RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread

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The night after the Royal Rumble, Raw rolls into Philadelphia. But the City of Brotherly Love isn’t likely to soothe longstanding rivalries.

Who will be the WWE Champion? This Sunday at the Rumble, Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy will try to take the gold from WWE Champion Randy Orton in a war that has become increasingly personal. Will Hardy realize his dream or will Orton avoid a Twist of Fate?

Meanwhile, things continue to get personal between Chris Jericho and the Lonestar Loudmouth, JBL. Two weeks ago, JBL bad-mouthed Jericho as his small children watched from home. Then, last Monday, Y2J made it clear to the Texas businessman that he will not relent until JBL gets punished for his disrespect. Will these two settle their bitter rivalry at the Rumble, or will it just be chapter one in a series of battles?

And what about the Royal Rumble Match itself? Will a Raw Superstar – such as Triple H, Umaga, or someone else – emerge victorious and earn the right to face a World Champion at WrestleMania XXIV?

The only way to find out is to tune in to Raw – in high-definition – live at 9/8 CT on USA Network.

Please feel free to discuss RAW here. No need to wait for updates!

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RAW Results - 28th Jan, 2008
Location - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Announcers - Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

Last night we saw the return of John Cena to action as the thirtieth entrant in the Royal Rumble. Cena was able to outlast the other twenty-nine participants. While we saw one man return, we did not see another man leave as Ric Flair defeated Montell Vontavious Porter to keep his in ring job with the WWE. What is next for the 'dirtiest player in the game?' Will Ken Kennedy be the man to stop Flair? Who is the next man to challenge Randy Orton since he was able to defeat Jeff Hardy? Which title will John Cena wrestle for at Wrestlemania in less than nine weeks? Will we see Santino Marella make the same comments about the Philadelphia sports teams like he did about the New York teams; and if he does, will he make it out of the building alive? Will we see anything new about the possibility of Maria appearing on the pages of Playboy?

We start off with a look back at the Royal Rumble match from last night’s Royal Rumble pay per view. We see the shock at the revelation that John Cena was number thirty.

We are live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Jim 'If Cena Wins, We Riot . . . in HD' and Jerry 'Mosquitoes . . . in HD' Lawler.

John Cena comes to the ring and he says that he loves Philadelphia because the crowd says what it thinks and gets loud and rowdy. Cena waits for some of the boos to die down in the crowd. He says that he is here tonight to answer a question on everyone’s mind. How could this be possible. In October, he suffered an injury to his pectoral muscle that required surgery. Cena says that the doctors said that he would be out for a year. That meant that for the first time, he would have to watch the greatest spectacle in Sports Entertainment, Wrestlemania from the bench. That meant that new contenders were in place. Cena says that his life was crumbling and his dreams were fading further away. In the last second of the final hour, he made a choice and he risked his career and health. He did it for a chance to maybe get an opportunity to go to Wrestlemania. He says that it might be luck or skill or maybe both but the impossible has happened. He is back and he is the winner of the Royal Rumble and he is going to Wrestlemania. Cena wipes a few tears from his eyes as the crowd shows their support as well as their hatred. Cena says that is the case unless they would want Wrestlemania tonight. There is a man in the back that he has and he makes his challenge to that man. Cena says that Philadelphia has always been full of surprises so why not have Cena versus Orton tonight for the WWE Title. Cena wants to know if Orton will accept the challenge.

Randy Orton’s music plays and he comes out with his title belt and a mic. Orton says that he has an answer but it is not the answer that Cena wants to hear. Orton says that he has accepted a number of challenges from Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Jeff Hardy. The same thing happened to every challenge. In the end, he has beaten them.

Cena points out that Orton has beaten them all and in the process Orton has been able to do something that no one else has been able to do. Orton took Cena out of commission. Cena says that Orton is a smart champion. It was an opportunity to make a situation better for himself. Cena says that is why Orton will give him the match tonight. Cena shows his scar and figures that it could not heal in four months. Cena points out that Orton never beat him and Cena says that Orton needs every advantage. Cena wonders why Orton would want to give Cena another eight weeks to get ready to beat his ass through Disneyland.

Orton tells Cena that ever since he put Cena on the shelf, he has become a very big deal. He is a bigger deal than John Cena has ever been. That is why he will never defend his title unless the people open their wallets to see it. Orton tells Cena that he will not be facing him tonight. Since Cena cannot wait until Wrestlemania, Cena is on at No Way Out. That is unless Cena wants to wait until Wrestlemania. Cena says that he does not want to wait until Wrestlemania so it is on for No Way Out. That still leaves tonight. Cena says that he does not forget all of the pain and suffering and that he took this from him. He does not forget that it is Orton’s fault that he cannot hear section 320 tell him that he sucks. It is Orton’s fault that he took what is dearest to him. As for tonight, it has been four months since he had a chance to be in this ring and he wants some . . . so he is going to get some. We go to commercial.

