Here we are for a go home Smackdown before Night of Champions. There’s very few matches announced for the PPV, however. Let’s see if they add a couple more at the last minute, or choose to do that unannounced on Sunday. Seriously, this is not the way to garner a buy rate, WWE. Do you think you’re TNA now, or something? Sheesh. I’m not wasting time with irrelavant matches tonight
You know what time it is…
Hopefully we can finally get RAW to keep the momentum going. Last week’s show was called by some people I know the best one of the year. I don’t know necessarily that I agree with that, but the crowd was hot and it definitely helped ease the anger of a lackluster Pay Per View the night before. Let’s roll!
I watch 30 minutes of RAW, leave for work, and then watch the rest while writing RAW in whatever style I feel like. Because this is the “A” show. SmackDown can have their little make believe stuff, they need it since they’re the “B” show. It’s all half assed matches and RAW recaps over there anyway. Screw you, SmackDown review!
The following comes to us from Bruce McGee over at Wonderpod-Online
On Sunday April 1st the Undertaker and Triple HHH will face each other one more time at Wrestlemania 28. Seems fitting to me that it will be a hell in the cell match. Undertaker will be putting his mania streak on the line. In fact the WWE is calling it the the end of an era match. I think that’s rather fitting given the body of both wrestlers work, particularly hell in a cell matches. There many reasons why this match could be the an end of an era. Some are obvious and one is a personal one.
Alright, it’s 8PM as I type this, so screw it, let’s get started!
Last Sunday: Chris Jericho won the World Heavyweight Championship, with a little help from, of all people, Shawn Michaels.
The World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Jericho is here, and this past Monday, Edge speared him and confirmed that the Rated R Superstar would be his opponent on the Grandest Stage of them All. In case the big belt over his shoulder doesn’t give it away, he tells us he’s the World Heavyweight Champion. He even reads the belt. “Chris Jericho – World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.” Last Monday was his inauguration ball, a chance for us to bask in his successes, but it was taken away from him by Edge, and he didn’t deserve it.
You think you know me…
For the second time this week, Edge interrupts Jericho. He hates to do this, but he’s got to congratulate Jericho. He walked into the Elimination Chamber and walked out the World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho says it’s because he’s the best in the world at what he does. Edge says he’s the best in the world at getting speared by Edge. Edge lists Jericho’s achievements with the word “spear” attached at the end of each. Edge feels the spears aren’t just getting to Jericho physically, they’re getting to him mentally as well. He see’s doubt in Jericho’s eyes. Jericho doesn’t think he can beat him. Jericho says of course he can beat Edge. Edge says he’s in Jericho’s head all nightmare long – hooray for a Metallica reference from Edge! He wants Jericho to live up to what he says, that he’s the best in the world at what he does. If he doesn’t, guess what’s going to happen. The crowd chants “spear.” Edge says they’re right. One more spear, and it’s all over. Jericho says Edge will never spear him again, and suckerpunches him. Edge sells it, and Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Edge holds on to the ropes – then spears Jericho once again.
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@PrettySlimMont Damn Jericho….u got speared….again! #wwe smackdown #bwf
@mrsmysterio619 ouch what a spearr .
@xSmootx #Smackdown Definitely looking forward between Edge/Jericho at mania, great segment. #SpearisthenextGOREGOREGORE
WRESTLEMANIA XXVI: 30 Days Away!
We’ve got a Money In The Bank qualifier about to take place as the sounds of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” ring out through the arena. Who’s participating?
Now listen, this ain’t no make believe…
The Shaman Of Sexy, John Morrison, had an impressive showing his past Sunday in the Elimination Chamber, and now has a chance to go to WrestleMania as part of the Money In The Bank ladder match. Standing in his way?
I am perfection…
Dolph Ziggler has an opportunity to make his mark on WrestleMania, but we’re not done with the participants in this match…
What’s up… if you feel me, stand up and say what’s up…
R-Truth is accompanied by his NXT rookie, David Otunga, and we’re set for triple threat action, the winner going on to WrestleMania XXVI as part of the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
Dolph Ziggler def. John Morrison and R-Truth to qualify for the Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Ziggler’s strategy is to let Morrison and Truth beat each other up, but they’re not having any of that. They go out after him, beat him up a bit, and toss him back out. R-Truth gets to show off his athleticism, but Ziggler breaks up the first pin attempt and bails. Morrison gets a two count as well with Ziggler breaking up the pin once again. He eats a clothesline for his trouble. Morrison gets dumped to the outside, and then Truth dumps Ziggler to the floor right by the feet of David Otunga. Truth hits a suicide dive, then rolls Ziggler back in the ring. Morrison keeps Truth on the outside, and scores a two count on Ziggler, then we go to a…
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@Lucks4Losers Totally wanna see Truth’s rookie do Truth’s entrance lol #WWE #Smackdown
@jenrae73 #BWF #Smackdown Which one will win? Larry,Curly or JoMo? Ha!
