WWE RAW 1/15/2007
Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 1/15/2007
From: Bossier City, LA
Matches:
1.)WWE Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy & Maria defeated Johnny Nitro & Melina
2.)Ric Flair defeated Kenny Dykstra
3.)WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James defeated Victoria
4.)JTG defeated Shelton Benjamin
5.)Shawn Michaels defeated Rated RKO by disqualification in a handicap match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.WWE Champion John Cena came out to the ring to open the show, which saw Coach already in the ring with a table and two chairs. Umaga and Estrada also came out for the contract signing. Coach tells Cena that their match at the Royal Rumble is going to be a special match. Estrada will be allowed to pick the stipulation for the match. Estrada decides to make the match a Last Man Standing contest because he thinks Cena will not be able to win the match. Cena signs the contract and afterward jumps over the table to attack Umaga. They went to the floor where Cena nailed Umaga in the head with ring steps and sent Estrada through a table with the FU. This should have had happened later on in the show, but oh well.
2.Melina worked on Maria early on with several kicks and a side suplex. Maria was able to take Melina over with with a hurricanrana so she could tag in Hardy. Hardy clotheslined Nitro followed by a flying forearm. Hardy nailed Nitro with the Whisper in the Wind as well. Hardy is able to pin Nitro following the Swanton Bomb.
3.Backstage, Coach is telling Vince McMahon that what happened earlier tonight wasn’t his fault. McMahon called Donald Trump and couldn’t get a hold of him. He made it clear that it was urgent that he talked to him.
4.Randy Orton and Edge appeared at the top of the ramp way. They taunted DX by having their music hit but then have a heart monitor play only for it to go flat. Obviously they are signaling that DX is dead. Orton doesn’t believe there is anyone who can prevent them from taking out DX tonight. Orton goes backstage to check on something while Edge noted that HBK made his debut here and that it would be the same place where he career would come to an end. They end up bringing Jim Duggan from the backstage area, and he is bleeding from the mouth. They don’t want anyone trying to help HBK tonight and they sent that message by hitting Duggan with the conchairto.
5.Kenny withstood a few chops to dropkick Flair’s knee and connected with a vertical suplex. Flair kicked Kenny to the floor after reaching the ropes as Kenny had the figure four on him. Flair leaps off the top rope to hit Flair with a axe handle! Flair ends up countering a roll up by Dykstra and uses the ropes for leverage to prevail.
6.Backstage, Shawn Michaels has arrived to the arena. Todd Grisham tells him what happened to Duggan, but Michaels only cares about HHH. He intends to handle Rated Rko by himself tonight. Ric Flair comes over and tells Michaels that he would be there to watch his back.
7.Backstage, Vince McMahon reads a letter written by Donald Trump, who didn’t like the skit last week. Vince said he is going to produce more compelling television.
8.Vince McMahon came down to the ring and said that the segment last week was pure brilliance. He thought it was so great that he wanted to show it again in slow motion for the fans. McMahon goes on to say how he is different from Trump. He tells the fans what they want to see. He would have handled the Miss USA issue differently. So, he calls out Miss USA, which is actually just Torrie Wilson. Wilson asked what she could do to make it up to Vince, but Carlito came out before anything escalated. Carlito told McMahon that what he is doing is stupid and that people want to see wrestling. He also told McMahon that he wasn’t cool! The Great Khali ended up coming out to the ring and squashed Carlito with a slam. McMahon obviously liked that happening.
9.Victoria almost won the WWE Women’s Championship after a tilt a whirl slam, but James was able to duck a lariat attempt and kicked Victoria right in the face to retain the title.
10.Chris Masters is in the ring to tell everyone that he is going to win the Royal Rumble in two weeks. He also had a signed document stating that the Master Lock has never been broken. Thus, he issues a challenge for someone to break the hold. Ron Simmons accepted the challenge and broke the hold… thanks to Super Crazy coming out and dropkicking Masters! Simmons finished off the segment with his trademark DAMN!
11.Backstage, Ric Flair has been knocked out. I wonder who could have possibly done that?
12.Shad exposed the turnbuckle but Charlie Haas was trying to be a good partner by putting it back on. However, that distracted the referee and that allowed Shad to trip Benjamin while he attempted a power bomb and JTG got the huge win with a roll up.
13.Backstage, Shawn Michaels said that if tonight was he end of DX, then he was bringing everyone with him. In perhaps the greatest thing to ever happen, Michaels superkicks Todd Grisham!
14.Michaels opened the match with the early advantaging dumping both Orton and Edge to the floor. Michaels tried to keep the advantage, but when he tried to come off the ropes, Edge pulled the ropes down causing Michaels to crash to the floor. Edge nailed Michaels with a big clothesline on the floor and kept control of the contest. Michaels is bleeding when he avoids a spear attempt by Edge, who hits Orton on the apron instead! Michaels hit a top rope elbow drop and looked the super kick. However, Orton got involved and that allowed Edge to hit the spear! Edge grabbed a few chairs to set up the conchairto. The referee disqualifies them. Michaels avoids it and smashes Edge in the face with the chair. Orton is driven face first into the chair as well. Michaels grabs a sledgehammer and nails both men. Michaels hits Orton with his own conchairto and Edge is left pissed on the floor to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Personally, I thought this was yet again a weak show. I thought the opening segment was effective when it comes to promoting the Last Man Standing match. It shows that Cena can be ruthless and not care. Which, he will need to do in order to beat Umaga. That’s probably the most interesting feud on the RAW side. Now, my main complain is the main event. Orton and Edge are clearly the top heels on the RAW brand, and I’d imagine future challengers for Cena (as long as he has the belt). Why can’t they beat Michaels when they have a person advantage? That has always bugged me. I hate when a babyface is able to win a handicap match whether it be cleanly or even by DQ. If you book that type of match, be prepared to have the babyface lose.
It’s been a rough first few episodes of RAW.
Thanks for reading.
