New Year's Revolution 2006
The roof near comes off Reliant Stadium as New Year's Revolution kicks off what promises to be a boom 2006 for the WWE. The fans cheer as Trish Stratus makes her way out to the ring, the popular Women's Champion getting an ovation as she is accompanied to the ring by Mickie James. Next out is the challenger, Victoria, who is accompanied by Candice Michelle.
MATCH ONE - Trish Stratus (c) vs. Victoria for the Women's Title
This one is basically what fans have come to expect from the WWE's faltering women's division, with the company's two most experienced in ring workers turning on an enjoyable but ultimately forgettable match. The sole highlight comes when Candice Michelle breaks her wand across Trish's back, allowing Victoria to roll the champion up for a near fall. This brings Mickie James into the ring, and she begins to brawl with Candice as the referee struggles to get control of things. James is cleaning house but her trademark kick to the midsection misses the mark and accidentally catches a recovering Trish. Victoria clotheslines James from the ring and nails Trish with the Widow's Peak. 1-2-3! Victoria steals victory thanks to an inadvertent assist from Mickie James! Mickie attempts to apologise but Trish wants none of it. She storms off as Victoria and Candice Michelle celebrate their ill gained victory.
Next up is the Battle Royal to decide who will face the winner of tonight's clash between Shelton Benjamin and Carlito in an Intercontinental Title match at Royal Rumble. The competitors are Goldust, Chavo Guerrero, Matt Striker, Jimmy Jacobs, Joey Ryan, Eugene, Tajiri, Viscera, Devon Storm and Chris Masters.
MATCH TWO - Intercontinental Contenders Battle Royal
The start is essentially a cluster-f**k and the fans aren't really into it as Matt Striker is given the Curtain Call by Goldust and then dropkicked to the outside by Chavo. Chavo almost gets tossed out by Masters but is able to skin the cat to get back into the ring. Meanwhile Goldust continues to do his weird fans proud, ducking a Berserker Boot from Jacobs and then clotheslining him to the outside. Tajiri is cleaning house with some solid kicks and, with some help from Viscera, is able to send Joey Ryan to the outside without much ceremony.
Eugene, who hasn't been seen on Raw in ages, gets a mild pop when he is able to hit Devon Storm with the Rock Bottom, getting help from Goldust and Chavo in eliminating CM Punk's erstwhile ally. That leaves Tajiri, Eugene, Goldust, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Masters, and Viscera fighting for a shot at the intercontinental title. Eugene is next eliminated when he is trapped in the Masterlock before being press slammed to the outside by Masters - who adds Tajiri to his list of scalps when the Japanese star attempts to lock in the Tarantula but only succeeds in being lifted and dropped to the outside. Viscera is next out when he finds himself triple teamed by the remaining survivors - and Goldust follows suit when Chavo Guerrero double crosses him and sends him to the outside with a suplex. It's down to the Masterpiece and Chavo Guerrero, and the two battle it out before Chavo is able to lay out Masters with a superplex. He whips Masters, ducks a clothesline, and dropkicks Masters - who tumbles back into the ropes. Chavo charges, Masters backdrops him over to the apron, and Chavo attempts a suplex.... HE GETS IT! Chavo suplexes Masters to the floor and is the #1 contender to the Intercontinental Title!
Next up is the World Tag Title match, but first we see a vignette highlighting the growing tension between Kane and Big show of late.
MATCH THREE - Kane & Big Show vs. TNT (c) for the World Tag Titles
These two teams have worked better matches, and this one comes as something of a let down following their earlier bouts. It's a fairly brutal affair, with the bigger pairing in control until they begin to argue. This allows Cade to low blow Big Show whilst the referee is busy with Kane - allowing Murdoch to cover for the pinfall and the win.
After the match Kane begins to berate Big Show, who is clearly embarassed at having lost his side the match. He attempts to apologise but Kane responds with a chokeslam! Kane has laid out his tag team partner and his pyros hit to emphasize the point!
Next up Rob Conway struts out for an unannounced Legend's Challenge. He begins to talk about all of the sterling work he's done lately - brushing over his recent loss to Ric Flair and saying he's got a special guest tonight - the man who invented talk shows. This brings out 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, who seems willing to conduct a proper interview until Conway's ego begins to irritate him. He swings at Conway, the bell rings, and we've got ourselves a match!
MATCH FOUR - Rob Conway vs. Roddy Piper
Believe it or not, but this is the best match of the night thus far. Whilst Piper's best days are behind him, Conway hides his weaknesses well in a fairly basic but still enjoyable brawl that goes hardcore quite quickly. Things spill to the outside where Conway is soon split open by a brutal Piper chairshot, but he returns the favour by putting Piper back first through the Spanish announce table.
