By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com The show opened with an intro video on the WWE wrestlers interacting with the troops throughout their stay in Iraq. Randy Orton then came out to start the show. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler are handling the commentary tonight. Jericho followed out for his visit to Iraq. He took a victory lap around the ring while helicopters did a fly-over. They aired footage on JBL kicking Jericho at the Armageddon PPV to set up their match. 1 -- WWE champion RANDY ORTON vs. CHRIS JERICHO -- non-title match Jericho started off in control, but Orton punched him in the corner to take control and draw the heel heat. Orton tried to escape to the ring to safety, but Jericho nailed him with a baseball slide dropkick. Jericho followed with forearm blows on the outside before slamming him head-first into the ring steps. Jericho then grabbed a camera from a troop ringside and snapped a photo of Orton gasping for air. On the way back into the ring, Jericho took a kick to the gut. Orton then dropped him with the horizontal spike DDT to take control. [Commercial Break] [Q2] Back from break, Orton was still in control on Jericho. Jericho started to build a comeback, but Orton locked in a sleeper hold. He drove Jericho to the mat and worked him over until Jericho powered to his feet and landed a back suplex. Jericho came up first and landed hard chops before building momentum with shoulder tackles. Jericho tried the Walls of Jericho, but Orton slipped out, only to take an enziguiri kick. Jericho then followed with the Lionsault for a nearfall. Jericho got casual, so Orton hit a finger to the eye followed by the fallaway back cracker. Orton stalked Jericho for the RKO, but Jericho blocked and countered into the Walls of Jericho. Suddenly, JBL's music hit and JBL strolled to the ring while Jericho still held the hold. JBL said he's sorry to interrupt the match, but when he's in town, people come to see him. JBL then entered the ring and Jericho dropped the hold. The bell sounded to throw the match out, then Orton caught Jericho from behind with an RKO. Orton left the ring and had a few words for JBL. Back in the ring, JBL stalked Jericho and nailed the Clothesline from Hell in center ring. WINNER: Jericho via DQ in 14:00. Pretty good, basic TV match. Jericho looked sharp, while Orton was Orton. Good continuation of the JBL vs. Jericho program heading into the Rumble. (**) They plugged Flair vs. Hunter next week on Raw. [Commercial Break] They showed a video package on WWE visiting more bases in Iraq than any other entertainment group in history. Next video package was on the wrestlers hanging out with the troops on the battlefield. Jeff Hardy being, well, Jeff Hardy. They showed Vince, Hunter, Michaels, Cena, Hardy, Henry, Rey (a lot), Mr. Kennedy, Kelly Kelly, Jericho, Layla, Maria, Mickie James, Lillian Garcia, Bob Holly, Ron Simmons, JBL, and Carlito. [Commercial Break] [Q3] Jeff Hardy came to the ring sporting some face paint. Lawler said it's his special tribute to the troops. That's legit, as the man spent two hours in the restroom working on some body art with colored markers during the Ultimate Insider's DVD taping. He takes it seriously. Carlito then came out and demanded no cheers from the audience. 2 -- IC champion JEFF HARDY vs. CARLITO -- non-title match Cole talked about the emergence of Jeff Hardy as one of the top stories of 2007. Hardy dominated the action early on until Carlito caught Hardy in the gut with a punch to gain momentum. Hardy decided to bail to the floor to take a mini-victory lap. Carlito got mad, so he chased Hardy on the outside, only to take a dropkick into the guardrail. Hardy then flew off the apron with a running clothesline. Back in the ring, Hardy nailed ten punches and went for his trademark swinging dropkick in the corner, but Carlito moved and Hardy ate the canvas. After a few moments, Hardy came right back with the swinging dropkick for a nearfall. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate, but Carlito countered with a twisting neckbreaker for a close nearfall. Carlito panicked and went looking for his apple. Lillian Garcia provided the fresh fruit, then Carlito took a bite, but Hardy kicked it right out with a jawbreaker. Hardy nailed the Twist of Fate, then he ripped off his t-shirt and went up top for the Swanton Bomb. Hardy covered Carlito for the win. WINNER: Hardy in 6:00. Really nice match. Carlito looked inspired for the first time in a while. Good action. (**1/4) They showed a video package on the various artwork around the bases. [Commercial Break] [Q4] They showed a video package on the fallen soldiers in Iraq when a suicide bomber nailed a dining facility in December 2004. They interviewed a soldier who just happened not to have lunch that day, so it's an emotional memory to come back to the site of the deaths. They showed how they had Christmas dinner four days later to get everyone back on their feet. Vince McMahon's music hit and the crowd popped for Vince. He came out in a bright red power suit and surveyed the audience. Vince said this is the fifth year of WWE coming to visit the troops. He said it doesn't matter where the troops are in action, WWE is behind them 100 percent. Vince said it's time for the divas match. Big pop from the audience. Kelly Kelly then came out and Lawler said she's exactly what he wanted for Christmas. Layla came out next as Kelly's tag partner. So...um...about that heated feud on ECW? Brand loyalty must come ahead of intra-brand feuding. Mickie James came out to represent Raw, then Maria rounded out the field. Diva tag action next. [Commercial Break] 3 -- MARIA & MICKIE JAMES vs. KELLY KELLY & LAYLA They joined the action in progress with Maria and Layla rolling around the ring having a battle. Kelly then tagged in and took a kick to the gut from Maria. Mickie accepted a tag and dropped a double axehandle on Kelly before taking her to the mat with a bulldog. Mickie then rode Kelly like a cowboy and hit a neckbreaker. The action then broke down, causing a double catfight. The Raw divas dropped the ECW divas in the corner, then did double Bronco Busters in the corner. Vince McMahon then interrupted and he was booed resoundingly. He said he thinks they've seen enough of this. Vince said that means Santa is not coming to Iraq this year. WINNERS: No Contest in 4:00. (1/2*) [Q5] Suddenly, Santa came to the ring sporting a sling. Cole and Lawler said he must have slipped and fell on some ice. Gee, who could that be? Santacena talked about Vince being a naughty boy for trying to sabotage his sleigh. In the recognized old man Santa accent, he told a story about Vince walking into a convenience store when he was little and stealing something - a magazine. Not just any magazine. He stole a very naughty magazine. The troops popped. Vince tried to deny the accusations. Santacena said Vince has always been a very bad boy. Vince shot back that he knows he's not the real Santa. Santacena said he has proof by virtue of a letter written by young Vincent. He said the letter is nearly 100 years old, which drew a laugh. Santacena put on his Santaglasses as the fans chanted, "Old as dirt," which drew Vince's ire. Santacena read the letter. He wanted a rooster with a beautiful coat - a giant rooster. He also wanted a Red Rider Beebe gun. Vince ripped the mic away and said he's not the real Cena. He took off the Santa beard to reveal John Cena. Cena then carefully put Vince up on his shoulders and nailed the FU in center ring. Vince was helped from the ring, then Cena said he couldn't let a man old as dirt ruin Christmas. Cena told the divas to help him distribute goodies from his sack. The divas then chucked various merchandise into the audience. A video package aired on troops assisting the kids in the various places they have bases. [Commercial Break. They debuted the Royal Rumble promo with people getting beat up on the Subway.] They showed a video package on a ceremony for troops re-enlisting in the armed forces. Next video package was a snapshot gallery of wrestlers, troops, and signs. [Commercial Break] [Q6] They showed a story on the soccer stadium they're holding the show at. A solider told a legend about Sadaam Hussein lining up the Iraqi National soccer team to be killed after losing a soccer game. Cena said Hussein probably never thought WWE would be in the stadium. Rey Mysterio came out to the ring and dove into the crowd. Mark Henry then came out as the opposition. Cole said Henry is the size of a tank. Henry screamed at Rey that it's his last match tonight when he beats him up. 4 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. MARK HENRY They met in center ring to start the action, then Henry shoved him down. Henry dominated the