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[GCW] Monday Night Explosion - 2/14/05

Snabbit888Posted on 11/12/05 at 23:33:40

The Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan was our final stop before next Sunday's Beat Your Valentine! We had a big show lined up for Monday Night Explosion on this, Valentine's Day! Love was all-around... well, except for in our ring! We had a lot of great action for you, including Paul London meeting Frankie Kazarian in a non-title match, Monty Brown meeting Danny Basham of the Cabinet in non-title action, as well as a huge main event pitting World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton against Kurt Angle, Eric Angle, and Steve Bradley!

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As Tommy Dreamer promised last week, the first matter of business taken care of this week was the sorting out of the main event picture at Beat Your Valentine. Dreamer started the show in the ring. He said that he had meetings with the GCW Championship Committee all week and they finally came to a decision this afternoon. After much deliberation, Dreamer announced that the World Heavyweight Title match, originally scheduled to be Chris Jericho defending against Randy Orton, will now be a Fatal Fourway also including Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero! Jericho's back will be up against the wall as he doesn't even have to lose the fall to lose his title. Dreamer also announced that tonight's main event would be a six-man tag team match pitting Kurt Angle, Eric Angle, and Steve Bradley against Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton. After what happened a week ago, it will be interesting to see if Jericho and Orton can coexist against Team Angle.

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Match #1
Non-Title Match
Paul London (Cruiserweight champion) vs. Frankie "The Future" Kazarian
Though the title was not on the line tonight, Frankie Kazarian had a chance to back up his words as he took on Paul London, the Cruiserweight champion, in non-title action. London of course will be defending his title against Kazarian and AJ Styles in a triple threat match this Sunday, but this match could swing the momentum of the contest before it even begins. Halfway through this match, Styles came out to get a closer look, but surprisingly he was only there to watch and didn't interject into the action. The crowd loved this match, not a fan in the house sitting by the end of it. After a great sequence of reversals in the end of the match, Kazarian was able to catch London and plant him with the Wave of the Future.

Frankie Kazarian pinned Paul London with the Wave of the Future in 0:08:38.
Rating: ****

London was disappointed, obviously, but he knew that Kazarian was just the better man. Styles grabbed a microphone after the match and proceeded to berate London, calling him soft and a paper champion. Styles said that he was climbing the ladder here in GCW, which spawned him to make his next suggestion. He doesn't only want to embarrass London and Kazarian at Beat Your Valentine, but he wants to hurt them. Styles suggested the match this Sunday be turned into a ladder match. London agreed right away, saying that he could finally shut Styles up once and for all. Kazarian didn't waver at all either, also agreeing to the stipulation suggestion. It is now official, and we are going to have a ladder match this Sunday!


Match #2
Rob Conway vs. "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero
Though Eddie Guerrero lost his shot last week for the World Heavyweight Title, due to the controversy surrounding the match, he will be given another shot as a part of the Fatal Fourway at Beat Your Valentine. The news of this looks to have certainly motivated Latino Heat as he was unstoppable. Rob Conway didn't even stand a chance in this one, being unable to mount any kind of offense against the aggressive and extremely motivated Guerrero, who took little time in finishing Conway off with the Frog Splash.

Eddie Guerrero pinned Rob Conway with the Frog Splash in 0:01:24.
Rating: **

Eddie Guerrero snuck in the back door of this World Heavyweight Title situation, but with another performance like this, he could be strutting out the front as the World Heavyweight champion.


Match #3
Rhyno vs. Shark Boy
Without the worry of the Prophecy getting involved in his match, Rhyno was able to let it loose, and let it loose he did as he took on Shark Boy in wrestling's version of the battle of the animal kingdom. Shark Boy was definitely overmatched in this one, but one of the great things about Shark Boy is that he's often overmatched, but he finds a way to keep himself in it. The Man from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has a very unorthodox style and uses equally strange tactics, and they often catch his opponents off guard. I mean, how do you prepare for a guy in a shark mask biting your ass? Rhyno was frustrated, but he didn't let it throw him off his game, even laughing at himself a couple times when he fell for Shark Boy's tricks. Rhyno really buckled down though, and that meant bad news for Shark Boy, especially when he was almost Gored out of his fins. An impressive display of power from the Manbeast.

Rhyno pinned Shark Boy with the Gore in 0:03:54.
Rating: ***

After watching this, I'm not sure how comfortable and confident I could be if I were the Prophecy. Keep in mind that if Rhyno can do this at Beat Your Valentine, he'll earn himself a shot at the Television Title a week from tonight.

