| Date: 01/05 | 8:00 PM |
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The WWE Raw Recap - Hit F5 for the Latest News!
WWE Raw is live from New Orleans, LA tonight. Already confirmed this evening, Christian Cage is backstage at WWE Raw. Will they bring him out tonight, or will they save him for tomorrow night's WWE SmackDown taping? Inquiring minds want to know! Also for tonight's show, CM Punk will finally meet the 2008 "King of the Ring" William Regal for his WWE Intercontinental Championship, Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston will team up against WWE World Tag Team Champions John Morrison & Mike "the Miz" Mizanin, Kelly Kelly faces Jillian Hall and WWE Women's Champion "the Glamazon" Beth Phoenix & Santino Marella square off against #1 contender Melina Perez & Goldust! This should be interesting!
We start the show off with a recap of last week's main event, Shawn Michaels refusing to lay down willingly to take a pinfall from his employer, John Layfield, instead demanding to be knocked out. Layfield's KO and pin secured his match against John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
We go to the ring where former champions Chris Jericho and Randy Orton are in the ring. They are protesting the end of last week's match, claiming that the rules clearly state that every man is supposed to be for himself in the match and it was clear that HBK & JBL were working together. They demand that Layfield be removed from the match, that Michaels never be allowed to be wrestle for the championship again, and that Jericho and Orton wrestle each other in tonight's main event to determine the top contender.
This brings out John Layfield and Shawn Michaels. Layfield tells Orton & Jericho to grow up and accept their loss with dignity. Jericho then turns to Michaels and asks him how it feels to be a sell-out. Michaels says that if there's at least one thing he can be proud of, it is that he denied both Jericho and Orton the opportunity to wrestle for the championship.
This brings out WWE Raw GM Stephanie McMahon, who says that she has read the complaints, and has determined that Michaels didn't lay down, but he took a knockout loss at the hands of Layfield, and thus the ruling will stand. She says that if they want a shot at the title, they can both enter the Royal Rumble and win the opportunity to main event at WrestleMania 25 against the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Jericho says that this isn't a just reward for them, and instead it should be a 2-on-1 match between Jericho/Orton and Michaels at the Royal Rumble. Layfield interjects and says that Michaels will be busy acting as his cornerman in his match against John Cena. Stephanie McMahon says that is three weeks away, but tonight she can make it more interesting. Jericho and Orton can get their hands on Michaels tonight, but it will be in a tag team match against Michaels and WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena. WORD!
Glamarella (WWE Women's Champion "the Glamazon" Beth Phoenix & Santino Marella) vs. Melina Perez & Goldust
Thanks to a nice random reboot of my PC I missed the start of this match, but Goldust was in the ring when we came back from commercial, followed by introductions for Perez and then Phoenix/Marella. We started out with Phoenix and Perez squaring off, Phoenix tags in Marella which necesitated the tag-in of Goldust. Goldust dominates after that, comes over and spits in Phoenix's face, goes to pin Goldust, Phoenix breaks it up, Goldust recovers and clotheslines Marella out of the ring and follows him out, allowing the ladies to get back in. Perez pulls out a can of whoop ass on Phoenix, she gets whipped into the corner but puts a boot up to stop Phoenix's charge, nails her with a hairmare off the top turnbuckle, then finishes her off with a double leg takedown, hooks the legs, flips over and pins her.
WINNERS: Melina Perez & Goldust. Perez escapes out of the ring as Phoenix tries to attack her. Phoenix's #1 fan, Rosa Mendez, then leaps over the barrier again and attacks her, security breaks it up. Perez decides she has had enough of this trick and leaps over the barrier herself, into the fans and chases Mendez off.
Backstage Todd Grisham interviews CM Punk about his upcoming match. Punk says that he's dreamed of holding the Intercontinental Championship since he was a child and wants to add his name to the list of greats. He says that he hasn't forgotten that it was William Regal who defeated him in the 2008 "King of the Ring" tournament to win that title, and he didn't forget the cheapshot that Regal gave him last week. Grisham wishes Punk the best of luck in his match ... which is next.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: champion 2008 "King of the Ring" William Regal *w/ Layla London) vs. CM Punk
Punk is introduced first, followed by a RawHD Tron recap of Regal attacking Punk last week after his match. London leads out Regal next and they quickly come down to the ring, not wasting any time. Hm, something's being changed as referee Mike Chiota is holding Punk back and then listening to his earpiece. Wonder what that's about.
