Monday
Night Raw
May 5, 2008 – Recap by Sassy
Last week on Raw
In a rematch from Backlash, Mickie James, Cherry, Ashley,
Michelle & Kelly defeated Beth Phoenix, Melina, Victoria, Natalya &
Jillian in 4 minutes.
John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Roby McCallister of The
Highlanders in 1 minute – I didn’t really count this as a match.
In tag team action, Paul London & Brian Kendrick
defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch in 2 minutes.
In 2 minutes, Paul Burchill & Katie Lea defeated Super
Crazy.
Cody Rhodes, one half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions,
with Hardcore Holly (the other half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions),
defeated Santino Marella with Carlito in 4 minutes.
The Game Triple H defended his WWE Championship against
former Champion, Randy Orton. The
match was blacked out before the end, however, I have heard that Triple H did
win the match and retained his WWE title. Before the match was blacked out, the
match had been going on for 20 minutes.
The audience sees the King of the Ring, Raw General Manager
William Regal, his ascent to the KOR, the disrespect shown by Mr. Kennedy and
the WWE fans, culminating in Regal blacking out the main event before it was
over.
Monday Night Raw is broadcast from
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
On
the USA Network.
Ringside announcers: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King”
Lawler
Ring announcer: Lillian Garcia
Interviews: Todd Grisham
Vince McMahon, CEO of WWE, is standing at the top of the
entrance ramp. McMahon addresses the actions of Regal last week when he pulled
the plug on a championship match. McMahon says that fans not only called WWE
headquarters, fans sent emails. I’m having trouble hearing McMahon due to the
calls of “asshole” from the audience. McMahon says that Regal reminds him a
lot of himself and McMahon is at Raw to support Regal as General Manager of Raw
and as King of the Ring.
Lillian Garcia introduces General Manager and King of the
Ring, William Regal. Regal enters the ring and grabs a mic. Regal says that fans
may not like him but they will respect him. Regal says that he can turn out the light at his discretion
and will do so if he is not respected. The fans respond with “Regal sucks”
chants from the live audience. Regal has the lights turned off in the arena and
the fans respond with even louder chants of “Regal sucks”. Regal has the
lights turned back on again. Regal says that the show will continue but fans may
not be able to see it because he will not be disrespected any longer and Mr.
Kennedy appears at the top of the entrance ramp and heads to the ring. Kennedy
appears to have forgotten to pack his razor as he enters the ring and stands toe
to toe with Regal. Kennedy says if Regal wants respect so much, all Regal has to
do is go one on one with Kennedy in the ring tonight. Regal says that he is
Kennedy’s superior and Kennedy tells Regal to prove it. Regal says that he
will and that tonight Kennedy is in the main event and will be facing the ECW
Champion Kane and the WWE Tag Team Champions, John Morrison and The Miz, and the
Money in the Bank Winner, CM Punk, and the former ECW Champion, Chavo Guerrero,
and Guerrero’s bodyguard. Regal tells Kennedy that he will be facing the
entire ECW roster. As Regal says he will no longer tolerate being disrespected
by any man and Tripe H enters the arena with his WWE Championship belt. HHH
enters the ring. HHH asks Regal to beg his pardon for interrupting him and says
that he is there to congratulate Regal on his new powers. HHH tells Regal that
if he would like to maintain his newfound status, he should learn to not make
mistakes. HHH tells Regal that he should not have turned the lights out on his
match and that was a mistake. After the plug was pulled, Regal showed up in the
ring to stop HHH's match last week and now Regal has disrespected HHH. HHH tells
Regal he does not want to go to war with HHH. Regal says that he has changed
tonight’s main event. It will now
be the entire ECW Roster versus Mr. Kennedy and Triple H.
Jerry Lawler informs the audience that tonight it will be
Mickie James defending her WWE Women’s Title against Beth Phoenix in a
Lumberjack match and that match is next.
Commercial break.
Women’s
Championship Lumberjack Match
Beth Phoenix from Buffalo, NY
Challenger
Vs.
Mickie James from Richmond, VA
Champion
Audience favorite: Mickie James
My favorite: Mickie James
I do have to admit that these two women can wrestle when
given the opportunity. Unfortunately, the “lumberjack” theme seems to take
away from the match. Phoenix goes for an early pin but doesn’t get the three
count. Phoenix sends James outside the ring and there appears to be some
fighting going on between the lumberjacks as Phoenix’s friends work on James
on the floor. James delivers a neck breaker and goes for the pin but Phoenix
kicks out. There is interference outside the ring as one of Phoenix’s friends
grabs James by the leg. James bails out of the ring and there is a free for all
on the floor. James is back in the ring, Phoenix goes for the pin and gets a two
count before James kicks out and we go to COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
MATCH! Back from the break, Phoenix has James down in the center of the ring.
