Mr. McMahon then stepped in to resolve the issue setting up a triple threat match main event later in the evening between the three with the winner facing Cena at Wrestlemania.

Before the main event there was some other action. The World’s Greatest Tag Team teamed with Chris Masters to defeat Carlito and Cryme Tyme. Vince McMahon sent Umaga to beat Balls Mahoney setting up tonight’s ECW show where Mr. McMahon is rumored to be involved again. Super Crazy topped Johnny Nitro is singles action while Mickie James retained against Melina. Bobby Lashley also defended his ECW World Title against Kenny Dykstra successfully.

In the main event it looked at times every competitor was going to seal it up but a lot of back and forth action kept everyone in it. Late in the match Shawn Michaels prepared a superkick for Edge only to have Orton catch him. Edge then speared Orton allowing Michaels to espcape and deliver Sweet Chin Music to the Rated R superstar. Michaels then picked up the three count on Orton sealing his trip to Wrestlemania where he will face John Cena for the WWE Championship.

This Weekends No Way Out PPV will be especially tense as Wrestlemania oppenents will be teaming up when Batista and the Undertaker face John Cena and Shawn Michaels. The Donald Trump storyline does appear to be going on for now with the “Apprentice” star set to appear on next Thursday’s special edition of Raw.

Post from: EveryJoe

Action-Packed Raw Solidifies Wrestlemania Main Events

Tonights Raw will also feature Ric Flair taking on Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy. With a win Flair will get a title shot at Wrestlemania. I just don’t see Flair fitting in with this storyline but we will just have to wait and see what storyline WWE is going with here. Tonight we should also see just what WWE is going to do with the Vince McMahon/Donald Trump storyline after reports are saying that it is no longer being considered for Wrestlemania.

Depending on who Undertaker ultimately chooses we could see another Wrestlemania match formed tonight, likely between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. It might not be finalized with an official announcement but I wouldn’t be surprised to see their recent feud continue tonight.

And last but least, Mickie James will be facing Melina defending her WWE Women’s Title.

Post from: EveryJoe

Monday Night Raw Preview – February 5th

This weeks SmackDown was live as opposed to the typical Tuesday tapings. This meant no leaks of twists or anything of that nature. As far as matches went Chris Benoit, the U.S. Champion, retained his title against Finlay. Deuce and Domino defeated Paul London and Brian Kendrick, the current Tag Champs, in a non-title match. The victory throws them into a possible title match at No Way Out.

Other matches had Mr. Kennedy topping Vito and Miz beating Matt Hardy. Not sure where the Miz fits in right now on the show but I hope they give him some direction so he doesn’t seem so thrown in on every episode. The big news of the night wasn’t the matches however but what transpired between them.

Batista took to the ring calling out Undertaker to provide him and the world and answer to who he will be challenging at Wrestlemania 23. Instead of the Dead Man showing up John Cena made a special appearance on SmackDown seeking an answer to the same question. Undertaker then came to ringside only to be interupted by Shawn Michaels who wanted Undertaker to face him at Wrestlemania.

With all four men asking questions and getting no answers Mr. McMahon, who has appeared on every WWE show since the Rumble, showed up to provide a response to everyones questions. The answer: A tag team match at No Way Out with John Cena and tag team partner Shawn Michaels facing Batista and Undertaker. Wow! I have to give WWE props on setting up storylines so this match could happen.

This match will set up the Wrestlemania 23 matches with Undertaker most likely facing Batista and Shawn Michaels taking on Cena but we will just have to wait a few weeks for the PPV when these can become announced matches (hopefully that is).

Also after Kennedy’s win over Vito GM Theodore Long announced he would get a rematch for the World Heavyweight Title against Batista next week on SmackDown. Also the Kane/Booker rivalry from the Royal Rumble heated up when Kane cleared the ring during one of Bookers ceremonies. I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two face of at No Way Out as well.

On the bad side of thing Vickie Guerrero announced should be returning to SmackDown soon. What a shame too, I thought she was done with the show.

Post from: EveryJoe

SmackDown Recap

First of all lets get to the non-wrestling action of the show. As I said before hand last night was Mr. McMahon fan appreciation night and to commemorate to occasion he autographed his picture from the cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine. Donald Trump then appeared on the screen of the arena to declare that Vince wasn’t giving fans what they wanted, value in the form of money! Thousands upon thousands of Donald’s dollars were dropped from the ceiling infuriating Mr. McMahon.