We get a lockup, Regal pushes Punk into the corner, gives a cheapshot at the break, and Punk fires back with kicks that level Regal, cover and a two count. Punk with a snap suplex, cover and a two count. Punk with a Muay Thai clinch, knees, whips Regal into a corner, tries to follow up with a kneelift, Regal moves out of the corner, Punk catches himself on the turnbuckles and then delivers a kick from behind to stop him. Regal rolls out, Punk tries to follow up with a suicide dive through the ropes, but Regal grabs London and uses her as a shield, causing Punk to stop himself as London screams in fear.
Regal uses this to pulls Punk out of the ring, slam his head into the mat, roll him in, drop some knees, cover an a two count. Regal apologizes to London, then throws Punk in the corner, beats him up, cover and a two count. Regal applies a full Nelson on the mat, Punk gets to his feet, breaks it with an elbow, delivers the paintbrush slaps and the backfist, goes for the spin kick to the head, Regal blocks it but Punk backs off and catches him off-guard with the kick again, cover and a two count. Punk throws Regal into the corner, delivers the high knee, tries for the bulldog, Regal blocks it, but Punk puts Regal back into the corner again, and goes to set him up for the GTS, Regal grabs onto the ropes to block it, then grabs referee Mike Chiota by the shirt. He refuses to let go, and Chiota disqualifies him.
WINNER: CM Punk, by DQ. Regal retains the title by the DQ, Layla London grabs the title and escapes up the ramp with it. Punk argues in the ring with Chiota about the unfair loss. Stephanie McMahon appears on the RawHD Tron and informs Regal that she cannot accept the first title defense of 2008 this way. She informs Regal that he will face Punk again next week, and if he gets disqualified for it next week, then he will lose the title. Off to commercial.
Back in the loker room, Layfield is telling Michaels that this couldn't have worked out better for them, and tonight he should let Cena do all of the work, and in the end superkick Cena and allow Jericho & Orton to finish him off. With Cena taken out of action and unable to defend the championship at Royal Rumble, McMahon would be forced to award the title to Layfield. He tells Michaels that if this happens, he will receive a huge bonus. He rambles on about WrestleMania 25 being the biggest shot of his career, the past is the past and the future is now. He tells Michaels not to let him down.
Elsewhere, Rnady Orton is telling Cody Rhodes and Sim Snuka that they won their matches last week, and if they win again this week then they're in the Legacy. Manu comes up and says that Orton has to give him another chance. Orton says he lost his chance last week, Manu counters that even Orton lost his match last week. Orton goes off and says that he is a WWE Superstar and Manu is nothing, the fans don't eve know his name, and even though his father Afa the Wild Samoan is a legend, he'll never be anything, he'll never be a part of the Legacy, and he never wants to see Manu in his face again. Orton walks off, Rhodes & Snuka follow behind him, not sure if they should even say anything to Manu.
We go to commercial as Dolph Ziggler is introducing himself to Mickie James, the cameras then pan around to focus on Kofi Kingston & Rey Mysterio heading to the ring. This Friday on SmackDown, Triple H will go through a "Triple Jeopardy" match to qualify for the Royal Rumble, competing in three matches.
WWE World Tag Team Champions & two-time Slammy Award winners John Morrison & Mike "the Miz" Mizanin vs. Kofi Kingston & Rey Mysterio (non-title match)
Mizain takes the mic and says, "Really? Really? Boo us? Boo us? NO! It's like boo YOU!" Morrison says, "Sorry if we're the greatest tag team of the 21st Century!" Great little promo. BOOYAKA! BOOYAKA! Mysterio is introduced next, but I guess he doesn't do the leaping onto the stage thing anymore. Too bad, that was pretty hot. We recap last week's match where Mysterio got to pin Mike Knox for the win in the 10-man clusterfuck. BOP! BOP! BOP! Kofi Kingston is introduced last.
