Post by jackknight on Jan 1, 2014 15:08:58 GMT
12/30/96 - The Boston Garden Boston, MA
"Mean" Gene Okerlund and "The Genius" Lanny Poffo welcome us to the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts for another exciting edition of Eastern Championship Wrestling! They then briefly recap last week's show which saw "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson announce his intentions to face ECW Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho in a rematch for the Title at King of the Mountain '97! That same night Jericho defeated an opponent hand-picked by Double A himself; "The Rugged One" Ron Garvin! The Tag-Team Champs Dustin Rhodes and Tommy Dreamer defended their Titles in a Triple-Threat match against World's Finest and the Ubermensch; and Arn's Horsemen William Regal, Tully Blanchard; and Scott Taylor defeated the Mexi-Kings in 6-Man Tag!
They then run down tonight's huge show which will see a huge Triple Threat Main Event for the Eastern States Title as "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit defends against both the "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "All-American" Ron Simmons! Also on tonight's card ECW Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho is set to take on "The Leprechaun" Erin O'Grady, the self-Titled Million Dollar Champions Steve Corino and Alex Porteay will face the Hughes Brothers and the Circus of Doom will square off against The New Killer Bees!
Joel Gertner then makes the announcements for the first match of the night.
Tag-Team Match: Circus of Doom w/ Brimstone vs. The New Killer Bees
Referee: S.D. Jones
The New Killer Bees do their best here and have "The Ring Master" Matt Borne on the ropes for a bit. One slap to the face of the monstrous Pogo the Clown is all it takes however for momentum to change in the CoD's favor permanently as he Buries B. Brian Blair in the Basement for the pinfall.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Scott Taylor vs. Ace Steel
Referee: Danny Davis
Ace Steel takes the fight right to Scott Taylor and both men have their moments. Several nearfalls are had by both men; but in the end Taylor snaps off a superkick that kos Steel for the three count.
Tired or not, Taylor is no match for the Mexi-Kings as their music hits and Eddie Guerrero leds Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Hernandez down to the ring where they beat the hell out of him; letting Chavito have most the fun as he avenges his loss last week.
This continues until William Regal and Tully Blanchard spill down the ramp and run the Kings off. Eddie tells them that the Horsemen are dead esse and
spits in their general direction.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Taka Michinoku vs. Brian Christopher
Referee: S.D. Jones
Taka Michinoku more than holds his own in this fast paced back and forth battle by two of the best performers in the Light Heavyweight division. The decision maker in this one however was "Too Cool" Brian Christopher's girl "Miss Texas" Jacqueline Moore who grabs Taka from outside of the ring, distacting him long enough for Christopher to hit a bulldog that sets up the Hip Hop guillotine legdrop for the win here tonight. Michinoku is very angry after the match, muttering in Japanese and pounding the mat.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
"Mean" Gene and Lanny welcome us back from the break before reminding us the next week's show will be coming to us live from the Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine and that while tickets are still available; those folks not in the area should tune in right here on Eastern Championship's home station of TNN The Nashville Network to catch all the exciting ECW action live! They then remind us to tune in this Saturday night at 8pm for the final episode of Weekend Warriors which will feature ECW Light Heavyweight Champion "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri defending his Title once again against "The Lone Wolf" Dean Malenko in the Main Event! Right here on The Nashville Network!
Match: Chris Jericho vs. Erin O'Grady
Referee: Danny Davis
"The Leprechaun" Erin O'Grady comes out and tosses his gold coins from his cauldron to the fans while Irish Folk music plays and enters the ring before waiting for the Champion. He sits and waits. And waits. And waits. So does the audience. O'Grady does an Irish jig to keep them entertained, but that only lasts so long. Eventually "White Train" by Tito & Tarantula hits!
And out from the back swaggers ECW President Eric Bischoff! He looks mad as he gets into his ring and tells us that he's just received word instead of just running late, the ECW Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho isn't going to be appearing tonight at all! What?! Yeah, Bischoff is pissed too. Apparently Chris' car broke down on the way to the arena. In Rhode Island! Eric doesn't believe it however, but he also can't disprove it. So... being whenever Eric Bischoff is out here we all know it can only mean one thing... Business is now at Hand!
