This week Raw was live from the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. This was the first Monday Night Raw from Raleigh in over two years.
Last Monday, Batista had become the No. 1 contender to CM Punk's title belt. Kane hadn't taken the news well and beat up the announcers.
Stephanie and Shane O'Mac appeared to complain about all that had gone on in Daddy's absence. For the sake of WWE and the McMahon Family, Stephanie "suggested" that everyone pull together. Or else.
The live show was joined in progress. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler had miraculously recovered from their beating as they watched Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho in mid-brawl. They disappeared backstage and Kane headed to the ring to apologize to the announcers. It was a rather insincere, snarled apology.
Cut to backstage where HBK and Jericho were doing battle in the hallways.
(1) Mickie James vs. Katie Lea Burchill (w/Brother Paul).
Mickie James won, but she didn't escape getting a beatdown from Katie and her brother. Kofi Kingston ran down to make the save for Mickie. Kofi challenged Burchill to get back into the ring, and Katie Lea was goading him to do just that as the show went to break.
(Commercial break)
(2) Intercontinental Title Match: Paul Burchill vs. Kofi Kingston.
During the break, an IC title match had broken out. As the action went back and forth, more of the Burchill family's background was explained--affluent (or did he say effluent?) hooligans. Aren't those two mutually exclusive?
Kofi took the win and he and Mickie celebrated.
Santino was telling Matt Striker that he had issued an open invitation to the whole locker room for a match. Striker suddenly made himself scarce. When Santino turned around, Kane was right in his face. Lucky for Santino, Kane was looking for CM Punk. A relieved Santino gulped down a whole bottle of Rolaids.
(Commercial break)
Kane had located CM Punk, his former tag team partner. He wanted a match with Punk tonight. After thinking it over, and realizing he was six days from the biggest match of his life, Punk accepted. Go figure. Kane had a strange smile on his face and was clutching a burlap bag. (Wonder where Jake's snake is?)
Todd Grisham asked John Cena about the NYC parking lot brawl set for Great American Bash. Cena developed a Southern accent as he spoke about the match JBL had challenged him to. Cena was looking forward to breaking bones on Sunday, and accepted JBL's challenge. For tonight, Cena, along with Cryme Tyme, would be pleased to take on JBL and two partners of his choice.
(Commercial break)
Santino had come down to the ring to see who had accepted his challenge and was shaking in his wrestling boots when the Glamazon came out.
(3) Santino vs. Beth Phoenix.
The Bethazon was awesome as she gave Santino a dose of his own medicine. She pinned him easily, and he left the ring sputtering something about the superiority of men.
(Commercial break)
Kelly Kelly came out for her match, and Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, the Younger, came out and got into the ring. They suggested that Kelly get to stepping, since they had something to talk about.
Cody defended their "pricelessness" as the audience chanted "what, what, what."
Hacksaw Jim Duggan and his 2 x 4 came out to remind them he knows their dads. He said he is old school and appreciated the people who paved the way. He told them to grow up. Uh oh… Ted called Duggan pathetic and left him standing alone in the ring. It was a very unkind segment.
JBL appeared on the TitanTron. Apparently he'd found his two partners.
(Commercial break)
(4) CM Punk vs. Kane.
Kane was in his own little world as he and Punk went toe to toe, so to speak. Punk managed to hold his own, eventually beating Kane via count out.
Kane went ballistic and started hurling chairs into the ring, putting one around Punk's neck. Kane prepared to leap off the top rope onto Punk, and just as it looked like curtains for the champ, Batista's music hit and he came to the rescue. Punk extended his hand in thanks, but Batista rejected it. Their mouths were moving, but nobody thought to mic them. I'm sure it was something that would have furthered their match on Sunday, but we'll never know. Then the replayed the message--and it still had no sound. Somebody blew it. Big time.
And what about Kane's mysterious burlap bag????
(Commercial break)
(5) Chris Jericho vs. Paul London.
At ringside was Lance Cade, formerly HBK's prize pupil and now Jericho's BFF. Jericho submitted London for the win, and told him to take the loss and use it to his advantage. And then he launched into a tirade about HBK.
Right on cue, Sexy Boy came out on stage to tell Jericho that the worst was truly yet to come. On Sunday night. At the PPV. Order now
(Commercial break)
Jamie Noble was making a pitch to Leyla about their becoming Raw's power couple. She informed him she does not date short men. He told her he'd step in the ring with the next superstar that walked down the hall to prove his bravery. Unfortunately, it turned out to be Snitsky.
(6) Jamie Noble vs. Snitsky.
Snitsky started the match with two black eyes, which Cole said was the result of a broken nose. Noble talks a good game, but he didn't fare well in the match. Leyla's look was hard to read--she either pitied Noble or was repulsed by him.
Here we've been concerned about Mister McMahon's health, and it turned out he was just off making a Gillette Fusion commercial with Jon Cena. Bad timing on airing that commercial for the first time.
(Commercial break)
Shane and Stephanie were back to repeat their earlier pleas, which appeared to have fallen on death ears.
(7) Six-Man Tag Match: JBL, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase the Younger vs. John Cena, Shad Gaspar & JTG.
This was the Prelude to the Parking Lot. The four younger guys were taking most of the punishment as the match got underway.
(Commercial break)
Back from the break and JBL and his henchmen had been dominating. Cena was itching to tag in and finally got his chance. He took out DiBase, and had Rhodes in an STFU. JBL jumped into the mix and caused a DQ, leaving Cena to take the win.
JBL headed toward the back, and out the security door. Cena was reluctant to follow JBL outside, however. And wisely so. Cena went outside anyway and it was eerily silent. But JBL was lurking in the dark and blindsided Cena. He propped Cena's unconscious body up against a car in the parking lot. Then JBL got into a big red car. Close up of his headlights as he gunned the motor and ran it into the car where he'd left Cena, presumably crushing him in the process. JBL got out of the car, and took a look at the damage he'd done. Was he proud of himself? Or was he remorseful?
Tune it Sunday night.
* * *
I presume the intent was to make the show seem edgy, but to have the first three "matches" start off camera seemed disorganized.
Apparently the show
was disorganized, since during the key promo for the Sunday's Batista/CM Punk match there was no sound. Big blunder.
The last two Raws gave me warm fuzzies. This clumsy show gave me a headache.