Post by EWA.com on Feb 4, 2022 21:47:39 GMT
RENEE YOUNG: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Sunday Night SLAM! Post-Show Panel! I’m your host Renee Young and joining me, as always, are the legendary icons of professional wrestling Eric Bischoff and Jim Ross. SLAM! was a doozy, guys. There were upsets, debuts, shocking turns of events, and a clearer picture of where the EWA is heading into Collision Course on February 27th in Pullman, Washington.
ERIC BISCHOFF: Don’t forget new and old contenders stepping up to some of our champions.
JIM ROSS: And the announcement of our new show, EWA USA, here on EFN!
RENEE YOUNG: Slow down, guys! We have a lot to break down tonight! First, though, I do want to touch on some of the newer and returning faces we saw this week. In action we saw Hook destroy poor “Desperado” Joe Gomez in another display of supremacy from Team Taz, Taeler Hendrix’s “The Worst” in tag team competition, the Mean Street Posse, Giant Silva, and both Kenny Omega and Rex Steiner step back into an EWA ring - the later of which came away with a shot at Jimmy Havoc’s TV title this week. What are your thoughts on this group of talents, guys?
JIM ROSS: Well I’m a sucker for a father/son dynamic and I’m very impressed with both Hook and Rex Steiner. These young men have been turning heads for a while now and you just know that Taz and Rick are proud of their boys. That being said Kenny Omega is possibly the greatest in-ring athlete in the world today and having him back in the EWA is a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to see what the “Cleaner” has in store for us. I also want to recognize the Mean Street Posse for pulling off one heck of an upset against Giant Silva. I may not approve of their use of a weapon against the largest prizefighter in the world but I do commend them for using their brains to get the victory.
ERIC BISCHOFF: I agree with you, JR, but all three of those men are works in progress - I don’t even know what to refer to the Mean Street Posse as. Steiner has a big opportunity for the TV title now but he’s still not reached his potential yet. Omega, on the other hand, will need time to get back into the flow of the EWA again. The two men who are ready to compete right now are Corey Graves and Shane Thorne. I don’t really understand the name “The Worst” but with the right incentive they were able to put down their opponents quickly and efficiently.
JIM ROSS: That jezebel Taeler Hendrix is giving them plenty of “incentive” by the sound of it…
ERIC BISCHOFF: Don’t be crass, Jim! The EWA World Tag Team division is in a delicate place at the moment and it is the perfect opportunity for two guys like Graves and Thorne to make an immediate impact.
RENEE YOUNG: All of that being said… Sunday Night SLAM! started off hot as a clash between two returning EWA veterans - Rob Van Dam and the Undertaker. It was a hard hitting battle between two striking specialists but ultimately RVD picked up the win. Eric what do you think the higher implications of this match are?
ERIC BISCHOFF: Well obviously this is a feather in RVD’s cap for a multitude of reasons. With this win he’s established himself as THE returning EWA veteran and, frankly, it never hurts to have a victory over the Undertaker. That man is an institution in this professional wrestling industry. Now we’ll talk about the TV title in a little bit but this is a new year and the TV title has always been the division that people use to get their foot in the door. A win like that is a good first step to title contention.
JIM ROSS: I’m inclined to agree with you, Eric, but with one big exception. There is a title that RVD could be taking a step towards but it may not be the TV title. I won’t lie. RVD’s relationship with the masked Shark Boy is more than a little unusual but the pair seem to have formed a bond quite quickly. High 24:7 could find themselves in the conversation for a tag team title shot sooner rather than later.
ERIC BISCHOFF: Great, another tag team name I don’t understand…
RENEE YOUNG: I find that hard to believe, Eric.
JR and Renee share a small laugh as Eric shoots Renee a dirty look.
RENEE YOUNG: In another match featuring some of our fine tag team talent, Dungeon Dynasty’s Ben Carter made his single’s match debut against the returning “Cowboy” James Storm of the team Beer Funny. Of course James has denied that this team exists, Eric Young, on the other hand, swears that it is real. What were your thoughts on this one?
ERIC BISCHOFF: Well first thing’s first, Renee, are you and Eric Young related?
RENEE YOUNG: We’re third cousins on my aunt’s side.
JIM ROSS: Really?
RENEE YOUNG: I have no idea but that’s what EY tells me anyway. Now, if we could get back to the match…
JIM ROSS: Of course, so, hell of a win for Ben Carter. James Storm has been in this business a long time now and a victory over an experienced veteran is a big deal for a man so early on in his career. You can absolutely see where Nattie Neidhart’s return to the Dungeon Dynasty from her self-imposed exile has benefited those young men and women. With this win and a great showing against the Worldwide Underground, I see Ben Carter and the rest of the Dungeon Dynasty earning a future tag title shot in the near future.
