Post by wolvenbear on Feb 22, 2021 0:57:11 GMT -5
(Linkin Park/Jay-Z's Encore plays. "Can I get an encore, do you want more. Cook can roll with the brooklyn boys. So one last time I need you to roar. ....Now what the hell are you waiting for? After me there can be no more. So for one last time make some noise." As the song continues, we see a human highlight reel. AJ Styles hits the phenomenal forearm to Sabin and Red hits the Red Dead. HBK superkicks the belt out of Hall's hands. Sabu hits Undertaker with the whisper in the wind. Road Warrior Animal beats the Gymini bloody. And we fade into the arena, going straight to the announcer's table.)
Foley: Welcome to Velocity. I am Mick Foley, commissioner of FWA and your emcee for the evening. Tonight I am joined by the absolutely stunning, and, I cannot emphasize this enough for a certain viewer at home, the ridiculously qualified Leticia Cline in calling the pregame show for FWA's Bound For Glory. And we could not be happier to be broadcasting from the lovely city of Windsor, in Ontario Canada. (cheap pop)
Cline: I could not be happier to help host tonight's event. But I have to ask, Mr. Foley...
Foley: Oh, come on, now. Call me Mick. (to camera) Don't you dare take anything from that!
Cline: Ok.....So, why are we hosting this show tonight, instead of JR and Mike Tenay.
Foley: What a fantastic question! (to camera) See? the brains match the beauty. JR and Mike Tenay already have a three hour Pay Per View to call tonight. We're going to do the pre-show to keep from overloading them.
Cline: Mick, I have to ask. Who do you keep talking to?
Foley: Collete.
Cline: Your wife? You...you do know she's not here tonight, right, Mick?
Foley: That's where you are wrong, Ms. Cline. You could not possibly understand. Wifes are like ninjas. They spring out when you least expect them to catch you doing what they consider wrong, even if you are completely innocent. As a married man, you must constantly live your life as if your wife will surprise you at any second....or...yea...Besides, we are on national TV. She WILL see what happens.
Cline: OK. So... Velocity? Why that name Mick? Why not the traditional Heat?
Foley: It's part of my rebranding of the Sunday show. Velocity implies a build up in intensity to the main event. And I want a different show than we had in the past. I have chosen five matches tonight that have never been seen before. This is simply a showcase of talent. We want this to be a different feel from Bound For Glory. We want fun, we want adrenaline. We want hunger!
Cline: And I can't wait for these matches...Mick. This sounds amazing.
Foley: I hope the fans agree. Let's get to it.
Road Warrior Heidenreich vs Ken Kennedy
Kennedy: (taking the mic) I hear there are some people in the audience who are self identified bungholes. (Fans cheer) Shut up jackasses, I didn't ask for feedback. For those who are too fat or lazy or weak to get into a ring, you may live through metonight. Just don't interrupt me again. This bunghole comes from Green Bay Wisconsin (fans start saying it with him). What the hell did I jsut say, retards? This isn't a singalong. Watch carefully and shut your mouths. You are looking at the winner tonight....Miiiiiissssterrrrr Kennnnnneeeeedddy. Kennedy.
(After Kennedy comes to the ring, the Road Warriors music hits. Heidenreich comes down, skull paint affixed.)
Cline: Wow, Mick. You must hate Ken Kennedy to put him in this match,
Foley: I'm not a fan, Leticia. I won't lie. Kennedy's attitude sucks. But he is an amazing athlete. As much as I hate him as a person...I cannot imagine a better challenge for
Road Warrior Heidenreich. My job is to provide the best possible show for the FWA audience, not satisfy my own desires.
Cline: But you are rooting for Heidenreich?
Foley: Of course.
(Heidenreich and Kennedy lock up. After several reversals in arm and head locks, Kennedy gets free and slaps Heidenreich.)
Cline: I can't imagine deliberately pissing off any Road Warrior.
Foley: Yeah, probably not the best strategy. But I got thrown off a twelve foot cage...who am I to criticize strategy?
(Seething, Heidenreich turns and levels Kennedy with a vicious right. He mounts him and hammers away. Pulling him up, he does a chokeslam suplex and then follows up with a second rope leg drop. A pin only gets a one count.)
Foley: Heidenreich is a monster, but he seems to have gotten ahead of himself. His moves may inflict more damage than most....but that's not enough to drop an average competitor. And Kennedy is no average competitor.
(Heidenreich whips Kennedy into the opposite corner. As he rushes him, Kennedy dropkicks his knee. He then suplexes Heidenreich into the turnbuckles. Grabbing the leg, Kennedy lifts him and wraps the Warrior's knee around the ropes, going for a submission.)
Foley: He can't get the submission. But that doesn't mean it's not effective.
Cline: Take out your opponent's leg, and they can't effectively fight, right, Mick? nad the bigger they are, the better this strategy works?
Mick: (to camera) See? Honey? I didn't just choose her because she's a pretty face. She's got the game down! Please don't hit me with the frying pans I hid....if you find them...when I get home.
(Kennedy lets him go at the four count But, when he tries to follow up, RWH is able to fight him off. RWH gets to his feet, but Kennedy dodges his offense and chop blocks the leg again. He keeps going for the leg, even as Heidenreich keeps fighting him off.)
Foley: You don't need to like Kennedy to appreciate what he's doing.
Cline: Keep the bigger man grounded. Take away his offense and eventually you'll get the win?
Foley: Couldn't have said it better myself. Even more reason for my lovely wife to react better than she did when I tried to put Melina over in WWE....
