On Monday, February 19, 2007 at 11:58 PM EST WWE RAW
February 19, 2007
Bakersfield, CA
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
A Barber shop was set up in the middle of the ring. Vince’s music hit and he came down to the ring. He took the mic and said in 41 days, Donald Trump would be stepping into his yard, into his creation, Wrestlemania. He said he was going to beat the holy hell out of Donald Trump and beat him to a pulp. He said once that was done, he was going to strap him down and slap the hell out of him so he’s conscious when he shaves his head.
He said he was going to look down at Trump and tell him it was all too damn bad when he whined. He said bald-ness was in vogue just look at Britney Spears! He flashed a picture of Spears on the big screen and then showed one of Donald Trump, which evolved each time McMahon named a new hair cut. McMahon said his representative would beat Trump. He said Trump would pick his representative in a week. Vince was going to introduce his representative tonight. He introduces UMAGA who comes down to the ring with Armando Alejandro Estrada.
Estrada got in the ring and said it would be an honor for Umaga to decimate Trump’s representative at Wrestlemania. Vince said Umaga would be a champion and a champion tonight. He introduced Jeff Hardy and said the Intercontinental Championship was on the line now!
****Commercial****
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Jeff Hardy v. Umaga
We came back to the match underway. Hardy retreated to the outside of the ring while Hardy hit two drop kicks through the ropes but was caught on a third attempt by Umaga. Umaga attempted to smash him into the ring post but Hardy wiggled out and sent him into the steps and ring post. Hardy leapt up on the guard rail only to get hit with a throat thrust.
Back in the ring Umaga laid Hardy out with a head butt and began stomping away at the champion. He gathered Jeff and hit him with a back elbow before dropping a big leg on him. Umaga hit some punches on the mat before picking up Hardy and smacking him right back down to the mat. Umaga slapped on a claw onto Hardy’s trapezoids and used his weight to maintain the leverage advantage.
Hardy fought back with some elbows and a kick to the gut but got cut off with a major league lariat. Umaga went for his falling head butt and missed Hardy entirely. Jeff rose to his feet and avoided the charging Umaga in the corner and then hit whisper in the wind. Hardy went for a cover but Umaga kicked out. Umaga send Hardy into the corner and caught him on the rebound and hit a huge Samoan drop. He dragged Hardy into the corner and set up for the running ass to the face. Umaga lined him up and came charging in and took Hardy’s head clean off his shoulders. Umaga picked Hardy up and killed him with the spike to win the match and the belt.
Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion: Umaga via pin fall
A Money in the Bank qualifying match is up later tonight and will feature Edge v. Rob Van Dam! John Cena will be taking on Randy Orton.
****Commercial****
Ric Flair & Carlito v. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
The bell rang and Flair and Cade are starting us off. Cade grabbed a headlock and shoulder blocked Flair to the ropes. Flair caught a hip toss before grabbing the arm and wrenching and tagged in his partner. Cade hit a clubbing blow but Carlito was able to hit his spring board elbow, showing his quickness and agility. Carlito ducked under a clothesline attempt and hit two running knee lifts. Murdoch went for a cheap shot that didn’t connect, but distracted Carlito long enough to get caught by Cade.
Murdoch tagged in and whipped Carlito into the corner and hit a back elbow. Cade tagged back in and hit some clubbing blows before tagging Murdoch in quickly again. Murdoch kicked Carlito in the face before slapping on a nice neck vice in the middle of the ring. Carlito fought to his feet but was cut off by Murdoch who body slammed him hard to the mat. Murdoch went for the elbow off the second rope and missed.
Carlito crawled to his corner and tagged in Ric Flair who went crazy on Murdoch and capped his flurry off with two back body drops. Flair chop blocked Murdoch’s leg and went for the figure four. Cade attempted to intervene in the match, but Carlito caught him and sent him over the ropes. Carlito distracted the referee allowing Flair to hit a low blow. Flair tagged in Carlito who quickly hit the back cracker for the victory.
