The 10th Day News Report for 4.4.07

Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 04.04.2007

Wrestlemania fallout…three days later and not as impactful

I went with my friends Jeremy and Dan to a friend of Jeremy's, Sean, to watch Wrestlemania. And I'll namedrop Clay who was there too. I missed out winning a sweet ass door prize of the original Wrestling Album. We had fun, but the show overall was lackluster. I think they were obsessed with creating "Wrestlemania moments" and not overall great matches with character and storylines. Every match seemed to have two or three mark out spots, but there wasn't an overall cohesiveness.

MAILBAG

"I don't think they would have Edge lose the Money in the Bank match and still claim him as being undefeated. "

Sure they can. Remember when Samoa Joe lost the X-Division title, but they kept up his winstreak since he wasnt pinned? Dont tell me you think WWE is above something as cheap as that.

"By that logic then his Money in the Bank win a few years ago shouldn't count as a win. "

Whoa there, easy with the 'L' word buddy, this _is_ wwe we're talking about. next thing you're gonna try to sell me on is this "cruiser-weight division"

"I also don't think they will job him, because they have to realize that the real money in the bank is a streak vs. streak match with the Undertaker. "

Probably not. doesn't edge want to retire soon? or at least, retire from the WWE? and it wouldnt be jobbing him since no one is beating just him.

"I thought it was odd that JR and Lawler both acted like Lashley was a surprise entrant when the match had been announced online. All the time they comment on things that were announced only online or through WWE's message service. "

According to his blog, no one mentioned to them that it was announced online, so its not their fault. chris masters acting surprised, on the other hand...what a douche.

"I don't have any problem with a guy trying to fix a spot that didn't work out. I think that actually shows that they are thinking on their feet and doing their best to make the match work. "

Wait....what? thats not thinking on their feet, thats sticking to pre-planned match regardless of what happens. its like when Hogan tried to burn Warrior in WCW, but he screwed it all up, the flash paper went off in his face, but warrior acted as if he was blinded because that was the plan. MCV didnt improvise, he went out there, did his spots, got paid, and left.

"Would it look better for Van Dam or Cor Von to just stand there and do nothing? "

TOTALLY. If someone swings a chair at you and misses, you stand there and do nothing. If the result of RVD's kick was MCV not going over the top rope, then thats the result. At WM, when the rock did his punch combo (ya know, punch, punch, punch, spit in hand, punch one last time, sending them over the top rope), hogan tried to go over the top rope, but he's old, and didnt quite make it, so when he fell to the mat, did he pick himself up and throw himself over the top, or do the punch spot again? no, he rolled out of the ring. sure, the spot got a little screwed up, but it didnt come off as bad.

"What I don't like is when they screw up a spot and then try to repeat it to get it right. That's not improvising or rolling with the flow. "

I'm with ya on that in most cases, but in the case of sending MCV over the top rope, if they didnt get it done the first time, they should just try again. now, i dont mean try the exact same spot again, because yes, that is bad, but, while MCV was reeling from the kicks, RVD couldve easily ran across the ring, bounced off the ropes, and delivered another kick (or clothesline, to help carry him over the top rope) to finish him off. isnt that better than MCV throwing himself over the top? As for RVD's spot, instead of forcing himself onto the top rope so he was properly straddled, it wouldve worked just as well if he had stayed the way he was - he was still hurting from missing the kick, and still somewhat tied up in the ropes.

"I've steered away from the ECW guys a bit, but most of the New Breed guys have been great values this season in the fantasy manager game. "

Yeah, but my point was, every week I would pick some new breed guys, and every week, the ones i picked were the ones that wouldnt wrestle. If I picked MCV and Thorn, then Elijah and Striker would wrestle a tag match, and the other two would just appear at ringside and not do much of anything.

