We are live on tape from Greensboro, North Carolina and your announcers are Joey ‘Matthews’ Styles, Jonathan ‘Omega’ Coachman, and Jerry ‘Flair Country’ Lawler
Match Number One: Triple H (with GameFountain) versus Big Show in a semi-final match in the Road to Wrestlemania Tournament
Show with a headbutt when he enters the ring followed by a chop in the corner. Show moves to another corner with another chop. Hunter with a kick, but Show presses Hunter over his head and slams him to the mat. Show follows that with two elbow drops. Show steps on Hunter’s left hand and then slams the hand onto the turnbuckle. Show with a chop to the left hand and then he lifts Hunter up by the left hand before dropping him on the mat. Show with a wrist lock and then he picks Hunter up. Show picks Hunter up by the left hand one more time and then hits a leg drop on the arm. Show with a chop in the corner. Hunter pushes Show, but then he does the Flair flop. Show walks on Hunter’s back. Hunter goes to the apron and then he drops Show’s head on the top rope. Hunter tries to Irish whip Show, but Show blocks it and then he Irish whips Show over the top rope to the floor. Show goes out after Hunter. Show gets Hunter up and tries to run Hunter into the ring post, but Hunter counters and he runs Show into the ring post. Show is bleeding from the shot into the ringpost. We go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Show is still outside the ring and he re-enters. Hunter with two knee drops. Hunter lowers his knee pad and hits a third knee drop for a two count. Hunter with punches to Show’s forehead. Show with a head butt and chops. Show with an Irish whip, but he charges into a boot from Hunter. Hunter goes up to the second turnbuckle and hits a chop to the top of Show’s head.
We are back on USA and Hunter with a series of punches to Show’s forehead. Hunter with a knee drop to Show’s forehead followed by punches to the cut. Show with a reverse atomic drop. Hunter punches Show in the head, but Show blocks another punch followed by two head butts by Show. Show with a powerslam to Hunter, but he misses the leg drop and both men are down. Hunter gets up first, but when he comes off the ropes, Show grabs Hunter by the throat. Show gets Hunter up for a choke slam, but Hunter counters with a DDT. Show kicks out at two. Show with a headbutt to Hunter. Hunter with a jawbreaker and then he sets up for the Pedigree and hits it. Hunter rolls Show over, but Show kicks out at two and Hunter is livid. Hunter tries for another Pedigree, but Show picks Hunter up and hits a Vertebreaker and both men are down. Show charges at Hunter and hits a running butt splash in the corner followed by a running shoulder block. Show sets up for the choke slam, but Hunter with an eye poke. Hunter comes off the second turnbuckle, but Show grabs Hunter and hits a choke slam. Hunter gets his foot on the rope to break up the count. Hunter rolls outside the ring and Show goes after him. Show with a hot shot on the ringside barrier. Show rolls in to break up the referee’s count. Hunter staggers around the ring and Show catches up to him and chops Hunter. Show with an Irish whip that sends Hunter into the ring steps. Show breaks up the referee’s count one more time by rolling in. Show charges at Hunter, but Hunter clips Show and Show goes into the ring steps. Hunter is about to get into the ring, but Show pulls Hunter off the apron and the referee makes the ten count.
Winner: Double Count out.
After the match, Hunter with a flying forearm to Show, but Show comes back with a head butt. Show rearranges the announce table and then he sets up for a choke slam through the table, but Hunter with a low blow. Hunter gets a chair, but Show with a shoulder tackle that sends both men through the ringside barrier and into the crowd. We go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Hunter is being helped to the back by the referees.
We are back with footage from the February 13, 1997 Raw when Shawn Michaels ‘lost his smile’.
Jerry Lawler talks about how Triple H went through the ringside barrier. Joey reminds Coach and Lawler that this match was a count out as we see the ref count both men out. They wonder what will happen with the tournament.
Vince McMahon is in the back with two lawyers. Todd Grisham enters and asks if the winner of the Rob Van Dam/Chris Masters match will advance to Wrestlemania. Vince says that he did not see two men who didn’t win, he saw two men who didn’t lose. There will be a triple threat match next week and they will both face the winner of Chris Masters and Rob Van Dam next week.
