- RAW hasn't started yet, but during commercial on USA, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler let us know that Jeff Hardy will be Chris Jericho's special guest on the Highlight Reel tonight. Also, the Big Show boxing match will kick off RAW. Stay tuned as coverage begins in just a few minutes!
- RAW kicks off with Triple H, John Cena and Randy Orton backstage with William Regal. Regal says he has called them here tonight because he has a way to spice up their WrestleMania match. He's going to call it a "Triple Threat Take Over." For the next three weeks, one of them will be in charge, running RAW. Tonight, he picks John Cena. Regal says Cena picks the main event. Orton proposes that whoever is in charge for the next three weeks, lets the other two guys have the night off.
Triple H says he doesn't trust Cena or Orton. Cena interrupts and says after receiving the RKO and the Pedigree and since he's in charge tonight, he's going to come up with something good for everybody. We cut to the RAW opening video.
- Triple H says he doesn't trust Cena or Orton. Cena interrupts and says after receiving the RKO and the Pedigree and since he's in charge tonight, he's going to come up with something good for everybody. We cut to the RAW opening video.
- Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to RAW, live from Indianapolis, IN. Lilian Garcia is in the ring, announcing the next match, a "MMA Style" match. You can win by submission or KO. The Big Show is out first.
Big Show vs. Brandon "The Thrill" Hill
As Show makes his way to the ring, we see Floyd Mayweather on the screen, with a live link from Las Vegas. Hill is billed from Inglewood, CA and comes out with a couple trainers. Show waves him into the ring, looking ready to fight.
The referee calls both men to the center of the ring to start the bout. Hill comes forward but the referee has to keep asking Show to step forward. The size comparison as ridiculous here, as Show stands right up to Hill. Show steps towards Hill, who backs off, looking scared.
Show taunts Hill some more and the bell finally rings. Show charges Hill at first, but the smaller fighter backs into the ropes, scared. Show keeps going for the boxer but he keeps running to the ropes. The referee says he is going to DQ the guy if he does it again. He finally charges Show and hits him with a series of body blows. Show blocks all of his head shots. Show grabs Hill and just tosses him by his neck. Big boot to the head sends him flipping. Big Show picks Hill up for a chokeslam and slams him hard. Show puts his foot on Hill's chest and the referee counts the pinfall.
After the match, Show gets on the mic and starts talking trash to Floyd Mayweather, who is live on the big screen. Show tells him he is going to destroy him and boxing. Floyd tells Show this time he is going to break his jaw. Floyd says WrestleMania is all about him and he is ready to die at WrestleMania. Show tells him to come test him. They keep running their mouth to each other, with Floyd saying he is in WWE to stay, willing to die and running the show. He is the man in wrestling, he says. Show grabs the boxer, lifts him high and tosses him out of the ring while Floyd keeps trash talking him. Floyd tells him he is going to break his jaw again as Show's music hits and they continue to mouth off at each other. It appears Mayweather didn't even see what happened in the arena with Show tossing the boxer over the top rope. Also, it looks like it will be pretty much anything goes in the match, as Lawler put over the fact that chokeslams and such would be legal in their WrestleMania match.
Winner: Big Show
- Back from commercial and Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair make their way out for action.
Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair vs. Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
We see Cade and Murdoch waiting in the ring to face the pair of WWE legends. Flair and Murdoch start out the match with a lock up and some taunting from Flair.
Flair gets Murdoch in the corner and hits him with a series of big chops. Big backdrop by Murdoch but Flair makes the tag and in comes Michaels. Lance Cade is tagged in but gets hit with a big atomic drop by HBK. Murdoch hits HBK in the back with a cheap shot and Cade is in control. Murdoch tagged back in and they hit a big double team on Michaels, which lets them get a 2 count. Cade gets tagged back in and has Michaels grounded in the center of the ring.
