WrestleMania 23
The months and weeks leading up to WrestleMania usually involve champion and challenger squaring off in a number of different physical altercations, but 2007 does not seem usual. In one title match, The Undertaker and Batista continuously play mind games, but getting physical remains on the wish-list. In the other match, the opponents only want to trust each other. Finally on Monday Night Raw, the championship scene explodes as the show went off the air with John Cena laid out in the middle of the ring.
Shan Michaels and John Cena vs. Batista and the Undertaker
For Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 23 marks the eleventh anniversary of his historic Iron Man Match against Bret Hart, and it subsequently also marks the anniversary of his first WWE title reign. For John Cena, it marks his highest profile match since becoming the WWE Champion. These two gladiators also happen to hold the WWE Tag Team Championships, so reluctantly they watch each others back. Monday Night Raw gave all the champions and challengers one last chance to get physical before WrestleMania when Shawn Michaels teamed with his opponent John Cena to take on the Undertaker and Batista. When Undertaker left Batista to fend for himself, Cena and Michaels felt the celebration. But when the lights went out, Shawn Michaels celebrated by himself because the lights belonged to John Cena. Unconscious, all John Cena could hear was SWEET CHIN MUSIC!
Other News
In other news, Jonathon Coachman received a Stone Cold Stunner, CM Punk defeated Kenny Dykstra, Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton defeated Matt and Jeff Hardy, and all Money in the Bank contestants participated in segment of the Cutting Edge that turned heated.
Cutting Edge featuring Money in the Bank Participants
Speaking of Money in the Bank, what has Edge been up to? The only thing WWE fans can hope for includes an early injury to take Edge out of competition this Sunday. Unfortunately, no matter how much people don’t want to listen to him – Edge is the odds on favorite to win the guaranteed title shot. Although it seems that Edge will win, what would the WWE be like if it were any of the other men? Isn’t it time for someone else to get a shot. Picture Shawn Michaels winning the title and defending against Matt Hardy or Jeff Hardy. What better mat classic could you ask for?
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. McMahno
In the night’s most impressive and surprising turn of events, Bobby Lashley lost a match. The ECW Champion has summed up an impressive win/loss record since his reign as ECW champion began. Mr. McMahon utilized the services of Umaga, Chris Masters, Garrison Cade, and Trevor Murdoch to pin Lashley’s shoulders to the mat, but the point is he did it.
Jim Ross Called to the Hall
One of the all time and current greats in Professional Wrestling, Jim Ross joins his broadcast partner as the final inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame. What an amazing Class of 2007. With all those wrestling greats in the Hall of Fame, it only seems right that the greatest broadcast team in professional wrestling history should be there to call the action of those hallowed halls.
Season Finale
In many ways, this Raw marked the final of the year. It seems that the WWE cycle goes from WrestleMania to WrestleMania, so as Raw went off the air . . .it seems that Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker – the two men with the longest tenures - are still the best! With WrestleMania being the season finale, just which superstars get to finish the season on top?
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Also See: WrestleMania's Past
