NEW ERA PRO WRESTLING Presents:
5 Star Febuary
Saturday Feb 9th 8pm Bell
Hide out-Roller Rink 63 w. Walnut Ave Painesville, Oh 44077
Tickets: $10 in Advance/ $15 Day of Show
Doors Open: 7:30pm

MAIN EVENT: CALL YOUR SHOT MATCH
Six Man War :
Shane Taylor, Lethal Impact vs. Cleveland Mafia, Deviant

NEPW Triple Crown Title Match:
Chris Cronus (c) vs Robby Starr

Triple Threat Match for NEPW Ladies Title:
Sassy Stephanie (c) vs. Angeldust vs. XTC

NEPW Cruiserweight Title Match:
Oemga (c) vs. Sami Callihan

Carlton Kaz vs. Killer Kumpf

American Yakuza(Gory,Xion) vs. The Aftermath, Kryptic Keegan

Nick Paradise vs. “Spiffy” Sean Stylez

Plus: Bill Collier, Lumberjack Leroux,
Eric Ryan, Maverick McCoy & more!!

www.nepw.us

Advanced Tickets on Sale at:

The Hide Out- 63 W. Walnut Ave Painesville- 352-2681
Cards & Games- Mentor Ave Painesville Plaza 358-1212
Comic Heaven- Robinhood dr. Willoughby 942-6960

– The New Era Pro Wrestling HQ Staff
(1/23/08)

RAW (1/21) Recap: Against the Odds!

The Kingfish Arnie Katz brings you a recap and analysis of the 1/21 RAW television show.

After a brief tribute to Martin Luther King, footage reprised the incredible main event from last week’s show in which Jeff Hardy pulled off a truly eye-popping stunt.

Jim Ross welcomed fans to the Hampton Roads (VA) Coliseum and explained that this would be the first episode of RAW to be telecast in HD. He also told fans that Mr. McMahon had ordered a mandatory reconciliation between Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy for later in the evening.

JR thought that it was appropriate to have Shawn Michaels be the first WWE superstar to be seen in high definition. Yeah, Michaels’ heavily lined face must’ve been quite a revelation to those accustomed to seeing him on regular TV.

Shawn Michaels d. Mr. Kennedy
Qualifying Match (for HBK only)

Mr. Kennedy came to the ring before Michaels’ completed his pre-match preening. Jim Ross pointed out the injustice of Mr. Kennedy receiving a spot in the Royal Rumble from William Regal while Shawn Michaels has to qualify,

Mr. Kennedy tried to break a stalemate with a Clothesline. He missed, but succeeded on the second try after bouncing off the ropes! Kennedy Armdragged HBK to the mat, but Michaels got free and used a Leg Trip Takedown to set up a Facelock. When HBK covered, Kennedy did a really impressive bridge to rise off the mat.

Kennedy twisted HBK into an across-the-knee Backbreaker and poured on the pain!

After a Collar-and-Elbow tie-up, Kennedy blasted HBK with three rapid knees. He set up too soon for a Back Body Drop, though, and took some punishment from HBK coming off the ropes. When Michaels tried to use the ropes again, Kennedy took him out with a Back Elbow.

Kennedy used a Neckbreaker to a modified Backbreaker, focusing on Michaels’ neck. Michaels attempted to elbow his way to freedom, but Mr. Kennedy kept the hold. Kennedy covered, but the Show stoppa didn’t let the show stop right there.

Kennedy stomped him into the mat and kicked him repeatedly in the corner. Kennedy fired him into another turnbuckle. Michaels backed up Kennedy with a series of Knife-edged Chops. Kennedy stopped that offensive run, but his own Suplex attempt failed – and HBK scored with a DDT!

Both men rose slowly to their feet. They hacked away at each other without mercy until Michaels unloaded a Flying Forearm and a Reverse Atomic Drop. Michaels connected with a second Reverse Atomic Drop and then a Bodyslam!

After Michaels hit Kennedy dead center with the Flying Elbow, he began tuning up for Sweet Chin Music. Kennedy rushed directly at Michaels and, with this unusual strategy, negated the maneuver. Kennedy left the ring, but Michaels smashed him to the arena floor with a beautiful out-of-ring Cross Body Fly!

Back from commercials, the tables had turned. Kennedy stomped Michaels in the corner and dealt HBK a hideous kick to the temple! HBK looked a little disoriented, but he still had the innate savvy to kick out of the cover.

Michaels chopped Kennedy in the corner, but the blond reversed and shot Michaels into the opposite turnbuckle. Michaels did an acrobatic flip and roared back out of that corner! He flattened his foe, but he didn’t have the energy to fully exploit it.

