By Wade Keller, Torch editor

-The show opened with the contestants lumbering into the lounge, reflecting on the elimination last week. Danny Bonaduce led a discussion on who hurt the most and where. It's actually interesting insight into the types of discussions actual trained pro wrestlers have after their matches, especially at indy shows. Not so much being sore, but the critiquing of the match quality.

-An argument broke out about whether everyone did the three moves they were taught. Butterbean accused Erin of running her mouth. "She doesn't know what she's talking about. She needs to shut up." Bonaduce bet Erin 50K he'd outlast her. She didn't accept. He said she's all talk. Erin began crying.

-In walked Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and Jimmy Hart. Bischoff demanded some silence and some respect, as if he were cutting a heel promo as Raw G.M. Bischoff asked if Erin was okay. Hogan said the challenges will keep coming and they'll keep getting tougher. Hogan said now they'd be tested on their toughness. He said there are times you might have to go to the ceiling of the arena.

-Brian Knobs yelled about the practice stunt. Up high on scaffolding was Brutus Beefcake who demonstrating the leap onto the giant air mattress. Frank Stallone said he's frightened of heights. Trishelle said while standing at the top that she was afraid she'd miss the mat and land on the cement in front of it. She said she got paralyzed with fear.

-A preview aired for the match later.

[Commercial Break]

-Knobs encouraged Trishelle. She finally took the leap and landed on her feet rather than flat-back, but was just fine. Butterbean was game and didn't pop the mattress, which was a victory in and of itself. The last to jump was Frank Stallone. Knobs said, "Now I know why they call him the 'other brother.'" He shouted that he hates heights. Beefcake imitated a chicken. He shouldn't do that. It was close to the scene out of "Arrested Development." He didn't do it. He refused.

-Bischoff played the prickish self-important hard-ass role as he quizzed the contestants on their experience so far. Bischoff gave Frank a hard time about not taking the big leap. Bischoff said the good news for him is that he won't be judged on just one thing as it takes a variety of tools to be a good wrestler. Bischoff said their three moves this week are a headlock takedown, schoolboy, and shoulder tackle. Beefcake and Knobs demonstrated the moves. Frank said he was abhorred at the thought of having to take those moves.

-Beefcake asked his team backstage if they noticed anything. He said Bonaduce was missing. He had to leave to do his radio show. His teammates were concerned he'd miss out on a lot.

[Commercial Break]

-Trishelle said these three moves were tougher than last week's three moves. They practiced headlock takeovers. It's scary seeing Knobs in charge of Erin's safety when she said she feared her neck was getting hurt. He offered a hug. Then they practiced schoolboys. Knobs showed frustration with how easy the schoolboy is and the difficulty some were having executing it. Beefcake then set up the tag match later, picking the "babyfaces" and "heels." Butterbean walked up to Beefcake and said he had something really important to say. Then he farted. Beefcake went down like he was choking. Bridges said it smelled like a rat had died and been left there for two weeks.

-Rodman clotheslined Knobs off the second rope for run, but both were slow to get up. Rodman clutched his right shoulder and Knobs said, "Oh my ribs!" They called for the nurse to check on Rodman's shoulder. He was curled over and crying. He was really hurting. Knobs was frustrated as they lost a key player.

-Bonaduce returned after his radio show. He said he has to do radio because he has "three families to feed." Bonaduce then learned the moves. He said they're not that difficult. He said because pain doesn't really bother him and because he doesn't really value his flesh, "it's a real time saver."

-Rodman said he has a rotator cuff injury. He said the medic told him to sit out the match and put his arm in a sling. Knobs changed up the roles of the planned match. He said Rodman will be the manager. Stallone said he'd do the best he could with a last-second change in his role.

-Hogan appeared for the second time in the show. "When you step into that ring, the goal is to walk out of that ring the exact same way you were before you went in there. The better you take care of your adversary, the longer you can work in this business," said Sage Hogan. He told them to stay focused and be safe. He said he wants to see them tear the house down again.

-Beefcake was shown giving his team a backstage pep talk. Trishelle said she feels less prepared this week than last. They went to Knobs's locker room. He gave his team a pep talk. Dustin Diamond said he thinks he knows who's going home if they don't win.

[Commercial Break]

-Hogan, Bischoff, and Hart were introduced to the crowd. Hogan posed and said some of his catch phrases as the camera panned the cheering crowd.

