Shooting Stars Wrestling #44

BEFORE THE SHOW COMES ON THE AIR: Footage airs of Owen Hart and the Stampede Bulldogs arguing before the show.  The Bulldogs are mad at Owen and ask how he could team with Mike Dibiase tonight.  Owen says it was Shane McMahon’s call, not his.  Do you think he wants to team with Mike Dibiase?  But it doesn’t matter who his partner is b/c he just wants to get his hands on Dibiase and Albright.  He says that he is going to teach them a lesson about who the top group in SSW is.  It is not the Future, it is the Hart Foundation.  Besides, neither one of them had his back last week anyway!  Owen walks out and leaves the Bulldogs standing there.






We go into the arena as the pyro explodes on the brand new SSW stage.  The cameras scans the crowd as all of the fans are pumping their fists and chanting ‘S . . . S . . . W!!!! . . . S . . . S . . . W!!!!’  There are a lot of Kurt Angle signs in the crowd, as well as signs that say ‘Best in the World’, ‘Ive been infected by the Plague’, and ‘Glamazon in training’.  We go to Mike and Joe at ringside, who welcome the fans to the show tonight.  We are on the road to SSW ‘Redefined’ in 1 weeks time, and the Royal Rumble will come to us live this Saturday.  Two of SSW’s best, Kurt Angle and Owen Hart, will have a chance to go on to challenge for the World Heavyweight title at March’s ‘WHEN WORLD’S COLLIDE’ pay per view.  Tonight we are going to have the official weigh-in for the Kurt Angle vs. Jack Swagger match at ‘Redefined!’, plus you saw it at the top of the show.  Owen Hart is going to team with Mike Dibiase Jr. tonight to face Brent Albright and Ted Dibiase Jr., and neither man is happy about it!  

The announcers are interrupted as Cyrus comes out to the ring with his customary ‘Excuse me . . . EXCUSE ME!’  Cyrus grabs a mic and calls out CM Punk.  He has had a week to think about it, and he wants his answer.  Out comes Punk, and he doesn’t look happy.  Cyrus asks him if he is he going to get on board with Cyrus’ vision of the future of SSW, and if he has what it takes to be the new face of this franchise?  Punk looks uncertain, but then shoots Cyrus a big smile.  Cyrus takes it as Punk being on board, and starts talking about what they are going to do to make Punk a star.  He starts talking about a makeover, and Punk says he could use a good haricut, and maybe if he rubs them hard enough all those tattoos will come off.  Cyrus extends his hand and asks if they have a deal, but as Punk reaches out to shake his hand he slaps Cyrus across the face!!!!  

Punk takes the mic and tells Cyrus that his answer is still ‘NO’ and on top of that ‘YOU . . . GOT . . . PUNK’D!’  Cyrus is in shock, but ‘BULLS ON PARADE’ by Rage Against the Machine hits and out comes Jack Swagger!  Swagger comes out and asks how dare Punk put his hands on someone like Cyrus.  Swagger turns to Cyrus and tells him that he doesn’t need to look any further to find the new face of his franchise.  Swagger is a winner, he has been bred to be a winner, and he has a winning smile.  You take one look at him and you take one look at CM Punk, and there is no comparison.  He is the one that is going to lead SSW into the future when he beats Kurt Angle for the SSW title at ‘Redefined!’  Punk is standing by and sarcastically clapping for Swagger.  Punk tells Swagger that was a great speech, and tells Cyrus that it looks like we have a winner.  It is hard to argue that Swagger is the man for the job.  He is sure that Swagger and Cyrus will be very happy together.  Punk leaves, but Cyrus says he is not going to get out of it that easy.  No one puts his hands on him like that.  Tonight it is going to be Punk vs. the new face of SSW . . . Jack Swagger!!!!

IN THE BACK: We get a montage of interviews with SSW stars telling who they think is going to win the Royal Rumble.  Most of the guys feel like one of the SSW representatives is going to win, but guys like John Morrison say he is going to win himself, even though he is not even in the Rumble match.  The Miz says that it doesn’t matter because the Miz is not in the match.  Several others pick Kurt Angle, while some pick Scott Hall and others pick Randy Savage or Owen Hart.

