New Era Wrestling: The Return

[Pariah]

Just getting caught up on the action... Even though he's no longer the TV champ, it's great to see AJ playing such a prominent role in key moments... Especially by helping Jim Powers steal the belt away from Macho Man...

Also enjoying the win streak of the Shield... And hoping to see more of RVD & Sabu... Fun stuff!

[ajcostello]

As always, I'd like to thank Cruefan for the continued support and I'd also like to thank Pariah for joining us.

New Era Wrestling -Card #11- (Hershey, PA)

WE open with a shot of the venue before the camera cuts to a scene backstage. There's a shot of a door with a sign on it that says "Costello's Office" written in black magic marker. There's the muffled sound of a loud argument from behind the door for a moment before it comes flying open. "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Sherri Martel emerge. Savage sees the camera and points a finger at it and speaks.

Savage: "A.J. Styles! Jim Powers! You are on notice! Oh Yeah! Styles! You cost me my title, brother. There will be consequences. Dig it! Next week... in Philadelphia... I'm going to take my belt back from that little punk Powers. Then, A.J. Styles, you and I are gonna dance again! At the Pay Per View... just a short time away A.J. Styles... you and I are gonna dance in a No Disqualification match! Oh yeeeah!"

Martel: "The Television title is coming home to where it belongs! Soon. Very soon!"

Martel and Savage walk off, still angry, and then we go to the ringside area and the broadcasting team is ready. The lovely Miss Cindy Shepherd is already in the ring, ready to bring us...

*Big Superstar vs. Lord Zoltan

Big Superstar apparently went into this match thinking it was going to be an easy one but Lord Zoltan apparently didn't get the memo. The master of the dark puts Big Superstar through his paces for a bit before before the big man gets to stage a big comeback. Superstar goes on a wild streak of offence that culminates with a SUPERSTAR DROP that puts Lord Zoltan away for good.

Winner of the Match: Big Superstar!

Cantrell: "Certainly a better showing for Big Superstar here tonight than the last time we saw him in action, Frankie."

Saddler: "Well, Mike... his last time out he did lose to the man who is our current Television champion after all."

Once Big Superstar is done with his posing and preening, we can rejoin Cindy Shepherd in the ring for our next round of introductions...

*The Red Army (Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov; w/ Nikita Breznikov) vs. The Hot Mess Express ("Playboy" Buddy Rose & Buff Bagwell)

The pair of big Russian bruisers toss Rose and bagwell around like rag dolls for quite some time and seemingly at will. The boys from the Hot Mess Express get in a little offense but it is very little and not very effective. After taking a mountain of abuse from big Boris, Buddy Rose seeks the relative peace of the floor at ringside. The big Russian gives chase and there's a wild exchange near the barricades and... much to everyone's surprise... Rose comes out on top of the exchange! The hot mess himself, Rose takes a chance and sets up Zhukov for the BOMBS AWAY! Rose comers his opponent while his partner tries to keep Nikolai Volkoff at bay and... some higher power must like Rose and Bagwell... the Hot Mess Express gets the three count and the win! After the match as Rose and Bagwell celebrate their good fortune, Volkoff and Zhukov jump them from behind and clear the ring before heading angrily to the back.

Winners of the Match: The Hot Mess Express!

Cantrell: "The Hot Mess Express will be walking out of Hershey, Pennsylvania tonight with another big win for themselves logged into the record books."

Saddler: "I'd be willing to bet that one of those guys has a lucky horse shoe that he's hiding in his nether region, Mike."

Once again we fix our eyes on the ring and Miss Cindy so that she can bring us...

*King Kong Bundy (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. El Generico

The big man from New Jersey pretty much squashes Generica. Like a bug.

Winner of the Match: King Kong Bundy!

Cantrell: "Well, Frankie, all I can say after that is: Ouch. Just ouch."

Saddler: "Seriously, Mike. The officials need to get in there and make sure Generico is still alive."

Up next we go to the back to join Amy Lee at the interview stage. She has already been joined by her guests for the night: N.E.W. Tag Team champions... the Road Warriors and their manager "Precious" Paul Ellering.

