I originally had no plans to attend this show, mainly cause of the frequency I've been attending live wrestling events lately, but as luck would have it, I managed to win free tickets to this WWE event. Not only did I win the free tickets, when I went to pick them up I find that I also won free limo services to and from the event in conjunction with WQLZ's Morning Disaster. Spanky (not the wrestler, the local radio personality) is the host. Remarkably, none of the WWE wrestlers came to the show in a limo.

The results of the previous nights show in Evansville, IN featured a completely identical lineup to our advertised lineup, but it got changed a bit during the show. I shall note what happened the previous night for each of these bouts just for fun and to see if there's a streak.

Live from the Prairie Capitol Convention Center. Attendance looked to be about 5000-6000 in a 9000 seat facility, where the upper deck was closed off, the floor was about 100% full, the risers about 80-90% full, and the middle deck to be about 50-60% full. I stood at my seat holding a sign reading "I'd rather be viewing New Midwest Wrestling" which got some people looking my way.

Your host and ring announcer is Johnny Coachman, who's booed like crazy, and not Howard Finkel who Coach claims is out doing janitor duties back at the WWE HQ. And thankfully for us, his mike is cut off! Coach is confused and the crowd chant "YOU SUCK!" Gee he should had used a battery mike. They find another mike and IT doesn't work! They spend about five minutes fiddling with the mikes until Earl Hebner comes out, then Jack Doan, then Test comes out to NO music...yep the WHOLE sound system is out! Stevie Richards and Victoria then come out to cheers.

Steven Richards 6'2" 220lbs. Philadelphia, PA (w/ Victoria) vs. Test 6'6" 280lbs. Toronto, OT - Richards pulled out the victory in the last meeting. Test attacks him from behind, stomps away, whip punch Richards, clothesline out. Stevie chases him, pulls Vicky in front of him, shove and forearm shot by Test. Toss in, two backbreaker from Test get two. Bearhug Test, Richards slugs his way out but gets clotheslined down. Bearhug Test, Stevie punches out, bite, clothesline doesn't work so he kicks the leg. Forearm, spinning neckbreaker get Stevie two. Chop, whip reversed Test pumphandle blocked, Richards suplex gets two. Stevie punches Test in the corner, Test tosses him, Stevie charge and he crotches himself. Victoria up, Test tries to kick her and only gets rope, rollup Stevie gets two. Clothesline Test, he stomps Vicky's hand then goes after her, Richards hits him with a DDT to pin Test. Standard Heat match, same result.

WINNER: Steven Richards pin -> 5:30 mins. *½

Coach still can't get his mike to work. Jack Doan brings out a bullhorn, and Coach can't even get THAT to work. He finally gets it on, but the crowd is so loud we can't hear him with that! Nick Dinsmore comes out, then Lance Storm to no music or intros.

Lance Storm 5'11" 240lbs. Calgary, AB vs. Nick Dinsmore 6'0" 226lbs. Jeffersonville, IN - Man, Storm has bulked up. And he beat him with a Boston Crab yesterday. Dinsmore is an OVW talent. Someone's sign says we drove 150 miles to watch Storm. Lockup, Lance and Nick jockey for an armbar and hammerlock, but Storm gets it on. Drop toe hold Storm, Irish whip armdrag Storm. Dinsmore misses the elbow, armdrag Storm. Storm with an armdrag and armbar every time Dinsmore gets out of it and tries something. Storm tried a springboard armdrag off the top and slipped, but still muscles him down. Nick with a few chops, whip to the corner, Storm backdropped to the apron, Lance to the top but gets shoved down to the floor. Nick bangs Storm's arm on the apron, toss in cover two. Shoulder ram in the corner, knees to the arm by Dinsmore get two. Armbar Nick, Storm slugs out of it, one arm sunset flip blocked, Nick gets two. Storm up, elbow, clotheslines, whip side kick get Storm 2. Nick short arm clothesline missed, rollup by Storm gets two. Whip boot by Dinsmore, northern lights suplex gets two. Dinsmore tries something but Storm grabs the leg and it's a half crab (The Maple Leaf) for the submission. Nothing special, same result from last night. The music plays for Storm so they must have got it working again.

