WWE Week In Review XXIX
November 16, 2008- November 22, 2008
Welcome to the twenty-ninth 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 808’th edition of Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. To open the show, Stephanie McMahon would be holding the first ever RAW Superstar Forum. Also, CM Punk would seek revenge when he goes one-on-one with the man who cost him the World Title- Randy Orton.
Monday Night RAW
Good Week For: The Miz & John Morrison (Pulled Huge Upset Over Rey Mysterio & Shawn Michaels)
Bad Week For: Evan Bourne (Got Assaulted by Mike Knox, Possibly Making His Injury Worse)
It Will Be Interesting Next Week For: Chris Jericho & John Cena (To See Who Is World Champion)
Best Mic Work: Chris Jericho
And In Other News…
-The show started off with Stephanie McMahon’s RAW Superstar Forum, where the RAW Superstars could ask anything they want to Stephanie McMahon. First up was Randy Orton who asked why John Cena got the World Title opportunity at Survivor Series instead of him? Stephanie replied that putting Cena in the title match was her brother’s decision not hers. Second up was Cody Rhodes, who wanted to know why Randy Orton was not suspended for punting Ted DiBiase in the head two weeks ago? Stephanie replied that Orton will get his punishment on tonight’s RAW when he faces CM Punk (another man he punted) in a 30-Man Lumberjack Match featuring Lumberjacks from RAW & ECW. Next was former Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella. Marella wanted to know why he did not receive a chance to regain his Intercontinental Title? Stephanie explained to Santino that he had two opportunites during RAW’s overseas tour and failed on both occasions. Fourth to the podium was JBL, JBL asked the whereabouts of Vince McMahon. Stephanie told JBL that her father is out of the picture and that her & Shane are running the show. Shawn Michaels made his way up next. Michaels wanted to get a piece of JBL tonight on RAW. Stephanie replied that they will get their chance this Sunday at Survivor Series. Shawn Michaels then attacked JBL, which cleared the ring of everyone (including JBL), except for Shawn Michaels.
-It was announced prior to the Divas Match that at Survivor Series, there will be a RAW Vs. SmackDown 5-on-5 Divas Elimination Match that would see RAW’s Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Candice, Jillian, & Kelly Kelly take on SmackDown’s Divas Champion Michelle McCool, Maria, Maryse, Natalya, & Victoria.
-In the opening match of the night, RAW’s Kelly Kelly defeated SmackDown’s Victoria. After the match, Victoria laid out Kelly Kelly, but help came for Kelly Kelly when her RAW teammates this Sunday came to aid her and lay out Victoria, sending a clear message to Team SmackDown this Sunday.
-Batista defeated Manu. After the match, the two shared a staredown six nights before they captain opposing teams in a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match this Sunday.
-In a huge upset, ECW’s The Miz & John Morrison defeated RAW’s Shawn Michaels & Rey Mysterio.
-In the backstage area, Mike Knox assaulted Evan Bourne (who had made a special appearance on RAW to update everyone on his ankle injury) and attacked his ankle with one of Bourne’s crutches, possibly exasperating the injury.
-In another preview of one of the Survivor Series Elimination Matches, the team of JBL & Kane defeated Cryme Tyme.
-In an ECW Champion Vs. Intercontinental Champion bout, Matt Hardy & William Regal fought to a Double Count-Out.
-In the main event, both Randy Orton & CM Punk utitlized some of the lumberjacks to gain an advantage (legally or illegally), but in the end, it was a distraction by William Regal at the most critical moments that lead to CM Punk’s downfall at the hands of an RKO.
-After the match, Orton was set to punt Punk in the head yet again, but was interrupted with a Spear by Batista. This inspired an all-out brawl with all thirty lumberjacks battling in and out of the ring.
The 128’th edition of ECW on Sci-Fi came to you from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Two matches were confirmed as in the main event, ECW Champion Matt Hardy would team with Finlay & one-half of RAW’s World Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston to take on the team of Mark Henry, RAW’s Cody Rhodes, & RAW’s Intercontinental Champion William Regal. Also, Jack Swagger would face Tommy Dreamer in an Amateur Wrestling Challenge.
ECW
Good Week For: Mark Henry (Proved His Dominance Heading Into Survivor Series)
Bad Week For: Jack Swagger (Got Outsmarted by Tommy Dreamer)
It Will Be Interesting Next Week For: The Boogeyman (To See Is He Has A Successful Return To ECW)
Best Mic Work: John Morrison
And In Other News…
-In his WWE debut, newcomer DJ Gabriel (flanked by Alicia Fox) defeated local talent Sal Renero.