"Eddie Guerrero was a name involved in the drug scandal, so I have no problem with him being mentioned. Factual reporting doesn't mean sympathetic reporting. None of the articles I read said anything negative about Guerrero, it simply stated that he had passed away most likely due to complications of his long drug and alcohol abuse. "

True, but they didnt list every name, like the people who were out of wrestling, or the independent guys. they knew eddie was a HUGE name (when was the last time you saw a wrestler's death on the front page of CNN.com? or on headline news for that matter? anyone other than eddie?) and used it to make their story bigger (and the article i read on SI.com had a picture of eddie at the top, and no other wrestlers). My beef is with them using a dead, beloved wrestler to get more attention. If they listed every name they found, fine. If they put pictures of everyone mentioned in the article, fine. but they didnt. hell, rey mysterio, the smallest World Champ in history, mightve been more sensational, except he's still alive.

"Lillian Garcia announced that she suffered a torn ACL in her skiing accident reported last week. She hopes to be back as an active ring announcer soon."

Ive never experienced a torn ACL myself, but its my understanding that its not a minor injury that you can walk off (unless its a minor tear?). She was back in the ring on monday.

So is jerry lynn a fulltime wrestler now? I thought he just had beef with Sabin, and now Daniels?

As for your fantasy picks:

undertaker - i hope youre not wrong here, for lots of reasons, not just points.

Cena - im with you there. while i want michaels to win, Cena's their star, and it would be a little weird if the undertaker and HBK were both champs...dont get me wrong, im not objecting, because right now, it would be the right thing to do, would just feel weird.

edge - im still saying he loses. I mean, who wins the MITB match twice? thats like winning the king of the ring tournament twice (after it was put on PPV). besides, he doesn't need a guaranteed title match, as he's a 2 time champ.

lashley - yeah, kinda goes without saying, so i wont say anything.

"MVP ($3 million): I think there has to be a heel upset somewhere and this is the best place for it to happen. Benoit is bulletproof and is entering the stage of his career where he's used to get younger guys over. MVP was a joke for awhile, but they seem committed to him now. Not a lot of people are going for Porter, so if he pulls through for me it's a good thing. "

Really? everyone I've talked to has MVP winning, which got me a little skiddish on him. by now, benoit's role has been established - kick ass, but lose. he lost to JBL last year in what shouldve been an awesome match between a tough brawler and a tough wrestler, but wasnt. he lost to cena's version of sid's crossface (ie, weak), like you said, he's used to get younger guys over. For my sake, i hope im wrong and youre right, about the number of people picking him to win.

"Ashley ($1.5 million): They Playboy cover girl is getting the huge push and should go over. However, her team winning on RAW doesn't make me feel good about this. You can argue that the Women's belt is a RAW title, but doe it really matter?"

I went back and forth on this for a while, because in years past, the pBoy cover girl didnt win the title, despite the push, but melina is supposedly in trouble, and ashley (as much as the lip rings might scare me) is better than candice and christy in the ring. As for her team winning monday night - not sure wrestling logic can be applied to a division no one cares about. thats like saying Chavo beating Helms for the CWT would lead to a feud between them, or yang beating chavo in a non-title match would lead to a WM match between them.

"The Great Khali ($2.5 million): I honestly think that Kane will win the match, but Khali is a lot cheaper. "

Has khali lost a match yet? not that i can remember, and i highly doubt they'll let Kane be the first to beat him (and i doubt Kane would want to be the first).

I've got the same picks as you, except remove edge and long, and add kennedy and striker (cheap new breed'r). I still think Kennedy is on the rise, and the next year can be very important to his career, kinda like when edge won the match a couple years ago. And with everyone souring on batista, and kennedy starting to get some chants, they're gonna need another main event name, ya know, since they dont want to use benoit, kane, king booker, or rey mysterio as credible main event players, ie guys who, on any given night, could win the title (I hope im wrong about those guys, but i doubt it).......remember when that was the norm in WWE?
-Manu Bumb

I wouldn't say the WWE is beneath trying to cheaply keep the win streak going, but I think it's wrong of them to do and decreases the potential of a future Edge vs. Undertaker match. Edge did not win and being taken out of the match due to injury I feel will lead to him claiming he's still undefeated. In my mind, not only did Edge have his win streak going, but also his king of the ladder match gimmick. Notice Edge did not comment on the match on RAW.

