RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread

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At WrestleMania XXIV, Randy Orton shocked the world by pinning John Cena and retaining his coveted WWE Championship at the Citrus Bowl. Now that Orton has proven his dominance against not one, but two of Raw’s most powerful and skilled Superstars, who could possibly step forth to oppose him? And how will Triple H and Cena react after having been foiled in their attempts to recapture the WWE Championship? We'll find out as Raw rolls across town to Orlando's Amway Arena.

Unfortunately, Orton’s win wasn’t the only disappointment for WWE fans last night. After a legendary 36-year career, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair was defeated by Shawn Michaels, and given a standing ovation by the 74,365 at the Citrus Bowl. How will The Showstopper deal with the emotions involved in ending the career of his friend and 16-time World Champion? And while Flair is forbidden to compete in the ring again, will this be the last we see of the Dirtiest Player in the Game?

Fans got to witness two experienced brawlers do what they do best on Sunday when JBL narrowly defeated Finlay in a Belfast Brawl. Though Finlay almost defeated the self-proclaimed "Wrestling God," even an assist from his recently recovered son wasn’t enough to put a stop to the rampaging self-made millionaire. With this win behind him, will JBL continue to run roughshod over the Raw roster? Or will the newly reunited team of Finlay and Hornswoggle rebound to take him down?

And with Beth Phoenix & Melina topping Maria & Ashley in their BunnyMania Lumberjack Match at WrestleMania, who will rise up from the Divas division to challenge the powerful Glamazon and make a move on her cherished title?

To find out the answers to these questions and more, tune into Monday Night Raw 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 - 31st Mar, 2008
Location - Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Announcers - Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

Last night was a night of celebration for many at Wrestlemania. For some, the celebration was for the attaining of titles while for some it was a celebration of the end of a career that will likely never be matched. The Raw brand was the only one that did not see their champion change last night. How will the first night without Ric Flair as an active wrestler be received by the wrestlers, fans, and management? What is next for Santino Marella since he was beaten up by half of the people on the show? Was it a sign from a higher being that the lights went off during the BunnyMania match? What will people point at until the Royal Rumble?

We start off with a look back at last night’s Wrestlemania where Shawn Michaels ended the career of Ric Flair with Sweet Chin Music. We see the reaction from Ric Flair, his son, and the crowd in the Citrus Bowl.

We are live from Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Jim 'Return to the site of the Hall of Fame' Ross and Jerry 'Tonight Ric Flair is the King' Lawler.

We are told that we will get a Farewell Address from Ric Flair.

John Cena’s music plays but he does not come out. Then they play Triple H’s music, but Hunter does not come out either. Instead we hear Randy Orton’s music and HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY, he comes out to the ring.

Orton kisses the belt before he gets to the ring. Orton asks the fans if they were expecting someone else. He says all week it was not whether he was going to win at Wrestlemania but who was going to beat him. No one thought that he was going to win. The people never wanted to give him any credit, but now they have no choice but to show him respect. If respect is a lot of booing, then Orton has earned it from the fans. Orton says that the fans did not like the laundry list before, but he is going to give it again. He mentions the people he has beaten. Hunter and Cena are going to ask for a rematch, but they don’t deserve it. Orton says that it is time to forget Hulkamania or the Attitude Era because we are in the Age of Orton.

Orton is interrupted by the sound of the dinner bell for John Bradshaw Layfield. Bradshaw says that Cena and Triple H do not deserve a title match, but he says that he deserves a title match. Bradshaw says that Orton has the audacity to come out and say that his match was great. Orton was lucky last night, and he has won most of the time by luck. Bradshaw says that his title reign was predicated on dominance. At Wrestlemania, he took the toughest guy in the WWE and beat him and his son in a Belfast Brawl. Bradshaw says that Orton will not beat him. Bradshaw declares his candidacy for the number one contender spot. Bradshaw says that if Orton thinks the fans dislike him as champion, they will hate it when Bradshaw wins.

Bradshaw leaves and Orton wants Bradshaw to come back. He begs Bradshaw to come back.