ERIC BISCHOFF: I agree with JR, Renee. Carter came up big when it counted and got the win. I’m not as onboard with the Dungeon Dynasty as some of you though. They’re going to have to show me more than raw potential for me to start saying they deserve title shots. James Storm will bounce back. He’s been to the EWA before and he knows how this business works. He can afford this loss but if this match swung the other way it would have been more proof that these kids aren’t ready for the EWA. Congratulations Ben Carter but you’re still on thin ice in my book.
RENEE YOUNG: All of this talk of tag team action, of course, leads us to the most shocking moment of the night. On paper, Drew McIntyre and Dak Draper seemed like the perfect tag team partners. Both accomplished big things in 2021, both had come close to achieving major accomplishments in 2021, and, heck, Dak Draper was drafted by McIntyre to be on his SuperBrawl team. What happened instead was the EWA getting a look at a side of Drew McIntyre that we have never seen before. This was supposed to be a match to decide the fate of the EWA Tag Team titles but, instead, turned into a brutal display of savagery and the birth of a new faction in the EWA called the Decree. JR, what has to be going on in the minds of EWA Management?
JIM ROSS: I can’t tell you what Harry Smith and the rest of the management are thinking, Renee, but I can tell you how I feel. I’ve been in the wrestling business for a long time - heck, longer than most of our fans have been alive - and I am truly disgusted by what Drew McIntyre and his band of renegades did to Dak Draper and J. Fowler. For them to come into the EWA with the intention to maim and injure our talent is unconscionable. There are men in the Decree that I know the EWA would never willingly bring in - namely Rickey Shane Page and Thom Latimer - whose reputations in the deathmatch world in RSP’s case and personal history in Latimer’s case make them ticking timebombs. What I can’t get passed is why did Clark Connor’s affiliate himself with this group of thugs and lowlifes?
ERIC BISCHOFF: The answer isn’t that hard to figure out, Jim. Clark Connors has been in the EWA for months and he hasn’t picked up a single win - not even a disqualification that could slip into his win/loss record. He probably looked at Ken Raper’s career and realized that could be him unless he did something drastic. Do I agree with what the Decree is doing? No. Can I understand it? Absolutely. Drew McIntyre is sick and tired of *almost* accomplishing big things. He *almost* won Civil War. He *almost* won the EWA World title. He *almost* won SuperBrawl. He’s doing exactly what Connors is doing - he’s making a big change in the trajectory in his career and he’s not playing games anymore. The EWA Tag Team titles are just the beginning for the Decree and, if Shannon Moore isn’t careful, the EWA National title is next.
RENEE YOUNG: Before we move on, fans, I would like to express the EWA’s well wishes and prayers to the friends and family of both Dak Draper and J. Fowler. We have been told that both men are in stable condition at the New York Presbyterian Hospital where they are receiving treatment. The initial reports state that J. Fowler suffered a broken arm and torn rotator cuff while Draper sustained the more serious injuries which include major head trauma and potentially fractured next. A full recovery is to be expected but this is just the beginning of a potentially long road to recovery. We will absolutely share more information regarding the conditions of both men as we receive them.
RENEE YOUNG: To move things to a more lighthearted direction, just how out of his depth this week was Glenn Gilbertti?
ERIC BISCHOFF: That went exactly as we all predicted and exactly as it should have gone. The fact that Gilbertti lasted longer than five minutes surprised me. Dunne must have just been toying with him.
JIM ROSS: Unlike Eric, I don’t like to kick a man when he’s down, Renee, but with friends like Johnny Swinger who needs enemies? Pete Dunne was not being paid by the hour and he is on a mission to position himself back at the top of the EWA. His involvement with the now disbanded Black Thought LLC robbed the Career Killer of his focus and he is hellbent on getting back to where he belongs.
RENEE YOUNG: Another person hellbent on getting back to where they belong is former EWA Women’s Champion Jade Cargill who faced the 2021 Queen of the Ring Taya Valkyrie. This match was a brilliant clash of styles but, ultimately, we didn’t get a clean winner. Liv Morgan, who has not been the same woman since the split of the Riott Squad, made her presence known in the match and Taya Valkyrie picked up the count-out victory when Jade Cargill ran off after her.
JIM ROSS: I’m a bit disappointed in everyone in this match, Renee. Jade Cargill’s inexperience reared its head again by running after Liv and losing the match. Taya Valkyrie seems so satisfied picking up these tainted victories. Also, frankly, Liv Morgan knows better than to stoop to actions like this. It wasn’t so long ago that she was perhaps the most beloved woman on the roster and now she’s doing things like this? It’s just disappointing.
