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Arcademan:
WWE Superstars Results: 6-11-09

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to Caldwel's complete report). Condensed here to in-ring results only.

1 -- BETH PHOENIX & ROSA MENDES vs. BRIE & NIKKI BELLA

Apparently there was a storyline development we missed reuniting the Bella Twins after their family squabble was at the heart of the Colons vs. Miz & Morrison program culminating at WrestleMania 25. Either that or they patched things up shopping. Beth dominated early on, then Nikki (I think) made a comeback. Rosa ran interference when Nikki had a pin, which allowed Beth to come back with the double-underhook front-facebuster for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Beth & Rosa in 4:00. Fine tag match. WWE has some rebuilding to do with Beth's character after they streeeeetched out the Beth-Santino break-up for seemingly five months too long.

2 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. ZACK RYDER

Ryder focused on Boune's injured ribs early on. Bourne came back with a top rope dropkick to begin a brief comeback that was cut off by Ryder shoving Bourne into the corner. Bourne tried to come back again, this time with the Shooting Star Press, but Ryder cut him off. Striker lamented on commentary that he missed Bourne's finisher. Cut to break with Ryder in control.

Back from break, Ryder continued to ground Bourne while Striker continued to understand Ryder. What's with the hair and the half-trunks/pants and the woo woo woo? Ryder very impressive working the submission holds on Bourne as the crowd tried to rally behind Bourne, who blocked a dropkick and nailed a leaping two-foot strike on Ryder. Bourne then snapped off a swinging head scissors and charged Ryder for a running clothesline and a two count. Match moved to the top where Bourne and Ryder battled before Bourne knocked Ryder off the top. Bourne then steadied himself and nailed the Shooting Star Press for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Bourne in 11:00. Very nice undercard match featuring two under-sized wrestlers. They kept the highspots to a minimum to really get over the SPP, while Ryder showed the beginnings of being a credible heel with his mat work and solid facial expressions. Ryder, unfortunately, probably won't advance beyond a mid-card role in the WWE machine, but he can still be a nice antagonist to some up-and-coming babyface talent coming up from FCW. (**)

3 -- Intercontinental champion CHRIS JERICHO vs. JOHN MORRISON -- non-title match

Jericho paint-brushed Morrison early in the match to taunt him before stomping Morrison down into the corner with successive boot smashes. Morrison came back with a nice arm drag into an armbar to wear down Jericho. [Q4] Morrison clotheslined Jericho over the top rope to the floor, then he landed a slingshot plancha onto Jericho. Back in the ring, Jericho took an inch of space and cut off Morrison's momentum. Cut to break with Jericho in control.

Back from break, Morrison tried to rally up against Jericho's offensive advantage with a Russian legsweep. That resulted in a two count, only, then Jericho snapped off an enziguiri kick to quickly regain the advantage. Jericho then missed with a double axehandle smash and Morrison began his full comeback leading to a multiple-revolutions DDT after taking the tour around Jericho's shoulders for a two count. After a pause, Jericho tried a Lionsault, but Morrison ducked and came right back with the Flying Chuck springboard kick. Jericho kicked out to a major crowd reaction, though.

Jericho then missed with a corner charge and Morrison tried the Starship Pain corkscrew splash, but Jericho moved and slapped on the Walls of Jericho. Morrison rolled out into a pin, but Jericho countered with a roll-up and a hook of the tights for the pin and the win with the crowd hot in anticipation of the finish. Grisham pointed out the hook of the tights while Ross covered for Morrison that he proved he's capable of being the IC champion despite taking the loss. After the announcers recapped the highspots of the match, Morrison and Jericho closed the show with a stare down from a distance. Another great Jericho feud in the making.

WINNER: Jericho in 13:00. Jericho is depending on a flurry of nearfalls and counters in his spotlight matches as of late to build crowd anticipation, and those sequences never get old. Whether he's working with Rey Mysterio or John Morrison, the IC champ is putting together some great wrestling right now. Morrison is slowly finding his niche as a babyface, while Jericho has become the top wrestler in the company. Very good TV main event. (***)

Arcademan:
TNA Impact! Results: 6-11-09

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to Wilkenfeld's complete report). Condensed here to in-ring results only.

