EWR 2.0 WWE Diary

[Guest HollywoodSpikeJenkins]

Yes, I took the easiest fed in the game. Why? Because I'm lazy. Don't want to start with a cult or regional fed, because it takes too long. Anyway, I hired a bunch of little jobbers and put them in the training camp. If I keep them in their for maybe around a year, they should come out good. Haven't gotten around to firing anybody yet, but I'll start cutting people sooner or later.

 

January 2, 2003

WWE Smackdown!

 

Paul Heyman and Big Show open up the show with a interview, with Heyman telling the top Four Contenders to the World Title that they will face in a 4 Corners match later in the night to see who will face Show for the WWE Title at The Royal Rumble! Then Big Show eats a cheeseburger.

Overall Rating: 91%

Notes: Paul Heyman and Big Show gain Overness.

 

Crash Holly vs. Funaki

Standing leg lariat by Funaki on Crash. Crash Holly fights out of a grapple. Funaki gets hip tossed by Crash. Funaki charges, Crash moves, and the referee is conveniently placed to get knocked out. Crash Holly blasts Funaki with a rather-less-than-super kick. Cover, but there's no one to count for Crash Holly. Funaki elbows Crash Holly in the face to break a hammerlock. Spin kick by Funaki to the face. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. There's a two count on the pin. Springboard dropkick from Funaki. Nicely done. Pin, but Crash is out just before the three count. Crash blocks the suplex attempt. Back heel kick from Crash on Funaki, missed by miles. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Funaki ducks a clothesline attempt. Funaki moves in for the kill. Tornado DDT!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! Almost a ** match, but not quite - *1\2 rating.

 

Winner: Funaki via pinfall.

Overall Rating: 58%

Crowd Reaction: 49%

Match Quality: 68%

 

Eddie Guerrero is backstage, and tells Michael Cole TO SHUT UP~! Eddie says he is walking out with the title shot tonight, and no one, espically Brock Lesnar will stop him.

 

Overall Rating: 84%

 

James Maritato and Jamie Noble vs. Billy Kidman and SPANKY

Kidman hits a dropkick on Jamie Noble. Lightning kick by Kidman on Noble. Hooks the leg for a two count. Tag to Spanky. Spanky \ Kidman whip Noble into the ropes and hit a double back elbow. Second rope flying axe handle, Noble goes down. Cover for a two count. Spanky hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Jamie Noble pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Back heel kick off the second rope, Spanky goes down. Noble tags out to James Maritato. Vertical suplex by James Maritato. Doctor Bomb, Spanky is hurt. Spanky blocks a punch. Tag between Spanky and Billy Kidman. Kidman crushes Maritato with a running senton. DDT from the top rope by Billy Kidman. That looked brutal. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Stiff high kick on Maritato by Billy Kidman who has evidently been watching some old AJPW tapes recently. James Maritato elbows Billy Kidman in the face to break a hammerlock. Kidman walks into a stiff sit-out jaw breaker. James Maritato gets whipped into the corner. Kidman charges in, but into a pair of raised boots. Maritato uses a roll up, with feet on the second rope! The referee hasn't seen it: 1....2....3!! I'll give it a **1\2 rating.

 

Winner: James Maritato and Jamie Noble (Maritato pins Kidman)

Overall Rating: 69%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 78%

 

After the match, James Maritato challenges Billy Kidman to a Cruiserweight title match at the Royal Rumble. Kidman accepts, but not before Maritato debuts his new manager, Vanessa.

 

Overall Rating: 55%

Notes: Vanessa gained overness.

 

Edge is backstage and tells Michael Cole not to SHUT UP~! Edge says he will face Show at the Rumble, and that Eddie is full of shit. And then makes fun of the mullet.

 

Overall Rating: 83%

 

Spanky is wondering around backstage, as Chris Leary walks up to him, BUT SPANKY KICKS HIM IN THE SHIN! Then says that him and Noble will go at it at the Rumble.

 

Overall Rating: 67%

Notes: Spanky gained overness.

