Ruthless C Shows WWE Velocity 1/3/2004 & WWE Sunday Night Heat 1/4/2004

                                                   

                        Check out the podcast of Raw and Smackdown on the North South Connection!

Josh Mathews and Bill Demott will be doing the commentary on this episode of Velocity and welcome us to 2004!

The only video of this show that I could find had the top caught off.  Don't worry, Josh and Bill were not in a terrible Final Destination style accident.  

Match #1

A-Train vs Funaki

During the introductions, Josh Mathews jokes that this is the 2,385th meeting between to the two.  According to cage match this is their 28th and final meeting, including battle royals and house shows.  Ten of those matches were tag matches.  Of the 15 total televised non battle royals, this is their 8th singles match on Velocity.  Until this point, Funaki had managed to win one bout in the series which was on the 9/17/02 Velocity. 

Funaki kicks A-Train in the legs to break free of a choke slam attempt.  Funaki tries to control the Train with armbars but gets mowed down with a clothesline.  Funaki rolls away from several stomp attempts and exits the ring.  A cat and mouse game begins with Funaki getting the edge when Train gets back into the ring.  He jumps on Train's back and grabs a sleeper hold. Train smashes him into the corner turnbuckles.  A-Train misses a charge and Fuanki gets a roll up attempt for 2.  A-Train recovers with a big shoulder block to a sprinting Funaki.  He immediately follows up with the Train Wreck back breaker for the win a brisk fun 1:16. (* 1/2)  Final head to head record A-Train 7 Funaki 1.

Match #2

Doug and Danny Basham with Shaniqua vs Joel and Jose Maximo 

This match is very hard to writeup with the matching gear and their heads not shown on the screen, I will have the correct participant occasionally when commentary mentions it.  A Basham tosses a Maximo back after a few collar and elbow tie up attempts.  He hits a scoop slam but misses the elbow drop follow up and Maximo is able to scurry away and tag his brother.  Maximo is immediately driven into the corner and the Bashams tag.  A tilt-a-whirl head scissors allows for a tag to Jose Maximo who hits a top rope high crossbody for a 2 count.  Maximo grabs a head lock but the other Basham pulls the ropes down and he crashes to the floor.  Shaniqua gets a few shots in.  Back in the ring Doug Basham gets a leg drop and a hard irish whip.  The Bashams tag with some corner strikes and cheap shots and a headlock.  Jose Maximo gets jawbreaker on Danny to break free and tag out.  Joel Maximo cleans house with drop kicks.  The Maximos attempts a poetry in motion is stopped and caught mid air as one Maximo is slammed on the other.  High leg lariat after a switheroo to win for the tag champs after 4:48. (**1/2)

Jamie Noble is speaking to Nidia backstage.  

Jaime Noble tells Nidia, he doesn't know what Rey Mysterio said to her a few weeks ago on Smackdown, but since it came from Rey, it's a lie.  Nidia doesn't know what to think, because she loves Jaime very much but what Rey said makes a ton of sense.  She feels lost.  Noble can't believe that Nidia would believe a man in a mask over him.  He can't believe how much of his money he has had to spend on doctors only to get no where with her recovery.  Noble says there is a chance that she might not be able to ever see again.  Nidia says no, she will see again. She promises.  Noble says that if you want to promise something, promise you won't get involved in my match tonight.  She agrees.  

Match #3

Jaime Noble vs Brandon Groom

As Noble makes his entrance, Josh Matthews comments on the ridiculousness of not trusting wrestlers in masks.  DeMott says that the real people you shouldn't trust are people who don't speak English.  To start, Noble backs the larger Groom up and sweeps the leg and controls Groom with a headlock.  Groom gets a toss and a drop kick.  Groom tries to control but gets sent into the the turnbuckles hard and Noble lays in stomps in the corner.  Noble hits a suplex and locks in a arm and back stretch.  Groom escapes with a back suplex and follows it up with some clotheslines.  Noble lands a back elbow and attempts a neck breaker but Groom grabs the top rope causing Noble to crash and burn.  Groom gets an Oklahoma roll for 2.  Noble escapes hits his DDT and a dragon sleeper for the submission win in 3:35.  (*3/4) 

