FCW Eps. 4.X: The King of the Ring

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Supershow | June 19, 2008[/center]

The ever-present FCW logo montage plays to start the show. Dusty Rhodes' picture flashes across the screen to a decent reaction. Eric Bischoff's image flashes to boos. FCW President Shane McMahon's image appears to a huge pop. A mash-up of the FCW Fallout and Club Hardcore opening videos plays, before we return to inside the arena where pyros and fireworks are blasting off of the stage as the camera pans the sold out FCW Complex in Minneapolis.

Joey Styles, Tazz, and Brent Musberger welcome everyone to the show from the announce position. They send it to Mick Foley on the stage who is running the brackets. Foley announces that our first match tonight will be Paul Burchill vs. Brent Albright -- two men who recently switched shows.

FCW King of the Ring Quarterfinal Match
Paul Burchill w/Katie Lea (CH) vs. Brent Albright (FTV)
Burchill made his way to the ring with his sister, Katie Lea Burchill, who has apparently replaced Christy as his valet. Albright made his way to the ring alone, although with a new entrance theme for his new affiliation with FOURCE. Albright and Burchill battled it out in a technical battle which played a great opener to the show. Burchill would be distracted from Christy and Katie Lea on the outside, as Christy made her way to the ring and began a catfight with Katie. Albright tried to take advantage with a roll-up, but Burchill kicked out and then planted Albright to the mat with a surprise C-4 for the pinfall victory. (7:23)
Winner: Paul Burchill

Mick Foley updated the brackets near the stage as we faded to a commercial break.

~ Commercial Break ~

The FCW Experience
Three matches took place prior to the FCW King of the Ring supershow tonight, and they were all quite exciting. In the opener, FCW Women's Champ Shelly teamed with Daizee Haze against Candice and Christy. Candice picked up the win for her team after planting Daizee to the mat with an inverted DDT. In an inter-brand match, John Morrison took on AJ Styles. After a long and hard-fought battle, Styles planted Morrison to the mat with the Styles Clash for the pinfall victory. In the third and final match, La Familia earned a No. 1 Contender's shot against the FCW Tag Team Champions by defeating Incoherence after Chavo Guerrero hit a frog splash on Delirious.

Rob Van Dam made his way to the ring and cut a promo, claiming to be the greatest FCW Heavyweight Champion in history, Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring and stares down RVD. Van Dam asks what he wants and Hardy holds up his belt. RVD does the same and the two continue to stare each other down. Hardy slaps Van Dam and they start battlign it out. This brings out JBL followed shortly behind by the Big Show. The four men battle it out in the ring for several minutes before the locker room empties and security and some of the lower card wrestlers break them up. Shane McMahon sends them all to the back, saying this show is about more than just their feuds and we need to crown an FCW King of the Ring 2008.

~ Commercial Break ~

FCW King of the Ring Quaterfinals
Sabu (FTV) vs. Elijah Burke (CH)
Thsi match was not quite as exciting as our first match, but it was still an interesting bout between a legend and a rising star. Elijah made his way to the ring to a mixed reaction, followed by Sabu who received a rather large pop. There was not a lot these two could do together and it seemed like a different match-up would have been better for each, but since it was chosen at random this was the best they could do. Burke used his technical styles while Sabu displayed his usual spots. Burke ended up picking up the victory after nailing Sabu with the Elijah Express in the corner and then planting him with a inverted suplex for the pinfall victory. (7:08)
Winner: Elijah Burke

Backstage, Coach interviews the new U.S. Champion, Batista.
Coach: "Batista, at End of Days, we found out that Randy Orton actually did not have any information on you, but we have to believe that there must be something out there concerning you and Fierce if you listened to him for so long."
Batista: "Well, Coach, let's just say that some things are better left unsaid, but it all worked in the end because I am the U.S. Heavyweight Champion."
Batista leaves as Coach scratches his head.

~ Commercial Break ~

Mick Foley updates us on the brackets, saying that the winner of the next match will be taking on Elijah Burke in the next round.

