LowBlowPodcast

Notes from RAGE, There is a very positive environment at the rage television taping this week. They feel as though homing the show in Dallas will be good to build up the market while the company continues to build its identity. A a lot of people noted the happiness in regards to Eric bischoff and how he managed the backstage area along with the show while Triple H was almost his right hand and putting things together. Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross were very influential in helping formulate how the first show went. Some some wonder if the show was enough with only three matches and two big angles however TNT seems to be happy with the preliminary reports and is waiting on more feedback in regards to changes in the future. It would not be surprising to see four matches take place in an hour but with that those matches will not nearly be as long as they were this week. A a lot of people were praising Viscera and The godfather for their primetime main event contest. They were told to go all out and cause some carnage which they did. Look for both men to do well in the coming weeks. The The ultimate survival gimmick is one that is going to hopefully be a staple for RAGE as they approach their pay-per-view shows and special gimmick matches. The voting for Triple H and the undertaker was supposedly legitimate however in comparison to the other people that were listed, Scott Steiner, Mark Henry, Chris Benoit ( who got third), and Dean malenko, it was clearly a two-horse race. Still no word on Steve Austin and Ric flair joining RAGE. The word on Austin is that he is asking for a lot of money and it may be back ended into his merchandise deal. There's no doubt that he will be the top merchandise seller for rage and Jim Ross is trying to negotiate a way for him to make WWF style money in a non WWF environment. Ric flair still has animosity towards Eric bischoff but again Triple H is trying to be the middleman in that situation. Lots of people have said that Bishop has reached out and tried to help the situation but flare seems to really hold a grudge and doesn't seem to want to let it go although the market for flare may not be very high as no one has reached out for his services.

Lots of good stuff here. I definitely recognize a couple more names after doing some searching. I personally like the strong style format that adds some legitimacy. I think it'll be fun to see who kind of rises the top and how you handle Brock. there's no doubt that he would be a legitimate threat at this point just learning the basics but also with the way that your product is presented. Lots of good stuff here..

I agree with Edgar when it comes to liger and mysterio. I think that they are definitely two of your top draws. I also like the Vader and Spike Dudley situation. Going to be fun to see if Spike continues on this path. My money is on to Jerry making a strong run for the title..

8/3 RAGE Monday Night Mayhem! @ Dallas, TX - Reunion Arena {The scene opens to a jam packed Reunion Arena. We see a fun entryway set up and then an L shaped entryway - like the Meadowlands. The mats around the ring are black. The ring has a black mat with lime green ring posts. The top and bottom ropes are black with the middle rope green. There’s a huge RAGE in the middle of the ring as we see a ton of pyro to open up the show! We cut to the ring and here is Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes!} JR: Ladies and gentlemen welcome to RAGE MONDAY NIGHT MAYHEM! I am Jim Ross alongside the American Dream Dusty Rhodes! Dream… you and I have been in these chairs before but I can say without question… I have never been this excited for a show like we’ve got tonight! Dream: Jim Ross… the Revolution of Professional wrestling is upon us and at the tippy top is RAGE Wrestling. Never before and never again will you see something like this. We’ve got the best wrestlers in the world daddy and we’re going to see some amazing singles action… tag team action… triple threats… baby we got it all! JR: Fans… over the next 5 weeks we will be showing you so much here on RAGE Monday Mayhem as we approach our first pay per view on September the 5th called RAGE Sudden Impact! Dream: It is going to be a happening of epic proportions. We’re going to have the titles decided and brother the war for wrestling supremacy will be full on you know what I mean. JR: Fans we have got so much to cover here tonight but it is all about the action and we’re starting it off in a big way… let’s head to the ring for our opening contest.. Here’s Bruce Buffer! Bruce Buffer: Ladies and gentlemen… WELCOME TO RAGE! Our opening contest is scheduled for one fall with a 15-minute time limit! Introducing first… from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada… he is the Canadian Crippler… CHRIS BENOIT! His opponent, from El Paso, Texas, Chavo Guerrero Jr! Chris Benoit vs Chavo Guerrero Jr. -Big time opener for these two to show the world what RAGE is all about and they go right to work. We see some fun catch wrestling and see how Guerrero can fly and Benoit can work him into a pretzel. We get an inset interview from Dean Malenko who says that he’s keeping a close eye on both of these men and he knows that in order to be the best he has to beat the best and he’s willing to step in there with anyone! Inside the ring, we get a fun 12-minute contest with a hot finish. Guerrero goes up top but Benoit hits the ropes and Guerrero nuts himself. Benoit then goes up and turns him around for a top rope toss belly to back suplex! Benoit holds on to the ropes and then goes up and lines up for a huge diving headbutt and the 3-count! The Crippler sets the stage for RAGE with so much to follow. We cut to a live feed of the back where Eric Bischoff is walking to the ring… he’s got two briefcases… COMMERCIAL We return to RAGE with a special video highlighting the Japanese talents… Mitsuhara Misawa and Kenta Kobashi… they will be here next week! In the ring Eric Bichoff is standing by… there’s three pedestals in the ring… EB: Ladies and gentlemen… WELCOME TO RAGE! Dallas, Texas is going to be our home and week in and week out we’re going to bring you the absolute best in professional wrestling. In order to do that… we’re going to start by unveiling our titles. First… I have always been a fan of tag team wrestling and we’ve already got some of the best tag teams in the world signed… so let me show you the RAGE WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP! EB: Next up… this is going to be a very special title… this is the one that can be defended under any set of rules. It will show the true spirit of RAGE. Since we make our home in Dallas… we travel to Houston… Atlanta… New Orleans… and the rest of North America…This is our RAGE North American Championship! EB: Finally… the coup de gras… the RAGE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. EB: This is going to be the title that will be held and defended by the best talent in the world against any and all comers… -We then hear some maniacal music… here he comes… The Game Triple H! He comes out to a chorus of boos… the fans don’t seem to like him in his custom suit and sun glasses… he’s inside damnit! EB: Ahh yes… the one… the only… Triple H. It is a pleasure to have you here in RAGE! Triple H: Don’t kid yourself Eric… we know exactly why I am here. Just give me the title right now...we can stop the pomp… the circumstance… I am the GAME damnit… I came here for a reason and that belt belongs to me! EB: You know… in another world… I might just give this title to you… but this is RAGE! And since it is RAGE… well… you’re going to have to EARN this title Triple H. Triple H: Oh yeah? What… is there going to be a tournament? Huh? Eight men all battling it out? The last one standing wins? Why make me go through three jack offs when that title just belongs to me damnit… EB: Nah… you see… at our PPV Sudden Impact… every title is going to be crowned in a different way. For example… the tag team titles… I’ve got a special invitational match for those titles. For the North American Championship… I’ve cooked up something special called Ultimate Survival! But when it comes to the world title...there’s no tournament for this title… no… the fans decided the fate of this championship. You probably haven’t checked out RAGE.com yet have you? Well… there is a poll that ended right before the show. We have 450,000 different votes come in to decide just who would be in line for this title. Well Triple H… you got a lot of votes...so many so that you earned that spot in the main event. Triple H: Exactly! I got the most votes… gimme the damn belt! EB: No… I didn’t say that… I said you got a lot of votes… second most to be exact… Triple H: And who got the most votes then? EB: Your opponent at Sudden Impact… Triple H: Just who the hell is that? EB: Well… -HELLS BELLS hits the PA System and the lights go out… wait a minute… OH MY… IT IS THE UNDERTAKER! The American Bad Ass… short hair and all… is here! The Undertaker rides his custom made Harley down to the ring and the fans are going nuts! The big man gets in the ring and Triple H takes a powder and hits the bricks. He can’t believe what is going on! Taker points at him… slits his throat… we’ve already got our main event for Sudden Impact… it is Triple H vs The Undertaker for the RAGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP… and it was picked by the fans! COMMERCIAL Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes are back and they put over the huge announcement for Sudden Impact! We’ll see Triple H and the Undertaker one on one for the title and what a match that will be! They put over the Ultimate Survival match that will be announced next week! Plus next week we’ll see Misawa and Kobashi for the first time in America as a tag team. Speaking of tag teams… it is time for our next contest… let’s head to the ring! Bruce Buffer: Ladies and gentlemen our next contest is scheduled for one fall and is a tag team match. The first team hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and Orlando, Florida respectively… ladies and gentlemen… Jerry Lynn and Scotty 2 Hotty! Their opponents… from Toronto, Ontario, Canada… ladies and gentlemen… Edge and Christian! Jerry Lynn & Scotty 2 Hotty vs Edge & Christian -Another fun contest with these guys all breaking their necks for one another. Edge and Christian have really hit their stride as a team and appear to have a little love from the fans while Scotty and Lynn are just going spot for spot to make things interesting. We get another inset interview from the Dudley Boyz this time and they let everyone know that the tag team titles belong to them and that the teams in RAGE will rue the day that they mess with the Dudley Boyz! The finish sees Jerry Lynn hit a huge spinning heel kick on Christian but turns around and Edge comes with a big SPEAR for the 3-count! Edge and Christian are making their presence known. Before we go to commercial… we see Mark Henry in the back… he is lifting a lot of weight and looking swol! Commercial We’re back here on RAGE with JR and Dusty… they talk about the biggest signing of all… Stone Cold Steve Austin! Jim Ross explains that he is currently healing from a neck injury sustained almost a year ago. He points out that Triple H was one of the key suspects in those injuries. Jim Ross says that he is going to be traveling to San Antonio, Texas to speak with Steve Austin in two weeks and we’ll have that special interview right here on Mayhem. We then cut to the back where Sunny is standing by with Mark Henry… Sunny: I am joined right now… by one of the strongest men in the world… Texas’ own… Mark Henry! Mark… I have to say… you look great… we’re all excited for what you can do here at RAGE! Mark Henry: It is a pleasure to be here… I am feeling good… I am feeling strong… and I am feeling ready for a fight! -Just then… we see non-other than Scott Steiner walk into the scene… Sunny: Woah… wait a minute… Scott Steiner… Steiner: No… not just Scott Steiner… I am the genetic freak… the big booty daddy… and the worst nightmare of any of these punks who walk around here thinking they have got the skillz to pay the billz! Mark Henry: Brother… what the hell are you talking about? Steiner: Listen pal… you in the big leagues now because the biggest and the baddest is here. You better check yourself before you wreck yourself because Big Poppa Pump is tired of playing games. Mark Henry: Boy you done lost your mind. I can lift twice your body weight over my head and boy you know I can bring it crashing down! Steiner: Yeah… well weights don’t hit back boy… Mark Henry: Well boy… I guess we may just have to see how hard they hit… -We then have some officials come into the scene and get between these two… oh man… this could explode at any moment! COMMERCIAL JR and Dusty are back putting over all the issues from the night and then put over next week’s show in which we will hear about the rules of Ultimate Survival and the debut of Misawa and Kobashi! Right now it is time for our main event… Bruce Buffer: Ladies and gentlemen it is now time for our main event! This match is scheduled for one fall with a 30-minute time limit. Introducing first, he hails from the Red Light District… ladies and gentlemen… the Godfather! His opponent… from Harlem New York… he weighs in tonight at 480 pounds… this is Viscera! The Godfather vs Viscera -The Godfather comes out with a couple of ladies but big Viscera isn’t playing games. He jumps right on the Godfather and starts pounding away. There are some huge right hands and then a big belly to belly slam! Godfather tries to retreat and get some love from the ladies and Viscera isn’t done… he jumps out of the ring and nails Godfather from behind! He throws him up against the safety rails and then runs with a head full of steam but Godfather moves and Viscera goes crashing through the guardrail! The crowd pops! Viscera is trying to get back up as The Godfather tries to lay down some blows. The referee isn’t sure what to do as the action continues outside the ring. Godfather has him up but Viscera with a nasty headbutt. He then grabs Godfather again and hits a belly to belly but this time it is through the table that explodes all over. Ross and Dream go down calling the action! Viscera grabs Godfather by the dreads and tosses him in the ring… he hits the ropes and a BIG SPLASH for the 3-count! Big Viscera is the winner and he looks awesome here in RAGE! Join us next week for more Monday Night Mayhem!