WINNER: Lance Storm submission -> 8:30 mins. *½

Coach tells us the PCCC sound system SUCKS! Coach talks about the main event HHH vs. Benoit, and the tag title match RVD & Booker vs. Orton & Batista.

Rico Costintino 6'0" 228lbs. Las Vegas, NV w/ Miss Jackie vs. Horshu 6'5" 285lbs. "Hell's Kitchen" Phoenix, AZ - Rico tries to give Coach a wedgie. Horshu, which is an odd spelling of "horseshoe", is subbing for Big Bad Jon Heidenreich. Horshu is a talent from Ultimate Pro Wrestling in California. Last night Rico beat the horse. Wild cheering for Rico. Lockup, shove Horsey. Lockup Rico gets crunched in the corner, Rico with a butt slap. Horsey chases, Rico kisses him. Rico slugs away, whip reversed Rico crashes hard into the corner. Horshu does it again, butterfly suplex gets two. Slam Horsey, running punch gets one. Bearhug Horshu, Rico gets out but clotheslined down for two. Choke stretch through the ropes then back to the bearhug. Rico gets out, jawbreaker, inverted atomic drop, whip neckbreaker into his knees get Rico two. Rico kicks away in the corner, bull ride slaps, martial arts kick gets two. Horsey with a poke, slam, Jackie is up on the apron to flash him (she had a small bra underneath), Rico with a rollup and the pin.

WINNER: Rico Costintino pin -> 5:50 mins. **

Travis "Seven" Tomko 6"5" 275lbs. Parts Unknown & Kevin "Bane" Fertig 6'6" 292lbs. Tombstone, AZ vs. Garrison Cade 6'5" 261lbs. Omaha, NB & Mark Jindrak 6'6" 253lbs. Auburn, NY - Tomko and Fertig are better known in OVW as the "Disciples of Synn", but for some reason they weren't permitted to bring their gimmicks to the WWE, which is probably why they aren't being taken too seriously yet by fans. But some people were yelling their OVW names. To tell them apart, Fertig has his head shaved clean and has tattoo pattern all over his arms. http://www.ovwrestling.com/superstars/stables/dsprofile.htm Cade and Jindark need to pick a name for their tag team. And they won the previous night. Cade and Jindrak aren't a popular duo, and they've got the mike. Cade tells us to shut up, they say they are the greatest tag team in WWE today. Right. They say they are gonna get the tag titles, they got everything it takes, size, strength, athletics, the other teams suck. Jindrak says we should be grateful, we all should get our fat butts to the gym. Cade calls for anyone in the back to get in the ring with them. The DoS run Cade and Jindrak out of the ring. Jindrak and Bane start. Lockup, Bane slugs him, trading of armbars, tag Seven, he twists Jindraks arm, tag Bane, kicks the arm and twists it, tag Seven. Cade tagged in, hip toss, arm twists, whip shoulderblack, armwringer Seven. Cade kicks and slugs away, headlock on the mat. Cade whip powerslam by Seven gets two. All four men in, double whip DoS, double back body drop, clothesline on Cade outside, Jindrak clotheslined out. The heels want time outs. Jindrak in, headlock on Seven, shove shoulderblock, hip toss blocked, Seven tries a backslide but Cade hits a neckbreaker Jindrak gets two. Jindrak stomps away, Seven gets worked over on the apron by Cade, illegal switch, the ref disallows it FOR ONCE. Jindrak back in double whip double kick double hair yank. Jindrak drop kick gets two. Crowd gets behind Seven, headlock Jindrak, hair yank. Double team suplex by the heels gets two. Cade headlock on the mat, Seven tries to scoot him over, tag Bane but Cade distracted the ref. Beatdown in Cade & Jindrak's corner, tag Jindrak whip to the corner, charges and lands on the top rope. Both men tag, shoulderblock Bane, spinebuster, Jindrak flees, kick to the gut, tag Seven, whip side slam elbow combo gets two Jindrak saves. Bane is tossed out, axe handle Seven met by a forearm to the gut, pickup drop kick double team and Seven gets pinned. Crowd ain't happy. If and when the DoS debut on WWE TV, calling themselves Travis Tomko and Kevin Fertig ain't gonna fly.

