TONIGHT: William Regal’s official coronation ceremony. Plus, fallout from Backlash, including Triple H’s title win.
-WWE Open.
-Highlights from last night’s fatal four-way championship match aired.
-RAW Open.
-Over 17,000 fans packed the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey for Raw. And if there was any doubt, the new WWE Champion, Triple H, came out. After soaking in the cheers, he said the Age of Orton was over. He said he’s over his injuries of the past, and he’s back. Before he could get much else out, Randy Orton came out. Orton said Trips doesn’t get to make a speech tonight. He then claimed he was a victim of his success, and that HHH had to win the belt in a non-one-on-one match. Orton said no one is on his level. He then said he’d invoke his rematch clause at Judgment Day. HHH said all Orton did for the six months he had the belt was run his mouth and tell people how good he was. HHH told Orton to leave, but Randy said “eh-eh.” Trips punked out Orton and Randy said he can’t wait for Judgment Day. He said the Age of Orton has just begun and that he’s using his rematch clause tonight. The two stared at each other and Trips held the belt high. JR said he’d try to get information on the match when they return.
[Break]
-JR confirmed that there would be a title match tonight between the two.
(1) Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Michelle McCool, Cherry & Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, Victoria, Natalya & Layla This is a re-match from last night. All 12 women went at it as soon as the heels hit the ring. Beth was stuck in there with Kelly. Talk about your mis-matches. Kelly got a nice head-scissors on Victoria, but couldn’t make the tag. Melina took her turn on Kelly next, and hit a nice DDT. Jillian’s hand-spring elbow was blocked by Kelly, who tagged Mickie. She went to work on Jillian, then cheap-shotted Beth. Thesz press by James. Layla got a cheap-shot in on Mickie, but that barely stopped Mickie’s momentum. She ended up getting the win with a roll-up and bridge on Jillian.
Winners: Mickie, Maria, Ashley, Michelle, Cherry & Kelly, at 3:12.
-The official coronation of King Regal is tonight.
[Break]
-A video recap of Backlash aired.
(2) John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Highlander Robbie First time Robbie’s been on TV since his appearance on “Impact” last month. His injured partner, Rory, was at ringside lending support during this match. JBL looked more focused than ever. He booted Robbie right in the head in the corner. JBL finished it in short order with a clothesline from hell.
Winner: JBL, at 1:04.
JBL got on a headset at the announce table after the match and said he’s challenging the winner of the Orton vs. HHH match and said he wants the title.
-Tonight, the WWE Championship is on the line as Triple H takes on Randy Orton.
[Break]
(3) Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch Cade used some power to get the advantage, and hit a high back body-drop on London. Tag in to Murdoch, who elbowed London in the head for a near-fall. London landed on his feet after another body-drop attempt, and tagged Kendrick. Cade pushed Kendrick off of him right into Murdoch. Trevor tagged in after begging for Cade to, then got rolled up for the loss.
Winners: London & Kendrick, at 1:58.
Cade got in Murdoch’s face after the match, so Murdoch went to ring-side to grab a mic. He stood on top of the announce table and began singing Garth Brooks. Specifically, some verses from “Friends in Low Places.” This lasted about as long as the match. By the end, some fans were singing along, but most were booing. At the end, he got some applause too. Cade’s response was simply walking out of the ring and to the back.
-JR narrated the finish of the Batista vs. Michaels match from last night. He’s going to be the special guest on Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel tonight.
[Break]
-JR & King plugged the fact that WWE got some press from the presidential candidates being on Raw last week.
(4) Paul Burchill & Katie Lea vs. Super Crazy It was announced as one-on-one, but Katie got the mic and said Regal allowed them to make it a handicap match. Crazy got a waist-lock take-down on Katie, but Burchill put a stop to any further offense. Burchill held Crazy and Katie booted him in the face. Katei missed a high knee in the corner, and Crazy took down Burchill with a hurricanrana. He missed a moonsault though and Katie dropkicked him off the top rope. Curb stomp by Burchill, who let Katie make the cover and get the glory.
Winners: Burchill & Katie Lea, at 1:58.
