March 5th - March 11th: This Week in Wrestling History

"If You Smell..."

Rocks Road to Wrestlemania in Years Gone By (Part One)

Via therealwrestle

Almost an entire calendar year to the day the match was made. At last years Wrestlemania it was announced that in his home town of Miami, Florida The Rock would clash with John Cena in what is being billed as one of the biggest, most high-profile matches in WWE history. Over the course of 12 months the hype has been building and in just three and half weeks the wait is finally over. You would think that this makes me excited, right? The live crowds and large sections of the WWE Universe seem to be excited. I, however, am not and this is why.

Making a match a year in advance is a massive call. Thats twelve months of work, twelve months of hype, twelve months in which to keep peoples attention and hold peoples interest. That is a huge ask of any two people on the roster. So then, when you consider that one of those men has been absent and only at a handful of live events during that time, having only one match at a WWE pay-per-view in that time and shouldering his share of the responsibility via satellite, pre-recorded comments and Twitter you may just begin to realise where my patience has worn thin.

I am no Cena mark. I never have been. I actually used to rather dislike him. Having Cena forced upon me every time I want to watch WWE over the last few years has not always been enjoyable. Cena has been in the main event, usually with a championship around his waist, for several years now. Cena has been the WWEs top dog and where thats all well and good the lack of change to the scenery has been somewhat tiring. With that said I have been very surprised to say that in recent times I, who once owned a Rock t-shirt and consider myself a fan, I have been all about John Cena as far as this "war" goes. Cena has worked remarkably well in a very tight spot, trying to keep air in the lungs of a feud with a man making rare appearances, armed with little more than a mic and a titantron or live satellite feed. What makes this situation even more disappointing is that when The Rock has been live on Monday Night Raw he has done, in my opinion, very little to further enhance the angle and quite frankly has been easily trumped and brushed aside by an impressive John Cena.

The Rock has been at two consecutive live Monday Night Raw events as of late and hopefully should be scheduled to appear at more between now and Wrestlemania and as much as I have been bored and frustrated with this current angle I hope to see it offer up some entertainment in the weeks to come. After all if this match is going to keep the current champions on the under-card then you would hope that it at least delivers! I felt it would be appropriate, as The Rock gears up for a return to in-ring action on the grandest stage of them all, that we take the opportunity to look back at the events of this week in wrestling history and highlight exactly what The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment has been offering the WWE universe at this exciting time of year in years gone by.

Wrestlemania XIX

The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

At Wrestlemania XIX The Rock challenged his arch-rival Stone Cold Steve Austin to one more match on the grandest stage of them all. Arguably the two biggest, most impactful and most popular susperstars in WWE history had previously headlined Wrestlemania together on two seperate occasions. Austin prevailed on both occasions. On March 30th 2003 there were no championships on the line, only pride, as The Rock set out to do what he had previously failed to do and that is beat Stone Cold at Wrestlemania - in "Act III". This battle would prove to be The Texas Rattlesnakes last, as he retired following it.

Three weeks before the showdown The Rock arrived on the March 10th 2003 edition of Monday Night Raw to be greeted by General Manager Eric Bischoff who informed The Great One that he would be wrestling Booker T that night. The Rock declined, claiming that match was not going to happen but that he would find his own opponent to face in the main event. In this hilarious backstage promo segment his hand-picked opponent would be revealed...but not before The Rock had taken an opportunity to share a song with the Cleveland audience.

Later in the show Eric Bischoff walked to the ring, mic in hand, to address his situation with The Texas Rattlesnake and made reference to his legitimate firing of Austin from WCW. Bischoff claimed that he deserved credit and that without him Austin would never made it to the WWE. Naturally Stone Cold would respond and as the two butted heads in the ring, The Rock couldn't help but get involved.

With The Rock biding his time in his feud with Steve Austin, as he waited until Wrestlemania, it was time for the main event. The Rock and his hand selected opponent The Hurricane put on a decent match. After weasling out of his original, scheduled match with Booker T and backing down from a potential confrontation with his Wrestlemania opponent, Stone Cold Steve Austin would ensure that as Raw went off air that night he made his mark to further bait The Peoples Champion.

Wrestlemania XX

The Rock & Mankind vs. Batista, Randy Orton & Ric Flair

On March 14th 2004 at Wrestlemania XX "The Rock 'n Sock Connection" took on "Evolution" in a three-on-two handicap match. The newly reformed former Tag Team Champions faced the "past, present and future" of professional wrestling, Dave Batista, the Intercontental Champion Randy Orton and the sixteen-time world champion Ric Flair.

The team of The Rock and Mick Foley were originally an unlikely combination. Mankind, desperate for The Rocks approval and respect would go out of his way in his attempts to impress 'The Great One' and usually his efforts would be met with little reaction. The comedic value of the team was never in doubt and this strange dynamic would lead to an unforgettable moment in the Attitude era and the history of Monday Night Raw when, in 1998, Mankind presenting The Rock with his "This is Your Life" would mark the highest rated segment in the history of the WWEs flagship programme.

