The Raw Report (10/09/06): The Family Reunion featuring Raw, SD, and ECW stars
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Monday, October 9, 2006 at 11:09 PM EST





The Raw Report (10/09/06)

Raw has a new entrance song and video…

JR, King, Cole, JBL, Tazz, and Styles welcomed everyone to the show…

The show opened with WWE Champion John Cena (whose name was flashed across the screen w/ a new Raw graphic) coming to ring and grabbing a microphone. On Cena’s way to the ring, JR and King introduced highlights of last week’s steel cage match. Anyhow, Cena saluted the crowd and hyped the season premiere of Raw. He said that the people in attendance were a part of the 698th episode of the show…and that’s all he’s got for tonight, so goodnight. He was kidding with the last comment and turned his attention to Edge. He said that through TLC and steel cages, it felt good to finally be able to tell Edge that the “Champ is Here.” At that point, World Heavyweight Champion King Booker came to the ring w/ Queen Sharmell. JR mentioned that Booker successfully defended his title last night at No Mercy. JBL said that Book was the real King, all offense meant to Jerry Lawler. To a chorus of boos, the King said that Cena was a champ, but not the champ, and that the real champion of champions was none other than King Booker. He said that last night at No Mercy, he beat three mighty foes, and that last time he was Raw, he beat down Cena and made the WWE Champ kiss his feet. Cena mocked Book with an English accent and recalled that when he went to SD to retaliate, he and his teammates beat King Booker’s ass. The WWE Champ said that he walked into the wrong snake pit, as this was Monday Night Raw, and if he wanted to talk trash, he’d have to back it up. Cena suggested they go right then and there. Book accepted the challenge and took off his robe, but ECW Champion Big Show decided there weren’t enough World champs in the ring. Show made his way to the ring with a purpose (and a mic in hand) and said that he was the champion of champions. He said that Cena was a white guy who talked like he was black and Booker was a black guy who talks like Prince Charles. Show said he was the only guy in the ring who is what he says he is…the most dominant big man in history and the most dominant champion in the ring. Cena said Andre the Giant was the greatest. Show said if Andre was around, he’d kick his ass. Book asked what the point was…Show said they didn’t realize how dominant he really was. He scoffed at Cena being the star of the Marine and hyped his appearance in “The Water Boy.” Book said Show was in the movie for all of 42-seconds, and hyped his appearance in “Ready to Rumble.” Show and Cena had a hearty laugh at that…Cena said that movie was crap and suggested it was stupid for them to all be in the ring talking about movies on the season premiere of Raw. Thus, Cena attacked Show, which led to a brawl b/t all three. The short brawl ended with Show standing alone in the ring while Book and Cena paced on opposite sides of the ring. (CMV1 note- If rumors are true, then these three will be main-eventing Cyber Sunday in a non-title triple threat match. If that’s true, then this was a good start to what should be an entertaining tri-brand feud culminating in some sort of Survivor Series match. It had some humor, some drama, and some action…and I dug it)

JR and King hyped a Street Fight b/t DX and Cade/Murdoch…Cole and JBL hyped a 6-man tag team match…

Backstage, Paul Heyman, Teddy Long, and Coach argued about who had the best champion. Coach suggested Show wrestle Jeff Hardy tonight, Heyman suggested Booker wrestle RVD, and Long suggested Cena wrestle the Undertaker. All parties agreed to those terms…


Match 1: Loser Leaves Raw Match- Umaga (w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada) vs. Kane
-The two traded blows to start the match, w/ Kane gaining the advantage and backing Umaga into the corner. He whipped him to the other corner and drilled him with a running clothesline. Umaga came back, though, with a running clothesline of his own. The Samoan Bulldozer took control and struck Kane w/ basic offense. Kane fired back with a right hand and an uppercut, but Umaga regained momentum with a headbutt. The Big Red Machine hit a back elbow smash and threw Umaga face first into the ring post. He then went to the top rope, but Umaga caught up to him and threw him off the top rope. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, and that really wasn’t expected. Back from the break, Umaga was pounding away at Kane in the corner. During the break, Umaga had caught Kane w/ a Samoan Drop. Back to live action, though, Kane latched onto Umaga’s throat for the chokeslam. Umaga responded with a belly-to-belly suplex, but Kane sat right up and hit several right handed shots. The undefeated Umaga caught Kane w/ a Flatliner, though, and followed with a top rope splash. He then called for the Samoan Spike, but Kane blocked the attempt and tried for the chokeslam. Umaga battled out, but Kane caught him with a side walk slam and headed to the top rope again. He came flying off and connected with a flying clothesline. AAE tried to get involved, at that point, so Kane grabbed him by the throat. The ref proceeded to get distracted, allowing Armando to blast Kane in the face with a cigar box. The finish came soon after, when Umaga defeated Kane w/ a diving Samoan Spike at 7:54. (CMV1 rating- * ¼) (CMV1 note- disappointingly short way to end Kane’s career on Raw, for the time being. Solid action while it lasted, but it didn’t get enough time to build to anything dramatic). After the match, the crowd chanted for Kane as he walked away for what JR called the final time on Raw.