It will be Kingston & Mizanin who square off first, Mizanin putting Kingston in the corner, grudgingly gives a clean break, then tries to jack Kingston in the jaw, Kingston fires back after blocking it, whip around the ropes a few times, cross body block, quick pin attempt, and Mizanin powders out of the ring. Kingston goes for the suicide dive through the ropes, Mizanin spots it and moves out of the way, and Kingston stops himself on the ropes, backing off and taunting Mizanin as we go to break.
Mizanin has Mysterio in a reverse chinlock/armbar combination on the mat as we return, we show Mysterio trying to hit a seated senton on Mizanin during the break, but Mizanin turned it into a facebuster. Speakin gof turn-arounds, Mysterio breaks the hold, Mizanin tries to throw him into the corner, Mysterio blocks it and hits a headscissor takeover on Mizanin into the corner, then tags in Kingston who hits about a dozen leaping moves on Mizanin, tries to bounce off the ropes, Morrison tries to kick him in the back, Kingston slides under his legs to the outside then pulls Morrison off the apron. Kingston tries to leap off the top turnbuckle but Morrison recovered and pulls him him off the top.
Mizanin regains control and attacks Kingston's left knee, wraps it up, tags in Morrison who delivers an elbow drop on the knee, then wraps it up and attacks it some more. Kingston gets out of it, but Morrison pulls Kingston out of the ring and wrenches the knee over the edge of the apron. Morrison tags in Mizanin, hems up Kingston and allows Mizain to kick the knee some more. Mizanin stomps on the knee more, stomps on the breadbasket, then kicks the hamstrings under the knee before settling back into a attack on the knee. The fans cheer behidn Kingston as he breaks the hold, but Mizanin grabs him in a front facelock to stop him. Kingston gets to his feet, tries to make a charge to his corner, Mizanin clubs him in the back, then turns around and cheapshots Mysterio in the face to knock him off the apron. Kingston backdrops Mizanin, tries for the tag, and finds his partner isn't there. Mizanin grabs the leg and drags Kingston back to his corner, tagging in Morrison.
Morrison with more kicks and stomps on the knee and midsection, bounces off the ropes and delivers a kick to the face, covers Kingston and gets a two count, then goes back into an attack on the knee. Kingston kicks him off with his good leg, then nails a headscissor takeover from the mat. Kingston tries to leap for a tag, Morrison grabs a leg in mid-air and pulls him back to the corner. Mizanin tags in and elbow drops the knee, then pulls Kingston up and punches him in the head before gloating to the crowd. Mizanin sets Kingston on the top turnbuckle, climbs up for a Superplex, Kingston fights him off and shoves him off, then goes for a dropkick to Mizanin's face, but hurts his knee more in the process. Mizanin scrambles for a tag, Kingston uses the ropes and makes the hot tag to Mysterio.
Mysterio fires with kicks on Morrison's leg, whips him off the ropes, Morrison reverses it, Mysterio with a headscissor takeover, whips Mysterio off the ropes, Morrison tries for a Sunset Flip, Mysterio flips through it, hooks the leg, two count on the pin. Mysterio goes for a moonsault, Morrison catches him, delivers a front-face slam, covers and gets a two count. Morrison rols Mysterio over, Mysterio kicks him in the face, tries to monkey flip him, Morrison blocks, but Mysterio uses the momentum to leap over Morrison, leap off the top rope and hits a front-face slam of his own, cover and a two count. Mizanin gets in and tries to attack Mysterio, but Kofi Kingston takes him out of the ring with a cross-body block and follows out.
Morrison tries to dropkick Mysterio from behind, Mysterio ducks it and puts Morrison on the ropes, he delivers the 6-1-9. Mizanin tries to attack from the apron, Mysterio nails him with a kick on the outside, then tries to leapfrog off the top turnbuckle. Morrison meets him with a kick to the ribs in mid-air, then covers Mysterio for the pin.
WINNERS: John Morrison & Mike Mizanin. We recap the match highlights, then come back to see Mike Knox attack Mysterio in the ring. Kingston tries to come in for th save, but Knox clotheslines him back over the top rope. Knox racks Mysterio on the top rope, then keeps him there to kick him in the face and to the ground. The referee moves in to protect Mysterio, and Knox walks off.
