NEWS: Vince McMahon starts RAW by saying that Eric Bischoff was fired last week and Eric Bischoff will stay fired. With that, Vince wishes the Bischoff family a Merry Christmas.

Vince says many people come to my mind for the new general manager, but in the interim, Vince will be acting GM as the interview process will begin.

Tonight, RAW will feature Elimination Chamber Qualifying matches and the first will be Kurt Angle versus Ric Flair. Side head lock take over by Flair then a shoulder block. Angle regains himself and locks up with Flair. Angle punches Flair in the corner, but Flair turns it around and chops Angle. Flair sends Angle into the ropes, ducks his head and gets kicked in the chest by Angle. Flair ducks Angle and chops him down. Angle gets up and hits a German suplex and belly-to-back suplex. Angle walks over and puts the Ankle Lock on Flair. Flair makes it to the ropes, but Angle will not let go. The ref starts his count and Angle finally lets go. But the damage is done as Flair rolls himself out of the ring as go to commercial. When we come back, Angle has a waist lock on Flair. Angle switches to a head lock as Flair gets to his feet and delivers a suplex to Angle. Angle gets up and charges Flair, but Flair sidesteps and goes to town on Angle’s knee. Flair drops Angle to the mat and puts the Figure Four on Angle. However, Angle is near the ropes and grabs them to break the hold. Both men get to their feet and Flair delivers some chops in the corner. Irish whip by Flair as Angle reverses it midway through. Angle fights back and hits a belly-to-belly suplex, but he is chopped out of the ring. While on the outside, Angle grabs a chair and brings it in. He charges Flair, but Flair kicks Angle and the chair drops. Flair tries to grab the chair, but the ref fights for it and gets it out of the ring. This allows Angle to grab his medals, wrap them around his knuckles and deliver one blow to Flair’s head. Flair drops immediately, Angle gets the cover and advances to the Elimination Chamber. After the match, Angle gets on the mic and questions the crowds opinion of him. He tells everyone that he does not suck. Recently, wrestlers had the opportunity to go to Afghanistan. Angle says he did not volunteer because it was not worth it. He says the troops are not true heroes because they haven’t done a single thing and are getting nothing done. Angle calls Daivari and we see him on the screen. Daivari is in another part of the arena and spits right in the face of a Larry Bird replica. The crowd boos immediately as both men laugh. Daivari says he can do one better and grabs a can of spray paint. Daivari turns around and runs right into Cena. Cena grabs the spray paint can and bitch slaps Daivari. Daivari holds the side of his face as he retreats and yells at Cena in Arabic. Cena turns to the camera and addresses Angle. He says the troops are giving up their lives for Angle and are making the true sacrifice. Cena sprays the camera and says, “And if you can’t see that, then you can’t see me.”

Backstage, Edge & Lita run into Flair. They make fun of Flair’s loss and ask him if he’s going to go on the turnpike and beat up another motorist. Flair stands up, but Edge puts Lita in between them. Edge tells Flair it won’t look good if he beats up a woman too. Edge taunts Flair with by going “Wooooo Wooo! Wooo!” as he leaves.

Elsewhere backstage, Shelton walks up to HBK with his HBK’s book in hand. He tells HBK that last week he did show attitude. HBK says he had everything under control until Shelton got involved and lost the match for them. Shelton tells HBK that he could have broke the cover, but instead HBK just stood there and did nothing. Shelton says that old habits die hard because HBK only cares about himself and no one else. Shelton gets in his face and says he hopes HBK will also make it to the Elimination Chamber.

In the arena, Shelton Benjamin and Carlito Cool come to the ring for their match. Before Carlito steps into the ring, Shelton grabs him by the hair and throws him into the ring. Shelton starts strong with kicks and punches so Carlito rolls to the outside to get away. Shelton follows him to the outside and throws him right back in. Slam by Shelton so Carlito rolls out again. Shelton walks to the ropes, grabs them and jumps out of the ring. Carlito sees this and moves out of the way. However, Shelton lands on his feet and clotheslines Carlito as soon as turns around. Carlito gets up and is able to throws Shelton into the side of the ring. Both men roll into the outside and Carlito focuses on Shelton’s back with kicks and a backbreaker. Carlito goes for two covers, but cannot get them. Carlito puts on the Boston Crab, but Shelton reverses it into a rollup. Carlito kicks up and is hit by a Samoan drop. Two clotheslines by Shelton and a neck breaker. Failed cover by Shelton. Shelton goes for a sunset flip, but Carlito grabs the ref and puts him in the middle. Shelton leaps over both of them and still gets the move off as he rolls Carlito up. Carlito kicks up and the two back and forth, but Shelton grabs Carlito and hits the T-Bone slam. Shelton looks over at a fallen Carlito, but he does not make the cover. Instead, Carlito grabs the apple takes a bite and then is rolled up by Carlito and pinned. Shelton cannot believe what happened as he will not be in the Elimination Chamber.

