On Monday, May 7, 2007 at 11:50 PM EST WWE RAW
May 7, 2007
Penn State University
Commentators: Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Mr. McMahon came out to the ring and said what he saw last week was amazing. He said one man destroyed four WWE superstars in one night. A video aired recapping Khali’s assault on Edge, HBK, Randy Orton and WWE Champion John Cena. Vince McMahon said that at Judgement Day, that Khali would face John Cena, before being cut off by Shawn Michaels.
Michaels told him not to finish the horrific line. He said it was HBK who was supposed to face Cena last week but Khali attacked him, and thus prevented him from beating him. Vince said HBK probably wanted to be named #1 contender. HBK cut him off again and said Vince had never ‘made’ him anything. He said for him to ‘make’ him something it would imply he did something for him or did something for him. He said he was here to earn whatever it was he wanted. He said he may have lost his mind, but he wanted the Great Khali in a #1 contender’s match.
Vince thought about it for a little while and said that he knew HBK had more guts than brains, but maybe tonight they’d find both scattered all over the ring. He said HBK would face Khali tonight in a No Disqualification match. I guess that’s that.
Vince started talking about his ECW World Championship before Lashley’s music hit and he came out, uh, smiling, because, afterall, that’s what everyone does when you have a world championship stolen. Lashley said he gave Shawn what he wanted and now he was demanding what he wanted. McMahon said that if Lashley wanted the ECW title back, he couldn’t lay a hand on him, Shane or even Umaga. Vince said he was glad Lashley was here. He said he wanted to remind him of what happened at Backlash and rolled the film. Vince gave some seriously funny commentary.
Vince goaded Lashley some more before telling him he made him sick. Vince started plugging a collector’s photo with Undertaker, Lashley and John Cena, the three champions. Vince said it was going off the shelves though, because something was wrong about the picture. He said he’d fix it and a photo imposed a picture of his head on Lashley’s. Vince said Lashley would get his shot at Judgement Day against Vince, Shane & Umaga. Vince goaded Lashley some more. Vince gloated about humbling Lashley while Coach made fun of him. Vince’s music hit and he left the ring.
Lashley grabbed Coach on his way out and decked him with a lariat and began pummeling him on the mat. Lashley dumped Coach to the outside and slammed his head off the ring steps. Lashley began choking out Coach in the corner with a chord before leaving his body in the corner and having a stare down with Vince. As Coach stumbled to his feet, Lashley headed back out to hit a big spear.
Candice and Mickie are in the back getting ready for their match.
****Commercial****
Candice Michelle & Mickie James v. Melina & Victoria
Victoria and Candice started us off and Candice fed two drop kicks and an arm drag before Victoria scampered out of the ring and tagged in Melina. The two exchanged slaps before Mickie tagged in and planted Melina with a drop kick to the face. Candice tagged back in and grabbed an arm wringer before Melina hoisted her up on her shoulders and let Victoria hang her up on the top rope.
Melina got a two count on the cover before laying out Candice for an elbow. Melina missed the elbow and tagged in Mickie who hit two clotheslines and then a Lou Thesz press. The action spilled into the corner where Mickie hit a hurricanranna and a nasty neck breaker before knocking Victoria off the ring apron. Melina fought back with some punches until Candice hit a blind tag and a wheel kick. Three seconds later, Candice won the fall.
Winner: Candice via pin fall
A video aired putting over Santino Marella’s IC Championship victory over Umaga. Santino Marella will be defending the belt next.
****Commercial****
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Santino Marella v. Chris Masters
The bell rang and Masters easily tossed him to the corner. Marella ate a shoulder block shortly thereafter. Santino egged Masters on saying he could take it. Masters grabbed an easy scoop slam but narrowly missed an elbow drop. Marella turned up the heat and hit some drop kicks and quick strikes for a one count on the cover attempt.
Masters came crashing back with a brutal lariat, flooring the champion. Masters drove his knee into the champ’s back before stomping his brains out on the ring apron and dropping an elbow to Santino’s face. Masters went for a cover attempt before laying in a few more boots. Masters missed a knee drop before Marella began booting away at Master’s thighs. Marella hit a nifty inziguri before going for a cover attempt. Marella hit some mounted punches in the corner before Masters dumped him to the mat. The two exchanged charge attempts before Masters missed a shoulder thrust and crashed into the ring post. Santino used his momentum to roll him up for the three count.
Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Santino Marella via pin fall
****Commercial****
Mr. Kennedy’s music hit and he came out to the ramp. He introduced himself with his mic and said he came out with a bold statement. He said he just wanted to remind people that as of today , the countdown continues until Wrestlemania 24. He gave us another intro. Joy.
