Zack Malibu

Ditto on the clearing out of the inbox!

Besides Orton/Michaels and that we know of, here's what I wouldn't mind seeing, though I have to wonder if it'll come anywhere as close. This is assuming they do cross-brand teams like last year. Team Stone Cold (Austin as the "coach" of the team, a la SurSer '03): Rey Mysterio/Jeff Hardy/Balls Mahoney/Matt Hardy/MVP vs. Santino Marella (captain)/Finlay/The Miz/Mr. Kennedy/Chavo Guerrero Triple H (captain)/Kane/Paul London/Brian Kendrick/Tommy Dreamer vs. Umaga (captain)/Mark Henry/Lance Cade/Trevor Murdoch/Big Daddy V CM Punk (captain)/Cody Rhodes/Hardcore Holly/Chuck Palumbo/Jimmy Wang Yang vs. John Morrison (captain)/Elijah Burke/Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin/Kenny Dykstra Women's Survivor Series: Mickie James/Torrie Wilson/Kelly Kelly/Michelle McCool vs. Beth Phoenix/Victoria/Melina/Jillian Hall There are a few guys on the fringe (Khali, Carlito, Masters) that will likely make the show before some of my choices, but I tried to be logical (ie: putting Chavo on Santino's team, given his history with Rey).

If Alexis James is the name of whatever girl Gail fought, that's a nice little wink to the smart fans. I have a feeling that with Hall back in the mix, once this Angle angle is sorted out, we're going to get an Outsiders/Team 3D feud, since they seem intent on feuding them in "dream matches" with the other big teams from back in the day. The Steiners deal was one thing, since they hadn't even been an active team the last few years of WCW, but Hall and Nash have done their Outsiders reunion bit a few times over now. Kazarian/Christian in a ladder match should be very fun, and Joe/Roode is another fresh match that I think will deliver. It looks like the first spoilers had a misprint as it had said The Steiners ran out and brawled with LAX, but it seems that they're going to be feuding with AJ/Tomko for this next PPV at least. Another fresh match, but it'll likely only be made watchable by AJ bumping like a champ.

The Hall thing is a swerve, much like how Jericho, Lesnar and Goldberg have been name dropped in the past. I don't doubt he may be brought in for another shot sometime, but I'm fairly certain it's going to be Booker T. as the partner.

Actually, it was WWF that popularized him as "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. In the old Mid-South/UWF days, he was pushed simply as Hacksaw Duggan.

Zack/Popick is in. Sorry for the delay in that, guys.

Apologies, folks...I didn't get back online until today, so I'll have my match done and up by the time I leave work tonight.

Actually, they'd been talking to Scorpio since before Bound For Glory, since he was the original pick to be Pacman's replacement. Also, it's pretty well known since Scotty became a free agent that TNA had considered doing a Too Cool reunion.

