Trump Wrestlng Association (TWA): Trump Card
May 24, 2015 21:32:13 GMT -5
Post by Leo on May 24, 2015 21:32:13 GMT -5
Segment 1: Introduction by Donald Trump
The camera opens on a wide shot of a sold out crowd at Trump Plaza. It then cuts to a tighter shot of Donald Trump standing in the ring smiling. He waves to the cheering crowd to settle down so he can speak.
Trump: I want to welcome the thousands here in Trump Plaza and the millions – that’s right, I said millions – watching around the world to the first Trump Wrestling Association show – Trump Card.
The crowd cheers.
Trump: Many know I’ve been around wrestling a long time. Right here at Trump Plaza we hosted Wrestlemania IV and V and at Wrestlemania 23 myself and Vince McMahon – my close personal friend – put our hair on the line in a match with Bobby Lashley fighting for me and Umaga for McMahon. I think we all remember how that ended.
Trump runs his fingers through his hair and there is a slight twitter of laughter from the crowd.
Trump: I called Vince and said to him ‘hey, what do you think about me starting a wrestling promotion.’ You know what he said to me? ‘Don’t do it.’ Now, whether he was looking out for me or didn’t want me beating him at his own game is hard to say.
But, I did what I always do. I surrounded myself with the best people and I’m going to let them run the show, only making the big decisions when I need to. People might say I’m crazy to let the lunatics run the asylum, but I want the wrestlers to be free to have the matches and opponents they want. More importantly, I want the fans to be free to see the matches and opponents they want.
One way we’re going to do that, something that’s never been done in wrestling before, is let the fans every week through Twitter choose the match stipulation for the TWA Wild Card Title match. Use #TWAWC and suggest a stipulation you want to see and whatever tweet gets the most favorites will be the one we’ll use. Tonight, we’re going to crown a champ in a 10 man battle royal.
You’ll also see tonight two tag team matches where the winners will move onto a tornado tag at our next show – Four the Hard Way – to become the first ever TWA Tag Team Champions.
We’re also going to have four qualifying matches where the winners will go onto a match to crown the first ever TWA World Champion at Four the Hard Way. I’m very excited about this, because I’m told this has never been done in wrestling before. It’s going to be a four man gauntlet match, inside a steel cage.
The fans pop big for that announcement. Trump raises his hand to calm them down again.
Trump: Look, I’ve talked enough. Let’s see some wrestling. Everybody, enjoy Trump Card.
Segment 2: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Jake Roberts vs. Stardust with post-match promo
Eden Stiles: This is the first qualifying match for the TNA World Title Match at Four the Hard Way. Introducing first from the Fifth Dimension. Weighing in at 220 pounds. This..is…Stardust!
Gordon Solie: Good evening, ladies and gentleman. This is your announcer Gordon Solie here at ringside and with me as my broadcast partner, Wayne Farris, better known to most as the Honky Tonk Man.
HTM: I’m excited to be here in TWA and sitting here with you, Gordon, but not to see this painted purple freak coming to the ring. I can’t call him Stardust, that’s Cody Rhodes. I’ve known him since he was a little, bitty boy hanging out backstage with his father, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, and his brother, Dustin Rhodes. Now, I know Dustin has played Golddust for years, but notice I said play. That was always a psyche out on Dustin’s part, I know that, but I think this has gone beyond that for Cody. He’s genuinely a few fries short of a happy meal.
Stiles: And his opponent, from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and weighing in at 249 pounds, Jake “the Snake” Roberts.
Solie: This is another man you know well, Wayne.
HTM: I sure do Gordon. And I can tell you that the number one thing you need in the ring going against Jake Roberts is focus. You give him the slightest opportunity and he’ll take advantage of it. And focus, Gordon, is one thing I don’t think Cody has.
………
(Cut to match finish)
Roberts whips Stardust into the corner and charges with a high knee. Stardust grabs the corner ropes and pushes himself up to avoid Roberts and stand on the top turnbuckle.
Roberts stumbles backwards and Rhodes comes off the top with a splash, but Roberts sidesteps him and Cody hits the mat. Jake pulls him up by his hair and signals for the DDT by swirling his pointed index finger in the air. Rhodes pushes Jake into the ropes and they tumble to the floor.
The men struggle up and Rhodes lunges at Roberts. Jake sidesteps slightly and takes Cody by the back and throws him shoulder first into the outside ring post. Roberts hooks Cody from behind and delivers a backdrop suplex. Roberts rolls Stardust into the ring and slithers in behind him, covering for two.
Roberts pulls Rhodes up and signals for the DDT again. Cody tries to drive Roberts into the ropes again, but he crosses his feet over to trip Stardust up and he flows cleaning into a DDT for the loss.
Stiles: Your winner…
Roberts: Give me that microphone.
Roberts gruffly takes the microphone away from Stiles. She looks scared and exits the ring. Roberts rubs at the purple face paint from Stardust across his chest and face from being close to each other in the match.
Roberts: You know what Stardust with his painted face and dolled up lips reminds me of? A little boy playing with his mother’s makeup because he wants to be pretty like mommy. Well, this ring is no place for a boy playing dress up. It’s for a man.
Roberts drops to the mat and slithers over to the still out Rhodes. He rises into a crouching position and holds his face very close to Rhodes with the microphone in between.
Roberts: If you can hear my voice you might think it’s the voice of God. Heh, far from it Cody. But if you can register what I’m saying, know this, if you want to be a man, a real man. If you want to be a greater wrestler than your brother or father ever dreamed of being, then come find me. I can do for you what your family obviously never did. Trust me…
Roberts slithers out of the ring, grabs Damien in his bag from the corner and walks to the back.
Segment 3: Backstage Interview with the Rock
Solie: We now go to the back where our Bob Uecker is with the next man we’re told will compete in the TWA title tournament tonight, The Rock.
Uecker: That’s right, Gordon, I’m here with the Rock and this must be the front row.
Rock glowers at Uecker.
Uecker: You know…this must be the front row, I said it in that commercial.
Rock: It doesn’t matter what you said when or what your name is. Know your role and shut your mouth. Give me that microphone.
Rock takes the microphone from Uecker and steps in front of him.
Rock: The Rock is here in TWA for one reason. And that is to become the TWA World Champion and take this company to heights no other wrestling organization has ever been to because the Rock will be at the helm from the start.
Donald Trump, The Donald, he came to the Rock before anybody else. He said ‘Rock, I need you. I can’t make this work without you.’ I talked to my father, the great Rocky Johnson, who is here tonight, and he said ‘Rock, Donald Trump has a vision. A vision to take wrestling back to what it was like when I started out. A vision to let the focus be on matches and personalities and letting wrestlers be themselves and not what a platoon of soap opera writer rejects in the back told them say.’
You see the Rock became the Rock when he said screw what you want me to be, I’m the Rock and the Rock is a man that bridges the old and the new. The Rock is a man that bridges in ring and out of ring excellence. The Rock is a man that dishes it out and takes it right back. The Rock is the man that is going to make TWA the only wrestling company on the lips of the millions…and millions of wrestling fans the world over. If you smell…what the Rock is cooking!
Segment 4: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – The Rock vs. Rocky Johnson
Stiles: Our next match is another qualifier for the TWA World Title match at Four the Hard Way.
“If you smell….”The crowd goes nuts as familiar music hits.
Stiles: From Miami, Florida, at a weight of 265 pounds. The Rock!!!
Solie: This young man gets a reaction from the crowd like none I’ve ever heard.
HTM: Well, that doesn’t mean anything if you can’t bring it in the ring. However, as much as it pains me to admit it Gordon, the Rock does that. Nothing intimidates him and nothing throws him off his game.
Stiles: And his opponent…
Stiles pauses as it appears she’s seeing the name on her card for the first time. The Rock stops playing to the crowd and shoots Stiles a look of ‘out with it woman.’
Stiles: And his opponent, at 260 pounds from Washington D.C….Rocky Johnson.
The Rock spins around to face the entrance ramp. He rips off his sunglasses and drops them to the mat. Johnson enters from the back with a solemn look on his face and walks slowly to the ring.
HTM: It looks like I spoke too soon Gordon, something can throw the Rock.
Solie: I can’t believe this. The Rock’s opponent for this qualifier match is going to be his own father, an accomplished wrestler in his own right, Rocky Johnson. It’s obvious from his expression that the Rock didn’t know he would be facing his father. From what I’ve been told, nobody knows who they’ll be facing tonight and, in some instances, not all the matches have even been booked to give a spontaneous feel to the show.
The Rock and Rocky stand facing each other in the ring. The Rock looks conflicted, but Johnson has a stolid look on his face. He raises his fists and says “come on.”
