The Raw Report (12/18/06): 3-Hour Special
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST





The Raw Report (12/18/06)

Match 1: 30-Man Over-the-Top Rope Battle Royal- World Tag Champion Edge vs. Triple H vs. HBK vs. World Tag Champion Randy Orton vs. Carlito vs. Johnny Nitro vs. Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Masters vs. Viscera vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Kenny vs. JTG vs. Shad vs. Ric Flair vs. Charlie Haas vs. Eugene vs. Jim Duggan vs. Lance Cade vs. Trevor Murdoch vs. Rob Conway vs. Rory McAllister vs. Robbie McCallister vs. Snitsky vs. Super Crazy vs. Jerry Lawler vs. Brooklyn Brawler vs. Sgt. Slaughter vs. Farooq vs. Val Venis vs. Johnny
-(CMV1 note- the winner gets a title shot later tonight on Raw). HBK, Carlito, Randy Orton, and Triple H all got separate entrances, while the other 26 were all just piled into the ring when the show started. Edge stayed on the outside as the match got underway, while the rest of the superstars started a massive melee in the ring. Masters went to the outside to avoid Carlito, but Edge dropped CCC with a Spear and tossed him back in the ring. Masters made quick work of Carlito and tossed him. Brooklyn Brawler got eliminated out of the corner of my eye. Meanwhile, Duggan started a “USA” chant, as Shelton almost eliminated Triple H. Viscera proceeded to knock Sarge over the top rope and to the floor, as Flair nearly knocked out Randy Orton. Triple H almost eliminated Orton’s partner, Edge, but the Rated-R Superstar hung on for dear life. The Highlanders went after Viscera, but couldn’t get him over, while Triple H turned his focus toward eliminating Orton. Flair went after Edge, giving him several knife edge chops to the delight of the crowd. Haas and Benjamin started teaming up, at that point, looking to take out HHH, but HBK made the save. Trips was the target of many wrestlers, as Viscera was next to try to eliminate the Game. However, Trips came right back with a facebuster on Big Vis, who proceeded to get tossed over by HHH and HBK. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but I guess that was to be expected. Back from the break, JTG nearly got eliminated. Ron Simmons then clotheslined both Venis and Johnny over the top and to the floor, but then got eliminated by Cryme Tyme. Simmons got on the mic and gave us a “Damn!” Cryme Tyme got eliminated by TWGTT soon after. Unfortunately for Haas and Benjamin, they celebrated a little too much and got tossed by DX. Meanwhile, Masters eliminated Lawler. On the other side of the ring, Jeff Hardy tried to eliminate Crazy, but the luchadore landed on the apron, jumped back over the top rope, and caught Jeff with a leg scissors that ended up eliminating the both of them. In the middle of the ring, Triple H and Edge continued their rivalry, while Eugene nearly eliminated HBK. Flair made the save for Michaels, though. Eventually, Snitsky tried to toss Trips, but the Game countered and connected on a DDT. HHH proceeded to throw Kenny over the top rope, but Kenny landed on the apron. DX had enough of Eugene’s antics at that point, and tricked him into thinking there was someone in the crowd waving to him. They tossed him soon after. Masters, meanwhile, eliminated Snitsky and Flair eliminated Murdoch. Flair then tried to out-maneuver Kenny, but the two of them ended up getting eliminated at the same time by the rest of the participants. As we went to another commercial break, DX found themselves staring across the ring at Nitro, Masters, Cade, and Rated-RKO. At some point, the Highlanders and Rob Conway got eliminated. Back from the break, Rated-RKO singled out HBK, while the other three heels trapped Triple H in the opposite corner. Trips fought back with a running high knee on Nitro and a facebuster and clothesline to eliminate Masters. However, Triple H got eliminated by the tag champs, Cade, and Nitro immediately after. Thus, it was HBK against four heels. Michaels showed no fear, jumping into the big pile and eventually eliminating Nitro. He then hit a flying forearm on Edge and a pair of inverted atomic drops on Cade and Orton. HBK went to the top and connected with a flying elbow drop on Orton before gearing up for Sweet Chin Music. Edge then appeared on the apron and tried to prevent HBK from hitting his fellow tag champ with the superkick, but Michaels changed direction and blasted Edge off the apron with Sweet Chin Music. Edge was NOT eliminated, though. Meanwhile, Orton eliminated Cade and geared up for the RKO on HBK. Randy went for his finish, but HBK countered. Orton later tried to clothesline HBK over the top rope, but Michaels back-dropped and eliminated him. Shawn thought he had it won, but Edge appeared out of nowhere and pulled HBK over the top and to the floor. Thus, Edge won a shot at the WWE title at 25:19. (CMV1 rating- ***) (CMV1 note- pretty much what you’d expect from a battle royal. I’ve seen better, but I’ve seen worse, too. Interesting to see HBK be the last one out, as it could begin speculation that he’ll now have grounds for a title shot. With the Rumble being in San Antonio, Texas, I know a lot of people will say he’ll end up facing Cena for the title. I’d love to see that personally)

