WWE JUDGMENT DAY PPV REPORT
FLASHBACK SERIES - MAY 20, 2007
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, TORCH EDITOR

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler introduced the show, then went to Joey Styles & Tazz and then Michael Cole & JBL.

(1) Ric Flair defeated Carlito via tapout in 15:00. Flair pummelled Carlito with a barrage of punches on the mat at the start. He followed up with some chops, so Carlito bailed out to ringside. Carlito took control after returning to the ring. Carlito worked over Flair's arm, wrapping it around the ringpost. Then he dropkicked his arm against the post in an innovative spot. Carlito went for a pin in the ring and Flair kicked out at one. Carlito then applied a keylock in the ring at 5:00. The center-ring stationary arm-holds filled several minutes mid-match. At 10:00 the action picked up with some Carlito dropkicks. When Carlito went for a cover after a backdrop, Flair yanked him off by his hair. Carlito went back to armbars. When Flair teased a comeback, Carlito thumbed him in the eyes. Flair blocked a Back Stabber (the renamed Carlito back-cracker) by grabbing the top rope. Then he worked over Carlito's legs briefly and went for the figure-four. That got a rise out of the crowd. He applied it center-ring and Carlito soon tapped out. Pretty slowly paced, entering the boring zone many times. (*1/4)

Todd Grisham interviewed Shawn Michaels backstage. After clips of him seemingly affected by a concussion, Michaels acknowledged rumors that he wouldn't even be there. Orton then attacked Michaels from behind. He clutched his face after rammed into the interview set.

A long video package aired on the ECW Title storyline.

(2) Bobby Lashley defeated Shane & Vince McMahon & Umaga in 3:00 to apparently win the ECW World Hvt. Title. Lashley jump-started the match by attacking Vince. Shane saved his father from more than a half dozen punches. Umaga then clotheslined Shane, knocked Umaga off the ring apron, and tried to drag Vince back to center-ring. Shane jumped Lashley and threw a barrage of punches. Lashley came back with an overhead toss and clothesline in the corner. Umaga charged Lashley, but Lashley moved and Umaga hit Shane instead. Lashley speared Umaga, who rolled out of the ring. Lashley then gave the Dominator to Shane for the win. Lashley was declared the new ECW Champ. Not much to it. Surprisingly short. (1/2*)

Umaga attacked Lashley from behind afterward with a Samoan Spike. Vince, sans his head covering sporting a short haircut (much more flattering than the head-scarf look), looked despondent, but then grabbed a mic and said that Lashley isn't the champion because even though he won the match, he had to beat him. "That's just crap!" said Styles, who just a minute earlier said "all is right in the world again" after Lashley won.

A commercial aired for the Ric Flair & Four Horsemen DVD.

A doctor told Michaels, who looked like he was pilled up and drunk at 3 a.m. in 1995, he wasn't going to allow him to wrestle later.

(3) C.M. Punk defeated Elijah Burke in 17:00. Burke went after Punk's ribs early in the match. There was a boring chant, not very loud or by very many fans, at 5:00. At 7:00 Burke dumped Punk over the top rope as a way to block Punk's high knee. Punk scored a quick two count with a sunset flip on his way back into the ring. Punk then applied a headlock in mid-ring. Burke grabbed the top rope to avoid the GTS. Punk dropkicked Burke to the floor, then dove through the ropes and speared Burke to the mat. Back in the ring Burke took control again, working over his ribs and then neck. Punk came back with a superplex at 13:00. After some back and forth action that got the crowd into it, Punk his an enzuigiri for a near fall. Punk followed with a running kneelift, but Burke blocked a subsequent bulldog attempt. Burke went for his Elijah Express, but Punk sidestepped it. Punk then went for a GTS. Burke blocked it and gave Punk the Elijah Experience for a two count. Punk grabbed the bottom rope to stop the three count. Punk surprised Burke right afterward with a GTS for the win. It built nicely and really won over a skeptical crowd. (**3/4)

Kristal interviewed Edge backstage. He said the Rated-R Era has begun.

