On Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:30 PM EST WWE RAW
May 19, 2008
Kansas City, MO
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Jeff Hardy v. Umaga
Umaga stared down Hardy from across the ring. The crowd is uber hot for Jeff. Umaga came running at Jeff and began laying in right hands before tossing Hardy into the ropes. Jeff countered with a sunset flip and avoided an Umaga sit out. Hardy hit a drop kick and went for a cover but only got a one count. The pace kept up until Umaga caught Hardy in mid air and Samoan dropped him to the canvas and hard.
Umaga slapped on a vice grip before planting Hardy to the mat with a stiff uppercut. He dumped Hardy upside down in the corner before hitting the big diving head butt. Umaga mounted the second rope and came sailing off but missed Jeff by a mile.
Hardy went to the ropes but Umaga caught him by the hair. Hardy broke free and went for whisper in the wind and Umaga casually walked to the side, avoiding what beat him last week. Umaga went for the running bump butt, but Hardy backed off. Instead of pin balling everywhere, Hardy went right at Umaga and hit some right hands and a drop kick. Hardy eventually hit a mule kick and it sent the big man reeling to the ground. Hardy hit a plancha that resulted in both being laid out on the outside.
Both fought to their feet. Umaga whipped Hardy to the stairs, but missed the follow up. Hardy went to walk the rails but got caught and side walk slammed on the concrete. The official signaled for the bell and what we have here is a double count out.
Winner: Double Count Out
Batista and Jericho had a not so friendly confrontation in the back.
****Commercial****
The lights are out and that can only mean one thing. Our beloved King is here!
Regal told us that One Night Stand was right around the corner and it would consist of all extreme rules matches. Orton and JBL are on the titan tron. Regal said both men wanted rematches from Judgment Day. He said they’d get their chance tonight. If they won, both would get their rematches and they’d get to choose the stipulation. If Triple H and John Cena won the tag match, they would pick the stip.
Regal kept going on before Mr. Kennedy’s music hit and he came down to the ring. Kennedy challenged Regal to a match. Regal said Kennedy didn’t get it. He said he didn’t take challenges from common wrestlers. He said the next person who interrupted him would be fired.
Mr. McMahon’s music hit.
Kennedy mocked Regal until Vince told him to ‘shut up’. Vince said Regal was given 100% endorsement. He said ever since he gave him his endorsement, they have received, as a result of his abuse of power, more viewer complaints than at any other point in their history. Vince said he knew he didn’t care about the people, and he didn’t either, but he DID care about the muh-nay. He said for some reason, when he came on the air, the ratings would plummet. So in the interest of fairness, Vince said Regal wanted Kennedy gone. Vince said he did as well.
He said he didn’t like Kennedy but the viewers wanted Regal gone, not Kennedy. So tonight, we’d have a match, Regal v. Kennedy. The loser of the match would be gone.
****Commercial****
Beth Phoenix v. Maria
Tonight’s edition of Bambi v. Godzilla. Horay!
Beth tossed maria to the mat hard before bullying her into the corner. Beth military pressed Maria and just dropped her like a sack of potatoes. Beth laid Maria out with a backbreaker and stretched it out for some fun.
Maria countered with a quick bulldog for a two count and even tried a roll up but was quickly shoulder tackled to the mat. Maria went for some wheelbarrow move variant and got SMASHED face first to the mat. What an awesome squash.
Winner: Beth Phoenix via pin fall
Beth mouthed off at Melina, who was on commentary on the outside before walking to the back. Melina didn’t really like it too much so she took off her boot and chased Phoenix down the aisle and decked her with her furry boot. She began choking Phoenix out from behind before Beth flung her over her shoulder and slammed her hard off the entrance ramp. The officials broke up the scuffle.
****Commercial****
A replay of the Rowdy Piper and Santino on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Mickie is with Katie Lea in the back. Katie Lea can certainly talk. She accuses Mickie of sleeping her way to the top by going out with John Cena. Mickie is a little upset.
HBK approached King Regal in the back. He said tonight, he’d have a good time watching Regal. Regal said no matter who won the Batista-Jericho match tonight, that HBK would face someone at One Night Stand in a stretcher match.
****Commercial****
Batista v. Chris Jericho
Jon Lester has officially thrown a no-hitter a year after beating cancer. Incredible.
Jericho went right at the big man, trying to take him down. Batista easily tossed him aside and worked him into the corner before whipping Jericho into the buckle. Jericho caught the big man with a boot to the grill before charging right back at him.
