On Monday, January 8, 2007 at 11:56 PM EST WWE RAW
January 8, 2007
St. Louis, MO
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
A video putting over the events that transpired between Rated RKO and DX last night aired.
The opening credits rolled and here we go!
John Cena’s music hit and he came out to a pretty big reaction. He told everyone the champ was here, but in a far more reserved tone than normal. He said no one today can lose a fight and move on. He said Estrada got on WWE.com and told him that Cena’s win was a fluke. He said it wasn’t a fluke. He said Umaga dominated him last night and REALLY put over Umaga as a machine. He said he made it, albeit barely. He said all things considered it was about winning matches so he was happy.
The Estrada thing was bothering him though so he was of right mind to give Umaga a rematch. He said however, due to his concussion, he probably shouldn’t be making that call so he asked the fans if they wanted it and they all replied affirmatively.
Coach’s music hit and he came out and said it was very brave of Cena to take the match but he had already given Umaga the night off. Cena said he knew that was all a bunch of garbage and he knew he’d get attacked at some point. Coach said it still meant Umaga had the night off, but Cena wouldn’t.
He introduced us all to the newest member of the Raw roster, the Great Khali. Someone get me a gun. They’ll have a non-title match tonight. They stared each other down before Khali slowly left the ring.
A video package putting over the Rosie O’Donnell-Donald Trump “match” later tonight.
Vince McMahon was in the back and he said there were matches that changed the course of sports entertainment. Hulk-Andre, Rock-Austin, etc. He said tonight would be no different as the match everyone had been waiting for would be taking place. It would be the cocky, arrogant businessman v. the left wing lesbian.
****Commercial****
Vince was in the back with a cake of sorts. He invited Rosie O’Donnell (impersonator) into the office. Rosie got all excited over the cake on the table. Vince said she and Trump could get it on tonight. He asked her who would win the match tonight. She said something about fudge-y. She continued to eat like a pig.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Jeff Hardy v. Kenny Dykstra
The two locked up in the middle of the ring and Hardy backed him into the corner. The referee broke up the hold and Dykstra hit a boot to Hardy’s cut. He rammed Hardy’s head of f the turnbuckle and after an Irish whip, missed a follow up and got drop kicked for it. Hardy hit his springboard double stomp in the corner before sending Kenny to the outside.
Kenny wobbled around on the outside. Hardy dropkicked the challenger in the back before launching himself over the top rope and to the floor, clattering into Kenny on the way down. JR said he saw the crash, but wondered if Jeff did the old ‘burn’ as the two lay on the mat rolling around in pain.
****Commercial****
We came back to Kenny being in complete control with a rear chin lock. Hardy fought out and sent Kenny into the ropes, but kept the old head down and got caught with a swinging neck breaker. Kenny hit two clotheslines before going for a cover that only got a two count. Dykstra hit a nice running reverse elbow and again a second cover only led to a two count.
Kenny clamped on another rear chin lock and sent Hardy off the ropes, but Hardy caught him with a Jawbreaker. Hardy hit a flying fore arm and some back elbows that helped swing momentum in his favor. Hardy hit a whisper in the wind and scored a two count. He whipped Kenny to the buckles but got caught wit ha boot on the way in. Kenny went for a move off the top ropes but Hardy caught him with a kick to the gut. Hardy came off the ropes but was held up by Johnny Nitro. Kenny waited to pounce on Hardy, but Ric Flair showed up and low blowed him. Hardy lined him up for a twist of fate and connected and made the cover for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Jeff Hardy via pin fall
Flair walked up the ramp after the match, having proved his point.
Rosie O’Donnell was in the back and came by the Divas locker room. Uh oh.
A video package putting over New Year’s Revolution aired.
****Commercial****
JR came back talking about Triple H’s injury last night at New Year’s Revolution. JR confirmed it was a quad injury and that he’d be out 4-6 months. Rated RKO will have a victory celebration apparently, later tonight.
