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DWF 14/01/08

91Posted on 12/19/05 at 22:41:33

Matt Hardy had a decision to make regarding Revenge is Sweet. With just two
weeks to go to the PPV, Don Muraco was without a challenger for his title and
Matt needed himself a main event. The man who was really looking for a title
match though was Jeff Hardy - Jeff was in his brothers office thanking him for
the pre-arranged agreement they'd had before the match. This was news to us,
and so was Jeff noting that Matt had kept him updated on how the voting was
going up until and during the event. Jeff had other things on his mind, and
that was a title shot of his own at the cruiserweight title. Matt agreed to
give him a shot next week, but so long as Muraco faced either Rhyno or Raven
at Revenge is Sweet.

Muraco we soon found out had no problems with this, figuring the only way to
decide a challenger was a match between Raven and Rhyno, and was quite happy to
let the two of them beat each others brains in. Before anyone could get too
excited at the prospect of a Raven/Rhyno clash, the two of them approached
Matt Hardy themselves to be presented with the ultimatum of a number one
contenders match. Huddling to themselves, they told Matt that they'd made a
decision - Raven would take the match. Apparently this was a tactical move in
order to get the belt off Muraco, and instead the two of them wanted to take on
Don Muraco and Jeff Hardy tonight.


Alex Wright (c) vs Rey Mysterio (Intercontinental title)

Alex Wrights first Intercontinental title defense after controversially taking
it from long time champ Brad Armstrong came today against Rey Mysterio who
many feel deserved more of a shot at Brad in the last few weeks of his reign.
Wrights pre-match speech of how easy it was beating Armstrong won't have
endeared him to anyone, so the crowd found it quite welcoming when Rey started
at such a pace that Wright was finding it tough at the outset. Wright held on
and was able to work his way back into the contest.

Still, he never looked like really taking over and Rey always looked like if
anyone was going to have the edge, it was him. Step up Ulf Herman, Wrights
ever present and ever dangerous bodyguard, who blasted Rey with a cheap shot
from the outside that almost knocked him out. Still Wright couldn't finish
him conclusively and Rey was coming back again. Herman once again threatened
to take matters into his own hands until Rey threw a dropkick from the ring
that sent Herman sprawling into the guardrail.

Mysterio was really pressing now and had Alex Wright on the verge of defeat,
executing a drop toe hold that left Wright in position for the 619. Rey ran
in but thinking quickly Herman pulled Wright aside at the last second whilst
Rey swung his legs into midair and, overshooting, kicked the ringpost. With
Mysterio now injured, a groggy Wright was able to hit the Schadenfreude and
score a cheap victory. *** 1/2

The Rock'n'Roll Express vs Eddie & Hector Guerrero

Hector Guerrero may have just lost the cruiserweight title but neither him nor
brother Eddie have lost any steps as demonstrated with their match with the
Rock'n'Roll Express who themselves are former tag team champions. With all
four men very adept at the tag game, it made for a very tight contest, but
one that Los Guerreros ultimately won when Robert Gibson got hit by a cheapshot
from Hector from the apron, followed by the Frog Splash from Eddie. Although
the ref admonished the cheap punch by Hector, had he seen the foreign object
that Hector was wielding at the time, he might have taken it further. *** 3/4

Low Ki vs Hunter Hearst-Helmsley

Hunter Hearst-Helmsley is on cloud nine since bringing in new tag team
partner Rockabilly who is yet to make his debut. Helmsley though had to face
Low Ki today and with the excellent 2007 Low ki had, we waited to see 2008
start in the same manner. Frankly it did, with Helmsley struggling to keep up.
It took Rockabilly jumping up on the apron as a distraction to help - Low Ki
nailed him but turned around and ate a Pedigree from Helmsley that put him
away.

Afterward, Helmsley took his arrogance one notch further - bragging about a
cheap victory like this wasn't enough, but now he's issued a challenge to "The
Rock" Brad Armstrong following the events of Clash of the Champions. The world
hopes Brad accepts the challenge and shuts up the pair of them for good. *** 1/2

Chris Jericho & Bobby Eaton vs Billy Kidman & Steve Corino

Steve Corino had been on a roll for a long time, but lately he's taken it to
new levels despite the increasingly difficuly title defenses, not least last
weeks match against Bobby Eaton. They were back on opposite sides of the ring
as were Billy Kidman and Chris Jericho who fought a few weeks back, resulting
in a Kidman victory. As in both of those matches, this match saw nobody gain
a decisive edge for the large part. Jericho and Eaton particularly surprised
everyone in how well they worked together - perhaps they shouldn't have, Eaton
is a former tag champ and Jericho an intelligent veteran and former world
champion.

