WWE Velocity Report-30th April 2006
By Shaun Best-Rajah.Com Reporter
Commentators: Steve Romero & Josh Mathews
Welcome aboard people. So it looks like Velocity will be making way for ECW this September if WWE can't gain an extra hour of TV Time. Hopefully it shouldn't mean a mass talent cull as despite ECW guys signing on WWE could make the Cruiserweights exclusive to ECW. Let Paul Heyman book ECW and revolutionise the Cruiserweights like he did in early ECW when Rey Mysterio, Psicosis, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit etc continually tore the house down. Just an idea. Back to the here and now let's get started with Velocity from Wembley Arena, London. I didn't go to the Velocity or Heat tapings but I wish I had done.
Chris Benoit vs Vito
Big ovation for Benoit. Heat for Vito who comes out alone and puts on a glove. Benoit gets the referee to see whether it's loaded. Huge Benoit chants throughout. Vito backs Benoit to the corner, Benoit switches and armdrags Vito away. Vito with a side headlock and shoulder tackle, Benoit with a drop toehold goes for the Crippler Crossface but Vito scrambles to the bottom rope. A test of strength results in a Vito boot but Benoit fights back with a boot, chops and right hand forearms into Vito's back. Benoit backs up, Vito loads up and decks Benoit with a closed fist. Vito kicks the midsection of Benoit before scoring nearfalls following a clothesline off the ropes and a suplex. Vito with another kick to the midsection, Benoit chops back, Vito goes to the eyes then snapmares and applies a rear naked choke. Benoit gets up sends Vito to the corner but charges into a backelbow. Vito hesitates a little before nailing a slam and top rope Vito bomb for another nearfall. Vito with some punches to the head goes for a slam but Benoit counters into a small package for a nearfall. Vito clotheslines Benoit for a nearfall before going back to the rear naked choke. Benoit fights free, Vito clubs, Vito goes for a slam, Benoit slips behind and executes three german suplexes. Benoit heads up top and nails a headbutt before locking in the Crippler Crossface. It doesn't take long for Vito to tap out. Benoit tunes up nicely for Finlay in King of the Ring this upcoming week on SmackDown! Good opener. Usual offense by Vito. Here is Your Winner: CHRIS BENOIT.
Matt Hardy vs Andy Simmons
Big pops for Hardy. Hey it's Simmons the Butler from UK's own FWA. Let's see how he does. Hardy begins with a side headlock and cranks up the pressure. Simmons sends off the ropes, Hardy responds with a shoulder tackle. Hardy with a step over and hiptoss counter. Hardy with a side headlock takedown gets a nearfall. Simmons gets up and maneuvers into a hammerlock which Hardy reverses. Simmons goes to the corner sending Hardy away with a backelbow. Simmons to the second rope misses with a seated dive attack allowing Hardy to hit a clothesline off the ropes. Simmons rolls onto the apron, Hardy advances, Simmons hangs Hardy up and works over Hardy with punches and kicks in the corner. Hardy turns the tables decking Simmons with rights and a left. Simmons staggers up into a side effect. Hardy with an elbow to the neck from the second rope stalks Simmons and finishes him off with the Twist of Fate. 1-2-3. A nice quick Hardy showcase. Here is Your Winner: MATT HARDY. Post match Hardy salutes his Mfers.
