Monday
Night Raw
December 3, 2007
Recap by Sassy
Comments by Sassy noted in italics.
NOTE: ECW
WILL BE AIRED ON THURSDAY NIGHT INSTEAD OF TUESDAY NIGHT THIS WEEK. ECW WILL
OVERLAP ONE-HOUR OF TNA iMPACT. iMPACT WILL BE SHOWN AGAIN ON FRIDAY MORNING BUT
WILL NOT BE RERUN ITS USUAL SATURDAY NIGHT SLOT.
RAW IS JERICHO! We
might like Jericho but Ric Flair is a real fan. Last week Jericho assisted Flair
in beating Randy Orton and saving Flair’s career – for now. But we know that
Jericho is out to get Orton’s championship belt. One of the matches at Armageddon is Y2J Chris Jericho vs.
Randy Orton, WWE Championship Match!
Me
want title match!
This writer apologizes for missing ECW and being unable
to file a recap last week. We did, however manage to take in two Ring of Honor
events and the latest TNA pay per view, Turning Point. We solemnly swear not to
miss ECW again!
Raw is being broadcast on the USA network.
Ringside announcers: JR and Jerry Lawler
Ring announcer: Lillian Garcia
Backstage announcer: Todd Grisham
And we open the show with Y2J Chris Jericho entering the
arena. RAW IS JERICHO! This much I can tell you about Jericho. I can type
what he says but it will never be with the same force of delivery. Jericho
tells us that last week after Raw went off the air, Orton gave Jericho a title
match. And we will see the replay:
Orton not only gives Jericho the title match, he threatens Jericho with a major
beat down. I don’t know about the rest of the Jerichaholics, but this one
doesn’t think Orton can take out Jericho.
We hear Orton’s music and he enters the arena. Disrupting
Jericho!
Orton not only enters the arena; he enters the ring to whine
to Jericho about Jericho getting a title match just after he returns to WWE. I
didn’t realize how much shorter Jericho was than Orton. Fortunately for
Jericho, he can fight dirtier than Orton ever dreamed of. Jericho should take
him out now and get it over with. Jericho throws down the mic and here comes
William Regal, General Manager of Raw, to break up the fun.
The live audience doesn’t like it Regal's interruption any
better than I do! Regal tells Jericho and Orton they can’t face each other
tonight, but they can pick each other’s opponents. Orton picks Jericho’s
opponent: The Samoan Bulldozer Umaga. Jericho picks Orton’s opponent: HBK!
JR tells us we have an Intercontinental Match tonight: WWE
Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Snitsky.
We see Marie and Mickie James in the back coming toward the
arena. We have a diva’s match
after
Commercial break
Back from commercial break.
Diva
Tag Team Match
Maria from Chicago, IL
&
Mickie James from Richmond, VA
Vs.
Melina from Los Angeles, CA
&
The Glamazon Beth Phoenix from Buffalo, NY
Audience favorites: Maria & Mickie James
My
favorites: The Glamazon Beth Phoenix and Mickie James
Winners: The Glamazon Beth Phoenix and Melina
This match should be all about Beth and Mickie since
Mickie has a match with Beth at Armageddon for the WWE Women’s Championship.
The match starts with Melina and Maria facing each other in the center of the
ring. Melina tags in Beth and Beth wants Mickie in the ring. Maria obliges and
it’s all elbows and chops by Mickie, but Beth over powers her. Mickie is fast,
but she doesn’t’ have the size advantage.
Beth does. Beth has some fantastic moves as she pins Mickie for the win.
Todd is backstage with HBK Shawn Michaels. HBK is looking
forward to his match with Orton because, even though the title is not on the
line, sweet chin music is allowed. We see Kennedy on the monitor and he is
yelling for HBK’s attention. Kennedy is facing HBK at Armageddon. I hope
it’s just the telecast system but Kennedy looks like he’s high.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, we see an Armageddon promo.
