So my big takeaways are as follows: Including the Outsiders is a great idea to keep the fed from falling into the trap of being a little bit one-note, "What if ECW but big money, big crowds, Stone Cold, and shooters?" Adding more WCW elements will really help enhance the idea of BoTB as a big time-and-space melting pot of everything that was cool in the 90s, wrestling and otherwise.

The Greg Lloyd match was your best Proof of Concept for this version of the Taz character that you outlined before, no question. He got absolutely killed, but it didn't matter once he was able to put on the Kata Hajime.

Who knew that making a person MORE like their MMA self would make them more interesting in pro wrestling? I really like Dan Severn, but as a pro wrestler he is EXTREMELY dry and boring. Never in a million years would I be interested in a Dan Severn hot tag in real life. But you have him as UFC Dan and he's just doing a bunch of suplexes, suddenly he's interesting. 

And most of all, I know I'm not supposed to, because KoK are the most evil dastardly bastardly heels except for Stone Cold the Murderer... but holy shit, I want Bret to lose so badly. You have (maybe accidentally) done an excellent job of just making him the whiniest little bitch and there's nothing I'd find funnier than for him to immediately turn around and lose his Participation Trophy Championship, and all the land his family owns.

OK. I love Stevie Richards in ANYTHING. Him with Raven and Venom (Is that Adam Bomb, BTW?) I was worried that you buried a debut when Abdullah the Butcher came out. But even with a pretty back and forth, I still feel like Stevie, Raven, and Venom came out on top of this ordeal. // Ted Dibiase, the spiritual ambassador for the Benny Hinn Ministries... the Christian in me wants to be outraged because Dibiae doesn't belong anywhere near the conversation with Benny Hinn. But that sounds like a fun story at the same time. I don't think Dibiase had converted by this time so it sounds like something he'd do. I'm interested in seeing where it goes. // I want to stop for a moment and appreciate how much you build up your big shows. At times I can't tell if I'm reading one of those recap shows from the early 90's that don't do much other than promote a big show coming up. But then you slip in these tag matches and enough story to make it more than just a recap show. It feels legit, like something I would have watched on TV in the mid 90's. // A tie with the Steiners seems like a waste on Can-Am Express so long as DF&PL do nothing from here. If I'm being completely honest, I never liked those guys. // LOVE that Bret Hart promo. LOVED IT! // Vader match was a throw away for now. OMG deserves better. // I'm not sure how I feel about the show as a whole. It blurred the lines of a hype show for a future show to something akin to WCW Saturday Night. I'll give you this, it felt real. But just like real life, it felt like it missed something. Maybe a thread that ran through the whole show tying it all together? I always like when a show has something at the beginning that will get resolved later in the night. I'm bad at that. I'll say that you have a lot of interesting stuff going on. Dibiase really got me interested. Hart promo was probably the best part of the show. I liked Richards / Raven / Venom also. The storylines were better than the wrestling for me in this one. Your next show looks longer so I'll try to review it tomorrow. If I was 12, staying up late on a Saturday night.. I would NOT have been disappointed with this. It would have been right up my alley.

The Hoosier Dome(Indianapolis, IN)
April 22nd, 1996

Judgement Night hits the airwaves LIVE on USA Network for the next 2 hours with a hard introductory opening shot of Sunny wearing nothing but a long Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller basketball jersey barely covering her nether regions of her body with a totally sold out crowd of over 60,000 going NUTS in the Hoosier Dome! We are just 24 hours removed from the incredible Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar '96 pay per view last night, but TONIGHT we will see the blockbuster heavyweight showdown between the returning Immortal One, Hulk Hogan taking on the unstoppable undefeated force Ahmed Johnson one on one! For one of these men they will stand victorious, can Ahmed prove that he's ready to run with the legends, or is Hulkamania still alive? For both of these men TONIGHT is JUDGEMENT NIGHT!

THIS... IS.... JUDGEMENT NIGHT!

Sunny's intro fades into a hard hitting highlight music video set to Tupac's All Eyez On Me showcasing various still image photographs of last night's epic pay per view spectacular Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar(available on replay tomorrow night, check your local PPV provider). The clips of Razor and Diesel making their debuts last night to help Shawn Michaels defeat Randy Savage to retain the Undisputed World Title segue into Taz choking out the baddest man from the NFL; Greg Lloyd in their 3 round hybrid rules battle. Shane Douglas' win over Marc Mero in their heated leather strap match cuts into the replay of his vicious chair shot to the head of Ric Flair that cost him and Dan Severn their match against Ken Shamrock & Steve Austin. The video shows photos of the epic face to face showdown between Bret Hart and Nobuhiko Takada with their respective title belts draped over their shoulders(Bret's self proclaimed "Real" World title the new WWF style belt, and Takada's Neo Hybrid Universal World Title). The photos of Kimona returning the Road Warriors back in black with their demolition of Public Enemy seque into shots of rising star rookie Kevin Jackson(Olympic Gold medalist wrestler) pinning Koji Kanemoto to win his one on one PPV debut.... 

The music video segues back into a sweeping live shot of the insane crowd here at the Hoosier Dome with pyro exploding over the ring and entrance stage as Jim Ross and Joey Styles welcome the tv audience to the broadcast from their ringside booth(alongside the Spanish commentary booth featuring Hugo Savinovich and Carlos Carrera). The intro is quickly interrupted by the entrance of "The Macho Man" Randy Savage and Paul E. Dangerously coming out to Just Another Victim by Helmet/House Of Pain... 

The crowd boo's as Savage and Paul E. make their way down the seemingly mile long elevated catwalk entrance ramp that carves through the seated crowd to the apron of the ring. Both men are INTENSE as they take the ring with Savage standing in the exact same spot where he beat Ric Flair to win the WWF Championship four years ago at Wrestlemania VIII. Savage looks around with bitterness all over him as he stands empty handed, after coming up empty last night in a loss to Shawn Michaels in what could have been perhaps his last shot at getting the belt back that he was screwed out of back at the final ever WCW event last December(Starrcade 95). 

Paul E. stands by Savage's side as he takes a microphone and cuts a promo about how the Dangerous Alliance is officially dead and gone. Savage's face grows more and more red with every word as he boils over, saying that there is no more Dangerous Alliance, as of right now there is only 1 Dangerous man, The Macho Man. Savage proclaims that Austin, Douglas, and Shamrock all failed him last night and as far as he's concerned from here on out they can all kiss his ass! 

The boo's intensify as Paul E. takes the mic and proclaims that tonight is a new beginning for the Macho Man, that they are not finished coming after the Undisputed World Title, they are not finished with Shawn Michaels and the "Kliq", and they are not finished in Paul E.'s quest to cripple this promotion. All of a sudden the promo is interrupted and the entire Hoosier Dome goes CRAZY when Sting's entrance music hits to bring him out!.... 

The Hoosier Dome loses it at Sting makes his way down the long ramp through the ropes and face to face with Randy Savage! 


In The Ring:
"The Macho Man" Randy Savage(W/Paul E. Dangerously) & Sting

Both Savage and Sting eye each other face to face in a moment of sheer intensity as over 60,000 in the Hoosier Dome go nuts around them. Paul E. Dangerously looks on at Sting with fury in his eyes as he stands safely behind Savage! Sting finally lifts his mic to his face to tell Savage and Paul E. that they are right about one thing, nothing is over, nothing is finished. Sting tells Savage that he still has unfinished business after what they did to him in the War Games on Shockwave on April 13th! The Stinger calls out Randy Savage to face him one on one to settle up, THIS SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOCKWAVE! 

Savage responds bringing up the fact that he once considered Sting a true friend and a brother but that time is long gone after everything he's been through since he lost that belt at Starrcade 95, Sting has done nothing but get in his way and screw him over to keep him from getting it back. Savage tells Sting he knows he was always jealous to see him with that belt, that was why he dumped him over the top rope and eliminated him from the 30 Man Champions Rumble back in January, and that is why they were never really friends to begin with, the truth is that NOW he's HATES STING'S GUTS! Security scrambles into the ring just as Savage SMACKS STING IN THE FACE! 

Sting and Savage are pulled apart by security as Savage screams into the mic accepting Sting's challenge, and it's set! The main event will go down THIS Saturday Night at 6:05 pm on TBS The Superstation, it will be Sting one on one vs "The Macho Man" in the biggest grudge match of 1996! SAVAGE VS STING! THE WAR TO SETTLE THE SCORE! In the END, There can be only ONE! 


Singles Match:
Vader(W/Jim Cornette)
vs
Alex Wright

After the commercial break we get Alex Wright already in the ring as JR and Joey Styles heavily plug the upcoming main event showdown later tonight with the return of Hulk Hogan taking on Ahmed Johnson one on one right here on the USA Network LIVE. Vader makes his entrance with Jim Cornette joining the commentary booth for what turns out to be a hugely lopsided massacre in the ring. Cornette on commentary takes a shot at the Dangerous Alliance and how they fell apart last night at the PPV, that Camp Cornette has always been the superior wrestling organization.

Vader takes his time to annihilate Alex Wright, tossing him around, fish hooking his face, grinding him into the ropes and turnbuckles, smashing him with splashes. Cornette on commentary brags about how Vader ended the career of Sabu and ran him out of Best Of The Best back at the Tokyo Dome in March at Best Of The Best III on pay per view(available now on VHS home video). Vader finally puts Alex Wright away after a vicious choke slam, power bomb, then a Vader Bomb out of the corner for the pinfall at 3:40. Vader and Cornette celebrate the victory after the match as the crowd boo's them. Vader screams in the camera in celebration "WHERE'S SABU!? WHERE'S HE AT!?"  


In The Ring:
Shane Douglas(W/Sable)

After the match we get Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers bringing out Shane Douglas with Sable by his side to a chorus of boo's from the Hoosier Dome. Douglas smiles as he holds the ropes open for Sable, gloating over his victory over Marc Mero last night in their heated and violent Leather Strap Match. Douglas takes the mic and gets heavily censored with beeps as he disses Paul E. Dangerously making it clear that he wasn't fired by his bull*#it "Alliance" he QUIT!

Douglas continues to get the censors going with the beeps as he downs Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Paul E., and Randy Savage saying that he was the one true talent and brains of the whole group. Douglas gets even more fired up as he talks about the return of Diesel and Razor reuniting with the Kliq last night, how it made his stomach turn. The crowd cheers grow at the very mention of The Kliq...

Shane Douglas waits for the the boo's to die out before continuing burning anyone and everyone, making fun of the return of Hulk Hogan, the return of Dustin Rhodes Goldust and his fat ass piece of s#*t daddy. Douglas then brags about his record in Best Of The Best how it speaks for itself, he's 8-1 with the most wins of anybody in Best Of The Best. Shane makes it clear that he avenged his only loss so far in 1996 when he pinned the 5 foot tall midget Rey Mysterio Jr. flat back in Japan. Shane Douglas brags about being the best there is, he's got Sable, he's no longer tied to a bunch of losers with Paul E. Dangerously in fact he's negotiated to bring in his own new manager, somebody he's been working with to perfect his new finisher. The crowd comes alive with boo's and cheers as a man begins walking out of the back to the ring and it's none other than..... 

OH MY GOD! Shane Douglas has brought back none other than Rick Rude as his NEW manager! Jim Ross brings up how he had noticed Douglas using Rude's old finisher the Rude Awakening weeks ago. Rude takes the ring and tells the Hoosier Dome to keep the noise down! What you're looking at with Shane Douglas under his guidance and leadership, with Sable by his side, this is the real ultimate force in this sport today! Rude also promises that everyone here in this dome tonight and everyone watching on live television will see the final piece that he's brought here to Best Of The Best.... 

Rude reveals that Shane Douglas made the chairshot heard round the world last night on a former associate of his Ric Flair. Rude has the replay of the vicious chair shot shown on the jumbo-tron in the Hoosier Dome and on the TV broadcast with the loud clang on impact leading to Flair falling back into the ring to get pinned by Steve Austin.

After the footage plays all of a sudden the Hoosier Dome goes BALLISTIC when the Four Horsemen entrance music hits! Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson, and NWA Heavyweight Champion Dan "The Beast" Severn make their way out to the entrance ramp right in front of the apron before a team of security guards step between them to keep them from entering the ring!....

Ric Flair calls out Rick Rude and Shane Douglas saying that it goes way farther beyond the chair shot last night, it goes back to all of the disrespect he's heard come out of Shane Douglas' mouth, saying that Douglas is pure garbage! Flair tells Shane Douglas how dare he run down some of the all time legends in this sport the way he has for the last 5 years, saying that he's nowhere near the level of some of the great ones he's battled all over the world every night, the Bruiser Brody, Magnum TA, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, the original Horsemen Tully and Ole, those were real men, real great ones, Douglas is nothing but a piece of trash!

Shane cracks back at Ric Flair telling him to look around, look at the Horsemen now and how far they've fallen, Arn Anderson is injured and knocked out of the World Tag League he can't even wrestle! Ric Flair is a fu#*ing joke compared to what he was in his prime, and if he want's to talk about trash take a look at the belt that Dan Severn is wearing around his waist, the same belt he threw down on the ground two years ago! Douglas passionately screams at Ric Flair and Arn Anderson that it was always his dream to become a Horsemen(Shane holds up the four fingers looking at them), but they passed him up for a low life piece of shi@ Paul Roma that's not even in this sport anymore!

Arn Anderson takes the mic from Flair and fires back at Shane Douglas, pointing his finger at him as he declares that Douglas was never worthy of being a Horsemen, that the NWA World Title belt always meant more to this sport than any loud mouth foul mouth punk kid trying to make a name for himself. There is a disturbance in the crowd, a man making his way through the audience in the background as Arn tells Shane Douglas to always remember this, what goes around comes back around!

Just as the words come out of his mouth it's MARC MERO jumping the steel guard rail and ambushing Shane Douglas from behind like a desperate mad man! Mero knocks Douglas down before attempting to grab Sable by her arm in a desperate plee to get her back, only for Rick Rude to kick him in the groin from behind! Mero collapses to his knees and gets smacked in the face and spit on by Sable! Shane Douglas attacks Marc Mero and puts the boots to him as security holds the Four Horsemen back out of the ring from going after Douglas! Rude continues to put the boots to Mero as Douglas taunts and threatens the Horsemen as they are being held back by security! 


World Tag League Match:
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/ Jim Cornette)(6-2-1)
vs
The Pit Bulls(2-7)

Jim Cornette returns out to more boo's with Owen and Bulldog, this time lurking the ringside area in this highly critical World Tag League match. Owen and Bulldog isolate Pitbull 1 and work him over for the entire first 5 minutes, concentrating on his neck with holds and attacks. Pitbull 1 finds an opening and drops both Owen and Bulldog but Cornette distracts the ref from seeing his tag to Pitbull 2, who comes in dominating both men. After dumping both Owen and Bulldog out of the ring with press slams that get the Hoosier Dome fired up the ref restores order and forces him back to the apron since he missed the tag! The crowd boo's as Owen and Bulldog resume tagging in and out keeping Pitbull 1 downed with rest holds targeting his neck.

The British Bulldog takes over the match and dominates Pitbull 1 as he taunts Pitbull 2 flexing his muscles at him the whole time! Joey Styles and Jim Ross continue to plug the upcoming Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect pay per view spectacular set for May 12th at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! We will see the conclusion of the 1996 World Tag League season with the final four tournament, both the Tiger and Dragon Division titles will be on the line with the winning teams to face off later that same night to crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champion!

Finally Pitbull 1 manages to counter Bulldog as he's taunting Pitbull 2 flexing and sets the crowd off as he makes the hot tag! Pitbull 2 comes in hot and destroys Bulldog and Owen, shocking the world after pinning Bulldog with his own RUNNING POWERSLAM, 1... 2... 3!... THE PITBULLS WIN!

What an upset! The Pitbulls have taken down the 1st place team of Owen and Bulldog with the power of Pitbull 2! What an incredible force! Cornette and Owen pull Bulldog back as he tries to go after the Pitbulls after the match as they celebrate to the Hoosier Dome crowd! The Pitbulls have delivered a major blow to Owen & Bulldog's grip on 1st place of the Tiger Division giving them their 3rd loss, what a great effort from a team that has really no chance qualify for the final four at A Matter Of Respect, they have nothing to wrestle for but their own pride for the final 2 weeks of the season! 


On-Location: 
The Control Center W/Mike Tenay

After the bout we get a shot of Mike Tenay at the Control Center back in Universal Studios Orlando with hype for the upcoming pay per view event set for Miami Arena in Miami Florida on May 12th 1996, it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect!.... 

Tenay plugs the matches that we know are set, the debut of the female fighting force, kickboxing legend Kathy Long has signed to face a yet to be named opponent in hybrid rules competition!

Also not yet officially sanctioned or signed but Bret Hart and Nobuhiko Takada are also set to face off in a match that will legitimize either Bret's self proclaimed "Real" World Championship or Nobuhiko Takada's highly controversial Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship, the belt that was cast in a new mold from materials from the IWGP, Triple Crown, and Lou Thesz's original World Championship belts(which was revealed earlier this year to contain materials from the spear of destiny). 

Also set for the pay per view in Miami on May 12th we will crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions as we will see the final four of the World Tag League square off in a one night tournament to crown the Champs! Tenay covers the current standings for week 9...

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Week 10 Standings(so far)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Owen/Bulldog 6-3-1	Steiner Brothers 7-1-1
Harlem Heat 5-4	Eliminators 7-1-1
Benoit/Malenko 5-4	American Power Team 5-3-1
Legion Of Doom 4-5-1	Thrillseekers 5-4
Pit Bulls 3-7	Can-Am Express 2-6-1
Public Enemy 2-8	Hardcore Guns 2-7

When analyzing the current standings for week 10 it becomes clear in the Dragon Division that it's all about the Steiner Brothers and Eliminators. All eyes will be on the Gund Arena in Cleveland Ohio next Monday night on Judgement Night LIVE right here on the USA Network for perhaps the most anticipated rematch in BOTB history so far, it will be the Steiner Brothers vs The Eliminators head to head with 1st place in the Dragon Division on the line! Both teams have to wrestle this week, the Eliminators are set to face off against The Thrillseekers later tonight(The Thrillseekers upset the Steiner Brothers at BOTB III in the Tokyo Dome in Japan to give them their lone loss ever in BOTB). The Steiner Brothers are set to face the Hardcore Guns on Worldwide this Saturday Night(check your local listings). As we seen earlier tonight with the Pit Bulls upset over 1st place Owen/Bulldog anything can happen in these last 3 weeks of the 1996 World Tag League season! 

Over in the Tiger Division the Pit Bulls upset over Owen & Bulldog really makes things interesting these final 3 weeks. This Saturday Night on Shockwave we already learned we will see the epic showdown between Randy Savage vs Sting but we will also see the critical showdown between Harlem Heat vs Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit. The winner of this match will be just a half match behind Owen & Bulldog in the race for 1st place while the loser will see their chances of qualifying for the Final Four tournament in Miami on May 12th virtually elimiated. Last night we also seen the return of Hawk and Animal to their black Road Warriors attire with their new valet Kimona, showcasing a much more ruthless attitude in their dismantling of Public Enemy. We could see the Road Warriors return to their dominant form after struggling so far in the 96 season since they debuted as the LOD(in blue). 

The 1996 World Tag League season has stolen the show so far in Best Of The Best this year, producing some of the best in-ring action week in and week out, truly establishing the future of the tag team titles and the division as a force going forward in Best Of The Best. It all culminates on May 12th on pay per view live from Miami Arena in Miami Florida for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect! Call your cable or satellite provider and order this pay per view event! 


Singles Match:
Psicosis vs Juventud Guerrera II

Juventud Guerrera makes his way out to the Hoosier Dome to his entrance music that sounds an awful lot like Vega's music from Street Fighter 2, but it's just slightly changed to avoid copyright infringement from Capcom. During his walkout Joey Styles hypes Juventud Guerrera as truly one of the most impressive newcomers we have seen in Best Of The Best since he made his debut with a shocking upset over Psicosis back on Shockwave in Oklahoma City on March 30th. Juvy was defeated by Eddie Guerrero in his second bout back on Shockwave on April 6th, but it was a thrilling battle where Juventud earned Eddie's respect after Juvy stopped a blindside attack from Psicosis after the match.

Psicosis makes his way out to Ill Triello by Ennio Morriconne with an elaborate red, green, and white light show in the Hoosier Dome. Ring announcer Joel Gertner goes fluidly back and forth between Spanish and English during the intros for both men as Charles Robinson the ref keeps them apart!

It's an all out Lucha Libre battle fo the ages in the Hoosier Dome as Juvy and Psicosis steal the show! Juvy stays one move ahead of Psicosis and punishes him, embarrassing him with counters for every move he tries to make. Juvy sets the massive sold out Hoosier Dome crowd off with a beautiful over the top rope AIR JUVY PLANCHA! The two fight ringside for a moment with Psicosis only advantage being his dirty cheating tactics, using the ring post and steel railing as weapons. Juvy gets knocked over into the railing and a chair bashed over his back before Juvy pulls the railing closer to the ring and ascends the turnbuckles to the top! The entire Hoosier Dome stands and goes APE S#IT as Psicosis flies off over the railing to hit Juvy with a corkscrew moonsault PLANCHA! Joey Styles shrieks on commentary OH MY GAAAAAWD!

Psicosis fights Juvy back to the ring but can't put him away, only managing to get a razor close 2 count! Psicosis pushes referee Charles Robinson back in protest of the slow count and he's on the verge of snapping and attacking him until Juvy rolls him up from behind for a close 2 count! Juvy retakes the momentum with high flying lucha counters on Psicosis proving to be the faster, sharper, stronger luchadore with the crowd fully behind him! Charles Robinson gets caught up in the high speed action and gets knocked to his feet! He seems to be ok but as he's trying to get up Psicosis crushes up a poison powder tablet and tosses the powder directly into Juvy's EYES! He's BLINDED!

Juvy rolls around wiping and clutching his eyes as Psicosis takes the chance to recover and catch his breath! Juvy tris to fight blind but Psicosis pulls the ref in front of him to shield himself! Juvy grabs and senses that its referee Charles Robinson and pulls his punch just short! Psicosis shoves the ref to the canvas and attacks Juvy! Juvy fights blind with the spirit of a warrior, countering Psicosis by running and leaping off of Charles Robinson's back as he's on all fours, springing off the ropes and flying back to hit Psicosis with a rana! Juvy rolls through and hooks the leg with a rollup out of the Rana but Psicosis kicks out at 2.9999!

Juvy winces and rolls around overwhelmed by the burning and stinging of the poison powder thrown into his eyes by Psicosis as Psicosis pulls himself up to his feet recovering. Psicosis batters Juvy with chops and strikes before dropping him with a piledriver and a flying Guillotine Legdrop before hooking the leg and putting him away with the pinfall....


1....



2....



3!



Unbelievable! The crowd goes quiet with a mix of boo's as Psicosis has his hand raised, avenging his only loss to Juvy that he suffered last month. All of a sudden Psicosis' celebration is cut short as another ref comes out to frantically talk with Charles Robinson, pantomiming the action of Psicosis throwing powder into Juvy's eyes, pantomiming Juvy being blinded. Charles Robinson scrambles out to the timekeepers table and goes over something with ring announcer Joel Gertner before the news is broken that this decision has been.... REVERSED!... The winner of this match, by DISQUALIFICATION.... JUVENTUD GUERRERA!....

The ref tries to raise Juvy's hand in victory but he still can't see! Psicosis out of anger goes after Charles Robinson and throws him to the canvas before putting the boots to him! Psicosis goes to piledrive Robinson into oblivion but Juvy stops him and makes the save! Robinson escapes to safety as Psicosis destroys Juvy, spiking him with yet another piledriver followed by 2 more flying Guillotine Legdrops until finally more refs scramble out to stop him from going for a 3rd! Juvy is seriously hurt!


In The Ring:
Kevin Sullivan

We return to the live shot of the Hoosier Dome crowd with the fans ringside stoked and hyped to the gills for Hulk Hogan's return here tonight vs Ahmed Johnson. The Hulk lookalike superfan is show seated ringside flexing his flabby arms in his red and yellow Hulk costume as fans around him go nuts! All of a sudden the creepy sounds of Kevin Sullivan's ambient walk out music brings him out to the ring by himself.... 

Kevin Sullivan makes his way into the ring and looks directly into the camera cutting a promo that the huge Hoosier Dome crowd stays mostly silent for. Sullivan rambles on about Raven and Cactus Jack before pleading for Cactus to reunite with him and Abdullah The Butcher as a family. Kevin Sullivan talks about the human soul and how valuable it is in this reality that we exist in, before proclaiming that he wants Cactus Jack's soul. Sullivan brings up Cactus Jack's history with him as a former friend and former tag team partner before mentioning his real name, Mick Foley. That's right... Mick Foley.... Mrs. Foley's little baby boy....

All of a sudden Cactus Jack comes wandering out down the huge entrance ramp to the ring with a perplexed look in an awkward showdown with Kevin Sullivan. Finally Cactus cautiously enters the ring and stands face to face with Sullivan as the former Taskmaster tells him how he knows all about his past, his real past, the pain in his soul, the scars that cover his body from his death matches in Japan, his missing ear, the burn scars from his fall through the flaming tables when him and Terry Funk were pushed off the ladder, the scars that he keeps covered up with the tape that covers his face.... 

Kevin Sullivan tells Cactus Jack that Raven doesn't care about him or his scars or his imperfections, Raven doesn't know like he does the pain he felt watching Mikey Whipreck get put in a wheel chair for the rest of his life at the hands of Steve Austin. Cactus hangs his head in sorrow unable to look up at Kevin Sullivan as all of a sudden Raven comes walking out to the entrance ramp, stopping halfway to the ring only to stand and watch....

Sullivan reaches out and pets Cactus' hair back away to reveal his mutilated ear, telling him that he knows that his physical pain is a manifestation of his mental pain, that he wants him to give that pain to him, to kneel before him. Cactus starts to kneel only to surprise Sullivan with a sudden attack! Cactus jams his two middle fingers into Kevin Sullivan's mouth down his gullet, gagging and choking him until he collapses to the canvas and begins to vomit in convulsions! Raven watches on as Cactus leaves Sullivan convulsing and covered in his own vomit before staggering out and walking out with Raven. Sullivan struggles up into a seated position wiping his face and clutching his throat as Cactus turns and looks back at him for a moment with sympathy in his eyes before following Raven to the back...   


World Tag League Match:
The Eliminators(7-1-1)
vs
The Thrillseekers(5-4)

The Thrillseekers make their way out for the next match after the break with Chris Jericho and Lance Storm focused in on what has to be the most critical match for them so far in Best Of The Best. This team started off the 1996 WTL season 0-3 before going on a big win streak that seen them upset the Steiner Brothers in Japan(the Steiners only loss in BOTB). Tonight this match is a must win for Storm and Jericho for them to have a chance to quailfy for the Final Four to crown the inaugural Undisputed World Tag Champs on May 12th on pay per view in Miami. A loss here eliminates them from contention!

The Eliminators come out to Demanufacture by Fear Factory with both JR and Joey Styles wondering if they are looking past tonight's matchup to next week's revenge bout against the Steiner Brothers set for Judgement Night here live on USA next Monday Night. It was the Steiners that gave the Eliminators their only loss here in BOTB in the WTL match last month. Both the Steiners and Eliminators are on a true collision course next week to decide who will go into Miami as 1st place team in the Dragon Division.

Lance Storm and Chris Jericho dominate early on with a sense of urgency with their entire season on the line! The two work over Saturn and then Kronus for an extended stretch before Kronus hits a backflip cartwheel double back elbow counter that downs both Thrillseekers, setting up the hot tag to bring Saturn back in with a vengeance! Saturn dominates Storm and hurts Jericho's left shoulder with a Papa Shango style shoulderbreaker! Storm gets knocked out of the ring and Jericho fights back, fighting through the pain in his shoulder to down Saturn and dropkick Kronus off the apron into the steel railing. Jericho goes for a German suplex with a bridge for the pin on Saturn only to lose his grip due to his injured shoulder, giving Saturn an opening to roll him up with a la magistral rollup for the 1, 2, 3! The Eliminators WIN! Saturn pins Chris Jericho at 8:28! 

Lance Storm is furious as he watches Saturn and Kronus celebrate the win, moving their WTL record to 8-1-1 on the eve of their highly anticipated showdown with the Steiners set for Judgement Night here on USA Network next Monday night LIVE! Jericho clutches his injured shoulder with a noticeable tension between him and Lance Storm as they make their exit, while the Eliminators strike their trademark pose together celebrating the win! The Thrillseekers drop to 5-5 with this loss and have let this opportunity slip through their fingers here tonight, what a crushing loss for them...


In The Ring:
Eric Bischoff(Best Of The Best CEO)

After another round of commercials on USA Network we get the entrance of Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff making his way out to the ring without any type of music or anything. Bischoff takes the ring and immediately addresses the events that took place last night with Bret "The Hitman" Hart setting up a match against Nobuhiko Takada in an attempt to legitimize his "Real" World Championship title belt. Bischoff breaks the news that Best Of The Best does not sanction Bret's title belt, nor do they recognize him as any type of Champion.

Bischoff is boo'd by the Hoosier Dome crowd until all of a sudden Bret Hart's entrance music drops to bring him out! Bret comes out with his WWF style Championship belt draped over his shoulder, his trademark sunglasses on....

Bret gives his glasses away to one of the kids ringside in the audience before entering the ring to confront Eric Bischoff. Bret tells him about how this Dome is sacred ground to him, this was where he spilled his blood right here in this spot when he beat Roddy Piper for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Bret tells Bischoff he lost that belt to The British Bulldog in Wembley later that Summer but he lost that belt fair and square with honor and respect. Bret holds up his glistening WWF style Championship belt to Eric as he tells him that he won this belt from Diesel at Survivor Series last November and he never lost this belt! As far as he's concerned he's the real true World Champion of pro wrestling. Bret looks Eric dead in his eyes in a tense moment before addressing his loss in Japan to Shawn Michaels in the Iron Man Match after the controversial Overtime finish(after interference from Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance, which targeted both men). 

Bret tells Eric that he doesn't have to sanction this Championship title belt, but he knows it, Shawn Michaels knows it, and all of his fans in Canada and the USA knows it, that Bret is the REAL true World Champion of Professional Wrestling, the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be!

Eric Bischoff gets icy and cold with a sudden demeanor shift as he tells Bret that he's the one pulling the strings here ever since this company hired him to run this promotion. Eric boasts about his success in WCW last year when suddenly the cameras pick up several Japanese men making their way through different sections of the crowd towards the ring! Jim Ross freaks on commentary as he and Joey Styles recognize the men as various members of the Kings Of Kings organization!....

Bischoff continues going off on Bret un-effected as The Hitman begins to notice the Kings Of Kings wrestlers jumping the guard railing and enclosing the ring surrounding him! It's Nobuhiko Takada, Akira Maeda, Hiromitsu Kanehara, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Minoru Suzuki, Koji Kitao, Kazushi Sakuraba, Yoji Anjo, and Kiyoshi Tamura! Bischoff continues going off on Bret with a smug diatribe about how he's come under a lot of scrutiny from the Championship Council, from the fans, that it's all unfair criticism and nobody appreciates him for being the pioneer in this industry that he is. Jim Ross freaks on commentary WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? as the Kings Of Kings rush into the ring and attack Bret Hart! Eric Bischoff watches on as Bret is jumped by all 9 men in a vicious beating!

The crowd boo's relentlessly as Eric Bischoff unites with Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda while the other 7 men beat Bret down! This is unbelievable! Eric Bischoff has just revealed himself to be working WITH the Kings Of Kings! Bret is held up limp with blood revealed to be running down his forehead and dripping nasty red blotches all over the ring canvas in a disturbing scene! JR on commentary pleads for somebody to stop this! The Hitman's lifeless body is held up to his knees with his face covered in blood as Eric Bischoff watches on celebrating! Minoru Suzuki takes Bret's WWF Championship belt and rubs it across his crimson soaked face, smearing his blood across the belt before dropping it to the canvas and spitting on it! Bret is left laying in his own blood as Eric retreats with the Kings Of Kings avoiding trash and drinks thrown at them! 


Falls Count Anywhere Match:
Dustin Rhodes vs Jeff Jarrett

After another commercial break we return with Jim Ross and Joey Styles still stunned over what just happened, with Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff just revealing that he is the man pulling the strings behind the most powerful wrestling organization in the world, the Kings Of Kings, the combined forces of UWFI and Rings that have wrecked the sport of wrestling in Japan and have now made their presence felt here in North America with a vicious beating of Bret Hart. JR notes that Eric Bischoff sure has a lot of explaining to do... 

Jeff Jarrett makes his entrance to a chorus of boo's from the Hoosier Dome as the commentators show the replay Jarrett's win over the legendary Dusty Rhodes last week in Minneapolis on Judgement Night after Rhodes passed out after refusing to submit to Jarrett's Figure Four. After winning the match Jarrett refused to give up the Figure Four until Dustin Rhodes ran out making his Best Of The Best debut to make the save and reunite with his estranged father. It was truly one of the best and most heartfelt moments in Best Of The Best in 1996 since the rocky relationship between the father and son has been well documented, since we hadn't seen Dustin since his time portraying the controversial Goldust character in the WWF late last year.

Dustin Rhodes brings the Hoosier Dome crowd to their feet when he makes his way out to Tracy Lawrence's Time Marches On, he's decked out in a Colts Jim Harbaugh jersey with blue jeans and cowboy boots with a fire in his eyes we haven't seen in years. Dustin races to the ring and takes the fight right to Jeff Jarrett and it's on! The brawl goes in and out of the ring, all around the ringside area, in the crowd through the seats with drinks and steel chairs flying! The brawl heads towards the merchandise booth and through the concession stand, then back into the foyer area of the Hoosier Dome with fans running around jumping in and out of the shot going nuts! 

Both men get busted open bleeding from their foreheads as the brawl goes through the bathroom back to the open Dome area to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp that stretches on for seemingly a mile from the entrance stage to the ring apron! Dustin and Jarrett both take it back to the ring where they both go down to a double clothesline! Dusty Rhodes comes out and makes the long walk to the ring to cheer his son on and the crowd goes nuts! 

Dustin recovers and begins pulling the top turnbuckle padding off to set Jarrett up to go face first into the exposed steel! Jarrett reverses the whip and sends Dustin back first into the steel, causing him to collapse on impact clutching his back! Dusty tries to shout words of encouragement to his son while he's down as Jarrett climbs out of the ring and begins scrambling to pull something out from under the ring..... an acoustic GUITAR!.... 

Double J waits for Dustin to recover to his knees before winding up to finish him off with the guitar but Dusty rolls into the ring to stop him at the last second! Dusty takes the guitar and BASHES IT OVER JARRETT'S HEAD! Dust and debri flies everywhere as Jarrett collapses down knocked out! Dustin drags himself over to make the cover.... 1.... 2.... 3! IT'S OVER! Dustin Rhodes has defeated Jeff Jarrett with the help of his father Dusty with a pin at 13:44! Jarrett rolls out of the ring completely out of it as Dustin Rhodes celebrates the huge victory with his father! What a moment! 


In The Ring:
The Kliq(Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, The 123 Kid, & Hunter Hearst Helmsley)

The Hoosier Dome crowd doesn't know how to respond when Tupac & Snoop Dogg's 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted hits the PA system, only for a frenzy to erupt when the entire Kliq comes walking out to the ring to the music! Diesel and Razor walk out first with Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels, 123 Kid, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley following them en route to the ring! The Kliq is HERE! 

All 5 men take their time making it to the ring as they work the crowd ringside in a big celebration of Michaels' victory last night on pay per view over Randy Savage to defend his title! Michaels, Diesel, Razor, Kid, and Helmsley all take the ring and cut a promo that gets the crowd in the Hoosier Dome going nuts for them. Razor cuts a promo first getting the crowd going with his "HEY YO!" before stating that everybody in Best Of The Best should be careful if you speak of the devil, he's going to appear. Diesel takes the mic and shouts that the Kliq is in the HOUSE! The crowd eats it up! The big man talks about how he and Razor had to backup Shawn Michaels last night, the Kliq are bad boys for life, they ride together they die together. 

Michaels ends the promo talking about the target on his back, everybody is joining up to come after him, the Dangerous Alliance, the Four Horsemen, now he's got his boys here to watch his back, its not just these 4 guys standing by his side in this ring but all the 60,000 in the crowd and everybody at home watching on TV, whoever wants to step up and take a shot at the Undisputed World Title will have to be ready to face this entire KLIQ! All 5 men salute and celebrate with each other before celebrating with the ringside fans as we cut away to commercials!....  


Singles Match:
Hulk Hogan vs Ahmed Johnson

After the final commercial break we get ring announcer Michael Buffer getting the sold out Hoosier Dome to their feet with his LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAAL introduction setting off an explosion of pyro from all four corners while fireworks go off over the ring! It's TIME! Ahmed Johnson makes his entrance first as Buffer does his intro during the long walk to the ring, standing 6' 2", weighing 305 pounds, from Pearl River Mississippi, ranked #1 in Best Of The Best with an undefeated 7-0 record! Ahmed takes the ring and the Hoosier Dome crowd swells in anticipation before blowing the roof off when Hulk Hogan's entrance music hits the speakers! The former WCW and WWF World Champion and all time legend of the sport makes his way out to the ring completely JACKED as the crowd goes nuts for him! 

Referee Randy Anderson steps in between Hulk and Ahmed as they stare each other down face to face with flash bulbs going off all around the Hoosier Dome! This is the biggest match perhaps ever in the history of televised wrestling folks, it does not get any bigger than this! HERE WE GO!.... 

All of a sudden the opening intro of the match is interrupted when the voice of Rick Rude crashes everything! Rude leads out Shane Douglas with Sable to the ring as he interrupts Michael Buffer to inform everyone that this whole match is a sham, and he's here to point out that Shane Douglas has the most wins in Best Of The Best and should be the rightful #1 Contender not Ahmed Johnson! Ahmed and Hulk look on PISSED as Rick Rude leads Shane Douglas and Sable to the ring! What the hell is THIS!?..... 

Rick Rude insults both Ahmed Johnson and Hulk Hogan before challenging both men to make this match a TRIPLE THREAT MATCH! Rude challenges both Ahmed and Hulk to face Shane Douglas RIGHT HERE AND NOW! Both men look back and forth at each other before accepting the challenge, simultaneously urging the referee to ring the bell! Shane Douglas is JACKED with intensity as Rude retreats out of the ring with Sable to stalk the floor! This is happening! This match is now a TRIANGLE MATCH!..... 


Triangle Match:
Ahmed Johnson vs Hulk Hogan vs Shane Douglas(W/Rick Rude & Sable)

The Hoosier Dome goes crazy for the impromptu change to a 3 way and it's all out pandemonium at the bell as all 3 men have a stand off to start the match! Shane Douglas takes the first shot with a kick to Hogan but it does nothing to him! Ahmed storms after Douglas and works together with Hogan to whip him into the ropes and hit him with a double team back body drop that sends him flying through the air! The crowd is white hot as Hogan and Ahmed work together to flop Shane Douglas all around the ring kicking his ass before sending him outside to the floor! 

Douglas is consoled and coddled by Sable as Rude works to pull him up and revive him! The crowd continues going ape sh#t as Hogan and Ahmed square off finally one on one in the ring! It's an all out battle that rumbles the ring as Hogan and Ahmed trade punches before locking up in a test of strength! Ahmed overpowers Hogan down to his knees but the Hulkster feels the power and gets back up to stand his ground! Shane Douglas recovers into the ring and attacks both men, dropping Hogan with a charging knee strike to his back before putting the boots to Ahmed! 

The crowd boo's as Shane Douglas goes back and forth putting the boots to both Hulk Hogan and Ahmed Johnson! Hogan rolls out to the floor and gets attacked by Rick Rude and Sable while the ref is distracted! Douglas goes for Ahmed with more boots before setting him up for his Belly To Belly Suplex, hooking the leg and getting a 2 count before Ahmed kicks out! 

Rude rolls a hurt Hogan back into the ring for Shane to pull him up into a Belly to Belly Suplex but Hogan immediately pops up all Hulked the F#CK UP! The Hoosier Dome crowd loses it as Hogan no-sells Shane's punches and kicks before beating him down! Ahmed recovers and works with Hogan to beat Douglas around the ring some more before sending him back out to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp, setting up another one on one showdown between the immovable object vs the unstoppable force! 

Douglas is revived by Rude and Sable again, this time with Rude pouring water of Douglas' head while Ahmed counters Hogan for a big slam back inside the ring! Ahmed pulls Hogan up into his Pearl River Plunge and goes for the win but Hogan amazingly kicks out at 2.99999! The entire crowd gasps! Shane Douglas fights his way back into the match going after Ahmed while Hulk is down, setting him up for a Rude Awakening attempt later on only for Hogan to make the save at the last second with a boot to his gut! Hogan quickly follows up with a spinning neckbreaker before hooking the leg to make a cover! The ref counts to 2 until Ahmed pulls Hogan off of Shane Douglas to save the match! Hogan pops up with a surprised intense look as he looks around at the crowd and at Ahmed! 

Rick Rude drags Shane Douglas out of the ring to try to revive him while Hogan makes a surge in an all out attack on Ahmed Johnson! Hogan counters Ahmed's spinebuster attempt and drops him with a huge running clothesline! Hogan gets the crowd going before lifting Ahmed with a HUGE running big boot followed by his RUNNING LEG DROP! Hogan makes the cover but Ahmed KICKS OUT AT 2!!! 

Hogan can't believe it! He almost had it! Ahmed BARELY kicked out! Shane Douglas recovers back into the ring and attacks Hogan, pulling him up and throwing him over the top rope, sending him careening off the apron and crashing into the floor! Shane Douglas takes advantage of a hurt Ahmed Johnson as Hogan rolls around out on the floor clutching his knee after the nasty spill. Ahmed fights back and manages to counter Shane Douglas and drive him into the canvas with a huge SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and out! Hogan is still hurt trying to get up on the floor! 

Sable makes her move to get up onto the apron and distract the referee as Rick Rude grabs a steel chair and tries to get into the ring! Hogan manages to grab Rude's chair and stop him! The two men struggle back and forth for possession of the chair out on the floor as Ahmed and Shane Douglas recover in the ring! Ahmed reverses a whip and accidentally sends Shane Douglas crashing into the referee, knocking him into the ropes with violent force that causes Sable to fall down to the floor! The ref is knocked out! Sable is hurt on the floor! Rude gives up the steel chair and shoves Hogan down to the floor before checking on Sable! Shane Douglas and Ahmed Johnson are down and out along with the ref in the ring! 

Rick Rude leaves Sable down and begins motioning towards the entrance stage for something, somebody, when all of a sudden out comes..... 

JR and Joey Styles freak on commentary along with the entire Hoosier Dome as SID makes his way out to the ring! SID IS HERE! Hogan looks up in disbelief! Sid goes right after Hogan and rips the chair out of his hands before smashing it over Hulks head! Sid beats Hogan over towards the spanish commentary table where he rips him up into a POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE!....

Hogan smashes through the table sending monitors and debri flying on impact in a massive crash! Sid climbs over the top rope into the ring where he pulls Ahmed Johnson up into a vicious POWERBOMB! Ahmed is out cold! Sid drags Shane Douglas over Ahmed's body before climbing back over the top rope to join Rude and Sable on the floor as the ref begins to recover! Hulk Hogan is down and out in the wreckage of the spanish commentary table as the ref finally rolls over to see Shane Douglas covering Ahmed Johnson for the pin!.... NO!... 


1... 


2.... 


3!! 


Shane Douglas! NO! NOT LIKE THIS! Hulk Hogan has been DESTROYED! Sid is HERE! Shane Douglas with the help of Rick Rude, Sable, and Sid has defeated Hulk Hogan and Ahmed Johnson here tonight! Hogan is shown being worked on by medics as Ahmed is rolled out of the ring by Sid!

Shane Douglas has his arm raised with trash flying into the ring as he's propped up by Rick Rude and Sable with Sid lurking over him watching his back as the copyright text fades in to the bottom of the screen!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

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

Bushido hits the Superstation at 8:05 pm sharp on a Thursday night in April 1996 with a slow motion black and white sepia tone replay of Bret Hart being bloodied by the Kings Of Kings on Monday night on Judgement Night as Eric Bischoff watched on with a sick grin, moments after revealing that he was the man behind the KOK invasion of BOTB....

The clips plays on with the music of Sadeness by Enigma from the Pure Moods Soundtrack. The sepia tone black and white makes Bret Hart's blood appear to be black, as Minoru Suzuki smears the WWF Championship belt across his face with Bischoff watching on with Takada and Maeda, while Bret is held up on his knees a beaten mess....

Mike Tenay, Phillip Rhee, and Don "The Dragon" Wilson open the show from their commentary table ringside here at the Manhattan Center in NYC immediately covering the recent events with Best Of The Best CEO Eric Bischoff being revealed as the head of the North American invasion of the Kings Of Kings, who declared war on Best Of The Best right from the very start of this promotion back on New Years Day 1996 with their "Imperial Edict Of Battle" issued to our Championship Council. The Council is reportedly furious over the development on Monday night on Judgement Night but still yet, we have a STACKED broadcast tonight here on the Superstation as we are just a few weeks away from Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect from the Miami Arena on pay per view on May 12th! Tonight we will see a head to head matchup between 2 of the most furious female warriors from the All Japan Womens Wrestling promotion, with the winner earning the shot to face off against Kathy Long in a hybrid rules superfight in Miami at BOTB V!

Also tonight we will see a special Beyond The Mat look at the female fighting force Kathy Long, plus an unbelievable special guest appearance as none other than Jean Claude Van Damme is here in the Manhattan Center for a one on one interview with our very own Don "The Dragon" Wilson to promote his new movie "The Quest" opening tomorrow night in theaters everywhere! 


Breaking News/Satellite Interview: 
Butterbean Returns Next Week

Mike Tenay wastes little time in breaking the biggest news story for Bushido that just developed today here in New York City prior to tonight's filming, Butterbean is BACK! The 300 pound Toughman boxing knockout artist will return to Bushido right here at 8:05 PM next Thursday night on the Superstation as he's set to take on the 6' 8" 300 pound Kiyokushin Karate black belt and UFC veteran Gerry Harris!

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Butterbean is a major fan favorite slugger in the United States, he's eager to avenge his loss to Yokozuna earlier this year in one of the most watched episodes of Bushido so far. Now the Butterbean is BACK! It will be Toughman vs Karate, a battle between two 300 pound heavyweights in Hybrid Rules competition right here on Bushido on TBS next Thursday NIGHT!


Beyond The Mat: 
Kathy Long

Tonight's Beyond The Mat featured takes a closer look at the legendary Kathy Long, a phenom martial artist set to make her Best Of The Best debut on May 12th at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect live on pay per view at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! The 32 year old female fighting force is an 8th degree black belt in Kung Fu and a 1st degree black belt in Aikido. Long dominated the world of women's kickboxing in the 90's, defeating every top ranked female kickboxer in the world en route to an 18-1 record with numerous titles under her belt when she retired in the prime of her career. Long retired from kickboxing as the best in the world in 1992 to focus on a career in Hollywood in films and TV shows, including a role as Michelle Phifer's stunt double as Catwoman in Batman Returns, as well as roles and appearances in Natural Born Killers and Walker Texas Ranger. 

It was major news last month when it was revealed on AOL that Kathy Long decided to come out of retirement and step back into the ring after signing a contract with Best Of The Best. Now the ultimate female fighter will face the ultimate challenge when she makes her debut on May 12th in Miami at BOTB V live on pay per view, it will be A Matter Of Respect for female athletes in all combat sports around the world...  


Music Video: 
Shame On A Ni__a by Wu Tang Clan(Ultimo Dragon highlights)

After the Beyond The Mat feature we get a highlight montage of Ultimo Dragon's impressive run in Best Of The Best in 1996 along to Shame On A N___A by Wu-Tang Clan. The Ultimo Dragon has quickly become one of the most dangerous hybrid athletes since the inception of the Bushido concept in Best Of The Best in 1996. The living embodiment of Bruce Lee's "No one way as a way" open mind, open mat concept, The Ultimo Dragon is perhaps best described as a modern day Tiger Mask. We've seen Dragon display some of the most versatile and well rounded attacks in his victories over Dutch Kickboxers, Judokas, Karatekas, Tae Kwon Do fighters, with a balance between martial arts strikes, pro wrestling submission grappling, and high flying aerial lucha libre counters and attacks. 

