RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread - 12th May, 2008

[Kellie]

Judgment Day will be only six days away when Raw returns from north of the border this Monday night, and the Raw Superstars will have one last chance to gain momentum inside Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit may be Hockeytown, U.S.A., but this Monday, it could become Blackoutville. For two consecutive weeks, General Manager William Regal has pulled the plug; first, he took Raw off the air two weeks ago in the middle of a Triple H vs. Randy Orton WWE Title Match, and last week, he turned the lights out as Orton battled CM Punk in Toronto.

Regal has shown that he has no qualms about taking Raw off the air if he is disrespected, and WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon (statement). Will our fans in Detroit make it through the full two hours uninterrupted? If they don’t, will those in attendance at “The Joe” shower Regal with the signature squid usually reserved for celebrating a Red Wings hat trick?

Orton and Regal’s number one enemies, WWE Champion Triple H and Mr. Kennedy respectively, did make it through their match last week. Unfortunately, they lost, as Kennedy & The Game had to do battle against the entire ECW roster. To make matters worse for Triple H, he survived a wild post-match melee only to be flattened by an RKO from his Judgment Day opponent. On the way to their Steel Cage showdown, who will get the last laugh? And will Regal throw anything more at Kennedy in response to his besmirching several weeks ago?


Also last week, two new matches were made for Judgment Day: JBL vs. John Cena and Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels, which was announced in a WWE Mobile on AT&T exclusive video. The battle between Y2J and HBK has been heating up ever since Michaels’ win over Batista at Backlash. Jericho has accused the Showstopper of faking an injury to win that match; whether he is or he isn’t, HBK’s injury didn’t stop him from teaming with Y2J to defeat WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison last Monday night. With less than a week left before their pay-per-view battle, how will Jericho and Michaels finish their preparations?


As for Cena and JBL, they have taken different roads since Backlash – where the media maven says “The Champ” humiliated him during the Fatal Four Way Match. While Cena has kept a low profile, JBL has taken out his aggression on the likes of Highlander Robbie and DH Smith. Will the Chain Gang Soldier make it back to Raw to rebut JBL’s words and actions, or will the Longhorn Loudmouth have to find another unsuspecting victim?

Find out all this in more as the final Raw before Judgment Day comes to you live from Detroit, Monday at 9/8 CT on USA Network.






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



RAW Results - 12th May, 2008
Location -
Announcers - Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

We are less than a week away from Judgment Day and it is time for the final build for the Raw brand before the pay per view. What will happen when John Cena confronts Bradshaw before their match? What will William Regal do to Triple Haitch and Randy Orton before their steel cage match? Will Beth Phoenix get another shot at Mickie James? Which leg will Shawn Michaels limp on this week? Will Ken Kennedy get back at William Regal for what has happened over the last few weeks? Will Santino Marella and Carlito win the World Tag Titles from Bob Holly and Cody Rhodes? Will Roddy Piper get involved in the match?
We take a look at Triple H taking care of the ECW roster until the lights went out and Sab . . . Randy Orton appeared and RKOed Triple H.

We are live from Detroit, Michigan and your announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

The lights are out as the show begins and then the lights go on and William Regal is in the ring with Lillian Garcia and Lillian looks a bit nervous. Lillian sings God Save the Queen for the people in Detroit.

Regal soaks in the love from the Detroit crowd and he cannot believe that the fans are disrespecting his country and him. Regal reminds them that he is the general manager and king. He can do whatever he wants and he can throw people out of the arena.

Regal leaves the ring and he says that he is not bluffing. Regal says that he will make an example and he chooses two people in the crowd.

Mickie James comes out and she asks Regal to reconsider because it is her brother and his girlfriend. Regal re-enters the ring and Mickie joins him in the ring. Regal asks her if she wants him to throw her out of the building too. Regal tells Mickie to leave the ring before he throws her out of the building. Regal asks Mickie if he wants to strip her . . . of her womens title.

John Cenas music plays and he comes to the ring. Cena says that he has been back for a few weeks and now he is ready to raise some hell. He wants to talk to Regal, man-to-man. Cena says that he understands that Regal is in a tough spot. He knows what it is like to give your soul only to have everyone tell you that you suck. Cena tells Regal that he is going about this wrong. Regal says that Mr. McMahon endorsed him and Cena calls McMahon insane. Cena has some e-mails from fans to wwe.com and he reads them. They appear to be critical of the job that Regal is doing, including one that compared it to Thunder.

Regal wants to know if this is how they truly feel. Cena points out that the fans are chanting Fire Regal, Regal says that he will not turn out the lights during any matches. Regal points out that Cena has not been here for a few weeks because he was kicked in the head; and he probably wants revenge so it will be John Cena versus Randy Orton tonight. Cena suggests that Bradshaw will get involved. Regal says that if anyone interferes who is not a part of the match, then they will be suspended. Regal suggests that he has earned Cenas respect.

