On Monday, October 27, 2008 at 11:35 PM EST WWE RAW
October 27, 2008
Tucson, AZ
Commentators: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
The Former World Champion Chris Jericho is in the ring furious that he was completely screwed out of the title last night at Cyber Sunday. He said Austin changed the rules and tried to bully and intimidate him through the whole match. He said he was a victim of a conspiracy. He said Batista should be embarrassed to consider himself champion. He said it took an entire army of people to beat him. It took HBK, Mike Adamle, Batista, Steve Austin and all the fans to dethrone him. He said he was dying to get his hands on Batista and Shawn Michaels tonight but he couldn't just get that.
He said he would except his rematch clause next week. Raw GM Mike Adamle came sauntering down to the ring shortly thereafter. He said he had a piece of paper that would insure there'd be no interference in their rematch. He said it was paperwork for a cage match. Jericho was seething. He asked Adamle if he wanted to put him in a cage before bumping him out of the way and stomping off to the back.
Shortly thereafter Randy Orton's music hit and he came down to confront Adamle in the ring. He bemoaned his being stunned last night by Steve Austin and declared it to be Adamle's latest failure. He looked to the camera and demanded Shane and Stephanie McMahon fire Mike Adamle. Or he would walk. He ran up one side of Adamle being a bad interviewer, a horrible commentator and an even worse GM who was spineless and had no control over his show. He said if he phoned his wife in Chicago, he'd probably find out that he was a failure as a husband and father, too. Adamle was the one boiling now and slapped Orton. There was a long stare down before Orton walked off while Adamle sat stunned in the ring.
****Commercial****
World Tag Team Championship
Kofi Kingston & CM Punk v. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
Rhodes had a rough go of things with both Punk and Kofi and tagged in Dibiase who initially didn't fare much better. After fighting his way out of a front face look he missed a right punch in the corner and Punk hammered him back to the center of the ring. Dibiase ducked own though and hit a jaw breaker before firing back with his own punches before Punk flew off the middle rope with a cross body. Rhodes attempted to bust back into the fray, but was met head on by Kofi's leaping drop kick. As they regrouped on the outside, Punk flung himself over the top rope, crashing into the champions.
****Commercial****
Kofi Kingston came sailing into Rhodes with a cross body block before getting back dropped to the apron. Kingston went to go to the top rope but with the official distracted by Rhodes, Dibiase was able to pull him off the top buckle and send him slumping to the floor.
Rhodes battered Kofi on the outside before bringing him inside the ring for a series of near falls. Cody stomped away on Kingston in the corner before Dibiase tagged in and hammered away on Kingston's face on the mat. Dibiase broke a choke while Rhodes got some kicks in before another quick near fall.
Rhodes tagged in only to eat some huge rights the crowd was getting into. Rhodes was able to thwart the hot tag though and get his partner into the ring. Dibiase choked out Kingston on the bottom rope before eating a series of kicks to the mid section. Dibiase went for a suplex, but Kingston almost grabbed a near fall with a small package.
Rhodes tagged into the match and looked for a pin fall, but Kofi kicked out. Rhodes connected with a body slam but got lazy trying to gather Kingston and got flipped over with a head scissors. Kingston tagged Punk.
Dibiase caught the tag but got killed with the springboard lariat and a series of strikes. He hit a huge knee to the jaw and punted Manu off the apron. Kingston was vaulted into Rhodes and took him over the top rope and to the floor. Dibiase wrapped Punk up for the side Russian leg sweep-million dollar dream combo but Punk held the rope and Dibaise crashed into the mat. Punk caught him on the rebound in the Go 2 Sleep and that's all she wrote.
Winners and NEW World Tag Team Champions: CM Punk & Kofi Kingston via pin fall
****Commercial****
Honky Tonk Man, Goldust and Rowdy Roddy Piper are on commentary. Of course Santino whips out the honk o meter.
And jesus christ, Charlie Haas is dressed up like Beth Phoenix.
Santino Marella v. Charlie Haas
Santino chased Charlie Haas around a little bit and he got cornered by the legends. Honky whups him with a guitar shot...
