Monday Night Raw

Monday Night Raw

November 5, 2007

Recap by Sassy

Comments by Sassy in italics.

In Memory of “The Fabulous Moolah” Lillian Ellison

1923-2007

Monday Night Raw is being broadcast from Los Angeles, CA on the USA Channel.

Ringside announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

Ring announcer: Lillian Garcia

DX is back! Triple H and HBK Shawn Michaels enter the arena to D Generation X music. 

Lawler tells us this is for one night only. We appear to have a standing ovation from the audience as Triple X takes the mic. Correction – they both have mics. Triple H tells us that it is for one night only. Before Triple H can finish his DX speech, we hear Leprechaun music and we see Hornswoggle come out from under the ring. He chases Shawn Michaels around the ring several times. Triple H tells him to go back under the ring but Hornswoggle shakes his head NO. Triple H has HBK hand him a run sheet for the show. He explains to Hornswoggle that DX’s promo is on the sheet, but Hornswoggle isn’t supposed to be on the show until the “short segment”. Hornswoggle takes down HBK in an arm scissors. Triple H says he will make a judgment call and that Hornswoggle is in. Hornswoggle tells Triple H he can’t go back under the ring because there are monsters. HBK checks under the ring and says there are no monsters. Suddenly something has Shawn by the legs and he is dragged under the ring. Triple H and Hornswoggle look from the ring – neither goes down to the floor.  HBK is back out from under and back into the ring with what appears to be worms in his mouth.

We hear the Boogey Man’s music and he enters from under the ring. Hornswoggle is hiding behind DX. Triple H asks the Boogey Man, who is from ECW, if he can help him and the Boogey Man says “I’m the Boogey Man! And I’m coming to see if I can join DX”. HBK is still wiping off his tongue. Triple H says he will make another executive decision and Boogey Man is in too.  Triple H says you can never have enough nerds, freaks and weirdoes.

We then hear the music of The Great Khali, from Smackdown, who enters the arena with his interpreter.  The Great Khali must also want to be a member of DX.

We then hear the music of Jonathan Coachman. He is yelling “Enough!” as he comes toward the ring. Coach gets a lot of booing from the crowd. Triple H calls Coach George Jefferson. Triple H says that he will tell Khali’s interpreter what Coach was saying about Khali earlier. And he does, and the interpreter tells Khali and Coach is suddenly on Khali’s bad side. As Khali stalks Coach up the ramp and out of the arena, we are down to Triple H and HBK in the ring.

Although this wasn’t wrestling, it was funny.  I would have thought WWE would have had a tribute to The Fabulous Moolah and not worried so much about the rest of the Raw show tonight.

We see that DX will face Umaga and Randy Orton tonight.  We also see that Steve Austin will be on tonight’s Monday Night Raw.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see Tom Green from The Tom Green Show is in the audience and Luke Perry is in the audience.

We then see last Monday Night’s Raw Diva’s Battle Royal and how Kelly Kelly from ECW won and was then taken out by Beth Phoenix.

Kelly Kelly from Jacksonville, FL – and ECW

Vs.

The Glamazon Beth Phoenix from Buffalo, NY

WWE Women’s Champion

Audience favorite: I’m not sure

My favorite: Beth Phoenix

Winner: Beth Phoenix – as if you had to ask.

As much as I like to see Beth Phoenix in the ring, could we please find someone who can wrestle to put in the ring with her?  Beth immediately takes Kelly down, slams her, covers, gets the pin and the win. Beth hardly messed up her hair in this very short lived match.

Santino Marella is backstage and he tells us that Austin will not be here tonight.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see there is going to be Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio against Mr. Kennedy and Finlay.

Joey –

at least he gave us a first name – otherwise unknown --

**We have learned the identity of Joey!  He is none other than

Kaos of Wrestling Society X**

Vs.

Carlito, or, as the case may be,

Snitsky

who Carlito has called in as a replacement.

While Joey looks a little bit like he could work in the ring, definitely not against Snitsky. Of course Snitsky beats the daylights out of Joey and gets the win but when Carlito wants to spit an apple in Joey’s face, Snitsky takes out Carlito.  I do realize that Snitsky makes a great villain, but I believe he could do a little more in the ring than he has been allowed.  The same goes for Carlito.  A waste of at least three talents in this not so much a match. We even get a replay of the joke of a match.

We see a promo of Jeff Hardy, which is actually very good.  I’ve been a Hardy fan ever since I first saw Jeff and Matt Hardy in the ring. Jeff may not be one of the big boys but he is spectacular in the ring.

We see Jeff and Mysterio in the back, a prelude to the interpromotional tag team match.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break.

Mr. Kennedy, who is already in the ring

&

Finlay, from Belfast, Ireland and Smackdown

Vs.

Rey Mysterio, from San Diego, CA and Smackdown

&

Jeff Hardy from Cameron, NC

The Intercontinental Champion

Audience favorites: Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy

My favorites: Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and Finlay

Winners: Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio after Jeff pins Kennedy.

Finlay and Kennedy seem to have a problem communicating and look as though they are about to get into their own battle halfway through the match and we go to

COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH!

