Monday, March 5th, 2007
US Airways Center
Phoenix, Arizona
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Shawn Michaels is shown getting ready and in walks John Cena. Cena wishes him some luck tonight and Shawn agrees to say the same to John tonight. They start semi-arguing and Cena says that he will have Michaels' back during his match with Randy Orton. Michaels doesn't want it and heads out to the ring.
Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
The first high spot here is Michaels getting dumped over the top and to the floor. That seems like a pretty dangerous spot for him just weeks before a WrestleMania main event. I know you can get hurt doing anything, but this one seemed unnecessary. After a commercial break, Orton puts Michaels into a Boston crab in the middle of the ring. Michaels is able to slowly crawl to the bottom rope to break the hold, but then Orton hits a draped DDT. Michaels is able to sneak in a back suplex and both men are down. Michaels hits the running forearm and does the delayed kip up. Michaels hits the top rope elbow drop and he starts tuning up the band. Orton blocks the attempt and goes for the RKO. Michaels shoves Orton and he goes into the referee and Orton levels him with a clothesline. Edge goes and grabs a title belt to give to Orton. A second referee was sent out and he sees it, which causes a distraction for Michaels to roll him up and squeak out the win. After the match, Edge and Orton try to attack him with the chair, but out comes Cena to make the save for him. Overall, I am just so grateful that we didn't have to start with Vince or Trump.
Match Rating: **1/2
We get a rare ECW highlight, but this one was more than worthy to be shown multiple times. They show Lashley jumping through the cage and onto Umaga. We go to Vince talking to Armando Alejandro Estrada. Vince wants to see what Umaga is made of during his match with Jeff Hardy tonight. Jonathan Coachman starts talking to Vince and he lets him know that he has recommended that Shane McMahon be the special guest referee for Umaga/Lashley.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga
On his way into the ring, Umaga pulls up the pads just outside the ring. We get some cat and mouse that leads to Hardy dropkicking Umaga to the floor and then hits a somersault dive over the top rope. Hardy then hits a leaping clothesline off the steps. Umaga levels him with a clothesline and a splash. He puts Hardy in the tree of woe and hits a running headbutt. Umaga hits the butt in the face and hits the Samoan Spike to put Hardy out of his misery. These two continue to show great chemistry in these matches.
Match Rating: *3/4
We get a hype video for Umaga and Lashley. Then after the commercial we hear from Mark Cuban, Howie Mandel and John Travolta about Vince or Trump shaving their head.
We go to Todd Grisham and he is with Carlito and Ric Flair. They are battling tonight for a spot in Money In The Bank and start arguing about who is going to win.
We get a Masterlock Challenge and tonight it's Hacksaw Jim Duggan. He puts it on and Duggan submits. That's it? Why was this on the show?
Vince is walking towards the ring and feeling confident.
We get more Cena/Michaels drama backstage. It's like they're going to be wrestling soon or something.
Vince is out and takes a quick stop at the barber shop before heading to the ring. Next week is the contract signing. Great. Then all of a sudden, Eric Bischoff is out to Vince's surprise. I'm not really sure what the point of him being here was. Vince then says we're going to find out the guest referee and now Mick Foley is out in his homemade referee shirt. They kind of suck up to each other, but when Vince tries to announce Mick as the special guest referee, Mick says he isn't. He's actually refereeing a rib eating contest with the Phoenix Suns gorilla, who then comes out to the ring. Now out comes Shane to the relief of his father. Shane tells him that the board made their vote and they lost 5 to 4. Well if Shane isn't the referee, then who is? Shane whispers it in his ear and then the glass breaks and out comes Steve Austin. It sure took us a long time to get to this point. This just leads to Austin soaking Vince in beer. This was a terrible segment that felt like it went on for an hour.
We get a recap as if it didn't just take all night for that thing to end. Then Mick is showing the gorilla his new book and that leads Ron Simmons to do his thing.
Lillian Garcia brings out Ashley as the guest ring announcer for the next match.
Falls Count Anywhere Match For The WWE Women's Championship
Mickie James vs. Melina
Mickie knocks Melina off the ring and they head to the back. They battle in the locker room where Torrie Wilson and Maria are hanging out. Victoria then comes in and holds Mickie to allow Melina to slap her. Torrie then sprays her with hairspray in the face. Out comes Candice Michelle in a towel. Melina rips it off and we have it blurred out and the camera man falls on his back to boos. When we come back from commercial, they are battling towards the ring and start rolling all the way down the ramp. They eventually make their way back to the ring and are climbing the turnbuckles. Mickie goes for a hurricanrana, but Melina shoves her off and she takes a nasty looking spill. Melina rolls her up and pins her. Melina celebrates with her fake eyelash falling off and then heads to Ashley to rip her title away. Ashley shoves her on her back and goes to check on Mickie. Melina storms to the back and Mickie seems to be okay. This wasn't very hard hitting, but it was chaotic and kind of lighthearted fun.
Match Rating: *1/2
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
Ric Flair vs. Carlito
This one just doesn't get off to a good start. Flair puts on a really unconvincing headlock and then Carlito hits a springboard reverse elbow that Flair telegraphs and falls too early. I guess I get why because Great Khali is on his way to the ring to disrupt things. He takes out both guys and we have a no contest I suppose. Khali gets on the mic and I think he says that he wants Kane. This was just all around terrible.
Match Rating: No Rating
Steve Austin returns home to ECW tomorrow night.
Nick Bockwinkle is announced as the next inductee into the Hall Of Fame.
We go to Edge and Randy Orton talking about what happened last week. Orton tells Edge that he doesn't have his back.
Cena is on his way to the ring.
John Cena vs. Edge
All 3 members of MNM come out before Edge is introduced. So I guess that's Edge's new backup for tonight. Edge then says that he can't perform in front of these bigots because they were one of the last states to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. Edge then says that Johnny Nitro's great great grandmother is black and he wants to take it out on Cena tonight.
John Cena vs. Johnny Nitro
Umm...sure? I believe Edge was injured and there was some fear that he would miss WrestleMania. Nitro throws Cena into the ring post and Cena is out. Back in the ring, Cena battles out of a rest hold and hits him with a big clothesline. It's 5 Knuckle Shuffle Time and then Joey Mercury and Edge start with distractions. It doesn't work and Cena gets Nitro up for the FU. Mercury comes in and hits a chop block and they attack Cena. They hit the Snapshot with Edge directing. Out comes Michaels and he runs down to make the save, but then stops short of the ring. Edge runs into the crowd, but MNM are still in the ring. Michaels and his hideous brown shirt leaves for the back and MNM start attacking again. Michaels thinks again and runs back into the ring to take out MNM. This wasn't much of a match and the setup was questionable at best.
Match Rating: 1/2*
This show started off really great and then Vince had to go and ruin it as usual. The women's match was just about the only fun segment outside of the first half hour.
Overall Rating: 39%
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