Lee: Thank you for joining me here tonight, gentlemen. I know you have a title defense lined up tonight's main event. Somehow, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan has talked our matchmakers into giving Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens yet another shot at your titles. I'm not sure how."

Animal: "Amy Lee, it doesn't matter who Costello and Murphy have lined up for us to beat up tonight. Because we will beat them up. We've done it enough times. Bockwinkel and Stevens? Not worried about those two idiots. Varsity Club? Bring 'em on! Line 'em up and keep lining them up. We'll keep knocking them down! Tell 'em Hawk!"

Hawk: "Ooooh, what a rush! Like the man said, Amy Lee: we'll beat up anyone... and everyone... that feels like they got big enough stones to climb between those ropes and face us! It doesn't matter who they are! We are the New Era Wrestling tag team champions and things are gonna stay that way until we get tired of lugging around all this gold. But, take a look at us, Amy Lee. Do either of us look like these things weight too much for us? I think not! Tell 'em, Paul!"

Ellering: "It's really quite simple, Miss Lee. We are the champions. We don't have to beat anyone. They have to beat us. That said... we enjoy beating people. It is, after all, what we do best! Bockwinkel! Stevens! We'll see you in the ring soon enough! I sincerely hope that your wills are up to date."

With that, we go back to the ring to rejoin Miss Cindy and her introductions of...

*Laura Phoenix (w/ The Dark Menace) vs. Kelly Klein (w/ Madison Rayne)

Phoenix starts off strong here tonight, but once Klein took back the advantage, she never relinquishes control of the match and the Menace has to get involved in the match to rescue his charge from THE END OF THE MATCH. A very frustrated Kelly Klein doesn't seem to be in the mood to mess around and locks the hold on her opponent again in short order. Even with Laura wildly tapping out and submitting, Klein keeps the hold locked on, staring daggers at the Dark Menace, until the referee manages to pull the ladies apart. Kelly and Madison head to the back, strutting like they own the place as the referee and the Dark Menace check on the fallen Phoenix.

Winner of the Match: Kelly Klein!

Cantrell: "Frankie, that Kelly Klein is one tough customer. Best not to get on her bad side, am I right?"

Saddler: "For real, Mike. I'm glad we have this table between us most of the time."

Once the dust settles and the ring is cleared, Miss Cindy makes her way back to the center of the ring so that she can introduce...

*A.J. Styles vs. "Mister Perfect" Curt Hennig (w/ J.J. Dillon)

Styles and Hennig put on a wrestling clinic for the better part of fifteen minutes with neither man really taking the advantage for very long. The Phenomenal One eventually gets the better of the Perfect One and locks on a Calf Killer that seems to do serious damage and puts Hennig in dire peril. Dillon gets up onto the apron to distract the poor ref... who doesn't notice the manager of the Gentlemen's Club slipping his man a foreign object. When the match resumes, Hennig decks Styles and goes for a cover and gets a three count! The crowd is livid and Hennig and Dillon don't linger too long with their hands raised, heading to the back quickly before Styles gets his wits back.

Winner of the Match: Curt Hennig!

Cantrell: "Would you... can you... do you believe that, Frankie? The Gentlemen's Club steals another win here tonight!"

Saddler: "That J.J. Dillon sure earned his cut tonight, Mike."

It takes a moment for Styles to leave the ring as he's still a little wobbly from taking the hit from... whatever it was. Once everything is clear, Miss Cindy makes her way to the ring for the last time tonight to bring us...

*The Heenan Family (Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens; w/ Bobby Heenan) vs. The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal-N.E.W. Tag Team champions; w/ Paul Ellering)

Bockwinkel and Stevens come closer tonight than at any time since the big tag title tournament (which they won) to unseating the Road Warriors but once the big men from Chicago get going... they single out Ray Stevens to be their target and give him two DOOMSDAY DEVICES to end the match as Bobby Heenan has a panic attack at ringside.

Winners of the Match and STILL N.E.W. Tag Team Champions: The Road Warriors!

Cantrell: "There you have it, Frankie: clear proof that the Road Warriors might just be the most dominant team in New Era Wrestling."

Saddler: "They are the champs for a reason, Mike."

The show ends with the familiar sight of Hawk and Animal holding their title belts aloft as the fans cheer.

