WWE Raw is War
Baltimore, Maryland
November 20, 2006
Breaking Down in Baltimore
By Zack Zeigler
November 20, 2006
With the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens arriving in droves to watch the best in
sports-entertainment battle it out one week before Survivor Series, the 1st
Mariner Arena in Baltimore was a scene of utter chaos and complete destruction.
As WWE.com reported, all the Survivor Series teams were in attendance. And with
all of teams in Traditional Survivor Series Matches this Sunday standing face to
face as Raw began, the volatility became too much for the arena to contain.
In the main event made by Mr. McMahon, all eight captains took turns showcasing
what their teams will do at Survivor Series. WWE Champion John Cena teamed with
DX and Ric Flair to take on ECW World Champion Big show, Rated-RKO and Kenny of
the Spirit Squad in an 8-Man Survivor Series Captains’ Tag Team Match.
While Cena’s team emerged victorious after The Champ slammed Kenny with a
monstrous FU, the night didn’t end there. As the WWE Champion’s music
reverberated throughout the arena, the other Superstars and Extremists that will
compete at Survivor Series rushed the ring and all hell broke loose. After
seeing a 30 man brawl at the end of Raw, what kind of mayhem will take place in
the city of Brotherly Love?
But the monumental main event wasn’t all the WWE Chairman announced.
"I guarantee it will be a night you never forget,” McMahon decreed.
And it wasn’t just the main event that lived up to the Chairman’s word.
There were other Superstars and Divas looking to prove a point before this
Sunday’s pay-per-view. Lita had news for her opponent Mickie James and WWE fans:
she’s leaving after her Women’s Championship Match with Mickie at Survivor
Series. Citing the lack of respect she receives from WWE fans, Superstars and
Divas alike, the Women’s Champion was unwavering in her choice to walk away from
the world of sports-entertainment.
She used Raw as a means to attempt to intimidate Mickie one last time before
their Survivor Series battle. Lita was once again able to choose a stipulation
for her match with Mickie, but instead of having Mickie’s legs shackled or
having one arm tied behind her back, Lita choose to blindfold her opponent. Last
week, Mickie was able to overcome her handicap (with some help from DX), but
this time she had no such luck. After a devastating beating and a top-rope
Moonsault, Lita covered Mickie for the pinfall. After the beating, Lita dropped
a bombshell on WWE fans, Divas and Superstars.
“Without me there would be no Mickie James, without me there would be no Trish
Stratus. So you’re going to make my job real easy to forget about all you
people; at Survivor Series I’m going to do one better than Trish Stratus,”
chided an animated Women’s Champion. “I’m gonna walk into Survivor Series and
beat Mickie James and walk out the Women’s Champion. Then I’m walking away.
Survivor Series is my last match. I’m going to retire and I’m going to retire
the greatest Women’s Champion of all time.”
After last week’s assault on Jeff Hardy with a ladder, Johnny Nitro felt the
backlash when he was in Hardy’s realm of a Ladder Match.
Prior to the match, Nitro and Melina said their “win” would be dedicated to
K-Fed – who’s slated to take on John Cena on the Jan. 1 edition of Raw. K-Fed
will be looking for a different outcome than his friend Nitro, however.
Nitro surprised many in his first Ladder Match, using the ladder as a weapon and
coming close on various attempts to reclaim the Intercontinental Title. However,
it was Hardy’s experience, heart and wherewithal that allowed him climb the
ladder and overcome Nitro’s challenge. The Intercontinental Champion pinned
Nitro down to the mat with a ladder long enough to grab the title.
While Hardy won the match, both Superstars paid the price with their bodies. Now
the question remains: how will either of these Superstars bounce back and
recover in time for Survivor Series this Sunday? Nitro may get more rest, as
Jeff has been invited to team with his brother Matt on ECW on Sci Fi this
Tuesday. Will Jeff have any fight left for Philly?
In other action pitting Survivor Series opponents against each other, Umaga kept
his undefeated streak alive by dismantling ECWs’ Sabu with a deadly Samoan
Spike.
Also, Spirit Squad Captain Kenny chose Squad member Nicky to take on Dusty
Rhodes. The “American Dream” was able to get the victory against Nicky, which no
doubt angered Kenny. Later, the Squad found out that Ron Simmons will replace
the injured “Rowdy” Roddy Piper on Flair’s team.
Carlito was all smiles as Torrie Wilson almost smothered him with a huge hug
when the Caribbean Superstar came to Torrie’s defense when Chris Masters’ vulgar
advances crossed the line. But Carlito wasn’t smiling for very long after
Masters clinched a Master Lock on the Caribbean Superstar. If not for Jerry “The
King” Lawler, Carlito may still be writhing in pain from the “Masterpiece.”
Matches
Umaga def. Sabu
Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy def. Johnny Nitro (Ladder Match)
Dusty Rhodes def. Nicky
Women's Champion Lita def. Mickie James
WWE Champion John Cena, D-Generation X & Ric Flair def. ECW World Champion Big Show, World Tag Team Champions Rated-RKO & Kenny