We’re live where it matters, taped elsewhere…IT’S TIME TO GET RAW!
We open up with an updated RAW Video to reflect the changes to the brand. London, England is the place to be six days before Backlash! Tonight, we have a Wrestlemania Rematch between Triple H and Randy Orton, NO DQ!
We open up with SmackDown Superstar, Chris Jericho. Lawler and Cole remind us of the whole feud with Jericho and the Legends. He complains about being a castaway for the past year, just like our dear fans. He isn’t a castaway anymore, as he will be on SmackDown. He knew the fans would appreciate that. While the fans wallow in their deceitfulness, the fans will beg Jericho to return to RAW. He’s done with RAW…
But before he can make his exit, Ricky Steamboat comes out to the stage! He makes his way to the ring and he grabs a microphone. He calls Jericho “wrong”. The fans are not unappreciate. They showed him everything he could dream of. Steamboat does offer Jericho some appreciation in the form of thanks. Jericho doesn’t follow, so Steamboat clues him in. He thanks Jericho for giving him the chance to compete at WrestleMania 25. Jericho begs to differ, saying that Steamboat only came out to revel in the glory again. No one cares about Steamboat and the rest of the legends haven’t been seen since WrestleMania. Jericho wonders if Ricky still has it. The time has come to put him out of his misery and Jericho wants Steamboat one-on-one at Backlash!
And we are interrupted by the World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena! He’s surprisingly wearing the title around his waist – can’t remember him doing that since he had the spinner title. Jericho stops Cena before he starts, saying his lines for him. Jericho doesn’t care about Cena because he is finished with everyone from RAW. He goes to walk out of the ring and the fans wave him off. Ricky Steamboat accepts his challenge at Backlash! Cena tells Jericho that Vickie Guerrero isn’t going to be here and decrees that Edge won’t compete tonight. However, Cena has to face off tonight and he makes the match Cena v. Jericho for later tonight. Jericho is not amused.
Tonight, Big Show takes on SmackDown’s Rey Mysterio!
Commercials.
We’re back and Chavo Guerrero reminds us that he was drafted to RAW in the Supplemental Draft. He thanks Vickie and he wants to prove that he can push around anyone on the RAW Roster. Hey Chavo, we know it’s 4.20, but you just wrote a check your ass can’t cash! Here comes Batista to collect on that bounced check!
Chavo Guerrero v. Batista
The bell sounds and it is an epic staredown. Chavo charges and is scooped up and BATISTA BOMBED for the three count!
Winner: Batista in 19 seconds, bell-to-bell.
Grade: F-
Chavo complains, saying that he wasn’t even ready. Batista comes back down and Chavo gets Batista Bombed again for his trouble.
Commercials.
The Wrestler hits stores tomorrow on DVD!
Shane O’ Mac says that Batista was entertaining out there. Shane wants to make sure that he and Batista are on the same page for Sunday. Now they don’t appreciate what each other did last week to each other.
SmackDown’s Kane makes his way to the ring for our next match! He takes on SmackDown’s CM Punk! I’ll forgive this one since it’s CM Punk.
Kane v. CM Punk
Michael Cole points out that the Draft takes effect after Backlash. Thanks for letting me know. Kane scores a kick to Punk’s head and gets a two count. Kane gets another shot on Punk for two. Headlock applied, but Punk gets out of it…and eats a side slam for his effort. Punk counters a chokeslam attempt with a roundhouse kick. Knee lift hits, bulldog is blocked. Punk off the ropes, takes Kane down for a one count. GTS attempt and Kane kicks Punk’s teeth down his throat. Kane goes for the Chokeslam, but Punk COUNTERS WITH A DDT FOR THE WIN!
Winner: CM Punk in 2:10
Grade: D
Commercials.
Santino Marella makes his way down the ramp and we get a reminder of Santina Marella getting down at WrestleMania 25. He says that his sister has to kiss Khali at SmackDown. He hates this, but the Marella’s are people of honor. He wants Santina to come out to the stage right now, to prove people wrong. Santina shows up on the Tron and she says that she can’t kiss Khali because of a blister on her lips. She says that she wanted to do inhumane things to Khali and we get a tape issue. Once that is done, Santino reminds us that Santina is exclusive to RAW and Khali is exclusive to SmackDown, so too bad. Santino reads a poem to his sister and is interrupted by Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendez. She’s sorry about the blister, but Vickie Guerrero was willing to cut down on the amount of time Jericho and Steamboat would get to allow for the Khali Kiss Cam at Backlash. Santino complains and he believes that Beth Phoenix is jealous of him. He hopes that she wins back the Women’s Title.
