The year of 1995 was a year of change. It was the year that the mysterious Japanese yakuza group changed history forever. The group was shrouded in darkness and mystery but harnessed seemingly unlimited power that has roots in the Japanese gambling and prostitution industries in post World War II Japan. The dark group became a business conglomerate in the 1950's and over a 30 year period came to be known as a ruthless force.... NEO ZEED...


Neo Zeed made aggressive moves and hostile takeovers throughout Asia for 3 decades before moving into North America with the purchase of Time Inc. in 1981. While the Neo Zeed was pulling off a hostile takeover merger of Warner Media in 1990 in the US, they were busy in Japan acquiring controlling interest in almost every major Japanese wrestling promotion. By 1993 the Zeed had took over the video game company Sega, and by 1994 they had majority ownership of FMW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFI, Shooto, Rings, and Pancrase. 


By 1995 the Neo Zeed had moved in on the struggling World Wrestling Federation with negotiations with owner Vince Mcmahon engaged in the Spring. The entire world was shocked when Vince Mcmahon was found dead in his hotel room in Tokyo just hours after supposedly meeting with the Neo Zeed officials about a potential buyout. Japanese authorities quickly closed the case as a suicide but the entire incident became a worldwide mystery due to the suspicious nature of Mcmahon's death. Reports came out that Mcmahon was found on April 28th 1995 hanging from a door knob in a seated position that would have been impossible to cause death. Also suspicious was the rumor that Mcmahon had Japanese cherry blossom flower petal in his mouth(Japanese authorities have always denied these reports)...

The WWF carried on in 1995 in the wake of Mcmahon's death while the Neo Zeed's Time Warner media conglomerate moved in on Ted Turner and his Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. The Zeed made Turner an offer he couldn't refuse to acquire his ownership stake in World Championship Wrestling as a token of good faith and to break the ground on a deal to acquire his entire media conglomerate in 1996. By the end of 1995 the Neo Zeed had acquired WCW and completed the purchase of WWF from the Mcmahon family, while also purchasing the fledgling cult favorite ECW from Paul Heyman in Philadephia. Through the end of 1995 the pro wrestling world carried on as usual just as it did in real life. While WCW, WWF, and ECW carried on to end the year it became clear that each promotion would be closing it's doors for good on New Years Eve.



The Neo Zeed put together The Best Of The Best set to launch January 1st 1996...

Through November and December 1995 the hype began to grow for the launch of Best Of The Best. The promotion held the rights to everything in WWF, WCW, and ECW with deep connections to wrestling in Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Japan. With the ongoing negotiations to buy out Turner Inc. the Best Of The Best essentially takes over the TNT and TBS networks in 1996. The marquee weekly show will be Judgement Night, which will air live Monday Nights on USA Network. Best Of The Best has signed for 12 pay per view events set to air monthly with the first set to be the Saturday before Super Bowl XXX, January 27th 1996 it will be.... A NEW BEGINNING...

Best Of The Best TV Schedule

Judgement Night(2 hours-LIVE)

Mondays @8pm on USA Network

Bushido(1 hour)

Thursdays @8pm on TBS

Saturday Night Shockwave(2 hours)

Saturdays @6:05 on TBS

Worldwide(1 hour)

Saturdays @midnight(syndication)/Sundays @11 am on TNT


Cast & Crew


Commentators
Jim Ross
Paul Heyman
Tony Shiavonne
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Joey Styles
Phillip Rhee
Don "The Dragon" Wilson
Mike Tenay

Ring Announcers
Michael Buffer
Dave Penzer
Bob Artese

Referees
Randy Anderson
Tim White
"Big" John Mccarthy
John Finnegan
Yuji Shimata

Results So Far... 

SPOILER: Click to show

Best Of The Best: Way Of The Warrior(January 1st, 1996)
-Clip Show


Bushido(January 4th, 1996)
-Clip Show


Saturday Night Shockwave(Jan. 6th, 1996)
Center Stage Theater(Atlanta, GA)
-Eric Bischoff revealed to be new BOTB CEO
-Eddie Guerrero d. Dean Malenko via pinfall at 19:40
-Final WCW TV Champ Johnny B. Badd debuts revealing his true name to be Marc Mero, former Golden Gloves boxing Champ
-Kama d. Alex Wright via submission at 2:11
-Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(with Jim Cornette) d. Larry Santo & Buck Quartermaine via pinfall at 3:44
-Final ever WCW US Champion One Man Gang debuts announcing his entrance in the 30 Man Champions Rumble
-Hakushi d. William Regal via pinfall at 5:33
-Harlem Heat vs The Steiner Brothers ends in no contest after Smoking Guns debut to attack both teams



Worldwide(Jan. 6th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando FL)
-Coverage of upcoming WCW/WWF World Title Unification Bout between 2 Champions Ric Flair(WCW) vs Bret Hart(WWF) to crown first true Undisputed World Champion
-Psicosis d. Phil Apollo via pinfall
-Sabu music video(More Human Than Human by White Zombie)
-Ahmed Johnson d. Steve Armstrong via pinfall at :52 seconds


Judgement Night(Jan. 8th, 1996)
The Omni(Atlanta, GA)
-Marc Mero d. Damien 666 via pin(Sable debut)
-Taz teaser(pain is temporary, pride is forever)
-Lex Luger turns down scheduled bout vs Psicosis until he's able to officially sign with the new sports agent he's been negotiating with. Psicosis confused and unable to understand english spikes referee Randy Anderson with a piledriver before hitting a flying guillotine legdrop on him
-Ahmed Johnson d. Tommy Dreamer via pin at 14:37
-Shawn Michaels makes his debut, gets confronted by Sting before both of them are confronted by Owen & Bulldog with Jim Cornette, tag match is made for Shockwave with 2 spots in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble on the line
-Unified World Tag Team Championship(Four Way Dance): Harlem Heat vs Smoking Guns vs Steiner Brothers vs Cactus Jack & Mikey Whipreck ends in no contest when The Eliminators make their debut by destroying everyone in the match


Bushido(Jan. 11th, 1996)
Manhattan Center(NYC)
-WBC Boxing Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno announced to be signed for 30 Man Champions Rumble
-Beyond The Mat: UWFI/Nobuhiko Takada
-UWFI Rules Bout: Hiromitsu Kanehara d. Dave Taylor via KO in :21 seconds
-Teaser promo: The Human Suplex Machine, Taz
-Hybrid Rules Bout(Boxer vs Wrestler): Kama d. Dan Murphy via submission at :55 seconds of round 1


Saturday Night Shockwave(Jan. 13th, 1996)
The Center Stage Theater(Atlanta, GA)
-USWA Champion Jeff Jarrett announced to have signed for 30 Man Champions Rumble Match
-Dean Malenko d. Scott Armstrong via submission at 4:11
-Shane Douglas makes his debut, denounces his "Dean" gimmick in WWF, disses Shawn Michaels, Hogan, and Ric Flair
-One Man Gang d. Barry Horowitz via pin at 2:04
-Announcement for Olympic wrestling legend Aleksandre Karelin signed for 30 Man Champions Rumble Match
-Dan Severn d. Alex Wright via pin at 1:28 after a series of German Suplexes
-Shawn Michaels/Sting highlight video montage narrated by Keith David
-William Regal open challenge is answer by Ahmed Johnson, who defeats him via pin in just :11 seconds
-Cactus Jack debuts Raven
-Shawn Michaels & Sting d. Owen & Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette) via submission at 14:08 after Bulldog submit to the Scorpion Deathlock after Jim Cornette accidentally hit him with his tennis racket. With the win Sting and HBK earn 2 spots in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match. After the match Michaels drops Sting with Sweet Chin Music as payback for Sting accidentally hitting him earlier in the match.


Worldwide(Jan. 13th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-Recap of Michaels/Sting victory over Bulldog/Owen on Shockwave, aftermath with HBK dropping Sting with Sweet Chin Music
-Chris Benoit d. Aldo Montoya via pin at 5:51
-Exclusive backstage promo by Eliminators recorded after cameras cut following their debut on Judgement Night; There Can Be Only One
-Breaking news: AJPW Triple Crown Champ Mitsuhara Misawa enters 30 Man Champions Rumble Match
-Stevie Ray vs Bart Gunn ends in a no contest


Judgement Night(Jan. 15th, 1996)
The Superdome(New Orleans, LA)
-WCW World Champ Ric Flair and WWF World Champ Bret Hart face to face promos, with challenges made for each man to put their titles on the line against opponents chosen by each other.
-Shane Douglas d. Aldo Montoya via pin at 4:41
-Bret Hart debuts "Lionheart" Chris Jericho from the Hart Family Dungeon in Canada to challenge Ric Flair for his WCW World Championship
-Chris Benoit d. Eddie Guerrero via submission at 14:11
-Sabu teaser vignette set to More Human Than Human by White Zombie
-WCW TV Champ vs ECW TV Champ: Marc Mero d. Mikey Whipreck via disqualification. Mikey originally won the match via pinfall after interference from Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards but refused to accept the tainted victory and informed the referee to reverse the decision.
-Part 1 of expose' style series of interviews taking closer look at CEO Eric Bischoff
-WWF Championship Match: Bret Hart(C) d. Vader via disqualification, Vader makes his debut after a deal was made with Brian Pillman relinquishing his WWF Title shot to Jim Cornette to set Bret up vs Vader
-Kiss "War Machine" vignette hyping Taz debut at Best Of The Best I pay per view
-The Eliminators d. The American Males via pinfall at 4:15
-Sting calls out Shawn Michaels to face him one on one at Best Of The Best I pay per view, match is set
-WCW World Champioship: "Lionheart" Chris Jericho d. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair(C) to win the title via pinfall after interference from the Four Horsemen(Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, & Chris Benoit) and Bret Hart.


Bushido(Jan. 18th, 1996)
Manhattan Center(NYC)
-Official announcement that Championship Council has overturned decision in Jericho vs Flair title match on Judgement Night, match ruled a no contest, Jericho ordered to return WCW belt to Flair, rematch set for Shockwave
-Announcement for Taz debut opponent at Best Of The Best I pay per view to be "Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama
-Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Kevin Jackson makes official announcement to forego '96 Summer Games in Atlanta to go pro and sign contract with Best Of The Best
-Music Video: Shook Ones by Mobb Deep for highlights of King Of Pancrase Bas Rutten, who is announced to have signed for 30 Man Champions Rumble
-Part 2 of Eric Bischoff interview series
-Pancrase Rules Match: Owen Hart d. Kazuo Takahashi via submission at 10:39. Bret Hart came out to watch the bout ringside during the match and patched things up with Owen and Bulldog, getting them to leave Camp Cornette to join him to fight The Horsemen on Shockwave


Saturday Night Shockwave(Jan. 20th, 1996)
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium(Shreveport, LA)
-WCW World Championship: Ric Flair(C) d. Chris Jericho via pinfall at 13:33 to retain the title
-The Horsemen are confronted by Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog and challenged to a six man tag team match in the main event
-Sabu debuts by defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley via pinfall after triple jump moonsault
-Part 3 of Eric Bischoff expose' style sit down interview
-Yokozuna d. William Regal via pinfall in :51 seconds
-Tommy Dreamer d. Savio Vega via pinfall at 5:10, Dreamer is attacked by Stevie Richards after the bout
-Lex Luger reveals hes signed with new management Hype Central Promotions led by new sports agent Lance Wright
-Triangle Match: Mikey Whipreck d. Billy Gunn & Booker T after pinning Gunn at 9:21. Mikey gets caught up in brawl between Smoking Guns and Harlem Heat until Cactus Jack comes out to clear them out of the ring with steel chair. Mikey rejects Cactus' help and gets knocked out with the chair as a result. Tommy Dreamer races out to drop Cactus to save Mikey. Raven comes out and takes Cactus with him as he exits
-Eric Bischoff adds stipulation to HBK vs Sting match at BOTB I pay per view, the winner will get the #30 spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble, the loser will have to enter the random draw with the other 28 men.
-Six Man Tag Match: Bret, Owen, & Bulldog vs Arn, Benoit, & Pillman ends in a no contest after Owen & Bulldog swerve Bret by walking out on him and reuniting with Jim Cornette. The Horsemen injure Bret Hart's knee and Brian Pillman destroys the WWF Championship belt with a sledge hammer


Worldwide(Jan. 20th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-Recap of Owen & Bulldog swerve with Bret setting him up to get destroyed by Four Horsemen in an elaborate plan orchestrated by Jim Cornette and Brian Pillman
-Hakushi d. Don E. Allen via pin at 2:13
-Music Video: Sadeness by Enigma featuring career highlights of HBK and Sting
-Jushin "Thunder" Liger announced to have signed for 30 Man Champions Rumble
-Arn Anderson d. Jim Niedhardt via pin at 4:49 after a DDT


Judgement Night(Jan. 22nd, 1996)
Reunion Arena(Dallas, TX)
-Eric Bischoff is confronted by WCW Champ Ric Flair and the Horsemen as he breaks the news that Bret Hart was not given medical clearance to wrestle in the WCW/WWF Undisputed Championship title unification bout tonight due to the knee injury suffered on Shockwave at the hands of the Horsemen.
-The Horsemen are confronted by Camp Cornette(Vader, Owen, & Bulldog) where Owen reveals why he swerved his own brother and left him to get injured on Shockwave and that part of the deal Cornette made with Pillman was that in return Owen would be given Bret's spot in the Undisputed Title Unification bout TONIGHT. 
-Marcus Bagwell vs Bob Holly ends in a no contest after Sabu makes his debut attacking both men, putting them through the timekeepers table.
-During the clean up of the shattered timekeepers table the cameras catch Steve Austin in the audience looking psychotic.
-Jeff Jarrett d. Damien Stone via submission to the figure four at 2:48
-Raven promo from boiler room of Reunion Arena with Stevie Richards, Cactus Jack, and Beulah, with highlights of violent feud with Tommy Dreamer in ECW in 1995. Raven challenges Dreamer to one final loser leaves town battle under Death Match rules on Shockwave this Saturday night
-Sting d. Marty Jannetty via submission with Scorpion Deathlock at 9:10
-Joey Styles backstage interview with Four Horsemen with Arn furious about Pillman's behind the back deal made with Jim Cornette. Arn slaps Pillman in the face during the interview, Pillman snaps and destroys nearby production equipment before flinging Joey Styles out of the dressing room in a wild fit of rage
-Shawn Michaels vs Lex Luger is called off by Luger's management Lance Wright, who reveals that the terms and conditions of Luger's contract are currently being renegotiated and the match was never agreed on by his Hype Central Promotions sports representation firm. Diamond Dallas Page comes out to take Luger's place in the match after HBK dissed the entire WCW locker room on the microphone
-Shawn Michaels d. Diamond Dallas Page via pinfall at 6:04
-Bret Hart call in interview with commentators JR and Paul E. Dangerously reveals he will recover from his knee injury enough to officially enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble at BOTB I this Sunday night on PPV
-Eric Bischoff is shown instructing security to eject Steve Austin from the building. Austin is shown being escorted from his seat by security
-The Steiners vs Eliminators never happens as Saturn & Kronus attack the Steiners with steel chairs from behind during their entrances for the bout. After a brief brawl the Eliminators leave both Rick and Scott laying with Total Eliminations on both men
-WWF/WCW World Championship Title Unification Bout: Ric Flair d. Owen Hart via pinfall after interference from both The Horsemen and Camp Cornette. Flair becomes the true Undisputed Unified World Champion of Pro Wrestling and his WCW World Championship "Big Gold Belt" becomes the official belt of the title.


Bushido(Jan. 25th, 1996)
The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
-Recap of Ric Flair becoming the Undisputed World Champion on Judgement Night
-1992 Olympic Gold medalist in Judo Hidohiko Yoshida announcned for 30 Man Champions Rumble
-Honorary Judo exhibition by Yoshida with the Championship Council present to honor him
-Rings founder, 1995 Mega Battle Tournament winner, and legendary former UWF shooter Akira Maeda announced for 30 Man Champions Rumble Match
-Music Video: Eternal by Bone Thugs N Harmony with focus on entrants in 30 Man Champions Rumble so far
-Beyond The Mat: Shooto, with official announcement that current Shooto Middleweight Champion Naoki Sakurada will enter 30 Man Champios Rumble Match
-Cinematic cut-scene showing the Shikoku Pilgrim village in Japan with the origin story of "The White One" Hakushi, with the prophecy of a warrior sent from the forces of nature as an answer to their prayers to protect the village. The scene shows the depiction of how the village found Hakushi as a baby foundling in their crops following a lightning storm the previous night. The tiny baby Hakushi was covered in Buddhist shakyo tattoos all over his tiny little body. The prophecy foretold that the child was born of lightning and that he was sent as an answer to the prayers of the pilgrims for protection from the corporate greed that threatens their lands.
-Hybrid Rules Match(Lucha vs Dutch Kickboxing): Ultimo Dragon vs Peter Aerts ends in a draw after going all 5 rounds


Saturday Night Shockwave LIVE(Jan. 27th, 1996)
The Astrodome(Houston, TX)
-Scotty Riggs vs Brad Armstrong ends in a no contest after Steve Austin makes his way through the crowd and jumps the guard rail to storm the ring and attack both men. Austin cuts a promo about how it was his biggest dream to wrestle here in the Astrodome but instead had to buy a ticket for the show while they had these 2 pieces of trash in the ring. Eric Bischoff rushes out with security to have Austin ejected from the building
-Music Video: Evidence by Faith No More with clips of Bret Hart rehabbing his knee for tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on PPV
-Hunter Hearst Helmsley d. Alex Wright via pinfall
-Music Video: Long Day Gone by Mad Season with career highlights of Sting
-Shane Douglas d. Marcus Alexander Bagwell via pinfall
-Sabu d. Savio Vega via pinfall
-Music Video: When I'm Away by The Toadies with career highlights of Shawn Michaels
-Three Team Triangle Match: Camp Cornette(Vader/Bulldog/Owen) d. Ahmed Johnson & The Steiners Brothers, and The Eliminators & Hakushi after Vader pins Rick Steiner
-Loser Leaves Town/No-DQ Match: Raven d. Tommy Dreamer after interference from Stevie Richards and Cactus Jack. Cactus handcuffs Dreamer's hands behind his back during the match and repeatedly knocks him down with unprotected chairshots to the head to finally finish him off for Raven to score the pin.


Best Of The Best I: A New Beginning(Pay Per View)(Jan. 27th, 1996)
The Astrodome(Houston, TX)
-Sting d. Shawn Michaels via submission to the Scorpion Deathlock at 18:55
-Evander Holyfield revealed to have signed for BOTB II pay per view at Caesars Palace in February
-The Four Horsemen come out with Undisputed Champion Ric Flair calling out Holyfield, who has to be held back from going after him. The Horsemen legal advisor JJ Dillons reveals a contract loophole for the title shot that is guaranteed for tonight's winner of the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, that the only way that man gets a shot at Flair's Undisputed Title will be IMMEDIATELY after the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match!
-Bret Hart limps out to confront the Horsemen and issues a challenge, offering to give up his spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match in order for a Guantlet Match against the entire Four Horsemen. The stipulation is set that Bret must defeat Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, and Arn Anderson in order to get a shot at Ric Flair's Undisputed Title later tonight!
-Gauntlet Match 1: Bret Hart d. Brian Pillman via submission with Sharpshooter
-Guantlet Match 2: Chris Benoit d. Bret Hart via submission after using a stepover toehold facelock on Bret's injured knee
-"The Human Suplex Machine" Taz d. "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama via technical submission(choked out) at :39 seconds
-Shawn Michaels wins 30 Man Champions Rumble Match after last eliminating Sting with sweet chin music at 1:04:09. Michaels entered the bout at the #10 spot and lasted over 48 minutes to win the match, the other 28 competitors: Marc Mero, Harlem Heat, The Smoking Guns, Aleksandre Karelin, Hidehiko Yoshida, Bas Rutten, Mikey Whipreck, Chris Benoit, Jushin Liger, Cactus Jack, Nobuhiko Takada, Jeff Jarrett, The Sandman, Ultimo Dragon, Naoki Sakurada, Frank Bruno, Akira Maeda, Peter Aerts, Dan Severn, Mitsuhara Misawa, Kevin Jackson, Randy Savage, Arn Anderson, El Hijo Del Santo, One Man Gang
-Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship Match: Shawn Michaels d. Ric Flair(C) to win the title after interference from the Four Horsemen and Bret Hart. Michaels wrestled a total of over 73 minutes combined in his 3 bouts on the PPV


January 28th, 1996- Brian Pillman is arrested for running onto the field during the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XXX in Sun Devil Stadium


Worldwide(Jan. 27th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-Psicosis d. Marty Garner, match recorded from underground bunker in Tijuana Mexico during Psicosis' 3 week suspension due to his attack on referee Randy Anderson
-Best Of The Best I: A New Beginning still shots from the PPV earlier tonight, HBK Shawn Michaels is the NEW Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion!
-Champions Rumble Match stats, Michaels won the match lasting 48:09, Aleksandre Karelin lasted second longest at 42:34 and had the most eliminations with 6. UWFI/IWGP Champion Nobuhiko Takada lasted third longest at 39:49 and had 4 eliminations.
-Chris Jericho d. Greg Davis via pin at 3:45
-Breaking News of Rings invasion of AJPW in Japan, with still clips of Akira Maeda in action in Champions Rumble earlier tonight
-Lex Luger finally set to make his in-ring debut against top opponent promised by his sports agent Lance Wright, his opponent; Barry Horowitz.
-Lex Luger d. Barry Horowitz via countout


Judgement Night(Jan. 29th, 1996)
The Alamodome(San Antonio, TX)
-Tupac All Eyez On Me debuted as new Judgement Night opening hightlight montage theme song
-Harlem Heat d. Savio Vega & Fatu
-Official announcement that Evander Holyfield vs Aleksandre Karelin signed for Best Of The Best II: Revenge Of The Warriors PPV at Caesars Palace February 18th, 1996
-Mikey Whipreck vs The Sandman ends in a no contest after Steve Austin jumped the railing and attacked both men. Austin drops a section of steel guard railing across Mikey Whipreck's lower neck during the attack rendering him motionless in the ring unable to move from the chest down.
-Austin is arrested by San Antonio Police and the live broadcast is put on hold for nearly an hour in order for the ring ropes to be taken down and Whipreck stretchered out of the arena by EMT's in one of the most shocking and controversial moments in live television in 1996
-Durign the delay the full Taz vs Kama match from Best Of The Best I: A New Beginning pay per view is replayed in full on the live broadcast
-Announcement for 12 week World Tag League 1996 set to begin in February with qualifying matches scheduled over the next few weeks. The top 12 teams will compete over the 12 week schedule in 2 separate divisions of 6 teams each, Tiger and Dragon division. The top 2 teams from each division will face off for their division titles live on pay per view at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect in May, with the winners of the 2 bouts set to face off in a Championship bout to crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions of Pro Wrestling!
-The Smoking Guns(with Dory Funk Jr) d. Dick Slater & Buckhouse Buck
-Backstage footage of BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff firing head of security Doug Dillinger after his crew failed to stop Steve Austin from getting in the building and ruining tonight's live broadcast
-Jim Ross on commentary addresses the news story from Sunday's Super Bowl in Arizona where BOTB wrestler Brian Pillman, a Four Horseman, ran onto the field during the game where he was arrested. Ross gives a disclaimer that these actions of Pillman were not condoned by this BOTB, that the promotion has suspended him for the incident
-Promos montage from BOTB roster about Shawn Michaels capturing the Undisputed Championship last night at BOTB I on PPV
-Shawn Michaels hometown Undisputed World Championship title belt honorary presentation ceremony gets interrupted by Sting. Both men are then confronted by Bret Hart in a once in a lifetime 3 way standoff in the ring. The trio is then confronted by 3 of the 4 Horsemen(Flair, Arn, Benoit). The 3 Team Triangle Elimination Match is set for Aztec Stadium in Mexico Stadium next week, with Sting, Bret, and Flair all captaining teams of 4 in a match. The Horsemen attack and beat down on Bret, HBK, and Sting is saved by Randy Savage running out to help them as the show ended


Bushido(Feb. 1st, 1996)
The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
-Taz d. Craig Pittman via submission at just :31, Kama comes out after the match challenging Taz to a rematch next week
-Training Camp Highlights for Evander Holyfield and Aleksandre Karelin
-Beyond The Mat feature on the Championship Council; Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Nick Bockwinkle, Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, and Verne Gagne
-Translated Japanese interview with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada, challenge set for match against Shinya Hashimoto for Judgement Night in Azteca Stadium next week
-Hybrid Rules Bout(Sumo vs Toughman): Yokozuna d. Butterbean by throwing him over the top rope out to the floor. The post-match celebration was interrupted when the Kings Of Kings came out to the entrance isle


Saturday Night Shockwave(Feb. 3rd, 1996)
Memorial Coliseum(Corpus Christi, TX)
-News broken that Mikey Whipreck suffered permanent spinal chord damage and will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life due to the attack by Steve Austin on Judgement Night.
-Mike Tenay interview with Sting in the ring where he calls out Macho Man Randy Savage. Sting asks Savage to join his 4 man team for the 4 Team Triangle Match on Judgement Night. Savage accepts the offer but vows to settle with Sting over his eliminating him from the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match after it's over.
-2 Cold Scorpio vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley ends in a time limit draw
-Highlight footage recapping the ongoing struggle between New Japan Pro Wrestling and the invading forces of UWFI, hype for the upcoming IWGP Heavyweight Title match between Nobuhiko Takada vs Shinja Hashimoto on Judgement Night in Mexico City.
-Bret Hart interview where he calls out Chris Jericho to join his 4 man team for the 3 way Triangle Match in Mexico City. Jericho debuts his former tag team partner Lance Storm. Bret gives The Thrillseekers a chance to earn their spot on his team if they win tonight.
-The Thrillseekers d. The Armstrongs(Brad/Steve) via pinfall at 3:31
-Video montage showing the transformation of the Smoking Guns into a more extreme look and wrestling style with their new manager Dory Funk Jr., with the announcement that they have entered the World Tag League
-Hakushi d. Chris Hamrick
-Backstage interview with Mike Tenay interviewing Kama about his upcoming rematch vs Taz on Bushido this Thursday Night
-Eddie Guerrero d. Diamond Dallas Page via pin at 7:55, after the match Eddie is confronted by Bret Hart and offered the final spot on his 4 man team for Mexico City. Eddie accepts the offer.
-Ahmed Johnson d. Lex Luger via countout after Luger refuses to wrestle the match after being advised not to by his sports agent Lance Wright. After the match Ahmed accepts Sting and Randy Savage's offer to join their 4 man team for the Triangle Elimination Match on Judgement Night, with the 4th man remaining a mystery.
-Training footage montage, Evander Holyfield vs Aleksandre Karelin
-Eight Man Elimination Tag Match: The Four Horsemen(Flair, Arn, Benoit, & Pillman) d. Marty Jannetty, Bob Holly, Savio Vega, & Barry Horowitz. During the match Pillman grabs Bobby Heenan's neck cuasing him to have a profane outburst on commentary(heavily censored).


Worldwide(Feb. 3rd, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-The American Males(Bagwell & Riggs) d. Jason Ahrndt & Phil Apollo via pin at 2:54.
-Breaking news report with coverage by Mike Tenay of the recent All Japan Pro Wrestling vs Fighting Network Rings supercard in Japan, where Akira Maeda captured the Triple Crown by defeating Mitsuhara Misawa.
-Jeff Jarrett d. Mr. JL
-Recap/hype for Judgement Night in Mexico City with the 3 Team Triangle Elimination Match, plus hype for Evander Holyfield vs Aleksandre Karelin at BOTB II on PPV
-The Eliminators d. Chaz Warrington & Glen Ruth via pin at 2:11. The Eliminators reveal after the bout they are ready for the World Tag League before calling out the Steiner Brothers. Rick and Scott attack The Eliminators with Scott dropping Kronus with a Jumping Sitout Tombstone Piledriver as the show went off the air


Judgement Night(Feb. 5th, 1996)
Estadio Azteca(Mexico City, MX)
-3 Team Triangle Elimination Match: Sting's Squadron(Sting, Randy Savage, Ahmed Johnson, & ?) d. The Dungeon(Bret Hart, The Thrillseekers, & Eddie Guerrero) and The Four Horsemen(Flair, Arn, Pillman, & Benoit) after The Ultimate Warrior made his return as the 4th surprise member. Warrior won the bout as the sole survivor for Sting's Squadron after last eliminating Bret Hart at 51:07. Bret eliminated Chris Benoit first with a Sharpshooter submission at 14:09 to avenge his loss at BOTB I PPV. Tension between Brian Pillman and the Horsemen blows over as Pillman accidentally helped eliminate Arn Anderson from the match at 34:29. All 3 of the other Horsemen attacked Pillman after he was eliminated by Warrior later on.
-Paul E. Dangerously quits his job as commentator and cuts a promo revealing that he's reinstated his managers and promoters licenses. Paul E. is confonted by BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff, where Dangerously reveals that he's signed the most controversial athlete in the sport, revealing a new shaved head look of Steve Austin, revealing that he's used his legal resources to get him completely off the hook for what he did to Mikey Whipreck last week.
-After Paul E. and Austin walk out Bischoff is confronted by Shane Douglas. Douglas calls Bischoff out for the lack of opportunities he was promised when he signed him, saying that nothing has changed that Eric is a stooge catering to Ric Flair and the Horsemen. Bischoff and Douglas have a heated exchange setting up a Loser Leaves Town gauntlet match with Shane taking on all 4 of the men that the Horsemen beat on Shockwave. Bischoff adds the stipulation that every match in the guantlet must be Loser Leaves Town!
-Loser Leaves Town Guantlet Match 1: Shane Douglas d. Barry Horowitz via pin in :11 seconds
-Loser Leaves Town Guantlet Match 2: Shane Douglas d. Savio Vega via pin at 3:16
-Loser Leaves Town Gauntlet Match 3: Shane Douglas d. Bob Holly via pin at 12:15
-Loser Leaves Town Guantlet Match 4: Shane Douglas d. Marty Jannetty via pin at 14:29
-Harlem Heat d. The Smoking Guns(w/Dory Funk Jr.). After the loss Billy and Bart Gunn beat up Dory Funk Jr. and leaving him laying
-Highlight montage: Aleksandre Karelin unstoppable Gold medal runs in 1988 and 1992 Olympics
-Vader(W/Jim Cornette) vs El Hijo Del Santo ends in a no contest after Vader threw the referee out of the ring and attempted to unmask Santo. Sabu makes the save and fights Vader off
-Backstage interview: Cactus Jack reveals how he has begun to rethink his wrestling career and his life after seeing his best friend Mikey Whipreck paralyzed for life on Judgement Night
-IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Nobuhiko Takada(C) d. Shinja Hashimoto via KO at 14:29
-Highlight montage: Evander Holyfield training grappling defense with Olympic gold medalist wrestler Mark Shultz, along with clips of his spiritual awakening after connecting with the Benny Hinn Ministries. Holyfield reveals in the montage that he has vowed to donate all of his winnings from the $2 million dollar match against Karelin at BOTB II to the Hinn Ministries and that they would be his spiritual advisor for the bout.
-Title Unification Bout/Mexican Heavyweight Championship vs Undisputed World Championship: Shawn Michaels(C)(W/Jose Lothario) d. Konnan via pinfall at 13:35


Bushido(Feb. 8th, 1996)
The Manhattan Center(NYC)
-Hybrid Rules Match(Lucha vs Dutch Kickboxing): Ultimo Dragon d. John Kleijn via submission with Dragon Sleeper at 6:51 of the first round
-Aleksandre Karelin highlight music video set to Terminator 2 theme song
-Beyond The Mat: The Championship Council, with a focus on the 6 man governing body of BOTB consisting of Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, and Nick Bockwinkle, with the announcement that the 7th and final member will be inducted into the council at BOTB II
-Sit down interview with Bushido analyst and former kickboxing legend Don "The Dragon" Wilson interviewing rookie prospect/former Gold medalist Kevin Jackson on the eve of his official one on one debut set for Judgement Night
-No Rules Match: Taz d. Kama via tapout at 3:51


Saturday Night Shockwave(Feb. 10th, 1996)
America West Arena(Phoenix, AZ)
-Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, & Horsemen legal advisor JJ Dillon come out to the ring to reveal that Brian Pillman has officially been fired from the Horsemen and that they have put a target on his back as a marked man for costing them the match in Mexico City on Judgement Night. The Horsemen vow to begin scouting for a new 4th member starting tonight.
-Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman comes out waving USA flag issuing an open challenge to any foreigner to face him. His challenge is accepted by Yokozuna
-Yokozuna d. Craig Pittman via pin at 1:26. After the match Pittman is laid out and covered with his USA flag before being bonzai dropped.
-Music Video: Burning Heart from Rocky IV soundtrack hyping up BOTB II: Revenge Of The Warriors PPV with Karelin vs Holyfield boxer vs wrestler superfight in Caesars Palace
-Dean Malenko d. Damien 666 via pin at 6:58 after a fireman carry gutbuster off the top rope. Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon come out to scout Malenko as possible 4th Horsemen during the bout.
-Billy and Bart Gunn come out to the ring to announce their name change from the Smoking Guns to the Hardcore Guns. The Guns former mentor Dory Funk Jr. comes out to confront them about them turning on him with their beat down on Judgement Night. The Guns beat Dory up again until Terry Funk runs out to make the save, setting up the tag match for Judgement Night this Monday night, The Hardcore Guns vs The Funk Brothers.
-Shane Douglas d. Brad Armstrong via pin at 7:41. Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon come out to the entrance isle to watch during the bout.
-Segment featuring The Eliminators, The Steiner Brothers, and Harlem Heat brought out to hype the upcoming launch of the 12 week "World Tag League" is crashed when Jim Cornette brings out Owen & Bulldog, throwing their names into the league. A four team melee unfolds that takes a full force of security to break up.
-After commercials the brawl between Eliminators vs Steiner Brothers spills into backstage area as security is unable to pull them apart
-Raven & Stevie Richards come out to the ring where Stevie cuts a promo about Mikey Whipreck being put in a wheel chair by Steve Austin two weeks ago on Judgement Night, saying that if only he had joined Raven when he had the chance he would still be able to walk. Cactus Jack comes out to confront them and reveals that he's experienced an awakening ever since seeing his little buddy Mikey get hurt. Cactus reveals that he's done trying to please all the bloodthirsty wrestling fans, and he's done with Raven and Stevie. Raven stands to face Cactus face to face only to distract him for Richards to hit him with a superkick to the back of the head. Raven beats Cactus and drops him with a DDT on the concrete floor.
-Backstage interview with Jeff Jarrett proclaiming that he is the only choice for the Horsemen new 4th member, citing his work with them in the 30 Man Champions Rumble back in Houston where they worked together to eliminate Dan Severn from the match.
-World Tag League Qualifying Match: The Thrillseekers(Jericho & Storm) d. The Blue Bloods(Regal & Taylor) via pin
-The ceremony to crown Sting as new #1 contender to Undisputed Title is crashed when Randy Savage confronts him wanting his share. The two are soon confronted by Flair, Arn, and Benoit where a huge melee ensues. The Horsemen beat up Sting and Savage until Ultimate Warrior runs out to make the save to end the show.


Worldwide(Feb. 10th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-Breaking news for the main event of Judgement Night, Flair, Arn, & Benoit will face Sting, Savage, & Ultimate Warrior in a six man enclosed cyclone fence steel cage match.
-Official signing for Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit grudge match at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors live on PPV
-World Tag League Qualifying Match: The Pit Bulls d. Larry Santo & Buck Quartermaine via pinall at 1:55
-Recap of Paul E. Dangerously quitting his commentator job live on Judgement Night and revealing he's signed as the new manager for Steve Austin, who debuted a new bald headed look. Recap of Austin's rise and fall in WCW in the early 90's, his injury that got him fired in 1995 and his decline in ECW as well as his appearances in BOTB so far in 1996 that led to his freak attack on Mikey Whipreck that paralyzed him
-World Tag League Qualifying Match: The American Males(Riggs & Bagwell) d. The Headhunters


Judgement Night(Feb. 12th, 1996)
Sports Arena(San Diego, CA)
-Debut of Top 10 Rankings with Shane Douglas as current #1 contender with 7-0 record. Shane Douglas comes out to cut a promo about the rankings demanding a shot at Shawn Michaels Undisputed Title on the spot. After trash talking Michaels and antagonizing the crowd Douglas is confronted by 21 year old masked Luchadore from San Diego, the 5'6", 170 pound Rey Mysterio Jr. challenging Shane to walk the walk if he can talk the talk.
-Rey Mysterio Jr. d. Shane Douglas via pin at 7:50 in a shocking upset in his BOTB debut. Douglas disputes the pin after the bout since he kicked out almost simultaneously with the 3rd count by referee's hand. The replay footage is inconclusive and the decision stands as a win for Mysterio. Douglas throws a tantrum after the bout attacking the ref and destroying the ringside area as Mysterio escapes celebrating
-Music video/interview clip with the debut of The Sandman with Woman cutting promo saying they are coming after the Undisputed World Title as clips play of Sandman's violent history in the ECW promotion as well as his feud with Steve Austin/Mikey Whipreck there in 1995 that pushed Austin over the edge.
-World Tag League Qualifying Match/No DQ: The Hardcore Guns d. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. after both Billy and Bart batter Terry with chair shots before pinning him. The attack on the Funk Brothers continued until the Legion Of Doom, Hawk and Animal made their BOTB debuts in new blue gear to make the save. Hawk screams into the mic that the LOD is back and officially have entered the World Tag League.
-Breaking news that internationally acclaimed tag team The Can Am Express, Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon have entered the World Tag League
-Harlem Heat in-ring promo about the World Tag League season. Jim Cornette brings out Vader, Bulldog, and Owen to confront them. Heat call out Camp Cornette but Cornette sets them up in a handicap match against Vader
-Handicap Match: Vader vs Harlem Heat ends in a no contest when Owen & Bulldog get involved to outnumber Booker & Stevie Ray until the lights cut out. The lights come back on to reveal Sabu in the ring face to face with Vader. Sabu helps Harlem Heat fight off Camp Cornette until Vader choke slams him through the commentary table. Camp Cornette leave Sabu and Harlem Heat laying
-Bret Hart interview about upcoming match against Chris Benoit and his loyalty over the Horsemen over his roots in the Hart Family Dungeon
-Kevin Jackson d. Hunter Hearst Helmsley via pinfall at 9:49 after a Death Valley Driver to win his official one on one BOTB debut
-Press Conference highlights of Holyfield vs Karelin in Las Vegas with the face to face staredown
-Steel Cage Challenge: The Ultimate Warrior, Sting, & Randy Savage d. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Chris Benoit after Warrior pins Arn Anderson. Sting and Savage were handcuffed to the cage walls while Warrior was outnumbered 3 to 1. Ahmed Johnson ran out and ripped the door off it's hinges to make the save.
-Show ends with Steve Austin locker room promo with Paul E. in the shadowy background. Austin reveals an icy and remorseless demeanor about Mikey Whipreck being paralyzed for the rest of his life after the attack two weeks ago, stating that his only regret was not finishing the job and putting the kid out of his misery. Austin calls out The Sandman, Eric Bischoff, Shawn Michaels, and puts the entire industry on notice that Paul E. Dangerously is the man that gives him the power to do whatever the hell he wants to do, to whoever the hell he wants to do it to, and theres nobody that can stop him.

Bushido(Feb. 15th, 1996)
The Manhattan Center(NYC)
-Hybrid Rules Bout(Lucha vs Dutch Kickboxing): Peter Aerts d. Gran Naniwa via KO at 7:08 of the first round. Ultimo Dragon is shown watching on wearing his mask and a 3 piece black suit in the upper balcony
-Beyond The Mat: Yoshiaki Fujiwara and his influence on hybrid style submission based pro wrestling in Japan(Shoot Style).
-Control Center Report with Joey Styles hyping Karelin vs Holyfield mega battle at BOTB II on PPV
-World Tag League Qualifying Match/UWFI Rules Bout: Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit d. Hiromitsu Kanehara & Kazushi Sakuraba(UWFI) via submission at 6:33 when Benoit forced Sakuraba to tap out to the Crossface. Benoit & Arn are beat up by UWFI wrestlers after the match as Nobuhiko Takada is shown watching on
-An honorary red carpet ceremony to induct Yoshiaki Fujiwara into the Championship Council is ruined when Fujiwara denounces the Council and BOTB, instead bringing both Nobuhiko Takada and Rings leader Akira Maeda into the ring to unite them in the spirit of the original UWF. Rings and UWFI form a new alliance christened as "The Kings Of Kings"...


Saturday Night Shockwave(Feb. 17th, 1996)
Grand Olympic Auditorium(Los Angeles, CA)
-Undisputed Champ Shawn Michaels opens the show addressing Shane Douglas' recent challenges mocking his recent upset loss to Rey Mysterio Jr. Michaels then reveals that he's brought a member of the Kliq here to BOTB to watch his back, debuting The 123 Kid. The two throw their name into the 8 man tournament for the final World Tag League spot set for tonight but Eric Bischoff shuts it down, stating that Michaels as the Undisputed Champion is unelligible to compete tonight. HBK vows to find somebody to take his place and team with Kid for tonight's tournament
-World Tag League Qualifying Tournament(Quarterfinals): The Public Enemy d. The Body Donnas(Skip/Zip) via pin at 3:11
-Cactus Jack comes out and declares that he has no partner for tonight's tournament since Mikey was put in a wheel chair for the rest of his life by Steve Austin. Cactus calls out former training partner at his old wrestling school Shane Douglas to team with him one final time tonight to make a run for the WTL. Douglas comes out to confront Cactus and accepts his offer only for the shot to get his hands on the Kliq tonight! Douglas and Cactus are immediately confronted by Raven & Stevie Richards...
-World Tag League Qualifying Tournament(Quarterfinals): Cactus Jack & Shane Douglas d. Raven & Stevie Richards via pin after Douglas pins Richards at 8:43
-Mikey Whipreck tribute video set to River Of Deceipt by Mad Season
-World Tag League Qualifying Match(Quarterfinals): The Powers Of Pain(Barbarian/Warlord) d. The Bruise Brothers via pin at 4:41.
-World Tag League Qualifying Match(Quarterfinals): The 123 Kid & Aldo Montoya d. The Nasty Boyz via pin at 3:10
-Video recap of the UWFI invasion of NJPW starting in 1995 with Takada capturing and defending the coveted IWGP title, along with the invasion of AJPW by the Rings promotion led by Akira Maeda. The video recaps the reuniting of the UWFI and Rings forces on this past week's episode of Bushido with the new name of the united force being The Kings Of Kings, with their main focus being to regain Lou Thesz' original World Championship belt
-Ultimo Dragon vs Peter Aerts II set and made official for Caesars Palace for BOTB II
-World Tag League Qualifying Tournament(Semifinals): The Public Enemy d. The Powers Of Pain
-World Tag League Qualifying Tournament(Semifinals): The 123 Kid & Aldo Montoya d. Cactus Jack & Shane Douglas after Cactus accidentally hits Shane with a steel chair, setting him up to be pinned by Kid for the victory. Douglas throws a tantrum destroying the ringside timekeepers table after being pulled apart from Cactus by security
-In-ring interviews in a faceoff between Sting, Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior on the eve of their Triangle Match to decide the new #1 Contender is crashed by Ahmed Johnson, who challenges all 3 men to make the match a Four Corners Match. The match is made official that whoever wins the Four Corners Match will earn a shot at Shawn Michaels Undisputed Title later on the same night at BOTB II
-World Tag League Qualifying Tournament Finals: The 123 Kid & Aldo Montoya d. The Public Enemy to win the tournament and earn the 12th and final spot in the 1996 World Tag League season after Shawn Michaels interferes and drops both Rocco and Johnny Grunge with SCM's to help them win the bout.


Worldwide(Feb. 17th, 1996)
Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
-Hype for the Four Corners match, Ahmed vs Sting vs Savage vs Ultimate Warrior will open BOTB II PPV in Caesars Palace, the winner of the match will get a shot at HBK's Undisputed Title later that night in the main event!
-Jeff Jarrett d. Steve Armstrong
-Hype for Holyfield vs Karelin
-Hype for World Tag League 1996 season set to kickoff on Judgement Night on Monday Night
-Hakushi vs One Man Gang ends in a no contest after One Man Gang powerslams Hakushi THROUGH the elevated catwalk entrance ramp, the show goes off the air with both men still down in the hole


Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors(PPV)(Feb. 18th, 1996)
Caesars Palace(Las Vegas, NV)
-Four Corners #1 Contenders Match: Sting d. Randy Savage, Ahmed Johnson, & The Ultimate Warrior when he forced Savage to submit to Scorpion Deathlock at 26:05
-Taz crashes the show and issues an open challenge, refusing the leave the ring until somebody faces him. The challenge is answered by Yokozuna
-Taz d. Yokozuna via technical submission after choking him unconscious with the Kata-hajime. During the bout the top ring rope broke causing Yokozuna to fall off the corner turnbuckles when attempting a Bonzai Drop.
-News is broken that the decision has been reversed from Shockwave, The 123 Kid & Aldo Montoya are removed from the World Tag League and the Public Enemy are awarded the win due to interference from Shawn Michaels
-No DQ Triple Threat Match: Steve Austin d. The Sandman & Cactus Jack after pinning The Sandman. Shane Douglas interefered in the match and knocked Cactus Jack out with a steel chair shot
-Sunny interview with Ric Flair and Arn Anderson breaking the news that the new 4th member of the Horsemen will be revealed tomorrow night on Judgement Night. Sunny leaves Caesars Palace with Ric Flair
-Hybrid Rules Bout(Lucha vs Dutch Kickboxing): Ultimo Dragon d. Peter Aerts via split decision after going all 3 rounds
-Honorary ceremony to induct Satoru "Tiger Mask" Sayama as the 7th member of the Championship Council is crashed by the Kings Of Kings group, who attack Sayama and leave him with a broken jaw after a kick to the face from Akira Maeda
-Bret "The Hitman" Hart d. Chris Benoit via pinfall with a rollup at 13:49
-Hybrid Rules Boxer vs Wrestler Bout: Aleksandre Karelin d. Evander Holyfield via doctor stoppage at 1:24 of the first round after Holyfield suffered a cut due to accidental headbutt in the clinch
-Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship: Shawn Michaels(C) d. Sting via pin after Sweet Chin Music at 18:21

Best Of The Best: Way Of The Warrior
Universal Studios Florida
January 1st, 1996

Tonight's telecast opens up with a silent still shot of the masterpiece painting of Jacob's wrestling with an Angel by Alexander Louis Leloir.... The image fades into a black screen with a subtitle of the bible quote that inspired the work... 

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the break of day..."

                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                   -Genesis 3:16

Since the dawn of man, there has been the never ending primal instinctive fight to survive. The bronze age tale of Jacob wrestling the Angel is believed by many to be symbolism for mankind's eternal wrestling match with God, the struggles, the hardships, extinction, an ice age.... the Black Plague.... Slavery.... World War...  the internal fight within one's own self, and the eternal fight of good.... vs evil....

Through the bronze age into the first Olympics in ancient Greece, wrestling evolved from a natural human instinct into a sport of honor and technique.... 

Wrestling and combat evolved alongside humanity's rise through the centuries. As the world changed and grew, so did the challenges that faced mankind. With new challenges to overcome, humanity around the globe all evolved their own distinctive fighting styles. In the island country of Japan in the Pacific Ocean, the warrior class of Samurai developed the Bushido lifestyle, the Way Of The Warrior.... 

By the year 1192 AD the Samurai had evolved a battlefield fighting style of Jiu Jitsu, a hand to hand combat style that specialized in wrestling heavily armored opponents that couldn't be effected by punches or kicks, instead the Samurai utilized a specialized grappling technique that focused on lethal submissions and throws. From Jiu Jitsu evolved modern Judo, and the island nation of Japan would go on to embrace all martial arts, from Karate to Sumo Wrestling... 

By the turn of the 20th century wrestling began to evolve into a different direction from the other martial arts around the world. Perhaps wrestling peaked as a pro sport on Labor Day in 1911 when Frank Gotch vs George Hackenschmidt faced off in a rematch that was as big as any major boxing match in the US. The event drew an estimated 30,000 to a baseball field in Chicago as Gotch took down the Russian Lion.... 

 

Nine years later on December 13th 1920, Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Joe Stecher to win the World Title in a match that many believed to be the last true legitimate wrestling match for a major pro title. Coming out of World War 2 in the 1940's and the advent of television in the 1950's, wrestling took on another purpose in the spectrum of the martial arts.... inspiration.

After war ravaged the world it was the heroes of wrestling's live theater that inspired hope for humanity to keep fighting the eternal wrestling match with the obstacles put in front of our existence. It was the heroes like Rikidozan, and Bruno Sammartino that gave hope to a suffering people... 

Lou Thesz dominated the mats of pro wrestling with unmatched technical mat craftsmanship and skill from the end of the 1940's to 1966 as the Undisputed World Champion. Thesz was the last of a dying breed of wrestlers, the last of the shooters that brought respect and honor to pro wrestling as a martial art. By the 1970's and 80's wrestling began to fall into a darkness of drugs, steroids, scandal, false icons and fake heroes, crooked promoters that left the artform in far worse shape than what they found it....

Pro wrestling in America reached a new all time low in 1995 as the shameless quest for profits seen both WWF and WCW try to outdo each other with too much emphasis on spectacle, not enough on substance. Mantaur, clowns, race car drivers and trash men, mummies and monster trucks, it was a world that needed to be torn down in order to rebuild the honor and respect of a long forgotten martial art. Now tonight in 1996 we begin a new era, the era of the Best Of The Best....

The photo of Flair segues into the music of the brand new song "Fu-Gee-La" by The Fugees fades into a fast paced and hard hitting opening highlight music video....

The opening video moves swiftly to the beat of the music showing clips of Bret superplexing the British Bulldog, Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko in the dark grainy bingo hall in South Philadelphia then in a packed arena under the bright lights of Nitro, Shawn Michaels sweet chin music, Sting screaming to the crowd, Raven breaking Tommy Dreamer's fingers, the Vince Mcmahon funeral clips of all the wrestlers in suit and tie, people crying, the hearse turning the corner in a long elaborate funeral procession...

oohh la la la...


its the way that we rock when we doin' our thing...


ooh la la la la...


its the natural vibe that The Refugees bring....


oooooh la la la, la lalalala... 

Savage elbow drop, 4 Horsemen together Pillman, Arn, Flair, and Benoit holding up 4 fingers, Luger flex, Owen and Bulldog with screaming Cornette red faced, Cactus Jack walking out bang-bang in ECW grit, Ahmed Johnson Pearl River Plunge, Hakushi cartwheel back elbow, Harlem Heat raise the roof.....

The music video fades into a studio shot of host Joey Styles alongside special guest co-host Wesley Snipes, action movie superstar from films like Passenger 57, White Men Can't Jump, and Demolition Man. Tonight here on TNT we take a look back at the year that was 1995 while we also look forward to what Best Of The Best is set to deliver here in 1996!

Joey Styles and Wesley Snipes break the news right away that Bret "The Hitman" Hart, the final ever WWF World Champion, The Best There Is... The Best There Ever Was.... The Best There Ever Will Be!.. has been signed to face the current WCW World Champion, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in an Undisputed World Championship Match live on January 22nd on Judgement Night on the USA Network! This match will crown the very first ever king of the Best Of The Best and the reigning undisputed World Champion of Professional Wrestling. LIVE JANUARY 22nd 1996 ON THE USA NETWORK... JUDGEMENT NIGHT!!!

vs
Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Joey Styles narrates a highlight of the Bret Hart vs British Bulldog bloodbath that took place last month at the final ever WWF event the Vince Mcmahon Memorial Tribute show. Bret was busted open badly during the match but he recovered and defeated the Bulldog to retain his title and avenge his loss to his brother in law back in Summerslam 92. The legendary Nature Boy Ric Flair's performance at Starrcade 95 just days ago is shown with Flair outlasting Sting and Lex Luger in a Triangle Match before defeating Macho Man Randy Savage to recapture the WCW World Championship. Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Brian Pillman stood tall as WCW went off the air for the final time ever...

The match has been signed, it will be Champion vs Champion live on the USA Network January 22nd on Best Of The Best Judgement Night! The clips are shown of Bret upsetting Flair for the WWF title in 1992, with Joey Styles hyping up the history between these 2 of the absolute all time best wrestlers to ever step into the ring. Flair will have The Horsemen in his corner, they were the difference makers in his victory over Randy Savage at WCW Starrcade last week. Both Flair and Bret avenged key losses in their careers last month and were the final champions of WCW and WWF. Now they will clash on January 22nd on the USA Network on Best Of The Best Judgement Night, it will be CHAMPION VS CHAMPION.... in the end.... THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

Joey Styles alongside Wesley Snipes talk about what the all new Best Of The Best is, a new series that will be a dream stage for professional wrestling of every style from every corner of the globe. The Best Of The Best will be wild, unpredictable, violent, but it will also at it's core be all about honor and restoring respect to professional wrestling as a legitimate martial art. The core governing body "The Championship Council" will be the sanctioning body that will govern the Best Of The Best league. This council is a cabinet of 6 of the all time greatest living legends of professional wrestling. The council includes Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, and Nick Bockwinkle. Joey Styles also breaks the news that the corporate offices of Best Of The Best have signed a new CEO to be revealed this Saturday night on TBS on Saturday Night Shockwave!

*****

After the commercial break we get a commercial for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Joey Styles in the studio breaks the news that there will be the very first ever "Champions Rumble" match at A New Beginning on January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Eternal Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match!

*****

After the commercial break we get a recap of the final ever WCW show, Starrcade 95, which took place just 4 days ago on pay per view from Nashville Tennessee. The event felt like a return to form for WCW since it lacked any involvement from Hulk Hogan or any of his former WWF cast offs that had overrun the roster for the last year and a half. World Championship Wrestling was once a proud wrestling promotion that focused on in-ring action and athleticism in a way that no other major league federation in the US did. It was the home of War Games, the big gold belt, the best tag team wrestling, and epic clashes featuring Flair, Sting, Steamboat, Funk, and many more. When the company signed Hulk Hogan and promoted the young Eric Bischoff to senior executive vice president the promotion seemingly sold it's soul and sacrificed it's identity in order to achieve commercial success. Even though WCW was flooded with older WWF cast offs in 1994 and 1995, the young Bischoff managed to push WCW into the mainstream by launching WCW Nitro live on TNT head to head with WWF Raw on Monday nights. 

The year of 1995 saw the debut of Nitro but overall it was a mess for WCW. Fans became burned out on Hulk Hogan's good guy persona by the time he started feuding with the Dungeon Of Doom in the Fall. The Halloween Havoc pay per view in October seen WCW hit an all time low with one of the most embarrassing shows of all time. Through it all there remained a core of young stars that maintained the heart of WCW, stars like Sting, Harlem Heat, The Four Horsemen, and a new crop of young wrestlers that emerged later in 95 like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit. There was no Hulk Hogan or Dungeon Of Doom at Starrcade last week, instead we got a Best Of 7 World Cup between WCW vs Japan, and Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen standing tall and proud with the World Championship as the program went off the air. The spirit of the best of what WCW had to offer will live on here in Best Of The Best in 1996, everything else will be left behind in the past....   

*****

After the commercial break we join special guest co-host Wesley Snipes in the Manhattan center in Times Square for an in-depth look at the all new show set to premier this Thursday night on TBS at 8, BUSHIDO!

Wesley Snipes talks about what it is like to make action films like Demolition Man or Rising Sun, what it's like to get into a character like Simon Phoenix and bring him to life on the big screen. Snipes segues into putting pro wrestling over as essentially the same thing, only in this ring it's live in front of a packed arena and you only get 1 shot to make it right. Snipes announces that this Thursday night January 4th on TBS Best Of The Best is set to premier something a little different from pro wrestling... Bushido. Every Thursday night for one hour Bushido will bring you a look into combat sports around the world, bringing live martial arts and wrestling action right into your living room. Bushido will be the proving ground of professional wrestlers in Best Of The Best to test their might against martial artists from every style and from all corners of the globe, from Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Jujitsu, Judo, and Greco Roman Wrestling. Bushido will not be your typical wrestling program, it is here you will see martial arts exhibitions and demonstrations, with live matches with hybrid rules, style vs style, even matches with rounds. Catch the series premier of Bushido this Thursday night January 4th on TBS! 

*****

We return from commercials with highlight clips of the final ever WWF event last month in the Vince Mcmahon Memorial Tribute show that took place on PPV from Hershey Pennsylvania. It was here that a bloodied Bret "The Hitman" Hart took down his brother in law The British Bulldog to defend his WWF title and avenge his loss at Summerslam 92 at Wembley Stadium. The year of 1995 was a tumultuous one for the WWF following the death of owner Vince Mcmahon. The WWF had become a cartoon show by 1995, full of pirates, race car drivers, clowns, whatever Mantaur was, trash men, a Mabel main event push, and a World Title reign by Diesel that seen business for the company plummet. Things looked to be improving in the months after Vince passed away. Bret Hart brought Diesel's title reign to an end when he regained the WWF Championship at Survivor Series in November. The Hitman returned to the top of the WWF with two of the best matches of all of pro wrestling in November and December last year, his 20 year contract signing with Best Of The Best in December was headline news.

Bret The Hitman Hart has been the Excellence Of Execution throughout his pro career. The Hitman is the 8th child of catch wrestling legend Stu Hart, the owner and founder of Canada's Stampede Wrestling. Stu trained Bret in the infamous Hart Family Dungeon where he passed on a forgotten artform of catch style submission wrestling, a form of shoot style wrestling that traces back to the Snake Pit in Wigan England. Bret's background in his family Dungeon with his father gave him a technical style of wrestling that is a throwback to the shooters like Lou Thesz of the past. The Hitman would go on to the WWF where he would become a triple crown winner, the only wrestler in history to win 2 WWF Tag Team Titles, 2 Intercontinental Titles, and he's a 3 time WWF World Champion... the final WWF Champion.... 

Bret climbed up through the WWF ranks as a tag team wrestler with his brother in law Jim "The Anvil" Neidhardt before breaking off as a singles wrestler in the early 90's. The Hitman put on thrilling classic matches in victories over Mr. Perfect at Summerslam 91 in Madison Square Garden. Bret would lose his IC title to brother in law The British Bulldog a year later at Summerslam 92 at Wembley Stadium but he would go on to score his first WWF Championship by upsetting Ric Flair just 2 months later in one of the biggest shock upsets in WWF history. 

The Hitman would win over the love of pro wrestling fans with his resiliency and his ability to fight back from tough losses. After being cheated out of the WWF Title at Wrestlemania IX Bret would fight his way back to avenge the loss and regain the belt a year later at Wrestlemania X. A bitter feud with his brother Owen Hart would take center stage in the WWF in 1994 with the two brothers going toe to toe in a cagematch at Summerslam 94. Owen would cause Bret to lose his title by tricking their mother into throwing in the towel during The Hitman's title match against Bob Backlund at Survivor Series 94. Bret worked harder than ever to overcome his loss to Backlund and the betrayal of his brothers Owen and The Bulldog, eventually scoring the upset win over Diesel this past November to win the WWF Championship for the 3rd time. Bret got revenge on Bulldog at the final WWF show last month in a bloody title defense that has been called the best match of 1995. 

The international superstar has been signed to Best Of The Best and he represents everything that the promotion stands for. Honor, respect, technical skill, heart, and the way of the warrior...  

*****

Joey Styles hypes up the premier of Saturday Night Shockwave this Saturday night at 6:05 on the Superstation TBS, 2 hours with Tony Shiavonne, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and Mike Tenay....

This Saturday night on the premier of Shockwave we will see the very first ever in ring action and the match has been signed, Eddie Guerrero will take on Dean Malenko as one of the greatest in-ring rivalries of 1995 will kick off 1996 in Best Of The Best! Also on this episode, the corporate office of Best Of The Best will appoint a new Executive Senior President to be revealed this Saturday night on Shockwave! Plus Hakushi vs William Regal in an international challenge, and Harlem Heat, "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama, and Owen Hart & The British Bulldog all in action! This SATURDAY NIGHT 6:05 ON TBS! 

*****

Joey Styles after the break introduces himself as the voice of Extreme Championship Wrestling, the promotion that he called home for the last 2 years. Styles explains what ECW was as an underground renegade promotion in Philadelphia that had everyone in the wrestling business talking in 1995. A highlight montage shows the major stars and storylines in the final days of the promotion in 1995, Cactus Jack turning on Tommy Dreamer to align with Raven, leading to Dreamer bringing Terry Funk back to help him defeat them at November To Remember. The video montage covers Mikey Whipreck's upset win over Steve Austin and his capturing of the ECW TV and Tag titles at the end of the year, along with clips of Sabu's return, and the highly acclaimed Malenko vs Guerrero series in the Spring/Summer...

Joey Styles gets emotional and his voice cracks as he talks about ECW holding it's final show ever just 3 days ago at the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens NY. Styles on behalf of all the wrestlers and crew at ECW thanks all the fans that supported the promotion and turned it into a legend that will live on forever with a lasting influence on The Best Of The Best.... 

*****

The former voice of ECW Joey Styles is now a part of Best Of The Best, tune into Worldwide every Saturday late night to catch Joey in the studio at production headquarters in Orlando at Universal Studios. Styles will cover all of the events of pro wrestling around the world every week with a look at all of the biggest stories, inside dirt, and exclusive Best Of The Best matches featuring up and coming stars...

This Saturday night at midnight on January 6th catch the premier of Worldwide with Joey Styles with Psicosis and Ahmed Johnson in action! Check your local listings, reruns air the following morning on Sunday at 11 am on TNT!

*****

Joey Styles and Wesley Snipes bid farewell from the studio as they wrap up the broadcast for tonight's special introduction into the world of the Best Of The Best. Snipes talks about how excited he is to see this whole league kick off this week while Joey Styles talks about what all of this means for the world of all combat sports, especially professional wrestling, which quite frankly to be honest had seen better times in 1995. Everything is set and builds to the Best Of The Best: A New Beginning live on PPV on Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX from the Astrodome in Houston TEXAS! The program fades out with Joey Styles hyping up the new Monday night live series Judgement Night set to premier on the USA Network next week at 8!....

Judgement Night will be live 2 hours every Monday night with Jim Ross and Paul Heyman in the booth, this will be completely unpredictable and anything can happen! Catch the world premier of Best Of The Best Judgement Night live on USA on Monday night January 8th! Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, and so much more next Monday night will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT!....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
January 4th, 1996

Bushido... a way of life... the way of the warrior. Perhaps no other man embodied this vision and warrior spirit like the legendary Bruce Lee. Lee preached a lifestyle of honor and an open minded concept of accepting... "No way as a way". Now in 1996 the definition of a modern day warrior has changed(clips of Ultimate Fighting violence, Tae Kwon Do kata, Mike Tyson knocking out Peter Mcneeley, explosive Sumo clash, NCAA Wrestling scramble, violent Judo throws, Ric Flair holding up the WCW World Title), and tonight Best Of The Best brings you the world premier of Bushido; an all new revolutionary breakthrough concept of a hyrbid form of combat that brings Bruce Lee's vision of "No way as a way" to reality...

Joey Styles opens up the program from the production studio of the Manhattan Center with a wall of television monitors in the background and sound and control boards surrounding him as he introduces his 2 co-hosts for tonight's world premier episode of Bushido, the stars from the hit Best Of The Best action films... Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee! 

Everyone is talking about the launch of the Best Of The Best series this week and the hype is on for what is set and signed to be the very first match this Saturday night right here on TBS at 6:05 it will be Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko on the premier episode of Saturday Night Shockwave! Then it all kicks off live this coming Monday Night on the USA Network with the world premier of Judgement Night! All roads lead to Super Saturday the night before Super Bowl XXX live on pay per view in the Houston Astrodome, Best Of The Best: A New Beginning on January 27th! But first, live and free on USA on Judgement Night on January 22nd we will see the crowing of the very first ever Undisputed Unified World Champion of Professional Wrestling when the final WWF Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart will take on the final WCW Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a title unification bout! 

vs

Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Tonight from the studios of the Manhattan Center in New York, Joey Styles and co-hosts Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee will take you on a deep inside look at this groundbreaking new concept of Bushido, plus news and announcements about challengers who have answered the call for the 30 Man Open Invitational Champions Rumble set for pay per view on January 27th at A New Beginning! 

*****

Following the first round of commercials we get a breaking news report about the first Champion who has answered the open invitation to compete in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble at A New Beginning on pay per view on January 27th..... THE ULTIMO DRAGON!

The announcement was made to start off 1996 that the Best Of The Best Championship Council has sent out invitations to every champion on the planet for the 30 man Champions Rumble Match set for the inaugural Best Of The Best pay per view on January 27th. The match will have traditional Royal Rumble rules but for the first time participants will be able to be eliminated by pinfall or submission as well as being thrown over the top.

The Ultimo Dragon is the current reigning NWA World Middleweight Champion and the International Junior Heavyweight Champion and is the first man to answer the call to enter the 30 Man Champion Rumble Match! Tonight's program focuses on Ultimo Dragon with extensive highlights of his recent matches in CMLL, WAR, and AAA along with a profile about his start in the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in the late 1980's.

Joey Styles narrates the video explaining Ultimo Dragon's backstory that he was never given any opportunities in Japan due to his small size. Dragon found a new home when he went to Mexico in the early 90's, there he was adopted and given his name Ultimo Dragon, which is spanish for "The Last Dragon". It was in Mexico where Ultimo Dragon earned his respect and became a master of the Lucha Libre style of professional wrestling. The Last Dragon has become one of the most dominant Cruiserweights around the world.

Lucha Libre is one of the many styles of professional wrestling that will be heavily featured here on Bushido every week on TBS. Right here every Thursday night at 8pm we will see the Luchadores of Mexico test their might against other style of wrestling as well as martial artists from around the world.  

*****

After the commercial break we get a commercial for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Joey Styles in the studio talks about the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Eternal Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. The Ultimo Dragon is the first man to answer the challenge, tonight later on this program we will reveal the next man to throw his name into the Champions Rumble! 

*****

We cut away to a wide shot of a dark empty Manhattan Center with a wrestling ring set up and special guests co-hosts Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee center stage. Both actors starred together in the hit Best Of The Best action films, The first film was released in 1989 focused on a team of American full contact Karate fighters as they had to overcome their own personal conflicts before coming together as a team to face a dominant Korean National team in a head to head face off. 

The film spawned a successful sequel Best Of The Best 2 released in 1993, which had Roberts and Rhee reprise their roles from the first film in a story that had them enter an illegal underground no holds barred fighting tournament that pitted martial artists from different styles against each other. Both of the films were massive inspiration for the Best Of The Best league, and the source of the name of this Best Of The Best series comes directly from the movies... 

Best Of The Best film star Phillip Rhee has signed on to be the permanent co-host of Bushido with Joey Styles here on TBS on Thursday nights. Rhee is a 6th dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 3rd dan black belt in Hapkido, and has trained extensively in Wing Chun Kung Fu and Boxing. Phillip Rhee was not only the star of the first Best Of The Best film but he also wrote the screenplay for the film based on his real life run in the 1980 Asia Games where he represented the United States Tae Kwon Do team against the South Korean National team in the Championship round.

Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee spend some time explaining to the viewer what to expect here on Bushido from week to week. Make no mistake about it, Bushido is a pro wrestling show, but it's pro wrestling with a Bruce Lee "No way as a way" twist. Pro wresting on Bushido will be respected as part of a bigger picture, as it's own martial arts style, just the same as Judo or Karate or Boxing is it's own martial arts style. This is the proving ground for wrestlers and martial artists of all combat styles. Here on Bushido every week you will see in-ring action under different sets of rules, you will see martial arts exhibitions and demonstrations, style vs style matches contested with rounds, judges decisions, and an emphasis on honor and respect...

*****

There are those that say that the Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko series in 1995 produced the very best that pro wrestling had to offer. The two developed their rivalry in Japan in the early 90's and took it to a new level on American soil last year when they clashed in ECW through the Spring and Summer. The series of matches earned both wrestlers a shot at the big time with WCW contracts, where they took their rivalry to the big stage and bright lights of prime time cable television on WCW Nitro. Now, the best rivalry of 1995 is here to kick things off for Best Of The Best in 1996 this Saturday Night at 6:05 on TBS it will be SATURDAY NIGHT SHOCKWAVE!

