Zack Malibu

Hardy's not coming back. At this point if he stays clean, a Hardyz reunion in WWE is likely.

I wonder if Rick Rude is one of the riot cops!

According to house show reports, since TNA trademarked "Prince of Punk" when Shannon Moore was under contract, he'll be known here on out as "The Reject". I'm guessing part of the gimmick will be that he was "kicked out" of every other company?

Doane should be sent over to Smackdown with a big heel push. Jeter and Mondo would be a perfect tag team for any of the rosters, although for some reason I could also see a Jeter/Miz duo (the original plan was for Capotelli/Miz, and then Chris Cage/Miz, so maybe they'll rehash the plan). Nemeth needs to be in a team/stable, because on his own he's rather bland. Mitchell I have no clue what to even do with.

Why is this shocking? It's TNA...more than just flat back bumps are allowed.

Let's see if I can cover all the bases here: 1)Kazarian and Bentley haven't teamed in a while, and they weren't exactly the superteam of TNA even during their heel push. So storyline wise, there's your reason (rust/time off affects performance). Legitimately, Bentley hasn't been used in a while, Kazarian just came back, so doing some jobs to put a team you plan on going all the way with over isn't going to affect either guys career. 2)Cornette promised that everyone was on his watch, and that if he'd fire his friend Earl Hebner, no one would be exempt from his wrath if they deserved it. Young's whole gimmick is that he's paranoid, and despite being browbeat by his former Team Canada teammates, he probably feels that the team being dissolved is just one step closer for him to be unemployed. In the storyline, he's just recently begun the face turn. Saying "he won't get fired because he's loved" means nothing. The fans cheer for Abyss despite being a sadistic heel...would you take that into storyline account? 3)Joe/Rhino sounds less like a waste and more like a setup for a Monster's Ball, as I've mentioned. They aren't programming a major singles match between the two yet. Plus, it's almost like saying Rocky Maivia beating Triple H for the IC belt in '97 ruined their chances at drawing real money in '98-'00. Guys can have still fought each other and still have a big money/dream style match. 4)Hernandez is a 50/50 talent from what I've seen of him in Wildside and ROH, but he's in there with three solid workers, and so far they've played to his strength as far as him being the badass enforcer type. 5)Agreed on Zbysko, he does nothing for me. 6)They really need to decide if the James Gang are gonna be heels or faces. I'd prefer heels, if only because the much anticipated NAO reunion got dragged out way too long, and by the time they got them together, no one gave a shit. 7)Honestly, this appears to be a swerve setup with Christian. It looks like the simple, ages-old "ask to help babyface, turn on babyface, insta-heel". Instead, I think Christian WILL help Sting get the title off of Jarrett, THEN turn heel on him.

Sounds like a logical step for a Monster's Ball. I believe the three have done them on house shows (or it might be Abyss/Rhino/Joe who have done them). Obviously if that's the case, it's Joe over Brown somehow. I could easily see Steiner being fed to Rhino if they're drifting Joe away from him for the time being.

I think they're also planning on making Incognito from Mexico a regular, so he could be a possibility.

Cornette didn't "choose ROH over TNA". He had stated around the time he was signed that his TNA deal would not affect his previously booked ROH commitments, which last through September, IIRC. He's honoring his end of the deal. Also, Cornette has stated that if they ever need him for segments when he's unable to get to Orlando, he will gladly drive to the home office in Nashville to do them there. I'd say he's offering his best efforts to help TNA.

JJ isn't defending the title at the PPV.

Regarding HH'98, the feed went out before the main event of Goldberg vs. DDP for the World Title. They aired the match in full the following night on Nitro.

Todd Cortez and Bloodshed vs. The SK8R Boiz

Yes, everything now is being built to Angleslam. Several of the PPV's have been omitted from the schedule. I haven't been able to work much on my State of the OAOAST post as I've been busy covering for people on vacation at work, and haven't had much time to finish that off.

