On Monday, April 2, 2007 at 11:30 PM EST WWE RAW
April 2, 2007
Dayton, OH
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
John Cena’s music hit and the Champ came out, with belt still in hand. After soaking in the Internet fan boos in the crowd, he held up his belts and let us all know ‘the champ is still here’. Shawn Michael’s music hit and he came out to the ring himself.
HBK put over the fact that Cena was still here and still the champ. HBK said being out here was like re-living a bad dream. He said this was usually the time after WM where he comes out and talks about the awesome match they had and how once again, he Shawn Michaels and his opponent made history. HBK said their match on the other hand, it wasn’t about screw jobs, mind games, egos ‘brother’, who got cheered and who got booed. It was a match about winning and losing. He said Cena won and he lost and he didn’t like it.
HBK said he was sick and tired of looking at guys and look them in the eye and lie to himself by telling them he wasn’t the better man. He said that would end tonight. HBK said Cena won last night, but there was no way he was the better man.
Cena backed off and looked out into the crowd and came back at HBK. He said if HBK wanted to cry he could, but if he wanted to question his manhood, he was challenging him to a fight. He said if HBK wanted a rematch, he’d give him one anytime and any place. HBK said currently, he wasn’t busy. He said right here and right now seemed good.
Coach’s music came out and he interrupted the proceedings. Coach said, as per Mr. McMahon, the WWE Championship wouldn’t be defended here tonight. He said the two were forgetting they were Tag Champs and they’d defend the belts tonight. Coach said he contacted the other brands and let them know they would be competing in a ten team, 20 man over the top rope battle royal. He said their belts were on the line and the match would begin right now.
****Commercial****
World Tag Team Championship—10 Team Battle Royal
John Cena & HBK v. King Booker & Finlay v. RVD & Sabu v. Kenny Dykstra & Chris Masters v. Cryme Tyme v. Deuce & Domino v. The Highlanders v. Elijah Burke & Matt Striker v. Eugene & Jim Duggan v. Chavo Guererro & Gregory Helms
Order of Elimination
1. Chris Masters & Kenny Dykstra
2. Cryme Tyme
3. Eugene & Hacksaw Jim Duggan
4. The Highlanders
5. Deuce & Domino
6. Matt Striker & Elijah Burke
7. Rob Van Dam & Sabu
8. King Booker & Finlay
The final two were King Booker & Finlay and the team of Cena & HBK. Booker and Finlay worked over Cena in the corner but Cena began to fight back and fight out. Finlay got Cena up on the ropes while Booker kept his eye on HBK. Cena ducked under a clothesline and Finlay clattered into Booker. Cena almost eliminated Finlay but the Irish man landed on the apron. He began to slug away at Cena before HBK showed up out of nowhere with sweet chin music.
Winners and STILL World Tag Champions: John Cena & HBK
Coach came out and announced that there was going to be a second ten-team battle royal and it would happen right now. The Hardy Boyz music hit and they came out to the ring as we went to commercial.
****Commercial****
World Tag Team Championship—10 Team Battle Royal
John Cena & HBK v. The Hardy Boyz v. Brian Kendrick & Paul London v. Cade & Murdoch v. Val Venis & Viscera v. Marcus Cor Von & Kevin Thorne v. Regal & Taylor v. Johnny Nitro & The Miz v. Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman v. Chavo Guererro & Gregory Helms
Order of Elimination
1. Val Venis & Viscera
2. William Regal & Dave Taylor
3. Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman
4. Marcus Cor Von & Kevin Thorne
****Commercial****
5. Johnny Nitro & The Miz
6. HBK & John Cena
HBK eliminated his own partner, ejecting John Cena up and over the top rope. HBK left up the ramp saying he had ‘one goal’. Apparently it’s all about the WWE title.
7. Chavo Guererro & Gregory Helms
8. Brian Kendrick & Paul London
9. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
Winners and NEW World Tag Team Champions: The Hardys
Jeff and Matt celebrated in the ring with their newly won belts.
****Commercial****
Todd Grisham was in the back with HBK. Michaels said the Tag Team Championships were only muddying the waters for John Cena. He said it was his goal and the only focus Cena needs. Randy Orton interrupted and said the only reason HBK would get a rematch from Cena was because Cena knew he could beat him. HBK said Cena wasn’t the better man and neither was he. Orton said we’d see it about it.
A great music video aired putting over Wrestlemania 23 last night.
