Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
We are live from Fort Wayne, Indiana and your announcers are Jerry ‘I have a suggestion for the second generation team’ Lawler and Michael ‘I picked the Colts to win last night’ Cole.
Lillian Garcia is in the ring and she introduces the new World Champion Chris Jericho. Chris tells everyone who he is and he points out that he is the new World Champion in case you missed Lillian Garcia’s announcement. Jericho is going to give everyone who did not see the pay per view an update on what happened. Last night, he faced the wrath of a self righteous hypocrite, Shawn Michaels. Shawn talks about turning the other cheek and being a good person; but Chris wants to show us what Shawn did last night. Chris takes off his jacket, shirt, and tie and he reveals the marks on his back. The crowd applauds the bruises while Chris talks about them. He asks what kind of man would do this to another human being. What kind of person would disfigure another man? That man is Shawn Michaels and he is a hypocrite. Shawn whipped him like a dog. The tip of his belt discolored his back and the fans savored every minute of it. When all of the bravado goes down, what did Shawn Michaels win? He won nothing. Shawn might have won his match. Now he is home celebrating with his family. Chris says that the match was unsanctioned and never existed so Shawn accomplished nothing. Chris points out that he has the title belt.
Chris says that six months ago, he said that good things happen to good people. Chris says that he is a good person. He is a righteous man and a good man. He does what he says and now he is the champion. After he received the brutal beating that he did not deserve last night, he was told by Mike Adamle that Randy Orton kicked CM Punk in the head and was out of the Scramble. That is how he is the new champion. Not only did he beat Steve Austin and The Rock to become the first Undisputed Champion. Last night, he beat Kane, Rey Mysterio, Batista, and Bradshaw to win the title. Chris points out that Batista came close to winning. Now everyone must respect how good Chris Jericho is. Chris says that he is not Shawn Michaels. He is better because he is the new World Champion.
Mike Adamle comes out and he congratulates Chris for his victory. Adamle says that CM Punk suffered a concussion last night and was not medically cleared to wrestle last night. Mike says that he was looking for a championship caliber replacement and Chris filled in that role. Adamle reminds everyone that Punk lost without being pinned. Punk is not here tonight. Next week he will get a chance to regain his title. Punk will Jericho for the title. The match will be in a steel cage.
Jericho says that he is not worried because he beat Punk in his home town, so he can beat him next week. Chris says that he is sick of dealing with the hypocrites so he is going to get out of here. Adamle says that he is not done. He needs a main event tonight. After last night, why not have Chris Jericho face Batista.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Candice Michelle comes to the ring to watch our first match.
Match Number One: Beth Phoenix versus Mickie James for the WWE Women’s Title and more importantly, a chance to wrestle Candice Michelle at No Mercy
Mickie with a waist lock and Beth tries for a fireman’s carry but she picks up Mickie and drops her on the top rope. Mickie goes to the floor and Beth with a kick and then she sends Mickie into the ring post. Beth rolls Mickie back into the ring and gets a near fall. Beth with an arm bar and she punches Mickie and works on the arm. We see Candice’s back enjoy the match as Beth lifts Mickie in the air by her arm. Mickie gets to the ropes and she kicks Beth in the back. Beth with an arm wringer from the turnbuckles. Beth with a slingshot suplex attempt but Mickie floats over and hits a neck breaker. Mickie with forearms but Beth with a punch.
Beth runs Mickie into the corner and then she charges into a boot. Mickie with a punch and then she hits a head scissors take down and flying clothesline. Mickie with a Thesz Press and she punches Beth. Beth stops an Irish whip attempt and then she returns to the arm. Beth with a forearm to the midsection and then she sends Mickie to the apron. Mickie with a forearm and then Mickie tries for a head scissors but Beth with a wheelbarrow slam for the three count.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
After the match, Beth stares at Candice and Candice stands up very slowly and stands in front of her chair.
