This week's edition of WWE Monday Night RAW did a 4.1 cable rating with a 6.4 share. The show did hours of 3.8 and 4.3. This is slightly down from last weekâs 4.3. Still good news with WrestleMania approaching.
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The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net ...
The show opened with HBK stretching in the backstage area. John Cena walked up to him and they shared a brief stare down. Cena wished him luck in his match against Randy Orton. HBK wished Cena luck against Edge. Cena said there was something else. Before he could say anything more, HBK cut him off and said that he knows heâs turned on all his partners in the past. Michaels said it was different with Cena. Cena wanted to know how it was different. HBK said maybe it wasnât different. Cena said that despite all the budding tension, heâs got his back if something goes wrong with Orton tonight. HBK said he didnât need his help.
Match 1: Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (w/ Edge)
- Back from commercial break, HBK went for a dropkick, but Orton countered into a Boston Crab. Michaels struggled, but eventually reached the bottom rope. HBK quickly latched on a sleeper hold, but Orton countered into a backdrop. Michaels countered the counter into a cross body pin. HBK followed with an attempted baseball slide, wanting to take out Edge. However, Edge moved. HBK went back up to the apron, but Orton caught him, drug him b/t the second and top ropes and planted him with a spike DDT (while his feet were still hanging on the ropes). Orton continued his dominance with a dropkick in the corner and a jumping knee drop in the center of the ring. Unable to score the decisive fall, Orton locked on a rear choke. HBK eventually got back to his feet and broke the hold. He caught Orton with a back drop, leaving both lying. They made it to their feet and HBK scored with a flying forearm. He kipped up and connected with an inverted atomic drop and a body slam to set-up the flying elbow drop. Michaels took the risk and scored with the top rope elbow. He then set-up for the superkick. HBK went for it, but Orton countered and went for the RKO.
Michaels countered and pushed Orton into the ref, but Randy still came back with a diving clothesline. Edge tried to help Orton, handing him the tag title belt. Unfortunately for him, the ref saw it. Orton tried to plead with him and the distraction allowed HBK to roll him up for the win. HBK defeated Orton at 11:29. After the match, Orton and Edge had a quick little argument, but Randy refocused long enough to drop HBK with an RKO onto a chair. Cena made the save before Rated-RKO could do anymore damage.
Mick Foley hyped his book, citing its controversiesâ¦
JR and King showed highlights of Lashley beating Hardcore Holly in a cage match on ECW, plus the aftermath with Lashley jumping thru a section of the cage onto Umagaâ¦
Backstage, Vince asked Armando what kind of mood Umaga was in. Armando said thereâs wasnât anything to worry about. Coach said that Vince looked stressed. Vince said he wasnât stressedâ¦and wasnât worried about the Board of Directors choice for special ref. He said that he tells them what to do, so heâs confident theyâll choose his son, Shane, as he suggested.
Match 2: Jeff Hardy vs. Intercontinental Champion Umaga (w/ Armando)
- As the crowd chanted for him, Jeff scored with a jawbreaker. However, Umaga came right back with a clothesline. He then placed him in the tree-of-woe and drilled him in the face with a jumping headbutt. Jeff found himself lying helpless in the corner. Umaga charged and blasted Hardy with a running rear smash. He then called for the Samoan Spikeâ¦and that was all she wrote. Umaga retained at 4:02.
Backstage, Carlito and Ric Flair were interviewed. They were asked how they felt about facing each other tonight in an effort to determine the final spot in the MITB ladder match. Flair said he had more passion; Carlito said heâd do everything necessary.
Chris Masters got set-up for the Masterlock Challenge. Hacksaw Jim Duggan was the competitor. Masters easily won.
