Schmozzes & Screwjobs 02.27.07: The Rated R Screwjob

The scheduled WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event special that would have been taped on 3.05.07 in Phoenix, Arizona for a 3.10.07 NBC broadcast has been cancelled. WWE will now tape RAW on 3.05 in Phoenix. According to industry sources, NBC considered moving the special from primetime to a late night Saturday timeslot due to low ratings for last year’s primetime SNME specials, but then backed out due to fear that they would lose ad revenue generated by Saturday Night Live.

Another reason for the cancellation is that NBC requested WWE postpone the SNME special until this June due to the potential Writer’s Guild strike looming in Hollywood. Networks are afraid that a strike will happen and they are attempting to lock in programming that wouldn’t require members of the Guild. Vince McMahon wasn’t happy about this as he viewed SNME as a vital part of the WrestleMania 23 build; but has agreed to moving the special to June.

When I first saw this I thought I’d drop the SNME two-part series and find another screwjob. But then I decided, fuck it, I’m too damn lazy to do another screwjob this week. Which is partially true, but there was also the fact that sometime I would have to discuss the DQ ending concept, wether it’s overused, if it helps anyone in the program, etc, etc, and now is as good a time as any. Actually, that’s not true, next week is a better time to do the debate on the DQ ending, so I’ll give you the screwjob this week, and treat you to a nice long chat on the DQ stuff next week. In fact, I’m going to give you all the chance to have your say on the topic and all the views I receive will be included in the debate next week. You have two options; email me anything you have to say, or go the fan forums this evening and I will have posted a thread for everyone to have their say, and all the best posts will be here next week. Anywho, let’s do this screwjob stuff.

The Screwjob

Rated R Screwjob
WWE Championship Match: Edge © vs. John Cena
Saturday Night’s Main Event, 07.15.2006

Background Information: This is just way too detailed for me to talk about in any sort of length, but essentially, Edge screwed Cena for the title, Cena beat Edge to regain, Cena retained “thanks to Mick Foley”, Cena beat The Game while Edge beat Mick, Cena beat Edge AND The Game, Edge screwed Cena to give Van Dam the title, Van Dam got busted smoking pot, so Edge beat Cena and Van Dam to get the gold back and here we are! Got all that? Good, let’s go!

How It Went Down: And from the 411 archives, the report from SNME, provided by J.D. Dunn;

WWE Championship: Edge (w/Lita) vs. John Cena.
The fact that Edge has kept the spinner title virtually assures that Cena will eventually recapture it. It’s just a matter of when. Edge threatens to walk, but Cena chases him down. Cena charges and goes over the top as we go to break. During the break, they show a commercial for a “1970’s Music Compilation.” Interestingly, legendary Mexican wrestler Mil Mascaras used to use Jigsaw’s “Sky High” as his entrance music. No wait. I was wrong. That’s not interesting at all. We come back from a night with Barry Williams to find Cena slugging his way back. Edge botches a superplex and slips off the ropes which looked almost planned. Cena makes the big comeback and hits the FU, but Lita pulls the ref out. Cena counters the spear to the STFU, and Edge taps! Lita yanks the ref back down. He finally gets to signal to ring the bell as Edge is tapping. Oh, but it’s a disqualification, and Edge retains the title. (7:55). The two men brawl after the match, and Cena gives Edge the FU off the steps through the table! Great spot there. The commercial break made this one difficult to judge. **1/2

Analysis: For this particular DQ ending, I’ll “borrow” Larry’s comments from his 3 R’s he did at the time of the show. I told you I was going to be lazy today, but this really does cover all my thoughts on the situation at the time.

Continuing Edge vs. Cena – I for one am happy that they are continuing this feud for several reasons. First of all I feel that they work very well together in the ring, and you can’t teach chemistry, that’s a fact. Secondly, you can’t take the title off of Edge on this show. Sure they could have, but that would have been a shitty business move. This feud has miles on it, and those miles have money. People hate Edge, he’s a prick and has the chick. Cena is still polarizing, but the fact is a segment will pay to see him lose and a segment will pay to see him win, so it is a win/win for WWE. This was a fun match, but since it was under 10-minutes they couldn’t do much. I was totally fine with the finish of the match because Edge shouldn’t lose the title, and I understand them not wanting Cena to lose clean. The DQ came off well, because it took a few shots from Lita to finally trigger it, not one lame slap. Edge kept the title and Cena, obviously pissed, ended the show on a great note with the attack and decimation of Edge; including the FU through the announce table. This was a great ending to a mediocre show. I also want to give both guys props for recovering so well from the botched superplex spot. As you saw, Edge’s foot slipped and he and Cena almost were no more. I thought Cena landed on his head, but the replay showed they actually got the move off well, even with the slip. They didn’t let that phase them, they seemed like they were fine and recovered and went on with the match. Props to those two for battling through that.

Thank you very much, Larry! Of course, he didn’t know I was using his stuff, but I’m sure he will forgive me. I have to do whatever I can do to catch up to his 1000 columns. I’m currently at 15.

The Schmozz Count

After a tonne of no contests and draws in January, February has been rather slow up until on the old Schmozz Count, but let’s see if we kicked things up a gear this week.

Week Commencing 2/19/2007:
Raw – Randy Orton vs. John Cena
ECW – None
Impact – None
SmackDown – None

Another good week with just the 1 schmozz coming from Raw, and none anywhere else.

Schmozz Count 22 + 1 = 23!

False Finishes And Fan Cams

No False Finish this week, but instead, the polls for the 21st Century WrestleMania Awards!

And there you have it! Voting is open NOW! You have one week to vote and then next week I reveal all the winners!

Reader Feedback

I know I said last week that we’d have a double edition this week, but I’m just not up to it right now, I’m feeling so fucked up, but I PROMISE next week we will have a TRIPLE edition of Reader Feedback. Honest.

Taking It Home