After taking a week off unexpectedly, I’m back in the driver’s seat for tonight’s RAW! We kick it off with the opening video!
And it’s time to play the Game! He defeated Randy Orton last night at One Night Stand and it’s confirmed that Orton suffered a broken collarbone and will be out of action for a while. Trips with the mic, he declares the Age of Orton broken. He talks about Orton’s injury and more about his success last night. With Orton out of the way, Trips does not care who is next.
Enter John Cena, who has something to say. Cena doesn’t know about the future either, but that the future is now. Cena plays the line about how Trips beat them all, except for Cena. Cena knocks off a DX line, asking Trips if he’s ready. He asks us if we’re ready for an event that sounds a lot like Wrestlemania. Trips steals a line from Cena, saying “You want some, Come get some!”
Surprise Surprise, Jeff Hardy is still standing! Last night, he pretty much damned near killed himself and Umaga. Trips doesn’t care who he gets to beat, for Hardy and Cena to decide for themselves who is #1 Contender. Hardy proposes Hardy v. Cena, but Vince interrupts things. He thinks that he knows what the fans want, which is a million dollars. Vince seems to like the idea, so we got our main event for tonight!
Also, Chris Jericho defends the Intercontinental Championship against JBL! Who? What? WHY?
Commercials.
We’re back and we are taken to last week where Paul Burchill goes from beating jobbers to his first feud with Mr. Kennedy. Tonight, they face off for the first time!
Mr. Kennedy v. Paul Burchill (w/ Katie Lea)
Actually, Paul Burchill doesn’t want to compete tonight because Katie Lea has her first women’s match. So we get….Umaga, the Broken Down Bulldozer.
Mr. Kennedy v. Umaga
Standard Match
Kennedy runs into a bulldozer to start things off. Kennedy dodges a corner charge and he works on the ribs. Umaga no-sells and he hits the Samoan Drop, then he remembers to sell! Umaga gets the neck pinch, but Kennedy tries to whip Umaga, but he gets sent to the apron. Uppercut by Umaga sends Kennedy outside. Umaga hits a suicide dive onto a table and Kennedy rolls back inside the ring. Umaga gets counted out.
Winner: Mr. Kennedy
Grade: C
And we get the expected post-match attack by Paul Burchill. He nails a botched neckbreaker, planting Kennedy on the canvas.
The Suits bring out THE MONEY…NEXT!
Commercials.
We are back Vince is on the stage. He brings out the cool million and Vince is having too much fun with it. This giveaway starts next week and Vince decides how much to give away. To get in on this contest, go to www.wwe.com to register. They will ask for your phone number and its open to US residents only. Vince is doing this to attract more viewers to the show. To sum it up, we have a week and next week it’s all about the money!
Later tonight: Cena v. Hardy for the FIRST TIME!
One Night Stand recap video plays.
Commercials.
Santino Marella and Carlito make their way to the ring as we return to the show. It’s non-title tag team action! Oh, and if you want to see Santino take on “Cousin Sal”, that will be on Friday Night Smackdown.
Santino Marella & Carlito v. Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly
Non-Title Match
Before the match can start, we have no timekeeper. To keep track of time for this match, Roddy Piper! Roddy beats the bell to start things off. Cody gets punked by Carlito, who quickly tags in Santino. Cody off the ropes with a crossbody fot two! Santino is back up and hits a judo throw for two. In comes Carlito and he tries to take Cody down, but Cody stops it for a moment…until Carlito hits a sit-out powerbomb for two. The Salute Headbutt by Santino misses and Hardcore Holly sees some action. Santino gets elevated up and over. Shot to the belt line connects and Santino reads some mind. Roddy trips up Santino and Holly looks for the AlabamaSlam, but Carlito kicks Holly and Santino gets the three count!
