Logo

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2005

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

NEW YORK CITY



SEGMENT 9:  BACKSTAGE:
A camera is set backstage in front of the obviously empty New York Rangers locker room, where Camieko and Jade are spotted in a surprisingly civil conversation.

 

Camieko: Yeah, well we certainly haven't been the best of friends and I don't think we ever will be, but I respect what you did. I wish you took her head off with that chair last week.

 

Jade: Yeah, she slipped out that time, but I should have known. Walter basically did the same thing to me that he did to you. He's a snake.

 

Camieko: Sure is.

 

Jade: But either way, our problem lies with Keiko Ishida. I know we're meeting next week in Jersey in a number one contender's match. I want the title back Camieko, and I won't stop at anything to get it.

 

Camieko: I wouldn't want it any other way. I'll see you next week.

 

The ladies nod at one another and take off in different directions, both with the same goal in mind as they do so.

 

SEGMENT 10:  RINGSIDE:
The camera cuts to the ring, where Lee Palmer is standing inside.

Palmer:  Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield!

The fans begin cheering loudly as “When the Spirit of the Lord” by Fred Hammond hits the speakers and the four-time heavyweight champion of the world begins making his way toward the squared circle.

Ferrara:  Troy, I wonder what could be on Holyfield’s mind that prompted him to come to Madison Square Garden tonight to address the PWA crowd.

Troy:  I don’t know Paul.  Holyfield hasn’t been seen on a PWA broadcast since December 30, 2003, at Revival, when he knocked Showtime Damon Savage out in the 12th round of their second exhilarating bout.  I’m definitely very interested to hear what the man has to say.

Holyfield grabs a microphone and steps into the ring, acknowledging the cheers of the PWA faithful.

Holyfield:  Thank you.  Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart for such a great reception.  A lot of you are probably wondering, “Evander, what are you doing out here right now?”  It’s a good question.  As most of you know, I’ve had some trouble with my boxing career lately.  People are saying I’m washed up, that I can’t win a fight anymore, that I don’t have any business being in the ring anymore.  Well to them I say… you’re wrong.  I’m out here to tell all you PWA fans that you haven’t seen the last of Evander Holyfield in the boxing ring.  And you might be asking why I decided to come out to a PWA show at
Madison Square Garden to announce that, rather than a more traditional outlet.  The reason is simple.  I’ve watched PWA.  And I’ve kept my eye on an old rival of mine, a man who pushed me to the limit twice and earned a great deal of respect in my eyes.  I’m talking about Showtime Damon Savage.  The man couldn’t come any closer to beating me on two separate occasions, and since our last fight, we have had conversations on the phone, and have actually developed a deep respect and love for each other.  But what I saw happen to him at Forsaken in January hurt me deeply as a human being.  I sat there and watched, on pay-per-view, Damon get brutalized by a contingent of scavengers out to make a buck, taking bread off his table and making it harder for him to feed his family.  They tried to end his career and I have no respect for that.  The man in particular that I’m speaking of is the so-called “Angel of Death,” Vladimir Vydrina.  Yeah, I’ve seen him.  I know he’s the Russian National Champion of boxing.  I know he’s an enormous man, 6’7”, 270 pounds.  I know he supposedly hits harder than a ton of bricks.  I know that he’s undefeated as a professional fighter.  But I also know that he’s never faced Evander Holyfield.  What that man has done to Damon Savage cannot go unpunished.  I will be a man and stand up for my friend.  I will fight the good fight, and I will take Vydrina down, if he’s got the guts to accept my challenge.

Moments later, “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J hits and the crowd begins booing raucously as “Not That” Rodney King appears at the top of the ramp, microphone in hand.

King:  Ah, if it isn’t my old friend Evander Holyfield.  How you doing these days Evander?

Holyfield:  Where’s Vydrina, you miserable piece of filth?

King:  Now now, there’s no need for the insults.  I’m out here to give you a chance to reconsider.  I’ve seen your last few fights.  You can barely even get your hands up anymore.  You’re too slow, Evander.  Vydrina will tear you to pieces.

