Fuji of Oz: The Tag Tournament Night 2 (Report)
The show started with Larry Sweeney and his four clients in the middle of the ring addressing the fans. This time he speaks about how great his teams looked last week even on the defeat of one of them. He talks on how both Aries and Helms are going to win their respective matches tonight. He then addresses Joe by saying he has patience but it’s better for Joe not to test him.
Out comes Eric Bischoff who talks to Larry and his guys and says that it’s good to feel the confidence emanating from the ring, but he also knows the desire Larry has to have Joe on his side. He states that he wants a clean tournament and then he states that during Joe’s match tonight Larry and his guys are banned from ringside, if one of them appears then F.I.S.T and both Aries and Helms will get no chance at Emotional Damage for any title. Larry and the guys seem pissed in the ring by the words from Bischoff. Then Bischoff sends the five guys to the back and proceeds to present Willie Urbina as the new commentator and Bruce Buffer as the new in ring announcer. Then he welcomes the fans for the night and the Bruce presents the first match.
1-- Thunder and Lightning vs. Apollo 55
The match was dominated by Thunder’s power and Lightning speed. Devitt showed a lot of talent and Iguchi made the best he could to dominate the Puerto Rican duo. In the end both teams have showed everything they have Devitt has Lightning on a Dragon Hold and out comes Ray Gonzalez who distracts the referee while Rude attacks Devitt with the Rude Awakening. Thunder enters the ring and together with Lightning they perform the 3D with Lightning covering Devitt for the three count.
Winners: Thunder and Lightning. Great match didn’t expect the kind of match both Thunder and Lightning put together; they are obviously very good together and know each other really well.
After the match both Rude and Gonzalez celebrate in ring with Thunder and Lightning. It seems like Rude has made some really mean friends as of now.
They show two menacing looking guys backstage talking. So Cal Val goes towards them, they turn around stare at the camera and walk away. The camera follows them until they meet with some guy backstage and the scene goes back to the ring where Buffer is announcing the next match.
2-- Jennifer Blake and LuFisto vs. AlisChif
This was a great match from the four girls in that ring. Alissa Flash showed she has great chemistry with MsChif and Blake and Lufisto showed why they are here competing for that opportunity. The end came when Blake had Flash on her shoulders but out to the ring come both Phoenix and Kong they distract the referee enough for Alissa to get off Blake’s shoulders. When Alissa is going to hit Blake with a kick to the ring come Tara and Nakano and this distraction is enough for Blake to get Alissa on a roll up for the three count.
Winners: Jennifer Blake and LuFisto. Good back and forth match a lot of chemistry. I will love to see the match ups with the boys of these girls.
After the match Nakano, Tara, Blake and LuFisto stand in the ring as Kong, Phoenix, Alissa Flash and MsChif. A lot of tension can be felt between these girls.
Backstage we have Kenny Bolin talking to Kwang and KENTA and saying that the beginning of the end is near and that last week was their first step into their plans of taking what Japanese stars have been negated over the years. And that tonight they will take another step towards that.
3-- Tommy Diablo & El Zorro vs. KENTA & Kwang (w/Kenny Bolin)
The match started well for the Spaniard and the Puerto Rican. They used a lot of combo moves and a lot of speed; great spots by Diablo on Kwang and KENTA. The crowd really erupted on this match as both Zorro and Diablo used moves that were perfectly executed. Kwang and KENTA then took control of the match when they used their technique over speed and secured the victory when Kwang submitted Diablo to the Cobra Clutch.
Winners: Kwang and KENTA. I have to say that to this point this has to be the match of the night. Back and forth action the entire match. Both teams dominated parts of the match, no team really looked superior to the other. It seemed like Kwang had Diablo on the Clutch for so long. Kenny really found a great partner for KENTA.
Backstage we see the two guys we saw earlier now walking on the backstage. The cameraman went over them to capture their faces but one of them shoves the cameraman away and he doesn’t get the chance to do so.