(Heidenreich eventually gets free. He flapjacks Kennedy onto the ropes. When he climbs to the top rope, Kennedy catches him with a nasty uppercut. He tries for the tope rope Senton, but RWH fights him off and knocks him to the mat.)
Cline: He went for the high risk, but came up short. Now Heidenreich is in the driver;s seat.
(Heidenreich dives off the top rope for a clothesline, but Kennedy catches him with a dropkick. Lifting him quickly, he hits the Mic Check, but only gets a two count.)
Foley: It's sudden reversals like that that make Kennedy one of the most dangerous competitors on the roster. As much as I like to toot my own horn, there's no way I could've countered that, even in my heyday.
Cline: That sort of unexpected counter is what you might see in an X Division match. This is why Kennedy has had three amazing X Division Championship challenges. Though he fell short, he took Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, and Ultimo Dragon to the limit.
(Kennedy lifts Heidenreich and whips him to the ropes. To his frustration, RWH catches himself. As Kennedy rushes in, Heidenreich catches him in the spinning side slam he has made famous, and the ref counts the three.)
Cline: And out of nowhere, Heidenreich hits the Road Warrior Slam for the win. As much as we were talking about surprises earlier, Heidenreich's ability to pull big moves out of nowhere is precisely why the Road Warriors made him their third member.
(As Kennedy gets up, Heidenreich tries to extend a hand in sportsmanship.)
Foley: And this is why I love this guy. He's a frigging monster, but he still shows respect to everyone. You don't see that with many people that size.
(Kennedy looks at his hand for several moments then claps it. Pulling Heidenreich in, he quickly low blows him and then DDTs him while he is stunned. Looking at his handiwork, he spits on Heidenreich and leaves the ring.)
Cline: I'm shocked by Kennedy's actions.
Foley: I wish I could say the same.
Cline: What a great match, and to have such a cheap ending...it's a disappointing start to our new Velocity.
Foley: Oh, I can promise you that this will be rectified on Raw. Don't you worry. Kennedy was warned about doing things like this. He has sowed the wind...he will reap the whirlwind.
Cline: Of course, Heidenreich's stable mate Animal is set to go against both members of the Gymini. AS someone who grew up on the Road Warriors, I am not looking forward to this match. The last time Animal took on the Gymini, they put him on the shelf for over a month.
Foley: Last time was a handicapped match, though. While we do not yet know who exactly Animal has gotten as a tag partner, he has told us that he is not by himself this time. I cannot wait to see who Animal has gotten to face the Gymini with.
Cline: I really don't want to see Animal injured again.
Foley: I don't either. But I understand Animal's drive. The desire to prove that yourself. To bounce back after something like he suffered...it's intense. It is probably more of a male thing, wired into our stupid reptilian brains. But we will see what happens later tonight. It is time to get to our next match,
Evan Bourne v CM Punk
(After the two men come to the ring, Punk tries to lock Bourne in an arm lock, but he flips out and sweeps Punk's feet, immediately following up with a standing moonsault for a one count.)
Foley: Evan Bourne is one of the best talents we have, He is exciting to watch and difficult to beat. He simply has never found that feud to propel him to the next level.
Cline: You make it sound like this is all about booking or big matches.
Foley: Of course it is Leticia. Would Stone Cold have been where he was without the McMahon feud? Shawn Michaels would not have gotten big without Bret Hart. And I am remembered because of the Undertaker. As much as I feel I am one of the best....if I hadn't been put through the Hell in a Cell...I doubt I'd be remembered. AS much as I liked him personally, Ultimate Warrior was one of the worst men to step in that ring, but you wouldn't know that by how he is remembered. Ultimo Dragon was revered everywhere in the world except WWF, but that didn't stop his firing. Big matches, big feuds matter.
Cline: Dropping CM Punk is no small feat. We commonly see Punk manhandle ever much bigger opponents. But Bourne took him down like it was nothing.
(Bourne goes for a springboard moonsault, but, seeing Punk raise his knees, is able to land on his feet. As Punk tries to get up, Bourne dropkicks him in the head. As he sways on his knees, Bourne runs in with a pendulum DDT. Another two count follows.)
Cline: We normally don't see CM Punk dominated like this. Evan Bourne is taking him to school.
Foley: See, honey? Totally chose her for her insight. It had nothing to do with her beauty. I mean, even now, you can't see her. We focus on the ring. You should take me at my word and not look for the skillets I hid for good reason.
Cline: Mick....you may have a very dysfunctional marriage.
Foley: Oh that's silly. I love my wife dearly, and she loves me. I just remember after pushing Melina in WWE that she can be a little bit jealous. A healthy fear of an angry wife is a good thing.
Cline: I....have no idea what to say to that.
Foley: Leticia, every good marriage is built on the understanding that your loved one is broken in some fundamental way. You accept that because you love them dearly. Collette is a wonderful woman who I love beyond words, and I accept that she cannot be trusted with heavy metal objects when I am around attractive women. This is why God made Motel 6.
Cline: We should probably return to the match before you talk yourself into a divorce....or an ICU bed.
(Bourne pulls Punk back to his knees. As he turns to run, Punk trips him, and floats over into a crossface. Scrambling, Bourne makes it to the ropes, and the ref forces Punk to break the hold at 4. He proceeds to club away at Bourne's shoulders, before grabbing him around the waist and tossing him in a gut wrench suplex. Once more he goes for a submission, but Bourne scoots out of the ring.)
Foley: Great ring awareness from Bourne.Create some distance, clear the cobwebs and go again.
Cline: I don't know about clearing the cobwebs....Punk is going to fly.
(Punk goes for the suicide dive, but Bourne catches him with a dropkick, crumpling him in midair.)