Jericho planted a kick to the face of Batista before getting lifted with ease and planted on the mat for a two count. Batista kept up the pressure, choking Jericho out with his boot in the corner before tossing Jericho across the ring. Jericho whimpered on the ring apron looking like he hurt his knee. Batista doesn’t seem ready to fall for it.
****Commercial****
The two went at it pretty hard before Jericho chucked Batista to the outside and Batista’ the one with the leg injury. Jericho went at the leg of Batista with some kicks before chop blocking the limb. Jericho slapped on a leg lock which evolved into a toe hold.
Batista powered out of the hold, but Jericho flew back with knee to the leg. He draped the limb on the bottom rope and sat out on it a couple of times before Jericho went to wrap it around the ring post. Batista kicked him into the announce table buying some time. Jericho charged back in the ring only to meet a huge Batista boot.
Batista caught the spin buster and looked for a Batista bomb but Jericho countered out with the Walls of Jericho. Jericho couldn’t hold the whole hold and ended up in a half crab focused on one limb. The crowd’s going bananas. Is that BATISTA getting cheered for against Jericho?
Batista finally reached the bottom rope. Jericho kept kicking away at the leg and hit another chop block after a whiffed clothesline from Batista. Jericho missed a lion sault and he got loaded up for a Batista bomb. Jericho used the ropes to counter out and landed on the apron. He mounted the top rope only to get freaking decapitated with a clothesline from the Animal.
Batista went for the cover for a fantastic near fall. It’s the location pitcher v. the slugger. Great stuff. Jericho got up to his feet in the corner looking drunk. Batista missed a spear. Jericho went for the code breaker but Batista caught him and POWERED HIM UP INTO A BATISTA BOMB and nailed it. Match over.
Winner: Batista via pin fall
HBK came out to the ramp and we have a little stare down.
JR and King pimped the main event.
****Commercial****
William Regal is getting ready and Vince McMahon showed up. Regal asked him why this match was happening. Vince went to explain himself before Ted Dibiase showed up. Vince said he had some business to discuss with Mr. Dibiase. They dismissed Regal.
Piper’s Pit
Oh it’s not Piper, it’s Santino. Dressed gloriously.
Santino called himself Rodney Piper, the man who beat a fat transvestite at Wrestlemania III. Just when you think we know the answers, he babbles incoherently. Santino replayed the fun from Jimmy Kimmel.
Santino made fun of Kimmel’s cousin and said he was going to introduce the stinky little monkey, cousin Salvatore. Santino said according to his cousin, he idolized Piper growing up. Santino asked him what he idolized about him.. His failure to become world champion, cross dressing or his straight up horrible movies…
Sal said there were a lot of great things about Rowdy Roddy Piper. He said he admired his ability to back up what he said unlike Santino. He said Santino was hung like a fourth grader and Farooq showed up to give us a ‘damn’.
Santino said fourth graders are maturing at a fast rate and he had pictures to back it up. That got an ‘oh’. Santino said Sal was here to give him an apology. He showed us a birthday cake, except it was an ‘I’m sorry’ cake. He said he’d apologize very good or the cake would find it’s way to his face.
Rowdy Piper showed up behind Santino and of course, Santino got a face full of cake. Piper got the Whig and danced around with it a little bit. Santino flailed around the outside a bit before challenging Sal to a match. Piper said he’d get his wish.
****Commercial****
Loser Gets Fired
Mr. Kennedy v. King William Regal
The two locked horns and Kennedy backed Regal up to the corner and hit a kick and some right hands. Regal came back with some punches of his own before Kennedy whipped him to the buckles and back body dropped him for a quick near fall.
Kennedy stomped Regal to the apron only to get tripped up. Regal laid in some really unfriendly knees to the head of Kennedy before the two got tangled up in a back slide struggle. Regal muscled Kennedy to the mat for two near falls before backing Kennedy to the corner and uncorking some not so friendly right hands and bringing him out with a double under hook suplex for a two count.
Regal slapped on a top wrist lock for a little while before letting the hold go and kneeing Kennedy in the side of the face. Regal ate a boot in the corner before Kennedy exchanged blows with Regal until hitting a wheel kick for a two count.
Regal regained the advantage by throwing Kennedy to the floor and chasing him out to the ringside area. Regal got on the mic and said he was still GM and he was making this match a no disqualification match. He grabbed some knucks from the ring side attendant and chucking Kennedy into the ring steps.
He tossed Kennedy into the ring and loaded up the knucks. Regal waited for the shot and whiffed, and Kennedy hit a mic check out of nowhere. He rolled Regal over and Regal’s toast.
Winner: Mr. Kennedy via pin fall
The crowd poured the heat onto Regal. Regal backed up the ramp, fired.