Six years later and the pair were best of friends and on March 8th 2004, just six days days before Wrestlemania and after weeks of Foley falling prey to the assaults of the powerful trio of Evolution, The Rock would return to Raw with only one thing on his mind - cheering up his friend and tag team partner. On this night The Rock would present "Mick Foley - This is Your Life!" However before The Brahma Bull could get to the ring we were treated to a very funny encounter with one of his "fiercest rivals"!

Later in the evening the time had come for The Rock to "finally..." come back to Bridgeport, Conneticut and return the favour of his former Tag Team Championship partner. Would it live up to one of the most watched segments in Raws history? Would Evolution plan to ruin The Connections party less than a week before their match at Wrestlemania? Well, in my opinion, it certainly didn't disappoint!

(skip to 5:45)

Thats all for today folks. However trust me - this does not quite cover all the exciting moments from The Rock in this particular week in wrestling history. Check back over the next day or two where I aim to cover what is arguably the most relevant road to Wrestlemania the Great One has ever had with Cena just around the corner on April 1st!

FCW TV Report 4th March 2012

Florida Championship Wrestling

4 March 2012

Via therealwrestle

Recap: Leo Kruger vs. Mike Dalton from a recent edition of FCW TV. Leo Kruger stated he was so dominant a champion that he was issuing a challenge to the locker room, for anyone to fight him. He stated that should they beat him they would earn an opportunity to wrestle him for the FCW Heavyweight Championship. Mike Dalton, a young challenger from Lance Storms wrestling academy, accepted the challenge and we were shown highlights from their encounter. As the champion left the ring, seemingly to bail on the contest, former WWE star Road Dogg would leave his place on the commentary desk and throw Kruger back into the ring, leading to Dalton getting a shock victory and an opportunity to wrestle him once more and this time with the title on the line. 

The commentary team of Chris Russo, Byron Saxton and William Regal stand ringside at the very top of the show and tell us that tonight is a night of championships. We are reminded of two title matches on the show as the Queen of FCW puts her FCW Divas Championship on the line against two Divas in a triple threat match and FCW Heavyweight Champion Leo Kruger defends against Mike Dalton. The very first match of the night will also be for a championship.

FCW Tag Team Championships

Antonio Cesaro & Alexander Rusev vs. Husky Harris & Bo Rotundo (c)

Antonio Cesaro, known to many wrestling fans as Claudio Castagnoli, teamed with Alexander Rusev for the very first time and took on the brothers Huskly Harris (real name Windham Rotunda) and Bo Rotundo (real name Taylor Rotunda), the reigning FCW Tag Team Champions. Rusev & Harris would start the match in a display of power as they fought for position, attempting to push or knock one another down unsuccessfully. Their partners would both be tagged in and Bo would get the better of the Swiss-born Antonio Cesaro and get a one count off a series of clothlines. Hanging on as he was then thrown into the ropes, Rotundo landed a back elbow to an advancing Cesaro but would fall victim to a cheap shot from Rusev as the referees back was turned. The distraction would allow Cesaro to gain the upper hand off a big dropkick and tag in the powerhouse.

Weaking Rotundo further with elbows in the corner and a nasty headbutt the challengers would take firm control of the contest. Keeping Bo grounded, the inexperienced team would make frequent tags and keep Bo from his corner, not allowing him to tag his brother into the match. His opportunity finally came as Cesaro missed an elbow drop and Rotundo scrambled to his corner. Initially thwarted by the Swiss challenger, as he took a handful of hair and desperately tried to stop him, he was able to fight the bigger man off and both men tagged in their partners.

The pace of the match quickened as Husky Harris hit a succession of knock-downs to his opponent followed by a senton splash. Cesaro entered the ring and broke up the count. With the referree distracted in his attempt to remove Cesaro from the ring, Husky Harris pushed Alexander Rusev towards Bo Rotundo, lying in wait to hit a big spear. Harris, the legal man, picked up the win by pinfall and the brothers, sons of former WWF/E star "I.R.S" Mike Rotunda retained the titles.

We were then taken ringside where Dean Ambrose, mic in hand, explained that he didn't feel like talking but "they" wanted him to come out and say something. The confident Ambrose said that in wrestling, to say you're the best in the world is a gimmick but he is no gimmick. Ambrose explained that he believes himself to be improving every day and that he is as good as everyone else pretends to be. He goes on to say that despite this he hates being ignored, especially when he screams and begs for a match that will never happen. Never naming his desired opponent, he does however look to the commentary desk and state that a certain "someone" can "just sit there every week" while knowing that he could not beat him again.Obviously referring to William Regal, the Englishman stares back at Ambrose silently as he says he continues to get better every week and that he continues to get better than Regal ever was. When asked for comment by play-by-play commentator Chris Russo, Regal remained silent.

