SHOOT OUT 2006 Report

Shelton Benjamin Vs Chris Jericho ( * * * ) – Given the reception that these two got at the start of the Robo Rumble, they met here in singles action…and once again the crowd loved it. It was everything you would want from an opener too; fast-paced and with big moves galore. And in the end it was the “underdog” Benjamin who got the win, pinning Jericho after a super-stiff T-Bone Suplex. The two shook hands afterwards to a warm reception.

Rick Shaw Vs Simon Starshot ( * * ¾ ) – Well Simon Starshot wanted to reclaim his throne as the “King Of Cruiserweights” and after a spirited showing in the Rumble match he got his chance here. But Shaw wasn’t in the mood to bow to sentimentality and he was not in the mood to relinquish his title. This was an enjoyable back and forth encounter, fought in a mat-based style which was appreciated by the fans without ever quite really catching on. In the end, Shaw took the win with the Shaw-thing and for the SECOND match in a row the two competitors shook hands.

America’s Most Wanted Vs Mohammed Yone & Takeshi Morishima (Steel Cage, * * * ¼ ) – IWF Commissioner Eric Bischoff has stated that AMW will have to “earn” their right to a rematch with Alias Storm & Haas, and the next step on this road was a steel cage match against Pro Wrestling Noah’s premier tag team. The steel cage was lowered and we were then given 12 minutes of absolute brutality. The Japanese are not know for pulling their punches, and this was no exception. The bloodthirsty fans in Belfast loved this and there were some super-stiff suplexes on display. In the end though, as most knew they would, AMW took the win when Harris pinned Yone.

Brock Lesnar Vs Rhino ( * * ) – Lesnar is back! Oh yeah. Just forget all about that time he was a homosexual. He’s a super-tough guy for real now. Anyways, Rhino tried his best but it wasn’t good enough and Lesnar simply overpowered him. Lesnar won with the F-5.

Chris Benoit Vs Booker T ( * * ¾ ) – Well I’m sure everyone was on the edge of their seats at the prospect of YET ANOTHER Booker/Benoit match. Yes this was another decent effort…but no, no-one really cared about the match. Booker took the win after the Book-End.

Jay Reso Vs Paul Wardle Vs Phil Jackson ( * * * ) – Ok, so Wardle and Jackson are hardly new to each other either, but at least they’ve had a proper feud going, and one that is still garnering much attention. Indeed, some are even calling them the 21st Century Dean & Mercy. Time will tell, but throw in super-over Jay Reso to the mix and you have a hot crowd for a good match. It would have been even better if not for the “screwy” ending as Wardle’s new mentor Raven did a run-in and smashed Jackson which enabled Wardle to pin Jackson to claim the European Title. Yes that’s right…for the second IWF PPV in a row, a champion lost his belt without being pinned.

Shawn Michaels & Kurt Angle Vs MNM & Carlito ( * * * ½ ) – It says a lot for the talent in this match that although the eventual outcome of the match was never in any real doubt, there were plenty of times when you thought that MNM and Carlito might just have been able to pull it off. This was the match of the night in all respects and the crowd really dug it too. Michaels and Angle played it straight, putting over their opponents as serious threats, and MNM and Carlito raised their game to match their illustrious opponents. Still in the end, some sweet chin music from HBK knocked Joey Mercury into the angle slam for Kurt to get the 1-2-3.

Matt Morgan Vs Triple H ( * * * ) – Was this to be the night that Triple H was to worm his way back into the MuscleMania main event spot light….well it almost was, but not quite, although special guest referee Randy Orton did indeed call the match down the middle. The two put together a decent match, albeit one which played far too much into Triple H’s strengths rather than the champions, and it looked as if HHH was going to win. But he didn’t count on the fact that over the past couple of weeks he’s been pissing off the wrong man, and Dean Roberts did a run-in, clonked HHH whilst the special guest referee Randy Orton was down, and Morgan could hit the Morgasm to get the 1-2-3 and retain his title. HHH was furious, Orton said he saw nothing, and Dean was laughing as the show went off the air.

SHOOT OUT Card

SHOOT OUT
Sunday 26th February 2006
Odyssey Arena, Belfast

WORLD TITLE:
Matt Morgan Vs Triple H
With RANDY ORTON as special guest referee

3-on-2 HANDICAP MATCH:
Shawn Michaels & Kurt Angle Vs MNM & Carlito

EUROPEAN TITLE:
Jay Reso Vs Paul Wardle Vs Phil Jackson

STEEL CAGE MATCH:
America’s Most Wanted Vs Mohammed Yone & Takeshi Morishima]

Shelton Benjamin Vs Chris Jericho

Brock Lesnar Vs Rhyno

Chris Benoit Vs Booker T

WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE:
Rick Shaw Vs Simon Starshot