Rosie was in the back with Maria and Candice. Rosie was playing all the games, checking them all out. Maria comes away not being so brainy yet again.
Todd Grisham was in the back interviewing The Great Khali. A video package aired putting him over. Girsham said it was pretty impressive. He asked him about his debut over John Cena tonight. Khali responded in his native language and the fans went along with ‘what’s’. It was actually pretty funny.
More Donald-Rosey stuff aired.
Melina and Victoria are in the back and on their way to the ring for a tag match, which is next!
****Commercial****
Maria & Mickie James v. Melina & Victoria
Melina and Mickie started the match off. The two locked up and Mickie caught an arm bar and flipped Melina over on her duff before bringing in Maria. Maria hit her broncobuster but after a little too much fun, found herself bum rushed into the corner. Melina tagged in Victoria. Maria and Victoria traded blows before Victoria completely cold-cocked the not so smart face and then tagged in Melina.
Melina clamped in a mean looking (seriously) head scissors before dragging Maria over to the corner and tagging in Victoria. The two hit a double clothesline, but by that time, Mickie had had enough and came in to try and clean house. While Mickie was clowning around with Victoria on the outside, Maria went for a roll up but only got a two count. Melina hit a kick to the gut and hit some sort of springboard face buster-like thing and got the three count.
Winners: Melina & Victoria via pin fall
“Donald Trump” was in the back getting his hair sprayed.
Donald v. Rosie is, uh, next…
****Commercial****
Vince came in and introduced Rosie as the double chinned Diva. He then introduced Donald Trump and whatnot.
Rosie v. Donald
Rosie stopped the match almost immediately to eat some more ice cream cake. The two tied up and Donald got flung far. They locked up a second time and again, the Donald was flung back into the corner. The Donald took off his million-dollar jacket and cuff links and began flinging threats.
The Donald clamped on a side headlock. Rosie flung him off and hit a shoulder block. Trump ran at her, but Rosie hit a Lou Thesz press and began whaling away at Trump on the mat. The crowd began chanting ‘boring’ but Rosie kept playing to it, posing for the crowd and listening to the crowd like Hulk Hogan. Rosie smashed Donald’s head off the buckle before Donald snapped and began hitting hair-filled head butts. Donald went for a body slam, but Rosie was too big and got a near fall.
Trump hit her in the gut and went to the outside and grabbed the ice cream cake and nailed her in the face with it. He mounted the second rope and hit a flying head butt to score the pin. There were incredibly audible TNA chants during the match.
Winner: Donald Trump via pin fall
Rosie cried in the ring after the match while the crowd crapped all over the segment.
****Commercial****
Carlito v. Chris Masters
The two immediately went at it before Carlito gained an advantage with a chop. He hit a spring board cross body and almost got the three count. Carlito hit a knee lift but quickly found himself caught in the guerilla press of Master’s. Masters angrily dumped Carlito into the corner and put the boots to him.
Torrie came running down to the ring to check out the match.
Masters hit two super hard Irish whips, the second of which was followed up with a hard clothesline and a cover. Masters slowed the pace down a bit and cinched in a bear hug on Carlito. With the help of the crowd, Carlito broke the hold, but quickly found himself power slammed to the mat by the much bigger Masters and quickly put back into the bear hug.
Carlito raked the eyes and got out of the hold. He hit a boot to the face only to get creamed with a big Master’s elbow. Masters got distracted by Torrie who was at ringside. Carlito drop kicked him to the outside and distracted the referee. While Masters climbed into the ring, Torrie cracked Masters in the lower back with the ring bell. Masters careened into the ring and got nailed with a back cracker. Carlito made the cover and got the win.
Winner: Carlito via pin fall
JR and King talked about last night’s DX-Rated RKO match. Apparently, it was a victory of sorts for Rated RKO. Another video package aired. Rated RKO’s music hit and they came out to the ring.
****Commercial****
Orton and Edge were in the middle of the ring taking in the boos. Orton took the mic first.
