"Show Time Power Hour" TV Taping Number 79 (Week 158)

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 are your brother's favorite commentator, Mauro Ranallo, and hall of famer Jim Cornette! Fellas, we have a big episode lined up tonight, as we begin the countdown to "Great American Bash!'"

Mauro Ranallo: "we're going to see the debut of scintillating high flyer Angelico, as the South African luchador hits the ring tonight!"

Jim Cornette: "My guys will be heavily featured, as 'Camp Cornette' will battle 'War Machine' and those lying, cheating Usos in an eight-man!"

Regal: "Yes, and our main event will see number one contender to the NWA World Championship, Braun Strowman, step into the ring against fellow behemoth 'Broken Bomb' Jason Justice! Plus, CM Punk continues his Mid-Atlantic Championship open challenge! So, let's get the action started!"

Match One ~ Angelico vs. Jack Evans with Taya

This was a stiff test for Angelico, battling one of the premier Cruiserweights of the last decade in Evans. The match was fantastic.

Winner = Angelico by pinfall in 13:24

Regal: "What a match and what a debut for Angelico! Even Jack Evans, his opponent, was impressed! Look at the show of respect!"

Ranallo: "Evans is either impressed or concussed! Either way, that was a great opening contest!"

Cornette: "If you like that kind of thing, it was interesting. If you're like me, you're waiting for the tag team match."

Regal: "As you would be, Jim. Fans, we'll take a quick break and be back with that tag team match next!"

Regal: "We're back and we've given our leave to Jim Cornette, who will be heavily involved in this next match-up, I'm quite sure."

Match Two ~ "Camp Cornette" ("The Revival" {Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson} and "Sons of Steel" {Boomer Payne & Brice Anthony} with Jim Cornette) vs. "War Machine" ("WarBeard" Hanson & Raymond "Death" Rowe) and The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) with "The Bad Guy" Scott Hall

This was a frenetic match that did not have long to develop because of the animosity between all parties involved. There were several keys spots that got fans on their feet. The Usos hit stereo "Super Kicks" on all four opponents in succession. Boomer Payne thought he had outsmarted them by ducking, only to turn around into their Nike Air Force Ones after all. Hanson hit a "Double German Suplex" on Dash and Dawson. "Sons of Steel" and "The Revival" hit their tandem finishers simultaneously, but the pin attempts were broken up, leading to an eight-way melee that the referee could no longer control.

Winners = double disqualification in 10:08

Regal: "This situation is getting more and more volatile! Something has to give in a very crowded tag team division!"

Ranallo: "NWA: Show Time is stacked with a plethora of pairs, all fighting for supremacy!"

Regal: "Let's take a break to restore order out here! We'll be back in just a moment!"

Regal: "Back from the break and 'SoCal' Val is standing by backstage with CM Punk and AJ Lee!"

Valerie Wyndham: "I am here with Mid-Atlantic Champion CM Punk, who is set to go out for his weekly open challenge. The competition has been stiff so far, including your friend and partner Ricochet last week. But, you continue to retain the championship. How long will this open challenge go on?"

CM Punk: "As long as it takes, Valerie! I promised the world I'd be a fighting champion when I won this tournament. The open challenge is the perfect way to do that."

Wyndham: "AJ, what's it like watching your husband out there week after week, never knowing ahead of time who his opponent might be."

AJ Lee: "It's pretty nerve-racking."

Punk: "Don't worry about me, babe. I got this!"

Lee: "I sure hope so, for your sake and mine."

Punk: "Seriously, don't worry. Let's get out there."

Wyndham: "Back to you, William."

Regal: "Hmm, it seems like AJ is a little more worried about this whole open challenge scenario than her husband is."

Ranallo: "Perhaps she's just playing the concerned wife."

Cornette: "Or, perhaps CM Punk is starting to get on her nerves like he does everyone else!"

Regal: "Will you stop! Let's see who his next challenger is going to be!"

CM Punk came to the ring confidently as always.

Punk: "Well, another week, another title defense. So, who's the next victim?"

