| Date: 03/09 | 8:00 PM |
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The WWE Raw Recap - Hit F5 for the Latest Updates
So we start out tonight with the recap of last week's dealings between Triple H and Randy Orton, with Triple H goading Randy Orton into facing him at WrestleMania for Trip's WWE Championship. Last Friday on SmackDown Orton brought the fight to Triple H's backyard, Orton and the Legacy assaulting him on SmackDown. Later tonight, Orton will give his account of what went down, "live via satellite" from his home in St. Louis, MO. As a result of that "brutal assault" last week, Triple H will be competing against Ted DiBiase, Jr & Cody Rhodes in a 2-on-1 handicap match.
We go LIVE to the arena in Jacksonville, Florida as we are introduced to "Mr. WrestleMania" himself, Shawn Michaels. The fans start an "H-B-K! H-B-K!" as "the Showstopper" picks up the mic and speaks.
"Sixteen and oh at WrestleMania, a feat so extraordinary in scope that nobody can think of replicating it. But when it comes to show stopping performances, I'm not slouch myself. That's why last Monday on SmackDown I sent my opponent, the Undertaker, a little message. A small package of some of my best WrestleMania moment. See, it is important to understand that I respect the Undertaker, but I'm not afraid of the Undertaker. You may be 16-0 at WrestleMania, but I am Mr. WrestleMania. I have never been out-performed on the grandest stage of them all,and I never will. Streaks must be broken, all good things must come to an end, and nothing can last forever. What I'm saying is this, Undertaker - something is going to have to give at WrestleMania. So as best as I can tell..."
The arena suddenly goes dark, and the dark tones of the bells of the Undertaker play. On the RawHD Tron a video package plays, a small reminder to Shawn Michaels just who he is facing, as the Undertaker plays his own video montage of every one of his WrestleMania matches plays. The video goes black as we hear the Undertaker say, "Sometimes it is Hell trying to get to Heaven."
As the lights come back up in the arena, we see the Undertaker is standing in the ring behind Michaels. Michaels doesn't even turn around as he speaks. "Hello, Undertaker. Ive' been expecting you."
"Once again, Shawn, your arrogance has clouded your judgment," booms the Undertaker. "You see, I do respect you, but I've fought many men that I've respected, and they've all fallen. And you... will be no different."
"You and I have taken very different carer paths," responds Michaels, "we've even taken different personal paths. But it seems that we're out a crossroads. But now that I have you here let me make it perfectly clear to you. I shouldn't have to qulify against anybody to face you. I am the man who set the bar at WrestleMania... and I am the man who retired Ric Flair. Undertaker, I am still the Showstopper, and I cannot wait for this!"
Undertaker slowly responds. "Shawn... you have had epic victories at WrestleMania. But then again, you've had bitter defeat. And despite all of your achievements, that dream you have of defeating me at WrestleMania is just that - a dream. And I will soon lay it to rest. You see, Shawn, you concern yourself with being the Showstopper. You concern yourself with winning at match and breaking a streak. What you should concern yourself with is what I'm going to do to you physically.
"An even more importantly than that, Shawn, what I'm going to do to your soul! Because I don't need to outperform you,a nd I don't need to steal the show. But when I take center ring at WrestleMania and and I stand before my peers and all of the world, you will then realize that I am the most dangerous entity that has ever stepped foot in this ring! Shawn... you should have been more careful in what you wished for, because now you have opened Hell's gates. And just like the 16 that have come before you, at WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas, you will rest..."
Michaels cuts in, "I WILL REST QUITE COMFORTABLY the evening of April 5th knowing that I did the impossible... I ended the undefeated streak of the Undertaker! And even though you may have beaten all of your WrestleMania opponents, know this - you have never beaten me, and you never will."
The two stare each other down nose to nose. As Michaels' music hits, he turns his back on the Undertaker and steps through the ropes, turns around again for one last look, then steps down off the apron and walks to the back.
