On Monday, August 25, 2008 at 11:53 PM EST WWE RAW
August 25, 2008
Wilkes-Barre Scranton, PA
Commentators: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk’s music hit and he came down to the ring for a match.
CM Punk v. JBL
Punk’s pretty over with the crowd.
JBL went on the offense to start things off and hit some clubbing blows before going to a headlock. After a cris cross, Punk dodged an elbow drop and hit some stiff strikes to the head and gained a one count on the cover attempt.
JBL recovered quickly though and connected with a big boot that floored the champion. JBL wrenched in some arm wringers before Punk countered out and nailed him with a boot to the face for another two count. Punk hit some more strikes in the corner before taking JBL down and going for another quick cover attempt.
Punk slapped on a side headlock to neutralize JBL before he was tossed to the ropes. He ducked under a big boot and connected with an arm drag. After a huge kick to the side of the head, Punk sent JBL crashing to the floor with a drop kick. The champion stayed persistent and connected with a tope before taking the action back into the ring.
Punk connected with a cross body for a two count before getting tossed over the top rope. Punk skinned the cat only for JBL to meet him with another big boot that sent the champ immediately careening through the middle rope and to the floor.
****Commercial****
JBL was still working Punk over when we came back from the break, uncorking a big back suplex for a two count. JBL hit a vertical suplex next and went for another cover, working over the back and midsection of Punk. An abdominal stretch would follow. The crowd tried to rally Punk, who was negotiating the stretch and blows to the body from the former WWE Champion. JBL went for another cover for a two count and JBL’s starting to look frustrated.
JBL hit a clothesline and Punk kicked out of a cover and JBL’s really beginning to lose his cool now. JBL hit a knee to the jaw before dragging Punk to his feet and putting him in a torture rack. Something we don’t see often…
The crowd rallied Punk again who wiggled out and after a kick to the gut, came reeling at JBL with a kick only to be caught in mid air and slammed to the mat for another two count.
After slamming Punk’s head off the turnbuckles, JBL placed him on the top rope and decked punk with a few right hands before climbing to the top to join the champion. Punk countered Bradshaw though and hit a tornado DDT off the top rope for a great near fall. Punk kept planting knees in JBL’s head. Punk began laying in some stiff strikes to the head. Punk went for the springboard lariat and connected for another hot two count.
Punk hit the big knee in the corner before laying JBL out with a bulldog for year ANOTHER near fall. Punk signaled for GTS and waited to pounce on JBL. JBL rose to his feet and was scooped up by Punk but wiggled out. Punk missed a follow up in the corner and JBL ducked under and rebounded with a monstrous clothesline from hell. Punk managed a hand on the rope to break the three count up and the crowd went ballistic.
JBL lost it and went to the outside to retrieve a steel chair. On his way back into the ring, referee Chad Patton stopped him and took the chair away from Bradshaw leaving an opening for Punk to recover and snare JBL on his shoulders, connecting with Go 2 Sleep for the pin fall victory.
Winner: CM Punk via pin fall
****Commercial****
Raw GM Mike Adamle came out to the ramp and asked us all to take a look at John Cena v. Batista footage from Summerslam. As a result of the Batista bombs, John Cena suffered a severely herniated disk in his neck. He tried to fight through the injury, but the damage was much worse than was originally thought and will be out of action indefinitely. Mike Adamle said that meant that Cena wouldn’t be able to compete at Unforgiven. By the end of the night, someone would fill the vacancy.
Kane said people should relish in Cena’s pain. He said what happened was nothing compared to what he did to Rey Mysterio. He said a spirit broken made him salivate. He said he loved placing his hand around people’s necks and driving them to the ground. He said it makes his victims wonder whether they were alive or dead.
Primo Colon was with Mike Adamle in the back. Primo said he knew it was a big deal and it wasn’t a big deal. He said he wasn’t anything like Carlito. Mike laughed and Primo asked him what was so funny. All of a sudden he backed up and HBK popped up behind Adamle. He said Jericho wasn’t here yet tonight and asked how his wife was. HBK said nothing and walked off.