Steve Spurrier was in the house tonight…

Tazz and Styles hyped Jeff Hardy vs. Big Show…JBL and Cole hyped Book vs. RVD…JR and King hyped Cena vs. Undertaker…

Backstage, Kane was approached by the Highlanders, who told the Big Red Machine that they were honored to have been on the same show as them. Kane didn’t think too much of their kindness and tossed them both around like rag dolls…and then he walked out of the arena.

Further backstage, HBK and HHH had a little press conference. DX said that as a result of them taking over the show, they had to apologize. HHH said it was stupid to have to do this. HBK apologized to the entire tag divisions, the Spirit Squad, Jonathon Coachmen, Chris Masters, and Edge. HHH mocked all of the above, specifically poking fun at Edge’s chances of regaining the title. HBK tried to apologize for beating Cade and Murdoch w/in an inch of their lives, but Trips reminded him that they hadn’t done that yet and were currently live on TV. They both looked at the camera w/ spooked looks, but then snapped out of it and hyped their merchandize.


Match 2: ECW Champion Big Show vs. Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy
-(CMV1 note- in case anyone was wondering, neither title was on the line. Also, Tazz and Styles did commentary). Tazz claimed that no one can beat the Big Show. Hardy went for Show’s legs in the early going, but Show shrugged off the offense, chopped Jeff, and threw him clear across the ring. Show then ripped off Hardy’s shirt and gave him another chop before sticking his boot on Jeff’s windpipe. Hardy tried to fight back, but Show caught him with a hard clothesline. Show slammed Hardy near the corner and went to the second rope. He tried for a Vader Bomb, but Hardy moved and got back on the attack. He gave Show a low dropkick to the knee and attempted the Twist of Fate, but Show lifted him in the air and tried to throw him out of the ring. Hardy held on, though, and draped Show’s neck across the top rope. Jeff followed with a Whisper in the Wind off the top rope. He then eventually hit the Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Show gave Hardy a leg drop and used the Big Sleep (back breaker across the knee into a Cobra Clutch) to put Hardy away. Show defeated Hardy at 2:49. (CMV1 rating- ½ *). (CMV1 note- fun while it lasted, but really short). After the match, Johnny Nitro attacked Hardy…but Show came back in the ring and gave him the Big Sleep.


Match 3: (Come as You Are) Street Fight- Degeneration X vs. Cade and Murdoch
-(CMV1 note- DX did their usual schtick on the mic prior to the match…plus they got Vince a present: the South Carolina Gamecock mascot, Cocky. A “Gamecocks” chant began in the USC crowd. HBK said that Cocky’s representation wasn’t comfortable with him being portrayed in DX’s manner. HHH made several jokes about cocks, here). HBK and Murdoch, and Trips and Cade paired off to start the match. Trips caught Cade w/ a facebuster and threw him out of the ring. Murdoch botched HBK’s flying forearm spot, and got a Trips body slam for his troubles. HBK tried to go for the flying elbow, but Cade knocked him off the top rope. Trips went out and slammed Cade’s face into the announce table. Meanwhile, Murdoch knocked HBK out of the match, temporarily, and went to his partner’s aid on the outside. Cade and Murdoch proceeded to toss HHH into the ring steps and head back into the ring to take care of HBK. Michaels tried to fight back, but they hit a nice invert atomic drop and big boot combination. Murdoch then whipped HBK with his leather belt. Cade followed by blasting him in the face with his boot. He tried for another boot shot, but Trips pulled down and the top rope, sending Cade to the outside. Trips went on to suplex Cade onto the steel stage and nail him in the face with a chair. Meanwhile, HBK back dropped Murdoch over the top rope. HHH retrieved a table from under the ring and set it up on the outside. He then tossed a bloody Cade into the ring and placed Murdoch on the table. HBK went to the top rope and splashed Murdoch threw the table w/ an elbow drop! Trips held up the DX sign, as HBK willed himself back to his feet and celebrated. The finish came when HBK drilled Cade with Sweet Chin Music, sending him right into a Triple H Pedigree. DX defeated Cade and Murdoch at 5:54. (CMV1 rating- * ¾) (CMV1 note- solid action during its short duration, and you have to take your hat off to HBK for that top rope elbow drop to the floor and thru a table…a less than six-minute TV match against two nobodies and he still takes a nice high risk)