Beth Phoenix v. SmackDown’s Melina
WWE Women’s Championship
NEXT!
Commercials.
We’re back and the bell rings. Beth takes Melina down and scores a two count. Melina tries to mount some offense, but gets caught in a torture rack. She seems out of it, but the referee gives her new life and she breaks out of it. Melina tries a backslide, but Beth rams her in the corner. SHE HYPEREXTENDS MELINA’S LEG TO HIT MELINA IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD! AWESOME SPOT! Melina fights out fo the corner and she nails the handspring elbow. That’s followed by a split kick for two. Beth takes control and gets a two count. On the top rope, Melina hits a high angle facebuster for two. Rosa Mendez causes a distraction, which fails and Melina retains.
Winner: Melina in 3:20
Grade: C
Trips tapes up as Shane walks in to wish him luck. He’s worried about Backlash and the “Title changes on DQ and Countout” rule in effect for that match. Trips says that he’ll get all the anger out tonight.
Jericho walks.
Commercials.
We’re back and we hype Cena v. Edge for Backlash. It’s time for the first of our main events!
John Cena v. Chris Jericho
The bell sounds and Jericho takes it to Cena! Snapmare takedown connects and Jericho kicks Cena in the back of the neck. Back suplex connects and he berates Cena. He sends Cena to the ropes and he takes him down with a reverse elbow. He mocks Cena some more and the fans are behind Jericho. Jericho slaps away, but Cena comes back with the rights. Off the ropes and Jericho takes Cena down for a two count. Jericho hits a vertical suplex and follows with a dropkick to the back. He covers for two. Cena gets sent to the ropes and they trade off haymakers! Back and forth and Cena ducks a right hand. He hits his trademark offense, followed by the Protobomb! You Can’t See Me! Five Knuckle Shuffle connects and Cena picks Jericho up for the Attitude Adjuster, but Cena gets dropped on his head with a DDT in a nasty counter. Springboard Dropkick is CAUGHT and Cena looks for a AA on the apron. BULLDOG TO THE STEPS! CENA IS OUT! Commercials!
Commercials.
We’re back as Jericho covers Cena and only gets a two count. Jericho kicks Cena in the face and he feeds off the fans’ support. He takes Cena to the corner and continues to beat on him until a four count. He steps on Cena’s neck for another four count. He toys around with Cena before sending him corner to corner. Jericho attempts the Walls, but Cena sends him away. Cena gets planted on his face and Jericho gets another two count. Jericho goes for a bulldog, but Cena sends him to the ring post. Cena hefts Jericho up…SUPER ATTITUDE ADJUSTER TIME?! Jericho fights out of it and ELECTRIC CHAIR! Both men are down. Jericho crawls for a two count! Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Cena rolls out of the way and Jericho still gets up before Cena. Drop Toehold attempt and Jericho counters a STF for a one count. CENA POWERS JERICHO ON HIS SHOULDERS! Jericho evades the AA and HITS THE CODEBREAKER! Jericho gets a cover and gets TWO! Both men are up. Codebreaker attempt, but Cena counters with the Attitude Adjuster! Cena gets a cover and JERICHO KICKS OUT! Cena is back up and he goes to the turnbuckle. Jericho catches Cena and has the Walls locked in! Cena gets near the ropes and Jericho moves away. CENA ROLLS THROUGH AND HE APPLIES THE STF! Cena lets go of the hold and that costs him, as Jericho hits an enzugiri! Jericho covers and Cena kicks out at two! Jericho and Cena go to the top rope. Both men fight on the top and EDGE comes in and knocks both men off the turnbuckle!
Result: No Contest at 16:16 (including commercials)
Grade: B+
Edge beats Cena up and he SPEARS HIM TO OBLIVION! Edge leaves the ring and brings two chairs back inside. He sets one underneath Cena’s head. CONCHAIRTO! He grabs a microphone and he reminds us of the rules to a Last Man Standing. He proceeds to “count Cena out”. He vows to be the new World Heavyweight Champion at Backlash.
Commercials.
We’re back and we recap what happened moments ago. During the break, Cena struggles with the assistance of the referees.
