August 2004

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #994
Taped: Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Air Date: Saturday, August 7, 2004
Special 3 Hour Edition of RAGE

From the Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Attendance; 6,092


Opening Segment;
The announce crew, Joe Aiello, Linley Tolbert, & Steven Regal welcome us back to RCW Rage and to part 2 of the Night of Champions 2.

In the ring is standing Commissioner Bob Backlund, and flanking him a step behind is head referee Buddy Lane to one side, and referee Jimmy Appleseed on the other.

We are reminded of how last week's part 1 ended, with Team Extreme winning both the NWA & RCW tag belts from the Spinebusters when Jimmy Appleseed came down to ringside and replaced Buddy Lane.

We see the Spinebusters who are eagerly standing beside the ring, one hand on middle strand as if ready to rush the ring, their title belts noticeably absent. We see no sign of Team Extreme and are told by the announcers that they are believed to have left the building. The announce crew tell us that Backlund and the refs have been conferring for about 10 minutes over the decision. A short break was given in the evening's festivities so Backlund could then go and confer with NWA officials.

Backlund] Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your patience. After careful review with both RCW and NWA officials the following decision has been rendered. RCW has a clear decision making process that allows for referee decisions to stand, and for an alternate referee to replace the referee of record if needed. Therefore, it is the decision of the RCW championship committee, that the record stands; Team Extreme are your new River City Tag Team Champions!!

The crowd actually boo's the decision and the Spinebusters are going nuts on the outside but Backlund waves them off and tells them to stay put as he has more to say.

Backlund] Furthermore after talks with the NWA officials it is clear that the NWA has very similar rules in this regard as does RCW. However, the NWA does stipulate that all NWA matches must be presided over by an NWA approved official. RCW has two referees that have been certified by the NWA board to officiate over NWA World title matches. The first official is Buddy Lane, the official of record tonight. The second official is veteran official Jurgen Hermann. Therefore, while the match result stands, the NWA does not recognize the match as a title match as it was not presided over in finality by an approved official. The Spinebusters remain the NWA World Tag Team Champions!!

This draws a mixture of cheers and jeers. The Spinebusters celebrate and embrace outside the ring.

Backlund] The NWA head office also has a message for Team Extreme. You have until the next RCW TV taping to bring back the NWA World Tag Team Title belts and to hand them to me. That taping unfortunately isn't until August 18th. At that taping we will hold a rematch between Team Extreme and The Spinebusters and once again both sets of belts will be on the line. But, Carson and Germany, if you fail to show up or to hand over your belts, you will face a lifetime ban from all NWA sanctioned events.


Opening Bout
RCW Heritage Championship Match
Vincent Regliatti (c) v Ken Shamrock
Shamrock goes right after the young champion who immediately grabs some air sticking his head through the ropes. Referee Jurgen Hermann steps in to back Shamrock away.
Forced into action Regs is taken down by Shamrock with a legsweep. The World's Most Dangerous Man goes to work with forearms, fists, and elbows. But when Shamrock goes for a kneebar the champion blocks it. The two then take turns blocking and countering, and they break, with Regs having earned a bit more respect from Shamrock.
Shamrock is able to score with punches and slaps but Regs is able to avoid any big moves. Then the champion has his turn on offense with a Russian legsweep and a back suplex. Regs resorts to a chokehold and is forced to break it at the count of 5.
Shamrock is really pissed off now and fires back full force. He nails a legsweep, armbar takedown, a pair of spin kicks, and an armbreaker.
The champ flees the ring but Shamrock follows right after him. He runs the champ shoulder first into the ringpost and then throws him back inside.
Regs though catches Shamrock with a boot to the stomach and then goes to work with a double underhook faceslam, and a Canadian backbreaker. Shamrock counters a DDT attempt with a backdrop.
Ron Waterman comes down to ringside.
The two men exchange the advantage several more times inside the ring before the match once again dumps to the outside. Shamrock gains control and runs the champ into the ringsteps and guardrail.
Ken Shamrock is in the zone now.
Shamrock goes for a clothesline but Regs ducks it, and then counters a Yakuza kick attempt with a legsweep. He takes Shamrock back down with a DDT and is now in control of the match. He takes a couple seconds out to taunt Waterman at ringside.
Regs punishes Shamrock with kicks and then a piledriver which gives only a 1 count. He whips Shamrock into the corner and goes slamming in, but Shamrock lifts his legs and feeds his knees to the champ. Shamrock hits a snap suplex but then has another kick attempt countered with a dragon screw. Regs then locks on a blatant chokehold. Hermann counts to 5 and Regs releases it only to reapply it again. Regs sends Shamrock to the ropes and then backdrops him high into the air. He lifts Shamrock back up and powers him down with his Centerfold Staple (brainbuster) finisher. He covers and gets 1, 2, Ron Waterman reaches in and drapes Shamrock's foot over the bottom rope. Hermann sees it just in time and calls for the break.
Regs goes to send Shamrock to the buckle but it's reversed and then Shamrock follows up with a Frankensteiner. Shamrock locks on the ankle lock but he's too close to the ropes and the champ reaches the bottom strand after only a few seconds of pain.
The match switches gears back to a punching contest which Regs can't win, so he delivers a thumb to the eye instead, followed by a knee to the groin that was missed by long-time inept official Jurgen Hermann.
Regliatti nails a tilt-a-whirl suplex and gets 1, 2, kickout by Shamrock. The champ calls for the Centerfold Staple again and once more Ron Waterman decides to help Shamrock. This time he reaches under the bottom rope and grabs a hold of the ankle of Regliatti and trips him down to the ground. This time though his actions are spotted by Jurgen Hermann who calls for the bell.
Vincent Regliatti defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification due to outside interference at 15:30
[Vincent Regliatti retained the RCW Heritage Title]

Post-Match:
As could be expected once Shamrock had revived and figured out what happened he was very upset with Waterman. The two exchanged heated words and left it at that with each man walking separately to the back.


Bout #2
WCW v RCW
Brandon Myers (WCW)  v Jack Voight (RCW)
It was like 1999 all over again for this much anticipated clash of former WWA/PWA greats.
Myers controlled early and got a kneelock submission that forced Voight to the ropes. A diving shoulderblock followed by a half-Boston and Myers was looking good. The two men exchange punches and chops, and slowly Voight gets back into this. The fans are solidly behind Myers.
Voight hits a bodyslam but can't get much going and Myers strikes again with a kneelock submission attempt. A jumping DDT and Myers goes for the cover but only gets a 2 count.
Voight fights back, but once again Myers ends a short flurry and then puts Voight in a bow-and-arrow submission. Voight's frustration level is rising quickly. Voight fights back once again, this time though it's a lariat attempt that is countered by Myers into an armbar submission. Voight is growing tired already.
"the Extreme" gains his first sustained advantage of the match with a facerake, an earringer, belly-to-belly suplex, and a cobra clutch. Myers gets to the corner for the break and then Voight stands him up against the turnbuckle and goes to work, including nailing a lowblow. Voight covers but only gets a 2 count.
The former IPW Europe star sets up Myers for a fallaway slam only to have it countered with a forearm smash followed by a faceslam. The match spills to the outside and this is where Voight has a distinct advantage. He goes to work on Myers, hotshotting his throat off the top of the guardrail, and then suplexing him against the edge of the ring apron.
Back inside the German goes to work with a roundhouse right, inverted powerbomb, and a backspin DDT. He goes for the cover but somehow Myers manages to kick out at 2.
The match continues for a few more minutes at a more even handed pace. Voight almost gets the win when he follows up an inverted powerslam with a tombstone piledriver, but Myers sticks his foot under the bottom rope for the break. Voight applies the clawhold but Myers punches his way out of it. Myers picks the pace up a lot with a pair of back heel kicks, followed by a faceslam, another back heel kick, and then another faceslam. Voight staggers to his feet only to fall flat, facedown a second later on his own accord.
Myers hits a spinning elbowdrop and gets a 2 count. Myers sends Voight to the ropes but the German ducks a clothesline attempt and puts Myers into a bearhug. It works to wear down Myers while giving himself a bit of a reprieve. Voight takes Myers down with a legsweep faceslam, and then works him over after draping him across the 2nd rope. He leaves the ring and takes a running charge, and elbows Myers right in the skull as he lays across the middle strand.
Back inside Voight nails a spinebuster slam, and goes for the pin. But he doesn't hook a leg or even lie down, he sits up, and it allows Myers to raise an arm at the count of 2. Voight scoops up Myers for a slam but the cagey WCW star counters with a cradle and nearly gets the 3 count. Both men scramble to their feet. Myers blocks a Voight attempt to kick, and spins him around full circle, nailing him with a springboard bulldog. Myers locks in the cobra clutch and referee Melissa Coates lifts Voight's arm 3 times, and it falls 3 times.
Brandon Myers defeats Jack Voight by submission with the cobra clutch at 18:29

Post-Match:
Myers has his arm raised by Coates, and when he turns to leave the ring finds himself suddenly propelled in the air by a charging Kai Hanson. Myers is knocked down hard onto his back. Hanson stomps away and then whips Myers across the ring to a waiting Dan Severn who puts Myers down with a DDT, and then locks in the STF. Myers is out cold and Severn is trying to tear his muscles away from bone. Finally Bill Goldberg rushes the ring and the Germans take off.



Classic RCW Wrestling:
RAGE September 27/03: Night of Champions
NWA World Tag Team Championship Match
The Dreadknocks (Ratt & Scavenger) (NWA World champions)
v
Great Canadians (Eric Scott & Vincent Regliatti) (RCW Champions)
The Dreadknocks were a house of fire, showing that they have been a tag team for many years. They kept the action in their half of the ring and made frequent tags. The Spinebusters came down to ringside to watch and cheered on the NWA champs. They taunted the Great Canadians by taking the RCW tag titles off the announce table and trying them on for size. Finally the Canadians made a comeback in the match with some dirty tactics, including a devastating stuffed piledriver on Ratt. This drew the ire of the Spinebusters who jumped on the ring apron to complain. Referee Jimmy Appleseed came over to get the 'busters to leave the ring area, but they argued with him, and then Orth hotshoted Appleseed's throat across the top strand.
With Appleseed out of commission the Spinebusters went and grabbed a chair which they were going to pass to Scavenger, to help him fend off the 2 on 1, since Ratt was still out from the piledriver. But instead they feignted the chair pass and tossed it up to a surprised looking Scott who then hammered Scavenger across the head. Appleseed recoverd, and he counted, 1, 2, but somehow Scavenger managed to drape a foot over the bottom rope. The Great Canadians did their best to hold off the champions' momentum but the Dreadknocks were too strong and took back control of the match. After throwing Regliatti out of the ring the Dreadknocks pulled a doomsday device out of their bag to finish off the challengers.
[The Dreadknocks defeated the Great Canadians by pinfall after the Doomsday Device at 10:52]
[The Dreadknocks retained the NWA World Titles]
Post-Match:
Despite trying to help the Canadians win the titles, the Spinebusters returned to the ring and attacked the RCW champions from behind after the Dreadknocks had left the ring. They laid them out, and in a repeat from last week, used the title belts to knock them down again. And like last week, they laid the belts gently onto the chest of the fallen champs.