Winners: Ric Flair & Carlito via pin fall
****Commercial****
Shawn Michaels and John Cena were in the back and Todd Grisham asked them about their victory last night. HBK said he had Cena’s back and wanted to make sure nothing happened between now and Wrestlemania. HBK got really serious and said he had something to take care of right now. He got in Cena’s face and began to shill the DX DVD. Cena responded by shilling the Marine DVD. The oily guy came out and got super kicked in the face.
Orton and Edge were in the back watching the whole thing unfold. Edge vowed he’d win the Money in the Bank match and challenge the winner of the main event at the end of the show and make history. Orton wished him good luck as he walked off.
****Commercial****
A video aired putting over the first Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania 21. A second aired putting over RVD’s win at Wrestlemania 22.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Edge v. Rob Van Dam
The two circled each other and traded arm wringers before Edge went up for a roll up. The two circled it up again before RVD did his little taunt thing. Edge grabbed a side headlock before RVD sent him off the ropes and ate a shoulder block. The two cris-crossed and RVD hit a monkey flip in the middle of the ring before repeating the move in the corner. Edge took off to the outside of the ring to catch a breather as we went to commercial break.
****Commercial Break****
We came back to RVD keeping Edge at bay with an arm bar. RVD used a modified hammer lock with his feet and dropped back before going for a pin attempt. RVD went for a back body drop but caught a stiff boot to the face. Edge charged at RVD but missed by a mile and went sailing into the ring area. Van Dam dropped him on the guard rail and then hit his spinning leg drop off the apron.
RVD tossed Edge into the ring and went to enter himself only to catch a boot to the face and then get caught in a swinging neck breaker. Edge went to work on the neck, hitting another neck breaker before going for the cover attempt. RVD kicked out at 2 but then found himself snared in a rear chin lock.
RVD fought out of the hold and mounted a comeback, finally connecting wit ha knock out shot in the corner with a spinning back kick. The two exchanged blows in the middle of the ring before RVD hit a few clotheslines. RVD hit a crescent kick before sending Edge into the ropes. Edge held himself up but was faked out by Van Dam who hit him with another kick.
RVD went for rolling thunder but Edge caught him and hit a death valley driver looking side slam before perching the former ECW Champion on the top rope. Edge attempted the super plex but RVD shoved him off and Edge crotched himself on the top rope. RVD walked the rope and hit another kick to the face, sending Edge crashing to the mat on the outside of the ring. RVD hit a flying cross body block to the floor before gathering Edge and sending him into the ring.
RVD went for the five star frog splash but RVD got killed with a drop kick to the ribs. Edge went for a cover but RVD kicked out. Edge missed the spear attempt but managed to whip RVD into the corner. RVD cold cocked Edge again with a stiff kick and then hit the split legged moonsault and almost scored the pin.
RVD hit his step over kick and went for the five star frog splash, but Randy Orton ran down and went to shove him off the top rope. Van Dam booted him off the apron. The distraction worked however, giving Edge just enough time to hit the spear and score the pin fall for the victory.
Winner: Edge via pin fall
The Women’s Championship will be on the line next!
****Commercial****
WWE Women’s Championship
Mickie James v. Melina
The two locked around and rolled off the ropes before grabbing each other’s hair. Mickie tossed Melina to the other side of the ring and then grabbed a head lock. Melina countered it into a hammer lock. James was having none of it though and tossed her aside like a rag doll.
Melina lost it early on but her temper led her to a mistake, getting caught with two lariats and then drop kicked to the outside of the ring. Mickie James went for a baseball slide drop kick, but Melina caught it tossed James to the outside before tossing her right back into the ring and going for a cover attempt. Melina hit a knee to the back before tossing the champion clear across the ring to the mat.
Melina tied up the legs and yanked back using Mickie’s hair. Mickie fought back and the two went at it hard on the mat before Mickie tossed her challenger around the ring before hitting some knees right to Melina’s face. James was whipped into the ropes but hit the Lou Thesz press and hit some punches to Melina’s face. James went for the hurricanranna but Melina semi-power bombed her to the mat and rolled her up for the pin fall.
