The Raw Report (01/22/07): HBK vs. Edge (Street Fight)
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Monday, January 22, 2007 at 9:23 PM EST





The Raw Report (01/22/07)

RIP Bam Bam Bigelow…Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans…

A video recap was shown of the HBK-Orton/Edge events from last week…


The show opened with HBK being played to the ring by the DX-theme. He was sporting a band-aid across his forehead. Michaels grabbed a mic and let out several loud groans. He said that last week he learned he could still feel “it,” the ability to overcome the biggest odds. He suggested that he had been trying to suppress those feelings for years, but that he was not doing that anymore. He said that the Showstopper was back and he believes that he can once again be the WWE Champion. This Sunday, the Road to Mania begins with the Royal Rumble…and HBK’s new, reborn passion will lead him to victory over 29 other men. At that point, Edge came out to the ramp wielding a microphone, and said that he had a feeling that HBK would have a feeling of “close, but no cigar” after this Sunday. Edge said he’d be winning the Rumble and main-eventing Mania. HBK told him to shut up and come down to the ring so he could tear him apart. Michaels called him a gutless coward. Edge took off his sweatshirt and head to the ring. HBK met him halfway and the two began a brawl around the ringside area. They fought into the first row at ringside. The obligatory group of random refs came out to pull them apart. After the refs separated them initially, HBK broke away and jumped toward Edge once again. We then got a commercial break, but when we returned to live action, HBK and Edge were still going at it backstage. Coach ran onto the scene and screamed at the refs to keep HBK away. (CMV1 note- solid opening segment…nothing groundbreaking, but it gave some much needed hype to the Rumble. How nice would it be for HBK to win the Rumble and face John Cena? Michaels has been the most consistent performer of the last 3 years, in my opinion, and should be rewarded with a match in the ultimate spotlight. Plus, HBK stands the strongest chance of having a great match w/ Cena out of all his fresh challengers)


Match 1: Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Joey Mercury (w/ Melina and Nitro)
-(CMV1 note- this was billed as a special Raw vs. SD match. JR and King showed highlights of Matt Hardy beating Mercury on SD last Friday, only to get jumped by Johnny Nitro right afterward. MNM drilled Matt with the Snap Shot on the unpadded floor). Joey, still sporting the face protector, got caught with a Jeff Hardy plancha to start the match. In the ring, Jeff hit a running One and Only and tried for a jawbreaker. Joey countered, though, and scored with a knee lift to the chin. Nitro, meanwhile, stripped the padding off the ringside area, prompting the ref to send him and Melina to the back. Mercury continued to build momentum with hard clotheslines. The crowd chanted for Hardy, who came back with a diving clothesline and the Whisper in the Wind (just barely). Jeff then hit the Twist of Fate for the win. Hardy defeated Mercury at 2:36. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *) (CMV1 note- very short, rather uneventful, and a little sloppy, but I’m looking forward to the tag match at the Rumble nonetheless)


Backstage, Coach told McMahon he wanted to throw HBK and Edge out of the arena. Vince suggested that HBK and Edge wrestle tonight’s main-event under the Street Fight stipulation…(CMV1 note- it’s like their 2005 feud all in one night!)


Vince McMahon came to the ring, with the Coach following close behind. VKM said that last week he read Donald Trump’s letter, so this week he’d like to read his letter to Donald. Coach handed Vince his reading glasses. Vince’s letter talked about how he should be a special guest star on the Apprentice to get the ratings to go up. He said that he’s been on TV for 35 years and wherever he goes, people follow to watch. Vince claimed that his presence was the main reason for USA’s spot atop the cable TV rankings. He tricked the crowd into responding “WHAT” after he told them “If you’re an idiot say what.” Anyhow, he said that people love him all over the world and that he wanted to show them that he loved them, too. He decided to postpone his show of affection until next week. At that point, WWE Champion John Cena came to the ring and asked what the hell happened to Vince…when did he become Brother Love? Cena called him out on his unwillingness to listen to the fans. He said that Vince’s latest obsession is Donald Trump…and Vince’s obsessions don’t turn out to well. Like the time he wanted to take out DX and got his head shoved up Big Show’s ass and the XFL, for instance. Cena called Vince and Donald egomaniacs, shameless self-promoters, and the expensive hair/suits/jets that they use to overcompensate for “something.” Coach responded by saying that Donald had a bigger ego, did more self-promoting, and had more money than McMahon. Vince didn’t like the sound of that and said that there wasn’t anything that Donald had more of than Mr. McMahon. McMahon then booked Cena vs. Coach for later tonight. (CMV1 note- Vince needs to go away…no one cares about this stupid storyline, Donald Trump, or Cena vs. Coach. Cena being anywhere near McMahon scares me to death. It simply smells foul. Cena vs. Coach has been done before and no one cared then…no one cares now. This product can be very difficult to sit through sometimes…this segment was a perfect example of why. Rather than listen to the fans he knows don’t care about what he’s doing, he tries to help get some of the leftover haters off of Cena’s back by having him be the voice of the people)

