's former wife now? I can't keep track. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Jeff Jarrett and Abyss will be working for WWC in February during their Hour of Truth III tour. If it's a whole tour I doubt it will last only an hour. Jarrett at this time is booked to face Eddie Colon and Shane the Glamour Boy. While TNA has a deal with both WWC and IWA to allow them to use workers it is thought that Dutch Mantell working with the WWC as an on air character and backstage consultant might be tilting the scales in WWC's favor. Previously Jarrett had only wrestled on IWA shows. Credit: wwwcpro.com and prwrestling.com

-Some 400 fans were turned away from TNA's Final Resolution on Sunday. It has been reported that some turn aways had been occurring, but this was the largest number ever. The heavy fan attendance was credited to Sting's return. The 400 were entertained by a local bum fight that turned out to be Brutus Beefcake versus a rabid German Shepard. Soup was had by all. Credit: PWInsider.com

-They won't have that turn away problem at the next pay per view. It's being touted now that Sting won't be involved and that main event will be Jeff Jarrett vs. Christopher Cage for the NWA Title. Cage will win that then job the belt back to Jarrett by noon the next day. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Bizzar Tours LTD. is promoting the first ever TNA house show outside of Florida. It will be held at the Compuware Sports Arena outside of Detroit in Plymouth on March 17th starting at 8 pm. The card at this time is as follows:
Jeff Jarrett vs. Rhino
America's Most Wanted vs. The Naturals
Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles
Sabu vs. Abyss
Team Canada's Bobby Roode vs. Ron "The Truth" Killings
"Alpha Male" Monty Brown vs. "Flying High" Chris Sabin
-Credit: Bizzar Tours press release

-Chris Sabin has been announced to take part in the ROH fourth anniversary show in Edison, New Jersey on February 25th. Credit: ROHWrestling.com

-Milano Collection AT suffered a concussion while training for Ring of Honor last weekend. He is expected to make his next scheduled dates for company in Ohio at the end of the month. Colt Cabana was pulled off of the Saturday show due to a back injury and BJ Whitmer is also being listed with a concussion due to his match with Samoa Joe from the weekend. Credit: ROHWrestling.com

-Luchador El Texano passed away Monday night while being rushed to the hospital for respiratory failure. His real name was Juan Aguilar. El Texano was a major part of the revitalization of wrestling in Mexico in the eighties thanks to trios matches. He was also in a very popular and successful tag team with Silver King, who had a few appearances for WCW. Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

-Texas wrestler Ricky Romero also passed away on Monday due to complications for diabetes. Romero was a top star in the state of Texas during the seventies. He also had three sons that wrestled under the name of Youngblood; Jay, Chris and Mark. Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

-As the Brock Turns for this week sees WWE making another attempt to stop Lesnar from wrestling on the February 19th New Japan show. Judge Christopher Droney is giving WWE until the 25th of this month to make a case as to why the lawsuit should be heard in open court or he will make a summary judgment on the case. If the judgment is in favor of Lesnar he would be free to work for any wrestling or sports entertainment entity, including TNA. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Former WWE and WCW wrestler John Tenta is currently losing his battle with cancer. In recent commentary in the Wrestlecrap.com forums Tenta stated that the current chemotherapy he is on is not working. His doctor will start a new chemo treatment this week. If that doesn't work Tenta says he will look into experimental drugs. At current he has six months to a year to live if things don't turnaround. Credit: PWInsider.com

RAW THOUGHTS

-You want to bet on if they ever explain the "contractual loophole" that allowed Kurt Angle to go to Smackdown and win the World Heavyweight Title? I believe the term is paper champion Edge, not cheap champion. I think the fact that Edge is still carrying Cena's belt is a sure sign that he's not going to have the title long. The sex celebration was the highest rated ending to RAW in over two years. Yeah, Edge way to go, 2004 was so long ago, like two years ago to be exact. I have TV dinners that old in my freezer. Note to self, clean out the freezer. So is Kurt a face now? No Jerry, there will never be live sex on RAW. Ok, so I guess they did explain the Angle contract loophole, but not very well. Angle was basically working last week without a contract and how could he negotiate with Eric Bischoff when he's been fired for over a month. Why does Vince McMahon need Shawn Michaels to lose a match to let him go? Why doesn't he just fire him? He fires everybody else.

-I think it would be cool if it turned out that Kurt Angle really was a cyborg. I think that would explain a lot. I hate those tights Shawn is wearing, it looks a like a pair of boxers of some assless chaps. I guess severing ties with Daivari is a pretty face turning move. Face Angle was always goofy, so if he can stay intense and still be a face that would be good.

-It's exposition theater with Ashley. I don't think obsessed is the right word. Maybe full goose bozo on the lesbian end of the pool. If football players can slap each other's asses, why not hot WWE divas.

-I didn't even know they were still doing the Masterlock challenge. My how Cena has fallen so fast. Edge coming out to deck Cena was a cheap deal. If you didn't want Cena to break the hold or have Masters take out Cena with it why even do the Masterlock challenge in the first place? There are better ways to further the Edge and Cena feud. If I were Masters I would be ticked at Edge for disrupting my mojo.

-Ric Flair looks like William H. Macy hit in the kisser with a frying pan eight times. Ric Flair just got upstaged by a fake chested would be fairy. Sometimes I just have to point out the negative.

