PWTorch.com - JAN. 1 IN HISTORY: John Cena faces Kevin Federline in stunt match on New Year's Raw 2007

Torch Today
JAN. 1 IN HISTORY: John Cena faces Kevin Federline in stunt match on New Year's Raw 2007

Jan 1, 2015 - 2:10:05 AM

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY

This Day In Wrestling History - January 1

Date: January 1, 2007 (8 years ago)

Feature: John Cena faced then-celebrity Kevin Federline in a stunt match on New Year's Raw...

Torch Back-Issue: PWTorch Newsletter #947.

Not a VIP member? Find out how to access over 1,000 PWTorch Newsletter back-issues right now by CLICKING HERE - PWTorch.com/GoVIP.

WWE RAW REPORT
JANUARY 1, 2007
FROM MIAMI, FLA. AT AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

-A video package aired on Kevin Federline. Then the Raw opening aired, followed by a quick intro by Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. Then John Cena came out to his entrance music on stage, playing to the crowd. Lilian Garcia introduced Cena in the ring, then Federline. He stood on the stage in a boxing ring jacket with khaki shorts and a loose white t-shirt underneath. He said he had news for Cena. He said their match has changed, as it's a no-DQ match. Then he introduced Johnny Nitro as his personal trainer. Ross wondered if Coach making it a no-DQ match was a favor for Federline or not, ignoring the obvious ramification, which is in a no-DQ match, anyone can interfere anytime with anything and not lose which obviously could neutralize Cena's advantage.

1 -- JOHN CENA vs. KEVIN FEDERLINE (w/Johnny Nitro)

Federline had a staredown with Cena before the bell. Cena got screams from the girls when he took his shirt off. Federline threw warm-up punches at Nitro's hands on the edge of the ring. They milked the prebell stalling for all they could, then just as the match was about to begin, they cut to two local commercials. I'll assume that was a local cable mistale. They returned with Cena in a headlock. Federline was now wearing protective headgear. Cena easily tossed Federline aside. Federline retreated to his corner to chat with Nitro. Federline challenged Cena to a Masterlock Challenge. Cena accepted, casually letting Federline apply it and then no-selling it and easily escaping. Federline then conferenced with Nitro again. He walked back to Cena and challenged him to a traditional test of strength. Cena accepted. Federline used two hands to take Cena's one-arm down, then applied a cross armbreaker. Cena lifted Federline and then sat him on the top rope in the corner. Nitro charged into the ring. Cena clotheslined him and threw him over the top rope. Federline kicked Cena from behind between his legs. Cena recovered quickly enough to lift him for an FU. Umaga entered the ring and attacked Cena. Ross reminded viewers it was a no-DQ match. Armando Alejandro Estrada entered the ring with Cena's title belt. he handed it to Umaga and instructed him to hit Cena with it. Umaga did. Federline returned to the ring where Cena was KO'd. Federline covered him and the ref counted to three. Ross said, "Tell me we didn't just see Kevin Federline pin John Cena!" Lawler said he just shocked the world. Ross said no matter how much Federline celebrates, it was Umaga who did the damage.

WINNER: Federline in 6:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- They protected Federline from doing anything that would get him hurt or look completely foolish.

[Commercial Break]

-They replayed the finish of Cena-Federline. Then they cut backstage to a celebration with Nitro, Federline, and some random friends. Maria knocked on Federline's locker room door. Melina told Maria that his name is Kevin Federline, not K-Fed. Maria said she wanted to ask him if he thought his win was tainted. Melina said it wasn't tainted. She slapped Marria, yelled "bitch," and said she had a present for Federline later in the ring.

-Ross and Lawler were shown on camera at ringside. They talked about the brutal beatdown by Rated RKO against DX. They went backstage where Shawn Michaels and Triple H were chatting backstage. Lawler said Rated RKO might be best off laying low until next week and letting DX cool off even more.