 

Kurt Angle is backstage and says that there is no one in the WWE better then him. Not Eddie Guererro, Edge, Brock Lesnar, Big Show, or the Almighty Rock. Angle says that he will make Show tap out at the Rumble, and if Edge gets in his way tonight, him too.

 

Overall Rating: 87%

 

Chris Benoit vs. The Rock

Chris Benoit snap suplexes Rock. Rock reverses a waistlock. Benoit takes a headbutt from The Rock. We have our mandatory ref bump, as he goes down after accidentally getting caught by an elbow to the face. Powerbomb on Benoit. Pinfall attempt, but the ref is conveniently laid out. Rock only gets knees on a splash. Rock tastes a high angle back suplex. It probably tasted like chicken. Reverse DDT into a backbreaker by Chris Benoit, great move. There's a two count on the pin. Belly to back suicideplex, Rock got folded up big time. Pin, but Rock is out just before the three count. Rock powers out of a headlock. Spear by The Rock. Pin, but Benoit is out just before the three count. Benoit counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Kurt Angle comes running down the aisle with a chair! Benoit and The Rock continue fighting, unaware of the intrusion. Kurt Angle slides in and blasts The Rock with a chair to the head! Angle climbs out of the ring, the damage done! Chris Benoit has The Rock down on the canvas. Here it comes...Crippler Crossface! The Rock taps! Good **** rating.

 

Winner: Chris Benoit via Outside Intereference by Kurt Angle and Submission.

Overall Rating: 87%

Crowd Reaction: 90%

Match Quality: 82%

Notes: Chris Benoit has gain overness.

 

Brock is doing something backstage, and grunts about how he is going to get his title back at the Rumble. And not even Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Kurt Angle, or Big Show will stop him.

 

Overall Rating: 73%

Notes: Brock Lesnar lost overness

 

Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guererro vs. Kurt Angle vs. Edge

Edge slams Brock Lesnar. Edge slams Brock Lesnar down. Hooks the leg for a two count. Lesnar counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Tag to Kurt Angle. Vertical suplex by Kurt Angle. Angle whips Edge into the turnbuckles...and predictably, the referee gets sandwiched. Back suplex off the top rope, Edge landed hard. Hooks the leg, but the referee is still out. Edge takes a butterfly suplex from Angle. Edge reverses a waistlock. Tag between Edge and Eddie Guerrero. Spinning bulldog in the corner, Angle is down. Eddie uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Kurt Angle fights out of a grapple. Eddie gets caught with a short powerbomb from Angle. Corkscrew brainbuster suplex, Angle hit it well. Angle tags out to Edge. Gut buster, Eddie hits hard. Death valley driver by Edge, Eddie Guerrero got planted. Eddie Guerrero can barely stand. Edgeocutioner! 1....2....3. This one gets a ***1\4 rating, it was a good bout.

 

Winner: Edge via pinfall over Eddie Guererro

Overall Rating: 83%

Crowd Reaction: 87%

Match Quality: 77%

 

 

Show Rating: 74%

T.V. Rating: 5.23

Attendance: 7,036

Ticket Sales: $422,160

Notes:

- Spanky wants to be higher up the card. (Opener --> Lower Midcarder)

- Paul Heyman +2 Overness (82)

- Big Show +1 Overness (71)

- Vanessa +2 Overness (15)

- Spanky +2 in Overness (57)

- Chris Benoit +1 Overness (89)

- Brock Lesnar -2 Overness (91)

 

Well, 3 matches signed for the Rumble already, with Kidman/James Maritato for the CW Title, Noble vs. Spanky, and Edge vs. Show for the WWE Title. Now, lets hope Raw can be a watchable show.

[Guest HollywoodSpikeJenkins]

After an alright Smackdown, we go to the lesser brand, Raw. Oh yeah, Heat.

 

WWE Heat

Auto-booker: Dean Malenko

TV Rating: 1.28

Attendance: 7,026

Ticket Sales: $421,560

Head to Head: WWE Heat (1.28) beats NWA:Wildside Wildside TV (0.19)

 

 

January 6, 2002

WWE Raw

 

The show starts off with Eric Bishoff on the top of the ramp. Bishoff says that the Raw brand is ten times better then the Smackdown brand, and that the Raw main event at the Royal Rumble will be a triple threat match for the World Title. The champion, Shawn Michaels, will face the winner of two separate matches later tonight, between HHH and Kane and a match he will announce later.