This Saturday night on the premier of Shockwave join Tony Shiavonne, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and Mike Tenay for 2 hours as they kick things off with a showdown between Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko, plus Jim Cornette's duo of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog, "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama, and Harlem Heat in action! Also Best Of The Best corporate offices have appointed a new Executive Producer to be revealed and we have signed an international challenge with Japan's lethal weapon Hakushi taking on William Regal from the UK! This SATURDAY NIGHT 6:05 ON TBS!

*****

We return from the commercial break with BREAKING NEWS!....


The current reigning and defending NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan "The Beast" Severn has entered the 30 Man Championship Rumble set for Best Of The Best: A New Beginning live on pay per view Super Saturday January 27th the night before Super Bowl XXX!

Dan "The Beast" Severn, 265 pound monster is coming off of a massive victory at the UFC Ultimate Ultimate 95 tournament last month where he defeated 3 men in the same night to win $150,000 in prize money. It was Severn's second UFC tournament victory in 1995 after he ran the table and defeated 3 men in April to win the UFC V tournament. Just two months prior to winning the UFC V tournament Severn captured the vacant NWA World title in February 1995.

The Beast is a two time All American wrestler and Olympic alternate in 1984 and 1988 before going pro in 1992 signing with UWFI in Japan. Severn mauled his way through the top aces of UWFI with dominant victories over Kiyoshi Tamura and Yoji Anjo en route to an undefeated 5-0 record before finally being taken down by the star of the promotion Nobuhiko Takada in a huge match. Severn fell short of the UFC Superfight Championship this past July when he was choked out by Ken Shamrock at UFC VI. Now the man that has been defending the honor of pro wrestling in the world of no holds barred fighting will enter the Champions Rumble for a chance to become #1 contender to the Best Of The Best Undisputed World Championship!   

*****

Check your local listings for Best Of The Best: Worldwide every Saturday late night to catch Joey Styles in the studio at production headquarters in Orlando at Universal Studios. Styles will cover all of the events of pro wrestling around the world every week with a look at all of the biggest stories, inside dirt, and exclusive Best Of The Best matches from Best Of The Best arena in Universal Studios featuring up and coming stars...

This Saturday night at midnight on January 6th catch the premier of Worldwide with Joey Styles with Psicosis and Ahmed Johnson in action! Check your local listings, reruns air the following morning on Sunday at 11 am on TNT!

*****

After the break Joey Styles, Phillip Rhee, and Eric Roberts are shown in the studio hyping up the live pay per view on Super Saturday the night before Super Bowl XXX, you do not want to miss Best Of The Best: A New Beginning! Live from the Houston Astrodome will be the 30 man open invitational Champions Rumble Match! Already revealed tonight have been Ultimo Dragon and Dan "The Best" Severn, there are 28 spots left to reveal over the next few weeks across all of Best Of The Best programming but tonight before we go off the air we will reveal one more man that has answered the call and entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match. That man is none other than...

The 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler, Kevin Jackson! Kevin Jackson joins Joey Styles in the studio as his accomplishments in the world of Freestyle Wrestling are mentioned, including his Gold medal victory in Barcelona in the 1992 Summer Olympics, his gold medal victories in the Pan American Games and the World Championships in 1995. Jackson was also a 4 time Division I All American Folkstyle wrestler. The Iowa State Buckeye has officially signed to go pro with Best Of The Best and with his Gold medals will be granted a spot by the Championship Council in the 30 Man Champions Rumble MATCH! 

Kevin Jackson talks briefly about how excited he is to bring Freestyle Wrestling to Best Of The Best on January 27th at the Astrodome in Houston Texas, live on Pay Per View it will be Super Saturday the night before the Super Bowl, 30 World Champions will battle it out in the ring, in the end... THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

Joey Styles bids farewell from the studio hyping next weeks episode of Bushido where "The Best There Is... The Best There Ever Was... And The Best There Ever Will Be", Bret "The Hitman" Hart will be here in the Manhattan Center next week on Bushido, plus, "The Man Of 1,000 Holds" Dean Malenko will be in action! Bushido fades out with an outro commercial plug for the LIVE series premier of Judgement Night this Monday night at 8pm on the USA Network... 

Catch the world premier of Best Of The Best Judgement Night live on USA on Monday night January 8th! Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, and so much more next Monday night will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT!....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Center Stage Theater(Atlanta, GA)
January 6th, 1996

Shockwave hits the air at 6:05 sharp on the Superstation with a hard opening of a packed Center Stage Theater in Atlanta Georgia where Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan welcome the television audience on commentary! Tonight after all the talk and all the hype we will finally see the very first match in Best Of The Best as Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko renew the hottest rivalry of 1995 right here in the opening match TONIGHT! 

The opening from Shiavonne and Heenan is quickly interrupted by the entrance music of Harlem Heat! Booker T and Stevie Ray make their way out to the ring with the WCW World Tag Team Championship belts! Both men lay down their title belts in the ring in a symbolic gesture as Booker T accepts the challenge of the Championship Council, officially entering both him and his brother into the 30 Man Champions Rumble at Best Of The Best: A New Beginning! Stevie Ray takes the mic and makes it clear that Harlem Heat is here at the Best Of The Best and this is their house. Stevie Ray is suddenly interrupted when all of a sudden... 

THE STEINER BROTHERS ARE HERE! 

Ric and Scott Steiner get a huge pop as they walk out to the entrance isle to confront Harlem Heat! Ric Steiner tells Harlem Heat that this is Best Of The Best and this is not their house, if they want this house they're going to have to fight for it! THE STEINER BROTHERS ARE BACK! The Steiner Brothers challenge Harlem Heat to face them tonight in the main event with their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble ON THE LINE!!! Harlem Heat accept the challenge and the main event is set! Harlem Heat vs The Steiner Brothers with Harlem Heat's spots in the Champions Rumble on January 27th ON THE LINE! TONIGHT! 

*****

After the first commercial break we get a recap of the Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko rivalry that catapulted both wrestlers into the major leagues last year. Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko first locked horns in Japan in 1993 in NJPW. Eddie won the first meeting in May of 93 in Fukushima, but Dean would avenge the loss the next month in Osaka. The two wouldn't meet again for another year when Dean Malenko faced off with and defeated Eddie Guerrero's "Black Tiger" alter ego in NJPW in May of 1994. The two had unfinished business in Japan and would take their rivalry to US soil for the very first time last April at ECW Hostile City Showdown in an amazing 30 minute time limit draw.

The two had an incredible series of matches through the Summer of 1995 in ECW, eventually swapping the ECW World TV title back and forth before going to a double pin draw in a highly emotional farewell match. Just four days after their last ECW match Eddie Guerrero met Dean Malenko on WCW Saturday Night, then two months later they went head to head on primetime cable TV from the Denver Coliseum on WCW Nitro. Now tonight's premier episode of Saturday Night Shockwave the Best Of The Best series opens up with the very first match pitting Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko right here! RIGHT NOW! 

Eddie Guerrero is shown arriving to the Center Stage Theater earlier tonight and walking through the backstage area with a look of focus and determination while Dean Malenko is shown in his lockerroom sitting and warming his wrists up with an ice cold stare. Tony Shiavonne welcomes the television audience to the commentary booth where he reveals the newest signing here in Best Of The Best, the new acting commissioner and CEO.... 

ERIC BISCHOFF!

 
Eric Bischoff is introduced as the new Executive Producer of Best Of The Best with Tony Shiavonne at the commentary booth. Bischoff talks about his track record and how it speaks for itself with the success of WCW and Nitro in 1995. Eric promises to push the envelope with Best Of The Best in 1996 before thanking the corporate offices for believing in him.

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan talk about the news that has been revealed so far, starting with the HUGE Undisputed World Title unification bout between Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Champion vs Champion, live on Judgement Night on Monday night January 22nd on the USA Network.... 

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Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Ric Flair won his 4th WCW World Championship at Starrcade 95 on December 27th to end the year as the final ever WCW World Champion after the promotion was shut down after the end of the year. The Nature Boy managed to outduel both Sting and Lex Luger in a Triangle Match to earn a shot at his former WWF rival Macho Man Randy Savage. Flair avenged his loss to Savage at Wrestlemania VIII by defeating him to win the WCW World Title with help from the Four Horsemen(Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit). It was a fitting end to Starrcade and a fitting end for WCW for Flair and the Horsemen standing tall with the big gold belt being the final scene. 

Now with the Horsemen in his corner Ric Flair will have a chance to avenge another major loss from his 1992 WWF run when he squares off against the final ever WWF Champion, Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Bret defeated Flair for the WWF Championship in Canada at a WWF house show in October 1992 in what at the time was a massive upset. Now, on Monday night January 22nd 1996 on USA Network... it will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT! LIVE! CHAMPION VS CHAMPION! For the Undisputed World Championship Of Professional Wrestling.... There Can Be Only One! 

*****

Ring announcer Dave Penzer brings the fans in the Center Stage Theater to their feet as he announces that the following contest is one fall with a 15 minute television time limit! Eddie Guerrero makes his entrance first as the commentators talk about his crushing defeat at the hands of NJPW's Shinjiro Otani just 10 days ago at WCW Starrcade 95 in one of the matches in the World Cup Of Wrestling. Tonight the pressure is on Eddie Guerrero in a huge match just days after losing one of the biggest, highest profile matches of his entire career. Dean Malenko comes out to the ring with an air of confidence missing from Eddie's entrance. The Man Of 1,000 Holds signed with WCW along with Eddie in August of last year and is coming off of a successful tour of Japan with NJPW in November and December of 95... 

Singles Match
Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko

vs

Eddie Guerrero feels the pressure and misses early openings due to nerves. Guerrero ends up being dominated on the mat by Dean Malenko in the opening minutes of the very first ever Best Of The Best match. Malenko keeps Eddie grounded with holds and stays two to three moves ahead of him in the scrambles on the mat before scoring a series of near fall rollups. Eddie finds his rhythm and finds an opening to take the momentum, fighting with so much more to lose he finds a sense of urgency that pushes Malenko to his limit. Eddie stays two to three moves ahead of Malenko in rope running sequences and lands a series of devastating aerial counter attacks. The two take the bout to the outside with a high splash off the top to the floor from Eddie that brings the crowd to their feet! After a near double count out the pace slows and the match reaches the 15 minute television time limit! 

The crowd begins to protest as Dave Penzer prepares to announce a television time limit draw! All of a sudden the new Best Of The Best Executive Producer Eric Bischoff comes out to the entrance isle and orders the referee to restart this match with a 5 minute sudden death overtime! This match must have a winner! 

The referee restores the match after the break and Guerrero and Malenko give it everything they have in a rapid fire series of counters and reversals! Malenko lands his flying gutbuster but fails to capitalize on it. Eddie favors his ribs for the rest of the match but manages to fight through the pain and exhaustion to land a critical tornado DDT out of the corner! Eddie lands a perfect Frog Splash but struggles with his ribs for too long before making a cover. Dean Malenko kicks out of the pin at 2! The overtime period gets down to the final 30 seconds as both men are slow to get up. After another back and forth series Dean Malenko out of desperation counters an Eddie hurricanrana into a rollup the exact same way Shinjiro Otani did at Starrcade 95 just 10 days ago. Malenko executes the exact same counter but Eddie kips out and pins Malenko with a forward flip into a bridge.... 1.... 2.... 3! 

Eddie Guerrero has defeated Dean Malenko by pinfall after an incredible 19:40! Eddie Guerrero has won the very first ever Best Of The Best match right here on Saturday Night Shockwave! Dean Malenko rolls out of the ring defeated in disbelief as Eddie celebrates with intensity screaming from the corner turnbuckles! 

*****

After the commercial break the final ever WCW World Television Champion Johnny B. Badd comes out to the ring dressed in street clothes with the WCW TV Title and a gym bag. Johnny B. Badd takes the ring and introduces himself as the performer that has played the character of Johnny B. Badd in WCW for years. Johnny B. Badd tells the fans on the mic that his real name is Marc Mero. Mero pulls out his Johnny B. Badd gear from the gym bag and tosses it to the ground as he cuts a promo about being overlooked and never taken seriously as a joke in WCW.

Mero reveals that he is a 4 time New York state boxing champ and a Golden Gloves champion, an athlete with attitude, not a clown. Mero lays down the WCW TV Title and announces that he's answering the call and he will enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble at Best Of The Best: A New Beginning on January 27th! Marc Mero sends a message to anyone in Best Of The Best that he's hungry to prove himself here and finally earn some respect that he has deserved for a long time!

*****

We return from the break with WCW young gun Alex Wright wrapping up his entrance for the following match. Kama makes his entrance next as Tony Shiavonne recaps the year that "The Supreme Fighting Machine" had in 1995. Kama joined the Million Dollar Corporation last year where it seemed like his career was lost in the shuffle due to poor management by Ted Dibiase. Kama faded into obscurity in the WWF in the final months of 1995 but now he gets a chance to start fresh as his own man here in Best Of The Best tonight.... 

Singles Match
"The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama
vs
Alex Wright

A refocused and motivated Kama completely destroys the young Alex Wright in a stiff beating here on Saturday Night Shockwave. The Supreme Fighting Machine looks to have rededicated his career to make another run here without any ties to the Million Dollar Corp. or anyone else, he has nobody in his corner. Alex Wright barely manages to get in any offense before being forced to tap to a choke at 2:11. Kama refused to release the choke after the bell and choked Alex Wright completely unconscious before celebrating over his lifeless body... 

*****

After the commercial break we get a commercial for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan talk about the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Eternal Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. There are 24 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

The Ultimo Dragon(NWA World Middleweight Champion, International Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Dan "The Beast" Severn(NWA World Heavyweight Champion, UFC V
and Ultimate Ultimate 95 Tournament Champion)

Kevin Jackson(1992 Olympic Gold Medal Freestyle Wrestling, 1995 Freestyle Wrestling World Champion)

Marc Mero(WCW TV Champion, NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion)

Harlem Heat(WCW World Tag Team Champions)

*****

After another commercial break Shockwave returns with the entrance of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog being led to the ring by Jim Cornette! Tony Shiavonne talks about how we will see an emphasis on tag team wrestling here in Best Of The Best right here on Shockwave especially, and it just doesn't get any better than this duo of Owen and The Bulldog... 

Tag Team Match
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/ Jim Cornette)
vs
Larry Santo & Buck Quartermaine

Owen Hart starts the match off completely outclassing Buck Quartermaine in his Best Of The Best debut. Hart taunts the crowd in between downing Quartermaine and Santo while Jim Cornette stalks the outside going back and forth with the ringside fans. The British Bulldog tags and and dominates both Santo and Quartermaine, at one point knocking Santo out to the floor before press slamming Quartermaine over the top rope onto him! Incredible showcase of power. Cornette kicks Larry Santo in the groin from behind while the referee is distracted by Owen! The Bulldog puts the legal man away with a brutal running powerslam for the easy victory at 3:44! Owen Hart and The British Bulldog are here in the Best Of The Best with Jim Cornette! 

*****

We cut away to the backstage locker room area where Mike Tenay is standing by with the massive 6' 9", 400 pound One Man Gang, the final ever WCW United States Champion! Mike Tenay puts One Man Gang over for being one of the best big men in the business, mentioning his days as UWF World Champion in Mid-South a decade ago. The One Man Gang takes the mic and cuts a promo about the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at Best Of The Best: A New Beginning on January 27th in the Houston Astrodome. The Gang showcases the classic WCW United States Championship Belt as the final champion ever he here by relinquishes his belt to enter the Champions Rumble! The One Man Gang lays down the US Title belt and accepts the challenge for January 27th in Houston! 

*****

We return to the Center Stage Arena for a special attraction that brings the fans to their feet. William Regal is shown already in the ring as Hakushi makes his entrance in his trademark Raiden gear. The Japanese phenom takes his time making it to the ring as the lights show simulates flashing lighting strikes... 

International Challenge Match

Hakushi vs William Regal

Hakushi dazzles the crowd in the Center Stage Arena with lethal kicks and chops that stifle the English grappler right at the start. Regal has no answer for Hakushi's speed and striking ability in the early minutes but finds an opening by moving out of the way of a cartwheel back elbow attempt into the corner. Regal manages to slow the match down to literally nothing happening as he keeps Hakushi trapped in a chinlock, occasionally using the ropes with his legs for leverage. Referee Charles Robinson finally catches Regal cheating and forces him to break the hold! Hakushi chops Regal down and finishes him off with a moonsault for the victory via pinfall at 5:33! What an incredible debut here from Hakushi with a phenomenal performance and a huge victory over a dangerous opponent. 

*****

Check your local listings for Best Of The Best: Worldwide every Saturday late night to catch Joey Styles in the studio at production headquarters in Orlando at Universal Studios. Styles will cover all of the events of pro wrestling around the world every week with a look at all of the biggest stories, inside dirt, and exclusive Best Of The Best matches from Best Of The Best arena in Universal Studios featuring up and coming stars...

This Saturday night at midnight on January 6th catch the premier of Worldwide with Joey Styles with Psicosis and Ahmed Johnson in action! Check your local listings, reruns air the following morning on Sunday at 11 am on TNT!

*****

After the break we get the entrances of The Steiner Brothers bringing the fans in the Center Stage Theater to their feet! Scott and Ric Steiner at this point in their careers have won every major tag team title their is, the NWA titles, the IWGP titles in Japan, as well as both WCW and WWF tag title reigns. The Steiner Brothers faded into obscurity in 1995 after leaving the WWF in 1994. Now one of the all time great tag teams returns here tonight! Harlem Heat make their entrance next as Tony Shiavonne recaps their victory in October of 1995 to win the WCW World Tag Team titles for the 4th time. Harlem Heat held onto the WCW World Tag titles until the company closed it's doors for good following Starrcade 95. Both teams eye each other down during the intros as the commentators recap the stipulation set earlier tonight, if The Steiner Brothers beat Harlem Heat they will take their 2 spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at Best Of The Best: A New Beginning pay per view on January 27th! 

Tag Team Match
Harlem Heat vs The Steiner Brothers

The Steiner Brothers ride a wave of momentum to dominate Harlem Heat with a return to form, smooth team work, seamless tagging, brute power, and sharp technique all around. Harlem Heat create an opening and take over the match before things devolve into a brawl out on the floor! After a near double countout the referee loses control inside the ring with all four men going at it in a wild brawl! All of a sudden pandemonium erupts when....

THE SMOKING GUNS RUN OUT! Bart and Billy Gunn hit the ring and take out The Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat with their WWF Championship Belts! After briefly taking over the ring the Steiners and Harlem Heat converge and all out madness ensues with Shockwave fading out with a 6 man brawl!....


The final credits fade into an ad for the upcoming premier of Best Of The Best Judgement Night LIVE on the USA Netowrk this next Monday night!....

Catch the world premier of Best Of The Best Judgement Night live on USA THIS Monday night January 8th! Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, and so much more next Monday night will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT!....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
January 6th, 1996

Joey Styles opens up the all new series premier of Best Of The Best: Worldwide, broadcasting from Best Of The Best production headquarters at Universal Studios Florida! Tonight on this program in our main event we will have one of the most powerful forces in pro wrestling, AHMED JOHNSON in action against Steve Armstrong! Also Psicosis from Mexico makes his Best Of The Best debut here tonight in the ring at the Best Of The Best Arena here in Universal Studios! 

Styles recaps the news that came out this week across all BOTB programs that it has been set and signed, there will be a title unification bout on January 22nd 1996 LIVE on the USA Network, it will be Best Of The Best: Judgement Night featuring Bret Hart vs Ric Flair to crown the very first KING of Best Of The Best! Styles briefly recaps both Flair and Bret's Championship victories in late 1995(Bret rolls up Diesel at Survivor Series, Ric Flair taking down Randy Savage with help from the Horsemen at Starrcade 95)... 

vs

Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Joey Styles segues into a recap of the events on Saturday Night Shockwave earlier tonight on the Superstation where the final ever WCW World Tag Team Champs, Harlem Heat, threw their names into the 30 Man Champions Rumble set for January 27th live on pay per view at Best Of The Best: A New Beginning in the Astrodome in Booker T and Stevie Ray's hometown of Houston Texas! Harlem Heat were confronted by the return of one of the greatest tag teams in history in The Steiner Brothers! 

The Steiner Brothers returned to American major league wrestling after spending 1995 in Japan and challenged Harlem Heat to put their spots in the 30 Man Rumble on the line in the main event. The Steiners and Harlem Heat clashed in the very first ever main event of Saturday Night Shockwave but the match ended in a no-contest after the final ever WWF World Tag Team Champions, The Smoking Guns made their Best Of The Best debut by attacking both teams to end the program! Now it has been announced that all 3 teams are set to appear live on Judgement Night this Monday night LIVE on the USA Network! Joey Styles hypes up the premier of Judgement Night this Monday saying that you absolutely do not want to miss this show, anything can and WILL happen THIS is BEST OF THE BEST! 

*****

Psicosis is shown making his entrance in the bright lights of the smaller more intimate Best Of The Best Arena here at Universal Studios Florida, wearing his trademark black horned mask with matching black and white ring gear. The 24 year old rudo from Tijuana snarls at the smaller theater seated crowd of 600-800 from the elevated cat walk entrance ramp to the ring, his black leather jacket hitting a certain way in the bright studio lights and the surrounding orange and white color scheme of the ring and banners. Psicosis' opponent Phil Apollo is shown already in the ring with his name spelled wrong with only 1 "L" on the graphic on the bottom of the screen as Joey Styles puts over Psicosis on commentary. Styles talks about how Psicosis truly made a name for himself two years ago on the WCW/AAA When Worlds Collide ppv, he's coming off of an impressive run in ECW in 1995 and now he's set to make his Best Of The Best debut here tonight.... 

Singles Match
Psicosis vs Phil Apollo

Psicosis pushes referee Charles Robinson to his limits with a lot of illegal attacks, stomps, eye gouging, using the ropes to choke Apollo and break his spirit. Apollo finds a brief opening to score with some strikes but he's quickly countered and stomped down in the corner. Psicosis holds the ropes and stomps Apollo down long after the 5 count, eventually backing the ref away before setting Apollo up for a Superplex that knocks him out. Psicosis taunts the crowd before going up top and finishing his prey with a diving guillotine leg drop from the top rope! 1... 2... 3! Psicosis rips his arm away from the referee as he tries to raise it in victory, then screams into the camera in spanish from the top rope in the corner as we fade away to commercial break... 

*****

After the break we get a brief highlight teaser set to the opening intro of White Zombie's "More Human Than Human", showing the most homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death defying athlete in the world is coming soon to Best Of The Best.... SABU!....

Sabu is the most extreme and innovative athlete in professional wrestling in 1996. The scars that cover his body tell the tales of his battles all around the world, he is the extreme beholder of truth and justice, he is pure violence incarnate... he is coming to Best Of The Best! 

*****

The wide shot of the Best Of The Best Arena shows the all new facility here in Universal Studios Florida in all of it's glory, with a pristine white Worldwide ring apron with orange ropes and the show logo in the middle of the ring. The matching Worldwide logo banner hangs over the entrance stage that is connected to the smaller ring by a black elevated catwalk entrance ramp. The smaller crowd theater seating is up close to the ring and has a smaller vibe, while the whole studio is lit up with that 90's Nickelodeon game show lighting that just makes everything pop. The crowd pops huge when Ahmed Johnson's entrance music hits to bring out the undefeated force!

Johnson's opponent Steve Armstrong is shown in the corner of the ring watching on as Ahmed runs out with intensity, hyping the crowd up as Joey Styles on commentary mentions his impressive debut in the WWF this past fall. The undefeated prospect looked like one of the best young wrestlers to look out for in the WWF in 1995, now he has been signed to make his debut here in the main event on Worldwide! 

Singles Match
Ahmed Johnson vs Steve Armstrong

Ahmed runs right through Steve Armstrong in a straight beat down, bouncing his head off the canvas like a basketball with a devastating sidewalk slam. The 278 pound force puts his opponent away with a Pearl River Plunge and a pinfall at just :52 seconds! Ahmed Johnson is jacked, and has the crowd fired up here on Worldwide with one hell of a debut! 

*****

Joey Styles is shown in the production headquarters with the wall of TV monitors behind him and production soundboards surrounding him as he hypes up the upcoming debut of Best Of The Best on live pay per view, Super Bowl weekend, Saturday January 27th from the Astrodome in Houston Texas it will be A NEW BEGINNING!

The big match that has been signed for A New Beginning is an open invitation, 30 man "Champions Rumble" match! The Championship Council of Best Of The Best has issued challenges to every Champion walking the planet Earth, and so far 7 Champions have answered. There are still 23 spots in the Champions Rumble open and the winner of this match will become the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship Of Professional Wrestling. 


BREAKING NEWS!.... 


Mike Tenay's voice interrupts the program with late breaking news as of the time that this episode of Worldwide was filmed, there is major news coming out of Japan... 

The UWFI Grand Champion Nobuhiko Takada has defeated New Japan's Keiji Mutoh to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4th at the Wrestling World '96 event at the Tokyo Dome. Takada is a shoot wrestling legend in Japan going back to the UWF days with his clashes with Akira Maeda and Bob Backlund in the 80's, then in the 90's in his UWFI promotion beating Vader and Dan Severn. The UWFI vs NJPW rivalry has reached a new level with Takada capturing the IWGP Heavyweight Title but now the news has broken that Nobuhiko Takada has issued an imperial edict of battle for Best Of The Best. Nobuhiko Takada, the current reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion and king of the UWFI shootfighting has officially entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match!... 


The breaking news segment segues right into the official commercial for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Joey Styles in the studio promotes the Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Eternal Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. There are 22 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

Joey Styles bids farewell from the studios of Best Of The Best reminding viewers to tune into the USA Network this Monday night to catch the world premier of JUDGEMENT NIGHT!.... 

Catch the world premier of Best Of The Best Judgement Night live on USA THIS Monday night January 8th! Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, Harlem Heat, The Steiner Brother, and so much more THIS Monday night will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT!....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Omni(Atlanta, GA)
January 8th, 1996

We are LIVE from the Omni in Atlanta Georgia with a hard opening of a jam packed arena, fans going nuts with signs everywhere! Joey Styles stands in the center of the ring in awe of his surroundings, the fresh new white ring with black Best Of The Best logo, with black cable WCW-style ropes and turnbuckles. Judgement Night banners are draped around the Omni and on each side of a huge banner hangs with the logo over the steel metallic diamond plate stage that is connected with a black catwalk ramp to the ring. 

Joey Styles cuts an introduction promo in the ring saying that tonight, in the building where so much history has been made, everything changes here tonight, this.... is BEST .... OF THE BEST! The crowd goes nuts as the live shot fades into an opening highlight music video set to brand new music, Shame from the new Stabbing Westward album "Wither Blister Burn & Peel" set to release later this month courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Inc. 

The hard hitting opening montage segues into a live shot of the Omni with the music still playing as Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously welcome the television audience from their black cloth covered commentary table ringside(next to the Spanish commentary table with Hugo Savinovich and Carlos Cabrerra). Joey Styles in the ring brings the fans to their feet when he introduces the current reigning and final ever WWF World Champion.... The Best There Is... The Best There Was... The Best There Ever Will Be.... BRET "THE HITMAN" HART! 

 

The Excellence Of Execution makes his way out to the ring to his classic walk out music wearing the WWF Championship belt proudly over the shoulder of his leather jacket. The fans in the Omni give The Hitman a standing ovation after the music stops and he looks around to soak it all in. This is the best wrestler in the world today. 

Bret takes the mic and speaks to the fans about what it means to him to be here at the beginning of something new, something that stands for values that he's always felt like professional wrestling could always be; honor and respect. The Hitman accepts the challenge of the upcoming title unification match that has been signed for this program on January 22nd, live on USA Network on Judgement Night it will be WWF Champ Bret Hart vs WCW Champ Ric Flair to crown the Undisputed World Champion. The Hitman tells everyone that he will be ready for the 22nd for Ric Flair and the Horsemen and he will be ready for whoever comes out of the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at the A New Beginning pay per view. If this is the Best Of The Best you're looking at the best there is right here, and this *holds up WWF title* is the real world title in this sport. Ric Flair has a saying that says to be the man you got to beat the man, the man to beat is standing right here in this ring right now! 

*****

After the commercial break we get an ad for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

On Super Saturday live on PPV will be the first ever "Champions Rumble" match at A New Beginning on January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas! This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match!

vs
Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Jim Ross and Paul E. on commentary hype up tonight's show, the Horsemen ARE HERE! Also in action AHMED JOHNSON! Also on tonight's show the newly signed Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff(Paul E. rolls eyes) has a major announcement, a HUGE signing to debut here tonight! Paul E. Dangerously asks JR can you believe that this company actually signed Eric Bischoff as the CEO, Executive Producer, what were they thinking?! Jim Ross tells Paul E. hell don't ask him he got fired by the guy, but that's neither here nor there, tonight is JUDGEMENT NIGHT folks... 

*****

After the break we get the intro of the dark luchadore from Mexico City, Mexico; Damian 666. Paul E. Dangerously on commentary brings up Damian's experience in Japan in the ultra-violent FMW promotion as well as his reputation in AAA in Mexico. Damian's opponent Marc Mero brings the crowd in the Omni to their feet with the debut of his new valet that leads him to the ring....

Mero's new valet steals the spotlight as he walks to the ring for tonight's opening match! Marc Mero is the wrestler formerly known as Johnny B. Badd in WCW, he was the final reigning WCW World TV Champ and last week on the premier of Saturday Night Shockwave he threw down the Johnny B. Badd gimmick and revealed his real name. Mero used his TV title to enter the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble on January 27th on PPV! Jim Ross brings up Mero's history in WCW and his amateur boxing background in New York Golden Gloves boxing.... 

Singles Match

Marc Mero vs Damian 666

Mero and Damian take it to the limit in the first ever match in Judgement Night history as Mero's new valet stalks the outside watching the action. The fast pace rope running and arm drag exchanges leads to the action spilling out of the ring to the floor, where Mero evades a running somersault plancha off the ring apron from Damian 666. Damian crashes down into the padded flooring with a sickening thud! Mero rolls him into the ring and goes for the pin but Damian kicks out at 2! Mero later counters Damian with a huge left hook, closed fist to the jaw! Damian 666 is out cold! Mero goes up to the top rope and finishes his opponent off with a beautifully executed shooting star press for the 1, 2, 3! 

After the match Marc Mero is interviewed by Joey Styles in the ring where he introduces his new valet as.... SABLE! Mero is focused and ready for A New Beginning on January 27th for the first ever 30 Man Champions Rumble Match! 

*****

After the break we get the entrance of Bart and Billy Gunn, the final ever WWF World Tag Team Champions that made their Best Of The Best debut last week on Saturday Night Shockwave attacking Harlem Heat and the Steiner Brothers in the main event. The Smoking Guns come out to the ring with their WWF Tag Title belts and use them to accept the challenge issued by the Championship Council, both Bart and Billy Gunn have entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at A NEW BEGINNING!

The crowd comes alive when Harlem Heat come out to the ring in street clothes without any music! Harlem Heat are the final WCW World Tag Team Champs and threw their name into the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on Saturday Night Shockwave. Stevie Ray and Booker T stand toe to toe with The Smoking Guns and challenge them to put their belts on the line tonight, unify the WCW and WWF Tag Team titles and lets see who the real champs are! There can be... ONLY ONE! 

Before The Smoking Guns get a chance to respond to Harlem Heat's challenge The Steiner Brothers come out to interrupt the whole segment! Rick and Scott Steiner make their way out to the ring for a 3 way showdown with Harlem Heat and The Smoking Guns! Rick Steiner says that they have unfinished business with both teams from this past Saturday Night, and the challenge is laid down to make it a 3 Way Dance for the UNIFIED TAG TEAM TITLES!

Things get tense in the ring between all 3 teams until suddenly the newly appointing CEO of Best Of The Best, Eric Bischoff makes his way out to the ring with security to cool things down! All 3 teams are separated and Eric Bischoff prepares to get on the microphone when all of a sudden a familiar voice interrupts everything and a man walks out to the entrance stage and halfway down the catwalk ramp....

CACTUS JACK!

Cactus Jack surprises everyone in the ring and in the Omni as he stands on the catwalk ramp with the ECW World Tag Team title belt on his shoulder and an air brushed Dungeon Of Doom WCW t-shirt on. The Dungeon Of Doom shirt has cartoon drawings of himself included in the group of Kamala, the Mummy, Kevin Sullivan, The Shark, and The Zodiac. Cactus refers to Eric Bischoff as "Uncle Eric" as he tells him that he's missed him. Cactus asks Eric Bischoff if he's gotten all of his letters he's sent him in the last year before informing him that he's been very busy, he's got a 22 year old kid in the back named Mikey Whipreck that says he could take all 3 teams in the ring TONIGHT in a 4 WAY DANCE! Cactus Jack makes it official that he and Mikey Whipreck are officially entering the 30 Man Champions Rumble and they will put their ECW World Tag titles on the line in a 4 Way Unification Match TONIGHT IN THE MAIN EVENT! BANG BANG!

Eric Bischoff irons out the details that this 4 Way Dance match will UNIFY the ECW, WCW, and WWF World Tag Titles and if The Steiner Brothers pin either of the 3 Champions in this match they will not only take the Unified Titles but they will also take the place of whoever they pin in the 30 Man Champions Rumble MATCH! ITS ON!

*****

Before the commercial break we get a brief teaser for a revolutionary new hybrid athlete that is coming soon to Best Of The Best. A graphic with orange text superimposed... 

Pain is temporary...

Pride is forever...

TAZ

The opening intro of War Machine by Kiss begins to fade into an image of a man in a dark dojo somewhere breathing heavily, his fists taped, and a shredded black towel over his face... 

*****

After the break we get a shot of Psicosis in the ring ready for action as he is set to face off against Lex Luger, one of the top ranked stars of WCW. Luger comes out and breaks the news that unfortunately he is unable to wrestle here tonight as planned since he has decided not to sign any exclusive contracts with Best Of The Best, rather he's chosen to remain an independent contractor, a free agent. Luger says that he is currently negotiating a new contract with a new sports agent that will manage all of his bookings to protect his value in the market. Luger gets boo'd by the crowd in the Omni as he walks out of the ring and leaves his opponent Psicosis standing wondering what the hell is going on! Trash and drinks fly at the catwalk at Lex Luger makes his exit with a big smile, waving. 

Meanwhile in the ring Psicosis is having a hard time understanding what referee Randy Anderson is trying to explain to him and he gets PISSED! Psicosis slaps referee Randy Anderson before setting the crowd off, pulling him into position and spiking him... PILEDRIVER!!! Psicosis rips his thumb across his throat and spits down onto Randy Anderson's lifeless body before going up to the top rope and killing him with a FLYING GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! More referees race out to back Psicosis out of the ring as EMT's begin stretchering Randy Anderson's lifeless body out of the ring! 

*****

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously are in stunned silence after the commercial break as they cover the replay of poor Randy Anderson being stretchered out of the building with EMT's holding his hand assuring him he is going to be ok. Psicosis has crossed the line here tonight unbelievable, Randy Anderson is a well respected veteran official with a family to feed and he's most likely headed for emergency surgery tonight. 

Tommy Dreamer is shown in the ring stretching and getting ready when all of a sudden Ahmed Johnson's music get the Omni's biggest reaction of the night! Ahmed comes out jacked the f*#% up! Jim Ross puts Ahmed over as the pride of Pearl River Mississippi and one of the best young rookies in the WWF in 1995, a man that made a huge name for himself when he body slammed Yokozuna on Raw. Ahmed is a powerhouse athlete at nearly 300 pounds, he's incredible fast and agile for his size and has a background as a linebacker for the Tennessee Volunteers and Dallas Cowboys. Even though he was a rookie in the WWF in 1995 he was no rookie to pro wrestling, he's got experience in GWF and NWA Dallas along with some experience with Big Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Singles Match

Ahmed Johnson vs Tommy Dreamer

Tommy Dreamer gets tossed and slammed around the ring early on but surprises everyone by managing to fight back and get some offense in. Ahmed gets stunned and taken over the top rope to the floor where Dreamer really knocks him for a loop by slamming him head first into the ring post. Ahmed manages to recover and reverse a whip sending Dreamer crashing violently upside down into the classic steel bar style barricade! Dreamer rolls around clutching the back of his head as Ahmed is still woozy from the ring post shot. Ahmed struggles to pull Dreamer up but he brings the entire Omni to their feet when he puts him into the position for the Pearl River Plunge! Ahmed rips Dreamer up and sends him crashing through the SPANISH COMMENTARY TABLE! 

Monitors go flying and both Hugo Savinovich and Carlos Cabrerra are laid out in the wreckage! The entire crowd is on their feet going nuts! Ahmed Johnson makes his way back into the ring stumbling and dizzy as the referee's count hits the 5 mark while Dreamer is knocked out convulsing! Tommy shocks everyone in the arena when he somehow manages to recover to his hands and knees and make it back into the ring to beat the 10 count! Dreamer recovers to his knees and motions for Ahmed to bring it on! 

Tommy Dreamer takes a massive beating as Ahmed empties out his arsenal of power moves for one nearfall after another! Tommy Dreamer refuses to quit until he's spitting up blood! Finally Ahmed manages to put Tommy Dreamer away with a vicious Pearl River Plunge just before the time limit! 1... 2... 3! Thank god this is over!  

Unbelievable, nobody expected Tommy Dreamer to put up the fight that he did against Ahmed Johnson that he just did! Ahmed is still shaking off the effects of the having his head bounced off the ring post as he has his hand raised in victory! Tommy Dreamer is shown getting props from ringside fans as he rolls out of the ring a beaten mess... 

*****

The Omni comes alive for an even bigger pop than the one Ahmed got when The Four Horsemen theme music hits! The WCW World Heavyweight Champion, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair leads out Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, and Chris Benoit to the ring to heroes welcome! 

All 4 men soak up a glorious standing ovation as they take the ring where Joey Styles is on standby with a mic for an interview in awe at the sight before him. The crowd sustains their standing ovation long after the music fades out, and Ric Flair stands with so much pride in his eyes with the big gold belt glistening in the big budget lighting in the arena. Brian Pillman rips the mic away from Joey Styles and snarls him out of the ring like a madman! Ric Flair gets the crowd going nuts as he talks about the good times and bad times that him and the Horsemen have had in this building, The Omni for the love of god in Atlanta Georgia. Flair calls out Bret "The Hitman" Hart and tells him that he's in Horsemen country, this is Ric Flair country! The crowd goes ape s*#%! 

Ric Flair says you can take it all the way back, Starrcade 1985, Dusty Rhodes right here in this spot. Now 1996, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, and the future Undisputed World Champion of Professional Wrestling, this is the new breed of Four Horsemen! Arn Anderson takes the mic and get intense as he sends a message to the Hitman, anybody from the WWF, put your money where your mouth is and watch your back! January 22nd it will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT for Bret Hart, and as far as The Best Of The Best is concerned this is it right here, HORSEMEN! Arn drops the mic and the Horsemen theme music takes us out to commercial break with all 4 men standing proud together in the ring.... 

*****

After the break we get a backstage shot of young babyfaced 22 year old kid, Mikey Whipreck in the locker room shaking nervously as he tries to put his wrestling boots on. Suddenly Mikey is approached by Cactus Jack hyping him up for their big prime time live cable TV debut in the main event 4 Way Dance! Mikey is so nervous he throws up offscreen! Cactus assures Mikey that everything will be fine, he's the ECW TV Champ and they are the ECW Tag Team Champs, what could go wrong!? This is their big shot! Mikey wipes his face and tells Cactus that he never wanted to be his tag team partner in the first place and he sure as hell doesn't belong here, what the hell have you gotten me into?! Mikey pukes offscreen again as Cactus looks on at him perplexed...

Later tonight in the main event it will be a 4 Way Dance to unify the ECW, WCW, and WWF World Tag Titles, it will be The Smoking Guns vs Harlem Heat vs The Steiner Brothers vs Cactus Jack & Mikey Whipwreck, if the Steiner Brothers pin any of the other 3 teams they will not only get the Unified Tag Titles but they also take that team's spots in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on January 27th on PPV! 

*****

We return to the live shot of the Omni with Joey Styles in the ring with new Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff, who humbly thanks the promotion for believing in him to take the reigns and push this league to a new level that WCW or WWF could never reach before. Bischoff talks about his first big move as CEO, a huge signing that he's pulled off that is here tonight to make his Best Of The Best debut, one of the absolute best athletes to ever compete in a wrestling ring, The Showstopper... The Heart Break Kid.... ladies and gentleman..... SHAWN MICHAELS!

The crowd loses it when HBK's entrance music hits the speakers! The Heartbreak Kid walks out and looks around soaking in the reaction from the catwalk ramp before making it to the ring with Joey Styles and Eric Bischoff! Jim Ross on commentary talks about the adversity that this young man has had to overcome in the last few months, including being mugged by a group of marines that led to him being forced to forfeit the WWF Intercontinental Championship due to injuries. After working his way back from losing his IC belt Michaels suffered a career threatening concussion at the hands of Owen Hart. After collapsing mid-match and being stretchered out, Shawn Michaels strongly considered hanging up his boots and walking away from wrestling. Nobody has heard much from HBK in the last month or so until here tonight....

HBK cuts a promo saying that he is not going to retire, he has been medically cleared to compete and he's signed a new contract with Best Of The Best! Shawn Michaels officially throws his name into the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at A New Beginning pay per view! HBK talks about how he was the rightful #1 contender to the WWF Championship before he was injured, and now that he's healthy he's still #1. Michaels calls out anybody from the WWF to come out to prove otherwise, then sends a message to everybody from WCW here in Atlanta where the big boys play, all he's heard out of WCW out of Atlanta is a bunch of talk well now he's standing here in your home arena in your home territory and he will take on anybody, any time... "I'm not here to play, I'm not here to talk... come and get it!" 

All of a sudden the Omni arena crowd goes ballistic when the music of STING hits!

THE STINGER IS HERE! Jim Ross loses it on commentary, business is about to pick up right here folks! Shawn Michaels and STING... IN THE SAME RING!.....

Sting and Michaels stare each other down face to face as the crowd loses it, flash bulbs go off, neither man budges or blinks, this is INSANE! Joey Styles and Eric Bischoff stand back in disbelief not knowing what to do or expect as the stand off intensifies. The camera shot shakes from the noise of the crowd as Sting and HBK stand face to face until finally the Stinger reaches over to grab the mic. Sting tells Shawn Michaels that this isn't the WWF this is The OMNI in ATLANTA GEORGIA, THIS IS MY HOUSE! WHOOOOO! *Crowd loses it*

Eric Bischoff gets in between Sting and HBK, not here, not tonight(crowd boo's). Sting challenges HBK to put his pride on the line, WCW vs WWF one time once and for all me against you, man to man! Sting challenges HBK to face him in a match with his spot in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match ON THE LINE!! HBK takes a mic but is interrupted by Jim Cornette walking out with Owen Hart and The British Bulldog! Cornette is pissed! Owen Hart is the man that put Michaels on the shelf, if anybody should get a shot to earn his spot in the Champions Rumble Match on January 27th in the Astrodome it should be OWEN! And Bulldog bloodied Bret Hart and gave him the fight of his life last month, if anybody is #1 contender in the WWF in the end it was BULLDOG! 

Referees begin to come out to the ring to get in between Shawn Michaels and Sting in a standoff with Owen Hart and Bulldog as Jim Cornette screams at Bischoff, setting up a challenge that Eric Bischoff agrees to and makes official for this Saturday Night on Shockwave, it will be a tag team match with 2 spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match ON THE LINE, Owen Hart & The British Bulldog will face off against the team of SHAWN MICHAELS AND STING! This Saturday Night on Shockwave on TBS! 

*****

We return from the final commercial break with the entrance of Harlem Heat getting all the fans in the Omni to raise the roof! The Steiner Brothers are shown already in the ring getting ready for tonight's main event 4 way dance! All 3 major tag team titles are set to be unified here with the Steiner Brothers also fighting desperately to earn their spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match with a pin or submission here tonight. Mikey Whipwreck comes out with nervous reluctance with Cactus Jack while the Smoking Guns make a full sprint to the ring to kickstart an all out melee between all 4 teams....

Unified World Tag Team Championship

4 Way Dance

Harlem Heat(c) vs The Smoking Guns(c) vs Cactus Jack & Mikey Whipwreck(c) vs The Steiner Brothers

All out chaos ensues as Cactus takes Booker T and Bart Gunn over the top rope to brawl on the floor while the remaining 5 men fight it out in the ring! Mikey Whipreck gets tossed back and forth and beat around the ring! More refs rush out to restore order as Mikey and Stevie Ray remain in the ring as the legal men. The Steiner Brothers end up tagging into the match and dominating all 3 teams with smooth tagging and superior team work. Harlem Heat cut their momentum off and concentrate on Cactus Jack once he's tagged in. Cactus ends up getting his head twisted up in the ropes after a missed spot setting up a vicious axe kick from Booker T that sends him down to the floor!

Soon after Harlem Heat look to put Mikey Whipreck away with a sure pin later on the referee loses all control of the match! All of a sudden two men come running out full speed to the ring with steel chairs!.... 

THE ELIMINATORS! KRONUS AND SATURN! The Eliminators clear all 4 tag teams out of the ring with steel chairs as the referee frantically calls for the bell! This match is a no contest! The crowd boo's intensely as The Eliminators pull the referee to the center of the ring and cut him in half.... TOTAL ELIMINATION! The copyright text fades in with The Eliminators striking their trademark pose over dead bodies everywhere....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
January 11th, 1996

Tonight's episode of Bushido hits The Superstation at 8:05 on a freezing cold Thursday night in early 1996. The program opens up with a wide shot of the Manhattan Center, the birthplace of Monday Night Raw here in New York and the new permanent home of Bushido on TBS every week. The Center is packed with a sold out crowd but the whole place is darkened, except a spotlight over the all black ring(with a Japanese red sun in the center). Another spotlight shines on the entrance area where the silk white logo banner looms behind a small mock bamboo forest. Set up in front of the entrance area is an elaborate Japanese style drum arrangement, a special guest on this week's episode of Bushido, none other than master Seiichi Tanaka And The San Francisco Taiko Dojo

Seiichi Tanaka And The San Francisco Taiko Dojo open the program with a special live performance of the Taiko Drum Opening that they played in Rising Sun, the 1993 Sean Connery/Wesley Snipes action film. After the performance we get host Mike Tenay alongside co-host Phillip Rhee, a multiple black belt martial artist and the actor and screenplay writer for the hit Best Of The Best action films. Tenay and Rhee welcome the television audience from their commentary table before introducing a new third member of the Bushido commentary booth, former kickboxing legend and action film star, Don "The Dragon" Wilson! 

Don "The Dragon" Wilson talks about how grateful he is to be part of Bushido and immediately breaks the news that the current reigning WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, "True Brit" Frank Bruno has answered the call of the Championship Council and has officially entered the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at Best Of The Best's debut on pay per view, Super Saturday the 27th from the Astrodome in Houston, it will be A NEW BEGINNING! 

Frank Bruno will represent England in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on January 27th for a shot to become the #1 contender to the Best Of The Best Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship. Bruno holds a boxing record of 40-4 and captured the WBC Title last September by defeating Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium. Don Wilson talks among Tenay and Rhee about the prestige that this brings to Best Of The Best to have a World Champion of this caliber competing in this ring on January 27th live on pay per view. 

The commentary trio discuss the proud history of boxing and the current landscape of the sport, with Bruno set to defend his WBC Title against Mike Tyson later this year, and Roy Jones Jr. set to fight on PPV tomorrow night. This ring here in the Manhattan Center on Bushido will be open to all boxers to test their might against wrestlers and martial artists from around the world. Tonight in the main event we will see this in action as "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama will take on heavyweight boxer Dan Murphy in our main event in a mixed hybrid rules Boxer vs Wrestler match! 

*****

Later tonight on Bushido we will see a special UWFI rules bout with Hiromitsu Kanehara taking on former WCW wrestler David Taylor from the UK here in the ring in the Manhattan Center. The news was broken last week that UWFI's most dominant shooter Nobuhiko Takada has accepted the Championship Council's open invitation to every champion around the world for the 30 Man Champion's Rumble Match set for Best Of The Best: A New Beginning on pay per view January 27th.

UWFI stands for Union Of Wrestling Forces International, and was the spiritual successor to the UWF promotion that was wildly popular in Japan in the 1980's. The old UWF was built around popular Japanese shooter Akira Maeda and the legendary "Tiger Mask" Sotoryu Sayama. Sayama incorporated traditional martial arts like Karate and Tae Kwon Do into the shoot style catch wrestling that UWF wrestlers learned from the legend Karl Gotch in their dojos. 

Nobuhiko Takada climbed the ranks of the UWF in the 1980's and became one of the most popular stars after victories over Bob Backlund and Akira Maeda in thrilling bouts. When the UWF folded in late 1990 Takada kept the spirit alive with the launch of UWFI in 1991. UWFI prided itself on being the most legitimate wrestling promotion on the planet. Takada was endorsed by Lou Thesz as real pro wrestling, with Thesz granting UWFI the use of his original Championship belt that he wore during his legendary title reign. 

Takada and UWFI have been producing the most dynamic shooters and the most realistic wrestling for the last 4 years in Japan. During the last 4 years UWFI has also called out other wrestling promotions in Japan and abroad for being fake, issuing challenges to any promotion to come and face them. The UWFI and the Takada Dojo took their grandstanding challenges to the doorstep of New Japan Pro Wrestling last October. Lou Thesz found the UWFI's invasion of NJPW dishonorable and withdrew his support and his classic Championship belt. NJPW fought the UWFI shooters off with strong style wrestling at the October Tokyo Dome show, but UWFI would capture their IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4th with Takada's huge victory over Mutoh. Shortly after Takada's title victory a scroll was delivered to Best Of The Best Championship Councilman Lou Thesz, it was an imperial edict of battle from Takada and the UWFI.... 

*****

After the commercial break we get hype for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Mike Tenay and the Bushido ringside commentary trio is joined at the booth ringside for a special appearance by the final WWF World Champion, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who is set to face WCW World Champion Ric Flair in a title unification bout live on Judgement Night on USA Network on January 22nd to crown the one true World Champion Of Professional Wrestling. The Hitman talks about how much pride he has for his WWF Championship title belt, what the belt symbolizes to him is the pinnacle of respect. Bret talks about all of the respect he has for all of the world titles out there, Frank Bruno's WBC title belt, Takada's IWGP title, all of the world titles in the history of professional wrestling, titles like the one strapped around "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair's waist right now. To Bret Hart, the WWF Championship belt is something he has sacrificed and battled for, won it and lost it, this is his championship, the real world championship of professional wrestling. 

Bret "The Hitman" Hart is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be and he is signed to be at the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth.

*****

Ring announcer Dave Penzer gets the introductions underway for tonight's opening match that this will be contested under UWFI rules. Mike Tenay explains the UWFI point system, which is simple in that each wrestler starts the match off with 15 points. Wrestlers lose 5 points for using rope breaks to get out of a hold, and they also lose 5 points for every time they break the rules(after losing all 15 points they are disqualified). Elbows and closed fist strikes are illegal, all strikes with the hands must be with open palm, but knees and kicks are legal. There are no pinfalls, matches are won by submission or knockout(referee 10 count). Each match also has a 20 minute time limit.

The competitors are shown already in the ring during the introductions with Mike Tenay talking about David Taylor representing the UK and is given the task here tonight of holding off a potential UWFI invasion of Best Of The Best. Taylor has experience in the Catch Wrestling Association in Germany before going to WCW. Taylor's WCW tag team partner William Regal was defeated last week by Japan's Hakushi so there is a revenge factor here with the pride of the UK on the line against Japan again tonight. Taylor's opponent Hiromitsu Kanehara is one of the most seasoned shooters of UWFI and a capo of the Takada Dojo.  

UWFI Rules Match
Hiromitsu Kanehara vs Dave Taylor

Kanehara wastes little time in unloading a combo of vicious palm strikes and lethal kicks that send Taylor instinctively shooting in for a takedown out of desperation. Referee Yuji Shimata watches on as the two men scramble in a mad dash against the ropes. Taylor's takedown attempt is shrugged off and he's KICKED IN THE FACE as he attempts to scramble to his feet! Dave Taylor goes down hard and stiff! He's out! Shimata doesn't even bother with the 10 count just immediately calling for the bell and medical attention. Hiromitsu Kanehara celebrates with his UWFI Takada Dojo stablemates with confident, threatening bravado as Dave Taylor lays knocked out after the bell at just :21 seconds!

Kanehara has his hand raised in victory as Dave Taylor is able to finally recover and hobble off with assistance from medical technicians. The replay shows devastating impact straight to the face from the kick, and Dave Taylor's head bounced off the canvas on the way down. This was a very visceral performance here tonight by the UWFI and a clear message to the Championship Council of Best Of The Best... 

*****

After the commercial break we get a look at an empty dojo in Queens New York, it's dark, dirty looking, with a raggedy old wrestling ring in the center. The ring and the mats surrounding it have blood and sweat stains and the punching bag hanging in the open area has worn duct tape holding it together. A narrators voice comes on saying that this.... is the Taz Dojo...

The blood and sweat that has been put into these mats tell the tales of an athlete driven to the brink by rage...

A second degree black belt in Judo....

A new form of extreme hybrid athlete... 

The Human Suplex Machine.... Taz...

Coming to Best Of The Best, don't miss the in-ring debut of Taz live on pay per view January 27th at A New Beginning... 

*****

After the final round of TBS commercials for Andy Griffith/Elvis movie marathons, Rogaine(I want to know right now!), and movies in theaters like Lawnmower Man 2(and From Dusk Til Dawn!) we get a shot of another special guest commentator joining the booth for the main event, Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Kevin Jackson! Jackson last week revealed that he has entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on pay per view January 27th at A New Beginning. Tonight the 2 time World Champion wrestler reveals that he has decided to go pro and has signed a contract with Best Of The Best for 1996. Jackson reveals that he has been training hard and plans to incorporate his freestyle wrestling background into the professional ring of Best Of The Best this year.

Ring announcer Dave Penzer brings the Manhattan Center crowd to their feet with the announcement that the following main event match is a Boxer vs Wrestler, Hybrid Rules bout, and will be 5 rounds(3 minutes each). The boxer Dan Murphy is already in the ring shadow boxing with gloves. Commentator Don "The Dragon" Wilson talks about Murphy being a journeyman heavyweight pro boxer that has been in the ring with top ranked fighters like Tommy Morrison and Lennox Lewis.

Dan Murphy's opponent Kama is coming off a huge submission victory over Alex Wright last week and has rejuvenated his career here going solo in Best Of The Best in 1996 so far. Kama stands face to face with Dan Murphy during referee John Mccarthy's meeting in the center of the ring in an intense stare down! The Supreme Fighting Machine has taped fists and the commentators mention that he will not be able to strike with bare fists as part of the rules agreement between the two fighters, he will only be able to strike with an open palm. Both fighters did agree that elbows are legal in the contest and that the boxer will be given unlimited rope breaks since he has the gloves.

Hybrid Rules Match
Boxer vs Wrestler
"The Supreme Fighting Machine"
Kama
vs
Dan Murphy

Dan Murphy tries to fight conservatively in the opening of the first round but Kama shoots in through his punches and swarms him in a clinch in the corner. Murphy lands small ineffective shots in the clinch before Kama rips him up out of the corner and smashes him into the canvas with a devastating takedown. Kama connects with palm strikes on the ground that force the boxer to roll over and reach for the ropes. Referee Big John Mccarthy brings the action back to the standing position after the rope break but Kama wastes little time in sprinting after the boxer to immediately close the distance for another big slam takedown. Dan Murphy covers to block the barrage of elbows from Kama before turnover over. Kama easily sinks in a Gable grip sleeper hold from the back mount position and chokes the boxer unconscious! Big John recognizes Dan Murphy has gone limp and immediately stops the contest, it's over!

The Supreme Fighting Machine celebrates as EMT's work to recover Dan Murphy on the canvas. Kama has choked Murphy out for the victory after just 55 seconds in the first round! Kama has found new life with a huge win here in a boxer vs wrestler match that didn't even make it out of the first round, Dan Murphy was swarmed and had no chance here tonight. Kama has a fiery intensity in his eyes as he has his hand raised as tonight's program goes off the air... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Center Stage Theater(Atlanta, GA)
January 13th, 1996

We are back in the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta for Shockwave on Saturday night 6:05 on TBS. The best commentary crew in the business Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan welcome the television audience hyping tonight's full 5 match card of pro wrestling, with maybe the biggest main event ever in the history of this sport on television. It will be a one time only tag team match, HBK Shawn Michaels will team up with the face and franchise of WCW, Sting to take on Owen Hart & The British Bulldog, TONIGHT!

The Brain is the one to point out the genius of Jim Cornette to manipulate this main event into existence, he knows that there is no way that the egos of Sting and Shawn Michaels can co-exist, we're talking WCW and WWF here, these two have been at war, Jim Cornette knows this. The prize for this main event was set by new BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff that the winning team will get 2 spots in the 30 man Champions Rumble Match at the A New Beginning pay per view!

Tony Shiavonne sells that we are officially 9 days away from the biggest match in professional wrestling history, finally a title unification match, the WWF Championship, the WCW Championship, two World Champions will enter the ring on January 22nd live and free on Judgement Night on the USA Network!... in the end... there can be only one... 

vs

The biggest match in professional wrestling history, Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Tonight is a huge night in the Best Of The Best since we are just 2 weeks away from the very first ever pay per view, A New Beginning live on Super Saturday the night before Super Bowl XXX, January 27th from the Astrodome in Houston Texas. Tony Shiavonne sends it backstage to Mike Tenay with a special report about a new challenger that has come forward to answer the call and enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, that man is none other than the current USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion, JEFF JARRETT! 

Jarrett is a third generation wrestler and a former WWF Intercontinental Champion. Mike Tenay talks about how huge this is for Best Of The Best to bring a showman of Double J's caliber and heritage, but we will also have a HUGE, major blockbuster announcement later tonight for the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match that you DO NOT want to miss! 

*****

We shoot it down to ring announcer Dave Penzer for the opening match of the evening with former WCW veteran Scott Armstrong already in the ring getting ready to go. Dean Malenko makes his entrance with an ice cold, deeply focused edge in his eyes as the commentators talk about his crushing loss to Eddie Guerrero in the very first match ever in Best Of The Best last week on Shockwave.

Singles Match
Dean Malenko vs Scott Armstrong

The Man Of 1,000 Holds works his craftsmanship with smooth technical mat skill, completely outclassing Armstrong. During the match there is a shot in the background of a skinny guy with long hair, cut off blue jean shorts, and a t-shirt that is cut high above his naval. The guy is constantly acting a goof trying to get on camera in the background shots. Meanwhile in the ring Dean Malenko dominates Armstrong with more aggression than usual, but it nearly costs him when Armstrong catches him with a quick 2 count after reversing his small package. After nearly being rolled up and defeated again, Malenko goes for the kill, targeting Armstrong's knee to soften him up for the Texas Cloverleaf for the submission victory at 4:11. 

Dean Malenko has his arm raised in victory and this was one he desperately needed to establish himself here at Best Of The Best after being defeated by his rival Eddie Guerrero last week. Dean Malenko looks over at the goofy long haired grunge guy acting a fool from his ringside seat before making his exit. Tony Shiavonne says he's being told in his headset that the ringside fan is not a fan at all he's being told that is a wrestler named Stevie Richards from the Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion, what in the world is he doing with a ringside seat? Richards is shown being dragged out by security as he screams something about "He's coming!, he's already here!".... 
 
 

*****

Just before the break we get a shot of Mike Tenay from his backstage interview position where he breaks the news that he has a man here with him tonight for an interview that is set to make his debut here soon in Best Of The Best. This man is a very controversial man, an outspoken man, a former World Champion and a veteran of WCW and WW... Tenay is suddenly interrupted when Shane Douglas walks into the camera shot and takes the microphone!

Shane Douglas is here on Shockwave! Douglas tells Mike Tenay to screw the WWF, Vince Mcmahon, HA! Good riddance!, and whatever you do so help me god if you call me Dean I will smack the taste right out of your mouth Tenay! This is Shane Douglas, the man that threw down the NWA World Title, the FIRST Extreme Championship Wrestling World Champ. Shane Douglas is here, he's pissed, he's sick of the professional wrestling business, sick of all the Hulk Hogans, all the Ric Flairs, all the Shawn Michaels. Douglas says he's been passed over and overlooked in this business for too long, now here in The Best Of The Best he's going to take what is his hahaha... 
 

*****

The One Man Gang makes his entrance getting the boo's and thumbs down treatment from the fans as the commentators talk about him being a veteran that has wrestled in a lot of high profile matches on big shows, he's wrestled on Wrestlemania shows, he was a former world champion in the Midsouth UWF, and he's the final ever WCW United States Champions, a title he used to enter the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match live on pay per view on Super Bowl weekend...  

Singles Match
One Man Gang vs Barry Horowitz

Horowitz has no chance giving up so much of a size disadvantage to One Man Gang. OMG crushes Horowitz quickly with ease for the pinfall after just 2:04! One Man Gang celebrates with the WCW US title belt after the match as the commentators talk about how hard it will be the get him over the top rope. He's going to have to be pinned or submitted and good luck with that. Bobby Heenan says that Gang is his pick to win the whole 30 Man Rumble! 

*****

After the commercial break we get another ad for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan talk about the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth... The Eternal Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. There are 16 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

Tony Shiavonne welcomes Mike Tenay to their commentary area in the Center Stage Theater where he breaks the major announcement that a new challenger has officially entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on January 27th, that man is a multiple Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler and quite frankly, he's the most dominant athlete in any combat sport on the planet today, ladies and gentleman from Russia... ALEXANDRE KARELIN! 

UNBELIEVABLE! Karelin is a god as far as Greco-Roman wrestling goes, he's a 6 time World Champion and won the Gold medals in the 1992 AND 1988 Summer Olympics. This man is 285 pounds of pure raw power. This is truly a huge announcement! Karelin has entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match set for pay per view at A New Beginning on January 27th from the Astrodome in Houston. 

*****

The young 20 year old Alex Wright represents the country of Germany here tonight as he looks to rebound from the brutal loss to "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama last week. Wright is shown already in the ring dancing for the fans as the 250 pound "Beast" Dan Severn makes his entrance with his NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt around his waist. Severn walks out accompanied by his trainers and cornermen, including strength and conditioning coach Becky Levi. Severn is coming off of winning the 8 man UFC Ultimate Ultimate 95 tournament last month and threw his name into the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match set for pay per view on January 27th... 

Singles Match
Dan "The Beast" Severn
vs
Alex Wright

The match plays out very similar to something you would see in a National Geographic "When Predators Attack" special or a feeding at the zoo as Dan Severn mauls the poor young kid the instant he gets his hands on him. Alex Wright gets folded in half with a brutal series of German suplexes very similar to the ones Severn used in the Octagon... 

Severn puts Alex Wright away with a bridge for the pinfall after just 1:28. The Beast is here in Best Of The Best and he's coming to the Astrodome on January 27th for A New Beginning! 

*****

Just before the commercial break we get a special video montage narrated by a voice that sounds similar to Keith David (the actor that was in They Live with Roddy Piper). The video has background music that sounds like generic knockoff of Pearl Jam as highlights show clips of Shawn Michaels, one of the absolute best athletes in professional wrestling of the 1990's. The Heartbreak Kid has been the showstopper in the WWF until life threw a cruel twist into his fate, one tragedy and injury after another that pushed him to retirement at the end of 1995. With the beginning of Best Of The Best, the new CEO Eric Bischoff made a somewhat controversial executive order by signing Michaels as a free agent and granting him a spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match in the Astrodome in Houston.

Now, a refocused and rededicated Shawn Michaels has been medically cleared, and after calling out WCW in his return at The Omni in the heart of the CNN Center in Atlanta on Judgement Night last Monday, his call was answered by Sting. Sting has carried WCW on his back with pride throughout the 1990's until the very end when he clinched the winning match in the World Cup Of Wrestling at the final WCW event ever(Starrcade 95). The face off between the two biggest stars of the 90's was interrupted by Jim Cornette with Bulldog and Owen, where tonight's main event was set! Shawn Michaels will make his in ring return here tonight to team with STING! Can these two WWF/WCW adversaries co-exist to earn spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match? Is Shawn Michaels really back to being 100% and ready to get back into the ring with Owen Hart, the man that nearly sent him into retirement last month?

*****

We return from the commercial break with William Regal already in the ring getting prepped for the upcoming match when his opponent Lex Luger surprises everyone by coming out to the ring in street clothes completely unprepared to wrestle. Luger surprises everyone by announcing that he's not here to wrestle tonight since he's still an unsigned free agent, independent contractor but he's here tonight to break the news that he's signed an exclusive contract with a new firm that will take his career to the next level. Luger talks about firing Jimmy Hart and proceeds to list the reason why he needs a true sports agent for the 1990's and beyond. Luger says that it's important to have the right manager in professional wrestling, you need a coach, a friend, a brother... someone who's gonna stick by your side through thick and thin, someone who will be a loyal friend and never, ever, EVER turn on you.

William Regal's look of disgust on his face gets deeper and deeper as Lex Luger breaks the news that he's signed an official new contract with Hype Central Promotions and introduces his new ace sports agent... LANCE WRIGHT!

Lance Wright gets the boo's and thumbs down from the Center Stage Arena crowd as he walks out and introduces himself as the hottest sports agent in America, the CEO of Hype Central Promotions the new agency that has just signed Lex Luger, "The Total Package". Lance Wright has taken over as Lex Luger's new manager and he's already got huge endorsement deals, huge matches, and all of his Best Of The Best bookings will now go through his corporate offices. Regal can't believe it when Luger and his new agent make their exit and he's left without an opponent for tonight! 

Regal gets on the microphone and says this is bloody ridiculous! Only in America do you see this absolute nonsense, there is nobody in the back man enough to face him tonight. Regal issues an open challenge to anyone in the back to come out to face him right now! After a delay the crowd finally goes nuts when AHMED JOHNSON's theme song hits the speakers! Regal is totally in shock! No way! Ahmed Johnson is here and has answered his open challenge!... 

Singles Match

William Regal vs Ahmed Johnson

Ahmed has the crowd at a fever pitch, the loudest of the entire show as he runs out for the impromptu match. Regal tries to back out of his open challenge but the referee Tim White insists on the bell! Ahmed quickly goes after Regal and takes him out with a flying clothesline! Regal gets pulled up and destroyed with a PEARL RIVER PLUNGE! 1... 2... 3!!! Ahmed Johnson wins with a pinfall at just 11 seconds! 

The crowd is completely fired up as Ahmed chucks Regal out of the ring after the match and goes nuts! This force of nature is on a roll with 3 straight victories here at Best Of The Best, this 11 second destruction of William Regal is nuts! 

*****

After the match we get a backstage locker room shot of Cactus Jack and his ECW World Tag Team Championship partner Mikey Whipwreck, the young underdog kid. Cactus made his debut at Best Of The Best this past Monday night on Judgement Night by injecting himself and his reluctant tag team partner(and current ECW TV Champion) Mikey Whipreck into the main event title unification bout with the WCW World Tag Champs Harlem Heat, WWF World Tag Champs The Smoking Guns, and the legendary Steiner Brothers. The match was crashed by the debut of The Eliminators who destroyed everyone as the show went off the air.

Cactus Jack is shown in the locker room trying to tell Mikey to believe in himself and to have a little faith. The two of them used their ECW titles to throw their names into the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at the first ever Best Of The Best pay per view on January 27th for a shot to become #1 contender to the Undisputed World Title.

Cactus assures Mikey that he belongs in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match just as much as any of the other 29 guys but Mikey interrupts him.... Frank Bruno..... Dan Severn.... are you kidding me? KARELIN!? Mikey screams at Cactus asking him what he has gotten him into, he's dead! He has no chance! He might as well not even show up! Mikey tells Cactus that he never wanted to be his tag team partner and this has gone way too far. Whipreck walks out of the locker room as Cactus shakes his head. Just as the door slams behind Mikey the camera shot backs up to reveal a man seated on the shower floor against the wall around the corner of the locker room, partially obscured by darkness.....

RAVEN! That's got to be Raven! Cactus Jack has brought Raven to Best Of The Best!.... 

