Billy Gunn Fired For PED Use
http://www.wrestlingrumors.net/billy-gunn-fired-from-wwe/45094/
Dude had the cushiest job in all of wrestling and he gets busted for steroids. Sweet goodness there are some dumb people in the world.
Survivor Series 2005 (2015 Redo): When Blue Stands Tall
Survivor Series 2005
Date: November 27, 2005
Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 15,000
Commentators: Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman, Michael Cole, Tazz
Booker T. vs. Chris Benoit
Benoit fights up and starts the Germans, only to eat another kick to the face. A quick dragon screw leg whip looks to set up the Sharpshooter but Booker rolls him up for two. More rolling Germans look to set up the Swan Dive but Sharmell offers a distraction, only to have Benoit headbutt Booker down. The Swan Dive misses anyway and Booker grabs a rollup with his feet on the ropes (and Sharmell holding them there) to win the first match in the series.
Detroit Tiger Dmitri Young is here.
Ric Flair vs. HHH
Last man standing. HHH jumps him in the aisle before Flair can even get his robe off. They get inside with Flair in big trouble, made even worse by HHH grabbing a chair. Flair comes back with a kendo stick, which really looks weird in his hands. They brawl to the hockey boards with HHH taking over again and bringing it back to ringside. Flair is up at seven after a backdrop on the floor and an elbow to the back makes Flair swear a lot.
Flair goes out on a stretcher.
Trish and Mickie are online.
Raw World Title: Kurt Angle vs. John Cena
Cena gets sent into the steps and a second referee comes in to count two. Well you knew there was going to be a way around Daivari. Kurt grabs a waistlock before throwing Cena hard into the corner to keep him in trouble. The fans are ALL OVER Cena and another suplex gives Kurt two. Off to something like an STF on Cena but Kurt goes to a regular chinlock instead. Cena fights up and grab a DDT without selling the ankle injury one bit. The champ wins a slugout and initiates his finishing sequence, including pumping up the shoes.
Eric Bischoff vs. Teddy Long
The Raw and Smackdown teams are cheered on by their respective rosters.
Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown
Raw: Big Show, Kane, Shawn Michaels, Carlito, Chris Masters
Smackdown: Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Batista, Randy Orton, John Bradshaw Layfield
Orton is quickly sent to the floor for a big dive as things speed up. Back in and some clotheslines set up the top rope elbow as the fans want Undertaker (who was advertised for the show). JBL tries to come in with a chair but eats a superkick, setting up the RKO to give Smackdown the pin.
Ratings Comparison
Booker T vs. Chris Benoit
Original: B
2012 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: B+
Trish Stratus vs. Melina
Original: B
2012 Redo: C-
2015 Redo: D+
HHH vs. Ric Flair
Original: B-
2012 Redo: B+
2015 Redo: B
John Cena vs. Kurt Angle
Original: B+
2012 Redo: C
2015 Redo: B-
Theodore Long vs. Eric Bischoff
Original: O (For Oh I can’t think about this anymore)
2012 Redo: S (For Six Minutes)
Team Smackdown vs. Team Raw
Original: B
2012 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B+
Overall Rating
Original: B
2012 Redo: B
2015 Redo: A-
I’m surprised by how much more I liked the girls and Cena vs. Angle. They’re good but they’re not that good. Still a solid show though.
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
And the redo:
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Smackdown – November 12, 2015: Tournaments Actually Are Awesome
Smackdown
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November 12, 2015
Location: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Commentators: Booker T., Jerry Lawler, Rich Brennan
We open with a recap of Rollins destroying anything that ends in CL and being put on the shelf for the better part of a year.
