WWE/TNA: ECW Epics (June 2nd)

Tazz:
Welcome to another jam-packed episode of ECW Epics! Boy have we got a great show in store for you tonight!

Mickie James and Victoria will be wrestling to determine the number one contender for the Knockouts Championship, and Beer Money Inc.’s open invitation for a tag team title match has been accepted.

For the first time ever, Beer Money Inc. and The Hart Dynasty will face off in what’s sure to be an exciting match. The third participant in that match will be LAX and....

Wait a minute. We’ve just been informed that something is happening backstage with LAX Let’s cross live now to see the action.

Cut to backstage we see Homicide and Hernandez (LAX) getting beaten down by..... Hawkins and Ryder!? Mysterio and Batista run in for the save, but it looks like the damage has already been done.

Back to the arena where the first match is about to get underway.

(R Truth’s upper body is heavily bandaged from last week’s match)

As the bell rings, Umaga is just staring at R Truth. He slowly walks forward while yelling in Samoan.

When he gets mere inches away from Truth’s face he delivers a huge headbutt. R Truth reels backwards from the impact, grabbing at his own head.

Umaga takes this chance to go on the attack again. He whips R Truth into a corner and bodyslams him.

R Truth manages to stagger out of the corner, but he drops to his knees after taking a couple of steps. Umaga super kicks R Truth in the head and he ends up flat on his back with his legs bent underneath him. Umaga goes for the pin with a bonsai drop.

1... 2... late kick out!

Umaga gets up and starts arguing with the referee in samoan. R Truth uses the ropes to get to his feet and takes a moment to get his breath back.

Umaga sees him leaning on the ropes and charges at him. R Truth pulls the top rope down and Umaga goes flying onto the floor below. R Truth tells the ref to start counting.

Umaga gets back in the ring as the ref counts to 5. R Truth has recomposed himself and starts to mount an offense.

R Truth dropkicks Umaga in the leg. Umaga drops to a knee from the hit and R Truth runs off of the ropes, setting up for an axe kick.

Umaga recovers and stands up just as R Truth’s leg comes down.

The kick misses Umaga by sheer inches. R Truth spins around to see what happened and gets hit in the throat by a deadly Samoan Spike.

Umaga places a foot on R Truth’s chest and the ref counts the pin. 1... 2... 3!

Winner: Umaga

Umaga stares at R Truth’s lifeless body as he backs out of the ring and goes to the back.

R Truth starts to stir when Paul Heyman appears on the titantron.

Heyman:
R Truth. You were brought to ECW Epics to help improve the brand. You’ve had a long history in wrestling as K Kwik, Ron Killings, and now R Truth.

It seems to me as if you don’t have what it takes to compete in the land of extreme. I wish that it hadn’t come to this, but it has. You’re FIRED!

R Truth stares at Heyman in disbelief as we go to an ad break.

Back from the break and we’re backstage. The new backstage interviewer, Gregory Helms, is standing with the tag team of Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder.

Helms:
I’ve just got one question for you guys. Why attack LAX? What did they ever do to you?

Hawkins:
It’s not about LAX. We wanted to make an impact on our first ECW Epics, so we thought what better way to make an impression then to take out the team that has a title shot tonight.

Ryder:
We spoke to Paul Heyman earlier, and he declared that since there was now an open spot in the tag team triple threat match later tonight, we can fill it. That’s right, tonight it’s going to be Beer Money Inc vs. The Hart Dynasty vs. Yours truly, Hawkins and Ryder for the tag team titles!

We cut back to ringside, where there’s a table and chairs set up in the ring. It’s time for the contract signing of the Ultimate X match at Extreme Rules.

Out first is the Intercontinental champion, Rey Mysterio. He walks over to the corner of the ring and holds the title above his head while standing on the ropes.

Next out is Shelton Benjamin followed by Suicide and then The Amazing Red. The tension in the ring is high as all four competitors sign the contract.

Shelton and Suicide take the opportunity to hurt the champion. They double team Mysterio and start stomping on him. The Amazing Red tries to help Rey, but he is no match for the duo.

