Raw Report
Date: 12/24/07 from Iraq.
The Big News: WWE presented the company’s annual Tribute to the Troops. No show that WWE produces reflects more positively on the company.
Show Analysis:
Chris Jericho beat Randy Orton via DQ to start the show. Jericho got a big reaction. He worked over Orton’s arm, and hit a plancha to the outside. He rammed Orton into the steps, but was caught with a kick coming back into the ring. Orton dominated with an implant DDT and Garvin stomp. Jericho retaliated with shoulder blocks, clotheslines, and a drop kick off the second rope. He went for the Walls of Jericho, but Orton rolled him up for two.
Jericho followed up with an enzuigiri, bulldog and lionsault. Orton regained control by going to the eye, and hit a back breaker. He went for the RKO, but Jericho escaped and applied the Walls. At that point, JBL came out for one of the few angles in the history of the tribute to the troops shows. JBL ran down Jericho, Jericho attacked JBL, and that gave Orton the opportunity to hit the RKO. JBL laid out Jericho with the clothesline from hell.
Jeff Hardy beat Carlito. This was pretty much a squash, so they were either planning the big push for Hardy when the show was taped or they still thought Carlito was leaving. Jeff hit a clothesline off the apron, and kick into the corner. Jeff went for the twist of fate, but Carlito reversed into a neck breaker. He brought an apple into the ring, but Jeff gave him a jaw breaker, twist of fate and swanton for the pin.
Kelly Kelly and Layla fought to a no contest with Mickie and Maria. Prior to the match, Vince McMahon gave a speech about supporting the troops. However, he came in the ring and stopped the match after a double bronco buster spot. That brought out Santa, with his arm in a sling. He said Vince is naughty and he tried to sabotage Santa’s sleigh. He also said that Vince stole a naughty magazine from a convenience store when he was a kid.
Vince said that this wasn’t the real Santa, so Santa read a letter from Vince as a child. Santa said it was written almost a hundred years ago, and the troops chanted “old as dirt” at Vince. This was amusing enough that I expect to hear it again from domestic crowds. Vince took off Santa’s beard to reveal John Cena, who gave him the FU. Cena and the divas gave gifts to the troops.
Rey Mysterio beat Mark Henry. Henry overpowered Rey early, including a press slam, bear hug, and clothesline. He missed a splash, which gave Rey the chance to make a comeback. Rey hit the 619, two springboard sentons, and rolled up Henry for the pin.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels beat Umaga and Mr. Kennedy. Shawn and Hunter came out as DX. It doesn’t matter at all, but it is kind of funny that since the “one time only” DX reunion it feels like they have teamed up every week. Michaels went for sweet chin music early on Kennedy, but Umaga cut him off with a clothesline.
The heels worked over Shawn, until Umaga missed a head butt off the second rope. HHH got the hot tag, and hit a high knee and spine buster on Kennedy. Umaga stopped a pedigree attempt and went for the Samoan spike, but received sweet chin music. Michaels then gave Kennedy sweet chin music as well, HHH hit the pedigree, and DX scored the win. After the match, they celebrated with the troops in the ring.
Final Thoughts:
This was the WWE’s traditional holiday show, built mostly around segments about the troops. The early problems with the show (WWE self-aggrandizement, misplaced hostility directed towards the media) are now pretty much gone, leaving a classy and worthy annual tradition. Props to WWE.
I know it’s a cliche, but the holidays really are a great opportunity to let the people close to you know how much they mean to you. Take advantage of it. You may not have the chance for as long as you’d like, and they will appreciate it for sure either way. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Check out CBSSports.com this weekend for my Octagonside coverage of UFC 79.
The Big News: WWE presented the company’s annual Tribute to the Troops. No show that WWE produces reflects more positively on the company.
Show Analysis:
Chris Jericho beat Randy Orton via DQ to start the show. Jericho got a big reaction. He worked over Orton’s arm, and hit a plancha to the outside. He rammed Orton into the steps, but was caught with a kick coming back into the ring. Orton dominated with an implant DDT and Garvin stomp. Jericho retaliated with shoulder blocks, clotheslines, and a drop kick off the second rope. He went for the Walls of Jericho, but Orton rolled him up for two.