I'm excited about the use of Mike awesome and the triple threat. I think you definitely have a lot of ECW going on here with a mix of some other things that are going to keep it intriguing.

I'm going to have to do a little bit of research on the group of guys that you have but this definitely looks like a fun kick start to what is going to be a wild ride.

This looks fantastic!

Coming out of RAGE... - Lots of turmoil surrounding the hiring of Ric Flair. He and Eric Bischoff have had a very troubled past. On one had, Flair said he was ready to retire but it was Triple H who came in at the last moment to get him to sign. There is still no word on if he has signed the contract though. There is talk that he's looking to move somewhere else after preliminary talks with Bischoff. Why would he even look into the offer you ask... well it was the money. The financial backers of RAGE have put a lot of money into the talent. Ric Flair was said to be a very high priority due to his name and history in Dallas, New Orleans, Houston, and Atlanta. There is hope to get one more run with Flair... if he agrees to the contract. - Stone Cold Steve Austin was another one who had serious issues with Bischoff but it is said that Eric has bent over backwards to try and get back in his good graces. Bischoff worked directly with Jim Ross... who he also had issues with... to get Austin on the books. The paycheck didn't hurt... he is scheduled to be the highest paid worker in RAGE and for good measure he is also getting "Hogan esq" numbers in terms of merchandise. Austin is however still on the mend from neck surgery. There is hope that he will return to the ring in 2000 but it doesn't look likely. -The final two men who had serious issue with Eric Bischoff were Benoit and Malenko. This situation was helped by Triple H who really vouched for these two after their brief run in the WWF. Additionally, Bischoff held a private meeting with them and I am told that the names Hall, Nash, and Hogan were brought up as being the big issues in the past... that is no longer an issue in this promotion. - It looks as though RAGE is going to tape their television from Dallas each week. Bischoff said that this will be a financially smart move to help build the product and fan base. Being in TNT also helps the product with national viewing. Bischoff is still connected with Turner Execs and is trying to negotiate with Time Warner for PPV distribution. We're told they may be looking to hold a PPV as soon as September 5th. - There is a booking committee in RAGE that consists of Jim Ross, Dusty Rhodes, and Triple H with Bischoff as a consultant. Flair was also offered to be the head booker if he were to accept but many around Flair says he just wants to be done or go somewhere where he can be on tv and nothing else.

One of the fun additions to these games to help spice up your promotions is the dirt sheets. You can post rumors or stories about your promotion to help build the hype for a show, angle, or worker.

I like the group of talent that you have here, and it's not crazy to think that Eddie Guerrero would show up and do some work here. this also seems like a spot where Sid would come in for a shot here in a shot there. I really like the inclusion of regal because he seems like a stalwart that is going to be someone who carries your promotion. Then you've got a big group of very young and unproven talent. You went all in on drafting them and I think it's going to be fun to watch you develop them into what we think they are and how you can portray what you want them to be. Don't be afraid to ask for help when it comes to putting some of the stuff together, it can be very overwhelming without the right kind of planning. I've been doing this now for close to 11 years and I still get overwhelmed sometime lol.

The fact that I know so few of the guys on your roster makes this a fun project for me. I am going to look these guys up as you promote them to get a better idea of what you have going on.

Coast to coast McMahon is under disguise to try and rebuild his empire. You definitely have some people that are going to put some asses in the seats. With the figure head like McMahon you know that something is going to happen each week it'll just be interesting to see which role you pick for him.

You've got a very fun and eclectic group of talent here. I love the lethal lottery concept. Bullet Bob is a pretty fun figurehead as well. All the right pieces for some entertaining stuff to come in the future.

Triple H: Are you ready? Chris Benoit: It is a crippling feeling! Scott Steiner: It is making you freak out! The Undertaker: It is in your soul. Edge & Christian: This is RAGE! Eric Bischoff: Ladies and gentlemen… I want to welcome you to RAGE. A Revolutionary American Grappling Experience unlike any other in the history of professional wrestling. Everyone has been talking about the fall of pro wrestling throughout the world but this is now the rise. RAGE is going to shock the world with the greatest wrestlers in the world and the most intense action you’ve ever seen. On Monday August 3rd we will be live at 9pm eastern on TNT for RAGE: Monday Night Mayhem! Join Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes as we come to you live from Reunion Arena in Dallas Texas for the hottest hour in professional wrestling as you meet the stars of RAGE! The Dudley Boys: The feeling is taking over! Dean Malenko: It is like ice-water in your veins. Xpac: It is the x-factor that pushes you over the edge. Mark Henry: It is the strongest force in the world! Stone Cold Steve Austin:Tune in to TNT on Monday August 3rd to find out what RAGE is all about… AND THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE CUZ STONE COLD SAID SO!

