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[GCW] Monday Night Explosion - 6/28/04

Snabbit888Posted on 08/29/04 at 06:40:22

After an amazingly successful pay-per-view event last night, Super Cade, we packed everything up and brought GCW to Richmond, Virginia for Monday Night Explosion. Chris Benoit is still the World Heavyweight champion, while we have new North American and World Tag Team champions in Shawn Michaels and The World's Greatest Tag Team respectively, and a whole lot of action on tap for you tonight! We already know that on tonight's broadcast, Rey Mysterio Jr. will defend the Cruiserweight Title against The Hurricane! And speaking of the World's Greatest Tag Team, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas will defend their freshly regained titles against Billy Kidman and Paul London! All that and more, but first thing's first, we had "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles defending the Television Title against Shannon "All That And" Moore!


Match #1
Television Title Match
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles (c) vs. Shannon "All That And" Moore
AJ Styles just keeps finding a way to win. Styles has been the only Television champion to date, and he doesn't look like he's going to lose it any time soon. His competition tonight was Shannon Moore, a young guy with a boatload of talent but not really sure how to harness it. It's amazing when you step back and realize that Styles is only 26 and Moore is only 24 years old. A bright future for both of these guys, but unfortunately for Moore, this is the present. Moore got flurries of offense in, but in the end, the Styles Clash was his demise.

AJ Styles pinned Shannon Moore with the Styles Clash in 0:04:10.
Rating: ** 1/4
(AJ Styles retained the GCW Television Title.)

A successful title defense from AJ Styles here tonight, as the wins just keep on coming. He wasn't done yet though, as he grabbed Moore by the hair and tossed him to the outside. He then grabbed the microphone from GCW ring announcer William Buck, but he got a little more than he bargained for.

* * * * *

[AJ Styles slings the Television Title over his shoulder as he addresses the crowd. He is breathing a bit heavily, but looks all in all in good shape.]

AJ: Every week I come out here and every week I beat another challenger. This lack of competition is starting to get a little disturbing. I took out this guy tonight so fast that I don't even remember what his name is! Last night, I showed that Goldust is a freak and nothing more. I am phenomenal! All I'm looking for is a little competition, that's all. So this is an open challenge to all of Global Championship Wrestling. If you think you have what it takes to beat the Phenomenal One, step up to the plate!

[Styles starts to leave when "Medal" begins playing, bringing the crowd to its feet. Styles looks to the entrance ramp and mouths the words, "Oh shit..." as out from the back comes all of the Sensationals. Leading is Kurt Angle, who is followed immediately by Randy Orton and "Y2J" Chris Jericho, the latter of which has a large bandage on his head from the wounds he sustained in the cage match with Eddie Guerrero. Bringing up the rear is Steve "Who's Your Daddy?" Bradley, who has a new accessory with him: a black baseball bat that says "MOFO" on it in white letters. All four men look extremely upset, all suffering losses last night at Super Cade. Whereas they will usually take some time to jaw with the fans, they were all business this time out, getting right in the ring. Bradley goes straight up to Styles and snatches the microphone away from him.]

SB: You want competition, you little bastard? Well guess what? You found some! We were listening to you backstage and I've decided that you haven't quite repaid your favor to the Sensationals enough. You talk about how dominant a champion you've been? Well, if it wasn't for the Baddest Mofo On The Show, you would have lost that title to Lance Storm back in May! So here's how it's going to happen. You're going to get the hell out of this ring, and you're going to get yourself mentally prepared, because at the next pay-per-view, Chaos Reigns, you're going to defend that Television Title against Steve Bradley! And if you say no... [Bradley slams the baseball bat in his hand] ...you'll be making your next title defense from a hospital room! I'm NOT playing games anymore! Now get the hell out of the Sensationals' ring!

[AJ Styles thinks about saying something, but Bradley takes a step toward him. Styles makes a quick and intelligent exit from the ring. This new anger from Steve Bradley could be a bad sign for the rest of GCW, and that baseball bat is more than a little unsettling. Bradley hands the microphone to Chris Jericho.]

CJ: Welcome to Monday Night Jericho! Last night everyone witnessed just how absolute heinous the officiating in Global Championship Wrestling has become! JD Sanders proved what kind of incompetent fool he is. For starters, he didn't even get hit that hard! It was a simple flying forearm! Secondly, I won that match, not Eddie Guerrero! I bounced Guerrero around that ring from bell-to-bell, giving him the beating of a lifetime like only the Canadian King of Bling-Bling can! From what I understand, I beat him so bad that he can't even wrestle tonight!

