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[GCW] Monday Night Explosion - 2/7/05

Snabbit888Posted on 11/06/05 at 06:27:22

We were live in State College, Pennsylvania, home of the Nittany Lions of Penn State for another edition of Monday Night Explosion! Tonight would promise to be huge as Randy Orton would put his position as the number-one contender on the line against the former World Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle! Also, Chris Jericho will make his much anticipated first title defense as he puts the World Title on the line against the winner of last week's battle royal, Eddie Guerrero! We also know that the Hardy Boyz are scheduled to face Goldust and Booker T, Rhyno goes one-on-one with Steve Bradley, and in a modern day battle of David vs. Goliath, Rey Mysterio Jr. takes on John Bradshaw Layfield! What a night this is sure to be!

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The night kicked off with Randy Orton coming down to the ring and trying to explain why he walked out on his partner, Chris Jericho, during the main event a week ago. Before Orton could get too far, the World Heavyweight champion himself sauntered to the ring and demanded an explanation. When Y2J said, "I thought we were friends," Orton responded with, "We are friends, but friendship is one thing and business is another. That's all last week was: business. You have what I want, the World Heavyweight Title, and if walking out on you in a tag match puts me closer to being the champion, so be it. I'd walk out on you in every match if it meant I was World Heavyweight champion." At this point, Jericho lost his cool and snapped, slapping Orton right across the face! Orton was stunned, but quickly tackled Jericho and the two began to exchange punches. At this point, the only thing that could break the fight up was Kurt Angle appearing on the VideoTron. After insulting their respective intelligences, Angle said that Jericho shouldn't be worrying about Orton, because later tonight he was going to become the number-one contender and go on to Beat Your Valentine to take the World Heavyweight Title for a second time. Though not many like his cocky way of going about things, Kurt Angle could be right. If Jericho and Orton aren't careful, Angle could sneak himself back into being the World Heavyweight champion.

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Match #1
"Primetime" Elix Skipper (w/ Low-Ki) vs. Charlie Haas (w/ Shelton Benjamin)
Elix Skipper was in action for the first time since being mysteriously attacked a month ago in the locker room (it is the general assumption of just about everyone that it was the World's Greatest Tag Team that did the attacking). Skipper and his partner Low-Ki will have a chance for redemption at Beat Your Valentine when they take on the WGTT for the World Tag Team Titles, but Skipper had a chance to get a little measure of revenge in singles action against Charlie Haas. Though Skipper's injury was serious, he looked great tonight, not seeming to miss a step at all. Haas did everything he could to slow Primetime up, focusing primarily on the back, but Skipper would not be stopped as he scored a solid victory with the Play of the Day (give an assist to Low-Ki for preventing Shelton Benjamin's interference on the outside).

Elix Skipper pinned Charlie Haas with the Play of the Day in 0:09:10.
Rating: ****

If Skipper looks anything like this on February 20th, we could be looking at brand-new World Tag Team champions.


Match #2
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. John Bradshaw Layfield (w/ Shaniqua & Lamont)
As mentioned before, the match between Rey Mysterio Jr. and John Bradshaw Layfield was a definite modern day example of David vs. Goliath. JBL simply towers over Mysterio, and early on, he was exerting that massive size advantage in a clear and obvious way. But like many of Mysterio's opponents, JBL took the little guy lightly, and if you do that, this spark plug is going to make you pay for it. Mysterio was doing a great job of hitting and running, taking JBL down many times. We knew it would be long before the Prophecy interjected themselves into this one though as sure enough, CM Punk and Sean O'Haire were down at ringside. O'Haire jumped up on the apron to distract referee JD Sanders, allowing CM Punk to slide in the ring with his Television Title in tow. Punk got a running start at Mysterio, but Rey-Rey ducked and the gold connected with JBL's skull instead! Mysterio nailed Punk with a spin kick, causing him to both drop the TV Title and fall out of the ring. Mysterio picked up the title belt, but unfortunately for him, Sanders turned around at that moment and saw two things: 1) JBL knocked out cold and 2) Mysterio holding the weapon. Sanders called for the bell as he had disqualified Rey Mysterio Jr.