The mics on the cameras pick up Rock saying “I’m not going to fight you dad, I’m not.”
Johnson bites his lower lips and raises his fists higher. “I didn’t raise my son to back down from a fight. Now, come on.”
“No, dad. We’re not doing this,” the Rock says as he raises his hands in defeat. He goes through the ropes and to the floor.
Solie: If Rock refuses to compete tonight, then Johnson will advance by default.
The Rock walks up the ramp to some slight boos. However, a roar slowly rises up as Johnson jumps to the floor and storms up the aisle to grab his son with a full nelson. He turns the Rock around and marches him back to ringside. He tosses Rock into the ring and follows. The Rock springs to his feet to fight his dad, both men now with determined looks in their eyes. They lock up to a cheer from the audience.
………
Cut to the finish.
Johnson drives Rock into the corner with a series of lefts and rights. He mounts the corner and raises a fist high. He fires it down and the fans count away. 1…2…3…4…Rock picks up his dad and marches out of the corner to deliver an inverted atomic drop. Johnson hunches over from the pain. Rock leans into the ropes and comes off with a running clothesline to put Johnson down. He pops up and takes another clothesline. He rises again and takes another clothesline.
Johnson doesn’t get up this time. Rock slips off his elbow pad and throws it to the crowd. They roar, knowing what is coming next. The Rock goes into the ropes and sets up for the People’s Elbow. Just as he goes to drop his arm, he stops.
Solie: He can’t do it. The Rock can’t finish off his own father.
Johnson reaches out and grabs the Rock’s foot for a heel pick. He flops to the mat and Johnson comes up and then down with a knee drop. Johnson takes off his own elbow pad and throws it to the crowd. He goes to the ropes.
HTM: I can’t believe it, Gordon, Rocky is going to beat his son with his own move!
Johnson goes through his son’s familiar gyrations and then drops to the mat with an elbow drop. It misses as Rock rolls to the side and to his feet. Rocky pops up and walks straight into the Rock Bottom. Rock pauses and tears can be seen clearly in his eyes. He lifts Johnson up and slams him down. Rock covers for the win.
Segment 5: Backstage confrontation between the Rock and Curt Hennig
The Rock stalks through the halls in the back.
Rock: Where’s Trump? Who booked that match?
“We did…” a voice calls from off camera.
The Rock turns his head and the camera follows to reveal “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig with his arms crossed leaning against a wall. Bobby Heenan stands next to him sideways with his left hand up against the wall.
Heenan: Well, we suggested it to Trump and he thought it was a great way to see what kind of wrestler he was really getting in you.
See, Rock you always think you’re above everybody and one step ahead of everybody. That’s made you complacent. That’s made you soft. We’re just trying to bring the edge back out in you to justify Mr. Trump’s investment.
Rock: Somehow, I highly doubt that’s your intentions.
The Rock slides closer to Hennig. They’re faces are barely apart, but Hennig doesn’t flinch. He smirks.
Hennig: Rock, you’ll never intimidate me and you’ll never get the better of me. You know why…because unlike you, I’m perfect.
Heenan and Hennig walk away. The camera zooms in on Rock’s face with a look of ‘this isn’t over.’
Segment 6: TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier – Badd Company vs. Strike Force
Stiles: Our next match is the first of two to qualify for the TWA Tag Team Title match at Four the Hard Way.
Entering first, accompanied by Sunny, at a combined weight of 456 pounds, Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond, known collectively as Badd Company.
HTM: Badd Company is looking a lot better than the last time I saw them.
Solie: How so?
HTM: Well, they’ve got Sunny with them.
Solie: She’s certainly more than a pretty face, having led several teams to tag team gold and she’s hoping to do the same here with Badd Company, former AWA Tag Team Champions.
Stiles: And their opponents, being accompanied by Stacy Keibler. They come in tonight at a combined weight of 460 pounds, Tito Santana and Rick Martel, Strike Force.
HTM: Where were all these beautiful managers when I was wrestling Gordon, I was stuck with scrawny Jimmy Hart.
Solie: Strike Force and Keibler, along with Tom Zenk, comprise the Mexi-Can-Am Connection, a collection of the most explosive and dynamic wrestlers North America has to offer.
HTM: This match should be fast paced with a lot of high-flying, unique moves, Gordon. I’m going to give the edge to Badd Company, because while I think Strike Force might be a bit better, Sunny is the edge Badd Company needs to come out on top.
………
Cut to the finish.
Solie: Tanaka and Diamond has been working Martel over for close to 10 minutes and he’s survived many close pin falls.
HTM: He’s not going to survive another if he doesn’t tag Santana.
Tanaka holds Martel as he tags Diamond, he comes off the top rope with an axe hammer to Martel’s bicep. Diamond works an arm wringer. Martel tries to cartwheel out, but Diamond holds him firm. Diamond twists into a hammerlock and follows with a hammerlock slam. Tag back to Tanaka. Tanaka picks Martel up for a German suplex while Diamond lines up a superkick.
HTM: This is all she wrote right here.
Martel wiggles free and drops to his knees as Diamond kicks his partner right in the jaw. Sunny yells at Diamond to get his head together and stop Martel. It’s too late, as the Canadian grappler uses his last ounce of strength to lunge toward his corner and slap Tito’s hand.
The crowd explodes as Tito flies into the ring, peppering both members of Badd Company with punches to the head. He whips Diamond into the ropes and hits a flying forearm. He rolls to the floor. Tanaka takes the flying forearm. Santana picks his opponent up for a body slam to get him closer to his corner. Santana tags Martel, who climbs to the top and comes off with a splash for the win as Tito keeps an eye on Diamond on the floor.
Stiles: Your winners, who advance in the TWA Tag Team Title tournament, Strike Force.
Keibler gets in the ring and stands between her men, raising their arms in victory.
Segment 7: 10-Man Battle Royal for the TWA Wild Card Title
Stiles: Next, is a 10 man battle royal to crown the first ever TWA Wild Card Champion. Coming to the ring now are R-Truth…Eric Young…Tom Zenk…Shawn Stasiak…Mark Jindrak…The Mighty Igor…“Marvelous” Marc Mero…Vladimir Koslov…Col. DeBeers…and The Warlord.
At the end of the single-file line of marching wrestlers is one unnamed smaller, blonde man wearing a white top hat, bowtie and tails.
Solie: This is supposed to be a 10 man battle royal, but I’m counting 11 entrants.
HTM: Who’s that runt on the end? I’ve been in wrestling a long time in a lot of different companies and I’ve never seen him before.
Solie: I’m not sure myself, but he’s obviously the extra competitor.
The man in question goes up to Stiles and whispers into her ear.
Stiles: Oh, and a last minute edition, “Gentleman” Jim Clontz.
Clontz turns to each side of the arena and bows with one arm across his stomach and the other behind his back.
Battle Royal highlights
*Clontz is eliminated first by Stasiak. He sits on the ring floor after elimination. He stands, bows to all four sides of the arena again and gracefully exits for the back.
*Stasiak eliminates The Warlord. He then tries to pick up Igor. He’s too heavy. Igor just stands there and grins. He then picks up Stasiak and throws him over the ropes, landing at the feet of his manager, Sunny. Igor waves at Sunny and smiles. She smiles and wiggles her fingers back at Igor. Sunny then gives the camera a look of ‘what is he thinking?”
*A distracted Igor is dropkicked from behind from Jindrak and goes over the ropes to the floor. He then winks and flexes at Sunny. Sunny gives a look of ‘that’s more like it.’
*Koslov and DeBeers gang up on Mero. They toss him over the ropes and turn around, missing Mero skinning the cat to get back in. He surprises DeBeers from behind with a high knee to the back and he stumbles over the top rope and to the floor. He spins Koslov around and peppers him with lefts and rights. The Kiss that Don’t Miss sends Koslov out too.
*Young and Truth team up. They catch Mero on a crossbody block and roll him up over their heads and over the ropes to the floor.
*Zenk goes to the top rope. Young drops down to all fours and Truth uses him as a spring board to fly into Zenk with a forearm that knocks him from the top to the floor.
Solie: We’re down to two competitors, Eric Young and R-Truth. Probably the two most unorthodox men in this battle royal.
Truth turns ready for a fight, but Young waves him off. He beckons him to come close. Truth is hesitant, but edges closer. Young cups his hand over Truth’s ear and whispers to him. Truth’s eyes go wide. He runs across the ring and vaults over the ropes to the floor. He hightails it up the ramp.
Stiles, a bit bewildered: The battle royal winner and NEW TWA Wild Card Champion, Eric Young.