Bout #3
#1 Contenders Match for the RCW Tag Titles
Diamond Rhodes (/w Paisley) & Bam Bam Bigelow (/w Tylene Buck) v Sam Holiday & Al Hardamann
Holiday and Bigelow get this one started by locking up. Holiday tries to bodyslam Bigelow, but he can't get him up fast enough and the big man rakes Holiday's eyes. Bigelow elbows Holiday and then devastates him with a powerbomb and almost gets an early 3 count.
Bigelow is trying to end this one early. He nails a powerslam, but Holiday lifts a shoulder at 2. He nails a moonsault but Holiday snakes a foot out over the bottom rope at 2.
Holiday fights back with a backbody drop, and a lariat on the way to tag in Hardamann.
Hardamann makes the same mistake as his teammate, going for a reverse neckbreaker but the big man blocks it and rakes the face of Hardamann. Rhodes is tagged in and Diamonds & Rust use the opportunity for a double clothesline.
Hardamann fights back against Rhodes gaining back control with a hotshot and a clothesline knocking Rhodes out of the ring and into the arms of an adoring Paisley.
Rhodes continues to have his problems with Hardamann so he tags in Bigelow. The tide is turned once again by a double team, this time a double dropkick by the large duo of Rhodes and Bigelow. Hardamann holds his own though and when he tags out to Holiday they return the favour with their own double dropkick.
Biglelow though gains control over Holiday and gets another nearfall after a Gorilla Slam. Headbutts and a back suplex follow by Bigelow. The Beast from the East throws Holiday out of the ring where Rhodes works him over while Paisley and Tylene Buck get in the way of a save attempt by Al Hardamann. Back inside Bigelow now has total control over Holiday.
Bigelow nails a pair of running clotheslines and then tags in Rhodes. Hardamann tries to get into the action but he's dealt with by the referee allowing more double teaming on Holiday.
Rhodes makes the mistake of telegraphing a backdrop and Holiday makes him pay with a knee to the head. Holiday fires away with an elbow and then nails a jawbreaker. He tags in Hardamann and then double team Rhodes with a double lariat. When Bigelow tries to interfere and is being escorted out of the ring by referee Jimmy Appleseed they nail another double team move, this time a double powerbomb.
Hardamann takes Rhodes to the top turnbuckle and then brings him down most unsportsmanlike with a belly-to-belly superplex. Instead of going for the pin he positions Rhodes and then makes the tag to Holiday. While Sam Holiday climbs the top rope, Al Hardamann heads across ring to take out Bigelow who was already climbing through the ropes. Holiday comes off the top rope with the Holiday legdrop and gets the 3 count while Hardamann keeps Paisley and Buck from trying to enter the ring.
Sam Holiday & Al Hardamann defeated Diamond Rhodes & Bam Bam Bigelow by pinfall when Holiday pinned Rhodes after the Holiday Legdrop at 12:47



RCW Classic Wrestling
RAGE September 27/03: Night of Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Nic Cross (/w Jenna Jameson) (NWA Champion) v Vendetta (RCW Heavyweight Champion)
Nic Cross showed his usual disdain for Mid-America. He complained to the ref about a seam in the mat, and had the ref get down on his knees and look at it. Head referee Buddy Lane was not impressed, and when Cross left the ring Lane began to count him out. Finally the champ got back into the ring only then to complain about the lighting, claiming it was too bright in his eyes. Jenna put a pair of sunglasses on him but Lane made him take them off. The entire time these shenanigans were going on Vendetta stayed calm and loose in his own corner, Finally though he couldn't take it any longer and approached Buddy Lane to speed things up.
This was the opening that Cross had been waiting for and he struck with a finger poke to the eye. He immediately went at Vendetta with a series of kicks and punches, and Lane called for the bell to start the match. The champ again showed his disdain for the heartland by refusing to break out any wrestling moves, instead relying totally on kicks, punches, stomps, slaps, and an occasional eye gouge. At one point he took a breather, lounging across the top turnbuckle while Jenna massaged his shoulders.
Finally though Vendetta struck back. Doubled over from yet another kick to the gut, the Haitian reached out and got under Cross, taking him to the air in a fireman's carry and bringing him down with a flapjack. Both men were down, but Cross was up first at a 7 count. He tried to drag the challenger to his feet with a handful of dreadlocks but the RCW champion retaliated with a punch of his own. On his feet now the challenger delivered several knife edge chops, backing the champ to the corner, before whipping him across the ring with such force that Cross flipped over the top turnbuckle and wrecked on the floor below.
Vendetta took control of the action out of the ring, and then again inside the ring. A couple pin attempts though only brought a 2 count for the challenger. Cross bailed out of the ring and Vendetta pursued. Unwilling though to shove Jenna Jameson out of the way, the pornstar valet shielded her man from the onslaught of the challenger and bought him some time. Vendetta had to retreat to the ring to break the count, and when he left again to go after the champ he was greeted by a stiff right hand. Vendetta dropped like a rock, and Cross passed a pair of brass knux back to his valet.
Cross brought the local champ back into the ring, but instead of pinning him, he taunted him and the fans. By the time he finally did go for the pin on the busted open challenger, he only got a 2 count. Still Cross seemed pretty calm, and after a series of knees to the gut he went for his double underhook finisher. Vendetta though managed to power out of it, backflipping Cross. He then tried to put Cross into the Haitian deathlock but Cross was not as stunned as the challenger thought, and the champ managed to roll across and take Vendetta down and into an ankle lock submission. Vendetta managed to reach the ropes but Cross dragged him back into the center of the ring. Buddy Lane would not allow this though and forced Cross to break the hold with a 5 count. But after a moment's break he reapplied the ankle lock. Vendetta once again crawled to the ropes for the break. Again Cross tried to drag him back into the middle of the ring,but this time the Haitian held onto the bottom rope with both hands, and while Cross held onto one foot, the challenger fed him the other foot to the chest and then again to the face.
The crowd was on their feet as Vendetta nailed Cross with a DDT right in the middle of the ring. As he staggered to his feet Jameson entered the ring once again, but Buddy Lane intercepted her. Vendetta went after the champ but was then struck with a lowblow from Cross. Lane returned to action to see Cross setting up Vendetta for the double underhook piledriver.
But amazingly, for the second time in this match, Vendetta managed to counter by back flipping the champ. This time though Cross managed to hold onto Vendetta and roll him up. He grabbed a handful of tights just to make sure.
[Nic Cross pinned Vendetta after a sunset flip (assisted by a handful of tights) at 18:30]
[Nic Cross retained the NWA Heavyweight Title]



MAIN EVENT #2
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Chris Benoit (c) (NWA World Champion)  v  Vendetta (RCW Heavyweight Champion)
Well Vendetta was unable to capture the title from Nic Cross in 2003 but most of the fans here in St. Paul were hoping to see him succeed in 2004.

The two men met in the middle of the ring for instructions from head referee Buddy Lane, after which they shook hands.

Vendetta took Benoit down with a snapmare, but when he tried for a springboard back elbow the champ countered with a belly-to-back suplex.
Both men feel each other out and go for early pins to no success. Benoit nails the Haitian with a clothesline but when he goes for another it's countered with a hiptoss and then followed up by Vendetta with an Asai leg lariat.
Vendetta nails Benoit with a spear followed by a German suplex into a pin which yields a solid 2 count. Benoit blocks a DDT attempt and goes to kicks to the midsection.

Benoit tosses Vendetta out of the ring and then prevents his re-entry with a baseball slide. He then follows Vendetta outside and goes to work on the challenger with a couple of blasts into the ringsteps. Vendetta though fights back and sends Benoit into the guardrail and then nails a running clothesline which sends the champ over the rail and into the crowd.

Back inside the ring Vendetta maintains the advantage until he goes for another spear which is read well by Benoit who counters with a kneelift. A belly-to-back suplex yields a 2 count for the champ. Benoit then nails a back suplex before the two men trade elbowsmashes, blocks, and more elbows. Benoit sends Vendetta into the ropes but the challenger comes off with a kick to the gut, and then quickly nails a senton to get a nearfall.

Vendetta strikes with kicks, but then Benoit fires back with kicks to the leg of Vendetta taking him down. Benoit continues to attack mostly with kicks and chops, forearms, and the occasional suplex. The advantage trades back and forth a couple more times before Benoit takes over.

The champ nails Vendetta with a bodyslam, chops, elbows, and kneelifts. The match goes outside the ring once more where Vendetta takes control for a scant few seconds. It's Benoit in control again though after a German suplex on the floor. Back inside he nails a shoulderblock and then slaps on the Crippler Crossface. Vendetta though uses his large reach to grab the bottom rope for a break.

Vendetta fights back though and gets a 2 count after a German suplex of his own. However, when he goes for a headbutt Benoit blocks it and then delivers a stunner. Two inverted atomic drops follow from the champ but when he tries to muscle Vendetta to the top turnbuckle he is frustrated by the challenger blocking.

Vendetta goes for a kick, Benoit blocks, but then receives an enzuigiri to the back of the head. Both men are down, but Vendetta is back on his feet first at the 7 count.

The two men continue to wage war with neither man nailing a big enough move to finish the match. Benoit tries a clothesline which is countered by Vendetta with a Gorilla Press Slam. Vendetta puts Benoit in the Haitian deathlock and the champ is in big trouble. It's not the most steady move though and Benoit manages to rock and shake the challenger. This forces Vendetta to stabilize the move by kneeling down. Benoit then reaches Vendetta with a right to the head, followed by a headbutt. Vendetta falls backward, but bridges, maintaining the deathlock. Benoit is in a lot of pain and shifts strategies and slowly makes his way to the ropes. He reaches the ropes after a full minute in the hold.

Vendetta drags Benoit to the middle of the ring and has to support him as Benoit can't stand after the damage inflicted by the deathlock. He brings him up though just so he can drive him back down with a DDT in the middle of the ring. Vendetta reaches down to grab the legs of Benoit, and somehow the champ manages to grab the arm of Vendetta and pull him down. Benoit works the arm until he has Vendetta in the Crippler Crossface. Vendetta manages to power his way to the ropes after about 20 seconds in the hold. Benoit is obviously not anywhere near 100% strength.

Benoit continues the assault with a headbutt followed by a German suplex, which he holds on afterward and then nails a second German, followed by a third. He pauses regaining his bearings before making the pin, and the delay costs him as he only gets a 2 count.

Vendetta is backed against the turnbuckle and lashes out with a series of chops and then a snap suplex on Benoit. Vendetta strikes with chops and kicks, and then whips Benoit into the ropes. Benoit nails Vendetta coming off the ropes with a kick to the gut. He slams Vendetta's head into the top turnbuckle. Benoit bodyslams Vendetta to the mat and then climbs to the 2nd turnbuckle and drops a knee. He covers but only gets a 2 count. Benoit climbs to the top rope but Vendetta gets up in time to catch him perched on top. Benoit though flips himself behind Vendetta, ducks a back elbow, and takes Vendetta over with a textbook German suplex. This time he hits it hard enough to pick up the win.
Chris Benoit defeated Vendetta by pinfall with the German Suplex at 28:50
[Chris Benoit retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship]


Post-Match:
Benoit and Vendetta shook hands and embraced in the middle of the ring.
The fans cheered the two great warriors,

as we


FADE TO BLACK

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #995
Taped: Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Air Date: Saturday, August 14, 2004

From the Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Attendance; 6,092


The fans cheer as Jody Christmas returns to the ring. His head is still bandaged, but this time fresh white replaces the blood soaked crimson we last saw him wearing. His match against South African champion Frans van der Heever was declared a no contest after Christmas was attacked out of the blue again by the masked assailant with a lead pipe. He looks all business as he strides to the ring. He looks very troubled and mad as hell.

Christmas] I have an announcement to make, and I don't give a **** who it pisses off, Backlund, Larkin, Adam Riggs. I just figured out who the "mystery" partner is for Adam Riggs tonight. I was sitting up in the ambulance trying to convince the paramedic that I didn't need to go to the hospital right now, when I saw it. There aren't too many Indian Motorcycles like yours bro. That's right, parked just down the street was my half-brother's vintage ride. DARREN you son of a bitch...how many times have you stabbed me in the back? Now you can add one more time, but for some reason you decide that you need to wear a mask. You are a ****** coward you little ****. No way am I going to let you get into that steel cage tonight and participate in your match when you have screwed me out of mine. No way am I going to sit back there or go to the hospital. And anyone that gets in my way is going to taste a bit of bad medicine; J.C. style. So Darren, I know you are hiding in the back. Probably with some street scrag whore, or some 16 year old groupie, or slicing your arm with a razor after free basting some ****, so get it together and come out here now.

The crowd roars their approval after getting over the initial shock of Darren Michaels possibly being in the building.