@JamesLovely #wwe am i the only person that cannot stand R truths theme song or catchphrase? I wish he would just hurry up and turn heel already
@TheKingOfImpact So now that David Otunga is in #WWE I betta not see Jennifer Hudson in no storylines. The only thing she needs to do is sing at Wrestlemania
Ziggler is surprisingly in control when we come back, managing to fight off both Truth and Morrison. Both Truth and Morrison at different points score with a rollup on Ziggler but have their pin broken up by the other. Ziggler breaks up a pin attempt by Truth on Morrison. Truth goes for the Lie Detector on Ziggler, who ducks, and it’s Morrison who takes the move, but Truth only scores a two count. Ziggler gets rid of Truth and tries to cover Morrison but still only scores a two. All three men start battling on the top rope, and Ziggler crash lands on the outside. Truth goes for a Superplex on Morrison, who blocks and counters with a sunset flip powerbomb, and follows it up with Starship Pain, but Ziggler pulls Morrison out and picks up the pinfall on Truth – Dolph Ziggler is going to WrestleMania!
Christian and Dolph Ziggler are the only qualifiers thusfar for the Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXVI
Promo: Please DO NOT Try this at home.
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@jaydubshow Dolph Ziggler is going to WrestleMania! Money in the bank baby! #MITB #WWE Hope Morrison gets another shot though
@thumbscrews Just saw #HulkHogan in a Rent-a-Center commercial. How the mighty have fallen. #WWE #TNA
@Jason_Sherman I wonder what kind of shampoo JoMo uses…his hair is always looking shiny. #wwe #smackdown
Editor’s note: I actually saw that Hogan/Rent-a-Center commercial earlier. Surprised the hell out of me to see him in that – but it’s great promotion for TNA for fans who may not realize what he’s been up to and may think to look him up on the internet.
Video: Shawn Michaels challenges The Undertaker and ultimately convinces him to accept.
It’s Career vs. Streak at WrestleMania, but up next, it’s the WWE Women’s Championship on the line, with special guest referee Vickie Guerrero!
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@ivanpek009 This video package is pretty awesome #WWE #Smackdown
@Stythis1788 Brilliant video of Michaels and Taker #wwe. Sheer brilliance
@BrookCallaway This HBK/Taker match is driving me nuts…I dont know who to cheer for. Damn them.
Vickie Guerrero gets the Jeff Jarrett treatment – no music as she makes her entrance. She’s our guest referee in this WWE Women’s Championship match. The challenger is out first, which shouldn’t be shocking, but it is. Michelle McCool is accompanied by Layla. Mickie James is the WWE Women’s Champion, and she’s accompanied by the WWE Women’s Championship belt.
Michelle McCool def. Mickie James to become the NEW WWE Women’s Champion
Todd Grisham fumbles over the name of the company he works for as this match starts. Michelle starts off on offense but it doesn’t last long. Mickie battles back and drops Michelle. She makes a cover, but Layla gets up on the apron, and Vickie stops to tell her to get down. Mickie dumps Michelle to the outside and hits a baseball slide, followed up by a Hurricanrana. Mickie slams Michelle’s face into the barricade and is rolling until Layla gets involved, distracting Mickie. Michelle takes over, bouncing Mickie’s head off of the ring apron as Beth Phoenix watches on a monitor backstage. Michelle goes for a powerbomb, but Mickie reverses into another hurricanrana, but her advantage doesn’t last long, and Michelle hits a belly to belly suplex. She goes for the cover but Vickie falls out of the ring. Mickie rolls up Michelle but Vickie slaps her in the face. Michelle boots Mickie in the face and covers her for the pinfall victory and the WWE Women’s Championship.
Up next, it’s another Money In The Bank qualifying match as Kane takes on the Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre!