Maria was in the back with Randy Orton. She asked Orton how he was feeling about his match tonight. Randy said he wasn’t going to complain, he was going to prove his worth. Orton said his life would get back on track tonight. Shoot much? Seriously, he looked like he was going to cry. Seriously.
****Commercial****
Umaga v. The Highlanders
Umaga hammered away on both men right off the bat and lined them both up in opposite corners and hitting his running ass to the head. He picked up both and delivered a pair of spikes before stacking them on top of each other and hitting a ridiculous big splash. Great squash.
Winner: Umaga via pin fall
A video putting over “The Condemned” aired. Vince, please stop making bad movies.
****Commercial****
Edge was in the back with Mr. Kennedy whining about everything under the sun. Edge said he was sick of Kennedy coming on his show and runing his mouth. He said he treated the briefcase like it was a championship. Edge challenged Kennedy to a match for his briefcase tonight. Kennedy was easily goaded into it. Edge will face Kennedy for the briefcase later tonight. So THIS is how they’re going to solve that Smackdown world title scene dilemma.
#1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Championship
Shawn Michaels v. The Great Khali
Anyone dig the ‘warm up’ laps from Michaels lately? Funny stuff.
Michaels came right at Khali jumping on him like a baby in a stroller. The homoe-eroticism of wrestling. HBK did a little celebration thing before getting a Khali boot to the grill. Khali picked up Michaels and body slammed him with one hand. Khali went to drop a leg, but HBK ducked out of the way and grabbed a steel chair. Michaels decked Khali with the chair. Michaels went to look for the elbow, but Khali sat up. Michaels hit a lariat and an elbow from the top rope. Michaels tuned up the band for sweet chin music. Khali blocked the kick and hit a chop to the head. I freakin’ love the chop to the head for it’s incredible crappiness.
Khali choked out HBK in the corner with his boot before letting the former champion slump in the corner. I hope Khali eats him. Khali hit a series of back elbows before landing a big chop. Khali turned HBK upside down in the corner before killing Michaels with a clothesline heading out of the corner. Khali stared at the crowd as if to dash every internet fan in existence’s hopes of a decent main event at Judgement Day before collecting Michaels and looking for the double choke slam to the floor.
Michaels caught Khali and dragged him over the top rope and to the floor. He tried to hammer away at Khali but Khali picked him up and tossed him through the ropes back into the ring. Michaels hit a baseball slide drop kick before cleaning off the Spanish announce table and looking to DDTKhali through the table. Khali just stood up and flung him in the air into the guard rail. Wow.
Khali looked for the double choke slam through the announce table and plowed HBK through it. Michaels was unconscious on the floor and the referee stepped in and stopped the match.
Winner and #1 Contender for the WWE Championship: The Great Khali
The commentators put over just how hard HBK was tossed through the table. Yah, that was brutal. Great short match.
****Commercial****
Todd Grisham was in the back with WWE Champion John Cena. Cena asked him how he would feel about fighting a guy who was seven feet tall and talked like Charlie Brown’s teacher. He said he wouldn’t back down from any challenge, just like he was going to do tonight. Cena said in two weeks, Khali wanted a shot at his title. He said if someone wants the title, they needed to go through him. If Khali wanted some, he needed to come get some.
Cryme Tyme was out back. Mother’s Day is coming up. Good lord. They’re having a Mother’s Day sale. She showed us a steak they stole from Viscera. Next, they showed us perscription pills. Eugene was shown going nuts. Next, they showed us a hummer. Sure enough, there was Ron Simmons looking for his car. Damn! They said they had much more at low prices. If ‘we desire it, they’ll aquire it’. Spider man popped up out of nowhere. They mugged him.
****Commercial****
The Hardy Boyz v. The World’s Greatest Tag Team
Cade & Murdoch are on commentary and really, who cares about the match when they’re talking about ‘competition’.
“Matt Hardy with his back turned looks like your Ex Girlfriend.”
“No. Matt hardy has nicer hands.”
Shelton put on a few really nice wrestling holds. Hardy fought back, blah blah,. Cade and Murdoch are talking more.
“People don’t think we’re serious about the way we FEEL.”
“He’s got a lot of love to give.”
Hardy came in and hit a bunch of spotty moves before dropping legs on nards.
“We’re just glad we got to see the Hardy’s do some magic.”
Hardy hit a twist of fate but Haas cut him off. Matt tagged in and hit a back suplex before Jeff hit the swanton.
“We really respect and love these boys.”
“Yeah, it’s creepy but we’re sincere.”
Winners: Matt & Jeff Hardy
After the match, Cade & Murdoch climbed in the ring and shook the Hardy’s hands. Murdoch even did the Jeff Hardy dance. Glorious.
A video recap aired of the Carlito-Flair break up from last week. Carlito’s on his way to the ring and will speak about last week… next!