****Commercial****
Beth Phoenix (w/ Santino Marella) v. Kelly Kelly
The two locked horns and Kelly grabbed a side headlock. Beth picked her up and placed her in the corner and taunted her. Kelly hit a kick to the gut before Beth backed her up and hit some knees to the gut. Kelly rebounded and went to work on the arm, before looking for a roll up attempt.
Beth is bleeding from the nose and is now just ripping Kelly to pieces. Beth began dropping elbows on Kelly’s face before almost getting rolled up. Kelly came at Phoenix with more strikes. Santino tried to pull Beth out of harm’s way but inadvertently caused Beth to get rolled up.
Winner: Kelly Kelly via pin fall
Santino tried to apologize, but got a beating for his transgressions. He ran off to the back like a scared puppy.
****Commercial****
WWE On Demand puts over the Bret Hart-Mr. Perfect match in Wheeling, WV from 1989. Seriously, it blows away the Summerslam and KOTR ‘93 matches. Yah, that good. Check it out.
Charlie Haas thinks he’s Carlito. Char-lito actually.
Primo Colon v. Charlie Haas
Colon was great out of the gate, hitting some whips and strikes but got caught up with the ref and decked in the face. Haas went for a pin fall but only got a one count. Haas hit a back suplex before slapping on a rear chin lock. Haas says ‘that’s cool’.
Haas hammered Colon down to the canvas before eating some apple. Primo knocked it out of his mouth and allowed Colon to get into the match. After a flurry of drop kicks and monkey flips, Coon ascended the top rope and hit a flying cross body block for the win.
Winner: Primo Colon via pin fall
HBK is on his way to the ring.
****Commercial****
A video putting over the Jericho-HBK feud aired before Michaels’ music hit and he came down to the ring looking all business.
Michaels said to everyone who asked about his wife, he wanted to let them know she was hurt, but after being married to him for the last 10 years, she was tough and would be ok. He went to take care of his wife an children last week and tried to look at this like a rational human being. He tried to tell himself Jericho didn’t mean to hit his wife. He watched Raw and watched Jericho show no remorse for what he had done.
He said the reason he didn’t send a letter of resignation right away because he had earned the right to come out and tell the people who supported him the last 20 years ‘thank you’. He said what he didn’t realize that saying good bye would be so hard. He said that’s why he had his wife with him to lift him up and support him and she got punched in the face for it.
He said after Jericho blamed her, he turned to Rebecca, looked into her eyes and he knew that he wasn’t going anywhere. He went to continue the speech until Chris Jericho popped up on the titan tron.
Jericho said HBK was a very lucky man. He said he was lucky he was at WWE studios and not in the arena right now because people were afraid of what he’d do to him if he was there. Jericho said the last time they faced each other, he literally destroyed him. He said if they faced each other again, HBK wouldn’t walk out. He said he knew HBK would try to goad him into this match because he knew what he’d do to him would land him in jail.
HBK said he was right that what he’d do whatever it took to get him in the ring because anything /* he did would end him up in jail. Michaels pleaded with him to sign whatever waiver he could get so no one would be responsible for what he’d do to him. Jericho reminded him that he was injured and he’d destroy him. Michaels cut him off saying he asked him whether it was yes or no for this unsanctioned match. Jericho agreed.
Michaels said Jericho wouldn’t know the slightest thing about being “unforgiving”. He said he wasn’t about winning or pinning him. He was about an eye for an eye.
****Commercial****
Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase v. Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Jerry Lawler
Thank god a King match.
Dibiase opened things up with a back drop. Lawler reversed a whip and returned the favor before they locked up again. Dibiase hit a knee or two to the gut before Lawler decked him right in the face with a PUNCH~~!
Dibiase fought back and tagged in Rhodes who went to work on King. Dibiase worked over King before snap marring him and slapping on a rear chin lock. King tried to elbow out but got taken back down by Rhodes. We repeat the spot and again, Rhodes knocks him down. King finally fights out only to get nailed with a snap suplex.
