Monday Night Raw Redux

Last night was an extremely fast-moving Monday Night Raw from Anaheim, California. The crowd was OK, but not nearly as vocal as the one in Las Vegas for No Way Out. Here’s what came out of last night and some thoughts:

John Cena defeated Randy Orton in a non-title match to make the main event at Wrestlemania a "triple threat" match. Triple H, the special ref, nailed both with a pedigree at the end of the bout. So it will be Triple H-Randy Orton-John Cena vying for Orton’s W.W.E. Championship in Orlando on March 30.

Big Show apologized to Floyd Mayweather for his actions at No Way Out but then challenged “Pretty Boy” to a match. The W.B.C. Welterweight Champ accepted. Reportedly, Oscar De La Hoya has turned down a role in the contest and Rey Mysterio is set to undergo surgery on his torn bicep muscle Friday, which will sideline him for up to six months. No doubt there will be some kind of match involving Show-Mayweather at Wrestlemania with the buildup to it being something to see. Will it be a boxing match? Wrestling? Tag team? You’re guess is as good as mine…

Fresh off her Marilyn Monroe pose, Lindsay Lohan was backstage yucking it up.

Big Show did indeed get his nose broken by Mayweather Sunday night. Shawn Michaels also broke his nose in a collision with Chris Jericho at No Way Out.

Jericho was notably absent from last night’s broadcast, especially when Hornswoggle was getting unmercifully pounded by JBL while Finlay was handcuffed to a ring rope. Mr. McMahon had already whipped “Horny” prior to the JBL beating. Several people thought that this segment inside a steel cage was overdone. I was a bit surprised at the level of cruelty, even on a wrestling show. So this all means that McMahon-JBL will face Finlay and someone else at ‘mania. Who? Mick Foley is probably the favorite, or maybe Umaga?

Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy won qualifying matches for the “Money in the Bank” ladder match at Wrestlemania.

Maria defeated Beth Phoenix after the supercurvy Candice Michelle made her way to ringside to distract her archrival, the "glamazon." Santino Marella had a “contract” in his hand that said that Maria could only pose in Playboy if she beat Beth Phoenix. Incidentally, the match was non-title.

Shawn Michaels came out and announced that Ric Flair will be the first active wrestler to be inducted into the W.W.E. Hall of Fame. The induction ceremonies will be held in Orlando on March 29. This clearly begins the setup for Michaels-Flair at ‘mania. Although a tear did not leave my eye like Shawn Michaels, watching the old footage of Flair from his National Wrestling Alliance (N.W.A.) days in the ‘80s made me very nostalgic. Ric Flair’s interviews on the Superstation WTBS on Saturday nights were “a happening.” Great stuff! But I suppose all things must pass…

Keep it in the Ring!