The clash eventually gets back into the ring, where Piper is able to lock in the Sleeper Hold much to the delight of the crowd. Conway prevents his Legend's Challenge record from being further tarnished by driving Piper spine first into the turnbuckle and then nailing him with an Ego Trip. 1-2-3! Conway wins an epic bout with a true legend! He shows no respect to Piper, however, spitting on the fallen worker before leaving to heavy heat.
Next up is the grudge match between CM Punk and Val Venis, but first a video is played to hype the rise of CM Punk since debuting.
MATCH FIVE - CM Punk vs. Val Venis
There's plenty of heat in the initial exchange of blows here, with Val Venis getting the upper hand and backing Punk into a corner. He is forced to lay off for a moment by the referee, and Punk draws the ire of the crowd by punting the Big Valbowski in the crotch. This allows him to get in control for quite some time, wearing down Venis with submission holds. He eventually locks in a sleeper hold but Val is able to battle out of it, dropping Punk to the mat with a jawbreaker before signalling for the Money Shot. He's up top too long, however, and Punk is able to scramble up the turnbuckle... PEPSI PLUNGE! 1-2-3! It's over. Punk snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, and couldn't have looked much more in control doing it!
The fans get on their feet as Shelton Benjamin makes his way out for his Intercontinental Title defence against Carlito, who won a four way match on last week's edition of Raw for the right to face Shelton. The commentary team make sure to mention that it was Carlito who ended Shelton's lengthy Intercontinental Title run in 2005 - debuting on Raw during the draft and snatching the title from the confident champion.
MATCH SIX - Shelton Benjamin (c) vs. Carlito for the IC Title
Fans may remember that these two worked some fairly enjoyable matches in the middle of 2005, and this clash is nothing different. It's not a world beater of a match, nor is it bad - it's just a solid middle of the card bout to lead into the bigger matches. Both workers exchange offence, with Shelton the more dominant, but the shock result comes when Shelton stalls too long on the top in setting up his flying clothesline - as he flies he cops a faceful of apple! Carlito hits his Final Cut for the shock 1-2-3! Shelton can't believe it, but Carlito is already celebrating his way up the ramp. Just weeks after reclaiming his Intercontinental Title Shelton Benjamin has dropped it!
Next up is the much anticipated feud deciding battle between Ric Flair and Triple H, which is set to be decided in a brutal Street Fight. The match is preceded by a lengthy video hyping the pair's rivallry, stretching right back to the brutal assault on Raw Homecoming.
MATCH SEVEN - Triple H vs. Ric Flair in a Street Fight
There's no love lost between these two, and this one starts off with an old fashioned chop fest which Flair predcitably wins. He whips Triple H and drops him to the mat with another sharp chop before strutting and dropping a pair of knees into his former ally's chest. It doesn't take long for the brutal side of the match to shine, Flair removing the padding from a turnbuckle and bouncing Triple H's head off it a few times. Hunter eventually blocks, though, and treats Flair to more of the same before bringing a knee up into his head and going to the outside for what looks to be a barb wire wrapped chair.
The fans flinch in pain as he cracks it across Flair's back twice before brutally scraping it across his face. The blood is well and truly flowing as Triple H signals for a Pedigree, but Flair avoids a potentially fatal plunge into the barbed wire by back dropping Triple H. He's wearing a mask of blood but shows no signs of giving up. He gets the crowd going with a 'woo' or two before going under the ring for none other than Triple H's own trademark sledgehammer. The fans go crazy as he smashes it across Triple H's back, sending the Game to the outside. As he Flair reaches out for his opponent, Triple H retaliates by spraying what looks to be mace into the Nature Boy's eyes! Ric Flair staggers back into the ring where Triple H manages to wrest the hammer from his grip and crack him across the skull with it. He then Pedigrees Flair onto the barbed wire wrapped chair. Cover.... KICKOUT! Flair manages to kick out of the Pedigree, much to Triple H's shock. He attempts a second but Flair shows his customary tenacity by burying a fist in Triple H's groin. He then brings a knee up into Hunter's face and locks on the Figure Four! Triple H is in a world of hurt, but manages to use his sledgehammer to bash Flair's legs. Flair can barely stand as he is treated to his second Pedigree! 1-2-3! Triple H wraps it up in an epic match!