Is there a winner? Yes. All of us.
****Commercial****
World Heavyweight Champion Batista was introduced and he came down to the ring for an interview with Michael Cole. He said it was a long, hard trip, but he finally got his belt back. Cole asked him for his thoughts on the cage match next week and Batista says he's got no fears that the cage was his home. He'd 'do what he always does' and successfully defend the title. Nice sports-ish interview kept short and sweet.
****Commercial****
Mickie James, Candice Michelle & Kelly v. Jillian Hall, Katie Lea Burchill & Layla
Candice started out with Jillian and hit a take down for a quick cover attempt before tagging in Mickie James. James hit a back elbow on Hall before hitting a head scissors and an elbow for a two count that was broken up by Katie.
Jillian gained the advantage and flung James across the mat before tagging in Layla who hit an elbow drop for a one count before Mickie fought her off. Kelly gets a tag and she's looking pretty determined. Kelly hit a head scissors and a drop kick before heading into the corner and going for a monkey flip. Katie went for the roll up only for Candice to break up the count. Mickie nailed Jillian with a Thesz Press and Candice killed Layla with a lariat on the outside. Kelly caught the distracted Katie with the K2 for the win.
Winners: Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle & Mickie James via pin fall
JBL cut a promo on HBK saying he cost him money by interfering in last night's match. He said he could be champion which makes you a lot of money. Tonight he said, HBK would learn, you do not cross JBL.
****Commercial****
Evan Bourne v. Rey Mysterio
The two locked up and grappled to the corner where they were promptly broken up. Rey grabbed a headlock before Bourne threw him off. FLIPPY FUN~ before Bourne hit some super fantastic high flying stuff to show Rey need to mind his p's and q's. Rey fired back with some fun stuff and we're at a stalemate.
Bourne grabbed a series of arm drags and Rey's to the outside now but Bourne pressed him and the two leapt back into the ring and we've got a stare down.
****Commercial****
We came back to Bourne holding Rey in a choke. Over the break, Bourne took it to Rey chucking him to the outside like a lawn dart and hitting an asai moonsault on the floor. Rey fought out of the hold and dumped Bourne to the outside and hit him with a senton in a nice revenge spot. Back in the ring, Rey went for the pin fall but got a two count. He went for something off the ropes, but Bourne caught him and hit a back breaker for a two count.
Bourne clamped on a bow and arrow to work the back as Rey writhed in pain on the mat. Rey broke the hold and got whipped to the buckle but dodged Bourne. Bourne returned the dodge in kind and went for a cross body only for Rey to hit a drop kick to the gut on the rebound. Rey hit some kicks only for Rey to botch a move and end up in a cover attempt. Rey sold the back to cover it up only for Rey to fight Bourne off in the corner. He hit a double leg drop kick to the face for a two count before Rey gathered him and hit a senton off the top rope only for Bourne to counter with an exnzeguri for a two count.
Bourne went for a power bomb but Rey flipped out and got decked with a punch. Bourne hit the standing moonsault for a two count. Bourne went to the top rope and fought Rey off and went for a sunset flip only for Rey to catch him and sling shot him int for 619. Rey went for the Senton but Bourne dodged and hit a sunset flip only for Rey to reverse and roll him up for the pin.
Winner: Rey Mysterio via pin fall
Rey went to shake Bourne's hand only for Kane's pyro to hit. Kane cleaned out Rey only for Bourne to come after him. Bourne and Mysterio worked over Kane and hit a fun double team to clean the big red machine's clock. Here comes Mark Henry. Bourne flew into Henry but got caught and was slammed into the ring post. Mysterio ate a choke slam before Henry hit the world's strongest slam and man that's a cleaning folks.
****Commercial****
A John Cena video aired.
Miz & Morrison came out to the ramp and ran down the fans. Morrison said they were on a new level and would prove it next week when they take on DX next week. They said after they won, the enlightened few could join them when they tell DX's fans to 'be jealous'.
****Commercial****
Chris Jericho's on his way to the match in the ring. We flash to the back and JBL is CLEANING OUT Shawn Michaels.