ERIC BISCHOFF: You’re right, Jim, this is disappointing. Taya Valkyrie has another victory over another top contender in the women’s division, is the reigning Queen of the Ring, and still has not received her shot at the champion. I don’t know what sort of circus Harry Smith thinks he’s running but Taya would have already had her shot if was the General Manager again.
RENEE YOUNG: But you’re not, Eric. Taya Valkyrie will get her opportunity sometime in the future I’m sure… just like I’m sure Liv Morgan and Jade Cargill will settle their differences in the ring.
RENEE YOUNG: That wasn't the only action in the women’s division last week as Team Taz’s Rhea Ripley faced off with the debuting Lady Frost. This was a true clash of styles and both women made a big impression on the EWA fans. Rhea Ripley left the fans in awe with her power game but it was ultimately the fast and agile Lady Frost that picked up the victory with her dazzling offense. Guys, what do you think of these great additions to the women’s division?
ERIC BISCHOFF: They’re absolutely phenomenal. The EWA Women’s division over the past year or so has been THE most competitive division on the roster. Lady Frost showed why she belonged in the EWA and why that title might be around her waist within the next few years. Add that along to her the friendship she struck with Lindsay Snow and you have a powerful tandem that we’ve not seen since the Boujee Brand last year.
JIM ROSS: Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater, Eric. Lady Frost picked up a good win but a victory is only as good as your opponent. Rhea Ripley pushed that young woman to her limit and, if I know her as a competitor, Ripley is going to take this loss and come back stronger for it. Taz is one of the toughest men in the business and you just know that he would not have brought Ripley into his camp if she was the type to wilt at the first sign of trouble. Ripley is going to be back stronger and more determined than before. I don’t know about you, but I would love to see these two mix it up again sometime!
RENEE YOUNG: Eric mentioned just how stiff the competition has been in the women’s division lately but we got our first look at the front runner for who would challenge the EWA Women’s Champion Aliyah in the first defense of her third reign.
ERIC BISCHOFF: That’s right, Renee. Alexa Bliss, the Goddess, has been raising hell ever since she showed up in the EWA. After her war with the Dungeon Dynasty in that brutal triple dog collar match at SuperBrawl, Alexa has earned her right to challenge Aliyah. It doesn’t hurt that the young woman knows how to get under her opponent’s skin which is saying something when Aliyah was very much like Bliss a little over a year ago.
JIM ROSS: That’s all well and good, Eric, but what I can’t approve of is Alexa using her goons Tomko and Alex Shelley to put their hands on Aliyah. Call me old fashioned but I don’t believe a man should ever put his hands on a woman. Tomko crossed a line last week!
ERIC BISCHOFF: I just mentioned the Boujee Brand earlier tonight, Jim. Do you not think Aliyah would have done the same thing a year ago? Sure, she didn’t have a guy like Tomko at her side but she had Deonna Purrazzo and Robert Stone doing her dirty work. You’re over her ranting about some sort of injustice but I’m sure there are women in the division that would call that karma.
RENEE YOUNG: Call it karma or an injustice but after Tomko’s actions you can bet that Aliyah and Alexa Bliss will be stepping into an EWA ring against one another very, very soon.
RENEE YOUNG: Last but not least… because he’d be furious if we talked about another superstar after him… Chris Jericho celebrated his unprecedented SuperBrawl victory in a grandiose fashion as he always does: confetti, balloons, the whole nine yards. He talked about just how big 2021 was for himself and… I’m sorry… I can’t go further until I get this off my chest. Can you believe the nerve of this guy? You know who he thanked for his victories? Soul Train Jones, Omos, and himself. It’s as if, in Chris’s mind, Shannon Moore and Jimmy Havoc didn’t do a thing to help him.
ERIC BISCHOFF: Is he wrong though? Shannon Moore and Jimmy Havoc played their role in the match but, and there is always a but, Chris Jericho was the one who was the last man standing. No one has captained more winning teams than Jericho - quite frankly he IS Mr. SuperBrawl. Havoc and Moore should have been out there thanking Chris for the victory.
RENEE YOUNG: You can’t seriously believe that, Eric. SuperBrawl is a team sport. If Havoc and Moore dropped the ball, Jericho would have been in the match way earlier. Frankly, he was the last captain entered into the match meaning his team had given him an advantage.
