WWE News 4U

We start with the usual video package, then we go to the ring where Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Kenny King come out for our opening promo. MVP says that Lashley is already the TNA World Champion, and soon he’ll be the Bellator MMA Champion as well. Samoa Joe comes down to the ring and holds the X Division Title belt up to Lashley as the fans inform Lashley that Joe is gonna kill him. He gives Lashley credit for decimating a lot of competition to get where he is, but he’s not okay with MVP pushing Lashley as the toughest man in the city, but he isn’t the toughest man in the city, on the planet, or in the ring. Joe says they can put the titles aside and they can just fight. King tells Joe that he must be breathing in too many fumes from the firedancing because he can’t beat Lashley. Joe nails King and goes after MVP, then winds up in a pull apart brawl with Lashley. MVP herds Lashley and King up the aisle and tells Joe that if he wants a fight, he’ll get one tonight and that he’s gonna die.

Havok…HAS ARRIVED!

We see a video package hyping the history between Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell, with each girl scoring one win leading into the match that starts…now!

Knockouts Title Match: Gail Kim vs Taryn Terrell

They start trading pinfall attempts right off the bat, then Terrell gets the advantage with a series of clotheslines and covers Gail for 2. Terrell tries going to the top, but Gail catches her with a super Frankensteiner, then dishes out some clotheslines of her own. Gail tries charging Terrell in the corner, but Terrell moves and Gail just sails right through the ropes and hits hard on the floor. They wind up fighting on the apron and make their way on top of the steel steps where Gail hits a neckbreaker that knocks both girls silly. That was really nasty, and looked even worse in the slow motion replay. They both somehow drag themselves back inside, and Gail suddenly catches Terrell with Eat DaFeet out of nowhere and makes a cover, but Terrell kicks out at the last tenth of a second. Gail goes for it again, but Terrell blocks it and hits a Stunner for 2. The crowd is going nuts for this as Terrell goes back to the top and hits a crossbody, but Gail rolls through and cradles Terrell for the win.

Winner: Gail Kim

Great match and I loved the finish because Gail looked awesome for winning such a hard fought match, but she caught Terrell and it could have just as easily been Terrell. They shake hands and hug after the match, but weird music hits and out comes…HAVOK! She lays both girls out with a double clothesline, flattens Terrell with an air raid crash, then chokeslams Gail. One more air raid crash for Gail, and she stands tall over both girls.

MVP catches Eric Young backstage and EY doesn’t want to listen to him, but MVP brings up what Dave and I have been talking about on Stu & Pid for weeks about how EY used to live in indentured servitude to Bobby Roode and was in constant fear of being fired by him. EY chooses to Russo thathistory and says he trusts Bobby and doesn’t trust MVP.

The Bromans do their weekly plug for Tinder, and they do some angle where Jessie Godderz apparently stole Robbie E’s Tinder girl. The less said about this the better.

Ethan Carter III comes out with Spud and is sick of the fans getting their jollies from his Aunt Dee going through a table. Dixie Carter is a saint, but the charity ends and the first victim was Rhino because now instead of handing him cash, he’s handing Rhino beating after beating for what he’s responsible for. He’ll keep it up until his demands are met: Bully Ray is terminated, the words hardcore and extreme are never mentioned again because he’s sick of living in the past, and he wants respect for what he’s done in the ring here. He’s beaten every last person thrown in front of him, so he doesn’t want to hear “you can’t wrestle” chants anymore. The fans do it anyway and EC3 says he’s the greatest professional wrestler alive. Rhino hops the rail, skeeballs Spud out of the ring, and attacks EC3, who is dragged to safety by Spud. Rhino wants EC3 in the ring right now so he can beat the hell out of him, and the fans violate Demand #2 by chanting ECW. EC3 says that if Rhino wants a fight tonight, he’s got it…against Spud

Gunner finds Sam Shaw backstage and wants to talk about last week. With Brittany standing in the background staring at them and playing with her hair through the entire segment, Shaw apologizes and just wanted to know what it was like to be a hero like Gunner. Gunner forgives him, then looks over at Brittany and tells Shaw to keep his mind on the match tonight. They walk off as Brittany keeps doing her “crazy girl who goes to the bar by herself” routine.

Gunner & Samuel Shaw vs Bram & His Sidekick

Magnus and Shaw start us off, and Shaw quickly snaps off a great dropkick that catches Magnus completely off guard, then takes the former champion down with an armdrag. Shaw tags Gunner in, hits a sweet high legdrop, and Gunner covers for 2. Magnus tags in Bram, who is thoughtfully wearing a t-shirt so I can tell him and Gunner apart, and we get the Battle Of Two Crazy Brawlers Who Like To Fight! They fight…and fight…and fight and fight and fight…fightfightfight…fightfightfight…and then Bram goes to the eyes. Shaw tags himself in and checks on Gunner, but Gunner shoves him away and steps out of the ring. Shaw winds up in trouble but is quickly able to tag Gunner in and he goes to town on Bram and hits him with a slingshot suplex. Magnus comes in and clips Gunner’s knee, and Bram rolls him up for the win while Shaw just stands there yelling.

