On Monday, August 20, 2007 at 11:34 PM EST WWE RAW
August 20, 2007
Fayetteville, NC
Commentators: Jim Ross & Tazz
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Randy Orton’s music hit and he came down to the ring to a chorus of boos. Orton told the people to take a good look, because it’d be the last time we’d see him standing in the ring without the WWE Championship around his waist. He said two nights ago, he had a defining moment, a turning point if you will, that he dubbed the ‘beginning of the end’ of John Cena.
He said that footage was so important for so many reasons. He said he didn’t just want to see it again, he wanted to see it in slow motion and at a bunch of different angles. He said that footage would replace the Andre getting slammed, the Montreal Screw job and Austin-McMahon. He said that footage would be played when he was inducted into the WWE hall of fame and it’d be the move he’d use to defeat Cena.
Orton said he’d understand if Cena couldn’t make it to Summerslam. He said the rumor was that Cena wasn’t even here tonight. He said now was his chance to save himself a ton of embarrassment this Sunday if he would just come out to the ring and forfeit the WWE Championship. Orton waited anxiously for Cena to come to the ring, but instead, Mr. McMahon’s music hit and he made his way down to the ring.
Vince took the mic and started talking about the paternity suit. He said he found out today that his offspring was male and that someone on the roster was his son, probably someone of superior genetic makeup. He said he hoped his son would be like Orton and if he didn’t know Randy’s dad like he does, he’d be happy and proud to call Orton his son. He said he hoped his new son wasn’t like either one of his current offspring.
He said if his son is here and we find out who it is, he just wanted the crowd to accept him. He ran down the crowd for getting on his case. He put Randy Orton over again and said he hoped he wasn’t like John Cena. He started to run down Cena before Cena showed up out of nowhere and came down to the ring.
Orton hightailed it out to the ringside area. Cena came out and cut off McMahon and told him the people as well as himself didn’t like Vince. Vince said nothing like that mattered. He said McMahon would shame him if he were his father. Cena said he was here tonight and his message was that he’ll be at Summerslam on Sunday and he’ll keep his title.
Vince said Cena might be lying. He said he might not be there and if he doesn’t show up, he’ll strip him of the WWE Championship. He said speaking of stripping, he would bring up Cena’s mother. He said in all likelihood, he could’ve done his mother. Cena decked Vince sending him reeling to the outside. Orton tended to McMahon as the two backed off and backed up the ramp. Vince said if Cena wanted action so bad, he would get it. He said he’d be in the ring tonight against Snitsky.
Cena looked concerned while Orton stared him down from the top of the ramp.
****Commercial****
Mickie James & Candice Michelle v. Melina & Beth Phoenix
Before the match started, William Regal’s music hit and he came out to the ramp. He said we’d get a battle royal at Summerslam with every Diva in the WWE except for Candice Michelle. That’s because she’ll get the winner, who’ll get a future title shot against her.
Beth Phoenix started the match with Mickie and made her, um, her woman. Beth missed a splash attempt in the corner until Candice came in and hit a bunch of drop kicks and a spinning lariat on Melina for a two count.
Candice connected with a northern lights suplex before laying Phoenix out with a big boot. Melina came charging at her only to get rolled up for a quick three count.
Winners: Candice Michelle & Mickie James via pin fall
After the match Mickie jumped Candice, tossing her from the ring. She didn’t last long in the ring though, as Melina tossed her as well. Beth Phoenix tapped Melina on the shoulder before tossing her high and into the air over the top rope. JR put her over as a phenom as Candice and Beth stared each other down.
****Commercial****
A replay of Santino Marella singing to Maria aired.
William Regal was in the back before Santino stormed into the office. He said Regal was a home wrecker. Regal asked him just to stay away. Santino said he thought Regal’s accent made him sound limp wrested before declaring that he was going to look for a cappuccino.
King Booker called out Triple H, saying that before their ‘joust’ at Summerslam, he could attend his coronation later tonight. I love Book-ah.