HTM: I wonder what Young said to him Gordon. He ran out of there like he had the start in the Kentucky Derby.
Solie: Let’s go to our backstage interviewer, Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker and see if he can catch R-Truth for comment.
Segment 8: Backstage interview with R-Truth and Eric Young
The camera cuts to Uecker standing on a set in the back. R-Truth enters muttering to himself and pulling his hair.
Uecker: Truth, Truth, what happened out there. You tore out of there like a bat out of…well, you know where.
Truth: Eric Young said he was checking the Wild Card belt out before the match. He said it was filled with damn spiders.
Uecker: Please, Truth, we were told to watch language.
Truth: Sorry, f*cking spiders, man. He said it was filled with f*cking spiders.
Young enters the scene with a big smile on his face and hoisting the Wild Card title belt up.
Young: I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it. I’m the first ever Wild Card Champion. I’m the first TWA Champion of anything.
Truth shoves Young in the shoulder.
Truth: Hey, man, where are the spiders at? You said the belt was filled with spiders and you know I’m scared of damn spiders.
Uecker: Truth, language.
Truth: You know I’m scared of f*cking spiders.
Young: Spiders? Oh yeah, spiders. They must have cleaned them out during the match. They were big black hairy ones, man. They were coming out from behind the front plate and everything.
Uecker holds his hand to his ear.
Uecker: I’m being told that because of how the battle royal ended, Truth is going to get the first Wild Card title shot at Four the Hard Way. As mentioned earlier, the stipulation will be chosen by the fans based on what tweet with a suggested stip gets the most favorites before next week.
Young: Hey, hold on, I need to text my mother and tell her I won.
Young pulls out a cell phone from his trunks and steps to the side.
Uecker: Truth, how do you feel about the chance for redemption next week?
Truth: That’s nice he’s texting his momma. Oh…yeah, next week. As long as there aren’t any spiders involved, it’s all good in the hood, Alan.
Uecker: Who’s Alan?
Truth: Wait…aren’t you the dad from “Growing Pains?”
Young comes back in.
Young: Mom was so excited and she was excited to know you were going to get a fair shot Truth.
Young looks into the camera.
Young: Now all you fans out there, I don’t want to see any stipulations involving spiders.
A bing sounds and Uecker pulls a cell phone from his pocket.
Uecker: It looks like we’ve got our first tweet of a suggested stipulation. @eyoungwc wants to see a bag of spiders on a pole match.
Truth: Ah, c’mon man. Bag of spiders on a pole. Man, if I ever find out who that is, I’m going to beat that dude up.
Uecker looks sideways at Young.
Young: No, clue man. Let’s hope something else gets more votes.
Young leaves. Truth goes to follow, but pauses and points at the camera.
Truth: @eyoungwc, you better hope I never find out who you are man. Bag of spiders my ass.
Uecker: Language!
Truth: Excuse me, my f*cking ass.
Segment 10: TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier – Faces of Fear vs. Lightning Rockers
Stiles: Our next match will determine who goes onto Four the Hard Way to face Strike Force in a tornado tag match for the TWA Tag Team Titles.
Introducing first at a combined weight of 446 pounds, the combination of Marty Jannetty and Tim Horner, calling themselves the Lightning Rockers.
Solie: These two men have never teamed with each other before tonight, but Jannetty, of course, was part of the Rockers for many years with Shawn Michaels and Horner was in the Lightning Express with Brad Armstrong. Both, are savvy, veteran tag team specialists and should make a dynamic team together.
Stiles: And their opponents, representing the Heenan Family and the Powers of Fear. Accompanied by the Warlord, at a combined weight of 608 pounds, the Faces of Fear, Haku and the Barbarian.
HTM: I don’t care how many years experience in tag teams and how many belts they’ve won, the Lightning Rockers have no chance, no chance at all, against two of the meanest, toughest, baddest wrestlers ever in the sport. Don’t take my word for it, ask anyone in the back and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Solie: It might be a bit telling that Bobby Heenan isn’t at ringside with his charges. We know from the confrontation earlier tonight with the Rock that Curt Henning is most likely in the TWA Title tournament later tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised if another of Heenan’s men, Paul Orndorff is as well.
HTM: They don’t need Heenan, sometimes brute force is all you need over any brains.
………
Cut to the finish
Haku puts Jannetty down with a thrust kick and tags Barbarian. Jannetty struggles up and takes a double thrust to the throat. Horner claps his hands and gets the fans to chant for Jannetty.
Just then, a lumbering figure appears from the back and heads to the ring.
Solie: It’s the Big Show, another member of the Heenan Family.
HTM: Heenan has had some big men over the years, but maybe none as mean and hard hitting as this guy.
As Horner still tries to get the crowd behind Jannetty, Show grabs him by the ankle on the ring apron and flings him off. Horner turns in mid-air and comes down chin first across the guardrail.
Solie: Did you see that? With one clean jerk, Big Show tossed Tim Horner about 10 feet across the outside area. His strength is inhuman.
Jannetty makes it to his corner, but it’s empty. He tries to figure out what’s going on. Of course, he and the referee missed what was going on by worrying about what was happening inside the ring, not outside it.
A stunned Jannetty is caught from behind for a full nelson slam by the Barbarian. Tag to Haku and they wait for Jannetty to come up to eat a double big boot and Haku covers for the win.
Show then presses Horner above his head and pitches him into the ring. The Warlord climbs in and the Powers of Fear stomp and kick the faces. Referee Tommy Young calls for the ring bell many times, but they pay it no heed.
Solie: The Faces of Fear want to be careful that Young doesn’t reverse his decision.
HTM: The match is over Gordon. This is all about sending a message to all of TWA who runs the show around here. It’s not Donald Trump, I can tell you that. It’s going to be the Heenan Family.
Show enters the ring and his stablemates back off their fallen foes. Show lifts them both straight off the mat, one in each hand, and bellows to the crowd. He then slams them both down.
The Barbarian drags Horner to the corner and gives him a ringpost figure four. Haku grabs a chair and slams it repeatedly into Horner’s leg. He screams in pain.
The Warlord gets a chair and jams the top into Jannetty’s midsection several times.
Backstage personnel and more referees come down the aisle. Big Show stands with his arms folded and stares at the men, none dare enter the ring. Show swivels his head to view the carnage from his peripheral vision. He then claps his hands together and the Powers of Fear back off their onslaught. The crowd of people part and the Heenan Family members stalk to the back.
As soon as they exit, paramedics rush from the back.
Solie: Tim Horner and Marty Jannetty are most likely severely injured from the senseless post match attack by the Heenan family. The Faces of Fear might advance to face Strike Force next week, but I’m guessing TWA owner Donald Trump might have something to say about that after what we saw here tonight.
Segment 11: Backstage interview with White Power (Col. DeBeers and Vladimir Koslov)
Solie: I’m being told that Col. DeBeers and Vladimir Koslov, collectively known as White Power, are in the back with our Bob Uecker demanding to speak.
The camera cuts to the back. Koslov is throwing chairs and trashcans and other items back and forth in the background.
DeBeers: It’s a disgrace that Koslov and myself were eliminated by a black man in the battle royal. He shouldn’t have even been allowed to be in the same ring with me and Koslov to lay his hands on us. That Marc Mero. Ptuey! I spit when I say his name.
Uecker: Wait…you think Marc Mero is black? He’s not black.
DeBeers pauses.
DeBeers: A dirty Mexican like that has no business being in the same ring…
Uecker: He’s not Hispanic either. Mero is just a white guy with a really good tan, something you guys wouldn’t know about it.
DeBeers pauses again.
DeBeers: WE DON’T LIKE MARC MERO ANYWAY! HE ELIMINATED US FROM THE BATTLE ROYAL. Mero, if you can find anyone to tag with you, show up at Four the Hard Way to face me and Koslov to find out where the real power in TWA lies; the White Power.
Uecker: I keep telling you, Mero is white.
DeBeers: SHUT UP!
Segment 12: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Curt Hennig vs. Joe Hennig
Stiles: Our next match is another qualifier for the TWA World Title match at Four the Hard Way. Coming to the ring first accompanied by Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, he weighs 257 pounds and hails from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.
Hennig struts confidently to the ring, flipping his towel behind his back and swatting his gum into the crowd as he takes the ring apron.
Solie: Hennig seems confident following the mind games he and Bobby Heenan played with the Rock, getting him to face his own father.
HTM: That’s just gamesmanship Gordon. If the Rock can’t take facing his own kin in the ring, then he shouldn’t be in that ring. You wouldn’t see Mr. Perfect act that way.
Stiles: And his opponent, weighing in at 227 pounds from Champlin, Minnesota, “Better Than Perfect” Joe Hennig.