"It Ain't Over For Me" leads us to the beginning of our next bout, as Contestant Number One is just about to grace us (sarcasm, btw!) with his presence on this pre-Halloween episode of HeldDOWN~! BUFFER Ladies and gentlemen, this next match is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Atlanta, GA. Weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty five pounds, he proudly proclaims to be the Most Hated Man in OAOAST History...STEPHEN JOOOOOSEPH! Looking every bit as cocky as he was when he walked through the door five years ago, Popick makes his way to the ring to the expected fan reaction. Having grown used to it after all this time, the jeers bounce off of Popick like rubber, and he gets in the ring and uses the hatred to gloat to the fans and get under their skin just a bit more...until a certain Papa Roach song hits! "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!" BUFFER His opponent hails from Providence, RI. Weighing in tonight at two hundred and ten pounds, he is the "Modern Day Warrior", he is "The Franchise"...he is ZAAAAAAAAAACK MAAAAAAAAALIBUUUU! The look on Popick's face is the same stoneface expression you're bound to get whenever he and Malibu are in the same room, let alone in the same ring against each other! Malibu heads up the aisle looking back at his old foe, completely ready to relive their rivalry one more time here tonight. The bell sounds, and the two old rivals go nose to nose, this being the first time they've faced off in in-ring action in several years. Zack steps back and motions for Popick to take the first shot, but SJ simply smirks, and starts circling his opponent. Malibu keeps an eye on him and walks backwards, circling the ring as well, before they come to the center of the ring, ready to lock up... ...and Popick turns and hops through the ropes, out to the floor! COLE Looks like someone is making Zack play the waiting game! The fans react instantly, jeering the cowardice of the detested Stephen Joseph. Popick walks around the ring, rolling his eyes at his detractors, then hops up on the apron and steps back into the ring. COLE All right, here we go now! As he walks towards Zack, the Preppy One ties up with him, and the two jockey for position until Popick grabs a headlock. He wrenches his arm around Zack's head, but Zack shoves him off rather easily...and when Zack starts moving towards him, Popick ducks out of the ring once again! COLE Look at this...Popick, after all this years, is still running away from Zack Malibu! Malibu calls for Popick to come back in the ring, but SJ simply glares back at his longtime rival. Popick gets back up on the apron slower than the walking dead, and continues to glare at Zack from the apron. The stall tactic starts grating on everyone's nerves, especially the crowd, who blast Popick with a loud, hardly encouraging chant. "CHICKEN-SHIT!" "CHICKEN-SHIT!" "CHICKEN-SHIT!" Popick turns red, while Zack waves his arms for the chant to get louder. Knowing that this is surely pissing ol' BPP off, Zack smiles and waves him on, daring him to come back into the ring. COACH Don't let them get under your skin, SJ...pace yourself! Despite the warnings from Coach, history repeats itself quickly, as Popick steps through the ropes and charges at Zack, who stuns him with a right hand as he's running towards him, dropping Popick to the mat! Popick rushes up to his feet, but when he's up, he starts getting rocked by a series of hard, open slaps across his face from Malibu! Popick reels, but manages to drive a boot into Zack's gut, cutting off the flurry. He takes Zack by the arm and sends him to the ropes, but makes the mistake of dropping his head, taking his eye off Zack! A hard instep kick follows, sending Popick staggering back to a vertical base, and now Zack starts waylaying him with hard chops, forcing him to step back with every shot before taking him by the head and nailing him with a European uppercut that knocks Popick through the ropes and out to the floor! COLE Well, if Popick likes it out on the floor so much, I guess Zack felt obligated to send him there! It's hardly a vacation for Popick, as Malibu jumps out of the ring right after him. Zack spins a weary Popick around and nails him with a hard chop, then sends his face into the ring apron, which drops Popick to his knees! Zack pulls him up and then shoots him into the guardrail, then follows up with a running clothesline that cracks Popick's lower back against the metal barrier! Zack then takes him by the head and hurls him back into the ring, sliding in after his old foe. COACH Finally, we get back to action! COLE What would you call the last three minutes? COACH Weren't we at commercial? COLE Uh, no. COACH Sorry Mikey Cole, this new iPhone can be pretty distracting! In the ring, Popick sees Zack standing over him, and he heads for the corner, begging off. Popick pleads his case to Zack, telling him "we're friends", but Zack knocks the attempt at a handshake away, and biels Popick out of the corner! Angered now, Popick gets up and charges, but gets taken down with a drop toehold! Zack hits the ropes and looks for a kneedrop to the back of the head, but he misses, as SJ pulls up at the last second! Zack hops to his feet, but he's immediately taken out wtih a short clothesline, and now Popick starts stomping him down! COLE Stephen Joseph with the opening, and he's looking to work Zack over! Popick picks Zack up and throws him into the corner, then wraps his hands around the throat of the OAOAST Original, choking him against the ropes! Referee Nick Patrick will have none of that and backs Popick away, reprimanding him for the infraction...but as is typical of Popick, he brushes the referee off! As Zack gasps for air, he's stunned by a shoulderblock to the ribs...and then a taunting slap from Popick, who calls him on by shouting "C'mon, hero!" after the fact! Malibu bolts out of the corner and shoots for the legs, taking Popick down to the canvas, and then starts firing punche and elbows from the mount! Popick can't cover up, as Malibu is laying into him, then brings him to his feet...and Popick jabs a thumb in his eye, then delivers a headbutt that staggers Zack! Popick then grabs him and traps Zack in a headlock, putting the big squeeze on Zack's cranium! Zack struggles, reaching out for the ropes, but his hand can't even graze them, as Popick has him far enough away to prevent a rope break. Popick squeezes again, which can't be comfortable for Zack, so the former OAOAST World Champion powers Popick off his feet, lifting him up for a back suplex to break...but Popick twists himself so that he falls on top of Zack when the two land on the canvas! ONE! T-KICKOUT! COACH Close one, but a nice move by Popick there! As they recover, Popick blasts Zack across the back of the head with a forearm shot, then sends him into the ropes, and up into the air with a back bodydrop! Gravity sends Malibu back down to earth, and when he gets up, SJ grabs him in a rear waistlock! Zack keeps his feet planted, not allowing himself to be taken over while at the same time firing elbows back to get the break! Popick backs off after getting drilled in the cheek, allowing Zack to hit the ropes...but Popick hits a running knee that doubles Zack over! Flustered, Popick drags Zack off the mat and tosses him into the corner, then wails on him with hard chops that redden his chest! SJ then throws Malibu over his shoulder and pushes him up onto the third rope, then heads up the ropes himself, striking Zack with a pair of punches to daze him...but Malibu fights back, shoving Popick down to the canvas! Popick catches his footing and climbs right back up, only this time Zack sees it coming and fights back again, nailing Popick with a hard right hand and then shoving him off the ropes! Popick falls to the canvas but is quick to get back to his feet...which Malibu times perfectly as he gets to his feet and leaps off the ropes with a huracanrana! Stephen Joseph is sent across the ring, and when Malibu gets to his feet he looks to follow up, pulling a stunned Stephen Joseph up onto his shoulders for an airplane spin...but after one rotation, Popick is able to grab the ropes, and Nick Patrick orders the break! Zack begrudgingly puts Popick down, then charges...and winds up elevated over the top! Zack lands on the apron, and when Popick turns around shoots a shoulder through the ropes...but SJ sidesteps it, and then kicks Zack in the side of the head! Popick then grabs Zack by the head and drags him into the ring, holding him horizontal so that his feet are hooked on the middle rope...and then he drives him headfirst into the canvas with a spike DDT that makes the crowd gasp in horror! COLE Zack Malibu could be out cold, and Popick could have the win here! After dragging him away from the ropes, Popick covers the longtime thorn in his side, hooking a leg and calling for the count. ONE! TWO! NO! SHOULDER UP! COACH He had him there! C'mon, he so had him there! A snarl creeps across Popick's face as he's forced to listen to the cheers of the fans, who are glad Malibu escaped defeat at the hands of the Most Hated Man In OAOAST History. Popick then locks on a sleeperhold, drawing more boos, as he looks to put the semi-conscious superstar into a state of slumber en route to victory! "ZACK!" "ZACK!" "ZACK!" The rally starts up through the crowd, as a weary Malibu can barely muster the strength to fight off the submission hold. Popick scowls at the fans, telling them to shut their damn mouths, as he keeps the hold applied. Valiantly, Zack fights on, reaching for the ropes to force Popick to break the sleeper, but just as before, he can't get there! Popick holds on tight as Zack struggles, until finally, Zack is able to shift himself so that he can drive an elbow into Popick's bread basket! And another! And another! And a fourth one that does the job! The fans roar as Zack breaks the hold, but he collapses to one knee, visibly worn...and the fresher Popick quickly comes from behind and takes him over with a German suplex...THEN ROLLS TO HIS FEET WITH ZACK IN TOW! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" COLE What a smarmy bastard...he's copycatting Zack! COACH If you're gonna steal, steal from the best! Popick seems too proud of his actions, and that smile is knocked off his face when an elbow is fired back from Malibu, breaking the waistlock! Zack reaches back and snapmares Stephen Joseph over his shoulder, then cracks him across the back with a hard kick! Popick reels, but a second kick follows and feels just as uncomfortable, and the sting of that one hasn't worn off by the time Zack bounces off the ropes and nails a basement dropkick square in Popick's face! "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" COLE Don't ever count Zack Malibu out! Popick had him down, he had him worn, but then he had to get cocky, and now he's paying for it! SJ rolls to his feet, trying to regain the momentum he lost, while Zack fires himself up and gains some steam. Popick gets to his feet, but Malibu hits the ropes and nails him with a leaping lariat! Popick gets up quickly, but then he's planted by an inverted atomic drop, which is immediately followed by a jawbreaker! SJ stumbles back to the ropes, catching himself from falling...but a Pissed Off Prep comes charging with a running lariat that dumps Popick over the ropes and out to the ringside floor! With the fans urging him on, Zack braces himself, keeping a watchful eye on his opponent...and the second Popick is back up on his feet, Zack is in motion, racing across the ring and soaring over the ropes with a picturesque no hands plancha, crashing down on top of Stephen Joseph Popick! COACH YO! Zack rolls onto his back, holding his ribcage which must be sore after landing from high up above down onto another human being. Zack is the first to his feet, but as soon as he is up, he's shoved forward into the ring apron by an attacker from the crowd...WHO TURNS OUT TO BE THA PUERTO RICAN! COLE Via satellite my ass! He was laying in wait! Malibu favors the ribs as he reels from the crash into the apron, but he's then spun around and dropped on the floor with a uranage from PRL! The crowd starts booing heavily as PRL continues to work Zack over before rolling him into the ring. PRL then checks on Stephen Joseph, helping him to his feet and pointing out that Malibu is prone for a cover. Popick creeps in under the bottom rope and crawls onto Malibu, while PRL backs up, proud of his handywork. ONE! TWO! THR-KICKOUT! ZACK KICKS OUT! PRL freezes in his tracks, cutting his retreat off, while Popick pounds the mat in disbelief. As he stands up, he eyes PRL, who doesn't know what to say, until he comes back towards ringside and motivates Popick to "take his ass out!" SJ pulls Zack up and traps him in a facelock, readying him for a Fallen Angel...but Zack kicks his legs back, not allowing himself to be hoisted into the air! He shoves Popick backwards, then fire's off a flash SCHOOL'S OUT...but Popick catches the foot and spins Zack around, schoolboying him along with grabbing a handful of tights! ONE! TWO! NO! ZACK GRABS THE BOTTOM ROPE! COLE Popick thought he had this one won, but Zack Malibu got to the ropes when he needed to! PRL seems to be growing angered, almost embarrassed that Popick hasn't been able to finish Zack off, even with his help. Popick pulls Zack up again and fires him to the ropes...but Zack uses the momentum to nail PRL with a baseball slide! Zack then climbs up onto the apron and springboards in with a bodypress...but Popick rolls through with it, and again has Zack's shoulders to the mat! ONE! TWO! SHOULDER UP! Now Popick is really heated, because the memories come flooding back...he's always had trouble defeating Zack Malibu, and this time is no exception! He pulls Zack up to his knees, and pounds on his temple with hard shots, driving his knuckles into Malibu's head. He scoops him up, but before he can slam him, Zack slides down his back and grabs a rear waistlock, and brings Popick over with a GERMAN SUPLEX~! Zack rolls through, bringing his foe back up to a vertical base...and German Suplex Number 2 follows! They come up again, but as they do PRL tries climbing into the ring to go after Malibu for the shot he took at him a few moments ago! Patrick hurries over to prevent the interference, and with his eyes off the competitors, Popick fires a leg back, catching Zack low! Malibu doubles over, and Popick quickly turns around and grabs him, planting him with a quick Fallen Angel that leaves him looking up at the lights, and Patrick turns around just in time to see the pin! ONE! TWO! THREE! COLE Well I'll be damned! Stephen Joseph Popick, en route to a title match that some say he doesn't deserve, has just defeated Zack Malibu right here on HeldDOWN~! Popick thrusts his arms in the air like he's just won millions, while PRL, angered from earlier and holding his jaw, looks in the ring. SJ climbs up on the ropes and motions to him, asking him if he just saw what he did, and PRL offers a slight nod before looking at Zack and scowling. COLE Tha Puerto Rican tried to exact some revenge on Zack Malibu that backfired, but his ally still pulls out the win. We weave a tangled web here on HeldDOWN~!, but we'll try to unravel some more of it when we return after this!

Hayley is dating one of the guys in the band, and has been for some time.