As we go to commercial, we show a clip from last week's SmackDown, John Cena interrupted the contract signing for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship between champion Edge and Big Show... and what Cena said gave GM Vickie Guerrero great pause. We'll find out more about that later tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: champion CM Punk vs. John Layfield
According to Michael Cole, Layfield has been lobbying for this match for weeks. We get a lock-up, Layfield tries for a side headlock but Punk blocks it with an armbar. Layfield shoots him off, shoulder tackle, and goes for an immediate pin attempt that Punk kicks out of, Layfield rams Punk's head into the corner, whips him off the ropes again, but Punk slides under Layfield's legs, delivers some kicks and a hip toss, then goes to work on Layfield's left leg, and his quads.
Punk whips Layfield off the ropes, Layfield reverses it and tries for a sleeper, but Punk breaks it with a jawjacker. Punk delivers a high knee to Layfield's head as he's on the ropes, tries for the bulldog, but Layfield shoves him off and bails out of the ring. Punk bounces off the ropes and then hits a plancha through the ropes and nails Layfield in the chest as we take a break.
Back live, Layfield's got Punk in an Abdominal Stretch, then pulls up his right leg to add more pressure. During the break we see that Layfield leveled Punk with a big boot to the face to take control. Back in the ring, Punk breaks loose, bounces off the ropes, tries for a cross body block, but Layfield catches him, slams him to the mat, goes for a pinfall, gets a two count. Layfield sets Punk up in the corner and knees him in the midsection a few times before the ref can break it. Layfield pulls Punk out and delivers a short-arm clothesline, covers, two count as Punk kicks out. Layfield goes on the attack again, laying in forearm shots to the back, going for another pin attempt.
Layfield attempts a bearhug, but Punk fights him off, Layfield cuts him off, shoots him to the corner, charges, Punk gets a knee up, Layfield levels him with a big right hand punch. Layfield sets Punk up on the top turnbuckle, but Punk responds with a headbutt and a Tornado DDT out of the corner, both men go to the mat and take a breather. Punk crawls over, lays an arm over Layfield and gets a two count for his effort. Both men get to their feet, Punk with a roundhouse kick, a kick to the head, a flying forearm off the ropes and a leg lariat. Layfield cowers off to the corner, Punk tries for the high knee, Layfield backdrops him over the rope, but Punk hangs on and slingshots back into the ring with a legdrop.
Punk whips Layfield into the corner, connects with the Muay Thai knee/bulldog combo, goes for the cover, two count. Punk gets his courage up, demands that JBL gets to his feet, goes for the GTS, but Layfield gouges Punk with an eye rake that the referee doesn't see, wiggles out, bounces off the ropes and just KILLS Punk with the Clothesline from Hell, covers quickly and 1... 2... 3!
WINNER, AND NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, JOHN LAYFIELD! A shocking upset marks the first-ever Intercontinental Championship reign for John Layfield! Layfield pounds the mat, expressing his overwhelming joy at his win! We recap the end of the match... OUCH! That looked STIFF! And good! You won't hear me say this often, but I approve of JBL's actions!
Backstage after the break, Layfield and interim GM Vickie Guerrero are having an excited and heated discussion. Layfield shouts, "You can't be serious!" and Guerrero responds, "Oh, I am, I just did something for you. I put you in that title match. Now you're going to do something for me." Layfield says, "Fair enough, I'm the Intercontinental Champion!"
Edge runs up and interrupts, tells Layfield to scram. Edge asks Guerrero what John Cena said last week. "IT DOESN'T MATTER!" shouts Guerrero, channeling The Rock. "You're right," says Edge, "it doesn't matter, what matters is that I sign my WWE championship contract tonight!" Edge walks off.
We then go to Michael Cole who interviews Randy Orton from his home. Cole reminds Orton that last week he set a stipulation that neither him nor Triple H would attack each other, or the match would be off. He then asks Orton why he violated that rule on SmackDown last week. Orton asks Cole to roll last Friday's SmackDown footage, then comments afterwards.
"You can call that a violation, Michael Cole, but I call it restraint. It would have been easy to end everything right there. Triple H I could have ended your career right there... I could have RKOed you right there, just like I did your wife. But I didn't, and I'm proud that I could control myself. Despite every contusion and bruise I'm confident that you will show up at WrestleMania. I'm confident that you will show up tonight... but every time you show up, I'm going to take just a little more out of you... but I'm going to leave just enough so that you can defend that championship."