Shark Boy comes running from backstage to assist Rey and Red. He delivers a stone cold chummer on Suicide before getting hit with Paydirt from Benjamin.

Mysterio and Amazing Red recover and start attacking Benjamin. All of a sudden, Chavo Guerrero and The Brian Kendrick emerge as if from nowhere.

Evan Bourne runs from the back and rushes the ring. It’s turned into an all-out brawl!

The big screen comes on once again and this time it’s Paul Heyman’s assistant, Tiffany.

Tiffany:
Hold it! All of you hold it right there!

A group of referees and officials come from backstage to break up the fight. All the wrestlers are now listening to what Tiffany has to say.

Tiffany:
If you insist on behaving that way, then why don’t you settle it in the ring in an official match? I’ve been instructed to tell you that later on tonight you will all be involved in an 8 man elimination tag team match.

It will be Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne, The Amazing Red and Shark Boy vs. Shelton Benjamin, Suicide, The Brian Kendrick and Chavo Guerrero.

We go to another commercial break.

Back from the break and it’s time for the women’s No. 1 contender’s match.

Mickie James and Victoria are already in the ring, and the match is ready to get underway.

The bell rings and the match is on. They trash talk each other while stepping toward one another. Mickie James slaps Victoria and a cat fight breaks out.

Both women are screaming and pulling at hair, rolling around and slapping each other as well.

Victoria is on top when she throws a few punches. She stands up and starts stomping on Mickie.

Mickie tries to sit up when Victoria kicks her square in the back (The crowd boos Victoria). Mickie stands up and kicks Victoria in the gut.

Victoria is bent over holding her stomach as Mickie delivers a DDT.

Mickie bends over to pick up Victoria when Victoria rolls her up for the pin. 1... 2... so close!

Victoria stands up and hits Mickie with a standing moonsault. Another pin. 1...2...late kick out again!

Victoria is getting angry. She walks over to the corner and exposes the top turnbuckle. The referee sees it and goes over to put the cover back on.

While the ref has his back turned, Victoria kicks James in the ribs over and over.

She then picks Mickie up off the floor and hits her with a Widow’s Peak. The ref turns back around as Victoria is going for the pin. 1... 2... 3!

Winner: Victoria

Robert Roode, David Hart Smith, and Zack Ryder start the match.

Smith and Ryder double team the champ to wear him down. They hit a double suplex on Roode and land twin elbow drops.

Ryder goes for a quick pin, but Smith shoves him off and goes for the pin himself. Ryder pushes back and the two get into an argument.

Smith picks up Ryder and executes a running powerslam on him. Satisfied, he tags in Kidd to finish the job.

Kidd jumps onto the top turnbuckle and goes on the attack, hitting the downed Ryder with a somersault leg drop.

Roode gets up and tags Storm. They both go after Kidd and hit him with the DWI.

All of a sudden LAX’s music hits and they charge at the ring looking for revenge on Hawkins and Ryder.

Storm goes for the pin on Kidd, but at the same time Hernandez delivers a wicked right punch on Hawkins and the ref calls the match a disqualification.

Winners by DQ: Hawkins/Ryder (Beer Money Inc. keep their championship belts)

A brawl erupts between the four teams and they all work their way to the back while fighting. Another ad break.

Dreamer is standing in the ring with a microphone. He calls out Raven for his actions after their match last week.

Dreamer says he wants retribution, and he says he doesn’t care what type of match it is, as long as he can get his hands on Raven.

Raven comes out and says that he doesn’t have a problem with thumping a washed up ECW has been.

He says that if Dreamer wants a match, then so be it. It’ll be a Raven’s Rules match!

Paul Heyman walks out with Tiffany by his side. They both look very smug as they approach the ring.

Heyman:
Hey, hey, hey! Since when are either of you the general manager of this brand? You can’t just make up matches whenever you want! If you want something then you have to go through me.

However, it just so happens that I like Raven’s idea, so I’m going to approve the match. Have you got anything to add, Tiffany?

Tiffany:
How about the winner of the match goes to Extreme Rules to wrestle for the ECW championship in a triple threat match?

