FWA Bound For Glory

Immortality. The drive to be remembered, to have one's name etched forever in the Halls of Memory. To be an icon, a titan of the industry, that is the goal of every man, every woman who steps in this ring. To be remembered...


Black Veil Brides: In the end....as we fade into the night....


Edge: I will not be forgotten. You will not push me into the darkness...


Goldberg: I don't need to be the champion to be the biggest man in the world. I will take the crown, even if the belt is not on the line.


Samoa Joe: I will show each and every naysayer what the fans already know. FWA IS samoa Joe.


BVB: Oooooh woooo woooo. Who will tell the story of your life...


But not every man is Bound For Glory. Dreams are not enough. Desire is not enough. Some men will rise, and the sun will set on the hopes of others.


BVB: In the end as my souls left to rest what is left of my body. Or am i just a shell. I have fought every flesh and blood I have commanded an army. I have given my home for a moment of glory.


Sabin: Tonight, I redefine the X Division Championship. The world will remember this belt forever by my moves tonight.


Raven: Tonight, the Flock makes history by destroying the longest reigning hardcore champion in the history of the sport. We will define what is hardcore tonight.

Tonight we find out who fate favors. Who will rise. Who will fall. What men are destined to find a spot, find an emphemerial chance to grasp immortality, and who will simply fade into the night. Who will be Bound for Glory, for a fleeting chance to grasp eternity at the Showcase of Immortals?


Hogan: I was robbed of my chance to show that I am the greatest of all time, one more time. You will see that Wrestlemania is nWomania.


RVD: It's easy to forget that I am the man who won the biggest Royale Rumble in history, but tonight I will remind you that I am literally the whole. Damn. WRESTLEMANIA. Show.


BVB: In the end as we fade into the night. Who will tell the story of your life. And who will remember your last goodbye> Cause its the end. And I'm not afraid....I'm not afraid to die.


Tonight does not determine who is destined for greatness. It does not decide legends. It simply determines who has a chance. Tonight, we find out who is Bound. For. Glory.


(As the song continues, the opening pyros explode and we go to the arena. "Born a saint, but with every sin, I still want to be holy. I will live again. Who we are isn't how we live, we are more than our bodies. If I fall, I will rise back up and relive my glory.)


JR: That video package literally gave me goosebumps, ladies and gentlemen. We come to you live from Minneapolis and we are truly on a momentous stop to the road to Wrestlemania.


Tenay: That's right, JR. There is no undercard tonight. Every match is of vital importance. Every man tonight is in a do or die to determine who is Bound for the biggest stage in all wrestling history, and who is unworthy of the honor. Wrestlemania may be the biggest show of the year, but drop the ball tonight and you will never see it.


JR: And befitting such a title, we have an amazing card tonight. The first ever Belfast Bar brawl. A rematch between Animal and the Gymini. Rhyno and MnM go at it once more to determine who is the true champion. Kane vs the Flock.


Tenay: And as amazing as those matches are, it was just decided that the match between Scott Hall and Samoa Joe is for the WWF title. While Shawn Michaels has not suffered the same fate against Goldberg, he has to be worried that "being next" will leave him unable to compete at 'Mania. And finally, RVD puts his title shot up against Hulk Hogan.


JR: And, because he has two matches tonight, we have Goldberg bookends, beginning and ending the show....it's time to start.




Brock Lesnar v (&) Goldberg v Randy Orton v (&) Batista





(Brock Lesnar's music hits. As soon as the first pause occurs, Goldberg's theme takes over, with the drum parts being replaced by the heavier beats of Lesnar's theme song. The two men come out together through the sparks.)


JR: And speaking of goosebumps, that entrance always does it for me.


Tenay: Two of the biggest entrances, the most intimidating theme songs in professional wrestling ever, combined into one.


JR: As befits the two individuals themselves. The first, and so far only, team to dominate the Road Warriors, giving them their first loss here in FWA. They went on to hold the straps for four months until losing them in the biggest tag team match we have ever had here, where they defended against the Road Warriors, the APA, and the Brothers of Destruction in an elimination four corners match.


Tenay: They are a force to be reckoned with for sure, and would give any team pause. But this back into the ring no ordinary match. Brockberg has been assaulted and insulted by the New Bloods and are looking to cause them to spill blood here tonight.


(As the two men get in the ring and stare down the stage, the lights dim. "I hear voices in my head; they talk to me they understand that....I Walk Alone..... And the two members of the New Bloods come to the stage. The Animal pauses on the ramp to engage his pyros while Orton throws his hands up, creating the cascade of sparks behind him.)


JR: The younger men here are brash. They are cocky. They respect no one.


Tenay: And Lesnar and Goldberg are not going to wait for them to showboat. They are taking the fight to them.


(Goldberg tackles Batista on the ramp while Lesnar starts hammering away at Orton. Both men pound on the New Bloods, driving them down and around the ring. Berg lifts Batista to drop him chest first onto the barricade, while Orton is driven back into the ring apron. More heymakers are thrown taking the upstarts to a seated position.)


JR: And this match hasn't even started yet. Until they get into the ring and the bell sounds, we have total anarchy. And there's nothing the ref can do.


(Lesnar grabs Orton by the neck and suplexes him overhead onto the ramp. Orton writhes in pain while Brock ground and pounds him. Goldberg slams Batista into the stairs head first, then swings him back into the barrier. He lines up for the spear, but, at the last second, Batista dives out of the way and Goldberg drives himself shoulder first through the barricade.)


JR: Oh my God, what an insane start to Bound For Glory. Goldberg may have just taken himself out of the main event with that high risk move.


Tenay: Batista just barely got out of the way of that; had he waited even a split second more this match would be over right now. Judging by the way he is crawling towards the ring, just dodging took everything he had left. But now, instead of being down for the count, he may have changed the whole match, just by not getting hit.


(Distracted by that, Lesnar pulls Orton to his feet and gets a thumb to the eye. Desperately staggering away, Randy slides into the ring right after Batista. Enraged and half blinded, Brock follows, but, as he gets to the apron, Batista clotheslines him to the floor. As the bell rings, Batista falls to the mat and Orton covers.)


JR: What the hell is this shenanigan?


Tenay: The match has officially started. And our beloved Commissioner made this a Four Way match, not a tag. So any pinfall is valid.


JR: Leave it to the New Bloods to find a way for a cheap victory, even when it's not illegal. Breaking the spirit if not the letter of the law.


Tenay: But the letter is what matters, JR. There's nothing cheap about this. It's called strategy. Why kill yourself and go toe to toe with these two monsters when you can pick up an easy AND FAIR W?


JR: Baloney.


(Before the ref can count three, Brock grabs Randy's legs and yanks him out. Grabbing him about the waist, Lesnar rams him into the pole repeatedly, and then tosses him over the barricade into the crowd.)


JR: Well, their underhanded little tactic didn't work.


Tenay: And Goldberg is still down. The medics are checking him now.


JR: Way to change the subject. As if you care.


Tenay: I figured one of us had to show concern.


(Before Brock can follow up, Batista clobbers him from behind. Rocking him with rights, he dazes long enough for Orton to recover. Raking Brock's eyes from behind, he gets him in his signature headlock neckbreaker, and drops him right on the barricade.)


JR: Good lord, that may break his back. Moves like that can end a man's career.


Tenay: But Brock isn't exactly a normal man. You have to go that extra step with a monster like "The Next Big Thing". And it looks like he's not done yet.


JR: No, no, don't do it, Randy.


(Orton drags Lesnar over the barricade, resting his feet on it. With a vicious grin, he DDTs Lesnar right onto the concrete. He goes for the pin, but the ref tells him all pins have to be in the ring.)


Tenay: Talking about taking advantage of the rules. Are you going to complain about Lesnar as much as Orton?


JR: Are you insane? Why would I complain about Brock Lesnar? Randy Orton chose to pin him there. He has no one to blame but himself.


(They fight to get Lesnar over the barrier and into the ring. The two men double team him, wearing him down. Seeing the end, Batista hits the Spinebuster and both men pin him. At 2 and 15/16, Lesnar kicks out.)


JR: I cannot believe he kicked out.


Tenay: You're not alone, JR. Orton and Batista look stunned.


(Infuriated, Batista lifts up Lesnar and positions him for the Batista Bomb, but a groggy Goldberg grabs his leg. Dropping Lesnar he turns to swipe at Goldberg, but Brock bounds up and uses his last bit of energy to slam him over the ropes to the floor. As he turns, Orton is ready with an RKO. He poses over Lesnar, taunting the crowd.)


Tenay: I don't think he's realized that Goldberg is back in the match JR.


JR: Well he's about to find out in a big way. Turn around, Randy. Turn around and get what's coming.


(As Randy turns to get the pin, Goldberg levels him with a spear. He lifts Orton, but when his arm fails him, he switches to the other side and hits a left handed Jackhammer for the pin.)


JR: One. Two. Three. And Goldberg starts the night off with a massive win. Does this fortell anything for our main event?


Tenay: But let's not forget that Goldberg seriously injured that shoulder, to where he could not....wait, it seems that our next match has already started. We go backstage,
where Edge and Jericho's Highlight Riot has already shot its first frames.


(Edge is on top of Jericho alternating between rights and lefts. Jericho rolls over and starts dropping elbows on Edge's head. Grabbing one of the nearby cameras, he topples it on Edge, screaming abuse at him. He jumps to one of his end tables for a lionsault, but Edge gets the knees up. As Jericho holds his chest in pain, Edge gets him in a downward spiral, right onto the chair.)


JR: These two men have quickly grown to hate each other. What started off as a small verbal slap fest has quickly devolved into sheer unadulterated violence.


Tenay: Edge attacked Jericho without provocation...


JR: I think we both know that's not true.


Tenay: And he's more than a little sore about it.


JR: Edge was rightfully angry about the unfair attack. But I think we can all agree he dramatically overreacted.


(When Jericho kicks out of a pin, Edge stomps away at him before picking up one of the flimsy set chairs and breaking it over his back. He sets up for a spear, demanding Jericho get up. Lifting himself with a chair, Jericho spins into Edge, cracking him in the head with the chair as he charges.)


Tenay: That was so nasty it hurt me!


JR: I don't know that either of these men is even thinking about winning, so much as they are hurting each other. It seems Jericho just remembered he is supposed to pin.


(When Edge barely kicks out, Jericho screams at the ref to count faster. Staring at Edge, he throws his hands up, and stumbles off. From the ground Edge yells after him, crawling.)


Edge: Where the hell are you going coward? We aren't done here!


JR: Jericho seems to want nothing more to do with this match.


Tenay: Unfortunately, that's not how this works. This isn't a normal match. It continues until one man gets a pin or submission. No rules. No limits. No boundaries.


JR: Ladies and gentlemen, we will follow this match as it unfolds, but I understand we have our next match up.




The Dudleyz v Cryme Tyme




("Yo yo yo yo yo. Pop your forties and check your rollies. It's Cryme Tyme. Brooklyn!" The two members come dancing out to the stage. Slapping hands in the crowd, they make their way to the ring.)


Tenay: Originally, this match was supposed to be Los Guerreros vs the Dudleyz for the titles. But when the Dudleyz announced they were holding it until the end of tonights
Road Warrior Animal v Gymini match, Cryme Tyme convinced Los Guerreros to put up the now non-title match for tonight.


JR: And Cryme Tyme beat Los Guerreros at their own game. So now, they get a shot at the champions.


("Watch out, watch out, watch out, for the bomb fall...." And as the stage explodes, the Dudleyz come out to hude ovation from the crowd. Slapping hands, they play to the crowd and make their way to the ring, staring down Cryme Tyme.)


JR: This is almost a dream match. We never expected to see this.


Tenay: Yeah, talentless street punks against one of the most decorated tag teams of all time. Of course no one expected to see this. No one expects to see the Yankees play against a high school team, either....but that's a closer competition.


JR: Oh, stop, Tenay. Cryme Tyme my bend the rules, but so do Los Guerreros, and no one questioned that they belonged in the ring against the Dudleyz. And it's not like the Dudleyz, who made the use of tables commonplace, are strangers to rule breaking. I remember when the Dudleyz were in the same shoes as Cryme Tyme. They nay sayers were wrong then, and you are wrong now.


(As soon as the Dudleyz get into the ring, Cryme Tyme decides JTG will start off. Without waiting for the ref to start the match, Bubba runs over and flattens JTG, before tossing the much littler man into his corner.)


Tenay: Welcome to the big time boys. This is how real men fight.


(Bubba lays heavy hands on his smaller competitor. Whipping him into the ropes, JTG tries to springboard, but bounces harmlessly off Bubba. Tagging in D-Von, Team 3d shows JTG a flying move with a shoulder dive over the top rope. It fails to get a pin, but the two men continue their double team.)


JR: So far, this match has not played out as Cryme Tyme would have hoped. The Dudleyz have effectively isolated JTG. And his superior speed has not even fazed them. They have negated his few offensive moves at every turn.


Tenay: No one can be surprised by this. You can win matches against chumps. You can even beat decent competitors under suspect conditions. But, when it comes time to face the top dogs in regulation competition, the street fighter will lose against the trained gladiator every time.


JR: As much as I disagree with the belittling of Cryme Tyme, ladies and gentlemen, it is true that we are seeing them negated in a way we have never seen before.


Tenay: That's because the Dudleyz are better. End of story.


JR: And I am receiving word that our camera crew has caught up with the action backstage again. We are going to show you what is going on.


(The main match is reduced to a small box in the bottom corner. Jericho is hiding on the inside of a doorway in a hallway, holding a chair. Edge is approaching with a fire extinguisher. Noticing the cameraman, Edge slows, starting to crouch.)


Edge:I'm going to find you, Chris. No matter where you hide. Take your beating like a man.


(Jericho steps out swinging where he expects Edge to be, but misses wildly, and gets an extinguisher to the gut as a "reward". As he bends over, Edge pops up, catching Chris in the chin with it, and then sprays the foam in his face.)


JR: Chris Jericho is often a hemorrage on the butt check of life, but that could blind him.


Tenay: This is a different Edge than we have seen recently. He is angry, he is emotionally wounded. He feels he has been ignored, snubbed, and disrespected. Chris Jericho is a very real and very recent face of that disrespect. And Edge wants to get what he feels he deserves here tonight.


JR: Jericho is indeed a horse's ass, but you don't have to do permanent damage. You don't have to try to end his career.


(As Jericho staggers back Edge raises the weapon over his head and throws it down across Chris' back. He grabs Jericho's hair and starts to drag him to the stairs.)


JR: Not like this Edge. Don't do it.


Tenay: Not that he can hear you, JR, but Edge wants to decisively finish this, and to send a message to the entire locker room that he is not to be overlooked or made a fool of anymore. Unfortunately for him, Chris Jericho still has a little life left in him.


(In desperation, Chris punches Edge right in the balls, then follows with a thumb to the eye. As Edge spins in pain, Jericho quickly drop kicks him in the back and sends him hurtling down the stairs to the next landing. Though he lands on his feet, Edge meets the wall head first. The holy crap chants start.)


JR: OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!


Tenay: It's not just Edge with a vicious streak tonight.


JR: There is no humanity in these two men. There is no compassion or basic common decency. There is just sheer ruthless aggression and unmitigated brutality. These two men don't just want to win, don't even just want to hurt their opponents. They seem to want to end each other.


Tenay: Compassion and kindness don't win matches, JR. As you love to say, this ain't ballet. And it's not a social club.


(As Edge glares up from the landing where he has collapsed, he starts to grunt barely coherent threats to Jericho. Stunned that Edge is still conscious, Jericho stumbles off as Edge screams after him.)


JR: He is running like a scalded dog.


Tenay: Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.


JR: More like he threw what he thought was a game ending knockout blow, and Edge was still standing...metaphorically. He wants no part of that.


Tenay: Sometimes when it looks bad, you have to regroup. It seems Jericho is doing that wisely. But, so long as that is on hold, let's return to the match in front of us.


JR: If you didn't watch the split screen, things have gone very poorly for JTG. The entire time we were on the backstage fight, the Dudleyz have picked him apart. His few attempts at fighting back were quickly crushed.


Tenay: It was textbook tag team wrestling. Quick tags, cutting the ring in half. Keeping the weaker smaller man in play and away from his partner. JTG had no chance against such ruthless tactics. Even the best of men couldn't stand up against this, and Cryme Tyme are not the best of men.


(JTG tries to fight back, punching away to get to his feet. But, as he tries to run to his corner, D-Von catches him by the hair and whips him back into the ropes. With no other option, JTG races with the throw bounding back with momentum into the back body toss, sending him flying back towards his side. Hitting hard, he bounces and rolls toward his corner, allowing Shad to get the blind tag.)


JR: Best or not, he just used D-Von's tactics against him. The Brooklyn Behemoth has just stepped into the ring. The size differential remains the same, but it's now firmly on
the side of Cryme Tyme.


