LIVE OFF AIR REPORTS FROM WWE'S SNME IN DALLAS
by Dave Scherer @ 10:08:00 AM on 7/16/2006
Mike G. sent this report.
I just got back from SNME and these are my thoughts on the show.
The show was supposed to start at 5:30PM local time but they didn't even open the doors until 4:30PM which lead to a sold out crowd of 17,000 all trying to get in at once. The dark match didn't even start till about 6:00PM or so. I'm assuming since they opened the doors an hour before that's why they didn't start at the advertised time because there still would have been a half empty crowd and they don't want that on primetime TV. Who knows why they didn't just open the doors earlier though.
Dark Match: Paul London vs. Rene Dupree
I'm a big London fan so it was nice to see him wrestle. Surprisingly since Dupree hasn't been on TV in forever he actually got a lot of heat, even prompting USA chants in the middle of the match. Maybe it was because the show didn't start at the advertised time, we had been in the 100 degree heat forever, and he was the first heel that we saw, but who knows. Sorry I don't remember much about the actual match, but it was a decent, short match with London getting the pin.
The Kevin Von Erich segment was actually done before the show started.
I don't know how much of this got on TV but when Mark Henry went down the ref almost immediately threw up the X sign. After Henry crawled over for the tag he rolled outside in front of the ECW table where he stayed, obviously writhing in pain, until after the match. I think most of the crowd realized he was actually hurt as they gave him a respectful clap when he hopped to the back on one leg (with help from officials) where they finally put him on a stretcher.
After the Hogan/Orton parking lot segment they announced a handicap match for after the show with Umaga and The Great Khali taking on The Undertaker.
It seemed like the crowd was split 70/30 maybe 60/40 for Cena. I couldn't get a real good grasp on it since I was surrounded by kids screaming their hearts out for Cena. He is waaaaay over with the kids. The FU onto the table from the steps was pretty cool, which everyone popped for, even the Cena haters.
After the show went off the air they announced Edge as still being the champ which got a pretty decent pop as his music played and he and Lita went to the back.
Post Show Match: Umaga and The Great Khali vs. The Undertaker
Umaga came out without Armando Alejandro Estrada. A groan made its way throughout the crowd as we realized we would have no Estrrrrrrrrrrrrrrada on the mic. Khali and Umaga argued over who would start the match until Taker jumped both of them sending Khali over the top rope eventually leaving Umaga to start the match. Taker takes the advantage for a little while and goes for Old School but Umaga pulls him off the turnbuckle. Khali is tagged in and he takes the advantage which lead to many boring chants. Taker hits Old School on Khali and Umaga is tagged back in. They go back and forth until Taker goes for a Tombstone but he can't hold up Umaga and it ends up looking like a body slam. Taker then just runs off the ropes and drops an elbow on him for the pin. I figured he would at least pick him back up and go for a chokeslam, but I guess that's what you get in a non televised match. It was nice to see Taker wrestle since I had never seen him live, but considering his opponents and the botched finish it was a pretty boring match.
Overall it was a fun show to see live and the crowd was definitely hot all night long except for the bull riding contest. At least we only had to sit through a couple minutes of that.
Biggest Pops:
1. DX/Hogan (too close for me to call)
2. Kevin Von Erich
3. Batista
Biggest Heat:
1. Vince McMahon
2. The Great Khali
3. Todd Grisham (when he said that the Mavericks choked in the NBA Finals, I don't know why a face would say that)
Tyler Foster sent this report.
I was at the American Airlines Center for tonight's Saturday Night's Main Event and thought I would send you some of the happenings. Paul London defeated Rene Dupree in a dark match before the show. I'm not sure if this was the only dark match as it was ending right as I was getting to my seat. The diva bullriding contest could have happened before that, but I can't say for sure. After the dark match, Kevin Von Erich came out on the stage, which you saw on NBC later. Taping started at about five after six central time, so it was about a 55 minute delay. Hulk Hogan's pyro did not go off when he made his entrance, they shot the pyro going off a little later and it was edited into the show on NBC. If you notice, it just goes to a shot of the pyro and then quickly back down to Hogan posing with the flag in the background.