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We had a tense situation backstage when John Bradshaw Layfield and his Cabinet confront CM Punk and the Prophecy. JBL was not in a good mood, wanting Punk to explain why he hit him with the Television Title a week ago. Punk all but blew him off and tried to walk away, but JBL grabbed him by the arm and got face-to-face with the TV champion. Things were very tense, neither man wanting to make a move. Punk eventually began to back down, knowing that he was outnumbered. JBL, sensing Punk's tentativeness, challenged him to a match. Punk said he could have a match - against Sean O'Haire. While this seemed to please O'Haire, JBL backed down, claiming he didn't "want to get hurt before his North American Title shot this Sunday." JBL offered up Abyss, with turned O'Haire's smile around. Punk agreed, and we had ourselves a match that should turn out to be a battle for later in the evening!

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Match #4
"Primetime" Elix Skipper/Low-Ki vs. Justin Credible/Chuck Palumbo
In the past week, Elix Skipper and Low-Ki have scored clean singles victories over Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin respectively. Tonight they were back in tag action for a tuneup prior to their World Tag team Title shot, taking on the first-time team of Justin Credible and Chuck Palumbo. Credible and Palumbo seemed doomed from the start. When Credible wasn't in the ring, he was on the floor doing Hindu squats, jumping jacks, running in place, basically anything he could think of to shed a couple of pounds. He sure does want that Cruiserweight Title shot, doesn't he? Regardless, Palumbo and he had nothing even closely resembling teamwork or a strategy, and as has been documented over the past few months, few are on the same page more than Elix Skipper and Low-Ki. Ki puts Palumbo away with a Ki Krusher while Credible is attempting, and subsequently failing at doing one-armed pushups.

Elix Skipper and Low-Ki defeated Chuck Palumbo and Justin Credible when Low-Ki pinned C. Palumbo with the Ki Krusher in 0:05:57.
Rating: *** 1/2

Skipper and Low-Ki have never looked better. They have pulled out singles victories over the members of the World's Greatest Tag Team, but Haas and Benjamin are always going to bring it. This match could be the sleeper of the pay-per-view, and one that a lot of people should be looking forward to.

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While Elix Skipper and Low-Ki were still in the ring, suddenly the music of the World's Greatest Tag Team started up and out came Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, the reigning World Tag Team champions. Haas started on the microphone and gave Skipper and Low-Ki a lengthy list of false, sarcastic, and insincere compliments, not at all amusing the number-one contenders. Benjamin talked next, taking a more serious tone, telling Skipper and Low-Ki that they weren't even in the same league. They showed that back at Best of the Best, and it will be made perfectly clear again this Sunday. Skipper had heard enough at this point, grabbing a microphone of his own and saying, "You know what? You can talk all you want up there, but I don't see you saying anything to our faces. So how about we don't wait until Beat Your Valentine? We can do this RIGHT NOW!" The crowd liked this idea, especially when Haas and Benjamin started to the ring, but halfway down the ramp they stopped, smiled, and turned back. A lot of mind games being played here.

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Before we went to commercial break, we see Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit in Commissioner Tommy Dreamer's office. They explain to him that they've looked all over and can't find hide nor hair of Randy Orton. Dreamer tries to comfort them and tells them he still has some time, but Y2J and the Crippler retort with a consensus that Orton isn't going to show up. Dreamer tells them that if Orton doesn't show up, they have two options. They could either find a replacement partner, or wrestle a 3-on-2 handicap match. They didn't like the sound of the latter considering they both have huge matches this Sunday, so they went off in search of a replacement if Orton doesn't arrive.

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Match #5
Non-Title Match
"The Alpha Male" Monty Brown (North American champion) vs. Doug Basham (w/ Shaniqua & Lamont)
In an obvious attempt to have Monty Brown softened up before this Sunday, John Bradshaw Layfield asked for this match. Brown, being the competitor that he is, had no problems accepting the match. Originally, it was to be Brown versus Danny Basham, but Shaniqua came out with Doug Basham instead, saying Danny was under the weather and couldn't compete tonight. No matter to Brown as he was just looking for a fight, and fight he did. Doug Basham took a lot of lumps in this match, but that's to be expected of anyone who wrestles the North American champion. Something seemed fishy during this match though, and those intuitions turned out to be true when late in the match, Shaniqua grabbed referee Petey Pluck's attention and out from the back came Danny Basham! The Basham Brothers performed the double switch and almost took Brown by surprise, but the former NFL strongman has raw skill that is simply frightening at times. Brown took it to Danny, but Doug Basham was back in and he nailed Brown from behind. The Bashams were working together now, whipping Brown into the ropes and going for a double clothesline. The Alpha Male ducked though, bounced off the far ropes, and floored both Bashams with the Pounce! Danny flew out of the ring, allowing Brown to pin Doug in an absolutely amazing display of dominance.

