Taped Wednesday, June 16th

 

Mariucci Arena,

University of Minnesota Campus

 

Attendence;  3,116

 

Shawn Michaels is shown sitting on the couch in his home, dressed in jeans and a San Antonio Spurs T-shirt. He looks relaxed but that is about to change.

 

Michaels] This will be my final statement before going to the King of the Ring. Heartbreakers you say I am not a legend which is fine. Yes I have never won the NWA World title, but I have held the PWA World Title on 3 occassions, which was then unified with the WWA World title when the man I lost to, Robert Bayley beat up WWA champ Steven Elliott.  I will stack those titles up against Bret Hart's 2 month reign as NWA World Champion any day. Back in those days the PWA was #1, the WWA was #2, and the NWA was fighting just to try and stay alive. I have also been described as a "legend" by my inclusion into the WWA Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

 

Commissioner Bob Backlund is in the ring with his lovely assistant for the night Debra McMichaels, the 3rd and final tryout for the Executive assistant position, following in the high heeled steps of Tylene Buck and Kim Kanner.

Backlund has a mic and calls out Asp Evergreen and Derek St. Holmes, ESQ.

 

 

Derek St. Holmes leads out Asp Evergreen to the ring, they are looking extremely cocky.

 

Holmes] This had better be good old man...

 

Backlund] Oh it will be skippy, it will be. Listen up you ingrates, after your actions last week, knocking out poor Kim Kanner, sending her to the hospital...

 

The fans boo, and Debra puts on a fake pouty face.

 

Backlund] ...it's time for a little bit of payback. Now there is a young man backstage by the name of Eddie Chavez who used to be your friend Asp, but now he just wants your head on his fireplace mantle. And I was going to set up that match now, but you know what? Holmes, you've pissed me off with your arrogance. So, you might as well take part in the action too, I'll make it a tag team match and will find a partner right now for Eddie.

 

Debra whispers something in Bob's ear, and this gives him a huge smile.

 

Backlund] Wonderful idea dear. Okay Eddie's partner will be none other then "H2O" Ron Waterman!!!

 

The fans go nuts and Asp and Holmes jump up and down in indignation.

 

Holmes] You can't do this Backund, I'm a manager not a wrestler.

 

Backlund] Well, it's you two against Chavez and Waterman, and you're right skippy, I can't make you wrestle. You can stay in the dressing room if you like, stand on the floor and manage, you can do announcing, or sell popcorn for all the hell I care. But then it will be Asp against those two men, so the choice is yours, and it happens, right now!!

 

 

Evergreen & Holmes are relieved when Chavez starts the match, and they try and expolit him as the weakest link in the team. However, Chavez is on fire and more then holds his own. Evergreen and Holmes get nothing going in this match except for the occasional double team or eye gouge. Soon they can't take any more punishment and make a run for it.

 

Chavez & Waterman defeat Evergreen & Holmes by countout at 5:17

 

 

The fans boo and the announcers rail against being interrupted as the New Right take to the ring. Dan Severn leads out Extreme Jack Voight and Alex Wright.

 

Severn] Shut the hell up you bunch of mid-western faggots. Go home to momma like you belong. That way you can see who she is sleeping with today. I'm not out here for your benefit, you bunch of retards, I'm out here to make a statement to the World. Listen up. The Germans are coming. World Cup, July, the Germans are coming. If you thought that Blitzkrieg was something to behold, wait until you see this little army destroy everything in its path. It's too bad John Fredrickson wasn't still around to witness this!

 

The fans boo Severn unmercifully.

 

Severn] Shawn Michaels, I saw your little crying session from your house. It's good to see your hiding at home instead of coming here and fighting like a man. Your just proving that you are the little bitch that the Heartbreakers say you are. I'm ashamed that you are in the same hall of fame that I am in. So, next week, the world has to know, who will stand up to the Germans? What country, whether it be Canada, United States, France, Upper Volta, Sudan, or whatever, who will send their best 3 athletes to come face us in a tune-up? It doesn't matter if you are in the World Cup or not. We will take on the most worthy challengers. The match will be a 6-man street fight. So, if you have the balls, World, then send us your best.

 

Severn hands Wright the mic.

 

Wright]

 

Madison is making his first appearance on RAGE since MAPW has made it's return, taking the place of the injured Greg Pawluk.

This may have been the most exciting sub minute match ever in MAPW. It was one long chain wrestling segment, which went from flying armdrags, headscissors, crucifixes, to roll-up's. In the end Reglaitti used a back mounted side roll cradle to pick up the quick win.

 

 

 

Another first appearance on the new RAGE, this time for "Cool" Johnny Rivale who has a bit of a throw-back "greaser" image, or perhaps he is just white-trash?