Backstage, HBK said heâs got Cenaâs back tonight. Cena said he didnât need his helpâ¦
Vince McMahon power walked to the ring, making sure to stop by the barber shop set-up on the ramp. McMahon hyped a contract signing for next week b/t he and Trump. He said if Trump gets in his face, heâll bitch slap him. At that point, Eric Bischoff (yeah, seriously) came to the ring. Vince wanted to know what the hell he was doing there. Bischoff said he wasnât the ref, so not to worry. EB said since he lives in Phoenix, he just wanted to stop by and say hello. He said he was looking forward to seeing Donald shave Vinceâs head. At that point, Eric left, but Mick Foley came to the ring wearing his referee shirt. Vince thought Mick was the special ref, so he kissed his ass. He gave Foley his job back and gave him access to come back to RAW and plug his book. Foley took full advantage of the situation. He even goaded Vince into paying his room service bill.
Ultimately, though, Foley revealed that he was not the guest ref for Wrestlemania 23, but rather for a rib eating contest b/t Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns mascot down the road at a restaurant. Vince excused him and demanded that the real guest ref make his presence felt. At that point, Shane McMahon finally made his way to the ring, putting his fatherâs mind at ease. However, Shane didnât appear to have good news. Shane said that they didnât get their choice for special ref. At that pointâ¦Stone Cold Steve Austinâs music hit and the place went nuts!
Austin made his way to the ring, as Vince looked on in stunned silence. After the Rattlesnake made his patented corner to corner middle-fingered salutes, Vince offered him a handshake. Austin laughed, walked away, and requested some beers. Stone Cold walked around drinking beer, as JR hyped him as the special ref. Steve eventually threw beer in McMahonâs face.
The following report is courtesy of wrestleview.com ...
World Tag Team Championship: John Cena & Shawn Michaels v. Rated RKO
Edge and Randy Orton appeared on the titan tron. Orton said there must be some sort of misunderstanding. Orton said Edge and he werenât ready to compete. He said they would be later tonight and theyâd make into the match for their match. Orton told HBK to listen up. He said HBK was robbed at the Oscars last night for not winning best actor. He said Michaels may have Cenaâs back, but not his sides, his back or his jaws. He told John Cena to watch his back because HBK was a liar. He said to everyone who doesnât believe him, Edge and Orton put together a little video recap of âhistoricâ Shawn Michaels.
A video aired putting over all the times Michaels had turned on people in the past. Very awesome stuff. Edge called Michaels a liar repeatedly and said Shawn said having your back and stabbing him in the back are two entirely different things and said weâd see them later tonight.
Cena turned around as HBK mouthed âdo you trust me?â
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Jeff Hardy v. Shelton Benjamin
After back and forth and a commercial break, we came back to Shelton Benjamin being in control, with a headlock. Jeff Hardy fought back again, but this time got back body dropped to the mat. Shelton went for a cover but didnât get anything. Benjamin collected Hardy and hit another backdrop before putting the boots to him on the mat. Shelton slapped on a modified chin lock and again the crowd rallied behind Hardy.
Hardy hit his jawbreaker and hit two clotheslines before hitting a back elbow and a swinging take down. Shelton ducked under a clothesline and leapt to the apron. Shelton went for a springboard move off the top rope but completely botched it and landed on his head. Hardy went for a cover. Hardy hit a crescent kick before hitting the twist of fate. Hardy loaded up the swanton bomb and nailed it for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy via pin fall
Hardy walked up the ramp before Vince McMahon appeared on the titan tron and cut off the fun. He said Umaga was the guy who dethroned Jeff Hardy last week on RAW. He then showed us a bunch of pictures of Donald Trumpâs shaved head.
A video was aired of Ashley Massaro in her Playboy shoot.
Melina was in the back being jealous and complaining about everything. She whined about Ashley, was pissed off about Mick Foley getting attention, especially after she âfired himâ last year, etc. She whined about a âfalls count anywhereâ rematch with Mickie James and her match with Maria later tonight. Johnny Nitro exploded on her and told her to shut up, that she was all caught up in herself.