Cole asks Orton to stand by as they ask more questions throughout the night, Orton says he's staying to watch the main event. We take a commercial.
WWE Women's Champion Melina Perez vs. WWE Diva's Champion Maryse Oulet (non-title match)
The WWE Rewind was Oulet attacking Perez last week, leading to tonight's match, and that, in turn, resulted in Perez showing up on SmackDown to attack Oulet, only to get attacked by Michelle McCool. The divas from both Raw and SmackDown tonight are out to support their respective champions apparently.
We start out with both women trying to out-kick each other, but Oulet throws Perez through the ropes, and the SmackDown divas all give a hand to throw her back in the ring. Oulet drives Perez's head into the mat several times, then straddles her back for a reverse chinlock, pulling her body backwards, then just outright pulling the hair. Referee forces a break, but Oulet goes back for the hair. Perez gives her a stiff slap, then a kick other head head and a pair of boots to the face from the corner, followed by a senton from the turnbuckle and a flying hairmare of her own before she goes for a cover. Perez whips Oulet into the corner, charges, Oulet puts her feet up but Perez stops herself and kicks a mudhole into Oulet. Perez steps back and charges with a pair of knees, Oulet sidesteps it and Perez eats the corner. Oulet drags her out by her hair, slams her to the mat, covers and gets a quick 1-2-3.
WINNER: Maryse Oulet. Oulet apparently looks at Rosa Mendez wrong, because Mendez charges into the ring, and suddenly all the divas rush into the ring. Phoenix holds back Mendez, but she breaks free and attacks one of the Bella twins! All hell breaks loose, but just as we thought this was going to end up being a Raw vs. SmackDown divas brawl, as was hinted was going to happen before and during the match, it ends up being babyfaces vs. heels, with the babyfaces kicking all the heels out.
We then flash back to last Friday's SmackDown to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship title signing. Edge comes out and verbally assaults Guerrero. Big Show comes out and says that the reason Guerrero signed this match is because she doesn't think that Edge is a good champion. John Cena comes out, kicks Big Show in the nuts, takes out Edge with the table, then whispers those infamous secret words to Guerrero.
The WWE World Heavyweight Championship Contract Signing, Part Deux
Vickie Guerrero is introduced in the ring, and the boos start. "Before I begin," she says, "I have an announcement to make." The fans rain down the boos and interrupt her. "Excuse me! To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania we will have a 25-diva Battle Royale that will feature Divas from Raw, SmackDown, ECW and past WWE history. The winner of that match will be crowned the first-ever Miss WrestleMania!"
"Now, back to business. I am here for the official WrestleMania contract signing for the World Heavyweight Championship. Please help me welcome the 'World's Largest Athlete', the Big Show!" Big Show comes down to the ring, dressed in a nice suit, steps into the ring and shakes Guerrero's hand before taking a place behind Guerrero. "And now, the champion, 'The Rated-R Superstar', my husband, EDGE!" Edge comes out, dressed like a bum off the street, steps into the ring, whips off his sunglasses, steps over to Guerrero and politely kisses her cheek.
"Gentleman," she says, "please take a seat." The fans are chanting for Big Show as everybody sets down. Edge says, "Now Vickie, before you continue, there's something I need to say. Big Show, last week I said some very harsh things to you, and we're not going to take back what we said. Tonight's WrestleMania rewind was from WrestleMania IX, I was there, I was just a kid, it was exciting... what I'm saying is that you're better than the Warrior, and I'm FAR better than Hulk Hogan.
"Listen, what I'm trying to say is that we have the chance to have a historic, epic match at WrestleMania. I don't care if these people like us or not. The fact is whether or not they like it, we're the top two superstars in the WWE today! So I say that we put the past in the past and concentrate on making history at WrestleMania!"
Edge then takes his contract and signs it, then passes it to Big Show. Big Show responds, "You know, Edge, I'm glad to hear you say that, and I agree with you 100 percent!" Big Show puts down his mic and signs the contract, and passes it to Guerrero. Both men stand up and shake hands. John Cena's music then blares, and Edge quickly cowers behind Guerrero as Cena makes his entrance and steps in the ring.
