If you want to dive deeper into this week, please check out my audio podcast Ruthless available on the North South Connection Network
Match #1
Tajiri with Akio and Sakoda vs Paul London
Tajiri and London struggle for control until London does a mushroom stomp on Tajiri who had ducked down his head for a back body drop attempt. London bounces off the ropes to avoid hitting the mat on an arm drag by Tajiri and then gets a pair of his own. Tajiri turns a rollup into his own complicated pin combination for 2. Tajiri starts destroying London's leg with stiff kicks and dumps him off the top turnbuckle. This allows Akio and Sakoda to slam London's injured legs into the apron behind the referee's back. Tajiri stomps his legs. London reverses a Tajiri hold into an impressive dropsault. Tajiri tries a handspring back elbow but London intercepts to kick him down. They exchange punches and forearms from their knees. London nails Tajiri with an enziguri. Tajiri takes out London's bad limb again and tries for a tarantula but London turns it into an inverted powerbomb for a false finish. Tajiri again takes out the leg. London kicks Akio off the apron and attempts a springboard moonsault but Tajiri moves causing London to land on the mat. He knee gives out. Tajiri hits him with the buzzsaw kick to gain the victory in 6:55. (***1/2)
Match #2
A-Train vs Shannon Moore
Train smashes Moore to start and stands on his throat. Train gets hit with a boot on a charge but throws Shannon over the top to the floor. Train follows Moore out and rams him into the ring apron. Back inside, Train hits an elbow drop but goes to the well one too many times and misses with the second. Moore gets some but gets caught on the top and bealed across the ring. Train hits a delay butterfly suplex for 2. He hits two consecutive unreleased back breakers and then bends Moore over his knee. Moore kicks Train in the head a few times to break free, but he gets run into the corner so Train can forearm him into jelly. Train talks some smack allowing Moore to drop toe hold him into the middle turnbuckle. Train tries to powerbomb him, but Moore escapes and tries a sunset flip. A-Train mows Moore down with a shoulder block and finishes him with a Vader bomb in 4:27. (**)
Match #3
World's Greatest Tag Team Shelton Benjamin and Charlies Haas vs Matt Cappotelli and John Hennigan
The Tough Enough Season 3 winners have been working in OVW under Danny Davis as mentioned on commentary. Benjamin and Hennigan start with a collar and elbow tie up. Hennigan gets two arm drags and Benjamin bails to regroup. After Shelton comes back in, they trade slaps and Hennigan nails a dropkick into an armbar. Benjamin backs Hennigan into the corner and makes the tag to Haas. Haas starts landing strikes until Hennigan flips over him and escapes for the tag. Haas nails Cappotelli with a back elbow. The rookie tries to jump over Haas to make the tag but gets caught and put into an armbar. Cappotelli breaks free with a drop kick and tags Hennigan back in. Benjamin is able to choke him withe the tag rope while Haas distracts the referee. Hennigan breaks free and grabs an atomic drop but Haas gets a blind tag while he is up. Benjamin sneaks in and gets an exploder suplex for 2. Hennigan is whipped hard into the corner tags Haas. The World's Greatest Tag Team double teams with a scoop slam onto Haas' knee. Haas does his own solo back breaker. Hennigan gets a head scissors and a hot tag. Cappotelli for a drop kick, corner splash, and a 360 back elbow. All 4 men are in and Shelton decapitates Hennigan and super kicks Cappotelli. Charlie locks in the Haas of pain and Cappotelli taps out in 6:45. (**) Hennigan seemed ahead of Cappotelli in development at this point.