 

Overall Rating: 80%

 

A Video for Batista is played.

 

Overall Rating: 96%

Notes: Dave Batista gains Overness.

 

Shawn Michaels is backstage, and says he would love to face Kane at The Royal Rumble. But he wants his hands on HHH. Why do I try to make bad angles from real life into good angles in the game?

 

Overall Rating: 94%

Notes: Shawn Michaels gains Overness

 

Dave Batista vs. Spike Dudley

Dave Batista fires off some right and left hands. Bodyslam by Batista. Hooks the leg for a two count. Dave Batista misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Spike Dudley with a spinning neckbreaker on Batista. Batista takes a headbutt from Spike Dudley. Spike slams Dave Batista down. Dave Batista ducks a clothesline attempt. Nice piledriver on Spike. Dave Batista moves in for the kill. Here it comes - Sit-Out Powerbomb. 1....2...3, it's finished. Dave Batista slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Spike turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. **1\2 rating. Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling.

 

Winner: Dave Batista via pinfall.

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 67%

Match Quality: 75%

 

Goldust and Booker T are backstage and talk about Eric Bishoff signing them to face Chris Jericho and Christian for the tag team titles at the Royal Rumble.

 

Overall Rating: 88%

 

Victoria vs. Lita (WWE Womens Championship)

Stiff chop lights up Lita. Chanelling the spirit of Misawa, Victoria uses a forearm to the face. Rude Awakening on Lita by Victoria. Victoria with a spinning neckbreaker on Lita. Lita powers out of a Victoria headlock. Dropkick from Lita. Eric Bischoff would probably call that a 'high double drop calf kick'. But it's a dropkick to everyone else. Badly executed second rope splash by Lita. Hooks the leg for a two count. Victoria blocks a kick from Lita. Victoria hits a bulldog off the ropes. There's a two count on the pin. Brutal powerbomb on Lita. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Lita counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Some chops from Lita, all of which barely touched Victoria. Lita misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Victoria with a spinning neckbreaker on Lita. Victoria gets a roll-up...and grabs a handful of tights as well! The referee doesn't see it: 1....2...3!! Ivory has a chair. Victoria turns and takes a brutal shot to the head. Lita is next to take a hard shot. Ivory has demolished everyone! I'll give it a **1\2 rating.

 

Winner: Victoria via pinfall.

Overall Rating: 67%

Crowd Reaction: 73%

Match Quality: 54%

Notes: Victoria gained Overness. The WWE Womens Title has gained an image.

 

Christian vs. Goldust

Legsweep out of Nowhere. Where is Nowhere, and why do moves keep coming out of there? Does it have a factory? Vicious lightning kick by Christian on Goldust. There's a two count on the pin. Goldust ducks a clothesline attempt. Stiff chop lights up Christian. Bodyslam by Goldust. There's a two count on the pin. Spear! Christian is down and hurt. Pin, but Christian is out just before the three count. Goldust with a spinning neckbreaker on Christian. Christian counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Christian crushes Goldust with a sweet running senton. There's a two count on the pin. Springboard dropkick from Christian. Nicely done. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Goldust takes a flying neckbreaker from Christian. Dropkick connects, Goldust goes down. Goldust blocks a punch. Goldust slams Christian down. Lifting DDT by Goldust, looked good. Chris Jericho comes running down the aisle with a chair! Christian and Goldust continue fighting, unaware of the intrusion. Chris Jericho slides in and prepares to swing the chair...but Goldust moves! Jericho accidentally blasts Christian with a chair to the head! Goldust throws Jericho out of the ring! Goldust moves in for the kill. Curtain Call! 1....2....3. Christian and Jericho are beating the hell out of Goldust! Booker T sprints down the aisle and slides into the ring! He goes toe-to-toe with Christian, exchanging punches, while Goldust comes back, sending Jericho out of the ring with a clothesline. Black Gold have cleared the ring, driving off Christian and Jericho! I'll give this a ***1\4 rating.

