WWE Raw
February 5, 2007
The road to Wrestlemania 23 continues. Tonight, The Undertaker makes a decision regarding which champion he faces! Will he pick WWE Champion John Cena, World Heavyweight Champion Batista, or ECW Champion Bobby Lashley? The seemingly obvious answer is Batista.
Without any opening music, we head straight to the arena where the music of The Undertaker is playing. The Undertaker takes his sweet time getting to the ring, as usual. Before he can say anything, he is joined by John Cena. It is worth mentioning that Cena is carrying his WWE title belt, but not the World Tag title belt he won last week with Shawn Michaels. With nothing said yet, Bobby Lashley joins the party. They need to do some work packaging Lashley, as his entrance music and video are pretty generic. And finally, Batista comes out too, dressed in his wrestling attire and not one of those pimping suits he is known for.
All three champions stand before The Undertaker, eagerly awaiting his decision. He takes a moment to stare each champ in the eyes. It is a bit refreshing that no words have been said yet, this entire segment has been built around actions. And no words need to be said, as Undertaker stops in front of Batista and makes the “cutting your throat” gesture. Batista responds by holding up his championship belt, and we have our Wrestlemania main event! This brings out Shawn Michaels, big mouth and all. HBK once again tosses his name in to face Cena at Wrestlemania. This brings out Randy “Suckbag” Orton, and he wants to face Cena too, but he’s not asking, he’s demanding. To complete the puzzle, Edge joins the fiesta. Jim Ross says “these are interesting times.” Well said, Jim. Edge believes he doesn’t need to ask permission for a title match, and he wants a piece of Cena as well. It is time for some match making, as Vince McMahon joins and challenges Cena too. I’m just kidding about that last part, I’m just trying to see if anyone is actually reading this.
Vince points out that no one is challenging Bobby Lashley, and claims it is because Lashley is the “best champion.” Vince is waiting for someone from Raw to make a challenge, and Lashley will defend the ECW title belt tonight. Vince then makes a triple threat match between Orton, Edge, and HBK to determine who faces Cena at Wrestlemania! That is a hell of a main event. The crowd disperses, except for Taker and Batista. They stare each other down, before Taker catches Batista off guard with a chokeslam! This was a good opening segment, and the lack of dialogue through the first part of it was different, refreshing, and creative.
After the break, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler speculate over the opening segment.
Carlito (with Torrie Wilson) and Cryme Tyme vs. Chris Masters and the World’s Greatest Tag Team
Raw is mid-card! Last week, TWGTT gave Cryme Tyme their first loss. A three on three brawl starts the match, before it settles into JTG and Shelton Benjamin as the legal men. JTG gets Lou Thesz press in, and corners Benjamin. Benjamin fights back, and tags in Haas. JTG fights back, but gets caught in a belly to belly suplex. Haas gets a near fall in, and tags in Masters. Masters goes straight for the upper back area on JTG, already preparing him for the Master Lock. Tag is made to Haas, and JTG is the established face in peril before the match even hits the two minute mark. Tag is made to Carlito, who cleans house on the dastardly heels. Carlito hits a double springboard elbow on the WGTT, but almost gets caught in the Master Lock. Shad saves Carlito from Masters, and Carlito is left alone with Charlie Haas. Carlito gets a roll up, but Benjamin gets a blockbuster, and allows Haas to cover Carlito for the victory at 3:02. Everyone played their parts well, but this was too short to amount to anything worthwhile, ½*.
Winners: Chris Masters and the World’s Greatest Tag Team
After the break, we are treated to a look back at Donald Trump dumping money on the fans last week during Vince’s “Fan Appreciation Night.” We then join Vince hanging out with The Coach backstage. They are joined by Kenny Dykstra, who wants to face Lashley for the ECW title tonight and Vince approves. The former leader of a group of male cheerleaders might be the next to represent Extreme Championship Wrestling? Kenny leaves, and Coach hands Vince a letter from Donald Trump. Vince reads it out loud, and we discover that Trump will be appearing on Raw in person next week. Trump has a business proposal that will change Vince’s life forever. Coach wants to have security ban Trump from the building, but Vince loves the idea of having two billionaires in a WWE ring for the first time ever, and hints that he wants Trump to join the “Kiss My Ass” club. What great use of Trump.