Chris Jericho & JBL v. Batista & Shawn Michaels
HBK doesn't look like he'll be in the match. JBL and Batista lock horns to the corner and JBL comes out firing. Batista reverses a whip though and uncorks a clothesline before suplexing JBL for a quick cover attempt. JBL wraps his arms around Batista and bullies him to the corner before tagging Jericho.
Batista quickly overwhelmed Jericho and speared him in the corner a couple of times before Jericho cheap shotted the leg and took the advantage. JBL tagged back in and Batista fought the two off and shoulder blocked JBL. Jericho came flying at him and placed Jericho on the apron before sending him into the announce table with a shoulder tackle.
****Commercial****
Jericho worked the leg to a two count before choking Batista out on the ropes. JBL tagged in and slammed Batista before uncorking a neck breaker for a two count. JBL lined up some hay makers in the corner while Jericho choked the champion through the ropes. Jericho tags in now and hits a drop kick before going on the attack.
Batista was dumped to the outside and got drop kicked into the barricade before heading back into the ring. Jericho perched on the top rope waiting for Batista to come to his feet and flew off only to eat a HUGE clotheslines from the Animal. Jericho tagged JBL while Batista scrambled to get his bearings.
Batista and JBL slugged it out in the middle of the ring only for JBL to grab a sleeper. Batista countered with a side suplex and both men are laid out. Batista fired up and took his anger out on Jericho and loaded him up for a power slam but Jericho wiggled out. He caught the former champion with a tilt a whirl champion before going for a Batista bomb. Jericho countered out and nailed a code breaker but couldn't make the cover quickly enough for the win.
JBL tagged in and lined up a clothesline from hell, but Batista hit a desperate spear but couldn't make the cover. Shawn Michaels came stumbling out from the back and we've got a race. Batista made the hot tag and bedlam ensues.
BUT THE REF DOESN'T SEE IT!
Jericho went for a belt shot and whiffed only for Batista to hit a spine buster. As Jericho fled for the back, he watched as Batista hit the bomb on JBL for the win.
Winners: Batista & Shawn Michaels via pin fallRAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- WWE is always best when it keeps things simple. The glitz and pyro and whatnot all looks better when it just merely amplifies the simple stuff going on and tonight I felt they mixed that well and provided a good show.
Everything was straight forward, plugged next week's three hour show well while providing fun action without getting bogged down in too much extra curricular stuff. We've got plenty of reason to watch next week. DX will be back. We get a title cage match. Adamle's on the chopping block. Orton might walk. HBK-JBL got interesting quick. Lots of stuff delivered simply.
As for the in ring action, it was world's better. We got a fantastic southern style tag title match, a really fun lucha style match with Bourne and Mysterio, a fun comedy spot for Santino and some legends and a fun tag match set up quickly and that panned out well. No confusing people with weird stip matches, no rushing segments, no trying to do too much... just simple and deliberate.
Cyber Sunday leaves us at an interesting point. Batista marks the fifth champion we've had this year. After two years of a combined four champions, mostly centered around extended Cena runs with the title, it's refreshing and even appropriate. It gets over the parody of the show which with a talent soaked brand like Raw, is a good thing. Orton or Cena will be back in action in the next few months and we'll get them in time for some needed stability in the title scene.
It also makes title matches more interesting. While Punk's run was a mixed bag, the one good thing it DID do was give title matches an 'anything can happen' type flair to them. Jericho's over big right now, so there's a good chance he MAY regain the belt on tv next week, which is a feeling I haven't had in forever.
Speaking of Punker, I'm hoping that they move to make the tag belts on Raw a bigger deal. I'm not talking out and out tag divisions here, but hoping more that they use it for showcasing talent they want to get over. Kofi is a guy who should be on TV. Evan Bourne is a guy who should be on TV. Punk certainly falls into that category as well. The tag titles are a good vehicle to showcase those guys, especially while Santino does his thing with the IC title for now.
In the end though, last week can be considered a hiccup and now things seem to be back on the right track.
