"Show Time Power Hour" TV Taping Number 32 (Week 64)

William Regal: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the finest sixty minutes of pro wrestling in the world, the Show Time Power Hour! I'm your host, William Regal. With me is my hall of fame co-host, Michael Hayes! Michael, we're less than one month from seeing the landscape of wrestling change forever."

Michael Hayes: "That's right, daddy! The NWA and 'The Bullet Club' will do battle, and it's going to be 'Armageddon:' the last, greatest, and most important match in wrestling history!"

Regal: "So much is riding on the match that the sport quite literally will never be the same afterword. Either the McMahon family essentially will control the NWA or they will never be involved in wrestling again. It's as simple as that."

Hayes: "You got it!"

Regal: "Fans, let's switch gears for a moment. Last week, the founder, owner, and CEO of NWA: Show Time and NWA: Femme Fatales, Jordan Richards, did the unthinkable. He captured the NWA: Show Time Heavyweight Championship from Kevin Steen. Granted, he had a big assist from former champion and current member of 'The Richards Collective,' CM Punk, but he won the title nonetheless."

Hayes: "Yep! The boss man did it! He took the strap off 'The Bullet Club!' Now, their cupboard is bare!"

Just then, "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva blared to bring out CEO Jordan Richards with the NWA: Show Time Heavyweight Championship in his arms.

Jordan Richards: "I have to tell you folks, it feels exceptionally good to be out here with a championship belt in my hand! Truth be told, I never should have wrestled for it in the first place. I am retired from in-ring competition and happily so. I love being a promoter and heading up the NWA Board of Governors. But, I'm not looking to get back in the ring again. The only reason I challenged Kevin Steen last week was because he manipulated his way into the title and he has manipulated his way through the entire reign. He painted the entire roster of NWA: Show Time into a corner with his ridiculous stipulations. I knew he couldn't turn me down. It just so happens that I have some really good friends in this industry and one of them, CM Punk, decided he'd give me a little hand last week. That's why I stand here today as the NWA: Show Time Heavyweight Champion, which brings me to my first order of business tonight. I am hereby relinquishing the championship." (crowd boos)

Richards: "Now, now. That may not be a popular decision from you more nostalgic fans in attendance, but, hear me out. I was never meant to be champion. I never wanted to be champion. I never intended to step foot back into the ring ever again. This thing with 'The Bullet Club' and the McMahon family has sort of changed the game. My only goal was to shut them up. The championship has no business around my waist. It should be worn by someone capable of the night in, night out rigors of defending it proudly. With that said, here's my next order of business. This championship will not sit idle or vacant. The championship will be won tonight by someone. I am having a special match just to crown him. It's going to be unlike anything we've done in this company so far. I'm calling it a 'Show Time Rumble.' It's going to be a staggered entry 'Battle Royal,' where every thirty seconds, a new competitor will be introduced. I've already assigned random entry numbers to everyone, which I'll reveal in the locker room shortly. This will be over-the-top-rope elimination rules. The last man standing gets the championship belt handed to him by me personally. Why would I put up the championship in a 'Battle Royal,' you may be asking. How does that prove who the best wrestler in the company is? Well, because I'm giving an opportunity to everyone on the roster. Well, everyone except members of 'The Bullet Club,' that is, and World Champion Brock Lesnar, who is defending his title tonight elsewhere."

"No Chance in Hell" played to bring out the McMahon family and "The Bullet Club."

Vince McMahon: "You're telling me that you're giving the title away, putting it up in a 'Battle Royal,' and letting everybody but 'The Bullet Club' compete for it?! That's an outrage! Kevin Steen is the former champion and is entitled to a rematch!"

Richards: "Yes, Steen is the former champion. And, yes, he is entitled to a rematch. But, no one said it had to be tonight. 'The Bullet Club' has done nothing but lie, cheat, and steal it's way to the top. Why would I possibly give any chance at all to win the championship back here tonight?!"

Scott Hall: "Hey, yo! Legally, you have no choice. I am invoking Kevin Steen's rematch clause for tonight! You HAVE to let him in the match!"

Richards: "Actually, rematch clauses have no time limits imposed upon them. As the CEO, I can veto any title match signed, if I so choose. However, he is the former champion. So, this is what I can do for 'The Bullet Club.' I'll allow one member of your group to enter the title match tonight."

McMahon: "Then, it's Steen!"