Edge grabs a mic and protests, "Hold on hold on HOLD ON! What exactly are you doing here, Cena? You don't... you don't belong here, okay? In case you missed it, it's now official, you're not in this match. You're not in this match!"
Cena looks at Guerrero with a confused look. "You... you didn't tell 'em? Woah, what you wanna do, you want me to tell him, you want to tell him, what are we doing here?" Edge turns to Guerrero and responds, "What? What is he talking about? It doesn't matter. Show, I say we get this leach out of our ring!"
Guerrero interrupts him. "Wait! Wait! I invited Cena out here... after a lot of consideration, I thought it was only fair to the audience that I allow Cena to compete for the title at WrestleMania." The fans go nuts as Cena reaches over and signs the contract. Big Show protests, "Vickie! What are you talking about fair to the audience? Who cares what the audience thinks? I'm the number one contender!"
Cena takes the mic again. "Show, take it easy... but Vickie, I think it's time for everybody to know the truth..." "John, I am begging you!" blurts out Vickie. Cena continues, "Edge, listen, I came to SmackDown and interrupted the contract signing because... not because I like you guys, everybody knows that I don't like you guys, but I had to tell Vickie Guerrero something. It is something that she needed to know before before that contract signing. I told Vickie Guerrero... I told Vickie Guerrero... that I loved her."
The fans go excitedly mixed on this. Edge is blown away. Big Show is confused. Cena continues, "I know, I know this may get a little bit weird because you guys may be literally married, but I can't control who I fall in love with! What happened, happened, and I know she's got feelings for me too, because if you didn't you wouldn't let me sign that contract. The heart wants what the heart wants, and I know that I want the WWE Championship, and I want Vickie Guerrero. I just know that I love you, Vickie, and I know that I will see you two at WrestleMania!"
Cena steps out of the ring and walks off, but Edge stops him. "WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH! Cena! Cena! Hold on a minute! Wait right there! You do not love Vickie, okay? No, no, no you don't, you're playing on her emotional state so that you can worm her way into this title match at WrestleMania, but it ain't gonna work, because she's going to take that contract right now and rip it up. Do it! Do it now, rip it up!"
"Edge, she's not going to do that," that Cena. "The hell she isn't!" he responds, "Vickie! Do it! Do it now!" Cena retorts, "Wait! I can't do it anymore! You're right, Ege, I don't love Vickie. To be quite honest the sight of her makes me sick. You wanted it, you got it, here's the real truth, when I came to SmackDown I told Vickie Guerrero that Raw was being held in my hometown. I know the guy who sells the tickets, I know the guy who sells the t-shirts... and I politely told Vickie Guerrero that I even know the guy who worked the security camera."
We then go to some security camera footage in Guerrero's office, where Big Show walks in on her. She protests and says he can't be there. Big Show thanks her for giving him the title shot opportunity. She then tells him that things are going too fast and they have to slow down, at least until after WrestleMania. They then kiss, and Guerrero slaps Big Show on the ass on his way out! WOAH! How the tables have turned! (and, somehow, I expected this). Edge, standing between Guerrero and Big Show, keeps looking back and forth between them, not believing what he just saw!
Cena cuts in, "VICKIE! YOU GOT SOME 'SPLANIN' TO DO!"
Edge looks over at Big Show, then to Vickie... he grabs her by the chin and says, "Look me in the face!" Guerrero breaks down in tears, Edge lets her go. Cena looks on with a shrug and a "Whoops, I did it again!" look! Edge slumps down in a chair, holding his head. Big Show is rubbing his head, knowing he's fucked up just a little. Commercial.
We come back with another WWE Rewind, last week's opening segment of Chris Jericho beating the crap out of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka on the old Piper's Pit set.
"Money in the Bank" Qualifying Match - Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston
Apparently we just get a single's match here as we lock up, Jericho gets a side headlock on Kingston in the middle of the ring. Kingston shoots him off, Jericho responds with a shouldertackle, float over, Kingston with a pair of leapfrogs over Jericho and then a leg lariat, followed by an armdrag and a dropkick that sends Jericho into the corner. Kingston runs over, leaps on his shoulders, goes for a 10-count round of punches, Jericho eats about half of them before he powerbombs Kingston to the mat, lays in a kick, and we go to commercial.