HTM: What is this? Hennig can’t fight his own son. That’s despicable the Rock would do that!
Gordon: Isn’t that just what Heenan and Hennig did to him?
HTM: Yeah, but they did it first.
Joe enters the ring. Curt points to the entrance and yells “go to the back, Joe.”
“No,” Joe says while slowly shaking his head in the negative.
“I’m your father and I said get to the back, Joe!”
“No.”
“GO TO THE BACK NOW, JOE!”
Joe slowly shakes his head no as Curt comes over to him. Heenan tries to get in the middle and begs the two men to just take a breather and talk things out.
Curt hauls off and slaps Joe. Joe nearly falls to the mat from the blow and puts his hand to his face. Heenan tries to back Mr. Perfect off. Joe comes up with a hellacious slap of his own to the side of Curt’s head. The crowd screams its approval.
HTM: I can’t stand to see a family torn apart like this Gordon.
Solie: You had no problem with the Rock wrestling Rocky Johnson.
HTM: I keep telling you that was different. They did that first.
Heenan grabs Curt by his singlet and pulls him to the floor to regroup. Joe follows. Heenan runs away as Joe grabs his father from behind and throws him into the ring steps. Perfect flips over and slams back first into the steel steps. Joe picks Curt up by his hair and teases a punch. The crowd pops and Joe drives a fist down into his father’s head. Curt turns and stumbles away. Joe stalks him. Curt slides into the ring and Joe follows. Curt is already up as Joe takes his feet and gets a kick to the stomach. Curt follows with a high knee and the match is on.
………
Cut to the finish
Solie: This has been a pretty even matchup, probably something Curt Hennig didn’t expect from his son. One thing I can say in opposite of our earlier father versus son matchup, is there doesn’t seem to be any trepidation or remorse in these two going at it.
Curt hits a snapmare and follows with the running neck snap. He covers for two. Curt pulls Joe up and goes for the Perfectplex. Joe blocks. Curt tries again. Joe blocks. Joe then gets his own suplex. He rolls over to be on top of Curt and rains down punches. Heenan jumps on the ring apron to distract the referee. Scott Armstrong goes over to get Heenan off the apron.
Joe turns slightly to see what’s going on. This allows Mr. Perfect to poke Joe in the eye and wiggle out from underneath. Joe puts a hand over his hurt eye as he tries to get up. Curt goes into the ropes for momentum and nails a facebuster. He follows with a gutbuster and then hits the Perfectplex for the win.
Armstrong tries to lift Curt’s hand in triumph, but he shakes him off and yells at Heenan. Heenan is beyond apologetic about what happened as they go up the entranceway.
Solie: Let’s cut to the back as Bob Uecker tries to talk with Mr. Perfect and his manager.
Segment 13: Backstage interview with Curt Hennig, Bobby Heenan and Joe Hennig
Uecker: Gentlemen, if I can get a word…
Hennig: You want a word. The only word I have is for the Rock. You think you’re clever. Taking what we did and doing it back. You’re off somewhere smirking that Rock smirk. See, I got in your head and I know it. All you did was get me mad and I don’t get mad often, but when I do bad things happen. Ask Hulk Hogan about the time I took a sledgehammer to his title belt. I’m thinking of repeating that, just using your head instead.
Heenan: Rock, you better hope you’re the first man in and the first man out of that cage next week. Because if you’re in there with Curt, I can’t control what he might do to you. Mr. Trump, if you’re listening, if you thought what happened earlier tonight was bad with Horner and Jannetty, you haven’t seen anything.
Joe Hennig enters the frame. Curt jumps back surprised and stands next to Heenan on one side of Uecker. Uecker holds the microphone for Joe.
Joe Hennig: The Rock came to me just a little while ago here in the back. I wasn’t even booked tonight. I thought my father and his manager might help get me into the Wild Card Battle Royal, but that didn’t happen. Rock said, ‘hey, Joe, you want a match tonight?’ I said, ‘yes.’ He said, ‘you want to face your own father for a shot at the TWA World Title?’ I said, ‘oh, yeah.’
You see, my whole life I wasn’t fast enough, I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t tough enough for my old man. Okay, dad, I wasn’t perfect. But now…now, no matter what happened out there just now, I’m Better Than Perfect.”
Joe throws a towel at his father and walks off camera. Curt throws the towel down and stalks after him. Heenan trails.
Hennig: Joe, you come back here right now. This is your father talking!
Segment 14: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Ronnie Garvin vs. Paul Orndorff
Stiles: Our last match this evening is the final qualifier for the TWA World Title gauntlet cage match at Four the Hard Way.
Introducing first at a weight of 253 pounds from Tampa, Florida, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.
Solie: Once again Bobby Heenan is conspicuous by his absence in not escorting a member of the Heenan Family to the ring.
HTM: Just like the Powers of Fear, Orndorff can take care of himself. Especially with the Brain likely trying to moderate between Mr. Perfect and his son after what we just saw.
Stiles: And his opponent, weighing in at 242 pounds from Charlotte, North Carolina, the man with the Hands of Stone, “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin.
Solie: Garvin, a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, I’ve always felt was vastly underrated, Wayne.
HTM: He’s a tough guy, not as tough as the Powers of Fear. He’s got Hands of Stone, but he can’t punch harder than the Big Show. He’s a great wrestler, but not as great as Paul Orndorff.
………
Cut to the finish.
Exhausted and pouring sweat, the two men slug it out from their knees. Garvin pulls back as far as his right arm will go and comes forward with a haymaker to the jaw. Orndorff bends over backwards, crashing like a chopped down tree to the mat.
Garvin makes it to his feet and motions to the crowd to make some noise. He then skips around Orndorff with the Garvin Stomp, ending with both boots right to his midsection. Garvin grabs Orndorff’s ankle to apply the figure four leglock. The crowd stirs.
Solie: It’s the Big Show, making his way to ringside, much like he did earlier tonight in the tag team qualifier that broke down into chaos. Incidentally, I’ve been informed that Marty Jannetty suffered four cracked ribs and Tim Horner will be out several months with a broken leg.
HTM: Big Show wants to be careful. If he interferes before this match is over, Garvin will win and advance by disqualification.
Garvin breaks off from Orndorff and goes to the ropes. He takes a boxer’s stance and beckons for the Big Show to come get him. Without any facial expression, Show climbs to the apron. Garvin jaws at him.
Orndorff has made it back up and sees his chance. He charges at Garvin from behind to knock him into Show. Show rears back for a mighty punch. Garvin dodges at the last moment and Show drives his catcher’s mitt sized fist into Orndorff’s face. He crumbles to the mat. Show shrugs nonchalantly and hops off the apron to the floor. Garvin is slightly stunned, but the encouraging crowd urges him to make the cover. Referee Tommy Young is equally stunned, but realizes a disqualification might be tricky to figure out based on what happened and drops to count the pinfall for Garvin to win.
Solie: I’m sure Garvin didn’t want to win that way, but one has to ask if there is dissention in the Heenan Family already here in the Trump Wrestling Association.
HTM: That’s just foolish to suggest, Gordon. It might be a rocky start, but Bobby Heenan has a chance at bringing two TWA titles to his stable at Four the Hard Way.
Solie: That’s right. From what we know of our next card, Strike Force and the Faces of Fear will square off in a tornado tag match for the TWA Tag Team Titles. And, for the TWA World Title in a four-man gauntlet cage match will be Ronnie Garvin, Curt Hennig, Jake Roberts and the Rock. Not to mention, Eric Young will defend his newly won TWA Wild Card Title against R-Truth in a match picked by the fans, possibly something involving a bag of spiders on a pole.
HTM: If tonight is any indication, Gordon, Four the Hard Way will be one of the most exciting, action-packed wrestling cards ever and I’m glad to be a part of it.
Solie: Me as well. Farewell from here at Trump Plaza and we’ll see you back in one week for Four the Hard Way.
Card Recap
Trump Wrestling Association (TWA) Trump Card
Live from Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Designated commentators: Gordon Solie and the Honky Tonk Man
In-Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Backstage Interviewer: Bob Uecker
Referees: Tommy Young, Scott Armstrong
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan vs. “Better Than Perfect” Joe Hennig
TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Faces of Fear (Haku and the Barbarian) with the Warlord vs. the Lightning Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Tim Horner)
11-Man Battle Royal for the TWA Wild Card Title: Eric Young, R-Truth, Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, Marc Mero, Tom Zenk, Col. DeBeers, Vladimir Koslov, the Mighty Igor, The Warlord and “Gentleman” Jim Clontz
TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel) with Stacy Keibler vs. Badd Company (Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond) with Sunny
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: The Rock vs. Rocky Johnson
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Stardust
The camera opens on a wide shot of a sold out crowd at Trump Plaza. It then cuts to a tighter shot of Donald Trump standing in the ring smiling. He waves to the cheering crowd to settle down so he can speak.
