(Source: Wade Keller of Pro Wrestling Torch)
(On Heat, Tyson Tomko beat Val Venis. Also, Lillian Garcia conducted old-style backstage interviews with Backlash wrestlers, including Christian promising he’d be part of the show.)
The PPV opened with a video preview of the Hulk Hogan & Shawn Michaels tag team match, then they moved into a video preview of Batista vs. Triple H.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show from ringside.
1 — SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. CHRIS JERICHO – Intercontinental Title match
Good opening minutes with some matwork exchanges and some chops by Jericho. Not much crowd heat at all, though, as WWE failed to identify a heel or face in this match–up with the hype on Raw. They spilled from the ring apron to the floor with a huracanrana by Jericho. Jericho then dropped Benjamin chin-first over the edge of the security barrier. Back in the ring Jericho used his boot to choke Benjamin. Benjamin reversed Jericho into the corner face-first and then gave hi a Stinger Splash at 5:45. He followed up with a back suplex. When Benjamin went to the ropes, Jericho shoved him to the mat. When Jericho stood on the top rope, Benjamin leaped from the mat to the top rope and went right into a vertical suplex. That woke up the crowd. Great athleticism by Benjamin. Benjamin went into a sleeper/body scissors combination. A “Y2J” chant then began. Lawler noted how the crowd is going back and forth on whom they’re cheering. They collided mid–ring with the simultaneous clothesline. At 9:15 Benjamin went for a Stinger splash, but Jericho moved. Benjamin ducked a clothesline, but Jericho used a drop toe hold to set up Benjamin. Benjamin, though, took advantage of Jericho’s ill-timed war dance routine to recover. He got up and dropped Jericho with a nice sudden Samoan drop for a two count. Jericho caught a charging Benjamin with an elbow and then an enzuigiri for a near fall. Benjamin came back with a springboard bulldog for a near fall at 11:00. He followed with a T-Bone for a near fall, but Jericho stopped the count with his leg over the bottom rope at 12:00. Benjamin rolled Jericho to mid–ring, but Jericho kicked out easily by then. Jericho fought back and ducked a spin kick from Benjamin, then applied the Walls of Jericho. The crowd popped. Benjamin was caught in mid–ring. He began crawling toward the bottom rope and reached it. There were a lot of boos. Benjamin hit a flying roundhouse kick out of nowhere for a two count. Benjamin lifted his knees on a Lionsault attempt, but Jericho caught Benjamin’s knees. They went into a series of a attempted leverage pins and rapid reversals which Benjamin got the best of for a three count. Todd Grisham attempted to get post-match comments from Jericho at ringside, but Jericho blew him off.
WINNER: Shelton at 14:38 to retain the IC Title.
STAR RATING: ***3/4 — Very good match. Benjamin is looking better all the time, with a solid mix of the spring in the legs of Sting and the agility and explosiveness of A.J. Styles.
-Coach interviewed Edge backstage, who said he is Mr. Money in the Bank and fans can bank on him beating Chris Benoit later. Good intensity from Edge.
2 — WILLIAM REGAL & TAJIRI vs. THE HEART THROBS vs. SIMON DEAN & MAVEN
It began with Regal & Tajiri vs. The Heart Throbs (Antonio & Romeo). Regal opened the match, then Tajiri tagged in and got in some of his signature offense including some cool kicks and mat holds. He scored a pin on Antonio at 3:03 to eliminate them. Then Simon Dean & Maven came out. When Lawler made a reference to Richard Simmons, Ross laughed and said, “Richard Simmons? Is he still alive?” Lawler said he detected a love handle on Simon. Regal scored the win after a charging boot to Simon at 5:45. Regal and Tajiri looked really good in that segment. La Resistance came out next. They took early control against the winded Regal and Tajiri. Tajiri hit both La Resistance members with a double handspring elbow off the ropes, then took Grenier apart with a series of rapid-fire kicks. At 9:00 Tajiri tried a Tarantula, but Grenier ducked it and snapped Tajiri throat-first over the top rope. Grenier then rolled up Regal and with a handful of tights, scored the pin at 9:15. Regal looked shocked. Hurricane & Rosey were the final team to come out. The match slowed down without Regal & Tajiri in there. Grenier slipped when launching off the second rope with an elbow drop aimed at Hurricane. Hurricane moved anyway and hot-tagged Rosey at 12:15. Rosey cleaned house and powerslammed Conway for a near fall which Grenier interrupted. La Resistance double-teamed Rosey, but he quickly came back and put Grenier in an airplane spin. La Resistance, though, came back with a two-on-one slam for a two count. Rosey threw Conway off of him several feet into the air. Rosey then shoved Conway into Grenier. Hurricane then launched off of Rosey’s shoulders with a splash for the win. “Holy upset!” said Ross.