[The crowd boos this, obviously wanting to see Guerrero in action.]

CJ: It was obvious to everyone last night I won that match. And in case you think otherwise, the video footage will prove it. Roll it, daddio!

[The GCW VideoTron rolls the footage from the steel cage match last night. It shows Chris Jericho climbing through the door and making it to the floor. However, referee JD Sanders was knocked out in the ring and missed it. The video shuts off.]

CJ: You see that? Decisive proof that Chris Jericho is a winner, Eddie Guerrero is a loser! Thank you! Now here's what I want. Number one! I want the result of last night's match officially reversed to show that Y-2-J is the winner! Numero two! I want JD Sanders FIRED from GCW for being a bumbling fool of a referee! And number trifecta! I want Eddie Guerrero FIRED for what he did to my forehead! How can I be a sexy beast with a bandage on my head?

[The crowd boos Jericho mercilessly. His demands do seem a bit outrageous for sure. After glaring at the crowd for a moment, Jericho hands the microphone to Randy Orton.]

RO: Chris Jericho wasn't the only man to suffer injustice last night at Super Cade. As you all can plainly see, I lost 15 pounds off of my already chiseled physique. Not for all of you fat slobs, losing 15 pounds is something you could all desperately use. But for me, losing the 15 pounds of gold is awful! Since last night, I haven't slept! I haven't ate! I can't do anything knowing that I lost MY North American Title to a joke like Shawn Michaels on a FLUKE!

[Richmond, Virginia is not happy with this, knowing full well that Michaels defeated Orton for the North American Title cleanly and fairly last night.]

RO: This doesn't sit well with me. I am well on my way to achieving greatness and I got screwed hard last night! Well I'm going to fix that. I bet you all think Shawn Michaels is pretty great, huh? [Huge crowd pop] I bet you all think he's much better than Randy Orton, right? [Even bigger crowd pop] Well I'm going to give him his chance to prove it here tonight. Shawn Michaels! You and me, one more time, TONIGHT. *MY* North American Title on the line. And just to prove how much better I am than you, let's make this match something that's right up your alley. I'm so confident that I can beat you, that we will make it your specialty, a Ladder Match! How 'bout it, Shawn? It's time to put you in your place, chump!

[Orton smirks his cocky smirk before handing the microphone to Kurt Angle, which immediately prompts a chant of "ANGLE SUCKS!"]

KA: I'm not in the mood, so why don't you all just shut up!?

[This, of course, makes the crowd chant louder. After the chants die down, Angle talks.]

KA: I'm not in the mood to banter to these idiots, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet so even the fools in Richmond can understand it. I want a rematch with Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Title. Last night proves nothing! I wrestled better than I've wrestled in years. I did everything right. Everything except scout Benoit properly. See, I didn't think Benoit would stoop so low as to go after my surgically repaired neck, but I was wrong. I gave Benoit too much credit. I thought he was a man, but I was very wrong. It's true.

[The crowd boos Angle relentlessly, not believing the man who attacked an innocent woman and broke her ankle just weeks ago could claim anyone wasn't a man.]

KA: So I don't care what you have to do, Niemiller. But I want my rematch, so I can give Chris Benoit the Olympic-sized ass whooping that he deserves! Oh it's true, it's...

[Kurt Angle is cut off by the music of Brock Lesnar. Lesnar bounces around at the top of the ramp as the Sensationals are not sure if they should be ready to fight or not. Lesnar gets in the ring and gets in Angle's face.]

BL: Last night, you lost. Last night, I won. The next title shot is MINE!

[The crowd pops a bit as Lesnar is showing no fear of the Sensationals. Before anything can escalate from here, the crowd explodes as we hear "CAN YOU DIG IT, SUCKA!?" and out from the back is Booker T. He stands at the top of the ramp with a microphone in hand, knowing that if he got in the ring, he'd be eaten alive.]

BT: Yo, I think you're all forgettin' about Booker T! You all up there talkin' 'bout who gets the next title shot, but I ain't hearin' that! I ain't done with Brock Lesnar's punk ass, I ain't done with Chris Benoit's punk ass, and I got no direct beef with you, Angle, but I'm sure you're a punk ass too! Soo all you suckas need to step back 'cause it's Booker T's time!

