Monday, March 6th, 2006
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center
Birmingham, Alabama
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Vince and Shane McMahon are here to kick off the show. They are joined by a large group of security. Vince goes into an Oscar-like acceptance speech, complete with photos from last week. The camera angle they are using is a rare one that actually makes the ring and stage look small. He then debuts the cover of him on Muscle & Fitness magazine. Shawn Michaels' music hits and all of security very wisely walks towards the entrance ramp. So of course Michaels comes from behind and attacks him. Vince says that tonight Michaels will face Shane tonight despite them fighting at Saturday Night's Main Event in less than two weeks. Shane doesn't seem too happy about it either. Vince tries to run back in the ring, but Shane doesn't let him.
When we come back from commercial, Shane is questioning Vince's decision.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Ric Flair
Shelton goes right after Flair and hits a back body drop and a Samoan drop. Shelton accidentally hits the referee in the eye and Flair immediately puts him in the Figure Four. The ref can't see and Shelton is tapping. The ref calls for the bell, but he rules it's a disqualification and that the title won't change hands. Flair attacks Shelton and then grabs the oxygen tank from his mama. He hits Shelton in the midsection with the tank and mama isn't happy. Pretty much the entire goal here was to show Flair as a threat.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Kudos to whoever put together the WrestleMania Rewind package, as it was full of retro goodness. Tonight it's a WrestleMania XX rematch between Big Show and John Cena. Plus, Triple H is taking on Kane in a rematch from WrestleMania XV.
They show a clip from WWE.com Unlimited with Teddy Long and Rob Van Dam. Long announces that three of the six competitors in the Money In The Bank match will be from SmackDown.
Triple H vs. Kane
Triple H's entrance is longer here than the last match. Kane hits a big boot and a clothesline in the corner. Kane runs into a big knee lift though, but Kane sits up and hits a big right hand. Kane climbs up to the top rope, but Triple H crotches him on the ropes and he falls back into the ring. Triple H goes for a suplex, but Kane reverses it and hits one of his own. They're already acting as if they have been going at if for 15 minutes instead of about 100 seconds. Triple H goes for the Pedigree, but it gets countered with a back body drop. Kane goes up top again and this time hits the clothesline. Kane signals for the chokeslam, but Chris Masters is out and distracts him. Triple H sends Kane out of the ring, but he tries to drag Triple H out of the ring. Out comes Carlito and he spits an apple in Kane's face. They throw him into the ring post and Triple H hits the Pedigree for the victory. The match itself was really bad, considering it involved to perennial main eventers.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Torrie and Victoria are talking backstage and she is upset about Candice slapping her. Victoria sides with Candice, but she says after tonight they will be the Three Amigas.
Shawn Michaels is in a pretty sorry looking locker room and in walks a pregnant Stephanie McMahon. She tries to sell him on becoming a better person with kids and asks Shawn for some water. While he is gone, she dumps something into his water. She leaves and Shawn takes a sip.
After a quick Playboy video package, Torrie and Victoria unveil the cover. The Cover lifts up and Candice is under wearing the outfit she's wearing on the cover. Candice then asks Torrie to tell her she's the hottest WWE Diva to ever pose for Playboy. Torrie doesn't and they get into it. Candice apologizes and they hug, allowing Victoria to attack her from behind. The crowd was dead for this.
Shane McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
They go right at it to start, leading to Shawn having to chase Shane around the ring. Shane is able to capitalize, as Shawn is selling the effects of whatever Stephanie put in his water. Shawn tries a flying forearm, but he barely hits Shane. Shane takes it to him and then easily pins Michaels. This was obviously all storyline.
Match Rating: 1/4*
After the match, Shane tells Lilian Garcia that Shawn Michaels now has to face Vince.
Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
Vince immediately pins Shawn for the victory. This is some peak Vince Russo booking here.
Match Rating: No Rating
Out come the Spirit Squad to celebrate with the McMahons.
Eugene vs. Kenny
The Spirit Squad mocks Eugene and then plays keep away with air horn. They finally hand it to him and that allows Kenny to attack him. Kenny was the darling of the group and boy, were they wrong. Kenny hits a low dropkick on Eugene and this match already feels like 20 minutes long. Eugene starts to hulk up and hits an airplane spin. Eugene hits a nice modified Bluldog and rolls up Kenny for a 2 count. Eugene hits a clothesline and shakes his butt at the Squad. Eugene hits the Rock Bottom, but when he goes for the People's Elbow, three of the Spirit Squad distract the ref and Johnny hits a kick. Kenny then hits his huge leg drop off the top rope for the victory. This felt longer than it was and that's never a good thing.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Maria vs. Lita
Lita sells this as an easy deal for her and instantly hits a clothesline on Maria. Lita goes to make out with Edge and Maria rolls her up for a 2 count. Lita's facial expressions are spot on here, but her style of wrestling doesn't really suit her being in this role. Lita nails a DDT and that is all for Maria. After the match, Lita holds up Maria so he can hit a Spear on her, but Mick Foley eventually makes his way down there. He ends up taking a Spear instead and then Edge goes and grabs some chairs. He hits a one man con-chair-to and tells Foley he accepts his challenge.
Match Rating: 1/4*
They announce Sensational Sherri as the next inductee in the Hall Of Fame. What a class this was.
Mickie James is excited about Sherri being inducted and then Trish comes in and tells Mickie that she's just too much. Trish tells her that they need time apart, which of course breaks Mickie's heart.
They hype up the Saturday Night's Main Event card, which I was in attendance for. Big Show is shown doing push ups before walking to the ring. Yeah, I'm sure he does that every time.
Big Show vs. John Cena
If I haven't said it before, Big Show really had some of the worst entrance music. I really can't believe it lasted his entire run. Cena runs into a big boot and Show follows it up with a headbutt. Show tossing around Cena is always impressive. Cena is able to lower the top rope to dump Show to the floor and out walks Triple H and his sledgehammer at the commercial break. When we come back, Show hits a huge vertical suplex. I'm not sure if it is just the way the arena is designed or what, but the crowd has not been loud at all tonight. Show catches Cena off the second rope and slams him down. Show starts climbing the ropes, but out come Carlito and Masters. Kane is right behind them though and he takes care of both of them. Show is distracted and Cena hits a suplex off the ropes, which is even more impressive. Cena counters a chokeslam in to a DDT and then another one into a FU for the victory. The match was very slow moving until the end where we got to see Cena's superhuman strength.
Match Rating: *1/2
Cena stares down Triple H from the ring and then gives us the obligatory point to the sign.
This show was really, really weak. There was nothing of value on here and that is pretty rare in this era. I don't think of any of the storylines were advanced for the better and none of the matches were good either. This was just a flat episode heading closer to WrestleMania.
Overall Rating: 34%
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