That's pretty much my point. Riot! comes off at times as "we're trying too hard", as if they want every single to be a Top 40 hit sung out loud in the car. They didn't try that on the first album. In fact "Emergency" is catchier than anything off of Riot!, IMO.

Zack Malibu disagrees with you. Indeed I do. The major flaw with Riot! is that it's almost like what some people would call a "sell out" album, in that they seem to be wanting to goad in the pop-alt crowd and commercialize themselves, rather than stick with what they normally do. While I enjoy the album, All We Know Is Falling is ten times better. They put on a good live show too. First time I saw them (and heard them, mind you), they were the opening act for a band called Acceptance. 2 years later and while Acceptance broke up, the opening acts that night (Paramore, Cartel, Augustana and Receiving End Of Sirens) all came into their own.

The whole Holly deal is supposed to lead to Rhodes' getting over by earning his respect, and they're set to feud with Cade and Murdoch for the titles, per a recent Observer.

IIRC when Nova first signed with WWE he was sent to OVW and teamed with Jeter and became Tag Champs. They were both face and from what I remember they were super over and the fans loved them. He has so much potential, I thought the most out of any of the SS memebers and was hoping that he'd be the one they pushed. Kenny has good talent too, though. False, Nova teamed with Chris Cage as Adrenaline, until he got injured and replaced himself with Tank Toland, leading to Nova turning heel and forming the Jersey Shore Crew with Danny Inferno and Aaron Stevens. Jeter was a babyface molded after Jericho for a while before being paired with Cappotelli as The Thrillseekers. The peak of his OVW run did come after his heel turn, which was probably the most entertaining era in OVW history.

Per the most recent WO, there's currently a tug of war going on between Angle and Jarrett over Dixie Carter's "affections" and how the company is to be run. Angle wants a piece of the pie, and wants clean finishes and the young talent to be pushed. Jarrett wants to keep with the old school approach and name talent. It was said he was the one behind Rikishi coming in and pushing Team 3D as hard as they get pushed. Russo is oddly enough siding with Angle in all this, while Jarrett has Mantel, Abyss and BG James as his allies.

Maybe this could turn out to be a good thing, and guys like Kip James were sent the letter.

Returning from break, Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" is already in mid-stream, as Biff Atlas hit the ring during the commercial break, and has hijacked the microphone from Michael Buffer! BIFF OAOAST fans, it is I, your friend Biff Atlas, here with a public service announcement. People, look down at your feet. Those peanut shells might have come from this Earth, but do they belong on the floor? How about those 64 ounce Big Chugs sitting at your feet, or your plastic nacho containers? Now I can understand you not wanting to miss a moment of the action tonight, but people...there are trash receptacles all over this building! Please please PLEASE pick up after yourselves, because if we keep treating Mother Earth this way, who's going to pick up after us? There will be no one left people, and it will be the fault of all of you lazy n'er-do-wells, taking our precious planet for granted! COLE Of all things for a tree-hugger to do, he decides to get into wrestling? COACH Hey, you bite your tongue, Mikey Cole! If Biff Atlas can't get us to do our part to save the world, there'll be no world in which we can have wrestling, and then you'd be out of a job! COLE Coach, if there was no world, we wouldn't need jobs, because we'd be DEAD. COACH See! You're gonna kill me if you don't listen to him! COLE I'd like to do that anyways. COACH Say again? COLE Nothing. BIFF Now, I'd like to address the climate, but not the climate of this great planet, but that of the OAOAST. As the sun rises, so does a new day, and that will be the day of... CUE: "Getting Away With Murder". "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" COLE Biff Atlas has talked the talk...too much so, actually. Now let's see how he feels about the climate, because things are about to heat up quick! As the hit single by Papa Roach plays on, the former World Champion enters the arena to a tremendous ovation! Fresh off another disappointment with Landon Maddix eeking out a victory in the Triple Ladder Match just a few days ago, Zack Malibu heads to the ring looking to release some frustration on the former NRG member. COLE Look at Zack, Coach. Look at the eyes, how focused he is. That is a man who is not happy about Landon Maddix still being World Champion! COACH I thought it was because he didn't get a ring introduction because Biff has the mic! A mic which he uses to try and knock Malibu upside the head with as he enters the ring! Malibu is able to duck the shot and shoots for the legs, taking Biff to the canvas! Zack mounts the shoulders and starts wailing away with punches, as Biff does his best to shield his face from the blows! Malibu rolls off him but grabs him by the head, and as soon as he leads Biff up to his feet he hurls him through the ropes and out to the floor! COLE That's one way to get this match started! Zack goes after Biff, but Charles Robinson orders Zack to stay back, then calls for the bell. Flustered, Biff enters the ring, and charges at Malibu just as Zack does the same, and the two tie up! Using his power advantage, Biff forces Zack back to the corner, and Robinson calls for the break, which comes without incident. Biff motions for Zack to try again, and Malibu comes and ties up a second time, only to be shoved away! Biff reverts back to his NRG persona for a moment, stopping to flex and show off...and gets blasted with a hard slap! Biff reels from it, but as he turns his attention back to Zack, he's blasted with another, and then a hard chop that staggers him! Zack backs him to the ropes, but the Irish whip attempt is thwarted when Biff counters, sending Zack across the ring! Malibu rebounds, and Biff catches him with a military press, holding him high up over his head...until Zack slips out of his grasp! Zack grabs a rear waistlock and tries for a German suplex, but Biff breaks the hold and takes Zack over with a fireman's carry! Zack gets up quickly, but catches a boot to the stomach from Atlas, and then gets dropped to the mat again, this time thanks to a suplex from the Enviromental Assassin! COLE Atlas is showing what he can do with the size and power advantage, as he's been able to counteract a lot of Malibu's offense and toss him around a bit in the early going! Biff retrieves Malibu from the canvas, but his brash attitude leaves him prone to mistakes, and that's why he's caught with a jawbreaker from the Modern Day Warrior! Atlas stumbles back, while Malibu races to the ropes, and comes off with a diving clothesline that takes Mother Nature's Favorite Son off his feet! Malibu brings Biff up, and again unloads with the hard slaps, snapping Biff's head from one side to the other with every blow...but the coup de grace discus clothesline is ducked, and Biff scoops Zack off his feet and throws him into the corner! A series of back elbows follows, and a shoulderblock knocks the wind out of Zack before he's taken out of the corner and whipped so hard to the other side that he falls flat on his face after smashing into the turnbuckles! Biff nods knowingly at the crowd, drawing their ire, and then follows up with a running clothesline that takes a barely recovered Malibu down once again! COACH The King of the Clothesline doin' what he does best, and Malibu is DOWN, baby! Biff drags Zack up and hoists him up onto his shoulders, putting the pressure on with a Canadian Backbreaker! It's short-lived, however, as Malibu squirms until he's able to slide down the back of Biff Atlas, and takes him over with a backslide! ONE! T-KICKOUT! The two competitors get up to their feet, with Malibu kicking Biff in the ribs...or at least that was the plan until his foot got caught! Biff throws the leg down and tries a short clothesline, but Malibu ducks and hooks his arm around Biff's extended arm while going around him, then tossing him overhead with a release Half Nelson German Suplex! COLE He came right down on the back of his head! Malibu takes a few breaths before yanking Biff off the canvas and sending him to the corner, following up with a diving corner splash that splatters the hula skirt wearing superstar against the turnbuckles! Zack backs up, pulling Biff out of the corner by the wrist and shooting him across to the far side, and follows that up with a ZACK ATTACK II~!, or NOT, as Biff sidesteps it at the last second...but Zack lands with his feet on the middle rope, and springs backwards...but gets caught on Biff's shoulders! Biff walks to the center of the ring, looking for the space to deliver An Inconvienient Truth to Malibu, but Zack slips out of his grasp and cracks him on the jaw with SCHOOL'S OUT as he turns to him! Biff goes down, and Zack follows him to the canvas, making sure his shoulders are on the mat as he covers him! ONE! TWO! THREE! DING! DING! DING! COLE Quick and decisive, and Zack Malibu shines here tonight on HeldDOWN~! "Getting Away With Murder" is cued up for Malibu's victory celebration, as the popular superstar has his hand raised by Lil' Naitch. Malibu circles the ring, paying respect to his legion of fans as they stand on their feet cheering the former World Champion and his victory here tonight. COLE It wasn't meant to be for Biff Atlas tonight, and it may not be long before Landon Maddix's time is up. Zack Malibu is as charged and focused as ever, and that is a man who is not going to rest until the World Championship is back around his waist!

