The 10th Day New Report for 2.1.06
Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 02.01.2006
If Undertaker sees his shadow midcarders get held down for another six months
Check out my review of the new Superstar Billy Graham DVD. I have a new appreciation for the man and I think most wrestling fans will after watching it.
MAILBAG
"The last episode of TNA Impact! scored an 0.9 rating, up from 0.8 the week before. Slow and steady…just gets you canceled"
Really, you think so. Despite the fact that TNA has gone up in the demographics for spike. Impact will get better ratings.
-Larry
I was pretty much just joking on that. However, they did cancel the ECW show they had. Or did ECW just go belly up on them? I honestly think that TNA is showing great upward movement and I wouldn't be surprised if they were given a prime time show sometime within the next year or so. I would just stay away from WWE. Or better yet they should have a Saturday late afternoon show like WCW Saturday Night.
"Now the rub is that with WB and UPN merging WWE has no leverage in negotiations, because there is no other network that would really pick the show up. This means that what ever they put on the table WWE will probably have to take. "
That's only among broadcast networks, though, right Leonard? There is still cable and hadn't WWE been interested in having USA pick up SD! in addition to its recent acquisition of Raw? Thanks for the usual great column.
-Sylvia
Pretty much. Although there wouldn't really be a lot of cable outlets for them either. They can't go back to Spike or Mtv. USA Network wasn't keen on picking up both Velocity and Heat, so they might not want more WWE programming than they now have. I don't think ESPN would be interested, especially considering they are part of the Disney empire that owns ABC and USA is part of the NBC/Universal family where WWE will be getting Saturday Night's Main Event back on the Peacock. Of course, UPN is part of the Viacom/CBS group, so who knows. WB was really the only real viable network that they could go to and take viewers away from UPN and therefore get leverage with.
Leonard,
Hey man, great work as always. You said that they do a flair tribute every time they're in Charlotte. If I remember correctly, when they did the big Flair tribute, it was in South
Carolina (either Greenville or Columbia, I can't remember which), not Charlotte. I know it's still rather close, but the distance is the same from Hartford to Boston, London to Birmingham, or Kansas City to St. Louis. Close, but not quite, ya know?
-Ken
Durham, NC
Thank you for the correction. I should have just said anytime that they are in the Carolinas. It's all Flair country. And adjacent to Flavor Country.
I love the way you ranted on Edge's promo. He gets to you just the way he is supposed to. All you could do was rip on him for what he said word for word proving Edge did his job. He got your heat. You know what he fucked Lita, he fucked his buddy's woman. It happens all the time. Now the inet writers hate him (I doubt the locker room does)for something based on personal issues. There are a lot of other wrestlers likely beating their women , doing illegal drugs or acts or who are general assholes but Edge is a horrible wrestler now. Well Leonard, the fact that his promo sticks so well with you proves he is a great entertainer and his matches have always spoken for themselves so relax on the I hate Edge shit it is getting old.
-Rob
I never directly said I hated Edge. I ragged on him a bit, but I rag on everybody. In fact, in my reasoning for picking him in the WWE Fantasy Manager game I said that he was part of a hot angle and they should keep the title on him. If I hate him, wouldn't I want the belt off of him? Now, I do hate Lita, so maybe some of that negativity is rubbing off on Edge. And that has nothing to do with her screwing over Matt Hardy and sleeping with Edge and blah, blah, blah. I could care less. It's that she has descended into Stephanie McMahon territory where she's this shrill harpy with very limited in ring and mic skills who thinks she's all that. Now, that's the character I know. However, you can cross a line where you go from drawing positive heel heat to negative heel heat. Meaning that people don't love to hate your character, they just hate your character flat out. I think Edge can be a viable long term heel champion for the company, but I would tone his act down a tad. He's starting to remind me of Triple H where he cuts the same ten minute promo every week. Of course, he has the belt off of him now and we'll have to see how much damage that does to his character and push.
If I can be more negative here for a minute let me say that I don't care for all the negative criticism I've received lately on my personal opinions. They are my opinions and I'm entitled to them. You can offer a counter opinion or take issue with a thought, but you don't need to blindly attack. As soon as I say I don't like something I'm labeled a cliched internet writer who hates everything. I'm sure it would be much better if I loved everything WWE spat out? I talk about stuff I like as much as stuff I don't. I don't like Lita. I don't like the Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels angle. I don't like Chavo coasting on Eddie's memory for a crowd pop. I don't like Kurt Angle turning face. I don't like where the Mickey James character and angle is. I do like the Boogeyman. I do like Shelton Benjamin's mamma and that whole angle. I like Fit Finlay. I have supported Triple H lately. I do think Candice Michelle has shown great improvement in and out of the ring. I liked JBL back when the rest of the internet didn't. I liked the push Kid Kash was getting before he was injured. I liked the increased focused the tag divisions on both brands were getting a few months ago and don't like how that has now gone away thanks two super teams in Big Show and Kane and Batista and Rey Mysterio having held the titles. I like Kevin Von Erich.
So apparently wrestling news reports such as this are available only on the main wrestling page, not on the news or columns page? That explains why I haven't read any reports in a while.
"I love Flair, but don't they do Flair tribute night every time they go to Charlotte anymore."
I wish. The first Flair tribute was in Greenville, SC. The night before, where were they? Charlotte. What were they doing? A PPV. What did flair do? Get kicked out of ringside in the first few minutes of the HHH/Kevin Nash match, because they didn't want him getting cheers when HHH was trying to be a bad-guy. God forbid they let us cheer who we want.