Holyfield:  Quit ducking me, King.  I want Vydrina, and I want him now.

King:  First of all Evander, I hate to break it to you, but
Vladimir is not here tonight.  He had no reason to be in the building tonight, so I advised him to stay home.  However, I did call him on the phone while you were on your little tirade earlier.  He had a question for you.  He wants to know where you’ve been for the past month since he took Showtime out the game.  Why address this now?  Why not meet us out here three nights after it happened?

Holyfield:  I figured you might ask that.  After everything that had gone on with my career in the recent months, I had a tough decision to make.  Sure, I contemplated retirement, but it is my dream to retire as the five-time heavyweight champion of the world.  However, no one in the mainstream boxing community wants to give me the opportunity to fight.  I was torn.  Then, I watched Forsaken, and I saw what happened to Showtime and it affected me greatly.  I knew within two weeks that the right move for Evander Holyfield was to challenge Vladimir Vydrina, take him down, and begin the greatest comeback in boxing history.  However, I’ve spent much of the past month helping the tsunami victims in the far east and…

King:  Sure you were.  You were scared Evander.  Admit it.  Your heart knew what it wanted to do, and your body was too chicken to carry it out.

Holyfield:  That’s a lie, King, and you know it.  I’ll fight Vydrina, any time, any place!

King:  Then how about Saturday, March 12, at Salvation, live on pay-per-view, in a 10-round exhibition fight!

Holyfield:  March 12?  That’s less than three weeks away.

King:  Take it or leave it Evander.  That’s the final offer.  Do you really want to risk someone else stepping in there and beating Vydrina, getting the credit you feel YOU deserve?  You need this fight way more than we do.  If you want to fight Vydrina, there is one option for you:  March 12.  I’ll have a contract ready and waiting next Tuesday night in
East Rutherford, New Jersey.  I hope to see you there.

King then drops his mic and exits to “Mama Said Knock You Out” as we head to commercial, with Holyfield in deep thought in the ring.

 


-- COMMERCIAL BREAK #6 --
 

SEGMENT 11:  MATCH 4:  PAUL DAWKINS VS. MIKE GRIECO:
Referee:  Dan Martin

Sevendust's "Black" begins to play, immediately sparking a wave of cheers for the arrival of Paul Dawkins. Dawkins acknowledges the cheers of the crowd, but looks incredibly focused as he climbs into the ring and bounces off the ropes to warm up.

 

Troy: I got to speak to Paul Dawkins earlier today, and this man is fired up about his opportunity here tonight. Pound-for-pound, he might be the best singles star to not hold a singles title, and he has the chance to take a step in that direction tonight.

 

Ferrara: I think that honor goes to Jackie Baccaro personally, but Dawkins has been on quite the roll himself. I just don't think he's gonna stop Mike Grieco, who should just be renamed Mr. International Champion by now.

 

Dawkins waits in the ring as "Da Repercussions" by 50 Cent begins to play. Dee Licious walks out first and a large array of boos comes as Mike Grieco comes out next. The jeers grow even louder once he is announced as being from Staten Island, but the powerhouse does his traditional muscle flexing before climbing into the ring.

 

Troy: The winner of this match will be the number one contender for The International Championship, currently held by Jon Dulberg. Dulberg was just pinned at Temptation by Dawkins, but Grieco is your pick tonight?

 

Ferrara: Yes he is. Paul Dawkins got that win in a tag team match. Anything can happen in tag matches when you have partners involved. I think Mike Grieco will bring him back down to earth a bit tonight.

 

The bell sounds and both men circle the ring before locking up in the center. Grieco locks on a side headlock and Dawkins tries to squirm out, but Grieco furthers his advantage with a clubbing blow to the back of the head. He then whips Dawkins to the ropes and connects with a big clothesline to the chest. Dawkins hits the mat hard and Grieco takes a little time to pose before dropping a massive elbow atop his chest. Grieco covers for one....two...and Dawkins quickly kicks out.