-They have a six woman tag match every other week. It reminds me to change my underwear. At least get three more women so they can mix it up. Behind the scenes of a GoDaddy.com commercial. I'll wait for the DVD. Jerry Lawler roots for the Browns? Is Bernie Kosar his next door neighbor or something. So they're going to move the Mickie James feud from Trish to Ashley? Whatever. Maybe it will be a jealousy angle.

-It wouldn't have surprised me if after shoving the apple in Carlito's mouth Kane would have shoved a spit up his ass and rotated him over the pyro.

-I think we all know that the woman waiting outside for Vince McMahon isn't Candice Michelle. It's usually Mae Young in these instances. Ah, Shelton Benjamin's mama. That's just as good, in a totally bad way. If Vince really wanted to be a dirty old letch he would take up Shelton's mama on her offer. Vince likes his women like he likes his coffee, cold and bitter.

-That was a great bit at the start of the Benjamin vs. Show match. Not only is Thea Vidale very funny and pitch perfect as Shelton's mama, but she seems to be helping Shelton out with his mic skills and comedic timing. One negative against Shelton was that he was never a very good talker and at time lacked a certain energy. This new gimmick is straightening both out. As stupid as it might have looked to start with I am enjoying this angle and it seems to actually be getting Shelton over and righting his ship. The Triple H interference was kind of a deus ex machina as it would seem that Triple H has moved past Show. However, I guess with Cena still messing with Edge that he doesn't have much else to do right now.

-I would do Ashley Flair. Print up T-shirts. I don't know if Ric wants his baby girl at ringside to see him get his ass beat. It would be cool though if he won and it would make Edge look like such a chump, which would make him even more of an annoying asshole as he bitches about losing and therefore more over. See, put the belt on Flair. Listening to Joey Styles everybody has serious nagging injuries and everybody else knows about them. While Edge is out cold in the middle of the crowd I would run in the ring and take the title. Then again, I'm not sure if Ric Flair can actually climb a ladder at this stage in his career. Next week, special challenge ladder match Sgt. Slaughter vs. the Iron Shiek. Jumping off of a ladder in the ring to a guy laying on a table on the floor I thought was only something that would appear in one of our fantasy EWR write ups. Maybe that's where Vince stole it…uh, got the idea…uh, Vince doesn't know I exist. That's better. Ric Flair is the craziest geezer of all time. He just gave the middle finger to Terry Funk.

EWR ON 411

Thanks to William for catching two errors on my part. One, I only had eight matches booked for the Royal Rumble instead of nine. So that means the Batista vs. Rock cage match gets bumped to prime time. The other match was supposed to be John Cena vs. Matt Hardy for the US Title. I somehow left that off the list. It will be moved to No Way Out. Second, the February pay per view is No Way Out, not No Mercy as I noted. C'mon WWE change it up a little, no more no's. Actually, Mathew caught it to from the JBL vs. Rey Mysterio match and had a cool idea that the title match really would be for No Mercy and the guy had to hang onto it until then.

Smackdown for 1.19.06

Michael Cole on commentary announces that Chris "Steel" Cage suffered an eye injury at a house show over the weekend and a battle royal will be held to find his replacement in the Royal Rumble match. Paul London wins by dropkicking Chris Hero off the top turnbuckle. Others in the match included Funaki, Shark Boy, Rico, Orlando Jordan, Akio, EZ Money, Rene Dupree and Shannon Moore.
Match Rating: 60%

Jake Roberts meets up with Stephanie McMahon. He applauds her on that little stunt last week on Velocity. She locks everyone up and then commands a mass beating on a defenseless man who might never walk again, let alone wrestle. Way to go. Jake gives her a mock thumbs up. Stephanie says that his sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed, but it doesn't matter. She needed to make a statement last week and she did. Jake says the Board of Directors noticed. They've decided to make her the special guest referee for the main event tag match that night; John Cena and Kane vs. Big Show and Booker T. She laughs. He can't be serious. Sure he is, Steph just needs to think it through. He leaves. She's puzzled.
Segment Rating: 77%

Terry Funk reverses a suplex on Danny Basham and follows with a piledriver. The fans encourage him to go up top for the moonsault. Doug runs into the ring and Stevie Richards follows. The referee turns in time just to see Stevie and goes after him. This allows Doug to shake the ropes and make Funk crotch himself. Danny gets a superplex for the pin. The Bashams take off. Funk and Richards exchange heated words over Richards' screw up.
Match Rating: 55%

John Bradshaw Layfield congratulates Paul London for winning the battle royal. Now all he has to do is win the Royal Rumble and they will have an all Bradshaw Corporation Wrestlemania. JBL has to win the title at No Way Out first and to do that he has to beat Rey Mysterio at the Road to the Royal Rumble pre-show. You leave that to him.
Segment Rating: 61%

JBL sits in on commentary as Rey Mysterio battles Johnny Kashmere. Mysterio drop toeholds Kashmere to set up the 619. Kashmere grabs at the referee as he falls and knocks him out of the ring. Johnny's women envelope him. JBL runs into the ring and hits the Clothesline from New York. Kashmere Sweater (straightjacket neckbreaker). The referee counts the pin. JBL backs up the ramp celebrating. Chavo Guerrero rides out on his horse. He backs into the horse and gets spooked. Bradshaw jumps into the crowd. Chavo jumps the ring wall and chases him.
Match Rating: 70%