*****

The crowd in the arena is on their feet as Dave Penzer announces that the following match is the main event of the evening! Tony Shiavonne brings the hype saying this is truly a pay per view main event caliber matchup here, STING and SHAWN MICHAELS, the WCW and WWF together here tonight to take on Jim Cornette's team of Owen and the Bulldog and the stakes have never been higher, the team that wins this match will get 2 spots in the upcoming 30 Man Champions Rumble Match LIVE on pay per view on January 27th at A New Beginning! 

Cornette gets major thumbs down from the crowd as he leads Bulldog and Owen out to the ring with his trademark tennis racket. The crowd comes alive when The Stinger makes his entrance but the loudest pop of the night comes when Shawn Michaels classic entrance music hits the speakers! The Heartbreak Kid is officially back! HBK comes out all business, with him and Sting having noticeable tension, eyeing each other before the match even starts!... 

Tag Team Match
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)
vs
Shawn Michaels & Sting

The crowd never settles as these 4 icons tear the house down in a 14 minute long main event that delivers the goods. Sting and HBK dominate the early parts of the match, never falling into any of Bulldog/Owen's cheating tactics and clearing the ring of them after things get out of hand. After HBK and Sting clear the ring they back up into each other and come close to going at it after turning and looking at each other! This is high tension! These two are the heart and soul of rival promotions that have been at war for years now, and now they find themselves face to face! 

Owen and Bulldog use the moment to their advantage with a blindside attack. After the ref restores order HBK is isolated and beaten down until he makes the hot tag of the century to Sting! Sting clears house with Stinger Splashes on both men, and he strongly thinks about hitting HBK with one as he recovers in the corner! 

Sting maintains his focus on the prize and goes back to work on Bulldog until Cornette gets involved while the ref is distracted! Sting evades a tennis racket shot and causes Cornette to accidentally hit Bulldog instead! Bulldog is knocked out! Sting goes for the pin but Owen comes in to break up the count! HBK rushes into the ring like a madman and swarms Owen in the corner with a flurry of punches, payback for all the talk, payback for Owen taking credit for putting him on the shelf last month, this is it! 

The match devolves into an all out brawl again until Bulldog moves out of the way and causes Sting to knock HBK down to the canvas with a huge right hand on accident! Sting nearly gets rolled up as he realizes what he's done but manages to kick out at 2.999! HBK is furious! Bulldog and Owen retake control of the match as the tension rises between Michaels and Sting. The finish comes with Sting countering Bulldog into the Scorpion Deathlock in the center of the ring! Michaels drops Owen with Sweet Chin Music to stop him from breaking the hold! Davey Boy is forced to tap out! Sting and HBK have defeated Owen and Bulldog at 14:08 to earn their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match! 

Jim Cornette is furious as he retreats with Owen and Bulldog to the entrance isle and the referee attempts to raise Michaels' and Sting's hands in victory. Neither man allows the ref to raise his arm as they eye each other face to face in the center of the ring! Sting looks around for the crowd's approval before offering HBK a handshake! Michaels hesitates before shaking Stings hand! The crowd goes nuts! Sting turns his back to celebrate the victory with the crowd but soon as he turns around.... SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Sting goes down! Shawn Michaels has dropped Sting with Sweet Chin Music! HBK stands up on the ring ropes looking out at Owen and Bulldog with Cornette telling them to bring it on as tonight's show comes to an end!... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
January 13th, 1996

Joey Styles opens up this week's episode of Worldwide from the Best Of The Best control center in Universal Studios Florida in Orlando welcoming the television audience before jumping right away into a recap of the event we seen earlier tonight on the Superstation TBS on Shockwave, The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is officially back after nearly having his career brought to an end late last year. Michaels and Sting teamed up to defeat Owen Hart and British Bulldog to earn their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match live on pay per view on Super Saturday, January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston it will be Best Of The Best: A New Beginning.

Styles narrates a highlight video of the thrilling tag team main event of Saturday Night Shockwave earlier tonight on TBS, with Owen Hart and The British Bulldog giving the team of Sting and Shawn Michaels all they could handle in the best match we have seen in the ring so far here at BOTB. Shawn Michaels showed an edge that we have never seen in him when he finally got his hands on Owen Hart. Jim Cornette's interference backfired after a tennis racket shot missed Sting and knocked out Bulldog on accident. Later on in the match Sting accidentally knocked Michaels down with a shot meant for Owen. Sting recovered and managed to force a still dazed Bulldog to submit to the Scorpion Deathlock to win the match and their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble.

It was the aftermath after the match that has everyone on the AOL chat rooms talking. Sting and Michaels shook hands after a tense staredown, but Michaels surprised Sting by knocking him out with the Sweet Chin Music, payback for Sting's accidental shot earlier in the match. Shockwave went off the air with Michaels up on the ropes calling out Owen and Bulldog.

Tonight on Worldwide we will have exclusive in-ring action from BOTB Arena here at Universal Studios, Chris Benoit of the Four Horsemen will be in action, plus in the main event, we will see singles action with Stevie Ray of the WCW World Tag Champions Harlem Heat taking on Bart Gunn of the WWF World Tag Champions Smoking Gunns!

*****

Down in the Arena the fans in attendance cheer the Four Horsemen entrance music that brings out "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, one of the most versatile international talents in this sport today. Benoit is a seasoned veteran that was trained in the Hart Family Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta Canada. After rising up through Stampede Wrestling Benoit would take his talents to New Japan Pro Wrestling where he would regularly produces the finest matches in the ring from bell to bell, landing him a major pro contract with WCW in 1995. Joey Styles on commentary during Benoit's walkout talks about the questions that loom over Benoit going into the upcoming Bret Hart vs Ric Flair title unification bout, does Benoit have any loyalty to the Hart Family Dungeon that made him the wrestler he is? 

Singles Match
Chris Benoit vs Aldo Montoya

Benoit mostly dominates an exciting and competitive match, managing to always have a counter to any of Aldo's offense. Benoit is able to match Aldo's speed in the ring while also being much stronger and more explosive. Benoit wears Aldo down and puts him away with a clean pinfall after a diving headbutt after 5:51. 

Benoit looks at the camera after having his arm raised and holds up the four fingers Four Horsemen symbol with pride, Horsemen.... 

*****

After the break we get Joey Styles recapping the debut of the Eliminators at the end of Judgement Night this past Monday night on the USA Network. A highlight clip airs of their carnage in ECW and their victory over The Pit Bulls at November To Remember two months ago. This is one of the most dangerous tag teams in the world today and they made a huge primetime debut on live cable television by destroying all 3 of the major pro World Tag Team Champions along with one of the all time legendary tag teams The Steiner Brothers as the show went off the air.

The Eliminators are Saturn and Kronus, they are the pinnacle of the evolution of 1990's tag team wrestling with one of the absolutely most devastating finishers ever, the Total Elimination...

Joey Styles segues into a pre-recorded backstage locker room promo, exclusive Worldwide footage from after Judgement Night last Monday with Saturn and Kronus sending the message, Best Of The Best, any tag team in the world, one by one, in the end.... there can be only 1! 

*****

Joey Styles back in the control center studios hypes up the in-ring debut of The Eliminators set for this Monday night live on USA Network it will be JUDGEMENT NIGHT!


BREAKING NEWS!.... 


Mike Tenay interrupts tonight's taped airing of Worldwide with a massive breaking news report. The current All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Mitsuhara Misawa has officially answered the challenge of the Championship Council and entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match!! 

This is huge news from Japan, Misawa was the second generation Tiger Mask(the successor to Sayama) before unmasking and becoming one of the pillars of the AJPW promotion, hands down one of the absolute best professional wrestlers on the planet today. Misawa dominated AJPW last year, winning the 1995 Champions Carnival before capturing the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship by defeating Stan Hansen in May. Misawa will represent and carry the proud history and lineage of All Japan Pro Wrestling into the 30 Man Champions Rumble....   

The breaking news segment segues right into the official ad for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Joey Styles in the studio promotes the Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth...

The Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. There are 12 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist
Alexandr Karelin

WWF Final #1 Contender
Shawn Michaels

WCW Final #1 Contender
Sting

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Mitsuhara Misawa

Styles continues hyping and selling the upcoming match set for Best Of The Best, the biggest match in professional wrestling history. The WCW and WWF World Titles will be unified into the Undisputed World Championship live and free on the USA Network on Monday night January 22nd on JUDGEMENT NIGHT! 

vs

Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

This coming Monday night you do not want to miss Judgement Night live at 8 on the USA Network, both Ric Flair and Bret Hart will be in the building, anything can happen on live television and you will not want to miss this episode of JUDGEMENT NIGHT! 

*****

After the final commercial break we get the entrances of the final WWF World Tag Champs, The Smoking Guns, followed by the final WCW World Tag Champions Harlem Heat! Stevie Ray and Bart Gunn take the ring and get ready to square off for tonight's main event here in the BOTB studios of Universal Studios in Orlando.... 

Singles Match
Stevie Ray vs Bart Gunn

Stevie Ray and Bart Gunn battle it out in a hard hitting main event while Joey Styles recaps the events from last week with these two teams. Harlem Heat came out on last week's Shockwave to throw their names into the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match set for their hometown of Houston Texas on January 27th live on pay per view but they were confronted by the American return of the Steiner Brothers. The Steiners challenged Harlem Heat to put their spots in the Champions Rumble on the line in the main event later that night, but the match was crashed by the BOTB debut of the final ever WWF World Tag Champs, The Smoking Guns, who beat down both tag teams to end the show. Then this past Monday a 3 way dance was set for the main event of Judgement Night but it turned into a 4 way dance when Cactus Jack debuted with his ECW World Tag Team title partner Mikey Whipreck. The 4 way dance was crashed when The Eliminators made their debut and destroyed everyone as the show went off the air. 

Stevie Ray takes control of the match until Billy Gunn interferes while the ref is distracted. Bart Gunn rolls Stevie Ray up for a sure pin but Booker T runs in to break up the count! Billy Gunn rushes into the ring and all out chaos ensues! Harlem Heat and The Smoking Guns end tonight's Worldwide with an all out brawl, this match is a no-contest!... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Superdome(New Orleans, LA)
January 15th, 1996

Tonight's live broadcast opens up with a jam packed Superdome in New Orleans going crazy as Joey Styles stands in awe in the center of the ring looking around at the sold out crowd! Tonight, just 1 week away from the biggest title unification match in the history of pro wrestling, EVERYTHING is on the line, NOTHING is safe, LIVE from the Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana... THIS.... IS JUDGEMENT NIGHT!... 

The crowd goes nuts as we fade from Joey Styles live intro into an opening highlight montage music video set to Six Blade Knife by Dire Straits, showing clips of the first 2 weeks of Best Of The Best so far; Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko tearing the house down chain wrestling in the opening match of the premier of Shockwave, the Imperial Edict Of Battle scroll delivered from the Japanese UWFI promotion to the hands of BOTB Senior Championship Councilman Lou Thesz, Shawn Michaels in-ring comeback beating on Owen Hart before dropping Sting with Sweet Chin Music, The Eliminators Total Elimination, Psicosis spiking referee Randy Anderson with a piledriver, Ahmed Johnson putting Tommy Dreamer through the Spanish commentary table with a Pearl River Plunge on the first episode of Judgement Night, Sable's debut, Ric Flair and Bret Hart in separate shots holding up their respective WCW and WWF Championship belts... 

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously are just completely jacked up, feeding off the energy of the massive crowd as they welcome the television audience. We are just 1 week away from the biggest match in pro wrestling history and 2 weeks away from A New Beginning on pay per view, and folks this is LIVE television, ANYTHING can happen here tonight! 

Before we get to Houston on January 27th for A New Beginning on pay per view, we will see the Unification of the WWF and WCW World Titles, live and free right here on the USA Network on Judgement Night next Monday night! Folks it just doesn't get any bigger than this match, Bret "The Hitman" Hart will take on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair... 

vs
The biggest match in pro wrestling history, Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live on January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Shortly after the intro the Superdome crowd is brought to their feet when the Horsemen entrance music hits! The Nature Boy Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, and Chris Benoit make it out to the ring! Flair gets on the mic and is in rare form, getting the crowd going as he goes off calling out "The Hitman" Bret Hart saying that he doesn't want to wait until next week, lets get it on TONIGHT! The Superdome crowd loses it when Bret Hart's music hits the speakers, bringing him out to the ring with his WWF Championship belt proudly draped over his shoulder! 

Bret fearlessly enters the ring and stands alone, face to face with The Four Horsemen like David in the Lions Den. Flair and Bret stand face to face, with both WWF and WCW World title belts reflecting off of one another. Benoit, Pillman, and Arn flank Ric Flair as he stands across from Bret Hart waiting for the crowd to die down. Suddenly the new BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff comes rushing out to the ring with security to get between them!

Eric Bischoff tells Flair and Bret that there is no way this match can take place tonight, the WCW and WWF World Title Unification match has already been signed for next week on Judgement Night! Bret responds telling the new hot shot CEO that may be true, but he's willing to put his WWF Championship Belt on the line at any time against any man! Bret Hart comes up with a challenge for Flair for tonight, to put his money where his mouth is! You are not a true champion unless you defend your belt. The Hitman challenges Ric Flair for both of them to defend their WWF and WCW World Title belts in 2 separate matches here on Judgement Night tonight, and to make things interesting they will each get to choose who their respective opponents will be!

Ric Flair accepts the challenge! Arn Anderson tells Bret and Bischoff that The Horsemen agree to the stipulation, and he's ready to announce Bret's challenger right now, it's going to be a man that has paid his dues for a long time and his shot is long overdue, BRIAN PILLMAN! Brian Pillman will face Bret "The Hitman" Hart right here tonight for his WWF Championship and his spot in next week's Title Unification Match!

Bret accepts Arn and Pillman's challenge and replies that he has somebody here tonight, an ace up his sleeve for Ric Flair, a surprise opponent that nobody knows, somebody thats young and hungry with nothing to lose, somebody that reminds him of himself when he was a rookie. Bret says he's going to give somebody the shot of a lifetime tonight in the main event against Ric Flair for the WCW World Title! We will find out who he is later tonight! Ric Flair assures Bret that he will defend his WCW World Title against anybody he puts in the ring! It is ON! Bret Hart will defend his WWF Championship against The Horsemen's Brian Pillman tonight, while Ric Flair will defend his WCW World Championship in the main event against a surprise opponent that Bret will reveal later! Both Champions are going to have to defend their titles here tonight on Judgement Night to earn their spots in next week's Undisputed World Title unification match! 

*****

After the first commercial break we get a shot of the Portugese Man Of War, Aldo Montoya wrapping up his entrance giving the ringside fans high fives, all smiles and positivity as he enters the ring for our opening match of the evening. Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers brings out the man that just 16 months ago threw down one of the most prestigious World Titles in pro wrestling history after winning an 8 man tournament for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Title. Shane Douglas threw the NWA belt down and declared the ECW World Title the true World Championship in one of the most controversial moments of the decade so far. After a failed run in the WWF as "The Dean", Douglas has returned here to Best Of The Best a bitter man. Douglas denounced The Dean gimmick on his debut promo interview this past Saturday Night on Shockwave before calling out all the men he blames for ruining the sport of wrestling. 
 

Singles Match

Shane Douglas vs Aldo Montoya

Shane Douglas returns to form in his in-ring BOTB debut here, making it a point to embarrass Aldo in a total domination in the ring and out on the floor. Douglas lands a huge plancha from the top turnbuckle onto Montoya out on the floor that gets the Superdome riled up! Douglas holds Montoya by his mask up for the camera as he calls out Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan. Finally Douglas puts Montoya away with a brutal belly to belly suplex for the pinfall after 4:41. 

Shane Douglas continues to kick Aldo while he's down after the having his arm raised. The fans boo Douglas as he proceeds to pull Aldo Montoya's mask off his face, exposing him to everyone before throwing him through the ropes to the floor. Shane gets a microphone and puts all the wrestlers in the back, Shawn Michaels, everybody in "The Cliq", the Dean is DEAD! Douglas gets the boo's from the crowd as he calls everybody a bunch of stupid marks, what youre looking at right here is an end to all the bulls&$* of professional wrestling, all the boy toys, all the clowns, all of your heroes and icons, Shane Douglas is here to kill it all! Douglas calls out Shawn Michaels and the Cliq, asking where is The Kid, where is Razor Ramon, where's Diesel?! BRING IT ON! Bring on the Horsemen! KISS MY ASS! 

*****

Paul E. Dangerously goes full on psycho car dealership hustler mode back at the commentary booth with JR as he sells A New Beginning, the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view on Super Saturday on January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas! The 30 Man Champions Rumble Match is the biggest news story in the entire sports world, even bigger than the Superbowl next weekend. The news was broke this past Saturday night on Shockwave on TBS, the Russian monster Alexandr Karelin, 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco-Roman Wrestling, an international superstar athlete, a wrestler, has made worldwide headline news by entering the 30 Man Champions Rumble for a shot to become #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship. Karelin's BOTB press conference yesterday was covered by USA Today and ESPN Sportscenter.

Jim Ross explains that the 30 Man Champions Rumble will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, the Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match!

Back in the locker room Joey Styles is on standby for an interview with WWF Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who has promised to reveal a surprise opponent to face Ric Flair for his WCW World Title in tonight's main event! Bret brings a young 25 year old "Lionheart" Chris Jericho... 

The Last Survivor Of The Hart Family Dungeon, Chris Jericho will get the shot of a lifetime here tonight taking on Ric Flair for the WCW World Championship! Joey Styles puts Jericho over as one of the best young wrestlers on the international scene, coming off of a critically acclaimed match against Ultimo Dragon last year in the WAR promotion! Talk about an underdog with nothing to lose, Jericho thanks Bret for bringing him here and giving him the chance saying that he will not let him down he believes in himself and he's here to win! 

After the interview and just prior to cutting away to the commercial break we get a backstage shot in the Superdome where Brian Pillman shown in the distance talking to somebody slightly out of shot. Pillman is set to get a shot against Bret Hart for a chance to bring the WWF Championship Belt to the Horsemen here later tonight in the co-main but the man he's talking to comes clear in the shot and Jim Ross points it out, hey that's... that's Jim Cornette... what the hell!?.. 

*****

After the break we get the shot of The Horsemen's Chris Benoit already in the ring stretching and getting ready for a huge match set for tonight taking on "The Total Package" Lex Luger, who revealed on Shockwave on Saturday Night that he has signed an exclusive contract with revolutionary new sports agency "Hype Central Promotions" led by the new hottest sports agent Lance Wright. Lex Luger and Lance Wright come out to boo's from the Superdome crowd as once again Luger is not dressed to wrestle, he's in street clothes all smiles waving to the fans as if they were cheering for him. Luger waves and smiles to the fans but jerks his arm away in disgust anytime any of the fans get close to touching him. 

Chris Benoit looks on ready to wrestle as Luger and his agent Lance Wright enter the ring and inform everyone that he has pulled his client Lex Luger from the following match. The crowd boo's intensify as Lance Wright smugly informs everyone of a clause he put into Luger's contract that if he's not given proper 6 week notice to train for an opponent he has the right to pull from the bout. Lance Wright is not happy with the short notice Luger was given to wrestle someone of Chris Benoit's caliber and he's here to protect his client's value by pulling him from this match. The crowd is not happy at all! Lance Wright pisses everyone off even more by telling them that it says on the advertisements "card subject to change", well guess what.... it just did. 

Lex Luger and Lance Wright make their exits getting pelted with trash and drinks as Benoit is pissed in the ring. Benoit gets on the mic and shouts at the referee that this is bulls*##! He's trained and prepared for a match tonight, he's signed to wrestle here he's not leaving until somebody in the back gets the guts to come out here and take him on! All of a sudden Eddie Guerrero comes out! The crowd goes nuts! Eddie Guerrero has answered Benoit's challenge and is coming to the ring ready to go! Business is about to pick up right here folks!.... 

Singles Match

Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero

Benoit and Guerrero rip into each other in an impromptu match in front of a hot 50,000+ crowd in a jam packed Superdome on LIVE television in a fight to the finish! Both wrestlers don't just give everything they have to give, they give everything there is to give. Back and forth chain wrestling sequences with rapid fire nearfalls, bridging rollups countered into counters, brutal stiff chops, high flying planchas to the outside, flying headbutts, incredible frog splashes, with the crowd's gasps getting more and more intense with each nearfall! Eddie takes a physical beating from Chris Benoit but never ceases to fight back, never backing down, never taking a backward step. The war comes to an end at 14:11 after Benoit rolls out of the way of another frog splash attempt and forces the submission with the crossface! 

Chris Benoit has defeated Eddie Guerrero and has his hand raises in victory but he's completely exhausted and busted up from an all out war! Eddie Guerrero rolls out of the ring to the floor to his knees in agony of being defeated while Benoit struggles to hold up the four finger Horsemen symbol... 

*****

After the match we get a short teaser vignette set to More Human Than Human by White Zombie, showing the deep, disturbing gouges and road map of scars covering the body of the most homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death defying athlete in the world today, the extreme beholder of justice is coming to Best Of The Best.... SABU!... 

*****

The Superdome is shown to be packed! Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously hype the following match as a clash between the final ever WCW TV Champion against the final ever ECW TV Champion, with Mikey Whipreck shown already in the ring as Marc Mero makes his entrance with his new valet Sable! Jim Ross sells this match as a preview of the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on pay per view on January 27th as both of these Television Champions used their titles to enter the match for a chance to become #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship! 

WCW World TV Champion vs ECW World TV Champion

Marc Merco(W/Sable) vs Mikey Whipreck

Mikey Whipwreck seems overwhelmed in the ring against a longtime WCW veteran in front of a crowd of well over 50,000 in the Superdome. Mero's experience advantage shows as he's able to dominate the tough young kid. During the match the crowd goes nuts when Cactus Jack walks out down to the ringside area to cheer Mikey on! Sable keeps her distance from the freak on the opposite side of the ring cheering on Mero as he keeps Whipreck locked in a headlock in the center of the ring.

During the match there is a ringside fan that stands out, a skinny guy wearing a cheap rubber Bill Clinton halloween mask, with cut off shorts and a cut off Stone Temple Pilots t-shirt. Later on Marc Mero looks to have Mikey beat as he goes up to the top rope for his Shooting Star Press! Cactus Jack climbs up onto the apron to try to stop Mero but Sable climbs up and drops him with a low blow to the groin! Cactus drops to the floor! Mero finally leaps off and nails the SSP but Mikey kicks out of the pin attempt at 2.999! UNBELIEVABLE! Mikey has kicked out of Marc Mero's Shooting Star Press! 

Marc Mero gets distracted when Cactus Jack recovers on the floor and begins to stalk Sable around the corner of the ring! Mero goes out to the floor to stop Cactus as the referee is busy checking on a badly hurt Mikey Whipreck. The ringside fan in the Bill Cilnton mask jumps the steel guard rail and drops Marc Mero with a SWEET CHIN MUSIC! The fan pulls the Bill Clinton mask off and its.... STEVIE RICHARDS!!!

Cactus Jack rolls Marc Mero's lifeless body into the ring and shouts for Mikey to make the cover! Mikey struggles to roll over and make a cover, 1... 2... 3! MIKEY WINS via pinfall at 10:04! Sable rushes to Mero in the ring as the referee raises Mikey's hand. Whipreck looks around wondering what the hell just happened as Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards enter the ring to celebrate the victory, giving him his ECW World Tag Team and TV Championship belts. Mikey Whipreck finally recovers to his senses and realizes what just happened, he pushes the referee and tells him that he can't accept the victory. The referee immediately calls for the bell again and after a delay the ring announcer says that the decision has been reversed, due to interference Marc Mero has won this match via disqualification!

The referee raises the arm of a still hurt Marc Mero but Cactus attacks him from behind! Mikey tries to stop Cactus and Stevie Richards from attacking Marc Mero but Stevie Richards decks him in the face with the Sweet Chin Music! Mikey goes down! Richards stomps Mikey Whipreck down until Cactus pulls him off and backs him away! Cactus pushes Stevie Richards away from Mikey Whipreck until all of a sudden Raven walks out!.... 

Raven enters the ring and looks on at Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards as Mikey Whipreck begins to pull himself up to his feet. Cactus Jack stops and stares back and forth at Raven and Mikey Whipreck for a moment before pulling Whipreck into a DOUBLE ARM DDT! Mikey Whipreck is out! Cactus sits up and laughs as Raven pets his hair like a beloved child. Sable manages to pull Mero out of the ring and help him escape as Stevie Richards jumps around like a goofball celebrating the arrival of Raven. Raven gets a microphone and cuts a promo saying that he is the shepherd and these... these are my sheep. It says in the bible "I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the father knows me and I know the father", but Raven's father only brought suffering for him. Raven says that he is not his father, he is all of the lost hopes and dead dreams of an entire generation, he who follows me shall have eternal life.... quothe the Raven... Nevermore.... 

Cactus Jack pulls Mikey Whipreck's lifeless body up and holds him up for Raven to look at him until all of a sudden Tommy Dreamer sprints out of the back full speed into the ring to save him! Dreamer floors Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards to send the Superdome into a frenzy! Raven makes his escape and looks on at Tommy Dreamer protecting Mikey Whipreck screaming for him to bring it on!.... 

*****

We return from the commercial break with Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously(begrudgingly) introducing the first part of an a special interview series, showing a deeper look into the new Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff via an expose interview conducted recently by Joey Styles.

Eric Bischoff was revealed on the very first episode of Shockwave to be the new Chief Executive of Best Of The Best. The signing stirred up some controversy since it was a move that came from the mysterious corporate offices of the promotion and was not cleared by the Championship Council that was put in place as the governing body of BOTB. Eric Bischoff immediately made even more controversial signings of free agent wrestlers that didn't fit the mold of what the Championship Council wanted to compete in Best Of The Best, stars like Shawn Michaels, and Shane Douglas(who dishonored the NWA Championship). Here in this series of interviews with Joey Styles that will air on BOTB over the next week we will take a look at the rise of Eric Bischoff from his roots in the AWA to his ascension to the top of WCW, where he led the promotion to pass up the WWF to become #1 in the United States with the launch of Nitro last year. We will also get a look at what he has in his vision for Best Of The Best to become under his leadership. 

*****

We return to the live shot of the Superdome with the fans going nuts as ring announcer Michael Buffer is shown in the ring getting ready to do the intros for the first part of tonight's double main event. Brian Pillman makes his entrance to the Horsemen entrance music and waits in the ring with a twisted smile. Bret Hart's entrance music brings the fans in the Superdome to their feet! This match is for the WWF Championship! Bret makes it to the ringside area where he gives away a set of his trademark shades to a child seated ringside.

Bret gets into the ring and kisses his WWF Championship belt before passing it off to referee Charles Robinson. All of a sudden Pillman gets a microphone and stops everything, breaking the news that just like Bret said he had for Flair later tonight, he himself has an ace up his sleeve as well. Brian Pillman informs Bret Hart and everyone watching that he's not the one that's going to wrestle Bret for his WWF Championship, he's made a deal to MAKE SURE that Bret doesn't walk out of here with that WWF title belt!

Suddenly Jim Cornette walks out to the stage with Bret's mystery opponent set up through a deal made with Brian Pillman, it's the Best Of The Best debut of....

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}

VADER!!

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! THAT'S VADER! Bret's jaw drops as Brian Pillman loses it with uncontrollable laughter rolling out of the ring holding up the four finger Horsemen symbol. Jim Cornette has brought Vader here tonight and he's about to take on Bret Hart for his WWF World Title!!!

WWF World Championship

Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) vs Vader

Vader beats the hell out of Bret Hart from pillar to post! The Hitman gets destroyed with huge power moves, stiff punches and clubbing forearm strikes. Eventually Vader dumps Bret over the top rope to the floor where Jim Cornette kicks him in the face while the ref is distracted! 

Cornette rolls Bret into the ring to avoid a count out, he can taste the gold. Vader pummels Bret Hart and goes for the finish with a devastating powerbomb! Bret kicks out of the pin at 2! Vader sets Bret up for his splash out of the corner to put him away but Bret somehow manages to get his knees up! Vader rolls out to the floor clutching his ribs! Bret has had the life beaten out of him in the ring. Jim Cornette frantically works to revive Vader, the big man recovers and pushes him away before violently kicking the ring steps apart! Vader picks up the heavy diamond plate steel ring steps base and chucks it into the ring! The steps bounces off the mat with a loud clang! 

Bret tries to pull himself up in the corner as Vader picks up the huge steel ring steps platform and charges across the ring to smash him! Bret rolls out of the way at the last second, causing Vader to smash into the ring steps in the corner on impact! The monster is down! Vader rolls over to his hands and knees and has blood pouring from a cut from hitting his head on the steps! Both men recover to their feet together and Bret goes after Vader's cut, staggering him with punches! Bret goes to run the ropes for a move but Vader counters him with a brutal lariat that takes him out! The ref tries in vain to stop Vader as he drags Bret up into the powerbomb position, lifting him up and dropping him on his back ONTO THE STEEL STEPS PLATFORM!! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! 

The referee immediately calls for the bell, this match is over! Bret Hart has won via disqualification! Vader wipes the blood from his face before going berserk, shoving the referee all the way across the ring! Bret rolls around arching his back off the canvas in pain as Vader goes to lift the ring steps up to try to drop them on him! A squad of referees and security guards race out of the back to the ring to stop Vader! Bret rolls out and escapes as all out carnage ensues in the ring, a bloody faced Vader destroys the security guards that try to hold him back! Bodies go flying before finally Jim Cornette is able to subdue Vader... 

*****

War Machine by Kiss plays through a vignette showing Taz in his dojo tossing his sparring partners on their heads with Judo throws and suplexes with just raw power. This is The Human Suplex Machine, a new modern day hybrid athlete, Judo, Extreme style wrestling, from Red Hook New York this... is Taz.

Taz will make his in-ring debut at the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, A New Beginning live from the Astrodome in Houston on Super Saturday, January 27th the night before Super Bowl XXX!
 

*****

Back to the live shot of the Superdome in New Orleans we get The American Males wrapping up their entrance, Scotty Riggs and Marcus Alexander Bagwell were an impressive young tag team in the dying days of WCW last year. They have a shot to make a splash here at their BOTB debut taking on the team that crashed the 4 Way Title Unification Match last week at the end of Judgement Night, Perry Saturn and John Kronus, The Eliminators. The Eliminators make their entrance to Demanufacture by Fear Factory as Jim Ross and Paul E. talk about the way they took out The Smoking Guns, Harlem Heat, Cactus & Mikey, and The Steiner Brothers last week to make their presence felt from day 1, making a lot of big enemies.

Tag Team Match

The Eliminators vs The American Males

Saturn and Kronus are unlike anything Riggs & Bagwell have ever encountered in their brief WCW careers, with a hybrid style of tag team wrestling blending high flying acrobatic offense with lethal martial arts kicks. Kronus cartwheel back elbow on Riggs in the corner turns the tide of the match, then the stereo synchronized tandem moves of The Eliminators breaks the spirits of The American Males. Scotty Riggs was finished with the Total Elimination high/low double roundhouse kicks! 1... 2... 3! The Eliminators finish The American Males after just 4:15!

After the match The Eliminators celebration is short lived as The Steiner Brothers come out to the stage! Rick Steiner tells Saturn and Kronus they cost them a spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble last week, and it's time for them to pay up. The Steiner Brothers challenge The Eliminators to face them right here on Judgement Night next week! Saturn gets on the mic and accepts Ric Steiner's challenge! It's set! The Steiner Brothers vs The Eliminators right here on Judgement Night LIVE next week! 

*****

After the break Joey Styles stands in the ring for a special interview and the Louisiana Superdome goes crazy when he brings out STING! The Stinger comes out to the ring and calls out Shawn Michaels for kicking him in the face this past Saturday night on Shockwave! The roof of the Superdome comes off as HBK's music hits! Michaels comes out and stands face to face with Sting! Sting tells Michaels that he is calling him out, one on one, we settle this in the ring man to man at A New Beginning! Shawn Michaels accepts Sting's challenge! If you want to start a war you got one!

This match has been set! Both Sting and Michaels have earned spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at A New Beginning, but these two will lock up one on one in a match about honor and respect, WCW against WWF to settle everything that has been brewing between these two promotions in their final years. The tension between these two locker rooms has reached a boiling point since Best Of The Best has launched, now it culminates in one last showdown between the two faces of each promotion. Shawn Michaels vs Sting, at A New Beginning!

*****

Michael Buffer brings the Superdome crowd to it's feet with his trademark LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAL intro as we are set for the main event of the evening! "Lionheart" Chris Jericho comes out first with the commentators talking about how completely unheard of this is, Bret Hart and Ric Flair were tasked with picking each other's opponents for their title defenses here tonight. Bret Hart promised a surprise, a young rookie with something to prove, and he delivered by bringing Jericho here to Best Of The Best. Chris Jericho has experience in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and has traveled to Mexico and Japan. 

The Nature Boy gets the Superdome going crazy as he walks out to a pyro explosion in the entrance behind him. Flair comes out wearing the glorious big gold belt and he's accompanied by Arn Anderson. The arena goes crazy as referee Charles Robinson calls for the bell to get the main event underway!.. 

WCW World Championship

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair(C)

vs
"Lionheart" Chris Jericho

The young underdog surprises everyone after weathering an early storm from the legend and pushing him to his limits! Flair gets overwhelmed by Jericho's speed and is forced to roll out of the ring to recoup with Arn! Flair ends up cutting Jericho's momentum off and dominating him, resorting to cheating tactics, holding the ropes, low blows, the usual. Jericho goes toe to toe with Flair and shows him a new breed of wrestler, a new modern day wrestling style that stifles him. Flair begins to wear down and it becomes clear that he's underestimated this mostly unknown challenger. 

As Flair looks to be in trouble he ends up pulling the referee into a rope running sequence, causing Jericho to inadvertently crash into him with a spinning heel kick! The ref is knocked out! Jericho evades a shot from Flair and drops him, setting him up for his springboard moonsault splash off the ropes! Lionheart hooks Flair's leg for the pin but there is no referee! Arn Anderson comes into the ring and pulls Jericho off of Ric Flair to go for a DDT but Jericho counters with a Northern Lights Suplex! Arn is out! 

All of a sudden Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman race out to the ring! Jericho fights them off at first but he's soon overwhelmed and beaten down until Bret Hart comes limping out, still a beaten mess from his match against Vader earlier tonight! The Hitman hits the ring and fights off Benoit and Pillman, taking both of them out to the floor for a brawl! Arn joins in and jumps Bret as Jericho and Flair recover in the ring with the ref still out cold! Pillman takes a steel chair into the ring to take a shot at Chris Jericho but he ducks out of the way at the last second, causing him to accidentally crack Flair in the face! Flair goes down! Jericho dropkicks the chair into Pillman's face, knocking him out of the ring! The referee recovers just as Chris Jericho makes the cover.... 


1... 



2.... 



3! 


DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!? Chris Jericho has just won the WCW World Championship from Ric Flair! LIONHEART, a 25 year old unknown from out of nowhere has won the WCW World Title in his BEST OF THE BEST DEBUT! Bret rolls into the ring and backs the Horsemen off with a steel chair as Jericho is in tears. The referee wraps the WCW World Title around Jericho's waist and raises his arm, the Horsemen are stunned, and FURIOUS, folks WE'RE OUT OF TIME!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
January 18th, 1996

Tonight here at the Manhattan Center in New York City, right here on Bushido on TBS, it's high tension as we are just 6 days away from the WCW/WWF World Championship Title Unification match on Judgement Night on January 22nd! We are also now 11 days away from A New Beginning, the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view on Super Saturday January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas!

There have been some earth shattering announcements in the last 2 weeks with the biggest being the Russian wrestling legend Alexandr Karelin, an invincible 285 pound monster. Karelin and the current WBC Heavyweight Boxing Champion Frank Bruno entering the 30 Man Cchampions Rumble Match have made national headline news, with coverage from USA Today and ESPN Sportscenter. Tonight we have another breaking news announcement about a new challenger that has stepped up from the Pancrase promotion out of Japan. A representative from Pancrase, Kazuo Takahashi, is also here tonight to take on Owen Hart under Pancrase rules in our main event!

The commentary trio of Mike Tenay, Phillip Rhee(black belt martial artist, actor and screenplay writer of the Best Of The Best action films), and kickboxing legend Don "The Dragon" Wilson immediately break the news that the Championship Council has recently announced that Chris Jericho's victory over Ric Flair for his WCW World Title on Judgement Night this past Monday night has been overturned due to outside interference! Ric Flair must be given his title back but since The Horsemen interfered in the match, he will not be given the victory by DQ. Instead the match has been ruled a no contest, and a rematch has been set for THIS Saturday Night on SHOCKWAVE! The young gun, Lionheart, The Last Survivor Of The Hart Family Dungeon, will get a second chance at Ric Flair and his WCW Title!

*****

The news is broke by Mike Tenay that the debut of Taz, The Human Suplex Machine, has been signed for A New Beginning on pay per view in the Houston Astrodome to take on "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama! We get highlight clips of Kama's training camp for the match with some intense heavy weight lifting, stiff sparring, heavy bag work. Taz's training highlight montage shows him running, putting in road work in terrible weather in New York in January with his face covered by worn out old hooded sweatshirt. Kama has looked impressive here in Best Of The Best, with a devastating submission victory over boxer Dan Murphy in a hybrid rules bout here on Bushido last week. Kama lost his focus in the WWF in 1995 because of money, now here in Best Of The Best he's ditched the big money managers and corporate factions to go solo and he's been a sharp, dangerous wrestler. 

The Supreme Fighting Machine    vs     The Human Suplex Machine

vs
Kama vs Taz
Live on PPV, January 27th at A New Beginning

For Taz making his debut in a match like this is like being baptized by fire. Kama at 6'6" and 330, is a full 9 inches taller and 90 pounds bigger than Taz, with much more experience on live pay per view. Taz's reputation will be on the line against a man that made a journeyman boxer tap out and quit last week here on Bushido. Taz's background in Judo has been documented in vignettes over the last few weeks on Best Of The Best television, he came up in ECW in South Philadelphia but he's never competed on pay per view, and certainly never in front of a crowd as big as the Astrodome is going to have on January 27th. Both of these warriors are training for this match like there is no tomorrow, for these two men to pride themselves on legitimacy, both of them will step into the ring on January 27th at A New Beginning... only one of them will walk away with their reputation intact...

*****

After the break we get a special pre-recorded segment in an empty Manhattan Center in the middle of the ring with new Bushido commentator and kickboxing legend, Don "The Dragon" Wilson. The Dragon has Olympic Gold medalist freestyle wrestler Kevin Jackson in the ring to promote his recent decision to forego a run at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta this Summer in order to go pro and sign a contract with Best Of The Best. Kevin Jackson will make his debut in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, but he's here tonight to explain the rules of freestyle wrestling. Freestyle wrestling is a very popular sport around the world but in the USA it's almost been adopted as the nation's martial art, it's taught in public schools like Judo is in Japan. Freestyle wrestling didn't become a part of the Summer Olympics permanently until 1920, compared to Greco-Roman style wrestling which dates back to 1908.

Kevin Jackson watches on with Don "The Dragon" Wilson and explains the rules as two random wrestlers engage in a Freestyle wrestling match in the ring. Freestyle matches are contested in two rounds of 3 minutes each, with a 30 second break in between rounds(or periods as they're more commonly referred to). If a wrestler pins his opponents shoulders to the mat for a short period of time he wins the match, it's really that simple. Kevin Jackson tells The Dragon that at the highest level of Freestyle wrestling, the Olympics and the World Championships, pinfalls are much more rare. This is where the point system of Freestyle wrestling comes into play. Wrestlers get points in Freestyle wrestling for throws, takedowns, or reversing their position from a defensive position into an offensive position. Moves range in points from 1 to 5, with arching suplexes/throws usually getting the max. Each wrestler also gets 3 "cautions" for breaking the rules or stalling. At the end of the six minutes the wrestler with the most points wins the match.

Kevin Jackson talks briefly about how he feels like Freestyle wrestlers would be at an advantage in a Rumble style match like the one coming up at A New Beginning. Jackson mentions that he is training exclusively for this 30 Man Champions Rumble Match with specific drills for defending being taken over the top rope. Jackson also boasts that he feels there is nobody in Best Of The Best that can pin his shoulders to the mat. The Dragon asks Jackson how he feels about the greatest wrestler on earth, Alexandr Karelin recently announcing that he will compete in the 30 Man Champions Rumble. Kevin Jackson talks about the respect that the name Karelin carries in the wrestling world, he is the odds on favorite to win the 30 Man Champions Rumble for a reason, he's the best grappler there is. Kevin Jackson says that it's always the challenges in life that push us to do greater things, he will not back down from Karelin he will not sell himself short as a man he will find out where he stands as a man... 

The Dragon and Kevin Jackson explain the differences between Freestyle Wrestling and Greco-Roman, the style that Alexandr Karelin has dominated for the last decade. In Greco-Roman everything is about upper body grappling, any holds or leg trips below the waist are illegal. Greco-Roman wrestling is the style of wrestling that dates back to prehistory, and it's been dominated by a force of nature named Karelin from Russia, a 285 pound unstoppable monster. 

Kevin Jackson's interview cuts into the commercial spot narrated by Paul E. Dangerously for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

We get a backstage locker room shot of the Pancrase dressing room, where Kazuo Takahashi is prepping his boots and shin pads to get ready for tonight's main event match against Owen Hart. Takahashi is one of the original Hybrid Wrestlers that started in the very first Pancrase show back in 1993. The group was founded by Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki after they splintered off from the Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi shoot wrestling promotion(which was itself a spiritual successor to the UWF). Takahashi earned his reputation as one of the fan favorites for his toughness he showcased in an epic battle against legendary Pancrase gaijin Ken Shamrock in October of 93. After fighting through a broken leg in a match in the Spring of 1994, Takahashi was put on the shelf for over a year. Kazuo finally returned in September of last year where he would win 2 big matches in Pancrase.

The locker room of Owen Hart is shown next where Owen is shown hitting focus mitts with open palm strikes. Jim Cornette cheers Owen on in the background as The British Bulldog holds the focus mitts for him to pop off 3-4 strike combos with crisp, clean open palm strikes. Owen Hart has accepted the challenge to face Kazuo Takahashi under Pancrase rules here tonight on our main event!  

*****

Just before the commercial break we get Mike Tenay at the commentary table ringside in the Manhattan Center breaking the news, as advertised earlier tonight we promised another HUGE announcement for the next Champ to answer the challenge and enter the 30 man Champions Rumble on January 27th live on pay per view from the Astrodome in Houston TX... that man is none other than the current reigning King Of Pancrase... BAS RUTTEN!

Shook Ones by Mobb Deep bumps along to a highlight montage showing Bas Rutten's trail of carnage in Pancrase last year. Rutten was submitted by Ken Shamrock in March of last year in a huge match for the King Of Pancrase title. It was one of the most brutal and devastating losses any athlete could endure. Rutten was always a devastating striker in Pancrase, even with the open palm strikes he was a knockout artist. After the submission loss to Ken Shamrock last March Rutten focused on his ground game, training with Pancrase founder Masakatsu Funaki. 

After the crushing loss the former Dutch kickboxer rattled off 7 consecutive victories in Pancrase in 1995, 6 of them won by submission. Rutten defeated Minoru Suzuki with a choke to capture the King Of Pancrase in September of last year. Now Bas will represent Pancrase in Houston Texas in the Astrodome for a shot to become the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship! 

*****

After the break we get the second part of a multi-part expose' style interview with Joey Styles sitting down in the studio with the newly signed Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff. This segment focuses on Bischoff's personal background, his martial arts and kickboxing experience, and his rise up through the AWA in Minnesota that eventually led to him working in WCW. Bischoff's ascension through the corporate ranks of WCW can only be looked at in awe, he went from a lower level commentator to Executive Producer by 1993, and in 1994 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, where he was instrumental in changing the culture of WCW. It was after the death of Vince Mcmahon in 1995 that Bischoff made his move, launching Nitro on TBS head to head against Raw on USA Network. WCW Nitro was a huge success that dominated the head to head ratings with the WWF.

During the second part of this interview Eric Bischoff talks about how he has no remorse for the way he went after a weakened WWF following the death of Mcmahon last year. Bischoff also mentions how excited he is to be a part of the Bushido concept of an open world, "No Way As A Way" presentation of pro wrestling here on Thursday nights on TBS, he is a firm believer that this is the future of combat sports. 

*****

Kazuo Takahashi makes his entrance with several cornermen as the commentators explain that the following main event match will be contested under Pancrase rules. The Pancrase promotion is essentially a cousin of the UWFI promotion that delivered an Imperial Edict Of Battle to Best Of The Best last week. The difference is that Pancrase is here tonight with honor as guests, as challengers to test their might on the open mats of Bushido.

The rules of Pancrase

No elbows to the head (neither while standing nor on the ground).

No closed-fist strikes to the head (neither while standing nor on the ground).

No knees to the head on the ground.

No kicks/stomps to the head on the ground.

If a participant gets too close to the ropes, he is stood back up on the feet.

Non-title matches consist of one 15 minute round, while title matches consist of one 30 minute round.

If a participant is caught in a submission and taps out (whether unable to reach the ropes or not), it is a loss.

Five "escapes" are given to each fighter at the start of every match. An escape can be used when caught in a submission near the ropes, in which case the participant can grab them, be stood back on the feet and have one point deducted. Once a participant has used all of his escapes, it is a loss.

For knockouts, a ten-count similar to boxing and kickboxing is used. If the participant is unable to answer the ten-count, it is declared a TKO and that fighter has lost the match. However, if the participant is able to answer the ten-count, the fight resumes and one point is deducted.

If, at the end of regulated time, neither fighter has submitted, been knocked out, or lost all their points, a decision is rendered based on who lost fewer points. If neither fighter lost any points, or both lost the same number of points, the fight is declared a draw.

Takahashi's opponent Owen Hart makes his way out all business with Jim Cornette and Davey Boy Smith with cornerman gear. Owen is wearing his trademark pink and black singlet but has matching Pancrase style shin guards on over his boots. Referee Big John Mccarthy brings both men to the center to go over the rules and the staredown is TENSE! Big John backs both wrestlers up and checks with the ringside timekeeper before calling for the bell!...

Pancrase Rules Match
Owen Hart vs Kazuo Takahashi

Owen takes it back to his roots Dungeon style as Stu Hart's baby boy puts his father's catch wrestling pedigree to the test against Takahashi, a man with training lineage that goes back to Karl Gotch. Takahashi and Owen scramble in several explosive tie up sequences early on before finally Takahashi ends up taking Owen's back. The struggle ensues with Takahashi working for a choke with Owen fighting to defend it. Finally Owen is able to transition out of the position by rolling over and spinning down into a kneebar! Takahashi is forced to use a rope break!

After the restart Takahashi fends off Owen's takedown attempts with knees in the clinch, then punishes him with hard kicks after separating. Owen attempts to connect with palm strikes to Takahashi's face but every shot misses awkwardly. Takahashi counters Owen with a combo of palm strikes to the body and head! Owen shoots in for a clinch and backs Takahashi up against the ropes before ripping him up with a belly to belly suplex! Takahashi is flattened but manages to regain his composure and tie Owen up in a half guard position from his back. The two men scramble around in an explosive series of chain wrestling sequences, countering and battling each other on the ground going hold for hold.

As Owen and Takahashi remain deadlocks in the guard position on the canvas all of a sudden Bret "The Hitman" Hart walks out to the entrance isle watching on from a distance...

Finally as Owen and Takahashi end up close to the ropes the referee brings both men to their feet for a restart! Both men circle each other for a while before Takahashi unloads with a kick that gets countered with a perfectly timed overhald left palm strike! Owen has Takahashi staggered! Owen follows up with palm strikes but Takahashi recovers and stands his ground, unloading in a stiff exchange of open palm strikes like a Rocky movie! Sweat goes flying until Owen gets staggered and drops for a takedown on instinct! Takahashi rolls through with Owen's takedown attempt and catches him in an armbar from his back! Owen is forced to grab the ropes!

Both men have had to use rope breaks as the 6 minute mark of the match approaches. Owen wastes no time in shooting in on Takahashi for another takedown attempt, this time following through and dropping back into a heel hook attempt on the same leg that Takahashi broke last year. Takahashi manages to spin out of the pressure but is locked in the middle of the ring in the position as Owen transitions into a knee bar! Takahashi explosively rips out and spins away and manages to hook Owen in an ankle lock in the scramble! Bret is shown watching on from the isle as Bulldog and Cornette cheer Owen on from his corner.

Takahashi and Owen push it to the limit in a thrilling grappling battle with several near submission spots. Finally Owen manages to hook Takahashi's ankle and transition from a knee bar into a single leg Boston crab! Takahashi reaches for the ropes but he's too far away! Owen has him hooked and it's the same leg that he broke that put him on the shelf last year, he's no choice but to tap out at 10:39..

The British Bulldog and Jim Cornette immediately fly into the ring to scoop Owen up and carry him around the ring in victory! Takahashi retreats out of the ring and is given a handshake and respect from The Hitman as they pass in the entrance isle. Owen Hart has defeated Kazuo Takahashi in a Pancrase rules bout here tonight on Bushido! All of a sudden Bret crashes the celebration by walking into the ring with a microphone! Bret congratulates his brother and tells him how proud he is of him for his performance here tonight. Owen begins to tear up as Bret asks him to finally bury the hatchet and let the past be the past here tonight, after everything they have been through, let it all go.

Bret tells Owen that he is officially here to ask him and Bulldog to leave Camp Cornette, to reunite by his side as a family, to back him up against The Four Horsemen this Saturday Night on Shockwave! Jim Cornette is furious as he gets on the mic and tells Bret to take a walk, he's just here to soak up his little brother's glory and get some TV time out of it all. Bret tells Owen and Davey Boy to get rid of Jim Cornette here tonight, put this family back together, blood is thicker than water. Cornette jumps around in Owen and Bulldog's faces as they emotionally really think about what Bret is saying. The crowd in the Manhattan Center goes CRAZY when Bulldog pushes Cornette out of the ring and tells him to get lost!

Owen is in tears as he hugs it out with his brother Bret along with The British Bulldog as Bushido goes off the air.... The Hart family is united! WE'RE OUT OF TIIII....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Shreveport Municipal Auditorium(Shreveport, LA)
January 20th, 1996

Tonight's episode of Shockwave hits the Superstation with a camera shot of the rustic, historic Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport Louisiana, the place where "The King" Elvis Presley got started, and it is also one of the most historic venues for pro wrestling in this entire region. This Municipal Auditorium seen legends in the ring like Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge, Andre The Giant, Kerry Von Erich, Terry Funk, Billy Robinson, Jake Roberts, and Ted Dibiase back when the venue was a regular weekly stop for the Mid South Wrestling territory.

The camera shot of the statue of Elvis outside the venue cuts to a jam packed crowd inside, with Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan absolutely jacked on commentary. It was this past Monday night on Judgement Night when Bret and Flair challenged each other to defend their respective WWF/WCW World Titles, with each man hand picking the other's opponent. The Horsemen picked Brian Pillman to face Bret for the WWF title, but Pillman worked a deal on his own with Jim Cornette, who substituted Pillman with the BOTB debut of VADER! Bret was destroyed but managed to hold onto his belt by winning via disqualification after Vader used the ring steps. Bret hand picked Flair's challenger to be an unknown 25 year old Chris Jericho making his debut in the shot of a lifetime. Jericho pulled off the biggest shock upset by pinning Flair to win the WCW title after interference from the Horsemen and Bret. This past Thursday on Bushido it was announced that Jericho's title victory has been nullified by the Championship Council due to the interference in the match.

Tonight, RIGHT NOW, it has been set for the rematch! No interference, this match must end in a positive finish. Chris Jericho was instantly made a star on Judgement Night in his debut against the all time legend, tonight he gets a second shot to finish what he started!

Ring announcer Dave Penzer brings the fans to their feet by bringing out the challenger, "Lionheart" Chris Jericho, otherwise known as "The Last Survivor Of The Hart Family Dungeon"! The crowd loses it when the Nature Boy's vintage entrance music brings him out wearing his WCW World Championship wrapped firmly back around his waist. Jericho eyes the title that was in his grasp just days ago, a prize that was taken away from him. The crowd goes CRAZY when Jericho and Flair meet in the center to go over referee Charles Robinson's final instruction! 
 

WCW World Championship
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
vs
"Lionheart" Chris Jericho

Jericho attempts to pick up where he left off on Monday night but this time Flair has him well scouted, and he's prepared for everything Jericho throws at him. The Nature Boy uses his ring experience advantage to dominate Chris Jericho, stifling any of his comeback attempts with classic cheating tactics to cut his momentum off, the same way he did Terry Taylor here in this very building defending the NWA Championship back in 1984. Jericho finally manages to overtake Flair at the 10 minute mark of the match, landing one huge move after another until Flair perfectly counters his Lionsault off the ropes by getting his knees up. Flair had the move scouted and was waiting to counter it this time, the same move that almost finished him off in the first match on Monday night. 

Flair drops the knee and goes for the Figure Four but Jericho manages to counter it by rolling him over! Jericho gets fired up and grabs the ropes for extra leverage! Flair screams! The referee catches Jericho using the ropes and forces him to break the hold! Both men return to their feet and trade brutal chest chops in the center of the ring! Jericho batters Flair back into the corner with chest chops before sending him flipping over the ropes in the opposite corner! Flair lands on his feet on the ring apron and drops to his face! 

Jericho waits for Flair to recover to his feet before dropkicking him off the apron to the floor! The crowd goes ballistic as Jericho springboards off the middle ropes and backflips over the adjacent ropes out of the ring ONTO RIC FLAIR! WHAT A MOVE! Both men nearly get counted out as The Brain screams on commentary for Flair to GET UP as if he can hear him! Jericho takes it back into the ring but Flair drops him with a low blow! Flair pulls Jericho up and chops him down with chest chops! Jericho ends up countering a move from Flair into a rollup but Flair reverses the rollup and pulls the tights, AND GETS HIS FEET ON THE ROPES! 1... 2.... 3! 

UNBELIEVABLE! Ric Flair has defeated the young Chris Jericho with a rollup at 13:33, holding the tights and using the ring ropes out of the referee's sight! Jericho is heartbroken as he recovers to see Ric Flair's arm being raised and the WCW World Championship belt strapped around his waist! Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, and Chris Benoit all come out to the ring to celebrate the victory with Flair as Shiavonne hypes up the match that is now set, WWF World Champion vs WCW World Champion for the Undisputed World Championship is SET!... 

vs

The biggest match in professional wrestling history, Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live THIS COMING MONDAY NIGHT, January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

Jericho is patted on the back by the ringside fans as he makes his exit, pausing in the isle to look back as Flair is hoisted up onto the shoulders of Pillman and Benoit in celebration with the big gold belt!... 

*****

We return from the commercial break with The Horsemen still in the ring celebrating Flair's victory. Finally Flair gets a microphone and goes crazy, he's in full blown psycho mode, running the ropes and dropping elbows in the center of the ring for no reason as he shouts about being a god. Flair calls out Bret Hart for Monday Night on Judgement Night but the crowd goes CRAZY when Bret walks out to the entrance stage with his brothers Owen Hart and The British Bulldog! Tony Shiavonne recaps Bret burying the hatchet with his brothers on Bushido this past Thursday night, with Owen and Bulldog leaving Camp Cornette following Owen's huge victory over Takahashi in the Pancrase Rules Match. 

Bret, Owen, and Bulldog are united as Bret challenges The Horsemen to face them TONIGHT in the main event! A Six Man Tag Team Match, Bret, Owen, and Bulldog vs Arn, Pillman, and Benoit! Arn Anderson accepts the challenge and IT IS ON! LATER TONIGHT RIGHT HERE ON SHOCKWAVE! 

*****

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan finally get the chance to open the show from their commentary booth after everything that's happened. Both of them talk about everything building up to Judgement Night on Monday Night on USA Network, this is one episode you absolutely do not want to miss, we will finally see the unification of the 2 biggest titles in this sport. The Brain points out how Bret has evened the odds with Flair and the Horsemen by reuniting with his brothers Owen and Davey Boy. 

Back down in the ring and Hunter Hearst Helmsley makes his entrance in full on aristocratic snob mode, taking a bow in the ring and getting a lot of boo's and thumbs down from the fans in attendance. Just A Little Crazy by Fight brings out the BOTB debut of the most homicidal, genocidal, suicidal, death defying athlete in the world today... SABU! Sabu runs out into the ring and slides under the bottom rope to strike his trademark pose pointing to the heavens. Bobby Heenan says this man here is one sick individual, look at these scars on this freak! 

Singles Match
Sabu vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Sabu dominates Helmsley with a fast paced attack, never giving him any room to breathe in an onslaught of aerial leg lariats and springboard moves off the ropes. Helmsley rolls out of the ring for a reprieve but Sabu drills him with a baseball slide dropkick through the bottom rope sending him careening over the steel guard rail into the laps of the front row fans! Sabu quickly grabs a steel chair and sets it up before running the ropes and springboarding off of it, leaping from the chair to the top rope to springboard out OVER THE GUARD RAIL ONTO HELMSLEY WITH A SOMERSAULT PLANCHA! Security scrambles to keep the ringside fans back as both men lay sprawled out in pain! 

Sabu drags Hunter over the guard rail back to the ringside area where he pulls the timekeepers table away from the ring and rips the black cloth cover off of it! Sabu folds the table up and props it upright against the steel guard rail before kicking Hunger over to it. The entire crowd rises to it's feet in the Auditorium as Sabu returns to the ring and runs the ropes to build up speed! Sabu springboards off the chair to the top rope before dropping down to PUT HELMSLEY THROUGH THE TABLE WITH A LEG DROP! 

The table crunches on impact as Sabu drives Helmsley through it on the floor smashing it to pieces! The crowd gets the loudest of the whole night as both men writhe around nearly getting counted out on the floor in the wreckage of the broken table! Finally Sabu manages to recover and drag Helmsley back into the ring where he finishes him off with a perfectly executed TRIPLE JUMP MOONSAULT!... 1... 2... 3!

Shiavonne and Heenan are a total loss for words going over the replay of Sabu's somersault plancha over the guard rail, his springboard leg drop from the top rope putting Helmsley face first through the timekeepers table that was propped up on the railing, then this triple jump moonsault maneuver where he leaps from the steel chair to the top rope to springboard off of it. This man is more human than human.... this is Sabu... 
 
 

*****

After the match we get part 3 of an expose' interview series conducted by Joey Styles with recently appointed Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff. In part 1 Bischoff discussed some of the controversy surrounding his signing as CEO, as well as some of the controversial signings he made in office such as Shawn Michaels. In part 2 Bischoff talked about his rise up the ranks of WCW from a lowly c-level commentator to running the entire company, launching WCW Nitro head to head against WWF Raw in the wake of the death of Vince Mcmahon in 1995. 

In part 3 of the series Joey Styles gets Eric Bischoff to open up about his reputation in the wrestling business with other wrestlers. Bischoff talks about tough decisions he was forced to make in WCW, it wasn't always easy to fire somebody that has a family to feed that you know is going to struggle, but he was the one who had to carry the weight of having to fire talented wrestlers from WCW, guys like Steve Austin that had all the talent in the world but where taking the company nowhere, guys like Jim Ross that represented a bygone era of good ole boys "rasslin", it was always business and never personal for him to have to make these decisions. Bischoff also talks about how he feels like there are a lot of people within Best Of The Best that feel like they should have gotten the job of running this company, wrestling people, he's not a wrestling guy, he's a vision guy, an idea guy. Bischoff says he is going to make the tough decisions to run this company and bring to life the vision that the corporate offices of Best Of The Best in Japan want it to be. Bischoff further goes on to say that he does not answer to the Championship Council, they have no authority over his position, and he does not work for them.  
 

*****

William Regal makes his way out to mega thumbs down from the ringside fans, boo's from everyone! Boo this man! Shiavonne mentions on commentary that Regal is desperate for a victory here in Best Of The Best he's sitting with an 0-2 record after just being completely dominated by Hakushi and then later by Ahmed Johnson in an 11 second destruction. Regal comes out and gets on the microphone to tell the fans to shut their fat American mouths as he calls out an open challenge for any wrestler to face him here tonight! Regal says that his run to glory starts here and he's issuing an open challenge to any man in the back that has the guts! 

Regal's facial expression radically changes to total shock and disbelief when the music of YOKOZUNA hits the speakers! UN-BAY-LIEVABLE! The massive 600 pound former WWF World Champion is here at BEST OF THE BEST! Yokozuna comes out to the ring to answer Regal's open challenge! IT'S ON! 

Singles Match
Yokozuna vs William Regal

Regal is totally unable to move the 600 pound sumo master. Yokozuna rips Regal up for the most devastating belly to belly suplex in the sport, shaking the entire ring to it's core on impact! Regal is OUT! Yokozuna drops a 600 pound leg drop! It's OVER! 1... 2... 3! 

Yokozuna has defeated Regal in just :51 seconds! The referee tries to raise Yokozuna's hand but he rips it away and issues Regal his last rights before dragging him over to the corner of the ring! BONZAI DROP! Yokozuna crushes Regal with all 600 pounds with a full crush botched slip Bonzai Drop for the ages! 

*****

After the commercial break we get another ad for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan talk about the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth. The following Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist
Alexandr Karelin

WWF Final #1 Contender
Shawn Michaels

WCW Final #1 Contender
Sting

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Mitsuhara Misawa

King Of Pancrase
Bas Rutten

Here now backstage we have an interview with Mike Tenay standing by with the current USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion, none other than Double J Jeff Jarrett...

Jeff Jarrett appears in street clothes with his USWA title belt and talks in a much more laid back tone than usual as he tells Mike Tenay that he's not here in Best Of The Best as Double J, the sports entertainer that everybody knows from the WWF in the past, those days are over. Jarrett says that he's here in Best Of The Best because he's got something to prove, he's here as Jeff Jarrett the wrestler, third generation wrestler that's paid his dues all over this country, all over the world, and doesn't get anywhere near the respect he deserves from the media or from little bald headed punks like Mike Tenay. Jeff Jarrett says he's here to go after the #1 Contenders shot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble on January 27th in the Astrodome on pay per view! 

*****

Tommy Dreamer is shown wrapping up his entrance as the commentators mention the beating he endured in his debut against Ahmed Johnson on Judgement Night a couple weeks ago. Nobody gave Dreamer much of a chance going into that match but he put up much more of a fight than anyone expected, he turned it into a war and he had Ahmed hurt at one point, proving he's one of the toughest wrestlers in the sport today. Dreamer's opponent tonight Savio Vega is a longtime WWF top contender, a King Of The Ring tournament finalist here to make his BOTB debut tonight!

Singles Match
Tommy Dreamer vs Savio Vega

Tommy Dreamer takes a beating early on as Savio Vega shines in his BOTB debut, battering the former ECW flagbearer with a series of kicks and punches. As Dreamer struggles early on Beulah Mcgillicutty, Raven's girlfriend comes out to the ringside area watching on as if she were concerned for Tommy. Dreamer ends up taking the match down to the floor outside the ring where he out-brawls Vega, slamming him face first into the steel rail and steps. Beulah watches on as Dreamer tries to piledrive Vega into the padded concrete floor but Vega back body drops him over the guard rail into the crowd! The referee's count grows as Dreamer pulls Vega over into the crowd with a VERTICAL SUPLEX ONTO THE CHAIRS! Vega rolls around clutching his back as Dreamer recovers to his feet screaming with the crowd! The two men take it back into the ring where Savio Vega's damage from being suplexed onto the ringside seats in the crowd is just too much to overcome. Dreamer puts him away with a DDT for the win at 5:10! 

Tommy Dreamer is JACKED as he has his hand raised. Whatever this man lacks in technical mat prowess or athleticism, he sure makes up for it with just raw toughness and all heart. This is what Best Of The Best is all about. Dreamer looks on at Beulah down on the floor with puzzled curiosity as she looks up at him. All of a sudden as Dreamer is distracted a man with a Newt Gingrich rubber Halloween mask run into the ring and drops him in the back of the head with a SUPERKICK! The man pulls the Newt Gingrich mask off to reveal... STEVIE RICHARDS! 

Stevie Richards stomps Tommy Dreamer down as Raven walks out to stand beside Beulah watching him get beaten down. Dreamer is down and out as Stevie Richards exits the ring to walk out with Raven and Beulah. Tommy recovers to his knees a beaten exhausted mess as he looks out at Raven and Stevie Richards as we fade out to commercials... 

*****

After the break we get a backstage interview with Mike Tenay talking to "The Total Package" Lex Luger, with his new sports agent Lance Wright, owner and operator of Hype Central Promotions Inc. Tenay brings up how Luger has backed out of every match he's been booked in so far this month in Best Of The Best, what's the deal? Lance Wright informs Mike Tenay that any questions for his client have to be filtered through him, as of right now Luger is not going to be doing any interviews unless this promotion can show them the money and come to terms to renegotiate a new contract that maximizes his value. Lance Wright tells Mike Tenay that his client plans to make his debut only when the right conditions are met, when the right opponent, the right time, everything for The Total Package will be micro-managed by Hype Central Promotions.

All of a sudden the interview is interrupted by Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff! Bischoff tells Lance Wright this is total bullcrap, this promotion has signed Luger to compete, paid his travel and expenses, and he's backed out of every match. This has gone on long enough, either Lex Luger steps into the ring to compete here next week or he's fired! Lance Wright and Lex Luger are totally in shock! What the hell!? You can't fire me! Can he!? No, he cant! 

*****

All three men are set in the ring for our co-main event of the evening as Shiavonne recaps the ongoing feud with the final WCW World Tag Champs Harlem Heat and the final WWF World Tag Champs The Smoking Guns. Bobby Heenan mentions that even though the WWF and WCW are dead and gone, there still remains an animosity between those two locker rooms that has spilled over into Best Of The Best. Sting and Shawn Michaels are set to face off at A New Beginning, and so far Harlem Heat and The Smoking Guns have been at each other, ending last week's episode of Worldwide with a huge brawl between the two teams following a singles match between Stevie Ray vs Bart Gunn that got out of hand. Both teams have used their tag team gold to get their names into the 30 man Champions Rumble Match, with Cactus Jack bringing the ECW World Tag Team titles(Mikey Whipreck along with them) into the mix in his debut on the premier of Judgement Night. 

 

Triangle Match

Billy Gunn vs Booker T vs Mikey Whipreck

Mikey Whipreck bobs and weaves his way through a match that sees Billy Gunn and Booker T really go after each other, picking up where they left off at the end of Worldwide last Saturday night. The match plays out under the same rules as the Triangle Match from Starrcade 95, with only 2 wrestlers in the match at a time, the 3rd man can be tagged in from the apron. Mikey ends up pulling off a huge upset victory by rolling up Billy Gunn following a cheap shot by Booker T from the apron. Booker scrambled to try to break up the pin but couldn't make it in time, and Mikey got the 1, 2, 3! after 9:21!

After the match Mikey gets his hand raised after pulling off the HUGE upset here. Stevie Ray runs out to help Booker T attack Mikey! Bart Gunn comes running out to join in with Billy until all of a sudden Cactus Jack runs out to save Mikey with a steel chair! Cactus takes it to Harlem Heat and The Smoking Gunns wearing an air brushed Flock Of Seagulls t-shirt!

Mikey pushes Cactus away telling him he doesn't want his help! Leave me alone! Cactus snaps and bashes Mikey with the steel chair as he turns away from him! Mikey goes down! Cactus Jack goes crazy and destroys Mikey with repeated chair shots until he's not moving! All of a sudden out runs Tommy Dreamer full speed to the ring to make the save! Tommy takes the chair from Cactus Jack and smashes him with it! Cactus goes down and rolls out to the floor in a dazed stupor! Raven walks out to the entrance isle to call for Cactus Jack as Tommy looks out at him with the chair challenging him to come face him face to face like a man! The crowd boo's as Raven turns and walks away, with Cactus Jack following him. Dreamer shifts his focus to Mikey Whipreck as EMT's race out to check on him... 

*****

Just before the break we get Mike Tenay backstage for a special interview with Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff who cuts an interview about the upcoming Shawn Michaels vs Sting match set for A New Beginning on pay per view January 27th. Both of these men are officially in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, but they could not wait to go head to head, they will face off in the opening match of the pay per view! 

Eric Bischoff tells Mike Tenay that he's made the ruling that since both of these men have opted to wrestle on the card earlier in the night before the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, they raise the stakes of their head to head match with the winner getting the #30 draw for the Rumble!

vs

Shawn Michaels vs Sting, head to head with the #30 spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on the line, live on pay per view January 27th from the Astrodome in Houston, it will be... A New Beginning! 