John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. by disqualification in 0:04:24.
Rating: ***

The crowd went nuts as they booed the decision wildly, but Sanders made his decision based on what he saw and based on what he saw, it's hard to blame him. Mysterio tried to plead his case, but this left him open to a hard shot from behind from O'Haire and then a nasty piledriver from CM Punk. Officials had to help Mysterio to the back after this brutal assault. Not Mysterio's night to say the least.

* * * * *

After we returned from commercial, we saw John Bradshaw Layfield with the rest of the Cabinet bragging about his "amazing victory" over Rey Mysterio Jr. After successfully stroking his ego own ego for a few moments, the room was quieted when North American champion MONTY BROWN entered. Brown got directly in JBL's face, telling him he could gloat and brag about all the fluke victories in the world, but there wouldn't be a soul to help him come Beat Your Valentine. "At Beat Your Valentine, JBL, you will be entering the Serengeti! Two animals will enter, but only one is going to make it out alive! And I'm the baddest cat there is! JBL, at Beat Your Valentine, you will feel the POOOOOOOOOOOOOOUNCE! Period." Brown left, leaving JBL and the Cabinet speechless.

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Match #3
Handicap Match
The Hardy Boyz (w/ Lita) vs. Goldust
This match was booked as a tag match with the Hardy Boyz taking on Goldust and Booker T, but apparently, Booker T was nowhere to be found in the building. Booker T has been around this business for a long time, and he used to be a man of pride, never missing a show unless it was due to injury. According to the injury report, Booker T was in perfect health, so we're led to believe that he simply no-showed, more than likely out of frustration for his forced teaming with Goldust. Needless to say, Goldust was in a bad way as he was facing one of the greatest tag teams of the last twenty years, and quite frankly, he didn't stand much of a chance in these circumstances. The Hardy Boyz pick up an easy win here.

Handicap-Match:
The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) defeated Goldust when J. Hardy pinned Goldust after a top-rope Frankensteiner in 0:06:31.
Rating: ****

After the match, Sharmell, Booker's wife, came down to the ring and helped Goldust to his feet. If Booker T isn't going to be kind to Goldust, it looks as if his wife is.

* * * * *

Newcomer Frankie "The Future" Kazarian came down to the ring next and grabbed a microphone. Kazarian did his usual spiel about how he was the future of this business and how the future was now, but he then went on to say that as the new guy around here it was important that he made an impact. Kazarian challenged Cruiserweight champion Paul London to "be a man" and give him a title shot there on the spot. London came out and said he was a fighting champion and more than willing to oblige but before he could get any further, AJ Styles interjected himself into the mix. Styles asked Kazarian just what he thought he was doing, saying that if anyone was getting a title shot tonight, it was going to be him. After the verbal argument went back and forth, Commissioner Tommy Dreamer finalyl stepped in and said that he was scheduling a match to take place right now between Kazarian and Styles, and after the match, London would get to choose who he wanted to defend the Cruiserweight Title against at Beat Your Valentine. All parties agreed, and the match was on.

* * * * *


Match #4
On Commentary: Cruiserweight champion Paul London
Frankie "The Future" Kazarian vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
While the fans don't particularly like either man involved in this match, they were treated to a good cruiserweight battle with both Frankie Kazarian and AJ Styles trying their best to impress Paul London to get the Cruiserweight Title shot at Beat Your Valentine. No matter how many times you see certain moves they never cease to amaze you, and that's exactly what you get a lot of when you see either of these two competitors in the ring. Though Paul London is impressive in his own right, he couldn't help but give both Styles and Kazarian a lot of praise throughout this match. Both men got some spectacular nearfalls, but in the end it was a downright vicious brain buster from Styles that narrowly put Kazarian down for the count.

AJ Styles pinned Frankie Kazarian after a brain buster in 0:07:33.
Rating: *** 1/2

After the match, Paul London got on the microphone and struggled trying to choose who to wrestle. Eventually, London said he couldn't decide and that he would defend against both Styles AND Kazarian at Beat Your Valentine in a triple threat match! There is a lot of great actino on the card for sure, but this one has the potential to steal the show.