As we return to the live feed of wrestling action, we're greeted by Korn's blaring rendition of "Word Up", as the OAOAST's very own set of wrasslin' triplets, The Garners, have hit ringside ready for action. COLE Welcome back fans, you're just in time for World Six Man Tag Team Title action, as a challenge laid out two weeks ago gets answered tonight. After defeating The Wildcards at the Great Angle Bash, The Hooligans have found themselves chased by former World Six Man Tag Team Champions The Triple Threat, the trio of triplets Nick, Rick, and Dick Garner. COACH ...and my boys ain't scurred o' nothin'! COLE It's evident that The Hooligans aren't intimidated by anyone, as their wars with The Wildcards have proven. Still, The Garners threw down the gauntlet. They want their titles back, and they're looking to reclaim them tonight! Looking hyped for their chance at regaining the belts they feel they established, The Garners work themselves up further while all eyes are on the entrance ramp, the music of The Triple Threat having now faded away. Moments later, "Make Her Say" hits, and after having been on the receiving end of the fans venom up until recently, it's all null and void tonight, as The Hooligans get a HYOOGE pop when they step out on the ramp! COLE Much like they proved their worth by not backing down from the sadistic Wildcards, they've also managed to get the crowd behind them! Scotty Static and Johnny Jax step out first, brandishing 40 oz. beers in one hand, and their World Six Man Titles draped over their shoulders. They stand facing the crowd and start chugging as Jamie O'Hara walks out, his belt strapped firmly around his waist as he stands in the middle of the GPX with his arms folded in front of him. Static and Jax then reach back and hand their belts to O'Hara, who then cocks his head back and extends his arms, holding a belt in each hand, as the GPX pour the remainder of their beers down his throat! COACH Now THAT'S how you take a drink! None o' that sissy boy martini sipping! COLE Are you shooting? COACH Like a Duck Hunt player, playa! Now that they're tipsy, The Hooligans walk to the ring (O'Hara still carrying all three belts) as the GPX charge down the aisle first, sliding into the ring right into an assault by the Triple Threat! Nick, Dick and Rick pounce on the former World Tag Team Champions until O'Hara puts the title belts aside and leaps to the apron, springboarding into the ring with a corkscrew crossbody that wipes out all three of the Garners! COLE That's a way to make an entrance! Now that all six men are involved, they pair off with each other, as each Hooligan picks a Garner and stays on him. O'Hara beats on one of the triplets with forearms across the back, until he pulls him up and catches a thumb to the eye, which allows whatever Garner it is he's been brawling with to take advantage, and hurl him through the ropes! O'Hara splats on the floor, while Johnny Jax finds himself dumped over the top rope across the ring, leaving Scotty Static at the mercy of all three Garners. COACH We got no intro's for The Hooligans...and did we even get a bell? DING! DING! DING! COLE We did now! With the match "officially" underway, the former World Six Man Tag Team Champions pound on Static and then send him to the ropes, catching him with a double hiptoss but then catching his legs, flipping him back over to a vertical base as Nick Garner comes off the ropes with a front dropkick that floors Scotty! Dick and Rick then put the boots to Static as referee Nick Patrick makes a valiant attempt to restore order...only to be shoved to the canvas by Nick Garner! COLE Keep that up and they're not going to be getting their World Six Man Tag Team Championships back anytime soon! Patrick gets up immediately and chastises Nick, while Dick and Rick turn away from Static to be met with a jump spinning roundhouse and a Yakuza kick respectively, as O'Hara and Jax burst back into the ring! Each of those Garners roll out under the bottom rope, while Nick comes swinging at Jax, only to be caught, and drilled with a hard full nelson slam! Static springs off the middle rope and hits a twisting somersault legdrop on the cocky clone, while O'Hara comes from the apron onto the top rope, springboarding in with a 450 splash! He covers... ONE! TWO! ...and has the count broken up by Dick, who reaches in and yanks the lanky Brit off of his brother! COACH These Garners got their game faces on tonight! Seeing what's happened, Jax saves the day for O'Hara by blasting Dick with a baseball slide, then rolling back into the ring and launching himself onto him with a pescado! Rick hops up on the apron as well, but it's Static who catches him, and he runs and kicks off the middle rope, turning his body to hit a diving lariat that knocks him back down to the floor! Meanwhile, Nick is up, but O'Hara comes behind him with a sleeper, only to be snapmared onto his back and have the attempt broken up. Static charges, but Nick sees it coming and snares him in mid-charge, twisting around and drilling him hard with a spinebuster, then getting to his feet to gloat about it. He looks over and sees Jax on the apron, but smiles as brother Dick yanks Jax off by the ankles, and then tosses him backwards against the guardrail! COLE You can see that they're trying to break The Hooligans down, and isolate one of them, but that's tough to do especially with someone as quick as O'Hara on the team! Nick motion for Dick to climb back into the ring, as he sends Static to the corner, where The Hooligans most vocal member crashes hard. Dick gets back up on the apron, but Jax pulls him off the apron and onto his shoulders, backing away from the ring with the triplet sitting on top of him...which O'Hara notices and comes over, slingshotting up onto the rope and hitting a springboard rana OFF OF JAX'S SHOULDERS AND TO THE FLOOR! COACH DAMN J, nice! "HOLY SHIT!" "HOLY SHIT!" "HOLY SHIT!" Nick, who has climbed up to the middle rope to superplex Static, is stunned as he watches his brother get snapped to the ringside floor, and that extra second is all Static needed to slip free. Trapping his arms, Static applies a butterfly lock and lifts as he shifts his feet off the turnbuckles... ...and DROPS NICK GARNER WITH A TOP ROPE SPIKED PUNCH~!~! COLE That a double dose of insanity from The Hooligans tonight! The lone Garner left, Rick, tries to slide in and break the ensuing count, but he's yanked outside by O'Hara, leaving him prone for one of Jax's patented Yakuza kicks, as Nick Patrick makes the count in the ring. ONE! TWO! THREE! COLE And just like that, it's over! COACH Oh they are over, baby! COLE Nice play on words Coach...and the same can be said for The Garners as well, albeit it in an entirely different way. They've been humbled quite a bit in recent weeks, and it may be a while before they decide to show their faces around here again! As "Make Her Say" plays again, the frenzied crowd applauds the victory from the three streetwise superstars, watching on happily as they give each other their props. BUFFER Ladies and gentlemen, your winners, and STILL OAOAST World Six Man Tag Team Champions...THE HOOOOOOOOOOLIGAAAANSSSS! The Hooligans exit the ring, each one going to reclaim his championship belt, and as they head up the ramp Jax and Static stop to pick up their 40 oz. bottles...although Static doesn't get a chance to see what's left, as O'Hara snags his bottle and darts backstage! COACH Haha! Looks like J can't wait to get his party on! COLE It'll be a victory party indeed tonight for The Hooligans, and we'll have more action for you right after this!