Back live, Jericho has Kingston down on the mat with a headlock submission, demanding that he submit. During the break we see Jericho hitting the dropkick off the corner, sending Kingston off the apron to the floor. Back in the match, Kingston gets to his feet, breaks loose, bounces off the ropes a few times, hits a high clotheslines then a few more, rebounds off the corner, hits a cross body block, cover, hooks the legs, two count. Kingston then nails Jericho with a side Russian legsweep, dances around the wing, sets up for the high double legdrop, but Jericho grabs him by the tights and tries for the Walls of Jericho. Kingston powers out, but Jericho catches him with an Enziguri, covers, two count.
Jericho demands that Kingston gets up, bounces off the ropes and hits a bulldog on Kingston. Jericho then signals to the fans that he's going for the Lionsault, he tries, but Kingston rolls out of the way. Kingston gets back to his feet, signals that he's going for the high double legdrop and snaps it off, covers, 1... 2... kickout by Jericho. Kingston sets up for the spinning Enziguri, but Jericho blocks it, grabs the leg, pulls him over and locks in the Walls of Jericho! Kingston starts crawling to the ropes, but Jericho pulls him back to the center of the ring.
"WHOOOOO!" we hear over the PA system as the music for "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair plays... and the champ comes out! Flair comes down to the ring and grins at Jericho. Jericho breaks off his attack on Kingston and goes over to the ropes, seething. He turns around, Kingston pops up, he was playing possum! He nails Jericho with a windmill kick to the head, he covers, 1-2-3!
WINNER: Kofi Kingston! Kingston goes on to fill the last slot from Raw! Kingston runs out and hugs Ric Flair, and they celebrate together. Jericho holds his head, not believing what happened.
Back to the desk, Michael Cole returns to interviewing Randy Orton, and asks if he's hiding from Triple H. Orton objects to this mischaracterization, saying that he isn't hiding and has no need to hide. "Why would I tempt myself, Cole? I'd like to pride myself that I take apart Triple H little by little. But I'm not always in control of my actions, am I? As I said, I am showing restraint, that is why I'm not there tonight. "
Cole says, "Well I hope you are enjoying the action tonight as your opponent, Triple H, is in action tonight." Orton says, "Oh, I will... I will!" We go to commercial. We come back and Todd Grisham interviews Jericho, asking him if he's disappointed in his lost. Jericho is upset, he blames Ric Flair for "losing my WrestleMania moment", and then declares he wants his moment next week - he's calling Ric Flair out of retirement for one more match. He says that he knows Flair's been waiting for this moment, and Jericho wants it.
We go back to the announcer's table where Michael Cole and Jerry "the King" Lawler introduce us to the next inductee into the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame... "the Birdman" Koko B. Ware! Without a doubt, one of the more charismatic match that helped to promote the "Rock 'n Wrestling Connection" of the mid-1980s. And who can forget his contribution to "WrestleMania: the Album" with his solo "Piledriver!" (and personally, one of my favorite songs! "SOOOMTIMES LOVE! IT FEELS LIKE A FIGHT! IT FEELS LIKE THUNDER IT FEELS JUST LIKE A PILEDRIVER! YEEAAH YEAH YEAH A PILE-DRI-VER!!!").
Rey Mysterio, Jr., Christian Cage & Fit Finlay (w/ Hornswaggle) vs. Kane & WWE World Tag Team Champions John Morrison & Mike "the Miz" Mizanin (non-title match)
Babyfaces are introduced before the break, after the break Miz & Morrison are already in the ring as Kane is introduced. We're gonna start off with Cage and Mizanin locking up, Miz with the side headlock, Christian shoves him off, floatover, armdrag, Miz ends up on the ropes, Christian runs over, stands on his back, pulls him off, reverse DDT, cover, two count. Christian lets Kane tag in, Kane throws him in the corner, charges, Christian with a reverse elbow then tries for a sunset flip over, Kane catches him, throws him in the corner, then hits a spinning side slam into a pin attempt, two count.