Cline: The fans are right, holy crap indeed. You're not the only one who might have to worry about going to the ICU tonight.
Foley: I don't know who got the worst of that, Leticia. Punk may be out cold,but Bourne looks barely able to stand. He's holding onto the ring post trying to shake life back into his legs.
(Bourne drags Punk back to the ring to break the count, but Punk chop blocks his knee and starts working on the legs. Each move is muddled, but he keeps trying to submit him.)
Foley: Continuing to weaken the limb is great strategy, even if he never taps. Take out Bourne's legs and you remove 95% of his offense. Kinda like taking away my wife's pans...
Cline: Are you trying to throw chum in the water, Mick? It's like you want that shark to attack you.
Mick: No Leticia. I just know my wife. If she's already mad, my comments make no difference. She's already bought herself a new weapon, and is waiting for me. I won't be able to hide anywhere. If she's not mad, a few lighthearted comments won't make a difference.
Cline: You're an odd husband Mick.
Foley: You know, she says that all the time too. But in a lot less nice ways.
Cline: I can't imagine why.
(Frustrated, Punk lifts Bourne onto the top rope. Climbing up, he tries to gt Bourne on his shoulders.)
Cline: Is he going to try to hit the Go To Sleep from the top rope?
(Bourne fights him off, elbowing him in the head. The two brawl on the top rope, until Bourne shoves him off. Shaky as he is, he still manages to hit the Air Bourne and get the pin. Frustrated, Punk still gives Bourne a sportsman fist bump.)
Foley: CM Punk undermined all that work he did by taking Bourne to the top. He might not have been able to get there himself, but once he got the elevation, all he had to do was drop.
Cline: It's almost a shame that we won't get to see Evan Bourne in the X Division championship tonight.
Foley: Yeah, Chris Sabin may talk a good talk about wanting a better, more competitive X Division. But really he just seems to want the X Division he had in TNA. By actively
working against Bourne, he cut the legs off of everything he claims to want.
Cline: Nevertheless, it is going to be an amazing match. 6 of the greatest X Division Champions of all time face off in one huge match. Aj Styles, Christopher Daniels, Amazing Red, Alex Shelley and Petey Williams all face off with the champion himself, Chris Sabin. Hey, Mick, maybe the winner should face off against Punk and Bourne on Raw.
Foley: That is an amazing idea, Leticia. And, speaking of X Division action, next we have two amazing men that I think will have a huge role to play in that division very soon.
Shelton Benjamin vs Hurricane
(As Hurricane's music hits, he comes out to the stage, does his iconic pose and starts playing to the crowd. Without waiting for a formal introduction, Benjamin comes out behind him. Spinning him, Shelton starts punching away. Locking his arms around the superhero, Benjamin delivers a vicious spinning belly to belly on the ramp.)
Foley: Well, so much for my vision. Sportsmanship is out the window altogether.
Cline: I guess it speaks to the importance of winning a match like this. Being on the opening show to Bound for Glory, this is a chance to shine. Putting yourself in the spotlight on such a stage can only open doors.
Foley: Well, yeah, and it shows what raging cheaters Team Angle are. It's a shame. They're all so talented, they don't need to do this.
(SB stomps away on Hurricane as he crawls towards the ring. Lifting him, Benjamin hits a belly to backright at the end of the ramp. Mocking him, Benjamin grabs his leg and locks in the Angle Lock.)
Cline: Shades of his mentor.
Foley: It's a move that has ended champions. The Rock, Stone Cold, the Big Show, even Brock Lesnar has all succumbed. It is the only move that has ever submitted Kane. It is no joke.
(After several seconds, Hurricane rolls forward, launching Benjamin into the post. Standing he hobbles forward and clotheslines Benjamin into the post again. Tossing him into the ring, Hurricane follows, starting the match.)
Foley: Sneak attack or not, Hurricane is a superhero. Benjamin is being reminded that it takes a bit more to put Hurricane down than the average competitor.
Cline: He's not even letting Benjamin get back up. Diving clotheslines to Benjamin as he sits up. Dropkick as he tries to get to his hands and knees.
Foley: Well, Hurricane often says he exists to combat evil. By jumping him from behind, Shelton may have just painted a pentagram on his head in Hurricane's mind for all we know. Evil has to be punished, and he is punishing Benjamin.
(As Benjamin gets to his knees, Hurricane bounds off the ropes for a Shining Wizard, but Bejamin catches him and delivers a T-Bone suplex.)
Foley: Whether you like Benjamin or not, that is an amazing counter. Big money move for the former All American athlete.
Cline: You said he had to bring something beyond his A game to take out the Hurricane, our only superhero....and it looks like he did just that.
Foley: But it wasn't quite enough. Hurricane kicked out somehow.
(In shock, Benjamin tries to get the ref to reverse his count. When he refuses, Benjamin lifts Hurrican into the rolling suplexes, but Hurricane catches the ropes after the first. Fighting off, he catches Benjamin's foot, and then dodges the Dragon Whip. Ctaching Benjamin he quickly hits the Vertibreaker.)
Foley: We never see that move anymore. Hurricane only pulls it out to ensure his opponents stay down.
Cline: And it worked. He got the three count.
(Benjamin is clearly disappointed. When Hurricane offers his hand, he slaps it away in a way that is neither a clear snub nor a sportsmanlike manuever. He slides out of the ring and heads to the back.)
Foley: That was a tremendous....
(Before he can continue Edge's music hits. As he comes to the ring in a foul mood, Hurricane tries to walk past, but gets a spear for his efforts.)
Foley: What the hell? That wasn't necessary.