Joe isn't going to go over Sting, another guy the crowd likes. The fact that he'll be vanquishing the one person marks and smarks alike detest is what they're banking on. Sting/Joe would be a good match once Joe is champion, sure. But not for his big title win, which will be essential to his babyface/company poster boy transition.

I only caught bits and pieces, so I've gotta watch the tape. I'll comment on what I can. -Developing both new and old characters tonight is a definite, obvious plus. I love the insertion of Punk. Shelley Martinez (aka the tarot card lady) I missed, but she was gold in OVW. Sadly, this whole bit is just another way to appease Sci-Fi. -Shannon Moore. It's pretty obvious he was taken from TNA just so WWE could say "Hey, we took this guy from you", because it's been how long since he resigned and he just shows up tonight? At least in ECW he might get a chance to put himself out there and do something other than be Smackdown fodder. -Sort of off-topic, but not really...they dropped Gunner Scott (Brent Albright) from Smackdown, feeling that he needed to continue in OVW. Heyman was (no pun intended) extremely high on him in OVW and had wanted him for ECW previously...ECW is a show in need of good hands in the ring and despite what management might think, Albright is one. It'd be nice to see him put on the show. Punk/Albright in ECW could be the new Malenko/Guerrero, as it'd be fresh for those who didn't witness any of the OVW feud.

Evans was in TNA in the early days for a few shots (perhaps even just one shot). IIRC it was his relationship with Teddy Hart that had TNA wary of him after that since Teddy had heat, but nowadays I think it's mainly his ROH/Japan commitments that he'd rather focus on.

If Jarrett, who in his mind is looking to become not only a babyface character down the road, but endear himself to the fans, beats Joe, he'll have killed off any chance of the second portion of that thought happening. Jarrett WILL put over Joe, but it won't be solely for the benefit of getting Joe over.

The Hooligans vs. The Triple Threat for the World Six Man Tag Team Titles.

If it was found out he lied about anything, he knew he wouldn't have a chance.

According to this week's WON, Roderick Strong opted not to renew with the company, but Aries will be. Aries will continue to work on his torn ACL for now.

The only time Orton was mentioned in semi-major news in this weeks WON, it was that there is the potential of a Harry Smith vs. Randy Orton feud once Harry debuts, possibly stemming from the Brooke Hogan angle.

