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DWF 03/03/08

91Posted on 08/12/06 at 04:16:47

ROYAL RUMBLE QUALIFIER: Edge & Christian vs The Miracle Violence Connection

Todays Royal Rumble qualifiers provided an interesting mix of combatants and
eight more names were added to the mix. The opening match of the evening
pitted former tag team champions Edge and Christian in their first match since
dropping the belts against Gordy and Williams of the Miracle Violence
Connection. One might have thought this was the perfect time to face Edge and
Christians with emotions at an undoubted low and though they didn't seem quite
as perky going into the match, they were certainly up for it and took it to
their opponents hard.

Most other teams would have fallen early but going hard at it suits the MVC
down to the ground and a very physical match ensued with neither team really
gaining any ground for the best part. Finally after Christian and Gordy had
been battling it out for a few minutes with Gordy in control, Christian came
back with a reverse elbow that left both men down. The tags were shortly made
and Edge looked sharp as he came in, taking Williams down with a spear. Gordy
tried to come back but Christian came back and threw him from the ring before
using Edge as a springboard to leap over the ropes and onto Gordy.

With just Edge and Williams left in it following that move, Williams quickly
came back, striking Edge from behind and throwing him into the corner. Williams
missed his charge and Edge quickly hooked Williams in position for the Downward
Spiral and picked up the victory. A solid outing from the now former champs and
if they could maintain that sort of form, there's every chance that they won't
have to wait long to pick up the tag team titles for a third time.

[Royal Rumble Qualifier]:
Edge & Christian (Edge and Christian) defeated
The Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy) when Edge
pinned S. Williams with the Downward Spiral in 0:13:37.
Rating: ****

Pitbull #2 vs Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle is still livid about missing out on the Royal Rumble match and
will take little consollation that he has to take on Rhyno at Last Man Standing
instead. He had a chance to vent his frustrations out on Pitbull #2 today and
vent he did as he immediately began by working over the leg of the Pitbull.
Pitbull #2 came back with a hard powerslam and a couple of clotheslines that
rocked Angle but from being face down on the mat, Angle somehow grabbed the
ankle and rolled the Pitbull into the ankle lock. Pitbull #2 managed to reach
the ropes but the restbite was short lived as Angle hit the Olympic Slam right
after to score the win. Angle looked intense at the bell, as if he was looking
for vengeance wherever he could find it.

Kurt Angle pinned Pitbull #2 with the Olympic Slam in 0:03:37.
Rating: ***

ROYAL RUMBLE QUALIFIER: The Syndicate vs The Mean Street Posse

Our next Rumble qualifier was, frankly, a gimme as the Mean Street Posse took
on The Syndicate. Before the match, the Posse announced they were going to
light a series of candelabras as a sign of the respect they deserve from their
fellow wrestlers. Shamrocks response to that was to grab one of the candelabras
and waffle both Posse members round the head with it. Storm then took over as
the match got underway and while Shamrock threw Gas around like a paper plane
outside the ring, Storm ran rings round Rodney on the inside and garnered the
easy pin after a crucifix.

[Royal Rumble Qualifier]:
The Syndicate (Lance Storm and Ken Shamrock) defeated
The Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas and Rodney) when L. Storm pinned Rodney after
a crucifix in 0:01:36.
Rating: **

Kings Court: Pre-match build up for Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero

As promised last week, perhaps the biggest Royal Rumble qualifier pitted Chris
Jericho against Eddie Guerrero. To mark this one, King Kanyon hosted a special
pre-match Kings Court in order to allow both men a little trash talking right
before their match. Eddie was as cocky as ever, telling Jericho he'd cheat him
just like God had cheated Jericho. Jericho responded by telling Eddie head
beat Eddie just like his dad used to beat him. Eddie angrily told Jericho not
to make fun of "Pappy Gori" (with just a glimmer of a proud look on his face)
but Jericho persisted.

Eddie tried to strike but Jericho struck first, then grabbed Kanyons sceptre
and cracked it across Eddies face. Jericho then picked up the throne and was
about to drop it across Eddies back, only for Kanyon to grab the sceptre and
hit Jericho across the back of the head. Kanyon, who was heard to mention
something about not letting Jericho destroy his Kings Court, then stuck the
boots to him, and a groggy Eddie shortly joined in. Officials managed to break
things up but the match was due to start right now, and Kanyon was persisting
in staying at ringside, adding his voice to the commentary team.