-In the Amateur Wrestling Challenge, Jack Swagger defeated Tommy Dreamer by DQ after Tommy Dreamer struck Swagger with a right hand and then laid him out with a DDT. Next week, these two will face off again in an Extreme Rules Match.
-It was announced during the show that The Boogeyman will make his return next week.
-In the main event, the team of Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, & William Regal defeated Matt Hardy, Finlay, & Kofi Kingston en route to Survivor Series.
It was announced on WWE.com on Tuesday evening that World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of ECW Superstar Armando Estrada (Real Name: Hazem Ali).
The 484’th edition came to you from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Confirmed for the final stop before Survivor Series was a non-title match between WWE Champion Triple H and Jeff Hardy. If Jeff wins, he will be added to the WWE Championship Match at Survivor Series.
Friday Night SmackDown
Good Week For: Jeff Hardy (Defeated Triple H To Earn The Right To Challenge For The WWE Title)
Bad Week For: MVP (Lost His Final Opportunity To Cash In His Incentive Bonus In An Upset)
It’ll Be Interesting Next Week For: Triple H, Jeff Hardy, & Vladimir Kozlov (To See Who Emerges Champion)
Best Mic Work: The Undertaker
And In Other News…
-In the opening contest, ECW Champion Matt Hardy teamed with R-Truth to defeat Mark Henry & United States Champion Shelton Benjamin en route to their Survivor Series Elimination Match this Sunday.
-In a match that saw The Miz & John Morrison take on Jesse & Festus, John Morrison rang the ring bell mid-match, forcing Festus into his docile state. This gave Miz the opportunity to hit Festus with the Reality Check for another big win for the duo.
-In a non-title match, Jeff Hardy utilized a distraction by Vladimir Kozlov to roll-up Triple H to head to the WWE Title Match at Survivor Series to join Vladimir Kozlov & champion Triple H in a Triple Threat Match. After the match, Vladimir Kozlov laid out both Triple H & Jeff Hardy.
-In a non-title bout, the team of The Brian Kendrick & his "advisor" Ezekiel Jackson defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Carlito.
-In a major upset, Manchester’s own James Mason utilized a "great" distraction by The Great Khali to roll-up MVP for the win costing MVP his incentive bonus (meaning he must pay for the signing bonus on his contract). After the match, MVP made the mistake of slapping Khali and Khali responded by laying out MVP with a chop.
-In their debut as a team, The Bella Twins defeated Natalya & Victoria in Divas Tag Team Action.
-The Undertaker also made an appearance on SmackDown to read Big Show’s last rites before their Casket Match at Survivor Series. Big Show interrupted the service (flanked by Vickie & Chavo Guerrero). The Undertaker managed to get his hands on Vickie Guerrero and placed her in the casket and shut the lid. Big Show’s fear of caskets left Show temporarily powerless. Big Show then threw Chavo into the ring as a diversion. As Undertaker pummeled Chavo, Big Show quickly opened the casket to save Vickie, but immediately freaked out after touching the casket. The Undertaker laid out Chavo with a Tombstone and shut him in the casket.
Survivor Series Rundown
-In a match for the World Heavyweight Title, Chris Jericho will face the returning John Cena in Cena’s hometown.
-In a match for the WWE Title, Triple H will defend his gold in a Triple Threat Match against Jeff Hardy & Vladimir Kozlov.
-The final chapter in an epic feud will be written when The Undertaker faces Big Show in a Casket Match.
-In a tri-branded Survivor Series Elimination Match, it will be Team Batista Vs. Team Orton as Batista leads the team of ECW Champion Matt Hardy, R-Truth, & World Tag Team Champions CM Punk & Kofi Kingston into battle against Batista’s former teammate and current nemesis- Randy Orton, who will lead the team of Mark Henry, United States Champion Shelton Benjamin, Cody Rhodes, & Intercontinental Champion William Regal.
-In another Survivor Series Elimination Match, Team JBL will face Team Michaels as the team of JBL, Kane, MVP, The Miz, & John Morrison take on the team of Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, The Great Khali, & Cryme Tyme.
-The Divas will also get in on the Survivor Series Elimination Matches as it will be RAW Vs. SmackDown as Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix leads Mickie James, Candice, Jillian, & Kelly Kelly against Divas Champion Michelle McCool, Maria, Maryse, Natalya, & Victoria.
Superstars of the Week: The Miz & John Morrison