It looks better for someone to do something, than just stand there. If someone swings a chair at you and misses, your natural inclination is not to do anything because nothing happened. However, if you roll with the flow and just fake the chair shot I think that works better and does show that your head is in the match. In the best case scenario, when that chair shot misses you don't fake the shot or just stand there, but improvise some other spot that fits the situation. And with your Hogan example, I don't see that being a blown spot because Hogan couldn't go over the top rope. He didn't try and fail or just stand there, he did something else that fits. Also, most fans in the arena and watching at home (especially with editing) aren't going to notice or care.

A majority of people don't know who Eddie Guerrero is and if they do know it's because of his death which got some press. I still don't fault them for reporting Eddie as one of the names involved, but do agree that they could have scaled back on how much emphasis they put on him.

I believe Jerry Lynn has gone the Finlay route where he was working as a trainer and road agent and a spot on the roster opened up so he took it. I like Lynn, but I'm not sure how long he'll last as a permanent X-division fixture.

On your analogy of winning the Money in the Bank ladder match twice is like winning the King of the Ring twice, I would say it's more like winning the Royal Rumble twice. Hogan and Michaels have won it twice and Austin won three times.

What I meant that most people in the fantasy manager game were not taking MVP or they were taking Benoit over him. Most smarts were picking MVP and they turned out to be wrong. Great call on Kennedy. Right when the show started I wished I had changed my pick from Ashley to Melina, but it doesn't matter now.

NEWS AND NOTES

-In your online Heat report Kofi Kingston defeated Stevie Richards. I'm predicting he gets Val Venis next week. Venis jobbed to Dykstra. See, he's one step up the jobber ladder from Richards. Chris Masters defeated Eugene. Candice Michelle went over Victoria. The hell you say. Viscera then ate Patrick Sparks. Credit: PWInsider.com

-According to eyewitness reports from RAW, people began leaving the arena during the Bobby Lashley vs. Umaga and Armando Estrada main event. I think they work pretty decent together, but maybe this just says that people are tired of Lashley's super human gimmick. Credit: PWInsider.com

-RAW on Monday scored a 4.3 rating. That's a pretty good number for them and even better when considering that they were opposite the NCAA finals. Oh yeah, I'm from Ohio so screw Florida.

-It has slipped that TSN in Canada did not renew their contract with WWE for RAW because they want to focus on ‘real' sports. RAW now airs on Score. Credit: PWInsider.com

-As announced at Wrestlemania, the attendance at the event was 80,103 people. The gross for ticket sales was a WWE record $5.38 million. Credit: WWE press release

-Billy Corrigan of Smashing Pumpkins and Chris Webber of the NBA were both backstage at Wrestlemania 23. They were playing euchre as partners against Slick and Jimmy Hart. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Backstage reports site that Batista is not in wrestling for the money, but for the chicks. I can't fault him. However, he is said to be reclusive and shy. Batista used to watch every match on the card and study them for his benefit, but is said to do that less now since his return from injury last year. Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-In an MTV.com article on bands who have never scored a number one hit, they reference Triple H giving Motorhead their most US success and state "that you should never doubt the broad cross-market appeal of Hunter Hearst Helmsley." Since when did Steph work for MTV? "Ace of Spades" not going to number one is a crime. You know why Motorhead doesn't have a number one hit? Because they never sold out with a crappy power ballad. Credit: MTV.com

-MTV also states that they have no plans to air the final episode of WSX and the series is over. Episodes are still airing in foreign markets. All WSX talents are now free of their contracts. Colt Cabana, who was Matt Classic in WSX, has already signed a new developmental deal with WWE. I guess I have to go back to watching Cleveland All-Pro on Fox Sports Net for crappy wrestling. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Relating to Cabana as well, his last Ring of Honor show will be 4/28 in Chicago and feature a tribute to him. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Hulk Hogan vs. Jerry Lawler will main event a card promoted and booked by Hogan at the Mid-South Coliseum on 4/27. That has a good shot of being the worst match of all time. I want to see Hogan Hulk-up off the seven minute stall. Credit: PWTorch.com