(Edge stalks to the ring and grabs a microphone.)
Edge: For months, I have been overlooked and underused. Jericho's little "gotcha" segment pointed out what is obvious. I am treated like a damned joke around here. Despite having the longest lasting Rumble participation in history, I don't even have a match at Bound For Glory. The lack of respect...
Foley: (standing up) Whoa, there, Edge. I'm a pretty fair guy. At Royale Rumble, I completely overlooked Rey Mysterio, and, when he brought it to my attention, like a man, I fixed it. It was my mistake, and I corrected it. As much as I like Rey, he does not have the same history that you do with me. I have always, ALWAYS gone out of my way to give you what you are due. Even when you and Christian were running around like complete jackasses, I still gave you your well deserved spots. I am more than a little offended that you are accusing me of deliberately snubbing you., especially given Christian's role in this show.
Edge: And I'm furious I don't have a match,
Foley: And we are, of course, going to fix it. But, because you could not have handled this in a worse way, there have to be consequences. On Friday, you and Jericho had an altercation. I'm sure he cannot wait to get his hands on you. So you two will have a "Highlight Reel" match in his backstage set. BUT, you will give way to other matches. So, if your match is not finished before the next match comes on, you will be cut. And, if Jericho beats you, you are suspended until after 'Mania. Cut his mic. He's done. Bring out the next competitors.
A-Train vs Jeff Hardy
(As soon as Hardy steps into the ring, Train bum rushes him. Throwing him around, he backs him into the corner and hits a running splash followed by numerous clotheslines. He whips Hardy into the other corner, but Hardy runs up and delivers a Whisper in the Wind off the top turnbuckle, getting a two count.)
Foley: Raw power versus crazy flippy nonsense. A-Train might crush Jeff Hardy's head like an egg, or Jeff might somehow get into the rafters and pulls the lights down on A-Train with a swanton bomb.
Cline: That's crazy, Mick.
Foley: This is a guy who has done flips off cages, Leticia. Crazy is Hardy's maiden name.
Cline: You mean middle, right?
Foley: Shhhhh....
(Kicking away at Train's legs, Hardy tries to whip him...but Train reverses and splashes him ito the corner again. As Hardy stumbles back out, Train hits a chokeslam powerbomb, for a close two.)
Cline: Never count Jeff Hardy out. He is a man who accomplishes the impossible as often as normal people check their email.
Foley: Nice! I love hyperbole.
(Train lifts Hardy for the Derailer, but he drops behind and takes out his knee. With Train down, Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Train catches him and lifts him into a backdrop. When Hardy tries to excape under the ropes, Train catches him and slingshots him into the bottom rope. )
Cline: No matter how many times I see that, it makes me cringe. I'm surprised it's never sent anyone to the hospital.
Foley: We've been lucky on hospitalizations of wrestlers. But many matches have been pronounced D.O.A. due to that move.
Clines: Thats....a horrible pun.
(Train again goes for the chokebomb, but Hardy manages to counter into a dropkick. As Train staggers back into the corner, and the ref checks on him, Hardy uses the ref as a ladder, running up him to hit the poetry in motion. Ripping off his shirt, he climbs the ropes for a swanton. As he dives, Train gets his knees up. Hardy writhes in pain as Train gets up, and a quick axe kick finishes the match.)
Cline: You know he's going to need a chiropractor after that.
Foley: Jeff? No, he'll just do a lot of coke and forget his name.
Cline: That's not funny, Mick.
Foley: Who's joking? Ladies and gentlemen, we come to our main event of the evening. Both men's partners have huge industry defining matches tonight, but we could not leave either out of tonight's festivities.
Triple H vs Christian
(Triple H dominates Christian early on, using his superior size to toss him back. When Christian tries to counter, Hunter gives him the running knee facebuster and a clothesline. Mounting Christian after the kickout, he hammers away on him.)
Cline: I'm not going to lie, Mick. I don't understand why you did this to Christian.
Mick: Gave him a massive opportunity?
Cline: Threw him to the wolves!
Foley: I think a wolf pelt would look good on his wall I guess.
(Giving him the crotch chop, HHH rushes in, but Christian drop kicks his leg, sending him face first into the second turnbuckle. Hitting a splacsh, Christian quickly climbs the ropes and drops both knees into HHH's back.)
Foley: Nasty, but effective.
Cline: Do you really think this is a fair match, Mick?
Foley: I do. Make no mistake. I respect Hunter. We have been friends. But Christian held the title in TNA longer his first time than Triple H held it his entire career before the draft. Triple H has bought into his own hype that he's the best there has ever been, while Christian needs that big win on the big stage. If Christian performs tonight as I expect, this is the beginning of his Wrestlemania glory.
(He tries to pull Hunter away from the ropes, but gets a thumb to the eye. Holding his face, he opens himself for a spinebuster, followed by a running knee drop. The pin only yield a one. Hunter locks in the Figure Four.)
Cline: You mentioned moves that end matches; it's hard to think of a more iconic one than this.
Foley: But the move has also been countered more and escaped from more than any finishing move in history.
(Christian doesn't have enough weight to pull himself to the ropes, so he grabs Hunter's hair and starts hammering away at him, until he breaks the hold.)
Foley: See, Leticia, it hurts. But, if you can withstand the pain, there's lots of ways to break it.
(HHH tries to get Christian into a headlock, but he elbows at HHH's gut. Hopping up to the second rope, he goes for a big splash, but HHH kicks him in the gut as he comes down.)
Cline: I think this is it, the end is here.
(Christian fights the Pedigree off and back body drops Hunter. HHH rushes at him, but Christian uses his momentum to bounce him off the corner, and into the Unprettier for the pin.)
