Report by: Tom Dinardi, rajah.com reader
Hey yo. This is Tom Dinardi, YOUR (former) RajahWWF.com WWE Confidential
Reporter. It seems like every time I type that out, it seems longer and longer
ago. Anyways, I was in attendance at the WWE RAW House Show at the Pepsi Arena
in Albany, New York that took place on Saturday, August 6th, so for all of
you who are interested in knowing what went down, keep on reading.
I had work before the show and even though I got out early, I ended up
getting to the show around 7:45, right when the 2nd match was beginning. However,
my younger sister, my younger brother, and my father got to the Pepsi Arena
about a half hour prior to the show. They were waiting outside and saw Shawn
Michaels arrive, and got an autograph from him. Apparently, he was the last
one to arrive. I think there were about 2000-3000 people in attendance, only
the floor was filled, and maybe a bit over half of the lower level.
Match #1: World Tag Team Championship Match – The Heart Throbs (Romeo
& Antonio) vs. Hurricane & Rosey © with Stacy Keibler
I had my brother & sister fill me in on this match. They told me it went
around the 10 minute mark. Hurricane got the pinfall with the splash off of Rosey
’s shoulders. Confusion came about over who was pinned, but my sister said
it was most likely Romeo.
Winners: Hurricane & Rosey via pinfall
Jonathan Coachman came out next to announce that later tonight, we’d see
Kurt Angle take on Eugene and Edge versus Shawn Michaels. He also assigned
himself as the ring announcer for the next match.
Match #2: Victoria vs. Christy Hemme
I came into the arena just as Coach was finishing the announcement about the
matches for later, and spent most of this match trying to find the box where
my seats were. I’m pretty sure that Victoria attacked Christy to start the
match. Christy won it with a split leg drop.
Winner: Christy Hemme via pinfall @ 4 minutes, 35 seconds
Victoria recovered after the match and hit Christy Hemme with the Widows
Peak. She went to leave when Viscera’s music started and he chased her back to
the ring. He got his hands on her when Coach started hitting him from behind.
Viscera hit him with a few chops, a Samoan drop, and the splash/humping
combo. Viscera & Christy celebrated with a kiss, and Coach was helped out of the
ring.
Match #3: Chris Cage/Mike Mizanin vs. Trevor Murdock/Lance Cade
Crowd didn’t know who many of the guys were, but they didn’t shit all over
the match, which is what I was expecting everyone to do. Murdock got the pin
on Cage when Cage was laid out in the middle of the ring and Murdock held
onto the tights.
Winners: Trevor Murdock/Lance Cade via pinfall @ 8 minutes, 40 seconds
Match #4: Val Venis vs. Kerwin White
Kerwin’s entrance was hilarious. People kept calling him Chavo, so he got on
the microphone and said that they must be mistaking him for someone else. He
said how Chavo was Hispanic, but Kerwin was Caucasian. Then he used his, “If
it ain’t white, it ain’t right” catchphrase. A bit of stalling started the
match. He had brought a hanger to the ring, and after Val got a hold of his
sweater and blew his nose on it, Kerwin put it on the hanger. Kerwin got the
pinfall, I think he rolled Val up with his feet on the rope but I can’t recall
exactly.
Winner: Kerwin White via pinfall @ 8 minutes, 7 seconds
Match #5: “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters vs. Big Show
It was announce that there would be a “Masterlock Challenge”, then Masters
said how he’s from Los Angeles and since all of us in New York thought we
were better than him, he was going to make it an East Coast vs. West Coast
challenge. This brought out the Big Show, who sat down in the chair and waited for
Masters to come put the Masterlock on. Instead, Masters charged him and
knocked him out of the chair to start the match. Big Show kept doing the “Shhhhhh”
followed by a chop spot. The end came when Gene Snitsky ran down and
attacked Big Show.
Winner: Big Show via disqualification @ 5 minutes, 47 seconds
Snitsky kept beating down Show and Masters got the chair and hit Big Show
with it while Show was down. Snitsky told Masters to get Show in the
Masterlock, but Show fought out by squashing Masters in the corner and then
chokeslammed Snitsky. Masters came off the top rope to hit Show, but Show grabbed him
and hit the chokeslam on him as well. After Show left and Snitsky was leaving,
he stopped short of the entrance and got massive amounts of heat.
Jason Roberts (ring announcer) plugged the merchandise stands and had the
t-shirt cannon guy shoot some shirts out, then we got our intermission.
Match #6: WWE Intercontinental Championship – Shelton Benjamin vs.
Carlito ©
There was a lot of stalling to start the match. Carlito ripped up an “I <3
Carlito” sign to get some more heat. Once they got started, the match was
pretty good. Nice spot involved Shelton sling-shotting Carlito over the top all
the way to the floor. Carlito kept ducking out of the ring, and at one point
he went into the crowd. Carlito was in control for a while, then Shelton
fought back with a one-man flapjack and a running knee that sent Carlito halfway
across the ring. After several near falls from Shelton, Carlito sent Shelton
to the corner and Shelton was able to jump onto the middle rope and catch
himself, allowing Carlito to hit a powerbomb from the corner and roll him up for
the pin.