-Erick Stevens has joined Ring of Honor. He will next team with Eddie Edwards to face Kevin Steen and El Generico in Edison , New Jersey on 4/14. Credit: ROHWrestling.com

-Rocky Romero joined the No Remorse Corp of Roderick Strong and Davey Richards this past weekend. They will face Austin Aries, Matt Cross and a mystery man on 4/12 in Long Island. Credit: ROHWrestling.com

-TNA Slammiversary will take place on 6/17 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Credit: TNA.com

ECW THOUGHTS

-Bobby Lashley kicks off the show with his scintillating mic work. He talks about the Battle of the Billionaires from Wrestlemania and then says he's not going to talk about it. Lashley sells McMahon being shaved bald as humiliating and embarrassing even though he's a chrome dome himself. They show the footage from RAW of Lashley going after McMahon. I like Vince in the fedora. He looks like he's performing the midnight show in the Stardust Lounge of the Sands. Six fans chant for Lashley. WWE is shoving Lashley down our throats, but he's still popular. Cena needs to know the magic secret. Lashley knows that McMahon is going to throw everything in his power at him, so he says to bring it. Give Lashley Slick as a manager and they can come out to "Jive Soul Bro." It's a license to print money.

-CM Punk takes on Stevie Richards. Richards I believe is the cheapest active male wrestler in WWE Fantasy Manager if that tells you anything. CM Punk wins with the GTS, or Go To Sleep, which is the worst finisher name since the Steiner Recliner.

-RVD talks with Timberland in the back. "Rapping, getting shot at, that's extreme." Extreme Expose bum rush Timberland and want to audition for his video. What does it say for the women's division that the big storyline is competition to star in a rapper's video?

-Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von make another recruitment pitch to Punk. Cor Von lays it down that you are either with the New Breed or against them. Striker tells him to watch the upcoming match for food for thought. Considering the New Breed got spanked at Wrestlemania, maybe you don't want him to do that.

-The slunts dance to impress Timberland. Or I should say they grind on empty chairs and throw in a couple flips. Since there is no Slick involved this bit sucks.

-Holly's recent comments about not being happy on being shut out of Wrestlemania makes him the latest job boy for Snitsky. After the match, Snitsky puts Holly's arm in between the two sections of the steel ring stairs and then bashes it with a chair. That's an awesome spot, but there was really no build to it so it came off flat.

-The main event is a Wrestlemania eight man tag rematch under extreme rules. Where is my damn Wargames match! This should have been the Wrestlemania match as it's a complete train wreck of spots, but I guess the Money in the Bank match had that going for it. Sabu and RVD jump off a table propped in the corner for a double team leg drop on Kevin Thorne through another table. Burke then delivers the Elijah Express to Sabu through the table in the corner and pins him. So this feud is far from over, but I guess they need something for One Night Stand.

WWE FANTASY MANAGER

Week 10 Team
Undertaker: 76 points-5th
John Cena: 60 points-9th
Great Khali: 57 points-11th
Bobby Lashley: 54 points-12th
Edge: 52 points-14th
Ashley: 46 points-17th
MVP: 34 points-21st
Elijah Burke: 21 points-30th
Teddy Long: 11 points-40th
Week Total: 411 points
Grand Total: 2732 points
World Rank: 204th

Synopsis: I picked some big wrong people for Wrestlemania. I got all the major ones right, but they didn't rake in the points I would have thought. You may notice I only landed two guys in the top ten. The rest of the list was the money in the bank ladder match guys, even though they didn't win. I guess that's a bit of information to tuck away for next year. I was ranked as high as 5th at one time this season and I feel really great about that. I hope I can be more consistent next season and perhaps maintain a top ten placement throughout the season. I'll believe it when I see it.

