Raw
6/30 WWE Raw: Mallory's Ongoing Coverage of the Show
By Mallory Mahling
Jun 30, 2008 - 11:35 PM

Welcome to WWI's ongoing coverage of Monday Night Raw. This week Raw is live from the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The show started with a replay of Mister McMahon's accident that ended last week's show. Shane McMahon announced that his father is a very private person [insert horse laugh here], and there would be no update on his father's medical condition tonight. (No complaints here.)

Jerry "The King" Lawler and Michel Cole welcomed viewers to the show.

Jim Ross came out to "Boomer Sooner" and got a tremendous welcome from the crowd. J.R. said it was an honor to be able to say "It's damn sure good to be home." He said he'd embarked on a new journey as the play-by-play voice of Smackdown. The crowd booed. He thanked Jerry Lawler for a dozen wonderful years, and The King looked moved by his comments. He tried to put over Michael Cole, but the crowd was having none of it. J.R. said he would never forget this night, and he hoped everyone would get on the Sooner Schooner and head to Smackdown with him.

Edge and his Edge Heads rudely interrupted J.R.'s speech. Edge waved his title belt around (as one of his wannabe's behaved a lot like a Triple H wannabe).

Edge claimed J.R. was being arrogant. Nobody cared about him. Then Edge had his minions escort J.R. out of the ring. From the noise level in the arena, Edge was the most hated person in Oklahoma City.

But apparently Edge had more to say. Raw had no General Manager, nor did it have The Undertaker. It didn't have a World Heavyweight Champion, either, and Edge was not inclined to share his championship limelight.

Whoops, he spoke to soon. Batista came out, shirt off and seeking revenge. He pummeled Edge from pillar to post, ending with a Batista Bomb.

As Batista headed up the ramp, CM Punk hurried down to the ring -- a man on a mission, if you will.

(1) World Heavyweight Title Match: CM Punk vs. Edge.

Lillian announced that Punk had cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase for a title match. With Edge softened up by Batista, Punk gave him the Go To Sleep and easily pinned Edge for the win, thus bringing the World Title back to Raw and around a very deserving waist.

Your new World Heavyweight Champion -- CM Punk!!!

As Punk celebrated in the ring, Edge slithered to the back. Buh bye, Edge.

(Commercial break)

(2) Mickie James vs. Screaming Mimi (a/k/a Jillian Hall).

Some good acrobatic moves. Mickie won. 'Nuf said.

(Commercial break)

Last week, Rey Mysterio had been Raw's first draft pick. He headed out to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Rey congratulated CM Punk on his victory and for bringing the World Heavyweight Championship back to Raw. He said he'd been shocked when he was drafted to Raw. Now that he's here, he likes it and is excited.

Santino, the self-proclaimed "most charismatic superstar on Raw," came out to welcome Rey. He hurled a few insults at Rey, his popularity, and his Raw Magazine cover photo. Santino showed a photo he'd posed for, which was a cheesy beefcake pose. Santino, of all people, mocked Mysterio's (very slight) accent and told him to speak a language all could understand. Everybody understands the 619, and Rey used it to introduce Santino to the mat.

(Commercial break)

Todd Grisham was backstage with new Champion CM Punk, who thanked his little sisters and others in his jubilation. Then JBL, ace parade rainer, tried to spoil his moment with some snarky comments about not being good enough to be the Champ. JBL challenged Punk for a match later tonight, and Punk accepted.

(Commercial break)

John Cena came out to quite an ovation from the crowd. Lawler said the atmosphere was electric. The crowd kept cheering long after the music stopped. Cena said that maybe he didn't win the title last night, but the loss to Triple H was one he took with pride. The match proved that they were the two very best in the business. Tonight was historic, too, because CM Punk had cashed in the briefcase to become the new Champ. Cena said he liked Punk because he'd used his brain to get the title, but he didn't like JBL for trying to bully his way into the title picture.

Cena polled the crowd as to whether they thought JBL deserved a title shot. BOOOO, was the response. Did they think Cena deserved a title shot? Of course the did!

JBL came out to a chorus of boos and chants of "CM Punk." JBL assured Cena that the title match was his. He then declared marshal law in WWE, and if he becomes champ later, he would eject Cena from the building. He called out his own personal rent-a-cops to try to intimidate Cena. When the private security guards approached the ring, Cena tried to hold them off, but they grabbed him and JBL beat him up. Push came to shove, literally, and Cena was kicked out the back door.

The most hated man in the building tonight? JBL.

(Commercial break)

Last night at the PPV, Cody Rhodes had turned on his partner, Bob Holly, and teamed up with Ted DiBiase, the younger. What a surprise? Who saw that coming?

(3) Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase vs. Wade & Anthony (local guys?).

Another surprise -- the jobbers lost to the new tag champs.

Cody began to explain why he'd turned on Holly (although no one seemed to care, since Holly is not exactly a fan favorite). He was tired to carrying Baby Boomer Bob, so he'd sought out DiBiase--young, good looking and dynamic. Rhodes said when one is as talented as he, they don't have to pay dues. DiBiase said the pair was simply "priceless."

(Commercial break)

Paul Burchill told sister Katie not to get into trouble while he was gone. Jamie Noble moved right in as soon as Birchill's back was turned. He boasted about calling out the biggest, baddest guy in the locker room. He turned around and it was Kane, about twice Noble's size.

Noble ran out to the ring and tried to hide. Unsuccessfully.

(4) Jamie Noble vs. Kane.

This was a lopsided comedy match, which Kane won by slamming Noble into the announce table. But comedy can be good, and this time it introduced two of the new players on Raw.

Chris Jericho was headed to the ring for his rematch.

(Commercial break)

(5) Intercontinental Title Rematch: Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston.

Apparently Shawn Michaels had cost Jericho his title last night. Well, what goes around comes around.

He got on a mic and complained that the company website had called him Y2Jaded. He'd been told that HBK was not in the building, but that is usually a lie, although the crowd was chanting "HBK." He challenged HBK to a one-on-one match at the "Great American Bash." But first, he would take back his IC Title from Kofi Kingston.

(Commercial break)

The match had started during the break. Good back and forth action, but Jericho was DQ'd when he tried to pin Kingston with a handful of tights. Jericho didn't take the loss well, and attacked Kingston after the match.

(Commercial break)

In the garage, Edge was berating his "crew" about something that was missing.

(6) World Heavyweight Title Match: CM Punk vs. JBL.

This is going to be a short one, since there is 8 minutes left in the show and the Olympic trials are coming up on USA at the top of the hour.

(Commercial break)

JBL's goons/thugs/security force headed to the ring and surrounded it. Meanwhile, JBL began to dominate the match. Punk battled out of a sleeper hold. Pinning attempts on each side. Then Cena and Cryme Tyme appeared at the top of the ramp, finally heading to the ring to divert the attention of JLB's goons while Punk pinned JBL and retained his title.

The end…and what an end it was!

* * *

I wasn't sure what to expect of tonight's show, but I was pleasantly surprised. It started out with a farewell to J.R., then moved along to CM Punk winning The Gold. New people were skillfully woven into the show. Best of all, I sensed actual storylines being formulated. Even Michael Cole proved to be up to his new task, although the fans made it clear that he'd better stay on his toes if he wants to fill J.R.'s shoes.

Bottom line? I really enjoyed tonight's show. It looks like Raw made out well in the draft.