(Shad rushes in, clubbing D-Von down repeatedly, then tossing him halfway across the ring. Without missing a beat, he grabs Bubba and pulls him over the ropes into the ring before laying heavy hands on him. Back and forth, he drops one then the other.)


Tenay: What the hell? Bubba's not the legal man. Shad has no business laying his hands on them.


JR: Yet he opened his business anyway, regulations be damned. He is cleaning house.


(The two try to double team him, rushing and punching, but, with one hand in each chest, he tosses them backwards. They try to whip him into the ropes, but he reverses them into a whip and double clotheslines them down. Coming from opposite sides, they stun him and go for a suplex together.)


Tenay: Though they are used to being the bigger men, we see that the Dudleyz can adapt and use their superior teamwork to negate the size advantage.


(Though they lift him off his feet, he fights and drops down, reversing both men into a suplex. Both Dudleyz writhe in agony as he begins dropping elbows and legs on them. )


JR: Seems you spoke too soon, Tenay. Shad is running a clinic.


(Lifting D-Von, Shad gets him onto his shoulders, but D-Von rakes his eyes and slides behind him, bounding off the ropes for a corkscrew elbow. Using everything he has on the stunned man, D-Von grabs his head from behind and hits a Saving Grace on the bigger man. It only nets a two count. )


Tenay: This is why you can never count the Dudleyz out. Even when things look bleak, they find a way to get back into it.


JR: But now JTG is back in the game.


(The littler man dives off the top rope with a leg lariat. He quickly hits the Box Cutter, and then Da Shout Out to drop D-Von. Before he can capitalize, Bubba hits him with a Bubba Bomb. Shad pulls him off and goes for the STO, but Bubba fights out.)


JR: And this match has broken down into absolute mayhem.


Tenay: The ref isn't even trying to keep order here, not that I blame him. I wouldn't want to get between these men either.


(As Bubba and Shad brawl, Chavo jumps over the barrier and starts trying to talk to the ring crew.)


JR: What is going on here? Is Chavo out here to cost Cryme Tyme the match?


Tenay: As if they need help to lose. But no, it looks like he's providing a different distraction. No one in the ring has even notived him.


(As the crew focuses on Chavo, Eddie slowly rises from behind the barrier, reaches slowly over, and snatches both belts. As soon as he sees that the deed is done, Chavo puts his hands up and agrees to move back into the crowd. The Dudleys successfully double team Shad and set up for the 3d.)


Tenay: It's all over but the crying.


(Before Bubba can get into position, JTG grabs his leg. Jumping up, he grabs Bubba and hangs him up on the ropes while D-Von hits his half of the move. As D-Von does his spinning move, JTG drags Bubba from the ring. Sliding in behind D-Von as he taunts with his cross signal, JTG rolls him up and grabs his belt for the three.)


JR: What a big win for Cryme Tyme! They beat the Dudleyz! They beat the Dudleyz!


Tenay: I....can't believe it. I'm speechless.


JR: Well thank God for small miracles.


Tenay: Cryme Tyme may have the W, but it will always have an asterick. They couldn't beat the Dudleyz fair and square.


JR: But beat them they did. And while you may disagree with the methods, one cannot deny that this is a major win for the tag team for Shad and JTG.


(As Cryme Tyme dances in celebration, Los Guerreros grab a mic from the audience.)


Chavo: That was a big win. We'd like to congratulate you on pulling out the victory over the Dudleyz. Everybody, give it up for Cryme Tyme.


Eddie: But as impressive as you were tonight, I think we topped you vatos. Because, while you stole the win (he holds up the belt), we stole the titles.


Chavo: Ondale! Viva la raza!


(The Dudleyz stare in shock that they lost not just the match but their titles too. They argue with the ref as Cryme Tyme stares down the celebrating Guerreros.)


JR: Leave it to Eddie and Chavo. They steal the show, even when they are not a part of it.


Tenay: Bound For Glory has been a disaster for the Dudleyz in every way possible.


JR: But their loss is the fan's game. What a twist on a great match. And we go backstage where Leticia Cline has an exclusive interview with Scott Steiner. And after she surprised us earlier tonight with her great job on the preshow, this should be a treat.


Cline: Thanks, JR. I am here with the Big Bad Booty Daddy, Big Poppa Pump. (He flexes behind her.) Mr. Steiner, thank you for talking to me.


Steiner: No problem, Trish.


Cline: Uh, it's Leticia.


Steiner: Sure, Lita.


Cline: No, Leticia.


Steiner. Sorry, Tina. Now, come on, sugar tits. You said you had some questions?


Cline: Ugh. As the leader of the nWo team, what are you thinking about tonight's match?


Steiner: All I can tell you is I should be in it.


Cline: But...Scott....you are...


Steiner: I still have not gotten my contractually obligated rematch. Instead, tonight, Shawn Michaels faces Goldberg, an overhyped one trick pony with the talent I have in my pinky finger. Yeah, he's big. Yeah, he's strong. But he's not a genetic freak. And, even against him, Shawndra is too much of a bitch to put the title on the line.


Cline: Um, I'm not talking...


Steiner: Unlike the real man from the nWo, Scott Hall, who willingly put up the WWF Title in a formerly non title match against Samoa Joe, Goldberg's smaller fatter twin.


Cline: I don't think twins is a good...


Steiner: I tell you Shawndra. You can run from me tonight. You can dodge Goldberg in the ring. But, sooner or later, you're gonna run out of places to run to. And when you get
caught in that corner, I will be there. That day, I'll break you in half and take back my title.


Cline: Wow, as impressive as that all sounds, I actually wanted to know your thoughts about the 6 man tag match tonight that you're ACTUALLY in. the nWo vs the cure. What
are your thoughts on that?


Steiner: I couldn't give two craps about tonights match. That's some stupid beef between Hogan and Flair. The Cure. We're fighting a sissy rock wuss band.


Cline: I think they're the cure because the nWo is the disease....


Steiner: Look, sweatheart. Thinking is man's work. So don't even trouble your pretty little head with that. All that matters is, Hogan wanted this match. But he's too busy
fighting RVD to get his title shot to even be in it. If Hogan's baby don't matter to Hogan, why the hell should it matter to me? I don't blame Hogan for trying to get his....but he's keeping me from getting what's mine. Flair and his hair band want to take us on tonight. Fine, I'll break em, and get back to what matters: regaining my WCW title and main eventing Wrestlemania. (looking Leticia up and down). Saw your nudies by the way. Ratings would triple if you did these interviews topless. Something to think about.


(Leticia is disgusted as we cut back to the ring.)


JR: This next match is so personal. The Alpha Male has targetted R-Truth for being the "weakest on the Serengheti". He thinks Truth is a joke and has sought to end him for the purity of the Pride. By removing the weakest prey, he wants to keep only the strongest around.


Tenay: And Truth has responded in kind, going toe to toe with Monty Brown for weeks now to prove he is no Beta, no joke. He claims that Brown, for all his bluster, has not, and cannot, beat him. He views the match stoppage last month as akin to a DQ and has vowed to show Brown that HE is the actual Alpha Male.




"The Alpha Male" Monty Brown v R-Truth




(Alpha Male comes out to the stage. As he begins to taunt the camera, we see R-Truth run up behind him and punch him in the back of the head.)


JR: Are those brass knuckles? He's going to get disqualified before the match even starts!


Tenay: R-Truth said tonight he didn't care about anything else except showing Monty Brown wrong. He wants to shut the Alpha Male's mouth for good.


(Truth continues to batter Brown with blinged out "Truth" knucks. Within seconds, Brown is bleeding heavily. As he holds himself up with the ringpost, Truth grabs a steel chair and smashes Brown's head against the post. As he crumples to his knees, Truth drops the chair and DDTs him right onto it.)


JR: When cold steel meets human flesh, the steel wins everytime.


Tenay: We have seen a more vicious, more focused R-Truth since this feud began. The Alpha Male demanded a different R-Truth and he has gotten it. He should have been careful what he asked for.


JR: And he's not done yet. Look now.


(Truth grabs the stairs and tosses them into the ring. Savagely beating Brown til the chair warps, he rolls him in as well. A bloodied and barely conscious Brown puts his hands up as Truth enters the ring and the ref rings the bell. But Truth immediately drops and hits a patented uppercut, still wearing the knucks, to the groin. )


JR: Why'd you do it R-Truth? The ref has no choice! He has to call for the bell.


Tenay: This isn't about winning JR. This is about payback. This is about definitively laying out Alpha Male in the middle of the ring, and showing that everything Brown has said about him is dead wrong. He does have killer instinct. He does have violence, drive, and ambition. Srvival of the fittest will not leave him behind.


JR: This is not the same R-Truth we have come to know and love!


Tenay: I know! I couldn't be more in favor of this transformation! This is what he had to do to survive, JR. He has to show the Predator that he is not afraid. He has to stand up to the pride, or they will tear him apart.


(The ref tries to stop Truth, but he shoves him down. Lifting Brown into a suplex, he tosses him forward into a face buster on the steps. As Brown convulses in pain, Truth bounds off the ropes and delivers a nasty scissor kick, driving him right back into the stairs.)


Tenay: And there's the exclamation point.


JR: It was over. He'd made his point.


(The audience is silent as Truth reaches down to turn Brown over. Wiping his hand through the blood on Brown's face, Truth smears it across his chest as a badge of victory. Numerous officials finally come out and force him from the ring.)


JR: It almost seems too much at this point. But we've caught up with Edge and Jericho yet again. After what we have just seen, I don't know that I can take any more brutality.


Tenay: The show must go on JR.


(Back in the medical area, Jericho has torn a metal box from the wall and thrown it against Edge. Stunned, he continues to sludge forward, only to get a metal tray and a bed pan to the face as well. When Chris tries to whip him into the wall, Edge reverses, tossing him face first, then back drops him onto a nearby bed.)


JR: At least it was a bed, not a counter, or even the concrete.


Tenay: Don't fool yourself, JR. Those matresses are very thin and cover a metal frame. It'd be like putting an air mattress on the ground and powerbombing you on it.


JR: Better some cushion than none.


(Jericho grabs a reflex hammer on his way down. When Edge tries to grab his hair, that tiny hammer goes into his forehead, causing a string of curses. Using the distraction, Jericho quickly grabs the camera and smashes it into Edge, killing the feed.)

JR: These men have been beating the holy hell out of each other for over 20 minutes, tearing apart the backstage in the process. How long can they possibly continue?

Tenay: Hate is a powerful fuel JR. If they didn't despise each other so much, I've got the feeling that one, or even both, of these men would have dropped by now.



Kyo Dai v Rey Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon and the Mexicools



(We see Mick Foley in the ring at Rumble.)

Foley: And the Rumble itself is the largest we have ever had. But, as is often the case, in setting up such a momentous event, sometimes things slip through the cracks.

Tonight, we have overlooked one of our greatest stars.


(The highlights of the match are recapped. We see Rey and Psychosis performing insane moves. Finally, before Rey can go for the West Coast Pop, Akio and Sakoda attack, taking both out.)


JR: Not like this damnit. This isn't how this is supposed to end.


(Psychosis and Rey end up teaming over the next month off and on to attack Kyo Dai. We see the two factions brawl, each coming out on top. Finally, after Tajiri loses a "triple threat"/handicap, Akio and Sakoda come out to attack.)


Foley: Well, for the past month, we have seen that every match involving Rey Mysterio or Psychosis will inevitably get all of Kyo Dai involved. So, at Bound for Glory, all four members of Kyo Dai here will face off against Rey Mysterio and his partner, Ultimo Dragon, as well as Psychosis and Super Crazy. And, since we don't want to play by the FWA rulebook, that four on four match will be decided under Lucha Libre rules.


JR: What a coup for Rey and Psychosis!


(We show a graphic of the men involved as we fade to the ring.)


JR: And now we have the first X Division match of the night. Kyo Dai faces the MexiCools and the Mystery Dragon in a lucha libre tag match,


Tenay: Luche Libre rules are significantly different than American or even Japanese rules. Tags are looser, often unnecessary. If someone steps out of the ring any member of their team can replace them.


JR: Mexican matches are more chaotic. But this also makes them more exciting. It's hard to follow, and you don't even try. You just enjoy the ride. To win, you must score either two victories against the opposing team, or take out the captain. Unlike a normal American match, a pinfall or submission does not eliminate the loser. They stay in the match.


Tenay: Because of the importance of the captain, they have to be preannounced, so the other team and both refs-yes there are two due to the hectic nature of the match-know who they are. Of course, everyone knows Tajiri will be captain. But the question of the other captain-Rey Mysterio or Psychosis-was settled just after the opening. Tajiri argued, and Commissioner Mick agreed, that since they double teamed him, Tajiri should get to choose the other captain. And he chose Rey Mysterio.


JR: As if he didn't have it coming.


Tenay: Be that as it may, it is done. And we will see if elevating one above the other injures their truce.


(The three mexicans and Ultimo Dragon come out together all at once, all four popping out of the stage in Mysterio's typical entrance.)


JR: I have never heard this song before.


Tenay: It is the opening theme song for AAA Luche Libre. These men, who have all wrestled extensively in that promotion are paying homage to their histories.


JR: These four are not just legends in Mexico, but all we instrumental in bringing luche libre America. The only way this could be more of a whos who of international luche, is if Eddie Guerrero was on the team.


(As these men get to the ring, Kyo Dai's music hits. Tajiri comes out by himself, but in a tux. Smiling broadly, he reaches out and is joined by a woman wearing a mask with green and black hair. )


JR: What is this? He's not even dressed for competition!


Tenay: By the look on his face, I think we're about to find out.


(Slowly raising four fingers, one at a time, Tajiri points them back to the stage. The song restarts, and one by one Akio, Sakoda, Funaki, and Kenzo Suzuki come out, with Tajiri pausing in front of each one to raise one of his fingers again. In front of Kenzo, he grins wickedly and motions them forward.)


JR: Is this legal, Tenay? I have never called a match in Mexico.


Tenay: I have never encountered this. But luche libre literally means "free fighting". In general, refs are told to let it go unless it is explicitly forbidden. Rules are more...fluid. And with Mexican legend Hector Garza refereeing, the presumption will be in letting the match continue. To my knowledge, this has never happened before, but that means the ref will probably allow it.


Jr: That seems ridiculously unfair.


Tenay: That which is not forbidden is allowed. It's....remarkably brilliant strategy. Captains are not required to participate in matches. And this makes it impossible for Rey's team to get the quick win. Tajiri may be the only man who has experience in a mexican ring on his team, but he is putting it to good use.


(AS they come to the ring, Tajiri demands Sakoda start the match. The other side briefly converses and agree that Super Crazy should start the match. As the respective sides take their corners, a huge noise draws everyone's attention to the stage. Edge comes stumbling out, bleeding from the head, swiping at his eyes to try and see.)


Tenay: It appears we have an interruption to our regularly scheduled match.


JR: These two have been beating the living hell out of each other all over the arena. It's almost appropriate that it makes its way to the ring. Just not during a match.


(Jericho comes running out behind and hits him with a piece of wood, splintering it over his back and sending him spilling down the ramp. As edge rolls down the ramp Jericho runs up behind him kicking him the whole way. All of the competitors in the ring stop to watch. Jericho tosses Edge into the audience and continues the beat down as he scrambles away.)


JR: Even the competitors seem to have forgotten that the actual match is in the ring. Everyone is focused on this continuing mess.


Tenay: Well, not everyone JR...


(As Crazy continues to watch, Sakoda blindsides him from behind. Driving him into the ringpost, he rams his shoulder into SC's gut as the two men brawl up the stairs. He tosses Super Crazy around before clotheslining him out of the ring.)


Tenay: While that was a raw display of dominence, I fear Sakoda has just over played his hand. This is about to backfire...


(While Sakoda plays to the crowd, Rey jumps to the ropes and dropkicks Sakoda into the opposite side. Before anyone knows what happened, he has hit the 619.)


Tenay: This is exactly what is so hard for non-Mexican wrestlers to understand. Sakoda essentially tagged in a member of the opposite team by deliberately chucking Super Crazy out.


JR: Tajiri seems to have dropped the ball in prepping his team for this match.


Tenay: No matter how much you explain the difference, there is nothing that can prepare someone for this. Wrestlers get used to what they know. This is like expecting a track runner to do sprints in 3 feet of water.


(Rey goes for the West Coast Pop, but Sakoda catches him and powerbombs him to the mat. He pins, but Rey kicks out before 2.)


Tenay: As impressive as the 619 is, and even with the element of surprise, this just wasn't enough to weaken someone like Sakoda.


JR: And, all the time this is going on, Edge and Jericho are still pounding away in the crowd.


(As Sakoda lifts Rey into a turnbuckle bomb, Edge has taken an open chair and tossed it into Chris' face. The brief stun is enough for Edge to wrap it around his head and run him into a concrete wall.)


