RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread - 25th Feb, 2008

[Kellie]

John Cena now has an opportunity to headline WrestleMania in the WWE Title Match, but now he must worry about two men – Triple H and WWE Champion Randy Orton. And Triple H made a statement when he delivered a thunderous Pedigree to both men after he officiated their match last week. What lengths will these Superstars go to mark their territory and gain momentum going into WrestleMania XXIV?

With a bandaged nose and a black eye, Big Show made his first appearance on Raw in more than a year. The 7-footer was there to apologize for his behavior the night before at No Way Out, when he and Floyd Mayweather traded blows. After “apologizing” to the WBC welterweight champion, Big Show then taunted Mayweather into accepting his challenge for a match. The type of match was unspecified, but what type of bout might we expect from these two warriors?

In other Raw action, Mr. McMahon looked on callously as his son, Hornswoggle, suffered a ruthless beating by JBL and lie unconscious in the middle of the ring. As the night began, the little guy had expected to battle his father in a Steel Cage Match. There shown, however, a sliver of light when Hornswoggle’s protector, Finlay, tried to rescue him. But JBL turned out the lights when he attacked the Irishman and handcuffed him to the ring ropes. He then began to pummel Hornswoggle so severely that even Mr. McMahon was taken aback.

What is Hornswoggle’s condition? And what are JBL and the Chairman’s reactions and explanations for the brutal attack? And what are Finlay’s thoughts?

Finally, last Monday, Maria defeated Women's Champion Beth Phoenix in a non-title match to earn a photo shoot in Playboy Magazine. Following the victory, the elated Diva immediately flew to Los Angeles for the sexy spread, which our fans can get an exclusive look at, this coming week on Raw. What will this steamy glimpse bring to Monday night? Don't miss out.

Find out the answers to these questions and more by tuning in to Raw when it emanates live from Phoenix at 9/8 CT on USA Network.





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



RAW Results - 25th Feb, 2008
Location -
Announcers - Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

We are now less than five weeks from the 'Super Bowl of Professional Sports Entertainment' and the card is starting to take shape. Today we had the Wrestlemania press conference and we found out that the Mayweather/Big Show match will be a reality. We also found out that we will be getting a match with a Playboy theme. Speaking of Playboy we will see footage from today's photo shoot involving Maria. How will Santino Marella react to Maria's state of near nakedity? What is in store for the future Hall of Famer as he approaches the twilight of his career? What is next in the Let's Beat the Crap out of Hornswoggle storyline? Will Finlay get revenge on Bradshaw or Vince for what they did last week in the steel cage? Who will be the next to qualify for the Money in the Bank Match? Which one of the participants in the main event will get the upper hand tonight?
We start off with a look back at last week’s main event between randy Orton and John Cena with guest referee Triple H to see if John Cena can get into the main event at Wrestlemania. John Cena was able to win but that did not mean that he got to walk out of Raw since Triple H hit Pedigrees on Cena and Orton.

We are live from Phoenix, Arizona and your announcers are Jim 'Happy Wooooo Day' Ross and Jerry 'If Santino is going to leave Maria I will provide her a shoulder . . . or more to cry on' Lawler.

William Regal is in the ring with Triple Heytch, Randy Orton, and Cena and there is a red carpet in the ring. Regal reminds everyone that they will be in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title. Regal says that he has been getting requests for a photo of the three participants in the match. The photographers are at ringside and all three men pose. Regal also says that they will give us comments about their match.

Cena goes first and he thanks Orton and Hunter for coming out and he says that he has a problem with one of them. Cena says that he was raised to be a man and say it to his face. Cena gets in Hunter’s face and he says that half of him has to thank Hunter because Hunter could have disqualified him. However, cannot say that he appreciated the Pedigree that he got after the match. That is what Cena has a problem with.

Hunter says that Cena does not need to thank him because he did not do any favors. He did what was right. He wants Cena in the match at Wrestlemania. Cena and some of the fans might not appreciate the Pedigree last week, but a lot of them did. Hunter does not care if Cena appreciates it or not, but he better get used to it at Wrestlemania.

Cena says that the last time there was a Clash of the Titans; it was Hunter who tapped out. Hunter takes off his jacket and drops his mic. Orton tries to be the peacemaker and says that they can talk all of the trash but one thing is going to remain the same. That is that he will be the champion. Orton says that both of them have given him their best shot, but he still has the WWE Title. Orton asks Cena about his catchphrase and says that the Champ is Here. Orton says that there is not a damn thing that either of them can do about it.