The Ultimo Dragon is the ultimate modern day hybrid warrior in 1996. Tune in right here every Thursday night at 8:05 pm on TBS The Superstation to see the rise of the Ultimo Dragon! 


AJW Rules Bout: 
Etsuko Mita vs Kyoko Inoue

The women of All Japan Womens Wrestling take center stage on tonight's episode of Bushido with the featured bout between Etsuko Mita taking on Kyoko Inoue getting the full spotlight tonight on TBS in a fierce back and forth battle! The battle goes outside the ring into the audience when Inoue destroys the steel guard railing dismantling it before whipping Mita into the chairs as the fans ringside flee out of the way! Mita crashes into chairs in a violent mess of entangled steel before getting her hip targeted with repeated chair shots from Inoue!

Mike Tenay, Phillip Rhee, and Don "The Dragon" Wilson are stunned on commentary at the out of control violence that has turned the Manhattan Center UPSIDE DOWN! This is not a martial arts hybrid style bout, there is no real technique on display here THIS IS A FIGHT! The NYC crowd goes NUTS as referee John Finnegan(known for being far more lenient, to the point of having been reprimanded by the Championship Council) allows these women to push it to the extreme! 

Mike Tenay notes the tenacity and ferocity of Kyoko Inoue making her BOTB debut here tonight in this highly critical showdown, as the winner of this bout will be scheduled to face off against Kathy Long in a huge Hybrid Rules bout at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! Inoue lifts Mita up and drops her already hurt hip across one of the strewn about sections of steel guard railing, sending her collapsing over to the floor in agony!

Mita fights back with the heart of a lion with ferocious forearm strikes before taking Inoue back into the ring. Tenay recalls the incredible heart that Mita showcased back in March when she made history winning the first ever women's wrestling match in Best Of The Best right here on Bushido. Mita is truly being pushed into deep water here as she limps and winces in pain favoring her right hip!

Inoue stretches Mita in an Octopus hold after the commercial break only to lose it after Mita fights her way out to a rope break. After absorbing a barrage of forearm strikes Mita fights back and stuffs an attempted Tiger Driver by Inoue, breaking out of her clutches before ducking under 3 attempted forearm strikes in a row! Mita catches Inoue's arm on her 4th attempt to twist it over into a roll over, with Inoue kipping up only to get scooped up into a MASSIVE Death Valley Driver for the pin!.... 1.... 2.... 3!... Mita takes the victory with a pin over Inoue at 16:39! 

What a battle! Etsuko Mita has won her 2nd match in a row here on Bushido and has become the odds on favorite to become the opponent for Kathy Long in the Hybrid Rules Bout set for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! 


In-Ring Interview(W/Don "The Dragon" Wilson): 
Jean Claude Van Damme

After the final commercial break we get BOTB analyst, former kickboxing legend and actor Don "The Dragon" Wilson in the ring to showcase a special Bushido exclusive sneak peak of Jean Claude Van Damme's new film "The Quest" set to hit theaters TOMORROW NIGHT!....





After the footage airs of the trailer Don brings out none other than the man himself to a huge standing ovation from the fans in the Manhattan Center... Jean Claude Van Damme!...

Van Damme comes out to the ring to shake hands and bow to Don "The Dragon" Wilson out of respect before plugging his new movie "The Quest" hitting theaters tomorrow everywhere. Van Damme says this may be his favorite movie he's ever made, a martial arts adventure that he is sure the fans of Bushido will also appreciate. Van Damme begins to show his respect for Best Of The Best and the Bushido concept focusing on an open mat concept, open challenges for every style, every race or gender, no one way as a way as an honor to Bruce Lee.

All of a sudden the interview is interrupted when War Machine by Kiss hits the PA System of the Manhattan Center to bring out "The Human Suplex Machine"..... TAZ....

Taz takes the ring and stares both JCVD and Don "The Dragon" Wilson down in an INTENSE staredown before taking a mic and telling Van Damme he's got some nerve to step foot in his house, a fake actor, pretty boy from Hollywood, he's on the wrong coast, in the wrong fuc#*ng house! Taz shows respect to Greg Lloyd for at least being a real athlete, even though he got choked the fu%& out in Chicago, at least he stepped into this ring to fight! Taz threatens to choke Van Damme out! Security rushes into the ring as Taz takes a swing at Van Damme that barely misses! Van Damme leaps into the air and pulls off his trademark jumping spinning roundhouse kick that BARELY misses Taz's face by mere inches! The crowd goes NUTS!

Security rushes to pull JCVD out of the ring as he fights against them trying to get to Taz! Don "The Dragon" Wilson remains in the ring and has a staredown as he's held back by security in the corner! Taz suddenly shoves two security guards off of him before grabbing the third guy into a half nelson TAZPLEX! Taz flips the security guard ONTO HIS HEAD! This is OUT OF CONTROL! Taz! The Human Suplex Machine!..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Joe Louis Arena(Detroit, MI)
April 27th, 1996

Shockwave opens up with none other than Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Tony Shiavonne hitting the airwaves of TBS at 6:05 pm with a totally sold out Joe Louis Arena in DETROIT MICHIGAN! The arena is PACKED with crazed fans ready for the next 2 hours of pro wrestling! Everyone is talking about what a crazy 48 hours we seen on Sunday at the pay per view(Best Of The Best IV) in Chicago followed by Judgement Night on Monday night at the Hoosier Dome in Indy!

The Kliq is back reunited with Diesel and Razor Ramon making their debuts on pay per view on Sunday night to help Shawn Michaels fight off the Dangerous Alliance to retain his Undisputed World title. Then on Monday night we seen Shane Douglas shock the world by defeating Hulk Hogan and Ahmed Johnson in a Triangle Match with the help of his new manager Rick Rude and their new muscle SID! Sid powerbombed Hogan through the spanish announcers table and then put Ahmed Johnson down for the count for Shane to pick up the win in a shocking twist... 

We are here tonight in Detroit and the match that has everybody here talking is set for our main event, we will finally see the one on one showdown between "The Macho Man" Randy Savage vs STING right here tonight on SHOCKWAVE! We've seen Sting and Savage form a brotherhood in WCW last year in 1995, and that brotherhood has fallen apart right in front of our very eyes here in Best Of The Best in 1996. It all started back in Houston at Best Of The Best I: A New Beginning, the 30 Man Champions Rumble Match.

Savage made his surprise debut in BOTB in the match to help Sting fight off the Four Horsemen, but when Sting dumped Arn Anderson over the top rope to eliminate him Arn also took Savage over the top to the floor with him. Savage's quest to regain the Undisputed World Title(the same WCW World Title he was screwed out of by the Horsemen back at the final ever WCW show Starrcade 95). Sting stood in Savage's way to regain his title again at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors when he forced him to submit to the Scorpion Deathlock to win a 4 Way Match(that also included Ahmed Johnson & The Ultimate Warrior). 

After Savage fell short of regaining his title again, he was forced to watch as the Four Horsemen became fan favorites in Best Of The Best. The more and more the fans of Best Of The Best cheered for Ric Flair and the Horsemen the darker and angrier, more and more bitter Randy Savage got. Savage would end up facing off against Ric Flair in one final battle last month, with their common rival Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat as special honorary referee. Savage shocked the world when he had Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance help him win the bout. Savage destroyed Flair and Steamboat before joining Paul E.'s new Alliance as the show came to an end. 

Sting put together a new Sting's Squadron to take on the new Dangerous Alliance in War Games here on Shockwave earlier this month. The match ended up being a massacre, revenge for 1992 for Paul E. In the match Sting was handcuffed to the fence, beaten mercilessly, and forced to say "I Quit" in order to save the career of the young Rey Mysterio(who was locked in a chokehold by UFC fighter Ken Shamrock).

Savage's victory in the War Games as the team captain of The Dangerous Alliance set him up with a title shot at HBK's Undisputed Championship this past Sunday night at Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar '96! The untimely passing of Brian Pillman in a car accident the week before the pay per view ultimately brought an end to the Dangerous Alliance's plans, and Savage would fall short of regaining his Undisputed Title once again in a losing effort against HBK. This past Monday night on Judgement Night Savage came out with Paul E. Dangerously to announce that the Dangerous Alliance was dead and gone, but they were confronted by Sting, hungry for revenge. The match was set and it all happens right here later tonight on the Superstation, DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL! 

TONIGHT ON SHOCKWAVE!

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Grudge Match
"The Macho Man" Randy Savage(W/Paul E. Dangerously) vs Sting

Shiavonne and Heenan's opening is suddenly interrupted when Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple brings out Shane Douglas, with Sable, his new manager "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and "Psycho" Sid!...


In The Ring:
Shane Douglas(W/Sable, & "Ravishing" Rick Rude) & "Psycho" Sid Vicious

Rick Rude does all the talking since Shane Douglas was banned recently from being anywhere near a microphone on TBS programming. Rude tells all the fat, nasty, out of shape, disgusting Detroit sweathogs to keep the noise down, and feast their eyes on a true living work of art Sable. The boo's rain in on Shane Douglas as he mocks and taunts the ringside fans with Sid standing ominously by his side. Rude calls Shane Douglas the most censored man in America, at 9-1 has the best overall record and is currently sitting as the true rightful #1 contender in Best Of The Best. What we seen this past Monday night on Judgement Night was the birth of a new force in professional wrestling, and end of Hulkamania.... 

Sid looks on with psychotic vicious intensity as Rick Rude boasts about how Ahmed Johnson is out of action indefinitely with a back injury, while Hulk Hogan's American dream turned into the American nightmare, we may never see the Hulkster again....

Rick Rude reveals that he's been working behind the scenes with Shane Douglas for months now and waiting for the opportunity to make their push to take over this sport in 1996. Rick Rude is the one that taught Shane Douglas the true techniques of the Rude Awakening that he's been using lately. Shane Douglas already has the baddest woman in professional wrestling, he now has the guidance of the Ravishing One, and the muscle of a 6' 9" 340 pound Sid Vicious watching his back! 

Sable applauds as Shane flexes and laughs with Sid(rubbing his hands together laughing with evil). Rude then proceeds to call out Ric Flair and the Horsemen, saying that they are going to be collateral damage on their way to the Undisputed World Championship being held hostage by Shawn Michaels and the Kliq. Rude makes it clear how he feels about the return of Diesel and Razor Ramon, he thought long and hard about it while sitting on the toilet and taking a Razor and then wiping his Diesel. What you are looking at in this ring right now is the anti-Kliq, and they are fully loaded to take on this entire industry in 1996!.... 

The shenanigans are suddenly interrupted by MARC MERO coming out to the entrance stage! Mero calls out Shane Douglas for taking his girl Sable, saying that they settled nothing at the pay per view this past Sunday Night. Mero tells Rick Rude and Shane Douglas that they will have to face him sooner or later, he's going to keep coming after them! Mero then calls out Shane Douglas to face him one on one in a NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH this Monday night on JUDGEMENT NIGHT! Rick Rude laughs it up with Sid and Shane Douglas before accepting the challenge on Shane's behalf! 

It's set and official! Marc Mero vs Shane Douglas to settle the score once and for all in a NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH! This Monday night on Judgement Night on USA Network at 8 pm LIVE!...


Singles Match:
Juventud Guerrera
vs
Joel Hartgood

Juventud Guerrera makes his way out to off-brand entrance music that sounds like Vega's theme from Street Fighter 2 as the commentators recap his thrilling battle against Psicosis in their rematch in the Hoosier Dome this past Monday night on Judgement Night. Juvy won the bout by disqualification then sacrificed himself to save the referee Charles Robinson from a vicious attack by Psicosis after the match. Heenan notes that Psicosis and Juvy have unfinished business here in Best Of The Best, we haven't seen the last of these two going at it, the next time they meet it will really be something... 

Juvy completely destroys Hartgood in a total beat down with intensity, vicious chest chops, a flying headscisor takedown, and a missile dropkick from the apron springboarding off the top rope that sends Joel flying and flipping all the way across the ring on impact! Hartgood tries to roll out of the ring to escape and regain his composure but Juvy keeps the pressure on him, quickly flying across the ring and clearing the top rope with a SOMERSAULT PLANCHA! Heenan and Shiavonne both shout on commentary and the Joe Louis Arena goes CRAZY! Juvy and Hartgood both roll around on the floor hurting as the ref begins to count them out.... 3..... 4....... 5........

Guerrera recovers and drags Hartgood up into an irish whip into the steel steps, sending him front flipping over on impact! Juvy takes it back into the ring to break the ref's count right at 9.9999 before finishing Hartgood off with a Sitout crucifix powerbomb for the pin at 3:10! Juvy is INTENSE! 


Up-Close With Mike Tenay:
Dustin Rhodes & The Benny Hinn Ministries 

After the match we get a brief segment with Mike Tenay's feature here on Shockwave "Up-Close", a 60 Minutes news journal style featurette taking a closer look at the wrestlers and personalities of Best Of The Best. Tonight's feature is a focus on the Benny Hinn Ministries and their impact here in 1996 ever since they were the official spiritual advisors for Evander Holyfield in his win over Aleksandr Karelin in their showdown back at Best Of The Best II in February. 

Holyfield donated all of the $4.2 million in winnings from his victory over Karelin(via doctor stoppage due to accidental cut from a clashing of heads in the clinch seconds into the fight) from BOTB II pay per view to the Hinn Ministries. Since it was signed over in the contract for the bout the Hinn Ministries were able to receive all of the money tax free, and they used it to build a huge athletic training facility in their main church in Atlanta Georgia. The massive 12,000 square foot facility broke ground in March and is shown under construction with Hinn and his associates looking on with hard hats from a distance while the steel frame of the building is being constructed... 

Hinn's supernatural healing powers have been well documented and his church has millions of followers worldwide. Evander Holyfield credits Hinn for healing his heart ailment that nearly ended his boxing career last year. Now Hinn has opened his doors to other athletes including wrestlers from Best Of The Best. The ministries first connected with Ted Dibiase and used him as the ambassador to bring in other wrestlers looking to heal and excel through the faith and guidance of Hinn's Jesus powers. Dibiase's first wrestlers he recruited into the Hinn Ministries were the American Males, Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs. The former WCW Tag Champs careers were struggling until Dibiase connected them with Benny Hinn, who blessed them with his annointing powers live on his church program. Bagwell and Riggs devoted their lives to Jesus and spent time volunteering in their communities spreading the gospel. With Dibiase's guidance and the power of the Hinn Ministries the Males changed their names to the American Power Team, and made a strong push in the World Tag League(they are currently 5-3-1 and will be in action later tonight).

Tonight's Up Close shows exclusive new footage revealing that the Benny Hinn Ministries was behind the recent reuniting of Dustin Rhodes with his father Dusty. Dustin came out to help Dusty fight off Jeff Jarrett last week, then Dusty helped his son defeat Jarrett one on one in the Hoosier Dome in a wild match this past Monday night on Judgement Night. Tenay in the feature gets an interview with Dustin and Dusty Rhodes together revealing that Dustin was recruited by Ted Dibiase and the Benny Hinn Ministries. The feature shows Dustin being brought on stage at Hinn's church and flopping out on the ground in an elaborate scene with Hinn blessing him with his hands transferring the power of Jesus. Hinn is also shown uniting former arch rivals and sworn enemies Ted Dibiase and Dusty Rhodes as they shake hands and hug and cry together with Hinn placing his hands on both... 

Dusty and Dustin Rhodes in the interview talk about the importance of forgiveness, how Dusty was able to forgive Dibiase, and how he and his son were able to forgive each other. Later in the interview Dustin talks about how Dibiase and the Hinn Ministries helped cure him of the bizarre sexuality he was plagued with, the sickness that led to him becoming the Goldust alter ego in the WWF last year.... 

The Benny Hinn Ministries with Ted Dibiase has made a strong impact on Dustin Rhodes, as well as The American Power Team(Bagwell & Riggs), and Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka). These talented athletes have found a newfound spiritual drive and are primed to fight for Jesus in Best Of The Best in 1996!


World Tag League Match:
The American Power Team(5-3-1)
vs
The Can-Am Express(2-6-1)

After the TBS commercials we return to the Joe Louis Arena here in Detroit with Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon already in the ring wrapping up their entrances before One Of Us by Joan Osborne brings out Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs led by Ted Dibiase their spiritual advisor. Both teams are supremely focused in on this bout, with the Can Am's riding the highs of a strong showing last week when they took the 1st place Steiner Brothers to a 20 minute time limit draw last week on Shockwave. The APT wrap up their pre-match prayer with Dibiase and they are looking poised to rebound from their crushing loss to the Thrillseekers last week here on Shockwave. 

The match is an all out fast paced back and forth battle split up by a commercial break. Bagwell shines in the early minutes after being able to go move for move with both Furnas then Lafon. Riggs tags in and works together seemlesly with Bagwell to work over Lafon with double dropkicks, back body drops, double elbow drops, getting several nearfalls. Just before the commercials Lafon is able to recover and counter Riggs to make the tag out to Furnas. After the break it's all Furnas and Lafon finding their rhythm to dominate Riggs, isolating him with suplexes and submissions, clean teamwork. 

During the long stretches of rest holds by Furnas and Lafon the commentators push the hype hard for this Monday night episode of Judgement Night on USA Network at 8pm as we are set for the biggest showdown of the entire 1996 World Tag League season, the rematch between the Steiners vs The Eliminators with 1st place in the Dragon Division on the line! Also later tonight it just doesn't get any more critical than the showdown between Harlem Heat vs Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit, both teams are tied in 2nd place at 5-4, whoever loses this bout will be virtually eliminated from the Final Four tournament that is set for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 where we will crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! The American Power Team technically still has a shot to qualify for the Final Four but they absolutely must win this match! 

Dibiase and Bagwell pray and shout encouragement to power Riggs up out of a rest hold for a spirited comeback! Riggs gets the crowd going before backdropping Lafon and making the hot tag to Bagwell! Bagwell comes in with speed and fury taking out both Furnas and Lafon before Riggs lands a missile dropkick on Lafon sending him into a rollup by Bagwell for the pinfall at 13:18! The American Power Team pull off the win! 

Furnas and Lafon are completely disheartened in the aftermath as Dibiase raises Bagwell and Riggs arms in victory together, moving their record to 6-3-1. Furnas and Lafon are shown walking out as perhaps one of the biggest surprise disappointments of the 96 World Tag League season, having come over to Best Of The Best with a ton of hype they have now fallen to 2-7-1 in last place in the Dragon Division. 


On Location:
The Boiler Room

After the match we get a brief pre-recorded theatrical vignette somewhere within the boiler room of the Joe Louis Arena with Cactus Jack seated rocking back and forth, talking about the DDT he sustained from Raven to his skull at the pay per view last weekend in Chicago. Cactus talks about the severe concussion he suffered as footage of the DDT is replayed superimposed over the scene. The replayed footage shows Judgement Night in the Hoosier Dome when Kevin Sullivan attempted to recruit Cactus to join his freak show, getting Cactus to knee to him only for Cactus surprised him with his new maneuver he refers to as "The Mandible Claw" in the promo. 

Cactus continues talking about how he lost his best little buddy Mikey Whipreck, put in a wheel chair for the rest of his life by Paul E. Dangerously and Steve Austin. Cactus talks about how it broke his heart to see his little buddy rolling around in his wheel chair, he now feels on the inside the pain and agony that he feels on the outside, that you can see the scars and missing appendages on the outside, but you can't see the scars and gouges and scrapes on the inside. Kevin Sullivan can't see those scars as much as he thinks he can, there is only one man that really see's him for what he is.... 

The camera shot backs off of Cactus to a wide angle shot revealing Raven standing up leaning against a block wall near Cactus, his face obscured by his hair as the steam from the pipes in the boiler room waft by him.... 


Music Video: 
Fu-Gee-La by The Fugees(The Kliq)

The music video for Fu-Gee-La cuts in and out with highlights of The Kliq; Hunter Hearst Helmsley, The 123 Kid, Razor Ramon, Diesel, and the current Best Of The Best Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. The Kliq was reunited this past Sunday night in Chicago at Best Of The Best IV on pay per view in one of the most talked about moments in wrestling so far this year. The highlights are heavy on Michaels' dominant title reign so far with his wins over Flair, Sting, Bret, Konnan, and Randy Savage. Diesel jack knife powerbombing fools and Razor folding jabrones in half with the Razor's Edge cut in and out with the Fugees..... Oooh la-la-la, it's the way that we rock when we doing our thing...

Now the entire Kliq has reunited here in Best Of The Best and they don't play by any rules, they are all attitude... 

 
Singles Match:
Eddie Guerrero 
vs
Chris Candido

After the break we get Chris Candido formerly of the WWF tag team the Body Donnas ready and set wrapping up his entrance to make his one on one debut here in Best Of The Best. Eddie Guerrero makes his way out to The House That Love Built by Tito and the Tarantula sporting his sequined red and white jacket with his trademark mustache and mullet. Eddie makes his way out high fiving the ringside fans bringing in a 5-2 record, he's just on the outer fringes of the Top 10 Rankings after the devastating loss to Dean Malenko back in Japan at BOTB III in March. Eddie rebounded with an impressive win over Juventud Guerrera here on Shockwave back on April 6th, a match where he stopped Psicosis from attacking Juvy after the referee had been knocked out. 

Candido puts up a valiant effort but Eddie is razor sharp here tonight in the Joe Louis Arena, he stays one step and one move ahead of everything Chris throws at him with quick counters and escapes. The arm drags, dropkicks and chest chops send Candido face flopping all over the ring, ultimately sending him out to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp that connects to the ring apron. Eddie brings the crowd in the Joe Louis Arena to their feet with a catapult diving tornado DDT out onto the entrance ramp, driving Candido head first down into the ramp! Eddie pulls Candido up and throws him over the top rope back into the ring before shouting with intensity getting the crowd fired up! Eddie climbs the ropes and puts Candido away with a Frog Splash for the pin at 8:50! Candido retreats barely able to walk away as Eddie has his arm raised in victory moving his BOTB record to 6-2! 


In The Ring:
Eric Bischoff & The Kings Of Kings

Eric Bischoff makes his way out to the ring after the commercial break accompanied by the Kings Of Kings, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Akira Maeda, Minoru Suzuki, Kiyoshi Tamura, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Yoji Anjo, Koji Kitao, Hiromitsu Kanehara, and Kazushi Sakuraba all file out following Eric to the ring getting boo'd!... 

Eric reveals that he received an email this morning that he has officially been fired from his job as CEO of Best Of The Best effective as of 9:00 Am this morning. Eric states that he knew he never stood a chance running this promotion working under a group of old dinosaurs like the Championship Council and Lou Thesz. Every move Eric made he claims the Council constantly fought him every step of the way. Eric reveals that he's been working closely with the KOK since the very beginning of 1996 when he got the job as CEO. Bischoff reveals that he was merely the trojan horse that brought the KOK invasion to the doorsteps of the Best Of The Best... 

Bischoff brings up Bret "The Hitman" Hart and the beating the KOK laid on him this past Monday night in Judgement Night, busting him open and smearing his blood on his so called "Real" World Championship belt. Bischoff claims that Nobuhiko Takada is the one true fighting champion of the sport, that the Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship Belt is the true ultimate prize in pro wrestling or any other combat sport. Nobuhiko Takada is the real deal, with training lineage in submission wrestling that goes back to Billy Robinson and Karl Gotch, real shooters, while Bret Hart's father Stu that taught him, by all accounts, is a fraud, a fake, a phony. 

All of a sudden the Joe Louis Arena goes bonkers when Bret Hart's entrance music hits to bring out THE HITMAN!...

Bret comes out with a bandage over his busted forehead with his WWF style World Championship belt draped over his shoulder as he wastes little time in getting into the ring and standing off with the entire Kings Of Kings like Daniel in the Lions Den. Nobubiko Takada steps forward and stands face to face with Bret in an intense showdown with Eric Bischoff watching on! Bret Hart stands by his challenge and vows to put his title on the line anytime against Nobuhiko Takada, vowing to make the KOK pay for their attack and to make Eric Bischoff pay for the things he's said about his father Stu! Bret challenges Nobuhiko Takada and Eric Bischoff to make the match happen and not wait for the pay per view next month, lets do it LIVE this Monday night on JUDGEMENT NIGHT! After an intense stand off Eric accepts Bret's challenge! 

This Monday Night LIVE on Judgement Night on USA Network at 8pm!


vs

World Title Unification Match
Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship vs The Real World Championship*
Nobuhiko Takada(C) vs Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C)

*this title is not sanctioned by Best Of The Best

The match has been set! Security rushes into the ring to stand between Bret and the KOK as they eye each other down! It will be Bret Hart vs Nobuhiko Takada in a Champion vs Champion Title Unification Bout THIS MONDAY NIGHT LIVE ON JUDGEMENT NIGHT in Cleveland Ohio! Bret will look to legitimize the title belt that he claims he never truly lost, while the Kings Of Kings are on a hunt to claim one of the most prized belts in the sport of professional wrestling! The match is back on and they will not wait for the PPV in May, this will happen LIVE on Judgement Night this Monday night 8pm on the USA Network!! 


World Tag League Match:
Harlem Heat(5-4)
vs
Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko(W/Arn Anderson)(5-4)

After the melee is cleared and we get a recap from Shiavonne and Heenan we shoot it back down to the ring for the entrances of Booker T and Stevie Ray for the following World Tag League bout! Harlem Heat get the crowd raising the roof as they take the ring ready for what has to be one of the most critical matches of their career. Whoever wins this bout has a strong chance to take 2nd place in the Tiger Division with only 2 weeks remaining, while the loser will fall to 5-5 and out of the Final Four picture. The Four Horsemen music gets the Joe Louis Arena going crazy as Chris Benoit comes out with Horsemen associate Dean Malenko and Arn Anderson leading them to the ring. The commentators recap how Malenko accepted the Horsemen's offer to fill in for the injured Arn Anderson, and he's made a huge impact on saving the Horsemen's season. 

Chris Benoit and Booker T start off the match with the commentators talking about how these two really stole the show back when these teams met in week 1 of the World Tag League back on Shockwave on February 24th in Las Vegas. Harlem Heat won that match but they pinned Arn Anderson to win it. This is a totally different tag team now with Dean Malenko, they have won 3 in a row since he replaced Arn Anderson due to his injury at the hands of Paul E. and Randy Savage's attack on the Horsemen earlier this month. 

Benoit vs Booker takes center stage throughout the match, they start off going head to head with a chain sequence of back and forth rollups and reversals before Harlem Heat end up working together to isolate Benoit to take the momentum. Benoit counters Stevie Ray and makes the tag to Dean Malenko, working with him to overtake Harlem Heat and steal the momentum. Malenko and Benoit spend several minutes before and after the commercial break keeping Stevie Ray grounded in holds, tagging in and out, targeting his left knee with Arn giving advice from the outside. 

Harlem Heat get the Joe Louis Arena going crazy with a huge comeback after Stevie Ray makes the hot tag to Booker T. The high impact strikes stifle Benoit and Malenko and as the match gets past the 12 minute mark it becomes evident that Harlem Heat are the stronger tag team. Still Benoit and Malenko appear to have a technical advantage with the ability to negate the strength and power with crafty technical scientific mat wrestling and submission. Both teams begin to wilt due to fatigue as the action stalls headed into the 15 minute time limit! 

After another break we return with the start of the 5 minute overtime and both teams are SPENT. The crowd cheers Harlem Heat on as they rally and make a push to finish it but Benoit and Malenko kick out of everything they got or save each other from razor close nearfalls! Later on in the overtime period Benoit counters Booker T and catches him in the Crippler CROSSFACE! Booker is too far away to get a rope break and is in serious trouble! Stevie Ray comes in to try to break the hold to make the save but Malenko takes him over the top rope to the floor with a spinning heel kick! Both men tumble off the apron and roll around brawling on the floor. Benoit desperately pulls back on Booker in the Crossface until finally the bell rings! Benoit and Malenko celebrate with Arn until the referee stops them to inform them that this match has reached the overtime time limit and is over, this match is.... A DRAW! 

UNBELIEVABLE! Both teams can't believe it! Harlem Heat has wrestled Benoit and Malenko to an INCREDIBLE 20 minute time limit draw! What a battle! This complicates everything in the Tiger Division with both of these teams still tied for 2nd place with identical 5-4-1 records! 


In The Ring:
Dan "The Beast" Severn & Ken Shamrock 

We return from another round of commercials with a special honorary ceremony in the ring with Mike Tenay hyping up the May 17th UFC IX pay per view event that is set to take place right here in the Joe Louis Arena, with the highly anticipated UFC Superfight Championship bout between current Champion Ken Shamrock vs Detroit's own Dan "The Beast" Severn! The crowd cheers until Tenay brings out Ken Shamrock to the ring wearing his UFC Superfight Championship title belt. Heenan and Shiavonne talk about how dangerous Shamrock is as we seen in the War Games match and his performance at Best Of The Best IV on pay per view last Sunday night. Shamrock takes the ring with a snarl and is on stand by as Tenay proceeds to hype up the entrance of current NWA Heavyweight Champion and proud member of the Four Horsemen, Detroit's very own Dan "The Beast" Severn! The Horsemen entrance music brings out the Beast proudly wearing the historic iconic NWA title belt. 

Severn and Shamrock both give brief interviews about their training for the fight set for May 17th on pay per view at UFC IX, we seen a preview of these two going at it this past Sunday night at Best Of The Best IV in the tag team match with Severn teaming with Ric Flair to take on Ken Shamrock and Steve Austin. Austin and Shamrock won the bout after Shane Douglas cracked Ric Flair in the face with a steel chair setting him up to be pinned by Steve Austin. But after the match Shamrock and Austin had a major falling out with Shamrock threating him and Paul E. Dangerously. 

The interview with Shamrock and Severn about their highly anticipated UFC showdown next month here in the Joe Louis Arena is suddenly interrupted when Helmet and House Of Pain's Just Another Victim brings out Steve Austin!... 

Steve Austin gets the boo's from the Detroit fans as he shocks everyone by taking the ring, he's not even scheduled to be here according to Tony Shiavonne on commentary! Austin takes a mic and the intensity overflows as he insults both Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock, saying that neither one of them can lace up his boots on their best day and that's the bottom line! Austin calls out Dan Severn pointing his finger in his face telling him he knows he could take that NWA Title away from him with the snap of a finger, just like that, he will smack that little mustache right off his face if he keeps looking at him with that stupid look!

Severn keeps his cool composure as security suddenly rush into the ring to hold Austin apart from both men! Rage overflows in Ken Shamrock as Austin insults him and tells him he's going to whoop his ass for what happened at the pay per view last weekend, after both Severn and Shamrock are done kissing each other's a***s in the Octagon on May 17th, he's not afraid of either one of them and as far as he's concerned both of them are standing in his ring. Austin gets completely pixelated with censoring as he puts both middle fingers up at both Severn and Shamrock! Shamrock makes a move to go after Austin but security rush to get in between them! All out pandemonium erupts as Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson race out to back up fellow Horseman Dan Severn in the melee! Austin is subdued and dragged out by 6 security guards screaming and getting censored as we cut away to commercials!... 


Grudge Match:
"The Macho Man" Randy Savage
vs
Sting

The Joe Louis Arena crowd comes alive when ring announcer Michael Buffer goes through his trademark "LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAL" intro setting off pyro exploding over the ring! The Macho Man makes his way out first accompanied by Paul E. Dangerously while Sting's entrance music sets the crowd off with the loudest pop of the entire night! Stinger makes his way out making sure to high five every fan he can along the way as Savage eyes him with intensity the entire time! Buffer goes over the elaborate intros for both men before referee John Finnegan one of the more lenient referees in BOTB brings both men to the center for the final staredown as he goes over his final instructions! 

The match starts off as an all out war that immediately spills outside the ring to the floor, with both men brawling all around the ringside area, sending each other into the steel steps, the ring posts, the steel guard rails, the timekeepers table. Punches back and forth, kicks and stomps while either man is down, with Savage fighting dirty with eye gouges, low blows, fish hooking. The brawl spills over into the crowd with the fans being pushed back by security as Sting fights back on Savage with a steel chair to his back! 

The brawl finally makes its way back over the steel railing back to the ring where Sting takes control, wowing the crowd with an intense fury! Savage gets hit with Stinger splashes, running bulldogs, atomic drops, even a press slam! Sting puts Savage into the position for the Scorpion Death Drop but Paul E. Dangerously gets up onto the ring apron! Sting gives up the move and goes after Paul E only for Paul E. to run for his life! Savage recovers and attacks Sting to overtake the momentum. Savage drops Sting with atomic drops and clotheslines before keeping him down and out in a side chin lock on the ground for an extended stretch of the match, completely killing Sting's momentum and shutting the crowd down. Paul E. shouts for Savage to choke him out as Sting struggles to survive! 

After the ref checks Sting's lifeless body with 2 arm drops the Stinger brings the fans back to life by stopping himself on the 3rd drop, coming back alive and working his way back up into a crouched position! Sting rides the wave of the fans cheers to muscle his way up and force his way out of the hold in a valiant comeback, only to get snuffed out by Paul E. Dangerously getting involved in a rope running sequence tripping him up, leading to him falling into a DDT by Savage! Savage makes the cover for the pin but Sting amazingly kicks out at 2! 

Savage goes back to grounding Sting in rest holds for several more minutes before and after the final commercial break. Sting fights his way back in another big comeback attempt that swells the crowd's cheers into a frenzy only for Paul E. Dangerously to mess him up again, this time causing him to drop and rack himself on the top turnbuckle as he attempted a diving splash off the top rope! Savage recovers and attacks Sting before climbing up and dropping him off the top with a SUPERPLEX! Savage makes the cover for the pin but Sting kicks out at 2! Savage gets angered at the ref's slow count, pushing him back scolding him before putting the boots to Sting to keep him down. The fans rise to their feet as Savage climbs up to the top rope and flies off to nail Sting with the FLYING ELBOW SMASH! Savage hooks the leg for the pin but Sting kicks out at 2.99999009! 

The Macho Man gets up and pushes referee John Finnegan out of frustration over a slow count! Finnegan rolls over clutching his shoulder after taking the fall, he's hurt! Paul E. frantically slides a steel chair into the ring to Randy Savage as the ref is turned away favoring his hurt shoulder! Savage rears back and smashes Sting right in the back as he tries to get up! Savage tosses the chair and Sting is OUT! Paul E. screams for Savage to make the cover as the ref turns back to the action wincing in pain! Savage looks down at Sting's lifeless body as Paul E. shouts PIN HIM! but he doesn't! Savage goes back up to the top rope for one more FLYING ELBOW DROP! Sting just barely manages to roll out of the way at the last second, sending Savage crashing into the canvas with sickening force! Both men are down and out! 

Sting is able to recover clutching his back in pain as he makes his way up and attacks Savage, setting him up for multiple Stinger Splashes before dropping him with the Scorpion Death Drop! Paul E. can't believe it on the floor as Sting pulls Savage up into the Scorpion Deathlock in the middle of the ring! Savage has no choice but to submit! IT'S OVER! The Stinger wins via submission at 14:50! 

Fireworks explode as Sting can barely stand to have his arm raised in victory! Savage rolls out of the ring to the elevated entrance ramp completely crestfallen as Paul E. makes his way up to join him. Sting struggles with the pain in his back as he celebrates the win saluting the fans while out on the entrance ramp Paul E. scolds and shouts insults at Randy Savage for not pinning Sting when he had the chance, for not listening to him. Paul E. gets the boo's as he kicks Randy Savage while he's down hurt and exhausted from an all out battle we just witnessed! 

Paul E. keeps shouting and kicking Savage until all of a sudden the crowd goes crazy when a woman comes running out from the back out to the elevated entrance ramp behind Paul E..... 

It's MRS. ELIZABETH! She's BACK!.... 

Mrs. Elizabeth runs up and nails Paul E. Dangerously with a huge kick to the groin from behind! Savage recovers to his knees in total shock and surprise. Savage recovers and reunites with Mrs. Elizabeth in an emotional embrace as the fans cheer them on! Paul E. recovers and limps over to grab Mrs. Elizabeth until Sting makes his way out to the ramp to stop him! Sting grabs Paul E. Dangerously and pulls him into position to put him away once and for all with A DDT ON THE RAMP! Paul E. is OUT COLD! 

Tony Shiavonne shouts at the top of his lungs as the crowd goes NUTS! Sting reaches out to offer a handshake to Randy Savage as both men are worn down, with Savage being held up by Elizabeth! Savage looks around at the fans before accepting Sting's handshake! Sting and Mrs. Elizabeth work together to help carry a beat up limping Randy Savage out as WE ARE OUT OF TIIIIIIII..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
April 27th, 1996

Worldwide opens up on your locally syndicated network late night on a Saturday night with Joey Styles in the control center here within the Best Of The Best Arena here at Universal Studios Florida. Tonight we will have all the latest news and recap of one wild week as well as all of the hype for this Monday night's HUGE episode of Judgement Night set for the USA Network live from Cleveland! Joey shoots it down to the ring here in Universal Studios in Orlando for our opening match of the evening!.... 


Singles Match: 
One Man Gang
vs
Psicosis

The One Man Gang is shown in the ring pacing back and forth as he looks to rebound here from his recent losses to Hakushi and Vader. The lights in the smaller more intimate theater style Best Of The Best Arena here in Universal Studios Orlando go pitch black before the intro to Ill Triello by Ennio Morricone hits to bring out Psicosis in a long elaborate entrance. Psicosis makes his way out to the crescendo of the opening of the song snarling at the fans with bitterness as Joey Styles on commentary talks about his recent losses to Juventud Guerrera that ended his undefeated streak here in Best Of The Best. Joey during Psicosis' elaborate entrance breaks the news that the match was just announced, we will see Psicosis taking on Eddie Guerrero one on one this Monday night on Judgement Night LIVE on the USA Network at 8pm!

Psicosis uses a speed advantage to wear One Man Gang down while attacking his left knee to immobilize him. Psicosis wears Gang's knee down with dropkicks, stomps, legdrops, then slams it into the ring post from outside the ring on the floor. Gang rolls out of the ring to clutching his knee in agony as Psicosis returns to the ring taking a knee with his arms out, spitting up towards the fans as they boo him! Gang fights through the pain as he tries to pull himself up to his feet and stagger over towards the steel guard railing as Psicosis ascends the turnbuckles in the corner nearby! Joey Styles shouts OH MY GAAWD as Psicosis dives off with a corkscrew somersault senton plancha onto One Man Gang OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE TO THE FLOOR! 

Psicosis puts One Man Gang away finally at 4:11 after a guillotine legdrop to take the win. Psicosis pushes the referee away and celebrates the victory up in the corner of the ring beating his chest and screaming with intensity! What a huge win this was for Psicosis taking on a much larger former UWF World Champion, it will be some battle when he faces off against Eddie Guerrero this Monday night on Judgement Night! 


Music Video: 
Keep It Real by MC Ren

After the first round of commercials we return to the broadcast with a music highlight video of kickboxing legend Kathy Long cut in and out of the new music video for Keep It Real by MC Ren. The video showcases Kathy's dominant run in women's kickboxing as she eliminated every top ranked fighter in the world during her reign in the sport. Kathy was recently signed to Best Of The Best to make her debut in a hybrid rules "Kickboxer vs Wrestler" bout at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96. 

It was announced this past week on Bushido on TBS on Thursday night that Kathy Long is signed to face All Japan Womens Wrestling star Etsuko Mita at the pay per view in her debut. The music video shows highlights of Long training for the match with impressive shadow boxing, grueling road running sessions, intense sparring sessions, pinpoint speed bag work, focus mitt training, thai pad training.

Kathy Long has made it clear that she will be fighting for the respect of all female athletes around the world when she makes her debut at Best Of The Best V on May 12th at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida live on pay per view! 


On Location: 
The Benny Hinn Ministries

After the music video we get a brief montage clip, bonus exclusive footage from Mike Tenay's Up Close featurette earlier tonight on Shockwave that focused on the Benny Hinn Ministries. The American Power Team of Scotty Riggs and Marcus Bagwell are currently 6-3-1 in the World Tag League after being taken under Ted Dibiase's wing as the ambassador of the Benny Hinn Ministries athletic outreach program. Chris Chavis the wrestler former known as Tatanka was the next to step forward and receive Benny Hinn's blessing live on his stage of his mega church on his televangelist program on the TBN Network. Chavis threw down all of his savage native american beliefs and began skin bleaching treatments to whiten his skin before going on a mission campaign across all reservations near his homeland in Oklahoma to try to convert more natives to christianity. 

The featurette on Shockwave earlier tonight revealed the Benny Hinn Ministries being behind the recent reunion between Dustin Rhodes and his formerly estranged father Dusty Rhodes. Dustin was revealed to have been recruited by Ted Dibiase, who brought him in to be cured of his bizarre sexuality sickness that brought on his Goldust alter ego in the WWF last year. Hinn was behind the former arch rivals Ted Dibiase and Dusty Rhodes patching up their former hatred for one antother with holy forgiveness in a dramatic scene on one of his recent programs on TBN. 

The vignette wraps with footage of Dustin Rhodes, Chris Chavis, and the American Power Team training in the gym in the wrestling ring together before later going out in the streets to help their community, passing out food and blessings to the homeless, helping to clean up graffiti at a local park, playing with the families. 


Singles Match: 
Venom(W/Stevie Richards)
vs
Steve Doll

We return to the arena here at Universal Studios with promising young prospect Steve Doll already in the ring getting ready to make his debut here in Best Of The Best. Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck by Prong brings out Venom accompanied by Stevie Richards. Joey Styles has to stop himself from calling Venom Adam Bomb before mocking Stevie Richards for wearing a Shawn Michaels crop top t-shirt and some Heartbreak Kid sunglasses. 

Venom completely annihilates Steve Doll with wreckless abandon, manhandling him around the ring by his neck before hitting him with a flying shoulder block followed by his "Annihilator" pumphandle powerslam! Venom makes the cover for the pin after just 1:18! Jesus! What a beating! Stevie Richards jumps around in the ring like a good celebrating until Venom drops him with a big boot, rips his shirt off of him, then destroys him with an Annihilator! Stevie is out! Venom looks around fuming with intensity before pulling Stevie up to his shoulder and carrying his unconscious body out with him as he makes his exit. Joey Styles remarks about what type of influence Raven has over this monster Venom now that he has him under his wing, also noting that we seen earlier tonight on Shockwave that Raven has played his mental mind games with Cactus Jack to bring him back to his sick twisted cult.... 


On Location
The Control Center W/ Joey Styles

After the match we rejoin Joey Styles the voice of Worldwide back in the Control Room with studio monitors and soundboards surrounding him in the background. Styles covers the major happenings coming out of last week's Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar '96 with Taz making headlines by defeating NFL star Greg Lloyd in a Hybrid Rules bout. Shawn Michaels defeated Randy Savage to retain the Undisputed World Title with the debuts of Razor Ramon and Diesel to help him fight off what was left of the Dangerous Alliance. 

The next night on Judgement Night this past Monday night from the Hoosier Dome we seen Shane Douglas reveal his new manager "Ravishing" Rick Rude, who later in the night pulled off a major coup as a manager when he got Douglas inserted into the Ahmed Johnson vs Hulk Hogan mega-blockbuster main event, making it an impromptu Triangle Match. "Psycho" Sid Justice shocked the world by making his Best Of The Best debut by powerbombing Hulk Hogan through the commentary table, then dropping Ahmed with a powerbomb in the ring while the ref was knocked out. The ref recovered just in time for Shane Douglas to make the cover and pull off what is by far the biggest win of his career. Hulk Hogan has not been heard of since the attack and the report is in that Ahmed Johnson suffered a back injury that will put him out of action indefinitely. 

The events on Bushido this past Thursday night seen "The Human Suplex Machine" Taz continue to make headlines, this time with him confronting the action movie superstar Jean Claude Van Damme during his special guest appearance on the show to promote his new film "The Quest"(in theaters now). Taz is quickly becoming one of the fastest rising new stars in this sport here in Best Of The Best 96, with his win over Greg Lloyd legitimizing him last Sunday night as a legitimate bad ass and one of the toughest men in any sport. 

Earlier tonight on Shockwave we continued to see the deck stacked for this Monday night's episode of Judgement Night LIVE on the USA Network at 8pm from the Gund Arena in Cleveland Ohio. This could be the most stacked live television card of the year, with the biggest match being the highly anticipated rematch between The 8-1-1 Eliminators vs the 7-1-1 Steiner Brothers(who we will see in action right here in our main event next). This match will determine who will take 1st place in the Dragon Division, while over in the Tiger Division we seen a major twist this week with the upset loss of 1st place Owen & Bulldog falling to the team of The Pit Bulls, while the critical 2nd place showdown between Harlem Heat vs Benoit/Malenko ended in a 20 minute time limit draw. Joey Styles shows the official standings... 

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Week 10 Standings(so far)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Owen/Bulldog 6-3-1	Steiner Brothers 7-1-1
Harlem Heat 5-4-1	Eliminators 8-1-1
Benoit/Malenko 5-4-1	American Power Team 6-3-1
Road Warriors 4-5-1	Thrillseekers 5-5
Pit Bulls 3-7	Can-Am Express 2-7-1
Public Enemy 2-8	Hardcore Guns 2-7

Along with The Steiner Brothers vs Eliminators II on Judgement Night we will also see the Title Unification Bout between Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs Nobuhiko Takada, as well as Shane Douglas vs Marc Mero in a no disqualification bout, and Eddie Guerrero squaring off against Psicosis one on one! This will truly be an episode of Judgement Night you do not want to miss! 

Everything culminates on May 12th at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida LIVE on pay per view it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! So far confirmed for the bout we already know it will be Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita in the biggest women's showdown of the year. Plus we will see the culmination of the 1996 World Tag League season with the Final Four tournament to crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! Call your local cable or satellite provider today and order now! 


World Tag League Match:
The Steiner Brothers(7-1-1)
vs
The Hardcore Guns(2-7)

The Steiner Brothers are shown wrapping up their entrance for tonight's main event and taking the time to make their rounds around the ring high fiving and saluting the Florida fans. Joey Styles hypes them up as not only one of the greatest tag teams in the sport today but arguably 2 of the all around best wrestlers in Best Of The Best period, and perhaps one of the greatest tag teams ever in the history of this sport. 

Billy and Bart Gunn are just completely laid to waste in a total beat down full of stiff brute suplexes. Rick outgrapples Billy Gunn and smacks him around when all of a sudden out comes The Eliminators, Saturn and Kronus, walking out to the entrance ramp to watch and study. The Steiner Brothers notice The Eliminators but stay focused and even pick up the intensity in their presence! Bart Gunn is eliminated from the match during a 2 on 2 melee where Scotty drops him into the canvas with a vertical suplex lift dropped down into a spinning corkscrew tombstone piledriver! The Steiners lift Billy up and put him away for good with their Steiner DDT for the pinfall at 3:02! What a dominant win here by Rick and Scott, improving their record to 8-1-1 with the final 2 weeks remaining! 

The Eliminators keep ice cold watching on from the entrance ramp as Rick and Scotty have their arms raised. Both teams eye each other down with fury in all of their eyes as Joey Styles hypes up their showdown on Judgement Night this Monday night 8pm on the USA Network!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Have to say the big money Hogan/Ahmed match was a disappointment. That was a Wrestlemania main event level match you just gave away on free tv. I was wondering what you were gonna do there. Would Hogan pull a "that doesn't work for me, brother?" Would Ahmed get the biggest push ever with back-to-back wins over Warrior & Hogan? Or would we get an interference-laden schmozz (my prediction)? We got the worst of all worlds with Shane f'n Douglas swooping in to score the win BY PINNING AHMED. The ECW is strong in Nobi. The French Fries just swooped in to beat the biggest star of all time and the next big thing. So in BOTB kayfabe it goes Douglas > Hogan > Sid > Ahmed > Warrior. Sorry, brother. I'm not buying it. 

Tag League and the Dibiase stuff is still cool though. But why you have to disrespect Furnas & LaFon like that? I popped for that JJ/Dustin match a while back and all the stuff involving those two. Then I briefly forgot Venom was Adam Bomb and thought you were going all in on a Joey Abs push in 1996 lol. Hey, Abs does hold a pinfall win over Austin in 1996. Never forget!

Still good stuff overall though. Also nice to see somebody still grinding it out old school fanfic style. I sometimes get the urge, but it's been a while since I went through with any major projects.

Gund Arena(Cleveland, OH)
April 29th, 1996

We are LIVE from the Gund Arena with a sold out crowd here in Cleveland going bananas with a hard opening shot of Sunny standing in the ring! Sunny goes through her trademark intro before getting the crowd going wild when she declares that TONIGHT.... is JUDGEMENT NIGHT!.... 