Match #5
Rhyno vs. Steve Bradley
I was very intrigued when this match was signed, as Rhyno and Steve Bradley have similar styles. Both men never seem to slow down and exhibit a great amount of intensity. From a pure wrestling standpoint, this match was bowling shoe ugly. Not a lot of holds used in this match, but rather Rhyno and Bradley taking turns hitting the other as hard as they could. As the match was going on, the outcome was up in the air, but we all knew that both men were going to be sore in the morning. Much like in the JBL/Mysterio match earlier though, there was always a sense of it not being if the Prophecy would get involved, but when. Bradley was being set up for the Gore, but he was able to move himself out of the way causing the Manbeast to crash chest first into the middle turnbuckle and fall to the floor. At this point, Daffney came running to the ring and jumped on the apron. When Petey Pluck tried to get her down, Daffney grabbed him and planted a huge kiss on him. This distraction was enough for CM Punk and Sean O'Haire to pick Rhyno up and drop him face first on the ringsteps. This was enough to put Rhyno down for a countout.

Steve Bradley defeated Rhyno by countout in 0:06:01.
Rating: *** 1/2

After this went down, Tommy Dreamer appeared at the top of the ramp with a message for the Prophecy. Dreamer told them he wasn't going to stand for these kind of tactics and as a result, he was signing a tag team match to take place at Beat Your Valentine pitting CM Punk and Sean O'Haire against Rey Mysterio Jr. and Rhyno, with the added stipulation of if Mysterio and Rhyno won, whoever got the deciding fall would be granted a Television Title shot the next night on Explosion. CM Punk was not happy with this, needless to say.

* * * * *

We were next shown a video package chronicaling the recent surgery of Brock Lesnar, who suffered a torn triceps muscle at Winter Warfare. Dr. James Andrew, famed surgeon, performed the surgery and said that it went off without a hitch and with no complications. We got some comments from Lesnar himself who said he's down but he's not out, and when he is healthy, he was going to take Kurt Angle down "by any means necessary." They're estimating that Lesnar will be out of action for 3-4 months, but Lesnar is vowing to be back sooner. While I don't know if that's feasible, if anybody is going to do it, it's Brock Lesnar.

* * * * *


Match #6
The Hurricane vs. Eric Angle
Eric Angle came into Penn State University with one goal in mind, and that was to send a message to "The Crippler" Chris Benoit. As is usually the case with The Hurricane, he gave it his all, but he can't seem to put a whole match together. Angle used his extensive amateur knowledge to stretch the Man In Green out before putting him away with the Angle Slam.

Eric Angle pinned The Hurricane with the Angle Slam in 0:06:05.
Rating: ***

After the match, in a direct message to Benoit, locked The Hurricane in the Crippler Crossface and pulled back as far as he could. The Hurricane might have suffered a serious injury if it wasn't for CHRIS BENOIT running to the ring and interjecting, nailing Angle with several chops, a German suplex, and dumping him to the floor. Eric Angle backed his way up the ramp, swearing revenge on Benoit the entire time. This match should be a dandy at Beat Your Valentine.


Match #7
Number-One Contenders Match
Randy Orton (Current number-one contender) vs. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle may turn out to be one of the smartest wrestlers in recent memory. Angle did have a World Heavyweight Title shot coming to him, but he was unsure of when it was going to be. He decided to take matters into his own hands and play on Randy Orton's ego to get the third-generation superstar to put up the title shot he earned by winning the Best of the Best tournament. It looked from the early moments that Angle was going to have zero problems winning this match. The young Orton was far too fiesty and aggressive and a wrestling general like Kurt Angle will take advantage of that every time. Just when it looked like Angle was going to pick Orton apart, Orton's youth and aggressiveness started to work to his advantage when he bumrushed Angle into the corner with a tackle and started firing away at him, even busting Angle's lip open. Orton was a man possessed, throwing the former World champion around the ring with little to no effort. Orton almost hit Angle with the R.K.O., but Angle pushed him into the ropes and on the bounceback, hit a German suplex. Angle planted Orton with a second German, but on the attempt for a third, Orton surprised him with a go-behind and hit a German suplex of his own. Orton held on and added a bridge and got the 1-2-3... or so we thought. We learned that referee Antonio Santangelo had counted down both men's shoulders, as Orton had failed to get his own shoulders off the mat.