 

Winner: Goldust via pinfall

Overall Rating: 83%

Crowd Reaction: 87%

Match Quality: 77%

 

Bishoff's music plays, and he comes out to announce the second match for the shot at the World Title at the Rumble. The match is Chris Jericho taking on Rob Van Dam!

 

Overall Rating: 79%

 

Scott Steiner vs. Justin Credible

Weak headbutt on Credible by Poppa Pump. Scott Steiner with a badly-executed spinning neckbreaker on Credible. Scott Steiner hits a sloppy double axe handle. Side suplex from Poppa Pump. Scott Steiner has Justin Credible down on the canvas. Steiner Recliner!!! Justin Credible taps out! Scott Steiner slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Credible turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. It was close to a ** match, but one too many blown spots knocks it down to a *1\2 rating.

 

Winner: Scott Steiner via Submission

Overall Rating: 59%

Crowd Reaction: 52%

Match Quality: 66%

Notes: The match suffered because the crowd was still pumped from the last one.

 

Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Flying reverse elbow by Chris Jericho. There's a two count on the pin. RVD pushes out of a Chris Jericho hold. Standing leg lariat by Rob Van Dam on Jericho. Rob Van Dam hits a rolling kick on Jericho. Hooks the leg for a two count. Vicious kick to the teeth from Rob Van Dam. Akira Maeda would be proud. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Hard back suplex on Jericho. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Chris Jericho takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Super frankensteiner on RVD, who hit hard. There's a two count on the pin. Power drive elbow by Chris Jericho. Pin, but RVD is out just before the three count. Legsweep out of Nowhere. Where is Nowhere, and why do moves keep coming out of there? Does it have a factory? Chris Jericho strikes RVD. RVD counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Jericho takes a flying neckbreaker from Rob Van Dam. Back heel kick off the second rope, Jericho goes down. Booker T comes running down the aisle and into the ring! Chris Jericho turns around.... Book End!!! That shook the ring. Booker leaves the ring, the damage done! Pin, three count, it's over. Rob Van Dam pins Jericho. It gets a ***1\2 rating.

 

Winner: Rob Van Dam via pinfall.

Overall Rating: 85%

Crowd Reaction: 86%

Match Quality: 86%

 

Kane vs. HHH

Back elbow connects, HHH staggers backward. Big piledriver on HHH. Cover for a two count. HHH blocks a kick from Kane. HHH slams Kane. HHH slams Kane down. There's a two count on the pin. Death valley driver by Triple H, Kane got planted. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Running knee lift from Triple H. Kane powers out of a headlock. HHH walks into a spike slam. Cover for a two count. Massive lariat, apparently Kane has been watching The Best Of Stan Hansen again. Pin, but HHH is out just before the three count. Rude Awakening on Triple H by Kane. HHH takes a headbutt from Kane. Triple H takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Flying shoulder tackle by HHH sends Kane to the mat. Lifting DDT by Triple H, looked good. Kane can barely stand. Pedigree! 1....2....3. Shawn Michaels comes running down the aisle, and gets into the ring! HHH turns around...straight into a Sweet Chin Music!! Triple H has been left down on the canvas. This one gets a ***1\4 rating, it was a good bout.

 

Winner: HHH via pinfall.

Overall Rating: 84%

Crowd Reaction: 87%

Match Quality: 78%

 

 

Show Rating: 80%

T.V. Rating: 6.11

Attendance: 7,012

Ticket Sales: $420,720

Notes:

- Lita wants to be higher up the card.

- Victoria thinks she is being pushed too much.

- RVD was reckless against Jericho.

- WWE Womens Title image +2 (62)

- Victoria +1 Overness (61)

- Shawn Michaels +2 Overness (94)

- Dave Batista +3 Overness (73)

 

Another few more matches for the rumble. HHH vs. HBK vs. RVD for the World Title, Jericho/Christian vs. Booker and Goldust for the World Tag titles, and a possible Victoria/Ivory feud. I'm wondering if I am doing the right thing with having Steiner and Batista squash undercarders until I can figure out what to do with them.