Match #4
The FBI (Johnny the Bull Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo) vs Orlando Jordan & Hardcore Holly
Hardcore Holly gets a large not piped in pop. Jordan had defeated Palumbo last week and was beaten up post match. He has recruited Holly here to get his back. The Bull begins the match with a hip toss, scoop slam, and shoulder block. Jordan fires back with two arm drags and a scoop slam for a two count. He tags in Holly who lands several stiff strikes in the corner. The Bull forces Holly out and into his corner to tag Chuck, but somehow veteran Holly is unaware. He picks up the Bull and plants him with an Alabama Slam only for Palumbo to nail him with a knock out punch. Holly rolls outside and Palumbo hits him with a big boot. He follows up in the ring with a back suplex and a neck vise. He lets Holly free just to hit him with a running punt to the ribs and go back to the vise. Holly tries to leap to a tag but Palumbo catches him and runs him into the turn buckle. The Bull tags in a grabs a headlock. Holly escapes the hold and hits a drop kick. They both tag out. Jordan hits a flying forearm, clothesline, back body drop, and top rope crossbody, but Palumbo rolls through for a cover. Jordan is able to kick out at 2. He levels Jordan with a mafia kick after he gets up. Holly goes to the top and hits a something, just kind of jumps off and flails onto Palumbo. The Bull tries to press slam Holly but the veteran slides free and grabs a full nelson. Jordan hits Palumbo with a power slam for the 1-2-3 in 8:47. (**)
Match #1
Hurricane & Rosey vs Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade
Jindrak's shoulder block doesn't faze Rosey, so Rosey poses and get kicks in the stomach. Rosey comes back with a shoulder block and a diving headbutt. Jindrak tags to Cade who eats a few headbutts. Rosey tags in Hurricane who connects on a top rope crossbody. He puts on an abdominal stretch but Jindrak runs in and breaks the hold. Cade throws Hurricane out of the ring, Jindrak grabs his leg as he tries to get back in allowing Cade to hammer him. Jindrak gives Hurricane a drop kick and sends him back in for Cade to hit a snap suplex, inverted atomic drop and a stiff punch. Tags out for a double suplex. Hurricane hits a desperation shining wizard. Both tag out but Rosey cleans house. Jindrak misses a drop kick and Rosey squishes him with a leg drop. A second rope crossbody takes out Cade but the fall is broken. Cade gets knees up on a Vader bomb by Rosey. Jindrak hangs the S.H.I.T. on the top rope. Hurricane planchas out onto Jindrak. Cade then leaps off the top rope for a bulldog to finish off Rosey for the win in 6:09. (**)
Match #2
Matt Fact #1: Matt's kitchen appliances are all stainless steel.
Matt Fact #2: Matt likes his eggs cooked over easy.
Matt grabs a headlock, releases and yells V-1. Guy gets a wrist lock that Hardy breaks with a back elbow. Guy gets a head scissors and drop kick for 2. Hardy catches Guy on an up and over, gives him the snake eyes and jumping clothesline for 2. He follows up with a running bulldog and a chin lock. Guy escapes and hits a drop kick, a catapult splash, and a rollup. Hardy nails a back elbow but gets caught on top. Hardy is able to battle back and shove Guy to the mat. Guy gets crushed by a top rope leg drop. Hardy finishes him with a Twist of Fate in 4:23. (*1/2)
Match #3
Lance Storm vs El Conquistador (pretty sure it's Nick Dinsmore under the mask)
Storm gets a headlock takeover. Storm used the ropes to blip over out of an armbar. He hits a springboard crossbody for another headlock takeover. Storm gets caught on the top for having his arm caught on the top rope. The Conquistador grabs an arm bar. Storm fights out with clotheslines from his good arm, drop kicks, but the masked man grabs another arm bar to slow Storm down. He nails storm with a Northern Lights suplex. Storm slides between El Conquistadors legs and locks in a single leg crab for the tap out in 3:42. (*3/4)
Match #4
Test vs Steven Richards in a No DQ match
Test smacks Storm's injured arm on the way down the ramp in an act of douche baggery. Victoria is not present as we are told that she is still celebrating her Women's title win on Monday. Test jumps Richards on the way into the ring and starts laying the boots. Richards fights back and clotheslines him over the top to the floor. Outside Test picks up Richards and runs him into the post twice. Back in the ring Test hits two consecutive back breakers and a sidewalk slam without ever released Richards. Test grabs a bear hug and the video jumps ahead to Test setting up for the big boot. Richards is mowed down and Test wins. I don't know if this jump ahead is just the video that I was able to locate. I found it two different places and both had the cut. It may have been in the original broadcast as well. If anyone can verify please let me know on X @Ferrellcomedy or below in the comments.
Tomorrow night on Raw Batista and Orton battle Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels!
