Monday, May 18, 2020

Monday Night Raw 9-5-05 Review

Monday, September 5th, 2005
Gaylord Entertainment Center
Nashville, Tennessee

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Kurt Angle vs. Eugene

Angle immediately hits a German suplex and then starts stomping on Eugene. I love this variation of Angle. Angle continues to beat on Eugene. He hits a forearm and then a stiff looking clothesline for a 2 count. Eugene does his version of hulking up and hits a modified spinebuster. He goes for Jim Duggan's finisher, but Angle hits him with an elbow and then rams his leg into the ring post twice. He puts him in the Ankle Lock and that's it for Eugene. As far as squash matches go, that was tremendous. After the match he puts him back in the Ankle Lock again and this time he grapevines the leg. Out comes Cena and they begin brawling. Cena gets the better of Angle and then Tomko hits Cena from behind with a big boot. 

Match Rating: *3/4 (out of 5)

Eric Bischoff is shown backstage complimenting Tomko. Angle comes in and congratulates him. Bischoff then lets Tomko know that he will be taking on Cena tonight.

The Heart Throbs vs. Val Venis & Viscera

A main event in any city. Venis hits a nice reverse suplex on Romeo. In comes Viscera and he misses with a splash. Antonio comes in and attacks Viscera, but it doesn't last long after he goes after Venis and he counters it. Viscera hits a big spinebuster. After a distraction from Romeo, Antonio attacks Venis and they go to work on Val's leg. Venis is able to push Romeo off into his partner and make the tag to Viscera. Viscera goes for a splash in the corner, but gets a double boot. Viscera still hits a Samoan drop on Romeo and gets the victory. That was a pretty spirited effort there by all four men. Both victors do a little grooving after the match. 

Match Rating: *1/2

It's Carlito's Cabana time and we get Ashley as his guest. He makes fun of her wardrobe and her lip ring. They show clips of her saga with Torrie, who she is fighting tonight. Carlito is about to spit the apple in her face, but out comes Ric Flair and they start brawling. Flair grabs Carlito by the balls and biting his fingers. He then hits a low blow and throws the basket of apples at him. Flair saved an awful segment here.

We get another Cade and Murdoch promo. These are among the lowest budget ones that I can think of. Apparently they will be making their debut here tonight. 

We get highlights of last week's fight between Matt Hardy and Edge. Matt walks into Bischoff's office. Bischoff lectures Hardy about all of the risk he put the company at. Bischoff then gives him a contract for a Steel Cage match at Unforgiven. Hardy signs and then is told that he will be taking on Snitsky next. 

Matt Hardy vs. Snitsky

Edge comes out sporting a neck brace just as the match is about to start. Hardy is still selling his injuries here. Snitsky dominates early and then hits him with a boot to the head on Hardy, who is draped over the apron. Hardy is able to hit the Side Effect and then comes out of the ring towards Edge, but Snitsky hits him from behind and throws him into the steps. Snitsky hits a spinning side slam and gets the victory. Again, this was another solid effort for a short match. Was there something in the water in Nashville? Snitsky grabs the ring bell, but before he can hit Hardy with it, Big Show is here. Snitsky still decides to hit Hardy with the bell before Big Show can get to the ring. Nice work there Show. 

Match Rating: 3/4*

Tomko vs. John Cena

Cena jumps Tomko upon his arrival into the ring. Cena gets a couple of 2 counts before Tomko hits him with a powerslam. Tomko hits a big clothesline. He goes for a boot, but misses and Cena hits some shoulder tackles. It's Five Knuckle Shuffle time and he follows it up with the FU and the victory. Cena was fired up here and that's always the best version of Cena.

Match Rating: *

Angle attacks Cena from behind as he is celebrating on the stage. He hits him with the Angle Slam on the steel. If anything, this week's episode has sold me on their match at Unforgiven. Angle is now interviewed in the back and let's us know that he's most realest thing we will ever know. 

Torrie Wilson vs. Ashley

Ashley gets distracted by Victoria and Candice, allowing Torrie to attack her from behind. Ashley can't even run the ropes and then botches a sunset flip. This is a great example of a company putting someone in a position to fail. Torrie hits a dropkick to the back of the head. Ashley gets a boot up on Torrie and hits her with a spear. Victoria pulls down the second rope and Ashley falls to the outside. Torrie hits the X Factor and gets the victory. I probably should go 0 here, but I'm feeling generous here tonight. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Shelton Benjamin vs. Rob Conway

Kerwin White comes out on his golf cart as the match is beginning and Conway eventually jumps Shelton. Shelton comes back with a clothesline and a Samoan drop. On the outside Conway hits a suplex on the floor and tosses Shelton back in the ring. Shelton makes a comeback and hits a nice clothesline to a seated Conway. Shelton hits a clothesline off the top rope, but Conway kicks out. White trips Shelton up with his golf club and Conway gets the pin for the victory. Poor Shelton.

Match Rating: 3/4*

Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs. Rosey & Hurricane

Hurricane does his thing and then makes the tag to Rosey, who steamrolls Murdoch. Cade grabs Rosey from behind and then tags in. They miss with the double clothesline, but hit the double hot shot. They hit a double suplex, but Rosey kicks out at 2. I am interested to see Cade and Murdoch a second time around. My first impression is that they tried really hard to make us care about them, but that's hard to do when they didn't care about their tag team division at all during this time period. Hurricane gets the hot tag, but Murdoch kind of screws it all up. About half of your job as a heel tag team wrestler is to being able to take the babyface's hot tag. Murdoch gets a jawbreaker while Rosey and Cade are brawling out side. Murdoch hits a bulldog from the top rope on Hurricane and gets the victory over the champions. I wouldn't say that was the best debut for them.

Match Rating: 3/4*

They run down the card for Unforgiven and boy, did the match graphics suck in 2005. They look 100 times worse than they did in the 90s.

Chris Masters is with Todd Grisham. He says that he's going to stop the show once and for all.

Our main event is Shawn Michaels taking the Master Lock Challenge. They tease it before Masters finally slaps it on. I don't think there is any other performer who would be able to make this more entertaining than Michaels can. Michaels is able to kick off the turnbuckle, but even as they are on the ground, Masters is able to hang on. The crowd is definitely invested in this. Michaels hits a low blow, so Masters throws him on the ground and then take the steel chair and hits him over the head. Michaels is busted open and he puts him back in the Master Lock and the ref calls for the bell. Masters has to be pulled off by Dean Malenko and Skinner and then celebrates as the show goes off the air.

There was nothing particularly memorable on this episode, but for whatever reason the majority of it clicked with me. They have done a nice job of building up to Unforgiven and selling me on the majority of the card as opposed to just a match or two. Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels continue to be just doing everything right in their roles and the rest of the roster seemed to step up their game tonight as well.

Overall Rating: 61%

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