Winners: Bram & Magnus

Shaw is pissed off and yells at Magnus & Bram as they leave, then drags the referee in and chews him out until Gunner backs him off.

MVP finds Bobby Roode backstage and asks him if he thinks Eric Young is going to give him a fair fight. Roode says of course he is because they respect each other, and MVP brings up when Roode used to own Young and tells him Young hasn’t forgotten.

We go back to the Bromans as their Tinder matches show up, and it’s…the Beautiful People. They say that if the Bromans keep them happy, they’ll keep the Bromans happy. DJ Z, who I guess is just going to go spank it by himself, tells the cameraman to give the lovebirds some privacy.

#1 Contender’s Match: Bobby Roode vs Eric Young

They do some basic stuff to start and nothing important happens until Roode catches Young with a kick to the chest coming through the ropes and starts putting the boots to him. Young responds by snapping Roode’s neck over the top rope and nails him with a missile dropkick for 2. Roode tears through EY with a clothesline and hits a Blockbuster for 2, then hits a spinebuster for another 2. Young wheelbarrow suplexes Roode out of nowhere and hits a moonsault for 2. Roode catches Young in the crippler crossface, Young rolls through for a cradle for 2, Roode gets a cradle of his own for 2, and Young DDTs Roode for 2. Young hits the top rope elbowdrop for 2 and then motions for the piledriver, Roode backdrops Young and they exchange pinfall attempts until Roode hoists Young up and hits the Roode Bomb for 2.

Winner: Bobby Roode

Another really good match. They shake and hug after the match and Young raises Roode’s hand.

Bobby Roode is backstage and says he’s exhausted, but excited because he’s finally back in the World Title picture. He turns around and comes face to face with Lashley, and they just stare each other down without saying a word.

Team 3D is backstage and they’ve chosen a tables match as the second match in the series. Bubba says there was no other match they would have chosen, and they’re proud to say that tag team wrestling is alive again in TNA and they’re going to add yet another tag title to their resume.

X Division #1 Contender’s Match: Tigre Uno vs Crazzy Steve vs Manik vs Homicide vs Low Ki vs DJ Z

Spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot spot Homicide pins Manik after hitting the Cop Killa.

Winner: Homicide

Same six guys, same match. James Storm comes out with the Great Sanada, who slides into the ring, superkicks Manik in the face, and rolls him out to the floor where he and Storm drag Manik’s lifeless form to the locker room.

Austin Aries is in the ring and says he might have a little green tint to his skin after what Sanada did last week, but it was after James Storm interjected himself as well. Aries has never been afraid of fighting 2-on-1, so they can come on out and do this right now. Storm and Sanada come out and Storm says Sanada has gone through a reawakening and the same way he remade Sanada, he’ll do the same for Manik. Sanada will be the greatest man to ever come out of Japan, but Aries says the fans hear great and only think of Austin Aries. Aries says Sanada threw everything away when he went with Storm, who has been pissing people off in TNA since day one, and Sanada just pissed off all of Japan. But he didn’t come alone, Sanada pissed someone else off and introduces…Tajiri! They fight Storm and Sanada off and stand tall in the ring.

Spud is backstage and tells EC3 that he isn’t keen on fighting Rhino. EC3 shows Spud the door and says he could go there, but if he wants to keep his job, the ring’s this way.

We see a video package looking at Chris Melendez training with Team 3D and being introduced last week, and next week’s show will open with his debut match!

Rockstar Spud vs Rhino

Spud tries, he really does, but Rhino manhandles the poor kid while shooting EC3 dirty looks. Spud manages to avoid the Gore and brings a trash can into the ring, but pauses to respond to fans chanting “ECW” by responding with an “EC3″ chant, and turns around right into the Gore, and it’s all academic from there.

Winner: Rhino

Ethan Carter III, who was stone faced at ringside the entire match, simply walks to the back without any reaction.

Bobby Lashley and Samoa Joe are backstage, and they’re…WALKING! They’ll face off next!

TNA World Champion Bobby Lashley vs X Division Champion Samoa Joe

They start brawling at ringside before the bell rings and Joe catches Lashley charging in and hits the STJoe on the floor. Joe brings the champion inside the ring and hits the twisting enziguiri and nails the Facewash, but Lashley charges Joe in the corner with repeated shoulderblocks. Joe catches him with a front choke on the last charge, but Lashley works free and hits a neckbreaker on Joe for 2. Joe hits the inverted atomic drop/running boot/senton for 2, then snaps Lashley over with a powerslam for another 2. Joe goes to the second rope, but Lashley powerslams him to the mat and goes for the spear. Joe evades and gets the Kokina clutch, Kenny King tries to interfere and gets dumped by Joe, Lashley slips in and hits Uncle Slam for 2, then nails the spear for the win.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Good main event, and Joe looked strong in the way he dominated the champion until King interfered at the end.

- We noted earlier that Vince Russo had the following to say in an interview with Pro Wrestling Reportabout Spike TV not being a good partner for TNA:

“I’ve been holding this back for years and I finally get to say this. I felt like Hannibal Lecter when he was strapped in and had his mouth wired shut. Spike TV is a horrible partner. Why TNA would ever want to partner with Spike is beyond me unless there were no other options. If Spike TV were the only option to stay on television then I would understand it. They are a horrible partner, they know nothing about the wrestling business. The way they advertised and marketed the program over the years was absolutely atrocious.

