February 28, 2011

Attendance: 10,156 (66.6%)

The closing moments from the Abyss-Kurt Angle main event are shown, ending with Peter Bradshaw declaring the match a no-contest. Highlights also include: Velvet Sky retaining the Women's Title; Natalya defeating Sarita; Adam Cole becoming new X-Division Champion; the disqualification of The Hart Dynasty; Cody Rhodes defeating Matt Morgan; and Alex Shelley winning the 15-man battle royal.

“Headstrong” blares through the arena as fireworks shoot off from the stage, inside the darkened arena. As the lights come on, smoke rises to the ceiling, as the fans go crazy, screaming and holding up their homemade signs. Josh Daniels and Scott Michaels welcome everyone to Charlottesville – and to the campus of the University of Virginia – where tonight, it has been announced that the Tag Team Titles will be on the line, in a match in which Natalya will be banned from ringside, as The Hart Dynasty, once again, defends their belts against Skip Sheffield and Rob Terry. Also, tonight, it is announced that Evan Bourne will be in action as he takes on Kofi Kingston from the PCW.

PETER BRADSHAW makes his way down the ramp, and into the ring, as JD and SM speculate as to what the Owner will have to say. Bradshaw grabs a microphone and says that there haven't been too many moments where he felt embarrassed about being the owner of the HWL. Bradshaw says that he has never second-guessed his decision to purchase the company after it went bankrupt two years ago; but that last night he sat and watched – with his head in his hands – as a paid official ruined the integrity of his company by not doing his job correctly. He says that he was not playing around last night, when he said that their would be consequences for that bad decision. Bradshaw says that he didn't take a whole lot of time to think about what he was going to do about the situation, and says that, as of last night, the referee in question is no longer on the HWL payroll. Bradshaw says that it's no big loss, because he could easily find someone else willing to do the job they're paid for. But, Bradshaw says that there is a more important issue at hand, and that's the Heavyweight Title. Bradshaw announces that, tonight, the HWL Heavyweight Title will be on the line, as Kurt Angle defends the title, against Abyss, in a steel cage match. The crowd goes insane as Bradshaw drops the microphone and leaves the ring…

Commercial Break

(1) Kaz vs. Jey Uso (w/Tamina)

Two participants from last night's battle royal started off the show tonight, but the match didn't take too long to come to an end, as STEVE CORINO made his way to ringside. Corino quickly interfered in the match, tripping Jey Uso, causing the referee to disqualify Kaz. After the match, Corino entered the ring and continued his attack on Uso, saying that things still aren't even between the two of them. Corino got to his feet and stared at Tamina before leaving the ring…

Jey Uso defeated Kaz by disqualification in 0:04:02.
Rating: **
[Steve Corino interfered against Jey Uso.]

Commercial Break

Backstage, SARITA, with a large black-and-blue bruise on her face, confronts PETER BRADSHAW. She says that she wants to know what's going to happen to Natalya, for using a closed first – and for knocking her out – last night at the pay-per-view. Bradshaw says that, he has watched the tape, and that he didn't see anything that would constitute Natalya being punished for her actions. Sarita says that, if Bradshaw isn't going to do anything about it, then she will have to take actions into her own hands…

(2) Steve Corino vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles (w/Chelsea & Ric Flair)

Steve Corino had a big test in front of him tonight, taking on the former Heavyweight Champion tonight. JEY USO made his way to the ring, just seconds into the match, and was at ringside to witness Styles executing a top-rope Frankensteiner on Corino for a two-count. Corino appeared to have been caught off guard, seeing Uso at ringside, and that presence took his mind off the other person at ringside, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Flair tried to intervene, tripping Corino; and that allowed Styles the opening to hit the Styles Clash for the 1-2-3. After the match, Uso was shown smiling as he made his way up the ramp.

AJ Styles pinned Steve Corino with the Styles Clash in 0:04:40.
Rating: ***
[Ric Flair interfered against Steve Corino.]

Commercial Break

Coming back from the break, ALEX SHELLEY makes his way down to the ring, as the crowd cheers. He thanks the crowd for their response, and says that they are all looking at a different man; a man who has grown up over the past few months, and who saw that transformation lead him to the main event at Wrestleocolypse. He says that he didn't always take the business seriously, when he and his best friend starting making hay in the independents. He says that neither of them really took it seriously when they were winning championship titles in other promotions. Shelley admits that they may not have taken it as seriously as they should have, even as they were holding the HWL Tag Team Titles. But, he says that he started to grow up when Chris Sabin left the HWL. He was alone, in the business, for the first time, and he says that he wasn't sure of himself. Shelley says that he wandered around the backstage area, every week, searching for the one thing to latch onto… to give him the reason he needed to take this business seriously. Shelley says that he found that when he started teaming up with Randy Orton.