action, then he missed with a big splash and Rey caught him with the West Coast pop II for a nearfall. Rey went low with a running dropkick in the corner, then he knocked Henry to the middle rope and nailed the 619. Rey followed with the Drop the Dime, but Henry got right up. Rey then rolled Henry up in the corner for the pin and the win. WINNER: Rey Mysterio in 4:00. One of those moments to suspend disbelief with Rey winning on a roll-up, but fine on this show. (*1/4) They showed a video on explosions happening very quickly in the dessert to blind the troops in the area. Mark Henry, sporting a Longhorns t-shirt, talked about some of the younger soldiers having to be composed while guarding the gate at dangerous checkpoints. [Commercial Break] [Q7] John Cena narrated a video package on insurgents trying to make it tough for the U.S. soldiers at a dangerous battle point in Iraq. He brought in Specialist Jeremy Haley to cut a promo for his family back home. The Raw Rebound aired from last week, focusing on Flair vs. Hunter being set up for next week. They aired a video package on Chris Jericho's first trip to Iraq. He said his goal is to say thanks to everyone sacrificing to be there. They showed some raw footage of troops traveling through a rugged suburb of Baghdad where snipers are hiding out. Jericho then talked about an impromptu comedy duo of Coffee and Cream with one of the troops. [Commercial Break] DX came to the ring for the final segment after they aired a video greeting from Hunter and some troops before the show. Cole said some of the troops requested a DX reunion for them on the show. DX did poses all around the ring for a few minutes before Michaels took the mic and started running circles. Hunter took the mic away from Michaels, then he asked for serious quiet. He needed to ask a question. "Are you ready?" he demanded to know. [Q8] Hunter set up the Michael Buffer intro after saying it was an honor to be standing among the greatest fighting force on God's green earth. The troops did the U-S-A chant before Hunter said, "Damn right, U-S-A". He finished the Buffer intro, then Michaels said if you're not down with the men and women of the U.S. military, then they have two words. The troops finished with "Suck it", then Umaga came out to the ring as one-half of the opposition. Mr. Kennedy then came out as his partner. [Commercial Break] 5 -- DX (TRIPLE H & SHAWN MICHAELS) vs. UMAGA & MR. KENNEDY They joined the action in progress with Michaels working over Kennedy. He hit a top rope elbow drop, then he warmed up the band for Sweet Chin Music, but Umaga cut him off with a big running clothesline to save Kennedy. Umaga worked over Michaels, then the troops tried to rally with an H-B-K chant, but Umaga cut him off again. Cole plugged Flair vs. Hunter on Raw next week while the heels continued to isolate Michaels in their corner. They're really setting up a Hunter heel turn with the verbiage here on Flair being honored if his last match were against Hunter. Back to the action where Michaels tried to make a comeback, but Kennedy nailed him with a thumb to the eye. Kennedy told Umaga to finish off HBK, but Umaga missed with a dive from the second rope. Hunter finally took the hot tag at 6:00 and cleaned house. Hunter threw Umaga repeatedly into the corner ringpost before dropping Kennedy with a spinebuster. He measured Kennedy and set him up for the Pedigree, but Umaga caught him with an uppercut. Suddenly out of nowhere, Michaels smashed Umaga with Sweet Chin Music. Kennedy then stumbled into Hunter and feared for his life, so he tried to run away, only to take Sweet Chin Music from Michaels on the button. Hunter then dropped Kennedy with the Pedigree in center ring for the pin and the win. WINNERS: DX in 7:00. Basic tag match to set up an uplifting victory. A fine match to send everyone home happy. (*3/4) [Q9 -- over-run] After the match, DX celebrated the victory in the ring. Cole put the action into perspective, then DX called for some of the troops to hop over the guardrail and join them in the ring. Everyone did crotch chops in the ring to cap off the show. They closed with the traditional goosebump-inducing video package on the trip to Iraq. They closed with a slow-motion shot of a female troop smiling while sitting on Hunter's shoulders.
It was a good show yesterday, say what you want about the WWE but its a nice as hell that they do this.