Kane tags in Morrison, takes a shot to the ribs, big European Uppercut, bounces off the ropes and delivers a stiff kick into the face. Mizanin tags in, they perform a double-team gutwrench slam over the knees, Mizanin covers, two count. Mizanin goes into a side headlock on the mat, the fans rally Christian to get up, he breaks free, but Mizanin cuts off his attack with a knee to the midsection, throws Christian in the corner. Mizanin charges, Christian sidesteps it and kicks Mizanin in the face. Finlay and Morrison make the hot tags, Finlay runs roughshod over Morrison, Mizanin tries to kick Finlay from behind, Finlay drags him in the ring and clotheslines them both.
Finlay tags in Mysterio, leaps into the ring, headscissor takeover on Mizanin sends him out of the ring, seated senton on Morrison, throws Morrison in the corner, hits the hurracanrana out of the corner, cover, two count as Mizanin breaks it up. Mizanin throws Mysterio into the corner, charges, Mysterio side steps it, Mizanin eats the buckle and falls out of the ring. Morrison gets drop toeholded into the ropes, Mysterio goes for the 6-1-9, Kane runs in and chokeslams Mysterio. Christian and Finlay run in and clothesline Kane out of the ring, Kane takes them with him. Mysterio returns to Morrison for another headscissor takeover that sends Morrison into the ropes, followed by the 6-1-9, followed by the seated senton off the ropes for the pin.
WINNERS: Rey Mysterio, Jr., Christian Cage & Fit Finlay. Off to commercial as we see Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr. walking to the ring for their match.
JUST ANNOUNCED FOR NEXT WEEK! The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels will be forced to team up against WWE Intercontinental Champion John Layfield and Vladimir Kozlov!
We again play a trailer for John Cena's new movie 12 Rounds, opening Friday March 27.
Handicap Match: WWE Champion Triple H vs. The Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr.) (non-title match)
Rhodes & DiBiase are introduced first, and we cut again to Randy Orton's home, where he's watching the main event with his wife, Samantha. Triple H's music plays next... but he doesn't step out. Lillian Garcia introduces him again... nada. Rhodes & DiBiase are looking around, then asking the referee to start the match and count him out. The referee announces a forefit.
WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr. Randy Orton comes on the RawHD Tron and he's furious!
"Cut the music! Nobody, nobody should be smiling right now! Ted, Cody, you should be disappointed. Triple H let everybody down, he let you down, he let the fans down, most of all he let me down! ... You not showing up tonight probably means that you won't show up for WrestleMania... and if you don't show up at WrestleMania, then I'll have no choice but to put you with the rest of your family!"
He nudges his wife to go get the door, he keeps rambling on... and then suddenly realizes something, stops and says, "Samantha! No! Don't get the door!" The camera peels around as Samantha screams, and we see holes being punches through the door! It's Triple H and SLEDGY~! He storms through the house as Orton and his wife run off. Triple H start stalking through the house, finds a few production team members, asks them where Orton is, then runs off. He finds Orton's wife cowering behind a kitchen counter, asks her where Orton is, she shakes her head no, and he continues on, kicking down various doors.
Triple H walks up a staircase, sledgehammer in hand. He hears a noise and looks back down over the banister, then walks back down again. He comes back through the room he just left, looks around a corner, then gets ambushed by Orton, who was hiding in a closet, who is attacking with a golf club. Orton sacks Triple H into a couch, but Triple H fights him off and throws him head-first into the wall, knees him in the ribs, then throws him right through his living room window! Orton steps outside and continues to assault Orton as we see two police cruisers roll up.
Triple H looks over his shoulders, then delivers a few more parting shots before the police tell him to back away. Triple H puts his hands over his head and steps back. Police go to check on Orton, he starts yelling, "PUT HIM AWAY! HE BROKE IN MY HOUSE, HE ATTACKED ME!" Orton breaks from them and attempts to get one last shot at Triple H as he's being put in the squad car, Orton takes out another police officer instead. We see Triple H sitting in the car, and then see three officers trying to restrain Orton as we go to black for the night.
Quite an interesting night on Raw, to say the least, and we're shaping up for a great WrestleMania! We'll see you Thursday night on the podcast!