WWE Raw
February 26, 2007
Tonight: Donald Trump picks his rep for Wrestlemania 23. Of course, he’s already announced that it is Bobby “Lindsey” on other news sites, so there really isn’t much suspense here. Also, Rated RKO get their rematch for the World Tag Team titles against Shawn Michaels and John Cena!
The show starts with a video package hyping the Battle of the Billionaires feud. Something tells me that we’ll all be seeing a slightly longer version of this package every week until Wrestlemania.
Out hosts for the evening are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.
World Tag Team Championship:
John Cena and Shawn Michaels © vs. Rated RKO
Usually when a main event level match kicks of Raw, something screwy happens that leads to the participants wrestling again in the last segment of the show. Cena comes out to a monster pop, followed by Shawn Michaels (who is still using DX music). I still prefer this entrance to “Sexy Boy” so I won’t complain. The swerve I was expecting seems to happen, when Randy Orton and Edge show up on the titantron instead of coming out for the match. Orton says that he and Edge aren’t ready to compete, but they’ll be ready later. Orton tells HBK that he was robbed at the Oscars because he was the single best actor they’ve ever seen, because he told Cena that he has his back until Wrestlemania. I won’t even go into about how HBK is on television and that the Oscars honor movies. Orton tells Cena to watch his back, because Shawn Michaels is a liar. I can’t argue with that statement. This leads to a video package of HBK turning on his friends, starting with Marty Jannetty in 1992. We flash forward to 1994, when Michaels turned on Diesel. Then, in 1998, Michaels betrayed X-Pac. And again, in 2002, Shawn Michaels was the nWo leader and turned on Booker T. Finally, in 2005, Michaels super kicked the hell out of Hulk Hogan, in arguably the best moment of that year. The video ends and the crowd is booing someone (can’t tell if it’s at Rated RKO for being jerks or at HBK for being reminded at what a jerk he used to be). Cena and HBK have a staredown, and we head to a commercial. As annoyed as I am about the bait and switch, this potential dissension between Michaels and Cena is needed to build towards their Wrestlemania match, so all is well. No rating, since the match didn’t happen.
After the break, we get another clip of Mick Foley pimping his new book. It comes out on Tuesday.
“Money in the Bank” qualifier:
Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin
I love how Haas and Benjamin are using the same entrance video they had in 2003. Hardy and Benjamin have both stolen the show with ladder matches at Wrestlemania, so it is a shame that both of these guys can’t be in the match together. Lillian Garcia does in ring introductions, which is a bit odd, for a mid-card match and all.
They collide, and Benjamin quickly goes for a series of covers. Hardy kicks out of each pinfall combination and the match restarts. Benjamin whips Hardy into the ropes, but Hardy drops his heels into Benjamin’s mid section. Hardy beats Benjamin into the corner and snapmares him into position for a drop kick to the back. Hardy gets a near fall, but Benjamin clubs back. Benjamin gets another near fall and goes for the reverse chinlock. Hardy fights out quickly and takes Benjamin down with a heel kick. Benjamin flees the ring, giving Hardy a chance to run the guard rail and hit a flying clothesline. They return to the ring, and exchange blows. Hardy soon hits the whisper of the wind and goes up top. Benjamin leaps up and hits a belly to belly suplex off the top! The match will continue after a commercial break, and I like what I have seen thus far.
After the break, Benjamin has Hardy in a rest hold, by no mere coincident. Since the commercial break is over, Hardy fights out, but Benjamin keeps control. You know, I am getting really sick of this after commercial formula. You notice these things more when you write play by play for each match every week. Benjamin puts Hardy into a reverse chinlock. Hardy fights out with a jaw breaker. Hardy knocks Benjamin down with a series of clotheslines. Hardy thinks he has thrown Benjamin over the ropes to the floor, but Benjamin landed on the apron. Benjamin then horribly botches a springboard off the ropes, and Hardy saves face by getting a near fall. The bastards in the production team actually replay the botch too. They do this every time Benjamin botches something. Hardy then hits the swanton bomb on Benjamin for the victory at 10:03! The portion of the match before the commercial was high quality stuff, but this match suffered a quick death after the break, thus marking this on *1/2.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Vince McMahon appears on the Titantron as Jeff Hardy is making his way up the ramp. McMahon reminds everyone that Umaga beat Hardy for the Intercontinental Championship. McMahon hypes up Trump’s announcement and shows off printed photoshop images of bald Trump. Yeah, it was apparently so funny last week that we needed to see them again.