****Commercial****
Regal was frantically knocking on the door to his locker room. Someone opened the door and Teddy Long stepped out.
Todd Grisham is with WWE Champion Triple H. Triple H gave a very sportsy interview. He said he wasn’t worried about Orton and JBL. He said there was a lot of change going on, but there was always one constant, and that was him being the best the business had to offer.
****Commercial****
JBL & Randy Orton vs. John Cena & Triple H
Looks like Cena’s starting for his team. Orton for his.
The two circled it up and Cena grabbed a headlock but it was broken up in the ropes before Orton laid in some head shots. Cena came back with an Irish whip-bulldog combo before tagging in the champion.
Triple H laid in a few right hands before Orton caught him with an elbow. Criss cross into the rope and the Game hit a high knee. He punched JBL long enough to distract the ref. He tossed Orton into the ropes while Cena yanked the top one down, sending Orton clattering to the floor.
****Commercial****
We came back to JBL controlling Triple H quite easily. Orton tagged in and hit some shots to the gut before laying some boots in on the champion. Orton went for his drop kick but Triple H avoided it and Orton smashed into the canvas. Triple H struggled to the corner and got the hot tag to Cena.
Cena hit some clotheslines and a shoulder block before power bombing Orton. He motioned to JBL and hit the five knuckle shuffle. He revved up for the FU but JBL hit him from behind. Orton almost hit an RKO but he missed. Orton almost got hit with the FU but JBL made the save with a big boot for a near fall.
Orton kept on top of Cena, but the two eventually knocked noggin’s and both were left laid out. Both made tags and Triple H and JBL went at it. JBL missed a clothesline and Triple H connected with one. The Game hit his face buster and a hangman’s neck breaker for a two count.
JBL got a boot up in the corner but found himself unwound with a spine buster. While Orton and Triple H brawled, Cena slapped on the STFU on JBL. Orton got back in the ring with Triple H and missed the big boot on him, but nailed Cena. JBL rolled over and made the cover for the win.
Winners: JBL & Randy Orton via pin fall
Orton and JBL laid a not so friendly beat down on the baby faces at the end of the match. JBL announced it’d be him and Cena in a first blood match. Orton didn’t want to be outdone. Orton said he’d take back his belt the same way he won it. A last man standing match. RAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- This was just a super fantastic Raw. Sure, it didn’t have any shocker angles, but I’ll be damned if that was the best in ring Raw I’ve seen in eons.
Hardy-Umaga almost never comes close to sucking and tonight was no different. It is just fantastic to see how many ways these two can spin the same thing and make it work. Another solid set up match for One Night Stand.
Beth-Melina should be a great match up as Melina’s really just a great choice for this kind of match. The Beth-Maria match was pretty good as far as Diva squashes go, so no complaints there, either.
The match of the night though, was really Jericho-Batista, which was off the charts good in terms of what we get on TV. It really shaped up well as Jericho being believable and in control while Batista was always sort of one big knock out shot away from a win. The counters were done well, but not whored out. The psychology was there and the execution was great. It was really a good match for both.
Kennedy’s defeat of William Regal might be a bit of a surprise, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Regal. Still, a good match with some open options for who might show up as the next GM on the show. I like how they’ve sort of kept more or less a revolving door on the top spot in the show. It keeps things spicy.
Even the closing match, which was a pretty paint by the numbers TV tag main event, came off looking great. Not to mention JBL & Orton looked pretty bad ass standing on the ramp after the match.
Cap that off with a really fun Piper’s pit segment and we got a really well rounded Monday Night Raw tonight that I’d put up against any television show they’ve done in recent memory.
Overall Grade: A-
Quick Results
Jeff Hardy v. Umaga ended In a double count-out
Beth Phoenix def. Mickie James
Batista def. Chris Jericho
Mr. Kennedy def. William Regal
Randy Orton & JBL def. Triple H & John Cena
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. Jeff Hardy
2. Triple H
3. John Cena
4. Mr. Kennedy
Most Heat
1. William Regal
2. Randy Orton
3. JBL
4. Umaga
Match of the Night: Batista v. Chris Jericho ***1/2
Power Rankings5 Points= Title Win
4 Points= World Title defense/win
3 Points= Singles PPV Win
2 Points= Tag PPV Win
2 Points= TV Singles Win
1 Point= TV Tag Win
0 Points= Loss
First Third Thoughts-- So we’re about a third of the way through the year right now and looking at the rankings, it’s interesting to see how things are playing out.