Sunny's intro fades into the opening highlight music video set to All Eyez On Me by Tupac, showing the clips of Sid making his return to powerbomb Hulk Hogan through the Spanish commentary table before helping Shane Douglas put Ahmed Johnson away. The return of Razor and Diesel to reunite with Shawn Michaels and the Kliq, Taz choking out Greg Lloyd in Chicago at the PPV last weekend, his confrontation with Jean Claude Van Damme on Bushido on Thursday night, Sting defeating Randy Savage on Shockwave this past Saturday night with the aftermath of Paul E. Dangerously attacking Savage after the loss, only to get dropped by the returning Ms. Elizabeth. Elizabeth reunited with Savage before he patched things up with Sting(who helped Elizabeth carry him out to end the show.... 

The pyro explodes around the Gund Arena with the Cleveland crowd going ballistic! Jim Ross and Joey Styles welcome the television audience to the show hyping up tonight's MASSIVE card, a huge co-main event right here tonight folks we will see the battle of the 8-1-1 Eliminators vs the 8-1-1 Steiner Brothers with the winners taking first place in the Dragon Division of the World Tag League! Plus, Bret "The Hitman" Hart looks to legitimize his self proclaimed "Real" World Championship title belt when he takes on the Neo Hybrid Universal Champion Nobuhiko Takada in a match that was supposed to happen on May 12th on pay per view. These two will not wait until A Matter Of Respect to get it on, this match is going down TONIGHT! All of this plus so much more!... 

The opening intro is suddenly interrupted when White Zombie Thunderkiss '65 brings out The Pit Bulls for our opening World Tag League match! 


World Tag League Match:
The Road Warriors(W/Kimona)(4-5-1)
vs
The Pit Bulls(3-7)

Pitbulls 1 and 2 take the ring here in the home of the Dog Pound Cleveland Ohio riding the momentum of last week's upset win over the 1st place team of Owen Hart & The British Bulldog in a match that may have ignited a rivalry between Pitbull 2 and Davey Boy Smith(the two teams are set for a rematch in the final week of the season next week right here on Judgement Night). The Gund Arena truly comes to life when Iron Man by Black Sabbath brings out the "back in black" Road Warriors accompanied by their new valet Kimona! Kimona left the Pit Bulls several weeks ago after they failed to protect her from being put through a table by Public Enemy.

Hawk and Animal have returned to their classic black Road Warriors look after struggling here in Best Of The Best in 1996 after they debuted as a new look Legion Of Doom(wearing blue). The LOD hit rock bottom when the Public Enemy stole their motorcyles and their blue shoulder pads and threw them into the elbow river in Calgary earlier this year on Judgement Night. Kimona returned this past Sunday in the former hometown of Hawk and Animal returning as the Road Warriors at Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar '96 this past Sunday night to get their revenge in a destruction of Public Enemy. 

The Pitbulls eye Kimona as she stalks around the outside while Hawk and Animal take the ring in all of their retro glory, back to where they started from! BACK IN BLACK! Pitbull 1 gets tossed and slammed around by Hawk and Animal early on until he's able to counter and make a hot tag to Pitbull 2, who is experiencing a rise in popularity in Best Of The Best as he makes a valiant stand against the greatest tag team in the history of the sport! The Pitbulls take the advantage and hit Hawk with their SUPERBOMB but Animal stops the pinfall attempt at 2! 

Pitbull 1 keeps Hawk grounded until all of a sudden the crowd boo's as Jim Cornette leads out Owen Hart & The British Bulldog looking for revenge for their crushing upset loss last week! Owen and Bulldog attack Pitbull 2 out on the elevated catwalk entrance ramp! Jim Cornette appears frozen stunned at the sight of Hawk and Animal in Road Warriors black gear as if he's seen a ghost! 

As Pitbull 2 is jumped out on the ramp its the Road Warriors that put Pitbull 1 away with their Doomsday Device for the pinfall, 1, 2, 3! The Road Warriors win at 4:57! Hawk and Animal stop the celebration and notice what is happening out on the ramp as Owen Hart backs up a little too close to the ring, he's grabbed by his hair and dragged over the ropes and put up into position for the DOOMSDAY DEVICE! OWEN IS OUT! The Road Warriors celebrate with Kimona as Bulldog and Cornette drag Owen out to escape! Pitbull 2 clutches Pitbull 1 down on the floor as he looks up at Bulldog and Owen with fury watching them escape! 

The Road Warriors are truly BACK! They have now won 2 in a row and evened up their WTL record at 5-5-1! 


In The Ring:
Raven(W/Beulah, & Stevie Richards), Cactus Jack, & Venom

After the initial round of commercials we return to the live shot of the Gund Arena with Come Out And Play by Offspring bringing out Raven's flock, the goofball Shawn Michaels super-fan Stevie Richards, Venom, Beulah, and Raven himself being followed by Cactus Jack, who appears more and more deranged every time we seen him.... 

The group of misfits take the ring with Raven sulking down seated in the corner with Beulah in his lap as Stevie Richards cuts a promo about how Raven has been able to finally convince Cactus, his brother from another mother, to do the right thing and return to the nest where he belongs. Cactus nods in humble agreement as Stevie tells him that this is his home, this is his family, Raven is their father, their protector, the glue that keeps them together. Stevie tells Cactus that Kevin Sullivan only wants to use him, he doesn't care about him the way Raven does, they way that he does. 

All of a sudden Stevie is interrupted when Kevin Sullivan makes his way out to the ring followed by Meng and Abdullah The Butcher(carrying a deformed fork)! Sullivan informs Cactus Jack that he broke his heart and betrayed him last week but he still has a place for Cactus at his table for the last supper, he knows Raven's one true weakness and he knows it's Beulah. Raven stands suddenly and pushes Beulah away from him as he looks on at Sullivan, Meng, and Abdullah entering the ring for a TENSE standoff! 

Kevin Sullivan tells Raven that he knows the full story about him and Beulah and he will take her away from him one way or another, warm or cold. Raven sneers and snarls in a face to face staredown with Sullivan until the tension boils over, Abdullah attacks Cactus Jack out of nowhere with his fork right to his face! Sullivan and Raven trade punches as Venom clashes with Meng! Abdullah and Cactus spill over the ring ropes off the apron to the floor in a violent bloodbath brawl! Cactus bleeds out over his face but takes the fork from Abdullah and turns it against him to open him up on his forehead! The two legendary brawlers quickly spill over the steel railing into the crowd! 

Venom and Meng brawl it out in the corner trading punches as Stevie Richards jumps on Sullivan's back to help Raven! Sullivan rams Stevie backwards into the turnbuckles to drop him before turning his attention to Beulah! Sullivan grabs Beulah's hair and pulls her out of the corner panicking and screaming until Raven makes the save, stunning him with punches before dropping him with a DDT! Stevie recovers and drills Meng in the back of the head with a superkick to send him right into Venom's "Annihilator" pumphandle powerslam, knocking him OUT! Cactus leaves Abdullah laying a bloodied mess on the concrete after throwing a dozen chairs at him out in the crowd! 

Raven regroups with Beulah and retreats with Venom and Stevie following behind, leaving a trail of wreckage with Sullivan, Meng, and Abdullah left laying! Cactus wipes the blood from his face and looks back at Sullivan laid out in the ring before turning and following Raven out... jesus... 


Singles Match:
Hakushi 
vs
Ice Train

JR and Joey Styles are totally beside themselves at the level of violence we just seen before the commercial break as we get a replay of the clean up crew discovering a tooth while cleaning up the blood out in the crowd during the break where Cactus Jack and Abdullah The Butcher were brawling, god as my witness this whole rivalry that has developed between Kevin Sullivan and Raven has begun to spiral out of control. 

Ice Train the 300 plus pound former WCW veteran superheavyweight is shown ready to go in the ring when all of a sudden the lights go out in the Gund Arena! Lightnight flashes flash around until four bolts of lightning crash into the four corners of the ring, shooting towers of sparks off in a startling jolt! Hakushi makes his way out to the ring wearing his Raiden gear with JR and Joey Styles hyping up his undefeated 6-0 record in Best Of The Best, he's currently ranked 4th in the Top 10 Rankings. 

Hakushi dazzles the Gund Arena crowd with lethal martial arts kicks and chops on the big man that outweighs him by close to 90 pounds, eventually dropping him with a backflip kick followed by a standing moonsault press that only gets a 1 count before Train incredibly presses Hakushi nearly out of the ring with brute force and power! Ice Train recovers and kicks Hakushi the rest of the way off the apron down to the floor before following him out. Hakushi reverses a whip and sends Train crashing into the ring post with his right shoulder/neck with sickening force! Ice Train struggles to get up off his knees just in time to get hit with a standing moonsault plancha by Hakushi OFF THE APRON DOWN TO THE FLOOR! 

Hakushi takes the big man back into the ring to break the countout count at 8 but Ice Train quickly regains the control of the match when he counters Hakushi's cartwheel splash in the corner by catching him mid-air with a bear hug! Ice Train nearly squeezes Hakushi unconscious until the Japanese warrior fights his way out with double chops! Hakushi counters Ice Train into his praying rope walk into a downward chop on his hurt right shoulder/neck, dropping him for his praying flying headbutt right at the same shoulder/neck area to finish him off with the pinfall for the win at 5:18! A valiant effort for the debuting Ice Train but what a performance by Hakushi here tonight improving his record to 7-0... 


Music Video:
Hunger Strike by Temple Of The Dog

After the match we get a music video highlight package set to the video for Hunger Strike by the Chris Cornell/Eddie Vedder supergroup Temple Of The Dog showing clips of Sting, going all the way back from his days in the UWF as one of the Blade Runners(with Ultimate Warrior) to his early days in WCW, his World Championship title victory at Superbrawl II in 1992, his rise to the top of the promotion as the most popular fan favorite that represented everything that was great about WCW. Sting won the WCW vs Japan World Cup of Wrestling deciding bout at the final ever WCW show back in December of last year, then vowed to carry the flag of WCW into Best Of The Best in 1996. 

Sting's BOTB highlights show his win over Shawn Michaels in the opening match at Best Of The Best I: A New Beginning back at the Houston Astrodome in January. Sting's submission win over Michaels remains HBK's only loss in Best Of The Best. The stipulation surrounding the match was that the winner would earn the #30 spot in the 30 Man Champions Rumble later that night in the main event. Michaels would go on to eliminate Sting to win the Rumble and would later go on to defeat Ric Flair to win the Undisputed World Championship... 

Sting would march on with a huge win in the 4 Corners Match at Best Of The Best II: The Revenge Of The Warriors when he defeated Randy Savage, Ahmed Johnson, and The Ultimate Warrior to earn the shot at HBK later that night in Las Vegas. Michaels would put Sting down with the Sweet Chin Music in the finale in Vegas to retain his Undisputed Title. Sting continues to fly the flag as the spiritual embodiment of WCW in Best Of The Best with big wins this Spring over Lex Luger(in a Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage Match) and just this last week over Randy Savage in an epic grudge match. The Stinger remains 3rd ranked in BOTB's official Top 10 Rankings as one of the most legitimate contenders to HBK's Undisputed Championship, with a potential 3rd bout between the two respective icons of their generation looming over the entire Best Of The Best universe in 1996.... 

 
Singles Match:
Eddie Guerrero
vs
Psicosis

The Gund Arena comes alive as Joel Gertner does a bi-lingual introduction for the following special attraction Lucha Libre contest, 1 fall with a 15 minute television time limit! Ill Triello by Ennio Morricone plays and darkens the Gund Arena before the red, white, and green lights proceed Psicosis walking out to the crescendo of the opening! Joey Styles hypes up how important of a matchup this is with both of these warriors just on the outer edges of the top 10, with Psicosis at 3-1 and Eddie Guerrero currently 6-2(with his only losses to Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko). 

Back To The House That Love Built brings out Eddie Guerrero high fiving the fans ringside on his entrance in his classic red and white sequined ring gear. This is the big one folks, these two have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on one another ever since they crossed paths weeks ago here on Judgement Night, this is on! 

It's a fast and furious lucha battle between Eddie and Psicosis flying from pillar to post in an all out WAR! The Gund Arena crowd goes nuts for every big move and every high spot, with Eddie and Psicosis going move for move, high risk maneuver for high risk maneuver trying to outdo each other. Eddie matches Psicosis's ferocity and intensity and gets the crowd firmly behind him with a HUGE air plancha from the top turnbuckle out over the moved steel guard railing INTO THE CROWD to hit Psicosis! All of the fans in the crowd jump in and out of the camera shot in a wild moment with both men down and out! 

Psicosis takes over and keeps Eddie grounded with nasty dirty wrestling on the canvas, grinding his face into the mat and choking him on the ropes, pushing the referee Charles Robinson to his limits with 5 counts and warnings for fish hooking, choking, eye gouging, blatant groin strikes, small joint manipulation, everything and anything that is illegal in the Best Of The Best rulebooks Psicosis is pulling out all stops here tonight in Cleveland... 

Eddie rattles the roof of the arena with a comeback that is all heart, countering Psicosis to take the upper hand and embarrass him by using his own aggression against him, kicking his legs out from under him, slamming him face first with running bulldogs, arm drag takedowns, dropkicks, chest chops, even a smack right to the face! Psicosis struggles to recover out of the corner fidgeting with something around his waist line for a moment before turning and throwing POISON POWDER.... Eddie ducks out of the way and the powder hits the ref's eyes!... 

Psicosis looks on at Charles Robinson clutching his face with the poison powder in his eyes until Eddie attacks him with a boot to the mid-section followed by a vicious BRAINBUSTER! Eddie goes up to the top rope and the crowd all stands and goes NUTS prior to him flying off the top turnbuckle with a FROG SPLASH! Psicosis is OUT! Eddie hooks the leg for the cover and another referee John Finnegan comes flying into the ring.... 1.... 2.... 3! YES! EDDIE GUERRERO WINS! 

EMT's work on Charles Robinson's eyes as the alternate ref raises Eddie's arm in a passionate moment of celebration! What a HUGE win for Eddie Guerrero moving his record to 7-2 he has to be considered for the Top 10 Rankings with this win. Psicosis in frustration grabs a chair from ringside and attacks Eddie from behind as he's celebrating, knocking him down to the canvas! Psicosis stands over Eddie with the chair in his hands getting ready for the death blow until Juventud Guerrera comes rushing out full speed to make the save! Juvy rips the chair from Psicosis and blasts him in the head, followed by a back shot with it to knock him flying out of the ring! 

Eddie recovers and notices Juvy standing in the ring with the chair and attacks him wrongly thinking it was him that attacked him from behind! Juvy fights back and trades punches with Eddie until more referees rush out to pull them apart! Good god almighty! 


Music Video:
Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre

After the match we get another music video highlight package, this time Keep Their Heads Ringing by Dr. Dre with clips of one of the brightest rookie prospects in the entire sport of pro wrestling in 1996, former Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler converted pro, Kevin Jackson. The music video cuts in and out with highlights of Jackson's incredible run in the 30 Man Champions Rumble back in January where he stood his ground against the much larger Aleksandre Karelin, eventually being one of the longest lasting wrestlers in the entire bout in what was his official debut. 

Kevin Jackson's Olympic gold medal win in the 1992 Olympics cuts into his impressive one on one PPV debut back at Best Of The Best IV: Chi-Town Wrestlewar '96 two weekends ago when he took out dangerous NJPW veteran Koji Kanemoto in what was hailed as the best match of the night. Jackson has worked his way into the Top 10 Rankings with an undefeated 4-0 record in Best Of The Best after devoting his career and life to the pro style, he is one of the fastest rising American rookie wrestler in the sport in 1996. 


No Disqualification Match:
Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid)
vs
Marc Mero

After the break we return to the live shot of the Gund Arena with Marc Mero wrapping up his entrance completely determined and focused on getting his hands on that son of a bitch Shane Douglas for stealing his girl Sable. These two settled nothing in their leather strap match back at the PPV two weeks ago and now Mero is ready to go with NO RULES here tonight to settle the score once and for all! Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers brings out Shane Douglas accompanied by his new mentor and manager "Ravishing" Rick Rude, with Sable, and the massive 6'9" 340 pound "Pscyo" Sid Vicious accompanying him down the elevated catwalk entrance ramp to the ring.... 

Douglas stops short of the ring with Rude, Sable, and Sid where Rude takes a microphone and gets the boo's going when he insists that the fat, out of shape, disgusting, Baltimore Brown wannabes to keep the noise down as he informs Marc Mero of some unfortunate news. Rude informs Marc Mero that he's made a business decision here tonight in Cleveland, just like the great Art Modell did when he moved his football team away from this pathetic piece of trash city this year, he's pulling Shane Douglas out of this No Disqualification Match, and executing a contract clause to replace him... with..... SID!..... 

Mero can't believe it! Shane Douglas laughs and rubs his hands together as Sid climbs over the top rope! It's ON! Douglas is out and it's Mero now having to take on the 6'9" 340 pound Psycho Sid Vicious! The ref calls for the bell!.... 


No Disqualification Match:
"Psycho" Sid Vicious(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude)
vs
Marc Mero

It's a complete massacre after Sid weathers and no-sells Mero's initial flurry. Sid destroys Mero in the ring and out, pressing him out over the top rope down onto the elevated catwalk entrance ramp(which has now been steel plate reinforced every since One Man Gang and Hakushi went through one earlier this year on Worldwide). Sid then throws Mero running off of the elevated ramp down onto the side in between the ramp and steel railing with a sick landing! 

Sable is shown watching on with a smile as Mero is dismantled by Sid down on the floor towards the backstage area behind the entrance ramp! The cameras shake like Cops on Fox as Mero is beaten through the hallways of the Gund Arena into the parking garage to a nearby ambulance! Sid slams Mero face first into the ambulance door before pulling it open and ripping a stretcher out of the back! An EMT tries to stop Sid but Sid sends him flying into a nearby group of trash cans upside down! Sid picks Mero up and rams him head first into the back door of the ambulance before laying him out and strapping him into the stretcher! 

The cameras follow as Sid drags Mero on the stretcher up through the backstage area out to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp! Mero begins to recover but can't move his arms out of the straps on the stretcher as Sid begins loading up to send it rolling off down the entrance ramp and falling off the side with a sick crash! Sable and Shane Douglas spit and kick Mero while still down hurting strapped into the stretcher in agony! 

Sid pulls Mero out of the stretcher and flings him into the ring to put him away with a vicious powerbomb for the 1, 2, 3! Sid has destroyed Mero for the win here at 6:51! Mero is out of it as Sid walks out celebrating with Rude, Shane Douglas and Sable when all of a sudden they notice a man in the crowd watching on wearing a mask.... a.... BLACK SCORPION mask! Shane Douglas instantly freezes and notices the man turning Sid's attention towards him! Sid goes after the masked man but the man escapes into the crowd.... 


Fan Cam Footage:
The Kliq(W/Bone Thugs N Harmony) @dayton, Ohio

After the match JR and Joey Styles cover the recent events that happened at a Best Of The Best house show in Dayton Ohio just last night. We get shaky grainy fan cam footage shot on a handheld camera showing clips of Hunter Hearst Helmsley winning a match over an un-named jobber opponent with his Pedigree. 123 Kid is shown winning his match over Bob Backlund in mere seconds after a kick to the face, followed by being mobbed by Razor, Diesel, Helmsley, and Michaels in a big celebration. The clips also show the main event of the house show event showing Razor and Diesel making their in-ring BOTB debuts taking out the team of the local tag team of Marty Powers and Lanny Perkins in a complete squash. 

The fan cam footage shows the aftermath after Diesel put Powers away with a powerbomb. The members of the popular Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs N Harmony joined the Kliq with Shawn Michaels in the ring after the match. Razor gave Lanny Perkins a Razor's Edge for good measure and Diesel gave the crowd what they wanted with another powerbomb on Perkins(the crowd was chanting 1 more time). After the match the Kliq celebrated and took photos with Bone Thugs N Harmony.... 


World Tag League Match:
The Steiner Brothers(8-1-1)
vs
The Eliminators(8-1-1)

The pyro explodes over the ring as Michael Buffer gets the Gund Arena crowd going announcing that this is the CO-MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! With first place in the Dragon Division ON THE LINE! The Eliminators make their way out first to Fear Factory's Demanufacture as Joey Styles talks about how dominant they have been in the 1996 World Tag League season so far, with their only loss coming to the Steiners back a few weeks ago here on Judgement Night. They are hungry and desperate to avenge that defeat hear and you can see it in Saturn and Kronus' eyes as they take the ring! The Steiner Brothers come out next and are totally focused on The Eliminators during Buffer's intros for both teams as he reads off all of their accomplishments and stats to the crowd! THIS IS IT! 

The two best tag teams in the world today clash with the Eliminators coming in fresher, faster, edgier, hungrier in a targeted approach to keep Scotty on the apron and isolate Rick with tandem stereo tag team moves. The strategy works until after the commercial break Rick fights back and catches both Saturn and Kronus in his clutches for a DOUBLE release overhead belly to belly suplex! Kronus and Saturn both go flipping over into the canvas! Rick is able to make the hot tag to Scotty, who comes in punishing both Eliminators with vicious suplexes and press slams! 

Saturn targets Scotty's right knee to slow him down. The battle goes back and forth through the commercials with huge moves setting off the crowd, Saturn's flying elbow drop is a thing of beauty as he connects right onto Scotty's throat. The Steiners begin to wear down as the match reaches the 15 minute time limit, with Kronus and Saturn picking up the intensity going for the kill! Later in the match Saturn and Kronus drop Scotty out of the ring to the floor further hurting his knee, setting Rick up to get hit with the TOTAL ELIMINATION! The CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT! Saturn makes the cover 


1.... 



2.....



THE BELL RINGS! JUST BEFORE THE REF'S HAND HITS THE CANVAS! HE STOPS JUST AN INCH SHORT! 


NO! The time limit expired just as the Eliminators had Rick Steiner out for the win! They are completely dejected ready to kill the referee in protest as both Steiners recoup for OVERTIME! We return from the commercials for the start of the 5 minute overtime and it's all Steiners making their push to take the win! Saturn fights back and lands a huge plancha onto Scotty down on the floor that hurts him! Rick is completely exhausted as the match approaches the deep water of overtime. Kronus misses with a kick to Rick's head and gets spun around into a German suplex with a bridge for the pin.... 


1.... 



2..... 



3..... 


The STEINERS DID IT! Rick and Scott have done it! The can barely celebrate the win due to exhaustion as Saturn and Kronus recover in their corner in disbelief and protest! All of a sudden the ringside official scrambles into the ring trying to stop the celebration as he talks with the primary official Randy Anderson. There is some confusion as both referee's appear to be watching a replay at the timekeepers monitor while both tag teams are confused about the hold up. 

The referee frantically pantomimes to the ring announcer who relay's the message to the crowd, due to an instant replay review, it was clear that BOTH wrestlers had their shoulders down for the pin, therefore this match MUST CONTINUE!.... 

Neither tag team can believe it! The crowd can't believe it! The commentators can't believe it! This match will go on it was a double pin, matches can not end in a double pinfall in Best Of The Best! UNBELIEVABLE! We're DOWN TO THE FINAL MINUTE! The bell rings for the final minute and it's all out chaos with Saturn vs Scott Steiner and Rick Steiner vs Kronus in a 4 man brawl! The bell finally goes off for the end of the match and a mob of security and referee's race out to pull both teams apart! This match is..... A DRAW!..... 

Both teams are completely exhausted, this match has ended in a draw sending both teams to identical 8-1-2 records with just 1 week remaining in the World Tag League season! Both teams were SO CLOSE! Jim Ross on commentary declares that it looks like we will see these two teams clash for the Dragon Division Title in the Final Four at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida on May 12th!.... 


On-Location:
The Control Center W/Mike Tenay

After another commercial break on USA Network we get Mike Tenay in the BOTB studios Control Center hyped to the gills about the results of the match we just watched between the Eliminators vs Steiners in their epic rematch! With the time limit draw the Steiners are able to hold onto 1st place in the Dragon Division but the Eliminators are basically locked in as their opponents in the Division Championship Match in the Final Four tournament to crown the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Champions at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! 

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Week 11 Standings(so far)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Owen/Bulldog 6-3-1	Steiner Brothers 8-1-2
Harlem Heat 5-4-1	Eliminators 8-1-2
Benoit/Malenko 5-4-1	American Power Team 6-3-1
Road Warriors 5-5-1	Thrillseekers 5-5
Pit Bulls 3-8	Can-Am Express 2-7-1
Public Enemy 2-8	Hardcore Guns 2-7

Tenay covers the rankings so far after the Steiners vs Eliminators ended in a draw it sealed the 3rd confrontation between these two powerhouses in the Dragon Division Championship Match at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 on May 12th on pay per view. Meanwhile over in the Tiger Division it's still wide open and is going to come down to the wire in the bitter end! Owen and Bulldog are barely holding onto their lead in the division with a 3 way logjam between Malenko/Benoit, Harlem Heat, and the rejuvenated back in black Road Warriors. It all leads to A Matter Of Respect where we will crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions in the FINAL FOUR TOURNAMENT! 

Mike Tenay also breaks the stunning news that martial arts action superstar STEVEN SEAGALL will make a special guest appearance on JUDGEMENT NIGHT NEXT MONDAY NIGHT on the USA Network! Seagall is a mega-star from hit movies like Under Siege and Executive Decision, a black belt in Aikido, tune in next week right here at 8pm on USA Network to see Steven Segall in BEST OF THE BEST!

Tickets are still available for the Miami Arena on May 12 in Miami Florida for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96, the biggest pay per view spectacular this year! We will see kickboxing phenom Kathy Long make her BOTB debut taking on All Japan Womens Wrestling star Etsuoka Mita in international hybrid rules competition in what will be one of the biggest marquee women's bouts in any combat sport in 1996!

vs

Hybrid Rules Match
Kickboxing vs Wrestling
Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL!

We will also see the Tiger and Dragon Division Championship bouts with the winners facing off in the finale of the 1996 World Tag League season to crown the Undisputed World Tag Champs! It all goes down May 12th live on pay per view, Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96, call your cable or satellite provider and ORDER NOW! 


World Title Unification Match
Neo-Hybrid Universal World Championship
vs
The Real World Championship:
Nobuhiko Takada(C)(W/Eric Bischoff) 
vs
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C)

The pyro goes off over the ring and Michael Buffer sets the crowd off in the Gund Arena with his LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAL! This match is a World Title Unification MATCH and the MAIN EVENT of the EVENING! Nobuhiko Takada comes out first to the Rocky IV training montage theme with Eric Bischoff following him holding his Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship title belt over his shoulder! JR and Joey Styles cover Takada's incredible resume as he walks to the ring in his trademark purple robe hood covering his face. Takada is one of the most dangerous shooters in Japan, one of the founding fathers and biggest stars of the old UWF shoot style wrestling style. He has huge wins over Dan Severn, Bob Backlund, and Vader in UWFI in Japan, his group kickstarted the invasion of the NJPW promotion before merging with the Rings invasion that took down AJPW earlier this year. The forces of the original UWF have been united by Yoshiaki Fujiwara, with the reveal that Eric Bischoff was the trojan horse that brought this "Kings Of Kings" united force to Best Of The Best.... 

Takada takes the Neo Hybrid Universal Championship belt from Bischoff and bows as he passes it to the referee to hold up in all of it's glory. This belt was forged in the KOK foundries in Japan from the materials from the NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt that Nobuhiko Takada took from NJPW, the Triple Crown World Heavyweight Championship titles that Akira Maeda took from AJPW, as well as the materials from Lou Thesz's original World Championship title belt that Takada and Maeda won in the Tokyo Dome from team Inoki at Best Of The Best III(when Minoru Suzuki turned on Team Inoki to reunite with the KOK and help them win). All of the titles were melted down in a funeral pyre ceremony and the materals were combined into the Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship.... 

Bret Hart's entrance music hits to bring out the Hitman to one of the loudest pops of the NIGHT! Bret comes out wearing his unsanctioned, un-recognized, self proclaimed "REAL" World Championship WWF style belt proudly over his shoulder. The Hitman gives away his glasses to a ringside child fan before taking the ring and kissing his belt before passing it over to the ref! Takada and Bret come to the center of the ring for referee John Mccarthy's final instructions with an epic staredown before backing up to get ready for the bell!.... 

vs

It's precision artistry in grappling in a technical wrestling dream match that starts off as a slow burn feeling out process between both Champions. The Hitman is pushed to his limits on the canvas and forced to call back to his days in the dungeon training with his father, executing catch wrestling transitions that Takada is able to counter in a stalemate of hammerlocks, side headlocks, wristlocks, ankle locks, stf's, neck cranks, a heavyweight showcase of the best the sport of pro wrestling submission grappling has to offer. Takada catches Bret in a cross armbreaker and straightens his arm out with it around the 5 minute mark in a tense moment before The Hitman is forced to use a rope break! 

Fatigue begins to set in after a long stalemate on the ground with both men countering and reversing each other into leglocks. Finally Bret brings the match up into the standing clinch position with Takada clung to his back. Takada breaks his grip and stuns Bret with vicious combos of kicks to the body and legs before knocking him down with a kick to the head! The Hitman is down! Takada tries to soccer kick him in the face while he's down but Bret seizes Takada's leg and grapevines around with a quick spin, knocking Takada down off his feet into a smooth transition into the SHARPSHOOTER! Bret works his way up to his knees, then sets the Gund Arena off with a huge pop as he cranks back with the SHARPSHOOTER! TAKADA IS IN TROUBLE! 

It appears to be over for Takada until Akira Maeda scrambles into the ring and KICKS BRET RIGHT IN HIS FACE! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! JESUS! Bret collapses over unconscious as the referee frantically calls the match off calling for the bell! The Kings Of Kings converge on the ring and destroy Bret, leaving him laying a beaten mess before walking out and TAKING HIS BELT! Eric Bischoff smiles for the camera with both title belts draped over his shoulder as the KOK make their exit to end the show! Bret Hart is HURT!..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Good show. 1996 me would have been all about the Flock vs. Dungeon of Doom feud (but who do I root for?) and that Hakushi/Ice Train match. Then it somehow gets even better with Steiners/Eliminators which would become a major dream match of mine one year later. Eddie/Psicosis would be fun midcard workrate action. I'm always going to pop for something from the Rocky IV soundtrack (just listened to it again yesterday) and be intrigued by a Black Scorpion sighting. And I guess stupid Shane Douglas is doing the Lana Star deal where he has the ability to book himself in and out of matches?

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
May 2nd, 1996

Bushido opens up with Mike Tenay, Phillip Rhee(the star actor and screen writer in the Best Of The Best action films that inspired the name of this promotion), and former kickboxing legend Don "The Dragon" Wilson on commentary here at the SOLD OUT Manhattan Center in Times Square NEW YORK! The crowd is shown chomping at the bit for tonight's main event heavyweight showdown with the return of BUTTERBEAN taking on Kiyokushin Karate black belt, 6'8'' 300 pound UFC veteran Gerry HARRIS! 

With just 10 days to go until Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 we have an absolutely stacked episode of Bushido here tonight on the Superstation! The rising star Etsuko Mita from the All Japan Women's Wrestling promotion in Japan is here again tonight to put her 2-0 undefeated Best Of The Best record on the line! Plus, ERIC BISCHOFF is here with the Kings Of Kings organization to call out Bret Hart! 


Hybrid Rules Bout:
Judo vs Brazilian Jujitsu
Christophe Leininger vs Fabio Gurgel

The Arizona state Judo Champion Leininger looks for his first win in BOTB after going 0-2 in losses to Ultimo Dragon and Yokozuna here on Bushido, he was a veteran of the UFC(he fought and lost to Ken Shamrock in UFC III in 1994). Gurgel makes his debut coming from Brazil. Gurgel is barefoot with black speedos while Leininger is also barefoot and wearing his trademark blue gi.

The match quickly ends up in a long stalemate on the ground with Leininger stuck in Gurgel's guard(with Gurgel on his back with his legs wrapped around Leininger). The crowd begins to grow restless until all of a sudden War Machine by Kiss hits the speakers of the Manhattan Center!

The crowd goes nuts as TAZ comes running out to the ring to attack both men with boots to their faces! The Human Suplex Machine is overwhelmed with fury as he rips Leininger up and tosses him overhead with a half-nelson TAZPLEX, DUMPING HIM RIGHT ON HIS HEAD! Gurgel takes a shot with a punch but Taz catches him and tosses him overhead into the canvas awkwardly with a T-BONE TAZPLEX! 

Taz has laid waste to both men in a fit of violent rage before grabbing a microphone and calling out Jean Claude Van Damme! After a long delay of Taz calling him out he turns his attention to Don "The Dragon" Wilson at the commentary table ringside, getting censored as he calls him a p**#*, a has been washed up piece of s*#t! Taz tells Don "The Dragon" Wilson that he used to have respect for him as a fighter, but now he makes him sick to see him hiding behind a microphone, a wanna be Van Damme! 

All of a sudden the crowd loses it as Don "The Dragon" Wilson leaves his spot at the commentary booth and goes for the ring to stand up to Taz! Security gets in between both guys as Don Wilson pulls his suit jacket off to reveal that he's still ripped in fighting shape! This is madness! Both men can barely be held back from each other!.... 


Beyond The Mat:
Aikido

After the first round of commercials we take a closer look at the beautiful and lethal martial art of Aikido on our weekly "Beyond The Mat" feature here on Bushido. The news was broke earlier this week on Judgement Night that Steven Seagall is set for a special guest appearance on Judgement Night this next Monday at 8pm on the USA Network to make a special announcement.... 

Seagall is one of the all time great masters of the martial art of Aikido and has incorporated the art into several of his hit #1 films like Out For Justice, Marked For Death, Hard To Kill, Under Siege, Under Siege 2, and his most recent film Executive Decision released last month(still available in theaters everywhere). Aikido translates to "The way of unifying with life energy" or "The way of harmonious spirit". The founding father of the martial art Morihei Ueshiba used the phrase "masakatsu agatsu katsuhayabi" (正勝吾勝勝速日), which means' "true victory, final victory over oneself, here and now"... 

The martial art of Aikido specializes in throws and joint locks, bone breaking, just like in the Seagal movies. Tune in to Judgement Night this Monday night on USA Network at 8pm!


All Japan Womens Wrestling Rules Bout:
Etsuko Mita vs Kumiko Maekawa

The legendary kickboxer and actor Kathy Long makes a special appearance to the Manhattan Center to join the commentary team for the next All Japan Womens Match. Long gets a closer look at her opponent for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 Etsuko Mita, who gets the japanese colored stringer tape thrown into the ring for her intro by ring announcer Joel Gertner! 

Mita puts on a showcase in another show stealing 9 minute bout, hard hitting, stiff, non-stop tenacity. Kathy Long shows nothing but respect for Mita on commentary during the bout while also hyping their match as one of the most important women's sports moments of 1996, a time when it seems like the tide is turning with the WNBA set to launch this Summer, this battle in the Miami Arena on PPV on May 12th will truly be a matter of respect for all women athletes in combat sports.

Etsuko Mita scores the pinfall with a Death Valley Driver to move her BOTB record to 3-0 with yet another stellar performance. Kathy Long leaves the commentary booth and enters the ring for a staredown face to face for the cameras to flash all around the ring, this showdown is set for May 12th in the Miami Arena in Miami Florida, it will be Kathy Long s Etsuko Mita at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! 


Music Video:
Pretty Noose by Soundgarden

After another round of commercials we get a highlight music video set to brand new music video for Pretty Noose by Soundgarden. The music video cuts in and out with highlight clips of Dutch heavyweight kickboxing star Peter Aerts. Aerts dominated the K-1 kickboxing promotion in Japan earning the nickname "The Lumberjack" with his vicious high head kick knockouts. Aerts made his name by winning the 1995 K-1 Grand Prix tournament. 

The Dutchman signed a contract with Best Of The Best after an impressive showing in the 30 Man Champions Rumble in Houston back this past January at BOTB I: A New Beginning on PPV. Aerts showcased his true heart and skill in his thrilling 3 round battles he fought against Ultimo Dragon. Their first duel went to a 3 round draw in one of the defining battles of the Bushido concept here on TBS earlier this year. The rematch in Las Vegas at Best Of The Best II: Revenge Of The Warriors was a critically acclaimed bout that seen Ultimo Dragon take a controversial split decision after going another 3 rounds. The highlight rounds out with clips of Aerts training to make his return to Bushido along with clips of his 2 victories here on Bushido, his brutal finishes of The Gran Naniwa and "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama in the 1st rounds....


Hybrid Rules Bout:
Toughman Boxing vs Kiyokushin Karate
Butterbean vs Gerry Harris 

Back down to the ring here in the Manhattan Center and this crowd is ELECTRIC! Ring announcer Joel Gertner gets it going by brining out the 6'8" 300 pound Kiyokushin Karate black belt master and UFC veteran Gerry Harris, who comes out in a black sleeveless BOTB shirt and black gi bottoms with bare feet. Butterbean makes his way out to Bad to the Bone and gets a HUGE pop from the fans here in the Manhattan Center! This 300 plus pound slugger is a legend in the Toughman boxing sport and he's hunger to avenge his loss to Yokozuna here on Bushido back this past February(the most watched, highest rated episode of Bushido yet).

Harris keeps his distance early on in the first round trying to land from long range with his karate kicks. Butterbean quickly closes the distance and puts Harris down with a brutal knockout that leaves him with his arms and legs stiffened up in the air, his mouthpiece hanging halfway out of his mouth as his eyes roll back into his head under the Manhattan Center lights. The crowd goes NUTS! It's OVER! HARRIS IS OUT!

The crowd loses it as Joel Gertner shouts over them the winner, by KNOCKOUT in just :23 seconds... BUTTERBEAN!

Butterbean's celebration is short lived as Harris remains down for way too long, eventually with the crowd dying out as EMT's bring a stretcher into the ring to take him out. The fans applaud as Harris gives a thumbs up while being carried out on the stretcher. Butterbean is back and he's a bad man....


In The Ring:
Eric Bischoff & The Kings Of Kings

We return from the final commercial break with Eric Bischoff coming out to the ring with Nobuhiko Takada(wearing the Neo Hybrid Universal World Championship) and Akira Maeda(wearing Bret's "Real" World Championship belt stolen from him this past Monday night on Judgement Night).

Bischoff brags about the Kings Of Kings complete takeover of Japanese wrestling, with the fall of Best Of The Best starting with what everyone seen on Judgement Night with "The Kick Heard Round The World" that Akira Maeda knocked Bret Hart out with....

Eric Bischoff claims that he targeted Bret Hart and his so called "Real" World Championship title because he was easy pickings, he's a lone wolf, a ronin, he's all alone with nobody to watch his back, not even his own family wants anything to do with him. Eric Bischoff claims that the only way Bret will get a shot at either of these two belts ever again is if he can come up with a tag team partner to take on both Maeda and Takada in tag team action at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! Bischoff knows the match will never happen because he knows Bret has nobody willing to be his tag team partner, nobody to watch his back...

All of a sudden the Manhattan Center goes BONKERS when Bret's music hits to bring him out to the smaller scale entrance stage! Bret Hart stuns Eric Bischoff by accepting his challenge to a tag team match at Best Of The Best V on May 12th in Miami, he has in fact actually found somebody that is not only willing to watch his back but also to team up with him to take on Maeda and Takada for those belts. Bret sends the message to Eric Bischoff that the enemies of my enemies are my friends... when all of a sudden a man walks out of the back to stand alongside Bret wearing a white gi....

ROYCE GRACIE!

The crowd freaks! The commentators freak! Eric Bischoff's jaw drops as Takada and Maeda are immediately on edge, it's ROYCE GRACIE! Royce Gracie is here!..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Shin. Brotherman. Listen to me. We go way back. I need you to have Taz choke Seagal out so he shits his pants like what Gene LeBell did to him.

Cincinnati Gardens(Cincinnati, OH)
May 4th, 1996

Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan open up Shockwave with a sold out crowd onhand here in the beautiful Cincinnati Gardens for a full 2 hours of pro wrestling just the way it aught to be right here on TBS: The Superstation! We have 5 big matchups here tonight plus all the news and updates as Best Of The Best heats up going into the month of May we are just 8 days away from Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 LIVE on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida on May 12th! 

The fans in the sold out arena are showcased as Shiavonne and Heenan continue to promote the pay per view set for May 12th for the Miami Arena, we will see the legendary female fighting force Kathy Long make her BOTB debut taking on the undefeated 3-0 Etsuko Mita in hybrid rules action. We will also see that night the crowning of the first ever true Undisputed World Tag Team Champions as we will see the "Final Four" tournament of the 1996 World Tag League season finale. Both Tiger and Dragon Division Championship matches will open up the pay per view with the winners facing off later that night for the belts in the finale of the 1996 WTL season!

Tonight's main event is perhaps one of the most critical matchups in the marquee battle of the 11th week of the season, Harlem Heat's entire season is on the line in a do or die matchup as they take on 1st place Owen & Bulldog with their lead on the Tiger Division on the line! 

The crowd in the Cincinnati Gardens Arena goes off with boo's when Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers hits to bring out Shane Douglas with Sable, his new manager "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and the massive "Psycho" Sid.... 


In The Ring:
Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, & Sable), & "Psycho" Sid Vicious

Rick Rude does his "Keep the noise down" song and dance to get the boo's going as Sid and Shane Douglas taunt the crowd with Sable looking on at the ringside fans in disgust! Rude gets the sarcasm going as he burns the hometown Cincinnati Bengals recent draft and offseason moves talking about how bright of a future they have in the NFL, no there is no hope, the Bengals are a representation of all the future hopes and dreams of every pathetic fat out of shape sweathog in this god forsaken arena tonight! Rude then mentions the recent ban by the TBS network handed down to Best Of The Best barring Shane Douglas from talking on a microphone or at all on their networks due to his foul language. Shane Douglas is the most censored man in America, every sponsor of this network threatened to pull out if he wasn't silenced.

Rude continues on bragging about how Sid killed Hulkamania back at the Hoosier Dome on Judgement Night last week, he put Ahmed Johnson on the shelf with a back injury. Shane Douglas at 9-1 is the official #1 ranked heavyweight in all of this sport in the official Top 10 Rankings. It's only a matter of time before the Kliq and Shawn Michaels have to face their maker, it's only a matter of time before Shane Douglas takes over this business...

Rude then segues into talking about the Four Horsemen, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Dan "The Beast" Severn. Rude addresses the mysterious masked man that appeared this past Monday on Judgement Night wearing Ric Flair's old "Black Scorpion" mask. Rude says he knows that it was Flair in the Black Scorpion mask and calls this one of the most pathetic and sad gimmicks that Flair has ever had to resort to to save his wasted career. All of a sudden the Four Horsemen music hits to bring out Flair with Arn and Benoit(Dan Severn is in Michigan training for his upcoming UFC Superfight vs Ken Shamrock in Detroit on May 17th).

Ric Flair gets red in the face and fired up screaming at Rick Rude and Shane Douglas from the entrance stage that he doesn't need a mask or any gimmicks to kick their a#*! Rick Rude fires back at Flair that Douglas is ready to face him any time any place, everybody knows the truth is that Flair has been running from Shane Douglas for the last 3 years! All of a sudden the heated exchange is interrupted when a man wearing the Black Scorpion mask comes out from under the ring and attacks Shane Douglas from behind! The masked man lands several punches to the back of Shane Douglas' head before Sid sees him and goes after him! The masked man flees the ring and escapes through the crowd as Sid screams in fury trying to get over the barricade to go after him! The masked man disappears into the crowd with Sid and Shane Douglas looking for him frustrated as we cut away to commercials!.... 


World Tag League Match:
The Thrillseekers(5-5)
vs
The Can-Am Express(2-7-1)

After the first round of commercials on TBS we return to the arena with Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon already wrapping up their entrances looking jacked and strong. The Can Am Express have had a disappointing WTL season but the wins and losses on paper on their record just do not represent the absolute battle they have put up in this ring every week. This tag team of Furnas and Lafon have put up a fight, but they've seen luck go against them in 7 devastating losses that have wiped away any shot at qualifying for the Final Four in Miami at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect. Still this team has fought for their respect, they have proven to be one tough matchup for the Steiner Brothers pushing them to their limits like no other team in the league(they took them to a surprising time limit draw recently).

The Thrillseekers make their way out to generic house music that sounds like imitation Pearl Jam or perhaps Soundgarden, maybe both. Chris Jericho and Lance Storm have also seen their chances at the Final Four in Miami slip through their fingers after a series of devastating losses, including last week's loss where it appeared that Chris Jericho suffered a shoulder injury. The Thrillseekers so far are the only team to defeat the Steiner Brothers period in Best Of The Best after scoring a huge upset win over them at Best Of The Best III on PPV in the Tokyo Dome back in March. Storm and Jericho seemed to have tension with each other after last week's loss but we get a replay of a backstage interview with Mike Tenay prior to the match with them vowing that Jericho's shoulder is healthy and they have patched up their differences to finish strong in the WTL! 

Both teams tear the house down in an all out back and forth tag team war, a pure showcase of how the World Tag League action has truly anchored the in-ring wrestling product from week to week here over the last 11 weeks of Best Of The Best television, across all 3 programs Judgement Night, Worldwide, and Saturday Night Shockwave. Bobby Heenan is the smart one to point out that so far right now the Steiner Brothers are the best tag team in this league, what we are watching here are the 2 teams that have given them the most trouble(The Thrillseekers have defeated the Steiners, while Furnas and Lafon have taken them to a time limit draw).

Storm and Jericho appear to be the faster, more agile team as they take an early advantage. Furnas and Lafon overtake them with an experience and strength advantage, technical mat wrestling prowess, suplexes, more coherent teamwork. Lance Storm holds his own with Lafon on the mat in a move-for-move back and forth series of technical wrestling transitions, nearfall rollups, eventually dropping Furnas off the apron and catching Lafon in a counter into a backward roll into a single leg Boston crab! 

The Thrillseekers make a huge comeback after a commercial break, rallying the crowd behind them as they empty out their full arsenal of innovative tandem moves, getting nearfall after nearfall coming closer and closer but failing to close the deal! Phil Lafon takes Lance Storm out to the floor later on in the match setting up Chris Jericho to get finished away with a shoulder breaker by Doug Furnas on his hurt shoulder for the 1, 2, 3! Furnas and Lafon WIN via pinfall at 12:15! What a match! Furnas and Lafon have their arms raised but stay humble as they move their record to 3-7-1. 

After the Can-Am Express make their exit the cameras stay on the ring with Chris Jericho recovering completely dejected as he clutches his injured shoulder that cost the Thrillseekers a winning record in the WTL, dropping them to 5-6 with only 1 week left. Lance Storm can't believe it, Chris Jericho has let him down again. Storm regains his composure in the ring and checks on Jericho, both of them exhuasted. All of a sudden Storm surprises Jericho with a SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! Chris Jericho is DOWN!  

Lance Storm spits on Jericho while he's down before throwing his arms up and walking out.... EMT's rush into the ring to help work on Lionheart as we cut away to commercials.... What have we just witnessed? Have we just seen the end of the Thrillseekers?!.... 


Music Video:
Until It Sleeps by Metallica(Psicosis vs Juventud Guerrera III)

After the commercial break we get a music video highlight set to the brand new music video for Until It Sleeps by Metallica with clips of Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis on the eve of their 3rd battle this Monday night on Judgement Night LIVE on the USA Network at 8pm! 

vs

The highlights cut in and out of the music video for the much anticipated return of Metallica with their new album Load set to be released finally later this month. The wrestling clips showcase the incredible BOTB debut of Juvy back on the March 30th episode of Shockwave in Oklahoma City(one of the first major televised sporting events in the city since the tragic Oklahoma City bombings less than a year earlier). Juvy pulled off a huge upset over the previously undefeated Psicosis in his debut in a show stealing match. Psicosis attacked Juvy after the loss and dropped him with 2 flying guillotine legdrops before referees were able to finally stop him. 

The clips cut in and out with the footage of Juvy going toe to toe with Eddie Guerrero on the April 6th episode of Shockwave. Psicosis interfered in the match in an attempt to get payback for his loss to Juvy, pushing him of the turnbuckles during the match after the ref had been incapacitated. Eddie stopped Psicosis from hitting Juvy with a guillotine legdrop before finishing Juvy off himself for the win after a flying Tornado DDT. Psicosis attacked Eddie after he won the match but Juvy saved him and fought Psicosis off. 

