On Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:39 PM EST WWE RAW
August 18, 2008
Chicago, IL
Commentators: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Chris Jericho’s music hit and he came on down to the ring with some incredible heat. He said he wasn’t here to apologize for what happened at Summerslam. He said the person to blame was Shawn Michaels. He said he did not put HBK’s wife in harm’s way, HBK did and he’s got proof.
A clip aired of the happenings from last night’s Summerslam pay per view where HBK’s wife Rebecca got decked right in the kisser.
We pan back to the ring and Jericho’s just getting atrocious levels of heat. “You Suck” chants ring out through the arena as Jericho remains silent. Jericho said HBK knew exactly what he was doing last night. He said instead of doing things the classy way, he had to do things the HBK way, that he couldn’t just not see his name on the marquee one more time, placate his ego one last time. He said as a result of their stroking HBK’s ego, the people were also to be blamed and they should be ashamed of themselves, too.
He said all HBK had to do was acknowledge that it was Jericho who ended his career. If he showed any humility, it could have been avoided. He said HBK’s career was over and all that matters was that the last moment spent in that ring was cradling his innocent wife’s head, knowing he was responsible for all of it. He’s tarnished and trashed his career forever and he and his family would have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Jericho said to be honest, he thought HBK deserved it. He said “Shawn, you had it coming”.
****Commercial****
Batista v. Paul Burchill
Batista backed Burchill into the corner but the Englishman quickly countered out with some boots to the knee. Batista hit a shoulder block but ate a kick to the face before being backed into the corner and taking a few lefts and rights.
The action continued along back and forth with Batista going for a big power slam only for Burchill to wiggle out and hit a chop block. Burchill went on the attack but it didn’t last long as he ate not one, but two spine busters. One Batista bomb later and that’s that.
Winner: Batista via pin fall
Batista celebrated a little bit with the crowd before walking off to the back.
Raw GM Mike Adamle is in the back ready to introduce us to Carlito’s brother, whose a new member of the Raw roster before he looks off and sees John Cena entering the arena. He chases after John who pseudo blows him off. He walks forward to see Batista. He extends his hand and congratulated him on his win last night and that the better man won…. Last night.
****Commercial****
Jillian’s singing. Good lord, this is beautiful. I can’t wait for her second Christmas album or maybe if we’re lucky, a Thanksgiving one, too.
Katie Lea Burchill & Jillian Hall v. Kelly Kelly & Mickie James
Jillian and Mickie locked ‘em up before exchanging counters resulting in a James drop kick and quick near fall. Mickie grabbed a headlock but not before Jillian got a tag. Mickie took both heels down before going for the cover on Katie.
Kelly tagged in and she and Katie are going at it. Kelly flips out of a caught kick and hit’s a hurricanranna before Jillian tags in and takes her down off her partner’s head. Jillian stood on Kelly’s hair and SANG THE COUNT.
Katie tagged in and hit a back breaker for a two count before slapping on a camel clutch. Kelly used the crowd to rally her but only ended up eating some corner buckles instead. Jillian tagged in and spiked her face off the canvas before trying a cheap shot on Mickie. Jillian got a one count and after a round off splash attempt, she ate a set of knees in the gut.
Mickie got the hot tag and she and Katie went at it until James cold cocked her with an ezeguiri. Mickie began taking it to Jillian before knocking her from the ring. Mickie hit a neck breaker that was broken up by Jillian only for Kelly Kelly to come in and chuck her out of the ring. Katie almost got a VERY HOT roll up only for Mickie to kick out, counter a clothesline and hit the implant DDT for the win.
Winners: Mickie James & Kelly Kelly via pin fall
****Commercial****
Cole & King announce that later tonight, John Cena will get to face both Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase in a handicapped match.
JBL v. Jamie Noble
JBL went right after Noble, hammering away at him in the corner. Noble was plucky and staged a nice little comebacks with some stinging drop kicks and punches but eventually JBL caught him in mid air and laid him out with a fall away slam.
JBL hammered away at the back of Noble before gathering him into the corner and hammering him with right hands to the side of the head. JBL dropped a series of elbows to the chest of Noble before letting Noble get to his knees only to break him in half with a clothesline from hell. JBL wouldn’t stop there though and hit one more for good measure. Why not hit a third? JBL went for a cover, but the ref is pretty much all set and done and he stops it.
