Moving Cool...

Televisionchamp.blogspot.com has been moved to www.risingphoenixwrestling.blogspot.com. Explanation available at new address.

Sincerely,

Mike D. Stroia

The Television Champ Presents...Backlash '08

Backlash--"The Night of Champions"

April 27, 2008

ECW Title--4 Corners

Rey Misterio v CM Punk v Shelton Benjamin v Chavo Guerrero (C)

Backstory: CM Punk and Rey Misterio both petition Smackdown GM Teddy Long for a rematch with Chavo Guerrero, to which Long agrees. Long makes a tag match for Smackdown! for Punk/Rey v Chavo/Shelton. Shelton levels Chavo with a superkick during the match and stakes his claim to the ECW Title. Long decides to add Shelton to the match, because he is impressed with Benjamin's hunger for the title.

Book it: Solid opener. Punk and Shelton look good, but they become consumed with one-another after a very heated exchange early in the match. The two jaw with each other even when they aren't in the ring together. The two are not the legal men as words get more heated, and they begin to battle on the outside, when Rey hits the 619 on Chavo for the 1,2,3. Rey is your new ECW Champion. Winner: Rey Misterio via pinfall with a 619.

Aftermath: In a backstage interview, Rey promises to defend the belt with honor and expresses how he feels he has come full circle in the US. ECW gave him his break and now he wants to take them to greater heights.

Intercontinental Title Match

Mr. Kennedy v Jeff Hardy (C)

Backstory: Two young up-and-comers with a lot to prove from their WM performances. Hardy lost to Shawn Michaels, while Mr. Kennedy failed to repeat as Mr. Money in the Bank. Mr. Kennedy was able to defeat Umaga in a #1 Contenders match via countout with a Mic Check on the floor. Kennedy vows that he will ground and pound Hardy to begin the Kennedy Administration as IC Champion.

Book it: Jeff Hardy is able to frustrate Kennedy early in the match by avoiding the grounding and keeping a faster pace than Kennedy intended. Kennedy is able to grab the advantage by taking out one of Hardy's legs. Kennedy puts on a very impressive showing by grounding Hardy. Hardy has a few flurries but is unable to sustain any offense. Each time he has some momentum, his leg is taken out by Kennedy, who is able to land the Mic Check and the Kenton Bomb, as insult to injury, for the victory. Winner: New Intercontinental Champion Mr. Kennedy via pinfall from Kenton Bomb

World Tag Team Title Match

WWE Tag Champs--Miz/John Morrisson v World Tag Champs--Y2J/HHH (C)

Backstory: On the Raw following WM24, a frustrated Y2J addresses his fans and promises that he will win WWE gold in the near future. Later in the program, GM William Regal books a World Tag Team Title Match for the following week between Champs Cody Rhodes/Hardcore Holly v Sanlito (Santino Marella/Carlito). Y2J asks for a shot at the titles in the match. Regal agrees as long as Jericho can find a partner. The following week, Regal runs into a pissed HHH (who hasn't been seen since taking the pinfall at WM24) as he enters the building. HHH wants another shot at the World Title, but he is rebuffed by Regal. Regal states that Triple Haitch must work is way up again and get some Ws. Y2J approaches HHH later on and ask him to be his partner for the tag title match, which H accepts. Needless to say, new tag champs are crowned. With the decision to make Backlash "A Night of Champions," HHH and Y2J make an open challenge for the PPV. The open challenge was unexpectedly answered by WWE Tag Champions Miz and Morrisson. When asked if their titles would be on the line also, the WWE Champs decline and ask who have Y2J/HHH ever beaten to get a shot at their belts. A confident Y2J/HHH agree to defend stating that when they win, they are taking the WWE Tag straps.

Book it: No slow motion entrance for the WWE Tag Champs. Miz and Morrisson appear more focused than ever. They are able to use their double-teaming and tag continuity to frustrate the veteran yet relatively new team of H/Jericho. They are able to cut off the ring and isolate Jericho for an extended period of time. The young punks are able to continually bait HHH into the ring so that they can punish Y2J. During one of these interventions, Miz/Morrisson are able to hit Jericho with powerbomb/neckbreaker combo. Miz is pinning Y2J as the ref turns around, and Morrisson prevents HHH from breaking up the pin (which HHH doesn't seem to eager to do). Winners: New World Tag Team Champs--WWE Tag Champs Miz and Morrisson

Aftermath: HHH leaves Y2J in the ring as the New Tag Champs celebrate. I guess The Savior and The King of Kings couldn't coexist.

