Royal Rumble continued...
As Gregory Helms celebrates his victory and Juventud is helped from the ring, a video is played hyping the recent fallout between former tag team champions Kane and The Big Show. In typical WWE style it has slow motion replays and dramatic music. The Big Show is first out to the ring, getting the face pop before Kane's explosive entrance draws boos from the crowd.
MATCH THREE -
The Big Show vs. Kane
This one starts out with a straight up brawl, as we've come to expect from these two behemoths. The current tally stands at one apiece on in ring confrontations (albeit with their latter match being entirely out of the ring) and it's hard to separate them early on as they combat with chops, kicks, and clotheslines.
The battle doesn't take long to spill to the outside, where Kane soon gains control having whipped Big Show into (and over) the stairs. He attempts a chokeslam as they battle up the ramp, but Big Show blocks it and delivers one of his own! The referee is counting them out as we speak, but still they struggle up the ramp towards the stage at its head. They're at the lip now, still exchanging blows, and the referee is calling for the bell. This one is being ruled as a draw.
WINNER: Draw via countout after 3:05
The Big Show and Kane aren't done, however, and they're teetering closer and closer to the edge of the stage. Big Show roars at the crowd and prepares to hit a chokeslam, but Kane ducks the attempt and retaliates with a chop that has Big Show dangerously close to falling. He locks a hand around Big Show's throat and here it comes.... CHOKESLAM! Kane and Big Show plummet off the stage and into a pile of tables below, where both lie twitching in a heap. The match is over, but it doesn't look like the two big mens' blood feud is!
We're now backstage with Carlito and Maria. Maria asks Carlito how he feels going into his title defence against Chavo Guerrero, but Carlito seems more interested in hyping his chances of winning the Royal Rumble. He says that only one thing would be cooler than winning the Royal Rumble, and that would be headlining Wrestlemania and putting the strap around his waist.
We cut from Carlito to the ring as Chavo Guerrero comes out to 'Eddie' chants for his shot at Carlito's Intercontinental Title. A video shows how Chavo earned this right, having won a Battle Royal at New Year's Revolution against the likes of Goldust and Chris Masters. Carlito is out next, the 'cool' champion not receiving a warm reception from the fans.
MATCH FOUR -
Carlito (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero for the Intercontinental Title
This one starts out with huge Eddie chants, but it's Carlito who goes on the offensive early - thumbing Chavo's eye and dropping him to the mat with a hard elbow to the back. He continues to keep on the pressure, driving Chavo into the corner where he chokes him until the referee breaks it up. In true Guerrero style, Chavo responds with a thumb to the eye of his own, and then sends Carlito tumbling to the outside with a brilliant standing dropkick. He points to the sky in tribute to his departed uncle before launching himself over the top rope to crush Carlito. The fans go crazy as Chavo is the first to his feet and rolls the champion back into the ring.
It's all Chavo here, as he whips Carlito and drops him to the ground with a dropkick followed by an attempted submission in the form of his Deathlock STF. This is certainly a side of Chavo we've not seen before! Carlito is writhing in agony but Chavo relinquishes the hold of his own volition and channels Eddie Guerrero by signalling for the Three Amigos. He's able to get two off before Carlito finds the strength and presence of mind to block it and hit a vertical suplex of his own. Carlito, clearly frustrated, lays into Chavo Guerrero with vicious kicks before dropping to his knees and choking him.
The referee drags Carlito off of the challenger, who staggers to his feet dazed and hurt. Carlito shoves the referee aside to continue his assault, but Chavo was playing possum! He hits Carlito with a dropkick and then, once he's standing, whips him and catches him with a flying headscissors on the rebound! Chavo is gaining momentum here! Carlito is dazed as he staggers right into Chavo, who once again hits the Three Amigos, this time getting off all three! He's going to the top...could it be.... FROG SPLASH!
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KICKOUT! Carlito gets a shoulder up at the last possible second! Chavo can't believe it! He turns to the referee to dispute the count, and that's the opportunity the champion needs! He low blows Carlito and somehow the referee misses it! As Chavo stumbles back in surprise, Carlito rolls him up and puts his feet on the ropes for good measure. 1-2-KICKOUT! Carlito drags Chavo to his feet and hits him with the Cool-Cutter. Surely that's it?
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NO! Once again Chavo gets a shoulder up, and the crowd are loving it. Carlito, on the other hand, isn't so happy. Frustrated he goes to the outside and returns with the Intercontinental Title. He and the referee get into a wrestling match of their own over the strap, with referee Jack Doan able to wrest it from Carlito's control. The distraction has been sufficient for Chavo to regain his wits, and as Carlito turns around he's treated to the Gory Bomb! Cover, 1-2-no! Carlito's struck Chavo in the head with something...an apple! The referee didn't see it! Carlito picks Chavo up and hits the Carlito-Cutter again! Cover. 1-2-kickout again! Chavo refuses to surrender!
Carlito is well and truly frustrated now. He goes to the referee, shoves him out of the way, and again reaches for the belt. Chavo staggers over to drag Carlito back into the ring but cops a faceful of championship gold! The referee's seen it and calls for the DQ. Carlito retains through disqualification!
WINNER: Chavo Guerrero by DQ after 10:09
As Carlito celebrates his 'victory', however, some familiar music hits. It's Rob Van Dam! RVD is back! Carlito is watching the ramp, terrified, when RVD leaps the security barrier behind him and comes off the top turnbuckle with a missile dropkick that sends Carlito to the outside. RVD stands in the centre of the ring, points at Carlito, and mouths the letters 'R-V-D'.
