Professional Wrestling's Monday Night Raw featured the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Shawn Michaels and John Cena also in action with Edge and Randy Orton.
Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold! The Texas Rattlesnake returns to Professional Wrestling to wreak havoc as the special referee for the Battle of the Billionaires at this year’s WrestleMania. For one week, wrestling fans wondered who the WWE would bring in as the referee. All that wonder came to a sudden halt, jaws are still being picked up off the ground, and some former wrestling fans are now tuning back in. Steve Austin didn’t speak a single word, but the beer bath given to Vince McMahon seemed to adequately send the message. The WrestleMania match is now set Donald Trump’s Representative Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. McMahon’s Representative Umaga, and standing between these men will be Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Almost a decade ago Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 14. At this year’s WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels will challenge his tag team partner, John Cena, for the same championship he lost to Stone Cold years ago. Monday Night Raw started this week with a scene including John Cena, Shawn Michaels, and a whole lot of tension. Despite holding the tag team championship, it seems that the two men are more focused on the title match at WrestleMania. With these sentiments in mind, the statement “I don’t need your help” echoed through the arena as both men informed the other of having these feelings.
In the opening contest Shawn Michaels faced off against Randy Orton. Currently with no WrestleMania match, Randy Orton found himself in a must win situation. With Orton’s Rated RKO partner at ringside and without John Cena’s help, Shawn Michaels found himself at an early disadvantage. Toward the match’s conclusion Shawn Michaels almost completely hit the ever predictable HBK Combo (flying forearm, kip up, punch, bodyslam, elbow drop from the top rope, and Sweet Chin Music), but Orton avoided the Sweet Chin music saving himself from a definite loss. At this point Edge attempted to slide Shawn’s tag team title belt to Orton, but the referee intercepted causing Orton to lose focus on the task at hand. With Orton distracted, Michaels was able to roll him up for the victory. Afterward Rated RKO double-teamed Shawn, but before too much time elapsed John Cena did interrupt the chaos. Apparently Shawn Michaels did need John Cena’s help. Does John Cena need Shawn’s help when he takes on Edge later in the evening?
For a match with a predictable outcome, the Intercontinental Title bout between Jeff Hardy and the Samoan Bulldozer Umaga actually turned out to be a decent contest. Jeff Hardy hit Umaga with a lot of high flying offense early on, but the Samoan Bulldozer eventually caught up. After a Samoan Spike, Umaga defeated Jeff Hardy for the second time in three weeks.
Friends Ric Flair and Carlito faced each other in a match scheduled as the final Money in the Bank Qualifying match. In an interview Flair stated that he wanted to claim a 17th heavyweight championship and that he would beat Carlito just the same as he did a few weeks ago. Carlito answered by stating that he wants to prove that he too can be a champion. Unfortunately the world may never know who would have won this match because after about three minutes, the Great Khali interrupted and took out both men.
In a contest announced last week, Mickey James challenged Melina in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the Women’s Championship. After fighting through the back stage area, the woman’s locker room, and the ramp area, the match eventually concluded in the ring. Mickey James attempted a hurricanrana off the top rope, but slipped and landed on her head. Melina quickly covered Mickey to pick up the victory. Following the match, Melina had a short altercation with the Playboy Cover Girl, Ashley.
In other news, Hacksaw Jim Duggan could not break the Master Lock, Nick Bockwinkle was announced as the fourth 2007 entrant into the Hall of Fame, and Randy Orton told Edge that he did not have his back in the final match.
In the main event of the evening Edge decided that for some bogus reason, he could not wrestle against John Cena. Instead Johnny Nitro took his place. The match ended when Nitro’s partner Joey Mercury and Edge jumped in the ring attacking Cena. The questioned posed earlier in the night would now be answered – does Michaels have Cena’s back. HBK actually ran to the ring, but then turned and headed back to the locker room. Turning back he reluctantly had a sudden change of heart and ran to the ring fighting off Nitro, Mercury, and Edge. The only question left on the table is when will this mini series between Shawn Michaels and John Cena actually explode?
Also see WrestleMania's Past, The Original WWE WrestleMania, The Second WWE WrestleMania