Winner: Carlito via pinfall @ 17 minutes, 20 seconds
Match #7: Kurt Angle vs. Eugene
On Eugene’s way to the ring, he kept hugging anyone who was near him when he
was ringside, including security guys and Jason Roberts. He even licked
Roberts’ face. Kurt asked Eugene where his gold medals were, since Angle was
supposed to kick Eugene’s ass and get them back tonight. Eugene looked all over
his jacket for them, and Angle told him he better not have lost them. Eugene
says that his mom told him he should leave them at home so he wouldn’t lose
them, so he let his dog wear them around the house. Eugene then did an
impression of his dog by crawling around the ring. Angle said he was still going to
beat Eugene, and then got a cheap shot in to start the match. A pretty good
match followed with some nice comedy spots mixed in. Eugene used the Junkyard
Dog impersonation. After acting like he was pissing on Kurt, Kurt got to his
feet and Eugene started to bite Angle’s ass. Angle bailed out of the ring, at
which point Eugene went after the referee and bit his ass as well. Angle got
back on the ring apron, and Eugene started his own 10 count (the referee
stood there), and ended up making it all the way to 20 before stopping. He held
the ropes to get Angle back in, so Angle cheap shotted him again. Towards the
end, Eugene hit the Rock Bottom for a 2-count. He went for the Stunner, but
Angle fought out of it and went for the Angle Slam, which Eugene reversed and
hit a Stunner for a 2 count. Eugene locked in the Ankle Lock, which angle
rolled through and tried to lock in his own, but Eugene threw him into the
corner and hit the Angle Slam, but again only got a 2 count. Eugene followed it up
with the People’s Elbow, but could only get a 2 count again. Angle fought his
way up, Eugene went to sunset flip Angle but Angle wouldn’t go down, so
Eugene pulled down Angle’s trunks to reveal his ass. Eugene was able to roll him
up after this for the three count.
Winner: Eugene via pinfall @ 10 minutes, 20 seconds
Following the match, Angle wanted to shake hands with Eugene, but Eugene didn
’t know if he should or not. Angle raised Eugene’s hand in the air, then
shook his hand and followed it up with a low blow to tremendous heat from the
crowd. When Eugene recovered, he was walking with a purpose to the back,
presumably to go after Angle.
Main Event: Edge vs. Shawn Michaels
There was a lot of stalling before the bell rang, before Edge took the
microphone and told Shawn that he wouldn’t have to worry about SummerSlam because
he wouldn’t make it through Edge tonight. Once the match got going, it ended
up being a back and forth match. Edge kept mocking Shawn’s poses and then
mocked Hogan’s poses as well. Shawn went for the Sweet Chin Music at one point,
but Edge ducked it and followed it up with the Edge-a-cution (DDT) for a 2
count. After more brawling between the two, the referee got knocked out of the
ring when Shawn had Edge pinned. Shawn went to revive the referee, and turned
around into a spear from Edge for another 2 count. Edge went and got his
suitcase and went to hit Shawn with it, but Shawn hit the Sweet Chin Music for
the win.
Winner: Shawn Michaels via pinfall @ 14 minutes, 7 seconds
After the match, Shawn went around the whole ringside area to slap hands,
sign autographs, and take pictures. He even was slapping hands of people who
were above the entry way.
After the show, we went out to the back. A bunch of wrestlers drove off (Val
Venis was the only one I got a good look at ) before we got there, but we
saw Shelton Benjamin, Carlito, Chris Masters, Rosey, Viscera, the Heart Throbs,
Big Show, Edge, & Shawn Michaels leave. Shelton, Rosey, & Viscera came over
to sign autographs. Carlito acted like he was going to come over, then
changed his mind to more heat. Show, Edge, & HBK all waved. All the wrestlers drove
out one way onto the streets of Albany except for Edge, who went a different
route and seemed to know where he was going. When the wrestlers kept coming
out, there was also one of the garbage men who kept getting a huge pop and “
Garbage man, garbage man!” chants. Security was even getting into it.
Overall, it was a pretty good show. Many people were disappointed that John
Cena wasn’t there, but following the angle at the end of RAW from last week,
it’s understandable. Also, some people were upset that Chris Jericho wasn’t
there, either. It was still a fun night all around.
That’s all from the show. In the meantime, check out my
profile there and give me an add if you want. Until the next time that
the WWE is in town, this is Tom Dinardi. Later everyone.
Report by: Lionsault34, rajah.com reader
For a house show, this was incredible. I was lucky enough to sit fourth row, so it made it even better. I hate John Cena with a passion, and him not being on the show was a HUGE PLUS. Lets get started.
