Post by Slade on Jan 13, 2021 11:35:58 GMT -5
Date: January 4, 2021
From: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis
Commentary Team: Michael Cole, Jim Cornette, and Rowdy Roddy Piper
Ring Announcer: Lillian Garcia
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At the top of the show, before the opening match took place, Michael Cole and Jim Cornette introduced Rowdy Roddy Piper as Tony Schiavone’s replacement for the next few weeks. They wished Schiavone well and said they hoped for him to have a speedy recovery. Piper was given a few minutes to cut a scathing promo on the man who injured Schiavone – Kevin Owens. Piper said that he hoped Owens would be suspended indefinitely and vowed to put him in a hospital bed like he did to Schiavone if he ever showed his face in WWE again.
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RICOCHET vs. ROB VAN DAM
These two kicked off the show by bringing the fans to their feet with what seemed like a non-stop highlight reel of one high-risk maneuver of another. It went on like that until Ricochet attempted a springboard European uppercut. Van Dam leapt up and caught him in mid-air with a spinning heel kick. After that, he gave Ricochet a rolling fireman’s carry slam and then a Hollywood Star Press. Ricochet kicked out of the fall though. Van Dam gave him a suplex out of the corner and went to climb the turnbuckle. Ricochet got up, went up to the top and sent Van Dam crashing into the mat with a falcon arrow. He then went to the top rope and attempted the 630-degree senton bomb, but Van Dam moved out of the way. Even so, Ricochet was on his feet first and went for Recoil, but Van Dam moved his head out of the way, then he caught a kick attempt and gave Ricochet a windmill kick, which he followed up with rolling thunder. After that, he went to the top rope and executed the 5-Star Frog Splash and pinned him for the win. (14:30)
Winner: Rob Van Dam
***
Jonathan Coachman interviewed Ember Moon about her match with Bayley last week. Moon said that she wasn’t surprised that Bayley would take the cheap win as it’s clear that she lacks confidence in herself to defeat her competition. Moon went on to say that she wants another match, and if Bayley wants to fight outside the ring, then they should make it have no countouts. If you did that, then you would know who the better woman is.
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RICKY STEAMBOAT vs. SAMMY GUEVARA
Jake Hager was an invaluable source of help to Sammy Guevara. His presence at ring side helped him to take control of the match just a few minutes in, as he threw Steamboat into the barricade and pressed his lower back against the turnbuckle post, among other things. Later on, after Steamboat mounted a comeback, he put Guevara’s foot on the bottom rope and pointed it out to the referee, preventing Steamboat from getting the win. Steamboat responded by launching himself out of the ring and onto Hager with a slingshot plancha. As Steamboat lit into Hager with chops, Guevara ran over and took him down with an over-the-top-rope moonsault plancha. Guevara tossed Steamboat back into the ring, went to the top rope and attempted a shooting star press, but Steamboat rolled under the turnbuckles to avoid it. He started climbing the turnbuckle. Hager got up on the ring apron, so Steamboat took him down with a diving brain chop. Guevara attempted to suplex him into the ring, but Steamboat slid through the back and rolled him up for two. When they got up Steamboat landed a beautiful dropkick on him and then went to the top rope. He dove off and landed on Guevara with the crossbody into the lateral press for the win. (10:48)
Winner: Ricky Steamboat
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Jonathan Coachman was with Zelina Vega, Andrade Cien Almas and Angel Garza. He asked Vega for comments on the performances of her clients in the first round of the WWE Universal Championship tournament. Vega said she’s very happy with them making it through to the second round. Coach also asked how she felt about them facing each other in round two. Vega wasn’t concerned about that. She said her clients both know that this match is strictly about business and no hard feelings will be had at the end of the day. Coach then asked who she thought would win. She lit into him for trying to stir up trouble. Garza said she was sure that he would win. Almas disagreed. They appeared to get into a heated argument over who was the better man. Vega told them to stop arguing, saying that it was very important they remained on the same page.