The final match of the evening is set to be the four way elimination match between John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Kurt Angle. The champion comes out to a fairly positive response, although the real cheers seem to be reserved for Shawn Michaels. Edge, Lita, and Angle are all out to heavy heat.
MATCH EIGHT - Kurt Angle vs. John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWE World Title
The fans alternate between chanting for Cena, Michaels, and (surprisingly) Angle in the early going of this one. All three of the challengers go after Cena early on, the champion going to the outside after copping a trio of German suplexes from Angle and narrowly avoiding Sweet Chin Music from HBK. Edge is on hand to 'Edgu-cute' the Heartbreak Kid for a near fall, but HBK isn't beaten so easily. Angle goes to the outside to pursue Cena whilst Edge and Michaels battle in the ring - laying one another out with a double clothesline.
On the outside Cena and Angle brawl in standard fashion, Angle getting the upper hand when he whips Cena into the ringpost and attempts the Angle Slam - which Cena is able to roll free of. He kicks Angle in the gut and signals for the F-U with 'You Can't See Me', but Angle grabs onto the bottom rope and is able to escape. Edge, back to his feet, treats Angle to a baseball slide for his troubles, before being dragged out of the ring by Cena. Cena throws a punch but Edge blocks it and drops Cena face first into the mat with a DDT. As he turns around HBK sails over the top rope with a flying crossbody, and now all four men are down!
The fans are chanting for their favourites as Michaels and Angle stagger to their feet. Angle punches Michaels in the midsection and rolls him back into the ring before attempting to lock in the Angle Lock. Michaels rolls through the hold and Angle goes shoulder first into the ring post just as Edge gets into the ring and absolutely nails Michaels with the Spear! Cover... 1....2.....no! Michaels is again able to kick out. Cena is still on the outside but is staggering to his feet as Edge pounds the mat in frustration. Lita rushes at Cena with Edge's Money in the Bank contract, but Cena is able to wrestle it from her. As Edge reaches out of the ring to grab Cena, the champion pounds him across the face with it! Edge stumbles backwards into a Shawn Michaels' rollup! 1-2-3! Edge has been eliminated! Michaels' celebrations are short lived, however, as Angle is on hand to fold him up with a brutal bridging German suplex! Cena is in to make the save, although God knows why.
HBK now rolls to the outside, leaving Cena to face off against his longtime enemy. The two brawl some more, Cena whipped and responding with his trademark shoulder block. He then hits his Killswitch and we know what's coming next. FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Cena hits it and covers, but Angle is able to get a shoulder up at the last second - getting a louder cheer than he probably should. Cena staggers around in disbelief only to cop Sweet Chin Music from the returning Michaels, who is unable to make the cover as Angle rolls him up with a handful of tights. 1-2-kickout! With Cena out of comission, the veteran pair begin to wow the crowd with the kind of match they're known for, with both men exchanging offence before Michaels is able to roll out of a Angle Slam and drill Angle in the teeth with Sweet Chin Music! Before he can cover, however, Cena is able to lay him out with the F-U! He covers both men. 1-2-3! Michaels kicks out, but Angle is unable to meet the count! It's down to John Cena and Shawn Michaels here!
Cena drags Michaels to his feet and whips him, but is caught in a reverse atomic drop from the veteran Michaels. He then goes to the top rope for the flying elbow drop, but Cena recovers in time to go to the top and catch him. TOP ROPE F-U! Michaels is in Disneyland!
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John Cena retains! The champion celebrates, but the crowd seem less than impressed by the result despite the extreme competitiveness of the match. As Cena stands tall the cameras fade.
Scoring
Victoria: Win (+5) and Title Win (+5) = 10
Mickie James: Interference (+1) = 1
Candice Michelle: Interference (+1) = 1
Chavo Guerrero: Win (+5) = 5
Lance Cade: Win (+5) and Title Defence (+3) = 8
Trevor Murdoch: Win (+5) and Title Defence (+3) = 8
Rob Conway: Win (+5) = 5
CM Punk: Win (+5) = 5
Carlito: Win (+5) and Title Win (+5) = 10
Triple H: Win (+5) = 5
John Cena: Win (+5) and Title Defence (+3) = 8
Tipping Results
Big Pete: 8
raider_69: 6
Knight82: 6
thuganomics: 12
Leaderboard
thuganomics - 80.5
Big Pete - 80
raider_69 - 78
Knight82 - 69
GreenGuy - 66
PARANoIR - 46
lockyno1 - 38
Manuwera Marlins - 36.5
Gene Krupa - 27
brooksy19 - 21
MILLWALL 15
You should continue competing with Raider, its more or a even challenge. ;-)
