NEWS: |Matt B| Backstage Cena approaches HBK. Cena wishes HBK good luck against Orton tonight. HBK reciprocates and wishes the same for Cena in his match against Edge. Cena isn’t done yet because something is troubling him. He tells HBK everyone has been talking about how HBK will stab him in the back. HBK says in the past, he’s stabbed every one of his partners in the back, but this situation is different. This does not alleviate Cena’s fears and asks HBK what specifically is different about this situation. HBK doesn’t know and says maybe this situation isn’t different after all. Cena does not like this response, but tells HBK he has his back. HBK tells Cena that he doesn’t need it.

In the arena, HBK comes to the ring followed by Orton w/ Edge. Orton runs to the ring and starts swinging lefts and rights. Swinging neckbreaker, back body drop and a clothesline over the top rope by HBK. Orton hits the announce table and is staggering. HBK pulls Orton up to the apron and tosses him back into the ring. Chops by HBK and an Irish whip. HBK charges and Orton gets his boot up. HBK falls back and Orton starts swinging again. Rake to the eyes by Orton. Knee lift by HBK. HBK charges Orton, but is back body dropped over the top rope. HBK sails through the air and crashes hard onto the mat. Commercial. When we come back, Orton is locking HBK in a Boston Crab. HBK is writhing in pain as he struggles to get to the ropes. HBK finally gets the bottom rope and breaks the hold. Only Orton doesn’t break it, he keeps holding on until the last second as the ref forces the break. HBK reverses a suplex from Orton and falls on Orton in a pinning combination. No pinfall and HBK slides out of the ring to threaten Edge. Edge immediately backs off and HBK hops back to the apron. Orton is waiting and hits a knee. Orton grabs HBK by the torso and hangs him up on the middle rope. Orton gets his arm around HBK’s head and drops him with the DDT. HBK’s elevated body hits the mat head first. No pinfall for Orton so he locks in the sleeper. HBK gets t this feet and hits a side suplex. Flying forearm by HBK, inverted atomic drop, scoop slam and he climbs to the top. HBK is successful with the flying elbow drop and he tunes up the band. HBK goes for the Superkick, but Orton catches his leg and goes for the RKO. But, HBK pushes Orton off and Orton hits the ref. Clothesline by Orton and Edge slides in the tag belt. But the ref comes to and grabs the belt. This allows HBK to roll up Orton and get the pinfall. But before HBK can celebrate, Edge slides in a chair and Orton hits HBK with the RKO on the chair. Cena runs down now and clears the ring, but the damage is one to HBK.

Backstage, Vince, Estrada & Coach are talking. Vince is mad about what Lashley did to Umaga last week on ECW. Vince demands to know what Umaga will do to Hardy tonight. Estrada says Vince has nothing to worry about. Estrada leaves and Coach notices that Vince has been stressed out. Vince is not stressed about who the guest referee will be. He tells Coach that there is the Board of Directors and then the Chairman of the Board. So basically the board members just kiss his ass. Coach understands and Vince says that he’s given the board members some suggestions about possible refs and specifically names his son Shane. Coach smiles and tells Vince he’s a genius.

In the arena is our next match, Umaga(c) vs Jeff Hardy for the Intercontinental Championship. Before Umaga gets in the ring, he rips off the protective mats at the foot of the ramp. Umaga gets in the ring and the bell rings. Hardy tries to get around Umaga, but Umaga grabs him and throws him into the corner. Hardy gets out of the corner and slides outside. Umaga follows and Hardy gets back in the ring. Umaga tries to do the same but Hardy hits him with a dropkick using the ropes. Hardy leaps over the top rope and hits a splash. Then Hardy hits a flying clothesline using the steps. Back in the ring, Umaga hits Hardy with a hard clothesline. Jawbreaker by Hardy, but Umaga hits another clothesline. Umaga hangs Hardy upside down in the corner. Umaga bounces off the ropes and hits a running head butt. Hardy is slumped over the corner sitting up. Umaga backs up, runs in and then nails him with his backside. Hardy’s head snaps back and then Umaga follows with the Samoan Spike and gets the pinfall. Winner and Still IC Champion, Umaga.