JR: There's a certain sick symmetry to Edge using that move that Rey and Psychosis made famous while they are fighting in the ring.


Tenay: Little known fact: they banned that move in Mexico due to the injuries those two men suffered. It's ironic that they have brought this career ender to america for gringos to use.


(Edge tries to grab Jericho for another move, but gets another low blow, this time via mule kick. As he staggers, Chris gets the chair off and throws it hard at Edge. Snatching a lady's purse, he rifles through it for a can of mace, which he empties into Edge's eyes. When no ref is there to record a submission, Jericho curses about the "BS of the match", and flees out through the exit of the arena. Edge follows as soon as he can stand, groping blindly.)


JR: We still haven't seen the end of this insane match,


Tenay: And we have another right in front of us!


(Back in the ring, Sakoda has forced Rey into a corner and is ramming his shoulder into the smaller man's gut. He stands and dismissively pats Rey's head, which earns him a slap to the face, spinning him round. Furious, he turns and charges back in. Rey tries to get him with the head scissors, but Sakoda catches him and dumps him outside the ring.)


JR: I don't think he's realized what he just did. He's taunting Rey.


Tenay: Even if Tajiri explained it perfectly, the switch to Lucha tag rules is difficult for most long term pros to get until they experience it first hand. You get used to your opponents having to tag.


(As Sakoda turns, Psychosis is already on the ropes, springboarding into a leg lariat. Not letting up, he staggers Sakoda into the corner as he rises with chops and kicks. Sakoda launches him halfway across the ring, but he comes running back with a flying forearm. He tries to whip Sakoda, but it is reversed. Psychosis uses the momentum to springboard, but is caught. Running, Sakoda tosses him over the ropes into the guard rail.)


JR: He didn't learn his lesson? He did it again?


Tenay: I cannot overstate how often this happens. He is still reeling from the surprise attack. He may not even have connected the two things in his head. This is a man who has hones his craft for over a decade. You cannot simply expect him to change up completely overnight.


(Super Crazy doesn't even wait for Sakoda to turn before he launches a missle drop kick into his back. As the big man tries to defend himself, Crazy catches him in a hurricanrana into the second rope. He bounds through the ropes, catching Sakoda on his way out. The leaves him free for Ultimo Dragon to hop in and hit an Asai moonsault on him while he is still hung up.)


JR: I don't even think he knows which way is up anymore. These men are running Sakoda through the gauntlet. And it's treating him like a meat grinder.


Tenay: This is why obtaining a lucha libre match was so brilliant. All four of these men have extensive experience with this type of fight. It is second nature to them. They will always instinctively use the unique style to their advantage while Kyo Dai is second guessing themselves.


(Despite Sakoda's size and stamina, the four luchadors use quick tags and superior speed to keep him staggered. Where they might be unable to stand toe to toe with him, double and triple teams quickly wear him down. For several minutes the onslaught continues unabated. Psychosis dives out of the way of a desperation move by Sakoda, sliding out of the ring. As Super Crazy tries to ambush him, Sakoda turns back to intercept, and catches him out of the diving hurricanrana into a powerbomb.)


Tenay: It is exactly this, the ability to absorb damage, that makes Sakoda so dangerous. What he just endured would put down another lesser man. He is still standing.


JR: But barely. He is in no condition to launch a counter attack.


Tenay: But he doesn't have to JR. He has an opening for the first time this match. Super Crazy is down in the center of the ring, and he's falling back to his corner. If he makes the tag, it's a match again.


(As he crumples in the corner, Akio tags himself in. Climbing to the top, he waits for Crazy to get up and hits a front flip DDT. He follows up with a running moonsault. It only nets him a two count.)


JR: What a combination. It truly is amazing that Super Crazy was able to kick out.


Tenay: He has his name for a reason. He has less sense than desire.


(Akio climbs to the top again and goes for the 450 but Crazy gets his knees up. As Akio rolls in agony holding his gut, Crazy manages to tag in Dragon. He jumps in and He lifts the stunned man into a suplex, rolling it into a DDT, then wrapping his legs around Akio's waist, gets a headlock in.)


JR: We might see our first fall, here.


Tenay: Akio is really close to the ropes, and is reaching.


(He manages to get the rope break. Dragon lifts him and goes for the Dragon DDT, but Akio pushes him into the ropes. Upon his return he gets a hurricanrana for a quick one count. As Dragon tries to get up, Akio goes for a spinning kick to the head. Dragon ducks and lands a Dragon Suplex. Akio barely kicks out. Dragon pulls up Akio only to have a last minute spinning cradle pin move leading to a two,)


JR: These two men are so evenly matched. It's almost a shame this isn't a one on one. That would be a pay per view match itself.


Tenay: Back and forth. Neither man can get the advantage. Both are getting quick moves. But neither can build momentum.


(Akio hits dropkick that sends Dragon back into his corner for a blind tag from Psychosis. Akio doesn't realize it and hits a sunset flip pin, but Psychosis hits a running leg lariat and then springboard moonsault. Akio quickly kicks out. When Dragon whips him into the ropes, Suzuki tags himself in.)


JR: I don't think he saw that.


Tenay: And it'll cost him. He's oblivious to the train about to steamroll him.


(Suzuki runs in and clotheslines Dragon from behind, dropping him to a knee. Jerking him back to his feet, Suzuki follows up with a combo of a thunderous open palm blow to the chest, a double throat jab, and a massive double chop to the chest, sending Dragon reeling into the corner, where he collapses.)


JR: That might've just collapsed his lungs. Listen to the force of that blow.


Tenay: Suzuki did not come to play. He is Kyo Dai's weapon of Mass Destruction. And he has been targetting on the Ultimo Dragon.


(With Dragon downed, Suzuki starts stomping away at him until the ref breaks it up. Again, Suzuki drags him to his feet and tosses him across the ring. Despite Dragons best attempts to fight him off, Suzuki manhandles him, throwing and suplexing him over and over. Dragon tries to flip over him to get to his corner, but is caught and subjected to a reverse DDT.)


JR: This could not be going much worse for Ultimo Dragon, and, by extention, the Luchadores. Kenzo Suzuki is dragging Ultimo back to his corner and propping him up on the top rope.


Tenay: And Funaki, the fresh man, is begging to get in to be the one to finish Ultimo Dragon.


(Suzuki tags in Funaki. Playing to the crowd's boos, he climbs up with Dragon and goes for the top rope Hurricanrana. But in the flip, Dragon ends up on top and they land in a pin. The ref counts the three before Kyo Dai realizes what happened and intervene.)


JR: Good lord! What the hell just happened? I'm confused. Funaki is confused. Dragon got the pin somehow, and is down. It was his last bit of energy.


Tenay: I'd have to see a replay. (It rolls in slow motion.) Dragon launched himself at the last moment, turning Funaki's hurricanrana into a sunset flip. Desperation move at it's finest. You can see Kyo Dai counting along, as they don't realize there was a counter. It's just now sinking in that Mysterio's team got the first fall.


JR: And now, it's time for Dragon to pay the price for that pin.


(Suzuki and Sakoda jump in at the same time, stomping away at Dragon. As the ref starts counting, they deliver a dual gutwrench suplex, causing Dragon to fully flip and land face first. Suzuki raises his hands in surrender and steps out as the ref almost counts them out. Sakoda goes for the pin.)


JR: And that has to have been it. No. I can't believe it. Somehow, he found just enough left in the tank to kick out. Sakoda's locking him in a headlock to choke the last bit of life out of him.


Tenay: And we have a situation on the ramp too.


(Funaki is about to walk out, and Tajiri is explaining to him that he is not eliminated. As it slowly dawns, Tajiri whispers in his ear and the two men turn back. Running to the
opposite corner, they grab the Mexicools and pull them from the apron, driving them back first into the barricade.)


JR: They're cheating right in plain view of the ref.


Tenay: Actually, in luche libre, you will often see the men brawl on the outside, sometimes even with weapons. Only the legal men are permitted in the ring, but that doesn't prohibit anything on the outside from the non legal men. This is masterful strategy from Tajiri, actually using the lucha rules against the Mexicans.


JR: And it appears Mysterio has had enough.


(Mysterio flips off of the apron, taking out Tajiri and Funaki at the same time. Dragon manages to fight out and grabs Sakoda, dropping to crush Sakoda's chin on the top of his head. He dives for the corner, but no one is there to tag.)


Tenay: But the damage is done. Dragon is at the mercy of Kyo Dai while the others brawl on the outside. He has no relief from the battery he has received.


(Sakoda rolls out of the ring while Akio run in. In a blatant show of disrespect, he hits the 619 on Dragon. Furious, Rey dives in and slaps his hands together. The ref nods and Rey unleashes a flurry of blows on a stunned Akio.)


JR: What just happened, Mike Tenay?


Tenay: A team captain has the option to tag himself in. Once invoked, he is the legal man until an official tag is made.


(Rey decimates Akio, letting Dragon get away. After he delivers several devastating moves, he hits a suicide dive on Tajiri on the other side. Stomping away, he plays to the crowd and dares Kyo Dai to get involved.)


JR: Rey has snapped. He has had enough of Kyo Dai.


(The woman comes to Rey, slowly removing her Kabuki mask, revealing a pretty but painted face to match her dual colored hair. She motions for him to come close, and when he reluctantly complies she mists him.)


JR: Even the women of Kyo Dai spit venom.


Tenay: What was Rey thinking? He should have known better.


(He clutches at his eyes and spins right into a vicious Buzzsaw kick from Tajiri. As Tajiri rolls his prone opponent back in, Sakoda and Suzuki rush the Mexicools, taking them out. Akio seizes the opportunity to hit the Yang Time and pin Mysterio. Tajiri slides in and raises Akio's hand in victory. The Mexicools fume on the outside.)


JR: Impressive as that may have been, what are they celebrating for? The match is tied one one.


Tenay: No, JR. By pinning the team captain, Kyo Dai has earned two falls, winning them the match.


JR: I will never understand Mexican rules.


Tenay: Fortunately, you don't have to. We're going back to American rules. And I hear from the back that we have some more hardcore violence as Edge and Jericho renew
their assault.


(We see Edge stumbling around in the loading dock, swiping at his eyes, screaming for Jericho. As he moves into the largest area, Jericho dives off of a temporarily constructed
office with a cross body. A pin follows, but Edge kicks out.)


JR: Sneak attack after sneak attack. Chris Jericho just will not fight this battle fair.


Tenay: Anything goes, JR. You know that as well as anyone. But, at this point, one has to wonder how much these men both have left in the tank.


(Frustrated by another inability to get a pin, Jericho grabs a nearby metal rod. As he tries to swing at Edge, he dodges into Chris's legs, dropping him. As Chris tries to stand,
Edge spears him right into some nearby lockers. "Holy crap" chants start. Both men crumple, but Jericho doesn't fully leave his feet.)


JR: What else can these men do to each other? That would've broke a normal man in half, and yet, he's still almost standing.


Tenay: This is about more than victory. More than just a pin. Both men want to make it clear there is no question who won. This means everything to them. The worst is still coming, you can bet on that.


(As Jericho stumbles away, he reaches for a glass door to the outside. Not letting him escape, Edge uses maybe his last energy to spear him through the door. "This is awesome" chants begin. Yet, instead of going for a pin, Edge rolls back , barely conscious, and motions for Chris to get up. As Jericho tries, Edge spears him off off the platform, and both land on a car, Jericho going through the windshield. Though both men aren't moving, Edge is on top, and the ref counts the three.)


JR: Good lord, the brutality. Neither of these men will ever be the same.


Tenay: Will this be enough to satisfy Edge that he has respect? Will he believe he got what he deserved? Only time will tell.


JR: Even with all the high impact action we have seen tonight, we are just getting started. We still....



"The Cure" v nWo



("Holla if you hear me" fades into the nWo's theme as Scott Steiner comes out, flanked by Big Show and Bret Hart. Jumping to the ring, he grabs a mic.)

Steiner: Cut the bullcrap. I have far more pressing business than Ric Flair and his boy band. Get your worthless asses out here so I can get onto things that matter.


Tenay: This match was scheduled for much later tonight, but it appears Scott Steiner does not want to wait any longer.


JR: Can he just reschedule his own match like that?


Tenay: I suppose he can if Flair lets him. And here comes the Nature Boy now.

(Flair comes to the stage flanked by Sting and Cactus Jack.)


JR: You had to figure the Stinger would be involved tonight in a match of this caliber. Cactus is a bruiser, perfect for this kind of fight, if not the obvious first choice. But is Flair our third man?


(Flair calls for a microphone, but Steiner is already running up the ramp. He clotheslines Sting to the ground and tosses Cactus off the stage before laying into Flair with rights.)


Tenay: If he wasn't before, he appears to be now. Steiner has amped up his aggression on the cure. He doesn't care about talk tonight, or Flair's grand announcements.


(As Flair is beaten down, the lights dim, and the speakers blare "If you smelllll, what the Rock is cooking." He rushes to the stage clotheslining Steiner repeatedly, saving Flair. He lays the smackdown on Steiner before rushing to the ring.)


JR: Oh my God. Finally, the Rock has come back to the FWA, and he has joined the cure.


Tenay: As a former member of the nWo, it is hard to think of a worse blow for the black and white brand than to have him join the other side.


(Sliding in, Rock bounces back and forth between laying blows to Show and Hart. They both get dropped by running rights before Rock begins to layeth the smacketh down on Hart. As he reared back, spitting on his hand for the final blow, Show grabs him, whipping him into the ropes. While giving Hart a breather, it only made Show the recipient of a diving clothesline on the way back, followed by a spinebuster as he was stunned.)


JR: The Rock is cleaning house. I can barely believe he got Big Show up for the spinebuster.


Tenay: And he's not done. It appears he's about to show us why he's the Most Electrifying Man in all of sports and entertainment.


(As Rock goes for the people's elbow, Hart spins him around. Blocking Hart's punch, Rock DDT's him onto Show and goes for the Sharpshooter.)


JR: He's using Hart's own patented finisher against him. Can you imagine if he made the Best there is tap out to the move he made famous?


(Hart writhes in pain and looks like he's about to tap out, but Steiner returns to the ring and clotheslines Rock down, before dropping the elbow on him. Screaming abuse, he does pushups right by Rock's face.)


Tenay: And here comes Sting to save the day, with Cactus Jack right behind him. This match has been nothing but chaos since the word go. To hell with rules, to hell with tagging, these men have just wanted to fight.


JR: The ref is trying to get control but to no avail. None of these men are listening to the official. They are solely focused on dishing out punishment.


(Rock closelines Hart out of the ring and Steiner removes Cactus, both men following. This leaves Sting and Big Show in the ring, and the ref calls for the opening bell. Sting immediately goes for the Stinger Slash in the corner on a distracted opponent. He backs up and goes for another, but Show catches him and hoists him into a power bomb.)


JR: What monstrous strength. The Stinger is not a small man, and he just tossed him around like he was no more substantial than a pillow.


(Show lifts Sting into a reverse DDT position and begins clubbing at his chest. He hits the hog log for a near fall, with Sting kicking out right before three.)


Tenay: Big Show is almost 500 pounds. Regardless of how worn down you are, it cannot be emphasized enough just how much strength it takes to kick out with all that weight on your chest. Sting himself is no stranger to the strength department, with sheer will and fortitude to back it up.


(Show tosses Sting into the corner, and, shhhhing the audience, delivers a massive slap to Sting's chest, crumpling him. Not paying attention though, he doesn't notice he is in the opposite corner. As he hits, Cactus jumps to the apron and tags himself in. Cactus spins the unaware giant into a Double armed DDT.)



JR: Oh my god, could this be? 1, 2...


Tenay: No, he powered out before the three. It's going to take a lot more than that to keep the Big Show down.


(Cactus stomps away at Show. He tries to keep the pressure on as Show looks for a tag, but he gets too close, and Show hits a desparation suplex. He rushes Cactus for a full body splash in the corner and gets the blind tag from Hart.)


Tenay: This is a dangerous place for Cactus Jack to be. He's in no man's land after suffering a crushing blow for the largest athlete in the FWA. Now he's helpless at the mercy of the Hitman's technical savagry.


(Hart methodically picks Cactus apart, refusing to let him get up, shooting for the legs, and weakening the joints. Locking in a nasty submission, he tags in Steiner, who comes in and pounds away at the immobilized big man. Dragging him up, he tosses him in an overhead suplex, and taunts to the crowd.)


JR: He's just showing off. Grandstanding and embarassing his opponent.


Tenay: And yet it's hard not to be impressed. Cactus Jack is over 300 pounds, and he just launched him like he was a cruiserweight. He made it look effortless. If I could do that, I might show it off too.


(Steiner lets Cactus crawl towards the corner, and, at the last minute, drags him away and lifts him into a gut wrench suplex, tagging in Show again.)

