Raw Report 2/18/2008
Submitted by Donny Anderson on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 11:08 PM EST
Raw Report 2/18/2008
Triple H comes out and says that he's happy after missing last year's Wrestlemania, to be back at the Granddaddy of them all. He says when he gets there, he's going to become a 12 time champion.
His speech is interrupted by Orton's music, as the Champ comes down to confront the Game. Orton says they've come full circle. Last night, it was John Cena, and before him, Jeff Hardy, Jericho, and HBK... and before all of them, it was HHH, the man he beat for the WWE title. They've known each other for a long time, and the jealousy has always remained the same. Four years ago, he was jealous, and he's jealous now because Orton is that much better. It makes Randy happy to hear HHH proclaim an early victory, because it makes him just like all of the rest.
Orton's speech is interrupted by the music of John Cena. Cena makes his way to the ring and grabs a mic. He says to wait a minute, and proclaims Orton the Champ, unique as both a liar and a loser. It's only fitting that with scandals in all sports, disgrace comes to the WWE Title with the only Champion to lose his way into Wrestlemania. Cena demands a rematch tonight, with the winner facing Triple H at Wrestlemania.
Orton asks Triple H if he's going to let this stand. Triple H says he doesn't give a crap which one is champion, he'll beat whoever it is.
Regal's music hits, and the Raw GM says he'll resolve this as fair as possible. Triple H won the elimination chamber, so he's a lock for Wrestlemania. Orton got himself DQ'd, and that doesn't look good for Raw, and makes him look bad. Tonight, there will be a non-title match. If John Cena beats Orton, he'll go to Wrestlemania for a Triple Threat match. HHH objects, so Regal makes him the special guest referee for the main event. Triple H decides the fate of John Cena and Wrestlemania tonight as all men stare down.
-commercial break-
Jeff Hardy comes out to a brand new entrance theme. Sounds great.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Jeff Hardy v. Snitsky
Snitsky starts out overpowering Hardy. He slams him into the turnbuckle and kicks him several times before catch a series of dropkicks by Jeff. Jeff hits the corner kick on Snitsky and jumpes to the top rope. Snitsky interrupts this, and knocks him off the top to the outside.
-commercial break-
We come back to Hardy held in a bearhug in the middle of the ring. Jeff elbows his way out of it, only to catch a shoulderblock by Snitsky, who gets a 2 count. Snitsky continues assaulting Hardy, delivering vicious kicks and elbow drops before getting a near-fall 2 count. Snitsky then starts choking Hardy on the ropes. Then, after throwing Jeff into the corner, he hits 3 straight running elbowdrops, but comes up short on a near-fall 2 count. Snitsky then locks in a modified chinlock, pulling back on Hardy's head, then switches it up to a front facelock. Hardy finally fights to his feet only to get hit with a bodyslam. Snitsky misses a big legdrop, and Hardy capitalizes on it with a series of flying forearms that finally put the big man down. Hardy then hits a Whisper in the Wind, and gets a 2 count. Snitsky gets up almost catches a Twist of Fate, but he big boots Hardy instead. Snitsky then gets ready for the pumphandle slam, but Hardy wiggles out, hits the Twist of Fate, and finally the Swanton for the win!
Your Winner: Jeff Hardy
-commercial break-
Mike Adamle introduces Shawn Michaels, who is here to make an announcement regarding this years Hall of Fame ceremony. HBK says he's sore, tired, and beatup, but Wrestlemania is right around the corner. You can't have Wrestlemania without the Hall of Fame, so he's here to announce the first inductee. He's the greatest Wrestler of all-time, and he's Shawn's good friend: Ric Flair.
Ric Flair is the first inductee of the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame class.
Shawn says nobody deserves it more, and hopes everyone joins him in congratulating him. HBK then "Woo's" and exits the ring amidst a big pop from the crowd.
-commercial break-
Paul Burchill v. Super Crazy
Burchill brings Katie Lee with him. They give a promo that was utterly forgettable about their family genes. Burchill starts in control but Super Crazy gets some offense in. Burchill hits a few European uppercuts, and gets a nearfall. He then locks on some sort of seated stretch maneuver that I've never seen before. Burchill hits a short-arm clothesline, followed by the curbstomp on Super Crazy for the win.
Your Winner: Paul Burchill
Big Show and Shane McMahon are seen talking in the back as we go to commercial.
-commercial break-
HHH is on the phone when Orton approaches. He says the match can't be a Triple Threat match. Orton doesn't want what happened 2 years ago to happen to HHH this year, when he tapped out to Cena. HHH asks Orton who taught him how to play mind games. HHH says he'll call it his way, and if it favors anyone, it will favor him.