[Things are getting extremely tense when suddenly the VideoTron turns on and we see GCW President Ryan Niemiller.]

RN: All right, that's enough everybody! I'm not going to sit back and watch this turn into a huge brawl. So here's how it's going to be. Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once. Steve Bradley, AJ Styles came back to my office and accepted your challenge, so at Chaos Reigns on July 18th, you'll get your Television Title Match. You better be careful with how you use that baseball bat though. Don't think I won't hesitate to fine you for its improper use. Chris Jericho, what did you want? You wanted to be awarded last night's match, and both JD Sanders AND Eddie Guerrero fired? Well, no, that's not going to happen. But what will happen is this. Since both you and Mr. Guerrero are a little worse for wear, you'll have tonight off. But next week right here on Explosion, it will be one more time, Chris Jericho taking on Eddie Guerrero! [Crowd pops] I thought a steel cage would be enough to settle this, but I was wrong. So to one more time try to ensure that this gets settled, it will be Best Two of Three Falls! This one is going to get settled one way or another! And Randy Orton, you want a rematch tonight with Shawn Michaels for the North American Title in a Ladder Match. Now I haven't talked to Mr. Michaels about it, but knowing the type of competitor he is, I'm sure he will be more than willing to oblige. So right here tonight, it will be Shawn Michaels taking on Randy Orton in a Ladder Match for the North American Title!

[Huge crowd pop for this. Randy Orton is very pleased with this announcement.]

RN: But one catch, Orton. If you fail to win the North American Title from Shawn Michaels here tonight, you will not receive another chance at the title as long as Shawn Michaels is champion! You want to prove you're the better man, here's your chance.

[Orton isn't nearly as happy with this now as the crowd pops the thought of no more title shots for Orton. Niemiller is certainly laying down the law.]

RN: And finally, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and Booker T. You all want a shot at Chris Benoit and the World Heavyweight Title. And an argument can be made for all three of you for that title shot. But, this is Global Championship Wrestling. It's not about arguing here; it's about proving yourself in the ring, and that's what I'm going to make all three of you do tonight. What's going to happen is that tonight, there will be a three man round robin tournament featuring Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and Booker T. Each man will face the other two men in singles matches. Whoever has the most wins after the last match will be declared the number-one contender and will meet Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Title at Chaos Reigns, July 18th, in Atlanta, Georgia!

[Once again, the crowd pops, excited to see the three matches in the round-robin tournament tonight.]

RN: Is everybody happy? Good. Now if you would all be so kind as to exit the ring so that these people can watch what they came to see - WRESTLING.

[Crowd pops as we cut to commercial with everyone filing to the back.]

* * * * *


Match #2
Lance Storm vs. Sean O'Haire
Lance Storm is riding a wave of momentum, having handed Steve Bradley his first loss in a GCW ring at Super Cade. Tonight he had his hands full though with the equally red hot Sean O'Haire, who has seen a resurgence in his intensity and as a result is on a bit of a winning streak. O'Haire asserted himself in this one early as has been his style recently: use his strength and size to get an early advantage and not let up. Lance Storm has been in this business for 14 years though, and he's one of the smartest wrestlers in the world today. Storm wrestled defensively earlier, trying to survive O'Haire initial aggressive onslaught. Storm finally saw his opening when he ducked a huge lariat attempt from O'Haire and dropkicked him in the knee. The best way to neutralize a big powerful guy like O'Haire is to keep him on the mat, and that's exactly what Storm did by working on his left knee. Eventually, Storm caught O'Haire with a superkick that sent the big man stumbling through the ropes to the floor.

Things got strange at this point as "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels made his way down to ringside. Nobody was sure exactly why he was here. As O'Haire started to climb back into the ring, Daniels stopped him. O'Haire cocked back as if to punch Daniels, but Daniels just smiled at him. O'Haire stopped in his tracks as Daniels whispered something into O'Haire's ear. O'Haire paused before a big smile came across his face. Daniels started walking to the back and Sean O'Haire followed him to the back, right in the middle of a match! Lance Storm looked puzzled as he was awarded the countout victory.

Lance Storm defeated Sean O'Haire by countout in 0:08:05.
Rating: ** 1/4

Well that was certainly odd. What did Christopher Daniels say to Sean O'Haire that would make him just walk out of a match? Never the less, Lance Storm is your winner, continuing his hot streak.