Braun Strowman vs. Fandango
WWE World Title Tournament First Round: King Barrett vs. Neville
WWE World Title Tournament First Round: Ryback vs. Kalisto
Some stomps to the ribs set up a bearhug on the mat as Ryback has easily slipped into the default heel role. Off to a waistlock for a bit before a big boot puts Kalisto down again. Another big boot misses though and Kalisto knocks him to the floor with a dropkick. Kalisto tries an Asai moonsault but gets caught and kind of slammed on the outside. Back in and the hurricanrana driver is countered into Shell Shock but Kalisto rolls through into a sunset flip for two. The Meathook gets the same and Ryback sets up a belly to back superplex, only to get caught in a super Salida Del Sol for the big upset at 13:11.
Video on Wrestlemania tickets going on sale.
WWE World Title Tournament First Round: Stardust vs. Alberto Del Rio
Stardust now has Ascension style attire. Stardust starts fast with right hands and a clothesline to send Alberto outside but Del Rio sends him shoulder first into the post. Stardust: “OW! MY SHOULDER!” See? It hurt his shoulder. Back from a break with Del Rio kicking him in the head, followed by the corner enziguri for two.
Here are the full second round brackets:
Roman Reigns
Cesaro
Alberto Del Rio
Kalisto
Kevin Owens
Neville
Dolph Ziggler
Dean Ambrose
We recap Becky Lynch beating Paige on Raw with a handful of trunks, earning her a post match beatdown.
Usos vs. Wyatt Family
Results
Braun Strowman b. Fandango – Standing choke
Neville b. King Barrett – Red Arrow
Kalisto b. Ryback – Super Salida Del Sol
Alberto Del Rio b. Stardust – Top rope double stomp
Usos b. Wyatt Family via DQ when Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman interfered
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Survivor Series Count-Up – 2004: That Old False Hope
Survivor Series 2004
Date: November 14, 2004
Location: Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 7,500
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz
We open with a video about the seventeen years this show has run already.
Cruiserweight Title: Spike Dudley vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Billy Kidman
Intercontinental Title: Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian
Team Angle vs. Team Guerrero
Kurt Angle, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak
Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Rob Van Dam, Big Show
Maven (the first Tough Enough winner and on Team Orton tonight in the biggest match of his career) offers to demonstrate his skills to Coach but Snitsky jumps Maven and busts him open. This would be how they would keep Maven out of a PPV main event for most of the match when they realized that he was in WAY over his head.
Heidenreich vs. Undertaker
Heidenreich comes out in a straightjacket because he might attack more plants, as had been his custom in recent weeks. Undertaker does the big long entrance to get the crowd back into things. He stares at Heidenreich for a few moments before the beating begins. A charge in the corner runs into a Heidenreich elbow but the Dead Man will have none of this being on defense stuff. Undertaker works on the arm but a Heyman distraction lets Heidenreich crotch Undertaker to break up Old School. He crotches Undertaker against the post again and we head to the floor.
The chokeslam is broken up and Heidenreich gets two off a Boss Man Slam. Then like an idiot, Heidenreich punches away in the corner while Undertaker arms are down. The obvious Last Ride only gets two though as Heidenreich grabs the rope. Heidenreich tries a sleeper but Undertaker is like boy please and suplexes out of it almost immediately. The chokeslam and Tombstone finish this quick.
Bischoff says Maven is out of the main event and if he allows Orton to add a replacement, HHH will complain and Eric will lose his vacation, which is the point of the main event.
Smackdown World Title: John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Booker T
Batista and HHH are ready for the main event.
Team HHH vs. Team Orton
HHH, Edge, Batista, Gene Snitsky
Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Maven
Ratings Comparison
Spike Dudley vs. Billy Kidman vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio
Original: C+
Redo: B-
Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian
Original: B
Redo: B
Team Guerrero vs. Team Angle
Original: D
Redo: C+
Undertaker vs. Heidenreich
Original: D
Redo: D
Trish Stratus vs. Lita
Original: N/A
Redo: N/A
John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Booker T
Original: F
Redo: D
Team Orton vs. Team HHH
Original: B-
Redo: B
Overall Rating
Original: C-
Redo: B-
In a rare instance, I liked this a lot better the second time around.
