WWE Vengeance 2006
You know I don't remember what exactly on this PPV compelled me to put this on my list of shows to review, but with how all over the place this show is, it could be a number of things. You've got DX's first match since their reunion, Imposter Kane, we're in the middle of the ECW relaunch and it's feud with WWE. I don't know how good or bad this is, so let's get to it.
Our opening video package starts by highlighting Cena's awakening on ECW's style of doing things, as well as his feud with Sabu. Then the build up for the WWE Title match, which started with Edge screwing Cena a month earlier. Then of course, the events that lead to DX's reunion and their antics the last couple weeks. All while sticking to the Vengeance theme.
We're live from the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina for this Raw exclusive PPV, featuring ECW of course. Good ol' J.R. and the King of course are on commentary, no sign of Styles and Taz to represent ECW tonight, and we go to our first match of the show.
Randy Orton (RAW) vs Kurt Angle (ECW)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: This of course is a rematch from the previous month's One Night Stand PPV,where Orton came up short. I forgot they changed up Angle's theme when he moved to ECW, removing the "You suck" portion, although the fans still insist on chanting it.
Orton and Angle with a feeling out process to start it out before Orton retreats in the ropes, Angle forced to back off. More feeling out and Orton retreats again. Angle finally gets him with a double leg takedown to the mat into a... unique pin and a kick out. Agle tries to go for the ankle but Orton manages to retreat to the ropes and apron in time. Angle with a forearm to the face before he joins him on the apron, attempting a German suplex to the floor but Orton hangs onto the top rope for dear life. Orton knocks Angle to the floor with some elbows,only for Angle to duck a clothesline and nail a nasty sounding German suplex to the floor.
Angle rolls back in as the ref starts the count. Orton takes his sweet time, so Angle pulls him onto the apron and suplexes Orton back into the ring. Angle slapping the back of Orton's head while sat on his back, toying with Orton before finally letting him up. Orton finally gets the advantage with a thumb to the eye and a dropkick, before tossing Angle out to the floor.
Back outside now, Orton with forearms to the back and face before sending Angle face first off the apron, then back first into the barricade. Back in the ring, Orton hooks the leg for a kick out. Orton mounts with rapid punches, then off the ropes for a knee drop, hooks the leg and a kick out. Orton follows with a rear chinlock, but Angle gets up and turns it into a Samoan drop. Back on their feet, Angle with a European uppercut, tries to send Orton off the ropes but reverse into a back elbow and hooks the leg for a near fall.
Orton again with the rear chinlock, fans a bit divided in this match. Orton tries to keep Angle grounded using the ropes for leverage, but Angle fights back up, using elbows to break the hold, goes off the ropes but Orton hits a knee to the midsection, then a leaping knee drop, a cover and another near fall into another rear chinlock. Angle again fights up and escapes with an arm drag, but Orton again on the offense with a clothesline. Orton goes up top, even though Angle is halfway across the ring. Angle leaps up for his belly to belly overhead spot, but he stumbles, unable to leap all the way and tries to throw Orton from the second rope, Orton landing on the back of his head.
Back to their feet, Angle hits a couple belly to belly overheads, then tries for the Angle Slam, but Orton hits his inverted backbreaker, hooks the leg but Angle kicks out. Orton sets up for the RKO but Angle sends him into the corner. Orton removes the top turnbuckle, but Angle comes up behind as he does for a series of German suplexes. Angle manages to land 8 before finally letting Orton go, sending him rolling out of the ring to the floor.
Angle follows out and rolls Orton back in, hooks the leg but Orton kicks out. Angle goes for the Ankle Lock but Orton kicks him off. Orton goes to the previously mentioned corner to fully remove the turnbuckle now, but Angle nails the Angle Slam. Angle successfully locks in the Ankle Lock as Orton desperately reaches out for the ropes, only for Angle to drag him back to the middle. Orton though turns them around as he does and rolls through, sending Angle face first into the exposed turnbuckle, allowing Orton to follow up with the RKO to win in 12:46. Damn good match to start the show.
Orton clutches his ankle, hobbling back to his feet as his arm is raised and we go to replays. Orton poses in the corner before leaving the room, Angle recovering in the ring. Orton walks off with a limp before we go to the back.
Vince is on the phone, and says there's an old saying, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth Mr. McMahon." He says Spirit Squad will never forget when DX dumped green goop on them on Monday's Raw. He tells whoever he's talking to that Spirit Squad is ready as he gets a knock on his office door, and in comes a child in a wheelchair, wearing a DX t-shirt. Vince shakes his hand and says this is a bit of a surprise, seeing as he wasn't expecting anybody. He gets this crazed look in his eyes and pulls the kid closer, bringing up his DX shirt. Vince thinks this is some prank by DX, asking where the rooster is, or the space aliens, or the three gay male dancers, or the pump. He thinks the kid's here to tell him that Steph is in labor, and though the kid tries to deny it, Vince tells him to shut up. He says DX has been taking him on a ride, so he's gonna take the kid on a ride, rolling him out the door on, as he calls it, the "Ride on the Highway to Hell", and we hear a crashing noise as Vince closes the door. Vince gets another knock on his door and it's Coach, saying that rumors are DX have been hanging outside his office, and Coach has found a penis pump outside the office door. He claims he got one up on DX, mentioning what just happened without actually saying it, and of course, the punchline of all this is that the boy was a family friend of the Coach, Vince's biggest fan, and Vince is his hero. Oof.
Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada) vs Eugene (w/ "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Doink the Clown & Kamala)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Armando of course starts things out doing his introduction, who the crowd cannot help but chant along with it. He says before his monster destroys the special little boy, there's a rumor he wants to address. Apparently Eugene has decided to get himself some backup. He calls Eugene a big dummy, and says he can bring all the imaginary friends he wants, Superman, Spider-Man, or even Aquaman. He heard Wonder Woman was in town, and suggests he give her a call on her cell phone. He says it doesn't matter, because nobody can stop the Samoan Bulldozer. Eugene brings out his back up in the form of Jim Duggan, who's had his issues with Umaga, Kamala, and Doink, portrayed by Steve Lombardi here. Ironically, Nick Dinsmore portrayed Doink at Vengeance '03.
Crowd gets a loud USA chant going, Umaga goes to threaten Doink and Eugene tries to get some offense in but Umaga easily takes him out. Eugene does get some rights in but Umaga knocks him back down, followed by a vicious kick to he chest. Eugene sits up in the corner and Umaga nails his running hip attack. Umaga nails the Samoan Spike for the quick win in 1:39. Not really anything else to say here.
Eugene clutches at his throat as he lays on the mat and Umaga pulls him back in, seemingly for another spike, but Duggan slides in by the opposite corner, charges for a football tackle only to be taken out by a clothesline. Doink now tries but gets knocked down by an elbow and gets a Samoan Spike for his trouble. Kamala in now, slapping at his belly and Umaga goes to attack, but Estrada holds him off, and they make their exit.
In the back, Todd Grisham brings in Mick Foley, who's set to face the Charlotte-native Flair tonight. Todd goes to bring up the city's name, and Mick tells him not to ruin his cheap pop. He says they're going to have a public book reading [insert cheap pop here], and opens Flair's novel "To Be the Man". Todd brings up that it's actually an autobiography, but Mick cuts him off, saying the book is clearly fiction, quoting, "Mick Foley has a cult following, because of his contribution to hardcore wrestling, but hardcore is such a small part of the history of this business. When I was training a long, long, long time ago, falling off a ladder was not a pre-requisite to making it as a professional wrestler, being fundamentally sound was. Occasionally, seeing the inside of a gym was. I don't care how many thumbtacks Mick Foley has fallen on, how many ladders he's fallen off, or how many continents he's supposedly bled on, he'll always be known as a glorified stuntman." He closes the book, and says tonight in his hometown of Charlotte, the glorified stuntman's gonna wipe the ring with Flair with wrestling moves. He says if Flair wants to write a new chapter in his next putrid novel, he can title it "How I Was Outwrestled by Mick Foley," then finishes with a woo before walking off.
2 out of 3 Falls Match: Ric Flair vs Mick Foley
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: The crowd of course less than receptive for Foley, and Flair gets that fantastic pop. Ric's family is seen at ringside, noticeably a young Charlotte is there.
Fall One
Loud "Foley sucks" chant right away before a lock up. Mick with some chain wrestling with a headlock, then a hammerlock, only for Ric to reverse it. Foley tries to grab Flair by the head but retreats to the ropes instead for a break. Another lock up, wrist locks back and forth before Ric gets the upperhand and Mick forces another break. Flair trips Mick up again and Mick forces another break in an armlock. Mick drops Ric with a right hand, more in the corner forcing Ric to sit in the corner. Mic mocks the strut before nailing a running knee to the face. Mick with the Double Arm DDT, then he calls for Mr. Socko, tonight dressed up like the Nature Boy, blonde mini-wig and robe and all. He gets the crowd to woo for it before goes for the Mandible Claw, but Ric gets him with the testicular claw, followed by some rights to the midsection, chops to the chest and more rights, knocking Foley down. Ric goes up top and nails an ax handle to the back. Flair favors the left knee as he gets up and Foley takes advantage with a chop block.
Ric in the corner and Mick starts to work the knee, twisting it in the rope and driving his elbow into it. Mick tries for the figure 4 but Ric turns it into an inside cradle to get the first fall.
