The big news that came out of this Monday’s Raw was Vince McMahon choosing his representative for the “The Battle of the Billionaires” Hair vs. Hair Match at Wrestlemania 23.
Thankfully he didn’t pick The Great Khali and fingers crossed we might be lucky enough to avoid watching him trying to wrestle at “The Grand Daddy of them all”.
Instead he choose Umaga, who quite frankly has taken his stupid early 90’s monster gimmick and turned into something worth watching on Monday nights. He is a legitimate big player now-a-days, and since his match with Cena at the Royal Rumble, he is over with the crowd.
RESULTS….
Umaga def. Jeff Hardy to become the NEW INTERCONTINETAL CHAMPION
Honestly, this wasn’t too far away from being a SQUASH match. I really don’t see the logic in putting the title on Umaga, he is already over with the crowd as the third biggest heel wrestler on the show (after Edge and Orton) and now that he has been put in the Billionaire match, what’s the advantage of him carrying the IC belt?
Jeff Hardy was a fine champion, until the WWE started jobbing him out to The Great Khali a few weeks ago, if he had been booked better then he would have got over more.
Ric Flair and Carlito def. Cade and Murdoch
Jim Ross says something like “one of the most promising young teams on raw right now“. YEAH, OF COURSE!
Not a bad match and it’s a clever way of having Flair do less work in the ring and allow Carlito to show his skills off. Although, here’s hoping that the team doesn’t last long and they go for the turn at Wrestlemania 23.
I would love to see the cocky heel Carlito go up against the old timer Ric Flair at Wrestlemania. Looking at how gimmick filled the event is looking, a simple story of two men wrestling for respect, would be welcomed by me.
Edge def. Rob Van Dam in a Money in the Bank Qualifing Match
During his entrance, the crowd didn’t seem sure whether to cheer for the “ECW original” Rob Van Dam but they soon got into him once the match started.
Remember this match was for the title way back at Vengeance? How things have gone down hill for RVD.
This was a great match, best RVD match in quite some time. Some cool innovative moves from both guys, including Edge’s great swinging neckbreaker and samoan drop from a rolling thunder which I think The Rock might have done way back when.
Not surprised by the outcome of the match, RVD is going to continue to drift into the abyss until he either signs his contract or goes to TNA. The question of whether the ECW or Smackdown wrestlers will be involved in the Ladder match at Mania is still to be decided.
Melina def. Mickie James to become the NEW WOMEN’S CHAMPION
Another title change I wouldn’t have gone for. Why take away the title from someone who can wrestler for someone who can’t?
It was the same typical bad match from Melina, with the finish being rather pathetic. It’s pretty obvious they have put the title on Melina so she can fight the playboy diva Ashley, in a match that I’m quite sure no-one wants to see.
Poor Mickie, she had the best women’s match in years at last year’s Wrestlemania with Trish and now she probably won’t even get on the card of the next one…bumped out for the hopeless in-ring talents of Melina.
The Great Khali squashes The Highlanders
A total waste of 3 minutes of my life. When will the WWE realize that Khali is going no-where?
Are they going to shove him down our throats until we give a shit…. because newsflash Vince…. no-one cares about this “7 foot monster!”.
John Cena def. Randy Orton
Ok main event. Did it’s job and got Shawn Michaels to make the save for his tag team partner.
Next week it’s going to be Edge and Orton vs. HBK and Cena…. I feel it may be Sweet Chin Music time for Cena.
Notes
Great show with one fantastic match from RVD and Edge, along with the Cena and Orton and tag match which was perfectly fine.
The show kept moving along at a nice pace, and the direction towards Wrestlemania is now in full swing.
Show Rating – B+