Winner and NEW WWE Women’s Champion: Melina via pin fall
****Commercial****
Mickie James was in the back and Todd Grisham asked her about her loss. Todd Grisham got hammered in the face with a slap.
Handicapped Match
The Higlanders v. The Great Khali
The Scots came right at Khali and tried to whip him to the ropes but Khali grabbed both before they could and Khali tossed one to the outside and head butted another into the mat. Robby got hammered with a clothesline before Rory was chopped off the top rope to the floor. Khali hit a boot to Robby’s face He picked Robbie up and choke slammed him and pinned him with a boot on the chest.
Winner: The Great Khali via pin fall
The commentators put over Cena-Orton later tonight.
****Commercial****
Kenny was in the back with Coach. Coach was explaining to Kenny why McMahon didn’t pick him. Khali came up to Coach and said something about wanting better competition. Ron Simmons showed up and looked at Khali and gave a very composed ‘damn’.
A video aired of Ashley debuting her Playboy cover.
Melina was in the back with her newly won Women’s Championship. Johnny Nitro came back and gave us an ‘ugh’. That line is awesome. Melina said she couldn’t believe these people were talking about Ashley when she’s been asked to pose for Playboy a million times. She said all the attention should be on her instead.
It’s time to introduce the newest addition to the hall of fame: Mr. Perfect! The video that aired was…… Perfect.
John Cena is on his way to face Randy Orton next!
****Commercial****
John Cena & Shawn Michaels will be defending the World Tag Team Championship against Rated RKO next week on Raw!
John Cena v. Randy Orton
The two circled up and locked horns before Cena backed Orton into the ropes. Orton fought right back and backed Cena into the ropes this time before hitting a shot to the solar plexus, flooring the champion. Orton laid the boots to Cena in the corner. Cena reversed an Irish whip and hit a fisherman’s suplex for a two count.
Cena gathered Orton and Orton caught a thumb to the eyes of Cena. Orton put the boots to Cena again before being whipped off the ropes and hip tossed. Cena hit a body slam and then dropped an elbow on Orton and went for another cover attempt.
Cena whipped Orton to the buckles but Orton side stepped out of the way and hit a stiff lariat and went for a cover. Orton had another whip reversed and was slammed face first to the mat before Cena chased Orton to the floor. Orton ran into the ring before both he and Cena nailed each other with matching lariats. Orton seemed frustrated and went out to the announcer’s area and picked up a steel chair.
The official tried to keep him from using it as we took our final commercial break.
****Commercial****
We came back to Randy Orton holding Cena in a rear chin lock. Cena began fighting back with some elbows to the gut before he missed a flying shoulder block. Orton dragged Cena in from the ring apron and draped him over the second rope and DDT’d him to the mat hard. Orton went for a cover but the champ kicked out. Orton landed some punches in the corner before Cena crumpled back to the mat. Orton dropped a mean looking knee drop before going into the Garvin stomp. Orton measured Cena for a really looking knee drop and went for a cover attempt, but again, Cena kicked out.
Orton clamped in the rear chin lock again and the two had a great struggle sequence with Cena desperately trying to break the hold. When the crowd wasn’t digging it, Cena crumpled to the mat and looked like he was about dead. Cena struggled back to his feet, and this time the crowd behind him and managed to break the hold, but Orton cut him off wit ha right hand to the face.
Orton kept punching away at Cena before Cena amped up and had had enough. Cena went into his victory sequence and then looked to the crowd for the five knuckle shuffle. They approved and Cena connected and went for the FU. Orton raked his eyes and wiggled out of the hold and hit a standing drop kick to send Cena to the mat.
Orton went to the top rope and looked for the cross body-block and hit it but Cena rolled through and almost pinned him. Orton quickly regained his bearings and hit his inverted back breaker, leaving the champion on his back. Orton signaled and waited for the RKO. Cena rose to his feet and was able to shove Orton off and send him crashing to the mat. Cena went for the FU only for Edge to show up and spear him to cause the DQ.