Second Fall
Foley argues with the referee, and as he goes back to Flair, Flair gets him for another inside cradle, but Mick kicks out this time, before dropping Ric with a clothesline and tossing him to the floor. On the outside, Mick slams Ric's head into the barrier, but reverses a whip into the steps, sending Mick tumbling over to them. More chops and rights against the announce table before going back in the ring.
More rights and chops in the corner and sends Mick back out. Mick tries to retreat through the crowd, or lures Flair out, raking the eyes as Flair follows him. Mick sends him back to ringside with a back body drop over the barricade to the floor. Foley rolls Flair back in as the crowd starts another Foley sucks chant, and he throws a trash can into the ring. Mick goes to use it but Flair trips him up and locks in the figure 4. Mick tries to reverse the pressure, but instead clocks Flair in the head with the trash can, giving Flair the second straight fall to win the match in 7:02. This was a bit of a weird styled match to say the least, but I do like the story being told, so I'll give this a pass.
Foley of course isn't done, nailing Rick again with the can before he rolls out of the ring. Mick pull out his old friend Barbie from under the ring and nails Ric right in the head, of course busting him wide open. Mick rakes the barbed wire in his face in the corner,face covered in blood, and Foley delivers another shot. Officials run down as Foley gets another shot in and finally Mick leaves the ring. Is it weir that I like seeing Ric a bloody mess again in nostalgia? Crowd gets another loud Foley sucks chant going as Flair is helped to the back.
To the back, Maria introduces Carlito ahead of his match up next for the IC Title. She brings up how he spits in the faces of people who don't want to be cool, but also how most who want to be cool aren't, and the one's who don't are the coolest. She asks him to explain the paradox she's created, and Carlito looks on in confusion as he's about to bite into an apple. He says he has no idea what the hell she just said, but he does know that whether he beats Shelton or Nitro, nothing will be cooler than Carlito becoming IC Champion. Torrie Wilson walks over with her dog, wearing a bikini, who's apparently doing a photo shoot nearby, and asks if Maria could help rub baby oil all over her body. Maria says she's kinda busy with the interview, and Carlito says it's pretty much over. Torrie asks Carlito if he can hold her puppies for a few seconds, and of course Carlito has... other thoughts, thanking Jesus. Torrie and Maria walk over to the photo shoot area to oil each other down and Carlito looks on, but his music plays much to his disappointment.
Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Carlito vs Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) vs Shelton Benjamin (c)
Nitro helps Melina out of the ring and talks to her leaned over the ropes as the bell rings, so naturally Carlito takes advantage and knocks him out. Shelton tries for a quick roll up but Carlito kicks out, Shelton following with a clothesline, another pin attempt and a kick out. Carlito sent off the ropes, Shelton tries for a knee to the midsection, Carlito slips behind for a roll up and a kick out. Shelton with right hands, Carlito with another roll up and a kick out, then follows with a side headlock, taking Shelton the mat. Shelton rolls to turn it into a pin but Carlito rolls back. Back to their feet, Nitro runs in but Shelton and Carlito take him down with a back body drop while the headlock is applied. Shelton with shots to the midsection, sends Carlito off the ropes just as Nitro springboards off the opposite end over Carlito, ducks a kick from Shelton who takes out Carlito.
Nitro nails him from behind and nails a forearm into the corner. Shelton with kicks and rights and elbows, goes to send Nitro off the ropes but gets reversed, who then kicks Nitro in the midsection as he bends over to send him reeling. Shelton goes to come off the ropes but Carlito clotheslines him to the outside before he even has the chance, then catapults Nitro over the ropes to the floor. Carlito goes to launch over with a slingshot crossbody but catches himself on the apron, while Melina pulls Nitro away. Carlito kicks Shelton away, allowing Nitro to kick his legs out from under him, sending Carlito face first into the apron. Nitro sends him face first into the ring apron next, and Shelton comes back with right hands, then a scoop slam to the floor. He eyes Melina, giving Nitro the chance to attack with forearms, then Carlito back up top with a springboard plancha onto both.
Carlito rolls Nitro back in and follows, hooks the leg but Nitro kicks out. Kick to rhe kidney area, loud chop before sending Nitro off the ropes, he ducks an elbow, off the ropes again into a tilt-a-whirl Russian leg sweep. Nitro knocks Shelton off the apron as he tries to come back, goes for the cover but Carlito kicks out, then tries again and another kick out. Right hands before sending Carlito off the ropes, ducks an elbow, launches off the ropes and flips over Nitro, nailing a damn nice hurricanrana as he turns around. Carlito chokes Nitro over the middle rope, comes off the opposite ropes just as Shelton slides in, launching him high up and landing on the mat. Shelton hooks the leg for a near fall.
Carlito whipped hard into the corner, then goes for the T-Bone on Nitro, who hangs onto the rope, only to be launched over them to the outside. Shelton with rights on Carlito in the corner, then a suplex in the middle of the ring, hooks the leg and a kick out. Shelton sends Carlito off the ropes into a Samoan drop, covers but Nitro breaks it up, now with right hands on Shelton. Shelton whipped into the corner, Nitro follows but gets caught, turned into an alley oop into the turnbuckle. Shelton with the cover, but Melina puts Nitro's foot on the rope. Shelton celebrates prematurely, allowing Carlito to damn near botch a victory roll as he jumps onto Shelton's shoulders from behind, but Shelton kicks out.
Shelton whipped into the corner, then Nitro whipped into Shelton, who hops up and nails a monkey flip, sending him into a waiting dropkick from Carlito. Carlito covers but Nitro breaks it up. Rights send Carlito into the corner, lifting him to the top rope as Nitro joins him, only for Shelton to shake the top rope and crotch him, legs dangling over the top rope. Carlito with right hands sending Nitro into a tree of woe, Shelton leaps up with rights, he nails a superplex while Nitro leans up with a German, taking them both out while Nitro hands upside down in the corner, prompting a Holy Shit chant.
Nitro tries for the pin on Carlito but he kicks out. Nitro kicks Carlito out of the ring and goes for Shelton, who gets him with an inside cradle but he kicks out. Nitro pounces with some forearm shots clearly frustrated. Nitro whips Shelton into the corner, but eats a boot as he follows and a clothesline by Carlito. Right hands for both Shelton and Nitro. Shelton catches him and sends him off the ropes, but Carlito catches him with an inside cradle, only for Nitro to break it up. Carlito sent off the ropes for a double clothesline attempt but he ducks under, off the opposite ropes with springboard back elbows. Carlito with the cover on Nitro for a near fall, then on Shelton for another.
Nitro back on Carlito, sends him off the ropes, but Carlito hangs on and low bridges, sending him out of the ring. Shelton from behind with a kick to the upper back and neck of Carlito, makes the cover but Carlito gets the shoulder up. Carlito now with a suplex attempt but Shelton lands on his feet, tries for a neckbreaker, but Carlito turns it into a Back Cracker. Nitro yanks him out of the ring before he can make the cover though and steals the IC Championship in 12:05. Another fantastic match.
Nitro and Melina make a quick escape while Carlito looks on in disbelief. Paparazzi are already out for a photo op while we go to replays. Nitro and Melina pose on the stage as Carlito looks on pissed and Shelton in confusion.
To the back, the Spirit Squad, also the World Tag Team Champions, are hyping themselves up for tonight's match. Vince walks in and asks if they're proud of themselves, if they've gotten over the embarrassment from Monday. He asks how they could possibly fall for DX's sophomoric pranks. He says nobody makes a fool out of Spirit Squad, or out of Vince for that matter. He calls DX a disease, like the bird flu, and Spirit Squad are the cure, saying they're gonna snuff out DX tonight. They leave all hyped up, then Vince picks up the penis pump with a smirk, then again, looks it over. Vince starts to disrobe and takes the pump, looks around to see if anyone's looking, completely oblivious to the camera, and heads into the bathroom. Then we hear some kind of explosion inside, and out comes Vince covered in green, while the bathroom fills with smoke, throwing the pump box down in frustration.
Up next... Wait, why are we doing this now? We get a video package of RVD's journey to the WWE Championship, starting with winning Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania, and winning it on his home turf, at One Night Stand a month ago, Of course it wasn't without the help of Edge, with a spear on Cena through a table and a three count made by Heyman. He'd be crowned the ECW Champion on the inaugural episode of the ECW relaunch, and interrupted by a visiting Edge and Lita. He claimed to respect Rob despite his thoughts on ECW, that they have a lot in common, specifically their MitB wins and title cash ins, and how they broke the glass ceiling, and how it'll be an honor to tear the house down at Vengeance... of course, only to nail a spear before leaving. Edge would attack in the weeks leading up and have a series of matches, leading to tonight.
WWE Championship: Edge (RAW) (w/ Lita) vs Rob Van Dam (ECW) (WWE & ECW Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Edge takes the mic from Lilian, who says as he was flying in from Toronto, he realized that the WWE Title being in ECW is as ridiculous as the Stanley Cup being in North Carolina. He says RVD had nothing to do with the title, just like no one form North Carolina had anything to do with winning the Cup, saying that Canadians won it for them. He says he's taking back his WWE Title, and he and Lita are gonna have a live sex celebration, just like all the fans have, except him and Lita aren't brother and sister. Lilian for whatever reason announces Rob as "the champion."
Chain wrestling to start out before Edge mocks RVD's signature taunt. Lock up as Edge pushes Rob into the corner, then a shot to the ribs and a right hand. Rob reverses a whip into the opposite corner and follows with a monkey flip only for Edge to land on his feet. Rob tries to follow with a pair of kicks and a leg sweet, then catches Edge's legs and rolls him up but Edge grabs the bottom rope and rolls to the apron.