*****

The Horsemen entrance music brings out Arn Anderson, Pillman, and Benoit for tonight's special six man tag team main event! Pillman gets up on the camera like a crazed madman as he walks down the isle! Bret Hart's trademark entrance music brings the fans in the Auditorium to their feet with one of the biggest pops of the night! Bret walks out with his brother Owen and Davey Boy ready to go! Arn stands in the corner of the Horsemen while Bret steps up to be the first man for his team to start the match!... 

 

Six Man Tag Match

Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Owen Hart, & The British Bulldog
vs
Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, & Chris Benoit

Bret goes one on one with Arn in a clash of styles. After a smooth chain wrestling sequence Arn is able to overpower Bret and hurt his knee, perhaps softening him up for Flair's Figure 4 Leglock to aid in their upcoming WCW/WWF World Title Unification match this Monday night on Judgement Night! 

The Horsemen work together to keep Bret isolated and beat him down, making quick tags and making the most of the 5 second rule. Finally Bret manages to reverse Pillman with a swinging neck breaker but he's slow to get up and go for the tag. Suddenly Jim Cornette walks out to the entrance isle with a crooked smile on his face! Bret rolls over and finally starts to make it over to his corner for a tag but both Owen and Davey Boy drop down off the apron and leave him! Tony Shiavonne and Bobby Heenan can't believe this! Owen and Bulldog have double crossed Bret and left him alone to get beat on by the 4 Horsemen! Bret looks up at Owen just totally heartbroken as Owen backs up into the arms of a smiling Jim Cornette! 

This match turns into all out madness as Owen Hart and British Bulldog have double crossed Bret Hart to set him up to get destroyed by The Horsemen. Brian Pillman throws the WWF Championship Belt into the ring as Arn tosses the ring steps platform base in too! Benoit keeps Bret stomped down as Pillman pulls out a sledge hammer from underneath the ring! 

Ric Flair passes Jim Cornette, Owen, and Bulldog as he walks out to the ring to join in on the beat down of Bret Hart! Somebody has to stop this! Arn brings a steel chair into the ring and takes it to Bret's knee! Pillman places Bret's knee into the steel folding chair and smashes it with the sledge hammer! Bret rolls around screaming! Flair picks up Bret's beloved WWF Championship belt and lays it flat on the steel ring steps base in the ring. Benoit and Arn hold Bret up on his knees and force him to watch as Pillman smashes the WWF Championship belt into pieces with a sledge hammer! NO! 

The Horsemen make their exit and leave Bret in agony clutching his knee as the WWF Championship belt lays completely destroyed next to him..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
January 21st, 1996

Joey Styles welcomes the television audience from the BOTB control center inside Universal Studios Florida where we are now just 6 days away from A New Beginning, the very first Best Of The Best pay per view live from The Astrodome in Houston Texas! And we are now 24 hours away from Judgement Night, tomorrow night will be the biggest match in wrestling history, the unification of the WCW and WWF World Championship titles. Tonight, we have an update on the condition of Bret "The Hitman" Hart after he was betrayed by his brothers Owen and Davey Boy and left to be destroyed by The Four Horsemen last night on Shockwave. The Horsemen put Bret's knee inside a steel folding chair and set him up for Brian Pillman to smash him with a sledge hammer. Pillman went nuts and destroyed the WWF Championship title belt with the sledge as well. 

Tonight here on Worldwide we have breaking news that Bret Hart did have an MRI on his knee and the results will be revealed tomorrow morning. At this time Bret Hart is absolutely devastated by the betrayal of his brother Owen and Davey Boy after it appeared that the family had burried the bad blood from the past to unite against The Horsemen. It ended up being a set up as Owen and Bulldog left Bret alone in a six man tag team main event against Arn, Pillman, and Benoit. Bret has been injured and his title that means everything to him has been destroyed into pieces. 

Belt or no belt, the title still stands, Bret Hart was the final WWF Champion ever and he will take that title into Judgement Night tomorrow night to face the final WCW World Champion Ric Flair to unify the titles!... 

vs

The biggest match in professional wrestling history. Bret Hart vs Ric Flair, WWF World Championship vs WCW World Championship to crown the Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling, live TOMORROW NIGHT, January 22nd 1996 on Best Of The Best: Judgement Night!

If there is one episode of Judgement Night you do not want to miss it is tomorrow night live on the USA Network at 8pm, THIS is the match that will decide the Undisputed World Champion, also on this show we will see The Eliminators take on The Steiner Brothers in a HUGE tag team match to set the standard of tag team wrestling here in BOTB.

*****

We get the action started down in the smaller theater style arena of Universal Studios Florida with Don E. Allen already in the ring getting ready for the opening match. Allen's opponent makes a grand entrance with the lights going out and flashes of lightning hitting all 4 corners of the ring! The sound of rain and thunder brings out Hakushi in his traditional Shinto monk clothing and hat, representing his faith and people in his small village in Japan.

Singles Match
Hakushi vs Don E. Allen

Hakushi systematically destroys his opponent in a showcase of lethal artistry, a beautiful praying rope walk arm drag, a cartwheel handspring back elbow, and a barrage of chops and kicks with a style really never seen before. Hakushi's striking skills are a form of poetry in motion on full display against a hopelessly mismatched opponent that gets finished with a Flying Headbutt after 2:13! Hakushi bows and prays to honor his energy that flows through a natural mystic. Joey Styles recaps Hakushi's previous victory over William Regal earlier this month on Shockwave, this victory here tonight brings his record to 2-0 here at Best Of The Best, he is a force of nature...

*****

After the first commercial break we get a highlight music video set to Sadeness by Enigma from the Pure Moods album hyping up the upcoming match with "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels taking on STING at A New Beginning on pay per view next Saturday night! The video starts off the grainy old footage of Sting back in 1986 in the UWF in the Bladerunners tag team with The Ultimate Warrior, juxtapose with shots of HBK teamed up with Marty Jannetty as The Rockers in the AWA that same year. By the end of the 1980's Sting was one of the brightest young stars in the sport, he stood tall at the end of Starrcade 1989 as the winner of the 4 man Iron Man round robin tournament to become #1 Contender. The highlight video shows The Rockers victory over The Brain Busters in the 2/3 Falls Match in late 1989, establishing Michaels and Jannetty as one of the top teams in the WWF... 

Michaels kicking Marty Jannetty through the barbershop window in early 1992 segues into Sting becoming the face of WCW in the 1990's, hoisting the WCW World Championship after defeating his best friend Lex Luger at Superbrawl II in February 1992. Throughout the 90's Sting became the heart and soul of WCW, as everyone around him came and went, Sting remained loyal to his WCW fans until the very end. The franchise of WCW finished his proud career with the promotion by winning the World Cup Of Wrestling at the final WCW show ever, Starrcade 95. 

The highlight clip shows clips of Sting being adored by WCW fans, with clips of all of his major wins and all of his success as the face of the promotion, while every HBK high is shown with every low, from winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship from the Bulldog in 1992 to losing his shot at the WWF World title in a loss to Bret later that year at Survivor Series. Michaels suffered crushing defeats at Wrestlemania X and XI, but his ladder matches with Razor and his performance in the 1995 Royal Rumble proved he is among the Best Of The Best... 

The music video shows HBK and Sting standing face to face in The Omni in the heart of the CNN Center in Atlanta on the premier episode of Judgement Night earlier this month, moving on to show highlights of their tag team victory over Owen and Bulldog to earn their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble. The video comes to a cold end, slowing down to slow motion in black and white footage with HBK's Sweet Chin Music dropping Sting after the match.... 

vs

Even though both the WWF and WCW are dead, their spirit is very much alive in this head to head showdown between Shawn Michaels and Sting on pay per view next Saturday Night in the Houston Astrodome at A New Beginning! Sting is out to fight for the honor and legacy of WCW that will be left behind by silencing the WWF and all of their fans and wrestlers. Shawn Michaels is returning from nearly having his career brought to an end late last year, after everything that life has thrown at him he refuses to give up. Michaels has fought back to get back in the ring and he's hungrier than ever for World Championship gold. 

Since both of these men are in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match in the main event at A New Beginning, HBK vs Sting will be the first match on the pay per view in order to give both men enough time to recover for the Rumble. Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff made the announcement last night on Shockwave that the winner of this match will be rewarded the highly coveted #30 spot in the Champions Rumble later that night! SHAWN MICHAELS VS STING... WWF VS WCW... NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT AT A NEW BEGINNING! 
 

*****

Mike Tenay interrupts the program for a breaking news report, a new challenger has emerged to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble next Saturday Night in the Astrodome... 

The current reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion... JUSHIN "THUNDER" LIGER! 

Liger is one of the all time greatest cruiserweights in the history of this sport, he captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for his 7th reign on January 4th by defeating Koji Kanemoto at New Japan's Wrestle World 1996 Tokyo Dome event. New Japan was dealt a crushing blow when they lost the IWGP Heavyweight title to the UWFI's Nobuhiko Takada on that same event on January 4th. Liger is considered New Japan's only hope to restore their honor on January 27th when enters the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match for a shot to become #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship! 

The breaking news segment segues right into the official ad for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

Joey Styles in the studio promotes the Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth...

The Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. There are only now 10 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following 20 Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist
Alexandr Karelin

WWF Final #1 Contender
Shawn Michaels

WCW Final #1 Contender
Sting

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Mitsuhara Misawa

King Of Pancrase
Bas Rutten

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
Jushin "Thunder" Liger

We get highlight clips Liger in action with Joey Styles hyping him up as one of the absolute best high flyers the sport of wrestling has ever seen. The card has been set for A New Beginning next Saturday night, we will see the debut of "The Human Suplex Machine" Taz as he takes on "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama! We will also see one of the most anticipated showdowns in the history of this sport when "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels takes on STING! Call your cable or satellite provider today to order Best Of The Best: A New Beginning NOW!  

Joey Styles also breaks the news that next Saturday night's episode of Shockwave will be LIVE on the Superstation TBS at 6:05 with a full night of action on the prelims from the Astrodome live and free on TBS next Saturday night! Already signed for the main event of that program will be a 3 way-3 team trios Triangle Match! The trio of Camp Cornette, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, and VADER have already been signed to compete in this match! The other 2 teams will be revealed over the next week!  

*****

We return to the BOTB Arena here at Universal Studios with a special challenge match that has been set, Bret Hart's brother in law and former tag team partner in The Hart Foundation, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart has issued a challenge for The Horsemen to face him in response to what happened to Bret last night on Shockwave. Arn Anderson answered and accepted the challenge of The Anvil on the spot and this match was signed for tonight's main event! 

Singles Match
Arn Anderson vs Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart

The Anvil barely manages to get any offense in against truly one of the all time greats in Arn Anderson. Arn proves to be on another level as he makes short work of the Anvil, finishing him with a pinfall after a devastating DDT at 4:49! Arn has his arm raised in victory and raises the 4 finger Horsemen symbol with pride, honor, and respect. Joey Styles on commentary notes that The Horsemen are as sharp, intelligent, and as dangerous as this group has ever been and the heart and soul, "The Enforcer" looks to be at the top of his game here tonight with a dominant victory. Arn gets up into the ringside camera flashing the Horsemen symbol as the show goes off the air... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Reunion Arena(Dallas, TX)
January 22nd, 1996

Judgement Night hits the air LIVE on the USA Network with a hard opening shot of Joey Styles in the center of the ring in a SOLD OUT Reunion Arena in Dallas TEXAS! Close to 17,000 fans are here tonight blowing the roof off as we are set to finally unify the WCW and WWF World Championship titles right here tonight! Joey Styles gets the crowd even louder with his opening monologue that segues into the opening music video highlight montage set to Angry Again by Megadeth!

The highlight moves through the Sweet Chin Music delivered from HBK to Sting's face after their tag team victory over Owen and Davey Boy for their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble! The video shows highlights of The Eliminators Total Elimination, Hakushi cartwheel handspring back elbow, Ahmed's Pearl River Plunge of Tommy Dreamer through the spanish commentary table, Bret and his brothers Owen and Bulldog hugging it out and reuniting cutting into both of them abandoning Bret in the six man tag match against The Horsemen, then Bret's knee being smashed in the chair by Pillman with a sledge, ending with the shot of him standing over the prestigious WWF Championship belt broken into pieces holding the sledge like a crazed madman.... 

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously welcome the television audience hyping up tonight's LIVE show, folks this is the big one we have been waiting for, the 2 biggest titles in this sport, the WCW World Championship and the WWF World Championship will be unified TONIGHT and we will have 1 true Undisputed World Champion! Paul E. questions what the status is with Bret Hart, what were the results of his MRI yesterday? Will he be able to wrestle here tonight for the Undisputed title?! Also on tonight's show, Shawn Michaels and Sting will be in action on the eve of their head to head showdown. These two men represent their pride in the WWF and WCW and we will see that in action here tonight! Sting will take on a former WWF wrestler here tonight in HBK's former tag team partner Marty Jannetty! On the other side of that Shawn Michaels will face Sting's best friend and one of the top ranked WCW wrestlers LEX LUGER! TONIGHT! It's also been announced that both Michaels and Sting's spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble WILL BE ON THE LINE!

JR and Paul E. are suddenly interrupted when The Four Horsemen music hits the speakers of the arena! Ric Flair walks out with his head held high with the big gold WCW World Championship belt strapped firmly around his waist. Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman follow Flair closely while Pillman straggles behind to get his own camera time, snarling at the camera as he holds up the four fingers. JR and Paul E. talk about how Pillman seems to really be losing it, a loose cannon.

The Horsemen take the ring and Flair boasts that he is ready to show everyone in the world who the man is tonight in the main event! All of a sudden all of the Horsemen and everyone in the arena is shocked to see the BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff make his way out to the ring looking very concerned. Paul E. sarcastically mocks Bischoff saying will you look at this, the fearless leader, the 90's wiz kid. Did you see these interviews with this guy last week?, give me a break. Eric Bischoff gets very nervous as he gets a microphone in the ring and has to break the news to the crowd in Reunion Arena that unfortunately tonight's main event has been called off, there will be no match due to Bret Hart failing to get medical clearance to wrestle tonight due to the injury he sustained to his knee on Saturday Night.

The crowd boo's relentlessly! The Horsemen look around at each other with pride. Bischoff informs everyone that Bret Hart is going to be out of action until he gets medical clearance to compete, and what that means is that he will forfeit tonight's WCW/WWF World Championship Title Unification Match! Bischoff says that this means that Ric Flair, by default, is hereby crowned as the true Undisputed World Champion of Best Of The Best!

The crowd's boo's get even more intense! Bischoff says that since the WWF Championship belt was destroyed on Saturday Night, Flair's WCW World Championship belt is now the lone and sole lineal Undisputed World Championship, and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is the Undisputed World Champion!

All of a sudden the crowd's boo's are interrupted when Jim Cornette leads Vader, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog out to the ring to stand across from The Four Horsemen! Tension builds between the two factions in a staredown before finally Owen gets the mic and stops everything, this isn't the deal that was made between Camp Cornette and Brian Pillman last week. The deal was that Owen would deliver Bret to the Horsemen for them to take him out, and in return he would be given Bret's place in the Undisputed World Championship Title Unification Match TONIGHT! Owen demands what was promised to him! Arn and Flair are stunned as they push Pillman wondering what the hell he's done!

Owen reveals that he turned on Bret because he chose a punk kid, Chris Jericho, and gave him the shot last Monday night instead of his own brother. Owen says everybody thinks Bret is so perfect even when he passes over his own brother, his own blood for a nobody. It's always all about Bret and Owen is sick of it, he got what he deserved and now Owen wants what he deserves! Jim Cornette puts the pressure on a stunned Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair is forced to reluctantly agree! Tonight's main event match is set for the Undisputed World Championship, Owen Hart will take Bret Hart's place to take on Ric Flair for the Championship RIGHT HERE TONIGHT! 

*****

We return from the first round of commercials with Bob Holly already in the ring ready to go while Marcus Bagwell is wrapping up his entrance high fiving the ringside fans. Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously just can't get over what we just seen to open the show before the commercials, Bret Hart is out with a knee injury and was forced to forfeit his spot in the World Championship Unification Match that has been advertised to take place here all month. Owen Hart came out and revealed that the Horsemen's Brian Pillman made the arrangement to set up Bret on Saturday Night Shockwave for The Horsemen to take him out.

It was also revealed that Owen was promised as part of the set up to take Bret's spot in the match for the Undisputed World Title of Best Of The Best TONIGHT IN THE MAIN EVENT! We will crown our very first BOTB Undisputed World Champ tonight in the main event it will be Owen Hart taking on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair! 

Singles Match

Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs Bob Holly

Bagwell and Sparky Plugg carry on a paint by the numbers babyface vs babyface matchup while the crowd watches on mostly disinterested. Paul E. and JR continue to hype tonight's main event throughout the opening minutes, Owen Hart vs Ric Flair will go head to head to crown the very first King Of Best Of The Best, the true Undisputed World Champion. We have no idea when or even if Bret The Hitman Hart will return after what The Horsemen did to his knee on Saturday night. 

Bagwell ends up getting trapped in a sleeper for what seems like an eternity as the crowd goes dead silent. Bob Holly keeps Bagwell in the hold but can't close the deal. All of a sudden the crowd goes crazy when a man runs out full speed to the ring.... 

SABU!

Sabu races into the ring with a steel chair and uses it to drop a leg drop, smashing it into Holly and Bagwell! The crowd goes nuts as Sabu poses pointing to the sky as Bagwell and Bob Holly stagger to their feet stunned! The referee calls for the bell over and over again in a futile effort as Sabu demolishes both Bob Holly and Marcus Alexander Bagwell. Bagwell rolls out of the ring to the apron as Sabu sets the chair up and hits his Triple Jump Moonsault onto Bob Holly! Bagwell recovers onto his feet on the apron but Sabu runs the ropes and dives over the top to take him down THROUGH THE TIMEKEEPERS TABLE! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! 

The timekeepers is laid out convulsing as Bagwell is knocked out beside him! The crowd is going ape sh#@! Sabu is here! This man has no limits, no boundaries, this is the beholder of the faith in Best Of The Best. Sabu poses in the center of the ring as Bagwell and Holly are shown completely destroyed.... 

*****

The crowd here in Reunion Arena in Dallas is showcased as the wreckage is being cleaned up when all of a sudden the cameras catch a man seated ringside... hey wait a minute... hey... thats.... 

That's STEVE AUSTIN! He's got a seat right on the front row! Jim Ross talks about how Austin was at one time one of the most promising young superstars in this sport, he got his start across town at the Dallas Sportatorium in World Class Championship Wrestling. After a failed run in WCW Austin was fired by then Vice President Eric Bischoff while he was at home recovering from a career threatening injury. Austin returned in ECW last year but he looked rusty and lost some big matches at the end of the year. Austin smiles for the camera with an intense psycho killer edge about him as we fade out to commercials... 

*****

We return from the break with Damien Stone already in the ring ready to go as we are set here for the Best Of The Best debut of Jeff Jarrett, the current reigning USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion. Jarrett recently revealed a newfound focus in interviews last week, he's left behind the Double J persona and he's here in Best Of The Best as Jeff Jarrett, a proud 3rd generation professional thoroughbred wrestler, the grandson of the late great Eddie Marlin. Jarrett makes his way out to Reunion Arena to his new entrance music, ACDC's BallBreaker! 

Singles Match

Jeff Jarrett vs Damien Stone

Jarrett goes toe to toe with the former UWFI veteran and outclasses him with traditional southern Memphis style wrestling, hard hitting and stiff, but with Jarrett he's one of the most intelligent ring psychologists to come out of that territory. Jarrett is no match at all for Stone and forces him to submit to a Figure Four Leglock at 2:48! Jarrett is set to get his shot to become #1 Contender to the Undisputed Title when he competes in the 30 Man Champions Rumble this Saturday Night on pay per view at A NEW BEGINNING! 

*****

Before the commercial break we get a backstage boiler room promo with Raven sitting with Stevie Richards, Beulah, and Cactus Jack(with the ECW World Tag Title belt) sitting around him. Raven cuts a promo about all that he's been through with Tommy Dreamer as highlights cut in and out of their epic rivalry in ECW in 1995. All of the violence and blood is shown as Raven tells the story of their origin of their rivalry in Summer camp as kids. Raven came to ECW in early 1995 to torment Tommy Dreamer and the two would battle in some of the most fierce wars of the year. At one point Tommy Dreamer had his fingers broken by Raven, then later he was handcuffed and beaten in one of the bloodiest scenes in wrestling history.

Raven's strength in ECW was that he would manipulate others to do his fighting for him. His mind manipulation corrupted the beloved Cactus Jack and got him to turn on Tommy Dreamer last Summer to align with Raven. Dreamer brought Terry Funk out of retirement to help him defeat Cactus and Raven at ECW November To Remember 1995. Raven sends a message to Mikey Whipreck that he believes in him to always fail and disappoint, he's a loser and always will be, but that's why he will always have a spot at his table. Raven then challenges Tommy Dreamer to face him once and for all, this Saturday Night, Loser Leaves Town... DEATH MATCH RULES! Quothe The Raven... NEVERMORE....

*****

Back in the arena and the live crowd goes NUTS when Sting makes his entrance to face the former tag team partner of Shawn Michaels in The Rockers, Marty Jannetty! Sting is driven and determined as he makes his way out in his classic trademark facepaint... 

 

Singles Match

Sting vs Marty Jannetty

The Reunion Arena is red hot for this high intensity battle! Marty Jannetty puts up a valiant fight, managing to match Sting's intensity. Shawn Michaels walks out to the entrance isle to watch as Sting makes a big comeback and takes it to Marty Jannetty, nailing him with several Stinger Splashes before finishing him off with a Scorpion Deathlock for the submission victory at 9:10!

Michaels eyes Sting from the isle as he celebrates the victory with the crowd going nuts! Sting is ready for Shawn Michaels this Saturday Night! 

*****

Backstage we get a locker room interview with Joey Styles in the private dressing room of the Four Horsemen for an interview. Ric Flair is getting ready for Owen Hart in the main event in the biggest match of his late career, a match for the Undisputed World Championship! Arn Anderson grabs the mic from Joey Styles and sends a message to Camp Cornette, Vader, Davey Boy Smith, stay out of the Horsemen's way or else Owen will end up on the shelf just like his brother! Arn then turns his attention to Brian Pillman and scolds him for going outside the family to make the deal that he made with Jim Cornette, what the hell were you thinking bringing VADER here!? Do you even realize what you've started?! Pillman tells Arn that he thinks it's time for him to smarten up and get with the times old man! It's 1996 and... Arn cuts Pillman off with a slap to the face!

Pillman gets furious and kicks over a tower of monitors in the background! Sparks fly as electrical cords short out! Arn tells Pillman not to ever cross him and to get his ass together and start acting like a Horsemen! Pillman grabs Joey Styles and violently throws him through the dressing room door out of their locker room! 

*****

Back down in the ring and the crowd goes CRAZY for Shawn Michaels entrance! HBK is set to take on Sting's best friend and one of the top ranked WCW contenders in the promotions final days, a former WCW World Champion, Lex Luger! Michaels hits the ring with a killer instinct edge about him as he gets ready to go! Lex Luger makes his entrance to boo's as he's accompanied by his new hotshot sports agent Lance Wright of Hype Central Promotions Inc. 

Lance Wright gets on the microphone to shut the music off and inform everyone that this match isn't happening! The crowd boo's! Lance Wright says that this match has been promoted as WWF vs WCW but his client Lex Luger has no affiliation with a dead promotion, Lex Luger "The Total Package" has an exclusive contract with Hype Central Promotions and until the brain dead suits that run this promotion get that through their heads, Lex Luger will not compete in this ring! Lex Luger and Lance Wright walk out! 

Shawn Michaels gets on the microphone and runs down all of the WCW wrestlers that he knows are watching this on the monitors in the back, this is how the big boys play? Bring on any WCW wrestler right here tonight! Bring on STING! We don't have to wait until Saturday night! All of a sudden HBK's challenges are met when Diamond Dallas Page walks out to answer him! 

Diamond Dallas Page makes his way out to make his Best Of The Best debut to take on Shawn Michaels!... 

Singles Match

Shawn Michaels vs Diamond Dallas Page

Michaels goes at it with DDP and proves why he is the Showstopper, the packed sold out crowd eats up his every move! Page tries to brawl with Michaels but HBK hangs with him punch for punch! Both men spill out onto the floor at one point and brawl around the ring for a while before Page tries to spike HBK with a piledriver on the padded concrete! Michaels counters with a back body drop, bouncing Page off the padding with a sickening thud! 

HBK takes it back to the ring and takes it home later on when he pushes out of a Diamond Cutter attempt and drops DDP with the SWEET CHIN MUSIC!... 1... 2... 3! 

Shawn Michaels gets a huge crowd pop as he finishes off Diamond Dallas Page with a pinfall at 6:04! HBK celebrates the huge win with intensity! Michaels is locked in for this Saturday night to face Sting head to head with the #30 spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble ON THE LINE! SHAWN MICHAELS VS STING! 

*****

Jim Ross and Paul E. recap the crushing events that happened this past Saturday night with Bret Hart being injured and taken out by the Horsemen, left unable to wrestle for the Undisputed World title tonight. JR introduces a live telephone call from Bret who is back home in Calgary healing his knee. Bret on the phone call tells JR he is absolutely crushed that he couldn't wrestle here tonight but he's more hurt by what his brother Owen and Davey Boy did to him on Saturday Night. Bret says he will never ever look at Owen the same again, he no longer considers him a brother he's a twisted heartless soul less minion of Jim Corette.

Bret on the live telephone call in interview informs JR that he is officially announcing that he will enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match live on pay per view at A New Beginning THIS SATURDAY NIGHT for a shot to become #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Championship! Paul E. asks Bret what about his knee? Is he going to be able to get medically cleared to compete!? Bret assures Paul E. that he will be in Houston this Saturday night and he will be in the 30 Man Champions Rumble with his knee taped and braced, he doesn't care, his WWF Championship title belt is gone but they can never take away the fact that he was the final WWF Champion, and they can never take away the fact that he is the best there is... the best there was.... and the best there ever will be!

The telephone call in interview cuts into the official commercial for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend THIS WEEKEND on the Saturday Night before the Dallas Cowboys meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sun Devil Stadium in Arizona in Super Bowl XXX....

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously are hyped to the gills as they promote the Best Of The Best pay per view set for THIS upcoming Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. This match will be Royal Rumble rules, 30 men, but for the first time ever competitors can be eliminated from the match by pinfall or submission(as well as being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor). This Champions Rumble match will be to crown the #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship, and this match will be open invitation to every title holder of any kind on planet Earth...

The Championship Council has sent invitations around the globe to any man that has a Championship title around his waist to enter this match. Now Bret "The Hitman" Hart has officially entered this match, but one has to wonder if he will be at 100% after having his knee crushed by the Four Horsemen! There are only now 9 remaining spots in the Champions Rumble, the following 21 Champions have stepped up to answer the challenge.... 

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

Final WWF World Champion
Bret "The Hitman" Hart

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion
UWFI Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist
Alexandr Karelin

WWF Final #1 Contender
Shawn Michaels

WCW Final #1 Contender
Sting

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Mitsuhara Misawa

King Of Pancrase
Bas Rutten

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
Jushin "Thunder" Liger

Just before the commercial break we get the shot of Steve Austin at his ringside seat being thrown out of the building by security as BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff instructs his head of security to get him out of the building, he's out, get him out of here! Austin just laughs with a twisted look as he gets up and walks with security escorting him out of the building! 

*****

Ring announcer Michael Buffer brings the fans in the arena to their feet as he introduces this as the co-main event of the evening! JR and Paul E. talk about how this upcoming showdown between the Steiner Brothers vs The Eliminators will establish who the top team is here in Best Of The Best! The Steiner Brothers make their entrance first but they're suddenly jumped halfway down the entrance isle by The Eliminators with steel chairs! Saturn and Kronus beat the hell out of Rick and Scott Steiner with chairs to the back! The music stops as both teams end up brawling their way into the crowd up into the bleachers of the Reunion Arena! The brawl makes it back to the ringside area where Saturn takes both Steiners out with a HUGE PLANCHA OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE TO THE FLOOR! 

Rick Steiner gets set up for Kronus' 450 SPLASH! Scott Steiner gets cut down with the TOTAL ELIMINATION!! 

The Eliminators have ambushed the Steiners and given them the beatings of their careers! Saturn and Kronus strike their tandem pose together over the Steiners' lifeless bodies as we cut away to commercials....  

*****

After the commercial break ring announcer Michael Buffer gets the Reunion Arena rolling with his LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAAAAAAL introduction for tonight's MASSIVE Undisputed World Championship main event! Jim Ross sells it on commentary, folks this is it, this is the big one, this is to officially crown the one true Undisputed World Champion of this sport right here, right now! Owen Hart makes his way out first with Jim Cornette while Flair makes his way out next with Arn Anderson by his side to watch his back. The locker rooms of the arena are shown with Camp Cornette's dressing room showing Vader and Davey Boy watching the monitors while the split screen shows the Horsemen locker room with Pillman and Benoit watching on.

Flair relinquishes his WCW World Championship title belt to the referee, who folds it up and raises it into the air. JR talks about how the original plan was for the winner of the title unification match to carry both the WCW and WWF Title belts as the Unified Champion, but since the Horsemen destroyed the WWF title belt this past Saturday night the WCW World Title will now be recognized as the official Undisputed World Championship... 

Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship
WCW-WWF World Title Unification Match

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair

vs
Owen Hart

Flair takes on Owen in a heated main event with both men taking it to the limit in a desperate battle for the biggest title there has ever been. After going back and forth with each other the first few minutes Owen dominates Flair for a long stretch, working over his back that was broken in his plane crash when he was younger. Flair is able to cut Owen off with a low blow and take command of the match for several minutes, working over Owen's knee to set up the Figure Four.

Owen ends up cutting Flair off with a brutal enziguiri that gets a close 2.9999 count! Flair barely manages to get a foot under the ropes at the last fraction of the second! The entire arena gasps! Flair ends up getting a razor close nearfall later on after a small package rollup with a handful of tights gets a 2.999999!!!

Owen finally manages to get the Sharpshooter on Flair after the 14 minute mark! Flair screams in agony as he's trapped with nowhere to go! Arn gets up onto the ring apron to distract the referee while Chris Benoit races out to nail Owen in the back of the head with a clothesline to break the hold! The British Bulldog and Vader make their way out but a team of referees come out to hold them off! The main ref in the ring Tim White is distracted by the stand off in the entrance isle as Flair recovers to the ring ropes to pull himself up, only to be blasted in the face by Jim Cornette with his tennis racket! Flair is knocked out cold! Owen makes the cover but the ref is late to notice it and Flair is able to kick out at 2.9999! Arn drags the referee out of the ring to tell him that Cornette hit Flair but it's only a distraction! Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman rush into the ring to attack Owen!

Owen manages to fight off Benoit and Pillman and drop both of them out of the ring! The referee's in the isle can no-longer hold back Vader and Bulldog and the brawl is on around the ring! During it all Flair rolls out of the ring and grabs the big gold World Championship belt and brings it back into the ring to deck Owen Hart in the back of the head with it! Owen is KNOCKED OUT! Flair makes the cover and Arn pushes the ref back into the ring...


1...




2.....




3!!!



THE NATURE BOY! RIC FLAIR! RIC FLAIR! Chaos ensues as Flair has his hand raised... the winner... and NEW Undisputed World Champion.... The Nature Boy, Ric FLAIR! Flair's celebration with the belt is short lived as the brawl outside the ring spills into the ring with Vader going NUTS! Vader picks up referee Tim White and press slams him out of the ring onto the squad of other referees! Camp Cornette brawls with The Four Horsemen as the copyright screen fades in, WE'RE OUT OF TIIIIIME!... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
January 25th, 1996

Bushido opens up from the beautiful Manhattan Center in New York with a packed crowd feeling the energy of a promotion that is about to break through into a new era of sport wrestling. Mike Tenay opens the show on commentary with his co-hosts Phillip Rhee and Don "The Dragon" Wilson saying we are just 2 DAYS away from A New Beginning live on pay per view from the Houston Astrodome on the night before the Steelers and Cowboys clash at Super Bowl XXX THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

Mike Tenay is shown at his ringside commentary table recapping the big news coming out of Judgement Night this past Monday night, we have a NEW UNIFIED World Champion of Best Of The Best, that man is none other than the Nature Boy Ric Flair. The main draw of the very first Best Of The Best pay per view this Saturday at A New Beginning will be the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match to determine the #1 contender to "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair's Undisputed World Title! Another major news story coming out of Monday night's episode of Judgement Night was that Bret "The Hitman" Hart would be medically cleared to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble after having to forfeit the WCW/WWF World Title Unification Match due to an injury sustained at the hands of the Four Horsemen last Saturday night on Shockwave.

The Undisputed World Champion Of Professional Wrestling

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Tonight, right here on Bushido we have major announcements about more World Champions who have stepped forward to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble! The first man that stepped up back earlier this month was The Ultimo Dragon, and he will be in action right here in the main event in a Hybrid Rules match, as he represents the art of Lucha Libre against the latest Champion to enter the Rumble, the reigning K-1 Kickboxing 1995 World Grand Prix Champion... PETER AERTS!

Mike Tenay breaks the biggest news that 1992 Judo Olympic Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida has entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble and he will be here on Bushido for a live Judo martial arts exhibition. Also tonight we will take a closer look at the Japanese "Shooto" promotion founded by Tiger Mask. The news was broke just today that the Shooto Middleweight Champion Naoki Sakurada will represent the proud promotion in Houston in the 30 Man Champions Rumble!

*****

Mike Tenay shoots it down to the ring where we have a very special Judo martial arts exhibition presented with the Best Of The Best debut of the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, representing the proud nation of Japan; Hidehiko Yoshida. The Championship Council of Best Of The Best(Danny Hodge, Lou Thesz, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, and Karl Gotch) is present ringside as Yoshida is honored with flowers. Yoshida bows to the council before going through a demonstration with a sparring partner in the ring, showing the key throws and holds, showing what Judo looks like. 

The commentators tell the story of Judo, which translates to "The gentle way". Judo was born out of old school Jiu Jitsu, which was originated by the Samurai for hand to hand combat on the battle fields of feudal Japan. This style of Jiu Jitsu was much more different, primitive, and savage from the Jiu Jitsu you may be familiar with from the Gracie family in the UFC. The older style of Jiu Jitsu was meant for war, it was dirty and meant to maim opponents who had too much armor on to be effected by punches and kicks. 

In the 1800's as Japan became much more westernized, the ancient art of Jiu Jitsu fell out of favor. Many of the dojos that practiced Jiu Jitsu by this time had developed bad reputations for violence and savagery. Then came Jigoro Kano, a man that founded the Kodakan Dojo in 1882. It was here where Kano cleaned out the violent savage submission holds and dishonorable reputation associated with Jiu Jitsu and formed modern Judo, with an emphasis on throws and clinching techniques, and a live training method that focused on sparring with honor(as opposed to kata forms of other martial arts, or sparring partners killing each other as the older Jiu Jitsu dojos became known for) to refine the techniques. 

As Judo was adopted as the national martial art of Japan it was Hidehiko Yoshida that became a massive star when he captured the Olympic Gold medal in Judo in the 1992 Summer games in Barcelona. Yoshida has used his gold medal to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match this Saturday Night live on pay per view at A New Beginning, and he will represent the art of Judo! 

*****

After the commercial break Mike Tenay breaks the HUGE news that Akira Maeda, the founding father of Fighting Network Rings and the reigning 1995 Mega Battle Tournament winner has officially entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match this Saturday Night live on PAY PER VIEW!

Mike Tenay is so stoked about this news he can hardly contain himself, this is MASSIVE. Akira Maeda is the original bad boy of Japanese pro wrestling, he rebelled against Antonio Inoki and New Japan to break away and start the UWF promotion with Tiger Mask in the mid-80's. Maeda dominated the UWF and drew some of the biggest crowds in wrestling history as he took on martial artists from around the world in mixed rules bouts. Maeda founded Rings in 1991 and he's coming off of winning the Rings Mega Battle Tournament last year. Maeda has answered the call to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble match and he's recently called out his former UWF rival Nobuhiko Takada to face him in Houston in the Rumble!

Tenay's breaking news announcement segues into a music video set to Eternal by Bone Thugs N Harmony for the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live on Super Bowl weekend on the Saturday Night before Super Bowl XXX....

The music video montage moves swiftly to the beat of the music, showing the current reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno unloading huge combos on focus mitts in a boxing ring with camera bulbs flashing around him in a public training publicity event held in downtown London this week to promote A New Beginning. Taz and Kama stepping onto the scales in a public weigh in event in Houston before stepping up to each other for a face to face showdown, with Taz fearlessly looking up at Kama towering over him by nearly a foot. Bas Rutten Pancrase highlights just completely destroying Japanese opponents with lethal palm strike combos. Dan Severn German suplex of death at UFC IV, then hoisting the NWA Title belt alongside the Ultimate tournament belt. Kevin Jackson freestyle wrestling scramble from a match he wrestled in the 1992 Olympics cuts to him giving everything he's got to give going through a pro wrestling training camp working with Dory Funk Jr. with several other nameless rookie pro wrestlers.

The montage moves on to show the infamous Alexandr Karelin lift, screaming with fury. Mitsuhara Misawa defeating Stan Hansen to win the Triple Crown title last May. Jushin "Thunder" Liger flying through the ropes. Peter Aerts vintage K-1 highlight reel head kick knockouts. Akira Maeda vs Nobuhiko Takada double spinning heel kick spot from their classic UWF match...

The music video closes out with footage of Bret "The Hitman" Hart getting an MRI done on his knee after having it crushed in a chair by the Four Horsemen last Saturday Night on Shockwave. Bret is shown taping up the knee before a hard training session, fighting through the pain with everything he's got.... 

The Champions Rumble this Saturday night in the Astrodome in Houston, live on pay per view at A New Beginning. 30 of the baddest men on planet Earth will compete for a shot to become #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship in a Royal Rumble rules match, only this time you can also be eliminated by submitting or being pinned! In the end... there can be only one... 

*****

After the break we get a special highlight vignette devoted to Shooto, the Japanese promotion that was founded by the legendary Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama. Bret Hart has been quoted saying that Tiger Mask was like the Bruce Lee of pro wrestling, an innovator with an open mind concept similar to the "No way as a way" Bruce Lee philosophy. Tiger Mask seamlessly blended different styles of pro wrestling, from high flying to technical shoot style, mixed with martial arts kicks. Sayama was one of the founding fathers along with Akira Maeda that broke off from New Japan Pro Wrestling to form the much more realistic shoot style UWF promotion in the 1980's. After the original incarnation of the UWF shut down in the mid-80's, Sayama chose to take a different path, going on to form Shooto.

If you're familiar with these controversial new "Ultimate Fighting" pay per views that have been making the news then you should know that this style of competition is actually nothing new. With Shooto being formed in 1986 it became a martial arts promotion but also a way of life, with a family of dojo's training competitors in a hybrid of the striking arts like Karate and Tae Kwon do blendedd with the lost forgotten art of Shoot style catch wrestling(that was taught to Sayama from Karl Gotch). The Shooto style evolved through the 1990's with the Vale Tudo Japan tournaments bringing Gracie Jujitsu to Japan with Rickson Gracie winning both the 1994 and 1995 tournaments. Perhaps the finest prospect to come out of the Shooto martial arts training system is their current reigning Middleweight Champion Naoki Sakurada. Sakurada won the title in 1991 and he will use it to represent the Shooto way of life in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match this Saturday night! 

*****

The program cuts away to a Shikoku Pilgrim village in Japan as one of the elders, an 88 year old woman with a deep old wise voice narrates a video that shows the small village of a humble working people that live off of their land. The Shikoku Pilgrims are a Japanese people similar to the Amish in the West, they don't rely on modern technology and they still uphold ancient beliefs of a natural mystic that flows through everything. The sun is setting on this village as the elder's voice speaks in Japanese, with English subtitles telling the story of a prophecy, the prophecy of a warrior sent from the forces of nature to protect the village.

The prophecy foretold of a foundling baby discovered by the village people in their crops after a lightning storm. The child had Buddhist shakyo tattoo'd all over his tiny little body and would be taken in and raised by the village. The prophecy foretold that the child was born of lightning, and that he was sent as an answer to the prayers of the Shikoku pilgrims for protection from the corporate greed that threatens to take their lands. The child was given the name, "The White One" by the village, which translates to.... Hakushi...

*****

Ring announcer Bob Artese brings the fans in the Manhattan Center to their feet as he announces that the following Hybrid Rules Bout will be 5 rounds and is the main event of the evening! Both Peter Aerts and The Ultimo Dragon are shown already in the ring stretching and shadow boxing to get ready as Artese goes through their intros. Both of these proud champions have answered the challenge of the Championship Council to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble this Saturday Night at A New Beginning on pay per view. Peter Aerts is a Muay Thai kickboxer from the Netherlands and the reigning 1995 K-1 Kickboxing Grand Prix Champion. Aerts is the master of a devastating high kick that has floored many opponents in K-1(the biggest kickboxing promotion in the world). The Ultimo Dragon will represent Lucha Libre here tonight as he makes his debut in a Hybrid Rules bout.

The commentators point out that this match is 5 rounds with each round being 3 minutes each. Aerts as the kickboxer wearing the gloves is allowed unlimited rope breaks, and Dragon is not allowed to strike with closed fists(since he is not wearing gloves). The match can be won by knockout(ref 10 count), submission, or judges decision at the end of the 5 rounds. Tonight's referee for the main event is none other than Big John Mccarthy...

Hybrid Rules Match
Lucha Libre vs Kickboxing
Ultimo Dragon vs Peter Aerts

The first round plays out with both competitors feeling each other out very conservatively. Dragon uses many feints and uses quick explosive speed to evade Aerts low kick attempts. Finally in the final 30 seconds of the round Aerts manages to cut Dragon off in the ring and connect with a huge body blow! Aerts attempts to follow up with a murderous right hook but Dragon manages to duck under, then jump up over a low kick before rolling away to the center of the ring clutching his ribs! Aerts attempts to stalk Dragon down but the time runs out on the first 3 minute round...

Round 2 picks up with Aerts being more aggressive, attempting to corner Dragon and unload a combo. Dragon uses the ropes to springboard out of a tight spot and catch Aerts out of position, unloading on him with a series of palm strikes, low kicks, then a spinning back kick that knocks him through the ropes out of the ring! UNBELIEVABLE! The crowd goes nuts as Ultimo Dragon gets out to the apron and springboards out to hit Peter Aerts with an ASAI MOONSAULT!

A huge melee unfolds on the floor as officials scramble around both men rolling around on the floor in pain. Dragon favors his ribs as he manages to roll up to his feet and get back into the ring to break Big John Mccarthy's 10 count at 8! Peter Aerts is in total shock and disbelief! After another delay Aerts finally makes it back into the ring and both men close out the second round circling each other throwing jabs and low kicks.

After the second round the cameras catch a mad sense of urgency in Peter Aerts corner as his cornermen are still arguing with the referee about the outside the ring action. Dragon watches on from his corner as Peter Aerts' cornermen shout at him in Dutch as they put his mouthpiece back in to get him ready. The third round starts with Aerts again looking to close the distance and unload, this time he manages to connect with a HUGE kick to the body that sends Dragon to the canvas! The crowd gasps as Dragon rolls around on the canvas while the ref's count hits


5....


6....


7......


8......


9.....


The crowd cheers as Dragon manages to pull himself up to his feet using the ropes back into a fighting stance! Peter Aerts rushes Dragon after the restart and unloads a fury of strikes! Dragon manages to bob and weave around every punch before rolling across the center of the ring to his feet! Dragon runs the ropes and ducks under a vicious high kick attempt before springboarding off the opposite ropes to hit Aerts with a moonsault press! Dragon keeps Aerts grounded with a north/south sleeper choke in the center of the ring, bringing the action to a stop as both men lay in a stalemate to end the third round....

Both men begin to gasp for air in dramatic close up shots in their corners in between rounds, with both men eyeing each other during the entire break. Peter Aerts cornermen are completely perplexed as to what advise to give him against a foreign fighting style they've likely never even seen before. The crowd cheers as both men come out circling each other for the beginning of the fourth round. Aerts again tries to corner Dragon to connect with strikes but Dragon manages to cut around him and take his back, tripping him down into the canvas in a scramble. Dragon manages to keep Peter Aerts back in the scramble and locks him in a sleeper hold in the standing position! Peter Aerts face turns purple as he stands up with Dragon on his back and desperately stumbles to the ropes for a rope break!

Ultimo Dragon dominates the rest of the fourth round by keeping a long range away from Aerts and connecting with drop kicks to his legs, using rope running to set up spin kicks and flying shots. Peter Aerts begins to limp on his right leg from repeated strikes from Ultimo Dragon as the round comes to an end. Arts cornermen scramble to ice his leg as he winces in pain in his corner. In the fifth and final round Aerts finally manages to find his range and tee off on Dragon with kicks, connecting with a huge low kick that drops Dragon for a 6 count before unleashing a devastating kick to the body. Aerts is able to knock Dragon down again by following up with another left hook to the same spot on his rib cage he hurt earlier in the match. Dragon is barely able to get back to his feet at the 9 count!

The final round ends with Dragon favoring his ribs trying to keep his distance as Peter Aerts limps after him trying to land knockout shots. Both men raise their hands as the bell rings to end the match! Dragon doubles over in pain as Peter Aerts uses the ropes to stand while his cornermen work his leg over. These two warriors have put it all on the line here tonight in a historic match that will go down in the history of this promotion!


Big John brings both men to the center of the ring as the announcer renders the judges decision.



Judge Gene Lebell scores the bout.... Dragon!



Judge Bill "Superfoot" Wallace scores the bout..... AERTS!



Judge Dave Meltzer scores the bout.... A Draw....



The crowd moans and both competitors turn away in disappointment as the ring announcer announces that the judges have ruled this bout a DRAW! Both men reluctantly shake hands out of honor and respect as the commentators go over the replay of just a razor close decision here by tonight's judges, this match really could have gone either way. Ultimo Dragon definitely seemed to have won the 4th round while Peter Aerts seemed to be in control of the 1st round and the last round. Either way it goes this was truly an all out battle here tonight that embodies everything that Bushido stands for! Both of these men will be in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match THIS SATURDAY NIGHT live on pay per view from the Astrodome in Houston Texas, it will be A NEW BEGINNING!

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Catching up now. Love the Camp Cornette swerve!

The Astrodome(Houston, TX)
January 27th, 1996

We are LIVE in Houston Texas right here on the Superstation TBS in the ASTRODOME! This is the place where Nolan Ryan and Earl Campbell became legends, and tonight it will be the birthplace of A New Beginning on pay per view TONIGHT at 8pm! Here tonight on the Superstation we have a very special live presentation of Shockwave from the Astrodome where we will have for you for free the entire preliminary card along with all the hype you can possibly handle for the next 2 HOURS! Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan take over the commentary booth ringside with the huge Astrodome shown lit up filling up with fans as we send it to the ring for ring announcer Dave Penzer to get the show started with the opening match!

Singles Match
Scotty Riggs vs Brad Armstrong

There are a lot of empty seats in the background during this match as the fans file into the Astrodome with daylight still visible through the archaic old ceiling of the dome. Scotty Riggs and Brad Armstrong go all out in an incredible opening two minutes of fast pace, hard hitting battle! Riggs and Armstrong surprise everyone and get Shiavonne and Heenan shouting in a match that could be possibly the best seen in Best Of The Best so far, a truly surprising gem, a show stealer even. Then the ridiculous pace slows finally after Brad Armstrong catches Scotty Riggs in a side headlock around the 3:30 mark. The crowd in the ringside area begins to turn their attention to somebody that is making their way through the seats and OVER THE STEEL GUARD RAIL...

WHO THE HELL IS THAT?! WAIT A MINUTE!... Thats STEVE AUSTIN!

Austin leaps the guard rail and slides into the ring to put the boots to Brad Armstrong and Scotty Riggs! The referee immediately calls for the bell but Austin kicks him in the gut and throws him through the ropes out of the ring! Tony Shiavonne is shocked on commentary, fans we apologize this man does not work for Best Of The Best, as far as we know he's not under any kind of contract he was thrown out of the building this past Monday Night on Judgement Night in Dallas where he was spotted ringside and ejected from the Reunion Arena. Bobby Heenan points out the smart question, who the hell let this guy in the building!? 

Austin looks totally out of it, with a far off crazy look in his eyes, the look of a broke man that has run out of money and has had everyone turn their back on him, the look of a man that life has used as toilet paper to wipe it's ass with to the level that he's reached a dangerous breaking point. Pressure and time does strange things to a man. Pressure... and time. 

Referee's and security guards swarm the ring but they all back off as Austin threatens them waiting to attack with the intensity of a cornered rattlesnake. Austin finally calls for a microphone and addresses the mostly still empty Houston Astrodome saying that he grew up right down the road from here in Victoria Texas and it was always his biggest dream to wrestle here in the Houston Astrodome. Austin says that he had to actually pay to buy a ticket to come here tonight while you got this garbage out here in the ring, it's a god damn crying shame and he's seen enough of it! All of a sudden the 90's whiz kid, Eric Bischoff makes it out to the ring with more security guards and he's PISSED! Austin has ruined a stellar opening match here on live television! 

The Chief Executive of BOTB Eric Bischoff gets on a microphone and tells Austin that he doesn't work for this company and he never will, he doesn't belong here, whatever he's got going on with him over the past this is not happening, we're not doing this. You're gone, you're out of here! Out! Austin finally gets cornered by several security guards and taken down against his will! Austin is dragged out turning back to look at Bischoff with a psycho look in his eyes as Eric tells him that he doesn't belong here and he will never work here as long as he lives, he's a bum, he couldn't cut it in WCW, he couldn't cut it in a lousy bingo hall, a loser is a loser, hit the bricks pal! Austin is PISSED! Security fights and struggles to work him through the exit and drag him out as we cut away to commercials...

*****

After the break we get a highlight music video montage of Bret "The Hitman" Hart set to Evidence by Faith No More. The montage goes back and forth with black and white shots of Bret's tragedies through his career alongside full color highlights of his all time highs. The video of Owen turning on Bret and attacking his hurt knee at Royal Rumble 94 is followed by Bret's epic limp out to the Rumble match later that night in a match where he took Lex Luger over the top rope and finished as co-winners.

The highlight montage shows all of the clips of Bret raising WWF Championship gold, mixed with black and white shots of the blood spilled on the mats at Mania VIII against Piper, then again at the final WWF show ever last month against the Bulldog at the Vince Mcmahon Jr. Memorial Tribute show.

The somber guitar solo interludes of the song coincide with the images of Bret trying to patch things up with his brothers Owen and Davey Boy last week to help him face The Horsemen in six man action. It all led to Owen and Bulldog turning on Bret, setting him up for the Horsemen to injure him last Saturday Night on Shockwave. Bret's beloved WWF Championship belt was smashed into pieces by Brian Pillman, then moments later the Horsemen placed Bret's knee in a steel chair for Pillman to pulverize with the sledge. The injury led to Bret being forced to forfeit his spot in the WWF/WCW World Title Unification Match last monday night on Judgement Night in a huge match that had been advertised all month. 

The video moves along to show Bret working to rehab the knee as quickly as possibly after using his position as the final ever WWF Champion to throw his name into the 30 Man Champions Rumble match... 

*****

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby Heenan are at a loss for words after having Steve Austin come out here and crash the show on live television here on TBS. Austin was a rising star in WCW before suffering an injury that put him out of action. During his time off he was fired by then WCW president Eric Bischoff. He made his return to the ring in the ECW promotion late last year but he suffered some big losses and it's really starting to look like Austin became another tragic case of wasted potential in this sport. We apologize to the fans for the disruption of what was really shaping up to be an amazing match between Brad Armstrong vs Scotty Riggs, we will bring you a rematch between these two amazing athletes as soon as possible. Meanwhile down in the ring we have Hunter Hearst Helmsley wrapping up his entrance taking a bow as Alex Wright is getting ready in his corner.... 

Singles Match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Alex Wright

Alex Wright shines early on against Helmsley, overwhelming him with quick offense as the young 20 year old desperately seeks his first victory in Best Of The Best after going 0-2 in brutal losses to Kama and Dan Severn this month. Helmsley manages to cut Wright's momentum off by pulling the ref into a corner splash to shield himself! The ref gets knocked out! Alex Wright tries to check on the referee but Helmsley attacks him while his back is turned with a flying knee to the back! Helmsley dominates Alex Wright on the mats working his hurt back over with various holds until Wright catches him with a quick counter rollup out of nowhere! Wright has Helmsley pinned for a solid 5 seconds but the ref is still out! Wright gives up his pin to try to revive the ref but Helmsley drops him with a low blow! The referee finally begins to recover as Helmsley finishes off Alex Wright with his Pedigree.... 1... 2... 3! 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley is boo'd as he has his hand raised after evening his Best Of The Best record up at 1-1, recovering nicely from his loss to Sabu in his debut. Alex Wright rolls out of the ring in disbelief as he walks out, falling to an 0-3 record after what has to be one of the most frustrating losses... 

*****

After the match we get a highlight montage music video set to Long Gone Day by Mad Season documenting the rise of Sting in WCW...

The montage starts off with Sting's arrival in the NWA in 1987 and moves through the early days of his career into his battles with Ric Flair in the Omni in Atlanta, the heart and soul of WCW.

The montage shows Sting's NWA World Title victory from Great American Bash 1990 along with his battles with Vader, Sid, Muta, the War Games match against the Dangerous Alliance in 92. Through the 90's so far Sting was the one constant for the WCW promotion, as other wrestlers came and went for big money with the WWF, Sting always stayed and fought for the fans of WCW until the bitter end. It was Sting that won the 7th and deciding match in the World Cup Of Pro Wrestling at the final WCW event ever Starrcade 95, giving WCW a huge win over New Japan Pro Wrestling.

From the time Sting won the World title at Great American Bash in 1990 up until the launch of Nitro last year, WCW was always the #2 wrestling promotion in North America behind the WWF. After the death of both promotions at the end of 1995 many wrestlers from both locker rooms have signed with Best Of The Best, and the tension that has grown over the last decade boiled over on the very first ever live Judgement Night earlier this month in The Omni in the heart of the CNN Center in Atlanta. Shawn Michaels made his return on the show to reveal that he had signed with Best Of The Best, and the first thing he did was call out the Big Boys of WCW. Sting was the man that answered HBK's call...

Sting and Michaels face off in the Omni was one of the defining signature moments of the launch of Best Of The Best earlier this month, it's a clip that has been replayed over and over as a permanent fixture in opening highlight videos and advertisements for A New Beginning on pay per view tonight. The showdown was interrupted that night by Camp Cornette, who challenged Sting and Michaels to put their spots in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on the line in a tag match against Owen and Bulldog. The match was set, and Sting and HBK managed to work together to win the match even after Sting accidentally decked Michaels with a punch meant for Bulldog during the contest. After winning the match HBK surprised Sting by getting payback with sweet chin music, knocking him out!

The match was set for A New Beginning TONIGHT on pay per view at 8, Sting vs Shawn Michaels, in a bout that many believe to be the climax of a war between the two top wrestling promotions in north America, WWF against WCW. Both of these promotions died in 1995 and many of the wrestlers from both locker rooms now compete in Best Of The Best. The tensions between both sides have only risen since the launch of BOTB earlier this month, there still remains a loyalty, pride, and respect that lingers on for both WCW and WWF alumni. What is needed is one final battle to close the book and move on to A New Beginning in 1996. Not only will the final pride be on the line in this match but the stipulation was set that the winner will get the #30 spot in the Champions Rumble Match! Sting will face one of the best to ever compete in the WWF in HBK in the ultimate final battle for respect. A victory moves him one step closer to a showdown with his greatest rival for the Undisputed World Championship....

*****

Back to the live shot of the Astrodome and it's starting to fill up as Shane Douglas makes his entrance to Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple to kick off the second hour of Shockwave. Shiavonne and Heenan talk about Douglas' recent debut in Best Of The Best and some of the controversial things he's said about some of the biggest names in this sport along with his vicious beat down and unmasking of Aldo Montoya after beating him. 

Singles Match
Shane Douglas vs Marcus Alexander Bagwell

Bagwell takes Douglas on and gets the crowd going by kicking his ass all over the ring to start the match. Bagwell has a quick counter for everything Douglas throws at him and it frustrates him, forcing him to roll out of the ring for a timeout where he shouts profanity at one of the ringside fans for heckling him! Shiavonne says that will definitely end up getting Shane Douglas a large fine as Heenan points out how dirty of a mouth this guy has on him. 

Douglas regains his composure back in the ring and he manages to cut Bagwell's momentum off and slow the pace of the match with holds on the mat. Bagwell gets the crowd behind him to rally to make a comeback but Douglas cuts him off with a devastating counter setting up his rolling reverse neckbreaker. Bagwell favors his neck as he tries to escape an arm hold for a rope break. Bagwell ends up finding an opening and gets the crowd fired up by overtaking Douglas with huge moves and some close nearfalls! Bagwell goes up to the top for a flying cross body press but Douglas catches him mid air into a BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX! 1.... 2.... 3! 

Shane Douglas' unbelievable counter is shown on the replay as he gets his arm raised for an impressive victory in a hard fought, very competitive match. 

*****

After the match we get Mike Tenay backstage hyping up the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view, live TONIGHT in less than an hour we kick this thing off right here in the Astrodome with Shawn Michaels vs Sting! The main event tonight will be the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match to determine the new #1 contender to "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair's now unified Undisputed World Championship.  

The Champions Rumble will be the same rules as a Royal Rumble, but with a twist. In this match competitors can be eliminated by pinfall or submission as well as being thrown over the top rope and having both feet touch the floor. The Best Of The Best Champions Council sent the open invitation out all over the world for any title holder of any combat sport to answer. There have been 25 men step forward to answer the challenge, with 5 more spots open to be revealed...

30 Man Champions Rumble Entrants

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion
The Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion
Dan "The Beast" Severn

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1993 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
1995 World Cup Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
Kevin Jackson

WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Marc Mero

WCW World Tag Team Champions
Harlem Heat

WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
 One Man Gang

WWF World Tag Team Champions
The Smoking Guns

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion
Nobuhiko Takada

ECW World Tag Team Champion
Cactus Jack

ECW World Tag Team Champion
ECW World Television Champion
Mikey Whipreck

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Frank Bruno

USWA Unified Heavyweight Champion
Jeff Jarrett

1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist
Alexandr Karelin

Final WWF World Champion
Bret "The Hitman" Hart

WWF Final #1 Contender
Shawn Michaels

WCW Final #1 Contender
Sting

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Mitsuhara Misawa

King Of Pancrase
Bas Rutten

K-1 Kickboxing 1995 World Grand Prix Champion
Peter Aerts

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Judo
Hidehiko Yoshida

Fighting Network Rings 1995 Mega Battle Tournament Champion
Akira Maeda

Shooto Middleweight Champion
Naoki Sakurada

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
Jushin "Thunder" Liger

The opening match will see Sting take on "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels with the #30 spot in the Rumble ON THE LINE! The other 29 spots in the Rumble will be determined by random draw. Also on this card tonight we will see the much anticipated in-ring debut of the man they call "The Human Suplex Machine".... Taz, as he takes on "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama, who has been on a tear here in Best Of The Best this month. 

Another major storyline going into the Champions Rumble is the imperial edict of battle issued from Nobuhiko Takada's UWFI promotion to Best Of The Best after Takada accepted the challenge to enter the match. UWFI made a statement with a devastating knockout victory of Takada Dojo capo Hiromitsu Kanehara over WCW veteran Dave Taylor on Bushido. Ever since UWFI captured New Japan's IWGP Heavyweight Title at the Tokyo Dome on January 6th Nobuhiko Takada has been a marked man. After Takada challenged Best Of The Best and used the IWGP title to enter the Champions Rumble, several other Champions from Japan have entered the match with their targets set on his head. Rings' Akira Maeda, New Japan's Jushin Liger, and All Japan's Misawa have all made it clear that they have come to the Astrodome for Takada. 

This could be the single most important pay per view in the history of professional wrestling. Anything can happen tonight here in the Astrodome, and this event will set the stage for the entire year of 1996 here at Best Of The Best. Call your cable or satellite provider and order now!

*****

Back to the live shot of the Astrodome and Savio Vega is shown hyping up the crowd as he gets ready for our next match. Just A Little Crazy by Fight hits the speakers to bring out the most homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death defying athlete on Earth... SABU!... Sabu slides under the ropes and strikes his pose as Tony Shiavonne covers his impressive debut victory over Hunter Hearst Helmsley last week. 

Singles Match
Sabu vs Savio Vega

Sabu takes out Savio Vega after doing most of his damage once the match spilled out of the ring to the floor. Sabu hits Vega with a springboard plancha off the ring ropes over the steel guard rail onto Vega on the floor in the crowd! Sabu puts Savio Vega through the timekeepers table with a guillotine legdrop off the top turnbuckle to the floor! The crowd goes NUTS as the table collapses on impact with a sickening crunch! Sabu rolls Savio Vega back into the ring with a steel chair to finish him off with the Triple Jump Moonsault at 5:13! 

Sabu after the match shows his respect to Savio Vega by offering him a handshake. Vega looks around for the crowd's approval for a moment before finally shaking hands with Sabu and bowing out of the ring to leave him to celebrate the victory... 

*****

After the match we get a highlight music video montage set to When I'm Away by The Toadies, showcasing the grueling training camp that Shawn Michaels has endured to prepare for A New Beginning tonight on pay per view. The montage shows Michaels returning to his roots in San Antonio Texas reuniting with his former mentor, the legend Jose Lothario. The montage shows Lothario putting Michaels through old fashion training methods, hardcore work, no more sexy boy toy male stripper antics, lost in all of the character play for the sake of entertainment is that HBK is hands down one of the most dynamic athletes in this sport. This is a man that nearly lost everything and was almost forced into an early retirement just months ago after a severe concussion gave him a near stroke and caused him to collapse in the middle of a match. 

Tonight, Shawn Michaels faces a nearly impossible challenge. The Heartbreak Kid will represent the pride and honor of an entire WWF locker room of wrestlers as he takes on the best of the best that ever wrestled in WCW, Sting. On the line is the #30 spot in the Champions Rumble, a shot to become #1 contender to Ric Flair's Undisputed World Championship, one step closer to a dream.

The montage shows clips of Michaels training in San Antonio mixed with various clips of his career. Win or lose tonight Shawn Michaels will earn respect that has somehow eluded him throughout his career, for tonight he faces the greatest challenge of his career in Sting, and he enters a Champions Rumble Match that will be full of some of the most dangerous men walking the planet, boxing world champions, kickboxing world champions, ultimate fighting world champions, shootfighting world champions, Olympic gold medalists in Judo, Greco, and Freestyle Wrestling. For Shawn Michaels to enter this field of competitors after suffering a career threatening concussion months ago is to not only put his career on the line, but his life as well. 

*****

Back down to the live shot inside the Houston Astrodome as Camp Cornette are shown wrapping up their entrance for tonight's special co-main event Triangle Match. The crowd is shown with the excitement for tonight's pay per view building up, with several media and press in attendance from around the world to cover the main event of tonight's event. Jim Cornette gets the boo's from the fans down the long walk down the isle of the Astrodome as he leads Vader, British Bulldog, and Owen Hart to the ring.

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby Heenan on commentary talk about the rules of the following match, which is one fall to a finish. This will be a 3 team Triangle Match, with 3 men on each team. There must be 3 legal men in the ring, 1 man from each team at all times. Competitors can only tag out to their team mates, they can not tag in members of other teams. 

The Eliminators make their way out to the ring to Demanufacture by Fear Factory as Shiavonne and Heenan talk about their attack on the Steiner Brothers this past Monday night on Judgement Night. Saturn and Kronus stop halfway down the long entrance isle to wait for their surprise one time tag team partner, when a BOLT OF LIGHTNING strikes the stage! Sparks fly as the crowd ooh's and aah's! HAKUSHI makes his way out and follows behind Saturn and Kronus to the ring as Camp Cornette watch on in disbelief. Hakushi and The Eliminators stand across the ring from Vader, Owen, and Bulldog as The Steiner Brothers make their way out to the entrance stage and bring out their surprise tag team partner. The Astrodome crowd comes alive really for the first time of the night with a HUGE pop... 

AHMED JOHNSON! 

Ahmed joins the Steiners on the stage high fiving and they are all JACKED! It's ON! This crowd is FIRED UP! Ahmed and the Steiners sprint to the ring and all out mayhem breaks out! A full blown 9 man brawl!.... 

Three Team Triangle Match

The Steiner Brothers & Ahmed Johnson
vs
Vader, Owen Hart, & The British Bulldog
vs
The Eliminators & Hakushi

The Steiners and Eliminators tear into each other right away! Kronus vs Rick Steiner and Saturn vs Scott while Vader and Ahmed battle toe to toe in the middle of the ring! Hakushi takes out both Owen and Bulldog with kicks and chops, sending both men out to the floor! Jim Cornette works to revive Owen and Bulldog on the floor when Hakushi runs the ropes and does a handspring moonsault OVER THE TOP ROPE onto all 3 men! The crowd goes NUTS! 

Finally multiple referee's restore order and it's Hakushi vs Vader vs Ahmed Johnson in the ring to start things off! The action never stops for 14 solid minutes, and there's way too much happening to describe it all move for move. The Steiners vs Eliminators is the focal point of the match while Owen and Bulldog(and Cornette) draw heat double teaming Hakushi(his comeback and hot tag bringing in the Eliminators gets a huge pop), while Vader vs Ahmed is a big sub-plot with neither man backing down in stiff exchanges. The finish comes at 14:44 as the ref starts to lose control of the match with so much going on, Cornette hits Ahmed with the tennis racket, Vader dumps him over the top rope with a lariat! The Eliminators drop Scott Steiner with a Total Elimination! Vader has a standoff with both Saturn and Kronus! It's interrupted when Rick Steiner(the legal man for his team) recovers and takes out Saturn with a clothesline over the top rope. Kronus gets suplexed by Rick but Vader clobbers him. Vader gets the pinfall after a vicious powerbomb on Rick Steiner... 1... 2... 3! 

Camp Cornette stand tall with Vader, Owen, and Bulldog celebrating the win! EMT's work on Scott Steiner after being destroyed with a Total Elimination he's still out. Hakushi and Ahmed Johnson have to be held apart by several referees while The Eliminators retreat. This is just completely out of control! 

*****

After the match we cut away to Mike Tenay backstage with "The Total Package" Lex Luger and his sports agent representing Hype Central Promotions, Lance Wright. Tenay asks the question when will we see Luger finally make his in-ring debut here at Best Of The Best? Lance Wright breaks the news that Luger has been signed to finally wrestle tonight on Worldwide against a very dangerous top contender from the WWF that he's worked very hard to sign for this match! You do not want to miss Worldwide tonight, check your local listings as we will finally see the debut of the Total Package!

The interview cuts away to a montage of promos from all of the pro wrestlers that have the brass cahones to enter the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match for a shot to become the #1 contender to "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair's Undisputed World Championship! The promos start off with hometown Houston tag team, the final WCW World Tag Champions, Harlem Heat! Booker T and Stevie Ray are back home and are fired up to raise the roof in the Astrodome tonight in the Champions Rumble! Booker T and Stevie Ray vow to work together to win this match, in the end if it comes down to them they are willing to put their brotherhood aside and find out who the better man is, after it's over Harlem Heat is taking over SUCKA! CAN YOU DIG THAT! 

The chain of promos moves along one after another with One Man Gang, The Smoking Guns, and Marc Mero(with Sable) are here to win the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match. Jeff Jarrett cuts a promo about how he's not here in Houston in the Astrodome to sing tonight he's here to wrestle, he's here to prove everything to everybody that he demands respect. It is on tonight, 30 World Champions, Gold Medalists, Top Contenders, in the end.... there can be only one.... Call your cable or satellite provider now and order Best Of The Best: A New Beginning on pay per view TONIGHT, LIVE at 8pm! 