Trump: I want to welcome the thousands here in Trump Plaza and the millions – that’s right, I said millions – watching around the world to the first Trump Wrestling Association show – Trump Card.
The crowd cheers.
Trump: Many know I’ve been around wrestling a long time. Right here at Trump Plaza we hosted Wrestlemania IV and V and at Wrestlemania 23 myself and Vince McMahon – my close personal friend – put our hair on the line in a match with Bobby Lashley fighting for me and Umaga for McMahon. I think we all remember how that ended.
Trump runs his fingers through his hair and there is a slight twitter of laughter from the crowd.
Trump: I called Vince and said to him ‘hey, what do you think about me starting a wrestling promotion.’ You know what he said to me? ‘Don’t do it.’ Now, whether he was looking out for me or didn’t want me beating him at his own game is hard to say.
But, I did what I always do. I surrounded myself with the best people and I’m going to let them run the show, only making the big decisions when I need to. People might say I’m crazy to let the lunatics run the asylum, but I want the wrestlers to be free to have the matches and opponents they want. More importantly, I want the fans to be free to see the matches and opponents they want.
One way we’re going to do that, something that’s never been done in wrestling before, is let the fans every week through Twitter choose the match stipulation for the TWA Wild Card Title match. Use #TWAWC and suggest a stipulation you want to see and whatever tweet gets the most favorites will be the one we’ll use. Tonight, we’re going to crown a champ in a 10 man battle royal.
You’ll also see tonight two tag team matches where the winners will move onto a tornado tag at our next show – Four the Hard Way – to become the first ever TWA Tag Team Champions.
We’re also going to have four qualifying matches where the winners will go onto a match to crown the first ever TWA World Champion at Four the Hard Way. I’m very excited about this, because I’m told this has never been done in wrestling before. It’s going to be a four man gauntlet match, inside a steel cage.
The fans pop big for that announcement. Trump raises his hand to calm them down again.
Trump: Look, I’ve talked enough. Let’s see some wrestling. Everybody, enjoy Trump Card.
Segment 2: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Jake Roberts vs. Stardust with post-match promo
Eden Stiles: This is the first qualifying match for the TNA World Title Match at Four the Hard Way. Introducing first from the Fifth Dimension. Weighing in at 220 pounds. This..is…Stardust!
Gordon Solie: Good evening, ladies and gentleman. This is your announcer Gordon Solie here at ringside and with me as my broadcast partner, Wayne Farris, better known to most as the Honky Tonk Man.
HTM: I’m excited to be here in TWA and sitting here with you, Gordon, but not to see this painted purple freak coming to the ring. I can’t call him Stardust, that’s Cody Rhodes. I’ve known him since he was a little, bitty boy hanging out backstage with his father, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, and his brother, Dustin Rhodes. Now, I know Dustin has played Golddust for years, but notice I said play. That was always a psyche out on Dustin’s part, I know that, but I think this has gone beyond that for Cody. He’s genuinely a few fries short of a happy meal.
Stiles: And his opponent, from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and weighing in at 249 pounds, Jake “the Snake” Roberts.
Solie: This is another man you know well, Wayne.
HTM: I sure do Gordon. And I can tell you that the number one thing you need in the ring going against Jake Roberts is focus. You give him the slightest opportunity and he’ll take advantage of it. And focus, Gordon, is one thing I don’t think Cody has.
………
(Cut to match finish)
Roberts whips Stardust into the corner and charges with a high knee. Stardust grabs the corner ropes and pushes himself up to avoid Roberts and stand on the top turnbuckle.
Roberts stumbles backwards and Rhodes comes off the top with a splash, but Roberts sidesteps him and Cody hits the mat. Jake pulls him up by his hair and signals for the DDT by swirling his pointed index finger in the air. Rhodes pushes Jake into the ropes and they tumble to the floor.
The men struggle up and Rhodes lunges at Roberts. Jake sidesteps slightly and takes Cody by the back and throws him shoulder first into the outside ring post. Roberts hooks Cody from behind and delivers a backdrop suplex. Roberts rolls Stardust into the ring and slithers in behind him, covering for two.
Roberts pulls Rhodes up and signals for the DDT again. Cody tries to drive Roberts into the ropes again, but he crosses his feet over to trip Stardust up and he flows cleaning into a DDT for the loss.
Stiles: Your winner…
Roberts: Give me that microphone.
Roberts gruffly takes the microphone away from Stiles. She looks scared and exits the ring. Roberts rubs at the purple face paint from Stardust across his chest and face from being close to each other in the match.
Roberts: You know what Stardust with his painted face and dolled up lips reminds me of? A little boy playing with his mother’s makeup because he wants to be pretty like mommy. Well, this ring is no place for a boy playing dress up. It’s for a man.
Roberts drops to the mat and slithers over to the still out Rhodes. He rises into a crouching position and holds his face very close to Rhodes with the microphone in between.
Roberts: If you can hear my voice you might think it’s the voice of God. Heh, far from it Cody. But if you can register what I’m saying, know this, if you want to be a man, a real man. If you want to be a greater wrestler than your brother or father ever dreamed of being, then come find me. I can do for you what your family obviously never did. Trust me…
Roberts slithers out of the ring, grabs Damien in his bag from the corner and walks to the back.
Segment 3: Backstage Interview with the Rock
Solie: We now go to the back where our Bob Uecker is with the next man we’re told will compete in the TWA title tournament tonight, The Rock.
Uecker: That’s right, Gordon, I’m here with the Rock and this must be the front row.
Rock glowers at Uecker.
Uecker: You know…this must be the front row, I said it in that commercial.
Rock: It doesn’t matter what you said when or what your name is. Know your role and shut your mouth. Give me that microphone.
Rock takes the microphone from Uecker and steps in front of him.
Rock: The Rock is here in TWA for one reason. And that is to become the TWA World Champion and take this company to heights no other wrestling organization has ever been to because the Rock will be at the helm from the start.
Donald Trump, The Donald, he came to the Rock before anybody else. He said ‘Rock, I need you. I can’t make this work without you.’ I talked to my father, the great Rocky Johnson, who is here tonight, and he said ‘Rock, Donald Trump has a vision. A vision to take wrestling back to what it was like when I started out. A vision to let the focus be on matches and personalities and letting wrestlers be themselves and not what a platoon of soap opera writer rejects in the back told them say.’
You see the Rock became the Rock when he said screw what you want me to be, I’m the Rock and the Rock is a man that bridges the old and the new. The Rock is a man that bridges in ring and out of ring excellence. The Rock is a man that dishes it out and takes it right back. The Rock is the man that is going to make TWA the only wrestling company on the lips of the millions…and millions of wrestling fans the world over. If you smell…what the Rock is cooking!
Segment 4: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – The Rock vs. Rocky Johnson
Stiles: Our next match is another qualifier for the TWA World Title match at Four the Hard Way.
“If you smell….”The crowd goes nuts as familiar music hits.
Stiles: From Miami, Florida, at a weight of 265 pounds. The Rock!!!
Solie: This young man gets a reaction from the crowd like none I’ve ever heard.
HTM: Well, that doesn’t mean anything if you can’t bring it in the ring. However, as much as it pains me to admit it Gordon, the Rock does that. Nothing intimidates him and nothing throws him off his game.
Stiles: And his opponent…
Stiles pauses as it appears she’s seeing the name on her card for the first time. The Rock stops playing to the crowd and shoots Stiles a look of ‘out with it woman.’
Stiles: And his opponent, at 260 pounds from Washington D.C….Rocky Johnson.
The Rock spins around to face the entrance ramp. He rips off his sunglasses and drops them to the mat. Johnson enters from the back with a solemn look on his face and walks slowly to the ring.
HTM: It looks like I spoke too soon Gordon, something can throw the Rock.
Solie: I can’t believe this. The Rock’s opponent for this qualifier match is going to be his own father, an accomplished wrestler in his own right, Rocky Johnson. It’s obvious from his expression that the Rock didn’t know he would be facing his father. From what I’ve been told, nobody knows who they’ll be facing tonight and, in some instances, not all the matches have even been booked to give a spontaneous feel to the show.
The Rock and Rocky stand facing each other in the ring. The Rock looks conflicted, but Johnson has a stolid look on his face. He raises his fists and says “come on.”
The mics on the cameras pick up Rock saying “I’m not going to fight you dad, I’m not.”