 

Grieco lifts Dawkins up and stings him with a chop to the chest, but Dawkins responds with three hard fists to the face and downs Grieco with a dropkick. Grieco gets up and reels backwards into a corner, so Dawkins quickly jumps up to the middle ropes and offers ten hard punches to his head. Grieco stumbles forward and Dawkins kicks him in the midsection before hitting the ropes and scoring with his Scud missile version of the rocker dropper! Dawkins covers for one....two....and Grieco kicks out. Dawkins looks to try to take the win home, but he looks up the ramp to find Jon Dulberg slowly making his way to the ring!

 

Troy: That's Dulberg! What does he want out here?!

 

Ferrara: He's probably just scouting these guys. He hasn't wrestled either one-on-one in a very long time, you know.

 

Troy: Yeah, whatever.

 

Dawkins turns his attention away from Dulberg and back to Grieco before whipping him into a corner. Dawkins charges at Grieco and nails him with a Stinger Splash that sees Grieco fall face-first to a huge pop. Dawkins calls for The M.O.A.B., but Dulberg hops up onto the ring apron!

 

Matt Hansen runs over to get Dulberg off, but it is Dawkins who takes over to scuffle with the champion. Dulberg flails his arms wildly and ends up tossing his belt behind Dawkins into the ring. Dawkins knocks Dulberg down to the arena floor, but turns around to find Grieco leveling him in the face with the gold! Grieco tosses the belt out of the ring before covering Dawkins long enough for Hansen to count to three.

 

Troy: Grieco just stole this thing!

 

Ferrara: And he's got Jon Dulberg to thank!

 

"Da Repercussions" replays and the crowd boos as Grieco is announced the winner. Dee Licious looks apprehensive as Dulberg grabs his belt and marches up the ring steps to commence a heated staredown with Grieco. Both men look ready to go right there until Dulberg breaks out into a smile and shakes hands with his number one contender!

 

Troy: What the hell is this now?!

 

Ferrara: They're supposed to face each other for the title and they're shaking hands? What’s that about?

 

Troy: They're in collusion together to screw Paul Dawkins out of a title shot, that's what! I can't believe this!

 

Grieco, Dulberg and Dee all exit to a chorus off boos, leaving Hansen there to revive Dawkins as we head to a break.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 7:26:  MIKE GRIECO

 

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK #7 --
 

 SEGMENT 12:  RINGSIDE:
We return from commercial with Akrobatik’s “Nightfall” blasting onto the speakers and Jackie Baccaro making his way to the ring to a raucous amount of boos.  Baccaro takes the jeers in stride, almost relishing them, as he meanders down the aisle.  Baccaro, in dress pants, a silk shirt, and tinted sunglasses, is dressed to the nines for his appearance tonight.  He grabs a microphone and enters the ring.

Troy:  What’s he so dressed up for tonight?

Ferrara:  Troy, Jackie Baccaro is a superstar in the making.  He has a certain image to uphold now, and he’s off to a good start with the wardrobe.

As the crowd settles down, Baccaro begins to speak.

Baccaro:  Ah, New York City.  There’s just something special about this place, isn’t there?  I think so.  To me, there is.  We’re here tonight in the World’s Most Famous Arena, a building that has some real special memories, in many different sports, especially wrestling.  Hell, the first Wrestlemania was here.  Last year’s Wrestlemania was here.  But we’re not talking about WWE right now.  We’re talking about the PWA.  And we’ve seen our share of PWA memories carved here as well.  Everlasting Epic I.  The Scythe-Solomon Iron Man match.  Hell, even the infamous Griffin-Tantalus “hair vs. pubic hair” match.  It all happened right here, right in this building.  And we’re about to make another timeless memory.  So, GI Jew, get your ass out here.  History is waiting.

Troy:  What the hell could Baccaro possibly be talking about?

Ferrara:  I don’t know Troy, but I’m certainly intrigued.

Moments later, “Opium of the People” by Slipknot blares onto the speakers and GI Jew rides his Chopper to the ring to an extraordinary ovation from his hometown crowd.  Jew acknowledges the Manhattan faithful and heads into the ring, grabbing his own microphone and staring down the brash Rookie of the Year.