Backstage Shawn Michaels is getting ready for his match when John Cena walks in, and they stand face-to-face. Cena asks Michaels if he's fighting three guys or two guys. "Am I getting HBK, or JBL's puppet?" Michaels fires back, "I'M NOBODY'S PUPPET! As far as what to expect? What does history tell you to expect?" Michaels walks off, and Cena nods in acknowledgement.
Kelly Kelly vs. Jillian Hall
As Kelly Kelly is introduced, we recap last week's segment where we found out that Kelly's affection that she was protecting wasn't Mike "the Mizanin", but Randy Orton. Jillian Hall comes out caterwailing the lyrics to "When the Saint's Come Marching In".
We go right into the match, Hall with a reverse waistlock on Kelly, Kelly elbows out, applies a front facelock, Hall hangs her up over the top rope and the referee breaks them up. Hall holds open the ropes and invites Kelly back in, which is just a set up to kick her in the guts, followed by a snapmare, then a hairmare, and a kick in the back and some shit talking as we go for a pin. Hall then pulls Kelly by the hair from behind, ref breaks it up but not before Hall kicks her in the back then stands on her head.
Hall pulls up Kelly by the hair then applies a chinlock, then paintbrushes the back of her head while taunting her. Hall then slings her across the ring with a hairmare, but Michael Cole calls it a Beil Toss. Hall goes for a cover and gets a two count out of it. Hall then applies a full Nelson, Kelly struggles as the fans choose to boo Hall instead of cheer for Kelly. Kelly struggles to her feet, then executes a jawbreaker and a kick, then another kick, tries for a third, Hall catches the leg, Kelly flips through it and goes for a headscissor takeover. Kelly goes for a cross body block from the top turnbuckle, lateral press, two count.
Kelly takes down Hall with a pair of running clotheslines followed by a dropkick, cover and a two count. Kellys tands up Hall and delivers a few forearm shots, then gets up on her hair for the Victory Roll, but Hall holds onto her legs and converts it into a pin attempt, two count. Hall hits Kelly in the face with a forearm, whips her into a corner then taunts the crowd. Hally goes for the springboard reverse elbow, Kelly kicks her in the back, then hits a legdrop on the back of the neck after using Hall's back for a springboard, rolls her over and covers, 1-2-3.
WINNER: Kelly Kelly. Jillian Hall isn't happy with this and attacks Kelly from behind, then flips her over and starts to pummell her. The lights go out and the pyros go off, which of course means Kane is coming. Jillian Hall quickly exists through the crowd, and Kelly Kelly is too dazed to figure out what is happening until Kane is standing right over her.
"So, the truth finally comes out, huh Kelly? You never liked me, you were protecting Randy Orton. But Orton rejected you, didn't he?" He gets in Kelly's face. "It doesn't feel too good, does it, Kelly? Well, next week, I will go back to what makes me feel good, eviscerating people. I have a match with Randy Orton next week, Kelly. Feel free to watch. HAHAHAHAHA!" Kane throws the mic down and leaves. Kelly sits up on her knees.
Cody Rhodes & Sim Snuka vs. Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard & JTG)
Quick introductions for both teams before we get into this match. We start out with JTG and Snuka squaring off, JTG with a reverse waistlock, Snuka reverses it, rushes the ropes, JTG holds on. Snuka charges twice, gets a knee to the midsection each time. JTG tries for a front face slam, Snuka turns it into a small package and gets a two count. Snuka slings JTG off the ropes, JTG ducks a clothesline and hits a shoulder block, cover and a two count.
Shad Gaspard tags in, bounces off the ropes, JTG throws Snuka into him, Snuka is then put into the corner and eats an elbow, JTG tags back in and is slingshotted into Snuka with a forearm smash. Cody Rhodes gets in to distract the referee, Snuka hits JTG with a reverse kick to the midsection, tries to whip JTG off the ropes, JTG blocks it, kicks him in the midsection, cover and a two count. JTG whips Snuka into the ropes, Snuka holds on, JTG charges, Snuka puts up a boot to stop it, tags in Rhodes.
