Angle vs. Brock goes 40-minutes+ at a House Show

[cawthon777 0]

Last night at the Roanoke Civic Center, in an obvious tune-up for the upcoming Ironman match, Kurt Angle defended the title against Brock Lesnar. While I expected a cookie-cutter main event where the heel hits his move but knocks out the ref by accident only to fall victim to the face's finisher to lose, I was happily surprised at the effort and athleticism displayed by both men as they put on a 40-minute+ contest.

 

In front of MAYBE 2-3,000 fans, Angle and Lesnar went full force and held nothing back as they traded amateur holds, suplexes, as well as their signature spots. The champion attempted the top rope moonsault (which missed) and followed soon thereafter by hitting a baseball slide into steel ring steps placed on the ring by Lesnar, knocking the challenger several feet backwards into the aisle.

 

Lesnar dominated much of the contest, overpowering Angle with his size and strength. Angle countered by applying the ankle lock on several occassions, all of which were not enough to put the challenger away. Eventually it was a modified version of the hold (used on Benoit at the Rumble) that got the win for Angle as he forced a submission from Lesnar.

 

Angle poses with the title and leaves while Lesnar sells the injury on the mat. Brock eventually got to his feet and demanded that Kurt return to the ring since he was under the impression it was an Ironman contest. The champion failed to return and Brock slowly made his way backstage as the fans chanted "You tapped out!"

 

Without a doubt, this was the best match I have ever seen live and was a throwback to the classic NWA title defenses that took place at the Civic Center years ago. If the coming week's Smackdown can provide the same quality match, then we should be in for a treat.

 

Other results:

 

- - WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Tajiri with the 619 and springboard splash into the ring. After the bout, Tajiri took the champion out with the kick to the head.

 

- - Albert & Sean O’Haire defeated Spanky & Paul London when O’Haire pinned London with the modified DVD after Spanky lept from the ring onto Albert on the arena floor. The heels made London look quite good and the younger team came off looking like an updated version of the Young Stallions or Rockers as they used their speed and arial abilities to keep their larger opponents off balance.

 

- - Matt Hardy (w/ Shannon Moore) pinned Orlando Jordan with the Twist of Fate after Moore tripped Jordan. During his intro, Hardy received the majority of applause – which he quickly turned into jeers by making fun of Virginia and Roanoke in particular.

 

- Nunzio pinned Sho Funaki with a reversal

 

- - Billy Kidman & Jamie Knoble (w/ Nidia) defeated Doug & Danny Basham (w/ Shaniqua) when Kidman scored the pin with the Shooting Star Press after Knoble hit a powerbomb on one of the Bashams from the middle turnbuckle.

 

- - WWE US Champion Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit and John Cena in a triple threat match by pinning Cena. Moments prior to the finish, Rhyno ran in the ring and hit the Gore on Benoit – sending him to the floor. Guerrero soon knocked Rhyno to the floor and, as the referee was busy ordering Rhyno backstage, the champion knocked Cena in the head with the title belt – brought in the ring by the challenger – to get the eventual win. All three men received a large amount of heat during their intros and Cena cut a classic freestyle on Roanoke, Virginia Tech, and the fans in attendance prior to the match.

 

- - WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin defeated the Acolytes when Bradshaw was pinned after a belt shot. Prior to the match, Bradshaw alluded to the fact that Benjamin was really Shaniqua.

 

- - Torrie Wilson defeated Nidia, Sable, and Dawn Marie in a bikini contest where Sho Funaki was the special MC. After the contest, Dawn Marie came to Torrie’s aid against Sable.

 

I'll have photographs from the show posted on my site later today.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Kick ass, glad you had a great time. Were you able to wait behind the arena by the way before the show started?

[CanadianChick 0]

That sounds like a great house show. Lucky you.

[tpww7 0]

Please tell me you snuck in a video camera and recorded it??

[syxx2001 0]

Did Angle carry him?

[cawthon777 0]

The weather was crap all day. I waited around a few hours prior to the show to see if I could meet anyone but only caught glimpses of Angle, Albert, and Shaniqua as they showed up. After the show, I saw Ron Simmons and Dawn Marie leaving but that was about it. Had it not been raining, I'm sure I would have had better luck.

 

A friend of mine that I went to the show with did get a few video clips on his camera - the opening of the triple threat and some of the bikini contest. Unfortunately, his batteries died before the ME.

[cawthon777 0]

Did Angle carry him?

Brock actually took some pretty bad shots - the steel steps into the face for one.

 

Angle set the pace but both men had their working shoes on.

[Silence 0]

Prior to the match, Bradshaw alluded to the fact that Benjamin was really Shaniqua.

Damn it, when the hell is that shit going to stop?

[Guest Fook]

How many stars would you rate Angle/Brock?

 

Because if it's as good as you say it is, we're in for a treat come Thursday.

[TheFranchise 0]

Did he bust out the N bomb?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

And as a reference, how did you like their two PPV matches... ?

[Guest wildpegasus]

I have to give props for Angle and Lesnar going 40 minutes on a house show. It just shows that they're really dedicated to their craft. Nice to hear that they did a good job. I just hope they can make it to Smackdown this week in one piece!

[Internet Warfare 0]

Props to Angle/ Lesnar on going 40 minutes.

[Papacita 0]

Brock eventually got to his feet and demanded that Kurt return to the ring since he was under the impression it was an Ironman contest.