Vince and Coach were conversing in the back before Coach asked him whether or not Triple H was his son. The agreed it probably wasn’t before running across Val Venis. Coach said it would explain a lot, about both if his son were indeed, Val. They continued on their stroll down the hallway only to come across a jovial Daivari who put his head dress on Vince who wasn’t amused. They walked along some more before Vince and Mr. Kennedy had a long stare down before continuing on and to commercial.
****Commercial****
Cody Rhodes v. Shelton Benjamin
The two exchanged mat based moves before Shelton gained the advantage with some punches before slapping on a rear chin lock. Shelton broke the hold in rather short order, sending Cody off the ropes and hammering him with shots to the small of the back.
After jaw jacking for a little while, Shelton looked for the shot again but Cody nailed him with an elbow to the face. Body jumped on Shelton like a pit bull, hitting a clothesline and some drop kicks. Cody nailed a bulldog shortly thereafter for a two count.
Cody hit the Dusty punches before Shelton caught him in a nasty inverted back breaker. Shelton went for a Boston crab but Cody was able to hit a roll up for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes via pin fall
After the match, Charlie Haas jumped Cody. The two left Cody laid out in the ring after hitting the leap frog splash.
****Commercial****
Cade & Murdoch v. London & Kendrick
Kendrick and Cade started things off as Kendrick used his speed to his advantage to toss Cade around. Both hit a speedy double forearm that got London a one count.
Cade decked London before tagging in Murdoch. Murdoch came bull charging at London only to get arm dragged in short order. London hit a spring board cross-body block for a two count before eating a Murdoch back elbow. Murdoch tagged Cade in who bullied London to the corner and hit a hard Irish whip before London killed him with a back elbow.
All hell broke loose and it ended with Kendrick and London hitting a tandem drop kick and a crazy suicida to the floor.
Just as they were all laid out on the floor, Cryme Tyme showed up and stole Murdoch’s hat and tried to sell it to the crowd. That easily distracted Cade and allowed Brian Kendrick to sneak in and grab a crucifix pin fall victory.
Winners: London & Kendrick via pin fall
****Commercial****
Maria was at a restaurant with Ron Simmons. They seemed to be having a good time before Santino showed up with his date, Lillian errr Jillian. The two sat down and Ron Simmons seemed pretty bummed.
Queen Sharmell is in the ring and she’s ready to introduce our King, King Booker. Booker ran down the coronation last week and how he took care of “Jerome” Lawler. A replay showed and Book said that wasn’t a video of someone who was scared. Booker said due to Jerry’s disrespect, the crowning never happened. He said though, he was a little happy that it didn’t happen last week, because he was going to give it all to the fans tonight. He said not only that, but Triple H would be the one who placed the crown on his head.
“King of Kings” hit and the crowd went banana cakes. A mock Triple H walked through the curtain. The nose rules. The fake Triple H crowned Book and bowed to him. Book told him he knew he was reasonable and he would make Triple H bow down to him at Summerslam.
Book said before he left, he had one more matter to tend to. He called Tazz, “Tazzwell”. Tazz got out of the way and let Book confront JR. Book asked him about how he was irreprehensible and repugnant. He asked him if he remembered those comments or not. He said he was going to give Ross a chance to redeem himself by kissing his ring. JR stood up and shook his head ‘no’ at Book. Book said he wasn’t asking him, heck he wasn’t even telling him. He was ordering him to kiss his ring. He said if he didn’t, the same thing would happen to him that happened to King last week. JR told him to forget it.
Book began bullying him and shoved him into his seat. That was after Sharmell tried to force him to kiss the ring. Booker smugly walked off to the chagrin of the crowd.
****Commercial****
We went back to the restaurant where Jillian was singing. Good lord. Santino dropped some more funny lines and had a waiter make a comment about his incredible reproductive prowess. Simmons threw in a ‘sham’ this time.