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Impact Wrestling – November 11, 2015: Let Go Of That Pattern
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Wrestling
Date: November 11, 2015
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D’Angelo Dinero
Opening recap and preview of last week and this week.
The announcers preview things as well.
Group Knockouts: Gail Kim vs. Madison Rayne
Group Knockouts
Gail Kim – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Brooke – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Madison Rayne – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Awesome Kong – 3 points (0 matches remaining)
Group Future Four: Jesse Godderz vs. Eli Drake
Group Future Four
Eli Drake – 4 points (1 match remaining)
Jesse Godderz – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Micah – 1 point (2 matches remaining)
Crimson – 0 points (2 matches remaining)
Ethan Carter III is at TNA headquarters (which looks like a local pub) to pay the fine in person.
Drake brags about his win.
Group Tag Team Specialists: Eddie Edwards vs. Matt Hardy
Back in and Eddie chops with the bad hand but walks into a double clothesline to put both of them down. Eddie has to break a sleeper by falling back onto Hardy and a Backpack Stunner gets two. The Side Effect and Twist of Fate are countered into rollups for two each and a kick to the head gets the same. Eddie goes up top but gets crotched, setting up a super Twist of Fate (minus the twist) for the pin at 11:05.
Group Tag Team Specialists
Matt Hardy – 9 points (0 matches remaining)
Robbie E. – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Davey Richards – 1 point (1 match remaining)
Eddie Edwards – 1 point (0 matches remaining)
We look at the end of Bound For Glory with Ethan shoving John Gaburick to draw a huge fine.
Matt praises Eddie for his toughness.
Pope decides whose bubbles are going to pop soon.
Group X-Division: Mandrews vs. DJZ
Group X-Division
Manik – 6 points (1 match remaining)
DJZ – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Tigre Uno – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Mandrews – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
Video of Shera training. If they drop the dancing stuff, he might be interesting eventually.
Preview of next week.
Eric Young wants to break Josh Matthews for saying his bubble is about to burst in the tournament, even though Pope said it. Young is ready for James Storm next week.
Pope changes his pick to Young over Storm.
Clips of Micah pinning Crimson.
Group Future Four
Eli Drake – 4 points (1 match remaining)
Micah – 4 points (1 match remaining)
Jesse Godderz – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Crimson – 0 points (1 match remaining)
Ethan Carter III was in India earlier this week and promises to beat Mr. Anderson tonight.
The semi-finals will be in India.
Drew Galloway is in Scotland to prepare for his final match in the group stage.
Another preview of next week.
Group Champions: Ethan Carter III vs. Mr. Anderson
They chop it out to start with Anderson getting the better of it and sending Carter to the floor as we take a break. Back with Anderson firing off more chops and pounding Carter in the head as Carter tries to cover up. A quick baseball slide takes Tyrus out and a boot to the face looks to set up the Mic Check.
Group Champions
Ethan Carter III – 7 points (0 matches remaining)
Austin Aries – 4 points (1 match remaining)
Lashley – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Mr. Anderson – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
Results
Gail Kim b. Madison Rayne – Small package
Eli Drake b. Jesse Godderz – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Matt Hardy b. Eddie Edwards – Super Twist of Fate
DJZ b. Mandrews – Pin after a blocked shooting star press
Ethan Carter III b. Mr. Anderson – Jackknife rollup
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
New Column: Beyond the Brackets
The good and the bad of tournaments. You might know which side I’m on already.
http://www.wrestlingrumors.net/kbs-review-beyond-the-brackets/45025/
Monday Nitro – June 19, 2000: Blessed Be The Patron Saint Of Lost Causes
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Nitro #245
Date: June 19, 2000
Location: Metropark Arena, Billings, Montana
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Scott Hudson
HALL-E-LUJAH! HALL-E-LUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
Those people were right. This is instantly better.
Anyway Cat is told of a situation in the ring.
The announcers talk about this breaking news.
Palumbo and Stasiak tell the production guys to play a tape. They leave the truck and get beaten down by Rick Steiner and Tank Abbott.