At the announce table they are shocked as well. Joe Aiello calls Darren Michaels a psychopath who has had a life long goal of killing an opponent in the ring. Linley Tolbert though seems to find the whole thing amusing saying that Darren's goal should be to kill 3 men as Ox Baker holds the record with 2 confirmed deaths at his hand. Steven Regal seems very put off and opines that he came to RCW because they are for tradition and mat wrestling, but with the appearance of Team Extreme earlier and now possibly Darren Michaels he might have to rethink his decision.

<<< cue "Dangerous Tonight" by Alice Cooper >>>

The fans pop big time and come to their feet as Darren Michaels strolls ever so slowly to the ring. He is wearing a black trench coat and a t-shirt that simply says "I'd as soon kill you as look at you". He enters the ring and stands a few feet away from his brother Jody who is doing his best to control his temper.

Darren Michaels] Jody boy. How did you know she was only 16? Don't worry bro, maybe she has a younger brother you could hook up with after the show. Oh wait, the show is finished for you. You had your shot and you blew it. Of course you blow everything don't you? Now I'm not going to pretend to be valiant or brave. If I was going to take you out Jody you can bet your boyfriend's smooth ass I would attack you from behind, and then beat the hell out of you. And I do admire the use of a lead pipe. BUT, when I turned you over, and pulled your bloodied head up from the mat, I would make you stare into my eyes, and I wouldn't want anything to detract from the anger..the hatred..the depravity that lies underneath them. So I would never wear a mask Jody, it would serve no purpose. I didn't attack you half-brother, but I would like to buy a few hits for the mother***** who did **** you up.

Christmas] You worthless piece of ****. The reason you wore a mask was probably because you are supposed to be a surprise for tonight. You may be psychopathic but I bet you are scared witless to piss off Adam Riggs.

Michaels] I fear no man Jody, and that includes Riggs. What can I do to prove to you that I didn't attack you? You're just pissed off because I'm in the main event of my first show in RCW while you were jerking the curtain earlier. Oh wait I have an idea.

The fans pop as the assailant in the black and red mask emerges from the crowd and runs to the ring. Jody hears him enter and turns around clocking him with a right hand, knocking the masked man on his backside. But Darren then attacks Jody with a forearm to the back. He straddles his brother and starts to pepper him with shots to the head, aided by a pair of brass knuckles that he withdrew from his jacket.

The masked man recovers and while Darren holds Jody down the masked man lays in some knees to the back of Christmas.

Finally, it is Bill Goldberg who once again comes to the rescue. The masked man quickly flees from the ring and through the crowd, but Darren is caught up in the heat of the battle and attempts to put the brass knux on again and catch Goldberg off guard. He isn't quick enough though and Goldberg spears him, laying him out cold.


Opening Bout
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) v Chris Jons
This match promises to be electric even if it is being presided over by long-time inept official Jurgen Hermann.
Mysterio is trying too hard to end this one early and makes a mistake missing a flying cross body press that results in Jons getting a near fall. Mysterio though quickly resumes control and nails a standing moonsault after a Mexican armdrag and gets a 2 count.
It's all Mysterio early who punishes Jons, blocks his assaults, and embarrasses him by throwing him out of the ring as if taking out the trash.
Jons survives a top-rope hurrancanrana and finally gets a bit of offense in of his own with a bridging back suplex before Mysterio once again resumes control. Mysterio takes the action to the floor nailing Jons with a tope before sending the challenger head first into the ringsteps. However, when the champ went for a springboard bulldog off the steps Jons held on, turned around and smashed the champ shoulder first into the steel ring post. Jons nailed a piledriver for good measure outside the ring. When the action went back into the ring it was now much more even handed.
Jons first tries for the win by wearing Mysterio down with a cobra clutch and then tries for the less subtle method of a spin kick to the back of the head which garnered him a 2 count.
It's all Jons now until he tries to end it with a double underhook superplex only to have Mysterio block it and then throw him off the top turnbuckle. The champ nails the top-rope hurrancanrana followed by the west coast pop but stalls before making the cover which allows Jons to snake a boot out over the bottom strand.
Mysterio does his best to end the challenge but Jons continues to stay alive. The match spills outside the ring once again and like the last time Jons fights back tooth and nail. The match ends when Mysterio executes a simple single leg takedown on Jons who has the misfortune of falling backward and nailing his head hard against the side of the ringsteps. He's dazed and might even have suffered a concussion.
Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Chris Jons by countout in 0:20:22
[Rey Mysterio Jr. retained the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title]


Classic RCW Wrestling;
March 9, 2002, 
From the Barry Windham Farewell Tour stop in RCW
Champion v Champion - Non-title Match
Steve Riley v Samoa Joe
The night's opening match saw RCW American champion "Total Destruction" Steve Riley take on RCW Canadian champion Samoa Joe in a non-title match. Riley had the upper hand in much of this match. Bret Hart came down to cheer on Joe, but Joe didn't seem to appreciate Bret's presence so he rocked him with a right hand outside the ring. Then Riley speared Joe in the lower back, sending the Samoan colliding with Bret and landing on him. Bret looked to be quite hurt as did Joe. A concerned Wayne Hart then applied the 3 count on the pinfall even though it was outside the ring.
[Steve Riley pinned Samoa Joe after a spear at 12:00]


Bout #2
South African Tag Team Title Match
Jayson Moorhouse & MetalHead (c) v Robbie Royal & Lee Vakis
The fans were pretty unfamiliar with the challengers and had only seen the champs on one previous occasion. On top of that it was a bit more aerial and reckless then the RCW crowd usually enjoys. However, all four men were seasoned professionals and put on a good show with the champions firmly implanting themselves as the villains by slagging the Minnesota Vikings inability to win.
In the end Royal and Vakis fought off double teams by the champions and Vakis turned his sleeperhold into a form of diamond cutter and picked up the win.
Robbie Royal & Lee Vakis beat Jayson Moorhouse & MetalHead by pinfall when Vakis pinned Moorhouse after a diamond cutter at 12:14
[Robbie Royal & Lee Vakis win the South African Tag Team Titles]


Post-Match:
As they celebrated their victory however, the music of The Sheepherders played and the New Zealand duo came out to the ring. Sheepherder Cage was wearing a neckbrace on his injured neck, and the men were accompanied by a 3rd man who Linley Tolbert identified correctly as former PWA/WWA star "Viper" Victor Blood. Sheepherder Nancy got on the mic and ran down the quality of the previous match, saying it can't be very good when the wrestlers don't even weigh a buck fifty each. He says the Sheepherders would love to take those titles away from the new champions but due to the injury to his partner Sexton Cage it isn't possible. That's why he bought the services of the Viper for tonight. Nancy and Blood challenge Vakis and Royal to a match, and being the courageous young men they are they have no choice but to accept.


Bout #3
South African Tag Team Title Match
Robbie Royal & Lee Vakis (c) v Sheepherder Jim Nancy & Victor Blood (/w Sheepherder Cage)
The newly crowned champs put up a valiant fight but the deck is stacked against them. They are fatigued from their earlier match which slows down their high flying approach, and they are no match power wise or mat grappling with their much bigger and more experienced challengers. To make matters worse, despite wearing a neckbrace Sheepherder Cage manages to interfere by passing Nancy a chair to be used at the right moment when Jimmy Appleseed's back was turned to the action.
Sheepherder Nancy & Victor Blood beat Robbie Royal & Lee Vakis by pinfall when Nancy pinned Vakis after a running powerslam at 7:26
[Sheepherder Nancy & Victor Blood win the South African Tag Team Titles]


Classic RCW wrestling;
Edited for time constraints, approximately 9 minutes of footage shown.
March 16th, 2002
From the Barry Windham Farewell Tour stop in RCW
MAIN EVENT
WWA/NWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship Match
"The Champion of Champions" Barry Windham v "Your Hero" Nick Mercury
The match started when Mercury offered his hand to Windham who then slapped Mercury across the face instead. Mercury looked surprised and bailed out of the ring. He grabbed a mic and tried to get the fans to cheer for him "their hometown boy" only to receive a chorus of boos and jeers. Windham got Mercury to toss him the mic and then told him to stop stalling just to be able to say he lasted 5 minutes with the greatest of all time.
Mercury got into the ring and tried to take Windham down with a single leg takedown but ate a knee instead. Windham tossed Mercury around the ring like a ragdoll delivering many trademark chops to Mercury's chest as he pinned him to the turnbuckle. Five minutes into the match and Mercury's chest was beat red.
Windham's first mistake in the match was going for a bulldog without it being properly cinched in. Mercury managed to throw Windham head first into the turnbuckle. He then took control and even managed to deliver two consecutive powerbombs on the bigger champion.
Mercury thought he had the match in hand and went for the Hero's Welcome (elevated Boston crab). But Windham's superior reach allowed him to block it by reaching backward and pulling on the foot of Mercury, causing him to lose his balance. Mercury continued his assault but it became apparent that he did not have enough conventional moves to damage Windham enough to pick up the win.
So he went outside the ring to grab a steel chair and risk disqualification. But Windham caught him climbing between the ropes carrying the chair, with a nasty dropkick which drove the chair into the head and shoulder of Mercury who tumbled out of the ring.
Windham followed the challenger out of the ring and threw him around the guardrails and the ringposts. Mercury was busted wide open, and Windham twice re-entered the ring to break the 10 count. Finally Windham put Mercury through the announce table with a double underhook piledriver. Mercury was bleeding profusely at this point. However, the challenger got a short reprieve when the ringside doctor stopped the match for a few seconds to take a look at his cuts along with the ref.
As Windham strutted around the inside of the ring Raymond Bingham entered the ring with his new WWA North American Heavyweight Championship. But Windham was moving around too much and saw Bingham in time to duck. The champion then took Bingham down with a double underhook suplex. Mercury re-entered the ring at this point and took Windham down with a knee to the back.
Mercury took his second long advantage of the night working over Windham's lower back before delivering a herosault and getting a 2 count. Frustrated Mercury went for a powerbomb, but Windham countered with a backflip, and then got on top of Mercury for a series of mounted punches. Every time Windham hit the challenger in the head a little bit of blood would splatter up.
Picking Mercury up by the hair Windham pulled him into the center of the ring and delivered the Western Lariat.
[Barry Windham pinned Nick Mercury after a Western Lariat at 25:33]
[15:00 televised]

Post-Match: Windham had the mic and was about to speak when he was interrupted by RCW President Jack Larkin who came to the ring in a suit, accompanied by April Hunter in an evening gown. They carried a trophy to the ring. Larkin wanted to pay tribute to the champion of champions. Instead Windham mocked Larkin and refereed to comments Larkin had made recently on the PWA site about Windham. Windham took the mic away from Larkin, cut his closing promo, pushed Larkin to the ground, took the trophy in one hand and April Hunter in the other arm and left the arena...still the undisputed World Champion..still the champion of champions.

Farewell Mr. Windham



Main Event #3
SIX MAN STEEL CAGE I QUIT MATCH
Adam Riggs, Julian LeMonie, & Darren Michaels (/w April Hunter)
v
Robert Bayley, Diamond Dallas Page, & Nic Cross (/w Kim Page)

Referee Buddy Lane did his best to keep order in this match but it was an uphill battle with these 6 men who showed little regard for the rules. Riggs and Michaels seemed to work really well together, their two warped minds working together. Bayley was frustrated time and again by his inability to get any momentum going, and DDP played Ricky Morton for a good 6 minute stretch that saw him busted wide open. As the action got really hot Nic Cross nailed the Pedigree on LeMonie but instead of locking on a submission hold or tagging out, he scaled the inside of the cage instead. Bayley and DDP looked on in wonder as Cross perched himself precariously on top of the 16 foot steel cage. Then he shocked his teammates and the crowd by scaling down the outside of the cage. Cross flipped off the other wrestlers in the ring and left for backstage. Kim Page went running after him trying to get him to change his mind. She grabbed his arm to which he responded with a forearm to the skull.