Shawn Michaels opened the show discussing his disappointment at losing the Royal Rumble but his optimism that he would still be able to win the WWE Title. John Cena then came to the arena to defend his title while Edge and Randy Orton closely followed. Before a brawl erupted McMahon announced that Rated RKO would face Cena and Michaels for the Tag Team Titles.

Before the main event Ric Flair warned Cena that Michaels might try to give him Sweet Chin Music after the match to show his intentions for the title. Cena hit the FU on Orton to get the pin and to make both him and Shawn Michaels the new WWE Tag Team Champions. After the match Michaels and Cena exchanged words before the Undertaker appeared on Raw. The Dead Man threw into doubt his Wrestlemania opponent as he stared Cena down as Raw went off the air. We will just have to wait and see who Undertaker will face at Wrestlemania: Cena or Batista?

In the match for the Intercontinetal Championship the Great Khali landed a chop on Jeff Hardy that left him outside of the ring unable to answer the 10-count. Despite winning the match Khali failed to win the title since he won by countout rather than pin or submission. I would expect to see a rematch of this one next week on Raw.

Cryme Tyme fell to the World’s Greatest Tag Team of Charlie Hass and Shelton Benjamin. The loss was their first since joining the Raw roster. After stipulating the match as a No. 1 contenders match Melina topped Maria to become the No. 1 contender for the women’s title. Umaga beat Val Venis in singles action in his first match since his loss to Cena at Royal Rumble. Carlito and Super Crazy beat Kenny and Chris Masters in a tag team match.

Post from: EveryJoe

Cena and Michaels Become Tag Team Champs

Cena took down Umaga meaning their feud is over?!?! Whether it is over or not will play a big role in what goes down from here to Wrestlemania but I would expect to see a new feud spark up in the next few weeks, perhaps with Shawn Michaels.

The WWE has announced tonight as Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night for tonights Raw. How will the Chairman get involved in the action and what impact, if any, will it have on the rest of the Raw storylines.

The only a announced match for tonight is Jeff Hardy against Khali for the Intercontinental title. This is a logical movement for putting Khali into the Raw storyline and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win the title eventually, but maybe not tonight.

Seeing what storylines emerge tonight will give us an early idea who will be involved in Wrestlemania action.

Post from: EveryJoe

Raw Preview

Shawn took advantage of the no DQ rules to use a belt, ladder, and chair among other conventional ojects turned weapons to take out the Rated-R Edge. After having seemingly wearing Edge down enough to get the victory Shawn Michaels was greeted by Edge’s partner Randy Orton who performed an RKO to the fan favorite to allow edge to get the pin and the victory. But the action wasn’t over.

Randy Orton then threw his partner out of the ring in a display of the events to come this Sunday at Royal Rumble. Next Ric Flair, Kenny Dykstra, and Carlito entered the ring as a glimpse of the chaos expected this Sunday took over Raw.

Apparently two weeks of the Donald Trump storyline wasn’t enough for the WWE as they continued to worst story line ever on this weeks Raw. Anyways the piece set up a match between Jonathan Coachman and John Cena and a simultaneous Over the top challenge. After eliminating several opponents Cena himself was eliminated by The Great Khali. Coachman tried to get the pin but the champ kicked out only to be sent through a table by his Royal Rumble opponent Umaga.

In other matches Jeff Hardy defeated Joey Mercury with a pin even though both Melina and Johnny Nitro got involved in the action. Super Crazy beat Chris Masters in their match. Masters had the Master Lock on Super Crazy but the wrestler climbed the top ropes and landed on Masters for the pin. Candice Michelle and Mickie James beat Victoria and Melina. Kenny Dykstra also defeated Carlito.

Post from: EveryJoe

Michaels/Edge Streetfight Takes Center Stage

The action for the nights main event started early in the broadcast when Rated-RKO used “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan as an example first beating him up backstage then performing the con-chair-to on him infront of thousands of fans. Ric Flair responded by giving Shawn Michaels his support and backup. Rated-RKO’s response: another beat down, this time with Flair on the recieving end.

An obviously furious Michaels delivered sweet chin music to Todd Grisham before storming off camera to prepare for his match. Then match time came. Rated-RKO entered first and with the help of Mr. McMahon took away DX signs from the crowd under the threat of those who didn’t comply being thrown out of the arena.

