The Raw Report (02/19/07): Orton vs. Cena; Edge vs. RVD
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 9:11 PM EST





The Raw Report (02/19/07)

A recap was shown of Donald Trump and Vince McMahon agreeing on a “Hair vs. Hair” match, with representatives wrestling for each of them, at Wrestlemania 23…


The show opened with Vince McMahon coming to ring, which had a little barber shop set-up in the center. Vince took a microphone and said that the Battle of the Billionaires was on for Wrestlemania. He said in 41 days, Donald Trump steps into McMahon’s yard/house/greatest creation. Vince said he looks forward to beating the holy hell out of Donald after his representative beats Trump’s. He also looks forward to slapping the hell out of Donald and then shaving his head. Vince proceeded to introduce what other media darlings would look like without hair, including Britney Spears, on the Titantron. He said he could really do whatever he wants to Donald’s hair…he could give him a mo-hawk like Mr. T’s….he could give him a flattop…he could put him in dreadlocks…or he could even give him the Hogan-cut. Finally, Vince showed a picture of what Trump would look like bald. The crowd was fairly quiet. McMahon introduced his representative, Umaga, and gave Trump a week to announce his. Umaga and Armando came to the ring. Armando took the mic and said it’d be Umaga’s honor to decimate Trump’s Mania representative. McMahon then gave Umaga an IC title shot…right now! (CMV1 note- good choice for McMahon and thank God it wasn’t Khali. I just breathed a huge sigh of relief).


Match 1: Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada)
-(CMV1 note- remember that the title was on the line). The match started during a commercial break. Jeff goaded Umaga to come to the outside. As he did, Jeff went back into the ring and caught Umaga with a double big boot and a baseball slide. He went for a plancha, but Umaga caught him and tried to throw him into the steel post. Jeff countered and pushed Umaga into the steel, and then ran along the guardrail and came flying off looking for a clothesline. However, Umaga gave him a quick uppercut in mid-air and took control. Back in the ring, Umaga dominated with a simplistic offense and a leg drop. The Samoan Bulldozer continued to gain momentum, as the crowd chanted for Hardy. Umaga used a trapezius grab to keep Hardy grounded. JR and King hyped Umaga’s role in the Battle of the Billionaires. Jeff eventually made it to his feet, but Umaga took him right back to the mat with a hard clothesline. Umaga went to the second rope and attempted a diving headbutt, but Hardy moved out of the way. Jeff then connected on the Whisper in the Wind, but Umaga came back with a Samoan drop. The big man dragged Hardy to the corner and sat him up against the lowest turnbuckle. He proceeded to charge from the opposite corner and smash Jeff’s face with a running rear smash. The finish came when Umaga won the IC title after a Samoan Spike at an estimated 8:43. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- a little one-sided, but not bad. The most surprising thing is that they made a title switch. Should be interesting to see where this goes and if maybe Trump’s rep will help Hardy to get his title back)


A promo for Mick Foley’s new book, “The Hardcore Diaries,” was shown. Mick talked about how he exposed a lot of the backstage happenings…


Match 2: Ric Flair and Carlito (w/ Torrie) vs. Cade and Murdoch
-(CMV1 note- JR and King mentioned that Carlito requested this match). Flair and Carlito gained early control. Carlito scored with an early springboard back elbow and a Million Dollar knee lift. Murdoch tried to get involved, but Carlito blasted him with a hard left hand. Nonetheless, the distraction allowed Cade to hit a modified side slam and tag Murdoch into the match. Cade and Murdoch worked over Carlito’s neck and back. The camera continually panned over to Torrie. Murdoch applied a neck vice, but Carlito battled out of the hold. Carlito eventually tagged Flair, who came in and wiped the floor with Murdoch. Naitch gave him a chop block and went for the Figure Four, but Cade tried to interfere. Carlito and Flair took him out with a double clothesline. Flair gave Murdoch a low blow and tagged CCC. Carlito scored with the Back Cracker for the win. Carlito and Flair defeated Cade and Murdoch at 4:29. (CMV1 rating- ½ *). (CMV1 note- formulaic and ordinary…I wonder where this thing with Carlito and Flair is going)


Wrestlemania 23 is 41 days away!!!


Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed HBK and John Cena. Cena said that last night at No Way Out, they got a big win. He said that he thinks the reason that he and HBK were so successful is that they know exactly where they stand headed toward Mania. Michaels agreed, saying that he’s got Cena’s back so he can get him at his best at Wrestlemania. HBK then plugged the new DX DVD. Cena didn’t think that was good enough, so he plugged “The Marine” DVD. They went back and forth trying to out-do each other’s promos. Big Dick Johnson came into the picture and Michaels gave him the superkick. Cena thanked HBK for having his back. (CMV1 note- apparently, the tension b/t the two of them is going to be minimal for at least the short-term…in the meantime, this was a pretty damn funny backstage skit)


Further backstage, Edge and Randy Orton talked about their rematch next week against HBK and Cena for the World Tag titles. Orton said he’d soften up Cena tonight and make it easy for them next week. Edge talked about winning MITB again, and how he’d strongly consider using the title shot right after HBK and Cena finished wrestling at Mania. Orton, with a somewhat jealous look, told Edge that that’s exactly what he should do…


Match 3: Money in the Bank Qualifying Match- Edge vs. Rob Van Dam
-(CMV1 note- prior to the entrances, King and JR showed highlights of Wrestlemania 21 and Wrestlemania 22’s MITB matches). Edge grabbed an armbar to start, but RVD countered into one of his own. The crowd chanted for RVD. Edge battled RVD to a standoff and then grabbed a headlock. He knocked RVD down to the mat with a shoulder tackle, but Van Dam came back with a leg press and a monkey flip out of the corner. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, RVD had Edge in an armbar with a butterfly grip. He switched it over into a hammerlock and then connected with a unique armbreaker out of the submission. Edge got to his feet and poked RVD in the eye. Van Dam threw Edge over the top rope and to the outside, maintaining momentum. He then placed Edge on the guardrail (stomach-first) and connected with a twirling leg drop off the apron. Back in the ring, Edge kicked RVD before the ECW Original was able to completely get thru the ropes. Edge followed with a swinging neckbreaker. He scored with another neckbreaker for a near fall and applied a rear chinlock. The crowd got behind Van Dam, who used their energy to kick his way out of the hold. They traded blows until RVD scored with a spinning wheel kick in the corner. Unfortunately, Van Dam couldn’t capitalize. They traded blows again until RVD scored with a jumping right handed smash. Eventually, Van Dam scored with a spinning back kick. RVD went for Rolling Thunder, but Edge got up and caught him (in mid-air) into a power slam. 1…2…No! Edge stayed on him, placing on top turnbuckle. The Rated R Superstar went for a sky high superplex, but Van Dam pushed him off. Edge crotched himself on the top rope. RVD came off the top rope with a spinning wheel kick and knocked Edge to the outside. Van Dam eventually went for a flying cross body block, but Edge caught him in mid-air with a dropkick. Edge went for the spear, but RVD leapfrogged him. Van Dam scored with the Split Legged moonsault soon after for a near fall. RVD then connected with a step-over wheel kick and went for the 5-Star Frog Splash. The finish came when Orton got involved. RVD flew off the top rope and gave Orton a flying sidekick. The distraction allowed Edge to give Van Dam the spear and pick up the win. Edge qualified for MITB III at 13:33. (CMV1 rating- *** ¼) (CMV1 note- good match…one of the better singles matches on Raw this year. I would assume that Orton will now be in MITB III, as well).


Match 4: Women’s Champion Mickie James vs. Melina
-(CMV1 note- the title was on the line). A lengthy lock-up started things off. While in the lock-up, they traded takedowns. Mickie eventually grabbed a headlock, but Melina countered into a hammerlock. James came back with an armdrag. Melina used a series of kicks to take control, but James came back with a series of clothesline and a low dropkick. James then knocked Melina out of the ring with a baseball slide. She tried for another one, but Melina dodged it and pulled her to the floor. Back in the ring, Melina built momentum with simplistic offense and a hair pull throw. Melina continued her assault with another round of kicks, but Mickie mounted her for several forearm shots. The two rolled around on top of each other, jockeying for position. Mickie gained control and took Melina down with a hair pull throw of her own. James used a Lou Thesz press to take Melina down to the mat. She tried to capitalize with a hurricanrana, but Melina blocked it and used a roll-through pin (w/ a little help from the ropes) to pin Mickie and win the women’s title. Melina became Women’s Champion at 4:19. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- pretty good action from the ladies, despite the lack of time they got)


Tomorrow night on ECW, Lashley defends the title against Mr. Kennedy and Hardcore Holly…


Backstage, Maria and Candice consoled Mickie. Todd tried to interview Mickie. Despite her not wanting to comment, Todd pressed the issue and got slapped.


