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Mojo Mitchell's Raw Stream of Stylin', Profilin' and Retirin', Y2 Tones It Down A J, and Triple H is Too Tough For Friends

We start with Triple H. Wonder if he says anything snarky about our new savior?

No, he's wrestling. And since he's wrestling, it's, as Jim Ross says, "our main event." He teams with Carolina's own Jeff Hardy against Umaga and Someone Has To Lose. Except it's Umaga who takes the pin to two finishers from Hardy sandwiched around Triple H's Pedigree.

Raw GM William Regal congratulates the winners, and then makes a match for Armageddon between Triple H and Jeff Hardy. Hardy looks concerned. Triple H looks like Triple H.

Ric Flair gets a standing ovation on his way to the ring. He's going to make an announcement about his career. Why make it in Charlotte? "You have been so good to me? My wrestling career can't go on forever. (tears up) I've got other concerns - a marketing company, statewide politics (statewide? I heard fast-rising Republican star Mike Huckabee talking about him on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" this morning.). Sooner or later there will be a time to retire... Iron-man Cal Ripken, ... Brett Favre (his wife Tiffany is a big fan)...

I have to announce "I WILL NEVER RETIRE! I WILL ONLY RETIRE WHEN I'M DEAD IN THIS RING! I'M GOING NOWHERE!"

He's retiring.

And now, the interruption

...from Mr. McMahon, who gives Flair the slow clap. "How about that, Ric, you had me going! I hope you go on forever... as long as you keep on winning. The first match you lose, your career is over. You understand me? I don't care if you win by DQ, countout, submission, or three count, if you lose you're out. Good luck, Ric. I hope you don't die anytime soon."

It would help the angle if McMahon would explain his motive for this decision, besides the fact he's a heel. I mean, hell, they competed against each other all those years; McMahon could have tapped into that.

Randy Orton, the WWE Champion comes out. He thanks him for the advice and the friendship, for being there when he had personal problems. I want to thank you for the honor and pleasure of ending your career.

Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair tonight. Flair just stares at Orton. Why doesn't Flair say something?

Why doesn't he challenge Orton for the title? Why does one of the most confident wrestlers ever look like he's scared?

I mean Ric Flair, the greatest promo man ever, didn't say boo once McMahon arrived.

And if you don't know he's taking a bloody beating, only to get saved from the very edge of losing by Chris Jericho, you're just not paying attention.

Hacksaw Duggan & Super Crazy & Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes face Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch & The Highlanders to kill a few minutes.

Jeff Hardy says it's an honor to face The Game at Armageddon. He hopes it doesn't get in the way of their... "Friendship?" Triple H interrupts. He's about business. He's turned on all his partners. He's about winning, not friends. You don't actually see Hardy gulp here.

Mr. Kennedy shows the big Shawn Michaels DVD collection and talks about all the losing he did over his career, including "losing his smile." That was how many years ago? Maybe it's time they explained what happened to all the new John Cena fans they've gotten since then

Ric Flair chats with Arn Anderson & Barry Windham, hinting at a Horseman reunion to save him tonight. No way.

Chris Jericho comes to the ring. Here's hoping he tones it down. Jericho is here to ROCK! He says he hasn't heard about his title shot. At first he thought Orton was spineless, now he thinks he's stupid, so he "Ortonizes it."

"Me Want Title Match!" He uses visuals on the Titan-tron, just like they teach in Ed school. He's going to wait until Orton answers.

Jericho is much more tolerable here.

Santino Morella appears instead. "Who are you to get a title shot, with your Lindsay Lohan haircut?"

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

They do a Santino, Sandusky routine.

Morella gets so frustrated he says he wants to beat up Jericho.

"Okay." Jericho takes his shirt off.

First Santino has to warm up. He goes out of the ring. Suddenly he jumps Jerry Lawler and beats him up.

After the break, Jericho fights Morella. This is a decent match, but the heat isn't that big. Lawler just calls the match. Jericho's new finisher, double knees to the face, is pretty cool.

Jericho invites Lawler to get some on a comatose Morella. Lawler punches him out and kneeslifts him into oblivion. Jericho does color in Lawler's place. This should be big heat, but it isn't quite there.

