Christopher
Member
The Champ vs. The Chairman
March 27, 2006
This Weeks RAW Preview According to WWE.com
It will be The Champ vs. The Chairman when RAW rolls into Omaha, Neb., next week.
Last week, Cena & Shawn Michaels faced Triple H & Shane McMahon in a tag team match. However, Mr. McMahon quickly disqualified Cena for using a closed fist, banishing the WWE Champion to the back and making a Handicap Match instead. Later, after Cena returned to help HBK in the Handicap Match, Mr. McMahon punished Cena by announcing that the WWE Champion would face him next week. Will the Chairman have something up his sleeve?
Also last week, Mickie James struck again, this time laying out Trish Stratus and kissing her after producing a bound-and-gagged Ashley as Trishs surprise gift. This week Trish will team up with Torrie Wilson to take on Candice & Victoria. This match was originally supposed to take place at Saturday Night's Main Event, but Torrie had to be replaced by Mickie after she was knocked out during a backstage attack. Will Trish be able to pick up another tag team victory on RAW?
Our Current Champions
The WWE Champion: John Cena
Intercontiential Championship: Shelton Benjamin
WWE World Tag Team Championship: Kane & The Big Show
WWE Women's Championship: Trish Stratus
Our Current Wrestlemania Card On The RAW Side:
For months, Mickie James claimed to be Trish Stratus biggest fan, going so far as to proclaim her love for Trish on several occasions. Thanks to a brutal attack on Saturday Nights Main Event, it seems the love is gone, and now at WrestleMania 22, James will take on her idol for the Womens Championship.
Last fall, James made her debut on RAW, helping Trish & Ashley fend off an attack from Victoria. (Watch video) She said she was Trishs No. 1 fan, and did anything and everything to help Trish succeed, even seemingly sacrificing herself to help Trish win the Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday. James even dressed up as Trish for Halloween, complete with replica Womens Championship. (Watch video)
Shortly before Christmas, Mickie decided to profess her love for Trish in the locker room. The two were standing underneath mistletoe, and Mickie tried to kiss Trish; the Womens Champion seemed flustered and walked away, leaving Mickie confused. Mickie apologized, but for the first time it seemed there was something more to their relationship, at least in Mickies mind. (Watch video)
At New Years Revolution, Trish defeated Mickie to retain the Womens Championship, but Mickie seemed happy just to have the opportunity to be in the ring with Trish. From there, her behavior became continually more aggressive until Trish had enough.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Trish told Mickie that they needed to spend some time apart, because her behavior was too much to take. Mickie seemed crushed but agreed to Trishs request. (Watch video) The next week, an attack on Torrie left Trish without a partner for Saturday Nights Main Event. Mickie volunteered to fill in, saying she would respect Trishs wishes to go their separate ways after the match.
Trish agreed, and when Saturday Nights Main Event rolled around, the two were victorious over Candice & Victoria. After the match, Mickie wanted to say goodbye to Trish the proper way, and leaned in to try to kiss the Womens Champion. After Trish pulled away, a crestfallen Mickie nailed her idol with a Mick Kick and laid her out with her own version of Stratusfaction. Later on WWE.com Unlimited, Mickie said she dedicated her life to Trish, but not once did Trish appreciate her. Mickie said Trish broke her heart, and now she would break Trish.
The following Monday on RAW, Mickie claimed to have a gift for Trish. As Trish came down to claim it, Mickie revealed a bound and gagged Ashley as the surprise. An angered Trish quickly attacked Mickie, but as the Women's Champion stopped to help her abducted friend, Mickie attacked from behind, leaving Trish laying in the ring after a vicious Tornado DDT. (Watch video)
So at WrestleMania 22, Mickie will get her chance to take the one thing Trish values most, the Women's Championship. Can she topple the most decorated Womens Champion in history and walk out with the gold, or will Trish put Mickie in her place once and for all? Find out on April 2
In his WWE career, Edge has been involved in some of the most memorable WrestleMania matches, and has won them all. At WrestleMania 22, he hopes to continue that trend when he steps into Mick Foleys domain, taking on the Hardcore Legend in a Hardcore Match.