Kennedy went for the Mic Check, but HBK threw him off. Kennedy bulled Michaels into the corner and set him up on the top turnbuckle., He laid in a few punches and then climbed the ropes to position HBK for a Superplex!

HBK fought desperately to avoid the Superplex and eventually succeeded in sending Kennedy to the mat! Michaels connected with the Flying Elbow as the fans went wild for the favorite!

Mr. Kennedy not only rose from the mat, but he picked up Michaels on his shoulder and banged him to the canvas with a Somersault Slam! Michaels kicked out a split second before Marty Elias tapped the mat for the third time!

Michaels went for his new submission finisher, but Kennedy had it well scouted. What the blond didn’t expect, though, was a short-range Sweet Chin Music that knocked him flat and let Michaels cover for the pin and the win!

Grade: A (great work from both men)

“Let me get this straight,” Randy Orton said to the Boss, “you want me to go out there and shake his hand?” Mr. McMahon said that though Orton was hurting, that’s exactly what he wanted him to do.

The irate champion reminded Mr. McMahon, and the fans, about the remarkable events of last week’s RAW. “There’s no way I’m shaking his hand,” Orton protested.

Vince pointed out that he had shaken the hands of many people he didn’t like. “Perception is reality,” Mr. McMahon claimed, and then went on to say that there might be an advantage to Orton in his continuing battle against Hardy if he lulled Jeff into a sense of security.

Mr. McMahon indicated that the handshake might rattle the Rainbow Warrior by making him wonder what he has to do to eliminate his nemesis.

Beth Phoenix d. Mickie James

Jim Ross reported that Mickie James vowed to beat the champion in this non-title match.

James Cartwheeled nimbly out of Phoenix’s Wristlock and came up with a Hammerlock. The champion used pure strength to force James to the mat and nearly got the pinfall.

Beth Phoenix picked up Mickie James, but the fan favorite wriggled out of her grasp and paid her back with a Short-arm Clothesline.

Mickie James dropped kicked her foe in the corner and rained down punches! Phoenix reversed – and laid in some punches of her own before throwing Mickie completely out of the ring. At first it looked like James caught herself on the apron, but Phoenix shoved her all the way to the floor!

The champion rammed James into the side of the ring. She hauled her back inside the ropes and tried, unsuccessfully, for a quick pin.

The muscular blonde applied a Rear Chinlock, but James forced her way to her feet as she turned into her foe to break the hold. James rolled Phoenix up with a Small Package that nearly got the pin!

Mickie used knees and punches to set up a Flying Forearm off the ropes! The champion threw her into the corner and connected with a Shoulder Block. Mickie came out with a Huracanrana and then another Flying Forearm! The cover came close, but still didn’t seal the deal.

Mickie James looked like she was about to execute a Suplex, but the Glamazon lifted her into the air and nearly broke her in half on the top rope!

Beth Phoenix uncorked a Fisherwoman’s Suplex and covered for the victory!

Grade: B-

Todd Grisham talked with Triple H about his qualifying match. The Game didn’t bother to hide his displeasure at having to qualify, but he also said that nothing would keep him out of the Royal Rumble.

“It’s not just a promise,” HHH said. “It’s a guaran-damn-tee!”

Cody Rhodes told Bryan Kendrick how excited hie is to be in this year’s Royal Rumble, because he grew up watching it.

Hardcore Holly joined them and asked if Cody would have his back tonight. Holly said that no one, even his tag partner Cody, would stop him from winning the Rumble.

“That guy is a grouch,” Kendrick observed.

“That’s him on a good day,” Rhodes quipped.

Randy Orton narrated a short video biography that including both vintage clips and scenes of his WWE matches.

A video retold Hornswoggle’s adventures enroute to his spot in the Royal Rumble.

Finley & Hornswoggle d. The Highlanders (Rory & Robby)

Finley and Rory started out with a Collar-and-Elbow, but the Highlanders were soon double-teaming the Fighting Irishman in the corner. Finley came back and blitzed Rory with a Kneedrop, but Robby attacked him from the apron.

Although Hornswoggle was not yet in the match, only standing on the ring apron, Robby grabbed him! The little guy skittered away and avoided the heel until Finley took out Robby with a Clothesline. Hornswoggle kicked his would-be tormenter out of the rig.

Finley clocked Rory with a Fisherman’s Suplex. Hornswoggle added the Tadpole Splash and made the winning cover.

Grade: C

A grim-faced Chris Jericho walked down the hall toward the entrance to the arena.