Juvy and Psicosis stole the show in their epic rematch in the Hoosier Dome on Judgement Night in front of one of the biggest US crowds of the year on live USA Network television two weeks ago. Psicosis blinded Juvy with poison powder to the eyes and appeared to have won the match but the decision was reversed after another referee came out. Juvy was given the victory by disqualification but Psicosis went after the ref for changing the decision. Juvy sacrificed himself to save the ref, taking a piledriver and 2 flying guillotines for his troubles. This past Monday on Judgement Night in Cleveland we seen Eddie Guerrero defeat Psicosis in a thrilling head to head battle. After the match Psicosis put Eddie down with a steel chair attack but Juventud came out to make the save and knock Psicosis out of the ring. Eddie recovered and mistakenly assumed it was Juvy that attacked him with the chair, starting a fight between the two that had to be pulled apart. 

Now the war to settle it is set for this Monday night LIVE on Judgement Night on the USA Network at 8pm, it will be Psicosis vs Juventud Guerrera III!... 


Handicapped Match:
Vader(W/Jim Cornette)
vs 
The Bruise Brothers

After the music video we return to the arena with Ron and Don Harris, the massive and powerful tag team known as The Bruiser Brothers wrapping up their entrances. This team makes their return for the first time since they lost in the semi-finals of the World Tag League Qualifying tournament here on Shockwave back in February so they have a 1-1 record here in BOTB. Jim Cornette leads out Vader to the ring for our special attraction handicapped match but Cornette wastes little time in fleeing the ringside area to join Heenan & Shiavonne up in the safety of their commentary booth near the stage! 

Vader destroys both Harris twins in a lopsided beating that spills out to the floor. One of the twins gets powerbombed onto exposed concrete while the other gets crushed into the ring post with the steel steps. While both Harris twins are down and hurt Vader notices a ringside fan holding a "We Want SABU" sign and rips it out of the fans hand before ripping it to pieces in a fit of rage! Jim Cornette on commentary gets frustrated at Tony Shiavonne asking him if he believes they have seen the last of Sabu, who has been missing since the battle with Vader back at the Tokyo Dome back in Japan at BOTB III in March!

Vader finishes it by putting both Harris twins on top of each other and hitting them with a perfectly executed Vader-Sault off the TOP ROPE! The Mastadon pins both twins at the same time for the win at 4:06! Jim Cornette and Vader's celebration is short lived as the crowd begins chanting SA-BU, SA-BU, SA-BU! Both Cornette and Vader get frustrated at the chants shouting at the crowd in anger as they get louder and louder!.... 


Backstage Interview W/Mike Tenay:
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

After the match we cut away to Mike Tenay backstage in the locker room for an interview with 10th ranked heavyweight "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who has stirred up quite a bit of controversy last week on Shockwave when he confronted two of the most dangerous men living today in Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn on the eve of their UFC Superfight in Detroit on May 17th! 

Austin shuts Tenay up mid-sentence and threatens to snap his little neck like a twig, he's already pissed that this pathetic piece of trash promotion ran tributes for his best friend and former tag team partner Brian Pillman for a grand total of 3 days before he was totally forgotten, leaving his family and his kids scrambling to figure out how they're going to pay their bills. Austin calls Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn two chickens*** pieces of trailer park garbage, all he sees when he watches the Ultimate Fighting Championship is a bunch of bar room amateur hacks that weren't good enough to lace up a pair of wrestling boots, all he sees is a bunch of hacks laying on each other licking each others as*** for 30 minutes putting the crowd to sleep, when you want to step into the ring in my sport you're going to get your a** kicked by Stone Cold and you can bet your a** Stone Cold doesn't trust anybody and doesn't need anybody, he doesn't need Paul E. Dangerously to put every man woman and child in this promotion on notice, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, anybody that wants to get in Stone Cold's way is going to get a mudhole stomped right dead square in their a** and that's the bottom line! 

Austin's edge and intensity overwhelms him when all of a sudden he points his attention to a producer behind the camera shot trying to cut his promo short. Austin snaps and goes off camera and we see a man wearing a headset violently dragged into the camera shot, his headset and glasses smacked off his face by Austin! Austin violently flings the man into a nearby trash can before scolding him while he's down in pain, nobody cuts Stone Cold off!... 


World Tag League Match:
Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko(W/Arn Anderson)(5-4-1)
vs
The Public Enemy(2-8)

The crowd goes nuts for the Four Horsemen entrance music bringing out Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko with Arn Anderson. The team has been on a roll ever since Dean Malenko accepted the Horsemen's offer to fill in for the injured Arn Anderson, now they have a huge chance to make a move for 1st place in the Tiger Division tonight if they can win this match and if the team of Owen & Bulldog lose in tonight's main event. Public Enemy make their way out next both carrying tables to Here Comes The Hotstepper by Inni Kimoze. 

Referee John Finnegan lets the action go in an all out four man brawl that goes all over the arena! The commentators plug next week's final week of the 1996 World Tag Leagues season and what an incredible 12 weeks it has truly been, truly setting the tone for the entire Best Of The Best right from the beginning when the season began back in February. This WTL season has truly established tag team wrestling as one of the premier divisions in the sport. When you talk about the Final Four tournament at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 on May 12th in Miami we already know it will be The Steiner Brothers vs Eliminators in their 3rd battle for the Dragon Division crown. But in the Tiger Division everything hinges on the result of our main event between Owen/Bulldog vs Harlem Heat... 

The match turns into a violent brawl with Public Enemy setting a table up caticornered in the ring, with another caticornered up on the top turnbuckles/ropes! After a struggle and reversal Chris Benoit powerbombs Johnny Grunge off the platformed table on the top ropes down THROUGH THE TABLE IN THE RING! Benoit hooks the leg and scores the pinfall for the win at 8:18! Benoit and Malenko WIN! What a battle! Arn raises both men's arms and they are on a roll, moving their record to 6-4-1 right in the mix for 1st place in the TIGER DIVISION! 


On Location:
The Control Center W/Mike Tenay

After the break we join Mike Tenay in the Control Center with all the news and updates on our road to the May 12th Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 pay per view event set for the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! The biggest news that broke earlier this week was that the action film superstar Steven Segal is set to appear this Monday night on Judgement Night live on the USA Network at 8pm! Later tonight on TBS after the Braves baseball game we will have a back to back Movies For Guys Who Like Movies presentation of Marked For Death and Out For Justice!

Tenay makes the announcement that he has HUGE breaking news handed down from the Championship Council, a major main event matchup has been set for the May 11th episode of Saturday Night Shockwave on TBS at 6:05pm, we will see a heavyweight showdown between two top 5 ranked contenders in the official Top 10 Rankings when #3 ranked Sting takes on #4 ranked undefeated phenom of BOTB... HAKUSHI!....

May 11th on Saturday Night Shockwave at 6:05 pm on TBS: The Superstation!

Sting vs Hakushi
vs

NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOCKWAVE!

Sting vs Hakushi one on one on Shockwave on TBS on Saturday night May 11th the night before the pay per view, free right here on the Superstation! The big news for the past several weeks regarding the live pay per view on May 12th at the Miami Arena is the women's hybrid rules showdown between kickboxing legend Kathy Long vs undefeated 3-0 veteran from All Japan Womens Wrestling; Etsuko Mita in what will be the biggest women's battle in combat sports in 1996! Also on the PPV we will have the Tiger and Dragon Division Championship matches to end the 1996 World Tag League season, with the winners facing off later that same night to crown the very first Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! Tenay goes over the current standings so far with next week being the final week of the 1996 season.... 

With the Steiners and Eliminators both being tied at 8-1-2 they are set no matter what for an epic 3rd battle at A Matter Of Respect with the Dragon Division Title on the line and a spot in the Grand Finals of the 1996 WTL season with the Undisputed Titles on the line. Tonight's battle between Owen & Bulldog vs Harlem Heat is a critical showdown with everything at stake for both teams.... 

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Week 11 Standings(so far)

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Owen/Bulldog 6-3-1	Steiner Brothers 8-1-2
Harlem Heat 5-4-1	Eliminators 8-1-2
Benoit/Malenko 6-4-1	American Power Team 6-3-1
Road Warriors 5-5-1	Thrillseekers 5-6
Pit Bulls 3-8	Can-Am Express 3-7-1
Public Enemy 2-9	Hardcore Guns 2-8

The biggest news that developed this week was the official main event for A Matter Of Respect '96. If you missed Bushido earlier this week on TBS you missed Bret Hart revealing none other than ROYCE GRACIE as his tag team partner to take on Eric Bischoff's Kings Of Kings duo of Nobuhiko Takada & Akira Maeda with both the Neo Hybrid Universal Heavyweight World Championship and Bret's self proclaimed "Real" World Heavyweight Championship belt that was stolen by Maeda on Judgement Night...

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL


Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship/"Real" World Championship*
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) & Royce Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda


vs


*This title is not officially sanctioned by Best Of The Best

Royce Gracie is the all time greatest UFC fighter and one of the most dangerous martial artists on planet Earth after retiring from the Octagon last year with an undefeated 11-0-1 record and 3 tournament titles to his name. The Kings Of Kings organization has taken over Japanese pro wrestling and with Eric Bischoff revealed to be their North American figurehead(the trojan horse that brought them here to BOTB), Bret has called on one of the arch rivals of the group in Royce Gracie, who's family rivalry with Takada and his dojo has been well documented. Now the dream team of Bret "The Hitman" Hart & Royce Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada & Akira Meada will be the featured main event in the Miami Arena live on pay per view on May 12th it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! Call your cable or satellite provider and order NOW!


Backstage Interview:
Jeff Jarrett

After another round of commercials we get Mike Tenay with another pre-recorded backstage locker room promo, this time with Jeff Jarrett cutting a promo about his loss to Dustin Rhodes in the insane brawl in the Hoosier Dome. Jarrett breaks the news that he's got a major announcement this Monday night on Judgement Night at 8pm on the USA Network when we will be LIVE from Nashville Tennessee the home of country music..... 


Singles Match:
Chris Chavis(W/Ted Dibiase)
vs
Diamond Dallas Page

Back down to the ring in the arena is giving Diamond Dallas Page the thumbs down and boo's treatment as he's shown wrapping up his entrance. Page was a mainstay in WCW for years but has really failed to gain any ground here in Best Of The Best going 0-2 so far in 1996. Page's opponent Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka) makes his way out to Joan Osborne's One Of Us with Ted Dibiase accompanying him to the ring and taking a knee with him in his corner for their pre-match prayer. Chavis is currently 2-0 in Best Of The Best since returning in April under the guidance of Ted Dibiase and his reborn faith as the BOTB ambassador for the Benny Hinn Ministries athletic outreach program. Chavis defeated JT Smith in his BOTB debut on Worldwide back on April 6th, then steamrolled The Barbarian in just 12 seconds in one of the fastest finishes ever in BOTB so far on Worldwide on April 13th.

Diamond Dallas Page puts up a competitive battle but the crowd is firmly behind Chavis. The wrestler formerly known as Tatanka has noticeably whiter skin after undergoing skin bleaching treatments after denouncing his native heritage in favor of Christianity through the Hinn Ministries. Chavis feels the holy spirit and the support of the crowd as he fights through a Diamond Cutter attempt to counter and land his Revelations Drop for the pinfall at 8:41! What a victory! Dibiase celebrates the win raising Chavis arm before kneeling together for a post match prayer.... 


In The Ring:
Kevin Sullivan(W/Meng, & Abdullah The Butcher)

After another commercial break we get Kevin Sullivan making his way out to the ring with his freaks Meng and Abdullah The Butcher with no entrance music of fancy lights. Sullivan addresses the way Raven and Cactus Jack left him laying on Judgement Night on Monday night, but he discovered Raven's one true weakness in his dark cold heart is Beulah. Sullivan admits that he had never felt anything like when Cactus Jack shoved his fingers down his gullet on Judgement Night, calling the move the "Mandible Claw", saying that he can match Raven muscle for muscle, freak for freak, soul for soul, before challenging him to put Cactus Jack in the ring vs Meng on Judgement Night THIS MONDAY NIGHT, The Mandible Claw vs The Tongan Death Grip! Cactus Jack vs MENG! 

Kevin Sullivan promises to have Meng ready on Monday night and promises that the mind games have just begun.... 


World Tag League Match:
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)(6-3-1)
vs
Harlem Heat(5-4-1)

We return from the final commercial break of the evening with ring announcer Joel Gertner bringing the arena to it's feet for the main event of the EVENING! Owen & Bulldog make their way out first with Jim Cornette to nothing but boo's and thumbs down from the Cincy crowd! Harlem Heat's entrance music gets the entire arena raising the roof as the former WCW World Tag Champs make their way out hyped! 

It's an all out battle with Harlem Heat keeping the crowd hot with a flurry early on! Bulldog makes a stand for his team and takes control of the match with a counter and big slam on Stevie Ray before downing Booker T in rest holds to kill the crowd. Owen and Bulldog tag in and out isolating Booker T in rest holds until the crowd rallies behind him to get him on a comeback, landing huge kicks on both men before making the hot tag to Stevie Ray! 

Harlem Heat's entire 1996 World Tag League season is on the line as they fight desperately to put Owen and Bulldog away, only for Jim Cornette to desperately cheat to save the match, pulling Bulldog's leg up onto the rope to break a sure pin, tripping Booker T up from the outside, distracting the referee for double teams. 

Jim Cornette works to distract the referee for Bulldog and Owen to double team Booker T when all of a sudden Pitbull 2 comes out with his dog chain! The crowd goes nuts as Pitbull 2 goes after Jim Cornette with his chain chasing him around the ring! The British Bulldog leaves the match to save Cornette with a brawl with Pitbull 2 out on the elevated catwalk entrance ramp! Pitbull 2 vs The British Bulldog toe to toe! These two will hook it up next week in the final match of the season we are getting a little preview here now!

As Owen is left to fend for himself Harlem Heat work together to put him away with their Heatseeker for the pinfall at 7:58! Harlem Heat win! Pitbull 1 comes out and is pulled apart with Pitbull 2 in a violent scramble with Owen and Bulldog out on the ramp as Harlem Heat celebrate the win in the ring! Harlem Heat have kept their season alive with a huge win moving their record to 6-4-1, creating a 3 way tie in 1st place of the Tiger Division with Owen/Bulldog and Benoit/Malenko all having identical records and WE'RE OUT OF TIIIII!!!!..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
May 4th, 1996

Joey Styles welcomes the television audience to Worldwide from the cozy confines of the BOTB Control Center within the Universal Studios Florida compound in Orlando with hype for tonight's STACKED episode! We have 3 huge matches here tonight including "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes in action, plus World Tag League action and more! We are now on the home stretch to Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 live on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida on May 12th! Tonight we will take a closer look at all of the news including coverage of the HUGE main event matchup set for the May 11th episode of Shockwave, Sting vs HAKUSHI!... 


World Tag League Match:
The American Power Team(W/Ted Dibiase)(6-3-1)
vs
The Hardcore Guns(2-8)

Tonight's World Tag League match is the final match for week 11, which means next week's matches will be the final matches of the 1996 season, a season that will go down as producing some of the defining in-ring action of the beginning of Best Of The Best. While the Tiger Division is still wide open in the final week next week, the Dragon Division has been locked up with the 3rd meeting between the Steiner Brothers vs Eliminators is set for the Division Championship Match at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96. Both Division Championship matches will open the PPV on May 12th in the Miami Arena and then the 2 Champions will face off in the 1996 World Tag League Championship with the Undisputed World Tag Team Championship titles at stake.

Ted Dibiase represents the Benny Hinn Ministries when he leads Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs of the American Power Team in their pre-match prayer in their corner(while being mocked by Billy and Bart Gunn, wearing AC/DC and Metallica sleeveless shirts, matching black bandannas). The Guns are steamrolled with Scotty Riggs scoring a surprise shock sunset flip rollup pinfall in just 23 seconds! The crowd in the smaller little theater in Universal Studios goes NUTS! Riggs, Bagwell, and Dibiase celebrate the win with intensity before giving all glory to god. Even though the APT have been eliminated from contention for the Undisputed Titles they have still made such a strong showing in the WTL this season, moving their record to 7-3-1 with their final match set for next week against the mighty Eliminators(8-1-2).... 


On Location:
The Control Center W/Joey Styles

What a performance by Riggs and Bagwell here making quick work of the former WWF Tag Team Champions Billy and Bart Gunn in mere seconds! Joey Styles goes over the news that has been breaking this week as we approach Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 on May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida. We will see the finale of the World Tag League 1996 season with the crowning of the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions. With the APT's win here tonight that wraps up the 11th week, setting up the final week next week....

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Week 11 Standings

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Owen/Bulldog 6-4-1	Steiner Brothers 8-1-2
Harlem Heat 6-4-1	Eliminators 8-1-2
Benoit/Malenko 6-4-1	American Power Team 7-3-1
Road Warriors 5-5-1	Thrillseekers 5-6
Pit Bulls 3-8	Can-Am Express 3-7-1
Public Enemy 2-9	Hardcore Guns 2-9

While the Dragon Division is already sealed with The Steiners vs Eliminators set for A Matter Of Respect in their 3rd battle in Best Of The Best. The Tiger Division on the other hand is wide open in the final week with a 3 way tie and a wildcard in a rejuvenated back in black Road Warriors with their new manager Kimona they are on a 2 match win streak and looking stronger than they have been in years. For Owen & Bulldog they are set for the rematch with their newfound rivals The Pitbulls this Monday night on Judgement Night. These two teams battled two weeks ago with The Pitbulls pulling off the upset that cost Owen & Bulldog their lead on the Tiger Division. Owen & Bulldog got their revenge on an attack that cost The Pitbulls their match against the Road Warriors last week.

We have seen a rivalry develop between Pitbull 2(who's popularity has seemed to be growing lately) and The British Bulldog, these two strong heavyweight powerhouses will lock up against on Judgement Night this Monday night at 8pm on USA Network LIVE. Owen & Bulldog have to win this match to keep their spot at the top of the Tiger Division! Also on Judgement Night this Monday night we will see perhaps the most critical match of the final week of the WTL season when Harlem Heat face off against The Road Warriors. The Road Warriors still have a chance to make the Final Four tournament at A Matter Of Respect if they win this match(and with losses by Benoit/Malenko, & Owen/Bulldog). This is a do or die match for both teams with their entire seasons ON THE LINE! 

Then on Shockwave on Saturday Night at 6:05 on TBS on May 11th the night before the PPV we will have 3 major WTL matches, all rematches. We seen Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko defeat Public Enemy earlier tonight on Shockwave but these two teams will face off again next week with Benoit and Malenko's entire season at stake. The duo have been unbeaten since Malenko took the place of the injured Arn Anderson. Another rematch will see The American Power Team face off against The Eliminators, the team they took to a surprising time limit draw earlier in the season. Then an interesting rematch will be the Thrillseekers taking on the Steiner Brothers, but earlier tonight we appeared to have witnessed the end of the Thrillseekers when Lance Storm turned on Lionheart Chris Jericho. Jericho and Storm gave the Steiner Brothers their lone loss ever in Best Of The Best back at BOTB III in Japan in March in what has to be the biggest upset of the 96 WTL season. 

Also earlier tonight we learned about one of the biggest head to head matchups so far in Best Of The Best, the match has been signed, #3 ranked Sting will face off against #4 ranked undefeated 6-0 phenom Hakushi on Shockwave next Saturday night May 11th on TBS The Superstation at 6:05! 

May 11th on Saturday Night Shockwave at 6:05 pm on TBS: The Superstation!

Sting vs Hakushi
vs

NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOCKWAVE!

These two top ranked contenders are on a collision course for the Shockwave the night before the PPV on May 11th, then that Sunday night it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 LIVE from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida. The main event has been signed and set with the dream tag team of Bret "The Hitman" Hart and UFC Champion Royce Gracie taking on the Eric Bischoff's Kings Of Kings team of Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda. Takada's Neo Hybrid Universal World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line as well as Bret's self proclaimed "Real" World Championship WWF style belt that was stolen by Maeda. 

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL


Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship/"Real" World Championship*
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) & Royce Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda


vs


*This title is not officially sanctioned by Best Of The Best

Bret/Royce vs Takada/Maeda, and the Final Four of the 1996 World Tag League season, plus one of the greatest female athletes in the world, kickboxing legend Kathy Long will make her Best Of The Best debut taking on All Japan Womens Wrestling star and undefeated 3-0 Bushido sensation Etsuko Mita! All of this plus so much more, it all goes down May 12th LIVE on pay per view, Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! Call your cable or satellite provider and ORDER NOW! 


Six Man Match
No-Disqualification:
Kevin Sullivan, Abdullah The Butcher, & Meng
vs
Petey Pappadopolous, Buster Samuelson, & Trapper Calhoun

The trio of promising young team of Pappadopolous, Samuelson, and Calhoun are shown wrapping up their entrances for our following six man action. Pappadopolous is the biggest of the 3 but is flabby, almost as big around as he is tall. Samuelson is the smaller man at just 174 pounds while Calhoun is a tall skinny local wrestler from the Florida Everglades wearing overalls and is bare foot, with Joey Styles mentioning his side job as an alligator hunter. 

Sullivan, Meng and Abdullah come out and immediately feast on their prey with an absurdly stiff beating. Abdullah takes Pappadopolous out to the floor and works him over with a fork to get the blood going. Sullivan reddens Samuelson's chest before turning him upside down in the corner turnbuckles for his running corner charge to the midsection! Meng destroys Calhoun and puts him down with the Tongan Death Grip for the win in just 2:55. This is just nasty. Meng refuses to give up the Tongan Death Grip even after the referee keeps calling for the bell over and over again non stop! Joey Styles hypes up the set match for Judgement Night this Monday night on the USA Network at 8pm we will see Meng vs Cactus Jack one on one, the Tongan Death Grip vs Cactus' new sadistic "Mandible Claw" maneuver... 

Meng continues to kill the jobber with the Tongan Death Grip as the referees try to pull him off, with Kevin Sullivan looking into the camera calling out Raven, sending a kiss to Beulah.... 


On Location:
South Florida Beach(Shane Douglas & Sable)

After a commercial break we get an on-location of Shane Douglas filmed on the beaches of Florida somewhere with Sable walking with him in a bikini as he cuts a super-promo, talking about his rise to where he is today as the king of Best Of The Best in 1996, the #1 contender with a 9-1 record. Shane Douglas ponders where he stands in this business.. this sport, headed into the May 12th pay per view at the nearby Miami Arena in Miami Florida, South beach, and it's a beautiful time to be on the beach with the best looking woman on television...

Shane Douglas promo addresses his rise in the sport in the early 90's, how he was held back in WCW in 1993 by the resturn of Ric Flair, leading to his moment 2 years ago throwing down the NWA Heavyweight Championship(the same belt currently held by Dan "The Beast" Severn) when he shocked the world in ECW in 1994. Shane in the promo drops the controversial line that the death of Vince Mcmahon in 1995 was the best thing that ever happened to him, he was suddenly free from all the cartoon gimmicks of the WWF, the Dean, the Kliq, all the clowns and everything that the WWF stood for was entertainment, not wrestling. Just like the current Best Of The Best Undisputed World Champion Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid, a clown, an entertainer. Shane Douglas vows that the entire Kliq, HBK, Diesel, Razor, Kid, Helmsley, can all kiss his ass... 

Shane Douglas promo moves along to his rise in Best Of The Best, how he joined the Dangerous Alliance and outshined every other member of the organization, yet he seen through Paul E. Dangerously and his lies. Shane reveals that he was working with Rick Rude behind the scenes the entire time he was with the Dangerous Alliance, waiting for the moment to take over this business. The master plan to bring back Sid to end Hulkamania and put Ahmed Johnson on the shelf back at the Hoosier Dome was a stroke of genius. Shane Douglas proclaims that Marc Mero is out of the picture, he knows HBK is running from him to protect his title, this promotion is protecting his title as the poster boy, but first there is one man he has wanted more than anyone for the past 3 years and that is "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.... 


On Location:
The Control Center W/Joey Styles

After another commercial break we return to Joey Styles surrounded by sound mixing boards and television monitors in the Control Center with more hype for this Monday night's episode of Judgement Night LIVE on the USA Network at 8pm! This will truly be an episode of Judgement Night you DO NOT want to miss as action film box office superstar Steven Seagal will make an appearance with a special announcement. Plus we will see World Tag League action from the final week of the 1996 season with the rematch between Owen & Bulldog vs The Pit Bulls, Harlem Heat vs The Road Warriors, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in action against Marc Mero, plus Meng vs Cactus Jack in what is sure to be one of the wildest confrontations, and appearances by Sting, Bret Hart, Royce Gracie, The Four Horsemen, The Benny Hinn Ministries and so much more!...

This Monday night LIVE 8pm on the USA Network! 

No Disqualification
Lucha Libre Rules
Psicosis vs Juventud Guerrera III
vs

The biggest showdown that everybody is talking about in the sport will be the 3rd battle between Juventud Guerrera vs Psicosis, this time there will be no rules, no time limit, no limitations of any kind, this will be the lucha libre showdown of 1996 and it goes down LIVE on Judgement Night this Monday night at 8pm on USA Network! 


Singles Match:
"The Natural" Dustin Rhodes(W/Ted Dibiase)
vs
Brad Armstrong


Dustin Rhodes makes his way out to One Of Us by Joan Osborne accompanied by Ted Dibiase representing the Benny Hinn Ministries. Dustin's opponent Brad Armstron is shown already in the ring getting ready as Joey Styles talks about the recent interview segment that revealed Dustin had converted to the Benny Hinn Ministries and had been healed of his sickness of bizarre sexuality that brought on his Goldust alter ego in the WWF last year. Now with Dibiase and Benny Hinn's spiritual guidance Rhodes is straight and focused with a big win over Jeff Jarrett in the Hoosier Dome two weeks ago and reuniting with his estranged father Dusty. 

Dustin makes quick work of Armstrong in a strong and dominant showing, finishing him off with his Lonestar State Of Mind(Lifting falling inverted DDT) for the pin at 5:12! Rhodes has an emotional prayer with Dibiase on one knee in the center of the ring together to bring this week's show to an end!... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Nashville Municipal Auditorium(Nashville, TN)
May 6th, 1996

The Municipal Auditorium in Nashville is SOLD OUT and packed to the rafters with fans going nuts for Sunny standing in the middle of the ring wearing cowgirl boots and western wear, daisy dukes, while also holding the brand new shiny Undisputed World Tag Team Championship title belts over her shoulders as soon as the program goes LIVE on the USA Network!... 

Sunny proclaims that we are just 6 days away from these titles being on the line LIVE on pay per view at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96, but tonight, the final week of the World Tag League season kicks off, it's do or die... tonight, is... JUDGEMENT NIGHT!.... 

Sunny's opening monologue sets the sold out crowd off into cheers before the live feed segues into the Tupac All Eyez On Me music video highlight montage, this time showing exclusively Royce Gracie highlights, starting with his brutal wins in dojo challenge matches taking on all comers. Royce's UFC career highlight shows his brutal bareknuckle, no rules, no weight classes, no time limit battles always as the smaller man, but never defeated. Gracie's highlights are shown from his wins over boxer Art Jimmerson, shootfighter Ken Shamrock, and Savate kickboxer Gerrard Gordeaux all in the same night when he won the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament in November 1993. A new sport was born, a sport of chaos and violence, but at the eye of this storm of controversy was a technical grappling wizard, a master of submissions, 176 pound Jujitsu black belt from Brazil; Royce Gracie.

Royce returned to beat 4 men in one night at UFC II in 1994 to win the only ever 16 man tournament. His victory over 260 pound tattoo'd musclebound Hawaiian street fighting legend Kimo in UFC III was at the time one of the greatest battles in the young history of the sport, a fight so grueling and intense that Royce was unable to continue in the tournament after winning by submission.

Still Gracie returned at UFC IV in November 1994 to defeat 3 men in one night once again(beating Dan "The Beast" Severn by triangle choke after over 25 minutes of battle in the finals) to win his 3rd UFC tournament Championship. A time limit draw in an epic rematch against Ken Shamrock at UFC V last April(1995) was Royce Gracie's final UFC appearance, he walked away from the sport as the only ever 3 time tournament Champion undefeated at 11-0-1, the best ever. Now, Royce has resurfaced one year later in Best Of The Best in 1996 to team with Bret Hart in the ultimate dream team to face the same Takada Dojo that has been disrespecting and calling out his family for years....

3 time WWF World Champion, and self proclaimed reigning "Real" World Champion...  Bret "The Hitman" Hart....

3 time UFC Tournament Champion... Undefeated godfather of the Octagon...  Royce Gracie....

The Ultimate Dream TEAM...

...On May 12th live on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida, it will be.... A MATTER OF RESPECT! 

All Eyez On Me continues playing over the Auditorium PA system as Pyro explodes over the ring with Jim Ross and Joey Styles opening suddenly interrupted when HBK's entrance music hits the PA system to set the crowd off even louder, blowing the roof off the place when the full Kliq comes out with HBK leading the way wearing the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship of Professional Wrestling!... 


In The Ring:
The Kliq(Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, 123 Kid, & Hunter)

Sunny remains in the ring as the Kliq chum it up with each other and the ringside fans in an extended walk out that goes on for a solid few minutes. Jim Ross is the one to note the noticeable absence of Jose Lothario the mentor that got a lot of credit for sharpening Shawn Michaels into the force that he has become here in Best Of The Best in 1996. Still you have to admit that Michaels with these 4 brothers of his, this Kliq, he's stronger and on top of this sport right now without a doubt... 

Michaels gets the Nashville crowd going crazy for the Kliq when he officially makes Sunny an honorary member! Razor takes the mic and calls out Shane Douglas, The Dean, his Pam Anderson wanna be bimbo Sable, sending the message for him and his new muscle and his new mouthpiece to keep the noise down and keep the Kliq name out of their mouths. Diesel takes the mic and proclaims that the Kliq is here in Best Of The Best not to follow anybody's rules, but to do one thing and one thing only, to kick ass! 

Jim Ross and Joey Styles are stunned when they are run off of their commentary table by the Kliq! Diesel, Razor, and Michaels take over the headsets at the booth with 123 Kid and Hunter posting up relaxing nearby! The Kliq has taken over the commentary booth for the rest of the LIVE broadcast!... 


On Location:
The Control Center W/Mike Tenay

After the first round of commercials we get Mike Tenay in the BOTB Control Center with HUGE late breaking news about THIS SUNDAY NIGHT pay per view spectacular Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 set to be broadcast LIVE from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! The biggest breaking news announcement is that Steven Seagal is here tonight to accept the offer to be the Special Guest Enforcer for the tag team main event battle between Royce Gracie & Bret Hart vs Nobuhiko Takada & Akira Maeda! Steven Seagal has SIGNED and will be there in the Miami Arena as the ringside enforcer to ensure nobody interferes in this match! UNBELIEVABLE!

Tenay can barely contain his excitement with the breaking news that the Championship Council this past Sunday had an emergency hearing regarding the scheduled Women's Hybrid Rules showdown between Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 this Sunday night live on pay per view. The hearing produced some stunning and somewhat surprising results, the Championship Council voted 5-2 in favor of introducing a new Women's Undisputed Neo-Eternal Championship title belt to put on the line for this showdown! The new belt has been cast in a hidden foundry in Japan and it has been made official with the new contract signing earlier this afternoon, Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita will now be for the very first ever crowning of the Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship title!

Undisputed Womens Neo-Eternal Championship
Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

vs

Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96
This Sunday night LIVE on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami, FL

If you have not called and ordered this pay per view event already you need to pick that phone up and dial now, call your cable provider or your satellite provider, call Dish Network or Direct TV, every major cable carrier across North America will be carrying this event and this will be THE must see event of 1996. Along with these 2 blockbuster matchups we will also see the 2 Tiger & Dragon Division Championship matches(winners will be presented with trophies), with the winners facing off in the World Tag League Championship Final Match to crown the first ever Undisputed World Tag Champions. We already know the Dragon Division Championship match is set to be the 3rd showdown between the Eliminators vs The Steiner Brothers! This will be the ultimate collision course!

Tenay rounds out his Control Center update with exclusive footage of the return of Double J, Jeff Jarrett in Nashville earlier today to ink a contract with Sony Records for a brand new country music album. Jarrett is expected to get a major financial backing by the Neo Zeed Inc. parent company that owns the Best Of The Best promotion that has Double J under contract(Jarrett is currently 5-3 in BOTB). With the push from his financial backers Jarrett has already begun the writing process for the album with a team of 15 of Nashville's top country music songwriters, he has vowed to repackage his image and sound to represent all of the changes in country music in the modern day time.

With the Telecommunications Act of 1996 being signed into law by congress earlier this year it really is a new era for many music genres, with perhaps the biggest effected being country music. In the wake of these changes Nashville has vowed to shift country music and market it more towards a pop music demographic with many of the older artists of the 80's and earlier 90's being dropped or left behind by radio stations and record labels. Jarrett will enter the studio in May to begin working on the new album, which is slated for release later this year along with a World promotion tour... 


Singles Match:
Marc Mero
vs
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Stone Cold comes out to Just Another Victim by Helmet & House Of Pain and has a TENSE staredown with the Kliq as he spots them all seated around the ringside commentary booth. Diesel, Michaels, and Razor make fun of both men throughout the match, with Razor questioning if both of these guys are from WCW? Diesel questions whatever happened to Austin's Hulk Hogan haircut while HBK buries Mero for looking like Little Richard still.

Despite the burial from the Kliq on commentary this is a highly competitive 10 minute match between 2 fringe top 10 contenders. Austin is unbeaten in Best Of The Best at 3-0 while Marc Mero has dropped to 4-2 after starting his career here on a 4 match win streak. Mero has Austin in trouble later in the match but misses his Shooting Star Press when Stone Cold rolls out of the way at the last second! Austin showcases a technical wrestling advantage over Mero while also being tough enough to withstand any closed fist strikes from the former Golden Gloves boxing Champ. Stone Cold displays a ruthless edge throughout the match, hurting Mero with a vicious backbreaker, driving multiple knees into his back while he's down, hitting him with a textbook elbow drop off the corner turnbuckles. 

The match spills over the top rope later on and Mero gets busted up after having his head slammed into the steel guard railing by Austin! At one point the brawl makes it near the commentary table where Austin gives all 5 members of the Kliq the double middle fingers, prompting Diesel to stand up and take his head set off in a tense moment! Mero attacks Austin from behind as he's distracted by the Kliq but Mero is BLEEDING EVERYWHERE! Good god almighty! 

Austin fights back and gouges Mero's eyes before taking him back into the ring a bleeding mess! Austin continues working the cut over with punches making it worse as the dark red blotches mark up the gray ring canvas with stains and smear marks. Finally the ringside doctor calls for the bell to the surprise of everyone in the ring, including the referee! After a brief delay the ringside doctor confers with the referee that this match must be stopped due to the blood, the winner by doctor stoppage.... STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN! 

The doctor works Mero's cut in the corner to stop the bleeding but Austin refuses to take the victory this way, he's PISSED! Austin grabs the doctor and flings him by his shirt collar all the way across the ring before stomping Mero all the way down in the corner and leaving him laying!.... 


On-Location:
The Benny Hinn Ministries

After the commercial break we return with an on location segment at the Benny Hinn Ministries mega-church in Atlanta Georgia where the construction is still underway for a massive 12,000 square foot athletic training compound that will be the hub for the Ministries faith based "athletic outreach program". We have seen the major difference this program has made in the lives of Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka), The American Power Team(Scotty Riggs & Marcus Bagwell), and Dustin Rhodes. Ted Dibiase has turned a new leaf after devoting his life to Jesus under the Hinn Ministries and now he's serving the lord as a conduit of Hinn's supernatural Jesus powers to touch the lives and wayward souls of pro wrestlers who have lost their way.

We have seen the power of faith in the career resurgence of Bagwell & Riggs, no longer "The American Males", the American Power Team is currently 7-3-1 in the World Tag League with a bright future as top contenders after the season ends this Sunday night. We have seen how the Hinn Ministries changed Tatanka, stripping him of his savage Native American beliefs and converting him to Christ so thoroughly that he has undergone skin bleaching treatments to be whiter in order to be closer to god. We have seen the power of the Hinn Ministries convert Dustin Rhodes and heal him from the sickness of bizarre sexuality that brought on his Goldust alter ego in the WWF last year, through the power of forgiveness the Hinn Ministries patched up Dustin's relationship with his estranged father Dusty Rhodes. Both Chavis and Rhodes are currently unbeaten in BOTB.

This week we get to see footage of the Benny Hinn Ministries latest reclamation project as we get a replay of the footage of none other than Jake "The Snake" Roberts making his way onto Hinn's stage on his TBN televangelist program to receive his blessing. Hinn is shown placing his hands on Roberts to heal him from the disease of alcoholism and drug use that spiraled his wrestling career out of control. Roberts is shown flopping out on the stage in convulsions while Dibiase, Chavis, Rhodes, Bagwell, and Riggs rush around him in a dramatic scene!....

The segment shows footage of Jake working to get back in shape with Ted Dibiase, Chavis, Rhodes, and the APT while an interview with him cuts in and out. Roberts continually works bible scriptures into his interview as he reveals that his entire wrestling career and life has fallen apart because of drugs and alcohol, but the Hinn Ministries have taken him in and saved his life. Now Roberts has committed his life to the scripture.... 

For 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.  -John 3:16


Falls Count Anywhere:
Cactus Jack
vs
Meng

This match goes all over the entire Auditorium in one of the wildest brawls in Best Of The Best 5 month history so far. Neither man backs down from the chair shots out on the floor in the crowd. The fight goes backstage where Cactus drops an elbow on Meng off of a ladder onto concrete! Cactus tries to hurt Meng with trash cans but the monster keeps fighting back, at one point stunning Cactus and knocking him down with a vicious thrust kick. The fight makes it's way back to the ringside area after the commercial break. Cactus at one point goes for a piledriver on the elevated catwalk entrance ramp near the ring only to get backdropped by Meng onto the steel plate reinforced surface!(the ramp was reinforced with steel plate after the Hakushi/One Man Gang incident on Worldwide in February to prevent any other wrestlers from ever going through it again).

Meng begins to wear Cactus Jack down after throwing him off the ramp down to the concrete with a sickening smack on impact as he hits the floor with his shoulder/back! Cactus rolls around in pain but... he's smiling!?

Meng stays on Cactus and batters him around the ringside area with chops and throat thrusts, running boots to the head when he goes down, then finally pulling him up to the apron of the ring and holding him by his hair to BITE HIS FU#*ING DEFORMED EAR! Cactus screams and squeals like a slaughtered pig in Texas Chainsaw Massacre as Meng bloodies what's left of his mutilated ear! 

The two brawl with steel chairs with Cactus finally putting Meng down with several shots to the back! Cactus flies off the apron with a running flying elbow drop with the chair crashing down onto Meng with sickening impact on the floor! Cactus takes Meng back into the ring but the monster still continues to fight back, staggering Cactus Jack in a toe to toe punching exchange before locking him in the TONGAN DEATH GRIP! He's got him! Cactus almost goes down before fighting back with his two middle fingers down Meng's gullet with his MANDIBLE CLAW! This is UNREAL! Both men have each other locked in their holds in the middle of the ring as they both begin to struggle to stay standing! Foam begins shooting out of Meng's mouth as he begins to wilt in the Mandible Claw and collapse to his knees, losing his grip on the Tongan Death Grip! Cactus finishes Meng off with the Mandible Claw and puts him out to win the match by tko at 11:16! What a WAR! 

The Kliq on commentary is pretty much speechless as Cactus struggles to have his arm raised, bleeding from his ear after putting Meng down finally. All of a sudden Cactus is attacked when Kevin Sullivan and Abdullah The Butcher rush into the ring to attack him out of nowhere! Cactus is jumped until out comes Venom and Stevie Richards! It's all out pandemonium with Raven and Beulah making their way out! Raven goes after Kevin Sullivan in a violent punching exchange in the corner as Venom brawls with Abdullah with Stevie jumping in! Sullivan and Raven take the fight out to the floor around the ringside area when all of a sudden a familiar woman rushes out and grabs Beulah by her hair out of nowhere.....

It's LUNA VACHON! She's got Beulah! Luna pulls Beulah into the ring and puts her into the position for a piledriver, posing in a crucifix position looking up at the lights for a moment before SPIKING HER INTO THE CANVAS! Dear god! Luna has knocked Beulah out with a PILEDRIVER! Raven pulls Beulah's lifeless body out of the ring in disbelief! Meng recovers and takes a chair to Venom and Stevie Richards to knock them out of the ring before loading up and destroying Cactus Jack with a vicious home run shot right to the head, unprotected, knocking him completely unconscious!

Luna Vachon rolls Cactus Jack's lifeless body out of the ring before uniting with Kevin Sullivan in a bizarre union with Abdullah The Butcher and Meng(still spitting, gagging, clutching his throat). Raven retreats with Beulah still knocked out in his arms as Venom and Stevie follow him. Luna Vachon, Kevin Sullivan, Abdullah The Butcher, and Meng pose together while Cactus Jack struggles to recover and stagger around on the entrance ramp in a truly disturbing scene, he doesn't even know where he is, or where to go....


Backstage Interview W/Sunny:
Paul E. Dangerously

After another round of commercials we return with Sunny backstage for a special interview with none other than Paul E. Dangerously, who cuts a promo stating that despite the death of the Dangerous Alliance, he is still locked into this company with an ironclad contract, there's no way anybody can get rid of him as much as everybody wants to. Paul E. promises to keep pushing the envelope, that it was his vision that this promotion stole to build this company, this sport owes him for everything he's done to move it forward into the 90's, for selling his soul and signing on the dotted line of the contract that is going to haunt this company for the rest of it's god damn existence! Paul E. vows to be back with a threat that is bigger, badder, more extreme than anybody in Best Of The Best can withstand!... 


World Tag League Match:
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)(6-4-1)
vs
The Pitbulls(3-8)

Jim Cornette stalks around the outside with his dreaded tennis racket as Owen and Bulldog strategically target the weak link of the Pitbulls, Pitbull 1. Owen goes after Pitbull 1's knee and does significant damage, with Bulldog following up with rest holds on the knee while taunting Pitbull 2 the whole time. The ref struggles to keep Pitbull 2 out of the ring only to set up Pitbull 1 to get double teamed by Owen and Bulldog while he's distracted!

Owen and Bulldog's teamwork and concentrated targeting of Pitbull 1's right knee is so thorough that he appears to be legitimately injured prior to the commercial break. This does not look good. Still Pitbull 1 showcases the heart of the breed he was named after when he still fights back standing on one leg! Pitbull 2 makes the tag in and the Nashville crowd goes nuts as he comes in slamming Bulldog and Owen around! Pitbull 2 makes a strong showing in what turns out to be a handicapped match as Pitbull 1 collapses to the floor clutching his knee until EMT's race out to work on him. Pitbull 2 press slams Owen out of the ring in an incredible display of power before going toe to toe with British Bulldog!

Pitbull 2 gets the crowd going behind him and rides the momentum to gain an advantage, showing that he can hang with Bulldog strength vs strength! Owen later distracts the ref for Jim Cornette do deliver the knockout blow with his racket, setting him up for the rollup pinfall by Bulldog with both feet on the ropes and pulling his tights for the 1, 2, 3 at 8:49! The Pitbulls have been robbed to bring their World Tag League season to an end with a disappointing 3-9 record. Still Pitbull 2 has really come on strong in the end of the season, he's more concerned about his tag team partner being carted out by EMT's with what appears to be a legit knee injury.

Owen, Bulldog, and Jim Cornette celebrate the win to finish their WTL season with a 7-4-1 record, with this win they have eliminated any chances of the Road Warriors qualifying for the Final Four at A Matter Of Respect. Everything in the Tiger Division now hinges on what happens with Harlem Heat later tonight and the rematch between Benoit/Malenko vs Public Enemy on Shockwave this Saturday Night on TBS! Two of these three teams will face off for the Tiger Division Title at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96!

In the aftermath a squad of security and officials/producers with 2 armed police officers come out to confront The Kliq to remove them from the commentary booth. The crowd cheers for Diesel, Razor, HBK, 123 Kid, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley as they make their exit through the crowd after a brief standoff with security, what a wild first hour of Judgement NIGHT!... 


In Ring Interview W/Sunny:
Sting

After commercials we kick off the second LIVE hour of Judgement Night with Jim Ross and Joey Styles back in their spots at the commentary booth with Sunny back standing in the middle of the ring, this time bringing out none other than THE MAN... STING!....

Sunny gets an interview with Sting about his upcoming match this Saturday night on Shockwave on TBS at 6:05 where he is set to take on the undefeated 7-0 phenom of BOTB, HAKUSHI! Sting gives respect to Hakushi saying that he will be one of his toughest challenges when all of a sudden the lights in the Auditorium begin to flicker and go out! The crowd cheers as the entire Auditorium stays blacked out in darkness until suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes one of the corner turnbuckles of the ring! Sparks fly and the lights raise back up to reveal Hakushi standing in the ring across from Sting!....

Hakushi stands face to face with Sting in an incredible face off with the crowd going NUTS! The two men stand their ground in an intense staredown until the lights cut back off, coming back on several seconds later to reveal Hakushi gone.... Sting looks around after the lights come back on looking over his own shoulder as JR and Joey Styles hype this showdown that is set for the main event of Saturday Night Shockwave on TBS this Saturday night at 6:05! Sting vs Hakushi! 


Extreme Lucha Libre
No Disqualification Match:
Psicosis vs Juventud Guerrera III

Juvy and Psicosis make their entrances with ring announcer Joel Gertner doing bi-lingual intros going back and forth from English to Spanish. The match starts out as an intense fight, punches, eye gouges, hair pulling and illegal tactics from Psicosis, all heart from Juvy in a showcase of beautiful Lucha counters and attacks. Juvy quickly takes the fight to the air with a quick springboard Rana, multiple combos of springboard dropkicks, bringing the crowd to life big time with his AIR JUVY dive over the top rope to nail Psicosis down on the floor after he tries to escape the ring!

The action goes out to the floor with Juvy throwing Psicosis over the railing into the laps of the front row fans, then doing a running springboard somersault senton off of a chair, clearing the railing and nailing Psicosis! Security scrambles to keep the fans back as the two luchadores fight throwing steel chairs at each other before going at it with a swinging chair duel! Psicosis downs Juvy with a shot to the ribs that sets him up to get clobbered across his back, setting him up for a powerbomb through two nearby chairs faced together! Juvy crashes through the 2 chairs into the concrete rolling around arching his back off the floor in agony! 

Psicosis has Juvy dead to rights after slamming him through the chairs with the powerbomb, dominating him back to the ringside area where he shoves the ringside timekeeper and announcer Joel Gertner away from the timekeepers table! Psicosis pulls Juvy across the table and makes his way up to the top rope of the ring before dropping down and crunching Juvy through with a Guillotine LEG DROP THROUGH THE TABLE!... The crowd goes NUTS! Both men are down and out in the broken pieces on the floor knocked out! Psicosis rolls around clutching his hip/thigh as Juvy remains completely knocked out...

Juvy kicks out at 2.5 after Psicosis is finally able to recover and drag him back into the ring for a pin attempt. Both men are badly hurt, but Juvy is just nearly lifeless. Psicosis fights through the pain and works to keep Juvy down in submission holds, a Camel Clutch, STF, doublt wrist locks, forcing Juvy to fight through to use 2 rope breaks back to back. Juvy locks up with Psicosis in another grappling exchange following his second rope break and counters with a lightning fast series of quick rollup counter attempts, getting a 2 with an inside cradle, a 2.5 with a la magistral, then a 2.99999 with a standing switch flipped over into a spinning backslide that Psicosis BARELY is able to kick out of!

Juventud is able to hook Psicosis in an over the shoulder single leg Boston crab in an extended battle back and forth with Psicosis fighting through the hold refusing to submit, reaching for the ropes. Psicosis fights his way out of the hold and batters Juvy with chops and forearm strikes, hitting him with his wheelbarrow facebuster then his inverted sitout suplex slam all only for 2 counts as Juvy refuses to die! Psicosis grimaces as he fights through the pain in his hip/thigh to climb up to the top rope to try to put Juvy away with his guillotine legdrop but Juvy is able to recover just in time to stop him from flying off! Juvy climbs up and pulls Psicosis down of the top with a rana, then follows up with a springboard moonsault splash off the ropes before hooking the leg for the pin..... 1... 2.... 3! Juventud Guerrera WINS via pinfall at 11:09!

Psicosis breaks up the celebration by attacking Juvy with a steel chair right to his back as he's up on the top rope shouting out to the fans! Juvy never sees it coming! Psicosis clobbers Juvy into the canvas with repeated chair shots to his back until all of a sudden Eddie Guerrero comes running out to make the save with a chair of his own! Psicosis quickly retreats to the entrance isle as Eddie calls him out to face him! All of a sudden Juvy recovers and mistakenly assumes that Eddie attacked him from behind! Juvy turns Eddie around and kicks him to the groin before lifting him up into a brainbuster! Eddie is out! Juvy can barely stand as he looks down at Eddie's lifeless body! Psicosis snarls with bitterness as he backs away in retreat while Juvy celebrates with Eddie laid out!.... 