****Commercial****
Oh it’s not Raw! It’s ECW! It’s Snitsky! In a video package. I miss the baby kicking, feet loving, man massaging Snitsky.
Carlito’s music hit and he came out to the ring with Torrie who’s looking pretty good tonight. I have a feeling she’s getting DDT’d or something. Carlito said a few months ago, Flair embarrassed Carlito in front of his girl and said he was a waste of space on Raw. He said Flair told him he’d learn and grow under his wing.
Carlito said Flair almost ruined his career losing him tag match after tag match. He said he should be WWE Champion right now and should have at least been in the MITB match at Wrestlemania. Carlito called out Flair, but it turns out Flair is in Vegas. Carlito said he was tired of carrying all the trash around. He dumped Torrie in Spanish before cutting the rest of the promo in Spanish. I guess that’s that.
Kennedy v. Edge is next.
****Commercial****
Money in the Bank on the Line
Mr. Kennedy v. Edge
Edge came out and nailed Kennedy during his entrance before doinga total pearl harbor job on the MITB contract holder. Edge plastered Kennedy with a video monitor and tossed Kennedy in the ring before the bell even rang. Kennedy dragged himself to his feet as the official started the match.
Kennedy came running out of the corner before Edge nailed the spear and got the cover.
Winner and NEW holder of the MITB briefcase: Edge via pin fall
Edge continued the assault after the match and completely cold cocked Kennedy after the match with the briefcase.
****Commercial****
John Cena v. Randy Orton
Cena immediately went for a roll up before looking for a second. Orton kicked out of both and then raked the eyes before having an irish whip reversed. Cena hit his fisherman’s suplex and already, we’ve got a near fall. Orton hammered away at Cena’s back in the corner before laying Cena out with a clothesline and hitting a series of stomps and a cover attempt.
Orton grabbed a rear chin lock before Cena fought to his feet and slowly broke the hold. Cena hit a shoulder block and then began uncorking some clotheslines and the inverted power bomb. Cena came off the ropes and hit the five knuckle shuffle before The Great Khali came out to the ringside area. Cena was visibly distracted by Khali who grabbed Cena’s belt and began walking off with it.
Orton took advantage but quickly found himself in the STFU. Orton reached the ropes, but Cena didn’t seem to interested in him and flew out of the ring and began chasing Khali up the ring entrance. Khali turned around and decked him with the belt, leaving Cena a mess on the entrance ramp. Khali put the belt over his shoulder and walked off with it. The match didn’t end apparently. RAW THOUGHTS
Show Thoughts-- This was a terrible, terrible week for the WWE. First the Undertaker was injured last week. Then, the guy who won the Money in the Bank match was also injured. William Regal was another guy added to the Smackdown DL in addition to Rey Mysterio and Mark Henry. Smackdown, needless to say, is in dire need of top flight talent. When you lose a guy or two on one brand, you usually can rely on the fact that you can look to other talents. When you lose arguably four of your top five acts, it affects the other brands in a big way.
So it looks like Edge will get the World Title tomorrow night at the Smackdown tapings. WWE really looked off balance tonight and honestly, it’s to no fault of their own. What they managed to pull off was a decent little wrestling show with a few twists and turns that the regular fan and many ‘Net fans would have seen coming. Nonetheless, you could REALLY tell a lot of the stuff tonight was rushed.
The opening angle with HBK, McMahon and Lashley was REALLY awkward, made even more awkward by the fact that Lashley came out smiling. God Dammit someone needs to teach this kid how to act. His character just lost the most important title he’s ever had to the man he hates more than anyone /* on the planet, and he comes out with a big “I want to give kids ice cream” smile on his face. Other than that, everything was fine, with McMahon just being freaking hilarious the past few weeks. This ECW title run is gold and is going to do a lot of good for the brand.
Speaking of HBK, he really did a great job with Khali tonight. I know people have a lot to say about how bad Khali is. They’re right. He’s terrible in an awesome way. But the one thing about him fans SHOULD give him is he’s incredibly ‘carry-able’. Taker carried him to a very fun Last Man Standing match last summer and HBK did a bang up job with him tonight as well. Besides maybe Roderick Strong, no one does comeback sequences like John Cena in all of wrestling. It’s a good match up in that sense is that it’s going to entirely center around Cena selling his back side off and occasionally coming back. I’m not expecting the MOTY at Judgement Day, but I’m expecting it to be a solid 9-10 minute match. It’s a good match up for both believe it or not.
And holy smokes does Santino Marella look like a pip squeek. Yikes. Speaking of the mid card and mid card titles, I’m really digging the Cade/Murdoch-Hardy’s feud. Murdoch and Cade are absolutely incredible at the announce table. I love it. By the way, the Cryme Tyme segment was the first LEGITIMATELY funny sketch WWE’s done in a while. It was really funny stuff, especially Eugene freaking out without his meds. Fun stuff.