I fully agree that the title should be given to Jeff Hardy. Have Orton do the whole "raise my hand, give me the belt" bit, but Hardy interrupts. Lays claim to being the #1 contender by virtue of being Intercontinental Champion, and that he doesn't want someone like Orton representing RAW. Keep the Last Man Standing stip (because Jeff is at his best in car crash matches) and let them go balls out, with a bloody Jeff eeking out the victory. Kennedy can be kept in the background as a challenger, using the whole "I put Cena and Lashley out" gimmick, plus Orton would have a rematch built in by saying that he wasn't prepared for Jeff Hardy. Business wise, it makes sense as well. Jeff's as over as ever, and he draws in pretty much the same demographic that Cena does.

I've got the majority of these on DVD thanks to work, but some of these would be good for long car rides, ESPECIALLY the Raven/Sandman, which is one of my all time favorite shoots. Thanks for finding these.

BUFFER Llladies and gentlemen, the One And Only AngleSault Thread is proud to present, live at Zero Hour Two Thousand And Seven, your MAIN EVENT of the evening. In a first of it's kind in OAOAST history, it is a THREE-WAY LADDER MATCH, in which the only way to win is to climb the ladder and retrieve the championship belt which we be hung high above the arena... and, it is for the OAOAST HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE Wooorrrrllld! ARE YOU READY? "YYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!" BUFFER Memphis, Tennessee... ARE... YOU... rrrrrrrrrrRRRREADY!? "YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" BUFFER Then, for the thousands in attendance... and the millions watching around the world on pay per view, ladies and gentlemen... LLLLLLLLLLLLET’S GET RRREEAADY TO RRRUMBLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! [b]"PREPARE...FOR...LANDON!"[/b] [i]...WAAAAAHHHHH... *DUM DUM*[/i] "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Incubus' "Megalomaniac" hits first, bringing out the Champion himself! Striding through the entrance doors, Landon "La Cucaracha" Maddix wipes a nervous hand across his face and jumps around on the spot, trying to fire himself up. Megan Skye follows her man out and points to the belt around his waist, applauding Landon as he sets off for the ring. BUFFER Introducing first! Hailing from Huron, South Dakota by way of Madrid, Spain. Weighing in at two hundred and eight pounds... he is led to the ring this evening by his "Perfect 10", MEGAN SKYE... the reigning and defending, One and Only AngleSault Thread HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WOOOOORRRRRLLDD... LANDON! "LA CUCARACHA"... MMMMMAAAAAAAAAADDIIIIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXX!!! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Landon leaps to the apron, looking out at the crowd as Megan climbs the steps. Megan holds open the ropes and Landon bounds into the ring, spinning himself into the centre of the ring HBK style and posing with Megan. COLE After winning it in controversial circumstances, June 28th of this year, Landon Maddix has held the OAOAST World Title for three months now. But he has faced no tougher challenge than the one he encounters tonight. No championship advantage what-so-ever. The odds are even, he must beat not one but two challengers in retrieving his title in order to retain it. COACH And I still don't agree with that. Referee Earl Hebner stops Landon as he enters the ring, calling for the belt as the cable hangs in the middle of the ring. Landon unstraps the title from his waist, taking a deep breath as he hands it over to Hebner to loop around the metal ring of the cable. COLE You're saying PRL doesn't deserve his rematch? COACH Well... uh... COLE And you can't be saying Zack doesn't deserve a rematch. Not after what happened at AngleSlam. As the belt begins to rise into the air, Landon goes through some more warm-ups, trying to work out the nerves. COLE Well, Landon has had no luck what-so-ever in the past few weeks building to tonight. He was pinned by Zack Malibu, thanks to PRL and some Sweet Chin Music, three weeks ago when he was supposed to be teaming with him in a Handicap Match. Then, the next week, same result but with PRL getting the pin thanks to Zack's School's Out. And then last week, Landon looked to return the favour on Zack... after he'd saved him from a Lightning Crew attack no less... but found nobody home on the Superkick and was left empty-handed. Will he leave REALLY empty-handed tonight though? The lights go down in the arena. A Puerto Rican flag appears on the AngleTron. In big white blocky letters, the following words appear on the screen, with Tha Puerto Rican saying them: [b]*THE CHAMP IS HERE!*[/b] With that, a lightning bolt hits the entrance, the PRL entrance video plays on the AngleTron, and "Know Your Role '99" begins playing, with the crowd standing up and booing. PR is heard saying, "THE CHAMP IS HERE!" throughout the song, while smoke fills the entryway and strobe lights appear on the entrance set. A few seconds elapsed, and out from the curtains and through the smoke come "The Corporate Champion" Tha Puerto Rican, and his fianceé, Ms. Lindsay Gonzalez. The crowds' boos get louder. PR looks at the crowd in disgust, jawing with some fans. He looks at Lindsay, and the two of them begin their walk down the entrance ramp. BUFFER Introducing, the first challenger in this match. Accompanied to the ring by the OAOAST Women's Champion, MS. LINDSAY GONZALEZ! He comes to us from San Juan, Puerto Rico... weighing in at two hundred, twenty pounds, tonight hoping to win the coveted World Championship for the very first time, here is, "THE CORPORATE CHAMPION"... THA PUUUUUEEEEEEEERRTOOOOOOOO RRIIIIIIIIIIIICCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANN!!! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Chants of "P.R. SUCKS!" fill the arena as PRL and Lindsay continue their walk to the ring. Tha Puerto Rican gets on the ring apron and sneers at the crowd. Lindsay holds the ropes, and Tha Puerto Rican enters the ring. He spins around; soaking in the fans boos while "Know Your Role '99" continues playing over the P.A. system. Tha Puerto Rican does the HBK muscle pose while pyro goes off behind him. The crowd is still booing loudly and chanting "P.R. SUCKS!" PRL heads to a second turnbuckle and raises his hands. He then heads to another second turnbuckle and raises his hands again. COLE What a huge night this could be for Tha Puerto Rican. But, how many times we've said. PRL is desperate for a victory tonight, not just to become Champion itself but also to finally lose that tag of a man who just 'doesn't win the big one'. PR hits a third second turnbuckle, and raises his right arm in the air and "smells the electricity" a'la The Rock. PRL does the same Rock pose on the fourth second turnbuckle, recieving boos. Tha Puerto Rican gets off the ropes, removes his sunglasses and earring, and chats with Lindsay while the lights go back on in the arena. "Know Your Role '99" dies down as PRL locks eyes with the World Champion. COACH There's an elecricity in the air tonight. I mean, there always is when PRL's around but, something bigger. COLE An historic and sure to be an entertaining main-event here at Zero Hour 2007. COACH No, I'm talking expectancy Michael. Expectancy that finally, PRL grabs that brass ring, pulls it from the ceiling and can call himself truly the Corporate Champion, the Corporate OAOAST World Heavyweight Champion! COLE Or perhpas it's expectancy that the title will go to this man... .:CUE: "Getting Away With Murder", Papa Roach:. "YYYYEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" BUFFER And, introducing the second challenger! Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island... he weighs two hundred, ten pounds... ladies and gentlemen, the true "FRANCHISE" of the OAOAST, the former three time World Heavyweight Champion... this is ZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCK... MMMMMMMAAAAAAAALLLLIIIIIIIIIIBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!! "YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Walking through a shower of golden pyro, Zack marches to the ring with his head held high. A burst of white pyro shoots out from either side of the ramp behind him as he looks up at the belt hovering over the ring, that sight alone amping him up. COLE The cornerstone of the OAOAST, Zack Malibu! What a reaction from this crowd, no need to guess who the fans are going to be behind here tonight! COACH Who cares? Into the ring slides Zack and once he's sure Landon and PRL aren't about to back-jump him, he scales the turnbuckles to raise his arms for his adoring fans. Another loud cheer goes up, earning Zack glares from both of his opponent. Zack jumps down off the ropes and removes his ring jacket, handing it to the outside as Hebner now leaves the ring. Megan and Lindsay are out two, leaving just the three arch-enemies. "ZACK!" "ZACK!" "ZACK!" "ZACK!" COLE Here we go then. Three-Way Ladder Match, seconds away. COACH Yeah, for real this time. Stick with us Meltzer, we steer you wrong! COLE What the hell are you talking about? *DINGDINGDING!* The crowd is at a fever pitch after the introductions, knowing that these three superstars could make history tonight before their very eyes. The addition of ladders (and surely, other objects and/or people) into this feud has a recipe for a classic encounter or a disaster, depending on how you look at it. The three superstars circle the ring, exchanging cold glares with each other until Maddix makes the motion that he and PRL should combine forces against Malibu! Tha Puerto Rican, uneasy about the alliance given Landon's nature, nods in agreement, and the two start slowly approaching Malibu... but Maddix gives his "friend" an encouraging nudge, right into the angry prep! COLE So much for being a team player! PRL has no time to go on the defensive, as he's rocked by a series of Malibu right hands and backed up to the ropes, while Landon drops and rolls out of the ring, already in search of a ladder! Zack fires PRL to the ropes, but Tha Puerto Rican clings to the top strand, putting the brakes on before Malibu can come up with anything to take him down again. He comes towards Malibu again, but then the two men turn and see Landon pulling a ladder up from under the ring, so they burst forward and deliver baseball slide dropkicks... ...but Landon pulls the ladder up over them, avoiding what was sure to be a painful blow! Zack and PRL then turn around and grab the ladder, using it to snap Landon down onto the floor with the ladder on top of him, driving the air out of his chest! COACH Didn't take long for the full metal mayhem to start now did it, Mikey Cole? Zack and Tha Puerto Rican each take an end of the ladder and lift it up, then slam it down onto Maddix, leaving the World Champion aching in pain under it. PRL and Zack then take the ladder and send