Johnson bites his lower lips and raises his fists higher. “I didn’t raise my son to back down from a fight. Now, come on.”
“No, dad. We’re not doing this,” the Rock says as he raises his hands in defeat. He goes through the ropes and to the floor.
Solie: If Rock refuses to compete tonight, then Johnson will advance by default.
The Rock walks up the ramp to some slight boos. However, a roar slowly rises up as Johnson jumps to the floor and storms up the aisle to grab his son with a full nelson. He turns the Rock around and marches him back to ringside. He tosses Rock into the ring and follows. The Rock springs to his feet to fight his dad, both men now with determined looks in their eyes. They lock up to a cheer from the audience.
………
Cut to the finish.
Johnson drives Rock into the corner with a series of lefts and rights. He mounts the corner and raises a fist high. He fires it down and the fans count away. 1…2…3…4…Rock picks up his dad and marches out of the corner to deliver an inverted atomic drop. Johnson hunches over from the pain. Rock leans into the ropes and comes off with a running clothesline to put Johnson down. He pops up and takes another clothesline. He rises again and takes another clothesline.
Johnson doesn’t get up this time. Rock slips off his elbow pad and throws it to the crowd. They roar, knowing what is coming next. The Rock goes into the ropes and sets up for the People’s Elbow. Just as he goes to drop his arm, he stops.
Solie: He can’t do it. The Rock can’t finish off his own father.
Johnson reaches out and grabs the Rock’s foot for a heel pick. He flops to the mat and Johnson comes up and then down with a knee drop. Johnson takes off his own elbow pad and throws it to the crowd. He goes to the ropes.
HTM: I can’t believe it, Gordon, Rocky is going to beat his son with his own move!
Johnson goes through his son’s familiar gyrations and then drops to the mat with an elbow drop. It misses as Rock rolls to the side and to his feet. Rocky pops up and walks straight into the Rock Bottom. Rock pauses and tears can be seen clearly in his eyes. He lifts Johnson up and slams him down. Rock covers for the win.
Segment 5: Backstage confrontation between the Rock and Curt Hennig
The Rock stalks through the halls in the back.
Rock: Where’s Trump? Who booked that match?
“We did…” a voice calls from off camera.
The Rock turns his head and the camera follows to reveal “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig with his arms crossed leaning against a wall. Bobby Heenan stands next to him sideways with his left hand up against the wall.
Heenan: Well, we suggested it to Trump and he thought it was a great way to see what kind of wrestler he was really getting in you.
See, Rock you always think you’re above everybody and one step ahead of everybody. That’s made you complacent. That’s made you soft. We’re just trying to bring the edge back out in you to justify Mr. Trump’s investment.
Rock: Somehow, I highly doubt that’s your intentions.
The Rock slides closer to Hennig. They’re faces are barely apart, but Hennig doesn’t flinch. He smirks.
Hennig: Rock, you’ll never intimidate me and you’ll never get the better of me. You know why…because unlike you, I’m perfect.
Heenan and Hennig walk away. The camera zooms in on Rock’s face with a look of ‘this isn’t over.’
Segment 6: TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier – Badd Company vs. Strike Force
Stiles: Our next match is the first of two to qualify for the TWA Tag Team Title match at Four the Hard Way.
Entering first, accompanied by Sunny, at a combined weight of 456 pounds, Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond, known collectively as Badd Company.
HTM: Badd Company is looking a lot better than the last time I saw them.
Solie: How so?
HTM: Well, they’ve got Sunny with them.
Solie: She’s certainly more than a pretty face, having led several teams to tag team gold and she’s hoping to do the same here with Badd Company, former AWA Tag Team Champions.
Stiles: And their opponents, being accompanied by Stacy Keibler. They come in tonight at a combined weight of 460 pounds, Tito Santana and Rick Martel, Strike Force.
HTM: Where were all these beautiful managers when I was wrestling Gordon, I was stuck with scrawny Jimmy Hart.
Solie: Strike Force and Keibler, along with Tom Zenk, comprise the Mexi-Can-Am Connection, a collection of the most explosive and dynamic wrestlers North America has to offer.
HTM: This match should be fast paced with a lot of high-flying, unique moves, Gordon. I’m going to give the edge to Badd Company, because while I think Strike Force might be a bit better, Sunny is the edge Badd Company needs to come out on top.
………
Cut to the finish.
Solie: Tanaka and Diamond has been working Martel over for close to 10 minutes and he’s survived many close pin falls.
HTM: He’s not going to survive another if he doesn’t tag Santana.
Tanaka holds Martel as he tags Diamond, he comes off the top rope with an axe hammer to Martel’s bicep. Diamond works an arm wringer. Martel tries to cartwheel out, but Diamond holds him firm. Diamond twists into a hammerlock and follows with a hammerlock slam. Tag back to Tanaka. Tanaka picks Martel up for a German suplex while Diamond lines up a superkick.
HTM: This is all she wrote right here.
Martel wiggles free and drops to his knees as Diamond kicks his partner right in the jaw. Sunny yells at Diamond to get his head together and stop Martel. It’s too late, as the Canadian grappler uses his last ounce of strength to lunge toward his corner and slap Tito’s hand.
The crowd explodes as Tito flies into the ring, peppering both members of Badd Company with punches to the head. He whips Diamond into the ropes and hits a flying forearm. He rolls to the floor. Tanaka takes the flying forearm. Santana picks his opponent up for a body slam to get him closer to his corner. Santana tags Martel, who climbs to the top and comes off with a splash for the win as Tito keeps an eye on Diamond on the floor.
Stiles: Your winners, who advance in the TWA Tag Team Title tournament, Strike Force.
Keibler gets in the ring and stands between her men, raising their arms in victory.
Segment 7: 10-Man Battle Royal for the TWA Wild Card Title
Stiles: Next, is a 10 man battle royal to crown the first ever TWA Wild Card Champion. Coming to the ring now are R-Truth…Eric Young…Tom Zenk…Shawn Stasiak…Mark Jindrak…The Mighty Igor…“Marvelous” Marc Mero…Vladimir Koslov…Col. DeBeers…and The Warlord.
At the end of the single-file line of marching wrestlers is one unnamed smaller, blonde man wearing a white top hat, bowtie and tails.
Solie: This is supposed to be a 10 man battle royal, but I’m counting 11 entrants.
HTM: Who’s that runt on the end? I’ve been in wrestling a long time in a lot of different companies and I’ve never seen him before.
Solie: I’m not sure myself, but he’s obviously the extra competitor.
The man in question goes up to Stiles and whispers into her ear.
Stiles: Oh, and a last minute edition, “Gentleman” Jim Clontz.
Clontz turns to each side of the arena and bows with one arm across his stomach and the other behind his back.
Battle Royal highlights
*Clontz is eliminated first by Stasiak. He sits on the ring floor after elimination. He stands, bows to all four sides of the arena again and gracefully exits for the back.
*Stasiak eliminates The Warlord. He then tries to pick up Igor. He’s too heavy. Igor just stands there and grins. He then picks up Stasiak and throws him over the ropes, landing at the feet of his manager, Sunny. Igor waves at Sunny and smiles. She smiles and wiggles her fingers back at Igor. Sunny then gives the camera a look of ‘what is he thinking?”
*A distracted Igor is dropkicked from behind from Jindrak and goes over the ropes to the floor. He then winks and flexes at Sunny. Sunny gives a look of ‘that’s more like it.’
*Koslov and DeBeers gang up on Mero. They toss him over the ropes and turn around, missing Mero skinning the cat to get back in. He surprises DeBeers from behind with a high knee to the back and he stumbles over the top rope and to the floor. He spins Koslov around and peppers him with lefts and rights. The Kiss that Don’t Miss sends Koslov out too.
*Young and Truth team up. They catch Mero on a crossbody block and roll him up over their heads and over the ropes to the floor.
*Zenk goes to the top rope. Young drops down to all fours and Truth uses him as a spring board to fly into Zenk with a forearm that knocks him from the top to the floor.
Solie: We’re down to two competitors, Eric Young and R-Truth. Probably the two most unorthodox men in this battle royal.
Truth turns ready for a fight, but Young waves him off. He beckons him to come close. Truth is hesitant, but edges closer. Young cups his hand over Truth’s ear and whispers to him. Truth’s eyes go wide. He runs across the ring and vaults over the ropes to the floor. He hightails it up the ramp.
Stiles, a bit bewildered: The battle royal winner and NEW TWA Wild Card Champion, Eric Young.
HTM: I wonder what Young said to him Gordon. He ran out of there like he had the start in the Kentucky Derby.
Solie: Let’s go to our backstage interviewer, Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker and see if he can catch R-Truth for comment.