SmackDown’s Rey Mysterio makes his way to the ring for a farewell match against the Big Show!
Rey Mysterio v. Big Show
Mysterio attacks with the kicks, but they don’t affect Show. Show picks him up and slams him down. He picks him up again and puts him on the top turnbuckle. CHOP TO THE CHEST and Rey is taken to the floor. Back inside, Rey catches Show off guard. 619 to the spine connects and Show lands proper. 619 attempt and Show blocks it. KO punch and that is all.
Winner: Big Show in 1:41
Grade: F
Rey gets checked on while the Big Show just looks on.
Commercials.
Edge v. Kofi Kingston THURSDAY on Superstars!
Slam of the Week: Shane beats the hell out of Cody Rhodes on Superstars!
We recap the Batista/Ted DiBiase match from SmackDown. Codi and Ted have a heart to heart, saying how Trips, Shane, and Batista are ticking timebombs. Ted starts to backtalk Randy, but Randy stops that and he says that no one is close to his level. He vows victory on Sunday and he will beat Trips tonight.
TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!
The main event…IS NEXT!
Commercials.
Triple H v. Randy Orton
No DQ
Surprisingly, both Trips and Orton are alone for the match. Does it stay that way? We’ll find out. The bell sounds and Orton takes it to Trips. Trips comes back and he beats on Orton in the corner. Opposite corner we go and Trips explodes with a clothesline. Orton takes a powder and Trips comes out to stop that. Trips reverses a whip and Orton goes hardway into the retaining wall. The RAW Announce table comes apart and Trips has Orton on the table. Trips finishes cleaning the table off and Orton drops Trips’ face onto the table. Orton gets a trash can and Trips is ready. Both men trade off counters and we are back inside the ring. 3.0 Backbreaker connects and Orton gets a two count on Trips. Orton hits an uppercut and he gets sent to the ropes. The high knee connects and Orton gets sent out of the ring. Orton readies a trash can and he creams Trips in the face. Time for a break.
Commercials.
We’re back and Orton sends Trips to the steel steps. Trips gets sent back in the ring and Orton throws part of the steps in the ring, with great difficulty. He readies the steps and HE HITS TRIPS WITH THEM. Pin attempt, but Trips kicks out. Orton positions the steps and he looks for a SPIKE DDT, but Trips gets out of it. Trips and Orton take it to the corner and Orton goes down. Trips hits a knee smash and gets a two count out of it. Trips readies the trash can and he gets kicked in the face by Orton! TRIPS HITS A SPINEBUSTER ON THE GARBAGE CAN! That only gets two. Trips has a chair and he uses it on Randy. Trips goes for the kill, but Orton hits a DDT on the chair. Orton goes for the punt, but Trips f*cks up Orton’s quad! Trips has the chair and he CRACKS THE KNEE! He now focuses on the knee, smashing it own a couple times. He drops the elbows and he locks on the Figure Four! Orton is in immense pain. Orton gets to the ropes, but it is No DQ! Orton drags himself out of the ring, but Trips sends him back inside. TRIPS DROPS THE KNEE ON THE BACK OF ORTON’S KNEE! This is brutal. Trips looks to Pilmize the leg, but Legacy runs interference! Shane comes out to even the odds, but he is sent out. Batista comes out and he really evens the odds. Spear to Orton! Rhodes rake the eyes, which causes Batista to spear Shane. He sends Trips out of the way and everyone clears the ring. ORTON HITS THE RKO! He gets a cover for the win!
Winner: Randy Orton in 17:14
Grade: B+
Show over.
The WWE RAW Report Card
Randy Orton d. Triple H: B+
Big Show d. Rey Mysterio: F
John Cena v. Chris Jericho went to a no contest: B+
Melina d. Beth Phoenix: C
CM Punk d. Kane: D
Batista d. Chavo Guerrero: F
Extra Credit: Chris Jericho/Ricky Steamboat segment
The FINAL Grade for WWE RAW 4.20.2009: C
Jericho v. Steamboat was announced tonight on RAW for Backlash, but the theme for the show tonight was the last night for superstars drafted away from RAW. It will be interesting to see what happens this week as Backlash nears. I’ll be back Thursday afternoon with a return of Total Nonstop Weekly, and I’ll start doing 10 Thoughts on WWE Superstars this week as well! Until next time, enjoy your week!
