The Raw 900th Episode Review – 30th August 2010
30/08/2010
Hello and welcome the Raw Review.
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As always you can catch up with Raw in double-quick time by checking out ‘The ®AW Material’ at the bottom of the page, which covers the important parts of the show in bitesize chunks.
Quick Links
Segment 1: The Hart & Soul of Raw
Match 1: Kingston & McGillicutty Vs. Kaval & Bryan Vs. Miz & Riley
Match 2: Lay-Cool Vs. Eve & Melina
Segment 3: Chris Jericho Interviewed
Match 3: Morrison & Truth Vs. Rhodes & McIntyre
Match 4: Bret Hart Vs. The Undertaker
Match 5: Jack Swagger Vs. Evan Bourne
Segment 4: Straight Edge Recap
Segment 5: Sheamus Interviewed
Main Event: Team WWE Vs. Team Nexus
The LIVE Raw Review
Pre-Segment
Hey guys and welcome to the Raw Review for the very special 900th Episode of Raw!
Sorry it wasn’t live as previously suggested, but hopefully it’ll have been worth the wait!
McMahon has never been one to let a milestone pass without a big bang, so perhaps tonight we’re in for a treat, so lets find out!
Segment 1
The Hart & Soul of Raw
After a pretty special intro video that covered some of Raw’s finest moments (and unsurprisingly left out the most dire ones) from the past 899 shows, King and Cole welcomed everyone to this milestone show and told us that tonight’s main event would be a 5 on 5 match pitting Cena, Jericho, Edge, Orton and Sheamus against The Nexus minus Skip Sheffield.
Why minus Skip Sheffield I hear you ask? Well let me introduce the WWEBlog Informant to tell you more:
Sup WWEBloggers!
Bad news this week for fans of The Corn-Fed Meat Head; Skip Sheffield.
During a House Show in Hawaii Mr. Sheffield tripped on his way to the ring to assist Wade Barrett and David Otunga, damaging his ankle.
At first it was thought that the injury wasn’t that serious, but after a full medical check it seems that actually Skip has busted up his ankle about as badly as it’s possible to do so.
Ankle injuries are often career-enders, and even those who do recover from them are often prone to the same kind of thing.
Although a few places are touting 6 months as his expected recovery time, don’t expect to see Skip on your screen in any sort of wrestling capacity for at least a year, possibly even longer, that’s if he doesn’t get future endeavoured first.
Although he’s got a lot of stick during his tenure with the WWE so far, we here at WWEBlog like Ryan Reeves and wish him a speedy recovery.
-The Informant
Following this announcement Bret Hart’s music hit and he made his way to the ring.
So far Michael Cole has only touted Raw as ‘the longest episodic TV show ever’ about ten times.
Bret says that when Raw first launched he wondered whether it would catch on, but 17 years and 900 episodes later it looks like it did.
He talks about how there are only two guys still in the WWE that took part in that very first show; himself and The Undertaker.
Just as it looks like Hart is going to bring Taker to the ring, Kane’s pyros explode and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way down the ramp, strangely without his championship gold.
Kane says there is no Undertaker any more thanks to him, claiming The Deadman is no longer ‘phenomenal’ in any way.
The crowd break out into one of the loudest Undertaker chants I can remember hearing, but Kane soldiers on through and says that Bret and The Undertaker are very much alike now; washed up and permanently broken.
Kane says the last time The Undertaker was really The Undertaker was at WrestleMania when he ended the career of Shawn Michaels, something he says Bret would have savoured given their long-time hatred.
Bret says the only thing he’ll savour is when Taker beats Kane for the umpteenth time, as he always does.
Kane says that Taker took out an Icon at WrestleMania in the form of Shawn Michaels, so he needs to take out an Icon himself.
Kane clasps his hand around Bret’s throat, but The Hart Dynasty hit the ring and delay him just long enough for the gong to sound and the lights to go out, revealing The Undertaker when they came back up.
Taker stood between Bret and Kane, who decided to leave the ring, saying ‘Not yet Big Brother, not yet.’
*TINKLE*
Michael Cole demands everyone’s attention and relays the G.M’s latest thoughts.
He says that there will be a main event befitting this historic occasion tonight; Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart Vs. The Undertaker!
Looks like the 5 on 5 elimination just got bumped to the back seat!
Match 1
Triple Threat Tag Team Match
Kofi Kingston & Michael McGillicutty
Vs.
Kaval & Daniel Bryan
Vs.
The Miz & Alex Riley
I like how there was never any explanation as to how Daniel Bryan got a contract on Raw.
He didn’t win NXT, he wasn’t part of The Nexus when they demanded contracts, he just kinda showed up at SummerSlam and became a part of the roster.
I guess it’s the quirky little unexplained things that keep people watching.
It’s nice to see Kofi back on Raw, even if it was a pretty short match that he had minimal involvement in.
Cole spent a lot of time doing his usual ‘internet bashing’ bit, so he was particularly pleased when Miz got the 1..2..3 over Kaval after the Skull Crushing Finale.
After the bell Alex Riley tried and failed to jump Daniel Bryan, but distracted him long enough for Miz to return to the ring and clock him with the Money in the Bank Briefcase.
Kaval and Daniel Bryan make an interesting tag team,which could be the plan if he wins Season 2 of NXT.
The Miz & Alex Riley by Pinfall.
Match 2
Divas Tag Team Match
Lay-Cool
Vs.
Eve & Melina
*Yawn*
I guess it’s time to find out what Lay-Cool have got planned for Melina, as if anyone really cares.
I’m guessing the match wasn’t it, because Melina got a roll-up on Layla in about a minute flat to take the 1..2..3.