ROYAL RUMBLE QUALIFIER: Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero

Eddie, naturally, dominated the early stages of the match but Jericho was
somehow managing to hang on in there and in due course even mount a comeback,
despite clearly still being a bit woozy from the earlier attack. Kanyon soon
left the broadcast booth when Jericho really began to mount an assault, and
got onto the apron just as Jericho was locking on the Lion Tamer. Jericho,
distracted, didn't hook on the move in full and Eddie was able to kick out of
it, sending Jericho head first into Kanyon. Jericho was dazed again as he
slumped in the ropes. Eddie ran in and jumped onto Jericho just as Kanyon hit
Jericho across the face with the crown. Jericho was now clearly out of it and
Eddie capitalised with the Frog Splash to secure the victory.

After the match, Jericho was clearly in a foul mood backstage, perhaps you
could even say he was on the warpath, as he searched for Kanyon. No luck
however as King Kanyon had long made his exit. Still, he won't have to wait
forever to get him as Kanyon has a series of Kings Courts lined up for the
coming weeks.

[Royal Rumble Qualifier]:
Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Jericho with the Frog Splash in 0:12:51.
Rating: *** 1/2

Don Muraco and Matt Hardy discuss matters

Don Muraco was clearly concerned about how Last Man Standing was shaping up
with last weeks announcement that Raven and the Dynamite Kid would both be
getting byes into the Royal Rumble. He and Jeff Hardy approached commissioner
Matt Hardy to get to the bottom of this. Matt assured the two of them that his
hands had been tied on the matter and he hadn't wanted to give them a free
pass. Also a concern was the entry of Brad Armstrong following the manner in
which he qualified last week, defeating Jeff Hardy and getting one over Muraco.

Matt agreed that these were matters that would be worth dealing with and he
arranged for the two automatic qualifiers, Raven and Dynamite, to go into a
handicap match tonight against Muraco and Jeff Hardy along with a man who
appears to be best described as a business associate of sorts of Muraco these
days, Alex Wright as well as his bodyguard Ulf Herman. Matt also advised them
that were anything to happen to Brad Armstrong tonight, nobody would hold it
against them, and the three of them shared a big evil laugh.

The Young Lions vs Hunter Hearst-Helmsley & Rockabilly

With all that in mind, Brad Armstrong had turned up in order to deal with one particular
matter. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley and Rockabilly were taking on the Young Lions
and at first, the Lions were the dominant team. Helmsley had started off well
but Rockabilly was in deep trouble as the Lions were hitting him with some
smooth double team moves. Cue Helmsley to nail Joey Matthews with a pair of
brass knuckles and allow Rockabilly to take control. With Matthews down,
Rockabilly had the chance to cover, but instead decided to give us "The most
electrifying move in Sports Entertainment today" - SHUFFLEBILLY! The fans tore
him to shreds, but not as much as Armstrong did, sprinting to the ring and
nailing him from behind, drawing a DQ.

The win didn't matter much as Brad slapped the taste right out of Rockabillys
mouth. Helmsley made the save, allowing Rockabilly to stagger off, but
Helmsley didn't last long, getting hit with the Rock Bottom and Peoples Elbow.
Brad was on a high but this didn't last long - upon getting back to the
dressing room, he was set upon by Alex Wright and Ulf Herman. Herman did the
big damage by powerbombing him to the concrete floor while Wright beat him
with his whip. Evidently this was all relating to the earlier discussion
between Don Muraco and Matt Hardy and may have done a good job in softening
him up for the Rumble match.

Hunter Hearst-Helmsley & Rockabilly (Hunter Hearst-Helmsley and Rockabilly)
defeated The Young Lions (Christian York and Joey Matthews) when Rockabilly
defeated Matthews by disqualification in 0:04:02.
Rating: * 1/2

A brief word from Andrew Martin

Andrew Martin appeared again today in a pre-taped segment in which he
remenisced about a supposed incident where during a barbed wire match against
Andre the Giant, he suffered a thirty inch gash in his leg that turned sceptic
a few minutes later, before adding he wasn't sure how he beat him to win the
NWA title that night, before reminding us of the dangers not to try this at
home.

ROYAL RUMBLE QUALIFIER: The Rock'n'Roll Express vs Billy Kidman & Steve Corino

Billy Kidman might have won last years Royal Rumble but has suffered a
considerable slump in recent weeks. His partner Steve Corino meanwhile has been
on a roll and has been television champion for getting on for a year now.
There was a very big threat that Kidman might not even make it to this years
Rumble as the pair of them took on the Rock'n'Roll Express in a Rumble qualifier
but with Corino dedicating his career to getting Kidman back to the top (when
he's not defending his TV title).

The match was a tight affair. Kidman and Corino don't have the tag team
expertise the Express do, even though they make a tight unit, and had to rely
on their individual skills to get by. It was Kidman however who was caught in
the corner and worked over for a long period and when he did catch a break, he
had to relent and tag in Corino. Corino was a house on fire and was doing a
tremendous job of working over Morton who was the new legal man and Gibson who
tried to swing things back in the direction for his team.