Kim dropped like a rock and Cross left for good. DDP reacted by climbing the cage and going to check on Kim who was now being menaced by April Hunter who took the opportunity to lay in a couple of boots.

This of course left Bayley alone with Riggs, Michaels, and LeMonie. Michaels went to work on Bayley, backing him into enemy corner where Riggs choked him with the tag rope. The three men took advantage of the situation by triple teaming Bayley for about 3 minutes. Bayley was busted wide open.

Finally DDP returned from taking Kim Page to the back and began to climb the cage wall to get back into the action. Julian LeMonie though climbed the inside of the cage and fought with DDP on the top to delay his entry. In the meantime Adam Riggs took Bayley to the top turnbuckle and brought him down with a slam right overtop of the waiting knee of Darren Michaels. Bayley groped at his back screaming in pain. DDP dropped to the inside of the cage but by this time Riggs went over to help LeMonie keep DDP at bay. In the meantime Michaels locked on the sharpshooter on Bayley, who after a full courageous minute in the hold finally said "I Quit".
[Adam Riggs, Julian Lemonie, & Darren Michaels defeated Robert Bayley, Diamond Dallas Page, & Nic Cross by pinfall when Michaels made Bayley say "I Quit" with the sharpshooter at 19:28]


FADE TO BLACK

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #996
2 Hour Edition of RAGE in Syndication
Taped Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Air Date, Saturday August 21, 2004


Newman Outdoor Field,
Fargo, North Dakota

Attendance: 1,149


Statement from RCW President Jack Larkin

Larkin makes his statement sitting behind a desk, occasionally pausing to look down at his notes.

Larkin] Hello fans of NWA wrestling in middle America. Before we get you to all the great RCW Rage action tonight I need to make a statement for the wrestlers, the fans, and my fellow promoters in the NWA. Recently the WWF and the WCW put pressure on and then bought out COMPLEX wrestling in California. From this situation came several remarks about opening up the possibility for promotions such as RCW, and IWL, amongst others to step up a notch. Well as you may know or perhaps not, each member of the NWA is given a charter which includes a stated area of operations. Ours of course is certain states in the mid-west of America. Only WWF and WCW have a charter to compete anywhere they choose. Under these conditions it is virtually impossible for other independents to "step up" to solidify a 3rd position. And that is not our goal. My goals for RCW are several fold but have not changed. They are to provide quality wrestling and stories to our fans, to be consistent, to persevere, and eventually to be financially viable. I think we at RCW are well on the way to accomplishing our goals. However, my original projections showed an anticipated loss for 2004 of around $900,000. My projections now show us losing around $1.4 million, and that will be only being in business 7 months this year. At this point I can't see RCW losing less than a million dollars a year in 2005, and again in 2006. That is fine. I have the financial backing to put up with those numbers as long as the future remains bright.

Now, when I reopened RCW in 2004 I also had another goal in mind. That goal was to continue the traditions and do tribute to the World Wrestling Alliance (WWA) and Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA), and the work of specifically John Fredrickson, Chris Champion, and Carl Todd.

I am not sure whether I have been successful in that regard or not, but I know that I am trying my best to work with both the stars of the past like Dan Severn, Jody Christmas, Kai Hanson, and Raymond Bingham, as well as our own mid-western stars like the Spinebusters, Vendetta, and Manny Silva. I would point out that while groups like COMPLEX have done a wonderful job of creating new stars, only RCW and WCW seem interested in preserving the work of the past founders. That is not to say which way is right and which is wrong, but sometimes I do wish I had more fellow promoters who shared my views.

So while I have no intention of driving this RCW vehicle across North America, I do feel the need to state publicly the steps I have taken to open that door in the future, as well as to preserve the past.

Prior to the reformation of the National Wrestling Alliance I had been in contact with Chris Champion. I have correspondence with Mr. Champion dated March 15th 2004 that explicitly gave me the rights to use and reform the Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA). My initial thoughts were to try and get as many promoters involved as possible. Maybe to make PWA an "all-star" show with various writers and promotions involved, but with an emphasis on the old PWA-WWA wrestlers. Before that ball got rolling however, the NWA was formed and I was thrilled to join and get RCW started again. I am still very happy with the status of RCW as well as its role in the NWA.

However, after the talk of WCW and WWF about a 3rd power stepping forward I felt it necessary to stake my claim to the PWA name. I do not pretend to own the name, and my lawyers are standing by ready to try and ascertain whether Mr. Champion even has the right to license the name to myself for use. However at this point I feel that I do have the license for the name, or at least to stop anyone else from using it. Like I have stated I do not have immediate plans to open up PWA again. But I have to admit that late at night I often put in an old PWA tape and watch, remembering the glory, and begin to think about it once more.

I am not trying to cause any trouble with the NWA head office, nor my fellow NWA promoters, nor the founding fathers. In contrast I hope that my fellow promoters would join me in any efforts to preserve the PWA and WWA names and legacy.

In that vein, RCW would like to announce a tag team tournament to be held on the weekend of October 16th & 17th in St. Paul, Mn, to be called the John Fredrickson/Chris Champion Cup. The focus of this tournament will be to bring in many of the stars who wrestled for these two men as well as some of the great young stars of the current NWA promoters. Some of the tag teams will be reforming old alliances, while others will be based on new developments in the wrestling world, and still others will be randomly matched up. The tournament will be single elimination featuring 32 teams. I will be in contact with individual promoters as to what talent would best fit into this tournament and hope for their support.

In conclusion, I hope that my fellow promoters, as well as the wrestlers and fans, will continue to support my efforts to keep the old flames alive and will not take my claim to preserve the PWA name as being a powerplay.

Thank you and have a good night.




We go to Joe Aiello & Linley Tolbert standing to the side of the ring.

Aiello] Hello fans! As you can see it is a really blustery day out here, and it's really going to make things difficult for both the wrestlers who like to go airborne, as well as you Tolbert to try and keep that rug on your head.

Tolbert] It might be tough for you Joe to keep that head on your shoulders if you insult me one more time. I love this weather, it will totally ground the spot machine youngsters, although we don't have many athletes like that in RCW anyway. One other thing this weather has done Joe is kept the people away in droves.

Aiello] You are right on there Linley. This place holds about 5,000 people for wrestling, and we expected a crowd of around 3,000 tonight based on pre-event sales of almost 2,000 tickets. However, as we look around tonight we will be lucky if we get 2,000 people here. They even gave up trying to set up the "gold" ticket tables around ringside and relocated those premium seats to some unsold luxury boxes where those fans could get out of the inclement weather even if it does take them further from the action. But the show goes on here in RCW and we have a great card lined up for you tonight!


<<< cue "Till it Sleeps" by Metallica >>>

The Spinebusters get a mix of cheers and jeers as they make their way to the ring, pointing to their waists where the NWA World Tag Team titles are supposed to be.

Orth] Team Extreme! At Night of Champions you screwed us out of the RCW titles, and if not for a technicality it would have been the World titles too. We shave struggled together as a team too many years, working too many bingo halls and armouries to build ourselves up to this level, to let you two lunatics tear it all down in one week. So you know the ultimatum, bring back our titles NOW! We are signed for a re-match for the RCW titles right NOW!

<<< cue "Psycho Man" by Black Sabbath >>>

Kit Carson and Khris Germany come to the ring. They are wearing the RCW titles around their waists and are carrying the folded up NWA World Titles in their hands. They enter the ring and Carson has a mic.

Carson] You two still belong in bingo halls. It's more a statement on how weak the NWA stands right now then how far you two have risen over the years. You want these pieces of tin you can have them back. You will need them for the what? 3 or 4 bookings a month that you get? What a joke.

With that Carson and Germany throw the belts down at the feet of the Spinebusters. As they bounce off the canvas we see that the belts have been defaced with graffiti.

The Spinebusters glance down at the belts but only for a second before staring at their adversaries once again.

Caruthers] Pick...up...those...belts...NOW !

The crowd pops big cheering for the former champs.

Team Extreme laughs at the 'busters.

Orth and Caruthers look at each other, shrug, sigh, and then bend down to pick up the belts. Carson and Germany see the opening they were anticipating and attempt to attack. But the Spinebusters saw it coming from a mile away, and both lunge forward catching their opponents in the gut with a shoulder.

The NWA champs tackle the RCW champs to the ground and begin to flail away as referee Buddy Lane calls for the bell and to start the match.


Opening Bout
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Team Extreme: Khris Germany & Kit Carson (c) v The Spinebusters: Bryan Caruthers & Jerry Orth

The Spinebusters fuel their anger right off the bat by actually being even more aggressive then the ultra-wound up Team Extreme, even forcing their opponents into an uncustomary defensive position.

However, Germany & Carson continue to battle and its their experienced brawling matching up against the 'busters mat skills and ability to counter just about anything thrown at them.

When Carson tried to nail Caruthers with a chair outside the ring he fell victim to a blindside dropkick off the ring apron by Jerry Orth instead. When Team Extreme pulled a fire extinguisher from under the ring and attempted to open it up in the face of Jerry Orth nothing but confetti sprayed out getting a good laugh from both the crowd and the Spinebusters.

The 'busters soon took control of the ring again, cutting it in half and punishing Kit Carson continually. They waited for Germany to interfere and then take the opportunity for a double team. The crowd was now cheering rabidly for the Spinebusters in what seemed to many to be a scene right out of the Twilight Zone.

Caruthers punished Carson with a DDT, and got a 2 count. He followed this up with his Spinebuster slam finisher but Germany interfered to break up the count. The 'busters then used that opportunity to deliver a double stuff piledriver on the champions and looked poised to win back their belts. Germany however had gone out and found a reinforcement. He rushed the ring again to break up the pinfall but this time brought in a steel chair, smashing first Caruthers then Orth. The Spinebusters had no choice but to bail out of the ring to prevent further chair shots.

The Spinebusters defeated Team Extreme by disqualification when Khris Germany was Dq'd for using a steel chair at 14:39
[Team Extreme retains the RCW titles]

Post-Match:
The Spinebusters are livid and demand a re-match next week.


<<< cue "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who >>>

Commissioner Bob Backlund and his executive assistant Debra McMichael come out to the top of the ramp. Backlund apologizes to the Spinebusters, saying they deserve a re-match but that another match has already been signed for next week. At Night of Champions 2, the duo of Sam Holiday & Al Hardamann won the #1 contender spot and will have their shot next week. However, Backlund promises the Spinebusters they will get another shot soon.



Bout #2
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) v Jamie Knoble (/w Sable)
Some high flying moves to start with neither man managing to come away with any real advantage. Knoble turned the match into a brawl, and Mysterio obliged trading kicks and punches with the challenger.

Mysterio rolls away from an enzuigiri attempt and then follows up with a bulldog and a bodyslam, which yields a 2 count.

The wind gusts are effecting both men as they seem reluctant to go to the top rope.

Mysterio's attempt at a flying cross body block is countered by a Savate kick by Knoble, who then follows up with flying headscissors. He goes for the top rope legdrop finisher only to have Mysterio roll out of the way.

The match soon spills outside where Knoble uses his size to his advantage to ram Mysterio back first into the ringpost and then toss him back into the ring. He nails Mysterio with an enzuigiri to the face, cradles him but only gets a 2 count. A back suplex and a powerslam only yield another 2 count. Knoble nails a slingshot legdrop and then tries to finish off the champ with a flying body press. Mysterio though rolls through the move and almost comes up with a 3 count.

Mysterio nails some forearms, a hiptoss, armdrag takedown, and other minor moves before going for a bulldog only to have Knoble counter it with a back suplex. Knoble goes for the Russian legsweep, but pauses to point to Sable and say "this one's for you sweetheart", and pays for the delay when Mysterio force feeds him an elbow to the kisser.

Mysterio throws Knoble into the corner head first, catching the challenger shoulder first into the ringpost. He then finishes Knoble off braving the winds with a top-rope hurancanrana, pausing at the top to look at Knoble and spout off "this one's for you sweetheart".

Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Jaime Knoble after a top-rope huracanrana in 8:35
[Rey Mysterio Jr. retains the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title]



<<< cue "Ride of the Valkrye" by Wagner >>>
As the classical notes of Wagner stir the audience they jeer the arrival of the members of the "New Right" Dan Severn, Jack Voight, Kai Hanson, & Alex Wright.

The "damn Germans" enter the ring and Severn has a mic.

Severn] Close your yaps scum. You call this the heartland of the nation, but I think of this area as being the anus of America. But I'm not here to talk about you and your pathetic lives, I'm here to talk about us, the New Right. You see a little while ago we travelled up to Canada and won ourselves a little tournament known as the FREAKIN' WORLD CUP of wrestling. That's right Germany is the World Champion. And what has RCW done to recognize that and capitalize on our popularity. **** all of course. This two-bit pissant promotion is going nowhere guided by that gutless coward Larkin. But we're not going to sit back any longer and wait for the opportunities which are owed to us to be given on a silver platter. Starting today we are going out and seizing what we want, when we want it, and for however F***** long we want it for. Shut up. That includes your wives and daughters you bunch of pig farmers...sue--wheee. Tell them boys.

Severn turns around and looks to hand the mic off to someone but all 3 men are looking with a scowl on their face and their arms crossed at their sides. Severn gets a puzzled look on his face, but finally Hanson steps forward and takes the mic.

Hanson] You are right brother Severn, we THE GERMANS are the damn champs of the entire world. And you are right Larkin has screwed the pooch not capitalizing on it. But let me tell you something else Severn. You are not without responsibility on this either. You are supposed to be our manager. Sure you train us well, but what have you done to get us our just due? Not enough. So let it be known that YOU need to step it up a notch starting tonight and do your job as a manager, as a non-combatant, to get us our just dues.

Severn looks incredulous at Hanson but he only gets a look of scorn back from Hanson, and Wright and Voight are unmoving and unexpressive.


Pre-Match segment:
WCW Superstar Brandon Myers is in the ring. The fans cheer as he acknowledges them with a polite wave.

Myers] I was invited by RCW to appear at Night of Champions 2, and I wrestled like a champion beating Jack Voight. But after the match they just couldn't let it go, and the rest of the Germans ran in to take a piece of my flesh. Listen up New Right. I have a contract to wrestle against Kai Hanson next. Also in that contract is the stipulation that if Jack Voight or Alex Wright interfere in the match then they will draw a 3-month suspension from RCW and all of he NWA without pay. Unfortunately I couldn't get Dan Severn barred from ringside because he has a legitimate managerial license. But better two to worry about than four. So Hanson, back in the day you called yourself "Supreme", well it's time to see if that is true. Bring it.


Bout #3
Brandon Myers v Kai Hanson (/w Dan Severn)
Hanson comes out, followed a couple steps behind by Severn who still looks pissed. Hanson enters the ring while Severn goes to the announce table. The bell rings but before they can lock up Severn interrupts with a mic.

Severn] You know something Hanson, I'm not a stupid man. I've been in more alliances and broken more allegiances then you've had beers. You think you can run the Right better than me? Be my guest. Let's see how you do without me.

With that Severn drops the mic and leaves for the back as the fans cheer. Hanson looks shocked and makes the mistake of turning his back on Myers. The former World champ rolls up Hanson and almost ends it with a sneaky cradle.

Myers is all over Hanson with a dragon suplex and a faceslam. But when he goes for the fistdrop Hanson rolls out of the way. Hanson devastates Myers with an over-the-shoulder stomachbreaker, followed by a short lived surfboard. Hanson taunts the crowd with a pelvic thrust.

Myers fights back though with a clothesline and a diving shoulderblock. After receiving a front layout suplex Hanson takes the match to the floor where he manages to regain control. Back inside the ring Hanson is a monster with a double underhook backbreaker followed by a German suplex that just barely fails to keep Myers down for the 3 count.

These two old school superstars continue to go at it, exciting the crowd with continued changes in momentum. Both men are starting to look pretty winded.

Hanson goes for a running knee lift but Myers blocks it and catapults Hanson face first into the turnbuckle. Myers punishes Hanson with a flying clothesline followed by a diving shoulderblock. Myers works Hanson over in the corner with shoulderblocks to the gut. Hanson though fights right back and the two begin to brawl, an exchange of kicks and punches which favors Hanson.

"The Supreme" Kai Hanson takes the match outside the ring once again, but Myers surprises him by taking the initiative. Myers nails Hanson with a back heel kick, followed by a double underhook piledriver on the announce table. Myers rolls back into the ring to break the count. He returns and goes for a cobra clutch but Hanson manages to fight back, picking Myers up and the two men go backward colliding with the guardrail and then spilling backward over the rail and into the midst of the crowd.

Standing up both men exchange punches beside the rail. Referee Jimmy Appleseed continues the count, and this time it's Hanson who leaves the battle to go break the count after taking Myers down with a lariat. Hanson however stays inside the ring and Appleseed starts a fresh 10 count.

Appleseed counts 1...2...3...we see Myers struggling to his feet..4...5...Myers looks to climb the guardrail but is suddenly pulled backward to the ground...6...7...we have a camera there and we can see Myers laying on the ground in an STF...8...9...10 !!!!

We can now tell that the man applying the move is Dan Severn. Finally Severn releases the hold and storms the ring, celebrating and congratulating Hanson.

Kai Hanson defeats Brandon Myers by countout at 16:22



Bout #4
RCW Heritage Title Match
Vincent Regliatti (c) v Ryland Roxbury
There were two big surprises in the Heritage Title tournament, the biggest was Regliatti winning the belt. However, Roxbury was also a big surprise making it all the way to the semi-finals but having to bow out due to an injury. This is Roxbury's first match back on TV since that injury so while we can expect a bit of ring rust both Roxbury and RCW officials thought it best to try and regain his new found momentum as soon as possible.

Before this match began Ron Waterman came down to the announce table to do guest commentary, as he is signed to get a shot at the Heritage title next week on Rage.

Regliatti struck first with a left hand, followed by an armdrag takedown. He worked the arm over with a series of ever changing armbar positions, and although Roxbury managed to counter a few of the changes, Regalitti was too fluent in this style of chain wrestling and always managed to come up with the last hold.

When asked who he would rather face next week Waterman said it didn't matter as both men were so much smaller than him they wouldn't stand a chance. He boldly predicted a victory with the Water Bomb in under 5 minutes.

The champ turned it up a notch with a pair of legsweep faceslams to stun Roxbury and tried to put on the figure-four, but the challenger managed to reach the ropes before it was cinched on tight.

Roxbury struck with a kick to the gut followed by a hotshot.

Linley Tolbert asked Waterman about his actions at Night of Champions, interfering in Shamrock's match and getting him Dq'd. Waterman tells Tolbert not to stir up trouble. He says Shamrock was getting screwed and he tried to help out, but the incompetent officials ended up screwing over Shamrock anyway. When Tolbert asked about Shamrock's feelings on the matter Waterman got pretty heated and told Tolbert he would have to ask him himself.

Roxbury scaled the second turnbuckle coming off with a sprinboard splash and getting a 2 count. The challenger continued to work on the champ with a back suplex and a rolling reverse cradle but again only got a 2 count. He took a risk taking it to the top turnbuckle for a superplex only to have Regliatti fight out of it and take the challenger down to the mat with a DDT. He covered, hooking the leg and got the 3 count.
Vincent Regliatti defeated Ryland Roxbury by pinfall after a tornado DDT at 5:58
[Vincent Regliatti retains the RCW Heritage Title]

Post-Match:
Ron Waterman stands up at the announce table and he and Regliatti stare at each other for a bit before Regs takes his title belt and leaves.


Promo:
Commissioner Bob Backlund makes a brief statement from his make-shift office. He says that tonight's main event will be between Bill Goldberg and Darren Michaels. According to Backlund this match was actually requested by Michaels, not Goldberg, as he did not appreciate being the victim of a spear. Backlund goes on to say that next week NWA World Champion Chris Benoit will be here. It's time for some fresh faces to get a shot at the NWA champ says Backlund, so tonight's main event between Goldberg and Michaels will be for that shot at Benoit next week.


Bout #5
Adam "Tiger" Burke v Asp Evergreen (/w Derek St. Holmes)
Asp locked up with Burke at the opening bell but instead of collar-elbow he just wrapped his hands around the bigger man's neck and tried to force him to his knees with a chokehold. Burke reacted quickly though with an elbow to the bridge of the nose of Evergreen, and followed up with a leg whip taking Asp to the mat.
As Asp tried to regain his feet Burke struck with a series of well placed martial arts kicks to the shoulders and side of the head. Finally Evergreen gave up trying to regain his feet and rolled out of the ring to confer with his manager. Re-entering the ring Burke went to meet Evergreen coming through the ropes but Holmes reached out and held onto the ankles of Burke allowing Evergreen time to nail a clothesline. Asp went to work with a corkscrew legdrop, and a sidewalk slam. He covered but only got a 1 count.
Evergreen went for a waistlock suplex but Burke blocked it, fed Asp an elbow, and then nailed a monstrous belly-to-belly overhead suplex. St. Holmes jumped on the apron but Burke stopped him from interfering by whipping Evergreen into the ropes, making him collide with his manager. Burke then caught Asp on the rebound with his version of the superkick, the Tiger's Claw.
Adam Burke defeated Asp Evergreen by pinfall after the Tiger's Claw at 4:20

Post-Match:
Pamela Paulshock came into the ring to interview Adam Burke after his big first win on RCW Rage. Burke was really pumped on and thanked just about everyone as if he had just won an oscar. He then sent a message to Evergreen that their "friendship" was being put on the shelf, and a warning to all the other superstars of RCW that his days as a green, naive rookie are over. Throughout the interview though Paulshock kept subtly hitting on Burke but the "Tiger" seemed oblivious to the whole thing. At the end of the interview Paulshock asked Burke if he wanted to go get something to eat. Burke said that sounded like an awesome idea, thanked Pamela for the interview, said "hope to see you around soon", turned and left.


Bout #6
Grudge Match
Special Guest Referee Robert Bayley
Diamond Dallas Page (/w Kimberly Page) v Adam Riggs (/w April Hunter)

WCW star Diamond Dallas Page returned to RCW because he had unfinished business with Adam Riggs and April Hunter for comments and attacks they have made on his wife Kimberly. He did not get the opportunity to exact retribution at Night of Champions 2 in the Six Man Tag Match. DDP asked for and received a special guest referee, his friend Robert Bayley.

DDP attacks Riggs from behind before the opening bell and then as Bayley is calling for the bell to ring he puts Riggs into a chokehold. Bayley counts to 5, but DDP does not release the choke. April Hunter jumps up on the apron and Bayley tells her to get down, all the while DDP is choking Riggs. Finally with Hunter off the apron and a final warning of DQ by Bayley, DDP releases the choke.

DDP punishes Riggs with kicks and punches in the corner, but Riggs is a huge man and is able to fight back. Riggs nails DDP with a clothesline, then grabs him by the back of the head and tosses him through the ropes. Riggs follows to the floor, DDP rolls back in, Riggs follows him back in, and DDP catches him in a cradle for a 2 count.

The count was fairly quick and Riggs complains to Bayley which allows DDP to nail a clothesline from behind on Riggs. DDP follows up with a DDT, goes for the cover and gets a 2 count.

The announce team inform us that DDP is going through quite a losing streak in WCW and a win here over one of the game's greatest stars would sure help his confidence.

DDP though lowers his head too fast on a backdrop and eats a knee. Riggs then backs DDP into the ropes and BITES HIS FACE. Bayley interjects and Riggs gives him a little push away, drawing a warning of a DQ, and a blindside shot to the chops from Page.

Riggs fights back with a couple of elbows, and then goes for the Tiger suplex, but DDP blocks and goes behind. He locks on the sleeperhold but in a couple seconds he lets his arm dip down and it becomes another blatant chokehold. Bayley counts to 5 and finally DDP releases the chokehold. Even his friend seems to be a bit put off by the aggressive tactics of DDP.