ERIC BISCHOFF: Yes and it was Chris’ responsibility to seal the deal. A.B.C, Renee. Always Be Closing. That’s what separates the good from the great in the EWA. Ask Drew McIntyre, Hangman Page, Kevin Owens, and Santino Marella about the importance of sealing the deal because all of those men have tried to beat Le Champion and FAILED. Jericho may run his mouth a lot but he’s not a liar.
RENEE YOUNG: Well speaking of Santino Marella, the 2021 King of the Ring came out to give Jericho a congratulations of his own - in the form of a challenge. Y2J has officially found his first challenger of 2022 as Santino Marella will face Chris Jericho for the EWA World Championship at Collision Course on February 27th!
JIM ROSS: It’s about time too! Santino Marella hasn’t held gold since December 2020 when Adam Page beat him for the EWA Television title. Since then we’ve seen a new, determined Italian Stallion that saw him win the King of the Ring and come in second at SuperBrawl. Santino Marella has been in the EWA for a long time and a World Championship title run has always eluded him. With Jericho at his most arrogant, this may be his opportunity to do so!
RENEE YOUNG: We saw him show a lot of heart last week as he stepped into the proverbial lion’s den as he was thoroughly outnumbered.
JIM ROSS: Heart is one thing the Italian Stallion has in abundance.
ERIC BISCHOFF: And brains is something he has very little of. I’ve never seen someone so happily walk into an asskicking.
RENEE YOUNG: Regardless on your opinions, guys, it seems like the GOAT and the Italian Stallion are certainly on a collision course. It’s that time again, fans, as we open the vaults of the EFN Network. Last week Harry Smith made a huge announcement regarding the EWA but many of our fans may not know that our current General Manager is actually a former EWA World Champion! We’re heading back to March 7th, 2010 where Harry Smith defended the then EWA Triple Crown title against the “Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman at Collision Course in an Anything Goes Match!
| EWA TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP |
| ANYTHING GOES MATCH |
HARRY SMITH © vs. STEVE BLACKMAN
One Fall, 60 Minute Time Limit
The Bulldog continues to hammer away at his opponent like a man possessed, pummeling him into the ropes and then going for an Irish whip…before launching Smith into the air on the rebound with a HUGE back body drop! The fans go wild as Steve Blackman attempts to scramble back to his feet, only for the Triple Crown Champion to cut him off with a kick to the gut, as he then hooks his opponent up and lifts him into the air, DRIVING him back down again with a brainbuster right on top of his head!! It looks as if Smith is going to go for the early cover…but instead, he mounts his opponent and starts firing off some vicious rights and lefts at the Lethal Weapon’s head, looking to pound him into the canvas! Blackman tries to raise his arms to cover up, but the damage is already taking its toll, as Smith finally stops the assault to get back to his feet and then pump his arms in the air, giving off a primal roar that gets the crowd going even more!! The British Bulldog is here with one thing on his mind tonight, as Steve Blackman drags himself up in the corner, trying to shake off the cobwebs. However, here comes Harry Smith once again, charging in to crush his opponent with a big time body avalanche, before allowing Blackman to stagger out of the corner and then scooping his opponent up onto his shoulder, looking for the Running Powerslam!! The crowd goes wild as Harry prepares to finish his opponent off…yet before he can do so, Blackman manages to wriggle and squirm his way free, landing behind Harry Smith in mid-stride before quickly going for a step-up enziguiri when he turns around…only to have the Bulldog duck the shot and Blackman crash into the canvas, where the Triple Crown Champion now grabs him by the waist, showing incredible strength to now drag the Lethal Weapon up off the mat and with one fluid motion, taking him over with a brutal German suplex!!! Smith looks pretty satisfied with the start he’s made, but not satisfied enough, as he now drags his opponent right back up again and then powers him up high into the air with a gorilla press slam, holding Blackman above his head for several moments…before then tossing him over the top rope and crashing into ringside with a sickening THUD!!
JOEY STYLES: OH MY GOD!! Harry Smith could have just caused some serious damage to Steve Blackman right there!!
SHANE O’MAC: Did you hear the way the Lethal Weapon landed here at ringside?! That was…Jesus!!
Blackman is in a world of trouble as Harry Smith celebrates inside the ring, feeding off the energy of the crowd as he now steps through the ropes onto the apron, watching as his opponent starts to rise, before then diving off to land a double axe handle smash!! Blackman collapses against the announce table, laying sprawled over the top of it as Harry Smith signals the fans before coming up behind his opponent and going to grab him…only for the Lethal Weapon to grab hold of a water carrier made of glass, quickly turning and SMASHING it over Smith’s head!!
SHANE O’MAC: WHAT THE…THAT CAN’T BE GOOD!!