Match #1 - World Tag Team Championship: Hurricane & Rosey (c) w/Stacy vs The Heart Throbs
Basic match that you would expect, with a big pop for the champs. The Heart Throbs got really no reaction. Finish of the match came when Stacy got up on the apron to distract the Heart Throbs, and Rosey and Hurricane finished off Antonio with that double team finisher they do.
WINNERS: THE HURRICANE & ROSEY
Match #2 - Victoria vs Christy
Coach comes out as the special guest ring announcer to a ton of heat. Easily the worst match of the night, but Christy is getting better. After about 5 minutes or so, Christy pins Victoria with a sunset flip. Post match: Victoria attacks Christy, and Viscera comes down. Viscera goes to kiss Victoria after grabbing her, and Coach hits Viscera on the back to no effect. Viscera turns around, slams Coach down, and gives him the big splash. Viscera leaves with a happy Christy in his arms.
WINNER: CHRISTY
Match #3 - TNT vs Mike Mizanin & Chris Cage
Chris Cage is actually pretty awesome. I've heard some good stuff about him, but never seen him wrestle. Mike Mizanin was VERY popular with the crowd, with the crowd chanting his name basically the whole match. It was an average tag match, with TNT doing all the heel work, and eventually getting the cheap win with Lance/Garrison Cade getting the cheap pin on Chris Cage.
WINNERS: TNT
Match #4 - Kerwin White vs Val Venis
Kerwin White is hilarious. Kerwin comes down with a clothes hanger, and gets in the ring and takes off his sweater and hangs it. Kerwin grabs the mic and talks about how he's much happier he left "Chavo Guerrero" behind in his past. Match was pretty good, surprisingly, with Kerwin getting the pinfall after about 10 minutes or so.
WINNER: KERWIN WHITE
Match #5 - The Big Show vs Chris Masters
The Masterpiece comes out with his usual entrance and grabs the mic. "I know why you all paid to come tonight...and thats to see the Masterlock Challenge!". As he was beginning to pick someone out of the crowd, the Big Show comes out to a monsterous pop. This ended being an actual match, not the Masterlock Challenge. It went about 10 minutes of Big Show destroying Masters, with Masters getting really no offense in. Out of no where, Snitsky comes down and attacks Big Show with a steel chair. Eventually, Big Show powers out of the attack, and sends them both flying to the outside.
WINNER: BIG SHOW BY DQ
-15 MINUTE INTERMISSION-
Match #6 - Intercontinental Championship: Carlito (c) vs Shelton Benjamin
Surprisingly, this match was terrible, and the crowd was the most dead for this match. Heres an example of how dead the crowd was: a guy dressed up as Hulk Hogan was standing up in front of a few sections doing the Hogan pose. People were taking pictures with him and high fiving him, not a good sign for the match. The match was about 15-20 minutes long, with HALF of that being Carlito standing at ringside to avoid Shelton. Carlito eventually wins with a roll up, holding the tights.
WINNER: CARLITO
Match #7 - Kurt Angle vs Eugene
This match was incredible, and the crowd went wild for every second of it. First, Kurt Angle came out to a chorus of boo's and the typical YOU SUCK. Eugene then came out to a huge pop. Angle grabbed the microphone and asked Eugene where his Olympic Gold Medal was. Eugene said that it was at home, and that his dog drags it all over the floor and through the mud. This made Angle furious, and he attacked Eugene. VERY SOLID 15+ minute match, alot of good wrestling. The finish came when Eugene countered a clothesline into a Rock bottom for a 2 count. He picked Angle up, and Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Eugene got out of it, and hit the Stone Cold Stunner, and then the People's Elbow for only a two. Eugene then finally finished it off with an Angle Slam. POST MATCH: Angle tries to shake Eugene's hand, and Eugene agrees. Angle then low blows him.
WINNER: EUGENE
Match #8 - The Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs Edge
Edge came out to the most heat of the entire night by far. Shawn Michaels came out right after playing the face role for the match, and Edge cut a very generic heel promo. The match was easily the best match of the night, and must have gone 20 or 25 minutes. A lot of excellent wrestling by both guys, which is no surprise from these two guys. The finish came when Edge speared HBK, then went to grab the briefcase. As he went to hit HBK in the face with it, he ducked, and hit the sweet chin music for the 3 count. Post match, HBK went around for about 10 minutes slapping hands, shaking hands, and taking a few pictures. Really cool stuff.
WINNER: SHAWN MICHAELS
Biggest Pops
1.) Shawn Michaels by far.
2.) Big Show
3.) Eugene
4.) Hurricane & Rosey
5.) Tie between Shelton Benjamin and belive it or not, Mike Mizanin.
Biggest Heat
1.) A ton of people leaving furious because Cena didn't show. I guess because a ton of people are Cena fans, and Cena vs Edge was advertised for about a month.
2.) Edge
3.) Chris Masters
4.) Kurt Angle
5.) Carlito during his entrance.
OVERALL: Awesome for a house show, really cool stuff.