Great American Bash 1988 The Price for Freedom July 10, 1988 Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Arena We see a great opening package highlighting the big feuds of the evening. We see the live Baltimore crowd as they are white hot already. We see the War Games cage above the two ring set up. Fans it is time! Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone welcome everyone and run down the card. They put over the War Games, the Texas Bullrope Match, and of course the Main Event… World Title on the line… Ric Flair and Rowdy Roddy Piper. It is going to be history in the making… it is time to get things going right now… let’s head to the ring! The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams w/ Kevin Sullivan -A hot opening contest with some real good action. Bret and Rotundo do some great work inside the ring while the Anvil and Dr. Death show off the power. Jim Ross highlights the Mid South history between those two men. These guys go right up to the 15-minute time limit and we see a hot finish with Dr. Death trying to do an Oklahoma Slam on Bret but he jumps over his back and dropkicks him over the top to the floor. The referee doesn’t see it as the Anvil grabs Rotundo and we see the HART ATTACK for the 3-count! We cut to the back and see Bob Caudle standing by with Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, and Lex Luger. They are putting over their tag title and US title matches respectively tonight. Luger is sporting some taped ribs. They talk about the Horsemen and Jimmy Hart’s men as evil incarnate. They want to walk away with the gold tonight! TV CHAMPIONSHIP Terry Taylor vs Curt Hennig © -Another solid in ring contest here for Taylor and Hennig. Terry Taylor has got some momentum going into this one but Hennig looks awesome out there. Ross and Schiavone remind us that JJ Dillon is not allowed at ringside for the Horsemen matches other than the big one with Flair and he will be handcuffed to Andre! Here Hennig and Taylor go to the 15-minute time limit with Taylor getting some big momentum at the finish but when he goes for the five-arm, Hennig ducks and Taylor gets tied up in the ropes and lands awkwardly! Hennig is struggling to get up and when he grabs Taylor, Terry counters for a roll up but Hennig rolls through for the 3-count and Curt Hennig retains the title! In the back we see Bob Caudle with Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, and Jimmy Hart. They put over the US title match with Steamboat and Rude vows to get the title back that he should have never lost! He says that Steamboat stole the title and he is going to give him the Rude Awakening of his lifetime to get it back! Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan -The second half of our Varsity Club Homecoming but the first one didn’t go very well. This one goes about 9-minutes and we see tempers flare when Simmons and Steiner almost come to blows when they try to get a hold of Sullivan! There is some miscommunication and Rick Steiner ends up clotheslining Simmons. A couple of moments later Simmons waffles him with a big forearm and Spivey catches Steiner and hoists him up for a nasty back body drop right on his head for the 3-count! Rotundo and Williams run down and they start to put the boots to Steiner! Simmons then comes back in and backs them off before laying the boots to him as well! Sullivan is laughing and smiling… has Simmons joined the Varsity Club?!? Ross and Schiavone put over all the action thus far and pump up the next contest for the US title. They put over Rude and Steamboat and how Steamboat won the title. They talk about Bundy and Luger… here we go! US CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart -These guys get some time and put forth a great 25-minute contest. Rude gets some heat… Steamboat comes back with a fire like no other. We see Bundy come down around the 20-minute mark and he is ominous around the ring. We see him trip Steamboat while Hart has the referee distracted. This draws out Lex Luger and he hammers away at Bundy! He even tries to slam him before Rick Rude slides out of the ring and hammers him from behind! Bundy then SPLASHES LUGER OUTSIDE THE RING! Rude slides back in and is laughing but he doesn’t notice Ricky Steamboat who flies off the top rope with a splash and the 3-count! Steamboat has retained the title and the crowd pops! Luger though… he’s in a bad way outside the ring! We then cut to a special video package highlighting the next contest… the Texas Bullrope match. We see the build up of Hansen and Rhodes over the last couple of months leading to this one. TEXAS BULL ROPE MATCH Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen -This one gets out of hand early on. This is a touch all four corner type affair but both men get busted open early and there’s a lot of blood in the ring. We see Gary Jester outside the ring with an official and they may call it. These two big boys just beat the living hell out of one another. The finish is typical of these type matches with Rhodes looking to hit all four corners while Hansen is doing it from behind. They get to the 4th… and Hansen holds up Rhodes, who is a bloody mess, and the hits a LARIAT then send Hansen and Rhodes into the buckle but it is Rhodes’ head that hit with Hansen’s hand hitting the buckle. Nick Patrick is confused… here comes Tommy Young… they deliberate and then GMC announces that Stan Hansen has won and the crowd isn’t happy! Rhodes then goes after him and they brawl to the back! We cut to the locker room of the Horsemen. JJ says that they came here to defend their titles and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Hennig says that he is the perfect TV champ and proved it tonight! Arn and Tully say that they are taking the gloves off tonight and Windham and Luger are going to get the beating they deserve. Flair is reserved… he says that Piper may know him better than any opponent he’s ever faced… but Flair knows Piper and he knows what it is going to take to beat him… and that’s what will happen tonight! WCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard © -The story of this one has to be the injury to Lex Luger. He is holding those ribs and we see the Horsemen go right to work on them. This one goes about 20-minutes and the Horsemen are doing everything they can to wear Luger down until he can get Windham in. Windham does everything he can but he can’t beat two men and the Horsemen double up on him while Luger is hurt in the corner. Luger finally gets up and tries to get the crowd going but when Windham makes the big tag Luger just doesn’t have it. He hits some clotheslines but when he goes for the press slam on Arn, Tully comes from behind and knees him right in the ribs! Luger is hurting. Windham comes out of nowhere and clotheslines Tully out of the ring to the floor! Luger is struggling to get up and he hammers on Anderson and goes for the rack but he can’t get him up… Arn turns him around for a SPINEBUSTER on those ribs! 1...2….3! The Horsemen have retained the titles and the crowd pops! Arn and Tully continue to try and wear him out until Windham jumps in the ring and chases them off. We see pre-taped interviews from both teams involved in the War Games. Needless to say… the Road Warriors are jacked up for this one. We cut back to the arena and the lights go out as the cage comes down. We see Slick and Cornette lead their men down to a chorus of boos. Then IRONMAN hits and the Road Warriors lead their team down followed by the US Tag Champions the Rockers and then Sting who has got the pop of the night so far! It is time for the WAR GAMES! WAR GAMES Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers vs Butch Reed, Big Bubba, One Man Gang, & The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette & Slick -Shawn Michaels and Bobby Eaton start us off for the first five minutes. We see Shawn get busted open early as he and Bobby go blow for blow and the crowd is going nuts! The highlight is when Michaels leaps off the top rope from one ring to another for a clothesline and both men are down at the end of the 5-minute mark when the coin is flipped… and Slick and Cornette win and send in...Big Bubba Rogers! Bubba comes in and he goes right to work on Michaels and wears him out something awful. He is hammering down on him and then tosses him into the cage like a javelin! Michaels is bleeding something awful as the 2-minute timer goes off and here comes… ANIMAL! The sides are evened up and Animal is trying to go two on one here to try and keep his team in it! He is hammering away on both men and then we see him toss Bobby into the cage and he folds up! Animal then with a press slam on Big Bubba and the crowd explodes! Animal gets Michaels back to his feet but he may be a lost cause at this point! The timer goes off and here comes...STAN LANE! The Midnights are in and they go right to work on Michaels and they are beating him within an inch of his life! Animal tries to make the save but nothing doing. Bubba tosses Michaels over both ring ropes and gets him into their corner. We see Gang try to reach under the cage to choke him. The Midnights are doubling up on Animal when the timer goes off… here comes...STING! The crowd explodes when the Stinger comes in and Bubba tries to cut him off but Sting hammers away and then hits the bulldog! He then picks up Bubba for a bodyslam! Sting then leaps over both ropes and clotheslines the Midnight Express! The fans are going nuts! Sting has even the odds and now he and Animal are tossing everyone into the cage! The timer goes off and here comes… BUTCH REED! Reed is met right when he comes in the ring though and Sting is hammering away at him! Animal is being doubled by the Midnights! Bubba is tossing Michaels into the cage and he is crumbling up something awful. Ross and Schiavone don’t know if Michaels will make it through the match as the timer goes off and here comes...MARTY JANNETTY! Marty with a house of fire to even the odds and he is hammering on everyone! He tries to get Michaels to safety but the Midnights cut them off! Bubba is busted open when Sting and Animal toss him into the cage. Reed is busted when Sting and Animal do the same to him! Marty then hits and flurry on the Midnights before Shawn Michaels gets some life and joins in for some double clotheslines and then dropkicks! The timer goes off...THE ONE MAN GANG is in and it is 5 on 4! Gang comes in and he hammers on everyone before delivering some big 747 splashes on Jannetty… Michaels… Animal… and then Sting! The Cornette/Slick Army has complete control right now! Hawk is seething outside the ring! They are almost goating him to come in the ring. The timer goes off and here comes HAWK and the MATCH BEYOND BEGINS! It is submission or surrender! Hawk with some huge clotheslines and he is getting his team back in it! We see Sting come out of nowhere with some Stinger Splashes on the Midnights and then Big Bubba! We see Animal and Hawk toss the Twin Towers of Power into the cage and then double bodyslams on both of them! There’s blood all over the ring! The Midnights try to isolate Michaels but the Road Warriors help him out before Sting grabs Stan Lane for a Scorpion Death Drop! He locks in the Scorpion Death Lock while the Road Warriors hold off the others! Michaels and Jannetty somehow take down the Towers with a pair of splashes! Lane GIVES UP! The crowd explodes as Sting, the Road Warriors, and Rockers have won it! Slick and Cornette then start arguing with one another! They have to carry Michaels out of the cage… he’s a bloody mess! Sting and company have won this one but it is hard to tell the winners from the losers! Bob Caudle is in the back with Andre and Piper. Piper is calm and collected before going bonkers. He puts over how this is his one chance… if he can’t get it done tonight he will never be able to do it. He says he is putting it all on the line and he has to win or he won’t be able to live with himself! WCW CHAMPIONSHIP Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair © w/ JJ Dillon Andre & JJ Dillion to be handcuffed at ringside! -JJ makes a big fuss about not wanting to be handcuffed but they are in the entryway. This one starts fast… they brawl right into the entryway and both men are chopping and throwing bombs to get the crowd going. Ross and Schiavone put this over in the biggest way. Flair then slows things down for a moment and tries to work the knee but Piper fights back with a huge fire. He gets Flair busted open. Piper goes to work before Flair hits a low blow and then he gets Piper busted open. Both men are bleeding and now Flair has control and goes for the figure four around the 23-minute mark. Piper looks to be out but then starts smacking himself back into shape before twisting and turning and flips the figure four! Flair has to let go! Piper then goes on a flurry and he looks to finish with the sleeper hold and Flair is slowly going down! JJ tries to get up but Andre pulls him back down and he goes flying backwards! The Horsemen then try to run down but they are thwarted by Sting, Terry Taylor, Barry Windham, and then Andre nails Curt Hennig with a huge right hand. Flair with another low blow to get out of the sleeper… he stumbles and then looks to grab the figure four but Piper pulls him down and rolls through for the 1…..2…..3! RODDY PIPER HAS WON IT! RODDY PIPER IS THE NEW WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! THE CROWD EXPLODES! WE SEE STREAMERS AND BALLOONS FALL FROM THE CEILING! THE RING IS FILLING UP! THE HARTS, THE ROAD WARRIORS, STING, WINDHAM, TAYLOR, AND ANDRE! THEY HOIST UP PIPER… THE NEW WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!