JC Ice is with Gene Okerlund. At The Road to the Royal Rumble he has to face the Unknown. Ice doesn't know who or what the Unknown is. Okerlund says maybe that's why it's called the Unknown. Ice stares at him. He holds up The Light pamphlet. Thanks to the Idol and the Way of the Light, Ice has found himself again. He knows that he has to go out there and take what is his. Jake Roberts and the Board want to throw this speed bump in his way, fine. The Unknown is overrated. It's never as scary as people think. He is more than willing to face the Unknown and does so with open eyes and a replenished soul.
Segment Rating: 77%

Jeff Hardy wipes out on the Swanton Bomb and AJ Styles pins him with the Styles Clash.
Match Rating: 73%

The Dream Weavers and Raven's Flock are all brawling in the back. Jake Roberts breaks it up with the help of security. They all just came back from life threatening injuries. They were involved in a fire for Christ's sake and they're back at each other like nothing happened. Jake Roberts only had a coup of coffee in ECW, but he saw enough to know that there will never be peace among Raven and Dreamer. You cut off the head of the serpent and the body dies. Jake is going to advise the Board that they perform a decapitation.
Segment Rating: 69%

Chris Jericho locks Billy Kidman in the Walls of Jericho. Torrie Wilson grabs his arms and pulls him toward the ropes. Jericho figures out what happened and goes to the floor to chase Torrie. Kidman jumps out on Jericho and they brawl around ringside. Back in the ring Kidman scores a knee lift. Bulldog. Russian legsweep. Kidman goes up top for the Shooting Star Press. The bell rings. Time limit draw. Kidman yells at the referee from on high. Jericho comes around and runs up the turnbuckles to grab Kidman and monkey flip him clear across the ring. He raises his fist and heads up the ramp as Kidman steams.
Match Rating: 56%

John Cena goes to see Jake Roberts. He heard that Stephanie McMahon will be the special guest referee for the tag match tonight. He knows his game, even if she doesn't. Thinking isn't her strong suit. She doesn't have big brains, she's got big…Cena puts his hands to his chest, ah Jake knows. Jake pegged him for a dumb chump. It looks like he's just a chump. He scowls and walks off.
Segment Rating: 78%

Kane and Big Show duke it out. John Cena runs into the ring and takes out Big Show's knee with his chain wrapped around his fist. Stephanie lets it go. Booker T runs into the ring and gets in her face. Cena rolls him up from behind and she counts a quick pin, even though neither was the legal man. Stephanie gloats and taunts the crowd. She then turns around to find herself in between Booker T and Big Show. She takes the scissors kick. Big Show choke slams her. That was Jake's plan all the time. She would cheat the faces and then they would kick her ass.
Match Rating: 58%

Show Rating: 64%

The Road to the Royal Rumble for 1.21.06

A man appears in a black mask with black trunks and black boots. He is announced as the Unknown from Parts Unknown, weight unknown. JC Ice not only has Big Vito and Akio with him, but The Idol and The Follower. The Idol keeps shouting encouraging words at Ice. Every move or hold Ice goes for the Unknown counters. He starts freaking out and screaming that he can't face the Unknown. Idol distracts the referee and the Follower gets in the ring. The Unknown stares at him. Follower gets a scared look on his face and runs off. Idol follows him. Unknown kicks Ice in the gut and hooks him in a front facelock. He gestures with his free arm toward the ceiling. The lights go out. When they come back on Ice is on the other side of the ring folded in half on the mat with his feet tucked behind his head and his rear sticking up in the air. It's the Unknown Move! (from Mathew) The Unknown pins him before Vito and Akio can react. He takes to the floor, the FBI stares at him. He shoots a glance both their ways and just walks off unharmed.
Match Rating: 68%

Johnny Kashmere poses with Chavo Guerrero's horse and says that he can even make this old broken sack of flesh look good, and the horse too. Chavo jumps out of the ring and brawls with Kashmere on the floor. Kashmere reverses a whip, puts his shades on Chavo so he can't see and then whips him into the ring post. Kashmere takes his shades back and tosses him in the ring to work over the shoulder. Single arm DDT. Shoulder breaker. Half nelson. Chavo bends down as far as he can and flips over Kashmere on the half nelson to get behind him. German suplex with bridge gets two. Chavo scores a front waistlock, but Kashmere reverses and gets a half nelson bulldog on the shoulder. Kashmere Sweater (straightjacket neckbreaker). Kashmere puts his feet on the ropes for good measure. He heads up the ramp with his ladies. He pauses and tells one of them to bring the horse.
Match Rating: 83%

Linda McMahon appears in a video taped segment. She announces that John Cena has suffered a groin pull (she seems a little questioning of that) and will not be defending the US title against Matt Hardy at the Royal Rumble. Therefore, the Rock vs. Batista cage match will be on the pay per view proper. Secondly, she will be on Smackdown this coming Thursday to announce the new general manager of the brand. The Board of Directors feels that is very important to have a new man in place as the brand heads into No Way Out and Wrestlemania following. The Board has narrowed the list down to fifteen finalists and will spend the entire next week deliberating on matters and narrowing the list. Pictures of all the candidates are flashed on the screen.
Segment Rating: 77%

