Monday, March 27th, 2006
Qwest Center
Omaha, Nebraska
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Mick Foley is here to kick off the show. He has roses for Lita and calls her and Edge out. Foley has a gift on the ramp for Edge. Edge rips on Foley for coming back just for the money and that it's ruining his legacy. Foley follows up with an intense few moments of him coming back for his WrestleMania moment and Edge bleeding. Edge finally opens up the box and it's a baseball bat. Edge says he isn't waiting for WrestleMania to use it and walks to the ring. Foley then takes a barbed wire baseball bat out of the box that had Lita's flowers. They swing at each other and Edge rolls out of the ring and Foley chases him. We then get an awkward cut that leads to the promo video for their match. When we come back, Foley is in the ring rocking back and forth with the bat.
Carlito vs. Kane
Carlito attacks Kane while he's about to do his pyro. Kane goes back to destroying Carlito pretty quickly and hits a series of right fists and a sidewalk slam. Kane his the top rope clothesline, but then Carlito hits a low dropkick and a DDT. Carlito goes for a springboard move, but Kane catches him by the throat. Carlito grabs the referee and throws him into Kane and loses by disqualification. Kane chases him to the back, but he's attacked by Chris Masters, Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade. They lock him in a closet and block it with a fork truck. Big Show comes to the rescue and tries to push it away. This was all really stupid.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Chris Masters and Carlito come out to the ring and then they cut to Big Show still trying to push the fork truck. Out walks Kane and he lets Big Show know there's another door. After a commercial, we get a Chris Masters promo. Kane and Big Show come out for Big Show to be in the Master Lock Challenge. Kane immediately chases Carlito out of there and Show sits in the chair. I can't believe they are devoting this much time to this feud. Masters can't get the hold on, so Big Show attacks him and ends him with a chokeslam.
We get a John Cena hype video, showing his history and interviews with his dad and others. I always love when they do these type of video packages.
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
This is match #3,439 in their series. Michaels comes out on fire, throwing fists and clotheslining Triple H over the top rope. They've already done more than I expected considering they are in two of the top three matches at WrestleMania in 6 days. They go into the crowd and then Michaels hits a back body drop right back over the barricade. Triple H goes for a Pedigree, but Michaels counters and sends him out of the ring. Out comes Mr. McMahon as we go into a commercial break. When we come back, Triple H hits a huge spinebuster. Back out of the ring they go and Michaels is able to throw Triple H into the steps. After duking it out back in the ring, Michaels is the first man up and hits an inverted atomic drop. McMahon grabs his leg and Triple H goes for the Pedigree. Michaels counters into a catapult and Triple H hits McMahon. Michaels hits the top rope elbow. Michaels is tuning up the band, but McMahon grabs his leg again. He knocks him off the apron, but eats a Pedigree. Instead of going for a pin, Triple H calls McMahon back in and he goes and grabs the sledgehammer. Out comes John Cena to make the save and he and Triple H face off. Cena knocks him out of the ring and is all fired up as McMahon and Triple H walk slowly to the back. So I guess this is a no contest? The match, while pretty standard, was still solid and more intense than I had anticipated.
Match Rating: **1/2
They show the WrestleMania Big Time Moment and it's Edge winning the first Money In The Bank from last year.
Ric Flair is on his way to the ring with the Money In The Bank briefcase hanging above the ring. He cuts a promo about being the greatest, which means it's time for Mama-less Shelton Benjamin bragging about he's the most athletic wrestler. Flair's reaction is great and they start brawling. Shelton hits a Samoan drop. Shelton starts climbing the ladder, but out comes Rob Van Dam and he throws him off the ladder. RVD slams Shelton on the ladder and hits Rolling Thunder. He grabs the mic and says that Sunday is every man for himself and that Money In The Bank belongs to him. Flair gives him a thumb to the eye and hits him in the face with the ladder. This was just your typical last minute hype up on the go home.
Kenny, Johnny & Mikey vs. Val Venis, Viscera & Eugene
Why wouldn't they save this for WrestleMania? This is all shenanigans, with Viscera gyrating and Eugene riding Mikey like a horse. They eventually get to a hot tag with Venis, which I still think is weird is in 2006. Venis goes for the Money Shot, but Mikey jumps off the trampoline and pushes Venis off. Johnny covers him and that is all. This was silly and short, but they all worked hard.
Match Rating: *
After the match, the Spirit Squad attacks their three opponents and Kenny hits the top rope leg drop on Venis. We conclude the segment with a cheer on the top of the stage.
We now get a Triple H video package.
William Perry of Chicago Bears fame is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
They go to Mickie backstage and she is sitting with candles and a shrine to her hatred towards Trish. They pan to Trish watching it and she is creeped out.
Trish Stratus & Torrie Wilson vs. Victoria & Candice Michelle
Candice is taking it to Torrie ahead of their huge Playboy Pillow Fight on Sunday. Victoria accidentally splashes into Candice below the belt and Torrie hits the hot tag to Trish. Trish hits the Chick Kick on Victoria, but Candice makes the save. Torrie and Candice start brawling on the outside. Victoria goes for the Widow's Peak, but Trish gets out and hits Stratusfaction for the victory. This was what it was.
Match Rating: 3/4*
This leads into a video package on the Trish/Mickie story.
Mr. McMahon vs. John Cena
McMahon gets on the mic before the match and says that he is ordering both Shawn Michaels and Triple H to be handcuffed to the ring. We get a classic test of strength that leads to McMahon kicking Cena below the belt. He brings the handcuff keys out and unlocks Triple H. Triple H hits Cena in the face with the sledgehammer and Cena is busted open. Triple H turns his attention to Michaels and dangles the key in his face. McMahon now approaches with a chair, allowing Triple H to hit him in the gut with the sledgehammer and then McMahon hits Michaels in the head with the chair. This was all angle, no match.
Match Rating: 1/4*
This was a pretty strong go home show for WrestleMania, where all of the main matches got some sort of hype. The only one that feels really flat is the tag team match and it seemingly got more time than it really deserved. Everything else has me excited to re-watch at WrestleMania 22.
Overall Rating: 60%
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