Edge re-enters for another lock up and pushes Rob into the corner again, then tries a cheap right only for Rob to duck and land some forearms, whipping Edge into the opposite corner, who leaps over a charging Rob, leaps to the top rope for a moonsault and lands on his feet, Edge to the middle rope for a crossbody but Rob ducks and hits a standing moonsault, hooks the leg and a kick out. Edge retreats to the corner as Rob plays to the crowd, Edge goes to but gets caught and takes a spinning heel kick. Rob goes for Rolling Thunder but Edge rolls out in time.
Edge retreats to the other side only for Rob to nail a baseball slide to the back, hops to the barricade and hits a moonsault on a standing Edge. Edge is rolled back in, and Lita grabs Rob's foot as he climbs to the apron, allowing Edge to knee him in the head, then a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the leg for a kick out.
Rob in the corner as Edge nails a forearm, then a right hand as Edge mocks Rob some more. Rob gets whipped hard into the opposite corner, working the back before he chokes Rob against the middle rope. Rob fights back with shots to the midsection, only to have his eyes raked and nailed with another forearm. Edge with a surfboard now on a seated Rob, going after the back again. Rob kicks Edge in the head and fights out, back to his feet, goes to send Edge off the ropes but gets reversed. Rob hangs onto the rope as Edge charges only to be sent up and over to the apron. Rob launches himself up with a crossbody over the ropes into Edge, sending them both to the floor.
Edge gets lifted and dropped ribs first on the barricade, Rob hops the apron for his spinning leg drop, but Edge moves, Rob catching the back of his knee on the top of the barricade. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the bad leg for a near fall. Edge sends him back through the ropes and Rob lands face first on the floor, looks like his leg caught the middle rope on the way out. Edge follows and hits a powerbomb into the edge of the barricade, ouch. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the leg for a near fall.
Edge stomps at the back, then a backbreaker, pushing on the chin and thigh to work the back some more. Rob manages to fight out with knees to the temple but clutches at his back as he rolls to the back. Trading rights back and forth, Rob comes off the ropes, but Edge hits him with a boot. Rob sent face first into the corner, whipped into the opposite corner and Edge follows. Rob gets the boot up and pulls Edge in to try a tornado DDT, only for Edge to block. He tries for a suplex, but Rob slips out and hits a spin kick to the ribs. Edge tries to send him face first in the corner again but Rob blocks and kicks him in the head, then a springboard back kick out of the corner.
Back to their feet, Rob off the rope with a clothesline, then another, Edge sent off the ropes into a back body drop, a bridging German suplex but Edge kicks out. Heel kick takes Edge down, setting up for Rolling Thunder but Edge pops up into a nice powerslam, Edge hooks the leg but Rob kicks out. Rob pulls himself up in the corner, Edge whips him into the opposite and Edge follows only to be hit with an elbow. Rob hops up top and nails a drop kick, calling for a 5 Star and goes up top, but Edge rolls away before he can leap. Rob does launch himself off to hit a Rolling Thunder to the back of Edge though. Rob back up top with a split-legged moonsault and hooks the leg for a near fall.
Edge reverses a whip off the ropes and Rob rolls over him, goes for a spinning heel kick but Edge ducks, taking out the referee instead. Edge drops him with a clothesline and tells Lita to get him the title. Edge gets it kicked back in his face though and cuts him above his eye. Rob goes up top, only for Lita to pull him down and crotch him on the turnbuckle. Edge pulls Rob out and nails a nasty draping DDT from the top rope. Chioda comes to, but Rob just barely gets the shoulder up.
Edge to the corner to set up a spear, while Lita holds up a chair behind Rob in his corner, and of course Rob moves and Edge goes head first into the chair and knocks Lita down. Rob goes up top and nails the 5 Star Frog Splash to retain the championship in 17:55. I wanted to like this match, but something just felt off the whole time. It wasn't clicking with me. There we some nice spots I'll give it that.
Rob celebrates with his titles as Edge recovers on the mat and we go to replays. Rob poses in the corner as Edge and Lita retreat. We see the ECW locker room celebrating in the back, chanting RVD and ECW. Heyman walks in, saying they're here tonight for the Lumberjack Match. Heyman says in the interest of fairness, something he's never subscribed to, per Vince, there will be RAW lumberjacks as well. He says it doesn't matter if he, they or even Head don't like it, he heard Cena doesn't like it either. He says they're not there to like it, they're there to support Sabu, to watch Cena go down, to represent ECW. Heyman walks out as they start another ECW chant.
Kane vs "Kane"
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: If I remember correctly, this all started with that ridiculous May 19th thing, and on said date, an impostor Kane, played by Luke Gallows, appeared out of nowhere. Kane has said he knows who's under the mask, but has yet to reveal the identity. Imposter Kane of course dressed in late '90s/early 00s Kane wear, mask and all, although the hair is way too scraggly. "Kane" goes to do Kane's fire spot, but Kane cuts him off and the bell is rung.
Kane wastes no time with right hands and drops the imposter with a right hand, who then sits up. Uppercut and clothesline over the ropes by Kane. "Kane" trips up Kane and pulls him out under the ropes, dropping Kane with a clothesline. Back in the ring, "Kane" chokes Kane in the corner, then trade rights. Kane with a headlock only to be sent off the ropes, taking "Kane" down with a shoulder block. Kane tries to rip the mask off but "Kane" retreats to the ropes.Kane intimidates the referee, allowing "Kane" to catch him with a sidewalk slam, then mount him for hard rights to the head and more choking.
Kick to the side of the head, then steps on Kane's head using the rope for leverage. "Kane" hits a suplex, goes off the ropes with an elbow, then rakes at the face. Kane back up with rights, but "Kane" reverses a whip into the corner, only for Kane to get the boot up. "Kane" hits a nice powerslam as Kane runs at him, hooks the leg but Kane kicks out.
More rights on a grounded Kane before applying a rear chinlock. Kane fights back up and rams "Kane" into the corner, only to be caught with a reverse elbow as he charges. "Kane" goes for a chokeslam but Kane goes for the eye. "Kane" reverses a whip off the ropes but Kane nails a DDT. Kane takes "Kane" up and nails a powerslam. "Kane" taken to the corner for some rights and a big uppercut, Kane backs off and nails a running clothesline, then another and catches "Kane" with a sidewalk slam. Kane goes for a chokeslam, but "Kane ducks and goes for one of his own, only for Kane to get in some uppercuts. "Kane" reverses a whip off the ropes and nails a big boot. "Kane" goes up top but Kane cuts him off with rights, joins him and throws him down to the mat.
Kane calls for a chokeslam and catches "Kane", but he elbows free, comes off the ropes into a big boot. Kane now goes up top and goes for his diving clothesline, but "Kane" catches him by the throat and nails a chokeslam for the win in 7:08. Well that was... something. Credit to Gallows though who had the Kane mannerisms down pretty good.
"Kane" sets off his pyro in the corners and makes a quick exit over the ropes to a quiet crowd, as Kane recovers in the ring.
Up next, Cena and Sabu go at it. These issues of course started at One Night Stand, where he says he learned how ECW operates. He decides to show up on the premiere episode of ECW, who attacks Edge after his showdown with RVD and even drops Heyman. ECW decides to show up to Raw and he handily beats Balls Mahoney because of course he does. Sabu makes the save for Heyman, who drives Cena through the announce table with a springboard leg drop. Cena makes the challenge for tonight, telling them to bring their ECW guys for an Extreme Lumberjack Match. What follows is footage cut with the theme song for tonight's show, showing some of the crazy shit Sabu's done and Cena's retaliation against ECW.
Extreme Lumberjack Match: Sabu vs John Cena (ECW Lumberjacks: Stevie Richards, Balls Mahoney, Roadkill, Sandman, Justin Credible, Tommy Dreamer, Little Guido & Al Snow w/ Head; Raw Lumberjacks: Val Venis, Matt Striker, Charlie Haas, Rob Conway, Snitsky, Viscera, Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Sabu gets... well no reaction. Cena gets a rather mixed reaction here, so perhaps this crowd just doesn't give a shit about this match. Cena sporting a bit of a black eye, ECW's guys already want a piece of Cena but the Raw guys get in their face. Cena walks between and steps in the ring. Sabu wastes no time as Cena gets distracted by the lumberjacks and the match gets started.
Sabu stomps and punches away at Cena, then throws him out to the ECW guys, only for Cena to fight free immediately. Cena with rights, whips Sabu into the corner and follows with a fisherman suplex, cover and a kick out. Sabut tossed out now and the Raw guys... toss him right back in. Well, alright then. Sabu sent off the ropes into a reverse elbow, cover and a near fall. Sabu pulls him out of the ring and he gets attacked by the ECW guys before being tossed back in.
Sabu throws him out again and Sandman cracks Cena right over the head with a kendo stick, then tosses him back in. Sabu's got a chair, sets it and hits his triple jump moonsault, cover and a kick out. Sabu goes for the camel clutch on Cena but doesn't get it fully, Cena fights back up and rams Sabu into the corner, who then nails a low blow. Sabu re-positions the chair and nails a triple jump spinning leg drop, although kinda miscalculates it, makes the cover but Cena kicks out.