James makes it back to her feet and delivers a kick to Phoenix’s jaw.
James is using a lot of kicks in this match. Phoenix throws James out of
the ring again, but James goes up on the top turnbuckle and takes down Phoenix
with a flying dive. James goes for a cover but she only gets a two count. James
delivers a kick to the head that sends Phoenix to the floor. Phoenix gets sent
back into the ring, but she pulls Maria into the ring by the hair, Melina takes
off a boot and tries to nail James, but James gets out of the way and Melina
nails Phoenix instead. James goes for the rollup and gets the three count.
Time: 2 minutes before commercial break, 4 minutes after
commercial break, 6 minutes total time.
Winner
Mickie
James with a roll up
James retains the WWE Women’s Championship
And I was correct. The
lumberjack match took away from what should have been a very good match between
Phoenix and James.
Regal is backstage in his office when Y2J Chris Jericho
appears. They discuss the fake injury Jericho says Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels
has. Regal says that tonight Jericho was be teaming with Michaels to face the
WWE Tag Team Champions, John Morrison & The Miz.
Commercial break.
Trevor Murdoch is backstage singing Stand By Your Man and
Trish Stratus appears followed by Ron Simmons. Simmons says “Damn!” Jim Ross
informs the audience that Ron Simmons became a member of the college football
hall of fame.
Todd Grisham is backstage with Randy Orton and he asks Orton
about the match last week and the fact that the match was cut short. Orton says
that HHH did not have the match won and that Orton doesn’t necessarily agree
with what Regal did but he respects his decision. Orton will face CM Punk, Mr.
MITB, tonight. Orton tells the audience that he will defeat HHH at Judgment Day
and will get his WWE Championship back. Lawler
informs the audience that Rowdy Roddy Piper will be Carlito’s guest tonight on
Carlito’s Cabana.
Commercial break.
2
on 1 Handicap Match
Paul Burchill
& Katie Lea from Chelsea, England
&
John Cutler from Toronto, Canada, weighing 235 lbs.
Audience favorite: John Cutler
My favorite: I have no idea
Before the match begins, Regal appears at the top of the
entrance ramp and says that he wants JR’s microphone turned off and there will
be someone else at the announcer’s table. Regal introduces Mike Adamle to
announce the next match. Lawler keeps asking JR if his mic is on and JR says
apparently not as Adamle comes to the announcer’s table to take JR’s seat.
I’m not sure which is more ridiculous, the 2 on 1 handicap matches with
Burchill and his “sister” or the switch of announcers.
I don’t know who Cutler is but the audience certainly cheered for him
when he was introduced. The camera shows JR sitting over near the guardrail as
Adamle spends the match discussing the female in the match. I do have to admit
that Katie Lea does take hits from the opponents but she seems to be able to
dish it out, too. The dive Katie took off the top rope didn’t look quite right
when she landed on Cutler.
Winners
Katie Lea & Paul Burchill
I didn’t time the match and didn’t try to call it.
I obviously am not a fan of these matches. I haven’t found a purpose
for them.
Adamle leaves as soon as the match is over. JR doesn’t
attempt to move back to his place at the announcer’s table. Michaels is
backstage and Jericho shows up to talk to Michaels about the match they have
together tonight. Michaels says that he is hurt but he will do his best in their
match tonight.
Commercial break.
WWE Slam of the Week – the ending of the match between
Michaels and Batista at Backlash and last Friday Batista telling Michaels that
he had better really be hurt.
Tag
Team Match
John Morrison from Los Angeles, CA
&
The Miz from Cleveland, OH
WWE Tag Team Champions
Vs.
Y2J Chris Jericho weighing 222 lbs.
WWE Intercontinental Champion
&
Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels from San Antonio, Texas
Audience favorites: Y2J Chris Jericho & HBK Shawn
Michaels
My favorites: Y2J Chris Jericho & HBK Shawn Michaels
Michaels limps to the ring favoring his left leg. Jericho
looks at him with disbelief. Jericho
sends Michaels out on the ring apron. Jericho faces Miz in the ring. Miz comes
off the ropes and Jericho knocks him down to the mat and then delivers a suplex.