Invariably, Corino and Kidmans experience together worked in their favour and
soon enough they had things working their way. Once again, Corino found
opponents who had the Old School Expulsion well scouted. Kidman was left to
try and clean things up but when Jericho came in, it was Jericho who began
winning the fight. Corino came back in to try and even the score but Jericho
wound up whipping Kidman into Corino to send the TV champ out. Jericho followed
it up with an asai moonsault on Kidman before tagging in Eaton who came off
the top with the Alabama Jam to score a surprise win.

Eaton and/or Jericho may well have earned themselves another crack at Steve
Corino and could justly celebrate a hard fought win. In the ring meanwhile,
Kidman was very disconsolate in defeat - it's a bitter pill to swallow for the
two time former world champion. **** 1/4

Devon Storm vs Larry Zbyszko

Larry Zbyszko was in action today, and he's on a good run of form right now,
but had two problems to deal with - an excellent opponent in Devon Storm, and
arch nemesis John Cena doing commentary. And while Cena mocked Larry the whole
time, calling him a washed up fossil who can't let go, whilst also going
through all the horrible things he's going to do to Zbyszko (mostly consisting
of stuff like "I'm going to break into his house and steal all the calcium
pills so his nails go all white and his chances of osteoporosis in later life
will be increased").

As distracting as this was for Larry, he still worked hard, but had to rely on
Coach to trip Devon from the outside to allow him to finish things off with the
Shoulderbreaker. As gutted as Devon looked, Larry was even more hellbent when
he got backstage and found The Young Lions rummaging through his stuff - Cena
of course hired the Lions to investigate something in Zbyszko, but we don't
know what. Zbyszko yelled at them and told them to leave, else they'd get a
beating like the one he gave Bruno Sammartino in 1980. The Lions made a sharp
exit, leaving us wondering what they're investigating and what, if anything,
they've found. ***

La Parka (c) vs Mando Guerrero (cruiserweight title)

Juventud Guerrera wanted to see Matt Hardy, and doesn't everyone these days.
Actually Dynamite Kid wanted to see him first, apparently to demand a little
respect, but Matt Hardy refused to see "that stupid limey". He did see Juvi
who was adamant he should get a cruiserweight title shot. Matt broke the bad
news to him that he had given his brother a shot next week and Juventud wasn't
figuring right now. Juventud was livid and his angry demeanour forced Snitsky
and Heidenreich to step forward, with Heidenreich accidentally killing Juventud
with his laser bolt vision.

Unpeturbed, Juventud continued displaying his outrage, forcing Matt to book
Juventud to face two men he has fought quite a bit in the last couple of weeks,
Kid Kash and Low Ki, in a triple threat match at Revenge is Sweet. Now Juvi
was understandably upset that he did all that work last week against The
Syndicate for nothing, but now he has to tangle with Kash and Low Ki again,
and god knows they'd love to tear Guerrera apart. Juventud stormed out, saying
he didn't want to speak to "Prat Hardly" any more.

Pity for Juvi, he could have been in Mando Guerreros shoes as Los Guerreros
looked to regain the cruiserweight title from La Parka today. Once again,
officials had no choice but to throw Eddie, Chavo and Hector from ringside
before we got going as they made it clear they were going to cause trouble.
Mando kicked things off by trying to steal the cruiserweight belt and claim it
as his own, but he had no choice, he was going to have to fight for it.

Just like last week, La Parka revelled in his title defense, frustrating his
opponent in not taking things overly seriously and stopping to dance and strut
and play air guitar rather than actually press home his advantage. Mandos
frustration caused him to take his eye off the ball and swing wildly at La
Parka. With the champ keeping his focus, hitting the asai moonsault bodyblock
move, he finished with comparitive ease. Next week though, he defends against
Jeff Hardy... ***

Edge & Christian @ Revenge is Sweet

Matt Hardy might not have rewarded Juventud Guerrera for his efforts last week
against The Syndicate but he did have better thoughts in mind for Doug Furnas
and Phil LaFons efforts. Edge and Christian meanwhile, the new tag team
champions, made their first televised appearance since becoming champions, but
this past week the pair of them signed a renewal on their contracts and having
been asked to sign on such short notice, they only agreed on the basis that
they be allowed to pick their first major challengers.