Order of Elimination

1) Carlito
2) Brawler
3) Sarge
4) Viscera
5) Venis
6) Johnny
7) Simmons
8) JTG
9) Shad
10) Haas
11) Benjamin
12) Lawler
13) Hardy
14) Super Crazy
15) Eugene
16) Rory *
17) Robbie *
18) Duggan *
19) Conway *
20) Snitsky
21) Murdoch
22) Flair
23) Kenny
24) Masters
25) Triple H
26) Nitro
27) Cade
28) Orton
29) HBK
WINNER: Edge

(CMV1 note- * denotes that I don’t know when they got eliminated)


Don’t forget about Tribute to the Troops 2006…

Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Edge, who said that he was throwing another wrinkle in the WWE’s plans. Orton came up and congratulated him, but Edge said that he had his sights set higher. Edge walked away, as Orton looked on with an odd look.

Further backstage, Maria interviewed Chris Masters, who’s got a match against Carlito tonight. Masters said that last week, he put Torrie in the Masterlock because Carlito embarrassed him by spitting apple all over him. He said that Carlito would pass out to the Masterlock just like Torrie did.

JR and King hyped Mercury’s injury and toughness after Joey broke his nose and had many lacerations on his face as a result of a ladder spot gone bad (last night at Armageddon)…They also hyped MNM and Shelton Benjamin vs. The Hardy Boyz for tonight…

At ringside, Todd Grisham interviewed Victor Koslov, an MMA champion (apparently). Victor said that he loved double-double-E and talked in Russian tongue.


Match 2: Carlito vs. Chris Masters
-Carlito snuck up and attacked Masters during the Masterpiece’s entrance. CCC clobbered the big man and took him over the railing with a diving body splash. Carlito got busted open on a ringside camera and Chris Masters ran away. Masters and Carlito never actually wrestled. (CMV1 rating- n/a). (CMV1 note- not a bad way to postpone the match until NYR)


Match 3: Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin, and Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) vs. The Hardys
-Both the Hardys and Nitro were moving a little slower than usual to sell the effects of the 4-way ladder match last night at Armageddon. Benjamin started off against Matt, w/ Shelton mocking Hardy’s injuries. Benjamin quickly took Matt down with a single leg takedown and began working over his arm, which was heavily taped. Matt tried to get away, but Shelton was persistent. Hardy came back and tagged Jeff. The IC champ proceeded to get tossed chest-first into the turnbuckle and get a back drop and a combination body slam-backbreaker from TWGTT. Haas distracted the ref so that the heels could work over Jeff in their corner. Nitro tagged in and went to work on Jeff’s back before mounting him for several forearm shots. Johnny then changed his focus to Jeff’s mid-section. Hardy came back with the Whisper in the Wind, as Nitro tagged Haas. Haas prevented Jeff from making the tag and continued to work over Hardy’s back and mid-section. Hardy came back again with a running One and Only before tagging in Matt. MHV1 wanted a double team, but Jeff wasn’t physically able. Thus, Matt hit a vertical suplex and tagged Jeff. The Hardys connected with Poetry in Motion, and then quickly disposed of Shelton and Nitro. Jeff took out TWGTT with a plancha over the top rope. Matt out did him with a moonsault from the top rope to the floor and onto the four-men below. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, Haas had Jeff in a chinlock. Jeff battled out of the hold and countered a back drop, but Haas distracted the ref long enough for Benjamin to kick Jeff’s legs out from under him and get the tag. Shelton went to work on Hardy’s now injured leg at that point, with a leg drag and series of leg locks. Benjamin then hooked on a half-Boston Crab. Jeff fought out of it, but Benjamin wouldn’t let him immediately make the tag. Shelton dragged him back to the heel corner and knocked Matt of the apron. Haas tagged in and slammed Hardy’s knee into the mat. He then stomped away at the leg and locked him in a modified Indian Deathlock. Shelton aided Charlie to gain leverage on the hold, but the ref saw it and broke it up. Nitro tagged in and continued what TWGTT started. Johnny got a running start, grabbed Jeff’s leg, and slid under the bottom rope all in one motion. He continued to work over the leg, as Melina gave an enthusiastic scream. Eventually, Shelton tagged in and reapplied the half-Boston Crab. Hardy got to his feet, but couldn’t stand up for long. Shelton kept working over the leg until Jeff used a spinning mulekick to knock Shelton away and allow him to tag Matt. MHV1 came in and cleaned house, giving everyone a Side Effect. The finish came when Matt went for the Twist of Fate on Shelton, but Benjamin countered and shoved Matt toward the ropes. Haas proceeded to snap Matt’s neck across the top rope, allowing Shelton to roll-up Hardy for the win. Nitro and TWGTT defeated the Hardys at 15:49. After the match, Nitro and TWGTT continued their assault on the Hardys, culminating in Johnny hitting a sit-out facebuster on Jeff and taunting him with the IC title belt. (CMV1 rating- ** ¾) (CMV1 note- the Hardys were just too beat up to expect much more than what they were able to give tonight. The majority of the match featured good psychology, but it wasn’t all that exciting).


Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Umaga and Armando Alejandro Estrada. Grisham asked who Umaga would rather face at NYR. AAE said it didn’t matter, but if they had a choice, they’d choose John Cena for two reasons: 1) Umaga can beat Cena easier than Edge and 2) AAE wants payback for last week.

Further backstage, Nitro caught up with K-Fed. Melina asked K-Fed if he was sure he wanted to go thru what he was planning on doing. K-Fed said it was something he had to do.

Jerry Lawler interviewed Sylvester Stallone and asked him if he really thought this would be the last Rocky movie. Stallone said that this would be the final goodbye. Lawler asked if the Rocky character was a reflection of Sly himself. Sly admitted that it was definitely a part of him. Lawler hyped the “Contender” and asked if he thought that a concept like that could work in the WWE. Sly said that he really thought that it could get over with the wrestling fans, hyping how much pain the wrestlers go through. Lawler asked if Rocky or Hogan would win a real boxer vs. wrestler match. Sly said it’d be Hogan without a doubt. Stallone said that he had a lot of respect for Hulk Hogan. Lawler asked if what Sly thought of guys like K-Fed coming in and trying to wrestle. Stallone called K-Fed vs. Cena a death wish for Federline and suggested that Kevin simply wrestle Cena’s clothes instead…


Match 4: Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair
-(CMV1 note- Dykstra is Kenny of the Squad’s last name). Kenny backed Flair into the corner to start the match and gave the Nature Boy a series of right-handed shots. Flair countered eventually and connected on a series of chops. Ric landed a shoulder tackle, but Kenny came back with a jumping back elbow. Kenny then suplexed Flair on the outside floor. Back in the ring, Kenny got a near fall, as a “Kenny sucks” chant broke out. Dykstra proceeded to blast Flair in the face with a hard forearm shot and a running forearm drop. Kenny synched on a rear chinlock soon after. Flair got to his feet, but Dykstra backed Flair into the corner and mounted him for a series of punches. However, Flair came back with an inverted atomic drop and a chop. Flair then went to the top rope, but Kenny threw him off and went for a high risk of his own. Dykstra went for a top rope leg drop, but Flair moved out of the way. Kenny tried to regain momentum with a jumping knee lift in the corner, but Flair moved again and went to work on the now injured leg. Flair tried to hit a knee breaker, but Kenny countered into a sunset flip for the win. Kenny defeated Naitch at 5:08. Flair offered a handshake after the match, but Kenny wouldn’t have it. (CMV1 rating- * ½) (CMV1 note- good action while it lasted)

JR and King said that Edge vs. Cena was next!