Mr. Kennedy enters the arena and he says he has invited three
of HBK’s closest friends in order to find out more about HBK. First person out
is HBK’s first partner, from The Rockers, Marty Jennetty. Not exactly.
Second out is someone HBK faced at Wrestlemania X in the greatest ladder match
of all time: Razor Ramon – not exactly again. Hall couldn’t even
make it to the TNA pay per view last night. Kennedy tells the Razor Ramon
wannabe that he’s glad it could make it. Last out is the person HBK faced at
Wrestlemania XI for the WWE title – Big Daddy Cool Diesel. One more time,
not exactly. Just when we thought the story lines couldn’t get any
worse…Kennedy says it is missing something without the man himself –
HBK Shawn Michaels – with a sparkler? My take is that you would have to be
hard up to get on TV with WWE in order to do this kind of crap. HBK enters
the ring and cleans house. The only man left standing – the coward Kennedy has
already bailed out of the ring—is the HBK dress alike.
He falls to the mat all by himself and rolls out of the ring. FYI:
The men poorly portraying the blast from the past wrestlers are actually
Independent wrestlers.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, Vince McMahon and Jonathan
Coachman are backstage. McMahon says that on the three hour special Hulk Hogan
will be there. Coach says that Trish Stratus will be there. McMahon says that
The Hardcore Legend Mick Foley will be there. Coach says that Eric Bischoff will
be there and Stone Cold Steve Austin will be there. Note: No mention is made of
The Rock who shown up in the advertisements for the three hour special.
Hornswoggle interrupts the chat and McMahon asks Coach to bring him a chair.
McMahon wants to talk to Hornswoggle about the three hour match and they will
have the first ever McMahon in the ring portrait and it will be McMahon,
Stephanie, Shane, McMahon’s wife (her name is Linda in case ya’ll forgot)
and, of course, Hornswoggle. McMahon says that Finlay is not in the building
tonight so it will be a no disqualification handicap match: Hornswoggle against
Carlito and Coach. It appears McMahon has left his cell phone behind and now
Hornswoggle has it. And he is making calls…
JR gives us a replay of Jeff Hardy and Triple H versus Umaga
and Snitsky but Triple H and Jeff Hardy will face each other at Armageddon. And
that’s the bottom line because William Regal says so.
Triple H and William Regal are backstage and Triple H wants
to know about the match Regal made between Triple H and Jeff Hardy. Regal says
it made sense to him to make the match and the winner will get a WWE title match
at The Royal Rumble. You know how Triple H is going to handle that news. Poor
Jeff.
We see Umaga heading toward the arena for his match with
Chris Jericho.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, we see the match last week
between Chris Jericho and Santino Marella.
Umaga, weighing 350 lbs., from the Isle of Samoa
Vs.
Y2J Chris Jericho, weighing 220 lbs.
Audience favorite: Chris Jericho
My favorite: I like them both
Winner: We don’t know because Boring, I mean, Randy
Orton interrupts the match. We might assume that the match was either a no
contest due to interference or Chris Jericho was awarded the match due to
interference by Orton.
Slight weight difference here.
Commercial break before the match begins.
Back from commercial break,
TECHNICALLY
THIS WAS A COMMERCIAL BREAK DURING THE MATCH!
THAT’S
ONE!
Jericho and Umaga are out on the floor. Bright move WWE.
Jericho is in a match and we miss several minutes of it because of commercial
break. Jericho appears to be
holding his own as he pounds on Umaga. Umaga rolls back into the ring and we
hear JR tells us “there was all kinds of action during the commercial
break”. Thanks, JR, that makes WWE home viewers feel so much better. We see by
the split screen that Jericho springboards off the second rope and dropkicks
Umaga off the ring apron and to the floor. Jericho then sails over the top rope
to nail Umaga with a cross body block that sends both men down to the floor.