Segment 8: Backstage interview with R-Truth and Eric Young
The camera cuts to Uecker standing on a set in the back. R-Truth enters muttering to himself and pulling his hair.
Uecker: Truth, Truth, what happened out there. You tore out of there like a bat out of…well, you know where.
Truth: Eric Young said he was checking the Wild Card belt out before the match. He said it was filled with damn spiders.
Uecker: Please, Truth, we were told to watch language.
Truth: Sorry, f*cking spiders, man. He said it was filled with f*cking spiders.
Young enters the scene with a big smile on his face and hoisting the Wild Card title belt up.
Young: I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it. I’m the first ever Wild Card Champion. I’m the first TWA Champion of anything.
Truth shoves Young in the shoulder.
Truth: Hey, man, where are the spiders at? You said the belt was filled with spiders and you know I’m scared of damn spiders.
Uecker: Truth, language.
Truth: You know I’m scared of f*cking spiders.
Young: Spiders? Oh yeah, spiders. They must have cleaned them out during the match. They were big black hairy ones, man. They were coming out from behind the front plate and everything.
Uecker holds his hand to his ear.
Uecker: I’m being told that because of how the battle royal ended, Truth is going to get the first Wild Card title shot at Four the Hard Way. As mentioned earlier, the stipulation will be chosen by the fans based on what tweet with a suggested stip gets the most favorites before next week.
Young: Hey, hold on, I need to text my mother and tell her I won.
Young pulls out a cell phone from his trunks and steps to the side.
Uecker: Truth, how do you feel about the chance for redemption next week?
Truth: That’s nice he’s texting his momma. Oh…yeah, next week. As long as there aren’t any spiders involved, it’s all good in the hood, Alan.
Uecker: Who’s Alan?
Truth: Wait…aren’t you the dad from “Growing Pains?”
Young comes back in.
Young: Mom was so excited and she was excited to know you were going to get a fair shot Truth.
Young looks into the camera.
Young: Now all you fans out there, I don’t want to see any stipulations involving spiders.
A bing sounds and Uecker pulls a cell phone from his pocket.
Uecker: It looks like we’ve got our first tweet of a suggested stipulation. @eyoungwc wants to see a bag of spiders on a pole match.
Truth: Ah, c’mon man. Bag of spiders on a pole. Man, if I ever find out who that is, I’m going to beat that dude up.
Uecker looks sideways at Young.
Young: No, clue man. Let’s hope something else gets more votes.
Young leaves. Truth goes to follow, but pauses and points at the camera.
Truth: @eyoungwc, you better hope I never find out who you are man. Bag of spiders my ass.
Uecker: Language!
Truth: Excuse me, my f*cking ass.
Segment 10: TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier – Faces of Fear vs. Lightning Rockers
Stiles: Our next match will determine who goes onto Four the Hard Way to face Strike Force in a tornado tag match for the TWA Tag Team Titles.
Introducing first at a combined weight of 446 pounds, the combination of Marty Jannetty and Tim Horner, calling themselves the Lightning Rockers.
Solie: These two men have never teamed with each other before tonight, but Jannetty, of course, was part of the Rockers for many years with Shawn Michaels and Horner was in the Lightning Express with Brad Armstrong. Both, are savvy, veteran tag team specialists and should make a dynamic team together.
Stiles: And their opponents, representing the Heenan Family and the Powers of Fear. Accompanied by the Warlord, at a combined weight of 608 pounds, the Faces of Fear, Haku and the Barbarian.
HTM: I don’t care how many years experience in tag teams and how many belts they’ve won, the Lightning Rockers have no chance, no chance at all, against two of the meanest, toughest, baddest wrestlers ever in the sport. Don’t take my word for it, ask anyone in the back and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Solie: It might be a bit telling that Bobby Heenan isn’t at ringside with his charges. We know from the confrontation earlier tonight with the Rock that Curt Henning is most likely in the TWA Title tournament later tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised if another of Heenan’s men, Paul Orndorff is as well.
HTM: They don’t need Heenan, sometimes brute force is all you need over any brains.
………
Cut to the finish
Haku puts Jannetty down with a thrust kick and tags Barbarian. Jannetty struggles up and takes a double thrust to the throat. Horner claps his hands and gets the fans to chant for Jannetty.
Just then, a lumbering figure appears from the back and heads to the ring.
Solie: It’s the Big Show, another member of the Heenan Family.
HTM: Heenan has had some big men over the years, but maybe none as mean and hard hitting as this guy.
As Horner still tries to get the crowd behind Jannetty, Show grabs him by the ankle on the ring apron and flings him off. Horner turns in mid-air and comes down chin first across the guardrail.
Solie: Did you see that? With one clean jerk, Big Show tossed Tim Horner about 10 feet across the outside area. His strength is inhuman.
Jannetty makes it to his corner, but it’s empty. He tries to figure out what’s going on. Of course, he and the referee missed what was going on by worrying about what was happening inside the ring, not outside it.
A stunned Jannetty is caught from behind for a full nelson slam by the Barbarian. Tag to Haku and they wait for Jannetty to come up to eat a double big boot and Haku covers for the win.
Show then presses Horner above his head and pitches him into the ring. The Warlord climbs in and the Powers of Fear stomp and kick the faces. Referee Tommy Young calls for the ring bell many times, but they pay it no heed.
Solie: The Faces of Fear want to be careful that Young doesn’t reverse his decision.
HTM: The match is over Gordon. This is all about sending a message to all of TWA who runs the show around here. It’s not Donald Trump, I can tell you that. It’s going to be the Heenan Family.
Show enters the ring and his stablemates back off their fallen foes. Show lifts them both straight off the mat, one in each hand, and bellows to the crowd. He then slams them both down.
The Barbarian drags Horner to the corner and gives him a ringpost figure four. Haku grabs a chair and slams it repeatedly into Horner’s leg. He screams in pain.
The Warlord gets a chair and jams the top into Jannetty’s midsection several times.
Backstage personnel and more referees come down the aisle. Big Show stands with his arms folded and stares at the men, none dare enter the ring. Show swivels his head to view the carnage from his peripheral vision. He then claps his hands together and the Powers of Fear back off their onslaught. The crowd of people part and the Heenan Family members stalk to the back.
As soon as they exit, paramedics rush from the back.
Solie: Tim Horner and Marty Jannetty are most likely severely injured from the senseless post match attack by the Heenan family. The Faces of Fear might advance to face Strike Force next week, but I’m guessing TWA owner Donald Trump might have something to say about that after what we saw here tonight.
Segment 11: Backstage interview with White Power (Col. DeBeers and Vladimir Koslov)
Solie: I’m being told that Col. DeBeers and Vladimir Koslov, collectively known as White Power, are in the back with our Bob Uecker demanding to speak.
The camera cuts to the back. Koslov is throwing chairs and trashcans and other items back and forth in the background.
DeBeers: It’s a disgrace that Koslov and myself were eliminated by a black man in the battle royal. He shouldn’t have even been allowed to be in the same ring with me and Koslov to lay his hands on us. That Marc Mero. Ptuey! I spit when I say his name.
Uecker: Wait…you think Marc Mero is black? He’s not black.
DeBeers pauses.
DeBeers: A dirty Mexican like that has no business being in the same ring…
Uecker: He’s not Hispanic either. Mero is just a white guy with a really good tan, something you guys wouldn’t know about it.
DeBeers pauses again.
DeBeers: WE DON’T LIKE MARC MERO ANYWAY! HE ELIMINATED US FROM THE BATTLE ROYAL. Mero, if you can find anyone to tag with you, show up at Four the Hard Way to face me and Koslov to find out where the real power in TWA lies; the White Power.
Uecker: I keep telling you, Mero is white.
DeBeers: SHUT UP!
Segment 12: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Curt Hennig vs. Joe Hennig
Stiles: Our next match is another qualifier for the TWA World Title match at Four the Hard Way. Coming to the ring first accompanied by Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, he weighs 257 pounds and hails from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.
Hennig struts confidently to the ring, flipping his towel behind his back and swatting his gum into the crowd as he takes the ring apron.
Solie: Hennig seems confident following the mind games he and Bobby Heenan played with the Rock, getting him to face his own father.
HTM: That’s just gamesmanship Gordon. If the Rock can’t take facing his own kin in the ring, then he shouldn’t be in that ring. You wouldn’t see Mr. Perfect act that way.
Stiles: And his opponent, weighing in at 227 pounds from Champlin, Minnesota, “Better Than Perfect” Joe Hennig.
HTM: What is this? Hennig can’t fight his own son. That’s despicable the Rock would do that!