I can tell you this from a position where I worked with the USA network. I worked directly with Bonnie Hammer. She was the female version of Vince McMahon. She knew what she was doing. When you had Bonnie Hammer at USA and Vince McMahon, the sky was the limit. If TNA signs another deal with Spike TV great for them. It will move along for another two years and everyone will work but the product will not grow on Spike TV. My hope for TNA is that a new network comes along and embraces TNA and gives them the time and investment to help grow the product. I can’t say this enough. TNA ON SPIKE TV WILL NEVER GROW!”

Courtesy of F4Wonline.com, below is a response from David Schwarz, the Senior Vice President of Communications with Spike TV:

“I want to start by saying we enjoyed a great relationship, a very collaborative relationship with Dixie Carter and her team over the years. We took TNA from a late night spot on Saturday nights, doing 500,000 viewers, to a two-hour time slot that did two million viewers over time. Spike went out of its way, not in just adhering to its contract, but above and beyond the contract. We paid Hulk Hogan, we paid Eric Bischoff, with our money. We financed many shows. We financed U.K. shows. We helped promote. We gave TNA a prime time slot of Thursdays from 9-11 p.m. I think his comments are way off base. Clearly, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s somebody who thinks more of himself than really exists. Vince Russo never meant anything to Spike TV. He had nothing to do with negotiations. Nobody cares about Vince Russo at Spike TV. Nobody cares or knows who he is. We have a great relationship with TNA. We went above and beyond for them, as they did for us. Dixie helped promote our shows. What Vince Russo is saying is complete nonsense.”

- Trish Stratus recently spoke with Slam Wrestling and revealed that Bully Ray was on the list of potential names to induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. She said:

“I think fans would be surprised to know that Bubba Ray Dudley [TNA's Bully Ray] was on the list. He’s on it because he was kind of giving me a trust/tough love when I first came in. But once I proved myself to him, he really opened up and was really kind and giving and would advise me on a lot of things. So when we finally worked together, once he saw that I was willing to take the table and I used to tell him: ‘Don’t protect me, don’t go easy on me, I just want to do it and do it good and make the fans proud,’ and he appreciated that. So we’ve became really close friends and we had a great relationship and he really helped me a lot.”

- We noted via The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that CM Punk’s lawyers recently sent a 22-page letter to WWE in regards to royalties and WWE using his likeness. In what is being seen as a response from WWE, they removed the majority of Punk’s merchandise from his Alumni page on WWEshop.com this week. Only four Punk items are available on the site – a regularly priced action figure for $10.99, a DK Reader Book marked down to $0.99 from $4.99, a pendant marked down to $1.99 from $11.99 and wrist sleeves marked down to $2.99 from $11.99.

- Tonight’s WWE Main Event kicks off with Michael Cole and Byron Saxton. They announce Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho for Night of Champions.

- Seth Rollins comes to the ring and does a “where are they now?” on The Shield. Rollins says Dean Ambrose deserved to be put down. Rollins also knocks Roman Reigns. He puts himself over and says he’s the future of the company and the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter interrupt.

Zeb cuts a promo on Rollins and calls him a sell out. Rollins will face Swagger next.

Seth Rollins vs. Jack Swagger

Swagger takes control early on and sends Rollins to the floor. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Swagger is in control on the outside. They come back in and Rollins turns it around. The end comes when Rollins nails the Curb Stomp for the win.

Winner: Seth Rollins

- Heath Slater and Titus O’Neil are backstage. They’ve got a plan to catch The Bunny but Slater isn’t so sure about it.

- We get hype for Brock Lesnar and John Cena on next week’s RAW. Cesaro is shown walking backstage as we go to commercial.

Cesaro vs. Zack Ryder

Back from the break and Zack Ryder waits in the ring as Cesaro makes his way out.

Cesaro hurt Ryder’s knee early on and kept working on it. Cesaro ends up getting the win.

Winner: Cesaro

- After the match, Cesaro cuts a promo on how he will win the United States Title from Sheamus atNight of Champions.

- We get commercials and a look back at Jerry Springer on RAW.

- Slater and Titus try to catch The Bunny backstage but trap Slater under the net instead.

Titus O’Neil vs. Adam Rose

Titus starts off and goes at it with Rose. Titus with some power moves and a huge boot to the face. The Bunny comes down and distracts Titus from the apron. Slater crawls under the ring and confronts The Bunny on the apron. The Bunny hits an enziguri on Slater, allowing Rose to roll up Titus for the win.

Winner: Adam Rose

- After the match, Rose celebrates with the Rosebuds as Slater and Titus look on.

Los Matadores vs. The Ascension

Back from the break and Los Matadores are in the ring. WWE NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension are out next.

The Ascension dominates the match and gets the win with Fall of Man.

Winners: The Ascension

- Main Event goes off the air with The Ascension posing in the ring with their titles as the announcers plug Takeover 2.