Lashley vs. Hardcore Holly (Extreme Rules) tomorrow night on ECW…


Match 2: Chris Masters vs. Super Crazy
-(CMV1 note- this match was a result of Crazy’s random interference in the Masterlock challenge last week). Masters took early control with a series of lumbering blows before tossing Crazy over the top turnbuckle. Crazy came back with a cross body over the second rope, but Masters regained momentum with a wheelbarrow suplex. Masters followed with a backbreaker and a rear chinlock. Crazy tried to fight back again, but Masters botched a clothesline and regained control. The Masterpiece threw Crazy to the ground to try and make up for the botched spot. The insane luchadore made a comeback with a series of dropkicks, highlighted by one of the top rope. Crazy then connected on a standing moonsault for a near fall. He tried to follow with a running splash in the corner, but Masters moved out of the way and applied the Masterlock. Crazy got his feet on the second rope and pushed backwards, sending Masters to the mat in a pinning position. 1…2…3! Crazy beat Masters at 3:48. (CMV1 rating- ½ *). (CMV1 note- Masters sucks…this storyline has already happened)


Backstage, Coach kissed McMahon’s ass, but Vince wouldn’t give Coach what he wanted…which was to be taken out of the freshly booked match with Cena.

Wrestlemania 23 is 69 days away!

Backstage, Maria interviewed Kenny Dykstra, who this Sunday will be in his first Rumble match. Kenny said he’d be the youngest Rumble winner ever. Maria looked puzzled. Kenny said he didn’t care who he has to go thru…2007 is the year of Kenny Dykstra.


Further backstage, a banged up Randy Orton showed up in Edge’s locker room. He reminded Edge of how he left him for dead to get drilled with a conchairto last week. Edge tried to reason with him and get him to help him out against HBK tonight. Orton told him to go out there and wrestle HBK…and then they’d see what happens.


Match 3: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Coach
-Coach came to the ramp and put Cena in a match with a bunch of random superstars. Cade and Murdoch were first. They double-teamed the champ and taunted the crowd. Cena fought back and connected on all his signature moves, including an FU that sent Murdoch over the top rope. He gave Cade a Five Knuckle Shuffle and tossed him over. Haas, Benjamin, and Viscera joined the fray, as Murdoch and Cade came back in the ring. The Great Khali got involved, as well, but he took out all of the other superstars before turning his attention to Cena. He got quite the face reaction for taking out TWGTT, Cade, Murdoch, and Viscera. He no sold a top rope shoulder tackle from Cena and tossed him over the top rope. Khali went on to toss Cena into the ring steps and give him a devastating chop to the head. Coach then ran in to score the quick pin on Cena, but the champ kicked out! Cena got back to his feet, but Umaga ran in and blasted him in the back of the head. Umaga gave him a spin-out Rock Bottom. Armando and Coach set Cena on a table in the center of the ring. Umaga splashed Cena thru the table to end the segment. Cena and Coach fought to a no-contest. (CMV1 rating- no rating) (CMV1 note- it was a bunch of nonsense until Umaga came down and saved the segment, giving the Last Man Standing match for the Rumble some nice hype in the process).


After a commercial break, Cena was still selling the effects of the splash thru the table. The crowd cheered him wildly as several people helped him to the back.


Match 4: Candice Michelle and Women’s Champion Mickie James vs. Victoria and Melina
-(CMV1 note- this was Candice’s return match after breaking her nose 2 months ago). James and Melina started it off, w/ Mickie dropping her with a low dropkick and a hurricanrana. Victoria interfered soon after and allowed the heels to take control. Melina and Victoria proceeded to give Mickie a double hair pull. Candice eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house. Victoria regained control, knocked Mickie off the apron, and went for the Widow’s Peak. James got back in the ring and made the save. She went on to give Melina a Lou Thesz press on the outside, allowing Candice to hit an awkward spinning wheel kick (that turned into more of a diving back elbow) off the second rope for the win. Candice and Mickie defeated Victoria and Melina at 3:07. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *) (CMV1 note- a little awkward and sloppy, but they looked like they were working hard)


Match 5: Carlito (w/ Torrie and Chloe) vs. Kenny Dykstra
-Kenny wore pink trunks…Carlito didn’t seem like he thought that was cool. Carlito used some trickery to eventually poke Kenny in the eye without the ref seeing it. CCC followed with a quick flurry of offense, but when he charged Kenny in the corner, the 20-year old moved. Carlito landed on the second rope, but Kenny pulled him back to the mat by the hair. Kenny took total control with a leaping back elbow smash. Dykstra then used an extended rear chinlock to further build momentum. Carlito escaped and tried for a springboard back elbow, but Kenny ducked it. CCC kept his offense going anyway, connecting with a dropkick, Million Dollar knee lift, and a hurricanrana. He followed with a springboard back elbow and went for the pin with a sunset flip. Kenny countered into a pinning combo, but Carlito countered the counter into a roll-up. Dykstra countered once again, though, and got the win with a handful of tights. Kenny defeated Carlito at 3:35. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- best match of the night, thus far, with a nice finishing sequence. I’d like to see an extended program b/t these two, as they may be able to bring out the best in each other)

The HBK-Edge/Orton highlights from last week were shown again…

Backstage, Cryme Tyme had stolen the entry numbers into the Royal Rumble. Crazy wanted one. Shad wanted some money in return. Eugene wanted one, too. Cryme Tyme wanted money. Crazy walked away happy. Eugene got #30, but Cryme Tyme conned him into taking #1 and paying more money for it. It was all a hoax…Ron Simmons showed up and gave us a “Damn!”


