WWE Raw is War
Phoenix, Arizona
March 5, 2007
thanks to: wwe.com
A stunning revelation
By Noah Starr
March 5, 2007
In front of a sold-out crowd of 15,792 WWE fans, the Texas Rattlesnake arrived
in the Arizona desert. The U.S. Airways Center exploded as Stone Cold Steve
Austin entered the ring, officially announced as the man who will act as special
guest referee in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23.
Mr. McMahon was dumbfounded as Eric Bischoff, Mick Foley and even Shane McMahon
entered the ring to reveal that they were not elected by the WWE Board of
Directors as special guest referee. That’s when the Rattlesnake struck. In true
Stone Cold style, Austin chugged brews and gave the Chairman a complimentary
beer bath. With one billionaire’s hair on the line at WrestleMania, will Austin
remain impartial? Or, will the desire to see his old nemesis shaved bald skew
Stone Cold’s judgment when ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley faces Umaga in less
than a month?
Earlier, the wild night began with World Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels and
John Cena in the locker room area. The tension in the air was palpable as HBK
laid it all out for the WWE Champion.
“I will have your back until WrestleMania… I’ve turned against all my partners
and more importantly, I’ve stabbed all my friends in the back. But with you,
John, it’s different.”
After HBK told Cena he didn’t need his help in his match that night, the No. 1
contender for the WWE Championship entered the ring to face Randy Orton. Moments
after HBK rolled Orton up for the win, Edge entered the ring to watch the Legend
Killer treat Michaels to an RKO on a steel chair. In the blink of an eye, down
the ramp came John Cena who cleared the ring and saved his tag team partner.
The night was not over for Cena. Orton told Edge that he would not have his back
during the Rated-R Superstar’s match with The Champ, and after Edge refused to
compete in the main event due to some excuse about Arizona being the last state
in the union to recognize Martin Luther King Day, Johnny Nitro stepped up in his
place. Just as it looked like Cena had gotten the best of the A-lister, Joey
Mercury interrupted the contest. Soon Edge and both male members of MNM were
attacking the WWE Champion. Just then, Shawn Michaels blasted down the ramp --
stopping just short of the ring. After almost leaving, HBK seemed to have a
change of heart and entered the fray to save Cena. Was Michaels about to leave
his tag team hanging out to dry?
In the first-ever Falls Count Anywhere Match for the Women’s Championship,
Mickie James battled current Women’s Champion Melina in the ring, around the
ring and even inside the Diva locker room! When the dust finally settled, Melina
pinned Mickie to retain her title. But after Melina verbally attacked guest ring
announcer Ashley, the future Playboy cover girl knocked Melina on her butt.
In what was meant to be the final Money in the Bank Qualifying match, Carlito
faced Ric Flair, who recently became almost a coach to the Southpaw from San
Juan. Before the match ended, The Great Khali stormed in and laid both
Superstars out. In broken English, the behemoth screamed: “I want Kane!” Will
Flair and Carlito get another opportunity to qualify for a trip to WrestleMania
or will the last spot go to someone else? Will Khali get his wish?
Also on Raw, the brutal Intercontinental Champion Umaga once again bulldozed
fan-favorite Jeff Hardy. Can even the powerful Bobby Lashley defeat this savage?
Later, amidst chants of “U.S.A.,” Hacksaw Jim Duggan failed to break Chris
Masters’ legendary hold in the Master Lock Challenge, and before the night
ended, Nick Bockwinkel was announced as the newest inductee into the WWE Hall of
Fame Class of 2007.
Matches
World Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels def. Randy Orton
Intercontinental Champion Umaga def. Jeff Hardy
Chris Masters def. Hacksaw Jim Duggan (Master Lock Challenge)
WWE Women's Champion Melina def. Mickie James (Falls Count Anywhere)
Ric Flair vs. Carlito (Money in the Bank Qualifying Match; No Contest)
WWE Champion John Cena def. Johnny Nitro (Disqualification)