Sabu with the chair and goes to the second rope and hits the Arabian Facebuster, makes the cover but Cena gets the shoulder up. Sabu with chair in hand, Cena pulls himself up in the corner and Sabu sets the chair up in front, launches off but Cena moves out of the way, connecting with the top turnbuckle. Cena with a clothesline and a boot, then a powerslam. Cena calls for 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but a fight breaks out among the lumberjacks and it distracts Cena. Cena slides out and FU's Richards over the barricade to the concrete floor, then walks right into Sabu throwing a chair in his face, then another as Al Snow holds him up. At some point a table was set up at ringside, and Dreamer and Snow pull Cena over, while Haas comes from behind and drops... I think Guido. Viscera comes over and stops Sandman and Dreamer, Sabu goes for a triple jump... something but Cena takes the kendo stick and cracks it over Sabu. Snitsky takes out Dreamer, Cena throws the chair at Sabu's face.
Cena pulls Sabu up and delivers the FU over the ropes and... well he was supposed to go through the table but the table was out of position, so CSabu's leg catches the end of the table, while he hits the floor. Viscera and Snitsky toss him back in and Cena locks in the STFU. ECW tries to break it up, but the Raw guys hold them back, and Sabu taps in 6:52. Well this was a waste of time.
Raw joins Cena in the celebration as ECW backs off and check on Sabu at ringside and helped to the back, then go to replays. Cena leaves while Raw looks on and applauds. Of course Lawler is overjoyed.
We see Cena in the back coming through gorilla and comes up to RVD. Rob tells him to calm down, and that he wants to talk to him about something. He brings up Cena going right into ECW's dressing room the week before, saying he thought Cena had balls to show up to One Night Stand, but he went right into their cave. He says that takes something Rob admires. He knows Rob feels slighted because he never got his rematch, and that he probably feels that Rob is holding the John Cena spinner belt, but he's not, it's his, because he's the champion and will back that up. He suggest that tomorrow on Raw, he defends the title against Cena one on one. Cena makes it clear he didn't come into their house begging for a rematch, that Rob took everything away from him. He says it's not the John Cena spinner belt, it's his life. Cena takes the challenge, they shake hands and wish each other luck.
Now, it's time for what is bafflingly the main event. This all started in December when Vince made it his mission to make Michael's life a living hell. He forced Shawn to kiss his ass, he destroyed Shawn's knee using the Spirit Squad, and then there was that Mania match, the match with God. Anyways, Vince tried to sick HHH on Shawn after his knee was destroyed, but when Kenny tries to take matters into his own hands, HHH takes them all out instead. Vince retaliated by putting HHH in a Gauntlet Match... Well that's what he called it, but really it was just supposed to be a 5 on 1 beatdown with no referee, with Vince sending one member out at a time at a whim. As he was set to send out Mitch, the last member, he was thrown through the curtain and out appeared Shawn Michaels, returning after having his knee destroyed, setting up the reunion for DX. This match would be set up in the following week, and DX would of course humiliate the Spirit Squad on the go home episode, dropping green goop all over them, then there's the cock and penis pump stuff with Vince.
5 on 2 Handicap Match: D-Generation X vs The Spirit Squad (Kenny, Mikey, Johnny, Mitch & Nicky) (World Tag Team Champions)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: DX do their usual shtick as they enter the ring of course. Thankfully, all the Spirit Squad guys have their names on the back of their outfits, so should be fairly easy to tell who's who. Shawna and HHH do rock, paper, scissors to decide who starts, and looks like it'll be Shawn.
Mitch starts it out as Spirit Squad try to get a "Let's go Mitch, here we go" chant going. Lock up to start and Shawn gets the early advantage, Mitch fighting out of a headlock, sends Shawn off the ropes for a slam, only to be tripped up from behind and have Shawn walk across him. Hard chop in the corner but Mitch retaliates with a knee to the ribs before throwing Shawn into the corner, back to the midsection with a series of kicks, then some rights and legs forcing Shawn down. Mitch celebrates prematurely with his partners, allowing Shawn to throw him into the corner and deliver more chops, and another as his singlet is pulled down. Another knee to the ribs by Mitch before throwing Shawn into the Squad's corner, Shawn manages to fight out of the 5 on 1 assault and pulls Mitch into DX's corner to tag in HHH.
They double team Mitch down in the corner a few moments before the rest of the Squad come in, only to be thrown out to eh outside. Johnny's nose has been busted from something as they all regroup on the outside. Mitch comes back in as his teammates go back to the apron, a bloodied Johnny tagged in. Johnny pulls out a martial arts bandanna and tries to intimidate Shawn, who then tags in HHH. Johnny tries to show off but HHH knocks him down with some rights, followed by a suplex. HHH out of the corner with a running knee drop to the nose. More rights in the corner by HHH but Johnny gets a thumb to the eye and fights back with rights in the corner. HHHh reverses a hard whip into the opposite corner and distracts the ref, allowing Shawn to pull Johnny crotch first into the ring post, then works the legs, even taking out Kenny. HHH pants Johnny as he gets back up and takes him down with another right. Johnny whipped into the corner and HHH follows but Johnny gets the feet up and retreats to his corner to tag in Mikey, who immediately gets thrown out by HHH.
Shawn crotches Mikey on the barricade while HHH distracts the referee, and HHH joins in on a double team on the outside while the rest of the Squad argue with the referee. Back in the ring, Mikey tries to beg off HHH but gets a kick to the chest, reverses a whip off the ropes and Nicky gets a kick in to the back. HHH knocks him off the apron and Mikey comes up from behind to knock HHH out to the floor, allowing the Squad to send HHH into the steps. They throw HHH back in the ring and Mikey kicks and chokes HHH in the corner, before tagging in Kenny.
Rights in the corner, whips HHH into the opposite and follows into an elbow, then ducks a clothesline to nail a neckbreaker. HHH tags out while Mikey gets back in.
Shawn with a series of rights, Mikey reverses a whip off the ropes and Shawn nails his flying forearm and a kip up. Inverted atomic drops for Nicky and Mikey, then rights for the other three sending them to the floor. Scoop slam for Mikey in the middle before Shawn goes up top and nails an elbow drop. Shawn tunes up the band, but the rest of the Squad rush the ring to cut him off. DX is in to help even the numbers and Johnny drops Shawn with... well honestly it's a Trouble in Paradise. Mikey tags in Nicky, hooks the leg but Shawn kicks out.
Nicky rakes the forearm across the nose, sends Shawn off the ropes, Nicky goes low and Shawn... does something, the Squad are in the camera's view. Johnny is tagged in as Shawn retreats to the corner, takes Johnny down woith a right. Shawn gets yanked out of the ring, HHH inadvertently distracts the referee as he goes to step in,allowing Kenny to nail Shawn with a vicious chair shot, Jesus Christ. HHH chases them off before Kenny tosses Shawn back in. Mikey is seen running down the rampway and uses the trampoline set up for their entrance to leap over the ropes and nail a bulldog, Johnny hooks the leg but Shawn kicks out.
HHH tosses the trampoline away while Kenny is tagged in, Shawn sent off the ropes into a jumping side kick, hooks the leg for a near fall. Mikey(?) tagged in and whips Shawn into the corner, using Kenny's help for a leaping clothesline, hooks the leg for another kick out. Vicious right hands and elbow raking again and Mitch(?) is tagged in. More offense, a cover and a near fall. Mitch tagged in, then Kenny, Shawn sent off the ropes into a double flapjack, cover and another near fall. Kenny applies a chinlock. Shawn fights, out off the ropes and take each other out with a clothesline.
Mikey with a cheap shot from the apron in the corner and Nicky gets tagged in. Rights and trash talk in the corner, Mikey(?) tagged in for the leaping clothesline in the corner but Shawn moves out of the way, Mikey landing chest first on the ring post, and Shawn takes out Nicky with an enziguri. Shawn tries to make the hot tag but Johnny is tagged in, he and Mikey cut him off. Shawn sent off the ropes and they go for a flapjack but Shawn takes them out with a double DDT.
Shawn makes the hot tag while Kenny is tagged in who clears out the Squad. Nicky off the ropes into a high knee. Kenny off the ropes into a spinebuster, then one more for Mitch(?). Kenny reverses a whip off the ropes but eats a facebuster, then into a Pedigree attempt but Nicky breaks it up. Kenny is clotheslined out and Shawn sends himself and Nicky over the ropes to the outside. Shawn gets grabbed by Mitch, Mikey and Johnny while Nicky launches off the trampoline, but Shawn moves and Nicky takes takes out the Squad. Kenny back in the ring and trapped between Shawn and HHH. Kenny begs, then turns into a Pedigree, while Shawn hits Mikey(?) with Sweet Chin Music, giving DX the win in 17:51. Eh, it was a fun match. Should it have been the main event though? No.
DX celebrates in the corners, before Mitch comes in and eats Sweet Chin Music, then Johnny tales a Pedigree, then more Sweet Chin Music for Nicky. Shawn goes to leave but HHH whispers something in his ear. HHH plays eeny meanie miney moe and leaves Mitch by himself, and force his face into HHH's ass crack. More celebrating in the corners while Vince makes his way out to the stage with a smile. He congratulates them and says he'll see them tomorrow night, then DX does their pose to end the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well this was an... interesting show, to say the least. Most of it was pretty good, with the only real waste of time being Sabu/Cena. Then there was that oddball Kane match, the squash match, but otherwise I enjoyed it. With a runtime of 2:40:33, this show had a total 1:05:23 of wrestling.
So what's the aftermath of all this? Well, DX would continue their feud with Vince, which would eventually get Shane involved and lead to a match at Summerslam, and eventually end at Unforgiven in September. Imposter Kane would be ditched the next night on Raw, when Kane decimates, unmasks and throws his imposter out of the building, and we never get any follow up. RVD would only hold the title another week, before losing it to Edge in a Triple Threat with Cena, and lose his ECW Title the same week to the Big Show, starting the shit storm that is WWECW.