*The End*

[cruefan68]

That Randy Savage opening promo was spot on, loved the intensity of the "Macho Man". I love the Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens tag team but unfortunately it looks like the Road Warriors have their number. It is going to be hard to get those tag belts off of Hawk & Animal. AJ Styles vs. Curt Hennig is a dream match but unfortunately JJ Dillon made sure we didn't get a fair fight. Big win for Hennig any way you look at it. Nice to see Kelly Klein in action and getting a victory. I feel that Klein can dominate the N.E.W. women's division if she sets her mind to it. I have to say the Hot Mess Express getting the win over the Russian's was great as I was expecting the opposite result.

[ajcostello]

Thanks, as always, to Cruefan for following along and commenting. Rest assured that we haven't seen the last of Bobby Heenan and company.

New Era Wrestling -Card #12- (Philadelphia, PA)

We open the show with a view of Philly's skyline at night and the arena before we go backstage to see the members of the Gentlemen's Club... "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, "Mister Perfect" Curt Hennig, DiBiase's bodyguard Virgil, and their manager J.J. Dillon. They are chatting quietly amongst themselves while Virgil stands silently off to the side before DiBiase turns to address the camera.

DiBiase: "Well, well, well. Here we are in Philadelphia... as if you couldn't recognize the place by the awful stench of cheesesteaks and the unwashed masses. Well, Philadelphia, tonight you are going to be blessed by the presence of The Gentlemen's Club. Tonight, the World championship will come back to where it belongs. And, should "Hideous" Harley Race escape our battle with the title still around his waist... there will always be another night. Namely the Pay Per View which is just a few short days away. Mark my words... take it to the bank... I won't leave Philly without the World Championship."

After that, we go to the ringside area and join Miss Cindy Shepherd already in the ring, ready to introduce...

*Jungle Boogie (Koko B. Ware & D'Lo Brown) vs. "Prettyboy" Larry Sharpe & Mister X

The fans in Philly seem to like the team of Ware and Brown... or maybe it's their spirited entrance and the classic song they come out to. Ware and Brown dominate most of the match with the exception of a brief but enthusiastic comeback attempt by Sharpe. Once X gets tagged in, however, things quickly revert back to the boys from Jungle Boogie being in charge. X survives a serious beating for a time that seems longer than it actually is until Koko puts the masked man down for the count with a GHOSTBUSTER.

Winners of the Match: Jungle Boogie!

Cantrell: "Koko B. Ware and D'Lo Brown made it look fairly easy here tonight in Philly, Frankie. I wonder what's next for them?"

Saddler: "Maybe stiffer competition, Mike?"

It doesn't take too long before we end up back in the ring, awaiting the introductions of...

*Bob Roop (w/ Kevin Sullivan) vs. S.D. Jones

With the Taskmaster in his corner, Bob Roop of the Varsity Club more or less completely dominates Jones with only a little offense out of Jones. Unbelievably, it takes Roop two applications of the SHOULDER BREAKER to keep Special Delivery Jones down for the three count.

Winner of the Match: Bob Roop!

Cantrell: "You know what, Frankie? I really don't like those Varsity Club guys. Not even a little bit."

Saddler: "I'd keep that to yourself, Mike. They seem to like beating people up."

Once Roop and Sullivan are done gloating... and loudly telling fans at ringside how they plan on taking the tag titles away from the Road Warriors at the Pay Per View... the ring is cleared for the lovely Miss Cindy. She then does her thing and introduces...

*Malia Hosaka vs. Veda Scott

Veda tries her best to take Hosaka out... and nearly succeeds at least once... but once Malia gets on a roll the match ends fairly quickly with an FRANKENSTEINER. After the match, Hosaka gets on the house mic and makes sure everyone knows that she's going to be coming after Madison Rayne or whoever is holding the N.E.W. Women's championship after the Pay Per View. The fans boo her pretty loudly.

Cantrell: "I'm not sure, Frankie, but doesn't someone have to have more of a won-loss record going for them before they make a challenge for a title?"

Saddler: "Typically, Mike."

We soon go to the interview stage in the back to join Amy Lee and her guests... Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel, and Ray "The Crippler" Stevens. None of the three men look too happy.