"The members of the Spirit Squad who appeared on RAW Monday were Mike Mondo, Nick Nemeth, Nick Mitchell, Ken Doane and Johnny Jeter. "
I'm not sure which is scarier - the Spirit Squad, or the fact that that was me in high school. Talk about flashbacks...
SpikeTV should really reconsider airing a TNA special on Feb 13th. Raw will still take place in Greensboro (which I'll be attending), but it wont air. Give TNA a 2 hour show, have sting HEAVILY featured, that way, people flipping channels who see wrasslin' on tv will have a better chance at seeing someone familiar (other than JJ) who might make them stop, then stick around. I've heard people say that because they didn't do anything special ratings-wise for their first special, they won't do anything special now. Well, that night, they went against the apprentice, survivor, ER. Not exactly the weakest competition.
Having said that - if they don't start building their fanbase, they're going to be doomed. I mean, the Sting storyline sounds fun...for the fans in Orlando.
"Notice Edge is still carrying Cena's personalized belt. "
Yeah, that doesn't make sense. Edge hasn't even mocked Cena yet with his belt. He just kinda has it, like that belt is the normal WWEHT.
"Did Kane lose his other contact? "
Nope, it's always been that way. Well, maybe not always, since the beginning of his character, but at least since he had to take the mask off.
"I'd be interested in picking up the Billy Graham DVD. I can't say I've seen a lot of his matches from his prime."
Oddly enough, if you're planning on picking up the book also, its cheapest to get it from wwe shopzone, even after shipping. Wow. I think I'll be ordering the book/dvd package from them.
"It's the debut of the Spirit Squad. It's like Queer Eye for the Varsity Club. I would pay good money to have Steve Williams just run out and spine buster all those pukes. "
That would be great.
"Triple H is back into doing ten minute promos that ramble on and don't say anything. "
Good thing HHH is helping build future stars. Doesn't make edge look inferior at all. He builds up an injury-prone batista (who is OLDER than him), and he cuts the legs out from Randy Orton. Ya know, Batista will probably benefit MUCH MORE from taking time off than he did from beating HHH 3 months in a row. I recently watched those 3 matches, and all 3 sucked, but at least the hell in a cell was somewhat fun. Cena's second match with JBL (I Quit match) was A LOT more fun than the first two HHH/Batista matches. Speaking of which, ever notice that HHH isn't that good of a wrestler? Don't get me wrong, he can put on some damn fine matches, even good wrestling matches, but only with people like flair, hbk, benoit, angle - ie, people who could make a broomstick look good. HHH's best matches were from a long ago time. A time where there were no rules. Every match was no-dq, and fun was had by all. That's when HHH is at his best.
Fantasy manager: I agree with Angle, HHH, Orton, Lashley, and Boogeyman. Instead of edge, I picked Cena, hoping he'd win the title back. Didnt pick RVD or Finlay, but did pick shelton (figured he was on a win streak with his mama) and Candice (figured mickie would find a way to give Vince's Devils another win). Those didnt work. Damn.
-Manu
It's the new site layout. News reports get their own section and prominent display at the top of the page.
WWE finally listened, because they got Flair away from Triple H and let him be a face. I think Vince does listen to the fans, it just takes him longer sometimes depending on what mood he's in.
I think that's a very good idea for a TNA special to run on a Monday if it will be unopposed. Then you hype the hell out of what day it is on. I could certainly see the show doing a decent rating and them picking up some new viewers that way.
I already picked up the DVD and my review of it is up now. WWE ShopZone being cheaper on something is like the apparel store at the baseball park being cheaper on a jersey.
Hey, I've supported Triple H lately and I'll stay on that bandwagon. It doesn't matter how old Batista is, the fact is that he was a ‘new' star and Triple H went out of his way to build him up. Triple H hasn't taken a lump of coal and made a diamond out of it, but he has taken that chunk of carbon on the cusp of becoming a diamond and given it that extra little squeeze, much as Mick Foley did with him. Although I can't dispute the Randy Orton situation, he jobbed him out like a punk. Then again Ric Flair never put Lex Luger over the way he should have and no one complains about that. I would say wrestlers fall in three classes; super worker, average workers and complete stiffs. An average worker is going to have a hard time getting a good match out of a complete stiff, but you put him in the ring with a super worker and a lot of the time they'll ascend to their level and have some great matches to their credit. I would say that Triple H is an average worker and I do agree that he was better just a few years ago. I think he had some more energy and drive to him, which success and injury has drained.
NEWS AND NOTES
-Here is a non-spoiler run down of Smackdown for this coming Friday. It taped along with RAW Monday night in a super show.
Rey Mysterio Royal Rumble winner celebration
MNM vs. the Mexicools for the Smackdown tag titles
Bobby Lashley vs. the Dicks
Altercation between The Undertaker and Kurt Angle
Altercation between new WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms and Nunzio
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay for Booker T's US Title
Mark Henry and Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio
Also to mention, Palmer Cannon randomly changes William Regal's ‘gimmick' to being descended from British royalty and he makes Burchill a pirate. Now tell me that there isn't someone on the WWE payroll that doesn't read this column.