DDP tries to drag Riggs' head across the top rope but the crazy Irishman kicks him in the gut. Riggs goes to work with kicks and punches but can't score any big powermoves. DDP fights back and it turns into a nasty brawl which Riggs is winning until DDP nails him in the groin and then lands another DDT.

DDP goes for a sitout powerbomb but the big man blocks it and puts on an armbar submission. DDP makes his way to the ropes for the break and then grabs Riggs by the waistband and the two topple out of the ring to the floor below.

DDP out punches Riggs and then scoop slams him on the floor. He follows that up with a sitout powerbomb, not quite nailing it fully, but still enough to really hurt Riggs.

In the meantime April Hunter grabbed a chair and ~waffled~ Kimberly from behind knocking her out. Hunter pulled off Kimberly's skirt leaving her in her panties. She was about to remove those when referee Robert Bayley came to the rescue pushing Hunter out of the way. DDP came storming over but Bayley tried to get between DDP and Hunter. Suddenly Hunter lashed out with a fist through Bayley and caught DDP flush in the eye. Dallas Page wandered around ringside in pain while Riggs struggled back to his feet. Bayley called for security who helped cover up Kimberly and help her to the back. While this was going on Riggs tried to sneak attack DDP but Page heard him coming and turned around catching him with a kick to the gut. He was about to nail the diamond cutter but Hunter was back and nailed Page over the head with the steel chair. This was on the other side of the ring from the fallen Kimberly so of course Bayley saw nothing.

Riggs press slammed DDP back through the second and third ropes into the ring. He then followed up with the Phenomenal Performance. Bayley didn't look happy about it but he applied a rather slow 3 count to give Riggs the victory.

Adam Riggs defeated Diamond Dallas Page by pinfall after the Phenomenal Performance at 9:53

Post-Match:
As DDP came too his friend Bayley explained to him what happened. It seemed like DDP was okay with it until it was explained to him what happened with Kimberly's skirt. A replay was shown on the scoreboard and you could clearly see Bayley's hand resting on Kim's ass as he called for security. DDP went ballistic, nailing Bayley with a kick to the gut and a Diamond Cutter before running to the backstage area.



MAIN EVENT
Winner Gets an NWA World Title shot next week on Rage
Bill Goldberg v Darren Michaels

Michaels gains the early advantage and nails a running neckbreaker drop, covers, and gets a 2 count. Goldberg fights back, goes for a Gorilla Press Slam but it's countered by Michaels with a rake of the eyes. Michaels nails an Exploder suplex and again goes for a pin, but this time Goldberg tosses Michaels off at the count of 1.

Michaels goes for a kick to the groin but Goldberg blocks, and then tackles Darren hard to the mat, knocking the wind out of him. Goldberg signals for the Jackhammer but when he goes for it Michaels counters with an inside cradle and gets a 2 count.

Michaels tosses Goldberg from the ring and then nails him with a tope suicida. Michaels throws Goldberg around outside the ring but once they return to the inside Goldberg strikes back with a spinebuster slam out of nowhere.

The two men exchange the advantage back and forth for a few minutes, with both men countering to deny the other any big impact moves. Michaels nails a springboard spinwheel kick, and then leaves the ring and tries to put Goldberg in the figure-four wrapped around the ringpost but Goldberg kicks him off.

Goldberg just can't seem to get the momentum back and Michaels gives him a combination attack of savage moves and suicidacal moves that keep him completely off balance. It's obvious that Michaels cares nothing for his own well being, never mind that of his opponent.

The match spills outside the ring again where Michaels whips Goldberg into the ringpost, and follows up with a facerake to blind the big man. Back inside the ring Goldberg blocks a vertical suplex attempt, lifts Michaels straight up for the Jackhammer, and would have possibly finished off Michaels but for the sudden appearance of the man in the black and red mask. He stormed ringside and was there to pull out the feet of Goldberg when he was going for the jackhammer. The two wrestlers tumbled to the mat. Michaels delivered a pair of knees to the head of Goldberg, then nailed a moonsault from the second turnbuckle. He covered Goldberg and the masked man again interfered, covertly holding down the legs of Goldberg on the 3rd count to prevent him from kicking out.

Darren Michaels defeated Bill Goldberg by pinfall following a moonsault from the 2nd turnbuckle, and aided by outside interference at 13:40

Post-Match:
Michaels and the masked man celebrated outside the ring. However, they celebrated a bit too long and Goldberg recovered quickly and ran them down. He speared Michaels, knocking him out cold and then pursued the masked man through the crowd. Finally he caught up to him and dragged him back down through the crowd and into the ring. He hoisted up the masked man and brought him down with the Jackhammer. Standing overtop of him he started to pull off his mask when Darren Michaels intervened having recovered from the spear delivered a couple minutes before. Michaels took Goldberg out by clipping his leg and then grabbed the masked man and helped him out of the ring and to the back.

As the camera zoomed in on Goldberg his look of disgust turned to a smile. The mic picked up his words as "Doesn't matter, I saw enough, I know who you are man."


FADE TO BLACK

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #997
Special 3 Hour Edition of RAGE in Syndication
Taped Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Air Date, Saturday August 28, 2004

Al McGuire Center
Campus of Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Attendance: 3,849


We go to the announce table where we see the long standing tandem of Joe Aiello & Linley Tolbert.


Aiello] Welcome fans to another edition of RCW Rage !! We are on the campus of prestigious Marquette University.

Tolbert] That's right, didn't they have a good basketball team back around 20 years ago?

Aiello] They still have an outstanding athletics program here Linley and you know that. As for tonight though, while we are only a couple weeks removed from Night of Champions 2, for all intents and purpose tonight might as well be called Night of Champions 2-B, as we have four title matches set for tonight.

Tolbert] You bet Joe, it's going to be an exciting night. Ron Waterman gets a shot at Vincent Regliatti's Heritage title and many think his power will make the improbable reign of Regliatti come to an abrupt halt here tonight in cheeseland.

Aiello] And what can we expect from Waterman? His attitude seems to have been changing a lot lately.

Tolbert] Well just like every other athlete here in RCW he just wants the gold - and will do anything to make that happen. Also, old friends Al Hardamann and Sam Holiday get together tonight to challenge Team Extreme for the RCW Tag Team Titles. You know the Spinebusters have to be watching that match-up with a close eye.

Aiello] Absolutely true Linley. And also tonight a man who has been loyal to these parts for many years, the beast, Menele finally gets his shot at the RCW champion Vendetta, having won the bad intentions match on Rage several weeks ago, defeating both Jack Voight and Manny Silva.

Tolbert] Menele may be the least understood and most underrated wrestler we have here in Middle-America, and his hope is that at the end of the night to have rectified that problem. And finally tonight we play host again to the NWA World Champion Chris Benoit and his opponent is the always entertaining Darren Michaels.

Aiello] Entertaining? The man is a maniac! But at least tonight his mind will try and focus on winning the gold instead of trying to kill his opponent as is the usual case with this nut. Michaels comes in tonight with a strong case to be the World Champion after defeating Goldberg last week to win the title shot. That win was in part thanks to the mysterious masked man who has been helping out Darren Michaels ever since he arrived in RCW. In fact I think we have Michaels ready to come to the ring and make a statement.


<<< cue "Dangerous Tonight" by Alice Cooper >>>
Wearing a black trench coat, sunglasses, and black combat boots Darren Michaels makes his way to the ring. Following behind him is the masked man we've seen around in the past few weeks. Michaels enters the ring and the masked man takes on a bodyguard like position behind him.

Michaels] The days of greatness for RCW are OVER. *he pauses* The days of VIOLENCE and BLOODSHED are upon thee. I have already put my *** half-brother Jody Christmas on the shelf, and if he shows up again I will make it permanent. Jody you do not want to spend the remainder of your days in a wheelchair...so stay home. GOLDBERG, you could not stop the torrent no more then one man can stop the downpour of a thunder storm. And tonight I will transcend this place and enter a new world...a world where I am recognized and sought after as the best...the most dominant...force in pro wrestling. After tonight I will be the WORLD champion and the days of violence and bloodshed shall spread and unfold across the globe like a Persian sandstorm. The days of competition and athletic accomplishment are OVER. The reign of terror begins tonight.

<<< cue "Crush 'em" by MegaDeth >>>
The fans cheer as Bill Goldberg comes to the top of the ramp with a mic, and a smile on his face.

Goldberg] Michaels it's time to shut up and tell the people the truth. First you had to cheat your way to beating me last week. Secondly I know who the man is under the mask and now the whole world will be told.

Michaels] Hold on there Paladin. Not so fast. Think about it. If his identity is revealed now, it will have a profound impact on another match tonight. Think about it.

Michaels pauses and indeed Goldberg seems to be thinking something over.

Goldberg] I guess that's the first thing you've ever said that made sense to me. I know who he is, but for the greater good I will hold off long enough for him to do the right thing. I expect that he will reveal himself and make amends before the night is over, or else I will indeed spoil the World title party and reveal his identity myself..the hard way.

Goldberg disappoints the audience by turning around and heading for the back.

Michaels *turning to the masked man*] Servant bow down to me, on your knees. Give me your arm.

The masked man rolls up a sleeve and presents his arm. Michaels pulls out a razor and makes a small cut on the man's forearm. He then uses his finger to paint an "L" on the masked forehead of the man in his own blood. The announce team can only ponder what the L stands for, and wonder if Michaels is not mocking the man with a "Loser" tag.


Opening Bout
Alex Wright (/w Dan Severn) v Shane Madison
Squash match. Wright nailed both his German suplex and reverse neckbreaker finishers but opted to make Madison yell uncle by locking in an STF.
Alex Wright defeated Shane Madison by submission with the STF at 3:10

Post-Match: Wright and Severn laid in a few extra licks on Madison.


Backstage Interview:
We see Pamela Paulshock hurrying to catch up with someone we haven't seen before.

Paulshock] Mike...Mike Labonte..can we have a word with you?

The former COMPLEX star Mike Labonte turns around, looking surprised to see the mic and camera.

Labonte] Sure, no problem.

Paulshock] Welcome to RCW, what do you hope to achieve here?

Labonte] Well I'm still young Pamela and learning the game. COMPLEX was more of a learning type atmosphere, while here in RCW it's kind of like we've graduated and now expected to make the best of what we got. I'm looking forward to that challenge, but also hope to learn more from the veterans here as well.

Paulshock] Well good luck...

Tylene Buck and Paisley come into the picture, and their eyes suddenly lock onto the young Labonte.

Buck] Well, well, look what we got here Pais.

Paisley] Fresh meat...and I do mean fresh...meoooowww.

Buck and Paisley flank Labonte and begin to touch his pecs and broad shoulders.

Suddenly Bam Bam Bigelow invades the scene knocking Labonte down from behind, sending Buck and Paisley down in the collateral damage. Bigelow pounds away at Labonte then scoops him up and delivers a backbreaker over the waiting knee of Diamond Rhodes.

Rhodes] Turn him over...I think this naughty boy needs a spanking.

Bigelow turns Labonte over on Rhodes' knee and holds him still. Rhodes lifts his hand up and brings it down, smacking across the youngster's backside.

Rhodes] How was that for a lesson boy? Not enough I'm afraid, you like to be humiliated don't you?

Rhodes hooks his hands into the waistband of Labonte's jeans and is going to pull down his pants. Bigelow looks a bit put back by this and shakes "no" but Rhodes ignores him.

Suddenly someone yells "Hey" and Adam "Tiger" Burke is on the scene. He catches Rhodes by surprise with the Tiger's Claw (superkick) to the face, causing him to drop his hold on Labonte. Bigelow though then drives his shoulder into Burke and slams him into the wall. He wraps his arm over Burke's head and begins to rain down punches into Burke's back. Labonte though recovers and delivers a nasty double ax-handle chop to the back of Bam Bam. He then sends Bigelow down with a high-knee. Rhodes has recovered so Burke and Labonte back away.