(4) Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels via forfeit in 5:00. After Orton's ring intro, he told the ring announcer to declare himself the winner. As the ring announcer began to, Michaels's music played. He walked to the ring, looking like it was a 5 a.m. hangover trip to the bathroom. The ref tried to talk him out of wrestling, but then declared the bell to be rung. Orton seemed to be on his way to an early win after a DDT off the ropes for a near fall. Lawler said Michaels doesn't know where he is, but is just kicking out on instinct. Michaels was so out of it, Orton almost seemed tempted to take mercy on him. Michaels had a glassy-eyed vacant glare, an exaggerated version of Orton on promos. Michaels managed an eye rake to take Orton off his feet. He unsteadily mounted the top rope and came off with a decent elbow. Michaels stomped the mat to signal the Sweet Chin Music. He was still extreme unsteady on his feet and glassy-eyed. When he went for the superkick, he collapsed. The ref called for the bell, saying Michaels couldn't continue. Ross called the scene of Michaels disoriented was a sad moment in the annals of WWE. Orton gave Michaels an RKO. Ross burst out with, "Oh, you no good bastard!" Michaels's wife, Rebecca, entered the ring and cried. Medics came from the back to check on his condition. The crowd sat in silence afterward. Difficult to rate on conventional standards, but well executed for the story it was telling. (**)

Grisham interviewed The Great Khali and his interpreter. Khali said if John Cena wants some, come get some.

(5) Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch in 15:00 to retain the World Tag Team Titles. Cole said this match was added to the PPV earlier today. How is this a Smackdown match? Deuce & Domino are the Smackdown tag champs. Cade & Murdoch are from Raw. Bizarre. Back and forth action early. When Jeff Hardy missed a dive, the heels worked him over for a while. He hot-tagged Matt at 12:00 who went on a flurry. Matt eventually hit a Twist of Fate and tagged Jeff back in who hit the Swanton for a clean pin on Cade. The Hardys offered a handshake afterward, and Cade and Murdoch accepted. JBL praised them for being good sportsmen. Basic, decent tag match. (**1/4)

A serious and somber Ross and Lawler updated Michaels's condition. Ross said Michaels had just been taken from the arena in an ambulance.

A music video aired on Edge to Ozzy Osbourne's official J-Day theme song.

(6) Edge pinned Batista in 10:00. Edge shoved Batista into the ringsteps at 2:00. Batista came up limping on his taped leg. Edge worked over his leg for a minute. Batista charged at Edge, but Edge moved, and Batista went shoulder-first into the ringpost. Edge then worked on Batista's arm. At 8:00 Batista came after catching Edge with a clothesline. He lifted Edge for a slam, but sold that his leg was unsteady as powered Edge to the mat. At 9:00 Edge came back and went for a spear, but Batista countered with a spear of his own. Batista powerslammed Edge, then shook the ropes and did the thumbs up/thumbs down routine. Edge went for a clothesline. Batista ducked and hit a spinebuster. Batista grabbed at his bad leg. Edge then schoolboyed him for a three count. Decent match, slightly above average. Not PPV main event worthy, but passable. (**1/4)

Kristal interviewed all of the WWE Divas, getting their picks for the WWE match. Ashley picked Cena. Mickie picked Khali. Michelle McCool picked Cena. Candice Michelle picked Cena "because he's hot." Jillian said, "Khali is so hot. He makes me want to sing!" Maria picked Batista. Kristal said he's not in the match. She said she likes Batista. Layla picked Khali apologetically. Brooke picked Cena. Kelly Kelly picked "Khali Khali over Cena Cena." Victoria and Melina conferred and picked Khali "because he's big, really big." This served to give the divas a chance to get some face time, get across their various personalities, and convey that Cena-Khali is a big deal that "everyone is talking about."

