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The Association of Professional Wrestling presents
"Association Begins"
Monday February 18th 2008
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Video Package
A black screen is shown. Mellow background music is being played.
VO: Throughout history, accomplishment has been what drives us, accomplishment has been the push we’ve needed to show the world exactly what we’re capable of; accomplishment has shaped men… and destroyed men. Tonight, there is a new accomplishment in the distance.
An image of the APW Championship belt appears on screen and the background music becomes faster paced.
VO: Men will fight, give it their all, in the hope that they will gain the glory that their hearts desire. In order to reach the accomplishment in the distance, obstacles will have to be overcome.
Several clips of APW Superstars begin to play on screen.
VO: Some will win, some will lose… one will accomplish.
The APW logo flashes on the screen as the background music slowly fades out.
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The camera sweeps through the arena and focuses in on the APW stage, Pyro blasts out from beneath it as the fans in attendance cheer loudly. The camera once again sweeps through the crowd, finally focusing in on Joey Styles and John Bradshaw Layfield who are sitting at ringside. Graphics displaying their names appear on screen as fans behind the ringside barriers are watching on.
Joey Styles: Ladies and Gentlemen it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Association of Professional Wrestling’s inaugural show, “Association Begins” – My name is Joey Styles and I’m sitting here at ringside with my broadcast colleague, John Bradshaw Layfield. JBL, tonight we start something new, you ready partner?
JBL: Firstly, Joey I’m not your partner, but what a night this is going to be; the fans here in the arena are ready for some wrestling action and we are most certainly going to be delivering that here tonight.
Joey Styles: Yes we are, but first we’re going to hear from the APW Director of Authority, the man with all the power; James E. Cornette.
The camera cuts to the ring and focuses in on Cornette.
James E. Cornette: Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight’s show is the culmination of nearly a year and a half of careful planning and preparation. I’m not going to give you a history lesson, but you need understand that the APW was created and is here today, to give YOU, the fans an entertaining television wrestling show to watch; and we’re going to fulfil our promise, starting right here, tonight.
Joey Styles: Cornette telling the fans the mission statement of the Association.
James E. Cornette: First and foremost, this evening; we will go off the air with one man being named the APW Champion. Earlier this month, a committee of Wrestling enthusiasts and veterans voted in a secret ballot to determine which two APW Superstars would be wrestling here tonight for the gold and I can now inform you that TONIGHT, LIVE here from Washington, DC. It will be Shawn Michaels going 1 on 1 with ‘The Legend Killer’ Randy Orton to determine who will be the first EVER APW Champion.
Joey Styles: Michaels vs. Orton? What a match that should be for APW gold.
JBL: Legend vs. Legend Killer this evening, Joey.
James E. Cornette: Also tonight, we are going to crown the APW Contender Trophy Holder in an 8-Man Free for All match. The winner of that match will face the winner of the Orton/Michaels match at our first ever Pay-Per-View LIVE next month ‘Bitter Association.’ That is, if they are able to hold onto the Trophy over the next few weeks. Tonight, the APW will plant it’s foundations in the ground of wrestling history and I promise you folks, it will be a night to remember.
Cornette hands the mic to somebody at ringside, before exiting the ring and making his way up the ramp. The crowd are ready for some wrestling action.
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The camera cuts backstage to Leticia Cline.
Leticia Cline: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome my guests at this time, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley; The Motor City Machine Guns.
Sabin and Shelley come into the shot.
Leticia Cline: Gentlemen, you have the honour of wrestling in the first ever match on APW programming here tonight, knowing that you have to set a standard; is the pressure going to be getting to you?
Chris Sabin: Leticia, tonight Alex and I are going to go out to the ring and do everything we can to win our match. If we don’t win, we’ll go down fighting. Tonight, the only standard we’re setting is our own, so we can surpass it next week and the week after that.
Alex Shelley: We’re not worried, we’re not scared and there is no pressure. We’re running on pure adrenaline and tonight, we hope the fans are able to see that and get behind us. Sooner or later there is going to be Tag Team Championships here in the Association and as soon as there are, we want management to realise that the Machine Guns are first in line.
The two men go off screen with Cline looking on.
Joey Styles: The Motor City Machine Guns are certainly confident here tonight, they’re looking to prove their worth in the APW.
JBL: These two need to come down a level and realise that you don’t get anything handed to you on a plate in this business, tonight they need to focus on the match, not non-existent Tag Team titles.