Jamie Noble and Layla are in the back and Jamie says that Layla is his lucky charm. Jamie wants Layla out there for their tiebreaker match. Layla says that she was surprised by Noble’s win. Noble says that he has a surprise for Layla and from out of nowhere, Jillian scares pets with her rendition of Layla. Noble says that wasn’t the song he was thinking of and mentions a Layla with a feather in her hair. Noble says that when he wins tonight, they are going to celebrate at Olive Garden. We go to commercial.
We are back with WWE Rewind: Jamie Noble beating William Regal last week on Raw.
Match Number Two: Jamie Noble versus William Regal
Regal backs Noble into the corner and he hits a series of knees and then he biels Noble out of the corner. Noble with a kick and then he puts Regal in a side head lock. Noble with a shoulder tackle and Regal does not go down. Noble with a head scissors take down. Regal with an exploder suplex. Regal works over Noble apparently while we watch Layla at ringside. Regal with an arm bar and cross face. Noble punches Regal and tries for a sunset flip but Regal with a knee to the head and then he puts Noble in a side head lock. Noble tries to get to his feet and he finally does but Regal makes him pay with a knee to the midsection. Regal with an Irish whip but Noble with a series of kicks. Noble with a drop kick from the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Noble with an enzuigiri and then he hits a cannonball, but Regal gets his knees up and Regal with a running knee to the head for the three count.
Winner: William Regal
After the match, Regal gets a mic and he stands by Noble and asks him what he expected because happy endings only happen in fairy tales. Regal leaves the ring and approaches Layla. Layla leaves with Regal and Layla has a scared look on her face as she leaves with William.
We go to commercial.
We are back with random WWE Raw longevity factoid.
Match Number Three: John Bradshaw Layfield with JBLimo versus Charles Haas Layfield from the trunk of the JBLimo
Haas makes Layfield proud by mentioning Mamajuana a few hundred times. Bradshaw does the JBL dance before Bradshaw takes the mic. Charles holds up some Mamajuana for Bradshaw and smiles. Bradshaw asks Haas if he is mocking him. Bradshaw says that Haas has to be kidding him. He asks him if this is funny. Bradshaw asks if he is an over the top caricature. Bradshaw calls him a disrespectful punk. He says that he deserves better than this. He says that Haas will respect him. He says that he deserves it.
The bell rings and Bradshaw leaves the ring and heads to the back. The referee makes the ten count and Haas wins the toughest match of his career.
Winner: Charles Haas Layfield
We go to commercial.
We are back and Wrestlemania 25 tickets are on sale on September 20th (unless you have the pre-sale codes).
We are back and Bradshaw is walking in the back and he is not happy. We see Batista and Kelly laughing. Bradshaw wonders what they are laughing at. Kelly leaves and Batista comments on the plugs by Haas. Bradshaw says that Batista should understand how inappropriate it was for Haas to do that because they have nothing in common. Batista agrees that they have nothing in common. Batista points out that Haas won his match tonight.
Todd Grisham is with Rey Mysterio in the interview area. Todd asks Rey about the time he took off because of what Kane did. Rey says that he does not know why Kane did that. Because of his actions, Rey needed to take time off to rehab his body (and get more tattoos). Rey says that he needs to stand strong if he is going to be on Raw. Rey starts to speak in tongues and then he tells Kane that he might claim that he is Kane’s victim. Saying that Kane killed his spirit, it is not true because his spirit is still alive. Rey might always be an underdog, but he is nobody’s victim.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: John Morrison and The Miz versus Evan Bourne and Rey Mysterio
Bourne and Morrison start things off and Morrison backs him into the corner and Bourne avoids a punch and hits an arm drag into a cover. Bourne holds on to the arm bar and then he tags in Rey. Rey with a seated splash onto the arm for a near fall. Morrison with a kick to Rey followed by an Irish whip. Morrison drives Rey into the mat and Miz tags in and they hit a double gutbuster. Miz with elbows and an arm bar. Miz sends Rey into the corner but Rey with a kick and then he hits a seated senton splash and he tags in Bourne. Bourne goes up top and hits a double knee drop. Bourne and Rey with a wheelbarrow slam to Miz but Morrison interferes. Bourne is sent to the floor and he hits a rana on Morrison. Bourne with a jumping back kick and then he goes up top but Morrison gets on the apron and he kicks Bourne in the back of the head while the referee was distracted by Rey.