Credit: PWInsider.com
-It was reported in various outlets that an unnamed ‘star' would be appearing on RAW Monday. They did not. Apparently the person in question backed out at the last moment of the appearance. Seriously, what else is Don Knotts doing? Credit: WrestlingObserver.com
-The last edition of Smackdown scored a 2.9 in the ratings. At this time it looks almost certain that Smackdown will be part of the new merged CW network. Credit: PWInsider.com
-In a move that you know will annoy me, it appears that Triple H invoking Eddie Guerrero's name for heel heat Monday night will be a continuing event for heels, not just him. As paying tribute to Eddie has garnered increased fan support for those like Chavo, Rey Mysterio and Chris Benoit, they figure trashing Eddie will have a similar effect for heels. May they all speak ill of Vince after he's dead for heat. Hell, he'd probably dig that come to think of it. Spoilers from the Samckdown taping have Randy Orton also invoking Eddie's name in a very negative manner and talent backstage received it poorly. Credit: PWInsider.com
-AskMen.com have released their top 99 women for 2006. Trish Stratus appeared at number 30 and Torrie Wilson clocked in at number 22. Apparently they didn't ask me. You would think Candice Michelle and Stacy Keibler would have both placed. Number 100 was Mae Young, so that's why they stopped at 99. Credit: PWInsider.com
-For everyone chomping at the bit to own Armageddon 2005, get it from Wal-Mart. They are running an exclusive deal that includes the 2003 version of the show as a bonus disc. Credit: PWInsider.com
-No Way Out commercials and advertising currently in circulation still has Batista vs. Undertaker listed as the main event in many instances. Wow that…probably wouldn't have been that great of a match really. Credit: Larry told me.
-Maybe I did stick my foot in my mouth last week on Impact's ratings as it scored its highest mark so far on Spike TV. Helped massively by the television debut of Sting and his ‘retirement' address the show scored a 1.1. It popped a one! Break out the Asian hookers and high-grade coke, it is party time. Credit: PWInsider.com
-Ring of Honor has announced AJ Styles and Matt Sydal vs. Roderick Strong and Austin Aries for the league's tag team titles at their anniversary show on February 25th in Edison New Jersey. Jimmy Yang vs. Jerrelle Clark has been added to the February 11th show in Long Island. Credit: ROHwrestling.com
-Vampiro, Tully Blanchard and the Armstrong family of Bob, Brad and Scott have been added to the roster of the Legends pay per view set to tape on March 5th at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando. I'm thinking Vampiro got an invitation that was supposed to go to somebody else. Credit: PWInsider.com
-Former WCW and XWF wrestler Emory Hale passed away late Saturday night. Exact cause of his death is not yet known. He had been suffering from poor health, including a kidney transplant in 2003. Credit: PWInsider.com
-Former WCW announcer Mark Madden suffered a heart attack on Monday while at a youth deck hockey game in Reading, Pa. He had surgery yesterday and is considered in good condition. He hopes to resume his radio work in a few days. He is currently working as a sports talk radio host out of Pittsburgh. Credit: WTAE Pittsburgh
-XFC has added 2 Cold Scorpio and the Backseat Boyz as opponents for their upcoming fantasy camp at the old ECW arena in Philadelphia. Scorpio is coming in from Germany solely for the event. He must really need the money. I don't know if I would pay money to job out 2 Cold Scorpio. He'd have to wear the Repo Man outfit and then you're just crossing a line you don't want to cross. Credit: PWInsider.com
-I was watching "Distraction" on Comedy Central last night, primarily because there was nothing else on. During their segment they often do where professional wrestlers beat up the contestants they actually had some known guys. Well, known to us around here. The men involved were Samoa Joe, Frankie Kazarian and Curry Man.
RAW THOUGHTS
-I do find it funny that Edge has to eat what he said last week. I still say you can't be a transitional champion if you just drop it back to the same guy. You're more of a hotshot champion. You're just taking the belt for a little bit to mix it up and put the real guy over to boost him when he flags. Edge should have a shirt that says "21st Century Ronnie Garvin" on it.
-Notice that Shawn Michaels is the only person to fall victim to the zero tolerance policy. You don't abuse power, because when you do that you lose workers, you lose fans, you lose money. I know it's an angle, but it's one of those cutting your nose off to spite your face ones. I still don't like it and I still don't want to see a Vince vs. Shawn match. Is Vince still looking for a new RAW general manager? Shawn needs to hit him, then Vince cries and screams, "what did you hit me for?" Coach is impressed by the brilliant plan, even though it's heel default plan 6A-distract the face until another guy blindsides him.
-"Almost Don't Feed the Bulldog," there is another T-shirt. Golddust likes dark meat. You can't tell if Dustin Rhodes is playing that character for laughs anymore or not. Nepotism gets him a job, but he still has to look like a jackass.
-Let me sum up Triple H's promo. He was eliminated from the Royal Rumble by God. Hey, he put God over that makes him better than the Undertaker. He's no sold death like six times.
-Eddie Guerrero is like Bruce Lee. He's kicking ass from beyond the grave because everyone invokes his name and spirit. I still don't like that either. Chavo's whole character right now is ‘my uncle is dead.' He's better than that and I think Eddie would want him to do better than that. Although I will say it's a better character for him than ‘racist white golfer who likes Johnny Mathis.'
-If this all leads to a tag match with Chris Mastes and Shaquille O'Neal vs. Carltio and Dennis Rodman don't say I didn't warn you. I don't think Masters would get over as a face due to a lack of charm and mic work. As a heel he can just beat up people and be a bit stone faced and get over fine.
-Splicing together Big Show and Kane's music doesn't really work. I think they should come out to "Don't Fear the Reaper." Or the Monty Python Spam song.
