April 3rd ~ 9th 2005
Mood:  on fire
Topic: April 2005
WRESTLEMANIA 21 REPORT
APRIL 3, 2005
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. AT STAMPLES CENTER
by Wade Keller & Mallory Mahling

KANE vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. CHRISTIAN vs. CHRIS BENOIT vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. EDGE -- Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Christian came decked out in a ring outfit that is top contender for best of the night. They brawled at ringside before the official start. They did a series of dives to ringside peaking with Benjamin diving onto everyone at ringside except Kane. Kane then stood on the top rope and clotheslined everyone at once.

They introduced the ladder early as a weapon with Jericho getting the most use of it early. Benoit put Kane in a Crippler Crossface. Edge intervened, and Benoit put the Crossface on him. Kane then jabbed the ladder into Benoit, then crushed his arm in the ladder several times. Benoit sold it like it was broken. Edge then surprised Kane with a spear. The crowd was really into it (a lot more than Laker's games these days.) Christian and Edge each grabbed a ladder and charged Kane from opposite ends of the ring and crushed him in the middle. Benjamin then dove at both Christian and Edge. Benoit then jump reverse sidekicked a ladder into Christian. Edge then set up the ladder in the corner of the ring and whipped Benjamin into it. Edge went for a spear on Benjamin, but Benjamin side-stepped Edge and then used Edge's momentum to throw him into the ladder in the corner.

It was just Edge and Benjamin inside the ring as everyone else was knocked out or resting at ringside. Benjamin gave Edge a Stinger Splash into the ladder in the corner, then found himself the lone man standing inside the ring. He set the ladder up in mid-ring. When he climbed the ladder, Jericho intervened, knocking him off. Christian, Benoit, Jericho, and Edge all climbed three different ladders and fought each other. Benoit dropped Christian to the mat off the ladder. Both sold arm injuries. Jericho also bumped off the ladder. Edge then worked on Benjamin atop a ladder. Benjamin gave Edge a T-Bone off the ladder to the mat. That got the biggest pop of the night.

Christian and Jericho were the first to their feet and fought each other for the chance to climb the ladder and get the brief case hanging above the ring with the contract for the World Title shot. Jericho grabbed the briefcase. Benjamin ran up a ladder that was leaning like a rampway against the upright ladder and then dove off of it and clotheslined Jericho off the ladder. Benjamin got his foot caught in the ropes and was hanging upside down after Tyson Tomko interfered in the match then helped Christian up the ladder on his shoulders.

Kane returned to the ring and clotheslined Tomko over the top rope. Tomko, embarrassingly, took the backward bump over the top rope 60 percent of the way before Kane even touched him. Kane then shoved Christian off the ladder onto Tomko at ringside. Kane climbed the ladder and grabbed the brief case, but Jericho climbed the other side of the ladder and the ladder fell over and they both bumped onto the top rope. Jericho got sling-shot to the floor off the top rope while Kane clotheslined his neck over the top rope.

Benoit returned to the ring, still selling the arm injury from five minutes earlier. He set up a ladder in the corner of the ring. He went to the top rope, then to the top of the ladder. He then did the diving headbutt off of the ladder onto Kane. Benoit and Kane climbed opposite sides of the ladder. Kane grabbed Benoit by the throat. Benoit escaped Kane's grip with rapid-fire headbutts and then knocked him to the mat. Benoit then reached for the brief case. Edge bashed Benoit with a chair. Benoit fell to the mat as if he were shot. Edge then climbed the ladder and unfastened the brief case to win.

WINNER: Edge

STAR RATING: ****1/2 -- Really good, memorable, well-executed, innovative stunt match with some new spots with the ladder - which is tough to do after so many ladder matches.

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WWE RAW REPORT
APRIL 4, 2005
Los Angeles, California

Raw was live tonight from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, site of last night's WrestleMania 21.

The show started with a fast-forward through last night's WrestleMania. Four hours of blood, sweat and tears were condensed into a handful of minutes. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed viewers to the show.

As Orton made his way to the entrance, Kane stopped him in his tracks. Kane laughed manically and said he'd told Orton he couldn't beat the Undertaker.

"You can't beat what you don't understand," Kane told him.

Orton said he'd deal with him after he beat Batista. Randy walked off seeming apprehensive, and with good reason - Kane gave a soft and menacing laugh.

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WWE Raw House Show
April 7, 2005
Brisbane, Australia
by Mick Ellwood

It should be noted that no pyros were used at all during the show, and this was a major let-down. Many of the entrances were nowhere near as big without the 'big bang' factor, and there were a lot of grumbles and people feeling ripped off.

(6) Kane defeated Edge. The crowd got right into this match, which made for a good opener to the second half of the show. Again, pyros on the entrances would have helped a lot though. One section tried to get a "You Screwed Lita" chant going towards Edge, but the rest of the crowd declined to join in. Kane entered to a massive pop! He got in his sit-up in at one stage, and eventually won with a chokeslam.

All in all, it was a decent card, and the crowd loved most of the show. A couple of the matches were complete duds, but otherwise a good effort was put in by all the superstars and the crowd - I think we try extra hard because we want the WWE to come back again! The lack of pyros really detracted from the excitement, but all in all it was definitely worthwhile. The arena was nearly sold-out, with a few empty seats dotted around the back.

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WWE RAW House Show
April 8, 2005
Newcastle, Australia
Newcastle Entertainment Centre
by Peter Rice of Sydney

The arena was almost completely sold out in Newcastle. Lillian Garcia started off by actually singing the Australian National Anthem by memory with no mistakes. Pretty good. Eric Bischoff came out and talked about how it was great to be in Newcastle. The capacity crowd of about 6,000 didn't seem to buy it, and launched into their first "you are a wanker" chant of the night.

(1) Kane defeated Christian and Tyson Tomko in a handicap match. Kane came out to a great pop (biggest one until the main event). I guess everyone's forgiven Kane for the whole Lita thing. Christian hits the Unprettier for a two and a half count. Match then works to the end where Kane cleared Tomko from the ring and chokeslammed Christian for the three count. Highly enjoyable match.

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WWE Raw House Show
April 9, 2005
Sydney, Australia
by Peter Steele of Canberra

7) Kane defeated Edge. Edge just walks and looks like he should be a heel. More points for the creative team. Hard to hear the crowds reaction over the two ladies next to me. They'd like to get with Adam. I'm sure if they wait he'll get around to it. Kane came out to a massive pop from the crowd. There was some good brawling mixed with wrestling holds in this match. Kane didn't seem as slow as I thought he'd be. Kane got in a lot of offence early, prompting Edge to start walking up the ramp to the back. The two brawled their way back to the ring and Kane got the win after a chokeslam. After the match had ended Edge played the comedy bit as he wandered to the back