Surprisingly, this entrance video aired:

Regal: "Wait a minute! You don't think...?"

Commissioner Flair strutted his way to the ring as a baffled CM Punk looked on.

Punk: "You've got to be kidding me! You're challenging me?!"

Ric Flair: "Ha ha ha! Punk my boy, you could only hope to meet  someone of my stature in the ring! Woooo! Relax Punk. I'm not out here to challenge you. I'm out here to name your opponent for tonight!"

Punk: "Well Ric, I don't think you quite understand the concept of an open challenge. It's random and open to everyone. You don't get to pick my opponent. It's whoever is man enough to step to the ring!"

Flair: "Oh, I understand the concept. I'm just shutting down for tonight! I already have an opponent handpicked for you! In fact, here he is now!"

Regal: "Ricochet again?!"

Punk: "I have to face my friend again! What's going on around here?! I know what's up, Flair! You're trying to break up 'Best in the World' by putting us back in the ring against each other! Well, it's not going to work! We're thicker than that!"

Flair: "You've got me figured all wrong, pal! I didn't set up this match on my own. Ricochet came to me last week and asked for it!"

Punk: "Is that true?! Why?!"

Ricochet: "We had such a phenomenal match last Tuesday, I figured the fans would want to see it again! It's all good, bro!"

Punk: "If you say so. Ring the bell!"

Match Three ~ NWA: Show Time Mid-Atlantic Championship ~ CM Punk with AJ Lee vs. Ricochet

This match was shaping up to be even better than last week's. Ricochet pulled out all the stops and unleashed every piece of his arsenal against the champion. Punk had a defense. He is so well prepared, the open challenge concept doesn't seem to phase him. In fact, he looked to polish off Ricochet yet again with "GTS." He went for the cover. AT the count of two, AJ casually slipped Ricochet foot over the bottom rope. The referee saw the movement, but undoubtedly assumed it was Ricochet, so he stopped the count. Punk saw it out of the corner of his eye. He could not believe that his wife would have helped his opponent. The crowd was abuzz at AJ's betrayal. Punk glared at AJ dumbfounded. AJ glared back with an evil gaze. Punk stood up and held out his arms as if to say, "Why?" AJ just looked back at him and smiled. Punk finally gathered himself enough to speak. He walked over to the ropes and screamed, "What are you doing?!" AJ could be seen mouthing the words, "It's just business, babe." Ricochet had recovered during this time and hit Punk in the back of the head with a "Roundhouse Kick" that dropped him. He then scaled the ropes and hit his "630 Senton Splash." As the referee counted, Punk draped his leg over the bottom rope, but AJ quickly knocked it off before the referee could see it.

Winner and NEW NWA: Mid-Atlantic Champion = Ricochet by pinfall in 15:47

Regal: "I'm still trying to process what I've just seen. AJ Lee, wife of CM Punk, has just pierced his heart with a dagger!"

Ranallo: "My head is about to explode! What has AJ Lee just done?! We knew that she's been capable of evil in the past, but no one ever dreamed she'd turn on her own husband!"

Cornette: "It serves CM punk right! He has worried his wife to death with this open challenge nonsense and she just taught him a lesson!"

Regal: "I don't buy it! AJ Lee, this is unforgivable!"

Commissioner Ric Flair, CEO Jordan Richards, and Karlee Perez came to the ring with smiles on their faces. Flair presented Ricochet with the Mid-Atlantic Championship. Richards shook his hand, then brought him in for a hug. Perez hugged AJ, then kissed her on the cheek. Finally, Flair and Richards raised Ricochet's arms in victory as Punk sat in the corner with a blank stare on his face. As they left the ring, AJ turned to Punk with a concerned expression. When he looked up to her, she smiled and blew him a kiss.

Regal: "AJ Lee and Ricochet have sold their souls to pure evil itself! I can't fathom it!"

Ranallo: "I guess they've decided to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight. But, what is that dance going to cost them?!"