Winner: JBL via ref stoppage
I guess Stephanie and Shane McMahon have a blockbuster announcement to make. It’s apparently next.
****Commercial****
Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs is elbowing teammates in the head. Awesome for the Cubbies. BTW, Sox fans, Jason Bay has two homers tonight. Manny who?
Raw GM Mike Adamle has some announcements to make. The first is that there’s going to be a title match at Unforgiven. A five-way scramble between CM Punk, JBL, Kane, John Cena and Batista. It’s a 20 minute scramble. Anyone can get pinned or submitted at any point. There can be multiple falls even. The person holding the title at the end of the 20 minutes, walks away with the belt. Also, CM Punk will take on Chris Jericho later tonight.
Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase v. John Cena
Cryme Tyme comes out from nowhere and distract Rhodes and Dibiase and manage to take off with the world tag title belts. They’ve stolen the gold! Dibiase and Rhodes are nuts. Cena comes out and it’s time to go.
****Commercial****
We came back to John Cena handling Cody in the corner. Cena ate a punch in the face and didn’t like it. He chased Cody around the ring until Dibiase caught him from behind and went to work on him. Apparently he made the tag. Dibiase is all over Cena before tagging in his partner who goes for a cover after a double suplex.
Dibiase tagged in and went for a cover of his own but Cena kicked out again. Cody and Dibiase whipped him off the ropes before hitting a double drop kick. Rhodes and Dibiase are tagging like crazy.
Cena and Cody are slugging it out in the middle of the ring before Cody hit’s a side Russian leg sweep and a knee drop that sends Cena to the apron. Cena was chucked off the barricade before Rhodes tossed him back into the ring for a two count.
Cody tagged in Dibiase who began laying in right hands on the former WWE Champion. Cena whipped Dibiase only to miss a follow up and eat a back suplex. Dibiase hit a mean looking clothesline for a two count before tagging Cody back into the ring. The two hit a double elbow drop for a Cody induced two count this time, but Cena’s still kicking out.
Cena tried to fight his way out of the corner, but couldn’t overcome the odds and Rhodes got another two count. The two exchanged strikes again and ended up bounding across the ropes at each other only for Cena to attempt a bounding shoulder block that Rhodes ducked under, sending Cena crashing to the outside.
After eating some ring steps on the outside, the bad guys got yet another two count before Dibiase tagged in and hit a fist drop and suplex in succession. Dibiase attempted another vertical suplex only to have it reversed. Cena struggled back to his feet before hitting his shoulder block.
The Chicago crowd is SHOCKINGLY behind him as he hit’s the five knuckle shuffle. He goes for an FU but bails and LEVELS Dibiase with a lariat before slapping on a nasty looking STFU for the pin fall.
Winner: John Cena via pin fall
****Commercial****
Harley Race is in the crowd. F--- Yes.
Another video airing showing the incident between HBK, Chris Jericho and Mrs. HBK aired. Rebecca’s jaw is broken apparently. Someone apparently caught up to HBK as he left last night. It almost wasn’t much of an interview before HBK turned around and said he was going to go home, comfort his wife and he was going to comfort his kids after watching their mother get punched in the face because of him. He said then...then... - Money. Kids, that’s how you cut a promo.
Todd Grisham introduced World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Punk said Jericho did one of the lowest things a person can do and then comes to his hometown and runs his mouth. Punk said there’s a way they deal with people like him in Chicago.
Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix walk out with their newly won title belts. Santino gets D-Lo Brown for the IC Championship next.
****Commercial****
Intercontinental Championship
Santino Marella v. D-Lo Brown
Kofi Kingston is on commentary.
D-Lo opened things strong with a pair of drop kicks, but whiffed on a second rope drop kick attempt. Santino went for a cover but D-Lo kicked out. Brown connected with a back elbow and a hard leg drop before ascending to the top rope.
He went to go for the Lo-Down before Beth stood in his way. D-Lo told him to scram and then slapped him causing the DQ.
Winner via DQ: D-Lo Brown
After the match, D-Lo sent Marella flying out of the ring after Santino promised to take care of things. He reeled over to Kingston who spiked him off the announce table. Everyone’s laughing at the champion as he stumbles up the ramp.
Kane’s walking around the back as they play the old music.