Rhodes] You stupid jerk-offs..you can't pull that crap with me...I'm Dust..Diamond Rhodes...and you've just made the biggest mistake of your short careers. Tonight, you two and us, in the ring, and we'll teach you the last lesson in pro wrestling you will ever get. How to end a career before it really gets a chance to start.

Labonte and Burke just nod their acceptance and slap each other's backs as they leave.


Bout #2
RCW Heritage Title Match
Vincent Regliatti (c) v Ron Waterman
Waterman is all over the champ to start, nailing 3 dropkicks in the first minute alone. Regliatti though comes back with a backdrop and then goes to work on H2O. We get a couple minutes of back and forth before Waterman nails a bulldog and covers for a 2 count.

Regliatti fights back and then throws Waterman out of the ring before pouncing on him with a springboard leg lariat. Outside the ring he tosses Waterman into the ringsteps. Smartly though Regs doesn't want to stay outside with this monster so he takes it back inside. He works over the challenger but when he tries for the figure-four Waterman kicks him off.

Gabriel Moore, the former star and self-proclaimed "Prophet" comes down to ringside to observe, carrying with him his bible.

Regliatti delivers a thumb to the eye of Waterman and then nails him with a Soviet Suplex but only gets a 2 count. Waterman mounts another comeback and locks on an armbar submission on the champ. However, Regs makes his way to the ropes for a break.

The mic picks up Gabriel Moore shouting at Waterman, "Use the word of the lord as your weapon to smite thy enemies". He then lays his bible on the ring apron and leaves ringside to a chorus of jeers.

Regliatti rocks Waterman with a clothesline but when he tries for a back suplex it's blocked by Waterman who counters with a bulldog. He stares after Moore and at the Bible but just seems confused. Waterman sends Regs to the buckle and then tries to follow in with an elbow but the Torontonian moves out of the way and H20 hits the buckle hard. Regs climbs the second rope and comes off with a dropkick dropping the challenger.

Regs goes for a belly-to-back suplex but it's blocked by H20 who then nails a big spinebuster. Both men are down though and both regain their feet at around the count of 8. Regs kicks at H20 who blocks it, turns Regliatti around 360 degrees and then clotheslines him down hard. Waterman locks on the leg hammerlock and the champ has to make his way to the ropes for a quick break to survive.

Waterman lifts Regs to his feet, only to have the champ deliver a covert low blow that the ref misses to Waterman, and then roll him up with an inside cradle to pick up the tainted win.

Vincent Regliatti defeats Ron Waterman by pinfall after a low blow and an inside cradle at 9:47
[Vincent Regliatti retained the RCW Heritage Title]

Post-Match:
Regliatti grabs his belt and heads for the hills as fast as his legs will take him. Waterman recovers and is about to roll out of the ring when he notices the bible left by Moore is still on the ring apron. Waterman hesitates for a second before walking over and picking up the bible. He opens it, looks inside, gets a wry smile on his face, closes it, and leaves the ring with the bible in his hands.



<<< cue "The Tenth Dimension" by Blaze" >>>
The fans cheer as Robert "Blaze" Bayley comes to the ring with a mic. He gives a round of high-fives as he circles the ring before entering.

Bayley] Let me tell you something, last week, now that was screwed up. It was Diamond Dallas Page's idea to have me as the special guest referee for his match against that scum Adam Riggs, because Page still trusted me as his friend, even though a lot of people are trying to stir the pot about the amount of time I am spending professionally with his wife Kimberly. In private I gave him my word that we were and would remain only friends, and I stick by that. Page is under a lot of pressure right now, Dallas that is. He's had such a bad run of luck in WCW *shakes his head* it's unbelievable for a man with his talent level. Anyway, so last week after April Hunter knocked out Kimberly I went to help her out, and inadvertently placed my hand on her ass. I didn't even realize it until I saw it on the scoreboard. Believe me, a piece of ass was the last thing on my mind. But DDP lost his temper and ended up laying me out with the Diamond Cutter. Stuff like that happens between friends, I can forgive and forget. But DDP left, and now he won't take my calls. *shakes his head again*.

<<< cue "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana >>>
Even Bayley looks surprised to hear DDP's music, but then looks somewhat relieved when Kimberly Page makes her way down to the ring alone.

Page] Blaze, it's been my privilege to be your manager the last couple of months here in RCW. I've had a blast. You seem to be uncomfortable though because of your friendship with my husband. Don't be. He has his career and I have mine. I could get a job in WCW with a snap of my finger, as he could here. We choose to live our lives this way, and I'm all right with everything that has happened between us. I know you are an honourable man, and I know that my husband has an irrational and jealous side that you saw last week. He was wrong to have attacked you. If you can put this past us then I would like to continue to be your manager.

Bayley stares at Kimberly for a few seconds before nodding his ascent.

Kimberly looks very happy and embraces Bayley in a hug, then as they part she gives him a quick kiss on his mouth. He looks surprised and somewhat flustered.



Bout #3
Diamonds & Rust: Diamond Rhodes & Bam Bam Bigelow (/w Paisley & Tylene Buck) v Mike Labonte & Adam "Tiger" Burke
Burke made a mistake, going for the Tiger's Claw finisher way too early in this match (in the first minute) and Bigelow tried to make him eat it. The Beast from the East went to work on Burke who managed to tag in Labonte. The youngster made a mistake too, ducking away from a Bigelow dropkick attempt only to fling himself backward into the corner of Rhodes. The veteran grabbed Labonte by the neck and dragged him out of the ring. Outside he slammed him on the ringsteps before delivering him back to Bigelow. Labonte spent the better part of the next 5 minutes playing Ricky Morton. Finally he made the tag to Burke who came in a house of fire.
Burke went to work on Rhodes with punches, kicks, a hotshot, a senton, and then a brainbuster to get a 2 count. He then tagged in Labonte who continued the assault with a dragon suplex, some wild haymakers, and then a Northern Lights suplex for a 2 count. Labonte got back to his feet and then Bigelow decided he couldn't watch anymore from the apron. The Beast entered the ring and charged at the back of Labonte. Burke issued a warning, and Labonte turned just in time to avoid Bigelow and take him down with a drop toe hold. Bigelow crashed forward colliding with Rhodes who had been trying to get back to his feet. Burke entered the ring to clear out Bigelow, and then Labonte covered Rhodes and got the 3 count. Big upset for the youngsters.
Mike Labonte & Adam Burke defeated Diamonds & Rust by pinfall when Labonte pinned Rhodes after botched interference by Bigelow at 8:50



Bout #4
Chris Jons v Jack Voight (/w Dan Severn)
Before this match can begin Dan Severn grabs a mic.

Severn] Backlund...Larkin...or whoever is the brain dead matchmaker these days in RCW, you just don't get it! It's bad enough that Alex Wright had to face a no-talent like Shane Madison, but now you try and embarrass a world class heavyweight like Extreme Jack Voight by putting him in the ring with this pipsqueak? Well, we won't accept it. We don't accept this match. When you are ready to have us wrestle someone at our own level then we will wrestle again. We're out of here.

With that Severn and Voight leave and head to the back, being escorted by a chorus of jeers.

For lack of something better to do we go to a commercial. When we return,


<<< cue "Denial" by Sevendust >>>
Raymond Bingham comes down to the ring, wearing his 2001 PWI Rookie of the Year t-shirt, and waving around a small Canadian flag, as he now hails from Montreal, Canada. He enters the ring and accepts the match with Chris Jons.


Chris Jons v Raymond Bingham
This match-up had all the elements of a great encounter. The straight forward, technical cruiserweight Jons against the cocky but well-rounded and apt grappler Bingham.

A couple early blocks and counters by Jons and Bingham loses his temper and takes the match outside the ring. He takes control throwing Jons into the ringsteps, giving him an atomic drop into the ringpost and then tossing him head first into the guardrail. Back inside Bingham holds the advantage but is wrestling pretty conservatively, even working a standing headlock for over a minute. Bingham goes for a dragon screw leg whip but Jons reads it and tries to counter with an enzuigiri but Bingham moves out of the way to retain control of the match.

A jawbreaker and a flying cross bodypress yield Bingham a 2 count. Finally Jons makes a comeback reversing a whip into the ropes and nailing Bingham with an elbow, followed by an arm wringer, and a series of forearm smashes driving Bingham out of the ring.

This time outside the ring its Jons' turn to deal out some damage, which consisted of three guardrail shots, a spin kick, and a double axhandle chop. Referee Jurgen Hermann gives them some slack in breaking the 10 count to let the match continue rather then just count them out.

Back inside Jons continues to punish Bingham but then elects to take the match to the outside once again. Bingham though fights back outside the ring and takes control with a reverse neckbreaker. A guardrail shot is administered for good measure and then Bingham takes Jons back inside, nails him with a cross body, and covers him for a near fall.

Jons fights back and ends up putting Bingham in the cobra clutch. Bingham reaches the ropes only to receive a kick to the midsection from Jons. The lethal one goes for an arm wringer but Bingham has a few tricks up his sleeve too, flipping over and taking Jons down with a beautifully executed crucifix into a pin that was an eyelash away from a 3 count.

Bingham goes for a bodyslam but Jons counters with a small package for a 2 count. Jons then nails a bridging back suplex and goes for the cover but its too close to the ropes and Bingham breaks the count. Jons pulls his opponent to the middle of the ring and goes for the Boston crab but Bingham kicks out of it, fighting for his life now. Bingham tries to fight back with punches but Jons blocks them and then nails two consecutive bridging back suplexes, each time getting a near 3 count. Bingham flees the ring but Jons follows and after landing a few square forearms he rolls Bingham back inside the ring.

Again Bingham fights back with punches and a rake of the face, but Jons fights through the attacks. He tosses Bingham over the top rope and then nails him with an Asai Tornado Dive.

Jons goes for a piledriver on the floor but Bingham back flips him off. Bingham nails Jons with a jawbreaker but when he tries to follow it up with a flying cross body block Jons moves out of the way.

Jons rolls Bingham back inside, nails a dragon suplex, and then follows up with the dragon sleeper which gets the submission victory.
Chris Jons defeated Raymond Bingham by submission with the Dragon Sleeper at 14:10



Bout #5
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Team Extreme: Khris Germany & Kit Carson (c) v Sam Holiday & Al Hardamann
Team Extreme did everything they could in this match to keep the challengers off balance and to try and end this match early; or get disqualified which wouldn't really mean a damn thing to them.

Khris Germany threw Sam Holiday between the ropes to the floor, where Kit Carson was waiting and sprang off of a chair to land a crushing elbow to the throat of the big Texan. Back inside Germany taunted the crowd with his pelvic thrusts, and then went back to work on Holiday getting a near fall after a DDT.

Holiday though fought them off and managed a tag to Hardamann, who after an initial flurry faired no better then his partner falling victim to double teams.

Hardamann though fought back and got himself out of trouble with a hotshot, an inverted atomic drop, and a version of the diamond cutter. He might have been able to get a 3 count but he was out of gas and had to tag in Holiday.

Carson tried to interfere at this point but Holiday would have none of it, stopping him in his tracks with a big boot and then whipping him into his partner Khris Germany. Holiday continued to punish Germany with a gutwrench suplex, full nelson slam, and a stump puller. Carson tried to interfere again at a rope break, swinging a steel chair. But Holiday saw it coming and moved out of the way, so Carson's chair bounced off the top rope and bounced up hitting himself in the face, knocking him off the apron. Holiday took the opportunity to toss Germany into the buckle and then come off the ropes with a big legdrop. He tagged in Hardamann who then nailed Germany with a death valley driver. Holiday made sure Carson wouldn't interfere and Hardamann made the title change official.
Al Hardamann & Sam Holiday defeated Team Extreme by pinfall when Hardamann pinned Germany after a DVD at 11:06
[Al Hardamann & Sam Holiday won the RCW Tag Team Titles]



Bout #6
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Vendetta (c) v Menele

Menele attacked Vendetta before the bell even sounded. He attacks with a brawling style of kicks, punches, and slaps, and then punctuates it with a DDT. Vendetta tries to fight back but Menele blocks his multiple attacks and then nails him with a spinebuster. However when he goes for a belly-to-belly suplex it's blocked by Vendetta, who then moves out of the way of a shoulderblock attempt.