-Randy Orton was backstage with Todd Grisham, who asked Orton if he had any second thoughts about invoking the rematch clause tonight. Orton stared at Grisham, then yelled “No!”
-Tonight, the royal coronation of Regal. And it’s next.
[Break]
-Everything was dark for the beginning of the coronation ceremony. Lillian started things off and the lights came on to reveal Regal sitting in the throne in the ring. Regal said he has become the most powerful entity in WWE. The fans chanted “what” as Regal made his speech. He said he was our ruler and our superior. Mr. Kennedy’s music interrupted to a good pop. His new music still sucks though. Kennedy said he’d love to be the first one to congratulate Regal....but he just can’t do that. Kennedy said he wasn’t even invited into the tournament, and posed a challenge to Regal to find out who the real King is. Regal was offended that Kennedy was talking to him without an appointment. Regal suggested he apologize. Kennedy did his name thing, and Regal attacked. Referees came from the back to break things up. Eh, I prefer Kennedy as a heel.
-The WWE Championship is on the line when Triple H defends against Randy Orton.
[Break]
(5) Santino Marella vs. Cody Rhodes Santino said he doesn’t like New Jersey for one second. He made fun of the fake Italians on “The Sopranos.” The two traded forearms to the head, but Santino quickly got the advantage. Cody missed a moonsault off the top. Both men’s teammates were at ringside with them. Back heel trip by Santino for two. Camel clutch by Santino, which makes me dream of some Iron Sheik-Santino verbal exchanges. Cody got to his feet and hit an electric chair on Marella. Marella countered a bulldog attempt and rolled up Rhodes for two, espite his feet being on the ropes. Cody picked up the win with a DDT.
Winner: Rhodes, at 3:16. I’ve seen enough of these four in the ring to guess that if a tag match with them got 10 minutes, it’d be pretty good.
Cody got on the mic and taunted Santino, who was still down in the ring. Before he got much out though, Carlito gave Rhodes the Back-Stabber and fled before Hardcore Holly could get to him.
-The Highlight Reel with Shawn Michaels is next. Jericho was walking to the ring backstage wearing a tux.
[Break]
-Chris Jericho came out, then said it was a special awards edition of the Highlight Reel. He brought out a small trophy and said it was the award for best actor. He introduced the nominees: Don Muraco and Mr. Fuji for “Fuji General.” We even got a clip of it! The next was Michael Cole, for “Deliverance, Part Two.” It was a clip from 2004, of Heidenreich whispering to Cole from behind and appearing to....well, ya know. Finally, Shawn Michaels for pretending to have a knee injury at Backlash last night. A clip of that was then shown. Jericho announced the winner as Shawn Michaels. HBK came to the ring with a heavily pronounced limp. Jericho insisted that Shawn make a speech. Jericho said he won the match, so the charade is over and he can stop acting. Y2J called him the Daniel Day-Lewis of WWE, then told the production guys to hit his music. With that, Jericho left the ring, applauding. Interesting and unique but if Jericho thought HBK was faking, why did he help him to the back yesterday? Perhaps with time to think on things, he decided to show HBK up tonight for making Jericho think he was hurt last night (in Y2J’s opinion of course).
-Orton vs. Triple H for the WWE Title is coming up tonight.
[Break]
-Santino was walking backstage when he came upon what he thought was a WWE Diva. He even said she has the nice butt like he likes. He introduced himself as a future WWE Tag Champion. When the guy, who was talking to divas, turned around, it was Rowdy Roddy Piper (or Roddy The Piper, if you’re Santino). Marella though he was from Goonies and asked him to do the Truffle Shuffle. Piper slapped him and asked if he had a death-wish or if he was just special.
-The four-way highlight package from earlier aired.
-Randy Orton came out for the main event, which is next.
[Break]
(6) Randy Orton vs. Triple H- WWE Championship Match10:41:21 The bell rang to start the match at 10:41 EST. And to think, this could’ve main-evented the next PPV. A slow start to the match, with head-locks and shoulder knock-downs. Orton missed a shoulder charge in the corner and hit the ring-post. JR said that because of Orton’s kick to Cena’s head, John wasn’t at the arena tonight. Trips sent Orton into the ring post again, working the shoulder and arm. After more work on the arm outside the ring, Orton got a kick in but he couldn’t capitalize. Both men were down in the ring as the show went to break.
