Intercontinental Title Steel Cage Match - Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Johnny Nitro (w/Melina)
Big “Hardy” chants to kick off the match. The match is fairly tame for a Steel Cage match, but not boring. It’s basically a solid match within a cage, which is fine although not preferable. Mostly built around escaping rather than the hatred between the two wrestlers. However, some of the spots were really clever like Nitro Irish whipping Hardy, only for Hardy to jump the ropes and attempt to escape and Nitro hanging off the top of the cage using his legs. The crowd didn’t react to some of the spots like they really should’ve such as the sunset flip off the top of the cage. Maybe they have been desensitized by this point but still, something like that should’ve got a massive response. The finish was a bit contrived with Nitro easily able to escape before Hardy but choosing not to. Clunkily paced in parts with some decent moments but lacked tension. **1/2
Promo with Edge/Randy Orton
Pretty bland promo, from Orton especially.
Tag Team Turmoil Match - Cryme Tyme (JTG & Shad) vs. Jim Duggan & Super Crazy vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs. The Highlanders (Robbie McAllister & Rory McAllister) vs. World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin)
Nah.
Vince/Coach segment
Now I know that someone people are into arse licking but I don’t want to see it with Vince McMahon and Jonathan Coachman, thanks. Although that set up for Ron Simmons’ “DAMN” was gold.
Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair
Kenny coming out with the most generic theme song but also dressing like Ric Flair. Talk about a juxtaposition. Kenny cuts a very robotic promo, I guess it’s one of the reasons why he never got past the mid-card. Flair lights up Kenny’s chest like only he could. Woos follow of course. Dykstra does some really bland work over Flair to zero heat. The fans are clearly waiting for Flair to do his stuff, which is always fun, no matter the age. There is some commentary with Lawler begging Flair not to go to the top rope because it never works, and low and behold, it doesn’t. Flair does a nasty chop block but actually hurts his back when Kenny lands on him. There is an awesome spot where they are locked in the figure four and Flair slaps Kenny. Still got the little touches of brilliance. The finish was ugh with a low blow and a roll-up but Lawler, again, put over how Kenny used Flair’s tricks against him. Lawler was on fire this match. Nothing match. **1/4
Victoria/Melina Segment
Apparently, Victoria has a checklist with all the woman's names on. There are only 5 women on the list so that sounds about right.
WWE Women's Title Match - Mickie James (c) vs. Victoria
Damn Victoria hasn’t joined TNA yet? I know she is apart of the promotion by the end of the year, so it must be imminent. There is some solid chain wrestling. Take notes, Kurt Angle. :p. The crowd is pretty silent for this which isn’t a big surprise given the era for women’s wrestling. Victoria does some really good work on the neck of Mickie James, first with the initial front face locks then using the ropes to wrench the neck in an unnatural position. Mickie throws some punches and I was just waiting for Lawler to talk, and he said: “this is throwing the wrestling out of the window”. That got me a chuckle. Melina came down and interfered, playing off the segment before the match. The divas (Candice Michelle and Maria) came down and even up the score. Mickie James got the win from a bulldog out of nowhere. I liked this a ton. Not a bad match. **3/4
World Tag Team Title Match - Rated-RKO (Edge & Randy Orton) (c) vs. D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels & Triple H)
I remember watching this live. When I was a young one, I woke up in the middle of the fight and listened in on my Dad watching this show. I burst out in tears because I couldn’t watch it live but my Dad let me in the end and this as on. I used to love Triple H. Even over Shawn. I still prefer him over Shawn Michaels to this day actually.
The match starts off heavy with DX meeting Rated RKO on the rampway and brawled for a little bit before transitioning into a normal match. The match gets a little dull for a few minutes but Triple H unleashes some punches on Orton which pops the crowd before Edge chop block the left leg (not the leg that’ll get injured btw) of Triple H and begin to work it over. Shawn comes in for a warm tag. Orton and Edge show some really good tag chemistry which does surprise me. It doesn’t come across as two single guys teaming as far as their work goes. Shawn gets split open seemingly out of nowhere (is HBK a Flair mark?), which is basically a big match obligation for 2007. Orton unleashes his awesome Garvin Stomp which always gets me to pop. Speaking of obligations, Rated RKO works over HBK’s back which is fine in theory but it seems aimless and doesn’t go anywhere. However, Shawn does have some nice chops as a defence at least. Triple H comes in with a great hot tag before it happens. You can actually see the muscle on the side of the knee at certain angles. They scramble and take HHH out of the match for the meanwhile. Then the chairs come in with Orton bleeding badly now. The match hits another level with Triple H hitting a goddamn pedigree with the torn quad on the table and Shawn hitting an elbow drop through the other table on Orton. The match sort of ends with no bell and seemingly no real signal the match is over. Now HHH did well to carry on given the injury, but it was still dumb to do so. The match is good but also has its flaws. Things like the aforementioned aimless back work and the structure of the match being brawl, normal match, brawl. No natural progression. However, the finish (if you can call it that) ruled and was easily the peak of the match. ***1/2
John Cena Promo
Good promo. Put over Umaga as a big monster.