-Mickey James just called Angelina Jolie a dime store hooker. I like her better now. James is the type of girl you could get a hummer off of for a puppy.
-I'm disappointed in Golddust for not referencing Big Momma's House or Throw Momma from the Train. Too bad the Godfather still isn't around, you could have Throw Momma from the Ho Train.
-I'm surprised Ric Flair knows who Shelton Benjamin is. Nature Boy trumps Momma's Boy. I have no problem with that match for Wrestlemania, except if it devolves into an angle where Flair courts Momma.
-I'm surprised Mickie James didn't announce the greatest women's champion ever and get The Fabulous Moolah. The colors and lettering for the Spirit Squad is very close to Michigan State. Does that mean anything? They do "Hey, Trish" to "Hey, Mickey," nice touch. I want to see Trish swerve Mickey by professing she loves Ashley and they start making out. Lesbian love triangle. Diggity.
-I don't know if Edge is being inventive with the submission moves or reading the Kama Sutra too much. Huh? Edge wins by disqualification, because his woman blatantly hit him in the head. I won't even crack jokes on where the angle is heading. Maybe Lita is just warming up early with the S&M.
WWE FANTASY MANAGER
Week 1 Team
Kurt Angle-94 points-1st
Edge-40 points-10th
Boogeyman-39 points-11th
Randy Orton-34 points-15th
Triple H-32 points-19th
Bobby Lashley-22 points-29th
Rob Van Dam-22 points-29th
Finlay-7 points-60th
Week Total-290 points
Grand Total-290 points
World Rank-36099th
Synopsis: This is my problem every single time. I try to fantasy book. I figured they would put the belt back on Cena, but I went with Edge. I went with Orton to win the Rumble, then again nobody had Mysterio for that. Finlay was a wash. I should have figured his gimmick out after the match with Matt Hardy. He loses every match by disqualification. No one else really produced like I thought. A few big matches were announced before RAW, so if those go my way I should be good this week.
Week 2 Team
John Cena ($5 million): The rematch with Edge was announced before the deadline. I thought there was no way he was dropping the belt back to him in one day. However, he lost by DQ and didn't have any face time. I should have stayed with Shelton Benjamin.
Big Show and Kane ($4 million apiece): The tag title match was announced before the deadline. Carlito and Chris Masters are a more piece meal team than Kane and Show were when they won. I nailed this one.
Kurt Angle ($5 million): He's the central focus of Smackdown, that's why they moved him to Smackdown. He's poised to feud with Undertaker and you know UT doesn't wrestle, so Angle has to do the matches.
Randy Orton ($4 million): I'm thinking Orton will get a match and go over on Smackdown. My booking would be for Rey to lose his Wrestlemania title shot to him at No Way Out, but you have to make both of them look strong going in.
Rey Mysterio ($4 million): See above. Mysterio won the Rumble. He's going to wrestle and get some face time. Spoilers say I hit about two out of three.
Rob Van Dam ($3 million): After his return at the Rumble I figured he would get some face time on RAW and go over a jobber. He beat Snitsky in classic style, so I can't complain.
EWR ON 411
Smackdown for 2.2.06
IRS goes for the Write Off on Rhyno, but he Gores him in mid air. He flips end over end to land on his neck. JBL runs in to break up the pin. As the referee backs him out of the ring a recovered Schyster decks Rhyno with the money clip. Tajiri comes in with a spring board dropkick onto Schyster. The referee turns to back him out of the ring. JBL claps his hands together to sound like a tag and then runs in to hit the Clothesline from Hell. Dawn Marie holds Tajiri's leg on the apron so he can't interfere. Corporate Raiders steal the win.
Match Rating: 62%
Booker T is watching the last match on a monitor in the back. Danny and Doug Basham come up. He shouldn't be worrying about the Corporate Raiders. He should be worrying about them. Booker T doesn't need to worry about anything. He's got a seven foot tall five hundred pound bulldog watching his back. Big Show then comes up and stands behind Booker with his arms crossed. The Bashams say whatever and walk off. Booker and Big Show clasp hands and say the titles will be theirs at No Way Out.
Segment Rating: 69%
Doug and Danny Basham just forgo tagging in and out and turn the handicap match into a straight up 2 on 1 affair. The referee tries to get one of the Bashams out of the ring, but neither goes. They set up the Rock ‘em Sock ‘em. As Richards goes over on the sling shot suplex, he adjusts his weight to land on his feet and hits modified neckbreakers on both men. Stevie Kick sends Doug to the floor. Danny takes the Stevie-T and gets the win.
Match Rating: 65%
Terry Funk runs out with a chair in hand. Richards sees him and they exchange words with Funk still on the floor. The Bashams then jump Richards from behind and beat him down. Funk slides Danny the chair and he clasps it on Richards' ankle. Funk goes to the top turnbuckle and hits the Funkersault onto the chair. Richards goes into spasms and grabs his ankle. The security force led by Kevin Von Erich comes out and drags the heels from the ring. Funk takes the claw.
Segment Rating: 71%
Chris Hero ducks a clothesline from Rob Van Dam and comes off the opposite ropes with a dropkick that forces RVD to land on a trashcan. Hero hits the Rolling Thunder and goes up top with a stop sign in hand. He does a 450 degree flip off the top into a sit out with the sign between his legs. He lands on top of RVD with a clang. Alphonso cheers him on to make the cover. One, two, thr—RVD kicks out. Alphonso says close enough and goes for the bell. Hero stops him. He's not winning that way. They argue. Van Dam blindsides Hero with a chair. Van Terminator. Alphonso refuses to count, but remembers what Jake Roberts told him and counts a very slow three, but it gets the pin.
