Friday Night Main Event September 2013

Brian Christopher pinned Ahmed Johnson with the Tennessee Jam in 0:02:28.
Rating: 1/4*
Click here to see highlights.

Rob Van Dam pinned Sting with the Split Legged Moonsault in 0:08:26.
Rating: ** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

The Dudleys (Big Dick Dudley and Buh Buh Ray Dudley) defeated
Shawn Michaels and Diesel when Big Dick Dudley pinned Diesel with the
Total Penetration in 0:13:57. Big Dick Dudley injured his left knee. He
 will be out for approximately 3 cards.
Rating: 1/2*
Click here to see highlights.

Hayabusa pinned Diamond Dallas Page after an Asai moonsault in 0:10:15.
Rating: ** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki defeated Rick Steiner and Steve Williams when
Sasaki pinned S. Williams after a Northern Lights bomb in 0:20:11.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki won the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
Click here to see highlights.

No-Countout-No-DQ-25-Man Battle Royal:
Ken Shamrock won a 25-man Battle Royal:
         x Shamrock threw out Flair in 0:09:28
         x Anderson threw out B. Hart after a backbreaker in 0:10:52
         x S. Williams threw out Bradshaw in 0:13:59
         x Michaels threw out Sabu in 0:16:48
         x Michaels threw out D-Von Dudley in 0:16:56
         x Hogan threw out Cactus Jack after a powerslam in 0:19:24
         x Kawada threw out Michaels after a lariat in 0:21:31
         x S. Williams threw out D. Malenko in 0:21:48
         x S. Williams threw out Undertaker in 0:25:09
         x Vader threw out Giant after a slap in 0:26:59
         x R. Maivia threw out Finlay in 0:28:35
         x Anderson threw out R. Maivia in 0:30:50
         x Kawada threw out Anderson after an enzuilariato in 0:31:43
         x Vader threw out Pillman after a bodyslam in 0:32:14
         x S. Williams threw out Severn after a swinging neckbreaker in 0:33:07
         x Kawada threw out O. Hart in 0:36:01
         x Head Hunter #1 threw out Head Hunter #2 in 0:37:10
         x Steamboat threw out Hogan in 0:46:38
         x Shamrock threw out Ramon after a forearm smash in 0:47:22
         x Kawada threw out Steamboat in 0:48:03
         x S. Williams threw out Kawada after a spinebuster slam in 0:48:57
         x Shamrock threw out Vader after a single-leg takedown in 0:52:41
         x Shamrock threw out Head Hunter #1 after a punch in 0:56:34
         x Shamrock threw out S. Williams after a half Boston in 0:57:43
Rating: ** 1/4
Click here to see highlights.

Chris Benoit made Yokozuna submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:13:02.
Rating: 1/2*
(Chris Benoit retained the WWF World Title.)
Click here to see highlights.


Card rating: * 1/2


Match observations: 

The wrestling scene is in a state of shock. Rick Steamboat announced today that 
if he loses in the IC title tournament next week at In Your House, he will 
wrestle his last match at the Survivor Series.

With the influx of new and fresh talent into the WWF, something along these
lines wasn't really unexpected but nobody - NOBODY - thought it could be 
Steamboat.

In that light, we felt tremendously saddened when it was revealed that Rick
Steamboat had drawn Hayabusa as his opponent. As we all know, Hayabusa has
taken the WWF by storm and still is undefeated.

Speaking of "undefeated", two other WWF newcomers are also quickly making names
for themselves. The two wrestlers we're speaking about are Brian Christopher and
Rob Van Dam.

It should come as no surprise that both will participate in the tournament to
crown a new IC champion. 

Here is the first-round lineup:

  - Toshiaki Kawada vs Bret Hart
  - Brian Christopher vs Dan Severn
  - Dave Finlay vs Rob Van Dam
  - Jushin Liger vs Sting
  - Owen Hart vs Sabu
  - Dean Malenko vs Cactus Jack
  - Hayabusa vs Rick Steamboat
  - Ken Shamrock vs Yokozuna

In the event that one wrestler can't participate for whatever reason, Justin
Bradshaw will take his place in the tournament.

Much to the surprise of everybody, the Dudleys brought in some special 
reinforcement from Philadelpha in the form of Big Dick Dudley. It threw off
Michaels and Diesel considerably since they had prepared to wrestle Buh Buh
Ray and D-Von but got Buh Buh and Big Dick instead. Dick proved that he 
belongs in this company by blocking Diesel's attempt at a Jackknife Power
Bomb, hitting a power bomb of his own and then finishing Diesel off with the
Total Penetration.

Hayabusa upped the ante once again. This time around, he drove DDP through a
table with an Asai moonsault en route to his third WWF victory. Rick Steamboat
beware...

Danny Davis may very well be on his way out of the WWF. Officials are extremely
displeased with his officiating of the Wiliams/Steiner vs Liger/Sasaki match.
The time limit expired and Davis let it continue which gave Liger and Sasaki
a chance to quickly finish off Steve Williams and take the WWF World Tag Team
Titles. It has been announced that the two teams will meet again at In Your
House - in a Two-Out-Of-Three-Falls match.

Williams, obviously, was incensed. He went into the Battle Royal with one
thing in mind: to redeem himself. Hadn't it been for Ken Shamrock who ended up
winning, Williams would have plowed through the competition.

Rocky Maivia made his WWF debut in the Battle Royal and definitely held his own
before being eliminated by Arn Anderson. This is another man to keep your eyes
on.

Chris Benoit overcame the biggest - no pun intended - obstacle ever put in his
path tonight. Nobody gave him a chance against Yokozuna but Benoit gutted it out
and made the big Samoan submit to the Crippler Crossface in the end.

Benoit will now have to defend his WWF Title against his former mentor Ric Flair
at In Your House.

See you then !!