Carlito (w/Torrie Wilson) vs. Chris Masters
“Masters might be the WWE champion if it was all about physique” hmmm. They do moves. No one cares. Let’s move on. DUD. But wait!!!!! “Masters has a thought. Something unusual” GOAT burial by JR.
WWE Heavyweight Title Match - John Cena (c) vs. Umaga (w/Armando Estrada)
Seeing Umaga brings back childhood memories. Used to have a figure of Umaga. My favourite too. I adored everything about him. His look most of all. I used to genuinely believe his face paint was a real tattoo. Oh, how naive was I.
The match starts off pretty good. Cena adopts a stick and moves approach in the opening moments. Baiting Umaga in and getting a few shots in. I did like the “Umaga ate my sign” sign in the crowd. Umaga does a really great job of working over Cena. His unique offence looks so impactful. Something fresh and new to counter Cena’s simplistic babyface offence. The whole match reminds me of Hogan matches in the ’80s. There even is a spot where Cena picks up Umaga only to fall back under the weight which is a classic Hogan spot. And Umaga going for the classic monster role, working over the ribs, using his weight and speed of his moves to his advantage. Cena sells excellently too, getting the crowd on his side very easily which I was taken back by given Cena was hated. Another thing that is good about this match is the struggle Cena has. It’s not as simple as making a comeback and getting stuff it. He has to earn everything he can. He has to not only get out of what Umaga is doing but deal with his constant cutoffs too. The finish is really clever too. Umaga stops another FU attempt and looks to hit all his big moves but Cena sees it coming and does the only thing he can do, he rolls Umaga up. Doesn’t kick out of Umaga’s big moves. He doesn’t even use a ton of his own. He adapts as a champion should. It’s a great match and easily my Match of the night. Loved everything about it. Not as good as their Rumble match but most matches aren’t. ****
Alright show, if I say so myself. The main event and the tag team title match are really good matches. Both well worth recommending. The rest is a bunch of mediocre wrestling that isn’t worth watching. Carlito vs Chris Masters is garbage. For a Raw B-PPV, this is okay, not bad. Best To Worst: John Cena vs. Umaga - [****]. Rated-RKO vs. D-Generation X - [***1/2]. Mickie James vs. Victoria - [**3/4] Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro - [**1/2]. Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair - [**1/4]. Carlito vs. Chris Masters - [DUD]. Tag Team Turmoil Match - [NR].
Big “Hardy” chants to kick off the match. The match is fairly tame for a Steel Cage match, but not boring. It’s basically a solid match within a cage, which is fine although not preferable. Mostly built around escaping rather than the hatred between the two wrestlers. However, some of the spots were really clever like Nitro Irish whipping Hardy, only for Hardy to jump the ropes and attempt to escape and Nitro hanging off the top of the cage using his legs. The crowd didn’t react to some of the spots like they really should’ve such as the sunset flip off the top of the cage. Maybe they have been desensitized by this point but still, something like that should’ve got a massive response. The finish was a bit contrived with Nitro easily able to escape before Hardy but choosing not to. Clunkily paced in parts with some decent moments but lacked tension. **1/2
Promo with Edge/Randy Orton
Pretty bland promo, from Orton especially.
Tag Team Turmoil Match - Cryme Tyme (JTG & Shad) vs. Jim Duggan & Super Crazy vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs. The Highlanders (Robbie McAllister & Rory McAllister) vs. World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin)
Nah.
Vince/Coach segment
Now I know that someone people are into arse licking but I don’t want to see it with Vince McMahon and Jonathan Coachman, thanks. Although that set up for Ron Simmons’ “DAMN” was gold.
Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair
Kenny coming out with the most generic theme song but also dressing like Ric Flair. Talk about a juxtaposition. Kenny cuts a very robotic promo, I guess it’s one of the reasons why he never got past the mid-card. Flair lights up Kenny’s chest like only he could. Woos follow of course. Dykstra does some really bland work over Flair to zero heat. The fans are clearly waiting for Flair to do his stuff, which is always fun, no matter the age. There is some commentary with Lawler begging Flair not to go to the top rope because it never works, and low and behold, it doesn’t. Flair does a nasty chop block but actually hurts his back when Kenny lands on him. There is an awesome spot where they are locked in the figure four and Flair slaps Kenny. Still got the little touches of brilliance. The finish was ugh with a low blow and a roll-up but Lawler, again, put over how Kenny used Flair’s tricks against him. Lawler was on fire this match. Nothing match. **1/4
Victoria/Melina Segment
Apparently, Victoria has a checklist with all the woman's names on. There are only 5 women on the list so that sounds about right.