Our opening video package starts by highlighting Cena's awakening on ECW's style of doing things, as well as his feud with Sabu. Then the build up for the WWE Title match, which started with Edge screwing Cena a month earlier. Then of course, the events that lead to DX's reunion and their antics the last couple weeks. All while sticking to the Vengeance theme.
We're live from the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina for this Raw exclusive PPV, featuring ECW of course. Good ol' J.R. and the King of course are on commentary, no sign of Styles and Taz to represent ECW tonight, and we go to our first match of the show.
Randy Orton (RAW) vs Kurt Angle (ECW)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: This of course is a rematch from the previous month's One Night Stand PPV,where Orton came up short. I forgot they changed up Angle's theme when he moved to ECW, removing the "You suck" portion, although the fans still insist on chanting it.
Orton and Angle with a feeling out process to start it out before Orton retreats in the ropes, Angle forced to back off. More feeling out and Orton retreats again. Angle finally gets him with a double leg takedown to the mat into a... unique pin and a kick out. Agle tries to go for the ankle but Orton manages to retreat to the ropes and apron in time. Angle with a forearm to the face before he joins him on the apron, attempting a German suplex to the floor but Orton hangs onto the top rope for dear life. Orton knocks Angle to the floor with some elbows,only for Angle to duck a clothesline and nail a nasty sounding German suplex to the floor.
Angle rolls back in as the ref starts the count. Orton takes his sweet time, so Angle pulls him onto the apron and suplexes Orton back into the ring. Angle slapping the back of Orton's head while sat on his back, toying with Orton before finally letting him up. Orton finally gets the advantage with a thumb to the eye and a dropkick, before tossing Angle out to the floor.
Back outside now, Orton with forearms to the back and face before sending Angle face first off the apron, then back first into the barricade. Back in the ring, Orton hooks the leg for a kick out. Orton mounts with rapid punches, then off the ropes for a knee drop, hooks the leg and a kick out. Orton follows with a rear chinlock, but Angle gets up and turns it into a Samoan drop. Back on their feet, Angle with a European uppercut, tries to send Orton off the ropes but reverse into a back elbow and hooks the leg for a near fall.
Orton again with the rear chinlock, fans a bit divided in this match. Orton tries to keep Angle grounded using the ropes for leverage, but Angle fights back up, using elbows to break the hold, goes off the ropes but Orton hits a knee to the midsection, then a leaping knee drop, a cover and another near fall into another rear chinlock. Angle again fights up and escapes with an arm drag, but Orton again on the offense with a clothesline. Orton goes up top, even though Angle is halfway across the ring. Angle leaps up for his belly to belly overhead spot, but he stumbles, unable to leap all the way and tries to throw Orton from the second rope, Orton landing on the back of his head.
Back to their feet, Angle hits a couple belly to belly overheads, then tries for the Angle Slam, but Orton hits his inverted backbreaker, hooks the leg but Angle kicks out. Orton sets up for the RKO but Angle sends him into the corner. Orton removes the top turnbuckle, but Angle comes up behind as he does for a series of German suplexes. Angle manages to land 8 before finally letting Orton go, sending him rolling out of the ring to the floor.
Angle follows out and rolls Orton back in, hooks the leg but Orton kicks out. Angle goes for the Ankle Lock but Orton kicks him off. Orton goes to the previously mentioned corner to fully remove the turnbuckle now, but Angle nails the Angle Slam. Angle successfully locks in the Ankle Lock as Orton desperately reaches out for the ropes, only for Angle to drag him back to the middle. Orton though turns them around as he does and rolls through, sending Angle face first into the exposed turnbuckle, allowing Orton to follow up with the RKO to win in 12:46. Damn good match to start the show.
Orton clutches his ankle, hobbling back to his feet as his arm is raised and we go to replays. Orton poses in the corner before leaving the room, Angle recovering in the ring. Orton walks off with a limp before we go to the back.
Vince is on the phone, and says there's an old saying, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth Mr. McMahon." He says Spirit Squad will never forget when DX dumped green goop on them on Monday's Raw. He tells whoever he's talking to that Spirit Squad is ready as he gets a knock on his office door, and in comes a child in a wheelchair, wearing a DX t-shirt. Vince shakes his hand and says this is a bit of a surprise, seeing as he wasn't expecting anybody. He gets this crazed look in his eyes and pulls the kid closer, bringing up his DX shirt. Vince thinks this is some prank by DX, asking where the rooster is, or the space aliens, or the three gay male dancers, or the pump. He thinks the kid's here to tell him that Steph is in labor, and though the kid tries to deny it, Vince tells him to shut up. He says DX has been taking him on a ride, so he's gonna take the kid on a ride, rolling him out the door on, as he calls it, the "Ride on the Highway to Hell", and we hear a crashing noise as Vince closes the door. Vince gets another knock on his door and it's Coach, saying that rumors are DX have been hanging outside his office, and Coach has found a penis pump outside the office door. He claims he got one up on DX, mentioning what just happened without actually saying it, and of course, the punchline of all this is that the boy was a family friend of the Coach, Vince's biggest fan, and Vince is his hero. Oof.
Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada) vs Eugene (w/ "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Doink the Clown & Kamala)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Armando of course starts things out doing his introduction, who the crowd cannot help but chant along with it. He says before his monster destroys the special little boy, there's a rumor he wants to address. Apparently Eugene has decided to get himself some backup. He calls Eugene a big dummy, and says he can bring all the imaginary friends he wants, Superman, Spider-Man, or even Aquaman. He heard Wonder Woman was in town, and suggests he give her a call on her cell phone. He says it doesn't matter, because nobody can stop the Samoan Bulldozer. Eugene brings out his back up in the form of Jim Duggan, who's had his issues with Umaga, Kamala, and Doink, portrayed by Steve Lombardi here. Ironically, Nick Dinsmore portrayed Doink at Vengeance '03.
Crowd gets a loud USA chant going, Umaga goes to threaten Doink and Eugene tries to get some offense in but Umaga easily takes him out. Eugene does get some rights in but Umaga knocks him back down, followed by a vicious kick to he chest. Eugene sits up in the corner and Umaga nails his running hip attack. Umaga nails the Samoan Spike for the quick win in 1:39. Not really anything else to say here.
Eugene clutches at his throat as he lays on the mat and Umaga pulls him back in, seemingly for another spike, but Duggan slides in by the opposite corner, charges for a football tackle only to be taken out by a clothesline. Doink now tries but gets knocked down by an elbow and gets a Samoan Spike for his trouble. Kamala in now, slapping at his belly and Umaga goes to attack, but Estrada holds him off, and they make their exit.
In the back, Todd Grisham brings in Mick Foley, who's set to face the Charlotte-native Flair tonight. Todd goes to bring up the city's name, and Mick tells him not to ruin his cheap pop. He says they're going to have a public book reading [insert cheap pop here], and opens Flair's novel "To Be the Man". Todd brings up that it's actually an autobiography, but Mick cuts him off, saying the book is clearly fiction, quoting, "Mick Foley has a cult following, because of his contribution to hardcore wrestling, but hardcore is such a small part of the history of this business. When I was training a long, long, long time ago, falling off a ladder was not a pre-requisite to making it as a professional wrestler, being fundamentally sound was. Occasionally, seeing the inside of a gym was. I don't care how many thumbtacks Mick Foley has fallen on, how many ladders he's fallen off, or how many continents he's supposedly bled on, he'll always be known as a glorified stuntman." He closes the book, and says tonight in his hometown of Charlotte, the glorified stuntman's gonna wipe the ring with Flair with wrestling moves. He says if Flair wants to write a new chapter in his next putrid novel, he can title it "How I Was Outwrestled by Mick Foley," then finishes with a woo before walking off.
2 out of 3 Falls Match: Ric Flair vs Mick Foley
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: The crowd of course less than receptive for Foley, and Flair gets that fantastic pop. Ric's family is seen at ringside, noticeably a young Charlotte is there.
Fall One
Loud "Foley sucks" chant right away before a lock up. Mick with some chain wrestling with a headlock, then a hammerlock, only for Ric to reverse it. Foley tries to grab Flair by the head but retreats to the ropes instead for a break. Another lock up, wrist locks back and forth before Ric gets the upperhand and Mick forces another break. Flair trips Mick up again and Mick forces another break in an armlock. Mick drops Ric with a right hand, more in the corner forcing Ric to sit in the corner. Mic mocks the strut before nailing a running knee to the face. Mick with the Double Arm DDT, then he calls for Mr. Socko, tonight dressed up like the Nature Boy, blonde mini-wig and robe and all. He gets the crowd to woo for it before goes for the Mandible Claw, but Ric gets him with the testicular claw, followed by some rights to the midsection, chops to the chest and more rights, knocking Foley down. Ric goes up top and nails an ax handle to the back. Flair favors the left knee as he gets up and Foley takes advantage with a chop block.
Ric in the corner and Mick starts to work the knee, twisting it in the rope and driving his elbow into it. Mick tries for the figure 4 but Ric turns it into an inside cradle to get the first fall.
Second Fall
Foley argues with the referee, and as he goes back to Flair, Flair gets him for another inside cradle, but Mick kicks out this time, before dropping Ric with a clothesline and tossing him to the floor. On the outside, Mick slams Ric's head into the barrier, but reverses a whip into the steps, sending Mick tumbling over to them. More chops and rights against the announce table before going back in the ring.