Back from commercial break, Mysterio delivers the 619 to Kennedy by misses Finlay as he manages to get out of the way. Mysterio then takes down Finlay outside the ring on the floor allowing Jeff to deliver a swanton and get the win.

Not a bad match.  Mysterio and Jeff did their usual bang up job of entertaining the fans. Finlay had me a little concerned there for a second.  I thought he might be able to pull of the win.

Marella is backstage on his cell phone and Maria shows up to tell Marella that she has just heard that Austin is here. Marella tells her that it is just a rumor. And the two of them head off to the ring.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break.

Santino Marella and Marie enter the arena and head to the ring. Maria spends most of her time trying to keep her dress pulled down – I thought it was the writers who were on strike, not the costume department. Marella tells the crowd again that Austin is not going to be there. Marella says there is an actual celebrity in the audience, the director of The Condemned. Marella then decides to pick on the director. Marella then picks on people in Los Angeles.

We hear Austin’s entrance theme and Austin enters the arena. My guess is that they haven’t sold enough copies of The Condemned on DVD to make up for the box office losses because we know Austin is there to actually wrestle. Austin sets Marella straight before he decides to deliver a stunner. Austin then manages to some where, some way, some how, find a truck full of Budweiser beer – it is Los Angeles, you know – and not only does he douse Marella with beer, he manages to get Maria when she tries to protect Marella.

I thought they spent a little too much time on Austin and beer.

We are again reminded about tonight’s match: DX versus Umaga and Orton.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see the Save Us 222 video and The Code Is The Answer. Then we see a replay of Austin and beer.

We are backstage with Vince McMahon and Hornswoggle. McMahon says that he needs to show Hornswoggle some tough love. At Survivor Series, Hornswoggle will be against The Great Khali. I don’t know if even Mick Foley could save Hornswoggle from Khali.

JR and Lawler tell us about the matches we will see at Survivor Series.

Triple X is backstage and tells us that he has been asked by WWE management to come out and waste time.  We see the ring mat is being changed due to beer damage by Austin. HBK shows up and says he has everything taken care of. The Fat Guy shows up as “The DX Dancers”. Triple H tells HBK he was supposed to get “dancers” and Triple H says he will do it himself. Triple H is back shoving the Fat Guy out of the way and tells us that he has The Girls Next Door straight from The Playboy Mansion.

We see a promo of Rey Mysterio’s new DVD: The Biggest Little Man.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see a promo for Wrestlemania XXIV.

Cody Rhodes, weighing 232 lbs., from Charlotte, NC

accompanied to the ring by Hardcore Holly

Vs.

Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch are making their way to the ring. Mickie James stops Trevor to wish him good luck in his match, and Lance runs her off.

Trevor Murdoch, weighing 282 lbs., from Nashville, TN

One half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions

accompanied to the ring by Lance Cade, one half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions.

Audience favorite: I’m not sure

My favorite: I like them both

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Trevor may have more time experience in the ring than Cody, but Cody is a little more agile than Trevor. Trevor shows us he actually does know wrestling moves. Trevor does have a weight advantage over Cody. Lance goes up on the ring apron and Holly comes around to get him down, both men distract the referee in the ring. As the ref is trying to get Holly back in his corner, Cody is up on the top turnbuckle and Lance goes up again to try to take Cody down. Cody kicks Lance in the chest, sending him to the floor and as Trevor charges Cody, Cody leaps over him into the ring, sending Trevor into the ring post. Cody goes for the roll up, gets the pin and the three count.

As good as this match was, it could have been better without the outside interference.  I’m not sure what the storyline is supposed to be regarding Trevor and Mickie but I have a suspicion that it will be a reason for the tag team to break up and take a dive, losing their title belts in the process.

JR reminds us about the death of The Fabulous Moolah, real name Lillian Ellison, who is the first woman to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. JR says that the first women’s match he refereed in 1974 involved Moolah, the Women’s Champion. Moolah started wrestling in the 1940’s. We see a video tribute to The Fabulous Moolah. She entered wrestling when women were wrestlers, not “divas”. She fought hard and won the Women’s Championship in 1956. She held the Women’s title for 28 years. She was the first female ever to wrestle at Madison Square Gardens. She was one tough female wrestler and could be considered the best. A standing ovation for the Moolah tribute.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see an ECW promo. Dusty Hill of ZZ Top is in the audience as well as Jamie Kennedy. JR reminds us about Survivor Series, November 18, 2007, in Miami, FL.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Super Crazy

Vs.

Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas

Audience favorites: Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Super Crazy

My favorites: Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Super Crazy

Winners: Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Super Crazy

Super Crazy yells “Si” and Duggan yells “Ho” to get the audience involved and then Duggan starts his USA chant before the bell rings. Most of the match is Super Crazy who does a good job of keeping the Haas-Benjamin team busy. Super Crazy manages to roll up Benjamin and get the win. Benjamin is not happy and proceeds to stomp on Super Crazy prompting Hacksaw to get in the ring. Hacksaw takes down Benjamin with a right hand and then he stands up to Haas. Haas and Benjamin vacate the ring.