Lee: "Thanks for joining me tonight, gentlemen-"

Heenan: "Stow it, toots. Let the adults do the talking, would you? Good girl. Okay, here's the deal... I'll use small words so that way all you humanoids out there will at least marginally understand what I'm about to say... me, Nicky, and Ray... we've been thinking. Maybe that Ted DiBiase... the rightful World champion... has the right idea. Maybe there just aren't enough of us in the Heenan Family. So I've been making some phone calls to some of the other wrestling federations out there and I'll have a big surprise or two waiting for everybody once this weekend's big show is done and we can get the Hell out of this dump. Keep your mouths shut and your ears open, humanoids. The future is coming to New Era Wrestling!"

Bockwinkel: "Road Warriors! You haven't seen the last of us. Those beautiful gold belts are around the wrong waists. You know it. We know it. Costello and Murphy know it. It's only a matter of time. They'll be coming home."

Heenan and his men leave Amy to look at the camera and shrug. Then we go back to ringside for the first of tonight's title matches...

*"Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/ Sherri Martel) vs. Jim Powers (N.E.W. Television champion)

Savage is a rage-fuelled tornado in the ring tonight here in Philadelphia but somehow, miraculously, the champion survives everything Savage can throw at him. Powers even stuns Savage and Martel by managing a short-lived comeback for a bit. Savage regains the upper hand in short order and doesn't mess around for long. Powers gets hit with a FLYING ELBOW SMASH in the center of the ring and Savage makes sure that when he pins Powers, his eyes are firmly fixed on the curtained entrance to the back... keeping an eye out for A.J. Styles. The ref counts to three and the unlikely reign of Jim Powers as N.E.W. Television champion ends. After the match, Savage kisses the title belt and raises it high overhead as he and Martel celebrate. A.J. Styles can be seen at the entryway to the locker room area giving Savage a golf clap that you can just tell is meant to be taken sarcastically.

Winner of the Match and NEW N.E.W. Television Champion: Randy Savage!

Cantrell: "I hate to say it, Frankie, but I think I saw that coming."

Saddler: "Not to take anything away from Jim Powers, though, right Mike?"

It takes a moment or two for Savage and Martel to head to the back... almost as if they were soaking in the ill will of the crowd and thriving on it... before we, once again, get to hear Miss Cindy bring us...

*The Shield (Jon Moxley & Tyler Black) vs. The Empire of the Rising Sun (Fuji & Saito)

It's a spirited and evenly paced match that sees both teams get to shine equally for the most part until Fuji sends Moxley into the ropes only for him to hit a REBOUND LARIAT that very nearly puts Fuji down for good. Moxley and Black work to capitalize on the sudden change in their fortunes by maintaining the pressure on Fuji for a bit before Black decides to end things with a CURB STOMP. Black goes for a pin while Moxley successfully keeps Saito at bay. The referee counts to three and the match ends. The members of the Shield give each other a fist bump and head to the back... where we see the devious J.J. Dillon waiting for them by the curtain. There's a brief exchange between Dillon, Black, and Moxley before we see Dillon smile broadly and head behind the curtain with an arm around the shoulders of both men.

Cantrell: "Um... Frankie? Did you see what I just saw?"

Saddler: "This can only be a good thing for Moxley and Black. A bad thing for everyone else, sure, but a good thing for them."

When we take our eyes off of the entrance to the back, we rejoin Miss Cindy for the last time tonight, so that she can bring us...

*"Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (w/ J.J. Dillon) vs. Harley Race (N.E.W. World Champion; w/ Larry Hennig)