Jericho's finisher is called The Codebreaker.

This was a good segment but the crowd didn't react to it like he was the Superstar Savior. He's also noticeably smaller. I definitely respect that.

Shawn Michaels gives Flair a hug. He came to see Flair, but he didn't know it might be the last night he'd ever see Flair wrestle. He's not ready for an industry without Ric Flair.

He then proceeds to tell all the truth in a soft-spoken great promo about just who Ric Flair has been all these years. Flair says thanks for all the respect and he's going out in a Blaze of Glory.

I wish someone could explain to me why Flair can't cut his own promo tonight in front of this crowd, with these stakes.

Brian Kendrick faces Mr. Kennedy. This isn't a bad idea. Kennedy should look good with Kendrick flying around for him. Nope, it's too fast of a squash match. Kennedy says that's just a little sample of what happens with Shawn Michaels at Armageddon.

Mr. McMahon tells Hornswoggle he's got the luck of the Irish, and then runs down their angle. McMahon makes Finlay vs. The Great Khali for Armageddon.

He sends his son to get him an ice cream sandwich. "It's the season." (It's the season?)

Hornswoggle sees a sign that says free ice cream sandwiches, but it's a trick, Carlito is there. Hornswoggle spray paints something on the wall. It's a door. Just like Roadrunner used to do to Coyote. He runs through it and escapes, as anyone who watched those cartoons knew he would.

Carlito runs into and falls down, just like Coyote. Ron Simmons says, "Damn!" What the hell, why not? But why put the kiddie stuff on past ten-thirty on Monday night?

Mickie James faces Melina for a title shot with Beth Phoenix at Armageddon. Mickie James kisses and wins.

Some of the agents and some of the wrestlers applaud Ric Flair as he heads to the ring. Triple H tells him, "Show them who you are."

Ross says it's the biggest match of his life. Well, no, but I don't blame him for saying it.

Ric Flair faces Randy Orton in a non-title match with his career on the line for no reason. Orton comes out first at 10:53 EST, which means this match isn't going ten minutes.

Charlotte stands one more time for Ric Flair. "Thank you" to ringsiders...

It starts with some chops. Flair has been out of the ring for six months so we'll see what he's got. More chops, a backdrop or two. The first two count doesn't get an "Ooh." Big "Nature Boy" chant for a while. Orton starts stomping Flair's legs. The NB chant comes back. Two standing dropkicks from Randy Orton. They fight outside the ring. Flair takes a suplex at ringside. Orton goes back in the ring. Flair could get counted out. He's milking it and barely gets back in. Orton puts on his deadly headlock.

Flair gets the figure-four to building big heat. Oh, just tap. He gets the rope. They both get up.

RKO.

But Orton's knee is hurt, so he can't get the pin just yet. You know, the excuse, even though Jericho will be the excuse. Orton beats Flair with fists to the head. They're going late.

Orton has Flair under control. He goes for the RKO one more time but there's trouble at ringside and the referee checks it. Orton lets go because he's so upset to see Chris Jericho there. Flair sneaks up behind Orton, gives him a shot in the yutz, and pins him.

Big cheer. Ross and Lawler are relieved. Flair drags himself back up the ramp.

Orton and Jericho stare at each other as the show goes off the air.

Shouldn't Flair demand a title shot? Doesn't beating the champion make him the number one contender? Will they even mention that point?

Score: (6.5)

First off, once again, after first doing it thirty long years ago, I watched a big wrestling show centered around The Nature Boy Ric Flair. Amazing.

Mr. McMahon needs to explain why he's trying to run Ric Flair out. Ric Flair needs to cut loose on promos. He can't win too many matches accidentally, by flukes, or with help for this to work. They were a lot of little touches in the storyline, though, that were on point, particularly Shawn Michaels' tremendous promo. I'm assuming how strong it starts is as strong it gets. Flair was good enough, after six months off, to do this in the ring. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays next week, out of Charlotte.

Triple H's chemistry with Jeff Hardy is interesting. He is being true to his character, not being something he isn't, while he remains a babyface.

Chris Jericho was much easier to take tonight. Santino was a good character for him to bounce off. I like that Morella is getting a little edge, too.

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