Randy Orton cut a pretty piercing shoot promo and then really sucked it up with Cena in the ring tonight. You could tell the two were just running through stuff to get to the akward Khali spot, which was kind of out of nowhere. If that wasn’t out of nowhere enough, they ended the show. Wait, WHY are we having this Orton-Cena match again?
Overall, a hit and miss show with really all the basic things done the way they needed to be done, but a lot of the icing we’ve come accustomed to over the past few weeks was completely lost. That’s not entirely Raw’s fault, as Smackdown is a real mess because of the injuries lately, but it was what it was. Not the best offering of the year, but totally passable TV.
Overall Grade: C+
Quick Results
Candice Michelle & Mickie James def. Melina & Victoria
Santino Marella def. Chris Masters
The Great Khali def. Shawn Michaels
The Hardy Boyz def. The World’s Greatest Tag Team
Edge def. Mr. Kennedy
John Cena v. Randy Orton went to a No Contest
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. John Cena
2. Shawn Michaels
3. The Hardy Boyz
4. Mr. Kennedy
Most Heat
1. Mr. McMahon
2. The Great Khali
3. Umaga
4. Edge
Match of the night: Shawn Michaels v. The Great Khali **3/4
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
WWE Champion: John Cena (14-5-1, 35 points) (Last Week: WWE Champion)— In a way, I’m happy they’re pulling the trigger with the Khali feud right now. Cena’s red hot in the ring and Khali is a good match up for Cena right now. I’m willing to bet Cena does a great job of carrying the big lunk.
Intercontinental Champion: Santino Morello 2-0, 7pts. (Last Week: IC Champion) — Meh, the promo did what it did. The whole Ameri…err Italian dream thing may be a little over done. We’ll really see what he’s made of soon.
1. The Great Khali, 10-0-1, 10pts. (Last Week: 1 )— WWE’s done a good job of handling him really. Khali chopped HBK in the head and then stole Cena’s belt. What fun.
2. HBK 9-6-1, 17 points (Last Week: 2) — I’m VERY curious as to where WWE’s heading with HBK right now. He’s sort of more serious but I almost wonder if he’s being taken off TV for a month or two to mend. I know he’s been working through a lot of ailments this year, so maybe tonight’s squash fest was the excuse for taking him off TV for a month or two.
3. Edge 6-8, 14pts. (Last Week: 3) — They weren’t very good at masking the fact he’s walking out with the World Heavyweight Championship tomorrow night. I still don’t care. It’s deserved and earned. I’m sure he’ll do a great job carrying the strap and Smackdown through a lean time.
4. Umaga 10-5, 23 Points (Last Week: 4) — The Highlanders were eaten tonight. Beautiful.
5. Jeff Hardy 15-6-1, 30 points. (Last Week: 5) -- Hardy’s still got a really solid record on Raw. A VERY paint by the numbers effort from him and brother Matt tonight, but did enough to advance the angle with Cade & Murdoch.
6. Randy Orton 3-13-2 , 7 pts. (Last Week: 6) — They’ve got to figure out what they want to do with this kid, or maybe it’s that Randy Orton needs to figure out what to do with himself. Either way, he’s really floating around aimlessly again and when your no contest mark almost equals your win total, you’ve had a rough year.
7. Chris Masters, 4-6, 8 pts. (Last Week: 7) —Everyone has a guy they wished would get a good push in the ‘E’, and Masters is the guy I wish would get a push. He’s improved in the ring, is pretty slick on the stick and has been consistently good for about five-six months now. I’m a little remise that they just stuck him up against Marella out of nowhere, as I feel he’d be a great guy for little Santino to chase.
8. Carlito 5-8-2, 8pts. (Last Week: 8) — He dumped Torrie and Flair. Now hopefully he gets ’cool’ again.
9. Ric Flair, 4-7-2, 6pts. (Last Week: 9) — In Vegas sleeping with like…. 4,326 whores at once. At least.
10. Johnny Nitro, (2-7-1, 4pts ) (last week: 10) -- Who?
OTHERS : Super Crazy 3-5-1, 5 points (Last Week: 9)
Kenny Dykstra 3-7, 6pts. (Last Week: NR)
Eugene 0-6, 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Lance Cade 2-8, 3pts. (Last Week: NR)
Trevor Murdoch 2-8, 3 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Shelton Benjamin 1-6-1, 1pt. (Last Week: NR)
Charlie Haas 1-5-1, 1pt. (Last Week: NR)
Viscera 0-2, 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Rory 0-4, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Robbie 0-5 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
JTG 3-5, 4pts. (Last Week: NR)
Big Shad 2-5, 2pts. (Last Week: NR)