Match 5: The Great Khali vs. The Highlanders
-Khali squashed the Scotsmen. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *) (CMV1 note- Zzzzz)


Backstage, Kenny was getting a lecture from Coach. Khali walked in and cut the conversation short. He muttered something along the lines “I want better competition.” Ron Simmons walked in and gave us a “Damn!”


Ashley’s Playboy comes out March 12th…


Backstage, Nitro and Melina made out and got ready to party. Some new guy interviewed Melina. Melina was upset that Ashley’s video aired before her interview. She said it takes no talent to take your clothes off…Playboy asked her to pose, but she doesn’t want everyone seeing her that way…they don’t deserve to. (CMV1 note- there’s your women’s title feud for Mania)


“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig will be inducted into the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame…(CMV1 note- that’s awesome…Perfect was one of my all-time favorites and one of the best IC champs ever)…


The Wrestlemania Recall featured highlights from the original Wrestlemania in 1985…


Next week, Trump picks his representative and Rated-RKO will challenge HBK and Cena for the tag titles…


Match 6: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Randy Orton
-(CMV1 note- it’s only quarter-til, so this could be a good chance to see where these guys are in terms of being ready to one day face each other in a featured main-event program). The crowd chanted for Cena as the match got underway. Cena backed Orton into the corner. Orton then backed Cena into the opposite corner. Randy went to work a hard shot to the ribs. Orton stomped away at the champ and taunted the crowd. Cena came back with a hard Irish whip into the corner and a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Orton poked him in the eye and connected with a European uppercut. Cena came back with a jumping armdrag and a body slam. Orton scored with a hard clothesline, continuing the back and forth. Cena came back with a running one-handed facebuster. The two then collided in the middle of the ring with a double clothesline. Orton rolled to the outside. The crowd chanted for Cena, as Orton grabbed a chair. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but I guess that was to be expected. Back from the break, Orton had Cena in a rear chinlock. During the break, Orton tossed Cena into the steel steps. Cena made it to his feet as we returned to live action. He battled out of the chinlock, but missed a diving shoulder tackle. Cena crawled to the apron. Orton took advantage and gave him a spike DDT with Cena’s body hanging on the second rope. Randy proceeded to stomp all of Cena’s extremities before delivering a jumping knee drop for a near fall. Orton then reapplied the chinlock. The crowd chanted for Cena, as Orton torqued the chinlock/headlock and brought the champ back to the mat. Cena finally overpowered Orton and broke the hold. However, Orton stayed on the offensive and punched Cena in the face multiple times. Cena eventually had enough and came back with a series of punches of his own. The champ went on to connect with the diving shoulder tackle and drop Orton with the Prototype spinning back drop. He followed with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and geared up for the FU. However, Orton raked his eyes and caught him with a dropkick. Randy went to the top rope. As Cena reached his feet, Orton went flying off the top with a cross body block. Cena rolled thru the cross body and earned a near fall. Orton came right back with his patented backbreaker, though. Randy then poised for the RKO. Orton went for it, but Cena countered it and went for the FU again. The finish came when Edge ran in and gave Cena a spear. Edge grabbed two chairs and set Cena up for the conchairto. HBK ran to the ring and made the save. Michaels nailed each of them with a steel chair. He had the chance to blast Cena, too. Cena recognized that HBK was at least thinking about it. HBK decided against striking his Mania opponent and World Tag team partner. Cena defeated Orton via DQ at 13:11. (CMV1 rating- ***) (CMV1 note- another strong match…if this is what we have to look forward to in the future, then the future may be very bright)




All in all…I thought this was easily the best Raw of the year. We had two, 3-star matches and some nice build-up for Mania 23. Raw’s main-event is being approached as a face vs. face match, so it should be interesting to see how things go down at Mania. How will the crowd react? Umaga is rumored to be facing Mick Foley at Mania, so that will be interesting. Even more interesting is that it seems the singles Orton-Edge match has been scrapped in favor of at least one of them (and likely both of them) being involved in the MITB ladder match, which already has more star power w/ Edge’s involvement than it did last year. Things are going well as we start the final 5 week push toward the biggest show of the year. I could deal with more shows like on the road. Thus, I’ll give this show a 7/10 and call it a night …





Become a part of the United Wrestling Front:

United Wrestling Front Forums

Email me for details…



If you have any feedback for me, please email me at magicirish10@hotmail.com









DIRECT LINK: The INSANE New Scott Hall VIDEOS from the Sheik Roast! MUST SEE!

• Quick Links -
  [Back to LOP] [News Archives] [Results] [Columns] [Forums]