Seth Rollins vs. Brad Maddox (w/ Summer Rae)

In recent weeks we have seen the glamorous blond scout FCW for talent and this week we finally learned the identity of the woman leading Brad Maddox to the ring. Named as Summer Rae, she took her place at ringside as Maddox took on one of the most popular wrestlers in the company in arguably the match of the night. Seth Rollins cut a brief promo before the match began stating that he never wished to be anyone else, be pigeon holed or fit any mould and thanked the fans for their support as he carves his own path in FCW. Rollins stated that whatever he does and wherver he goes, the FCW fans would always have a place in his heart.

As the bell rang Maddox made an offensive start and beat down his opponent in the corner before snapping him over and applying a stranglehold. Rollins was able to fight out with a back suplex but Maddox avoided a dropkick and briefly turned his attention to the crowd. As he showboated, Rollins hit a beautiful dropkick at the second attempt out of a forward roll to his feet before missing a splash to the corner and was thrown out of the ring to the floor. Regrouping, Brad Maddox rolled him back into the ring and scored a two count before again applying a stranglehold, switching to a front facelock and then an armbar. Maddox hit a russian leg sweep and floated over beautifully into a cover for a two count before going back to the stranglehold a third time. Rollins, spurred on by the crowd, fought to his feet and the two men exhanged punches.

Attempting yet again to build momentum, Rollins whipped Maddox to the ropes but his opponent caught him with a kick. Straight back on the offensive however, Rollins hit a right hand before going to the ropes. Maybe for looking for the facestomp, Maddox again asserted his dominance as he lunged toward the advancing Rollins, tripping him and lay in wait, hitting a running jawbreaker. Rollins was able to again kick out at two. Frustrated, Maddox threw Rollins to the floor and as he pulled himself back up onto the apron advanced. Rollins however was waiting with a big kick before climbing the turnbuckle and landing a cross-body off the top. As Summer Rae shouted encouragement to her new client, Rollins clothleslined him out over the top and connected with a suicide dive to the outside.

Back in the ring Rollins went for another splash in the corner and this time connected with it. Hitting a back-kick to the gut to Maddox he again looked for the facestomp as he went to the ropes - only for Summer Rae to grab the heel of Rollins. The match would take a surprise turn as a mystery woman we have seen in recent weeks taking an interest in Seth Rollins and observing his matches, appeared at ringside and shoved Summer to the floor. Turning his attention back to Maddox, Rollins hit the facestomp and picked up the three count in a well worked, well paced encounter.

Kenneth Cameron v Jiro

The English Kenneth Cameron, a part of the FCWs 'Ascension' stable who debuted on FCW TV recently took on the Japanese Jiro in a short match-up. Cameron landed a few punches, knees and kicks in an aggressive start before whipping his man to the turnbuckle. Reversing out, Jiro chopped Cameron in the corner and landed a big kick to the face. Jiros attempted to whip Cameron to the ropes, was reversed, but then was able to reverse again and connect with an enzuigiri.

In what proved to be a game-changer, Cameron again reversed Jiro and whipped him hard to the turnuckle. The impact of which put Jiro to the mat. Cameron aggressively ground his forearm into the face of his grounded opponent. Hitting an elbow off the ropes, Cameron then hooked Jiro into a fisherman suplex position and dumped him on his head, picking up a three count.

As the lights in the arena went down and the strobe lighting came up, as is usually the case with the Ascensions entrances and exits in FCW, Russo alerted viewers to the fact that Byron Saxton had left the commentary position. Now in the ring, the celebration was cut short as Saxton knocked him out with the roll of quarters before taking his place back at the commentary desk. William Regal would later mock Saxtons use of the roll of quarters, stating that when he did it he used good quality brass knuckles.

Triple Threat Match for the FCW Divas Championship

Sofia Cortez vs. Audrey Marie vs. Raquel Diaz (c)

Audrey Marie took an early advantage in this Divas contest with a series of dropkicks and a a cover. The champion kicked out. Cortez then whipped Marrie towards Diaz, who took her down. The rookie, contestant on the last season of WWEs Tough Enough, and the daughter of Eddie and Vicky Guerrero then began to team up and as one held Marie, the other hit the former champion with chops. The solid looking team were able to fend off any potential comeback at this stage and beat down Marie as she attempted to fight out of the predicament with slaps to both Divas. It wasn't until Marie fought out with a series of elbows and hit a double dropkick, just to be grounded once more that cracks in the alliance began to appear. Taking the former champion down with a double drop toe hold that sent their opponent head and neck first into the ropes, Cortex and Diaz began to start fighting over who would claim the pinfall. As the two women argued, the beaten down Marie was nearly able to sneak a victory off a roll-up before banging the heads of the aggressors together. As Diaz was thrown out onto the apron, Cortex attempted a dropkick on Marie just to miss and inadvertedly knock the champion off the apron to the floor.