On the Feb. 16 edition of RAW, Foley was the referee for Edges WWE Championship Match against John Cena. After the Rated R Superstar was defeated, he blamed the Hardcore Legend for the loss, spearing him in the middle of the ring. The next week, after defeating Hacksaw Jim Duggan on RAW, Edge issued a WrestleMania challenge to Foley, saying he would go to Foleys home to get an answer if he didnt show up the next week. (Watch video)
On the Feb. 27 RAW, Foley declined Edges challenge of a traditional match, instead offering a Hardcore Match on April 2. Foley then rushed the ring with a barbed-wire baseball bat, sending Edge & Lita scurrying from the ring. (Watch video)
The following week, as Edge was prepared to spear Maria, Foley ran in to brawl with the Rated R Superstar. Edge was able to come out on top, spearing Foley and delivering a one-man Conchairto. As Foley lay beaten in the ring, Edge then announced that he accepted Foleys Hardcore challenge. (Watch video)
On the March 13 RAW, Edge mocked Mick Foley with a series of movie-style trailers. Edge also announced that his talk show, The Cutting Edge, would return at Saturday Nights Main Event with special guest Mick Foley.
Before Edge brought Foley out for the Cutting Edge, the Rated R Superstar belittled his WrestleMania opponent, basically saying that he has become a shell of his former self. But the Hardcore Legend responded in typical hardcore fashion. Edge tried to fend off Foley with a flaming table, but Foley stormed right through and tried to use a bag of thumb tacks. Edge was able to turn the tables, though, and bulldogged the Hardcore Legend face-first into the tacks. Foley, however, actually seemed to enjoy being in the tacks. The Hardcore Legend seemed rejuvenated and chased Edge up the ramp. Foley exacted a measure of revenge from the previous week when he bashed Edge's skull with a con-chair-to of his own.
The following Monday on RAW, Foley announced that the old Hardcore Legend was back. Lita came out to try to persuade him to give Edge clemency, but Foley instead instructed her to slap him. Edge then tried to attack Foley from behind, but Mick put Lita in the Mandible Claw to keep him at bay. (Watch video)
Last year at WrestleMania 21, Edge became Mr. Money in the Bank. Can he come out on top at WrestleMania once again, or will Foley prove that hes still the only Hardcore Legend in WWE? Watch WrestleMania on April 2 to find out.
In recent weeks, the friendship between Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson has disintegrated. At WrestleMania 22, the current Playboy Magazine cover girl and the former two-time Playboy model will settle their differences in a Playboy Pillow Fight.
Tensions began to mount between the two on the Feb. 16 edition of RAW. After Torries loss to Ashley, Candice attempted to cheer her up by announcing the upcoming release of her Playboy pictorial. (Watch video) Things were made worse two weeks later when Candice blamed Torrie for her loss to Womens Champion Trish Stratus, even slapping Torrie in the face during WWE.com Unlimited. (Watch video) As the launch of Candices issue of Playboy came near, Candice became more and more arrogant, repeatedly telling Torrie that she was the hottest WWE Diva to ever pose in Playboy.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Candice revealed her Playboy cover to the world. Then, in a shocking moment, after Torrie took offense to Candices statements, Candice had Victoria attack Torrie from behind. Victoria & Candice left Torrie beaten in the ring, breaking up their friendship for good. (Watch video)
It was announced the next week that Torrie would team with Trish Stratus to face Candice & Victoria at Saturday Nights Main Event, but Torrie was mysteriously knocked out backstage on RAW. An autographed copy of Candices Playboy was found at the scene, and the attack left Torrie unable to participate in the scheduled match.
That Monday on RAW, Torrie took on Victoria. As the match began, Candice made a grand entrance, coming out on a bed caried by four men. She then proceeded to throw pillows at Torrie as a distraction; it worked, as Victoria was able to hit the Widow's Peak on Torrie for the quick victory. After the match, Candice hit Torrie with a pillow for good measure.
Regardless, Torrie will get a chance for revenge on April 2. Can Torrie shut Candice up once and for all, or will the Candy-licious Diva prove to be too hot for WrestleMania?
In recent months, Kane & Big Show have had issues with Chris Masters & Carlito. At WrestleMania 22, the World Tag Team Champions will put their gold on the line against the two young lions.