WCW Saturday Night Special Broadcast from the Philadelphia Civic Center - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 7/9/88 A very special broadcast opens up from the Civic Center with Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone standing by. They put over the huge matches coming up tonight along with the main event of Andre the Giant and Roddy Piper taking on Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard! We’re going to kick things off in a big way right now with our War Games random pick match up… let’s go to the ring! WAR GAMES RANDOM PICK TAG TEAM Marty Jannetty & Hawk vs Bobby Eaton & Big Bubba Rogers w/ Slick & Jim Cornette -Lots of action here and the crowd is solidly behind Janetty and Hawk. Eaton and Bubba make an awesome pairing while they’re at it though. These guys go about 14-minutes with a hot finish. Hawk nails a huge double clothesline and both men go down. He then chases off Slick before Jim Cornette destroys Marty Jannetty with the tennis racket before Bobby Eaton drapes his arm over his for the 3-count! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with a promo from Cornette, Slick, The Midnights, Reed, Gang, & Bubba about the War Games tomorrow night. They put over their issues with Sting, the Road Warriors, and Rockers. They talk about selling out to make sure that none of them will survive. We then cut to a special promo from Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers who all wish that they could get Slick and Cornette in the cage to finish this once and for all. They talk about spilling blood and working together to put an end to these guys once and for all! Eddie Gilbert & Tommy Rich vs the Russians -A fun little mini feud brewing here as Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich really blend well together as a team. Nikolai and Boris are definitely no slouches but can’t seem to hang with these two when it comes to the speed of the contest. We see them going for the double team sickle but Eddie Gilbert pulls the rope down on Nikolai and he goes flying out of the ring and then Gilbert dropkicks Tommy in the back and he falls on Boris for the 3-count! *COMMERCIAL* Ross and Schiavone are back and they are joined by Terry Taylor who puts over his match with Curt Hennig tomorrow night. He talks about the Bash being the premiere event of 1988 thus fa and he wants to make the biggest impact and walk out with the title! Schiavone and Ross put over that match and also two contenders for the TV title… Scott Hall and Ron Bass who are in action now! Scott Hall vs Ron Bass -Nothing terrible here… just a way for Hall to get over to the crowd. He does some decent work while Ron Bass gets some good heat. Bass goes for the big clothesline but Hall ducks and then hoists him up for a back slide slam that looks botched but gets the 3-count! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with Ricky Steamboat joining Ross and Schiavone for commentary for the following match. He puts over his match with Rick Rude tomorrow night and knows that Bundy will be there but hopes he can keep it one on one! Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs Rick Rude & King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart -A really fun contest here with Luger and Bundy getting some shine but it is really the Windham & Rude show as they bring the crowd to their feet. Ross and Schaivone put this through the roof while Steamboat says both of these men are top contenders for the US Title! The finish sees Jimmy Hart try to get involved before Steamboat comes over and pulls him down from the apron! He nails him with a huge chop. Rude is screaming at him while Luger runs… Rude turns around and backdrops him over the top rope to the floor and Luger lands hard on his ribs! Nick Patrick calls for the bell and the DQ victory for Luger and Windham. Meanwhile Bundy attacks Windham from behind and nails him with a falling slam and then a big splash! Rude is challenging Steamboat who jumps up and looks ready to fight before officials come down to break things up! Windham is holding his ribs… Luger is holding his back… this has gotten out of hand! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with a special segment featuring Dusty Rhodes and his son Dusting. It quickly turns array when Stan Hansen comes out and he is demanding the match to happen right now. Dusty has to back off but then Dustin runs in out from behind him and Hansen nails him with the cowbell and starts pounding him with right hands! Dustin is busted wide open while Dusty is being held back by officials. The Dream finally breaks loose and jumps in the ring and he and Hansen throw some huge right hands before Hanen bows out of the ring to the floor! Dustin is covered in blood… Dusty is holding him and screaming… tomorrow night these two are going to go to war and who knows if either will survive!? *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with promos from the Hart Foundation who put over their issue with the Varsity Club and their matchup at the Bash. They talk about being the best tag team in wrestling and how they’re going to prove it and put Rotundo and Williams down for good and start their path towards tag team titles! Ron Simmons vs Mike Rotundo w/ Kevin Sullivan -Some juice in this one. We know Rick and Ron will be taking on Sullivan and Spivey tomorrow night. We get about 9-minutes of good work here with Rotundo getting some good heat while Simmons does his best comeback. Simmons looks to go lights out here but we see Sullivan get involved. Just as Simmons goes up for the shoulder block, Rotundo grabs the referee, Sullivan grabs the rope, and Simmons crotches himself before Captain Mike comes over and hits a very ugly brainbuster for the 3-count! We then see all of the Varsity Club come out and cut a promo on the Harts, Simmons, and Steiner for tomorrow night. They say that the Bash is going to be like a Homecoming game… they’re the home team and they won’t let all their fans down! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with our big main event. Tony and Jim really pump this one up and talk about the Bash tomorrow night. This is going to be an event that you can’t afford to miss! Andre the Giant & Roddy Piper vs Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard w/ JJ Dillon -As if this one couldn’t get any bigger… Ric Flair comes out to do commentary with Ross and Schiavone. We finally get a glimpse of Andre in the ring and the fans get all they paid for. He tosses Anderson and Blanchard around like ragdolls! He is truly a giant in there and they make him look amazing. Piper has got all kinds of piss and vinegar going through his veins and he beats the piss out of everyone in his path. We see Hennig come out and try to get involved but it is Terry Taylor who runs out of the back and nails him right between the eyes! Flair then runs from the booth and trips up Piper which causes him to go out of the ring after him. Arn and Tully try to double up on Andre but he overpowers them and then slams Tully on Arn and splashes them for the 3-count! The final moments of the show have the Horsemen battling with their foes. Piper and Flair are tearing into one another something awful. Taylor and Hennig are chopping each other down. Tony and Ross put this through the roof. We’ll see what happens tomorrow night at the Bash! The Great American Bash 1988 The Price for Freedom July 10, 1988 Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Arena WCW CHAMPIONSHIP Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair © Andre & JJ Dillion to be handcuffed at ringside! US CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart WAR GAMES Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers vs Butch Reed, Big Bubba, The One Man Gang, & The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette & Slick! TEXAS BULLROPE MATCH Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs The Horsemen © TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Terry Taylor vs Curt Hennig © Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams

https://anchor.fm/lowblowbookingpodcast/episodes/Low-Blow-Booking-Podcast-Episode-29---1992-Summit-eghqjm Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Join Derek Cornett and Dave Hall as they look back at 1992 and put together a joint WWF/WCW Summit Show. Derek and Dave put together a 7 match card utilizing only wrestlers who wrestled for the company from December 1st to December 31st. There are three special attraction matches, three champion vs champion matches, and then the Main Event is a Royal Rumble featuring 15 men from each promotion. Special Guest Patrick Fenton joined the crew and drew the names at random for Derek and Dave to BOOK ON THE FLY in 60 second intervals. This is something you have to hear to believe! Who had the star power and in ring work to rule the world of wrestling in December of 1992? Load up this very special edition of the Low Blow Booking Podcast and find out! Don't forget to join out Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/668716029909944 for all the latest updates for the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Let us know what you think with feedback on our card and what you liked and thought could have gone better!