Foley: Yes! I knew he had it in him!
Cline: Are you supposed to cheer for anyone, Mick?
Foley: Sure! I can have favorites, and can root for the good guys.
Cline: Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed our new Velocity. And we hope this convinces you to stay tuned for Bound For Glory.
Foley: Welcome to Velocity. I am Mick Foley, commissioner of FWA and your emcee for the evening. Tonight I am joined by the absolutely stunning, and, I cannot emphasize this enough for a certain viewer at home, the ridiculously qualified Leticia Cline in calling the pregame show for FWA's Bound For Glory. And we could not be happier to be broadcasting from the lovely city of Windsor, in Ontario Canada. (cheap pop)
Cline: I could not be happier to help host tonight's event. But I have to ask, Mr. Foley...
Foley: Oh, come on, now. Call me Mick. (to camera) Don't you dare take anything from that!
Cline: Ok.....So, why are we hosting this show tonight, instead of JR and Mike Tenay.
Foley: What a fantastic question! (to camera) See? the brains match the beauty. JR and Mike Tenay already have a three hour Pay Per View to call tonight. We're going to do the pre-show to keep from overloading them.
Cline: Mick, I have to ask. Who do you keep talking to?
Foley: Collete.
Cline: Your wife? You...you do know she's not here tonight, right, Mick?
Foley: That's where you are wrong, Ms. Cline. You could not possibly understand. Wifes are like ninjas. They spring out when you least expect them to catch you doing what they consider wrong, even if you are completely innocent. As a married man, you must constantly live your life as if your wife will surprise you at any second....or...yea...Besides, we are on national TV. She WILL see what happens.
Cline: OK. So... Velocity? Why that name Mick? Why not the traditional Heat?
Foley: It's part of my rebranding of the Sunday show. Velocity implies a build up in intensity to the main event. And I want a different show than we had in the past. I have chosen five matches tonight that have never been seen before. This is simply a showcase of talent. We want this to be a different feel from Bound For Glory. We want fun, we want adrenaline. We want hunger!
Cline: And I can't wait for these matches...Mick. This sounds amazing.
Foley: I hope the fans agree. Let's get to it.
Road Warrior Heidenreich vs Ken Kennedy
Kennedy: (taking the mic) I hear there are some people in the audience who are self identified bungholes. (Fans cheer) Shut up jackasses, I didn't ask for feedback. For those who are too fat or lazy or weak to get into a ring, you may live through metonight. Just don't interrupt me again. This bunghole comes from Green Bay Wisconsin (fans start saying it with him). What the hell did I jsut say, retards? This isn't a singalong. Watch carefully and shut your mouths. You are looking at the winner tonight....Miiiiiissssterrrrr Kennnnnneeeeedddy. Kennedy.
(After Kennedy comes to the ring, the Road Warriors music hits. Heidenreich comes down, skull paint affixed.)
Cline: Wow, Mick. You must hate Ken Kennedy to put him in this match,
Foley: I'm not a fan, Leticia. I won't lie. Kennedy's attitude sucks. But he is an amazing athlete. As much as I hate him as a person...I cannot imagine a better challenge for
Road Warrior Heidenreich. My job is to provide the best possible show for the FWA audience, not satisfy my own desires.
Cline: But you are rooting for Heidenreich?
Foley: Of course.
(Heidenreich and Kennedy lock up. After several reversals in arm and head locks, Kennedy gets free and slaps Heidenreich.)
Cline: I can't imagine deliberately pissing off any Road Warrior.
Foley: Yeah, probably not the best strategy. But I got thrown off a twelve foot cage...who am I to criticize strategy?
(Seething, Heidenreich turns and levels Kennedy with a vicious right. He mounts him and hammers away. Pulling him up, he does a chokeslam suplex and then follows up with a second rope leg drop. A pin only gets a one count.)
Foley: Heidenreich is a monster, but he seems to have gotten ahead of himself. His moves may inflict more damage than most....but that's not enough to drop an average competitor. And Kennedy is no average competitor.
(Heidenreich whips Kennedy into the opposite corner. As he rushes him, Kennedy dropkicks his knee. He then suplexes Heidenreich into the turnbuckles. Grabbing the leg, Kennedy lifts him and wraps the Warrior's knee around the ropes, going for a submission.)
Foley: He can't get the submission. But that doesn't mean it's not effective.
Cline: Take out your opponent's leg, and they can't effectively fight, right, Mick? nad the bigger they are, the better this strategy works?
Mick: (to camera) See? Honey? I didn't just choose her because she's a pretty face. She's got the game down! Please don't hit me with the frying pans I hid....if you find them...when I get home.
(Kennedy lets him go at the four count But, when he tries to follow up, RWH is able to fight him off. RWH gets to his feet, but Kennedy dodges his offense and chop blocks the leg again. He keeps going for the leg, even as Heidenreich keeps fighting him off.)
Foley: You don't need to like Kennedy to appreciate what he's doing.
Cline: Keep the bigger man grounded. Take away his offense and eventually you'll get the win?
Foley: Couldn't have said it better myself. Even more reason for my lovely wife to react better than she did when I tried to put Melina over in WWE....
(Heidenreich eventually gets free. He flapjacks Kennedy onto the ropes. When he climbs to the top rope, Kennedy catches him with a nasty uppercut. He tries for the tope rope Senton, but RWH fights him off and knocks him to the mat.)
Cline: He went for the high risk, but came up short. Now Heidenreich is in the driver;s seat.
