All-Star Showdown
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
Pyrotechnics go off and the camera pans around to show a full house at the Edward Jones Dome.
Dusty: Hello and welcome to St. Louis for All-Star Showdown, the first ever pay-per-view in the history of All-Star Wrestling. We have a great show in store for you. The first ever ASW World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned in our main event tonight.
Jesse: Not only that, but we’ll see the first ever Tag Team, U.S., and Women’s Champions crowned as well. Also, we get the treat of watching Sheamus finally swat that pesky fly A.J. Styles once and for all. But the match I’m looking forward to is the sibling rivalry that the Rhodes boys are going to play out for us.
Dusty: I knew you would bring that up. It’s been a difficult time for me, I’ll tell you that. I just hope for a great, safe match from both of them.
Jesse: I know earlier today you went to speak with both of your sons. Let’s check out some video.
A video package plays showing Dusty talking to each of his sons before the match, telling them he is proud of them and wishing them luck. Dusty also tells them not to forget who they are and where they came from. Cody is clearly very defense and makes remarks about Dusty liking Dustin better and how Cody will be a bigger superstar than either Dusty or Dustin could ever dream of. Dustin doesn’t say much in response to his father, but is clearly letting the words sink in and process them.
Match #1: Goldust vs. Cody RhodesChristy Hemme introduces Dustin as Goldust, but he comes to the ring in regular red trunks and boots with a leather vest, reminiscent of his days as “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes. He grabs the mic:
Dustin: “I’m sure you are all wondering why I’ve had such a huge wardrobe change. Well, you saw the video when my dad came and talked to me, and what he said made a lot of sense. I had forgotten who I was and where I came from. I got so wrapped up in the character of Goldust, that I lost my identity as Dustin Rhodes. So, I want to thank you, dad, for showing me that I need to be myself.”
Cody’s music hits and he appears with a mic:
Cody: “Isn’t that touching? That’s exactly what I’m talking about. It’s always been you that he was proud of and it’s always been me that has been an afterthought. Well, I won’t be an afterthought anymore. After I beat you in the middle of that ring, I will establish myself as the alpha male in this family, and it will be the first step on my road to greatness that neither of you can ever imagine.”
The match starts out with a series of grapples and impressive technical moves, showing the background that both of these men have. Dustin is able to overpower the much smaller Cody and applies a hammerlock in the middle of the ring. Cody is in obvious pain but is able to use his flexibility and quickness to reverse the hold. Dustin’s power again proves to be too much as he backs Cody into the turnbuckle hard, forcing Cody to break the hold. Dustin begins to start laying into Cody with stiff right hands and goes to a more brawling style. Cody tries to quicken the pace of the match to play to his quickness. Eventually, Dustin Irish whips Cody into the ropes and back body drops him to the floor. While on the floor, Cody goes to his trunks and pulls out tape to place around his knuckles. This goes unseen by either Dustin or the ref. Dustin tries to pull Cody back in to the ring but is met with the taped right hand. This allows Cody to regain the advantage. Cody uses quick kicks to get Dustin to the ground and he attempts to wear Dustin down with some submission holds. Dustin rallies back and gets to his feet. He and Cody battle on, neither gaining a distinct advantage until Cody connects with a kick to the side of Dustin’s face. Cody goes for the pin, but gets a 2 count. Cody is clearly frustrated. He drags Dustin to his feet, then dropkicks him to the ground and goes for another pin only to get another 2 count. He comes off the top rope with an elbow and goes for the pin again. This time, he puts his feet on the bottom ropes for leverage. As the ref counts two, someone has removed Cody’s feet from the ropes. It’s Dusty Rhodes! Cody is irate and gets into a heated argument with his father. Dustin recovers and hits Cody with the Curtain Call right as he turns around and gets the three count.