More rights and chops in the corner and sends Mick back out. Mick tries to retreat through the crowd, or lures Flair out, raking the eyes as Flair follows him. Mick sends him back to ringside with a back body drop over the barricade to the floor. Foley rolls Flair back in as the crowd starts another Foley sucks chant, and he throws a trash can into the ring. Mick goes to use it but Flair trips him up and locks in the figure 4. Mick tries to reverse the pressure, but instead clocks Flair in the head with the trash can, giving Flair the second straight fall to win the match in 7:02. This was a bit of a weird styled match to say the least, but I do like the story being told, so I'll give this a pass.
Foley of course isn't done, nailing Rick again with the can before he rolls out of the ring. Mick pull out his old friend Barbie from under the ring and nails Ric right in the head, of course busting him wide open. Mick rakes the barbed wire in his face in the corner,face covered in blood, and Foley delivers another shot. Officials run down as Foley gets another shot in and finally Mick leaves the ring. Is it weir that I like seeing Ric a bloody mess again in nostalgia? Crowd gets another loud Foley sucks chant going as Flair is helped to the back.
To the back, Maria introduces Carlito ahead of his match up next for the IC Title. She brings up how he spits in the faces of people who don't want to be cool, but also how most who want to be cool aren't, and the one's who don't are the coolest. She asks him to explain the paradox she's created, and Carlito looks on in confusion as he's about to bite into an apple. He says he has no idea what the hell she just said, but he does know that whether he beats Shelton or Nitro, nothing will be cooler than Carlito becoming IC Champion. Torrie Wilson walks over with her dog, wearing a bikini, who's apparently doing a photo shoot nearby, and asks if Maria could help rub baby oil all over her body. Maria says she's kinda busy with the interview, and Carlito says it's pretty much over. Torrie asks Carlito if he can hold her puppies for a few seconds, and of course Carlito has... other thoughts, thanking Jesus. Torrie and Maria walk over to the photo shoot area to oil each other down and Carlito looks on, but his music plays much to his disappointment.
Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Carlito vs Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) vs Shelton Benjamin (c)
Nitro helps Melina out of the ring and talks to her leaned over the ropes as the bell rings, so naturally Carlito takes advantage and knocks him out. Shelton tries for a quick roll up but Carlito kicks out, Shelton following with a clothesline, another pin attempt and a kick out. Carlito sent off the ropes, Shelton tries for a knee to the midsection, Carlito slips behind for a roll up and a kick out. Shelton with right hands, Carlito with another roll up and a kick out, then follows with a side headlock, taking Shelton the mat. Shelton rolls to turn it into a pin but Carlito rolls back. Back to their feet, Nitro runs in but Shelton and Carlito take him down with a back body drop while the headlock is applied. Shelton with shots to the midsection, sends Carlito off the ropes just as Nitro springboards off the opposite end over Carlito, ducks a kick from Shelton who takes out Carlito.
Nitro nails him from behind and nails a forearm into the corner. Shelton with kicks and rights and elbows, goes to send Nitro off the ropes but gets reversed, who then kicks Nitro in the midsection as he bends over to send him reeling. Shelton goes to come off the ropes but Carlito clotheslines him to the outside before he even has the chance, then catapults Nitro over the ropes to the floor. Carlito goes to launch over with a slingshot crossbody but catches himself on the apron, while Melina pulls Nitro away. Carlito kicks Shelton away, allowing Nitro to kick his legs out from under him, sending Carlito face first into the apron. Nitro sends him face first into the ring apron next, and Shelton comes back with right hands, then a scoop slam to the floor. He eyes Melina, giving Nitro the chance to attack with forearms, then Carlito back up top with a springboard plancha onto both.
Carlito rolls Nitro back in and follows, hooks the leg but Nitro kicks out. Kick to rhe kidney area, loud chop before sending Nitro off the ropes, he ducks an elbow, off the ropes again into a tilt-a-whirl Russian leg sweep. Nitro knocks Shelton off the apron as he tries to come back, goes for the cover but Carlito kicks out, then tries again and another kick out. Right hands before sending Carlito off the ropes, ducks an elbow, launches off the ropes and flips over Nitro, nailing a damn nice hurricanrana as he turns around. Carlito chokes Nitro over the middle rope, comes off the opposite ropes just as Shelton slides in, launching him high up and landing on the mat. Shelton hooks the leg for a near fall.
Carlito whipped hard into the corner, then goes for the T-Bone on Nitro, who hangs onto the rope, only to be launched over them to the outside. Shelton with rights on Carlito in the corner, then a suplex in the middle of the ring, hooks the leg and a kick out. Shelton sends Carlito off the ropes into a Samoan drop, covers but Nitro breaks it up, now with right hands on Shelton. Shelton whipped into the corner, Nitro follows but gets caught, turned into an alley oop into the turnbuckle. Shelton with the cover, but Melina puts Nitro's foot on the rope. Shelton celebrates prematurely, allowing Carlito to damn near botch a victory roll as he jumps onto Shelton's shoulders from behind, but Shelton kicks out.
Shelton whipped into the corner, then Nitro whipped into Shelton, who hops up and nails a monkey flip, sending him into a waiting dropkick from Carlito. Carlito covers but Nitro breaks it up. Rights send Carlito into the corner, lifting him to the top rope as Nitro joins him, only for Shelton to shake the top rope and crotch him, legs dangling over the top rope. Carlito with right hands sending Nitro into a tree of woe, Shelton leaps up with rights, he nails a superplex while Nitro leans up with a German, taking them both out while Nitro hands upside down in the corner, prompting a Holy Shit chant.
Nitro tries for the pin on Carlito but he kicks out. Nitro kicks Carlito out of the ring and goes for Shelton, who gets him with an inside cradle but he kicks out. Nitro pounces with some forearm shots clearly frustrated. Nitro whips Shelton into the corner, but eats a boot as he follows and a clothesline by Carlito. Right hands for both Shelton and Nitro. Shelton catches him and sends him off the ropes, but Carlito catches him with an inside cradle, only for Nitro to break it up. Carlito sent off the ropes for a double clothesline attempt but he ducks under, off the opposite ropes with springboard back elbows. Carlito with the cover on Nitro for a near fall, then on Shelton for another.
Nitro back on Carlito, sends him off the ropes, but Carlito hangs on and low bridges, sending him out of the ring. Shelton from behind with a kick to the upper back and neck of Carlito, makes the cover but Carlito gets the shoulder up. Carlito now with a suplex attempt but Shelton lands on his feet, tries for a neckbreaker, but Carlito turns it into a Back Cracker. Nitro yanks him out of the ring before he can make the cover though and steals the IC Championship in 12:05. Another fantastic match.
Nitro and Melina make a quick escape while Carlito looks on in disbelief. Paparazzi are already out for a photo op while we go to replays. Nitro and Melina pose on the stage as Carlito looks on pissed and Shelton in confusion.
To the back, the Spirit Squad, also the World Tag Team Champions, are hyping themselves up for tonight's match. Vince walks in and asks if they're proud of themselves, if they've gotten over the embarrassment from Monday. He asks how they could possibly fall for DX's sophomoric pranks. He says nobody makes a fool out of Spirit Squad, or out of Vince for that matter. He calls DX a disease, like the bird flu, and Spirit Squad are the cure, saying they're gonna snuff out DX tonight. They leave all hyped up, then Vince picks up the penis pump with a smirk, then again, looks it over. Vince starts to disrobe and takes the pump, looks around to see if anyone's looking, completely oblivious to the camera, and heads into the bathroom. Then we hear some kind of explosion inside, and out comes Vince covered in green, while the bathroom fills with smoke, throwing the pump box down in frustration.
Up next... Wait, why are we doing this now? We get a video package of RVD's journey to the WWE Championship, starting with winning Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania, and winning it on his home turf, at One Night Stand a month ago, Of course it wasn't without the help of Edge, with a spear on Cena through a table and a three count made by Heyman. He'd be crowned the ECW Champion on the inaugural episode of the ECW relaunch, and interrupted by a visiting Edge and Lita. He claimed to respect Rob despite his thoughts on ECW, that they have a lot in common, specifically their MitB wins and title cash ins, and how they broke the glass ceiling, and how it'll be an honor to tear the house down at Vengeance... of course, only to nail a spear before leaving. Edge would attack in the weeks leading up and have a series of matches, leading to tonight.
WWE Championship: Edge (RAW) (w/ Lita) vs Rob Van Dam (ECW) (WWE & ECW Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Edge takes the mic from Lilian, who says as he was flying in from Toronto, he realized that the WWE Title being in ECW is as ridiculous as the Stanley Cup being in North Carolina. He says RVD had nothing to do with the title, just like no one form North Carolina had anything to do with winning the Cup, saying that Canadians won it for them. He says he's taking back his WWE Title, and he and Lita are gonna have a live sex celebration, just like all the fans have, except him and Lita aren't brother and sister. Lilian for whatever reason announces Rob as "the champion."
Chain wrestling to start out before Edge mocks RVD's signature taunt. Lock up as Edge pushes Rob into the corner, then a shot to the ribs and a right hand. Rob reverses a whip into the opposite corner and follows with a monkey flip only for Edge to land on his feet. Rob tries to follow with a pair of kicks and a leg sweet, then catches Edge's legs and rolls him up but Edge grabs the bottom rope and rolls to the apron.