Winner: John Cena via disqualification
Edge and Orton went right to work on Cena and set up an conchairto on the champion, but HBK ran in with a chair of his own and made the save. After cleaning house, Cena cautiously thanked HBK who said he had Cena’s back until mania. King agreed but wondered if HBK had his front, too. RAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- Another week, another very solid show with some fun backstage and promo stuff mixed in with perfectly acceptable action. I just wish WWE would stick to this formula year-round because it’s made their shows a lot easier on the eyes.
We’ll start off with the opening promo with Mr. McMahon, which was perfect for what they were going for. I’m very excited about Umaga being the guy who gets picked for the ‘Mania match. If Trump goes with Hogan, Austin or even Khali, Umaga’s not going to look bad and is going to have plenty of involvement in a high profile Wrestlemania program which he really needs at this point. He’s on the cusp of being a guy who’s going to be a break out guy in the WWE this year and this could be another serious step in the right direction.
I’m sure people are a little confused about his IC Championship victory, but again, I think it’s strong booking. Umaga dabbled in the top of the card, proved himself, and now can be the unmoveable fixture in the mid card with the IC title. Whoever knocks him off is going to get a huge rub and it’s going to help that title’s scenery no matter what. I love the move.
As for Jeff Hardy, he’s received a pretty good sized push in the mid card. He’s knocked off everyone from Carlito to Nitro to Chris Masters. There really isn’t anywhere for him to go. He’d be best used in the Money in the Bank Ladder match at Wrestlemania and then don't be surprised to see him get shipped off to ECW shortly thereafter.
The Flair/Carlito alliance is interesting enough although I really question where they’re ultimately going to end up going with it all. I’m smelling a turn of sorts, and I’m hoping it’s from Carlito.
Melina was the other really big winner tonight as well, pulling in the Women’s Championship from Mickie James. I don’t know how I feel about this at this point, as I think James is clearly the best Women’s worker on the roster, but a three way seems to be brewing between Melina, Mickie James and possibly Ashley Massarro, who Melina spent a good deal of time raking over the coals. BTW, Johnny Nitro’s ‘ugh’ thing is so awful, I love it. It rules on a totally new level. It’s so “ugh”.
I’m expecting to get at least 100,000 emails tomorrow in my in box asking about why WWE booked Edge in the Money in the Bank match. I’ll bet that changes. They seem very intent on Orton-Edge happening. If it doesn’t at Mania, it will soon thereafter. Who knows, the slow burn for this has been outstanding thus far. The match with RVD tonight was great fun and with the exception of a very flat finish, I felt it delivered well.
Khali wants more competition apparently, or at least that’s what his noises sound like. Trump likes competition too.
The HBK-Cena program is moving along nicely. Neither guy needs to really turn or even touch each other yet. So hats off to WWE again on this one, as they did everything they needed to do this week with those two.
Speaking of Cena, his match with Orton was like night and day. The beginning of the match was absolutely awful with both guys trading pointless crap with no rhyme nor reason. Then the two turned it up and were absolutely unreal for about ten minutes to which they stopped doing to insure we had a thoroughly ridiculous ending. Talk about manic.
Randy Orton needs to be booked strong and although Edge may seem like the guy to go over at Wrestlemania, I think it has to be Orton again. He’s been completely and totally buried since showing up on Raw last year. Despite being in two extremely high profile story lines on the show, he’s got about three wins under his belt since September, and two of them came over Carlito and another one was a DQ at New Year’s Revolution where he got his face kicked in. Holy smokes guys, give us a reason to really care about this guy’s threats.
Overall- B --- Perfectly acceptable Raw with no real downside to it. All the segments made sense and the booking was pretty solid as well. I’m loving this 80% of the show being in the ring stuff. I think we got a total of 25 minutes worth of skits, backstage interviews and whatnot. Everything /* was in the ring. The show is that much better because of it too.
