WWE 2006: Time for a Change

Vince responds to RVD, DX taunt the McMahons
Mr. McMahon kicks off Raw, flanked by Shane. He welcomes the audience to the show, is booed so he insults them. He then addresses the WWE Champion, Rob Van Dam. McMahon reiterates that Van Dam is a Raw superstar, and as a Raw superstar he is supposed to be on Raw, not ECW. If he likes ECW so much, then he should not be the WWE Champion. So, McMahon says that RVD is expected to come to Vengeance next Sunday, and either he commits to Monday Night Raw or he has to hand over the WWE Championship. As the McMahons are about to leave, they're interrupted by DX. Hunter and Shawn once again mock the McMahons, say that RVD hates them so much that he'd rather be in ECW. They also say that they've had enough of the McMahon stooges, the Spirit Squad. They want to fight them tonight. Surprisingly, Vince says yes. And he says that since Carlito got involved in their business last week, they might as well team up with him. DX are pleased, but they know better than to not trust Vince.
Rating: 86

Johnny Nitro Vs. Ric Flair
A good match to start the action on Raw. Nitro is one of the more athletic guys on the roster and while Flair is way past his prime when it comes to his actual wrestling, his ability to engage the crowd is top notch. So they focus on entertaining the crowd more, with some comedy involving Melina thrown in the mix. In the end, Flair has Nitro in the Figure 4 close to the ropes but Melina scratches his eyes before Nitro taps. Then a blinded Flair gets hit with the Moonlight Drive and it's a win for Nitro.
Winner: Johnny Nitro (Outside Interference Finish via Moonlight Drive)
Rating: 73

No remorse from Randy Orton
Randy Orton comes to the ring and addresses his actions from last week. He says Goldust is beyond him, not on his level and calls him a joke. He feels insulted by even standing in the same ring as him. Then Lilian Garcia introduces his opponent... Eugene. Oh no.
Rating: 95

Eugene Vs. Randy Orton
It was apparent that Orton was in no mood for playing around, and so he just tears apart Eugene. Goldust messed with Orton and exploited his weak spot last week, but there was no opportunity for Eugene to do the same. After about 4 minutes Orton hits the RKO and Eugene is done. But... he doesn't go for the pin, instead Orton goes to the corner, much like he did to Goldust last week... and delivers a brutal kick to the head! The referee checks on Eugene and calls for the bell. Orton looks proud of his work as Eugene is carried out on a stretcher.
Winner: Randy Orton (Ref Stoppage via Punt)
Rating: 71

DX and Carlito discuss the match, Carlito introduces a partner!
DX are talking backstage and Carlito walks up to them. He says that while he's not their biggest fan, he's even more pissed off that a bunch of cheerleaders keep getting his spotlight just because they're doing Vince's bidding. They stole his moment so he decided to take them out. He says that he wants a rematch with Triple H sometime, but for now his focus is to take their World Tag Team Championship. And he introduces his new tag team partner, his brother, Primo. He says he talked to Coachman and tonight, the 4 of them will fight 4 memebers of the Spirit Squad. And if they win, Carlito and Primo will get a title shot on Sunday. Triple H and Shawn will team with them, but they do say that Vince must have something up his sleeve.
Rating: 82

Hardcore Holly & Charlie Haas Vs. Shelton Benjamin & William Regal
Raw loans in Holly from Friday Night Smackdown for the night, because the roster is that short on the babyface side. This is supposed to function as a preview for the IC title match at Vengeance (more on that in the notes) and Haas and Benjamin do get some nice sequences to preview just that. Haas takes a T-Bone on the outside for a rough landing and is taken out of the match. Shortly after, Holly succumbs to the disadvantage and is pinned by the Intercontinental Champion after another T-Bone.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin (Pinfall via T-Bone Suplex)
Rating: 65

Kane has a fiery challenge for his doppleganger
Kane comes out, he addresses his imposter, he wants to end him forever and challenges him to an Inferno match at Vengeance. The masked clone comes out and the two brawl, but he overpowers real Kane and hits a chokeslam.
Rating: 81

Umaga Vs. Matt Striker
Yet another squash match for Umaga. Striker can't really handle the big Samoan and the Spike is enough to get a decisive pinfall win.
Winner: Umaga (Knock Out via Samoan Spike)
Rating: 57

Umaga looks for some more post match punishment... but is stopped!
Umaga is not satisfied after the match and beats down Striker some more. Then he climbs to the top and is about to Splash him, but Viscera's music hits! He stares down Umaga, who doesn't appreciate the interruption... and they trade shots! Viscera knocks down Umaga, and Estrada pulls his monster away!
Rating: 80

Mickie James Vs. Torrie Wilson
Women's Champion Mickie James was in action against Torrie. Not a huge challenge for Mickie, but it is somewhat competitive. The champ still nails her big DDT after about 6 minutes for a pretty decisive win, though.
Winner: Mickie James (Pinfall via DDT)
Rating: 66