Shelton’s mama comes into the locker room and Vince asks how she is doing. She says that she is doing OK. She wants Vince to give Shelton the opportunity to wrestle for the Intercontinental title. Shelton tells his mama to calm down. She reminds Vince that he has the power to give Shelton a title match. Vince tells her if Shelton wins his match, he will make Shelton the number one contender. Vince says that he has some business to deal with and asks Shelton to take his mama out of the room.
Mick Foley is in the locker room getting ready for the match and singing the theme song for Wrestlemania. Edge and Lita enter and they comment on Foley’s singing. Lita sucks up to Mick and suggests that he lost some weight. Mick says that it is because of the vertical stripes. She also tells him that he is smart. She says that she liked his book Scooter. Edge tells Mick that he does not want to see Mick screw him over. Mick says that he has been friends with Edge longer than Cena. Foley also remembers being the guest referee at Wrestlemania 15 when Steve Austin won the title against the Rock. Edge asks if Foley wants to see him win the title. Foley says that the way Edge has been acting is disgusting. He is a Jim Duggan fan. He says that if he can pin Cena, he will make the three count. Edge warns Foley that if he doesn’t do it, it will be the biggest mistake of his life. We go to commercial.
On Unlimited, it is time for a lesson from Matt Striker. Matt says that love is in the air once again. Matt wants his ‘students’ to know one important thing. He says that he loves them and cares about them so much to save them from themselves. Today’s lesson is on abstinence. He talks about ‘making the sex’. He mentions that some of his students are staring at him and think that he is good looking and has ‘tons of the sex’. Matt says that he is a ‘born again virgin’ and suggests that everyone else do the same. He says that the fans are not mature enough to have a sexual relationship. He suggests that there is some inbreeding. He tells them to let their girlfriends spend time at the New School while they take off their ‘jimmy hats and put on their thinking caps’.
We are back and we see footage from last week when Eugene talked to Shelton’s mama last week on Raw and got her confused with Martin Lawrence and Shelton told Eugene to leave.
Eugene offers Shelton’s mama some candy, but Shelton knocks it out of Eugene’s hands. Shelton kicks Eugene in the head.
Match Number Two: Shelton Benjamin (with Mama Benjamin) versus Eugene (with candy)
Shelton pulls off Eugene’s jacket and slams his head into the turnbuckle, but Eugene ‘Hulks up’. Eugene blocks a punch and responds with punches of his own. Eugene with an airplane spin. Shelton tries for the Exploder, but Eugene counters and hits a Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a two count. Shelton gets Eugene up and hits a Samoan Drop. Shelton with the Exploder for the three count.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
After the match, Shelton says that they did it and next week they won’t be calling him a ‘mama’s boy’ because they will be calling him the Intercontinental Champion after he beats Ric Flair. Shelton woooos and then he goes outside the ring and hugs his mama.
We have another Shawn Michaels Moment from October 1997 when they showed the ‘Kliq Moment’ at Madison Square Garden.
Ashley is getting ready in the back as we go to commercial.
On Unlimited, it is time to see some signs.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Mickie James accidentally knocking Trish down and Ashley defeating Mickie.
We see footage of Candice’s appearance on The Tonight Show last week.
Match Number Three: Ashley Massaro versus Torrie Wilson (with ‘Little Billy’ and Candice Michelle)
Torrie kicks Ashley out of the ring and then she goes out after Ashley and kicks her again. Torrie pulls Ashley by the hair and then she shoves ‘Little Billy’ in Ashley’s face. Ashley with an Irish whip, but Torrie pushes Ashley off and then hits a clothesline. Torrie with an X Factor and then she gets a kiss from ‘Little Billy’. Torrie spanks Ashley. Ashley with a crucifix into a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Ashley Massaro
After the match, Candice give Torrie ‘Little Billy’, but she has good news. On March 10th, Candice will be on the cover of Playboy. She says that it will be the hottest cover ever. She cannot wait to take it all off. Candice removes her outfit to show her bra and panties as they leave the ring.
We are back with another Shawn Michaels Moment. This one is from December 2005 when Shawn told Vince to let Montreal go and he told Vince to grow up and move on. We go to commercial.
On Unlimited, we see the carpet being rolled out in the ring and a table is brought in for Shawn Michaels’s retirement ceremony.
