April 01, 2013 - Monday Night Anarchy - Tel Aviv, Israel

Fireworks explode in the darkened arena as “Hail to the King” plays. As the lights come back on, the crowd in the nearly-full arena cheers and people are seeing waving signs in the air. Josh Daniels and Scott Michaels welcome everyone to the Nokia Arena and the first-ever show from Tel Aviv!

Peter Bradshaw appears on-stage and makes his way down the ramp, giving a few fans high-fives along the ramp. Inside the ring, Bradshaw soaks in the scene before saying that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring professional wrestling to Israel. Bradshaw thanks the mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, for working together to bring the HWL here tonight. He says that, since arriving over the weekend, Bradshaw and the men and women of the HWL have had the honor of experiencing the wonderful city of Tel Aviv. Bradshaw says he could go on and on with compliments and platitudes for the city and its residents, but he has business to attend to.

Bradshaw says that, last week, he made it clear to CM Punk that his match with John Cena at REBELLION would be the final time they’d meet as long as either one of them was champion, Tonight, he is out here to make sure not only Punk and Cena understand this, but that it is clear to everyone in attendance, everyone in the back, and everyone watching at home. After a week of deep thought – trying to think of some way to signify the end of this feud – Bradshaw finally came up with an idea. He then announces a “Three Stages of Hell” match. Bradshaw announces that this will be unlike any two-out-of-three falls match in wrestling history. Instead of Punk and Cena have a single match with three falls, they will take place in three different matches throughout the night. However, he says, each match will have a special stipulation. Therefore, each match will be different, and neither man will be able to plan for them. At the end of the night, whoever picks up two victories will be crowned as the Heavyweight Champion, and finally put to rest this feud for good.

Bradshaw leaves the ring as the announcers wonder what a match like this could do to the careers of both Punk and Cena after REBELLION.

Commercial Break

Backstage, Heavyweight Champion John Cena is asked by Alisha Hicks about the announcement made by Peter Bradshaw just moments ago, concerning his match against CM Punk at REBELLION. Cena tells Alisha that he has a match against Kevin Steen tonight, and right now, that is his focus. He says that he will make a statement about REBELLION next week.

As Cena walks away, Alisha stops Nikki Bella who is walking by. Alisha asks Nikki about the possibility of facing her sister, Brie, for the Women’s Title. Nikki says that she has to win tonight. And, if she does, she has a tough match against ODB next week. She says that a lot can happen in two weeks.

Matt Morgan (0-0-0 vs. Claudio Castagnoli (0-0-0)
“The Blueprint” continues to look for a victory as he steps into the ring with the Swiss superstar in the hoping match of the night. Castagnoli was getting a good response from the European audience and showing off his impressive strength did not hurt his cause. Castagnoli picked up a victory after laying out Morgan with a Discus Punch for the 1-2-3.

Claudio Castagnoli pinned Matt Morgan after the Discus Punch in 7:29.
Rating: 2.25

Commercial Break

Backstage, Kurt Angle and Martin Maldonado are asked by Alisha Hicks why they chose to have their match with Colt Cabana and Edwin Colon tonight and pass up a Number One Contenders’ Match with them at REBELLION. Angle says that, even with their time away, they know they’re the best tag team in the HWL. Right now, Styles and Kingston are holding the belts for them, and they will get them back soon enough.

Number One Contenders’ Tournament Match
Leva Bates (0-0-0) vs. Nikki Bella (0-0-0)
Leva and Nikki are no strangers to each other, having done battle a number of times over the past year. Whether she wants to admit it of not, Bates has become a bit of a shield for Brie Bella and the Women’s Title, albeit a very durable one. Nikki made her intentions know earlier tonight, saying that she still has a long road ahead of her in order to challenger her twin sister for the Women’s Title. The first step would be tonight. And, it looked like Nikki would be poised for a victory after tossing Leva outside the ring late in the match. However, with the referee’s back turned – giving Bates the 10-count – ANGELINA LOVE ran down from the back, attacking Nikki from behind! Love quickly left the ring as Bates got back inside, hitting a savate kick for the 1-2-3.

Number One Contenders’ Tournament Match:
Leva Bates pinned Nikki Bella after a savate kick in 6:39.
Rating: 0.75
(Angelina Love interfered against Nikki Bella.)

Backstage, Peter Bradshaw is seen holding the Golden Opportunity briefcase. He announces that, due to Rami Sebei’s departure, he has signed a match between the last two competitors in the Elimination Chamber Match: Mike Sydal and Bobby Roode, for tonight. The winner of that match will gain possession of the briefcase and the six-month contract.

Commercial Break

Colt Cabana & Edwin Colon (0-0-0) vs. Kurt Angle & Martin Maldonado (0-0-0)
At Wrestleocalypse, Cabana and Colon cost Angle and Maldonado their chance to win back the Tag Team Titles. Last week, Angle and Maldonado wasted no time in accepting the offer, from Peter Bradshaw, to get into the ring with Cabana and Colon. Tonight, however, their frustration, anger and embarrassment at what happened at Wrestleocalypse appear to have caused both men to be off their games when it mattered most. With Colon and Angle brawling outside the ring, Colon shocked Maldonado with a vicious superkick, catching him right on the jaw! Cabana made the cover for the 1-2-3, scoring a huge win for his team.