Mickie saw Candice last week, gives her a shot at Vengenace!
After the match, Mickie grabs a mic and says she watched Candice Michelle last week, she seemed to be calling her out. James says Candice isn't on her level and accepts the challenge, they're on for next Sunday. Candice comes out and the two women stare each other down.
Rating: 74

Shawn Michaels & Triple H & Carlito & Primo Vs. Nicky & Mikey & Johnny & Kenny
A surprisingly fun tag match in Primo's WWE debut. Mitch stays at ringside while the other 4 cheerleaders compete in this match The Colón hermanos are well synced, Primo looks great and Triple H and Shawn Michaels seem to be kind of impressed. The extra cheerleader does try to interfere but it's not much trouble for the babyface team. After about 7 minutes with the Spirit Squad not giving them that much trouble, Carlito gets the win with the Backstabber and the Colóns have a World Tag Team title match on Sunday.
Winner: Carlito (Pinfall via Backstabber)
Rating: 73

Post match beatdown and a shocking announcement!
After the match the remaining Spirit Squad member comes in the ring with a chair as the 5 of them try to beat down DX and the Colón brothers. Despite being 5-on.4, the brawl is pretty equal until Big Show intervenes. He blindsides The Colóns and helps the Spirit Squad take out DX. Then Vince and Shane McMahon come out... and they join in, landing shots on defenseless Triple H and Shawn Michaels. It was a setup all along! Then Vince grabs a mic and barks: "This Sunday at Vengeance you two punks are going down! You'll be in a match against... Shane McMahon... and ME! And it will be NO HOLDS BARRED!"
Rating: 60

Chris Masters Vs. Tommy Penmanship
Just a quick match against an unamed local (more like developmental) talent to give the "Masterpiece" a spot on the show. Masters dominates and the Master Lock gives him the win.
Winner: Chris Masters (Submission Pass Out via Master Lock)
Rating: 57

JR and Lawler run down the Vengeance card
Jim Ross and King talk about the matches we will see at Vengeance, with some of them just being officially announced. Because these raise the popularity a little bit and more popularity is good.
Rating: 59

Edge wants to be handed the WWE Championship, Cena has other ideas
Edge comes out and talks about what happened on last Tuesday, on the premiere of ECW. He says that the ECW guys are a bunch of savages and they should all be banned from ever stepping foot in a WWE ring ever again. The crowd taunt him. Then, he says that if Rob Van Dam wants to be in ECW so bad, he should hand him the WWE Championship. He asks Rob to come to Vengeance and forfeit the WWE Championship to him, and asks Mr. McMahon to come out and make the title change official. But instead it's John Cena that comes out, much to Edge's annoyance. He says that "the WWE Championship isn't something to get passed around like that. If it was, it'd be called Lita" (how classy). He says that even though it costs him to admit, and even though he doesn0t agree with his actions, Rob Van Dam is the rightful WWE Championship and was the better man at One Night Stand. And he will not let Edge keep throwing that in his face. So, he challenges Edge to a match at Vengeance. Before Edge can answer, Lita grabs his mic, she's obviously angry. She says that Cena will regret insulting her, Edge will kick his ass on Sunday and she will make sure Cena will be embarassed. Edge is surprised, but doesn't really oppose to the idea. Cena replied that he thought Lita would get involved anyways... so his idea wasn't for a singles match... he's got a partner. Out comes... TRISH STRATUS! Lita at Trish stare eachother down and Lita says to Cena "You and this little sl*t wanna fight me and my man? YOU'RE ON!" Trish immediately punches Lita and the girls start fighting! Raw GM Jonathan Coachman comes out to make the match official and also says Trish will face Lita one on one... RIGHT NOW!
Rating: 86

Trish Stratus Vs. Lita
I let the girls get loose in the main event. Gave them 14 minutes and just told them to steal the show. They know eachother's every move and have amazing chemistry, so they did just what I asked. It started hot, with the two women fired up from the brawl already, and they beat eachother up all over the ring and ringside area. It's pretty even, with Lita of course trying every cheap shot she can. Some land, but some don't since Trish knows her so well. Edge tries to interfere on Lita's behalf, but Cena stops him and they brawl. Eventually, Lita goes up top for the Litasault,Trish gets her knees up, nails her with the Stratusfaction for the win!
Winner: Trish Stratus (Pinfall via Stratusfaction)
Rating: 92

The fight is on between the Rated-R couple and Cena and Trish!
After the match ends, Edge attacks Cena at ringside while Lita goes after Trish! They're not waiting to Vengeance! Producers Michael Hayes and Sgt. Slaughter come out from the back along with some security guards to stop the pairs from tearing eachother apart as the show ends!
Rating: 80

Total Rating: 81%

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Trish vs. Lita actually main evented RAW in 2004 for the Women's title, though 

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My gut feeling tells me that Punt is the death of the Eugene character.

Viscera is not who I wanted to see coming out for one of Umaga's first feuds, but I'm sure you know what to do.

Wasn't Primo too green by 2006? Anyway, I expected a non-finish, but I'm happy for the clean babyface win and I hope Carlito and Primo get the titles. DX vs. McMahons can be fun to book.

