Sydney House Show results

[Guest MideonMark]

8/1

 

This guy sure likes **

 

Report by: Daniel Smith, WNW Reader

 

Right into things, the house (Sydney Superdome, a regular sized arena) was not full. That said, for a second show in the same arena added immediately after ticket sales for the original Saturday event sold out via only the online box office (which opened three days before regular outlets), it was a great crowd for what was essentially a house show card. Anyway, sitting in at fourth row centre . . .

 

Howard Finkel became the host for the evening, and announced that Triple-H would not be performing due to his newly acquired 'groin injury,' and said we had our choice to obtain a refund within fifteen minutes into the show. The smart mark next to me cheered. Funnily enough, she was actually a fifteen year-old girl. There went the planned mainevent for the evening.

 

Scott Steiner vs. Test.

Out comes Stacey Keibler to strut her stuff, only to be interrupted by Eric Bischoff. Bischoff made the regular sexual advances, but out came WWE's hottest angle going, Kane, black washcloth and all. Choke-slamming EZE, he then goes for Stacy, so out comes Scott Steiner, to make the save, followed by Test, as the two soon engage in a match continuing their feud. They went through with the usual stuff you'd see on RAW, until Steiner went over. **Not much else to say except that in person, Stacey actually looks a little flabby, and Test's acting seems even more forced live.

 

Steven Richards vs. Spike Dudley.

ECW doesn't really have much of an outlet down here, so not once did an E-C-Dub chant break out, though I belted a few calls of 'LSD,' which of course stands for Little Spike Dudley. After being told time and again that Spike is not worth the trouble outside of taking ugly bumps, the man proved me wrong by being one of the best performers of the evening, and pulling off some good mat work. Strangely, Spike upheld most of the offence until he starred at the ceiling. **

 

Rodney Mack vs. the Hurricane.

Mack came out without Teddy (*ahem,* Theodore R.) Long, and went about brushing up his mic. skills. I was not at all a fan of this guy beforehand, but he spoke pretty well considering he had to add the 'playa' lingo. He still looks incredibly bland though. Going to work with Helms, all of the standard Hurricane offence went through like a charm. Babyface win. **

 

Val Venis vs. Randy Orton.

Val cut one of his innuendo comparison promos, though I was surprised Orton didn't talk. The fact that he was pretty much over as a babyface tonight showed it wouldn't have hurt (the girls there were obviously into the physiques, but Orton didn't play it up like Val did) So there was a mixed reaction to both workers throughout this one. Showing that he was the rookie, Orton got split open above the eye when Val put his boot to Randy's face whilst he was in the corner. You could tell it wasn't booked because Finkel went up to the viewers in a direct view from behind where Val was standing and asked how the shot went through. Orton still went over to further his push, since this was a match on RAW two weeks ago, right? **

 

Victoria vs. Trish Stratus.

Christ, Trish is a midget in person. No wonder her breasts look almost legit when not crammed together, she's so small that they're only large for her frame. I was amazed. Some kids behind me that had to be younger than nine were screaming for her to show the puppies throughout this, hilarious. Trish pulled off some nice lucha stuff at the start, before the girls went into their usual outing. Trish's teeth are insanely white. Victoria won in what I guess would be an upset, as Stevie and Spike came back out to join in on the fun. Spike managed to leap up and have Trish carry him in the threshold position, which proved again to me how fit Trish is. No blatant T&A, but enough to keep me happy. **

 

La Resistance © vs. Dudley Boyz for the World Tag Team Titles.

This match was probably the longest and most heated of the evening, and possibly could have even passed as the main event if they were desperate. Dupree and Grenier swapped the mic. as we put heat on them. No U.S. vs. France stuff, we just simply thought they were 'wankers,' as they took offence. They didn't cut any remarks on Australian stereotypes, thank God; they just played the arrogant heels they work though without the gimmick. As is usually the case, the Dudley Boyz were huge babyfaces, and played up on some lines to click with the locals. Grenier easily missed a spot when he was supposed to hit D-Von with the French flag, but otherwise the match was hot through until the screwjob finish. La Resistance retains the crappy looking gold. ** The Dudleys still came through with a table spot, and got a little kid from the audience in the ring for a photo, and gave him a piece of the table. Afterwards, Bubba announced that it was D-Von's birthday, and we all sung the song for him. They each then headed out into separate sides of the crowd to celebrate, and then went back to the ring before finishing up. Class. Probably a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.

