WWE Raw is War
Bossier City, Louisiana
January 1, 2007
DX lives
By Noah Starr
January 15, 2007In front of a fantastic crowd of WWE fans in Shreveport, La.,
Shawn Michaels proved that some legends just can’t be killed. In an incredible
show of strength and determination, HBK got the best of Rated-RKO in a 2-on-1
Handicap Match in the name of his injured partner and best friend, Triple H.
At New Year’s Revolution, DX faced Rated-RKO in a tag team match that sent The
Game to a medical facility and eventually into surgery with a torn quadriceps
tendon. This week, Edge & Orton entered the ring and declared that they would
put an end to DX once and for all. Orton threatened: “We’re not going to stop,
Shawn Michaels, until you are down permanently!” The pair then dragged out a
bloody “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and let the Raw locker room know that if anyone else
tried to interfere in their match, they would suffer the same fate. Edge then
landed a ruthless Con-chair-to on Duggan, and later in the night, after Ric
Flair vowed to support Michaels, he was rushed out of the arena in an ambulance
presumably at the hands of Edge & Orton.
Rated-RKO vowed to destroy Michaels and the DX legend in Shreveport -- the very
town that hosted HBK’s first televised match -- but Michaels had other plans.
After delivering Sweet Chin Music to Todd Grisham, an irate HBK stormed off.
Minutes later, with Mr. McMahon’s help, Orton & Edge instructed arena security
to confiscate any and all DX signs. Once the match began, Michaels put in a
valiant effort against impossible odds. When Edge grabbed a pair of steel chairs
the referee rang the bell, but nothing could stop HBK. Armed with Triple H’s
sledgehammer, the remaining member of DX seemed to be fueled by his emotions --
anger at the callousness of Edge & Orton, the pride of being back where his
television sports-entertainment career began and care for his ailing best
friend. Michaels pummeled Rated-RKO and sent a message in the form of a
Con-chair-to to Orton’s skull – DX lives!
Earlier in the night, Jonathan Coachman announced that WWE Champion John Cena
will face Umaga at the Royal Rumble with the WWE Championship on the line. With
Mr. McMahon’s approval, Coachman allowed Umaga’s manager Armando Estrada to
decide the type of match, and he chose a Last Man Standing match. The match has
no rules, except to beat your opponent so severely that he is unable to answer
to a 10 count. After signing an official contract, Cena wasted no time in
attacking Umaga, even pummeling him with the steel ring steps before giving
Estrada an FU right through a table.
Throughout the night, Mr. McMahon waited to get his old friend Donald Trump on
the phone. After reading a letter from Trump that panned last week’s Trump vs.
Rosie match, the Chairman showed the Donald how he would have handled the Miss
USA scandal (with the smoking hot Torrie Wilson playing the part of Miss USA).
Before Mr. McMahon was able to act out the end of his scenario, Carlito entered
the arena to save Torrie and inform the Chairman that he and his ideas were not
cool. Mr. McMahon punished Carlito by pitting him against the Great Khali. After
Khali floored Carlito, Mr. McMahon had just three words for him: “Now, that’s
cool.”
Also on Raw, Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy teamed with Maria in a Mixed
Tag Team Match against Johnny Nitro and Melina. The rivalry between Hardy and
Nitro was only heightened at New Year’s Revolution when Jeff retained his gold
in a thrilling Steel Cage Match; Hardy was victorious again on Raw, landing a
perfect Swanton Bomb and pinning Nitro for the win.
Speaking of victory, Ric Flair picked up his first one-on-one win against the
talented youngster Kenny Dykstra. In vintage Flair style, the “Nature Boy”
pinned the younger man with his feet on the ropes moments after Kenny had been
admonished by the referee for the same infraction. Both Flair and Dykstra will
compete in the 30-man Royal Rumble Match where their rivalry will no doubt
continue.
In other Raw action, WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James successfully defended her
title against Victoria in a rematch of their New Year’s Revolution
confrontation. Mickie even added insult to injury in the middle of the match by
delivering a severe spanking to Victoria’s shapely behind.
Chris Masters emerged from the locker room with a letter from Mr. McMahon
stating that the Master Lock is officially still unbroken. The letter stated
that when a soldier in Iraq broke the hold, it was only with outside assistance
from JBL. Masters celebrated his inclusion in the Royal Rumble Match and vowed
to take on any challenger in another Master Lock Challenge. Ron Simmons stepped
up to the plate and was holding his own when Super Crazy attacked Masters,
allowing Simmons to escape. Due to outside interference, however, the Master
Lock is still officially unbroken.
Two powerful tag team competitors were on their own as JTG faced Shelton
Benjamin in a singles match. Shad interfered while the referee was distracted
with Charlie Haas, allowing JTG to pin Shelton and steal another Cryme Tyme-style
victory.
Matches
Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy & Maria def. Johnny Nitro & Melina
Ric Flair def. Kenny Dykstra
Women's Champion Mickie James def. Victoria
Ron Simmons took the Master Lock Challenge
JTG def. Shelton Benjamin
World Tag Team Champions Rated-RKO vs. Shawn Michaels (Handicap Match; No Contest)