Heyman:
That’s brilliant! I do however have just one small thing to change. Instead of a triple threat match, it will be a Hardcore 3 Way Dance!

Christian comes onto the stage with a microphone in hand.

Christian:
What do you mean the winner of the match will compete for the ECW title at Extreme Rules? I worked damn hard to get into that match, and now I find out that I have to take on two superstars at once!?

Heyman:
Quit your yapping! You’ve got a match to prepare for. You’ll be taking on “The Animal” Batista in a non-title match, right now.

Striker:
Wow! How about that Tazz?

Tazz:
It’s unbelievable!

The two initially lock up, but Batista easily overpowers Christian. Christian breaks the hold and they circle each other assessing how they’re going to win the match.

They lock up again, but this time Christian goes for Batista’s leg. He gets Batista on the ground and delivers an elbow drop. Christian picks up Batista’s legs and puts him into a cloverleaf.

Batista strains against the hold and finally breaks it. He gets up and whips Christian into the corner. He charges at Christian and hits him with a clothesline.

Then he strikes with repeated shoulder thrusts. Christian sinks to the ground out of breath. Batista beats him down.

Batista lets Christian get up and then hits him with an awe inspiring spear. Batista goes to the ring ropes and does his thumbs up, thumbs down taunt.

He pulls Christian between his legs, setting up for the Batista Bomb. Christian quickly scampers out of it, realising how close he just came to certain defeat.

They lock up for a third time. Christian ducks around to behind Batista and hits him with an inverted facelock neckbreaker. Christian climbs up onto the top turnbuckle and hits Batista with a diving headbutt.

Christian picks up Batista and tries to lock in the Killswitch. There’s a struggle of power between the two, but Batista ultimately powers out of it. Batista once again goes for the Batista Bomb. He hits it and goes for the cover. 1... 2... 3!

Winner: Batista

Tazz:
Wow! What a preview for Extreme Rules. If Batista can do that again this Sunday, he will be the new ECW champion!

Striker:
Yeah, that’s right Tazz. The one question left on everyone’s lips is who’s gonna be the third person in the match?

Will it be Tommy Dreamer, or will it be Raven? One thing’s for sure. The Animal has ravaged the Instant Classic!

Immediately after the match has started, Dreamer grabs a kendo stick that’s hanging on a chain and hits Raven across the back multiple times. Raven falls to his knees in anguish. Dreamer follows up with a shot to the head.

Mick Foley comes out from the back and walks to the ringside. Foley (without a microphone) tells Dreamer that he owes Raven too.

He reaches under the ring and pulls out a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. Foley climbs into the ring and rakes the bat across Raven’s forehead.

Raven lets out a cry of pain as blood is streaming down his face. Commercial break.

*****

Back from the break and Raven is getting the better of Dreamer. Raven hits him with a DDT. Dreamer is sprawled out on the mat on his back. Raven grabs an arm and puts him in a cross-armbreaker.

Dreamer is visibly flirting with the idea of tapping. His free hand is hovering just above the canvas almost ready to tap out.

Dreamer reaches for a kendo stick that’s lying on the mat close by. He manages to grip the end of the cane with his fingertips and pulls it towards him.

He uses it to hit Raven on the chest. Raven refuses to let go even though his chest is turning red from repeated shots. Dreamer keeps up the attack and Raven finally lets go.

Both men get to their feet with great effort and go at it again. Raven hits a sit-down piledriver and goes to the outside.

He grabs a steel chair from the ringside and brings it back to the ring. Raven opens the chair and puts in the corner facing the ring.

Dreamer gets up while Raven is setting the chair and rushes at him. Raven sees the movement out of the corner of his eye and at the last second puts Dreamer in a drop toehold. Dreamer goes head first into the chair and gets busted open.

Dreamer is lying on the ground with a glazed look in his eyes. Raven approaches him and goes for another cross armbreaker. Dreamer looks to be in serious trouble.

With only sheer tenacity, Dreamer fights his way out and picks up Raven with a scoop slam. Dreamer goes to the outside and looks under the ring. After a few seconds he emerges with a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire!