*****

After commercials we get the entrance of Tommy Dreamer as Shiavonne and Heenan talk about how tough this man is and how he's all heart, he proved that in an absolute battle against Ahmed Johnson on the premier episode of Judgement Night. Tommy Dreamer is intense and overcome with emotion as he makes his way into the ring for this, the final chapter of a feud that has produced some of the bloodiest and most violent moments in this sport last year. Dreamer was given a shot here at Best Of The Best and proved himself with tough performances that won the fans over, but his presence here brought the debut of Raven, a dark, brooding, psychological cult-like mind control over wandering souls and misfits like Stevie Richards and Cactus Jack. 

Raven makes his entrance next with Beulah by his side, he pauses at the entrance isle and looks around at the massive structure of the Astrodome before slowly making his way down to the ring. This is the match that will determine the fate of these two men here at Best Of The Best, this war will be settled right here, right now, this promotion is not big enough for both of these men, there can be only one! 

Loser Leaves Town Match
No Disqualification

Tommy Dreamer vs Raven

Dreamer and Raven tear into each other one final time in a heated brawl that starts in the ring before spilling out to the floor in a violent brawl. Padding gets pulled up and both men take hard falls onto the concrete. Several moments in the match call back to moments that happened in their bitter rivalry in ECW last year, with Dreamer getting payback by crushing Raven's fingers. Both men end up over the steel guard railing and end up fighting up through the bleachers of the Astrodome as the fans jump in and out of the camera shot with security pushing them back. Chair shots are exchanged, and Dreamer takes a tumble down the concrete stairs! 

Raven hurts his own broken hand by punching Dreamer with it as the brawl finds its way back towards the entrance isle near the stage! Tommy Dreamer is busted open with a bad cut that forces the cameras to remain backed off in a wide shot due to the blood that runs down his face and sops his black EC F'N W shirt. Eventually Dreamer looks to finish Raven off with a DDT but Beaulah breaks up the count at 2.9999! Dreamer pulls Beulah in and spikes her with one last PILEDRIVER! She's OUT! 

Dreamer goes to pull Raven up for another DDT but Stevie Richards runs out! Richards aims for a Superkick but Dreamer moves and he hits Raven instead! Raven goes down! Dreamer pulls Stevie in and drops him... DDT! STEVIE IS OUT! 

Dreamer goes to pull Raven up to finish him and rid Best Of The Best of his vile stench until all of a sudden Cactus Jack sprints out to the ring with a steel chair and blasts Dreamer in the back with it! EMT's pull Beulah out of the ring onto a stretcher as Cactus Jack pulls out a set of.... HANDCUFFS! 

Cactus handcuffs Dreamer's hands behind his back and waits for him to stand to his knees before blasting him IN THE FACE with the chair! Dreamer's bloodied head wobbles but he stays up on his knees! Raven recovers and watches from the corner as Cactus unloads with a SICKENING chair shot to Dreamer's face! Dreamer finally goes down! 

Stevie begins to stir around and recover but Raven puts the boots to him and kicks him out of the ring out of frustration! Raven looks down at Beulah being strapped into a stretcher with utter carelessness before turning his attention to Tommy Dreamer trying to get back up with his face covered in blood and his hands cuffed behind his back. The commentators plead for somebody to stop this, constantly apologizing to any fans watching this with their children or with their families, this is not what Best Of The Best is about. This needs to be stopped. 

Cactus Jack looks back and forth at Raven and Dreamer with the chair as Dreamer finally rises up to his feet staggering around handcuffed. Cactus rears back and unloads a home run shot RIGHT TO DREAMER'S FACE! 

The crowd gasps as Dreamer drops to his knees! Tommy tries to call out for Mikey but Cactus mercilessly finishes him off with another sickening chair shot to his unprotected face. Raven makes a nonchalant cover for the pin.... 


1.... 



2.... 



3..... 


The crowd goes silent as Raven and Cactus Jack stand over Tommy Dreamer's bloodied, lifeless, handcuffed body while Stevie Richards staggers into the ring to join them. Tommy Dreamer has been defeated by Raven. Tony Shiavonne gets very somber on commentary talking about how this is the end of Dreamer's career here in Best Of The Best, this is truly disturbing what we just witnessed here ladies and gentleman.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Best Of The Best: A New Beginning
Part 1 of 3

Due to the graphic nature of this program, viewer discretion is advised. Due to spoilers and use of pics/gifs in this long PPV show, it will be broke up into 3 parts.

Tonight's LIVE pay per view broadcast hits the air with a hard opening of the backstage parking garage of the Houston Astrodome as a black stretch limo pulls up. The doors open with several gorgeous random women filing out before Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and the current reigning Undisputed World Champ, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair exit the vehicle with serious looks of all business on their faces. One last person gets out of the limo after Flair and it's none other than.... JJ Dillon!... The Four Horsemen are here! 



The shot of the Four Horsemen arriving to the Astrodome in Houston Texas cuts into an opening music video set to "Princes Of The Universe" by Queen.... 

Here we are... 




Born to be kings.. 




We're the princes of the universe...

HEY!
 

I am immortal....




I have inside me blood of kings... 

I have no rival... 




No man can be my equal...

Take me to the future of you all...

***PYRO EXPLOSION***

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously are HYPED opening the show on commentary as the camera shot sweeps through the SOLD OUT Houston Astrodome showcasing the fans in attendance! Pyro explodes on the entrance stage and from all 4 corners of the ring as fireworks go off over the ring! Queen's Princes Of The Universe still plays in the background as JR and Paul E. open up saying we are LIVE, anything can happen here tonight folks, this is A New Beginning of professional wrestling right here and history will be made TONIGHT!

The show gets started right away with Sting's vintage WCW entrance music getting the crowd going NUTS! Sting walks out with his face painted blue and yellow the colors of the final WCW logo! The Stinger makes it to the ring high fiving all the fans he can on the long walk down the Astrodome entrance isle. Shawn Michaels entrance music hits the sound system to get a high pitched crowd pop! The roof is blown off of the Astrodome when Shawn Michaels glides into the stadium on a zip line from the rafters down to the ring!...

The flash bulbs go off all around the Astrodome as HBK drops down into the ring from the line in one of the greatest ring entrances in the history of wrestling. Sting watches on focused and determined from his corner as Michaels goes through his entrance routine. JR and Paul E. talk about how crucial this match is if either of these men want to have any shot in tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble later tonight in the main event. The winner of this match will be awarded the automatic #30 spot in the match, while the loser will go back into the random draw with the other 29 competitors. 

Just before the match we get a picture in picture shot of the backstage locker rooms, with one locker room consisting of Alex Wright, The American Males, Brad Armstrong, The Steiner Brothers, Harlem Heat, Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman, Diamond Dallas Page, and Eddie Guerrero huddled around the monitors glued to the match. The shot cuts away to another locker room consisting of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Aldo Montoya, Ahmed Johnson, Savio Vega, The Smoking Guns, The Bushwackers, and The Honkytonk Man glued to the monitor watching the match. The Astrodome comes alive as HBK and Sting finally come face to face for the referee's final instructions before calling for the bell! 

Sting takes the advantage over Michaels at the start of the match, catching him with arm drags and a drop kick that stuns him! Michaels takes a step back to regain his composure as Sting pounds on his chest and screams at him like Tarzan, getting the crowd JACKED! Michaels adrenaline/energy dump from his elaborate entrance puts him at a disadvantage with Sting, who is here tonight in peak form and has waited years for this chance to earn respect from the WWF wrestlers and fans.

Michaels hooks back up with Sting and counters him this time, sending him into the ropes with an irish whip! Both men criss cross the ring at rapid speed before HBK catches Sting with a flying forearm smash! Sting goes down! Michaels kips up into a fighting stance eyeing Sting and the crowd goes NUTS! Sting recovers to his knees adjusting his jaw looking around at the crowd going nuts for Michaels nodding his head, it's fucking on!

Sting and Michaels converge and go toe to toe with punches in the center of the ring! The crowd is split cheering both men on as they battle it out in a heated brawl. Sting ends up sending Michaels flying around the ring with huge moves at one point dropping him and sending him bouncing into the air with a gorilla press! HBK turns the tide later with a HUGE moonsault press for a razor close nearfall! Michaels puts the boots to Sting on the mat before hooking him in the center of the ring in the Figure Four! 

Sting starts to win the crowd over as he refuses to submit to Michaels figure four leg lock, screaming in agony as HBK clinches down. The Stinger builds the crowd up to a frenzy as he fights through the pain to lean upright to scream in Michaels' face! Michaels reaches up and smacks Sting in the face but it only fires him up more! Sting hulks up and manages to force HBK over to reverse the figure four! Michaels screams out as he barely just manages to get the bottom rope for a break!

The crowd in the Astrodome goes crazy for Sting as he rides the momentum and takes Shawn Michaels into deep waters, pulverizing his face into the canvas with a series of one handed bulldogs! Michaels is in serious trouble here folks! HBK tries to pull himself up in the corner in a dazed stupor but Sting hits him with a STINGER SPLASH! Michaels collapses in the corner! The referee frantically gets in close to check on him as JR panics on commentary, this man collapsed and almost had a stroke in the middle of a match just two months ago.

Sting gives Michaels no mercy as he pulls him up and whips him across the ring into the opposite turnbuckles, causing him to crash into them with sickening impact! HBK collapses in the corner! The referee shows serious concern as he checks on Michaels! JR begins to panic, MICHAELS IS DOWN!

Sting stops and hesitates for a split second in the opposite corner until HBK reaches up to pull himself up! Sting runs and dives just as HBK rises to his feet to hit him with ANOTHER STINGER SPLASH! HBK goes down again! Sting takes his time pulling HBK up to whip him across the ring again, only this time HBK reverses the whip! Sting is sent crashing into the turnbuckles with sickening force! Michaels struggles to rise up from his knees as Sting clutches his back in the corner! The crowd begins to sway to back Shawn Michaels as he gets up and hits Sting with his own STINGER SPLASH move! STING GOES DOWN!

The Astrodome crowd goes bonkers as HBK kips up off the canvas and whips his hair back out of his face! This is IT! Michaels pulls Sting up and whips him across the ring into the opposite turnbuckles but Sting reverses the whip! Michaels crashes into the corner turnbuckles and Sting meets him out of the corner with his own SWEET CHIN MUSIC TO THE FACE! Both men go down!

The referee begins to count both men down with a 10 count as they both lay down and out on the canvas gasping for air. Jim Ross questions on commentary what is going to be left of these two men for the 30 Man Champions Rumble they are both in later tonight! This is UNBELIEVABLE!

The backstage locker room shots are shown side by side with WCW alumni wrestlers in one cheering for Sting around the monitors while WWF alumni wrestlers in the other locker room are going nuts for HBK! Sting is the first to begin to recover just as the ref's count hits 7-8-9...

HBK rolls over and tries to drag himself up with the ropes in the corner until Sting stomps him down to a seated position looking up at him. The Stinger pulls Michaels up and beats the life out of him with sickening chest chops before propping him up onto the top rope to attempt a superplex! Michaels fights Sting off on the ropes and sends him crashing down into the canvas near the center of the ring! The whole crowd in the Astrodome rises to their feet and flash bulbs go off as HBK dives off with a FLYING ELBOW DROP!

HBK struggles to hook the leg and make a cover, Sting kicks out at 2.99999! The crowd gasps!

The crowd goes nuts as Michaels kips up and starts to tune up the band! Sting rises up and HBK goes for the SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Sting catches it and sweeps Michaels to his back, quickly hooking him.... 

SCORPION DEATHLOCK! 

STING CRANKS BACK AND THE CROWD GOES CRAZY! Shawn Michaels desperately reaches for the ropes but he's caught dead to rights in the center of the ring! HBK fights it off screaming in pain as the referee is down in his face! Sting screams as he pulls back and folds HBK in half! HBK TAPS OUT! IT'S OVER! 

The referee pushes Sting off of HBK and frantically calls for the bell! STING HAS SUBMITTED SHAWN MICHAELS WITH THE SCORPION DEATHLOCK! STING! 

Shawn Michaels lays on his back in pain, heart broken as Sting rises to his knees screaming up to the roof of the Astrodome! The WCW alumni wrestlers all file out of the back to the ring, Alex Wright, The American Males, Brad Armstrong, The Steiner Brothers, Harlem Heat, Diamond Dallas Page, Eddie Guerrero, even just random former WCW wrestlers that haven't even wrestled in Best Of The Best, dudes like Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman, some more of the Armstrong dudes, random Power Plant jobbers from Saturday Night all come out to the ring to hoist Sting into the air on their shoulders in a huge celebration! 

The WWF alumni locker room are shown all disappointed and in disbelief around the monitor as Shawn Michaels has been defeated here clean by Sting by submission after 18:55 in our opening match. The WCW wrestlers have taken over the ring as Michaels retreats out to make his exit with his head hung down, clutching his back, limping, exhausted. HBK turns to look back at Sting celebrating one last time before finally walking out. 

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously cover the highlights of this INCREDIBLE opening match. Sting has defeated Shawn Michaels to earn the #30 spot in tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, he is now one step closer to the shot at the Undisputed World Championship currently held by his all time rival Ric Flair! Shawn Michaels will end up drawing a random number with the other 28 men in the match after losing this and one has to wonder if he has anything left after what we seen here in this opener. 

*****

After the match we get Joey Styles down ringside of the Astrodome with a very special guest here tonight, the former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, EVANDER HOLYFIELD!

Holyfield is here with his entourage and managers as Joey Styles gets a brief interview, hyping him up as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Holyfield defeated Buster Douglas for the Heavyweight title in 1990, then defended the title in huge wins over George Foreman and Larry Holmes before losing it to Riddick Bowe in 1992. Holyfield is coming off of a loss to Bowe in their trilogy bout last November and he's here tonight to break a huge announcement that he has signed a contract to compete here at BEST OF THE BEST!... oh my gooood.... 

Holyfield tells Joey Styles that he has signed a deal with Best Of The Best and he's training now to make his debut here next month live on the next pay per view, Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors, live on February 18th!

*****

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously can't believe it! EVANDER HOLYFIELD IN BEST OF THE BEST! Live on pay per view on February 18th we are going to be in LAS VEGAS! It will be Best Of The Best II: Revenge Of The Warriors, with Evander Holyfield already signed to make his debut on the card! Paul E. boldly questions who in this promotion has the huge brass stones to step up to Evander Holyfield in that ring? Mike Tyson of all people, the baddest man on the planet, will not even fight Holyfield! Holyfield has been chasing Tyson for 5 years to no avail, this is absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!

All of a sudden the hype is interrupted when the Four Horsemen's entrance music hits the speakers of the Astrodome! The crowd comes alive as JJ Dillon makes his return to the group leading out Chris Benoit, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, and the current reigning and defending Undisputed World Champion, the King of Best Of The Best... "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair!

The Horsemen take their time coming down the long entrance isle posing for all of the flash bulbs in the ring before Flair gets on the mic and tells Evander Holyfield not to even try to come into his world, you're looking at a real World Champion right here not a loser that can't hold onto his belt! Holyfield is shown being held back by his entourage he's PISSED! Benoit and Pillman heckle Evander to bring it on from the apron as he's held back by 6 of his crew! Flair tells Holyfield there's a reason he's down there and he's up here in the ring with the Championship, chump!.

Flair reintroduces the original manager of the Horsemen, JJ Dillon, as their new legal advisor! Flair passes the microphone to Dillon who pulls out a contract from his suit pocket before calling out Best Of The Best Chief Executive Eric Bischoff to the ring. Bischoff makes his way out wearing a headset around his neck and takes the ring with a puzzled look on his face eyeing the contract in JJ Dillon's hand. Dillon informs Eric Bischoff that he's looked over Flair's clause for this contract for tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble stipulation crowing the #1 contender to his Undisputed Title. There is a loop hole that he's discovered and it's a clause that his client Ric Flair has chosen to take advantage of. It's a clause that Ric Flair as the Undisputed Champion has the right to choose exactly when and exactly where he will defend his Championship against the winner of tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble!

Bischoff looks on in disbelief as JJ Dillon informs him that due to this clause in this contract, his client Ric Flair will opt to defend his Undisputed World Championship against whoever wins tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble Match....


TONIGHT....


IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RUMBLE MATCH!!!


JR and Paul E. freak on commentary, WHAT!? Can they do this!? Eric Bischoff looks on in disbelief as Dillon points out the articles in the contract that back up his claim. Due to a loophole in this contract for the stipulation of this 30 Man Champions Rumble, the winner of this match will only receive their rightful shot at the Undisputed World Championship TONIGHT immediately after the match. This is not fair at all! This is some real crooked political maneuvering on the behalf of Ric Flair and the Horsemen's new legal advisor JJ Dillon! 


Eric Bischoff confirms that this is all true and there is nothing that he can do. The winner of tonight's Champions Rumble will be crowned the new #1 Contender to Flair's Undisputed Crown, but they will only get their shot at that title immediately after the match TONIGHT!


All of a sudden the whole segment is crashed and the crowd goes NUTS when BRET "THE HITMAN" HART comes out to the ring with a slight limp with no music! Bret is in his ring gear ready to go for tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble with his knee heavily taped up and in a brace. The Hitman makes eye contact with Evander Holyfield as he passes him to enter the ring with the Horsemen and point out to Eric Bischoff how this is total bullshit! The crowd goes crazy! Bret tells Eric Bischoff that he needs to stand up to the Horsemen that this isn't the way it's supposed to be in this promotion, this is supposed to be The Best Of The Best, there's no honor in any of this! 

Bret stands across from Flair looking at his big gold Undisputed World Championship title belt as he tells Dillon and Bischoff lets face it, we all know there's no way in hell whoever comes out of this 30 man Rumble is going to have anything left to face a fresh Ric Flair. Bret offers to make a deal right here right now for Bischoff, JJ Dillon, and Ric Flair! Bret offers to give up his spot in the Champions Rumble to any one of the Horsemen Flair wants if he gives him a shot at the Undisputed World Championship RIGHT NOW! 

The crowd goes bat shit crazy! Flair looks around at the Astrodome lights and the pink and grey A New Beginning banners with an arrogant look before Arn takes the mic from JJ Dillon! Arn calls Hart "Mr. $20 million dollar man" as he tells him that he had his shot at the Undisputed World Title last Monday Night and he didn't show up to answer the bell! If he wants a shot at Flair tonight, he has to EARN IT! Arn tells Bret he's the hot shot hitman, the iron man, tournament winner, the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be, prove it tonight!


Arn tells Bret that if he can get past all 3 of the Horsemen in a gauntlet match RIGHT NOW he will get a shot at Flair later tonight after the Rumble!


BRET ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE!... IT's ON!... The crowd goes NUTS!


Eric Bischoff gets interrupted by Brian Pillman who adds another stipulation, if either of the Horsemen beat Bret Hart in this Gauntlet Match then Bret is OUT, and ALL 3 OF THEM are in the 30 MAN CHAMPIONS RUMBLE! JR and Paul E. can't believe it as the crowd goes bonkers, this match has been made on the spot! Bret Hart vs Arn, Pillman, and Benoit in a Guantlet Match for a shot at Ric Flair's Undisputed World Championship TONIGHT! If Bret wins he gets Flair after the Rumble tonight for the belt, if he loses to any 3 of the Horsemen he loses his spot and ALL 3 of the Horsemen will be given spots in the match(there are 5 open spots remaining), and Flair will face the winner of the Champions Rumble immediately after the match instead of Bret! 

Ric Flair and JJ Dillon retreat to the ringside area as Arn, Pillman, and Benoit huddle in the corner and on the apron going over who will face Bret first. Bret stretches his knee and looks around at the fans going bonkers ringside as Brian Pillman steps up to face Bret first in the Gauntlet Match!....

Pillman smiles and laughs at Bret pointing at the knee that he smashed in a steel chair with a sledge last Saturday Night on Shockwave before destroying Bret's beloved WWF Championship Belt. Bret eyes the man that destroyed his belt and cost him his shot at the Undisputed World Title as the ref calls for the bell to start the match off! Pillman tries to shoot in for a low takedown on Bret's injured knee but Bret manages to counter him after a scramble with a huge german suplex with a bridge for a 2.99999999! Pillman BARELY manages to kick out!


Pillman snaps and beats a hobbled Bret out of the scramble before punishing his injured knee with stomps! Bret screams out in pain as Pillman isolates Bret's injured knee with stomps and elbow drops! PILLMAN IS A CRAZED MADMAN!


JR and Paul E. note the total attitude change in Pillman ever since the Horsemen debuted here at Best Of The Best he seems to really be losing it, the man is just out of control. Pillman goes nuts on Bret's injured knee before dragging him to the center of the ring and hooking him in a Terry Funk style Spinning Toe Hold! Bret grimaces in agony! Pillman snarls and slobbers and spits like a wild demon as he cranks on Bret's hurt leg in the hold! Bret shocks everyone when he manages pull up and use Pillman's over aggression against him to rock him off balance and roll him up with a SMALL PACKAGE!...



1...




2...




NO!!! PILLMAN KICKS OUT!!!



Bret rolls through in a smooth transition, almost using the rollup attempt as a set up to hook Pillman's legs as he scrambles, positioning him quickly into the SHARPSHOOTER! The crowd goes NUTS! Pillman tries to fight it off as Bret screams in pain and ROLLS HIM OVER! Bret works his way up into the seated position and cranks back as Arn, Benoit, and Flair watch on in horror! 



Brian Pillman has no choice but to SUBMIT! It's OVER! 



The referee calls for the bell and tries to push Bret off of Pillman but he refuses to release the hold, he cranks back even harder! Pillman screams bloody murder! 



All of a sudden Chris Benoit flies into the ring to blindside Bret from behind and knock him off of Pillman! The referee calls for the bell again as Pillman rolls out of the ring, Bret has made it past the first Horsemen and now has to get past Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson to get a shot at Flair's Undisputed Title TONIGHT! 



Bret gets no break as Benoit immediately goes right after his injured knee! Benoit spins Bret over into the single leg boston crab and torques on the knee with ruthless aggression! Bret fights through the pain and drags Benoit over to the ropes for a rope break! The crowd goes crazy! 



Bret gets the crowd even louder as he fights back at Benoit with a series of punches! Bret gets reversed with an irish whip and tripped by JJ Dillon from outside the ring on the return, sending him staggering into a belly to belly suplex from Benoit! Benoit hooks the leg for a pin but Bret kicks out at 2! Flair is shown watching on with JJ Dillon ringside as Bret is pulled up by Benoit and sent into the ropes again, nearly collapsing on the return from not being able to put any weight on his injured knee! Bret catches Benoit with a counter on the return with a swinging neck breaker! Both men go down! 



Bret struggles and limps his way up to the corner turnbuckles where he flies off to catch Benoit with a bulldog! Both men go down with Bret rolling around clutching his knee! Bret pulls the brace off of his knee and tries to unwrap some of the tape to relieve the pressure and swelling as he winces in agony! The Hitman recovers to his feet and pulls Benoit's legs up for a headbutt to his abdomen! Benoit rolls around with his breath knocked out as Bret recovers to his feet and limps back up to the middle turnbuckle for an elbow drop! 



The pain and damage to Bret's knee begins to take it's toll as he's nearly unable to continue. The Hitman somehow finds a way to get back up and go for the Sharpshooter out of desperation! Benoit manages to fight it off by kicking Bret backwards into the corner! Benoit pulls himself up and batters Bret down with brutal chest chops! Benoit attempts to whip Bret across the ring into the opposite corner but Bret reverses the whip and beautifully pulls Benoit into a vicious Russian leg sweep all in one swift flowing series of moves! Benoit is OUT! 



Bret can barely make his way up to his knees as he looks around at the crowd going CRAZY! Arn and Flair scream for Benoit to get up as Bret goes for the finish with the Sharpshooter! Bret winces in pain as he wraps Benoit's legs around into the position but he can't follow through with the roll over, his knee gives out on him and he collapses in the hold in pain! Benoit works his way out and stomps Bret's knee into the canvas! Bret screams out in pain! Benoit pulls Bret's hurt leg upright to deliver a kick to his knee but Bret manages to lean up and catch his foot, explosively ripping it into his grasp and spinning him around into a grapevine... SHARPSHOOTER!!! NO!... Benoit scrambles through and rolls explosively around The Hitman to hook him in a... Stepover Toehold Facelock! 



Bret is trapped with Benoit using his injured knee to lock down the hold in the center of the ring! Bret screams out as he tries to fight his way to the ropes but he's unable to move Benoit! Bret reaches out to the ropes with desperation but he's just inches away! BRET TAPS OUT!!! BRET TAPS OUT!!! 



CHRIS BENOIT HAS FORCED BRET HART TO TAP! UNBELIEVABLE!! 



The referee calls for the bell as Benoit rolls off of Bret in disbelief! The Hitman has been defeated in the second match of the Gauntlet Match, the man that this entire promotion put out front as it's biggest star, the man that this entire pay per view was marketed around did not even make it to the third match against Arn Anderson, he's been upset by Chris Benoit and he's done for the night! This is unreal! What an upset here by Chris Benoit, a product of Hart's own family Dungeon has forced him to tap here tonight in the Astrodome. 



Arn, Flair, and Pillman fly into the ring to hoist Benoit up in celebration of this HUGE upset. Bret rolls out fo the ring and is doctored by EMT's immediately working on his knee as he's in agony, totally crestfallen, everything has fallen apart...

*****

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously on commentary are in shock and awe at the whole series of events that just unfolded here folks, none of this was on the format for tonight's pay per view. Bret Hart will not get his shot at Ric Flair's Undisputed World Title tonight, now he's not even in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match! With this loss Bret is out and Pillman, Arn, and Benoit are all in! With Bret out and the Horsemen in that now leaves 3 mystery spots for tonight's 30 Man Champions Rumble Match, and now, whoever comes out of this as the last man standing as the #1 Contender will only get their title shot at Flair's Undisputed World Championship TONIGHT... IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MATCH!

JR informs Paul E. that he's been informed through his head set that the winner of the Rumble will be given a 5 minute break before facing Flair for the Undisputed Title right here tonight in the Astodome!

We take a small break from the live broadcast to advertise the next Best Of The Best pay per view, live from Caesars Palace OUTDOOR PAVILLION in Las Vegas!... 

Call your local satellite or cable provider today and demand this event. Don't miss the next Best Of The Best pay per view Sunday night February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Nevada, it will be the Revenge Of The Warriors.... 

*****

After the break we get shots of the ringside fans and both JR and Paul E. at their ringside commentary booth still in shock about what we just witnessed. Bret Hart has just been totally taken out by the Four Horsemen after everything that happened last Saturday Night on Shockwave, then on Monday night on Judgement Night, now Flair has this promotion right where he wants it as the man that comes out of the Champions Rumble as the #1 Contender to his title will only get their shot immediately after the Rumble Match, whatever is left of them will have to go toe to toe with one of the all time best to ever lace them up in this sport, "The Nature Boy".


The Supreme Fighting Machine Kama makes his way out for the following contest as JR talks about how on February 18th in Las Vegas it's going to be The Big Fight at Best Of The Best II on pay per view. Speaking of the big fight we're about to have one here as Kama has been on a roll, destroying Alex Wright in his Best Of The Best debut before tapping out journeyman heavyweight boxer Dan Murphy in the first round in a hybrid rules bout on Bushido. Kiss' War Machine brings out the Best Of The Best debut of a man we have seen a lot of hype for in videos on BOTB TV all month, now it's time to see if this man can live up to that hype as he has his hands full with a much larger, very dangerous opponent here tonight!

Michael Buffer takes over the ring announcing for the intros as both men stand across the ring from each other like pit bulls before a dogfight. Kama is introduced first as 6' 6", 330 pounds, with a Best Of The Best record of 2-0, THE SUPREME FIGHTING MACHINE! Kama paces back and forth in his corner with taped fists as Taz is introduced from the Red Hook section of Brooklyn New York, standing at 5' 9" and weighing in at 240 pounds, THE HUMAN SUPLEX MACHINE.... TAZ!!! Taz removes the black towel from his face and adjusts his singlet, never breaking eye contact with Kama across the ring from him! Referee Tim White brings both men to the center of the ring for his final instructions and the staredown is INTENSE! The crowd swells with excitement as both men back up into their corners and wait for the bell!... 

Taz comes in circling crouched down low in a wrestlers stance as Kama comes out light on his feet circling him quickly with boxing footwork. Kama quickly feints a punch and shoots in on Taz for a takedown in a mad scramble of violence! Taz quickly transitions and rips Kama off his feet, flipping him end over end into a violent slam with an O-Goshi Judo throw that shakes the entire ring on impact! Kama scrambles to recover into a double leg takedown attempt that drives Taz into the corner turnbuckles! Taz defends the takedown but Kama stuns him with a vicious knee in the clinch! Taz drops to a knee but recovers quickly, reversing Kama in the clinch! Kama scrambles to reverse Taz in a battle in the clinch before Taz manages to take his back and rip him up off his feet deadweight... GERMAN TAZ PLEX!

Kama is dumped ON HIS HEAD! Taz stands up and drags his thumb across his throat! Kama rolls over to his hands and knees trying to get up but Taz locks him in the kata-hajime, the TAZMISSION! Kama fights it off trying to roll Taz over but his face begins to turn colors as he loses consciousness! Kama goes limp HE'S OUT! The ref frantically calls for the bell! It's OVER! Taz has choked Kama OUT!

Taz leaves Kama laying lifeless on the canvas as he has his hand raised in victory! Kama is still out laying on his side until EMT's finally manage to come to his aid leaning him up to revive him. What a hell of a debut here by the Human Suplex Machine choking Kama out cold in just :39 seconds! Jesus! Taz has arrived at Best Of The Best! 

*****

After the match as the EMT's work to revive Kama the camera shot scans the arena focusing in on the fans in attendance. Tonight's official attendance number is revealed by JR to be 65,935 in the Astrodome TONIGHT! All of the media from Japan, Russia, the UK, ESPN, USA Today all here covering this huge event this weekend in Houston as all eyes are on this ring to see the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match featuring some of the most dangerous men walking this planet today. 

The celebrities ringside are shown briefly as Kama is just now regaining consciousness and being assisted out of the ring. The star of the hit TV series Highlander, Adrian Paul is shown ringside as is Gary Busey, Paulie Shore, and Jenny Mccarthy. 

The atmosphere here in The Astrodome in Houston tonight is truly electrifying as the tension builds for the match that everyone is here to see, the match that is set to take place here next at A New Beginning, the 30 Man Champions Rumble! This match will determine who is the #1 Contender to Ric Flair's Undisputed World Championship, but as we found out earlier tonight the only way they will get that shot, whoever it may be, they will have to face Flair for the title immediately after the Rumble here TONIGHT! 

The Astrodome crowd comes alive as ring announcer Michael Buffer takes the center of the ring and announces that the following match is THE CHAMPIONS RUMBLE MATCH!....

The following match is to determine the new #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Championship! 30 of the worlds greatest champions from around the world are here tonight and will enter this match Royal Rumble style, 2 men start the match off, then one man comes out every two minutes to join the match. The order of entry was determined by random draw earlier tonight. Competitors can be eliminated from this match by being thrown over the top rope and having both feet touch the floor, or by pinfall, or submission. Due to the wide variety of combat styles that will be represented in this match there will be NO RULES! No Holds Barred!.... Are you ready!?.... Then... for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching around the world.... 

LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!

The crowd goes CRAZY as Michael Buffer brings out the man that drew #1 in the random draw earlier tonight...

SPOILER: Click to show

The former New York State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion, and the final ever WCW World Television Champion, accompanied by the lovely Sable...

#1. Marc Mero(W/Sable)
Final WCW World Television Champion
NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion

Sable is a sight for sore eyes watching this sausage fest of a pay per view as she leads Mero out to the ring all lit up under the bright lights of the Astrodome. Paul E. Dangerously lets the profanity fly on commentary as points out the way Mero enters the ring ready to rock, ready to earn respect against the toughest field of 29 bad ass motherfuckers walking the planet today. Michael Buffer introduces the man that drew #2, and it's one half of the final WCW World Tag Team Champions, the hometown tag team Harlem Heat...

#2. Stevie Ray
Final WCW World Tag Team Champion

Stevie Ray and Marc Mero get the Champions Rumble going and the 2 minute clock gets started right as the bell rings! Mero shines early on with a wild wave of adrenaline driving him to overpower the larger tag team specialist. Stevie Ray overpowers Mero with a big powerslam just as the 2 minute clock winds down.... 4.... 3... 2... 1.... 

#3. Billy Gunn
Final WWF World Tag Team Champion

Billy Gunn gets the Houston crowd fired up as he sprints to the ring full speed going right after Stevie Ray! Gunn puts the boots to Stevie Ray in a wild frantic attack until Mero attacks him from behind and tries to force him over the top rope! Billy Gunn holds on to the ropes as Marc Mero tries to push him out! Stevie Ray hits Mero in his back with an axe handle! Mero turns and fights back with a combination of boxing style punches, backing Stevie up to the opposite corner before dropping him with a left hook! Stevie Ray goes down! Billy Gunn runs after Mero but he's met with a HUGE left hook that sends him to the canvas! Mero sets the Astrodome OFF by climbing the turnbuckles and dropping down onto Stevie Ray with a SHOOTING STAR PRESS!


Mero makes a cover but doesn't hook the leg and Stevie Ray is able to get it under the ropes to break the count at 2.999! The crowd counts down as the 2 minute clock comes to the final seconds.... 4... 3... 2... 1...

#4. Alexandr Karelin
1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Greco-Roman Wrestling
9 Time Greco-Roman World Championships Gold Medalist

JR and Paul E. freak out, good god almighty NO! Business is about to pick up here folks! Karelin marches down the entrance isle as Paul E. hypes him up as the Michael Jordan of all combat sports today, this man can't be bargained with, he can't be reasoned with, he doesn't feel pity, remorse, or fear! Karelin hits the ring and is met with Marc Mero, who fearlessly stands his ground! Mero connects with a flurry of punches but Karelin is unaffected, weaving through them into a belly to belly SUPLEX OVER THE TOP ROPE! Mero flips all the way over before crashing down awkwardly onto the padded floor with his face bouncing off the padding with a sickening thud! 

Eliminated: Marc Mero(4:25)

Sable rushes to Mero as he's seriously hurt after a terrible spot gone wrong, his entire body clinches up for a moment with his arms and legs trembling after his head slams into the padded floor from being overthrown by Karelin. EMT's rush to Mero's aid as the action continues in the ring with Karelin chucking Billy Gunn almost all the way across the ring with a release overhead suplex! Stevie Ray recovers and attacks the Russian wrestling legend but Karelin immediately overpowers him the moment he gets his hands on him, ripping him up and driving him over the ropes with ease! Stevie Ray spills off of the apron and hits the floor!... 

Eliminated: Stevie Ray(5:40)

Billy Gunn recovers and jumps onto Karelin's back trying to lock him into a sleeper! Karelin rips Gunn off his back by flipping him over and transitioning around into a north south choke! Billy Gunn stays locked fighting off the hold as the 2 minute clock winds down.... 4.... 3.... 2.... 1..... 

#5. Hidehiko Yoshida

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Judo

Karelin gets up and stomps Billy Gunn down before locking eyes on Japan's Gold Medalist in Judo, Yoshida! Flash bulbs go off all around the Astrodome and ringside press scramble around as the two gold medalists from the last Summer Olympic square off in the Best Of The Best ring! Judo vs Greco Roman Wrestling. Japan vs Russia. Right here, right now! 


Yoshida and Karelin tie up in a clinch in the center of the ring with Karelin immediately grabbing Yoshida's gi! Yoshida attempts a Judo throw but Karelin is able to adjust his position to block the throw! Yoshida transitions up into a side headlock only to get ripped up off his feet and suplexed ONTO HIS HEAD! Billy Gunn recovers and jumps on Karelin's back again going for a sleeper but Yoshida recovers and grabs him to lift BOTH MEN INTO A JUDO THROW! Yoshida screams as he slowly fights to throw Karelin over his hip while Billy Gunn is on his back, sending both men flipping over onto each other into the canvas! The crowd counts down along with the final few seconds of the 2 minute clock... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 

#6. Bart Gunn

Final WWF World Tag Team Champion

Bart races to the ring as fast as he can, sliding under the rope and immediately trading punches with Yoshida! Billy Gunn recovers and clips Yoshida's knee out from under him with a shoulder block! The Smoking Guns work together to double team Yoshida with punches and kicks until Alexandr Karelin grabs both of them from behind and dumps them over the top with a DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX!!! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! Both Smoking Guns flip over the top rope and bounce off the apron to the floor!... 

Eliminated: The Smoking Gunns(8:44)

It's down to Karelin and Yoshida head to head! The two men lock horns and struggle in a violent clinch before Karelin is able to transition around and take Yoshida's side, trapping him into a HEAD AND ARM SUPLEX OVER THE TOP ROPE! Yoshida flips end over end over the top rope and bounces off the apron to the floor!... 

Eliminated: Hidehiko Yoshida(9:50)

The 285 pound Russian wrestling god Karelin is standing alone in the ring for the final 10 seconds of the two minute clock! The man that is the odds on favorite to win this match has cleared all 5 men so far out of the ring! The countdown closes down to bring the next man out.... 3... 2... 1! 

#7. Bas Rutten

The King Of Pancrase

Bas makes his way down the long entrance isle to the Astrodome with a valorous look in his eyes as Karelin zeroes in on him with his trademark death stare waiting on him in the ring! Bas enters the ring and circles Karelin, keeping him back with palm strikes and a vicious high kick that just barely misses! Rutten follows through on his missed high kick and stuns Karelin with a spinning back forearm strike! Karelin staggers on his feet! Bas follows up with vicious palm strikes to the face before landing a high kick that sends him falling backwards into the ropes! Bas clips Karelin with a standing knee that nearly knocks him out before scrambling to get the huge Russian OVER THE TOP ROPE! 


Karelin clings to the top rope as he spills out to the apron! Rutten tries to break Karelin's grip on the ropes to push him off but the larger heavyweight recovers and blasts him backwards with a HUGE forearm strike to the head! Karelin makes his way back into the ring and shoots in for a takedown on Rutten but the Dutchman leaps into the air with a flying splits, sending Karelin spearing awkwardly into the ring ropes! Rutten unloads with SICKENING kicks to Karelin's body and legs while he attempts to get back up! The 2 minute clock begins to run down to the final seconds as Karelin manages to close the distance and pull Rutten in for an explosive suplex OVER THE TOP ROPE! Rutten bounces off the apron to the floor! He's OUT! 

Eliminated: Bas Rutten(11:58)

UNBELIEVABLE! Alexandr Karelin, the Russian Experiment, has eliminated his 6th man in a row from the Rumble and stands alone! Evander Holyfield is shown watching on from his ringside seat as Karelin limps and adjusts his knee pads while the crowd begins to count down the final seconds.... 4..... 3..... 2...... 1!....... 

#8. Mikey Whipreck

Final ECW World Television Champion
Final ECW World Tag Team Champion

Oh dear god... wait just a damn minute! He's JUST A DAMN KID! Mikey Whipreck is in total disbelief as he walks out about to piss his pants at the sight of the 285 pound 2 time Olympic Gold medalist Alexandr Karelin waiting on him in the ring! Mikey hesitantly gets into the ring and proceeds to get massacred and thrown around the ring like a crash test dummy! Mikey somehow survives several brutal suplexes and kicks out of a pin attempt at 2.999 to get the crowd behind him! At one point Karelin suplexes Whipreck upside down into the corner turnbuckles! Moments later Mikey flips over another suplex attempt and manages to land on his feet behind Karelin! Karelin attempts to take his head off with a lariat but Mikey drops down and pulls the top rope down! Karelin spills over the top rope to the apron with one of his feet touching the floor! The crowd goes CRAZY! 


Karelin manages pull himself back up to the apron and work his way back into the ring even as Mikey tries to push him off! All of a sudden the two minute clock begins to wind down to bring out the next man.... 4.... 3.... 2.... 1..... 

#9. Chris Benoit

1995 WCW vs NJPW World Cup Of Wrestling Trophy winner

Chris Benoit! JR and Paul E. bring up his submission of Bret Hart earlier tonight in a shocking upset in the Gauntlet Match, a victory that took Bret out of the 30 Man Champions Rumble tonight. Benoit makes it into the ring and goes off on Karelin and Mikey Whipreck with brutal chest chops! Benoit disposes of Whipreck with a tilt a whirl backbreaker before countering Karelin into his Crippler Crossface! Karelin screams out in the hold as the crowd goes nuts!


Karelin muscles his way inch by inch to the ropes, dragging Benoit while in the crossface before finally managing to reach out and grab the bottom rope for a break! Benoit breaks the hold and stomps Karelin down as the two minute clock winds down to the final seconds... 4.... 3.... 2.... 1....

#10. Shawn Michaels

Final WWF #1 Contender

The crowd goes berserk! THE HEARTBREAK KID! Michaels comes out in a raging fury after being defeated clean earlier tonight by Sting in the opening match with the #30 spot in this match on the line, he was forced to submit right in the middle of the ring in the Scorpion Deathlock. With the loss he was forced to draw a random number with the rest of the other 28 men and you got to wonder how much energy he has left after going toe to toe for almost 20 minutes with Sting just over an hour ago.


Michaels rides the wave of energy from the crowd in the Astrodome as he enters the ring and takes it to Mikey Whipreck, Chris Benoit, and Alexandr Karelin! Eventually Benoit and HBK tie up in the center of the ring in a furious exchange of punches and chops! Michaels stands his ground and stuns Benoit! Across the ring near the opposite corner Mikey Whipreck attempts his finisher the Whippersnapper on Alexandr Karelin but it does nothing to him! Karelin shrugs it off and grabs Mikey by the throat to lift him up over the top rope and dump him to the apron! Mikey holds on to the top rope for dear life as Karelin fights to try to push him off to the floor! As the two battles rage on the two minute clock begins to wind down to the final seconds.... 4.... 3.... 2..... 1.... 

#11. Jushin "Thunder" Liger

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion

Liger comes in and dominates with quick high flying offense that gets the crowd fired up! Karelin nearly gets eliminated after being knocked out to the apron with a dropkick! Mikey gets knocked out by Liger with a brutal brainbuster! Benoit, HBK, and Liger engage in a three way series of arm drags and chain wrestling near fall sequences in a rapid succession of nearfalls that gets the crowd gasping! Benoit eventually knocks Michaels out cold with an ENZIGUIRI! HBK GOES DOWN! Liger attacks Benoit only to get reversed and countered into a dragon screw leg whip! Benoit corners Liger and brutally chops and stomps him down as payback for his loss to him at Starrcade last month!


EMT's panic and rush around the ringside area as Shawn Michaels remains down and out from Chris Benoits enziguiri, the same move that caused HBK to collapse and nearly suffer a stroke in a match against Owen Hart just less than two months ago! The referee in the ring checks on HBK in a panic but Michaels begins to stir around and reach for the ropes to pull himself up! Mikey Whipreck rolls around in pain as Karelin attacks Benoit from behind in the corner! It's HBK, Mikey, Karelin, Liger, and Benoit in the ring as the clock winds down to bring out the next man....

#12. Cactus Jack(W/Stevie Richards)

Final ECW World Tag Team Champion

Cactus gets one of the bigger pops from the Astrodome crowd so far as he comes out holding a baseball bat wrapped in BARBED WIRE, wearing a custom airbrushed t-shirt that depicts him and Mikey Whipreck together with the ECW Tag Championship Belts. Stevie Richard jumps around like a goof as Cactus works his way down the long Astrodome entrance isle causing everyone to turn their attention to his bat! Mikey Whipreck is a hurt mess clutching his head and neck as Cactus greets him in the ring and tries to give him his barbed wire baseball bat to use! Mikey pushes Cactus away from him! 


The crowd gasps as Jushin Liger recovers and dropkicks Cactus into Mikey in the corner pinning the barbed wire in between them! Both men's shirts get entangled and ripped apart as they stumble to the canvas rolling around in agony! Alexandr Karelin and Chris Benoit remain deadlocked in a stalemate clinch in the corner as HBK recovers and catches Liger against the ropes in a back and forth struggle to try to get him over the top! Mikey and Cactus recover and fight over the barbed wire baseball bat! Whipreck manages to gain control of the bat and uses it against Cactus, hitting him in the stomach before bashing it across his back! Cactus collapses screaming with the barbed wire of the bat stuck to his back! 


Mikey falls over in pain as Cactus rolls around trying to get the barbed wire out of his skin, ripping away at his tattered and torn shirt as the crowd gasps continuously! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! Finally Cactus pulls his ripped shirt the rest of the way off as the two minute clock begins to countdown.... 

#13. Nobuhiko Takada

New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP World Heavyweight Champion

The ring begins to fill up as the UWFI shoot fighter Takada makes his way out to the ring with various Takada Dojo stablemates backing him up. The Japanese photographers and media scramble around the ringside area with flash bulbs going off as Takada approaches the ring wearing the IWGP title belt. Paul E. notes that this is a marked man right here, Takada has been calling out every promotion in Japan for years and now he's about to have to face each and every one of them here tonight. The UWFI dojo has issued an imperial edict of battle to Best Of The Best and made it clear that Takada is going after a shot at the Undisputed World Championship to take the power. 


Nobuhiko Takada comes in and immediately goes after Alexandr Karelin with a series of stiff roundhouse kicks to the body! Chris Benoit directs his attention to Shawn Michaels, hooking him in a side headlock near the center of the ring as Liger recovers and goes after Takada, only to get chopped down with a brutal series of kicks to the legs and body! Cactus snaps and beats Mikey Whipreck down as Stevie Richards coaches him on from the floor! The Astrodome crowd counts down along with the final seconds of the two minute clock to bring out the next man.... 

#14. Jeff Jarrett

USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion

Jarrett makes his way out completely focused and zeroed in with his eyes on the ring as he makes the long walk down the Astrodome entrance isle! JR and Paul E. hype Jarrett up saying that he's not here to sing tonight, this is a third generation wrestler that has a lot to prove! Jarrett enters the ring and immediately dominates as the fresh man, eventually settling in an attempt to help Chris Benoit try to eliminate Shawn Michaels hanging on for dear life upside down on the top rope! Mikey Whipreck ends up breaking away from Cactus and tying up with Liger, who counters him and looks to finish him off with his THUNDER LIGER BOMB! Liger follows through with a pin attempt but Cactus leaps to save Mikey and break the count at 2.9999! 


It's Karelin vs Takada in a battle on the canvas near the corner as Benoit continues trying to eliminate HBK hanging on for dear life! Jarrett directs his attention to Cactus and Liger behind him, putting the boots to both men before pulling Cactus up and trying to whip him over the ropes! Cactus takes an awkward stumble and ends up flipping over the ropes in a way that entangles his head twisted up stuck in them! Stevie Richards gets up onto the apron to help Cactus try to get untangled from the ropes but he can't get him out! Mikey recovers and knocks Stevie off the apron into the steel guard rail! Cactus finally free's his head from the ropes and brawls Mikey in the ring, eventually dropping him with a double arm DDT!


Liger attacks Jeff Jarrett and whips him into the ropes for an attempted Thesz Press, only to get countered by being caught, spun around, and dropped throat first onto the top rope with a STUN GUN! Liger is down and out! Jarrett pulls him up and tries to work him over the top rope as the two minute clock winds down to the final seconds.... 

#15. The Sandman(W/Woman)

Final ECW World Champion

Jim Ross asks who in the hell is that!? Paul E. screams back at it IT'S THE SANDMAN! The Sandman walks out wearing his bandana wearing the ECW World Championship belt, with a glass beer bottle, a cigarette burning in his mouth, accompanied by the lovely evil Woman! Paul E. tells the story of The Sandman and Woman as they make their way down the long Astrodome entrance isle to the ring taking their time, pausing to look around at the over 65,000 in attendance in the historic dome. The Sandman is one of the toughest motherfuckers to come out of the ECW in South Philly, he IS the ECW World Champ, and at one time his manager Woman had control of all 3 major ECW titles late last year, she's the master manipulator and she's brought The Sandman here to go for a shot at the most prestigious title in the World!


The Sandman takes almost a full minute to finally enter the ring and have a stand off with Cactus Jack, putting his cigarette out on his chest! Cactus and The Sandman brawl it out with Sandman crashing his glass beer bottle over Cactus' head! Cactus collapses and starts to bleed! GOOD GOD! Meanwhile across the ring Jeff Jarrett gets countered by Liger, who leaps up to his shoulders for a rana! Jarrett carries Liger over to the ropes and tries to dump him over the top but Liger drags him out to the apron with him! Both men desperately cling to the ropes to stay alive! Both men recover standing on the apron of the ring in a battle punch for punch! Jarret kicks Liger in the balls before pulling him into position and spiking him down into the apron with a PILEDRIVER! Liger's lifeless body collapses down to the floor....

Eliminated: Jushin "Thunder" Liger(27:35)

Jarrett gets boo'd as he recovers to the ring and does his trademark strut before posing with his arms up after eliminating Liger! Mikey Whipreck is still down and out as Cactus and Sandman brawl around the barbed wire baseball bat! Sandman tries to put Cactus in the position to powerbomb him onto the barbed wire but Cactus counters him by backdropping him directly down onto it! The crowd gasps as Sandman crashes down back first into the barbed wire baseball bat, arching his back up screaming and shaking in pain! Mikey finally pulls himself up to his hands and knees and catches Cactus Jack off guard, barelling him over the ropes and sending him crashing off the apron to the floor! CACTUS IS OUT! MIKEY WHIPRECK!

Eliminated: Cactus Jack(27:57)

Mikey Whipreck has eliminated Cactus Jack! How is this kid even still in this match!? Cactus Jack is out! Both Cactus and Stevie Richards roll around on the floor trying to get up. The Sandman in a drunken effort to get the barbed wire unstuck from his back has somehow unraveled some of the barbed wire and gotten it wrapped around his body, with the bat dangling from it in a mess of clothing and metal as the two minute clock winds down to bring out....

#16. Ultimo Dragon

NWA World Middleweight Champion
International Junior Heavyweight Champion

The Ultimo Dragon makes his way out and down the entrance isle as Jarrett attacks Mikey Whipreck in the ring and throws him over the top rope while he's distracted looking out at Cactus and Stevie Richards! Mikey bounces off the apron and hits the floor!

Eliminated: Mikey Whipreck(28:09)

Jim Ross and Paul E. give props to Mikey for surviving for 18 minutes of pure hell, in a match he had no business being in, he came so close to eliminating Karelin and becoming an instant star around the world. How he lived through the beating he just took we will never know, this is one tough kid, no, he proved tonight that this is one tough man! Just as Mikey tries to recover to his feet he's jumped by Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards! Stevie pulls up the padding for Cactus to spike Mikey head first with a PILEDRIVER INTO THE EXPOSED CONCRETE! GOD... NO!


Mikey Whipreck is left convulsing and foaming at the mouth by Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards down at the ringside area while Ultimo Dragon has his hands full tying up with Jarrett! HBK and Benoit roll around on the canvas in a brawl as Alexandr Karelin is completely exhausted and stalling, gasping for air in the clinch with Takada in the corner. Takada is unable to do anything as he holds onto the ropes for dear life. Ultimo Dragon cools Jarrett down and gets the crowd fired up when he connects with his patented combo of low kicks followed by a devastating spinning back kick that knocks him back into the corner! Dragon lifts Jarrett up onto the top turnbuckle and quickly follows him up to hit his DRAGONSTEINER! 


Jarrett arches his back up in pain after being flipped down into the canvas with a sickening impact! Dragon pulls Jarrett up and hooks him in a Dragon Sleeper! Jarrett fights off the hold and maintains his position while The Sandman recovers and brawls with Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit as the time expires for the two minute clock!.... 

#17. Naoki Sakurada

Shooto World Middleweight Champion

The Shooto representative gets little to no reaction from the crowd as he makes his way out to the ring wearing the Bruce Lee style old school Shooto MMA gloves. Sakurada enters the ring and immediately downs Karelin with a low kick before going after Takada in a stiff exchange of punches and forearm strikes in the corner! Chris Benoit downs The Sandman and puts the boots to the two most exhausted men in the match, Karelin(who has reached the 30 minute mark in the match, having eliminated 6 men so far), and Shawn Michaels(who wrestled a furious nearly 20 minute opening match against Sting) while Ultimo Dragon continues transitioning from hold to hold on Jarrett. Takada ends up reversing Sakurada into the corner and overwhelming him with sickening roundhouse kicks! Sakurada collapses in the corner from the battering kicks as the 2 minute clock begins to expire.....

#18. Frank Bruno

WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Bruno comes in wearing boxing gloves as the lone representative of the UK tonight and he hits the ring like a force, immediately lighting up Alexandr Karelin with a huge combo that sends him reeling back into the corner! Ultimo Dragon diverts his attention to the boxer and gets backflipped with a HUGE uppercut! Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit have spilled under the bottom rope the floor as Nobuhiko Takada ends up on the canvas with Sakurada on the opposite side of the ring, rolling through a transition into a cross armbreaker arm bar! Sakurada tries to reach for the ropes but his arm snaps at the elbow and the referee frantically leaps in to break the hold screaming! 

Eliminated: Naoki Sakurada(33:18)

EMT's rush to Sakurada's aid as he rolls out of the ring and collapses clutching his left arm! Nobuhiko Takada has broken Sakurada's arm and eliminated him from the Rumble with a technical submission with a BRUTAL armbar! Referee's scramble to try to get Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit back inside the ring after their brawl spilled out under the bottom rope to the floor! The Sandman recovers and tries to trade punches with Frank Bruno but the Champ brutalizes him with STIFF combos that immediately swell his face! The Sandman goes down! Jarrett recovers and tries to take on Bruno but he gets punched so hard it sends him over the top rope to the apron! Bruno tries to follow up and finish Jarrett off but he ducks under a huge right hand and rams him in the midsection through the ropes! Jarrett slingshots himself over the top rope as Bruno is hunched over clutching his midsection and rolls him up with a SUNSET FLIP.... 1..... 2.... NO!!! BRUNO KICKS OUT!!! 


Michaels and Benoit tear into each other with furious punches on the floor, eventually whipping each other around the ringside area into the steel guard rails! Benoit at one point whips Michaels into the railing so hard it sends him crashing over it into the laps of the fans in the front row! Benoit attacks Michaels as he recovers and pulls him back over the railing with a vertical suplex, dropping him back first onto the padded concrete floor! HBK curls up and writhes around clutching his back! 


It's HBK/Benoit out on the floor, with Dragon and Jarrett working together to corner Frank Bruno in the ring as Karelin works to try to dump Takada over the top rope in a struggle near the opposite corner. The Sandman is shown recovering to a seated position with his face a swollen mess, the barbed wire baseball bat still clung to his ripped shirt that draped over his shoulder. The two minute clock finally winds down to bring out... 

#19. Akira Maeda

Fighting Network Rings 1995 Mega Battle Tournament Champion

Akira Maeda comes out representing the Rings promotion out of Japan and he's got a target on Nobuhiko Takada right from the moment he locks eyes on him! The commentators bring up how these two used to be tag team partners in NJPW at one time, they turned into rivals in the UWF Shootfighting promotion in the late 80's and they have been calling each other out now for the last 5 years with Takada representing the UWFI and Maeda representing Rings! Maeda comes in and helps Takada drop Karelin with tandem kicks before the two men turn to face each other in an intense showdown! Both men end up blasting each other in a violent exchange of punches, chops, elbows, forearm strikes, and vicious back and forth exchanges of kicks before both countering each other at the exact same time with dual spinning heel kicks! Both men go down!


Frank Bruno and Karelin end up locking up in a clinch in one corner as Ultimo Dragon, The Sandman, Benoit, and Jarrett brawl around with each other. Both Takada and Maeda remain down and out in the center as Michaels pulls himself up and rolls back into the ring completely exhausted and clutching his back! The two minute clock winds down with the Astrodome crowd counting down the final seconds....

#20. Peter Aerts

K-1 Kickboxing 1995 World Grand Prix Champion

Peter Aerts marches his way down the isle wearing his trademark Muay Thai trunks and kickboxing gloves as he immediately seeks out Ultimo Dragon as soon as he enters the ring! These two locked up in a thrilling Hybrid Rules Lucha Libre vs Kickboxing match on Bushido last week that ended in a controversial decision as a draw. Aerts corners Ultimo Dragon to pick up where he left off in their match, obliterating him with combos of kicks and punches before connecting with a high kick to the head that knocks him over the top rope to the floor!....

Eliminated: Ultimo Dragon(36:39)

Jeff Jarrett and Chris Benoit seem to have made a temporary alliance as they work together on Shawn Michaels and The Sandman on one side of the ring. Peter Aerts shifts his attention to Akira Maeda, dropping him with a lethal combo of strikes before ultimately getting tied up by a totally exhausted Karelin(who has reached the 33 minutes mark in the match, the longest lasting competitor so far). Ultimo Dragon is slow to get up on the floor in total disbelief that he's been eliminated! 

On the opposite side of the ring Takada bobs and weaves around Frank Bruno's heavy handed shots before BLASTING him in the leg with a STIFF low kick! Bruno limps as he closes in on Takada in an attempt to unload a huge uppercut but Takada barely evades it and clinches up with him! Takada flips down and rolls in to hook Bruno's left leg into a KNEEBAR! Bruno goes down screaming and tapping out in pain!.... 

Eliminated: Frank Bruno(37:48)

Nobuhiko Takada has submitted the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World Frank Bruno! Bruno rolls out of the ring clutching his knee in agony as the two minute clock begins to wind down for the 21st man...... 

#21. Dan Severn

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
UFC V Tournament Champion
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Tournament Champion

The Beast of the Octagon hits the ring and tosses every man in it with brutal German suplexes, starting first with Jeff Jarrett, completely folding him in half! Maeda and Takada both get taken for a ride by Severn with vicious, stiff suplexes! Ultimo Dragon still hasn't left the ringside area as he argues with referees on the floor! Peter Aerts squares up with The Beast and BLASTS him with a brutal low thai kick to the inside of his thigh! All of a sudden Ultimo Dragon climbs back to the apron and slingshots up to the top rope to dive off and hit Peter Aerts in the back with a missile dropkick! Aerts is pushed into the grip of The Beast and dumped over the top rope with ease!.... 

Eliminated: Peter Aerts(38:50)

Severn gets the crowd fired up as he screams with intensity after dumping Aerts over the top! Ultimo Dragon scrambles out to the apron and hits Peter Aerts and a mob of referees and security with an ASAI MOONSAULT!! Chaos ensues on floor as Ultimo Dragon and Peter Aerts have to be pulled apart! The Sandman tries to attack Severn but he gets mauled and clotheslined over the top for a nasty spill down to the floor!

Eliminated: The Sandman(39:17)

Woman screams as she tries to help The Sandman recover, he's a beaten and bloodied mess! Back in the ring Dan "The Beast" Severn and Alexandr Karelin end up backing up into each other before spinning around to face off! Both men crouch down low and circle each other for a moment before colliding in a storm of violence. Severn being the fresh man manages to back Karelin up into the corner! A spackling of USA! USA! USA! chants erupt as Severn fights to try to get Karelin over the top rope! 


Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels are shown completely exhausted just trying to survive, having each been in the match now over 25 minutes. Takada, Maeda, and Jarrett are just beginning to recover from Severn's German Suplexes as the countdown for the two minute clock begins to run out.... 

#22. Mitsuhara Misawa

All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown World Heavyweight Champion

Mitsuhara Misawa comes in representing the honor of All Japan Pro Wrestling, immediately going right for Nobuhiko Takada with vicious forearm and elbow strikes! Takada is beaten mercilessly as Paul E. on commentary talks about the years and years of build up, saying that All Japan is an isolated promotion that all they care about is their own, but after all of the taunting, all of the grandstanding from Takada and UWFI it has come down to THIS! Misawa defends the honor of AJPW and the integrity of the Triple Crown by destroying Takada in the corner until he collapses! 


Misawa dominates the other 7 men in the ring(Takada, Maeda, Karelin, Severn, HBK, Benoit, Jarrett) with stiff forearm strikes and explosive suplexes as the 40 minute mark of the match draws near with the 2:00 clock running down on the Astrodome scoreboards....

#23. Brian Pillman

Losing his fucking mind

Pillman races to the ring like a madman and immediately teams up with Benoit and Jeff Jarrett to take down Dan Severn, working together to dump The Beast over the top rope down to the floor!...

ELIMINATED: Dan Severn(42:18)

Pillman turns on Jarrett and grabs him by his hair from behind, dragging him to the canvas in a wild brawl, gouging at his eyes, snarling like a madman! Shawn Michaels blindsides Benoit and takes him down with his old school side suplex finisher from his early days! HBK makes the cover for a pin but Pillman rolls off of Jarrett to make the save and break the fall at 2.99999999!!!


It's Pillman and Benoit working together against Jarrett and Michaels, Karelin locked up with Akira Maeda, while Takada fights back against Misawa! Maeda ends up knocking Karelin down in the corner with a vicious knee to the head! Takada has Mitsuhara Misawa stunned with a high kick when Maeda turns his attention and follows up with another high kick to the BACK OF HIS HEAD! Misawa collapses into the ropes and Maeda and Takada work together to dump him over the top TO THE FLOOR!

Eliminated: Mitsuhara Misawa(43:21)

Maeda and Takada eye each other in the center of the ring with an emotional respect before locking horns, trading vicious kicks before wrestling each other to the ground! Takada ends up spinning around on his back and hooking Maeda's left arm in an armbar! Maeda fights to keep his arm from being extended in an epic battle! Takada breaks Maeda's grip and stretches his arm out to force the tap!!! MAEDA TAPS OUT!!....

Eliminated: Akira Maeda(43:52)

Maeda recovers to his knees clutching his arm in disbelief as Takada remains on his back gasping for air completely exhausted! Takada has been in there now over 20 minutes and so far has broken the arm of Shooto Middleweight Champion Naoki Sakurada, submitted WBC Heavyweight Boxing Champion Frank Bruno, eliminated Mitsuhara Misawa over the top rope(with help from Akira Maeda), and forced his arch rival, Rings Mega Battle Champion Akira Maeda to submit to an armbar in the middle of the ring! 


Takada and Karelin recover to tie up in a battle to get each other over the top rope while the battle rages on between Jarrett, HBK, Benoit, and Pillman! Pillman and Benoit work together to dominate Jarrett and Michaels as the two minute clock winds down.... 

#24. Booker T

Final WCW World Tag Team Champion

Booker T gets a huge pop as the hometown Houston native represents the other half of Harlem Heat, rushing out to the ring and going right after Alexandr Karelin, the man that eliminated his brother Stevie Ray earlier in the match! Booker T puts Karelin and Takada both down with flying forearm strikes and his trademark scissor axe kick! With Takada and Karelin down it becomes a 5 man showdown with Booker T mixing it up with Benoit and Pillman while Jarrett and HBK fight in a struggle to get each other over the ropes in the opposite corner!


Pillman and Benoit work together to overwhelm Booker and lay him out for Benoit to fly from the top rope and nail him with his FLYING HEADBUTT! Pillman and Benoit both make the cover on Booker T but he still somehow manages to kick out at 2.999!... 


Michaels drops Jarrett and leaves him on the apron and sets the crowd off as he turns his attention to taking out both Pillman and Benoit! The Heartbreak Kid has found a second wind as he works with Booker T to fight Benoit and Pillman! The crowd starts to countdown the final 10 seconds of the two minute clock to bring out the next man.... 

#25. Kevin Jackson

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling
2 Time World Championships Gold Medalist Freestyle Wrestling

The Olympic Gold medalist Kevin Jackson gets a HUGE pop as he wastes little time in taking it to Alexandr Karelin! Karelin locks up and lifts Jackson off his feet but Jackson is able to explode out of his grip and spin around him! Jackson takes a side position and catches the exhausted Russian off balance to rip him up and send him tumbling OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR! Jackson screams to the top of his lungs with intensity as the crowd goes NUTS! 

Eliminated: Alexandr Karelin(46:34)

The Astrodome crowd erupts with USA! chants as the commentators give props to this Russian monster that so far has eliminated the most men at 6, and he lasted an incredible 42 minutes in there among the best of the best from around the world! Kevin Jackson diverts his attention to Nobuhiko Takada while Booker T and Jeff Jarrett fight it out and the Horsemen(Benoit/Pillman) overwhelm Shawn Michaels and fight to try to get him out of the ring! Michaels holds on for dear life as he dangles completely upside down! 


Jarrett leaves Booker tangled up on the ropes to help Benoit and Pillman try to eliminate HBK! It's 3 on 1 and HBK is BARELY hanging on by a thread as the two minute clock counts down the final seconds.... 

#26. "The Macho Man" Randy Savage

Snap into a Slim-Jim

THE MACHO MAN IS HERE! RANDY SAVAGE! The Astrodome goes APE SHIT! Randy Savage is here in Best Of The Best! Pillman and Benoit give up their attempt to dump Michaels and look on in SHOCK as Savage sprints to the ring full speed! JR on commentary is blowing his voice out! Nobody has seen Randy Savage since the Horsemen screwed him out of the WCW World Championship title at Starrcade 95 last month! HE'S BACK!!! 


Randy Savage hits the ring like a tornado kicking Pillman and Chris Benoit's asses! Both men are sent flopping around the ring after taking shots! Savage turns his attention to Jeff Jarrett still trying to eliminate HBK and he dumps Jarrett's legs up over the top rope to send him bouncing off the apron TO THE FLOOR!.... 

Eliminated: Jeff Jarrett(48:30)

Jarrett is out! It turns into Savage and HBK pairing up against Benoit and Pillman as Takada, Booker T, and Kevin Jackson fight each other in a struggle against the ropes as the two minute clock runs down to the final seconds.... 

#27. Arn Anderson

Four Horseman

Arn Anderson hits the ring and immediately cools Randy Savage down with a vicious attack from behind! Now Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Brian Pillman take over the entire ring as they work together as a cohesive unit, punishing Savage, HBK, Kevin Jackson, and Nobuhiko Takada. Arn ducks under a side kick attempt from Booker and counters him with a lariat that sends the Houston native tumbling out to the floor... 

Eliminated: Booker T(51:29)

The Horsemen continue to control the ring with vicious dominance as the two minute clock expires.... 

#28. El Hijo Del Santo

AAA Mexican National Middleweight Champion

The surprise representative of Mexico El Hijo Del Santo makes his way to the ring and slingshots himself up to spring into the ring onto Nobuhiko Takada and Kevin Jackson with a flying cross body press! Santo quickly catches Pillman and Benoit with arm drag takedowns before Arn puts the boots to him and sends him into the ropes with a whip! El Hijo Del Santo fires back and gets SMASHED with a devastating SPINNING SPINEBUSTER!

It's the Horsemen(Arn, Pillman, & Benoit) working against HBK, Randy Savage, and El Hijo Del Santo while Nobuhiko Takada fights on the ground with Kevin Jackson, working from his back from going for an arm bar to a leg lock, unable to hook anything due to exhaustion. The two minute clock winds down and the crowd counts along with the final seconds!....

#29. One Man Gang

Final WCW United States Heavyweight Champion

OH MAN! The ONE MAN GANG! This huge 300 pounder is fresh as he marches to the ring bad mouthing the fans on the way! OMG joins in and smashes Takada and Kevin Jackson with running charges into opposite corners of the ring, shaking the entire ring with the impact! El Hijo Del Santo recovers and tries to hit the big man with a splash but OMG catches him and falls down on him, crushing him with all his weight! The Horsemen manipulate the big man to work with them to gang up on Savage and HBK until the final 2 minute clock runs down to bring out the man everyone knows who is coming next. The Astrodome crowd begins to swell and go NUTS with one of the loudest continued pops as the final seconds count down....

#30. Sting

Final WCW #1 Contender

STING! The crowd loses it as Sting walks down to the ring with a confident smile looking up at the surviving 9 men still in the ring battling it out! Sting hits the ring and goes right after the Horsemen! Arn, Pillman, and Benoit get taken out with punches and bulldogs all around the ring! The One Man Gang clobbers Sting from behind to knock him into the corner but HBK recovers and drills the big man in the face... SWEET CHIN MUSIC! OMG flips over the top rope and bounces down to the floor!....

Eliminated: The One Man Gang(57:02)

Sting recovers and backdrops Brian Pillman out of the ring, sending him flying down into the floor!....

Eliminated: Brian Pillman(57:09)

Arn attacks HBK from behind as Benoit attacks Sting in the corner with chest chops! Sting gets more and more fired up with every chop, getting the crowd going crazy as he screams at Benoit! Sting trades stiff punches with The Crippler before backing him towards the ropes and clotheslining him over the top to the floor!....

Eliminated: Chris Benoit(57:40)

On the other side of the ring Kevin Jackson lifts El Hijo Del Santo up and carries him to the ropes where he tosses him down! Del Santo flops off the apron and spills out on the floor!...