Colt Cabana & Edwin Colon defeated Kurt Angle & Martin Maldonado when Cabana pinned Maldonado after a superkick in 9:22.
Rating: 2.75

Backstage, Alisha Hicks asks Mike Sydal about getting a second chance to win the Golden Opportunity briefcase. Sydal begins to speak but gets interrupted as Bobby Roode walks up. Roode looks at Sydal and asks Alisha why she’s wasting her time talking to a loser. He laughs and walks off as Sydal fumes.

Commercial Break

Returning from the break, Cody Rhodes’ music begins to play, and the crowd roars to life as he walks on-stage in a three-piece suit. The emotional he feels can be see on Cody’s face as he walks down the ramp and enters the ring. The crowd begins to chant “Welcome back!” as Cody paces around the ring. Cody takes a moment to compose himself before thanking everyone here in Tel Aviv and all the people back in the States who have supported him over the past two months. He said that the videos that were shown on this show bared his soul to those that would otherwise never know what he was struggling with. Again, Cody thanks the fans but also says that he wouldn’t be standing here today without the support of his family and the team at the Circle Tree Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. He says that the 60 days he spent in rehab helped him to reflect and realize that he is not his father, nor will he ever be “The American Dream”. Instead, from this point forward, Cody is going to be his own man, and will do whatever he can to claw his way back to the top of the HWL.

Rhodes is interrupted as Randy Orton’s music begins to play. In casual clothing, Orton walks down the ramp and enters the ring. He stands across from Cody and asks for a microphone. Orton says that he remembers when Cody came into this business, and that he was asked to help Cody through the ranks. He says he carried Cody under his wing, and even treated him like a younger brother. But, tonight, Orton says he’s talking to Rhodes as a man. Orton extends his hand and welcomes back Cody. Rhodes shakes his hand and the two share a quick hug. As they step back, Orton doesn’t let go of Cody’s hand, instead hitting an RKO in the center of the ring! With the crowd roaring with boos around him, Orton stands above Rhodes, staring down at him, smiling, as the show goes to commercials.

Commercial Break

Golden Opportunity Match
Mike Sydal (0-0-0) vs. Bobby Roode (0-0-0)
Last week, Rami Sebei shocked the HWL by leaving the company and forfeiting his Golden Opportunity contract in the process. As the final two-thirds of the Elimination Chamber match at Wrestleocalypse, Sydal and Roode were picked to do battle for the right to bring that briefcase home tonight, guaranteeing either of them a Heavyweight Title match at any point over the next six months. Roode came out as the cocksure veteran – and former Heavyweight Champion in his own right. But Sydal still had a lot to prove after a very impressive performance at Wrestleocalypse. Tonight, the HWL’s resident rock-and-roller stunned everyone as he was able to hit an Explosion Moonsault for the 1-2-3!

Golden Opportunity Match
Mike Sydal pinned Bobby Roode with the Explosion Moonsault in 8:32.
Rating: 3.50

Backstage, Christopher Daniels is asked about losing his bid to regain the X-Division Title at Wrestleocalypse. Daniels gives credit to Kevin Steen for putting on a stellar match and says that it just wasn’t his night. He says there is always another mountain to climb, another challenge to overcome. Daniels says that he lives by the ideal that when one door closes another always opens; and tonight, he will get the chance to put on another classic match with AJ Styles.

Commercial Break

Backstage, Kevin Steen is asked about facing John Cena in tonight’s main event. Steen says that Cena beat him a month ago, but things are always changing. He says this time, Cena is Heavyweight Champion. Steen asks Alisha what could possibly be bigger than knocking down the new champion in his first match since winning the title? Steen smiles and walks off, confidently.

Christopher Daniels (0-0-0) vs. AJ Styles (0-0-0)
Christopher Daniels promised that he and AJ Styles were going to put on a classic match tonight in Tel Aviv. It looked as if that was going to be the case, as these two men have traveled together, wrestling all over the world. However, Colt Cabana and Edwin Colon had other ideas, as they came to ringside and attacked Styles! Daniels was disqualified, and the fans were robbed of seeing a potentially show-stealing match.

AJ Styles defeated Christopher Daniels by DQ in 9:04.
Rating: 3.00
[Colt Cabana & Edwin Colon interfered against AJ Styles.]

Commercial Break

A preview for REBELLION is shown. REBELLION will take place, live, from Glendale, Arizona on April 20th.

Non-Title Match
© Kevin Steen (0-0-0) vs. © John Cena (0-0-0)
Kevin Steen wanted to make an impression in Tel Aviv, evening the score between himself and the new Heavyweight Champion. After a hard-fought match, which saw Steen counter out of the F-U, he was able to hit a Package Piledriver, shocking Cena and the crowd, for the 1-2-3!

[Non-Title Match]:
Kevin Steen pinned John Cena after the Package Piledriver in 14:33.
Rating: 3.00

Card rating: 3.00

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