WWE Raw Report

Date: 10/27/08 from Tucson, AZ

The Big News: Next week will be a monumental moment in our nation’s history. That’s right. It’s Raw’s 800th episode, and to celebrate there will be a three hour celebration bash. No “WWE Universe” drinking games, either, or you’ll be too hung over to vote the next day. Hell, you’ll probably die of alcohol poisoning that evening, so don’t try it kids.

Show Analysis:

An upset Chris Jericho came out to start the show. He said that his title loss at Cyber Sunday was the biggest screw job in WWE history. Jericho claimed that Adamle wanted Batista to be champion and the fans helped achieve that goal. He labeled Steve Austin a biased bully and said that Batista should be ashamed to call himself champion given he didn’t defeat Jericho. Conspiracy, he cried. Jericho vowed to use his rematch clause on next week’s three hour Raw and reclaim the title.

Mike Adamle interrupted, and said that the title match next week would be a steel cage match. That feels a little repetitious given they did the same thing when CM Punk dropped the title to Jericho. Jericho stormed off.

Randy Orton then came out, and was mad that Adamle stuck him in the referee situation at Cyber Sunday which led to him getting the stunner. Orton called for Stephanie and Shane McMahon to fire Adamle next week, and said that if they don’t fire Adamle he will leave. Orton called Adamle spineless and a failure as an interviewer, commentator, general manager, father and husband. Ouch. Adamle slapped him, and Orton left. This was an entertaining opening segment. They built a lot of stuff for next week and this angle with Orton to me is the most interesting angle they set up.

CM Punk and Kofi Kingston beat Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes to win the tag team titles. Jerry Lawler sold that Kingston or Punk would have the advantage in singles matches against DiBiase or Rhodes, but that Rhodes and DiBiase were the favorites in the tag match because they have better teamwork. They should emphasize that more often to make the tag titles feel like they mean something.

Kingston and Punk were successful early with dropkicks and double teams including Kingston flipping Punk into a plancha. Rhodes and DiBiase briefly worked over Punk, and then worked over Kingston. Kingston got the tag to Punk, who hit a swinging neck breaker, slaps and a high knee on DiBiase. DiBiase went for the million dollar nightmare (my new name for the cobra clutch leg sweep), but Punk escaped and hit the GTS for the pin. This was a good match.

Roddy Piper, Goldust and Honky Tonk Man came out to do commentary for Santino’s match. Santino and Beth Phoenix came to the ring, and Santino put over Beth. Beth’s music then played, presumably to tease she would be Santino’s opponent. Instead, Charlie Haas came out dressed as Phoenix. The match never really got started. Santino on the outside slapped Honky, so the former Intercontinental champions pursued Santino into the ring and Honky hit Santino with a guitar.

They aired another video package and Mike Knox is in fact coming to Raw. The package actually made him look quite impressive. I think he’s got the potential to be a poor man’s Gene Snitsky.

Batista came to the ring for a brief interview. He said that he feels good to be the champion, and that it was a long journey back to the top. He wasn’t concerned about having a short lived title reign. He said that he is comfortable with the cage, where there will be nowhere for Jericho to run or hide.

Mickie James, Kelly Kelly and Candice Michelle beat Jillian Hall, Katie Lea and Layla. The heels worked over Mickie, who got the tag to Kelly. Kelly hit a whirly bird, dropkick and famouser on Katie for the pin.
JBL did a backstage promo where he said that he was angry at Shawn Michaels for interfering with his plan at Cyber Sunday. He had a deal with Chris Jericho where he would help Jericho retain the title and then would receive the next title shot, but Michaels cost JBL his title shot and the money that would have come with being champion. JBL later jumped Shawn Michaels backstage, setting up a seeming handicap match for the main event.

Rey Mysterio beat Evan Bourne. Evan hit a moonsault to the floor and Rey hit a senton off the apron. Evan went for a springboard crossbody but Rey caught him with a dropkick. Rey hit a springboard senton but Evan quickly answered with an enzuigiri. Evan hit a standing moonsault and attempted a sunset flip off the top but Rey rolled through. Rey hit the 619 but missed the west coast pop. Evan went for a victory roll, but Rey rolled through for the pin.

This was a good match, particularly at the end. Both guys botched some spots early. After the match Kane and then Mark Henry came out. Kane ended up giving Rey a choke slam and Henry ended up giving Evan the world’s strongest slam.

Miz and John Morrison again made fun of DX. They said that their sophisticated brand of humor may be too much for the common people and their style on the intimidating side. Next week they vowed to defeat DX. Good luck with that.

Batista and Shawn Michaels beat Chris Jericho and JBL. The vast majority of this was a handicap match. The heels worked over Batista for a while, but he came back with clotheslines. Jericho hit the code breaker, but Batista kicked out. Batista speared JBL and at that moment Michaels finally made his way to the ring.

Batista made the tag to Michaels but the referee didn’t see it and went to escort Michaels from the ring. In the midst of this there was a weird botched spot. Jericho went to hit Batista with the title. I think it was supposed to be the spot where Batista moves and Jericho hits JBL, but Jericho missed both of them. Michaels then thought about doing sweet chin music but changed his mind, so Jericho just left the ring and Batista hit the spine buster and Batista bomb on JBL for the pin. This was okay.

Final Thoughts:

This show was fine. It was better than recent weeks because it had better wrestling and the booking was marginally better, but it wasn’t a great show by any means either. They spent a lot of time building next week, but they didn’t do anything that really got me excited for it.