Monday, December 26th, 2005
Arena At Harbor Yard
Bridgeport, Connecticut
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Vince McMahon is here to wish us a Happy Holidays and to announce that all six Elimination Chamber competitors will be involved in a Beat The Clock Challenge to be the last person to enter the Elimination Chamber. I am a big fan of the Beat The Clock Challenge when used properly. He then promotes the Bret Hart DVD and says that he will be giving his candid comments on the set throughout the night.
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Shawn Michaels vs. Snitsky
Michaels attacks Snitsky on his way into the ring. Michaels hits a crossbody, but is hit with a big clothesline immediately after the pin attempt. Snitsky hits a big body slam and follows it up with an elbow drop. Snitsky would have fit right in if he would have popped up in WWF in 1993. Snitsky locks in a bear hug at the 3:30 mark. Michaels fights out and hits an inverted atomic drop. Michaels goes for a body slam, but he sells the back injury. Snitsky hits another clothesline and props Michaels on the top rope. Michaels fights out of the superplex attempt and hits a top rope elbow drop. Michaels goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Snitsky hits the big boot first. Snitsky gets distracted by the ref, allowing Michaels to hit Sweet Chin Music and get the victory at 5:56. This was a Snitsky match.
Match Rating: *3/4 (out of 5)
It's time for The Cutting Edge. They give us a picture of Ric Flair with someone talking for him. This all obviously leads to the real Ric Flair coming out. Flair attacks Edge and they retreat to the back. This wasn't very good.
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Chris Masters vs. Chavo Guerrero
Chavo uses his quickness early on and hits a dropkick to send Masters out of the ring. He launches himself over the top rope, but Master catches him and drives him into the ring apron. Masters goes for the Master Lock, but Chavo is able to escape. Masters catches Chavo and hits a fall away slam. Chavo continues to counter out of the Master Lock attempts and we are now down under a minute. Masters counters out of the tornado DDT attempt and locks in the Master Lock with about 20 seconds to go. Chavo fights it and as a result, Masters loses his chance at being #6. Masters grabs a mic and says that the clock was moving too fast and that everyone is trying to hold him down. He says he will be the youngest champion ever at New Year's Resolution. Chavo attacks him and sends him out of the ring.
Match Rating: *
We get a sit down interview of Angle ripping on soldiers. Between this and the Sharmell storyline, 2005 was not kind to Angle storyline wise.
Vince is back with Torrie Wilson, who wants to be Raw GM. In walks Todd Grisham and Vince lets him know that Ric Flair will defend his Intercontinental Championship against Edge at New Year's Revolution.
Mickie decorates her locker and of course, Trish's as well. Of course there is mistletoe and Mickie kisses her, causing Trish to bolt.
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Kurt Angle vs. Daivari
Daivari immediately lays down to let Angle to cover him, but Mike Chioda refuses to count to 3. Daivari does it again and again Chioda doesn't finish the count. They shove each other and Angle chases Chioda around the arena. Chioda runs back in the ring and calls for the bell. Daivari is your winner by countout and Angle is furious.
Match Rating: No Rating
So I guess we are getting a contract signing for Big Show vs. Triple H. Triple H tells Big Show that they are nothing alike. Big Show's first match was a main event while he was clawing and scratching his way. He then calls show a sideshow freak. Big Show reminds him that he doesn't have DX or Evolution to back him up. Triple H says he doesn't need it and attacks him. He turns over the table and pulls out a sledgehammer and crushes his right hand with it.
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
John Cena vs. Shelton Benjamin
Cena tries to quickly go for the FU, but Shelton is able to get out of it. He turns a second attempt into a pin attempt, but then eats a clothesline on the way up. Shelton misses Cena in the corner and Cena hits a body slam and an elbow drop. Cena hits a side slam for a 2 count around the 3 minute mark. Shelton hits a spinebuster, but misses the Stinger Splash. Shelton flips out of the FU attempt and hits a Samoan Drop. Both men are down with a minute to go. Cena explodes for a shoulder block and a Fisherman Suplex. Cena catches Shelton on his shoulder, but Shelton hangs on to the ropes as time expires. The match is over, but on the outside, Shelton tries to hit a spin kick and misses into the ring post. Cena brings him in the ring and puts him in the STFU. For some reason, this counts as a victory even though the time ended. Out comes Kurt Angle and Daivari. Angle and Cena go at it until a whole group of security and officials have to break it up. The match was decent enough.
Match Rating: **
Shelton is shown on the phone talking to someone about his match. Yep...it's that time.
Matt Striker tells Vince that he'd be a great GM. Vince asks him what he would do about the Cena/Angle situation. Striker says that he'd make both write a 500 word essay. Vince hates it and talks about how much he loves violence. Vince announces Angle vs. Cena for next week in a First Blood Match. Vince then goes back to watching the Bret DVD.
Carlito is dressed up in a Santa hat doing a 'Twas The Night Before Christmas spoof and then spits in the camera. That's not cool.
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Carlito vs. Victoria
I guess Val Venis was busy tonight. Carlito hits a big body slam until Torrie lets Chloe run in the ring. Victoria uses the distraction to hit a low blow and then hit Carlito with the magic wand for a 2 count. Carlito hits a variation of a DDT and that is all. The crowd really didn't know how to take this one. After the match, Carlito spits in Victoria's face. Carlito is now in the lead for the last spot.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Kane vs. The Heart Throbs
Kane gets stuck with handicap match here. He hits a double chokeslam almost instantly and wins in 28 seconds. Kane will be the 6th entrant in the Elimination Chamber. That was possibly the worst Beat The Clock Challenge that I can think of off the top of my head.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Vince is shown watching the finish of the Survivor Series 1997 match before heading out to the ring. They show a clip of an interview from the DVD regarding the Montreal Screwjob. Vince rambles on for a little bit until Shawn Michaels is on his way down. Shawn tells Vince that it's time to let this all go. This segment is a lot of talking with next to no substance. This of course leads to a very long feud for 2006, but I'm not sure this segment had to be this long. Vince says that he screwed Bret and warns Shawn that he better not make him screw him. Shawn takes off his jacket, but Vince ends up leaving.
This episode was not the strongest way to end the year. They did a nice job of adding a little heat to the Big Show/Triple H match, but everything else feels stuck in neutral. The Beat The Clock Challenge was really weak, showing the lack of depth on the Raw roster. There have been far worse episodes of Raw, but this is one that you most likely will forget you ever watched.
Overall Rating: 45%
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