He then informs us that because Chris Jericho hasn't shown up here tonight, he's awarding this match to Erin O'Grady via Forfeit! And being he beat the Champ right here tonight; next week in Orono, Maine "The Leprechaun" Erin O'Grady will be facing "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho for the ECW Championship! Erin can't seem to believe his luck and hugs Bischoff excitedly before thinking better of it and shaking his hand. "All-Class" then tells us being he can see "The Loud-Mouth" no-showing again due to this news; if Chris Jericho ever misses another show; he'll be stripped of the Eastern Heavyweight Championship!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Tag-Team Match: The Million Dollar Champions Corino & Porteau vs. The Hughes Brothers
Referee: S.D. Jones
"The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase keeps his team in check here as they battle The Hughes Brothers. Devon and Spike gives Steve Corino and Alex Porteau a real hard time, with big Devon hitting the 360 degree corkscrew back elbow smash on Steve Corino for a nearfall and little Spike hitting the Mission from Gawd corner springboard cutter on Alex Porteau for a two. Corino and Porteau hang in there however and isolate Spike whom Steve Corino finishes off with the Sliding C Special lariat for the win.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Shane Helms vs. Jason Knight
Referee: Danny Davis
"Sugar in His Tank" Shane Helms ("it's just Sugar damn you Gertner!") gets a decent fight from Jason Knight whom he manages to beat with the Overcast diving neckbreaker.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Okerlund and Poffo welcome us back from the last commercial break of the evening before hyping tonight's huge Main Event! They talk about the dominant Eastern States Champion "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit who won the Title back on September 25th, 1996 at ECW's big event September to Rembember when he beat "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the Title. Since then both Savage and "All-American" Ron Simmons have been hot on his heels trying to capture the belt. And tonight he will defend the belt against both men at the same time!
Gertner: The following contest is a Triple Threat match scheduled for one fall and is for the Eastern States Championship! Introducing first from Warner Robins, Georgia weighing 270 lbs. he is "All-American" Ron Simmons!
Ron comes down to the ring and shakes hands with referee S.D. Jones as "Pomp and Circumstance" hits!
Gertner: Now introducing the second challenger from Sarasota, Florida weighing 237 lbs.; he is the "Macho Man" Randy Savage!
Savage comes down to the ring alone and Okerlund thinks him leaving Debbie Combs in the back for this one was for the best. Just then the Talking Heads hits!
Gertner: And now accompanied to the ring by "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase; introducing the Eastern States Champion weighing 220 lbs. from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; he is "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit!
Eastern States Title Triple Threat Main Event: Chris Benoit vs. Randy Savage vs. Ron Simmons
Referee: S.D. Jones
No sooner than the bell rings, than Chris Benoit goes right after both men! Ron Simmons and Randy Savage trade punches with the Champ driving him back into the corner as they double-team him. At this point Randy seems to be asking for a little alone time with Chris and Ron gives him it! But just then Benoit escapes with a boot to the gut and begins Chopping "Macho Man" about the ring! He gets him hung up on the ropes and begins working him over while Simmons just watches. Lanny laughs saying Savage wanted himself some Benoit, and now he's getting it!
Benoit goes for a whip, but Randy reverses it and cuts Chris off with a knee to the gut! And running the ropes, Savage connects with a baseball slide on the downed "Canadian Crippler" that sends him right out of the ring! Ron laughs at this and gets the crowd behind Savage while he begins taking Chris apart on the outside. And climbing up the stairs, Savage lets Chris have it with a double axe handle! Randy then beats on him some more before rolling Chris back into the ring. He climbs up on the apron and looks like he's waiting for the springboard clothesline off the top; but while he stands there Ron Simmons rushes across the ring and sends "Macho" down to the floor with a brutal surprise clothesline!
And pulling Chris up to his feet, Ron whips him hard into the corner! And he makes the cover! 1! 2! Benoit kicks out! Okerlund can't believe Simmons blindsided Savage like that; but Lanny tells Gene that any "Genius" could tell you that all's fair when a Title is on the line. Ron then pulls Benoit up to his feet, shoves him in the corner and begins pounding the hell out of him! He whips him hard into the opposing corner and charges in; but Benoit gets his feet up and catches Ron in the jaw!
Simmons reels from the blow and Chris is right on him with the Chops! He Chops him up across the ring, but Ron fires back with a knee to the gut and a hard right! But Benoit ducks the swing and with a quick go behind, pops the hips; and hits a release German Suplex! And as Ron staggers to his feet Chris looks for another! But big Ron is smart enough to grab the ropes! The hold broken by Jones, Ron connects with a back elbow while Savage comes in from behind and lays Chris out! Randy begins stomping out "The Canadian Crippler!" And now Ron is helping him! But as Simmons puts the boots to the Champ, Savage goes behind him, spins him about and starts hammering on the "All-American!" The two men are trading punches with Randy driving Ron into the corner where he goes for the Irish Whip! But Simmons reverses it! And as Ron charges in, Randy gets the boot up! And as Ron staggers away, Chris drops him with a Chop! And then he drops Randy with another one! And as Ron stumbles back up, Benoit whips Ron him into the ropes and drops him again with an elbow smash! Chris is all fired up! He takes Randy back down with another elbow smash! And hits Ron Simmons with a vertical suplex! And now waiting for both men to rise to their feet, he sprints across the ring and drops them both over the top rope with a double clothesline! And then running the ropes he charges across the ring and launches out onto both Randy Savage and Ron Simmons with a tope dive! All three men are down as they hit the steel barricade!
