WWE Week In Review XVII
August 24, 2008- August 30, 2008
Welcome to the seventeenth edition of the WWE Week In Review. Feel free to contact me on TWO or Wrestling 101 anytime with comments, questions, and anything in between. Also, check out my blog on Wrestling101.com.
With just two weeks to go until Unforgiven, Monday Night RAW was live from the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA in a one night only Sci-Fi Channel Edition of RAW. The night kicked off with the World Heavyweight Champion in action as CM Punk took on one of his Championship Scramble opponents at Unforgiven- John "Bradshaw" Layfield. When JBL attempted to bring a steel chair in the ring, it distracted the Mauler Millionaire long enough for Punk to hit the GTS and defeat JBL for a third time.
The Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix was also in non-title action against Kelly Kelly. With an inadvertent distraction by Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella, Kelly Kelly was able to roll-up The Glamazon for the upset win. After the match, Beth Phoenix assaulted the IC Champion.
Primo Colon also made his debut against "Charlito". The odd and unpredictable Charlie Haas came out dressed as Primo’s older brother Carlito, but Primo was able to win his debut match and pin "Charlito".
RAW General Manager Mike Adamle announced on RAW that John Cena had suffered a severe herniated disc in his neck at SummerSlam and it will require surgery; leaving Cena out of action indefinitely. Adamle promised to announce a replacement at Unforgiven for Cena and later made the shocking announcement that Rey Mysterio will compete in the Championship Scramble at Unforgiven.
RAW also saw a special appearance by Shawn Michaels. An emotionally distraught Michaels told Jericho that he looking into his wife’s eyes, he realized that he could not walk away from the WWE. Michaels challenged Jericho to a match at Unforgiven. Jericho appeared on the Tron via satellite and accepted Shawn Michaels challenge. Michaels said that if he would do to Jericho what he planned to do at Unforgiven, he would be put in jail. The two will face off in an Unsanctioned Match on September 7 in Cleveland at Unforgiven.
The World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase were also in action, defeating Jerry "The King" Lawler & "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in non-title action. After the match, Cryme Tyme appeared in the crowd with the champions’ belts and informed the champions that they wanted a match for the World Tag Team Titles at Unforgiven. Rhodes & DiBiase accepted the challenge.
Santino Marella would also make his first defense as the Intercontinental Champion, facing former champion Kofi Kingston. Despite their differences earlier in the night, Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix would trip up Kofi Kingston, allowing Santino to retain his gold.
The main event saw a huge battle between Batista & Kane. The two brawled back-and-forth, but the unstable Kane snapped and viciously attacked Batista’s already weakened knee with a steel chair. Batista would bounce back and give Kane a taste of his own sick medicine. In the end, both championship contenders were laid out and hurting.
Tuesday’s ECW on Sci-Fi kicked off with ECW General Manager Theodore Long, who announced, much like RAW & SmackDown, that ECW will have an ECW Championship Scramble at Unforgiven in less than two weeks. The Championship Scramble will see two superstars start the match, then every five minutes another competitor will enter in the 20-Minute Time Limit. An interim champion will be crowned whenever that superstar earns a pinfall or submission and whoever is the interim champion when time expires will be the official champion. Theodore Long revealed that the night’s edition of ECW will determine the four challengers for Mark Henry’s ECW Title at Unforgiven.
In the opening contest to determine the first challenger for the ECW Championship Scramble, Matt Hardy defeated John Morrison with the Twist of Fate to get his opportunity at revenge and the ECW Title on September 7 at Unforgiven.
The second qualifier saw The Miz defeat Evan Bourne with the Reality Check to qualify. With help from Bam Neely, Chavo Guerrero was able to defeat Tommy Dreamer to qualify for the Scramble as well.
In ECW’s main event, Finlay used his son, Hornswoggle, and his trusty shillelagh to defeat intense rival Mike Knox to take the final spot in the ECW Championship Scramble.
Friday’s SmackDown kicked off with The Undertaker. The Deadman told Vickie Guerrero, as her and The Family looked on, that he is not the forgiving type and that, after he takes her soul, she will burn in hell. Backstage, the rest of The Family leaved Vickie’s dressing room, leaving Vickie locked in and alone.
The opening match of the night, R-Truth made his SmackDown debut, defeating Kenny Dykstra with a perfectly executed Axe Kick.
In Divas Tag Action, Natalya & Maryse teamed up to take on the team of Maria & Divas Champion Michelle McCool. Maryse was able to pin Maria, but got into a post-match brawl with the Divas Champion.
In a rematch from SummerSlam, The Enigma Jeff Hardy defeated MVP with the Swanton. After the match, United States Champion Shelton Benjamin laid out both Championship Scramble competitors.
Still unhappy about GM Vickie Guerrero’s "oversight", Big Show interrupted a non-title tag match between WWE Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder and Jesse & Festus, attacking and laying out all four superstars.
In another SmackDown Debut, Brie Bella took on former Women’s Champion Victoria. After Brie took a short "rest" under the ring, she was able to get a burst of energy and roll-up Victoria for the upset win.
The main event was a Champion Vs. Champion non-title affair, as WWE Champion Triple H took on United States Champion Shelton Benjamin. A long and grueling match was interrupted by The Great Khali making his way down the ramp. Benjamin attempted to take advantage of Triple H’s distraction with the Pay Dirt, but The Game was able to pedigree Benjamin for the win. After the match, Benjamin avenged his loss to the WWE Champion by knocking out The Game with the U.S. Title belt, leaving the door open for The Great Khali to lay out Triple H with the Khali Slam in the middle of the ring.
Backstage, the lights go out in Vickie Guerrero’s locker room and all that can be heard were the screams of the GM. Has The Undertaker done something to Vickie or is this another scare tactic by The Deadman? Is The Undertaker zoning in on Vickie’s soul?
Superstar of the Week: R-Truth
Ratings Report
RAW: August 25- 2.8 Rating (Down From Last Week’s 3.3 Rating)
ECW: August 26- 1.3 Rating (Down From Last Week’s 1.5 Rating)