The pre-main event is standard 2006 Cena vs. Edge goodness and the main event really surprised me with that 92 rating. Banger.

Uff, Haas getting a 18-month injury is bs. Maybe you'll give Shelton something else, like an open challenge at Vengeance? He's cocky, competitive, it can work.

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Predictions:
Kane vs (Imposter) Kane - Inferno Match
Umaga (w/Armando Alejandro Estrada) vs Viscera
Spirit Squad (two of them) (w/ the other three) (c) vs Los Colóns (Carlito & Primo) - WWE World Tag Team Championship
Mickie James (c) vs Candice Michelle - WWE Women's Championship
D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) vs Mr. McMahon & Shane McMahon - No Holds Barred
Edge & Lita vs John Cena & Trish Stratus

Kurt Angle Vs. Jerry Lynn
Unusually for WWE, the show kicks off with a wrestling match. And it was a really good one between Angle and Lynn, with the veteran really bringing his A-game against the Olympic Gold Medalist. The match starts off clean but at a hot pace, and it pick up even more when Lynn decides to get some weapons involved. There's a lot of back and forth but eventually, after about 12 minutes of action, Angle hits an Angle Slam onto a trash can for the win.
Winner: Kurt Angle (Pinfall via Angle Slam)
Rating: 81

Angle and Lynn respect eachother, but Mercury spoils it
After the match Jerry Lynn gets up and stares at the man that just beat him for a second... and then offers a handshake. Angle accepts and the crowd enjoys it, once again embracing Angle as one of their own. Lynn leaves the ring so Angle gets his adulation, but as he does he is attacked by Joey Mercury at ringside. Mercury, presumably salty about losing to Angle last week, lays out Lynn and runs off before Angle can intervene, looking pleased with his handywork.
Rating: 48

CM Punk introduces himself as the ultimate competitor
A video airs of last week's surprise debutant CM Punk, who is backstage. He introduces himself and says he's wreslted all over the world and has proven himself as one of the hottest commodities in independent wrestling. But now, it's time for a new challenge. And that was why he decided to test himself against the one of best that ECW has to offer. Because CM Punk is in ECW now and he's here to prove himself all over again, to compete with the best around and to establish himself as the best of all.
Rating: 87

Tajiri & Super Crazy & Psicosis Vs. Little Guido & Big Vito & Tony Mamaluke
As announced last week, we had a trios match with the F.B.I. taking on the Mexicools and Tajiri. It was sort of competitive, but the babyface team did over come the italian challenge. Tajiri hit a Buzzsaw on Vito to take it home.
Winner: Tajiri (Pinfall via Buzzsaw Kick)
Rating: 58

Stevie and Nova talk about the great premiere of ECW, Impact Players get annoyed and issue a challenge
Stevie and Nova are backstage talking about their reunion at One Night Stand and the premiere of ECW last week. Storm and Credible overhear this and say that while they lost on last week's show, they embarassed Stevie and Nova at One Night Stand. "So, we'll see if you remember it so fondly if we beat you again. But this time, we can do it one on one."
Rating: 71

RVD & Sabu Vs. Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman
The WWE Champion is in the main event once again, this time in tag team action as RVD and Sabu reunite their team to face Dreamer and Sandman. It's a full on, old school ECW main event for the crowd to enjoy. It's as chaotic as expected, with both teams not taking it easy on the other. Perhaps for a bit too long at 14 minutes, there's a lot of weapons and classic spots between the four. Sabu takes out Sandman on the outside, putting him through a table as RVD Frog Splashes Dreamer for the win.
Winner: Rob Van Dam (Pinfall via 5-Star Frog Splash)
Rating: 76

Everyone celebrates and RVD calls out McMahon!
Post match Van Dam, Sabu, Dreamer and Sandman show eachother respect and celebrate together. Then, Scott Stanford gets in the ring and asks RVD about what Vince said on Raw and if he will show up at Vengeance or not. RVD says, as he stands together with the other three: "Vince isn't gonna take my title. I'm coming to Vengeance... but I'm not coming alone!"
Rating: 64

Total Rating: 71

My notes:

Show was weaker than last week's ECW, but that was to be expected since there were some bigger names I didn't book when compared to last week. I was pleased with Angle vs Lynn and the Punk promo, both got the show off to a really good start. I expected the tag main event to do better numbers, but I did hinder it slightly by making it too long.

You're booking Angle very smartly, having him wrestle some good underrated opponents in his first matches without being disrespectful to them. I wonder who's his first real rival there, as I don't think Mercury is that guy.

Punk's promo work is so overrated in every single DB the promo itself is exactly what it needs to be.

I'm calling it: Nova gets Storm and loses; Richards gets Credible and wins, Credible attacks post-match, Nova tries to save but gets beat up too; next week bWo will be back for revenge.

Good classic ECW main event with the right guys winning and a great post-match warning for McMahon. I wonder if no one will blindside him at Vengeance, as ECW needs some heels...