Match #3
Number-One Contender Round Robin - Match #1
Booker T vs. Kurt Angle
Up next was the first of the three matches in the round robin tournament to determine the number-one contender for the World Heavyweight Title, and this was a huge match for Booker T and Kurt Angle. The winner of this first match would have a distinct advantage, whereas the loser would be in a sudden death situation in their second match. Both men were tentative at first, trying to reserve energy knowing they would have to wrestle a second match later on. Angle had the advantage early, wrestling a controlled match on the mat. Booker T was the first to kick it into overdrive, exploding on Angle with a spinebuster out of nowhere and a nearfall.

Booker realized this might be his best chance to finish Angle off early, so he went all out. Booker fired up on Angle, taking him down with a spin kick. Booker went to the top rope and caught Angle flush with a missile dropkick, a move he hasn't used in quite awhile. Booker made the cover and got a 2 and 9/10 count. Angle got back to his feet but walked right into the Book End! This would have put Angle away, but he was too close to the ropes and got his foot on the bottom rope just in time. Booker pleaded his case with referee Petey Pluck thinking it was a 3 count, but Pluck stuck by his call. Booker took Angle down with a bodyslam before heading to the top once again. Booker jumped off with a somersault legdrop, but Angle got out of the way. Angle quickly capitalized with the Angle Slam before clenching on the Ankle Lock. Booker tried to find a quick escape, but knowing he still had to wrestle Brock Lesnar later, Booker quickly tapped when he realized Angle had a solid hold of him.

Kurt Angle made Booker T submit to the Ankle Lock in 0:08:42.
Rating: **** 1/4

Kurt Angle picked up a huge win in match one. Now, if Angle can defeat Brock Lesnar later tonight, he will be the number-one contender. As Angle left the ring happy with his win, a dejected Booker T sat on the mat. One costly mistake was all it took for the match to slip out of his fingers. Booker T isn't out of the running quite yet, but he is going to need a lot of luck. Not only does he have to beat Brock Lesnar, which he hasn't been able to do to date, but he needs Lesnar to beat Angle as well.

* * * * *

[The crowd pops as we see "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels warming up in his locker room, preparing for the first ever GCW Ladder Match later on in the evening. HBK stops his warmup when in comes "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero. There are a few tense moments as Michaels and Guerrero lock eyes. Finally, Eddie Guerrero breaks the silence.]

EG: Big match tonight, eh, essa?

HBK: Yeah.

EG: Ladder match, right?

HBK: Yeah.

EG: Hrm... sounds like a big match. [Pauses] You know what you should do, holmes? You should hit Randy Orton, vato loco, with some Sweet Chin Music, essa! I hear that stuff hurts! Now where did I hear that? Hrm... oh yeah! It's because you kicked my damn teeth in with it last night, holmes!

HBK: Listen, Eddie! That was an accident and you know it!

EG: I know it? I know it? Oh, I might have known it, but I couldn't find your ass anywhere last night after it happened, essa! It seems like last night was a hit and run job. You wanna explain that, vato?

HBK: Yeah, I do want to explain that, Eddie, but I'm not going to explain it right now! You said so yourself, I have a big match tonight, and I need to focus, Eddie. The Sensationals will stop at NOTHING to get this North American Title back. Now I gotta know, Eddie, are you going to have my back tonight?

[Eddie Guerrero looks away not saying a word.]

HBK: Eddie, you just have to trust me on this one. Now are you going to have my back?

[Michaels extends his hand to Guerrero. After a short pause, Eddie shakes it.]

EG: Yeah, I got your back, holmes.

[We cut back to the ring for our next match.]

* * * * *


Match #4
Teddy Hart vs. "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels (w/ Daffney)
We had cruiserweight action next as Teddy Hart, who fell just short of winning the Cruiserweight Title at Super Cade, taking on "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, who has already made one strange appearance on Explosion. This match came about as a result of Teddy Hart's attack on Rey Mysterio Jr. last week during a title defense against Daniels, thus costing the Fallen Angel the Cruiserweight Title. Daniels laid both Mysterio and Hart out after the match. This was a terrific match. Christopher Daniels has toiled away in the indies for so many years and he is finally getting his chance to shine, and shine he is. Daniels is truly one of the most innovated wrestlers in the world today, doing moves that the mainstream hasn't been exposed to yet. Teddy Hart is no pushover by any means though, as he brought his A-game straight to the veteran.