In case you forgot, the Hogan anthology is still out on DVD…


Match 5: WWE Champion John Cena vs. World Tag Champion Edge
-(CMV1 note- the renewal of the year’s best rivalry). A lock-up started it off, with Cena grabbing a waist lock and taking Edge to the mat. Cena switched to a headlock, but Edge backed him into the corner. The champ connected with a big boot to the face, but Edge came back with a boot to the face of his own before tossing Cena out of the ring. On the outside, Edge slammed Cena’s face into the steel steps. He tried to slam his head into the announce table, as well, but Cena elbowed Edge in the face. As Cena tried to re-enter the ring, though, Edge caught him with a swinging neckbreaker. Dueling chants broke out, as Edge dropped Cena with a falling reverse DDT for a near fall. Edge then locked Cena in a reverse facelock. Cena battled back to his feet, as the dueling chants began again. The champ tried to make a comeback with a diving cross body block, but Edge had the same idea, causing the two to crash mid-ring. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, Edge had Cena in a rear naked choke with a body scissors around his waist. Cena escaped the body scissor, but Edge headbutted Cena to retain momentum. The Rated-R Superstar then locked on a reverse cross-armbreaker. Cena fought his way out, as the dueling chants again broke out. Edge locked on a neck vice, but Cena got his feet and hit the Throwback to buy himself some time to recover. Edge went for a move off the second rope, but Cena came running at him. Thus, Edge jumped over Cena, but ended up getting clotheslined. Cena then hit a series of clotheslines and the spinning backdrop. He went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Edge moved out of the way and hit the Spear. 1…2…No! Cena got his hand on the rope. Edge proceeded to place Cena on the top turnbuckle and go for a sky high superplex, but Cena countered and tossed Edge off the top rope, sending him crashing face-first to the mat. Cena followed with a top rope Fame-ass-er for a close near fall. Edge tried to make a come back, but Cena hung him up on the top rope and hit the Prototype spinning back drop again to set-up the Five Knuckle Shuffle. This time, Cena connected with his fist drop and then went for the FU, but Edge countered and went for another reverse DDT. The champ countered the counter and hit a reverse suplex for a near fall! Eventually, Cena tossed Edge into the corner, but Edge tried to leap frog him and get back on the offensive. However, Cena caught him in FU position. As Edge struggled to hang on to the top rope and avoid the finish, Cena swung Edge’s legs into the ref. Edge eventually did counter the FU and pushed Cena right into an RKO from Randy Orton. The Legend Killer tried to revive the ref, but DX showed up. HHH hit the Pedigree on Edge. 20-seconds later, Cena pinned Edge. Cena retained the title at 14:08. (CMV1 rating- *** ½) (CMV1 note- really good match for Cena and Edge, who just continue to get better each time they face each other. I didn’t like that Edge couldn’t kick out of the Pedigree despite taking the move 30-seconds before the cover, though. That puts HHH way over everyone else. No one else’s finisher is that deadly…no one’s)

Later tonight, Rated-RKO and Umaga will face DX and Cena…

Cryme Tyme came to the ring and cut a promo. Yo…JTG said that they’ve been hearing everything that Haas and Benjamin have said about them. Shad said that they had a character witness to help establish their credibility. A George W. Bush look alike came to the ring with some phony security guards. Fake Dub-Ya hugged Cryme Tyme, but before he could speak, the crowd booed the crap out of him. He said that not too long ago, Kanye West started a rumor that GW doesn’t like black people. “WHAT!?!” chants erupted. Bush said that he and Colin Powell were homies. He and Condy Rice were pals, too. George Jefferson? Bush’s friend, as well. Thus, he loves black people…they are all his N_ _ _ _...Whoa, said Cryme Tyme. They said Bush would get his ass kicked if he tried to say that again. Back to business, Bush said that if TWGTT were the best tag team in the world, then he was the best President in the world. As Cryme Tyme left to their music, Bush did a little jig in the ring. Apparently, Cryme Tyme stole his wallet. To finally end the segment, Bush flipped off the crowd. (CMV1 note- where’s JBL when you need him?)


Match 6: Women’s Champion Mickie James vs. Victoria
-(CMV1 note- this was a non-title match). Victoria took early control and placed Mickie on the top rope. She brought them both to the mat with a sky high superplex for a near fall. James came back with a series of quick pin attempts, but Victoria eventually used a drop toehold to send Mickie crashing face-first into the bottom turnbuckle. Victoria followed with a back suplex and a European uppercut to the back of the head. She tried to put her away with a running knee lift in the corner, but Mickie moved out of the way. James came back with a cross body block and a series of clotheslines, followed by a hurricanrana. Victoria tried to regain control with a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam, but Mickie countered into a modified head scissor. James then went for her version of the spike DDT, but Victoria countered and hung her stomach-first across the top rope. The finish came when Victoria got the win following the Widow’s Peak at 4:25. (CMV1 rating- * ¼) (CMV1 note- good match, albeit short. If this was what should expect at NYR, then that match will definitely add to the quality of the PPV)


