The following is from my WWE Week In Review Article:
In the opening bout, RAW’s WWE Champion Triple H defeated SmackDown’s Mark Henry to earn RAW the first pick in the 2008 WWE Draft and RAW could not have been any happier with their WWE Champion when the whole world found out RAW’s first draft pick- SmackDown’s Rey Mysterio!
The second match of the evening saw SmackDown’s #1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles Finlay & Hornswoggle defeat the international duo of RAW’s Carlito & Santino Marella. How appropriate that this particular draft pick from RAW is a tag team specialist- RAW’s Jeff Hardy.
In another tag team bout (non-title), RAW’s World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly defeated ECW’s Chavo Guerrero & Bam Neely to earn RAW the reward of having Mr. Money-in-the-Bank CM Punk come to Monday Nights.
In a non-title match, ECW’s WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison scored a huge upset win over the newly reformed Hardys (since Jeff Hardy was drafted to SmackDown, both brothers represented SmackDown) to earn ECW what would be their only draft pick of the night in the United States Champion himself, Matt Hardy.
A Divas tag match set the stage for an epic shakeup outside the ring as this match would be for Commentators, Referees, & Ring Announcers Only. RAW’s Women’s Champion Mickie James & Melina fought SmackDown’s Natalya & Victoria to a Double Disqualification after the referee lost all control of the match. As a result, both RAW & SmackDown got a draft pick. In a stunning set of circumstances, the legendary play-by-play voice of RAW, Jim Ross was drafted to SmackDown. Thus leaving Jerry "The King" Lawler alone at the desk on Monday Nights, but not for long, as the second pick saw SmackDown’s play-by-play voice of Michael Cole head to RAW.
In a huge interpromotional main event, the #1 Contender to the WWE Title, RAW’s John Cena defeated SmackDown’s World Heavyweight Champion Edge via count-out to earn RAW another draft pick. Even though Edge lost the match, the Rated-R Superstar had to feel like a winner when he saw who was drafted to RAW from SmackDown- none other than the #1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Title, Batista.
SmackDown’s Franchise Player scored a win over an ECW Original in ECW’s Tommy Dreamer to earn SmackDown a "huge" draft pick in Umaga.
RAW’s Mauling Millionaire destroyed ECW’s high-flying Jamaican Kofi Kingston to earn RAW an epic draft pick in ECW Champion, Kane. Yes, that means that the ECW Championship is now on RAW, along with Kane.
In the star-studded 15-Man Tri-Branded Battle Royal, the winner of the match would earn their brand two draft picks. World Heavyweight Champion Edge outlasted RAW’s John Cena, CM Punk, ECW Champion Kane, Batista, & WWE Champion Triple H, SmackDown’s Big Show, MVP, Jeff Hardy, & The Great Khali, and ECW’s United States Champion Matt Hardy, WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin, & Chavo Guerrero to earn SmackDown the final two draft picks of the night. The first saw a RAW Superstar return to his roots as Mr. Kennedy will be making his return to Friday Nights. In the biggest and most stunning pick of the night, a certain legendary superstar will be heading to SmackDown for the first time since the brand extension in 2002- none other than the WWE Champion himself, Triple H.
Mr. McMahon also gave away $1,000,000 for the third week in a row, but now the question is- was the risk worth the reward? In a completely unspeakable series of events, the Chairman had to be stretchered out of the AT&T Center on RAW. After giving away a half of a million dollars in McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania, a mysterious piece of equipment fell to the stage just mere steps away from Mr. McMahon. Then, after some sparks, the steel staging area collapsed right out from under the Chairman, spilling Mr. McMahon and his millions to the floor below. Even after all of that, Vince McMahon made his way to his feet, but was immediately crushed and trapped under the McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania sign. The wrestlers on hand put aside all differences and rivalries to come to the aid of the boss. WWE Champion Triple H, John Cena, World Heavyweight Champion Edge, Shawn Michaels, and countless WWE Officials and EMT’s assisted McMahon out of the rubble. Vince screamed out, "Paul!" to his son-in-law and told the EMT’s that he could not feel his legs. The EMT’s placed an neck brace on the Chairman and slowly got him out from under the destruction. I will update you as soon as I get any word on the condition of Vince McMahon. The only word now is that McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania is obviously suspended until further notice. There will be more information provided on the Chairman at a WrestleMania XXV Press Conference on Tuesday at 1/12c on WWE.com.
I will do a follow-up to this report tomorrow with my usual match results and match quality, as well as a list of draftees.