We get an ad for tomorrow night’s ECW broadcast. Bobby Lashley will be defending the ECW title in a steel cage match, but they don’t tell us who his opponent is. Say, didn’t ECW score a 1.3 rating last week? Whatever they are doing just isn’t working.
We get a crappy video package focusing on Smackdown’s Ashley posing for Playboy. Ashley adds some insightful commentary like “When I’m trying to be sexy, I’ll pretend the camera is someone I’m trying to be sexy for.” I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
This leads to a Melina interview, who is ranting about how much attention Ashley is getting. Melina is also mad that Mick Foley is getting advertisement even though she fired him last summer. Oh, and Mickie James is pissing her off too, she has to face her in a falls count anywhere match next week. She goes on to rant about Maria, but Nitro finally tells her to shut up. This gets a great face pop from the crowd. Nitro lost a Money in the Bank qualifier match against CM Punk on ECW last week. His music plays, and Nitro heads to the ring.
Johnny Nitro vs. Super Crazy
Nitro baseball slides Super Crazy before he can even get into the ring, so the bell doesn’t ring. Nitro continues the assault at ringside. Nitro slams Crazy into the apron and the steel steps. Nitro then face plants Crazy onto the floor. Nitro then storms off, the match never officially got started, so no rating.
WWE Slam of the Week: Melina defeated Mickie James for the Women’s Championship last week. For someone who is supposedly in the WWE dog house, Melina is being treated well.
Non-title match:
WWE Women’s Champion Melina vs. Maria
Maria looks like she is dressed for a dance recital. Melina tackles Maria quickly and kicks her hard in the face. Maria whips Melina into the ropes, who holds on, causing Maria to miss a drop kick. Melina chokes Maria with her boot and slams her head to the canvas. Melina chokes Maria on the ropes, which is illegal. Melina puts Maria in a Boston crab while still draped on the ropes. Melina is doing well as a vicious competitor who can dominate former Diva Search contestants. Melina puts Maria into a camel clutch, but Maria fights out. Melina hits some kicks but gets kicked in the face. Maria slams Melina’s head to the mat, which is apparently the only move she knows. Maria scores with a running bull dog and gets a close cover. Maria whips Melina into the turnbuckle and hits a running clothesline. Maria goes for a bronco buster, but Melina gets a boot up. That looked painful. This is enough for Melina to pin Maria at 3:23. This was an awesome match by Maria standards, ¾*.
Winner: Melina
The stupid barber shop pole and chair is set up on the stage again. Mr. McMahon comes out to address the crowd. McMahon seems to think that the entire world is talking about the Battle of the Billionaires. Well, it is getting some nice press coverage, but Trump can’t even keep Lashley’s name straight, so it isn’t having the exact effect McMahon wanted. In addition to shaving his head bald, McMahon is now threatening to give Trump a “billionaire bitch slap.” McMahon’s fun time continues with a video package highlighting Umaga beating down Rey Mysterio on last week’s Smackdown. Smackdown fans are either oversensitive or plants, as many people looked heartbroken over seeing Mysterio treated in such a way. Umaga and Armando Alejandro Estrada join Mr. McMahon in the ring, basically just to stand there while McMahon continues to pick on Trump. After what feels like an eternity, Trump shows up on the Titantron. Trump is impressed by Umaga, but he is an animal. Trump has found someone who can tame the animal, and his name is Bobby Lindsey! Just kidding, he got the name right this time, and Bobby Lashley makes his entrance. You mean Mr. McMahon didn’t wonder why Lashley was hanging out backstage? Lashley enters the ring and stares Umaga right in the eyes. McMahon calls out security, and they all try to keep Lashley from potentially attacking. Umaga gets a cheap shot on Lashley, and they try to brawl, but are quickly separated. Umaga breaks through again and dives on Lashley. This continues for a bit until finally Lashley takes the fight to the outside. This is actually working, as Umaga vs. Lashley feels like a big time match, something I would never have believed just under a year ago. Lashley and Umaga keep trying to fight as we head to the commercial. My only problem is what exactly is Lashley’s motivation for this? Is Trump paying him big time, or does Lashley feel strongly about Trump keeping his hair?
