This week Raw aired live from Chicago, Illinois, and Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed viewers to the sold-out Allstate Arena.

Jonathan Coachman was in the ring. As soon as he started talking, the crowd began booing him. Loudly. He said Mister McMahon had declared that his main event tonight with Lashley would be a no DQ match.

The sound of breaking glass heralded the arrival of Steve Austin.

Austin apologized for interrupting Coach, but he wanted to share some news. Austin said he'd received a number of expensive presents last week, all with cards from Donald Trump. Austin was going to send them back, then found out the expensive bribes gifts had actually come from McMahonLand. Austin was ready to drag McMahon out to the ring and shave his head tonight.

Coach began to snivel and confessed that he had sent the gifts, not his McBoss.

Austin warned Coach that he was not a man to be messed with and Coach seemed to get the drift, but just had to have the last word: "Bald is beautiful." Austin was amused. Briefly. He ended the segment by giving Coach a Stone Cold Stunner.

Austin left the ring, strode to the garage, and hopped into his black pick-up truck. He started up the exit ramp and came hood-to-hood with a big black limo. McMahon stood up through the moon roof, ready to cuss out the truck driver, but backed off when he saw it was the special guest referee of his match at 'Mania. Unimpressed, Austin flipped McMahon off and drove away. McMahon was practically apoplectic with rage. He dragged the chauffeur out of the limo through the window, then gave the poor guy a throaty "You're fired."

(Commercial break)

Melina, Victoria and Gillian Hall headed out for the next match as J.R. and the King said the Women's Championship match at WrestleMania will be a Lumber Jill match. By Sunday night, I'm sure it will be a Bra 'n Panties Lumber Jill match.

(1) Six-Diva Tag Match: Torrie, Ashley, & Candice Michelle vs. Melina, Victoria & Gillian Hall. This match was what it was, and Torrie, Ashley & Candice Michelle won this technical wrestling showcase.

(Commercial break) Take Goldberg's "Bullrun," the new series, "Drive," and the new movie, "Red Line," and you've got three people who all had the same idea at the same time--cross-country road racing.  What are the odds.

(2) Chicago's own C.M. Punk vs. Kenny Dykstra. YAY!!! C.M. Punk on Raw. Dykstra was already mad since Punk got a full entrance, plus Punk will be in WrestleMania and Kenny won't. Loud "CM Punk" chants for the local hero. Good action from both, but C.M. Punk got the 1-2-3 and the win.

As Punk enjoyed the adulation of the fans, Edge appeared on the TitanTron with a small show of applause for Punk.

(Commercial break)

Edge had arranged for a special edition of "The Cutting Edge," with the other contenders for the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder match who were already in the ring. Edge boasted about all the ladder matches he'd won. He'd never been beaten at WM. Blah, blah, blah. He picked a verbal fight with Matt Hardy (who worked in a not-so-subtle reference to Lita). Edge said he was done speaking to Matt. Edge addressed King Booker, who boasted about being a King. Finley took exception to being called a peasant by King Booker. Then Orton grabbed the mic and taunted Edge. So did Mr. Kennedy. Jeff Hardy got a turn on the mic and said it was his first WM in 5 years; he'd do what he always does in ladder matches--steal the show. The crowd wanted to hear from C.M. Punk, who chided Edge for running his mouth too much. That did it--push came to shove (literally) and it turned into a schmozz. When they got tired of hitting each other, they all ran up the ramp after Edge.

(Commercial break)

Maria's guest was John Cena. She asked him what was going to happen at WrestleMania. Cena said WM was going to be a magical place. Cena on the mic is a wonderful thing to watch. He left no doubt that he intended to walk out of WrestleMania with the title.

The history between Mister McMahon and Bobby Lashley (who'd had nerve enough to say "no" to McMahon) aired. It wasn't pretty.

(Commercial break)

(3) Bobby Lashley vs. Mister McMahon. The McBoss came out in a long-sleeved sweatshirt and long pants. Guess this isn't a good time to call attention to his body-builder physique. McMahon said he wanted to embarrass Lashley and bailed out of the match as Cade and Murdoch, Chris Masters and Johnny Nitro all gave it their best shot. Finally, Umaga came out and bulldozed Lashley, at which point McMahon covered Lashley and made the winning pin. McMahon made sure Umaga destroyed Lashley.

(Commercial break)

Todd Grisham congratulated Mister McMahon on his victory in the ring.

Eugene, dressed up as Donald Trump (complete with comb-over) was humiliated yet again by McMahon. Not funny!

(4) Mr. Kennedy & Randy Orton vs. Matt & Jeff Hardy. The Hardys had a bone to pick with Orton, whom they concentrated on. Kennedy sent Jeff sailing under the ropes to the outside. That will leave a mark. Hardy with an awkward Whisper on the Wind on Kennedy. Matt tagged in and wiped up the mat with Kennedy and Orton. He nearly pinned Orton, but it was Orton with an RKO on Matt Hardy for the win. Boo! Hiss! Best match of the evening so far.

(Commercial break)

The final member of the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame was announced--Good Old J.R. Jim Ross will be inducted this Saturday night. The filmed tribute was enormously touching and J.R. was wiping a tear away when Jerry Lawler introduced him. The audience obviously concurred and gave him a standing ovation.

Out next was the Great Khali. I thought for a minute he was coming out to give Jim Ross a celebratory choke slam. (I think I watch too much of this stuff.)

(5) Ric Flair vs. The Great Khali. Not even Flair can carry Khali to a good match. Carlito ran out to save Flair from the beating he was taking and got a beating of his own. The match was a no-contest. In more ways than one.

Kane headed out to the rescue. He had brought along his meat hook, which was enough to get Khali to make a lumbering retreat.

(Commercial break)

Shawn Michaels cut a promo on Cena. An outstanding, old-school promo!!! He told Cena if he wanted to walk out the champ at WM, he'd have to walk through the valley of HBK.

(6) John Cena & Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker & Batista. Taker went right after Cena, perhaps to send a message to Batista. Cena answered with a flurry of punches. Michaels and Cena double-teamed Taker, and HBK sold it like he'd been shot. With HBK and Cena out of the way, it was down to Taker and Batista. Taker was winding up to throw a punch or two with his baby 5-ounce gloves, but never got the chance. Cena and HBK were back in, with Batista making himself scarce. Finally a blind tag by Batista. Taker threw HBK into Batista who'd been shaking the ropes like a much-saner Ultimate Warrior. Then Taker left Batista alone with the Raw contingent and headed to the back.

Moves in unison by Cena and Michaels. Double 5-knuckle shuffles, double "I Can't see you's." Then without warning, HBK took Cena's head off with some sweet Chin Music. Well, it's not like Cena hadn't been warned. When you least expect it, HBK had said. Batista crawled over the pinned Cena to win the match.

But the bigger story is what will happen Sunday night when Cena and Michaels get in the ring to do battle for the title. On his way out, HBK gave Cena a DX chop. (I thought he didn't do that anymore--higher principals and all like that.)

(Commercial break)

Coming back from the break, HBK had an innocent, "who me?" look on his face.

* * *

This show definitely had a magical feel to it. Everything was turned up a notch--the promos, the excitement…the thrill of the upcoming biggest show of the year. And the thrill of The Undertaker's entrance, which is always mesmerizing. This was a thoroughly enjoyable show.