Miz comes off the ropes and is met with a drop kick. Miz tags in Morrison and
Jericho takes Morrison down to the mat and then goes for a cover but can’t get
the win. Jericho meets the ring post as Morrison slides out of the way. Morrison
comes off the ropes and tries to go for the roll up, Miz tries to get involved
but Jericho springboards off the ropes and nails Miz, sending him down to the
floor. Morrison takes the opportunity to deliver a springboard kick to Jericho.
Morrison tags in Miz. Michaels is trying to get the audience involved and it
works. Jericho nails Morrison on the ring apron with an elbow, but Miz catches
Jericho in the chest and then tags in Morrison. The referee makes Morrison back
away from Jericho in the corner. Jericho tries to get to Michaels for a pin but
Morrison cuts him off. Morrison catches Jericho’s boot , Miz enters the ring,
Jericho has the walls of Jericho but Morrison takes out Jericho and then
Morrison nails Michaels on the ring apron. Michaels enters the ring to take out
Morrison with a super kick, Jericho springboards off the ropes and lands on
Morrison, goes for the cover and gets the three count.
Time: 4 minutes
Winners
Y2J Chris Jericho with a springboard splash
&
HBK
Shawn Michaels
As Michaels limps out of the arena, Jericho looks like he
doesn’t know if Michaels is really injured or not.
Commercial break.
Randy Orton from St. Louis, MO, weighing 245 lbs.
Vs.
CM Punk from Chicago, IL, weighing 222 lbs.
MITB Winner
Representing ECW
Audience favorite: CM Punk
My favorite: CM Punk
I’m saying – CM Punk has a lot more talent in the ring
than Orton has and I would have liked to see Punk take the WWE Title away from
Orton. The bell rings and the two lock up. Punk sends Orton into the ropes but
Orton comes off with a shoulder block that sends Punk to the mat. They lock up
again with Orton applying a side headlock. Punk sends Orton off the ropes again
and again catches the shoulder block. Punk delivers a kick to Orton’s head.
Punk sends Orton out onto the floor. Punk hops over to the ring apron but Orton
pulls Punk off back first onto the floor. Orton rolls Punk back into the ring
and goes for the cover but Punk kicks out. Orton goes to work stomping on
various parts of Punk’s body. Punk rolls out of the way of a knee drop, gets
back to his feet and delivers kicks to Orton. Punk misses a springboard off the
ropes and Orton goes for the pin, getting a two count before Punk powers out.
Orton comes off the ropes and catches Punk’s knee to the abdomen. Punk
continues with kicks and knees, delivers a bulldog, goes for the cover and gets
a two count. Punk delivers a dropkick as Orton comes off the ropes. Regal
appears at the top of the entrance ramp then turns off the lights and says that
the match is officially over.
Winner
Who the hell knows?
The
time we go to SEE the match was 4 minutes.
Commercial break.
Grisham is backstage with Orton and he asks about the lights
being turned off. Orton says that this is two weeks in a row that his matches
have been stopped and he is going to Regal’s office to find out what the hell
is going on.
Carlito is in the ring for his Carlito’s Cabana segment.
Carlito shows the video of the encounter between Santino Marella and Rowdy Roddy
Piper. Piper slapped Marella and Carlito doesn’t think that was cool. Carlito
introduces his guest for this week, Rowdy Roddy Piper. Piper enters the ring to
chants of the fans. Carlito welcomes Piper and then says that he understands how
annoying Santino can be but says that Piper took it a little too far. Piper
tells Carlito says that his entire life he has been taking it too far. Piper
says that he beat Mr. T, he beat Hulk Hogan and he beat cancer and he doesn’t
have the time to play nice with the Super Mario Brother. Piper says he isn’t
Dr. Phil and he doesn’t have time to sit around and talk about what he did.
Piper said he handled things his way and his way was with a slap. Carlito says
that the guy Piper slapped is Carlito’s partner and a future tag team champion
and Carlito says that he would have slapped Piper back. Piper says Carlito
should be glad he didn’t bring a seagull to beat up Carlito. Santino Marella
enters the ring with mic in hand and he tells Carlito that Carlito doesn’t
have to do anything because Marella is going to handle it. Marella says that he
will soon be tag team champion with Carlito. Piper tells Marella he needs to get
a designated driver. Piper finds himself surrounded in the ring but then Cody
Rhodes appears at the top of the entrance ramp. Rhodes says that is not how to
treat a legend. Hardcore Holly is not there tonight but Cryme Tyme wants to meet
The Hot Rod and the three of them enter the ring to go after Carlito and Marella
as both bail out of the ring and out of the line fire. Cryme Tyme says tonight
it’s not about money, money. It’s about Rowdy, Rowdy, yeah, yeah.