Cena says that he just made a good match, and did not earn his respect. Cena points out that Regal made Lillian sing God Save the Queen. Cena tells Regal that if he continues to make bad decisions, God will tear him apart. Cena talks about how this is Detroit and it is about respect. Cena asks Lillian to sing some R-E-S-P-E-C-T and she obliges.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Roddy Piper comes to the ring and he takes a seat at ringside.

Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly versus Carlito and Santino Marella for the World Tag Team Titles

Holly and Santino start things off and Holly with a running double sledge followed by a drop kick. Holly sets for the kick to the solar plexus and he connects. Holly sets for the Alabama Slam but Carlito comes in and hits a swinging neck breaker and Santino gets a two count due to Codys distraction of the ref. Carlito with kicks and then he slams Hollys head into the turnbuckles. Santino tags in and he arm drags Holly and drops a knee on Hollys arm. Santino with an Irish whip but Holly with a clothesline. Carlito tags in and he punches Holly. Holly with a belly-to-back suplex and Rhodes tags in. Rhodes punches Carlito and then hits a cross body for a two count. Rhodes with a power slam to Marella for a two count. Cody with a flying clothesline for a two count. Santino with a jawbreaker on Rhodes and then he goes to the second turnbuckle but Piper comes to the apron and Santino has words for him. Cody waits and hits a DDT for the three count.

Winner: Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly

After the match
Piper celebrates in the ring with Rhodes and Holly.

Jim Ross asks Jerry Lawler if he thinks that Shawn Michaels is really injured. Lawler says that he thought it was injured during the match, but he is not sure right now. If you have the time, you can vote on their text message poll. We go to commercial.


We are back and Ken Kennedy has his mic come from the ceiling. He tells everyone he has a big mouth, but nobody is going to shut it for him. He reminds us who he is.


Ken Kennedy versus Gene Snitsky


Kennedy with a kick to Snitsky’s leg. They lock up and Snitsky backs Kennedy into the corner and he kicks Kennedy. Kennedy tries for a shoulder from the second turnbuckle, but Snitsky catches him and sends Kennedy into the turnbuckles followed by kicks in the corner. Snitsky with a slam and elbow drop for a near fall. Snitsky with a bear hug. Kennedy gets out of the hold but Snitsky puts him back in the bear hug. Kennedy punches Snitsky to get out of the hold and then Snitsky with a shoulder tackle. Kennedy with punches to Snitsky and then he goes for the knee. Kennedy sends Snitsky into the turnbuckles and then he hits the running boot to the face. Kennedy clips Snitsky and gets a two count. Kennedy tries to Irish whip Snitsky but Snitsky will not budge and then he hits a short arm clothesline. Snitsky tries for a pump handle slam and then Kennedy hits the Mic Check for the three count.

Winner: Ken Kennedy


We go to commercial.



Backstage
We are back and Todd Grisham is with Santino Marella. Santino says that he did not come this close to gold to have it ruined by Roddy Piper. It is not the 1980s. Hulk Hogan is not the champion. Ronald Reagan is not President. Michael J. Fox is not going back in time to become a werewolf. He tells Piper that he is going to suffer for what he did.

John Cena is getting some coffee and Mickie James comes by to thank John Cena. Mickie invites John to join him, his brother, and her girlfriend; but Cena turns it down and he goes into robot speaking mode saying that he has to take things serious for his match tonight and for his match at the pay per view. Mickie asks John if he is joking and he says that he would enjoy going out with them.

Beth Phoenix and Melina walk into commercial.


We are back with the Slam of the Week: Mickie James defeating Beth Phoenix last week.


Mickie James and Maria versus Beth Phoenix and Melina

Maria and Melina start things off and Maria with a gingerly placed gutbuster. Mickie tags in and they hit a double split let trip followed by a drop kick by Mickie. Beth breaks up the cover and then Mickie Irish whips Melina into Beth. Melina with a kick to Mickie followed by a cover for a near fall. Melina wants to tag in Beth, but Beth walks away. Mickie hits a neck breaker for the three count as Beth walks away.


Winners: Mickie James and Maria


We go to commercial.


We are back and it is time to see what the fans thought in their latest text poll about whether they thought Shawn Michaels is really injured and by a three-to-one margin they agree with Shawn.