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The Motor City Machine Guns vs. Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears
Chris Sabin and Cody Rhodes and starting things off in the ring as their partners look on from the apron. Lock up in the centre of the ring, Sabin gets the better of Rhodes and takes him down to the mat with swift arm drag, Rhodes gets back up to his feet and runs at Sabin, but walks into a second arm drag, followed this time with an arm bar from the Machine Gun. Sabin continued to pull at the arm of Rhodes, before releasing and stepping back, giving him a ‘bang bang’ symbol causing the crowd to cheer. The two approached one another again and locked up for the second time, Sabin went to give Rhodes a third arm drag, but he was able to counter this time, taking Sabin over into a hip toss, slamming him down to the mat. Sabin quickly pulled back up to his feet and held his lower back with one hand, indicating that he was obviously surprised by the counter. Sabin nodded his head and smiled before the two began circling, Rhodes ran at Sabin, who mounted a striking position, Rhodes then stopped in his tracks, stepping back, he had him scouted. The two came back in to the centre of the ring and locked up for the third time, Sabin pushed forwards and as he did, Rhodes stepped back, breaking the lock up and connected with a vicious clothesline knocking Sabin down to the mat below. Rhodes then pulled Sabin towards his team’s corner of the ring and made the tag to Shawn Spears. Spears entered the ring and stomped at Sabin, before dragging him up to his feet and whipping him into the ropes, Spears bent down, looking to elevate him with a back body drop but Sabin had him scouted and rolled him up quickly for a two.
The now slightly disorientated Spears got straight back up to his feet and looked to hit a right hand, but Sabin blocked and connected with one of his own, followed by a kick to the gut and an uppercut, sending him stumbling backwards into the ropes. Sabin then outstretched his hand and made the tag to Alex Shelley who entered the ring. The Machine Guns then approached Spears and whipped him off the ropes, Spears ran towards the two and they connected with a double hip toss, followed by a pair of elbows to the Canadian superstar. Sabin was instructed by the referee to leave the ring and he complied. Shelley hit Spears with a second elbow before pressing him for a two count. He then lifted him up to his feet and kicked him in the gut, he went to connect with a suplex, but Spears was able to reverse into a suplex of his own. Spears got back up to his feet using the aid of the ropes and connected with a stomp, he then pulled Shelley back up to his feet and hit him with a vicious short distance clothesline, causing him to hit the mat with a loud thud. Spears then took the arm of Shelley and dragged him into the corner the ring, making the tag to Rhodes. Rhodes entered the ring as Spears pulled Shelley up to his feet, the two young superstars then connected with a Hi-Lo, driving Shelley onto the mat. Spears left the ring and stood on the apron once again as Rhodes pulled Shelley back up to his feet and went for a DDT, Shelley however was able to get out and connected with a right hand, he then stepped back swiftly and hit an Enziguri to the back of Rhodes’ head, much to the delight of the fans in attendance. Shelley was visibly tiring and slowly went to pull himself over to tag Sabin, but was unable to get there as Rhodes had cleverly grabbed onto his foot. Rhodes then tried to apply a half boston crab, but Shelley countered with boots to the upper chest, finally pushing him back with a boot. Shelley then quickly made the Tag to Sabin, at the same time as Rhodes made the tag to Spears. Both men entered the ring and Sabin hit Spears with a clothesline knocking him down to the mat, Spears quickly pulled himself up and walked into an Enziguri, followed by a kick to the gut and a DDT, driving his head down onto the canvas. Sabin got back up to his feet and before he could make the cover, ducked under a clothesline from Rhodes, causing him to stumble forward into a vicious Superkick from the seemingly recovered Shelley. Rhodes fell down to the mat below and rolled under the bottom rope, falling to ringside as Sabin pulled Spears up to his feet. The Machine Guns then connected with a beautiful kick combo, followed by Sabin covering Spears for the 123.
The Machine Guns made their way up the ramp, celebrating their win.
Joey Styles: The Machine Guns focused on their match and worked together like machinery, if Tag Titles are implemented in the future, you have to believe that these two are going to be right at the top of the list for contenders.
JBL: They did a good job, but its one match, they need to do more than that to impress me. A lot more.
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A short video package airs.
Clips of Shawn Michaels hitting Sweet Chin Music are shown.
VO: It happens in an instant.
Clips of Randy Orton hitting the RKO follow.
VO: It’s over like that.
An image (match graphic) is shown on screen.
VO: Legend vs. Legend Killer. Tonight.
The camera cuts back to Joey Styles and JBL at Ringside.