(1) ALEX SHELLEY (w/CHRIS SABIN) & JAY LETHAL (w/CONSEQUENCES CREED) vs. TEAM 3D.

Devon and Shelley lock up to start. West points out that Team 3D are hypocritical for criticizing The British Invasion for doing exactly what Team 3D have done in the past. How did turning heel somehow make Don West moderately insightful? Shelley takes down Devon with a Spinning Leg Lariat, but Devon comes back with a Snap Power Slam for two. He tags in Ray, who holds Shelley up for Devon to nail a Guillotine Leg Drop. Ray works a wrist lock for a few seconds, but Shelley uses the ropes to flip out and make the tag to Lethal. Ray floors him with an arm wrench, then continues to work the left arm with some sort of arm bar. Lethal springboards out, then comes off the top rope with a Double Sledge. An attempted Handspring Elbow, however, is reversed straight into a Release Flip German Suplex. Lethal makes the tag. He and Shelley dropkick Team 3D out of the ring. When they go for dual Suicide Dives they end up hitting each others' partners. Chris Sabin gets up on the apron, which allows Shelley to take over in the ring with a Low Blow. He and Lethal trade tags, and take turns whacking Ray. Ray comes back with a loud open-hand chop from his knees, but he's still in the wrong part of town. He is eventually able to make the tag, and Devon comes in firing. He floors them both with clotheslines, Back Body Drops Shelley, gets Lethal with a Neck Breaker, then hits a Side Slam on Shelley for two. Shelley tries to shoot Devon into the ropes, but Devon comes back with a Flying Clothesline. Lethal breaks up the cover at two, so Ray tosses him from the ring. Sabin and Creed try to interfere, so Ray just Back Body Drops them right back out. They hit Wazzup on Shelley, but when they're about to get the tables Rob Terry runs down to ringside. While Ray and the ref focus on him, Doug Williams sneaks into the ring and whacks Devon in the head. The ref turns around just in time to count the three.

WINNER: Shelley & Creed in nine minutes. That was standard Team 3D fare. I like the lack of symmetry between Team 3D's save of Beer Money last week and Beer Money's absence tonight. *

(2) SCOTT STEINER & BOOKER T vs. SAMOA JOE
Nation of Violence First Blood Match

Steiner tries to cut Joe off in the ramp. Joe comes back firing, but Steiner whips him into the barricade. Steiner grabs the timekeeper's bell and plants it on Joe's head. Steiner then uses the hammer to ring the bell on Joe's head. Wouldn't it be more efficient to just use the hammer directly? He whacks Joe's head against the apron, then rolls him into the ring. He tries to charge Joe in the corner, but gets caught by a Yurinagi. Joe whips him around, then lands his flipping dropkick. When Joe tries to follow up with a clothesline, Steiner catches him in a Flatliner. He exposes a turnbuckle, but Joe keeps his head from making contact, then slams Steiner into it. He tries to open Steiner up with some punches, but Steiner slams him back into the turnbuckle. He goes to the outside to get his lead pipe, but Joe cuts him off on his way back with a Suicide Dive. Joe grabs a trash can, knocks Steiner, places it on his head, and works over the can with the pipe. When they get the can off, Steiner's bleeding profusely. Per the stipulation of this match, Joe now has to take on Booker T, who appears in the entranceway with Sharmell.

Creed takes Booker down to the ring and slams his head into the ring post. What has he been doing during the break? They trade Knife-Edges Chops, with Joe retaining control. Booker comes back with a kick to the gut, and knocks Joe's head into the barricade and ring post. Joe blocks the next try at the barricade and comes back with one of his own. Joe gives Booker one more shot to the ring post, but Booker takes over with a kick and knocks Joe headfirst into the steps. He tries to open up Joe with some knees to the head, but Joe hoists him up and crotches him on the guardrail. Joe takes the opportunity to grab a pipe, which he slams into Booker's stomach. Booker's spitting up blood, and it's over. Wow did Steiner draw the short straw on the blade-job meter.