This past February, Kane defeated Masters in a singles match on RAW. After the bout, however, Masters attacked the Big Red Monster from behind, cinching in the Master Lock. It was also Masters & Carlito who teamed up to eliminate Kane in the Elimination Chamber Match at New Years Revolution.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Mr. McMahon gave Masters & Carlito this opportunity as a reward for Masters helping him with Marty Jannetty the week before on RAW. That night, they responded by attacking Kane during his WrestleMania rewind match with Triple H; after Carlito spit his apple in the Big Red Monsters face, he & Masters ran him into the steel ring post. (WATCH video)
They tried to attack Big Show later in the night, but Kane ran out to stop them before they could reach his partner. (WATCH video)
This wont be the first time the two teams have met for the gold; on RAW the night after the Royal Rumble, Kane & Show beat Carlito & Masters to retain the World Tag Team Championship. (WATCH video)
The two teams were at odds on the March 13 edition of RAW as well. Big Show & Kane came out at the tail end of the John Cena and Triple H contract signing, and they were soon attacked by Carlito and Masters. (WATCH video)
Since everyone seemed so eager to fight, Mr. McMahon set up a six man tag team match for later on RAW - WWE Champion John Cena, Kane & Big Show vs. Triple H, Carlito & Chris Masters. Not too long after the match began, Carlito and Masters grabbed a couple of steel chairs and nailed Big Show & Kane. (WATCH video)
The following week, the two teams were matched up in singles competition, with the partners banned from ringside for both matches. In the first bout, Kane quickly defeated Carlito after a chokeslam, causing Carlito to blow up at Masters. (Watch video) The Masterpiece said he had a plan, and later in the night it came to fruition; Big Show defeated Masters by DQ, but it was a result of Masters nailing him twice with a steel chair. After the match, The Masterpiece ran Big Show into the steel ringpost as well. (Watch video)
Can Carlito & Masters overcome the much bigger team of Kane & Big Show at WrestleMania 22, or will Big Show & Kane continue their amazing stretch of dominance in the RAW tag team division? Watch WrestleMania 22 to find out.
Plus, Big Show will participate in the Master Lock Challenge Monday on RAW. Since starting the challenge nearly one year ago, Chris Masters has yet to have anybody break his finisher. Will the mighty Big Show be the first one to do it?
Find out all this and more Monday night at 9/8 CT on the USA Network
The final RAW before Wresltemania and this is how our card is looking so far on the RAW side:
Since prior to the Royal Rumble, Triple H has targeted WrestleMania 22 in Chicago as the time and place for the King of Kings to regain his throne. To get there, the 10-time world champion had to battle through the Road to WrestleMania Tournament, last dispatching of Rob Van Dam and Big Show in the Triple Threat finals. (WATCH video)
In doing so, The Game accomplished the first of his goals: securing a main event, WWE Championship Match at WrestleMania. Next, the Cerebral Assassin will have to devise a way to defeat resilient champion John Cena.
While Triple H settled scores with the likes of Ric Flair and Big Show, John Cena battled against all odds week after week for almost a year to hold onto his gold. That run was finally stopped by Edges well-timed money in the bank, but Cena bounced back with more intensity and desire than ever and immediately recaptured the WWE Championship.
Both Triple H and John Cena were put to the test on the March 6 edition of RAW. They both participated in WrestleMania Rewind Matches in which they faced former WrestleMania opponents. Triple H faced Kane, and thanks to some interference from Carlito and Chris Masters, The Game was able to pick up a victory. (WATCH video)
Cena had the daunting task of taking on his WrestleMania XX opponent, Big Show. Cena managed to overcome the big size differential and even hoisted the mammoth Big Show up for a thunderous FU. The maneuver even impressed Triple H who was watching from outside the ring. (WATCH video)
One week later they made their WrestleMania match official during a contract signing on RAW. The two got into a war of words, but before a physical confrontation could escalate Big Show & Kane came to the ring as well as Carlito and Masters. Cena had his back turned to Triple H amidst the chaos, and The Game picked up a sledgehammer that he had hidden underneath the table in the ring. Cena turned around before Triple H could take a swing, but the intensity was so thick you could cut it with a knife. (WATCH video)
Later that night, Cena and Triple H were on opposite sides in a six man tag team match. The Champ teamed up with World Tag Team Champions Kane & Big Show to take on Triple H, Carlito & Chris Masters. After some heated action, Carlito and Masters nailed Kane and Big Show with steel chairs, causing a disqualification. Then, from out of nowhere, Randy Orton stormed the ring and hit Cena with an RKO. Orton's former mentor, Triple H, looked upset at first, but then an evil smile crept across his face. (WATCH video)
Orton's attack was an effort to get an upperhand heading into Saturday Night's Main Event on March 18 on NBC.
After what happened on RAW, it was only fitting that the Handicap Tag Team Match came down to Orton and Cena. The Champ had things going his way, but Triple H broke up a pin attempt and Pedigreed his partner and WrestleMania opponent. He put Orton on top for the pin, but Rey Mysterio pulled him off, not wanting to win in such a fashion. Triple H Pedigreed Rey, but then Kurt Angle clotheselined The Game out of the ring. Orton came back and RKO'd Angle, but Cena was able to counter another RKO and picked up the win with a roll up.
That Monday on RAW, Cena & Triple H found themselves on opposite sides of a tag team match. However, Cena was quickly disqualified for using a closed fist, giving Triple H & Shane McMahon the victory over Cena & Shawn Michaels. The match was then made into a Handicap Match, but no decision was rendered after Cena returned to help HBK fend off Shane & The Game. An irate Mr. McMahon then announced that Cena would face the WWE Chairman himself on March 27. (Watch video)
What will happen at WrestleMania 22? Will the King of Kings come through on his bold declaration and be crowned an 11-time world champion, or will The Champ once again rise to the occasion on the biggest stage of them all?
