Saturday, March 18th, 2006
Cobo Arena
Detroit, Michigan
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They do a classic style intro with quick promos from the wrestlers featured on the show tonight. This was a nice touch. Jim Ross is also back for the first time in months.
Handicap Match
Triple H & John Cena vs. Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio & Randy Orton
Angle makes a blind tag and hits a German suplex on Cena. Cena hits a spinebuster for a 2 count and then tags in Triple H. Mysterio comes in and hits a seated senton and a cradle for a nearfall. Triple H hits a big clothesline on Mysterio into the first commercial break. Triple H puts the sleeper on Mysterio and then sets him up on the top rope after he breaks the hold. Mysterio knocks Triple H off and then hits a moonsault. Cena and Orton are both in and Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena hits the FU, but in comes Triple H and he hits the Pedigree on his partner. Triple H teases heading to the back, but comes back in and drags Orton onto Cena. Mysterio breaks up his own team's count and then Triple H comes in and hits the Pedigree on Mysterio. Orton is gearing up for the RKO, but Cena is able to roll him up for the victory as Triple H watches from the aisle. Cena and Triple H are verbally attacking one another, as we go into the second screen. The match was good, but it felt like it could have gone on a little longer.
Match Rating: **1/4
After running down the Hall of Fame, Booker is shown in pain backstage. The doctor is buying it, so Teddy Long allows him to cancel. Booker and Sharmell smile on their way out of the locker room.
It's time for The Cutting Edge. Edge runs his mouth and then calls out Foley. While Foley is entering, Edge lights a table on fire, which is immediately put out. Foley attacks Edge and then dumps a bunch of thumbtacks. Lita hits Foley in the back with a chair as he runs off the ropes and Edge sends him into the tacks face-first. Foley gets up and smiles and they have a chair duel on the ramp. Foley hits a swinging neckbreaker and then hits a one man conchairto. This was super rushed, but effective nonetheless.
After a video package on the McMahon/HBK story, Booker and Sharmell are celebrating fooling Teddy Long. Then the red light turns on and Boogeyman is hanging upside down behind them and they run out in their towels.
It's time for JBL to introduce the beer drinking contest. He makes fun of the Detroit mayor and the crowd cheers in agreement. He keeps running down the city until Austin's music hits. Austin runs him down like you would expect and then they start their 60 second contest. They turn backs to each other and JBL is trying to cheat. Austin is wise to it and then Benoit is here to get JBL back into the ring. JBL ends up soaked in beer and on the wrong end of a Stunner.
Victoria & Candice Michelle vs. Trish Stratus & Mickie James
Candice and Victoria start the match on offense, but since this is a women's match, it will only be 90 seconds long and Trish hits a double DDT. Victoria runs Mickie off the apron, but then misses Trish after she does the Matrix. Trish hits Statusfaction and that is all. Mickie never got in the match, but she grabs a mic after. Mickie says she wants to say goodbye the right way and reaches out her hand. Mickie goes for a kiss, but Trish turns her head and she kisses her cheek. Trish isn't happy, so Mickie hits her with a Chick Kick. Mickie hits the Stratusfaction. This only existed for the post-match.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Mark Henry is out now to call out the Undertaker. While he and Daivari are rambling, the lights go out and out come the druids with a casket. Undertaker is out and he starts swinging. Henry bounces off the turnbuckle and flattens Taker. They go outside and Taker throws Henry into the steps. Taker then hits a Tombstone on Daivari on the casket and that's all. The booking here actually kind of makes you think Henry has a chance, but that obviously was nowhere near the case.
Street Fight
Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon
Michaels meets Shane on the ramp and they start going at it. Vince is out to help and he tries holding Shawn down on a table. Shane is climbing a ladder in the ring, but Shawn is able to escape and meets him up there. Michaels hits a superplex from the ladder through the tables on the floor. That is still a crazy bump that blew the roof off the arena. They take this into the commercial break and when we come back, both men are in the ring and Michaels hits a body slam. Michaels climbs up the ladder again, but this time Vince hits him in the back with a kendo stick, knocking him off. Shane starts using the ladder as a weapon and then a DDT to stall Michaels' comeback attempt before it starts. Shane then hits Shawn in the face with a chair and he drags him to the corner. Vince holds up the trash can in the face of Shawn, but he's able to sneak out of the coast to coast attempt. The trash can hits Vince in the face instead and he's knocked out on the floor. Michaels hits the top rope elbow drop and starts tuning up the band. Shawn hits Sweet Chin Music, but Vince pulls the referee out of the ring before he can count 3. Shawn throws Vince in the ring, but Shane hits him with a low blow from behind. Shane locks in the Sharpshooter and Vince tells them to ring the bell. He then orders Lilian Garcia to announce Shane as the winner. And with that, we are off the air. Exciting match to cap off the show.
Match Rating: ***1/2
I was at this show live and it was a lot of fun, even if it was light on actual wrestling. My only complaint is that they tried to pack a little too much in here and some of it felt rushed. What they did do well is cover all of the featured matches for WrestleMania by adding a little bit more to the story. On a personal note, this was the only wrestling show that I ever saw at Cobo Arena, as WWE tends to run Joe Louis Arena, which is nearby.
Overall Rating: 71%
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