On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 12:10 AM EST WWE RAW
November 10, 2008
Manchester, UK
Commentators: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Report by: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Batista came out to the ring and declared that he wasn't going to cry about last week. He was just going to invoke his rematch clause. Tonight. Stephanie McMahon popped up on the monitor and advised him that it wouldn't happen before Survivor Series. Batista looked livid. Stephanie went on to ignore him entirely and ran down tonight's Raw card. She said tonight was about settling old scores. Chris Jericho would face HBK in a Last Man Standing match... Also Kane would wrestle Rey Mysterio in a No DQ match. She apologized to Batista and thanked him for his understanding. He didn't look happy to be passed over.
Randy Orton came down to the ring and advised Batista that he'd have to wait in line. He said John Cena would get his opportunity at Survivor Series but from there on out, it'd be his turn. Why? Because he was better than Batista. He was even better than him in Evolution. He was kicked out because he was the most successful member. He said if anyone deserved a title shot after Cena, it was him, not Batista.
Batista said history was written by winners. He said he had been better than him in every way, shape and form. He was better than him in Evolution and he was better than him now. He said as Steph said, tonight was about settling old scores, so the two definitely had a score to settle. So why not do it tonight? Orton agreed they could do it. He just wanted Batista to know that once he wins the world title back, he'd be champion a lot longer than 8 days.
****Commercial****
Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella was so confident that he'd be IC champion that he's ditched the honk o meter in favor of the honka-perfecto-mountie meter. He said he'd hold the title for four years. Without a doubt. He said something about a Jonas brothers haircut and Regal before he crashes the party.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Santino Marella v. William Regal
Regal rushed Santino with a bunch of punches before flipping him out of the corner. Regal hit the knee to the head and that was it. Uh, wait what?
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: William Regal
Regal gave a face victory speech after the match.
****Commercial****
Kane's in the boiler room talking for the heck of it. He doesn't like anyone and doesn't like being liked. He said after tonight, we'd dislike him even more. Oh hey. D-Lo.
Mike Knox v. D-Lo Brown
Knox came right after Brown in the corner and bullied him to the mat with knees in the head. He whipped D-Lo only to eat a back elbow to the face. D-Lo charged out of the corner and ate a big boot in the grill. Knox wasted no time, hit a downward spiral and that's that.
Winner: Mike Knox via pin fall
Beth Phoenix was walking around looking for Santino. She tried to comfort him after losing his belt. He was fiddling with a cell phone and said he was giving Shane a piece of his mind. Unfortunately though, it looks like Shane was taking out his anger at Santino on Beth. She's in a match tonight for the women's title. Against Mickie James.
****Commercial****
A big promo video aired putting over the return of John Cena.
Chris Jericho's on the ramp gloating about how he's going to end the John Cena story. Just like he ended the Batista story last week and just like he was going to do tonight to Shawn Michaels. He warned us that not every story had a happy ending...
****Commercial****
No DQ
Rey Mysterio v. Kane
Rey hit a kick and ran to the outside and wiggled under the ring as Kane gave chase. Once he hit Kane off the ring steps, he leapt off the ring apron into Kane's arms. Kane tried to post Rey, but Mysterio wiggled out and backed him into the side of the ring before connecting with a senton.
****Commercial****
Kane connected with a right hand to the face of Mysterio before battering him back to the corner. Kane clubbered him down the ropes and then sent him careening into the opposite set of buckles. He attempted a side slam only for Rey to toss him into the ropes and almost hit a 619.
Rey sort of teased some drop kicks before Kane caught him on the second attempt and swung him like a baseball bat into the barricade. After stretching Mysterio on the ring post, he spiked him off the ring steps and taunted him for a bit.
Back in the ring, Kane stomped away on Mysterio before going for a quick cover attempt. Rey attempted some kicks and eventually managed a wheelbarrow bulldog, but any momentum he'd have had was cut down thanks to a Kane big boot to the grill. Kane undid two of turnbuckles in the corner and picked up Rey and looked for a power bomb, but Rey wiggled out and hit a hurricanranna.
Kane got hung up on the top rope and Rey drop kicked him out to the apron. As he bounded at Kane, he was snared in a choke, but Rey was able to knock him off the apron. Hey came in looking for a splash over the top rope and was decapitated with a Kane upper cut in mid air.
Kane went for a tombstone on the floor but Rey wiggled out and in a cool spot, a backdrop was held onto and Rey pinged off the ropes, swinging back and enabling him to DDT Kane to the floor. Rey went for the cover in the ring, but he only got a two count.
Rey hit an enzeguiri and then a 619. He hit the big splash but Kane caught him with one arm. He attempted a choke slam, but Rey wiggled out again and sent him into the exposed turnbuckle. Rey flew into Kane with... I don't know what... but it worked and managed to keep Kane down for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio via pin fall
Cody Rhodes and Manu confronted Randy Orton in the back. They said Dibiase had a concussion. Orton said all he did was what they didn't have the nards to do: kick the weakest member of the group out. Cody smacked Orton across the face and after an intense few minutes, Orton walked off.
