Enjoy James Guttman's Shoot Interview with the
Legendary Greg Gagne at ClubWWI.com.
* * *
Welcome to WWI's ongoing coverage of Monday Night RAW, live from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
Tonight's guest host will be Jerry Springer. Ugh!
Immediately preceding Raw on the USA Network was the opening night of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Remember when Raw used to get the bum's rush on dog show night? Anyway, the dog show shouldn't be confused with the Jerry Springer Show, since the dogs have much better manners than Springer's guests.
* * *
To begin the show, a color guard presented the U.S. flag and a singer (NOT Jillian Hall, thank goodness) sang the Star Spangled Banner. A nice way to celebrate Presidents' Day.
Viewers were told that Jerry Springer would allow Bret Hart to address the crowd.
Outside in the parking lot, Batista was expected.
(1) Sheamus vs. Randy Orton.
Orton was as tan as Sheamus was pasty. Pasty or not, Sheamus was giving Orton a beating. Attempted RKO by Orton, but Sheamus stepped out of the way.
(Commercial break)
Back from the break, Orton was in control.
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase headed down the ramp and distracted Orton, giving Sheamus the advantage. A standing drop kick by Orton knocked Sheamus flat. Backbreaker by Orton, followed by an icy Orton stare. Sheamus ended up on the outside, where Cody interfered, thus giving Sheamus the win.
Orton was not pleased, as you can well imagine. Orton gave Cody an RKO, followed by Sheamus giving DiBiase a big boot.
Bret Hart was shown walking backstage, wearing an Olympic tee shirt instead of his usual pink one.
(Commercial break)
Bret Hart made his way to the ring and the crowd went wild. Bret said he was not shocked that Vince McMahon was not there tonight. He said he'd come back with good intentions and to make peace with McMahon, but that was not to be. The words of McMahon that he deserved to be screwed stuck in his head, and felt that McMahon deserved "to have the holy hell beat out of him."
"McMahon was not at the bottom of the barrel," said Bret, "he was
under the barrel."
"Victory lasts a lifetime, but excellence lasts forever," concluded Hart. Bret wanted to thank all the WWE superstars for welcoming him and the WWE Universe for being so kind. He also thanked John Cena for the last few special moments he'd never forget. Bret said goodbye, thanked the crowd and headed up the ramp.
An emotional Bret said his goodbyes backstage. He ran into John Cena who couldn't believe that this was it. Cena walked away and Bret walked toward his limo. There were crashing sounds; apparently Bret's limo had been struck by someone's car and his leg had been caught in the door. Medics were on hand right away, and Bret was loaded into an ambulance.
(Commercial break)
Back from the break and viewers were told that Bret was on his way to one of those generic medical facilities where all the rasslers go.
(2) Tag Team Match: ShowMiz (Big Show & The Miz) vs. MVP & Mark Henry.
This match had started during the break. The Miz was holding his own pretty well against the big guys. Big Show tagged in and went after Mark Henry. One thing led to another and Mark Henry and MPV won the match.
Jerry Spring is next.
(Commercial break)
Jerry Springer headed to the ring with his bodyguards.
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry.
Springer said this was a special episode of the Springer Show called WWE's Most Intimate Relationships Revealed.
The first guest was Kelly Kelly, who confided that she was pregnant but wasn't sure who the baby daddy was. Santino came out. To take responsibility?
Santino greeted Jerry as Maury Povich.
Kelly Kelly said it couldn't be Santino, since she'd needed someone to finish the job when he'd dozed off. Michael Cole confessed that it was him, then Jerry Lawler took credit for it. Springer said she was too old for Lawler, since he usually picks up his girlfriends at recess.
This whole segment bordered on bad taste. Very bad taste.
The Bella Twins came out with a stupid explanation for being there. Chris Masters and his jiggling man boobs came out and took credit as the baby daddy, then his other girlfriend came out and said she'd been dating the Great Khali. A cat fight ensued.
Jerry Springer got the DNA test and discovered that the real baby daddy was Hornswoggle. Springer said this was crazier than his own show and he left.
Lawler stopped Springer from leaving and said this had all been a ruse. Then Lawler said he had a secret to reveal about Springer, who liked his women Young. As in Mae Young.
Yes, that was all as stupid as it sounded.
If there is anybody still watching after that Springer Show nonsense, the next match is coming up. If the viewing audience fled, then it's WWE's own fault.
(3) Kofi Kingston vs. Ted DiBiase.
Fairly short, but good match. DiBiase won it with the Dream Street.
The second inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame will be Antonio Inoki.
(Commercial break)
A building security camera had captured the garage accident on tape. It happened exactly as it had appeared earlier. No mystery there.
Jerry Springer was back with a Final Thought, then left with Mae, asking the audience not to judge him.
(Commercial break)
John Cena headed out to demand answers from Batista.
Cena said he did not know Bret Hart's condition, but wished him all the best. Cena said he'd been brutally attacked by Batista and wanted to know why. Batista appeared on the Titan Tron, and Cena told him to come out and face him. Batista said that next week he would be at Raw and said he would give him his answers then.
(Commercial break)
(4) Triple H vs. John Cena.
This was your standard going-into-a-PPV match. Pinning attempts by each, until Triple H set up Cena in a Pedigree. Sheamus interfered and floored both Triple H and Cena.
So what does that mean? Will Sheamus win at Sunday night's pay-per-view?
Don't care.
This match came at the end of a show that was mind-numbing. For that reason, by the time they got around to it, I didn't give a flip.
All in all, Jerry Springer as the guest host was probably not the wisest choice going into a PPV.