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@SpenceSupreme #WTF Vickie fell out the ring, gets back in and screws Mickie. Wow #WWE
@prettyheartless Peace out Mickie James. I’m calling it.
@jeterfan28 DREW IS ON NEXT!!!! He could be IC champ as well as potential MITB contender!
“Thunderstruck” rings out again, despite the fact that the official theme song for WrestleMania is some song by Kevin Rudolph that I didn’t bother catching the name of. The Big Red Machine, Kane makes his way to the ring, and he’ll have a chance to go to WrestleMania. Drew McIntyre’s awesome new entrance plays, and the Intercontinental Champion comes out with a microphone in his hand. He stops at the top of the ramp and reminds us that he’s undefeated. Nobody in the WWE has been able to beat him, not even Kane. He proved it last Sunday when he beat Kane at the Elimination Chamber. After he beats him tonight, he’ll win Money In The Bank, and the prophecy will be fulfilled. He’ll be the Intercontinental Champion, the World Heavyweight Champion, and still undefeated.
Kane def. Drew McIntyre to qualify for the Money in The Bank Ladder Match
Kane aggressively attacks McIntyre to start the match. McIntyre mounts a comeback and starts to aggressively attack Kane, and this match has essentially degraded into a brawl. McIntyre locks in a front facelock – whaddya know, a wrestling hold. Kane powers out of the hold and starts throwing punches, then clotheslines in the corner before dropping McIntyre with a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane goes to the top rope, but McIntyre gets out of the way, then hits a ZigZag like move, which confuses Grisham into calling McIntyre “Ziggler.” Kane gets up and goes for a chokeslam, but McIntyre avoids it. Kane hits a big boot and gets a two count. McIntyre goes for the FutureShock, but Kane powers out of it. Kane boots McIntyre in the skull and picks up the pinfall victory. Kane is going to WrestleMania!
McIntyre gets up and realizes that he’s not going to WrestleMania. He looks up at the Money In The Bank briefcase, then flips out, yelling something that I can’t quite make out at Matt Striker.
So now the Money In The Bank match will feature Christian, Kane, and Dolph Ziggler.
The Miz has something to say, and that’s NEXT!
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@RizzIUP Kane wins w/ a kick to the head #WWE
@Miss_Dani_Baby Take it easy McIntyre you don’t want to lose your job
@txgirl0302 I don’t like Drew McIntyre but dammit I like his theme music.
It’s finally confirmed that “Thunderstruck” is one of the WrestleMania themes this year, though they said it’s off the Iron Man 2 soundtrack…
The Unified WWE Tag Team and United States Champion, The Miz is here with a microphone in his hand. He can come to any show he wants because he’s one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions, yet he and The Big Show still don’t have a match at WrestleMania. Miz asks Teddy Long to find ShoMiz a suitable tag team, so that they can prove they’re the most dominant team in the WWE. Miz doesn’t care who it is, or whether or not he and The Big Show need to come back to SmackDown or not. He just wants to have his WrestleMania moment, because he’s The Miz, and he’s AWESOME! Teddy Long says he’ll take it under advisement. Since Big Show isn’t here, they can’t do a tag team match, but The Miz is here, so we can have a singles match. Miz says he’s not scared of anybody, bring it on. Teddy Long announces that the match for later tonight will be The Miz taking on Edge!
Up next, it’s Shelton Benjamin in action as he takes on the Straight Edge Superstar, CM Punk in a Money In The Bank qualifier!
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@AndorranRef25 The Miz is AWESOME! He’s come a LONG WAY since signing w/ #WWE. He has Personality and AWESOME promo skills. Miz Vs. Edge should be good.
@Rage_Grenade @mikethemiz looks like an AWESOME BEAST with those 3 Title Belts. #WWE #Smackdown
@youdontknowmel Miz vs edge?! Miz vs edge?! Dreams DO come true!! #wwe
Smack of the Night: Last year’s Money In The Bank match.
CM Punk is looking to three-peat in Money In The Bank matches, but first, he’s got to qualify. He’s accompanied to the ring, of course, by the Straight Edge Society of Luke Gallows and Serena. His opponent tonight is returning to SmackDown after spending a lot of time on ECW, and quite frankly…
AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ (HIM) NOW!
Shelton Benjamin is back on SmackDown!