JOEY STYLES: Are you kidding me?! Blackman just LEVELED the Triple Crown Champion with that glass jug!!
Smith is down and out amongst the shards of glass, as Steve Blackman rests up for several more moments, before now unloading on his opponent with some vicious stomps! He breaks away to rest up some more, having been absolutely waylaid in the opening minutes of this match, with the former National Champion now dragging Smith back upright and then slamming him HARD against the announce table! Blackman now proceeds to grab at the protective mat there at ringside, pulling it up and tossing it aside to reveal the cold hard concrete floor of the Georgia Dome underneath! The fans boo as he then turns his attention back towards Harry Smith, who’s still trying to shake off the effects of that smashed glass over his head…only for Blackman to then drag him back towards the concrete, hooking him up and then dropping Smith with a swinging neckbreaker!! Harry is immediately holding the back of his head in agony whilst Blackman himself has to shake of the cobwebs from having his the floor hard…but the advantage is now firmly, with the Lethal Weapon as he now goes for the cover there on the floor, with the Ref dropping into position…1…2…KICK OUT!! Blackman shoots a glare at the Referee before now grabbing Smith by the hair, as he now leads him towards the steel guardrail and then SLAMS him against the steel as hard as he can, turning the Bulldog upside down in the process! Blackman then lays into his opponent with a barrage of stomps, before finally walking back towards the announce table and grabbing at the cover, ripping it off and throwing it as hard as he can at Smith!! He then grabs one of the TV monitors and rips it free from the cables!
SHANE O’MAC: HEY! You’re tearing up our table here, man!
JOEY STYLES: I don’t think Steve Blackman cares, Shane!! In fact, the only thing I think he cares about is putting a hurting to Harry Smith and capturing the Triple Crown Title!!
Indeed, that seems to be exactly what the Lethal Weapon has on his mind as Smith starts to pull himself up next to the guardrail…only for Blackman to charge in and SMASH the monitor into his head, knocking over the railing and into the crowd!! The fans are booing loudly as the former National Champion leaves the TV monitor there at ringside before hopping over the railing after Harry Smith, who we soon find out has been busted open, bleeding heavily from the wound on his head! Immediately upon seeing this, Steve Blackman drops down and makes the cover once again, looking for the three count…1…2…NOOOO! Smith kicks out once more, but it’s obvious he’s not in the best of conditions as the Lethal Weapon now drags him back upright, firing off some stiff punches to the fresh wound on his forehead as he batters the British Bulldog through the crowd!! Security tries to get the fans to keep back as Blackman continues his assault, sending him sprawling through the ringside area where he collapses into the chairs of some recently vacated audience members! Blackman then scoops up one of the knocked over chairs and raises it into the air, drawing some big time boos from the fans around him as he now taunts his opponent to get back up and meet his fate! However, unbeknownst to Blackman, Harry Smith has got his hands on a chair as well, snapping it shut as he rises back to a vertical base with his back to Blackman! The former National Champion approaches and raises his chair into the air…but before he can strike, the Bulldog turns and rams his chair right into his midsection! Blackman doubles over in agony, allowing Harry Smith to SMASH his chair down against the Lethal Weapon’s back this time, sending him staggering away before collapsing on all fours!! Smith has to take several moments out to shake off the cobwebs…but the sight of his own blood seems to inspire the Triple Crown Champion like never before, as he grits his teeth and fights through the pain to follow Steve Blackman! Blackman has only just started crawling away, dragging himself back up again and shouting at the fans to move out of the way…only for Smith to come from behind and SMASH into the back of his opponent with a big time clothesline to the back of the head!! He then drags Blackman up himself and calls for some space, with the fans parting like the Red Sea…allowing Smith to then whip the Lethal Weapon as hard as he can into some more fencing, hitting it with such force that Blackman actually knocks the steel guardrail over and lands sprawled on top of it, right next to the technical area!!
JOEY STYLES: WHAT IMPACT!!! We thought as soon as he was busted open that the match might be slipping away from Harry Smith, but the opposite is true!!
SHANE O’MAC: It’s like a red mist has descended over the British Bulldog…and that means bad news for Steve Blackman!!