it into the ring, but as Zack goes to climb back in, he's yanked off the apron by his friend turned foe! PRL rattles Zack with a series of right hands, only for Malibu to respond with blistering chops to the chest of the brash superstar! The exchange continues until Maddix pushes himself to his feet and charges... MADDIX YYYYAAAAARRRRGHHHH! ...but both Zack and PRL step back, causing Landon to run into the ring apron! Megan looks a little embarrassed looking on, as Tha Puerto Rican takes him and suplexes him on the floor, laying him out once again, while Malibu takes the opportunity to get back in the ring, where he begins to set the ladder up! COLE Zack Malibu wasting no time here tonight, as he looks to reclaim the World Title that he helped establish! Malibu reaches down to pull the ladder up, but immediately finds himself blasted across the back with a forearm shot from PRL! PRL then takes Zack and lifts for a back suplex, but Malibu floats over his back! Zack quickly spins him around and then sweeps PRL's leg out from under him, drilling him with an STO onto the ladder! "OOOHHHHHHHHHH!" Tha Puerto Rican rolls away, holding his head, leaving Zack free and clear to set the ladder up! COACH He's got it up, now he's just gonna have to make that climb! Zack starts his way up the ladder, all of his fans hoping that he can put an end to this issue once and for all with a quick win over his two arch-rivals. That's not to be, however, as he's barely a few steps up when Maddix slides into the ring and pulls Zack off the ladder! Landon rakes the eyes, momentarily blinding Zack, who is then shot into the ropes. Tha Puerto Rican, pulling himself up onto the apron after having been jarred by that STO, goes flying off and down into the guardrail, as Malibu stumbles back from the collision only to be met with a running kneelift to the back that sends him out through the ropes! Zack reaches up and grasps the middle rope, not allowing himself to fall to the floor, but as he brings himself to his feet, Maddix is right there waiting for him! The World Champion delivers a hard slap across the face of Malibu, then shoots himself through the middle rope to catch Zack with a shoulderblock. But Malibu sidesteps it and then hits a soccer kick to the exposed chest of the champion! COACH Ouch! Landon pulls himself back into the ring, holding his chest, while Zack leaps up to spring...NO! Tha Puerto Rican jumps up and grabs Zack by the ankle, yanking him down to the floor! PRL ties up with Malibu on the floor, but before anything can happen, Landon races over and propels himself through the bottom and middle ropes with the Topé Especial, diving onto both men! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" COLE The World Champion knows that he's a lone wolf here tonight. He's the one with the most to lose. No matter how much double-teaming goes on, whether it's he and Tha Puerto Rican onto Zack or he and Zack onto PRL, he has got to make sure that both of his opponents get equal treatment from him, and taking them both out with a dive like that is the way to do it! COACH He's got 'em both down, just roll back into the ring and get up that ladder Landon! For once, Coach's advice doesn't fall on deaf ears, as Maddix gets up to his feet and rolls back into the ring. The World Champion makes his way right over to the ladder and starts the climb, racing up the steps as fast as he can... ...but as he makes it towards the top, Tha Puerto Rican is in the ring and races up the opposite side of the ladder! Maddix reaches up for the belt, but the reach leaves him open for a right hand to the jaw, staggering him as he tries to keep his balance. Tha Puerto Rican nails another right hand that teeters the World Champion, then reaches up for the belt himself, but Maddix leans over the top of the ladder and grabs PRL, trying to shove him off! PRL clings to Maddix, and both men wind up falling off the ladder, to their feet, almost in a lockup position. Recovering his bearings, Maddix quickly grabs a headlock and gives a "thumbs up" to gloat, but finds himself shoved to the ropes and taken over with an arm drag from PRL! Maddix gets to his feet and staggers around, turning to rush PRL, and winds up elevated with a back bodydrop before crashing down ONTO A LADDER, as Malibu slides a second one into the fray! "OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" COLE Nice timing there by Zack! COACH Not if your name's Landon Maddix! La Cucaracha convulses and as Malibu enters the ring, PRL picks up the ladder he just slid in and uses it as a battering ram, driving it into Malibu's ribcage! PRL pulls back, then runs forward again, this time connecting with the forehead of Malibu and knocking the former World Champion off his feet with a vicious ladder shot! The determined Latino keeps the ladder up on his shoulder and now turns his attention to the reigning champion, charging him in the same way he did to Zack. Maddix rolls under the ladder though and dodges! Tha Puerto Rican crashes into the ropes, with the ladder going over the top and out to the floor! PRL turns around, only to be blasted with a series of forearms by Landon that keeps him stunned before being irish whipped across the ri... NO! Tha Puerto Rican counters, sending Maddix towards a recovering Malibu, who tucks his head low and elevates Landon over the ropes... but the champion lands on the apron! Tha Puerto Rican tries for a lariat on Malibu, but Zack throws up his arms, blocking the blow! He unloads with a series of open hand slaps, cracking the leader of the Lightning Crew across his face multiple times before throwing a discus clothesline that floors him! Zack steps back as his foe reels, but Maddix creeps back in behind him, nailing him with a low blow! COLE It's perfectly legal in the confines of this match, but it's still not right! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The crowd lets Landon have it, but he pays no mind, as he's about to let Zack have it. Holding his most detested opponent by the head, he throws him into a standing headscissors and then reaches down, hoisting him up for a powerbomb... but it's countered! Zack slides out of his grasp, landing face to face with Landon, and unloads on him just as he did to PRL moments earlier, each shot getting a bigger pop than the last... until Landon breaks it up with a knee, then tries for the powerbomb again... only to have it broken up as Tha Puerto Rican pops up to his feet and hits a diving clothesline that takes him down! COLE Whether he meant it or not, Tha Puerto Rican just saved Zack Malibu there! Tha Puerto Rican puts the boots to Landon Maddix, kicking him away, while Malibu gets up and takes this opportunity to start climbing the ladder! The crowd starts roaring, and that tells PRL that maybe he'd better pay attention to his other opponent, as Zack is halfway up the climb! PRL rushes over to the ladder and grabs Zack's ankle, yanking him back to the canvas! Tha Puerto Rican takes Zack by the arm and nails a short arm clothesline, then hurries up the ladder while both his foes are down, hoping that they'll be too stunned to block his run to the top! COACH Yes! He's going to do it, he's finally going to do it! COLE So now you're cheering for PRL? COACH Hey, if you gonna back someone, why not back a winner? PRL gets further and further up the ladder, until he's on the next to last step...and that's when the ladder starts to teeter, as Malibu gets up and forces the ladder over, sending Tha Puerto Rican down onto the top rope, crotch first! "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" LINDSAY :O COLE Sterilization, OAOAST style! COACH How is PRL going to consumate the marriage now!? Malibu grabs the fallen ladder and folds it up, making it easier to pick up off the mat, while on the floor Maddix roots around under the ring for a second ladder and slides it in! Zack waits on the World Champion's entrance, and swings the ladder at him just as Landon picks up his own ladder, blocking the shot! Maddix runs at Malibu, trying to ram him with the ladder, but now Zack's ladder acts as a shield, and we have DUELING LADDERS~! in the center of the ring! *CLANG!* The ladders collide! *CLANG!* And again! *CLANG!* And finally, after a third attack, Landon's fingers can take no more and he drops his ladder. Zack sees his chance and charges with the ladder. But Landon sidesteps, drop toeholding Zack and causing The Franchise to fall chest first across the ladder he was carrying! Zack rolls over, but not off of the ladder itself. And Maddix capitalises, jumping onto Malibu's chest with a double stomp... then drops out with the back sention, BOTH across the ladder!! COLE Man alive! Maddix crushing Zack across that metal ladder, not once but twice in quick succession! Landon holds the back of his head having rapped it off the back of the ladder, Zack writhing around on the mat holding his sternum. Climbing to his feet, Maddix retrieves the other ladder and starts to set it up in the centre of the ring. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" COACH Here we go, come on Landon! COLE You switch horses more than... well, uh... you know, I want to say Britney Spears just to be topical but I think the correct answer would be a jockey. Not as funny as Britney Spears though. With the ladder set up, Landon takes a quick look around before beginning his climb. There had been no sign of PRL at the time. But that's because he was rooting under the ring, coming out with a steel chair in his hands! Tha Puerto Rican slides into the ring on Landon's blindside and as the World Champion gets to about halfway up the ladder, PRL measures him and swings the chair... *CRACK!