A lengthy video reminded fans of the JBL-Jericho feud.

Jim Ross commented that Jericho was very subdued earlier, before the show.

In a memorable interview, Chris Jericho said that he wasn’t going to rant, because he knew that Leyfield was afraid to enter the building.

He went on to talk about how JBL had humiliated him in front of his family, He recounted how his four-year-old son had asked if he was a coward and the doubt he had seen in the child’s eye.

“You said you didn’t want to make this personal, but you did,” Jericho stated.

He added that he wasn’t looking for a “good match” on Sunday. It is going to be a fight.

“Don’t you ever risk somebody’s life like you did last week,” Mr. McMahon warned Jeff Hardy in a backstage conference.

The Boss told Hardy that it would be like two boxers touching gloves before they fight.

Jeff Hardy agreed to go out to the ring, but he said that he would “give everybody something to talk about.”

Umaga d. Bryan Kendrick
Royal Rumble Qualifier (for Kendrick)

Bryan Kendrick had barely gotten into the ring when William Regal, speaking from his office, began to berate him and disparage his ability. The General Manager told Kendrick that, to get into the Royal Rumble, he would have to beat some who’d already qualified.

… and out came Umaga!

Umaga immediately demonstrated his power by jolting Kendrick with a Clothesline. He then smashed Kendrick in the head with an overhand right that leveled the smaller man.

Umaga threw Bryan Kendrick into the corner, but he missed the follow-up corner charge. Kendrick targeted Umaga’s legs with kicks and then connected with a Flying Forearm off the ropes, but the Samoan Bulldozer refused to fall down.

Umaga put Kendrick in the Bodyslam position, but instead rammed him into the turnbuckle! Umaga tried a cross-ring Flying Headbutt, but Bryan lifted himself out of harm’s way!

Kendrick went airborne with three Dropkicks in quick succession. The first hardly caused a ripple, the second made Umaga take a backward step and the third actually seemed to bother the behemoth.

The former tag team champ went aerial once too often, though. When he tried it again, Umaga caught him and executed a lightning-quick Samoan Drop!

Umaga lifted Bryan Kendrick into the air with one hand around his throat and finished him off with the Samoan Spike!

Looks like there’ll be no Royal Rumble for Bryan Kendrick this year.

Grade: C (not really competitive)

Mickie James sat crying as Maria tried to comfort her. The former Women’s Champion was broken-hearted at her continuing inability to defeat Beth Phoenix.

Ashley joined the other two. She was just starting to explain am idea she said Hugh Heffner had for the Divas when Santino Marello barged into the scene. He rejected the idea, unheard, and left with Maria.

A video promoted Vince McMahon’s forthcoming appearance on Celebrity Apprentice.

Do you think Vince liked hearing Donald Trump say that he and Vince had put on WrestleMania together?

When they returned to the announcers after showing Triple H preparing for his match, Jerry Lawler was wearing a pair of those red-and-green glasses they pass out at movies. Jim Ross made fun of him for not knowing the difference between 3D and HD.

A video starring Jeff Hardy put hi over as “The Extremist.” They certainly have the footage to back up that claim.

Carlito (with Santino Marello & Maria) Hardcore Holly (with Cody Rhodes)

This is a rematch from the “Trading Places” fight a couple of weeks ago, won by Holly.

Hardcore Holly, starting strongly, battered Carlito with chops and worked him over in the corner. When Holly’s corner charge misfired, Carlito tried to steal the match with a quick cover, but it didn’t work.

Carlito punched away at Holly and then dished out a Back Elbow when Holly bounced off the ropes to his position at center-ring. After some stomping, Carlito grabbed a Chinlock. Holly regained his footing and broke the hold with a barrage of right-hand blows to the midsection.

Holly followed his foe across the ring, dishing out the Knife-edge Chops, before adding a Suplex. The cover couldn’t get it done.

The crowd groaned as Carlito chinned Holly on the top rope and then stomped him into the canvas! Carlito tried a Sitting Crucifix, but Hardcore Holly’s superior arm strength made it impossible to keep him in the hold.

Hardcore scored with a Clothesline and capitalized on that with a Back Body Drop! Holly went for the Alabama Slamma, but his concentrate was poor and the maneuver didn’t work very well. Carlito bounced up and surprised Holly with the Backstabber. It led to the pin and the win.

Grade: B-

After Triple H’s ring entrance, William Regal appeared on the upper stage.

He divulged that Triple H might have to face as many as three opponents before he could lock up that spot in the Royal Rumble. HHH must defeat each of the three men by throwing them over the top rope.