Cortez, known by her real name Ivelisse Vélez in the WWE reality show Tough Enough, ascended the turnbuckle and hit a cross body to Marie off the top rope and scored a near fall of her own. Battling back to her feet however, Marie hit a devestating sidewalk slam on the rookie but the champion, rolling back into the ring, was able to break up the cover in time. Taking back control of the contest, Diaz rolled up Marie off a waistlock and, using her leg strength, Marie was able to push Diaz off at two. However the former Divas Champion was only able to look on as she pushed the current champion straight into a cover on the fallen Cortez and the champion retained after an eventful, solid Divas match up. Something certainly missing from both Raw and Smackdown shows that aired this week, I might add.

We were then taken backstage into FCW general manager Maxines office where she is explaining to her newly appointed assistant Abraham Washington that the ratings have been skyrocketing recently. At this moment the former WCW Tag Team Champion Norman Smiley, now an on-screen figure of authority in FCW, informed Maxine that the President of FCW Steve Keirn had requested to speak to her immediately. After first explaining to Norman that she was busy Maxine obliged and left with Norman. Now with the office to himself Abraham Washington looked around for a moment before settling himself into the General managers chair. 

Main Event for the FCW Heavyweight Championship

Mike Dalton vs. Leo Kruger (c)

Trained by fomer WWE, WCW and ECW star Lance Storm, Mike Dalton had earned his opportunity to face Kruger for the champion a few weeks previously by defeating the champion in a non-title match, albeit with an assist from The Road Dogg. The rookie locked up with the larger champion in the early goings as the two fought for position, the challenger being forced back into the corner as Kruger then refused the clean break and raked the eyes. Dalton reponded with a double leg take down and the two continued to roll through and reverse one another as the match went to an aggressive ground and pound.As Kruger rolled out of the ring to break, Dalton hit him with a baseball slide before Kruger turned the tables and connected with an emphatic clothesline on the outside and threw his challenger to the steel ring steps as the show went to its final commercial break.

As the show continued Kruger suplexed Dalton back into the ring from the apron and, as he fought back to his feet, removed the padding from the turnbuckle. Both men then unsuccessfully attempted to use the exposed steel before Kruger, hooking the arm, rested his boot up underneath the chin of the underdog and fell backwards, dragging Dalton with him by the arm and driving the boot into the jaw. Only earning a two count, Kruger then applied a full nelson to a seated Dalton and grounded him with a front facelock. Battling to his feet Dalton pushed the champion back to the corner, driving his elbow to the midsection. Kruger reversed a whip to the opposite corner but as he advanced Dalton was able to get his boots up and attempt to take control. However, as Dalton ran toward the champion he was grounded again. This time with a huge spinebuster. The champion clearly frustrated by his resilient challenger as he only picked up a count of two. Refusing to stay down Dalton hit a dropkick and both men took a referees count to return to their feet.

Picking uop the pace Dalton hit a series of running clothlines before missing a spinning heel kick. The champion attempted again to slow the match down with a sleeper hold. The challenger initially snapped Kruger over to break but after a brutal fishermans suplex and a two count, Kruger went back to the hold again. The resourceful Dalton lunged towards the turnbuckle, Krugers throat colliding with the steel he had exposed earlier in the match and was able to kick out at two. Fearing the match may be slipping from him, kruger rolled from the ring and, grabbing his title, again appeared to be looking to get out of a dodge, Just like the last time these two met, he was then surprised by an interfering Road Dogg who threw the champion back into the ring where Dalton was able to capatilise. With Kruger clutching the championship to his chest, Dalton him up and pinned his shoulders for three.

Dalton celebrated in the ring with the cheering FCW Universe and had his hand raised by the Road Dogg. The five month reign of Leo Kruger as FCW Champion has come to end, pinned by the ultimate underdog for the second time. Leo Kruger fell to the floor at the entrance way, head in hands as the title was prised from the grasp of the dejected former champion and handed to the victor and the show came to an end.

A relatively short main event and I know I would have loved to have seen Dalton go over cleanly but this had a real sense of David vs. Goliath and the assist from the Road Dogg, I feel, was justified. Mike Dalton, it seems, could have a very bright future ahead of himself in the WWE.

Thanks to @thefcwuniverse for the wonderful photos from the show!

On This Day...

On This Day: Monday March 3rd 1997

Monday Night Raw - The British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart for the WWF European Championship

The March 3rd 1997 edition of Monday Night RAW was a historic one. Taped in Berlin, Germay on 26th February 1997 it was the last edition of the WWFs flagship show to carry the old 'Monday Night RAW' logo, before the show became RAW is WAR the following week and, more importantly. it marked the crowning of the very first champion of the very first new WWF championship title in 20 years.

An eight man tournament was initially set to decide who would earn the right to compete for the fresh, new championship and also featured Mankind, The Rock, Flash Funk, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Vader and Bret Hart. "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith and Owen Hart remained as the final two and the match was made. There was a big-fight atmosphere in the air. The friends, current WWF Tag Team Champions and legitimate brothers-in-law would battle for the WWF European Championship.

