Post by Joe on Aug 11, 2021 21:51:07 GMT -5
PRO WRESTLING X
"MICHAELS VERSUS RHODES"
From The Toyota Center
Houston, Texas
08/07/2021
The PWX opening logo spot, with a light cascading over it from right to left, opens the show. We then begin the opening montage, as an instrumental of "5 Minutes Alone" by Pantera plays over the package.
After a montage showing some of the biggest moments and spots over the past four PWX shows, we then head to the ringside area, where the voice of PWX, Jimmy Smith, is sitting in with his new partner on color commentary, Josh Barnett!
Smith and Barnett go over the excellent card for tonight, featuring the big time match up of Shawn Michaels versus Cody Rhodes, as well as CM Punk taking on the exciting, innovative Will Ospreay. Smith says that Rhodes called for the match after his victory at PWX 4, and Barnett says that was a very smart move. He says a lot of guys squander the opportunity following a match when all eyes are on them to raise their stock, and Rhodes showed his experience and savvy in taking that opportunity and maximizing it.
Smith then sends things over to Dasha Gonzalez, who is standing on a platform near the entrance way.
Dasha says that the bad blood between Michaels and Rhodes has only escalated over the last two weeks, as they have been trading barbs over social media, and the table has been set for an absolute war.
We then cut to a video where we hear from both Michaels and Rhodes. Michaels says that Rhodes is shooting his shot and he can respect that, but he can't respect the way he is conducting himself. He says he is going to learn a lesson tonight. Rhodes says that Michaels is a total hypocrite and he has shit on everybody below him for years, and now it's time for him to get a taste of his own medicine. Rhodes says he is a student of the game, the past, present, and future of this business, and HBK is going to be the one learning a lesson in Houston!
We then head back to the announcer's table, where Smith sends us to a graphic that introduces our referees for the evening.
Senior Official Teddy Long, Charles Robinson, Mike Chioda, and Tim White
And with that, we head to Tony Chimel in the ring.
Tony welcomes the fans, and introduces referee Mike Chioda, and then we get to the introductions for the first contest of the evening!
MATCH ONE
STANDARD RULES
Chris Hero vs. Malakai Black
Referee: Mike Chioda
Hero and Black had a back and forth grappling contest early before the big blows started being traded. Black was able to duck a slingshot move from Hero late in the game that showed off Hero's athleticism, but also exposed his chin, allowing Black to deliver the Black Mass to get the pinfall.
Winner by Pinfall: Malakai Black
After the match, Black takes a microphone and says he sees Cody Rhodes getting a match with Shawn Michaels... he sees Will Ospreay getting a match with CM Punk... and he finds that very convenient. He feels like "The Icon" and the so-called "Best in the World" are ducking him, because they fear the darkness. He says he has heard CM Punk is particular try to claim that he has somehow ripped him off, and he says he is more real than he will ever be, and he is calling him out to a fight.
Black drops the mic and these Houston fans are buzzing for this! Josh Barnett says that match is very interesting, as both guys are trained martial artists with so much in common, and yet are so different in many ways. He says Black has that one hit knock out power, but Punk has so much psychology and so many ways to get an advantage. The ball is in Punk's court to accept the challenge!
MATCH TWO
X DIVISION RULES
Dynamite Kid vs. Sabu
Referee: Teddy Long
This was a wild, risk taking match that saw Dynamite Kid get absolutely vicious with Sabu. Sabu would show his great pain tolerance and ended up getting especially vicious with Dynamite as well, taking a spike to his head at one point after Dynamite pushed him to the edge. Sabu would manage to kick out of the Diving Headbutt, surprising the crowd and Dynamite Kid. Sabu would later go up top with a chair, but Dynamite would catch him on top and bring him down with a Super DDT right into a tight Guillotine Choke. Teddy Long would determine that Sabu could no longer continue, and called for the bell.
Winner by TKO: Dynamite Kid
We go backstage, where we see Eric Bischoff standing in ready to talk about upcoming events.
Bischoff thanks all of the fans for their support, which has been second to none. He says that PWX is beyond thrilled to be heading to FLORIDA for their next event, "PWX 5: ANGLE VS. PAGE" from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville on September 11th! Also on the card, we will be see KEN SHAMROCK FACING OFF WITH TAZ as well as THE HARDY BOYZ VERSUS THE BRISCOES!