After the break, Chris Masters is in the ring, ready for a Masterlock challenge. His challenger tonight is The Great Khali. For the first time in my life, I am happy to see Khali. He takes a seat, and Masters reluctantly sets up his full nelson, but it doesn’t look like he can even reach. Khali declares himself the winner, but the segment is interrupted by KANE! Kane gets Masters out of the way with a Chokeslam and attacks Khali, clotheslining him over the ropes. Kane takes Masters down again with a chair and signals his pyro. Kane’s guest appearance was fun.
Backstage, McMahon is bitching about “the board” wanting a special guest referee for Umaga vs. Lashley. Since when does a board of directors overpower Vince in his decision making?
After a break, Lillian Garcia announces the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame to be none other than Jerry Lawler! This cues a video package highlighting Lawler’s career. It touches upon his feud with Andy Kaufman, which makes me smile.
Carlito (with Torrie Wilson) vs. Kenny Dykstra
The match started during the break, and got heated up with Kenny calling Carlito “Ric Flair’s flunky.” I imagine that is less embarrassing than being a male cheerleader, but I digress. Carlito had to fight out of a rest hold before taking Kenny down with a power slam and a springboard off the ropes. Carlito briefly uses a reverse chinlock and rams Kenny into the turnbuckle. Kenny thumbs the eye for freedom and stomps Carlito into the corner. This earns a “Kenny sucks” chant from the crowd, who are being good tonight. Carlito fights back and hits a flap jack for a near fall. Carlito misses another springboard attempt. Carlito falls to ringside, where Kenny pursues him and drives his gut into the ring apron. Kenny rolls Carlito into the ring for a near fall. Kenny strikes away at Carlito’s gut, but Carlito hits some chops. Kenny gains the upper hand, striking Carlito into the turnbuckle and goes for a near fall. Kenny drops Carlito on his face and gets another near fall. Kenny goes for a modified abdominal stretch. Carlito fights out of the hold on cue, but Kenny drops him with an elbow. Kenny hits an elbow drop and remains in control with another cover attempt. Kenny locks in a legit abdominal stretch. Kenny breaks the hold to kick Carlito in the gut and reapplies the move. Hey, that was some smart wrestling. Kenny breaks the hold, and gets dropped onto the apron. Carlito drops Kenny back into the ring and cleans house with strikes a running knee lift. Carlito hits a springboard reverse elbow shot and gets a very close fall out of it. The crowd is extremely hot for this match, by the way. Carlito goes for a head scissors takedown, but Kenny counters into a sit down power bomb! This gets a very close fall. Kenny soon misses a splash into the turnbuckles, and Carlito capitalizes with the back cracker for the victory at 7:24 (not counting the commercial break). This was a pretty good television match, both Kenny and Carlito looked good and they had the crowd’s full attention and interest, **1/2.
Winner: Carlito
After the match, Ric Flair appears on the stage to applaud Carlito for his victory. Carlito embraces Torrie in celebration.
Backstage, Mr. McMahon is heading out to San Jose, or so he tells Coach. McMahon is going to be on ECW tomorrow night, with the goal of making Lashley’s life a living hell.
WWE Rewind: John Cena won a match against Randy Orton last week by DQ when Edge speared him. Shawn Michaels saved him from a beat down from Rated RKO.