WINNERS: Rosey & Hurricane at 13:40 to capture the WWE Tag Team Titles.
STAR RATING: **3/4 — A good tag match, much better than anticipated, with Regal & Tajiri the stars of the match with one of their best matches to date as a team. Rosey & Hurricane vs. La Resistance wasn’t as crisp, with some ill-timed and awkward series of moves, but it was never boring.
3 — CHRIS BENOIT vs. EDGE – Last Man Standing match
The crowd chanted “You screwed Matt” at the start of the match. It was pretty loud, but it didn’t last long. At 1:15 a loud “We want Matt” chant broke out. That had to be comforting to Lita, who is waiting in the back, coming out later officially cast as a babyface but sure to get catcalled while at ringside for Kane. Edge went for an early spear, but Benoit side stepped it and took Edge down with a drop toe hold. They brawled into the crowd at 3:45. Another “We want Matt” chant broke out. Benoit applied a sharpshooter, but Edge reached the bottom rope. Benoit followed up with a series of five unreleased German suplexes. Benoit dove through the ropes toward Edge at ringside, but Edge bashed Benoit in mid-air with a trash can lid. One fan tried to start a “You screwed Matt” chant, but it didn’t take. Edge superplexed Benoit onto a trash can in mid-ring at 9:00. The ref counted both men down and Edge was the first to rise. He continued on offense, grabbing a ladder. Edge set up and climbed the ladder inside the ring. Benoit met him at the top and gave him a released German suplex. Benoit gave Edge another released suplex, then dove off the top off the ladder and went for a headbutt. Edge moved. Benoit sold it like he just fell of a ladder head-first and hit the mat. Edge swung at Benoit with his briefcase, but Benoit ducked and applied the Sharpshooter. Edge tapped out, but in this match, tapouts did not count. Benoit hit some suplexes again, but Edge reversed it into his Impaler. A groggy Edge caught an even groggier Benoit with a spear. The ref began counting them down. Edge was the first to reach his feet. The ref got to nine before Benoit stood. The crowd didn’t seem to get the rules as they didn’t pop for Benoit getting to his feet. Edge then hit another spear right away. The ref began counting again. Edge got a brick out of his briefcase and nailed Benoit from behind with it. Benoit was down for the count. Ross made a big deal out of Edge resorting to using a brick, but in a match where ladders, chairs, and trash can lids were used legally, why not use a brick?
WINNER: Edge at 17:59.
STAR RATING: ***1/2 — Very good match, if not a bit repetitive at times. Not a show-stealer. The rules of the match with the counting by the ref tended to kill momentum and dampen the emotional highs that normally come during near fall sequences.
-Lita talked with Kane backstage about their plans for the match later. Lita created nasty mental images of Viscera naked and drew pictures of what it would take for them to have sex with each other, speculating that Viscera would have to be on top. Kane told Lita she was disturbing him. Then Lita said she liked Kane’s plan. Then they made out. They must not have shown the crowd that segment on the big screen as they didn’t boo Lita nor did they react to anything Lita said.
-Jerry Lawler introduced the WWE Divas. He commented on each of their favorite photos in the WWE Divas magazine. Lawler took a dig at Lilian’s face while complimenting her body. As Lawler was about to ask each of the divas a series of “very personal questions,” Chris Masters interrupted. Are they turning him babyface by interrupting that segment? He came out onto the stage as his music played. Lawler led the divas to the back. Masters said, “Yeah, those divas are hot, but they’re no work of art like the Masterpiece. Masters raised the stakes and offered $3,000 to anyone who could break his Masterlock. A woman volunteered. She wasn’t huge, but she was clearly a weight lifter. Master asked, “Are you a he or a she? From where I’m standing, you could be both.” She said she is Melisa Coates from Manchester. She raised her arms revealing underarm hair. Masters commented on it. He said she put the “man” in “Manchester.” He told her, “Have a seat, sir.” Masters applied the Masterlock and shook her around, then slammed her to the mat.
-Trish bumped into Viscera backstage. She asked if he was ready. He said he was ready to destroy Kane just for her. He showed her some neglige he purchased. She joked that it wouldn’t fit him. He said it wasn’t meant for him. She said, “I know, I was just joking.” She asked him to focus on Kane, not the post-match benefits. He pinched her ass as she walked away.
