It’s Randy Orton’s turn to be in charge this week as we get rematches from past Wrestlemanias. We are treated to an Intercontinental Championship match between Chris Jericho & Jeff Hardy as well as a classic bout between Shawn Michaels and John Cena. Also, Big Show and Floyd Mayweather weigh-in! Will chaos ensue tonight? There’s only one way to find out and that is to read the report!
Video, pyro, BOOM! Tonight, we have the Official Weigh-In between Floyd Mayweather and Big Show…but right now, we have “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair dressed up tonight! Last week, he mentions how Shawn Michaels didn’t want to face him at Wrestlemania. He had the audacity to make a threat that if Flair pushed the envelope, his show would be stopped cold. He invites the Showstopper out to the ring. Shawn is happy to oblige. Flair says that Michaels’ entrance is the best in the business. Sympathy never existed when Flair started out. Pity isn’t even in Flair’s vocabulary. Flair says that if he can’t compete with the best in the business, he might as well retire now. Flair is really happy tonight, saying that his career could go on forever. He wants committment from Shawn and he replies that he never meant to show pity. Shawn pimps his own resume to Ric. Shawn accepts the match and he promises that they will steal the show. He hypes the 3-on-1 Steel Cage match between Flair and the Edgeheads. Shawn adds himself to the match for Smackdown this week.
Out comes the “Boss” for the night, Dr. Randy Orton. He calls the moment a touching one. He makes some matches for tonight. Triple H v. Kane is up for tonight and Shawn Michaels v. John Cena as well. We get a slight glitch in programming, but we go back to Wrestlemania 22 where Undertaker defeated Mark Henry. Up next is that rematch…a Casket Match.
Commercials.
We are back live as the druids line the entrance ramp. The bells toll and that can only mean one thing…
The Undertaker v. Mark Henry
Casket Match – Rematch from Wrestlemania 22
You know, this match would be more special had we not seen this one a few weeks ago on Smackdown. Minor grip aside, the bell rings and Taker scores with a boot to the face. Henry is at the corner, but he sends Taker to the other corner. Flying lariat takedown by taker and he calls for the casket to be opened. At the corner, Taker beats some sense to Henry. Taker goes Old School, but Henry counters to a bearhug. Elbow strikes by Taker, but Henry is flipped on his feet outside. On the outside, Henry sends Taker to the barricade and he rolls back inside the ring and back out, breaking up the invisible referee’s count. What a dummy. It looks like Taker is going to be shot to the corner post, but Taker slides off. Back inside the ring, Henry explodes with the World’s Strongest Slam, followed by a big splash! The casket is opened again, but the Undertaker locks on the Triangle Choke, also known as the Devil’s Suffering (made up by me). Henry is bleeding from the mouth as Taker finishes him off. Rest in Peace.
Winner:Â The Undertaker
Grade:Â C
Commercials.
Welcome back to the show. Backstage, Mayweather and his escorts are having fun. Experts from around chime in on the match. They weigh in tonight! J.R and King run down the main event for Wrestlemania 24! We then head over to Triple H, who discusses the match. He has the chance to win the title at Wrestlemania.
Commercials.
Last Week, JBL beats up Hornswoggle once again.
Out comes Mr. Kennedy for his match. Before he could speak, a fighting Irishman comes out.
Mr. Kennedy v. Finlay
Rematch from Wrestlemania 23 – Well, part of it.
But first, JBL interrupts saying that Finlay accepted his challenge in a Belfast Brawl. The bell rings for the match to start. One shot from the Irish Club of Finlay’s and the bell rings again. Kennedy is being sacrificed in the name of John Bradshaw Layfield.
Winner via DQ:Â Mr. Kennedy
Grade:Â N/A (Although Eric S would be glad to know that Finlay took out the Wisconsin native.)
Commercials.
Two weeks ago, WWE and the Make-A-Wish Foundation become partners. Most importantly, John Cena is recognized for making his 100th wish.
Oh JOY! An Intercontinental Championship Match! It’s noted that this match was made because of what happened when Hardy visited the Highlight Reel.