From out of nowhere, Matt Hardy enters the ring and he goes after Orton. Orton is able to get out of the way and we go to commercial.

We are back and Matt Hardy is walking in the back. William Regal wants to know what Hardy is doing. Hardy says that he wants Orton tonight for taking away three months of his life from the ring. Regal tells Hardy he will think about it.

Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch versus Cryme Tyme

Cade and Shad start things off and Cade with a kick and forearms. Cade misses a clothesline but Shad does not. Murdoch goes to the floor. Shad with a slam to Cade and JTG is tagged in and they hit a wheelbarrow slam followed by an Oklahoma roll. Cade slams JTG and hits a short arm clothesline. Murdoch tags in and he punches JTG. JTG punches back but Murdoch connects with a running back elbow. Cade is tagged back in and they send JTG into the corner. Cade with a punch to the top of JTG’s head and then Murdoch is tagged in again and Cade gets Murdoch up for a leg drop on JTG but JTG kicks out. Murdoch with forearms and kicks to JTG. Murdoch misses a charge and JTG with a rollup for the three count.

Winners: Cryme Tyme

We see footage of Ric Flair defeating Harley Race at Starrcade in 1983 to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title.

Backstage
Shawn Michaels is walking in the back as we go to commercial.

We are back and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talk about the WWE website and all of the coverage of Wrestlemania

Shawn Michaels comes to the ring and he appears to have a heavy heart. Shawn says that he is feeling a lot of emotions and none of them are good. He was asked to do a job. He was asked to be the Showstopper. He was asked to be Mr. Wrestlemania. He says that he does not know how to feel about that. He had a job to do last night. Ric Flair asked for his “A” Game and he has too much love and respect for Flair to give him any less. He had a chance to pull the trigger and he did. Now the career of the greatest wrestler who ever lived is over; and he is the man responsible for it. That is a burden that he will get to carry for the rest of his life. Shawn sarcastically says ‘Lucky Me.’ Shawn leaves the ring and heads to the back. We go to commercial

We are back and Shawn Michaels is pacing in the back. He turns around and William Regal is there. Regal tells Shawn that he did what he had to do and then Regal says that it should have happened a long time ago.

We pan over Shawn’s other shoulder and his guardian Animal Batista is standing there. Shawn walks away

Paul London and Brian Kendrick (Friends Again if you forget that time that Kendrick walked out on London) versus Cody MAH THUUUUUUN Rhodes and Bob Holly in a Non-Title Match

Rhodes and Kendrick start things off and Rhodes backs Kendrick into the corner and gives a clean break. Rhodes with a hammer lock but Kendrick escapes. Rhodes with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kendrick with a slam to Rhodes but Rhodes gets the arm before Kendrick kicks him away. Holly and London tag in. Holly backs London into the corner and Holly misses a chop as London moves out of the way. Holly backs London into the ropes and London with forearms. Holly finally connects with a chop and then he adds a few more. The last chop sends London over the top rope to the floor. Holly rolls London back into the ring and he connects with a clothesline for a near fall. Rhodes tags back in and they hit a double suplex and Rhodes gets a near fall. Rhodes goes up top and he hits a cross body but London rolls through but Rhodes kicks out of the hold. Kendrick tags in and he connects with a drop kick and then he knocks Holly down on the apron, but Rhodes with a bulldog. Holly goes outside when London drops down. Kendrick with a rollup and bridge for the three count.

Winners: Paul London and Brian Kendrick

We go to another Flair Moment: WrestleWar 89: Ric Flair versus Ricky Steamboat.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Rev Theory is still stuck in Orlando since they are shown on television. At least they are behind the announce table. Jim Ross talks about Wrestlemania and it is time to look at some highlights from the pay per view.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we see footage from the end of the Money in the Bank Match from last night.