Shelton Benjamin def. CM Punk to qualify for the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
Benjamin gets the early advantage in this one, and Punk bails from the ring to catch a breather. When he gets back in, he takes over. Benjamin starts to battle back, using his slight edge in quickness to his advantage, but Punk battles back. Shelton fights off a bulldog attempt, and Gallows climbs up on the apron, distracting Benjamin. Rey Mysterio pulls Gallows off the apron, distracting Punk, and Benjamin hits PayDirt for the victory! Shelton Benjamin is going to WrestleMania!
Matt Striker says “A pessimist’s blood type is always B negative.” I like that line.
Still to come, it’s Edge taking on The Miz!
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@Kevin4theWin So Shelton wins his MITB qualifier with help from Rey Mysterio. #WWE #Smackdown. They should have let Shelton win clean in my opinion.
@Narcissism100 My Straightedge Savior is here CM Punk far better than the Impure Shelton Benjamin. Accept StraightEdge into your life it will save u. #WWE
@wrestlingaddict AWESOME!!!!!! Loving that Shelton won, Can’t have a MITB match without Shelton! But it should have been a CLEAN win! #WWE
RAW Rebound: John Cena is angry, but he’s going to WrestleMania to face Batista
We get a rundown of the WrestleMania card thusfar. Pretty solid so far – John Cena vs. Batista, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho vs. Edge…
Speaking of Edge…
You think you know me…
The number one contender for the World Heavyweight Champion is here and he’s set for action against the WWE United States Champion, The Miz! SmackDown is about to get AWESOME! The Miz makes his way out to the ring, and we head to a…
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@Kevin4theWin Hmm somehow I don’t see this Main Event lasting the full 18 mins. My guess they take a commercial break during Miz Intro #WWE #Smackdown
@iObscurity My money’s on Edge. Jus’ sayin’.
@_onwiththeshow @mikethemiz holyshit, bro, you do cleveland proud. if we can’t have team titles, at least you can carry all those belts. (:
Edge def. The Miz
This is the first time EVER that Edge and The Miz are in the ring together. Surprisingly, they start off by, y’know, actually wrestling. Edge gets the better of the early exchanges, frustrating The Miz. Edge starts playing mind games with The Miz, getting the United States Champion to chase him around, then catching him and slamming him spine first into the barricade on the outside. Edge actually outquicks The Miz, but The Miz finally catches Edge, slamming him face first into the steel ring post and sending him crashing to the floor, and us crashing into…
<COMMERCIAL BREAK>
@StevenPhilNYY watching the end of Smackdown. Just me or does Edge look like he did when he broke into the WWE? Skinnier brood form #WWE #Smackdown
@guitardude83 Haha.SpearSpearSpearSpearSpear lmao that’s good stuff #wwe
@SESociety: #WWE has bigger and better plans for our savior.
The Miz is in control as we come back, wearing Edge down with submissions and strikes. Miz climbs the ropes, but Edge catches him and flapjacks him into the canvas, turning the tide back into his favor as Daniel Bryan watches from backstage. Edge nails the Edgecution for a two count. Miz nails a combination backbreaker/reverse DDT for two. He goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Edge reverses it into the Impaler DDT. Edge backs into the corner and sets up for, then nails, the Spear, picking up the victory.
Edge celebrates as SmackDown goes off the air.
Note from ThinkSoJoE: Please welcome Robby to BoredWrestlingFan.com. He’ll be chiming in periodically to give us his thoughts on the world of professional wrestling. He’s the administrator of Alexz Johnson’s website, alexz.net. Alexz has a new album coming out in the next couple of weeks, so I urge you all to check it out!
Hello BWF! My name is Robby. This is my first time writing for a wrestling site and even just doing something past watching it among friends. I know you guys don’t need another play-by-play report, but I’ve taken notes as the show went on and may think it best to use those as a foundation.
Opening
A Martin Luthor King video package for MLK day.
Vince enters. Recapping Bret’s appearance. I did it for you. Vince rambles about kicking Bret out 2 weeks ago was the right choice. Claims the fans made the decision and not him that Bret would never come back to the WWE. Undertaker interrupts. Taker tells Vince he was in Montreal. He says Vince screwed Bret. Twice. Calls his act a cowardly act. Vince leaves, Taker talks about his WM match with Shawn and that he wants to deliver a message personally, Shawn enters. Taker’s say “no” to Shawn’s rematch WM challenge. Says he’ll let Shawn fight Taker for the Title tonight on Raw. Shawn says “no”. Says he’ll enter the Royal Rumble and win it to face Taker at WM. Taker and Shawn talk really slow and make for a dragging first segment.