Indeed, the Lethal Weapon is in a world of trouble as he tries to get back up…but Harry Smith is hot on his trail, grabbing one of the nearby crates and then pushing it towards Blackman as hard as he can! However, Steve dives to the side at the last second and the crate SMASHES into one of the electrical stacks hard, knocking it over and causing sparks to start shooting up from it!! There’s a couple of flickers with the lights in the Georgia Dome, threatening to plunge the show into darkness…but luckily, the power is restored long enough for Harry Smith to come after his opponent once more, with Steve Blackman trying desperately to fend him off, only to get caught with a vicious boot to the face! The Bulldog then pulls him into a standing head scissors and points towards the fallen electrical stack, as he then flips him into the air, looking for a powerbomb…yet somehow, Blackman is able to fight back with some rights to the head as Smith holds him in the air, pummeling him long enough to then find a way to slip off Harry’s shoulders and land in front of his opponent, quickly landing a low blow kick right between the legs!! The audience ERUPTS with boos as Blackman then quickly hooks Harry up, lifting him into the air and SMASHING him down onto the waiting electrical stack below, which ends up shooting out even more sparks!!
SHANE O’MAC: HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! SMITH COULD HAVE JUST BEEN FRIED ALIVE!!
JOEY STYLES: I know this is Anything Goes, but this is just ridiculous!! These two will end up killing one another if they carry on like this!!
Smith lays on top of the electrical stack for several moments as Blackman tries to shake off the pain before then crawling towards his opponent and then making the cover…1…2…NOOOO!! KICK OUT!! Angered, the Lethal Weapon now grabs some of the nearby electrical cable and wraps it around the British Bulldog’s throat, dragging him off of the electrical stack and leading him towards a small set of stairs that leads up onto the stage. The former National Champion makes sure to fire off some kicks and punches as he drags the bloody Harry Smith along, revealing black marks on his back where the electricity caught him…and Blackman then pulls him towards the edge of the stage, threatening to toss Harry off and hang him there!! He takes his opponent by the head and goes to launch him over the side…yet somehow, the Triple Crown Champion is able to put in the brakes just in time, desperately fighting back with several back elbows to the side of the jaw, finally causing Blackman to let go and stagger away! Harry is able to remove the cable from around his throat and breath properly once again…just as Blackman then charges towards him and angrily swings in search of the Bicycle Kick…only to have Smith dodge to the side and Blackman’s own momentum sends him tumbling off the stage and through a waiting table down below with an almighty CRASH!!!
JOEY STYLES: BLACKMAN’S DOWN!! THE LETHAL WEAPON COULD BE OUT OF IT RIGHT HERE!!
The fans are going wild as Blackman remains down and out amongst the debris of shattered table, as Harry Smith rests up on the stage for several moments, before slipping over the side and dropping down next to his opponent! It’s the perfect opportunity to make a pin attempt…but instead, the British Bulldog focuses on all that Steve Blackman has put him through over the past month or so, as he now leads his opponent back upright and starts dragging him down the side of the ramp and back towards the ring! The fans are going crazy at this point, as the Triple Crown Champion proceeds to toss Blackman across ringside where he falls in a heap! The Bulldog follows him, pulling the Lethal Weapon back upright and scooping him into the air as if for a bear hug…before charging and RAMMING him spine-first into the nearby steel ring post!! Blackman is in absolute agony as Smith drops him on the floor, before now marching around ringside to take up a steel chair once again! He heads back towards Blackman and opens the chair up, placing it over his head as he now grabs his opponent from behind and then shoves him towards the ring post once again, SMASHING Blackman into it head-first, with the chair wrapped around his head inflicting even more damage as he collapses at ringside, blood beginning to appear from a freshly opened wound!!
SHANE O’MAC: And now Blackman’s busted open as well!!
JOEY STYLES: But I’ve just noticed something, Shane…Harry Smith isn’t going for the cover! In fact, he hasn’t gone for the cover throughout the entire match, meaning he’s STILL not satisfied with the damage he’s done to the Lethal Weapon yet!!
Indeed, despite Blackman being in a daze on the floor and the proverbial crimson mask starting to form over his face, Harry Smith refuses to go for the pin! Instead, he removes the chair and grabs a handful of hair to pull his opponent up, leading him towards the announce table where he then throws Blackman on top of it!! The Lethal Weapon looks to be out of it as Smith climbs up after him, where he proceeds to drag him up and into a standing head scissors, before signaling to the fans! They damn near blow the roof off of the Georgia Dome in response as Smith goes to lift Blackman into the air…but he blocks!! The Bulldog tries a second time…but all of a sudden, Steve Blackman seems to have been overcome by the instinct to survive, desperately fighting his opponent’s attempts to lift him! Angered, the Bulldog nails him with some clubbing blows to the back before going to lift him once again…but this time, Steve Blackman pulls free and NAILS him with a second low blow!!! The cheers quickly turn to boos as Blackman then straightens up and pulls Harry Smith into position, lifting him into the air and DRIVING him down through the table with a trademark belly-to-belly suplex!!!
