Ricky Ortiz Turning Heel?, More Slammy Award Nominations, More
According to house show reports over the weekend, ECW Superstar Ricky Ortiz tried out working as a heel on two shows. He wrestled fan favorite Tommy Dreamer on two shows (in State College and Johnstown, PA), but lost both times via the Dreamer DDT. At the show in State College, Ortiz got on the mic and complained about being left off the Survivor Series pay-per-view. He said he was undefeated and did everything ECW General Manager Theodore Long wanted him to do, yet he was left off the card. Ortiz then insulted the fans as well as the other wrestlers in the back before Dreamer came out to a big pop. During the match, Ortiz heeled it up by blowing his nose on his white "rally towel" and then spinning it over his head like a sprinkler to spread snot onto the fans at ringside. On Tuesday's edition of ECW (taped on Monday at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.), Ortiz was back to being a face as he made fun of Jack Swagger and his noticeable lisp. Theodore Long and Tiffany made a match between the two undefeated ECW stars (in singles competition on television), but Swagger came out on top, thus putting an end to Ortiz's five-month long undefeated streak.
Here is a recap of Ortiz's streak in ECW, which reached 5-0.
07-01: Pinfall victory over Armando Estrada.
07-08: Victory over Chavo Guerrero (via disqualification).
08-19: Pinfall victory over Gavin Spears.
09-02: Pinfall victory over Ryan Braddock.
11-04: Pinfall victory over John Davis.
12-02: Pinfall loss to Jack Swagger.
WWE will be holding a tri-branded house show at the Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio on January 24th, 2009. Bell time is 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale December 13th, 2008 at 10 AM. Go to prowrestlingevents.webs.com for information about upcoming wrestling shows worldwide. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
WWE has announced the nominees for two more Slammy Awards categories — "Best Finishing Move" and "Tag Team of the Year." Additionally, they finally reveal the name of Undertaker's finishing move. It is called "Hell's Gate." Here are the latest nominees:
Best Finishing Move nominees
* Randy Orton's RKO
* Undertaker's Hell's Gate
* Big Show's KO Punch
* Evan Bourne's Shooting Star Press
Tag Team of the Year nominees
* The Miz & John Morrison
* Priceless (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase)
* Cryme Tyme
* Carlito & Primo
OMG Moment of the Year:
* CM Punk cashes in Money In The Bank and becomes World Heavyweight Champion (6/30/08 Monday Night Raw)
* Undertaker sends Edge to Hell (SummerSlam 2008)
* Floyd Mayweather punches Big Show and breaks his nose (No Way Out 2008)
* John Cena surprise return at the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble 2008)
Couple of the Year:
* Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix
* Edge and Vickie Guerrero
* William Regal and Layla
* Finlay and Hornswoggle
Superstar of the year:
* Batista
* Chris Jericho
* Edge
* HHH
* Jeff Hardy
* John Cena
Match of the Year:
* 2008 Royal Rumble Match
* Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair (Career Threatening Match, WrestleMania 24)
* Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Wrestlemania 24)
* Undertaker vs. Edge (Hell in a Cell Match at SummerSlam)
Diva of the Year:
* Mickie James
* Kelly Kelly
* Beth Phoenix
* Michelle McCool