After a fantastic back and forth battle, Daniels was away to swing the momentum that Hart had been gaining in his favor by low bridging the top rope and sending Hart crashing to the floor. Daniels grabbed a hold of referee Jimmy Appleseed averting his attention. This allowed SEAN O'HAIRE to run down to ringside, grab Hart by the head, and slam his skull hard into the steel ringsteps. O'Haire picked Hart up and drove his back in the ringpost before nailing him with a backbreaker. O'Haire picked Hart up and tossed him back into the ring. Daniels pounced by hitting the Last Rites on Teddy Hart to get the 1-2-3.

Christopher Daniels pinned Teddy Hart with the Last Rites in 0:12:22.
Rating: **** 1/4

Sean O'Haire entered the ring and continued the onslaught, dropping Teddy Hart with the Prophecy before dumping him to the floor. I guess we know what Christopher Daniels said to O'Haire earlier, but why is O'Haire following Daniels? And what are Low-Ki and Elix Skipper going to think about this?

* * * * *

[We are in the interview area with the former World Tag Team champions, the Basham Brothers. Also present is Shaniqua, who has her riding crop in hand.]

S: I can't believe this! We had a plan, boys! We had a plan! All you two had to do is beat the World's Greatest Tag Team, and that big, hot, hunk of chocolate, Shelton Benjamin, would have been all mine to do with as I please for 30 days, and you two idiots blew it!

[Shaniqua whips Danny Basham once hard in the back. He cringes before smiling sadistically.]

S: What am I supposed to do now? Now I have nothing! No Shelton Benjamin! No tag titles! Nothing! And it's because of you failures!

[Shaniqua cocks back to strike Doug Basham with the riding crop, but Doug Basham catches her arm.]

DoB: You listen here, bitch! [Crowd oohs] You can't pin this all on us! Your brilliant plan didn't work out that well, did it? You said it was a surefire plan, that we would keep the World Tag Team Titles. I don't see any damn titles, Shaniqua! You're supposed to be the mastermind here. So maybe it's your fault, not ours!

S: You better let go of me, bitch!

[Shaniqua swings at Doug Basham with her free hand, but Danny Basham catches it.]

DaB: Or what? What are you going to do about it!?

DoB: We're calling the shots now, and the first shot is you're history!

[Doug Basham pulls Shaniqua's hair back causing her to scream. Danny Basham grabs a hold of her and puts her in a standing headscissors. Before Danny can do anything, Shelton Benjamin runs in and cracks him in the back with a steel chair. Danny Basham releases Shaniqua and falls to the floor. Doug Basham takes a swing at Benjamin, but he ducks and catches Basham with a boot to the midsection. Benjamin puts the chair above his head and brings it crashing down on Doug Basham's cranium. The Basham Brothers crawl away as Shaniqua gets back to her feet. She sees Shelton Benjamin holding the steel chair. Benjamin looks and makes eye contact with Shaniqua. They share an awkward silence before Shaniqua talks.]

S: Er... thank you, Shelton...

SB: Don't mention it.

S: I really apprec...

SB: I said don't mention it.

[Shelton Benjamin gives one last look to Shaniqua before he leaves. Shaniqua watches him go before she tries to compose herself. Cut to commercial.]

* * * * *


Match #5
World Tag Team Title Match
The World's Greatest Tag Team (c) vs. Billy Kidman/Paul London
Billy Kidman and Paul London issued the challenge at Super Cade to face the winners of the World Tag Team Title match tonight, and that challenge was accepted by the World's Greatest Tag Team. Kidman and London are a bright upstart team, but Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas are the standard in tag team wrestling these days. After recapturing the World Tag Team Titles last night, the two former collegiate standouts weren't about to let those titles out of their grasp just yet. Kidman and London hit some impressive moves, but everything WGTT did simply clicked. They know the lost art of tag team strategy like no other team, and after hitting a variety of beautiful double team moves, Charlie Haas locked Billy Kidman in the Haas of Pain. This may be the most devastating submission hold in Global Championship Wrestling, and Kidman fell to it in this one.