Dreamer steps towards Raven and absolutely belts him across his already blood-drenched face.

Dreamer picks up Raven and puts him in a tree of woe. He stomps on Ravens face a few times and then props the chair wrapped in barbed wire against Raven’s face. Dreamer walks to the opposite corner and starts pounding on his chest.

Crowd/Dreamer:
E..... C..... W!!!

Dreamer runs towards Raven and dropkicks the chair (the crowd all wince and groan collectively as one). Raven screams in agony as blood continues to pour down his face.

Dreamer picks up Raven and hits a Dreamer Driver on top of the barbed wire wrapped chair! He goes for the cover. 1... 2... 3!

Winner and third participant in the ECW title match at Extreme Rules: Tommy Dreamer

Foley climbs into the ring and raises Dreamer’s hand. They celebrate in the ring.

Both teams make their way to the ring. Evan Bourne and Shelton Benjamin are starting the match.

They lock up, each one trying to push the other into the corner. Benjamin gets the upper hand, driving Bourne back.

The ref starts to count Benjamin as he pushes against Bourne while he’s in the corner. He gets to a 4 count before Benjamin releases.

As soon as Bourne puts his guard down, he receives a slap across the face from Benjamin.

Bourne climbs to the top turnbuckle, looking at doing a shooting star press, but Benjamin gets up and performs a vertical leap and meets Bourne on the top. Benjamin then throws Bourne to the canvas in a superplex.

Bourne tries to crawl to his corner to tag a team mate, but Benjamin grabs his ankle and pulls him away. He then proceeds to stomp away on Bourne’s lower back, and then puts him in a headlock.

Bourne manages to stand up with Benjamin still holding him in the headlock. Bourne pushes Benjamin away, who bounces off the ring ropes and returns to hit Bourne with a clothesline.

Benjamin hits Bourne with a t-bone suplex and goes for the pin. 1... 2... kick out!

Benjamin is starting to get frustrated that he can’t eliminate Bourne. He lifts up Bourne’s head and goes to town with punch after punch.

Bourne blocks one of the punches and hits him with a punch of his own. Bourne gets to his feet.

Bourne whips Benjamin into a corner. He picks Benjamin up and sits him on the top turnbuckle. Bourne hits him with a huracanrana. Benjamin is lying on the mat dazed. Bourne takes this opportunity to tag in The Amazing Red.

Amazing Red goes straight to the top turnbuckle and hits Benjamin with a corkscrew senton.

Red goes for the pin but Benjamin escapes with an early 2 count. Out of nowhere, Benjamin hits Red with Paydirt.

Benjamin is about to go for the pin when Chavo Guerrero tags himself in. Benjamin doesn’t look happy, but goes to the ring apron.

Chavo is straight on the attack. He stomps on Red repeatedly and pauses to taunt him. Red sweeps Chavo’s feet out from under him.

Both wrestlers get up and Red pushes Chavo against the ropes, who comes right back at Red and hits him with a big European uppercut.

Red has his back turned and Chavo hits a gory bomb. Red looks like he’s been knocked out. Chavo then drags Red’s limp body to the bottom rope, places his head on it and starts choking him.

Chavo backs up and hits Red with a baseball slide which sends Red flying to the floor below.

Chavo has a mean look in his eyes as he walks over to the commentary table and rips off the cover, as well as the monitors.

Chavo goes back to pick up Red and brings him over to the table. He repeatedly smashes Red’s head into the table then lays him out on top of it.

Chavo goes back to the ring and sets up for a five star frog splash!

(Crowd is going nuts!)

Chavo jumps off the corner turnbuckle and hits Red perfectly with the move. The table gives way under their combined weight and both men lay there motionless.

Crowd:
Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!

The ref starts the ten count out. He gets to 6 before anyone moves.

7.... Chavo rolls onto his front and tries to crawl to the ring.

8.... Chavo is inching his way forward.

9.... The Amazing Red is starting to move, but there’s no way that he’ll make it. Chavo grabs onto the ring apron to pull himself up.