Victoria grabs the straightjacket and chokes Trish Stratus out with it. Trish bucks forward and throws Victoria over her head. Trish works a rear chinlock, but Victoria powers up and hits a jawbreaker. She locks Trish in a body scissors and tries to work the jacket on her head. Trish reaches up to grab Victoria's arms and turns her over. They roll across the ring and out to the floor. Trish is up first, but dry humped from behind by Danny Inferno. She tries to fend him off while Victoria tries to get the straightjacket on her. Nikki Fuller then runs out to clothesline Inferno. He does a 450 degree flipping sell and then dry humps the outside floor mat. Victoria attacks Fuller. She gives her a proto bomb on the floor. Trish jumps off the apron with a double stomp to the gut. Nikki throws Victoria into the ring and she stumbles into the Chick Kick. Victoria is out cold. Trish pins her and then puts the straightjacket on her. Victoria comes to and starts thrashing around. She starts to settle down and eventually folds herself into a ball on the mat and rocks back and forth while singing something to herself. She seems at peace. (from Mathew)
Match Rating: 78%

Mick Foley calls it right down the middle between Nick Dinsmore and Johnny Stamboli. Stamboli locks Dinsmore in an abdominal stretch. He reaches back to grab the ropes for leverage. Foley catches him and kicks his arm free. Dinsmore hip tosses out of the move and lands a kick to the back of the head. That gets two. Airplane spin to a Samoan drop gets two. Nick looks at Foley like he's counting too slow. This allows Stamboli to flick open his switchblade. Mick gets between him and Nick and tells him to give it up. Dinsmore slides to the floor and gets a steel chair. He returns to the ring as Stamboli is giving up the knife. He walks right into a blatant chair shot. Foley stares at Dinsmore dumbfounded. They argue. Foley has gone out of his way for Dinsmore and he goes and does this. Foley is forced to disqualify him and give the match to Stamboli. Foley then makes Dinsmore shake hands with Johnny. He does so begrudgingly, then kicks Stamboli in the nuts and DDT's him. Dinsmore slides out of the ring and walks off while Foley yells at him. Foley grabs the chair and follows. He catches up to Dinsmore and he turns to see Foley. He dares him to hit him. The crowd cheers for him to. Mick doesn't and Nick leaves. (basic idea from Mathew)
Match Rating: 72%

The entire JBL Corporation comes out with him, but the referee tells them to get to the back. They refuse. Jake Roberts then comes out with Lucifer in hand and scares all of them to the back. JBL dives into the ring thinking he's safe and walks into a rana from Rey. Mysterio controls early with his high flying offense, but JBL catches him on a cross body for a fall away slam and takes over. Power slam gets two. Back breaker gets two. JBL misses an elbow drop. Rey goes arm dragging. Bradshaw bails to the floor. Rey hits a springboard swanton out onto him. He works JBL over with forearms. JBL fights back with right hands and gives Rey a big boot. He bundles him back into the ring, but Rey hits his feet and bounces off the opposite ropes to meet Bradshaw as he enters with a running knee lift. JBL gets caught in the ropes and they do the old Memphis rope a dope bit. Rey hits a flying forearm to flip Bradshaw completely over on his head. Rey gets a modified 619 to knock JBL back in the ring and Drops the Dime for the win. He gets the title shot at No Way Out. Rey jumps on the nearest second turnbuckle and celebrates. JBL recovers to pull the money clip out of his trunks and brains Mysterio with it. He stands over him and curses to close the show.
Match Rating: 65%

Show Rating: 72%

Royal Rumble for 1.22.06

Doug and Danny Basham isolate Terry Funk and beat him down. Funk slugs back and makes the hot tag to Stevie Richards. Stevie kick to Doug. Stevie-T to Danny. Funk asks for the tag back so he can hit the Funker-sult. Stevie tags him. Funk misses and Danny rolls him up while Doug fights with Stevie. They leave as champs. Funk yells at Richards. Stevie yells back. Funk turns to walk away then sucker punches Richards. (from William)
Match Rating: 76%

Big Show comes out in his standard ring attire, it's just colored like a referee's striped shirt. Stephanie McMahon offers Shane her hand and calls for a truce. He shakes his head no. Steph says ok and kicks him in the balls. Show warns her. Steph beats down her brother. She backslides him for two. Shane kicks her in the stomach and hits a swinging neckbreaker. He gets a dancing elbow drop. He goes up top. Stephanie runs into the corner to shake the ring. Shane crotches himself. She superplexes him into the ring. It gets two. Steph pulls Shane up and whips him to the far corner. Shane reverses. He charges and eats an elbow. Stephanie drops to pin him with her feet on the ropes. Show catches her and calls off the pin. Stephanie yells at Show at pokes her finger in his chest. Oh, she touched the referee. Show choke slams her. Shane lands a top rope leg drop and pins his sister. He dances. Show shrugs and dances with him.
Match Rating: 75%