Jew:  Alright kid, I think we’re all sick and tired of hearing you run your mouth at this point.  I know I am.  For weeks, you’ve been coming at me with all this talk about your beef with me, and how you wouldn’t tell me what it was until we were in the Garden.  Well, judging from the looks of this building, and from hearing all these rowdy New Yorkers in the crowd, I’d say we were here.  So spill it, son.  I don’t have all day.

Baccaro:  Fine.  I’m not big on wasting time either.  The thing is, Jew, my beef with you isn’t personal.  It’s acquired.

Jew:  What the hell are you talking about?

Baccaro:  It’s simple really.  I didn’t have a problem with you.  But now I do.

Jew:  Why?  You’re really running my patience thin here.

Baccaro:  You see, the problem with you isn’t mine.  The problem is my manager’s.

Troy:  His manager?

Ferrara:  Since when does Jackie Baccaro have a manager?

Upon hearing this, Jew cracks a smile.

Jew:  Oh, I see what this is.  This is your way of “unveiling” your manager to the world, huh?  Great job, jackass.  So who is this manager?  Let me slap the bitch around a bit, end this.  Who is it, Walter Gindin?

Baccaro:  (smiling) Not exactly.

Suddenly, a man stampedes through the crowd, with a lead pipe in his hand, enters the ring, and downs Jew with a pipe shot to the back of the head!  As the camera pans up, we see the perpetrator, and the crowd is in stunned silence.  The man is in all black, wearing dress clothes, a three-quarter length leather jacket and dark shades.  His hair is longer, his facial hair is arranged in a trimmed goatee, but we have seen this man before.  Many times before.

Troy:  My God Paul!  Do you know who that is?!

Ferrara:  It can’t be!

The man exits the ring, rips a chair from the ringside area, and returns to the ring, commanding Baccaro to lift Jew off the mat.  Baccaro does exactly that and holds the former Grand Slam winner up as the man in black cracks him in the skull with the steel chair, busting him open!  The crowd is abuzz with a mixture of cheers and raucous boos as Baccaro and the man embrace before Baccaro picks up a microphone.

Baccaro:  Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to a man who needs no introduction… I give you the man who will take me to the top of the wrestling world, my new manager… VULTURE!

Troy:  I can’t believe this!  It’s Vulture!  Vulture, whose career was ended due to a devastating neck injury last summer, who we haven’t seen since his then-girlfriend Lauren Tantalus turned on him in his retirement match at Everlasting Epic IV, is back in the PWA!  And he’s managing Jackie Baccaro!

Ferrara:  This is insanity, Troy!  Vulture was one of the most popular superstars in the history of the PWA, but at times, also the most hated!  These fans don’t know how to react!

Troy:  I don’t either Paul!  But if Jackie Baccaro has Vulture in his corner now… I don’t know WHO can stop him!  Folks, we’ll be right back!  This is unbelievable!



-- COMMERCIAL BREAK #8 --
 

SEGMENT 13:  BACKSTAGE:
The camera shot is backstage as Rick Madsen stands next to Anthony Failla at the interview area.

 

Madsen: Anthony, I'm glad I caught you right before you hit the ring. What are your thoughts about your title match against Jaguar, now just seconds away?

 

Failla: My thoughts? I'm loving this situation. Think about it Rick, you're a fellow New Yorker. Here I am, in front of my hometown crowd going against a paper champion like Jaguar. Mind you, Jaguar was just cleared this morning from suffering a concussion at Temptation, and instead of focusing on me, he's waiting around the building for Romeo to show up. Too bad for him that he won't get any part of Romeo at Salvation, because tonight, I'm going to destroy whatever is left of that punk. I did it here a few years ago, and I'll do it again tonight. Jaguar won the title in his hometown, so tonight, Anthony Failla takes the same opportunity. You're lookin at the next PWA Champion!