WCW Saturday Night WTBS Studios - Atlanta, Georgia 7/2/88 Jim Ross and Tony Schaivone welcome us to a big edition of Saturday Night with a loaded card including a television title match with Brad Armstrong challenging Curt Hennig...a random draw match that was decided to be Sting vs Stan Lane… plus we’ll see Bret Hart vs Mike Rotundo. We will hear from Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, and Ric Flair. Plus we have comments from Dusty Rhodes and Stan Hansen regarding their bullrope match at the Great American Bash! Right now we’re going to get things started with Lex Luger and Barry Windham! Lex Luger & Barry Windham defeated Kenny Wright & Ron Williams Luger and Windham come over and put over the Bash. They talk about wanting to be tag team champions together and dismantling the Horsemen. They talk about how they are still focused on the ultimate prize of the World Title but that could be in the hands of Roddy Piper when all is said and done! Out of the back comes King Kong Bundy and he’s with Rick Rude & Jimmy Hart! Hart is gloating over how Bundy is going to make sure Luger never gets a title and he’s going to break him in half before the Bash! Luger and Windham then challenge the two of them next week right here on Saturday Night! Rude says it is going to be the perfect warm up before he takes the US title from Steamboat at the Bash! *COMMERCIAL* We return with the Varsity Club putting over the Bash. They talk about their two matches but discuss how they’re going to eliminate one of those issues right now. Sullivan says he’s got major plans for the Varsity Club and it begins at the Bash and will come to fruition when everyone least expects it! Bret Hart w/ Jim Neidhart vs Mike Rotundo w/ Kevin Sullivan -A pretty good match up with two legit workers here. These guys go the full 15-minute time limit and put on a nice little clinic. The final two minutes are pretty hot with Sullivan trying to get involved but Neidhart pulls him down and hammers him with a huge right hand! Rotundo goes for the fireman’s suplex but Bret goes for the crucifix pin and gets a 2-count right as the bell rings! *COMMERCIAL* Ross and Schaivone put over the Bash again and talk about the big event from Baltimore. They also talk about the special broadcast next week from Philadelphia. They put over how we will see Stan Hansen and Dusty Rhodes in Philadelphia… right now we’ve got words from both men regarding their Bull Rope Match! Stan Hansen: Well… you paid up there big boy… and now it is time for me to pay you back… to pay you back with Blood! Rhodes… you ain’t nothing but a big, fat, yellow dog and I am going to beat you within an inch of your life with this bullrope! It was the biggest mistake of your life to pay that fine...but now I am going to make you regret you ever stepped foot in the ring with me… OOOOOO! Dusty Rhodes: I gotta say Stan Hansen that you may be one of the most dangerous men I have ever seen in a wrestling ring. A man who seemingly knows no pain… knows no hurt… and doesn’t know when to quit. Well brother… the fire that drives you to be that man is the fire that drives me to be the American Dream and to walk down that aisle and show you why I am AMERICA! I am going to go to my roots… I am going to West Texas… I am going to the oil fields when there was a brawl between two old boys and only one man could stand tall! I don’t worry about the blood… I don’t worry about the sweat… and brother I know there will be tears… but in victory I will stand tall and show the world why I am the American Dream! *COMMERCIAL* Scott Hell defeated Kyle Deeks Hall comes over to work the mic but he is interrupted by Ron Bass. They get into some verbal sparring and Hall challenges Bass to a match next week in Philadelphia! Bass says he doesn’t know and then swings his bullwhip at him and Hall has to back up. Bass smacks the whip on the set and backs away smiling. Rick Steiner & Ron Simmons defeated Walt Harris & Phil Vincent Rick Steiner walks over with Ron Simmons and they put over the Bash and their tag match with the Varsity Club! Simmons and Steiner both say they have an issue with Sullivan and want to finish things once and for all. They know the Bash will be their chance to do that! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back on Saturday Night and Terry Taylor joins Ross and Schaivone. He puts over the TV title match at the Bash with Curt Hennig. He talks about trying to get ahead here in WCW and he knows that his back is against the wall when it comes to the Horsemen but he will do whatever it takes and he isn’t afraid to go up against all four if he has to! TV Title Brad Armstrong vs Curt Hennig © w/ JJ Dillon -A good 13-minute contest with Brad Armstrong putting Hennig over in a big way and really exciting the crowd. Ross and Schiavone put over the caliber of challenger that Armstrong is but also how Hennig has really risen over the last couple of months. In the end we see Brad go for a running bulldog that Hennig counters and tosses him into the turnbuckle for a sick bump. Hennig then covers him with his feet on the ropes for the 3-count! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with the Horsemen and they are live! Hennig is going wild putting over the TV title and how Taylor is going to be a perfect opponent for a perfect victory at the Bash!. Arn and Tully talk about Windham and Luger. They put over how their minds are in every other place except for where they need to be on these tag titles! They talk about contenders like the Harts, Rockers, Midnights, and Varsity Club all waiting in the wings but when it is all said and done there can only be one world tag team champions! JJ Dillon then goes on about the politics of Jim Crockett Jr and how he has tried to do everything he can to keep the world title from Ric Flair and by bringing in Andre the Giant… it will only aggravate the Horsemen to show what they can truly do! Ric Flair then goes off on Roddy Piper for a minute but it doesn’t last too long because Piper comes out with Andre the Giant! Piper and Andre come out to a huge pop and work the crowd. Andre says he is going to make sure there is a winner… FAIR AND SQUARE! Piper goes off about how Ric Flair doesn’t get any more promo time now that he and Andre are in town. Flair is livid. Piper then goes on to put over the big Saturday Night next week in Philly and he and Andre are challenging Arn and Tully to a tag team match! Arn and Tully back up a little while JJ is saying no...no...no… Arn and Tully aren’t sure until Piper really digs into them before they scream yes! Next week in Philly that huge match has been added to the card… oh my! *COMMERCIAL* Eddie Gilbert & Tommy Rich defeated Jimmy James & Kendall Lee! Gilbert and Rich come over and put over their issue with the Russians. They talk about representing what is right in this country and professional wrestling. They want to be taken seriously as contenders and know the only way to do that is to get big wins and that’s what their in line to do! Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart defeated Tyler Franklin Rude and Hart once again put over the issue with Steamboat but also next week’s tag match with Windham and Luger now. Rude says that the US title belongs to him and he’ll do whatever he can to get it back and he knows that the pretty boy Ricky Steamboat won’t look so pretty with a busted face, broken neck, and no US TITLE! *COMMERCIAL* What a night of announcements and action here as we hear Ross and Schiavone put over next week’s card… Gilbert and Rich vs the Russians, Scott Hall vs Ron Bass, Lex Luger and Barry Windham vs Rick Rude & King Kong Bundy, Marty Jannetty and Hawk vs Bobby Eaton & Big Bubba Rogers, and then… Andre the Giant & Roddy Piper vs Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard! It is going to be live from Philly next week in the Civic Center. It is time for our main event! RANDOM PICK MAIN EVENT Sting vs Stan Lane w/ Jim Cornette -Big time main event and we get to see a real prime time player with Sting here against Stan Lane who makes the Stinger look good. Lane gets a little bit of heat here and wears the Stinger down before he fights back with a fury and the crowd is going wild! Cornette gets involved to throw Lane the racket… he swings but Sting ducks and Lane runs into Cornette who goes flying! Lane backs up and Sting grabs him from behind for the Scorpion Death drop! 1...2….3! Sting has won it and the crowd pops! He’s joined by the Road Warriors and Rockers… Saturday Night finishes off with Sting, the Warriors, and the Rockers all jacked up but for the War Games! They all want to go in first and they all WANT BLOOD! Ross and Schiavone put this over in a huge way as time is running out… we’ll see you from Philly next week! The Great American Bash 1988 The Price for Freedom July 10, 1988 Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Arena WCW CHAMPIONSHIP Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair © Andre & JJ Dillion to be handcuffed at ringside! US CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart WAR GAMES Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers vs Butch Reed, Big Bubba, The One Man Gang, & The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette & Slick! TEXAS BULLROPE MATCH Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs The Horsemen © TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Terry Taylor vs Curt Hennig © Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams

Been sleeping for a while - great to jump back in with Florida here and a lot of good things going. I personally like the Big Cat and Mooney tandem. Very strong. The push of tag teams with the follow up of singles matches work well. I like that focus and how it can really differentiate your promotion from others. I also appreciate what is going on with Mr. Brisco... could spell trouble for many who decide to go in his path.