Nunzio vs Paul Burchill
Nunzio is back on TV in a wrestling role after a few weeks of inactivity in Vito's corner. Biggest ovation of the night goes to UK's own (but now residing in the Virgin Islands) Pirate Paul Burchill along with lots of pro Burchill signs shown in the crowd as he swings into the arena from the top of a red double decker bus. Josh briefly remarks on Brock Lesnar being in the news this week but doesn't give the reason (He and WWE have agreed to settle on his no-compete clause lawsuit). I wonder if WWE have dropped the Regal dressing as Burchill's wench storyline or just suspended it while in the UK as Regal clearly was a face at this past week's SmackDown! Burchill chants greet us as the bell rings along with Let's go Burchill throughout the match. Nunzio with a waistlock can't german suplex Burchill who switches then takes Nunzio to the mat with a waistlock takedown. Nunzio gets to the ropes to break. Nunzio shoves Burchill who shoves Nunzio down. Burchill with two shouldertackles and subsequent nearfalls. Nunzio tries to predict a Burchill stepover but Burchill drops a knee onto the back of Nunzio's head before delivering some mounted sluggish punches to the head on the mat. Nunzio reverses Burchill off the ropes into a backelbow. Burchill rolls out onto the apron, Nunzio dropkicks Burchill to the floor. Nunzio goes out to club Burchill then back inside Nunzio gets a one count before putting the boots to Burchill's gut. Nunzio with a kick and club to the back delivers a snapmare then a dropkick to the face of a seated positioned Burchill for a nearfall. Nunzio applies a headscissors on the mat then switches to a rear naked choke. Burchill breaks it a couple of times but Nunzio immediately re-applies before Burchill tries to backelbow free. Nunzio breaks, clubs the back, Burchill reverses an Irish whip charges into a knee to the gut but avoids Nunzio's Sicilian Slice attempt. Nunzio to the corner, Burchill hits a clothesline then stomps a mudhole in Nunzio and fires up. Burchill with a hiptoss then clotheslines and chops Nunzio down. Burchill flapjacks Nunzio. Cover 1-2-no. Burchill argues the count allowing Nunzio to recover and go to Burchill's eyes. Nunzio charges but Burchill catches and hits the C4/Walk the Plank. 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: PAUL BURCHILL. The crowd were hot for this one throughout and Nunzio had some decent heat. Burchill has a great deal of potential. WWE need to let him display his athleticism more in his matches. I don't mind the Pirate gimmick either.
Orlando Jordan vs Scotty 2 Hotty
Main Event time. After a hot show we get this for a Main Event. What the? The UK crowd crap all over Jordan and quite rightfully so. Even though Scotty's act is stale he remains over with all the kids in the crowd. Jordan works Scotty's arm behind his back to begin, Scotty tries to reverse but Jordan takes him down by the hair. This continues after armwringer reversals and a Scotty nip up as Jordan laughs at the booing crowd while keeping Scotty tied up on the mat. Scotty aims kicks at Jordan's head eventually nips up again and applies a side headlock. Scotty off the ropes drops Jordan with a shoulder tackle. Scotty steps over, Jordan leapfrogs then Scotty gets revenge for earlier by dropping Jordan down twice by his afro. Scotty taunts Jordan with a wiggle, ducks a charge and boots. Jordan reverses an Irish whip, Scotty floats over a charge and afro drops Jordan a third time. Scotty celebrates one time too often as a mad Jordan gets up and levels him with a clothesline. Jordan puts the boots to Scotty before driving his head into the corner then unleashing a series of punches, boots and a boot choke under the bottom rope. Jordan gets a nearfall after a suplex then applies a cross armbar on the mat. Scotty punches free but charges into a knee to the gut. Jordan with another nearfall now goes to a rear naked choke. All Jordan knows is restholds. Scotty elbows free, Jordan with a knee and club to the back turns away to pose and starts to fingerspray OJ in the air when Scotty nails a bulldog from behind. Scotty plays to the crowd for far too long before going for the W-O-R-M and not surprisingly Jordan tosses Scotty through the ropes before the Worm can make impact. Scotty gets back on the apron, sends Jordan away with a head to the gut, before coming back in over Jordan's back and taking him down with a flying forearm off the ropes. Scotty punches Jordan down before nailing a boot to the gut and going for a backslide. Scotty gets Jordan over but apparently his shoulders aren't down and both men slowly get back up. Jordan to the corner, Scotty hits five mounted punches before Jordan throws him off. Scotty ducks a charge and rolls Jordan up from out of the corner 1-2-no Jordan kicks out with the momentum sending Scotty's head into the bottom turnbuckle. Jordan staggers up gets his bearings boots Scotty and hits a fameasser for the 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: ORLANDO JORDAN. This was a bit better than I expected but still rubbish on the grand scale of things.
Overall I'll give this show a thumbs up. I enjoyed the first three matches and am eager to see what happens next with the respective victors (Benoit, Hardy, Burchill). The less said about Orlando Jordan the better as you all know my feelings on him by now. Please release him. Keep it here for Heat. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