* "YYEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!" ...HITTING LANDON RIGHT IN THE KIDNEYS! Landon just about keeps his grip on the rungs of the ladder, sinking down a little in pain. COLE As if there wasn't enough steel in the ring, that chair put to good use by PRL there. Landon climbs down a step on the ladder obviously trying to get back to safe ground. PRL turns his back on the Champion before reaching up, hooking up Landon's arms and bringing him off of the ladder, into the Che Guevara Special! PRL tortures La Cucaracha in the rack like move for a few seconds, walking around the ringand picking his spot before throwing him up in the "Free Puerto Rico Now!" (Gory Bomb)! The World Champion's face bounces off the canvas, PRL sitting and applauding himself before untangling himself from Landon's legs. COLE And now, PRL heading up... COACH Here we go, come on PR! Looking up at the belt, PRL takes a deep breath, realising how close he could be as he begins his climb. Tha Puerto Rican makes good time up the ladder, with Ms. Lindsay Gonzalez cheering his every step. But just as he reaches halfway, a clubbing shot from Zack stops him in his tracks. PRL holds his back. And Zack quickly reaches up from underneath, grabbing hold of PR's legs and PULLING HIM OFF THE LADDER WITH A THUNDEROUS POWERBOMB!!! "YYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" PRL lands high on his shoulders and rolls onto his front, the still winded Malibu falling to one knee. The Memphis crowd show no sympathy though. They just want Zack to climb while he has the chance! COLE We knew the spare man would come into play in this one and it's proving the case. Now, it's Zack, picking his spot. Is now the time!? Pulling himself up by the ladder, Zack starts his climb, powered by the support of the fans. Zack stops periodically to glance up at the belt glinting in the lights. Which might prove his downfall, as over staggers a groggy La Cucaracha. Ducking in the middle of the ladder, Landon lines up Zack through the rungs and throws a punch that lands low. VERY low. Malibu goes rigid and finds himself stuck on the ladder as Landon comes out from the middle. Landon finds his footing and begins to climb the ladder, on Zack's side, behind The Franchise. Getting to a rung below Zack, Maddix reaches up and grabs the head. He tucks, prepares... ...AND PULLS ZACK OFF THE LADDER WITH A LUNGBLOWER FROM AT LEAST SIX FEET UP!!!!! "OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" COLE My God it sounded like a car crash! And it looks like the remnants of one, what a brutal landing for The Franchise! Zack writhers around in utter agony, kicking his legs and grinding his teeth. Landon doesn't look much better off himself though and struggles to get to his feet. COLE These three men are pulling out all the stops to be the top of the mountain, the World Heavyweight Champion. None of these men may be the same after this night is over! Maybe for the better, maybe for the worse! COACH No doubt about it. These guys are only going to get all the more desperate and take all the more risks the longer the match goes too. Up to his knees, Landon sees PRL getting to his feet and quickly pushes the ladder over. PRL doesn't see it coming until it's too late and gets felled by the falling ladder! "LAN - DON SUCKS!" "LAN - DON SUCKS!" "LAN - DON SUCKS!" "LAN - DON SUCKS!" The Memphis crowd get on the Champion's back as he pulls the ladder off of PRL and dumps it aside. Backing into the corner, Maddix then pushes up on the middle rope and gives the signal that it's OVAH~!, time for the Crash Landon perhaps. PRL drags himself up and walks over, taking a boot to the chest before Landon reaches out for hi... NO! European uppercut by PRL, staggering Landon, almost sending him out over the top. COLE Landon is in no man's land now! And... what the hell is PRL doing!? COACH Whatever it is, it don't look good. PRL drags the ladder from off the canvas and wedges the top rung between the top and middle turnbuckles, directly underneath Landon. Megan watches on with clear nervousness as PRL reaches up, delivering an uppercut before reaching up and grabbing Landon by the hair. It seems a simple biel might be the plan as he tries to grab the arm as well. Landon starts to fight though and fires down with a forearm! And another! And another! With PRL's grip broken, Maddix then grabs hold of PRL's head... *CRACK!* ...and DRIVES his face down into the ladder!! PRL rebounds back up momentarily but stumbles, falling across the ladder. Realising that's a bad position he immediately tries to scramble out in front though, as Landon re-adjusts himself on the top rope. Just as Landon's feet meet the top rope and he begins to stand, PRL pulls himself off the ladder, stood at the foot of the makeshift bridge and waiting for the dive... ...Tha Puerto Rican ducks... ...but Maddix soars high, tucking his legs in and extending them on the descent... ...MUSHROOM STOMPING PRL IN THE BACK... [i]*KE - RRAAACCKK!!*[/i] ...CAUSING HIM TO FACEPLANT DIRECTLY INTO THE LADDER WEDGED IN FRONT OF HIM!!!!!! [i]"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"[/i] COLE Good Lord in heaven! PRL's body bounces violently off the ladder which provides virtually no give what-so-ever in it's position. The Corporate Champion remains laid out, facedown on the ladder, while Landon winds up on his knees in the centre of the ring, slumping back wearily. And as he goes backwards, his gaze wanders upwards, fixing on the title belt in the sky. COLE The World Champion is sensing victory right now. Kicking PRL aside, Landon unwedges the ladder and begins to drag it towards the centre of the ring. Just as he begins to turn around though, he finds himself getting pulled away. Zack, still hunched over holding his back, drags Landon towards him. Maddix stubbornly holds onto the ladder. But Zack quickly wraps on a waistlock, popping the hips and taking Landon over with a German Suplex... *CRASH!* "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" ...WITH THE LADDER COMING DOWN ON TOP OF LANDON SECONDS LATER!!! COACH The hits just keep on coming in Memphis! COLE Man, I think BOTH men got trapped under the ladder on landing! That was an ugl... no, wait, Zack is back up! And listen to the crowd! The fans in Memphis roar their approval as Zack gingerly stands back up. Zack takes the ladder from beside Landon, slowly opening and setting it underneath the belt high above. And after a quick positional adjustment, Zack begins to climb! Nursing his back all the way, Zack labours his way, rung by rung, the crowd all on their feet. PRL is still down, laid underneath the bottom rope. But Landon is recovering and crawls over to the ladder, reaching up for Zack's ankle in desperation. The World Champion manages to grab it just as Zack goes to reach, distracting him for a second. He manages to shrug Landon off though and reach again, BRUSHING THE BELT WITH HIS FINGERTIPS! The belt swings agonisingly away. And that gives Landon time to jump up and land with a forearm to the back! COLE Zack is SO close and yet, with Landon on his heels, so far away from another World Championship reign! As Zack sinks down, Landon shifts to the other side of the ladder and begins to climb opposite him. Those that weren't on their feet sure are now as Landon struggles up the ladder, reaching out to punch Zack and keep him at bay while he climbs. Eventually Maddix gets to Zack's level and reaches up, trying to merely beat Malibu to the belt. But Malibu quickly punches him in the gut, causing Landon to teeter... but he manages to right himself. COLE This is dangerous territory. Zack and Landon, high above the ring here with nothing beneath them but gravity! COACH That and a hard ring canvas anyway. Landon regains his balance but takes another right hand from Zack, over the ladder. Taking another step up, Zack then reaches over and grabs a front facelock, looking for a Superplex!! "YYYEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!" COLE Oh my God. Zack, don't do this! Sharing none of Cole's sentiments, the fans will Zack to do it, perhaps not too wisely. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you see it, Landon manages to fight his way out with some shots to the ribs. Reaching up, Landon then grabs the head, driving it into the very top of the steel ladder! Malibu now teeters, high, high above the ring. Which is when Landon reaches out and tries to put him in a fireman's carry. COLE GTS off the ladder!? COACH If he hits this, we've got a new World Champion. Nobody's going to get up from that, except PR! Zack starts to rain down elbows to fight Landon off though, having to make sure not to fall from the ladder himself at the same time. He manages to fight the Champion off okay though and plants his hand in Landon's back, PUSHING HIM OFF THE LADDER... "YYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHH..." COLE WE'VE GONNA HAVE A NEW CHAMPIO... ...NO! The celebrations are premature, as when Landon hits the ground he falls into the ropes, getting bounced back off them and having enough where-with-all to bounce back into the ladder! Before Zack can even react the ladder is toppling from Landon's barge, sending it and The Franchise toppling... ...WITH ZACK COMING DOWN THROAT-FIRST ACROSS THE TOP ROPE!! "...OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" A groan goes up through the arena as Zack falls to the canvas. Landon falls too, both men hurting, with the ladder laying propped against the ring ropes. COLE Man how close can you get!? I thought the coast was clear for Zack right there, we were seconds away from a new World Champion. But whether by luck of judgement, Landon Maddix managed to topple the ladder and save his title! COACH But now, everybody's down! This is PRL's chance! COLE It's also Landon's chance. COACH Yeah well, he had his shot. I'm backing the winner remember, come on PR, get up! Do it for your Crew, do it for your woman, do it for Puerto Rico, the motherland! All three men are down for the moment, giving the fans a chance for a breather. Not for long though, as Landon wearily pulls himself to his feet. Staggering over to Zack, the Champion simply but very smartly log-rolls Zack out of the ring to take him out of the equation. Landon takes a moment to rest afterwards though. Which allows PRL to sneak up from behind, spinning Landon around and grabbing him for the Latin Slam! Shocked, Maddix gets set for an elbow. But he reacts too late and gets planted with the LATIN SLAM!! COLE Latin Slam! PRL pulls out a big move just at the right time! With Maddix down, PRL grabs the ladder from off the ropes. Instead of setting it up though, he folds the ladder and drops it in the middle of the ring. PRL sports a busted lip now, with a lot of blood running down his cheek. Wiping the blood away, PRL pulls Landon back to his feet. Scooping him up, PRL then places Landon, slamming him right down on the ladder. COACH Oh yes! COLE Oh no. COACH Could it be? Could we see it Michael!? Sure enough, PRL looks up and the fans rise to their feet. PRL removes his elbowpad, spitting on it and throwing it into the face of The Next Generation. He does some weird hand signals, and then bounces off the ropes, jumps over Maddix, and then bounces off the opposite ropes. PRL then begins to s l o w down, making a jerky belt motion around his waist... and then drops the most electrifying move in professional wrestling, the INTENSEZONE ELBOW! "YYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHH - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" COACH The IntenseZone Elbow! The IntenseZone Elbow, the King of Elbows in the city of Kings, the most electrifying move in sports entertainment HISTORY! COLE On the ladder no less! COACH This is going to be the night, I can feel it. Four and a half years PRL has waited for this moment. And now, he's picking his spots. He's using his smarts. This is Tha Puerto Rican's time! After staying down to catch his breath, PRL rolls back to his feet. Maddix gets rolled off of the ladder, which PRL then begins to stand up. Still looking a little dis-orientated, PR takes his time, getting the ladder positioned where he wants it before opening it up and locking the clips in the middle. PRL then looks