Joey Styles: What a Main Event we have in store for you this evening, the masters of the Sweet Chin Music and RKO are going at it for gold and I’m honestly not sure who has the advantage tonight.
JBL: Shawn Michaels has the experience, Randy Orton has the edge of youth; both men have a high chance of leaving champion, It all comes down to who wants it more when the match is taking place.
Joey Styles: Coming up next, we are going to crown a PWA Contender Trophy Holder in an 8 Man Free for All match. – Two men start in the ring, every five minutes another man enters, the only way to be eliminated is by Pinfall or Submission. The last man standing will be declared the winner, what a match this should be, JBL.
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8 Man Free for All – Winner is APW Contender Trophy Holder.
Johnny Nitro and Brian Kendrick begin the match.
Nitro and Kendrick lock up in the centre of the ring, Nitro however, steps back and hits Kendrick with a vicious right hand, followed by a whip into the ropes, he goes for a backdrop, but Kendrick jumps over and goes for a roll up, Nitro however is able to mount him on the ground and hit him with a series of rights and lefts. Nitro stops the shots and presses Kendrick for a two count. He then gets back up to his feet and pulls Kendrick up to his, grabbing by the hair. Nitro hits him with a knee to the stomach and goes for a suplex, but mid-air Kendrick is able to shift the weight and land on his feet, reversing into a neckbreaker. Kendrick covers Nitro for just a two count; he tries once again, but this time for just a one count. Kendrick gets back up to his feet, as does Nitro with the aid of the ropes. Kendrick goes for a clothesline, but Nitro’s able to duck under, he turns and applies a backslide, Kendrick however rolls through and hits Nitro with a dropkick to the face. Kendrick makes the cover once again, but for just a two as the crowd cheers. Kendrick pulls Nitro back up to his feet, but is met with an elbow to the gut and a dropkick, causing him to stumble backwards towards the ropes. Kendrick comes back off the ropes straight into a Step-Up Enziguri, causing him to fall down to the mat below. Nitro makes the cover, hooking both legs but again only receives a two count for his efforts.
Kevin Thorn enters the match.
As Thorn enters the ring, Nitro backs off, allowing him to focus on Kendrick. Thorn drags Kendrick up to his feet and hits him with a right hand, followed by a kick to the gut. He goes to hoist him up for what looked to be a Crucifix Power bomb, but as his stomach was exposed, Nitro connected with a sidekick. Kendrick dropped down to his feet as Nitro continued to berate Thorn with strikes. He went to Whip him into the ropes, but Thorn was able to reverse, sending Nitro catapulting into the corner of the ring. Thorn ran at him, connecting with a splash, causing him to fall down to the mat. Thorn then turned and connected with a stiff Big Boot to the face of Kendrick. Thorn stood and observed his surroundings for a second, before deciding to approach a now standing Nitro, this however proved to be a mistake as Nitro connected with a Springboard Back Kick to Thorn, sending him down to the mat for the first time in this match. A bloody Brian Kendrick runs at Nitro and connects with a shot to the head, followed by an arm drag down to the mat below. Nitro quickly gets back up to his feet and walks straight into a Dropkick to the chest, causing him to fly backwards into the turnbuckles, his head ricocheting off the top pad. Kendrick, seemingly proud of himself forgets about Thorn and turns into a clothesline knocking him down to the mat. Thorn then picks up the near lifeless body of Kendrick and approaches the ropes; he places his feet on the Top rope and his head and upper body on his shoulders, following with the Original Sin, to the dismay of the crowd. Thorn then makes the cover and gets the three count.
Brian Kendrick has been eliminated.
Kendrick rolls out of the ring, leaving a trail of crimson blood on the mat as Thorn turns his attentions to Nitro. Nitro mounts a good offence on Thorn, running and hitting him with right after right, but is eventually caught out of nowhere with an upper cut and Big Boot.
Jeff Hardy has entered the match.
Hardy slides into the ring and runs at Thorn, connecting with a shot to the face. He then goes for a kick to the gut, but Thorn catches his leg; Hardy however is able to spin around and connect with a shot to his chest using his other foot as the crowd cheers in delight. Thorn stumbles backwards into an Enziguri from Nitro, which sends him down to the mat and under the bottom rope to the outside. Nitro then turns and walks into a hiptoss from Hardy, followed by a legdrop. Hardy then quickly hooks the leg for a close two count. The Rainbow Haired Warrior gets back up to his feet and sees Kevin Thorn entering back in to the ring, he runs and knocks him off the apron with a right hand, as Thorn is stumbling around on the outside of the ring, Hardy runs at the ropes and presses him with a baseball slide, causing him to push back into the guard rail. Hardy then turns straight into a spinning wheel kick from a precise and stalking Nitro. Instead of making the cover however, Nitro preserves his energy as the ‘Countdown Clock’ is nearing 0 – the next entrant is soon to arrive. Thorn slides back into the ring and begins stomping at Hardy, he pulls him up to his feet and hits him with a reverse DDT.