 

Intermission hits, though we're soon back for the next match.

 

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels.

I didn't expect a match of this caliber to show up, but this was great. The crowd was still calming down after the previous matches, but it was all good as two of the best ever went into some solid mat work with plenty of taunts. Flair tried his best to go over as a heel with some of his classic liners, didn't catch on though. HBK, being HBK, was in there having a good time, as we could see Earl Hebner almost cracking up whilst Ric had Shawn in a submission. This was even more entertaining (or astonishing, you decide) when Michaels pulled his pants down, though luckily not clean off, but damn it came close. Add Flair's ass to the list of the boys I've seen been dropped on television and video. This from a card that didn't have nor Trish, nor Victoria, nor Stacey take her shirt off for us. Damn good match though. ***

 

Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Booker T & Goldust.

Christian went with his regular cheap heat after actually getting a good babyface pop. He went with a more original line to burry us (the Kangaroos in the backyard gets very tiring) by saying we live in exile of the rest of the Western World. That actually used to be true in many cases back in the 1960s and even holds up here and there today, so I'll give the guy big credits for doing his homework. Chris Jericho also took offence to being called a 'wanker,' though said it was stupid because he didn't even now what it meant. He worked better as a heel for us than I've seen on TV or PPV in a long time. The match itself wasn't at all as good as their opener to No Mercy IV last year, but it was still fun for the heat and pops. Christian was bouncing up and down on the ropes just as the bell rang, and fell off the apron. I'm pretty sure he slipped because he and Booker were trying to hold in their laughter for a while. The ref had something in his hair, and Booker T picked it out whilst he was standing in front of him. The slightest things that you would never see on RAW can be the funniest. A belt shot (Booker's Intercontinental Championship) cut us off from catching a spinaroonie, but I prefer to see that spot as it was originally, without the entire spectacle, so I was happy. Yeah, Vitamin C won it. **

 

Rob Van Dam vs. Kane.

This ended up being our main event. Neither of the two matches advertised on television occurred, which were Booker T vs. Christian in an Intercontinental Championship match, and Triple-H vs. Kevin Nash for the World Championship in a street fight, but I really preferred what they gave us. I thought the match could have been more tense flowing from the killer angle they're running, but this still held up. Kane talked not as much like a monster during the match though, but more fitting for the deranged character he's heading into. Being up front has the best benefits, hearing Kane yell, 'ask him Charles!' to Charles Robinson was a riot. Van Dam pulled off some smooth flips, but Kane still went over. ** Shawn Michaels came back out to make the save for RVD, then Flair came out to take a shot at him, followed by the Hurricane, then Randy Orton, as they all messed it up whilst Kane headed off. We ended the show with Van Dam, Helms and Michaels slapping hands and taking photos with people in the front rows. Finkel thanked us, and wished us a safe ride home, or the hope that we managed to get tickets for the original show for Saturday, whichever.

 

Stone Cold Steve Austin wasn't there at all which surprised me (though he was never heavily advertised). No McMahons, no Triple-H, and no Kevin Nash, which were all probably a blessing, and bar Tommy Dreamer, Al Snow and Austin, I saw everyone on the RAW crew that I wanted to. I did see Nash leaving with Michaels to hop on the tour bus though. With Goldberg's contract, he was never booked for this as you all know, but I'd seen him live at the Thunder taping down here in 2000, and this time around I was glad not to see him anyway. The show had a great house show atmosphere, even though it was in a larger arena than a house show card warrants. Fit Finlay and Howard Finkel were running the show ringside from the looks of it. Finkel looks a hell of a lot better and more energized live, yet down to earth, which surprised me. I was sure with their schedule over the course of the week that there was bound to be a stinker there, but I felt everything was on par with a RAW show, and it was a great treat to have what I felt was a *** match on the show. I sure got my money's worth, as they played the most of it up facing our side of the ring, and have much more faith in WWE than I did a few months ago, which means they did a great job.