up and raises the Corporate Eyebrow at the belt above, before beginning his climb. COLE PRL's biggest claim to fame, his year-long 24/7 Title reign, ended with defeat in a Ladder Match. How ironic would it be if he were to win the biggest prize of them all in the same setting here tonight? "LET'S GO ZACK!" "LET'S GO ZACK!" ("P - R!") "LET'S GO ZACK!" "LET'S GO ZACK!" Stopping, PRL takes another look up the belt and realises he's too far away. He takes another step but still is just out of reach, cursing his natural lack of height. That's when Zack Malibu rolls into the ring and scrambles over, catching PRL's leg and stopping from making that crucial next step up! "YYYEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!" COACH AH! So close! PRL tries to kick Zack away, but Zack is up on the ladder behind him, reaching up and popping him in the kidneys. And again. PRL is in trouble now as Zack lands another shot just to be sure. Zack then takes a step down the ladder and wedges his head between PRL's legs, trying to lift him into the electric chair! With a look of fear on his face, PRL hangs onto the rungs of the ladder with everything he has. COLE PRL's got nowhere to go but down here, unless he can fight Zack off! Right on cue, PRL tries to do just that. Zack can't seem to pull PRL off the ladder but PRL can't seem to fight off Zack. Climbing to his feet, Landon Maddix sees all of this and frantically makes a dart for the ladder. He rushes to the opposite side and goes to climb, leaving PRL and Zack to it... but their tussle makes the ladder unsteady enough that he doesn't fancy trying to climb it. So, Landon goes around the other side and underneath his two challengers. Crouching down, Landon then stands so that Zack is on [i]his[/i] shoulders... "OOHHHHHH..." ...and pulls him away from the ladder... "...OOOHHHHHH..." ...Zack bringing PRL off two... ...AND GETTING DROPPED BACKWARDS WITH A [b]DOUBLE[/b] ELECTRIC CHAIR, PRL GETTING FOLDED ON HIS SHOULDERS AS LANDON CRUMBLES UNDERNEATH THE WEIGHT OF HIS TWO CHALLENGERS!!!! "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" COLE AND DOWN GO ALL THREE MEN!! Like a human three-car pile up, they landed so hard they may now be one person! COACH As hyperbole goes that ranks right up there... but still, DAMN that looked nasty! "O - A - O - A - S - T!" "O - A - O - A - S - T!" "O - A - O - A - S - T!" All three men lie motionless as the crowd applaud their efforts to destroy their bodies... and win the belt of course. Having been the orchestrator of the move, it's Landon who gets to his feet first though. The World Champion uses the ladder to pull himself to his feet and looks around, to see Zack also pulling himself slowly up. MADDIX DAMNIT! Cursing that his challenger won't stay down, Maddix moves away from the ladder and crouches, egging Zack on. Using the ropes, Zack gets to his feet and pushes away, towards Landon. And Maddix catches him, hooking the head and hitting the CRASH LANDO... NO! Zack blocks it, wringing out the arm to escape and pulling Landon in instead for the ANGLE SLA... NO!! Jumping out of the move, Landon lands on his feet behind Zack and waits for him to turn around... elbow, DUCKED... *SMA...* ...NO!!! Landon BLOCKS School's Out, spinning Zack around... *SMACK!* ...AND LEVELLING HIM WITH HIS OWN SUPERKICK!! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" COLE He got him! After week upon week of being on the recieving end, Landon Maddix finally hits the superkick! COACH That's all the convincing I need Cole. Landon's luck has changed at the best possible time, he's gonna do it now! There's no stopping La Cucaracha! Falling to all fours, Landon grins, Megan applauding her man loudly for his success. Maddix pushes off his knees and now turns back to the ladder, ready to climb and retrieve his belt. But for some reason he stops, glancing back at PRL. Landon grins again, this time a little more sinisterly, as he steps away from the ladder and motions Tha Puerto Rican back to his feet. COLE Uh-oh, there may be one more reciept to be paid right here. COACH This is a mistake. I'm telling you, that was Landon's chance. PRL begins to stir and very gingerly starts to pull himself up. Crouching down, Landon waves PRL to his feet, virtually stalking his other challenger. PRL comes off the ropes holding his neck and stumbles, making a slow turn. And when he does get around to Landon, the World Champion comes in with another SUPERKI... ...DUCKED! Landon goes stumbling into the ropes, quickly turning around and going for PRL again. But The Corporate Champion catches him with a boot... *WHAM!* ...AND SPIKES HIM WITH THE CORPORATE NIGHTMARE!!!! COLE CORPORATE NIGHTMARE! Maddix to the well once too often, PRL caught him! And now it may be time! As Maddix stays motionless PRL sits up, with Lindsay running over and hurriedly pointing PRL to the belt, shouting encouragement to her future husband. PRL's eyes light up as he looks at the World Title and he quickly crawls over, pulling himself up on the ladder and beginning his ascent! COLE PRL's going up! COACH Climb PR, climb! You're a few steps away! The crowd start to get behind PRL as he reaches halfway. Or so it seems, until Zack Malibu starts to crawl over and begin inching his way up the opposite side of the ladder! The race is suddenly on and although PRL is ahead, a gritted teeth, grimacing Zack Malibu hauls himself up the ladder with every ounce of energy he has left. "ZACK!" "ZACK!" ("P - R!") "ZACK!" "ZACK!" ("P - R!") PRL is still closest and can almost touch the belt, needing to go up one more step before reaching out... ...and coming within MILLIMETRES, before a sudden punch jabs him in the gut from Zack! COLE I thought he had it right there! But Zack Malibu is still alive, he's still in the hunt. He will not. Give. Up! Zack connects on another punch then goes up another rung himself, landing a hard right hand to the head of Tha Puerto Rican. PRL wobbles but fires right back with a right hand of his own! Zack retaliates. So does PRl. And the two challengers are suddenly duking it out at the top of the ladder! Zack. PRL. Zack! PRL! It looks for a second that Zack might fall after that last shot. But after getting his balance, Zack suddenly EXPLODES, firing off five rapid fire slaps to the face from the left and the right... then a THUNDEROUS sixth, heard all around the arena! COLE OH what a shot! COACH No PR, hang on! That's a loooong way down! Shaken by the slap, PRL is suddenly in no position to stop Zack as he looks to the belt and reaches up... ...GRABBING THE STRA... ...NO! PRL cuts him off with a headbutt to the stomach! "OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!" Zack doubles over and PRL, looking oh so relieved, shakes out the cobwebs before simply reaching out and shoving Zack... *THUD!* ...SOME FIFTEEN FEET TO THE CANVAS BELOW!!!! "YYYEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" COLE DOWN GOES ZACK! COACH PRL! PRL! P R ... *CRACK!* ...NO!!! Just as the fans start to scream, either in approval or dis-approval, for the fact that PRL is just about to grab the World Title, he gets stung by a CHAIRSHOT TO THE BACK OF THE LEG from Landon Maddix!! The desperation shot catches PR right in the soft part of the knee and he howls in pain, stopping just inches from the belt to grab his leg. Maddix looks stunned, not just from the landing on his head but that PRL is still on the ladder. And in [i]utter[/i] desperation he takes the chair, throws it... *CRACK!* ...CATCHING PRL RIGHT IN THE FACE... *THUD!* ...AND BRINGING HIM CRASHING OFF THE LADDER IN A TANGLED HEAP!!!! COACH AAAHHHHHH! COLE PRL just crashed. And he damn sure burned! He was right there, the belt was there for the taking... but somehow, Landon Maddix just saved his title! COACH And there's nobody left Michael! Wiping the hair from his face, Landon looks around and sees PRL down, sees Zack down... and sees the belt still hanging from the ceiling. Quickly he dives to the ladder and rushes up the rungs, chewing them up on his way to the top. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Landon reaches a safe position on the top and looks up, checking where he is. He then steadies himself and begins to reach up, grabbing the belt and untying the strap... ...as below him, Zack makes a last ditch dive... ...his hand hits the ladder... ...BUT IT'S TOO LATE!!! COLE HE DID IT! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" *DINGDINGDING!* COLE Maddix has the belt! Somehow, someway, Landon Maddix has RETAINED his title! What a match! BUFFER Ladies and gentlemen, your winner of this match... and... STIIIILLLL, ONE AND ONLY ANGLESAULT THREAD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WOOOOOORRRRRRLLLDD... LLLLAAAANDON! "LA CUCARACHAAAAAAAA!"... MMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAADDIIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Stood on the second to top rung, Landon cradles the belt in his arms and lays across the top of the ladder, relief washing over him. Zack looks up from the bottom of the ladder and holds his head in his hands as in rolls Megan behind him, grabbing the bottom of the ladder and holding it steady to help her man down safely. COLE An incredible effort by all three of these men. But in the end, lady luck was finally on the side of Landon Maddix! We thought PRL had won it when Zack came crashing from the ladder, it looked like he was out of sight. Until, that is, he took a chair to the knee, chair to the head and a fatal blow to his latest challenge for the World Title. And Zack... well, just INCHES away from preventing Landon grabbing the belt right at the death. Safely off of the ladder, Landon raises the belt over his head with one arm, with Megan next to him keeping him on his feet. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" COACH You can't take anything away from that man Michael. He is the World Heavyweight Champion and he showed us why tonight. I backed him all along, I knew he'd do it! COLE You were backing PRL most of the match... COACH I said I was backing the winner. And by golly if Landon wasn't the winner! COLE You really are unbelievable. Megan holds the ropes open and helps Landon out of the ring, the Champion still cradling the belt in his arms and barely able to manage a celebration. Entering the ring, Lindsay Gonzalez kneels next to PRL and tries to comfort her man who is barely moving. Zack is sat in the corner meanwhile, watching down the aisle as Megan raises Landon's arm and Landon raises the belt in kind. COLE That is the sight that few were expecting. Zero Hour was to be the toughest test of our Champion's credentials. And with the odds stacked against him, Landon Maddix leaves Memphis, Tennessee, STILL your World Champion. From The Coach, this Michael Cole saying good night. We will see you this Thursday night in Tupelo, HeldDOWN~!, all the fallout from an incredible night of action at Zero Hour. Don't you dare miss it! COACH HOLLA! FADE TO BLACK