Rhodes slapped Lawler in the face a few times before Lawler fired up and began hitting punches all over the place. He caught the oncoming Dibiase who was able to weather the storm and slap on a sleeper. Duggan got the hot tag and began cleaning house. He caught Dibiase and scoop slammed him before going to the three point stance and CONNECTED for a two count.
All hell broke loose before Duggan and Dibiase ended up in the ring together. Dibiase slapped on the million dollar dream/STO hybrid thing for the win.
Winners: Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase via pin fall
Cody grabbed a mic afterwards. He said he hoped the hoodlums, Cryme Tyme, were watching. He said they stole their belts and commited, well, a Crime. He said you don’t steal championships in the WWE, you win them. Cryme Tyme’s music hit and they’re up in the nose bleeds.
They said they didn’t know if Cody & Dibiase noticed, but they’re Cryme Tyme. He said you don’t commit the crime if you’re not willing to do the time. He said they wanted a title shot and are using the belts as collateral and they wanted their shot at Unforgiven. Dibiase asked them to act like normal people and go through the proper channel. He called them delinquents and said they had their shot, but they said they’d take back far more than what they stole from them. Dibiase said something about Priceless. “Silly White boy’. Nothing comes without a price, not even stole--- errr ‘borrowed’ tag belts. Everything was about money, money. Shaad just keeps going. *sigh*
****Commercial****
Batista was with Todd Grisham. He put over Cena’s injury and said he knew Cena would come back better and stronger than ever. He said he wouldn’t be so kind to that ‘freak’ Kane later tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Santino Marella v. Kofi Kingston
Kofi hit an arm drag before evolving it into an arm bar. Santino hit a shoulder block before Kingston his a wheel kick for a two count. Marella backed Kingston up before getting monkey flipped to the corner.
Kingston hit some mounted punches and shoulder blocks before hitting a big European upper cut for a two count. Santino was eventually able to dodge a cross body block and went to work. He hit an inverted suplex for a one count. Marella stalked Kingston and slapped on a ferocious abdominal stretch as he screamed for the ref to ring the bell.
Kingston kicked him off and hit a forearm and a standing drop kick. Kingston faked a flying axe handle before hitting it for real. Kingston connected with the boom boom leg drop before Marella rolled to the outside. Beth showed up and began directing Santino back to the ring as he looked like he was headed to the outside.
Kingston went to hit something when Beth ripped his leg out from underneath him. Kofi’s head smashed into the knee of Marella who quickly capitalized and covered him for the pin.
Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Santino Marella via pin fall
After the match we got dueling sexual assaults and everything is good in paradise again.
****Commercial****
Shelton Benjamin & Candice Michelle are at the Democratic Convention. George Stephanopolus is holding the US title belt. He’s a hippie clown, but he totally looks bad___.
Raw GM Mike Adamle announces that Rey Mysterio is going to be the fifth member of the Championship scramble, replacing John Cena.
****Commercial****
Batista v. Kane
The two locked horns and Kane threw Batista aside. Batista grabbed a headlock but quickly found himself shoulder blocked to the mat. The two tussled some more before having a little chain wrestling sequence. Kane slapped on a hammer lock that Batista was able to overcome and tried to grab and arm hold of his own.
Kane and Batista continued to grapple on the mat as Batista tried to grab a rear naked choke, but Kane kept rolling through. Batista rolled through Kane’s counter and caught an arm bar before bringing Kane back to the corner and jacked him in the face with a right hand.
Batista hit an irish whip and a follow up. Kane was relatively unphased and came forward and caught aright hand or two of his own before catching Batista with a back elbow. Batista fought back though before Kane fled to the outside, frustrated at his situation.
****Commercial****
Kane’s working over Batista’s leg as we return from the break. He’s dropping elbows and wrenching it every which way. Kane slapped on a leg lock. Kane continued his attack on Batista, picking his leg apart, draping the limb over the ropes and stretching it out. Kane connected with a big boot to the temple of Batista before going for a cover and getting a two count.