In The Ring:
Shane Douglas(W/Sable), "Ravishing" Rick Rude, & "Psycho" Sid Justice

After another commercial break we return with Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple bringing out the current #1 contender in Best Of The Best, 9-1 Shane Douglas accompanied by the lovely Sable, his new manager "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and none other than "Psycho" Sid Justice!....

Shane Douglas gets heavily censored when he rips the mic away fro Rude and calls out Shawn Michaels to face him any time any place, put that title on the fuc*ing line! Douglas calls out Ric Flair to quit playing games, reveal who he's got behind the Black Scorpion mask or suffer the consequences, the Four Horsemen are a fu*king joke, a mockery of what they used to be in the 1980's, he has no more respect for Flair. Just as the words come out of Douglas' mouth all of a sudden the Four Horsemen entrance music hits to bring out Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Dan "The Beast" Severn(wearing the NWA Heavyweight title), and Chris Benoit!

The Horsemen enter the ring and have a standoff with Douglas, Sable, Rude, and Sid! Flair stands toe to toe with Shane Douglas. Ric Flair officially accepts Shane Douglas to finally face him one on one THIS SUNDAY NIGHT live on pay per view at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs Shane Douglas! Flair insists that the Horsemen have no involvement whatsoever with anyone wearing the Black Scorpion mask, they have no idea who it is. Flair then proceeds to take a shot at Sable trying to get her to leave Douglas here and take a ride on Space Mountain here in Nashville TONIGHT! WHOOOO! Sable slaps Ric Flair IN THE FACE!

An all out melee breaks out with Shane Douglas tackling Ric Flair to the canvas in a wild brawl while Rude tangles with Arn! Sid clotheslines Benoit over the top rope to the floor before locking horns with Dan Severn in a violent clinch battle! Security and referee's rush out to stop the fight when all of a sudden the masked man wearing the old Black Scorpion mask jumps out from the crowd over the railing and slides into the ring to attack Shane Douglas with kicks! Security holds Flair back as the masked man kicks Douglas in the face one final time before fleeing just as Sid goes after him! Unbelievable! Sid tries to go after the masked man but he can't catch him as he flee's into the crowd to disappear! 

Rude pulls Shane Douglas out with Sable and Sid retreating to the entrance isle this is OUT OF CONTROL! The Horsemen stand their ground reunited in the ring ready to go. The match has been set for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 it will be a showdown years in the making when Shane Douglas takes on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair! 


World Tag League Match:
Harlem Heat(6-4-1)
vs
The Road Warriors(W/Kimona)(5-5-1)

Michael Buffer does the ceremonies for tonight's massive main event matchup in the final week of the 1996 World Tag League season that kicked off back in February with his LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAAAAAL! With Owen and Bulldog winning earlier tonight they basically eliminated Hawk and Animal's chances of qualifying for the Final Four but they still have a ton of pride to fight for tonight in their final match of the season. The Road Warriors make their way out with Kimona leading the way along to Iron Man by Black Sabbath! They are currently 2-0 since returning to their roots with Kimona bringing back their classic 80's style all black themed makeup/look. 

It's all Road Warriors in a dominant display of power as they beat down Stevie Ray and Booker T from the onset of the match! This is the old school Hawk and Animal right here, gone are the blue pants and blue facepaint, they are back in black! Harlem Heat's offense is no-sold until finally later on it's Booker T that is able to wear down Animal with his arsenal of kicks. The match devolves into a 4 man brawl all around the ring after referee Tim White loses control of the action. During the melee Kimona works her way up to remove the padding from the top turnbuckle. Booker T gets sent face first into the exposed steel turnbuckle when Animal lifts him up and falls backwards with him to take him out!

Referee Tim White notices the exposed steel that knocked Booker T out and immediately calls for the bell! This match is OVER! Harlem Heat have been awarded the victory by the ref as he has DISQUALIFIED The Road Warriors! The crowd boo's as Harlem Heat escape with their win with a final record of 7-4-1 and a share of 1st place in the Tiger Division with Booker T still dazed and confused from taking the steel to the face! Hawk and Animal are FURIOUS! They grab Tim White and make him shake in fear after having cost them their final match in the World Tag League, giving them a 5-6-1 final record! Hawk and Animal hold Tim White looking toward Kimona as she drags her thumb across her throat and gives him the thumbs down! The Road Warriors destroy the ref with the DOOMSDAY DEVICE! The crowd goes crazy! 


In The Ring:
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(W/Stu Hart) & Royce Gracie(W/Helio Gracie)

After the final round of commercials we get Sunny in the ring with Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Royce Gracie together in an honorary meeting of the two future tag team partners for Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 this Sunday night at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! Both Bret and Royce are accompanied by their fathers, Bret's father Stu Hart, and Royce's legendary father Helio Gracie. The two legendary champion grapplers cut a promo together about respect and honor for their family names, all that Eric Bischoff and the Kings Of Kings stand against. Bret and Royce are primed and ready to take on Maeda and Takada at the Miami Arena this Sunday night to put the Kings Of Kings down for good!

All of a sudden Bret, Royce, Stu, and Helio are circled in the ring when the entire Kings Of Kings group make their way out with Eric Bischoff! It's Takada, Maeda, Minoru Suzuki, Kiyoshi Tamura, Yoji Anjo, Hiromitsu Kanehara, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Kazushi Sakuraba! The KOK make a move on Bret and Royce until....

STEVEN SEAGAL comes out to make the save! Seagal tosses the KOK fighters around with Aikido throws before grabbing Yoji Anjo in an arm twist takedown and BREAKING HIS ARM! Anjo screams as he rolls out to the floor with a disfigured arm! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! HIS ARM IS BROKEN! Steven Seagal stands tall in the ring with Royce and Bret and their respective fathers looking on at Eric Bischoff, Akira Maeda, and Nobuhiko Takada eyeing them from the entrance ramp and we are out of TIIIIII!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
May 9th, 1996

It's 8:05 on Thursday night and that means it's Bushido time on TBS: The Superstation! Mike Tenay and action film star/black belt martial artist/screenplay writer Phillip Rhee open up the show on commentary with the Manhattan Center crowd going NUTS in the background! Tonight we are just 3 days away from Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 where we will see the dream tag team of Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Royce Gracie take on Eric Bischoff's Kings Of Kings team of Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda with none other than Steven Seagal as special guest ringside enforcer!

Plus, new Champions will be crowned with the Final Four tournament for the World Tag League set to crown the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Champs, and the Womens Undisputed Eternal Championship the new title will be on the line when kickboxing legend Kathy Long takes on All Japan Womens Wrestling star Etsuko Mita! Tonight's Bushido is the final episode before the pay per view set for the Miami Arena this Sunday night and we have a stacked program, with both Ultimo Dragon and Peter Aerts in action! 


Ringside Interview W/Mike Tenay
Don "The Dragon" Wilson

After the opening the Bushido analyst/commentator and kickboxing legend Don "The Dragon" Wilson cuts a ringside interview with Mike Tenay and Phillip Rhee about the events that happened last week on Bushido with him and Taz being pulled apart in another wild incident. Don "The Dragon" Wilson proclaims that he's not afraid of Taz, calling him a bully, saying that he has a lot of talent but needs to be taught respect and honor, discipline.

The Dragon makes a bold statement that he's seen enough, he's had enough, he's not going to back down from Taz ever. Don "The Dragon" Wilson vows to come out of retirement and challenges Taz to face him one on one right here on Bushido! UNBELIEVABLE! Don Wilson is one of the greatest kickboxers of all time, a legend of the ring! He WANTS TAZ! 


Hybrid Rules Bout
Dutch Kickboxing vs Pro Wrestling
Peter Aerts vs King Kong Bundy

The massive 460 pound 6' 4" King Kong Bundy is shown already in the ring ready to make his BOTB debut here tonight on TBS. We haven't seen Bundy since October of last year in the WWF, it was a decade ago that he took on Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania II. Bundy's opponent Peter Aerts aka "The Lumberjack" the 1995 K-1 Grand Prix Champion Dutch kickboxer is on a roll since signing with BOTB earlier this year. Aerts has a BOTB record of 2-1-1, going to a time limit draw vs Ultimo Dragon in his debut in January, then losing a controversial split decision to Dragon in the rematch at Caesars Palace in February(a match that could be called the best match in BOTB so far this year). Aerts is coming off of a big win over "The Supreme Fighting Machine" Kama via TKO in the first round. 

Bundy uses his massive size advantage to lock up and pin Peter Aerts up in the corner of the ring early in the bout. Aerts is unable to do anything but have the life pressed out of him against the turnbuckles since he's got boxing gloves on tied up with a much larger monster. Finally after a stalemate in the action referee Yuji Shimata restarts the action. This time Aerts keeps his distance and lands a devastating low kick that hobbles KKB and causes him to limp! Moments later Aerts feints another low kick but goes high with it to skim the top of Bundy's head, causing him to lose his balance and tumble over into the ropes into the canvas in an awkward position! Down goes BUNDY! He's out for the count and Peter Aerts wins by knockout at 2:13 of the first round! What a victory by the Dutchman! 


Beyond The Mat:
Gracie Jujitsu

After commercials we get this week's installment of Beyond The Mat, our weekly episodic focus on various martial arts, people, places, objects of everything that makes Best Of The Best. This week our episode focuses in on the Gracie family and their style of martial art from Brazil, Gracie Brazilian Jujitsu. Jiu Jitsu has it's roots in the ancient feudal Japan battlefields, as a style of hand to hand combat for unarmed combatants taking on heavily armored Samurai(where strikes, punches and kicks would have little to no effect). This lethal fighting style specialized in grappling and submissions to maim an armored opponent in battle. As Japan evolved this brutal fighting style fell out of favor in a less feudal society. Through the 1800's Judo evolved out of this, with more refined training techniques that cleaned it up and made it more safe, with a focus on living a lifestyle of honor. Through this Judo became Japan's national martial art(taught in schools like wrestling is in the US). 

There was one dojo with ancient lineage back to the older style of Japanese Jiu Jitsu, the Fusen Ryu Jiu Jitsu dojo. This dojo challenged the top Judo dojo and dominated them with superior grappling submissions on the ground. The Fusen Ryu was absorbed into the Kodokan Judo dojo and was soon forgotten, until one man named Mitsuyo Maeda took the style around the world. Maeda traveled the globe teaching Judo and Jiu Jitsu, using his grappling style to make a living doing challenge matches, catch as catch can, even pro wrestling bouts in the United States.

Maeda finally made his way to Brazil where he taught his style of Jiu Jitsu(which at that point had been filtered through the shooters and challenge matches experienced in his travels) to the Gracie family. Through a generation the Gracie's refined what they learned to specialize in fighting off of their back, utilizing "The Guard" position to defend themselves and defeat larger and stronger opponents with submission grappling passed down from ancient feudal Japanese battlefields.

Helio Gracie would become the patriarch of the Gracie family. In 1993 his son Royce Gracie would win the first ever UFC tournament by defeating 3 men all by submission in the same night. Gracie would go on to win 2 more UFC tournaments before walking away from the UFC last year. Other members of the Gracie family have showcased some of the best technical grappling skills on Earth, including Royce's cousins Renzo and Rickson. Rickson Gracie has a legendary status in Brazil as an undefeated fighter with a record of over 300-0 in ro rules fights. Rickson won the 1994 and 1995 Vale Tudo Japan tournamets that were hosted by Satoru Sayama's Shooto promotion(Sayama, aka Tiger Mask is a member of the BOTB Championship Council).

For the last few years the Gracie family has become a target of the Takada Dojo in Japan. Nobuhiko Takada and his dojo has called out the family with grandstanding challenges for years, even offering Rickson Gracie $2 million to face Takada in his UWFI promotion. One of the most egregious stunts of Takada's dojo was to send one of his best fighters Yoji Anjo to storm Rickson's dojo in California on day in 1994. Rickson destroyed Yoji Anjo in an impromptu dojo challenge match, with coverage of the incident by the Japanese media delivering a massive blow to the legitimacy of Takada's UWFI promotion. The Takada Dojo looked to rebound by using the UWFI to invade New Japan Pro Wrestling last year. The group united with Akira Maeda's Rings promotion(which had taken over AJPW in 1996) to form "The Kings Of Kings".

Eric Bischoff being revealed as the North American leader of the KOK led to Bret "The Hitman" Hart bringing Royce Gracie to Best Of The Best last week here on Bushido. It was made official on Judgement Night on Monday night that Bret & Royce would team up to face off against Takada & Maeda at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96!

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL



Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship|||"Real" World Championship* Match



Special Guest Ringside Enforcer: Steven Seagal


Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) & Royce Gracie  vs  Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda


*This title is not officially sanctioned by Best Of The Best

This bout will go down LIVE on pay per view this Sunday night from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida. Royce Gracie's father Helio is expected to be in his corner as is Bret's father Stu Hart, while Maeda and Takada are expected to have Eric Bischoff and Yoshiaki Fujiwara in their corner. It was also made official on Monday night that none other than Steven Segal will be the Special Guest Ringside Enforcer for the bout to make sure the KOK doesn't get involved(we seen what he can do on Judgement Night when he broke Yoji Anjo's arm in a greusome scene at the end of last week's episode).

This battle will be head to head with no interference, there will be a winner and there will be a loser. Bret's self proclaimed "Real" World Championship belt will be at stake, as will Nobuhiko Takada's Neo-Hybrid Universal World Heavyweight Championship title(the combined belts of the Triple Crown, IWGP Heavyweight, and Thesz's original little World Championship title belt). Call your cable or satellite provider and order BOTB V NOW!


In The Ring:
The Championship Council, Kathy Long & Etsuko Mita

After another commercial break we get Phillip Rhee in the ring with all 7 members of the Championship Council onhand for a special honorary ceremony with both of the challengers for the all new Womens Undisputed Neo-Eternal Championship at this Sunday night's live pay per view Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida; the legendary multiple black belt martial artist, actress, and kickboxing legend Kathy Long and All Japan Womens Wrestling sensation, undefeated 3-0 in Best Of The Best Etsuko Mita! The new belt is on display in a glass case with red velvet carpet in the ring for the ceremony. 

Undisputed Womens Neo-Eternal Championship
Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

vs

Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96
This Sunday night LIVE on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami, FL

The Championship Council(Lou Thesz, Satoru Sayama, Billy Robinson, Verne Gagne, Karl Gotch, Nick Bockwinkle, and Danny Hodge) all christen the new Womens Championship and bless both competitors for this Sunday night's hybrid rules bout as the top contenders the most worthy to compete for this Championship. This bout will be the beginning of a new era and indeed will be a matter of respect for womens athletes in combat sports around the globe. Mita is given the chance to speak first with her Japanese being translated onscreen with subtitles saying that she is honored to fight for this Championship as a dream of hers since a girl. Mita vows to fight with everything that she has to fight for respect for women wrestlers in Japan. Kathy Long cuts a brief promo giving respect to her opponent for this Sunday night saying that she has trained for the battle of her career, she will be ready.

Both women stand their ground in a stand off in front of the belt as flash bulbs go off around the ringside area from the Japanese media. Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita one on one head to head, USA vs Japan, Kickboxing vs Wrestling, Hybrid Rules! This bout will crown the first ever Women's Undisputed Neo-Eternal Champion! 


On Location:
The Control Center W/Joey Styles

Joey Styles in the Control Center in BOTB studios breaks the news about the huge superheavyweight mega-showdown set for 2 weeks from tonight on Bushido, we will see Jurassic Park 2, the REMATCH... YOKOZUNA VS BUTTERBEAN 2!

Yokozuna vs Butterbean 2 the rematch has been signed for Thursday night May 23rd right here at 8:05 on TBS: The Superstation right here on BUSHIDO! The first encounter between these two massive powerhouses was the highest rated/most watched episode of Bushido yet. Yokozuna won the bout by throwing Butterbean over the top rope and sending him down to the floor. Butterbean returned to Bushido last week with a brutal knockout of Kiyokushin Karate black belt, 6'8/300 pound Gerry Harris. Yokozuna looks to rebound from his losses to Taz, both of which he really pushed The Human Suplex Machine to his limits unlike anybody we have seen. Now the rematch has been signed and set, set your VCR's for May 23rd, right here on Bushido! 


Hybrid Rules Bout
Lucha vs Shooto
Ultimo Dragon vs Joe Estes

Tonight's main event see's Shooto competitor Joe Estes making his BOTB debut. Estes is coming off of a massive win just recently over Shooto's top heavyweight Enson Inoue. We have seen Shooto represented and covered in Best Of The Best/Bushido before with the founding father Sayama being a member of the BOTB Championship Council. 

The Ultimo Dragon completely and systematically picks Estes apart in the ring throughout the first 10 minute round. Dragon works Estes over standing up in the early parts of the round with devastating chops and kicks with perfect timing, including multiple spinning back kicks to the body, eventually dropping him for an 8 count. Estes' attempts to take the bout to the canvas prove ineffective with Dragon using sharp takedown defense and devastating jumping knee strikes in the clinch. 

The bout hits the canvas once it hits the deep waters of the 10 minute first round, with Dragon spinning around seamlessly from one submission attempt to another. Estes rips out of a spinning toe hold attempt and scrambles back to his feet only for Dragon to take his back in a back and forth grappling sequence ending with a DRAGON SUPLEX! Estes is down for the count but incredibly is able to recover right at the 9 count to stay alive! Dragon escapes and evades a desperate attempt from an exhausted Estes to springboard off of the ropes into a Moonsault Press that stuns him into the canvas! Dragon transitions around immediately into his DRAGON SLEEPER to force the tapout at 9:19 with just seconds left in the first round! What a FINISH! Ultimo Dragon wins again! 

The Dragon has proven to be one of the ultimate hybrid warriors of Bushido, remaining undefeated here tonight going 6-0-1(currently ranked 5th in the official Top 10), this week's episode comes to an end with him celebrating the victory... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Mobile Civic Center(Mobile, AL)
May 11th, 1996

Shockwave hits the airwaves of the Superstation on a warm Saturday night in 1996 with the sold out Mobile Civic Center crowd going bonkers! Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan open up the show on commentary shouting over the crowd that TONIGHT is the big one, we are now less than 24 hours away from Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 on pay per view tomorrow night but tonight we have the biggest match ever in the history of this program; STING vs HAKUSHI one on one in our main event! Plus the World Tag League comes down to the wire with the final matches of the Steiners and Eliminators on the eve of their highly anticipated Dragon Division Championship Match tomorrow night, while the final spot in the Final Four in the Tiger Division is up for grabs tonight when it all hangs in the balance of the rematch between Benoit & Malenko vs The Public Enemy! 


World Tag League Match:
Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko(W/Arn Anderson)(6-4-1)
vs
Public Enemy(2-9)

Public Enemy make their entrance to Here Comes The Hot Stepper by Inni Kimoze getting the crowd in the Mobile Civic Center all waving their arms like they just don't care! For Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge they truly have not cared about winning or losing in the WTL this season as their 2-9 record shows, all they care about is inflicting as much violence and chaos as humanly possible! This team has become Public Enemy #1 in the eyes of head chairman of the Championship Council Lou Thesz due to their garbage wrestling style.

The Horsemen entrance music hits to bring out Arn Anderson leading Benoit and Malenko to the ring. Associate Horsemen Dean Malenko filled in for the injured Arn Anderson and helped save the Horsemen's season, this team has not lost since these two former tag team partners reunited. Heenan questions how things are going to work out now that Arn Anderson has just about fully recovered from his collar bone injury that took him out of action, he's heard through his sources that Arn has been cleared by doctors to return to the ring. Heenan speculates with Shiavonne that should the Horsemen win this match and make the Final Four you got to think the Horsemen will pull Malenko and put Arn back in to go for the belts tomorrow night, that is one tough decision to make, with so much on the line. 

These two teams pick up right where they left off last week after the schedule makers put the two division foes against each other in back to back matches to close the season. Public Enemy put up another tough fight as they look to seriously spoil the Horsemen season by eliminating them from contention for the Final Four tournament tomorrow night on PPV but Malenko and Benoit stay alive and wrestle smart to win with a pinfall after a flying headbutt by Benoit at 8:16! Benoit and Malenko win and finish the season 7-4-1, creating a huge issue since this creates a 3 way tie for 1st place in the Tiger Division(Owen & Bulldog and Harlem Heat each have identical records).

The celebration is short lived since PE attack Benoit, Malenko, and Arn with steel chairs after the match! Rocco and Grunge vent their frustration from a 2-10 season with a vicious beat down, setting up the table with Arn laid out on it for their Drive By! Just before they are able to pull off the move out runs Ric Flair and DAN SEVERN! The crowd goes NUTS! The Horsemen make short work of PE with Dan Severn sending Rocco Rock through the table with a GERMAN SUPLEX! THE BEAST! WOW! 

The Mobile crowd loses it as the Four Horsemen clear the ring and stand tall with Dean Malenko standing humbly among them as an unofficial 5th man. The Nature Boy is fired up with the crowd as he WHOOO'S and calls out Shane Douglas on the eve of their head to head showdown tomorrow night at the PPV in MIAMI! Ric Flair puts Dan Severn over saying he's ready to take on Ken Shamrock next weekend in Detroit to bring the UFC Superfight Championship to the Horsemen, while Benoit and Arn are going to bring home the Tag Team gold tomorrow night. The Nature Boy gets fired up furious as he calls out Shane Douglas promising to kick his ass tomorrow night! It's ON! 


Backstage Promos:
Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid)

After the commercial break we get Mike Tenay backstage in the locker room with an interview with "Ravishing" Rick Rude with his client Shane Douglas, the lovely Sable, and the massive and freakishly scary "Psycho" Sid Vicious towering over everyone in the camera shot. Rick Rude cuts a promo about Shane Douglas' showdown with Flair set for Miami tomorrow night hyping it as Douglas' biggest match of his career, to take on a legend and a former Champion like Flair one on one live on pay per view will be Shane's first test to prove himself that he is the future of this sport! Rude then addresses the masked man that has been appearing to attack Shane Douglas wearing Ric Flair's old Black Scorpion mask, speculating that it could be anyone from Mr. Perfect to Barry Windham or Tully Blanchard, they don't know who it is, but all they know is that when Sid finally gets his hands on this man he's going to have hell to pay because these are the hands of the man that single handily ended Hulkamania and put Ahmed Johnson on the shelf with a hurt back! 

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs Shane Douglas one on one in one of the most heated grudge matches that has been years in the making, tomorrow night LIVE on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! 


In The Ring:
Psicosis, Eddie Guerrero, & Juventud Geurrera

Back in the ring and we have Tony Shiavonne standing with Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera, and Eddie Guerrero all in the ring with referees keeping them apart as they are on stand by for the announcement that they are each set to face off in a Three Way Dance LIVE on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida TOMORROW NIGHT at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect! Unbelievable! All three men stare each other down with intensity as Shiavonne continues to plug the match, insisting that this will be one exciting encounter tomorrow night, we have seen each of them tear the house down in singles matches against each other over the past few weeks, now... Psicosis vs Eddie Guerrero vs Juvy in a THREE WAY DANCE...  in the end... there can be only one.... call your local cable or satellite dish provider and order NOW! 


World Tag League Match:
The Eliminators(8-1-2)
vs
The American Power Team(W/Ted Dibiase)(7-3-1)

The APT is shown wrapping up their entrance hyping up the ringside fans and passing out small miniature new testament bibles with Ted Dibiase leading their pre-match prayer during The Eliminators entrance to Demanufacture by Fear Factory. This is a highly anticipated rematch here since the APT stunned the Eliminators by taking them to a time limit draw weeks ago that cost them their chance to lead the Dragon Division. The APT have been a major success story since accepting Jesus into their hearts through the teachings of Ted Dibiase and his connections to the Benny Hinn Ministries, their 7-3-1 record is an incredible turnaround since the team truly struggled earlier this year when they debuted as the American Males. 

Dibiase prays and encourages the former WCW tag champs Riggs and Bagwell as they give it their all against Saturn and Kronus in a fast pace competitive 10 minute match. In the end it's the Eliminators that are too determined, avenging their loss with a pinfall victory by Kronus after the Total Elimination on Scotty Riggs at 10:06! The Eliminators finish strong with a final record of 9-1-2 and what a dominant performance we have seen from them all season long, easily one of the most dangerous and dynamic tag teams in the entire sport today. 

The Eliminators attack Bagwell after the match but Ted Dibiase steps in to make the save of his boys without any fear! The Eliminators corner Dibiase and set him up in the position for the Total Elimination but Riggs and Bagwell frantically make the save and get him out of there, retreating holding their heads high after an impressive 7-4-1 finish in the WTL. 

The Eliminators celebrate after clearing the ring and call out Rick and Scotty Steiner in the cameras as we cut away to commercials.... 


Up Close W/Mike Tenay:
Bret "The Hitman" Hart & Royce Gracie

After the break we get Mike Tenay's weekly episodic 60-minutes style introspective segment, this time taking a closer look at the dream tag team of Bret Hart and Royce Gracie that is set to take on Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada in tag team action in the main event of Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 tomorrow night live on pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida(tickets still available!). 

The segment shows exclusive training footage of Royce and Bret working together on the mats in preparation for tomorrow's main event match. Two legends with so many things in common, Royce a 3 time UFC Champion, Bret a 3 time WWF Champion, both of them sons of legendary grapplers from historic families from two different worlds of combat, pro wrestling, and Jujitsu. The footage shows Bret working in California at the Gracie Jujitsu dojo with both Royce and his father Helio, while more footage shows a later training session in Calgary with Royce in the legendary Hart Family dungeon working with Bret's father Stu. 

The Gracie family and the Hart family will unite to take on a common enemy tomorrow night it truly is a matter of respect for both families. For the Gracie family they have never been defeated in modern times, with Royce retiring from the UFC last year with an 11-0-1 record. For Bret his "Real" World Championship belt is on the line along with everything his family stands for. The Kings Of Kings organization led by Eric Bischoff threatens both of these families' legacies tomorrow night live on pay per view at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96!


In The Ring:
Kevin Sullivan, Luna Vachon, Meng, & Abdullah The Butcher

The Alabama fans boo and thumbs down Sullivan and his misfits that he leads out to the ring to cut a promo about Beulah and her suffering that she endured at the hands of Luna Vachon this past Monday night on Judgement Night. Luna made her debut to target Raven's girl giving her a brutal piledriver on live television. Even though Sullivan's freak Meng lost to Cactus Jack he still won the war with Cactus taking one of the most viciously disturbing unprotected chair shots to the head ever, giving him what had to have been yet another devastating concussion. 

Speaking of the devil brings him out as Raven himself walks out down the ramp with Stevie Richards, Venom, and Cactus Jack following behind looking more confused, still off his rocker from the chair shot on Monday night after his epic battle against Meng(his ear and part of his face covered in a sloppy tape/bandage job). Beulah is noticeably not present as Raven leads his flock into the ring to stand across Kevin Sullivan and his freak show. Kevin Sullivan locks eyes on Cactus Jack peering into his soul. Cactus tries to resist Sullivan's gaze but can't, the two stay fixated on each other.

Luna Vachon stands by Sullivan's side snarling right into Raven's face in a tense standoff as Stevie cuts a promo about what happened on Judgement Night. Beulah is going to live but she's hurt, while Cactus Jack suffered his second concussion this month. Still the flock stands tall and strong and will not back down from Kevin Sullivan or his mind games, if he wants a war he's got one, setting off a violent battle in the ring just as the words roll of his tongue! Sullivan takes the first shot at Raven while Venom goes after Meng and Abdullah! Luna Vachon goes right after Stevie kicking his butt all over the ring! 

Cactus Jack truly looks lost and confused amidst all of the chaos going on around him. Luna throws Stevie out of the ring while Sullivan disposes of Raven. It's Venom that takes control of the ring after taking out Abdullah and Meng, he puts Sullivan down with his Annihilator pumphandle powerslam! Cactus just watches confused as Venom gets his hands on Luna, setting her up for his Annihilator to get revenge for Beulah! All of a sudden Cactus looks back and forth at Sullivan for a moment before snapping and attacking Venom! Cactus Jack turns on Raven's flock and unites with Kevin Sullivan by putting Venom down with his double arm DDT! 

This is unbelievable! Cactus Jack kneels before Kevin Sullivan and Luna Vachon as Raven and Stevie get worked over by Meng and Abdullah out on the floor! Venom is laid out! Cactus Jack is with Kevin Sullivan now! Raven is down! He's been betrayed.... 

 
World Tag League Match: 
The Steiner Brothers(8-1-2)
vs
The Thrillseekers(5-6)

The Steiner Brothers are shown wrapping up their entrance high fiving all of the ringside fans before taking the ring standing tall and proud as the best tag team in the world, they are the only team to hold a victory over The Eliminators in Best Of The Best, they are set for a 3rd battle against Saturn and Kronus in the Dragon Division Championship Match at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 tomorrow night. But tonight this one is about pride and honor, this one is about payback. The Thrillseekers upset The Steiner Brothers to give them their one and only ever loss in Best Of The Best in one of the biggest uspets in pro wrestling history at Best Of The Best III at the Tokyo Dome on pay per view in March. Now things will get interesting here as it appeared that the Thrillseekers broke up last week, now with their generic Pearl Jam sounding music it's just Chris Jericho making his way out solo. 

Jericho makes it clear that he's ready to represent the Thrillseekers by himself until all of a sudden Lance Storm comes out to stop everything as he's accompanied by none other than top British wrestler out of AJPW; Johnny Smith! Storm breaks the news to Chris Jericho that he owns the rights to the Thrillseekers name and since Jericho's shoulder injury cost them their entire season, since Jericho had too big of an ego to admit he was too hurt to wrestle he was too busy hot dogging and showboating trying to be the star. Storm informs Chris Jericho that he filed the petition for the hearing with the Championship Council to bring in his replacement, he's out of this match, he's out of the Thrillseekers for good, I present to you the new Thrillseekers; Lance Storm and Johnny Smith! 

Jericho is stunned and heartbroken as two more officials run out to inform him that he's out and there's nothing he can do. This match will be The Steiner Brothers vs Lance Storm and Johnny Smith the NEW Thrillseekers! 

Storm and Smith put up a respectable challenge to Rick and Scott with their strengths being the submission attempts being set up with smart strategic tagging, working the 5 second rule. Johnny Smith stands his ground in the clinch with Rick Steiner in a head to head matchup. In the end it's the Steiners that are too much, too much strength, too much power, too much momentum, they can not be stopped as it's a pinfall on Johnny Smith after a Steinerizer! Rick pins Smith at 7:03! Chris Jericho watches on from the stage almost in tears as The Thrillseekers promising season closes with a loss to finish 5-7 with him being helpless against a team he helped defeat straight up in the Tokyo Dome. 

The Steiners celebrate the win with the fans after finishing the season 9-1-2, technically since they defeated the Eliminators(and went to a draw with them) they would hold the tiebreaker over them as the best record in the 1996 World Tag League regular season, what a true force of tag team wrestling! 


On Location:
Miami Beach(Long vs Mita Weigh-ins/Press Conference)

After the commercial break we get an on location segment showcasing the press conference and weigh ins for the Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita Women's Undisputed Neo-Eternal Championship match set for tomorrow night at Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 in the Miami Arena in Miami Florida! The footage shows the weigh ins in the beautiful Miami sunlight on the beach in May with both women stepping onto the scales.

Mita at 27 years old is 3-0 in Best Of The Best(with all of her wins being on Bushido) from Japan's All Japan Womens Wrestling promotion, standing 5'8" and weighing in at 165 pounds. Kathy Long from Missouri USA is in premier condition to be coming out of retirement at the age of 32, standing at 5'5" and weighing in at 153 pounds she is lean and cut. Long is the odds on favorite but she is giving up age, size, and she hasn't competed at all in any combat sports in 4 years. These two warriors are set to cross paths in a war for the Neo-Eternal Championship tomorrow night in the BOTB ring it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96!


Singles Match:
Akira Maeda(W/Eric Bischoff & Minoru Suzuki)
vs 
Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman 

Pitbull Pittman is already shown in the ring ready to go hoping to rebound from an 0-2 record here with a big opportunity against Eric Bischoff's KOK co-leader Akira Maeda, who comes out with Minoru Suzuki watching Bischoff's back. Suzuki holds guard over Bret Hart's "Real" World Championship WWF style belt while Maeda makes short work of Pittman, battering him with kicks and open hand palm strikes before finishing him off with a kneebar submission on the canvas. Pittman submits to give Maeda the victory at 2:49! Bischoff celebrates the victory with Maeda and Suzuki while Pittman remains down clutching his knee with EMT's working on him.... 


On Location:
The Control  Center W/Mike Tenay

After the match we cut away to Mike Tenay surrounded by the sound bourds and monitors of the BOTB Control Center as he gives the full rundown for tomorrow night's LIVE pay per view from the Miami Arena in Miami Florida, it will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter OF Respect '96! We have seen how strong the Kings Of Kings are and their quest to take control of the entire sport of professional wrestling became much more of a reality when they revealed Eric Bischoff as their leader and trojan horse that brought them here to BOTB in 1996. Nobuhiko Takada's UWFI force conquered NJPW, while Akira Maeda's Rings crushed AJPW. The group united the old UWF lineage under the support of Yoshiaki Fujiwara one of the original godfathers that will be in Takada/Maeda's corner in the Miami Arena tomorrow night for the main event. 

The Kings Of Kings will face the ultimate dream team, the united families of the Gracies and the Harts, Bret Hart & Royce Gracie with the support of their legendary fathers Stu Hart and Helio Gracie in their corners tomorrow night. This will truly be an international affair, with live closed circuit showings all across Japan expected to sell out venues across the country. Closed circuit and pay per view eyes in Canada and Brazil will also be on this event tomorrow night in the Miami Arena, so pick up your phone now and call your cable or satellite provider and order now to be a part of this historic event! 

Mike Tenay also breaks the news that the Championship Council was forced to make a ruling on the spot tonight following Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko's victory over Public Enemy, knotting up a 3 way tie between the teams of Owen/Bulldog, Harlem Heat, and Benoit/Malenko all tied with 7-4-1 records and each having victories over each other in the regular season. Owen and Bulldog hold a tiebreaker over both Harlem Heat and Benoit/Malenko and have secured a spot in the Tiger Division Championship, but the Championship Council was prepared to make this ruling that there WILL BE an impromptu Wild Card Playoff Match between Harlem Heat vs Benoit & Malenko to open up the pay per view tomorrow night! The winners will earn their spot in the Tiger Division Championship Match against Owen & Bulldog in the Final Four!.... 

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL




Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship|||"Real" World Championship* Match



Special Guest Ringside Enforcer: Steven Seagal
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C)* & Royce Gracie  vs  Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda



*This title is not officially sanctioned by Best Of The Best


*****




Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship
Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

vs


*****

Undisputed World Tag Team Championship
World Tag League '96 Championship Finals Match
Tiger Division Champions vs Dragon Division Champions

*****


A Matter Of Respect
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair(W/Arn Anderson)
vs
Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid)

vs


*****


Three Way Dance
Psicosis vs Eddie Guerrero vs Juventud Guerrera




*****


World Tag League '96 Final Four
Dragon Division Championship Match
The Steiner Brothers(9-1-2) vs The Eliminators(9-1-2) III




*****


World Tag League '96 Final Four
Tiger Division Championship Match
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)(7-4-1) vs (Benoit/Malenko or Harlem Heat)




*****


World Tag League '96
Tiger Division Wild Card Playoff Match
Harlem Heat(7-4-1) vs Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko(W/Arn Anderson)(7-4-1) 

This announcement secures the final card even though anything can and will happen on live pay per view, this 8 match card is set for tomorrow night at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida with 4 major titles all on the line in 3 MASSIVE co-main events! Pick up the phone now and order this pay per view spectacular, call your cable or satellite provider NOW!.... 


Singles Match:
Sting vs Hakushi

Back after the commercial break and it's Michael Buffer in a white tux going through his LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAL intro setting of pyro exploding over the ring for our MAIN EVENT! This is the BIG ONE! Sting's entrance music sets the Mobile Civic Center OFF with a huge pop as he walks out in his vintage facepaint to take the ring for perhaps his toughest challenge in BOTB yet! 

The lights go out and lightnight strikes the corner turnbuckle of the ring sending sparks flying everywhere before Hakushi makes his way out! Sting is completely unaffected by the strike, keeping his focus as the unbeaten 7-0 phenom of BOTB makes it to the ring for an iconic showdown between two top 5 contenders(Sting is currently ranked #3 while Hakushi is ranked #4 in the official Top 10 Rankings). 

Sting takes an early advantage keeping the crowd hot after a series of counters and reversals to put the heat on Hakushi with a high adrenaline attack! Hakushi fights back and makes for one of the best televised matches in Best Of The Best brief 5 month history, going back and forth in an all out 13 minute main event clash that will be remembered for decades to come! Hakushi steals the show with a corner to corner missile dropkick, his handspring back elbow smash, praying rope walk arm twist chop, then setting the crowd off into a frenzy when he hits Sting on the floor with a cartwheel OVER THE TOP ROPE SUICIDE MOONSAULT PLANCHA! 

Shiavonne and Heenan both shout on commentary after Hakushi puts Sting down on the floor with the incredible move! What a career defining victory this would be for The White Angel, we're seeing now why some call him the Modern Day Kamikaze! 

Sting incredibly manages to fight his way back into it down on the floor, barely managing to break the ref's 10 count by taking Hakushi back into the ring after sending him crashing into the ring post! Sting and Hakushi trade punches and chops in the center of the ring before the Stinger begins to get more and more fired up from every strike Hakushi lands! Sting's momentum fires up the crowd behind him and carries him to batter Hakushi in a spirited comeback, hitting him with dropkicks, one handed bulldogs, STINGER SPLASHES BACK TO BACK! Hakushi is DOWN! Sting goes up to the top rope for a flying splash but Hakushi gets his knees up and causes Sting to crash down with his ribs with a sickening landing! Both men are down and out with Sting rolling around clutching his ribs! 

Hakushi recovers and targets Sting's hurt ribs with vicious martial arts kicks, putting him down and laying him out to set him up for a praying top rope double FOOT STOMP right on them! Sting rolls out of the ring to escape the onslaught down on the padded floor clutching his ribs in agony! Hakushi brings the entire arena to their feet as he slowly makes his way up to the top turnbuckle taking a prayer stance with his back to Sting struggling to get up! Hakushi flies off the top with a MOONSAULT ONTO STING DOWN ON THE FLOOR! 

Both men are down and out on the floor in pain as the crowd goes CRAZY prior to cutting out to commercial break!.... 

After the break and it's Hakushi pulling Sting up and rolling him back into the ring to break the referee's count, slingshotting himself over the top rope into a somersault senton directly onto Sting's hurt ribs! Sting fights through the pain later and counters Hakushi to drop him with a SNAP DDT! The crowd rallies behind The Stinger as he lays down and out clutching his ribs! Sting recovers and goes for the Scorpion Deathlock but Hakushi kicks him away, and kips up to his feet in a martial arts stance! Sting takes a swing at him but Hakushi cartwheels away and counters him with the death blow, the SUPERKICK, the same move that HBK put Sting down with in Vegas back in February! BUT this time Sting catches it and sweeps Hakushi's leg out from under him, immediately transitioning him into the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! 

Hakushi fights through the pain reaching for the ropes as the crowd goes NUTS! Sting cranks back in the hold and grimaces with all of his might! Hakushi can't reach the ropes but refuses to submit! The referee stops the match and frantically calls for the bell at 13:18 after Hakushi goes unconscious! HE'S OUT! Sting WINS! 

Sting celebrates the win with his music playing and pyro exploding over the ring as this week's episode of Shockwave comes to a close with Tony Shiavonne shouting over the crowd we will see you tomorrow night on pay per view we're OUT OF TIIII....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
May 11th, 1996

We are now less than 24 hours away from Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect live on pay per view tomorrow night at the Miami Arena in Miami Florida, TONIGHT on Worldwide we are set for the final match of the 1996 World Tag League regular season, plus VADER, and all of the last minute news and notes for tomorrows PPV spectacular! Joey Styles opens up the show from the Control Center and takes it right away to the ring in the smaller little theater here in Universal Studios! 


World Tag League Match
The Hardcore Guns(2-9)
vs
The Can-Am Express(3-7-1)

Billy and Bart Gunn are shown wrapping up their entrance getting the boo's and thumbs down from the fans here in Orlando. The Hardcore Guns new attitudes didn't take them far in the World Tag League this season, the former WWF Champions were expected to be a major contender but after a 2-2 start they lost 7 in a row to fall to 2-9. Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon make their way out next to a mixed reaction from the fans. This tag team was another hyped team from AJPW that many believed would be a major contender in the WTL. Even though they have a losing record Furnas and Lafon have fought with everything they have week in and week out for the last 12 weeks, they gave the Steiners all they could handle in both matches(taking them to overtime in the first match, then taking them to a time limit draw in the rematch). 

Billy and Bart pull out all the stops and wrestle like it could be their final BOTB match as they put up a tough fight but Furnas and Lafon finish strong, winning via pinfall at 8:05. Furnas and Lafon celebrate the win with a 4-7-1 finish on the season while Billy and Bart exit with their heads hung down following a 2-10 finish, they lost all of their final 8 matches after a promising 2-2 start. 

 
Music Video:
Drag The Waters by Pantera

After the first round of commercials we return to the broadcast with brand new music video for Drag The Waters by Pantera(from their new album The Great Southern Trendkill available now) with highlights of Bret Hart and Royce Gracie cut in and out of the actual music video..... 

The clips show Bret and Royce in early childhood home movies training with their respective fathers, the legendary grapplers Stu Hart and Helio Gracie. The clips move along to highlights of Bret Hart in his father's Stampede Wrestling territory as a young wrestler juxtapose with footage of Royce Gracie's infamous "dojo challenge matches" where he took on any challenger from different martial arts in the Gracie dojo with no rules. Bret's clips of winning the WWF Tag titles with the Hart Foundation, his IC Championship win over Mr. Perfect at Summerslam 91, his WWF Championship win over Ric Flair in 1992 all cut in and out of clips of Royce Gracie's submission wins over the one glove boxer, Ken Shamrock, and Gerrard Gordeau the night he won the very first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship 8 man tournament. Royce's 4 wins to win the UFC 2 tournament are cut in and out with Bret's wins over Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, and Bam Bam Bigelow all in the same night to win the 1993 King Of The Ring tournament... 

The music video gets somber with clips of Bret losing the WWF Championship to Bob Backlund when he was cheated at Survivor Series 94, alongside clips of Royce Gracie's highlights from his epic war with Kimo that left him beaten and unable to continue at UFC 3(even though he won the fight, by submission). Both Royce and Bret are shown walking away from the Octagon/Ring crestfallen, hurt. Then the clips turn around and show their resilient comebacks from adversity, Bret recapturing the WWF Championship by beating Diesel at Survivor Series last year, Royce returning to win the UFC 4 tournament by beating 3 more men all in the same night(including a submission win over Dan Severn in the finals). 

Now the dream team is set for pay per view tomorrow night, the 3 time UFC Champion Royce Gracie, 3 time WWF Champion Bret Hart, two proud family lineages of greatness that will be on the line against a dangerous Kings Of Kings force that wants to destroy it all! It will be Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96!  


On Location:
The ECW Arena(South Philadelphia)

After the music video we get an ominous dark shot of Paul E. Dangerously standing outside the former ECW Arena in South Philly, a building that has laid dormant since the final ECW event took place here nearly 6 months ago. Paul E. talks about all of the memories that happened in this building, where he spent the last 3 years completely changing the entire sport of professional wrestling. Paul E. vents his frustrations with the death of ECW, how he regrets selling out to the corporate conglomerate that promised him the world, then gave him nothing. Paul E. makes the controversial statement that even though the Dangerous Alliance fell apart in Chicago last month at BOTB IV, the truth is that the Dangerous Alliance died with Brian Pillman in Minnesota on a highway of wrecked steel and broken dreams.... 

Paul E. makes the threat that he has secured a new promotors license, he has secured a new client that can not fail, that will not fail, a force that will bring his vision of "Extreme" to a reality, there's nothing in Best Of The Best that can stop this threat.... not the Championship Council... not Sting.... not Shawn Michaels or the Kliq... nothing.... no one.... 


Singles Match
Vader(W/Jim Cornette) 
vs
The Barbarian

Vader during his entrance with Jim Cornette spots the same fan(the goatee guy that is on the front row of all the PPV's, was a regular at ECW Arena shows) this time with a sign that says "Vader fears Sabu", sending The Mastadon into a frenzy! Jim Cornette freaks out but is helpless to stop Vader as he not only rips the sign up but also GRABS THE FAN AND DRAGS HIM OVER THE GUARD RAIL! Security races out but Vader bloodies the guy with punches while screaming at him! JESUS! 

The Barbarian watches on from the ring puzzled as Vader is mobbed by a dozen security gaurds! The bloodied fan is worked on by EMT's he's OUT with his sign ripped laying next to him! Vader fights with security before scaring the EMT's away from the fan and standing over him shouting at him, I AM THE FEAR! I AM FEAR! I AM! 

Finally we get the Orlando police department out to finally back Vader off the poor guy, he's being ARRESTED! Jim Cornette is losing it! Vader is being arrested for assault! Finally after Vader is taken out in cuffs the EMT's work on the unconscious fan to work him into a neck brace and get him on a stretcher to get him out to an ambulance, this man will be lucky to live through this. Joey Styles apologizes to the TV audience this match is obviously not happening, Barbarian is puzzled in the ring, I can't believe this... 


On Location: 
The Control Center W/Joey Styles

Joey Styles is still stunned at what we just witnessed, still apologizing for our main event uh... not happening. We will bring this matchup to you on a later date and we will have an update on the condition of the ringside fan that Vader attacked. Vader was seriously triggered by the "Vader fears Sabu" sign and he seriously snapped. 

Styles moves along to the final hype for tomorrow night's pay per view spectacular, you still have time to get on the phone and call your cable or satellite provider and order Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 NOW! Styles covers the final standings for the 1996 World Tag League season now that we seen the final match earlier tonight, the regular season is finished and we are set for the Final Four tomorrow night to crown the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions. 

Best Of The Best
World Tag League '96
Final Standings

Tiger Division	Dragon Division
Harlem Heat 7-4-1	Steiner Brothers 9-1-2
Owen/Bulldog 7-4-1	Eliminators 9-1-2
Benoit/Malenko 7-4-1	American Power Team 7-4-1
Road Warriors 5-6-1	Thrillseekers 5-7
Pit Bulls 3-9	Can-Am Express 4-7-1
Public Enemy 2-10	Hardcore Guns 2-10

The stage is now set for pay per view tomorrow night. The Dragon Division Championship Match is set, it will be the Steiners vs The Eliminators in their 3rd showdown. The Steiners won the first meeting giving The Eliminators their lone loss ever in BOTB, while the rematch just 2 weeks ago went to a time limit draw. Over in the Tiger Division Harlem Heat secured their spot in the Tiger Division Championship Match by having the tiebreaker of having a better division record than Benoit/Malenko or Owen/Bulldog with a 7-2-1 record against division opponents. This leaves a tie, deadlocked with Benoit/Malenko and Owen/Bulldog having identical 6-3-1 records within the division, they both beat each other once in head to head action. So the Championship Council made an emergency hearing and decided that there WILL BE a Tiger Division Wild Card Playoff Match between Owen/Bulldog vs Benoit/Malenko! The winners will face Harlem Heat in the Tiger Division Championship. The two division Champs will face off later in the night to crown the Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! 

Live on pay per view May 12th from the Miami Arena in Miami FL




Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship|||"Real" World Championship* Match



Special Guest Ringside Enforcer: Steven Seagal
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C)* & Royce Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda



*This title is not officially sanctioned by Best Of The Best



*****





Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship
Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

vs



*****

Undisputed World Tag Team Championship
World Tag League '96 Championship Finals Match
Tiger Division Champions vs Dragon Division Champions

*****



A Matter Of Respect
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair(W/Arn Anderson)
vs
Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid

vs



*****



Three Way Dance
Psicosis vs Eddie Guerrero vs Juventud Guerrera





*****



World Tag League '96 Final Four
Dragon Division Championship Match
The Steiner Brothers(9-1-2) vs The Eliminators(9-1-2) III





*****



World Tag League '96 Final Four
Tiger Division Championship Match
Harlem Heat(7-4-1) vs (Benoit/Malenko or Owen/Bulldog)





*****


World Tag League '96
Tiger Division Wild Card Playoff Match
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)(7-4-1)
vs
Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko(W/Arn Anderson)(7-4-1)

This is the pay per view that everybody will be talking about on Monday morning, 4 titles will be on the line in 3 massive co-main events plus the return of Royce Gracie after over a year out of action. Call now and order Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96! 