Match Rating: 66%
Roddy Piper stops Alphonso in the back. It looks like he was having some trouble with his duties as a referee. Something in his eye, a little stiff in the joints. Piper will make excuses for him, but he doesn't want to hear them. He knows all about what Jake Roberts told Alphonso. Well Piper does more than talk. The way he's acting Piper thinks maybe Alphonso wants to be the Hardcore Champion. There's a beat and Bill figures out what he means and says no, no, no. Yes, yes, yes. Next week Bill Alphonso will step into the ring to face RVD.
Segment Rating: 73%
Sabu draws strength from the crowd to power out of a Matt Morgan rear chinlock. Morgan tries to club him down from behind, but Sabu comes back with chops and thrusts. He uses a Russian leg sweep to get Morgan off his feet. Leg drop, elbow drop. He goes up top. Sandman comes out and breaks a kendo stick over Sabu's back. The referee calls for the bell. Sabu wins by DQ. Raven jumps Tommy Dreamer at ringside and they brawl. Morgan teams up with Sandman to hit a double team power bomb on Sabu and they leave him lying.
Match Rating: 63%
Matt Hardy is in the ring to sign the contract to face John Cena at No Way Out. Roddy Piper will mediate. There is a table set up in the ring with a contract on it. John Cena comes out with Stephanie McMahon. Cena is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and looks really tanned. He apologizes for not showing up last week, but he and Steph needed some r & r. He's plenty relaxed, but they didn't get much rest. Hardy tells Cena to stop flapping his gums and sign the contract. Whoa, whoa, there is no rush. Cena didn't know that Hardy was in such a rush to lose to him. Stephanie then gets on the mic and tells Hardy that after her break she's ready to take Smackdown back by force. She glares at Piper. He smiles and waves. And the first step will be for her man John Cena to retain the US Title at No Way Out. Well to do that he has to sign the damn contract. Chill, chill. Cena makes a great show of loosening up to sign the contract. Hardy yells at him again. He says not to cramp his style. They go nose to nose. Stephanie jumps on Hardy's back. He throws her off, but falls prey to the FU through the table. Cena then signs the contract and nails it to Hardy's chest by jamming the pen through it. Kevin Von Erich and security force escort Cena and Steph to the back.
Segment Rating: 78%
Johnny Kashmere waltzes out with his ladies. Rey Mysterio planchas over the ropes and lands on top of him. They brawl around ringside and into the ring. Kashmere flips Rey over with a knee lift and goes to work. Kashmere sets up the Kashmere Sweater. Rey is close to the ropes. He gets his feet on them and springboards off to flip over Johnny. He untwists arms into a double underhook and gets a facebuster to the knee. He points to the top for the frog splash. Kane comes out from under the ring and spooks the floozies. They're screaming and running around distracts the referee. Kane shoves Rey from the top. Kashmere catches Rey and hits a massive spine buster. That gets the pin.
Match Rating: 70%
Johnny Kashmere goes into Roddy Piper's office in the back. He says he makes this all look good. Piper says he sure doesn't make it smell good. Kashmere is sweaty, he just had a match. A match he won against the number one contender for the Smackdown Brand Title. His third match in a row over Mysterio. Piper golf claps, does he want a fruit and cheese basket or something. What he wants is a title match. He's had little more than a cup of coffee in WWE and he thinks he deserves a title match. He's Johnny Kashmere, he deserves everything. Piper says he needs to prove it to him. So at No Way Out he'll have to face and beat Chris Jericho if he wants that title match.
Segment Rating: 65%
Orlando Jordan and EZ Money work over Booker T. Jordan suplexes Booker T and makes a cocky cover by sitting on Booker's chest. Booker brings his legs up to hook the shoulders and flip Jordan over. Jordan breaks. Booker gets a charging forearm as they stand. He lunges to tag Big Show. Money runs and is choke slammed. Jordan is choke slammed. Show stands on his chest for the pin. JBL and IRS run out and attack Booker T and Show. The Bashams then out and everyone brawls to close the show.
Match Rating: 64%
Show Rating: 65%
Velocity for 2.4.06
Robert Lashley squashes Kenzo Suzuki and finishes with the Whiplash.
Match Rating: 65%
Lashley then cuts a promo in the ring on Brock Lesnar. He's going to send him running back to RAW with his tail between his legs. Then he'll prove that he deserves the Smackdown Brand Title shot at Wrestlemania. At No Way Out Lesnar will suffer some severe Whiplash.
Segment Rating: 40%
Noble runs circles around Sandman who just chills out and drinks a beer. When he finishes he crushes the can on Noble's head and gives him the White Russian leg sweep. That gets two. Body slam leads to a missed elbow drop. Noble gets a leg lariat and locks in the Trailer Hitch. Raven breaks it up. Sabu and Dreamer run out to chase off Raven. Noble Finish gets the finish. Sandman throws a tantrum and curses at Dreamer and Sabu.
Match Rating: 67%
Big Vito lifts The Unknown up in a double choke and looks to toss him. Unknown gestures toward the ceiling and the lights go out. They pop back on to find Vito with his arms tied in the ropes. He's out cold. Unknown dropkicks him to the floor and takes the count out win.
