WWE House Show Results from Sydney, Australia 8-4-06
Submitted by Calvin Martin on Friday, August 4, 2006 at 1:38 PM EST







Report sent in by LOP reader David Skinner



"The Fink" came out to the tune of 'Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns & Roses,
welcoming us to the show. Fink to GNR, what a crack up.



Harry Smith defeated Matt Striker



Even I was initially wondering just who on the RAW roster was from Calgary,
Alberta, Canada as Harry came out second. Striker did some mic work, making
the largely unfamiliar crowd aware of just who Smith was, son of the "Late,
Great, British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith". Smith certainly proved his mettle,
and Striker's time in OVW has enhanced him somewhat since he kept popping up
on Kurt Angle's three minute challenge.



Smith actually pulled out a few unique moves, mainly escapes from locks, or
twists into rest holds. Echoes of his Uncles Bret and Owen, and a Running
Powerslam finish emulating his Dad. No standing vertical suplex like Davey
Boy, but the kid looks the goods. He doesn't need to be a clone of his dad
anyway.



Snitsky defeated Charlie Haas



...In the worst match of the night. Seriously. Haas got no chance to use his
arsenal he has showcased before with and against Shelton Benjamin, and
Snitsky was, well. Snitsky. The finish came after ten minutes of arm bars
and chin locks, with two Snitsky clotheslines and a Big Boot.



I think it may have deliberately been a stinker to account for the run-in by
Umaga and Armando Alejandro Esstrrrrrrraaaaaddddddaaaaa. Umaga destroyed
Striker on the ramp, and then demolished Haas in the ring. Surprisingly,
Umaga got quite a pop, maybe the crowd saying thanks for punishing them,
maybe from a good percentage of pacific Islanders in the crowd. The crowd
sang along with Armando of course.



Trish Stratus & Torrie Wilson defeated Mickie James & Melina



Stock standard divas tag match. Still, it resembled Flair V Steamboat after
the previous match. Trish got the pin on Mickie after the "Chick Kick".
Melina walked through the curtain last after the match, looking to be in
agony, yet minutes later, was fine when she accompanied Johnny Nitro to the
ring!



Triple Threat Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship



Johnny Nitro defeated Shelton Benjamin & Carlito to retain the IC Title



No red carpet or photographers (when will they drop that on TV?) for the
Champ, Huge pop for Carlito. (They eventually dropped the "Caribbean Cool"
bit, why do we still get paparazzi for those other clowns?) Shelton "It's 10
o'clock, do you know where Yo Mama's at?" Benjamin came out first..



Usual WWE Triple Threat match with very little three way action, one guy
always seems to be out of the ring in these things. ECW's Three way dance's
made much more sense. Still, full of high spots, with Carlito and Shelton
make Nitro look like the Tough Enough winner we're supposed to forget he
was. Nitro retained after the in the corner, all three men on the ropes spot
fest who rolled up who blink and you'll miss it finish.



Intermission



Randy Orton defeated Kane



I'm one of those who still thinks Kane deserved so much more than one day as
WWF Champion in 1998. But, that was eight years ago. When Kane was horribly
scarred from burns and couldn't speak and had greasy jerry curls. It's still
Kane, but not as we knew him. Missed half of the match getting a beer, and
apparently missed all of Kane's offense. Orton hit an RKO on the second try
for the win. (RKO/Diamond Cutter/Jumping Stunner. Same thing)



Shawn Michaels & Ric Flair defeated The Spirit Squad



HBK introduced his partner as "For one night only, an honorary member of DX,
but he's no Stranger to being a degenerate". I enjoy the Spirit Squad. You
can see they are trying, and have some talent. Perhaps more acrobatic than
wrestling, but they play their character's off really well, and work to the
crowd an opponent reactions very well. They are certainly capable of some
high spots, which give their input to the match. All the usual High Spots
from Flair and HBK, including The Flair Flop. You know it's coming but you
still gotta love it. Pinfall came after HBK hit the Superkick on, um, Mikey,
I think.



WWE Championship Match - Special Guest Referee Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat



John Cena defeated Edge (with Lita) by disqualification.



Crowd was hot for Cena, who got the biggest pop of the night. There were
sections of the crowd against him, even a few 'same Old $h!t" chants
breaking out. They're obviously getting used to working together, but saving
the big match for the PPV pay off at SummerSlam. A lot of the crowd didn't
seem to know who "The Dragon" was (HEATHENS!)



Steamboat had been knocked out and missed Edge tapping to the STFU. (I
always wonder why Refs could hold apart Andre the Giant and Big John Studd
by standing between them arms outstretched, yet get knocked cold by a
glancing bump!)Ultimately, Lita's interference caused the DQ. She had
dragged Steamboat out of the ring during pinfall count. Another ref came to
the ring to make a count, But Steamboat got back in and broke it up, calling
for the Bell and the DQ against Edge,



After match antics saw Edge tell Cena that "This doesn't go to Summerslam,
it ends here" then Cena baited him for a "Street fight for the Title, Right
here, Right Now" which didn't happen. (The Street Fight was originally
advertised, good old "Card Subject To Change")



Cena did some suck-up mic work to the crowd, thanking us for coming, then
left.



Fink thanked us, promising the WWE would return.



Attendance around 15,000, didn't see any empty seats that would have been
available. Only those behind the stage that were not put on sale. (In 2003,
those seats were full)








*NEW GALLERY* Randy Orton & Other WWE Superstars WILDIN' OUT and PARTYING!

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