WWE WrestleMania 22 #1 Contender Tournament (Raw) – 2006

– Quarter-Finals

2/6/06; Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Raw
– Chris Masters pinned WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Kane by blocking a take down and grabbing the ropes for leverage at 3:06 2/6/06; Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Raw
– Triple H pinned WWE IC Champion Ric Flair in a non-title match with the Pedigree at 12:00 2/6/06; Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Raw
– WWE Raw Tag Team Champion the Big Show pinned Shelton Benjamin (sub. for Shawn Michaels) with the chokeslam at around the 7-minute mark; prior to the bout, Vince McMahon came out and insisted that Michaels go through on his threat of walking out and that a “Shawn Michaels’ Retirement Party” would take place the following week; Vince then said Shawn was out of the tournament because of his upcoming retirement and would be replaced; after the contest, Shelton’s momma was attended to by medics and taken backstage on a stretcher after collapsing at ringside (the bout began during the commercial break) 2/6/06; Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Raw
– Rob Van Dam pinned Carlito Caribbean Cool with the Van Daminator and Five Star Frog Splash at 8:55

– Semi-Finals

2/13/06; Greensboro, NC; Coliseum
Raw
– Triple H fought WWE Raw Tag Team Champion the Big Show to a double count-out at 13:33 when Show grabbed Triple H by the throat and pulled him off the ring apron as both men began fighting on the floor; after the bout, the two continued to brawl at ringside until a bloody Show speared Triple H through the retaining barrier as Triple H attempted to hit Show with a steel chair; moments later, Vince McMahon announced backstage that both men would meet the winner of the RVD / Masters match the following week in a triple threat match 2/13/06; Greensboro, NC; Coliseum
Raw
– Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Masters with the Five Star Frog Splash at 5:04 after kicking Masters in the face and knocking him off the top

– Finals

2/20/06; Trenton, NJ; Sovereign Bank Arena
Raw
– Triple H defeated Rob Van Dam and WWE Raw Tag Team Champion the Big Show by pinning RVD with the Pedigree at 13:04 after RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Show but Triple H prevented referee Mike Chioda from making the 3-count; due to pre-match stipulations, Triple H earned a WWE World Title shot at WrestleMania; after the bout, WWE World Champion John Cena came out and had a face-to-face confrontation with Triple H