JR: Now he's just toying with him.


(The three men use quick tags to decimate the nearly helpless Jack. After nearly ten minutes, Steiner is showboating, mocking the bigger man. He goes for a powerbomb, but Cactus backdrops him. Steiner bounces up and rushes to stop the pin, but falling back into the ropes, Cactus uses the momentum to come back with a spinning clothesline, knocking Steiner into a backflip.)


JR: He just knocked him out of his shoes.


Tenay: The fans are on their feet as both downed men crawl to their corners. They are cheering for Jack. Steiner makes the tag to Bret Hart, but Cactus gets to the Rock. And the Brahma Bull is on fire.


(Rock rushes in with haymakers, dropping Hart again and again. He grabs the just rising Steiner and tossed him out of the ring before clotheslining Show to the floor. Hart tries vainly to grapple him, but Rock reverses into a float over DDT. Whipping Hart into the ropes, he hits the Spinebuster. and dances to his head.)

JR: IS this it? Has the Brahma Bull just secured victory for the Cure?


Tenay: No Steiner stops him from hitting the people's Elbow.


(Clubbing him from behind, Steiner lifts Rock in a slow, delayed german suplex. Screaming at him about laying his hands on the genetic freak, he hits a nasty looking Pump Handle Slam and goes for the pin.)


JR: What is he doing? He's not even the legal man. Obviously the ref won't count.


Tenay: I don't think he can think rationally any more. He was already on the verge of snapping earlier, and Rock's little slight was the final straw. He's just looking to hurt someone.


(Yelling at the ref to do his damn job, Steiner locks in the Steiner Recliner. Fading, Rock grabs the ropes. The ref yells at him to break the hold or be DQed. Steiner refuses and the ref calls for the bell. Steiner jumps upo, grabs the ref's hand and raises it.)


JR: Either he doesn't realize what just happened, or he doesn't care.


Tenay: I'm going to go with care, JR. He's a winner in his own mind. And the ref is trying to explain otherwise. It doesn't look like it's going well.


(Steiner stares in disbelief as the ref tells him he was disqualified. Without warning, he hits a pump handle slam on the ref and tosses him from the ring. Yelling for another ref,
he locks Rock in the Steiner Recliner again. Cactus and Sting try to intervene, but are taken out by the rest of the nWo. Officials run down to try and break them up, but Steiner starts punching them out for refusing to call the match in his favor.)


Tenay: Steiner has absolutely snapped. He has gone off the deep end.


JR: We need the police. He is attacking FWA officials.


(Steiner storms out of the ring, raising his hands in victory. He demands his song and entrance. In the glow of the red sirens, he looks absolutely demonic in "victory". Medical staff give him a wide berth as they run down to check on Rock.)


JR: What a shameful display of the worst humanity has to offer.



Intercontinental Championship

Rhyno (c) v MNM

(We fade to a video package. We see Nitro superkicking Rhyno in the middle of a huge match, picking up the pin, to become the United States Champion.)


Nitro: This is finally home where it belongs. It had no place with a throwback like Rhyno.


JR: Despite what MNM and their allies in the New Bloods have tried to do, Rhyno has earned his shot tonight at Armageddon for the US Title.


(Nitro and Rhyno battle, with a massive Gore at the end. Rhyno pins and is counted champion. As he raises his arms in victory, Orton and Batista attack him. We see the two attacking Rhyno in his home and in a variety of other scenerios.)


Orton: Apparently MNM couldn't get the job done. So it's up to the New Bloods to end Rhyno, once and for all. At Royale Rumble, we combine the Intercontinental and United States titles.


(Orton comes out at Rumble and demands the ref count, but Rhyno comes running out at the last second. Despite Orton's offense, Rhyno picks up the victory.)


JR: He did it! Rhyno finally beat the viper. He is the undisputed United States/Intercontintal Champion.


Nitro: Not so fast....


(Nitro comes out to rain on Rhyno's celebration. He shows him how he dropped the United States title to MVP in a backstage untelevised match, thus stripping Rhyno of the belt.)

Nitro: Not only do you not get to call yourself the United States champion, at Bound For Glory, I think it's time we remove all that unnecessary gold from you.

Rhyno: For six months, Johnny Nitro and the New Bloods have made my life a living hell. He wants one more match? He's got it. Put all the road blocks you want in my way. This tank will not stop on the road to Wrestlemania. I will crush everything in my path, and Johnny Nitro, you will learn you are nothing but a speedbump.

(We see MNM ambushing Rhyno. Rhyno decimates them backstage. Clips of endless brawling.)

Nitro: You may be big. You may be bad. But at Bound For Glory, we show why Rhynos are an endangered species. We poach you. We end your legacy.

(The clip ends with the two facing off in the middle of the ring, Rhyno raising the title high and Nitro looking up at it.)

Tenay: And we come to our first title match of the night. Rhyno faces off for the Intercontinental title against both members of MNM, a stipulation he himself demanded after Smackdown.

JR: As Rhyno told us earlier, he knows that, no matter what happens, Joey Mercury will be involved in the match...he might as well be a part of it. No surprises, no sneak attacks, no cheap shots. Get him right in the middle of the action.

Tenay: Rhyno has to pin or submit both men to win tonights match. That's a severe handicap, but it shows the confidence of our champion that he demanded that handicap. Yet, our challengers have no shortage of confidence either.

(MNM's music hits and the trio come out with their paparazzi. As they approach the ring, Mercury waves Nitro and Melina on. As they get in the ring, he grabs a chair he walks back up the ramp and waits to the side of the entrance to the arena.)

JR: What is this nonsense?

Tenay: It looks like Joey Mercury is trying to get an advantage over Rhyno from the beginning.

JR: Two on one isn't enough? They have to cheat to boot?

(As Rhyno's music hits, Mercury cocks back, waiting for him to come through so he can get a sneak chair shot. Several seconds later, when he hasn't entered, Mercury looks confused. Suddenly, Rhyno comes running out from behind Mercury and starts blasting him with rights.)

JR: It looks like Rhyno was expecting this. He has blindsided Mercury and is taking the fight to him. MNM did not expect to have their sneak attack turned around on them.

Tenay: It would not surprise me if the self proclaimed ring general was watching the show in the back. He saw Mercury's "ambush" and responded in kind.

(Grabbing Mercury by the hair, Rhyno begins bashing his head into the metal screen holders. Letting him lean against it, he grabs the chair to a huge pop from the crowd and slams it against the back of Mercury's head. As Joey staggers back, Rhyno delivers a nasty spining belly to belly onto the ramp. Mercury writhes in agony as Rhyno pulls him back to his feet and hits a jumping piledriver onto the ramp.)

JR: That is one way to neutralize an advantage.

Tenay: To steal an old phrase, MNM have sowed the wind, and they are reaping the whirlwind.

(Looking to the ring to ensure that Nitro is still our of play, Rhyno sizes up the injured Mercury. Waiting for him to stand, he rushes him and Gores him off the side of the ramp into the barricade. As the fans cheer he stands tall, playing to their approval.)

JR: He just broke Joey Mercury in half. I think our handicap just became a one on one.

Tenay: Now that Rhyno has abandoned his prey, paramedics are seeing to Mercury. They are asking him if he wants to continue, and the answer looks like a resounding no. They are carrying him to the back.

(Rhyno slides into the ring, and Nitro pounces, pounding away before he can get to his feet. Even as Nitro stomps, Rhyno slowly fights his way up. Shoving Nitro back into the ropes, he hits a series of increasingly vicious clotheslines.)

JR: And the referee finally calls for the bell, starting this slobberknocker.

(Rhyno backs Nitro into the corner, hammering away. Nitro quickly hits a thumb in the eye to stop the attack, and chop blocks Rhyno's knee. Trying to keep the war machine off his feet, he drops elbows into his knee and thigh over and over. He tries to follow up with a boston crab, but Rhyno's legs are too strong and he tosses him aside.)

Tenay: Rhyno's legs are tree trunks. Trying to grapple with his legs is a colossal mistake, one Nitro just learned the hard way not to make.

(Nitro rushes back in, attacking the leg as Rhyno tries to stand. He quickly follows up with his patentedly flair whirlwind legdrops. Rhyno kicks out before two on the pin. Nitro stomps away before climbing atop the turnbuckle.)

JR: He's going to the high rent district.

Tenay: As much as I understand Nitro's desire to end this quickly, this may be too soon to attempt...

(Nitro spins off for the Starship Pain, but Rhyno gets his knees up. Rhyno doubles in agony, holding his wounded knee.)

JR: I don't know who got the worst of that exchange.

(Both men struggle to their knees and start exchanging blows. Still trading punches, they get to their feet, then grapple. Eventually, as they struggle around the ring, Rhyno gets the upper hand and hits a quick diving powerbomb into the second turnbuckle. It gets him a two count only. The fans start chanting "This is awesome.")

Tenay: These men are putting on an incredible show. They have been back and forth, attacking each other since this match began. The pace has been stunning.

(Favoring his leg, Rhyno sets up Nitro for a Gore. At the last minute, Nitro dropkicks Rhyno's knee, sending him headfirst into the turnbuckle. As Rhyno is doubled up in the corner, Nitro again attempts the Starship Pain, and this time succeeds. Rhyno barely gets the shoulder up, causing Nitro to scream in frustration.)

JR: That couldn't have been any closer without the belt changing hands. The ref's hand was literally separated from the mat by a sheet of paper.

Tenay: Again, Nitro goes for the submission. Rhyno has been worn down enough that he gets it. We might actually see the War Machine tap.

(As Rhyno cries out in pain, he looks ready to tap several times, but he slowly drags himself to the corner. Furious, Nitro puts his leg on the rope and begins to stomp on it using the ropes his leverage. Rhyno slides out of the ring to escape, with Nitro hot on his heels. As Nitro rushes him, Rhyno hits the double A spinebuster out of nowhere, and bnoth men barely get back in for the 9 count.)

JR: Neither man wants this to end by count out. Nitro can't win the belt that way, and Rhyno wants to definitively end Johnny Nitro's claim on his title.

Tenay: And both men are clearly regretting their determination right now.

(Once more, Rhyno starts laying into Nitro, even hitting several suplexes. Yet Nitro hits a desparation superkick, and gets an almost three count once more. Realizing he needs something big, he lifts Rhyno to the turnbuckle and starts climbing up.)

JR: This will end in disaster. We can only wait to see which man, or both, it befalls.

(AS Nitro goes for the superplex, Rhyno fights back and pushes him off. Barely able to stand, he sizes Nitro up from the turnbuckle, and manages to use gravity to hit a second rope gore. He rolls him up and gets the pin.)

Tenay: What a brutal twist on the Gore. What an ending. Nitro gave Rhyno the assist he needed to overcome his inability to run.

JR: Neither of these men have anything to be ashamed of. This was truly an impressive showing by both. JR: And we hear that there is a commotion backstage. We go backstage to see what is going on.

(Various medics are around Elijah Burke. They are putting a neck brace on him.)

Tenay: It appears that Burke is being pulled from tonight's match. He is not cleared to compete.

JR: Team Angle yet again decides to play the numbers game rather than go toe to toe with Turkay and Burke.

Tenay: Why do you always jump to conclusions. This could've been someone else.

JR: That's like assuming the house magically fell down during the tornado due to something else....rather than the tornado.

Tenay: Well, it will certainly make the tag team match more interesting tonight either way.



Maven v John Cena



(Maven is already standing in the ring when we come back, microphone in hand.)

Maven: Over a year ago, Million Dollar Man decided that John Cena was the future of this industry. He was the way to go. And for over a year, he has been a complete disappointment. Now, tonight, I show that that decision was wrong. That Ted DiBiase should have picked me all along. Tonight I take Cena's spot...

(John Cena's music hits and he comes storming to the ring. Diving in, he throws his hat right in Maven's face and takes him down, pounding away. Maven scrambles to the ropes, and Cena stands, kicking at his chest. When the ref demands Cena stop, Maven flees from the ring.)

JR: Maven's attempt to take the torch has not started off anything like he expected.

Tenay: Cena obviously took issue with Maven's little speech. It's one thing to believe it's your time. You can even state you're the best around. The instant you say you're taking someone else's spot though...

(Cena slides out of the ring and follows Maven. Catching up, he begins raining blows again. Then he drives Maven spin first into the apron, before introducing his head to it over and over. Maven keeps trying to retreat, but Cena hounds him, even rolling into the ring to break up the count before bouncing Maven off the stairs.)

JR: Cena is absolutely relentless here, just breaking Maven down.

Tenay: Right now, it appears that our challenger for the spot as "Million Dollar man's golden boy" is all talk as this match has been all Cena. He has been absolutely dominant.

(After several more minutes of being destroyed all around the ring, Maven slides in to the ring. When Cena tries to follow, Maven gets the drop on him with a double axe handle and mounts his back pounding away. Roaring, Cena slowly pushes his way to his feet with Maven still on top of him and jumps, landing right on his back, crushing Maven.)

Tenay: What incredible power. John Cena is just manhandling Maven tonight, powering right through what little is being thrown at him.

JR: Predictibly, Cena went for the pin, but Maven got the shoulder up, just barely.

(As Cena sits atop Maven, he hits a thumb to Cena's eye to make him roll off. Instead, it merely infuriates Cena who becomes a demon in throwing hands. Maven cups his head against the assault and howls about it being illegal until the ref breaks it up.)

JR: What is he talking about?

Tenay: Closed hand punches maybe? Either way, it worked. The ref demanded the break.

JR: But what good will that do. Cena has to have landed over a hundred punches before the ref stopped him. How much does Maven have left?

(AS Cena pulls Maven to his feet, Maven gets an atomic drop in. He follows with a standing dropkick and gets an almost two count. Taunting Cena, he bounds off the rops and hits the throwback as Cena tries to stand. Again, he goes for the pin.)

JR: What the hell? He's stealing Cena's move?

Tenay: It seems appropriate for someone who said he was going to take Cena's spot. Might as well take everything that goes with it I guess.

JR: But Cena kicks out at two.

(Standing, Maven smirks and he taunts to the crowd. Holding up one hand, he starts waving it. Slowly moving it in front of his face, he starts taunting Cena.)

JR: He wouldn't! The you can't see me? He'll hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle?

Tenay: Cena's rolling him up.

(Though Maven kicks out, Cena hops up. This time, he does the signature taunt to the approval of the crowd.)

JR: Now we see the real deal.

(Yet when he goes for the move, Maven dodges at the last second.As Cena rises to his knees, Maven hits his trademark dropkick. Rolling Cena up, Maven tries to use the ropes for leverage, but the ref notices, right before counting three.)

Tenay: We almost had the changing of the guard Maven predicted.

JR: Yes. Fortunately, the ref was paying attention and noticed the attempted steal.

Tenay: Steal is such an ugly word.

JR: Which accurately describes an ugly thing.

(Frustrated, Maven goes to the top rope, preparing for the Maven Dog. As he dives, Cena dodges. He catches the off balance Maven from behind in his spinning sit out powerbomb. Letting Maven get to his hands and knees, Cena lands a throwback. Playing to the crowd, he once again let's Maven know "You Can't See Me.")

JR: Here we go again. Will the second time be the charm? Yes, he lands it.

Tenay: And to add injury to insult, he's locking in the STFU.

(Luckily for Maven, he bounced close to the ropes from the impact of Cena's moves. While he is weakened, he is still able to get the rope break after several very painful seconds.)

JR: Maven has heart, you can't deny that. After the beating he has taken, a normal man would've tapped out.

Tenay: He sees what DiBiase has done for Cena and he wants that for himself. Unfortunately, Cena is ready to end that dream.

(Cena grabs Maven for the FU, only to get a rake of the eyes. Howling, he still attempts it, but Maven manages to land on his feet. He slams forearms into Cena's face. Recovering, Cena pushes him back into the ropes, and manages a diving shoulder tackle on his return.)

JR: Here we go again. The Million Dollar Man has made his way to ringside and is holding his belt up for Cena to use.

Tenay: And John is livid. The two are sharing some tense words.

(Seizing on the distraction, Maven dropkicks Cena right into the Million Dollar belt. As he stumbles back, Cena gets an M-Plosion, and the one, two, three.)

Tenay: That is clearly not what Million Dollar Man had in mind, but he just handed the match to Maven.

JR: Once again, Cena had the match in hand, and DiBiase cost him a win.

(Reluctantly, MDM steps into the ring and raises Maven's hand as Cena glares at him.)

Tenay: What are the consequences going to be on Raw?

JR: I don't know Mike. But I can't believe this is over.



Raven v Finley



JR: And now we come to our first ever "Belfast Brawl". We rented out the temporarily closed Kieran's Irish Pub on 6th Street for Raven and Finley to beat the hell out of each other in. No rules, no interferences. Just them, the refs and the camera crew.

