HWA TV Taping Spoilers
2/17/02
By Angie Riley
Email: RoleModelMark@aol.com

The show begins tonight with an in ring interview by Jim Cornette with one half of the recently crowned HWA tag team champions Mike Sanders. Sanders addresses his recent problems with partner Lance Cade, stating that a lot of people have not liked Mike in the past because he “Don’t stroke egos.” He refers to the Lance Cade he first met as a "6’5”, 230 pound nerd", and insists he made Lance Cade what he was. He tells Cornette of his Golden Rule… "Finish the job", and adds Lance Cade erred in not finishing the job in turning on him effectively. He calls Cade out, but Steve Bradley responds instead, stating Sanders had better be more concerned with his match with him later in the evening. He also brings to Mike’s attention that no one in the locker room likes him, so no assistance is likely to be offered. Sanders then punches Bradley, and a brawl ensures, with Cornette calling for help in the ring. Maven and Shannon Moore come out to the aide of Sanders at Cornette’s urging.

Shannon Moore vs. Alex Arion

The newcomer to HWA television, Alex Arion started off strong in this match with a big clothesline and neckbreaker for a near fall. He continued with an array of moves to combat his opponent’s high flying style, but Shannon countered easily. Helena Heavenly appears at ringside, distracting Shannon. Arion uses the distraction to his advantage, and gets a two count with a rollup. Shannon kicks out and quickly gets the pin with a neckbreaker.

WINNER: Shannon Moore

Tommy Dreamer vs. EZ Money

Dreamer takes the mike and states that the WWF sent him to HWA to help train the future stars and work on his own skills, and that he’s thankful they did…thankful that EZ Money cheated and took his title shot, and that he would now get retribution. He calls EZ out, and he appears ringside with Johnny the Bull in tow, the Bull telling EZ he had his back. Belt still in place around his waist, EZ Money was surprised as Dreamer wasted no time in slingshotting his man into the ring. Dreamer had his man in the corner, and as he climbed to the second rope, began to bite EZ Money in true ECW hardcore fashion. Johnny the Bull grabs Dreamer’s foot from the outside, but Dreamer quickly placed a well aimed drop kick below the bottom rope to knock Johnny off his feet. In the ring the action continued until EZ Money tossed Dreamer out of the ring, where he was met by a suplex from Johnny the Bull, who rolled his man back in while the referee was distracted by EZ. Dreamer gets worked over in the corner, even as the fans rally behind him. EZ Money applied a submission hold, easily countered by Dreamer and ending in a sunset flip and near fall. EZ then asks for a chair, and once handed to him by Johnny the Bull, he holds it aloft, ready to strike the prone Dreamer until it is snatched away by the no nonsense referee in Robert Brisko. Tommy takes advantage for a near fall. Johnny the Bull from the outside once again attempts to hold Dreamer for further beating by EZ Money, but is knocked off the apron himself. EZ goes to the top, only to be knocked down, straddling the turnbuckle by Dreamer. Upside down, feet entangled in the ropes, Dreamer goes for the chair and places it in the face of EZ Money. Brisko admonishes Dreamer, and Johnny the Bull unhooks his man from the outside. EZ Money recovers for the pin.

WINNER: EZ Money

Raven vs. Jamie Knoble

Clearly uneven odds in this match, but perhaps the most well received of the evening. The chants of “midget” are egged on by a Raven loving crowd. Seconds into the match we see the first glimpse of fear from Knoble, much to the delight of Raven. Raven batters Knoble with sharp kicks in the corner, followed by an impressive headlock and body block that sent Knoble to the mat. Jamie tried to roll to safety, only to be met with a baseball slide by Raven. Jamie recovers after a roll up and a two count, and throws punches at Raven while grabbing a handful of his opponents blonde braids. Jamie ascends for a nice top rope leg drop, and is seemingly in control of the match. Raven returns with rapid fire right hand, but is stalled by a boot to the face. Jamie goes up again, this time missing the frog splash. Both men struggle to their feet, with Raven regaining control of the match with a bulldog. Raven gets the near fall with a DDT, but a foot on the rope prevents a three count. A suplex reversed by Knoble, and a handful of trunks allows Knoble the pin with a roll up. The victory officially belongs to Knoble, but with the Raven Effect, the victor is left lying in the ring.

WINNER: Jamie Knoble

Island Boys vs. Steven Richards and Justin Credible

Very fast paced match, with Richards looking physically as sound as he has ever been. Match began with OG Ekmo and Justin Credible squaring off. Ekmo sent Justin flying into a lying position across the turnbuckle, but with one big boot to the midsection, Justin was straddling the rope. A yank on said rope and Justin was bouncing in agony, while Ekmo took the time to knock Richards off the apron just on principle. Tag made to Richards and Kimo. Kimo goes to the top for the huge frog splash, and Richards rolls away. Justin is tagged in, and they double team Kimo. After another exchange, it takes several attempts for Steven to knock his man to the mat. Kimo battles back, and after repeated attempts for the tag, a huge flying double clothesline allows him the tag. Ekmo dominates the ring, literally knocking Justin halfway across the ring and nearly out of it. Then all four men in the ring, an awesome Stevie Kick to Kimo. Justin is thrown from the ring, allowing Ekmo to land a big Samoan drop to Stevie and gaining the victory. So devastating was the move, Steven Richards was given assistance to the back. Another Island Boys devastation.

WINNER: Island Boys

MAIN EVENT
Mike Sanders vs. Steve Bradley

Sanders wastes no time in throwing a succession of forearms at Bradley, and Bradley quickly bails from the ring. Sanders comes out to retrieve his man, and is slammed into the wall for his trouble, then clothesline to the concrete. Back in the ring, it is a fairly even exchange until a substantial power slam by Bradley. Bradley followed through from the near fall with a chin lock and swinging neckbreaker, punishing Sanders with the fluidity of the moves. Bradley throws his opponent from the ring again, but as he attempts to slam Sanders' head into the apron, Mike recovers and instead it is Bradley’s braided head hitting the canvas. In the ring, Sanders regains control with a ducked clothesline followed by a nice kick to the chin of Bradley. Sanders executes a stunning flip to pin Bradley. Lance Cade then appears, and amidst the double team, the referee is downed. Another referee arrives only to meet the same fate. Bradley has Sanders held in a position which allowed his torso to be bent, and from the top rope came Cade with a leg drop right across the angled chest of Sanders. Cade hands Bradley the belt and the pair retreat as Sanders tried to recover his breath.

WINNER: Mike Sanders