Ron Killings tries to attack Christian before the bell with his clock so it won't count as a disqualification, but Christian catches him and they brawl. Killings bails to the floor for a breather. Christian follows him out. He tries to attack from behind, but Ron sidesteps him. A drop toehold sends Christian into the ring stairs. Killings rolls back into the ring and takes the count out win. The referee in the ring signals to the referee on the stage that Killings takes a fall. He asks Trish for an article of clothing. She removes her boots and puts them through a slot in the cage. Killing goes back to the floor. He tries to power slam Christian on the stairs, but he slides behind Ron and goes for the Unprettier. Killings blocks and shoves Christian off. Christian turns and jumps at Ron with a high knee, but he dodges and Christian nails his knee into the ring post. Ron rolls him in the ring and works over the knee. Christian is in a knee bar for a good five minutes before he submits. Trish gives up her shirt. The referee forces Killings to break the move to start the next fall. Christian goes to the floor this time and is limping badly. Killings follows and dives to take out the knee. Christian slugs Killings in the gut from his knees. Christian gets a spin kick on Killings, but collapses. Double count out. That counts as a fall for Ron though since he didn't purposely get himself counted out. Trish takes off the undershirt. Christian crawls into the ring ahead of Killings and catches him sliding under the ropes with a double axe handle. He pounds on Killings' back and then locks him in a camel clutch. Christian can't get a submission, but he can eat time. Killings taps out. The referees confer. A fall for Christian doesn't count as anything, but does count as a fall. So that means Christian should let the hold go. The in ring ref tries to make him let go of the move. Christian has tunnel vision and doesn't listen. The referee counts to five and then is forced to DQ Christian. (from Mathew) Trish has to lose her pants. Christian finally lets go, but has the match in hand now. Christian goes to the top rope, but the bad knee slows him down. Killings grabs his clock. Christian comes off the top rope and is bashed in the head with the clock. That's a DQ for Christian. The referee on the stage hands Trish back her undershirt. However, Ron gets a pin off of the clock shot. (from Mathew) She gives the shirt back. Ron laughs and nails a leg drop with Christian still out. That's a pin. Trish takes her bra off, but covers her breasts with her arms. (from Mathew) There is under two minutes left. Killings taunts Trish from the ring. He then goes to drop an elbow on Christian, but he rolls out of the way. Bull dog. Face jam. Unprettier. Christian sits in the corner and watches the clock tick down. Killings comes around with time quickly running out. He hits a broncobuster. Fisherman's suplex gets two. Spear gets two. Baldo bomb gets two. Death Valley Driver gets two. Piledriver gets two. Killings can't believe it. Christian won't give up. Time's up. Trish forgets herself and jumps up and down to celebrate, flashing the crowd. They cheer, which reminds her she's topless and she covers up. The referee gives her her clothes back. Ron Killings argues with them both about the time being off. Christian hugs Trish. He apologizes for not doing better, but she kisses him and says he did just fine. He's still the IC champion and she still has her panties on.
Match Rating: 56%

The Angles wait in the ring for the Masked Marvels to arrive. Lita comes out alone with the tag belts over her shoulders. A puff of smoke fills the ring and the champs appear behind them. They get the drop on them. Kurt eventually pokes Ultimo Dragon in the eye through his mask and goes to work on him. Eric and Kurt works quick tags and focus on Dragon's ankle. Kurt scores the ankle lock. Dragon rolls through it and throws Kurt into the turnbuckles. Eric runs into the ring to cut off the tag to La Parka. While the referee tries to get him out of the ring, Angle decks Dragon with the medal. Angle Slam gets the win. We have new tag champs.
Match Rating: 79%

Rock and Batista have a classic power match. Batista uses his brawn to lock Rock in a full nelson and then rakes his face across the cage. Batista gets him up for the Demon Bomb, but Rock punches out, makes his feet and hits the snap DDT. He catapults Batista into the cage then climbs. Batista chases him up. They both reach the top and brawl. Rock lines Batista up for the Rock Bottom. He loses his footing. Batista leaps off the cage while transitioning into the Demon Bomb. They hit the mat and bounce a good five feet in the air. Both men are out. Batista crawls for the door. He's hanging half out when the Rock grabs his foot. Rock flips him over on his back. Batista cracks him in the face with his foot. Rock lets go and Batista does a backwards flip out of the door and to the floor. Batista wins. Rock lays in the ring staring at the lights beaten and bloody. He pounds the mat and steams.
Match Rating: 78%

Billy Kidman beats down AJ Styles then tags Torrie in for a few minutes here and there just to kick him. Kidman stalls on the Shooting Star Press and Styles manages to Frankensteiner him off the top. He sets up the Styles Clash, but Wilson runs into the ring and attacks Styles from behind. The ref forces her to the apron. Styles then drags the out Kidman over to his corner and makes his limp arm tag Torrie. Torrie doesn't want to enter and holds firmly on the ropes. Styles whips her in. Nails the Styles Clash and pins her. AJ is the new Cruiserweight Champion.
Match Rating: 75%

Due to Randy Orton and Abyss being in the Rumble and Danny Inferno watching Victoria, Triple H has to go it alone. Vader has Ric Flair and Barry Windham with him. Triple H protests. Vader clobbers him from behind. Triple H begs off. Vader choke lifts him. He throws him around the ring like a rag doll. Hunter bails to the floor, but winds up between Windham and Flair. He begs off from them by going back to the ring. He backs into Vader who body slams him. He goes up for the Vader bomb. Triple H rolls to the floor and he misses. Windham rushes for a big boot, but Hunter ducks and he nails Flair. Hunter body slams Windham on the ring stairs. Vader body presses out. Hunter dodges and he slams into the ring wall. Triple H brings Vader up and pounds on him. He labors to get him back in the ring. He lines up the Pedigree. Vader back drops out. Vader misses a leg drop. High knee. Face breaker. Pedigree retains the RAW Brand title.
Match Rating: 51%