Lots of big time things happening here in Australia and namely the big show. I like the winners and losers here. I think it makes sense for things moving forward. I personally like the Nikita/Kokina finish. The main event definitely didn't disappoint and I like the movement of the Von Erichs. I am a firm believer in battles vs wars... too many feuds are one time wars but this is a battle of what will be many leading to a huge showdown that will tell the tale of the Von Erichs and Jake Roberts in the land down under.

WCW Saturday Night WTBS Studios - Atlanta, Georgia 6/25/88 Saturday Night opens with Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross putting over the history making night last week with the return of Andre the Giant and then the big US tag title cage match! We will have Andre the Giant here tonight but right now the US Tag Champs are here. The Rockers come out still bandaged from that war last week. They put over the MXE and talk about defending the titles every night and being true champions. That brings out Jim Cornette and Slick and they have got Reed, Bubba, Gang, and the Midnights! They tell them that this is the five men who will enter the war games and they say they are willing to start it all right here right now! That brings out the Road Warrior and they’re with Sting! Slick and Cornette back up and JR and Tony put this through the roof as we’ve got War Games booked for the Bash on July the 10th! Eddie Gilbert & Tommy Rich defeated Ulrich Von & Walter Jones! *COMMERCIAL* Ricky Steamboat defeated Frank Wright! Steamboat joins JR and Tony and puts over the US title situation with Rick Rude and how he plans to defend the title against Rude at the Bash and he knows Bundy will be around but he has got someone to help him… out comes Lex Luger. Luger says that he has his focus on the World Tag Team Championship but knows that friends are few and far between and he plans on being there for Ricky Steamboat if he needs him! Ron Bass defeated Bob Barton! *COMMERCIAL* Dan Spivey, Steve Williams, & Mike Rotundo defeated Vick Michaels, Wally Williams, & Geoffrey Stone! The Varsity Club comes over and they run down the Hart Foundation, Ron Simmons, and Rick Steiner! They are putting over the Bash and how two matches have been signed… Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan and The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams! Sullivan says next week it is Rotundo and Bret Hart and piece by piece they will tear those four apart! *COMMERCIAL* Jim Crockett is here and he is joined by JR and Tony as he runs down the GAB card for July 10th. The Great American Bash 1988 The Price for Freedom July 10, 1988 Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Arena WCW CHAMPIONSHIP Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair © Andre & JJ Dillion to be handcuffed at ringside! US CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart WAR GAMES Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers vs Butch Reed, Big Bubba, The One Man Gang, & The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette & Slick! TEXAS BULLROPE MATCH Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs The Horsemen © TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Terry Taylor vs Curt Hennig © Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams Crockett says that all the matches have been signed and he thinks that this will be the premiere event of the Summer for the GAB tour. He also announces a very special special drawing for the War Games matches… over the next three weeks… we’ll see random draw matches… tonight in the main event… it will be Shawn Michaels and Road Warrior Animal vs the One Man Gang and Butch Reed! *COMMERCIAL* Arn, Tully, & Hennig w/ JJ Dillon defeated Jeff Jeffries, Ken Ryan, & Erick Young! The Horsemen then come over and are joined by Ric Flair. They put over the Bash. Hennig puts over the TV title rematch. He says he’s the perfect TV champion and next week he’ll prove it with his first defence! Arn and Tully then put over the match with Windham and Luger. They point out how Luger has his mind on other things and that will prove to be his demise. They tell Windham that he could have been the 4th man but he was too stupid to make the right decision and because of that… he will end up like the rest of the Horsemen’s foes. JJ Dillon then puts over Andre the Giant and says he isn’t afraid of the big man and knows that it is all about what happens in the ring and Roddy Piper is going to feel the full wrath of the REAL WORLD’S CHAMPION! Ric Flair then goes off on Piper and says that he has been running and hiding but now there will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide! He is going to send Piper back to Hollywood and show him why the Nature Boy is the true world’s champion and Piper has no choice but to accept it! *COMMERCIAL* Terry Taylor defeated Cael Deeks! Taylor comes over and puts over the tv title rematch. He says that the Horsemen may have the numbers but he knows he will do whatever it takes to get the title and be the tv champ. He is going to keep a close eye on Hennig and wants to prove to everyone that he belongs at the top of this sport! Rick Rude & King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart defeated Kyle Fredricks & Lyle Richards Jimmy Hart has got his men pumped up and they put over the Bash. Bundy says that there is no way that Steamboat is going to make it. He is making it his personal goal to rip him apart! Rude says he is going to be there to pick up the pieces… whatever is left… and then put the US title back around the sexiest waist on professional wrestling! *COMMERCIAL* Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper, and Andre the Giant are with Tony and JR. They all three have got big things to put over. Andre starts by saying that it is great to be here. He can’t wait to get in the ring and prove he is the true giant of wrestling. He tells everyone to be on notice! Dusty goes off on Stan Hansen and talks about the Texas Bullrope match being the equalizer and the thing that may just keep him up enough for Dusty to finish him off for good! Roddy Piper then finishes things off by putting over the World Title match. He talks about how he has waited for years for a world title match because everyone who has been champion has ducked him. He is going to make the most of this chance and he knows it may be his last… so he’s going to make it count... *COMMERCIAL* JR and Tony put over all the big news of the night. They pump up the Bash and next week’s big card… We’ll see Curt Hennig defend the TV title against Brad Armstrong. Mike Rotundo will take on Bret Hart. Plus… the random draw for next week… it will be Sting taking on Stan Lane! Right now we head to the ring for this big random draw tag team match! WAR GAMES RANDOM PICK TAG TEAM Shawn Michaels & Animal vs Butch Reed & The One Man Gang w/ Slick -Fun little 12-minute main event. Reed and Gang have got some good teamwork going while Shawn Michaels is a little busted up still. Animal tries to carry the match but Reed and Gang are able to isolate Michaels and they wear his ass out. A big slam into the ringpost spells the beginning of the end. We see Michaels attempt to get a big tag and he does but Slick has the referee distracted… this gives Reed a chance for a flying shoulder block on Michaels! Reed then goes and pulls Animal down while the Gang hits the ropes and 747 splash! 1...2...3! Gang and Reed have won it! They have struck first… how will Sting do against Stan Lane next week!?! The Great American Bash 1988 The Price for Freedom July 10, 1988 Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Arena WCW CHAMPIONSHIP Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair © Andre & JJ Dillion to be handcuffed at ringside! US CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart WAR GAMES Sting, The Road Warriors, & The Rockers vs Butch Reed, Big Bubba, The One Man Gang, & The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette & Slick! TEXAS BULLROPE MATCH Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs The Horsemen © TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Terry Taylor vs Curt Hennig © Ron Simmons & Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey & Kevin Sullivan The Hart Foundation vs Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams

https://anchor.fm/lowblowbookingpodcast/episodes/Low-Blow-Booking-Podcast-Episode-28---WrestleMania-2000-efvtje Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Join Derek Cornett and Dave Hall as they travel back to the year 2000 and take a look at WrestleMania. We talk about the culture of the WWF around this time along with the build up to this show. We look back and how some of the big stars were booked along with what happened following this card. We discuss the Radicalz and their influence on the WWF at this time. Derek and Dave then break down the card and rewrite it keeping one match that actually happened and building around the rest. Be on the lookout for a couple of hot takes here that set the stage for what we think would be a much preferred WrestleMania 2000! Don't forget to join out Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/668716029909944 for all the latest updates for the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Let us know what you think with feedback on our card and what you liked and thought could have gone better!