WINNERS: Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak pin -> 8:55 mins. **½

The Coach says he loves hot women so the ladies match is next! Jazz is out first with Teddy Long. Long has the mike. Long wants all the white guys to show their love for Jazz. He then says get the rest of the white girls out here. Molly Holly is booed like crazy.

Lita 5'7" 137lbs. Sanford, NC & Trish Stratus 5'4" 125lbs. Toronto, OT vs. Molly Holly 5'4" 135lbs. Forrest Lake, MN & Jazz 5'4" 145lbs. New Orleans, LA w/ "The Godfather" Teddy Long - Ya know, I never got why the WWE quit announcing weights and hometowns for all the women. I had to DIG to find the stats. Molly is currently the WWE Ladies Champ. Lita & Trish get LOUD cheers. Lita & Trish won the previous night. Trish and Molly start. Lockup, armwringer Molly, hair yank. Wristlock, Trish slugs away, whip clothesline Trish gets two. Tag Lita. Double whip double toss double elbow on Molly. Lita slugs and knees away, suplex, kip up. Molly with a rake, tag Jazz. Elbow, armbar Jazz, yanks it. Whip Jazz, Lita stops, kick clothesline, makes a wish and drops a headbutt in the gut for two. Jazz jawbreaker and tosses Lita out, knocks Trish off, Molly rams Lita in the apron. Toss in, Jazz elbows to the back, Long tries to quiet the crowd, Jazz slam gets two. Jazz with a butterfly armbar, Lita turns it around and kicks out of it. Tag Molly, suplex gets two. Choke on the second rope, Jazz joins in, throwdown gets one. Molly suplex blocked, Lita belly to back suplex gets one. Molly stomps away, pickup backbreaker gets two. Molly pulls at Lita's mouth, move countered, Lita with a flying headscissors, kicks Molly off. Tag Trish. Trish neckbreaker, knocks Jazz off, Jazz in, double takedown, drop kick Trish on Jazz. Forearms on Molly, chops away, whip Trish eats an elbow. Molly on top, Trish flips her off for two. Trish whip reversed kick to the head gets two. Jazz breaks it up, Lita tackles Jazz. Ten punch count in the corners, Lita DDTs Jazz. Molly rakes Trish, whip blocked, Trish springboard bulldog on Molly...STRATUSFACTION WINS! Was better than the RAW match last Monday.

WINNERS: Lita & Trish Stratus pin -> 8:20 mins. **¾

Coach now wants everyone to stand up for this man who needs no intro, it's Christian!

Val Venis 6'3" 260lbs. Las Vegas, NV vs. Christian 6'1" 215lbs. Toronto, OT - Last minute addition, Christian was added to the show tonight. Reactions are mixed, it turns to boos when he hugs Coach. Lockup to the corner, clean break. Stallfest, then a poseoff. Lockup, armwringer Christian, Val with a headlock, shoveoff, shoulderblock Val gets one. Val with a trip, whip, elbow, springboard crossbody gets two. Headlock takedown gets two. Christian kick to the gut, misses a charge but sails through the ropes to the floor. Christian in, trades slaps with Val, Val slams Christian's head on the mat, chops away, whip knee to the gut. Val Russian Leg Sweep gets two. Poke Christian, rope neck snap, whip knee gets two. Choke on the ropes, whip kick, neckbreaker gets two. Rear chinlock Christian, misses a drop kick Val gets two. Clothesline Christian gets two. Choke on the ropes, charge misses, Val slugs away, whip shoulderblock, whip back body drop Val, neck slam gets two. Fisherman's suplex Val gets two. Small package gets two. Val spinebuster, goes up, Christian crotches him, superplex blocked, shoveoff, Val Money Shot GET THE KNEES! Ouch. Inverted DDT Christian gets two. Christian whines, charge to the corner gets a boot. Referee gets poked in the eye, gutwrench powerbomb Val gets two. Christian with the Unprettier wins it! Christian finally gets some cheers, Val Venis is holding his gut in pain as he leaves.