Joey Styles and Tazz on commentary preview all the men who are entered in the upcoming Rumble when they are cut off by something going on in the back. The cameras cut to Kane and Booker T already going at it. Since it's a Harlem Street Fight the match can start anywhere and go anywhere (from Mathew). Kane whips Booker T into a Coke machine. He charges for a big boot, but Booker dodges and he plows into the machine and knocks it over. Booker flies over Kane's head on a side kick. Kane lines up the Tombstone piledriver on the overturned pop machine. Booker wiggles out and gets under Kane to backdrop him off the machine to the floor. Booker lands the scissors kick coming off the machine for two. They fight into a kitchen area. Pots and pans get used. Booker T goes for the scissors kick again. Kane opens a refrigerator door and Booker plows into it. Kane puts Booker T on a cart and wheels him out to the entrance stage. He shoves him down the ramp. The cart upends at the end of the ramp and Booker T smacks the floor. Kane military presses Booker T and throws him into the ring over the ropes. He climbs the turnbuckles from the outside. Flying clothesline. Tombstone finishes.
Match Rating: 61%

For Mathew, Michael Buffer has been hired as the special guest ring announcer. Let's get ready to rumble! Everyone knows Brock Lesnar is one, but is surprises to see Chris Jericho at two. They go at it. Brock bridges up to break the Walls of Jericho and then goes for the F5. Jericho grabs the ropes to hold on. Brock just flips his legs over to dump him, but he holds on to skin the cat back in. Sandman is number three and obliterates a kendo stick over Brock's head. He no sells it. Brock beats him down. Luckily for him Raven is out next. They double team Brock and try to dump him, but Jericho saves. They all pair off. Sean O'Haire is next. He power bombs Raven, Sandman and Jericho then goes nose to nose with Brock. They have a test of strength. It ends in a stalemate when the other three men attack to break them up. O'Haire throws out Sandman. William Regal is next and goes after Raven. Raven blocks a hip toss with a thumb to the eye and throws Regal out. Jericho charges to take a shoulder in the chest. Raven flips him out, but he lands on the apron and rolls back in. Tajiri is seventh. He gives Raven the Tarantula. Brock clotheslines Raven while he's prone and knocks both men to the floor. Brent Albright comes out to "Rumble in Brighton" by the Stray Cats (from Mathew). He gets the Q-Bert on Brock after an O'Haire power slam, then locks him in the Bitchin' Gnarly. Charlie Haas drops in from the ceiling. He tosses Jericho, but he hangs on again. He works Jericho over in the Dark Haas of Pain, but O'Haire breaks. He tosses Haas, but he hangs onto the ropes and slingshots back in for a cross body on O'Haire. Brock powers out of the Bitchin's Gnarly and tries to throw Brent, but he lands the Flux Capacitor. He tries to get Brock up to eliminate him, but Haas nails him from behind and goes after Brock himself. Chris Sabin is in and helps Haas double team Brent. Jericho breaks. They all pair off.

Scott Taylor is next, but refuses to get into the ring. He stalls for time. Rosey is next and drags Taylor into the ring. Scott pulls the top rope down and O'Haire hits him from behind for the elimination. Taylor then extends his hand to O'Haire. He takes it, pulls Taylor on his back and drops him over the ropes to the floor. Rhyno is next and Gores everything moving. He barks for somebody new. He gets Matt Cappotelli who just gets Gored and tossed. Everyone starts coming around, so Rhyno Gores them all again and barks for someone else. Someone better than Cappotelli. He gets Abyss. Rhyno tries to Gore him, but he catches him and swings him out over the ropes to the floor. Abyss eliminates Sabin, O'Haire and Albright. He picks Haas up, but he tries to bite him. Abyss drops him and backs off. He backs right into Brock. They brawl. Haas works over Jericho. Afa, Jr. is next and teams up with Jericho against Haas. Brock gets Abyss up for the F5, but he drops out of it and gets the Black Hole Slam. He comes along and dumps Jericho and Afa trying to bundle out Haas. Afa hits the floor, but Haas and Y2J land on the apron. Carlito is next and blinds everyone with apple spittle. Cool Down to Jericho. Carlito's Way to Haas. Brock and Abyss wipe their faces and team up for a double suplex on Carlito. They put Carlito up on their shoulders, toss him in the air and he splats to the outside. Jeff Hardy is out next and comes in with a swanton to Jericho. They brawl. Abyss and Brock go back at it. Haas takes a breather in the corner. He gets a dance partner when Paul London comes out. Random brawling until Sabu at number 20. He has the steel chair wrapped in barbed wire. He clubs everyone down and they are all bleeding. Hardy runs for him, Sabu winds up and nails him like Barry Bonds on a homerun. Hardy flies to the floor. Haas knee clips Sabu. He puts the chair on top of Sabu and leg drops it on him.