Tenay: And let's not forget that, unlike a normal hardcore match, there are no pinfalls, and no traditional submissions. You only win by getting your opponent to scream that he is done, or by knowing him clean out. If you have children in the room, or are faint of heart, we recommend you remove them or yourself from the room.

JR: Ever since Finley attacked and injured Flock member Sandman, Raven has been trying to return the favor. Tonight, he gets his chance.

Tenay: We have about a dozen men holding Finley and Raven apart. This is going to be a blood bath. The moment the ref calls for the start, this is going to be ruthless aggression. Thank goodness UFC was willing to lend us Herb Dean, a man who is no stranger to bloodbaths and bar brawls.

(Dean steps between the two men, arm raised. After asking if each is ready, he drops his arm. The holders release, and the two men fly at each other, swinging before they're even in range, raining blows for all they're worth. Finley grabs Raven by the hair and drags him to the bar, stopping his punches by smashing his head on the countertop repeatedly.)

JR: We went from zero to vicious in no time flat. It's amazing they waited to start the race to the bottom until the flag was dropped.

Tenay: I don't think they would have if they had a choice. The security guys were a good choice.

(As the crowd in the arena counts with each hit, Raven desparately searches for anything he can use to make it stop. Grabbing a nearby bear bottle, he swings for the fences, breaking it against Finley's temple.While he grabs for his head, Raven quickly does his signature reverse Russian leg sweeps into the bar.)

JR: And he answers the opening shot with a cannon. He may have just broke him in half.

Tenay: Less than a minute into the match, and Finley is already bleeding. Raven's right eye is bloodshot and the pupil is dilated, meaning he might have a mild concussion. Both of these men came for a sprint, not a cross country race.

(Grabbing the countertop, Raven snarls and starts ramming his knee into Finley's face. He stomps a few times and then backs away. Sizing Finley up, he goes for a running knee, but Finley collapses out of the way, with Raven's knee going through the bar front.)

JR: That was nearly disastrous for Finley, but it backfired horribly for Raven, who is down, clutching his knee, screaming in agony.

Tenay: FWA has agreed to cover any damages caused. So don't worry about Kieran's. The more damage we cause, the nicer their place will be on reopening.

(Finley reaches onto the nearby pool table and lifts off a cue. Using overhead tomahawk chops, he swings it until it splinters over his knee. When Raven curls into a fetal position, holding his injured knee, Finley climbs atop him and wrenches the knee back in a single leg boston crab.)

Tenay: Raven cannot tap out. He must scream out his surrender. This move might have been enough to get the former...but he is way to proud for the latter, at least not yet.

JR: But there are also no ropes, no DQs. There is no easy way out of that move.

(Suffering for a few minutes, Raven grabs one of the sharp wood pieces, rolls into the hold and proceeds to stab Finley in the leg until he is released.)

Tenay: Now both men are down, holding their legs. And Finley is turning into a sprinkler with how many places he is springing a leak.

(Struggling, both men make their way to their feet, Raven leaning back on the bar for support. Finley limps forward on the attack, but is back body dropped onto the bar and rolls over to the sound of breaking glass.)

JR: Sounds like he might've gotten a couple new spouts right there.

(As Raven staggers to the end to get at his adversary, Finley pops up holding a dart set, flinging them wildly at Raven. He ducks just before they hit the wall at head level.)

JR: Good lord, he'll blind him.

Tenay: They have to pull out all the stops in a match like that. You wouldn't keep either of these men down, let alone make them scream their surrender, by playing under normal rules. Extreme steps have to be taken.

(Grabbing a set of pool balls from beneath the bar, Finley starts flinging them wildly. Several strike Raven in the chest and shoulders. Grabbing him once more by the hair, Finley slams Raven face first into the bar and drags him down the length of the counter. He lifts the beer gun and sprays an alcoholic stream right into his eyes, causing him to howl in agony. While he is blinded, Finley powerbombs him into the liquor rack.)

Tenay: A traumatic event like that could turn a man off to alcohol. Finley has said that theonly thing he likes as much as fighting is drinking, so this should show just how much hate he has for Raven that he is willing to ruin all that booze.

JR: I guess he's touched with the plight of the Irish?

Tenay: That...is terrible, JR. Puns....are not your strong suit.

(Dean checks Raven to make sure he's still in the match, and again asks if he wants to give up, getting a resounding no. Sighing, Finley lays the boots to Raven, then starts choking him with his foot. Pushing his head down, Finley starts grinding his cheek against the broken glass, causing him to scream.)

JR: The inhumanity of it all.

Tenay: We knew this one was not going to be pretty. We gave our prematch warning for a reason.

(Dragging him through the glass, Finley lifts him and leans him against the bar. Screaming "give up you son of a bitch", he pulls out a pair of brass knucks and starts pounding Raven. Raven grabs his hand and does the only thing he can think of, biting his wrist. Finley yowls and tries to swing with his other, but Raven moves, letting him punch the hard counter with a sickening thud.)

JR: That sounded like he broke his hand.

Tenay: Raven can only hope, JR.

(Raven capitalizes and quickly rams Finley into whats left of the liquor display before hitting the Raven Effect DDT, right onto the broken glass. Standing awkwardly, he demands Dean call the match. As he is audible screaming, and clawing at his face, Dean refuses. He is still not out. And he refuses to call his surrender.)

JR: Finley is literally donning the Crimson Mask. And Raven has to be wondering how to finish him off.

Tenay: Chances are Finley was thinking the same before. Now, he's only thinking oh.

(Raven punches the kneeling Finley repeatedly, before shoulder tossing him over the bar. As he comes around, he grabs a bar stool and breaks it over Finley's back. Grabbing his head, Raven hurls abuse. As he prepares to punch again, Finley grabs Raven's crotch and twists.)

Tenay: Dirty pool. But all legal.

(FInley lifts Raven, still holding his crotch, and spinebusters him onto the pool table. Gingerly, he steps onto the table and lifts Raven into the Celtic Cross. He stands, dragging Raven up again, and with his last bit of strength, does it again. This time the pool table gives way.)

JR: That was indeed awesome.

(Finley barely has enough to roll off of him. Dean checks Raven, and, when there is no response, calls the bell.)

Tenay: It is appropriate that the Irishman wins the first ever Belfast Brawl.

JR: These men put everything on the line tonight. It would not surprise me if either, or both, of them took themselves out of the Road to Wrestlemania. We'll be lucky if neither ended their careers.



Sylvester Turkey v Kurt Angle and Orlando Jordan



(We see Kurt Angle backstage screaming at team Angle.)

Angle: I want him gone. Broken. do whatever you have to do, but I want this problem ended TONIGHT!

(In the Benoit/Turkay match, the World's Greatest Tag Team come running out to interfere, making it a three on one handicap. Before the numbers game gets too bad, Elijah Burke runs down to save his tag team partner. The two clean house and Turkay makes Benoit tap.)

Angle: We failed. We failed to get rid of the problem. And now, I have to get my own hands dirty.

(We see a series of Team Angle targetting Burke. Angle confronts him backstage.)

Angle: This is not about you. You do not matter. Walk away, and your part in this is over. (Burke doesn't even speak, he just shakes his head.) Fine. Your funeral.

(After a match involving Jordan and Burke, Burke grabs the microphone.)

Burke: Team Angle wants to jump me, to gang up two on one, three on one, even four on one. I'm nobody's whipping boy. You want a piece of me? You want to take me out? Let's make it happen. One on one at Bound For Glory, I will take any one of you. And I will show you that I am not the one to mess with. I will show you why Sylvester Turkay handpicked me as his tag partner, because I am one of the most dangerous men in the world.

(Jordan is quick to accept. We see a series of brutal beatdowns.)

JR: I don't even know that he will make it to Bound For Glory! They are doing everything in their power to destroy this young gifted man.

BVB: I have fought, every flesh and blood. I commanded an army. If I fall, I will lift back up and relive all my glory. I can't tell...

(Backstage, Turkay confronts Angle.)

Turkay: We both know this has never been about him. This has been about you and me. So, let's even the odds a bit. Let's make it a tag match, between myself and Burke, and you and Orlando Jordan. Keep all your little lackeys backstage.

Angle: You. Are. On.

JR: We have an amazing tag team match at Bound For Glory between potentially the two best wrestlers and the two best boxers in the game today. This will be one for the ages.

(We see quick flashes of the men brawling, and getting in each others faces. We end with Burke and Turkay screaming at Angle from the ring as he backs up the ramp.)

BVB: IN the end, as we fade into the night.

Turkay: You want to hurt me? I'll show you pain! You want a fight? We will beat the living hell out of you. Kurt Angle, we will make you regret the day you were born.

Angle: Does this guy not know who I am? I am the greatest wrestler to ever live. I won the Olympics with a broken frigging neck. He's going to beat me? He's out of his mind.

BVB: Who will tell, the story of your life? And all will remember, your last goodbye. Cause it's the end, and I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid to die.

(The video package fades to the ring where Angle and Burke are already in the ring, playing to the crowd over Angle's music.)

JR: We've had tough talk from all four men. Tonight, we see who has the ability to back up their boasts.

Tenay: To steal a line from you, JR. This one will be a good old fashioned slobberknocker.

Angle: (grabbing a mic) What happened earlier tonight is tragic. The tag match we had set up, where we were going to wipe the floor with Sylvester Turkay and Elijah Burke is now ruined. Our victory tonight will not mean....

(Sylvester Turkay's music hits and he comes storming to the ring.)

Tenay: He does not look happy, JR.

JR: I reckon not. His tag team partner and good friend was brutally assaulted backstage.

Angle: Look, Turkay, I'm just as mad as you are. I want you to know, I had nothing...

(Turkay just lays into Angle, not letting him finish, pounding the living daylights out of him.)

JR: The time for talk is over. Sylvester Turkay has heard all he wants to hear. Now it's time for Kurt Angle to pay the piper.

Tenay: Orlando Jordan is trying to help his mentor. In an almost matrix like move, Turkay spun the moment Jordan's hand touched him, catching him in a flip over body scissors, and locking in a side leg bar. That looks excrutiating.

(Angle quickly breaks it up before he can tap. Turkay releases, catching Angle's leg, and quickly yanking him down to roll into a half Boston crab. Again, Jordan tries to intervene. Turkay ducks his clothesline, catches him under the arm and drops back into a modified reverse STO, holding Angle's leg the whole time.)

JR: He's like a magician. He dodges everything they are throwing at him like a ninja, and has a counter in his bag of tricks. Is there anything Team Angle can do that he won't have an answer for?

Tenay: He's using their own momentum against them, a variation of jujitsu. Angle is amazing, but he has never faced an offense like this. It's weird to see the Olympic Medalist out of his element, but here we are.

(As both men roll the the ground holding their injured area, Turkay stands up and roars to the crowd, throwing his arms wide.)

Tenay: I cannot believe the fans are cheering this.

JR: They are thrilled to see Angle get exactly what he deserves.

Tenay: The man is a national treasure, JR. Cheering what is happening to him is like cheering the destruction of the statute of liberty or the burning of the Constitution.

JR: Horse crap. The man is an arrogant jackass. Damn right they're cheering. I would be too if I was in the stands.

Tenay: Good to see where your loyalties lie.

JR: Angle is using the opportunity to roll out of the ring. The "National Treasure" has no problem throwing his partner to the wolf.

Tenay: Well, let's face it. Amazing as Orlando Jordan is, he is no Kurt Angle. One should never hesitate to lose a valuable piece to save a treasure.

(Turkay lets Jordan get to his feet and catches him from behind in a belly to back. Rolling through, he locks in a front face lock and uses it to drag Jordan back to his feet, executing a snap suplex. Again, he rolls through into a capture sitting guilliotine. Just when it looks like Jordan is about to tap, Angle slides in and breaks it up.)

Tenay: Angle saves Jordan from that nasty submission.

JR: Which he wouldn't even have been in had Angle not abandoned him in the first place!

(As Angle goes back to his corner, Turkay drags Jordan with him and forces the tag. Surprised Angle turns just in time to have his singlet grabbed and be yanked over the top rope into the ring.)

JR: Sylvester Turkay says "You're not getting away that easily." He drags Angle in for the beating he came here to give him.

(He stomps away at the prone Angle. When Kurt manages to get to the corner, Turkey hits a combination arm drag hip toss, and uses the momentum to get an arm bar as well. Struggling, Angle manages to get a foot on the ropes. AS the ref forces the break, Angle tries a sneak takedown, but Turkay sprawls and starts pounding on Angle's back.)

Tenay: This could not be going much worse for Team Angle.

JR: Karma always catches up in the end.

(When Turkay goes for a gut wrench, Angle catches the ropes. The ref moves into position to see the rope and make the count, allowing Angle to hit a low blow outside her vision.)

JR: For all his talk about being the greatest in the world, it's amazing how often Angle has to resort to such cheap tactics.

Tenay: When a great general uses the terrain to his advantage, we call it brilliant. When Kurt Angle does the same, it is cheating.

JR: I missed the part where war has rules.

(Angle scurries back to his corner to tag in a reluctant Jordan. OJ rushes Turkay with a clothesline...which barely fazes him. He follows with a chop, and then a slap to the chest, which only seem to anger him. When he swings for another clothesline, Turkay ducks and swings into a neckbreaker from behind. The following pin is broken up.)

JR: And this is where the numbers game catches up. Turkay may outperform either man. He may even outperform both. But he has to get the pin or submission to win, and everytime he tries, the other is there to stop him.

Tenay: They are letting the bull tire itself on their constant back and forth. They may not be able to take him out, but they can let him take himself out. Keep tagging, keep themselves fresh, and eventually he has to run out of steam.

(Turkay rushes Angle as he gets back to his corner, only to get hung up on the ropes. OJ hits and backstabber and tags Angle in. Though Turkay is able to battle back and get the better of Angle, he gets slower with each tag, and they hit more moves each tag. Finally, Angle is able to dodge a slow swing, and hit a German of his own for a two count.)

JR: That was almost it right there.

Tenay: Turkay may be a machine, but machines break down with overuse. We are seeing the gears grinding to a halt and the oil clogging. It won't be long now.

(The double team continues. Near falls occur more and more frequently, with the ref's hand getting closer and closer to the mat each time. Angle manages to hit an Olympic Slam, but Turkay rolls out of the ring.)

JR: Even battered and worn down, Turkay still has the ring presence to escape that death blow.

(Frustrated, Angle climbs to the top for a Medalsault as OJ holds Turkat. With the end in sight, the crowd suddenly erupts as Burke comes limping down the ramp. In shock on the tope rope, Angle does nothing as Burke takes after Jordan, dropping him with a massive spinning right fist.)

JR: It can't be. He's not even cleared. Medical personal worried he might have fractured bones, slipped disks, maybe even a concussion.

Tenay: He waits until the last possible second to show up, when the other men have worn themselves down. Everyone thought they knew what kind of match this was, only for a cheap surprise in the final quarter.

JR: Wouldn't that be "great strategy" like you were saying earlier? Anyway, Angle has no room to complain that his cheating backstage didn't work. If he wanted Elijah Burke out here the whole time, maybe he shouldn't have jumped him backstage?

(Burke slides into the ring and starts trading blows with Angle, at one point getting the better. But Kurt cuts him off with a knee to the gut and starts hitting his rolling Germans. At five, Turkay has recovered and slides in behind Angle. Without warning he hits Angle's own Olympic Slam on him and drags Burke's weakened body on top. As the ref counts three, he wraps up OJ to prevent the pin from being disrupted.)

Tenay: He just stole the Olympic Slam!

JR: You want to disrespect us, we will disrespect you right back. Letting Burke pin Angle off his own move was a great final blow.

Tenay: He can't let that stand. He can't!

JR: I guess we'll see tomorrow on Raw.

(Kurt Angle stares, mouth ajar, as his two opponents celebrate on the ramp.)



United States Championship

MVP (c) v Godfather



JR: And now, we come to our United States Championship match.

(Godfather's music hits and he comes to the ring fully pimped out, with Alexa Bliss and Mickie James joining him. There is none of the dancing tonight or playing to the crowd. He removes his coat with no show and gives his accessories to his girls.)

Tenay: What started as a simple title match through a #1 Contender's Match has become a nasty little brawl. In no time short, these two men have come to despise one another.

JR: No doubt it's because MVP expected a cakewalk. He wanted to face the Alpha Male who would let him win.

Tenay: Monty Brown has too much pride for that. It would've been a good match.

JR: Oh, I'm sure the Pride wouldn't scratch each other's backs at all. And if you could hook my eyes up to a generator, they could power the whole northeast with how much they're rolling. Unfortunately for MVP, the Alpha Male was attacked by R-Truth, removing him from the match.