TOKYO JOE SHINOBI HIRO NAKATA TOKYO JOE SHINOBI "Getting Away With Murder" plays, and the fans leap to their feet, screaming for the popular foreigner. Dubbed "The Modern Day Warrior" by the Japanese press for his fearlessness and strong-willed ways, Zack Malibu walks down the rampway, his first appearance in Japan since this past spring. Malibu seems a bit more reserved, more focused, as although he salutes his foreign fanbase, he does so very subtly, his mind obviously on something else. "My Own Summer" begins playing, and though it's the theme song for the popular duo, it is simply James Blonde who enters first to it. Blonde gets a hero's welcome as well, as he's in front of the very fans that he and Faqu rebuilt their careers in front of. He heads to the ring pointing at Zack and cussing him out, but Zack silently blows it off, just staring a hole through a man he sometimes calls his friend. Once again, "My Own Summer" hits, and this time it's for the reigning HI-YAH Heavyweight Champion, who gets perhaps the biggest reponse of the three combatants. With the belt strapped tightly around his waist, Faqu walks down the ramp, thumbing his nose before pausing just short of the ring and raising one arm up to welcome the crowd. Faqu steps into the ring, and unstraps the championship from around his waist, raising it over his head and glaring at Malibu as he does so. TOKYO JOE SHINOBI HIRO NAKATA All three men remain in seperate corners, as the ring announcer (no, it's not Michael Buffer) introduces each individual. ANNOUNCER Blonde turns and climbs up on the middle rope, waving the crowd on and getting them heated for the contest that's about to happen. ANNOUNCER Malibu, still extremely subdued, simply raises his arms briefly, as the fans roar for the mention of his name. ANNOUNCER Faqu beats his chest and holds the belt up in one hand, soaking in the adulation from the crowd before passing the belt off to the referee. He holds it up as well to signal to the audience that they're witnessing a title fight, and just seconds later, we are underway! Blonde and Faqu inch towards each other, then turn and look at Malibu, who glares right back. Faqu and Blonde, just as famous as opponents as they are as partners, watch as Malibu walks out of the corner towards them...and cracks Faqu with a hard slap across the face! He then fires off a chop with his left hand to Blonde, and then rocks him again with a European uppercut, but his onslaught is broken up by the big Samoan, who grabs a rear waistlock, only to be knocked with two elbows from Zack, who uses those seconds that the Samoan is stunned to reverse the waistlock and then shove him forward so that he cracks heads with Blonde! James stumbles through the ropes and to the apron, while Malibu uses a schoolboy to try and eliminate the champion right off the bat! ON-NO! Not even a one count holds the Samoan down, and when he gets up, Malibu grabs him immediately in a lockup, then snares him in a side headlock. Faqu elbows free, then snapmares Zack over, then delivers a hard soccer kick to his back that lays him flat, in prone position for Blonde to slingshot over the ropes with a splash onto Zack! ONE! KICKOUT! Malibu pushes his shoulders off the canvas, and now Blonde starts to lead him up to his feet, until he's met with a blistering chop to his back! Faqu then spins Blonde around and sends him into the corner, following with a crushing corner clothesline! He pulls Blonde out of the corner and lifts for a suplex, but Malibu saves Blonde by pulling his legs down, and together they spin Faqu around and hit a double hiptoss! TOKYO JOE SHINOBI

I doubt it. I remember watching that episode and there is a 0% chance I was home on the 4th of July watching wrestling. It most certainly was last July 4th when that took place.

Typical short post-PPV show with plenty of angle build. I won't comment on my own angle because that's just not fair, but needless to say it wouldn't be possible without the added enthusiasm of Rando and Blank, who are having a blast writing it out along with me. There's much more to come, believe you me. Good buildup to make up for the lack of Hoff, Drek and Axel in recent weeks. Hoff apparently has the OAOAST confused with his Lego collection, thinking that it's the house that he built. He'll learn . Glad to see MMOM able to write more, and get motivated. Hopefully he's got something good cooked up for the first portion of this title run. Longdogger Pete makes his in-ring debut against one of the old school creations. Short and to the point, but I like the direction Pete has taken where he has to earn respect simply because of the "ex SWFer" stereotype. Is Zane Maxwell another PFL creation? It intrigues me, I'll say that much. He's another one that I'm glad is writing more these days, as he's always brought the quality. Makes me wish Sly would come back already, but Gibraltar was his other "baby" and it looks like it's his time to shine. I should mention here that I'm starting to compile a State of the OAOAST address that will be up shortly (few days to a week) where I'd like to discuss a few of the issues we face publicly (and it's nothing bad, but rather how to rectify situations such as short shows one week, stacked the next), as well as discuss the new PPV schedule for the rest of the year. If there's anything you'd like me to make sure to include before it goes up, feel free to PM me and I'll voice any concerns anyone has. We seem to be on an incredible role lately and I'd like to keep it that way, so this is my way of making sure, or at least starting to get everyone on the same page.