Overall Grade: B+
Quick Results
CM Punk & Kofi Kingston def. Priceless to WIN the World Tag Team Championship
Charlie Haas v. Santino Marella went to a no contest
Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle & Mickie James def. Jillian Hall, Layla & Katie Lea
Rey Mysterio def. Evan Bourne
Batista & Shawn Michaels def. JBL & Chris Jericho
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. Batista
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Rey Mysterio
4. CM Punk & Kofi Kingston
Most Heat
1. Chris Jericho
2. JBL
3. Miz & Morrison
4. Santino Marella
Match of the Night: (tie) Evan Bourne v. Rey Mysterio **3/4, CM Punk & Kofi Kingston v. Priceless **3/4
Power RankingsPoints= 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: Batista 12-6-3, 29 Points (Last Week: 1) -- Batista begins his latest reign, but this one's going to certainly be tough. Jericho's brewing for a rematch and could entirely win the belt from him next week. Orton's off on the side and JBL is regrouping. The big one though, John Cena will be back at Survivor Series. Lots on the plate for the new champion.
Intercontinental Champion: Santino Marella 12-12-1, 19 points (Last Week: Intercontinental Champion) -- Consistently the most entertaining segment on the show every week, there's no reason to unseat him from his spot for right now.
1. Chris Jericho 19-19-1, 45 pts. (Last Week: World Heavyweight Champion) -- I'm admittedly a little surprised Jericho was unseated this early, but in the end, there's a lot on the horizon for him and he should remain in the title hunt all the way to Wrestlemania.
2. Shawn Michaels 20-6-2, 27pts. (Last Week: 2) -- A strong, light work week for HBK. Bumps his backside off for JBL and used as a heat magnet for the finish of the main event. I'm eagerly awaiting what's in store for him and JBL.
3. CM Punk 10-7-2, 30 Points (Last Week: 4) -- Punk was being a little shoved off to the side and i'm glad they're at least going to keep him on TV for the meantime. The tag belts is a good place to continuously showcase him.
4. Kane 7-9, 11 Points (Last Week: 3) -- Drops a bit this week, but stays strong with the run in. They seem to have a little 'now what' approach to him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a stab at Batista's belt come December.
5. Rey Mysterio 6-5, 14 Points (Last Week: 8) -- Goes from more or less wandering to being on a hot streak. A strong ppv win over Kane and a really fun match and victory over Bourne gives the guy some momentum. I'd expect to see him get his obligatory annual title shot at No Way Out.
6. JBL 18-25, 32 points (Last Week: 5)- - Great simple promo from JBL this week and sure, he slides a bit this week, but that's due mostly to the activity behind and in front of him.
7. Kofi Kingston 8-8, 22 points (Last Week: 10) -- Pretty solid showing from Kofi winning the tag belts. Finally, he's back on the right track.
8. Ted Dibiase, Jr. 9-5, 19 Points (Last Week: 6) -- I'd guess they'll be in a traditional Survivor Series match next month. I'd like to see them start to push these guys and give them a little rub harassing main event guys. They've certainly got the talent to pull it off.
9. Cody Rhodes 13-11, 21 points (Last Week: 7) -- See Dibiase.
10. William Regal, 5-6, 13 points (Last Week: 9)-- Not in action tonight.
OTHERS:
John Cena 19-13, 34 points. (Last Week: NR)
Randy Orton 10-9-2, 20pts. (Last Week: NR)
Paul Burchill 5-5, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
JTG 6-7, 8 points (Last Week: NR)
Big Shaad 6-6, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul London 3-6, 3 points(Last Week: NR)
Lance Cade 3-7, 5 points (Last Week: NR)
Jamie Noble 2-5, 4 Points (Last Week: NR)
Primo Colon 1-0, 2 Points (Last Week: NR)
D-Lo Brown 2-2, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Snitsky 2-6, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
Manu 2-0, 2 Points (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 2-4-1, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Deuce 0-2, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Chuck Palumbo 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Matt Striker 0-1, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Jerry Lawler 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Jim Duggan 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-2, 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)