Match #4

Orlando Jordan & Shannon Moore vs Akio & Sakoda

Orlando Jordan takes down Sakoda, but Sakoda grabs an arm as they trade holds.  Jordan gets a shoulder block, hip toss, and a head lock takeover.  He tags in Shannon Moore who somersaults over the top rope into a sunset flip for a one count.  Sakoda tags out.  Moore gets a shoulder block a back leg sweep.  Moore goes up and over in the corner and nails a spinning heel kick for 2.  Akio turns a springboard crossbody into a rib breaker.  Sakoda tagged back in to stomp on the ribs, hit a back breaker, and hangs Moore in the tree of woe.  Orlando tries to come into the ring, which allows Tajiri's henchmen to lay the boots in the corner.  Akio hooks Moore in an abdominal stretch.  He sends Moore into the corner and Akio runs up his back and lands on his feet.  He charges again but Moore side steps and hip tosses Akio into the turnbuckles.  Hot tag to Jordan who has drop kicks and back body drops for everybody.  His Johnson shuffle homage gets interrupted and his gets taken out with a little high low from Akio and Sakoda.  Moore breaks up the fall.  Moore moonsault planchas outside onto Akio.  Jordan grabs Sakoda for a running powerslam to pick up the win in 4:57. (**3/4).

Our Sunday Night Heat cold open is a closeup of an ambulance logo with a piece of blue duct tape labeled Stevie Corp.  The camera pulls back reveals that it is not ambulance but a golf cart with the self proclaimed general manager of Sunday Night Heat, Steven Richards sitting proudly in the drivers seat.  Test arrives and he is not pleased.  Richards asks if he needs a ride.  Test does not in fact needs a ride.  He would however like to take Victoria for a ride.  The only reason Richards defeated him last week was because Victoria distracted.  She was in tight spandex, so Test just wanted to go up behind her and say, "yeah baby, it's me Test" while making his "o" face. Tonight, Test is going to beat up Richards so badly in their match tonight that he will never be able to please a women again that's where Test will step in, because once you go Test you forget about the rest.  Richards completely no sells this and says you sure you don't need a ride?  Test gets frustrated and kicks the cart only to hurt his foot and hop off upset.  

Match #1

Test vs Steven Richards with Victoria

On his entrance, Test flexes and licks his bicep.  Victoria gets her own entrance for this match.  Test clobbers Richards from behind while he admires his "Flower" on the ramp.  Test blows Victoria kisses.  Test tosses Richards into the ring and starts raining down fists.  Test locks in an odd for lack of a better term, sideways torture rack.  Richards pushes off the turnbuckles with his feet to escape.  Test attempts a full nelson slam, but Richards slips out of that.  Richards scores with a snap suplex, swinging neck breaker, and a bulldog for a 1 count.  Test takes over but Richards escapes a pump handle attempt, but this time falls victim to the pump handle.  Test ties him in the ropes, Andre the Giant style.  Victoria enters the ring and Test grabs her and plants one on her.  Victoria smiles, rubs his chest and kicks Test square in his quiz.  The referee has freed Richards, who gets a sloppy roll up while holding the ropes to pick up the victory in 3:30. (1/2*)

Match #2

Rico with Miss Jackie vs Brandon Groom

Rico spanks Groom.  Groom grabs a go behind and Rico bends over in a three point stance and grinds his buttocks into Groom's privates.  Rico goes on the attack with fists but falls victim to two hip tosses, scoop slam, and drop kick. Miss Jackie gets on the apron. Brandon Groom heads over to her but is still
able to duck Rico's clothesline attempt.  Groom charges Rico but Rico low bridges him to the outside.  Rico slams his head into the barricade ringside and then drapes him on the apron to kick Groom in his mouth.  Once in the ring again, Rico elbows Groom repeatedly in the head and hits a lifting kick.  Rico hits a sexualized elbow drop and pin cover for 1.  They trade chops.  A step up corner kick to the mush but Grooms down to the mat.  Rico heads to the top for a dive, but Groom gets the knees up. Three separate roll up attempts by Groom fail. Groom hits a spinning powerslam and heads to the top.  He misses a top rope crossbody and Rico finishes him with a devastating neck breaker in 3:48.  (*)

Match #3

Tommy Dreamer vs Matt Hardy

Matt Fact #1: Matt's first job was at a carwash.

Matt Fact #2 Matt is more extreme than Tommy Dreamer.