Gordon: Isn’t that just what Heenan and Hennig did to him?
HTM: Yeah, but they did it first.
Joe enters the ring. Curt points to the entrance and yells “go to the back, Joe.”
“No,” Joe says while slowly shaking his head in the negative.
“I’m your father and I said get to the back, Joe!”
“No.”
“GO TO THE BACK NOW, JOE!”
Joe slowly shakes his head no as Curt comes over to him. Heenan tries to get in the middle and begs the two men to just take a breather and talk things out.
Curt hauls off and slaps Joe. Joe nearly falls to the mat from the blow and puts his hand to his face. Heenan tries to back Mr. Perfect off. Joe comes up with a hellacious slap of his own to the side of Curt’s head. The crowd screams its approval.
HTM: I can’t stand to see a family torn apart like this Gordon.
Solie: You had no problem with the Rock wrestling Rocky Johnson.
HTM: I keep telling you that was different. They did that first.
Heenan grabs Curt by his singlet and pulls him to the floor to regroup. Joe follows. Heenan runs away as Joe grabs his father from behind and throws him into the ring steps. Perfect flips over and slams back first into the steel steps. Joe picks Curt up by his hair and teases a punch. The crowd pops and Joe drives a fist down into his father’s head. Curt turns and stumbles away. Joe stalks him. Curt slides into the ring and Joe follows. Curt is already up as Joe takes his feet and gets a kick to the stomach. Curt follows with a high knee and the match is on.
………
Cut to the finish
Solie: This has been a pretty even matchup, probably something Curt Hennig didn’t expect from his son. One thing I can say in opposite of our earlier father versus son matchup, is there doesn’t seem to be any trepidation or remorse in these two going at it.
Curt hits a snapmare and follows with the running neck snap. He covers for two. Curt pulls Joe up and goes for the Perfectplex. Joe blocks. Curt tries again. Joe blocks. Joe then gets his own suplex. He rolls over to be on top of Curt and rains down punches. Heenan jumps on the ring apron to distract the referee. Scott Armstrong goes over to get Heenan off the apron.
Joe turns slightly to see what’s going on. This allows Mr. Perfect to poke Joe in the eye and wiggle out from underneath. Joe puts a hand over his hurt eye as he tries to get up. Curt goes into the ropes for momentum and nails a facebuster. He follows with a gutbuster and then hits the Perfectplex for the win.
Armstrong tries to lift Curt’s hand in triumph, but he shakes him off and yells at Heenan. Heenan is beyond apologetic about what happened as they go up the entranceway.
Solie: Let’s cut to the back as Bob Uecker tries to talk with Mr. Perfect and his manager.
Segment 13: Backstage interview with Curt Hennig, Bobby Heenan and Joe Hennig
Uecker: Gentlemen, if I can get a word…
Hennig: You want a word. The only word I have is for the Rock. You think you’re clever. Taking what we did and doing it back. You’re off somewhere smirking that Rock smirk. See, I got in your head and I know it. All you did was get me mad and I don’t get mad often, but when I do bad things happen. Ask Hulk Hogan about the time I took a sledgehammer to his title belt. I’m thinking of repeating that, just using your head instead.
Heenan: Rock, you better hope you’re the first man in and the first man out of that cage next week. Because if you’re in there with Curt, I can’t control what he might do to you. Mr. Trump, if you’re listening, if you thought what happened earlier tonight was bad with Horner and Jannetty, you haven’t seen anything.
Joe Hennig enters the frame. Curt jumps back surprised and stands next to Heenan on one side of Uecker. Uecker holds the microphone for Joe.
Joe Hennig: The Rock came to me just a little while ago here in the back. I wasn’t even booked tonight. I thought my father and his manager might help get me into the Wild Card Battle Royal, but that didn’t happen. Rock said, ‘hey, Joe, you want a match tonight?’ I said, ‘yes.’ He said, ‘you want to face your own father for a shot at the TWA World Title?’ I said, ‘oh, yeah.’
You see, my whole life I wasn’t fast enough, I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t tough enough for my old man. Okay, dad, I wasn’t perfect. But now…now, no matter what happened out there just now, I’m Better Than Perfect.”
Joe throws a towel at his father and walks off camera. Curt throws the towel down and stalks after him. Heenan trails.
Hennig: Joe, you come back here right now. This is your father talking!
Segment 14: TWA World Title Match Qualifier – Ronnie Garvin vs. Paul Orndorff
Stiles: Our last match this evening is the final qualifier for the TWA World Title gauntlet cage match at Four the Hard Way.
Introducing first at a weight of 253 pounds from Tampa, Florida, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.
Solie: Once again Bobby Heenan is conspicuous by his absence in not escorting a member of the Heenan Family to the ring.
HTM: Just like the Powers of Fear, Orndorff can take care of himself. Especially with the Brain likely trying to moderate between Mr. Perfect and his son after what we just saw.
Stiles: And his opponent, weighing in at 242 pounds from Charlotte, North Carolina, the man with the Hands of Stone, “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin.
Solie: Garvin, a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, I’ve always felt was vastly underrated, Wayne.
HTM: He’s a tough guy, not as tough as the Powers of Fear. He’s got Hands of Stone, but he can’t punch harder than the Big Show. He’s a great wrestler, but not as great as Paul Orndorff.
………
Cut to the finish.
Exhausted and pouring sweat, the two men slug it out from their knees. Garvin pulls back as far as his right arm will go and comes forward with a haymaker to the jaw. Orndorff bends over backwards, crashing like a chopped down tree to the mat.
Garvin makes it to his feet and motions to the crowd to make some noise. He then skips around Orndorff with the Garvin Stomp, ending with both boots right to his midsection. Garvin grabs Orndorff’s ankle to apply the figure four leglock. The crowd stirs.
Solie: It’s the Big Show, making his way to ringside, much like he did earlier tonight in the tag team qualifier that broke down into chaos. Incidentally, I’ve been informed that Marty Jannetty suffered four cracked ribs and Tim Horner will be out several months with a broken leg.
HTM: Big Show wants to be careful. If he interferes before this match is over, Garvin will win and advance by disqualification.
Garvin breaks off from Orndorff and goes to the ropes. He takes a boxer’s stance and beckons for the Big Show to come get him. Without any facial expression, Show climbs to the apron. Garvin jaws at him.
Orndorff has made it back up and sees his chance. He charges at Garvin from behind to knock him into Show. Show rears back for a mighty punch. Garvin dodges at the last moment and Show drives his catcher’s mitt sized fist into Orndorff’s face. He crumbles to the mat. Show shrugs nonchalantly and hops off the apron to the floor. Garvin is slightly stunned, but the encouraging crowd urges him to make the cover. Referee Tommy Young is equally stunned, but realizes a disqualification might be tricky to figure out based on what happened and drops to count the pinfall for Garvin to win.
Solie: I’m sure Garvin didn’t want to win that way, but one has to ask if there is dissention in the Heenan Family already here in the Trump Wrestling Association.
HTM: That’s just foolish to suggest, Gordon. It might be a rocky start, but Bobby Heenan has a chance at bringing two TWA titles to his stable at Four the Hard Way.
Solie: That’s right. From what we know of our next card, Strike Force and the Faces of Fear will square off in a tornado tag match for the TWA Tag Team Titles. And, for the TWA World Title in a four-man gauntlet cage match will be Ronnie Garvin, Curt Hennig, Jake Roberts and the Rock. Not to mention, Eric Young will defend his newly won TWA Wild Card Title against R-Truth in a match picked by the fans, possibly something involving a bag of spiders on a pole.
HTM: If tonight is any indication, Gordon, Four the Hard Way will be one of the most exciting, action-packed wrestling cards ever and I’m glad to be a part of it.
Solie: Me as well. Farewell from here at Trump Plaza and we’ll see you back in one week for Four the Hard Way.
Card Recap
Trump Wrestling Association (TWA) Trump Card
Live from Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Designated commentators: Gordon Solie and the Honky Tonk Man
In-Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Backstage Interviewer: Bob Uecker
Referees: Tommy Young, Scott Armstrong
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan vs. “Better Than Perfect” Joe Hennig
TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Faces of Fear (Haku and the Barbarian) with the Warlord vs. the Lightning Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Tim Horner)
11-Man Battle Royal for the TWA Wild Card Title: Eric Young, R-Truth, Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, Marc Mero, Tom Zenk, Col. DeBeers, Vladimir Koslov, the Mighty Igor, The Warlord and “Gentleman” Jim Clontz
TWA Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel) with Stacy Keibler vs. Badd Company (Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond) with Sunny
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: The Rock vs. Rocky Johnson
TWA World Title Match Qualifier: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Stardust