Carlito’s Cabana
Carlito’s guest tonight is Umaga.
This will be conversational. Umaga just sort of wandered around and tried to eat some plastic fruit. Umaga found the barrels of apples and just sort of wandered around while Carlito challenged him to a match at Summerslam for the IC title. Umaga stared at him before Mr. Kennedy interrupted the fun.
Kennedy asked him if he had any idea of who he was talking to. He said that man was a two time IC Champion and should be treated as such. He said he bulldozed through all the competition. Kennedy said he himself had done something that Umaga couldn’t do and that was beat Bobby Lashley. He said he took him out and the way he saw it, if there was anyone who deserved a shot at Umaga, it was him.
He did his Kennedy thing in Carlito’s face before Umaga cold cocked him, trashed the place, ate his belt and went up the ramp. William Regal came out and said there would only be one way to decide who would get “Umanga” at Summerslam. He told neither guy to go anywhere, because it’s on next.
****Commercial****
#1 Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Mr. Kennedy v. Carlito
Kennedy had a top wrist lock applied before Carlito took Kennedy down and pounded away at him before shoving him to the outside. Kennedy leapt back into the ring and mounted Carlito, pounding away at him before Carlito took a walk to the outside of the ring.
The two exchanged dirty tactics before Carlito gained the upper hand and planted a hard chop on Kennedy’s chest. Carlito hit some shoulder thrusts and looked for a back elbow and connected for a two count. Carlito slapped on a front face lock before Kennedy broke the hold and hit a high back drop for a two count of his own.
Kennedy hit some strikes in the corner before eating a Carlito counter and a lariat for a two count. Carlito pounded away on Kennedy on the apron before looking for a suplex. The two traded counters before Carlito finally connected with the move for a two count.
Carlito hit a high scoop slam and looked for a fist drop off the second rope but no one was home. Kennedy went for a quick cover but settled instead, on hammering away at Carlito in the corner. Kennedy hit a back elbow and got another two count.
Kennedy looked for aback drop but ate a kick in the face. Carlito looked for the spring board back elbow, but no one was home. Kennedy tossed Carlito hard into the corner and into the ring post. Carlito looks like he’s dazed retarded on the outside. Carlito was propped up against the steps and Kennedy punted Carlito’s shoulder in the ring steps just like he did with Lashley.
****Commercial****
Kennedy continued to work over Carlito’s shoulder before he fought back with some punches. Kennedy was relentless on the shoulder though and kept stomping away at it, leaving Carlito in a heap in the corner.
Kennedy went for the running face wash, but Carlito popped up and nailed a lariat and tossed Kennedy hard into the ring post. Carlito smashed Kennedy into the post a few more times before nailing Kennedy wit ha drop kick to the mug for a two count. Carlito followed up with a swinging neck breaker for another two count before whipping Kennedy to the buckles.
Kennedy caught Carlito climbing the buckles before looking for the Green bay plunge. Carlito wiggled out and went for a superplex and connected. Kennedy held on though and the two rolled each other up and we’ve got a double pin.
Winner: Draw
William Regal immediately came out to do damage control and announced that at Summerslam, we’d have a Triple threat for the belt, as Carlito and Kennedy will both take on Umaga.
****Commercial****
We’re back at the restaurant just in time for something to be spilled on Santino. Ron Simmons gives us our weekly “DAMN!”.
JR and Tazz ran down the Summerslam card.
WWE Championship
John Cena v. Randy Orton
World Heavyweight Championship
The Great Khali v. Batista
ECW World Championship
John Morrison v. CM Punk
King Booker v. Triple H
Rey Mysterio v. Chavo Guererro
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Triple Threat Match
Umaga v. Carlito v. Mr. Kennedy
Tri-Brand Divas Battle Royal
Mr. McMahon was in the back with Melina. He talked about using his super soaker before Snitsky showed up and talked about never knowing his parents. He said all he knew was pain.