They trade slaps to begin.  Dreamer gets a scoop slam but Matt Hardy sends him to the outside by the tights and rams Tommy into the ring apron spine first.  Back in the ring, Matt gets a scoop slam, followed by a series of boots to Dreamer's gut.  Hardy heads to the top turnbuckle, but Dreamer pulls his leg and crotches him.  A Hardy back elbow sends Dreamer to the mat so that Hardy can miss a moonsault.  They reset with a strike exchange that Dreamer wins.  Dreamer delivers two separate styles of neck breakers, first swinging and then fall away. Dreamer hits a follow up death drop DDT.  Hardy turns a death valley driver into a side effect for a 2 count.  Hardy grabs Dreamer's kendo stick but misses with it.  Dreamer hits a sit out powerbomb.  Dreamer takes the cane up to the top and show boats to the crowd.  Hardy follows him up there and hits a twist of fate from the top to pick up the victory in 4:26.  (*1/2)

Match #4

Val Venis and Lance Storm wtih three ladies of the night vs La Resistance (Rene Dupree and Rob Conway)

Storm and Conway trade control holds, until. Lance goes up and over and nails a big punch to the face.  Conway scurries away to tag Dupree.  Lance controls until a tag to Val.  Val comes in and gets a scoop slam and they hit stereo elbow drops.  Dupree fires back with chops and forces Venis into the corner for the tag.  Conway is tagged in and connects on a back elbow, scoop slam, and a knee drop.  Val gets the boot up on a charge by Conway. Venis tries to climb to the top himself but gets pushed off by Dupree.  Dupree is tagged in and he exchanges strikes with Venis until Venis gets a half nelson slam. Both men are down.  Val crawls over and tags in Storm.  Storm is a house of fire with clotheslines and drop kicks.  He hits a steamroller and a springboard dropkick.  Dupree breaks the pin attempt.  Lance and Val attempt a double team maneuver but Dupree breaks that up as well.  Storm flips out of a slam attempt by Conway but Dupree grabs his foot from the floor.  This allows Conway to hit a devastating DDT and get the win in 5:43. (**)

Tomorrow night it's Raw in Memphis and Steve Austin is the sheriff!  What will that mean!?

Ruthless C Shows WWE Velocity 12/20/2003 & WWE Sunday Night Heat 12/21/2003

 

If you would like to check out the audio podcast Ruthless discussing the previous click here to access the North South Connection's pod feed.

The weekend kicks off with Velocity on Slammin' Saturday Night.

Match #1

Tajiri vs Paul London (non-title)

Tajiri yanks London down by his hair and then mockingly blows London a kiss.  Tajiri catches a kick attempt by London, but London flips out and gets a crucifix pin for 2.  London attempts a sunset flip for another 2 count.  Paul London hits a headscissors and a spinning heel kick.  Tajiri escapes a suplex and lands a few stiff strikes to the back.  Tajiri grinds London with some heel tactics and locks in a camel clutch.  London stands up out of it and rams Tajiri into the turnbuckles but the Japanese star quickly grabs London for the tarantula.  London lands on his feet on a release German suplex and hits the dropsault.  London clotheslines Tajiri a few times before a climb up enziguri and springboard moonsault for a 2 count.  Tajiri comes back with a springboard back elbow.  London is able to duck the buzzsaw kick and hits a waffle face in response.  A missile drop kick to the back of Tajiri's head causes a stalemate as both men struggle to their feet.  Tajiri gets a crescent kick out of nowhere and follows it up with the buzzsaw kick as the kill shot to pick up the win in 5:33.  (***)

Match #2

Matt Morgan vs Funaki

Funaki starts with a game of cat and mouse, trying to avoid the big fella.  Funaki low bridges the top rope and Morgan spills to the outside.  Funaki hits a baseball slide but it doesn't knock Morgan off his feet and the chase is back on.  The chase is back on til a big boot stops Funaki dead in his tracks followed by a scoop slam.  Josh Matthews call Morgan the blueprint of a professional wrestler, which I believe is the first mention of that nickname on the main roster. He locks in a standing single leg crab which looks zero percent painful.  Josh tells us that he Morgan has defeated Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and Elton Brand in basketball at various camps.  Demott could not care less and dismisses this as worthless information.  Morgan gets a corner clothesline and a rope choke.  Funaki attempts a desperation crossbody but gets caught.  Funaki wriggles free and kicks the back of Morgan knee, followed by a drop kick to the face.  Morgan press Funaki off the cover and decapitates Funaki with a clothesline.  Funaki tries to punch his way free from a powerbomb but Morgan powers through and the sit out powerbomb ends it in 2:45 for the Morgan win.  (*1/4)