Edge re-enters for another lock up and pushes Rob into the corner again, then tries a cheap right only for Rob to duck and land some forearms, whipping Edge into the opposite corner, who leaps over a charging Rob, leaps to the top rope for a moonsault and lands on his feet, Edge to the middle rope for a crossbody but Rob ducks and hits a standing moonsault, hooks the leg and a kick out. Edge retreats to the corner as Rob plays to the crowd, Edge goes to but gets caught and takes a spinning heel kick. Rob goes for Rolling Thunder but Edge rolls out in time.
Edge retreats to the other side only for Rob to nail a baseball slide to the back, hops to the barricade and hits a moonsault on a standing Edge. Edge is rolled back in, and Lita grabs Rob's foot as he climbs to the apron, allowing Edge to knee him in the head, then a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the leg for a kick out.
Rob in the corner as Edge nails a forearm, then a right hand as Edge mocks Rob some more. Rob gets whipped hard into the opposite corner, working the back before he chokes Rob against the middle rope. Rob fights back with shots to the midsection, only to have his eyes raked and nailed with another forearm. Edge with a surfboard now on a seated Rob, going after the back again. Rob kicks Edge in the head and fights out, back to his feet, goes to send Edge off the ropes but gets reversed. Rob hangs onto the rope as Edge charges only to be sent up and over to the apron. Rob launches himself up with a crossbody over the ropes into Edge, sending them both to the floor.
Edge gets lifted and dropped ribs first on the barricade, Rob hops the apron for his spinning leg drop, but Edge moves, Rob catching the back of his knee on the top of the barricade. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the bad leg for a near fall. Edge sends him back through the ropes and Rob lands face first on the floor, looks like his leg caught the middle rope on the way out. Edge follows and hits a powerbomb into the edge of the barricade, ouch. Back in the ring, Edge hooks the leg for a near fall.
Edge stomps at the back, then a backbreaker, pushing on the chin and thigh to work the back some more. Rob manages to fight out with knees to the temple but clutches at his back as he rolls to the back. Trading rights back and forth, Rob comes off the ropes, but Edge hits him with a boot. Rob sent face first into the corner, whipped into the opposite corner and Edge follows. Rob gets the boot up and pulls Edge in to try a tornado DDT, only for Edge to block. He tries for a suplex, but Rob slips out and hits a spin kick to the ribs. Edge tries to send him face first in the corner again but Rob blocks and kicks him in the head, then a springboard back kick out of the corner.
Back to their feet, Rob off the rope with a clothesline, then another, Edge sent off the ropes into a back body drop, a bridging German suplex but Edge kicks out. Heel kick takes Edge down, setting up for Rolling Thunder but Edge pops up into a nice powerslam, Edge hooks the leg but Rob kicks out. Rob pulls himself up in the corner, Edge whips him into the opposite and Edge follows only to be hit with an elbow. Rob hops up top and nails a drop kick, calling for a 5 Star and goes up top, but Edge rolls away before he can leap. Rob does launch himself off to hit a Rolling Thunder to the back of Edge though. Rob back up top with a split-legged moonsault and hooks the leg for a near fall.
Edge reverses a whip off the ropes and Rob rolls over him, goes for a spinning heel kick but Edge ducks, taking out the referee instead. Edge drops him with a clothesline and tells Lita to get him the title. Edge gets it kicked back in his face though and cuts him above his eye. Rob goes up top, only for Lita to pull him down and crotch him on the turnbuckle. Edge pulls Rob out and nails a nasty draping DDT from the top rope. Chioda comes to, but Rob just barely gets the shoulder up.
Edge to the corner to set up a spear, while Lita holds up a chair behind Rob in his corner, and of course Rob moves and Edge goes head first into the chair and knocks Lita down. Rob goes up top and nails the 5 Star Frog Splash to retain the championship in 17:55. I wanted to like this match, but something just felt off the whole time. It wasn't clicking with me. There we some nice spots I'll give it that.
Rob celebrates with his titles as Edge recovers on the mat and we go to replays. Rob poses in the corner as Edge and Lita retreat. We see the ECW locker room celebrating in the back, chanting RVD and ECW. Heyman walks in, saying they're here tonight for the Lumberjack Match. Heyman says in the interest of fairness, something he's never subscribed to, per Vince, there will be RAW lumberjacks as well. He says it doesn't matter if he, they or even Head don't like it, he heard Cena doesn't like it either. He says they're not there to like it, they're there to support Sabu, to watch Cena go down, to represent ECW. Heyman walks out as they start another ECW chant.
Kane vs "Kane"
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: If I remember correctly, this all started with that ridiculous May 19th thing, and on said date, an impostor Kane, played by Luke Gallows, appeared out of nowhere. Kane has said he knows who's under the mask, but has yet to reveal the identity. Imposter Kane of course dressed in late '90s/early 00s Kane wear, mask and all, although the hair is way too scraggly. "Kane" goes to do Kane's fire spot, but Kane cuts him off and the bell is rung.
Kane wastes no time with right hands and drops the imposter with a right hand, who then sits up. Uppercut and clothesline over the ropes by Kane. "Kane" trips up Kane and pulls him out under the ropes, dropping Kane with a clothesline. Back in the ring, "Kane" chokes Kane in the corner, then trade rights. Kane with a headlock only to be sent off the ropes, taking "Kane" down with a shoulder block. Kane tries to rip the mask off but "Kane" retreats to the ropes.Kane intimidates the referee, allowing "Kane" to catch him with a sidewalk slam, then mount him for hard rights to the head and more choking.
Kick to the side of the head, then steps on Kane's head using the rope for leverage. "Kane" hits a suplex, goes off the ropes with an elbow, then rakes at the face. Kane back up with rights, but "Kane" reverses a whip into the corner, only for Kane to get the boot up. "Kane" hits a nice powerslam as Kane runs at him, hooks the leg but Kane kicks out.
More rights on a grounded Kane before applying a rear chinlock. Kane fights back up and rams "Kane" into the corner, only to be caught with a reverse elbow as he charges. "Kane" goes for a chokeslam but Kane goes for the eye. "Kane" reverses a whip off the ropes but Kane nails a DDT. Kane takes "Kane" up and nails a powerslam. "Kane" taken to the corner for some rights and a big uppercut, Kane backs off and nails a running clothesline, then another and catches "Kane" with a sidewalk slam. Kane goes for a chokeslam, but "Kane ducks and goes for one of his own, only for Kane to get in some uppercuts. "Kane" reverses a whip off the ropes and nails a big boot. "Kane" goes up top but Kane cuts him off with rights, joins him and throws him down to the mat.
Kane calls for a chokeslam and catches "Kane", but he elbows free, comes off the ropes into a big boot. Kane now goes up top and goes for his diving clothesline, but "Kane" catches him by the throat and nails a chokeslam for the win in 7:08. Well that was... something. Credit to Gallows though who had the Kane mannerisms down pretty good.
"Kane" sets off his pyro in the corners and makes a quick exit over the ropes to a quiet crowd, as Kane recovers in the ring.
Up next, Cena and Sabu go at it. These issues of course started at One Night Stand, where he says he learned how ECW operates. He decides to show up on the premiere episode of ECW, who attacks Edge after his showdown with RVD and even drops Heyman. ECW decides to show up to Raw and he handily beats Balls Mahoney because of course he does. Sabu makes the save for Heyman, who drives Cena through the announce table with a springboard leg drop. Cena makes the challenge for tonight, telling them to bring their ECW guys for an Extreme Lumberjack Match. What follows is footage cut with the theme song for tonight's show, showing some of the crazy shit Sabu's done and Cena's retaliation against ECW.
Extreme Lumberjack Match: Sabu vs John Cena (ECW Lumberjacks: Stevie Richards, Balls Mahoney, Roadkill, Sandman, Justin Credible, Tommy Dreamer, Little Guido & Al Snow w/ Head; Raw Lumberjacks: Val Venis, Matt Striker, Charlie Haas, Rob Conway, Snitsky, Viscera, Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Sabu gets... well no reaction. Cena gets a rather mixed reaction here, so perhaps this crowd just doesn't give a shit about this match. Cena sporting a bit of a black eye, ECW's guys already want a piece of Cena but the Raw guys get in their face. Cena walks between and steps in the ring. Sabu wastes no time as Cena gets distracted by the lumberjacks and the match gets started.
Sabu stomps and punches away at Cena, then throws him out to the ECW guys, only for Cena to fight free immediately. Cena with rights, whips Sabu into the corner and follows with a fisherman suplex, cover and a kick out. Sabut tossed out now and the Raw guys... toss him right back in. Well, alright then. Sabu sent off the ropes into a reverse elbow, cover and a near fall. Sabu pulls him out of the ring and he gets attacked by the ECW guys before being tossed back in.
Sabu throws him out again and Sandman cracks Cena right over the head with a kendo stick, then tosses him back in. Sabu's got a chair, sets it and hits his triple jump moonsault, cover and a kick out. Sabu goes for the camel clutch on Cena but doesn't get it fully, Cena fights back up and rams Sabu into the corner, who then nails a low blow. Sabu re-positions the chair and nails a triple jump spinning leg drop, although kinda miscalculates it, makes the cover but Cena kicks out.
Sabu with the chair and goes to the second rope and hits the Arabian Facebuster, makes the cover but Cena gets the shoulder up. Sabu with chair in hand, Cena pulls himself up in the corner and Sabu sets the chair up in front, launches off but Cena moves out of the way, connecting with the top turnbuckle. Cena with a clothesline and a boot, then a powerslam. Cena calls for 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but a fight breaks out among the lumberjacks and it distracts Cena. Cena slides out and FU's Richards over the barricade to the concrete floor, then walks right into Sabu throwing a chair in his face, then another as Al Snow holds him up. At some point a table was set up at ringside, and Dreamer and Snow pull Cena over, while Haas comes from behind and drops... I think Guido. Viscera comes over and stops Sandman and Dreamer, Sabu goes for a triple jump... something but Cena takes the kendo stick and cracks it over Sabu. Snitsky takes out Dreamer, Cena throws the chair at Sabu's face.