JR introduced K-Fed, calling him worthy of being dubbed the “world’s most hated” man. He talked about late night talk show hosts making fun of the former husband of former pop-princess, Britney Spears. K-Fed came to the ring to one of his rap songs. Federline said that everyone hated “K-Fed.” He said that it was okay because he’s not K-Fed…K-Fed was something made up for entertainment issues, but the real Kevin Federline never backs down from a challenge, overcomes all the obstacles, and takes pride in shocking the world. He said he’d shock the world when he takes on Cena on January 1st, and he’d whoop the champ’s ass. In the process, he’d bury the “K-Fed” persona and Kevin Federline would get all the glory. (CMV1 note- damn, ladies and gentlemen, that was a better promo than 85% of the locker room has ever cut. I can’t stand that piece of white trash, but he may end up with a job offer from WWE. He’s got microphone charisma)

JR and King ran down the New Year’s Revolution card…


Match 7: WWE Champion John Cena and Degeneration X vs. World Tag Champions Rated-RKO and Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada)
-Cena started against Orton. The champ used his brawling style to take early control and score with a Fisherman suplex. HBK tagged in and hit a knife edge chop and a series of punches. Orton came back with a series of punches of his own and tagged Edge. HBK quickly regained momentum and chopped Edge in the corner. Orton tagged back in eventually, but HBK again regained control with ease and connected with a flying forearm. Umaga came into the ring illegally and blasted HBK in the back of the head. He then got the legal tag and continued to dominate. Edge tagged in and kept HBK in the heel corner. The Rated-R Superstar taunted the crowd and scored with a running shoulder thrust in the corner. Edge tried for a clothesline, but HBK countered and hit a back suplex. Umaga and Trips got the tags. Trips hit a facebuster and a series of clothesline to knock the Samoan Bulldozer off his feet. Umaga got back up and regained complete control of the match, but Cena battled him to the outside. Cena and Umaga brawled to the back. Meanwhile, Edge tossed Trips into the steel steps and blasted him in the head with a steel chair. The ref ended the match, at that point. Rated-RKO hit a double RKO on HBK onto a steel chair. HHH, who was busted open, tried to grab his sledgehammer and come to HBK’s aid. However, Edge gave him a baseball slide that sent him flying onto the announce table. Orton later punched him in the head repeatedly. Edge then gave Trips the one-man conchairto. The Legend Killer gave him one, too. Rated-RKO taunted both members of DX, as the crowd chanted for Cena. A bunch of refs came down to prevent HBK from receiving a series of conchairtos. The show faded to black with Rated-RKO walking away extremely confident, while medics treated the fallen members of DX. The 6-man tag match ended in a no-contest around the 7-minute mark. (CMV1 rating- * ½) (CMV1 note- it was more about the post-match angle than the in-ring action. It was a good post-match angle, as it gives the heels a distinct advantage over DX heading into the PPV. That’s the one thing all these DX feuds have really lacked this year…the heels decisively putting down HBK and HHH. There’s always been some unrealistic HHH superman come back or something of that sort, but tonight they finally let someone just brutally destroy DX. I’ve really liked how this feud has played out and that’s the main match I’m looking forward to at NYR)





All in all…I really enjoyed tonight’s show, for the most part. The only thing I can honestly say I didn’t like was the Cryme Tyme segment. There skits just get more and more ridiculous by the week, and I don’t think they are that entertaining. I think they’d get over better by showing what they can do in the ring. Perhaps they’ll get their chance in a series of matches with Haas and Benjamin. The wrestling tonight was quite enjoyable. From the battle royal to the solid handicap tag match to the women’s match to even the Kenny-Flair bout, there really wasn’t any match on the show that wasn’t at the very least entertaining. The highlight of the night was both the show-closing segment and the Cena-Edge championship match. Those guys have really clicked in the ring together, to the point where I have still not grown tired of seeing them wrestle each other. Hell, it made me cringe at the thought of seeing Umaga-Cena at NYR because I know it won’t be anywhere near that good (or shall I say it has little of chance of being that good). All the storylines were effectively hyped and Raw has a decent chance at having a solid PPV in a few weeks. Thus, I’ll score tonight’s Raw as a rock solid 7/10 and call it a night…





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