Commercial Break

IN THE BACK:  Shane McMahon is in his office.  He has the Pure title on his desk and says the title has been vacant since Bryan Danielson surrendered it after winning the World Junior title at Starrcade.  In two weeks, we are going to begin a tournament to crown a new Pure champion.  Tournament brackets and a list of participants are forthcoming.  He also announces that the final 2 men in the ‘Championship Scramble’ at ‘Redefined!’ will be ‘Cowboy’ James Storm and Elijah Burke.

There is a knock at the door and in walks Tyler Black again.  Shane wants to know why he is here again.  He thought he told him to get lost.  Black says that he is not part of the Plague anymore, and he made a mistake.  He is not looking for forgiveness, he is looking for redemption.  Shane is not buying it, and he says if Black wants to prove himself then he will give him a chance to compete tonight.  He can face his former buddies, Matt & Jeff, in a handicap match tonight!  He is sure that they have as much of a bone to pick with him as the rest of the SSW locker room!  Now get out of my office!!!!

Back to live action, and Mike and Joe put over the opening segment.  Just over a week before ‘Redefined!’ and tonight we are going to see Jack Swagger vs. CM Punk!  Punk may have committed career suicide by defying the ‘network liaison’, and now he has to go up against the No. 1 contender!  They also talk about the handicap match that was just made by Shane, as well as the announcement that the tournament to crown a new Pure champion will begin in 2 weeks.  And what about Tyler Black?  Shane is forcing Black to take on the Hardyz in a handicap match tonight????  They may not like what Black has done, but Shane is throwing him to the wolves tonight!  

Match 1: Women’s singles match

Melina
vs.
Daizee Haze

Melina comes out complete with red carpet and paparazzi, performing the greatest ring entrance in the business.  The match itself is some good, back and forth action, with the crowd solidly behind Daizee.  Daizee looks to have the match won with the snap-mare driver, but Melina manages to counter with the ‘Primal Scream’ (reverse DDT w/ leg drop across chest).  Daizee kicks out.  Daizee goes on the offensive and manages to catch Melina with the heartpunch, but as she goes for the Yakuza kick Melina ducks, kicks her in the gut and then hits the ‘Diva-stator’ (Canadian Destroyer) for the 3 count!  

‘Ladies & Gentlemen . . . here is your winner . . . the ‘Queen Diva’ . . . . MELINA!!!!’

IN THE BACK: Josh Matthews is standing around a group of EMT’S huddled on the floor.  He says that reports have come out that Mike Dibiase Jr. has been attacked and laid out, putting his role in the tag match tonight in jeopardy

Commercial Break

IN THE BACK: ODB and Beth Phoenix have an altercation in the back as Beth is leaving the makeup room.  Beth bumps in to ODB, who splashes her beer on Beth.  Beth takes exception and shoves ODB, and they have to be separated.  ODB tells Beth that if she wants a fight then she’s got one, but she wants a shot at the title!  Beth agrees, and ODB says they can do it at ‘Redefined!’  ODB tells Beth to be careful, because she is going to break more than a nail when they get in the ring.  ODB says she will see her at ‘Redefined!’

Match 2: Singles match

CM Punk
vs.
‘The All-American American’ Jack Swagger

This match is back and forth from the start between these two.  Punk tries to wear Swagger down with leg kicks and various strikes, but Swagger is able to ground Punk with his amateur wrestling skills.  Punk gets pounded on the mat, but dodges a knee lift attempt and hits a back heel kick on Swagger.  He hits the running knee strike in the corner on Swagger, but Swagger shoves him off of the bulldog attempt and hits a big boot.  Swagger hammers Punk in the corner with shoulders to the midsection, but Punk dodges a charge and Swagger goes shoulder-first into the ring post!  Punk hits some open hand strikes to Swagger, then hits a tornado DDT out of the corner!  He goes outside and tries for the springboard clothesline, but Swagger catches him and hits a power slam!  Swagger goes for the Doctor Bomb, but Punk gets out of it and goes for the GTS on Swagger.  Swagger elbows out of it and charges Punk, who ducks and Swagger goes flying over the top rope!  Punk measures Swagger and hits a suicide dive through the ropes and both men are down!  They get to their feet as the ref starts his count, and they fight it out on the floor.  Swagger slides back in the ring first, but as Punk tries to make it in, out of the back comes ‘The Ripper’ Paul Burchill!!!!  Burchill grabs Punk from behind and tosses him face-first into the ring post!  Punk is out, and is unable to make it back into the ring!