Six Man tag was kind of a blur to me, as I was watching Mark Henry. I did not see what caused his injury, I just know he was clutching onto the side of the ring trying to stand, and then just collapsed down by the ECW announce table and was telling the ring announcer, Justin Roberts something. After the match, when it cut back to the DX/Squad/Vince skit, Henry was helped to the back by Booker, Finlay, Regal, and a bunch of referee's and agents. It didn't look good, and I've heard now it's pretty severe.
The Batista promo video and Sabu promo video were not shown to the live crowd.
Something was messed up when DX were putting Vince into the cage with the Spirit Squad, as at the live show Michaels had to superkick Vince two times, but on NBC, it only showed one. I think they were having trouble with the lock.
Cena was pretty over in Dallas. However as you probably heard, there were a fair share of Cena haters as well. About 60/40 in Cena's favor I would say.
The post show dark match saw The Undertaker defeat The Great Khali and Umaga in a handicap match. I know the match has been featuring Mark Henry, but obviously he was in no shape to compete. It was obvious it was a quick change as Armando Alejandro Estrada wasn't even with Umaga. Taker won by getting Khali tied in the ropes after chokeslaming Umaga and then pinning Umaga after a legdrop.
Outside the arena post-show. A few wrestlers could be seen leaving. Kenny of the Spirit Squad, along with Mickie James talked with the fans around the exit as they stopped at a stop sign at the exit of the arena. The rest of the Spirit Squad were in a limo. Maria was walked out to the parking lot by several security guards. Also, the HHH Express was believed to have been spotted, although I cant confirm that was indeed it.
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Okay. I am a day late on response to this compared to www.PWinsider.com ... so let me give you my thoughts. First, I was there for a friend. He enjoyed it much better than I did, even though I do like wrestling. The lines were around the American Airlines Center and the heat was awful. The humidity and lack of cool wind made it seem unbearable [the FREE FM guys mentioned they were glad to have the medium sized red tarp to shade themselves under. I didn't know any RUSS MARTIN SHOW trivia, so no free shirt.
I saw Booker T. He wore a black SECURITY shirt and I know, as much as he liked the fans, he hated the heat more. He walked pretty briskly to the Center's doors, but did act cordial to us.
Once we got in, there was a delay of the show. People occassionally shouted out the Ric Flair signature " Whoooo! ", but no Ric Flair appearance that night. I had a bit of vertigo in the third upper balcony of the Center, the seats allowed me to watch the ring from a distance, but also check out the video monitors simultaneously for details in the action [which helped out since my recording on my VHS failed].
The Paul London/ Rene Dupree match and the subsequent Umala/Undertaker/Great Khali matches were dark matches, happening not during the broadcast. The matches were short and kinda disappointing in a few bits, since all the signature moves got light pops, but the ENTERTAINMENT aspect seemed to fill in the gaps. BETWEEN MATCHES IT WAS PRETTY QUIET. They used WWE sponsored adds to generate crowd reaction, along with the Maria " Kiss Cam " bit [very lame], the Kevin Von Erich cameo, the Todd Grisham tshirt giveaway and the Bronco Riding Match between Victoria & Michelle McCool [note: an earlier match of riding SUPPOSEDLY happened, but I missed it, as did most of us in the Center]. The DX match and the Rey Mysterio bit running under the legs of King Booker and Finlay reminded me of stage entertainment from musicals or Six Flags. So I loved them.
Let's just say this. After the Undertaker dark match, the reaction of Mark to the crowds apathy and his attempts of creating "pop" summarized the night.
NBC is NOT going to be happy, ratings wise.
XFL anyone?
dr phibes
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