FEBRUARY 4TH RAW
FLAIR GETS IC TITLE SHOT AT MANIA IF HE WINS MATCH
Jeff Hardy v. Ric Flair
The two locked up in the middle of the ring before Flair tossed Hardy into the ropes but got flat backed for it. The two tussled a little bit before Flair hammered Hardy back with some chops into the corner. Hardy fought back with some right hands before Flair went to whip him. Hardy flipped out of the way and landed awkwardly, feigning injury.
Flair went right after the limb, stomping away at it in the corner. Flair landed a chop and then a brutal kick to the leg before slapping on a leg lock to work over that injured limb. Flair let the hold go and kept hammering away at the leg before stomping on the champion’s face just because. Flair used the corner after that to perch Hardy’s knee on and stomped away at it some more.
Flair kept up the pressure with a nice side leg lock-half crab hybrid move before giving the crowd a ‘woo’. Hardy hit an enzeguiri which cold cocked him and left him on the mat. Hardy hit a jawbreaker before sending Flair into the ropes and hitting a back body drop. Hardy fought through the pain with some back elbows before coming off the corner with a whisper to the wind. Hardy nailed a twist of fate shortly thereafter before heading to the top turnbuckle. Hardy missed the swanton bomb, leaving both men laid out in the ring.
Flair hit a few more boots to the leg before yanking on it a bit and strutting like only an old man could. Flair went for the figure four, but Jeff Hardy grabbed his head and rolled him up for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy via pin fall
Jeff Hardy defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. After the match, a disappointed Ric Flair shook hands with Jeff Hardy and raised him arm to put him over
FEBRUARY 12TH RAW
Chris Masters v. Jeff Hardy
If Masters wins, he gets a title shot against Hardy for the Intercontinental Championship.
Masters jumped Hardy at the outset and came after him with clubbing blows. Hardy fought him off and sent him to the outside of the ring. Hardy launched himself over the top rope and clattered into Masters. He quickly regained his bearings and went to beat on Masters in the corner, but the owner of the Master lock grabbed him by the legs and power bombed him hard to the mat.
Masters assaulted the lower back and put the boots to Hardy and capped off the work wit ha back body drop and a cover attempt. Masters sank a knee into the small of Hardy’s back and slapped on a chin lock. Hardy wiggled out with a jaw breaker and followed it up with some clotheslines and the cork screw mule kick.
Masters reversed an Irish whip but got caught with a boot to the face. Hardy leapt to the top rope but Masters pushed him and crotched him on the top turnbuckle. Masters sank the Masterlock in while Hardy was sitting on the buckles and dragged him off. Hardy fought back and was able to get himself into the ropes to break the hold.
Masters went for a suplex from the apron but Hardy wiggled out and rolled him up out of nowhere for the win.
Winner: Jeff Hardy via pin fall
Jeff Hardy defeated Chris Masters. Chris Masters came very close to winning but Jeff Hardy miraculously won with a surprise roll-up to win the match!
FEBRUARY 19TH RAW
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Jeff Hardy v. Umaga
We came back to the match underway. Hardy retreated to the outside of the ring while Hardy hit two drop kicks through the ropes but was caught on a third attempt by Umaga. Umaga attempted to smash him into the ring post but Hardy wiggled out and sent him into the steps and ring post. Hardy leapt up on the guard rail only to get hit with a throat thrust.
Back in the ring Umaga laid Hardy out with a head butt and began stomping away at the champion. He gathered Jeff and hit him with a back elbow before dropping a big leg on him. Umaga hit some punches on the mat before picking up Hardy and smacking him right back down to the mat. Umaga slapped on a claw onto Hardy’s trapezoids and used his weight to maintain the leverage advantage.
Hardy fought back with some elbows and a kick to the gut but got cut off with a major league lariat. Umaga went for his falling head butt and missed Hardy entirely. Jeff rose to his feet and avoided the charging Umaga in the corner and then hit whisper in the wind. Hardy went for a cover but Umaga kicked out. Umaga send Hardy into the corner and caught him on the rebound and hit a huge Samoan drop. He dragged Hardy into the corner and set up for the running ass to the face. Umaga lined him up and came charging in and took Hardy’s head clean off his shoulders. Umaga picked Hardy up and killed him with the spike to win the match and the belt.
Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion: Umaga via pin fall
FEBRUARY 26TH RAW
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Jeff Hardy v. Shelton Benjamin
The two grappled around on the mat and Shelton went for a few roll up attempts before we had the old stare-down, stalemate. Hardy hit a double leg take down then dropped both legs down across the abdomen and went for a cover. Hardy bullied Shelton to the corner and hit a snap mare take down with a drop kick to the back of Shelton’s head.
Shelton ducked under a clothesline attempt and hit a neck breaker. Shelton slapped on a rear chin lock that Hardy fought out of. Jeff hit a drop kick, sending Shelton to the outside of the ring. Hardy darted across the guardrail and hit a clothesline before rolling Shelton back into the ring.
The two exchanged some blows in the corner before Hardy hit a whisper in the wind before ascending the top rope and looking for the swanton bomb. Shelton leapt to the top rope and hit his belly to belly suplex, planting the former IC champion hard on the mat and sending him to the floor.
****Commercial****
We came back to Shelton Benjamin being in control, with a headlock. Jeff Hardy fought back again, but this time got back body dropped to the mat. Shelton went for a cover but didn’t get anything. Benjamin collected Hardy and hit another backdrop before putting the boots to him on the mat. Shelton slapped on a modified chin lock and again the crowd rallied behind Hardy.
Hardy hit his jawbreaker and hit two clotheslines before hitting a back elbow and a swinging take down. Shelton ducked under a clothesline and leapt to the apron. Shelton went for a springboard move off the top rope but completely botched it and landed on his head. Hardy went for a cover. Hardy hit a crescent kick before hitting the twist of fate. Hardy loaded up the swanton bomb and nailed it for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy via pin fall