Cena and Hunter both attack Orton and throw him over the top rope to the floor. Cena and Hunter go nose to nose and then they start punching each other. Orton returns to the ring and he hits an RKO on Hunter and then one on Cena. Orton stands over both men in the center of the ring holding the title belt over his head. We go to commercial.


We are back and it is less than five weeks until Wrestlemania.

Randy Orton is walking in the back and Ken Kennedy stops him. Kennedy talks about Wrestlemania and Money in the Bank. Kennedy says that he will win it again and then he says that he will cash it in that same night. Kennedy tells Orton if he loses, he loses; but even if he wins, he loses.

Orton tells Ken that he can make all of the threats that he wants, but he will be walking out of Wrestlemania as the WWE Champion.


Santino Marella and Carlito with Maria versus World Tag Team Champions Bob Holly and Cody MAH THUN Rhodes


Santino and Cody start things off and Santino pushes Cody, but Cody pushes back. Cody blocks a punch and has Marella in a side head lock. Rhodes with a shoulder tackle and slam followed by a knee drop. Rhodes with a hard Irish whip followed by forearms in the corner. Rhodes with a biel while Carlito distracts the referee. Rhodes is sent into Carlito and Carlito is knocked off the apron. Marella with an STO and then Carlito is tagged in and Carlito with punches to Rhodes. Carlito with a rear chin lock but Rhodes gets out of the hold with punches. Carlito with a knee and a swinging snap suplex for a near fall. Santino is tagged in as we lose the action due to HD. Rhodes with a side Russian leg sweep and both men are down. Carlito is tagged in and so is Holly. Holly with punches to Carlito. Holly with a back body drop and then Holly with the field goal kick to the solar plexus. Carlito with a forearm to Holly and then he tries for a lungblower but Holly holds on to the ropes. Marella tags in and he sees Maria talking to Lawler. Holly is able to connect with a press slam and then Holly with a spinning Alabama Slam for the three count.

Winner: World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly


After the match
Maria checks on Santino and then Santino yells at Lawler for talking to Maria.

We see some footage from the Wrestlemania press conference as we go to commercial.


We are back and it is time to see footage of the Big Show/Floyd Mayweather situation over the last eight days. We see Show's apology to Mayweather last week, followed by his challenge.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talk about the press conference and the match between the two men.

It is time for an Earlier Today Moment with footage of the Wrestlemania Press Conference with a focus on the Show/Mayweather confrontation.

Todd Grisham is with William Regal and Regal has something to say about the main event. Regal says that nothing sells a main event like conflict. Ken Kennedy and Randy Orton will face John Cena and Triple Haitch.

Regal turns around and he sees Chris Jericho. Jericho and Regal have a Supercuts Moment as they compare hair and then Jericho asks if Regal wants some tea. Jericho says that he wants to be in the Money in the Bank Match. Regal says that he has to qualify like everyone else. Regal tells Jericho that he will face the man who defeated him in the Elimination Chamber Match, Jeff Hardy. We go to commercial.

We are back with the WWE Rewind: Jeff Hardy qualifying for the Money in the Bank Match by defeating Gene Snitsky.


Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy versus Chris Jericho in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match


They circle each other before they lock up and break when they get into the ropes. Jericho with an arm bar and then Hardy kips up and reverses the arm bar. Jericho with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Hardy with arm drags but Jericho with a rollup for a near fall. Hardy with a mule kick to Jericho. Jericho sends Hardy to the apron but Jericho misses the springboard drop kick. Hardy with a cross body from the top but Jericho rolls through and gets a near fall. Jericho with a suplex to Hardy and then he hits a snap elbow drop for a near fall. Jericho with a forearm and chop but he misses a clothesline. Hardy catapults Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Hardy misses a baseball slide and both return to the ring. Jericho and Hardy stare each other down as we go to commercial

