Monday, February 13th, 2006
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Road To WrestleMania Tournament Semi-Final Match
Triple H vs. Big Show
No arguments from me with them starting the show with a match instead of an interview. Big Show attacks Triple H on his way into the ring and then starts hitting with the open palm chops. Show throws Triple H into the corner and he is out and over the ropes to the floor. Triple H is able to throw Show into the ring post and he is busted open. It's not too often that you Show bleeding. He's fired up now and hits a body slam, but misses the leg drop. He goes for a chokeslam, but Triple H counters with a DDT for a 2 count. Triple H goes for the Pedigree, but Show back body slams him and both men are down. Show goes for a chokeslam, but he gets a thumb to the eye. Triple H goes to the second rope, but Show catches him for a chokeslam, but Triple H is able to get his foot on the bottom rope before the 3 count. The action spills outside again and Show throws him into the steps. Show charges at Triple H, but he pulls him into the steps now. Triple H tries to crawl in, but Show grabs him and both men are counted out. They keep brawling after the match and Show pushes him through the barricade. These two definitely have better than you would expect chemistry.
Match Rating: **1/2
They show the highlight of when Shawn lost his smile. They go to Vince McMahon backstage and ask him if the winner of RVD/Chris Masters match will go to WrestleMania. Vince says that since neither man lost, both Big Show and Triple H will face the winner in a triple threat. In comes Ms. Benjamin and she begs him for an Intercontinental Championship match. Vince says that if Shelton wins tonight against Eugene, he'll be the #1 contender.
Mick Foley is singing "Big Time" and in walk Edge and Lita. Mick lets Edge know that he won't screw him over. We are just 48 days away from WrestleMania.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Eugene
Eugene tries to apologize to Shelton's mom, but Shelton attacks him and throws him in the ring. Eugene is already no selling head shots in the turnbuckle. He hits a series of fists and an airplane spin. Shelton is able to hit a Samoan drop and then hits the Exploder for the quick victory. That was extremely short when you think that just 6 months ago Eugene faced Kurt Angle at SummerSlam.
Match Rating: 1/2*
They show a clip of Michaels confronting Vince in 1997 about the curtain call.
Ashley vs. Torrie Wilson
Torrie attacks Ashley before the bell and it sends her outside. Back in the ring, Torrie swings Ashley around by her pigtails and then shoves Chloe's butt in her face. Torrie hits a big clothesline and then a X-Factor. Ashley goes for a crucifix, but slips off and pins her anyways. Not a good ending there.
Match Rating: 1/4*
After Torrie's loss, Candice Michelle announces that she'll be on the cover of Playboy and then takes off her robe.
The next highlight is from the night that started the whole feud between Michaels and Vince in December.
Vince is out with a desk and two attorneys for the retirement of Michaels. He introduces Michaels, who is down in the dumps. Vince brings out the Spirit Squad for a special cheer and it's as bad as you probably remember unless you wisely blocked them out of your memory. Vince insults Michaels and the crowd and tells him to sign the papers. Shawn starts to speak, but Vince cuts him off and tells him to sign the papers. Vince tells him no and says that walking away isn't an option. He asks Vince why he's doing this to him and Vince says that Shawn has the inner peace that he craves. Vince then gets all red-faced and crazy trying to get over the stupid lines he's reciting. Vince says that Shawn will sign the papers because he hates people like him. Shawn starts to sign and then rips up the papers. Vince slaps him and Shawn flips over the table. Vince walks to the back and reminds him that by ripping those papers he opened the floodgates to his own personal hell. This was a well done segment, but the reasoning for Vince's motives were pretty weak.
They then announce that Bret Hart will be inducted to the Hall of Fame, which was a pretty huge announcement at the time.
Road To WrestleMania Tournament Semi-Final Match
Chris Masters vs. Rob Van Dam
RVD starts off hot with some slingshot leg drops. Masters blocks a monkey flip attempt and then catches RVD in the air for a body slam. Masters knocks RVD off the apron and he lands on the barricade and into the laps of fans in the first row. Masters puts him in the Torture Rack until RVD is able to fight out with some elbows and into a sunset flip pin attempt. Shout out to the fan wearing a Barry Sanders jersey. Masters eats a springboard back kick to the chin and then a leaping kick off the top rope. He hits Rolling Thunder, but is crotched when he goes up to the top rope. RVD blocks the superplex and kicks him off. RVD hits the Five Star Frog Splash for the victory. They seemed to be a little off on chemistry and I have to say I am a little surprised how quickly he got the victory over Masters.
Match Rating: *3/4
Backstage they show Trish's boyfriend bringing flowers to her locker room. He walks in and it's Mickie James in a wig. She tries to seduce him, but he shuts it down. Mickie starts screaming and a security guard takes him away. Back from commercial and Trish is checking in on a crying Mickie. This wasn't good.
WWE Championship Match
Edge vs. John Cena
Mick Foley of course is the guest referee here. They try playing up the fact that Foley won't call it down the middle as we go into an early commercial break. Cena hits a fisherman suplex and gets an early 2 count. Edge regains control and punts Cena right in the gut and hits a clothesline. Edge sets up for a superplex, but Cena pushes him off and hits a top rope splash for a 2 count. Lita gets involved and Foley ejects her to the delight of the crowd. Edge hits a baseball slide and gets a 2 count when Foley is slow to get back in the ring. Edge puts Cena in a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring and Cena is down. Cena uses his strength to get back up to his feet and slams Edge back. Cena explodes with clotheslines and shoulder blocks. Cena hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a 2 count, but Edge hits him with a boot right to the face. Edge goes up to the top rope, but Cena gets him up on his shoulders. Edge counters that for a sunset flip powerbomb, but gets caught with his feet on the ropes during the pin attempt. He and Foley get into it and Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the FU, but Edge hits a DDT for a close call. Edge misses the Spear, but then pushes Cena into Foley. Edge hits Foley again and sends him out of the ring. Cena puts on the STFU and Edge is tapping, but Foley is out. Lita breaks it up and provides a distraction for Edge to comeback. He hits Cena in the face with the WWE Championship and in comes Foley. Cena kicks out of the pin attempt and Edge again goes up to the top rope. Cena catches him and puts him up for the FU and gets the victory. Those last 5 minutes was some just great main event craziness. Very well executed TV main event match.
Match Rating: ***1/2
After the match, Lita hits Foley with a low blow and Edge follow up with a Spear.
This was a really enjoyable episode of Raw featuring a good main event and a solid opener. There was a lot of action and also featured the continuation of both the Vince/HBK and Mickie/Trish storylines. Good stuff all around.
Overall Rating: 70%
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