Post by greeby on Jan 10, 2009 2:48:10 GMT -5
RAW IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA LIVE REPORT: JERICHO CHALLENGES CENA FOR WORLD TITLE IN HOMETOWN, PUNK & REY VS. THE LEGACY AND MORE
by Amie Ference @ 2009-01-10 00:58:43
Before the open match, ring announcer Tony Chimel announced the attendance at an astounding almost sold out 14,000 people! For a house show that's got to be a surprise. Now on to the matches.
In the opener it was Matt Hardy v. Jack Swagger for the ECW Title. Not too good of a match as there were a few blown spots. In the end Hardy retained the title after hitting the Twist Of Fate.
Next up was for the Women's Championship between Beth Phoenix and Melina. Pretty good match as both women seemed to be on there game. Beth would win the match in the end finishing Melina off with the chicken-wing slam. On a side note, there were LOTS of boos due to Santino not making an appearance. Very disappointing.
Third match of the evening would be for the World Tag Team Titles between The Miz and John Morrison taking on Cryme Tyme who received the first major pop of the night. A good match with both teams taking turns on offense. Miz and Morrison keep there titles after Morrison scores the pin on Shad.
Next it was a match between Mark Henry w/Tony Atlas vs. Finlay w/Hornswaggle. Not a pretty match. Both Finlay and Henry seemed to be going in slow-mo through most of the "action". The finish came when Hornswaggle and Atlas were facing off in the ring. Horny tossed down his coat ready for a fight. Atlas tossed him aside as Finlay nailed Henry with the shilaylee (sp) pushing Atlas out of the ring and scoring the pinfall.
After the intermission it was the Intercontinental Championship match with William Regal w/Layla vs. Kofi Kingston. Good match with Regal dominating most of the match until Kofi started a comeback. It wasn't enough though as Regal wins the match via pin to retain the title.
Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes vs. C.M. Punk & Rey Mysterio was up next. HUGE pop for Rey and Punk, with Orton getting a decent cheer himself. Orton and Rhodes took turns beating on Punk and Mysterio until Punk managed to turn the match around hitting Cody with the GTS and going for the pin, not noticing Orton made the blind tag. After Punk tries to go for a pin and the ref tells him Rhodes isn't the legal man, its too late as Orton nailed Punk with the RKO to score the victory for what's left of The Legacy.
The main event was up next for the World Heavyweight Championship between John Cena and Chris Jericho. Jericho entered the arena to a MASSIVE pop from the hometown Winnipeg fans! He was trying to keep a straight face and keep in heel character but eventually broke and the biggest grin came on his face as he soaked up the crowd. Cena received a modest pop from the younger members of the audience. An unbelievably good match with countless near falls that actually had the crowd believing maybe we might actually see a title change, they were that good and close. Unfortunately it wouldn't be a successful homecoming as Cena would pin Jericho after a second FU.
After the match Jericho stayed in the ring for quite some time. He took the house mic and said that sometimes he's the biggest critic more then anybody over his matches. He stated that he feels we all just witnessed one of the best matches of his career and the match was an instant classic. Before leaving he said he doesn't get hurt or injured much because he was born and raised in Winnipeg, and because its so cold hear it makes us tough and made him tougher then others. Funny.
Final thoughts. For a house show I was shocked by a crowd of almost 14,000. I read some reports and hear of house shows barely able to sell a few hundred or few thousand tickets. I think this should get somebody's attention in Stamford because the crowd was as hot as and PPV, Raw, or Smackdown I've seen recently. Bring the TV trucks to Winnipeg and I guarantee you , we will show you how lively and excited a crowd should be at a wrestling show. I hope its a lot sooner then a few years before the WWE comes back.
www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=35741&p=1
by Amie Ference @ 2009-01-10 00:58:43
Before the open match, ring announcer Tony Chimel announced the attendance at an astounding almost sold out 14,000 people! For a house show that's got to be a surprise. Now on to the matches.
In the opener it was Matt Hardy v. Jack Swagger for the ECW Title. Not too good of a match as there were a few blown spots. In the end Hardy retained the title after hitting the Twist Of Fate.
Next up was for the Women's Championship between Beth Phoenix and Melina. Pretty good match as both women seemed to be on there game. Beth would win the match in the end finishing Melina off with the chicken-wing slam. On a side note, there were LOTS of boos due to Santino not making an appearance. Very disappointing.
Third match of the evening would be for the World Tag Team Titles between The Miz and John Morrison taking on Cryme Tyme who received the first major pop of the night. A good match with both teams taking turns on offense. Miz and Morrison keep there titles after Morrison scores the pin on Shad.
Next it was a match between Mark Henry w/Tony Atlas vs. Finlay w/Hornswaggle. Not a pretty match. Both Finlay and Henry seemed to be going in slow-mo through most of the "action". The finish came when Hornswaggle and Atlas were facing off in the ring. Horny tossed down his coat ready for a fight. Atlas tossed him aside as Finlay nailed Henry with the shilaylee (sp) pushing Atlas out of the ring and scoring the pinfall.
After the intermission it was the Intercontinental Championship match with William Regal w/Layla vs. Kofi Kingston. Good match with Regal dominating most of the match until Kofi started a comeback. It wasn't enough though as Regal wins the match via pin to retain the title.
Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes vs. C.M. Punk & Rey Mysterio was up next. HUGE pop for Rey and Punk, with Orton getting a decent cheer himself. Orton and Rhodes took turns beating on Punk and Mysterio until Punk managed to turn the match around hitting Cody with the GTS and going for the pin, not noticing Orton made the blind tag. After Punk tries to go for a pin and the ref tells him Rhodes isn't the legal man, its too late as Orton nailed Punk with the RKO to score the victory for what's left of The Legacy.
The main event was up next for the World Heavyweight Championship between John Cena and Chris Jericho. Jericho entered the arena to a MASSIVE pop from the hometown Winnipeg fans! He was trying to keep a straight face and keep in heel character but eventually broke and the biggest grin came on his face as he soaked up the crowd. Cena received a modest pop from the younger members of the audience. An unbelievably good match with countless near falls that actually had the crowd believing maybe we might actually see a title change, they were that good and close. Unfortunately it wouldn't be a successful homecoming as Cena would pin Jericho after a second FU.
After the match Jericho stayed in the ring for quite some time. He took the house mic and said that sometimes he's the biggest critic more then anybody over his matches. He stated that he feels we all just witnessed one of the best matches of his career and the match was an instant classic. Before leaving he said he doesn't get hurt or injured much because he was born and raised in Winnipeg, and because its so cold hear it makes us tough and made him tougher then others. Funny.
Final thoughts. For a house show I was shocked by a crowd of almost 14,000. I read some reports and hear of house shows barely able to sell a few hundred or few thousand tickets. I think this should get somebody's attention in Stamford because the crowd was as hot as and PPV, Raw, or Smackdown I've seen recently. Bring the TV trucks to Winnipeg and I guarantee you , we will show you how lively and excited a crowd should be at a wrestling show. I hope its a lot sooner then a few years before the WWE comes back.
www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=35741&p=1