Match Rating: 68%
Jake Roberts comes out again to the announcers' table. Al Snow says they don't need his help. Roberts says that Snow has a match to wrestle. He can wrestle and commentate at the same time. Yeah, but neither well. Josh Matthews gets in between both of them. He tells Snow that he can't get into it with Jake with Carlito coming up.
Segment Rating: 72%
Al Snow wears his headset in the ring to do commentary as he wrestles. He argues with Roberts on the headset. This allows Carlito to sneak up on Snow for the Cool Down. Carlito's Way finishes. Carlito loads up the apple. Jake says enough is enough. He wants Snow's job, he doesn't hate him. He throws Lucifer in the ring and Carlito chokes on his apple. He walks into the Snow Plow. Al drapes Lucifer over him. He then points at Jake on the outside and they stare at each other to end the show.
Match Rating: 80%
Show Rating: 67%
Heat for 2.5.06
Nikki Fuller hits the Protobomb on Nidia and covers. Ivory pulls her to the floor. Fuller blocks a punch and lands one of her own. Nidia then catches Fuller off guard with a baseball slide. The girls hit a double suplex on Fuller on the outside. The referee warns Ivory. It's mentioned that Trish isn't at ringside because she's watching baby Shelley in the back. Nidia hits a slingshot leg drop back into the ring and gets the pin.
Match Rating: 54%
Jim Cornette welcomes Batista to the Tennis Court. He asks him about the situation with Molly Holly. Batista says he knows what she's going through. A lot of different people are whispering in her ears. They're telling her a lot of different things, promising her fame, fortune, the world on a silver platter. He's been there brother. He doesn't want to be another voice talking at Molly, he wants to be an ear listening to her. She's a former Woman's champion, the current Great Lakes Champion. She's beat men in this ring and Batista respects her as much if not more than he does any given man back in that locker room. He's not going to chase her, he wants her to come to him. Molly's music hits, but out walks Chris Sabin. He doesn't want to straightjacket her, he wants her to run wild and be the diva he knows she is. Sabin says Molly doesn't need Batista, she's got him. Batista wants to hear her say that. Sure thing, just turn around. Batista turns to find Gail Kim in the ring. She smacks him with a chair, he no sells it. Sabin then comes in from behind. Batista turns to meet him and punches him down. Gail jumps on his back and claws his eyes. Sabin grabs the chair and plasters him right between the eyes. Batista goes down. Sabin and Kim walk off laughing. Coach and Mick Foley on commentary have no idea what's going on. Is Molly Holly with Sabin or not, has he patched up matters with Kim. She was angry at him last week. Tune into RAW tomorrow.
Segment Rating: 73%
William Regal has David Flair set up for the straightjacket neckbreaker. Daffney jumps on the apron and screams. Regal's eyes cross and he drops, but he falls forward and snaps off the move. Both men are down. The start up slowly. Regal pulls out the brass knuckles, but his equilibrium is off from having his eardrums rattled. Regal misses the power of the punch and twists around for David to catch him around the waist. A groggy David hits a side suplex on instinct and falls on top of Regal. One, two, three. Daffney screams in delight. David slides to the floor and asks her what happened. He won. Cool.
Match Rating: 68%
Miss Jackie struts through the back. She meets up with Lady Shini. Jackie says that her martial arts are no match for her occult prowess. Shini says that Brent Albright has taught her new karate that will defeat her. She demonstrates. Wax on, wax off. Top on, top off. Shinia grabs the top of Jackie's dress and pulls it down to expose her bra and pin her arms. Shini giggles and runs off. Jackie yells and busts her dress all the way off to free herself. She stares after Shini as the show goes to break.
Segment Rating: 75%
Rosey beats the crap out of Danny Inferno. Mick says there is too much there to hump and Inferno's at a loss. Rosey scores a sidewalk slam and covers. One, two, thr—Inferno's foot is on the ropes. Huh, how did that happen? The fans yell that there is someone who came out from under the ring and is hiding by the side of the ring. Rosey crawls over on all fours. A man jumps up and throws a fireball. Rosey is blinded. Inferno rolls him over and cradles him for the pin.
Match Rating: 66%
Marissa Mazzolla catches up with Danny Inferno and his friend in the back. Inferno reveals that it's his cousin Johnny Nitro. He's from the other side of the family opposite Randy Orton. Johnny says that Nitro and Inferno will prove to be a fiery combination on the RAW tag scene.
Segment Rating: 66%
Lady Shini hits the five point exploding heart technique. Miss Jackie no sells it, because she has no heart. A stunned Shini falls prey to the Life is Pain.
Match Rating: 67%
Paul Heyman welcomes the Rock and Ron Killings to the Danger Zone. He wants the two of them to work out their differences. Killings says Rock can't handle the Truth and the truth is that he's become a candy ass jabroni. The Rock is the foremost expert on who is and who isn't a candy ass jabroni. There is only one candy ass jabroni he can see. It's not him. It's not the people. Heyman might be an egotistical douchebag dork, but he's not a candy ass jabroni. So that means it must be Killings. Killings says he's going to lay some more truth on the Rock. He smells what the Rock is cooking. It's sh*t, because he crapped his pants he's so scared of Ron. Oh, we've dropped to the level of poop jokes. Rock pretends to be a toddler and mocks what Killings just said. Killings goes to talk again. The Rock slaps the mic out of his hand. He says to know your role and shut your mouth. Rock leaves the ring. Killings yells after him, but The Rock is done.