Orton said before DX had faced them, everyone was talking a little smack. They showed Triple H’s comments towards them from last week. Orton said judging from the looks of Edge and him, DX kept their word. He said before last night’s match, the two made a little promise of their own. They showed their “We will end DX” promo from last night.
Orton said the old expression was ‘lose the battle, win the war’. Orton said he and Edge got the crap kicked out of them last night at New Year’s Revolution. Shawn Michaels jumped from the top turnbuckle to the announce table and drove his elbow through his chest. Triple H on the other hand, gave Edge a pedigree through the other announce table. Orton said both lost tons of blood. He said every step they took since last night, gave them severe pain and suffering.
But, he said, it was worth it. In the end, Edge and Orton were the two who broke up DX. Orton said Rated RKO did what no one /* could do. He said that was end DX.
Edge got on the mic and said a lot of people came out and talked big. He said he and Orton did too, but they were different because they backed it up. The Spirit Squad didn’t get it done. He said Big Show couldn’t, went to ECW and retired. Vince got his head shoved up Big Show’s ask. He said that last night they took out Triple H. He said next week, there’d be a handicapped match. It’ll be HBK v. Rated RKO, 2 on 1. Edge said DX was on life support and next week he and Orton would pull the plug. Next week he said, DX would finally be dead.
DX’s music hit and HBK came out to the ramp. He said he came out here last night out of respect for the people of Saint Louis and for everyone watching at home to address the ‘question’ of whether this was the end of DX. HBK said the answer was “I don’t know”. What he did know though, was that his partner and his best friend was lying in a hospital bed in Alabama. He said tomorrow HHH will undergo surgery. HBK said he’d be there by his side. He said as for Orton and Edge, he’d deal with them next week. They all stared each other down and Michaels went to the back.
****Commercial****
Cryme Tyme v. Cade & Murdoch
Shad and Cade exchanged shoulder blocks before Shad decked Murdoch for the fun of it. Shad hit a lariat on Cade and went for the cover, but Murdoch made the save. JTG came in to protest Murdoch’s presence and distracted the ref to allow the rednecks to hit a few double team moves.
Cade and Murdoch continued to work over Shad in the corner while JTG removed a buckle pad. Eventually Shad booted Murdoch in the face and he tagged in JTG. JTG hit a missile drop kick on Cade before whipping Murdoch to the corner. Murdoch put the breaks on just in time to avoid the exposed buckle, but Shad came out of nowhere and slammed his head off it. JTG rolled him up and got the pin.
Winners: Cryme Tyme via pin fall
****Commercial****
Vladimir Kozlov gave a terrible interview from the crowd.
Eugene was talking to someone in the back. Great Khali showed up behind him and shook his head at Eugene.
****Commercial****
Looks like Armando Alejandro Estrada will be joining us for commentary.
John Cena v. The Great Khali
Cena tried to hit some punches but they weren’t having an effect. Khali mowed him down with a shoulder block before pulverizing him with a clothesline. Cena quickly came right back at Khali and tried to get a scoop slam, but Khali just brushed him off like a fly.
Khali smashed Cena’s head into the buckles and then hit some back elbows in the corner. Estrada jumped up on he apron with a chair and Cena went to tend to him. He nailed Khali but Khali didn’t budge again.
Winner: The Great Khali via DQ
Khali hit his choke slam thing leaving Cena in pieces. Estrada motioned to the crowd and here comes Umaga. He planted Cena in the corner before hitting the running butt to the head. He set Cena up and nailed the Samoan Spike. Umaga stood over Cena’s body as the show went off the air. RAW THOUGHTSThe Good-- Hats off to Chris Masters. He’s really come into his own as a heel and we’re starting to see the leaps and bounds improvements in him that we saw in Carlito around this time last year. He’s looking sharp and most of all, this guy has REALLY learned how to PACE a match, which is a HUGE component of being a solid main event caliber guy. I’m really digging Masters the past few weeks.