Bischoff says he is working on making the best possible match ups to determine the first X Division and Tag Team champions, and is currently in negotiations to finalize the gigantic Lesnar versus Goldberg Premier Championship match, which he says he is planning to have signed for early October. He says that that match may even take place on national television, which he has also been negotiating for and the reason he has been able to do that is directly related to the outpouring of support from PWX's fantastic fanbase!
He says if the fans want to see the best wrestling action that they can truly believe in, then they will not want to miss any of the upcoming PWX events, and he thanks them for their time, loyalty and entertainment dollar! He says that while there are endless options these days, he appreciates that there are still fans who appreciate real professional wrestling and they will keep delivering just that each and every show.
MATCH THREE
STANDARD RULES
Davey Richards vs. Matt Riddle
Referee: Tim White
Richards brought great intensity to this match, and really tried to tear into Riddle throughout with leg kicks and leg locks, focusing his attack on the lower body. Riddle would manage to catch Richards with a wicked spinning back elbow out of the corner to change the tide of things, before hitting a Bicycle Knee. Riddle would sell the lower body damage, however, and couldn't make the cover in time to get the three. After a sequence of near strikes, Riddle would catch Richards with the BroDerek! Riddle would make the cover, but Richards would manage to kick out at two, only to have Riddle smoothly transition and lock him into the Bromission! Richards would tap pretty quickly from there, and Riddle would celebrate the win to a nice reaction from the Texas crowd! Barnett talks about Riddle's technique and how he is just so versatile and dangerous in the ring, and puts over that he could be a real threat to beat anybody, any night, even the guys at the very top, in his opinion.
Winner by Submission: Matt Riddle
MATCH FOUR
TAG TEAM RULES
The Eliminators: Saturn and Kronus vs. Authors of Pain: Akam and Rezar
Referee: Charles Robinson
Saturn and Kronus would jumpstart this match, seeing the size and knowing the skill of their opponents and wanting to get the edge on them. Akam and Rezar fight back with flurries of punches, but Saturn is able to catch Rezar with a thrust kick to send him through the ropes and out of the ring. The Eliminators double whip Akam, but he flies off the ropes and takes both men down with a Double Flying Clothesline! Akam hits an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex on Saturn, but catches a high Wheel Kick from Kronus! Kronus whips Akam into the corner and tries to come in hot with the Cartwheel Backflip Elbow, but Akam catches him mid-move and delivers a German Suplex onto the bottom turnbuckle! Rezar grabs Saturn on the outside and hits a T-Bone Suplex on the floor! The Authors of Pain are on fire! Akam sets up Kronus for the Russian Legsweep as Rezar comes running for a clothesline, but Kronus escapes! Kronus runs off the ropes and hits a Double Single Leg Dropkick to both Akam and Rezar, taking both big men down! Akam rolls out of the ring and Rezar is still in. Saturn slides in and he and Kronus deliver the TOTAL ELIMINATION! Kronus makes the cover as Saturn flies through the ropes onto Akam, and this match is over!
Winners by Pinfall: The Eliminators
Saturn gets on the mic after the match and yells that if Bischoff is looking for a team to fight for the Tag Team titles, he's looking at the best God damn team on the planet or in the galaxy, because The Eliminators are out of this world and their taking out everybody!
MATCH FIVE
X DIVISION RULES
CM Punk vs. Will Ospreay
Referee: Mike Chioda
These two have the fans somewhat split to start before Ospreay actually slaps Punk across the face! Smith can't believe it on commentary, while Barnett applauds Ospeary, who says he just made a big statement there. Punk kind of smiles it off, and these two tangle up. The action gets fast, as these two are trading holds and running the ropes, and Punk decides to slow things down, taking Ospeary down with an Armdrag and holding him there. Ospeary tries to break free, but Punk just continues to roll through and keep locked on with the arm lock. Barnett is loving this, as he says Punk is actually showing why he is one of the best wrestlers out there. Ospeary would eventually break free, but Punk would continually go back to the left arm, taking him down with it and attacking it with laser focus. Ospeary would end up delivering a flurry of high impact moves, including a Double Corkscrew Kick to the back of Punk's head, followed by his Off with His Head elbow to the back of Punk's head, but Punk would not stay down! Ospeary would spit in Punk's face and then try for a kick to the head, but Punk would duck it and LOW BLOW OSPEARY, getting a big pop from the crowd! Punk would call for Go To Sleep, and picks up Ospeary, trying for the GTS, but Ospeary digs deep and reverses it, landing behind Punk and hitting a Reverse Hurricanrana! Ospeary calls for the end and then tries for the OsCutter, but Punk manages to catch him and take him down in mid-air, locking on an air tight Cross Armbar! Punk has it locked in deep and Ospeary is slapping the mat and tapping out like a madman, as that damaged arm has had enough! Barnett puts over the game plan of Punk and the phenomenal finish here, as these Texas fans are loving it!