Coach was warning Vince that he might be in for it when he comes out to speak to the people. Vince came across Candice & Maria. He took his hat off and asked them how they felt about his new look. They said he looked wonderful. He came across Eugene and Cryme Tyme who were trying their hardest not to laugh. Of course Ron Simmons came around the corner and gave us a ‘damn’. Vince said he was boiling and he was going to take it out on the crowd.
****Commercial****
A quick recap of the Battle of the Billionaires aired.
Lilian Garcia introduced Vince McMahon, who came out wearing a ridiculous hat.
Vince got on the mic and said he bet the people loved finding humor in the misfortunes of others. He said April 1, 2007 would go down In history as a day of infamy. He said he blamed it all on Steve Austin. He said had it not been for Austin, Donald would be bald right now, not him. Vince said he was wiping the slate clean because he had the authority after all. He said he was changing the record book as of this moment.
He had Lillian announce that the winner was him. Vince said to prove his point, he was going to take Bobby Lashley’s world championship belt and he would be defending his title against Umaga tonight. The crowd cheered for Austin. Vince said he damn sure never would want him around again. Vince said no one would see him bald. Vince said his hat was surgically cemented on his head until his hair grows back. He said his doctor said he had more testosterone running through him than an all-male prison.
Vince said that no one would ever see him embarrassed again. He said the fans had ‘no chance in hell’ of ever seeing him bald. Vince went to leave before Bobby Lashley’s music hit and he came out to the ring.
Lashley stared at McMahon smiling. McMahon went to punch Lashley and missed as Lashley yanked his hat off exposing his bald head. McMahon ran around the outside of the ring trying to wear everything to mask his head, using JR’s hat, King’s crown a towel at the time keeper’s table and even sticking his head under Lilian Garcia’s dress. Lashley ripped her dress off and Vince went running off up the ramp.
****Commercial****
Ric Flair & Carlito (w/Torrie) v. World’s Greatest Tag Team
Shelton and Carlito locked up in the middle of the ring. Carlito grabbed a shoulder block before the two went into the ropes and exchanged shoulder blocks. Shelton won the fight and landed some mounted punches on Carlito. Shelton rushed Carlito into his corner but didn’t stay on the youngster and Carlito ended up fighting out of the corner. Shelton cut Carlito off with a stiff Drop kick before Haas tagged in and rushed Carlito to the corner.
Haas whipped Carlito to the ropes and kicked Carlito square across the face before gathering him and decking him with a hard right hand. Haas grabbed Carlito and led him to the corner allowing Shelton Benjamin to tag back into the match. Benjamin hit a nice back suplex before going for the cover attempt. Shelton slapped on a rear chin lock. The crowd rallied Carlito who fought out and hit his springboard back elbow, leaving both laid out.
Flair cheered Carlito to the corner and got the tag and cleaned house. Shelton reversed an Irish whip attempt and hit a back body drop on Flair before Shelton and Haas went for their finisher. Carlito cleaned Benjamin out of the ring, enabling Flair to hit a chop block and then slap on the figure four. Haas tapped out quickly.
Winners: Carlito & Ric Flair via submission
JR and King put over the Hall of Fame induction ceremony last Saturday night.
Apparently we’re getting a Melina photo op when we get back.
****Commercial****
Todd Grisham was down in the audience with Timberland. Timberland said he was doing great. He said he was here as a fan, not as Timberland. He gave everyone a ‘woo’. He said some other weird stuff before Grisham thankfully cut him off. He put over Timberland’s got a new album coming at and there’ll be Divas in his music videos.
Melina’s music hit and she came out to the ramp with her belt. She said she was looking forward to being in Timberland’s video. She said last night, she proved to the world that Ashley was nothing more than another pretty face. She said posing for Playboy was cute, it pales in comparison to being the Women’s Champion. She said in celebration of being her being incredible, she was going to pose for the paparazzi. Mickie James showed up out of nowhere and hit a brutal implant DDT on Melina, making her retarded. Mickie jumped around like an idiot before leaving Melina in a heap in the middle of the ring.
****Commercial****
The Great Khali v. Super Crazy
Crazy came right at Khali before getting flung across the ring like a chaloopa. Crazy hit a missile drop kick before Crazy psyched up and came at him only to get chopped in the head. Khali hit his double choke slam and that’s that.