Carlito has a message for Rob Van Dam. He cheated Carlito once again and had to use a chair to win. Carlito says that it is a long road to Wrestlemania. He should be on a beach with beautiful women thinking about his victory at Wrestlemania. Now he has to worry about how he is going to get to Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania without Carlito is not cool. Carlito spits some of his apple at the camera.
We are back and Vince’s ‘legal team’ is in the ring as there is NO CHANCE that Vince McMahon would not have his own entrance as he does the ‘Stunt Walk’ to the ring. Vince says that history will be made tonight in the ring because it will be the last night that Shawn Michaels will ever grace the squared circle of the WWE. Tonight is the official retirement of Shawn Michaels. Vince introduces Shawn Michaels for the ‘very last time’ and calls Shawn the ‘biggest pain in the ass’ he has ever dealt with in his life.
Vince offers his hand, but pulls it back and says that Shawn does not look too happy. Vince will make Shawn happy because he has put together one of the greatest video tributes for Shawn Michaels. On second thought, Vince has every superstar from Raw and Smackdown ready to come out and shake Shawn’s hand. On third hand, Vince is going to spare no expense to bring Shawn’s family from San Antonio. On fourth thought, Vince says that Shawn deserves something extraordinary because he is special for what he accomplished in the WWE. Vince brings out the Spirit Squad for Shawn Michaels. They suggest that after twenty years, it is time to kick Vince’s ass.
Vince wants to know what is wrong and wonders if this is the way that Shawn envisioned his final night. He didn’t expect to be serenaded by five male cheerleaders and being surrounded by North Carolina hicks? Vince says that it is too damn bad and he tells Shawn to sit down and sign the papers.
The crowd chants ‘HBK’ while Shawn tells Vince that he knows that he was not the easiest guy to deal with, but this is not what he wants. He does not want to retire. Vince tells them to turn off his mic because he is not going to listen to Shawn’s crap because he has listened to it for too long. He wants Shawn to sign the papers. Vince sits down and signs the papers, but he pauses before he finishes. Vince tells Shawn that nobody says no to him because he is Vince McMahon. Shawn takes the mic and he tells Vince that he can’t do it. Shawn says that he knows that walking away was an option, but it is not. Shawn loves this job and to walk away from this ring and these people, it would be walking away from one of the greatest joys that he has known and he is not going to do it. He will not go out this way. Vince takes the mic back and he tells Shawn that if Shawn wants to know why he is doing it, he will tell him. It is because Shawn has something that Vince wants and cannot have. He has something that money cannot buy. Shawn has inner peace. He knows who he is and what he wants. Vince wants that because half the time he does not know who the hell he is. Vince says that he wants ‘more’. Vince tells Shawn that he does not know what it is like to be him. Vince has an empire to run. He has stockholders to answer to. He has a film division to get off the ground. He has sponsors and hundreds of employees to deal with. Vince says that his life is a nightmare. Vince says that Shawn is going to make it all better in a minute because Shawn is going to sign those papers. Vince tells Shawn that he has to sign them because he does not like people like Shawn Michaels. He hates people like Shawn Michaels. He wants what Shawn has and he cannot have it. Vince tells Shawn to sign the papers. The crowd continues to chant ‘HBK’ and before Shawn signs the papers, he tosses the pen down and rips the papers and tosses them in front of Vince. Vince slaps Shawn Michaels and then Shawn tosses the table over and he takes off his jacket and tie.
Vince leaves the ring and then he tells Shawn that when he tore up those papers, he opened up the flood gates for his own personal hell. We go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Trevor Murdoch talks about the Pink Panther. He talks about how valuable a pink panther would be and the sight of its head on his wall. There was no panther, but it was Steve Martin. He tells the panther that when they are eye to eye, it will be his last day because you cannot hide from Trevor Murdoch.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Shawn Michaels ripping up the retirement papers and Vince’s slap.
Coach and Lawler talk about Shawn’s decision and whether it was a mistake or not. Joey Styles talks about how Shawn Michaels is a future WWE Hall of Famer and speaking of Hall of Famers, Bret Hart will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on the eve of Wrestlemania in Chicago. Jerry says that he thinks that Hell might have frozen over with this announcement. Jerry says that Bret definitely deserves the honor.