LOL. That's the funniest heel excuse I've heard in a while.

 

So how was the crowd during the match? I know a few people who hate longer matches like this because they have a lot of "dead spots", so I'm curious as to how they reacted.

[Vyce 0]

Albert & Sean O’Haire defeated Spanky & Paul London when O’Haire pinned London with the modified DVD after Spanky lept from the ring onto Albert on the arena floor. The heels made London look quite good and the younger team came off looking like an updated version of the Young Stallions or Rockers as they used their speed and arial abilities to keep their larger opponents off balance.

 

As much as I can't stand Albert, I'm praying that Sean gets paired with him in a tag team or stable.

 

Maybe then he'll be able to get off of goddamn Velocity.

[Guest Choken One]

I'm digging it if they can have Spanky/London as a tag team along with WGTT and do a series there...

 

Maybe they can put the CW title on Tajiri and let him and Dragon play

 

and Have Kidman/Mysterio be mainstay tag team...

 

SO MUCH POTENTIAL!

 

Yet..Come No Mercy APA will beat WGTT in 5:39...

[cawthon777 0]

Most of the crowd was into it the entire time. There were a few fans who couldn't stand the fact Angle and Lesnar use psychology and bust out the occasional headlock / armbar but aside from that the two had the audience in the palm of their hands. As they had done throughout the previous matches, the ring announcer reminded the fans how much time was left during the contest. I figured he was just throwing out numbers but after checking my watch I realized it was legit.

 

I went with a good friend of mine who had never seen a live show and he was very much impressed with the main event. We were thinking there for a while that Angle and Lesnar were going to do the full 60-minutes and we'd end up with a time-limit draw (which probably hasn't been done at a WWF/E house show since Backlund / Muraco).

 

Lesnar had so many close calls that, at least for a moment, I could have sworn we were going to have a title change in Roanoke with Angle regaining the title on Smackdown. I don't know about stars but I would rank it higher than WrestleMania. I have yet to see their Summer Slam bout but I would also be inclined to give last night's bout the nod simply because Vince wasn't involved.

 

Btw, I've posted the pics if you guys want to take a look. Most came out a little on the dark side due to the arena lighting and the fact I was trying to use a flash with a zoom.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Most of the crowd was into it the entire time. There were a few fans who couldn't stand the fact Angle and Lesnar use psychology and bust out the occasional headlock / armbar but aside from that the two had the audience in the palm of their hands. As they had done throughout the previous matches, the ring announcer reminded the fans how much time was left during the contest. I figured he was just throwing out numbers but after checking my watch I realized it was legit.

 

I went with a good friend of mine who had never seen a live show and he was very much impressed with the main event. We were thinking there for a while that Angle and Lesnar were going to do the full 60-minutes and we'd end up with a time-limit draw (which probably hasn't been done at a WWF/E house show since Backlund / Muraco).

 

Lesnar had so many close calls that, at least for a moment, I could have sworn we were going to have a title change in Roanoke with Angle regaining the title on Smackdown. I don't know about stars but I would rank it higher than WrestleMania. I have yet to see their Summer Slam bout but I would also be inclined to give last night's bout the nod simply because Vince wasn't involved.

 

Btw, I've posted the pics if you guys want to take a look. Most came out a little on the dark side due to the arena lighting and the fact I was trying to use a flash with a zoom.

Come come now, there's "psychology" and there's "WWE psychology". An occasional armbar or headlock doesn't qualify.

 

Notice any cool spots in the match that we might see in the Iron Man match this week?

[cawthon777 0]

As far as spots, here's what I can remember...

 

- Angle moonsault

- baseball slide into steel steps

- F5 that accidentally knocks out the referee

- the modified ankle lock (no clue of the name ... the one that Benoit tapped to)

 

Angle was big on the submission offense - not only the ankle lock but also a version of the Fujiwara armbar. When the champion was in control, Brock was usually down on the mat and unable to do much about it.

[ANKLELOCK 0]

Where have you posted the pics?

 

The match sounds AWESOME. I am definately taping SD! this week.

[cawthon777 0]

Under the photo gallery on my website.

[Damaramu 0]

I think the move he won with is called a "heel hook" it's not really a modified ankle lock..it is it's own move.

[Guest Crux]

Has anyone heard anything about Brock being injured in tonight (Sept 14) house show? I heard that something happened to his knee and all the agents came out...Im hearing this 2nd hand, mind you.

[tpww7 0]

No..but that would sure fuck things up bigtime.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Wow, I hope they repeat some of these spots on Tuesday / Thursday night.

[Guest Choken One]

I always wonder what you do if a wrestler got injured like 10 minutes into a 60 minute Ironman? Not like you can throw the DQ thing and wrap it up...

[DangerousDamon 0]

I always wonder what you do if a wrestler got injured like 10 minutes into a 60 minute Ironman? Not like you can throw the DQ thing and wrap it up...

that's a good point. i guess either the ref could throw up the x sign or the uninjured worker could carry the injured guy for the next 50 minutes......

[Guest Choken One]

If it were a House Show? Easy have a bunch of run ins and have a impromtu Tag Team/muiltiple man match...

 

but LIVE TV? (in theory)...Your fucked...and you have to hope the guy can bear it out for 50 minutes and it turns to a Mat match...