The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defeated Billy Kidman and Paul London when C. Haas made Kidman submit to the Haas Of Pain in 0:06:54.
Rating: ** 1/4
(The World's Greatest Tag Team retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)

A valiant effort, but it wasn't the night for Billy Kidman and Paul London. Rest assured that they will be involved in the tag title scene for a long time. But one has to wonder what Charlie Haas thinks of Shelton Benjamin saving Shaniqua earlier. Was this out of sheer dislike for the Bashams, or has Benjamin developed a sweet spot for Shaniqua? Only time will tell.


Match #6
Number-One Contender Round Robin - Match #2
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar
We had our second round robin match as Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar locking horns. Kurt Angle already has one victory having made Booker T submit to the Ankle Lock, meaning that if Angle won this match, regardless of the outcome of the Lesnar/Booker match later, Angle would be the number-one contender. Angle came out aggressively, wanting to end this one quickly because Lesnar was going to have the stamina advantage as he was fresh. Angle brought Lesnar down with some amateur takedowns early, as the Olympic gold medalist was out wrestling the former NCAA collegiate national champion. It became a matter of pride for Lesnar though, who got down on all four and challenged Angle to try to turn him over. Angle took the challenge, but as he approached Lesnar, Lesnar shot for his legs and took him down with a double-leg takedown. Lesnar out smarted Angle, which is something you need to do if you want to become the number-one contender: out think your opponent.

Lesnar took control, working on the back of Kurt Angle with a variety of powerslams and bearhugs. Lesnar gave Angle a hard irish whip into the turnbuckle, but when he charged in, Angle got his foot up in Lesnar's face. Angle brought Lesnar down with a high contact clothesline for a two count. Angle went to work, hitting Lesnar with a nice German suplex. Angle put the straps down and called for the finish. Angle locked Lesnar in the Ankle Lock as the crowd came to their feet. Angle torqued the monster's ankle, trying to get him to tap, but Lesnar has tremendous leg strength as he rolled through and sent Angle crashing head first into the top turnbuckle. As Angle stumbled out, Lesnar scooped him up and in the blink of an eye, Angle was down with the F-5. Three seconds later and Brock Lesnar had his first victory!

Brock Lesnar pinned Kurt Angle with the F-5 in 0:06:17.
Rating: *** 1/4

Now Brock Lesnar is just one win away from being the number-one contender for Chris Benoit's World Heavyweight Title! Angle needed to finish Lesnar off early after being tired from wrestling one match already, and he had a sound strategy, but Lesnar fought through it and picked up the win. Angle has to hope that Booker T can beat Brock Lesnar now if he even has a prayer at being the number-one contender. But Booker hasn't had the best luck against Lesnar, so this will be very interesting.


Match #7
Cruiserweight Title Match
Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) vs. The Hurricane
Rey Mysterio Jr. promised to give The Hurricane a Cruiserweight Title shot if he retained the gold at Super Cade, and that's exactly what he did by defeating Teddy Hart. The Hurricane had a huge opportunity in this one, actually getting to wrestle for the Cruiserweight Title without previously being attacked in the locker room by Teddy Hart. It was nice to see a fast-paced clean match for a change. No cheating, but rather two guys wrestling as hard as they could for a championship; the way wrestling should be. It amazes me how quick these cruiserweights are; if you blink, you could miss something. This match featured many high-flying moves and counters, neither the champ nor the challenger establishing a clear advantage. The Hurricane came ready to fight, having Mysterio well-scouted by catching Mysterio with a dropkick as Mysterio flew from the top rope. The Hurricane had some momentum as he tried to hit Mysterio with a choke slam, but when he lifted the champion up, Mysterio spun around and nailed a tornado DDT. This left the Man In Green dazed enough for Mysterio to hit the West Coast Pop and retain the Cruiserweight Title in a highly competitive matchup.

Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned The Hurricane with the West Coast Pop in 0:08:31.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Rey Mysterio Jr. retained the GCW Cruiserweight Title.)