Since the night after Christmas, Mr. McMahon has made it his mission to make Shawn Michaels life a living hell. At WrestleMania 22, HBK will get a chance to get some retribution when he meets the WWE Chairman one on one.
On the Dec. 26, 2005 edition of RAW, HBK told Mr. McMahon to get over the Montreal Incident; Shawns comments irked the WWE chairman, who told HBK that if he didnt watch his step, hed get screwed worse than Bret Hart ever did. (Watch video)
Over the next few weeks, Mr. McMahon did everything he could to throw HBK off his game, including banning Sweet Chin Music during one match. However, the biggest blow came at the Royal Rumble, when Shane McMahon made a surprise appearance and eliminated HBK from the Royal Rumble Match. Shane struck again the next night on RAW, attacking HBK with a chair as he jawed with his father. (Watch video)
In subsequent weeks, Mr. McMahon continued to toy with Shawn, taking him out of the Road to WrestleMania Tournament and announcing a mandatory Shawn Michaels Retirement Party, where HBK would be forced to walk away from WWE forever. Instead of signing his retirement papers, though, HBK ripped them up and threw them in McMahons face. (Watch video)
The next week, Mr. McMahon made Michaels take on four members of the Spirit Squad in a Handicap Match. After the Spirit Squad got disqualified, HBKs former partner Marty Jannetty made a surprising return to help Shawn fend off a 5-on-1 attack. Mr. McMahon announced later that night that he would offer Jannetty a full-time WWE contract, but Marty would have to kiss his ass to get it. (Watch video)
On the Feb. 27 edition of RAW, the WWE Chairman offered Marty the contract. When Marty wouldnt kiss his ass, he called out Chris Masters, telling Jannetty that he would get the contract if he could escape the Master Lock. As the Masterpiece had the hold locked on, Mr. McMahon made him bring Marty down to kiss his ass. HBK interrupted, hitting Masters with Sweet Chin Music and stalking the WWE Chairman, whose pants were still around his ankles. Before he got to him, however, Shane McMahon attacked HBK from behind and laid him out with a chairshot. (Watch video)
As Mr. McMahon berated an unconscious HBK, he announced that Michaels would take on Shane in a Street Fight at Saturday Nights Main Event. After Shane made the defenseless HBK kiss his fathers ass, Mr. McMahon then said he would kick Shawns ass at WrestleMania as well.
The following week, HBK tried to attack the McMahons during a speech. Instead, Mr. McMahon announced that HBK would meet Shane that night on RAW. (Watch video) Prior to the match, Stephanie McMahon set up HBK, slipping something in his drink that caused him to become ill. This made him easy prey for Shane, who easily pinned Michaels. To add insult to injury, Mr. McMahon then made and won a match against HBK immediately afterward. (Watch video)
On the March 13 edition of RAW, Mr. McMahon made Michaels take a public urination test as a result of the previous week. Things went bad, and HBK ended up throwing his cup of urine onto the McMahons. (Watch video) Mr. McMahon put HBK in a Steel Cage Match against the Spirit Squad as punishment, and Shane interfered to make sure the Spirit Squad got the victory. After the match, Shane grabbed a garbage can and drove it into the already bloodied HBK's head, courtesy of a coast-to-coast Van Terminator. (Watch video)
Before Shawn could even get to WrestleMania, he had to face Shane at Saturday Night's Main Event in a Street Fight. In a breath-taking, death-defying maneuver, HBK suplexed Shane off a ladder in the ring to the outside through a pair of tables. The Showstopper looked poised to pick up a victory after some Sweet Chin Music, but Mr. McMahon intervened and saved his son. Following a low blow, Shane lokced in a Sharpshooter, and Mr. McMahon immediately called for the bell in a moment all-too-similar to the Montreal incident in 1997. It was then that Mr. McMahon screwed Bret "Hit Man" Hart and it was now that he screwed HBK.
Two nights later on RAW, Mr. McMahon made the WrestleMania match a No Holda Barred Match, and announced that the main event of RAW would be HBK & John Cena against Triple H & Shane. Cena was quickly disqualified for using a closed fist, and Mr. McMahon threw him out of the match, announcing a new match instead: HBK vs. Shane & The Game in a Handicap Match. HBK fought valiantly, but just as it looked like he would succumb to the Pedigree, Cena returned to help HBK and the match was declared a no-contest. (Watch video)
Will Michaels have enough gas left in the tank to finally get the best of the McMahons, or will the WWE Chairman triumph on April 2