FCW King of the Ring Quarterfinals
"Hotstuff" Hernandez (CH) vs. "The Saviour" Jericho (FTV)
Another quick match, this one featuring a David vs. Goliath-type style, as "The Saviour" used every move in his arsenal to try and take down the bigger, stronger Hernandez. The "Familia" member used his strength to match Jericho's speed which created a somewhat equal match, with both men taking the advantage at times earning several two-counts. Jericho ducked under a big boot and planted Hernandez with a bulldog, following it up with the Lionsault, but only receiving a two-count. Jericho, distraught, got up and tried to take down Hernandez, but the big man took him down with a boot to the stomach before setting him up for the Border Toss. Hernandez lifted up Jericho, but he reversed in mid-air and brought Hernandez down with a hurricanrana. Jericho hooked both of Hernandez' legs for the pinfall victory! Jericho slid from the ring and celebrated as Hernandez could not believe he was defeated. (9:23)
Winner: Jericho

~ Commercial Break ~

Backstage, Dusty Rhodes approaches Eric Bischoff.
Dusty: "Eric, I don't if you've approached Shane McMahon at all tonight, but he seems like he is acting differently lately. You know anything?"
Eric: "Yeah, he wants to fire you."
Dusty: "WHAT?!"
Eric: "God, I don't know. I don't talk to the guy. I don't like the guy. He just signs my checks. He's probably just nervous about the cage match tonight, those things are dangerous. And need I remind you that it will feature Club Hardcore superstars, so it will be very entertaining as well."
Dusty: "Yeah, yeah, yeah... Well, you just keep an ear open in case you hear anything. Something's strange around here lately."

FCW King of the Ring Quarterfinals
Matt Hardy (CH) vs. "The Professional" Roderick Strong (FTV)
This was easily the best of the four quarterfinal matches as Strong and Hardy battled it out in a technically sound, hard-hitting match-up between two of FCW's brightest stars. Strong hit Hardy with his arsenal of back-breakers and power moves while Hardy used some speed and heel tactics. Despite being a match between two heels, the fans were into it because of several near-falls and false finishes. Strong's closest chance was a second-rope backbreaker while Hardy's was a second-rope Side Effect. Neither of those moments would end it though so the match would continue for a few minutes longer until again both men were on the corner of the ring, this time Matt Hardy flipped Strong over with a back body drop. He then leaped off the top rope and hit Strong with a flying leg drop. He hooked the leg for the pin and the win! hardy moves on in the tournament. (11:36)
Winner: Matt Hardy

~ Commercial Break ~

A video highlighting the feud between Randy Orton and Batista airs before we begin our next match.

FCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship
Batista (c) defends vs. Randy Orton
This was a somewhat slow and uninteresting bout. Randy Orton made his way to the ring first to heel heat, while Batista received a mixed reaction. Throughout the match, chants of "What'd you do?" broke out in the champ's direction. Orton kept control of Batista by using several cheap tactics and keeping the match at his pace. Unsurprisingly, Batista finally turned it around and took advantage, leveling Orton to the mat with a spinebuster before continuing his dominace with a series of power moves, finally finishing Orton off with the Batista Bomb for a pinfall victory. (11:01)
Winner & Still FCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion: Batista

After the match, Tazz got into the ring with Batista and interviewed him about the situation he is in. Batista did not take warmly to it, shrugging Tazz of and starting to leave. Tazz pulled him back into the ring and said it was time for Batista to fess up to the situation and explain to everyone. Batista grabbed Tazz by the tie, screaming into his feet that he "owed no one an explanation, and it was no one else's business." He then shoved Tazz back into the corner, picked up his belt and left to the back as the referee checked on Tazz.

~ Commercial Break ~

Mick Foley updates us on the brackets as we move in to the second round; still to come, we have Paul Burchill vs. Matt Hardy and up next, Elijah Burke vs. Jericho. Tazz, who had rejoined on commentary, mocked and criticized Batista for his actions, suggesting some anger management therapy.

