Review of Chuck Liddell on "Dancing With The Stars"
Immediately prior to the start of Raw tonight, UFC's Chuck Liddell appeared on "Dancing With the Stars." After a few minutes of watching a nervous Chuck receive dance lessons from his partner, Anna, they took the stage.
That said, Chuck must have been a quick learner, as their actual dance routine went surprisingly well (although he still appeared nervous and didn't smile much). The judges gave the duo a total of 16 points, with one of them noting "that he was graceful, but not smooth."
Of course, that doesn't mean they're out, since the viewing audience is also given a chance to vote. (Tune in ABC TV for the 800 number to call to add your support for the team of Chuck and Anna.)
There were a number of appreciative MMA fans in the audience, including Dana White.
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Welcome to WWI's ongoing coverage of Raw, live from the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Tonight's Guest Host, Cedric the Entertainer, arrived at the top of the show in a limo with his entourage, which included the Bella Twins, several suited-up football players, an old lady, a rabbi in the middle of a bris, a farmer with a goat.
It's gonna be a long, long night.
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Michael Cole and Jerry the King Lawler welcomed the viewers.
First out was DX. Playing up their next PPV match in two weeks, HBK noted that he had won five Hell In A Cell matches over the years. And Legacy and never, ever won a HIAC match. Neener, neener.
(1) Triple H (w/Shawn Michaels) vs. Cody Rhodes (w/Ted DiBiase).
Cody dove right in, throwing punches right and left. Triple H sent Cody into the ring post three times, then tried to get him to tap.
(Commercial break)
Back from the break, and Cody was in charge. He even taunted HBK on the outside. Big mistake. An even bigger mistake was popping HBK in the face. But the team of Legacy ganged up on Michaels on the outside, then turned their attention to Triple H, who got a folding chair to the head and a Dream Street. They were about to break Triple H's neck with the folding chair when HBK went under the ring for the sledge hammer and chased Legacy away.
(Commercial break)
Lillian Garcia introduced Cedric, who boogied his way onto the stage with a couple of divas. Cedric said he made the perfect Guest Host since he was such a big WWE fan. Such a big fan that he initially referred to Randy's daddy as Cowboy Bob THORNton. He also had a few "amusing" Photo Shopped pictures (Mark Henry as the love child of the Kool Aid pitcher, Miz with donkey ears, etc.).
Santino came out and asked for an autograph and got a chance to tryout his stand-up skills. They sucked.
Out came Chavo, who got more grief about Hornswoggle beating him up every week. Chavo said that the problem wasn't Hornswoggle; it was guest hosts who continually put him in a bad light. Chavo said he wanted to make a match tonight: Cedric vs. Chavo No, no, no, said Cedric, who wanted to publicize his new movie and new book.
Josh Matthews introduced his guest, The Miz, and asked why he'd stolen Kofi's title belt last week. After saying the U.S. Title belonged to an American, the Miz was blindsided by Kofi, who took back the title belt.
(Commercial break)
(2) Evan Borne vs. The Miz.
Good back and forth match. Miz put a hurtin' on Borne, but Borne came off the ropes with the Shooting Star as the match drew to a close. Miz moved and Borne landed, catlike, on his feet. But The Miz got the pin, 1-2-3 in the middle.
(Commercial break)
Time for the big contract signing between Randy Orton and John Cena for the WWE Championship at the upcoming PPV. (These things never go well.)
Jerry Lawler was standing in the red-carpeted ring. Randy Orton came out first, still holding a grudge that Cena had fed him to Batista last week. He took a seat at the table set up in the ring and tapped his toe as he waited for Cena to come out and take his seat.
Lawler advised the two that there would be a "no physicality" rule during the contract signing.
Orton signed on the dotted line, then shoved it over to Cena. He also ordered Lawler to get out of the ring. Jerry skeedaddled.
Orton said he'd been in a HIAC before and knows what it takes to win. Blah, blah, blah. Cena pretended he hadn't heard Randy's threatening tone and showed a video he'd made during Orton's "I quit" match.
Cena then signed the contract. He said he looks forward to destroying Randy Orton at HIAC.
Orton said he wished he could RKO right now, but because of the "no physicality" stipulation, he couldn't. But Chris Jericho and Big Show could.
Big Show tossed the table out of the ring, and went after Cena. Then Mark Henry and MVP came running down to make the save for Cena.
Cedric the Entertainer made a match for later in the show among the above-referenced giants of the ring.
(Commercial break)
Lillian introduced the No 1 Contender for the Diva Championship, Alicia Fox, who was sitting at ringside.
(3) Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix.
The Bethazon won this very quick match by pinning Mickie James. Alicia Fox got into the ring to do a little more damage after the match.
(Commercial break)
(4) U.S. Championship Match: Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger.
As the match got started, Miz came out and snatched the Title Belt. Swagger caught up with the Miz and grabbed the belt from him and headed up the ramp. Kofi didn't know what hit him. Needless to say, nobody won the match but everybody had designs on the belt.
Recap of Cedric getting out of his limo earlier. Hehehe. That stuff never gets old.
(Commercial break)
(5) Chavo Guerrero vs. Cedric the Entertainer with Guest Referee Santino Marella.
Cedric came out in tights and a cape as Chavo laughed himself silly in the ring. Cedric then pulled a lucha mask over his head. Maybe he'll go under the ring and will emerge with someone else under the mask. Hmm.
Yep, under the ring he went in search of his hat (a hat that Chavo had tossed out of the ring).
Chavo waited for Cedric to come out on the other side of the ring, intending to surprise him, but when he did, Cedric was several feet taller with the ability to throw Chavo around like a rag doll.
The fake Cedric went back under the ring and came out several feet shorter. This time it was Hornswoggle under the mask. All three Cedrics danced in the ring as Chavo limped away yet again.
(Commercial break)
Next week's guest host will be Al Sharpton.
Cedric was flirting with Kelly Kelly in his guest office when Chris Jericho and Big Show barged in to "talk."
Jerry Lawler announced that after ten years as a diva, this was Lillian Garcia's last night. She said she has felt privileged to work with such a wonderful organization and has been proud to sing the national anthem every week and for the troops in Iraq. She said her biggest honor has been to entertain the fans. She was in tears as she said how much she is going to miss the fans. We'll miss you, too, Lillian.
(Commercial break)
Earlier, while "talking" with the guest host, Chris Jericho had coerced Cedric into granting a three-on-one gauntlet match for Randy next week if Cena won tonight. But Cena wouldn't win, Big Show assured him.
(6) Six-Man Tag Team Match: Randy Orton, Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. John Cena, MVP & Mark Henry.
The match had barely started when Orton, Big Show and Jericho were up to no good. Of course. Plenty of beat downs, but when the dust had settled it appeared that Mark Henry was going to tag in to save the day. Alas, Henry got an RKO courtesy of Orton. Cena and team had lost the match.
Poor Cena. Next week he's the one who'll be running the gauntlet all alone. And with no one to save him but Al Sharpton.
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