Segment Rating: 89%
Nick Dinsmore beats on Zack Gowen. He yells at Mick Foley at ringside on commentary. He is the cause for this beating. He is the cause of this cripple being destroyed. Gowen fights back from his knees and goes on the offensive. Foley cheers him on. Dinsmore drops and punches the knee of the real leg. Gowen buckles. Dinsmore sweeps the fake leg to get him on his back. He pulls the fake leg off and starts wailing on Gowen with it. The referee disqualifies him, but he doesn't care. Foley did this. Foley is the cause of this. Mick finally gets into the ring. He and Nick stare at each other. Mick helps Gowen up while keeping his eyes on Dinsmore and carries Zack to the back.
Match Rating: 69%
The doctor looks Zack Gowen over. Mick apologizes for being the cause of his trouble. Zack says for Mick not to blame himself. Dinsmore is out of control and he's no wrestler. Mick says Zack shouldn't be talking like that. He's done more in his career than men with two good legs. Gowen says he's a whipping boy. Foley says he doesn't have to be. Maybe they can help each other and take out Nick Dinsmore.
Segment Rating: 76%
Stan Lane goes for a martial arts kick on Eric Angle. He grabs the leg and throws him to the canvas and claps on the ankle lock. He taps out. The referee motions for the bell. Angle calls him off. He pulls Lane up and hits the Angle-Plex. The referee shrugs and drops to count three. Eric gets on the microphone and says that when you wrestle him from now on you will lose twice. He will make you tap out and then he'll pin your, just because he can.
Match Rating: 59%
Show Rating: 66%
RAW for 2.6.06
The Masked Marvels gets the Smoke and Mirrors on Maven. The referee is distracted from making the count by Ivory and Nidia making out with each other at ringside. Cappotelli runs in to stomp Dragon in the head and break the cover. He drags Maven to their corner. The referee returns his attention to catch the tag. Sex Drive on Dragon. La Parka comes in from off the top with a splash to break, but Ivory saw it coming and pulled Matt back by the legs. La Parka splashes his own partner. Cappotelli makes the cover. Joey Styles and Paul Heyman talk about how the former tag champs are really missing Lita. She'll be out indefinitely after the attack last week by the Angles.
Match Rating: 71%
Gail Kim is oiling down Chris Sabin in the back for his match with Batista. Molly Holly enters. She wants to know what Sabin thought he was doing last night, speaking for her, using her to get to Batista. Sabin says that Batista is only breathing down his neck because of her. He sees potential in Molly, but she's not worth getting his ass handed to for. Gail then cuts in and says that she reminded Sabin this past week what she can do for him that Molly won't. She licks her lips. Molly seems hurt and runs off.
Segment Rating: 74%
Batista hits a spinebuster off the ropes on Sabin. He gets him up for the Demon Bomb. Sabin punches him in the face. Batista falls with Sabin on top. One, two, thre—Batista reverses for two. Sabin bails to the floor and Gail Kim comforts him. Batista goes to the floor after him. Sabin throws Gail into Batista. He tosses her to the side. He stalks after Sabin, but Kim comes between his legs with a ball shot. He drops to his knees. Sabin hits an enzuiguiri on Batista to drop him to the floor. He gets the Hail Sabin DDT off the ring apron. He manages to get Batista back in the ring and pins him. Gail Kim hands Sabin a chair. He looms over Batista. Molly Holly then runs out to a pop with a chair of her own. Sabin dares her to hit him. She takes a swing. Sabin is surprised. Him and Gail hit the floor and run off.
Match Rating: 72%
Brent Albright takes Shelton Benjamin into a room that looks like a makeshift laboratory. Albright has contacted an old friend who is a scientist. He thinks he knows what is going on with him and what happened to Charlie Haas. A figure is seen with his back to the camera. He turns around and it's special guest star Christopher Lloyd. Benjamin introduces him as Doctor Emmett Brown. Lloyd does the Doc Brown character from Back to the Future. He believes that Benjamin and the Brood are suffering from a blood born virus that simulates vampirism. The sample of Benjamin's blood that Albright provided him is to weak. He needs a stronger sample to analyze and from there he can create an antidote. Benjamin thinks this is all whack. Doc Brown says he is not whack he's a man of science. He then grabs a beaker and drinks from it. He spits and sputters and gets woozy. Great Scott! That's good stuff, it's hard to find a good strawberry phosphate anymore.
Segment Rating: 70%
Brent Albright and Shelton Benjamin come out to "Thriller." They attempt to bust Edge or Charlie Haas open the whole match. Gangrel tries to grab Benjamin off the apron. He boots him in the face and busts his nose. Blood gushes and he runs off. Benjamin follows trying to get a sample. Albright goes up for the Q-Bert. Haas shoves him off. He lands on his feet, but short of Edge. Edge spears him and makes the pin.
Match Rating: 78%
Kurt Angle is shown training in the back. He has Johnny Jeter down in the ankle lock. He taps out immediately. Chad Wicks attacks Angle from behind. He snap mares him over and grabs his leg. He sets in the ankle lock and he taps. Jeter attacks again. Angle trips him and gets the ankle lock. He taps. Angle then looks at the camera and says he's made Jeter and Wicks tap a hundred times training for the submission match with Conway tonight. He is a submission machine. He is too fast and too furious. Conway talks a good game, but he can't back it up in the ring. It's re-god-damn-diculous for him to try. Kurt Angle won a gold medal with a broken neck. He's not tapping out to a foul mouthed nobody. Jeter and Wick attack together. Angle gets them both down and ankle locks both of them with one hand on each.