Good to see Umaga gets another shot. He proved he can pull together a decent main event last night. I’d really like to see WWE take the dive with this guy, but I don’t know if it’ll actually happen.
Good move on holding the trigger on Kenny. Way too soon for that stuff.
The Bad-- I’m really questioning the logic of moving the Great Khali to Raw. I could care less about him personally and I don’t think he’s got much in the way of talent. WWE’s now pushed this guy on all three brands and try as they might, fans aren’t digging him at all. And I’m not talking about a ‘oh they just need to warm up to him’. It’s been nine months since this guy popped up. He’s as over as a fart in church. Masters was getting dead reactions for about three months but then fans started to get into him. Same with Umaga. Those are cases of fans ‘warming up’ to wrestlers. Khali hasn’t warmed up at all in any way. Fans booed him tonight because they didn’t want to SEE him. Not because he’s a good bad guy.
All that aside, I just question the logic of bringing a guy over who is utterly unfit for live TV period. He can’t talk. He can’t work very well. ALL of MY PERSONAL misgivings aside, I just wonder at the wisdom of sending a guy to a brand where you don’t get multiple takes. Some guys aren’t LIVE type wrestlers. Khali’s just one of those guys, IMO. So how sending this guy to Raw is going to help him, is beyond me.
And I’ll go on record right now. I’m PETRIFIED of the idea of a Cena-Khali match at Wrestlemania. I think we might be getting it.
The Ugly-- Well, tonight was the first time I heard a clearly audible “TNA” Chant and it was pretty funny to hear WWE lower the volume on it. Gotta love editing. WWE always hits it out of the park with fans when they stick to wrestling. The Low brow entertainment stuff, while it can be refreshingly funny now and then, is being done too much. They’re trying TOO hard to create “moments”.
What was perfectly clear in the Rosie-Trump debacle tonight. McMahon wants to be a mainstream celebrity soooo badly I almost feel bad for the guy that he decides to continually make an ass out of himself to try and get over with mainstream media outlets. Some advice for Vince: Do more “Support the Troops” stuff and less Rosie-Trump crap and you may get there someday.
Overall- F --- It was a pretty bad Raw. Nothing really went anywhere. The only worthwhile matches were the IC title match and the Masters-Carlito match. Just more of the stuff people are dead tired of. It’s the first bad Raw of the New Year. No interesting matches, no real storyline progession of any kind, and more stuff that just makes you run how insane McMahon has really gone. Just a total embarassment
K, kids. Now’s your chance to be head. Email me your comments about Raw and I may publish them tomorrow in our Raw Responses piece. In order to make the site and this weekly report a little more interactive, I figured I’d start it up! Be sure to leave your first name and hometown, location or whatever!
Quick Results
Jeff Hardy def. Kenny Dykstra
Melina & Victoria def. Maria & Mickie
Donald Trump def. Rosie O’Donnell
Carlito def. Chris Masters
Cryme Tyme def. Cade & Murdoch
The Great Khali def. John Cena
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest pops
1. John Cena
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Carlito
4. Cryme Tyme
Most Heat
1. Rated RKO
2. Umaga
3. Chris Masters
4. The Great Khali
Match of the night: Chris Masters v. Carlito **1/4
Power RankingsOkay, so before I go into all this, I should explain my point system a little bit. This is the best way I could do this, despite the fact that I know it’s far from perfect. I’m not a computer, and to be frank, I suck at math, so please don’t write me a million emails telling me why the dividend of this decimal should be considered over that. I know it won’t be perfect. It was simply the best way I could go at it.
5 Points= Title Win
4 Points= Title defense
3 Points= Singles PPV Win
2 Points= Tag PPV Win
2 Points= TV Singles Win
1 Point= TV Tag Win
0 Points= Loss
I figured that’d be the most fair way to do it. Again, I won’t entirely be ranking guys based on their points, but it’ll give us an idea of how WWE is pushing their guys and how they view their own stars over time. More of an ‘interesting to see ‘ type thing than anything super official.