Morrison tags back in and he connects with a forearm to Bourne and then he comes in with a slingshot elbow while Bourne was still on Miz’s knees. Morrison with a rear chin lock and he has his knee in Bourne’s back. Bourne kicks Morrison in the knee but Morrison tries for a neckbreaker but Bourne turns it into a back slide. Miz tags back in and he hits an elbow drop. Miz with a rear chin lock. Miz with forearms to the back and then Morrison is tagged in but Bourne avoids both men and he is able to tag in Rey. Rey with a springboard cross body to both men. Rey is tossed onto Miz and he hits a rana that sends Miz to the floor. Rey with a springboard seated splash followed by a kick to the head for a near fall. Rey sends Morrison into the ropes and Morrison assumes the position but Miz trips Rey on the 619 attempt. Bourne breaks up the cover by Morrison. Bourne is sent to the floor with a knee lift. Morrison kicks Miz by mistake and then Rey sends Morrison back into the ropes for the 619. Bourne tags in and he hits the shooting star press for the three count.
Winners: Evan Bourne and Rey Mysterio
After the match, Kane tells Rey Rey that they will meet next week and then everyone will understand why Rey is a victim. Kane says that he chose Rey and he will not tell Rey just yet. Kane has a hint and it is a special hint. We see the old mask that Kane used to wear. Rey starts to twitch and we go to commercial.
Randy Orton is walking in the back and we go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Randy Orton kicking CM Punk last night at Unforgiven.
Randy Orton comes to the ring very deliberately. Orton has lulled the sound truck to sleep and then he says that there is no worse feeling than to be on a global stage with the title in your grasp only to have tragedy keep you from competing. Orton says that he is not talking about CM Punk. Orton says that he is talking about himself. A few months ago, he broke his collarbone against Triple H, unable to retain his title. The difference between CM Punk and himself is that he earned his championship. He won the main event at Wrestlemania. CM Punk got lucky and karma caught up. Last night, he was taken out by a one armed man. Orton says that he did it because he was threatened and he felt concerned for his safety. Punk should not be mad, but he should be happy for having his face kicked in because it kept him from being exposed.
Orton tells Jericho to feel free to thank him any time he wants because if it wasn’t for him, Jericho would not have been in the match, and he would not have been champion. Orton says that he will take back what is his when he is healthy.
Orton is interrupted by Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and Manu who come to the ring. Rhodes asks Orton who took care of Punk last night. Rhodes tells Orton to check his facts because if the three of them didn’t do what they did, Orton would not have been able to punt Punk unconscious. Rhodes says that they took care of Kofi too. Rhodes tells Orton not to take credit for something he didn’t do. Manu says that he is not the only one who was blessed with God given talent. He isn’t the only one with a father who is a hall of famer. He says that Orton is no better than any of them. Ted says that Orton did slap Cody in the fact last week. Ted says that what they did to Punk was impressive. Orton slaps DiBiase and then Orton leaves the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a WWE linguistics factoid.
Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu are still in the ring because they are involved in the next match.