[Break]
Orton was punching at a staggering Triple H upon return. Triple H punched back, but eventually, Orton settled into his trademark chin-lock. Triple H worked out and put Orton in a sleeper. He wasn’t there long, as Orton suplexed out of it. Orton settled things down back into a chin-lock. After HHH got out, he charged at Orton in the corner but Orton got his boot up. Randy began stalking HHH for the RKO. Trips shoved him off and Orton went arm-first into the buckle. Triple H got a very near fall after a high knee. Orton went to the top rope, but Trips crotched him. Orton retaliated on the mat with a thumb to the eye and European Uppercut. Trips got him in the Pedigree, but Orton countered with a slingshot. I hate how every match now with either guy, their finisher is countered the first time it is used. It’s so predictable and adds no excirement. Triple H came back with the Crossface (what’s with people using that so much the last two days?).
They cut to a shot of William Regal in the production truck, talking to director Kerwin Siflies. Regal told the director that the people don’t deserve to see the end of the match. He then got in Kerwin’s face and told him to take it off the air. The show went to black, but you could hear JR and King on commentary. That only lasted a few seconds, as the show went off the air in mid-sentence.
The funny thing is, I tune in after watching the Hawks polish off the Celtics (no, that isn't a typo, by the way, for those who missed it) and what's the first thing I see? Randy Orton hitting the chinlock. Classic. And apparently I didn't miss much when I tuned out after that. That has to be the cheapest way to end Raw in a long time. And the worst part of it is that we'll now have to sit through another Orton/HHH match. Augh!
The only other segment I caught was the Highlight Reel. And it was heading for classic status (FUJI GENERAL~!) until the ending...or lack thereof. Seriously? That was it? I waited for the payoff and it never came.
I can't complain. The match wasn't going anywhere for me and I really did want a spectacular coronation ceremony. King GM William Regal might be my new hero.
Roddy Piper was just doing a little show in the gym down the road two weekends ago, what is he doing back on television?
I like the slow boil that Jericho has HBK on right now.
Poor Kerwin. He never gets on TV for happy moments. Someone's always trying to kill someone.
I know I'm trained not to expect an actual finish in this sort of title rematch, but I don't that they've trained everyone for that.
I hope they acknowledge the match had an actual ending next week and don't pretend the show ceased to exist as soon as L&O came on. I'm not totally sure they will.
Originally posted by thecubsfanJERICHO~~~~~~ (polite golf clap)
Poor Kerwin. He never gets on TV for happy moments. Someone's always trying to kill someone.
I know I'm trained not to expect an actual finish in this sort of title rematch, but I don't that they've trained everyone for that.
I hope they acknowledge the match had an actual ending next week and don't pretend the show ceased to exist as soon as L&O came on. I'm not totally sure they will.
That's where a good ring announcer would have announced TV Time remaining for the time limit prior to the match. I miss time limits. The time limit draw was such an effective way to extend a title chase, and no one was better at utilizing it than the man who brought it back tonight, GM King William Regal. It would have been better if Robin Hood had followed RAW. Fuji General gets screwed again. Should have gone 5 nominees with something else from TNT and the I lost my smile speech included. If I'm the Highlanders and Super Crazy I might not be answering my phone if the area code is that of Stamford in the next few days.
I can tell I'm the dissenter here, but I flipped to Raw just when the main event started, and:
A) loved the main event, as it had strong wrestling, and JR & Lawler brought their A+ game; B) thought Regal's actions were effective heel heat. I actually felt pissed off at him rather than WWE for the inconclusive finish.
I do wish I had seen the Highlight Reel, though. That sounded great.
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects.
Originally posted by It's FalseThe only other segment I caught was the Highlight Reel. And it was heading for classic status (FUJI GENERAL~!) until the ending...or lack thereof. Seriously? That was it? I waited for the payoff and it never came.
The pay-off comes later, silly! I'm with Loco. Slow burns can be a good thing, especially when there's potential in a feud like there is between Michaels and Jericho.