Eliminated: El Hijo Del Santo(57:56)

The match hits the 58 minute match and we are down to just 6 men left! It's Sting, HBK, Arn Anderson, Kevin Jackson, Nobuhiko Takada, and The Macho Man Randy Savage! It comes down to this for the #1 Contender shot at the Undisputed World Title TONIGHT! All six men fight it out amongst each other when all of a sudden the current reigning and defending Undisputed World Champion Ric Flair walks out to the entrance stage with JJ Dillon by his side to watch the rest of the match!


JR and Paul E. mention how Flair and his new legal advisor JJ Dillon found the loophole in the contract for this match, whoever the winner is will only receive the shot at the Undisputed World Championship tonight immediately after this match or not at all! Flair watches on with JJ Dillon from the entrance stage as Takada, Jackson, HBK, Arn, Sting, and Savage fight it out as the match hits the 60 minute mark!


Nobuhiko Takada ends up dropping both Sting and Arn with LETHAL roundhouse kicks! HBK ducks under a roundhouse kick from Takada and takes a shot with the Sweet Chin Music but Takada catches it! Savage blindsides Takada from behind with a double axe handle smash! Kevin Jackson joins in with HBK and Randy Savage to work together to get Nobuhiko Takada up over the top rope, dumping him out to the floor!

Eliminated: Nobuhiko Takada(1:01:23)

Takada is out! After over 40 minutes and some of the biggest eliminations in this match it's no doubt that Takada and the UWFI have made a huge statement here tonight, but they have fallen short in their quest to go after the Undisputed Championship here tonight thanks to Savage, Kevin Jackson, and Shawn Michaels!


Arn Anderson drops Savage and Michaels later on but the Olympic Gold medalist Kevin Jackson rushes him into the ropes in attempt to scoop him up over the top! Arn spins his position and uses Jackson's own momentum against him, flipping him up and sending him flipping over the top end over end to the floor!....

Eliminated: Kevin Jackson(1:02:08)

Jackson lands on his feet and slams his hand down on the apron in frustration, the veteran Arn Anderson has taken him out! We are down to the final four! It's Arn Anderson, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, and STING! Ric Flair holds the big gold Undisputed World Championship strap over the shoulder of his robe with his boots and trunks on ready to go as he watches on!


THIS IS IT!


Savage, Arn, HBK, and Sting all circle each other totally exhausted! Michaels has been in there the longest at almost 50 minutes! Savage and Arn brawl it out with each other in the corner as Sting and Michaels get the crowd going NUTS as they circle each other again in the center of the ring! Sting and Michaels tie up again and take it to each other trading punches and chops! Sting takes the advantage over the completely exhausted Shawn Michaels and hits him with back to back Stinger Splashes in the corners! HBK has NOTHING LEFT! Sting tries to get HBK up over the top rope in the corner but Michaels clings to the ropes for deer life!


Just across the ring on the same side Arn Anderson has Randy Savage totally upside down about to eliminate him! Sting turns his attention over and attacks Arn from behind! Sting works to try to push Arn up over the top as Michaels crawls to his hands and knees completely drained of any life, but yet still somehow fighting to try to get up! Sting screams as he rips Arn's legs up from under him and sends both him and Randy Savage plummeting over the TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR!

Eliminated: Randy Savage & Arn Anderson(1:04:04)

The crowd goes ballistic as Shawn Michaels drags himself up to his feet and waits for Sting to turn around.....


SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!


STING FLIPS OVER THE TOP ROPE AND PLUMETS TO THE FLOOOOOR!.....

Eliminated: Sting(1:04:09)

JIM ROSS SCREAMS ON COMMENTARY! THE ASTRODOME GOES CRAZY! SHAWN MICHAELS! SHAWN MICHAELS! THE HEARTBREAK KID!


The bell rings over and over again as Michaels lays on the canvas looking up at the lights gasping for air, after going 18 minutes in a tough loss to Sting in the opening match, he went 48 MINUTES in the Champions Rumble match TO WIN IT! SHAWN MICHAELS IS THE NEW #1 CONTENDER!


Ric Flair makes his way down to the ring as the commentators recap that HBK will only be given 5 minutes to recover to answer the bell if he wants his shot at Flair's Undisputed World Championship! Arn, Benoit, and Pillman regroup as Sting recovers in disbelief. Savage is held back by referee's and security escorting him to the back as Flair takes the ring for the Undisputed World Championship! Shawn Michaels pulls himself up to his knees an exhausted mess, looking up at Flair unstrapping his World Title and disrobing! HBK recovers using the ropes as the 5 minutes winds down, the crowd is at a fever pitch as HBK stands up to get ready for his shot!....

Referee Charles Robinson calls for the bell and it's ON! Flair comes out and wastes little time in going after a totally worn down Shawn Michaels, battering him down with brutal chest chops in the corner! Flair whips Michaels across the ring into the opposite turnbuckles with sickening force! Michaels goes down clutching his back!


Flair takes his time working the crowd before stomping HBK's back! Flair slowly pulls Michaels up in the corner and again whips him across the ring into the turnbuckles again! Michaels collapses on impact writhing in pain! Sting is shown being held back from The Horsemen(Arn, Benoit, Pillman, JJ Dillon) ringiside by referees as Savage is being restrained in the entrance isle!


Flair pulls Michaels up and tries to whip him again but HBK can't even make it across the ring, he collapses in the center! The ref checks on Michaels with great concern but the Heartbreak Kid continues to try to get up! Flair pulls HBK up into a seated position and drives his knee into his back with various holds in the center of the ring! Michaels face is overcome with agony as Flair is wrenching on him with surgical precision.


Michaels ends up feeling the energy of the Astrodome crowd as they get behind him to push him through the submission! HBK fights through the hold and turns Flair's grip around to get back up into a standing position face to face! HBK cranks on Flair's wrists and causes him to scream out for mercy as the crowd goes bonkers! Michaels headbutts Flair and breaks his grips to back him up with a flurry of furious punches!


Flair gets sent flipping over the corner turnbuckles and face flopping onto the apron! The Horsemen work to revive Flair out on the floor as Michaels recovers and drags himself up to the top rope! HBK sets the Astrodome crowd off into a FRENZY when he MOONSAULTS OFF THE TOP ROPE OUT ONTO THE FOUR HORSEMEN ON THE FLOOR!


Jim Ross' voice is GONE! The crowd is the loudest of the night as just all out chaos is going down, Michaels has ALL FOUR of the HORSEMEN taken out with a moonsault off the top turnbuckle to the floor in a moment that will live on FOREVER!...


Arn, Benoit, and Pillman recover and work Shawn Michaels over down on the floor until Sting breaks loose from the referee's holding him back to run over and help him! Sting takes it to Arn, Benoit, and Pillman but he's quickly overwhelmed! Randy Savage goes full madness out in the entrance isle dropping security guards with punches! Savage sprints to the ringside area to help Sting and Savage fight off Arn, Benoit, and Pillman!


Flair during all the chaos gets his hands on his big gold Undisputed World Championship belt and returns to the ring while the ref is distracted! All of a sudden BRET "THE HITMAN" HART comes limping out!....

Bret rolls into the ring and grabs the big gold belt from Ric Flair and decks him in the face with it! Flair GOES DOWN! Bret throws the title across the ring and spits on Ric Flair before rolling out and backing up into the entrance isle! The crowd blows the roof off the Astrodome as Michaels fights Arn Anderson off and rolls back into the ring an exhausted mess! Michaels recovers to his feet and starts to TUNE UP THE BAND!

Sting and Savage have Arn, Benoit, and Pillman fought off ringside as Bret turns around from the entrance isle and watches as Shawn Michaels waits for Flair to pull himself up to his feet! The Nature Boy finally staggers back up just as the ref turns his attention back to the match...





SWEET CHIN MUSIC!





FLAIR GOES DOWN! The Crowd counts along as HBK makes the cover!....






1.....






2......






3!



SHAWN MICHAELS! HE DID IT! THE HEARTBREAK KID! The referee calls for the bell and Michael Buffer can barely be heard over the crowd, the winner and NEW Undisputed World Champion.... The Heart Break Kid, SHAWN MICHAELS! Confetti rains down on the ring as Michaels gets his hands on the belt and can barely hold himself up as he looks at it with tears running down his face! The copyright screen fades in as JR screams that we are out of time! Shawn Michaels is the new Undisputed World Champion!....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Adrian Paul gif is always a win in my book. An even bigger win was how you booked Bret running the Horsemen gauntlet. Expected Bret to win. Thought it would have been too much. Then you pull the swerve by having Bret tap (for the first time ever!) in the 2nd match to give relative noob Benoit the huge rub. Rumble was fun too even if I'm not familiar with some of the non-wrestlers. Having Mikey eliminate Karelin (one of the few I do know) was a bold move.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
January 27th, 1996

Worldwide opens up tonight at midnight with a special on-location shot outdoors of a dumpy old bar somewhere in Tijuana Mexico south of the California border. A brand new red Ferrari 550 Maranello pulls up to the building as Six Blade Knife by Dire Straits starts playing as background music through the rest of the scene. A man wearing a $5,000 suit exits the vehicle with a beautiful lady and makes the walk into the worn out, dirty, dilapidated old bar. As the door opens the bar is shown with a spattering of patrons, a fight going on in the far left corner(a guy gets slammed through one of the tables), and a bartender that looks an awful lot like Cheech Marin. The bartender looks up at the lady accompanying the well dressed man with a smirk as they walk past the bar and go directly to the restroom, walking down to the last stall(the dirtiest, nastiest one, with a tattered old worn out El Santo movie poster on the backside of the door). The camera follows the couple through the stall door down a flight of stairs into a secret hidden arena....

The arena is dimly lit with a thick cloud if cigar smoke with a wrestling ring surrounded by chicken wire in the center with thick blood stains. The crowd is mostly all super rich, cigar smoking, quietly watching on with gambling transactions going on in the background as two men are shown wrestling.... 

Singles Match
Psicosis vs Marty Garner

The match is joined already in progress with Psicosis completely annihilating is poor opponent, smashing his face into the chicken wire that surrounds the ring! Psicosis was suspended from Best Of The Best for 3 weeks by the Championship Council for his attack on referee Randy Anderson on the January 8th premier episode of Judgement Night. Anderson was hospitalized after being piledriven by Psicosis. Down in the ring Psicosis finishes his prey with a sickening Guillotine legdrop for the pinfall. Psicosis pushes the referee away from him as he celebrates the victory with an evil snarl down on one knee. Psicosis' suspension is over and he's set to return to Best Of The Best in 2 weeks with the live Judgement Night from Stadium Azteca in Mexico City MEXICO! 

*****

After the match Joey Styles opens the show from the Best Of The Best control room in Universal Studios Florida where he recaps the happenings of the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view A New Beginning that just wrapped up hours ago earlier tonight! It is official that we have a NEW Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion....

The Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Of Professional Wrestling

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

The Heartbreak Kid opened the pay per view going head to head with Sting in a match that had the Astrodome going back and forth cheering for both men before ultimately it was The Stinger that put Michaels away with a submission with the Scorpion Deathlock at 18:55. With the victory Sting earned the coveted #30 spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble for a shot to become #1 contender to Ric Flair's Undisputed title.

Later in the night Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen came out to reveal that they have reunited with their former legal advisor JJ Dillon! Dillon came out to the ring with the Horsemen to reveal a loophole discovered in the contract for the Rumble Match; for the stipulation that the winner would become #1 contender it was discovered by Dillon that technically it was never made specific WHERE or WHEN the winner of the Rumble would get that shot at Flair's belt. It was revealed that due to a loophole and the verbiage in the contract Flair had the legal right to defend his Undisputed title against the winner of the Rumble at any time or place at his discretion, and he had chosen to give that title shot IMMEDIATELY after the Champions Rumble Match! The deck was stacked against whoever was able to come out of the 30 Man Champions Rumble, a match filled with some of the most dangerous bipedals on the planet.

Bret Hart came out to confront Flair and The Horsemen to challenge for the Undisputed Title on the spot, offering to give up his spot in the Rumble in exchange. A deal was made for Bret to have to face Pillman, Benoit, and Arn in a gauntlet match in order to earn his shot at Flair's title later in the night after the Rumble, but if Bret were to lose to any of the 3 Horsemen he would give them their spot in the Rumble Match and his shot at the Undisputed title was gone. The gauntlet match unfolded with Bret forcing Pillman to submit to the sharpshooter in the first match before being forced to submit himself by Chris Benoit in a shocking upset moment. Bret was out, the Horsemen were in...

As the Champions Rumble unfolded Shawn Michaels entered the match at the 10th spot and lasted an incredible 48 minutes and 9 seconds! Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, and Chris Benoit took control of the Rumble until Macho Man Randy Savage made his surprise debut late in the match. Sting came in to help even the odds against The Horsemen and eliminated all 3 of them. The final four was down to HBK, Sting, Arn Anderson and Randy Savage. Sting dumped Arn and Savage but turned around and was met with the Sweet Chin Music, sending him over the top rope to the floor to win the match for HBK.

30 Man Champions Rumble Stats

Longest Run
Shawn Michaels(48:09)-WINNER
Alexandr Karelin(42:34)
Nobuhiko Takada(39:49)
Jeff Jarrett(24:30)
Kevin Jackson(16:09)
Mikey Whipreck(16:09)

Most Eliminations
Alexandr Karelin(6)
Sting(4)
Nobuhiko Takada(4)
Shawn Michaels(3)
Kevin Jackson(3)
Jeff Jarrett(3)

Ric Flair came out to give an exhausted Shawn Michaels his title shot immediately after the Rumble and almost had him beat. The match spilled out onto the floor where HBK hit all 4 Horsemen with an incredible moonsault plancha off the top turnbuckle! Sting and Randy Savage were still ringside from the Rumble and were able to fight The Horsemen off as HBK recovered to the ring. Flair grabbed the Undisputed World Championship belt and tried to use it to finish HBK off while the ref was distracted but Bret Hart came out to stop him, taking the belt and smashing him in the face. Michaels recovered and tuned up the band to finish Flair off and fulfil his boyhood dream of becoming a World Champion! Altogether Shawn Michaels wrestled a total of 73 minutes in one night in one of the most incredible showcases of heart, resiliency, and athleticism, a performance that captures everything that Best Of The Best is all about.  

*****

Greg Davis is shown stretching in his corner as "Lionheart" Chris Jericho makes his entrance into the intimate, compact, well lit up BOTB Arena here at Universal Studios Orlando. Jericho makes it to the ring as Styles recaps his incredible debut on Judgement Night just weeks ago where he was brought to BOTB by Bret "The Hitman" Hart to challenge Ric Flair for his WCW World Championship prior to the WCW/WWF World Title Unification bout. Jericho stunned the world when he upset  Flair for the title, however, it was ruled just less than 24 hours later that the decision would be reversed and the title returned to Flair due to outside interference in the match. Jericho was given a rematch against Flair for the WCW title that following episode of Shockwave but he was defeated by a better prepared Nature Boy. After being thrust into the main event spotlight in his debut and having the taste of glory ripped away from him, the young 25 year old "Last Survivor Of The Hart Family Dungeon" finds himself here on Worldwide with an 0-1 record, faced with the task of climbing his way back up the hard way.... 

Singles Match
Chris Jericho vs Greg Davis

Lionheart looks impressive as he wears his opponent down with chops and a brutal enziguiri that Davis seemingly never recovers from. Jericho's defense is on point as he's able to counter all of Davis' offense, finishing him off after a double underhook backbreaker, followed by his Lionsault off the ropes(onto Davis' back as he's face down). Lionheart earns his very first victory in Best Of The Best with a pinfall over Greg Davis at 3:45. Jericho has his arm raised in victory and it's obvious in his demeanor this is a moment he's been working towards for a long time...

*****

Mike Tenay interrupts the program with a breaking news segment from Japan. The Fighting Network Rings promotion(better known as "Rings") has made their presence felt at a recent All Japan Pro Wrestling event with Rings wrestlers Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Kiyoshi Tamura, and Yoshihisa Yamamoto appearing ringside during a Kenta Kobashi match. The trio accosted Kobashi ringside after the match and had to be ejected from the building by security. The Rings promotion is a shoot style wrestling promotion in Japan built around star Akira Maeda(the winner of their 1995 "Mega Battle Tournament" grand prix. Maeda appeared in the 30 Man Champions Rumble match earlier tonight where he at times paired up with his former tag partner and training partner Nobuhiko Takada. 

Earlier tonight in the Rumble Takada and Maeda teamed up to eliminate the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Mitsuhara Misawa before turning on each other in a heated battle that was years in the making. Takada and Maeda trained and fought together in the original UWF, eventually pairing up after the promotion folded and attempted to invade NJPW. When the UWF was reborn in the late 80's Takada and Maeda developed a heated rivalry, culminating in Takada scoring a rare clean victory over Maeda in one of the biggest matches in the history of UWF. 

After the UWF died in the beginning of 1991 both Meada and Takada would go on to found their own promotions. Takada started UWFI while Maeda started Rings. The UWFI has been calling out the Rings promotion for years challenging Maeda to face him. The rivalry between the two promotions reached a breaking point last year when one of the Takada Dojo's most dangerous fighters Kiyoshi Tamura jumped from UWFI to join Rings. Takada's UWFI dojo invaded New Japan last year with Takada capturing the IWGP Heavyweight title from Mutoh on January 4th. Takada and the UWFI sent an Imperial Edict of Battle to Best Of The Best prior to his amazing run in the 30 Man Champions Rumble tonight, where he broke the arm of Shooto representative Sakurada, submitted WBC Champ Frank Bruno with a knee bar, helped eliminate Misawa, and forced Maeda to tap out. 

*****

After the final commercial break we get Lex Luger making his entrance alongside his new sports agent that he signed with earlier this month, Lance Wright. Lance Wright fancies himself as the next Eric Bischoff, he's launched an all new sports agency "Hype Central Promotions" with his first big signing being "The Total Package" Lex Luger. Wright has promised to elevate Luger's "brand" to establish him as the hottest commodity in wrestling going into the next millennium. After skirting around "unfavorable" matchups and walking out on several opponents last month, Wright has FINALLY promised to deliver Luger here tonight to make his in-ring debut against an opponent that he's assured is a top contender from the WWF! Luger and Lance Wright take the ring and Wright brings out Luger's opponent, it's none other than..... Barry Horowitz!? No way... 

Singles Match
Lex Luger vs Barry Horowitz

Lex Luger is obviously no match for Horowitz and this match is a total domination. Joey Styles on commentary just can't believe the audacity of Lance Wright to promise Luger debuting tonight against a top contender from the WWF, and it's Barry Horowitz, one of the biggest losers in all of wrestling. What a rip off. To further insult the fans Luger ends up taking the match outside the ring where he press slams Horowitz down onto the padded floor! Horowitz rolls around in pain but manages to break the referee's 10 count to avoid getting counted out. Luger takes Horowitz back over the top rope with a lariat, sending him bouncing off the apron to the floor! Luger gets boo'd by the fans as he flexes while Horowitz struggles to get back up and get back in the ring to break the ref's 10 count! Luger puts the boots to Horowitz and kicks him back out of the ring where he follows him and sends him smashing into the steel guard rail with an irish whip! Luger kicks Horowitz down to make sure he doesn't get back up before getting back in the ring and winning by.... count out.... 

Unbelievable, Luger has really dropped to a new low here tonight against a lower level guy like Barry Horowitz, not even putting in the effort to get a pinfall or submission but rather he's taken the strategy of winning by a countout. Talk about playing it safe. Lance Wright celebrates the victory with Luger as if they had just won an Olympic medal....

Joey Styles can't believe it, as he bids farewell to the television audience enjoy Super Bowl XXX tomorrow night it will be Cowboys vs Steelers from Arizona! Then the next night, on the USA Network you DO NOT want to miss JUDGEMENT NIGHT, the Champ Shawn Michaels comes home to the San Antonio as his Championship belt presentation ceremony will be LIVE from the Alamodome! Enjoy Super Bowl XXX tomorrow night everyone! 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Alamodome(San Antonio, TX)
January 29th, 1996

Judgement Night hits the airwaves on the USA Network with a music video highlight montage set to All Eyez On Me by Tupac(the new permanent opening theme song of Judgement Night, from the new album courtesy of Death Row records set to drop in 2 weeks!). The highlight is all still photographs(the replay of the PPV is available on Tuesday night!) focusing in on the key moments of the debut PPV of Best Of The Best this past Saturday night in the Astrodome in Houston; A New Beginning. The photos show Sting torqueing back with the Scorpion Deathlock to force Shawn Michaels to submit in the opening match for the #30 spot in the Champions Rumble later that night. The photo of WCW alumni wrestlers coming out to carry Sting around the ring while Michaels was making his exit segues into the confrontation with Bret Hart coming out and challenging The Horsemen in a gauntlet for a shot at Ric Flair's Undisputed Title later in the night. The photo of Bret getting his revenge on Brian Pillman forcing him to submit to the sharp shooter fades into the shot of Chris Benoit shocking the world by submitting Bret right in the center of the ring in the second match of the gauntlet.

The opening video montage of photos from A New Beginning this past Saturday night continues on with the shot of Taz choking Kama unconscious with the kata-hajime to win his BOTB/PPV debut in dominant fashion. The photos of the Champions Rumble roll along next with Alexandr Karelin's dominance(the suplex that sent Marc Mero flipping out of the ring and suffering a severe concussion), eliminating 6 men(the most of anybody in the match). Photos of Shawn Michaels' survival in the Champions Rumble match segues into the pictures of him eliminating Sting with the Sweet Chin Music to win the contest. The montage rounds out with shots of Michaels moonsault off the top turnbuckle out onto the floor onto all 4 Horsemen, then Bret decking Flair in the face with the belt. HBK put The Nature Boy away with the Sweet Chin Music to capture the Undisputed World Title and finally achieve his boyhood dream... 

Pyro explodes around the Alamodome as we are LIVE and SOLD OUT in San Antonio Texas! Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously open the show on commentary hyping up the events of an amazing weekend. We have 2 new Texas Champions after this weekend seen HBK capture the Undisputed World Title on Saturday Night at A New Beginning, while the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XXX on Sunday night. Two defining icons of the 1990's were crowned this weekend, and tonight, here LIVE on Judgement Night, Shawn Michaels will be presented his Undisputed World Title belt in a very special honorary ceremony right here in his home town! 

JR and Paul E. welcome the live television audience to the Alamodome hyping up tonight's show. The Champ... The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is here! Michaels will be given his World Title belt in what is sure to be a highly emotional ceremony here later tonight. Also tonight, we begin the road to revenge... Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors is set for pay per view live on Sunday night on February 18th 1996 from the OUTDOOR PAVILLION in Ceasars Palace in LAS VEGAS! Tonight, the executive chairman of BOTB Eric Bischoff(Heyman rolls eyes and makes a jackoff gesture with his hand) has a VERY special announcement about a BLOCKBUSTER main event match that has been signed for this pay per view! 

Live on PPV Sunday February 18th, 1996 from the Ceasars Palace Outdoor Pavillion in Las Vegas

Paul E. takes over the hypes and promotes the very special announcement that has been advertised by the BOTB Championship Council regarding the state of the tag team division here in Best Of The Best, you DO NOT want to miss this announcement as it has a wide reaching effect on all of tag team wrestling around the world. PLUS, the last WWF Tag Team Champions, The Smoking Guns are here in action tonight, and they are promising a huge announcement regarding their new manager! Plus, Harlem Heat in action and the final ever ECW World Champion, The Sandman is here to take on the kid that shocked the world in the Champions Rumble this past weekend, Mikey Whipreck! 

*****

Harlem Heat bring the Alamodome crowd to their feet as they make their way out to the ring raising the roof! The final ever WCW World Tag Team Champions made a strong showing in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match last night in their hometown of Houston in the Astrodome. Booker and Stevie Ray take the ring as their opponent Savio Vega makes his way out to the entrance isle to await the arrival of his new promised tag team partner that he's brought to BOTB to make his debut tonight, and its none other than... Make A Difference Fatu!... 

Tag Team Match

Harlem Heat vs Savio Vega & Fatu

Harlem Heat get taken to their limits by Savio and Fatu in a hard hitting, highly competitive 10 minute opener. Savio Vega is just all heart, he fights through taking a beating to make hot tags to the big man Fatu, who comes in and holds his own against one of the best tag teams in the world. In the end it's Harlem Heat that manage to isolate Fatu and eliminate him, finishing the match after Vega tags in by pinning him after a Heat Seeker(Electric chair by Stevie/Missile dropkick by Booker). 

Harlem Heat celebrate the victory raising the roof as their music hits the speakers, what a tough victory here by what has to be considered the top ranked tag team in Best Of The Best right now. Savio Vega and Fatu have made a strong showing here tonight in their BOTB debut as a team, these guys could make a difference in the tag division going forward. JR and Paul E. continue to hype up the big announcement that is set to be handed down from the Championship Council regarding the tag team division, a potential new Undisputed World Tag Team Title in the works. Whatever this news will be rest assured it will involve Harlem Heat... 

*****

After the commercial break we have the current Chief Executive of Best Of The Best, Eric Bischoff in the center of the ring in the Alamodome set to break the news about a huge blockbuster main event that will be signed for Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors set for February 18th on pay per view from the Outdoor Pavillion of Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas! Bischoff brings out the man that was revealed to have already signed to make his debut at the BOTB II last night at A New Beginning in Houston, none other than The Real Deal.... Evander Holyfield!

Evander gets a huge reaction as he makes his way out to the ring with his entourage. Holyfield stands in one corner of the ring as Bischoff brings out the man that will step forward to face Holyfield at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors in Las Vegas, the man that dominated the Champions Rumble this past Saturday night for an incredible 42 minutes, eliminating more men from the match than anybody else(6), the most dominant wrestler that has ever lived.... ALEXANDR KARELIN!....

Best Of The Best II: The Warriors Revenge

Special Attraction
Heavyweight Showdown
"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Alexandr Karelin

vs
Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

Jim Ross and Paul E. FREAK on commentary, good god! Evander Holyfield vs Alexandr Karelin right here in BEST OF THE BEST! UNBELIEVABLE! The two baddest heavyweights on earth stare each other down in an INTENSE moment as Eric Bischoff looks on in the background! This is HUGE! Karelin vs Holyfield will face off in a special attraction at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors, this will be boxer vs wrestler, USA vs Russia, this is going to be an all out war folks good god almighty! Both men have to be separated after a long staredown in the center of the ring! Holyfield vs Karelin, LIVE on pay per view on February 18th! BEST OF THE BEST II: THE REVENGE OF THE WARRIORS! 

*****

After the break we get the entrance of Mikey Whipreck to "Loser" by Beck. Mikey made a huge splash this weekend in the Champions Rumble when he ALMOST eliminated Alexandr Karelin, standing up to the 285 pound Russian monster after Karelin had just eliminated Marc Mero, Stevie Ray, both Smoking Gunns, King Of Pancrase Bas Rutten, and Olympic Gold medalist in Judo Hidehiko Yoshida! Mikey would end up being one of the longest lasting men in the match and his big moment came when he dumped Cactus Jack out of the ring.

Mikey's opponent takes his time to come out to Metallica's Enter Sandman, puffing on a cigarette, accompanied by Woman. Paul E. hypes up The Sandman as the final ever ECW World Champion, one of the toughest son of a bitches you are going to find. These two wrestlers both went to war for the ECW World Title last year and they are set to reignite their rivalry here tonight on Judgement Night!

Singles Match

Mikey Whipreck vs The Sandman(W/Woman)

Mikey and Sandman take it to the Extreme live on USA Network on Judgement Night! Mikey manages to outwrestle Sandman in the ring early on after weathering an early beating. Sandman ends up countering Mikey and sending the match out to the floor where Woman drops Whipreck with a low blow that turns the tide of the match. Sandman outbrawls Mikey all around the ringside area, sending him crashing into the steel guard rail and the ringside steps with sickening force. Just as The Sandman goes to pull up the padding to expose the hard concrete floor all of a sudden a man comes running through the crowd to jump the railing....

THAT'S STEVE AUSTIN! He's back again! Austin attacks Sandman from behind and puts the boots to Mikey Whipreck! JR and Paul E. freak out on commentary, this man does not work for Best Of The Best he's been thrown of the last 2 shows in Dallas and Houston and he's here tonight in the Alamodome in San Antonio to deliver a beat down to both Mikey Whipreck and The Sandman!

Steve Austin beats The Sandman down with a steel chair before rolling Mikey Whipreck into the ring! The referee immediately calls for the bell to call the match off as all out chaos ensues! Steve Austin unhinges a section of the steel guard railing and throws it over the ropes into the ring onto Mikey Whipreck! Referees and security race out but Steve Austin backs them off with a steel chair before rolling into the ring and beating the hell out of Mikey! Everyone in the Alamodome collectively gasps as Austin picks up the steel guard rail he threw into the ring and drops it ACROSS MIKEY'S NECK!!! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! NO! 

Mikey immediately goes limp! Austin looks around the security and madness scurrying around the ring as he stands over Mikey Whipreck's lifeless body with a crazed look in his eyes, breathing heavy and deep. Jim Ross is FREAKING on commentary Mikey Whipreck is not ok, somebody's got to get in there! Finally Eric Bischoff comes running out with more security along with San Antonio police department. Austin is cornered by police and taken down face down as EMT's race to aid Mikey Whipreck in a scene of absolute panic. Steve Austin remains pinned down by 4 police officers as security work to remove the ring ropes while EMT's begin to prepare a stretcher and a neck brace. This is absolutely horrible. 

The chaos gets even more ridiculous as The Sandman recovers wobbling around the ringside area with blood covering his face and pouring down staining his shirt while Woman screams at the sight of him. This is COMPLETELY out of control! JESUS! 

*****

We return from the commercial break and the ring crew has scrambled to loosen and remove the bottom ring rope in order for EMT's to be able to carefully move Mikey Whipreck out of the ring. There is still a long delay of several minutes as EMT's are still working on getting the neck brace on as Mikey lays completely motionless from the neck down. Steve Austin is boo'd mercilessly by the fans as he's pulled out of the ring handcuffed by San Antonio police and dragged out of the Alamodome! Austin spits at Eric Bischoff as he passes him but he misses him. Eric is completely stunned as he watches the EMT's finally get Mikey to a stretcher and strapped in. 

Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously are stunned on commentary. Ross apologizes to the fans watching as he explains that folks none of this was on the format, none of this was scripted this that you are watching this young kid Mikey Whipreck this is very real and we're all very concerned for this kid. He has not moved his arms or legs since Austin dropped that steel guard rail on him. We had planned for a match here in this segment with Brad Armstrong vs Scotty Riggs but we have had to call an audible here ladies and gentleman that match has been cancelled and all of our thoughts right now are on this young kid Mikey Whipreck as EMT's finally get his stretcher out of the ring.

During the delay Jim Ross cuts in telling fans he's being told in his head set that we are going to cut away to a replay of the full Taz vs Kama match that took place this past Saturday night on the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view; A New Beginning....

The Supreme Fighting Machine Kama makes his way out for the following contest as JR talks about how on February 18th in Las Vegas it's going to be The Big Fight at Best Of The Best II on pay per view. Speaking of the big fight we're about to have one here as Kama has been on a roll, destroying Alex Wright in his Best Of The Best debut before tapping out journeyman heavyweight boxer Dan Murphy in the first round in a hybrid rules bout on Bushido. Kiss' War Machine brings out the Best Of The Best debut of a man we have seen a lot of hype for in videos on BOTB TV all month, now it's time to see if this man can live up to that hype as he has his hands full with a much larger, very dangerous opponent here tonight!

Michael Buffer takes over the ring announcing for the intros as both men stand across the ring from each other like pit bulls before a dogfight. Kama is introduced first as 6' 6", 330 pounds, with a Best Of The Best record of 2-0, THE SUPREME FIGHTING MACHINE! Kama paces back and forth in his corner with taped fists as Taz is introduced from the Red Hook section of Brooklyn New York, standing at 5' 9" and weighing in at 240 pounds, THE HUMAN SUPLEX MACHINE.... TAZ!!! Taz removes the black towel from his face and adjusts his singlet, never breaking eye contact with Kama across the ring from him! Referee Tim White brings both men to the center of the ring for his final instructions and the staredown is INTENSE! The crowd swells with excitement as both men back up into their corners and wait for the bell!... 

Taz comes in circling crouched down low in a wrestlers stance as Kama comes out light on his feet circling him quickly with boxing footwork. Kama quickly feints a punch and shoots in on Taz for a takedown in a mad scramble of violence! Taz quickly transitions and rips Kama off his feet, flipping him end over end into a violent slam with an O-Goshi Judo throw that shakes the entire ring on impact! Kama scrambles to recover into a double leg takedown attempt that drives Taz into the corner turnbuckles! Taz defends the takedown but Kama stuns him with a vicious knee in the clinch! Taz drops to a knee but recovers quickly, reversing Kama in the clinch! Kama scrambles to reverse Taz in a battle in the clinch before Taz manages to take his back and rip him up off his feet deadweight... GERMAN TAZ PLEX!

Kama is dumped ON HIS HEAD! Taz stands up and drags his thumb across his throat! Kama rolls over to his hands and knees trying to get up but Taz locks him in the kata-hajime, the TAZMISSION! Kama fights it off trying to roll Taz over but his face begins to turn colors as he loses consciousness! Kama goes limp HE'S OUT! The ref frantically calls for the bell! It's OVER! Taz has choked Kama OUT!

Taz leaves Kama laying lifeless on the canvas as he has his hand raised in victory! Kama is still out laying on his side until EMT's finally manage to come to his aid leaning him up to revive him. What a hell of a debut here by the Human Suplex Machine choking Kama out cold in just :39 seconds! Jesus! Taz has arrived at Best Of The Best! 

After the replay of Taz taking down Kama in his debut from the pay per view we return of the live shot where Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff has taken a headset near the commentary booth to apologize to the fans for the heinous act you just witnessed. Mikey Whipreck is on his way to the emergency room he's lost all feeling from the neck down this is very serious, this is very real. Steve Austin does not work for Best Of The Best, he's on his way to jail and what he's done tonight is criminal assault, we will press full charges... he's finished... 

*****

After the commercial break we get Joey Styles backstage with a huge announcement but he's got a somber distracted demeanor as everyone in the locker room and all of the crew here at Best Of The Best all thoughts and prayers right now are about Mikey Whipreck, a former ECW World Champion, a young kid that earned everybody's respect throughout the wrestling business.

Joey Styles makes the official announcement that has been handed down from the BOTB Championship Council(the 6 man governing body that controls all competition aspects of BOTB, the six men are Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, Lou Thesz, and Danny Hodge). The Council has made their final unanimous hearing regarding the highly competitive tag team division with all of the separate titles that have been floating around out there in 1996. The Council has ruled that Best Of The Best will host a World Tag League competition to crown the very first ever Best Of The Best Undisputed World Tag Team Champions!

Best Of The Best
World Tag League
1996 Season(February 19th-May 12th)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
??	??
??	??
??	??
??	??
??	??
??	??

Joey Styles breaks down the format of the league, it will be 12 of the best teams in the world today. Qualifying matches will begin soon but some of the top ranked teams will earn automatic spots(with those being set to be revealed soon). The format of the league will be that the 12 teams will be divided into 2 divisions of six each. The league will be set with a 12 week schedule, each team will wrestle a scheduled opponent once a week(division teams will face each other twice during the season, the full schedule will be revealed at BOTB II PPV on February 18th!). The top 2 teams in each division with the best win-loss records at the end of the 12 week schedule will square off in a one night 4 team tournament on May 12th at Best Of The Best IV on pay per view. In the end... there can be only one.... and they will be crowned the first ever Best Of The Best Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! It all kicks off officially on Judgement Night on February 19th from Las Vegas! 

*****

We are back to the live shot of the Alamodome and we get split screen shots of Mikey Whipreck being carefully being loaded up into an ambulance that drives away with sirens going just as Steve Austin is put into a police car and driven off with sirens going. We get a shot of Jim Ross at the commentary table just beside himself in grief, all of our thoughts are with this young kid in hopes that he makes a full recovery, right now it's not looking good folks. Paul E. Dangerously, lets be honest here, his name is Paul Heyman, he's left the booth assumingly to go be with Mikey at the hospital since Mikey used to work for the promotion that Heyman used to run the ECW in South Philadelphia. He's a bright young star with a bright future in this business and everyone here is absolutely disgusted by the acts of one Steve Austin crossing the line here tonight. Paul E. is gone for the rest of the show, forcing Jim Ross to fly solo.

The fans in attendance are focused on as Ross talks about the ring crew finishing up putting the bottom rope back together it had to be cut in order for EMT's to carefully get Mikey Whipreck out of the ring earlier tonight, he was reported to have lost all feeling in his arms and legs after having a steel guard rail dropped on his neck by Steve Austin, who showed up here uninvited, unsigned, and completely unhinged. He bloodied The Sandman and it appears like he may have seriously injured Mikey Whipreck.

JR gets it together as he plugs the rest of the show tonight, we will still be able to have The Smoking Guns in action next here on Judgement Night as they will surely be on the hunt for a spot in this upcoming Tag League set for later this month. We will also have the official Undisputed World Championship title belt presentation ceremony for The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels right here in his hometown of San Antonio Texas! 

*****

After the commercials we finally get set for a wrestling match as Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck make their entrances for the following tag team match. JR plugs the upcoming World Tag League set to kick off across all BOTB TV shows starting February 19th on Judgement Night in Las Vegas! The Smoking Guns are shown in the Gorilla position cutting a promo with Joey Styles backstage! Billy and Bart Gunn tell Joey Styles with intensity that they are hungrier than ever and they are here in San Antonio tonight to kick ass and to reveal their new manager they've sought out, somebody that can push them to be a force here in Best Of The Best. The Smoking Guns reveal their new manager to be none other than.... 

DORY FUNK JR! 

The Smoking Guns are poised and determined as they make their way through the curtain out into the Alamodome with the old man Dory Funk Jr. hobbling along with them. Jim Ross is blown away on commentary, noting Dory Funk Jr being a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion for 4 years, the longest reign of anyone not named Lou Thesz. This is HUGE for the Smoking Guns to get a manager of his caliber on the eve of the BOTB World Tag League... 

Tag Team Match

The Smoking Guns(W/Dory Funk Jr.) vs Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck

Bart and Billy wrestle with more attitude and more of an edge with the icon Dory Funk Jr. now in their corner. The match quickly turns into an all out brawl that spills out around the ringside area as the Smoking Guns hold their own against two of the roughest and toughest to come from from WCW. The finish comes at 6 minutes into the match when the Guns finish Dick Slater with their Sidewinder(Sidewalk slam/Diving leg drop combination) for the pinfall! 

Buckhouse Buck clumsily staggers into the ring with a steel chair in an attempt to break the pinfall but he cracks it across Bart Gunn's back way too late! Buck floors Billy Gunn with the chair and reels back to finish Bart off after he recovers to his knees! Dory Funk Jr. gets into the ring and grabs the chair from behind just as Buck goes to swing it! Dory blasts Buck with the chair before slamming it into Dick Slater's back, sending him through the ropes to the floor! 

The Smoking Guns recover as Dory Jr. gets out of the ring and begins pulling something out from under the ring! Its.... A ROLL OF BARBED WIRE! GOOD GOD! WHAT THE HELL!? Dory tosses a second steel chair into the ring as Bart and Billy wrap Buckhouse Buck in barbed wire! Buck screams out in agony as the barbed wire pieces his skin! Bart and Billy grab the chairs and simultaneously smash Buck's barbed wire wrapped body front and back at the same time! Buck collapses and rolls out of the ring only driving the barbs deeper into his skin! Dory Jr. gets a huge ovation as he gets into the ring and raises Bart and Billy's hands in victory! JR notes what a huge difference Dory Jr. has made, this is not the Smoking Guns we have been used to that's for sure! 

*****

After the break we get a backstage shot of BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff scolding his entire security team for allowing Austin into the building again. This is the second time in three days that Austin has slipped through security into the building, and tonight's he's seriously injured Mikey Whipreck and just about ruined an entire live network television show. The head of security Doug Dillinger explains to Bischoff that they've had all entrances covered somebody had to have let him into the building. Bischoff screams and turns red as he FIRES his head of security Doug Dillinger! YOU'RE FIRED!

Dillinger throws his hands up and walks out as Bischoff appears to be losing all control of this promotion just one month into his job as Chief Executive. Bischoff screams for the rest of his security team DO YOUR JOB! DO YOUR JOB! before sending them off. 

We cut back to the live broadcast of the Alamodome with Jim Ross flying solo at the commentary booth after Paul E. Dangerously left to go to the hospital with Mikey Whipreck, as soon as we get any updates about his status we will get them to the fans. JR also talks about the recent events with Best Of The Best wrestler Brian Pillman, a Four Horsemen, being arrested for running onto the field during the Super Bowl last night. Pillman was suspended by Best Of The Best for the incident, he was severely beaten and jailed in Arizona. We here at Best Of The Best do not condone or support the actions of Brian Pillman this weekend. 

*****

Jim Ross hypes up the official Undisputed World Championship title belt presentation ceremony for the new champion here in his hometown of San Antonio as the red velvet is shown being set up down the entrance isle and in the ring. The Ring crew is setting up the podium as JR talks about the target that is on HBK's back now. Ross cuts it to a chain of promos that were recorded earlier tonight with the roster of Best Of The Best giving their thoughts on Shawn Michaels incredible performance capturing the gold this past Saturday Night at A New Beginning live on pay per view!

The montage of promos starts off with "The Iceman" Dean Malenko, who sends a message to the Champ, his 73 minute run at A New Beginning was impressive, but not impressive enough. Malenko says he's seen holes in Michaels technique in that 73 minutes of footage he has been studying, and he doesn't think he would last 10 minutes in the ring with The Man Of 1,000 Holds...

Ahmed Johnson's promo gives props to HBK, congratulations homie, nothing but respect, I know how hard you worked to make that comeback, but I want that belt!

Lex Luger and his sports agent Lance Wright cut promos next, with Wright offering HBK a contract to be represented by his agency Hype Central Promotions. This could be the deal of the century....  

Camp Cornette is shown next with The British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and the fu#&ing massive Vader fuming with Cornette shouting red faced! This is the biggest crock of bullcrap Cornette has ever seen, the man that ended Michaels' career Owen Hart was not even given a spot in the Rumble, the way this whole promotion has bent over backwards for this PUNK is COMPLETELY ridiculous! Vader pushes Cornette aside and SCREAMS.... SHAWN MICHAELS.... DEAD MAAAAAN WAAALKING!

Eddie Guerrero is shown next with his classic early 1996 mustache and mullet congratulating Shawn Michaels with all respect, from one Texas wrestler to another, 73 minutes, that's amazing plain and simple, but there's only 1 prize at the top of this mountain and it's about to be wrapped around your waist. Eddie sends the message to HBK that he will be coming after that belt, that's what this is all about, business is business...

The Steiner Brothers are shown next with a quick congratulatory salute to HBK for capturing the gold(Ric starts barking). Scott cuts in and says they have been to WWF, they have been to WCW, they have been all around the world, Japan, everywhere, and Shawn Michaels performance on Saturday night was as real as it gets. He's the man. He's earned our respect. 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley is shown very briefly in full snob character saying "Shawn Michaels", then he drops character and talks normal holding up the cliq hand sign with a big smile... "Way to go man..."

Jeff Jarrett is shown next talking about how long he lasted in the Champions Rumble and how Michaels did his best to stay far away from him as possible because he knew what would happen if they locked up! Jarrett says he's coming after that belt! Shawn Michaels is a marked man!

Next we get a shot of the showers in one of the janitorial locker rooms of the Alamodome where Raven sits with Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards. Raven sits silently looking on into space as Cactus talks about seeing Shawn Michaels holding the Undisputed World Title belt only reminded him of the boyhood dreams that he had once upon a time, back before he scarred himself up like a freak. Cactus talks about how he always wanted to be Shawn Michaels, the boy toy, the heart throb, and he knows he will never be that. That's why he wants to make Shawn Michaels as ugly as he is..... BANG BANG!(Stevie mocks HBK's pose in the background)... 

Shane Douglas wraps up the montage chain of promos with about the most smug attitude imaginable, keeping the censors on their heels on a live broadcast on cable TV as he looks at the camera man, Shawn Michaels!? Congratulations!? HA! Congratulations for what!? For beating up a geriatric old dinosaur piece of sh&$!? You see, all these other chumps getting down on their knees and kissing his ass about the pay per view are a bunch of fu#&ing MARKS! 73 minutes MY ASS! Shane Douglas demands to be the first one to challenge Shawn Michaels for the Undisputed World Title, no cliq! No backstage bull$%*t! No more Vince Mcmahon to protect you! Put the belt on the line! Any place, any FU%$#*NG TIME! 

 

*****

After the final round of commercials we get a shot of the crowd in the Alamodome on edge in anticipation for the homecoming of the NEW Undisputed World Champion of all Pro Wrestling. Ring announcer Michael Buffer stands with the mentor and trainer of the new Champion, the legendary Jose Lothario! The ring is decked out with red velvet ropes, with a red velvet carpet rolled out from the entrance isle up to covering the ring. A podium sits in the center of the ring with an all new glorious "big gold belt" with Shawn Michaels name plate on it. The entire 6 man Champions Council is standing on the entrance stage, Lou Thesz, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, Danny Hodge, and Karl Gotch all stand as ring announcer Michael Buffer brings out the man.....

The crowd goes APE SH&% when Shawn Michaels music hits the speakers of the Alamodome! Michaels comes out in absolute awe of the reaction before shaking hands and bowing with each of the 6 members of the Champions Council. HBK takes his time hugging and high fiving all of the fans on both sides of the isle as he begins to get overwhelmed with emotion the closer he gets to the belt in the ring.

Michaels finally makes it into the ring and the tears flow as he hugs his mentor Jose Lothario for a long time. Ring crew pull the glass case off of the podium and Jose Lothario takes the Undisputed World Championship belt and straps it firmly around Michaels waist in one of the most heartfelt, emotional moments imaginable. Michaels cries as the fans give him a standing ovation as Lothario finishes butting the belt around his waist...

HBK wipes the tears off his face as Jose Lothario gets a microphone and cuts a promo saying how proud he is for how hard Michaels worked to win this title on Saturday night. Lothario challenges Michaels to continue to push himself, saying that he's set up his first challenger to face him right here on Judgement Night next week LIVE from Stadium Azteca in Mexico City Mexico! Jose Lothario tells Shawn Michaels that he's set him up to put his Undisputed World Title on the line next week in Mexico against the current reigning Mexican Heavyweight Champion.... KONNAN!

Jim Ross freaks on commentary, Shawn Michaels vs Konnan for the Undisputed World Title RIGHT HERE LIVE on Judgement Night from Mexico City NEXT WEEK! Michaels cuts a brief promo about all of the guidance that Lothario has brought him through his darkest times, he's up to face the challenge he's given him, he will defend his title against Konnan next week! 

All of a sudden the crowd loses it when Sting comes walking out to the ring with no music!....

The Alamodome crowd goes NUTS as Sting stands across from Shawn Michaels wearing the Undisputed World title! JR mentions on commentary how Sting defeated Michaels clean in the center of the ring in the opening match Saturday night on the pay per view, it was Michaels that would get his revenge by eliminating Sting to win the 30 Man Champions Rumble that got him the shot against Flair for the belt!

Sting tells Shawn Michaels that he beat him right in the center of the ring, if anybody should get a shot at his title, it should be HIM! Sting challenges Shawn Michaels to put his title on the line! All of a sudden the crowd gets even louder when Bret "The Hitman" Hart walks out!....

Bret Hart takes the ring and stands across from Sting and Shawn Michaels in an incredible 3 way showdown! Bret cuts a promo talking about how the new wording on the belt strapped around Michaels' waist says "Undisputed", yet that's not quite true. Bret tells Shawn that the title is still very much disputed, seeing as the last real Undisputed WWF World Champ NEVER lost his title. Bret says that the WWF Championship Belt that belonged to him in the end is gone forever, but the title never dies! Shawn Michaels gets more and more furious as Bret tells him that he was the last final WWF World Champion and that's a belt that he will never know the feeling of holding in his hands or having strapped around his waist! 


All of a sudden things get even crazier when the Four Horsemen(minus Pillman) come out!.... 


Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit make it out to the ring to stand across from Sting, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels in a crazy face off! Eric Bischoff scrambles out to the ring with a dozen security guards to get in between all 6 men and the crowd boo's the s$&# out of him!... 

Ric Flair screams to Shawn Michaels that he is really putting his career on the line, the Four Horsemen are playing for keeps, ask The Hitman how his knee is doing! Flair tells Michaels that they are coming to get his belt back, WATCH OUT! Arn gets the mic and threatens all 3 men's careers and lives before challenging Sting and Bret to find 2 partners to face all 4 Horsemen next week! Arn calls out Randy Savage, saying that JJ Dillon is in Arizona right now bailing Brian Pillman out and he will be in Mexico City next week, bring Savage, find a 4th man, and lets make it a 4 vs 4 match next week on Judgement Night in Mexico City! 

Bret and Sting look back and forth at each other and around the arena at the fans before both mutually disagreeing to team with each other. Bret tells Sting that he's somebody that he's had his eye on from WCW for a long time, he's always respected him, but he's always known he was better! Sting takes the mic and challenges Bret and The Horsemen, saying that he can put HIS OWN team together! Sting challenges Bret to put his own team together and lets make it a 3 TEAM MATCH!

UNBELIEVABLE! It's been set up! A 3 team match, the entire Four Horsemen vs a team of 4 men to be led by Sting vs a team of 4 men to be led by Bret Hart! RIGHT HERE ON JUDGEMENT NIGHT NEXT WEEK FROM MEXICO CITY! LIVE! Eric Bischoff sets the match up and lays out the rules on the spot, it will be 3 teams of 4, The Horsemen vs Team Bret vs Team Sting. Two wrestlers will start the match and every 5 minutes a new man will enter the match. Teams will alternate sending men into the match(determined by random draw). Wrestlers can be eliminated from the match at any time by pinfall, submission, or being dumped over the top rope and having both feet touch the floor! WOW! 

Next Week Live on Judgement Night From Stadium Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico!

Three Team Elimination Match

The Four Horsemen(Flair, Arn, Pillman, Benoit)
vs
Bret Hart, & 3 TBA
vs
Sting, & 3 TBA 


Match Rules:

Each team will draw numbers 1-3 determining order of wrestlers entering the match. Teams will be free to choose what order their wrestlers are sent into the match.  

The match will start off with 2 wrestlers, the first man from the team that drew #1, and the first man from the team that drew #2. 

A new man will enter the match every 5 minutes, one at a time, starting with the first man from the team that drew #3(and the next man would be the second man from team #1, and so forth and so on until all men from all 3 teams have entered the match. 

Wrestlers can be eliminated at any time by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope to the floor(both feet). 

Per the BOTB Championship Council, the winning team captain will be the new #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Title, while their 3 team mates will be given elite priority ranking in any future leagues, tournaments, or title opportunities in Best Of The Best. 

In the end... There can be only one.... team.. 

The tension building in the ring between all 6 men boils over and a HUGE brawl breaks out! Bret, Sting, and HBK all get overwhelmed by Flair, Arn, and Chris Benoit in a massive melee until all of a sudden The Macho Man Randy Savage runs out full speed to BLOW THE ROOF OFF THE ALAMODOME!...

The Macho Man clears the ring of the Horsemen like a crazed madman! Savage, Bret, Sting, and HBK rule the ring and WE ARE OUT OF TIIIIIIIME!!!!..... 

Copyright 1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
February 1st, 1996

Bushido kicks off with commentators Mike Tenay, Phillip Rhee(actor and screenplay writer for the Best Of The Best action films) and kickboxing hall of famer Don "The Dragon" Wilson opening the show hyping up tonight's MASSIVE main event showdown! When Best Of The Best premiered the Bushido series in the beginning of 1996 they promised the fans the big fights, well tonight it just doesn't get any bigger than this. The former WWF World Champion Yokozuna is here tonight to take on the king of the toughman brawlers, Butterbean!

The 589 pound Butterbean has skyrocketed in popularity in the USA ever since he made a name for himself in the Toughman brawling circuit of the Texarkana Arkansas fairgrounds, where he would take on all comers(producing some of the most brutal savage knockouts seen since prime Mike Tyson). Butterbean graduated from the 4 round amateur style Toughman boxing to the professional ranks of the superheavyweight division in 1994, where he amassed a 15-0 record, becoming a national celebrity that has appeared in commercials, video games, even appearing on the Jay Leno show. After suffering his first pro loss back in December at Madison Square Garden Butterbean finds himself searching for redemption by answering the open mat challenge of Bushido, stepping forward to challenge himself and test his might against a mighty 640 pound former WWF World Champion...

It's been a rocky road for Yokozuna ever since he lost the WWF Championship to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania X just two years ago. Yoko formed a tag team with Owen Hart in 1995 under the managerial leadership of Jim Cornette. The duo managed to capture the WWF Tag titles at Wrestlemania XI and would reign as Champions for most of last year before dropping the belts to The Smoking Guns in September. Yokozuna would struggle in the singles ranks through the rest of 1995 while Cornette was his manager, going to a double countout with Mabel in one of his final singles matches on WWF pay per view(he was relegated to an 8 man tag dark match on the final WWF show ever, the Vince Mcmahon Memorial Tribute PPV in December). When Camp Cornette made their debut in Best Of The Best in January nobody really noticed that Yokozuna was missing, especially after he was quickly replaced by the debut of Vader. 

Yokozuna made his surprise return solo with no manager on the January 20th episode of Shockwave by answering an open challenge issued by the UK's William Regal, making short work of Regal with a dominant victory in just :51 seconds. After an impressive BOTB debut now the former WWF Champion will be representing the country of Japan and the proud honor of Sumo as he steps up to answer the challenge of his biggest match since Wrestlemania X... 

*****

Mike Tenay shoots it down to the ring where Sgt. Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman has made his entrance and is getting set for tonight's opening match here on Bushido. War Machine by Kiss hits the speakers of the Manhattan Center to bring out the man that made one hell of a debut at A New Beginning on pay per view this past Saturday night in Houston in the Astrodome.... The Human Suplex Machine.... Taz.... 

Taz makes his way out to the ring with a shredded black towel draped partially over his face, his fists taped heavily. Don Wilson on commentary notes Taz's 2nd dan black belt in Judo and his incredible strength that we seen in his debut victory over Kama on Saturday night, where he choked the much larger opponent unconscious with the kata-hajime in an intense 39 second match. Mike Tenay notes that Taz has his hands full here tonight in the Manhattan Center on Bushido against Pitbull Pittman, a 250 pound former Marine with an accomplished amateur wrestling background. Pittman made it into WCW last year while also crossing over to compete in the Vale Tudo Japan '95 tournament hosted by Shooto last Spring(Pittman made it to the second round of the 8 man tournament that was eventually won by Rickson Gracie).  

New Best Of The Best ring announcer Joel Gertner gets the crowd going with the intro for both men before referee Big John Mccarthy brings them to the center to go over the rules. Taz stands face to face with Pittman in an INTENSE staredown as the commentators note that this match will be contested under standard Best Of The Best rules, one fall to a finish with a 10 minute time limit! Big John backs both men into their corners before checking with each of them

..."Are you ready?.... are you ready?.... LETS GET IT ON!".... 

Singles Match
"The Human Suplex Machine" Taz
vs
 Sgt. Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman

Both men come out slowly circling each other in the center of the ring before Pittman connects with a hard boot to the mid-section, followed up with brutal forearms across Taz's back! Pittman attempts to whip Taz into the ropes but The Human Suplex Machine counters him by pulling him into a flawlessly executed Northern Lights Suplex with a textbook bridge that gets a razor close 2.99999 count! Pittman scrambles out to his feet after kicking out but Taz quickly catches him with a Hane goshi Judo throw that sends him flipping end over end before shaking the entire ring on impact! Taz finishes Pittman off with his kata hajime submission hold, forcing The Pitbull to tap out at just :31 seconds! UNBELIEVABLE! 

Pittman rolls out of the ring in disbelief clutching his throat as Taz has his arm raised in victory, improving his record to an impressive 2-0! Don Wilson and Phillip Rhee cover the replay of the Kata Hajime submission, noting that this is a hold Taz calls "The Tazmission", it's one of the twelve constriction(choke) techniques and perhaps the most feared and most devastating of all the Kodokan Judo holds. 

All of a sudden the replay is cut short due to a disturbance ringside as Kama, "The Supreme Fighting Machine" has come out trying to get to the ring! Security holds Kama back as Taz screams for him to bring it! Taz calls for a microphone and tells Kama to bring his fuc#%ing a#@ in this ring right now! COME ON! LET HIM GO! Referees swarm the ring to hold Taz back as security hold Kama back on the floor! Kama gets a microphone finally and challenges Taz to a rematch, no rules, right here next week on Bushido! Taz accepts the challenge! It's all set! Taz vs Kama II NO RULES MATCH right here on Bushido next week on the Superstation! 

*****

After the initial round of commercials we get a highlight video package documenting the recent announcement for perhaps the biggest fight of the century, boxer vs wrestler, USA vs Russia, The Real Deal vs The Russian Experiment... The Showdown.... Alexandr Karelin vs Evander Holyfield....

We get training highlights from both men's training camps for the match as Mike Tenay narrates the segment, beginning with telling the history of the boxer vs wrestler rivalry that goes all the way back to boxing legend Jack Dempsey crushing wrestlers in the 1940's, to Ali vs Inoki(and Andre The Giant vs Chuck Wepner on the undercard), now in the year 1996 the most dangerous heavyweight boxer on the planet is set to square off against the greatest living wrestler that ever lived.

For Karelin he has dominated the Greco-Roman Wrestling world during the Cold War, representing Russia to capture the Olympic gold in 1988 and 1992 in the heaviest division in the sport. At 285 pounds of pure muscle, many speculate that Karelin is the pinnacle of technology of Communist sports medicine. Nobody has dominated their sport the way Karelin has Greco-Roman wrestling, the Super Heavyweight is set to go after an unprecedented 3rd Gold medal this Summer in Atlanta but first, he looks to make a statement for his motherland against The Real Deal.... 

For Evander Holyfield he has become obsessed with a fight against Mike Tyson to the point where it has become his White Whale. The match was set in 1991 but it fell apart as Tyson would end up in prison. Holyfield only desires the respect of being the best in the world, but he knows he will never get it until he faces Mike Tyson, a man he feels in his heart he is better than. With Tyson seemingly on the run from Holyfield he has lost his desire to face any other boxer, instead Holyfield seeks to test his might in the ring of Best Of The Best in Las Vegas live on pay per view against the man that many around the world consider the most dangerous on Earth.... 

It will be Aleksandr Karelin vs Evander Holyfield live on pay per view on February 18th in a Hybrid Rules bout. The rules of the match are still being ironed out between both camps but it has been suggested that this will be a 12 round match. Holyfield will compete with the boxing gloves and can win the bout by knockout, doctor/ref stoppage, or judges decision at the end of the 12 rounds. Karelin will be able to compete with bare hands but will not be permitted to punch with closed fists, he can win the match by submission, knockout, pinfall, or judges decision. 

***Special Attraction***
Heavyweight Showdown

"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Aleksandr Karelin

vs

Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

*****

The promo segment hyping BOTB II segues into Mike Tenay at the commentary booth talking about the Best Of The Best Championship Council that is the governing body that sanctions matches like this one between Karelin vs Holyfield set for Las Vegas on PPV. The Championship Council is comprised of 6 of the greatest wrestling minds in the history of the sport. These 6 men are Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, and Karl Gotch. Mike Tenay breaks the news that the Council will be holding a hearing and a vote soon to induct a new 7th member to the council to finalize the order. Here now we present a special segment that takes a closer look at each of the current 6 members that govern all competitive aspects of Best Of The Best...

Lou Thesz: Arguably the greatest wrestler of all time. Thesz was the last ever globally accepted World Champion of Professional Wrestling, his vision of a unified undisputed global world title is one of the central themes and quests of Best Of The Best, and at it's heart, is the soul of the Champions Council. Thesz is considered the senior councilman of Best Of The Best. His endorsement of Nobuhiko Takada's UWFI promotion four years ago gave the promotion tremendous legitimacy, especially after he brought the original World Title belt out of retirement to crown Nobuhiko Takada the Champion. Thesz took his title belt back from Takada and denounced his support for UWFI after their dishonorable tactics invading New Japan(Takada put the belt on the line against Mutoh's IWGP belt this past January without Thesz' blessing). Thesz brought the title belt to Best Of The Best to unify into the Undisputed World Championship Of Professional Wrestling currently held by Shawn Michaels. 

Danny Hodge: One of the most dominant undefeated amateur wrestlers out of Oklahoma became one of the most dominant professional wrestlers of the 1950's. A Silver medalist in Freestyle Wrestling in the 1956 Summer games, a 3 time NCAA Wrestling Champion, and former NWA North American Heavyweight Champion. 

Billy Robinson: One of the greatest shooters in the history of the sport of pro wrestling, a godfather of a forgotten form of submission catch wrestling from Wigan, England, and one of the main trainers of the UWFI Takada Dojo until recently distancing himself from the promotion due to their invasion of New Japan. A former amateur wrestling champion in England and title holder all across the US territories, Robinson is the official UK/European representative of the Council. 

Verne Gagne: Former promoter and 10 time World Champion of the AWA promotion, one of the most prestigious leagues in the sport in the US. A 2 time NCAA Wrestling Champion for Minnesota. 

Nick Bockwinkle: A former 4 time AWA World Champion and one of the smartest, most intelligent, classiest athletic representatives of the sport of professional wrestling during nearly 40 year career around the world. Bockwinkle served as commissioner of WCW from 1994-1995. 

Karl Gotch: One of the most dangerous and influential submission masters in the history of the sport of wrestling, a prodigy from the Snake Pit catch wrestling dojo in England, former AWA World Champion and one of the head trainers at New Japan and the group that broke off to found the UWF shoot wrestling promotion(and later the Pancrase promotion that came out of the ashes of UWF). 

These six men have the final say over everything in Best Of The Best, including the recently announced World Tag League that was revealed on Monday night that is set to kick off later this month to crown the new Undisputed World Tag Team Champions. The Champions Council will make their vote for their 7th and final member to be revealed at BOTB II: The Revenge Of The Warriors live on PPV on February 18th! 

*****

After the break we get Mike Tenay recapping the highly acclaimed Hybrid Rules match last week on Bushido between Ultimo Dragon against K-1 Kickboxing Grand Prix Champ Peter Aerts. The bout went the distance and was declared a draw by the judges decision, causing both competitors to protest the decision(both felt like they were screwed out of a sure win). The match was very close, back and forth war. The newfound rivalry between Lucha Libre vs Kickboxing heated up in the 30 Man Champions Rumble this past Saturday night when Peter Aerts eliminated Ultimo Dragon from the match with a high kick that sent him over the top rope. Dragon got payback by springboarding back into the ring and dropkicking Aerts into the clutches of Dan Severn, who suplexed him over the top rope to eliminate him. The news has just been broken that Ultimo Dragon will be back in action here on Bushido next week in a Hybrid Rules bout against K-1 Kickboxer from Holland, JOHN KLEIJN! It will be Lucha vs Dutch Kickboxing right here next week on Bushido! 

Tenay segues into a recap of a recent interview given by current reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada, the leader of the UWFI shoot fighting promotion that has invaded New Japan and sent an Imperial Edict Of Battle to Best Of The Best last month. Takada recently gave a highly publicized interview to a major Japanese sports news channel. The clips of the interview are replayed with Takada shown saying that he feels like even the best American wrestlers, the best technicians, Bret Hart, are weak compared to UWFI. Takada says that he was surprised how weak the American wrestlers were in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match on the PPV this past Saturday night. Takada officially declares war on Best Of The Best, saying that he has deep resentment in his heart for Senior Councilman Lou Thesz for stripping him away of his prestigious title belt. Takada tells the reporter that he was hurt when he seen Thesz endorse the weakness that the West has brought to the sport. 

Takada in the interview reveals the earth shattering announcement, issuing an official challenge for New Japan to send their best warrior to face him in one final showdown for their IWGP Title belt, THIS MONDAY NIGHT on neutral soil in Stadium Azteca in Mexico City on JUDGEMENT NIGHT! Takada sends the message that he will face anyone from New Japan, Hashimoto, Muta, Liger, anyone but this will be their final chance to regain the IWGP belt to save their honor. 

*****

We return to the shot of the Manhattan Center with Yokozuna returning to the birth place of WWF Raw where he was at the height of his powers here just three years ago. Tonight he is getting boo'd as he makes his way out to the ring by himself, no Fuji, no Camp Cornette, he's become a ronin Sumo warrior. This is a huge match for him tonight to make a statement in the rankings for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship currently held by Shawn Michaels. Yokozuna's opponent Butterbean gets a huge ovation as he comes out to Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA"!

Referee Big John Mccarthy is the only ref capable of handling this superheavyweight showdown, he asks no quarter and gives none! Big John brings the two men to the center of the ring for the final instructions and the stare down is HEAVY, over 1,200 pounds! The commentators mention how the ring and ropes have all been reinforced for this one, this is it! The rules agreement here for this match are hybrid rules between Sumo, pro wrestling, and Toughman boxing. Butterbean can strike with the boxing gloves and has the advantage of having the match contested in 4 rounds(3 minutes each). Yokozuna can only strike with open palms but he can win the match by pinfall, submission, but also this match will have a Sumo twist, if Yokozuna can get Butterbean over the top rope and send him to the floor(with both feet touching) he will win the match.

Hybrid Rules Match
Sumo vs Toughman
Yokozuna vs Butterbean

Butterbean comes out throwing HEAVY shots right at the start, typical of the toughman style brawling, going for the quick knockout! Yokozuna engages in a striking duel toe to toe, countering Butterbean's punching combos with a flurry of palm thrusts! Yokozuna backs Butterbean into the corner with palm thrusts before tying him up in a clinch! Butterbean peppers Yokozuna with punches in the clinch but none of them are of any effect. Yokozuna manages to pull Butterbean out of the corner and whip him across the ring, sending him crashing into the opposite turnbuckles with sickening force! Yokozuna follows Butterbean for a huge splash but Butterbean moves out of the way last second! Yoko barrels into the turnbuckles with sickening force! Butterbean follows up with a flurry of HUGE punches! Yokozuna is stunned and drops down to one knee holding the ropes!

The referee begins counting Yokozuna down as the crowd goes nuts! 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5..... 6.... 7..... Yokozuna pulls himself up to his feet! Butterbean swarms Yoko in an attempt to finish him off but he runs out of time and the bell rings to signal the end of the first round! WOW!

Round 2 sees Yokozuna turn the tide of the battle with a HUGE superkick that sends Butterbean falling awkwardly into the ropes before crashing into the canvas! HE'S DOWN! The crowd goes crazy as Butterbean returns to his feet to break the referee's 10 count at 6! Butterbean is fired up! The two superheavyweights collide in the center of the ring in a brute exchange of punches and palm strikes that send the sweat flying and get the crowd gasping! Butterbean begins to find his range and connect with ridiculous punches, dropping Yokozuna twice for 8 counts before running out of time for the end of the second round.

Yokozuna manages to tie Butterbean up in the clinch and on the mats for a majority of the third round. Butterbean sends the crowd into a frenzy by connecting with a massive haymaker that sends Yokozuna's long hair flying on impact! Yoko almost goes down but he manages to stay on his feet to ride out the round!

The commentators note that Butterbean has to be ahead on the judges scorecards at this point going into the 4th and final round. Both of these men are barely able to stand in their corners they are so exhausted! The crowd cheers both men on as they take it to the limit for the final 3 minutes! Fatigue takes everything from the two 600 pounders in the final minutes as neither man is able to even lift their arms above their waists for long stretches of the final round. The crowd drives both men to give one final push in the last minute, with Yokozuna landing a HUGE open hand palm strike that staggers Butterbean back into the ropes! Yoko ties up with Butterbean in the clinch against the ropes and fights in a dramatic struggle to lift him up and dump him OVER THE TOP TO THE FLOOR!

Butterbean falls off the apron to the floor and the referee calls for the bell! It's over! Yokozuna has snatched victory from the hands of defeat! Butterbean lays on the floor struggling to breath as the ref raises Yokozuna's hand! Yokozuna has defeated Butterbean by dumping him out of the ring with just 21 seconds left in the final round in a fight that he was surely about to lose had it gone to the judges! The former WWF World Champion has improved his Best Of The Best record to 2-0 with a huge victory here. Butterbean recovers ringside PISSED! He goes berserk pushing security around as more referee's race out from the back to hold him from getting back into the ring!