Backstage, Trevor Murdoch stop Vince and tells him that he wants to be GM (as he spits in a cup). Vince is disgusted by Murdoch’s habit but tells him he’ll think about it. Vince walks into his office to see Candice Michelle. Candice says that she wants to be GM and Vince asks her what makes her qualified. Candice says she has the best “assets” as he takes off her coat to reveal her lingerie underneath. McMahon is clearly enjoying this, but Angle & Daivari burst into his office as we go to commercial.

In the next Elimination Chamber Qualifying match, Shawn Michaels faces Big Show. Show starts the match by cornering HBK. Both men exchange chops in the corner and it looks like HBK gets the upper hand, but is thrown off by Show. Show grabs HBK’s throat, but HBK breaks it and retreats to the ropes. Show charges HBK, but he HBK drops down and pulls the top rope with him which allows Show to completely topple out of the ring. Show recovers and gets to his feet so HBK goes for a splash from the inside, but Show catches him midair and drops him on to the apron face first. The match goes back to the inside as both HBK and Show try to get an advantage. The action goes back forth with HBK being put in a bear hug, being thrown into the corner and being chopped in the chest by those huge hands. HBK goes for several clotheslines, but he cannot send the big man down. HBK goes for another clothesline, but Show grabs him by the throat, lifts him up for the chokeslam but HBK REVERSES IT AND HITS A DDT!! HBK is first to his feet, tunes up the band and hits the Superkick. Show does not do down and HBK is shocked. Show is only on one knee. HBK goes for the second Superkick, but Show blocks it, grabs HBK’s throat and hits the chokeslam. HHH runs down the ramp with a chair in hand. He pulls HBK out of the ring and jumps on the apron. Show stares him down and HHH pauses. Instead, HHH jumps down and blasts HBK in the head with the chair. HBK is out cold and the ref jumps out of the ring and announces HBK as the winner by DQ. Show is pissed.

Backstage, Angle & Daivari are in Vince’s office talking. Angle demand a match with Cena tonight, but Vince shoots him down. He says he is not Bischoff, but will put Cena against Daivari in the main event. Daivari starts yelling in Arabic until Vince tells him to shut up. Vince says it’ll be the first “You Can’t See Me” Match where Cena will be blindfolded. Both Angle & Daivari seem satisfied as everyone stands up. Vince tells Angle that he can put down the troops and spit in the face of Larry Bird, but he tells him to never interrupt him again. Angle & Daivari leave as McMahon plays with the wand that Candice left behind.

Back in the arena is another qualifying match between Masters and Viscera. Masters starts strong with punches, but Viscera counters with a slam and a big elbow. Masters tries to lift Big Vis, but instead he crashes to the mat. Masters tries to put the Master Lock on, but cannot lock his hands in place. Masters tries to wear down Vis and put the Master Lock on again, but he cannot lock it in. Vis slams Masters into the corner and then hits a big Samoan drop. Masters crawls to the corner and Vis charges. Masters counters by pulling Vis into the corner as he was charging. Vis is dazed and this allows Masters to put the Master Lock on and pick up the win. Masters is now in the Elimination Chamber.

Backstage, Trish Stratus is talking to herself and trying to convince herself to let down Mickie easy. Before Trish can walk into the dressing room, Mickie comes out. Mickie is excited about her #1 Contender’s match against Victoria and says it means a lot to her. She tells Trish that she grew up watching wrestling with her grandfather, but he died. Trish feels sorry for her, but Mickie says it’s alright because he is watching done on both of them. She tells Trish that these few months have been great and she thanks her for everything. Mickie asks Trish what she was going to say, but Trish backs out and wishes Mickie food luck.