Winners: Carlito & Santino Marella
Grade: C+
Commercials.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviews Santino Marella. Santino embarasses himself making fun of every other late night talk show hosts. Meanwhile, Hardcore Holly chews Cody out for the miscommunication. Ted DiBiase, Jr. enters and he promises that in three weeks, his partner will be revealed.
We go to the table, where J.R. and Jerry Lawler send it back to Jericho, who decrees that he will defend the Intercontinental Championship as much as he can, starting tonight! He gets cheeky by dedicating his match to Shawn Michaels. That match is NEXT!
Commercials.
WWE Slam of the Week: Jericho looks to turn heel on us, but changes his mind.
Time for our INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH!
John Bradshaw Layfield v. Chris Jericho [c]
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The bell sounds and they circle the mat. JBL is the agressor to begin and he takes Jericho down with a tackle. Jericho responds with an armdrag for two. To the corner they go and JBL lays a right hand to Jericho. JBL lays into Jericho in the opposite corner and is warned by the referee. JBL drops some elbows for a close fall. JBL locks on the Full Nelson and Jericho drops to a knee. Jericho fights back and he breaks the hold! Where’s Chris Masters when you need him?
JBL beats on Jericho on the turnbuckle, but Jericho hits a top rope TORNADO DDT! Both men are down. Both men are back up and Jericho builds momentum, and tries for the walls, but JBL is too strong! Jericho trips JBL to the second rope and he does the buster! JBL is back up as Jericho jumps into his clutches. FALLAWAY SLAM CONNECTS and JBL looks for the Clothesline to HELL, but he misses. Springboard dropkick sends JBL to the outside, but the baseball slide misses! BIG BOOT by JBL and JBL grabs a chair. The referee calls for the DQ even before JBL uses it! JBL looks to use the chair, but Jericho hits a kick to the back and JBL’s injured throat connects with the chair. Jericho looks to lay waste to him, but decides that discretion is the better part of valor.
Winner: Chris Jericho via DQ
Grade: B
Cena/Hardy still to come!
Commercials.
We get another look at the million dollars. Beth Phoenix makes her way to the ring and she was successful last night in a great I Quit Match. Tonight she is teaming up with Katie Lea.
Beth Phoenix & Katie Lea v. Melina & Mickie James
Divas Tag Match
Mickie and Katie start things off. They lock up and Katie works a double sledge to no effect. Mickie does a cartwheel and flies off with a hurrancurana. Mickie wants a tag, but Melina is staring at Beth. Katie gets a one count before tagging in Beth. Mickie lands on her feet and she nails some kicks and MELINA WANTS A TAG NOW! Melina takes it to Beth and the action spills outside the ring. The partners try to separate them, but Melina runs into a clothesline. She gets sent to the ring apron and in comes Katie. She nails a hard scoop slam, but Melina rolls towarss Mickie. Mickie is a cat on fire and she takes both Beth and Katie down. Mickie hits a top rope Thez Press! Katie with a kick and she takes care of Melina. Screaming DDT is countered and Beth runs interference and hits a sledge. Katie pins the Women’s Champion in her first “divas” match!
Winners: Katie Lea & Beth Phoenix
Grade: C+
Paul Burchill congratulates Katie, but Mr. Kennedy runs out and beats the crap out of him! Paul scurries away as Kennedy stands tall.
Uh-Oh, Cryme Tyme makes their way to the stage and they head close to the money, but the security detail just stares at them. Meanwhile, it seems that the WWE.com website is jammed up that Jerry can’t sign up! HAHA!
Out comes Lance Cade to his old tag team music. His opponent tonight, Trevor Murdoch, who has a new look!
Lance Cade v. Trevor Murdoch
Standard Match
Trevor sings another lyric and they lock up! Murdoch piefaces Cade and the fight goes to the outside. Cade hits a back drop on the pad, followed by a kick to the head against the ring post. Cade beats on Murdoch’s head some more. He applies a headlock, but Murdoch hits a jawbreaker, followed by a knee lift. Big Boot gets a two count and he throws some forearms towards Cade. Murdoch goes up top and he goes for the double axe handle, but Cade catches him and Cade hits a variant of the sitdown powerbomb for the win!