We are back and Jericho is in control of the match as he works on Hardys back. We see footage from during the commercial when Hardy missed the hesitation drop kick in the corner. Hardy with a kick as we return to live action. Jericho with a knee to the midsection and Jericho with a cover. Jericho with kicks to Hardys head. Jericho follows that with a chop to Hardy. Both men try for cross body presses at the same time and both men go down. Hardy with punches to Jericho followed by a running forearm. Hardy with a leaping clothesline. Hardy with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot. Jericho goes into the corner and he misses Hardy. Hardy gets a near fall on Jericho. Hardy with a kick to the midsection but then Jericho with a clothesline for a near fall. Jericho with an elbow to the back of the neck. Hardy tries for Whisper in the Wind, but Jericho crotches Hardy on the top turnbuckle. Hardy knocks Jericho off the turnbuckles and then he hits Whisper in the Wind but only gets a two count. Hardy tries for a rana but Jericho counters and he puts Hardy in the Walls of Jericho. Hardy gets to the ropes but Jericho works on Hardys back with a series of kicks. Hardy with a kick and then he hits a sit out gourdbuster. Hardy goes up top and he misses a Swanton. Jericho with a Lionsault for a two count. Hardy with an inside cradle for a two count. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate but Jericho counters into another Walls of Jericho attempt, but Hardy counters. Jericho gets the three count with a sunset flip

Winner: Chris Jericho


It is time to relive the attack that Bradshaw perpetrated on Hornswoggle. Vince McMahon gets the okay from the makeup lady as he poses. We go to commercial.

We are back and if it is the end of hour one, it is time for Vince McMahon to walk to the ring as only Vince McMahon can. Vince has something to say and he says that you are about to hear something from him that we have never heard before. Vince says that he has an admission to make and that admission is that he made a mistake. He says that it is difficult for him to say that he made a mistake for the first time in his life (not factoring in WBF, XFL, Stacker 2). That was when he put his son in jeopardy. Last week, he whipped his son with his belt. When he left the ring, Bradshaw attacked his son against the cage. For placing his son in that kind of jeopardy, he wants to say that he apologizes. Vince says that he is not the only one who is going to apologize tonight. He says that the man who put HIS SON in a doctors care is going to come out to apologize.

Bradshaw comes to the ring slightly slower than Undertaker comes to the ring. Vince says that he wants to beat the hell out of Bradshaw in front of everyone. Vince says that he wants an explanation because Bradshaw was there to deal with Finlay, not annihilate his son. Bradshaw eventually says that he is sorry. He says that he is sorry that he did not do it sooner. Bradshaw says that he has it on very good advice that Hornswoggle is not his son. Bradshaw says that this ruse goes to the top of the WWE and it is from his family. Bradshaw says that Hornswoggle is not his son. Hornswoggle is Finlays son.

Vince says that it seems to make sense because his family is rotten to the core. Vince wonders if he could produce that mutant from his loins. Vince asks if Hornswoggle is going after his money. Bradshaw says that Hornswoggle had no idea. Bradshaw says that Finlay knew the entire time. Bradshaw says that he has documentation. Bradshaw tells Vince to look into Finlays eyes because they are guilty as hell. The next time that Finlay is in one of his rings, he will make Finlay admit it.

Hunter is in his locker room and his tag team partner enters. Hunter says that it must be time for them to say that things will be fine if they can look past their problems. Hunter says that if he had his way that Cena would be facing Orton and Kennedy by himself. Hunter says that he is going to do what he does best. Cena tells Hunter that he does not need to watch Cenas back but he should watch his own back. We go to commercial.


Umaga versus D.H. Smith


Umaga charges into a forearm from Smith but Smith with an elbow and kick that sends Smith to the floor. Umaga with a chop and then he rolls Smith into the ring. Umaga with a splash from the top onto Smith and then he puts Smith in the corner and connects with some punches. Umaga sets for the running butt splash. Umaga scrapes Smith off the mat and then sends him back down with the Samoan Spike for the three count.

Winner: Umaga



Backstage
William Regal is in his office with Paul Burchill and Katie Lea. Regal reads a letter from Vickie Guerrero about a Raw versus Smackdown match. Regal chooses UMANGA. Katie says that Regal should choose her brother, Paul Burchill. Regal tells Burchill that he needs to show him some more. Burchill says that they have no problem having one of these chats in the future and Burchill says especially his sister. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Slam of the Week: Ric Flair being announced as the first inductee.


Lance Cade with Trevor Murdoch versus Shawn Michaels


They lock up and Michaels with a side head lock but Cade with a back elbow. Cade with a forearm to Michaels followed by a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Cade slams Michaels head into the turnbuckle but Michaels gets a two count with a backslide. Cade works on Michaels neck. Michaels with chops to Cade but Cade with a kick to Michaels. Michaels with more chops but Cade with a kick to Michaels head. Cade charges into a boot and Michaels with chops. Michaels with an uranage and then he goes up top but misses an elbow drop from the turnbuckles. Michaels goes up top but he does not miss the elbow drop. Michaels gets ready for Sweet Chin Music but Murdoch tries to interfere. Cade misses a clothesline and then Michaels puts Cade in a version of a figure four leg lock. Murdoch with an elbow drop to get Michaels out of the hold. The referee calls for the bell.


