The Raw Report (11/13/06): Cena vs. Umaga; Orton/Edge vs. Flair/Piper
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Monday, November 13, 2006 at 11:13 PM EST





The Raw Report (11/13/06)

The show opened with Degeneration X coming to the ring to a very nice reaction from the English crowd. JR and King hyped Team DX vs. Team Rated-RKO for Survivor Series. There were a ton of DX signs in the crowd. DX did their usual schtick. The crowd went nuts for them, as Trips worked them into a frenzy. They proceeded to run down a list that included Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Eric Bischoff (aka Tea Bag, according to Trips)…all authority figures who tried to tell DX what to do. They rolled footage of last week’s Big Dick Johnson meets Eric Bischoff’s face routine. HBK had them show it in slow-motion, but it almost made him sick. He said he thought he threw up in his mouth a little bit. HHH said that the list doesn’t yet include Orton and Edge. The Coach came out at that point (w/ a briefcase) and said that they could forget about Edge and Orton tonight. HBK interrupted him and stopped him from “banning DX from the building.” HHH remarked how well that plan had worked in the past. Coach said that he wasn’t going to say that, but rather he was issuing a bounty of 5200 English pounds ($10,000) for someone to take them out. HHH thought he should offer more money. Coach made a match b/t DX and four guys who all wanted to collect the bounty…


Match 1: DX vs. Charlie Haas, Viscera, Cade, and Murdoch
-The match began during a commercial break. Back from the break, HBK took down Haas with a shoulder tackle and a hip toss. Cade tagged in and took brief control, but HBK came back with a series of chops. Murdoch made a blind tag, allowing he and Cade to hit an inverted atomic drop and big boot combo. HBK got momentum back when he got his boot up on a Murdoch attempt at a second rope high risk. Viscera tagged in and hit a black hole slam. Haas went for the cover, but didn’t get the pin. Charlie wailed away on HBK, keeping him grounded. Haas proceeded to connect on a kick to the back and tagged Cade, who came in and scored with a backbreaker for a near fall. Cade worked over HBK’s head and neck area, but Michaels fought back to his feet and started a brawl with the cowboy. HBK used an enziguiri to set-up the hot tag to Triple H. HHH came in and cleaned house of the heels. Trips hit a facebuster on Cade and then knocked him out of the ring. Murdoch tried to catch HHH with a clothesline, but Trips back dropped him over the top rope. HBK went on to nail Viscera with Sweet Chin Music, knocking the 500-pounder off the apron and allowing HHH to hit the Pedigree on Haas for the win. DX won the handicap match at an estimated 7:23. (CMV1 rating- *) (CMV1 note- solid stuff while it lasted, but a large part of the match took place during the commercial break. It’s been three years since they did this “bounty” storyline w/ Goldberg, but most people probably don’t remember that)

JR and King hyped the tag title and IC title rematches for later tonight.

Backstage, Johnny and Kenny told the other three members of the Squad to go get the bounty on DX while they wrestled the Highlanders. They saw DX and went after them. Mikey, Mitch, and Nicky tried, but all failed in amusing fashion. DX went on with their conversation while the three members of the Squad managed to either dive right by DX, run into a nonchalant HBK trash can lid shot, or fall flat on their face.


Match 2: The Spirit Squad vs. The Highlanders
-(CMV1 note- Johnny and Kenny represented the Squad). Johnny and Robbie started it off, w/ Robbie getting first strike points with a headbutt. Rory tagged and connected on a second rope cross body block for a near fall. Kenny tagged, but didn’t fair any better…at least not right away. The self-proclaimed leader of the Squad took control with several clubbing blows. Johnny tagged in and scored with a Kenny-assisted diving forearm shot in the corner. Kenny tagged back in and hit a double-axe-handle from the second rope. He taunted the crowd as he latched on a rear chinlock. Rory eventually dodged a running Johnny and made the tag to Robbie, who came in and connected on a back drop on Kenny. The Highlanders proceeded to score with a double dropkick on each Squad member and go for a slingshot double suplex. However, Johnny caught Kenny and prevented the move from making an impact. Johnny ended up on the outside, as Kenny got the win for them with a roll-up. The Squad defeated the Highlanders at 3:14. (CMV1 rating- ½ *). (CMV1 note- nothing we haven’t seen before from them, but these guys are easily the two most talented Squad members, so it should be interesting to see how the Kenny-Johnny feud continues to progress)


Jerry “The King” Lawler headed to the ring for the Masterlock Challenge. Masters came out and locked it on after some hesitating. Lawler tried to power out of the hold. That didn’t work. King tried to elbow his way out of the hold. That didn’t work, either. Jerry gave it one more big effort, but couldn’t escape the almighty Masterlock. (CMV1 note- welcome back to your glory days, Generic Piece)

Wrestlemania tickets went on sale on Saturday…and a lot of them were sold…

Backstage, DX were hanging out when Eugene knocked on their door and asked for the bounty. They gave him a roll of paper towels (Bounty, the quicker picker upper), but he persisted. He tried to attack, but they closed the door in his face. He tried to attack again, but they moved out of the way, sending Eugene crashing into the wall. (CMV1 note- this is humor more people can appreciate rather than the teenage toilet humor they used last week…and many, many weeks prior).

Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Women’s Champion, Lita. He asked her how she felt about facing Mickie tonight and at Survivor Series. Lita said she already beat her twice. She called herself the greatest women’s champ ever.

Further backstage, DX were talking about food. HHH said he needed to go to the bathroom. As he went into a stall, Chris Masters tried to attack him. The door closed and we heard a commotion behind the closed door. When the door re-opened, Trips had made quick work of the Masterpiece and knocked him out against the toilet.


Match 3: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada)
-(CMV1 note- this was a non-title match…Todd Grisham joined JR for commentary in place of the injured Jerry Lawler). The crowd gave Cena a mixed reaction. Cena and Umaga stared each other down and circled the wagons before Cena connected on a two right handed punches that had little effect. Cena kept at it, connecting on a one-handed facebuster. Again, Umaga was unphased. Umaga took control with powerful offense, including a Samoan Drop. The Samoan Bulldozer grabbed Cena’s trapezius muscle to wear down the champ. Cena broke the hold and hit the Throwback, as the crowd were split b/t chanting “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena Sucks.” The champ eventually knocked the undefeated Samoan into the ropes with a diving shoulder tackle. Umaga ended up trapped between the middle and top ropes, but Cena was unable to capitalize thanks to ECW Champion Big Show. Show and Umaga proceeded to double team the WWE champ with their powerful offenses. Cena defeated Umaga via DQ at 3:29. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *) (CMV1 note- okay action, but they didn’t really try much. Their match over the summer was much more entertaining. Essentially, though, this was nothing more than a way to hype the Team Show vs. Team Cena Survivor Series match. Eventually, Umaga will face Cena for the belt, but when?).

Backstage, Coach talked on the phone. DX walked into his “office” and rolled a recap video of all the heels that had, thus far, attempted to take them out tonight. Trips said he couldn’t take it anymore. Coach said if they left, they couldn’t come back. Meanwhile, HBK took the money, w/ the reasoning behind it being (according to Trips) that they took themselves out.


Match 4: Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) vs. Jeff Hardy
-(CMV1 note- the title was on the line). Hardy started a chant for himself as the match got underway. Jeff backed Nitro into the corner, w/ Johnny ducking under the top rope to get the ref to back Hardy away from him. Hardy scored with a shoulder tackle and a quick pin attempt, but Nitro used the hair to take Hardy to the mat and synch in a key lock. Hardy flipped backward w/ the help of the ropes to break the hold and toss Nitro to the outside. Nitro immediately pulled Hardy down to the mat, jumped back in the ring, and tried to gain some offense, but Hardy regained control with ten mount punches in the corner. Jeff used a swinging double boot to set-up for the Swanton Bomb, but Nitro scampered out of the ring. Hardy didn’t let up, as he connected on a baseball slide and a plancha to the outside as we went to a dreaded mid-match commercial break. Back from the break, Hardy hit an inverted atomic drop and followed with a double leg drop to the groin area for a near fall. Nitro gained some much needed momentum when he grabbed Hardy and threw him face-first into the middle turnbuckle. The champ connected on a springboard leg lariat to gain even more momentum. Johnny then locked on a rear chinlock, as the crowd got behind Jeff. Hardy got to his feet, but Nitro yanked him down by the hair. He missed his attempt at a twirling elbow drop, though. Nitro ran at Hardy looking for a clothesline, but Hardy hopped over him and into a pinning combo for a near fall. Nitro stayed on him, going back to the rear chinlock. Hardy again got to his feet. Nitro looked for a splash in the corner, but the gritty former champion vaulted him into the air, sending him into a split on the top rope. Hardy proceeded to score with a reverse mulekick and back drop. He followed with a unique pinning combo and then went for the Whisper in the Wind, but Nitro dodged the high risk. Nitro connected on a split legged facebuster and went to the middle rope for a dropkick. However, Hardy countered into a sit-out powerbomb into a pin attempt. 1…2…No! Nitro kicked out! Hardy then hit the Swanton Bomb, but Melina had the ref distracted so that he couldn’t count the pin. Jeff went for the Twist of Fate, but Nitro countered. Melina eventually grabbed Hardy’s foot and tripped him up, allowing Nitro to score with a moonsault from the top rope. The finish came when Nitro covered Jeff for a two-count, but his cover was too casual. Thus, Hardy reversed into a pinning combo of his own to pick up the win. Hardy became the IC champ at 12:00. After the match, Nitro drilled Hardy with a DDT and assaulted him with a ladder. Nitro drove the ladder into Hardy’s mid-section and taunted him. (CMV1 rating- ** ¾) (CMV1 note- for the 9-minutes we got to see, this was a damn good match-up. I don’t really dig TV title changes, but I can’t really complain when I get the good match that I ask for. Looks like we are headed for a ladder match b/t these guys)