-They went backstage to Federline's locker room where Coach joined the celebration. Coach said last year Cena made a habit of humiliating everyone. He said they're going to return the favor in 2007. He said Cena's night isn't over because they need a main event. Coach announced that Cena would face Umaga, Nitro, Coach, and Estrada in a four-on-two handicapped match later.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- THE HIGHLANDERS & SHELTON BENJAMIN & CHARLIE HAAS vs. LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH & CRYME TYME

WINNERS: Murdoch & Cade & Cryme Tyme in 4:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2*

-They plugged the Cena main event later.

-An ECW ad aired promoting Rob Van Dam challenging Bobby Lashley for the ECW Title tomorrow night on ECW on Sci-Fi.

[Commercial Break]

-A "WrestleMania 23 Recall" segment aired with clips of WrestleMania 3's Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match. Bad name for that segment, as it indicates they're "looking back at WrestleMania 23."

3 -- JEFF HARDY vs. ROB CONWAY

WINNER: Hardy in 0:20.

STAR RATING: 1/4*

-Vince McMahon walked to the ring in his Florida vacation outfit. He said 99.99 percent of people break New Year's Resolutions quickly. He said it took Conway about a minute. He said he has some resolutions of his own. He said he's going to stop being "so damn nice." He said he's going to stop allowing people to take advantage of him. He said his good friend and fellow billionaire Donald Trump has had his hands full with Rosie O'Donnell. Vince pointed to a picture of her on the big screen and called her "Yokozuna." The crowd didn't seem to be willing to laugh along with Vince at Rosie's expense. He said Trump's signature phrase actually originated with him. He then looked at Conway and said, "I'm not going to let you quit. Rob Conway! You're! Firrreed!" He then strutted away.

[Commercial Break]

-DX came to the ring to their music and milked the cheers for a minute. Hunter asked the Miami fans if they were ready. He went into his spiel. Hunter looked over at Michaels and waited for him to grab the mic from him as planned. Michaels then did so. He said he can't go on. He said he and Hunter have faced everyone the company has put in front of them. "Good, bad, talented, no-talent," he said. "The ones I like best are the 'futures' of WWE or the 'stars of tomorrow.' My favorite of all time is 'the greatest in-ring performer of his generation.' I am still waiting to face that guy. You wanna know what all those guys have in common. They're either no longer here or they're jerking the curtain someplace while Triple H and the Heartbreak Kid, D-Generation X, stand the test of time right here in the WWE." Je said he doesn't know whether to be ecstatic or thrilled, but finally two came along who "appeared to have a set." He said Edge and Randy Orton beat Ric Flair within an inch of his life. He said then they did the unthinkable and managed to drop DX. He said they're going to find out at New Year's Resolution the difference between having a set and knowing what to do with them. He closed by saying DX is going to shove them down their throats at the PPV. Michaels handed the mic to Hunter, who said he was disappointed because he expected they'd get in one hell of a fight tonight. He said Orton and Edge didn't show up, though. "Double yeast infection is what I heard," he said. Hunter added that he believes Edge and Orton will show up Sunday because he thinks they believe they have them right where they want him. He said they can't figure out that he and Michaels are different. He then said they're like Frosted Mini Wheats (I'd sue if I were Kellogg's). He said they have a sweet side. He said everyone loves the sugary side. He said, 'Then there's the other side. The side that Edge and Orton are gonna get. There's the side where the two most ruthless bastards to ever step foot inside this ring live. Edge, Orton, welcome to the other side. We are gonna beat your ass on Sunday. He are gonna tear flesh, we are gonna break bones, we are gonna make you bleed. We are going to leave you lying in a broken, twisted, bloody heap in the middle of this ring." Good hard-sell promo, corny (or wheaty) analogy.

-Ross and Lawler plugged the PPV match, then reminded viewers of the TV main event with Cena and Umaga.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- MELINA vs. MARIA

WINNER: Melina in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Not good. Too short to be terrible.

-After the match, Victoria entered the ring. Ross and Lawler said that must mean Melina is the other diva on her list. The two went nose-to-nose, but Victoria then walked out of the ring and charged at Lilian. She jerked her into the ring and set her up for a Widow's Peak. Mickey James made the save and cleared the ring of Victoria.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired of WWE's visit to Bagdad for the Tribute to the Troops special.

5 -- RIC FLAIR & CARLITO (w/Torrie Wilson) vs. CHRIS MASTERS & KENNY DYKSTRA

Ross wondered if there's another 20 year old in wrestling history who beat Ric Flair. He said if it's happened, it's a short list. A minute into the match, with Flair down, they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

The heels isolated Carlito after the break. Dykstra whipped Flair into the ringside steps at 9:00. Masters then put Carlito in the Masterlock inside the ring. Carlito struggled. Torrie cheered him on. Flair made the save, clipping Masters from behind. Masters crawled to his corner and tagged in Dykstra. Carlito managed to tag in Flair a few seconds later. Flair punched away at Dykstra, then set up a figure-four. Masters interfered. Carlito knocked Masters out of the ring. They brawled away from the ring. Dykstra went for a figure-four. Flair kicked him offf. Dykstra covered with and with his foot on the middle rope, he scored the pin. That was Dykstra giving Flair a piece of his own medicine from over the years. Ross said he doesn't know how the ref didn't see that.

WINNERS: Dykstra & Masters in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-After the match, Flair told Dykstra it's not over and if he wants any respect, he'll return to the ring. Edge and Orton attacked Flair from behind. They grabbed chairs from ringside. The crowd held up their green glow sticks in "X" formations to call for Hunter and Michaels. The heels bashed Flair with the chair. The crowd chanted "You suck! You suck!" Ross and Lawler said they were shocked they even showed up. Edge and Orton retreated through the crowd as Flair lay motionless in the ring face down on a chair. Trainers checked on Flair as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

-They replayed the Flair beatdown, then went into the formal rundown of the line-up for New Year's Revolution: Nitro challenging Hardy for the IC Title in a cage, Carlito vs. Masters, Victoria vs. Mickey James, Flair vs. Kenny, Orton & Edge vs. DX, and Cena vs. Umaga for the WWE Title. They went to a clip of the Cena-Federline match earlier.

[Commercial Break]

-Federline walked to the ring to his music. He laughed and said "I told you so." He said he told them two weeks ago that he never backs down from a challenge, overcomes every obstacle, and shocks the world. He said he did just that when he beat Cena. He said he had such a blast, he can't wait to sit at ringside and watch Cena get his ass kicked again.

6 -- UMAGA & ARMANDO ALEJANDRO ESTRADA & JOHNNY NITRO & JONATHAN COACHMAN vs. JOHN CENA

Federline joined Ross and Lawler at ringside to add color commentary. Cena entered the ring and went right after Umaga. He scored just a one count after a shoulder tackle. He ducked an Umaga charge, so Umaga flew to the floor. Nitro entered the ring and threw elbows at Cena's head. Cena came back with two clotheslines and a suplex. He threw Nitro into the ringpost, but then Umaga caught him from behind with a Samoan Drop. Cena made a comeback with a knee to Umaga's crotch, then threw the other heels into the ring and tossed them around briefly. He followed with a quick STFU on Umaga. When Estrada swung a chair at Cena, he knocked it out of his hands and then hit Umaga with it. The ref called for the DQ. Federline said, "Cena cheated." Cena then gave Nitro an FU, getting a big pop. Coach was next. Cena then grabbed Federline and yanked him into the ring. Cena liffted him and gave him the FU. Cena eyed Umaga on the rampway as the show ended with Ross plugging the PPV main event.

WINNER: Cena in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Quick, effective, what it needed to be, with some good crowd pops at the end for Cena's FUs on Nitro and Federline in particular.