Money In the Bank v US Title (Winner Takes All)

Matt Hardy v MVP (C)

Backstory: Hardy and MVP had been fueding for months over the US Title before injuries derailed the program. MVP was diagnosed with a heart condition, so he and Hardy were made a team. They ended up winning and losing the tag titles. Before they could have a match for the US Title, Hardy was injured and sidelined for a few months. Hardy made his return at WM24 as an entrant in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Hardy was able to pick up the victory and rekindle his fued with MVP by beating him to the case and exploiting MVP's past health history. In the weeks after WM, there had been escalations between the two. Hardy stated that he still wants the US Title; MVP stated that Hardy took a cheap shot, and he wants vengeance. MVP wanted a non-title match but decides to a title match if Hardy is willing to put up the Money in the Bank case. Hardy agrees so he can settle this issue with MVP once and for all.

Book it: Mat classic! MVP and Hardy go tooth and nail/hold for hold. Periods of intense brawling, scientific wrestling, counters, submissions, strikes etc. Hardy takes a few shortcuts here and there, but the announcers cover for him by analyzing how much is at stake in the match. Hardy is able to counter a superplex into a top rope twist of fate for the pinfall. Matt Hardy is your new US Champ and Mr. Money in the Bank. Winner: Matt Hardy via pinfall with a Super Twist of Fate

Long and Regal are shown in a private conversation discussing a potential shake-up between the two brands.

WWE Title--4 Way Elimination

John "Bradshaw" Layfield v "HBK" Shawn Michaels v John Cena v Randy Orton (C)

Backstory: As a triumphant Randy Orton gloats over his pinning of Triple H and retaining of his title at WM24, he is challenged by John Cena for Backlash. Cena simply states that Orton has yet to pin or submit him. Cena's challenge is interrupted by HBK and then JBL who both suggest that they deserve title shots, because, unlike Cena, they were victorious at the "granddaddy of them all." William Regal decides to grant them their requests. (Title shots based upon merit-Cena--never pinned for title/HBK--defeated Jeff Hardy at WM24/JBL--defeated Y2J at WM24)

Book it: Orton and JBL figure that they can work together in a de facto tag match against HBK and Cena to get rid of one early (due to previous problems between HBK and Cena as tag partners). Miscommunication between Cena and HBK leads to a splintering of their makeshift partnership. HBK ends up hitting the SCM on JBL, but the force of the kick knocks JBL into Cena. The ref counts it as a tag. As HBK unknowingly turns to pin JBL, Cena slides into the ring with an FU for HBK. Cena eliminates HBK. Orton comes in and attacks Cena. Orton/JBL dismantle Cena in what has become a handicap match. Cena goes into Superman mode and is able to get Orton 1-on-1. During the fray, Cena backs Orton to a corner. JBL enters the ring and is preparing for the CFH on Cena from behind. Cena ducks, causing JBL to flatten Orton with a CFH in the corner. Cena grabs a distracted JBL and hits the FU for the 1,2,3. JBL is rolled to the outside. Cena attempts to finish Orton off quickly with the throwback in the middle of the ring on Orton. Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle (What a silly ass move). When he attempts to rebound off of the ropes, he is tripped by JBL into an RKO by Orton. Winner: Randy Orton via pinfall with an RKO

Aftermath: Randy grabs his title and is heading with JBL to the back when JBL begins to lag a bit to jaw with a fan. Orton continues on when he is leveled by JBL with a Northern CFH (a lariat to the back of the head) that nearly turns Orton inside-out. JBL then places the title on the chest of the unconscious Orton before standing over him with the longhorns to the air.

World Heavyweight Title (The Last Dance)

Batista v The Undertaker v Edge (C)

Backstory: Batista is granted the #1 Contender position due to his retiring of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair at WM24. Taker is admitted into the match to make it a 3-way from a grateful Teddy Long, who is once again the GM of Smackdown thanks to UT's tombstone on Vickie Guerrero. (Undertaker made her pay for Edge's sins.) Teddy grants both men their shots with the condition that this will be the last shot for both men during Edge's reign. (Teddy feels that it is time to freshen up the Smackdown World Title scene.) Edge is furious with the thought of a 2 on 1 beating but loves the thought of no more Tista or Taker during his reign. {The bottom line here is that someone needs to beat Edge to guarantee more shots. Can Tista and Taker work together to stay in the main event picture? Who gets the pinfall? In one last note, TnT end up destroying the Rated Rmy to guarantee that they have Edge alone}