Rob Van Dam has entered the match.
RVD enters the ring and takes the waiting Nitro down with a sidekick, he then turns his attentions to Kevin Thorn and hits him with a series of rights followed by a forearm shot and finally a kick to the knee. Van Dam then connects with a DDT, driving Thorn into the mat. As Thorn is down on the mat, RVD approaches the turnbuckles and leaps up to the top rope, the crowd go wild in anticipation of a 5-Star Frog Splash, before he can hit the manoeuvre however, Johnny Nitro runs and jumps up to the top rope, balancing with Van Dam much to the delight of the crowd. Nitro then leaps back and takes RVD down to the mat with a Hurricanrana. ‘Holy Shit’ chants break out amongst the crowd as Hardy goes up to the top rope himself, Jeff leaps off and connects with a huge Swanton Bomb to Kevin Thorn, making up for RVD’s lack of a 5-Star. Hardy covers Thorn and gets the three count.
Kevin Thorn has been eliminated.
Nitro goes to connect with a Standing Shooting Star on RVD, but the resourceful superstar is able to get his knees up, causing Nitro to crash and burn. Jeff Hardy capitalises on this and connects with a Twist of Fate driving Nitro into the mat. Instead of getting the cover, Hardy awaits RVD to get to his feet, stalking him. RVD slowly gets up to his feet and turns, but much to the shock of the crowd, Hardy signals for RVD to 5-Star Nitro, much to the delight of the crowd. RVD approaches the corner of the ring and jumps up to the top rope, he does his ‘Rob Van Dam’ taunt and leaps off into the air, pressing Nitro with a Thunderous 5-Star Frog Splash and covering him for the three count.
Johnny Nitro has been eliminated.
Jeff Hardy quickly approaches RVD and goes for a Twist of Fate but gets pushed away, Jeff turns back towards RVD and gets met with a vicious kick to the back of the head, disorientating him and causing him to fall down to the mat below. RVD falls to the mat and hooks the leg of Hardy but gets just a two count.
CM Punk enters the match.
Punk makes his way into the ring and locks up with RVD, Punk pushes RVD back and connects with a right and left, he goes for a spinning backhand, but as Punks back is turned to RVD, he capitalises with a backdrop, driving Punk onto the mat below. RVD pulls himself up and runs at Jeff Hardy who is holding himself up in the corner of the ring. RVD hits Hardy with a shoulder to the gut, followed by a second and finally a back flip into a third. Hardy falls down to the mat as RVD turns, straight into a very familiar kick to the back of the head. Punk the hoists RVD up onto his shoulders looking for the GTS, but Van Dam is able to struggle his way back down onto the mat. He then hits Punk with a forearm shot, followed by a kick to the gut and finally goes for a DDT, but CM Punk is able to get out and connect with a clothesline sending RVD down to the canvas. Punk turns into a kick to the gut from Hardy who is looking for a Twist of Fate, Punk however pushes him away and as he turns, wraps his arm around his upper body and connects with a vicious Uranagi slam, driving Hardy onto the mat below. Punk then locks in the Anaconda Vice, much to the delight of the crowd in attendance. Punk wrenches at the move as Hardy looks to be in agonising pain. Just as Hardy looks as though he is about to tap, Rob Van Dam comes out of nowhere, connecting with a Rolling Thunder to both men, leaving all three immobile.
Robert Roode has entered the match.
Robert Roode slides into the ring and pulls a lifeless Jeff Hardy up to his feet, he then kicks him in the gut and delivers the Pay-Off, bridging into the pin for the three.
Jeff Hardy has been eliminated.