Elsewhere, Maria is standing by with Ric Flair. Flair puts over the Undertaker/Batista match. He also puts over the triple threat match tonight, which is strange considering two of the participants have repeatedly tried to kill him these past few months. But tonight, Flair wants to beat Jeff Hardy for a chance to wrestle him for the Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania.
Somewhere else, Melina is hanging out with Candice Michelle, who is all happy about how her ads ran several times during the Super Bowl last night. Nitro comes in and promises to protect her from Super Crazy. This could be Melina’s night.
After a break, we have Balls Mahoney in the ring. Coach comes out and introduces the ECW original. Coach announces that Vince will be taking care of the ECW originals tomorrow night on ECW. But tonight, Balls must face Umaga!
Umaga vs. Balls Mahoney
Balls and Umaga exchange shots, with Umaga getting the upper hand. Umaga chokes Mahoney on the ropes and drapes him over the apron. Umaga climbs the turnbuckle and leaps off on Mahoney. Umaga hits a Samoan drop. Mahoney is placed sitting in the corner, and gets the running ass shot to the head. Umaga then hits the Samoan Spike and gets the win at 1:53. Great, they make a jobber out of an ECW original right as they are starting an angle where the ECW originals rebel against Vince? Sounds sadly typical, DUD. This match put me in a really bad mood.
Winner: Umaga
The WWE Rewind takes a look back on a cat fight between Mickie James and Melina, which also included Super Crazy backing up Mickie.
Johnny Nitro (with Melina) vs. Super Crazy (with Mickie James)
Nitro dominates early with some kicks, punches, and an uppercut. Nitro hits a neck breaker and tries to get a cover at the 35 second mark. Nitro whips, Crazy, but he leaps off the turnbuckle into a roll up. Nitro regains control and slams Crazy for another cover attempt. This goes straight into a rest hold. Super Crazy escapes, but Nitro gets a sunset flip roll-up, but Super Crazy hits a surprise drop kick. Melina makes a distraction, and Nitro gets another roll up for a close near fall. Super Crazy meanwhile gets a back breaker and scoop slam in and heads to the top rope. Nitro knocks Crazy down and goes for a back superplex. Crazy knocks him down and gets a moonsault! This is enough to get Super Crazy the win at 3:01! This was another good match that was too short to really get going, but both men looked good and got some fun spots in, *1/4. I really like the Super Crazy push.
Winner: Super Crazy
WWE Women’s Championship:
Mickie James © (with Super Crazy) vs. Melina (with Johnny Nitro)
Melina tackles Mickie to start things off. They exchange shots and go straight for the hair. They separate as a nice “Mickie” chant can be heard from the crowd. They exchange hammerlocks before Melina goes for the leg. They separate again, and the match restarts. Melina gets some nice kicks in, but Mickie comes back with a “modified” monkey flip. Melina runs into the arms of Nitro for comfort, tricking Mickie into walking into a neck breaker. Melina kicks Mickie right in the face and gets a near fall. Melina continues her assault, using Mickie’s hair to assist her submission holds. Mickie gets in a snapmare, and then plants Melina face first onto the mat. Melina is still in this, as the two divas return to exchanging shots. Mickie repeatedly slams Melina head first to the mat. Super Crazy stops Nitro from interfering, giving Mickie a chance to get another near fall in. Melina rakes the eyes, but Mickie gets another kick in. Melina tosses Mickie to ringside. Mickie goes for a sunset flip off the top, but Melina counters into a cover. The ref sees Melina pulling on the ropes for leverage, and Mickie reverses the momentum for a cover and the win at 4:40! This was an action packed affair that did not let up for a single second, though a couple spots looked botched, *3/4.