Winner by Submission: CM Punk
Punk gets on the mic, and he's out of breath but in a good mood after winning that match. He says he might be a punk kid from Chicago, but these fans here in Houston really made him feel at home tonight, and he is humbled to have been able to perform in front of them and get this win tonight! The fans give him a great pop for that. Punk then says he heard Malakai Black working his way through a little promo earlier, slowly but surely, and he applauds him for getting it out. He's sure Malakai spent hours in front of the mirror practicing his little speech, hyping himself up and trying to make himself believe he actually belongs in the ring with the "Best in the World". Punk says he's been called a lot of things, but he's never been called a coward, he's never backed down from a challenge, and he's not going to start tonight, so he says if Black wants a fight, he's got one.
Punk drops the mic and the fans chant his name as he leaves the ringside area.
MATCH SIX
X DIVISION RULES
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels vs "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
Referee: Teddy Long
Shawn Michaels got an absolutely HUGE reaction from the Texas crowd, and you can see why Eric Bischoff decided to book this match so quickly for this date. Rhodes, by contrast, got MASSIVE heat and he just soaked it up like the consummate professional he is. These two really milked it early, before Michaels just started wailing on Rhodes with everything he had. Barnett noted that he thinks Michaels might be a little too fired up here, as Teddy Long would try to interject at times but Michaels would explode at him verbally before continuing his relentless attack. The fans are red hot for Michaels as Rhodes takes a powder to the outside. Rhodes is able to thumb the eye of Michaels on the outside and then choke him with a monitor cord at the announcer's table. Rhodes then grabs a steel chair and tries to attack Michaels, but Michaels actually catches the chair coming and then kicks Rhodes between the legs SUPER HARD, sending him leaping into the air, and the crowd goes nuts! Michaels then hits an ailing Rhodes over the head with the chair, and sends him flying on top of the announcer's table. Barnett says that Michaels needs to get a grip and get Rhodes into the ring, as he has him where he wants him, but HBK does not do that. Instead, Michaels heads up to the top turnbuckle. The fans are all standing on their feet and the commentary team has cleared the way.
Michaels flies off the top rope... CODY ROLLS OFF THE TABLE... MICHAELS SMASHES THROUGH THE TABLE, AND HE'S WIPED OUT!
Michaels is covered in the wreckage as Rhodes crawls on the floor. Rhodes grabs the padding on the outside and Teddy Long is pleading with him not to do it, but Rhodes just smiles an exhausted, evil sort of grin, and he exposes the flor. Smith reminds the fans that this is X Division rules, and it's going to take a lot for Teddy Long to stop this just by the nature of the beast. Rhodes grabs Michaels by the arm as Michaels is reaching up through the splintered announcer's table and pulls him up. Rhodes has Michaels in a front facelock and... BOOM! DDT ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR! SHADES OF ROBERTS/STEAMBOAT! HBK is shaking and moving, his head is bleeding, his eyes are wandering, and he has no idea where he is!
Cody goes to pick up Michaels, but Teddy Long gets in between them and stops it, calling for a doctor to come and check on Michaels. Rhodes is sent to the ring to stand in his corner. The ringside doctor examines Michaels, asking him a few questions before we can hear him audibly off the mic tell Teddy Long that this match has to end and Michaels needs medical attention for a concussion. Teddy calls for the bell and then walks over to Tony Chimel to explain to him the final ruling for the contest.
Winner by TKO: Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes is being booed out of the building here as he laughs and mocks HBK, who is being helped to the back by the ringside doctor and officials. Kenny Omega and Adam Page come out and hug Rhodes, as they celebrate like he just won the Super Bowl. Jimmy Smith says that Cody Rhodes and The Elite are dispicable, while Barnett points out that Rhodes did everything he said he was going to do and Michaels overzealousness cost him in the end. Michael, according to Barnett, played right into Rhodes' hands and those hands turned out to be very dangerous and should not be slept on by anybody in the PWX.
The Elite are posing as the show goes off the air.