Segment Rating: 98%
Angle attacks the leg of Conway and tries to set up the ankle lock. Conway seems to be targeting the back. Conway sets in an abdominal stretch. Angle hip tosses out of it. He goes to drop an elbow, but Conway rolls to the floor for a breather. Kurt distracts the referee and Eric smashes Rob in the ankle with a chair. Kurt pulls Conway to the apron and suplexes him into the ring. He gets the ankle lock and Conway has to tap. Sean O'Haire runs out post match to scare off Kurt and Eric. He checks on his partner as we fade to break.
Match Rating: 74%
A car pulls up to the arena and Brock Lesnar steps out. Triple H and Abyss are there waiting on him. It's about time he showed up. Triple H was thinking that Brock was going to show his true colors and not show. Maybe he had signed with Smackdown to save himself the humiliation. Brock says he's not gone yet and if Triple H keeps pushing his buttons he won't go. Triple H mockingly says he's scared. Maybe he really wants to face Lesnar at Wrestlemania so he has the easy title retain, but he would like a challenge. Triple H then says he doubts Brock could find anyone to tag with him. Brock says his partner will be a big surprise and walks between Hunter and Abyss into the building. Triple H yells after him that it doesn't matter how big the surprise is, he's got Abyss and that's all he needs.
Segment Rating: 69%
Randy Orton goes for the RKO on Christian. He shoves him out of it. Christian catches him as he comes off the ropes and tries to turn him into the Unprettier. Orton shoves him out of it. They do a crisscross sequence. Double clothesline. The referee starts counting. It's been a long hard match. He gets to ten and calls for the bell. Styles on commentary says he's never seen that before. Neither man answered the referee's ten count and it's a draw.
Match Rating: 62%
Trish helps Christian to the back. Orton comes in behind helped by Inferno and Nitro. Orton wearily says he wants a rematch. Teddy Long comes out and congratulates them both on a hell of a match. He would love to see a rematch and he knows the fans would, but not next week. He's decided to let Ron Killings have one more shot at the IC title. He's also decided that it's high time Jimmy Snuka gets Orton in the ring one on one.
Segment Rating: 72%
Abyss and Triple H are in the ring. Brock Lesnar comes out and stands on the floor. "Well…it's the Big Show." Big Show comes out as Brock's surprise partner. The place goes nuts. Triple H and Abyss are shocked. Joey Styles is handed a memo from Teddy Long saying that Big Show is appearing tonight as part of a talent exchange with Smackdown. For Show's special appearance tonight he's going to let Lesnar wrestle Robert Lashley at No Way Out. Until Lesnar says he's going to Smackdown, he's still a RAW wrestler. Big Show and Abyss start. They have a wild brawl. They force each other over the ropes like they did at the Royal Rumble. Abyss gives Big Show a DDT on the ring stairs. The ref warns him. Show gets in near his corner and tags Brock. Tag to Triple H. Triple H takes control and the heels work Brock over. Triple H sets up the Pedigree. He taunts Big Show on the apron. Lesnar back drops out and tags Show. Triple H begs off and slides to the floor. Abyss tries to attack Show from behind. Show turns and choke slams Abyss. He tags Brock. F5 finishes. Triple H watches from the floor and curses. The faces invite him back into the ring, but he just backs up the ramp.
Match Rating: 70%
Show Rating: 73%
Smackdown card for next week, choose all winners
Bill Alphonso vs. Rob Van Dam for the WWE Hardcore Title
John Cena and Kane vs. Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy
Johnny Kashmere vs. Jamie Noble
Chris Jericho vs. Paul London
Big Show vs. JBL
Booker T vs. Danny Basham
IRS vs. Stevie Richards
Matt "Machete" Morgan vs. Rhyno
Robert "Whip" Lashley vs. Golddust
AJ Styles vs. Danny Basham, non-title
Billy Kidman vs. Tajiri vs. The Idol vs. Shark Boy
Just Some Cool Guys (Dupree, Disco, Jindrak) vs. FBI (Vito, Akio, Ice)
RAW card for next week, choose all winners
Brock Lesnar vs. Abyss in a tables match
The Angles (Kurt and Eric) vs. Ric Flair and Barry Windham for the RAW Brand Tag Team Titles
Christian vs. Ron Killings for the IC Title
Randy Orton vs. Jimmy Snuka, Jr.
The Rock vs. Sean O'Haire
Nikki Fuller vs. Ivory Robinson
The Islanders (Afa and Rosey) vs. 2 Hot 2 Handle (Inferno and Nitro)
Brent Albright and Lady Shini vs. Charlie Haas and Miss Jackie
Zack Gowen vs. Garrison Cade
Maven and Matt Cappotelli vs. Masked Marvels (Parka and Dragon) rematch
Shelton Benjamin vs. Gangrel
Rob Conway vs. Chad Wicks
No Way Out Card at this time, do not vote
Kane vs. Rey Mysterio for the Smackdown Brand Title
John Cena vs. Matt Hardy for the US Title
Tommy Dreamer and Sabu vs. Raven and Sandman in a hardcore loser leaves town tornado tag match
AJ Styles vs. Billy Kidman for the Cruiserweight Title in a ladder match
Jake Roberts vs. Al Snow for the color commentator slot on Velocity
The Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny) vs. The Corporate Raiders (IRS and JBL) vs. The Bad Ass Express (Booker T and Big Show) for the Smackdown Brand Tag Titles