On Location: 
The Miami Arena

This week's Worldwide comes to a close with an on-location shot of the empty and dark Miami Arena in Miami, the site of tomorrow night's pay per view Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 with Eric Bischoff in front of the ring holding Bret's stolen WWF style "Real" World Championship on one shoulder, and Takada's Neo-Universal Hybrid World title on the other. Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda roll submissions in the ring in the background doing high level advanced submission grappling, submissions and transitions that we have really never seen before. Eric cuts a promo about all that is at stake tomorrow night, the entire fate of this sport hangs in the balance. The Kings Of Kings is out to destroy fake pro wrestling and expose it for the scam that it is. The Hart Family, The Gracie Family, collateral damage. Tomorrow night here in this ring in this arena the KOK is out to destroy your heroes, and to prove that sometimes... life.... is just not fair.... The copyright screen fades in as Bischoff laughs with a cocky smugness.... bringing this week's episode to an end... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

The Miami Arena(Miami, FL)
May 12th, 1996

Tonight's pay per view broadcast opens up with a hard opening of the SOLD OUT Miami Arena crowd going NUTS for Sunny standing in the middle of the ring with a microphone wearing nothing but a bikini! This crowd is ELECTRIC!... 

Sunny gets the crowd going with her opening intro monologue segueing into the opening highlight montage set to Bulls On Parade by Rage Against The Machine! The montage shows clips of all the best World Tag League action over the last 12 weeks, highlights of Juvy, Psicosis, and Eddie high flying death defying action, Sid dropping Hulk Hogan and Ahmed to help Shane Douglas stand tall in the Hoosier Dome, vintage classic 80's Ric Flair NWA highlights, clips of Kathy Long's kickboxing dominance, Etsuko Mita's 3 wins on Bushido, clips of Bret Hart being bloodied by Eric Bischoff's Kings Of Kings organization, clips of Bret beating Mr. Perfect at Summerslam 91 with the Sharpshooter, Royce Gracie being lifted up by his family after winning the first UFC.

The video fades back into the live shot of pyro exploding all over the Miami Arena with the crowd going CRAZY! Jim Ross and Joey Styles welcome the pay per view audience trying to shout over the crowd... This.... is...  A MATTER OF RESPECT!.... 

Owen Hart's entrance music hits to bring out Owen and The British Bulldog with Jim Cornette leading them down the elevated catwalk entrance ramp that connects level with the apron of the ring. Owen and Bulldog took the lead over the Tiger Division with a 5 match win streak midway through the season but lost their grip over the division with a huge upset loss to the Pitbulls in a match that ignited a heated rivalry with the powerful Pitbull 2 aka "The Mad Dog Of War" and Davey Boy Smith(followed by a loss to Harlem Heat the next week). Owen and Bulldog were able to defeat the Pit Bulls in the rematch in the season finale last week but a 3 way logjam at the top of the division resulted in this Wild Card Playoff Match. The winner of this bout will have the insurmountable task of facing Harlem Heat immediately after this match for the Tiger Division Championship! 

Owen and Bulldog are boo'd and thumbs down'ed as they take the ring focus to make a run at the Undisputed World Tag Titles tonight while JR gets an update in his headset we have late breaking news backstage! The cameras cut away to the Gorilla position behind the curtain with Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit with Ric Flair in an interview with Sunny breaking the news that the Horsemen have made the decision to pull Dean Malenko out! Arn Anderson's collarbone injury is healed and he's been cleared by doctors to wrestle, therefore the Horsemen have made the tough decision to put Arn back in to go after the belts!

Chris Benoit looks unhappy about the decision and gets called out on it by Arn, to which he replies that he doesn't feel like this is the right move, you don't fix what isn't broken, since Malenko took Arn's spot him and Benoit went 4-0-1 to save their season after a 3-4 start. Flair gets intense when he snaps back at Benoit that Malenko earned the respect of the Horsemen, he's the real deal, but he's no Horsemen, he's definitely no Arn Anderson. Arn is back in tonight to go for the Undisputed Titles and that's the final say, you don't have to like it but you better learn to love it. Benoit nods taking the orders but has an intense glare in his eyes as him and Arn make their way out the curtain....  

The Miami Arena crowd comes alive when the Four Horsemen entrance music hits to bring out Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson focused and determined on the ultimate prize, this is it!.... 

World Tag League '96

Tiger Division Wild Card Playoff Match

Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)(7-4-1)

vs

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit & "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson(7-4-1)

JR and Joey Styles make it clear that there are no time limits for the WTL Final Four or this Wild Card bout tonight, there must be a winner, there must be new Undisputed World Tag Champions tonight. Much like you see in the NFL you will see the referee's be much more lenient in these playoff bouts compared to what we seen in the regular season. We can not have this thing decided by count outs or disqualifications, they are going to let these men wrestle here tonight folks. 

Arn Anderson takes the lead for the Horsemen going one on one with Owen Hart in a technical clinic between two of the best in-ring technicians in this sport today. It's a back and forth battle with both men countering and targeting each other's arms. Owen tries to go after Arn's previously injured collar bone that sidelined him for the last 5 weeks but it backfires on him, Arn is healthy here tonight and he's fired up to be back in the ring! The crowd gets behind Anderson as he clears the ring with Benoit's help once Bulldog tries to get involved! Owen and Bulldog are knocked to the floor where they look to regroup with Cornette as the crowd goes crazy for the Horsemen! 

Bulldog tags in and goes one on one with Arn for a while in another grappling exchange, this time with Bulldog kipping up out of an arm wringer and countering Arn into a flip over fujiwara that stalls out the action in a rest hold that kills the crowd. During the stalemate with Bulldog smothering Arn we get a side by side cut-in shot of Ric Flair watching on from the Horsemen dressing room on the monitor. JR notes that the 4th Horseman Dan "The Beast" Severn is not here tonight since he is wrapping up his training camp for his huge UFC Superfight Championship bout against Ken Shamrock set for UFC IX in Detroit next weekend. This is truly a critical night for the Horsemen as they look to make a push to gain the Undisputed World Tag Titles, with Severn going for the UFC title next weekend and Ric Flair looking to reposition himself as the top contender to the Undisputed Title tonight when he takes on #1 ranked Shane Douglas... 

Benoit gets the crowd going from the corner and Arn feels it, working his way up and out of Bulldog's Fujiwara armbar and sending him into the ropes for a rope running sequence that ends with Arn retaking control with a huge flying forearm strike that puts Davey Boy down! The Enforcer IS BACK! This crowd is behind the Horsemen 100% tonight! 

The story of the match develops with Arn losing his momentum after being tripped up from the outside by Cornette on another rope running sequence. Owen and Bulldog spend several minutes isolating and double teaming Arn, building up the hot tag to Benoit who comes in clearing house with the intensity of a rabid wolverine! Benoit and Owen go toe to toe for an extended stretch in a battle of technical wrestling and submission counters and escapes. Benoit punishes Owen and later hooks him dead to rights in the Crossface Crippler! Owen is in checkmate ready to tap when Jim Cornette gets up on the apron to distract the referee! The ref has his back turned to the action when Owen taps out! Bulldog comes in and puts the boots to Benoit to break the hold, causing Arn to come in to go after him! The ref turns his attention to Arn while Benoit is double teamed by Bulldog and Owen! 

The Bulldog tags in later and dominates Benoit with power moves and rest holds, showcasing his massive arms with a flex to taunt Arn after press slamming Benoit nearly all the way across the ring at one point. After a few nearfalls Benoit fights back with huge counters and chest chops in an epic stand! Bulldog fights back and both men end up down and out after a rope running sequence ends in a double clothesline! The match approaches the 15 minute mark with both Bulldog and Chris Benoit down and out trying to recover to make the tags at the same time! Benoit is able to beat Davey Boy to the tag and Arn comes in HOT! Bulldog is able to make the tag to Owen but Arn puts it on both guys, putting the punches to Owen before whipping Bulldog into the ropes for his epic spinebuster!

Bulldog rolls out to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp clutching his back in pain while Owen catches Arn and puts him down with his ENZIGUIRI! ARN IS OUT! Owen makes the cover for the pin but Benoit comes flying off the top rope almost all the way across the ring to hit him with a FLYING HEADBUTT to break the fall at 2.99999! The entire arena collectively gasps OHHH on impact as Benoit nails Owen, hurting himself in the process of saving the match! Everybody is down and out exhausted and hurt and this crowd is going NUTS! This is UNBELIEVABLE! 

JR questions what in the hell is going to be left here for whoever wins this match as we are approaching 20 minutes, all four men are exhausted and down! Jim Cornette frantically works to revive Bulldog out on the ramp while Owen and Benoit fight in the ring! During one of the rope running sequences the referee gets caught in the crossfire and gets knocked out! The match devolves into a 4 man brawl with the ref out cold as Benoit goes at it with Bulldog in a brawl that spills out to the floor! The battle makes it up to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp where Bulldog scoops Benoit up onto his shoulder and drives him down into the steel plate reinforced ramp with his running POWERSLAM! Benoit is OUT! 

Bulldog stands over Benoit flexing when all of a sudden the crowd goes NUTS when Pitbull 2 comes out behind him!.... 

Pitbull 2 stands behind Bulldog with his dog chain waiting for him to turn around before getting revenge for last week by knocking him out with a shot to the face with it! Bulldog is OUT! The crowd is going NUTS! PITBULL 2 pounds his chest and screams to get them even more fired up! Back in the ring and Jim Cornette gets caught trying to take a shot at Arn with his tennis racket only for Arn to block it and knock him down off the apron with a HUGE right hand! DOWN GOES CORNETTE! Pitbull 2 watches on as Arn counters and reverses Owen Hart and DROPS HIM WITH THE DDT! The ref recovers just in time for the cover.... 



1..... 



2..... 



3!..... THE HORSEMEN WIN!...  THE ENFORCER IS BACK! 



UNBELIEVABLE! Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit have defeated Owen & Bulldog via pin at 22:12 to earn their spot in the Tiger Division Championship MATCH! The British Bulldog recovers to his knees bleeding from the chain shot from Pitbull 2! Jim Cornette is out cold! Arn and Benoit don't even get a chance to celebrate when Harlem Heat come running out to the ring to take advantage of the situation and we are getting the Tiger Division Championship Match RIGHT NOW! Booker T and Stevie Ray put the boots to Arn and Benoit with the bell ringing!..... 

World Tag League '96 Final Four

Tiger Division Championship Match

Harlem Heat(7-4-1)
vs
"The Crippler" Chris Benoit & "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson(8-4-1)

Stevie Ray and Booker T double team Arn at the onset of the match and this is quite an advantage they have being fresh, with Arn and Benoit totally exhausted after a 22 minute battle! Pitbull 2 is held back by a mob of referee's and escorted back to the dressing room against his will as he tries to go after Bulldog again! Security works to keep Cornette, Owen, and Bulldog away from the ring as they try to protest. Owen and Cornette can barely help Bulldog make it to the back with his face covered in a partial crimson mask. Harlem Heat have really taken advantage of this situation and with everything that is on the line tonight who can blame them? EVERYTHING is at stake tonight! Booker and Stevie can taste the gold! 

Arn is worse for wear as Booker and Stevie work together to drop him with their tandem kick setups. Benoit recovers to his corner and is completely exhausted but still trying to rally Arn to make a comeback and make the tag. Arn finally makes a counter and drops Booker T with a huge right hand that sets the arena off! The Horsemen are STILL IN IT! Arn drops both Booker and Stevie with punches before leaping over to make the tag to Benoit, who comes in hot with chest chops on both men!

It comes down to Booker T vs Chris Benoit with Joey Styles noting on commentary that these two have really developed a rivalry here within the WTL season, this is their third meeting this season and each time they have hooked up we see more and more intensity as they get a better feel for each other's attacks and counters. This time Benoit and Booker take it to the next level with a back and forth series of counters and reversals, battering each other with forearm strikes, both seemingly anticipating each other's movements. Finally it's Booker the fresh man that is able to take control of an exhausted Benoit. Harlem Heat tag in and out to work Benoit over, eventually getting a nearfall after working together to drop him with their Heat Seeker (Electric chair by Stevie/Missile dropkick by Booker combination). Arn is just barely able to fly into the ring on time to break the pin at 2.99999!

Moments later Benoit is able to turn the tide by countering a Booker T kick by catching his leg and hitting him with a textbook dragon screw legwhip! Benoit gets the crowd hot with the tag out to Arn who comes in fresh kicking ass with right hands! The ref loses control and a 4 man brawl breaks out with Arn taking Stevie Ray over the top to the floor! Booker and Benoit brawl in the corner in the ring while Arn drops Stevie onto the padded floor with his patented hammerlock bodyslam! Arn is going all out tonight in one of his gutsiest performances of his career!

With Stevie Ray down and out on the floor Arn and Benoit double team Booker in the ring and drop him with the assisted spike piledriver! Benoit makes the cover for the pin but Stevie Ray is able to recover and drag the referee out of the ring at 2.999999999999! Chris Benoit recovers and runs the rope to dive through and hit Stevie with a plancha through the middle ropes to take him out on the floor! The crowd goes CRAZY! 

All four men are down and out as the match approaches the 12 minute mark, Benoit and Arn have been in there for over 34 minutes after having to beat Owen & Bulldog to earn this shot! In the ring Arn pulls Booker up and tries to go for his spinebuster but Booker counters him on the return with a boot to the gut followed by his axe kick to put him down! Booker makes the cover for the pin but Benoit grabs him by the leg and drags him out of the ring to break the count at 2.9999999999999999999999999999! Benoit batters Booker with chest chops against the apron until Stevie Ray recovers and attacks him from behind. Benoit gets sent whipped into the steel railing and knocked out as Harlem Heat return to the ring to put Arn Anderson away with their Towering Inferno (Backbreaker by Stevie/Diving leg drop by Booker T combination)! Arn just cant comeback from this and it's all over, 1, 2, 3....

Booker T and Stevie Ray are overwhelmed with emotion as the Harlem Heat music hits and their arms are raised! Chris Benoit recovers out on the floor completely disheartened and in disbelief, after 12 weeks of fighting for his life it's all over, the Horsemen's season has come to an end and they have fallen short of the Undisputed Titles after going nearly 40 minutes in back to back matches. Benoit is shown walking out on his own as Arn recovers behind him with his head hung down. Stevie Ray and Booker T hug and celebrate as they are presented with the huge 6' tall multi-tier trophy for winning the Tiger Division Championship! Harlem Heat have advanced to the World Tag League finals later tonight to face the winner of Steiners vs Eliminators for a shot to become the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Champs!

---

After the match we cut away to the live shot of the backstage parking garage where we get the arrival of none other than Steven Seagal pulling up the venue in a brand new all black 1996 Hummer. The crowd in the Miami Arena goes NUTS when Seagal steps out of the hummer wearing his sunglasses indoors making his way into the ARENA! This is the biggest box office action movie superstar in the world today with multiple #1 hits to his credit. This is the man that will be standing guard over our main event to make sure this bout is fought clean and evenly without interference.... 

We seen what Seagal is capable of this past Monday night when he took out several members of the KOK and broke Yoji Anjo's arm in one of the more gruesome moments in BOTB this year. Anjo required emergency surgery after suffering a compound fracture that required a steel plate to repair his arm. There is no chance of the Kings Of Kings interfering in tonight's main event with this man standing guard as the special guest ringside enforcer! 

---

Back to the ringside area and we get a closeup shot of the massive 6' tall Dragon Division Championship trophy that is going to be on the line next in what is truly one of the most highly anticipated matches of this entire pay per view, the third battle between the two most dominant tag teams in the 1996 World Tag League season; The Eliminators vs The Steiners Brothers! 

We get a special highlight package showing the dominance of both teams in the WTL season over the last 12 weeks. These two teams have been going after each other right from the onset of this promotion this past January, and their rivalry reached a boiling point when they finally met on Judgement Night in week 5 of the season. Both teams were undefeated at 4-0 going into the bout, but it was the Steiners that would stand tall in the end of the night handing The Eliminators their very first ever loss in BOTB. The match was such a physically grueling war that both teams struggled the very next week, with the Steiners getting upset in a loss to the Thrillseekers in Japan at BOTB III, while the Eliminators were taken to a time limit draw by The American Power Team. The rematch took place in week 11 just two weeks ago, this time going the distance in a 20 minute time limit draw. Both teams finished tied for 1st place in the Dragon Division with identical 9-1-2 records(the best records in the league this year). 

Demanufacture by Fear Factory hits to bring out Saturn and Kronus and the tension and electricity in the air in the Miami Arena for this next match is palpable, THIS IS THE BIG ONE! The Eliminators take the ring completely focused and intense, striking their trademark pose with pyro exploding over the ring and towering inferno flames skyrocketing out of the four corner turnbuckles! Saturn looks as if he's ready to murder someone, his jaws clinched, his eyes crazed. 

The crowd comes alive for the debut of the Steiners' new entrance theme Symphony Of Destruction by Megadeth with an elaborate laser light show around the Miami Arena! Rick and Scott come out all business completely focused on Saturn and Kronus. Both teams are deadlocked on each other as they stand across the ring during Michael Buffer's intros, this crowd is ELECTRIC for this!

Michael Buffer introduces Saturn and Kronus from Boston Massachusetts, veterans of Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Japanese War promotion, they are former USWA Tag Team Champions with a WTL record of 9-1-2 and a combined weight of 497 pounds they are Perry Saturn and John Kronus... THE ELIMINATORS! 

Buffer's intros for the Steiner Brothers reads off their wrap sheet of accomplishments, all of their titles from around the world, former NWA, WCW, and WWF World Tag Team Champions, from Bay City Michigan and at a combined weight of 510 pounds they are Rick and Scott... THE STEINER BROTHERS!(crowd goes nuts!)....

During the final moments before the bell Jim Ross is on edge on commentary. This is the big one folks, it just doesn't get much bigger than this, these are the two best tag teams in the world and everything is on the line, the stakes don't get any higher than this! 

World Tag League '96 Final Four
Dragon Division Championship Match
The Steiner Brothers(9-1-2) vs The Eliminators(9-1-2) III

The match starts off with Kronus vs Scotty Steiner in a one on one showcase with both men one upping each other going back and forth. Kronus shows cat like agility and reflexes flipping out of Scotty's suplexes and landing on his feet, countering with martial arts kicks. Scotty is able to ground the striker with superior strength and amateur wrestling style transitions on the mat. The Steiners work together tagging in and out to isolate Kronus and wear him down for nearly the full first 4 minutes.

Kronus is nearly finished off by Rick's diving bulldog off the top only for Saturn to fly into the ring to break up the pin attempt at 2! Scotty comes in and takes Saturn over the top rope to the floor! Kronus is able to make a comeback against Ric in the ring with a combo of kicks and a standing moonsault splash that Rick presses out of at 1.5 while Saturn and Scott brawl their way up to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp. Scotty is able to get double underhooks to try to throw Saturn with an overhead belly to belly but Saturn counters him with headbutts that stun him! Saturn counters with a double OVERhook release belly to belly Suplex onto the elevated catwalk ramp! Saturn kips up screaming fired up as Scotty lays on the ramp clutching the back of his head in pain!

Saturn helps Kronus double team Rick Steiner with their lethal dual martial arts kicking combos, setting him up for their Total Elimination. Rick counters the TE and sets the crowd off when he drops both Saturn and Kronus with suplexes! Scott Steiners recovers and makes his way up to the top rope to bring the entire crowd to their feet before he dives off with a 450 style front flip splash off the top rope onto Kronus nearly 3/4's out across the ring! The crowd goes NUTS! Rick wastes little time in making the cover for the pin but Kronus is able to get a foot up on the ropes near the corner to break the fall at 2.9! 

The Steiners grind on Kronus for another solid minute with holds to wear him down and keep the high flying striker grounded. Kronus finally is able to use a backflip counter out of a suplex attempt to drop Rick Steiner with a roundhouse kick to the head before FINALLY making the tag to Saturn! Saturn comes in like a madman kicking ass on both Rick and Scott with kicks, suplexes, knocking both men out to the floor before working with Kronus to hit both of them with an assisted SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT! The entire arena collectively gasps OHHHHH! All three men are down and out on the floor rolling around in pain for a moment until Rick is the first to pull himself up! Kronus runs the ropes and clears the top rope to hit Rick Steiner with a handspring MOONSAULT PLANCHA! The entire Miami Arena is ON THEIR FEET!

Scotty recovers and sends Saturn careening into the steel guard rail before clutching Kronus and tossing him with a release German Suplex onto the padded floor with a sickening thud! Rick and Scotty retake control of the bout and dominate the Eliminators emptying out their aresenal in an all out push to close the deal on the Dragon Division title! The Steiners appear to have Saturn dead to rights after dropping him with their Steinerizer(Scott lifts him up followed by Rick performing an aided diving bulldog) but Kronus is able to make the save to break up the pin at 2.9999999!

From there the referee loses control and the Eliminators succeed in turning this wrestling match into a brawl! All four men fight their way down to the floor where Rick is able to block a steel chair shot from Kronus and rip the chair away from him! Rick drills Kronus in the head with the chair to put him down only to turn around and have it SUPERKICKED INTO HIS FACE BY SATURN! Down goes Rick Steiner! Scotty immediately meets Saturn with a brutal diving lariat that drops him soon as he turns around!

All four men begin showing signs of fatigue near the 13 minute mark and its Kronus that is able to tag back in and bring the crowd back to their feet with a 450 splash of his own on Scotty Steiner, only this one he doesn't land on his feet, completing an incredible double front flip to crash down on Scotty with full force! Kronus hooks the leg for the pin but Rick pulls Kronus out of the ring by his boot and puts the right hands to him! Saturn recovers and drops Rick with a brutal chair shot to his back before working with Kronus to pull Scotty up in the ring and set him up for the Total Elimination but Scotty has it scouted and fights back, sending both flying with release overhead belly to belly suplexes!

Rick recovers and helps Scotty set Kronus up for their Steiner Device(Electric chair/diving clothesline combination) only for Saturn to stop it with a spinning low sweep kick that knocks Rick down while holding Kronus up on his shoulders! Saturn quickly jumps into action and catches Scotty flying off the top rope into a CUTTER! Scotty is out! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! These men are giving it everything they have to give! EVERYTHING THERE IS TO GIVE! 

Rick is able to recover and clothesline Saturn over the top rope to the floor where the two of them exchange brutally stiff right hands! Both Kronus and Scott Steiner are knocked out in the ring and the referee has totally lost track of who the legal man is, and quite frankly, who gives a fuck!? This is MADNESS! Rick is able to knock Saturn down to the floor but he collapses himself due to fatigue. These four men have been grinding week in and week out for the last 12 weeks, this is a war of attrition right here! Saturn gets the Miami Arena going nuts when he begins working underneath the ring apron only to bring out.... 

Jim Ross can't believe this, that's a god damn 18' tall LADDER!.... 

Saturn runs and drops Rick with a running shot holding the ladder to knock him out! The full Miami Arena crowd all collectively stands as Saturn climbs up to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp to set the ladder up near the ring ropes and climb up to the very top! The flash bulbs go off as Saturn stands at the very top for a moment before flying off with his FLYING ELBOW DROP ONTO SCOTT STEINER IN THE RING! Saturn bounces up in the air on impact and the crowd goes APE SHIT! 

Saturn struggles to crawl over and hook the leg for the pin..... 


1...... 



2....... 



3!!!...... 


THE ELIMINATORS WIN! The crowd goes bonkers as all four men remain down and out, The Eliminators! PERRY SATURN! THE ELIMINATORS HAVE WON THE DRAGON DIVISION TITLE via pinfall at 16:39! Rick and Scott regroup out on the entrance ramp beaten and devastated, after everything over the last 12 weeks they have done it all has come to an end here. They have lost to The Eliminators and have let the Dragon Division Championship slip through their fingers after what has to be without a doubt the best match so far ever in the young history of this promotion. This was absolutely unbelievable. 

Saturn and Kronus can barely stand as they are presented with the massive towering Dragon Division Championship trophy. The crowd continues cheering as Rick and Scott walk out while turning to watch as Saturn and Kronus strike their trademark pose with pyro fireworks going off over the ring! The Eliminators have evened up their series with the Steiner Brothers at 1-1-1, they have moved their WTL record to 10-1-2 and are set to take on Harlem Heat later tonight in the grand finals of the WTL season for the UNDISPUTED WORLD TAG TITLES! What a performance by Saturn and Kronus, WHAT A MATCH! 

---

We cut away after the match to the backstage parking garage with the arrival of the full forces of Eric Bischoff's Kings Of Kings organization, the living embodiment of the spirit of the old UWF from Japan, a shoot style wrestling force that is out to kill professional wrestling as we know it. Eric Bischoff exits the limo first along with Nobuhiko Takada(wearing a 3 piece Armani suit with the Neo-Hybrid Universal World Heavyweight title) and Akira Maeda(also wearing a suit, along with Bret's "Real" WWF style World Championship), with another limo following behind emptying out with Yoji Anjo(in a cast), Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Kiyoshi Tamura, Minoru Suzuki, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, the sumo wrestler Koji Kitao, Hiromitsu Kanehara, and Kazushi Sakuraba.

Bischoff has the look of smug confidence while the group make their way into the arena as JR recaps the recent reveal that he was the man responsible for bringing the KOK invasion to North America to the doorstep of Best Of The Best. Joey Styles notes that Bischoff is a trained martial artist with a black belt himself, and he's warned Steven Seagal in his interviews with Miami press this week that he is the real deal.

Maeda and Takada's main event duel against Royce Gracie and Bret Hart later tonight has so much at stake, perhaps the entire future of this sport hangs in the balance. Joey Styles notes the rules of the bout that were signed in the contract, if Takada OR Maeda gets pinned or submitted the KOK's Neo-Hyrbid title will be on the line, as will Bret's "Real" World Title(despite the fact that it's not an officially sanctioned or recognized title by BOTB, and is currently in the possession of Akira Maeda) if EITHER he or Royce Gracie gets finished. The man that scores the winning fall/submission will be awarded the respective title.... 

---

We return to the ringside area with Jim Ross and Joey Styles still in disbelief of the incredible battle they just witnessed, now the stage is set for Harlem Heat vs The Eliminators in the finals of the World Tag League 1996 season with the Undisputed World Tag Titles on the line. Juventud Guerrera's entrance music hits to bring out the spirited warrior for our next bout, a 3 Way Dance between 3 of the best young athletes in Best Of The Best.....

Juvy takes the ring and headbangs before spitting water out into the air he's JACKED! Juvy made an instant splash when he debuted by ending Psicosis' unbeaten streak in BOTB in an epic encounter. Eddie Guerrero makes his way out next to Back To The House That Love Built by Tito and Tarantula, sporting his classic red and white gear with a matching sequined jacket, along with his mustache/mullet. The man that won the very first match ever in Best Of The Best earlier this year has the eyes of a tigre as he makes his return to PPV for the first time since his devastating loss in the rematch vs Dean Malenko back in March in Japan at BOTB III. 

The lights go out in the Miami Arena for Psicosis' entrance as we get Ill Triello by Ennio Morricone with the long drawn out intro along with a red, green, and white light show. Psicosis finally makes his way out once the song hits it's opening crescendo, bringing the lights up with the trumpets to show him looking as mean, nasty, and evil as ever. These three men's paths have all crossed each other in the past several weeks on BOTB television and there is no love lost between either of them....  

Three Way Dance
Psicosis vs Eddie Guerrero vs Juventud Guerrera

After a brief three way staredown/feeling out process the match quickly turns into a rapid fire paced all out scramble, a non stop flurry of high flying fast paced action! Juventud Guerrera takes an early lead by flying around and hitting both Eddie and Psicosis with arm drags, dropkicks, ranas, and spinning heel kicks! Juvy sends Psicosis out to the floor and runs the ropes to springboard off of Eddie's back and clear the top rope to hit him with an AIR JUVY PLANCHA! The crowd loses it! Eddie recovers and climbs up to the top turnbuckles as Juvy and Psicosis both get up, flying off with massive air to hit both men with a plancha of his own! The crowd goes bananas with all 3 men down!

Down on the floor and it's Psicosis that pulls out all stops to batter both Juvy and Eddie, sending them flying into the ring steps and guard rails, tossing chairs into Juvy while he's down, flipping the ringside commentary table over on top of Eddie! Psicosis makes his way up to the top turnbuckle of the ring and flies off to nail Juvy with his corkscrew senton PLANCHA! Juvy is hurt rolling around on the padded floor! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! 

Psicosis leaves Juvy laying only to get blindsided with an attack by Eddie, chopping him down and drilling him with forearm strikes before sending him flying over the steel guard railing into the laps of the front row fans!

Eddie turns his attention to Juvy and takes him into the ring to batter him with chest chops and Euro uppercuts. Juvy is staggered but fights back with chops and elbows that stun Eddie! Juvy runs the ropes and slides under Eddie's legs before leaping up and catching him with a rana into a rollup for 2 before Eddie reverses the rollup into a 2 count before Juvy kips out, spins over and rolls Eddie into another rollup for another fast 2 count! The two men simultaneously kip up out of the exchange and Eddie ducks under a wild punch, kicks Juvy in the gut and rolls him up into a small package for 2 before Juvy reverses the small package for 2! Eddie kicks out and does a quick reversal hooking Juvy's legs into another rollup for another fast 2 count before Juvy kicks out! Both men simultaneously kip up to their feet in their fighting stances to set the crowd off! The staredown is interrupted when Psicosis flies into the ring to drop both men with a double flying lariat! 

Psicosis pulls Eddie up and whips him into the ropes for a lightning fast rope running sequence capped by Psicosis catching him and knocking him out with his wheelbarrow facebuster! Psicosis pulls Juvy up and sends him into the ropes but Juvy leapfrogs and then slides under his legs on the return, chopping Psicosis several times before sending him into the ropes and backdropping him high into the air to catch him with a devastating sitout facebuster! Psicosis is out! 

Juvy dominates both Eddie and Psicosis getting several nearfalls, shining and keeping the crowd on the edge of their seat! JR puts Juvy over as one of the most talented young superstars in this sport he's stealing the show here tonight, what a future this young man has! Eddie gets backdropped out of the ring to the apron by Juvy but Psicosis surprises him with his trademark poison powder right to his eyes! NO! Juvy is blind! Psicosis clotheslines Juvy over the top rope out to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp and brings the fans up when he goes up top to fly off and hit him with a brutal SENTON ON THE RAMP! Both men are hurt! 

Eddie recovers in the ring waiting for Psicosis to get back up before catapulting himself out onto the ramp to drop him with a TORNADO DDT ON THE RAMP! PSICOSIS IS OUT! Eddie rolls Psicosis under the ropes back into the ring before climbing up to the top rope and hitting him with his FROG SPLASH, eliminating him with a pinfall at 8:52! 

ELIMINATED: Psicosis(8:52)

It's down to Juvy and Eddie in the end but Juvy is still blinded by Psicosis' poison powder thrown into his eyes. Still, he's able to fight by feel, managing to hang with Eddie for the final 5 minutes, putting up a battle! Juvy counters Eddie's brainbuster attempt and reverses it to spike him with a brainbuster of his own! Guerrera goes up top and flies off with a somersault legdrop before going for the pin, only for Eddie to kick out at 2.999! Juvy recovers and locks Eddie in his over the shoulder single leg boston crab but Eddie refuses to give up and is able to get a rope break. Juvy attempts to put Eddie away again with a powerbomb but Eddie flips out of it and lands on his feet, firing away with vicious euro uppercuts that stagger Juvy backwards, setting him up for a springboard headscissor takedown out of the corner! Eddie keeps it going with a Hilo slingshot somersault senton. 

Eddie pulls Juvy up and goes for the finish with his sitout crucifix powerbomb but Juvy works his way out and hooks him in a backslide for a shocking 2.9999999! Eddie BARELY kicks out! That was only 2! Eddie quickly hurts Juvy on the scramble with a series of forearm strikes but Juvy fights back with elbows to his face! Juvy sends Eddie into the ropes and the two men fly back and forth in a rapid fire rope running sequence until Eddie backdrops Juvy high up into the air! Juvy repositions himself in mid-air and catches Eddie with a rana. Juvy rolls through with the rana into a pinfall attempt grabbing his legs but Eddie rolls him through at the 2 count into a reversal into his own rollup for the winning pinfall, 1, 2, 3! HE GOT HIM! 

EDDIE GUERRERO WINS! He recovers to his knees screaming in celebration as Juvy recovers completely crestfallen. Eddie Guerrero has defeated Juvy and Psicosis to take this Three Way Dance after 13:21 of some of the most incredible high flying action we have seen yet in BOTB, what a huge victory! Eddie recovers to have his hand raised as Juvy walks out with his head hung down, removing the straps of his singlet in frustration as he turns to take one last look at Guerrero celebrating. Eddie has moved his BOTB record to 7-2 with this massive win here tonight, he definitely has to be considered a Top 10 contender again after tonight, what a win!.... 

---

After JR and Joey Styles go over the instant replay of all the biggest spots of the match we cut away to a brief ad for the next BOTB PPV spectacular, Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 set for live pay per view on June 9th from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland! The commercial is heavy on highlights of the current Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels WILL defend his title in his return to pay per view!...

Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96

Live on PPV @ The Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland, June 9th 1996!

Shawn Michaels will return to the ring to defend his Undisputed Championship for the first time since his big win over Randy Savage back in Chicago last month. When it comes to attitude in any sport you aren't going to find much more than what Shawn Michaels has, especially now that he has reunited the full Kliq with Diesel, Razor Ramon, 123 Kid, and Hunter. This is a new era of Attitude, an Undisputed Attitude, LIVE on pay per view June 9th!.... 

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Back to the live shot of the Miami Arena and the crowd comes alive with the loudest boo's of the night when Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers hits the speakers to bring out "Ravishing" Rick Rude leading the way for Sable, followed by the #1 ranked heavyweight in Pro Wrestling today, the 9-1 Shane Douglas(followed by Sid!).... 

Douglas comes out ignoring the crowd, focused on the ring, focused on what is truly the biggest match by far of his entire career. For Shane Douglas, this one is personal. His bitterness and hatred for Flair has overshadowed his entire career for the last 3 years ever since he was pushed out of WCW in 1993 when Flair returned to the promotion from his WWF run. Jim Ross gets serious as he notes that business is about to pick up, these two dogs have been barking at each other from their cages for years now, this following bout has bad blood that runs deep. Douglas keeps a focused and serious tone as he holds the ropes open for Sable to enter the ring in the most seductive manner imaginable. Rick Rude stands on the apron in Douglas' corner as Sid stalks the floor nearby threatening the ringside fans with psychotic intensity. 

The anticipation swells until finally Ric Flair's entrance music sets the crowd off into a frenzy! The Nature Boy comes out in his trademark robe accompanied by Arn Anderson to a hero's welcome as he makes the long walk down the elevated catwalk entrance ramp with Arn watching his back. This is one of the true all time legends, one of the absolute best of the best that this sport has ever seen. JR notes that even though his reign was short Flair was the first ever Undisputed unified Champion. Flair and Douglas stand across from each other with both men having that "Big Match" gaze in their eyes as Michael Buffer goes through their intros. Sable stays by Shane's side as he's introduced as 6'1", 244 pounds from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Flair disrobes and steps out as he's introduced to huge round of cheers standing at 6'1, 243 pounds. Arn has his eyes on Rude and Sid with JR noting the bad blood and history there between The Enforcer and Sid, no love lost there folks..... 

A Matter Of Respect

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair 

vs

Shane Douglas(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid)

vs

Referee Tim White brings both men to the center for a face to face showdown as he goes over his final instructions and the tension can be cut with a knife! This is INTENSE! Shane Douglas is boiling over with intensity as Flair keeps the gaze strong locked on him, this is Flair's chance to work his way back into the World Title picture here tonight!

After a brief feeling out process it's Shane Douglas that quickly overpowers Flair to take an early advantage, working him with chest chops before attempting to whip him into the corner turnbuckles, only for Flair to reverse him and send him crashing back first with sickening force! What leverage, what technique from one of the all time masters! Flair is on tonight! Rick Rude is shown stalking around Douglas' corner with Sable and Sid while Arn looks on with intensity from Flair's corner! Flair takes the momentum and punishes Shane Douglas with the best chest chops in the business, only for Shane to get fired up and reverse him with chops of his own! The dueling chest chops heat up and turn into a full fledged closed fist punching exchange with both men slugging it out with right hands, grabbing each other by their hair with their free hand! 

Flair begins to wilt under Shane's strength and pressure but he fights back to rally the crowd, going after Douglas' eyes with gouging before chopping him down in the corner, reddening his chest with welts! Douglas drops down in agony when Flair just straight up kicks him right in the balls! The ref tries to warn Flair but he ignores him and stays focused, taking Douglas to the mats with a snap mare and locking him down in a sleeper/side headlock. Flair goes to work on Douglas with holds for several minutes, transitioning from one to the next to keep Douglas in peril, keeping the pressure on him to wear him down. Douglas works his way out of a hold and turns it into a technical mat wrestling battle in a series of counters and reversals working Flair's left arm. 

Sid keeps scanning the crowd as if he's keeping an eye out for the mysterious masked man that has been popping up to attack Shane Douglas wearing Flair's old Black Scorpion mask while Douglas and Flair go at it on the mats. Shane Douglas is stronger, bigger, younger, in better shape, faster, but Flair is Flair, he's one of the all time greats inside the ring, his instincts keep him one move ahead of Shane Douglas in a high pressure mat wrestling bout. Finally it's Shane Douglas that cheats to turn the momentum with a reverse low blow kick while the ref is out of sight to see it! Flair drops to his knees as Douglas tries to recover from the early flurry, the welts on his chest rising in the shape of hand prints. 

Shane Douglas takes the momentum and cuts the crowd's excitement by working Flair in an STF in the middle of the ring. Arn tries to rally Flair from his corner but Douglas keeps him locked down, urging the ref to ask him! Flair grunts and agonizes in the hold reaching for the ropes before finally managing to break Douglas' grip. Flair's attempt to make a comeback is shut out with Douglas putting him down with a devastating sitout slam suplex getting a close 2 count. Douglas stays in control and taunts the crowd, Arn, and Flair while dominating the match, showing no respect whatsoever, even going as far as spitting on Flair at one point while he's down. 

Flair sets the crowd off when he turns the tide by desperately countering Douglas, lifting him up with an atomic drop style lift and dropping him groin first straddling the ropes! Douglas falls over to the apron clutching his groin in pain as Flair struggles to recover! Both men work their way to their feet with Flair running the ropes and crashing into Douglas to send him flying off of the apron crashing into the steel guard rail on the floor! Flair follows Shane down and batters him with more chest chops before sending him careening into another section of steel guard rail! Things get tense down on the floor with Sable distracting Flair to buy Shane Douglas some time, while Sid and Rude approach him from behind! Arn Anderson rounds the corner and backs Flair up by standing his ground, calling for Sid to bring it on with his right hand loaded up! Referee Tim White gets down on the floor between the two to keep them apart while Shane Douglas recovers and drops Flair with vicious low blow to the groin! Down goes Flair! 

Douglas backs up Rude and Sid calling out Arn to bring it to keep the referee distracted as Sable begins to unravel the laces on the middle turnbuckle padding in the corner, exposing the STEEL TURNBUCKLE! Shane Douglas goes back to work on Flair and takes the match back to the ring as Arn and Sid/Rude back off of each other. 

Back in the ring and the cameras focus on the exposed middle turnbuckle in the corner while Shane Douglas batters Flair with boots, setting him up for his running diving front flip neck snap! Douglas takes a moment to flex and taunt the crowd, flipping Arn Anderson off and spitting towards him before pulling Flair up. Flair fires the crowd up when he surprises Douglas with a series of punches before whipping him into the corner turnbuckles where the middle steel turnbuckle is exposed! Douglas' crashes back first into the steel but he manages to catch Flair running in for a splash and sends him forehead first into the steel with a drop toe hold! Flair's head bounces off the steel and he rolls out to the apron before falling to the floor clutching his face! 

Arn stands guard to keep Sid, Rude and Sable away from Flair as he tries to recover, he's out of it on the padded floor as Shane Douglas still is rolling around clutching his back in agony in the ring! Douglas finally rolls out to the floor still clutching his back as he approaches Flair, pulling him up by his hair to reveal a massive blood puddle where he was laying.... Ric Flair is bleeding out all over the place! Jim Ross freaks on commentary, Ric Flair is BUSTED WIDE OPEN! 

Douglas smacks Flair across his bloodied face while he's still down on his knees until all of a sudden Flair pops the crowd by grabbing Shane Douglas right by the balls! THE TESTICULAR CLAW! Flair has blood pouring down his face and his platinum blonde hair stained blood red as he works Shane Douglas over with punches, taking him back to the ring and putting the boots to his hurt back! Flair has the momentum on his side as he sends Douglas crashing onto his hurt back with a huge back body drop, followed by a knee drop right on his spine! Flair tries to go for the Figure Four to put Douglas away but Shane is able to counter him, rolling him up with a small package for a close 2.999999! Flair scrambles after kicking out only for Shane Douglas to drop him with a low blow of his own! Flair falls over like a tree clutching his groin, staining the white canvas with HUGE splotches of blood stains everywhere his face touches the canvas! 

Shane Douglas goes after Flair while favoring his back, opening up his cut with closed fisted punches before trying to whip him into the turnbuckles, only for Flair to reverse him and accidentally crush the referee in the opposite corner! REFEREE TIM WHITE IS OUT! THE REF IS DOWN! Douglas turns and kicks Flair right to the face as he's still trying to get up, knocking him down face first into the canvas!

Douglas collapses to his knees clutching his back in pain as Rude screams for him to get up! Shane recovers and pulls Flair up and whips him into the corner turnbuckles, sending him flipping over the turnbuckles and face flopping onto the apron right where the elevated catwalk entrance ramp connects to the ring! Douglas attacks Flair once he pulls himself up and tries to vertical suplex him back into the ring but he can't due to his hurt back! Flair counters and vertical suplexes Shane Douglas out of the ring ONTO THE CATWALK RAMP! Douglas bounces on impact and arches his back up in misery and grimace! Both men are down! THE REF IS STIL OUT! Flair's face, teeth, hair, everything is covered in blood! 

Rick Rude grabs a steel chair and makes it up to the elevated ramp to try to finish Flair off to save Shane Douglas' ass! Arn meets him and stops him by grabbing the chair! Rude cowers down and backs away from Arn only for Sid to surprise him from behind, turning him around and grabbing him right by the neck! Sid DROPS ARN WITH A CHOKESLAM ON THE RAMP! JESUS! Arn Anderson is OUT! Sid stands over Arn's lifeless body after picking the chair up and he's lookign psychotic as he looks down at him! Chris Benoit comes running out to the ramp to back Sid off of Arn, protecting him as he screams for Sid to bring it! 

With Sid standing off with Benoit on the ramp a bloodied Flair recovers and drags Shane Douglas back into the ring but he's a bloodied mess, he can barely stand! The ref is still out when all of a sudden a dark figure is making his way through the crowd! The cameras catch the disturbance in the crowd and its.... 

THE BLACK SCORPION!

The Black Scorpion jumps the guard rail and throws Ric Flair a steel chair while Rude, Sable, and Sid are distracted with Benoit/Arn on the entrance ramp! Shane Douglas recovers to his knees as Flair grabs the steel chair and gets payback for Chicago with a vicious HOME RUN SHOT TO THE HEAD! Shane Douglas is OUT COLD! The chair is DENTED! Flair collapses on Shane Douglas to make the pin but the REFEREE IS STILL KNOCKED OUT! 

Rude and Sid realize what is happening and Sid quickly goes after the Black Scorpion down on the floor around the ring! The Black Scorpion gets cornered by Rude and has no choice but to stand his ground with Sid, taking a shot with a right hand that has NO EFFECT! Sid finally gets his hands on The Black Scorpion grabbing him by his neck and pulling his mask off! The mask comes off to reveal..... 


PAUL ROMA!!?!?!?!..... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? 


The perplexed voice of Joey Styles says it all as he says Paul Roma's name, what the hell is he doing!? Sid batters Paul Roma before setting him for a fucking POWERBOMB THROUGH THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TABLE!...... Joey Styles screams OH MY GAAAAAAAWD as monitors fly with the table shattering to pieces on impact! ROMA IS OUT! 


Sid screams over Roma's unconscious body with the fury of a fucking nuclear bomb going off! The spanish announce team has been KILLED! Bodies and table wreckage lay scattered around Roma's body!


Benoit stays out on the ramp trying to revive Arn while Sid climbs his way over the top rope into the ring to go after Ric Flair with the ref still down and out! Flair pops the crowd as he stands his ground to Sid with right hands but they have no effect on the monster! Sid rips Flair up by his throat and drops him with a chokeslam! NO! Flair is out! Sid drags Shane Douglas' body over Flair to make the pin as Rick Rude works to revive the referee! Finally Tim White recovers and makes the count, NO! NOT LIKE THIS!..... 



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2........




NO!..... FLAIR KICKS OUT!..... HE'S STILL ALIVE!..... THE NATURE BOY IS STILL IN IT!.....



Both men are down and out trying to recover and it's Shane Douglas that puts the boots to Flair, trying to pull him up for his Belly To Belly Suplex for the finish only for his back to fail on him! Flair headbutts his way out and chops Douglas down! Douglas fights back and and hurts Flair with punches before putting him away finally with the RUDE AWAKENING! It's OVER!..... 


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2......



3!......


The crowd goes silent as Shane Douglas rolls off of Ric Flair's bloodied body barely able to make his way to his feet! Sid, Rick Rude, and Sable scramble into the ring to lift Shane Douglas up in victory! What a victory this is for Shane Douglas, what a battle! Sid pulls Flair's bloodied body up and puts the stamp on it with a VICIOUS powerbomb! Arn recovers and goes with Benoit to save Flair but they are quickly disposed of and knocked out of the ring! Shane Douglas keeps spitting and kicking on Flair while he's down until all of a sudden the roof is blown off of the Miami Arena when out runs.....

AHMED JOHNSON IS BACK!

Ahmed Johnson runs to the ring with a 2X4 like a madman clearing the ring, sending Sid backflipping over the top rope to the floor! AHMED IS BACK! Rude, Shane Douglas, Sable, and Sid retreat to the entrance ramp as Ahmed stands tall with the crowd going ape shit! Sid backs up from the ring with Rude, Sable, and Douglas FUMING as he eyes Ahmed calling him out from the ring with intensity! Douglas can barely stand but still is raising his arms after this, what has to be the biggest win of his career, he's 10-1 in Best Of The Best and the clear cut #1 ranked top contender but.... Ahmed Johnson has returned!..... 

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Jim Ross and Joey Styles are completely spent emotionally as they recap the instant replay, what a battle we just witnessed, there is still no respect between Ric Flair and Shane Douglas. We finally found out that it was Paul Roma of all people under the Black Scorpion mask, perhaps looking for payback for Shane Douglas' recent words about him on BOTB TV when he confronted Flair about being passed over as a Horsemen for Roma back when Douglas was run out of WCW at the prime of his career three years ago.

During the clean up of the blood and broken table wreckage we get Sunny ringside for a special interview with a new signing that is set to make his Best Of The Best debut, a former WCW World Champion, an All American football star out of Florida State, none other than Ron Simmons!.....

Sunny gets a ringside interview with Ron Simmons about his new 4 year contract that he signed with Best Of The Best. Ron Simmons proclaims that he's in the best shape of his life and he's putting all of the Top 10 heavyweights in this promotion on notice, he's going to work his way through them one by one until he's back on top of this sport. This is a legitimate heavyweight athlete and a former World Champion. Ron Simmons is set to make his debut in BOTB tomorrow night live on Judgement Night on the USA Network at 8pm from the Ice Palace in Tampa Florida! 

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Back to the ring and we get a close up focus shot of the brand new glistening BOTB Undisputed World Tag Team Titles, which look very similar to the old defunct WWF Tag Title belts but with slight minor differences, with the Best Of The Best logo featured prominently in solid red flanked in over $400,000 in gold and jewels in each belt. This is the grand prize, and this next match is the grand culmination of the grueling 12 week World Tag League 1996 season that has unfolded across BOTB television. It all comes down to this, The Eliminators, Harlem Heat, the final 2 teams left standing, in the end..... there can be only 1...