Finally Corino floored Gibson with a spinebuster and had Kidman throw him from
the ring and after the Old School Expulsion on Morton, he tagged Kidman back in
so he could hit the Shooting Star Press and get the pin. Backstage, Kidman was
elated and confidently predicted victory in the Rumble in an interview where
he also thanked Corino for helping him during this tough time. Corino meanwhile
didn't say anything or pay much attention, he was too busy admiring himself
in the reflection from his own TV title belt.

[Royal Rumble Qualifier]:
Billy Kidman & Steve Corino (Billy Kidman and Steve Corino) defeated
The Rock'n'Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) when Kidman pinned
R. Morton with the Shooting Star Press in 0:14:39.
Rating: ****

Jody Fleisch vs Heidenreich

With seven names in, who would the aforementioned eighth Rumble qualifier be
with no more qualifying matches left today? Matt Hardy it seems is very
focused on ridding the DWF of Jody Fleisch, but made the unusual step of
giving Jody Fleisch a free pass to the Rumble, just to ensure he got a beating
from 29 different angles. Further more, he'd give him just a little taste of
what he could expect by putting him up against Heidenreich today with himself
and Gene Snitsky at ringside and every other wrestler barred.

The odds stacked against him, Fleisch did a great job of keeping Heidenreich
at bay for the best part but with Snitsky and Hardy always pulling something at
ringside, it was never going to last. After a series of cheap shots, Fleisch
was making one more comeback and had Heidenreich rocking. Snitsky was quickly
ordered to distract the ref and that he did while Hardy jumped onto the apron
and dropped Fleisch neck first across the top rope. Fleisch staggered back
right into the arms of Heidenreich who planted Fleisch with the Nail in the
Coffin for the victory.

Cue a post-match beatdown. Heidenreich hooked up Fleisch while Snitsky began
working the ribs but Hardy soon cut them off saying they'd done enough damage
but he wanted to make sure he was fit enough for the Rumble. Fleisch was
clearly banged up but looked eager to get back at Hardy, be it now, next week
or at Last Man Standing.

Heidenreich pinned Jody Fleisch with the Nail in the Coffin in 0:08:08.
Rating: *** 1/4

Raven and The Dynamite Kid vs Don Muraco, Jeff Hardy, Alex Wright & Ulf Herman

With Brad out of the way, at least for now, there was the small matter of the
main event - the four on two handicap match. It was an impossible situation
at first glance but Raven and Dynamite had things well planned, taking Muraco
out of the ring with a double clothesline from the start and using the time
before he got back to work over the remaining three, which became two when
Herman was knocked over and got tied in the ropes. Dynamite took Jeff out with
a stiff lariat while Raven hit Wright with a backbreaker that could have gotten
three if it wasn't for Muraco popping back up to make the save.

From there, Muracos team began to dominate proceedings and Raven was the man
they worked over in their half of the ring. Raven clawed on and refused to
surrender despite intense pressure. Eventually Raven came back when Jeff Hardy
missed a legdrop off the turnbuckles and was able to tag Dynamite Kid in. With
Raven beaten down, Dynamites controlling over proceedings was brief as the
others spilled in and overwhelmed in. Raven came back into things but Muraco
and Hardy double teamed him with Wright and Herman working over Dynamite.

A failed double team saw Jeff Hardy whipped right into the arms of Herman,
knocking them both down. Dynamite nailed Wright with a right hand and he and
Raven then went to work on Muraco. A double bodyslam sent Muraco rolling from
the ring. Alex Wright then tried to make an impact by whipping Raven but
Dynamite snatched the offending object away and cracked it over his back.
Dynamite then took care of Jeff Hardy while Raven hit a groggy Ulf Herman with
the Evenflow to score an unlikely victory.

Muracos team, rather than try anything else, left angrily whilst mouthing
various threats. Raven and Dynamite may have come out of this one unscathed
but there could be worse to come in the coming weeks leading up to Last Man
Standing.

Handicap-Match:
Dynamite Kid and Raven defeated
Don Muraco & Jeff Hardy (Don Muraco and Jeff Hardy), Alex Wright and Ulf Herman
when Raven pinned Herman with the Evenflow in 0:13:09.
Rating: **** 1/4

Finally it has been announced that Sean O'Haire and Brian Pillman are being
kept apart for the next few weeks to try and calm tempers between them - from
here until Last Man Standing, if one man is in action, the other will be barred
from the building. That said, with O'Haire in the Rumble and Pillman in his
qualifying match next week, they may have no choice but to let them go at it
come the Royal Rumble...
Snabbit888Posted on 08/12/06 at 07:42:27

Good to see E&C looking strong after losing the tag titles.  Neither man has a chance at winning the Rumble, obviously, but I expect a good showing at the very least.