The first thing that strikes me about the rankings this year as opposed to last year’s at this time, is the parody. Last year there was a real line between the main event and the rest of the show, whereas this year, a lot of different folks are in on the fun.
Eight guys. Yah, you read it right, eight are at or VERY near to the 15 point mark. The only guy whose looked overwhelmingly strong thus far has been Shawn Michaels which makes you wonder if they’re looking at a big program for him at the end of the summer. Triple H is looking strong, but he’s had the benefit of being champion the last couple of weeks and it’s helped the numbers a bit.
Cena’s already halfway to the number of losses he had last year and Randy Orton looks incredibly strong, despite barely keeping his record above .500. JBL and Jericho look pretty good as well, and both are sporting losing records.
Jeff Hardy and Ken Kennedy seem to be in re-construction mode while Umaga’s slightly below and Carlito is slightly above where they were last year.
All in all, there’s a lot more parody, thus debunking the whole “so and so looks too strong” myth we constantly hear from fans. You could only say it about two guys, Triple H and Shawn Michaels, but even Triple H is two losses away from being like everyone /*. Even the lower card is sporting a lot of balance.
There aren’t any definitive truths in this analysis right now, but it’s interesting to see how things have been trending this year.
WWE Champion: Triple H 11-7, 24pts.(Last Week: WWE Champion) --Man, Triple H was selling like a madman out there tonight. Sold a good baby face in peril, which he used to be pretty bad at, before taking a pretty awesome beat down after the match. A pay per view win over the weekend and a strong performance tonight keep the champion looking strong.
Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho 9-10, 19pts. (Last Week: IC Champion)-- I think after tonight it’s pretty official that Jericho’s probably the best TV worker on the show, or at least he’s been the most consistent. He hasn’t had a single match that’s stunk thus far on TV and has been good to excellent on pay per view. Someone get this guy a statue or something.
1. Shawn Michaels 15-2, 20pts. (Last Week: 1) -- With his record, there’s really no good case for ranking anyone ahead of him. He hasn’t been stellar in the ring, but he’s been damn good and he’s got the wins to go with it. I’m kind of surprised they don’t have him more involved in the title scene right now, although being in a feud with Batista, he might as well be.
2. Randy Orton 10-8-2, 20pts. (Last Week: 2) -- Another pretty solid outing from Orton. As much as any Triple H reign always looks like he’s got a death grip on the gold, for some reason he feels alarmingly unstable with Orton chasing him, which is quite an accomplishment when you put it all in context.
3. JBL 8-10, 15 points (Last Week: 3)-- JBL’s probably the best brawler in the WWE, but IMO, he’s clearly the #5 guy on the show. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d really like to see this guy get a quality win before the summer’s out. He hasn’t looked bad but a big win over a guy like Cena or Michaels would do worlds for him.
4. John Cena 9-6, 14 points. (Last Week: 4) -- Cena gets the one on one win, but really looked like the weak link in the tag main event tonight. No, Cena didn’t look ‘bad’, he just looked like the #4 or ‘fall guy’ in the match tonight. He’s had better nights.
5. Umaga 5-8, 10 points (Last Week: 5) -- I could watch Umaga bat Hardy around for decades and not get tired of it.
6. Ken Kennedy 7-6, 15pts. (Last Week: 9)-- Kennedy’s comeback REALLY needed a quality win and one over Regal, whose been molten hot lately, does the trick. Off to the races.
7. Jeff Hardy 7-5-1, 14pts. (Last Week: 10)-- Looked good again tonight. It’s going to take a little time to sort of make the wheels line up with the tracks again, but he’s so over that I don’t think it’ll take much.
8. William Regal 3-3, 6 points (Last Week: 6)--Fired? Or not?
9. Santino Marella 4-3, 4 points (Last Week: 10) -- Forget Kimmel. I want Tonight Show with Santino.
10. Carlito 8-5, 12 pts. (Last Week: 9) -- Not in action tonight.
OTHERS:
Paul London 3-3, 3 points(Last Week: NR)
Cody Rhodes 3-3, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
Jerry Lawler 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Lance Cade 0-5, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Hardcore Holly 4-4, 4pts. (Last Week: NR)
Brian Kendrick, 3-7, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
Trevor Murdoch 0-7, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Super Crazy 0-3, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul Birch all 3-0, 6 points (Last Week: 10)
Harry Smith 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Jim Duggan 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Robbie 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Mick Foley 1-0, 1 point (Last Week: NR)
Sgt. Slaughter 0-0. 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Val Venis 0-1 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Snitsky 1-5, 2 points (Last Week: NR)
JTG 1-1, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
Big Shaad 1-1, 1 point (Last Week: NR)