 

 

8/2

 

Report by: Jason & Karina, WNW Readers

 

Before the event started they had some lame challenge for Raw 2 on the XBOX that everyone booed at because it was so boring. They got some local Rugby League players from the Sydney Roosters to play the game.

 

Howard Finkle comes out and announces Triple H wont be in attendance due to his groin injury which also gets a lot of boos.

 

Stacy Keibler comes out and soon after Eric Bischoff does, he says he should fire Stacy, Goldusts music hits and he comes out and attacks Bischoff. Places him on the ropes and kicks him in the nuts, then he gets Stacy to do it. Rodney Mack comes out and attacks Goldust and the first match is on.

 

Goldust d Rodney Mack

 

Trish Stratus & Spike Dudley d Victoria & Stevie Richards (Stevie recieved a lot of Woofter chants for wearing his pink hat in the ring)

 

Val Venus d Test (after the match Val swaps his towel with a lady from the front row and gets an Australian Flag in return)

 

Scott Steiner d Christian

 

RVD & HBK d Randy Orton & Ric Flair (with a little help from Kevin Nash)

 

A new box office attendance record is announced at 17112

(intermission)

 

Kane d Hurricane

 

Booker T d Y2J for the Intercontinental Title w/Christian in his corner (after the match Christian and Y2J pretended to fight with each other because Y2J lost and then they hugged, rubbed each others arses and kissed)

 

Dudley Boys d La Resistance in a Tables Match (Dudleys used Australian items such as a Boomerang, Cricket Bat & Rugby Ball in the match to really get over. Bubba Ray even juggled some orange balls during the match.

 

 

-Well I guess Nash is ok after all and Lesnar-Angleitis is spreading on the house show circuit, this time to Jericho and Christian.

[Guest JRE]

Where's Teddy Long been?

[Lil' Bitch 0]

^ Yeah, I 've been wondering that too.

 

The Dudleys still came through with a table spot, and got a little kid from the audience in the ring for a photo, and gave him a piece of the table.

 

Val Venis d Test

 

This exactly happened at the RAW house show I went to back in June, except the table spot was done to Mack/Nowinski.

 

Stone Cold Steve Austin wasn't there at all which surprised me (though he was never heavily advertised).

 

You saw a RAW show without Austin, any McMahons, HHH, Nash, AND Goldberg? God, I envy you.

 

Kane d Hurricane

 

How long you think before we see this match happen on TV?

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

Theoretically this is a RAW house show and therefore I shouldn't give a shit, but I do have a couple comments to make about the report of the 8/1 show:

 

I really don't like it when someone overuses the 'smart' terminology for a house show report. It's like they say - keep it simple, stupid. 'Won' takes less time to type than 'went over'. Also, it would have been good if the guy had written who won at the end of each paragraph, so you don't have to search for the winner in the cryptic writing.

[Guest Ingram Paladin]

How is Stacey flabby? mah GAWD!

[Lil' Bitch 0]

So who the hell won the Flair / Michaels match?

[Guest Askewniverse]

According to a report at PWTorch, Flair via pinfall.

[Guest Muzz]

A Good Ruthless Agression Review

 

Spike Dudley gets a standing ovation. (Y)

[Guest Randy Pan]

Was a great 2 shows. Wouls have liked Austin and Storm to be there, ah well.

 

Anyone have any pics or video that they want to share?

[Guest Deviant]

The first Sydney show is Melbourne's recycled, which is understandable, but still...

 

So Flair did come out and didn't even show his face in Melbourne?!? What the hell? The crowd would have killed for him. Australia loves him. Every quiet moment in cinemas, live, at Fan Frenzy last year, freaking anywhere is met with everyone doing the "Whoooooo". He couldn't at least manage Orton? Something tells me he missed a flight, or was jet-lagged or something...

 

Both shows sound good, but I think I prefer the one I saw in Melbourne. Goldust saving Stacy instead of Kane just sounds wrong. The Vitamin C vs Bookdust main event would have probably been better than Nash/HBK vs Orton/Y2J, but I'm not complaining.

[Guest Tonestar]

Yeah, Flair apparently missed his flight. I was very pissed off.

[Guest Randy Pan]

Nash missed the first Sydney show and did a "Walk in" during the second.

 

Flair was booked to work the Melb show, his flight arrived at 12:30am.