Tenay: And really, this is the problem. As MVP noted in an interview this morning, Godfather was never supposed to be in that match. The two best choices had been handpicked. And then due to outside interference, Brown loses his spot, and Godfather just steps right in. With how chummy he got with R-Truth this was probably planned the whole time, to let Godfather steal his way into a match he had no business in.

JR: My Sooner butt. What about Godfather's rebuttal in the same interview that MVP was not a real champion. That he never actually earned the title, but snuck it away from Rhyno in a cowardly little backstage hide and seek. That not only is MVP not a true champion, he's not much of a man.

Tenay: Crazy talk. Insane ramblings from a madman. There's no surprise that interview broke down. Even though the fans couldn't see it, apparently the audio of them fighting improved ratings. But tonight, MVP will show Godfather the truth.

("I'm comin'" hits and MVP comes out to the ring, glaring daggers at Godfather the whole time. Sliding into the ring, he bounces off the ropes and does his signature dance taunt, getting right up into Godfather's face. Without waiting for the bell, Godfather decks him.)

Tenay: What a cheap shot! We see who the coward is.

JR: Or the result of a man reaching the end of his rope at being shown constant disrespect.

Tenay: Good to see you're calling it down the center, JR. Way to pick a favorite and cheer for them.

JR: Do you get to throw that stone, Mike?

(The two rain blows on each other, punching for all they're worth. Within seconds, they have grappled and are pushing each other around the ring trying to gain position. MVP ends up backed into the corner, and Godfather releases him to pat him on the cheek.Growling, MVP slaps him, spinning Godfather around.)

JR: I'm not sure how smart that was.

Tenay: Come on, JR. He had that one coming.

JR: Maybe, but what will that little oneupsmanship cost him?

(Breathing heavily, seething, Godfather suddenly turns and delivers a vicious clothesline into the corner, rocking MVP off his feet. Stumbling forward, he gets a back body drop, and Godfather locks him in a reverse chin lock.)

JR" Time to pay the piper. I hope it's worth it.

(MVP struggles up. Grabbing Godfather's head, MVP drops, crushing the other man's chin atop his skull. As he staggers back holding his jaw, MVP goes for a clothesline but Godfather ducks. MVP gets a reverse atomic drop into a side suplex. Without waiting for him to recover, Godfather bounds off the ropes, and does MVP's signature balling taunt into a leg drop on the back on his neck.)

JR: I'll see your insult and raise you an injury.

Tenay: That was uncalled for. Blatant move piracy.

JR: What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

(MVP rolls out of the ring. Infuriated, he snatches Godfather's cane from Alexa, and snaps it over his knee as she objects. Turning to Mickey, he wrestles the coat away from her and starts wiping his butt with it.)

JR: BLATANT DISREPECT!

Tenay: Moreso than stealing MVP's moves?

JR: Miles more.

(The two women proceed to slap MVP, rocking him back and forth between them. Rolling back into the ring to escape them, MVP yells at them over the ropes. With him distracted, Godfather comes up behind and lifts him into the Pimp Drop. After landing he rolls back out of the ring.)

Tenay: Great ring awareness by MVP.

(Shaken, MVP staggers over to grab his belt. Swiping his hand towards Godfather, he stumbles up the ring, even as the ref counts him out. Godfather is incensed, even as the ref raises his hand.)

JR: Or cowardice. Godfather had MVP's number tonight. Mike Tenay was right. We saw who the real man was...and it wasn't MVP.

Tenay: It takes a better man to realize when things are not in his favor. That is very much what MVP was tonight.

JR: Were you born with brown eyes? Or did they turn from how much crap you're full of?

Tenay: As much as my colleague wishes to disparage me, we have more important things. The X Division title match is up.



X Division Championship

Chris Sabin (c) v Aj Styles v Petey Williams v Amazing Red v Christopher Daniels v Alex Shelley



(The arena goes dark, red sirens flashing. "Code Red...Amazing Red" flashes on the screen, and, with a big red bang on the ramp, Red comes out to the stage.)

JR: After falling off the face of the world for years, Amazing Red made a shocking return to even up a Pre-Bound For Glory X Division Tag Match. Our five man match became a six way...a tribute to the old TNA ring.

Tenay: And I, for one, cannot think of a better option to round out this amazing match.

JR: I can think of three very talented men who got screwed out of their opportunities to be a part of this who would very much so disagree. One of them being the former X Division champ.

Tenay: Screwed is such an ugly word. Selected the best competitors is a much more accurate way to describe it.

JR: At least you're not pretending it's fair anymore.

(As Red poses in the ring, Alex Shelley's music hits and he comes out, taunting Red as he comes.)

Tenay: Excuse me JR. I never said anything was unfair. He simply built the perfect Bound For Glory match. That is absolutely legitimate and fair.

JR: And he did it by means far less so. Here comes his first "hand picked competitor. Talented as Alex Shelley may be, our fans have made it quite clear on the FWA web site that they feel he had no place in a dream match between Shark Boy and the Hurricane.

Tenay: Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and Foley included him. Our fans simply got this one dead wrong.

JR: But for the actions of our champion, Shelley would not be in the match here tonight.

Tenay: We don't know that. It's not Chris Sabin's fault that Shark Boy took his eye off the prize and got distracted. Had he finished the match instead of going at Sabin, Shelley wouldn't have gotten his opening.

JR: There's some truth in that, but had Sabin not been at ringside and caught Shark Boy's attention, there would be no issue to discuss. He stuck his nose in, pure and simple, and changed the outcome. All of it because he didn't want to give Shark Boy his rematch.

Tenay: You don't know that, JR. He has never refused the rematch. He probably just wants it to be one on one, instead of in a big melee like this.

JR: What unmitigated horse puckey.

(Shelley plays to the crowd, keeping a wary eye on Red as Christopher Daniels music hits.)

JR: And if the inclusion of Shelley is merely questionable, Daniels is criminal. Sabin helped him steal a win over Evan Bourne, pure and simple.

Tenay: Whoa, JR. I know you can't be suggesting that the Fallen Angel isn't worthy of competing for the X Division title.

JR: Worthy or not, he would've lost to Bourne, fair and clean, but for Chris Sabin's lopsided counting. Perhaps Daniels would beat Bourne if they fought today, but that night, Bourne had his number. If he'd had a fair ref, that would have been a ten count he had Daniels down for. And the winning pinfall was less than a regulation one count.

Tenay: Comments like that impugn the integrity of our champion!

JR: He has no integrity to impugn.

Tenay: Not only is Daniels one of the founders of the X Division, for a while, it was said that Daniels vs AJ Styles WAS the backbone of TNA. I can think of no better man to occupy a corner here in this match. Add in the Phenomenal one himself...

(AJ Styles music hits, and he is shortly followed out by Petey Williams. Both men receive a huge reaction from the crowd.)

Tenay: This match is literally a who's who of the men who made the X DIvision..

JR: And Alex Shelley.

Tenay (sighing)....and it is an amazing testament to Chris Sabin's desire to legitimize the X DIvision again. We haven't had anything this energizing in the X Division since AJ Styles faced off with Rey Mysterio in a best of 7 series. Returning the X Division to its no limits roots is exactly what the belt needs.

JR: Come on, you cannot suggest that our fighting Champion Shark Boy was not keeping with the spirit of the division. Chris Sabin would not have the title today but for Shark Boy's Royale Rumble-esque challenge.

Tenay: JR, you just don't....and here comes the champ himself.

Jr: And listen to those boos. He is getting exactly the reception he deserves.

Tenay: What do we do with you, JR?

(Sabin looks baffled by the boos as he makes his way quickly to the ring. The ref checks all of them, and starts the match off with Red and Shelley. Alex tries to lock up but Red gets a spinning drop toe hold and hits a standing 450 leg drop. Staggered, Shelley tries to recover, but is dropkicked into the corner, where Petey Williams tags himself in.)

JR: Amazing Red wastes no motion or energy, going from zero to mach speed. His unique offense and extreme speed make him one of the most dangerous competitors in this match.

(Petey jumps in and immediately goes for a headlock. Red escapes but gets caught in an arm triangle. Flipping, he catches Petey and arm drags him across the ring. Shaking it off, Petey comes at him again, grabbing him for a german suplex. Red flips through and, as Petey turns around, hurricanranas him.)

Tenay: Mapleleaf Muscle fared no better than Shelley. And now he tags in Daniels.

JR: Dirty pool it is. Daniels pretended to want a test of strength, and, as soon as he got Red in close, hit a thumb to the eye. Now he's clubbing him like a baby seal.

(Daniels belly to back suplexes him, then rolls into a side suplex. He whips him into the ropes, where AJ tags himself in and back body drops him.)

JR: I don't think Daniels caught the tag.

Tenay: But he's catching all of the phenomenoal forearm.

(AJ tries to follow with a Calf Crusher, but Daniels worms to the ropes. Grabbing both his feet, Styles flips him to his feet, but this allows Daniels to recover and catch him with a nasty clothesline, then pin. Style kicks out before one. Daniels goes for the BME, only to have Shelley push him off. The ref calls for the tag.)

JR: I don't think that's exactly what Alex Shelley was trying to do, but it was effective in killing Daniels' offense. And now he can pick the scraps.

(Alex dives in between the ropes, rolling into a jumping DDT on the rising AJ. He locks in a crossface style move, wrenching. Screaming in agony, Styles slowly fights his way up....Shelley shaking his head in disbelief. Lifting him, AJ slams Shelley down onto his head and uses his last bit of strength to hit a running knee drop.)

Tenay: I cannot believe AJ Styles got out of that nasty hold, and neither can the fans. He may have just taken out Shelley, but he doesn't have anything left to capitalize on it.

JR: The fans are rooting for him to get up, but it looks like it takes everything he has not to pass out.

Tenay: Meanwhile, Shelley is about to tag in Chris Sabin.

(Sabin slides in and sets AJ up for the triple dropkick in the corner. He goes for a pin, but Petey kicks him off. He lifts up AJ for the Cradle Shock, only to have Red reach in and pull him out of it. As he turns to complain, both Red and Daniels enseguri him from the outside.)

Tenay: After a blow like that, I don't think he knows his own name anymore.

JR: This is breaking down into chaos. Shelley and Williams have started brawling on the outside. AJ has been tossed out and is being batted back and forth between them. Daniels is lining up for the kill. Corkscrew moonsault over the top rop, taking out two of the three men. Petey Williams has slid back and and takes his turn with a springboard moonsault.

Tenay: There is too much going on to follow. Bodies are everywhere. Sabin is just watching, not realizing Red is behind him.

(Red spins him around and goes for an enseguri but Sabin ducks. Unfortunately for him Red uses the momentum to spin into a second one with hits. Sabin falls to a knee, which lets Red hit a running hurricanrana, spiking Sabin's head into the mat. Following up with a running moonsault, he almost gets a three.)

Tenay: How did he get his shoulder up after that? That was it! That was it!

(Red signals to the crowd that it is over and sets up for the Code Red. As he prepares to flip into the final blow, Shelley slides in and superkicks him out of it. Sabin lifts the now stunned Red into a quick Cradle Shock. With Shelley stopping Petey from interferring with the pin, he gets the three.)

JR: I knew this wouldn't be a fair match. I knew shenanigans would happen.

Tenay: He just defeated the Amazing Red, JR. Clean. In the middle of the ring!

JR: Clean my sooner ass. Everyone expected a 6 way match. In reality, Sabin and Shelley were working together. Obviously, the Motor City Machineguns have reformed.

(As the fans boo, throwing things into the ring, Sabin and Shelley raise each others' arms in victory. Sabin holds the belt up high, screaming that it's his.)

JR: So much for legitimizing the X DIvision.

Tenay: Are you kidding, JR? That was impressive. They just negated 4 of the greatest competitors to ever step into the ring. They did it exactly within the rules. Everything was above board.

JR: The letter of the rules maybe, but hardly the spirit.

Tenay: The letter is all that matters.



Hardcore Championship

Kane(c) v Umaga and Sabu



(Kane is chokeslamming everyone. Billy Kidman. Paul London. Tommy Dreamer. At Rumble, he Tombstones A-Train onto an open chair for the win. We see Raven backstage lit entirely in red.)

Raven: I have been beating my head against the wall. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.It has been insanity to keep throwing my Flock at Kane and hoping this time will be the lucky shot. Kane is a monster. And you fight monsters with other monsters. King Kong faces Godzilla. So, all I need is a monster.

(Kane picks up a victory, only to be leveled by Umaga. The two have a backstage brawl, which ends when the lights go out. When they come up. Umaga is joined by Sabu.)

Raven: But why settle with one when you can have two?

(The two destroy the Brothers Destruction, posing over them.)

Raven: At Bound for Glory, my twin monsters finish the job they started weeks ago. They will slay the dragon, and the Hardcore Title will come home where it belongs...to the Flock.

(Umaga's music hits, and cuts immediately into Sabu's. The two men come to the stage in matching tribal face paint, snarling at the crowd.)

Tenay: As if Sabu's deliberate disregard for his own and other's safety was not intimidating enough, he has now adopted the pure savagry of the Samoan Bulldozer, Umaga. The twin monsters now making their way to the ring would give any team pause. But tonight they face a single competitor.

JR: But not just any competitor, Mike Tenay. The Big Red Machine is a monster as well, enough of one to give any two men pause. He is such a destructive force that Raven ha dispatched not one, but two human weapons against him.

Tenay: Well, if there is anything we have not seen from either of these men, it's any fear or hesitation in taking on Kane. If anything, they seem determined to outdo him in violence. Even when it was just one on one, Kane was struggling to keep up with the Bulldozer. BNow, with the addition of the Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Sabu....it may be too much. If you remember, these two defeated the Brothers of Destruction on Smackdown. Tonight, Kane does not have the Undertaker's help.

JR: THat's a damned good point, Tenay. We will have to see if that resounding defeat dumped ice water on Kane's fire, or fueled it even more.

Tenay: We don't have to wait long, JR. Cause here he comes.

(The stage explodes and Kane strides out with purpose through the flames. As he nears the ring, Sabu launches himself through the ropes, taking him out.)

Tenay: And this is the danger of Sabu. He puts his own body on the line to hit devastating moves like this when you least expect it. No warning. No time to avoid it. Just sheer sudden violence.

(Sabu climbs to the apron and dives for a Hurricanrana. Kane catches him, but Umaga has made his way behind him and clotheslines him into the Hurricanrana. Both men drag Kane off of the mats, and deliver a tag team DDT onto the exposed concrete.

JR: There is no buildup. No escalation. These men jumped straight into full gear right out of the gate.

Tenay: If you want to beat a man like Kane, especially in a match like this, you cannot hesitate. You must use maximum violence. Nullify him quickly, or you will regret it. And this is exactly what I am talking about. That would have knocked a normal man out, but in the follow up pin, they didn't even get a one count.

(Shocked, the two men pull Kane to his feet and try to whip him into the ring post. He halts them though and ends up slamming both of them into it instead. )

JR: Absolutely inhuman strength. That was just 550 pounds of humanity he overcame.

Tenay: All of the men in this match are fairly described as monsters. None of them are people you would want to meet in a dark alley.

(Kane tosses haymakers back and forth, rocking both men. Focusing on Umaga, he gives Sabu a chance to grab a chair. When he turns back, Sabu throws it in his face. He then runs and bulldogs Kane onto the dropped chair. Umaga follows with a running splash. This time they get a one count, but not much more.)

JR: That was insane. And the fans are chanting their appreciation.

Tenay: The look on Umaga's face says it all. "What do we have to do to keep him down?"

(He pulls Kane up once more. His Irish Whip is reversed into a big boot, and Kane quickly hits a sidewalk slam. Before the ref can even get the hand down once, Sabu is stomping away. Sabu looks under the ring and comes out with a strand of barbed wire. As the fans gasp, he wraps it around his arm and rushes Kane. He gets a massive boot for his troubles, and Kane follows up with the fallaway powerbomb right into the barricade, breaking it. A holy crap chant starts as Kane goes for a pin, broken up by Umaga.)

JR :The numbers game is just overcoming Kane here. Even if he can stop one man from getting the upper hand, the other gets involved.

Tenay: Yet no one can say Kane is not giving as good as he is getting. I don't think anyone else in the FWA would still be standing in Kane's shoes, let alone reaking even.

(Kane grabs Umaga by the braids and begins pounding his head into the turnbuckle. Sabu saves his partner with a massive splash off the barricade, crunching Kane into the post instead. As Sabu mounts Kane with punches, Umaga takes the barbed wire and wraps it around his taped hand, doubling up on his thumb.)

JR: Oh my god. A hardcore samoan spike?

Tenay: This will end not just the match, but Kane's FWA tenure.

(Sabu lifts Kane for the final blow, but Kane catches the thumb and holds it at bay. In shock, Sabu delivers a low blow, which ends the battle. Umaga hits an awful spike to Kane's throat.)

Tenay: That was truly horrible. Ladies and gentlemen we apologize if you are watching with children. That was something no one should see.