Book it: Edge spends the bulk of the match as a test dummy for Tista/Taker. Problems arise as Tista and Taker will not allow the other to get the pin. During the fray, Tista spears Taker into the ref, which knocks the ref to the outside. Taker is able to counter Tista's bomb and chokeslams him. From the back runs a returning "Nature Boy" Ric Flair armed with a steel chair. After chokeslamming Tista, Taker turns into an Edge spear. As Tista tries to rise, he is taken out with a sickening chair shot from Flair. Edge drops a chair shot on Taker for good measure as Flair revives the ref. Edge pins Tista to retain his title and prevent any more shots for Taker or Tista. Winner: Edge via pinfall from an "opportunistic" Chair Shot

Aftermath: Flair grabs a mic and stands over the prone Batista. "You, you took my career and now I take yours. As long as I have breath in my body, you will never be world champion again. The Curse of the Nature Boy begins." Taker tries to get at Flair for costing him the title. Edge, who has been almost forgotten about at this point, clocks Taker again, only this time with the title. Flair and Edge begin laying the boots to Taker and Tista. Flair grabs the mic again. He tells the world that his return was two-fold. He introduces the world to "the new dirtiest player in the game--Edge." Edge proclaims that he is "The 2nd Coming." Flair and Edge celebrate to close with the big, gold belt.

And scene... stay tuned for the first installments of Raw and Smackdown, as brought to you by The Television Champ!!!

The Television Champ Presents...WM24

Mr. Stroia's Fantasy Booking Ground Rules (how things work in my WWE.)

1. ECW (and title) has been swallowed by Smackdown. (I refuse to book ECW: only Heyman books ECW!)

2. I will not be booking the Women's Title on Raw. (No offense, but women's wrestling really doesn't interest me too tough--save Awesome Kong from TNA. She kills bitches dead!)

3. Even though my WWE will focus more on in-ring action, I will NOT be booking matches move-for-move. I will give a general overview and a finish. I will be highlighting key points that are pertinent to the story being told. (In other words, use some imagination people!)

4. I will be beginning with the projected WM24 list that was printed by the good folks at www.411mania.com/wrestling (reasons discussed in previous entry).

5. The week by week booking won't begin until the Backlash PPV. I'm doing this so that I give myself a good enough head start to stay ahead of WWE the entire way. So I will do a brief overview from WM24 (including results) until Backlash 2008--The Night of Champions!!!

Without further ado, "The Television Champ Presents..."

WRESTLEMANIA 24

Money In The Bank: Shelton Benjamin v Kane v US Champ MVP v Matt Hardy v Mr. Kennedy v Umaga v WWE Tag Champ The Miz v WWE Tag Champ John Morrison

(As the WWE Tag Champs are double-teaming Kane on the outside and Umaga pounds the cocky Benjamin and Kennedy, Hardy and MVP vie for the briefcase. Both men are battling away on top of the ladder. With MVP reaching up to grab the case, Matt Hardy unleashes a heart punch that knocks MVP to the canvas {remember MVP's heart condition/this is played up as an uncharacteristic, desperation move by Hardy}. Hardy is then free to grab the case and is our 2008 Mr. MITB.) Winner: Matt Hardy

ECW Title: Rey Misterio v CM Punk v Chavo Guerrero (C)

(Chavo Guerrero--The Anti-Extreme Champ--gets on his bicycle for most of the match allowing Punk and Rey Rey to put on a show. Chavo makes brief appearances to break-up pins and submissions. Rey and Punk finally catch up to Chavo who attempts to get himself disqualified by bringing in a chair. The attack is averted leaving Chavo to ponder his next move. To further spit on the ECW legacy, Chavo Guerrero gets himself counted out at the biggest show of the year to save his title.) Winner: No Decision

Bullrope Match: "Y2J" Chris Jericho vs John "Bradshaw" Layfield

(The Blowoff to the Y2J/JBL feud. JBL sells that this is his signature match, and he will stop at nothing to show the world how he is far superior to the WWE's supposed "savior." We are not going for the 4 corners here. This is a knockdown-dragout brawl full of blood and brutality. JBL does everything he can to keep Y2J down. He eventually is able to keep him down with a bullrope-assisted clothesline from hell--a battered Y2J attempts to get a running start for the codebreaker/JBL tugs Y2J towards him as he begins to run, leading to maximum impact for the clothesline. He damn near decapitates Y2J. JBL celebrates going up the ramp as guys come down to check on Jericho. Jericho denies their assistance, telling them that he will make it to the back on his own. Crowd gives him an ovation for his toughness.) Winner: JBL via pinfall with Clothesline From Hell