Quick Results
Umaga def. Jeff Hardy to WIN the Intercontinental Championship
Ric Flair & Carlito def. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
Edge def. Rob Van Dam
Melina def. Mickie James to WIN the Women’s Championship
The Great Khali def. The Highlanders
John Cena def. Randy Orton
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest pops
1. John Cena
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Ric Flair
4. Rob Van Dam
Most Heat
1. Umaga
2. Mr. McMahon
3. Edge
4. The Great Khali
Match of the night: Edge v. Rob Van Dam **1/2
Power Rankings5 Points= Title Win
4 Points= World Title defense/win
3 Points= Singles PPV Win
2 Points= Tag PPV Win
2 Points= TV Singles Win
1 Point= TV Tag Win
0 Points= Loss
WWE Champion: John Cena (7-3, 16 points) (Last Week: WWE Champion)—This has been an interesting way of going about pushing this program between Cena and HBK. Friendly, lighthearted, but with a really serious twinge all at the same time. I kind of like it. Cena performed well in his match again tonight, showing that the guy has truly grown in the ring.
Intercontinental Champion: Umaga 4-2, 9 Points (Last Week: 3) — One has to think it was a pretty good night for Umaga. Not only does he get a high profile match for Wrestlemania, he also gets the Intercontinental Championship to boot. I think this is a good move. He’s been booked incredibly well and in a way, much like Shawn Michaels was around 92-93 which isn’t a bad thing. The Mania booking is good for him, especially if it’s Hogan or Austin he faces. If he gives them a good run for their money, he’ll get a rub win or loss. It’s great booking for this guy.
1. HBK 5-2, 8 points (Last Week: 1)— I know I talk a bit much about the ‘big moment’ these days, but no two guys get ‘big moments’ in wrestling like Taker and HBK do. HBK is so good at adding tension to things. You expect things to happen and sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t, but Michaels always keeps you guessing, which is the important thing.
2. The Great Khali, 5-0, 9pts. (Last Week: 3 )— Another squash match and Khali looks like he’s pretty direction-less at the moment, although his plea to management for better competition makes you wonder if Trump picks him up.
3. Edge 3-4, 8pts. (Last Week: 4) )— Edge moves up a notch and was really all around excellent this week. Edge and Van Dam have some fantastic chemistry in the ring and it really showed through tonight with a good 10-12 minute match with some fun counters as well as the two playing off their Vengeance 2006 match a bit which I enjoyed. Edge is really coming into his own in the ring.
4. Jeff Hardy (8-2, 19 points.) (Last Week: IC Champion— After beating half of the mid card, Hardy finally gets toppled for the Intercontinental Championship. It wasn’t that he lost the belt, it was how he lost it that kind of surprised me. Where they go with Jeff from here is a bit of a mystery, but I’m willing to bet he gets one of the slots in the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania in the short term and flies off to ECW shortly thereafter.
5. Ric Flair, 3-3, 5pts. (Last Week: 6)-- While I wouldn’t dare rate Flair higher than this at the moment, I’ll give him the nod over Randy Orton just because he’s been flat out better than him in the past few weeks. He’s consistently entertaining (although not always GOOD) in the ring and has been doing some of the best stick work of his career of late. The Carlito tag team is an interesting concept and we’ll see where it leads.
6. Randy Orton (1-5 , 4 pts.) ( (Last Week: 5 — I can’t rationalize Orton being any higher than 6 this week. Sure, he is and has been the focus of many main story lines since, well, last year, he hasn’t done much in the way of winning. In fact, he’s looked terrible in most of his feuds. The mediocrity continues again this week with a DQ loss to John Cena.
7.Super Crazy (3-3, 5 points) (Last Week: 7) —Saw no action this week.
8. Kenny Dykstra 3-4, 6pts. (Last Week: 8) — See Super Crazy
9. Chris Masters, 3-4, 6 pts. (Last Week: 9) )— See Dykstra.. you get the point.
10. Carlito 3-5, 5pts. (Last Week: NR— Nitro was inactive and Carlito picked up a fall in a tag match tonight, so I’ll give him the bump.
DROPPING OUT: Johnny Nitro, (2-4, 2pts ) (last week NR