4 — KANE (w/Lita) vs. VISCERA (w/Trish Stratus)
Lita limped to the ring with a crutch alongside Kane. There was no crowd noise at all. Lawler wondered if the action later with Viscera and Trish would be videotaped. He said that would be quite a PPV. A loud “We Want Matt” chant rang out. Lita took early control and scored a two count after a legdrop at 1:15. Viscera came back with a dropdown wheel kick to Kane’s chest. Viscera did a hip thrust which popped the crowd a little. He followed up with a bodyslam. When Kane grabbed Trish by the hair, Viscera splashed him in the corner and hit a Samoan drop for a two count at 2:30. Kane went for a chokeslam, but Viscera blocked it and clotheslined Kane over the top rope. At ringside, Viscera shoved Lita to the side. When Trish ran after Kane with a chair, Lita bashed Trish with her crutch. Kane leaped off the top rope, but Viscera caught him and gave him a sitdown powerbomb for a near fall at 5:15. Lita entered the ring to interfere. Viscera cornered her and waved his tongue at her. Kane surprised Viscera with a big boot followed by his chokeslam for the win. Afterward, Trish said, “Look at you on your ass. You are pathetic. I ask you to do one little thing, and that’s take out Kane, and you couldn’t get the job done. You failed. For the record sweetie, even if you did take out Kane, I would have never lowered myself to sleep with a big, fat, greasy, chicken eating loser like yourself.” She left out watermelon. Ross said Trish might have been better off choosing different wording. Viscera grabbed Trish and shook her around like a rag doll and dropped her. Viscera played to the crowd who cheered as he splashed Trish. Viscera then did some hip trusts. The ref called for help from the back. Trish was strapped to a backbrace and carried to the back.
WINNER: Kane at 6:07.
STAR RATING: 1/2* — Pretty much what you’d expect minus any disasters.
5 — HULK HOGAN & SHAWN MICHAELS vs. MUHAMMAD HASSAN & KHOSROW DAIVARI
Michaels came out to his music followed by Hogan, although not before a “ice the opponent” pause of about 60 seconds, letting the crowd anticipation build. Hogan drew a line in the sand on the mat to start the match and asked Hassan to cross it. Hogan began with a side headlock. The crowd chanted “Hogan, Hogan.” Hogan shoulder tackled Hassan to the mat. Hogan tagged in Michaels at 2:30. They gave Hassan a double boot to the face. Daivari tagged in against Michaels and threw some chops in the corner. Michaels switched places with Daivari and threw some chops of his own. Hogan tagged in a choked Daivari. He followed with a bodyslam, two elbow drops, and a foot scraped across Daivari’s face. Michaels tagged in and he and Daivari exchanged chops. Daivari leapfrogged Michaels once, and went for a second leapfrop, but Michaels stopped short and slapped Daivari to the mat. Michaels followed with a flying forearm and a nip up followed by an inverted atomic drop. Michaels stomped the mat to set up Sweet Chin Music. Hassan hit Michaels from behind with a lead pipe. Daivari crawled over to Michaels and draped his arm over Michaels. Hogan came in and yanked Daivari offf of Michaels. Three years ago Daivari was doing homework for a class in high school. Today, getting dragged off of a pin attempt on Michaels by Hulk Hogan. Daivari and Hassan isolated Michaels with two-on-one action. Hogan entered the ring to try to save Michaels, but it only served to distract the referee. Lawler brought up all of the countries in the Middle East who were watching this match. You just cringe whenever Lawler goes international and political with his commentary. Hassan went to a chinlock on Michaels in the ring. Hogan led the crowd in clapping for Michaels. Hassan shifted to a camel clutch. Michaels powered out at 12:00 by standing in the air and dropping Hassan backward. At 13:00 Hassan tagged in Daivari, but just then Michaels hot-tagged Hogan. Hogan rammed the heads of Hassan and Daivari together. They both dropped. Hogan swung Daivari into the ropes, gave him a big boot, and then cupped his ear for the crowd and went for the legdrop. Hassan, though, hit Hogan in the back with a lead pipe. Daivari went for a cover, but Hogan kicked out with authority. Daivari punched away at Hogan. Hogan began hulking up and no-selling. Hogan did the finger-point routine. Hogan went to swing Daivari into the ropes, but Daivari seemed a half-step off. You can’t blame him for being nervous. Hogan swung Daivari and nailed him with a big boot on the rebound. Michaels then surprised Daivari with a superkick as the ref was distracted by Hassan. Hogan then made the cover and scored the pin. He clearly didn’t want to do a legdrop with his hip problems. As Hogan and Michaels posted in sync in the ring, Ross said they are two of the greatest wrestlers of the last generation with completely different styles together for the first time. “It’s moment like this that remind old veterans like me why we love what we do,” said Ross. He called it a Hall of Fame Moment. Hogan and Michaels called a fan into the ring in a Hulkamania shirt. They ripped his shirt off revealing a full color Hulk Hogan tattoo on his hairy, flabby back. The fan did the Hogan posing routine with Hogan and Michaels. “You’re not going to see this in the NBA or the NFL. Only in WWE will you see this kind of interaction with the fans.”