Originally, Morgan's debut was supposed to take place this past year at Lockdown, as part of Christian's team, IIRC. However, I hope that they don't turn him right away. Let him be the enforcer/tweener type, taking no shit from anyone. They've been doing a good job giving him the slow burn, first by just standing there with Cornette looking imposing, then protecting Cornette (the pull apart with Angle a few weeks back) and now carrying out orders to keep people in line. Booking-wise, he and Tomko are probably the two best off people in TNA, because they're not being rushed through an angle.

Was that the one where Poison played despite grunge having hit (I think Nirvana played that show too) and hair metal being completely dead? And then managed to completely mangle 'Talk Dirty To Me' so bad that they had to restart the song? And yeah, the VMAs haven't been worthwhile since they moved from NY to Miami. The Radio City Music Hall ones were great. It wasn't that they mangled the song. They were playing a completely different song (Unskinny Bop, IIRC) when CC Deville, fucked up on God knows what on that particular night, started doing the riff for Talk Dirty To Me instead, so Bret Michaels called an audible and they did that.

IIRC, McCool's married with children as well. Meltzer used to think it was odd that someone so grounded and family oriented wound up wanting to be in the wrestling business given its treatment of women.

Jimmy Rave debuts Sunday in the tag team gauntlet as the new partner of Lance Hoyt. Interested to see what the plans for him/them are, since Russo was pushing to get Rave signed.

I don't think it would be Triple H, Undertaker, or Shawn Michaels. Out of the all the talent be they veterans or guys with only a few years in, they are the three that are most protective of their characters. Plus, this gimmick will essentially "make" whoever it's intended for, so their best bet would be to go with someone relatively fresh. A dark horse, but a guy I'd pick, would be Kenny Dykstra.