WINNER: Christian pin -> 11 mins. ***¼

Coach shills the merchandise then does a T-Shirt giveaway. Coach then says there's something I was going to do before at the start of the show before the mike problems and calls out Chris Benoit. Coach calls himself a journalist then calls Benoit the MVP of Smackdown. He says he beat 29 guys and earned his shot at Wrestlemania. Chris is better than advertised, but he's no Triple H. Coach says Benoit should leave the arena and go home. He makes a stupid remark about what wise men would do and Benoit puts him in the cripple crossface for not letting him talk. Benoit grabs the mike, tells Coach the next time he smartmouths him he should have some backbone with him. He tells HHH at WM20 that he's leaving with the belt around his waist. He says in Springfield he's leaving with the title belt and make him tap out. The referees carry Coach to the back and we're taking intermission.

Back from intermission, Coach wearing a sling says despite a possible separated shoulder he's gonna finish the show. Coach says most people came to see Y2J Chris Jericho. He says Y2J won't wrestle tonight due to repeated beatings by Kane. He says we're picking a new victim for Kane tonight. Y2J comes out, and I'm missing the video wall. Coach thinks Jericho can't wrestle, Chris swipes the mike and tells him to shut the hell up. He says he saw Coach get his butt kicked by Benoit and liked it, then poked his shoulder. The doc says Chris shouldn't wrestle tonight, but the Jericholics say he should wrestle tonight. Jericho wants Kane tonight, so here he comes.

Chris Jericho 6'0" 230lbs. Winnipeg, MB vs. Kane 6'10" 326lbs. Parts Unknown - It was originally Val Venis to face Kane tonight. Dropkick Chris, fight in the aisle, toss in Kane, forearm shots. Whip dropkick to the knee Jericho, Kane clothesline. Kane goes for the tombstone, can't, Chris tries for the Walls of Jericho. Jericho dropkicks the knee instead, kicks away. Kane with a thrust to the chin! Kane dives for Chris's knee, a couple knee slams, then wraps it around the post and torques it. Kane in, kick to the gut, Y2J chops him. Kane thrust knockdown. Y2J is in the tree of woe! Kane foot in the face, elbow to the knee, torques the knee. Chris slaps his way out, Kane charge, elbow missed, Y2J chops away, Kane takedown. Ankle lock Kane, crowd chants Y2J, enzuigiri on Kane, Kane charges and sails over the top. Springboard drop kick Jericho. Kane nails him in the back, fight on the floor, Kane tries to ram Jericho into the post but goes headfirst himself. Ref counts, Kane in at nine and the ref doesn't count out Jericho. Jericho neck snap on Kane, goes up, crossbody gets two. Bulldog Jericho, lionsault that only catches the shoulder with a headbutt, Kane with a chokehold, chokeslam Kane gets two but HE PULLS HIM UP! Kane goes for the tombstone...Jericho slips out, Trish Stratus runs out on the apron, Kane yanks her in. Kane goes to chokeslam Trish, has her up, but the GONG starts playing and Kane lets her go. Jericho with a chair, BAM in the head! Ref DQ's him. Taker's music plays some more and the crowd WANTS Taker out here. Kane just snarls at it.

WINNER: Kane DQ -> 10:10 mins. ***

WWE Tag Team Championship
(c)Rob Van Dam 6'0" 220lbs. Battle Creek, MI & Booker T 6'3" 250lbs. Houston, TX vs. Randy Orton 6'4" 245lbs. St. Louis, MO & Batista 6'5" 275lbs. Parts Unknown - Orton is the current IC champ. The champs won last night when RVD pinned Orton with the frog splash. Next time you attend a WWE show, chant "AWOL" for Randy to piss him off. Tag champs gets LOUD cheers. Pose off first, Batista and RVD start. Lockup shove Batista. Batista chokes away on the ropes, Orton with a slap outside. Whip spinkick RVD, dropkick knee, works the leg, tag Booker. T slugs away, Batista with a knee to the gut, chops away, whip charges, eats an elbow T with a kick to the head gets two. Tag AWOL...excuse me, Orton, he kicks away. Forearm, turnbuckle smash, headlock, shoulderblock Orton. Hip toss T gets two. Tag RVD, kicks away, running drop kick, rollup gets two. Tag T. Whip double team lifted drop kick T gets two. Booker chops away, whip reverse Batista knees T. Double neck snap Orton, tag Batista. He works the leg, tag Orton, knee drop gets two. Half crab Orton, enzugiri Booker. Tag Batista, half crab. RVD breaks it up. T slugs away, spinebuster Batista gets two. Orton tagged, knee slam, works the leg on the bottom rope. Tag Batista, knee slam, ankle lock. Booker with a side kick, tag Orton, tag RVD. Whip martial arts kick RVD, spinning heel kick, springboard moonsault gets two! RVD whip elbow, rolling thunder gets two. Booker T Book Ends Batista, axe kick on Orton, RVD 5-star frog splash on Orton wins it!