‘Here is your winner . . . as a result of a countout . . . ‘The All-American American Jack Swagger!’

Swagger leaves as Burchill stands over Punk on the outside.  The announcers are in shock that Burchill is in SSW!  He tosses Punk back in the ring and waits on him to get to his feet, then lays him out with the ‘Ripper Breaker’ (jumping hangman neckbreaker).  Burchill is not done though, as he pummels Punk with his gloved left hand before tying him up and driving him into the mat with the Curb Stomp.  Burchill holds up his arms as the fans boo unmercifully and throw stuff in the ring.  At the top of the ramp we see Cyrus, who is smiling broadly and applauding Burchill!  

Commercial Break

Another RVD promo airs to ‘ONE OF A KIND’ by Shadows Fall.  This goes right to the Miz backstage with Josh Matthews.  ‘This is the true story of when the Miz came to . . . where the hell are we again????  It doesn’t really matter does it?’  Miz says he has been here a week and he is already tired of seeing promos for Rob Van Dam.  It doesn’t matter that RVD is making his debut at ‘Redefined!’, because the Miz is going to be the one walking away with the gold.  John Morrison and Melina step into the picture, and Morrison and Miz argue about who is going to be the first Television champion.

The handicap match is up next, but the Hardyz come out to the ring and cut a promo on the new World tag team champions, Bruiser and Crusher.  They would never be champions if it wasn’t for the Hardyz, because they are the ones that have spent the last few weeks breaking down the Skyscrapers for them.  So basically, them winning the titles screwed the Plague over and that makes them the targets now.  And the last thing you want in life is to be on the hitlist of the Plague.  

This brings out Shane McMahon, who says that he has a little piece of news for them before them and Tyler Black beat the living hell out of each other.  He doesn’t care if the only thing left of the 3 of them is a wet spot in the ring after this match.  At ‘Redefined!’ he had originally booked the world tag champions to appear, but now that is not going to happen because the Skyscrapers lost the tag titles to Bruiser & Crusher thanks to the Hardyz.  Instead it will be the Scrapers vs. the Hardyz . . . inside a steel cage!!!!  Matt & Jeff are going nuts, and Jeff says that Shane can’t make them do that.  They broke down the Scrapers and they don’t have anything they want anymore!!!!  Shane says that the Scrapers are after one thing . . . revenge!  Matt & Jeff are throwing a fit, but Tyler Black comes from the other side of the arena and takes them both out with chair shots as the handicap match begins!  

Match 3: Handicap match

The Plague (Matt & Jeff Hardy)
vs.
Tyler Black

Black gains the early advantage by catching Matt & Jeff off guard with the chair shots.  Black presses the advantage and super kicks Jeff out of the ring, then catches Matt and hits a back heel kick off the ropes.  Black catches Matt with a Shining Wizard and locks on the ‘Kiss to Kill’ (Coji Clutch), but Jeff is back in to break it up.  Black reverses a whip and Jeff goes for the ‘Whisper in the Wind’, but Black moves.  Black goes for the F-5, but Jeff lands on his feet and goes for a Twist of Fate only to have Black reverse it into the ‘Paroxysm’ (Curtain Call).  He goes up top for the Phoenix Splash, but Matt cuts him off and super-plexes him off the top.  The Hardyz take over from here and Black gets very little offense in.  They hit several of their signature spots, then Matt hits a Twist of Fate on Black.  Jeff picks him up and hits another Twist of Fate, then goes up top and hits a Swanton.  Matt picks him up and hits another Twist of Fate for the pinfall.

‘Here are your winners . . . the SSW tag team champions . . . Matt & Jeff Hardy!’

Matt and Jeff keep beating on Black after the match.  Matt locks on the ‘Scar’ (front guillotine choke) and chokes Black out, while Jeff goes outside and grabs a couple of chairs.  The Hardys are about to give Black a con-chair-to, but at the last second he ducks and rolls out of the way!  Black begs off from the Hardys, but out of the back runs Eddie Geurrero with a chair of his own!  Eddie chases off the Plague, making the save for Black who really doesn’t know what to think about it.