The pair were, simply put, the very best tag team the WWF had to offer at that time and, in my opinion, one of the strongest teams ever assembled in that decade. Still on top of the pile in that division, tension had started to play its role in the build up to this main event match and the commentary team were helping to sell this, speculating over a potential implosion for this team when they meet for the title.

As these two often did when handed opportunity, they stepped up their game greatly when given the opportunity to wrestle a near twenty minute main event. The chemistry and understanding between the two in the ring was obvious and the timing of the bout near perfect. The strong, muscular, English powerhouse was not always, I feel, given the credit he deserved as far as technical ability is concerned and many could argue that, despite the WWF putting him over on a few different occasions, Owen Hart was always standing somewhat in his brother Brets shadow. On this night however the spotlight was firmly on the Tag Team Champions and what they produced was nothing short of a pay-per-view quality epic. This is what many would argue was the very best wrestling match and main event that Monday Night RAW had showcased to that point in time and I would have to agree. This may well be the best wrestling match in the history of Monday Night RAW.

27th February - 4th March: This Week in Wrestling History

Sunday February 27th 2000

WWF No Way Out 2000 - Cactus Jack vs. Triple H for the WWF Championship in HELL IN A CELL

Via therealwrestle

At the turn of the new millenium the WWFs road to Wrestlemania was ablaze with intensity as Cactus Jack and Triple H took the spotlight leading into the promotions first pay-per-view event of the year, the Royal Rumble. In a brutal, violent Street Fight the defending champion retained against a valiant Cactus Jack after an assault littered with chairs, barbed wire, baseball bats and thumb tacks wasn't enough for the challenger to climb to the top of the mountain.

HHH was very much the man at this time. After breaking out of Shawn Michaels' shadow in mid-1998, he cemented his place as the top dog, the WWF Champion and, wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley in tow, lead the company into the post-attitude era hangover. Mick Foley had been to the top of the pile, somewhere many thought he would never be, capturing the WWF Championship on three seperate occasions. After dropping the Mankind persona in favour of the character that brought him his initial success in the pro wrestling business, the hardcore legend Cactus Jack, the WWF audience was again treated to his trademark violence and brutality. The match at the Royal Rumble is one of my favourite matches and Mick has stated himself that it was one of the very best he ever had. After a pedigree into the thumb tacks, the battered and beaten champion limped from the sell-out Madison Square Garden and you could have been forgiven for thinking that another chapter to this story was not to be unfolded. You would, however, have been wrong.

On an episode of RAW Triple H confronted the tenacious challenger and, expressing his desire to rid himself of Mick Foley for good, proposed one more encounter - at Februarys No Way Out event. The champion even gave the challenger the choice of match but stated that it would not involve any of Foleys trademark "toys" and weaponary. Hunter looked visably shaken as Cactus Jack said the four words that really popped the crowd and got the fans excited for what could potentially be yet another epic - 'Hell in a Cell'! The Game wasn't quite done yet however. After accepting his challenge, he would shock the WWF audience once again by laying down the most important stipulation - that should he retain the title Mick Foley would be forced to be retire.

(Please use the links above to watch the promo, split into two parts, for yourself!)

The rematch took place February 27th in Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conneticut. Lower on the card that night Kurt Angle, the WWF European Champion, defeated Chris Jerichio, the WWF Intercontential Champion - and declared himself the Euro-Continental Champion in his prompt rise to the top in his rookie year. Mark Henry met Viscera in a collision of monumental proportions (size-wise that is, not quality), Edge & Christian went for another round with The Hardys - Matt & Jeff, in what promised to be another volume in their classic series of matches and The Big Show defeated The Rock to become the #1 contender for the winner of the main event.

Whether or not the main event rematch was able to reach the heights of their earlier match and the very high bar set that night or not I'm not sure but it certainly was not a let-down. Mick Foley always wanted to entertain fans by endangering himself and his health and as his match in the structure in 1998 with The Undertaker proved, he is a dangerous man when he has such a high, impressive structure to play with. The match was always going to be visually impressive and as they often did, HHH and Cactus Jack brought out the very best in one another.

Looking to get yourself in the mood for The Undertaker and The Game inside the cell at Wrestlemania? Or maybe just looking to relive a poignant moment in wrestling history? The engaging, violent and bloody second chapter in a gripping feud between two of the WWF/Es modern greats could be just what you need.

FCW TV Report 26 February 2012

Florida Championship Wrestling

26 February 2012
Via therealwrestle

Three weeks ago Richie Steamboat, son of WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, defeated Damien Sandow for the FCW 15 Championship. Last week Steamboat came to the ring to give a celebratory promo, only to be cut short by the former champion. As he usually does, Sandow demanded for the lights in the arena to be cut and then demanded his spotlight. As Sandow emerged from the curtain into his spotlight, Steamboat hit him with a super kick. This week we finally see the re-match. Damien Sandow vs. Richie Steamboat for the FCW ‘Jack Briscoe 15’ Championship is the FCW main event.