Monty Brown pinned Doug Basham with the Pounce in 0:07:20.
Rating: ***

What we had just witnessed from Monty Brown was downright scary, and not at all what JBL had in mind. JBL ran in almost immediately and before the Alpha Male could react, flattened him with the Stock Market Crash. JBL demanded Lamont go and get the North American Title and bring it to him. JBL stood over Brown's motionless body and held the North American Title above his head as the crowd showered him with boos (poor Lamont was even blindsided with a half-full cup of beer that almost knocked him over). JBL may see this as a successful night, but he may have gotten the Alpha Male angry, and that might not be the smartest of ideas.

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We cut to backstage where Booker T is on his way out of the arena, carrying his bag. When he gets to the parking lot, Sharmell is standing by Booker's car. After a few moments of the two staring at each other, Sharmell proceeded to verbally put Booker T into his place. "If you walk out of this tag match against Team Canada, I'm going to walk out on you. It's your choice, Booker." Sharmell then walked away back into the arena, leaving Booker T out in the parking lot. We cut to commercial with Booker looking back at the arena, then back at his car.

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Match #6
Goldust (w/ Sharmell) vs. Team Canada (w/ Dawn Marie)
This match was supposed to be a tag team match, but apparently Sharmell's words of warning to Booker T were unable to sway the amazingly unhappy individual, who left the building, leaving Goldust alone to wrestle Team Canada. This seemed to be going the way of past matches Goldust's been apart of. Goldust was suffering a terrible beating at the hands of Teddy Hart and Petey Williams. Team Canada was toying with Goldust, taking pleasure in making the Golden One suffer. After a bit, Sharmell couldn't take what she was seeing anymore and took it upon herself to get involved. Dawn Marie was distracting referee Antonio Santangelo as Teddy Hart had the ring bell. Hart raised the bell above his had, only to be nailed with a low blow from Sharmell! Sharmell tossed the ring bell out of the ring as Goldust hit Hart with the Curtain Call and got the 1-2-3.

Goldust defeated Team Canada (Teddy Hart and Petey Williams) when Goldust pinned Teddy Hart after the Curtain Call in 0:08:57.
Rating: ***

This can't make Booker T happy. Not only did Sharmell threaten to walk out on Booker T, but she helped the man he hates the most get the victory. Goldust and Booker T are scheduled to meet the Hardy Boyz at Beat Your Valentine, but with Booker's track record, I wouldn't count on his participation. It looks to be a long night for the Golden One this Sunday.


Match #7
Sean O'Haire (w/ Daffney) vs. Abyss (w/ Shaniqua & Lamont)
Sean O'Haire found himself in an unfamiliar position tonight. Usually when O'Haire is in the ring, he is the biggest, strongest, and most physically imposing man in the match. That wasn't the case tonight as he took on Abyss. I'm not sure O'Haire was too thrilled to be involved in this match with Abyss, seeing as how this match came about due to a dispute between CM Punk and John Bradshaw Layfield. Abyss, however, was seemingly having the time of his life, soaking in more and more cheers with every move he hit. That and it's obvious that this monster just loves to fight. As the match wore on, Abyss seemed to be getting stronger. Eventually O'Haire had enough of Abyss and took matters into his own hands, grabbing a steel chair and blasting Abyss with it in clear view of referee JD Sanders, an obvious disqualification.

Abyss defeated Sean O'Haire by disqualification in 0:06:16.
Rating: * 3/4

The chair shot rocked Abyss, but did not send him to the canvas. It took O'Haire two more vicious shots to get Abyss down to a knee, and one final one to finally put the behemoth on his back. As O'Haire and Daffney left (Daffney cackling the whole way), Shaniqua didn't show Abyss much sympathy, heading to the back after ordering Lamont to help Abyss up. The 5'5", 140-pound Lamont looked like a deer in headlights at the thought of picking the unconscious Abyss up, but bless his heart, he was trying anyway as we cut to the back.

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We were in the back with all five members of Team Angle discussing strategy for the main event, which was next. They confirmed that Randy Orton was still not in the building, and that made the normally overly confident group even that much more sure of themselves. Kurt Angle made sure that everyone remembered what the plan was, and that the plan had to go off with out a hitch for it was vital to the success of Team Angle this Sunday. Everyone seemed to be on the same page, which could be bad news for Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. Not many people are huge fans of Team Angle, but you have to admit that Kurt Angle is running a tight ship, which is trouble for the rest of GCW.