Winner: The Great Khali via pin fall
Armando Estrada was with Mr. McMahon in the back. Estrada asked him to take it easy. McMahon snapped on him and said he wouldn’t be taking it easy. He snapped a cigar in Estrada’s face and said Umaga just found himself a tag team partner and he had better not fail him.
****Commercial****
Maria was with the Hardy’s. Jeff said it was awesome to be six time tag team champions. Matt said they had a lot of ups and downs, but nothing was more perfect then this moment of winning a tag team championship.
A video putting over Steve Austin’s new movie aired.
Edge’s music hit and he came out to the entrance ramp with a mic in hand. He said a lesser man wouldn’t be standing here tonight. He said it took every ounce of energy in his body to pull himself out of bed this morning after the hell he went through in the MITB match at Wrestlemania last night.
He said it made him a little punchy. He said he didn’t know if he was comprehending everything the right way but he was pretty angry HBK would demand and be granted another shot at the WWE Championship. He was angry that Orton wanted a shot at the title as well. What really irked him was that Cena was STILL the WWE Champion.
He said he found it all amusing because he knows HBK was the same guy he bashed over the head with a Steel Chair countless times. He said he knew Orton was the same gullible ego-maniac he had outsmarted time after time. He said he knew Cena was a fighting champion, but he also knew he was the same champion he had beaten countless times. He said they could call themselves by their cute little nick names because his name was ‘the best’. He said everyone would be forced to call him the next WWE Champion.
Estrada, Umaga and Lashley are all walking towards the ring. The ECW Championship is up for grabs next!
****Commercial****
ECW World Championship—Handicap Match
Bobby Lashley v. Umaga & Armando Alejandro Estrada
Umaga jumped Lashley on the ring apron and tossed Lashley to the deck. He followed him out to the arena floor and tossed Lashley into the ring steps before tossing the champion back into the ring.
Umaga whipped Lashley but got caught with a back elbow. Lashley charged out of the corner and ducked under Umaga and speared Estrada into the corner. Umaga capitalized on the distraction and resumed chopping away at Lashley’s chest. Lashley went for a sunset flip but Umaga sat out and nearly got a three count.
Umaga kept on stomping and kicking away at Lashley on the mat before the champion began to mount a bit of a comeback. Umaga cut it all off with a nasty looking Samoan drop. Estrada was instructing his client the entire time, taunting Lashley every time he was slammed to the mat. Umaga sat out on Lashley’s chest, using the ropes as a springboard. When he made sure Lashley was harmless, Estrada chimed in with a few cheap choke attempts.
Umaga went for the springboard sit out again, but Lashley got his legs up. Lashley hit a DDT but Umaga no sold it and booted Lashley in the face. He went for a cover but Lashley kicked out. Estrada kicked Lashley and high tailed it out before Lashley could get his hands on him. The two exchanged some lefts and rights before Umaga caught the champ with a nice belly to belly. Umaga went for a cover before letting his manager to choke away at Lashley some more.
The challenger dropped a knee across Lashley’s face. Umaga hit a body slam and Estrada went for a cover but got nothing. Umaga went for a cover of his own but again, Lashley kicked out. Lashley fought back in the corner before Umaga hit a throat thrust, flat backing the ECW World Champion.
Estrada went for another cover, but he got thrown off rather harshly. Umaga continued to lay the boots to his opponent. Lashley began to fire it up again but yet again, Umaga cut him off with a brutal side kick, much to the pleasure of Estrada. Umaga choked Lashley out in the corner. Lashley began to fight out of the corner before Umaga flattened him with a clothesline. Estrada hit a cheap kick of his own before stepping on the Champion twice.
Umaga set up Lashley and went for the running ass to the face. Umaga reared back and connected, cold cocking the champion. Umaga went for the Spike, but Lashley blocked it and tossed Estrada to the side. Lashley came roaring back and connected with an absolutely huge spear, but Estrada broke up the cover.
Lashley grabbed Estrada and bullied him into the corner and Umaga came clattering into his manager. Lashley was already bounding off the ropes and shoulder blocked Umaga through the ropes and to the outside. Lashley loaded up Estrada in the power slam and hit him with the dominator for the win.
Winner and STILL ECW World Champion: Lashley via pin fallRAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- As far as night after Wrestlemania Raws go, this one was pretty under-whelming. Of course, topping the past few weeks would be really tough, but I was surprised at how little WWE accomplished tonight. HBK heeled hard on Cena, but there wasn’t too much focus on it so it didn’t really have any impact, at least in my opinion. To boot, the battle royal segment was WAY, WAY too long. By the way, why have TWO battle royals if HBK was planning on screwing Cena anyway? Regardless, it’s not the end of the world but it was a little odd.