Johnny Nitro v. Super Crazy
Nitro assaulted Crazy before the bell and laid into Crazy with some super stiff punches. Nitro tossed Super Crazy into the ring steps and then hit a wheel barrel face buster on the outside of the ring. Nitro just walked off, seething still, not giving a crap about his match with Super Crazy. He looked down from the ramp, happy with his work. Crazy was left unconscious.
Winner: No Contest
Melina v. Maria
Melina sat in with a camel clutch, humbling people everywhere. Maria powered out of the move before getting hammered with a kick to the mid section. Maria caught the champion with a boot to the face and a face buster. Maria hit her bulldog and went for the cover but Melina kicked out at two. Maria hit an Irish whip and a nasty lariat before going for the broncobuster. Melina got a knee up just in time and Maria ate it in the, uh, private, uh, area. Her bronco has been busted. Melina rolled her up and got the three count for the win.
Winner: Melina via pin fall
Vince McMahon climbed into the ring and put the match over a little bit more. Vince and down his riches and everyone elseâs riches and how embarrassed Trump would be after the match. He said he was going to give him a billionaire âbitch slapâ. A video aired of Umaga totaling former World Champion Rey Mysterio. Vince introduced to us the man who would assure him victory at Wrestlemania, WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga. Vince said anything Trump could do, he could do better.
After some more Vince Babbling, Donald interrupted him on the Titan Tron. Trump said Umaga was an animal. He said the proper thing to do with animals was to âtameâ them. He said the only way he knew how to tame someone, was to find a superior product, and he said he found that in ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley.
Lashley came out and stared Umaga down in the middle of the ring. Vince screamed for some security from the back. The two broke from security and brawled all around the ring. The two spilled to the outside of the ring and they brawled all up and down the table. The two brawled all around the announce table area before being broken up by security again. Lashley leapt off the ring steps at Umaga who spine bustered him to the floor and began whaling away with lefts and rights before being split up again.
The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net ...
The show opened with Vince McMahon coming to ring, which had a little barber shop set-up in the center. Vince took a microphone and said that the Battle of the Billionaires was on for Wrestlemania. He said in 41 days, Donald Trump steps into McMahonâs yard/house/greatest creation. Vince said he looks forward to beating the holy hell out of Donald after his representative beats Trumpâs. He also looks forward to slapping the hell out of Donald and then shaving his head. Vince proceeded to introduce what other media darlings would look like without hair, including Britney Spears, on the Titantron.
He said he could really do whatever he wants to Donaldâs hairâ¦he could give him a mo-hawk like Mr. Tâsâ¦.he could give him a flattopâ¦he could put him in dreadlocksâ¦or he could even give him the Hogan-cut. Finally, Vince showed a picture of what Trump would look like bald. The crowd was fairly quiet. McMahon introduced his representative, Umaga, and gave Trump a week to announce his. Umaga and Armando came to the ring. Armando took the mic and said itâd be Umagaâs honor to decimate Trumpâs Mania representative. McMahon then gave Umaga an IC title shotâ¦right now!
Match 1: Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga (w/Armando Alejandro Estrada)
- After a commercial and back in the ring, Umaga dominated with a simplistic offense and a leg drop. The Samoan Bulldozer continued to gain momentum, as the crowd chanted for Hardy. Umaga used a trapezius grab to keep Hardy grounded. JR and King hyped Umagaâs role in the Battle of the Billionaires. Jeff eventually made it to his feet, but Umaga took him right back to the mat with a hard clothesline. Umaga went to the second rope and attempted a diving headbutt, but Hardy moved out of the way. Jeff then connected on the Whisper in the Wind, but Umaga came back with a Samoan drop. The big man dragged Hardy to the corner and sat him up against the lowest turnbuckle. He proceeded to charge from the opposite corner and smash Jeffâs face with a running rear smash. The finish came when Umaga won the IC title after a Samoan Spike at an estimated 8:43.