JR: And the two men, thrilled with what they have done are at least mercifully ending it. Kane put up the best fight that he.....HE KICKED OUT! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE KICKED OUT.

(Yelling incoherently, Umaga demands Sabu lift Kane. Once more, he brandishes the spike. At the last second, Kane ducks and Sabu gets all of it. Clutching at his throat, Sabu has blood seeping through his fingers.)

Tenay: Good lord, how is Kane still in this? How did....I am truly speechless.

(Umaga climbs to the apron, sizing Kane up, but Kane throws his arms down, causing his never used earlier pyro to go off right in Umaga's face. Climbing up after his singed opponent, Kane hits the chokeslam off the ring apron.)

JR: It's like the old children's song. Anything you can do, I can do better. You want to hit me with a chair, I will use a bat. Hit me with barbed wire, I will set you on fire. This might not end until one man is six feet under.

(Kane reaches under the ring and pulls out a shovel. As the fans cheer, he lifts it above Umaga, but Sabu has somehow gotten back into the ring. He dives off the top turnbuckle with a kendo stick and breaks it over Kane's back. Staggering, Kane receives a dropkick into the metal supports on the barricades by the ramp.)

Tenay: There is no level these men will not go to, nothing they will not do. We are watching Godzilla v King Kong, but Godzilla brought his son to the match too.

JR: The fans are right. This is indeed awesome. Umaga and Sabu are rolling Kane into the ring. Umaga is on hands and knees while Sabu has a chair. What is this?

(Sabu runs, using Umaga as a step to launch himself at Kane, throwing the chair. Kane punches the chair away and catches Sabu. Manhandling him onto his shoulders, he powerbombs Sabu onto Umaga, and goes for the pin.)

JR: Only a two count. I thought that was it.

Tenay: Kane is not deterred. He is lifting him onto the top rope. Oh god, what are we going to see....

(Before we can find out, Sabu joins the other two. The three men trade punches and Kane starts to falter. Just when it looks darkest, Kane lands a massive knife edged uppercut to Umaga's chin, and launches Sabu off the top rope through the announcer's table as JR and Tenay scramble.)

JR: Kane, we're not part of this! We're not part of the match!

Tenay: We need medics! Sabu might be injured! He might've broken his neck or back!

(Kane repositions himself to hit the diving powerbomb off the top rope, making the entire ring shake. Instead of going for the pin, he stands once more and drags his thumb across his throat.)

JR: He's feeling it! He says the end is here.

Tenay: He's taken out Sabu. It is one on one and Umaga doesn't even know where he is.

( Kane lifts Umaga into a Tombstone, and slowly repositions over the chair.)

Tenay: That is a 350 pound man, and Kane is holding him like a sack of flour. He makes the impossible look effortless.

JR: Don't do it, Kane. It's already over. He's out.

Tenay: But Kane wants to make sure!

(And he does at that. A tombstone piledriver on the chair and the RIP cover gets the pinfall.

JR: Kane has retained his hardcore championship in an absolute slobberkocker. That was not for the faint of heart.

Tenay: No one would have bet that Kane would overcome these odds. Vegas was betting against him. Bookies had him at 175:1 odds. Yet again, Kane has proved the naysayers wrong.

JR: You have witnessed a war ladies and gentlemen. You watched Kane take on two absolute beasts and not just survive, but prevail.

(Kane does his signature pyro taunt as he holds his belt up in the ring, standing over the downed Umaga.)



Road Warrior Animal and ? v The Gymini



JR: Hawk has been hurt! Oh my God, who could have destroyed one of the Road Warriors like this?

(As we see Hawk lifted on a stretcher, we fade to the Gymini coming to the ring with his shoulder pads on. They decimate their opponents with ease.)

Tenay: It is obvious who took out Hawk. The Gymini are proclaiming themselves the new team. They will replace the Road Warriors in every way.

Animal (interviewed backstage): How do I feel? Those pieces of trash not only injured my partner, they stole his pads. They spit on him every time they wrestle. They want our spot? I'll let them earn it. At Armaggeddon, we will fight for the tag team titles.

(At Armaggeddon, the three face. While Animal does well for a minute or two, the Gymini quickly overpower him. They give him the cross trainer and pin him. Not only do they snatch the titles, but his shoulder pads as well.

JR: This isn't right.

Tenay: The Gymini are the new Road Warriors and they dare anyone to say differently.

(They tear through the tag team division, including the Dudleyz. As they have a Royale Rumble street fight rematch, a man in a ball cap assaults one of the Gymini and maces him, allowing the Dudleyz to get the pin and the titles. The man takes off his hat, revealing the mohawk.)

JR: Animal is back! And he just cost the Gymini their titles!

Tenay: The Dudleyz are the champs! They are the first ever to defeat Gymini!

BVB: With every sin I still want to be holy. I will live again.

(The Gymini invoke their rematch clause, only to have Animal be the ref, and cost them the match again. He takes his pads back.)

JR: It was exactly what they had coming. They deserved every minute of this.

BVB: Who we are isn't how we live, we are more than our bodies.

(The Gymini destroy Heidenreich backstage.)

Jake: Tell Animal, this is the price for costing us our title. But it is nothing, NOTHING, compared to what we will do to him when we get into the ring with him.

BVB: If I fall, I will lift back up and relive all my glories.

Dudleyz: This is an amazing match. Both teams have great claims on the belt, and both teams have never legitimately lost it. We will grant the team who wins the main event at Wrestlemania.

Animal: We will settle this once and for all at Bound For Glory. I will visit every pain you caused on me and my partner. I will hurt you. I will break you. I will end you. And I will go to Wrestlemania to get my title back.

BVB: In the end as we fade into the night, who will tell the story of your life. And who will remember, your last goodbye? Cause it's the end, and I'm not afraid...I'm not afraid to die!

(The Gymini stare at the entrance as the Road Warriors music hits. Animal comes out to a huge pop and stands at the top of the ramp staring out into the crowd. Jake Gymini grabs a microphone.)

Jake: You know, you just cost me 20 bucks. Jesse here said you were going to come out here by yourself and challenge us again, even though that ended so badly last time. I said you weren't that stupid. Guess I gave you too much credit.

(Smirking, Animal gestures to the back, and waves someone forward. Again the Road Warriors music hits.)

Jesse: Oh, you have a buddy now, huh. You're going to bring out poor old Heidenreich? After what we did to him? After what happened to him earlier tonight? All right, we'll brutalize him somne more. Let's go old man. Bring out your cripple.

(Instead of Heidenreich, Road Warrior Hawk steps to the stage to a massive ovation. Both Gymini brothers' jaws drop.)

JR: OH MY GOD! We haven't seen Hawk in nearly 4 months.

Tenay: The night after Survivor Series he was laid out in the back and severely injured. Since then, we have not even heard a peep about him. Now, he is back and the crowd is thunderous in its approval!

(Pounding fists, the two men make their way to the ring. Diving in, the both immediately lay into the Gymini. In opposite corners, they stomp away at their downed opponents. Ignoring the ref, Hawk lifts Jesse and Irish whips him into a massive clothesline from Animal. Soon after Animal whips Jake into a back back drop. Jesse tries to rush them from behind, but they turn and deliver a double spinebuster.)

JR: And the Road Warriors care only about teaching the Gymini a lesson. They are ignoring the referee entirely. The score they have to settle is more important than the official result.

(Both men stomp away at Jesse, until the ref finally gains control and forces Hawk out. ANimal keeps him in the corner, hammering away with vicious shortarm clotheslines and then stomping him when he is down. Hawk tags in and hits a scoop slam into the turnbuckle before continuing the assault.)

Tenay: What a nasty move. It is designed solely to injure one's opponent.

JR: Revenge is on the menu tonight at Bound For Glory. And it is being served the best way: cold.

(Using quick tags, the Road Warriors continue to wear downm Jesse. Unfortunately, Animal bounds off the ropes, where Jake grabs his ponytail and stops him cold. When Animal turns, Jake chokedrops him into the top rope, which allows Jesse to hit a last ditch clothesline from behind and tag in his brother. Jake starts shouldering Animal in the gut in the corner. )

Tenay: Jake is able to save his brother from disaster, though his tactics are a bit questionable.

JR: Questionable nothing. They were full on illegal.

(Jake does a running splash to Animal, but it is shrugged off. Animal flexes and screams at him, causing Jake to stumble back in disbelief. Jake tries for body blows, but Animal blocks them all and shoves him all the way across the ring. Jesse tries to interfere, only to get clotheslined from the ring. Jake quickly chop blocks Animals leg. While he is down, he gets an arm lock and runs Animal shoulder first into the ring post.)

Tenay: When in doubt, take em out. Using animal's size against him was good strategy if less than savory.

JR: No matter how much whitewash you use on this fence, it will not cover the dirty stains.

Tenay: Like it or not, Jake recognized he was outmatched in the strength department and went for an equalizer. They used one of his best assets, his size, against him. That's smart, even if you disapprove.

(Jake pulls Animals arm backwards over the rope, wrenching it til the count of four. Tagging in his brother, he drops off the apron, jerking Animal's arm down against the rope. Jesse then targets it, and the two men tag quickly, focusing on the injured limb.)

JR: This is just hard to watch.

Tenay: What is good for the goose is good for the gander. The Road Warriors are tasting the very same medicine they dosed out to the Gymini at the beginning of the match.

(Hawk yells out encouragement as Animal is dissected. Animal tries to battle back, punching away at Jesse, but Jesse jerks the shoulder, dropping him to his knees. BOunding off the ropes, he springs back into a spinebuster leaving both men on the mat. Hawk pounds at his corner as the fans cheer Animal crawling back. Jesse gets the tag first, and Jake runs over, grabbing Animal's leg.)

JR: Damn, he was so close.

Tenay: We cannot forget what is at stake here. Whoever wins tonight will face the Dudleyz for the tag team championship on the greatest stsage of them all, Wrestlemania. That gives both teams extra incentive.

(Jake tries to pull Animal back, but he spins and kicks Jake off, getting the tag to thunderous applause from the crowd. Hawk dives in over the top, clotheslining both men. Back and forth he punches them so hard it drops them. He lifts Jake and powerbombs him onto his brother for a pin, but he kicks out at two.)

JR: He was a heartbeat away from the Showcase of the Immortals. He is shocked. Look at him telling the ref it was three.

Tenay: It was close, no doubt, but both men barely kicked out.

(As Hawk tries to pull up Jesse, Jesse reverses it, driving him into the turnbuckle face first. The Gymini hop up and go for the cross trainer on the stunned Road Warrior.)

JR: Not this way. Cheap tactics with an illegal double team.

(Hawk is hoisted and dropped. Jake goes for the pin. As the refs hand comes down for the three, Animal grabs Hawks foot and yanks him out.)

Tenay: I think the rulebook is out the window at this point. These two teams will do absolutely anything to win.

(Animal takes Hawk's place as the ref tells them he's not legal. The Gymini deliver open handed slaps to his chest which just seem to make him madder. He starts fighting back, but they both kick him in the gut and double suplex him. Weakened, he is in perfect condition for a cross trainer himself. A groggy Hawk grabs Jesse's leg. Kicking him off, they go for it again, but Animal reverses it into a DDT to both men.)

JR: Oh my God, he turned it around. The momentum from the DDT has knocked Jesse right from the ring. Hawk is climbing the turnbuckle.

Tenay: Animal is lifting Jake on his shoulders. Can they...YES! The Doomsday Device.

JR: The fans are counting with the ref. One. Two. Three. The Road Warriors are going to Wrestlemania. This was redemption for Animal. This was a triumphant return for Hawk. What an amazing show.

(Animal lifts a weary Hawk and raises his hand, pointing to him as the crowd goes wild.)

JR: It's everything the fans hoped for! The Road Warriors are going to Wrestlemania for the title they never legitimately lost. Tonight they reaped their revenge, and it must taste very sweet.



Wrestlemania Main Event Decider

RVD v Hulk Hogan



(We see the end of the Rumble, with RVD and Hogan fighting on the apron. Even as it looks like Hogan may win, RVD quickly sweeps his legs out from under him, dropping him to the floor.)

JR: Rob Van Dam has done it. Rob Van Dam is going to Wrestlemania.

Hogan: (voiceover) That was my shot. My main event. He stole it from me.

(We see cutaways of RVD being assaulted, both backstage and in the ring, by Hogan, over and over.)

Hart: I want to say Rob. I'm impressed. You have joined a very elite club. You won the Royale Rumble, something few men can say. You are a hell of an athlete, a hell of a fighter, and, honestly, you seem like a hell of a guy. Personally, I have nothing but respect for you. Unfortunately, you also have made a hell of a mistake in taking from the nWo. And while, I respect you...you are in the way.

(Black Veil Brides song begins to play as we see Rob fight back, attacking Hogan in pivotal Cure matches.)

RVD: For weeks, you have been attacking me, trying to cripple me, trying to end my career. I've had enough. You want my shot at Wrestlemania? Come Sunday, you'll get your chance. It'll be you and me, one on one. No running, no hiding, no countouts. We will be tied together with a strap. Whoever gets the pinfall or the submission goes on to Wrestlemania!

BVB: And All Will Remember, your last goodbye. Cause it's the end, and I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid to die.

(We fade from a BFG graphic of RVD v Hogan to the ring.)

JR: And tonight, we finish this brutal rivalry, determining who main events Wrestlemania. RVD has put his Royale Rumble wins on the line against the nWo in a winner takes all strap match.

Tenay: This is no small challenge. Hogan has been in more strap matches than any other competitor in history. He has had more strap matches against Ric Flair than virtually anyone else has ever had period. He was in the only major 6 man strap match ever. RVD has essentially challenged Hogan in ground that is not just familiar....but one could say is his home territory.

JR: No one can doubt the confidence of RVD. There would be little doubt as to his deserving Mania if he beat Hogan in one of "his" matches.

(The nWo's music hits, and Hogan comes out, playing the air guitar on a nasty looking strap, specifically made for the match.)

Tenay: And here comes the living legend, Hulk Hogan himself. He figured that if RVD wanted a strap match so bad, he would have one made that would make him regret his choice. The edges are actually sharp, and can cut if hit right. We will see blood tonight. It is designed to cause maximum pain.

JR: Rob Van Dam is not a victim of circumstance, He has stacked the deck against himself. We will see if he regrets that choice shortly or if it makes him a legend.

(RVD's music hits, and he simply walks to the ring and offers his hand for the strap.)

JR: Rob has abandoned the fun and pageantry. He simply wants to fight. He wants to cement his role once and for all.

(As soon as the strap is attached to Rob's wrist, the two begin to struggle. Overpowering him, Hogan pulls him in to a nasty clothesline. Standing over Rob, Hogan flexes growling.)

Tenay: By attaching himself to Hogan, RVD has neutralized all of his natural advantages. He can't run, he can't high fly. And Hogan can use all of his strength at any time by pulling on the strap.

(Rob tries to outflank Hogan, but is pulled right back in for a stiff belly to belly suplex, followed by an elbow drop. As RVD crawls back to the corner, Hogan pumps his arms and chest to the side, then cranks his arm to his ear.)

JR: I don't think Hogan has done any actual damage yet, but mind games matter. Get inside your opponent's head, erode his confidence, and you can accomplish what brute force never could.

Tenay: Hogan is not the most dominant wrestler of all time for no reason.

(The two lock up again. When Hogan goes for a back drop, RVD flips behind him, then quickly dives between his legs, using the strap to rack him. RVD tries to pull Hogan off his feet, but Hogan stops him cold. Shaking his head, face red with anger, Hogan pulls him in to a huge clothesline. Stepping over Rob to untangle the strap, Hogan flexes and does his traditional "arrow" pose.)

JR: He is mocking him. Taunting him. Hulk Hogan is telling Rob Van Dam that he has him outclassed in every way.

Tenay: And so far, he would not be wrong. RVD has been negated and tossed around like he is nothing.

(The two lock up, twisting and struggling for a while. BUt Hogan spins Rob around in a wrist lock, and starts slapping the back of his head before posing again.)

JR: There is no point to that, It is just disrespect to be disrespectful.

Tenay: And while that is clearly part of Hulk's goal, let's not pretend that this isn't a useful ploy. Get a man angry and he makes mistakes. He gets sloppy. It can be a massive equalizer or even an advantage.

JR: And yet he keeps doing it...

(Several more times, RVD tries to lock up, only to be tossed across the ring. Hogan signals to try again. Finally, after one hand is grasped, RVD kicks him right in the face.)

JR: There it is! RVD has changed the game plan, dropping Hogan right on his pompous ass.

Tenay: But it's doing no good. He tried to hit the rolling thunder, but the strap stopped him.Most of his offense relies on running, or top rope acrobatics....all of which is taken away by that ten foot tether.