Chris Jericho comes to the ring and he has a mic. Jericho talks about Shawn Michaels injury and he asks if it is real or not. We go to ‘monkey-free’ footage of Shawn Michaels’s injury. We see Shawn’s knee go back and to the left as the Zapruder film airs. We see Shawn win the match and then get helped to the back. Jericho says that he does not buy that Shawn is really injured. He saw the look in Shawn’s eyes and he did not buy it when he was the guest referee in the match. Jericho says that Michaels deserves to be applauded for his masterful portrayal of a man who is injured. Jericho says that his opinion has changed. We see footage from last week when Shawn super kicked John Morrison only to limp away from the match. Jericho says that he saw the pain in Shawn’s face and he came to a different opinion. He feels that Shawn Michaels is really hurt. For questioning Shawn’s injury and integrity, he wants to apologize to Shawn. He says that he is sorry. Jericho says that if Shawn wants to call off the match, he will agree to it. Jericho says that he will tell Regal to call off the match


Shawn limps to the ring as his music plays. Shawn winces to Jericho and he tells Chris that he came out here . . . to be interrupted by Jericho who says that he wants to apologize. Jericho says that it is the least he can do for what he has said over the last few weeks. Shawn says that Jericho is not the person who needs to apologize. Shawn says that he feigned an injury for the first time and he says that he was not hurt.


Jericho has a look of shock on his face and then he starts to chuckle. Jericho tells Shawn that it is well played. Jericho says that Shawn is trying to play some mind games before Judgment Day. Jericho says that it is not his first day on the job. He has been doing that for seventeen years. This type of mental trickery might have worked on Batista, but it will not work on him. Shawn says that he told everyone that he would do what it takes to win; and that is what he did. Shawn says that he is not really hurt.

Jericho tells Shawn that he is starting to insult his intelligence. Jericho tells Shawn that his problem is that he thinks he is smarter than everyone else. Jericho says that he knows that Shawn is still hurt and . . .

then Shawn hits Sweet Chin Music on Jericho and Jericho goes down. Shawn tells Jericho to trust him when he says that he is not hurt. Shawn walks to the back.

We see Jericho on the mat as he starts to get up.

We go to commercial


We are back and apparently so is Jeff Hardy as he comes to the ring. He says that it is good to be back. Jeff said that he never wanted to be away, but he made a mistake and he paid for it. Jeff says that now he is back, he has a lot to do. Jeff’s mic is turned off for some reason.

William Regal comes out and he has a mic as well, but since he is in charge, his works. He says that nobody wants to hear his mea culpa. Now Jeff must pay for his sins.


Jeff Hardy versus YouManga


Hardy with a baseball slide as Umaga comes to the ring and Hardy with a pescado. Umaga with a punch to Hardy and then he sends Hardy into the ringside barrier. They enter the ring and the match officially begins. Umaga with a hard Irish whip. Umaga with another Irish whip and a thrust to the throat. Umaga goes to the second turnbuckle and hits a diving head butt. Umaga with a punch to Hardy and Hardy is now in the corner as Umaga rains down punches. Umaga sets for the running butt splash into the corner but Hardy moves out of the way. Hardy hits Whisper in the Wind for the three count


Winner: Jeff Hardy


We go to commercial.


Cryme Tyme versus Trevor ‘The Singing Cowboy’ Murdoch and Lance Cade



JTG and Cade start things off and JTG with a side head lock but then JTG goes into the crowd. JTG returns to the ring and Cade with a kick and forearms. Cade with a back elbow and then Murdoch tags in and punches JTG in the midsection followed by an Irish whip. JTG with forearms and then Shad is tagged in. Shad sends JTG into Murdoch followed by a shoulder tackle and slam. Shad with an elbow drop and then he knocks Cade down when he tries to interfere. JTG with a sunset flip for a two count. Murdoch with a big boot to JTG and Cade is tagged in. Cade and Murdoch send JTG into the corner and then Cade kicks JTG. Murdoch is tagged in and JTG with an elbow and forearms. JTG with a sunset flip but Murdoch drops down and gets the three count.

Winners: Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch



After the match
Cade gets the mic and he tells Murdoch that is what he was talking about. Now they are on a roll and maybe Trevor’s singing has something to do with it. Lance asks everyone if they want to hear Trevor sing. Cade says that it does not matter what the fans want because he wants to hear Trevor sing. Trevor sings The Gambler. When Trevor finishes the chorus, Cade punches Murdoch twice and Murdoch is down.


Time for the Smackdown Rebound.

We go to commercial.


We are back and Jim Ross talks about WWE Magazine.


Backstage
Melina is in the back talking to Jillian and Beth stops by. Melina wants to know why Beth left her alone tonight. Beth says that Melina cost her the title last week and she knows that it is easier to beat Mickie than Beth. Beth attacks Melina and pummels her until the referees and Mike Rotunda come out to pull Beth off Melina.