(Heidenreich dives off the top rope for a clothesline, but Kennedy catches him with a dropkick. Lifting him quickly, he hits the Mic Check, but only gets a two count.)
Foley: It's sudden reversals like that that make Kennedy one of the most dangerous competitors on the roster. As much as I like to toot my own horn, there's no way I could've countered that, even in my heyday.
Cline: That sort of unexpected counter is what you might see in an X Division match. This is why Kennedy has had three amazing X Division Championship challenges. Though he fell short, he took Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, and Ultimo Dragon to the limit.
(Kennedy lifts Heidenreich and whips him to the ropes. To his frustration, RWH catches himself. As Kennedy rushes in, Heidenreich catches him in the spinning side slam he has made famous, and the ref counts the three.)
Cline: And out of nowhere, Heidenreich hits the Road Warrior Slam for the win. As much as we were talking about surprises earlier, Heidenreich's ability to pull big moves out of nowhere is precisely why the Road Warriors made him their third member.
(As Kennedy gets up, Heidenreich tries to extend a hand in sportsmanship.)
Foley: And this is why I love this guy. He's a frigging monster, but he still shows respect to everyone. You don't see that with many people that size.
(Kennedy looks at his hand for several moments then claps it. Pulling Heidenreich in, he quickly low blows him and then DDTs him while he is stunned. Looking at his handiwork, he spits on Heidenreich and leaves the ring.)
Cline: I'm shocked by Kennedy's actions.
Foley: I wish I could say the same.
Cline: What a great match, and to have such a cheap ending...it's a disappointing start to our new Velocity.
Foley: Oh, I can promise you that this will be rectified on Raw. Don't you worry. Kennedy was warned about doing things like this. He has sowed the wind...he will reap the whirlwind.
Cline: Of course, Heidenreich's stable mate Animal is set to go against both members of the Gymini. AS someone who grew up on the Road Warriors, I am not looking forward to this match. The last time Animal took on the Gymini, they put him on the shelf for over a month.
Foley: Last time was a handicapped match, though. While we do not yet know who exactly Animal has gotten as a tag partner, he has told us that he is not by himself this time. I cannot wait to see who Animal has gotten to face the Gymini with.
Cline: I really don't want to see Animal injured again.
Foley: I don't either. But I understand Animal's drive. The desire to prove that yourself. To bounce back after something like he suffered...it's intense. It is probably more of a male thing, wired into our stupid reptilian brains. But we will see what happens later tonight. It is time to get to our next match,
Evan Bourne v CM Punk
(After the two men come to the ring, Punk tries to lock Bourne in an arm lock, but he flips out and sweeps Punk's feet, immediately following up with a standing moonsault for a one count.)
Foley: Evan Bourne is one of the best talents we have, He is exciting to watch and difficult to beat. He simply has never found that feud to propel him to the next level.
Cline: You make it sound like this is all about booking or big matches.
Foley: Of course it is Leticia. Would Stone Cold have been where he was without the McMahon feud? Shawn Michaels would not have gotten big without Bret Hart. And I am remembered because of the Undertaker. As much as I feel I am one of the best....if I hadn't been put through the Hell in a Cell...I doubt I'd be remembered. AS much as I liked him personally, Ultimate Warrior was one of the worst men to step in that ring, but you wouldn't know that by how he is remembered. Ultimo Dragon was revered everywhere in the world except WWF, but that didn't stop his firing. Big matches, big feuds matter.
Cline: Dropping CM Punk is no small feat. We commonly see Punk manhandle ever much bigger opponents. But Bourne took him down like it was nothing.
(Bourne goes for a springboard moonsault, but, seeing Punk raise his knees, is able to land on his feet. As Punk tries to get up, Bourne dropkicks him in the head. As he sways on his knees, Bourne runs in with a pendulum DDT. Another two count follows.)
Cline: We normally don't see CM Punk dominated like this. Evan Bourne is taking him to school.
Foley: See, honey? Totally chose her for her insight. It had nothing to do with her beauty. I mean, even now, you can't see her. We focus on the ring. You should take me at my word and not look for the skillets I hid for good reason.
Cline: Mick....you may have a very dysfunctional marriage.
Foley: Oh that's silly. I love my wife dearly, and she loves me. I just remember after pushing Melina in WWE that she can be a little bit jealous. A healthy fear of an angry wife is a good thing.
Cline: I....have no idea what to say to that.
Foley: Leticia, every good marriage is built on the understanding that your loved one is broken in some fundamental way. You accept that because you love them dearly. Collette is a wonderful woman who I love beyond words, and I accept that she cannot be trusted with heavy metal objects when I am around attractive women. This is why God made Motel 6.
Cline: We should probably return to the match before you talk yourself into a divorce....or an ICU bed.
(Bourne pulls Punk back to his knees. As he turns to run, Punk trips him, and floats over into a crossface. Scrambling, Bourne makes it to the ropes, and the ref forces Punk to break the hold at 4. He proceeds to club away at Bourne's shoulders, before grabbing him around the waist and tossing him in a gut wrench suplex. Once more he goes for a submission, but Bourne scoots out of the ring.)
Foley: Great ring awareness from Bourne.Create some distance, clear the cobwebs and go again.
Cline: I don't know about clearing the cobwebs....Punk is going to fly.
(Punk goes for the suicide dive, but Bourne catches him with a dropkick, crumpling him in midair.)
Cline: The fans are right, holy crap indeed. You're not the only one who might have to worry about going to the ICU tonight.
Foley: I don't know who got the worst of that, Leticia. Punk may be out cold,but Bourne looks barely able to stand. He's holding onto the ring post trying to shake life back into his legs.
