Steel Cage Match
– Jay Lethal vs. Ric Flair
Jay Lethal is the first man out to the ring, and he gets a nice respectable pop from the crowd. He’s out in a red and yellow robe that says ‘Living the Dream’ on the back. Flair is out next and there are a ton of woo’s in anticipation of Naitch’s first PPV match since WrestleMania XXV.
The start:
Lethal says something to Flair while pointing out to the crowd. The crowd begins to chant, and they’re pretty evenly split. Lethal and Flair lock up and Lethal locks in a side headlock, and doesn’t let go. Lethal takes Flair down to the mat, and Flair doesn’t look to flustered.
Mid-match notes:
Flair and Lethal lock up again and this time Flair locks in the side headlock. Flair connects with a shoulder block to put Lethal down, but Lethal responds with a dropkick and a big back body drop before clotheslining Flair over the top rope to the outside. Flair recovers for a bit on the outside, surprising Lethal and trying for a vertical suplex to the outside, that’s reversed. Lethal follows up with a missile dropkick that’s good for a two count, and Flair puts his thumb in Lethal’s eye.
Flair tags Lethal with a couple of knife edge chops. Flair goes for one too many and Lethal is able to turn it around and hit a series of stinging knife edge chops himself. Flair does his goofy falling to his face routine, before getting back up and putting his thumbs back in Lethal’s eye. Flair tries to go to the top, but Lethal catches him and hits a giant superplex. Lethal goes back to the top and tries for a moonsault, but Flair rolls out of the way. Flair catches Lethal with a boot to the side of the head before stomping away at Lethal’s knee and thigh.
Flair chop blocks Lethal’s knee, and Lethal drops like a ton of bricks. Flair continues to just stomp away at Lethal’s knees, before picking up his legs and locking in the figure four right in the middle of the ring. Lethal screams in pain and Flair uses the ropes for an extra bit of leverage. The ref catches Flair finally, and forces Flair to break the hold. Flair and Hebner get into an arguement, and it allows Lethal to score a quick roll up that’s good for a two count.
Flair fish hooks Lethal, before hitting him with another series of chops to the chest. Around the fourth chop from Flair, Lethal responds with some of this own and the two men begin trading blows with each other. Lethal catches Flair with a flying forearm, and another chop before taking Flair down with a back handspring elbow. Flair begs off in the corner, but Lethal takes it right back to him. Lethal flips out of the corner and taunts Flair with a little strut. Lethal goes for the sunset flip, but ends up with a handfull of trunks, and Ric Flair, the old man himself, exposes his rear end on a world wide PPV. Flair locks in a sleeper that Lethal fights off, only to hit a springboard cross body, and a splash across Flair’s knee.
The finish:
Lethal chop block’s Flair’s knee, and then drags him into the middle of the ring to lock in a figure four of his own. Flair is forced to tap out to Jay Lethal is his own hold.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal is incredibly emotional after the match. Flair argues with Hebner, but he’s shoved down by the official. Lethal celebrates around ringside and grabs the mic. Lethal calls out for his mom, and says he did it.
Christy Hemme is backstage with Jeff Hardy. Hardy says he’ll keep this Victory Road hot, and all his creatures will fly high with him, when he wins the title. Hardy says some more crazy stuff, then runs off.