Arriving in the arena earlier in the evening, Matt Hardy met them and told them
of the deal he had made last week with Furnas & LaFon and then advised them to
"choose wisely". Had they not taken some of RVD's "special smokes" later that
night, they might have remembered this before coming down to the ring to much
adulation at having regained the titles after several years. They first spoke
of the gruelling match at Clash of the Champions against Psychoanalysis and
how none of the four men involved would ever be the same (and how this rings
true with Psychoanalysis).

And whilst they could have gone on for hours on the match at Clash, from which
they themselves are only just recovering, they had to decide on their first
title challengers for Revenge is Sweet. Edge decided that now Psychoanalysis
had split up probably forever, there was only one truly great team they could
possibly have a high profile title defense against and picked The Syndicate
as their first challengers. That should be a great match, and Lance Storm and
Ken Shamrock deserve a title shot as much as anyone, but you can't help but
feel that their ignoring Matt Hardy and picking a team he hates will mean Edge
and Christian just got added to the list of people Matt has a personal grudge
against.

Pretty Perfect meanwhile have themsevles a guarenteed title shot to be taken
at any time they choose, and in a backstage interview, they announced that at
the next Pay-Per-View after Revenge is Sweet, Badd Blood, they will take their
shot then. They're not likely to be handed many shots this time around and
their decision means they have several weeks to fully prepare themselves for
such a critical encounter.

Pitbull #1 vs Sylvain Grenier

Sylvain Grenier was in action and, joined by Rene Dupree, they were celebrating
their new found American citizenship by watching classic American cartoons
such as Captain Planet, Pokemon and Scrappy Doo Adventures so they could truly
acclimatise themselves. Perhaps Grenier should have acclimatised himself to
Pitbull #1 who, bar a few brief shots midway through, completely decimated his
French counterpart and scored a scintilatingly easy win. The Pitbulls are as
dominant as ever and La Resistance may just have new challengers for their
titles. * 1/2

Raven & Rhyno vs Don Muraco & Jeff Hardy

So the nights main event pitted worlds heavyweight champion Don Muraco and his
manager Jeff Hardy teaming up against number one contender Raven and Rhyno.
Inevitably Muraco did most of the work with Hardy only popping in when it
suited him. And still, this worked wonders as not even BOTH Raven and Rhyno
seemed to be doing too much damage or taking him off his feet. Muraco was in
control and now working over a thoroughly tired Rhyno.

Once Raven came in, Muraco was still not going anywhere, but at least Raven
was fresh enough to have much of the offence. Jeff Hardy came in as well to
try and turn the tide but Raven was too highly driven to let Hardy stop him in
his tracks and took it to Hardy. Rhyno meanwhile was back in the action and
lined up a Gore on Muraco - this time there was no table to assist Rhyno in
knocking Muraco down but down he would have gone when Rhyno hit it had Muraco
not fallen into the corner. Still, with Muraco briefly incapacitated, Raven
was left to hit the Evenflow on the annihlated Hardy for the win.

OK, Raven had pinned the illegal man, but it's a great boost going into Revenge
is Sweet. Muraco certainly looked pissed at Raven as he left, but pinning the
manager is one thing, pinning the champion for the title is another completely
and Raven will certainly have a far harder time of it in two weeks. *** 3/4
Snabbit888Posted on 12/21/05 at 03:55:37

That was a nice little twist.  Fully expected to see Raven vs. Rhyno at Revenge is Sweet.  Nice to see the face committee is going about things in a smart fashion.

Still upset that Brad Armstrong is no longer the IC champion.  *single tear*  I'd love to see Mysterio beat Wright for it, but it's not going to happen tonight.

Oh those crazy cheating Guerreros.  Will they ever get caught?

Oh, HHH, you rascal.  And I simply can't tell you how much Rockabilly rules the school.  A fair play to ya.

Well shit.  Bobby Eaton just pinned the former World champion.  I'd say he's in line for something.  And boy, Kidman has kinda fallen off the face of the Earth.  Not a good couple of months for him.

Larry Z needs to beat on everyone like he did Bruno Sammartino back in 1980.  Poor mangled Devon Storm.

Yay La Parka!  'Nuff said.

The tag title match at the PPV should be good, though I expect a heavy dose of Furnas and LaFon involvement.

No!  Poor Sylvain.  If La Resistance loses, I'll be a sad cripple.

Expected result for the main event, as it should have been.  I can't see Raven winning at the PPV though.