This segment made me think of when Rikishi hit Austin with the car then told the Rock. “I did it for you.” Vince, the perennial villain and getting more senile each day, still wants us to believe that what he’s doing is for our own good. He’s been doing it for years. This would not be a problem if the product were good, but it feels like he’s losing talent faster than he can create new stars. So Takers comes in. Talks real slow. Michaels comes in, talks just as slow, giving us our first dragging segment and a theme that would continue throughout the night. Taker says “no” to Shawn giving him a Wrestlemania rematch for the Title. The streak. We all know what that means. So Michael’s has to go into the Rumble now. Which seemed to be the entire point of this dragging segment. Taker’s words to Vince made it worth watching.
Commercial
Slam of the Week
Orton/Cena/Kingston Triple Threat clip from last week
Match 1 (1 Fall)
Sheamus vs Evan Bourne
NonTitle match with World Champion, should be short. Orton comes in from the stage to the ring. Sheamus sees Orton before he gets to the ring. Bourne taks advantage of the distraction. Near fall from a top rope high risk. Big boot from Sheamus. Outsider Edge/Celtic Cross finisher. Match over. Orton enters the ring determined to blow the spot of another finisher. The look of determination to do it clear in his eyes. Sheamus gets the belt and shows it to him. Sheamus leaves the ring.
This was a quick match. If the Champ ever has a non-Title match on TV that’s not booked or thoguht of by Eric Bischoff it’s going to be short. Come on! Vince has bills to pay! Got to get those commercials in as much as possible. Anyway, Sheamus ends this quick. Orton comes in with his determined constipated look. Sheamus shows he can find shiny things. We move on.
Backstage
Shawn and HHH. Don Johnson interrupts them talking. HHH says he’ll talk to Shawn about the thing he wanted to talk to him about later. HHH talks to Johnson. HHH says who cares if the co-host shows up, and to do it himself. Carlito dresses like Napoleon Dynamite.
If you guessed this was pointless, you were probably right. Carlito’s appearance was quite awesome though and shows what they uses their wrestling for since they devote, maybe, 15 minutes of wrestling to a wrestling show. You’ll see it across my notes as they go on.
Commercial
Royal Rumble promo. Cena. HHH. And Taker up front. Future matches for tonight review.
Foreshadowing. This was staring everyone in the face yet they wanted to make it a big deal tonight. On the Rumble poster, with wrestlers in a line, are their biggest Golden Boys and The Big Show. I didn’t have to know who was challenging for the Championship to know none of these people immediately visible on the poster were not. Logical conclusion? Rumble participants.
Jack Swagger comes out to talk about last week saying it was a fluke as well as say “American” lots of times. Issues another All American American American challenge to Santino Marella. Santino comes out dressed like Don Johnson. President of the IDJFC, Italian Don Johnson Fan Club. Marella sounds he found a replacement. Mark Henry comes out for the All American American American American challenge.
Match 2 (All American American Challenge)
Jack Swagger vs Mark Henry
Swagger’s hit to little. Henry lifts Swagger. A quick toss over and the match is done. There’s possibly 5 full minutes of wrestling matches right now 40 minutes into the broadcast.
At least Swagger has a gimmic now, or the start of one. He’s the American American American guy. Clearly the All American American challenge is the proper followup to the one before it, the Master Lock challenge. Over the top, match over. Perfect for a show that seems to be trying to end the broadcast as soon as possible. I like Swagger too, they need to use more and lt him actually wrestle.
Backstage
Black limo. Girls exit. Dynamite exits. Cracks a dumb joke about not knowing where he is. Turns out his name is John Heder.
Nope, it’s not Flair. It’s an underwhelming entrance by a barely known movie star. We can keep going.
Commercial
Did You Know part. Tells us how they book matches for Royal Rumble winners.
So much for Kayfabe.
John Heder and Don Johnson enter. Don rambles for a bit. Heder rambles on after an interruption. They announce the main event. DX versus. Heder continues to ramble, gets to USC. He says “awesome” a lot, then introduces The Miz. Miz enters the ring. Miz thanks John and Don and mentions celebs hosting Raw for a change. Says Heder entered him into the Rumble. Miz mentions HHH’s comment about hosting alone. Miz rambles some more while noone turns off his mic. Ramble. Ramble. After talking about MVP, he interrupts them. MVP apologizes to fans and Johnson. MVP announces he’s in the Rumble. Says he’s going to throw Miz out. Adds in he’ll throw out Heder as well. Big Show interrupts. Big Show lays out MVP. Heder says he and Show have the same agent. Heder in a roundabout way announces his mancrush with Show and Miz. Finally gets to the point for the main event being DX vs Miz and Big Show.