Winner: Lance Cade
Grade: C
Jeff Hardy prepares for his date with destiny.
Commercials.
We go back to last night’s World Title match, where Edge defeating the Undertaker to send him on the “banished” list.
Backstage, Mickie James gets checked up and her boyfriend, John Cena shows up and checks on her. Cena apologizes for the gossip that’s going on and hands Mickie her thong that she left last night in Cena’s hotel room. Mickie is shocked and she goes get checked out. Cena pops a Mamajuana drink and winks.
Triple H sits down to watch the big screen. Hardy v. Cena is NEXT!
Commercials.
Welcome back Pulse Readers! It’s time to determine a new #1 Contender to the WWE Championship!
Jeff Hardy v. John Cena
#1 Contender’s Match
Isn’t it funny how Cena drank the sex potion before his match? Either it takes a long time to work, or something. The bell sounds and they circle the ring. Handshake to begin things off and Cena applies a headlock! Some STUPID FAN tries to interrupt things, but is warded off. Meanwhile, the fan is being taken care of by security as Cena shrugs his shoulders. They lock up again, this time Hardy gets on a headlock takedown. The crowd is looking around for the IDIOT while Hardy continues to apply the headlock. To the ropes Hardy goes and he gets tossed. Cena hits a scoop slam and drops the elbow for two! Cena locks on the head, but Hardy gets back up. Arm drag by Hardy and he hits a suplex for two! Hardy crimps the neck, but Cena gets a side slam to power out. Drop toe hold by Cena and he looks for the STFU, but Hardy has it scouted. Cena gets sent outside and Hardy bails out, landing on Hardy as we take a break.
Commercials.
We are back as Hardy hits the clothesline for a close two count! Hardy gets sent to the corner and Cena hits the suplex! He crawls for a cover and gets a two count. Both men are up and Cena misses the corner charge and pays for it with a close fall by Hardy. Cena counters a whip attempt and nails the Throwback! Cena crawls for a cover, but Hardy kicks out at two, and Cena questions the referee. Cena gets sent to the corner and Hardy hits the face first suplex! He climbs the ropes and he goes for it all and gets nothing! Swanton Bomb misses and both men are still down! Cena off the ropes and he hits the tackle, the West Side Slam, and looks at the crowd! FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE connects and Cena stalks Hardy for the FU attempt, but Hardy counters! Hardy hits a dropkick to send Cena to the corner, a dropkick AT THE CORNER! Hardy gets a pin attempt and Cena barely kicks out!
Cena sends Hardy to the corner…WHISPER TO THE WIND CONNECTS! HARDY HAS IT! ONE-TWO-NO! Cena barely kicks out! Hardy is back up and he looks for the Twist of Fate, but Cena counters to the FU, but Hardy holds onto the ropes! Hardy nails a crossbody, but Cena rolls through AND PICKS HARDY BACK UP! THE POWER OF MAMAJUANA! Cena hoists Hardy up and nails the FU for the pin!
Winner: John Cena
Grade: A
Triple H comes out onto the stage and Cena meets him up there. They stare off as we go off the air.
Show Over.
The WWE RAW Report Card
Mr. Kennedy d. Umaga via Countout: C
Carlito & Santino Marella d. Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly: C+
Chris Jericho d. JBL via DQ: B
Katie Lea & Beth Phoenix d. Melina & Mickie James: C+
Lance Cade d. Trevor Murdoch: C
John Cena d. Jeff Hardy: A
The Final Grade for WWE RAW 6/2/2008: B-
The two marquee matches delivered the grade for this week’s RAW. The details for the Million Dollar Mania seems interesting, but it almost seems like it will be hard to actually win, but we will find out next week. Have a great week and I’m outta here!
