We open with Chairman Wackjob, who has footage replayed
of Umaga destroying Eugene on Monday, followed by the savant
getting an unscheduled haircut. Crazy Vinnie implies that
we've seen the last of Eugene. The man is so insanely obsessed
with the Battle of the Billionaires vs. Donald Trump, that
he's threatening to shave everyone bald. That would be a
good plot for a cartoon-----40 years ago! Ken Kennedy &
Randy Orton are brought out, and will face Bobby Lashley
later---in a handicap table match.
Brian Kendrick & Paul London (w/Ashley Massaro)
vs. MNM. [WWE tag titles] 10 months ago, London
& Kendrick ended MNM's 3rd run as tag team titlists,
and have beaten back every challenger to come along since.
Of course, when the division has been ignored and neutered
in recent months as it has, just like on Raw, keeping the
titles becomes too easy. We've seen better from these two
teams, and this deserved more time, given the possibility
that the tag titles won't be defended at Wrestlemania. Women's
champ Melina tried to interfere near the end by grabbing
London as he ascended to the top rope, but Ashley cut her
off and London hit a cross-body on Joey Mercury to end it.
Winners: Paul London & Brian Kendrick.
Kristal Marshall interviews Kane. We're shown pictures,
courtesy of WWE.com, of the result of Kane torturing Daivari
after last week. Kane has his hook and has that sinister
laugh working. Seems to me we're more likely to see Jacob
Goodnight, his character from "See No Evil" emerge
vs. Great Khali at Mania. That'd be the only reason for
the hook.
Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang [non-title].
It wouldn't have hurt for this to actually be a title match,
since Yang held the title for about 2:00 at No Way Out before
Chavo made a last-minute entry into the Cruiser invitational
and took the title for a record 6th time. Decent match,
dominated by the champ, who tried to hit the 3 Amigos, only
for Yang to block the 3rd suplex. Chavo went for a moonsault
but landed on his feet. Yang didn't miss, however, and earned
the pinfall, meaning he'll get another crack at Chavo, preferably
at Mania.Winner: Jimmy Wang Yang.
MVP vs. Cedrick Von Haussen. Total squash,
same as last week. Winner: MVP.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy & Randy Orton
[non-title handicap table match]. Chairman Wackjob
didn't like that Orton & Kennedy couldn't get it done
solo vs. Lashley, so he set this handicap match up to soften
Lashley for himself on Monday. You know the man is nuttier
than a Snickers bar if he thinks putting himself in with
Lashley will get more people interested in Mania. Chairman
Wackjob came down to the ring about halfway as the heels
had the advantage, but unfortunately, they couldn't hold
serve. Lashley treated Kennedy like a tackling dummy and
jammed him into a table standing in one corner, and thanks
to some editing, it seemed as though he wiped out Orton
almost as fast with the Dominator 2.0. McMahon's reaction
was priceless.Winner: Bobby Lashley.
Chris Benoit vs. Gregory Helms [non-title].
Helms, the former cruiser champ, doesn't get an entrance,
and the match is joined in progress after a commercial.
Another bout that deserved more time. Benoit got a Northern
Lights suplex for 2, then hit the rolling Germans. One headbutt
later, and Helms is staggering, as if reaching for the Excedrin.
Helms taps to the crossface, and Benoit comes right back
after losing to John Cena on Monday. Oh, by the way, MVP
referenced that match in a post-match promo after his squash
win. Winner: Chris Benoit.
JBL leaves the desk. After a break, we find Teddy Long presenting
Kristal a rose. If I remember right, Long's married, isn't
he? He's love-struck, but J-Me-L interrupts with a proposition.
He wants to interview Batista & Undertaker next week.
Oh, give me a break. Long grants his wish.
Batista is en route to the ring, but is ambushed by Finlay
& King Booker. Undertaker vs. King Booker &
Finlay (w/Queen Sharmell). Hornswoggle has the
night off, as he didn't appear at all. It's now a handicap
match thanks to the attack on Batista, but who's really
handicapped here, anyway? The heels hold their own, but
this is Undertaker we're dealing with here, not your average
babyface. Finlay betrayed his intentions by bringing the
shillelagh into the ring. Undertaker caught him, then Booker,
so Finlay used the club anyway for a deliberate DQ. Batista
finally showed up to even the sides. He set up Booker for
the Batista Bomb, but when 'Taker decided to set up Finlay
for the Last Ride, Batista tossed Booker into the Deadman,
sending all three sprawling, payback for Finlay getting
thrown at him last week. Winner: Undertaker via DQ. |