Richards: "Not so fast, Vinnie Mac! You didn't let me finish! As I was saying, I will allow one member of 'The Bullet Club' to enter the title match tonight. But, he'll have to earn his opportunity. So, Kevin Steen will wrestle a qualifying match before the 'Rumble.' If he wins, he's in. If he loses, he's out and his opponent's in."

McMahon: So, who's his opponent?!"

Richards: "Well, there's only been one other 'Bullet Club' member who's held this championship, and his name is Adam Cole. So, Steen will battle him right now for the right to enter the match! Get a referee out here, because we're starting immediately!"

The McMahons and Hall went ballistic, but relented.

Match One ~ "Show Time Rumble" Qualifier ~ Kevin Steen with Yellow Barbie vs. Adam Cole with Maria Kanellis

This match was an obvious attempt to drive a wedge between two members of "The Bullet Club" before the big "Armageddon" match takes place. These two were tentative at first. But, as the match got underway, their competitive juices began to flow. Fans were divided as to whom they would cheer in this particular match. Steen kept the advantage for much of the contest. The end came surprisingly as he went for his signature "Package Piledriver." Cole wriggled out, then went up and over Steen with a "Sunset Bomb" and held on for dear life. Steen kicked and writhed, but couldn't break free.

Winner = Adam Cole by pinfall in 9:28

Regal: "So, the former champion will have to wait another day to get his title rematch! Adam Cole is on to the 'Show Time Rumble,' which commences next!"

Regal: "We're back from the break! Fans, the entire roster is available for this match. We'll begin with two competitors, then add another every thirty seconds until everyone is in. Elimination comes only from being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor. This match has no time limit, no disqualifications, and must have a winner. Fans, without further adieu, let's go!"

Match Two ~ "Show Time Rumble" match ~ NWA: Show Time Heavyweight Championship (vacant) ~ the entire NWA: Show Time roster is available (which the exception of "Bullet Club" members, save Adam Cole)

Adam Cole was made to begin the match by Jordan Richards. The number two entry was Dean Ambrose. They began to fight ferociously, as they have many times in the past. Just as advertised, every thirty seconds, a new face was introduced. Some competitors lasted quite a while, though others exited very quickly. Ambrose and Cole, who began the match, ended up as part of the final four competitors, which also included CM Punk and "Priest of Punishment" Mikael Judas. The last four fought for what seemed like an eternity. "The Bullet Club" certainly played a part in the outcome. Former champion Kevin Steen specifically made his presence felt, as he eliminated Ambrose by "low bridging" the top rope as Ambrose went to bound off of it. Dean toppled over the ropes to the floor. Ambrose protested, but his feet touched the floor and the nature of a "Battle Royal" is technically no disqualification. Punk, Judas, and Cole became entangled against the ropes, with all three facing elimination. Judas used a feat of strength to hoist both of his remaining opponents over the top in one motion. Punk ended up being eliminated, but Cole's leg got twisted up in the ropes, which left him hanging precariously, but still in the match. Judas began to wrestle with the ropes, attempting to free Cole up so that he could drop him to the floor. Triple H grabbed Judas' arm, pulling him down and over the ropes. Judas resisted, but still found himself in an awkward spot. He began to tug back against Triple H, effectively pulling him up onto the apron. The two began tussling. In the meantime, Cole had gotten free and had snuck back into the ring. He ran up behind Judas, grabbed his legs, and dumped him over the top as Triple H pulled him down to the floor.

Winner and NEW NWA: Show Time Heavyweight Champion = Adam Cole in a total match time of 45:12

Regal: "What a controversial last five minutes! 'The Bullet Club' managed to hand their man the title yet again!"

Hayes: "Jordan Richards is hot! He does not want to give that belt over to Adam Cole!"

Regal: "Cole just joined Steen as the only two-time Heavyweight Champions in our company's history! But, the match, as we said, was fraught with controversy!"

Hayes: "He stole it! That's for sure! It's all 'The Bullet Club' is good for! Grand theft!"

Cole smiled slyly as Jordan Richards shook his head and handed the belt over to him, just as promised. He glared at Cole intently before walking away. Triple H, Vince McMahon, Scott Hall, and the rest of "The Bullet Club" celebrated with Cole in the ring. Kevin Steen looked somewhat dejected, but shook Cole's hand and congratulated him anyway, at the behest of Stephanie McMahon.

Regal: "Fans, we're completely out of time. Please join us next Tuesday on TBS for more of the Show Time Power Hour, as we count down to 'Armageddon!' For Michael Hayes, I'm William Regal, saying, ta ta for now!"