Winner and still Women’s Champion: Mickie James
Backstage, John Cena visits Shawn Michaels, who is suspicious that Cena is trying to be insincere. Cena reminds him that they are still the World Tag Team champs. The point of this segment is lost on me.
Raw is on Thursday next week. That is bad timing for Donald Trump’s in person debut, if you ask me.
Jeff Hardy vs. Ric Flair
If Flair wins this match, he will get a shot at Hardy’s Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania 23. The stipulation should add some intrigue to this. They tie up and Hardy quickly knocks Flair down, but applauds him. How very respectful. Flair shoves Hardy, and gets slapped across the face. Flair chops Hardy into the corner. Hardy fights back, but Flair begins centering his attacks on the supposedly injured knee of Hardy. Flair twists the knee, as he is likely readying Hardy for the figure four. Flair gets tired of this, and resorts to stomping on the knee. Flair corners Hardy and twists the knee into the ropes. This is broken, and Flair gets a chop in. Hardy falls forward, and Flair continues twisting the knee, but Hardy leaps up on his good knee and hits an enziguri. Hardy gets a modified jaw breaker in and then a back body drop. Hardy “fights through the pain” to continue the offense, and gets the Whisp of the Wind in. Hardy follows up with the Twist of Fate, but climbs up top instead of going for the cover. Hardy misses the swanton bomb, and appears to be dead. Flair goes back to killing Hardy’s knee and shows off for the crowd. Flair goes for the Figure Four, but Hardy surprises Flair with a roll up and gets the surprise win at 5:46! This was an enjoyable little match, **. This means no title shot for Flair.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match, Hardy and Flair embrace. How classy.
Backstage, Todd Grisham is standing by with Batista. He asks Batista for comments on what happened earlier with The Undertaker. Batista is not too worried, but promises payback for the chokeslam and promises to retain the title at Wrestlemania. Batista doesn’t have a problem teaming with Undertaker at No Way Out either. I don’t know why people don’t give Batista crap for his lack of interview skills.
ECW World Championship:
Bobby Lashley © vs. Kenny Dykstra
Lillian Garcia does in ring introductions to keep up the illusion that this is a main event match. Lashley targets the leg right away, but Kenny escapes into the ropes. They tie up and push each other into the corner. They break, and Lashley shoves Kenny and then punches him so hard he falls right over the top rope. Lashley drags Kenny back into the ring and shoulder thrusts him into the corner. Lashley tries to slam Kenny, but Kenny holds onto the ropes for dear life. Lashley dumps Kenny over the ropes again and pursues him, but Kenny gets a drop kick in on the entrance ramp. Kenny presses Lashley’s head into the steel ramp and throws him back into the ring. Kenny gets some token offense in, as Lashley sells the attack from ringside. Kenny gets a cover in, but it’s not even close. Kenny gets a jumping elbow in, and tries a cover. That doesn’t work, so it’s rest hold time, in the form of a side headlock. Kenny needs to stop studying Randy Orton matches. Lashley fights out, but it turns into a standing sleeper by Kenny. Kenny escapes a back suplex reversal, but gets grounded with a clothesline. Kenny soon gets a boot into Lashley’s face, but suffers a T-bone suplex! Kenny comes back, drop kicking Lashley to ringside. We head to a commercial break, with Kenny retaining the advantage.
After the break, the match continues with Kenny and Lashley resting in a front headlock. The crowd is taking a nap, and Kenny is still in control. Lashley manages to escape, but Kenny remains in control with some punches and goes back to the rest hold. There is a “boring” chant, but it ends as Lashley regains momentum and hits a series of impact moves on Kenny, including a stalled vertical suplex. Lashley goes for the spear, but Kenny gets a boot up. It doesn’t matter, Lashley gets his military press slam in for the win at 10:05! This match had its moments, but it was too rest heavy, ½*.
Winner and still ECW World Champion: Bobby Lashley
Backstage, Orton and Edge are having a lover’s quarrel. They won’t be working as a team tonight as they both want to face Cena at Wrestlemania, but they agree that they don’t want Shawn Michaels to win it either.