The crowd let out a chorus of boos with Hardy being eliminated as Roode turns his efforts to Rob Van Dam. He hits RVD with a series of hard stops, followed by an elbow to the sternum. Roode quickly makes the cover, but RVD is able to get a shoulder up. Punk approaches Roode and hits him with a kick to the chest, followed by a right hand and finally a spinning back hand. Roode stumbles back slightly, but comes back, hitting Punk with a stiff clothesline, sending him down to the mat below and under the bottom rope. Roode then turns to RVD who is on all fours trying to pull himself up, Roode runs and hits him with a sickening kick to the gut, before making the cover for just a two count. The crowd begin chants of ‘Your names Bob’ and ‘Bobby Bobby Bobby’ as Roode taunts in the ring, proud that he is control of the match. Roode pulls RVD up to his feet and kicks him in the gut, he looks to pick him up for the Pay-Off but RVD blocks the lift with his leg. He then hits Roode with a series of rights to the stomach and finally takes him down with a vicious knee to the face. RVD the grabs the legs of Roode and pulls him into the centre of the ring. RVD gives a ‘Rolling’ sign with his arms to the fans and comes off the ropes, connecting with the Rolling Thunder. He makes the cover for just a two count, which shocks some in attendance. RVD then approaches the corner of the ring and leaps to the top rope.
Christian Cage has entered the match.
RVD leaps off the top rope and connects with a 5-Star Frog Splash to Robert Roode, before he can hook the leg and get the pin, he’s thrown from the ring by Christian Cage, who incidentally pins Roode and gains the elimination.
Robert Roode has been eliminated.
CM Punk slides back into the ring, only to be met by shot after shot to the back and neck from Cage. Cage then pulls him into the centre of the ring and connects with a DDT, driving his head down onto the canvas. A majority of the fans in the arena are booing Cage as he pulls Punk up to his feet, looking for the Unprettier. Punk however pushes Cage forward towards the ropes where he is met with a stiff kick from RVD who is standing on the apron. Cage stumbles backwards and Punk hoists him up onto his shoulders, throwing him off and connecting with the Go 2 Sleep. The crowd cheer loudly as Punk covers Cage.
1…
2…
Cage gets the shoulder up!
The crowd are split on whether to cheer or boo as Punk looks on in absolute shock. Punk approaches the upper body of Cage, looking to apply the Vice, but RVD rolls him up from behind for a two count. Both men quickly get back up to their feet and RVD connects with a kick to the gut of Punk followed by a forearm shot and whips him off the ropes, Punk comes back off the ropes and receives a backdrop from RVD. RVD then turns and realises that Punk and Cage are lying next to each other; he comes off the ropes and connects with a Double Rolling Thunder, causing the crowd to go crazy with cheers.
After landing on both men, RVD hadn’t moved so he makes the cover on both of them for just a two count. He pulls himself back up to his feet and approaches the corner of the ring, he leaps up to the top rope as the crowd begin an ‘RVD’ chant. RVD leaps off, looking to connect with a 5-Star on both men, but Cage and Punk are able to move out of the way, causing RVD to crash onto the mat with a vicious thud. Cage who is now on his feet, stalks RVD, who slowly gets up to his feet. RVD turns and ducks under a clothesline from Cage, Cage them stumbles forwards and walks straight into a Uranagi slam from Punk, followed by the Anaconda Vice. After just a few seconds of being locked in the hold, Christian Cage submits, causing a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Christian Cage has been eliminated.
RVD quickly approaches Punk and hits him with a kick to the chest, followed by a second and finally a forearm shot. RVD whips Punk into the turnbuckles and runs at him, looking to go for a splash, but Punk is able to move and RVD goes abdomen first into the pads. RVD stumbles back and walks into a kick to the back of the head from Punk, followed by a GTS attempt, RVD once again is able to get out of the hold and land on his feet. Punk however retains his advantage and whips RVD into the corner of the ring. Punk runs at him and connects with a high knee, he grabs him into a headlock and goes for the bulldog, but RVD is able to push him forwards, causing him to fall onto his back in the near centre of the ring. The tenacious RVD then turns and leaps up onto the top rope, doing his thumb pointing signature taunt before leaping off and connecting with a 5-Star Frog Splash to Punk.
1…
2…
…3!
The crowd cheer tremendously loud as the referee calls for the bell.
Justin Roberts: Here is your winner and the APW Contender Trophy Holder, Rob…Van…Dam!
RVD is handed the Contender Trophy and holds it up high as ‘RVD’ chants flood the arena. He continues to pose for fans, celebrating his victory in the ring.
Joey Styles: Rob Van Dam is on his way to an APW Championship match at Bitter Association – However, he will have to successfully defend his opportunity each week until the Pay-Per-View comes around, so will it be RVD that faces the winner of the Orton/Michaels match tonight? Only time will tell.
JBL: RVD outlasted 7 other superstars here tonight, 7 of the best in this business and he came out on top, what an achievement, what a victory for RVD.
(Part Two in next post.)