Winner: Dustin Rhodes in 12:45
Match #2: ASW Tag Team Championship – Beer Money vs. New Age Outlaws Billy Gunn starts things off with Bobby Roode. It is clear from the outset that this match will be more of a brawl than a match. The animosity from their first meeting which ended in a double DQ is still clearly present. The two teams battle back and forth with a few tags in and out. Eventually, Beer Money resort to cheating as Roode connects with punches to Gunn from the apron. Road Dogg tries to interfere to even things up, but the ref stops him. As the ref is focused on Road Dogg, Roode chokes Gunn from the outside as Storm lays into his midsection with punches. Roode breaks the choke as the ref turns around but Gunn is completely winded and Storm continues to punish him with punches and kicks. Gunn is putting up very little resistance. Roode goes up to the top but Road Dogg pushes him off from the apron. Both Roode and Gunn are motionless on the mat. They each reach their respective corners simultaneously. Road Dogg and Storm meet in the center of the ring, trading punches. The brawl goes outside the ring. The ref quickly loses control of the match. While outside the ring, Beer Money lifts the padding to expose concrete and perform a double suplex on Billy Gunn. Then, Roode and Storm team up on Road Dogg and throw him over the rail into the crowd. Roode rolls Gunn back into the ring and goes for the pin. Somehow, Gunn is able to kick out. Roode is beside himself. He makes a tag to Storm, and they attempt to double team Gunn but the ref steps in. In the meantime, Road Dogg has gotten back up, and knocks Storm off the apron. He rams Storm’s head into the ring post and rolls him back into the ring. Roode comes outside to go after Road Dogg. Storm groggily gets up and is hit from behind by the Fame-Ass-er by Gunn, leading to a pinfall.
Winner: New Age Outlaws in 15:55 The camera goes backstage to Dustin Rhodes’s dressing room where he is packing his gear up. Cody Rhodes bursts in.
Cody: What the hell was that?!
Dustin: What was what?
Cody: Dad getting involved in our match, what was that about?
Dustin: I guess he saw your feet on the ropes and wanted our match to be fair.
Cody: By distracting me so that you could win? Because you wouldn’t have won otherwise, I promise you that. I see what’s going on. This is a conspiracy between you two to make me look like a fool. You want to feel better about yourselves by keeping me down like always.
Dustin: Look, can we not put this behind us and just move on? After all, we are family.
Cody: You have the nerve to ask me that after the stunt the two of you just pulled? It’s never going to happen. In fact, I’m going to get revenge. You’re both going to regret screwing me over. I will personally see to that.
Match #3: ASW Women’s Championship – Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix Beth uses her power to gain an advantage early. She grounds Mickie quickly and applies a half crab. Mickie is in obvious pain but finds a way to reach the ropes. Beth pulls her to her feet and sends her to the ropes with an Irish whip. Beth goes for the back body drop, but Mickie counters with a neckbreaker. Mickie goes on the offensive and starts to wear Beth down. After a few moves, Mickie goes for the jumping DDT. Beth counters with a spinebuster. She picks Mickie up and throws her into the ropes. She catches Mickie with the clothesline. She then easily picks Mickie up for the Glam Slam. Mickie is able to escape it. She tries a superkick, but Beth catches her foot and takes her to the ground with an ankle lock. Mickie is unable to stand the pain and taps out to the ankle lock.
Winner: Beth Phoenix in 11:09 Backstage, Sunny is standing by with Shawn Michaels.
Sunny: Shawn, later tonight, you will compete for the ASW World Heavyweight Championship. How does that make you feel?
Shawn: Well, Sunny, I’ll tell ya, it’s an honor. To be able to have the chance to become the first ever ASW World Heavyweight Champion is an opportunity that doesn’t come along every day. And you know, no matter how long you do this, when you main event a pay-per-view and you compete for the top belt in the company, you still feel butterflies.
Sunny: How have you prepared yourself for your opponent, Chris Jericho?
Shawn: Well, I’ve faced Chris on several occasions, so I know his style and his tendencies. He’s an amazing competitor, and I know he’ll give me a great match. As far as preparation goes, I basically have gone through my regular training routine like I do before every big match.
Sunny: Well, best of luck to you tonight, I’ll let you get ready for your match.
Shawn: Thanks.
Match #4: No-Disqualification Match – Sheamus vs. AJ Styles The match begins normally, with AJ using high-flying attacks while Sheamus tries to use powerful grapples and strikes. It doesn’t take long, though, for the action to spill to the outside. Once outside, Sheamus grabs a steel chair and goes to attack Styles with it. Styles anticipates this and kicks the chair. Styles takes control of the match. He picks up a table and sits in the center of the ring. He drapes Sheamus over the table face down and comes off the top rope with a leg drop, sending Sheamus through the table. Styles goes for the pin, but it’s a two count. Styles goes back up top for a moonsault, but Sheamus is able to lift his knees as Styles makes impact. Both men are slow to get up. Sheamus is up first and clotheslines Styles to the outside. Sheamus grabs a chair and lays into Styles with it. He throws AJ into the steel stairs and places his head on the stairs before whacking it with the chair. The battle rages on outside with both men using the weapons they can find around the ring. Before too long, both men are busted open. It is a grueling match, but neither man can find a way to finish off his opponent. Eventually, Sheamus uses the ring bell and knocks AJ to the ground. He throws AJ in the ring and sets AJ up for the high cross. Suddenly, someone comes from the crowd. It’s Matt Morgan! He attacks Sheamus from behind and blindsides him with the Carbon Footprint. He then plants Sheamus onto a steel chair with a Fireman’s carry facebuster. He rolls AJ on top of Sheamus and the ref counts three.