(7) MVP pinned Chris Benoit in two straight falls to capture the U.S. Hvt. Title in 14:00. The first five minutes was basic first-gear back and forth action, with MVP mostly in control. Benoit came back with chops and a series of three German suplexes. Benoit clutched his knee afterward, but when MVP went for a clothesline, Benoit sidestepped him and applied the Crippler Crossface. MVP teased tapping, but then reached the bottom rope. Benoit applied a sharpshooter, but MVP reached the bottom rope again. At 9:00 Benoit set up an Electric Chair, but MVP countered into a Playmaker for a pin to win the first fall. The ref checked on Benoit's knee between falls. Benoit worked over MVP with driving knees on the mat, a nice realistic attack. When Benoit staggered on his injured knee, MVP took over for several minutes of leg work. Benoit slipped out of a Playmaker attempt and went for a Crippler Crossface. MVP slipped out before it was fully locked on. MVP then rolled up Benoit for a near fall. Benoit went for a figure-four, but MVP small packaged him for a surprising second straight fall to win the U.S. Title. The crowd seemed stunned. Good match. (***)

Ross and Lawler reacted to the finish of the previous match, then previewed Cena vs. Khali. They wondered if Cena was entering as underdog despite being the champ. In the Tale of the Tape, it listed Cena at 6-1 and Khali at 7-3. It had Cena's reach at 32 inches and Khali's at 41 inches. Shoe size: Cena 13 and Khali 18EEEE. For signature moves, Khali's were listed as Giant Chokeslam and Giant Chop.Those aren't just his signature moves, they're his only moves.

(8) John Cena defeated The Great Khali in 8:00 via tapout to retain the WWE Hvt. Title. Khali carried Cena's belt to the ring over his shoulder. The match began at 10:30 ET. They had a staredown that accentuated the size difference. Khali absorbed an early barrage of Cena body punches and swatted him down. He elbowed Cena in the head. Khali knocked Cena to the floor. Lawler wondered aloud what Raw would be like with Khali as the champion. Khali tossed Cena against the ringside steps, then stood on Cena's chest in mid-ring. Cena lifted his shoulder at two, getting a high-pitched pop from the kids and women. Khali slammed Cena, legdropped him, and scored a two count. At 4:00 Cena moved out of the path of a Khali legdrop. Cena went for a pin, but Khali kicked out with authority at two. Khali threw Cena into the announcers' table at ringside at 5:00, then tossed him back into the ring. Khali applied a nerve hold to Cena's shoulder. Cena made one of those boo-inducing facial expressions in response. Cena powered out after a minute and shoulder tackled Khali into the ropes. The crowd popped big when Khali's arms got tight up between the top and middle rope.Khali escaped the ropes and nailed Cena with a boot to the face. Then he blocked a Cena chop and threw him out of the ring again. Lawler said it must be a humbling experience to be mandhandled like that. Cena dropkicked the ring steps into Cena's knee. Cena hit a top rope legdrop to the back Khali's neck. He then applied an STFU. The crowd popped. Khali powered up his upperbody and reached for the bottom rope. Ross notched up the drama as he described Khali's struggle. Khali tapped out and the crowd popped. They showed a nine year old boy (or thereabouts) jumping up and down in excitement.

They did a great job building up the odds against Cena on TV and on this event that Cena making Khali tapout really felt like a significant happening and a huge achievement by Cena. Khali was more than serviceable in executing what was needed from him in this match. They knew his limitations well and worked around them. A satisfying main event for many WWE fans who ordered the show to see this match. Those who ordered despite this match also got what they expected. (**)

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE FLASHBACK: Kane character debuts 18 yrs. ago today in first-ever Hell in a Cell match - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

HIAC FLASHBACK: Kane beats Undertaker in HIAC match 5 yrs. ago today, plus Randy Orton vs. Sheamus for WWE Title

ROH FLASHBACK: The aftermath of Joe vs. Kobashi 10 years ago today