EWR ON 411

Shark Boy tries to rana Chris Sabin, but he turns it into an inverted Tombstone piledriver. Top rope leg drop finishes.
Match Rating: 81%

Chris Sabin formally challenges Carlito to a Cruiserweight Title match at Judgment Day. Carlito comes out and says nothing for a few moments. He finally says that's cool, and leaves.
Segment Rating: 78%

Fred Curry thinks he dropkicks CM Punk out of the ring, but he holds on to skin the cat back in. Punk hits a springboard dropkick to the back of Curry's head. Shoulderbreaker sets up the Anaconda Vice for the win.
Match Rating: 84%

Raven attacks Booker T from behind as he comes out on the ramp with a chair. He beats Booker with the chair all the way to the ring and into it. Raven tells the referee to ring the bell to the start the match, but he refuses. Raven hits him with the chair. He gets the bell from the timekeeper and rings it by bashing Booker in the head with it. Evenflow DDT to the ring bell. Raven counts his own pin.
Match Rating: 72%

Booker T gets medical attention in the back. He tells Gene Okerlund that if Raven was sick of Booker T riding on his wife's coattails and resting on his laurels, he just killed that guy. Raven is getting the Booker T that grew up on the mean streets of Houston, that got transplanted to Harlem, that was hungry all his life, that had to scrap and fight all his life. The Booker T who has been hit with every weapon you can think of out there on the street. He wants a hardcore Booker T, he's going to get him at Judgment Day.
Segment Rating: 75%

Johnny Kashmere ducks the mist from Tajiri and he sprays Chavo. Tajiri takes the Kashsmere Sweater. Tag to Acid. He hits the Acid Drop on Chavo. Backseat Driver on him finishes.
Match Rating: 81%

Triple H orders a beat down of Chavo and Tajiri post match. Steve Austin leads out the Million Dollar Corporation for the save. Triple H tells them to hold up and calls off his guys. He wants Austin to know that they are under Evolution's rules now. If Austin wants the Briscoes to get another title shot at Judgment Day then he has to give them something. Triple H wants Austin to face Chris Cage at Judgment Day so the rising star of Evolution can leap above everyone else on Smackdown by defeating the legendary Steve Austin. Austin has to sacrifice himself for his stable. Austin accepts.
Segment Rating: 75%

AJ Styles hits a high knee to the back of Rey Mysterio to knock him into Randy Orton. Styles rolls Mysterio up, but Orton breaks. Orton goes to RKO Styles. Styles shoves him off. Mysterio leap frogs him. He ducks as Orton comes back off the ropes and runs into Styles. Mysterio schoolboys Orton with a handful of tights to win. Styles doesn't break it in time.
Match Rating: 75%

Orton and Styles blame each other for losing the match in the back. Austin comes up and tells them that if they want that Smackdown Brand Title shot then they need to earn it. Go to Roddy Piper and ask for a big time statement match at Judgment Day. Prove they deserve the shot.
Segment Rating: 73%

Paul Burchill twists through the Breakdown into a crucifix powerbomb. Jericho wiggles out of it to his feet. He fires a superkick. Burchill grabs the leg and does a step over enzuigiri. C4. One, two, thre---Rey Mysterio runs out and attacks Burchill from the behind for the DQ. The heels double team Burchill until CM Punk runs out for the save. All brawl.
Match Rating: 82%

Kevin Von Erich leads out security to restore order. Roddy Piper appears and books a tag match for next week. The winning team gets to pick the stipulation of their singles matches at Judgment Day.
Segment Rating: 71%

Show Rating: 74%

Velocity for 4.7.07

Shannon Moore tries to run out on his match with Austin Lee, but Jake Roberts catches him and throws him back into the ring. Moore begs off and screams that he respects Lee. Roberts goads him to do something. Moore reaches out and touches Lee with his finger. Lee grabs his hand for a wristlock and Moore submits. He runs to the back.
Match Rating: 72%

Roberts berates Moore in his locker room. Roberts thought he got through to Moore over this past week, but he guesses he didn't. That just means he has to up their ‘training program.' That means…he gets mean. Roberts gets up into Moore's face. Moore stammers that he has to go to the bathroo…never mind.
Segment Rating: 81%