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Match #8
MAIN EVENT
"Y2J" Chris Jericho (World Heavyweight champion)/"The Crippler" Chris Benoit/Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Kurt Angle/Eric Angle/Steve Bradley
Like we all expected, when it was time for the main event, Randy Orton was nowhere to be found. Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit were well prepared though, enlisting the services of Rey Mysterio Jr., a man who has a history with Kurt Angle, to help them out in this six-man main event. This match was a solid main event, but if it suffered from one thing, it was from the competitors involved being too cautious, not wanting to risk suffering an injury before this Sunday. One thing that was very prominent on both sides though was a sense of teamwork. It may have been a blessing for Jericho and Benoit that Orton was nowhere to be found, as I'm not sure Orton was even willing to work with them. After a lot of back and forth action, the turning point came when all six men began to brawl in and around the ring. Mysterio paired off with Kurt Angle, Jericho with Steve Bradley, while Benoit and Eric Angle matched up as the legal men. During the chaos, head referee Jimmy Appleseed was over with Mysterio and Kurt Angle trying to break them apart, which made him have his back turned to not see RANDY ORTON appear and nail Jericho with the R.K.O. on the floor! Benoit saw this however and started yelling at Orton, allowing Eric Angle to surprise him with a fisherman suplex and get the duke.

Team Angle (Eric Angle, Kurt Angle and Steve Bradley) defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio Jr. when E. Angle pinned Benoit after a fisherman suplex in 0:16:19.
Rating: ***

Randy Orton made it perfectly clear just where his loyalties lie, and it's not to his friendship with Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. Instead, Orton is showing that he will do anything and everything to win the World Heavyweight Title. Though Jericho was groggy and needed some help getting back to the locker room, he suffered no lasting injury and will be ready to compete this Sunday in the Fatal Fourway, and you have to believe that he's going to be looking for some revenge on Randy Orton.

With this show in the books, our next stop is Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Bradley Center for Beat Your Valentine! The card is now officially set, and is as follows:

World Heavyweight Title Match - "Y2J" Chris Jericho (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle vs. "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero

North American Title Match - "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown (c) vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

World Tag Team Title Match - The World's Greatest Tag Team (c) vs. "Primetime" Elix Skipper/Low-Ki

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit vs. Eric Angle

Cruiserweight Title Ladder Match - Paul London (c) vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles vs. Frankie "The Future" Kazarian

Rey Mysterio Jr./Rhyno vs. CM Punk (Television champion)/Sean O'Haire

The Hardy Boyz vs. Booker T/Goldust

Don't wait! Order this huge event today!
91Posted on 11/13/05 at 15:56:38

World Heavyweight Title Match - "Y2J" Chris Jericho (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle vs. "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero

So is Orton a heel as well now? I guess Jericho has the decks against him now. I can't see Eddie winning this one, I can the others, but I'm thinking Jericho will retain here. Not sure when we'll be getting Jericho/Orton now mind you - Angle could easily win and leave the two of them to blame each other for not winning the match and engage in a small feud.

North American Title Match - "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown (c) vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

Well the Bashams sure got caned there. Brown has been dominant but JBL has a roll going here (sort of), he claims the title.

World Tag Team Title Match - The World's Greatest Tag Team (c) vs. "Primetime" Elix Skipper/Low-Ki

I still can't see Skipper and Low Ki winning them back here. That said, Justin Credible remains an entertaining part of the show, in relation to the challengers earlier match. I've two words for Credible - lipo suction.

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit vs. Eric Angle

What better way to really put Eric over the top than by stealing a victory over the former champ? Angle takes it.

Cruiserweight Title Ladder Match - Paul London (c) vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles vs. Frankie "The Future" Kazarian

Now Frankie got his big win, I'm REALLY torn on this one. I'll say A.J., but this one's the tightest of the evening.

Rey Mysterio Jr./Rhyno vs. CM Punk (Television champion)/Sean O'Haire

Would a rhino really beat a shark in real life? And while we're on the subject of O'Haire, I remain with baited breath as to when Abyss will complete the big face turn that's so obviously coming. Meanwhilst, Rhyno gets the win for the team here, getting himself the title shot that I believe is on the line.

The Hardy Boyz vs. Booker T/Goldust

Poor Goldie. It's probably some sort of set-up with Booker and Sharmell actually, tricking Goldust into believing Sharmell is on his side. And the Hardys (Hardyz?) win this one as a result.