Michaels fights back with chops and a swinging neck breaker. Murdoch back in and he tries to go up top but HBK puts his boot up and hits Murdoch in the mouth. Flair finally tagged back in and cleans house of Cade and Murdoch, sending Murdoch to the outside. Cade locks Flair in the sleeper hold but eventually gets caught in the Figure Four. HBK comes in and nails Murdoch, then applies the Figure Four on him. Flair and Michaels have both Cade and Murdoch locked in Figure Fours in the center of the ring to get the win.
Winners: Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair
After the match, HBK gets on the mic and tells Flair that after thinking about it, he doesn't want the match at WrestleMania. HBK says he doesn't want to go down as the guy who retired Ric Flair. HBK tells Flair he loves him, but he has to understand this is WrestleMania and he is the Showstopper, and if he keeps pushing for this match to happen, then he leaves him no choice. HBK says it will be Flair's Show that is Stopped. HBK drops the mic and walks away, telling Flair he needs to make a choice. Flair looks on as HBK leaves toward the back.
- Backstage is John Cena and William Regal. Cena says tonight's main event will be Triple H vs. Randy Orton. Regal says that's just too big. Cena say tonight, he has some business to deal with in Mr. Kennedy. Cena says since he is in charge tonight, Regal's office is his. Cena tells Regal to go ahead and get out of his office, which he does. Cena takes a seat and relaxes as we go to commercial.
- A commercial airs for next week's RAW, which will be a three-hour event called WrestleMania Rewind. Each match will be a rematch from a previous WrestleMania. The show will feature WWE Superstars from RAW, SmackDown and ECW. Some of the Superstars mentioned were Randy Orton, Triple H, Kane and The Big Show. A special appearance by Floyd Mayweather is also confirmed.
Umaga vs. Super Crazy
Back from commercial and Umaga is making his way to the ring to face Super Crazy. William Regal is at ringside for commentary, putting over Umaga as RAW's representative at WrestleMania. Jerry Lawler reads a statement from Batista saying he would like to do nothing more than beat Batista at WrestleMania.
The match itself is a squash match, with Umaga destroying Super Crazy. The Samoan Bulldozer hits the Samoan Spike and gets the win.
Winner: Umaga
- Still to come on RAW tonight: John Cena vs. Mr. Kennedy, Triple H vs. John Cena and Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel with Jeff Hardy as well as the Finlay/JBL confrontation.
The Highlight Reel with Special Guest Jeff Hardy
- Back from commercial and Chris Jericho is getting to the ring where there is a setup for the Highlight Reel. Y2J welcomes everyone back to the Highlight Reel and says this is the show that inspired other shows like The Cutting Edge and Carlito's Cabana. Jericho says he wants to talk about the Money in the Bank match tonight, and brings out his guest Jeff Hardy.
Hardy comes out to a huge pop and shakes hands with Jericho. Jericho's setup consists of two chairs, a multi-colored ring apron and a flat screen HD TV on a stand. Jericho rolls clips from his and Hardy's singles match on RAW last week, which Jericho won to qualify for Money in the Bank.
Hardy starts to talk but Jericho interrupts him and says there is nothing he or anyone else can do to stop Y2J from winning at WrestleMania. Hardy tells him a lot has changed since he was last in WWE. Hardy said back then he would have wished Jericho luck and walked away, but he's not that dude anymore. Hardy says he is going to do whatever it takes to win the match at WrestleMania and go on to become WWE Champion. Jericho reminds Hardy that he once was a WWE Champion, an Undisputed Champion. Jericho tells Hardy that because of the stakes in this match, Hardy is no longer his friend, he is just a target. Jericho says from now until WrestleMania, anything goes. Hardy says he couldn't agree with him anymore and lays him out with a Twist of Fate.
Hardy walks off as Jericho finally makes it to his feet. They stare each other down as we go to the backstage area where Mr. Kennedy is making his way to the ring for John Cena. Back to commercial.
- We see a new commercial for WrestleMania with Carlito and Maria dining at an outdoor restaurant. Carlito is dissing Santino Marella and keeps talking until a seagull comes out of the sky and bites him, then hangs onto his chest. Carlito ends up beating on the bird. He goes back to Maria at the table and starts to talk to her again until the bird craps on his shoulder.