Match Number Five: Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Manu versus Cryme Tyme and Kofi Kingston
JTG and Rhodes start things off and JTG sends Rhodes into the corner. Rhodes runs into a punch from JTG. Rhodes with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Rhodes with a knee and forearm before tagging in DiBiase. JTG with a drop toe hold and front face lock. Kofi tags in and he hits a European uppercut. DiBiase with an Irish whip but he misses the charge and Kingston goes into the corner. Manu is sent to the apron and DiBiase sends Kingston to the floor where Manu chops Kofi. Manu tags in and he hits a head butt and slam followed by a diving head butt for a near fall. Manu slams Kofi and tags in DiBiase who hits a knee drop from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Rhodes tags back in and they double team Kofi. Rhodes with a modified abdominal stretch but Kofi gets to his feet and he punches Rhodes. Rhodes with a forearm. Kofi misses a cross body when Rhodes moves out of the way. Kofi with a rollup for a near fall and then we get a double clothesline from Rhodes and Kingston and both men are down. DiBiase and Shad tag in and Shad with a boot to Ted and then he goes after Manu. DiBiase gets another clothesline and then Shad presses Rhodes over his head. Shad sends JTG into Rhodes and both men go over the top rope to the floor. Shad with a power slam to DiBiase and then Manu tags in and he hits a belly-to-back suplex into a neck breaker for the three count.
Winners: Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand Moment: A look at November 24, 1983 when Ric Flair won the NWA World Title at Starrcade.
Cole and Lawler talk about the passing of the torch with that match. Lawler mentions that this month on WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand is devoted to Flair.
Santino comes to the ring with the Honk-A-Meter and time to point out that he is only 61 weeks behind the Honky Donkey Man. The Mountie only had the title for two days. He is 19 days better than the Mountie. Santino says that he hopes Randy Orton is impressed. He wants his opponent to come to the ring.
Match Number Six: Santino Marella with Beth Phoenix versus Gene Snitsky
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Chris Jericho with Lance Cade versus Batista
Mike Adamle comes out and he less than emphatically tells the referee to stop the match. Adamle apologizes and says that he is learning on the job. He wanted a great main event and he misdiagnosed Jericho’s injury. To even things up, it will be a handicap match. Batista will face Chris Jericho and John Bradshaw Layfield. The real John Bradshaw Layfield walks to the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and the match has been joined in progress and Batista punches Bradshaw but Jericho with a knee to the back. Bradshaw with an elbow drop for a near fall. Jericho tags in and he kicks Batista in the corner and chokes him with the boot. Jericho has a punch blocked and Batista with a punch of his own. Bradshaw tags in and he punches Batista. Jericho chokes Batista while the referee is with Bradshaw. Bradshaw with a gingerly placed short arm clothesline followed by a series of elbow drops for a near fall. Bradshaw with a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Jericho tags in and he kicks Batista in the head and slaps Batista. Batista with a slap to Jericho’s head followed by a punch and a clothesline. Batista with a clothesline to Bradshaw. Cade gets on the apron when Batista sets for the Batista Bomb. Jericho gets the three count after Bradshaw hits the Clothesline from Hell.
After the match, Lance Cade holds Batista for Bradshaw to punch him. Bradshaw asks Batista who he is laughing at now. Cade punches Batista and then they pick up Batista but Batista with a double shoulder tackle and then he spears Bradshaw followed by a spinebuster to Cade. Batista shakes the ropes and it is time for the BatistaBomb.
We go to credits.
Raw Thoughts:
The Matches:
The Beth Phoenix/Mickie James match was okay but it was a shame that this match was simply to determine who might lose to Candice at the pay per view? I have seen better matches between the two, but it is good to see both of them in the ring because they are the best female wrestlers on the brand.
The Regal/Noble match was too short to really get into, but it is good to see these two beat the hell out of each other and if it has to lead to a weekly three minute match, I don’t mind that.
I was very surprised by the Bradshaw/Haas ‘match’. I expected to see Bradshaw destroy Haas, not walk out of the ring and get counted out.
I really liked the Miz/Morrison versus Bourne/Mysterio match. I would never have expected to say that of the two people on a team with Rey that the match slowed down when Mysterio was in the match. I hope the lack of a Cruiserweight Title does not limit what the company can do with Evan Bourne.
The six man tag match was okay. Of the FCW wrestlers with no background in any other company that has a pay per view deal right now, I thought Manu’s debut was the best of the group. However, when you look at the work of the others in the company who were down there, is there any surprise. Right now, I would say that he is number two behind Kofi Kingston.