We are back and we see footage of Mickie James losing to Beth Phoenix last week in her home town.

Ashley Massaro and Mickie James versus Jillian Hall and WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix

Mickie and Jillian start off and Jillian with a hammer lock but Mickie with an Irish whip and she lands on her feet on a monkey flip attempt by Jillian. Mickie with a drop kick for a near fall. Beth tags in but Mickie is able to avoid a double team. Mickie with forearms to Beth and Beth misses a charge into the corner. Beth sends Mickie into the ring post. Mickie with forearms but Jillian with a knee to the back and Beth hits a side slam. Jillian is tagged in and she hits a handspring elbow for a near fall. Jillian with an Irish whip into the corner but she charges into an elbow. Mickie with a head scissors but Beth is tagged back in. Mickie with forearms and then she gets a near fall with a crucifix. Mickie with a cross arm clothesline for a near fall. Mickie with a kick and she sets for the DDT but Jillian interferes. Mickie with a head scissors that sends Jillian to the floor. Beth with a fisherman’s suplex for a three count.

Winners: Jillian Hall and Beth Phoenix

Backstage
Vince McMahon is in his office with William Regal and he tells Regal to let Cena have the title match at No Way Out. Who would face the winner at Wrestlemania. Regal and Vince talk about That Match that shall not mention its name. Vince says that is brilliant and he tells Regal to make the announcement. We go to commercial.

We are back with a Steve Austin DVD commercial.

William Regal comes out to make his big announcement. Regal says that whoever is WWE Champion after No Way Out will face the winner of the match that is the most unforgiving structure. Regal eventually tells us that six men will fight for a chance at the WWE Title in the Elimination Chamber. Regal tells everyone the rules of the match with four men in pods and two men starting the match. The participants are Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, John Bradshaw Layfield, Jeff Hardy, and Triple H. Regal wishes the participants luck and asks for God to have mercy on their souls.

Jim Ross introduces Mike Adamle and he is in the crowd. Adamle talks about the Elimination Chamber Match but Adamle talks about the two big tag team matches tonight. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Slam of the Week: Ashley asking Maria if she wanted to pose in Playboy and Santino’s no vote followed by Big Dick Johnson and Ashley’s beating with her rubber chickens.

Carlito with Santino Marella and Maria versus Cody Rhodes with Bob Holly

Carlito with a kick to the midsection and then he Irish whips Rhodes but Rhodes with a float over and arm drag. Rhodes with an arm bar. Carlito with kicks and punches in the corner followed by a chop and then he has some words for Holly. Rhodes with a chop of his own. Rhodes with a rollup when Carlito misses a charge. Cody with an arm bar and Carlito gets into the ropes. Carlito backs into the corner and Rhodes with a punch followed by an arm bar take down and leg drop to the arm. Carlito with a kick to the back to get out of the hold. Carlito with a forearm to the back followed by knees. Rhodes sends Carlito to the apron and Rhodes with a rebound clothesline to Carlito. Rhodes goes to the floor and he punches Carlito before rolling him back into the ring. Marella gets on the apron and Carlito hits the Lungblower while Rhodes is distracted for the three count.

Winner: Carlito

Backstage
Triple H and Shawn Michaels are in the locker room and Hunter says that last night did not end up the way that they intended. They will have the chance to get back to the main event at Wrestlemania but they will have to beat each other up in the most demonic structure of all time. However, that is in three weeks and he says that he needs a tag team partner. Shawn says that will take a wardrobe change. Hunter shows his DX gear. Shawn says that he will need a minute and he returns in his DX shirt.

We are back with a video package for the latest Candice Michelle Go Daddy commercial.

Before our next match starts, Shawn Michaels hands Triple H the mic and Hunter reads the back of the new DX shirt and then he asks us if we are ready and then he tells us to get ready to suck it after talking about gimmick infringement as he takes a shot at Michael Buffer.