Corey Graves vs. CJ Parker

Corey Graves

The opening match of the night was CJ Parker, returning to the ring following a shoulder injury that put him out for two months, taking on Corey Graves.
The match started at a fast pace, Parker taking his opponent down with a series of arm-drags and drop toe holds, grounding Graves with a nice arm bar. His early momentum was countered as he attempted a leapfrog out of the corner but was caught with a solid punch from Graves, selling the injured shoulder as he hit the mat awkwardly. Graves capatilised and worked over the arm and shoulder.
As Parker fought back he landed a dropkick, sending Graves to the mat and back into the corner. Going to the ropes he attempted the roll into the Cannonball and as his opponent moved out of the way, collided with the ropes. Selling the injury to the leg as he made his way back to his feet, Graves pounced and rolled Parker through into a leg-lock, winning by submission.

By order of FCW General Manager Maxine, the entire locker room was obligated to undergo therapy by appointed psychiatrist James Bronson. Backstage we see Dean Ambrose on the couch as he talks up his on-going feud with William Regal.

Seth Rollins vs. Rick Victor

The second match of the night started out as quickly as the first as Seth Rollins, after his usual insane entrance routine, convulsing, limbs-flailing in a manner that may make you worry that he’s in some kind of genuine pain, landed several punches and a dropkick, sending his opponent back into the corner. Following his early assault up with a very nice splash to the turnbuckle where, upon hooking Victor into a Rock Bottom position, threw himself back towards the corner, pulling Victor face-first into the turnbuckle.

The momentum appeared to be shifting as Rollins attempted the Avada Kedavra super kick but Victor was able to avoid the contact and roll out of the ring. As the action spilled to ringside Victor hit a nasty suplex to the floor but as he attempted a running knee, Rollins dodged and he collided hard with the ring steps. Victor, a graduate of the famous Hart dungeon in (dramatic pause) Calgary, Alberta, Canada would roll back into the ring. Rollins, attempting a springboard from the apron back inside, was thwarted by Victor swiftly kicking the ropes and causing his opponent to lose his balance, falling abdomen first onto the top rope. Taking advantage, the match would once again be grounded with a series of suplexes and an arm bar before Victor would pick up a two count off a neck breaker.
Back on his feet Rollins would miss a cross-body as he tried to get himself back into the fight and Victor would hit the ‘Canadian Lifter’ corkscrew shoulder block, turning his opponent inside out.
However tonight was not to be Victor’s night. As he attempted to hit the same move into the corner Rollins would get his knees up and then drive Victor shoulder first into the turnbuckle. As the Canadian reeled in pain Rollins, off the ropes, would drive his boot into the back of the neck and face-stomp Victor into the canvas, picking up a three count.

Returning to the backstage area, Dean Ambrose now has James Bronson lying on the couch and proceeds to tell the big man that he isn’t a therapist but rather a fighter and can make any man in FCW tap out. Getting a deranged look in his eye Bronson agrees with Ambrose and tells him that not only can he make up anyone tap but he really wants to make Ambrose tap. Notably intimidated, Ambrose makes a quick exit.

Sakamoto vs. Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose

Trained by former WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku, Sakamoto was grounded in the opening exchanges by Ambrose with a headlock takedown and an arm-lock. Taking control with a thumb to the eye, Sakamoto would hit two clotheslines into the corner before taking Ambrose over with a suplex and then the ground-and-pound.
Exchanging chops in the middle of the ring, Sakamoto would whip Ambrose to the ropes only to be hit with a clothesline. Attempting a suplex, Sakamoto would reverse and take the back of his opponent in a waistlock. Ambrose would subsequently reverse and switch, forcing Sakamoto to break the hold with an elbow and come off the ropes. Whatever the man from Tokyo had in mind we’ll never know as Ambrose followed him in and hit a knee to the gut. His opponent grounded he then hit a William Regal-esque running knee before applying the Englishman’s signature hold, the Regal stretch, picking up the submission victory. The victor would again then look toward Regal and the commentary desk and the two would stare each other down, suggesting that the feud between these two is far from over.

Big E Langston vs. Jason Jordan

The powerhouse Big E Langston would assert his dominance in the early going, squashing his much smaller opponent with a block as he came off the ropes before holding him in a suplex, the blood rushing to Jordan’s head before finally being released and hitting the canvas. The underdog would get some offence and make an opening for himself as he was able to connect with a dropkick to the gut before floating over Langston and taking him down with a neckbreaker. Following the kick out however Langston would hit arguably the move of the night to finish Jordan off. Sending him to the ropes and easily scooping him up into a power slam position, the former power-builder fell backwards, dropping Jordan to the mat face-first and picking up the pinfall.