10! Both men are eliminated. Shark Boy and The Brian Kendrick instantly step through the ropes and they are now the legal men.

They run directly at each other and Shark Boy hits Kendrick with a Lou Thesz press. Shark Boy is on top of Kendrick delivers lefts and rights.

Shark Boy stands up and haunches over Kendrick taunting him. Kendrick kicks him in the head.

Kendrick hits a few punches and goes for sliced bread. He gets Shark Boy in a reverse headlock, runs at the corner and jumps up the turnbuckles.

Just as he goes past the vertical position, Shark Boy reverses the move and hits Kendrick with a stone cold chummer. Shark Boy goes for the pin and eliminates Kendrick.

Suicide steps into the ring now. He runs at Shark Boy and hits a double knee facebreaker. He pins Shark Boy. 1... 2... 3! Shark Boy has now been eliminated.

We’re down to four competitors. Mysterio and Bourne vs. Suicide and Benjamin)

Mysterio steps through the ropes and before he can get both feet in the ring he cops a boot to the face. Mysterio drops to the ground and Suicide drags him to the middle of the ring and starts working him over.

Suicide runs to the ropes and uses the momentum to charge at Mysterio. Just as Suicide is about to launch an offensive move, he trips him.

Suicide can’t stop himself and he ends up on the middle rope. Mysterio hits the 619 and follows that with a west coast pop and a pin. 1... 2... 3! Suicide is eliminated!

Benjamin rushes into the ring where he is met with a front dropkick from Mysterio. Benjamin is on the ground. He sits up and Mysterio bounces off the ropes and hits him with a dropkick to his face.

Mysterio goes up the corner turnbuckle, where he sits and waits for Benjamin. Benjamin stands up and staggers toward Mysterio. Mysterio gets him with a tornado DDT.

Mysterio tags in Bourne who goes straight to the top and lands a shooting star splash. He goes for the pin.

Crowd/Referee:
1... 2...3!!!

Winners: Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne, Shark Boy and The Amazing Red

Mysterio and Bourne are celebrating in the ring. The camera spans around to look at the carnage from the match.

The Amazing Red and Chavo Guerrero are still on the ground when the medics come to their aid. Red gets placed on the stretcher and Chavo gets assisted to the back.

Benjamin and Suicide are making their way up the ramp when Paul Heyman emerges onto the stage with a microphone in his hand. He’s applauding as he walks out.

Heyman:
Excellent match, guys! I mean really, that was great! Unfortunately there is a casualty from the match.

The Amazing Red was sent through the commentary table and has sustained some pretty serious injuries.

I’ve been told by the doctors that he will be in no shape whatsoever to compete this Sunday at Extreme Rules. That means that there is an open spot in the match.

As the winner of tonight’s main event, I am awarding that spot to Evan Bourne. Evan, don’t make me regret it.

Rey Mysterio and Evan Bourne exchange looks after hearing this news. They tentatively shake hands as Shelton Benjamin and Suicide look on from the ramp.

That’s the end of this week’s edition of ECW Epics.

Ultimate X match for the Intercontinental Championship
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Suicide vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Evan Bourne (replacing the injured Amazing Red)

Feast or Fired match
Mick Foley vs. Matt Morgan vs. Big Show vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. Shane Douglas vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Sabu vs. Shark Boy vs. Raven vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Gregory Helms vs. Umaga vs. Jimmy Wang Yang

In the feast or fired match, there is a pole in each corner of the ring with a briefcase hanging off it. In each briefcase there will be:
1. $100,000
2. ECW Title match at the next PPV
3. IC Title match at next PPV + pick stipulation
4. Pink slip

Hardcore Three Way Dance for the vacant ECW Championship
Batista vs. Christian vs. Tommy Dreamer

Don't forget to read the other shows in the WWE/TNA series.

Raw Impact (written by Adam) can be found here:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/189953-wwetna-raw-impact-the-next-big-thing-returns

and Smackdown Xplosion (written by Ben) can be found here:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/187947-smackdown-xplosion-529-9-days-before-extreme-rules