Chris Jericho versus CM Punk with Scott Steiner’s briefcase

Punk and Jericho exchange kicks and Jericho raises the ante and punches Punk followed by a snap mare and kick to the back. Jericho with a front face lock but Punk with a reversal into a hammer lock. Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with a rollup but Punk pulls Jericho through. Jericho with a backslide for a near fall. Punk with a back kick and forearm to the back. Punk with a snap mare and kick to the back for a near fall. Punk with a forearm to Jericho. Jericho with a kick to Punk followed by a near fall. Jericho with a back breaker to Punk followed by a kick to the head. Jericho and Punk exchange forearms but Jericho with a knee to Punk followed by a near fall. Jericho with kicks to Punk and then he puts Punk on the top rope but Jericho misses the springboard drop kick when Punk moves out of the way. Punk uses the opportunity to connect with a forearm but Jericho back body drops Punk to the floor. Jericho misses a baseball slide and Punk connect with a roundhouse kick and then he rolls Jericho back into the ring. Punk hits a springboard clothesline. Jericho with a kick to a charging Punk followed by punches. Punk misses a drop kick when Jericho holds the ropes. Jericho misses a Lionsault but he lands on his feet but he favors his knee. Punk with a kick and then a knee to the corner but Jericho gets out of the bulldog. Jericho misses his bulldog attempt. Punk tries for the Go To Sleep but Jericho counters and tries to set up the Walls of Jericho. Jericho hits the Codebreaker for the three count

Winner: Chris Jericho

We go to the night that Ric Flair became a sixty minute man in the WWE when he won the Royal Rumble in 1992.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Big Show comes to the ring and he has a smile on his face. Show congratulates his Wrestlemania opponent Floyd Mayweather, his manager, his six bodyguards, his steel chair, and his brass knuckles. Show calls Floyd the greatest fighter on the planet. Show says that he is here to talk about the Hall of Fame. Show says that Ric Flair stood at the podium and talked about breaking into the business with Andre the Giant and then Flair looked at Show and said that he was the greatest big man he was in the ring with. Show says that he was honored about that and he is going to go back to doing what he does best. Nobody can stand up to him one-on-one.

Before Show can tell us what he is going to do, he is interrupted by Great Khali’s music and Khali goes to the ring. Khali stands face to face with Show. The fans question Khali’s wrestling ability. Show tells Khali that he needs to get out of his face. Khali says something but Show tells him to move. Show drops his mic and he is ready to fight Khali. Khali moves towards Show and Show gets in his face. The fans chant that Show is going to kill Khali (or maybe they think he is Joe) and Khali leaves the ring.

We see an earlier tonight moment of Matt Hardy attacking Randy Orton while Orton was calling out Bradshaw.

We go to commercial.

Backstage
We are back and Santino is doing dips. He sees Maria and increases his count. Santino asks Maria if she came back from the vet for a rabies shot after being with Snoopy the Dog. Maria wants Santino to cancel the Anything Goes match. Maria says that Regal told her that only Santino can stop the match. Santino says that he was stuck with the lowest form of the WWE, the Divas; instead of being in the Money in the Bank Match. Santino asks if Maria can help him with the release of energy but Maria slaps Santino.

Randy Orton versus Matt Hardy

Hardy with punches to Orton but Orton with a knee. Hardy with a back body drop and then he kicks Orton in the midsection as Orton rolls out of the ring. Hardy goes after Orton and Orton is sent into the ringside barrier and then Hardy runs Orton into the ringside barrier. Hardy with forearms to Orton and Orton goes down. Hardy drops Orton across the top rope and then he hits an elbow drop on Orton for a two count. Orton retreats into the corner and Hardy kicks Orton. Hardy slams Orton’s head into the turnbuckle. Hardy with a clothesline for a two count. Orton leaves the ring and he relaxes by the ring steps. Hardy goes out after Orton and he slams Orton into the ring steps.

We return to the ring and Hardy gets a cover. Hardy with a running swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Hardy with shoulders in the corner. Orton charges into a boot but Orton pulls Hardy off the turnbuckles and both men are down as we go to commercial.

