Monday, February 21st, 2005
Bryce Jordan Center
State College, Pennsylvania
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WWE Womens Championship Match
Trish Stratus vs. Molly Holly vs. Victoria
Trish comes down sporting a black eye that she apparently got from a live event over the weekend. Molly jumps Victoria and we are underway. Victoria hits her standing moonsault early on. She tries it again on Trish, but is stopped before she gets the chance. Trish mocks Victoria's dance before stomping her. Victoria hits a spinning sidewalk slam on Trish until Molly re-enters the ring. Trish and Molly hit Victoria with a double suplex and then they begin fighting. Victoria rolls up Trish, but releases to clothesline Molly. Molly misses the Molly-Go-Round and Victoria hits her with the Widow's Peak, but Trish pulls Victoria off. We get WWE's favorite triple threat match ending, as Trish then pins Molly for the victory. That was a well executed match that was non stop action.
Match Rating: **1/4 (out of 5)
Triple H and Ric Flair are backstage, which is shocking. That never happens. Flair tells Triple H that he hasn't seen or talked to Batista yet tonight. Flair says he will wait for him in the parking lot. Thrilling.
We get the Pulp Fiction spoof for WrestleMania featuring Booker T and Eddie Guerrero.
Trish interrupts Christy and Candice Michelle backstage. They then trade lame insults and Trish slaps Candice, causing Christy to ram Trish into the wall. Trish deserved better.
Randy Orton and Stacy are backstage and they run into Shawn Michaels. Stacy heads out, while Shawn tells Orton shouldn't wait for his opportunity to come to him, he needs to go out there and take it.
Simon Dean is in the ring making jokes about the freshman 15. He then makes a Joe Paterno joke. He is then interrupted by Chris Jericho.
Simon Dean vs. Chris Jericho
Jericho hits a springboard dropkick and then drops Dean on the guardrail. The crowd is buying what he is selling tonight. Dean takes down Jericho with a clothesline. Dean goes off the second rope, but Jericho hits him with a dropkick. Simon Dean puts up his knees to block the Lionsault and almost steals a victory. Jericho puts Dean into the Walls of Jericho, but Dean grabs his bag. The ref catches it and Jericho drags him to the center of the ring and gets the victory. That was another energetic little match that was better than it should have been.
Match Rating: *1/2
Teddy Long and Eric Bischoff are going over No Way Out. Long is saying he wants to have Batista vs. John Cena vs. JBL at WrestleMania. Shawn Michaels walks in and wants a match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania.
Kane vs. Tyson Tomko
Tomko has a microphone. Look out. He is sick of all of the focus on Batista and says it should be on him. Even Kane's not buying it and he's probably supposed to. Kane takes him out with a huge boot and follows it up with an elbow drop. Tomko follows it up with a less impressive boot. Kane hits his clothesline off the top rope and hits a backbreaker. Tomko moves out of the way and Kane rams his shoulder into the post. However, no less than 10 seconds later, Kane hits the chokeslam and gets the win. Well, that one was just as bad as I thought it would be. Bummer.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Ric Flair opens a limo door and out comes Chris Masters, not Batista. Masters introduces himself to Flair.
Muhammad Hassan is on his way to the ring along with Daivari. Hassan is sick of the disrespect he gets. He brags about his undefeated record and says that he should face Triple H if Batista goes to SmackDown. Out comes Chris Benoit. Benoit challenges Hassan to shut him up. Hassan accepts, but says it won't be tonight. Benoit jumps Hassan, but Daivari provides the distraction and they double team Benoit.
Randy Orton & Shawn Michaels vs. Christian & Edge
Orton and Christian start things off after their good match last week. They seem to have a little miscommunication and it looked like Orton hit Christian in the jaw with a stiff shot. Man, 2005 Shawn Michaels was so good. So was pretty much every other year he wrestled. Edge and Christian get some tags back and forth and work on Michaels. Christian pushes Michaels towards the ropes and Edge holds down the top rope, causing Michaels to fall to the floor. Edge then hits him with a leaping spear from the apron going into the commercial break. Edge is working on Michaels after the break and Michaels is selling as only he can. Michaels hits the hot tag to Orton, who body slams Edge and knocks Christian to the apron. While Orton is clubbing Edge in the chest, Christian climbs to the top and he knocks him to the floor again. Orton hits a flying crossbody off the top rope on Edge for a 2 count. Edge and Christian illegally stop Orton's run and are back in control. There's no doubt in my mind that E&C are in the top 3 WWE tag teams of my lifetime. Orton hits a double DDT and the three of them are on the ground. Hot tag to Michaels, who hits duel inverted atomic drops. I can't remember a match that I've heard Michaels call spots more than this one. 2005 was such a better time for Orton in my eyes. We get a ref bump and then Edge nails Orton with the spear. Michaels is going up top and hits the elbow drop on Christian and is setting up for Sweet Chin Music. Edge grabs his leg and they crotch him on the ringpost. Edge and Christian bring the chairs to the ring, but Michaels ducks and Orton take Edge over the top rope with a clothesline. Sweet Chin Music on Christian and that's all. That was a really good match. Three of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time and a very game young Orton here. Credit the guys for keeping up a nice pace for a lengthy TV match as well.
Match Rating: ****
Back to Bischoff and Long. Coach comes in and says that Batista should be here soon.
Maria is trying to interview Michaels and Edge attacks him from behind. He then spears him through a fence.
Steven Richards vs. Chris Masters
After weeks of buildup, Masters finally debuts here. Richards actually gets in a little bit of offense here, but Masters hits a Polish Hammer. He then gets him in the Master Lock, which they would do everything they could to get over. Richards submits and it is revealed that his nose was busted open, most likely with the Hammer. The crowd wasn't digging it, but that's to be expected until they give him a story to work with.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Intercontinental Championship Match
Gene Snitsky vs. Shelton Benjamin
Benjamin goes right after Snitsky and clotheslines him over the ropes. Snitsky hits some boots and then a sidewalk slam. It's safe to say Snitsky isn't over here. Snitsky grabs a chair, but Benjamin does a baseball slide, which drives the chair into Snitsky. Benjamin then absolutely drills Snitsky with another sickening chair shot to the head. God, I do not miss that aspect of this era.
Match Rating: 3/4*
They show the Basic Instinct commercial for WrestleMania.
Flair is leaving a voicemail for Batista and in walks Triple H, who is upset. Triple H then admits that he framed JBL with the limo incident. Only a genius would say this in front of a camera. Oh, and Batista is standing right outside the door.
Next week we are getting Chris Benoit vs. Muhammad Hassan and Edge vs. Shawn Michaels in a street fight. I'm looking forward to seeing that one again.
Eric Bischoff and Teddy Long are now in the ring. Considering they just gave away the outcome of this segment, I'm not sure that it really has the suspense they are looking for. But honestly, it has been such a clear cut story since day 1, at least they had a plan and stuck to it. They both try to sell Batista on their brand. Triple H then offers his two cents, which of course it like 10 minutes long. Batista says he has known what he was going to do for a long time. He takes the Raw clipboard and throws it on the ground. Then he gives Triple H the thumbs down and attacks Flair and Triple H. That tricky Batista. Batista Bomb through the table and the while the crowd is digging it, it's probably not quite as loud of a pop as they were hoping for. Batista then signs the Raw contract and throws it at him.
Well, we had one really great TV match and a couple that were more entertaining than you would expect. The last segment fell a little flat for me, but I have never been a fan of this feud. I am looking forward to reviewing their matches again, as I am much lower on them than most people are. Good show overall, though.
Overall Rating: 69%
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