Harlem Heat's entrance music hits to bring them out first with Michael Buffer doing the intros during the walk outs. Booker T and Stevie Ray have to be the fresher men going into this bout, they defeated Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson in a much shorter match in the Tiger Division Championship earlier tonight(and they took them down immediately after they beat Owen & Bulldog in a banger), while also getting a longer rest period. Meanwhile one has to wonder what Perry Saturn and John Kronus have left after going to war with the Steiner Brothers to capture the Dragon Division Championship, with Saturn finishing it with an elbow drop off of an 18 foot tall ladder. Harlem Heat take the ring focused and ready while Demanufacture by Fear Factory brings out The Eliminators. Saturn and Kronus come out to the ring with JR and Joey Styles noting that these teams have really grinded it out over the last 12 weeks, both of these teams have fought through injuries, week in and week out, both teams have already wrestled earlier tonight. This World Tag League will be the true test of these men's heart here as this will be each team's 14th match in the last 12 weeks!

Saturn and Kronus pause before entering the ring with Harlem Heat eyeing them from the center of the ring. This is IT! This is for the Undisputed World Tag Team Championship! Kronus and Saturn make a move and rush into the ring from the elevated entrance ramp to storm Booker and Stevie immediately, taking the fight right to them in a mad brawl!.....

Undisputed World Tag Team Championship

World Tag League '96 Championship Finals Match
Tiger Division Champions vs Dragon Division Champions
Harlem Heat(8-4-1) vs The Eliminators(10-1-2)

It's all out pandemonium as Saturn fist fights with Stevie Ray while Kronus and Booker T spill through the ropes to the floor in a mad brawl! The Eliminators are taking this to the extreme and making it a fight! This is their strategy to counter the fresher, more experienced Harlem Heat, to take them out of the pro wrestling element and push them into a war! A street fight! Referee Charles Robinson has his hands full and has no chance at restoring any order or sense of tag team wrestling here early on as the fight spills into the crowd!

Kronus and Booker T fight through the crowd in the Miami Arena bashing each other with chair shots to the back, smashing full drinks over each other's heads grabbed from fans. Saturn and Stevie Ray fight on the floor sending each other into the steel guard rails and ring steps before Saturn locks Stevie up in a figure four using the ring post!

Out in the crowd and Kronus fights with Booker T through and over back to the side of the entrance stage near the soundboards in a wild punching exchange. Saturn gives up his hold on Stevie Ray and goes for the ring bell to use on him, only for Stevie to evade a shot and kick it right into his face with a thrust kick! Saturn goes down! Stevie makes his way down the ramp towards the entrance stage and drops down to help his brother Booker T double team Kronus, picking him up with a double tandem press and dropping him face first down into the soundboard/production equipment!

Saturn makes his way towards the fight after recovering and dives off of the entrance stage to hit both Booker and Stevie with a diving flying cross body, taking them both out! All four men are down and out as the crowd goes nuts across the entire ARENA!

The brawl continues out near the entrance stage with the camera shot shaking around trying to keep up as Saturn sends Booker T flying across a merchandise table, spilling over hundreds of BOTB t-shirts and VHS tapes in a huge mess! Stevie Ray puts a steel chair into Saturn's back to slow him down!

Harlem Heat take the momentum as fatigue starts to settle in on The Eliminators, the toll of their war earlier tonight with The Steiners catching up to them once the match hits the 10 minute mark. Referee Charles Robinson still can not get a control on the violence as the street fight continues back towards the ringside area. The Eliminators work together with tandem stereo martial arts kick combos to put Stevie Ray down on the elevated catwalk entrance ramp before taking Booker T back to the ring! Saturn brings a steel chair into the ring to try to knock Booker T out but Charles Robinson grabs it from him from behind to stop him! Saturn grabs the ref by his collar and pulls him to the center of the ring as Kronus preps behind him! The Eliminators take out referee Charles Robinson with a TOTAL ELIMINATION! GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY THEY CUT HIM IN HALF!

The ref has been decapitated, knocked out! He may be FUCKING DEAD! This is LIVE pay per view god dammit this isnt TBS! This isn't The Superstation! Booker makes a comeback and knocks Kronus out with his Harlem Sidekick before Stevie Ray returns to help him put Saturn down with their Heat Seeker (Electric chair by Stevie/Missile dropkick by Booker combination)! Booker makes the cover to go for the belts but THERE IS NO REF! Kronus makes his way back into the ring but Harlem Heat dominate, taking him out with their Towering Inferno (Backbreaker by Stevie/Diving leg drop by Booker T combination)! Booker makes the cover just as another referee Jim Mollineau rushes into the ring to count but Saturn breaks up the fall at 2.99999999999! OH! THEY WERE THAT CLOSE!....

Saturn makes a big comeback with one last push of everything he has left, sending Stevie Ray over the top to the elevated catwalk entrance ramp with a huge thrust kick to the face! Booker takes a shot with a Harlem Sidekick on Saturn but he evades and counters, hooking him and dumping him on his head with a massive T-BONE SUPLEX! Booker T is out! Saturn brings the fans in the Miami Arena to their feet as he climbs up to the top turnbuckle looking down at Stevie Ray laid out on the elevated catwalk ramp several feet away from the ring! The crowd goes APE SHIT when Saturn dives off and nails Stevie Ray with a DIVING ELBOW DROP ON THE RAMP! Saturn hammers down onto Stevie Ray knocking him out on impact before rolling around in pain!

All four men are down and out with Kronus pulling himself up first in the ring as Booker T struggles to get up! Saturn fights through the pain and rolls under the ring to help Kronus cut Booker T down.....


TOTAL ELIMINATION!.....


BOOKER T is OUT! Kronus and Saturn both make the cover for the pin and the entire Miami Arena crowd counts along....


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2.....



3!.....  NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!....... NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!....   THE ELIMINATORS!



Jim Ross blows his voice out for the rest of the PPV shouting in repeat, PERRY SATURN AND JOHN KRONUS! THE ELIMINATORS HAVE DONE IT!....  THE ELIMINATORS!


Pyro explodes as confetti begins raining down over the ring, it's all over! Perry Saturn and John Kronus have won the 1996 World Tag League Championship to become the very first EVER Undisputed World Tag Team Champions! Both men can barely stand to have their arms raised and the new belts strapped around their waists as Demanufacture by Fear Factory plays in celebration. The Eliminators have run the gauntlet and are the final team standing after the 12 week saga, after going toe to toe and beating The Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat in the SAME NIGHT! This will go down without a doubt as one of the toughest, gutsiest performances ever in the history of tag team wrestling and one of the greatest moments in this promotion's young history!

Booker T and Stevie Ray are barely able to walk out completely disappointed as Joey Styles notes that we have not seen the last of them, they have made it clear they are one of the elite teams in this sport, they still have the Tiger Division Championship title to be proud of, there is no question they will be back to challenge for the Undisputed Titles again going forward. Harlem Heat solidified themselves as the real deal in this 1996 WTL season without question. But in the end, the 1 team that stands tall is The Eliminators, going an impressive 11-1-2 and avenging their lone loss earlier tonight by finally defeating the one team that beat them in The Steiner Brothers(evening up their series at 1-1-1).

Kronus and Saturn are highly emotional as they strike their trademark pose with the belts as the new and first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champs, The ELIMINATORS are officially THE best tag team in the world after tonight!..... 

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Joey Styles has to carry the highlight replay as Jim Ross' voice is gone from shouting all night. Styles notes during the replays that The Eliminators now will have one of the biggest targets on their backs going forward in Best Of The Best, every tag team in the world will be gunning for these titles....

After the replay as the confetti is being cleaned up we get a ringside shot of Raven seated in the crowd in the upper deck of the Miami Arena watching on with complete disinterest, with a look on his face of misery as he sits next to Beulah(wearing a neck brace after being piledriven by Luna Vachon recently) with Stevie Richards munching on popcorn wearing his crop top Shawn Michaels t-shirt/HBK heart shaped red glasses, with the massive monster Venom seated nearby looking like he's ready to kill somebody....

The brooding flock is focused on with the cameras as Joey Styles recaps the recent events with Cactus Jack turning on Raven last week, finally giving in to Kevin Sullivan's mind games to join his freak show with Abdullah The Butcher, Meng, and the recently debuting Luna Vachon. Joey speculates that we may see this rivalry between Sullivan and Raven reach all new levels of violence in the future weeks that could push the envelope of what we have ever seen on televised wrestling in modern times. Be sure to tune into the USA Network tomorrow night as Judgement Night will be LIVE from the Ice Palace in Tampa Florida, this is one episode that you will NOT want to miss!.... 

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Jim Ross and Joey Styles hype up our following title match as the all new Women's Neo-Eternal Championship belt is shown at the timekeepers table, and it is truly beautiful. Truly a sight to behold, perhaps even more beautiful of a Championship belt than HBK's Undisputed title, a testament to the respect shown to the two competitors set to face off in our co-main event. For women's athletes in combat sports and martial arts this co-main event championship bout is truly a matter of respect.... 

Etsuko Mita makes her way out first to Skyscrapower her All Japan Womens Pro Wrestling entrance theme, this woman has truly earned this shot at this Championship after 3 incredible performances on Bushido, going undefeated 3-0. There is no pyro or any type of light show for Mita's entrance as she takes the ring and preps in her corner with Joey Styles noting how big of an underdog she has to be considered here tonight for this bout. The lights go out with Ready Or Not by The Fugees hitting to bring out one of the all time great female fighters in the history of combat sports, the legend herself, Kathy Long. Long makes her way out to an elaborate light show and towering flames shooting up around her on the entrance stage wearing kickboxing shorts and boxing gloves. 

The American and Japanese national anthems are played with both competitors showing their honor towards their respective flags prior to the bout. Mita and Long stand across the ring from each other getting ready for the following Hybrid Rules bout with Joey Styles going over the rules. This bout will be 3 rounds, with the first round being 10 minutes long, rounds 2 and 3 will be 5 minutes each. This bout can be won by knockout, submission, or pinfall. If there is no finish after 3 rounds the winner will be determined by 3 judges decisions(tonight's judges are Dave Meltzer, "Judo" Gene Lebell, and Black Belt magazine editor Larry Depasquale Jr.). Michael Buffer goes through the intros and referee "Big" John Mccarthy brings both women to the center for the final face off to go over his final instructions before the bell..... 

Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship
Hybrid Rules Bout
Kickboxing vs Wrestling

Kathy Long vs Etsuko Mita

vs

The opening round starts off with Kathy Long keeping her distance and keeping Mita off of her with quick jabs, never allowing herself to be cornered. Finally after feeling each other out Long lets loose a brutal kick to the body that makes a loud smack that swells the crowd. Mita tries to shoot in to clinch up but gets battered with a lightning fast punching combo, all straight punches that rock her head back and stagger her on her feet! Mita stays up and fires back with a huge kick to Kathy Long's body, catching her completely by surprise with a stunning shot to the ribs! Long answers back immediately with several quick shots, left and right hands followed by a nasty low kick right to Mita's thigh! Mita eats Long's shots and stands her ground throwing open hand palm strikes in a fiery punching exchange that gets the crowd going! Long gets the better of the exchange and corners Mita with vicious shots to the head and body dropping her in a slumped over position in the corner after a nasty body shot to the liver! Mita stays down for the 4 count before rising back to her feet! This is a FIGHT!

Long goes after Mita after she gets back up and tries to finish her off! Mita circles out to the center of the ring and barely backs up away from a roundhouse high kick, only to get dropped again when Long follows through spinning around with a devastating SPINNING BACK FIST! DOWN GOES MITA! AGAIN! This time Mita struggles to get back up, just barely making it to her feet at 9.99999! SHE'S STILL IN IT!

Kathy Long closes in after Mita gets up and tries to finish it but Mita drops down and is able to TAKE HER DOWN TO THE CANVAS! Mita takes the full mount position and goes for an arm triangle choke with Long struggling to defend herself with the 8 oz boxing gloves! Long scrambles and is able to spin around but Mita takes her back and sinks in a sleeper hold! Long rolls over with her face changing colors in the choke before she's able to turn over and grab the ropes for a rope break! The referee forces Mita to break the hold and restarts the fight on the feet. Both women converge on each other in the center of the ring in a violent exchange, with Mita eating several brutal shots to land palm strikes that rock Long and stun her! The two women clinch up with Long working a Thai clinch, moving Mita around keeping her off balance as she punishes her with knees to the body! These women are GOING AT IT!

Mita absorbs several knees to her ribs before firing back with elbows that knock Kathy Long for a loop, she's staggering as Mita breaks her Thai clinch! Long fires back with punches and a roundhouse high kick that misses again, and again she follows through with the spinning back fist but Mita is able to duck under! Mita rocks Long with a vicious elbow to the face before scooping her up on her shoulders into a RUNNING DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Kathy Long is out! Mita hooks the leg for the pin.....


1....



2....



3!!!...... WHAAAT!?!?!.... SHE DID IT!... IT'S OVER!.... NO FUCKING WAY!!!! 


Mita rolls off of Kathy Long laying next to her immediately overwhelmed with emotion, this match is over! Etsuko Mita has pulled off the biggest upset imaginable with a win over Kathy Long at 5:22 of the FIRST ROUND! Mita's entourage storms the ring to scoop her up on their shoulders in an emotional celebration as confetti falls, pyro explodes over the ring! Kathy Long is helped up by her cornermen and she's still hurt. We have a NEW Womens Neo-Eternal Champion... ETSUKO MITA! Mita is presented with the glorious belt strapped around her waist in an incredible moment.

This has to be one of the biggest upsets in any sport this year, Kathy Long was a massive favorite to take this title tonight and she came up short in an incredible 5 minute war. Long shows nothing but respect to her opponent, raising her arm before embracing in the center of the ring. Etsuko Mita has become the very first ever Best Of The Best Women's Neo-Eternal Champion, what a proud moment for All Japan Womens Wrestling....

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After the bout we get camera shots of the sold out crowd around the Miami Arena as we get ready for what has to be one of the most critical matches perhaps ever in the history of this sport. Joey Styles announces the total attendance here tonight for this landmark event with the official number at 16,821, totally sold out. And what a night this has been already. We have new Undisputed World Tag Team Champions in The Eliminators, and we have crowned the first ever Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Champion in a huge upset win by Etsuko Mita over Kathy Long in a match that really showcases the unpredictable nature of this sport. Many believed Long would be the superstar that the entire Women's division of BOTB would be built around here starting tonight, what an unbelievable upset by the new Champion; Etsuko Mita...

As the cameras catch shots around the crowd we see several big name celebrities, including perhaps the biggest fan of Best Of The Best; none other than actor Gary Busey. Corey Haim, Jennifer Mccarthy, Gilbert Godfried, Lorenzo Lamas(from the hit TV show Renegade), Clarence Gilyard Jr.(from Die Hard, Top Gun, and Walker Texas Ranger), and several other major celebrities are on hand tonight to see our following main event matchup. The tension in the arena continues to grow by the second!.... 

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Michael Buffer gets the sold out crowd on their feet when he goes through his trademark intro, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching at home.... LETS GET READY TO RUMBAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL!!! Pyro explodes from all four corners of the ring and the rafters of the Miami Arena and this crowd is ELECTRIC right now! 

After a minor delay all of a sudden the opening intro to John Crow by Jimmy Cliff from the Marked For Death soundtrack starts to build up on the PA system.... 

The beat drops with the song kicking into full rhythm just as Steven Seagal walks out, setting the crowd off into one of the LOUDEST pops of the night! Seagal steps out to the entrance stage and makes his way down the elevated catwalk entrance ramp with his eyes sharp and mean. The undeniable fact stands that this is one of the coolest and baddest motherfuckers walking the planet in the world we live in, this is 1996, this is now.... 

Seagal takes his spot near the ring as the special guest ringside enforcer as The Rocky IV training montage theme hits to bring out Nobuhiko Takada(wearing the Undisputed Neo-Hybrid Universal Championship) and Akira Maeda(wearing Bret's "Real" World Championship) accompanied by Eric Bischoff dressed in all black. Takada and Maeda look majestic in all of their original UWF glory in their corner together with both title belts as Eric Bischoff and Steven Seagal eye each other... 

The crowd comes back alive when Bret Hart's entrance music hits to bring him and Royce Gracie out together side by side! The ultimate dream team make their way down the ramp together with ice cold glares on their opponents with the cameras cutting back and forth at both teams eyeing each other. Royce Gracie takes the ring and stands with his cold gaze while Bret takes his time to give his glasses to a small ringside child. All four men stand across from each other during Michael Buffer's intros with Seagal and Bischoff stalking around on the floor. The tension is PALPABLE in the moments leading up to the bell.

The commentators note the stipulation that if either Bret or Royce pin or submit either Takada or Maeda that man will claim the Neo-Hybrid Universal Championship, while the same applies if either Takada or Maeda pins or submits Gracie, they will win Bret's "Real" World Title per the contract that has been signed!

it's Royce Gracie taking the lead with Nobuhiko Takada standing face to face with him during referee Yuji Shimata's final instructions.... 

Neo Universal Hybrid World Championship|||"Real" World Championship Match

Special Guest Ringside Enforcer: Steven Seagal

Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) & Royce Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada(C) & Akira Maeda

It's a surreal image as Royce Gracie in his full gi comes out in the Best Of The Best ring circling Nobuhiko Takada throwing his trademark jab kicks to keep him back. Takada cautiously circles Royce in a stand off as flash bulbs go off all around the ringside area with the crowd swelling with cheers. This bout has made waves in mainstream media in Japan and all of the press is here to cover this event(it is being broadcast live on screens to a sold out crowd at the Ariake Coliseum in Japan in real time on closed circuit television, and will be the first BOTB event aired on tape delay on primetime network television the next night in a groundbreaking new contract with FUJI TV network in Japan).... 

Takada dazzles with high kick attempts but it's only a matter of time before Royce ties up with him in the clinch in a mad scramble that ends up in the corner turnbuckles! Takada desperately clings to the ropes as Royce tries to take it to the canvas but the ref Yuji Shimata smacks his hand away, causing Royce to drag him down into his guard. Takada stays busy with light punches to the body while keeping a defensive posture. Joey Styles notes that this is NOT where Takada wants to be inside Royce's guard, where he made his name for himself with an undefeated 11-0-1 record and 3 tournament titles in the Octagon in the UFC. 

It's a stalemate on the ground as Royce keeps his composure and patience with Takada down in his guard. Takada finally makes the mistake of posturing up and dropping back to go for a heel hook submission but Royce counters by immediately rolling up on top of him in the full mount position, causing the crowd to swell with cheers! Royce lays into Takada with vicious open hand palm strikes from the top mount until all of a sudden Akira Maeda storms into the ring and drills him right in the head with a VICIOUS soccer kick! Royce goes limp as Bret sets the crowd off storming into the ring to tackle Maeda through the ropes to the floor! 

Bret and Maeda brawl it out with punches on the floor as Royce tries to recover with Takada making his way out from under him to his feet! Royce remains down on his back in the butt scoot position trying to defend Takada kicking at him from the standing position while Bret and Maeda brawl like a hockey fight on the floor! Bischoff rounds the corner and appears to be loading up to throw a kick at Bret from behind until Steven Seagal walks around the corner eyeing him to back him off!

Maeda ends up tying up with Bret and tossing him overhead with a release belly to belly suplex that sends him bouncing off of the padded floor on impact! Takada tags Maeda in and Maeda goes right after Gracie with a flurry of soccer kicks while he's still down! 

The crowd swells with cheers as Royce manages to catch one of Maeda's kicks off his back and grapevine his way into an ankle lock off his back! Maeda crouches down to stuff the hold and rains down with VICIOUS right hands bouncing Royce's head off the canvas with every strike! Royce quickly gives up the hold and transitions around into an ommo platta only to turn back and counter Maeda's escape with a quick TRIANGLE CHOKE! Maeda arches upward to try to block the choke when all of a sudden all of the KOK wrestlers race out to storm the ring! Steven Seagal climbs up to the entrance ramp to meet them and kicks ass, throwing 4 men with quick Aikido throws before dropping Yoji Anjo and Hiromitsu Kanehara with sickening thrust shots to their throat! Steven Seagal takes out the entire KOK and the arena goes CRAZY! 

The struggle continues in the ring with Royce going for the triangle choke on Akira Maeda as Bret and Nobuhiko Takada engage in a fight on the floor, making their way up to the entrance ramp! Takada takes Bret down with a kick to the chest as Eric Bischoff engages with Steven Seagal nearby, readying to stand his ground against him in his karate stance! Bischoff takes a shot with a kick but Seagal quickly evades and takes Eric's back to lock him in a choke and put him down UNCONSCIOUS! ERIC BISCHOFF IS OUT! 

The crowd is white hot as Royce's triangle choke on Maeda works it's way in deeper and deeper like an anaconda squeezing it's prey, locking on tighter and tighter as the poor victim tries to move to get free! Out on the ramp and Bret grabs an attempted soccer kick from Takada and quickly uses a Brazilian Jujitsu transition right around into the SHARPSHOOTER! Bret positions himself up and cranks back with the Sharpshooter just as Royce has Maeda turning purple in the Triangle CHOKE! Maeda IS OUT! Yuji Shimata checks Maeda's arm and frantically calls for the bell!! IT'S OVER! AKIRA MAEDA HAS BEEN CHOKED UNCONSCIOUS! 

Royce refuses to release the choke until multiple referee's scramble to pull him off of Maeda, who falls limp like a dead body to the canvas! Royce has his arm raised in victory and has WON the KOK's Undisputed Neo-Hybrid Universal Championship with this submission! Steven Seagal grabs Bret's WWF style Championship belt and joins Bret and Royce in the ring to give it back to it's rightful owner just as Royce has the Neo-Hybrid belt strapped around his waist! Royce Gracie is BACK and is now the Neo-Hyrbid CHAMPION! 

The KOK are devastated around the ring as EMT's work on Maeda to revive him out on the entrance ramp, he's STILL out! Bret Hart and Royce Gracie have defeated Eric Bischoff's KOK here tonight to save Best Of The Best! 

Seagal stands guard over the ring as both Royce and Bret eye each other with their respective Championship belts in the center of the ring for a moment before finally Bret extends a handshake to Royce. The crowd applauds as both men shake hands out of respect, two of the baddest men on the planet united as Champions in a matter of respect as the copyright screen hits to fade out the end of the show.....  

BREAKING NEWS:
May 13th, 1996, 11:45 am

SEG/UFC owner Robert Meyrowitz found dead Monday morning after apparent drowning in his home

With just 4 days until the UFC's massive UFC IX pay per view event in Detroit, Robert Meyrowitz the owner of the UFC parent company Semaphore Entertainment Group(SEG) was found dead this Monday morning in his home after an apparent drowning in his jacuzzi. Police have ruled the death an accidental drowning despite the fact that there was less than 3' of water in the hot tub, with reports that Japanese cherry blossom pedals were found in the water with the body being denied by officials. Any speculation that the death could have been a murder have been denied by police. The rumors of the cherry blossom pedals coincides with those that were reportedly found on the crime scene of the alleged suicide death of Vince Mcmahon(his body was found hanging from the door knob of his hotel room) last year in his hotel in Japan, after a meeting with the Neo Zeed corporation after he reportedly turned down their offer to buy the WWF(the company was sold to the Zeed by the Mcmahon family just months after his passing in 1995). 

The Neo Zeed corporation is currently being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission for their hostile takeover of the Turner/Time Warner group in 1995 that seen them take control of both TBS and TNT networks along with the WCW wrestling promotion that came with it. The company is shrouded in mystery and controversy since they began making aggressive moves last year in the US and Japan that led to the launch of the new "Best Of The Best" wrestling league in the United States in January of this year. 

Meyrowitz's death couldn't have come at a worse time for the controversial UFC promotion, which has faced growing political backlash due to the violence on their pay per view events. Meyrowitz was scheduled to testify in court in Detroit this week as the city has turned up their efforts to have UFC IX cancelled. UFC IX is still scheduled for May 17th this weekend with the main event being the UFC Superfight Championship rematch between Champion Ken Shamrock and Challenger Dan "The Beast" Severn...

The Ice Palace(Tampa, FL)
May 13th, 1996

Tonight's episode of Judgement Night hits the airwaves of the USA Network LIVE with Sunny in the ring wearing a bikini for her weekly opening monologue, setting the crowd off into a mad frenzy!... 

This arena is packed and LIT after one of the wildest pay per view events of the year last night, the entire Best Of The Best promotion is buzzing and you can feel a different energy in the air! Sunny's opening segues into the highlight music video set to the official theme song for the next PPV spectacular Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96; I Hate You by Slayer, an all new cover of the punk legend Verbal Abuse featured on their upcoming brand new album "Undisputed Attitude" available everywhere on May 28th! 

The highlight video shows still images of some of the most outrageous moments from last night's Best Of The Best V: A Matter Of Respect '96 pay per view from the Miami Arena, including the Eliminators taking out the Steiners with Perry Saturn's flying elbow drop from an 18' ladder from the elevated catwalk entrance ramp for the win, followed by the shots from Saturn and Kronus' victory over Harlem Heat in the World Tag League Finals to capture the Undisputed World Tag Team Championship. Eddie Guerrero's frog splash onto Psicosis to win the 3 way dance, Etsuko Mita's shocking upset over Kathy Long to win the Undisputed Womens Neo-Eternal Championship, Shane Douglas bloodying Ric Flair in his huge win, Ahmed Johnson's return to go after Sid, and Royce Gracie choking Akira Maeda unconscious to capture the Kings Of Kings coveted Undisputed Neo-Hybrid Universal Championship title followed by the face to face handshake with him and Bret Hart that ended the show.... 

Joey Styles welcomes the television audience as pyro explodes around the Ice Palace here in Tampa, this crowd is unbelievably JACKED! Styles takes sole commentator duties tonight since Jim Ross blew his voice out last night at the PPV he will be getting the night off! We have an absolutely STACKED Judgement Night tonight with a huge clash between two Top 10 ranked heavyweights, Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson will face his gravest challenge yet as he takes on VADER in our main event! Plus The Kliq will be in six man action, and so much more! 


Four Way Dance:
Octagon vs Devon Storm vs El Canek vs Blue Panther

The opening match is an insane action packed cruiserweight showdown that starts off with the pedal to the medal, all four men go all out getting the crowd going with every high spot and every plancha for a solid 3 minutes until all of a sudden out walks none other than Paul E. Dangerously! He's BACK! Paul E. stops at the entrance stage for a moment until a 7'2, 500 pound GIANT walks out behind him following him to the ring!..... 

Thats.... THE GIANT!.... with Paul E. Dangerously!?... 

It's total destruction as The Giant destroys all four men with ease, ripping Devon Storm up and bouncing his body off the canvas like a basketball with a vicious CHOKESLAM! Paul E. is INTENSE as he instructs the behemoth to destroy EVERYONE! El Canek gets press slammed out of the ring onto Blue Panther and Octagon taking them out on the floor! Paul E. instructs The Giant to go after the three men on the floor, placing Octagon and Panther on the spanish commentary table before ripping El Canek up and CHOKESLAMMING HIM ONTO BOTH MEN THROUGH THE TABLE! 

The crowd LOSES IT! Paul E. Dangerously has returned with a force unlike anything we have yet to see here in Best Of The Best, this man is 7'2'', over 500 pounds! The Giant pulls out a table and slides it into the ring where Paul E. props it up leaning in the corner as The Giant grabs Devon Storm and launches him into it with a loud crunch on impact! OH MY GAAAAAAAWD.... 

The crowd continues going crazy for the violence as Paul E. stands beside The Giant looking around the arena with a look of intense fury in his eyes as he clinches his jaws, almost trembling with intensity as The Giant screams and raises his arm signifying his chokeslam!... 


In The Ring:
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Chris Benoit

The crowd comes back alive after the commercial break when the Four Horsemen entrance music brings out "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair(wearing a massive bandage over his forehead from the cut last night), with Arn Anderson and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit(the fourth member, Dan "The Beast" Severn is in Detroit wrapping up his training camp for the upcoming UFC IX Superfight vs Ken Shamrock this Friday night).... 

The Horsemen suffered a crushing defeat last night when Arn and Benoit lost in the Tiger Division Championship match vs Harlem Heat(after a valiant performance in victory over Bulldog and Owen in the Wild Card Playoff bout). Then later in the night Flair was defeated in a devastating loss to Shane Douglas. 

Ric Flair gets the crowd going as he vows to get revenge on Shane Douglas, the Horsemen will rally behind Dan Severn this weekend to take the UFC Superfight Championship in Detroit and they will regain their strength as the elite unit in this sport. Arn takes over and calls out Dean Malenko to the ring. After a brief delay The Iceman makes his way out with his trademark ice cold stare. Arn thanks The Man Of 1,000 Holds for his work helping Chris Benoit go 4-0-1 in the World Tag League as his injury substitute, calling him one of the best wrestlers in this sport. Arn goes on to inform Dean that it was a tough call to pull him last night but Horsemen business is Horsemen business, they will always owe him and consider him an ally. As Arn goes on thanking Malenko out comes Shane Douglas with Sable, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and SID!.... 

Flair, Arn, Benoit, and Malenko stand their ground as Douglas, Rude, Sid, and Sable take the ring to confront them! Shane Douglas brags about his victory over Flair last night in Miami as the turning point in his career, the beginning of the new era where the past is buried in the fu*#ing dirt six feet down, the future is here! Douglas goes on to say that Flair has let the once proud Horsemen name fall from the once proud heights that he admired them for, it's time for a new era! Just as the words come out of Douglas' mouth Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko suddenly ATTACK FLAIR AND ARN! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?!?! 

NO! Benoit and Malenko have turned on the Horsemen and are helping Sid and Shane Douglas destroy Flair and Arn Anderson! What is going on here!? Shane Douglas laughs with evil as Sid powerbombs Arn! Flair is sprawled out by Rude and Dean Malenko for Chris Benoit to nail him with a FLYING HEADBUTT! 

Arn Anderson and Ric Flair have been completely destroyed as Benoit, Sid, Malenko, and Shane Douglas stand together over their broken bodies with Rude and Sable! What have we just witnessed? Have we just seen the end of the Four Horsemen!? This is UNBELIEVABLE! Benoit and Malenko have turned on the Horsemen and are now aligned with Shane Douglas!.... 


Singles Match:
Jake "The Snake" Roberts(W/Ted Dibiase, Chris Chavis, The A.P.T., & Dustin Rhodes)
vs
Axl Rotten

Jake "The Snake" makes his way out carrying his burlap sack to One Of Us by Joan Osborne accompanied by the full support team from the Benny Hinn Ministries that has helped him kicked the evils of drugs and alcohol to make a comeback in 1996. Robert's opponent for his BOTB debut Axl Rotten is wearing a Marilyn Manson shirt with a depiction of a three faced Jesus Christ, with the phrase "See no truth, hear no truth, speak no truth" on the front, with the word Believe on the back with the L, I, and E bolded in the middle(Believe). Roberts and Dibiase take great offense once they notice Axl's shirt. The Benny Hinn Ministries pre-match prayer is interrupted when Axl attacks Roberts from behind, kicking the match off in controversial fashion!... 

Axl brawls with Roberts early on with Dibiase and the Hinn group trying to rally him to make a comeback. The American Power Team(Bagwell & Riggs), Dustin Rhodes, and Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka, with noticeably whiter skin tone after undergoing skin bleaching treatments) are all huddle up on the floor holding hands praying for Roberts as Dibiase shouts words of encouragement while Roberts is down in a chin lock. Roberts feels the spirit of his support team and fights his way out of Axl's chin lock to fight his way back in the match! Roberts puts Axl down with a series of right hands! Axl gets up and takes Jake's patented short arm clothesline! Jake gets fired up and rips Axl's Manson shirt off of him and tears it in half before tossing it to the canvas and spitting on it! The Snake pulls Axl up and drops him with a DDT RIGHT ON THE SHIRT! Axl is OUT! Jake makes the cover for the 1, 2, 3 to win his BOTB debut in 4:02!

Jake rips his arm away from the ref once he tries to raise it in victory to grab his burlap sack and unleash a massive 28' python Damien onto Axl, sending him scrambling out of the ring in a panic! The crowd goes NUTS! Jake "The Snake" IS BACK! The Benny Hinn Ministries raise Roberts up with his snake draped over his shoulders in a huge celebration! 


On Location:
The Control Center(W/Mike Tenay)

After the match we cut away to Mike Tenay in the BOTB control center surrounded buy sound mixing boards and a wall of television monitors in the background. Tenay covers the hugely successful A Matter Of Respect pay per view that rocked the world last night in Miami. New Champions were crowned with Etsuko Mita taking the Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship in a stunning 1st round upset over kickboxing legend Kathy Long. The Eliminators became the very first ever Undisputed World Tag Team Champions in an incredible showing when they took out both The Steiner Brothers(evening their series with them at 1-1-1) and the Tiger Division Champions Harlem Heat. 

Many journalists within the sport of wrestling are raving that last night's A Matter Of Respect pay per view was a turning point for Best Of The Best. You can order the replay tomorrow night, call your cable or satellite provider and see what all of the critical acclaim is about, this was truly a must see event. 

The moment that has everyone talking from last night was Royce Gracie making his return from a year long layoff to choke out Akira Maeda to take claim of the KOK's Undisputed Neo-Hybrid Universal Heavyweight Championship title. This title belt was made in the KOK's secret foundry with the melted down materials from Nobuhiko Takada's IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Akira Maeda's Triple Crown World Heavyweight Championship, and Lou Thesz's original Heavyweight Championship belt that was won back by Takada back at BOTB III in Japan in March. As we all know Thesz's belt was recently revealed to have materials within it from the Spear Of Destiny and the crown of King Solomon. The pay per view ended last night with Royce Gracie holding this Neo-Hyrbid title shaking hands with Bret Hart(who had reclaimed his stolen "Real" World Championship) in an amazing moment. 

Everything is leading to the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland on June 9th when Best Of The Best returns to pay per view with Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96! The current reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is signed to defend the biggest title in this sport LIVE at this event, you do not want to miss this! 

Mike Tenay wraps up his Control Center update with the big news that the Bushido series that airs on Thursday nights on TBS at 8:05pm is set to move to the Budokan Arena in Japan as it's new permanent home starting on the May 23rd episode in two weeks, with the massive main event showdown; Yokozuna vs Butterbean 2! The first showdown between these two superheavyweights was the most watched episode of Bushido to date, now the rematch will take place in the legendary Budokan Arena. Yokozuna won the first bout by throwing Butterbean over the top rope to the floor(the bout was contested under a hybrid of Sumo and Toughman boxing rules).

Butterbean returned to Bushido last week with a brutal knockout of the 6'8" karate black belt Gerry Harris. Now this showdown is set, it will be Jurassic Park 2; Butterbean vs Yokozuna THE REMATCH! Don't miss it on Bushido on Thursday night May 23rd from the new home at the Budokan Arena in Japan on TBS: The Superstation at 8:05pm! 


In The Ring: 
Kevin Sullivan, Meng, Luna Vachon, Abdullah The Butcher, & Cactus Jack

After the break Kevin Sullivan leads out his group of oddball misfits with his recent acquisition Cactus Jack looking more and more deranged following in the rear. Cactus recently turned on Raven to join Sullivan after the Taskmaster's mind games took their effect(as well as a series of brutal mind altering concussions Cactus received). Cactus still has bandages awkwardly covering parts of his scarred face(after receiving 3rd degree burns months ago falling through flaming tables) and a patch over what's left of his deformed ear after having it bitten by Meng in their insane battle recently on Judgement Night. 

Sullivan takes the ring with his misfits and has Cactus kneel to him before he pulls out a mask to present to him. An odd leather mask that covers all of his deformities and imperfections. Cactus peels off his bandages while down kneeling to Sullivan as Kevin puts the mask over his face.... 

Cactus stands to his feet wearing his new mask in all of it's glory as he looks around at the fans in the arena that see him as a freak, a weirdo, a misfit, but it's Kevin Sullivan that see's him for who he truly is on the inside, as Mick Foley a boy with a dream that was never loved as a child, never loved or respected as a real man. Cactus Jack has a family now that loves him.... 

All of a sudden out comes Raven brooding to the ring with Stevie Richards and Venom(with Beulah cautiously following still wearing her neck brace from the piledriver she sustained from Luna Vachon weeks ago).... 

Stevie Richards has a microphone and tells Kevin Sullivan that he's crossed the line by what he did to Beulah, challenging him and Luna to take him and Raven on in a tag team match RIGHT NOW!.... Sullivan and Luna stand their ground and accept the challenge as Raven and Stevie charge the ring to take them on!.... 


Tag Team Match:
Kevin Sullivan & Luna Vachon(W/Cactus Jack, Meng, & Abdullah The Butcher)
vs
Raven & Stevie Richards(W/Venom, & Beulah)

It's all out pandemonium in the ring as Raven and Kevin Sullivan trade heated punches in a wild flurry with each man holding the other by their hair slamming each other with simultaneous right hands filled with hatred! Luna immediately kicks Stevie's ass all around the ring as the tension down on the floor between Venom and Sullivan's freaks growing by the second!... 

Kevin Sullivan and Raven take their brawl out of the ring and over the steel railing into the crowd! Chaos erupts around the ring as Venom is attacked by Meng, Abdullah, and Cactus Jack wearing his new mask! Stevie Richards is busted open and bleeds everywhere as Luna Vachon continues beating him up! Venom stands his ground and drops Abdullah sending him flying into the steel ring steps, opening up the scarred up forehead with a spatter of crimson! Meng and Cactus team up on Venom going into the ring but Venom fights back, dropping Cactus with a boot before ripping Meng up and decimating him with his Annihilator Pumhandle Powerslam! Luna drops Venom to his knees with a low blow before Cactus shoves his fingers down his gullet with his Mandible Claw that he recently began using, putting the massive monster all the way down! 

Luna puts Stevie Richards away with a piledriver for the pin to take the victory at 7:11 while Raven gets dropped with repeated steel chair shots out in the crowd. Stevie Richards, Abdullah The Butcher, and Raven are all bleeding as Cactus continues choking Venom with his Mandible Claw while squeeling and shouting with insanity, pulling his own hair out with his free hand, JESUS CHRIST! 

Beulah makes her way through the crowd to check on Raven as he's laid out on the concrete bloodied! Venom and Stevie Richards are left laying as Sullivan retreats with his misfits victorious, this rivalry has truly gotten out of hand!.... 


Backstage Interview W/Sunny:
Ahmed Johnson

We cut away from the madness to Sunny backstage with an interview with Ahmed Johnson that pops the crowd big time! Ahmed made his return last night at the PPV from the back injury he suffered at the Hoosier Dome last month to go after Shane Douglas and Sid! Ahmed gets intense on commentary as he calls out Sid to take him on one on one live at Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96, YOURE GOING DOWN! AHMED IS BACK! And he want's SID! 

 
Singles Match:
Ron Simmons
vs 
Mike Enos

The All American Ron Simmons makes his BOTB debut looking to be in the best shape he's ever been at 6'2" and 275 pounds, showcasing incredible athleticism for a heavyweight. Enos gets hurt bad with an impressive flying shoulder block. Simmons devastates Enos with a standing thrust spinebuster that puts him down! Joey Styles on commentary talks about Simmons' interview last night at the PPV where he called out all of the top 10 heavyweights in BOTB, this is a former WCW Heavyweight Champion and a multiple time tag team champion with his former tag partner Butch Reed in the team known as Doom.

Simmons puts Mike Enos away with an impressive finisher called the Dominator, a brutal inverted front powerslam! Simmons wins with a pinfall after just 3:56! We officially have a new contender in the heavyweight division, what a dominant performance by the former Florida State Seminole, what an athlete. 

 
In The Ring:
Sunny W/(?)

After the commercial break we get a special surprise with Sunny back in the ring to bring out a spectacular new signing to Best Of The Best this week. Sunny sets the crowd off when she introduces the debut of none other than.... MR. PEEEEEEEERFEEEEEEEECT!..... 

UNBELIEVABLE! Mr. Perfect's entrance music hits and the Ice Palace here in Tampa goes NUTS when he walks out to the ring! Mr. Perfect takes his time looking around the arena as he makes the long walk down the catwalk entrance ramp! It's been years since we seen Mr. Perfect in this sport, now he's HERE in Best Of The Best! Perfect finally takes the ring and cuts a promo that he's been away from the sport for far too long. Perfect says he's been watching Best Of The Best for the last 6 months while training and getting in the best shape of his life, he's back, he's in shape, focused, and he's here to do two things; chew bubble gum(spits his gum out and bats it away with his hand) and kick some ASS... and he's all out of bubble gum! Mr. Perfect IS BACK! WOW! 


Six Man Tag Match:
The Kliq(Diesel, Razor Ramon, & The 123 Kid)(W/Hunter, & HBK)
vs
The Armstrongs(Brad, Steve, & Scott)

After another commercial break we get the Armstrongs already in the ring getting ready for our huge co-main event six man tag match. The tension in the Ice Palace is palpable until 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted by Tupac and Snoop Dogg hits to bring out the full Kliq! The Ice Palace turns into a gangsta party when Diesel, Razor, 123 Kid, Hunter and the current Undisputed World Champ Shawn Michaels make their way out! The crowd goes ape s#*t! The Kliq is HERE!

Diesel and Razor are set to make their official in-ring debuts with Kid as Hunter and Shawn kick Joey Styles dorky ass off the commentary booth to take it over! Hunter gives Styles a wedgie and smacks his glasses off his face before shoving him to the ground! 

It's a total domination in the ring as Kid showcases incredible martial arts kicks, getting the crowd fired up for the hot tag to Razor! Razor throws Brad Armstrong with his fall away slam! Diesel gets the tag in and dominates all 3 Armstrongs throwing them around, framing them up for his corner high knee lifts! Finally Razor gets the tag to finish off Steve Armstrong with the RAZORS EDGE for the pinfall at 4:20! Diesel comes in after the bout and sets the crowd off by pulling Steve up into the JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB! The Armstrongs are left laying! The Kliq pose together taking over the ring with HBK and this crowd is going completely bonkers! The Kliq is in the HOUSE!.... 


In The Ring:
Bret "The Hitman" Hart

After another round of commercials we get Joey Styles returning awkwardly to the commentary booth before suddenly Bret Hart's entrance music hits to bring him out! The Hitman comes out with his glistening WWF style winged eagle belt back where it belongs over his shoulder! After giving his glasses to a lucky ringside child fan Bret takes the ring to thank Royce Gracie for helping him last night put down the KOK and run them out of North America. Bret sends the message that he has nothing but respect for Royce and the entire Gracie family, that he owes Royce and that he can call on him anytime he needs him. Bret adds that he doesn't believe we have seen the last of Royce Gracie in this BOTB ring, and who knows, maybe one day the two of them can face off to see who the best truly is.... 

The Hitman holds his self proclaimed "Real" World Championship belt and proclaims that he is the true champion of this sport, that he never lost this title, this has always been the true grand prize of professional wrestling. Bret vows to defend this title week in and week out to prove who the real Champion is when all of a sudden out walks Eric Bischoff with Minoru Suzuki by his side to interrupt his promo! 

Eric Bischoff stands on the stage with Suzuki telling Bret that they may have defeated the KOK, but he isn't going anywhere. Eric tells Bret that if he wants to be a fighting Champion he has the man here that can take him out, Minoru Suzuki, one of the most dangerous grapplers in the world. Eric vows to take Bret's belt and to get revenge for him destroying the KOK before dropping the mic! Bret and Suzuki eye each other from across the arena in a cold staredown with intensity!.... 


Singles Match:
Vader(W/Jim Cornette)
vs
Kevin Jackson

We return from the final commercial break with Vader making his entrance with Jim Cornette. Joey Styles recaps Vader being arrested this past Saturday night after attacking and hospitalizing a fan that was holding up a Sabu sign. Joey breaks the news that the fan is still in the hospital and Vader is facing legitimate criminal charges after only being bailed out of jail earlier today by Cornette for this massive main event bout. Joey questions where Sabu has been ever since he was brutally destroyed by Vader in their battle back in the Tokyo Dome this past March, question if Vader and Cornette are right, does Sabu fear Vader? If he doesn't why would he stand back and let one of his fans get attacked the way he did? 

The Olympic Gold medalist Kevin Jackson makes his way out to Keep Their Heads Ringing by Dr. Dre for what has to be the biggest match of his BOTB career so far. The rookie of the year is currently undefeated at 4-0 and is coming off of a huge win over Koji Kanemoto in Chicago at BOTB IV last month in his PPV debut. Jackson takes the ring and stands face to face with Vader for referee Randy Anderson's final instructions as Joey notes that both of these men are ranked in the Top 10(both men and Steve Austin are currently tied at #7-#8-#9 with identical 4-0 records), this is a HUGE matchup!

Kevin Jackson ties up with Vader going for the takedown but the massive Mastadon is much bigger and much stronger! Vader is able to stuff the Olympian's takedown attempt and lock up with him in the corner, devastating him with clubbing forearem strikes! Jackson pops the crowd by fighting back and throwing Vader with a fireman carry takeover quickly transitioning into a wrestling move around his back into a front headlock! Vader showcases incredible power by lifting Jackson up in the front headlock and tossing him overhead into the canvas wtih a throw! 

Vader dominates Kevin Jackson with strikes and splashes before taking him outside the ring and whipping him into the steel railing and ring posts! Jackson is worn down but fights back with incredible spirit and heart, getting the crowd behind him and sending Vader flipping over the ring steps with a whip! Cornette turns the tide by distracting Jackson long enough for Vader to recover and use the ring steps to ram them into Jackson's back! Kevin Jackson goes down! 

Vader throws a steel chair into the ring before taking Jackson back in and shoving the referee to the canvas so hard it knocks him out! Vader opens up the steel chair and pulls Kevin Jackson into position for a powerbomb! Good god almighty no! Vader is about to end Kevin Jackson's entire career with a powerbomb onto the edge of an opened up steel chair! NO! Just as Vader goes to life Jackson with the powerbomb all of a sudden..... 


The LIGHTS GO OUT!...... 


The arena goes bananas as the entire Ice Palace is pitch black for several seconds until the lights kick back on to reveal..... 

SAAAAABUUUUUUU!!!

THE CROWD GOES BALLISTIC! SABU IS BAAAAACK! Joey Styles shrieks on commentary as Sabu poses with his skyward point before Vader's very eyes! Vader throws Kevin Jackson to the side fuming with fury! SABU IS BACK! Sabu and Vader circle each other with the camera shaking from the crowd noise! Vader charges Sabu but Sabu ducks under and grabs the opened steel chair to throw it into Vader's FACE! Sabu dropkicks Vader out of the ring and runs the ropes to dive over the top with a SOMERSAULT PLANCHA to take him out! Vader is down! Sabu takes the ring and strikes his pose with Jim Cornette pulling Vader back on the floor as the copyright screen fades in! SABU HAS RETURNED! WHAT A NIIIIGHT!..... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Breaking News
Wednesday, May 15th 1996 via Associated Press

City of Detroit successful in banning UFC, UFC IX PPV cancelled

In a stunning turn of events the UFC IX: Motor City Madness pay per view event that was scheduled for this Friday Night has been cancelled entirely and the entire future of the UFC company is in severe doubt. This news comes just days after the untimely and highly suspicious death of owner Robert Meyrowitz after his body was found in his jacuzzi in his home this past Monday morning. The pay per view event was being protested and fought tooth and nail by politicians due to the violent nature of the sport. The city succeeded in banning the sport from holding any further events and many believe this to be the final nail in the coffin for the UFC. The main draw of the event was supposed to be a rematch between UFC Champion Ken Shamrock vs Dan Severn.

The Manhattan Center(New York, NY)
May 16th, 1996

Tonight's episode of Bushido hits TBS at 8:05 sharp with the final episode here in the Manhattan Center in Times Square NYC as we are set to move permanently to the Budokan Arena in Japan starting with next week's massive premier event. The crowd here is electric as Mike Tenay opens up the show with co-host Phillip Rhee(actor, screen play writer that starred in the Best Of The Best films that inspired the name of this promotion). We are going out with a bang here in the Manhattan Center with a HUGE night tonight, with our main event being a showdown between Minoru Suzuki vs Masakatsu Funaki, two all time legends here TONIGHT! Also we will have a showdown between two Japanese grappling masters when Sinae Kikuta takes on Satorshi Honma, and we will also hear Taz's response to the challenge laid down last week by kickboxing legend Don "The Dragon" Wilson! 