We are back and Orton has Hardy in a side head lock (I am as shocked as the rest of you). We see footage of Orton connecting with a back breaker during the commercial. We are back to live action and Hardy punches Orton before Orton pulls Hardy to the mat. Orton with the Garvin Stomp to Hardy followed by a knee drop. Orton punches Hardy and Hardy punches back. Orton puts Hardy on the top turnbuckle and Orton sets for a super belly-to-back suplex but Orton is knocked back to the mat. Hardy with a moonsault for a two count. Hardy with an Irish whip into a running clothesline and Hardy with a bulldog but only gets a two count. Hardy with a Side Effect for a two count. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Orton with a European uppercut. Hardy with a back slide for a two count. Hardy with a neck breaker and then he goes to the turnbuckles for the screaming leg drop but Orton rolls outside the ring. Hardy with a Thesz Press and then he punches Orton. Hardy with a Twist of Fate on the floor and Hardy rolls Orton into the ring. Hardy gets in the ring and Orton hits an RKO from out of nowhere for the three count.

Winner: Randy Orton

We go to comments from Dusty Rhodes about Ric Flair (Translated from the original Dust-Ese). Dusty says that he has wined and dined with Kings and Queens. He has also wrestled Ric Flair. He remembers standing across the ring from Ric Flair and sixty minutes later, still chilled up inside. It was always a happening when they stood in the ring. It was a monumental event. They throw around terms like legend and icon lightly. From now on, Ric Flair is a National Treasure.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Randy Orton is in his locker room and Bradshaw stands over him. Bradshaw holds the It Used to Spin Belt and gives it back to Orton. Bradshaw leaves without saying a word or any pyro.

Maria versus Santino Marella in an It could never happen on SpikeTV Match

Santino throws Maria down to the mat and the rest of the Divas come to the ring and they go after Santino and it is Lillith Fair in the center of the ring. Santino is picked up in the air and then Maria with a diving head butt to the Tower of Pisa and she gets the three count

Winner: Maria

After the match
Maria kicks Santino in his rear end before leaving the ring.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a video look at Ric Flair’s match from last night.

It is time to woooo as Ric Flair comes to the ring. The fans give Flair a standing ovation. Flair gets on the mic and he woooos before starting his address. He says that last night he wrestled his very last match at Wrestlemania. He says that he will never wrestle in this ring again, despite the boos of the fans. Flair says that he is not sad that he will not be wrestling again. Flair says that he has had the greatest wrestling career in the history of pro wrestling. Last night, even though he lost, he lost to a great great great great wrestler and a better man. Flair says to rejoice that he has wrestled before more fans, raised more hell, and loved everyone every day of his life. Flair says that he has been teared up all day long with the thought that he will not be coming back. Flair thanks everyone for the memories, the support, and for making Flair who he is today. Flair lets out his final woooos.

Triple H’s music plays and he comes to the ring. Hunter tells Ric that the fans of Orlando are not the only people who want to say thank you to Flair; and the people watching on television are not the only ones who want to say thank you. Hunter tells Flair that he has another thing coming. Hunter hugs Flair. Hunter says that he needed to come out to say something from the bottom of his heart. Hunter tells Flair that he loves him, and then Hunter thanks Flair. Hunter gets on his knees and bows down to Flair. Flair and Hunter hug again. Hunter says that there are a few other people who wanted to say thank you too. He says that there is a group of guys that he was talking to, and Hunter points out that his hand has been cramping up.

The Four Horsemen music plays and Tully Blanchard, J.J. Dillon, Arn Anderson, and Barry Windham come out.

Batista’s music plays and he comes to the ring.

Ricky Steamboat is the next to come to the ring.

Harley Race comes out to the ring.

The next man to come out is Greg Valentine.

Dean Malenko is the next to come to congratulate Flair on his career.

Chris Jericho comes out next to join Flair in the ring.

John Cena comes out to join the party in the ring.

Ric Flair’s family also come to the ring.

The man who made this all possible, Shawn Michaels, comes to the ring. Shawn and Ric hug in the ring.

Hunter comments on Ric and Shawn’s watches. Then he says that there are so many more people who could come out, so Hunter asks anyone else to come out to thank Flair. All of the WWE roster in the back come out and they give Flair a round of applause. They start a chant of ‘Thank You Ric’ and the crowd joins in.

We go to credits.

RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread - 31st Mar, 2008