Cena pulls Sabu up and delivers the FU over the ropes and... well he was supposed to go through the table but the table was out of position, so CSabu's leg catches the end of the table, while he hits the floor. Viscera and Snitsky toss him back in and Cena locks in the STFU. ECW tries to break it up, but the Raw guys hold them back, and Sabu taps in 6:52. Well this was a waste of time.
Raw joins Cena in the celebration as ECW backs off and check on Sabu at ringside and helped to the back, then go to replays. Cena leaves while Raw looks on and applauds. Of course Lawler is overjoyed.
We see Cena in the back coming through gorilla and comes up to RVD. Rob tells him to calm down, and that he wants to talk to him about something. He brings up Cena going right into ECW's dressing room the week before, saying he thought Cena had balls to show up to One Night Stand, but he went right into their cave. He says that takes something Rob admires. He knows Rob feels slighted because he never got his rematch, and that he probably feels that Rob is holding the John Cena spinner belt, but he's not, it's his, because he's the champion and will back that up. He suggest that tomorrow on Raw, he defends the title against Cena one on one. Cena makes it clear he didn't come into their house begging for a rematch, that Rob took everything away from him. He says it's not the John Cena spinner belt, it's his life. Cena takes the challenge, they shake hands and wish each other luck.
Now, it's time for what is bafflingly the main event. This all started in December when Vince made it his mission to make Michael's life a living hell. He forced Shawn to kiss his ass, he destroyed Shawn's knee using the Spirit Squad, and then there was that Mania match, the match with God. Anyways, Vince tried to sick HHH on Shawn after his knee was destroyed, but when Kenny tries to take matters into his own hands, HHH takes them all out instead. Vince retaliated by putting HHH in a Gauntlet Match... Well that's what he called it, but really it was just supposed to be a 5 on 1 beatdown with no referee, with Vince sending one member out at a time at a whim. As he was set to send out Mitch, the last member, he was thrown through the curtain and out appeared Shawn Michaels, returning after having his knee destroyed, setting up the reunion for DX. This match would be set up in the following week, and DX would of course humiliate the Spirit Squad on the go home episode, dropping green goop all over them, then there's the cock and penis pump stuff with Vince.
5 on 2 Handicap Match: D-Generation X vs The Spirit Squad (Kenny, Mikey, Johnny, Mitch & Nicky) (World Tag Team Champions)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: DX do their usual shtick as they enter the ring of course. Thankfully, all the Spirit Squad guys have their names on the back of their outfits, so should be fairly easy to tell who's who. Shawna and HHH do rock, paper, scissors to decide who starts, and looks like it'll be Shawn.
Mitch starts it out as Spirit Squad try to get a "Let's go Mitch, here we go" chant going. Lock up to start and Shawn gets the early advantage, Mitch fighting out of a headlock, sends Shawn off the ropes for a slam, only to be tripped up from behind and have Shawn walk across him. Hard chop in the corner but Mitch retaliates with a knee to the ribs before throwing Shawn into the corner, back to the midsection with a series of kicks, then some rights and legs forcing Shawn down. Mitch celebrates prematurely with his partners, allowing Shawn to throw him into the corner and deliver more chops, and another as his singlet is pulled down. Another knee to the ribs by Mitch before throwing Shawn into the Squad's corner, Shawn manages to fight out of the 5 on 1 assault and pulls Mitch into DX's corner to tag in HHH.
They double team Mitch down in the corner a few moments before the rest of the Squad come in, only to be thrown out to eh outside. Johnny's nose has been busted from something as they all regroup on the outside. Mitch comes back in as his teammates go back to the apron, a bloodied Johnny tagged in. Johnny pulls out a martial arts bandanna and tries to intimidate Shawn, who then tags in HHH. Johnny tries to show off but HHH knocks him down with some rights, followed by a suplex. HHH out of the corner with a running knee drop to the nose. More rights in the corner by HHH but Johnny gets a thumb to the eye and fights back with rights in the corner. HHHh reverses a hard whip into the opposite corner and distracts the ref, allowing Shawn to pull Johnny crotch first into the ring post, then works the legs, even taking out Kenny. HHH pants Johnny as he gets back up and takes him down with another right. Johnny whipped into the corner and HHH follows but Johnny gets the feet up and retreats to his corner to tag in Mikey, who immediately gets thrown out by HHH.
Shawn crotches Mikey on the barricade while HHH distracts the referee, and HHH joins in on a double team on the outside while the rest of the Squad argue with the referee. Back in the ring, Mikey tries to beg off HHH but gets a kick to the chest, reverses a whip off the ropes and Nicky gets a kick in to the back. HHH knocks him off the apron and Mikey comes up from behind to knock HHH out to the floor, allowing the Squad to send HHH into the steps. They throw HHH back in the ring and Mikey kicks and chokes HHH in the corner, before tagging in Kenny.
Rights in the corner, whips HHH into the opposite and follows into an elbow, then ducks a clothesline to nail a neckbreaker. HHH tags out while Mikey gets back in.
Shawn with a series of rights, Mikey reverses a whip off the ropes and Shawn nails his flying forearm and a kip up. Inverted atomic drops for Nicky and Mikey, then rights for the other three sending them to the floor. Scoop slam for Mikey in the middle before Shawn goes up top and nails an elbow drop. Shawn tunes up the band, but the rest of the Squad rush the ring to cut him off. DX is in to help even the numbers and Johnny drops Shawn with... well honestly it's a Trouble in Paradise. Mikey tags in Nicky, hooks the leg but Shawn kicks out.
Nicky rakes the forearm across the nose, sends Shawn off the ropes, Nicky goes low and Shawn... does something, the Squad are in the camera's view. Johnny is tagged in as Shawn retreats to the corner, takes Johnny down woith a right. Shawn gets yanked out of the ring, HHH inadvertently distracts the referee as he goes to step in,allowing Kenny to nail Shawn with a vicious chair shot, Jesus Christ. HHH chases them off before Kenny tosses Shawn back in. Mikey is seen running down the rampway and uses the trampoline set up for their entrance to leap over the ropes and nail a bulldog, Johnny hooks the leg but Shawn kicks out.
HHH tosses the trampoline away while Kenny is tagged in, Shawn sent off the ropes into a jumping side kick, hooks the leg for a near fall. Mikey(?) tagged in and whips Shawn into the corner, using Kenny's help for a leaping clothesline, hooks the leg for another kick out. Vicious right hands and elbow raking again and Mitch(?) is tagged in. More offense, a cover and a near fall. Mitch tagged in, then Kenny, Shawn sent off the ropes into a double flapjack, cover and another near fall. Kenny applies a chinlock. Shawn fights, out off the ropes and take each other out with a clothesline.
Mikey with a cheap shot from the apron in the corner and Nicky gets tagged in. Rights and trash talk in the corner, Mikey(?) tagged in for the leaping clothesline in the corner but Shawn moves out of the way, Mikey landing chest first on the ring post, and Shawn takes out Nicky with an enziguri. Shawn tries to make the hot tag but Johnny is tagged in, he and Mikey cut him off. Shawn sent off the ropes and they go for a flapjack but Shawn takes them out with a double DDT.
Shawn makes the hot tag while Kenny is tagged in who clears out the Squad. Nicky off the ropes into a high knee. Kenny off the ropes into a spinebuster, then one more for Mitch(?). Kenny reverses a whip off the ropes but eats a facebuster, then into a Pedigree attempt but Nicky breaks it up. Kenny is clotheslined out and Shawn sends himself and Nicky over the ropes to the outside. Shawn gets grabbed by Mitch, Mikey and Johnny while Nicky launches off the trampoline, but Shawn moves and Nicky takes takes out the Squad. Kenny back in the ring and trapped between Shawn and HHH. Kenny begs, then turns into a Pedigree, while Shawn hits Mikey(?) with Sweet Chin Music, giving DX the win in 17:51. Eh, it was a fun match. Should it have been the main event though? No.
DX celebrates in the corners, before Mitch comes in and eats Sweet Chin Music, then Johnny tales a Pedigree, then more Sweet Chin Music for Nicky. Shawn goes to leave but HHH whispers something in his ear. HHH plays eeny meanie miney moe and leaves Mitch by himself, and force his face into HHH's ass crack. More celebrating in the corners while Vince makes his way out to the stage with a smile. He congratulates them and says he'll see them tomorrow night, then DX does their pose to end the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well this was an... interesting show, to say the least. Most of it was pretty good, with the only real waste of time being Sabu/Cena. Then there was that oddball Kane match, the squash match, but otherwise I enjoyed it. With a runtime of 2:40:33, this show had a total 1:05:23 of wrestling.
So what's the aftermath of all this? Well, DX would continue their feud with Vince, which would eventually get Shane involved and lead to a match at Summerslam, and eventually end at Unforgiven in September. Imposter Kane would be ditched the next night on Raw, when Kane decimates, unmasks and throws his imposter out of the building, and we never get any follow up. RVD would only hold the title another week, before losing it to Edge in a Triple Threat with Cena, and lose his ECW Title the same week to the Big Show, starting the shit storm that is WWECW.
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