WWE Women's Title Match - Mickie James (c) vs. Victoria
Damn Victoria hasn’t joined TNA yet? I know she is apart of the promotion by the end of the year, so it must be imminent. There is some solid chain wrestling. Take notes, Kurt Angle. :p. The crowd is pretty silent for this which isn’t a big surprise given the era for women’s wrestling. Victoria does some really good work on the neck of Mickie James, first with the initial front face locks then using the ropes to wrench the neck in an unnatural position. Mickie throws some punches and I was just waiting for Lawler to talk, and he said: “this is throwing the wrestling out of the window”. That got me a chuckle. Melina came down and interfered, playing off the segment before the match. The divas (Candice Michelle and Maria) came down and even up the score. Mickie James got the win from a bulldog out of nowhere. I liked this a ton. Not a bad match. **3/4
World Tag Team Title Match - Rated-RKO (Edge & Randy Orton) (c) vs. D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels & Triple H)
I remember watching this live. When I was a young one, I woke up in the middle of the fight and listened in on my Dad watching this show. I burst out in tears because I couldn’t watch it live but my Dad let me in the end and this as on. I used to love Triple H. Even over Shawn. I still prefer him over Shawn Michaels to this day actually.
The match starts off heavy with DX meeting Rated RKO on the rampway and brawled for a little bit before transitioning into a normal match. The match gets a little dull for a few minutes but Triple H unleashes some punches on Orton which pops the crowd before Edge chop block the left leg (not the leg that’ll get injured btw) of Triple H and begin to work it over. Shawn comes in for a warm tag. Orton and Edge show some really good tag chemistry which does surprise me. It doesn’t come across as two single guys teaming as far as their work goes. Shawn gets split open seemingly out of nowhere (is HBK a Flair mark?), which is basically a big match obligation for 2007. Orton unleashes his awesome Garvin Stomp which always gets me to pop. Speaking of obligations, Rated RKO works over HBK’s back which is fine in theory but it seems aimless and doesn’t go anywhere. However, Shawn does have some nice chops as a defence at least. Triple H comes in with a great hot tag before it happens. You can actually see the muscle on the side of the knee at certain angles. They scramble and take HHH out of the match for the meanwhile. Then the chairs come in with Orton bleeding badly now. The match hits another level with Triple H hitting a goddamn pedigree with the torn quad on the table and Shawn hitting an elbow drop through the other table on Orton. The match sort of ends with no bell and seemingly no real signal the match is over. Now HHH did well to carry on given the injury, but it was still dumb to do so. The match is good but also has its flaws. Things like the aforementioned aimless back work and the structure of the match being brawl, normal match, brawl. No natural progression. However, the finish (if you can call it that) ruled and was easily the peak of the match. ***1/2
John Cena Promo
Good promo. Put over Umaga as a big monster.
Carlito (w/Torrie Wilson) vs. Chris Masters
“Masters might be the WWE champion if it was all about physique” hmmm. They do moves. No one cares. Let’s move on. DUD. But wait!!!!! “Masters has a thought. Something unusual” GOAT burial by JR.
WWE Heavyweight Title Match - John Cena (c) vs. Umaga (w/Armando Estrada)
Seeing Umaga brings back childhood memories. Used to have a figure of Umaga. My favourite too. I adored everything about him. His look most of all. I used to genuinely believe his face paint was a real tattoo. Oh, how naive was I.
The match starts off pretty good. Cena adopts a stick and moves approach in the opening moments. Baiting Umaga in and getting a few shots in. I did like the “Umaga ate my sign” sign in the crowd. Umaga does a really great job of working over Cena. His unique offence looks so impactful. Something fresh and new to counter Cena’s simplistic babyface offence. The whole match reminds me of Hogan matches in the ’80s. There even is a spot where Cena picks up Umaga only to fall back under the weight which is a classic Hogan spot. And Umaga going for the classic monster role, working over the ribs, using his weight and speed of his moves to his advantage. Cena sells excellently too, getting the crowd on his side very easily which I was taken back by given Cena was hated. Another thing that is good about this match is the struggle Cena has. It’s not as simple as making a comeback and getting stuff it. He has to earn everything he can. He has to not only get out of what Umaga is doing but deal with his constant cutoffs too. The finish is really clever too. Umaga stops another FU attempt and looks to hit all his big moves but Cena sees it coming and does the only thing he can do, he rolls Umaga up. Doesn’t kick out of Umaga’s big moves. He doesn’t even use a ton of his own. He adapts as a champion should. It’s a great match and easily my Match of the night. Loved everything about it. Not as good as their Rumble match but most matches aren’t. ****
Alright show, if I say so myself. The main event and the tag team title match are really good matches. Both well worth recommending. The rest is a bunch of mediocre wrestling that isn’t worth watching. Carlito vs Chris Masters is garbage. For a Raw B-PPV, this is okay, not bad. Best To Worst: John Cena vs. Umaga - [****]. Rated-RKO vs. D-Generation X - [***1/2]. Mickie James vs. Victoria - [**3/4] Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro - [**1/2]. Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair - [**1/4]. Carlito vs. Chris Masters - [DUD]. Tag Team Turmoil Match - [NR].
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