Rhodes & JTG trade blows, Rhodes thorws JTG over the top rope, JTG hangs on, they trade forearms again, Snuka nails JTG from behind with a kick. Rhodes rolls JTG back in, stomps on him, cover and a two count. Rhodes stomps on JTG's back, measures out a right hand punch, body slam and tags in Snuka. Snuka bounces off the ropes and delivers a Lawler-esque fistdriver, cover and a two count. Snuka with an elbow drop to the back, followed by a reverse chinlock submission on the mat for the rest spot. JTG gets to his feet, punches his way out, Snuka clubs the back, JTG responds with another punch, bounces off the ropes and hits a backbreaker type move, both men go down.
Hot tags are made on both sides, Gaspard ducks a clothesline from Rhodes, delivers a pair of his own, whip off the ropes and Rhodes take the ride, Gaspard then punches Snuka off the apron before delivering a big bodyslam to Rhodes. Gaspard bounces off the ropes and delivers an elbow drop, covers and breaks it as Snuka runs in, Gaspard clotheslines him over the ropes, turns around and waits for Rhodes to get to his feet in the corner, charges, Rhodes moves out of the way and eats the turnbuckle. JTG was on the floor, tags in, slingshots himself over the top rope into a Sunset Flip on Rhodes, two count. JTG tries to whip Rhodes off the ropes, Rhodes blocks it, hts a swinging DDT and then covers JTG for the win.
WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Sim Snuka. Rhodes & Snuka celebrate their win in the ring, we go to commercial as John Layfield steps out of Stephanie McMahon's office with a wide as big as Texas itself. We burn some time with more previews for Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia.
Backstage Rhodes & Snuka are celebrating backstage when Randy Orton walks up and congratulates Rhodes on winning the match, tells him that he's in and then tells Snuka that he's out. Snuka & Rhodes are bewildered by this, Rhodes says that he doesn't have time to explain, he was testing them both to see who the weak link was, and Rhodes was tough enough to get the pin. Snuka says that only one person can win a tag match, so this was a team effort. Orton asks Rhodes if he thinks Snuka has a point. Rhodes sells Snuka out saying, "All I know is that I won the match. Sorry!" Rhodes & Orton walk off.
We go back to Stephanie McMahon's office, apparently she's upset that Beth Phoenix's superfan, Rosa Mendez, is interfering in matches. I was too busy typing the above paragraph to pay attention what happened, but apparently Santino opened his mouth and pissed Beth off, she dragged Marella out by his hair. Chris Jericho then storms into the office, has some words with McMahon which basically end with Jericho telling Steph-Bear that Vince McMahon will be coming to Raw in two weeks.
Randy Orton & Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels & WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena
Orton is introduced first, followed by Jericho, Michaels and Cena. We're starting out with Cena vs. Jericho, collar-and-elbow tie-up in the middle of the ring, Jericho with a side headlock into a takeover onto the mat. Jericho works back up to his feet, Cena shoves him off the ropes, Jericho takes him down with a shouldertackle, floatover, Cena leapfrogs then pulls Jericho down with a side headlock takeover. Cena works up to his feet, Jericho shoves him off, ducks a clothesline, Michaels tags himself in and tries to hit Jericho with a superkick, but Jericho ducks it. Michaels and Cena look at each other, then team-up to clothesline Jericho over the top rope. Then they trade words as apparently Cena was unaware that Michaels tagged himself in. John Layfield comes out to the ramp to observe as we cut to commercial.
Back on the match Jericho and Orton are making hot tags after taking each other out, oops Orton doesn't make his as Cena stops him and nails him with some shoulder tackles and a side slam, then calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and delivers with a gusto! Orton staggers to his feet, Cena goes for the F-U, Jericho runs in, Michaels takes him out, but Orton blinds Cena and wiggles out of the F-U. Michaels bumps backwards into Cena and Cena grabs him blindly, sets him up for the F-U, Michaels wiggles out and tells him that he's the wrong person. Orton blindsides Cena from behind and then Jericho adds on for the double-team, Michaels is forced to the outside.