Backstage, Todd Grisham got an interview w/ Edge. Edge said that DX cost him the WWE title last week, but later on tonight he’d bring back the Cutting Edge and interview a very special guest. After that interview, all of Todd’s stupid questions would be answered.

Highlights aired of last night’s No Mercy PPV…


Match 4: Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Benoit
-(CMV1 note- Shelton got on the mic and talked about how doesn’t even get the respect of being booked in his home state…and he wasn’t leaving until he got an opponent). Benoit and Benjamin locked up to start the match, w/ Benoit taking early control with a few knife edge chops, a snap suplex, and a German suplex. Benjamin gained some much needed momentum when he escaped a second German suplex attempt and sent Benoit into the second turnbuckle. He followed with a stiff kick and Samoan Drop before synching in a rear chinlock. Benoit battled back w/ chops and a back elbow smash. Two clotheslines and three German suplexes followed for the Rabid Wolverine, who then headed to the top rope for the diving headbutt. He missed the high risk, though, allowing Shelton the chance to hit the Stinger Splash in the corner. Benjamin then tried to put him away with the T-Bone suplex, but Benoit countered and locked in the Crossface for the tap out victory. Benoit defeated Benjamin at 2:49. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- It’s a damn shame that they weren’t given 10-minutes and allowed to go wild)

Backstage, TRL said that Benoit’s win was a good example of SD’s dominance. Heyman said that Benoit was an ECW guy on loan to SD to make them look good. Coach came into the picture and introduced Super Crazy, who had been on each brand and could be objective in his decision on which was the best brand. They each made points that Crazy agreed with, but Crazy said that each brand had its own great qualities. Each of the three brand leaders looked confused, as they’d never known Crazy could speak English.


Match 5: Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Lashley vs. Finlay, William Regal, and Chavo Guerrero (w/ Vickie Guerrero)
-Chavo started against Rey and the two traded quick strikes. Guerrero tried for an early powerbomb, but Rey countered and hit a hurricanrana that sent Chavo over the top rope. Mysterio headed to the top rope, but Finlay and Regal tried to intervene. Rey came off the top rope onto Regal and Finlay and took them each down into 619 position with a double head scissor. Finlay got the heels in the match when he trapped Rey b/t the ring and the apron after Mysterio attempted a double 619. Regal and Finlay proceeded to hammer away at Rey until the faces came over to stop the illegal assault. We then got a dreaded mid-match commercial break, but that was to be expected. Back from the break, Finlay had a rear chin lock synched on Mysterio. Rey came back with a drop toehold that sent Finlay face-first into the second turnbuckle. The Irishman didn’t let up, though, as he quickly came back with a shoulder breaker. Chavo tagged in and scored with a European uppercut before backing Rey into the corner. Mysterio fought back and dropkicked Chavo in the face after rolling thru Guerrero’s attempted sunset flip. Rey got the hot tag, but the ref was distracted. The heels took advantage and kept Mysterio grounded. Finlay tossed Rey into the outside barricade. Back in the ring, Rey hit a wheelbarrow bulldog and made the hot tag to Batista, who cleaned house of all the heels with clotheslines and right hands. He tossed Finlay and Regal into the corner and splashed each of them. Batista then back dropped Regal, slammed Finlay on top of him, and gave Chavo the Jackhammer. The heels tried to regroup, but Lashley gave Regal the Spear. Regal and Finlay ended up on the outside, leaving Chavo alone in the ring w/ all the faces. Rey hit a hurricanrana and a 619, Batista caught him with a spinebuster, and Mysterio finished Guerrero off with a frog splash. Batista, Mysterio, and Lashley won the 6-man tag at 8:41. (CMV1 rating- * ¾) (CMV1 note- good action, but we only got to see 6-minutes of it. Why not let us see all 9-minutes and have a commercial right after? Sure, they need commercials, but better proportion them)

Bischoff’s book is coming out a week from tomorrow…

Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young, who needed the help of a walker, came to the ramp and waved at everyone…

John Cena visited Paris Island, SC’s Marine base and they put him thru real drills. The Marines on the base said that he was a tough guy…

Backstage, King Booker and Sharmell talked about how important the night was. He said that on Raw, he was a peasant sacrificing his career to make the people happy. But on Smackith Down, he became King and champion of the world. He said tonight he needed to dominate RVD and show Big Show and Cena that he was truly the champion of champions. Sharmell said that after tonight, the Raw audience would be screaming, “All Hail King Book-ah.”


Match 6: Melina vs. Torrie Wilson
-(CMV1 note- this was the third match of the first round of the Women’s Championship tournament…and it was a Lumberjack Match featuring the Divas involved in tomorrow night’s ECW Strip Poker: Ashley, Maria, Candice, Ariel, Kristal, and Kelly). They struggled to get the opening sequence off, but Torrie took early control nonetheless. Melina walked away, but Candice tossed her back in the ring. Torrie gave her a baseball slide that sent her back outside, but the divas tossed her back in the ring. Melina then tossed Torrie to the apron and dropkicked her to the outside. The Divas did their job and put her back in the ring, where Melina continued to dominate and threw Torrie across the ring by the hair. Wilson came back with a few clotheslines and a snap suplex for a near fall. Melina came back w/ a running facebuster. Torrie got back on the attack w/ a swinging neckbreaker, but Melina kicked out of the pin attempt and got the win with a roll-up, thanks to a little distraction from Kristal. Melina advanced in the Women’s title tournament at 2:59. (CMV1 rating- ½ *) (CMV1 note- other than the opening sequence, it wasn’t too bad). After the match, Torrie gave Kristal the Stink Face.


Match 7: World Heavyweight Champion King Booker (w/ Sharmell) vs. Rob Van Dam
-(CMV1 note- the title was not on the line). They circled each other and went into a lock-up. Book backed RVD into the corner and blasted him with several right handed shots. The crowd chanted for Van Dam, willing him to duck an arm wrench and hook kick combo from Book and eventually score a near fall with a unique pin attempt. Van Dam followed with shoulder thrusts and a monkey flip for another near fall. Booker came back and threw RVD into ring post. The ECW and SD announcers were actually distracting w/ their very entertaining back and forth banter. Book maintained control with a back elbow smash and an arm wrench and hook kick combination. He eventually synched on a rear chin lock. Van Dam fought back and scored another near fall with a roll-up. RVD followed with a stiff kick out of the corner. A few clotheslines and a back kick later and Van Dam was in full control. He tried to capitalize on his momentum with a top rope side kick, but Sharmell pushed him off the turnbuckle and crotch-first onto the rope. The finish came when Booker defeated RVD with the axe kick at 4:05. (CMV1 rating- ¾ *) (CMV1 note- fine for what it was, but the WWE has missed the opportunity to have some damn good matches tonight with their insistence on acting like it’s 1999 and making every match short. This isn’t the Attitude era and there are fans out there that would rather see 8-minute matches than anything else)

Go check out Brian Pillman’s DVD…

Another vignette aired for Cryme Tyme, who this week trained by bench pressing a girl…They debut next week…

Backstage, Mitch from the Spirit Squad admitted that he sucked…but he said tonight that’d all change when he beat Ric Flair w/ the help of his friends.

Further backstage, Coach said that tonight had been very entertaining. Heyman and Long argued over who the better brand was, when Vince McMahon showed up and shook everyone’s hand. He hyped the season premiere and the family reunion. McMahon had enough of listening to the bickering over whose brand had the better champion, so he made official the rumored match of Big Show vs. Booker T vs. John Cena at Cyber Sunday…to determine the Champion of Champions…(CMV1 note- glad they went ahead and made that official)

Highlights of the premiere of “The Marine” aired…


Match 8: Mitch (w/ the Spirit Squad) vs. Ric Flair
-(CMV1 note- Flair brought Rowdy Roddy Piper, Million Dollar Man, IRS, and Arn Anderson to the ring with him…nice to see all these guys). As the match began, the Legends backed the Squad right up the ramp. Mitch capitalized on the distraction caused by all the hoopla, but Flair came back quickly with knife edge chops and a chop block. The finish came when Flair defeated Mitch at 1:09 w/ the Figure Four. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *) (CMV1 note- again, nice to see Double A, Money Inc., and Piper)


Edge and Lita came to the ring for the return of the Cutting Edge segment. The former champ took the microphone and welcomed everyone back to his segment. He said that he had a very special guest and wasted no time in introducing Randy Orton. Orton walked out in street clothes, as King referred briefly to the animosity the two once had towards each other. Edge thanked Randy, but got straight to the point. He said that while Orton had impressed him, he’d done nothing since winning the World title in 2004. Orton didn’t like what he was hearing and told Edge to get to the point or get dropped. Edge said that you could trace Orton’s mis-steps back to one single moment…that being when Triple H turned on him on August 16, 2004. Orton again looked very irritated by the interview. Edge said that it was Triple H’s selfishness that ruined everything for Orton. He said that normally he wouldn’t care, but last week HBK did the exact same thing to him. Edge referred to HBK as the guy who taught HHH every power hungry and self-promoting trick in the book. He said that until someone takes a stand, HHH and HBK will continue to walk all over everyone on Raw. Edge said he thought that he and Orton should be the guys dominating Raw and holding all the titles…not some tired old act that was popular ten years ago. He offered a partnership to Orton. Randy ignored an RKO chant and addressed as DX, saying that as far as them running Raw was concerned, he had two words for them… “It’s over!” He then shook Edge’s hand and posed w/ him and Lita. (CMV1 note- very strong segment…they don’t often address why two heels that are former rivals would team up to take on a major face team, so it was nice to actually see them give a storyline reason for Edge and Orton to become teammates. This was a great beginning, in my opinion, to the new feud I’ve been waiting to see for DX since July. Edge, as usual, was involved in one of the highlights of this show. His delivery, in making some comments that many fans would agree with in regards to Trips burying Orton’s promising young career two years ago, was right on the money).


Match 9: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Undertaker
-(CMV1 note- the title was not on the line, but the quality of the match was certainly compromised by the bout not getting underway until about 9:58 CT). Taker got first strike points with a kick to the gut and a pair of back elbow smashes in the corner. He then choked Cena and scared the ref away. Cena came back with a series of right hands, but Taker came right back with several punches of his own. The champ ducked two clotheslines, though, and tried to get his offense going. Taker came back with a boot to the face and began working over Cena’s left arm. He went to the top for Old School, but Cena crotched him on the top rope and tried for a superplex. Taker knocked him off, but Cena came right back to the second turnbuckle and connected on his second attempt at superplex. That was good for a near fall, but Taker wasted little time in gaining some momentum with a bear hug. Cena battled out of the hold by biting Taker in the face and connecting on a diving shoulder tackle. He signaled for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Taker grabbed him by the throat and went for a chokeslam. Cena elbowed his way out of the goozle and eventually scored a running DDT. The champ tried for a body slam, but Taker countered and went for the Tombstone. Cena countered and went for the FU, but Taker countered and hit the chokeslam. The finish came when Booker T and Big Show came into the ring and assaulted the Deadman. The knocked him out of the ring and wouldn’t let him return. Mr. Kennedy tried to ambush him from behind, but Taker saw him and caught him with a big boot. Kennedy and Taker battled to the backstage area, while Booker drilled Cena in the back with a clubbing blow. Big Show dropped Booker, showing no loyalty to anyone. Cena then caught Show by surprise w/ a DDT and locked in the STFU, eventually making Show tap. Booker intervened and attacked Cena, but ended up getting an FU for his troubles. Cena and Taker wrestled to a no-contest at 4:35. (CMV1 rating- * ¼) (CMV1 note- really good action, but very short. I don’t think it was that smart to have Cena make Show tap, but it speaks volumes that Raw is the superior brand over the other two when Cena can overcome both other World Champs and stand alone at the end of the show)




All in all…While the in-ring action was all too short to be anything more than average at the very best, I still walked away from this show entertained. I felt that it had a big event atmosphere by having all the brands on the same show, and each interbrand bout stood out as something that I wanted to see. At the end of the day, the multi-brand feud heading toward Cyber Sunday and Survivor Series should make for some entertaining shows in the coming weeks, and tonight was a solid start. However, what tonight lacked was, indeed, a really good match to push the rating up. You mean to tell me that in 3 hours of TV, I can’t get one single 10-minute or more, 3-star caliber match? That’s bush league…but the rest of the show was solid, yet unspectacular, so it still warrants a pretty good rating. Thus, I’ll give tonight’s show a very generous 6/10 since there wasn’t any really good quality wrestling, and call it a night …





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