(Bourne drags Punk back to the ring to break the count, but Punk chop blocks his knee and starts working on the legs. Each move is muddled, but he keeps trying to submit him.)
Foley: Continuing to weaken the limb is great strategy, even if he never taps. Take out Bourne's legs and you remove 95% of his offense. Kinda like taking away my wife's pans...
Cline: Are you trying to throw chum in the water, Mick? It's like you want that shark to attack you.
Mick: No Leticia. I just know my wife. If she's already mad, my comments make no difference. She's already bought herself a new weapon, and is waiting for me. I won't be able to hide anywhere. If she's not mad, a few lighthearted comments won't make a difference.
Cline: You're an odd husband Mick.
Foley: You know, she says that all the time too. But in a lot less nice ways.
Cline: I can't imagine why.
(Frustrated, Punk lifts Bourne onto the top rope. Climbing up, he tries to gt Bourne on his shoulders.)
Cline: Is he going to try to hit the Go To Sleep from the top rope?
(Bourne fights him off, elbowing him in the head. The two brawl on the top rope, until Bourne shoves him off. Shaky as he is, he still manages to hit the Air Bourne and get the pin. Frustrated, Punk still gives Bourne a sportsman fist bump.)
Foley: CM Punk undermined all that work he did by taking Bourne to the top. He might not have been able to get there himself, but once he got the elevation, all he had to do was drop.
Cline: It's almost a shame that we won't get to see Evan Bourne in the X Division championship tonight.
Foley: Yeah, Chris Sabin may talk a good talk about wanting a better, more competitive X Division. But really he just seems to want the X Division he had in TNA. By actively
working against Bourne, he cut the legs off of everything he claims to want.
Cline: Nevertheless, it is going to be an amazing match. 6 of the greatest X Division Champions of all time face off in one huge match. Aj Styles, Christopher Daniels, Amazing Red, Alex Shelley and Petey Williams all face off with the champion himself, Chris Sabin. Hey, Mick, maybe the winner should face off against Punk and Bourne on Raw.
Foley: That is an amazing idea, Leticia. And, speaking of X Division action, next we have two amazing men that I think will have a huge role to play in that division very soon.
Shelton Benjamin vs Hurricane
(As Hurricane's music hits, he comes out to the stage, does his iconic pose and starts playing to the crowd. Without waiting for a formal introduction, Benjamin comes out behind him. Spinning him, Shelton starts punching away. Locking his arms around the superhero, Benjamin delivers a vicious spinning belly to belly on the ramp.)
Foley: Well, so much for my vision. Sportsmanship is out the window altogether.
Cline: I guess it speaks to the importance of winning a match like this. Being on the opening show to Bound for Glory, this is a chance to shine. Putting yourself in the spotlight on such a stage can only open doors.
Foley: Well, yeah, and it shows what raging cheaters Team Angle are. It's a shame. They're all so talented, they don't need to do this.
(SB stomps away on Hurricane as he crawls towards the ring. Lifting him, Benjamin hits a belly to backright at the end of the ramp. Mocking him, Benjamin grabs his leg and locks in the Angle Lock.)
Cline: Shades of his mentor.
Foley: It's a move that has ended champions. The Rock, Stone Cold, the Big Show, even Brock Lesnar has all succumbed. It is the only move that has ever submitted Kane. It is no joke.
(After several seconds, Hurricane rolls forward, launching Benjamin into the post. Standing he hobbles forward and clotheslines Benjamin into the post again. Tossing him into the ring, Hurricane follows, starting the match.)
Foley: Sneak attack or not, Hurricane is a superhero. Benjamin is being reminded that it takes a bit more to put Hurricane down than the average competitor.
Cline: He's not even letting Benjamin get back up. Diving clotheslines to Benjamin as he sits up. Dropkick as he tries to get to his hands and knees.
Foley: Well, Hurricane often says he exists to combat evil. By jumping him from behind, Shelton may have just painted a pentagram on his head in Hurricane's mind for all we know. Evil has to be punished, and he is punishing Benjamin.
(As Benjamin gets to his knees, Hurricane bounds off the ropes for a Shining Wizard, but Bejamin catches him and delivers a T-Bone suplex.)
Foley: Whether you like Benjamin or not, that is an amazing counter. Big money move for the former All American athlete.
Cline: You said he had to bring something beyond his A game to take out the Hurricane, our only superhero....and it looks like he did just that.
Foley: But it wasn't quite enough. Hurricane kicked out somehow.
(In shock, Benjamin tries to get the ref to reverse his count. When he refuses, Benjamin lifts Hurrican into the rolling suplexes, but Hurricane catches the ropes after the first. Fighting off, he catches Benjamin's foot, and then dodges the Dragon Whip. Ctaching Benjamin he quickly hits the Vertibreaker.)
Foley: We never see that move anymore. Hurricane only pulls it out to ensure his opponents stay down.
Cline: And it worked. He got the three count.
(Benjamin is clearly disappointed. When Hurricane offers his hand, he slaps it away in a way that is neither a clear snub nor a sportsmanlike manuever. He slides out of the ring and heads to the back.)
Foley: That was a tremendous....
(Before he can continue Edge's music hits. As he comes to the ring in a foul mood, Hurricane tries to walk past, but gets a spear for his efforts.)
Foley: What the hell? That wasn't necessary.
(Edge stalks to the ring and grabs a microphone.)
Edge: For months, I have been overlooked and underused. Jericho's little "gotcha" segment pointed out what is obvious. I am treated like a damned joke around here. Despite having the longest lasting Rumble participation in history, I don't even have a match at Bound For Glory. The lack of respect...