In the arena, Matt Striker comes out to the stage for his lesson. His lecture today is about “Family Values.” He asks the fans what happened to this country and what happened to our values. He addresses a fan and says the only work his mom does is while lying flat on her back. Because these women know that the more babies they put, the more money Uncle Sam gives them. Striker then asks where the fathers are. He says if they’re not sleeping with other women, they’re marrying other men. Striker says he will be their father figure and he will be their teacher.

Backstage, Chris Nowitski wants to be the RAW GM, but Vince isn’t really interested. Someone knocks on the door and in comes Dusty Rhodes. Chris sees himself out and lets Dusty & Vince talk.

Back in the arena, Mickie and Victoria start their match at Trish joins the broadcast table. Victoria starts off strong by punching, kicking and throwing Mickie. Scoop slam by Victoria and then she walks over Mickie. Victoria goes for the standing back flip, but Mickie gets her legs up. Left, right and a clotheline by Mickie. Sidekick by Mickie, an elbow to the face and Mickie goes for the hurricarana. But, Victoria holds on and puts Mickie into the Boston Crab. Mickie grabs the ropes to break the hold. Victoria lifts Mickie to her feet, but Mickie fights back, grabs Victoria and delivers a huge DDT for the win. Trish looks on and is impressed with Mickie’s win and might be a little scared.

Backstage, HHH is seen walking to the ring for his qualifying match.

In our last qualifying match of the night, HHH faces Kane. HHH charges Kane first, but is knocked down. Kane pummels HHH in the corner over and over again. HHH sent into the corner and is then lifted up by the throat and thrown back down. Kane charges HHH, but runs into a knee. HHH pummels Kane this time, but Kane fights back up and once again throws HHH into the corner. This time, HHH slams into the corner hard and topples over top rope and crashes to the outside as we go to commercial. When we come back, HHH slams Kane into the mat hard. Kane is in a sleeper and counters with a side slam. Both men get to their feet and exchange blows. HHH thrown into the corner and Kane follows with a clothesline. Kane does this two more times and then hits a power slam. Kane climbs to the top rope, but HHH rolls to the outside. Kane drops down and follows HHH to the outside where he drops HHH on the barricade face first. HHH thrown back in, Kane ascends to the top rope and hits the flying clothesline. HHH goes for The Pedigree, but Kane reverses, goes for the big boot and hits the ref! Kane turns around and hits the boot on HHH. Kane grabs HHH’s throat, but HHH counters with a kick and then a DDT. HHH pulls out the sledgehammer from under the ring and the Big Show walks down the ramp. Show gets into the ring and HHH is ready, but Kane grabs him from behind and both deliver a double chokeslam. Big Show revives the ref, Kane makes the cover…1…2…3! Kane is the last man in the Elimination Chamber.

Backstage, Cena is making his way to the ring.

When we come back, Daivari is already in the ring awaiting John Cena. Cena comes out and his hometown goes nuts. The ref puts the blindfold over Cena’s head and ties it tight. Daivari toys with Cena a little bit and Angle does the same from the outside. Cena is swinging wildly in the ring as he is getting frustrated. Finally, one of his punches lands and Diavari is sent down hard. Cena grabs the ref and almost punches him. The ref screams and Cena lets go. Cena starts point to corner of the ring and the fans chant to let them know where Daivari is. Fans scream “YEA!!!” And Cena charges that direction, but Daivari ends up moving. Cena uses the crowd again and finally gets Daivari. Takedown by Cena and then the STF for the win as Daivari taps immediately. Angle jumps in the ring and starts hitting the back of Cena’s head with forearms over and over again. The blindfold comes off and Cena fights back, but Angle jumps out of the ring. Daivari is left alone again so Cena delivers the FU as RAW goes off the air.

Lot more wrestling action this week on RAW. I liked the HBK/Big Show the most and that chair shot by HHH was so damn loud. Big Show’s program with HHH is starting and it’s starting off right. Their feud has been slowly building for weeks and was set into motion when HHH was still feuding with Flair. Big Show deserves to more time on RAW, but unfortunately the focus will be on HHH…again.

Average RAW in my opinion, but I liked that Show got a lot of time. Maybe Dusty Rhodes will be announced as the GM next week.