3 Count vs. Jung Dragons
Kaz finally gets over for the tag to Yang who cleans house with the martial arts. He has to stop a swing at the referee though and now everything breaks down. Kaz and Yang go up for a double splash but Shannon crotches them both, leaving Jamie-San all alone for a quick assisted wheelbarrow slam and the pin by Shane.
Post match Lance Storm (who had been main eventing an ECW pay per view about a month earlier) runs through the crowd and takes out 3 Count with superkicks and a good looking flip dive before running away through the crowd again. He would actually debut on Raw the same way, minus the flip dive.
Hardcore Title: Big Vito vs. Johnny the Bull
Johnny is helped up and Terry Funk shows up to say he wants to help him.
Rey Mysterio and the Artist beat up Chavo in the back until GI Bro makes the save.
Post break, Bro yells at the Misfits and refers to Rection as General.
David finally finds Daffney and gets slapped in the face.
Horace Hogan vs. Goldberg
Goldberg keeps beating Horace up and even Madden has to acknowledge that the fans are cheering everything Goldberg does.
The Cat vs. Kevin Nash
Nash easily pounds Cat down so Cat calls someone down. Cat tries to find any microphone he can to waive the outside interference rule. That makes me wonder: is there such a thing as inside interference? Like, if someone gets inside the ring, does it still count as outside interference? Or can someone in the match interfere? Cat comes back with some kicks so Nash hits him in the face and the Jackknife is good for the easy pin.
Cruiserweight Title: Rey Mysterio vs. The Artist vs. Lieutenant Loco
Post match Gunns, Paisley and Tygress almost get in a fight.
Post break, David puts Daffney in the car and has to go get something. That something is Miss Hancock, but Daffney has gotten out and sees them kissing on a monitor.
Tag Team Titles: Perfect Event vs. Rick Steiner/Tank Abbott
As Steiner gazes out into the people (“They actually PAID for this show?”), the champs jump him from behind and double team him for a few moments, only to have a double Steiner Line take over again. Rick steals the exercise bar from Palumbo and suplexes him again, only to have Chuck nail him with the bar to break up the bulldog. A double flapjack retains the titles.
Chris Candido/Bam Bam Bigelow/Shane Douglas vs. Buff Bagwell/Kronik
Shane hits Three Amigos (with a delay on the third) for two but Bagwell comes back with a double arm DDT. The hot tag brings in both members of Kronik to clean house but Bam Bam DDTs both of them. High Times (THUD) plants Bigelow but Candido hits Clark with something, sending Kronik chasing him off. The Blockbuster ends Bigelow a few seconds later.
Shane gives Bagwell the Pittsburgh Plunge but has to run from Kronik.
WCW World Title: Scott Steiner vs. Jeff Jarrett
Post match Cat comes in to go after Steiner and Goldberg has to come in for the save. Cue Nash and Goldberg bails to end the show.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
NXT – November 11, 2015: The Groundwork
NXT
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November 11, 2015
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Opening sequence.
Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin
The announcers preview the rest of the show.
Bayley/Hype Bros vs. Blake and Murphy/Alexa Bliss
Back up and Zack dives over for the tag to Mojo, in his neon green gear (Byron: “SLIMER IS ON THE LOOSE!”). Everything breaks down and Bliss gets knocked to the floor but she grabs the title and runs off. Bayley is ticked off so she Bayley to Bellys Murphy and chases Bliss off. Hyperdrive puts Murphy away at 12:11.
Nia Jax runs into Eva Marie and they walk off together.
Deonna vs. Nia Jax
Tag Team Titles: Vaudevillains vs. Scott Dawson/Dash Wilder
Rating: C+. This was an old school psychology driven match with the leg work being the story running throughout the whole thing. The Vaudevillains felt like transitional champions so this was a better idea than letting them hang around while the titles got weaker. Wilder and Dawson will have more opponents anyway and can lead to a showdown with Gable and Jordan.