"HBK" Shawn Michaels v Jeff Hardy

(There isn't much that I want to do with this match. I figure that if you give this match 20+ minutes it will speak for itself. Back and forth contest. Hardy, ever the daredevil, looks as though he may have the match won with a twist of fate. He decides to try for the swanton, which he misses. Shawn with the nip-up and sweet chin music turns out the lights on another WM classic.) Winner: Shawn Michaels via pinfall with Sweet Chin Music

Street Fight: Big Show v Floyd "Money" Mayweather

(Mayweather comes to the ring sans his usual entourage. Before the match begins, Mayweather introduces his security team, DOOM. From the back, comes Ron Simmons flanked by Elijah Burke and Ron "The Truth" Killings. Big Show is definitely not happy with this change. Big Show attempts to make short work of Mayweather, but Floyd runs to the outside. Floyd hides amongst DOOM. Mr. Simmons, as he likes to be called now, tells Show that he must go through DOOM to get to "Money." Show attempts to do just that, but he is overwhelmed by DOOM. A few opportunistic chair shots to the legs, and Show is down to his knees. With Killings and Burke holding his arms, Mr. Simmons brains him with the chair to knock the last bit of fire from the giant. This last shot allows "Money" to follow through with his prophecy as he breaks Show's jaw with a devastating right. "Money" picks up the pinfall in a surprisingly short "fight." He is then led to the back by Mr. Simmons, as he throws singles into the crowd from atop the shoulders of Killings and Burke. Show is shown coming to and clutching his jaw as DOOM heads to the back.) Winner: Floyd "Money" Mayweather via pinfall from a right cross

World Heavyweight Title: Undertaker v "The Rated R Superstar" Edge (C) w/ Miss Guerrero

(The Title vs The Streak. To quote Michael Cole--"Vintage Undertaker." Undertaker does a wonderful job playing the unstoppable Taker of yesteryear, complete with no-selling and methodical dismantling of Edge. Edge does all he can to withstand the onslaught. In other words, he cheats at every chance. Unable to get the upper hand, it seems almost academic, as the Taker continues to go through his moveset in one of his most dominating WM performances. Just as he is about to put Edge away with the Last Ride, Edge is able to counter into a rollup with a handful of tights and feet on the rope to effectively "steal" Taker's legacy and retain his title. Edge is still the World Heavyweight Champion despite taking the beating for the entire match. The Taker is left looking pissed off and confused from the outcome as Edge hurriedly grabs his title, hops the railing into the front row, and limps his way through the crowd. Only thing, he forgot Miss Guerrero and her wheelchair. UT grabs her and proceeds to Tombstone her to the delight of the crowd. Miss Guerrero is stretchered out of the arena.) Winner: Edge via pinfall with "The Steal of the Century" rollup

Career Threatening Match: Batista v "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

(I will gloss over the in-ring action. It's Flair v Tista. I feel that this one may not be a mat classic. Simply put, Tista is able to end the career of Ric Flair via a Tista Bomb. An obviously emotional Batista checks on Flair post-match attempting to help him to his feet. The fans are in the midst of a standing "O," as Flair finally begins to rise with Tista's help. When he is fully to his feet, Tista stretches out his hand to show thanks to one of his mentors. The Nature Boy looks long and hard before he accepts it. Naitch and Tista embrace and hold each others arms to the sky in front of the emotional crowd, feeling as though they have seen history. Tista turns his back to Flair to leave him with his adoring fans, when Naitch low blows Tista. Flair grabs Tista's legs and proceeds to low blow him again and place him in the figure four. The crowd is split 50/50. Flair finally let's go as officials crowd the ring. Flair leaves and walks the aisle one last time to the back.) Winner: Batista via pinfall from the Batista Bomb

WWE Title: John Cena v "The Game" Triple H v "Legend Killer" Randy Orton (C)

