Monday Night Raw 1-23-06 Review

Monday, January 23rd, 2006
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Charlotte, North Carolina

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They start the show off with a fun movie trailer parody previewing the match between John Cena and Edge at Royal Rumble. Edge and Lita are then down to the ring, as Jerry Lawler lets us know that Cena and Edge will both be picking mystery opponents for a tag team main event tonight. They are skipping ahead to say that he will be defending the championship at WrestleMania. Edge states that he won't be a transitional champ like Iron Sheik or Mick Foley and he won't lose it 16 times like Ric Flair. Edge assures us that Flair is at home, barely able to walk. He then shifts his focus to Cena and that of course brings Cena out to join the party. Cena gives us a recap of Edge's "movie" and then makes a bunch of ho jokes, being the classy babyface that he is. 

Kane vs. Carlito

This was set up last week when Carlito claimed that no one could throw him over the top rope and then Kane came down and um...did. Carlito gets the better of Kane in the early going, but naturally it doesn't last all that long. Kane counters the tornado DDT attempt by tossing him across the ring. Kane gets in a big boot and a leg drop for a 2 count. Kaneamania isn't running wild tonight. Kane hits a top rope clothesline, but Carlito counters the Tombstone into the Backstabber. Kane catches Carlito off the top rope by the throat, but Carlito escapes with a poke to the eye. He grabs a chair, but Kane blocks it with a boot. However, on the rebound, Carlito hits Kane in the head and gets the DQ. Kane sits up and Carlito runs away. Considering that this was less than 5 minutes and a DQ finish, it wasn't half bad. 

Match Rating: * (out of 5)

Edge and Lita are backstage and Edge is letting her know that his surprise partner may need a little persuasion. Lita agrees and we see that it's the Big Show's locker room. 

After a commercial break and showing the Carolina Panthers in the front row, we go back to Lita trying to persuade Big Show and in walks Edge. Big Show declines and says that he wants to go to the Royal Rumble and face the champ at WrestleMania. Awful segment.

We now go to Trish and Mickie. Mickie is freaking out and Trish doesn't do much to try to calm her down. 

The Coach gets on the mic and announces that he will be the final entrant in the Royal Rumble. Jerry Lawler gets on the mic now and says that he doesn't have the authority to do that. Lawler says that he should be in the Rumble and gets a pretty mild pop. Lawler challenges Coach to a match tonight to see who qualifies. The Coach accepts and then they go back to sitting next to each other. 

Victoria & Candice Michelle vs. Trish Stratus & Ashley

Ashley hits a springboard ax handle and gets a 2 count on a roll up. Ashley and Trish then hit a high five elbow drop to drive home how good of friends they are. Trish then hits a top rope hurricanrana and gets a nearfall. Ashley goes for another springboard move, but Candice kicks her off. Things just kind of break down and eventually Ashley hits a top rope dive on Victoria and they get the victory. As soon as the match is done, Mickie attacks Ashley and Trish does her best to pull her off. She gets away from Trish and hits her with a back kick. This was all pretty sloppy. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

Shelton Benjamin's mom is cleaning up the locker room for all of the talent. Shelton then tells her that Shawn Michaels called him a mama's boy today. This first hour has been really bad so far. 

They show Superstar Billy Graham's DVD trailer and he is in the crowd. 

Shelton Benjamin vs. Shawn Michaels

Before the match starts, out comes Vince McMahon for a special bulletin. If Michaels loses tonight, then he will no longer be in the Royal Rumble. Shelton shows off his confidence in the early going, trying to one up HBK. They do a call back to their Gold Rush Tournament match, but this time Shelton catches the superkick and hits Michaels with a kick to the head into the commercial break. Shelton hits a Samoan drop and a back body drop. Michaels blocks a superplex, but Benjamin runs up the ropes and hits an enzuigiri. Shelton then leaps up and hits a superplex, but it's still not enough. Shelton is pulling out all of his signature moves and hits a backbreaker and a spin kick. Michaels is able to hit a top rope elbow drop and he signals for Sweet Chin Music. Mama gets up on the steps and Shelton rolls up Michaels, but the ref is distracted. Michaels rolls through and grabs the tights to get the victory. Things were a little slow to start, but everything after the commercial break was money. 

Match Rating: ***1/2

Edge is now trying to talk Triple H into being his partner. 

Hey, look. Another HBK/Vince backstage confrontation. Vince wants Shawn to stop playing the family man and return to sex, drugs and rock and roll. Shawn declines. 

Royal Rumble Qualifying Match

Jonathan Coachman vs. Jerry Lawler

Talk about dream matches. Coach misses a bronco buster in the corner and Lawler starts toying with him. Lawler hits a suplex and then out comes the debut of the Spirit Squad. I completely forgot that they debuted so early in the year. Lawler maintains control, but they use an airhorn, which distracts Lawler and Coach rolls him up for the victory. The Spirit Squad perform a cheer for Coach after the match. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Second Chance Fatal Four Way Royal Rumble Qualifying Match

Lance Cade vs. Gregory Helms vs. Rob Conway vs. Big Show

Cade, Helms and Conway all attack Big Show to begin. It doesn't last long and Big Show throws all three men over the top rope in under 2 minutes. Triple H's music hits and he tells Big Show that he's not going to win the Royal Rumble. Who do you think he thinks will win it? This was just another example of Big Show dominating. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Edge and Lita seem to have found their mystery partner. 

Edge & Chris Masters vs. John Cena & Ric Flair

The only problem with this being a mystery partner business is that the rosters weren't very deep, so you could pretty much guess who they were going to pick. They certainly don't have a lot of time to work with here. The heels isolate Flair until Flair ducks 2nd rope dive. He makes the tag to Cena he takes care of both. Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but gets rid of Edge. Masters puts on the Master Lock, but Flair comes in and chop blocks him. Cena puts in the STFU and gets the quick victory. This was very rushed, but entertaining for what it was. 

Match Rating: **1/4

Outside of the HBK/Shelton match, everything else on here can be skipped. This episode felt like it lacked some focus and was filled with some bad acting performances. 

Overall Rating: 47%