Match Number Four: Chris Masters (with Amazing Technicolor Ring Robe) versus Rob Van Dam in a semi-final match in the Road to Wrestlemania Tournament
Van Dam with a side head lock, but Masters with a shoulder tackle and then Masters mocks the ‘thumbs’ Van Dam with kicks to Masters followed by a jumping back kick and side head lock. Masters gets Van Dam up and tosses him off the ropes. Masters with a forearm to Van Dam. Van Dam holds on to the ropes and then he hits a drop kick to the knees of Masters followed by two more drop kicks and then he hits a slingshot leg drop to Masters. Van Dam returns to the ring with a slingshot leg drop for a two count. Van Dam with an Irish whip and then he tries for a monkey flip, but Masters puts Van Dam on the turnbuckle. Van Dam tries for a cross body, but Masters catches Van Dam and hits a power slam. Masters with a back elbow and Van Dam is sent to the apron. Masters punches Van Dam on the apron and then he knocks Van Dam off the apron and into the front row of the crowd. Masters comes out to get Van Dam and rolls Van Dam back into the ring for a two count. Masters with a Torture Rack, but Van Dam with elbows to escape the hold and he gets a sunset flip counter for a two count. Van Dam with an elbow followed by a springboard side kick to Masters followed by a spinning heel kick and a side kick from the top turnbuckle. Van Dam with the rolling senton splash and then he goes up top, but Masters hits the ropes and Masters crotches Van Dam. Masters with a forearm to Van Dam and then Masters punches Van Dam and sets up for a superplex, but Van Dam blocks it and gives Masters a head butt. Van Dam with a kick that knocks Masters off the turnbuckles. Van Dam with the Five Star Frog Splash for the three count.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Jack has some flowers and he knocks on Trish’s door. He enters and ‘Trish’ turns around and it is Mickie in a blonde wig. Mickie says that she is waiting for Trish and Jack wonders why Mickie is wearing the wig. She says that friends share and she tries to kiss Jack. Jack says that he wants to make things work with Trish. Mickie wonders why Jack is hitting on her and then she takes off the wig and starts screaming. Security removes Jack from the room and then Mickie looks very happy about what she just did and we go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Ric Flair comes out with his Intercontinental Title and he has a mic. He woooos and tells the crowd that he is here to talk about next week’s Raw. It seems that there is a mama’s boy by the name of Shelton Benjamin who wants to wrestle the Nature Boy for the Intercontinental Title. He tells Shelton that he is a great athlete and a great man who has been the champion before. He wants to make sure that Shelton knows who he is. He is the limousine riding and jet flying. He tells the Greensboro crowd that the Nature Boy loves them.
We are back with footage from Stacy Keibler’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars.
Mickie James is crying and Trish Stratus enters. She tells Trish that Jack came in and she says that he said that he likes girls who look like Trish and then he pushed her against the wall and tried to kiss her. The security guard says that he saw Jack all over Mickie. Trish and Mickie hug.
We see footage from the Triple H/Big Show match that ended in a double count out and then the spear through the ringside barrier. Next week we will see Rob Van Dam versus Big Show versus Triple H to see who will face the WWE champion at Wrestlemania 22. We will also see Ric Flair defend the Intercontinental title against Shelton Benjamin.
Jerry Lawler talks about how the entire Edge/John Cena thing will culminate tonight. We see footage from New Year’s Revolution when Edge won the WWE title. Then we see footage from Royal Rumble when John Cena made Edge tap to win the WWE title back. We go to their rematch the following night on Raw which saw Lita hit Edge with the title belt to get Cena disqualified. The following week we saw Maria and John Cena defeat Edge and Lita to determine the person who would be the guest referee of their match tonight. We then see the announcement that Mick ‘Mickles’ Foley will be the guest referee.
The guest referee in the main event, Mick ‘Mickles’ Foley comes to the ring and we go to commercial.
On Unlimited, we have a This Date in WWE History moment. From In Your House in 1997, Mick Foley versus Vader versus Undertaker versus Steve Austin versus Bret Hart when Bret Hart won the title.
We see footage from John Cena’s appearance in India in front of crowds greater than 10,000 people.