WCW Saturday Night Charlotte Coliseum - Charlotte, North Carolina 6/18/88 -We’re at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina! The crowd is white hot already and Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone are ringside and then we hear the music of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes! He comes out to a thunderous ovation and works the fans. He joins up with Tony and JR and puts over how he is back in WCW to do one thing and one thing only… beat the hell out of Stan Hansen! He wants to hear from Jim Crockett tonight on if Hansen accepted the challenge for the Great American Bash! He thinks that Hansen is a no good yellow turkey but consider the American Dream a hunter and it’s time for Thanksgiving Daddy! Ross and Schiavone put this over in a big way as we build up to our first big contest! Dick Murdoch & Tommy Rich vs the Russians -A hot opener with Tommy Rich coming out and announcing that Dick Murdoch wasn’t able to make the show tonight and he thinks the Russians attacked him. He says that he made a phone call and has got another partner to come and help him out. All the way from Lexington, Tennessee…. HOT STUFF EDDIE GILBERT! Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert vs the Russians -The Russians aren’t expecting this and we get some hot action to get going. The Russians seem to be out of their element here with this big change. They can’t seem to get going while Gilbert and Rich pick up right where they left off. The finish sees a double dropkick on Nikolai and then a Thesz press on Boris for the 3-count and the crowd is going wild! -Before our break we see Ricky Steamboat working out in the back, he’s got Lex Luger there working with him. Big time US Championship contest when we come back! *COMMERCIAL* -We’re back here on a Special Edition of Saturday Night. Ross and Schiavone put over the return of Dusty Rhodes to WCW. They say that tonight we will also hear from Roddy Piper on who will be his man to join him at the Great American Bash to be handcuffed to JJ Dillon. Plus, we’re told the Road Warriors have got a special challenge that they will put out tonight. Right now it is time to head to the ring for the US Championship matchup! UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP Ricky Steamboat © vs Rick Rude w/ Jimmy Hart -30-minute time limit with US Title matches and these guys push that limit. From the opening bell Rude has got some serious heat on him and Jimmy Hart is helping build it up. Midway through the contest we see King Kong Bundy come out and that builds up the heat even more. In the last 5-minutes we see both men just push, push, and push. The DEEP arm drags from Steamboat lead to a HUGE back body drop that sends Rude flying. Steamboat is looking to finish but Bundy tries to get involved and grabs his leg. Rude then come and hammers him down from behind. It is 2 on 1 out here and then Luger comes out to even up the odds and he and Bundy are brawling outside the ring! Rude is looking to finish in the ring with the Rude Awakening but Steamboat counters out into a backslide for the 1….2…..DING DING DING! GMC announces that the match has gone the 30-minute time limit! Ricky Steamboat retains the title but this one is far from over as Luger helps him with Rude and Bundy who appear to want more! *COMMERCIAL* -We’re back on Saturday Night and Ross and Schiavone are joined by the Road Warriors and Sting. They come out to a huge pop from the crowd and the brothers in paint are LIVE! They talk about their feud with Slick’s Twin Towers of Power and Butch Reed along with the Midngiht Express. They put over how tonight may be a cage match with the Rockers and Midnight Express… but at the Bash… they want a double cage match… THEY WANT THE WAR GAMES! If Jim Cornette and Slick have got the stones… show up and get the beating of your lives! Ron Simmons vs Dan Spivey w/ Kevin Sullivan -We get a fun contest here with two big men and they show off some power. Like the previous match, Sullivan is ringside but soon he’s joined by Williams and Rotundo who doesn’t appear to have sling anymore. Simmons is definitely outmanned here but soon he’s got some backup with the Hart Foundation and Rick Steiner! The odds are even and inside the ring it stays 1 on 1 and the finish is huge when Simmons catches Spivey out of nowhere with a HUGE powerslam and the 3-count! Simmons and his crew work the fans! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back on Saturday Night and Jim Crockett is in the ring. He is joined by Jim Ross and announces that we will see a return match for the United States Championship on July the 10th at the Great American Bash in Baltimore. He also says that he just finalized a match between Dusty Rhodes and Stan Hansen. The only way Hansen would accept the match was if it were to be a Texas Bullrope Match and Rhodes has accepted. He would now like Ric Flair and Roddy Piper to come out to finalize their bout. Piper and Flair come out to great ovations. They have got a lot of history in this part of the country and the crowd knows there’s some serious heat between these two. Piper and Flair throw some jabs and Flair wants to know who Piper has chosen for a little bodyguard! Piper plays the crowd for a bit… Piper then announces that on July the 10th… at the Great American Bash… in Baltimore… he has found a little buddy to be his little body guard…. He stand 7 foot 4 and weighs in at 540 pounds… he is ANDRE THE GIANT! The crowd comes UNGLUED! ANDRE THE GIANT IN WCW! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?! He jumps in the ring and Flair is going absolutely nuts! He is screaming and JJ Dillon acts like he fants. Andre works the crowd and he and Piper shake hands. What an announcement and what a moment for WCW! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back on Saturday Night with a huge announcement of Andre the Giant showing up and being the man in Roddy Piper’s corner against Ric Flair at the Bash! Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone are putting this over in a big way as we head to the ring for our next match... Terry Taylor vs Arn Anderson w/ JJ Dillon -A solid 12-minute contest with some good technical work in the ring. These guys put it all together with Anderson getting some good heat but Taylor makes a big comeback. Hennig shows up in a suit and is working the fans as Taylor is building up and looking to finish! Taylor hits the ropes and goes for the Five-Arm but Hennig grabs his foot and then Taylor turns to give him the business… this leads to Anderson with a knee to the back and then he turns Taylor around for a DDT and the 3-count! Taylor had the match in his hands before Hennig got involved! Before commercial Ross and Schiavone put over our big tag team title bout inside a steel cage when we come back! *COMMERCIAL* We see a quick little video showcasing this feud. We see the final pieces of the cage put together and here comes the Rockers and the Midnights. There is a lot of heat right now on Jim Cornette and the crowd is really letting him have it. US TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP CAGE MATCH The Rockers vs The Midnight Express © w/ Jim Cornette We’ve got about 25-minutes of tv time left and these four put together one helluva match. It is a regular tag match inside the cage for about 15-minutes but then it turns into a texas tornado match when the referee loses control. The highlight is seeing both of the Midnights harpoon Shawn Michaels into the cage but he hits the post on the cage and he is busted wide open. This leads to the Midnights beating the hell out of Jannetty. They’re beating him to a pulp and out of nowhere Michaels emerges… he climbs to the top of the cage and Jim Cornette screams as Bobby and Stan turn around and Michaels with a huge cross body taking both men out in the process off the top of the cage! This turns the tide but it may have taken everything out of Michaels but Jannetty gets to his feet. Jim Cornette is climbing the cage and tosses in the racket to Stan Lane who swings at Jannetty who ducks and then hits a huge superkick and Michaels rolls him up from behind for the 1…..2…...3!!! THEY’VE DONE IT! THE ROCKERS ARE THE NEW US TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! The crowd is going absolutely wild as Michaels, covered in blood, grabs the title and holds it up. He and Jannetty are both just a mess but they are champions and the fans are trying to climb the cage to get in the ring. Cornette and the Midnights have to fight the fans to get out of the ring and to the back!

