Monday, September 26th, 2005
Heart O' Texas Coliseum
Waco, Texas
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Vince McMahon is here to kick off the show. He reminds us that tonight is the last episode of Raw on Spike TV and he thanks them for being a good tag team partner. There's no better way to kick off a show by running down the card for next week's show. Kurt Angle comes out and interrupts Vince. He's not happy that it's Bischoff taking on Cena next week. Shawn Michaels is now out here to interrupt. Angle reminds HBK that he made him tap out at WrestleMania, so Shawn reminds Angle of Vengeance. Vince calls for a rubber match between the two next week in a 30 minute Iron Man match.
WWE Women's Championship Match
Trish Stratus vs. Victoria
Trish starts off slugging away on Victoria and hits a headscissors. They go outside and Victoria drives Trish into the ring and then throws her over the barricade and into the crowd. Victoria hits a nice somersault leg drop back into the ring for a 2 count. She then hits another nice move in a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam. They battle up on the top turnbuckle and then fall off to the floor. Trish fights back and hits a spinebuster for a nearfall. Trish hits Stratusfaction, but in come Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle for the DQ finish. Trish throws Torrie into Victoria and then hits Torrie with a Chick Kick. Ashley and Candice have an awkward encounter and then Ashley rips Candice's dress off. In classic WWE form, Candice is embarrassed even though most of the outfits she wears are just as revealing as what she is wearing now. Candice cuts a promo and challenges them to a 3-on-2 Bra and Panties match. This was actually a really fun 4 minute TV match while it lasted.
Match Rating: *1/2 (out of 5)
Big Show is shown walking backstage on his way for his match.
Street Fight
The Big Show vs. Snitsky
Snitsky tries to attack with a chair, but Big Show punches it into Snitsky. Snitsky retaliates and hits Show repeatedly with a street sign. Show swats away a garbage can and headbutts Snitsky. Show then throws Snitsky into the can, but then Snitsky trips Show and he goes head first into the can. Show hits a side slam into another garbage can and follows that up with a chokeslam. Show slides out and goes under the ring and grabs the kitchen sink. I love how the announcers have to sell that like it's the greatest thing they've ever seen. Show hits Snitsky in the head with it and gets the easy victory. This was extremely short and I'm not complaining.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Ric Flair is shown in the back talking to Maria and they show clips from last week.
Jim Ross announces that they invited Ultimate Warrior onto Byte This, but he turned it down.
Ric Flair is now out on the stage for a promo. Flair announces that Triple H will be returning at Homecoming next week. We get a Triple H music video.
Bischoff is in the back on his flip phone and in walks John Cena. He makes some ninja jokes.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Kerwin White
This is the debut of Kerwin's caddy, Nick Nemeth. Nemeth is of course the debut of who we now know as Dolph Ziggler. Shelton makes a joke about washing balls and then tells Kerwin that Chavo sucks. Kerwin starts choking Shelton with his shirt while Nemeth has the referee distracted. Shelton fights back with a back body drop. Kerwin tries to throw him over the top rope, but Shelton skins the cat and hits a top rope clothesline. Shelton hits a knee lift, but when Shelton goes for a suplex back in the ring, Nemeth grabs his foot and Kerwin gets the victory. Shelton attacks Kerwin after the match and then Nemeth breaks a golf club over the back of Shelton. This was way too short to be anything other than a debut of Nemeth.
Match Rating: 1/2*
In the ring, someone from the ring crew sets up a ladder as they head into the commercial break. After that's over, Edge's music hits. Lita is sporting a neck brace. Lita starts out the promo going after Matt Hardy, but isn't drawing much heat. Edge then tries to sell the stipulation of the loser loses his career, even though it's pretty obvious that the loser will just move to SmackDown. Hardy interrupts the interview and teases pushing Edge off the ladder. Matt pretends to walk away and then pushes Edge off and boy, did he ever take an awkward bump there.
Teddy Long is here and in Eric Bischoff's office. Teddy wants some time on next week's Homecoming and Eric isn't having any of it. In walks Vince and he likes the idea. Bischoff then tries to get out of his match with Cena next week, but Vince gives him a pep talk that boosts his confidence.
Val Venis & Viscera vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
This is a non-title match. Val starts off hot, but when he goes to the second rope, Murdoch runs over and knocks him to the floor. Val gets a hot tag to Viscera and he hits a few slams in before squashing them both in the corner. Cade tries to come in with a chair, but Viscera knocks him out of the ring. Viscera hits a splash and Val hits the Money Shot, but Cade comes in and grabs the refs arm before he can count 3, which gets them disqualified. This is a good example of bad booking. You have no tag teams, so you are forced to prove your challengers are worthy by dominating your champions. Unfortunately, your champions are brand new and need to get over themselves. Not a great recipe.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Chris Masters and Carlito are talking about their Tables Match later tonight.
Eugene vs. Rob Conway
Eugene hits an airplane spin, which causes Conway to lose his sunglasses. Eugene then does the Junkyard Dog and bites Conway's butt. Conway makes his comeback and decides what this match needs is a headlock. Eugene does his Hulking up and hits a variation of the spinebuster. Eugene hits a People's Elbow for a very close call. Conway goes and grabs Eugene's stuffed animal and it stops Eugene from charging at him. Conway rips the head off of the bear and then hits the Ego Trip for the victory. Conway continues to have an upward battle to get over here.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Tag Team Tables Match
Carlito & Chris Masters vs. Shawn Michaels & John Cena
All four men start brawling as the bell rings. Masters and Carlito get the first table out and set it up outside the ring. Cena blocks a Carlito suplex attempt while Michaels hits a flying forearm on Masters. Michaels goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Carlito ducks and Michaels hits referee Chad Patton. Patton took a nasty looking bump off the apron and bounced off the table and hit his head on the floor. When we come back from commercial break, Tim White is now the ref and Masters puts the Master Lock on Cena. Michaels is able to make the save, but Carlito hits a DDT immediately after. Masters hits a gorilla press slam on Michaels, but Cena comes and attacks Carlito. Meanwhile, Masters throws Shawn into the corner and sends him out of the ring. They pull out another table. Michaels and Cena make another comeback hit a double Five Knuckle Shuffle. Michaels tries to clothesline Carlito out of the ring, but Carlito isn't able to get over so he just rolls out. They are setting up tables now and out come Angle and Bischoff. Masters is draped on a table and Michaels goes up top. Angle comes and pushes Michaels off top and he goes through one of the tables on the outside. Cena goes for the FU on Angle, but Bischoff hits a low blow on him. Angle then hits the Angle Slam on Cena through a table. They announce Masters and Carlito the winners even though they weren't the ones to throw their opponent through the table. Bischoff then holds up the WWE Championship belt as he stands over Cena, who is bleeding. This match was an okay TV match, but no one was buying Masters or Carlito for a second. With it being a tables match, it seemed a little too obvious that the heels were going to win since this is WWE's favorite match to have the underdogs win.
Match Rating: *3/4
Well, this episode wasn't particularly strong, but it was still very watchable. Unfortunately, they went way too heavy on the Homecoming hype for this to be anything besides a commercial. I am looking forward to next week quite a bit though.
Overall Rating: 52%
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