Cornette: "Baloney! Like AJ told Punk, it's just business! AJ Lee and Ricochet did what's best for business!"

Regal: "They did what's best for their pocketbooks, no doubt!"

Cornette: "Same difference."

Regal: "Well, I need a moment to regain my composure. Let's go to commercial."

Regal: "Okay fans, we're back. For those of you just tuning in, you've missed the most dastardly act I've seen on this program, as AJ Lee turned against her own husband CM Punk and helped his friend Ricochet stab him in the back and steal the Mid-Atlantic Championship. What's worse is that they have appeared to join 'The Richards Collective.' I'm still in shock. But, we have to keep this program rolling. we're about to see our main event, but first, Joanna Rose is standing by with one of the participants, Braun Strowman."

Joanna Rose: "I'm here with 'Monster Among Men' Braun Strowman and his associate Alexa Bliss. Braun, you're about to take on the unstable competitor and member of 'The Broken Universe,' Jason Justice. How do you prepare for such a formidable foe?"

Alexa Bliss: "Let me answer that, Braun! No one can match his size, his strength, and his killer instinct. Jason Justic may be three hundred twenty pounds, but he will be a light workout for Braun on his way to the NWA World Championship!"

Braun Strowman: "That's right! Jason Justice may call himself the 'Ticking Time Bomb,' but bombs can't stop monsters! I will run through him, then I'm going to run through Brock Lesnar at 'Great American Bash' and I'll be the next NWA World Heavyweight Champion!"

Rose: "There you have it. Back to you, William."

Regal: "Strong words from a strong man and an equally strong personality by his side. Let's here some previously recorded comments by Jason Justice."

A video aired of Jason Justice from the Hardy Compound.

Jason Justice: "I am here in my sanctuary, the only place where my mind is calm. House Hardy. 'Broken' Matt has taught me well. I have learned to center myself and harness the rage that burns within me. Tonight, that rage will be directed at Braun Strowman. Monsters don't scare me. I explode them! Tick, tick, tick!"

Regal: "This should be a dandy. Let's go to the ring!"

Match Four ~ "The Monster Among Men" Braun Strowman with "The Goddess" Alexa Bliss vs. "Broken Bomb" Jason Justice with Queen Reby

Strowman and Justice began the match with an epic slugfest in center ring. They continued to punch each other in the heads repeatedly, falling through the ropes and fighting on the floor. Justice is a cagy veteran and knows his way around the ring, as evidenced by his periods of dominance over the massive Braun. Strowman came roaring back though, at the behest of his companion Bliss, who shouted encouragement and direction from ringside. Justice went for his patented "Psycho Slam," but Braun evaded it and scooped Jason up for the "Running Powerslam" that finished it.

Winner = Braun Strowman by pinfall in 8:11

Regal: "Now, that was a superheavyweight battle!"

Ranallo: "Braun Strowman withstood a beating and came back to win convincingly!"

Cornette: "If he hits that 'Powerslam' on Brock Lesnar, we could see a new champion!"

Regal: "Indeed. Fans, that clash is mere weeks away! Sadly, we are out of time for this week. Please join us again next Tuesday on TBS for more of the Show Time Power Hour! And, go ahead and log onto www.nwashowtime.com for After Buzz with Cathy Kelley, immediately following our broadcast! For Mauro Ranallo and Jim Cornette, I'm William Regal, saying ta ta for now!"

NWA: Show Time After Buzz with Cathy Kelley aired as normal.

Kelley could not stop talking about AJ Lee and Ricochet betraying CM Punk and joining "The Richards Collective." In fact, AJ Lee joined Kelley unannounced. Lee reiterated what she told her husband, that she and Ricochet have made a very sound business decision that has added "quite a wad of cash to my bank account." Lee further stated that she has no personal ill will toward Punk, that she still loves him, and that they can separate business and personal lives. Kelley balked at the notion, but AJ reassured her. "Once I sit Phil down and explain it, he'll understand. This will all work out in the end." AJ then left and Kelley told fans, "I seriously doubt that." With that, she signed off.