The current ‘Queen of FCW’ and the FCW Divas Champion made her way to ringside to discuss, as usual, her recent accomplishments. Raquel Diaz, real name Shaul Guerrero and daughter Eddie and Vicky Guerrero announced that on next weeks show she would defend her title against two FCW Divas.

Main event for the FCW Jack Briscoe 15 Championship
Damien Sandow vs. Richie Steamboat

Richie Steamboat

The former champion immediately left the ring to get a steel chair as the bell rang for the main event of the evening. Stepping back inside, the referee struggled with Sandow and eventually was able to take the weapon from him. Taking advantage, Steamboat rolled him up and got a one count.
Under the format of the unique championship, the medal (that’s right, not the belt) is defended in 15 minute matches under ironman rules. The man to score the most number of decisions within the time limit announced as the winner. Steamboat hammerlocked the arm and sent Sandow to the turnbuckle before taking him down and applying a top wristlock. Fighting back to his feet Sandow tried to build momentum but, mirroring his fathers expertly executed arm drag, Steamboat was able to continue to work over the arm. Sandow, still locked, would attempt arm drags of his own to break the hold that Steamboat was able to roll through, keeping the pressure on the arm and wrist of the well schooled veteran.
With eleven minutes left on the clock Sandow fought back to his feet and rolled out of the ring, only to be hit with a baseball slide. Again paying homage to his father, Steamboat would throw Sandow back into the ring and hit an axhandle off the top rope and score a near-fall before resting into a fujiwara arm-bar.
Upon breaking the hold Sandow pulled the referee out of position and, pulling the hair of the rookie, threw him awkwardly into the ropes before applying a full nelson and driving Steamboats head into the turnbuckle. The action spilling to the floor momentarily, the challenger rolled the champion back onto the apron before viciously grating his face against the top ring step and grounding him in a sleeper hold, trapping the arm. Attempting a succession of pinfalls with five minutes left on the clock, Sandow would began to show his frustration and, as he applied another full nelson and headed to the corner once more, the resilient Steamboat reversed his aggressor and it was Sandows turn to eat the turnbuckle before scrambling through the ropes to the apron. Suplexing him back inside, the champion scored a two count as the clock ticked down to three and a half minutes.

Damien Sandow

The pace quickened in a mad-dash to the finish line. Steamboat would float over into a beautiful inverted bulldog, driving the back of Sandows head to the mat and again getting a long two count. Sandow responded with an equally impressive Side Effect style move followed by a northern lights suplex. Neither was enough to hold the champion down as they entered the final minute.
Any chance Sandow had of pulling off a late victory in a fantastic wrestling match was stopped dead by a super kick. The time running out as the champion went for the cover and the two wrestled to a time-limit draw. Richie Steamboat retained his FCW 15 Championship but still appeared to want more as he gestured for more time.

As the show went off air it was confirmed that off the back of a recent non-title victory, next week Mike Dalton, a product of former ECW, WCW and WWE wrestler Lance Storms wrestling academy will receive his opportunity to face current FCW Heavyweight Champion Leo Kruger for the championship in the main event of next weeks show.

On This Day...

On This Day: February 19th 2006

WWE No Way Out - Undertaker vs Kurt Angle (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship

Exactly six years ago to the day the WWE held it's eighth annual 'No Way Out' pay-per-view event in Baltimore, Maryland. The Smackdown brand event boasted a strong card featuring a mammoth Cruiserweight Championship match between Gregory Helms (c), Kid Kash, Psicosis, Super Crazy, Paul London, Nunzio, Brian Kendrick, Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki. A tag team match between Matt Hardy & Tatanka and MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro with valet/manager Melina). Bobby Lashley vs JBL with Jillian Hall at ringside. Chris Benoit vs Booker T in a re-match for the United States Chmapionship following the final of their 'best of seven' series where an "injured" Booker T was able to substitute his participation for that of Randy Orton, who then won the title on his behalf. Also Rey Mysterio, the Royal Rumble winner a month earlier, put his main event opportunity on the line against arguably the WWEs biggest heel at that time, Randy Orton.

The main event however was even stronger. Kurt Angle, the World Heavyweight champion was challenged by the deadman, The Undertaker. Billed as two of the very best of all time, the match was also billed as the biggest main event in Smackdown history and the collision definitely lived up to the hype. 

What better way to pass the time while waiting for this evenings Elimination Chamber event than reliving arguably the best PPV match of the year. 

Enjoy.

A Look Towards WWE Elimination Chamber

In just under six hours from now WWE fans the world over will be tuning in to the promotions latest Pay-Per-View event, WWE Elimination Chamber from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Four matches have been scheduled to take place this evening. Tamina Snuka vs Beth Phoenix for the Divas championship, Kane vs John Cena in an ambulance match and of course, the two Chamber matches themselves. Daniel Bryan will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, The Great Khali and surprise entrant Santino Marella. In the WWE Championship match CM Punk will have to battle Chris Jericho, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, R-Truth and Kofi Kingston to retain his title. 