Kane stayed on the right leg ripping and tearing before Batista tried to get back into the match with punches while on one leg but was quickly hammered down to the mat. Kane slapped on an ankle lock and after a lengthy struggle, Batista was able to hit a clothesline and buy himself some time.
Batista was able to hit a drop toe hold that sent Kane into the corner before following up with a big clothesline. Kane caught Batista coming in again and almost choke slammed him before Batista uncorked a huge spine buster. Kane fought back with a big boot before Kane slammed Batista’s leg off the steel ring post. Kane grabbed a steel chair and slammed Batista’ leg with it, causing the DQ.
Winner: Batista via DQ
Kane slammed Batista’s leg with the chair several times. In the ring, Batista hit a spear after a boot to the gut and now he’s got the chair and he’s hammering Kane with it. He dragged Kane’s leg to the ring post and after slamming it off the steel, he hammered the leg with the chair. THAT is family fun, kids. Batista only relented, because his leg collapsed. Both are in pain.RAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- Tonight’s Raw was a really strong one. I just don’t know if anyone was really watching thanks to the DNC and the show being stuck on Sci Fi.
I guess my first observation of the night was just how much more credible CM Punk looks as World Champion. They’ve really done a good job booking this guy as being and underdog but a guy who seems to be gaining confidence the longer he holds the belt. He doesn’t need to win all the time and in fact, it’s good that he doesn’t. But the guy has also defeated JBL for the title three straight times and looks like the presumptive favorite to leave the Unforgiven Pay Per View with his title still in tact. Every week, he looks like he belongs more and more.
The second big happening tonight was the long awaited announcement that Michaels and Jericho will he having the big blow off at Unforgiven in an Un-Sanctioned match. First off, I just feel like I say it each week, but these guys have just been upping the ante every single week. Every week is my new promo of the year it seems, to the point where I’m starting to feel a little ridiculous but again, it is what it is. This feud has been built as well as one could have ever hoped for and or drawn it out. It’s really just perfect. And I haven’t been as excited for a match as I am the one between these two on this show. Hopefully, it’ll be fantastic stuff.
And Batista and Kane get credit for the most visually odd match I’ve seen in a while. Rather than doing the big boulder clack, the two elected to, uh, wrestle. While the action was surprisingly entertaining and good, it just didn’t fit what they billed it as heading in, which was Batista doing awful things to Kane. Yes, we DID get that ending where they brutalized each other, but I didn’t get a whole heck of a lot of hate there. As far as I know, Kane is pretty competent at mat grappling, likely due to his time in BATTLEARTS over in Japan. A fun match, but certainly not one we’re used to seeing from either guy.
The news of John Cena being out ‘indefinitely’ is certainly a bummer, but you’ve got to think the WWE may have stumbled on the best unintentional storyline ever if they can use it to bill Cena-Batista at Mania. Could happen. Either way though, Cena’s main event all but like five or six of the WWE’s pay per views since March of 2005. Triple H needed a break after that long a stretch of main eventing and Cena could use it too, especially with a neck injury. The guy has another 20 years or so left in his career, it’s best if he takes it easy.
The mid card still keeps producing some fun stuff as well. Primo Colon seems to execute fairly well but Haas imitating Carlito is TNA-bile to me. Kelly Kelly continues to look better and seems to want to be this year’s Candice Michelle. Granted, she’s got a long way to go, but… The Rhodes/Dibiase-Cryme Tyme feud is going to be a gas. Trust me. And Glamarella…?? On again, off again.. Those crazy kids in love…
Needless to say though, a super solid show tonight, with some good action. I just hope I wasn’t the only one who watched.
