411’s WWE Velocity Report: 06.10.06

Tatanka versus Seth James

Lockup, and Tatanka gets a waistlock takedown. James gets the rope, and Tatanka breaks. Tatanka gets a headlock, gets pushed off, and slams James. Another slam, then a hiptoss. Tatanka grabs the arm and starts clubberin’. James backs Tatanka into a corner and hammers away. Slam and pair of elbow drops, then James starts choking Tatanka. Cover, but Tatanka kicks out at one. Tatanka elbows his way out, then chops James down repeatedly. He gets a backdrop, then a big chop. Slam, shoulder tackle, uranage for the win.

Winner: Tatanka
Match Time: 3:17
Rating: *3/4
Commentary: Not good, especially the parts controlled by James.

Gunner Scott versus Colt Cabana

Nice. Since Cabana’s last Velocity appearances, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some of his non-jobber work. Lockup to start, and Scott gets a waistlock. Legsweep, then a half nelson flip into a cover for one. Cabana takes a powder to the apron, then re-enters. He wants a handshake, then kicks Gunner in the gut. Headlock, but Scott shoves him off. Cabana comes back with a shoulder tackle. Scott kicks him over and gets a dropkick for two. He grabs a headlock and gets pushed off, then comes off with a shoulder of his own. Stomp, then forearms in the corner. Cabana reverses a whip, but Scott climbs the ropes. Cabana knocks him down, then nails some punches. Cabana gets a snapmare, then steps on Scott. Cabana gets an abdominal stretch from a kneeling position. Scott gets up and gets a hiptoss, but Cabana goes back to the stretch. Gunner Scott gets a back suplex, then punches. He fires off on Cabana in the corner, then flings him out by the head. Scott gets a German Suplex, but Cabana kicks out. Cabana scores an eye poke, then goes for a suplex. Scott slides out and rolls him up for two. Cabana gets whipped to the corner, then elbows a charge. Cabana runs out, but Scott catches him with an overhead belly to belly for the win.

Winner: Gunner Scott
Match Time: 4:53
Rating: **3/4
Commentary: Solid stuff, but a little less one-sidedness would’ve been nice. Gunner Scott is quite good, though.

On the WWE versus ECW special, The Big Show joined ECW. You know that, of course, because since then he’s been on Pay-Per-View and the Sci-Fi Channel. Sorry about my damn tardiness.

Jamie Noble and Kid Kash versus Sterling Keenan and John Bolen

Noble and Kash are billed as the Pitbulls, by the way. The Pitbulls jump Keenan and Bolen from the opening bell, with Noble squaring off with Bolen. Bolen gets a clothesline and a press slam, but help from Kash sends Keenan to the outside. Noble goes out for him (attacking Keenan as well), then tags Kash when back inside. Kash knocks Keenan off the ropes, then the Pitbulls double team Bolen with kicks. Kash gets a top rope legdrop. Bolen hits a belly to belly suplex, then tags Keenan. Kash hits an enziguri, then grabs Keenan by the arm and kicks his body. Tag to Noble, and more double teaming. Noble gets a crisp slam, then a legdrop. Noble grabs a chinlock, then tags Kash. Double chops, then a snapmare and spine kick for two. Kash beats on Keenan in the corner. Keenan reverses a whip, but Kash backflips out of the corner. Keenan kicks him down and tags Bolen. Kash slides out of a suplex and tags Noble, who gets a swinging neckbreaker. He kicks Bolen repeatedly, then nails Keenan with a leg lariat. Kash jumps Bolen, hitting a sort of Thesz Press. Noble makes the pin.

Winners: Noble and Kash
Match Time: 4:45
Rating: ***
Commentary: Hot tag match- with both teams as heels and the jobbers larger than the contracted guys, it made for some interesting dynamics.

Simon Dean versus Matt Hardy

The last match, for all the marbles. Velocity Heavyweight Champion Matt Hardy versus perennial competitor Simon Dean. Simon tells the fans to quiet down in their support for Hardy. Lockup, and they go to the corner. Dean demands a break, and he gets it. Dean postures a bit, and Hardy steps up. Lockup, Hardy gets a headlock. Dean shoots him off, but Hardy comes back with a shoulder. Hardy grabs another headlock, but Dean backs him to the ropes. He nails a knee, but Hardy gets a back elbow and then a legdrop. Dean goes to the apron, where Hardy punches him down. Hardy goes for a baseball slide, but Dean sidesteps it and nails an elbow drop. Dean counts along with the ref, but Hardy makes it back in in time. He gets some stomps, then whips Hardy to the corner and nails a shoulder. Dean slams him down and gets a stomp off the ropes. Hardy punches back, but Dean knocks him down and gets an elbow. Cover- one, two, new champ- no! Kickout! Dean whips Hardy to the corner, but Hardy gets a rollup for two on the charge. Hardy punches, but Dean fights back with elbows. He grabs a reverse top wristlock, then a front facelock. Hardy blocks a suplex, then goes for the Twist of Fate, but Dean sweeps him down and gets a double stomp for a long two. Dean punches away, then grabs a cravat. Hardy gets up, Dean goes for a slam, but Hardy slides out and hits a reverse DDT. Both men get up and Hardy hits forearms and punches. He beats Dean down in the corner, then clotheslines him as he gets out. Another clothesline in the corner, then a bulldog for two. Dean blocks the Side Effect, but Hardy hits an elbow. He goes for a double axe handle, but Dean hits him in the gut and gets a roll-up for two. Side Effect is hit, but only gets two. Hardy signals for the Twist of Fate, but Dean flings him out of the ring. Hardy lands on the apron and slingshots in with a sunset flip, but Dean sits down on it and grabs the ropes. Hardy still manages to kick out, though. He gets to his feet, grabs Dean, and hits the Twist of Fate for the win.

Winner: Matt Hardy
Match Time: 7:45
Rating: ***3/4
Commentary: Really strong match between these two. I was definitely happy.

Well, that’s that. I don’t know where we go from here. Maybe Velocity will be a clip show next week. Maybe they’ll have matches the week (or weeks) when they run ECW separately. In any case, it’s been real. Thank you.