WINNERS and STILL CHAMPS: Rob Van Dam & Booker T pin -> 14:30 mins. ***½

RVD and T celebrate for a while, then RVD calls Booker back to the ring. RVD says Springfield wants to see the spinneroonie! Booker T gives us one. Question is, can RVD do one? The Coach tells us Smackdown will do a show here on Monday June 14th, and tickets go on sale tonight.

WWE (WCW) RAW Championship
(c)Hunter Hearst Helmsley 6'4" 260lbs. Greenwich, CT vs. Chris Benoit 5'10" 220lbs. Edmonton, AB - Well well, HHH the glory hound that he is can't help but bury another credible challenger to maintain his grip on the fake world title and continue to suffocate RAW to death. HHH the previous night held on to the title cause his cronies interfered so he could pedigree him. HHH gets the loudest mix of cheers and boos. Seems SOME people like him. He's got the mike, YOU SUCK chant. HHH says he doesn't give a crap what anyone thinks, you all can kiss his butt cause he's champ and everyone should bow to him for coming tonight. True shoot comments. He says Benoit thinks it's a big deal to beat up Coach who can barely tie his shoes. Benoit cannot take his title, he's gonna get beaten, at WM20 he's gonna get beaten again, there's no one better than him. If there's no one better than him then the WWE's in big trouble. Lockup corner, they flip around a bit before the clean break. Lockup, hammerlocks traded, headlock Benoit, takedown. HHH tries to shove him off, Benoit holds on. Second try, no dice. Third try, shoulderblock Benoit. Lockup, hammerlock HHH, reversed headlock takedown Benoit. HHH shoveoff, shoulderblock, Benoit with the cripple crossface already but HHH gets the rope. Hunter with a kick, Benoit goes for the crossface again but Hunter flees. He stalls, Chris chases, Hunter with a kick, whip reversed back body drop Benoit gets two. Headlock Benoit, shoveoff, shoulderblock Benoit, Hunter tosses him. Rail ram Hunter, suplexes Benoit back in for two. Elbows HHH, forearms to the back, Benoit chops him. Irish whip corner crash Benoit goes down, HHH gets two. HHH kicks away, whip another crashdown gets two. Hunter shoulder to the gut, Benoit chops away, whip reversed Ab Stretch Hunter and grabs the ropes for extra torque. Ref forces a break, Hunter argues. Hunter chop, whip sleeper hold. Benoit gets up after two arm raises, shoveoff, sleeper by Benoit. Benoit dragon screw leg whip, sharpshooter! Hunter gets the ropes. Whip enzuigiri Benoit, he goes up, headbutt missed, Hunter gets two. Whip Hunter, Benoit with three chained German suplexed. He goes up again, headbutt connects but gets two. Hunter begs off but gets kicked, chopped, ten punch count in the corner but gets inverted atomic dropped. Benoit grabs him for the crossface! Randy Orton runs out, Benoit lets go and slams Orton off the top. HHH has the title belt and blasts Benoit with it! CRAP CRAP CRAP! HHH can only get two though. HHH can't stand, then signals the pedigree. It's blocked, Benoit with the crossface again, here comes Batista! Benoit knocks him off, KICK WHAM PEDIGREE HHH IT'S OVER! #%(^&*#$^&!!!! HHH steals it AGAIN! HHH WON'T PUT ANYONE OVER!!! Decent enough match, crap ending.

WINNER and STILL CHAMP: Hunter Hearst Helmsley pin -> 21:20 mins. ***½

The Verdict: First half of the show wasn't anything special, last half was pretty decent, so it's thumbs leaning up for this show, but I wouldn't be paying $30 to go see it. I'd rather be watching New Midwest Wrestling.