Stephanie McMahon distracts the referee so William Regal can throw Dave Taylor his brass knuckles. A man comes in out of nowhere to intercept the knuckles and nails Taylor with them. He holds Regal off while EZ Money wins with the Cha-Ching.
Match Rating: 69%

After the match on the entrance ramp, EZ Money said that after Stephanie got his long time partner Orlando Jordan to turn on him, he had to go get a man he knew wouldn't betray him. His original partner, his only partner after his wife Michelle, his brother DC Money.
Segment Rating: 80%

Jamie Noble hits a Russian leg sweep on Chris Cage. He goes up top, but Jamie Satin takes the apron and shakes the ropes. Noble crotches himself. Chris gives him the Cage-Breaker from the top and pins him.
Match Rating: 79%

The Shooting Stars are in the ring to face the Wicked Jesters. Wicks and Jeter come out and introduce their new manager Dawn Marie, who London kicked out from the Bradshaw Corporation. London does not like that.
Segment Rating: 81%

Jillian Hall tries to spray Wicks in the eyes with the Aquanet, but Dawn Marie takes the can away and nails her in the head with it. Kidman runs in for the save, but takes a double flapjack. London loses to the Wicked Awesome (double team muscle buster).
Match Rating: 82%

Gene Okerlund asks Chris Cage about facing Steve Austin at Judgment Day. He thanks Triple H for having the faith in him to go up against a legend like Austin. Too bad Austin is just a legend in his own mind. Austin went from a never will be to a has been with a very brief blip in the middle. Cage is the future, that's why he is in Evolution. Triple H knows that, the world will know it after Judgment Day.
Segment Rating: 83%

Triple H toys with Norman Smiley. His cocky go at the Pedigree gets him a backdrop. Smiley fires some punches and then hits a running forearm. He does the Big Wiggle. That wakes Triple H up who nails him with a big spinebuster and finishes with a snap Pedigree.
Match Rating: 68%

AJ Styles and Randy Orton talk to Roddy Piper about getting a statement match at Judgment Day. Piper asks if they really want a statement match? They say yes. Do they really want a match to prove they deserve another big time title shot? They say yes. Ok, he grants it. They ask against whom. Piper tells them each other.
Segment Rating: 70%

Maven hits the Jaegerbomb on Doug Basham. Scott Taylor breaks the pin. Maven goes after Taylor, but is tripped by Basham. Basham alley oops Taylor into Snuka on the apron to take him out. Slingshot suplex pins Maven. However, Taylor is still out and Basham gets double teamed with the Brisc-O by Jay and Mark for the loss in the triple threat elimination tag match.
Match Rating: 77%

Show Rating: 76%

Heat for 4.8.07

The mystery man runs out and knee caps Nattie Neidhart while Daffney is down and the ref is checking on her. Daffney comes around and gets a swinging neckbreaker to pin Nattie. It's only then that she realizes that the mystery man is out there. He kisses her again. David Flair runs out. The mystery man flashes the EW again and heads out through the crowd.
Match Rating: 56%

Jeff Hardy demands an IC title shot against his brother Matt. Foley can't change the booking of the title match with Brazil Chapman due to the red tape with the Brazilian officials and the satellite hookup to broadcast the Backlash match. He does give Hardy a number one contenders match against the only man on RAW who matches his high flying, risk taking style. Ultimo Dragon.
Segment Rating: 58%

Richards is despondent and mistimes a Stevie-Kick on Harry Smith. Smith grabs the leg and almost breaks as he wrenches it down while delivering an elbow to the knee. Super Smith Slam finishes.
Match Rating: 69%

The Islanders confront the new team of Abyss and the Irish Warrior. Before them, they were the biggest, baddest, burliest team on RAW. They don't like having their thunder stolen and challenge them to a match. Warrior states that their island gods are no match for the Warrior Spirits and that will be the true test.
Segment Rating: 53%