Commercial Break

IN THE BACK: We see CM Punk getting treated in the locker room.  The doctors are looking at the cut on his head, but when he sees the camera he pushes them off.  Punk tells Cyrus that he just started a war that he can’t win.  Punk doesn’t need all his corporate garbage, because he is a man that stands on his own.  His hard work and discipline speak for themselves, not striking a deal with someone in office to get ahead.  He wants to send headhunters like Burchill after him?  That’s fine, but at ‘Redefined!’, whether the match is official or not, Punk is coming for Cyrus’ ‘hired gun’!

Match 4: Singles match

The Miz
vs.
Haruko Steamboat w/ Gail Kim

The match is about to start when James Storm’s music hits and Storm comes out riding his beer cooler go-kart.  Haruko seems distracted as Storm drinks beer on stage.  They get ready to start again, but this time ‘SUPERSTAR’ by Saliva hits and out comes John Morrison and Melina!  They come out and do guest commentary during the match.  The fans hate both men, so they really don’t know who to cheer for.  The Miz is the more obnoxious of the two, taunting the fans after Steamboat controls the opening minutes.  The match spills outside, where Steamboat has words with Storm only to get beer spit in his face!!!!  In the ring, the Miz hits the avalanche clothesline in the corner, but Steamboat reverses the ‘Reality Check’ into a backslide for a close 2.  Morrison and Melina leave the announce table, and end up distracting the Miz and allowing Steamboat to roll him up from behind and use the tights for the 1 . . . 2 . . . 3!!!!

‘Here is your winner . . . Haruko Steamboat!’

After the match, Miz and Morrison argue as do Gail Kim and Melina.  This turns into a catfight between the two women, and Morrison and Miz start going at it.  Storm and Steamboat fight it out as well, but Miz and Morrison eventually join in and help beat up Storm.  Elijah Burke, the other participant in the scramble match, hits the ring and he and Storm end up cleaning house!  Storm grabs a beer and pops the top on it, then tries to offer Burke one but he slaps it out of his hand and walks off.  Burke stops to look back at Storm, making the motion around his waist that he is going to be the first TV champion.  

IN THE BACK: We see MVP sitting in his locker room with his entourage.  There is a huge spread from catering, and they are sipping kristale and champagne.  In walks Shane McMahon.  Shane says another week goes by and still MVP is not competing.  He is sick of it.  We hear a toilet flush and out of the bathroom comes ‘Sweet & Sour’ Larry Sweeney!  Sweeney starts talking to Shane about conditions that his ‘client’ has had to deal with, and that Shane’s people can’t seem to get the money right.  He puts MVP over as the best athlete in this company, and if he wants the ratings and the merchandise sales that go along with an athlete of his caliber than he needs to add a few more zeroes to his contract.  Does he realize how many phone calls he gets daily from people that are interested in his client?  Shane is having none of it, and says that MVP will compete in the ring at ‘Redefined!’  He can prove that he is worth that contract that he is asking for, or he can check out his options with someone else.

Commercial Break

IN THE BACK: JOSH MATTHEWS interviews the NWA Junior Heavyweight champion, ‘American Dragon’ Bryan Danielson.  He asks Danielson about his current schedule wearing him down a little, citing his recent draw with Michael Shane and the fact that his arm is still not 100%.  

Danielson – ‘You know Josh, I’ll be the first to admit that my schedule is packed with some of the top Juniors in the NWA.  And you know what?  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  To be the best you have to compete against the best.  And time after time I have gone up against the best and come out on top.  That is why I am the ‘Best in the World’ and that is why this belt is still around my waist and will be for a long time.  Yeah, my arm is still not 100%, and Bob Backlund, you have a receipt coming your way pal.  This thing is not over between us by a long shot.  Michael Shane, you may have showed me something last week by taking me to the limit, but everyone has an off-night.  Super Dragon?  Well, let’s just say that there is nothing this guy does that has me real worried.  And that brings me to Dean Malenko.  Dean, you and I have a match coming up at the Rumble, and on that night we are going to finally put to rest this little thing between us.  You see, I beat you.  I made you tap out.  But you want to call yourself the uncrowned champion?  Well, after the Rumble you are going to have to shake my hand and admit that I am the best in the world because this title is going NOWHERE!’

As we get ready for the main event, the announcers confirm that CM Punk vs. Paul Burchill will happen at ‘Redefined!’  Dibiase and Albright come out first, followed by Owen who comes out alone.  It looks like this is going to be nothing more than a handicap match.