Overall Grade: B+
Quick Results
CM Punk def. JBL
Kelly Kelly def. Beth Phoenix
Primo Colon def. Charlie Haas
Ted Dibiase & Cody Rhodes def. Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Jerry Lawler
Santino Marella def. Kofi Kingston to retain the IC Championship
Batista def. Kane
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. CM Punk
2. Batista
3. Shawn Michaels
4. Cryme Tyme
Most Heat
1. Chris Jericho
2. Kane
3. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
4. JBL
Match of the Night: CM Punk v. JBL **1/2
Power Rankings
5 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
World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk 7-3-2, 21 Points (Last Week: World Heavyweight Champion) -- Strong win over JBL and that’s a second straight clean win over one of the WWE’s main event horses. Seems to be finally getting to ’credible’ status with the belt.
Intercontinental Champion: Santino Marella 9-10, 14 points (Last Week: Intercontinental Champion)--Quite a packed night for Santino. On the Rock with Beth, Back on with Beth, retains his title.
1. Chris Jericho 14-14-1, 30 pts. (Last Week: 1)-- Good lord, what a job of being a totally remorseless and utterly undesirable person… Jericho’s performances as a heel in the past few months has probably been the best out of ring performance of any super star in the last five years.
2. Batista 6-2-2, 14 Points (Last Week: 2)-- Batista keeps rolling and although tonight’s win wasn’t a total win, he still pushes forward and keeps his momentum strong heading into Unforgiven. If Chris Jericho wasn’t being beyond the man right now, Batista would be an easy #1.
3. John Cena 19-13, 34 points. (Last Week: 2) -- Cena’s injured yet again. After four to five years being relatively injury free, Cena’s beginning to show wear and tear. Glad he’s taking some time off.
4. Shawn Michaels 15-4-1, 20pts. (Last Week: 5) -- Michaels moves up a bit thanks to easily the promo of the year. Honestly, I feel like an idiot saying that after almost every Jericho-HBK promo this year, but hey man, it is what it is.
5. JBL 13-19, 24 points (Last Week: 4)-- Beginning to flounder a bit, especially after losing to the champion not once, but three times. They’re really going to need to build some momentum back up for him. I’d book him in a squishy squash next week.
6. Ted Dibiase, Jr. 4-4, 11 Points (Last Week: 7)-- Another solid week for the tag champs. Nice to see a more traditional tag feud back on Raw. Given the personalities here, it should be a lot of fun.
7. Cody Rhodes 9-9, 14 points (Last Week: 8)-- See Dibiase.
8. Kofi Kingston 6-3, 15 points (Last Week: 6) -- Rough stroke of luck for Kofi this week. Still, he’s solidly in the fold for the IC title. Should be able to turn things around.
9. Kane 1-6, 2 Points (Last Week: 10)-- Without wins, it’s hard to move him up the ladder but good god, he looks rejuvenated. Sort of an odd match with Batista tonight, but he still looked good.
10. Rey Mysterio 1-0, 3 Points (Last Week: NR)--Looks like Rey’s got another crack at the gold in his first month back. Here’s to betting that he and Kane don’t last very long.
OTHERS :
Paul Burchill 5-4, 7 points (Last Week: 10)
Primo Colon 1-0, 2 Points (Last Week: NR)
D-Lo Brown 2-1, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Jamie Noble 0-3, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Deuce 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Chuck Palumbo 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Matt Striker 0-1, 0 Points (Last Week: NR
Randy Orton 10-9-2, 20pts. (Last Week: INJURED)
William Regal, 4-5, 11 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul London 3-6, 3 points(Last Week: NR)
Jerry Lawler 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Lance Cade 2-5, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Jim Duggan 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Robbie 0-3, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Mick Foley 1-0, 1 point (Last Week: NR)
Sgt. Slaughter 0-0. 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Val Venis 0-1 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Snitsky 2-6, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
JTG 5-2, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
Big Shaad 5-2, 5 points (Last Week: NR)
Ken Kennedy 10-7, 22pts. (DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Carlito 9-9, 13 pts. (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Brian Kendrick, 3-8, 3 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Trevor Murdoch 0-8, 0 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Super Crazy 0-3, 0 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO ECW)
Harry Smith 0-1, 0 points (DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)