Match Number Five: Edge (with Lita) versus John Cena with guest referee Mick ‘Mickles’ Foley for the WWE title
Edge and Cena lock up in the center of the ring and Cena with a side head lock followed by a shoulder tackle for a one count. Cena with an Irish whip followed by a side slam for a two count. Cena with a reverse chin lock, but Edge with a forearm to Cena. Edge goes outside the ring and Lita checks on him as we go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Cena wants Edge to return to the ring, but he stays on the floor with Lita. Edge finally returns to the ring after Foley gets to nine, but he rolls back outside and tells Foley that he will get back in when he wants to. Edge returns to the ring. Edge with a knee and punches to Cena. Cena with a hip toss for a near fall. Cena with a sleeper to Edge and Edge turns it into a near fall before returning to the sleeper and eventually a reverse chin lock. Edge gets back to his feet and he hits a belly-to-back suplex.
We are back on USA and Cena with a cross body for a near fall. Edge with a clothesline and both men are down. Edge gets up and slams Cena’s head into the turnbuckle. Cena punches Edge, but Edge punches back. Cena with two Irish whips followed by a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Cena with a reverse chin lock. Edge with a running forearm to Cena after a clean break followed by a kick to Cena. Edge continues the attack with a standing drop kick for a two count. Edge with a kick to Cena’s abdomen, but Cena punches Edge. Edge with a clothesline to Cena and both men are down. Edge puts Cena on the top turnbuckle and punches Cena. Edge sets up for a superplex, but Cena pushes Edge off. Edge punches Cena, but Cena stays on the top turnbuckle. Edge goes up top again, but Cena pushes Edge off again. Cena with a splash from the top for a two count. Cena with a knee to Edge’s head followed by a punch to Edge’s head and elbows in the corner. Cena with a snap suplex for a two count. Edge pulls Cena into the turnbuckle and Lita gets up on the apron to expose the turnbuckle. Cena sends Edge out of the ring and Foley turns around and sees what Lita is doing. Lita acts as if she is fixing the turnbuckle pad, but Foley sends her to the back. Lita throws a tantrum on the ramp as we go to commercial.
On Unlimited, Edge is still stunned from Lita’s removal from ringside. Edge gets on the apron, but then goes back to the floor and walks up the ramp. Cena chases after Edge and they fight back to the ring. Edge throws Cena out of the ring and then Edge goes out after Cena. Edge slams Cena’s head into the ringside barrier. Edge and Cena exchange punches until Cena gets the advantage. Edge ducks a punch and he gives Cena a belly-to-back suplex on the ringside barrier. Edge rolls back into the ring.
We are back and Cena is holding his back on the floor and Edge with a baseball slide that sends Cena onto the Rawest Ramp in Sports Entertainment. Edge punches Cena and then rolls the champion back into the ring. Edge covers, but he only gets a two count. Edge punches Cena, but Cena punches back. Edge with a sleeper and he climbs on Cena’s back to add pressure to the hold. Cena drops to his knees and falls to the mat with Edge grapevining Cena. Cena gets to his feet and he drops Edge to the mat and both men are down. Cena with two clotheslines followed by a flying shoulder tackle. Edge with a kick, but he charges into a belly-to-belly suplex by Cena. Edge with a kick to Cena and then Edge goes up top, but Cena punches Edge. Edge with a powerbomb, but Edge has his feet on the rope and Foley stops the count. Edge pushes Foley, but Foley pushes back. Cena with the Blue Thunder Driver followed by the five knuckle shuffle. Cena pumps it up and sets up for the FU, but Edge blocks it and hits a DDT for a two count. Edge sets up for the Spear, but Cena moves out of the way. Cena gets Edge up for the FU, but Edge pushes Cena into Foley. Edge knocks Foley out of the ring and then Cena puts Edge in the STF. From out of nowhere, Lita comes out and punches Cena. Cena gets up and he backs Lita into the corner. Edge hits Cena from behind and then Lita gives Edge the title belt. Edge hits Cena with the belt and Lita pushes Foley back into the ring, but Edge can only get a two count. Edge goes up top for a cross body, but Cena catches Edge and hits the FU for the three count.
Winner: John Cena
After the match, Cena leaves the ring and celebrates with the crowd while Edge and Lita are in the ring with Foley. Lita with a low blow and Edge with a spear. He tells Foley that he cost him and calls Foley a son of a bitch and we go to credits.