Backstage Melina is warming up for her title defense against Mickie James later.

Elsewhere backstage, Grisham interviews Carlito & Flair. Grisham asks them both about their new found respect and their upcoming Money in the Bank qualifying match for the last spot. Flair says Carlito still doesn’t have enough passion for this business, something that Flair has. And when Flair wins that spot, he’ll be one step closer to becoming a 17 time world champion. Carlito fires back saying he’s gotten better and he has something to prove. No one believes that he can win the world title so that’s his driving force tonight. Flair says bring it on.

Elsewhere backstage Vince is on the phone with Shane. Shane tells Vince that he’s confident the Board of Directors’ Special Referee will swing in their favor. Shane gets off the phone because he’s at the airport and will arrive shortly. Vince hangs up and looks at the photoshopped picture of Donald Trump bald. Vince then looks back at Coach and says they have an odd similarity.

Next up is the Master Lock Challenge as Hacksaw Jim Duggan comes out. The Master Lock is on and Duggan is struggling. Duggan starts fading away, but he comes back. But Masters still has it on and Duggan fades away again. The ref declares Masters the winner and Duggan is thrown to the mat.

Backstage, HBK is hurting but tells Cena he still has his back. Cena smiles and says he won’t need it tonight.

In the arena Vince comes out. Before we find out who the special referee will be, next week will be the official contract signing before him and Trump. And if Vince feels like it, might deliver a Billionaire Bitch Slap. But now for tonight – “I’m Baaaack!” Bischoff’s music hits and he comes to the ring. Vince is worried, but Bischoff tells Vince to relax because he’s not the special guest referee. Vince smiles and didn’t think Bischoff was the referee. But Bischoff says he’s out here to tell him that everyone is rooting for Donald Trump & Bobby Lashley. Bischoff leaves and Vince calls out the special guest referee. Mick Foley’s music hits and he comes to the ring. Foley smiles and Vince is a bit scared. But Vince hesitantly smiles and asks Foley how the family is. Foley says it’s ironic that 7 months ago he had to kiss McMahon’s ass. But now 7 months later Vince is kissing his. Vince smiles and is asking for them to clean the slate. Foley smiles again and asks for a shameless plug of his new book, his old job back and payment for his hotel bill. Vince agrees to all of those things. Vince smiles and they have a deal. Vince announces the Special Guest referee for WrestleMania – Foley cuts him off and says he’s not the special ref for his match. He’s the special referee for a Rib Eating Contest between Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns’ mascot. The mascot joins Foley, but Vince throws them both out of the ring — “Here comes the moneeeey” Shane McMahon comes out and Vince smiles. He announces Shane as the special guest referee. Shane shakes his head and says “No.” Shane tells Vince who the board has voted upon and Vince’s face drops. Glass shatters and Stone Cold Steve Austin comes to the ring. Vince extends his hand to Austin and Austin just smiles. Beers are thrown to Austin and he starts drinking instead of shaking hands. Vince & Shane leave the ring as Austin continues to down beers and celebrate.

Backstage, Foley & The Phoenix Suns’ mascot are walking and talking about Austin’s return. Ron Simmons then comes on screen and watches Foley & The Mascot walk off. Simmons is confused, pauses and says, “DAMN!”