The aftermath is interrupted when all of a sudden 4 men in yellow UWFI Takada Dojo windbreaker jumpsuits walk out to the entrance area watching on! That's the Takada Dojo! Hiromitsu Kanehara, Koji Kitao, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Yoji Anjo! All four men look on at the scene in the ring with their arms folded with unimpressed looks on their faces as MIke Tenay goes nuts on commentary, we are OUT OF TIME!

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Memorial Coliseum(Corpus Christi, TX)
February 3rd, 1996

Shockwave hits the airwaves of 1996 TBS at 6:05 SHARP with a shot of a completely SOLD OUT Memorial Coliseum with well over 3,000 here for tonight's PACKED card. The entire 4 Horsemen will be in action in an 8 man Elimination Tag Team match, that's right, Brian Pillman is here tonight after being jailed in Arizona for running onto the field during the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XXX and trying to expose himself on live television(the most watched event in television history in fact). The Horsemen's legal advisor JJ Dillon has gotten Pillman out of the Arizona jail and he's walking on thin ice with Arn Anderson and the Horsemen for his erratic behavior the last few weeks since the group arrived here at Best Of The Best. We will see them in action here tonight as well as the debut of 2 Cold Scorpio, plus, Eddie Guerrero and Hakushi are here in action and SO MUCH MORE! 

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan send their condolences and well wishes to Mikey Whipreck and his family tonight as we still await the status of his injury at the hands of a man that we've been instructed to not even mention his name on air. As of the time this show you are watching is being filmed all we know about Mikey is that the prognosis is not looking good, he's lost all feeling in his legs. The entire company has been rattled by this so far this week and all of our hearts go out to the Whipreck family.

Shiavonne and Heenan revert back to hyping tonigh't scar until they are interrupted when Sting's entrance music sets the crowd off into a frenzy! The Stinger takes his time coming out to the ring high fiving all the ringside fans as the commentators recap the match that was set this past Monday night for next Monday night's HUGE episode of Judgement Night live from Stadium Azteca in Mexico City! The match has been made for a 3 team Elimination Match, the 3 team captains are Sting, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and Ric Flair. Flair represents the Horsemen obviously but both Sting and Bret have promised to put together their own 4 man teams for the 3 way match this Monday on Judgement Night.

The Stinger comes to the ring to be interviewed by Mike Tenay where he immediately calls out "The Macho Man" Randy Savage! The crowd loses it when The Macho Man's entrance music hits! Savage makes it out to the ring for a face to face showdown with Sting! Sting asks The Macho Man to join his team for the 3 Team Elimination Match this coming Monday Night to take on The Horsemen and team Bret! Macho Man looks around for the fans approval as Sting offers a handshake! Savage leaves Sting's handshake hanging as he takes the mic and tells him to get one thing straight, that belt that is wrapped around Shawn Michaels waist belongs to THE MACHO MAN, he was screwed out of it at Starrcade by the Horsemen! Savage tells Sting to get one thing clear, even though they have teamed up in the past and gone to war with each other in WCW, what it is is what it is, WCW is dead and gone oooohh yeah, Savage has come here to Best Of The Best to get HIS BELT BACK! DIG IT!

The Macho Man waits for the crowd to die down before telling Sting he WILL join his team for this coming up Monday Night it's going to be JUDGEMENT NIGHT in Mexico City for THE HORSEMEN! Savage grabs Sting's handshake and pulls him in face to face in an INTENSE moment as he tells him that he knows it was him that dumped him over the top rope in the Champions Rumble last Saturday night, BUT, that when the dust settles and they are the winning team, the two of them have unfinished business about who gets the shot at Shawn Michaels and the UNDISPUTED WORLD TITLE! Sting agrees and it's all set! The Macho Man has joined Sting's Squadron for the 3 Team Elimination Match set for Judgement Night LIVE from Mexico City THIS MONDAY NIGHT!

THIS MONDAY NIGHT Live on Judgement Night on USA Network 8pm

From Stadium Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico!

World Title Unification Match
Undisputed World Championship vs Mexican National Heavyweight Championship
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels(C) vs Konnan(C)

plus....

Three Team Elimination Match
The Four Horsemen(Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, & Chris Benoit)
vs
The Dungeon(Bret Hart, & 3 TBA)
vs
Sting's Squadron(Sting, Randy Savage, & 2 TBA)

Match Rules:

The match will start off with 3 wrestlers, one man from each team.

Each team will draw numbers 1-3 determining order of wrestlers entering the match. Teams will be free to choose what order their wrestlers are sent into the match.

A new man will enter the match, one at a time, every 5 minutes, starting with the next man up from the team that drew #1. The next 5 minutes will bring out the next man up from the team that drew #2. After another 5 minute countdown the next man up from the team that drew #3 will enter the match. Wrestlers will continue to enter every 5 minutes until all men have entered the match. 

Wrestlers can be eliminated at any time by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope to the floor(both feet).

Per the BOTB Championship Council, the winning team captain will be the new #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Title, while their 3 team mates will be given elite priority ranking in any future leagues, tournaments, or title opportunities in Best Of The Best.

In the end... There can be only one.... team....

All of a sudden the crowd's elation turns to boo's as "The Total Package" Lex Luger walks out with his new sports agent representative Lance Wright, the owner and executive chairman of Hype Central Promotions! Lex Luger makes his way into the ring with his agent with Savage and Sting looking on in disbelief. Luger goes to high five Savage but The Macho Man no-sells it! Sting shakes his old buddies hand but looks on at Lance Wright with his eye on him. Lex takes a mic and tells Sting that he has always cherished their friendship, that's why he's here to introduce him to his new agent Lance Wright. Luger offers Sting a chance to sign a new deal with Hype Central Promotions in exchange for him a spot on Stings Squadron for the 3 Team Elimination Match on Judgement Night!

Lance Wright takes out two contracts and takes the mic to inform both Sting and Savage that he's prepared to sign them now to exclusive representation deals! Sting takes the contract and laughs as he looks at it while Savage takes his contract and rips it in half!

Sting takes the mic from Lance Wright and tells Lex Luger that he really does love him like a brother, but he's really lost his mind! The Stinger tells Luger that he's been seeing him turning down challenges every week, he seen the farce that was his debut here on Worldwide last weekend, he's just not impressed with his new agent or his new attitude! Sting tells Luger that he has a guy here tonight that he planned to give the 3rd spot on his team to, but if Luger wants that spot he's going to have to face him to earn it... RIGHT HERE... TONIGHT!

Sting tells Luger that he will sign Lance Wright's contract IF he accepts the challenge tonight! Luger agrees! It's on! Lex Luger will face off against a mystery man for the 3rd spot on Stings Squadron for the 3 Team Elimination Match in Mexico next Monday Night! Sting goes to use Lance Wright's back to sign his contract, he scribbles on the dotted line before STABBING THE PEN THROUGH THE CONTRACT INTO HIS BACK! Lace Wright collapses screaming! Luger pulls the pin out of Lance Wright's back as Sting and Savage make their exits together laughing and high fiving! The camera manages to focus in on the contract during the aftermath and the scribble on the dotted line reads "Eat ME!" with a pen sized hole through the paper where the dot on the exclamation point is!...

*****

After the first round of commercials we get the shot of Hunter Hearst Helmsley wrapping up his entrance as the commentators recap his victory over Alex Wright last week here on the special live broadcast of Shockwave from the Astrodome last Saturday night, avenging one of the most humbling defeats of his career when he lost to the young Wright back at WCW Starrcade 1994. 

Helmsley's opponent makes his way out getting the crowd going to his entrance music Whoomp! There It Is by Tag Team! 2 Cold Scorpio has competed all over the world, from Japan to Mexico to Europe, he's been one of the top contenders in ECW for the past year and now he's here to make his Best Of The Best debut right here on Shockwave!... 

 

Singles Match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs 2 Cold Scorpio

Scorpio gives Helmsley all he can handle to start the match off, getting the crowd going with a smooth arsenal of moves that nearly finish him off with multiple razor close nearfalls. Helmsley manages to cut Scorpio's momentum off with a cheap shot, then he nearly scores a fall himself until the referee notices his feet on the ropes after a rollup! Scorpio rides the momentum of the crowd to make several near comebacks but Helmsley plays it conservative and manages to ground him in holds for large chunks of the 10 minute TV time limit. After a desperate attempt to go for the finish in the final 2 minutes(including an AMAZING 450 splash) the match ends up a television time limit draw after going the full 10 minutes! What an impressive showing from Scorpio here in his debut but he is just beside himself over the draw as he walks out.... 

*****

After the match we get a montage video with Mike Tenay highlighting the Champions Council, the 6 man governing body that regulates and sanctions all of the competitive aspects of Best Of The Best. The Championship Council is comprised of 6 of the greatest wrestling minds in the history of the sport. These 6 men are Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, and Karl Gotch. This past Thursday night on Bushido we took a closer look at each of the 6 individual members of the Council, and it was announced that the Council will be holding a hearing and a vote soon to induct a new 7th member to finalize the order.

The video package recaps the extensive look at the Senior Councilman Lou Thesz and his backstory with his prestigious World Championship Of Professional Wrestling title belt that he wore proudly for years as the final ever globally accepted Undisputed Champion. Thesz and the Council look to restore the concept of one global Undisputed World Champion and the process began when Thesz repossessed his World Title belt that he granted Nobuhiko Takada to wear as the Champion of the UWFI promotion in Japan two years ago. Takada to Lou Thesz was a failure as a Global Champion, his tactics to invade NJPW last year were thought to be dishonorable. In taking the title back from UWFI Thesz brought it here to Best Of The Best, angering Takada and the UWFI dojo to the point where an Imperial Edict of Battle was sent directly to Thesz in the Council Chamber in the form of an ancient Japanese scroll.

Takada and the UWFI Dojo's takeover of New Japan was finalized when Takada defeated Keiji Mutoh to capture their IWGP Heavyweight Championship last month in the Tokyo Dome. Takada elevated his status to a National hero in Japan after his performance in the 30 Man Champions Rumble this past weekend, where he lasted an incredible 39 minutes, eliminating Mitsuhara Misawa, Akira Maeda, Frank Bruno, and Sakurada from Shooto. Takada revealed this week that he will give an open challenge to anyone from NJPW for one final battle on neutral soil this upcoming Monday night live on Judgement Night from Mexico City Mexico! NJPW responded this week by answering Takada's challenge, with the announcement that Shinya Hashimoto will face him for the IWGP Title in Mexico! Takada has already made it clear that this will be NJPW's final chance to regain their title!

It's been announced and sanctioned by the Championship Council. New Japan will send Shinya Hashimoto to Mexico City to take on Nobuhiko Takada in one final battle, UWFI vs NJPW for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship LIVE on the USA Network this Monday Night at 8pm from Stadium Azteca in Mexico CITY!

*****

The crowd all stands to their feet and the anticipation builds as Mike Tenay stands in the middle of the ring and introduces Bret "The Hitman" Hart for an interview for the upcoming 3 Team Elimination Match that has been set for this coming Monday night on Judgement Night live from Mexico City. The Hitman gets a great reaction from the fans as he comes out and takes the ring to talk about his thought process for choosing his 3 team mates. Tenay asks Bret if he has decided on any team mates and Bret makes the announcement that he is here tonight to scout some of the talent on the card but that has chosen one man so far, he's like to bring that man out to the ring to ask him to be a part of his team on Monday night! Bret asks "Lionheart" Chris Jericho to come out to the ring!

Jericho walks out with no music and takes the ring where Bret tells him how impressed he was in his debut match against Flair for the WCW Title a few weeks ago on Judgement Night. Bret tells Jericho that he would be honored to have him on his team for the 3 Team Elimination Match this Monday at Judgement Night! Chris Jericho accepts the offer and the crowd goes nuts as he shakes Bret's hand! Jericho waits for the crowd to die down before telling Bret that he's brought somebody here tonight to make their debut, somebody that he's traveled the world with as a tag team partner, a friend, a brother. As Chris Jericho is telling Bret about him there is a man that walks out from the back and makes his way down the isle into the ring to stand next to him.... it's.... Lance Storm!? 

Chris Jericho has brought his former tag team partner from the Thrillseekers, Lance Storm! Jericho asks Bret to include his new tag partner Lance Storm on their team for the 3 Team Elimination Match! The Thrillseekers are here to ROCK! Bret looks around at the crowd for their approval for a moment before saying that he's well aware of Lance Storm as one of the most talented Canadian wrestlers coming up today, he knows about his training with the Hart Family wrestling camp in Calgary. Bret tells Jericho and Storm he's willing to accept them onto his team for next Monday night but he wants them to earn their spots tonight! Bret tells Jericho and Storm that he needs somebody on his team that he can trust, citing his own brothers turning their backs on him just weeks ago in a move that cost him dearly. The Hitman calls out any tag team that is in the back to come out here and make the Thrillseekers prove themselves on the spot, if the Thrillseekers can win their debut they are on Bret's team for NEXT MONDAY NIGHT! 

Bret backs out of the ring as Jericho and Storm prepare for an impromptu match while suddenly The Armstrongs make their way out of the back to indifference from the crowd! Brad and Steve Armstrong have stepped up to accept the open challenge!... 

Tag Team Match
The Thrillseekers(Chris Jericho & Lance Storm)
vs
The Armstrongs(Brad & Steve Armstrong)

The Thrillseekers thrill the crowd with a high flying, fast pace offensive attack that stifles the veteran Armstrongs. Tony Shiavonne on commentary repeats the info being fed to his headset as it comes in, recapping the Thrillseekers history in Smoky Mountain Wrestling where they were one of the top young tag teams in the world. Bret Hart watches on from the ringside area totally impressed with the speed, athleticism, and team work used by Jericho and Storm to totally dominate their opponents. The finish comes just 3:31 into the match after Steve Armstrong gets knocked out. Chris Jericho goes up to the top turnbuckle with his back to his opponent while Lance Storm follows up from behind and assists Jericho's moonsault by powerslamming him off the top onto Steve Armstrong on the canvas! It's over, 1... 2... 3!

Jericho and Storm are cheered as they have their arms raised in their debut victory! The Thrillseekers have earned their spots on Bret's Team Dungeon for the 3 Team Elimination Match this Monday on Judgement Night! The commentators recap the instant replay of some of the tandem moves while we cut away to a backstage locker room shot of Owen Hart and The British Bulldog watching the replay from the monitors totally unimpressed, what a bunch of sissies..... 

*****

After the match we get a special montage video recapping the final ever WWF Tag Champions, The Smoking Guns, and their recent move to sign Dory Funk Jr. as their new manager and head trainer. The clip plays along with training footage of the great Dory Funk Jr. refining Bart and Billy Gunn's techniques, working with them on how to swing and aim a steel chair, how to brawl, how to use barbed wire! The Smoking Guns have evolved very quickly with Dory Jr. in their corner, this is not the same Smoking Guns from the WWF, this is a tougher, more hardcore Smoking Guns.

The clips ends with hype for the upcoming World Tag League set to kick off later this month with The Smoking Guns revealed to already have a spot secured in the league. To promote the new league the match has been set with the 2 top teams facing off this coming Monday night on Judgement Night, it will be The Smoking Guns vs Harlem Heat! Finally the final ever WWF and WCW Tag Champs will square off! The Guns have issued the challenge to make this match a NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH!

*****

We return to the camera shot of the Memorial Coliseum here in beautiful Corpus Christi in south Texas with Chris Hamrick already in the ring ready to go. Hamrick is stretching and getting ready when all of a sudden the lights go out! The crowd gasps as 4 bolts of lightning strike the corners of the ring! Sparks fly everywhere and Chris Hamrick is shaken by the sudden shock in the ring! Hakushi makes his way out to the ring with the commentators in awe, recapping the recent revelation on Bushido that told the origins of "The White Death". In the video we were shown that Hakushi was a foundling discovered by a village of Shikoku pilgrims after a lightning storm. Baby Hakushi was found in a wicker basket with his little tiny body covered in Buddhist shakyo tattoos. It was said that he was born of lightning, and that he was sent to the village from the gods to answer their prayers for protection from the corporate greed that threatened their lands. 

Singles Match
Hakushi vs Chris Hamrick

Hakushi unleashes an unstoppable arsenal of moves on Hamrick, who seemingly never recovers from being shaken by the 4 massive bolts of lightning that rattled the ring from out of nowhere. The kicks of Hakushi cut Chris Hamrick's spirit down, the praying diving headbutt nearly finishes him off with a 2.9 count. Hamrock manages to counter Hakushi later but he ends up back body dropped OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR! Hamrick crashes down into the padded floor with a SICKENING splat! The referee holds Hakushi back until finally Hamrick manages to stir around on the mats on the floor. Hakushi pushes the ref away and cartwheels across the ring before clearing the top rope with a MOONSAULT PLANCHA! Hamrick is rolled into the ring and finished off, Hakushi prays for a moment before flying off the top rope with a moonsault to secure the victory at 4:09. Hakushi has his arm raised in victory as the commentators mention his high ranking here in the first month of Best Of The Best, he's among the top 5 for sure after remaining undefeated with this win. 

*****

After the match we get a backstage locker room interview with Mike Tenay getting a word with "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama. Tenay asks Kama what happened at the pay per view A New Beginning, and Kama snaps! Kama snatches the mic away from Mike Tenay and pushes him out of the camera shot! Kama screams into the camera that what happened at the pay per view against Taz was a FLUKE! Kama screams that he never tapped out and he would have kept fighting and whooped Taz's a#%!

Kama screams into the camera for Taz! The rematch was set this past Thursday night on Bushido that Taz will face Kama in a rematch with no rules on Bushido next week! Taz vs Kama II: there will be NO RULES, this Thursday night on Bushido, 8pm on TBS!

*****

DDP is shown wrapping up his entrance as the commentators talk about him coming out recently to represent the honor of WCW(RIP) against Shawn Michaels, giving the current Undisputed World Champion a tough test on Judgement Night before ultimately getting beat. DDP's opponent Eddie Guerrero gets a nice reaction from the south Texas fans, he's poised and focused, mustache and mullet intact, sequins on his red and white jacket glistening in the lights. 

Singles Match
Eddie Guerrero vs Diamond Dallas Page

Eddie stuns DDP early on and keeps the pressure on him, dominating the first 3 minutes of the match. Eddie's execution is just on another level, everything has a snap and a flow to it, from his European uppercuts to his dropkicks to his arm drag takedowns. Eddie connects with a perfectly executed Hilo(slingshot somersault senton) that sends DDP out to the floor for a reprieve to catch his breath. Page uses a full 9 count stalling on the floor before rolling back in and catching Eddie with a poke to the eyes! Page beats Eddie down for the next 3 minutes, grounding him to slow the pace down. The crowd rallies behind Eddie and drives him to make a valiant comeback. Guerrero ends up finishing Page off for the pinfall after a frog splash at 7:55.

Guerrero moves his BOTB record to 2-1 with an impressive win over DDP. After having his arm raised in victory all of a sudden Bret "The Hitman" Hart comes out to the ring! Bret congratulates Eddie on the win before telling him that he seen his match against Dean Malenko on the first episode of this show last month, the very first match in this promotion. Bret tells Eddie that he felt like that match represented everything that he believes can pro wrestling can be about, honor, respect, pushing yourself to face challenges and never backing down. Bret reaches out and offers Eddie a handshake as he offers him the 4th and final spot on Team Dungeon for the 3 Team Elimination Match on Judgement Night this coming up Monday night in MEXICO CITY MEXICO! 

Eddie looks around at the crowd cheering him on before reaching out and shaking Bret's hand, accepting his offer! Eddie Guerrero will join Chris Jericho and Lance Storm on Bret Hart's Dungeon team in the 3 Team Elimination Match set for Judgement Night this Monday night! LIVE ON USA NETWORK! 

*****

"The Total Package" Lex Luger makes his way out to the ring solo as the commentators talk about his new manager Lance Wright headed to the emergency room after having a pen stabbed in his back by Sting earlier tonight. Lex is set to take on a mystery opponent with a spot on Sting's Squadron for the 3 Team Elimination Match on Monday night at Judgement Night. Luger truly has no idea what is in store for him. Heenan and Shiavonne speculate amongst each other who this man could be, nobody knows, but it must be somebody special to be here competing for a spot on the Squadron. Macho Man Randy Savage joined earlier tonight so there is really no telling who this could be....

The crowd anticipation grows as Lex is on standby in the ring. All of a sudden the whole Arena comes unglued when AHMED JOHNSON'S MUSIC HITS THE PA SYSTEM! WHOAH! Ahmed comes out jacked to the gills with intensity, wasting little time in blitzing the ring to take on Luger!... 

Singles Match

Lex Luger vs Ahmed Johnson

Luger is in total shock and disbelief! He didn't sign up for all of this! The referee urges Luger to engage or defend himself but he's in such utter disbelief that he's frozen! Ahmed Johnson has the crowd at a fever pitch as he beats the hell out of The Total Package! 

The crowd gets even crazier as Sting and Macho Man Randy Savage come out to the entrance isle to watch the match, the 3rd spot on Sting's Squadron is on the line! Ahmed Johnson takes Luger out with an amazing flying shoulder block that sends him flopping through the ropes out the floor! Ahmed waits for Luger to recover to his feet before wildly flying over THE TOP ROPE WITH A PLANCHA! The Total Package gets taken out! Ahmed recovers into the ring hyping the crowd up as Lex Luger is slow to recover on the floor. The ref's count hits 5 as Lex finally rises to his feet, only to walk the opposite direction of the ring! Screw this! Luger is walking out!... 7.... 8..... 9..... 10! 

Ahmed Johnson wins by countout! Lex Luger walks away from the match! Sting and Randy Savage pass Luger on their way to the ring to welcome Ahmed to Sting's Squadron in a brilliant celebration! Sting has recruited Randy Savage and AHMED JOHNSON to his Squadron for the 3 Team Elimination Match on Judgement Night, but who is the 4th man on his team?!?... 

*****

After the commercial break we get a special highlight music video set to Keep Their Heads Ringing by Dr. Dre, hyping up the upcoming Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors pay per view LIVE from the outdoor pavilion at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Nevada on February 18th 1996! Tickets to the event sold out in just minutes, all of the sports media around the world is covering the HUGE boxer vs wrestler main event as "The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield will face off against the baddest man on the planet, Aleksandr Karelin, Russia's 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling in the Super Heavyweight Division. 

***Special Attraction***
Heavyweight Showdown

"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Aleksandr Karelin

vs

Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

The montage shows Holyfield boxing highlights mixed with his grueling training camp for this match, working with American wrestler Dave Shultz in takedown defense. Karelin's brutal suplex highlights segue into clips from his incredible run in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match last weekend where he eliminated 6 men(the most of anybody). The Terminator call by Paul E. Dangerously during Karelin's walk out to the Rumble replays at the end of the music video; "THIS man is the Michael Jordan of all combat sports today, this man can't be bargained with, he can't be reasoned with, he doesn't feel pity, remorse, or fear!".... 

*****

We return from the final commercial break of the evening with ring announcer Dave Penzer getting the crowd hyped for our following main event 8 man elimination style tag match! The crowd comes alive when The Four Horsemen entrance music brings out JJ Dillon leading Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, Brian Pillman(wearing big dark sunglasses covering a badly bruised eye), and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair!

The Horsemen make their way into the ring and Ric Flair takes the microphone from Penzer to cut a promo about the upcoming 3 Team Elimination Match set to take place in Mexico City Mexico, in the Azteca Stadium! Flair sends the message to Bret Hart and Sting, for the teams that they put together tonight for Judgement Night on Monday night, it's just not good enough. You are looking at the premier 4 man team in the history of this sport, this is a legacy of greatness WHOOOO! Arn takes over the promo with intensity, saying that they are here tonight to prove a point! Arn directs his attention to Brian Pillman, who has black eyes and a cut under his eye stitched up from his insane publicity stunt running onto the field during Super Bowl XXX(and rumored to have at least tried to pull his genitals out) last Sunday night.

Chris Benoit gets up close looking at Pillman as Arn tells him he's walking on REAL thin ice right now, he's lucky that JJ Dillon was able to get him out of jail and on a plane here to Texas for tonight's match. Pillman takes off his sunglasses and just smiles at Arn and Benoit(who isn't smiling back) as he's told that he needs to get his act together and figure out what he wants to do tonight! Bring out the sacrificial lambs, and feast your eyes on a preview of what's to come for the poor souls that made the mistake of signing up to face off against The Horsemen on Judgement Night!...

The Horsemen get disrobed and in their corner as Savio Vega leads out Marty Jannetty, Bob Holly, and Barry Horowitz. The 4 men walk out high fiving the fans in the isle as Shiavonne and Heenan say they are being told that this team was put together by JJ Dillon to challenge the Horsemen to warm up for Monday night in Mexico....

Eight Man Elimination Tag Match

The Four Horsemen
Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, & Brian Pillman
vs
Marty Jannetty, Bob Holly, Savio Vega, & Barry Horowitz

Chris Benoit starts the match off for the Horsemen against Barry Horowitz and it's just a total beat down, sickening chest chops and a vicious German suplex with a bridge that finishes Horowitz off with a quick 1... 2... 3 after just 39 seconds! Horowitz is already eliminated!

Bob Holly takes the ring quickly to take the fight right to Benoit, landing some offense before getting countered and sent flying over the top rope with a back body drop to the floor! Holly takes a NASTY spill and he's out on the floor! Brian Pillman rushes to put the boots to Holly like a crazed madman! Pillman pulls Spark Plugg up and whips him across the ringside area into the steel guard railing with sickening force! Bobby The Brain Heenan shouts WHAT THE (CENSORED) ARE YOU DOING as Pillman grabs him by his collar at the ringside commentary table in a psychotic outburst! Heenan throws down his headset and walks off in an awkward moment while Pillman rolls Holly back inside the ring to get chopped down with knife edges from Benoit in the corner!

Heenan regains his composure in the isle and returns to his spot at the booth apologizing, saying he was worried that Pillman was going after his neck he's a real loose cannon, he's truly lost his mind. Back to the match in the ring and Benoit has Bob Holly laid out for a devastating FLYING HEADBUTT!... 1... 2.... 3! Bob Holly has been eliminated!

Unbelievable, The Crippler is arguably the top ranked wrestler in Best Of The Best right now after his submission victory over Bret at the pay per view. Shiavonne notes that Benoit is currently atop the rankings with an undefeated record, the AOL polls have only Ahmed Johnson ahead of him in the fan vote. Now he's carried the load in the first 4 minutes of this match and eliminated half of "Team New York" as they were referred to by JJ Dillon.

Savio Vega and Marty Jannetty have their backs against the wall against the entire Four Horsemen! They manage to get the crowd to back them and they ride a wave of momentum, tagging in and out to work Chris Benoit over and wear him down. Vega gets a nearfall on Benoit before getting countered with a suplex later on. Benoit tags out to Pillman who comes in and dominates Savio Vega. The commentators note how much Brian Pillman has changed here lately just in the last few weeks, just think about how far he's drifted away from the fan favorite Flyin' Brian we all knew and loved back in WCW. Pillman beats the hell out of Savio Vega like a savage animal, choking him in the ropes, stomping him, gouging his eyes, fish hooking his face, just ridiculous.

Pillman appears to have Savio Vega finished off after a brutal piledriver but instead of going for the pin he slaps Arn Anderson hard on the chest to tag him in! Arn looks at Pillman like he wants to choke his face! Pillman smiles at Arn and does the rolling camera taunt from his Hollywood Blondes days while Arn enters the ring with his eyes on him!

Arn comes in destroys Savio Vega with a brutal SPINEBUSTER for the pinfall elimination. It's all down to Marty Jannetty vs the entire Four Horsemen! There is no way! Jannetty comes in and has all of the fans behind him! Marty puts the punches to Arn, Pillman, Benoit, and Flair in a crazy flurry! He's fired up! The crowd goes NUTS! The ref is busy trying to restore order as Pillman recovers and kicks Jannetty right in the groin from behind! Marty goes down in agony turning colors! JESUS WHAT A SHOT!

The crowd cheers as Ric Flair gets tagged in as the legal man and he works Marty Jannetty over with all of his signature moves before finishing him off with a Figure Four Leg Lock to give the Horsemen the clean sweep victory after 9:21! The show goes off the air with the Horsemen celebrating the victory humbly with Arn and Pillman eyeing each other WE'RE OUT OF TIIIIIIIIME!!!!!

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
February 3rd, 1996

Joey Styles welcomes the television audience to tonight's episode of Worldwide with a hard opening of the shot inside the BOTB Arena inside Universal Studios Florida, a smaller intimate theater style studio that is lit up like a Nickelodeon game show, with roughly 500 fans in attendance dressed as tourists on vacation. Jason Ahrndt and Phil Apollo are in the ring ready to go as The American Males make their entrance high fiving the fans on the way to the ring. Joey Styles hypes up the colossal episode of Judgement Night that is now less than 48 hours away. This is one episode of Judgement Night that you do not want to miss, this will be a pay per view caliber event LIVE from Aztec Stadium in Mexico City!

We are also just 2 weeks away from Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors LIVE on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Vegas! The night after BOTB's return to PPV on Judgement Night we will see the World Tag League season kick off, with the 12 week road to crown the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! Every tag team in the world will be fighting to get a spot in the league during the next 2 weeks, starting tonight with former WCW World Tag Team Champions in 1995 The American Males trying to get their first win here at BOTB. Scotty Riggs and Marcus Alexander Bagwell were one of the most promising young tag teams in the dying days of WCW last year. They made their debut in BOTB on the January 15th 1996 episode of Judgement Night getting defeated by the Eliminators....

Tag Team Match
The American Males(Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs)
vs
Jason Ahrndt & Phil Apollo

Bagwell and Riggs return to prime form with their first win in Best Of The Best, taking out Ahrndt and Apollo with ease in just 2:54 after Riggs pinned Ahrndt following a double missile dropkick. Joey Styles notes on commentary that this team desperately needed this victory as the World Tag League approaches... 
 

*****

After the match we cut away to a special breaking news report from Worldwide international correspondent Mike Tenay, with a breaking report from Japan that Akira Maeda has defeated Mitsuhara Misawa to capture the All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown World Heavyweight Championship title. The victory was the deciding victory in a 4 match series between the 2 leagues this past week in Tokyo Japan with RINGS coming out of this event stronger than ever. The super show at the Tokyo Dome drew the biggest crowd in AJPW history.

During the event Rings went 3-1 against AJPW wrestlers. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka defeated Kenta Kobashi, Kiyoshi Tamura defeated Toshiaki Kawada, and Maeda captured the Triple Crown by defeating Misawa in the main event(Akira Taue's victory over Yoshihisa Yamamoto was AJPW's lone victory in the 4 match series). This coming at the same time that Nobuhiko Takada's UWFI promotion has invaded the New Japan promotion, with Takada currently holding their IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Takada issued the challenge for NJPW to send their mightiest warrior to face him on neutral soil in Mexico City in one final battle between the two rival promotions. The match was set and has been announced it will be NJPW's Shinya Hashimoto challenging Nobuhiko Takada for what will be NJPW's final chance to recapture their beloved IWGP Title LIVE this Monday night on Judgement Night on the USA Network! 

*****

After the break we get the intro of Jeff Jarrett set to make his one on one debut in Best Of The Best here against a tough high flyer Mr. JL from Minnesota. Jarrett surprised many with one of the longest runs in the 30 Man Champions Rumble last Saturday night, where he lasted 24:30(4th longest run in the match) and eliminated Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Mikey Whipreck, and Dan "The Beast" Severn(with help from Chris Benoit). 

Singles Match
Jeff Jarrett vs Mr. JL

Jarrett is able to match speed with JL but he's also able to stay a move or two ahead of him in an intellectual chess match. Styles talks on commentary during the match about how Jarrett has moved on from the country music singing gimmick here at Best Of The Best, he's still very cocky and outspoken, still a very large personality, but much more focused on wrestling instead of singing. He's able to finish Mr. JL off with a Figure Four Leglock submission at 4:21 for a victory in his debut! Some very clean technique here from both competitors in some sharp chain wrestling sequences. 

*****

After the match we get a recap of Judgement Night on Monday night and then Shockwave earlier tonight where the 3 Team Elimination Match was set up for this upcoming Monday night live on USA Network at 8 PM. Earlier tonight on Shockwave Sting and Bret Hart put their teams together for the 3 Team Match against The Horsemen. The card is STACKED to the level of a pay per view event, but it will be LIVE and FREE on the USA Network this Monday Night at 8!... 

THIS MONDAY NIGHT Live on Judgement Night on USA Network 8pm

From Stadium Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico!

World Title Unification Match

Undisputed World Championship vs Mexican National Heavyweight Championship

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels(C) vs Konnan(C)

plus....

Three Team Elimination Match

The Four Horsemen(Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit)

vs

The Dungeon(Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, & Eddie Guerrero)

vs

Sting's Squadron(Sting, Randy Savage, Ahmed Johnson, & ?)

The Final Battle

IWGP Heavyweight Championship

UWFI vs NJPW

Nobuhiko Takada(C) vs Shinya Hashimoto 

No Disqualification Match

Harlem Heat vs The Smoking Guns(W/Dory Funk Jr.)


Head to Head
Vader(W/Jim Cornette) vs Ultimo Dragon

3 Team Elimination Match Rules:

The match will start off with 3 wrestlers, one man from each team.

Each team will draw numbers 1-3 determining order of wrestlers entering the match. Teams will be free to choose what order their wrestlers are sent into the match.

A new man will enter the match, one at a time, every 5 minutes, starting with the next man up from the team that drew #1. The next 5 minutes will bring out the next man up from the team that drew #2. After another 5 minute countdown the next man up from the team that drew #3 will enter the match. Wrestlers will continue to enter every 5 minutes until all men have entered the match. 

Wrestlers can be eliminated at any time by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope to the floor(both feet).

Per the BOTB Championship Council, the winning team captain will be the new #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Title, while their 3 team mates will be given elite priority ranking in any future leagues, tournaments, or title opportunities in Best Of The Best.

In the end... There can be only one.... team....

Within the same segment Joey Styles hypes up the next Best Of The Best pay per view on February 18th it will be Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors with the fight that has all of the international sports media buzzing, an unbelievable special attraction main event, boxer vs wrestler, USA vs Russia, The Real Deal vs The Russian Experiment, Holyfield vs KARELIN! 

***Special Attraction***
Heavyweight Showdown

"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Aleksandr Karelin

vs

Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

After the commercial for the event we get a Worldwide exclusive footage of an interview Joey Styles was able to get with Evander Holyfield, the former Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. In the interview Holyfield was accompanied by his spiritual advisor Benny Hinn of the Benny Hinn Ministries, the faith based healer that Holyfield credits for curing him of the heart disease that nearly ended his career(Holyfield donated a quarter million to Hinn's church afterward). Holyfield talks in the interview about how he knows with the power of god through Benny Hinn ministries accompanying him throughout his training camp for this fight, he will face Aleksandr Karelin with no fear. This is the challenge that Holyfield seeks, to become the baddest man on the planet....

*****

We return from the final commercial break with Saturn and Kronus making their entrance to Demanufacture by Fear Factory as their opponents watch on from the ring in awe at the very sight of the most dangerous tag team in wrestling in 1996. Joey Styles recaps Saturn and Kronus making a huge splash with their debut in Best Of The Best, they are currently undefeated in Best Of The Best and a lock to be featured in the upcoming World Tag League set to kick off at the MGM Grand in Vegas on Judgement Night on February 19th!...

Tag Team Match
The Eliminators(Saturn & Kronus)
vs
Chaz Warrington & Glen Ruth

This is just pure devastation here with The Eliminators making a statement with a brutal domination of Ruth and Warrington. The stereo superkicks, Kronus' handspring back elbow, Saturn's beautiful flying elbow drop, and a Total Elimination on Ruth finishes the match with a pinfall at 2:11! That has to be the absolutely most devastating moves in this entire sport today without a doubt.

Saturn gets on a microphone after the beat down and screams that they want in the World Tag League and they are coming for the Steiners! The Eliminators strike their trademark pose with Kronus down doing the splits and Saturn standing over him until all of a sudden Ric and Scott Steiner run out to attack them out of nowhere! All out madness ensues as THE STEINER BROTHERS ARE HERE ON WORLDWIDE! Saturn gets taken over the top rope to the floor before Scott drills Kronus into the canvas with a Screwdriver, vertical suplex turned into a JUMPING SITOUT TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!... OH MY GAAAAWD!...

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Estadio Azteca(Mexico City, Mexico)
February 5th, 1996

A very special 3 hour edition of Judgement Night hits the air LIVE from Mexico City with a hard opening shot of a crowd of over 90,000 in attendance in Estadio Azteca! Joey Styles goes through an opening monologue(TONIGHT... is JUDGEMENT NIGHT!) that segues into the 2Pac All Eyez On Me opening highlight montage. Fireworks and pyro explode over the ring and entrance upon the return to the live shot as commentators Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously(noticeably silent) welcome the television audience from their ringside commentary table! This tonight is without a doubt the biggest and most important event in the young history of Best Of The Best, with a colossal triple main event here live for 3 hours! 

JR sends it up to ring announcer Michael Buffer set in the ring to get the crowd fired up with the intro for tonight's first of 3 huge main events, the 3 team Triangle Elimination Match! Buffer gets the audience fired up with his trademark "LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAL!" intro as more fireworks explode over the open air stadium! As Buffer goes over the rules and stipulations for tonight's opening match(he's translated to Spanish for the live audience by new bilingual ring announcer Joel Gertner) we get backstage shots of the locker rooms of each of the 3 teams. The Horsemen are shown with grim serious looks on their faces with Brian Pillman smacking himself in the face in the corner to get himself fired up! The Dungeon locker room is shown next with Bret and Eddie lacing their boots up while the Thrillseekers go through warm up drills on the mats. Sting's Squadron is shown with the 4th mystery man noticeably missing, but Sting, Ahmed Johnson, and Randy Savage are huddled up discussing strategy. This is it folks, this is the big one, this is the match that could determine the future of Best Of The Best and all of professional wrestling for the rest of this year.... 

*****

Michael Buffer goes through the rules of the match as a computer graphic screen shows the stipulations and everything that is on the line.... 

3 Team Triangle Elimination Match Rules:

The match will start off with 3 wrestlers, one man from each team.

Each team will draw numbers 1-3 determining order of wrestlers entering the match. Teams will be free to choose what order their wrestlers are sent into the match.

A new man will enter the match, one at a time, every 5 minutes, starting with the next man up from the team that drew #1. The next 5 minutes will bring out the next man up from the team that drew #2. After another 5 minute countdown the next man up from the team that drew #3 will enter the match. Wrestlers will continue to enter every 5 minutes until all men have entered the match. 

Wrestlers can be eliminated at any time by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope to the floor(both feet).

Per the BOTB Championship Council, the winning team captain will be the new #1 Contender to the Undisputed World Title, while their 3 team mates will be given elite priority ranking in any future leagues, tournaments, or title opportunities in Best Of The Best.

In the end... There can be only one.... team....

The ring announcer finally brings out the first 3 men to get the match started, with the music of Bret "The Hitman" Hart hitting the speakers first! The Hitman comes out down the LONG entrance isle to the ring with a slight limp still with a heavily taped and braced knee that was savagely injured at the hands of Brian Pillman and the Horsemen last month(in the same attack where his coveted WWF Championship belt was destroyed).

The Horsemen's entrance music hits next to bring out "The Crippler" Chris Benoit as their first man out! Jim Ross notes that Chris Benoit is currently ranked #2 in the Best Of The Best rankings, he's undefeated with a 3-0 record including a HUGE upset submission victory over The Hitman in the second round of a gauntlet match where Bret attempted to take on the entire 4 Horsemen in one night. As Benoit takes forever to walk down the seemingly mile long entrance isle Jim Ross notes the near silence of his co-commentator Paul E. Dangerously, who was so shaken by the incident last week on Judgement Night that seen Mikey Whipreck paralyzed that he left his spot at the booth(presumably to go with Whipreck to the hospital). Paul E. tells Jim Ross to do his job, keep being a good puppet...

The crowd in the stadium goes NUTS when AHMED JOHNSON'S MUSIC HITS! Ahmed comes out to the ring running! Bret and Benoit stare each other down as Ahmed makes his way out as the first rep for Sting's Squadron!

vs vs

Ahmed, Bret, and Benoit hold their corners eyeing each other with intensity as the referee takes the center of the ring and prepares to call for the bell!..... 

Triangle Elimination Match

The Four Horsemen(Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, & Brian Pillman)
vs
Sting's Squadron(Sting, Randy Savage, Ahmed Johnson, & ?-?-?-?)
vs
The Dungeon(Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, & Eddie Guerrero)

Ahmed Johnson takes control of the ring early on after countering a series of exchanges and catching both Bret and Benoit with a double running clothesline that sends both men flipping to the canvas! Bret Hart gets pulled up by his hair and just violently thrown across the ring with unbelievable power! Chris Benoit recovers and chops Ahmed down only to get countered on an Irish whip and press slammed! 

Bret finally recovers and staggers Ahmed with punches and kicks before Chris Benoit recovers and attacks him from behind, ripping him up into a release German suplex that sends him flying several feet before crashing and flipping over onto the canvas! Benoit immediately follows up by pulling a dazed Ahmed into a Northern Lights suplex with a bridge! Benoit's double suplex was so fast that the ref was slow to drop and make the count, only getting a 2 before Ahmed kicks out! Benoit is pissed! The referee backs down into the corner but stands by his 2 count! 

Just as Benoit argues with the ref Bret rolls him up and gets a 2.999999! Benoit BARELY kicks out! Bret downs Benoit with kicks and stomps before directing his attention to a recovering Ahmed Johnson, putting him back down with a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP!... 

The five minute clock begins to wind down with the crowd counting down the final seconds in Spanish, OCHO... NUEVE... DIEZ!..... 

Arn Anderson
Four Horsemen

Unbelievable! The Horsemen have drawn the #1 spot and have sent Arn out as their next man up! Arn hits the ring and goes right to work on the knee of Bret Hart with a vicious attack! Benoit and Arn work together to completely dominate Bret Hart and Ahmed Johnson for the next 5 minutes, getting several nearfalls, targeting the knee of The Hitman until the 10 minute mark sets the buzzer off to bring out the next man from the team that drew #2....

Lance Storm
The Dungeon

One half of The Thrillseekers, the 26 year old Lance Storm from Calgary makes his way out to back up Bret Hart as Jim Ross brings up his recent debut on Shockwave this past Saturday Night, where he reunited with Chris Jericho and earned their spots on Bret's team for tonight by winning their debut against a tough Armstrongs tag team. Just before Storm makes it into the ring Arn Anderson counters Ahmed Johnson and puts him down with a BRUTAL Spinebuster! Arn goes for the pinfall but Ahmed barely manages to kick out!

Lance Storm teams up with Bret Hart to take on Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit for the remainder of the 5 minute period, with Storm/Bret taking the upper hand after Storm counters Benoit and hits him with a perfectly executed handspring back elbow smash in the corner! Bret drops Arn into the ropes in a way that causes his arms to get entangled and stuck! Storm directs his attention to Ahmed in an attempt to get him over the top rope as Bret goes after revenge on Chris Benoit! The Hitman hobbles on his hurt knee as he beats Benoit around the ring! Bret struggles through the pain in his knee as he locks and turns him in the SHARPSHOOTER IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! Benoit screams and fights to reach for the ropes but he can't move! Arn is forced to watch helplessly entangled in the ropes as Benoit is forced TO TAP OUT!

ELIMINATED: Chris Benoit(Horsemen) 14:09

Bret has avenged his submission loss by eliminating Chris Benoit with the Sharpshooter, INCREDIBLE! Benoit is forced to the dressing room by officials as Bret limps over to put the boots to Arn, dropping him out of the ropes and out onto the apron! The Hitman directs his attention to Ahmed Johnson and teams up with Storm to try to force him over the top rope as the final seconds count down to hit the 15 minute mark and bring out the next man from Sting's Squadron, who have drawn the #3 spot....

"The Macho Man" Randy Savage
Sting's Squadron

Randy Savage sets the crowd off with the biggest pop of the night so far as he sprints out to the ring full speed! Bret and Lance Storm have Ahmed Johnson completely upside down hanging on by a thread until Savage hits the ring to save him! The Macho Man drops Bret and Lance Storm to save Ahmed from elimination and the two of them take control of the ring as the crowd LOSES IT!

Savage and Ahmed f&#$ up Bret/Storm and Arn Anderson for the rest of the 5 minute period with the crowd going ape sh## the whole time! Finally the buzzer goes off at the 20 minute mark to bring out the next man from The Horsemen....

Brian Pillman
Four Horsemen

This loose cannon makes his way out to the ring as Jim Ross talks about his rocky status with the Horsemen, this could be the make or break match right here that determines his future as a Horsemen. Pillman makes it into the ring and immediately there is tension with him and Arn Anderson, even though the two of them manage to work together to overtake Randy Savage and Ahmed Johnson. At one point Pillman goes to land a punch on Lance Storm when Storm drops out of the way last second, causing Pillman to nearly hit Arn on accident! Pillman pulls the punch to avoid hitting Arn and cracks a huge smile at him, patting him on the chest! Arn scolds Pillman in the middle of the ring, shouting at him to go after Lance Storm! Storm rolls Pillman up from behind for a 2 count that sends Pillman off the deep end with a vicious attack after kicking out. Storm has his eyes nearly gouged out and red scratches on his face after rolling around with Pillman in an awkwardly stiff exchange that has to be pulled apart by the other wrestlers in the ring!

Arn pulls Pillman off of Storm only for Pillman to rip out of his clutches and turn to grab him by the throat in the corner! Arn's eyes open huge before he pushes The Loose Cannon away from him, batting his arm off his throat!

The ring is full of chaos as the 25 minute mark hits to bring out the next man!....

"Lionheart" Chris Jericho
The Dungeon

Lionheart tips the odds in the favor of The Dungeon with a 3-2-2 advantage! Jericho hits the ring and immediately works in tandem with Lance Storm to clean house with swift technical double team moves! Ahmed and Savage both get dropped by The Thrillseekers for nearfalls! The 5 minute clock begins to wind down with The Dungeon controlling the ring until the next man out for Sting's Squadron sets the crowd OFF as his entrance music hits right at the 30 minute mark of the match!....

Sting
Sting's Squadron

IT'S STING! THE STINGER IS HERE! The crowd goes NUTS! Sting casually walks out to the ring with a smile looking around at the huge crowd as Jim Ross questions, if Sting has taken the 3rd spot on his team WHO could be the mystery 4th man on Sting's Squad!??!? The Stinger hits the ring like a bat out of hell, teaming up with Randy Savage and Ahmed Johnson to kick everybody's ass! Sting's Squadron dominates for most of the next 5 minute period until Arn Anderson counters Ahmed Johnson by pulling the top rope down and sending him over the top to the floor! 

ELIMINATED: Ahmed Johnson(Sting's Squadron) 33:49

It's back down to The Dungeon having a 3-2-2 advantage with Bret Hart and The Thrillseekers taking on Sting/Savage and Arn/Benoit(who are fighting each other at this point). Bret Hart and Randy Savage are tied up in a stalemate in the corner as The Thrillseekers retake control of the match by working together to cool Sting down while JR notes on commentary that we all know who will be coming out in the next 2 spots, Flair is the last man left for the Horsemen(set to come out next), while Eddie Guerrero is the last man left for The Dungeon. What we don't know is who the 4th man is on Sting's Squadron that will be the last man in!?!?!

The brawl in the ring is all out until all of a sudden Bret Hart and Randy Savage has Arn Anderson almost completely upside down over the top rope with Arn barely hanging on! Brian Pillman notices Arn hanging by a thread and goes to try to lift Bret Hart over the top, pushing Arn the rest of the WAY OVER THE TOP TO THE FLOOR AS A RESULT!

ELIMINATED: Arn Anderson(Horsemen) 34:29

Arn drops to the floor in total shock as he looks up at Pillman near the ropes where he was pushed out PISSED! The referees fight to hold Arn back as he screams for Pillman! YOU'RE DEAD!

The crowd swells in anticipation as the final seconds of the 5 minute clock wind down to bring out none other than..... 

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Four Horsemen

Flair enters the ring with the look of a man focused desperately on recapturing the Undisputed Championship that he lost on pay per view last month. JJ Dillon takes Flair's robe before The Nature Boy takes the ring and cleans house with sickening chest chops on an exhausted Randy Savage and Bret Hart! Flair pushes Pillman and smacks him in the face before pointing at him! Pillman puts his hands up with a big smile before flashing the four fingers Horsemen symbol to Flair with a crazy laugh! It's The Thrillseekers trying to get Sting out in one corner as Randy Savage has Bret cornered with punches in another! Flair turns away from Pillman and catches Chris Jericho by surprise in the corner, lifting his legs up and sending him bouncing over the top rope from the apron to the floor!....

ELIMINATED: Chris Jericho(The Dungeon) 36:19

As Storm is distracted with Flair, Sting catches him and sends him over the top rope with a clothesline, sending him flipping off the apron and slamming into the padded floor with sickening force! Storm is out!....

ELIMINATED: Lance Storm(The Dungeon) 36:25

The final seconds on the five minute clock expire to bring out the final member of Bret's team at the 40 minute mark of the match.....

Eddie Guerrero
The Dungeon

Eddie hits the ring and immediately backs Bret Hart up as the last two members of their team fighting against Sting/ Randy Savage, and Ric Flair/Brian Pillman in a six man melee! Eddie dominates the match with dropkicks and arm drag takedowns before catching Sting with a Tornado DDT for a close 2 count! Eddie fights off Ric Flair before dropping Pillman with a BRAINBUSTER! Eddie makes the cover but Pillman's foot is under the ropes! Eddie brings the crowd in Estadio Azteca to their feet by dragging Pillman away from the ropes and going up to the top rope for a Frog Splash! Pillman rolls out of the way last second and Eddie smashes into the canvas!

Randy Savage and Ric Flair tear into each other in a wild and chaotic battle that takes center stage of the match, with both men totally exhausted. Savage downs Flair and goes for a flying elbow drop but Pillman drags Flair out of the way, sending Mach crashing down into the canvas! Flair recovers and locks Savage in the Figure Four Leglock! Brian Pillman SHOCKS the world by kicking Ric Flair in the face over and over again just out of nowhere! Flair gives up his Figure Four on Savage and rolls around clutching his face! Pillman pulls Ric Flair up and tries to eliminate him from the match as Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit suddenly come running back out to the ringside area in complete shock!

Flair holds onto the ropes with a cut bleeding from his forehead as Brian Pillman tries to push him over the top! Randy Savage recovers and charges both men, only for Pillman to drop out of the way and cause him to overshoot and flip over Ric Flair and flip with him over the top! Both men spill onto the apron but Flair manages to hold onto the ropes and keep one foot from touching! Savage is OUT!

ELIMINATED: Randy Savage(Sting's Squadron) 44:02

Randy Savage is going CRAZY! Ric Flair is bleeding out everywhere! Arn and Benoit round the corner to put the boots to Randy Savage! Sting and Eddie Guerrero lock up and go at it in a thrilling exchange before Eddie gets countered and back body dropped by Sting OVER THE TOP ROPE ONTO ARN ANDERSON AND CHRIS BENOIT ON THE FLOOR! All three men are OUT!....

ELIMINATED: Eddie Guerrero(The Dungeon) 44:28

It's down to Bret Hart, Sting, Brian Pillman, and a bleeding Ric Flair! Sting and Bret tie up and go toe to toe with a series of punches that sets the stadium crowd into a frenzy! STING VS BRET F#%KING HART! All of a sudden Ric Flair comes up from behind and drops Sting with a low blow! DOWN GOES STING! Flair and Pillman manage to overtake Bret and Sting in the final seconds of the 5 minute period, as the anticipation grows for whoever the mystery man is, the final 4th man on Sting's Squadron, his final and only hope.....



The entire world seemingly stops spinning in the final seconds of the countdown.... the music hits....  100,000 people GO APE SSSSSSHHHH#####TTTT WHEN.....

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}

{Spoiler}

AWWW GOOOD GAAAAWD.... THATS THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!! HE'S HERE! HE'S THE 4TH MAN ON STING'S SQUADRON! 

The Ultimate Warrior
Sting's Squadron

UNFU###ING BELIEVABLE~~~~~~~ THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!!! HE'S BACK!! HE'S HERE! THIS PLACE IS GOING NUTS!!! The Warrior's music sets the crowd off into one of the biggest crowd pops in the modern history of live events as he comes running out full speed to the ring totally JACKED! Warrior hits the ring and goes right after Ric Flair and Brian Pillman! Both men are sent flying with punches and headbutts! Pillman gets picked up and press slammed onto Bret Hart! JESUS! 

This is INSANE! The Ultimate Warrior and Sting have reunited! The Hitman is the lone survivor of his team up against Warrior & Sting, and Flair/Pillman! Warrior goes to send Flair into the ropes just as Pillman tries to pull the top rope down to get up, sending The Nature Boy OVER THE TOP TO THE FLOOR!..... 

ELIMINATED: Ric Flair(Horsemen) 46:03

Flair is helped up by Arn and Benoit ringside as the Horsemen are PISSED! The referees are joined by security helping to keep them back from the ring as they are chomping at the bit to get their hands on Brian Pillman! He's FINISHED as a Horsemen! But he's still their lone survivor in this match!!!.... 

It's down to Warrior and Sting against Brian Pillman and Bret Hart, who have no choice but to help each other! Pillman brawls with Sting as Bret gets a beating from a still totally jacked Ultimate Warrior! JR on commentary notes that Bret has been in there now almost 48 minutes! 

Pillman counters Sting and sends him over the top rope to the apron but Sting holds on to stay in it! The Loose Cannon attacks The Ultimate Warrior from behind with a HUGE dropkick that sends him crashing into the corner turnbuckles! Bret and Pillman work together to finish Sting off on the apron and send him crashing to the floor!.... 

ELIMINATED: Sting(Sting's Squadron) 48:11

The Stinger is OUT! Unbelievable! It's down to 1 man as the lone survivors for each team! The Warrior, Brian Pillman, and Bret Hart are the final three! The Ultimate Warrior drops Bret and lifts Pillman over his head, holding him for a moment before running and lobbing him over the top rope onto ALL THREE OF THE HORSEMEN!!! 

ELIMINATED: Brian Pillman(Horsemen) 48:41

Pillman smashes into Flair, Arn, and Benoit knocking everyone down on impact! The Horsemen are completely eliminated from the match! It's down to Bret Hart against The Ultimate Warrior in the FINAL SHOWDOWN!


The Warrior sends Bret into the ropes and hits him with his FLYING SHOULDER BLOCK!


Down on the floor The Horsemen recover and begin beating the ever loving sh#t out of Brian Pillman in a wild brawl! Benoit and Pillman roll around gouging each other's eyes as Flair and Arn put the boots to The Loose Cannon!


Back in the ring The Warrior lifts Bret up and goes for his finish, the Guerrilla Press Slam followed by the running flying splash! Bret rolls over and gets his knees up to drive them into Warrior's midsection on his way down with the splash! 


Both Warrior and Bret roll around in pain as Brian Pillman gets the beating of a lifetime from Arn, Benoit, and Flair on the floor, with a squad of referees unable to pull them off! As Bret and Warrior recover and battle it out Pillman is able to fight his way to his feet using the ropes to try to pull himself onto the apron to escape The Horsemen! The Warrior counters Bret's irish whip sending him into the ropes that Pillman has pulled down, causing The Hitman to flip over the top and crash off the apron into the floor for the final ELIMINATION! THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR WINS THE MATCH FOR STING'S SQUADRON! 

ELIMINATED: Bret Hart(The Dungeon) 51:07

Bret Hart is PISSED! Security has stormed the ringside area to break up the melee as Brian Pillman escapes through the crowd! Chris Benoit is going CRAZY trying to go after him! Security has their hands full holding The Horsemen back! STING has brought his former tag team partner THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR here to Best Of The Best to help him WIN the Triangle Elimination Match tonight! Bret Hart after being the last man eliminated after lasting the full 51 minutes in this match is completely beside himself arguing with the officials about Pillman pulling the rope down! The celebration continues on in the ring without him, Sting returns to hug it out with The Ultimate Warrior in a valiant celebration with confetti raining down from the sky above Estadio Azteca... 

This place is OUT OF CONTROL! Randy Savage and Ahmed Johnson come back out to join Sting and The Ultimate Warrior in the ULTIMATE celebration, Sting's Squadron have won the Triangle Elimination MATCH! The Bladerunners are here in BEST OF THE BEST!.... WE HAVE TO GO TO A COMMERCIAL BREAK!!! 

*****

After the commercial break we get a shot of Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously at their commentary table ringside where Jim Ross recaps the insanity of the opening hour of tonight's episode of Judgement Night. JR finally breaks down and asks Paul E. Dangerously what is with him!? What's your deal? JR tells Paul E. they have a job to do this is live TV pal, do your job. Paul E. Dangerously snaps back at JR in an awkward moment where he just loses it, getting more and more intense as he insults him and tells him he's sick and tired of listening to his voice here every week!


Paul E. Dangerously stands up and throws his headset down before taking the ring with a microphone!....


Dangerously cuts a promo introducing himself, speaking directly into the television camera as he talks about his job here at Best Of The Best for the last 6 weeks as commentator sitting next to a wart of a human being Jim Ross. Paul E. says that he is a former promoter and owner of ECW, a former manager of World Champions, and he was promised the world when he sold his soul to the owners of this promotion at the end of last year! Paul E. reveals that he was the one that was originally supposed to be the Executive President of this promotion, it was a job that he was passed over for Eric Bischoff.... 


Paul E. says he was promised the world, but he was given a job as a lowly commentator instead. Dangerously reveals that he's finished with it, he's reinstated his managers and promoters licenses and he's about to make everyone pay for all of the lies, all of the false promises that were made to him when he signed with Best Of The Best. Paul E. Dangerously vows to make this company pay for all of their sins and it all starts tonight! 


All of a sudden the BOTB Executive Vice President Eric Bischoff comes out with 3 security guards with him en route to the ring with a PISSED look on his face! 

Eric Bischoff and Paul E. Dangerously have a stand off in the middle of the ring in the middle of Estadio Azteca where things get intense! Bischoff threatens Dangerously to sit back down and do his job or he's about to be fired! Dangerously informs Eric Bischoff that he no longer works for him, he QUITS! "With all due respect... Mr. Executive President.... F#$* YOU!". Paul E. informs Eric Bischoff that he's just signed the most controversial athlete in this sport right now and he's about to turn THIS ENTIRE company UPSIDE DOWN! 


Paul E. Dangerously gets a shocked reaction from JR as he reveals that he did NOT leave his commentary spot last week to go to the hospital with Mikey Whipreck, who is now paralyzed for the rest of his life. Paul E. reveals that he left his spot at the commentary booth to go offer his legal services to a man that he has a past with, he went to get Steve Austin OUT OF JAIL!..... 


Paul E. brings out STEVE AUSTIN TO THE RING!..... 

Austin comes out with a new shaved head look as Jim Ross is in total disgust, this is the man that ended the career of the 22 year old kid Mikey Whipreck and put the kid in a wheel chair for the rest of his life, this man is completely merciless, he has ice water running in his veins, he's a stone cold, just the sight of him disgusts Eric Bischoff, who looks on in total disbelief and shock..... 


Austin joins Paul E. Dangerously in the ring as he tells Eric Bischoff that controversy moves the needle, CONTROVERSY brings the big time ratings that the people running this promotion want, THIS man right here last week reached out and grabbed his opportunity! THIS MAN, he's the one man that everybody in this business is talking about right now! STEVE AUSTIN! 


UNBELIEVABLE! Paul E. Dangerously has signed Steve Austin as his new client, he's put all of his legal resources behind his defense of his assault on Mikey Whipreck last week, he's the one that got him out of jail last week! Now he's brought Austin here officially, and the guy looks even more psycho than ever! 


Steve Austin takes the microphone and cuts a promo to Eric Bischoff telling him that he doesn't work for him, he's not here to be fed garbage every week, he's not going to be wrestling on Worldwide, he's here to run with the big boys! Austin tells Eric Bischoff he can take all the stupid karate kid bull$#it he's got going on around here and shove it up his ass! Austin tells Bischoff that he wants Michaels, he wants Flair, he wants Hart, he wants the Undisputed World Title and if Bischoff gets in his way he will snap his neck just like he did the 22 year old kid last week on live television! 


Paul E. Dangerously smiles with a dark sadistic grin as he stands behind Steve Austin looking on at a stunned and intimidated Eric Bischoff! All of a sudden more security guards come out accompanied by police!.... 


Steve Austin and Paul E. Dangerously bow out and make their exit as police and extra security join Eric Bischoff in the ring! This is INSANE! Paul E. Dangerously has quit his spot at the commentary booth here tonight and shaken up the entire Best Of The Best promotion by bringing STEVE AUSTIN here! 

*****

After the break Eric Bischoff's exit is interrupted when all of a sudden Shane Douglas comes out to stop everything....

Shane Douglas walks out to the entrance isle stopping Eric Bischoff in the ring, cutting a promo on his way to meet him about how it looks like everybody can get TV time around here EXCEPT for him, a FU#%*NG TOP 10 RANKED WRESTLER! Douglas confronts Eric Bischoff about not even being booked to wrestle here tonight on the biggest show of this promotion's god forsaken existence! Douglas reveals that it was Eric Bischoff that brought him here and signed him to a contract, so far everything that he's been promised has been bull$*@t!


Douglas cites the lack of opportunities he's gotten so far here in Best Of The Best, meanwhile Dick Flair and the Four Horsemen were given the biggest joke of a 4 man team to take out this past Saturday night on Shockwave in the fuc*&ing disgrace of a main event. Shane Douglas tells Eric Bischoff that he could beat all 4 of the men that he set up to face The Horsemen by himself right here RIGHT NOW! BRING THEM ON! 


A shaken and frustrated Eric Bischoff lets loose on Shane Douglas threatening to send him packing! Bischoff tells Douglas that it was him that signed him to be here at Best Of The Best, and it can just as easily be him that fires him right now! Bischoff tells Shane that he's had enough of the ego's like his in the back locker room, it's out of control! Bischoff snaps and grants his wishes! Shane Douglas will take on all 4 of the men that faced The Horsemen in the Elimination Tag Match on Shockwave last Saturday night. Bischoff adds the stipulations for each of the 4 matches if Douglas should make it that far, each match will be.... LOSER LEAVES TOWN!..... TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! 


Shane Douglas gets PISSED! He's FIRED UP! Bischoff walks out with his team of security guards as all of a sudden Barry Horowitz comes out for the first match of the gauntlet that has been laid down!..... 

Loser Leaves Town Match

Shane Douglas vs Barry Horowitz

Barry Horowitz stands no chance, quickly getting countered by Shane Douglas from an irish whip attempt reversed into a BRUTAL belly to belly SUPLEX! Douglas drives Horowitz into the canvas with sickening force, clipping him with a headbutt that knocks him completely out on impact! Douglas makes the cover for the pin..... 1.... 2.... 3!


Incredible! Barry Horowitz has been taken out by Shane Douglas in just 11 seconds! Douglas puts the boots to him to kick him out of the ring as all of a sudden Savio Vega comes sprinting out to the ring to attack him from behind! The referee finishes pushing Horowitz the rest of the way out of the ring before calling for the bell!....

Loser Leaves Town Match

Shane Douglas vs Savio Vega

Savio Vega takes Shane Douglas by surprise and dominates him for a solid two minutes before being countered and reversed for a razor close 2.9999 count from a Fisherman Suplex with a bridge! Douglas proceeds to dismantle Savio Vega, kicking him around with total disrespect, trash talking him as he sets him up to put him away with a devastating belly to belly suplex for the pin after 3:16!


Jim Ross calling the action solo from the ringside table cites the most impressive technical craftsmanship of Shane Douglas here sending both Barry Horowitz and Savio Vega packing from Best Of The Best here with back to back victories in under 4 minutes! Bob Holly comes out with a focused look of determination on his face with his career at stake here. Shane Douglas catches his breath and adjusts his wrist wraps as the referee calls for the bell!....

Loser Leaves Town Match

Shane Douglas vs Bob Holly

Bob Holly comes in and STUNS Douglas with an answer for his every move! Holly gets the crowd going and puts the fear in Shane Douglas as he takes him into deep water, dominating him for most of the better part of 5 minutes. Douglas lands a cheap shot that turns the momentum in his favor but Holly quickly makes a comeback with a series of arm drag takedowns into a rest hold. Douglas begins to wilt as the match reaches the 10 minute mark, with Bob Holly having an advantage of being the fresher man!

Holly ends up losing his position as Douglas fights back with his career on the line! Shane Douglas grounds Bob Holly in a chin lock to wear him down and slow the pace but Holly rallies to fight his way through and escape the hold! Bob Holly beats Shane Douglas down and sets him up for a flying crossbody off the top to put him away and run him out of the territory! Shane Douglas recovers last second and catches Holly on the way down to counter him with a BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX! BOB HOLLY IS OUT COLD!.... 1.... 2.... 3!

UNBELIEVABLE! Shane Douglas has defeated Bob Holly after 12:15! Douglas has won 3 matches back to back to back! Shane Douglas struggles to recover and catch his breath after going almost 16 minutes so far against 3 different men! Marty Jannetty makes his way out as Jim Ross talks about how Shane Douglas is in deep water here, Jannetty is an incredibly talented wrestler, the former tag team champion partner of the current Undisputed Champ Shawn Michaels, Jannetty is completely fresh here!

Loser Leaves Town Match

Shane Douglas vs Marty Jannetty

Marty Jannetty comes out and gets the crowd hot by beating Shane Douglas from pillar to post, arm drags, drop kicks, face busters, and a flurry of punches up in the corner that gets the spanish counting going! Shane Douglas is spent! Marty goes for the Rocker Dropper but Douglas counters him by flipping him over and knocking him out with a brutal Lariat! Both men are down and out!

Shane Douglas cheats to control Marty Jannetty and slow the pace down for several minutes but he's just been in there way too long at this point. Jannetty fights through and wins the crowd over with a valiant comeback, dominating Shane Douglas with huge moves for several RAZOR close nearfalls, a HUGE Superplex, a flying elbow drop, even a perfectly executed superkick to the face, only for Shane Douglas to kick out of everything at 2.9999999!

Douglas is completely out of it but so is Marty Jannetty after a desperate, intense pace for over 12 minutes of thrilling back and forth action with both men's BOTB careers on the lines! Finally Marty Jannetty goes up to the top rope for a high flying move only for Douglas to recover and follow him up! Douglas locks Jannetty up and pulls him off the top turnbuckle, DRIVING HIM DOWN WITH A BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX OFF THE TOP! Both men bounce off the canvas on impact! Shane Douglas struggles to crawl over and drape and arm over Marty Jannetty for the pin.... 1..... 2..... 3!


Jim Ross can't believe it on commentary! Shane Douglas has defeated 4 men right here IN A ROW! Douglas has defeated Barry Horowitz, Savio Vega, Bob Holly, and Marty Jannetty(the entire team that The Horsemen defeated last week on Shockwave!) one after another, wrestling a total of over 30 MINUTES!

Shane Douglas recovers to his feet barely able to stand, totally exhausted, clutching his arm, limping, about to cry he's so jacked with emotion and intensity as his arm is raised for the 4th time in a row!....

*****

Just before the break we get a brief advertisement for Bushido coming this Thursday night at 8:05 on TBS The Superstation, it will be the rematch from the pay per view last month, TAZ vs KAMA II and this time.... THERE ARE NO RULES! The Human Suplex Machine.... vs.... The Supreme Fighting Machine...... Two Men Enter.... ONLY ONE OF THEM WALKS AWAY!..... 

*****

After another round of commercials we get the entrance of Harlem Heat, perhaps the top ranked tag team in Best Of The Best today! Harlem Heat make their way out to the ring as Jim Ross recaps their run ending as the final ever WCW World Tag Team Champions when the promotion closed it's doors at the end of 1995. Harlem Heat are a dead lock and a favorite in the upcoming World Tag League set to determine the very first ever Best Of The Best World Tag Team Champions.... 