Back to real time, Jericho appears to have Umaga in a submission hold but Umaga
tosses Jericho over his head. As Jericho gets back to his feet, Umaga picks him
up and throws him over the top rope to the floor outside. And Jericho is down
and the ref is counting. Jericho is back to his feet and Umaga helps him into
the ring to drop him back to the mat with a clothesline. Umaga comes off the
ropes and lands on Jericho, going for the cover. He gets a two count before
Jericho gets a shoulder off the mat. Umaga applies a vice grip hold to
Jericho’s right shoulder. The crowd is begging Jericho to get back to his
feet. And he does, and then trips Umaga sending him face first into the bottom
turnbuckle. Umaga delivers a kick to Jericho, sending him back to the mat, but
Jericho is back up and still fighting back. Umaga has Jericho in the corner and
is beating on Jericho but the ref gets in the middle and breaks it up. Umaga
backs up and charges across the ring to slam into Jericho but Jericho rolls out
of the ring and Umaga hits the corner post. As Umaga staggers back into the
ring, Jericho comes off the top turnbuckle and nails Umaga in the back sending
him down to the canvas. Both men are down in the ring and the ref is counting.
He gets to the count of seven and both men are to their feet. We now have
Jericho punching on Umaga before delivering a kick and coming off the ropes to
deliver a splash. Jericho goes for the pin but only gets a two count. Umaga
charges Jericho in the corner, Jericho sidesteps and Umaga goes chest first into
the corner post. Jericho delivers a code breaker and guess who enters the
ring to kick Jericho and deliver the (yawn) RKO.
We see Hornswoggle heading to the ring.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break.
Two
on One Handicap Match, No Disqualification
Carlito, weighing 220 lbs., from The Caribbean
&
Jonathan Coachman, weighing 235 lb., from Wichita, KS
Vs.
Hornswoggle
Audience favorite: Hornswoggle
My favorite: Hornswoggle and Carlito
Winner: Hornswoggle
with a whole lot of help from the APA.
Hornswoggle is smiling.
That should scare Carlito and Coach! Hornswoggle holds up one
finger and he walks around the ring to Lillian Garcia and whispers in her ear.
Hornswoggle has her announce that for this match, he has hired protection. Here
comes the APA! JBL AND RON SIMMONS! I believe Coach is in serious trouble. JBL
hits the clothesline from hell, Hornswoggle hits the tadpole splash and gets the
three count.
The audience is chanting APA! Simmons appears to have
stayed active at least in the gym. JBL doesn't appear to have that same muscular
look.
NOTE: We
have heard that Carlito has requested and received his release from WWE. I
can’t say that I blame Carlito for wanting to take a walk. I can’t remember
the last time I saw Carlito in an actual wrestling match and while I can’t
argue that Carlito has some great comedic talent, he has wrestling talent that
is being wasted.
Todd Grisham is backstage with Snitsky and he asks Snitsky
about his match with Jeff Hardy. Snitsky says that he is facing Jeff in the ring
because Jeff has something he wants – the Intercontinental Championship.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, we see the WWE Rewind – the
match between Jeff Hardy and Triple H against Umaga and Snitsky from last week.
Jeff Hardy and Triple H were victorious in this match.
WWE
Intercontinental Title Match
Jeff Hardy, weighing 221 lbs., from Cameron, NC
Champion
Vs.
Snitsky, weighing 307 lbs., from PA
Challenger
Audience favorite: Jeff Hardy
My favorite: Jeff Hardy
Winner: Jeff Hardy
who retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Another slight weight difference in this match up.
Jeff is extremely quick and agile and is prone to high risk. Snitsky does
everything in the ring with brute force. If he can keep Jeff on the mat and off
the ropes, he may have a chance of becoming the next Intercontinental champ.
The bell rings and the two men lock up with Snitsky throwing Jeff into the
ropes. Jeff goes up form the top ropes, but Snitsky catches him and sends him
into the corner post. Snitsky drops an elbow on the downed Jeff, then picks him
up and sends him head first into the top turnbuckle. Snitsky stomps on Jeff
until the ref makes him back away but then he comes back to deliver a boot to
Jeff’s face. Again the ref warns Snitsky. Snitsky grabs Jeff by the ankles and
slams him on the mat in the center of the ring, working on Jeff’s lower back.
