Hard Knocks #2

James Storm pinned Johnny Swinger after a crucifix in 0:09:32.
Rating: ***
[Chris Harris interfered against Johnny Swinger.]
[Simon Diamond interfered against James Storm.]

The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) defeated Ron Killings and The Rock
 when Nash pinned Killings after a kick to the head in 0:04:12.
Rating: -1/2*

Frankie Kazarian pinned Chris the Bambikiller after a Northern Lights suplex in
0:09:29.
Rating: ****

Four Corners Match:
Elix Skipper drew Chris Jericho, Brian Pillman and Jyushin Lyger:
         x time limit expired (Skipper and Lyger) in 0:20:00
Rating: *** 1/4

The Sandman and Shane Douglas defeated Danny Doring and Roadkill when Sandman
 defeated Doring by countout in 0:08:12.
Rating: 1/2*

Simon Diamond pinned Chris Harris after hitting him with the ring bell in
           0:03:56.
Rating: ** 1/2
[James Storm interfered against Simon Diamond.]
[Tammy Lynn Bytch and Johnny Swinger interfered against Chris Harris.]

Ladder Match for the vacant Vintage World Championship where the title can change hands via DQ or countout:
Rob Van Dam and Red battled to a draw in 0:20:00.
Rating: *** 1/4
(The Vintage World Championship remained vacant.)
[Chris Jericho interfered against Red.]


Card rating: ** 1/2


Match observations: 

Prior to the first match it was announced that the American Champoinship will be
decided at the first Vintage PPV, "Old School" in just 2 weeks time. The contenders
for the match will be determined the show prior to the ppv, taking into account the
recent performance of Vintage's superstars. Upon hearing this, it was Brian Pillman
who made his way down to the ring and started to go off about things sounding like
a crazy man. Nobody really knew what he was saying or doing, he was just ranting to
everyone about how he's tired of being left out of things and that he will be in whatever
kind of match it takes to get the shot at the I.C. title. He called all the members
of the Vintage locker room cowards, and told them all they were not willing to sacrafice
like he is to win the title. The Sandman then came out to a thunderous ovation and
the crowd chanting Sandman. Sandman got in the ring and grabbed a mic and told Pillman
that nobody calls him a coward, and that he'll take Pillman down in any match he wants
right here, next week on Hard Knocks. Pillman being quite offended said he'll beat
Sandman at his own game, saying he wanted a singapore cane match. Sandman agreed,
and as he was turning to leave the ring, Pillman attacked him from behind, taking his
cane and thwaking Sandman one good time before leaving the ring like a lunatic with
a sadistic smile on his face. Loose Cannon for sure, it looks as though Pillman has
truely lost his mind, Sandman though is probably just as sadistic by comparison and
got right up afterwards and drank a beer for the crowd before exiting the ring to 
prepare for his tag match later on with SHane Douglas against Roadkill and Doring.

The first match of the night was a grudge match after last weeks encounter between
AMW and Swinger and Diamond, the new tag team cahmpions. James Storm faced off with
Swinger in a regular one fall match, but it wasn't long before Simond Diamond hit
the ring area and tried to cost Storm the match, luckily the cavalry was standing by
and Harris was quick to hit the ring as well chasing Storm around, during the comotion
Storm took advantage and got the win over Swinger. The 4 men brawled after the match
but it wouldn't be the last we'd hear from these guys for the night.

The second match of the evening was between the Outsiders, and a combo of the Rock
and Ron Killings, It didn't last very long, the Outsiders and The Rock and Ron went
back and forth, but the ref lost control about 3 mins in and after that all hell 
broke loose, Scott Hall and The Rock got into it on the outside while their partners
battled it out in the ring. The Rock and Hall both got in the ring as Rock chased
Scott in there, Rock dodged a boot from Nash, the Ref following Rock and Hall lost
sight of what was going on in the ring, Killings tried his best, but the bigger Nash
proved to be too strong for him taking him and getting the pin. On the outside Hall
and The Rock exchanged words and then got into a fist fight in front of the crowd.
Rock Caught Hall with a back eblow, then Took him to the mat with a rock bottom.
Nash came out to help his partner but ran into the Rocks fist, Rock and Killings left
the ring area as Nash tended to Hall. Hall and The Rock seem to have a heated rivarly
spawning. 

Kazarian and Chris The Bambikiller put on the match of the night, and a possible match
of the year canidate already this early on. The two fought it out in a real battle
with it coming down to Kazarian getting the edge and the victory. After the match though
Chris was not happy, and wanted a rematch with Kazarian stating that the women here
in america, want to see him win. They don't want to see a fruit like Kazarian, they
want a real man, a man they can dream about. Kazarian later on told the powers that
be that he wanted a match with Chris next week, and he wanted it in a cage. The
wish was granted, and the two will meet up in a cage match on Hard Knocks next week.

A terrific 4 way dance between Primetime/Jericho/Lyger and Pillman went to a time limit
draw with nobody being eliminated. After the match was over, since Pillman already has
a match for next week, a 3 way match is scheduled between Jericho/Primetime and Lyger
in one fall contest. 

The Sandman and Douglas pulled off the upset victory over Roadkill and Doring. These
two could make a good tag team if they decide to stick together, however Sandman
will have his hands full with a crazed Brian Pillman next week.

Then it was Simon Diamond and Chris Harris turn to go at it, only this time the match ended
in a bad way for AMW. After Swinger got involved, Storm came to the rescue, however
they distracted the ref from seeing Simon pull of a cheap shot low blow on harris then
getting the win over Harris. The 4 men got into a huge fight, and the refs had to 
seperate both teams, but later on in the back they were at it again, when Diamond
and Swinger knocked into Kazarian. Kazarian was not happy and took a shot at Swinger.
The two men started to go at it, and AMW got back involved, AMW and Kazarian looked
to have things in hand when Chris The Bambikiller showed up to attack Kazarian. 
Officials had a hard time breaking things up and the camera had to cut back to the
ring action before anything had ended.

It was time for the main event, a ladder match for the World title between two of the
most exciting superstars to ever lace up a pair of boots, it had all the makings of
a classic, but in the end, a fluke caused the match to go to a no decision as time
for the show expiered, but the officals guarentee we will see a winner next week on
hard knocks if they have to buy more time for the show, they will. The show went off
the air with no new world champion, and several questions to be answered.