Commercial break.
JBL is in the parking garage and he is talking to the fans
about JBL. He says he is going to take the fans on a trip via JBL’s stretch
limo. JBL is facing John Cena at Judgment Day. JBL says he is going to give the
fans a preview of Judgment Day.
John
Bradshaw Layfield
Vs.
DH
Smith from Canada
Audience favorite: DH Smith
My favorite: DH Smith
DH has certainly had a run of bad luck with opponents when he
shows up in the WWE ring. JBL makes fun of the Hart Foundation. I have a feeling
that this isn’t going to be a match, it’s going to be nothing more than a
beat down. Isn’t that all JBL has
done since he has been back in the ring? Clothesline
from hell and a cover. JBL gets the three count.
Time: 1 minute
Winner
John
Bradshaw Layfield
JBL must have a death wish because he continues to beat on DH
Smith after the match is over – and the show IS in Canada. It took something
like 4 referees to back JBL up. Unfortunately for DH Smith, there was very
little reaction from the live audience.
Commercial break.
Raw General Manager William Regal is backstage with the ECW
locker room. He wants everyone to put all of their petty differences aside and
go out on Raw and make a statement. Regal says he expects a victory and anything
else will be considered a disappointment. Everyone files out and Kane is last,
stopping to stare down Regal before he exits the locker room.
Lawler and JR remind the audience that the general manager of
Smackdown stripped Undertaker of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
I’m not going to repeat how stupid I felt that was.
ECW Locker Room
John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, Bam Neely,
The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin,
The Miz, Matt Striker, Kofi Kingston,
Nunzio, Mike Knox, Tommy Dreamer,
Stevie Richards, Elijah Burke,
CM Punk,
(I don’t see Colin Delaney)
&
The Big Red Machine Kane, weighing 320 lbs.
WWE ECW Champion
Vs.
Commercial break before their opponents are introduced.
Mr. Kennedy from Green Bay, WI, weighing 243 lbs.
&
The Game Triple H from Greenwich, CT, weighing 255 lbs.
WWE Champion
Audience favorites: I’m not sure
My favorites: I’m not sure
I’d say HHH should have brought along his sledgehammer as
an equalizer. HHH did get the loudest pop from the live audience. Elijah Burke
is in the ring to begin the match. HHH steps out and lets Mr. Kennedy face
Burke. Burke begins with a side headlock, off the ropes to take down Kennedy
with a shoulder block, off the ropes again and Kennedy drops Burke with a
clothesline. Kennedy goes for a tag but can’t get the three count. Kennedy
tags in HHH. Burke takes in Striker who comes out with a fist but gets taken out
with a high knee. HHH slams Striker head first into the top turnbuckle and then
tags in Kennedy. The ref has to back Kennedy out of the corner as he stomps on
Striker. Striker tags in Mike Knox. Striker nails Kennedy in the back, Knox tags
in Guerrero. Guerrero goes for the tag but Kennedy kicks out. Guerrero tags in
Kofi Kingston as Kennedy tries to get to the corner for a tag. Kingston tags in
Tommy Dreamer who goes for a cover and gets a two count before Kennedy kicks
out. Dreamer tags in Kingston, Kingston takes out Benjamin by accident. Benjamin
tagged himself in and takes revenge by send Kingston out to the floor. Benjamin
tags in Nunzio who gets dropped to the mat. Nunzio tags in Guerrero and Guerrero
goes after HHH on the ring apron, HHH enters the ring and starts taking everyone
out. Kane has Kennedy in a choke slam but then Kane goes after Guerrero and
Neely gets involved. Guerrero delivers a frog splash and gets the three count.
Winners:
The
ECW Roster
I don’t know who is fighting, but I think the ECW roster is
fighting amongst themselves. Knox goes out after a chair, but HHH uses the chair
on Knox and then takes out most of the ECW roster with the chair as the lights
go out and the audience gets mad. As the lights come back on, Orton is in the
ring to deliver an RKO to HHH.
I hope that was the end because I turned off my television.
WWE SMACKDOWN / MAY 2
Wrestling Bodyslam . Com