 

SEGMENT 14:  MATCH 5:  PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:  JAGUAR © VS. ANTHONY FAILLA:
 Referee:  Tom Stevens

 A large blast of pyro explodes out in the arena, bringing a jolt from the camera man as Failla turns away and heads towards the curtain. "Shootouts" by Jadakiss and Styles P hits and the camera follows him out onto the ramp, where he is welcomed by an array of boos as Lee Palmer takes over the mic again.

 

Palmer: The following contest is our main event. It is scheduled for one fall and it is for The PWA World Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first, the challenger, making his way to the ring from Queens, New York, weighing 289 pounds, he is "The Franchise"....Anthony Faiiiiiiillaaaa!

 

Ferrara: Failla looks ready Troy. I think we could see a new champion tonight! (Long Pause) Troy.....Troy!

 

Troy: I just can't believe what we have just witnessed Paul. After weeks of hearing Jackie Baccaro talk, he introduced Vulture as his manager, they laid out GI Jew and I've just gotten word that they have now sped away from the arena without speaking a word to anybody!

 

Ferrara: Well I hadn't heard anything from Vulture since his final match six months ago at Everlasting Epic. I sure didn't see him in the building earlier, I don't think anyone did!

 

Troy: Well either way, we've got a job to do and a World Title match to call, so let's get to it.

 

Failla scoffs at the crowd on his way to the ring, and he steps in to pose, much to their chagrin. As he waits in the ring, the shot cuts backstage, where Jaguar straps the title belt around his waist and puts on his custom New York Mets jersey and shades. "Real Big" by Mannie Fresh begins to play, and Gardenvision follows his walk through the hallway and then through the curtain as the crowd roars their approval.

 

Palmer: And his opponent, from Jacksonville, Florida, weighing 253 pounds, he is The PWA Heavyweight Champion of The World, this.....is......Jaaaaguarrrrr!

 

Jaguar walks to each end of the stage and salute the crowd before standing in the middle and raising his arms as his fiery pyrotechnics ignite behind him. The champion then marches his way down to the ring, enjoying the favorable reaction from one of his favorite crowds, but keeping his eyes deadlocked on his challenger until he steps through the ropes.

 

Jaguar removes his jersey, bandana and shades before unstrapping his title belt and handing it to Tom Stevens. The senior official holds it high and the crowd cheers loudly as Failla and Jaguar come face to face.

 

Troy: This is certainly not the first time these two men have met. They have battled all throughout this city and region for most of the previous decade, and their last full scale war was waged back in 2000 when they feuded heavily in CAW.

 

Ferrara: They haven't really had a match this big since Revival of 2002, which is a match that Failla won, but Jaguar went on to win the PWA Ttile that night in Los Angeles. Now the winner of this match will go on to face Romeo for the title at Salvation in that same arena.

 

The bell sounds and the fans cheer as both men circle the ring and lock up in the center. Failla looks to be backing up until he easily shoves Jaguar down hard to the canvas! Jaguar stands up quickly, but shakes his head a bit, knowing its still obviously injured from Romeo's attack.

 

Failla sees this and pounces at him, but Jaguar sees him coming and drops him to the mat with a drop toe hold. Jaguar floats the move over into a front facelock, but Failla gets to his feet and powers him back into a corner. Failla gives two hard shoulder thrusts to his gut before whipping Jaguar into the opposite end. Jaguar hits the turnbuckles hard and walks out of the corner, right into a ferocious boot to the face from the challenger! Failla makes a cover for one....two....and Jaguar kicks out of it.

 

Failla gets Jaguar off the canvas and scoop slams him back down to it before hitting the ropes and connecting with a big legdrop across his chest. Failla covers again, but only gets the same count of two. Failla then goes to work on the head of the champion by measuring him up and dropping an elbow down hard atop his cranium!

 

Ferrara: Sound strategy by Failla. He's going after Jaguar's head area and it isn't taking him a whole lot of time to wear the champ down that way.

 

Failla tries cutting off the air flow to Jaguar's brain by applying a sleeper, but the champion reverses it into a back suplex that breaks the hold. Jaguar gets to his feet and goes on the offensive by backing Failla into the ropes and knocking him down with a jumping side kick right across the chest.