Next entered Shawn Michaels and the match was underway. Rated-RKO and HBK fought hard and long in the see-saw battle with no team gaining enough of an upper hand. Edge then retrieved a pair of chairs and the referee called for the bell. The match was over but the action was not. An extremely bloodied Michaels turned the table first using the chairs then retrieving Triple-H’s sledgehammer taking his anger and frustration out on the team that has caused DX so many problems. Not a bad match at all.

The show opened with the setting of a contract signing. Johnathan Coachman announced that John Cena and Umaga would go head to head at the Royal Rumble and that the match type was up to Umaga’s manager Armando Estrada. Estrada chose a last man standing match which should make for a good match at the Rumble.

In other action Mr. McMahon and Carlito got into an argument over the ‘coolness’ of the WWE owner. Mr. McMahon’s response: A chokeslam from Raw’s newest member The Great Khali.

The feud between the Hardys and MNM was renewed yet again when Johnny Nitro and Melina took on Maria and Jeff Hardy. This match kind of has a double feud involved. The first is the feud I mentioned between the Hardys and MNM while the other is between Nitro and Hardy. I am not sure which line(s) WWE is taking but they seem to be leaning towards the later singles feud. Anyways Hardy and Maria won the match after Hardy landed the Swanton Bomb on Nitro and got the three count.

Ric Flair and Kenny Dykstra faced off yet again with Flair coming out on top after putting his feet on the ropes to get the win. Mickie James beat Victoria on Raw to retain her title again. Chris Masters issued the Master Lock challenge to anyone willing to give it a go. Ron “Damn” Simmons volunteered and appeared to get the victory after Super Crazy interfered but it was ruled that the Master Lock was not broken. JTG of Cryme Tyme faced Shelton Benjamin of The World’s Greatest Tag Team in sigles action. JTG won the match with an assist from his partner Shad.

Despite the horrible preview Raw turned out not to be so horrible after all.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bloody Shawn Michaels Takes Down Rated-RKO

As much as I hoped the Ric Flair and Kenny Dyksta storyline was done WWE gives it the 13th hour renewal and here we are watching the same old same old unfold again. The WWE preview actually mentioned the Divas this week which is never a good sign. I mean they already only get one match a week and then never get hyped it is a sign something needs to change. Maybe a renewal is in store for the Divas but I have a feeling it is more likely that WWE is clueless as where to go once they lost Triple-H.

Now as for my predictions. All I can really say with much confidence is that I would expect to see the Royal Rumble get hyped throughout the broadcast since that is the next big thing upcoming for WWE. They announced the wrestlers for the annual spectacle this week (more on this later) so I would be willing to guess they will mention it at least once.

Post from: EveryJoe

Raw Preview…Sort of

So it appears the rumors were true and Khali has indeed moved to RAW. Coachmen stated he was giving Umaga the night off because of his hard work at NYR and that Cena would face the Great Khali in a non-title match instead.

The match was bad for Cena from the start. Khali is just immensely huge, if you saw RAW last night when Cena and him went toe to toe you know what I mean. Well Khali beat Cena up while Estrada sat at the announcers table commenting on Umaga’s loss and the match at hand.

A steel chair was added to the already explosive match by Estrada and Cena used it against Khali earning the DQ. Umaga then ran into the ring to take on a tired and battered Cena giving him the Samoan Spike and standing over him until RAW went off the air. I guess the whole Umaga storyline is going to continue but I’m not sure how Khali enters into all of this. If I had to venture a guess I’d say eventually we see an Umaga/Khali feud crop up at some point.

Rated-RKO held a ‘celebration’ of sorts on RAW calling their no decision to DX a victory since they took out one of its members. The show also recapped the injury and confirmed The Game will be out 4-6 months. Shawn Michaels will be facing Rated-RKO next week in a 2-on-1 handicap match.

Ric Flair gave Kenny a revenge low blow which allowed Jeff Hardy to get the pin and retain the Intercontinental Champpionship. Victoria and Melina topped Maria and Mickie James in a tag team match. Torrie Wilson helped Carlito get the win over Chris Masters when she hit ‘The Materpiece’ over the head with the ring bell while the referee was distracted. Cryme Tyme defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch in a tag match to reiterate their NYR victory.

The Donald Trump/Rosie O’Donnell bout was as bad as expected with Trump coming out victorious.

Post from: EveryJoe

Umaga Takes Out Anger On Cena

Coming up tomorrow: More recaps and news from New Year’s Revolution including an update on Triple-H’s injury, information on a new WWE wrestler, and a Monday night RAW preview.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Year’s Revolution: Cena Ends Umaga’s Streak, Remains Champ