I’m not sure what the point of this was. I mean, later on it seemed to make sense, but for a couple of actors to miss the cue to get a move on it sure dragged. Obviously, by my notes, I didn’t keep a huge amount of attention here. People talked. Other people talked. It was Open Mic Night at the WWE.
Commercial
How to donate to Haiti segment.
Match 3 (Tag Team 1 Fall)
Cena/Kofi Kingston vs Legacy
Cena and some guy start. Dibiase tagged in. Near fall after Cena exhausts almost half of his moveset. Tag back out to Rhodes. He beats Cena a bit in the corner. Near fall. Ref tries to stop Dibiase from using a closed fist. Cena fights back. Missing running into the turnbuckle, countered by clothesline. Near Fall. Falling fist to Cena. Kofi tagged in enters with high risk. Starts taking out Legacy by himself. Does overelaborate high risks in quick sequence. Goes for Trouble In Paradise but stops. Continues to fight off Legacy. Legacy tags out bringing Rhodes in.
Commercial
Kofi and Dibiase in the ring. Di tagges out. Near Fall on Kingston. Kofi starts to fight back. Rhodes quickly puts an end to it. Body slam by Rhodes. Misses followup. Tag out to Di. Misses clothesline. Tag out by Legacy. Kofi brought back into Legacy’s corner. Near fall. Di tagged in. Double team arm bar thingy. Rest hold by Dibiase. Jawbreaker by Kofi to counter. Back suplex by Kofi to counter headlock. Desperate tag to Cena. Cena inserts 5 moves of doom. No need to explain what they are. Side Russian Leg Sweep counter by Rhodes. Cean countered going into the corner. F-U running counter. Di interrupts ref count. Kofi high flies. Kofi pins with flying body splash. Easily as much wrestling in this match as there has been on Raw’s entire broadcast to this point.
This was, by far, be the longest match of the night. Cena’s “5 moves of Doom”? Yeah, you know what those are. This match had some actual wrestling in it. Not surprisingly, none of that actual wrestling was performed by Cena. This match didn’t really have anything at stake, so I really didn’t care who won. Legacy also bores me to tears and I sometimes have to check to see who’s in the ring.
Backstage
Guest hosts Heder and Team Cheese Whiz. Hornswaggle appears. No one knows what he’s saying. HHH enters. HHH translates for Hornswaggle. Say Swaggle doesn’t like Heder and challenged him. HHH proposes a 6 man match with Heder and Hornswaggle added. Match is a go.
I don’t know why I called them Team Cheese Whiz, seemed to fit and helped me with short hand notes. I think it’s catchy. HHH can book matches? Oh, Steph… riiiight.
Commercial
WWE Rewind: Women’s division flashback.
Match 4 (Diva’s Tag)
Maryce/Alicia Fox vs Gail Kim/Eve Torres
Gail and Maryce start. Quick pin and break. Sholder block into corner by Gail. Top rope double drop kick. Near fall. Outside interference by Fox. Gail thrown to the outside. Tossed by in by Fox. Maryce does back breaker on Gail. Near Fall. Tag out to Fox. Double team on Gail. Gail fights back. Fox ends the offense. Near Fall. Scissor kick miss by Fox. Tag out to Eve. Eve countered running into corner. Hip toss. Clothesline. Flipping senton by Eve. Eve does a rolling arm bar off the top rope. Submission from arm bar by Eve. Winner Gail and Eve.
I normally don’t pay A LOT of attention to Women’s matches unless they’ve got something interesting going on. Gail made this standable and Eve’s Rolling Armbar was a cool finisher to the match. It started slow but got much better. For the first time in a long time I also don’t care who is the Champion here.
Commercial
Backstage
Johnson, Heder, and Kelly Kelly. Kelly leaves. Heder is freaking out about his match. Heder wants Johnson to take his place. Miz enters and reassure Heder. Johnson says Heder’s choice is a mistake. Miz and Show say Heder will be ok. They show Heder his ring attire. “The Flame” is on the back. They try to pitch it to him to make it work. Noone can extinguish the flame.