 

Failla gets up quickly and Jaguar kicks him in the gut immediately. He tries to apply Version 1.0, but Failla escapes it easily. Failla tries to reverse it into a move of his own, but Jaguar uses his quickness to grab him by the head and score with a big DDT! The crowd pops huge for the move, but Jaguar is slow in making a cover after smacking his head against the mat once more. He does manage to roll atop Failla, but he easily escapes by the count of two.

 

Jaguar labors getting up, but nails Failla with a heavy right hand after doing so. He follows up with another before kicking him in the gut again and flooring him with a big running knee lift. Failla smacks the canvas hard and Jaguar exits the ring to begin his climb up the top rope. Flashbulbs explode as Jaguar flies off for the Suga Splash, but the crowd gasps as Failla rolls away and he misses!

 

Troy: He missed the splash!

 

Ferrara: This is Failla's window right here! He's an Almighty Sacrifice away from becoming the PWA Champion!

 

Jaguar clutches his chest in pain as Failla takes his sweet time in going after him. Failla smirks at the booing crowd and runs his thumb slowly across his throat to signify the end of the match being near. He lifts Jaguar up into a gorilla press, but Jaguar fights out of it and falls behind him.

 

Jaguar tucks Failla's arm behind him to set up for The Carrjack, but before he can be lifted, Failla slips out of it. He grabs Jaguar around the waist and begins forcing him towards a corner, but Jaguar drops to the canvas, allowing Failla zero protection as he hits the turnbuckles chest-first. Failla stumbles backwards and Jaguar gets him in a waistlock before taking him back and down with a huge German Suplex! Both men hit the canvas hard and Stevens counts one.....two.....three! The official calls for the bell, but carries a look of shock and confusion on his face as he does so.

 

Troy: The bell just sounded, but what's the deal here. Who won the match?

 

Ferrara: It looks like both of their shoulders were down for the three!

 

Troy: He was right in front of both men's shoulders I think. Did he get a clear view?

 

Ferrara: We're about to find out.

 

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, senior official Tom Stevens has informed me that the winner of this match....and NEW PWA World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Failla!

 

Troy: What?!?!

 

Ferrara: Failla apparently got his arm up!

 

Failla wipes out the cobwebs and grabs the title away from the timekeeper, but can't go anywhere as the senior assistant referee Matt Hansen blazes a trail down the ramp and to the ring. Hansen climbs in and waives off Stevens' call, and he raises Jaguar's arm to an immense ovation!

 

Ferrara: Now what's he saying?!

 

Troy: Matt saw the footage on the same monitor he did, we couldn't see both of Jaguar's shoulders, but Failla's were down!

 

Ferrara: We didn't have a clear shot of that either. There was no definitive angle!

 

Stevens stands dumbfounded, but Hansen grabs the belt away from Failla and hands it back to Jaguar as Palmer gets back on the mic.

 

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a correction. Here is your winner and STILL PWA World Heavyweight Champion, Jaguar!

 

Stevens and Failla both disagree with the call while Hansen and Jaguar disagree with that call. Kerry Cox rushes down to the ring to consult with both officials, but their conference doesn't get anywhere fast.

 

Troy: This is very confusing here, both men have been announced as the champion!

 

Ferrara: Well who's the champ?!

 

Troy: I've got no idea. All I know is we're out of time! We'll see you next week from The Meadowlands!

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 14:27 AND PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION:  ???


 

-- END SHOW --

 



DARK MATCHES:

1.  Paul Epton & John Wolfe d. Victor Simon & Chris Nicholson at 6:21.  Epton pinned Simon after the shooting star press.  (Referee: Billy Vargas)

2.  Dee Licious d. Dana Chapman at 4:14 with the tease.  (Referee: Dan Martin)

3.  The Omega Steve Beovich d. Superstar Scott Hosemann at 5:41 with Extreme Precision.  (Referee: Jose Soares)

Back