Triple H went right after his first adversary, Snitsky, and quickly forced him into the corner. Snitsky’s knee to the stomach stopped his momentarily, but he almost immediately came back with a Back Elbow Block off the ropes.

Snitsky punched his way out of The Game’s first attempt to toss him over the top rope and surprised HHH with a Side Slam! He added an Elbow Drop and then picked up Triple H in the Bodyslam position. The Game held on tight and Snitsky could not quite get him over the ropes to the floor.

Snitsky’s Running Kick got him fouled up in the ropes. Triple H Clotheslined him out of the ring.

Mark Henry was the next to challenge The Game.

The World’s Strongest Man shrugged off Triple H’s punches and dealt a couple of vicious Forearms in response. Henry tried to throw out HHH and got him teetering on the top rope, but The Game somehow ended up with both feet inside the squared circle!

The Kingfish Arnie Katz ccovers all the details of the historic TNA show..

“Cultures clashed and worlds collided,” said the announcer on the opening video for the show that introduced US fans to the connection between New Japan Wrestling and TNA.

“TNA iMPACT goes Global!” was the tag line.

A video showed TNA wrestlers arriving in Tokyo on January 2, two days before they were to perform for 30,000 in the Tokyo Dome.

Kurt Angle, it is announced, will defend the IWGP championship against Yuji Nagata in the main event.

On the video, Angle pretty much abandoned his stateside heel persona. He praised the Japanese fans as knowledgeable and also said that they have very high standards. He added that, if you give fans that, they really respond.

Tomko indicated that he had gone further than most of the others in learning about Japan and adapting to its culture. He has even learned to speak the language a little during the year he has been going there to wrestle.

Brother Ray said that, after so longin the business, there are few things that remain really special. One of them, he divulged, was coming to Japan to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. Ray said that Japanese fans will be in for a treat when they see TNA wrestling, but that US fans will also be in for a treat when they see the stars of New JapanWrestling.

Back from commercial, another video showed the TNA stars interacting with the people of the host country.

In another taped piece, Kurt Angle seemed tire, but happy. He said he’d been doing interviews all day and owuld probably still be doing them far into the night.

At a pre-card press conference. Kurt angle insisted on the legitimacy of his claim to the IWGP title. He said he beat Brock Lesner last year to win it and that he would demonstrate his ability to retain the strap in his match against former champion Yuji Nagata.

Back from commercial, the camera followed Kurt Angles march toward the arena. He said that this would be one of the best days of his career, “one of th ebest days of my life!”

AJ Styles, Petey Williams and Christian Cage comprised one of the teams in a six-man match. Petey Williams provided a little commentary as fans watched brief highlights from the match, which the American group won.

Yakamichi evidently gave Abyss all he could handle, to judge from the little clips of their match. Yakamichi won. In his post-match interview, Abyss vowed revenge on the Japanese grappler.

A nother short video showed Team 3D pulling out all the stops against an identified Japanese duo. They, too, saw their hands raised in triumph over the warriors from Nippon.

“It’s always an honor to come back to this fine country,” said Scott Steiner prior to the match between the Steiner Brothers and Tomko with his unidentified partner. Tomko came out on the victorious side.

Yuji Nakata claimed that Angle is a “false champion,” because he has not defended his title in the year since he won it.

Mike Tenay welcomed viewers to the Tokyo Dome on behalf of his announcer teammate Don West and himself.

The Professor’s introduction set up Nagata as a multi-time champion who is the equal of great North American stars like Kurt Angle.

Kurt Angle d. Yuji Nagatta

When the show resumed after a commercial break, Jurt Angle was stomping Yuji Nagata in the corner. Kagata fought with with powerful Elbow Smmashes, but Angle shot him into the ropes and uncorked a Belly-to-Belly Suplex with a release! Angle tried to pick up some momentum by banging into the ropes, but this time it was the Japanese star who scored with a Belly-to-Belly Release Suplex!

Nakata grabbed a Waistlock. Kurt reversed, but Nagata quickly established a Hammerlock. Nagata Arm Dragged is foe to the mat and worked on his neck with a punishing Side Headlock.

Nakata connected with a Shoulder Block. Both men banged the ropes, but Negata brought down Angle with a very athletic Leg Trip to an Armlock, but the ropes gave Angle sanctuary.

Nagata tried to hang onto a Waistlock, but the IWGP champion went for a Wristlock, but Nagata reversed. That looked like an important move, until Angle rang his bell with a Forearm to the side of the head! The challenger responded with a series of kicks that targeted Angle’s left leg.