After the match, Mysterio showed a lot of class by helping The Hurricane to his feet. Mysterio then offered his hand, and in a great show of sportsmanship, The Hurricane shook it. Both men received a nice round of applause, but it didn't last long as TEDDY HART came into the ring and nailed The Hurricane from behind! He started to stomp away at the Man In Green, but Mysterio stepped to stop him, hitting Hart with a couple of right hands. Mysterio bounced off the ropes, but Hart caught him in the head with a Mafia kick. Hart went outside to the floor and grabbed a steel chair, but as he rolled back in the ring, the lights went out. A strange amber light then filled the arena as Hart looked around trying to figure out what was going on. He soon figured it out when he was blasted from behind by SEAN O'HAIRE. O'Haire picked Hart up and planted him with the Prophecy. The Hurricane was back up by this point and grabbed O'Haire by the throat for the choke slam, but O'Haire kicked him in the stomach, lifted him up, and sent him crashing to the mat with a shoulderbreaker. O'Haire picked Mysterio up, put him in a standing headscissors, and destroyed the Cruiserweight champion with a power bomb. As O'Haire stood over the three fallen cruiserweights, we could hear Christopher Daniels laughing over the sound system in the arena. Just when I thought things with Daniels and O'Haire couldn't get any stranger tonight, O'Haire comes out and leaves Rey Mysterio Jr., The Hurricane, and Teddy Hart lying in the ring, presumably on Daniels' request. Yikes.

* * * * *

[Mario Riviera is standing outside of a locker room door that says "THE SENSATIONALS" on it. Riviera knocks on the door. After a few moments, Kurt Angle opens it.]

KA: What do you want... oh. No thanks, padre. I don't have any plants that need to be watered.

MR: Um... Kurt Angle? I was hoping to get a few words with you concerning the number-one contendership for the World Heavyweight Title. As you're probably well aware, if Brock Lesnar defeats Booker T in our next match, he will win the round robin tournament and be named the number-one contender to meet Chris Benoit at Chaos Reigns.

KA: You think I don't know that? I want you to mark my words. That is not going to happen... I guarantee it.

[Angle stares down Riviera before slamming the door in his face. Cut back to the ring.]

* * * * *


Match #8
Number-One Contender Round Robin Tournament - Match #3
Booker T vs. Brock Lesnar
The number-one contendership was on the line in our third and final match of the round robin tournament as Booker T (0-1) took on the man who defeated him last night at Super Cade, Brock Lesnar (1-0). Lesnar went right on the attack by overpowering Booker by driving him into the corner and hitting him with a series of shoulders into the midsection. Lesnar pulled Booker out and nailed him with a huge backbreaker. The monster showed right from the get-go that he had no intentions of letting this match go on for too long. One thing you can't do though is underestimate Booker T's fighting spirit, as Booker will keep coming at you until the very end.

After Lesnar dominated the opening minutes of the match through sheer brute force, Lesnar tried to wear Booker down with a bearhug. Lesnar was squeezing the life out of Booker until he fought back out of it with a couple of elbows to the side of the head, breaking Lesnar's grip. Booker bounced off the ropes and almost ran into a Brock Lesnar clothesline, but Booker ducked under it and hit Lesnar with the Book End! Booker made the cover, but only got a long two count. Booker could feel victory within his grasp though as he got to his feet via the Spinaroonie. As Lesnar got back up, Booker hit the ropes and tried for the Axe Kick, but Lesnar got out of the way before mowing Booker down with a huge clothesline. Lesnar was done playing, lifting Booker onto his shoulders for the F-5. However, KURT ANGLE ran down to ringside and grabbed a hold of Lesnar's foot. Lesnar dropped Booker and turned to Angle, yelling at him. Lesnar tried to grab Angle, but Angle jumped back out of the way. This distraction gave Booker the chance to roll Lesnar up and out of the blue, get the 3 count!

Booker T pinned Brock Lesnar with a roll-up in 0:07:45.
Rating: *** 3/4

Booker T did it! Booker T pinned Brock Lesnar, and boy was Lesnar pissed off. This leads us to an interesting situation though, as Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and Booker T all have one win and one loss. Who is the number-one contender going to be? We hope to have an answer to that by the time we go off the air.


Match #9
MAIN EVENT
Ladder Match for the North American Title
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Randy Orton
The ring crew set the ladder in the aisleway, which meant it was time for our main event. It was "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels making his first North American Title defense against the man he beat for the title, Randy Orton, in a first for Global Championship Wrestling, a ladder match! HBK is the man who is generally associated with perfecting the ladder match, but he would be tested in this one as to my knowledge, Michaels hasn't wrestled in a match like this in quite some time. Randy Orton's ego compelled him to challenge Michaels to a ladder match, and he knew he had to make it count, because this would be the only rematch he was going to get against the Heartbreak Kid.