Jericho followed up with an enzuigiri, bulldog and lionsault. Orton regained control by going to the eye, and hit a back breaker. He went for the RKO, but Jericho escaped and applied the Walls. At that point, JBL came out for one of the few angles in the history of the tribute to the troops shows. JBL ran down Jericho, Jericho attacked JBL, and that gave Orton the opportunity to hit the RKO. JBL laid out Jericho with the clothesline from hell.
Jeff Hardy beat Carlito. This was pretty much a squash, so they were either planning the big push for Hardy when the show was taped or they still thought Carlito was leaving. Jeff hit a clothesline off the apron, and kick into the corner. Jeff went for the twist of fate, but Carlito reversed into a neck breaker. He brought an apple into the ring, but Jeff gave him a jaw breaker, twist of fate and swanton for the pin.
Kelly Kelly and Layla fought to a no contest with Mickie and Maria. Prior to the match, Vince McMahon gave a speech about supporting the troops. However, he came in the ring and stopped the match after a double bronco buster spot. That brought out Santa, with his arm in a sling. He said Vince is naughty and he tried to sabotage Santa’s sleigh. He also said that Vince stole a naughty magazine from a convenience store when he was a kid.
Vince said that this wasn’t the real Santa, so Santa read a letter from Vince as a child. Santa said it was written almost a hundred years ago, and the troops chanted “old as dirt” at Vince. This was amusing enough that I expect to hear it again from domestic crowds. Vince took off Santa’s beard to reveal John Cena, who gave him the FU. Cena and the divas gave gifts to the troops.
Rey Mysterio beat Mark Henry. Henry overpowered Rey early, including a press slam, bear hug, and clothesline. He missed a splash, which gave Rey the chance to make a comeback. Rey hit the 619, two springboard sentons, and rolled up Henry for the pin.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels beat Umaga and Mr. Kennedy. Shawn and Hunter came out as DX. It doesn’t matter at all, but it is kind of funny that since the “one time only” DX reunion it feels like they have teamed up every week. Michaels went for sweet chin music early on Kennedy, but Umaga cut him off with a clothesline.
The heels worked over Shawn, until Umaga missed a head butt off the second rope. HHH got the hot tag, and hit a high knee and spine buster on Kennedy. Umaga stopped a pedigree attempt and went for the Samoan spike, but received sweet chin music. Michaels then gave Kennedy sweet chin music as well, HHH hit the pedigree, and DX scored the win. After the match, they celebrated with the troops in the ring.
Final Thoughts:
This was the WWE’s traditional holiday show, built mostly around segments about the troops. The early problems with the show (WWE self-aggrandizement, misplaced hostility directed towards the media) are now pretty much gone, leaving a classy and worthy annual tradition. Props to WWE.
I know it’s a cliche, but the holidays really are a great opportunity to let the people close to you know how much they mean to you. Take advantage of it. You may not have the chance for as long as you’d like, and they will appreciate it for sure either way. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Check out CBSSports.com this weekend for my Octagonside coverage of UFC 79.
posted by Todd Martin at 6:09 PM
2 Comments:
No matter what one might think of the administration and their current war/foreign policies, it's heartwarming to view the soldiers during the Tribute to the Troops show. Those cats obviously deserve the fun and attention given to them by the WWE.
On a lighter note, it's also fun to see the WWE performers step out of character and react to the military in the same appreciative manner we all should.
Todd, good luck octagonside. How often does UFC do PPVs in Vegas? My brother-in-law will be there for Friday's Van Halen show. I'm flying to SoCal in the morning for some golf and Disneyland fun with the family. Maybe we can figure out a way to finally meet in person.
Either way, Happy New Year to one and all.
- Matt in Anchorage
Annoyed.
In Australia we got a best of Raw 2007 special with Grisham!
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