1 -- TRISHELLE & DANNY BONADUCE vs. TODD BRIDGES & BUTTERBEAN

Beefcake led the crowd in cheering his team. Bubba the Love Sponge, uncredited, did commentary again. After Butterbean knocked Bonaduce to the mat, Trishelle tagged in. Butterbean got cocky and turned his back. Trishelle jumped him from behind, then tagged in Bonaduce. Bridges also tagged in. Bonaduce looked okay on offense and Bridges looked a little unsure of himself. Bridges took Bondauce over with a headlock takeover. They went to the judges. Bischoff said Bondauce was rushing things a little too much. Hogan agreed. Bubba said Bridges didn't do much last week, but is spending more time in the ring htis week to impress the judges. Bonaduce and Bridges blew a clothesline/shoulder tackle spot, which Bubba pointed out. Bonaduce avoided a corner charge by Trishelle, who bumped nicely out of the corner after impact. For the finish, Trishelle kicked Butterbean in the chin leading to a sloppy schoolboy by Bonaduce for the three count. Afterward, Butterbean pressed and tossed Bonaduce onto security at ringside. Bubba said Team Beefcake planned that little extra to excite the crowd. The crowd chanted "CCW, CCW."

WINNERS: Bonaduce & Trishelle in 5:00. Not bad all things considered, with the benefits of editing.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- ERIN MURPHY & DUSTIN DIAMOND vs. FRANK STALLONE & NICKY ZIERING (w/Dennis Rodman)

Brian Knobs came out first and cheered his students as they made their ring entrances. Bubba set the stage nicely, pointing out that Eric was a heel this week after being a babyface last week, and thus is showing a whole different swagger. Lots of shots of the judges nodding and reacting to action, getting a healthy dose of the star, Hogan, on camera. Watching the fans doing and saying nothing, but hearing loud cheering and chants, was a little odd after a while. They'd cut to isolated crowd shots that seemed like they were reacting to the action, but the actual crowd in the background wasn't nearly as enthusiastic. Dustin knocked Stallone out of the ring from behind. Rodman got into the ring to yell at the ref as a distraction as the heels beat on Frank and Nicky. Dustin finally hot-tagged out to Erin. Bubba said Erin has had a tough week in training. He said fear can be a problem while trying to work in the ring. For the finish, Erin hit Stallone from behind as the ref was distracted, then draped KO'd Dustin's arm over Frank for the three count. Rodman threatened to hit the ref afterward. Dustin stopped him.

WINNERS: Dustin & Erin in 5:00. Not as good as the first match.

[Commercial Break]

-Hogan addressed the contestants. He said both had good matches. Hogan, correctly, indicated that Team Beefcake had the better match. He said that left Team Nasty. They stood in the ring and awaited their fate. Bischoff told Nicky that she has a lot going on in the looks department, but it takes more than looks. Jimmy Hart said he may not be the fan favorite, but the schoolboy looked good and he seemed like the team captain. Hogan told Dustin and Nicky that they were both safe. That left injured Rodman, tentative crying Erin, and hesitatant fear-of-heights Stallone. Hogan said Stallone stepped up at the last second in this match and did all he could to replace Rodman. Hogan said he saw promise in Erin last week, but not improvement this week. He said, though, she cruised through the match and the people seem to like her. He told Rodman: "This is not the NBA. When you're hurt in this business, you still work in that ring." That's just irresponsible and stupid. If you're injured, you're injured. And if you're injured, you could hurt your opponent instead of protecting them. He said Rodman is a performer and the people love to watch him. He said as the manager, even with the hurt arm, he directed traffic. He said he hopes him get better. Still no mention of the advantage Rodman has given his previous high-profile in-ring experience with WCW.

Hogan then told Stallone: "I didn't see the eye of the tiger. You're a jobroni. Get out of my ring!"

Stallone took the boot well. He smiled graciously and hugged Erin before leaving the ring. Stallone said he doesn't believe he lost because he doesn't see people his age going out there and trying this. He said most 58 year olds are worried about their prostate. He said he's not a quitter, but the judges made their call.

-Hogan closed the show with, "Whatcha gonna do when CCW runs wild on you, guys?" He held up the CCW Title belt as the crowd cheered.

-Clips aired of next week's show with the contestants picking their new in-ring personas and outfits. Bischoff is shown saying he's getting pissed off, presumably at their lack of commitment.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I was okay with this episode. I wouldn't call it "must see" viewing for even pro wrestling fans, but it's a mindless and largely innocent hour of entertainment that does, somehow, someway, manage to be respectful toward the art of pro wrestling in spite of the format. The line about working injured that Hogan spewed was irresponsible and par for his course, but the other advice he has given on this show has been good.

RELATED STORY on PWTorch.com: KELLER'S REPORT ON HULK HOGAN'S CELEBRITY CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING 10/18: Debut with Bischoff, Knobs, Beefcake, Rodman, Bonaduce, Jimmy Hart...

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