Back in the arena, special guest ring announcer & Playboy Cover Girl Ashley announces the entrances of Mickie James and Melina for this Falls Count Anywhere Match. Before Melina can get into the ring, Mickie hits her with a baseball slide. Mickie beats her down, but Melina runs off to the back. Mickie follows her and Melina throws a trashcan. They both fight into the Divas locker room as Melina is thrown all over the room. Mickie gets some close pinfalls as Melina continually beats her down. Victoria joins the fight and holds Mickie. This allows Melina to slap Mickie in the face. Torrie joins in and sprays hair spray in Victoria’s eyes. Victoria lets go and Mickie kicks Melina away. Candice comes out of the showers in a bath towel. Her towel gets ripped off in all the chaos as we go to commercial. We’re back and Mickie and Melina are rolling down the steel ramp way. Kick to the gut by Melina and she runs back into the ring. Mickie slides into the ring and Melina pounces. She slams Mickie’s face into the ring repeatedly. Mickie gets up and returns the favor. Melina thrown by the hair around the ring. Fisherman’s suplex into a pin by Mickie…One…Two….Shoulder up. Both women fight in the corner and Melina is sitting on the turnbuckle. Mickie goes for the top rope hurricarana, but Melina holds on and Mickie falls hard. Melina hops back down quickly and pins Mickie…One…Two….Three. Winner and still Women’s Champion, Melina. Melina goes to Ashley to get her title, but this becomes a confrontation. Ashley shoves Melina down and Melina is shocked. Ashley checks on Mickie and raises her hand. Melina storms up the ramp way as she raises her title.

Our next match is the final Money in the Bank Qualifying Match between Ric Flair and Carlito “Carribean” Cool. Bell rings and Carlito hits a shoulder block and tries ot get a wquick count. Flair comes back with chops in the corner. Carlito then comes back with a back body drop and standing drop kick. Suplex by Carlito, chops, kicks to the chest and he goes to the middle rope and starts punching. Flair grabs Carlito and turns it into an atomic drop. Flair hits a knee drop and gets a nearfall. Side head lock by Flair. Carlito this his feet and he hits a springboard reverse elbow. Carlito then goes for another springboard move, but Flair slides away. Carlito knows this and lands on his feet after the flip. But Carlito tweaks his knee and goes down. Suddenly, Khali’s music hits and he comes to the ring. He destroys Flair and Carlito and grabs the mic saying, “I Want KANE!” Torrie checks on Carlito, the ref checks on Flair and Khali returns to the back.

The next entrant in the 2007 Hall of Fame will be Nick Bockwinkel.

Backstage, Edge asks Orton if he’ll have his back tonight. Orton says he can’t do it tonight because he has a meeting with Coach. Edge asks Orton if this is about tonight and the miscommunication earlier. Edge apologizes for it and says it happens now and then. Orton tells Edge that he’s not going to lie like HBK & Cena, he simply says he does not have Edge’s back tonight.

In our last match of the night, John Cena takes on Edge. Cena comes out first. But then MNM come out next. Cena is confused, but Edge comes out next. Edge says we’re in Arizona, a state full of bigots. Nitro demanded to fight Cena instead because Nitro’s great grandmother was African-American and everyone knows Arizona’s stance on Martin Luther King Day. So instead, Nitro will fight Cena in the main event. Cena is very confused, but the bell rings and the match starts. The numbers game catch up with Cena fast. The match finally goes in Cena’s favor as he hits clotheslines, shoulder tackles and a suplex. Cena lifts up Nitro for the FU, but Mercury runs in and chop blocks him. The ref rings the bell and MNM hit the Snapshot on Cena. DX’s music hits and he comes running down. But HBK stops short at the ramp. MNM wait for HBK to make a move, but he doesn’t. Instead, HBK walks back up the ramp. MNM continue their assault and HBK pauses and looks back. HBK turns around again and heads for the ring. He fights off MNM and, once again, walks up the ring. Cena watches HBK and wonders what is going on.

This teasing between HBK/Cena has been going over pretty well. Cena flat out asked HBK what makes this situation different and HBK gives him a bogus answer (when’s the last time you heard someone use the word bogus?). Anyway, good segment and good opening match.

But seriously, RAW wasn’t too great tonight even with Bischoff, Foley and Austin. Some good things were the continued teasing between HBK/Cena, the build up to Austin’s return and the commercials in between the live broadcast.

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