(After several vain attempts to drag Hogan to a better position, RVD goes for a spinning leg drop, but misses. Hogan, wrapping the strap around his neck, uses it to launch RVD as far as the leather will allow.)

Tenay: RVD's inability to adapt to the strap is proving to be the decisive factor in this match so far. If he cannot work his offense around this new limitation, this is going to be a drubbing.

(RVD tries to stand, but Hogan catches him in an atomic drop, back suplex combo. Dragging Rob to his feet, Hulk uses the strap to whip him into the turnbuckle, and then uses it as leverage to torque RVD's arm over the ropes.)

JR: And here's where those veteran skills come into play. Hogan is expertly using that strap against Rob, and RVD, having never been in this type of match, has no natural defense.

Tenay: Of course, the normal rules still come into play, but Hogan, the crafty ring general, quickly lets go right before the five count, maximizing the advantage.

(Hogan slides out of the ring as RVD crumples, pushing him out the other side of the corner. The strap prevents RVD from dropping and Hogan uses it to pull him into the ring post again and again Rob's shoulder slams mercilessly into the unforgiving metal pole.)

JR: He's going to break RVD's shoulder!

Tenay: That certainly seems to be his goal. Rolling him back into the ring, he goes for a submission on that weakened arm. Somehow, RVD finds the ropes with his foot. But just barely.

JR: And now Hogan is whipping him across the back with that strap like a rented mule. This isn't a Roots reenactment Hulk!

(Hogan shoves RVD out of the ring again with his boot. Lifting the limp carcass onto his shoulder, he charges at the ring post to turn RVD into a lawn dart, face first. At the last second, Rob slides off his back, letting Hogan take the hit instead. He immediately follows with a spinning heel kick.)

Tenay: I don't know where that little burst of energy came from. But it couldn't have happened at a better time.

JR: Hogan just collapsed onto the barracade, hanging over it. Rob has just enough room to get to the apron, and remind the crowd who he is.

(The crowd cheers that he is Rob. Van. Dam with him as he dives off the apron to hit a spinning leg drop onto Hogan. Getting him into the ring, he hits a trunicated Rolling Thunder.)

Tenay: And Hogan just bounced up to his knees. Uh oh. He looks irate. He's Hulking Up.

JR: RVD's chances just went into the basement. He gave Hogan everything he had only to have him shrug it off. Rob is in trouble.

(RVD tries vainly to put Hogan down, even using kicks, as he shakes in rage. Finally, he points at RVD, and shakes his finger, before pounding away. With the strap he can't throw him far, and he has to pull him back for the big boot.)

JR: That was awkward, I don't think he got all of that.

Tenay: The strap actually worked against Hogan there, I think. He only got a glancing blow. Not that he noticed, by how he's taunting the crowd.

(To resounding boos, Hogan pumps his ear to all four sides. He goes for the leg drop, but RVD moves. As Hogan struggles to his feet, RVD positions the strap between his legs and repeatedly racks him with it.)

JR: And now, Hogan is feeling the effects of his own toy.

(RVD grabs the strap and jumps on Hogan's back, wrapping it around his neck. Fighting as ROb yanks back, Hogan stumbles, then falls to a knee. RVD rides him all the way down. Once he hits the ground, Rob releases him and hops on the nearest turnbuckle.)

JR: Can he do it? Will we see it? Yes! Five Star Frog Splash.

Tenay: And the fans are chanting the count. One. Two. Three. RVD has beaten Hulk Hogan in a strap match.The unthinkable has occurred.

JR: It looked bleak. It looked dark. But one slip up allowed RVD to capitalize. He retains his spot at Wrestlemania, main eventing on the greatest stage of them all.



WWF Championship

Scott Hall (c) v Samoa Joe



JR: And we come to our first main event of the night.

Tenay: Scott Hall made the decision earlier tonight to put his title on the line against Samoa Joe. While this was not required by the challenge, he felt it put him ahead of Shawn Michaels, making him a real champion.

(The nWo's music hits and Hall comes prancing down, wagging his fingers at the camera to show his disdain for his opponent.)

JR: While the champion usually comes out last, Scott Hall has passed on that right. He wants to be first to the ring, to show just how little he fears his challenger.

Tenay: Such bravado is likely misplaced with someone like Samoa Joe. And here he comes, the Samoan Submission Machine. He is all business tonight.

(He makes his way to the ring. As he slides in the announcer starts her speel. Hall interrupts to flick his toothpick right in Joe's eye. Shaking with rage, Joe turns and delivers a massive slap right to Hall's face, then another, and another. Soon he is pounding away, driving him back into the corner. After a massive kick to the stomach, Joe spins into his corner enseguri, collapsing Hall into a heap.)

JR: The "Joe's gonna kill you" chants are deafening. And he is eating them up.

Tenay: Scott Hall would be the first to tell you, he is a doer, not a thinker. But that was an exceptionally unwise way to start this match.

JR: Well, he's certainly paying for it.

(Joe proceeds to lay the boots into Hall, stomping away for all he's worth. He starts giving Hall the "face wash" and then, bounding off the ropes, hits the massive running kick he's known for. Smiling to the crowd, he bounds off the ropes once more and lands a running senton in the corner for good measure.)

JR: This is a mugging.

Tenay:I wonder if Scott Hall regrets putting his title on the line yet. If the match continues like this, we will see a new champion.

(Hall rolls out of the ring, with Joe hot on his tail. Clubbing him down, Joe starts ripping up the padding around the ring. Drawing his thumb across his neck, he pulls Hall up for a powerbomb.)

Tenay: What is that phrase you use for moments like this, JR? Moves that just make you cringe?

JR: Bowling shoe ugly?

Tenay: That would be the one. Hall is going to find himself on the wrong end of the alley for this one.

(Hall reverses, backdropping Joe right onto the concrete. Before he can recover, Scott has managed to pick him up. Snarling, he flings himself backwards, Fallaway Slamming Joe into the ring steps.)

JR: Good lord, that's a human being. We don't even allow that sort of cruelty to animals.

Tenay: You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Haven't we seen much worse tonight, JR?

JR: Yes, in matches that were supposed to be hardcore. This is not one of them.

Tenay: Unfortunately, Joe started this exchange. Scott Hall merely finished it. The hardcore fallaway slam is an interesting addition to his repitoire.

(Hall slides back in the ring and taunts Joe as the ref starts the count. At 9, Samoa Joe slides in, breaking the count. )

JR: I don't know how Samoa Joe managed to do that!

Tenay: But Hall is going to make him pay for doing so, JR. Look.

(Hall gets Joe up and locks him in the abnominal stretch, punching and elbowing him in the ribs as he does so. Joe screams in agony and frustration.)

JR: He's in the center of the ring. There's nowhere to go. He can't reach the ropes.

(For several minutes, Hall really works the hold, while Joe tries vainly to wiggle closer to the ropes. Even though it increases the pressue, Joe uses his free hand to bash away at Hall's leg, and then to hammer up at his face. The instant he gets the tiniest bit of freedom, he tosses Hall over his shoulder. As Scott tries to sit up, he hits a running splash onto him, for a following two count.)

JR: That was close. Joe just went from in mortal danger of tapping, to almost pulling out the W.

Tenay: And that's what makes Joe so dangerous. You can never count him out. No matter how damaged he is, he has the ability to pull out last ditch moves like that, to surprise and overcome the opposition.

JR: But one cannot count out Scott Hall either. He has not only weathered Joe's offense, he overcame it earlier. This is still anyone's game.

(Joe jerks Hall upright and forces him onto the turnbuckle. Setting him up for the muscle buster, Joe is then deluged with punches, and knees to the chest trying to fight him off. While he manages to lift Hall, he can't quite hook the leg. Hall manages to drop behind him and reverse into a neckbreaker.)

JR: He may have it. No! Joe kicks out at 2.

Tenay: The fans are fully behind Samoa Joe. Although some are chanting for Hall simply because of his showing.

(The two start brawling even on their knees, punching away. As they get to their feet, the blows rock both, but they come back to deliver their own. Within seconds, they are hammering away. Joe pushes Hall back and hits a nasty diving kick the face on his return. He tries for another splash but Hall moves. Hall responds with a dropping double axe handle that misses. Numerous oves are dodged by both.)

JR: We are witnessing a thing of beauty. These two men are putting on a clinic.

(After several reversed holds, Samoa Joe catches Hall in the choke.)

Tenay: He's going for the Clutch! This may be it.

(Scott Hall doesn't let him get the legs in. They struggle for awhile until Senshi slides into the ring. Senshi dives at them. Hall ducks and Joe catches the nasty kick to the face.)

JR: Oh come on. Not like this. What a great match ruined by Senshi.

(As the ref starts telling the announcer to go for the bell, Hall clotheslines Senshi out of the ring. He turns to Joe, dodges a wild, disoriented kick, and sets him up for the Outsider's Edge. He hits it, and, as the fans count the three, the ref finally gets the bell rung. Hall stands tall, arms raised in victory.)

Tenay: I....Scott Hall is the first person to successfully pin Samoa Joe. I am at a loss for words.

JR: And, even worse, it didn't count. He thinks he won, but the ref is explaining it was a DQ.

Tenay: Scott Hall is fuming. He can't believe it. He did what no one has done yet. Pin Samoa Joe....and he still loses?

(Hall kicks the ref in the gut and Outsider's Edges him right on top of Joe. Again he raises his belt high over the downed men before he goes to the back.)



Goldberg v Shawn Michaels



JR: And now....we come to our main event of the evening. A dream match that none of us ever expected to see.

Tenay: And it was decided, not by our commissioner, not by a build up between these two men, but as a hit job by Scott Hall to take out our champion. Shawn Michaels had only 48 hours notice of who he was facing tonight.

JR: That was also true of Scott Hall, but he handled himself well. But for an interruption, he would've held the distinction of ending Samoa Joe's undefeated streak.

(For the second time tonight, Goldberg emerges through the sparks, though this time to his own solo theme. Though his shoulder is bandaged, he still performs his signature entrance with no hesitation.)

Tenay: In a normal situation, this would be a no brainer. A fresh champion versus an injured competitor on his second match of the night. But Goldberg is no normal competitor. He had an official undefeated streak of 173 matches, one of, if not the, most impressive unbeaten streaks in history. And while some fans stupidly question whether he genuinely earned that...it is ignored that this was only his on air victories. He had over 300 dark match and house show matches for WCW, not to mention what he did for their affiliates, that are not included on the list. He is a force of nature, of destruction. He is not a human being. An injured Goldberg is still more dangerous than any other two competitors. And no athlete in the world can top that.

JR: And this is why he is known as the Professor. Only Mike Tenay would go back to the record books to find that out. Yet, he is going up against the Show Stopper, the Heartbreak Kid. Shawn Michaels was the first WWE grand slam champion, and set the bar that everyone else tried to get. Until the WWE draft, and the proliferation of titles, no one else ever accomplished that feat. It would be fair to still consider him the only man to accomplish this. We invented the term human highlight reel because of him.

Tenay: And, but for Commissioner Foley's decision to allow Hall and Michaels to choose each other's opponents tonight, we may never have seen this match.

(As Goldberg waits in the ring, the lights drop and red sirens flash. Michaels voice comes over "Holla...if you wanna sexy boy...." His music hits, and he comes out in a mock Steiner headdress and chain mail vest, with big goofy glasses. He does his normal hopping, with an arm flex on each side.)

JR: This is less than smart. Michaels is going out of his way to put a thumb in Steiner's eye.

Tenay: And by focusing on Steiner, Michaels is ignoring the man in front of him.

(After he comes to the ring and drops his gear, Michaels tries to lock up with Goldberg, not waiting for the bell, but is thrown halfway across the ring. Jumping up, he rushes back, dodging an attack, to lock him in a headlock, but is lifted in a side suplex and deposited square on his back. Shaking it off, HBK glares at the smug Goldberg and moves in for a chop to the chest. All this does is make Goldberg drop the smile, and he clotheslines HBK so hard he backflips.)

JR: Good gravy, he just knocked him out of his shoes.

Tenay: If Michaels wishes to survive this encounter, he has to come up with a different game plan. He is being dismantled.

JR: Well, why he would want to go toe to toe with one of the biggest powerhouses the world has ever seen is beyond me. You're simply not going to beat Goldberg by outpowering him, especially when you're half his size.

(No longer playing around, Goldberg pounces as soon as HBK gets to his feet, delivering crippling body blows to drive him into the corner. Then he drops and uses his body as a battering ram into Michael's gut, folding him in half with each hit. When he's done, he tosses the little man across the ring.)

Tenay: This cannot be the way Michaels envisioned this match.

JR: Goldberg is showing that he belongs in the main event of 'Mania. He is picking our champion apart. He can't take much more of this. We may see the quickest squash of a champion in history.

(Berg picks him up and starts slapping him, laughing. In desparation, Shawn hits a superkick out of nowhere into Goldberg's injured shoulder.)

Tenay: That may be the opening he needed. If only he's not too addled to capitalize.

(Though slowly, Shawn makes his way to the writhing Goldberg and starts stomping away at the shoulder, then using knees. Within moments, he's yanking back on Berg's arm in a submission.)

Tenay: Goldberg came out here tonight with a giant target painted on his shoulder, and Shawn Michaels was only too happy to aim for the bullseye.

JR: This injury could not have come at a better time for the Heart Break Kid. It is a great equalizer for the two men. The sexy boy may have found a way to keep up with the undefeated legend otherwise, but this made it to where he didn't have to.

(Goldberg makes it to the ropes, but HBK drags him right back away and reapplies to hold after more hits. Several minutes later, Berg makes his way to the ropes again, but gets the same result.)

JR: This is a level of viciousness, of brutality, that we are unused to seeing from Shawn Michaels.

Tenay: It is exactly what he needs to do to pull out the win tonight. Keep the big man off his feet, and you nullify his advantages. Only by playing the game like this, on his terms, can Michaels hope to win.

(After several rope breaks, Goldberg uses his massive weight difference to push up, rolling into the hold. While he gets off his back, it allows HBK to lock in an arm bar. Screaming in agony, Goldberg lifts Michaels and delivers a nasty powerbomb.)

JR: And Michaels hold on. Impressive as that was, it didn't work. Goldberg may actually be in a worse position now than before.

Tenay: Shawn Michaels may be the first man in history to make Goldberg tap.

(After several tense moments, Goldberg hits a second powerbomb. Still Michaels refuses to let go. As Berg struggles not to tap.....he uses his last strength on a third powerbomb, and this time holds it for the pin. HBK lets it go to kick out.)

JR: Goldberg escapes, but what did it take out of him?

Tenay: For that matter, what did it take out of Michaels. Everyone is impressed he held on like that, but it may backfire. He may have taken as much punishment as he gave out. It is difficult to tell who came out worse from that exchange.

(The two men get to their feet, HBK tossing chops and Goldberg using his weaker arm to throw punches. Dodging a clothesline, HBK springboards off the ropes and hits a tornado DDT. A pin yields two. Waiting for Berg to get up, he bounds off the ropes, but this time is caught in a spinning sidewalk slam. The pin only gets two.)

JR: And there is still fight in Goldberg.

(He tries to lift HBK for a suplex, but he drops behind him, grabs the injured arm and drops it into the rope. Quickly, he springboards to the top and, when Berg grabs for him, wrenches the arm and drops a top rope leg onto the injured shoulder. He immediately goes back to the submission.)

JR: We have never seen that before. What a slobberknocker.

Tenay: Michaels is pulling out all the stops. Unfortunately for him, Goldberg has enough left to get under the ropes and get free.

(As Berg tries to shake life back into his arm, HBK sizes him up and hits a suicide dive, driving him into the barricade. Before he can recover, HBK runs him shoulder first into the turnbuckle and wrenches his arm around him. As the ref counts for them both, Berg hits desperation headbutts, forcing Michaels to retreat. As Berg follows him back into the ring, HBK hits another superkick to the shoulder. This time he doesn't even pin but goes to the top rope.)

Tenay: He's going for the leap of faith. He wants to end this.

JR: Goldberg rolled away, but Michaels is still sizing him up. He's going to go for it anyway.

(Goldberg stumbles dazed. But, as soon as Michaels goes for the dive, he spear him out of mid air. Even holding his shoulder, he goes for the pin.)

JR: OH MY GOD! HE JUST BROKE HIM IN HALF. MID-AIR SPEAR!

Tenay: And he gets the one. Two. Three. It is over.

JR: Goldberg has somehow overcome the odds to win, yet again.

(As Goldberg celebrates, Steiner jumps over the barracade and grabs the headdress. Before anyone can stop him, he mounts the fallen HBK and locks in the Steiner Recliner.)

JR: Shawn Michael's poked the bear and now the bear is responding.

Tenay: Someone needs to get out here and stop this. Michaels is helpless!

(Officials run out and try to drag Steiner off of HBK. The show fades to black as they keep trying.)