Big Show's music hits, and he comes out to apologize for his actions at last night's PPV. He said he knew what he was doing, but he might have been a little bit overzealous. Some people said he went too far, but Floyd Mayweather went too far. That's not the issue though, and he's here to make a public apology. He asks Mayweather to come down to the ring. Mayweather comes out with his entourage and grabs a microphone. Mayweather says first off, he loves publicity, and he's been a fan of the WWE for many years. He's sorry things had to happen that way, but he's the best fighter in the world, and when someone calls him out, he has to retaliate. Big Show says he wasn't calling him out, he was just trying to have a moment and show the size difference. He tells Mayweather that he's sorry, and extends his hand. Mayweather accepts, and they shake hands. Mayweather cautiously backs away and leaves the ring, but Big Show tells them to hold up. He says he's done what he's supposed to do, but now he wants to get something off his chest. He must understand that the only way he could hurt Show was when Show was on his knees. Even on his knees, Show was still bigger than Mayweather, and they both know Show could take him out in 2 minutes. He let him leave the ring, just as he just did. Show calls him out, and asks him to take on the biggest athlete in the world.
Mayweather charges the ring, and he and Show square off. Mayweather takes off his hoodie and stares accepts the Big Show's challenge. He pulls a punch towards Big Show, and Show flinches, causing the crowd to pop. Mixed reaction from the crowd, as they seem to support both men.
-commercial break-
Money In the Bank Qualifier Match
Kennedy v. Val Venis
Kennedy has new theme music tonight as well. It's... decent.
Kennedy starts off in control and dominates Venis early, tossing him from turnbuckle to turnbuckle and locking on various submisssion holds. He hits an armbar takedown, and locks in the arm wrench again. Venis comes back with a hiptoss, but Kennedy won't let go of the arm. Venis finally gets out of it and hits a neckbreaker. After a quick exchange of reversals, Kennedy hits the mic-check for the win.
Your Winner: Kennedy
-commercial break-
VKM v. Hornswoggle
My computer went nuts during this match. Long story short, JBL interfered, handcuffed Finlay to the ropes, and destroyed Hornswoggle, culminating with a fallaway slam against the cage. Vince half-heartedly apologizes to Hornswoggle as he and JBL leave.
Your Winner: No Contest
-commercial break-
Santino comes out with the Playboy contract in hand. He says she is going to pose for Playboy, but first she has to face Beth Phoenix.
Beth Phoenix v. Maria
Santino says the contract contains small print that says Maria must BEAT Beth to pose for Playboy.
Beth attacks Maria and throws her around, kicking and pretty much having her way with her. Maria begins to fire back with a few right hands, but walks right into a tilt-a-whirl slam. Maria kicks out at a 2 count. Maria starts fighting back again. Candace Michelle shows up and distracts Phoenix allowing Maria to get the win.
Your Winner: Maria
Triple H puts on his Referee shirt, as our main event is next.
-commercial break-
Randy Orton v. John Cena
Special guest referee: Triple H
The two lock up, with Cena getting control. Orton eludes a charging Cena and begins hammering away. Orton pounds Cena around with battering headshots, knocking Cena down several times. Cena starts firing back, but Orton nails a picture perfect dropkick followed by a shoulderblock that sends Cena to the outside.
-commercial break-
We come back wiht Cena in control, hitting a bodyslam and an elbow drop for a 2 count. HHH is being fair. Orton crawls out of the ring, and Cena goes after him, slamming his head into the announce table. Cena throws Randy back into the ring, but catches a kick on his way back in. Orton sets up Cena and hits him with a second rope DDT. Orton hits a powerslam for a 2 count, and begins stomping away on Cena's extremeties. Orton gets another 2 count, and, in frustration, locks in a chinhold. Orton rolls up Cena, but Cena kicks out. Orton continues to punish Cena. Finally Cena begins to punch back, hitting the ropes and hitting 2 shoulderblocks followed by a front belly to backdrop. After a 5 knuckle shuffle, he goes for the FU, but Randy grabs the ropes, swings over them, and chokes Cena on the top rope. Orton charges Cena, but Cena pulls the ropes down and Randy goes to the outside. They meet outside now, with Orton throwing Cena into the steps. Orton throws Cena back in the ring, follows him in, and begins to stalk for the RKO. He goes for it, but Cena blocks it, puts Orton down, and locks in the STFU. Orton crawls towards the ropes and finally gets there. Cena gets up and stares at Triple H, and they face off for a minute. Orton tries to capitalize but walks right into an FU.
Your Winner: John Cena, therefore the main event of Wrestlemania is now a Triple Threat match.
Triple H pedigrees Cena, grabs the belt, and stares at both men laying on the mat. He drops the belt and pedigrees Orton to send the message to both men. He then poses with the belt again and stares at the Wrestlemania sign as Raw goes off the air.
Good show tonight. Wrestlemania is shaping up to be a must-see.
Questions and Comments can be sent to DonnyAnderson@gmail.com. Thanks, and I'll see you next week!
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