Jeff Hardy (c) v. Chris Jericho
WWE Intercontinental Championship – NOT a Wrestlemania Rewind Match
The bell sounds as J.R. says how prestigious the Intercontinental Championship is. He must not watch the show he commentates. They lock up, but break it off. It becomes a brawl as both men take each other to the extreme! Jericho sends Hardy to the ropes, but Hardy is a mind-reader. Double leg drop connects for two! Jericho sends Hardy to the outside as it is time for a commercial.
Commercials.
We are back to this prestigious Intercontinental Championship match! Jericho misses a charge and goes flying! Hardy scores the low dropkick and he tightwalks the barricade and Jericho swats him to collide HEAD FIRST to the commentator’s table. Hardy seems to be out of it. Springboard splash only gets two! Jericho hits a backbreaker and he holds the back in a submission hold. Hardy rakes the eyes, but that does nothing for Hardy as Jericho recovers. Jericho chokes Hardy on the ropes. He works on the head and neck area before he provides an exclamation point. Hardy EXPLODES with a lariat, knocking Jericho on his back. Jericho misses the bulldog, but Hardy hits the Whisper in the Wind for TWO!
Northern Lights by Jericho gets two and we get a series of close falls. Jericho gets sent to the corner. Turnbuckle Dropkick misses and Jericho goes on top! Jericho hits the Cross Body, but Hardy rolls through! The Twist of Fate is blocked…LIONSAULT by Jericho for a close two count! Hardy is caught in the Walls, but wait…Hardy gets an inside cradle for two! Enzigiri hits, Twist of Fate…SWANTON MISSES!  CODEBREAKER BY JERICHO! NEW CHAMPION! NEW CHAMPION!
Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion:Â Chris Jericho
Grade:Â B+
They are billing this as an upset! Later tonight, Triple H takes on Kane. The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff head towards the ring. We’re rewinding all the way back to 1985…NEXT!
Commercials.
We are back and we are treated to the Soviet National Anthem.
The U.S. Express v. the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
The Rematch from Wrestlemania I
But before we get going, Jillian Hall comes out and she busts my eardrums with a bad copy of “Born in the U.S.A” Airplane Spin by Rontunda and Jillian is silenced tonight. No match?! Nice way to hype a match and not deliver. I thought you were better than this, Vince.
We go to Mike Adamle, who announces that Jack and Jerry Brisco have been inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Commercials.
Wrestlemania is only 20 days away!
Still to come tonight:Â Show/Mayweather weigh in.
We get a promo on the Big Show, who expresses pain on everyone!
Now we go back to Wrestlemania 15 where Triple H defeated Kane. Backstage, Randy Orton comes in and he talks to Kane. He stops short of saying that Triple H made Kane his bitch and he chokes out Randy Orton to prove a point. He remembers everything…
Commercials.
We are back and it is Game Time.
Triple H v. Kane
Rematch from Wrestlemania 15!
The bell sounds and they lock up. Triple H becomes the aggressor for a moment, but Kane takes dibs on him. Teeth fly out with a nice uppercut! To the ropes and Triple kicks Kane. Kane follows up with vicioius blows to the ribs. To the opposite corner and Triple H gets some momentum back. Kane stops that and he sends Triple H over to the outside. He bounces Triple H off the table and Triple H counters, sending Kane to the post! Triple H takes control, dropping the arm over Kane’s head. back inside the ring, Triple H is sent to the ropes and he is kicked hard in the face! Scoop Slam connects, followed by a low dropkick for two! Splash in the corner times two and Kane RUNS into a Spinebuster by Triple H and both men are down!
Both men are up and Triple H nails some rights to Kane. Knee Smash by Triple H and he looks for the Pedigree, but Kane backdrops out of it. He looks for the Chokeslam and Randy Orton comes out to the stage! Triple H counters the Chokeslam and Triple H goes for the Pedigree, but Orton distracts Triple H! Kane nails the sidewalk slam! Up top Kane goes…BLOCKED! Triple H gets the Pedigree for the pin!
Winner:Â Triple H
Grade:Â B-
Triple H stares down Randy Orton as we go to break.
Tomorrow Night on ECW: Colin Delaney & Tommy Dreamer v. The Miz & John Morrision for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Best part…EXTREME RULES!
Commercials.