Match #3

Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli vs Spanky

The action starts before the bell as Spanky gets nose to nose as the teams have been feuding on Velocity as of late.  The Bull grabs a head lock and hits a shoulder block and taunts Spanky for being too small.  An awkward step over attempt on a drop down, so they do it again and Stamboli shakes his leg free from a drop toe hold attempt.  Stamboli pitches Spanky to the outside, but Spanky is right back in for a series of punches.  Stamboli bails.  He comes right back in himself for a charge but Spanky drop toe holds him.  Spanky attacks the knee with strikes and twists and elbow drops.  Spanky gets a drop kick to Stamboli's mush and continues to attack the knee.  The Bull uses his boot to send Spanky shoulder first into the ring post. Stamboli slams Spanky's arm into the post and then a crushing clothesline.  Stamboli has been completely no selling the knee.  It's like that whole segment of the match did not happen.  Spanky tries to fight back but gets cut down.  The Bull military presses him onto the top rope and then flips the cruiserweight back into the ring.  An arm bar is locked in.  Kendrick kicks out and uses several forearm strikes into a spinning head scissors, a spinning back elbow, and spinning heel kick.  Stamboli kicks out of a non spinning pinfall cover.  The Bull dodges an attack in the corner and hits an Impaler DDT to pick up the victory in 4:25.   (*)

Match #4

Akio and Sakoda vs Ultimo Dragon and Kidman

Ultimo Dragon and Akio start the action with trading arm bars.  A sunset flip attempt by Akio and Ultimo Dragon kicks him in the chest and back for a two count.  He tags in Kidman, and Ultimo Dragon does a drop toe hold while Kidman baseball slides, Akio in the shoulder in a double team move.  Akio tags out to Sakoda but the heels double team move attempt is turned into combo head scissors head lock takeover by Kidman.  Kidman sends Sakoda off the ropes, Akio gets a kick to the head to the back through the ropes, which lets the heels hit stereo enziguris upside Kidman's head.  Akio is in for stomps into a seated camel clutch.  Kidman escapes but runs into a spinning heel kick.  Sakoda tags in and puts Kidman in the tree of woe. Sakoda taunts Dragon who takes the bait so Akio can choke away on Kidman.  Kidman hits a desperate drop kick.  Hot tag to Dragon who comes in for a clothesline and a drop kick.  Dragon is held by Akio, but Dragon is still able to hit both Sakoda and Akio with kicks.  Dragon pieces up Sakoda's legs and ribs.  Akio eats a Asai moonsault for a 2 count.  Tag into Kidman but the faces miss a double clothesline attempt.  Sakoda pulls Dragon out.  Kidman tries a springboard bulldog to Akio but Sakoda catches him and plans Kidman with a power bomb.  Dragon is able to get in and break up the fall.  Sakoda drops Dragon on a sidewalk slam so Dragon gives him a spin kick to the back of the head.  Dragon hits a top rope crossbody to the floor on Sakoda.  Meanwhile in the ring, Akio misses a spin kick on Kidman.  A Kidman enziguri turns Akio inside out.  Kidman heads to the top for the shooting star press, Matthews, in a eye rolling comment, says, "Kidman is about to press the R trigger on his Gamecube controller."  Kidman hits it for the win in 5:36. (**3/4)

Sunday Night Heat

Coachman selling a separated shoulder from the Goldberg locker room assault which led to Goldberg being not suspended for 30 days but deactivated for 30 days which everyone knows is way way worse. 

Match #1

Victoria vs Ivory

#1 Contender Match for the Women's Title

Test of strength that Ivory turns into a pin attempt, which Victoria rolls into her own pin attempt.  They roll around the ring trading two counts until Ivory gets a head scissors.  Molly Holly heads out on the stage to observe rocking a Tori from Saved by the Bell look.  Victoria hits shoulder blocks in the corner.  Ivory slips out of a vertical suplex for a roll up.  Ivory grazes Victoria with a drop kick.  Victoria grabs at the ropes to try to get away so Ivory rips her off to pancake slam her.  Victoria bails to the outside to regroup.  Ivory whips Victoria back into the ring by her hair, but gets caught in a powerslam.  Victoria puts Ivory into a surfboard.  Ivory turns a Samoan drop into a rollup attempt. When that didn't work, she tries a backslide pin.  Ivory crashes and burns on a top rope crossbody.  Victoria picks up her carcass and puts her away with the widow's peak in 4:05.  (*1/4)

Molly comes to ring and congratulates Victoria.  Victoria pats the title on Molly's shoulder.  As she goes to exit the ring, Molly cracks her in the back of the head with the belt. 