We're given a preview for this year's Wrestlemania, which is themed around 'old enemies' and the like. It highlights past legendary feuds such as Stone Cold and Steve Austin, The Rock and Steve Austin, Undertaker & Kane, and a few others.
We've got the four team elimination tag title match up next, and it's the popular Mexicools' pairing of Super Crazy and Psicosis on the way out to the ring on their Juan Deere lawn mowers. Next out is LOD 2005 (made up of Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal), and the final challenging side is Paul London & Brian 'Spanky' Kendrick, who scored an upset win over LOD 2005 on last week's Smackdown. Finally we're presented with the unpopular championship team, MNM, who are accompanied to the ring by Melina.
MATCH FIVE -
MNM (c) vs. London & Kendrick vs. LOD 2005 vs. The Mexicools for the WWE Tag Titles
The rules here are pretty simple, anyone can tag in anybody else (except for the partner of the man already in the ring) and if one member is pinned, the team is eliminated. The winner is the last team standing.
The first two in the ring are Super Crazy and Jonny Nitro. The Mexicools have a long history of antagonism with MNM, including a title match at December's Armageddon PPV. They tie up and straight away Nitro is using every trick in the heel book to get in control, dragging Crazy's face along the ropes before tagging in Mercury. The more experienced member of the team controls things for some time, using a more power based style to keep Super Crazy away from any of the other workers. He locks him in a sleeper hold, something out of his usual arsenal, but Super Crazy is able to turn it into a jawbreaker and make a rushed tag to the outstretched Heidenreich. The big man cleans house on both members of MNM, who attempt to get in the ring and double team him only to get a double DDT.
Mercury, still the legal man, is able to thumb Heidenreich's eye and make a hurried tag to Brian Kendrick - who immediately comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick for two. Heidenreich attempts to brawl with the smaller wrestler but Kendrick continually evades his swings and retaliates with kicks to the legs and waist. He soon tags in Paul London, who hits a top rope hurricanrana pin. Animal breaks it up and sends London to the outside with a vertical suplex. His 'victory' is short-lived, however, with both of The Mexicools dropping him with dropkicks. London, still the legal man, scampers to the top turnbuckle and treats Animal to the London Calling. He covers, but the referee reminds him that Heidenreich is the legal man. As if to punctuate his point, Heidenreich returns to action with a chokeslam on London. He covers, but Kendrick comes across with a standing senton to break the pin.
London tags out to Psicosis, who goes up top for a flying crossbody but gets caught! Heidenreich looks set to do a fallaway slam when Super Crazy dropkicks his own partner, sending both men to the mat! 1-2-3! Psicosis got the pin on Heidenreich, eliminating LOD 2005!
Jonny Nitro is immediately in the ring, capitalising on Psicosis' weakened state by hitting him with a swinging neckbreaker. He whips the smaller Mexican hard into the corner and hits him with a dropkick as he comes out. He then nails a standing shooting star press, a move he's not been able to pull out since his OVW days! Cover. 1....2....kickout! Psicosis somehow manages to find the strength to kick out despite the beating he's taken. Mercury is again tagged in and completely dominates the Mexicools' member, who is eventually able to block an attempted Russian Legsweep and stagger to his corner for the hot tag to Super Crazy. Crazy cleans house with dropkick after dropkick, laying out all four opponents before hitting Mercury with the Trifecta Moonsault. 1-2-NO! Crazy is dragged from the ring by Melina, and with the chaos in the ring, the referee didn't see it! Melina berates Super Crazy and his kisses her! He plants one right on her lips! The crowd go nuts as both Mercury and Nitro slide to the outside, grab Super Crazy, and lay him out with the Snapshot.
The referee's regained control and begins to count out Super Crazy, but Psicosis helps him into the ring where he tags himself in. He then walks right across to Paul London and tags in the former Cruiserweight Champion. London lays into Mercury with a series of brutal kicks before hitting a Dragon Suplex for a near fall. He tags out to Brian Kendrick, who immediately goes on the offence with his own series of chops and kicks. He gets cocky, however, and signals for the Sliced Bread #2 - which gets him tossed unceremiously out of the ring by Mercury, who is finally able to tag in Jonny Nitro. Nitro and Mercury go to work on Kendrick outside of the ring whilst Melina keeps London away. They roll Kendrick back into the ring, hit the Snapshot, and cover. 1-2-3. It's over for London & Kendrick. Paul London isn't happy though! He comes into the ring and hits Nitro with the Waffle Face (
Sky lift double chickenwing into a sit-out faceplant)! Mercury clotheslines London out of the ring, but Psicosis is on hand as he catches a recovering Nitro with the Psyco Stunner for a two count. Only Mercury's timely return is able to break up the pinfall attempt.
Nitro and Mercury double team Psicosis some more at this point, with the referee pre-occupied with keeping Super Crazy out of the ring. They double back suplex the challenger before Melina slides one of the tag title belts into the ring. Nitro picks it up and swings at Psicosis, who ducks and hits a dropkick! The belt drops to the mat, Psicosis picks it up, and drills Mercury with it! Mercury goes over the top rope and to the outside and Psicosis is quick to discard the belt. He goes up top for his guillotine leg-drop, but Melina is again on hand - shoving him and sending him to the canvas. A groggy Nitro drapes an arm across Psicosis' chest. Super Crazy attempts to get in, but Mercury has the presence of mind to grab his leg and hold him out.
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It's over! MNM retain their tag gold thanks to an assist from Melina!
As they celebrate in the ring Raw tag team champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch appear on the ramp, applauding sarcastically and pointing to the straps! Could we see a unification match in the near future?
WINNERS: MNM by pinfall on Psicosis after 13:36