****Commercial****
Randy Orton v. Batista
Cody Rhodes and Manu interrupted immediately and seem to be pretty persistent. Cody said Randy couldn't beat him, never mind Batista. He said he'd beat Batista.
Cody Rhodes v. Batista
Batista worked Rhodes back and hit him with some shoulders before mauling him with a clothesline and a knee to the head. He loaded Rhodes up for a bomb, but Cody wiggled out and kicked him in the knee before hitting a bulldog for a quick two count.
Rhodes worked the ankle only to get tossed into the corner. Batista charged in and was dropped into the corner before Rhodes stomped away. Manu got in a mugging behind the ref's back before working Batista over some more. Batista ended up hitting a big boot before killing the kid with a lariat.
Rhodes wiggled out of a power slam only to run right into a spine buster. Manu looked to interject himself but Batista cut him off before hitting a Batista bomb for the win.
Winner: Batista via pin fall
Batista hit a spear on Manu before glaring up at Orton on the ramp. Batista followed Orton up the ramp who was in full scale back pedal.
****Commercial****
Women's Championship
Beth Phoenix v. Mickie James
Beth flattened out Mickie James right off the bat before uncorking a kick to the head and a roll up attempt for a two count. Mickie nailed a take down and hit a sit out drop kick for another two count.
Mickie kept the pressure up in the corner but was eventually countered. Santino interjected himself allowing Beth to fling Mickie into the ring post for the three count.
Winner and STILL Women's Champion: Beth Phoenix via pin fall
****Commercial****
Last Man Standing Match
Chris Jericho v. Shawn Michaels
Match starts out hard with the two countering each other until HBK connected with a surly lariat to start the first count. He followed up with a forearm and a body slam before looking for the elbow, only for Jericho to get his knees up.
Michaels' ribs are a hurtin' and Jericho's driving his kicks into 'em. Jericho went for his springboard drop kick, but Michaels ducked and Jericho went smashing to the floor. Michaels connected with an Asai Moonsault and we get some more counting on Jericho.
Michaels chased a now fleeing Jericho up the ramp and pummeled him on the ring ramp. He went for sweet chin music, but the champion ducked under it and hit a big bulldog, driving Michaels' face to the steel. Jericho hit a boot to the grill and now it's a count for HBK.
****Commercial****
Jericho went to gather HBK only to get caught by the legs and catapulted into the mail box on the set. He rose to his feet and charged at Michaels, only to get flipped onto the car on the set. The two grappled up the car before Jericho grabbed the walls of Jericho on top of the roof of the car. He dumped Michaels off the side of the car for a count while he goaded the crowd.
HBK rose to his feet and hit Jericho in the midsection before tossing him off the stage to the concrete. Michaels swung the camera crane into Jericho's head, putting him on his back. The two continued to brawl around and through the crowd into the ring side area. Michaels tossed Jericho over the guardrail and went shopping for a ladder. Once in hand, Jericho hit a drop kick to it, sending Michaels reeling to the floor. Jericho picked the ladder back up and drove it into Michaels' face to get another count going.
Michaels fought back with a chop before tossing the ladder at Jericho's head. HBK dismantled the ring side table and placed Jericho on it before setting up a ladder and jumping off with the big elbow, driving Jericho through the table.
The two rose to their feet only for JBL to show up out of nowhere. HBK dodged him and sent him reeling into the crowd. Jericho in the meantime, grabbed the world title belt and waited for HBK to turn around. When he did, Jericho decked him with the belt. Still, Michaels rose to his feet.
Michaels dodged the Jericho punch and hit sweet chin music. Just as he did that, JBL popped back up from the crowd and hit a crushing chair shot to the skull of Michaels. Jericho beat the count and wins the match.
Winner: Chris JerichoRAW THOUGHTSShow Thoughts-- Decent show tonight but seemed a little flat. Maybe it was jet lag or whatever, but a decent show was just pretty much what it was.
The Regal-Santino match surprised me a bit. I didn't think they'd genuinely do the title switch, but I suppose it makes sense. Santino doesn't need the IC title to do what he does. Regal's been money in the ring this year and I guess this is a little reward for that. It's got to make you wonder if they've got bigger plans in store. God knows I'd love to see it.
The Rey Mysterio-Kane feud blow off was pretty unspectacular. There weren't any spots in the match that were bad or even out of place, but the contest just totally lacked intensity. Kane seemed a step or two off to boot.
The thing that really intrigued me was the Batista-Orton-Priceless stuff. Cody's finally showing some real toughness and I like that. What's interesting isn't whether they'll end up together... Orton will likely use them as stooges to throw at face opponents trying to get at him... but rather I'm more interested to see where Batista ends up. He was really disrespected tonight, which I was surprised to see considering how they've treated th character the past couple of years. I think they may be headed in the direction of a heel turn for Bats, but does he end up with Orton... or not? Either way, I like weaving those two deals together. Even if it doesn't end up in Orton and Batista re-uniting, that's fine. It'll just keep things that much more interesting.