Match #2

Rosey & Hurricane vs The Shane Twins

Rosey starts with a Shane twin.  Snow and Coach call them the running gag of local competitors being called Babacanoosh.  So these are the Babacanoosh twins who Snow says are cloned from the same petri dish like Dolly the sheep.  Rosey clotheslines him down and lets the twin tag, they other one in, who gets immediately belly to belly suplexed by Rosey.  Hurricane is in for a top rope crossbody for 2.  A twin misses a charge but other twin gets a clothesline on the apron.  They double team Hurricane in the corner.  Twin suplexes Hurricane across the ring.  The twins tag and hit a double clothesline, followed up by snap suplex and a neck vice.  Hurricane reverses a suplex.  Both tag out.  Rosey clotheslines, shoulder blocks, sidewalk slam, scoop slam, a huge leg drop.  The twins miss a double clothesline, only for Rosey to double clothesline them and hits a spinebuster.  Hurricane mounts Rosey's shoulders who is sitting on the top turnbuckle and splashes the prone twin for the win in 4:15.  (*1/2)

Earlier today, Test is leering at Victoria stretching for her match.  He starts talking to himself about how he wants to get her to replace Stacy.  He says of course she would want him. Everybody wants him.  Richards comes up for behind upset that he would talk that way about his flower, Victoria.  He says that he has someone who wants to be with him and if Test wants to try to get her, he can try, but he'll see what happens.

Match #3

Test vs Steven Richards

Test begs Richards to hit him.  Richard obliges.  Test hits a short arm clothesline and stomps.  Richards tries to get mounted punches in the corner twice but Test tosses him off.  Richards attempts a bronco buster but Test moves and Richards busts himself.  Test begins laying in the punches, followed by a scoop slam.  He misses an elbow drop, but Richards can't take advantage as he runs into a sidewalk slam.  Test gets caught on a corner charge and Richards hits a bulldog.  They both escape each others finisher slams.  Test misses a boot and gets hung up on the top rope.  Stevie takes too long to capitalize and gets rammed into the corner.  Test tries a running powerslam but Richards escapes and slides down Test's back for a roll-up to get the upset win in 2:27. (*)

Match #4

Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak vs Lance Storm & Val Venis with ladies.

This entire match Snow call them Jade and Cindrak.  Val Venis and Garrison Cade start out.  A collar and elbow tieup turns into a shoving match.  Cade gets heavy forearm strikes and stomps.  Cade argues with the ref after being in the ropes allowing Val Venis to get a few clotheslines, a back elbow and a scoop slam.  Lance Storm is tagged in for a springboard ax handle and a northern lights suplex.  Cade backs into the corner for a tag.  Lance Storm gets an arm drag and tags in Val for a top rope ax handle, European uppercut and chops.  Lance Storm back in now for a scoop slam and double team elbow drops.  Storm foils Cade's attempt for a cheap shot from the outside but falls victim to a Jindrak baseball slide.  Cade then rams Storm head and shoulder first into the post.  Back in the ring, Cade gets a hammerlock on Storm and rams him shoulder first into the turnbuckle.  He knocks Val off the apron adn tags in Jindrak for a picture perfect drop kick.  Cade tags back in for an arm bar.  Storm breaks free and gets a jumping leg lariat and makes the hot tag.   Val wrecks shop with clotheslines, a back body drop, gut wrench powerbomb, and a half nelson slam.  A fisherman's suplex to Jindrak is broken up by Cade.  Lance Storm gets a blind tag and nails a top rope crossbody for a near fall.  He tries a springboard sunset flip that gets reversed by Jindrak.  Cade assists with the pin from the outside to gain leverage but doesn't actually get ahold of Jindrak's hands until 2.75 of the 3 count so it loses some of it's effect. The heels win in 6:30.  (**1/2)