WINNER: Samoa Joe in 12 minutes. It's sort of random to have a match on free TV that requires two people to bleed, and it got a bit repetitive at points. Still, it was an okay brawl, and the crowd seemed to get a little behind Joe by the end. *1/4

(3) SHANE DOUGLAS vs. AJ STYLES
Shane Douglas looked old when I started watching TNA 6+ years ago. Unlike Raven, he is not looking that much better now. Douglas goes for a kick. AJ catches it, so Douglas starts covering up. AJ does a bit of mocking, then works a wrist lock for a few seconds. Douglas responds with a headlock, which is not how I'd try to impress the fans in my first match back. AJ gets away and floors him with his high dropkick. Douglas rolls out of the ring, and AJ follows him with a Slinsghot Splash. He sells an ankle injury—I don't know if it's legit. Douglas yanks him into the guard rail, but AJ yanks him back. He rolls Douglas back into the ring. He looks for the Flying Forearm, but Douglas knocks the rope out from under him. Douglas dropkicks him from the apron to the floor. He brings AJ back in, and stomps on him a bit in the corner. He hits AJ's back. AJ tries to fight back off the mat, but Douglas knocks him back down. They do it again, but this time AJ keeps throwing haymakers. He suddenly ducks a shot from Douglas and nails the Pele. Douglas is right by the ropes, and gets a foot up at two. He Back Body Drops AJ out to the apron, and when AJ tries to come back in with a Sunset Flip he cuts him off with a punch. He tries to hit a Belly-to-Belly Suplex, but AJ reverses it into a Rolling Arm Bar for the quick tap.

WINNER: AJ Styles in 4 minutes. I'm expecting at least one person in the comments to complain that I don't appreciate how awesome Douglas used to be. That's probably fair. Here? Not so much. DUD

Arcademan:
TNA Impact! Results: 6-11-09

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to Wilkenfeld's complete report). Condensed here to in-ring results only.

(4) TARA (w/ANGELINA LOVE & VELVET SKY) vs. MADISON RAYNE

Tara has decent music. She and Rayne trade some standing submissions, but Tara cartwheels out and grounds Rayne. She keeps working a wrist lock, so Rayne goes to the ropes where her peeps can pull her out. Tara knocks back Sky and Love, rolls Rayne back in, and hits a cool Slingshot Leg Drop for two. Is that new? Tara gets distracted by Love for a moment, which lets Rayne take control with a knee to the gut. She hits a few more knees to Tara's head, then hits a Neck Breaker for two. She hits some mounted punches, continually going for covers. Rayne goes for a dropkick off the top rope, but Tara rolls out of the way. She catches Rayne with a right hand as she gets up. She hits a few more, than gets a Snap Suplex and rolls into the cover for two. She follows up with a Body Slam and a Standing Moonsault (no shimmy-shake) for two more. Annoyed that the Moonsault only got two, Tara hits the Widow's Peak for the kill.

WINNER: Tara in five minutes. Tara looked very good here, which I assume was the point. *

(5) KURT ANGLE vs. STING
King of The Mountain Qualifier

They say this match is for the "fourth and final spot", which would be traditionally correct, but they claimed there would be seven people this year. Did they really announce that before knowing who they would be, or did someone get hurt? Angle and Sting shake hands to start. Kurt backs Sting into a corner, where he grants the clean break. They lock up again, and again need to break cleanly. Angle gets a quick Headlock Takedown; Sting reverses with a Head Scissors, but Angle quickly gets to his feet. They lock up again; Sting shoots Angle off into the ropes, but he comes back with a shoulder block that sends Sting to the canvas. Angle shoots Sting off, and this time it's Sting who comes back with a shoulder block. Not content, he hits another one just for kicks. Angle rolls out of the ring for a breather.