Bayley vs. Bliss for the title next week.
Results
Bayley/Hype Bros b. Blake and Murphy/Alexa Bliss – Hyperdrive to Murphy
Nia Jax b. Deonna – Legdrop
Scott Dawson/Dash Wilder b. Vaudevillains – Reverse Figure Four to English
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Survivor Series Count-Up – 2003 (2015 Redo): Triple H the Flabby
Survivor Series 2003
Date: November 16, 2003
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 13,487
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz
Team Angle vs. Team Lesnar
Kurt Angle, John Cena, Chris Benoit, Hardcore Holly, Bradshaw
Brock Lesnar, A-Train, Matt Morgan, Big Show, Nathan Jones
Lesnar misses a charge at Benoit and hits the post so Benoit goes right after the arm. The F5 is quickly countered into the Crossface and Cena is smart enough to knock Show off the apron but Brock gets his feet into the ropes. Another Crossface actually makes Lesnar tap clean, leaving Big Show alone 2-1. The YOU TAPPED OUT chants begin and Benoit takes Show down with a top rope shoulder. The Crossface is knocked away but Cena nails Show with the chain, setting up the FU for the pin and the victory, planting seeds for Wrestlemania in the process.
Benoit and Cena shake hands after having issues for weeks.
Kane vs. Shane McMahon
Back to the arena with Kane throwing him against the other ambulance. JR: “Like Shane was a cruiserweight.” Shane probably would be a cruiserweight actually, or at least really close. An ambulance door to the face slows Kane down (When all else fails, hit them with a door. It got Christian the Hardcore Title at Wrestlemania XVIII.) but he just blasts Shane in the face. He can only get one door shut with Shane inside though, allowing McMahon to come back with a DDT on the concrete.
The ambulance leaves with Shane inside.
Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Basham Brothers vs. Los Guerreros
Lawler and JR preview the elimination tag and tell us that Shane is getting ready for a CAT scan.
Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff
Austin: Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T., Dudley Boyz
Bischoff: Chris Jericho, Christian, Randy Orton, Scott Steiner, Mark Henry
Back to Bubba who cleans house on all three until Jericho breaks up a Bubba Bomb with a low blow, setting up an Unprettier to leave Shawn down 3-1. Christian is up first and Shawn hammers away with right hands, only to be low bridged out to the floor by the other Canadian. The slow beatdown begins and Jericho cuts off the comeback again, allowing Christian to catapult him into the post. JR gets in his “local basketball team here” dribbling a ball line. Shawn is busted and you know the shaky legs are coming soon.
Undertaker vs. Vince McMahon
Undertaker finally carries him to the grave but a low blow FINALLY gives Vince a breather and his first offense. A shovel to the chest puts Undertaker in the grave but he comes right back and throws Vince in instead. He goes to get in the bulldozer but the cab explodes. Cue Kane to knock Undertaker into the grave. Vince is sent to the bulldozer and Undertaker is buried.
Raw World Title Goldberg vs. HHH
Ratings Comparison
Team Angle vs. Team Lesnar
Original: B-
2012 Redo: C
2015 Redo: C-
Molly Holly vs. Lita
Original: D+
2012 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Kane vs. Shane McMahon
Original: D+
2012 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D+
Basham Brothers vs. Los Guerreros
Original: D
2012 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D+
Team Bischoff vs. Team Austin
Original: A-
2012 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B+
Vince McMahon vs. Undertaker
Original: D
2012 Redo: D
2015 Redo: C+
Goldberg vs. HHH
Original: D-
2012 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
Overall Rating
Original: C-
2012 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
One step down every year.
And the original redo:
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
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And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Survivor Series Count-Up – 2002: That Stupid Chamber
Survivor Series 2002
Date: November 17, 2002
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 17,930
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz
The intro video is almost all about the Chamber.