Jamie Noble is 21 and helps out Sabu with Haas. Jericho is out. Brock and Abyss keep fighting. Conway is in. He tosses Jericho, but he holds on again. Sabu holds up the barbed wire chair and Conway dropkicks it to nail him in the face. Sabu falls to the floor. Matt Morgan comes in. He gives Brock a breather by going after Abyss. Conway fights Haas. Jericho fights London. Tommy Dreamer is next. The Dream Weavers try to get London out, but he holds on tight. "Well…it's the Big Show." Big Show wades into the pile working on London and just upends the whole mess. London, Noble and Dreamer are gone. Jericho holds on and crawls back into the ring. Show tosses Conway and Morgan. He and Abyss look at each other then go at it. They fight on the ropes and wind up eliminating each other (from Mathew). They brawl to the back. Shelton Benjamin sprints to the ring, Cactus clotheslines Haas to take them both out and they brawl off through the crowd. We're back to just Brock and Jericho who wearily go at it. Gangrel is a little too late at 27. He drinks from his chalice and sprays Jericho and Brock with blood. He beats on both. He tries to toss Jericho, but lands on the apron and clings to the ropes. Gangrel tries to kick him off the apron. Randy Orton is next. He hits the RKO on a still blinded Lesnar, but can't quite get him out. He asks Gangrel for help. Gangrel comes over and then tries to double cross Orton by tossing him. Orton throws him out. He then turns his attentions to Jericho. Robert Lashley is out. He goes after Brock and they fight. Orton works over Jericho. Jimmy Snuka, Jr. is the last man. He points at Orton as he walks out. Orton gets scared and tries to hide in the corner. Snuka goes after him and they fight. Snuka goes up top for a splash on Orton. Lashley whips Brock into the corner and that knocks Snuka, Jr. out. Orton tries to RKO Lashley, but he shoves him out of it into Brock. Brock gets a release overhead belly to belly to get rid of him. Lashley clotheslines Jericho over the ropes, but he skins the cat again. Lashley goes for the Whiplash on Lesnar, but he elbows out. A beaten, spit up on and bloody Brock military presses Lashley to a huge pop and throws him to the floor. We stared with Lesnar and Jericho and end with them. Lesnar gets Jericho up for the F5, but he holds onto the ropes again. Lesnar flips him over again. Jericho of course holds on. However, Lesnar was expecting that and hits a baseball slide to the ribs. Jericho is holding on by one hand. Lesnar does it again. Jericho hangs on. Lesnar just starts pounding Jericho with punches to the side. Jericho lets go and drops. Brock Lesnar wins the Royal Rumble!
Match Rating: 74%

Show Rating: 69%

RAW for 1.23.06

Triple H comes out to the ring with Evolution in tow to celebrate his retaining of the RAW Brand Title the night before at the Royal Rumble. He's not sure if Vader went off to the retirement home or the fat farm, but it doesn't matter. He played the Game and he lost. Triple H continues to put himself over and run down Vader. The fans start chanting for Brock Lesnar. Hunter tells them to stuff it. We all know that Brock Lesnar is too scared to face Triple H at Wrestlemania for the RAW Title. He'll run to Smackdown to take their title by facing Kane, who ran off of RAW too. Brock's music then hits and he comes out. Hunter smirks as Brock glares at him. If he's supposed to be intimidated, he's not. If he's supposed to be scared, he's not. If he's supposed…Brock grabs the microphone from him. The only thing he wants him to do is shut the hell up. That gets a crowd pop. Brock gave himself the greatest challenge he could think of. He entered the Royal Rumble number one, out lasted 29 other men and was the one standing tall at the end of it. He's on top of the mountain, not Triple H. Now it's his decision who he wants to pull up on top of the mountain with him. Yes, he has been asked to Smackdown to meet with the new general manager there this week. He'll listen, but it has to be an awfully good pitch to make him give up the chance to break his foot off in Triple H's ass! Brock spikes the mic down and walks out.
Segment Rating: 73%

Gail Kim cheers on Chris Sabin as he battle with Greg Valentine. Molly Holly appears on the entrance stage to watch the match. Kim sees her and goes up to meet her. She tells her to go to the back and leave her man alone. Molly says her man is talking to her. They get into a shoving match. Sabin tries to leave the ring, but Valentine catches him and gives him a big chop across the chest. He body slams Sabin and signals for the figure four. As he twists the leg around, Sabin grabs his head and small packages him for the pin. Molly and Gail disappear to the back and Sabin follows.
Match Rating: 59%

Sabin breaks the women up. He says there is enough of him to go around. Molly says she doesn't want him and turns her back. Gail says she doesn't want him and turns her back. They then sneak a peak at each other and go back to brawling. Sabin breaks them up. Gail Kim challenges Molly Holly to a Great Lakes Title shot for next week. She says bring her rule book and she'll bring hers.
Segment Rating: 71%

Mick Foley meets up with Nick Dinsmore. He wants to know what that was all about last night. Dinsmore says that Stamboli put his brother in the hospital. He might never wrestle again. Hell, he might never lead any sort of normal life again. Not that Eugene ever did lead a normal life. He was always different, but he was his brother and it's his job to always protect him. If Mick wants to stand in the way of that he has no use for him. Mick says there are rules in the wrestling ring. Nick says that never stopped him. He's seen all of Eugene's wrestling tapes. The great Mick Foley jumping off of cages and landing flat on his back on a bed of thumbtacks or an exploding board. Mick says that was different, those were specific types of matches. Then give him one like that. Mick says he can't, WWE doesn't sanction death matches. Nick scoffs. Just like last night, he's a pussy. Nick stalks away.
Segment Rating: 75%

Christopher Nowinski has Shelton Benjamin in the Hung Jury (hanging neckbreaker). Benjamin flips out, locks Nowinki in an inverted full nelson and suplexes him out of it. Firebomb finishes.
Match Rating: 72%