Everything /* was just sort of there. It looks like we’ll get Melina-Mickie at Backlash, but other than that, nothing of note really happened.
McMahon ran around bald in an entertaining segment. By the way, AS SOON as the clock struck 10, Lashley lifted the wig. That’s timing. The handicapped match was a little lame. There was just a 15 minute long Umaga control segment before Lashley bumped him out of the ring and pinned Estrada. Both guys are red hot and are getting a ton of attention. A title change would have been PERFECT leading into tomorrow night, especially with a super screw job finish. Lashley chases for two months and wins the belt back would’ve worked fine, but instead we got a pretty bland, lack luster match.
It seemed more like a big night off tonight than a real shocker of a show to get the new year going.
Overall- C- -- As far as Raw this year has been concerned, this one was really weak. Nothing really got going and nothing of real note happened. It wasn’t awful, but it was pretty weak all things considered, especially coming off the last two shows.
Quick Results
John Cena & Shawn Michaels won a 10-Team Battle Royal
The Hardy Boyz won a 10-Team Battle Royal to WIN The World Tag Team Championships
Carlito & Ric Flair def. The World’s Greatest Tag Team
The Great Khali def. Super Crazy
Bobby Lashley def. Umaga & Armando Alejandro Estrada
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. Shawn Michaels
2. John Cena
3. Bobby Lashley
4. The Hardy Boyz
Most Heat
1. Mr. McMahon
2. Umaga
3. Edge
4. Randy Orton
Match of the night: Umaga & Armando Estrada v. Lashley **1/4
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 (12-4, 29 points) (Last Week: WWE Champion)—Not the greatest night for Cena. First HBK heels on him pretty hard and then he gets dumped by his own tag partner and loses the Tag belts. It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of this feud plays out.
Intercontinental Champion: Umaga 6-4, 15 Points (Last Week: IC Champion) — WWE keeps on protecting Umaga as best they can and as soon as Estrada was added to the match tonight, I knew our chances of a new champ were pretty much out the window. It was an ok match for the most part, but the monster community is a little crowded these days on Raw. A move to ECW or Smackdown would probably make sense.
1. The Great Khali, 8-0-1, 16pts. (Last Week: 2 )— Khali moves into my #1 spot. He’s got the same amount of wins as Michaels, won at Wrestlemania and, uh, yeah, is undefeated. Makes sense to move him up despite the fact that Michaels will likely be getting a rematch.
2. HBK 8-4, 15 points (Last Week: 1) — Well it’s been a rough week for HBK, so I’ll move him down a slot. He tapped out cleanly to Cena last night at Wrestlemania and tonight lost the tag titles, which he said he didn’t care about. A title loss and losing clean loses you the number 1 spot.
3. Jeff Hardy (11-5-1, 24 points.) (Last Week: 5 ) — Hardy definitely turned heads in his MITB match last night and won the tag belts back. I don’t expect him to stick around in this spot for very long, but he gets the bump with a title win that Orton and Edge didn’t get this week.
4. Edge 4-6, 10pts. (Last Week: 3) — They gave us a promo tonight with Edge only to announce that HBK and Orton were getting a #1 contender’s match with him next week, killing Edge’s promo saying he’d be involved. *Sigh*
5. Randy Orton 3-9 , 7 pts. (Last Week: 4) -- Orton butts into HBK’s interview but again, it’s more fodder for the likely-to-happen Edge program. Other than that, it was a very quiet night for Orton.
6. Ric Flair, 4-5-1, 6pts. (Last Week: 6) — Got the fall in the tag match tonight. It looks like we may get a Flair-Carlito program, but I don’t know if it’ll happen for a while.
7. Carlito 5-6-1, 8pts. (Last Week: 7) —Another rather under-whelming performance from Carlito tonight, but a win is a win.
8. Chris Masters, 3-5, 6 pts. (Last Week: 8) — Nowhere to be found tonight.
9. Super Crazy 3-4-1, 5 points (Last Week: 9) ) — Crazy lost, but then again, everyone loses to Khali. Johnny Nitro didn’t win, so Crazy can stay put.
10. Johnny Nitro, (2-6-1, 2pts ) (last week: 10) — Who?
OTHERS : Kenny Dykstra 3-7, 6pts. (Last Week: NR)