Winner: Shawn Michaels by disqualification


After the match
Michaels with Sweet Chin Music to Murdoch and then a reverse atomic drop to Cade followed by Sweet Chin Music..

We hear a Wooooo and Ric Flair comes out. Michaels gets down and shows respect to Flair as Flair comes to the ring. Flair gives Michaels his handkerchief to wipe the blood from his nose. Flair tells Michaels that he is absolutely incredible. Flair says that he was so honored to have Shawn Michaels introduce him as the first active wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Flair says that it will be a magical weekend. Flair says that he will go into the Hall of Fame as an active wrestler. There is only one thing better and that would be to wrestle the man whose name is synonymous with Wrestlemania, Shawn Michaels.

Shawn says that he would love to do it but he points out the stipulation that if Flair loses, he has to retire. Shawn says that he has done some things that he is ashamed of. However, he cannot imagine a day without Ric Flair. Shawn says that he will not be known as the guy to end Ric Flairs career. Flair tells Shawn that is not where he was going. Flair wonders if it is a given that he will lose to Shawn. Flair says that all of the respect that he paid him last week means nothing if Shawn does not give him the opportunity to have the greatest match of his career on the grandest stage of them all.

Shawn thinks about it and says that it would be his honor to wrestle Ric Flair at Wrestlemania.

We go to comments from Shaquille O Neal about the Mayweather/Big Show feud. We go to commercial.

We are back and Mike Adamle is ready to announce the next inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame: Peter Maivia and Rocky Johnson; and they will be inducted by The Rock.

It is time for Jerry Lawler to announce the next new match for Wrestlemania as Candice Michelle and Maria will face Beth Phoenix and Melina in a Bunnymania Match.

It is time for a video package for Marias Playboy photo shoot. Next week we will see the unveiling of the cover. We go to commercial.


Ken Kennedy and WWE Champion Randy Orton versus John Cena and Triple H


Orton attacks Cena while Kennedy goes after Hunter. Cena and Hunter get rid of Kennedy and Orton and then Hunter and Cena stare each other down. After fifteen minutes of entrances, we get twenty seconds of action and a commercial.

We are back and Cena covers Kennedy for a near fall. Hunter tags in and he punches Kennedy in the corner followed by an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow. Kennedy punches Hunter. Hunter responds with a spinebuster. Cena tags in and he punches Kennedy in the corner. Cena shows up Hunter and tags him back in. Hunter with a crotch chop to Cena. Kennedy takes Hunter down with a kick to the quad. Orton tags in and he stomps on Hunter. Orton hits a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Kennedy tags in and works on Hunter?s leg while Orton holds on. Hunter tries to fight out of the corner but Kennedy hits a running boot on Hunter. Orton tags back in and he puts Hunter in a reverse chin lock. Hunter with punches to Orton but Orton pulls Hunter back to the mat. The referee gets between Orton and Cena and that allows Kennedy to attack Hunter. Orton with a DDT using the ropes and he gets a near fall. Kennedy tags back in and he kicks Hunter. Kennedy with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot. Hunter tries to tag in Cena and Orton stops Hunter. Orton with a back breaker to Hunter and then it is time for Orton pushups as he sets for the RKO. Hunter escapes the hold and he tags in Cena who goes after Kennedy with punches. Cena with the flying shoulder tackles to Kennedy followed by a spinebuster type maneuver. Cena with a Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the finish of the Moves of Doom . . . the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena sets for the FU but Orton stops Cena. Orton with a forearm to Cena but Hunter with a forearm to Hunter. Cena with a drop toe hold and the STFU and Kennedy taps.


Winners: John Cena and Triple H


After the match
Cena says that he wants a piece of Hunter. Kennedy hits the Mic Check on Cena and leaves the ring. We go to credits.

[Black Widow]

looks like a good raw

[Bad Boy]

sounds ok... might even try to watch it when it comes on... thx Kels

[JohnCenaFan28]

WTH? No Diva's title match at WM24? So basically, RAW is only going to put the WWE Title on the line at WM24 and SD! seems to be doing the same because Matt doesn't seem near ready to return in time... This WM will be crap except Edge/Undertaker and MITB...

[The Cliff]

RAW was pretty good this week.