We are back and we go to a John Cena promo! He discusses his desire to be at Wrestlemania.
Out comes Melina with Beth Phoenix. She was looking forward to face Ashley tonight, but she is injured. Instead of a rewind, we get a prematch! Maria promises to show us just why she is “more than a pretty face.” Nice catchphrase, even if she stole it from ODB.
Melina w/Beth Phoenix v. Maria w/Candice Michelle
Wrestlemania Pre-Match
Melina takes it to Maria, but Maria has learned to wrestle. She gets a bridge for two and Melina takes over for a moment. Back and forth action between the two as Santino comes out with his copy of Playboy. Maria hits a reverse jawbreaker, but Santino gets on the ring apron and he rips the magazine in pieces. Melina gets the reverse fameasser for three!
Winner:Â Melina
Grade:Â D-
Post match, the heels leave together.
We get a promo for “Money” Mayweather. The weigh in is NEXT!
Commercials.
Back to the action and it’s all about the MONEY! Shane O’Mac makes his appearance! How conveinent that we get the weigh-in three weeks before Wrestlemania. The participants are introduced and we know that Mayweather doesn’t travel alone. Shane reminds us that this is a weigh-in. Mayweather is up first and he gets a majority boo from the crowd.
Weigh-In Results
Floyd Mayweather:Â 159 pounds
Big Show:Â 441.4 pounds
Before we get a photo opp, Big Show snatches the microphone. He mocks how Floyd brought out his “posse” Show introduces us to his posse, which consists of most of the WWE superstars. Big Show talks some smack to Mayweather. He shoves the microphone to Mayweather and he responds in kind. He grabs the money and he smells it. It must to be about a hundred G’s and he tosses some Benjamins to Big Show. The fans give him the Stone Cold “What” Treatment. Money goes out to Big Show’s posse. He broke Show’s nose last month and he will go for the jaw at Wrestlemania. Mayweather’s posse leaves him alone with the Big Show. He scoops Mayweather up and it is a posse battle outside the ring! He launches Mayweather into the crowd and they retreat to the back! Shane O’Mac gets knocked down and order is restored.
Commercials.
We get a recap of what just happened. After that, we get a run down of the card to Wrestlemania.Â
We get a promo of Randy Orton saying that he is a perfect champion. He has one thing that Cena and Triple H doesn’t have, which is the title.
Edge makes his appearance flanked by Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder. He will be in action…NEXT!
Commercials.
We are back and Edge’s opponent is CM Punk! Did I just type that?
Edge v. CM Punk
Rematch from Wrestlemania 23 – Kind of
They lock up in the center and CM Punk goes emo on Edge with the waistlock! Edge wrings the arm and he gets a shot in. Punk gets hung on top of the ropes and ate a dropkick for two! Edge kicks the small of the back and Punk tries to battle back. Punk gets sent to the ropes and knees him in the gut. Back up, Edge sends Punk to the corner hard. Front suplex is blocked once, twice and Punk uses the academic knees! Punk gets a close fall on the World Champion. Edge is sent to the corner, but Punk is well versed, using his feet to his advantage. He gets a close fall! Kick to the face is successful, but the bulldog is countered to a DDT for two! Edge gets back up and he misses the spear. GTS is blocked, but a second spear connects after some Edgehead distraction. That gets the three.
Winner:Â Edge
Grade:Â C
Commercials.
We are back and William Regal is in the ring. He hypes the Raw v. SmackDown match as a match that won’t be a battle. We get a nice video of Umaga the Savage. He introduces Umaga to the fans. Regal has pity for Batista. But Batista is here tonight! He gets in the ring and he stares down Umaga. They go to punches and it is a brawl in the ring! Umaga takes control and he gets the thumb out. SPINEBUSTER by Batista and Umaga is restrained! He is highly pissed off at Batista. Wrestlemania has gotten interesting.
Up next…Cena/Michaels!
Commercials.
Tomorrow, Vince McMahon gets his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. J.R. is saddened to tell us that Floyd Mayweather has been INJURED by the Big Show! His elbow is injured! 20 Million Dollars DOWN THE DRAIN! I await the outcry from ESPN and everyone else over this matter!
Time for our MAIN EVENT!