A bruised and banged up Stevie Richards wait out in front of Victoria's locker room until she comes out. Richards tries to take her arm. She shakes him off and spits on him again. Richards slumps down the wall and looks about to cry. Molly Holly comes in. She tells Stevie that Victoria has forsaken them both. Plus, Chris Sabin left her for Smackdown. They both need someone, so why not each other. Molly tells Stevie that she can get them a mixed tag title shot at In Your House. Stevie thinks for a second and then tells her to do it.
Segment Rating: 70%


Victoria brings her arm down and nails Lady Shini with a shoulderblock as she tries the heart punch. Victoria whips her into the ropes out of it and then flips her over on her back with a knee lift. Widow's Peak finishes.
Match Rating: 67%

Demonbomb on Gangrel by Batista gets the win quick for him.
Match Rating: 58%

Colt Cabana catches Batista as he heads for the locker room. Batista says it's good to see him back from injury. Cabana talks with Batista about getting their tag team back together. Batista would love that, but he's been tagging with Lesnar lately and they do have a tag team title match next week. Colt is dejected. Batista suggests that maybe he get some tune up singles matches. Brock is going to face Matt Cappotelli later in the night. Brock shouldn't have any trouble with him, but he would make a good opponent for Colt.
Segment Rating: 75%

Eric Angle fakes twisting his ankle as he gets into the ring against Mike Sanders. He comes out of it as Sanders goes up top and Angle catches him for a top rope Angle-Plex. Gnarly MacLean makes a good strategy of going after Angle's leg, but Eric rolls through an ankle lock into one of his own and MacLean taps. Greg Valentine chops Eric on the ropes. He flops to the mat. Greg goes for the figure four and Eric rolls him up with a handful of tights for the win.
Match Rating: 64%

Eric Angle brags about beating three guys in under five minutes after the match. He says that no one on RAW can take his stopwatch challenge and survive. Out comes Tank Toland fresh from Smackdown. Toland accepts the challenge for next week.
Segment Rating: 74%

Colt Cabana watches Brock Lesnar vs. Matt Cappotelli from the entranceway. Lesnar reverses the Sex Drive into one of his own and then wins with the F5.
Match Rating: 70%

Show Rating: 63%

RAW for 4.9.07

Brent Albright sits in on commentary as Nick Disnmore fights Chris Hero. The ref is bumped as Hero goes for the Hero Sandwich. Dinsmore jaws at Albright. He goes after him, but nails Hero by accident. He doesn't try anything as the ref comes around to count the pin.
Match Rating: 82%

Albright and Hero argue post match and shove each other. Dinsmore walks off laughing. However, he's stopped by Mick Foley who books a triple threat match for the Great Lakes title for Backlash.
Segment Rating: 94%

Brazil Chapman allows 2 Hot 2 Handle do the dirty work against EMF and Matt Hardy. Hardy pins Inferno with the Twist of Fate. Chapman tells Hardy he saw what he needed and leaves. Michaels on commentary says it wasn't a match, it was a scouting session.
Match Rating: 74%

Marissa Mazzolla asks Big Vito and Nowinski what they have in the briefcase that Kane wants. They look at each other. They can't say and ruin their fun, but it's something one would kill for and Kane has.
Segment Rating: 69%

Vito and Nowinski comes out to the entrance ramp to distract Kane and allow Lashley to get a spinebuster and the Dominator for the win. Paul Heyman pays off the duo for their services.
Match Rating: 66%

Paul Heyman hypes Matt Morgan in the back. If Heyman brought this man in to be a one man army backing up Show and Lashley, you know he's serious. He has the tools, he just needed the direction. Heyman is the key and Morgan is the lock. His new Dangerous Alliance will rule RAW like no other stable ever has.
Segment Rating: 87%

Undertaker moves on a spear from Edge and he takes out Morgan. Undertaker choke slams Morgan and pins him. Edge still wants to be paid off by Heyman, but he refuses because his interference backfired. Undertaker attacks the pair and then throws Heyman's money into the audience.
Match Rating: 66%