Kurt Angle and Sting are facing off in the middle of the ring. Kurt gets control with a kick and a Vertical Suplex for two. Sting reverses an attempted Irish Whip and hits a back elbow. He clotheslines Angle out of the ring. He follows Kurt to the outside, and punches him around ringside. Angle comes back into the ring. While he's standing prone in the corner Sting looks for a Stinger Splash, but Angle gets out of the way and hits an Olympic Slam for two. A Back Breaker gets two. Angle works a chin lock for a few seconds. Sting powers out, but walks right into a Belly-to-Belly Release Supelx for two. Angle is now making his covers in pairs. Sting gets to his feet.

That last segment was three minutes. I wonder if someone at TNA thinks that if they take random commercial breaks everyone will think the matches are longer than they are. Sting is elbowing Angle in the corner. Kurt gets a leg up to create some distance, and they both go for clotheslines at the same time. They both get up swinging, with Sting eventually getting the upper hand with a series of clotheslines. He connects with a pair of Stinger Splashes in the corner, and hits a Suplex for two. As he picks Kurt up, Kurt goes behind and smoothly transitions into his trio of German Suplexes. Angle drops the straps. He looks for an Olympic Slam; Sting slides out and goes for a Scorpion Death Lock, but Angle reverses the attempt into an Angle Lock. Sting kicks him off and into the ring post. He catches Angle on the rebound and hits a huge Power Bomb for two. Sting tries to finish him off with the Scorpion Death Drop, but Angle backs him into the corner. Sting dodges an attempted charge, and Angle hits the post. Matt Morgan runs down to the ring, and while the ref goes to deal with him Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop. There's no ref to make the count, so Sting goes over to chat with Morgan. Kurt cuts him off and whips him into the ropes. Sting ducks an attempted clothesline (sort of—it actually looked like the clothesline clipped the top of Sting's head) but gets whacked in the back by Matt Morgan. Sting falls back into the Olympic Slam for the kill.

WINNER: Kurt Angle in 18 minutes. By all rights, this should have been great. It was not. The breaks were distracting, and I'm getting the feeling Sting's just been phoning things in for the last few months. *

Arcademan:
WWE Smackdown Results: 6-12-09

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to Park's complete report). Condensed here to in-ring results only.

1- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. THE GREAT KHALI

JR told everyone to buy stock in Dolph Ziggler. I’d have to run that by my financial advisor, Gorlock, first. I suppose this is a re-match from last week. Ziggler went to the outside as soon as the bell rang, but then got chopped down and again went to the outside. Khali brought him in the hard way, then chopped him down. And again. Khali grabbed Ziggler in a chokeslam, but Ziggler brought his arm down over the top rope. He went to work on the left leg of Khali, getting the big man down. Front chancery applied by Ziggler. Khali though picked him up and sent Ziggler down to the mat. Big boot caught Dolph coming off the top rope, but he managed to avoid a Khali Chop. Khali decided to go after him, but Ziggler grabbed Ranjin Singh. He tugged Singh around the ring then at eight, shoved him into Khali, and made it in the ring for the count-out win.

WINNER: Ziggler, at 2:58. Well, it’s a win, but it doesn’t look like this feud is over.

2- MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA vs. MELINA & EVE TORRES

As usual, Alicia Fox was at ringside offering her support for McCool. Eve and Layla did battle to open things up. They traded offense until Layla face-planted Eve in the corner. McCool then came in and aggressively went after Eve. Some sort of side-sweep by McCool led into a chin-lock. Jaw-breaker freed Eve from the move. She tagged Melina in and Melina went to work with clotheslines and a back-kick for only one. Layla broke up a pin and Eve took her out while Layla was celebrating. Melina was going to go for her finisher, but McCool’s protege (apparently) Alicia Fox distracted Melina, allowing McCool to turn things around and land the Faith Breaker for the win.

WINNERS: McCool & Layla, at 2:51. Felt like an 8-10 minute tag match condensed into under three minutes (like a hot tag a minute or two in)

3- SHELTON BENJAMIN & CHARLIE HAAS vs. JOHN MORRISON & R-TRUTH

Benjamin attacked at the start, but Morrison quickly recovered. Truth came in and got his feet up on a splash attempt, then he kicked Haas away as Charlie tried to get involved. That gave Benjamin time to leap to the top rope and suplex Truth off of it. Both men were down as the show went to break.

