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RAGE! Wrestling - January 5, 2004

HugeRockStar760Posted on 02/20/05 at 06:11:27

RAGE! Wrestling
Date: January 5, 2004
Location: Memphis, TN

[After the opening of RAGE! Wrestling, "Line in the Sand" by Motorhead blares
over the speakers, signalling the arrival of Evolution. The crowd has a mixed
reaction for Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair as they walk down to
the ring. Mostly because they are the first wrestlers to appear and the fact
that all are quite over with the crowd. Once all are inside the ring, Triple H
motions for a microphone and receives one. Triple H waits a few moments for the
crowd to quiet down before speaking.]

Triple H: We aren't down here to welcome all of you to the premiere edition of
RAGE! Wrestling and tell you how happy we are that you bought a ticket or that
you tuned in at home. You people aren't important to Evolution. What is
important is the World Heavyweight Championship. A championship that everyone
knows should have a permanent engraving of my name on it because I am the
greatest world heavyweight champion this industry has ever seen.

[The crowd boos Triple H as they definitely have their own opinions. Some fans
even give some "Woos" in honor of Ric Flair, who many believe is one of the
greatest, if not the greatest world champion.]

Triple H: Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way would
see the owner of RAGE! Wrestling, Preston Charlatan, coming down to this ring
with the World Heavyweight Championship and he would proceed to award me with
it.

[The crowd immediately boos the idea while Evolution all clap in agreement.]

Triple H: On the other hand, if Charlatan decides against that, then we'll do
things the hard way. What's that you might ask? We'll walk out of RAGE!
Wrestling and go to another promotion that will respect such superior talent
that you see before you. So what is your decision, Preston? Will your first
show go off smoothly with a champion you can be proud of, or will your first
show end with the four of us leaving? We'll leave right here and right now,
and as far as I'm concerned, that's the end of the show.

[After a few moments, Preston Charlatan, sitting behind a desk, dressed in a
suit, appears on the RAGE!tron, receiving a small crowd response.]

Preston Charlatan: Triple H, nothing is going to be given out here in RAGE!
Wrestling. Everything will be earned, and that includes championships. So it
appears we're going the hard route.

Triple H: Have it your way, Charlatan. We're out of here.

[The crowd boos Evolution as it begins to leave the ring.]

Preston Charlatan: Oh, you're going nowhere.

[Evolution laugh and begin exiting the ring. Preston Charlatan snaps his
fingers and out from the entranceway is security.]

Preston Charlatan: I'd advise you to get back into the ring because I've
ordered them to use force if necessary.

[Evolution slowly walks back into the ring.]

Preston Charlatan: Let me make something clear. I'm not a fool. Do you think I
would let you four on my promotion's first show without rock solid, unbreakable
wrestling contracts? You're obligated to compete in RAGE! Wrestling for the
amount of time you signed for. If you were to break the contract, lawsuits
would follow. And it would be a slow drain on your bank accounts.

Triple H: You can't tell Evolution what to do or threaten us. We are the most
powerful force in all of wrestling.

Preston Charlatan: I tend to agree with you with one exception. While your
dominance in the squared circle is hard to question, my authority is
unquestionable. As long as all of you remember that, things will be fine.
Otherwise, you're going to get a reality check.

Triple H: Give me a break! Sure, you sign the checks and promote the shows, but
what power do you really have? You could never confront any of us because
you're nowhere near the athlete we are.

Preston Charlatan: Hunter, I'm quite aware of this. I know I could never come
close to defeating you nor do I have any desire to. While I'm a fan of
professional wrestling, there is no way I can continue to take time away from
my schedule to bring order to these shows. You see, I thought when I said
Evolution was in for a reality check that it would be obvious what I meant. I
guess you'll need a visual to understand.

[The sounds of bagpipes blare over the speakers and the crowd immediately pops
for the arrival of the one and only "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He has a microphone,
but doesn't begin to speak yet. Needless to say, Evolution is confused about
the situation.]

Preston Charlatan: While I can't stand up to you physically, Triple H, that man
can. He will not back down from Evolution or anyone, and will do what is best
for the fans and ultimately for RAGE! Wrestling.