Back in the ring we have the Teacher’s Pets, Idol Stevens and KC James. They talk about their name and say that they are sick and tired of that moniker and that from now on they would like to be referred as The American Family. They throw the mic away and wait for their opponents.
4--The American Family vs. Samoa Joe & Bison Smith
As stipulated before the match Larry Sweeney and his guys are not allowed at ringside. So the match goes smoothly all the way to the end. Stevens and James used more their speed than their power and that proved to be a really nice strategy from their part as both Smith and Joe have more strength than both of them. But the speed trick only has effect for so long. It wasn’t that much of a time until Bison and Joe grabbed advantage of their power. But then Stevens entered to the action and countered some of that power they had on James. Stevens sent Bison to the floor on the outside with a kick to the chin and James went over him to attack him. Stevens inside the ring was looking to hit Joe with a spear. But out of nowhere to big guys showed in the ring, one distracted the referee while the other hit a crucifix powerbomb on Stevens. Joe didn’t know what to do but he covered Stevens for the three count.
Winners: Samoa Joe and Bison Smith. Until the interference this was a good match and it looked like the Family had a shot at actually winning the match.
After the match Joe looks confused about the interference while the two big guys smile on the outside.
Backstage they show Sweeney and his guys on the locker room watching what happened and Bischoff enters the room. He tells Sweeney that he better don’t have any part on that interference or else… Sweeney just answer’s him by saying… “You did say that neither me nor these four guys could be at ringside… here we are… you didn’t say anything else….†Bischoff goes out of the locker room looking stressed and pissed as Sweeney had a point.
In-ring we have Willie Urbina with Muhammad Hassan and The Sheik, both of them say that they aren’t afraid of the challenge that lies ahead for both of them. Urbina asks The Sheik about his condition for the match as we have only seen him as a manager for Hassan not a wrestler. The Sheik tells Urbina and the fans that he is in great condition and that’s the reason of why Hassan chose him for this important match. Then Buffer takes the ring and announces their opponents. The music hits and the crowd goes wild at the sight of the Road Warriors.
5-- Muhammad Hassan & The Sheik vs. The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
Awesome tag match… I really didn’t expect the condition of The Sheik and watching the Warriors is just an experience. Hassan brought his entire arsenal on this match. At one point Hassan had Hawk on the Camel Clutch but it wasn’t enough to stop him. Then he almost hit his Driver on Animal but he reverted the move and converted it to a Spine Buster. The end came when The Warriors had The Sheik for the Death Device and hit it for the three count.
Winners: The Road Warriors. This match is in serious contention for MOTN honors. Both of these teams gave it all tonight and gave the fans a great showing. Hassan and The Sheik are great working together, with this kind of performance I wouldn’t be pissed with any team winning.
We go backstage again and now we see the two guys that attacked the Family talking with some guy, when the camera turns around hiding we can see that the guy they are talking to is none other than Larry Sweeney with Aries and Helms behind him. We can hear part of his conversation and he talks to them by name Snitsky and Judas and he says that they have done well… that he’s full but they can be his bodyguards for now and he will try to get them to where they are supposed to be. Then they walk away.
So Cal Val is shown with Xtreme Tiger and she interviews him for the upcoming match on the night. He says with a very heavy Mexican accent that he’s going to win the match and he will earn a spot on the Ultimate X Match for the Xtreme Title; that who else will carry that title with honor than the man who has Xtreme on his name. We go back to the ring where AJ Style’s music hits and once again the crowd erupts.
6-- AJ Styles vs. Xtreme Tiger vs. Austin Aries (w/Larry Sweeney)
Golden match from the word go. Fast paced, a lot of high risk moves, a lot of spots. Great technique, great psychology; hell this match had it all. AJ, Tiger and Aries showed the world what they have in this match right here. AJ at one point hit the Styles Clash on Tiger but didn’t get the three count as Aries broke it. Tiger hit Aries with a beautiful 450 Splash but the count just got to two as AJ broke it. Aries then hit a Step Up Enzuguiri on AJ for the two count as Tiger broke it. That sequence was so beautiful that all the crowd had to step up and never sit back. The end of the match came when AJ hit another Styles Clash on Tiger with Aries on laying on the mat. When AJ went for the three count, Sweeney distracted the referee and that pissed AJ off and went on to hit Sweeney right in the jaw. That gave Aries enough time to recover and hit a Step Up Enzuguiri on AJ for the three count and the victory.