Time to run through the card for Judgment Day


Todd Grisham is with Randy Orton in the Phantom Zone. Todd asks Randy about his match with John Cena. Randy says that Hunter calls himself the Cerebral Assassin, but who was the champion at Wrestlemania? Who was standing over Triple H last week? Hunter got lucky at Backlash. Randy vows to win his title back on Sunday. John Cena will learn what Triple H has learned. He is the smartest person in the WWE.

We go to commercial


Randy Orton with new entrance music versus John Cena



They lock up and Orton backs Cena into the corner and he applies the trademark side head lock. Cena punches Orton followed by an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall. Cena slams Orton’s head into the turnbuckles followed by an Irish whip and fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Orton with a back elbow and then Orton goes down to the mat for a second. Orton and Cena with punches. Orton with the backbreaker and he gets a two count. Orton with a kick and punch to the head. We get a really tight shot of Orton’s face as he stands over Cena to wait for the Garvin Stomp but Cena is not Andre the Giant and he holds off Orton’s boot. Cena sends Orton over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.


We are back and Orton in a reverse chin lock. We see footage during the commercial when Orton kicked Cena in the head and hit the DDT with Cena in the ropes. Back to live action and Cena with a power slam for a two count. Orton goes to the Age of Reverse Chin Lock. Cena tries for a cross body but Orton ducks down. Orton gets ready for his Orton push ups and he tries for the RKO but Cena pushes him off. Cena with a kick and then he hits the Blockbuster. Cena goes up top and hits a leg drop on Orton and Orton rolls outside the ring.


Bradshaw comes out and he is joined by William Regal. Bradshaw says that Regal says that the referee is not doing a good enough job and now Bradshaw is the referee

Cena punches Bradshaw and Bradshaw is knocked out of the ring. Cena punches Orton and gets Orton up for the FU. Bradshaw with a big boot to Cena and Orton gets the fast count

Winner: Randy Orton


After the match
Orton and Bradshaw attack Cena and Triple H’s music plays as he comes to the ring. Hunter punches Bradshaw and then he goes after Orton. Cena throws Bradshaw out of the ring and then Cena and Bradshaw fight into the crowd


Orton with a boot to Hunter followed by punches. While Orton chokes Hunter, the steel cage that was hanging over the ring all night is lowered. Hunter with a kick and spinebuster. Hunter sends Orton into the cage and Orton goes to the floor. Hunter climbs to the top of the cage and Hunter’s music plays. We go to credits.

[Ill Will]

Umaga vs. a returning Jeff Hardy?

I want to see this match as much as the next guy, and it's good to have Jeff back, but this booking decision is kind of stupid. This is something that definitely should have been hyped up and advertised. This is a match people would pay for. This is a match that some people who aren't watching RAW right now would probably want to see. I think WWE really messed up this opportunity.

[JohnCenaFan28]

RAW was garbage tonight. I'm thinking of watching RAW just for divas now, because I realized that once Cena gets involved the booking team goes out of their way to accommodate him... I despise Cena... I'm starting to lose hope in WWE(well RAW at least)

PS: WHY DID THEY CHANGE ORTON'S MUSIC!?

[Ill Will]

PS: WHY DID THEY CHANGE ORTON'S MUSIC!?

idk, maybe because it was EXTREMELY GAY!!!

I've hated Orton for as long as he's been around, but his horrible music was just a supplement to his horrible mic skills, lack of in-ring ability, and his overall boring and bland demeanor. I didn't hear his new music tonight (because I didn't watch the main event--because they, thankfully, announced ahead of time that it would be Cena/Orton), but I'm sure whatever the new tune is, it has to be better than the old one. Can't really get much worse.




/Orton rant

[LionDen]

I am surprised they let Hardy beat Umaga, maybe they plan to push him again.

[Bad Boy]

Hardy getting a push again, how many say he will prob do something to screw it up again... lol...

Raw wasnt that great this week, week main event too, as both Cena and Orton are not that great wrestlers...

[JohnCenaFan28]

idk, maybe because it was EXTREMELY GAY!!!

I've hated Orton for as long as he's been around, but his horrible music was just a supplement to his horrible mic skills, lack of in-ring ability, and his overall boring and bland demeanor. I didn't hear his new music tonight (because I didn't watch the main event--because they, thankfully, announced ahead of time that it would be Cena/Orton), but I'm sure whatever the new tune is, it has to be better than the old one. Can't really get much worse.




/Orton rant

I complained because his new theme is worse than his last one. It doesn't even sound like it suits Orton, let alone a wrestler imo.

[Ill Will]

I complained because his new theme is worse than his last one. It doesn't even sound like it suits Orton, let alone a wrestler imo.

Well, I still haven't heard the new tune (nor am I anxious to), but if it doesn't sound like it suits a wrestler, it should be perfect for Orton.

:footloose: