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Eric Ganzerli is live at the Monday Night Raw taping in Milan, Italy and will be updating us with results as the taping progresses.
Pre-Show Notes:
*When WWE played the history of WWE video, every clip of John Cena was booed out of the building.
*The set is the same one used for recent tapings in Great Britain, with Italian flags replaced the UK flags.
*Todd Grisham came to the ring to introduce Heat.
Dark Match:
*CM Punk defeated Kevin Thorn with Go To Sleep. Thorn was bleeding after the match.
Heat:
*Val Venis pinned Daniel Rodimer with the Money Shot. Crowd was chanting the World Cup song to entertain themselves.
*Matt Hardy pinned Kenny Dykstra with the Twist of Fate. A bit long and slow at times.
Raw:
*The Italian announce team will be at ringside at a table next to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.
*Monday Night Raw opens with Jonathan Coachman on the stage, announcing John Cena vs. Rated RKO tonight. Coachman then introduces Vince McMahon, who rips on the crowd and "fashion city." McMahon introduces Umaga and Armando Alejandro Estrada. They review destroying ECW champion Bobby Lashley last week at the end of Raw. McMahon promises to destroy Lashley at Backlash and notes that neither Lashley nor Shane McMahon are here tonight. He says that Umaga is here, though, and issues an open challenge for anyone to face the Intercontinental champion. No one comes out. McMahon raises the stakes, saying the title is on the line. No one comes out. McMahon asks if anyone from the audience would like to fight Umaga. A lot of fans raise their hands. An "obvious plant" is called into the ring. McMahon tries to talk to the "fan", who responds to him in Italian. A referee comes down and we have our first match.
WWE Intercontinental champion Umaga vs. ?
After the fan nearly gets a two count, McMahon returns and announces the match is no No Holds Barred. Estrada slaps the fans, who slaps him back. Umaga and Estrade trounce the fan. The building chants for Lashley. Lashley hits the ring and attacks Umaga. McMahon grabs a chair but Lashley blocks it and Vince scampers out of the ring. Lashley drills Umaga with the chair three times, then spears him. Lashley puts the fan on top of Umaga. The fan gets the pin. The fan, announced as "Santino" is the new WWE Intercontinental champion.
*During a commercial break, Jerry Lawler got into the ring to interview Santino and Lashley. Lashley said he wasn't supposed to be here, but he's here. He said that he isn't supposed to keep his title at Backlash according to Vince McMahon, but he will. He and Santino celebrate in the crowd.
*Backstage vignette with Ric Flair psyching up Carlito for their match tonight.
*They announce the main event of Raw next week from London will be WWE champion John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels.
*Carlito and Ric Flair vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
Ric Flair interferes during the match and is admonished by the referee. Carlito is hit by Haas as he rebounds off the ropes. Benjamin hits an exploder suplex and pins Carlito. Carlito has words with Flair and walks off.
*They air a vignette on HHH's injury. It may have been just for the live crowd.
*They air a recap video on the Make-A-Wish child that was General Manager last week.
*Maria interviews WWE champion John Cena, who is booed by the crowd. Shawn Michaels comes in. Cena says that before Wrestlemania he had to worry about whether Michaels had his back or not, but next week, he doesn't have to worry about that - he's just going to kick Michaels' ass.
*They air a trailer for The Condemned.
*WWE Women's champion Melina is backstage preparing for the Diva Fashion Show with Johnny Nitro. Eugene appears on the scene and Nitro sends him packing.
*They air a video feature on The Great Khali and announce he'll return to Raw next week.
Johnny Nitro vs. Eugene
Nitro pins Eugene with a snapshot neckbreaker in a quick bout.
*The Diva Fashion Show is next.
*Torrie Wilson wins the Fashion Show. Melina attacks her, leading to the babyface Divas clearing the ring.
Jeff Hardy (with Matt Hardy) vs. Lance Cade (with Trevor Murdoch)
Hardy goes for the swanton but Cade gets his knees up. Cade then nails a lariat for the pin.
*Another Condemned promo.
Chris Masters came to the ring and cut a promo saying none of the greats like Da Vinci and Michelangelo created a masterpiece like his body.
Chris Masters vs. Super Crazy
Dueling chants for each. Masters gets the win with a new move, not the Masterlock.
*They aired a new Undertaker video highlighting his undefeated streak (15-0) at Wrestlemania.
*Added to Backlash is Melina vs. Mickie James for the WWE Womens title.
WWE champion John Cena vs. Rated RKO - Handicap Match
Edge and Orton did a promo before the match saying they were letting bygones be bygones to get the job done together. Late in the match, they were destroying Cena. Shawn Michaels came out and pulled the rope down, causing Orton to fall from the ring. Cena made a comeback and went for the F-U on Edge, but Orton dropkicked them, bumping the referee in the process. Michaels tries to hit Sweet Chin Music on Cena, but he avoided it. Edge got nailed. Cena hit the F-U on Michaels, then covered Edge for the pin. RKO attacked Michaels and after some hesitation, Cena hit the ring. Cena and Michaels hit their finishers on RKO. Michaels then nailed Cena with Sweet Chin Music and celebrates to end the show.
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