Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 27, 2018 1:07:34 GMT -5
FRIDAY NIGHT IMPACT
EPISODE 7
30-second highlight reel of GIW action as a cold open, then it’s lasers and pyro to kick off the show before the camera focuses on our host.EPISODE 7
Lance Russell: “We are live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this is Friday Night Impact. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Lance Russell, and I’m joined on color commentary tonight – at least for a while – by the inimitable Jim Cornette. We have four wonderful matches in store for you, so let’s get right down to the ring.”
The BRISCOE BROTHERS vs. INK INC.
vs.
The multi-time ROH champions received a loud ovation as they entered the ring, and their debut match in GIW was like an abbreviated version of their greatest hits. Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal got a few punches in, but the Briscoes were on a mission, and made quick work of their foes as Mark finished off Moore with a Cutthroat Driver for the win. It was impressive, and they pointed to their waists as they made their way back up the ramp. Russell stood on the stage, ready to interview the victors, and the Briscoes
…were jumped from behind by the Dudley Boyz! The ECW standouts clotheslined them to the floor, and followed up with several kicks. But Mark and Jay got back to their feet, and the four men brawled all the way back down to the ring before an army of security guards finally ran down and separated the two teams. The network censors worked overtime to keep the foul language off the broadcast, and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
An “earlier in the day” video aired, showing Jim Cornette making the rounds backstage as he looked for the Midnight Express. Along the way, he ran into another duo he managed years earlier, Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, who joked that he was with the wrong team. After a few more pleasantries, he ran into the Street Profits, the Revival, and then GIW President Jeff Jarrett, before finally finding Eaton and Lane’s dressing room.
GIW KING OF THE RING CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PAUL ORNDORFF (C, w/Eli Drake) vs. HIROSHI TANAHASHI vs. MASATO TANAKA (w/Mike Awesome):
PAUL ORNDORFF (C, w/Eli Drake) vs. HIROSHI TANAHASHI vs. MASATO TANAKA (w/Mike Awesome):
vs. vs.
Big-match introductions for this one, and the champion was as smug as ever. The outside referee warned Awesome and Drake not to interfere, and the inside official checked the participants out before calling for the bell. It was a frenzied brawl, and all three men had the conditioning to go all-out for as long as it took. However, “Mr. Wonderful” and his partner had a strategy and they executed it to perfection: take out Tanaka first, and then gain the two-on-one advantage, illegal or not, on “the Ace”. 11 minutes in, Tanahashi was launched from the top turnbuckle to the floor, landing heavily on the former ECW champ Awesome in the process; as both officials checked on those men, Drake tossed his ally a pair of brass knuckles, and Orndorff smashed the hard-headed Tanaka between the eyes before pinning him. Then it turned into a one-on-one battle, and it went another ten minutes before Drake killed Tanahashi’s momentum by attempting to trip him from the outside. The outside ref came over to eject him, but it was too little too late; by then, Orndorff buried a high knee into the IWGP legend’s back, then finished him off with not one, but two piledrivers. The Main Event Machine (Orndorff and Drake) celebrated the win with their usual arrogance.
COMMERCIAL
A vignette for the Road Warriors aired, highlighting their championship runs in the AWA, the NWA, and the WWF… followed by a graphic that simply said “Next week”. Lance Russell was suitably impressed, and welcomed Wade Barrett to the color commentary chair… and once again, Barrett invited Davey Boy Smith to join the Great Britons.
TWO-OUT-OF-THREE FALLS MATCH
The DYNAMIC 2UO vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
The DYNAMIC 2UO vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
Aries and Hernandez had small but vocal pockets of fans, as evidenced by the merchandise in the stands, but the flamboyant Cornette insured that his team were given a huge ovation. The first two falls were singles matches: “Beautiful Bobby” versus the “Handsome Half-Breed”, then “A-Double” versus “Sweet Stan”. The third fall, if necessary (you know what’s coming), would be a tag-team match.
Eaton took the first fall in about ten minutes, hitting the Alabama Jam top-rope legdrop and putting the pressure on the 2uo. Aries, though, evened things up about seven minutes later, rolling Lane up and using a handful of trunks to keep his shoulders down. Cornette reacted as one would expect, but the third and deciding fall started regardless. It was see-saw action between two well-oiled machines, and over the next few minutes, it was dead even.
Until, that is, the “Louisville Lip” belted Bobby Eaton over the back of the head with his tennis racket.
The referee didn’t see it, and as Aries held Lane at bay, Hernandez made the pin, winning the match. Afterwards, the 2uo roughed up Lane two-on-one before tossing him over the top rope, then they kicked Eaton out as well. Cornette grabbed a microphone and yelled, “You think that you can just come to Global Impact Wrestling without me? You think you’re better than me? Boys, I MADE the Midnight Express! All those World and U.S. title runs you had? That was my doing! So let me tell you why I’m here… believe me, it’s not outta the goodness of my heart. And it obviously ain’t because you two asked. No, you see, Gino and Austin gave me a call and asked me to manage them. So, adios, suckers – me and the Dynamic 2uo are on our way to the top.”
COMMERCIAL
A vignette for the Addiction’s debut – coming in two weeks – was broadcast, and then a cameraman spotted one of GIW’s newest talents, Irwin R. Schyster, roaming around backstage. He was leaving Jeff Jarrett’s office, and refused to answer any questions, claiming “client confidentiality”.
CACTUS JACK / UMAGA (w/Kevin Sullivan) vs. EDGE AND CHRISTIAN:
vs.
vs.
Main event introductions for this hate-filled match; this was also a non-title match, with the condition being that if the two brutes won, they would get a championship match within the next 14 days. Not surprisingly, Jack and Umaga attacked the Canadians before the bell rang, but the champions were prepared for it, and the fight was on. For the first few minutes, the official maintained just enough control to keep the match flowing, and the challengers dominated. But a hot tag to Edge turned the tide, and a series of two-counts on the “Samoan Bulldozer” prompted Sullivan to change the game plan – win another day, but inflict punishment tonight.
“The Gamesmaster” slid into the ring and tackled Christian. The triple-teaming caused an immediate disqualification, and the heels were relentless. They laid in fists and boots, barely giving their foes a chance to breathe. The officials called for help, but the villains repelled every other referee that was summoned. The crowd was furious, and a couple of fans even threw garbage into the ring.
The trash was a nuisance, but harmless.
Hawk and Animal were a different story.
They charged down the ramp, followed by Paul Ellering, and the painted behemoths tore into Umaga and Cactus Jack like men possessed. It was pandemonium, and the four monsters were all offense. Sullivan and Ellering were also swinging at each other, albeit surrounded by security. The locker room emptied, and it took a lot of muscle to finally force the two teams apart. Hawk was laughing, “Next week my ass!”, while Animal shouted, “Any time, punks! Come get some!”
Eventually, the only two men left in the ring were the GIW World Tag-Team champions, and they grimaced as they lifted their title belts over their heads. Alas, the celebration was short-lived, as they got attacked from behind by Curt Hennig and Brian Pillman! It was a far shorter assault, and the show faded to black with Edge and Christian thrown to the floor, and the blonde rulebreakers smirking with the gold tossed over their shoulders.