Knoble comes to the ring accompanied by Sable, and looks proud as punch to have her on his arm. Unlike when she seconded for Al Collins, this time she manages to keep her focus and stay in the corner cheering on Knoble. The fans cheer for Knoble as well, but they give Sable a mixed reaction.

Inside the ring, while Rivale is a fairly small guy he is also not all that fast. He relies mostly on brawling and taunts, ala a young Roddy Piper. It doesn't take long for Knoble to ground him and then finish the job.

 

 

Sable entered the ring after the victory and embraced Knoble with a rather enthusiastic hug. Knoble looked smitten. Sable grabbed a mic and started to gush on Knoble about how he was such a great wrestler, and between the two of them they would go to the top of the MAPW ranks. She said there was no-one in the back that they had to fear, that no-one was going to get in their way on the road to the title.

 

 

The fans popped and then began to boo as Menele made his way down to the ring looking very menacing. Knoble was taken aback and when he looked at Sable she too was looking afraid. Menele grabbed referee Jimmy Appleseed by the collar as he was walking up the ramp and dragged him back to the ring. He walked around to the timekeepers table and rang the bell before entering the ring again. Sable took off between the ropes and stayed a safe distance away from the ring apron. Appleseed elected not to risk angering Menele and stayed to officiate the impromptu match.

 

 

Knoble started strong trying to get Menele off his game with a hard and fast attack that included dropkicks, a thrust kick to the chest, and a senton off the top rope, but could not keep the beast down. Menele struck back hard with a spinebuster, a double underhook suplex, and a wheelbarrow suplex, and it was all over.

 

 

 

Waiting until after Menele had vacated the premesis Sable went back into the ring and helped Knoble to his feet and out of the ring. He seemed pretty dazed and confused, and Sable looked very worried.

 

 

 

A camera follows Sable and Jamie Knoble into the back, where paramedics rush forward and take Knoble from Sable. They have him lie down on a spinal board and immobilize his neck. One of them snaps at Sable and says he shouldn't have been moved. As they work on him Al Collins comes into the scene and puts his arm around Sable. When she sees who it is she stiffens in shock.

 

Collins] Remember me Sable? I'm the guy who stuck his neck out for you, only to be abandoned when the action got hot. I guess even though I got stung I got off lucky compared to that poor dude. You really are the black widow of wrestling aren't you?

 

Suddenly from nowhere Menele is back and strikes Collins from behind with a fist to the back of the neck. Collins is knocked straight onto the spinal board, and sprawls across Knoble. When the paramedics protest Menele responds with a big boot into the face of one, and scoops up the other and runs him into the wall. Collins is on his feet and fires back at Menele with a punch, but it's blocked and Menele clotheslines Collins to the ground. He then turns his attention to Knoble, but Sable is there, covering Knoble's body and putting a hand up, begging Menele to stop. She is afraid, but Menele just snears at her and walks away.

 

 

 

 

Commissioner Bob Backlund comes to the ring accompanied by Debra McMichaels.

 

Backlund] Well Miss Debra I have to admit you have done a pretty good job tonight of helping me out, keeping things in order. Much better then either Kim Kanner or Tylene Buck.

 

Debra] Thank you so much Mr. Backlund, I know that I would make a great Executive assistant.

 

Backlund] Not so fast my dear. Things have got a little more complicated the last couple of weeks. You see maybe I misjudged one Kimberly Page...

 

The fans cheer the mention of Page.

 

Backlund] She has shown that she is practical, intelligent, resourceful, and loyal. So in the interest of competition, which is how this search was supposed to be conducted, I think one final competition is in order. Right after the tag team match we will have an impromptu match. You Debra will lock horns with Kimberly in a big ol' pool of grape jello. It will be a bikini jello wrestling match with the first one to remove either the top or bottoms of the opponent to be declared the winner...and the new Executive Assistant. And if either of you declines to participate then your ass will be fired.

 

Debra] You are a sick son of a bitch. You're telling me you just HAPPEN to have a pool full of jello handy for this IMPROMPTU match?

 

Backlund] Well you know, just in case.

 

Debra] That little princess is no match for me, I'm a Texas woman and I will kick her ass.

 

 

 

 

Despite their dislike for the Sheepherders the fans were solidly behind the New Zealand duo in this match against the hated Spinebusters.

The 'busters started strong and out-cheated Nancy to start, then wore him down with some armbusters and armbars, keeping him on his knees or his back while they worked with leverage. Finally Nancy got free with an eyerake and tagged out to the younger, stronger Cage. He caught Orth with a kick to the gut and quite unceremoniously delivered a painful looking powerbomb to change the tide of the match.

Cage worked over Orth but couldn't put him away. Caruthers got tagged in but soon was being worked over by the veteran Jim Nancy. The 'herders took the match to the floor, and while referee Melissa Coates was busy trying to get Orth to return to his corner Cage and Nancy double teamed Caruthers using the metal guardrail to full advantage.