****Commercial****
Kane’s music hit and he came out with new music blaring. Cool stuff.
Kane said some people looked a little shocked last week as he stood in a sea of red. He said there was a reason Rey Mysterio hadn’t been seen in six weeks. He said he never liked Rey Mysterio. He said he doesn’t like him and doesn’t like people who do, a slithering little slime who hides behind a mask. He said he was like a fungus that grows in the marshes of your psyche. Six weeks ago in a parking lot, he figuratively eviscerated Rey Mysterio. He’s still alive, but his spirit is broken. Is he alive? Or is he dead?
Batista’s music hit and he came out to the ring. Kane immediately headed Batista off only to eat a spear. Batista is hobbling but manages a spear. He goes for a Batista bomb, only for Kane to hit a chop block. Kane choke slams Batista and leaves him in a heap. HA! He even kicked a little dirt on him!
****Commercial****
CM Punk v. Chris Jericho
Punk landed some kicks early on and stalked Jericho all over the ring, planting some brutal kicks into his back before planting him on his knee with a back breaker. Punk relentlessly laid it in with the knees before Jericho came shooting out of the corner with forearms and elbows of his own.
Jericho hit an Irish whip only for Punk to grab a tarantula variation which evolved into a roll up attempt. Jericho booted away at the side of CM Punk and whipped him to the buckles again, but Punk side stepped him on the follow through and Jericho SHOT through the ropes, hitting the ring post on his way down to the floor in a super-rough bump.
****Commercial****
We came back to Chris Jericho being in total control with a rear chin lock. Punk attempted a rally, but Jericho soon cut him off and after landing some elbows on Punk’s lower back, he draped him across the knee with a back breaker and stretched him out a bit for good measure.
Punk kneed out of the hold, but quickly found himself wrapped up in an abdominal stretch. Jericho’s going for holds, Punk’s the striker. Punk ended up hitting an explosive kick to counter a bulldog attempt and here we are with a strike exchange.
Punk hit “Welcome to Chicago” for a two count before murdering Jericho with a high knee in the corner. Punk went for a bulldog of his own but Jericho tossed him off and hit the lion salt for a two count. Jericho looked for the Walls of Jericho but Punk kicked him off. The two rolled out of the corner and Punk got a super-hot near fall on a roll up attempt but Jericho escaped.
Punk elbowed Jericho back into the corner and almost got GTS but Jericho escaped and went for the legs and easily turned Punk over. Punk reached the ropes and almost caught Jericho again with the GTS, but he escaped again. Jericho mounted the top rope only for Punk to hit the knee ALL THE WAY ON THE TOP.
Punk went to load up for another GTS only for Lance Cade to interject himself. Jericho shoved Punk into Cade and hit a code breaker on the champion off the rebound for the win.
Winner: Chris Jericho via pin fallRAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- Tonight was all about Summerslam fallout fun.
I really can’t think of a single program that comes within distance’s distance of Jericho-HBK this year. Every week they top what they did the week before. I’m almost hoping they cool things down a hair next week so they don’t set the bar TOO high for Unforgiven. But seriously, HBK’s promo last night with Todd Grisham and Jericho’s not giving a crap tonight are some of the most convincing performances I’ve seen from two guys working in the same program in forever. Really, this is just a blow-away awesome feud.
I’m a guy who REALLY digs the booking of the World Title for Unforgiven. My initial reaction was ‘overbooked’ until you really try and take a look at the big picture. For one, no one outside of Kane and Rey Mysterio have much going on. Batista and Cena are both looking strong after a strong match at Summerslam. JBL is sort of floating, too so why NOT do this?
In fact, the more I see of Punk’s first run with the World title, the more I feel like I’m watching Kurt Angle’s first run almost on repeat. They’ve set up a big gimmick match that’s almost guaranteed to make Punk look strong coming out. I think of all his big title defenses thus far, this is the one I feel like he’s the surest bet to come out with the belt in this match. Lots of big names and he’ll either NOT lose the belt over the course of the 20 minutes, which would be as big a deal as him stealing it and clinging to it with seconds left. Either way, this is going to be Punk’s big win. You only are who you beat.