WWE Champion: John Cena (1-3, 4 points) (Last Week: WWE Champion)—Cena successfully defends his WWE title but it looks like we’re going to have to wait until the Royal Rumble to find out how it all turns out. Umaga’s giving Cena a rough time right now, thus his point total is a little low.
Intercontinental Champion: Jeff Hardy (3-0, 10 points.) (Last Week: IC Champion)—Hardy’s had a pretty decent little run with the IC Championship thus far and surprisingly enough, has held it for the better part of the last three or four months. I’m glad Kenny didn’t go over him tonight. Too much too soon. He needs to be floated into this MNM tag feud thing, so I suspect he loses the fold relatively soon. I’ll say its Chris Masters, who’s white hot right now, who becomes the man to do it.
1.Umaga (1-1, 1 Point.) (Last Week: 1)—Suffered his first lost in god knows how long, but thanks to Rated RKO’s inability to get much of anything done against DX and Carlito and Masters trading wins, he’s looking good as #1 contender. WWE sees it that way too. He proved a lot last night in working (carrying) a main event on his back.
2. Randy Orton (1-0, 4 pts.) ( (Last Week: 2)—I’ll keep Orton here at #2. A win is a win, and he was very solid on the mic again tonight. We’ll see where this DX thing goes next week. Fate may have actually gone in Orton’s favor this time.
3. Edge 1-0, 4pts. (Last Week: 3)—See Orton
4. HBK (0-1, 0 pts.) (Last Week: 5)—HBK should be here. He completely SAVED the match last night and it looks like he's’going to be the guy to carry this feud home. He demonstrated a ton of leadership last night. He’s my pick, as of right now, to challenge Cena at Wrestlemania in Triple H’s absence.
5. Triple H (0-1, 0 pts.) (Last Week: 4)—The Game gets bit by the injury bug once more. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
6. Chris Masters (2-1, 5 pts) ( (Last Week: 8)—Masters is hot. Red hot. His heel work has all of a sudden become very good, but what’s been most surprising to me, is the guy’s newfound ability to PACE a match which is an incredibly big deal in wrestling. The matches with Carlito have been basic, but well laid out and each match takes us a step further in the feud. Masters deserves to be rewarded. With Triple H plummeting, he’ll likely end up in the top five sooner rather than later if he keeps this up.
7. Kenny Dykstra (2-1, 4 Points) (Last Week: 6)—Three wins in a row over Flair and then loses his first single’s title shot (I think). Good call on the part of WWE. Dykstra needs some time to cook. Masters is looking like the better guy. Still though, he performed well tonight and while nothing the kid is doing would ever be deemed ground breaking, he’s still sticking with basics and looking solid every time out.
8. Carlito (1-2, 2 Points) (Last Week 7)—Carlito’s been a little cold, but he finally got the win he’s been needing over Masters tonight. I think this whole Torrie thing could potentially be a great tandem for him, with her helping him cheat but maintaining the face heat. The downside of things is that Carlito’s looking a little direction-less at the moment. Too bad.
9.The Great Khali (1-0, 2 Points) (Last Week: NR)— Pains me to do this, but honestly, a win over the champ is a win over the champ. This guy hasn’t received any kind of reaction anywhere he’s been. I don’t understand the need to push him. Fans have beyond rejected this guy. It’s not for lack of trying nor is it people warming up to him. They just don’t want to see him. Kind of like Rosie-Trump.
10. Johnny Nitro (1-1, 1 point) (Last Week: 9)— Nitro was out of action last week, but man oh man does he need a win to get him back on track. He’s been jobbed out, made to look like an idiot, a little too much in recent weeks. I know wrestlers at that level go through those streaks, but I’d just be careful If I were WWE to not extend this losing streak too much.
Dropping Out :Ric Flair (0-2, 0 points) (Last Week: 10)
New Year’s Revolution Picks
I went 3-3 for a .500 average for the night. Not too bad.