On Friday nights Smackdown event Randy Orton was officially ruled out of the Elimination Chamber match for Bryan's World Heavyweight Championship and a wildcard battle royal ensued where wrestlers from any brand of the WWE were invited to compete, with Ortons spot in the match up for grabs. In a surprise turn Santino Marella prevailed and was added to the match-up at the Pay-Per-View. I can't help but feel as though this arguably questionable decision from the WWE to include Santino in this main event match will result in yet another twist at this evenings show. Will Santino compete in the match or, as we have seen in the past, will another Superstar forcefully take his spot? Will Mark Henry, not scheduled to compete at the event, take the spot in the match that he desires? Could there even be a surprise return at the show? Christian has teased his attendance at this evenings show via his Twitter account. One thing is for sure, I think a Superstar attacking Santino to take his spot in the chamber is a highly probable twist. I dont think I'm alone in thinking that this match simply does not look strong enough and may just go to show how thin on the ground Smackdowns current roster really is. Unless the WWE inject some kind of shock or twist into this one then this match could very well be a 'Chamber of Horrors'. Unless this happens I can't see anyone in this match taking the title from Bryan apart from maybe Big Show. The feud between the two certainly doesn't look to be over yet.

The chamber match for the WWE Championship looks to be shaping up to be much the stronger match. On a recent edition of Raw, an Elimination Chamber debate was held in the ring which, as often happens with these kind of spots such as talk shows, contract signings, press conferences etc, quickly broke out in violence. Kofi Kingston coming out on top on the night. Kofi looked like a real contender for a major championship somewhere down the line. Fans would argue that he has done for years but I felt that this was the first time Kofi had really been showcased as a potential world champion. R-Truth has never been to the top of the mountain but has found himself over with the fans of late. The Miz and Dolph Ziggler are former world champions and both look set to have further runs with the belt in the future. However I feel that in the run-in to Wrestlemania, there is a much more interesting story brewing between Chris Jericho and CM Punk. Both claim to be the "best in the world" and whether Punk comes out on top tonight or Jericho takes Punk's title in the chamber, this outcome could be the lighting of the fuse for these two men to perform together on the grandest stage of them all. I think the majority of wrestling fans would agree that Punk vs Jericho at Wrestlemania would be a dream match.

The WWE Divas division has been nothing short of woeful for quite some time now, I'm sorry to say. Despite the WWE having a number of impressive women wrestlers, the division seems to lack greatly in comparison to the TNA Knockouts division. It seems that whatever WWE are seen to neglect or do poorly TNA will highlight, and the Knockouts division is simply eclipsing the Divas. However tonight there is a womens match I am genuinely looking forward to. Beth Phoenix has been the most physically dominant Diva in the WWE for some time now and is definitely the "safe" bet when it comes to putting the championship on someone while WWE regroups and attempts to find a direction for the division. Her opponent tonight, Tamina Snuka, has impressed over recent weeks and looks ready to hold the title. A physically dominant woman herself as well as a competent high-flyer, the daughter of the WWE Hall of Famer "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka could well be the new face and the new direction that the womens division needs. Beth has held the title well but is quickly running out of challengers she hasn't already beaten and with her partner Natalya currently being handed a ridiculously goofy gimmick that makes arguably the most technically sound womens wrestler in the company a joke and a comedy act, Tamina could be the way to go.

The WWE seemingly have had to face a problem head on as of late. How exactly do you turn John Cena heel? For years now Cena has been recieving split responses from the WWE Universe. Over time the boos have gotten louder from some sections of the audience but the cheers from others, including his younger fanbase, refuse to die. John Cena is still a huge draw for WWE, probably their biggest, but large sections of the audience turning against him could very well be explained by the lack of any real progression in his character. Cena is an old fashioned babyface, a superhero, a good guy and the good guy has certainly prevailed over the years. Now Kane has returned and vowed to make Cena "embrace the hate" and confront the WWE Universe who now boo him. The real challenge facing the WWE, I would imagine, would be to turn the women and children in the live audiences against him and lately his close friend Zack Ryder and Ryders girlfriend Eve Torres have featured heavily in the angle. Following an attack from Kane in which Cena was able to narrowly rescue Eve, the couple shared an intimate moment but were caught by Ryder. The already injured Ryder was then further injured by Kane when his wheelchair was pushed off of the stage to the floor. It seems the WWEs latest tactic to complete Cena's heel turn is to involve a woman and a love triangle. Some fans may grumble but if it works, it works. Cena seeks to avenge Ryders injury at the Elimination Chamber event where he meets Kane in an ambulance match. Could this match be a turning point in the evolution of John Cena? Will he embrace the hate? Will Cena then go into Wrestlemania as a heel? 

Regardless of what happens in these four matches tonight, regardless of what, if any, involvement the Royal Rumble winner Sheamus has in the show and regardless of what other matches may or may not be added, one thing is for sure. The road to Wrestlemania should start to look even clearer by the time Raw goes on air tomorrow night.