FCW King of the Ring Semifinals
Elijah Burke (CH) vs. Jericho (FTV)
Another very strong technical bout, Jericho and Elijah Burke showed why they are two of the best pure wrestlers in all of FCW. Jericho received a huge pop yet again on returning to the ring while Burke received a mixed reaction,as fans were excted to see this match-up. Despite back-and-forth action and both men gaining an advantage over the other over periods of the match, neither was able to take a clear enough advantage that they would be assured victory, that is, until Burke had Jericho locked in the tree of woe. You aren't actually reading this. Burke ran in, attempting the Elijah Express, but Jericho pulled himself up and Burke crashed into the corner. Jericho turned around and rolled up Burke with a sunset flip. He grabbed on to the nearby ring rope for leverage as he gained a somewhat cheap pinfall victory! (12:54)
Winner: Jericho

Backstage, Coach interviews Austin Aries, who still has Shane Helms' Cruiserweight title belt in hsi hands. Aries states that he is no where near done with Helms and will not rest until the belt is under his posession legitimately as it is rightfully his to begin with.

~ Commercial Break ~

FCW King of the Ring Semifinals
Paul Burchill (CH) vs. Matt Hardy (CH)
In the first - and only, based on Jericho's victory - battle of two members of the same roster since the qualifying matches of this tournament, we saw a strong battle again between two mainly heel superstars. Hardy received heat while Burchill did receive a bit of a pop on his return to the ring for the evening. Another technically sound match, this one did seem to drag on at times as both men appeared to be holding back a bit knowing they would be fighting another match yet again tonight. After a while, they came around and we saw a serious of strong moves and near-falls, but nothing appeared to be able to win it, that is, until Paul Burchill had Hardy set up for the C-4. He leaped in the air, but Hardy turned it around in mid air and hit Burchill with a cross body, rolling him up upon hitting the ground for a victory as Burchill kicked out just after the three count. Hardy quickly took off as Burchill remainded livid in the ring. (10:42)
Winner: Matt Hardy

Backstage crew began bringing out the walls of the steel cage as we went to commercial break.

~ Commercial Break ~

Joey, Tazz, and Brent ran down the

Steel Cage Match | Special Referee: Shane McMahon
Shawn Michaels vs. Jay Roclass w/Beth Givens
As expected, this was a brutal, hard-hitting battle between one man looking to make an impact in his FCW in-ring debut and the other gaining some revenge over his first loss in FCW. Special referee Shane McMahon made his way to the ring first to a pop. Roclass made his way to the ring next to a chorus of boos. Michaels entered last to a huge pop, as the Hooliganz walked out on the stage with him, but he asked them to return to the back as he did not need them. Both men traded control of the match back-and-forth as they bloodied their rival. With every near-fall, Jay Roclass yelled at Shane McMahon that he was trying to screw him over. Eventually, McMahon had heard enough and leveled Jay with a clothesline. Moments later, after a failed Sweet Chin Music attempt, Michaels took Jay to the mat and then began climbing up the cage wall. He reached the top, looking down to the floor and then back to Roclass. He signalled to the crowd and leapt off the cage, crashing down to the mat with a failed flying elbow drop attempt. Jay flicked Shane McMahon off before scaling the cage wall himself. Upon reaching the top, he was stalled when Shane grabbed his leg from behind. Roclass pulled his boss up to the top and then punched him square in the jaw, causing Shane to flip off the top rope and crash down to the mat below. Roclass climbed down to the floor as the outside referee declared him the winner. (22:11)
Winner: Jay Roclass

~ Commercial Break ~

Mick Foley ran over all of the highlights of the matches that brought us to the finals. He then walked to the ring and joined our already large announce team on commentary.

FCW King of the Ring Finals
Jericho (FTV) vs. Matt Hardy (CH)
This match was surprisingly quick and to the point for a main event, but it became obvious given the fact that the two-hour show was already nearing its time limit. Jericho received a large pop on his way to the ring, but Hardy caught him from behind during his entrance. The two men battled it out, hitting their main spots and signature moves to give the crowd what they wanted. Jericho, who had won every match so far via roll-up, looked to be in firm control as he planted Hardy to the mat with the bulldog. He then taunted to the crowd and attempted the Lionsault, but Hardy got his knees up. Jericho stumbled away, grabbing his stomach. Matt hit him with the Twist of Fate and then rolled him over for the pinfall victory! (8:41)
Winner and 2008 FCW King of the Ring: Matt Hardy

Matt Hardy is the new FCW King of the Ring! Hardy began celebrating in the ring as Mick Foley handed him the KOTR trophy



~ Fade out.