The champion makes his comeback with a clothesline, and a waistlock suplex, but when he goes for a spear it's countered by Menele with a DDT.

The match is much more even after that with neither man holding a sustained advantage for several minutes of back and forth. Menele though does get an advantage with a shoulderblock, belly-to-back suplex, and then a huge overhead head and arm suplex. The challenger continues to press his advantage with brawling tactics and the occasional big suplex. Vendetta starts a comeback by nailing an Asai leg lariat coming off the ropes. Two big backdropes, then a snap suplex, roundhouse kick, Russian legsweep, and a senton yields a count of 2. Vendetta nails another snap suplex, but when he goes for a kick to the midsection Menele musters up enough energy to block it, and then fire right back with his wheel barrow suplex finisher. He's slow to cover though and this allows the champ to kick out just a fraction of a second before the 3 count.

Menele gets some sustained offense but when he goes for his finisher again, it's blocked by an elbowsmash from Vendetta. Then it's the champ's turn to turn on the offense but he can not seem to put away the strong challenger.

Menele gains control with a belly-to-back suplex followed by a German suplex, yielding a 2 count. The fans jeering Menele pick it up a notch now, their preconception that Menele could not beat Vendetta is now seemingly in doubt, and their champion is in peril.

Clothesline, belly-to-back suplex and the punishment just continues. A whip into the buckle however is reversed by Vendetta, but when the champ goes in shoulder first Menele moves out of the way. Menele then rocks the champ with a clothesline. Vendetta's backward motion propels him into the referee Buddy Lane and Menele makes the cover. He would have got the 3 count for sure, in fact he probably could have made a Bundy like 5 count but Lane was knocked out.

Menele walks over and wakes up Lane. He then whips Vendetta into the ropes but the champ has recovered enough to reverse it. The champ catches the challenger with a kick to the gut, and then brings him to the mat with a double leg takedown. Vendetta locks on the Haitian deathlock and it's all but over. But Menele won't give up, and he manages to work his way to the ropes after about 15 seconds in the hold.

Vendetta drags the challenger to the middle of the ring and nails him with a piledriver. He goes for the pin but only gets a 2 count. Frustrated he sets the challenger up once again, but this time Menele counters with a backdrop. Vendetta gets to his feet and nails Menele with a punch, followed by a pair of elbows to the bridge of the nose. The champ then goes for a springboard back elbow but Menele rolls away from it, follows the champ to the mat and locks on a hammerlock. He drags the champ to his feet and then brings him back down with a hammerlock bodyslam. He follows up with a kneedrop to the forehead, a release German suplex, and then stuns the crowd with his Wheelbarrow suplex finisher. The crowd sits in disbelief as he makes the cover and gets the 1 , 2, 3 !!!

Huge upset!!!
Menele defeated Vendetta by pinfall after a wheelbarrow suplex at 20:37
[Menele wins the RCW Heavyweight Championship]

Post-Match: Menele, Vendetta, and even Buddy Lane stand around in disbelief. The ring announcer Pamela Paulshock brings the title belt over to Lane who just stares at it for a bit before finally walking over to Menele who is still on his knees, his stare alternating between the crowd, Vendetta, and the mat underneath him. Lane walks over and presents the belt to Menele who grabs at it greedily and then kisses it. He raises it above his head and the crowd boo him, but some cheers are mixed in. Vendetta walks over and stands in front of Menele, before extending his hand and helping the new champion to his feet. The two men shake hands and then Menele displays his belt for all to see. He still gets mostly jeers but more people also cheer him now thanks to Vendetta's actions.



Main Event
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Chris Benoit (c) v Darren Michaels

Benoit controls most of the first five minutes of this match but does no big damage to Michaels. The fans are solidly behind Benoit as this match was taped on the 25th, a day before the champion of the World joined the Dangerous Alliance. Although given the people's hatred for Darren Michaels its likely they would have cheered on Benoit anyway.

Michaels makes a comeback and its his turn to control the match for a while, likewise doing no real big damage to the champ.

The first big move of the match is a belly-to-back superplex executed by the World champion, but he's too hurt to get the quick 3 count so the match continues. A Northern lights suplex yields a two count.

Michaels makes a comeback reversing a whip to the ropes and then nailing Benoit with a clothesline. After working a chokehold though Michaels goes for a piledriver but its countered by Benoit with a backdrop.

Benoit works over Michaels but mostly with chops and kicks which aren't going to put the veteran away. The action spills out of the ring and when Michaels returns he brings a table in with him. Referee Buddy Lane threatens Michaels with a DQ after he bodyslams Benoit on the table which lied on the mat, upside down. So Michaels took Benoit outside the ring and laid a steel chair on the ground. He then delivered a piledriver onto the chair on Benoit, followed by a double arm DDT onto the chair.

Chris Benoit was busted wide open.

Michaels took Benoit back inside but by the time Lane finished admonishing Michaels and made the count Benoit was able to kick out. Michaels chopped Benoit down right to the throat. He then pulled him over to the corner and locked on the figure-four around the ringpost!!

Lane made a quick count and forced Michaels to let go or risk DQ. However, Michaels immediately went to reapply the move, but Benoit kicked him right in the groin to end that attempt.

Back inside Benoit manages to fight back again, but still mostly with chops and kicks. When he goes for an inverted atomic drop its blocked by Michaels. The two exchange the advantage as the match deteriorates to a fist fight.

Benoit is now bleeding profusely.

The match spills outside the ring again where Michaels springs off a chair nailing the champ with a spin kick. Michaels works Benoit over with the ringsteps before rolling him back into the ring.

Darren Michaels signals the end is near and he climbs to the top rope, and brings the champ down to the mat with a top-rope brainbuster!!

The fans are going nuts and a big smile crosses the face of Michaels. But in his haste he doesn't cover him properly and at the count of two the resilient champ sticks a foot out and across the bottom rope.

Frustrated Michaels stomps away at Benoit and then throws him into the corner. He charges in but Benoit pulls his knees up and feeds them to Michaels. The champ then more or less falls out of the corner, and on the way down locks on the crippler crossface on Michaels. The fans are going crazy again as the champ has on his finisher move, his face a mask of crimson red, but even the fans can see the move isn't locked on with his usual strength.

The black and red masked man comes down to ringside, drawing jeers from the crowd.

Michaels works his way to the ropes and gets the break.

Darren Michaels' turn to fight back and then take control again with a springboard spinwheel kick followed by a moonsault from the second turnbuckle. This draws a cover and a 1, 2, but then the masked man (unknown to Michaels) pulls Benoit's foot over the bottom rope to get the break!!

Benoit fights back with an overhead release German suplex. Benoit tries to kick Michaels in the gut but its blocked and then Michaels nails a clothesline, and then follows up with a brainbuster. He goes for the pin but can only get a 2 count.

Referee Buddy Lane takes a second out to check on the blood loss by Benoit which is starting to mount at an alarming rate. As he does this the masked man jumps onto the apron and Michaels meets him, holding out his hand. The masked man digs into a pocket and produces a set of brass knuckles.

But instead of passing Michaels the brass knux the red and black masked man ~waffles~ Darren Michaels with the knux!!! Michaels drops like a sack of rocks.

Benoit nails a pair of German suplexes and then climbs to the top rope. He yells at Michaels "You like the taste of blood so much, I'm going to feed you some you sick piece of shit". Benoit then comes off the top rope with his swandive headbutt, which when it connects sends the blood from his forehead splattering across the ring.

Suddenly Bill Goldberg comes charging down to ringside out of the blue, and runs right at and spears the mysterious masked man.

Benoit is groggy but manages to crawl over, laying his back across Michaels, hooking a leg, and gets the 1 , 2, 3 !!!

Chris Benoit defeats Darren Michaels by pinfall after a swandive headbutt at 26:00
[Chris Benoit retained the NWA World Heavyweight Title]
Match Rating: ****1/4

Post-Match:
Things got even more wild after the match was over.

A bloodied Chris Benoit rolled out of the ring and snatched up his World Title. He didn't take any time out to pose for the crowd but instead just started a slow walk up the rampway.

In the meantime, Bill Goldberg gorilla press slammed the masked man into the ring. He followed in with a mic. Goldberg told the fallen man that his time as Michael's crony was over. Darren Michaels in the meantime had recovered enough to back himself into the corner, and lay there propped up against the bottom turnbuckle watching.

Golberg propped up the masked man and as he pulled off the mask he announced to the crowd that it was Luke Hardamann!!

But when Goldberg pulled off the mask both he and Darren Michaels were in shock as the man under the mask was actually,

Jody Christmas!!

Godlberg stomped the mat and held his head like it was hurting him before staring menacingly at Darren Michaels who just shrugged his shoulders and did his best to spit a wad at Goldberg. The big man then began to close in on Michaels when Luke Hardamann suddenly entered the ring and clobbered Goldberg from behind with a wooden chair that shattered into small pieces.

We were then shown a shot of World champion Chris Benoit who had paused half way up the ramp to watch what was going on. Inside the ring Darren Michaels and Luke Hardamann now lay a beating onto Goldberg. Benoit just threw up his hands about the situation and continued his way to backstage.

Jody Christmas though recovered his feet and dived in taking down his half-brother, the two men wrestling away on the ground.

To make matters more convoluted suddenly the new RCW tag team champions Al Hardamann and Sam Holiday came running in from the back. By now Goldberg had mounted a spirited comeback and was clobbering in swinging punches at Luke Hardamann.

This didn't go over well with his brother Al who attacked Goldberg from behind. Sam Holiday made a brief attempt to be the peacemaker until he was fed a sucker punch to the mouth by Luke Hardamann followed up by a bulldog.

So now we had the Michaels-Christmas fight spill out of the ring and continuing to brawl on the outside, while inside the ring Luke Hardamann was pounding on Sam Holiday and Al Hardamann was having a lot of problems with the behemoth Goldberg.

But that's not all folks.

We suddenly went to a split screen, with the second feed coming from a backstage camera. Chris Benoit lay down flat on the ground beside some first aid station. Standing over him is Scott Steiner who goes right to work on Benoit, first peppering his bloodied forehead with more shots, and then locking on the Steiner-recliner.

In the other feed from the ring, suddenly the ring is swarmed on all four sides by The New Right. Dan Severn, Alex Wright, Jack Voight, and Kai Hanson all enter the ring. Voight and Hanson are both equipped with steel chains wrapped around their fists. Those Damn Germans go to work on everyone, Luke Hardamann, Goldberg, Al Hardamann, and Sam Holiday. They start to bust each of them open with the steel chains. In the meantime we get a quick feed which shows Darren Michaels now in control of his brawl with his brother Christmas. JC is busted wide open and Michaels is working him over in the stands with a steel chair. Security finally intervenes and manages to break those two apart ending that confrontation.

Inside the ring the New Right tosses all four of their opponents out of the ring, and pose for the crowd as they are rained down by popcorn boxes and half-full overpriced soda pop.

On the other side of the screen security forces Steiner to break his hold on Benoit but he doesn't hold back and starts to throw security around, bouncing them off walls. Commissioner Bob Backlund is on the scene and threatens to have Steiner expelled from the NWA. Steiner just yells at Backlund "I don't work for you" and proceeds to gutwrench suplex him right on top of Benoit. Steiner kicks the former WWWF champ off of the current world champ, and then picks Benoit up by the hair and gives him a gutwrench suplex right onto a table full of medical supplies including many metal implements that look awfully painful. Benoit is passed out from blood loss and pain. Steiner just laughs and says, "Royal Road...September 4th..Tokoyo...you might not want to show."


FADE TO BLACK