Triple H: Where are you getting at, Charlatan?

Preston Charlatan: Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair, say hello to
the RAGE! Commissioner, Roddy Piper!

[The crowd pops for the announcement while Evolution is not happy at all.]

Preston Charlatan: The stage is yours Roddy.

[Preston Charlatan's image disappears from the RAGE!tron. The fans are all
chanting "RODDY" in unison it seems.]

Roddy Piper: Triple H, nice to meet you. I am what Mr. Charlatan says I am.
Your new commissioner. That's right. I'll be making matches and making sure
people like you are kept in line. And there definitely won't be any world
titles being given to you either. No, I have a better idea. You'll have to
get into the ring to win it. What a novel concept huh? Maybe I should
trademark it?

[Batista grabs the microphone from Triple H.]

Batista: Maybe I should walk up that ramp and kick your ass.

Roddy Piper: Go ahead and try it, but be aware that a hefty fine and a long
suspension without pay will ensue.

[Batista reluctantly backs down and hands the microphone back to Triple H.]

Roddy Piper: So Triple H, you'll have the opportunity to win the World
Heavyweight Championship tonight because it will be on the line, tonight!

[The crowd pops once more for the crowning of a first world heavyweight
champion.]

Roddy Piper: In fact, all of you in that ring will have a chance as well as
everyone in the back. There will be a series of five man battle royals
tonight, four in all. The winners of each respective battle royal will qualify
for four spots in a Four Corners Match. It won't be under Elimination rules, so
the first wrestler to score a pinfall will become RAGE! World Heavyweight
Champion. How do you like them apples Triple H?

Triple H: Fine, I don't care Hot Rod. By the end of the night, you'll still be
a man wearing a skirt and I'll be wearing the world heavyweight championship
belt around my waist.

["Line in the Sand" plays once again while Roddy Piper and Triple H stare each
other down from their respective positions. The skirt comment never sat well
with Roddy Piper in the past and it certainly won't now. The show goes to a
commercial break.]

[RAGE! World Heavyweight Title Qualifying Match #1]: 5-Man Battle Royal:
D-Von Dudley won a 5-man Battle Royal:
x S. Michaels threw out C. Haas after a German suplex in 0:02:57
x R. Dupree threw out Booker in 0:06:10
x S. Michaels threw out R. Dupree in 0:07:56
x D-Von threw out S. Michaels after a powerslam in 0:10:30
Rating: *** 1/4

The first match in RAGE! Wrestling ended with a surprise. Instead of Shawn
Michaels advancing to the Four Corners Match, D-Von Dudley will take the honor
after he eliminated The Heartbreak Kid by throwing him over the top rope.
Tough break for Shawn Michaels, but he'll have more than enough opportunities
to compete for the World Heavyweight Title in the future.

[RAGE! World Heavyweight Title Qualifying Match #2]: 5-Man Battle Royal:
Triple H won a 5-man Battle Royal:
x Kidman threw out Rhyno after a flying forearm in 0:00:59
x G. Cade threw out Kidman after a swinging neckbreaker in 0:03:20
x Triple H threw out G. Cade in 0:04:29
x Triple H defeated M. Hardy after the Pedigree in 0:08:00
Rating: *** 1/4

Triple H withstood quite the challenge from Matt Hardy to win this battle
royal, and qualify for the Four Corners Match later on. Earlier, Triple H
boldly proclaimed that he would win the World Heavyweight Title tonight. We'll
see if his prediction is correct when the Four Corners Match is complete and a
champion is crowned.

[RAGE! World Heavyweight Title Qualifying Match #3]: 5-Man Battle Royal:
Christian won a 5-man Battle Royal:
x Batista threw out E. Guerrero in 0:03:20
x S. Richards threw out Batista in 0:04:54
x Christian threw out London after a chokehold in 0:06:44
x Christian defeated S. Richards after a powerslam in 0:07:24
Rating: ** 1/2

Both the favorites in this match, Eddie Guerrero and Batista, were eliminated,
leaving a wide open field between Steven Richards, Paul London, and Christian
to win and qualify for the Four Corners Match. In the end, it was Christian
who was able to outlast everyone else and qualify for the Four Corners Match.
This is the biggest opportunity in Christian's career, as he's never had a
World Heavyweight Title match to this point.