Snitsky gets Jeff in a double under hook Jeff kicks his way, but comes back at
Snitsky and gets caught with a sidewalk slam. Snitsky goes for the cover and
gets a two count. Snitsky pounds on Jeff with his fists. Jeff pulls himself up
in the corner but Snitsky delivers a vertical suplex and Jeff is down again.
Snitsky comes off the ropes with to deliver a leg drop but Jeff rolls out of the
way and Snitsky meets the canvas. Jeff goes to work on Snitsky, delivering
dropkicks before going for the cover. Jeff gets a one count. Jeff comes off the
top to hit Snitsky with whisper in the wind and again goes for a cover but
Snitsky powers out. Both men back to their feet. Snitsky charges at Jeff in the
corner and gets his leg hung up. Jeff comes off the top rope with a Swanton
bomb, goes for the cover and gets the three count. Snitsky is a little upset and
shows it by delivering a boot to Jeff’s face. Snitsky goes out of the ring and
reenters with a steel chair. We hear Triple H’s music and Triple H comes down
the ramp carrying his weapon of choice – the sledgehammer. Snitsky wisely
exits the ring before Triple H can get to him. Triple H is now alone in the ring
with Jeff Hardy who is still down in the ring but trying to get to his feet.
Triple H holds out his hand to Jeff and helps him to his feet, then pulls him
face to face and the trash talking begins. In a fair fight, I’m not so sure
I’d put my money on Triple H to face Jeff Hardy. Jeff has too many high-risk
abilities Triple H does not use.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, we see the Smackdown Rebound –
which is the feud going on between Edge and The Undertaker and Batista for
Batista’s world title belt. Teddy Long is back, however, and there will be a
triple threat match at Armageddon: The Undertaker versus Edge versus Batista for
the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Also at Armageddon: Mr. Kennedy vs. HBK
Shawn Michaels, Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy (the winner of this match gets a shot at
the WWE Title at the Royal Rumble), Finlay, accompanied by Hornswoggle vs. The
Great Khali, Y2J Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.
Jillian Hall is backstage with McMahon singing him Christmas
carols. Maybe I should say
Jillian Hall is slaying Christmas carols. I had two canines walk up to the
television and then beg me to shut it off – I am not kidding! Regal enters
and tells McMahon that Stephanie is on her way to the arena. McMahon says the
minute she gets there to make sure Regal brings her directly to McMahon’s
office.
JR tells us the match coming up will be HBK against Mr.
Kennedy.
Commercial break.
Back from commercial break, we see that next Monday McMahon
will announce the greatest superstar in Raw history. **See this site’s
Friday News Bytes for a list of possible candidates** Next Monday is the
three-hour Raw special. Note: If you have a preset recording for Raw,
please check to see how this show will be listed. It is our understanding it
will be listed as a special and therefore may not tape unless you change the
appropriate settings (this may only be valid for Tivo users, but just in
case…)
Non-Title
Match
HBK Shawn Michaels from San Antonio, TX
Vs.
Randy Orton from St. Louis, MO
WWE Champion
Audience favorite: HBK
My favorite: HBK
Winner: It looks like it
might be Orton since HBK left the ring to brawl with Kennedy.
We know how much HBK is looking forward to taking out
Orton but HBK seems to be having a problem with that as of late. We will have to
wait and see if Chris Jericho is able to come out and interrupt this match just
as Orton interrupted Jericho’s match with Umaga. The bell rings and Orton
takes a swing at HBK but misses. HBK doesn’t miss and he sends Orton running
from the ring. HBK follows Orton but gets caught on his way back into the ring.