Number-One-Contenders-Match:
Randy Orton and Kurt Angle battled to a double pin in 0:12:44.
Rating: *** 1/2

The result of the match was a double pin, but where does this leave the status of the number-one-contendership? We have learned that Tommy Dreamer will address that situation first thing next week on Explosion.


Match #8
MAIN EVENT
World Heavyweight Title Match
"Y2J" Chris Jericho (c) vs. "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero
Before the match started, we were shown clips of both Chris Jericho winning the World Heavyweight Title almost a month ago and Eddie Guerrero winning the battle royal last week to earn the first crack at Y2J's gold. These two are very familiar with one another, having a lengthy feud last summer that culminated in a cage match that Guerrero won. Latino Heat was hoping lightning would strike twice, but it's amazing how much things can change after a few months. Guerrero has slowly plunged into near insanity whereas Y2J has went from one of the most hated in GCW to one of the most beloved. The fans were solidly behind Jericho in this one and he was feeding off of it, definitely on top of his game in this one. But for as crazy as Guerrero has become, he is still wonderfully gifted and he matched Jericho move for move. If you're a young aspiring pro, this is a match you'd want to watch as both men were putting on a wrestling clinic. It was a shame such a great match was ruined by interference, but both Kurt Angle and Randy Orton got involved, not at all pleased with how their match ended. Late in the match, referee Jimmy Appleseed couldn't get out of the way as he was smashed in the corner by Guerrero who had been whipped there by Jericho. Kurt Angle took this opportunity to take out his frustrations, nailing Jericho with the Angle Slam. Angle was proud of himself, thinking he had just cost Y2J the title he feels should still be his. However, before Guerrero could capitalize, Randy Orton ran in and flattened him with the R.K.O.! Angle jumped back into the ring to confront Angle, but he was immediately dropped with an R.K.O. as well! Jericho was the first man to recover, locked on the Walls of Jericho, and his first title defense was a successful, if not tainted victory.

Chris Jericho made Eddie Guerrero submit to the Walls of Jericho in 0:16:19.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Chris Jericho retained the GCW World Heavyweight Title.)

When Jericho said he wanted to defend his title, I don't think this is how he wanted his first title defense to go down. Sure, he is still the champion, but that's not the way he wanted to win it. I'm sure that Tommy Dreamer will have something to say about this next week.

Speaking of next week, be sure to join us for the final Monday Night Explosion before Beat Your Valentine, live from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan! The card for Beat Your Valentine will be finalized, but thus far, this is what we have in store for you on February 20th from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

World Heavyweight Title Match - "Y2J" Chris Jericho (c) vs. Randy Orton

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 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

And just signed... The Hardy Boyz vs. Booker T/Goldust

See you next week!
91Posted on 11/06/05 at 13:24:24

I wouldn't call Jerichos win too tainted, seeing as there was inteference for both sides. I guess Orton's turning into a bit of a badass again. Not sure who I see coming out with the belt at ByV mind you. The mere fact that Kurt Angle doesn't have a match means he must be due to be involved in all the shennanigans. Good opening though with Orton and Jericho so focused on being the world champion, they completely forgot their common denominator of them both hating Angle even more.

The jury seems to be out on Kazarian so far. The build-up for his arrival was good, but I see him needing the win at the PPV more than the other two right now if only to give some credence to his claim that he is "The Future".

Speaking of title changes, I can't see Skipper and Low Ki doing anything to muster the gold away from TWGTT, the champs are the best choice for the gold right now. Skippers injury mean they won't look too bad in defeat (assuming I'm right) so I suppose that's good.

Are Booker and Goldust breaking up? Pity, their early stuff was awesome, though I suspect a blowoff feud afterwards could be just as good. Sounds like Goldie will need a good divorce lawyer afterwards.

Punk and O'Haire made their presence felt did they not? Not only did they assist JBL in getting a win (!!!), they're decking Rhyno whom I think is a shoe in for the next TV title match considering Rey has had about thirty. And may I make an early prediction - JBL actually walks out with the North American title.

And thank the good lord Eric Angle has a big feud - and with Benoit at that. That's a helluva climb, but a deserved one for sure. At the very least, Eric needs to look competitive in the match.