[RAGE! World Heavyweight Title Qualifying Match #4]: 5-Man Battle Royal:
Test won a 5-man Battle Royal:
x S. Benjamin threw out Bubba after a roll away in 0:04:22
x Test threw out S. Grenier in 0:07:12
x S. Benjamin threw out R. Orton in 0:09:30
x Test defeated S. Benjamin after a pumphandle slam in 0:10:04
Rating: ** 1/2
[Ric Flair interfered against Shelton Benjamin.]

With Stacy Keibler cheering him on from the outside and the Testicles firmly by
his side, Test prevailed in the final battle royal qualifying match. Although
Test is happy to qualify for the Four Corners Match, he goes into it at a
disadvantage considering he will have no time to rest as the match is next.

Four Corners Match for the vacant RAGE! World Heavyweight Title:
Triple H defeated D-Von Dudley, Christian and Test when Triple H pinned D-Von
with the Pedigree in 0:16:01.
Rating: ***
(Triple H won the RAGE! World Heavyweight Title.)
[Stacy Keibler interfered against Christian.]

It's not like Triple H didn't tell us all what he would do tonight after Roddy
Piper made the announcement of how the World Heavyweight Championship would be
decided. Triple H boldly claimed that he would walk away from the first RAGE!
Wrestling show as the promotion's first World Heavyweight Champion. He did
just that after executing the Pedigree on D-Von Dudley and getting the three
count before Christian could break it up.

After the match, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista entered the ring and
helped celebrate Triple H's title victory while the crowd booed. Batista hoisted
Triple H onto his shoulders and paraded the new champion around the ring, with
Triple H hold the World Heavyweight Championship belt up high for all to see.


Card rating: ***


Match observations:

Next week, the RAGE! World Tag Team Title Tournament will begin with an eight
team tournament. The teams scheduled to compete include:

The Dudley Boyz
The World's Greatest Tag Team
The Shooting Star Express
La Resistance
Garrison Cade and Test
Batista and Randy Orton

Plus two more teams that will be added to the brackets.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 02/22/05 at 06:43:23

RAGE! Wrestling appears as if it will be using Americamamushi's ruleset, but it really won't. I just liked his way of determining a world champion.

It will instead be run more like GCW, without a ruleset.

The starting roster of 20 is as follows:

Faces
Shawn Michaels
Eddie Guerrero
Booker T
Paul London
Billy Kidman
Bubba Ray Dudley
D-Von Dudley
Garrison Cade
Test
Rhyno

Heels
Triple H
Batista
Randy Orton
Shelton Benjamin
Charlie Haas
Rene Dupree
Sylvain Grenier
Matt Hardy
Steven Richards
Christian

VertigoPosted on 02/22/05 at 18:20:31

I liked this first show despite having a WWE roster. The opening arguments between Charlatan & Piper and Evolution were pretty intense.

The concept of four battle royals and a 4 Corners Match all in one show is pretty cool and I haven't seen anything like that before. That's pretty creative.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 02/22/05 at 21:22:15

On 02/22/05 at 18:20:31, Vertigo wrote:I liked this first show despite having a WWE roster. The opening arguments between Charlatan & Piper and Evolution were pretty intense.

The concept of four battle royals and a 4 Corners Match all in one show is pretty cool and I haven't seen anything like that before. That's pretty creative.
Thanks for the reply. However, to be fair, I'm not the first to use four battle royals and a Four Corners Match to determine a new champion, and all in one show. I have to credit Americamamushi for the idea as it's apart of his ruleset.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 03/14/05 at 06:13:23

Since it's been a few weeks since I last posted a card for RAGE! Wrestling, I'm going to bump this thread back up so everyone can see what went down on the first show.

And there are no wrestling matches in pools surrounded by a demilitarized zone on this next show. Sorry if anyone is disappointed.