****Commercial****
John Cena v. Snitsky
The two locked horns before Snitsky quickly gained the advantage with a boot to the gut. Snitsky slammed Cena around the ring before Cena avoided a splash attempt in the corner and connected with a bulldog. Cena tried to maintain his advantage but promptly ate a boot to the face.
Snitsky hammered away at Cena but Cena kept on firing back. Cena ran right at the big man only to get MURDERED (good lord I mean MURDERED) with a lariat, flat backing him and sending him skidding to the outside. Snitsky followed him to the outside and batted him around a bit before tossing him back into the ring.
Cena fought back some more in the middle of the ring but Snitsky was just way too much. Snitsky grabbed an double underhook and yanked away on Cena’s neck, trying to tear his head off. Cena powered out only to eat (and I mean eat) another Snitsky clothesline.
Snitsky whipped Cena, who pin-balled off the corner. Snitsky paced around anxiously looking to take Cena’s face off with a big boot. Snitsky missed the boot and Cena chop blocked him. Cena scaled the top rope and hit his top rope leg drop.
Cena went right for the FU and almost hit it, but Orton popped up and RKO’d the hell out of him, causing the DQ.
Winner: John Cena via DQ
Orton immediately picked up Cena again and killed him with another RKO. Orton rolled to the outside and made love to the WWE title belt with his eyes as we went off the air.RAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- This was a well done Raw in the context of what WWE was going for tonight, and that was to get you to buy Summerslam. I don’t think this was the best Raw I’ve seen, but all the angles hit on the right note leading into the second biggest show of the year.
First of all, Orton-Cena. Right now is the time to take the strap off Cena. I really think Orton’s molten hot and ready for a decent run with the title. It makes me a bit nervous with the ending tonight that it won’t happen, because as we know, whoever has the upper hand in the show leading up to the pay per view usually loses, but I have a feeling Orton’s forced creative’s hand here with some incredibly great performances. The crowd loathes the guy right now and Cena’s so hot, that it doesn’t really matter where he is in relation to the title.
Speaking of Cena, he pulled a very fun match out of Snitsky tonight and sold his backside off for the usually clumsy and awkward big man. With the McMahon stuff, it almost makes me think they may head for some sort of neo-corporation thing, or a faction of some sort. Snitsky is really floundering creatively and I think an enforcer role in a faction could do him a lot of good and at least keep him involved and busy while they decide what to do with him. Here’s to hoping.
Kennedy and Carlito seemed to be trying a bit TOO hard to put on a good match but it did the trick and the match with Umaga at Summerslam should be decent. I’m sort of hoping they don’t take the belt off Umaga, as I feel a dominant monster reign would ironically do the belt some good. Kennedy’s due for a big push so I don’t see the benefit of putting it on him too much. Regardless, it’s nice to see they’re re-invigorating the mid card title scene.
King Booker left his program with Triple H in a good place tonight, doing the impersonator thing and I think they’ve done as good a job as could be asked at this point with the feud. I’m banking on Lawler costing Booker the match, which’ll bring the Game back on a positive note while keeping a good deal of heat on Booker.
The rest of the show was just there, but didn’t disappoint really. The Diva battle royal is an interesting enough idea although Candice’s new entrance is, um, awful. Cody had a strong showing against Shelton tonight and the tag scene gets beefed up with a London/Kendrick win.
The dinner segments were a little forced, but I have enjoyed their taking the time to build Santino’s character a bit. Again, it wasn’t the BEST Raw I’ve seen this year, but it really punctuated the Summerslam programs well and gave fans a reason to buy Summerslam this year.