(I'll keep this one short. Cena and HHH attempt to take out frustrations on Orton, but he is content on staying out of the way to allow the others to fight it out. HHH gets the upper hand but decides to give chase to Orton. He finally catches him and proceeds to Pedigree Orton on the outside. HHH re-enters the ring to find a recovered Cena. They fight vigorously to end the match, both believing that Orton is done for. They slug it out again with Cena getting the upper hand. He runs through the "Moves O' Doom," leading to the FU. As he gets HHH on his shoulders for the FU, Orton slides in and snatches HHH off of Cena's shoulders into an RKO. Cena charges at Orton, but Orton steps aside sending Cena to the floor. Orton sees HHH getting to his knees and, remembering the earlier pedigree, gives him a full-force concussion kick to the head. 1,2,3 on HHH as Cena is too late to make the save. Cena seethes as he watches Orton ride off into the sunset with the title.) Winner: Randy Orton via pinfall from the Concussion Kick

That is all for WM24. Stay tuned for Backlash!

Your Television Champion...

Ladies and Gentlemen, wrestling fans of all ages, I present to you the very first of edition of "From Parts Unknown..."

Here at "From Parts Unknown..." I, your humble host Mike D. Stroia, will be dissecting and discussing the current wrestling scene from Ring of Honor (ROH), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling. My main attraction will be the fantasy booking of a full year of WWE action beginning with WM24 and concluding with WM25. My purpose for doing this is quite simple--I am better at it than they are! I know that seems quite arrogant, but...well...yeah, it is quite arrogant! SO BE IT!!!

I get sick and damn tired of watching the mindless drivel that some companies are trying to feed me. I remember when wrestling was about grudges, titles, and who's the better man. Today, it is about merchandising, buyrates, and mainstream America. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with making money. Shit, that's the purpose for business. My qualms arise when the focus on moneymaking trumps the focus on the in-ring product.

I guess I should tell you a little about myself, and how I grew to have such a jaded view of the industry I've loved for years. I have been a loyal follower of the world of wrestling since 1983. Before any of you whippersnappers go calling me an old codger who can't catch up with the times, peep the math. I was born in 1981. Yeah, I started watching the great sport of professional wrestling as a tot. After my grandparents put me to bed as a yung'in, my wrestling crazed uncle would wake me to watch Mid-Atlantic wrestling which originated from WRAL studios in Raleigh, NC. Of course, I didn't begin to know what was going on til' I was a little older.

Growing up, I watched NWA/Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW, World Class Championship Wrestling, WWF, UWF, AWA, Memphis...you name it, I watched it. I was like a wrestling addict. When ESPN was carrying various promotions, I was watching wrestling 7 days a fucking week. Euphoria, Heaven, Cloud 9, Paradise!

I've watched the evolution of the sport from the days of the regional promotions through today where Vince McMahon has put himself on top of the wrestling landscape. Sure, there are the TNAs and the ROHs of the world, but WWE is the leader of the market.

Frankly, I think WWE is in the middle of the 3. I'm a huge, HUGE mark for ROH. I love everything about the little promotion that could. I even beam like a proud papa whenever I hear of another Match of the Year candidate coming from one of their shows. If you have never experienced the crack-like euphoria of ROH, http://www.rohwrestling.com/ is your new D-Boy!

TNA Sucks...nuff said. (It's quite sad, actually. Anyone who is up to a point-counterpoint challenge on the state of TNA, my email address is skoseze@gmail.com. Holla at me, and we can get the ball rolling.)

WWE is the king of the wrestling ring right now, which is a blessing and a curse. This is also the reason why I have taken them on as the first company for my fantasy booking experiment. They have an expansive roster with a big show every month and three TV shows a week. I will begin the booking with the projected WM24 line-up that was printed by http://www.411mania.com/ last month (the projections are slightly better than what we are getting to now, and that's when I began my fantasy season. Fuck starting over!! Who has that kind of time??) I will post my results for WM24 and give a brief overview of the next month of programming before we get to Backlash (where the real fun and details begin).

I guess I should mention that I am pretty long winded. I also will write run-ons from time to time, because most of what I do is stream of consciousness type stuff. So, if you are stickler for grammar...why the fuck are you watching wrestling or reading a wrestling blog. Find something better to do with your time. Go change the world. But if you correct on anything other than a fact...so help me God...someone...will...pay!!!

There will be other posts here as well. I will book dream cards from history, take strolls down memory lane, and keep you abreast (boob joke is just to easy here, so I will refrain) of the latest and greatest of our psuedosport.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Television Champion Mike D. Stroia welcomes you to Parts Unknown, where the streets are paved with gold (championship belts) and your next door neighbor's last name is Warrior.

You have been warned...