WWE Week In Review XX
September 14, 2008- September 20, 2008
Welcome to the twentieth 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.
The 799’th edition of Monday Night RAW emanated from the FedEx Forum in Jerry "The King" Lawler’s Hometown of Memphis, TN. Chris Jericho Vs. CM Punk in a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Title was scheduled, as well as the long awaited one-on-one match between Kane and Rey Mysterio.
Monday Night RAW
-RAW kicked off with the Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Title, where champion Chris Jericho was narrowly able to retain his gold after he fell out of the cage onto the floor to keep his title.
-In her first one-on-one match since returning to RAW, Candice Michelle defeated Jillian while Beth Phoenix looked on from ringside. Candice Michelle knocked Beth Phoenix off of the apron with a dropkick (which must have had quite a bit of wind to it, since Candice completely missed her).
-A furious JBL defeated ECW’s Tommy Dreamer. After the match, JBL posed a sit-down strike over the #1 Contendership for the World Title. Randy Orton interrupted this little demonstration of protest and stated that, when he was able to return to action, he would win the World Title and give RAW a credible champion. This brought out Glamarella (who skipped the Honk-O-Meter this week) and Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella told the former World Champion that Randy was always injured, just like his father (alluding to the cast that "Cowboy" Bob Orton used for so many years). Batista eventually interrupted and before the obvious fight between the active competitors, RAW General Manager Mike Adamle stated that he would announce a #1 Contender following the Kane Vs. Rey Mysterio match. Batista fought JBL, until Marella got involved and got laid out by Batista and then, following a series of slaps by the Women’s Champion, Batista laid out Beth Phoenix on the head of Marella, leaving Glamarella in a heap.
-In 6-Man Tag Action, Priceless (Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, & Manu) defeated the team of Kofi Kingston, Jerry "The King" Lawler, & "Good Ol’ J.H." Jim Haas (Charlie Haas’ latest impression).
-Jamie Noble defeated Paul Burchill by submission (I guess the rumors are true). Afterward, Layla revealed that she was bunking up with William Regal instead of Noble.
-In the main event, Rey Mysterio defeated Kane by DQ after Kane ignored the referee’s five-count (Cole said that the match was stopped because Rey was unable to continue, but it was a DQ, despite how it may be twisted). After the match, Kane assaulted Mysterio and attempted to unmask Rey. The always exciting Evan Bourne intervened and the two high flyers managed to take down The Big Red Machine.
-RAW also marked the debut of Dolph Ziggler, who introduced himself to RAW GM Mike Adamle, as well as Chris Jericho & Lance Cade.
-It was then time for Adamle to announce the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title at No Mercy. World Champion Chris Jericho suggested that Batista and JBL go one-on-one at No Mercy and the winner will face Jericho for the title on the same night. Adamle took some of Jericho’s idea and booked JBL Vs. Batista for the #1 Contendership at No Mercy, but stated that the winner would challenge for the title, but on a different night. Adamle revealed he had a better offer from a different superstar and he could not refuse. Adamle then left the stage to make room for Jericho’s #1 Contender for the World Title at No Mercy- Shawn Michaels. Michaels stated that the two of them have faced off in a regular match and an Unsanctioned Match and then wondered what they could possibly do that they haven’t done already. HBK then revealed a ladder and announced that the World Title Match between Jericho & Michaels at No Mercy will be a Ladder Match (which promises to be the match of the night, no doubt).
The 119’th edition of ECW on Sci-Fi came to you from the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN. The main event of the night would be a one-on-one encounter between Mark Henry and Finlay. It was announced at the top of the show that Matt Hardy will defend the ECW Title at No Mercy against former champion Mark Henry.
ECW
-In the non-title opening bout, ECW Champion Matt Hardy defeated Mike Knox.
-Evan Bourne was able to enlist the help of Ricky Ortiz and pick up a singles victory over The Miz.
-"The All-American American" Jack Swagger defeated Chase Stevens.
-In the main event, the World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry defeated the Shillelagh-Wielding Finlay (or as Todd Grisham pronounces it- "shuh-lay-lay").
The 475’th edition of WWE SmackDown emanated from the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN. Both the champion and challenger for No Mercy’s WWE Title Match were in action as WWE Champion Triple H took on MVP in non-title action and #1 Contender Jeff Hardy took on The Brian Kendrick.
Friday Night SmackDown
-Friday Night SmackDown kicked off with an Unforgiven Rematch that saw Divas Champion Michelle McCool successfully defend her championship against Maryse.
-Festus and Ryan Braddock also fought to a No Contest after Jesse came into the ring to "wrap up" Braddock for SmackDown’s move in two weeks (look on the bright side, Braddock actually did not job for once, at least not officially).
-In a non-title match, R-Truth rolled up United States Champion Shelton Benjamin for the win (J.R. called it an upset, but to me, it would’ve been an upset if Benjamin won).
-In the first of two main events, Jeff Hardy defeated The Brian Kendrick by roll-up. After the match, Vladimir Kozlov superkicked Jeff Hardy on the staging area.
-In other jobber news, The Great Khali squashed a painfully unfunny Scotty Goldman. The reasoning? The Great Khali will go one-on-one with Vladimir Kozlov on next week’s SmackDown.
-SmackDown also saw the return of Carlito’s Cabana, featuring special guest- Primo Colon. The Colons ran down and mocked the WWE Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder and the bottom line is that Hawkins & Ryder will defend their titles against Carlito & Primo on next week’s show.
-Soon-to-return Superstar Gregory Helms made a couple of appearances as well. He popped up a couple of times during the show to give his thoughts on a few of WWE’s talents. After Benjamin lost to R-Truth, he stated, "the price of gold just dropped". When the tag champions came out, he referred to them as "Curt And Puller" (if you don’t get the joke, he’s calling them curtain pullers). No return date for Helms, but he’s been healthy for months, so expect it soon. Probably at the All-Star Kick Off in two weeks (8/7c on MyNetworkTV).
-The Undertaker’s arm also made an appearance, choking out Chavo Guerrero (who mocked The Undertaker earlier in the night).
-The main event saw WWE Champion Triple H defeat MVP in a non-title match with the Pedigree. After the match, Vladimir Kozlov squared off with The Game and ended up laying out the champion. Kozlov will face The Great Khali next week (Maria & Brie Bella will also team up to take on the team of Natalya & Victoria; why job two competent wrestlers in two matches when you can kill two birds with one stone and job them in a tag match?).
Superstar of the Week: Vladimir Kozlov