Winner: Austin Aries. GREAT FUCKING MATCH. Didn’t want it to end, it was just awesome waiting to explode in the middle of that ring. Aries looked amazing, AJ looked in his best shape and Tiger keeps impressing the crowd.
After the match Sweeney celebrated with Aries who then helped him get to backstage. Once there Helms asked Sweeney if he will be on his corner for the next match and Sweeney said no but he sent Gargano and Taylor with him. Aries went with Sweeney to the EMT’s to check Sweeney’s jaw from AJ’s punch.
Buffer announced the competitors for the next match and out of the gate come the three of them
7-- CIMA vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Gregory Helms (w/Gargano and Taylor)
CIMA and Daniels started the match before the bell even rang by launching against Gargano, Taylor and Helms electrifying the crowd even more. The 5 guys brawled at ringside and then the three legal guys entered the ring and the bell officially rang. Another fast paced match from beginning to end. Daniels showed all of his experience while CIMA showed a lot of aerial moves with Helms just showing it all tonight. The end came when Daniels was to hit the Best Moonsault Ever on CIMA but when he turned around in the air he was grabbed by Helms on an STO from mid-air and the three count for the win.
Winner: Gregory Helms. I don’t really know what match will earn MOTN honors but certainly Larry Sweeney’s guys have to win MVP’s for the night.
Backstage they show Sweeney celebrating Helms victory with Judas, Snitsky and Aries. Bischoff comes in and says that he has some news regarding the Xtreme Title. He says that we all know that that title will be contested on a 6 man Ultimate X Match and after the performance tonight he has chosen the 6 guys competing for that title… but he has added 2 more. It will be an 8 man Ultimate X Match… but everything is legal so Hardcore Style Ultimate X. He then says that both Aries and Helms are on that match. Sweeney’s and Aries reaction to that is one of joy. But then Bischoff continues and says that also on that match will be CIMA and Xtreme Tiger… Prince Devitt and Tommy Diablo… and last but not least… AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels…. Sweeney can’t believe those words and Bischoff leaves the room with a smile on his face as Helms, Taylor and Gargano enter the locker room.
Bruce Buffer goes to the ring and he announces the Main Event of the evening. Out to the ring comes Scott Steiner accompanied by Rick and Ryan Shamrock. Then comes Rick Rude accompanied by Ray Gonzalez and Terri Runnels. But then Bischoff comes out and says that there’s a lot of people out there and makes Ray, Rick, Terri and Ryan get out of ringside.
Main Event-- Rick Rude vs. Scott Steiner
This match was exactly what I expected. Rude and Steiner brought the house down in one hell of a Main Event to close Fuji of Oz night 2. A lot of technical grappling, showmanship, great performance and overall a great show. The end came when Scott had Rude for a Death Valley Driver but out of the crowd come Thunder and Lightning who distract Scott enough for Rude to hit his Rude Awakening on Scott for the win.
Winner: Rick Rude. Great match and I wasn’t expecting the showing these two men brought. Sure I was expecting one hell of a match but not that match they brought in.
After the match Rude, Thunder and Lightning attack Steiner with another Rude Awakening and the 3D. Rick comes out with a chair for the save. Rude, Thunder, Lightning, Ray and Terri celebrate out of the ring and ask for a microphone. Rick states that they are going to be a force in WaW and that tonight was only the beginning. The show ends with Rick Steiner and Ryan Shamrock checking on Scott’s condition and Rude, Ray, Thunder, Lightning and Terri celebrating.
Glad to have The Sinister Minister though. 