JOEY STYLES: They’ve just taken out our announce table now as well!! Is nowhere in the arena safe from this war?!
SHANE O’MAC: Nowhere on this PLANET is safe from these guys!!!
Both men lie down and out for several moments before Steve Blackman is able to crawl on top and make the cover…1…2…3?!?! NOOOOO!! KICK OUT AGAIN!! The fans go wild, cheering Harry Smith on and willing him to get back into the match, but it looks like it could be all over for the Triple Crown Champion as Steve Blackman angrily drags him back up and then rolls him back inside the squared circle. The Lethal Weapon is virtually out on his feet, but the drive to be Triple Crown Champion sees him lift up the ring apron and dig around for something…before finally pulling out a long black bag. He slides it into the ring before following, where Blackman now proceeds to stomp away at Harry Smith some more, and then standing on his throat, choking the life out of his opponent!! The Referee is powerless to use his five count to break the choke…but luckily for Harry Smith, Blackman’s own exhaustion seems him break it himself, as he now goes over and unzips the black bag…before removing a Singapore cane!! The crowd boos even more as Blackman starts twirling it in his hand, taunting the British Bulldog to rise before then…CRACK!! He nails him across the back, causing Harry to arch his spine in agony!! However, the Bulldog continues to battle back to a vertical base, as Blackman moves and then CRACK!! He catches him a second time across the back, leaving raw pink impressions on Smith’s skin!! The pre-match confidence is starting to wash back over Steve Blackman as he now twirls the cane some more, almost showing off as he waits for Harry Smith to turn before this time swinging it towards his ribs…but Harry catches the cane under his arm, his bloody face suddenly turning deadly serious as he glares back at Steve Blackman!!
SHANE O’MAC: OH, BOY!! Blackman’s only gone and done it now!! He’s just awoken a sleeping MONSTER in Harry Smith!!
Indeed he has, and the Lethal Weapon seems to realize it a split-second too late as Smith then yanks on the cane, pulling Blackman right into a stiff clothesline!! That leaves the Singapore cane in Harry Smith’s possession now as he demands that the former National Champion rise, before DRIVING the cane against his opponent’s back over and over again, knocking him back down and going absolutely crazy with the cane until it finally shatters due to the sheer force of the blows, sending splinters all over the place!!!
JOEY STYLES: The Bulldog has lost it!! He’s going to end Steve Blackman’s career here tonight in the Georgia Dome!!
The fans go wild as Blackman lays down and out on the canvas and Harry Smith throws away the remains of the Singapore cane in disgust…before then noticing the black bag which Blackman had brought into the ring. The Triple Crown Champion now walks over towards it, digging inside to see what else is there…before pulling out the very same pair of nunchucks that Steve Blackman used to such brutal effect at Revival!!!
JOEY STYLES: OH, NO…Smith’s got the nunchucks!! He’s got those nunchucks that put him out of action for most of the last month, and something tells me that he knows how to use them!!
SHANE O’MAC: It’s all going wrong for Steve Blackman…and it couldn’t happen to a nicer asshole!!
The Lethal Weapon is desperately trying to drag himself up and continue fighting, as Smith now tentatively flips the nunchucks through the air, getting a good feel of them, before hitting them into the palm of his head. He seems pretty satisfied now as Blackman clambers back upright at last and turns around…walking right into a sickening blow to the top of the head that sends him right back down again!! The Bulldog then proceeds to hit him again and again and again, nailing Steve Blackman with every ounce of strength he’s got left as he tries desperately to get his revenge, with Blackman trying to cover up as best he can! It’s all for nought though as the British Bulldog pummels him using his own nunchucks, before finally, the sheer exhaustion of his exertions cause Harry to collapse back into the corner and slump down, breathing heavily whilst Steve Blackman doesn’t move at all!!
JOEY STYLES: OH MY GOD!! I can’t believe what we’re seeing right here! Harry Smith has viciously beaten Steve Blackman to a bloody pulp using his own weapons against him!!
SHANE O’MAC: But is it enough for the Bulldog? Is it enough punishment for him to finally go for the pin and finish this match once and for all?
JOEY STYLES: Harry Smith has been out to make Blackman hurt from the outset…but let’s not forget, the Triple Crown Championship IS up for grabs here, folks! And as much as the Bulldog wants to ruin Blackman’s life, you can be damn sure he doesn’t want to lose the most coveted prize in the business at the same time!!!