A promo for Mick Foleyâs new book, âThe Hardcore Diaries,â was shown. Mick talked about how he exposed a lot of the backstage happeningsâ¦
Match 2: Ric Flair and Carlito (w/Torrie) vs. Cade and Murdoch
- Flair and Carlito gained early control. Carlito scored with an early springboard back elbow and a Million Dollar knee lift. Murdoch tried to get involved, but Carlito blasted him with a hard left hand. Nonetheless, the distraction allowed Cade to hit a modified side slam and tag Murdoch into the match. Cade and Murdoch worked over Carlitoâs neck and back. The camera continually panned over to Torrie. Murdoch applied a neck vice, but Carlito battled out of the hold. Carlito eventually tagged Flair, who came in and wiped the floor with Murdoch. Naitch gave him a chop block and went for the Figure Four, but Cade tried to interfere. Carlito and Flair took him out with a double clothesline. Flair gave Murdoch a low blow and tagged CCC. Carlito scored with the Back Cracker for the win. Carlito and Flair defeated Cade and Murdoch at 4:29.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed HBK and John Cena. Cena said that last night at No Way Out, they got a big win. He said that he thinks the reason that he and HBK were so successful is that they know exactly where they stand headed toward Mania. Michaels agreed, saying that heâs got Cenaâs back so he can get him at his best at Wrestlemania. HBK then plugged the new DX DVD. Cena didnât think that was good enough, so he plugged âThe Marineâ DVD. They went back and forth trying to out-do each otherâs promos. Big Dick Johnson came into the picture and Michaels gave him the superkick. Cena thanked HBK for having his back.
Further backstage, Edge and Randy Orton talked about their rematch next week against HBK and Cena for the World Tag titles. Orton said heâd soften up Cena tonight and make it easy for them next week. Edge talked about winning MITB again, and how heâd strongly consider using the title shot right after HBK and Cena finished wrestling at Mania. Orton, with a somewhat jealous look, told Edge that thatâs exactly what he should doâ¦
Match 3: Money in the Bank Qualifying Match - Edge vs. Rob Van Dam
- Edge grabbed an armbar to start, but RVD countered into one of his own. The crowd chanted for RVD. Edge battled RVD to a standoff and then grabbed a headlock. He knocked RVD down to the mat with a shoulder tackle, but Van Dam came back with a leg press and a monkey flip out of the corner. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, RVD had Edge in an armbar with a butterfly grip. He switched it over into a hammerlock and then connected with a unique armbreaker out of the submission. Edge got to his feet and poked RVD in the eye. Van Dam threw Edge over the top rope and to the outside, maintaining momentum.
He then placed Edge on the guardrail (stomach-first) and connected with a twirling leg drop off the apron. Back in the ring, Edge kicked RVD before the ECW Original was able to completely get thru the ropes. Edge followed with a swinging neckbreaker. He scored with another neckbreaker for a near fall and applied a rear chinlock. The crowd got behind Van Dam, who used their energy to kick his way out of the hold. They traded blows until RVD scored with a spinning wheel kick in the corner. Unfortunately, Van Dam couldnât capitalize. They traded blows again until RVD scored with a jumping right handed smash. Eventually, Van Dam scored with a spinning back kick. RVD went for Rolling Thunder, but Edge got up and caught him (in mid-air) into a power slam. 1â¦2â¦No! Edge stayed on him, placing on top turnbuckle. The Rated R Superstar went for a sky high superplex, but Van Dam pushed him off. Edge crotched himself on the top rope. RVD came off the top rope with a spinning wheel kick and knocked Edge to the outside.
On WWE RAW tonight, Edge will take on Rob Van Dam in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match qualifying bout.
This confirms that such a match will, indeed, be a part of Wrestlemania 23 for the third consecutive year.
The following report is courtesy of wrestlemag.com ...