Caruthers was busted wide open.

Back inside Nancy and Cage double teamed Caruthers, holding him by all four limbs and ramming his shoulder straight into the ringpost. Jerry Orth entered the ring one more time, this time brandishing a steel chair which he used to nail Sexton Cage, who fell out of the ring. Nancy fled for safety as Melissa Coates called for the bell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissioner Bob Backlund comes down to the pool of jello, and he's wearing a referee shirt! Looks like we have a guest referee for this match.

 

Well the ladies pretty much rolled, played, slapped, and ogled, it's more of a visual thing then a recap type item, until...

 

Adam Riggs showed up. Debra managed to escape as he had eyes only for Kimberly. Backlund shouted and warned Riggs, but was for the most part just ignored. Scooping her up he slammed her back into the jello, then reached down and emerged with both her bottoms and tops. Security ran out to help Kimberly maintain her dignity but Riggs began to slap them away. He grabbed a hold of Kimberly by the hair and was about to pull her out of the pool of jello and "expose" her, when Robert Blaze Bayley came to the resuce, nailing Riggs with a flying forearm. Those two went at it as MAPW officials helped Kimberly cover up and flee to the back.

 

 

While the jello match had been going on, the ring crew had been assembling the cage for the main event. Bayley and Riggs fought there way to the cage area and into the ring.

Bayley hammered Riggs with a swinging punch, and a jumping DDT. Bayley was preparing for the Blaze Bomb when Riggs gouged his eyes. A punch straight to the throat allowed Riggs more time to go and fetch a wrench that the ring crew had been using. Bayley turned around right into a shot to the head with the wrench. He was down, and stayed down as Riggs taunted him and spit on his back. Security returned to the scene to help Bayley to the backstage area, his head busted wide open.

 

 

 

Diamond Rhodes comes to the ring accompanied by Paisley. They are both wearing an assortment of black and white leathers.

 

Rhodes] Bigelow...you are a powerful force. You have the ability to weaken men like rust on steel. I need you, and judging by your results as of late, you need me just as much. Together we will rule middle America.

 

 

Bam Bam Bigelow comes to the ring with a weary look on his face. For a long time he stares straight at Paisley, ignoring Rhodes. Paisley seems to shirk from his stare as she crawls behind Rhodes.

 

Bigelow] I need you? I don't even know what the hell you two are supposed to be! I'll find my stride soon enough and while I have lost a couple, at least I've stepped in the ring which is more then I can say about you. There's an old saying, that if you can't beat them join them. You want me to join you Rhodes, then you're going to have to beat me. Next week, one on one, me and you. Can you handle that?

 

Rhodes nods and smiles. Bigelow just shakes his head and backs out of the ring.

 

 

A camera is shown on the backstage area, where most of the MAPW roster stand around watching the closed circuit monitor, waiting for the mayhem that is to follow.

 

 

 

The two men attack each other before the bell sounds. Riggs gains an immediate upper hand, lacing some forearms to the back of Silva and muscling him to the cage wall. Several knees to the head and gut punish Silva, before Riggs goes for a powerbomb but Silva blocks the attempts to lift him up.

The brawl goes to the mat and this time it's Silva who comes out ahead, mounting Riggs and peppering him with shots to the head.

Silva attempts to whip Riggs into the cagewall but it's reversed and Silva goes into the cage. He bounces off though and ducks under a clothesline attempt, and then nails Riggs with a back elbow.

The two men continue to brawl, each one managing to smash the other's head into the cage and open it up. Both men are bleeding profusely.

Riggs attacks by biting Silva's face, then ramming him into the cage. He goes for a thumb to the throat but Silva deflects it and takes Riggs down with a fingerlock. He lowers Riggs hand to the mat and then drops a knee on the same finger.

Silva nails a vertical suplex, but when he goes to cradle Riggs for a pin the Irishman knees him squarely in the groin. Riggs applies pressure with an inverted atomic drop, followed by a neckbreaker. He goes for a cobra clutch but Silva counters and smashes Riggs' head into the cage.

April Hunter leaves ringside.

Silva continues to punish Riggs but can't put him away. Hunter returns and she has a long thin package which she quickly unwraps to reveal a singapore cane. Inside the ring Riggs manages to keep Silva at bay long enough with an elbow and then a clothesline for Hunter to pass him the cane through the links of the cage.

But Silva is back too quick and throws a shoulder into Riggs driving him back into the turnbuckle. The cane drops to the mat and both men take turns exchanging punches.

Silva delivers a vicious forearm to the face of Riggs and then recovers the cane. He swings at Riggs who ducks and then kicks the Hawaiian in the gut. Riggs nails Silva with a DDT. He puts him up on the top turnbuckle and executes the Phenomenon Performance for the win.

 

 

As we