JR and King ran down the Rumble card, which includes the Rumble match, Batista-Kennedy, Lashley vs. Test, MNM vs. Hardys, and Cena-Umaga (Last Man Standing)…JR said Cena might have a ruptured spleen…


Match 6: Street Fight- HBK vs. World Tag Champion Edge
-They wasted no time in brawling around the ring. HBK took control with a series of quick right hands and then stripped Edge’s shirt off. Michaels removed his belt and blasted Edge several times across the back. He went to the outside and grabbed a couple of chairs and a trash can. Back in the ring, Michaels smashed Edge in the head with the can and clotheslined him over the top rope. HBK tried to follow with a plancha to the outside, but Edge clobbered him with a trash can lid in mid-air. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, Edge gave HBK a headbutt. Michaels had been busted open by that point. During the break, Edge gave Michaels a running facebuster on the steel steps, which had been brought into the ring. Back to live action, HBK and Edge traded blows. Edge went to the outside and retrieved a steel chain. He wrapped the steel around HBK’s mid-section. Edge then grabbed a ladder and climbed to the second rope. He backdropped the ladder off the second rope onto HBK. As Michaels writhed in pain, Edge set-up a ladder b/t the two parts of the steel steps and attempted to powerbomb HBK. Michaels countered, though, and the two eventually settled back into a brawl in the center of the ring. HBK gained control with a diving forearm, an inverted atomic drop, and a straight right hand that sent Edge crashing to the mat. Michaels grabbed the steel chain and wrapped it around Edge’s face. He proceeded to ram Edge’s steel chain-wrapped face into the turnbuckle several times. Edge got busted open in the process. HBK bodyslammed him onto the ladder set-up b/t the two steps and went to the top rope. Edge managed to get off of the structure before HBK could attempt a high risk. The Rated-R Superstar met HBK at the top turnbuckle. The two jockeyed for position, but HBK gained momentum and gave Edge a gordbuster off the top rope and onto the ladder-steps structure. Michaels followed with a top rope elbow drop and geared up for Sweet Chin Music. He went for the superkick, but Edge countered into an awkward Electric Chair. HBK landed high and tight on his thoracic spine. Edge, meanwhile, geared up and eventually went for the Spear, but HBK countered into a Lou Thesz press. Michaels then blasted Edge with a chair shot and set him up for a one-man conchairto. Randy Orton showed up, though, and gave HBK the RKO. Edge took advantage and pinned Michaels to pick up the win. Edge defeated HBK at 14:06. After the match, Orton helped Edge to his feet, but then threw him over the top rope to the outside. Randy proceeded to set-up HBK for a one-man conchairto, but Ric Flair came to the rescue and gave Orton a low blow. Kenny Dykstra showed up and tossed Flair over the top rope. Carlito came to the rescue and attacked Kenny. HBK eventually gave all of them Sweet Chin Music! (CMV1 rating- *** ¼) (CMV1 note- sans for the one awkward counter, that was a helluva main-event. We only got to see about 11-minutes of it, but it was a well-worked street fight with good intensity, nice spots, and a nice finish. The post-match stuff sold several feuds for the Rumble and made HBK look strong. I have no idea who is going to win the Rumble, but HBK is as good a choice as any. It looks like he may have a shot to main-event one more Mania if he can stay healthy. He did look fine after landing awkwardly during the superkick counter. He didn’t land that hard)




All in all…Everything involving HBK and Edge tonight was very good, but the rest of the show failed to hang with them. McMahon continues to bore me to tears. In 2007, I have no interest in seeing him on my TV. The product suffers when he’s on the air. The product thrives when he lets his wrestlers do their thing. Look at 2005 for evidence…Anyhow, the Rumble got some much needed hype from several superstars, but only HBK emerged as a favorite. Orton and Edge could be headed for a singles program against each other, but I hope they don’t turn Orton babyface again…he can’t do it…he’s too easy to dislike. The Rumble looks like a solid PPV, and it got adequately hyped tonight. Raw’s guys ought to hold up their end of the bargain, as the tag match should be damn good and even Cena-Umaga should be a nice brawl. We’ll see what happens with ECW and SD’s matches. As for a grade for tonight, I’ll be generous and give it a 5/10…it wasn’t good, but it opened and closed well…





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