Shawn Michaels and Triple H versus Gene Snitsky and Umaga

Snitsky starts off while Shawn and Hunter determine who starts and Hunter wins. They lock up and Hunter releases the hold and asks for a toothbrush, tic tacs, or a mint. Snitsky gets angry as Hunter puts down the mic. Snitsky with punches to Hunter followed by boots in the corner. Snitsky with an Irish whip but he charges into a clothesline from Hunter. Michaels tags in and he connects with a double sledge from the turnbuckles. Hunter tags back in and he punches Snitsky. Hunter continues to work on the arm. Snitsky slams Hunter before he attempts an elbow drop that misses. Michaels tags in and he chops Snitsky. Michaels with a flying forearm and a kip up. Michaels knocks Umaga down. Michaels goes up top and Umaga with a kick that knocks Michaels to the floor. Snitsky rolls Michaels back into the ring and he puts Michaels in a bear hug. Michaels tries to punch his way out of the hold and then he chops Snitsky. Snitsky returns to the bear hug. Michaels with a chop but Snitsky with a clothesline. Snitsky sends Michaels into the corner and then he chokes Michaels. The referee deals with Snitsky and that allows Umaga to choke Michaels. Snitsky chokes Michaels with his boot. Umaga tags in and he snap mares Michaels and then he applies the nerve hold before putting Michaels in a waist lock and then turns it into a bear hug. Michaels tries to make his way to the corner as we go to commercial.

We are back and Umaga has Michaels in the Tree of Woe and he hits a diving head butt. We are told that Hunter was unable to tag in during the commercial break. Umaga covers Michaels and gets a near fall. Umaga with a head butt and then he tags in Snitsky. Snitsky with a bear hug on Michaels and Michaels gets out of the hold but Snitsky keeps Michaels from making the tag and sends Michaels into a neutral corner. Umaga is tagged in while Michaels is in a precarious position in the corner. Umaga misses the running butt splash and Umaga goes down. Michaels tries to make the tag again but Umaga grabs Michaels. Michaels with a tornado DDT and both men are down. Hunter finally tags in and he punches Snitsky who also made the tag. Hunter with a high knee to Snitsky and then Hunter punches Umaga. Umaga with an Irish whip but Umaga misses a charge into the corner. Hunter with a clothesline to Umaga and then he hits a face buster on Snitsky. Umaga with a Samoan drop to Hunter but Shawn Michaels with Sweet Chin Music on Umaga that sends him out of the ring. Michaels with a somersault pescado onto Umaga on the floor. Snitsky misses the big boot and Hunter with a spinebuster followed by a Pedigree to Snitsky for the three count.

Winners: Shawn Michaels and Triple H

Backstage
Randy Orton is in his locker room and he sees Bradshaw. Bradshaw tells Randy that history is going to be made. For the first time, Orton teams with Bradshaw. At Wrestlemania, it will be the first time that Randy Orton defends his title against Bradshaw. Bradshaw says that will happen if Orton defeats Cena. Orton says that he hopes Bradshaw wins because he knows that he can beat Bradshaw. Bradshaw says that tonight is a different story. Orton says that he will take care of Hardy while Bradshaw takes care of Jericho. Orton says that if John Cena shows up . . . he is interrupted by Bradshaw who says that if Cena shows up they both take care of him. We go to commercial.

We are back and Todd Grisham is with Jeff Hardy in the interview area. Todd points out that Jeff was so close and Hardy agrees that he was close. Hardy says that he is at a crossroads. He could be satisfied with what he did or he can try to get back on top. He can win the Elimination Chamber Match and go to the main event of Wrestlemania. It is only the beginning.

We go to Vince in his office and we see Hornswoggle. Vince says that Hornswoggle let him down. Vince says that it was great that Hornswoggle wanted to be in the Royal Rumble match but then he does not come back like a McMahon, like a winner. He came back a loser. Vince says that he is ashamed of Hornswoggle. He tells Hornswoggle to get out of his sight. Vince scowls us into commercial.

We are back with the WWE Rewind: Montel Vontavious Porter unsuccessful in his attempt to retire Ric Flair.

Ken Kennedy versus Brian Kendrick

Kendrick slaps Kennedy before the bell and Kennedy punches Kendrick. Kennedy kicks Kendrick in the corner. Kennedy tries for the running boot into the corner but Kendrick moves out of the way. Kendrick with kicks to Kennedy on the floor. Kennedy sends Kendrick into the apron and Kendrick favors his arm. Kennedy with a hammer lock and he sends Kendrick into the turnbuckles. Kennedy works on the arm but Kendrick punches Kennedy and hits a drop kick and enzuigiri. Kendrick goes up top but misses a missile drop kick. Kennedy with the mic check for the three count.

Winner: Ken Kennedy

After the match
Kennedy gets his mic from the ceiling and he says that he went to William Regal and says that he did not want to be part of the Elimination Chamber Match. It isn’t that he did not want to be in the main event at Wrestlemania, but he would rather end the career of Ric Flair. Kennedy says that everyone is sick and tired of the same old dog doing the same old tricks. Kennedy says that he is going to do to Flair what people do to pets when they have no more value. Kennedy tells Flair to look into his eyes as he tells Flair that he is going to put him down. He is going to waste Flair.