Elsewhere, Carlito and Torrie are on their way to party, but they bump into Flair. Flair is disgusted that Carlito is going to party even though he lost his match and won’t be staying to see how the triple threat match turns out. Flair then goes old man crazy on Carlito, telling him off for not taking the business seriously. Flair accuses Carlito of having no passion or guts. Flair is disgusted that Carlito is “taking his spot.” This was quite the passionate promo by Flair, perhaps he will be turning heel after all.
The WWE Slam of the Week takes a look back on Cena and HBK winning the World Tag Team Championship from Rated RKO last week. Yes, it was very exciting. I can’t help but predict that Cena and HBK will drop the titles on their first defense, hopefully to Haas and Benjamin.
#1 Contender match:
Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is still using the DX music. How about that, he is a one man stable now. The match starts quickly, with Orton and Edge double teaming HBK. Edge gets a hard Irish whip on HBK into the turnbuckles, leaving him and Orton standing tall. HBK ducks a double clothesline and hits a flying double clothesline himself. HBK knocks down Edge and throws Orton through the ropes. HBK hits a scoop slam on Edge, and heads to the top rope. Orton knocks him down. The unload HBK from the ring, and now Orton and Edge have no choice but to wrestle each other. They talk trash as we head to a commercial break.
After the break, there is a bizarre situation where all three men were strangling each other. Orton gets dumped over the ropes to the floor, leaving Edge and HBK alone. Orton tries to reenter, but gets kicked into the announce table. HBK and Edge continue to duke it out uninterrupted. Edge takes control with a kick to the head and soon goes for the cover. Edge gets a scoop slam in and heads to the top rope. HBK follows Edge to the top and goes for the superplex. Edge knocks him down, but HBK quickly knocks Edge off his feet. Orton is back, gets an inverted neck breaker in on Shawn Michaels, and gets a near fall. Orton stomps away on HBK. Orton is at his best in triple threat matches, since he doesn’t get many chances for rest holds. Orton hits a couple of uppercuts and drop kick into a cover attempt. Orton hits a couple more uppercuts, but gets surprised by a backslide cover attempt. Orton kicks out and hits the RKO. Edge interrupts the cover attempt. Edge and Orton get into a slapping contest, but Edge offers a hand shake. Orton accepts, but as soon as they let go they unleash into a brawl. Orton goes for the RKO, but Edge reverses and soon misses a spear and hits the turnbuckle. Edge comes back with a flying crossbody, and the mid-air collision with Orton puts both of them down. Forgotten, Shawn Michaels is back up and climbs to the top. HBK gets the elbow drop on Edge, but can’t capitalize. HBK signals the Sweet Chin Music, as both Orton and Edge try to stand up. Edge ducks the super kick, but Orton blocks it. Edge goes to spear HBK, but HBK dodges and Orton is speared! This is enough to get HBK the victory at 12:25 to get the title shot against Cena at Wrestlemania! This was a solid main event, though the Edge/Orton battle did not click the way I hoped it would. Still, the finish was perfect to set up the Orton/Edge feud, while keeping everyone involved strong, **3/4.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
After the match, John Cena enters the ring for a stare down with Shawn Michaels. For some reason, Batista comes back out. He is joined by The Undertaker. Taker stands nose to nose with Batista, but they both turn their heads to HBK and Cena in the ring. Before they can concentrate on each other at Wrestlemania, they have to go through Cena and HBK at No Way Out.
Final Thoughts: This was a good Raw. Most everything clicked and Wrestlemania is shaping up to be quite a good event. I really hated the burial of Balls Mahoney, and the ECW title match was boring as hell, but there ends my complaints. Overall, I felt the actual wrestling was better than last week, as Mickie/Melina and Hardy/Flair were both strong efforts and the main event was very solid. I was also very happy to see Flair unleash his fury on Carlito, as this could be the beginning of a great new character for Flair, as the veteran who is disgusted with the younger guys.
Thumbs up.