Dudley Boys/Jeff Hardy vs. 3 Minute Warning/Rico
Jeff tries a top rope dive at Rosey but literally bounces off. Rico brings in another table and gets caught in a Dudley Dog, but 3 Minute Warning catches him in a double powerbomb to put Spike through the table instead. Jeff and Bubba get slammed down but Bubba knocks Rosey off the top and Jeff sends Rico flying into a cameraman. Bubba pounds away but Rico hits a spinwheel kick to take his head off. Rico could go in the ring make no mistake.
Stacy is at the World (WWF New York) looking great. She introduces Saliva who is doing a mini-concert at the club. They perform Always here to eat up a few minutes and we get a video about the remaining matches.
RVD is stretching before the Chamber.
Cruiserweight Title: Jamie Noble vs. Billy Kidman
That only stuns her though so Trish BLASTS her in the head with a trashcan lid again to knock Victoria off the ropes and out to the floor. Victoria gets a mirror from under the ring but Trish superkicks her down. Chick Kick gets two for Trish and a bulldog gets the same. Victoria rolls to the floor and pulls out a fire extinguisher to blast Trish in the face. A followup suplex of all things is enough to give Victoria the pin and the title.
Booker is getting ready.
Smackdown World Title: Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar
Show and Heyman immediately bail.
Smackdown Tag Titles: Edge/Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle/Chris Benoit vs. Los Guerreros
Back to Angle who suplexes Rey down and gets in a cheap shot on Edge. The Angle Slam is countered but Angle clotheslines Rey down instead. Back to Chris as Tazz talks about Los Guerreros not wanting to get in yet. The battling partners tag in again so Angle can put on a front facelock. Rey fights up after about a minute in the hold and kicks Kurt in the face to take him down.
Benoit rolls more Germans on Edge (Is it any wonder why he needed neck surgery five months after this?) and Eddie hits the Frog Splash on Edge but Benoit hits the Swan Dive on Eddie. Angle Slam and Ankle lock to Eddie while Benoit Crossfaces Edge. Chavo hits Benoit with a belt and throws it to Angle. Benoit thinks Angle hit him and Mysterio dropkicks Chris into Angle. Angle and Rey go to the floor and Edge spears Benoit for the elimination. Absolutely amazing sequence there which NEVER STOPPED.
Christopher Nowitski (a Harvard graduate from Tough Enough) is here to make fun of New York in a really dull promo. Matt Hardy comes out to yell at him before blasting New York as well. The mouth running goes on even longer until FINALLY Scott Steiner debuts and murders them. Somehow this took nearly eight minutes. Steiner would go on to have perhaps the two worst PPV World Title matches in recorded history against HHH before being shunted down the card.
Eric comes out and walks through the Chamber to explain everything I just said. Apparently the glass is bulletproof. This is the first time the Chamber had been seen and I believe the first time the rules have been explained.
Raw World Title: Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Booker T vs. Rob Van Dam
Booker grabs a quick cover on HHH but only gets two. Jericho goes after Booker but gets caught in an Alabama Slam for his efforts. Kane comes in fifth and goes off on Booker and Jericho as HHH lays on the outside. Jericho gets launched face first into the cage wall and is then thrown through the bulletproof, yes BULLETPROOF, glass. This would become a running joke in the Chamber over the years.
Confetti falls to end the show.
Ratings Comparison
Dudley Boys/Jeff Hardy vs. Rico/3 Minute Warning
Original: B
Redo: B-
Billy Kidman vs. Jamie Noble
Original: C+
Redo: B-
Victoria vs. Trish Stratus
Original: C-
Redo: B
Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar
Original: D-
Redo: D+
Los Guerreros vs. Kurt Angle/Chris Benoit vs. Edge/Rey Mysterio
Original: B
Redo: B+
Shawn Michaels vs. HHH vs. Booker T vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kane vs. Chris Jericho
Original: B
Redo: D+
Overall Rating
Original: B-
Redo: C+
Dang that’s a big swing on the Chamber. I don’t remember liking it that much the first time.
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at: