Raw Report 1/28/2008
Submitted by Donny Anderson on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:08 PM EST
Raw Report 1/28/2007
We begin with the recap of last night's Royal Rumble, and John Cena's unexpected, amazing return.
Back in the arena, Cena's music hits, and the former Champ makes his way down to the ring to a massive pop. Cena grabs the mic and, amidst boos and cheers, says "this is why I love this city, no matter what you think, you're going to get loud and rowdy." He says that he's here tonight to answer a question that's been on everyone's mind: how could this be possible? In October 2007, he suffered an injury that required surgery. The Doctor's said he'd be back in 1 year, which means that for the first time in his career he'd have to meet watch Wrestlemania from the bench. Now, in his absence, a new champ is crowned, and new contenders were put in place, and life in the WWE went on. But in a hospital bed, his life was crumbling as his dreams faded away. So, in the last second, in the final hour, he risked it all for the chance to get an opportunity to once again go to Wrestlemania. Maybe it was luck, skill, or both, but the impossible has happened. He is back, he is the winner of the 21st Royal Rumble, and he's going to Wrestlemania! That is, unless, the fans would like to have Wrestlemania here tonight: there's a man that has something that he wants. He officially challenges him for that Championship. Tonight, John Cena versus Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.
Orton's music hits, and the Champ comes to the ramp with belt and mic in hand. Randy says he's got an answer, but it's not what he wants to hear. He's answered many challenges, HHH, HBK, Y2J, and Jeff Hardy, and the same thing has happened: He has beaten them.
Cena says yes, he's beaten them all, and done something that nobody else has been able to do. He's taken out John Cena, because he's smart. He saw opportunity and he took it... which is why he's going to take this match tonight. He's going to take it because he thinks he has an advantage, and although he's never beaten Cena, he knows in his heart he needs every advantage he can get, and he has one right now. Is he going to wait 8 weeks for Wrestlemania and let Cena get even more healthy?
Orton answers by saying that ever since he's put Cena on the shelf, he's become a very big deal...a bigger deal than Cena has ever been, which is why he'll never defend the belt unless the people open their wallets and pay to see it. This means that he will not be facing him tonight. Since Cena can't wait til Wrestlemania, and he can't wait, he's on for the next PPV unless he wants to wait for Wrestlemania.
Cena says he won't wait. He'll accept the challenge at No Way Out. But tonight, he doesn't forget what Randy took from him. It's been four months since he's been in the ring, and he wants some. Tonight, he will get some.
It's good to have him back, if I do say so myself.
-commercial break-
Ashley and Mickie v. Jillian and Beth
Mickie starts off against Jillian, with Mickie getting the upper hand after a fast pace reversal filled exchange. Jillian cheapshots Mickie and tags in Beth. Mickie attacks her with several rights, and dodges Beth until Beth throws her into the corner ringpost. Mickie recovers and hits the ropes, but Jillian kicks her in the back and Mickie catches a sideslam. Jillian is tagged in and hits a handspring elbow drop. She charges Mickie in the corner, but gets caught with a headscissor takedown by Mickie. Beth gets tagged in and Mickie hits a crucifix takedown with a near fall, followed by a flying shoulderblock and a 2 count. Jillian gets in and they doubleteam Mickie, but Mickie counters it and throws Jillian out of the ring. She turns around from that only to get caught by Beth with a shot in the head and a fisherman's suplex for the win. Jillian holds back Ashley so that she could not interfere in the 3 count.
Your Winners: Jillian and Beth
Match Rating: B (Excellent work by Beth, Jillian, and Mickie. Ashley didn't get involved at all. I like the Mickie/Beth feud. It's pretty good TV).
Vince is in the back telling Regal to let John Cena have it. Vince ponders who will face that winner at Wrestlemania? Regal says "the match we talked about earlier." Vince says its barbaric, but it's brilliant. Vince tells him to go make that announcement.
-commercial break-
William Regal's music hits, and the Commish comes out. He says that whoever is the WWE Champion after No Way Out will face one of 6 contestants at Wrestlemania. The 6 contestants will square off in an Elimination Chamber to decide who faces the winner of Cena/Orton. He then goes over the rules of the Elimination Chamber. 2 of the men will start the match, and at designated intervals, a new man will come into the match. The sole survivor will be the number 1 contender for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania.
The participants:
Umaga
Shawn Michaels
Chris Jericho
John Bradshaw Layfield
Jeff Hardy
Triple H
Regal wishes them luck, and may God have mercy on their souls.
Mike Adamle is introduced, and he announces Snitsky and Umaga versus HHH and a mystery partner tonight. After that, it's JBL and Randy Orton against Jeff Hardy and Y2J. Solid job by Adamle. It's old school. I like it.
-commercial break-
Carlito v. Cody Rhodes
Each are accompanied by their respective tag team partners. Carlito starts off with the advantage, but Cody quickly gets control. Carlito puts Cody in the corner and starts nailing him with knife edge chops. Cody reverses and returns the favor, and hits a rollup for a 2 count. Cody hooks the arm and barely gets an armdrag. Carlito looks to have hurt his shoulder, so Cody goes to work on it with an armbar. Carlito gets out of it and takes control, ending up on the apron. Cody hits the ropes and lands a flying fist sending Carlito to the outside. Both men get in the ring, and Marella hops on the apron, distracting Cody. Carlito uses this opportunity to hit the backstabber for the win.
Your Winner: Carlito
Match Rating: C+ (I'm ready for this to feud to hit the next level. Decent match, but nothing we haven't seen before.)
HHH is talking to HBK. He says last night didn't work out, and they've got another chance at No Way Out. They have to beat the hell out of each other in the Elimination Chamber, which isn't good for HBK, Shawn admits. Tonight though, HHH needs a tag team partner. HHH takes off his hoodie to reveal a DX shirt. Shawn says "be right back" and leaves camera. He comes back about 3 seconds later with a DX shirt and plus WWEShop.com. HHH says "lets do this" as we head to a break.
-commercial break-
The familiar sound of DX music hits, and HHH and HBK make their way to the ring. They do their familiar schtick.
HHH and HBK v. Umaga and Snitsky
Snitsky stars off against HHH. They lock up, but HHH walks away and asks the crowd if anyone has a toothbrush, or a mint, or a tic-tac. They lock up again, and Snitsky pounds and kicks HHH in the corner. HHH comes out of the corner with a clothesline and then tags in HBK. HBK in control, and tags in HHH again. HHH works the left arm until being caught with a slam. Snitsky misses an elbow drop, and HHH tags in HBK who hits a few chops and a flying shoulderblock. Umaga catches a punch from HBK, who climbs the turnbuckle only to get caught with a kick from Umaga, flying out of the ring. Snitsky throws HBK back in the ring and locks in a bear hug. Shawn gets out of it, but Snitsky locks it in again. HBK fights out once more, only to get hammered with a massive clothesline. Snitsky throws HBK into his corner and pounds away. Umaga begins choking Michaels, but the ref splits it up. Snitsky tags in Umaga officially, and he locks in a nerve hold, followed by a reverse bearhug on Michaels. HBK reaches for a tag, but to no avail.
-commercial break-
We're back, and HBK is in the tree of woe. Umaga hits a flying headbutt, and strikes Shawn's stomach. Referee Jack Doan pulls HBK down, and Umaga covers for the 2. Umaga hits a headbutt and tags in Snitsky. Snitsky locks in a bearhug again. The crowd starts getting hot, and HBK fights out of it. Shawn hits a few chops and almost tags in HHH, but Snitsky catches him and throws him into the turnbuckle. Snitsky tags in Umaga who lines up for a wreckingball. He misses, and Michaels jumps for the tag, but Umaga catches him. Michaels spins around and hits a DDT, sending both men down. Umaga tags in Snitsky but HBK gets ot HHH. HHH hits a kneelift, then attacks Umaga with a clothesline. HHH hits a facebuster on Snitsky, but turns around and catches a samoan drop from Umaga. HBK hits Sweet Chin Music out of NOWHERE and sends Umaga out of the ring. HBK flies out of the ring on to Umaga. Back in the ring, Snitsky is hit with a spinebuster, followed by a pedigree courtesy of HHH, who gets the win.
Your Winners: Degeneration X
Match Rating; B+ (Great ending, but it suffered because it seemed a lot longer than it really was. One too many bearhugs. DX reunions are always a blast though).
Randy is in the back, and JBL walks up. JBL says history will be made tonight, as its the first time they've teamed up. Then at Wrestlemania, history will be made again, because it will be JBL against Orton. Orton says he hopes JBL wins the Elimination Chamber, because he knows he can beat him. JBL says he'll drag Randy through Wall Street like he did Chris Jericho. But tonight, they're partners. JBL will take Jericho, and Orton will take out Hardy. If Cena shows up, they'll take him down together.
-commercial break-
Todd Grisham is in the back and he introduces Jeff Hardy. He says that Jeff was so close last night, and Jeff says that's right. He says that he was close and didn't do it, and now he can either give up or keep trying. Jeff says he has his chance with the Elimination Chamber to go to Wrestlemania and have another shot at the title. Jeff says that the Rumble wasn't the end, but only the beginning.
Vince is shown in his office. Hornswoggle is with him. Vince says that he's disappointed. He says that Hornswoggle's name is supposed to be McMahon. Vince says that everyone was so excited about Hornswoggle being in the Rumble, but Hornswoggle didn't come back like a McMahon. He says that Hornswoggle didn't come back a winner, but he came back a loser. Vince tells Hornswoggle that he's ashamed of him, and to get out of his sight. Hornswoggle walks away with his head down as Vince has a very bitter look on his face.
-commercial break-
Kennedy's music hits in the arena. Looks like we get to see him in action tonight against Brian Kendrick.
Mr. Kennedy v. Brian Kendrick
Kendrick runs into the ring and slaps Kennedy. Kennedy knocks him to the ground and stomps away on Kendrick. Kendrick manages to roll to the outside, and slams the following Kennedy into the ring post. Kendrick takes advantage and manages to land some strikes before taking a drop toe hold and slamming into the apron hard. Kennedy gets him back into the ring, and starts to work on Kendrick's arm. Kendrick manages to fight Kennedy off, and mounts the top rope. Kennedy dodges a dropkick attempt, and hits the Mic Check for the win.
Your Winner: Mr. Kennedy
Kennedy grabs his mic from the ceiling and says that he asked Regal not to include him in the Elimination Chamber not because he doesn't want to have a title shot, but because he would much rather end the career of Ric Flair. He says that he is going to do to Flair what people do to animals when they are no longer of value. He says that he is going put Flair down, that he is going to waste him. Flair's music hits, and the Nature Boy comes out with a mic in his hand. Flair says he's got two things to say to Kennedy: Good luck, and WOOOOOOOO.
Match Rating: B (The match itself was a little short, but the promo after the match made up for that. Kennedy and Flair should put on quite a show at No Way Out.)
-commercial break-
Melina v. Maria
They lock up, but Melina grabs Maria's leg and takes her down. Maria reverses and grabs Melinas arms, as they work their way up to their feet. Maria puts Melina in the corner and hits the bronco Buster. Maria grabs Melina legs, but Melina kicks her and puts her into the turnbuckle. Melina takes conrol and locks in a neck bridge on Maria. Maria reverses it and hits a neckbreaker. Maria fights back, but Melina hits a hard right hand. Maria hits a headscissor takedown, and hits a belly buster but only manages a 1 count. Maria throws Melina into the corner and goes for a splash, but Melina moves. Melina goes atop Maria and tries for a sunset flip, tearing her pants off. Maria sits on Melina, hooks her legs, and picks up the win.
Santino grabs the mic and goes off on the crowd for fantasizing about Maria, even accusing JR of erecting a monument in his pants. He says that they'll never see Maria in Playboy.
Your Winner: Maria
Match Rating: B (I love Santino. He made this match. Pretty good considering the limited experience and capabalities of these Divas).
Todd is in the back with Y2J. He says we saw a new side of Chris Jericho. Jericho is everyone is familiar with the other Jericho, the Ayattollah of Rock N Rollah, the Savior, and the Raw is Jericho. Last night, though, as he was blinded by blood, and a new Chris Jericho emerged. That Chris Jericho wants to spend more time with JBL. They'll both be going to Orlando, but while JBL is at Disney World, he'll be at Wrestlemania.
-commercial break-
Mike Adamle welcomes us back and hypes No Way Out.
Hardy and Jericho v. Orton and JBL
Orton starts off against Jericho. They square off with Jericho getting control with a side headlock. Orton pushes Jericho into the ropes but catches a few big chops and catches a big back-elbow. Jerich hits a nice suplex and taunts JBL. Y2J slams Orton's head into the turnbuckle, but catches a thumb in the eye. After a quick exchange as the two men dodge and evade each other in the middle of the ring, Jericho hits the codebreaker out of nowhere. Jericho tags in Hardy, who hits the Swanton, while JBL and Jericho brawl on the outside. Hardy covers Orton, but JBL pulls the Champ out of the ring.
-commercial break-
Orton is stomping away on Hardy, and he whips him into the ropes. Hardy hits a flying forearm and gets a nearfall, but Orton kicks out and locks in a headlock and tags in JBL. JBL begins to pound on Hardy, hitting him with a shoulderblock, but missing an elbow drop. Hardy hits a reverse mulekick and his double leg drop, but walks right into a big boot by JBL after Orton distracts Jeff. Jericho breaks up a pin attempt. JBL tags in Orton, and Orton starts stomping and slamming Jeff against the mat. Orton gets a 2 count and locks in an arm vice. Hardy tries to get to Jericho, but Orton pulls him back to the corner via a drop toe-hold and JBL is tagged in once more. JBL beats down Hardy with closed fists. JBL tags in Orton once more, and the beating on Jeff continues. Jeff hits a lariat takedown on Randy, and both men are down. Orton tags in JBL as Hardy dives and tags Jericho. Jericho unloads on JBL with several tackles followed by punches. Orton tries to cheap shot, but Jericho responds with a spring board dropkick that knocks Orton to the floor. Jericho hits the lionsault and nearly gets the full count, but Orton intervenes. Hardy tries to take Orton out with a whisper in the wind, but Orton pushes him off the top of the turnbuckle and he flies out to the outside. While the ref checks out Hardy, Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho, but Randy jumps in the ring and gives an RKO to Y2J. JBL gets the clean pin.
Cena's music hits, and he comes down to the ring quickly. JBL leaves the ring, and Cena picks up Randy and FU's him. Cena is standing tall as Raw goes off the air.
Your Winner: JBL and Randy Orton
Match Rating: A- (Jericho was on point, Hardy was great, JBL has shaken alot of rust, and Orton showed why he's the Champ. Very, very fast paced action. Cena's appearance was a little forced, but it was good to see Orton get FU'd. A good end to a good night.
Final Grade: B+
The night after a Pay-Per-View is always crucial. In my opinion, the WWE pulled this off well. No Way Out is shaping up to be a great PPV, perhaps better than the already stellar Royal Rumble. This is the best time of year to be a WWE Fan, as we're full steam ahead towards Wrestlemania 24. Match of the Night goes to the Hardy/Jericho v. Orton/JBL.
Last week, there was no Raw Report because I had the opportunity to be AT Raw! I was sitting behind JR and King, and it was quite the experience. I had the chance to speak with Jericho for a moment about his book (for those of you that read his book, he taught me the "arm wrestling" trick). Anyhow, I planned on writing up a full review of my experience but Law School got in the way once again, so I wasn't able to complete it. I will say this: As great as Raw is, if you find yourself able to go to Raw LIVE, I cannot recommend it enough. The only draw back was the producer who sits beside JR and King. That guy was a goon. Otherwise, a great night.
As always, Questions, Comments, and any other remarks can be sent to DonnyAnderson@gmail.com. Thanks, and I'll see you all next week!
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