Shelton walks up the ramp when the lights go out and the Titantron flickers to life. The Brood is shown standing in a cemetery. Edge tells Benjamin that there is no turning back. He'll either join the Brood by choice like Charlie Haas did or by force. It doesn't matter, because everyone becomes one of them in the end. He can delay the inevitable, but his soul is already damned. Edge motions behind him and the group parts to reveal a headstone with Shelton's name on it.
Segment Rating: 81%

Danny Inferno wheels Victoria out on the cart he used to use for Randy Orton's bingo tumbler during the RKO Legends' Challenge. She is still locked in the straightjacket. She rocks and sings to herself. Inferno carries her into the ring and takes off the restraint. Victoria goes wild and attacks Nikki Fuller. Fuller uses her strength to punch Victoria down and fight back, but she keeps coming at her like…well, a crazy woman. Trish Stratus is at ringside holding baby Shelly. Inferno starts talking to Trish and making rude gestures. Nikki makes Victoria eat boot on a blind charge and side slams her. She hits the floor behind Inferno. He turns around to take a shot to the mouth. He turns around and staggers into the chick kick. Nikki jumps on the apron. Victoria catches her and suplexes her in. Widow's Peak finishes. She goes after Trish and chases her to the back.
Match Rating: 58%

Ron Killings meets up with the Rock in the back. Killings laughs to himself. Rock asks him what is so funny. Nothing. Rock will tell him what's funny. What's funny is last night when Ron Killings couldn't get the job done by getting a pair of panties off of a woman. He's sure it's not the first time. Killings scowls. Well, what he was laughing about was how the Rock got his candy ass handed to him by a man who just a few months ago was having his daddy squeeze his morning orange juice for him. Rock tells him to bring it. No you bring it. Oh, it's been broughten. Oh, yeah, well Killings is bringing twice as much. Yeah. Yeah! They then walk off with nothing happening.
Segment Rating: 87%

Eric Angle, La Parka and Rob Conway square off in a triple threat match. Conway has Eric in an ankle lock and is cranking it on. Kurt on the outside pulls out La Parka and gives him the Angle Slam. Lita runs over and jumps on Angle's back. Angle bucks her off. Sean O'Haire chases him around the ring. The referee yells at them. Eric pulls Kurt's medal out of his unitard and smacks Rob in the head with it. Angle Plex gets the win.
Match Rating: 77%

Ric Flair finds Batista in the back. He congratulates him on the win against the Rock at the Royal Rumble. Batista thanks him. Flair is proud of him. He's become his own man in such a short time. He's no longer a follower, he's a leader. Ric Flair wants Batista to come into FATE and lead them. He's the man to get them back on track. He's the man to put an end to the tyranny of Evolution and Triple H. Ric used to tell him what to do, so he's not telling him here, he's asking. Batista asks him to think about it.
Segment Rating: 91%

Triple H defeats Stan Lane with the Pedigree. He celebrates with his title belt post match.
Match Rating: 55%

Show Rating: 69%

Lita will be out 2 months with an ankle injury

Who should be the new general manager of Smackdown? Choose from the following candidates:
Jake Roberts
Ted Dibiase
Tazz
Shane McMahon
Mick Foley
Paul Heyman
Jimmy Snuka, Sr.
Jim Cornette
Bill Alphonso
Vince Russo
Steve Austin
Bret Hart
Roddy Piper
Percy Pringle/Paul Bearer
Diamond Dallas Page

Smackdown card for next week, choose all winners

Chris Jericho vs. Scott Taylor

Sandman (with Raven) vs. Sabu (with Tommy Dreamer)

Doug Basham vs. Stevie Richards

Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio vs. John Bradshaw Layfield and Johnny Kashmere

AJ Styles vs. Paul London for the WWE Cruiserweight Title

The Unknown vs. Akio

Billy Kidman vs. Shark Boy

Jamie Noble vs. JC Ice

Booker T and Big Show vs. The Light (Idol and Follower)

EZ Money vs. Chris Hero

Matt Hardy and John Cena have an official binding contract signing for No Way Out

Plus, Royal Rumble Winner Brock Lesnar will be in the house to meet with the new Smackdown GM, who will be announced at the start of the show by Linda McMahon.

RAW for next week, choose all winners

The Rock vs. Ron Killings vs. Randy Orton vs. Batista for a shot at the IC title

The Angles (Kurt and Eric) vs. Masked Marvels (Dragon and La Parka) for the RAW Brand Tag Titles

Shelton Benjamin vs. Gangrel and Charlie Haas in a handicap match

Brent Albright vs. Edge

Danny Inferno and Victoria vs. Trish Stratus and Nikki Fuller

Molly Holly vs. Gail Kim for the WWE Great Lakes Title

Nick Dinsmore vs. Afa, Jr.

Jimmy Snuka, Jr. vs. David Flair

Chad Wicks vs. Zach Gowen

Johnny Jeter vs. Rob Conway

Sean O'Haire vs. Matt Cappotelli

Alexis Laree vs. Miss Jackie

No Way Out card at this time, do not vote yet

Kane vs. Rey Mysterio for the Smackdown Brand Title

John Cena vs. Matt Hardy for the US Title

Tommy Dreamer and Sabu vs. Raven and Sandman in a hardcore losers leaves town tornado tag match