The beginning minutes of this match were almost a feeling out process. The two men wrestled last night so they were familiar with what the other could do, so both competitors wrestled very cautiously, making no major attempts to get the ladder. A lot of great chain wrestling between both Michaels and Orton to set the pace early on. It didn't take too long before Randy Orton's backup came down to ringside in the former of Steve "Who's Your Daddy?" Bradley, along with his new friend, that black baseball bat. Orton started wrestling with a little more bravado when he saw Bradley down at ringside, and rightfully so. Bradley didn't get involved, but you could tell his presence distracted the Heartbreak Kid, throwing him off his game.

Orton brought Michaels down with his reverse backbreaker variant, and made his move down the aisle to get the ladder. However, halfway there, he stopped as "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero started walking down the aisle to even up the odds! Orton back away, not wanting to confront Guerrero and slid back into the ring where he was met with a series of right hands and chops from Shawn Michaels. Michaels followed up by hitting Orton with a piledriver and made his way up the aisle to get the ladder. As HBK retrieved the ladder and started bringing it back toward the ring, Orton was stirring in the ring. Michaels got to ringside and tried to put the ladder in the ring, but he was met by a baseball slide from the third generation superstar.

That move by Orton opened the flood gates for the ladder being used as a weapon. Both Orton and Michaels throughout this match found different ways of using the ladder as a means to inflict punishment on the other man. After wrestling for nearly 20 minutes last night, these two pulled no punches in punishing each other to the fullest of their capabilities. The tenacity of both men was astounding as one man would think they had their opponent wore down enough, but then they would rise from the dead and prevent them from retrieving the North American Title that was hanging 15 feet above the ring. After a long hard fought battle, Michaels seemed to have this one sealed when he hit a flying splash off of the ladder, wiping Orton out. HBK set the ladder back up and slowly started to climb toward retaining his title. This is when Steve Bradley jumped in the ring (minus the baseball bat, thankfully) and shoved the ladder over, sending HBK down to the mat. Eddie Guerrero started to jump in the ring, but once he got on the apron, he took a look at Michaels lying on the mat, and he jumped back down to the floor and headed to the back! Eddie Guerrero was leaving Shawn Michaels high and dry. Bradley and Orton smiled as Bradley picked Michaels up and dropped him with the Smashmouth. As Bradley held the Heartbreak Kid, Orton slapped him hard across the face, retaliating from Michaels doing so to him last week. Orton grabbed Michaels and hit him with the R.K.O. as the crowd viciously booed half of the Sensationals. From here, it was academic as Orton climbed the ladder and regained the North American Title.

Ladder Match:
Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels in 0:18:39.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Randy Orton won the GCW North American Title.)

Randy Orton is now a 2-time North American champion, but not without controversy. Eddie Guerrero abandoned Shawn Michaels after assuring him earlier that he would watch his back. The show went off the air with Randy Orton holding the North American Title high above his head, celebrating with Steve Bradley.

What an eventful night! We have a new North American champion, and there are still questions about who will be the number-one contender. Be sure to join us next week on Explosion where we will try to sort out this number-one contender mess, as well as seeing Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho lock up one more time in a 2 of 3 falls match!
91Posted on 08/29/04 at 13:03:14

What a jerk that Eddie is. Terrific card though, that's the one that's going to keep my interest up. It's a bit like if TNA gave away a show on free TV, they'd want one like that to attract new PPV buyers. It was also very useful for getting a clear picture of how everyone is alligned.

I think the three-way tie was inevitable, but one would assume it leads to a triple threat match to decide it. It also leads to a Lesnar/Angle feud, one would assume.
Snabbit888Posted on 08/29/04 at 22:41:20

Thanks.  Yes, the three-way was a bit predictable, but sometimes the predictable is the best choice.  I always thought that was a big problem with WCW; always trying to shock the crowd in some ways.  I think that you need a little predictability to keep the fans from getting too confused and to keep storylines flowing well.

I'm glad you enjoyed it though.  I feel this is the best Explosion I've done since starting GCW.  The Eddie/HBK stuff looks to be working well, as does the World Heavyweight Title picture.  Keep reading. :)
91Posted on 08/29/04 at 23:35:37

On 08/29/04 at 22:41:20, Snabbit888 wrote:Yes, the three-way was a bit predictable, but sometimes the predictable is the best choice.
Oh absolutely, I guess it's given you an excuse for three good matches, at least one more blow-off match which should be good and potentially a new feud which, in theory, should produce more good matches.