This is just too easy.
King and Cole fill time by talking about the backstage segment and Rumble theme song. Then go over each of the matches. They announce 3 matches for Raw.
More non-wrestling content added to the biggest wrestling show in the land. Seriously guys, Too much backstage stuff and added video packages for future Raw events.
Backstage
HHH and Vince. Vince is going on about Taker calling him a coward. HHH stops him. HHH says MacMahon’s have to get the last word in. HHH tells Vince his no win situation. Vinces leaves. Shawn enteres. Swaggle enters again stopping HHH from saying what he wanted to at the beginning of Raw. HHH says they’ll talk later. Swaggle rides HHH’s back to match.
Orton walking backstage for his match next.
Speaking of, let’s go backstage. HHH has a point though, making this was of the more important backstage segments in the whole Bret Hart angle. HHH again tries to tell Shawn what we’ve seen on the Rumble poster earlier in the night.
Commercial
Hall of Fame ceremony facts. Sold out in 35 minutes.
Match 5 (1 Fall )
Orton vs Chris Masters w/ Eve Torres
Bell rings. Sheamus comes out at the ramp. Lock-up. Headlock by Orton. Masters counters. Orton throws Euros. Master Lock countered. Mastered countered at corner, powerslam counter on Orton. Orton does his back breaker. Preps for Blown Spot. Masters get to ropes. Master Lock applied. Orton reaches for the rope to break the hold. Orton plays possum, hits Blown Spot on Masters. Match time, ETA 2 minutes. Sheamus kicked Orton. Orton laid out. Stand over him victorious. Sheamus leaves ring.
Orton got out of that lock way too easily. He did a nice fake into his RKO though(noted as “Blown Spot”). This match could have ran longer and been more interesting, but we can’t waste broadcast time on something as trivial as wrestling!
Commercial
Match 6 (6 Man Tag)
DX and Hornswaggle vs Team Cheese Whiz and Heder (Miz and Big Show)
Heder enters from “The Great Ball of Fire” as The Flame. Johnson comes out with DX. All parties enter the ring.
Commercial
Back from commercial with the match already happening. Miz and Shawn in the ring. Quick pin by Miz. Kick out. Mounting punches. Miz tags out to Show. Show headbutts Shawn. Picks up Shawn from the ground for a sidewalk slam. Tags out to Miz. Miz sets up Shwn in the corner. Running kick connects. Shawn reverses and goes offense. Michaels chops. Both wrestlers down trying to tag. Swaggle tags himself in. Dropkicks Miz. DX chops. Clothesline on waggle. Heder tagged in. Flamer takes out ring rope. Kicks Swaggle. Misses a turnbuckle attack by Flamer. HHH tagged in against Flamer. Johnson makes Flamer go back in. HHH punches Flamers. HBK superkicks Show, Miz. Swaggle to the top rope. Splash. Swaggle pins Flamer for the win.
HHH talks to Shawn about HBK. HHH says it won’t work out for HBK. Cena enters. Goes to ring already with a mic. Cena says he has an announcement. Cena announces he’s in the Rumble after being shown many times tonight. Says he won last time ignores being injured and coming back the last time. Says he’ll win the Rumble again. HHH starts to talk but Show reenters the ring. Show says he has an announcement that he’s in the Rumble too. Show says he’ll win. Show attacks DX, Cena jumps in. Cena does one of his three moves. DX throws out Cena. HHH throws out HBK. HHH announces he’s in the rumble, something we all knew from before with the Rumble promo shot.
End show.
Now running short on time WWE brings us back with the match in progress. DX shows offense. Cheese Whiz shows offense. It’s a good main event with lots of action going on. Good thing we have our Glass Ceiling Talent out there carrying the show… Then we get to the announcements which everyone has figured out by now. Everyone’s in the Rumble, big surprise. Quite an underwhelming ending to a Raw that was going so well. Wait. No it wasn’t. Well, Vince, you’re finally not broadcasting anymore. Two painful hours. Maybe I should do TNA next time.
Robby is a huge wrestling fan following it since the early 1990s. His favorite musician is Alexz Johnson, likes pizza, and hopes this won’t be his last article on BWF.
In a recent interview, TNA President Dixie Carter stated that the biggest challenge facing the business was “making new superstars.” The interview in its entirety can be read here:
http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/1575/84/