Both Smith and Blackman are completely drained by this point, with Smith still stuck in the depths of the corner whilst the Lethal Weapon remains down and out on the canvas, barely conscious. However, after what feels like an eternity, Harry grabs the ropes and pulls himself to his feet, fighting through the pain. Despite being woozy, Smith then staggers over towards Steve Blackman, where he slowly but surely begins to lead him back upright, albeit with the former National Champion barely able to stand on his own two feet. Standing is the least of Blackman’s problems though as Harry knees him in the gut and then throws him up over his shoulder, causing a near riot amongst the EWA faithful, who know what’s coming next!! Harry takes a deep breath and points to a spot where he’s about to plant Blackman with the Running Powerslam to finally finish his opponent off and put an end to this war, before taking his opponent for a good run-up…when all of a sudden, the arena lights go out, the arena descends into pitch black just as it did 7 months ago at King of the Ring! Through the flash bulbs flickering, we see a glimpse of someone or something inside the ring with the two combatants…
JOEY STYLES: What in the world is going on here?
SHANE O’MAC: Hey, don’t look at me. Not that I can tell if you’re looking at me or not. It’s totally dark in here!
JOEY STYLES: Maybe it’s a power outage due to their brawl by that electrical stack earlier on…although the more I think about it, the more this seems oddly reminiscent of King of the Ring, when Harry Smith was brutally attacked by some unknown assailant!
SHANE O’MAC: We never did find out who that was, Joey! No one ever stood up and took credit for it…wait!! Looks light power is coming back on!
The lights begin to flicker back on to reveal Harry Smith laid down on the canvas, holding his leg and his head. It seems that he’s been attacked yet again, in almost identical fashion to King of the Ring!!! This time though, up on the rampway, we see a man. He’s completely shrouded in black, complete with the requisite mask. Even through the black visage, he seems pleased with himself as he wields a large metal pipe of some sort in his hands. As he prepares to head to the back though, Harry Smith begins PULLING himself up using the ropes! Smith’s brains have clearly been scrambled after this long, brutal and bloody battle, but he looks out down the ramp to see the man dressed in black. Smith pulls himself to a vertical base, limping. He rubs his eyes, trying to get a good look at this guy. BOOM! Smith is kicked square in the back of the head with a jumping Bicycle Kick, Yakuza-style, from Steve Blackman!!! The Lethal Weapon falls on top of Smith, too exhausted to make a proper cover, as the Referee jumps down for the count…1…2…3! It’s over! The masked man disappears through the curtains as Smith’s shoulders are on the mat and Blackman’s hand is raised!!
WINNER & NEW EWA TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION:
STEVE BLACKMAN
ERIC BISCHOFF: You know, you get so used to seeing Harry Smith in a suit backstage that you forget just how accomplished of a grappler he is!
RENEE YOUNG: Even more of a reason you should stop bringing up how you would do things if you were still in charge, Eric.
JIM ROSS: I don’t know, Renee. I’d love to see Harry pull out that running powerslam on Eric for old time’s sake!
Renee and JR share a laugh as Bischoff sulks once more.
RENEE YOUNG: If you want to find out who that masked man was who cost Harry Smith the EWA Triple Crown title, it looks like you'll need to check out the EFN Network! We hinted at it earlier but didn’t give it the time it deserved. Last week our General Manager Harry Smith announced the debut of a brand new show on the EFN - EWA USA! Debuting Saturday morning February 5th, EWA USA will be hosted by our new colleagues Joe Galli and EWA Hall of Famers JBL and will give fans a new chance to see our EWA superstars in action! What a debut we have!
JIM ROSS: That’s right, Renee! The main event was announced last week by Harry Smith as Jimmy Havoc will defend the EWA Television title against Rex Steiner!
ERIC BISCHOFF: Jimmy Havoc is a psychopath and Steiner got to feel that firsthand as Havoc attacked him backstage. Rex may have the strength and power advantage, but Havoc’s unpredictability and resilience to pain may be Steiner’s downfall.
RENEE YOUNG: That’s not all! The Undertaker is scheduled to face Mil Muertes in singles action and I can’t imagine a better show to see the “American Badass” compete on. Mil Muertes, however, is the man of a thousand deaths and may be too much of a force of nature for the Undertaker to contain. Also scheduled for action are the Decree’s Thom Latimer and Killer Kelly, Dungeon Dynasty’s Dani Luna, the woman who will likely be challenging for the EWA Women’s title very soon Alexa Bliss, the first ever Masterlock Challenge from Chris Masters, and much more!
JIM ROSS: It’s gearing up to be one hell of a debut!
RENEE YOUNG: Then we’re on to Sunday Night SLAM! one week later when the EWA will celebrate Valentine’s Day one day early! As for now? We’re out of time! For Eric Bischoff and Jim Ross, I’ve been Renee Young and we will see you all next time! BYE!!!