Winner: AJ Styles in 25:03 Backstage interview with Chris Jericho:
Sunny: Chris, how do you feel about the possibility of becoming champion tonight?
Jericho: Possibility? Maybe you should rephrase that. There is no possibility that I won’t become champion tonight. Shawn Michaels is old, slow, and arrogant. I guarantee you he feels like he’ll win the title just because of who he is. But the truth is I am younger, faster, and stronger. I will win tonight and I will become the inaugural ASW World Heavyweight Champion.
Sunny: Can you explain the attack two weeks ago on CM Punk?
Jericho: I already said, even though Punk may be under the delusion that he is as good as me, he never will be. But I knew that he wasn’t above cheating to get to the finals, where I knew he would lose to Shawn Michaels. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let that arrogant prick Shawn Michaels basically be handed the title. So, I took matters into my own hands to prevent Punk from getting to the finals.
Sunny: Okay, then. Well…good luck in your match tonight.
Jericho: I don’t need luck. Luck is for people who aren’t as good as I am.
Match #5: ASW United States Championship
Kofi Kingston vs. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Layla The match starts with Kofi battling Punk and Bryan battling Ziggler. The match progresses with several tradeoffs and lots of high flying offense. The match goes on for a long time with highs and lows in momentum for each competitor. Eventually, Daniel Bryan kicks Kofi in the head and Kofi’s momentum carries him through the ropes to the floor. Ziggler and Punk take the opportunity to team up on Bryan, and execute a double DDT, which puts Bryan out of commission for a while. Punk and Ziggler are the only two men on their feet. They immediately go at each other. After a while, Punk gains a clear upper hand despite the injury to his knee. He gets Ziggler up for the GTS, but Layla takes a shot at his injured knee. Punk’s knee buckles and he has to release Ziggler who hits the Zig Zag and gets the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler in 34:19
Ric Flair’s music hits and he walks to the ring…
Flair: Are you guys enjoying All-Star Showdown? Woo! What a great night it’s been so far, and the main event is still to come. But before we get to that, I want to make an announcement. In just one month, ASW has gained so much popularity, we’ve gotten such good ratings, and made so much money, that we’ve been able to sign some major talent. As if the ASW roster wasn’t already the greatest that money could buy, tomorrow night on Monday Mayhem, it will get even bigger, as 5 major players in the wrestling world will join the ASW roster! In addition to that, I have another major announcement. Tomorrow night on Mayhem, we’re going to have ourselves a battle royal to determine the new number one contender for the ASW World Heavyweight Championship. That’s all tomorrow night, but tonight, we’ve got a world champion to crown, so let’s get to it…
Match #6: ASW World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels The match gets underway and it is clear that neither competitor is going to hold back anything as both pull out all the stops. The momentum swings back and forth as both men are at the top of their game and are clearly evenly matched. Shawn eventually hits an inverted atomic drop and gains the upper hand. Shawn lays into Jericho with a series of right hands and knocks him to the canvas. Shawn applies the figure four but is forced to break the hold when Jericho reaches the ropes. As Shawn is getting up, Jericho sweeps his legs from him and applies a camel clutch. Shawn is also able to get to the ropes and Jericho has to break the hold. Jericho pulls Michaels to his feet and lands several punches and then a jumping roundhouse kick. The tide shifts back and forth for several minutes. Eventually, both men hit each other with flying cross bodies off the ropes, sending them both to the mat. The referee initiates a 10 count. At 7, Michaels kips up and starts to tune up the band. Jericho gets to his feet and Michaels goes for Sweet Chin Music. Jericho ducks and takes out Shawn’s leg. He applies the Walls of Jericho. Michaels screams out in pain and reaches for the ropes. He is a good distance away, but digs deep and finally manages to grab the bottom rope to break up the hold. Jericho pulls Michaels up and sets him up for the Codebreaker, but Michaels drops to his knees, causing Jericho’s chin to bounce of Michaels’s head. Shawn goes to the top rope and hits his patented flying elbow. HBK goes to the corner and tunes up the band a second time. This time, he connects with Sweet Chin Music and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Shawn Michaels in 31:31 The show goes off the air with Ric Flair and Sunny presenting the ASW World Heavyweight Championship belt to Shawn Michaels and Michaels celebrates to massive applause from the crowd.