The Smoking Guns, Billy and Bart make their way out with their recently hired manager and trainer that has given them a new hardcore edge, the legendary Dory Funk Jr. JR recaps the Smoking Guns finishing as the final ever WWF World Tag Team Champions and these two tag teams have been eyeing each other here in Best Of The Best since the beginning of this promotion last month! This match is certainly a major preview of the upcoming World Tag League as this has to be the two top contenders going in.... and this is NO DQ!.... 

Tag Team Match
No Disqualification

Harlem Heat vs The Smoking Guns(W/ Dory Funk Jr.)

This clash of the final ever WWF and WCW World Tag Champs spirals all out into violent carnage as Billy and Bart drop all tagging and make this a full on brawl, old school Funk style, just as they have been training under Dory Jr. Booker T and Stevie Ray have their hands full early on but begin to take an advantage once all four men brawl into the crowd using steel chairs. Dory Funk Jr. watches on from the ringside area as the brawl goes off into separate directions, Billy Gunn vs Booker T, and Bart Gunn vs Stevie Ray in the crowd of Estadio Azteca! 

The brawling and madness takes over with chairs, piledrivers, trash cans, tables that wont break, and fan obscured camera shots. The Smoking Guns take the upper hand once the fight returns to the ringside area once Dory pulls out a roll of barbed wire to pass to them! The Guns work together to set Stevie Ray up for a drop onto the barbed wire but Booker T makes the save at the last second and sends Bart falling into the tangled mess in the corner in a sickening moment! 

Booker T finishes Billy Gunn off dropping his face into a steel chair before scoring the pinfall after 7 minutes of MADNESS! Harlem Heat have defeated The Smoking Guns! What a huge victory for the team that at this point has to be considered the uncrowned best tag team in the world and the odds on team to beat going into the upcoming World Tag League set to kick off on February 19th! 

After Harlem Heat make their exit the Smoking Guns are shown totally beaten, with Bart Gunn bleeding from several spots in his back from the barbed wire use backfiring to work against them! Billy Gunn recovers and he's pissed! Both Billy and Bart argue among each other as Dory Jr. tries to get them to pull it together! 

All of a sudden Billy and Bart shockingly turn on Dory Funk Jr. and attack him! Jim Ross is outraged on commentary, SOMEBODY HAS TO STOP THIS! The legendary former World Champion Dory Funk Jr. is savagely beaten before being backdropped INTO THE BARBED WIRE! AW GOOD GAWD! The Smoking Guns leave Dory Jr. shivering in agony as we cut away from this to commercials.... 

*****

After the break we get a highlight montage narrated by Joey Styles showcasing the incredible dominance of Russian Greco Roman wrestler Aleksandr Karelin, the man that is set to take on former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, "The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield in a HUGE main event, boxer vs wrestler LIVE on pay per view from the Outdoor Pavilion of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on February 18th 1996!

Joey Styles in the video talks about Aleksandr Karelin's dominance in Greco Wrestling only matched in the sports world by perhaps Michael Jordan in the NBA. Karelin won the Olympic Gold medal in Greco for the Soviet Union in the dying days of the Cold War in 1988, then again representing "The Unified Team" after the fall of the Soviet Union at the 1992 Olympics. The 2 time Gold Medalist is a proud Russian and will be fighting for the honor of his country against America when he takes on Evander Holyfield at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors on pay per view on February 18th!

Weighting in at 286 pounds Karelin is brutally strong and nearly impossibly to move. This was proven when he entered the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at the #4 spot and lasted an incredible 42 minutes, eliminating 6 men(the most of any competitor). Now Karelin will be looking to defeat America for his country as he represents Greco Roman Wrestling against American boxing, Evander Holyfield in a heavyweight showdown, can Karelin take Holyfield down? Can he keep Holyfield down? This hybrid rules boxer vs wrestler match will be a true test of might for both of these warriors, and this match has attracted main stream media coverage from around the world. All eyes will be on Caesars Palace on February 18th for Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors for Karelin vs Holyfield! 

*****

The crowd finally comes alive for the following special attraction match as the rudo Vader makes his way out with his manager Jim Cornette accompanied by Owen Hart and The British Bulldog! Camp Cornette get boo'd, with drinks, locks, and batteries being thrown at them on their long trek down the half mile long entrance isle in Estadio Azteca!

The crowd comes unglued with the BIGGEST pop of the night so far as Hijo Del Santo comes out with the Mexican flag flying proudly. The Mexico national anthem is played prior to the match and the fans are on their feet as the referee goes over his final instructions!....

Special Attraction

Vader vs El Hijo Del Santo

Vader completely annihilates El Hijo Del Santo with the crowd growing more and more restless throughout the straight beatdown. Del Santo takes a beating but shows heart by trying to fight back, only for Vader to shrug his dropkicks off and stiffen up on his arm drags, pummeling him with clubbing forearm strikes and body shots.

Trash begins to fly into the ring as Vader continues to no-sell all of El Hijo Del Santo's offense, batting him away like a fly. Santo suddenly sends the crowd off into a frenzy by countering Vader and staggering him with a flying knee strike to the face! Vader almost goes down! The ENTIRE stadium goes NUTS! Santo follows up with a flurry of shots that sends Vader falling into the ropes!

The crowd's cheers turn into violence when suddenly Jim Cornette distracts the referee for Owen Hart to connect with a forearm to Santo's face as he tries to pull Vader off the ropes! Santo collapses back down into the canvas clutching his head! One of the ringside fans has to be stopped by security after jumping the rail and trying to hit Jim Cornette! UNREAL! This place is going crazy!

Vader recovers and drops Santo with repeated Rock Bottom style chokeslams over and over again, pushing the referee down after he tries to step in! The ref calls for the bell before being thrown through the ropes to the floor by The Mastadon!

The crowd loses it as Vader, Owen Hart, and Bulldog destroy El Hijo Del Santo in the ring! Jim Cornette laughs it up and instructs his trio to hold El Hijo Del Santo up onto his knees so he can UNMASK HIM! GOD NO!

Just as Cornette goes to pull Santo's mask off all of a sudden.....

SABU SLIDES INTO THE RING WITH A STEEL CHAIR!.... SABU!!! 


The crowd goes bonkers as Sabu cleans house, smashing British Bulldog in the face with the steel chair before throwing it into Owen Hart's face! Bulldog and Owen hit the canvas and it's a face to face showdown with SABU AND VADER! SABU has saved El Hijo Del Santo and is FACE TO FACE WITH VADER!

Sabu takes the fight right to Vader in a violent exchange of punches, bobbing and weaving around Vader's shots before springboarding off the ropes to stagger the beast with a flying leg lariat! Vader loses his balance and rolls out of the ring!  Sabu quickly sets the chair up and runs the ropes to build up speed and springboard off of it, flying COMPLETELY over the top rope with a SOMERSAULT PLANCHA THAT TAKES VADER DOWN!

Sabu recovers to the ring to regain the steel chair as Jim Cornette rallies his men to retreat! SABU STANDS TALL! EXTREME JUSTICE! 

*****

After Jim Ross goes over Sabu's incredible highlight taking out Camp Cornette and saving hometown hero El Hijo Del Santo from being publicly humiliated here and unmasked in front of 90,000 fans, we cut away to Joey Styles backstage with an interview with none other than Cactus Jack....

Joey Styles asks Cactus Jack what his thoughts are on the recent events with his former tag team partner Mikey Whipreck being severely injured and having his career brought to an end last week. Cactus talks very down to earth and very realistic, almost as if it were Mick Foley talking and not the Cactus Jack character. The man says that what he witnessed here last week on Judgement Night with the 22 year old kid being put into a wheel chair for the rest of his life was sickening, in fact it was the most disgusting form of entertainment that he's ever seen in his life. Cactus tells Joey Styles that it was enough to make him truly think about his purpose in this business, whether he still has that boyhood dream of being like Shawn Michaels, the Champ, the Ladies Man, but is it all worth it to end up in a wheel chair paralyzed from the neck down, trying to please a bunch of bloodthirsty fans that don't care. Cactus tells Joey Styles that he doesn't think it is worth it before walking out on the interview....

*****

After commercials we get a shot of the entire 6 man Championship Council present ringside for the following co-main event of the evening. Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Nick Bockwinkle, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, and Karl Gotch are seated in their thrones in the ringside Council area, with Antonio Inoki shown seated close by, and across them on the opposite side of the ring sits Akira Maeda, the godfather of the Rings promotion that recently invaded AJPW(Maeda is shown holding all of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship that he recently captured from Misawa in Japan). 

Both Hashimoto and Takada make their elaborate entrances as Jim Ross plays up the international importance of this heavyweight title match for the crown jewel of the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, the IWGP Heavyweight title. This is the culmination of the feud between two rival promotions. UWFI invaded NJPW last year and their fiercest warrior Nobuhiko Takada captured their IWGP title by defeating Keiji Mutoh this past January. This match will be the final battle and New Japan's final chance to regain their world title.... 

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
The Final Battle
UWFI vs NJPW

Nobuhiko Takada(C) vs Shinya Hashimoto

Flash bulbs light the match up as both warriors put it all on the line in an epic 20 minute battle for the ages. The brutality and stiffness is unmatched, as both men beat the hell out of each other with hard kicks, knees, forearms, and suplexes. Hashimoto nearly finishes Takada off with an armbar but Takada manages to put the last warrior of NJPW down for good after his 3rd head kick knockdown, this time Hashimoto doesn't get up.... 

The Championship Council and Antonio Inoki look on in horror as Hashimoto fails to answer the referee's 10 count, this match is stopped! Nobuhiko Takada has defeated Shinya Hashimoto by knockout to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship! New Japan Pro Wrestling has failed in their final bid to regain their prestigious title and one has to wonder where this promotion will go from here. The UWFI group is now stronger than ever, and their Imperial Edict Of Battle issued to Lou Thesz and Best Of The Best last month has taken on an all new meaning with this.... 

Nobuhiko Takada celebrates the victory with his dojo strapping the title belt around his waist as Akira Maeda is shown standing with his Rings dojo watching on from the audience. Takada and Maeda eye each other after the belt is buckled around the waist of Takada, with the intensity boiling over in their eyes.... 

*****

After the match we cut away to a special video package put together highlighting The Real Deal, Evander Holyfield in his training for the upcoming showdown against Aleksandr Karelin. The clip showcases Holyfield's training camp where he has crossed over to work with the Foxcatcher wrestling team with Dave and Mark Shultz. Training clips are accompanied by interview clips with Dave Shultz where he reveals that they have been focusing on preparing Holyfield for Karelin's crushing upper body clinching power as well as trying to give Holyfield the skills to be able to keep this fight standing to give him the advantage.

The clip segues into Holyfield's spiritual training for this match where he has enlisted the services of Benny Hinn Ministries, the healer that cured him of the heart condition that nearly forced him to retire from boxing.... 

Holyfield donated a quarter million dollars to Hinn's ministries after being cured by Jesus through his hands. Benny Hinn is interviewed during the video package with him saying that this match with Holyfield vs Karelin is not about sports this is about pure evil, the evil of Karelin is a demon sent from Satan. In the interview Benny Hinn states that for Holyfield to defeat Satan it will take an act of supernatural power, he pleads for all viewers to put their hands on the TV to be blessed and protected from the devil, to be healed, for John 3:16 said that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life....

Evander Holyfield is shown in the interview saying that he feels with the glory of god he can conquer all things, he will be ready to face Karelin in Las Vegas with Benny Hinn Ministries in his corner for the fight and the glory of god protecting him from evil. 

*****

Michael Buffer brings Estadio Azteca to their feet for tonight's MASSIVE main event, the match that everyone has paid to see here tonight, the national hero Konnan putting his Mexican National Championship on the line in a unification bout with the BOTB Undisputed World Title! Konnan makes his entrance first to a heroes welcome from the 90,000 fans in attendance. The Heartbreak Kid makes his entrance next with the big gold Undisputed World Championship with Jose Lothario accompanying him. Michaels has the eyes of a warrior as he takes the ring for his first defense as World Champion against a dangerous international challenger in his own back yard.... 

Undisputed World Championship Of Professional Wrestling

"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels(C) vs Konnan

HBK puts it all on the line against a man that has a crowd of 90,000 behind him in his home arena. The crowd goes nuts for all of Konnan's offense, bouncing Michaels around the ring. Whenever Michaels fights back and lands a move he's boo'd mercilessly, eventually turning him against the crowd during the course of the match. Drinks and objects fly into the ring and down to the ringside area towards Michaels throughout the match as he overtakes Konnan and puts him away with the Sweet Chin Music for a decisive pinfall victory after 13:35! 

HBK and Jose Lothario are forced to make a quick exit with security as the crowd protests the finish! Michaels gets the crowd going even worse by flipping them off and spitting at them on his way out! What an unbelievable victory here for Michaels in his first title defense here taking on Mexico's most dangerous warrior in his own home country, unifying the Undisputed World Title with the Mexican National Heavyweight Title here in our main event! JR goes over the replay of HBK's Sweet Chin Music dropping Konnan for the pinfall and WE ARE OUT OF TIIIIIIME!!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
February 8th, 1996

Mike Tenay welcomes the television audience to tonight's episode of Bushido from the legendary historic Manhattan Center in New York City! Tenay is joined by co-host Phillip Rhee, the star actor and screenplay writer for the hit Best Of The Best action films. We are coming off the heels of perhaps the biggest event in this promotion's very young history so far with the WILD night in Mexico City this past Monday night. The Ultimate Warrior is back, Nobuhiko Takada may have delivered the deathknell to New Japan Pro Wrestling for UWFI by defeating Shinya Hashimoto, and Paul E. Dangerously has quit his position as commentator and reinstated his managers license, signing Steve Austin just days after he put Mikey Whipreck in a wheelchair for perhaps the rest of his adult life.

Tonight's episode of Bushido is going to be HUGE, as we are set for a major main event rematch, Kama against Taz only this time, THERE ARE NO RULES! Two men enter, only one will walk out of this ring tonight! Also, The Ultimo Dragon is in action in Hybrid Rules representing Lucha Libre against Dutch Kickboxer John Kleijn in our opening match! Tenay kicks up to the ring for ring announcer Joel Gertner set for the opening contest!....

*****

Joel Gertner goes through the intro for tonight's opening matchup with the news for a new layout of the rounds for the Hyrbrid Rules bouts that you will see here on Bushido from now on. From now on all Hybrid Rules bouts will be contested under 3 rounds, with the first round being 10 minutes long. The second and third rounds will be 5 minutes each! 

Both The Ultimo Dragon and his opponent John Kleijn are already in the ring in their corners as the crowd gets hyped from Gertner's intro! Referee Big Johnn Mccarthy brings both men to the center as we see the size difference here with the kickboxer being much taller and heavier than the cruiserweight Ultimo Dragon. Mike Tenay talks about the draw that Dragon went to against K-1 Kickboxing Champion Peter Aerts on Bushido last month, in a match that started a rivalry between both men. They met again in the 30 Man Champions Rumble where Aerts eliminated Dragon with a high kick that sent him over the top rope. Dragon illegally re-entered the match and dropkicked Aerts into the arms of Dan Severn, who suplexed him out of the ring for the elimination. Now Dragon gets a chance at revenge against another K-1 kickboxer from Holland.... 

Hybrid Rules Match
Lucha Libre vs Dutch Kickboxing
Ultimo Dragon vs John Kleijn

The opening 10 minute round starts out very slow as both men take their time feeling each other out early on. Finally Kleijn finds his range and unloads some leg kicks but Dragon is able to leap over them! Dragon finds his range late in the round and lands some low kicks of his own! Both men tie up in the corner in a clinch that has to be broken up due to lack of action. Upon restart Dragon finds an opening and lands a DEVASTATING spinning back kick right to Kleijn's mid-section! Kleijn nearly collapses into the corner clutching his gut! Dragon unloads with a lethal combo of palm strikes and kicks before rolling the gloved kickboxer down into a fujiwara armbar! 

The kickboxer struggles through the pain on the mat refusing to give up as he fights slowly to get a foot to the ropes! Big John forces Ultimo Dragon to break his hold immediately before restarting the match standing! The crowd cheers as the Kickboxer comes out throwing heavy leather, hard overhand rights trying to knock Dragon out! Dragon uses crafty footwork to evade Kleijn's kayo shots before springboarding off the ropes and downing him with a MOONSAULT PRESS! Dragon holds his position and works his arms around Kleijn's neck during the scramble on the mat, raising up into the position for the DRAGON SLEEPER! Kleijn is forced to tap out immediately! Ultimo Dragon wins by submission at 6:51 of the first round! 

Ultimo Dragon celebrates the victory with intensity as he has his arm raised. Upon the instant replay it's ringside analyst Don "The Dragon" Wilson(a kickboxing legend) that points out something very intriguing on the animated telestrator about Dragon's use of Lucha Libre to defeat a very skilled and very tough kickboxer here tonight. As we all know there are only 3 phases of hand to hand combat, standing(where a striker like a kickboxer would be at his strongest), in the clinch(where arts like Greco wrestling and Judo excel), and on the ground(where traditional wrestlers usually are at their strongest). But one thing about this hybrid rules match that Wilson points out on the instant replay is that Dragon with Lucha Libre was able to take the fight to a 4th phase of combat..... mid-air.... The moonsault off the ropes into the Dragon Sleeper hold was truly most impressive. 

*****

After the match we get a highlight music video set to the Terminator 2 theme song showcasing the absolute pride of the country of Russia; Aleksandr Karelin, 2 time Olympic Gold medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling and a national hero to a nation that was in crisis after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In order to understand what Karelin means to his country one would have to understand the financial collapse of his of his mother Russia. Russia suffered a historic recession in the early 1990's after the fall of the USSR, causing an economic collapse even worse than what the USA suffered in the Great Depression. 

***Special Attraction***
Heavyweight Showdown
"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Aleksandr Karelin

vs

Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

The highlight reel shows him walking the streets of his home city being followed and adored by his people as he looks on at the poverty stricken community that he inspires so greatly. An interview with Russian news is translated with Karelin revealed to have said that it made him sick to walk the streets of America last month wrestling for Best Of The Best, to see their country thriving and to see his completely broken truly hurts his heart.

The footage cuts in and out of Karelin training footage along with clips of him in action winning the Gold in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Games. Karelin's most dangerous weapon is his devastating trademark "Karelin Lift", which he has mastered and can land at almost any moment from any position. His 290 pound size and strength advantage is unmatched by anyone in the world. When this monster meets Evander Holyfield at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors live on pay per view this will truly be a battle for the ages, a heavyweight showdown, USA vs Russia, BOXING VS WRESTLING!...  

*****

After the break we get another special highlight segment set to classical Japanese music introducing and focusing on the Best Of The Best Championship Council; a governing body of 6 of the all time greatest legends of the sport of wrestling. The head chairman of the council is Lou Thesz, with the other 5 councilmen being Danny Hodge, Verne Gagne, Billy Robinson, Karl Gotch, and Nick Bockwinkle. Last week we took a closer look at each Councilman individually here on Bushido, tonight we take a closer look at this governing body that controls all competitive aspects of Best Of The Best. 

The footage from the Championship Council's final hearing is shown with them finalizing the ruling that a vote must be held to induct a 7th member to the Council. It was ruled that the vote must be unanimous, and that the 7th Councilman would be set to be revealed on February 18th at the Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors pay per view event in LAS VEGAS!

The highlight also shows footage from the same hearing with the Council discussing their disapproval of Nobuhiko Takada and the UWFI and their disappointment in Shinya Hashimoto's failure to recapture the IWGP Heavyweight Title in his final battle for New Japan Pro Wrestling. The Championship Council shows fear for the Takada Dojo now at the foot steps of Best Of The Best. Fear for what Akira Maeda and the Rings group has done to All Japan Pro Wrestling. The balance has been thrown out of order and it is now up to Best Of The Best to make a stand....

The segment caps with the news that the Championship Council has chosen to honor one of the possible candidates for the 7th and final spot on their Council, right here on Bushido next week we will see a special honorary ceremony for none other than Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Fujiwara is one of the supreme godfathers of all Japanese Pro Wrestling, a mentor to many of the shooters in UWFI and Rings(as well as the Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling promotion). The Council hopes to honor Fujiwara here on Bushido next week with hopes that he can offer a solution for how to face the UWFI and Rings shoot revolutions that have overtaken Japan and are at the footsteps of American wrestling... 

*****

After the video we get a special sit down interview with Bushido co-host and fight analyst Don "The Dragon" Wilson on location with the training camp of Olympic Gold medalist freestyle wrestler Kevin Jackson! The news is broken that Kevin Jackson is set to make his one on one in-ring Best Of The Best debut against Hunter Hearst Helmsley LIVE on Judgement Night on the USA Network next Monday night from the San Diego Sports Arena!

Kevin Jackson has been a force in Freestyle Wrestling, winning gold at 181 pounds in the 1992 Olympics. Jackson also won Gold medals in Freestyle Wrestling at the 1991 and 1995 World Championships. Jackson made major sports news when he opted to forego a run at the 1996 Olympics this Summer in Atlanta, instead signing an exclusive contract with Best Of The Best in January. Jackson immediately entered a grueling training camp to turn pro, making his impressive debut in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match at the very first ever BOTB PPV last month. In the match Jackson lasted over 16 minutes(tied for 5th longest run in the match). The biggest moment came when Jackson eliminated Aleksandr Karelin after he at that point had been the longest lasting man in the match. Jackson ended up being in the final 5 of the Champions Rumble before being eliminated by the crafty veteran Arn Anderson. Now KJ is set to make his official one on one debut against Helmsley LIVE on Judgement Night NEXT MONDAY NIGHT!

*****

Ring announcer Joel Gertner gets the Manhattan Center crowd to it's feet by announcing that the following match is the main event of the evening and in this match.... there are... NO rules....

Kama, "The Supreme Fighting Machine" makes his way out first without any music. The commentary team recap his weigh in last night at 330 pounds, standing at 6' 6" he has quite a size advantage over Taz, who weighed in last night at 238 and stands at 5' 9". Kama appeared to be on a roll here when he debuted at Best Of The Best last month without any manager, he was refocused and in the best shape of his career until he ran into Taz at A New Beginning last month on pay per view. It was in the match that Taz choked Kama unconscious with his controversial choke hold the Kata Hajime in just :39.

The crowd comes alive when Kiss' War Machine hits the Manhattan Center speakers to bring out "The Human Suplex Machine" TAZ! Taz marches out solo with a shredded black towel over his face, breathing deep as he wipes his boots before entering the ring! Referee Big John Mcccarthy has his hands full with this one as both men can hardly hold back from tearing into each other in the center face off prior to the bell! This is the REMATCH that everyone has been waiting for, Taz vs Kama II, NO RULES! LETS GET IT ON!!

No Rules Match
Taz vs Kama II

Kama storms Taz with a violent attack right at the bell! Taz gets floored with a takedown and battered with ruthless elbows and closed fist strikes! Taz manages to sweep Kama over and reverse him near the ropes, smashing him with elbows before the referee stops him to stand both men back up! The crowd is INTENSE! Kama takes a much more aggressive approach compared to their first battle, keeping constant swarming pressure on Taz with a flurry of punches and knees! Taz fights back by locking Kama up and tossing him END OVER END WITH A JUDO THROW!

Taz takes longer and takes much more punishment but soon finds an opening to drop Kama on his head with a T-BONE TAZPLEX! Kama is finished off with the Kata Hajime at the 4 minute mark but this time he's forced to TAP OUT! Taz has to be peeled off of Kama after the tap by the referee!

War Machine hits the music as the crowd cheers Taz on with his hand raised in victory! The Human Suplex Machine has taken Kama out, this time forcing him to tap out! Kama came in with a much more aggressive strategy and it seemed to be working at times, he definitely put up a much tougher fight this time but in the end he suffered the same fate, a brutal suplex that sets him up to submit to one of the most devastating choke holds in Judo. Taz is officially one of the baddest men in Best Of The Best....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

America West Arena(Phoenix, AZ)
February 10th, 1996

Shockwave hits TBS with Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan welcoming the television audience with a shot of a packed crowd of over 7,000 here at the America West Arena in Arizona! We are here for 2 hours tonight with a full night of WRESTLING the way it should be. There are no martial arts matches here on Shockwave, and unlike Judgement Night on Mondays on USA, this is a wrestling show, with Bobby Heenan, Tony Shiavonne(and backstage interviewer Mike Tenay). A wrestling show you can watch with the whole family, right here on TBS: THE SUPERSTATION!

You can still feel the buzz from the Super Bowl that was here just a couple of weeks ago and tonight Best Of The Best is on the road to The Revenge Of The Warriors LIVE on pay per view on Sunday night February 18th 1996 from Caesars Palace in LAS VEGAS! Tonight's huge show is PACKED with the biggest stars in the sport today, in our main event we will have the very first QUALIFYING match for the World Tag League set to kick off later this month, plus STING is here for the official ceremony to crowd him the new #1 CONTENDER to the Undisputed World Title after his Stings Squadron team defeated Bret Hart's Dungeon and The Four Horsemen in the Triangle Elimination Match this past Monday on Judgement Night!

The opening intro is quickly interrupted with the Four Horsemen theme song hitting the speakers! "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair makes his way out with Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and their legal advisor JJ Dillon...

Flair gets the crowd going as soon as he takes the microphone, but The Horsemen waste little time in sending the message to Brian Pillman. Pillman is officially FIRED from the Horsemen after costing them the Triangle Elimination Match on Monday night! He's FINISHED as a Horsemen, and he's a MARKED MAN! Flair says that Brian Pillman cost him the Undisputed World Championship and he needs to watch his back from now on. Arn takes the mic and reveals that The Horsemen have began to scout for a NEW 4th man, starting TONIGHT! Arn and JJ Dillon will have their eye on a few prospects beginning right here tonight on Shockwave!...

Arn also sends the message to Bret Hart, Sting, and especially the man holding the Undisputed World Championship, Shawn Michaels, nothing is over. The Horsemen took a huge loss in Mexico City on Monday night, they are down to just 3 for the time being, but make no mistake about it nothing is over with and that's the bottom line.... 

*****

After the first round of 1996 TBS commercials(Rogaine has monoxodil, proven to stop male hair loss) we get the former US Marine Sgt. Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman making his entrance waving the USA flag, red, white, and blue. Pittman takes the mic and issues an open challenge to any foreigner in the back, anybody from anywhere that isn't a proud American come out and face him here and NOW! Pittman's open challenge is quickly accepted by the 600 pound former WWF Champion, YOKOZUNA! UNBELIEVABLE! 

Shiavonne and Heenan talk about Yokozuna's HUGE win recently over popular boxer Butterbean in a huge main event match on Bushido here on TBS a couple of weeks back. It was the biggest win in Yokozuna's singles career in a long time and a victory that puts him right back in the rankings for the Undisputed Title. 

Singles Match

Yokozuna vs Sgt. Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman

Yokozuna completely destroys Pittman for a quick pinfall after just 1:26. The superkick was the devastating knockout blow, but the Bonzai Drop was just devastating. After the match Yokozuna got the boo's from the crowd by draping the USA flag over Pittman's unconscious body and dropping another Bonzai Drop onto the flag! 
 

*****

After the match we get a special music video montage set to Burning Heart by Survivor from the Rocky IV soundtrack. The video shows the vastly different worlds of the two warriors set to clash at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors live on pay per view on February 18th 1996....

Two worlds collide... rival nations...   It's a primitive clash, venting years of frustrations...

The biggest boxer vs wrestler showdown in recorded human history is set to take place at BOTB II, it will be former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, "The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield taking on 2 time Russian Olympic Gold medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling in the superheavyweight division, Aleksandr Karelin. This will be the ultimate battle between USA against Russia and it will be live on pay per view from Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas.

Is it East versus West... or man against man?....  Can any nation stand alone?..... 

The news was broken this week on the BOTB hotline that both Aleksandr Karelin and Evander Holyfield were signed to face off with a guaranteed $550,000 for each man, but the winner will be awarded a prize of $2.6 million. That totals out to a total winnings of $3.15 million to the man that has his hand raised at the end of the 3 rounds. The training camps for both men have been furious, and these two heavyweight killers are guaranteed to tear into each other when they clash in the ring in Vegas on the 18th. Holyfield has been working in takedown defense and grappling at the Foxcatcher wrestling team in Pennsylvania with Olympic medalists Mark and Dave Shultz. Meanwhile not much is known about Karelin's training in Russia.

Evander Holyfield will look to defend Karelin's clinching to keep the fight standing and land the knockout. Karelin will look to take Holyfield down to the ground quickly and will look to finish him with a submission or a pinfall. The bout will be contested under the same wrestler vs boxer hybrid rules that BOTB uses in the Bushido series on Thursday nights here on TBS.

In the warrior's code, there's no surrender... Though his body says stop, his spirit cries never....

One thing that is sure to be expected when Karelin and Holyfield face off man to man, there will be violence in the ring. These are without question 2 of the most dangerous bipedal mammals walking the planet today. This week on Bushido we seen footage of Karelin in the Russian news as a hero and savior to a nation that has struggled with poverty since the end of The Cold War a few years ago. Karelin has vowed to use all of his winnings to donate to a childrens hospital that takes care of the sick, children suffering from cancer, terminally ill, and burn victims in the pediatric center in Russia.

In the burning heart, just about to burst...  There's a quest for answers, an unquenchable thirst...

In the darkest night, rising like a spire... In the burning heart the unmistakable fire!



***Special Attraction***
Heavyweight Showdown
"The Real Deal" Evander Holyfield vs "The Russian Experiment" Aleksandr Karelin

vs
Live on pay per view February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

If he should win the $3.15 million dollar purse Evander Holyfield has vowed to donate all of his winnings to the Benny Hinn Ministries televangelist that he credits with curing his heart ailment that nearly ended his boxing career last year. Hinn has been a controversial figure after claiming to be a conduit for Jesus to perform acts of the supernatural(he was reported to have elaborate $7 million dollar house and millions in luxory vehicles). Hinn stirred up a lot of controversy in a recent interview when he called Karelin a demon sent from hell that needed to be killed by Holyfield in Las Vegas on February 18th live on Pay Per View at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors! 

*****

The conclusion of the Survivor music video brings us back to the America West Arena where the dark facepainted luchadore from Mexico; Damien 666 is wrapping up his entrance ready for our following match. Dean Malenko makes his entrance next as Tony Shiavonne calls him "The Man Of 1,000 Holds" and "The Iceman" during his stone cold walk out to the ring. Malenko lost the very first ever Best Of The Best match(against his arch rival Eddie Guerrero) here on this very program last month. The Iceman rebounded to even his record out at 1-1 with an impressive win over Scott Armstrong here on Shockwave on January 13th....

Singles Match

Dean Malenko vs Damien 666

Malenko gets pushed to his limits early on as Damien 666 turns this into a brawl that spills out onto the floor. Highlights of the match include Damien leaping off the apron to catch Malenko with a rana on the floor. Malenko gets slammed back first into the steel guard railing before taking a somersault senton off the apron while he's down on the floor hurt. Once the match makes it back into the ring The Iceman is able to retake control to ground the luchadore with rest holds to wear him down. As the match progresses all of a sudden Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon come out to the walk out area watching the match with great interest. Arn and Dillon seem impressed as Malenko begins to outclass Damien 666 before ultimately putting him away with a HUGE fireman carry gutbuster OFF THE TOP ROPE! Dean gets the pinfall 1, 2, 3 after 6:58! 

Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon talk amongst each other as they watch Malenko have his hand raised in victory, improving his record to 2-1. Heenan and Shiavonne talk back and forth whether or not Malenko is Horsemen material, could he be the 4th Horsemen? Both of them agree that he would make a great Horsemen. The Man Of 1,000 Holds certainly made a strong impression here tonight with a tough win. 

*****

We return from commercials with The Smoking Guns, Billy and Bart Gunn making their way out to the ring wearing different style clothes, sleeveless t-shirts(Billy is wearing Tracy Lawrence tour shirt with holes in it, Bart is wearing Metallica And Justice For All shirt) and blue jeans, with cowboy boots, but no cowboy hats(we're indoors after all, c'mon). They look... edgier.. almost like they have a new attitude. Tony Shiavonne and Bobby Heenan recap their vicious beat down of Dory Funk Jr. this past Monday after they lost to Harlem Heat in one of the biggest tag team matches in BOTB so far.

The Smoking Guns take the ring and Billy Gunn cuts a promo about their loss to Harlem Heat in Mexico City, blaming it all on their new manager Dory Funk Jr., and his ass has been fired on the spot. Billy says that they like some of what Dory had to teach them, they learned a lot in the short time they trained with him, but the bottom line was that he was just way too damn old! 

Billy Gunn says that the Smoking Guns are dead, what you are looking at here and now, you can call this.... The Hardcore Guns! 

All of a sudden Billy Gunn's promo is interrupted when the legendary Dory Funk Jr. himself comes out to the ring! Dory faces Billy and Bart and tells them both that they have a lot to learn about being hardcore, they need to learn respect! Billy and Bart jump him and put the boots to him! All of a sudden the crowd goes NUTS when TERRY FUNK runs out 

Terry saves his brother Dory Jr. by running the newly christened Hardcore Guns out of the ring! The crowd goes crazy! The LEGEND is here! TERRY FUNK! Billy and Bart Gunn retreat to the entrance isle PISSED as Funk gets a microphone and calls them out for a tag team match on Judgement Night on Monday night, The Funk Brothers vs The Hardcore Guns! Billy and Bart are fired up as they accept the challenge! It's on! 

*****

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby Heenan can't believe it, Billy and Bart Gunn have shown up here with a new attitude and apparently have a new name now, The Hardcore Guns. Bobby Heenan notes that the Hardcore Guns may not know what they are in for if they step into the ring with Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr., it doesn't matter how old these two Texans are they are way too crazy, with way too much experience. We are going to find out what Hardcore is all about when these 2 teams lock up on Monday night on Judgement Night at 8pm on USA Network, WHAT A SHOW THAT IS GOING TO BE! 

Heenan and Shiavonne kick it back to the ring where Brad Armstrong is wrapping up his entrance to the ring for the next match. Armstrong passes Terry and Dory in the entrance isle and shows his respect, getting patted on the shoulder by both legends before making it into the ring. Shane Douglas makes his entrance next to Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers with a myriad of boo's from the crowd welcoming him the second he walks out.

Bobby Heenan gives Shane Douglas credit for truly stepping up, stepping out, and grabbing the brass ring this past Monday on Judgement Night on the biggest show in this promotion's young history in Mexico City. Douglas came out to confront BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff where he ended up putting Bischoff on the spot, calling out and taking on the entire 4 man team that the Horsemen defeated here in the main event of this program last week. One after the other Douglas ran the gauntlet in a Loser Leaves Town series of matches, defeating Barry Horowitz(11 seconds), Savio Vega(3:16), Bob Holly(12:15), and Marty Jannetty(12:37), defeating all 4 men in a row in a total of nearly 28 minutes. Heenan says he likes this kid, he's young, he's hungry, he's angry, and he shot his name up the rankings by taking a huge risk this past Monday night, watch out for this guy... 

Singles Match

Shane Douglas vs Brad Armstrong

Douglas is challenged by Brad Armstrong in a very competitive opening period where it feels like Shane underestimated the veteran. Armstrong catches Douglas with big moves for close nearfalls before eventually getting countered with a brutal swinging neckbreaker from Shane. Douglas follows up with his running rolling neck crank where he flips over his opponent grabbing their neck while they are trying to get up. Truly a devastating maneuver. Armstrong is down and out clutching his neck as Douglas takes his time to taunt the crowd, shouting censored curse words at them, spitting at them, making obscene hand gestures that get censored. Shiavonne apologizes to the TV audience, saying that the censors really have to keep their finger on the button whenever this guy is on the screen. 

Douglas goes to work wearing Armstrong's neck down with holds when all of a sudden Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon come walking out of the back to the entrance area to watch with great interest. Douglas doesn't notice them as he's focused on breaking Brad Armstrong's will, but Anderson and Dillon study his technique and talk amongst each other as the match goes on. Armstrong gets the crowd to rally behind him to make a valiant comeback but he's cut off from out of nowhere when he's caught with Shane Douglas' perfectly executed Belly To Belly Suplex! LIGHTS OUT! 1... 2... 3! 

Shane Douglas has his arm raised for another victory after 7:41 but he quickly snatches away from the ref when he notices Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon watching him from the entrance isle! Douglas gets intense as he looks out at Arn and JJ Dillon with a fire in his eyes but we are forced to cut away to commercials.... 

*****

After the break we get a very special ceremony for the upcoming World Tag League in the ring as Mike Tenay is joined by the Best Of The Best CEO, Eric Bischoff! Tenay breaks the news that TONIGHT, we will reveal the first 3 tag teams that are signed to compete in the 12 week league that will crown the new Undisputed World Tag Team Champions. Tenay brings out the first team that has been signed, with Demanufacture by Fear Factory bringing out The ELIMINATORS! 

Saturn and Kronus take the ring as Tenay brings out the next team signed for the tag league, one of the greatest tag teams in the history of this sport, Ric and Scott, The Steiner Brothers! The Steiners enter the ring and have a tense stand off with The Eliminators, these two teams have been chomping at the bit to face off against each other. Mike Tenay reveals that both teams are in the World Tag League, but also they will both be in the SAME DIVISION, meaning they will face off TWICE during the course of the league!

Tenay then brings out the third team that has been signed. The crowd goes NUTS when Harlem Heat's entrance music brings them out to the ring! This is the pound for pound top ranked tag team in the world today, and they will be in the WORLD TAG LEAGUE! Mike Tenay mentions that later tonight in our main event we will see the qualifying match for the 4th spot in the league, it will either be The Thrillseekers or The Blue Bloods! All of a sudden Mike Tenay is interrupted when Jim Cornette brings out Owen Hart and The British Bulldog!....

The tension in the ring is boiling over as The Steiner Brothers, Harlem Heat, and The Eliminators are joined by Jim Cornette along with Owen Hart and The British Bulldog! Jim Cornette puts Owen and Davey Boy over as the best tag team in wrestling today, they are UNDEFEATED in Best Of The Best, and he's got the breaking news that he has managed to get a signed contract PUTTING THEM INTO THE WORLD TAG LEAGUE! Owen and Bulldog rub their hands together smiling as Cornette surprises Bischoff with the contract, it's official! A computer graphic comes up on the screen showing the format and the teams in so far....

Best Of The Best
World Tag League
1996 Season(February 19th-May 12th)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Harlem Heat	Steiner Brothers
Owen/Bulldog	Eliminators
??	??
??	??
??	??
??	??

The tension in the ring reaches a breaking point as The Steiners and Eliminators can no longer hold themselves back, THE FIGHT IS ON! Harlem Heat brawl with Owen and Bulldog as The Steiner Brothers and Eliminators try to kill each other! Referee's and security guards race out to try to break up the melee but it takes several minutes as all out chaos ensues in and around the ring, in the entrance isle, and in the crowd! 

*****

After the commercials we get violence still going on with The Steiner Brothers and The Eliminators brawl spilling out into the backstage area! Officials have managed to break up Harlem Heat's brawl with Owen and Davey Boy but The Eliminators and Steiner Brothers can NOT be pulled apart! They have made their way through the crowd into the locker room area!

We cut away from the backstage brawl with the infamous Raven walking out with his lackey Stevie Richards behind him wearing cut off daisy dukes and a shirt that has been cut off at the naval(along with the sleeves missing) with an airbrushed image of himself doing his sideways double chop pose. Such a clueless putz. 

Raven sits down in the corner looking around with a snarl, such a miserable human being, a living embodiment of everything that is wrong with the hopeless youth culture today in 1996. Stevie Richards takes the spotlight and cuts a promo about Mikey Whipreck, talking about how truly sorry and devastated they were to see his entire career ended two weeks ago on Judgement Night. Stevie says that if only Mikey had accepted Raven's offer to join us, he would still be able to walk today! All of a sudden Stevie is interrupted when Cactus Jack comes walking out to the ring! 

Cactus takes the ring and this brings Raven to his feet to the center to face him! Raven snatches the microphone from Stevie Richards and facepalms him away from him before asking Cactus Jack where the hell he's been!? Cactus hesitates for a while before telling Raven that seeing his little buddy Mikey Whipreck put in a wheelchair for the rest of his life was something that has changed him. Cactus tells Raven that he regrets leaving Mikey to get hurt the way he did, they were tag team partners, he should have been there to protect him but he wasn't! Cactus blames himself for what happened to Mikey Whipreck before telling Raven that he's through with a lot of things, he's through trying to please a bunch of bloody thirsty fans that don't give a damn, and he's through with Raven and Stevie! 

Cactus stands his ground as Raven steps up to him face to face! All of a sudden Stevie Richards SUPERKICKS Cactus in the back of the head from out of nowhere! Cactus goes down! Raven SNAPS and attacks Cactus Jack like a crazed madman! Cactus gets knocked out of the ring where Raven peels up the padding and drops him ON THE CONCRETE WITH A DDT! Cactus is out cold! Raven and Stevie Richards walk out as Cactus is laid out twitching and quivering on the concrete! 

*****

Mike Tenay is shown backstage with a locker room interview with none other than Jeff Jarrett, who is coming off of an impressive win over Mr. JL last week on Worldwide. Jarrett was also the 4th longest lasting man in the 30 Man Champions Rumble at A New Beginning last month where he lasted an impressive 24 minutes. In that Rumble match Jarrett eliminated Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Mikey Whipreck, and Dan "The Beast" Severn(with help from Chris Benoit).

Jarrett tells Mike Tenay that he heard the news that the Four Horsemen were now looking for a new 4th member, nobody is better suited for that position than Double J. Jarrett says that he has always dreamed of being a Horsemen, he believes he is the most qualified man for the position, he believes he deserves that 4th spot because of who he is, where he comes from, and who his father is, it's in his heritage, it was meant to be! Jarrett also cites the way him and Chris Benoit worked together in the Champions Rumble Match to eliminate Dan "The Beast" Severn, of all people. Double J tells Mike Tenay that this is HIS opportunity, this is HIS time, if the Four Horsemen are looking for a new man then baby here I am!

*****

Heenan and Shiavonne take it back to the ringside area where we are set for tonight's main event of the evening! New ring announcer Joel Gertner gets the packed crowd to their feet with an intense intro for both teams! This match is the first of a series of qualifying matches for the upcoming World Tag League that is set to start later this month. All next week we will be seeing several of these qualifying matches as the teams look to earn their spots. The Thrillseekers get a nice crowd pop for Chris Jericho and Lance Storm, this team is 1-0 so far with an impressive win over The Armstrong Brothers in their debut. They also made a strong presence in the 3 Team Triangle Elimination Match as part of Bret Hart's Dungeon on Judgement Night this past Monday night... 

World Tag League Qualifying Match

The Thrillseekers(Chris Jericho & Lance Storm)
vs
The Blue Bloods(William Regal & Dave Taylor)

Regal and Dave Taylor get the boo's and thumbs down from the ringside fans as they stall out the beginning of the match taunting everybody. Jericho and Storm are donned in matching long pant red and white tights. They work together impressively to outclass The Blue Bloods thoroughly in this short 5 minute match, with several impressive double tandem moves. The Thrillseekers hit a double leapfrog at one point, then work together in the finish to take out Taylor with a Flying Cross Body from the top from Storm while Jericho holds him up on his shoulders! It's over, 1, 2, 3! 

The Thrillseekers celebrate all over the ring THIS ROCKS, The THRILLSEEKERS have qualified for the World Tag League! Chris Jericho and Lance Storm get cheered from the fans as they have their arms raised in victory! 

*****

After the final commercial break we return to the ring with a special honorary ceremony set to make it official for Sting as the new #1 contender to the Undisputed World Championship currently held by Shawn Michaels(whom Sting defeated clean earlier in the same night that he won the title). BOTB CEO Eric Bischoff is in the ring with Mike Tenay to bring the man out!...


Sting gets a HUGE pop from the fans as he makes his way out high fiving everyone around the ringside area. Sting is about to be announced as the #1 Contender when all of a sudden the whole ceremony is interrupted by The Macho Man RANDY SAVAGE!


Randy Savage comes out to the ring all business as he shuts it all down! Randy Savage stands face to face with Sting and tells him that they had an agreement before the 3 Team Triangle Elimination Match in Mexico City on Monday Night, should they win the match the two of them would settle up on WHO gets the shot at the Undisputed World Title! Randy Savage reminds Sting that he was the one that was cheated out of the same belt that Shawn Michaels is wearing back at WCW Starrcade last December by the Four Horsemen. Savage tells Sting that belt is the only reason he came here to Best Of The Best! 


Randy Savage then reminds Sting that it was HIM that dumped him out of the ring at the Champions Rumble back last month in Houston! The Macho Man says that there is no way he's about to stand by and watch Sting be crowned as the #1 Contender OVER HIS DEAD BODY YEAAAH!


All of a sudden the face off between Randy Savage and Sting is interrupted when the 3 remaining members of the 4 Horsemen come out to the ring, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit!....


Benoit, Flair, and Arn stand off against Macho Man and Sting as The Nature Boy tells both men that he still considers himself the uncrowned World Champion, since he was cheated out of the title by Bret Hart in Houston. Flair looks and points to Eric Bischoff as he says we all know that decision should have been reversed, but it wasn't. Flair tells both Sting and Macho Man that the only way either man gets anywhere near a shot at that title will have to go through THE HORSEMEN! Randy Savage can't contain himself and attacks Ric Flair, triggering a massive melee! Savage and Sting put up a fight but soon get overwhelmed by Flair, Benoit, and Arn Anderson! The Horsemen beat Savage and Sting down until all of a sudden The Ultimate Warrior sprints out to the ring to BLOW THE ROOF OFF OF THE ARENA!!!!!.... 

THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR! He's HERE! The Warrior destroys Flair, Arn, and Benoit, running them out of the ring as WE ARE OUT OF TIIIIIIIIII.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
February 10th, 1996

Tonight's episode of Worldwide hits your locally syndicated network late night on a Saturday night with Joey Styles in the control room of BOTB Headquarters in Universal Studios Florida. Tonight, we have 2 MAJOR Qualifying Matches for the upcoming World Tag League, plus MAJOR news about this Monday night's JUDGEMENT NIGHT from San Diego AND Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors live on pay per view on February 18th in just 8 DAYS in LAS VEGAS!

First thing is first with the news for the HUGE main event for Judgement Night on Monday night at 8pm, LIVE on USA Network! The whole wrestling world is buzzing over the return of The Ultimate Warrior last week on Judgement Night when he helped Sting's Squadron win the Triangle Elimination Match in Mexico City. Earlier tonight on Shockwave on TBS we seen another HUGE announcement that The Four Horsemen have officially FIRED Brian Pillman and have begun scouting for a new 4th member. Later in the same show the ceremony to crown Sting as the new #1 Contender to HBK's Undisputed Title was crashed by Randy Savage, who demanded his share of the title shot as part of the deal for joining Sting's Squadron to help him win. Sting and Savage's face off was interrupted by Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit, who ended up beating Sting and Savage down until Warrior ran out to make the save as the show went off the air!

With Shawn Michaels as the Undisputed World Champion the #1 Contender to his title is in major dispute. Sting holds a clean victory over Shawn Michaels in the opening match of A New Beginning last month(Michaels would come back later that same night to win the 30 Man Champions Rumble, then won the Undisputed Title by defeating Flair immediately after), and he was the team captain of the winning team in Mexico City last week. Randy Savage was the original belt holder until he was screwed out of the title by the Horsemen at the final WCW event, Starrcade 95. Sting inadvertently eliminated Savage along with Arn Anderson in the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match(the match where Savage made his BOTB debut, on a quest to regain his title belt).

This is what it's all about, The Undisputed World Championship Of Professional Wrestling. 

While Sting and Savage each have a claim as #1 Contender, there is also the case for Ric Flair. Flair lost the title to Shawn Michaels in the climax of A New Beginning but it was after interference from multiple wrestlers(including Bret Hart, who decked Flair with the WCW World Title belt, which Flair was attempting to use on HBK while the ref was distracted). Flair's requests for a hearing to get the decision reversed were denied by the Championship Council in the aftermath of A New Beginning(their final ruling was that it was the Sweet Chin Music from Michaels that finished Flair off for the pin, therefore the decision was final). 

Then one has to also consider The Ultimate Warrior, the final soul surviving winner for the 3 team Triangle Elimination Match in Mexico City. The former tag team partner of Sting was brought in to help Sting's Squadron win the match, but now the former WWF World Champion could be on a quest to regain a World Title here in Best Of The Best....

So now, the match has been made for Judgement Night this Monday night LIVE from San Diego California, a 6 Man STEEL CAGE MATCH! The Four Horsemen are down to just 3 after firing Brian Pillman earlier tonight on Shockwave, but it will be Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit teaming up to take on the team of Sting, Randy Savage, and THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR IN THE STEEL CAGE!

This Monday night on Judgement Night LIVE from the Sports Arena in San Diego!


vs

This will not be an open top steel cage match with escape the cage rules, this will be an ENCLOSED cyclone fence steel cage, there will be NO WAY OUT, the only way to win this match will be by pinfall or submission, and THERE WILL BE NO RULES! The stipulation has been signed that if The Horsemen win this match, Ric Flair will take the rightful #1 Contender status for a shot at HBK's Undisputed World Title at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors! However, if Sting, Savage, and Warrior should win, they will each split 1/3rd status as #1 Contenders and will have to decide amongst each other some way who will get the shot at the belt!... In the end.... THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! 

Also signed for this Monday night on Judgement Night LIVE, we will see the one on one in-ring debut of the Olympic Gold medalist Kevin Jackson as he takes on Hunter Hearst Helmsley! Also, the newly christened Hardcore Guns(Billy and Bart Gunn) will face the legendary Funk Brothers, Terry and Dory Jr., in a World Tag League QUALIFYING MATCH!

You truly DO NOT want to miss Judgement Night this coming Monday Night, it will be a pivotal stop on the road to Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors which will be LIVE on pay per view on February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas! Evander Holyfield vs Aleksandr Karelin has drawn all eyes in the sports media around the world but here tonight we are breaking the news that the current reigning Undisputed World Champion, The Heartbreak Kid, SHAWN MICHAELS WILL DEFEND HIS TITLE ON THE PAY PER VIEW!

The Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, the best in the world today

Also signed for the pay per view, a massive undercard bout, Bret "The Hitman" Hart will take on "The Crippler" Chris Benoit one on one!. The Hitman was upset and forced to tap out by Benoit in the second match of his attempted gauntlet run against all 4 Horsemen at A New Beginning on pay per view last month. It was one of the most surprising upset moments of the year so far, but Bret would get a taste of revenge last week in Mexico City when he forced Benoit to submit to the Sharpshooter to eliminate him from the 3 Team Triangle Elimination Match. Bret would go on to last over 51 minutes through the match in an unbelievable performance, but he was controversially eliminated in the finale when Brian Pillman pulled the top rope down from the outside while brawling with The Horsemen. Bret flipped over the ropes and was eliminated from the match, giving Ultimate Warrior the win for Sting's Squadron.

LIVE ON PPV February 18th from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas! 

Head To Head 
Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs "The Crippler" Chris Benoit

vs

With both men holding submissions over each other in multi-man matches, this time it will be one on one in a clash between two of the top ranked contenders in the sport today. Chris Benoit's connections to the Hart family were questioned during the build up to Bret's scheduled debut against Ric Flair last month to Unify the titles, but Benoit made it clear that his loyalty is with The Horsemen. Questions remain about the status of Bret Hart's knee injury suffered at the hands of the Horsemen last month, could it be a factor in this match if Bret is not at 100% yet? We will find out on February 18th, NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT! LIVE ON PPV!  

*****

After the first round of commercials we return with the shot of the BOTB Arena here in Universal Studios here in Florida with an enthusiastic crowd ready for our opening bout, a critical Qualifying Match for the upcoming World Tag League with the debut here of a former Championship team from the East coast... THE PIT BULLS! White Zombie's Thunderkiss 65 brings out Pitbulls 1 and 2, both of them are JACKED. The Pitbulls opponents are already in the ring ready to go.... 

World Tag League Qualifying Match
The Pit Bulls vs Larry Santo & Buck Quartermaine

Santo and Quartermaine get destroyed in a total beat down, with stiff as hell lariats and press slams before Santo gets brutalized with a SUPERBOMB OFF THE TOP ROPE! That's IT! 1, 2, 3! 

Joey Styles goes over the slow motion instant replay of the Super Bomb off the top, what a hell of a debut here by The Pitbulls with a pinfall in under 2 minutes to throw their name in the upcoming World Tag League! These guys are going to be a force to be reckoned with here in Best Of The Best! 

*****

After the match Joey Styles focuses in on all of the recent events in Mexico City last week on Judgement Night, where Paul E. Dangerously QUIT his spot at the commentary booth and revealed that he has reinstated his managers/promoters license... and he has signed the most controversial man in the sport today, Steve Austin....

Austin rose up the ranks in wrestling in Dallas at the Sportatorium in WCCW, but he really made a name for himself earlier in this decade as part of Paul E.'s "Dangerous Alliance" in WCW....

After the Dangerous Alliance was vanquished from WCW Paul E. Dangerously would leave to go on as the promotor and owner of the controversial ECW promotion in Philadelphia. Steve Austin's WCW career after Paul E. left was really hit and miss, he would end up fired from the company in 1995 while at home in South Texas healing a torn bicep that nearly ended his career.

Austin after recovering from his injury would return to the sport late last year in Paul E.'s ECW promotion, but he was rusty, losing some key matches in a 3 way feud for the ECW World Title between Mikey Whipreck and The Sandman. Austin failed to capture the ECW World Title and appeared to be a sad case of wasted potential once ECW closed it's doors at the end of 1995...

ECW owner Paul E. Dangerously was hired on here at Best Of The Best at the beginning of 1996. After rumors that Dangerously would be signed as the new CEO of the company, he was given a job as a commentator next to Jim Ross on the live Judgement Night program on USA Network.

The saga with Steve Austin here in Best Of The Best really started on Shockwave on January 20th, in the third part of a series of expose' style interviews with the newly signed Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff.

Clips from the interview with Eric Bischoff on Shockwave on January 20th....

...In part 3 of the series Joey Styles gets Eric Bischoff to open up about his reputation in the wrestling business with other wrestlers. Bischoff talks about tough decisions he was forced to make in WCW, it wasn't always easy to fire somebody that has a family to feed that you know is going to struggle, but he was the one who had to carry the weight of having to fire talented wrestlers from WCW, guys like Steve Austin that had all the talent in the world but where taking the company nowhere, guys like Jim Ross that represented a bygone era of good ole boys "rasslin", it was always business and never personal for him to have to make these decisions. Bischoff also talks about how he feels like there are a lot of people within Best Of The Best that feel like they should have gotten the job of running this company, wrestling people, he's not a wrestling guy, he's a vision guy, an idea guy. Bischoff says he is going to make the tough decisions to run this company and bring to life the vision that the corporate offices of Best Of The Best in Japan want it to be here...

That following Monday night on Judgement Night from Reunion Arena in Dallas(the city where Austin made his debut in wrestling) Austin made an appearance in the crowd on the front rail....

Clips from Judgement Night from Dallas on January 22nd 1996...

The crowd here in Reunion Arena in Dallas is showcased as the wreckage is being cleaned up when all of a sudden the cameras catch a man seated ringside... hey wait a minute... hey... thats....

That's STEVE AUSTIN! He's got a seat right on the front row! Jim Ross talks about how Austin was at one time one of the most promising young superstars in this sport, he got his start across town at the Dallas Sportatorium in World Class Championship Wrestling. After a failed run in WCW Austin was fired by then Vice President Eric Bischoff while he was at home recovering from a career threatening injury. Austin returned in ECW last year but he looked rusty and lost some big matches at the end of the year. Austin smiles for the camera with an intense psycho killer edge about him as we fade out to commercials...

Later that night Austin would end up being ejected from the building by security following orders handed down from Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff. That weekend on Saturday night was the Best Of The Best debut on live pay per view, from the Houston Astrodome the home arena that Austin grew up around dreaming about competing in. The entire preliminary card for the pay per view was broadcast live on a special live edition of Shockwave on TBS, but the opening match was interrupted....

Clips from Shockwave on January 27th 1996... 

The Astrodome(Houston, TX)
January 27th, 1996

We are LIVE in Houston Texas right here on the Superstation TBS in the ASTRODOME! This is the place where Nolan Ryan and Earl Campbell became legends, and tonight it will be the birthplace of A New Beginning on pay per view TONIGHT at 8pm! Here tonight on the Superstation we have a very special live presentation of Shockwave from the Astrodome where we will have for you for free the entire preliminary card along with all the hype you can possibly handle for the next 2 HOURS! Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan take over the commentary booth ringside with the huge Astrodome shown lit up filling up with fans as we send it to the ring for ring announcer Dave Penzer to get the show started with the opening match!

Singles Match
Scotty Riggs vs Brad Armstrong

There are a lot of empty seats in the background during this match as the fans file into the Astrodome with daylight still visible through the archaic old ceiling of the dome. Scotty Riggs and Brad Armstrong go all out in an incredible opening two minutes of fast pace, hard hitting battle! Riggs and Armstrong surprise everyone and get Shiavonne and Heenan shouting in a match that could be possibly the best seen in Best Of The Best so far, a truly surprising gem, a show stealer even. Then the ridiculous pace slows finally after Brad Armstrong catches Scotty Riggs in a side headlock around the 3:30 mark. The crowd in the ringside area begins to turn their attention to somebody that is making their way through the seats and OVER THE STEEL GUARD RAIL...

WHO THE HELL IS THAT?! WAIT A MINUTE!... Thats STEVE AUSTIN!

Austin leaps the guard rail and slides into the ring to put the boots to Brad Armstrong and Scotty Riggs! The referee immediately calls for the bell but Austin kicks him in the gut and throws him through the ropes out of the ring! Tony Shiavonne is shocked on commentary, fans we apologize this man does not work for Best Of The Best, as far as we know he's not under any kind of contract he was thrown out of the building this past Monday Night on Judgement Night in Dallas where he was spotted ringside and ejected from the Reunion Arena. Bobby Heenan points out the smart question, who the hell let this guy in the building!? 

Austin looks totally out of it, with a far off crazy look in his eyes, the look of a broke man that has run out of money and has had everyone turn their back on him, the look of a man that life has used as toilet paper to wipe it's ass with to the level that he's reached a dangerous breaking point. Pressure and time does strange things to a man. Pressure... and time. 

Referee's and security guards swarm the ring but they all back off as Austin threatens them waiting to attack with the intensity of a cornered rattlesnake. Austin finally calls for a microphone and addresses the mostly still empty Houston Astrodome saying that he grew up right down the road from here in Victoria Texas and it was always his biggest dream to wrestle here in the Houston Astrodome. Austin says that he had to actually pay to buy a ticket to come here tonight while you got this garbage out here in the ring, it's a god damn crying shame and he's seen enough of it! All of a sudden the 90's whiz kid, Eric Bischoff makes it out to the ring with more security guards and he's PISSED! Austin has ruined a stellar opening match here on live television! 

The Chief Executive of BOTB Eric Bischoff gets on a microphone and tells Austin that he doesn't work for this company and he never will, he doesn't belong here, whatever he's got going on with him over the past this is not happening, we're not doing this. You're gone, you're out of here! Out! Austin finally gets cornered by several security guards and taken down against his will! Austin is dragged out turning back to look at Bischoff with a psycho look in his eyes as Eric tells him that he doesn't belong here and he will never work here as long as he lives, he's a bum, he couldn't cut it in WCW, he couldn't cut it in a lousy bingo hall, a loser is a loser, hit the bricks pal! Austin is PISSED! Security fights and struggles to work him through the exit and drag him out as we cut away to commercials...

The following Monday night from the Alamodome in San Antonio, everything reached a breaking point. The 22 year old rising star Mikey Whipreck took on his former rival from his days in ECW, the final ever ECW World Champion The Sandman live on the USA Network. Steve Austin appeared through the crowd, jumping the guard railing and attacking both men. Austin threw a section of steel guard railing into the ring to use to drop on Mikey Whipreck. The railing twisted on the way down and landed sideways into Mikey Whipreck's neck in an awkward position, causing him to go completely limp in the ring. It was truly one of the most disturbing moments on live television so far in any form in 1996... 

The entire live episode of Judgement Night was nearly ruined as most of the show was put on hold while EMT's cautiously worked to cut the ring ropes and remove Mikey Whipreck to an ambulance on a stretcher in a huge neck brace. It was later revealed that Whipreck's wrestling career was over and that he would most likely never walk again for the rest of his life after being paralyzed from the chest down from the impact of the railing dropped by Austin. Austin was taken to jail in San Antonio that night, and a visibly shaken Paul E. Dangerously left his position in the commentary booth. Everyone assumed Dangerously left the booth to go to the emergency room with his former worker Mikey Whipreck, but we found out on Judgement Night in Mexico City last week that wasn't the case... 

Clips from Judgement Night on February 5th 1996...

After the commercial break we get a shot of Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously at their commentary table ringside where Jim Ross recaps the insanity of the opening hour of tonight's episode of Judgement Night. JR finally breaks down and asks Paul E. Dangerously what is with him!? What's your deal? JR tells Paul E. they have a job to do this is live TV pal, do your job. Paul E. Dangerously snaps back at JR in an awkward moment where he just loses it, getting more and more intense as he insults him and tells him he's sick and tired of listening to his voice here every week!


Paul E. Dangerously stands up and throws his headset down before taking the ring with a microphone!....


Dangerously cuts a promo introducing himself, speaking directly into the television camera as he talks about his job here at Best Of The Best for the last 6 weeks as commentator sitting next to a wart of a human being Jim Ross. Paul E. says that he is a former promoter and owner of ECW, a former manager of World Champions, and he was promised the world when he sold his soul to the owners of this promotion at the end of last year! Paul E. reveals that he was the one that was originally supposed to be the Executive President of this promotion, it was a job that he was passed over for Eric Bischoff.... 


Paul E. says he was promised the world, but he was given a job as a lowly commentator instead. Dangerously reveals that he's finished with it, he's reinstated his managers and promoters licenses and he's about to make everyone pay for all of the lies, all of the false promises that were made to him when he signed with Best Of The Best. Paul E. Dangerously vows to make this company pay for all of their sins and it all starts tonight! 


All of a sudden the BOTB Executive Vice President Eric Bischoff comes out with 3 security guards with him en route to the ring with a PISSED look on his face! 

Eric Bischoff and Paul E. Dangerously have a stand off in the middle of the ring in the middle of Estadio Azteca where things get intense! Bischoff threatens Dangerously to sit back down and do his job or he's about to be fired! Dangerously informs Eric Bischoff that he no longer works for him, he QUITS! "With all due respect... Mr. Executive President.... F#$* YOU!". Paul E. informs Eric Bischoff that he's just signed the most controversial athlete in this sport right now and he's about to turn THIS ENTIRE company UPSIDE DOWN! 


Paul E. Dangerously gets a shocked reaction from JR as he reveals that he did NOT leave his commentary spot last week to go to the hospital with Mikey Whipreck, who is now paralyzed for the rest of his life. Paul E. reveals that he left his spot at the commentary booth to go offer his legal services to a man that he has a past with, he went to get Steve Austin OUT OF JAIL!..... 


Paul E. brings out STEVE AUSTIN TO THE RING!..... 

Austin comes out with a new shaved head look as Jim Ross is in total disgust, this is the man that ended the career of the 22 year old kid Mikey Whipreck and put the kid in a wheel chair for the rest of his life, this man is completely merciless, he has ice water running in his veins, he's a stone cold, just the sight of him disgusts Eric Bischoff, who looks on in total disbelief and shock..... 


Austin joins Paul E. Dangerously in the ring as he tells Eric Bischoff that controversy moves the needle, CONTROVERSY brings the big time ratings that the people running this promotion want, THIS man right here last week reached out and grabbed his opportunity! THIS MAN, he's the one man that everybody in this business is talking about right now! STEVE AUSTIN! 


UNBELIEVABLE! Paul E. Dangerously has signed Steve Austin as his new client, he's put all of his legal resources behind his defense of his assault on Mikey Whipreck last week, he's the one that got him out of jail last week! Now he's brought Austin here officially, and the guy looks even more psycho than ever! 


Steve Austin takes the microphone and cuts a promo to Eric Bischoff telling him that he doesn't work for him, he's not here to be fed garbage every week, he's not going to be wrestling on Worldwide, he's here to run with the big boys! Austin tells Eric Bischoff he can take all the stupid karate kid bull$#it he's got going on around here and shove it up his ass! Austin tells Bischoff that he wants Michaels, he wants Flair, he wants Hart, he wants the Undisputed World Title and if Bischoff gets in his way he will snap his neck just like he did the 22 year old kid last week on live television! 


Paul E. Dangerously smiles with a dark sadistic grin as he stands behind Steve Austin looking on at a stunned and intimidated Eric Bischoff! All of a sudden more security guards come out accompanied by police!.... 


Steve Austin and Paul E. Dangerously bow out and make their exit as police and extra security join Eric Bischoff in the ring! This is INSANE! Paul E. Dangerously has quit his spot at the commentary booth here tonight and shaken up the entire Best Of The Best promotion by bringing STEVE AUSTIN here! 

Austin has evolved into something scary over the last year, the Steve Austin that we seen walk out with a shaved head in Mexico City is not the same Steve Austin we knew from WCW or hell, even ECW. Paul E. Dangerously has gotten Steve Austin a signed contract to compete here in Best Of The Best, in what has to be one of the most disgusting promotional tactics seen in this business in a long time. What does Paul E. Dangerously have in store for Best Of The Best? Perhaps we will find out this Monday night when from the Sports Arena in San Diego California LIVE on the USA Network at 8pm it will be.... JUDGEMENT NIGHT!

*****

After the final commercials we return to the well lit up, compact little arena that Best Of The Best uses here at Universal Studios Orlando. The entire arena has an orange and white theme with the Worldwide logos everywhere. The ring is solid white with the top and bottom ropes being orange(the middle rope is white, all of the turnbuckles and the logos in the ring are orange). There is a solid white elevated catwalk ramp level with the ring apron that connects to the mini entrance stage. The American Males are shown wrapping up their entrances high fiving the fans dressed as tourists ringside as Joey Styles recaps their rough start here in Best Of The Best, but the former WCW World Tag Champs scored a big win here last week on Worldwide. This could be a huge match for both of these young athlete's careers here with a chance to earn a spot in the prestigious World Tag League for a shot to become Undisputed World Tag Team Champions... 

The Males opponents The Headhunters get major boo/thumbs down vibes as these two nasty 400 pound twins walk out to make their debut here in Best Of The Best. Joey Styles talks about these two twins experience in some of the roughest tag divisions in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Japan. The American Males certainly have to be considered major underdogs here, they have never faced anything like this.... 

World Tag League Qualifying Match
The Headhunters  vs  The American Males(Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs)

The huge size advantage of The Headhunters and their sheer toughness is just overwhelming for the young former WCW Tag Team Champs. The Headhunter twins are both 400 pounds each, and they shrug off all of Riggs and Bagwell's offense early on before slowly crushing them. The tide of the match turns when one of the Headhunter twins goes up top for a big 400 pound MOONSAULT! Scotty Riggs rolls out of the way and the big man almost goes through the ring! OH MY GAWD! 

Riggs and Bagwell manage to take the action out to the floor where Scotty Riggs lands a HUGE plancha off the top onto both Headhunters, taking them down! Riggs and Bagwell work together to double Irish whip one of the twins into the steel ring steps with a sickening crash! The other twin rolls into the ring but The American Males work their way up to the top of opposite turnbuckles and fly off simultaneously, hitting him with a DOUBLE MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE HEAD! He's OUT! Riggs makes the cover for the pin, 1, 2, 3! THEY DID IT! 

What a HUGE upset right here on Worldwide! Scotty Riggs and Marcus Bagwell have defeated the massive, tough team of The Headhunters in impressive fashion here with a pin at 6:24! The American Males have qualified for the World Tag League! Joey Styles on commentary recaps the teams that have qualified so far as the computer graphic shows the League so far....

Best Of The Best
World Tag League
1996 Season(February 19th-May 12th)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Harlem Heat	Steiner Brothers
Owen/Bulldog	Eliminators
Pitbulls	Thrillseekers
??	American Males
??	??
??	??

Joey Styles promotes the World Tag League, set to kick off in Las Vegas on Monday Night February 19th on Judgement Night, this league will determine who will be the very first Best Of The Best Undisputed World Tag Team Champions. Who will earn the final 5 spots in the league? Tune in to Best Of The Best all next week to find out as the final 5 qualifying spots will be determined! 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.