Back with, surprise, Truth in a rest hold with Shelton in control. Samoan drop by Benjamin got him a two-count. JR, just like on his blog, reminded fans that Shelton and Haas are not permanently reunited and as far as he’s heard, have no desire to do so. Haas back in with a hard Irish whip on Truth in the neutral corner. Haas kicked Truth in the chest, then in the face, then hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Haas grabbed onto Truth’s leg to try to prevent him from making a tag, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Morrison tagged in and hit a flying heel kick, then dropkicked Shelton off the apron. Flying Chuck Kick registered a two-count. Truth came in to thwart Benjamin, and nailed him with a flying headscissor. Haas took Truth out and Morrison finally got the Moonlight Drive, then the Starship Pain. Pin.

WINNERS: Truth & Morrison, at 9:24. I’m BEGGING WWE to change up the tag formula, especially breaking away from “the heel gets involved and taken out by the face, then the legal heel takes him out and the legal face hits his finisher.” It wasn’t long ago they did this finish twice in the same show.

4- CHRIS JERICHO vs. C.M. PUNK

Jericho brought Rey’s mask out to the ring with him. Jericho worked the mic before the match, saying he stands up for what he believes in. He said he thought he was an honest man, whereas 99.9% of the fans are liars and people who have failed at accomplishing everything they’ve ever tried to do. He said by exposing Rey’s true identity, he has lifted the air of deceit of Rey’s shoulders and he can walk the streets free now. Jericho said he set Rey free by doing this. But instead of thanking him, Rey has disappeared. Y2J said he led Rey to his salvation, and that he’s Rey’s savior. He said he exposed Rey as a fraud and he’ll do the same to Punk tonight. He guaranteed a win against Punk. Should be interesting to listen to C.M.’s crowd reactions during this one.

JR defended Punk’s decision on Sunday, saying Punk was being smart by cashing it in at the time he did. Jericho applied a wristlock on Punk and demanded the ref “ask him!” Punk went into a side head-lock as things started out slowly. Kicks from Punk (greeted with a few boos), then he sent Jericho down with a back elbow. Jericho tried to apply the Walls, but Punk shrugged him off. Up in the GTS (cheers), but Jericho got down and went to the outside.

Back from break, Punk flew at Jericho with a cross-body and got a near-fall. Jericho hung Punk stomach-first over the top rope. Then he delivered his trademark springboard dropkick. Back in the ring, Jericho put Punk in a chin-lock with the arm worked on. Crowd got behind Punk a bit to try to help him out of the move. Punk broke out, then walked into a drop toe-hold that sent Punk face-first into the middle buckle. Jericho missed a shoulder charge and punk used his educated feet to his advantage. Running knee in the corner, then bulldog out of it for two. Jericho lifted Punk over the top rope and to the apron and Punk missed a springboard clothesline. Lionsault connected for two. Hard elbow caught Punk charging in, but then Punk powerslammed Jericho. Enziguiri by Jericho got him a two. Punk grabbed Jericho for the GTS, but Jericho blocked it on the way down and put Punk in the Walls of Jericho. Punk struggled in it, and finally made it to the ropes (mixed reaction). Jericho charged in and Punk dumped him to the apron. Jericho to the top, but Punk connected with a kick to the head. Suplex off the second rope by the World Champion. Jericho came back and surprised Punk with a Codebreaker, but Punk got his leg on the rope. Kicks from Jericho, but he walked into a kick to the head. GTS connected for the win.

WINNER: Punk, at 13:52. I like Punk getting the win here even though he’s champ....WWE needs to book him stronger as champion than they did when he was on Raw, and getting a win over Jericho will give him some more credibility.

5- JEFF HARDY vs. EDGE- #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH

Punk joined JR and Grisham on commentary after both combatants made their entrance. Both men looked worn down and started things slowly. Elbow to the back of the head and it looked like Edge and Hardy were sucking wind a minute or two in. Punk said he hopes the fans can overcome how they’re feeling now in reference to them booing him, and he also thanked his fans for sticking with him. Edge went down, holding his shoulder outside the ring, and Hardy was on the mat inside the ring as they went to break.