Kurt Angle ducked a kick that would’ve taken off his head and rocked Nagata with another Belly-to-Belly Suplex with a release.

Angle scored with an Uppercur, bur Nagara threw him into the ropes and leveled him with a Shoulder Block. Nagata seized a Rear Chinlock that Angle broke by simultaneously forcing his way to his feet and turning into his adversary’s body.

Angle took a couple of stiff shots to the neck but ducked under a Clothesline. He then felled Nagata with a Chop Block.

Angle followed the challenger out of the ring and continued the assault onhis leg with kick after kick.

Back in the ring, Angle applied a Grapevine and then turned it into a Stepover Toehold, a move so out of fasion in US wrestling that many newer fans may never have seen it. The victim used his other leg to kick away Kurt.

Kurt trapped Nagata in his version of the Figure-Four Leglock. The Japanese star tried to turn over to reverse the hold. His first two attempts failed, but the third one unraveled the Grapvine, but not the Anklelock! Finally, with one last desperate lunge, Nagata caught the rope!

As Kurt tried to work on Nagata’s leg, the challenger surprised him with an Arm submission hold! He was trying to wring an “I quit!” out of Angle as the show went to commercial break.

When they came back to the action, Angle bedeviled his foe with a pair of German Suplexes. Angle went for an Olympic Slam, only to have Nagata block – and then Suplexed Angle!

Nagata hit two straight Suplexes. Kurt again went for the leg, but Nagata emerged with the STF! Kurt screamed, but he refused to tap as Nagata ground away with the STF. Angle broke the hold ad reversed into an Anklelock. Now it was Nafata’s turn to howl with pain!

Nagata rolled through the hold and came up with a Crossface. Angle fought through the pain and pressure and came up with the Anklelock again! Nagata kicked free, but Angle came right back with a Clothesline that his opponent partially evaded. Nagata re-asserted the Crossface.

Angle seemed to be losing strength, bit by bit, and fans may have thought the end was near. Angle rolled through and Nagata hung on for dear life, but he couldn’t stop the Olympic Slam! Nagata’s kick-out just beat the third count.

Angle went for the Moonsault, but hit only the canvas! Angle staggered into a corner, where Nagata nailed him with a Cross-ring Charge to a High Knee. Nagata placed Angle on the top rope and then brought him back to earth with a Super Belly-to-Belly Suplex! Kurt barely raised his shoulder in time.

Nagata went back to the Crossface and just kept cranking away on Angle’s highly vulnerable neck. Nagata added an Armbar, making the hold a lot like Chris Benoits Crippler Crossface – and then tipped Angle sideways to put his shoulders on the mat! Angle used his own leverage to escape the predicament.

The pair slugged it out at center-ring, both men staggered by strikes that would’ve felled lesser men until Nagata broke the stalemte with a knee to the stomach. The IGWP title-holder caught Magata with a knee, but he was too spent to follow up this advantage/ Nagata executed a Release Suplex, but Angle avoided the pin in time.

Angle caught Nagata’s leg in mid-kick and turned it into the Anklelock! Angle added the Grapevine and Nagata couldn’t resist that extra pressure, that searing additional pain.

Yuji Nagara tapped. Kurt Angle had kept the IGWP title against the foremost challenger!

Grade: B+

Angle and Nagata hugged after the match and raised each other’s hands in victory.

In a post-shpw press conference, Kurt Angle praised Nagata

“I’m working for the best organization in the world,” Angle told the press. “When I go out there, I kick a$$ for TNA!”

– The Kingfish Arnie Katz
crossfire4@cox.net
(1/22/08)

Royal Rumble Line-up Takes Shape!

We’ve got the most up-to-date list!

When Hunter Hearst Helmsley earned a spot in the Royal Rumble match on this week’s RAW , he filled one of the 10 remaining spaces. Now there are nine. Here’s who’s definitely in the event:

RAW
Carlito
Mick Foley
Hardcore Holly
Mr. Kennedy
Santino Marella
Shawn Michaels
Snitsky
Cody Rhodes
Umaga

Smackdown
Batista
Fit Finley
Mark Henry
Hornswoggle
Great Khali
Kane
Jamie Noble
The Undertaker

ECW
Shelton Benjamin
Big Daddy V
The Miz
John Morrison

Other matches announced for the how:

WWE World Championship Match
Edge vs. Rey Mysterio

WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy

Career Threatening Match
U.S. Champion MVP vs. Ric Flair

Grudge Match
Chris Jericho vs. JBL

– The PWD Staff
(1/22/08)

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