Orton sends HBK off the ropes and HBK comes off the deliver a swinging neck
breaker. HBK takes Orton down to the mat with a side headlock. Orton gets HBK
flipped over and HBK’s shoulders are on the mat, but he gets back over before
a two count. Both men back to the feet but Orton can’t get the hold broken.
Orton sends HBK into the ropes and then nails him with an elbow as he comes off
the ropes. Orton delivers a hard stomp to HBK and goes for the cover but
doesn’t get the three count. Orton tries to send HBK over his back, but HBK
breaks free and ends up behind Orton. Orton sends an elbow back to smack HBK in
the face. Orton tries for the RKO but HBK sends him into the ropes. Orton comes
off the ropes and HBK sends him over in a back body drop but Orton is trying for
a sunset flip. Orton executes the sunset flip, but HBK rolls out of it. HBK gets
Orton in an ankle lock and Orton is in the middle of the ring but he’s trying
to get to the ropes. Orton manages to flip HBK over and hits a roll up. He gets
a two count before HBK kicks out. Again Orton tries for the RKO but HBK drops
Orton face first on the mat and goes for the ankle lock one more time. Orton is
reaching for the ropes and he’s got them. The referee makes HBK break the
hold. Orton rolls out onto the floor holding his ankle and we go to
COMMERCIAL
BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH!
THAT’S
TWO!
Back from commercial break, the two men are exchanging chops
in the center of the ring. HBK sends Orton over the top rope with a clothesline.
HBK rolls out after him and prepares to deliver the super kick but Orton moves
out of the way and HBK nails the timekeeper. HBK stops to check on the
timekeeper who is out on the floor. Orton is back in the ring and HBK takes too
long getting back up on the ring apron and Orton nails him with a kick as he is
coming through the ropes. Orton dumps HBK on his head in a DDT while JR tells us
that medical help is coming for the timekeeper who is still out on the floor
near the announcer’s table. Orton is now looking towards where the timekeeper
is down. Orton feels his own ankle and then stomps on HBK’s ankle, then his
arm and hand. Orton delivers a knee to HBK’s head and then goes for a cover.
He gets a two count. Orton pounds on HBK in the corner and the ref is in the
middle trying to break it up. Orton gets HBK in a combination body scissors and
chin lock, but he releases the leg lock. HBK is trying to get back to his feet
and he does, swinging fists into Orton’s ribs to get him to release his hold.
The two men exchange fists in the middle of the ring. HBK tries to send Orton
across into the ropes but Orton gets the switch. As HBK comes off the ropes, he
hits Orton, sending him crashing to the mat. HBK is back to his feet and he
delivers an inverted atomic drop, a forearm shot and then takes Orton down in a
backslide but he only gets a two count. HBK slams Orton to the mat and then
climbs up to the top turnbuckle. HBK comes down with an elbow to Orton’s chest
and HBK tunes up. As HBK stomps on the canvas he suddenly goes over the top rope
and takes out Mr. Kennedy who has just arrived at ringside. HBK is on the floor
pounding on Kennedy and we have a separate match on the floor. Orton is left in
the ring as HBK and Kennedy go over the guardrail and continue their fight in
the audience.
Orton takes the mic to inform everyone that he is the winner
of the match. I thought the referee was supposed to announce who won. Before
Orton can put down the mic, Chris Jericho hits the ring and takes Orton down to
the mat. Jericho proceeds to pummel Orton. Orton tries for the RKO but Jericho
gets away and Orton bails out of the ring. Did I see a yellow stripe in the
center of Orton’s back as he exited the ring?
McMahon is backstage with Stephanie. Stephanie says she is
there because she is concerned because McMahon has invited a lot of people to
the special next week and most of them don’t like McMahon. She doesn’t want
to see McMahon get beat up again and she doesn’t want him to show up on Raw
next week. But McMahon says that he wants to be there to announce the Greatest
Raw Superstar of all time. And he will be at his own show.
And that’s all folks.
WWE SMACKDOWN / NOVEMBER 30
Wrestling Bodyslam . Com