Hardy was working the arm/shoulder area of Edge out of break. Hardy wrapped Edge’s arm around the top rope to really try to injure it. Big boot by Edge caught Hardy off the ropes. Edge tried to shake his arm out and couldn’t capitalize. Punk again tried to defend his decision to cash in his contract on Sunday night. Edge kicked away at Hardy as he was down. Edge missed a dive at Jeff in the ropes though. Jeff tried to suplex Edge but couldn’t get him up and Edge saw an opening and took out the leg. When Jeff was in peril, Punk replied to an earlier question saying at this point, he’d rather face Jeff. Short clothesline from Hardy, but there wasn’t a lot behind it. Hardy got hung upset down in the corner and ended up almost falling on his head as Edge was recuperating in the opposite corner.

Edge was continuing to have his way with Jeff, kicking at the already injured leg. Edge took the pain to Jeff on the outside of the ring, then tossed him back into the ring. He took Hardy to the mat and applied a leg-hold to Hardy. Hardy kicked Edge off of him and to ringside, but Edge tried to stay on the attack. He came off the top, but was met with a boot to the gut and a DDT. Both men ran the ropes and greeted each other with a clothesline. Hardy stayed on offense and got a bodyslam on Edge. He went to the middle rope and landed a legdrop for a two-count. Edge pushed Jeff’s legs away as he tried the legdrop in between Edge’s legs. Leg. Edge locked in a Sharpshooter. Sunset flip attempt by Hardy got two. Jeff set Edge up for a Twist of Fate, but Edge shoved him off and missed a spear. Hardy rolled Edge up for two. Twist of Fate landed, then Hardy went to the top. Edge rolled to ringside, but Hardy just bowled himself over onto Edge. Edge threw Hardy into Punk at the commentator’s table. Punk went into the ring and attacked Edge for the DQ.

WINNER: Edge, via DQ, at 21:36. Different kind of match here, with each man selling the injuries from Sunday.

Jeff attacked Punk when he realized Punk cost him the match, but Punk came back and gave the GTS to Hardy. Punk’s music played as both men lay in the ring.

Arcademan:
From WrestleView.com via Wrestling Observer.com and various Japan sources report the following:

Mitsuharu Misawa, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time, was declared dead at 10:10 p.m. Saturday night at a hospital in Hiroshima from an apparent heart attack after being being given a back suplex in a tag team title match.

Misawa would have turned 47 on June 18th.

Misawa, the president of Pro Wrestling NOAH, was teaming with Go Shiozaki in a match challenging Bison Smith & Akitoshi Saito for the GHC tag team championship in Hiroshima. Misawa was given the move at about 8:45 p.m. and knocked unconscious.

According to eye witness reports, Saito gave Misawa a "routine" back suplex that was described as a "7" in danger on a scale of one-to-ten. He did not get up. It was chaos in the ring as they attempted to revive him using CPR and the crowd was hushed for a while, and began a "Misawa" chant. He turned purple in the ring and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

His heart stopped beating in the ring.

The wrestlers were told on the bus that he had passed away.

While it is being reported that he passed away at the hospital, he may have actually passed away in the ring.

Misawa was the Japanese high school national wrestling champion at 187 pounds in 1980, and was recruited by Giant Baba into All Japan Pro Wrestling. He gained his first taste of stardom in 1984 when he was chosen to be the second Tiger Mask. After unmasking in 1990, he became an even bigger star after a series of singles matches with Jumbo Tsuruta.

He was Japan's biggest pro wrestling star of the 90s, and one could make a strong case for him as the top wrestler of the decade. He was the Wrestler of the Year in 1995, 1997 and 1999.

After the death of Shohei "Giant" Baba, Misawa wrestled a little over one more year for All Japan Pro Wrestling, while working as company president. After consistently butting heads with owner Motoko Baba, the widow of Shohei Baba, he and 90% of the All Japan roster quit the company to form Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Here's a video tribute to him on YouTube

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