He says that he probably wasn't the best choice for a partner that Randy Orton could find, but that he thought his experience as a former Tag Team Champion would help their cause. Shelley says that he did make a lot of mistakes, and that some of them could've been the difference between he and Orton winning the Tag Team Titles on multiple occasions; but he says that what happened a couple months ago, when Orton attacked him – and the other men in the X-Division – was the wake up call he had been looking for. Shelley says that, sitting in the back with ice on his head, he knew that he wouldn't be satisfied until he got the better of “The Viper”.

Shelley says that he got his chance last month, to do just that, but came up short. He says that Orton would never be happy with just winning a match, so he RKO'ed Shelley after their match at Brutality. Shelley says that that was the moment he knew that something had to be done. He says that, last night, at Best of the Best, he achieved something that Orton has not: he become Number One Contender for the Heavyweight Title…

RANDY ORTON's music hits, and “The Viper” comes down to the ring, standing toe-to-toe with Shelley. Orton says that Shelley is a disgrace to the business, saying that he admitted to not taking it seriously. Orotn says that he has spent years traveling, rehabbing, and putting his body on the line to make a name for himself in the business; and that if the crowd cheers for anyone, it should be him. The crowd responses with a chorus of boos. Orton continues, saying that the only reason they were partners for as long as they were, was because Orton was waiting to see if Shelley would ever take their task of regaining the Tag Team Titles seriously: something he never did. He says that their match at Brutality was nothing more then a chance for Orton to teach Shelley a lesson; and that it must've done its job. Orton admits that Shelley won the battle royal last night, but says that even Shelley should agree that he doesn't deserve it; and that the number one contender should be someone who takes the title – and what it stands for – more seriously then anything in his life. Orton says that, if Shelley says he's a changed man, and is taking the business more seriously – then he would put up his title shot against someone who deserves it, next week on Anarchy. Without hesitation, Shelley agrees to the match, and the two men stare each other down as Anarchy goes to commercials.

Commercial Break

(3) Skip Sheffield/Rob Terry vs. © The Hart Dynasty (HWL Tag Team Title Match)

This match sounded like it would go much easier for the challengers with Natalya being banned from ringside, after her interference last night at Best of the Best; but without her at ringside, the champions were able to show off their in-ring abilities, something they haven't had much of a chance to do during their title reign. Smith and Kidd showed that they could hold their own, very well, against their bigger opponents, without the fear of disqualification looming. The match went past the time limit, but in the end, Rob Terry connected with the Freakbuster on Tyson Kidd to pick up the victory, ending the Hart Dynasty's seven-month reign on the top. After the match, Sheffield and Terry celebrated in the ring, as Smith looked on in shocked horror.

Skip Sheffield & Rob Terry defeated The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd) when R. Terry pinned T. Kidd with the Freakbuster in 0:20:29.
Rating: ***
(Skip Sheffield & Rob Terry won the HWL Tag Team Titles.)

Commercial Break

Anarchy returns, with Peter Bradshaw in his office, backstage. Bradshaw says that, due to the interference by Steve Corino earlier tonight, he will step into the ring against Kaz, next week on Anarchy. Also, Bradshaw announces that Sarita will get her rematch, against Natalya, also next week.

(4) Kofi Kingston vs. Evan Bourne

Both men came up short in their bids to become number one contender for the Heavyweight Title, last night at Best of the Best, but tonight they showed off their amazing high-flying abilities in a fast-paced match. One-half of the current PCW Tag Team Champions, Kingston had a strong showing in the Battle Royal last night, and showed, once again, that he could contend with the men on the main roster. But, in the end, Evan Bourne connected with a forearm shot to the back of the head, giving him just enough time to pick up the victory. Bourne slid out of the ring, and celebrated the win, as Kingston got to his feet, holding the back of his head.

Evan Bourne pinned Kofi Kingston after a flying forearm in 0:14:38.
Rating: ***

Commercial Break

(5) “The Monster” Abyss vs. © “The Olympic Gold Medalist” Kurt Angle (Steel Cage Match for HWL Heavyweight Title)

The anticipation for this match had been building throughout the evening, and both men seemed ready to finally put an end to what appeared to be the question of the night: Who wanted the Heavyweight Title more? Both Abyss and Angle wanted to answer that question outright, as they both did whatever they could to keep the other from getting out of the cage. With no rules inside the cage, both men became covered in blood, from not only the cage, but weapons all around the ring. Abyss took the advantage after tossing Angle into the cage, injuring the champ's back. After hitting the Black Hole Slam, “the Monster” attempted to climb the cage, but he found himself having trouble getting over the top. Angle, still reeling from the pain in his back, climbed the ropes, and caught Abyss in the Olympic Slam, from the top rope! As the crowd roared, Angle – with every ounce of strength he could muster – crawled his way out of the cage, and fell to the concrete as he was announced the winner. After the match, Angle was awarded the Heavyweight Title, and was escorted to the back by HWL medical staff; who also attended to Abyss as Anarchy went off the air.

Kurt Angle defeated Abyss by escaping the cage in 0:16:56.
Rating: *** ½
(Kurt Angle retained the HWL Heavyweight Title.)

Card rating: *** ¼

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