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BIANCA BELAIR vs. BILLIE KAY
Billie Kay had moments of success in this match, although they were usually thanks to the help of her IIconics tag team partner, Peyton Royce. Bianca Belair always found ways to battle back and take control. Belair had had enough of Royce’s meddling and chased her from the ring by whipping her with her long hair braid. Then, she muscled Kay into the air and dumped her over the top rope onto Royce. Belair brought Kay back into the ring and executed the K.O.D. for the win. (7:35)
Winner: Bianca Belair
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BRIAN PILLMAN vs. SANTOS ESCOBAR
Pillman made sure that Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde would not be a problem very early on by going to the outside and hitting them both repeatedly with a steel chair. Unfortunately, this put him in prime position to get the Arrow From the Depths of Hell. Escobar used that maneuver to take control. However, he found it difficult to put the Loose Cannon away. He made several pinfall attempts, but nothing worked. When he tried for the Phantom Driver, Pillman slipped free and executed a hangman’s neckbreaker. This started a comeback for him the culminated with him hitting Escobar with Air Pillman and pinning him for the win. (10:16)
Winner: Brian Pillman
After the match, Brian Pillman was joined in the ring by the Hart Foundation. Pillman said that the Inner Circle tried to put him out of commission, but they failed. He said he wasn’t afraid of any of them. He’s already beat two of them in singles competition and it’s only a matter of time before he beats the rest of them.
Bret Hart also spoke. He said it was typical of a guy like Chris Jericho who has no integrity to gang up on Pillman when the rest of the Hart Foundation was stuck in Calgary. He isn’t surprised at that. What he is surprised about is that Jericho got what he wanted. The Hitman went on to say that if Jericho thinks he’s going to somehow take away Hart’s chance of becoming the next MUW Men’s World Champion, he’s got another thing coming. He won’t let that happen.
Then, Davey Boy Smith said that Jake Hager doesn’t stand a chance of defeating him in their match next week, and Owen Hart took a moment to tell Chris Jericho that he’s Not only going to lose the chance to compete for the MUW Men’s World Championship tonight, but next week, he’s going to lose the chance to compete for the WWE Universal Championship courtesy of the “King of Harts.”
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PETE DUNNE vs. BRAY WYATT
Although he is one tough son of a bitch, Pete Dunne was the underdog in this match. Bray Wyatt weathered his early offense and popped up into an inverted crab walk to try to psych him out. Dunne attacked, but Wyatt eventually knocked the steam out of him with a running crossbody. Wyatt slowed things down and took pleasure in punishing Dunne. However, he was scrappy as could be and bit Wyatt’s fingers, before snapping them. He performed some joint manipulation, which began a short rally for him. Wyatt snuffed it out with a ura-nage slam. About a minute later, Wyatt executed Sister Abigail for the win. (9:53)
Winner: Bray Wyatt
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Jonathan Coachman caught up with Rob Van Dam backstage to ask him for his thoughts on his second victory in a row. He was very chill about it, saying that his words don’t matter, rather it is his actions that will show the WWE Universe that Mr. Monday Night is the Whole F’n Show. Then, Erick Rowan, wearing a sheep’s mask, appeared, and so did Luke Harper, who took the mic. He had a warning from Bray Wyatt: The buzzards are circling. Get out while you still can. RVD laughs and says that he thought enough time had past that he wouldn’t be tripping tonight.
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SAMOA JOE vs. CHRIS JERICHO
Chris Jericho executed a step-up enzuigiri kick and then the lionsault. He covered with a lateral press and got a two-count. Right after Samoa Joe kicked out, Jericho complained to the referee about his count and Joe applied the Coquina Clutch. He wrestled Jericho down and started to apply a body scissors. Jake Hager, who stayed at ringside to support Jericho, jumped into the ring in full view of the referee, distracting him from seeing Santana and Ortiz run down to the ring and save Jericho. This led to members of the Hart Foundatino running down to the ring. Davey Boy Smith got into a fight with Jake Hager. Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart chased Santana and Ortiz out of the ring and brawled with them. Back in the ring, Jericho stood ready to give Joe the Judas Effect. As Joe was getting up and Jericho was ready to charge, Bret Hart hit Jericho in the back with a steel chair. When Jericho turned around, The Hitman dropped him with a second chair shot. Neither Joe nor the referee saw what had happened. Joe was up just after that. He picked up Jericho and gave him the Musclebuster and then pinned him for the win. (18:39)
Winner: Samoa Joe
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