Mr. Kennedy vs. John Cena
Back from commercial and Mr. Kennedy is coming to the ring, ready to fight. Cena and Kennedy go at it to start the match, but Cena hits a big back body drop and goes to work on Kennedy's arm as we go to commercial.
Back from commercial and Cena takes Kennedy down with a bulldog, then gets a 2 count. Kennedy ducks a clothesline and rolls out of the ring. Kennedy uses the ropes to take Cena down, then grabs him and drops him with a facebuster right on the ring apron. Kennedy taunts Cena and runs his back into the apron. Kennedy takes Cena back in the ring and covers him for a 2 count.
Kennedy drops Cena with a nasty neckbreaker right over his own knee. Kennedy gets another 2 count and continues to stomp on Cena, controlling the match. Kennedy hits a big running kick on Cena, who is down in the corner and gets another 2 count. Kennedy applies the pressure on Cena's neck some more, keeping him grounded in the center of the ring.
Cena starts to fight back, but Kennedy knocks him to the mat and gets another close 2 count. Kennedy goes for another running kick in the corner but Cena pops up and lays Kennedy out with a big clothesline. And another big clothesline by Cena. John Cena mounts an offense, then climbs to the top rope and hits a leg drop on Kennedy, who is standing. Cena locks on the STFU and makes Kennedy tap out.
Winner: John Cena
- Candice Michelle and Maria are shown walking to the ring for the unveiling of Maria's Playboy cover. We go back to commercial.
- Back from commercial and Jerry Lawler is in the ring, which has a big Playboy symbol in the center of it. Maria's cover is covered, hanging on a stand in the ring. Lawler calls out Maria, who has Candice Michelle with her. Jerry Lawler announces that rapper Snoop Dogg will be the official Master of Ceremonies for the BunnyMania match at WrestleMania. Jim Ross says the match will now be a BunnyMania Lumberjack Match. Maria gets on the mic, welcomes the crowd and says she still can't believe she is going to be on the cover of Playboy. Lawler teases the crowd with the cover and asks for a drum roll. Candice and Lawler unveil the cover, which has Santino Marella's face over Maria's face and breasts. Out comes Santino.
Santino tells Maria she left him no choice, he had to do this. Maria says it's her decision, not his. Santino says he is the man in the relationship and tells her to leave with him. She keeps telling him no, until he grabs her and she pushes his hand away. Santino keeps arguing with her until Jerry Lawler knocks him out of the ring with a big right hand and throws the cover on him. The crowd chants "Jerry" as Candice Michelle gets on the mic and asks the fans if they want to see the real cover. Candice counts down to 3 and pyro pops from the rafters and Maria's 2008 Playboy cover hangs in mid-air. Maria's music hits and she celebrates in the ring with Candice and Lawler as Santino throws a fit on the outside.
- Up next is the JBL and Finlay confrontation.
- Back from commercial and Jim Ross leads us into a video highlighting NASCAR driver Carl Edwards' win yesterday. Ross mentions Edwards is a big WWE fan. They show Edwards' comment, holding the Championship belt he received after winning the race and saying he might let John Cena use it.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Carlito vs. Cody Rhodes
Carlito makes his way first for this Money in the Bank qualifying match, as he tries to be the fifth man confirmed for the match.
Cody and Carlito start the match off with a lot of back and forth moves, 2 counts and reversals. Jerry Lawler plugs Snoop Dogg's CD that comes out next week. Cody and Carlito continue to go back and forth until Carlito hits a swinging neckbreaker and gets a 2 count. Carlito grounds him to the mat but Cody fights back. Carlito misses the Backstabber and Cody rolls him up for a 2 count. Cody fights back with lefts and rights and hits Carlito with a cross body from the top and a 2 count. Carlito tries to use the ropes to get the 3 count but gets caught in another 2 count. Cody hits a big bulldog and gets another 2 count.