Chris Benoit looks groggy, but he's up first. He pulls Randy up to his feet; but "Macho Man" grabs him by surprise and hammers Chris' head into the guardrail before running him back into the ring! Savage keeps control, pounding on Benoit as he re-enters, and walking to the corner attempts to introduce the Benoit's face to the turnbuckle! Chris however puts on the breaks and escapes by pounding and kneeing the hell out of Randy! And hoisting the former ECW Champion up into the air; Chris drops him stomach first onto the top rope! And then proceeds to suplex him back into the ring! Chris Benoit then grabs Randy by the legs, wraps them up and rolls him over for the... Wait no, Savage is fighting it! But Benoit gets his leg over and he's locked in the Sharpshooter!
But in comes Ron Simmons with a clothesline! Chris sees him coming though and dropping Savage, takes the "All-American" right down to the mat with the Crippler Crossface!
Simmons is fighting it! He's reaching for the ropes! And he makes it because Randy Savage who's now on the outside, grabs Ron by the arm and pulls him to the ropes! And as Jones breaks the hold, as agile as a cat Randy hops up onto the apron, then the top rope; and hits the springboard clothesline on a stunned Chris Benoit! Ron Simmons meanwhile has used the ropes to get to his feet only ro be rolled up by "Macho Man from behind! 1! 2!
Simmons kicks free! Ron is right back up, but Randy is hammering him into the ropes and goes for the whip! But the "All-American" reverses and drops Savage hard with a thrust spinebuster! This could be it! 1!... 2!...
Savage kicks out! Ron Simmons pulls him up to his feet for a vertical suplex, but Randy counters it falling down behind him and kicking Ron in the gut puts the big man down with a Piledriver! But he's a little slow with the cover and only comes away with a two! Randy pulls at his hair. He doesn't know what to do and signals he's going up top! Benoit meanwhile is coming to life on the outside, but he isn't in time to stop "Macho Man" from going airborne!
And he connects with the Savage Elbow! Into nothing but canvas as big Ron rolls out of the way! And pulling Savage up to his feet he goes to set up the Dominator! But Randy fights his way out and catapults him face first into the top turnbuckle! And Chris Benoit is back in the ring! He grabs a stunned Ron from behind and tosses him with a quick release German Suplex! And he begins with some kicks and knee strikes to Savage! And a snap suplex to the "Macho Man!" Right onto Simmons' head! Ron looks like he's been shot as he flails about the ring grabbing his face and rolls out to the floor!
Inside the ring both Randy and Chris are staggering up to their feet. Benoit is a little faster and clubs Savage in the back before locking in a waistlock and... Randy fights the suplex attempt! He swings around with a back elbow, but "The Crippler" ducks it and grabs Savage's legs pulling them out from under him and wraps him up into the Sharpshooter!
Savage is fighting it! He's clawing it way to the ropes! But as he gets just close enough to grab them, Ted DiBiase grabs them and pulls them away while Benoit pulls him back into the center of the ring! Jones yells at Ted to stay out of it before returning to the match.
"Macho Man" is screaming in pain! Poffo think he just might tap! Ron Simmons is now back up on the outside though and grabbing DiBiase from behind he runs him face first into the steel ringpost! And climbing into the ring he clotheslines Benoit right out of his boots! And after catching a small breather, Ron pulls Chris up to his feet and whips him across the ring!
But "The Canadian Crippler" reverses it driving Ron into the corner! And pulling Savage up to his feet, Chris runs him shoulder first into Simmons! Benoit then Chops Savage before whipping him into the opposing corner. He then does the same to Simmons, sending him flying into Randy, but the "Macho Man" dodges and Ron takes a huge spill up over the top rope and out of the ring! Medics are already checking on him and Randy Savage charges across the ring at Benoit with a clothesline! But Chris ducks it, locks him about the waist and hits a German Suplex! And he doesn't let go! He hits another! And another! Benoit is back up on his stumpy legs and he makes the throat slashing motion! Chris Benoit turns to head up top, but...
He gets cut off by Ron Simmons who sets him up for the Dominator inverted front powerslam! But Chris fights his way out and once again dumps Simmons over the side! Savage is still down and Benoit heads up top! But Randy meets him there and levels him with several punches before climbing up top! But Benoit racks him with several headbutts sending Randy down to the mat below! And Chris Benoit is up! And he's airborne! And the flying headbutt connects! 1!... 2!...
3! Chris Benoit has done it! But Ron Simmons is back in the ring just seconds too later! He's pissed and beating Benoit down pulls him up to his feet and this time hits the Dominator inverted powerslam on Benoit! Savage and Chris are still down while Ron stands above them looking like the victor as the...
Lights Fade.
Working on it now.