Outside the arena, DX tried to decide what to do with Coach’s money. They approached Cryme Tyme looking for tickets so that they could get back into the arena and mess with everyone. Trips didn’t understand what they were saying, so HBK spoke some cracker Ebonics to score them a good deal on the seats. HHH wanted to know what they were talking about. They made the transaction. (CMV1 note- this was one of the funnier DX skits since they came back this summer).

Backstage, Carlito was reading an English newspaper when Torrie showed up with two attractive ladies. Torrie asked him if he wanted to go out with them later and crash at her hotel since his was across town. “That’s cool…”

JR and Todd ran down the Survivor Series card…

Backstage, a group of DX fans surrounded HBK and HHH, as they whored out their merchandize at the t-shirt stand. Well, they didn’t whore it out really, they gave it away…even throwing some shirts into the crowd.


Match 5: Women’s Champion Lita vs. Mickie James
-(CMV1 note- DX was sitting at ringside. This was a non-title match). Before the match, Lita said that Mickie had to wrestle with her legs tied together. The ref proceeded to shackle Mickie’s legs together. DX didn’t like that decision. Mickie took the mic and said that she’d give Lita the shackles after the match because everyone knew it was Lita who needed her legs tied together. Lita blasted her after that comment and dominated the match. The women’s champ taunted DX. Mickie fought back with a few forearm shots, but Lita took her down with a drop toehold. DX started a “Lita’s a HOE” chant. Lita got out of the ring and yelled at HBK and HHH. Trips squirted mustard in her face. Back in the ring, Mickie hit her with a big piece of sausage and the Mickie DDT. 1…2…3!!! Mickie defeated Lita. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- as entertaining as it probably could’ve been)

Next week, Hardy will defend the IC title against Nitro in a Ladder match! (CMV1 note- SWEEEETT)


Match 6: World Tag Team Champions Ric Flair and Roddy Piper vs. Randy Orton and Edge
-(CMV1 note- prior to the match, Coach had security escort DX away from the ringside area for interfering in the previous match…you can’t do interfere in a match if you’re a fan). Prior to the start of the match, Orton and Edge attacked and took out Piper with a steel chair. Flair came to the rescue, but was too late. Edge hit a one-man conchairto on Piper and took him out before the opening bell even sounded. In the ring, the bell sounded and Flair tried to gain some much needed momentum with a series of knife-edge chops. Edge came back with a high back body drop, though. Meanwhile, medical technicians helped Roddy Piper to the back. Edge put Flair in a rear choke and blasted him with several mounted punches. The Rated-R Superstar taunted the crowd and tagged the Legend Killer. With no partner to tag, Flair took a beating. Orton clotheslined him over the top rope and to the outside. Randy then gave him a vertical suplex onto the ringside floor. Orton slapped the Nature Boy. Edge tagged back in and taunted the Flair strut before synching in a rear chinlock. Flair fought out of the submission, but got a back elbow to the face for his troubles. Orton came back in and stomped Flair’s forehead. Edge distracted the ref, but it ended up working in Flair’s favor, allowing the 16-time champ to hit Orton with a low blow. Edge tagged back in, but Flair made a courageous comeback nonetheless. Orton tried to thwart the comeback with a dropkick, but Flair dodged it. Ric went on to lock Orton in the Figure Four, but Edge caught him with a Spear. Rated-RKO became World Tag champs at 5:03. After the match, DX came running down to the ring. Rated-RKO left the ring, while a team of security came into it to take down DX. DX, instead, cleaned the ring of the security detail and taunted the new tag team champions. (CMV1 rating- * ¼) (CMV1 note- good for what it was…the tag titles are now around the waists of a new tag team. It won’t matter in two months since the tag division means nothing, but it’d be nice to see those tag titles near the top of the card for a little while)




All in all…tonight’s show was a step-up from last week for one major reason…Hardy vs. Nitro got 12-minutes to put on a good match. Now, why we can’t get two of those per week is beyond me, but I’ll take what I can get for the time being. The rest of the show was pretty much the same old crap, except for that the DX stuff was more entertaining than usual tonight and didn’t feature a fat, nearly naked guy. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more interbrand hype for the Survivor Series bouts. I know SD’s crew was elsewhere, but ECW was taped right before Raw was…why not a Punk-Hardy or Punk-DX backstage segment? Why not a Lashley-Cena-RVD backstage skit? In other words, the WWE basically coasted by without doing much to hype the Survivor Series outside of the usual stuff …





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