WINNERS: Hogan & Michaels at 15:20.
STAR RATING: **1/2 — It was what it needed to be and what you’d expect. Hassan and Daivari made sufficient opponents for Hogan and Michaels, but the match was all about Hogan doing his routine “one more time.”
-The official announcement then aired for the “ECW One Night Stand” PPV with Paul Heyman doing the voiceover, saying the original stars of ECW would reunite for one night.
-Todd Grisham interviewed Triple H backstage about “Triple H-Batista II.” Hunter used circular logic, saying he was confident he was going to win the match because he’s since he knows he’ll be walking out as champion, so of course he’s confident. He said Batista had one good night at WrestleMania, but he would become World Champion again and prove Batista’s win was just a fluke.
-Christian and Tyson Tomko walked to the ring. Ross acknowledged that “lately there have been more Peeps than not.” Christian said he is a main eventer, and he decided to come out and address his fellow main eventers in the form of a rap. He picked on Batista, saying he had charisma, but was boring. He said Hunter and Ric Flair have 26 titles between them, but also the world’s biggest nose. He said JBL’s taxes may be soaring, but he’s no wrestling god, his matches are just boring. He then told Cena that he talks like Snoop Dog, but looks like Corey Haim. “I’d say he raps about as well as he wrestles,” said Ross.
-Clips airs of Batista’s title win over Triple H at WrestleMania 21.
6 — BATISTA vs. TRIPLE H (w/Ric Flair) — World Hvt. Title match
Ric Flair walked out to his entrance music. Ross said there was something different about his facial expression. Flair ten asked for the honor of introducing his friend and about to be World Champion again, Triple H. The match began with about 30 minutes max left in satellite time. Ross made several references to Triple H sporting Harley Race mutton chops. Flair distracted Batista giving Hunter a chance at a brief advantage early. They squared off with a test of strength. Batista blocked a Hunter punch and threw a series of his own blows. Hunter went for a couple of early Pedigree attempts. Batista backdropped Hunter over the top rope to avoid the second attempt. Hunter took over offense with a methodical beating at ringside including a suplex. Hunter continued the beating inside the ring at 5:00. He shoulder rammed Batista in the corner in his back repeatedly. Flair interfered, chopping Batista at ringside at 7:30. Batista finally caught Hunter with a stiff clothesline at 8:45, but Hunter remained on methodical first-gear offense. Batista caught a charging Hunter with a slam and then clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. Batista rammed Hunter into the security barrier, then whipped him into the stairs at ringside. Batista threw some shoulders into Hunter’s gut in the corner, then hit a powerslam. Batista played to the crowd and shook the ropes. He didn’t get much of a crowd response, probably due to the fans not being impressed with him thus far. Batista punched Flair off the ring apron. Flair distracted the ref as Batista set up Hunter for a Batista Bomb. Hunter, though, had the title belt in his hand and KO’d Batista with it before Batista could execute the finisher. That led to a very near fall at 11:15. Hunter set up a Pedigree, but Batista backdropped out of it. He then yelled at Hunter, “You son of a bitch.” He charged at Hunter, but Hunter ducked. Batista took the ref out. Hunter then gave Batista the Pedigree and made the cover. Flair tossed the groggy ref into the ring. The ref was too out of it to make the count. Hunter dragged the ref closer, but the ref couldn’t see Hunter’s cover. Hunter lifted the limp body of the ref and propped him up in the corner. He slapped him around a little. A second ref ran to the ring, putting on his ref shirt on the way (a nice touch to make it seem unplanned). Batista then hit Hunter with a spinebuster for a near fall at 13:45. Hunter came right back and gave Batista a facebuster for a two count. Batista charged Hunter in the corner with three consecutive clotheslines. Hunter then gave the ref a kick between the legs. Batista then set up Hunter for a Batista Bomb. Flair ran in. Batista took him down. Hunter went for a Pedigree. Batista countered and catapulted Hunter into the top turnbuckle. As Batista set up a Batista Bomb, Hunter low-blowed Batista. Hunter punched away at Batista in the corner. Batista powered out and hit a Batista Bomb out of the corner for the win. Ross talked about how Batista took everything thrown at him and survived. Hunter finally got up and shoved Flair to the mat, and then threw down the ref. Flair didn’t seem to understand why Hunter manhandled him, but they didn’t focus on Flair and the announcers didn’t play into it, so it might be intended as nothing more than Hunter’s frustration getting the best of him for a moment.
WINNER: Batista at 16:27 to retain the World Hvt. Title.
Thanks again for reading,
Joe