Main Event: Tag Team match

Ted Dibiase Jr. & Brent Albright
Vs.
Mike Dibiase & Owen Hart

Owen starts the match alone, and actually has the advantage.  He and Albright start, with both men trading holds and reversals ending in a stalemate.  Albright shoulder-blocks Owen to the mat, but Owen pops up and hits a spinning heel kick that decks Albright and he quickly tags in Dibiase.  Owen dominates Dibiase with wrestling, until Albright clubs him from behind with a knee as he hits the ropes.  Dibiase hits a swinging neckbreaker and he and Albright take over.  Owen absorbs a lot of punishment, but suddenly the fans pop huge as a bandaged up Mike Dibiase makes his way out to the ring!  Mike looks like he has been bleeding, and his forehead has a large bandage on it.  Mike reaches out for Owen, who crawls for him but Albright grabs his leg.  He tries to pull Owen back to the center, but Owen hits the leg-feed enziguri!  Owen crawls to the corner and makes the tag in to Mike, while Albright makes the tag to Ted.  Mike and Ted meet in the middle of ring, and Ted backs off.  But suddenly Mike turns and lays out Owen Hart with a vicious clothesline!  He picks Owen up and plants him with the Cobra Clutch Slam!!!!  Albright even seems surprised by this and just watches as Ted covers Owen for the 3 count!  

‘Here are your winners . . . Ted Dibiase and the ‘Shooter’ Brent Albright!’

Ted and Mike stomp on Owen, and Ted gets in his face and says that they are the Future and he is the past.  He tells Owen that it is over for him!  Meanwhile, Albright just watches and appears a little disgusted and walks off.  Ted and Mike hug, then raise each others hands to a massive chorus of boos from the fans.  The camera zooms in on Owen laying on the mic, then a shot of the Stampede Bulldogs watching this on a monitor in the back is shown.

Commercial Break

IN THE BACK: Owen Hart is in the dressing room and he is furious.  He congratulates the Dibiase Brothers, saying that they swerved him and he is the master of swerves.  But they now have done something that they should not have done, and that was try to get themselves over at the expense of Owen Hart!  This is a time where he should be concentrating on winning the Royal Rumble this Saturday, but the Dibiase’s have gotten under his skin.  He lays out a challenge for a tag team match at ‘Redefined!’  He talked to a man in the back and found himself a partner.  It may not be someone he likes or that likes him, but it is someone with honor that he knows that he can trust.  He says that he will see Mike and Ted at ‘Redefined!’

SSW Genesis Champion Kurt Angle and challenger Jack Swagger come out for their official weigh-in.  Swagger comes in at 6’6” and 260 lbs, while the shorter Angle comes in at 6’0” and 220 lbs.  They put up their fists and pose as the photographers from Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestling Insider snap shots of them, but Swagger takes the microphone from Shane McMahon.  Swagger says that the weigh-in proves that he is a superior athlete to Angle because he is bigger, stronger, and faster.  He is championship material.  Angle might be the one in the Royal Rumble, but Swagger is going to be the one with the gold after he embarrasses Angle at ‘Redefined!’  Swagger turns his back on Angle, but Kurt grabs him from behind and plants him with a German Suplex!  Swagger pops back up and nails Angle with a big boot, and a huge brawl ensues between them.  

Angle hits the Angle Slam on Swagger, but Shane grabs Kurt and tries to pull him off as security hits the ring to keep both men separated.  Swagger gets up and grabs the scales, then blasts Kurt right in the head with them!!!!  Kurt is busted open, and Swagger picks him up and plants him with a  vicious Doctor Bomb!  Security grabs Swagger and pulls him off of Kurt, who is a bloody mess at this point!  Security escorts Swagger to the back, while Shane and others tend to the bloody champion as the show goes off the air.

A promo airs for ‘SSW: Redefined!’ coming up in 1 week from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.  Tickets are going fast for this one!  Matches already signed include:

* Kurt Angle defends the SSW Genesis title against Jack Swagger

* Steel Cage Match: The Plague (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. The Skyscrapers

* The Million Dollar Sons (Mike & Ted Dibiase) vs. Owen Hart & a mystery partner

* Women’s United States title: Beth Phoenix defends against ODB

* Championship Scramble for the SSW TV title featuring The Miz, John Morrison, Haruko Steamboat, Rob Van Dam, James Storm and Elijah Burke  

* CM Punk vs. ‘The Ripper’ Paul Burchill

* MVP makes his in-ring SSW debut