When you have a Snitsky match that is not very long, that is a good thing. See everyone in November 2009 when he beats the Honky Donkey Man and becomes the greatest Intercontinental Champion ever.
I was not really a big fan of the main event. So we have another handicap match, but only after Mike Adamle realizes that he made a mistake to have Jericho wrestle a singles match? I wish Jericho would have sold the back a little more like Montel Vontavious Porter did when he wrestled the week after the Inferno Match.
The Rest:
I thought Chris Jericho’s promo was good but I think it would have been better if he was not the champion. The brawl between him and Shawn Michaels was very good. I have enjoyed Jericho trying to paint himself as the victim. I agree with the majority that Jericho should not have been put in the title match after being destroyed by Shawn Michaels earlier in the night.
If the match was unsanctioned and Michaels didn’t officially win a ‘match’, does that mean that the bruises that he showed everyone never happened?
Mike Adamle must have watched old Michelle McCool promos from her early days in the company when she never took a breath during her promos and had no inflection because he was more monotone than a test pattern.
One kick and Punk is not cleared to wrestle because of a concussion. Shawn Michaels beats the tar out of Chris Jericho to the point where the referee stops the match and he cannot get out of the ring without help and he is able to make his way to the ring and wrestle. Can we get an unsafe work environment protest angle?
How did Candice Michelle earn a title match? Did she go to the Bradshaw school of ‘I get a title match because I said so’?
With the emotion that Candice showed when she stood up, did Mike Adamle tell her how to stand up?
Does Jamie Noble have some fascination with Hispanic women because after his long courtship with Nidia (does anyone miss the ‘breast enhancing and blinding’ black mist), now he is in an angle with Layla?
Did anyone else love the reference that Noble made to the lyrics for Copacabana? Maybe we will see Scott Goldman appear on television this week. I know the name is Lola in the song, but it is the thought that counts.
Will Regal and Layla be the real Beauty and the Beast of the WWE?
When Regal said that there are no happy endings were you thinking A) Bradshaw is going to be angry that someone else is doing his Cinderella references; or B) Regal must not know about places where you can get ‘happy endings’.
Charlie Haas is just so amazing. We need Haas and Marella together. I thought it was great when he comes out of the trunk of the JBLimo. His promo was hilarious with the plugs for the Bradshaw products. The fact that he was standing in Bradshaw’s face and was not backing down from the Mamajuana plugs.
The segment with Batista and Bradshaw was okay and set up the main event for the show even though it was not announced that they would meet in a match.
With Batista standing up for Haas, does that mean Haas-Tista next week?
Does Rey get fifteen new tattoos each time he is out with an injury?
I thought Rey’s promo was good, but I really am not into his feud with Kane.
If they speed up Orton’s entrance music, will he walk to the ring faster and cut shorter promos with a bit of emotion?
When Orton’s music plays, does anyone else think that Ashley might make her comeback? Was anyone else surprised that Orton was talking about himself?
When Rhodes, DiBiase, and Manu came to the ring, were you expecting to see them join Orton?
Does Manu really make an imposing enforcer when you are shorter than the two people you are acting as enforcer for?
Did anyone else want to see Bradshaw appear to go after Batista only to attack Cade and have him give a message to Chris Jericho that he wants a title match.
Congratulations Batista. You almost won the title on Sunday night so tonight we are going to give you . . . a non-title match.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section,
which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts,
interviews and more by clicking here!
Snitsky with a forearm to Santino and then Beth tries to distract him. Snitsky with a clothesline and elbow for a near fall. Snitsky sends Santino into the corner and then he misses the boot into the corner. Santino trips Snitsky and gets the rollup for the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
Batista runs Jericho into the corner and hits a series of shoulders followed by a biel to work on the injured back. Batista with an Irish whip and punch to the face. Batista with a boot to the head for a near fall. Batista with another Irish whip followed by a power slam and Jericho rolls out of the ring to the floor.
Winners: Bradshaw and Chris Jericho
Bang On Casino