The match starts with a classic "Pearl Harbor Job" as DiBiase jumps Race on the outside of the ring and rams him head first into one of the steel posts! Back in the ring, DiBiase nails the champion with a big power slam as a set-up for a vertical suplex that gives him a chance to go for a pinfall. Race, obviously still reeling from the dastardly attack, manages to get a foot onto the bottom rope. The referee makes DiBiase aware of the situation and both Ted and J.J. try to accuse Larry Hennig of 'assisting' the champion. While Hennig denies any such shenanigans, DiBiase goes back on the attack. Frustrated, DiBiase tosses Race out of the ring. With Hennig making sure Dillon doesn't get involved... drawing SEnior Official Bud Gordon's attention away from the action... DiBiase follows Race out to the floor and rams him head first into the steel barricade before rolling the now-bleeding champion back into the ring. Feeling very sure of himself, The Million Dollar Man waits for Race to get back to his feet and locks on a COBRA CLUTCH! Harley Race is clearly in danger so his good friend Larry Hennig charges into the ring to attack DiBiase but Dillon shouts a warning to his man. Hennig is intercepted by DiBiase and quickly tossed out of the ring before Ted turns his attention back to the champion. He hits another power slam and a vertical suplex to set up another attempt at the COBRA CLUTCH! This time, the champion's luck runs out and the match ends. Hennig, enraged, chases Dillon and DiBiase... the new World champion... to the back before checking on his fallen friend. DiBiase and Dillon are met at the entranceway by the members of the Gentlemen's Club. Much to the disgust of the fans, Tyler Black and Jon Moxley have joined them.

Winner of the Match and NEW N.E.W. World Champion: Ted DiBiase!

Cantrell: "Words fail me, Frankie. And I'm not just talking about the match. Did you see what I saw just now? The Gentlemen's Club looks like it just gained two more members."

Saddler: "The boys in The Shield are going to be unstoppable now, Mike."

The show ends with a shot of Larry Hennig helping the bloodied Harley Race to the back.

*The End*

[Pariah]

Well, it was a nice run while it lasted... But, there is no way Savage was going to let Jim Powers beat him twice... Really looking forward to the inevitable rematch between AJ and the Macho Man... Lots of potential for a five-star classic when those two face off again...

The sneak attack by DiBiase to open the main event must have caused some serious damage because Race was completely off his game... The end result - the Million Dollar Man is now the champ... And with The Shield now working for the Gentlemen's Club, it might be difficult for anyone to take that belt away...

Fun show!

[joebreakdown]

Bit disapponted that Jim Powers couldn't hold on against Savage, but he should be proud of his achievement. I'm hoping he gets himself a rematch though!

Fab action, as always!

[TTX]

Hot Mess Express...amusing. Congrats to DiBiase on his big win.

[jobber83]

Great action! Some dominating performances by Jungle Boogie, Savage and what sounds like a relatively one-sided match for DiBiase in winning the title. Looks like The Shield made a business decision and are setting themselves up for a run of uninterrupted success.

[cruefan68]

Ted Dibiase seemed bound and determined to win the N.E.W. World title from Harley Race and that was a killer title change. Jon Moxley & Tyler Black being added to the Gentleman's Club is only going to help Dibiase out even more. I figured that Jim Powers wouldn't have long to bask in his title victory. Randy Savage grabs the TV title back and gets taunted by AJ Styles but I don't think that the "Macho Man" cares as he has a score to settle with the "Phenomenal One". Savage vs. Styles is a rivalry for the ages. I like that Bobby Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens still want those tag titles from the Road Warriors. It won't be easy but with that threat of backup coming in maybe it won't be long before the Heenan Family is holding the belts.

[ajcostello]

Wow! So many comments from you guys! It might just be my new record for most comments on a single card!

Awesome!

Pariah AJ and Randy are going to collide in a No DQ Match on the very next card I play. Looking forward to it so very much. Those two cards go well together, IMHO.

joebreakdown Fear not, my friend, we haven't seen the last of Jim Powers in New Era Wrestling!

TTX glad you are amused by the Hot Mess Express name. They're actually a decent team together. Funny because my first thought was to make them one of my 'jobber' teams. Ha. Teach me to try to force things.

jobber83 I think that Black and Moxley... The Shield... will be a serious threat to anybody holding the tag straps with J.J. Dillon in their corner.

cruefan68 thanks, as always, for reading and commenting, amigo! I'm going to try something different with some of the names that will be joining the Heenan Family soon. In terms of guys that I don't normally put in his stable. Hope you'll like my choices.

MY next post... after a day's worth of appointments at the V.A. Hospital... should be a teaser list of the full card for the PPV.

I'm hoping to get that posted before the weekend.