Ric Flair’s music plays and he comes out looking as only Flair can. Flair addresses Kennedy and he has two thing to say to him. He wishes him good luck and then he woooos for Kennedy. Flair does the Flair Strut. We go to commercial.

Melina versus Maria with Santino Marella

Melina with a split into a single leg take down. Maria with a hammer lock but Melina with an elbow. Melina misses a clothesline and Maria with a kick. Maria with an Irish whip and then she hits a running back splash in the corner followed by a bronco buster. Melina sends Maria into the turnbuckle and Santino is heard saying ‘not the face.’ Melina with a forearm to the back and then she has Maria in a modified Muta Lock. Maria counters with a neck breaker. Maria with a punch to the midsection but Melina with a punch. Maria with a head scissors take down and then Maria with a gutbuster for a near fall. Maria with an Irish whip but Maria misses the charge into the corner. Melina tries for a sunset flip but he tries to pull down Maria’s pants. Maria drops down for the three count.

Winner: Maria

After the match
Santino comes in to cover up Maria. Santino blames the Japanese for high definition technology. Santino says that everyone is fantasizing about her right now. Even JR has erected a monument in his trousers, despite whatever size it is. Santino says that he is ready to puke into the Liberty Bell. Santino says that nobody will ever see Maria in Playboy. Santino storms to the back with Maria.

Backstage
Todd Grisham is now in the interview area with Chris Jericho. Todd asks Jericho about a side that we have never seen in Chris Jericho. Jericho says that everyone is familiar with the entertainer Jericho and then he goes through the catchphrases that he has used over the years. After he was cut open so bad he could not see while he choked Bradshaw with the television cable. Jericho says that he likes that Chris Jericho and that Chris Jericho wants to spend more time with Bradshaw. They will meet at No Way Out then they will both be in Orlando on March 30th, but while Bradshaw is at Disney World, he will be at Wrestlemania. We go to commercial.

We are back and Mike Adamle is in the crowd and he talks about the two matches announced for No Way Out. John Cena will face Randy Orton for the WWE Title at the pay per view. We find out that the winner of the Elimination Chamber Match will challenge for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania.

Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho versus Randy Orton and John Bradshaw Layfield with JBLimo

Orton and Jericho start off the match and they lock up. Jericho with a side head lock on the Master of the Side Head Lock. Jericho with chops to Orton followed by a running back elbow. Jericho with a suplex to Orton and then Jericho wants a piece of Bradshaw. Jericho with a kick to the midsection followed by kicks in the corner. Orton with a punch and then he sends Jericho into the turnbuckle. Jericho with a kick and then he hits a facebuster. Bradshaw tries to interfere but Jericho hits Bradshaw and they fight outside. Hardy hits a Swanton on Orton but Bradshaw pulls Orton out of the ring to break up the cover as we go to commercial.

We are back and Orton is in control as he stomps on Hardy. Hardy with a clothesline for a near fall on Orton. Orton with a forearm and then he tags in Bradshaw. Orton chokes Hardy while Bradshaw kicks Hardy. Bradshaw with a forearm to Hardy followed by a shoulder tackle but he misses an elbow. Hardy with an enzuigiri and then he hits a leg drop. Bradshaw distracts the referee while Orton tries to take advantage of the situation but Hardy gets a knee in the back and then he swings at Orton. Bradshaw with a boot to Hardy. Orton with knees to the arm and a near fall. Orton with an arm bar on Hardy. Hardy with punches but Orton with a drop toe hold and Bradshaw is tagged back in and he kicks Hardy. Bradshaw punches Hardy and the referee pulls Bradshaw out of the corner, allowing Orton to attack Hardy. Orton works on Hardy’s back. Hardy with a flying clothesline and both men are down. Bradshaw and Jericho tag in and Jericho with a running forearm and punches. Jericho with a spear and punches. Jericho takes Bradshaw down again. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho. Jericho with a springboard drop kick to Orton. Jericho with a Lionsault to Bradshaw but Orton breaks it up. Hardy tries for Whisper in the Wind but Orton sends Hardy into the ringside barrier. While Jericho applies the Walls of Jericho on Bradshaw, Orton hits the RKO and Bradshaw makes the cover for the three count.

Winners: Randy Orton and John Bradshaw Layfield

After the match
John Cena comes out and he is ready for Orton and Bradshaw but Bradshaw leaves the ring before Cena enters. Cena with a flying shoulder tackle and then he hits an FU on Orton. Cena poses over Orton and then we go to credits with Orton down in the ring.

RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread - 28th Jan, 2008