We get right into it with Vince McMahon heading to the ring. He introduces Donald Trump, calling him âinfluential and powerful,â with Trump then coming out to a decent pop with The Apprentice theme music playing. Trump is escorted by Torrie Wilson and Ashley Massaro to the ring, as McMahon looks on, somewhat concerned.
Vince tells the girls to get out of his ring, as he starts to interview Trump, referencing WrestleMania 4 and 5, which took place in Trump Plaza in Las Vegas. He claims Trump is intimidated, and says he didnât appreciate his âYouâre fired!â catchphrase being stolen. He also takes a shot at Trump for dropping money from the ceiling. The crowd are really hot for this, as Trump tells the crowd heâll be âdoing it again today,â making reference to giving the crowd value by dropping money. Vince chimes in, and says heâs told security not to allow that to happen, which results in a âYou suckâ chant.
He then asks Trump why heâs here. Trump says heâs taller, better looking, and stronger than Vince, and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania 23. Vince clarifies what Trump has just said, with Trump responding by saying âIâll kick your ass.â Vince refuses, saying he was told to never wrestle again after being injured in a Hell in a Cell match last year. Vince says that instead, why doesnât he select a hand-picked representative, Trump do likewise, and the two will be on their respective wrestlersâ corner. Trump says he doesnât like it, saying Vince is a rich guyâ¦but heâs a richer guy. He goes on to put together a proposal but Vince interrupts, saying Trump is trying to raise the stakes. Trump in turn says Vince is scared. He says that talking cash is boring, so what theyâll do, is if Vinceâs wrestler loses at WrestleMania, Trump gets to shave Vinceâs head, where as if Trump loses, Vince can shave his head. Trump makes reference to both wearing a hairpiece, which he denies, and asks Vince if he agrees to a âLoser has their head shavedâ match. McMahon asks the crowd if they want to see it. They pop. He says no and leaves the ring. Huge heat.
Trump takes shots at Vince for the fake Trump vs Rosie OâDonnell match from RAW a few weeks ago, and goes on to say that Vince has no guts, so to forget the idea. Vince returns to the ring, and agrees to the âLoser gets their head shavedâ match at WrestleMania 23. Really good opening segment actually.
A video package for WrestleMania 23 aired.
Johnny Nitro & Melina vs Super Crazy & Mickie James
The two-thirds of MNM hit the ring first to some decent heat. This crowd has been great so far. Crazy and Mickie James are out next, and the two girls get straight into it as the men keep them apart. Nitro and Crazy get the match started; Nitro getting a quick near fall as Melina kills any crowd interest with her constant screaming from the ring apron. I really wish theyâd figure out that her screeching every week is not giving her heel heat. It just plain sucks.
Nitro slows it down with a chinlock which starts a small âCrazyâ chant. He escapes the hold and hits a springboard which sends Nitro to the corner for a tag, and quickly the women are going at it. Mickie vs Melina should happen every week, as their heat is so obvious, and makes for great TV. Mickie and Super Crazy hit a double baseball slide on Nitro and Melina, before Mickie hoists Melina onto her shoulders. Melina gouges Mickieâs face, and throws her backwards hard to the mat by the hair. She makes the cover, and gets the pinfall win.
Winners: Johnny Nitro & Melina
The Great Khali vs Eugene
Total one minute squash. Eugene had no chance, and this was over in about a minute after Khali hit his two handed slam, with Eugeneâs head bouncing off the canvas. This guy just isnât going to get over at all. Nobody cared about this.
Winner: The Great Khali
Backstage, Maria interrupted Shawn Michaels, who was on the phone to Triple H. Michaels plugged the new DX DVD and seeked Hunterâs approval before ending the call. Michaels turned his attention to WrestleMania, telling us of how his previous 4 WrestleMania main event matches panned out before going on to say that in tonightâs 8-man inter-promotional main event, everybody will find out that âMr. WrestleManiaâ has arrived.
Still backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Ric Flair. They showed highlights of Flair burying Carlito on last weekâs show. The live interview is quickly interrupted by Carlito, who said Flair owes him an apology. Carlito says heâs had a week to think about things, and that Flair was wrong. Flair rips into him again, questioning his heart and passion. Carlito challenges him to a match tonight. Flair accepts.
Jeff Hardy vs Chris Masters
This is a non-title match, with JR telling us that a Masters win will give him an IC title shot at some point in the future.
Masters is sent over the top rope to the outside early, with Hardy diving over the top to hit a cross body on the outside. Masters quickly regains control in the ring after a powerbomb as weâre reminded that Mastersâ Masterlock is âofficiallyâ unbroken still. Masters hits a big backdrop and locks in a chinlock, which Hardy breaks. Masters is hit with a dropkick and a mule kick. He heads to the top but is crotched on the top rope. Masters quickly locks in the Masterlock, but Hardy manages to get to the ropes after a good minute of being locked in the hold. Masters attempts a suplex from the ring apron back into the ring, but Hardy escapes it, and quickly rolls Masters up to get the win.
Winner via pinfall: Jeff Hardy
Back in the ring following commercials, Jerry Lawler gives Roddy Piper a nice little introduction, and Portlandâs own comes out to a huge standing ovation. Piper heads to the ring looking touched by the response heâs getting. He says its nice to be home, and that unless youâve had cancer, you donât know how much all the well wishes mean to him. He says the fans are a class act and that Portland, Oregon is a place of class. He also thanks every wrestler backstage for contacting him to find out how he was doing. He jokes that even WWE sent him a chocolate bar.
This weekâs edition of WWE RAW did a 4.2 cable rating with a 6.2 share. This high number can be credited to Monday Night Football being out of the way, along with the beginning hype for Wrestlemania 23.
Last weekâs edition earned a 4.1.
The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net ...
The show opened with HBK coming to the ring. He grabbed a mic and said that last week, he said that no mere mortal man would keep him from winning the Rumble. Well, Taker is no mere mortal man. HBK said that he was still going to main-event Wrestlemania 23 and take the WWE Championship.
He said he knew the people were saying that Taker gets to choose who heâs going to face. HBK knew all that, but he said that if Taker chooses Batista, it leaves the WWE Champion wide open. Thus, Michaels threw his hat into the championship ring, which brought out the WWE Champion John Cena. Cena limped to the ring, grabbed a mic, and made sure he was hearing HBK correctly. However, Cena reminded Shawn that it wasnât up to them, but rather the Undertaker. At that point, Edge came out with a microphone and said that Michaels vs. Cena wasnât going to happen. Edge reminded HBK how heâd predicted that Michaels would come away from the Rumble with a feeling of âclose, but no cigar.â
The Rated-R Superstar also reminded Cena of his numerous wins over the champ and that heâs undefeated at Mania. Edge, thus, believes he should get the title shot if Taker chooses Batista. Randy Orton came to the ramp at that point. Orton addressed his tag partner first. He said that they may be tag champs, but itâs every man for himself when it comes to the WWE title. Orton said Edge had faced Cena like 30 timesâ¦Randy has never even had one. Edge said the reason for that would be thatâ¦Cena interrupted the âpuss bagsâ and told them to either shut up or come to the ring and fight him and HBK. Rated-RKO headed to the ring, but Vince McMahon appeared on the Titantron and told them to stop right there. VKM made a tag title match b/t Rated-RKO and Cena/HBK.