Carlito finally hits the Backstabber and gets the pinfall on Cody Rhodes to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 24.
Winner: Carlito
- Back from commercial and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are talking with Floyd Mayweather, who is live on the screen. Ross brings up how several people close to boxing think Floyd is a fool for putting his career on the line and Floyd says he is here to dominate. Floyd says he is not intimidated at all after seeing Show squash the guy earlier tonight. Lawler asks if what Show is going to do to him at WrestleMania is worth $20 million. Floyd says you can't talk to him like that and keeps flaunting, saying WWE is now known as MME.
- Mike Adamle is ringside talking about the 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony and cuts to a video package honoring Ric Flair, Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia. Adamle announces the next 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, Mae Young. We cut to a video package of Mae's career.
- Finlay is shown walking to the ring for his confrontation with JBL as we go to commercial.
- Finlay makes his way to the ring with shilleleh in hand. Finlay also has a new theme song it looks like. Finlay gets in the ring and Vince McMahon's music hits ans says he has some questions for Finlay first. Vince asks if it is true that he conspired along with members of his family against him. Finlay says yes, it's true. Vince asks if it is true that he isn't Hornswoggle's father. Finlay tells Vince he isn't good enough to be Hornswoggle's father. Vince asks if Finlay is the father and he says yes, and damn proud of it. Vince says JBL isn't able to be here tonight, but we have him on a live satellite link.
JBL says he is sorry he couldn't be there tonight, and reveals he is with Hornswoggle in a hospital. The camera pans out and Hornswoggle is crying as JBL stands over him, with his hand on him. Finlay tells JBL to come down and fight him. JBL says he will fight him, but on his terms at WrestleMania. JBL taunts Hornswoggle and slaps him. JBL tells Finlay he doesn't want anyone to see what he is about to do, and turns out the light in the hospital room. We hear Hornswoggle crying and things being torn up in the room as Finlay watches on and we go to commercial.
- Back from commercial and John Cena is sitting ringside for commentary with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. Cena says he is here to scout some of the WWE talent.
Randy Orton vs. Triple H
The WWE Champion Randy Orton comes out first for this main event that John Cena put together, as William Regal made him GM-for-a-night. Triple H comes out next. John Cena is putting over both Triple H and Orton as being top WWE Superstars.
Orton and HHH start the match up, locking up, going from corner to corner. The referee breaks them up and they come face to face with an intense stare down. They go back in the corner and the ref makes them break it up, but Triple H gets in a right hand. They take it to the mat and Orton rolls Triple H over for a 2 count. Triple H takes Orton down with a side headlock and they trade holds on the mat until Triple H hits him with a big right hand. Big clothesline by Triple H gets him a 2 count. Orton is able to toss Triple H out to the floor and roll out after him, hitting him with right hands. Orton goes to hit Triple H's head on the steel steps but gets hit with right hands. Back in the ring now, Orton hits an inverted back breaker on Triple H and both men are down.
Orton gets another 2 count on Triple H and begins stomping his arms, neck and such. Another 2 count by Orton after a nasty knee drop. Knee drop to Triple H's back gets another 2 count. Orton keeps in control of the match until Triple H hits a big elbow to the face. The Game and Orton trade blows in the middle of the ring and Triple H hits Orton with the facebuster. High knee from Triple H catches Orton, who rolls to the outside. Triple H follows and they brawl on the floor for a minute before going back in the ring. Triple H hits a big spine buster on Orton, who rolls out of the ring again. Orton goes to get his WWE Title and leave. John Cena goes after him and tries to stop him. Triple H runs from behind and nails Randy Orton, who falls onto John Cena. Triple H throws Orton back in the ring and ducks Orton trying to hit him with the WWE Title. Cena comes from behind and hits both men, then lays out Triple H and hits him with an FU. Cena turns around and gets caught by an RKO from Randy Orton. Orton stands over Cena and Triple H, and holds his WWE Title up as RAW goes off the air.
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