Jericho takes his time trash talking Cena, puts him in the corner, goes to choke him, but Cena grabs the leg and stop it. Orton clubs Cena in the back of the head as the reff pulls Jericho off, Jericho follows up with a baseball slide that sends Cena to the outside. Orton gets down to the ground and thinks about the kick to the head, referee warns him to reconsider. Jericho gets out and slams Cena's head into the mat, then rolls him into the ring. Jericho then slingshots in with a cross body block, covers, 1... 2... kickout.
Jericho applies a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring, immediately demanding that the referee check. Fans are cheering for Cena as Michaels looks on, ready to make a tag, as is Orton on the other side. Cena gets to his feet and pulsl Jericho up into the F-U, but Jericho wiggles around and counters it into a DDT, covers, hooks the leg, two count. Jericho pulls Cena up in a front facelog, tags in Orton, who clubs Cena in the back. Orton lays in forearm shivers to the lower back of Orton, then stomps on his fingers and ankle, then goes for the Orton Stomp as Cena lays down for it, then gives a double dose, a knee to the head, covers, 1... 2... kickout.
Orton stomps on Cena's chest, Cena blocks it partially. Orton tries again, Cena again partially blocks it. Cena rolls over into a corner to try to pull himself up, but Orton chokes him with a boot until the referee breaks it. Orton tags in Jericho, Cena meets him with punches and elbows, whips him off the ropes, Jericho reverses and grabs him in a sleeper, Cena wildly fights it but just can't reach for that tag. Jericho leaps on Cena's back to cinch it in deep and then pulls him back, wrapping his legs around Cena's waist. We flash to the back as Layfield is watching the match on a monitor.
Jericho has Cena stretched out on the mat, trying to lock the sleeper in as deep as possible. Jericho again calls for the refere to check him, but Cena gets to a knee, then his feet, powers out of it and kicks Jericho in the mdisection, but Jericho whips him into the corner and delivers a clothesline. Jericho sets Cena on the top turnbuckle, climbs up for a Superplex, Cena tries to fight it, punches Jericho in the ribs and shoves him off. Cena goes up and troes for the legdrop to the back of the head and just barely makes it! Both men are down, barely moving on the mat. Michaels reaches out for a tag, Cena struggle sover, Jericho makes a hot tag to Orton, and he cuts Cena off with a forearm to the back of the head, covers, two count.
Orton drills Cena in the head three times as Cena staggers to his feet, then once more to send Cena back down. Orton stands Cena wup, whips him off the ropes, tries for a dropkick and Cena holds onto the ropes, Orton eats the mat, holding the back of his head. Cena struggles to pull himself up with the ropes, Jericho is reaching out fo ra tag, Michaels is reaching for a tag, Cena leapfrogs over Orton to make the tag, Jericho make shis tag. Jericho tries to attack Michaaels, who ducks a clothesline, hits the atomic drop, but Jericho with a front facebuster to stop the attack.
Jericho tries for the Lionsault and Micheals puts the knees up to block it. Micheals goes to the top turnbuckle and delives the elbow drop, but Jericho puts his own knees up to block it. Micheals holds the ribs as Jericho goes for a double-leg takedown and then tries for the Lionsault, but Micheals pulls him into a small package, then Orton runs in to break it up. Cena runs in, they struggle. Orton whips Cena off the ropes, Shawn Michaels goes for the superkick but Cena reverses it at the last second, and Michaels takes Orton out! Michaels then turns right around and takes Jerich out, covers 1-2-3 it's done.
WINNERS: John Cena & Shawn Michaels. Michaels and Cena stare down each other, knowing just what was about to happen. We then go backstage where Todd Grisham runs up to Layfield and says, "It looks like Shawn Michael's integrity is still in tact!" Layfield responds, "My employee was great out there tonight! We'll see how well he does next week. I just spoke with Stephanie McMahon, and Michaels will face... John Cena." He then stops smiling and says, "As far as integrity... I'll be in Michaels' corner." We close the show with Cena mouthing to the fans how Michaels is the man and he won the match.
Overall, not a bad show! We'll see more of this developing storyline next week! Don't forget to come back tomorrow night for Stevie J's ECW on Sci-Fi recap, followed by Big D & the Superfriends podcast on BlogTalk Radio!