THE GOOD: - Regal, like Booker, letting the title of "King of the Ring" drive him mad. Except instead of goofy, it's making him EVIL~! - Trevor Murdoch sings "I Got Friends in Low Places." If a clip of this isn't on the next big RAW "Anniversary" show, then there's no justice in this world at all. It would've been better if he sung "Stand By Your Man" (with slightly modified lyrics), but I'm holding out for them not to team for a few weeks and for Murdoch to pop up during a match singing Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin".
THE BAD: - I still can't get into Orton as a worker. - Ken Kennedy disrupts William Regal's coronation ceremony dressed as a bouncer at a gay bar.
THE UGLY: - Rory McCallister and Super Crazy's physiques. Crazy at least just has the same gut he's had for a couple years now, but MAN Rory looks awful.
Them having Regal cut off the feed sort of pissed me off initially, but in looking back at it, more of my frustration comes from the fact that I sat through a pretty dull Orton/HHH match and didn't even get a decent ending out of it. If they were going for "this is a great match that you deserve to see the conclusion of," they failed - I would've been more pissed, but it would've been perhaps more effective in what they were going for? Or maybe I'd just be pissed at the way they ended the match? I don't know. Long story short: Orton needs to take a six month moratorium from The Chinlock.
By the way, what was up with that segment at the end of RAW where Katie Lea and Kelly Kelly drugged Dynamite Kid, then Katie Lea tried to frame him for Kelly Kelly's murder? That was WEIRD.
(edited by Deputy Marshall on 28.4.08 2336) KevinMarshallOnline.com - Blog, podcasts, and more!
FWIW, live reports have Regal coming to the ring and ordering the match to stop, before they got to a finish. Somehow Triple H seemed more upset about this than the guy who cashed in his return title match and presumably will have to earn another title shot.
Trevor Murdoch - Good voice. I expect him to be singing his own entrance theme soon enough. The next Double J or tag him with Jimmy Wang Yang as the new Smokin' Gunns !
How did a typical Heat match like Paul Burchill vs Super Crazy get a promotion to Raw ?
Robbie McAllister - late punishment for the TNA appearance ?
Triple H vs Randy Orton matches through to Survivor Series no doubt.
Originally posted by geemoney(2) John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Highlander Robbie First time Robbie’s been on TV since his appearance on “Impact” last month. His injured partner, Rory, was at ringside lending support during this match. JBL looked more focused than ever. He booted Robbie right in the head in the corner. JBL finished it in short order with a clothesline from hell.
Winner: JBL, at 1:04.
Hmmmm, Robbie shows up on TNA and then gets put in a squash with someone known for punis...er, stiffing guys in Vince's doghouse. What a shocker.
Revisiting Michale Cole in Deliverance had me rolling, and was enjoying this show until the (bitter) end. I see what they were trying to do, but unless they are willing to give Regal a MONSTER heel push now, which I doubt, then this was not a good idea. Now, if the match only ran 5-6 minutes, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, but we sat through 20 minutes of that thing! Bad, bad, bad idea.
If Orton was able to break his habit of the Douche Bag pose, surely he can break the chinlock habit.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Originally posted by kentishRevisiting Michale Cole in Deliverance had me rolling, and was enjoying this show until the (bitter) end. I see what they were trying to do, but unless they are willing to give Regal a MONSTER heel push now, which I doubt, then this was not a good idea. Now, if the match only ran 5-6 minutes, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, but we sat through 20 minutes of that thing! Bad, bad, bad idea.
If Orton was able to break his habit of the Douche Bag pose, surely he can break the chinlock habit.
Agree with everything. If Regal was going to move up to main event status this might pay off. However it seems like they are going to use him to move Kennedy to a face. Kennedy only needs to feud with a heel (Orton) and be able to make fun of his opponent and he would be a face in 2 weeks. As far as Randy and his chinlocks go I really wonder about Randy's conditioning. Does he chinlock every 4 minutes because he gets tired? He restholds A LOT. Most likely he is just comfortable but it does make him seem lazy. Maybe he could change up the restholds for a while.
Marge I am just trying to get into heaven not run for Jesus.
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