Championship Honor Ceremony:
Etsuko Mita(Undisputed Womens Neo-Eternal Champion)

The entire 7 man Championship Council(Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Nick Bockwinkle, Verne Gagne, Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, & Satoru Sayama) of Best Of The Best is on-hand in the ring along with several All Japan Women's wrestlers and figureheads with red velvet laid out in the ring for the honorary presentation of the new Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Champion... Etsuko Mita. Skyscrapower hits the speakers of the Manhattan Center to bring out the Champion Mita holding her glorious new title belt....

Etsuko Mita comes out holding back the emotions as she is fresh off of the huge upset victory over Kickboxing legend Kathy Long at BOTB V: A Matter Of Respect '96 on pay per view in Miami this past Sunday night to become the very first ever Champion. Mita takes the ring and is presented with flowers and an honorary plaque from the Championship Council in a massive showing of respect. Mita carried the honor of All Japan Women's Wrestling in her victory in Miami in one of the biggest showcases ever for Women's wrestling.

The head Councilman Lou Thesz cuts a brief promo stating that Mita's performance on Sunday night to win the title was a true representation of everything that Best Of The Best stands for in the sport of professional wrestling, honor, respect, determination. Thesz officially coronates Mita as the one true Undisputed Women's Champion of this sport as he presents her plaque commemorating becoming the first Neo-Eternal Champion ever.

During the standing ovation for Mita she is overwhelmed with emotion as her fellow All Japan Women's wrestlers circle around her to congratulate her when all of a sudden a blonde hair woman walks out down the isle looking on at the ring....

That's Alundra BLAYZE... With the old WWF Women's Championship BELT! 

Everything stops in the ring as Mita locks eyes on Blayze! What is THIS!? We haven't seen Blayze since last November's WWF Survivor Series pay per view event six months ago! Blayze does nothing but stand her ground wearing the WWF Women's belt around her waist with an intense stare towards Mita wearing the Undisputed Women's Neo-Hybrid Universal belt as security comes rushing out to get between Blayze and the ring. Unbelievable! Alundra Blayze has returned and she's HERE in Best Of The Best!.... 


Music Video:
Monster-Zero March(Yokozuna vs Butterbean II hype)

The music of Monster-Zero March plays through a hype video setting up the colossal rematch coming up next week. You've seen the hit film Jurassic Park that shattered box office records two years ago, now get ready for Jurassic Park 2, the upcoming rematch between two of the most powerful super-heavyweights in the world, former WWF Champion Yokozuna vs Toughman knockout legend... Butterbean! With a combined weight of over 1,000 pounds this will truly be a confrontation of Kong vs Godzilla proportions, the revenge match of the most watched episode of Bushido EVER! 

vs

Yokozuna vs Butterbean II

Next week on Bushido next Thursday night right here on TBS at 8:05pm!

The first battle ended with Yokozuna throwing Butterbean over the top rope to the floor in a bout that was contested under a hybrid rules setting of Sumo vs Toughman Boxing. Butterbean returned last week and scored a vicious knockout over UFC veteran and Kiyokushin Karate black belt, 6'8" Gerry Harris. Yokozuna will make his return from his devastating losses to Taz earlier this year and will look to assert himself back into contention for the Undisputed Championship with a big win. 

This bout will headline next week's episode of Bushido in the beginning of a new era for this program as we are set to move from the Manhattan Center here in New York to our new permanent filming home in the Budokan Arena in Japan! You do not want to miss this Superheavyweight showdown right here on Bushido NEXT WEEK! 


Hybrid Rules Bout: 
Sinae Kikuta vs Satoshi Honma

The crowd grows restless as this hybrid rules bout ends up in a grappling stalemate throughout most of the first 10 minute round. Commentators Mike Tenay and Phillip Rhee are at a loss for words with lots of dead airtime with little to nothing happening well into the 7 minute mark. All hybrid rules bouts here in Bushido are fought under a 3 round format, the first round is a true test of heart at 10 minutes long, then the 2nd and 3rd rounds are both 5 minutes each. This 10 minute first round drags on for what seems like forever as Kikuta's conservative grappling style has him holding Honma locked up in his guard with no action going at all. 

After referee Yuji Shimata restarts the bout standing the crowd lets both men have it as they end up right back in the exact same position once Kikuta clinches with Honma and pulls guard again. Honma can do nothing with Kikuta keeping his arms tied up in his guard. 

The NYC crowd begins to openly boo both men as the bout hits the 9 minute mark, somebody even throws a full drink into the ring just barely missing the ref! The clock winds down to the 10 minute mark but just seconds before the end of the round all of a sudden Paul E. Dangerously comes strutting out with none other than the massive 7'2" 500 pound GIANT that he debuted this past Monday night on Judgement Night.... 

The crowd goes NUTS! Mike Tenay freaks on commentary, what the heck is Paul E. doing here with this behemoth!? The Giant climbs over the top rope and violently pulls Honma out of Kikuta's guard and rips him up into a CHOKE SLAM! Honma is OUT! Kikuta scrambles to his feet and tries to lock up with the big man but gets choke slammed so hard he bounces off the canvas on impact! JESUS CHRIST! 

Paul E. Dangerously is fuming with intensity as the NYC crowd goes absolutely INSANE! This crowd is ELECTRIC! Paul E. scrambles out of the ring and blows the roof off of the Manhattan Center when he pulls out A TABLE and slides it into the ring! The Giant opens the table and lays Satoshi Honma onto it before pulling Kikuta up and CHOKE SLAMMING HIM ONTO HONMA THROUGH THE TABLE!.... Both men are DEAD! 

There is a spattering of E-C-DUB! chants from the NYC crowd as Paul E. looks around the Manhattan Center with his jowels trembling with intensity with The Giant screaming as he raises his hand up signifying the chokeslam! Good god almighty Satoshi Honma and Sinae Kikuta need medical attention immediately! What the heck is The Giant and Paul E. Dangerously doing here on Bushido!?.... They're not supposed to be here! 


Music Video/Training Montage:
The Eagle Lands by Paul Hertzog(Ultimo Dragon montage)

After the commercial break we get a special training montage of The Ultimo Dragon set to The Eagle Lands by Paul Hertzog off of the Kickboxer motion picture soundtrack... 

The Ultimo Dragon is shown training in the sanctuary of his hidden training complex deep within the jungles of Japan near a waterfall as he absorbs the energy of the nature that surround him. A white tiger is shown watching on from the distance as Dragon meditates near the waterfall...

Dragon is coming off of a huge win last week over top ranked Shooto fighter Joe Estes in a thrilling Hybrid Rules bout. The Ultimo Dragon thus far in 1996 has become the pride of the Bushido series, with an advanced hybrid style that seamlessly mixes martial arts and lucha libre in a style that nobody has been able to figure out how to stop so far. Many consider Ultimo Dragon as the second coming of Tiger Mask, a modern day version of Satoru Sayama. The Ultimo Dragon is currently ranked 4th in the official BOTB Top 10 Rankings with a 6-0-1 record, his only blemish being the draw that he went to with K-1 Kickboxing phenom Peter Aerts back in January in one of the signature matches that established the hybrid style of Bushido here on TBS on Thursday nights.... 


On-Location:
The Taz Dojo

Prior to the commercial break we get a shot of the Taz Dojo in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. The dojo is closed and dark, dank, nasty, with a wrestling ring in the background as Taz is shown kneeling with a shredded towel over his head as he answers the call of Don "The Dragon" Wilson's challenge laid out last week here on Bushido. Taz responds saying that he will take on Wilson any time any place, welcoming him to come to his dojo and face him in a "Dojo Challenge Match" with no rules. 

Taz insults all of the fake movie star martial artists like Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Jackie Chan, even insulting Bruce Lee for being a phony, saying there is a big difference between an actor and a real athlete with attitude like him. Taz claims to have one time respected Don "The Dragon" Wilson during his kickboxing days, but it made him sick to see him turn into yet another wanna be, a washed up piece of s#*t trying to live off his past glory, making bulls#*t b-movies, sitting around talking running his mouth on commentary about him. Taz warns Don Wilson that once he steps into the ring with him he crosses a line between fiction and reality, life and death.... 


Pancrase Rules Bout:
Minoru Suzuki(W/Eric Bischoff)
vs
Masakatsu Funaki

The tension is high during the intros as these two founding fathers of the Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling association are set to do battle here tonight in the Manhattan Center, bringing the Pancrase style they innovated here to the Bushido ring in New York! These two have met once before in Pancrase two years ago in a bout won by Funaki but this rematch is personal, Funaki has been chomping at the bit to get his hands on Suzuki ever since the betrayal back at BOTB III in the Tokyo Dome in March(where Suzuki turned on Team Inoki to help the KOK defeat them, giving them Lou Thesz's original World Title belt). 

Eric Bischoff stands in Suzuki's corner during the intros. Both men end up in a stunning counter and reversal sequence after an initial feeling out process. Funaki unloads with a flurry of palm strikes that stagger Suzuki but Suzuki fires back and rocks him with counter forearm strikes! Suzuki is forced to use 2 rope breaks after an aggressive submission assault from Funaki. Suzuki scrambles out of another armbar attempt and manages to capture Funaki's back in the middle of the ring, flattening him out and hooking him in a rear naked choke! Funaki refuses to tap as his face turns from purple to nearly black as he loses consciousness! The ref scrambles to call for the bell and struggles to pull Suzuki off of Funaki's lifeless body! This bout is OVER! Suzuki has choked Funaki unconscious in 3:09 of the first round in a STUNNING grappling showdown! Bischoff scrambles into the ring to raise Suzuki's hand in celebration with his smug smile! Funaki is frantically worked on by EMT's to try to revive him as Suzuki celebrates up on the corner. 

As Suzuki celebrates the win all of a sudden the crowd in the Manhattan Center goes nuts when Bret "The Hitman" Hart walks out to the entrance isle wearing his "Real" Championship belt, looking on at Suzuki with fire in his eyes! Suzuki locks eyes on Bret in a staredown from the ring as the copyright screen fades in to end tonight's broadcasts!.... 

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Breaking News(May 17th, 1996)

SEG set to file bankruptcy, UFC permanently out of business

In what has been a tumultuous week for the sport of Ultimate Fighting the latest news this afternoon is that the UFC promotion is officially dead after parent company SEG has announced that it will be filing for bankruptcy on the heels of the cancelled UFC IX PPV event that was supposed to happen tonight in Detroit. The SEG owner/president Robert Meyrowitz was found dead in his jacuzzi in his home after an apparent drowning on Monday morning. Later in the week the city of Detroit won a ruling to outlaw the sport of Ultimate Fighting that seen the UFC IX: Motor City Madness pay per view event cancelled entirely.

The ruling in Detroit is expected to set a precedent across North America with senator John McCain on a warpath to outlaw the sport of Ultimate Fighting on a federal level, a move that will stop any copycat promotions from popping up in the wake of the UFC's death. Another turn of events that will keep the UFC dead is that the Japanese Neo Zeed organization is already set to purchase the rights and film library of the UFC's previous 9 events(UFC 1 through 8 and the Ultimate Ultimate event that aired on PPV last December) with no official plans to use any of it(though rumors have circulated that they are negotiating to sign some of the UFC's stars to long term contracts for their Best Of The Best promotion, most notably the UFC Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock).

Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum(Jacksonville, FL)
May 18th, 1996

Saturday Night Shockwave hits the TBS airwaves with Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan opening the show on commentary as the packed Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum crowd is shown going CRAZY! We have a full 6 match card on hand with so much more for the next 2 hours including the 3rd battle between Owen & Bulldog vs The Pitbulls, Rey Mysterio and The Road Warriors in action, plus a showdown between former WCW and WWF World Champions when Ron Simmons takes on Bob Backlund, plus SO MUCH MORE!... 

Heenan and Shiavonne are shown at the commentary booth near the entrance stage hyping up the upcoming Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 pay per view coming LIVE on June 9th from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland! Call your cable or satellite provider now and order this pay per view spectacular, we will see the Undisputed World Champion "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels BACK in the ring to defend the most prestigious title in this sport today. If you are in the Baltimore area get your tickets for this event NOW!


Singles Match:
The Renegade
vs
Craig "The Pitbull" Pittman

Our opening match quickly loses the crowd as both men botch several moves. Pittman takes it to the ground in a sloppy grappling exchange where he tries a double wrist lock but struggles to apply it the right way, eventually just giving it up and getting up to put the boot to Renegade making his BOTB debut. Renegade no-sells Pittman's strikes and hulks-up, setting up a double clothesline spot where both men go down. The crowd has a spattering of boo's as both men stay down and out until all of a sudden a huge entity comes out of the back with Paul E. Dangerously!....

The crowd goes NUTS as the massive 7'4" 500 pound Giant struts down the elevated catwalk entrance ramp with Paul E. leading the way with a sick twisted grin of intensity! Shiavonne notes that we know who this man is we seen him in WCW last year, he's a former World Champion, but we have no idea what he's doing here in Best Of The Best with Paul E. Dangerously, he's wrecked every program of Best Of The Best television last week bringing nothing but violence and destruction!

The Giant climbs over the ropes and destroys Pittman with a nasty chokeslam before grabbing Renegade and dumping him out of the ring down THROUGH THE TIMEKEEPERS TABLE RINGSIDE ON THE FLOOR! Renegade smashes through the table with a sick crunch on impact! Paul E. gets the crowd going pointing to Pittman and signaling for 1 more! The Giant rips Pittman up and brutally bounces him off the canvas with another sick chokeslam! Paul E. gazes around the arena with a twisted intensity as the crowd goes bananas! 


In The Ring:
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson, & Dan "The Beast" Severn

After the first round of commercials we return with the Four Horsemen entrance music bringing out Ric Flair with Arn Anderson and current reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan "The Beast" Severn, the remaining members of the Four Horsemen after Chris Benoit(and Horsemen associate Dean Malenko) betrayed Flair and Arn to align with Shane Douglas this past Monday night on Judgement Night. 

The Nature Boy gets the crowd fired up with his intensity as he calls out Chris Benoit for turning on The Horsemen, screaming that Dean Malenko never was a Horsemen to begin with, and Shane Douglas is nothing more than a chump! Flair calls out Douglas, Malenko, and Benoit to face him, Arn, and Severn in a six man battle on Judgement Night to settle the score because THE BEAST IS BACK! Dan Severn stands proudly with Arn and Flair with his NWA belt as Flair sends the message to Ken Shamrock that he dodged a bullet last night when his fight with Severn was cancelled. Flair pledges that the Horsemen will continue to ride and they will rise back up to the top of this sport!.... 


Singles Match:
Rey Mysterio Jr. 
vs 
Gran Naniwa

Rey Mysterio Jr. returns to action tonight for the first time since he cost Sting's Squadron the War Games battle against the new Dangerous Alliance last month here on Shockwave. Shiavonne defends Mysterio to Heenan saying that even though Ken Shamrock had him in the submission he still never said "I Quit", instead it was Sting that was forced to say it while handcuffed to the fence in order to save Mysterio's career and possibly his life. 

Mysterio dazzles the crowd with incredible speed and agility in his comeback victory over Naniwa. Naniwa lands a beautiful plancha off the top turnbuckle down to hit Ray on the floor but after that it's all Rey, winning with an amazing rana pulling Naniwa off the top rope down into the canvas for the pin at 7:44! Rey Mysterio is back with a HUGE win! 


Backstage Interview:
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Mike Tenay is on edge and walking on egg shells as he has the unfortunate task of getting a backstage locker room interview with none other than undefeated 8th ranked contender "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who is set to take on Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka) from the Benny Hinn Ministries this Monday night on Judgement Night. Austin insults Chavis for trying to hide his history as Tatanka, saying he went from thumping on his tom tom to thumping on the bible pages, saying that he wants to bad to be a white man now to try the hide the yellow streak that runs down his back right to his ass! Austin promises to whoop Chavis' little indian ass right back to the church pew he got off of, and if anybody else from the Benny Hinn Ministries wants to stick their nose in the match they got an ass whooping coming too!

Austin gets more and more intense as he rambles on saying that he's seen enough of all the phonies running around here getting more TV time than he does, getting bigger matches. You got Bret Hart running around here with a fake Championship belt that isn't worth wiping his ass on, you got Shawn Michaels with his head wedged so far up the Kliq's asses he can't even see the forest through the trees, the fact of the matter is that Stone Cold is going to show everybody on Monday night what's going to happen when you get in Stone Cold's way and that's the bottom line!


Tag Team Match:
The Road Warriors(W/Kimona)
vs 
El Puerto Ricano & Joel Hartgood

Back to the ring and we have the smaller tag team of El Puerto Ricano and Joel Hartgood on standby ready for the next match when Iron Man by Black Sabbath hits to set the arena of with the loudest pop of the night! Hawk and Animal make their way out in their all black glory with the seductive Kimona leading them to the ring along to a bad ass red and black lazer light show that moves to the music! 

It's a total slaughter in the ring as Ricano and Hartgood are completely annihilated by Hawk and Animal with barbaric stiffness. Ricano gets flipped over and lands on his head after taking the Doomsday Device and this one is over quick, The Road Warriors demolish their opponents with ease in just 2:51! Hawk and Animal are back in black, they look to have regained their swagger and even look bigger and more muscular than what we seen when they returned earlier this year in their blue gear as the LOD..... 


On-Location: 
The Boiler Room

After the commercial break we get an odd backstage boiler room shot of Kevin Sullivan with Abdullah The Butcher, Luna Vachon, Meng, and what appears to be a man in the background wearing dark ugly brown gear with his back to the camera. Sullivan rambles on about the power that comes with owning one's soul. Sullivan calls out Raven saying that he wants his tortured soul and he will have what he wants eventually, challenging him to bring Venom and Stevie Richards to Judgement Night for a six man elimination fight to settle everything on Judgement Night this Monday night! Sullivan name drops the Benny Hinn Ministries for the light they have brought to the world, for showing Jake Roberts and Dustin Rhodes the light, while he's exposing the darkness, the ugliness, the evils of reality.

Kevin Sullivan talks about the mask he gave Cactus Jack on Judgement Night saying that when he put that mask on it signified the death of Cactus Jack, and the birth of.... Mankind....

The man in brown turns to face the camera revealing it to be Cactus wearing his new mask, completely evolved into something else entirely than what he started out as in Best Of the Best... as Mankind. His hair is missing in several spots as he cuts a disturbed promo about what pain really is, suffering of the mind, agony of the soul, let him be the bearer of all the pain in this world, for all(punches himself in the face brutally)... for all Mankind... have a nice day.... 


Tag Team Match:
The Pitbulls
vs
Owen Hart & The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette)

Back to the ring and we are set for the 3rd encounter between the Pitbulls vs Owen & Bulldog. The Pitbulls pulled off the upset over Owen & Bulldog in their first meeting a few weeks ago in World Tag League action in a loss that really cost Owen & Bulldog their grip on the Tiger Division. Owen and Bulldog got their revenge with a victory last week in the final week of the WTL '96 season but this rivalry has really heated up, particularly between Pitbull 2 and The British Bulldog after the encounter they had at BOTB V: A Matter Of Respect last weekend on PPV(Pitbull 2 knocked Bulldog out with his dog chain during their Wild Card bout against Benoit & Malenko).

Pitbull 2 is gaining momentum as a fan favorite with another impressive showing here, throwing Owen Hart around like a ragdoll, getting the crowd fired up with his power moves. Jim Cornette gets involved and helps turn the tide and it's all Owen & Bulldog dominating for several minutes. Pitbull 1 eventually gets the hot tag but as him and Owen go at it the ref loses control of the match. Bulldog and Pitbull 2 end up brawling on the floor into the crowd in a vicious punching exchange while Cornette knocks Pitbull 1 out with his tennis racket while the ref is distracted! Owen pulls Pitbull 1 into the Sharpshooter when the ref turns his attention back to the match just in time to drop PB1's arm three times, giving Owen & Bulldog the victory after 10:21!

It takes an entire mob of security agents and referee's to pull Bulldog and Pitbull 2 apart as their brawl spills into the backstage area until Pitbull notices his partner down and out in the ring knocked out, leaving to go help him! Bulldog unites with Owen and Cornette on the entrance ramp celebrating as Pitbull 2 eyes them from the ring!.... 


In The Ring:
The Steiner Brothers

After the commercial break we get Megadeth's Symphony Of Destruction dropping to bring out The Steiner Brothers to the ring for an interview with Mike Tenay! The Steiner Brothers came up short last weekend in the Dragon Division Finals match against the Eliminators but they still totally dominated the 1996 World Tag League season, going 9-1-2 and still being the ONLY team in BOTB to hold a victory over the current Undisputed World Tag Team Champions(The Eliminators).

Rick and Scotty cut a promo saying they are coming back on a war path to get their hands on the belts that Saturn and Kronus are wearing, stating that their series is tied up at 1-1-1, sending the warning that they are coming after them to settle who the best is once and for all! All of a sudden the interview is interrupted when Saturn and Kronus come out of the back wearing their belts! Security gets in between The Eliminators to hold them back from the ring as Rick and Scott go crazy calling them out to come get some! These are the best teams in the sport of wrestling and this rivalry is NOT over! NOTHING is over! 


Singles Match:
Ron Simmons
vs
Bob Backlund

We are set for our co-main event of the evening in a battle of former WCW vs WWF World Champions. Bob Backlund is already in the ring stretching and getting ready for action as Ron Simmons makes his entrance looking as jacked as ever. The former All American out of Florida State made an impressive debut on Judgement Night and is looking to crack into the Top 10 rankings in a career resurgence in 1996... 

Backlund is completely overwhelmed in a quick squash, with Simmons stunning him with an impressive flying shoulder tackle before putting him away with his Dominator for the pinfall in just 39 seconds! WOW! Backlund is OUT! Ron Simmons is officially back and better than ever! What a performance by the former Seminole! 


On-Location:
The Control Center W/Mike Tenay

Mike Tenay is shown in the control center in BOTB studios with all the hype and updates on the road to Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 set for June 9th live on pay per view from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland. We all know that Undisputed World Champion "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is set to defend his title against a yet-to-be named challenger.... 

The big match that has everybody talking is coming up THIS Monday night LIVE and FREE at 8pm on the USA Network on Judgement Night when the self proclaimed "Real" World Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart is set to put his unsanctioned title on the line against one of the most dangerous grapplers on the planet Minoru Suzuki, Eric Bischoff's secret weapon!.... 

Real World Championship Of Pro Wrestling
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) vs Minoru Suzuki(W/Eric Bischoff)
vs

Live on Judgement Night THIS MONDAY NIGHT!

Also on Judgement Night this Monday night we will see a six man ELIMINATION NO HOLDS BARRED Match with Kevin Sullivan, Mankind, and Meng taking on Raven, Venom, and Stevie Richards! Plus we will see the in-ring debut of the recently returned Mr. Perfect! Don't miss Judgement Night this Monday night LIVE on USA Network at 8pm! 

Tenay also hypes up next week's monumental episode of Bushido coming from the new permanent home in the Budokan Arena in Tokyo Japan with the massive main event rematch, it will be Yokozuna vs Butterbean II in hybrid rules action! Don't miss this highly anticipated SUPER-heavyweight showdown next Thursday night right here on TBS: The Superstation at 8:05 pm! 


Six Man Tag Match:
Shane Douglas, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, & "The Iceman" Dean Malenko(W/Rick Rude, Sable, & Sid)
vs
Chuck Colt, Terry Richards, & Don E. Allen

After the commercial break we get Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple bringing out Shane Douglas with his new associates Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit set for our six man main event bout. "Ravishing" Rick Rude leads the way with Sable clung to Douglas' side, with Sid bringing up the rear looking more psychotic than ever! 

Sid and Sable stalk the floor outside the ring as Rick Rude joins his old friend Bobby Heenan and Shiavonne on commentary, breaking the news that what you witnessed on Judgement Night on Monday Night was the death of the old Four Horsemen and the rebirth of a new Four Horsemen, Shane Douglas, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and SID! 

It's a total domination in the ring with Malenko mopping up the floor with Chuck Colt with impressive submission grappling, showcasing a wide array of holds in the small amount of time he's in the ring with him. Benoit is tagged in and works over all three men as they try to gang up on him. Benoit tosses Allen and Richards with suplexes before battering Colt down with chest chops in the corner. 

Benoit works Colt over in a rest hold while Rick Rude accepts Flair's challenge on commentary for a Six Man showdown on Judgement Night this Monday NIGHT! It will be Douglas, Benoit, and Malenko vs Flair, Arn, and Dan Severn! Rude also breaks the news that Sid has accepted Ahmed Johnson's challenge to go head to head at Best Of the Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96! Rude vows that this new Four Horsemen are about to take over this entire sport. 

Shane Douglas puts the team of jobbers out of their misery by finishing Colt off with a Rude Awakening for the pin at 5:59! Rude leaves his spot on commentary to join the celebration after Sid enters the ring and adds insult to injury, folding all three losers up with ridiculous POWERBOMBS! Sid is JACKED!  

Douglas, Sid, Malenko, and Benoit stand tall together with Sable and Rick Rude as the copyright screen fades in to end the broadcast, we will see you later tonight on WORLDWIDE!.....

©1996 Neo Zeed Corp.

Universal Studios Florida(Orlando, FL)
May 18th, 1996

Worldwide kicks off on late night Saturday night syndicated network television with a hard cut in to the smaller more intimate little orange and white color themed arena here in Universal Studios with Silver King and Cein Caras already in the ring ready for action! Joey Styles welcomes the television audience on commentary as Furnas and Lafon make their way out to the ring for tonight's opening match! We have a huge show tonight on Worldwide as we are now just 3 weeks away from the next BOTB pay per view spectacular on June 9th, it will be Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 LIVE from the Baltimore ARENA!... 


Tag Team Match:
The Can-Am Express(Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon)
vs
Silver King & Cein Caras

The bout starts off fast and action packed with Caras and Silver King flying around hitting quick lucha moves, dropkicks, planchas to the floor. Lafon is able to hang with the luchadores with a high flying style of his own while Furnas dominates both opponents with strength and suplexes, superior mat wrestling. Lafon finishes it with a beautiful reverse suplex/DDT hybrid move on Silver King off the middle turnbuckle for the pinfall at 5:15. 

Furnas and Lafon celebrate the win by shouting into the cameras that they want the Steiner Brothers! The Can Am Express gave the Steiners all they could handle in 2 incredible overtime battles in the World Tag League season, including taking them to a time limit draw in the rematch weeks ago.... 


Promo:
Alundra Blayze

After the match we get Joey Styles in the control center of the BOTB studios here in Universal Studios Florida with special guest Alundra Blayze holding the WWF Women's Championship belt. Blayze cuts a promo with Styles about her recent debut crashing the honorary ceremony on this past Thursday night's Bushido on TBS where the new Undisputed Neo-Eternal Women's Champion Etsuko Mita was being honored by the entire BOTB Championship Council as the first ever Champion.

Alundra Blayze disappeared after her final WWF appearance at Survivor Series 95 this past November, but she never did lose her WWF Women's Championship title. Blayze states that Mita's Championship is in fact very disputed by her, as she still considers herself the real women's champion of this sport. Blayze officially calls out Etsuko Mita to face her to unify the titles at Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96! Blayze states that she is not a kickboxer she's a wrestler, the best women's wrestler in North America and she's out to prove that she is in fact the best in the world. 


On Location:
The Control Center(W/Joey Styles)

After the break we return to Joey Styles in the control center of BOTB studios here in Orlando surrounded by sound mixing boards and television monitors. Styles hypes up this Monday night's LIVE episode of Judgement Night on the USA Network at 8pm with the HUGE main event set for right here in Orlando in the Orlando Arena! It will be Bret "The Hitman" Hart putting his self proclaimed "Real" World Championship on the line against one of the most dangerous shooters in the history of this sport, Minoru Suzuki! Eric Bischoff is out to take Bret out after The Hitman brought in Steven Seagal and Royce Gracie to dismantle the Kings Of Kings on pay per view back at A Matter Of Respect '96, while Bret is out to prove that his Championship title is as real as it gets.... 

Real World Championship Of Professional Wrestling
Bret "The Hitman" Hart(C) vs Minoru Suzuki(W/Eric Bischoff)
vs

This Monday night LIVE on Judgement Night @8pm on the USA Network from the Orlando Arena in Orlando FL!

This will be an episode of Judgement Night that you truly do not want to miss! Along with Bret vs Suzuki we will see the highly anticipated six man showdown between Shane Douglas, "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, and "The Iceman" Dean Malenko taking on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson, and Dan "The Beast" Severn! We will also see Mr. Perfect in action as well as the highly anticipated showdown between unbeaten contenders "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Chris Chavis! We are also expecting Shawn Michaels and the full Kliq to be in the house, it all goes down on Monday night LIVE on Judgement Night on the USA Network at 8pm from the Orlando Arena in Orlando FLORIDA! 

Joey Styles segues into promoting the huge SUPER-heavyweight showdown set for Bushido this Thursday night on TBS at 8:05, as Bushido makes its premier from the new permanent home at the Budokan Arena in Tokyo Japan! It will be the rematch of the most watched bout in Bushido's young history so far as Yokozuna returns to take on Butterbean! All eyes will be on the Budokan Arena in Tokyo for this hybrid rules rematch!.... 

Hyrbid Rules Match
Sumo vs Toughman
Yokozuna vs Butterbean II

vs

This Thursday night on Bushido at 8:05pm on TBS from the Budokan Arena in JAPAN!

Then on Saturday night on TBS at 6:05 we are set for a STACKED episode of Saturday Night Shockwave from Charleston South Carolina with the big news coming out that "The Macho Man" Randy Savage is set to return in a special ceremony with Ms. Elizabeth as the sports favorite couple are set to renew their wedding vows! It will be a match made in heaven all over again, Savage and Elizabeth in a special wedding ceremony renewing their vows. We seen Elizabeth return to help Savage after his loss to Sting two weeks ago when Savage went after Paul E. Dangerously following his loss.

Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony

"The Macho Man" Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth]

This Saturday night on Shockwave on TBS at 6:05pm!

It will also be a match made in HELL as both Vader and Sabu are expected to be in the building, with these two rivals we know all too well that ANYTHING can happen. Also on the program we will see the new persona of Cactus Jack.... MANKIND taking on Raven's muscle VENOM one on one! Plus Harlem Heat, Jake "The Snake", and The British Bulldog all in action next Saturday Night on SHOCKWAVE!... 

Joey Styles wraps up his Control Center update with the latest updates on the upcoming pay per view spectacular set for June 9th at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland, it will be Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96! The whole sports world is still raving over BOTB V: A Matter Of Respect '96 as perhaps a landmark event in the rising of this promotion. You do not want to miss this follow up pay per view on June 9th as the best in this business, the current reigning and defending Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is set to return to the ring to defend his strap! Also set and signed will be the big heavyweight showdown that everyone is talking about, Ahmed Johnson will return to the ring from his back injury suffered at the Hoosier Dome last month to take on the man that put him out of action, former WCW and WWF Heavyweight Champion "Psycho" Sid Vicious!.... 

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Ahmed Johnson vs Sid LIVE on pay per view June 9th from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland!

It all goes down in 3 weeks at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore Maryland LIVE on pay per view on June 9th, tickets are still available but they are going fast! Call your cable or satellite provider and order NOW!... 


Survivor Elimination Tag Match:
The Benny Hinn Ministries(W/Ted Dibiase)
(Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Chris Chavis, Dustin Rhodes, Scotty Riggs, & Marcus Bagwell)
vs
King Kong Bundy, Mike Rotunda, Kama, Nikolai Volkoff, & Brian Adams

After another commercial break we get the former Million Dollar Corporation members wrapping up their entrances for our following special Survivor Elimination Tag Match! During their intros we get a side-cut in of a backstage interview with teh group with King Kong Bundy shouting that Ted Dibiase sold them out, leaving all 5 of them high and dry after they carried him to dominate the WWF for the last 2 years. Bundy screams that tonight it's about revenge and it's personal, the Hinn Ministries are going down!

Joan Osborne's "One Of Us" brings out the united group of Dustin Rhodes, Jake "The Snake", Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka), and the American Power Team(Riggs & Bagwell) with Ted Dibiase holding a bible leading them to the ring. The group stops before the ring and holds a group prayer before getting the bout under way.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts takes the lead for the Hinn Ministries and takes on the debuting Brian Adams in a dominant performance, showcasing a renewed vigor and drive after getting clean off of drugs and alcohol with the help of the Benny Hinn Ministry. Dustin Rhodes gets tagged in and keeps it hot, he's been cured of the disease of the bizarre sexuality he showed as the Goldust persona in the WWF last year(also after patching up his rocky relationship with his father Dusty). Chavis shows the effect of whitening his skin through skin bleaching treatments and ridding himself of the savage native american beliefs to accept Jesus as his lord and savior.

The team of Riggs and Bagwell take over and work together to eliminate the massive King Kong Bundy first at the 3 minute mark with impressive teamwork to pin him after double team dropkicks! Several minutes later it's Jake The Snake that takes out Brian Adams with his DDT for the pinfall! Kama puts up a good fight working over the APT but Riggs makes the hot tag to Chavis, who comes in and eliminates him after his Revelations Drop for the pin! Kama is eliminated! It's down to Mike Rotunda and Nikolai Volkoff against the entire 5 man team of Benny Hinn Ministries! Dustin Rhodes comes in and dominates Rotunda but gets dropped with a big suplex before the tag is made to Volkoff. Volkoff comes in wearing Rhodes down with rest holds before and after the commercial break.

After the commercials we return with Rhodes still being worn down in the rest hold by Volkoff but Dibiase prays for him on the apron, while the rest of his team rallies the crowd to support him to make the big comeback! Rhodes gets out of the hold and puts Volkoff away with his Lonestar State Of Mind (Lifting falling inverted DDT/hangman's neckbreaker) for the pin! 

Its down to Mike Rotunda as the lone survivor against the full team of Benny Hinn Ministries! Rotunda makes a strong stand after taking Rhodes out to the floor and suplexing him onto the padded concrete to knock him out! Chaos breaks out as Rotunda fights off the rest of team Hinn with a steel chair while Rhodes is COUNTED OUT! Dustin Rhodes is eliminated! Rotunda makes a huge push and manages to eliminate both Riggs and Bagwell, taking out Riggs with his Write-Off flying clothesline! Bagwell comes in looking good but misses a flying dropkick and gets caught in a small package rollup! Bagwell is ELIMINATED! 

Mike Rotunda is making a stand against his former Tag Team partner Ted Dibiase's new faction! This is PERSONAL! Rotunda has eliminated the APT and Dustin Rhodes, it's down to Rotunda vs Chris Chavis and Jake "The Snake"! Roberts comes in taking the fight to Rotunda but the two men spill out to the floor! The referee is distracted trying to hold Chris Chavis back as Rotunda drops Jake on the padded floor with a slam before grabbing the steel chair and going after Ted Dibiase! Roberts recovers and stops the chair swing at the last second, taking the chair and hammering Rotunda in the back just as the ref turns his attention back to them! The ref calls for the bell and Jake "The Snake" is ELIMINATED via DISQUALIFICATION! 

UNBELIEVABLE! The crowd here in the smaller little BOTB Arena at Universal Studios is LIT! It's down to Mike Rotunda vs Chris Chavis as the final sole survivors! Rotunda recovers in the ring but is no match for the spirited Chavis, who beats him down and finishes him with his Revelations Drop to finally put him away with a pin, winning it for the Benny Hinn Ministries after a thrilling and action packed 14:11! WHAT A MATCH! 

Roberts, Rhodes, Riggs, and Bagwell return to unite with Dibiase in lifting Chris Chavis up on their shoulders for a huge passionate celebration! What a moment! The Benny Hinn Ministries celebrate the win as Mike Rotunda makes his exit with Joey Styles praising his effort, what a performance here tonight from the former NCAA wrestler and former WWF tag champion, he made a strong statement here tonight even though he came up short! 


Promo:
Chris Benoit(W/Dean Malenko, Shane Douglas, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Sid, & Sable)

After another commercial break we get a shot somewhere outdoors at night with Chris Benoit, "The Crippler" with Dean Malenko by his side with Shane Douglas in the background rubbing his hands together alongside Sable, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and Sid lurking over the entire promo standing over everybody. Malenko stands silent next to Benoit with an icy demeanor while Benoit cuts a promo about why he turned his back on Flair, Arn, Severn and the Horsemen. Benoit proclaims that Flair and Arn were hung up in the past, that they couldn't see that him and Malenko would have captured the Undisputed Tag Titles at A Matter Of Respect if they had just well enough alone. Benoit cites that him and Malenko went 4-0-1 in the World Tag League once Malenko replaced Arn after his collar bone injury, that the mistake to pull Malenko out at the last minute to put the old dinosaur Arn back in only cost them the belts. 

Benoit makes the bold statement that now him, Malenko, Douglas, and Sid are the ultimate force in this sport. Benoit sends the message that he is taking the Horsemen name and that this new 4 man alliance is the NEW Four Horsemen! Benoit sends the message to Flair, Arn, and Dan Severn that they will prove who the real Horsemen are on Judgement Night when they take them on in six man action! The camera focuses in on Douglas as he laughs and holds up the four fingers..... 

 
Tag Team Match:
Harlem Heat
vs
The New Thrillseekers(Lance Storm & Johnny Smith)


After the final commercial break we get the New Thrillseekers wrapping up their entrances with Lance Storm and his new tag team partner Johnny Smith, the British wrestler that has really made waves in AJPW over the last few years as one of the finest technicians in the sport. Storm turned his back on longtime partner "Lionheart" Chris Jericho over his frustrations with their losses and falling out of contention in the World Tag League towards the end of the season.

Harlem Heat get the Universal Studios Florida crowd all raising the roof as they make their entrance next all fired up! Booker T and Stevie Ray are introduced as the Tiger Division Champions of the World Tag League, they came up just short against The Eliminators in the finals of the WTL for the Undisputed World Tag Titles.

Storm and Johnny Smith dominate the early parts of the match with Lance Storm surprising both Booker and Stevie Ray with a strong performance, a beautiful hybrid style of technical mat wrestling and high flying that puzzles Harlem Heat early on. Storm tags in Johnny Smith who comes in looking great dominating Booker T on the mats with submission holds. All of a sudden the crowd goes nuts as "Lionheart" Chris Jericho runs out and goes right after Lance Storm in a wild attack! Both men roll around on the floor slugging it out in a wild street fight style scrap!

Back in the ring Harlem Heat rally to overwhelm Johnny Smith! Booker makes the hot tag to Stevie Ray and the duo work together to put Smith away with their Heatseeker for the pinfall victory at 6:11! Harlem Heat celebrate the win as officials work to pull Jericho and Storm apart as the copyright screen fades in to end this week's show! WE WILL SEE YOU ON JUDGEMENT NIGHT!....

Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96
Baltimore Arena(Baltimore, MD)
June 9th, 1996 
 


Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels(C) vs Shane Douglas(W/Sable & "Ravishing" Rick Rude)
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Heavyweight Showdown
Ahmed Johnson vs Sid(W/"Ravishing" Rick Rude)
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Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship
Etsuko Mita(C) vs Alundra Blayze
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Maximum Violence Match
Vader(W/Jim Cornette) vs Sabu II
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Undisputed World Tag Team Championship
The Eliminators(C) vs Gary Albright & Stan Hansen

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First Blood Match
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Cactus Jack(W/Ted Dibiase)
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Grudge Match
"Lionheart" Chris Jericho vs Lance Storm
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Dog Collar Match
The British Bulldog(W/Jim Cornette) vs Pitbull 2
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The Countdown to Undisputed Attitude '96!

If you were to ask the question today on June 9th 1996; "Who are the 2 most dynamic athletes in the world?", there would be 2 names at the top of that list. One of them is Michael Jordan of the NBA Champion Chicago Bulls, the other is Best Of The Best reigning Undisputed World Champion; "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels....

Shawn Michaels has taken over the sport of professional wrestling in 1996. HBK won the Undisputed title by outlasting 29 other world champions from all around the world across all combat sports in the 30 Man Champions Rumble back at BOTB I in January at The Astrodome in Houston. Immediately after winning the match Michaels defeated "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair to win the strap. Michaels' first defense was victory over Mexico's Heavyweight Champion; Konnan, in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to unify the titles before avenging his lone loss in BOTB with a victory over Sting in their rematch at BOTB II in Las Vegas. After a controversial victory over Bret Hart in the 60 Minute Ironman Match in Japan at BOTB III(in a bout that was overturned into a no contest by the BOTB Championship Council) Michaels would dominate "The Macho Man" Randy Savage at BOTB IV in Chicago(with the debut of Diesel & Razor backing him up to fight off the Dangerous Alliance and help him win).

Now that the Kliq has HBK's back, he's set to return to pay per view to defend his title against a new dominant force in the sport; Shane Douglas. Douglas has been one of the most censored personalities in cable television in America in 1996 with his profane diatribes across all BOTB television broadcasts. Shane spun out of the death of the Dangerous Alliance in April to reveal his manager the returning "Ravishing" Rick Rude. The signs were there through the months of March and April as Douglas began using the "Rude Awakening" as a new finisher. Douglas stole Marc Mero's wife Sable in a shocking twist during their strap match, then had the return of "Psycho" Sid Justice to help him takedown Hulk Hogan and Ahmed Johnson in a stunning upset in their Three Way match at the Hoosier Dome(in the most watched, highest rated broadcast in BOTB this year). With Rude as his new advisor, Sable, and Sid providing his muscle, Douglas was able to take over Best Of The Best when he reunited with Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko after their betrayal of The Four Horsemen.

Douglas with Malenko, Benoit, and Sid took claim of being the "New Four Horsemen" of the 90's after big wins over Arn, Flair, and Dan Severn, including Douglas' huge one on one victory over Ric Flair at BOTB V last month. The Horsemen would reunite with former member Barry Windham to keep the heritage alive, but Windham, Flair, Arn, and Severn were no match for Douglas, Malenko, Benoit, and Sid with Sable and Rude tipping the odds.

Shane Douglas rose to the top of the rankings of BOTB through 1996 with the most wins in the promotion(11) including the win over Flair last month, along with his huge win over Hogan/Ahmed in Three Way action back in the Hoosier Dome putting him at the front of the line for a shot at the one man he's run his mouth about the most all year; Shawn Michaels. The bitterness between Shane Douglas towards the Kliq has been well documented stemming from their rivalry in the WWF last year. The past caught up with the Kliq in BOTB this Spring as Shane Douglas, Sid, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit targeted Michaels, Diesel, Razor, The Kid, and Hunter....

The main event was set with Shane Douglas challenging Undisputed World Champion Shawn Michaels for his belt at BOTB VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 tonight at the Baltimore Arena! The rivalry heated up last week on BOTB television as Douglas scored a huge win over Hunter Hearst Helmsley on Judgement Night(with help from Sable), while Michaels put on an incredible performance in taking down both Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit in back to back matches. Michaels put Benoit down with the Sweet Chin Music for the pin in an incredible 10:44 battle, then had to defend his title immediately in a match set up against "The Iceman" Dean Malenko. Malenko nearly upset Michaels in a stunning 18:12 match before interference from Sid was fought off by Ahmed Johnson and The Kliq. HBK would go on to defeat Malenko with a backslide to survive a true test of heart in 2 unbelievable matches back to back. Shane Douglas would stand tall at the end of the night after dropping Michaels in the aftermath and standing over him holding the Undisputed World Title.....

A major plot twist in the main event Undisputed Title match was revealed last night on Shockwave when Rick Rude revealed the legal restraining order put on the Kliq, with Baltimore Police expected to be in full force to keep Diesel, Razor, Kid, and Hunter from even being allowed inside the Baltimore Arena to watch HBK's back! If Michaels is going to take down Shane Douglas and the self proclaimed "New" Four Horsemen to keep his Undisputed title, he will have to do it alone! Michaels vs Douglas TONIGHT LIVE ON PPV for the UNDISPUTED TITLE! 

The co-main event is the heavyweight showdown of the year, a clash between the phenomenon of Ahmed Johnson taking on "Psycho" Sid Justice! Sid made his debut back at the Hoosier Dome on Judgement Night when he helped Shane Douglas defeat Hulk Hogan and Ahmed in a 3 way match. Sid powerbombed Ahmed through the commentary table and gave him a back injury that put him out of action for weeks. Ahmed returned and went right after Sid, with the head to head match being set up immediately for tonight's BOTB VI PPV!

Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 will not be for the feint of heart. Make no mistake about it, this will not be a family friendly event. This pay per view will be raw, uncensored, and offensive. There will be blood, and there will be extreme violence. The rematch between Vader and Sabu tonight in the Baltimore Arena will raise the bar and push the envelope with what is and isn't legal in televised combat sports. This match will be fought under the most extreme rules allowable in North America..... Maximum Violence.... 

The saga of Cactus Jack has been an up and down odyssey ever since he debuted in BOTB with his ECW World Tag Team Champion partner Mikey Whipreck back in January. It was one of the most controversial moments on live television this year when Steve Austin jumped the guard rail and attacked Mikey Whipreck on Judgement Night early this year. The attack left Whipreck legitimately paralyzed from the chest down, bound to a wheel chair as a paraplegic  for the rest of his life. The emotional damage from losing Mikey combined with a series of bad concussions Cactus Jack suffered sent him off into a major personality shift. Kevin Sullivan's mind games pulled him away from Raven's control and converted Cactus into a new persona altogether, donning a mask, giving birth to.... Mankind. 

Through the month of May the mind games back and forth with Raven vs Kevin Sullivan seen some of the wildest moments on BOTB TV(including Raven being strung up on an upside down crucifix). In the middle of it was Mankind, who had caught the attention of Ted Dibiase's Benny Hinn Ministries group. The Benny Hinn Ministries had brought in Dustin Rhodes(claiming to have been cured of bizarre sexuality disease displayed as Goldust last year), Chris Chavis(formerly Tatanka, renouncing all of his Native American beliefs and identity to embrace Jesus), and Jake "The Snake" Roberts(having been healed of drugs and alcohol addiction through Hinn's supernatural blessing) combined with The American Power Team(Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs, formerly American Males). Jake "The Snake" Roberts got involved in a 3 way tug of war for Cactus Jack's soul with Raven and Kevin Sullivan in May. The Hinn group reached out to the paralyzed friend of Cactus; Mikey Whipreck, vowing to have Benny Hinn's conduit of supernatural healing power from Jesus bring Mikey back to walking again... 

In a shocking twist 2 weeks ago on Judgement Night, it was revealed that Cactus Jack was brought to Benny Hinn's televised program to be saved from the clutches of evil. Cactus removed his Mankind mask on Hinn's stage before being sent into a catatonic seizure with the swipe of his hands. Cactus Jack awakened as a new member of Ted Dibiase's Hinn Ministry family. The Hinn Ministries simultaneously had began to court "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in an attempt to save his soul. Stone Cold has had intense battles with Hinn's Dustin Rhodes and Chris Chavis in singles action, refusing to accept Dibiase's offers for prayer and fellowship. After Dibiase and Hinn's new relationship with Mikey Whipreck, the feud with Stone Cold has heated up and escalated into a personal vendetta. The Hinn Ministries have promised a live faith healing with Mikey Whipreck on Judgement Night tomorrow night(the night after BOTB VI) with faith that Hinn will make Mikey walk again LIVE from the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Austin has been set to take on the new "turn the other cheek" cleaned up version of Cactus Jack in a FIRST BLOOD MATCH tonight on BOTB VI! The first man to bleed loses! 

The rivalry that has developed between The British Bulldog and Pitbull 2 will culminate tonight in their DOG COLLAR MATCH, with both men connected with a steel chain. This rivalry has seen the wrestling career of Pitbull 1 brought to an end with a brutal back injury at the hands of Owen & Bulldog. Pitbull 2 got revenge two weeks ago on Judgement Night by breaking Owen Hart's arm on live television, putting him in a cast. This dog collar battle between these two rising heavyweight killers will be another violent confrontation that could see blood spilled. 

Best Of The Best VI: Undisputed Attitude '96 is live on pay per view tonight from the Baltimore Arena. Pick up your phone and call your local cable or satellite provider and order now! Also tonight on the card we will see 2 major titles on the line, with the Undisputed Women's Neo-Eternal Championship and Undisputed World Tag Team Championship belts on the line! Etsuko Mita will defend her Women's strap against the dominant American force Alundra Blayze, who still has a claim as the top female in the world after having never lost the WWF Women's title. The Tag Champs The Eliminators are set to taken on international challengers from All Japan when they take on the duo of Stan Hansen and Gary Albright. Plus the Thrillseekers collide as "Lionheart" Chris Jericho faces off against Lance Storm for the very first time in a heated rivalry that has been heating up since the team split up. All of this plus a LIVE music performance from SLAYER! It will be UNDISPUTED ATTITUDE '96!