WCW Saturday Night WTBS Studios - Atlanta, Georgia 6/11/88 Saturday Night opens with footage from the Clash and we see the controversy of the TV title and US Tag Titles. Ross and Schiavone are joined by Jim Crockett right off the bat. He puts over how the managers have gotten a little too involved for him. He announces that the US tag title controversy has caused him to make a decision… due to the interference from Jim Cornette… he announces that next week from Charlotte… it will be the Rockers vs the Midnight Express… but it will be inside a steel cage! That brings out Cornette and the MXE and they are going nuts. Cornette can’t believe it but Crockett says they have to sign the contract or else they forfeit the titles! Cornette can’t control himself but Bobby and Lane tell him to sign it and next week we’ve got two big title matches already on the books! Crockett says he wants to talk to the Horsemen and will be out here later to do just that... *COMMERCIAL* Tommy Rich & Dick Murdoch defeated the Shadows via the Brainbuster! Rich and Murdoch are cutting a promo before the Russians come out and challenge them to a match next week! Murdoch and Rich say they don't’ want to wait but the Russians say they are going to demolish them and make mother Russia proud! Ron Bass defeated Quincy Stone via the Gordbuster! *COMMERCIAL* Scott Hall defeated George Williams via the Fall Away Slam! The Rockers are here and cut a quick promo putting over the big tag title cage match next week. They say that they understand the ruling on the title match the other night but when it comes to the cage there will be a winner… and when it is all said and done there will be champions… NEW CHAMPIONS! Black Bart defeated Kenny Hooper via the Bulldog! *COMMERCIAL* Ron Simmons defeated Carl Dedrick via the Top Rope Shoulder Block! Rick Steiner comes out and he is trying to talk to Jim Ross and Tony Schaivone. He says he doesn’t need the Varsity Club… but then Sullivan comes out with the rest. Sullivan goes on to say that it was just a test. He is hazing Steiner to see if he’s tough enough...that leads to Sullivan showing him a little plaque he made him. Then we see Spivey and Williams come up from behind again and grab him and then Sullivan destroys the plaque across his skull! The plaque is shattered and Steiner is down as the Varsity Club lays the boots to him… out of the back EDDIE GILBERT shows up out of nowhere and tries to fend them off before Ron Simmons comes to help! The Varsity Club backs off as Gilbert and Simmons help Rick Steiner up to his feet... *COMMERCIAL* We’re back and Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner along with Ron Simmons are with Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone… Gilbert goes on to say that he and Rick Steiner have had a storied past. Gilbert acted as a mentor to him but saw how Steiner got coerced into the dark side with Kevin Sullivan. Eddie Gilbert says he’s here to back up Ricky anytime and wants to help form a true All-American team with Rick Steiner and Ron Simmons! Ross and Schiavone put this over in a big way as we head to our next contest… TerryTaylor defeated Willy Vaughn via the Five-Arm! Taylor walks back over to the booth and he wants to know what Jim Crockett is going to do about his television title rematch. Crockett walks back out and says he has finalized a deal and is waiting for the Horsemen to come back out when we come back... *COMMERCIAL* We’re back and the Horsemen have joined Jim Crockett out at the booth… they have the tv, tag, and world titles on display while Terry Taylor is there with Randy Anderson, Nick Patrick, and Tommy Young holding him back! They are all downplaying Taylor… but Crockett goes on to say that the first matches have been signed for the Great American Bash but there are special stipulations… Crockett looks to JJ and announces that due to the interference by him and Jim Cornette… he made the decision for the US tag titles to be decided in a cage match… but for JJ he is offering him a choice. JJ smiles… he says that at the Bash… the tv title will be on the line when Terry Taylor challenges Curt Hennig...The Tag Team titles will be on the line when Lex Luger and Barry Windham challenge Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard… and that World Title will be on the line when Ric Flair defends against RODDY PIPER! The crowd pops huge for those three matches! The Horsemen aren’t happy but then Crockett says one more thing… he says that JJ Dillion has a choice… he can only be ringside for ONE OF THE MATCHES! Crockett tells him to make his choice and let him know by the end of the show! What a huge announcement… JJ Dillion has till the end of the show… oh my! *COMMERCIAL* Lex Luger defeated Johnny Swazak via the Torture Rack! Roddy Piper, Luger, and Windham are here to put over their title matches with the Horsemen at the Great American Bash. They know JJ Dillion has got a big decision on which match he’s going to attend… Luger and Windham don’t care if he’s there… they want the tag titles and will do whatever it takes to get them! Roddy Piper then goes off about how he has put down everyone in his path to Ric Flair. He talks about their history going back ten years ago… but it comes to this. Piper says the road to the bash is going to be fun and ROWDY! Barry Windham defeated Nicholas Santoro via the SUPERPLEX! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with Jim Cornette and Slick out here with their men. Cornette is still going off on how this is a travesty that they have to defend the titles next week in a cage! Cornette then screams about he heard the Road Warriors talking about War and he knows what that means. Cornette and his men steam off...This brings Slick to the forefront and he puts over his men. He says the battle between the Twin Towers of Power and the Road Warriors is far, far from over. He talks about Butch Reed being the top contender for any title in WCW and he says he is going so far as to challenge anyone in the back right now to a match! Reed gets in the ring and starts flexing around. He is screaming that he will face anyone and then the crowd explodes when Sting’s music hits! Here he comes and we’ve got a match! Sting vs Butch Reed w/ Slick -An impromptu matchup here and the crowd is rocking when the Stinger starts hammering away at Reed and he has got him rocking and reeling from the outset! Reed tries to get some offense but nothing doing and Sting even hits the Stinger Splash! Reed is reeling and Sting with a clothesline over the top to the floor! Sting is ready to leap over the ropes but Bubba and Gang get in front of him and then come to the ring but that brings out the Road Warriors! This one breaks down and Slick pulls his men out of the fight quickly! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back and Sting and the Road Warriors are putting over this issue with Reed, Gang, and Bubba! Sting then answers the question that he debuted a new move the other night… the Scorpion Death Drop! He says it is the perfect way to finish someone off after the Stinger Splash and if he still wants to add some pressure he’ll lock in the Scorpion Death Lock! The Road Warriors then take over and they put over exactly what Jim Cornette was talking about… the Great American Bash is all about WAR and WAR is what they’re declaring on Jim Cornette… the Midnight Express...Slick… Butch Reed… Big Bubba… One Man Gang… and anyone else who gets involved! Jim Ross thinks he knows what this means… right now let’s head to the ring... The Hart Foundation defeated Bobby Kyle & Justin Hopkins via the Hart Attack! The Hitman and the Anvil come over and put over their issue with the Varsity Club. They talk about what happened with Rick Steiner earlier and they say that the Varsity Club is going to be in their rearview mirror and soon it will be the World tag team titles around their waists! *COMMERCIAL* JR and Tony put over an amazing night. They talk about Jim Crockett’s decree and the decision that needs to be made by JJ Dillion before the end of the episoide. They talk about next week’s big show from Charlotte where we will see Ricky Steamboat defending the US title against Rick Rude… the US Tag Titles in a cage match with the Rockers and MXE… plus we’ll see Tommy Rich and Dick Murdoch against the Russians… Ron Simmons vs Danny Spivey… and Terry Taylor vs Arn Anderson on that special broadcast. Right now we’ve got Ricky Steamboat taking on King Kong Bundy and we hope to hear from JJ Dillion before the end of the episode! Right now we’ve got our main event… let’s go to the ring! MAIN EVENT Ricky Steamboat vs King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart -Big time main event to set up next week’s clash for the US Title… Steamboat is a real pro and makes Bundy look great here. Bundy can get some serious heat and really works over Steamboat who is one of the best sellers in the business. Steamboats speed is what turns the tide though when Bundy goes for a huge splash in the corner and he moves! Steamboat then goes on a tear with some huge strikes and then goes up top for a huge karate chop! Bundy is staggered! Steamboat goes up again but this time Rude gets involved and Steamboat leaps off the rope and cross body on Rude and the crowd is going nuts! Steamboat goes back in the ring and hammers away at Bundy but Rude comes in and attacks him for the DQ finish. Rude and Bundy are tearing him apart and then the crowd explodes when Lex Luger runs out and joins him! Luger with some big time shots and he hammers both men out of the ring to the floor. He joins Steamboat and helps him up. Ross and Schiavone put it over in a big way and say JJ Dillion is coming out when we come back! *COMMERCIAL* We’re back with just a couple of minutes left. The final segment sees JJ Dillon come out with Jim Crockett. JJ says that he has to choose one and JJ adbides… JJ says he is going to accompany Ric Flair to the ring against Roddy Piper. Crockett says he understands that and figured it would be choice. So in the contract for the World Title match… since JJ Dillion signed for the World Title match… Roddy Piper got to choose someone who would be HANDCUFFED to JJ Dillion outside the ring! Dillion is going nuts! Crockett says that Roddy Piper will produce his person next week. JJ Dillon storms off but stops dead in his tracks… wait just a minute… DUSTY RHODES IS HERE! He walks over to Jim Crockett…. Dusty: Jim Crockett… I will admit the last month has been hard times on Dusty Rhodes and his family. A recent business venture opened up some opportunities for me that will change the course of my career and the career of my son Dustin for a long time coming… but first dues have to be paid. Now… I read the fine print...you said I owe you $50,000 and then I am reinstated in WCW… is that correct? Crockett: Yes, Dusty that is correct. Dusty: Alright… Dustin… hand the man the briefcase… $50,000 there… Consider the Dream back in WCW baby! Crockett: That is good news Dusty… Dusty: I ain’t done yet Jimmy… now…. The way I hear it… Stan Hansen owes $100,000 to get back in WCW? Crockett: Yes, Mr. Hansen has already said he has no desire to come back to WCW and pay the fine due to the circumstances of his departure and his issue with you… Dusty: $100,000 and Hansen is back in though right? Crockett: Yes, that is correct. Dusty: Well I have got $50,000 in there for me and $100,000 for him… get his ass back in WCW so I can kick it all over this country! Dusty opens the briefcase to reveal the cash! He is back in WCW and wants Hansen back in as well! OH MY! We’ll see what happens with this next week!

https://anchor.fm/lowblowbookingpodcast/episodes/Low-Blow-Booking-Podcast-Ep-27---Starrcade-1991-efd156 Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Join Derek Cornett and Dave Hall as they dive back into the year that was 1991 and take a look at Starrcade 91 - The Lethal Lottery. We are going to go away from the Lethal Lottery/Battle Bowl concept and make this a regular card featuring 6 title matches! Plus we look at some of the feuds leading up to this show along with what happens when it is all said and done heading into 1992 for WCW. We talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly that was the original show and some of the major players including Sting, Lex Luger, Rick Rude, Abdullah the Butcher and more. So sit back and enjoy the latest episode of the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Don't forget to join out Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/668716029909944 for all the latest updates for the Low Blow Booking Podcast! Let us know what you think with feedback on our card and what you liked and thought could have gone better!