Other than those two pieces of commentary on the big picture, the rest of the show was just solid stuff. The Cena-Rhodes/Holly stuff was a gas again this week while Jericho and Punk delivered a solid TV main event. The promos were almost all universally fantastic, most notably and perhaps surprisingly, Kane’s. It’ll be interesting to see where it all heads in the next couple of weeks as Rey Mysterio is injected back into the mix in the upper echelon of the Raw roster.
Overall Grade: B
Quick Results
Batista def. Paul Burchill
Mickie James & Kelly Kelly def. Jillian Hall & Katie Lea
JBL def. Jamie Noble
John Cena def. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
D-Lo Brown def. Santino Marella
Chris Jericho def. CM Punk
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. CM Punk
2. Batista
3. John Cena
4. Mickie James
Most Heat
1. Chris Jericho
2. Kane
3. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
4. JBL
Match of the Night: CM Punk v. Chris Jericho **1/2
Power Rankings
5 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
World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk 6-3-2, 19 Points (Last Week: World Heavyweight Champion) -- Mixed weekend for the champion. A strong defense of his championship at Summerslam Sunday only to get beat in his hometown by the guy whose #1 on this list. Mixed results but he looked great in both matches.
Intercontinental Champion: Santino Marella 8-10, 12 points (Last Week: NR)--So easily the biggest move of the week as Marella comes out of lower mid card mediocrity and rides the wave of his new love interests’ successes to the IC Championship. Sounds like the ground work for a glorious Honkey Tonk Man type reign with the IC title.
1. Chris Jericho 14-14-1, 30 pts. (Last Week: 1)-- Pins the world champion in his hometown and punches his arch rival’s wife in the face. Now THAT is a good week for a heel.
2. Batista 5-2-2, 12 Points (Last Week: 4)-- Two wins, one over John Cena and another over former #6 Paul Burchill vault Batista to the #2 spot. Only a molten hot Chris Jericho and World Champion CM Punk rank ahead.
3. John Cena 19-13, 34 points. (Last Week: 2) -- Cena suffers a set back last night, but gets back on his feet tonight with a fantastic win over the World Tag Champs… both of them. Needs to win a big match though, to crack the top two.
4. JBL 13-18, 24 points (Last Week: 3)-- Though frustrated this weekend by CM Punk at Summerslam, he gets back on track with a decisive win over Jamie Noble and is back in the mix at the big scramble at Unforgiven.
5. Shawn Michaels 15-4-1, 20pts. (Last Week: 5) -- Kids, if you want to cut a promo, watch that spot of him leaving Summerslam. Holy yikes.
6. Kofi Kingston 6-2, 15 points (Last Week: IC Champion) -- Drops the Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam, but you can’t help but think he SHOULD get his belt back in short order. But then again, that’s what everyone thought when Ricky Steamboat dropped the belt to the Honkey Tonk Man.
7. Ted Dibiase, Jr. 3-4, 10 Points (Last Week: 7)-- These guys are just flat out awesome and finally, we get a feud with another tag team. A feud with Cryme Tyme sort of writes itself, so this should be a doozy.
8. Cody Rhodes 8-9, 13 points (Last Week: 8)-- See Dibiase.
9. Kane 1-5, 2 Points (Last Week: 10)-- Cuts his best promo in forever, then completely dominates the man who made John Cena his woman last night…. All with a piece of food in his teeth.
10. Paul Burchill 5-4, 7 points (Last Week: 6)-- Tumbles down to the #10 position. Needs to get back on track with some wins.
OTHERS :
Rey Mysterio 1-0, 3 Points (Last Week: 9)
D-Lo Brown 2-1, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Jamie Noble 0-3, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Deuce 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Chuck Palumbo 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Matt Striker 0-1, 0 Points (Last Week: NR
Randy Orton 10-9-2, 20pts. (Last Week: INJURED)
William Regal, 4-5, 11 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul London 3-6, 3 points(Last Week: NR)
Jerry Lawler 0-1, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Lance Cade 2-5, 4 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 0-3, 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 2-6, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
JTG 5-2, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
Big Shaad 5-2, 5 points (Last Week: NR)
Ken Kennedy 10-7, 22pts. (DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Carlito 9-9, 13 pts. (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Brian Kendrick, 3-8, 3 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Trevor Murdoch 0-8, 0 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)
Super Crazy 0-3, 0 points (Last Week: DRAFTED TO ECW)
Harry Smith 0-1, 0 points (DRAFTED TO SMACKDOWN)