Match 1: Cryme Tyme vs. The Worldâs Greatest Tag Team
- Haas, with corn rows, started it off against Shad. They locked up, with Haas going after Shadâs leg and then his arm. Haas switched form an armbar to a headlock, but Shad came back with a series of shoulder tackles. Shelton came in while the refâs back was turned and superkicked Shad in the back of the leg. Haas went to work from there. Shad tried to fight back, but Haas used a single leg takedown to continue to build momentum. Shelton tagged in and further worked over Shadâs leg. Shad again tried to fight back, but Shelton used a single-leg takedown and quickly switched right into a half Boston Crab. JTG eventually got the tag and cleaned house. He scored back elbow on Shelton and went after Haas. Shad tried to take Shelton out of the ring to leave his partner alone with Charlie, but Benjamin skinned the cat and caught Shad with a head scissors that sent the big man out of the ring. JTG came up from behind Shelton with a roll up, but Haas gave him a DDT. Shelton scored the pin soon after. TWGTT defeated Cryme Tyme at 3:38.
Match 2: Melina vs. Maria
- Maria scored a quick near fall with a roll-up. She then gave Melina a wedgy and a Bronco Buster. Melina came back with several hard shots to the face and a hair pull that sent Maria to the mat. She then placed Maria between the second ropes near a corner turnbuckle and kicked her in the back. Maria came back with another roll-up and eventually scored with a jawbreaker. However, Melina regained control with a one-woman flapjack and a unique submission move. The finish came when Maria tapped. Thus, Melina defeated Maria to become #1 contender at 2:45.
Backstage, HBK was interviewed. Michaels looked annoyed and said that heâd done pretty well against Rated-RKO and tonight heâd win the tag titles. When asked how his chemistry would be with Cena, HBK said that with all due respect to the champâ¦Cena is no Triple H.
Further backstage, Super Crazy told Mickie James that he was super and crazy. Melina said it was crazy for Mickie to think sheâd be womenâs champ after they wrestled for the belt.
Match 3: Val Venis vs. Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada)
- Venis tried to gain first strike points before the bell rang, but Umaga wasted no time putting the Big Valbowski down with a Samoan Drop. The Samoan Bulldozer then placed him in the tree-of-woe and clobbered him with several right handed shots. He followed with a jumping/diving headbutt. Umaga repositioned Venis and sat him in the corner. He then connected with a running rear smash and got the win soon after following the Samoan Spike. Umaga defeated Venis at 1:49.
Vince McMahon came to the ring sporting a cowboy hat with the Coach and some security guards. JR and King mentioned that Vince would be having âFan Appreciation Nightâ on ECW tomorrow night, as well. Vince said that the first thing he wanted to say was âHowdy partner!â He said phrases like that were as ridiculous as people that wear cowboy hats. He called those that wear hats stupid. Vince had a huge picture frame behind him with a large cloak over it. He said tonight was his night to give back to the little people. The crowd chanted, âYou Suck.â He said it was his night to say âThank Youâ to all the fans for helping make him a billionaire. He then promised to give one member of the crowd a gift of material wealth. After searching thru the crowd, he picked out an attractive woman in a mini-skirt. She came into the ring. Vince said he understood that she must be nervous standing in the ring with him. Her name was Jackie. After a drum roll, Vince pulled the cloak off the frame to reveal a huge, framed version of his Muscle and Fitness cover from early last year. That was Jackieâs prize. The crowd booed the hell out of him, as he told her to return to her seat.
Donald Trump appeared on the Titantron at that point. Trump said that Vince claimed to tell the audience what they wanted, when in actuality they had no choice and no alternative to Vince and his product. Donald said he knew the audience better than Vinceâ¦he said they want value for what they paid for. Trump had buckets of money dumped from the rafters. Vince said those were just pieces of paper, but King insisted it was real. The fans in the crowd certainly acted like it was real. Vince was pissed, as it rained cash all over the arena. McMahon said Trump had not heard the last of this. He said the fans didnât deserve that money and tried to take it from the fans at ringside. Vince stormed off.
The 1/22 edition of WWE Monday Night RAW drew a final 4.1 cable rating with a 6 share. The first hour scored a 4.0 rating, while the second hour scored a 4.1 rating.
This is the same rating the show drew last week and is a solid number for the company heading into the Royal Rumble PPV this Sunday.
