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.
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