Foley: (standing up) Whoa, there, Edge. I'm a pretty fair guy. At Royale Rumble, I completely overlooked Rey Mysterio, and, when he brought it to my attention, like a man, I fixed it. It was my mistake, and I corrected it. As much as I like Rey, he does not have the same history that you do with me. I have always, ALWAYS gone out of my way to give you what you are due. Even when you and Christian were running around like complete jackasses, I still gave you your well deserved spots. I am more than a little offended that you are accusing me of deliberately snubbing you., especially given Christian's role in this show.
Edge: And I'm furious I don't have a match,
Foley: And we are, of course, going to fix it. But, because you could not have handled this in a worse way, there have to be consequences. On Friday, you and Jericho had an altercation. I'm sure he cannot wait to get his hands on you. So you two will have a "Highlight Reel" match in his backstage set. BUT, you will give way to other matches. So, if your match is not finished before the next match comes on, you will be cut. And, if Jericho beats you, you are suspended until after 'Mania. Cut his mic. He's done. Bring out the next competitors.
A-Train vs Jeff Hardy
(As soon as Hardy steps into the ring, Train bum rushes him. Throwing him around, he backs him into the corner and hits a running splash followed by numerous clotheslines. He whips Hardy into the other corner, but Hardy runs up and delivers a Whisper in the Wind off the top turnbuckle, getting a two count.)
Foley: Raw power versus crazy flippy nonsense. A-Train might crush Jeff Hardy's head like an egg, or Jeff might somehow get into the rafters and pulls the lights down on A-Train with a swanton bomb.
Cline: That's crazy, Mick.
Foley: This is a guy who has done flips off cages, Leticia. Crazy is Hardy's maiden name.
Cline: You mean middle, right?
Foley: Shhhhh....
(Kicking away at Train's legs, Hardy tries to whip him...but Train reverses and splashes him ito the corner again. As Hardy stumbles back out, Train hits a chokeslam powerbomb, for a close two.)
Cline: Never count Jeff Hardy out. He is a man who accomplishes the impossible as often as normal people check their email.
Foley: Nice! I love hyperbole.
(Train lifts Hardy for the Derailer, but he drops behind and takes out his knee. With Train down, Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Train catches him and lifts him into a backdrop. When Hardy tries to excape under the ropes, Train catches him and slingshots him into the bottom rope. )
Cline: No matter how many times I see that, it makes me cringe. I'm surprised it's never sent anyone to the hospital.
Foley: We've been lucky on hospitalizations of wrestlers. But many matches have been pronounced D.O.A. due to that move.
Clines: Thats....a horrible pun.
(Train again goes for the chokebomb, but Hardy manages to counter into a dropkick. As Train staggers back into the corner, and the ref checks on him, Hardy uses the ref as a ladder, running up him to hit the poetry in motion. Ripping off his shirt, he climbs the ropes for a swanton. As he dives, Train gets his knees up. Hardy writhes in pain as Train gets up, and a quick axe kick finishes the match.)
Cline: You know he's going to need a chiropractor after that.
Foley: Jeff? No, he'll just do a lot of coke and forget his name.
Cline: That's not funny, Mick.
Foley: Who's joking? Ladies and gentlemen, we come to our main event of the evening. Both men's partners have huge industry defining matches tonight, but we could not leave either out of tonight's festivities.
Triple H vs Christian
(Triple H dominates Christian early on, using his superior size to toss him back. When Christian tries to counter, Hunter gives him the running knee facebuster and a clothesline. Mounting Christian after the kickout, he hammers away on him.)
Cline: I'm not going to lie, Mick. I don't understand why you did this to Christian.
Mick: Gave him a massive opportunity?
Cline: Threw him to the wolves!
Foley: I think a wolf pelt would look good on his wall I guess.
(Giving him the crotch chop, HHH rushes in, but Christian drop kicks his leg, sending him face first into the second turnbuckle. Hitting a splacsh, Christian quickly climbs the ropes and drops both knees into HHH's back.)
Foley: Nasty, but effective.
Cline: Do you really think this is a fair match, Mick?
Foley: I do. Make no mistake. I respect Hunter. We have been friends. But Christian held the title in TNA longer his first time than Triple H held it his entire career before the draft. Triple H has bought into his own hype that he's the best there has ever been, while Christian needs that big win on the big stage. If Christian performs tonight as I expect, this is the beginning of his Wrestlemania glory.
(He tries to pull Hunter away from the ropes, but gets a thumb to the eye. Holding his face, he opens himself for a spinebuster, followed by a running knee drop. The pin only yield a one. Hunter locks in the Figure Four.)
Cline: You mentioned moves that end matches; it's hard to think of a more iconic one than this.
Foley: But the move has also been countered more and escaped from more than any finishing move in history.
(Christian doesn't have enough weight to pull himself to the ropes, so he grabs Hunter's hair and starts hammering away at him, until he breaks the hold.)
Foley: See, Leticia, it hurts. But, if you can withstand the pain, there's lots of ways to break it.
(HHH tries to get Christian into a headlock, but he elbows at HHH's gut. Hopping up to the second rope, he goes for a big splash, but HHH kicks him in the gut as he comes down.)
Cline: I think this is it, the end is here.
(Christian fights the Pedigree off and back body drops Hunter. HHH rushes at him, but Christian uses his momentum to bounce him off the corner, and into the Unprettier for the pin.)
Foley: Yes! I knew he had it in him!
Cline: Are you supposed to cheer for anyone, Mick?
Foley: Sure! I can have favorites, and can root for the good guys.
Cline: Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed our new Velocity. And we hope this convinces you to stay tuned for Bound For Glory.