House Show 11/24 Philadelphia, PA First Union Center
I got back from the house show, and it was awesome. I had seats in the 11th row at ringside, right on the floor. The rush is still pumping from the main event, and I don't really remember all too much from the first few matches. I'll put what I can. Hopefully, if someone else was there, they'll send in more detailed results. The main event was supposed to be Stone Cold vs RVD, but it got changed.
Howard Finkel comes down to the ring, getting a cheap pop for saying Philadelphia is one of the best cities to come to for wrestling, and gives a nice speech about America.
National Anthem is played.
APA music hits, and Bradshaw comes out to a huge pop. Gets an even bigger pop when he says that this weekend, two things are certain: the Eagles are going to kick the Redskins ass, and the WCW will continue to get its ass kicked as well. He says the WWF won at Survivor Series, effectively killing the Alliance, but due to contractual obligations, they were still wrestling, and tonight was one of those obligations. Says Test, Booker T, and Nick Patrick are there, which gets huge boos. Mantions Rob Van Dam is also there, which gets huge pops, despite Finkel trying to get us to stop.
Tajiri vs. Spike Dudley Spike and Tajiri shake hands first. Tajiri gets the win after the Tarantula and kick to the head. Crowd kept chanting for the mist, but we didn't get it. After the match, Tajiri helps Spike to his feet, they hug, and Tajiri raises Spike's hand.
Lita vs. Jazz w/ Jacqueline as Special Referee Beofre they even came down, the music guys started playing Regal's music by mistake. Jazz got some good offense in. Stacy came down to the ring and distracted Lita for a bit. Jazz knocks Jacqueline down, but she thought it was Lita. Stacy gets on the apron, and got knocked off by Jacqueline, then Jacqueline knocks Jazz down with a closeline. Lita hits the Twist Of Fate and the Moonsault for the win.
Finkel says speaking of the women, how about the Women's Champion, and plugs the Trish poster of Trish in a white bikini.
Perry Saturn vs. Brock Lesner Lesner was very immpressive. I hope the WWF will start using him for more than just dark matches and house shows. Staurn still seems to be playing the goofball gimmick. When Mike Chiota went to chekc him over, Saturn was doing the same to him, then locked up with Chiota and forced him into the corner. Lesner got Saturn with three bakcbreakers in a row, not letting go until after the third one. Lots of near falls by Saturn, including two fisherman suplexes and springboard dropkicks. Lesner gets the win after countering a dropkick into a powerslam for the pin.
William Regal vs. Kane Right off the bat, let me tell you that the flames form the turnbuckle for Kane's entrance are freakin' hot! Regal snarled at everyone when we started an "Ass Kisser" chant. Regal got busted early, there was blood coming from his nose, but I didn't see how. Regal tried to put him in the Regal Stretch, but Kane kicked him away. Kane got the win after a chokeslam.
WWF Hardcore Title Match Rob Van Dam vs Booker T For a Hardcore Title match, it was pretty lame. The only weapon used was when the match spilled to the outside, and Booker used a chair. Booker got major heat for mocking RVD. When they got back in the ring, Booker brought the chair with him, but got a VanDaminator. Van Dam hit the 5 Star Frog Splash for the win. Van Dam leaves, and after 10 minutes, Booker finally left after staring at some guy across the way who had a blue sign with bright red letters saying, "Booker T Kiss My Grits"
Finkel plugs more stuff from the gift shop.
Tazz vs. Funaki Tazz got a huge pop from the crowd as soon has his music hit. Funaki refused to get in the ring, but Tazz finally went out after him after a few minutes. Funaki went for a closeline, Tazz ducked, and locked the Tazzmission for the win.
15 Minute Intermission
3 Team Elimination Style Tag Match Scotty 2 Hotty/Albert vs Justin Credible/Lance Storm vs APA Lance and Justin were eliminated first after Albert hit Lance with the Baldo Bomb, followed by The Worm from Scotty. Scotty went for The Worm on Bradshaw, but got eliminated after a Dominator from Farooq, and APA gets the win. After the match, Justin tried to attack again, but got taken down with a Closeline From Hell. Scotty went for The Worm again, but got Bradshaw to do. The look of disgust on Farooq's face made it even better. Afterwards, Scotty, Albert, Bradshaw, Farooq, and Mike Chiota all dance in the ring. Huge, HUGE pop for all 5 of them.
Test vs Undertaker This was the a pretty good match. Fans were pretty into it. Heard quite a few people yelling for the Tombstone. LOTS of flash bulbs when 'Taker did the arm twist/rope walk. 'Taker tried to chokelsam Test, but Booker interfered, and after getting the chokeslam instead, Test hit 'Taker with the Big Boot and got the win.
Finkel plugs the next show in Trenton, then plugs the Yokozuna Benefit Show in Lehigh as a WWF/XWF joint show. He thanks all the fans for coming tonight on behalf of the WWF.
WWF World Heavyweight Title Match Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle Angle came out to some heat, and got major heat after yelling at a fan that he doesn't suck, and saying that Philadelphia doesn't know anything about winning teams. Bad mouths Austin for giving people the finger and beating up on McMahon. Talked about how he single handedly saved the WWF at Survivor Series, then got cut off by the shattering glass, and out came Austin. Hebner got distracted by something, and Austin nailed Angle with the belt. Angle tried to leave, but Austin ran up behind him and floored him, then nailed him with a trash can. Austin hit the Stunner for a 2 count, and Angle locked on the Ankle Lock, but Austin was able to grab the rope. Austin put Angle in a sleeper, Angle reversed into a sleeper, and Austin dropped into a Stunner. Regal and Test ran into the ring and beat on Austin, but Angle only got a 2 count. Austin hit another Stunner, and got the win. Regal and Test tried to attack Austin again, but he hit them both with Stunners too. Austin celebrates with beers on all 4 corners, then goes to leave, but he runs back into the ring, has some more beers, and shares a beer with Hebner, then finally leaves.
SOME INTERESTING NOTES: Austin used his old music (the one on The Music Vol. 3)
There was a guy there fully decked out in a Kane costume sitting right next to the aisle where the wrestlers entered and left the ring. Neither Kane nor Undertaker gave him the time of day.
I saw plenty of signs, including a "Bring Back Tatanka" sign and a "Bring Back Mean Street Posse" sign.
The crowd was on Austin with "What?" during the whole match, and all throughout the concourse, fans were yelling at each other if they were wearing SCSA shirts.
During the main event, a guy sitting right at ringside got ejected from the building. From what I could understand of it, he said some really nasty things to Angle which got Angle genuinely pissed off, and he left the ring and really got in the guys face. I was waiting for Angle to deck the guy, but security came and threw the guy out.
During the intermission, I stopped at a souvenir stand, and again after the show. The most popular items sold seemed to be the foam SCSA middle fingers, foam Undertaker fists, foam RVD hands, RVD t-shirt, Austin "101 Proof Venom" long-sleeve shirt, Undertaker long-sleeve shirt, and the Trish poster.
BIGGEST POPS 1) Stone Cold 2) Undertaker 3) Rob Van Dam 4) Tazz 5) APA
BIGGEST HEAT 1) William Regal 2) Kurt Angle 3) Test 4) Booker T 5) Jazz
It was pretty good show, overall. I can't wait for the WWF to come back to Philly.
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