Angle continues to look good.  I'm glad to see he's finally getting pushed as the bad ass he is in DWF.

One has to wonder why the Syndicate got such an easy road to the Rumble.  Just a coincidence or does Hardy want them there?

Kanyon is a King!  You do not destroy his Court!  I originally spelled that with a K, but then realized that King Kanyon's Kourt might lead to some lawsuits.

Uh oh... did NOT see Eddie winning this match.  Not that he's not talented, but he hasn't been pushed as a mainline player in DWF for awhile, and Jericho is a former World champion.  Kanyon going to be wrestling more now?

Oooh... big evil laughs are so evil.  By the way, I think you may have told me this before, but I have forgotten... how exactly did Matt Hardy become commish?

ACK!  You do NOT fuck with the Rock that may.  Armstrong going for his IC Title again soon?

This new Test gimmick rules.  Needs more Test.

Awww... how sweet of Corino to let Kidman get the pin (even though Kidman seems oblivious to the fact that Corino for all intents and purposes won the match by himself).  I love where this is going.  I smell Corino eliminating Kidman from the Rumble.

HEIDENREICH!  Take THAT, Fleisch!

Good main event.  Nothing too monumental, but no stories went backwards or anything.  And it was nice to see the faces come out unscathed.  Usually in these situations, it's a huge beatdown for them if they win or lose.
91Posted on 08/12/06 at 12:31:21

The commissionership? After the spot became vacant, Shane McMahon was trying to work out who best to hire and Matt Hardy, who had just turned heel a few months back, did a quick face turn (of sorts - he faced heels and teamed with faces but he didn't mean it) and REALLY buttered up to Shane, buying him gifts, baking him cookies and the like. Then, to make it look like he wasn't trying to suck up to him, he'd start suggesting other people he knew Shane would never hire and acted like they were best friends and slowly but surely (by slowly, I mean in about a month) we won Shane over. Shane hired him and went on holiday, Matt promptly went heel again. Then later went face, and now is a heel again. Give it a couple of months and there's stuff going on with the commissionership, but I won't go into detail.

Syndicate? Honestly? Co-incidence. For the sake of continuity, let's say Chris Jericho was due to face one or both of the Posse but when Hardy re-jigged the draw to punish Y2J, it just worked out that Lance and Kenny got the easy draw instead.
americamamushiPosted on 08/12/06 at 21:11:18

Good win for Edge & Christian in the opener.  Looks like they're down after losing the belts but not out.

After Angle's win over Pitbull#2, I'm thinking he's going to use his frustration with being left out of the royal rumble match to leave a trail of bodies all the way to his LMS match.

Poor MSP, so prone to ass kick-age :)

Kidman has been in a slump, but perhaps his qualifying for the rumble tonight is a sign of things to come.  Maybe he'll be able to turn himself around enough to win this year's rumble too.  I'm not holding my breath personally ;) but still

Good cap to the show.  Raven and DK are lucky they came out with no more damage than was to be expected.
AzraelPosted on 08/16/06 at 03:26:53

Good win for Edge and Christian. This lets them enter the Rumble and maybe last a long time, but they're still progressing as a tag team.

Angle goes over Pitbull #2 surprisingly easily. This looks like it's how his matches will go until he meets Rhyno.

Poor Mean Street Posse. They try so hard, but just get destroyed.

More Kanyon is always a good thing, but Jericho shouldn't have to wreck his set. Definitely didn't see Eddie winning the match afterward either, though it gives Kanyon a nice feud.

Matt and Muraco have an ominous discussion. Always good to hear of impending doom for people.

Armstrong gets some good shots against Rockabilly, but gets destroyed afterward by Hermann and Wright. I'm actually looking forward to a Brad Armstrong/Alex Wright feud, which is something I'd never thought I'd say.

That Test...always thinking about the kids.

Good match with Kidman, Corino and the RnRs, and Corino carries Kidman on his back and lets him take the win? What a guy. And of course Corino's going to last the longest in the Rumble while Kidman will get taken out immediately. [/incorrect prediction]

And Heidenreich somehow manages to carry that spot monkey Jody Fleisch to a ***+ match. I really don't see how he does it.

Good main event, though a bit surprising the faces won without anyone getting massively beat down.
91Posted on 08/16/06 at 20:56:25

On 08/16/06 at 03:26:53, Azrael wrote:
And Heidenreich somehow manages to carry that spot monkey Jody Fleisch to a ***+ match. I really don't see how he does it.
I'm forever checking the stats of some of my guys wondering if they're too high, but sure enough, they're all fine, maybe even a tad low, and I'm not even TRYING to get high match ratings anymore, I'd be perfectly content to get -***** in every match if I thought it was well written (well, maybe at -***** I would be scrutinising the stats a little but you get the idea).