The HBK-Jericho match was pretty bad. Jericho hates bumping and Michaels isn't a fan of taking spills much these days (can't blame him, he is 106 years old don't forget) either, and mix in the fact that neither guy strikes very well, it's not a surprise this ended up the way it did. They never really decided if they were going for more of the attitude-y comedy spots or some real, genuinely hateful stuff. Pace was off, strikes were lazy and the spots, save for the ending (which I really liked) were poorly planned. Just not a big fan of the match. It was a great feud to be sure, but man, it didn't really ever deliver to everyone's hopes in the ring.
The rest of the show was just pretty flat stuff. The women's match was a wreck and the Knox match was pretty mis-able. Other than that, it was pretty paint by the numbers stuff. Nothing horrible, it just felt like it lacked energy. The London crowd's usually pretty nutty, but seemed tame this episode, which strikes me as odd. You could definitely hear crowd editing though, so that might have had something to do with it...
Overall Grade: C
Quick Results
William Regal def. Santino Marella to WIN the Intercontinental Championship
Mike Knox def. D-Lo Brown
Rey Mysterio def. Kane
Batista def.Cody Rhodes
Beth Phoenix def. Mickie James
Chris Jericho def. Shawn Michaels
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. William Regal
2. Shane McMahon
3. Rey Mysterio
4. Batista
Most Heat
1. Randy Orton
2. Chris Jericho
3. Cody Rhodes
4. Stephanie McMahon
Match of the Night: Rey Mysterio v. Kane **
Power RankingsPoints
5= 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: Chris Jericho 21-19-1, 52 pts. (Last Week: 1)-- Pretty run of the mill week for Jericho. The opening promo was decent, but man that match, especially for a LMS match, was pretty pedestrian stuff. A win's a win I suppose.
Intercontinental Champion:William Regal, 7-6, 19 points (Last Week: 7) -- I'm VERY pleased with this. I think Regal's been absolutely top notch the past couple of months so it'll be good to see what he can pull off. Plenty of guys out there.
1. Batista 13-7-3, 31 Points (Last Week: 1) -- Was disrespected a few times this week. Interesting spin for a change. We'll see how this pans out.
2. Shawn Michaels 21-7-2, 28pts. (Last Week: 2) -- Pretty bad LMS match with Jericho tonight. Michaels strikes stink, so it shouldn't be a big surprise. Their whole feud surely delivered on the stick, but not so much in the ring. I guess it was appropriate all things considered.
3. CM Punk 11-7-2, 32 Points (Last Week: 4) -- Not in action.
4. Rey Mysterio 7-6, 16 Points (Last Week: 5) -- Decent if not a little flat end to the Kane feud, but good showing for Rey none the less. The win vaults him ahead of Kane.
5. Kane 8-10, 12 Points (Last Week: 4) -- He looked pretty bland tonight. Seemed off. Could've been the plane trip or whatever, but he wasn't on his game tonight.
6. JBL 18-26, 32 points (Last Week: 6)- - Quiet and otherwise uneventful night for JBL. We've had dueling interference from him and HBK, but no real interaction yet.. hopefully we'll get something next week.
7. Santino Marella 12-13-1, 19 points (Last Week: Intercontinental Champion)-- Knocked off the pedistal and well, doesn't quite make it to Honkey's record, but I don't think anyone really expected him to. He doesn't need the belt to be funny. He'll be fine on his own.
8. Kofi Kingston 8-9, 22 points (Last Week: 8) -- Not in action.
9. Ted Dibiase, Jr. 9-5, 19 Points (Last Week: 9) -- Not in action
10. Cody Rhodes 13-12, 21 points (Last Week: 10) -- Decent stuff from Cody tonight. The Priceless-Orton story remains the most interesting thing going on week to week. Cody's showing some gumption now.
OTHERS:
John Cena 19-13, 34 points. (Last Week: NR)
Randy Orton 10-10-2, 20pts. (Last Week: NR)
Mike Knox 1-0-0. 2 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul Burchill 5-5, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
JTG 6-7, 8 points (Last Week: NR)
Big Shaad 6-6, 7 points (Last Week: NR)
Paul London 3-6, 3 points(Last Week: RELEASED)
Lance Cade 3-7, 5 points (Last Week: NR)
Jamie Noble 2-5, 4 Points (Last Week: NR)
Primo Colon 1-0, 2 Points (Last Week: NR)
D-Lo Brown 2-3, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Snitsky 2-6, 3 points (Last Week: NR)
Manu 2-0, 2 Points (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 2-5-1, 4 points (Last Week: NR)
Deuce 0-2, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Chuck Palumbo 0-0, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Matt Striker 0-1, 0 Points (Last Week: NR)
Jerry Lawler 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Jim Duggan 0-2, 0 points (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-2, 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