Shawn Michaels v. John Cena
Rematch from Wrestlemania 23
The bell rings and they lock up. They make no headway in the opening minute. Cena slams Michaels down, but Michaels gets a headlock on Cena. Cena tries the move again, but Michaels holds onto the front facelock. Mat wrestling at its finest here. Cena tries to send Michaels to the ropes, but he still holds onto the lock. Another try is successful and Michaels sends Cena down. Michaels avoids the Thez Press, but Cena gets the STFU almost locked in. Michaels escapes and we take a break.
Commercials.
We are back as Cena has an arm wringer on Michaels. He works it over as an armbar. To the ropes Michaels goes…NECKBREAKER to Cena! He stomps the face for good measure and he nails a chop. Cena fights back and they both go at it. Cena gets the upperhand, but Michaels sends him to the ropes. OUT goes Cena and Michaels recovers a bit. Back in the ring and Michaels senses a weakness on Cena. Chop Block connects and he works Cena’s leg. Michaels bends the leg back, but Cena is back up on one leg. Michaels looks for the Figure Four, but Michaels gets a rollup for two. Cena goes for the F-U, but his leg gives and Michaels tries again for a submission, but Cena uses his good leg to shove him to the corner. Boston Side Slam connects as Cena still limps around. Five Knuckle Shuffle hits and Michaels is reeling. F-U attempt is countered to several rollups. Michaels gets a suplex on Cena! Both men are back up and Michaels fires off some more chops. Cena sends Michaels to the ropes, but Michaels explodes with a lariat! The referee counts again and both mena re back up. Michaels hits the forearm and he kips up! Atomic Drop, punches, another drop, scoop slam,…the Flying Elbow…they all connect! He tunes up the band. Sweet Chin Music is countered and Michaels gets the INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! He writhes in pain as he reaches the ropes. He is successful as the hold is broken. Michaels baseball slides Cena out of the ring. ASAI MOONSAULT CONNECTS! Both men are down on the outside. They fight on the outside. Michaels sends Cena to the post! ORTON IS OUT and he sends Michaels to the post! The bell is rung and Orton gets a chair in the ring. RKO…COUNTERED to a BACKBREAKER on the chair! Cena hits the F-U on Orton to close out the show!
Winner via DQ:Â Shawn Michaels
Grade:Â B+
Triple H is backstage reminding everyone that he is in charge next week. He books Cena and Orton as tag team partners against “the ENTIRE RAW roster!”
Show Over.
The RAW Report Card
Undertaker d. Mark Henry (C)
Mr. Kennedy d. Finlay via DQ (N/A)
Chris Jericho d. Jeff Hardy (B+) – New Intercontinental Champion
The U.S. Express v. the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff never occured (N/A)
Triple H d. Kane (B-)
Melina d. Maria (D-)
Edge d. CM Punk (C)
Shawn Michaels d. John Cena via DQ (B+)
Penalty:Â Advertising the U.S. Express v. the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff and not delivering.
Extra Credit:Â The Intercontinental Championship IS important!
The Final Grade for RAW 03/10/2008:Â C+
Before You Leave…
Check out these columns from our talented writer base throughout Inside Pulse!
We highlight #50 of the top 100 Wrestlers of the Modern Era, Rick Martel in today’s Pulse Wrestling’s Feature!
Vinny discusses the latest ROH offering, Rising Above. Between his report and Pulse Glazer, I might have to check it out!
On the flip side, Phil Clark discusses how advertising isn’t ROH’s strong suit. I believe I remember discussing an idea on how ROH should start spending some cash on some advertising on the first issue of VS – The Comeback. In fact, let me repost where I talk about advertising for your viewing pleasure. Phil is right about how people just don’t know about ROH.
“ROH needs to find ways to advertise, even if it means paying advertising partners to get a 30 second commercial during a WWE event or TNA event. Once they get that, they might be able to see an increase in their viewership for Pay-Per-Views and DVD recordings.”
Sending some love to the Nexus, Greg Manuel debuts his new column “I’m Just Sayin'” and it is a very good read.
Thanks for reading tonight and see you all next week when I become another year wiser. That’s right, Wednesday is my birthday, so I will be celebrating in style. Keep on rockin’!