I have to say that I don’t understand why Super Crazy isn’t in more matches.  He’s very good in the ring as are Haas and Benjamin. Hacksaw is Hacksaw and audiences continue to adore him no matter where he goes.

We are reminded again about the match between DX against Umaga and Orton tonight.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we see the WWE Rewind, which is the Triple H versus Umaga & Orton handicap match.  HBK makes the save, which is why we are seeing DX tonight.

Umaga, weighing 350 lbs., from the Isle of Samoa

&

Randy Orton, weighing 245 lbs., from St. Louis, MO

The WWE Champion

Vs.

D Generation X – for one night only

Triple H & the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels.

Audience favorites: DX

My favorites: DX and Umaga

Winners: DX – Triple H and the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels

All four men start in as son as DX is in the ring. Orton ends up outside of the ring and DX teams up on Umaga. TDX manages to sneak to get Umaga over the ropes, then HBK dives over the top rope to take Umaga down again. Triple H goes out of the ring after Orton. HBK is back in the ring and Triple H beats a little more on Orton before taking him back into the ring. Triple H tags in HBK who continues to work on Orton’s left arm. Orton breaks the hold with a knee to the abdomen. Orton drags HBK to his corner and tags in Umaga. Umaga misses a big sit down on HBK and Triple H gets tagged into the match. Triple H manages a DDT to Umaga but he’s back on his feet right away. Triple H gets a sidewalk slam delivered to him by Umaga and we go to

COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH AGAIN!

Back from commercial break, JR is telling us there are 17 thousand fans on hand in LA. Triple H is down in the corner and charges, but Triple H manages to get out of the way. Orton gets the tag and Orton tries the same maneuver, but he gets a Triple H boot to the face. Both Triple H and Orton are down in the ring. HBK is pacing on the ring apron. Triple H gets the tag but Orton doesn’t make it to his corner. HBK takes a side trip and hits Umaga hard enough to send him off the ring apron onto the floor. HBK slams Orton to the mat and goes outside to climb to the top turnbuckle. HBK flies off the top with the elbow and lands perfectly but Umaga is in the ring and takes down HBK with a clothesline. Orton makes it to his feet and gets the tag. Umaga proceeds to work on HBK who hasn’t made it back to his feet yet. HBK tries to fight his way out of the corner but doesn’t make it. HBK is now in the wrong corner and Orton tags himself in. Orton takes HBK down with a standing drop kick but he doesn’t manage to get the cover. Orton spends a few seconds stomping on HBK versus actually wrestling. HBK is back on his feet and the two exchange punches before Orton takes down HBK and tags in Umaga. Umaga drops on top of HBK and HBK is still down. HBK gets back to his feet and Umaga takes him down with a head butt. Umaga is now on the top turnbuckle and goes for a drop but HBK manages to roll out of the way and is trying to get to Triple H in the corner. Umaga has HBK by the leg but HBK swings a kick to Umaga’s head making him break the hold. The kick sends Umaga back to his own corner and he tags in Orton. HBK manages to get to Triple H and tags Triple H into the match. Umaga is still in the ring and Triple H takes down Orton before going after Umaga. He then goes back to Orton and takes him down with a knee. Umaga sends Triple H into the ropes and Triple H stops him with a face buster as he comes off the ropes. Triple H sends Umaga into opposite ring posts before going back after Orton. Triple H hits Orton with a spine buster and tries to set him up for the pedigree, but Umaga sneaks in a Samoan spike behind the ref’s back. Triple H and Orton are down in the ring and HBK is down on the ring apron. Umaga smacks Orton to try to get him to move and cover Triple H. Orton is moving but hasn’t made it to Triple H and the ref is counting. Orton gets to Triple H and covers but doesn’t get the three count. Orton tags back in Umaga who drags Triple H over to the corner and practices his left and rights on Triple H’s head. Umaga goes across the ring and this time manages to smash Triple H before Umaga sends a fist to HBK sending him down outside the ring. Umaga tries to jump on Triple H but Triple H gets his knees up and I believe we have a low blow, however, the ref did not see the move. Umaga tags in Orton and Triple H has not made it back to his feet. Orton is showing off because Triple H has not made it back to his feet.  As soon as Triple H is up, Orton goes for the RKO, but Triple H shoves Orton and sends him into Umaga on the ring apron. Umaga is now on the floor and Triple H and Orton are down in the ring. Triple H is trying to get to HBK for the pin and Orton is back on his feet. Triple H tags in HBK  who manages to take down Orton with sweet chin music, gets the pin and the win.

Good job DX. As much as these two are not my favorite wrestlers in the ring, I have to say they put on one heck of a match tonight. HBK still has it, Triple H never lost it and I think Umaga has a lot more than we are seeing in the ring. I am certain that he has much more wrestling talent than he is using due to the nature of his killer character. A nice match to close out Monday Night Raw.

WWE SMACKDOWN / NOVEMBER 2
Wrestling Bodyslam . Com