Overall Grade: B-
Quick Results
Mickie James & Candice Michelle def. Melina & Beth Phoenix
Cody Rhodes def. Shelton Benjamin
London & Kendrick def. Cade & Murdoch
Mr. Kennedy drew Carlito
John Cena def. Snitsky
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. John Cena
2. Umaga
3. Jerry Lawler
4. Mickie James
Most Heat
1. Mr. McMahon
2. Randy Orton
3. King Booker
4. Carlito
Match of the Night: John Cena v. Snitsky **1/2
Power Rankings5 Points= Title Win
4 Points= World Title defense/win
3 Points= Singles PPV Win
2 Points= Tag PPV Win
2 Points= TV Singles Win
1 Point= TV Tag Win
0 Points= Loss
WWE Champion: John Cena (24-8-1, 63 points) (Last Week: WWE Champion)— I’m really surprised Cena looks as overmatched as he does, and I can’t help but think they’ll still have him drop the strap at Summerslam, likely thanks to some interference on the part of McMahon.
Intercontinental Champion: Umaga 19-11-1, 41 Points (Last Week: IC Champion) — The crowd doesn’t seem to be really popping for Umaga tonight and to be honest, the cabana segment came across very distracted and off beat.
1. Randy Orton 12-17-2 28pts. (Last Week: 1) -- The hottest worker in the WWE right now. Orton looks like a total killer. Bet on him being your new Champion come next week.
2. King Booker 3-4, 5 pts. (Last Week: 2) -- If Randy Orton wasn’t so damn hot right now, I’d put in an instant nomination for King Booker to take the title from Cena. He’s put on the best program of the year these past few weeks and what’s made it so awesome has been some absolutely killer heel work on Book’s part.
3. Carlito 12-13-4, 21 pts. (Last Week: 3) — I’m glad Carlito has embraced his inner stooge as it’s made him way more entertaining to watch. While the Cabana segment came off awkward, I felt Carlito put on a strong match with Kennedy.
4. Ken Kennedy 3-3-1, 6 pts (Last Week: 5) — Kennedy’s in total time-killer mode. The big push is a coming’.
5. Snitsky 4-1, 8pts. (Last Week: 6) --I felt Snitsky allowed himself to be carried to a really fun match tonight and he in no way looked weak in losing his first match in forever. It’ll be interesting to see where they take him now that they’re wrapping him up with Orton and McMahon. Despite the loss, he was strong enough to move up this week, IMO.
6. Jeff Hardy 24-11, 45 points (Last Week: 5) — SUSPENDED
7. Cody Rhodes 3-2, 6pts. (Last Week: 9)-- Rhodes puts in another decent performance tonight but he’ll need some quality wins to move much higher. Beating up on the hapless World’s Greatest Tag Team won’t do it.
8. Trevor Murdoch 7-12, 12pts. (Last Week: 7) -- These guys seem to be floating again despite having the titles. The Cryme Tyme thing could re-invigorate a reign that’s pretty much stalled.
9. Lance Cade 6-11, 10pts. (Last Week: 8) -- Same here.
10. William Regal 3-1, 5pts (Last Week: 10) -- I’ll keep Regal here. His scope has been mostly confined to the mid card as GM, but I like it. It gives the rest of the card some structure.
OTHERS :
Santino Marella 5-5, 13pts. (Last Week: NR)
Shawn Michaels 10-7-1, 19 points (Last Week: INJURED)
Super Crazy 4-7-1, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
Shelton Benjamin 2-11-1, 2pts. (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 2-9-1, 1pts. (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-5, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Robbie 0-7 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
JTG 5-6, 6pts. (Last Week: NR)
Big Shad 4-6, 4pts. (Last Week: NR)
Jim Duggan 0-4, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Val Venis 0-3 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Triple H 2-0, 4pts (Last Week: INJURED)
The Sandman 1-5, 2pts. (Last Week: NR)
Daivari 0-2, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Mick Foley 0-1-1, 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Brian Kendrick 2-1, 2pts. (Last Week: NR)
Sgt. Slaughter 0-2. 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Paul London 3-1, 4pts. (Last Week: NR)
Bobby Lashley 3-4 5pts. (Last Week: 10 INJURED)