World Tag Team Championship:
John Cena and Shawn Michaels © vs. Rated RKO
Orton and Edge make their entrance for real, which suggests that the match will happen actually happen this time. We get to sit through Cena and HBK’s entrance again too. Edge starts the match off against Shawn Michaels. They do some chain wrestling until HBK catches Edge with a knife edge chop. Edge is whipped into the corner and slingshots off the turnbuckles onto to suffer another knife edge chop. HBK wrenches Edge by the wrist, who tags in Orton as soon as he can. Orton misses an elbow drop, and Cena is tagged in. Cena aggressively takes the fight to Orton. Cena hits a fisherman suplex and gets a near fall in the early going. The crowd is really hot for Cena, by the way. This doesn’t last as Orton drops Cena to the mat and tags in Edge, who aggressively stomps away at the champ. Edge chokes Cena in Rated RKO’s corner, but doesn’t make the tag. Edge soaks in some heat from the crowd and continues his stomping attack. Orton is tagged in, who hits some of those uppercuts that I enjoy so much. Cena gets back to his feet and trades shots with Randall. Orton wins the punch-fest, and chokes Cena with his boot. Tag is made to Edge, who continues the “ground and pound” offense. Orton is tagged back in, and Cena manages to hit a bull dog, but is too weak to make the quick tag to HBK. HBK is finally tagged in, who cleans house (the match is at the five minute mark). HBK drops Orton with the scoop slam and goes up top for the elbow and hits it perfectly. HBK catches an interfering Edge with an inverted atomic drop and signals the sweet chin music for Orton. Orton falls out of the way, and HBK nearly kicks Cena. Cena gives HBK a questioning look as we head to the commercial break. This is a pretty basic match thus far, but things could be picking up.
After the break, Edge and HBK are slugging it out in the ring. I’m relieved that this isn’t HBK fighting out of a rest hold. I speak too soon, as Edge immediately applies a surfboard stretch. HBK fights out of the hold and hits a chop, but Edge slams HBK to the mat by the head. Orton is tagged in, and continues the stomp-fest. Orton hits a painful looking knee drop to the back of HBK’s neck, that was kind of cool. Orton then goes for the patented side headlock. On a side note, someone needs to remind J.R. that Orton is the youngest “World Heavyweight Champion” and not the youngest “WWE Champion.” That implies that Orton held the same title that Cena holds now, which is not true. HBK fights out of the headlock, but suffers an inverted atomic drop. Edge is tagged in and puts HBK into a sleeper. HBK escapes by straddling Edge on the ropes. Orton and Cena are tagged in simultaneously, and Cena cleans house. Cena hits the five knuckle shuffle on Orton and goes for the F-U, but it is thwarted by Edge. In the chaos, the referee is knocked out. HBK dumps Orton to ringside, and is dumped out by Edge. Edge readies himself to spear Cena, but gets caught in the F-U, but escapes the maneuver. Orton sneaks in with a title belt, but HBK steals it and hits Edge with it. Edge thinks Orton was the one who hit him and walks out of the match. Left behind, Orton is an easy target and gets planted by Cena with the F-U and pinned at 15:56. This match was pretty by the numbers, but it built the Cena/HBK and Edge/Orton angles perfectly. I like where things are headed, **3/4.
Winners and still World Tag Team Champions: John Cena and Shawn Michaels
HBK and Cena celebrate in the ring together. HBK hands the WWE title belt to Cena, who proudly holds it up. This was a tense moment, as either man could have attacked each other at any given moment, but didn’t.
Final Thoughts: Raw was right on the money tonight. Everything clicked, and built towards Wrestlemania. The first Umaga/Lashley encounter was about 100 times better than I’d imagined it would be, and if they can maintain that sort of heat for the next month, they’ll be in for a big match at Wrestlemania. I would have to really nitpick to find something negative to say this week (aside from the bait and switch opener, but it worked out well, so I'm letting that go), so I’m just going to leave this review on a high note.
Thumbs way up.