The Rock leaves his dressing room. Terry Funk and RAW Force is there. They were going to provide Rock with an escort to the ring. Soon as they leave camera shot the sound of pounding and beatings can be heard.
Segment Rating: 96%

The Rock storms out of the back fighting off RAW Force. He blitzes the ring and brawls with Jeff Hardy. Rock catches Hardy in the corner on the Whisper in the Wind and side slams him. People's Elbow gets the pin.
Match Rating: 75%

Kurt Angle says that Ron Killings' days are numbered as RAW Brand Champion. He better enjoy this little taste of the good life now, because it won't last. He will never get close to a world title again. Angle will make sure of it. He's not going to beat him at Backlash. He's going to physically destroy him and publicly humiliate him. Because he's Kurt Angle and you're not.
Segment Rating: 91%

Ron Killings elbows out of a choke slam by Big Show. He hits a couple clotheslines and then clips the knee. Morgan and Lashley storm the ring. Killings fights them off. Angle runs out and grabs the RAW Brand Title while the referee is dealing with the other heels. He swings at Killings, but nails Show. Killings super kicks Angle to the floor. Truth or Consequences gets the win.
Match Rating: 82%

Show Rating: 80%

Ironically enough, the Irish Warrior has checked into rehab.

Smackdown card for next week, choose all winners

Paul Burchilll and CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho, winning team chooses the stipulation for their matches at Judgment Day

Booker T and Carlito vs. Raven and Chris Sabin in a hardcore tag match

Jay Briscoe vs. Trent Acid

Johnny Kashmere vs. Mark Briscoe

Paul London vs. Johnny Jeter

Billy Kidman vs. Chad Wicks

Chris Cage vs. Tajiri

Triple H vs. Chavo Guerrero

Randy Orton vs. Shane Helms

AJ Styles vs. Scott Taylor

Shannon Moore vs. Norman Smiley

Show me the Money (EZ and DC) vs. PG-13 (Ice and Wolfie D)

Backlash Card, choose all winners

If someone moves to Smackdown via free agency they won't switch until after the pay per view.

Ron Killings vs. Kurt Angle for the RAW Brand Title in a steel cage

Undertaker vs. Edge for number one contendership to the RAW Brand Title

Matt Hardy vs. Brazil Chapman for the IC Title live via satellite from Rio.

EMF (O'Haire and Conway) vs. Lashley and Big Show vs. Lesnar and Batista in a ladder match for the RAW Brand Tag Team Titles

The Rock vs. Terry Funk in a last man standing match

David Flair vs. EW the mystery man

Kane vs. Christopher Nowinki and Big Vito in a handicap match

Brent Albright vs. Chris Hero vs. Nick Dinsmore for the IC Title

Harry Smith and Nattie Neidhart vs. Molly Holly and Stevie Richards for the Mixed Tag Team Titles

In Your House: Hostile Response

Shelton Benjamin and Shelley Reso vs. Christian and Trish Stratus

Jeff Hardy vs. Ultimo Dragon for an IC title shot

Eric Angle vs. Tank Toland in a stopwatch challenge

Abyss and ? vs. The Islanders

Ten Woman Battle Royal for the Women's Title
Victoria vs. Alexis Laree vs. Gail Kim vs. Lita vs. Melina Guerrero vs. Nikki Fuller vs. Ivory Robinson vs. Traci Brooks vs. Lady Shini vs. So Cal Val (debuting)

Charlie Haas vs. Gangrel

The Wild Stallions and Dupree and Sanders vs. 2 Hot 2 Handle and The High Rollers

Colt Cabana vs. Matt Cappotelli

Judgment Day card, do not vote yet

Paul Burchill vs. Rey Mysterio for the Smackdown Brand Title

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk for the US Title

The Backseat Boys vs. the Briscoe Brothers for the Smackdown Brand Tag Team Titles

Steve Austin vs. Chris Cage

Carlito vs. Chris Sabin for the Cruiserweight Title

Booker T vs. Raven for the Hardcore Title

Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles for a Smackdown brand title shot