After the bell Lay-Cool grabbed a pair of microphones and told Melina that her victory was just like her; completely forgettable.
Layla says that it’s time to find out who the true Divas Champion is in the WWE, so they propose a Unification match at Night of Champions.
Michelle explains that it’ll be one of them against her, and whoever wins unites the titles.
Melina says she expected something like that, so she accepts on one condition; that it’s a Lumberjack Match.
Lay-Cool accept and the match is made.
They may as well call it the ‘cram as many Divas into 10 minutes of the PPV’ match, although I guess Womens/Divas Championship Unification Match has a slightly catchier ring to it.
Eve & Melina win by Pinfall.
Segment 2
The Nexus 5
Backstage the 5 competing members of Nexus are talking in the locker room.
Michael Tarver points out that since they kicked Darren Young out of Nexus and Skip Sheffield broke his ankle people are starting to say they aren’t the same as before.
Otunga says all they have done is trimmed the fat, and if Tarver thinks they are weak he may as well just leave right now.
Barrett stops the squabbling and says that they are going to beat 5 of the WWE’s top stars tonight and in 3 weeks time he’s going to become the new WWE Champion, which makes them anything but weak.
He says that to prove a point tonight they need to do something that people will never forget, and he’s got just the thing in mind.
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Segment 3
Chris Jericho Interviewed
Backstage Josh Mathews begins to ask Jericho about his most memorable moments on Raw, but Jericho cuts him off.
He explains that when he says he is the greatest in the world at what he does, it’s not just a gimmick that he’s spouting, it’s the truth, although others don’t seem to believe it.
He says that he needs to make a statement, so if he doesn’t win the title at Night of Champions he’ll leave the WWE for good.
Josh Mathews points out that he’s been kicked off Raw or threatened to leave at least a dozen times, but Jericho says that he isn’t joking and he’ll begin proving his point tonight against The Nexus.
Match 3
Tag Team #1 Contendership Match
John Morrison & R-Truth
Vs.
Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre
O.k so let me get this straight.
For the past month we’ve had The Gatecrashers, The Dudebusters, The Usos and Santino & Kozlov all vying to become the #1 contenders for the tag team titles, so tonight we’ve got a match between four guys who haven’t even figured into the equation until about a minute or two ago.
This match didn’t last as long as the entrances before it, with all four men brawling around the ring until the referee called for a double disqualification.
Pretty pointless stuff if you ask me, when there are well-constructed tag teams just waiting for a shot at The Hart Dynasty’s hideous belts.
Match ends in a Double Disqualification.
Match 4
Singles Match
Bret Hart
Vs.
The Undertaker
Oh, looks like the 5 on 5 elimination match hasn’t been bumped from the main event slot after all.
I don’t imagine this match will run that long, given how broken down these guys are.
The 8-year age difference between these guys really shows, but more than that I think it’s clear to see the difference that working a constant schedule has had.
The Undertaker is younger and undoubtedly in better shape, but seems to be a lot more banged up in terms of niggling injuries.
Anyway, before this match could get under-way The Nexus’ music hit and Wade Barrett emerged at the top of the ramp.
He told everyone that this match was not going to happen, because when people talk about the 900th episode of Raw they don’t want to talk about two legends, they want to talk about the future aka The Nexus.
He says that he will now make a statement that people would never forget, by de-lousing Bret Hart and proving that The Undertaker is indeed a Deadman.
Barrett hits the ring but Taker makes light work of him and turns his attentions back to Bret.
However, just as they are about to tie up the gong strikes and the lights dim, revealing Kane in the ring.
The two exchange blows but then just as Kane gets the upper hand the gong strikes again, the lights cut out and Kane vanishes.
With just Taker left in the ring the rest of The Nexus pile down the ramp and surround the ring.
Taker battles them off but just as he is about to Chokeslam Barrett the lights cut off AGAIN.
When they come back up Barrett has Taker on his shoulders ready to deliver his finisher, while Kane watches on from the top of the ramp.
They then drag The Deadman to the corner where Justin Gabriel adds the exclamation point with a 450 Splash.
After a while Taker tries to sit up, but only gets half way before crumbling back to the canvas.
Match ends in a No Contest.
Match 5
Singles Match
Jack Swagger
Vs.
Evan Bourne
Good news for those of you trying to fall asleep out there, Jack Swagger’s back on Raw.
He toots his own horn about his success on Smackdown and says he’s going to bring a little ‘swagger’ back to Monday Night Raw.
He and Bourne are two guys who looked like they were on the way up with solid pushes, but for some reason got stopped mid-way through and cast aside.
This match demonstrated that fact perfectly, as less than a minute in Alberto Del Rio’s music began to play and it became clear it was just a vehicle to push him some more.
I’m pretty sure at least half the attending audience weren’t surprised to see him, as his ‘personal’ ring announcer had been sat at ringside since the end of the previous bout.
While Rio walked to the ring Evan Bourne failed to hit the Air Bourne and then tapped out to the Ankle Lock a few seconds later.
After the bell Alberto grabbed a microphone and began crowing about how he’s put Rey Mysterio out of action, then said he was going to re-create that magic moment for the Raw audience, but with a different ‘chihuahua’.
Del Rio hit the ring and pretty much did the same thing to Evan Bourne as he did to Rey Mysterio on Friday, until Mark Henry hit ringside to make the save.
No change at all in General Manager odds this week, with Stone Cold still at the head of our poll:
♦ – New Entry
♦ – Odds Shortened
♦ – Odds Lengthened
Here are this week’s odds:
Stone Cold Steve Austin – 5/1
Shawn Michaels and/or Triple H – 8/1
Michael Cole – 20/1
JBL – 20/1
A McMahon – 25/1
Good Ole’ JR – 26/1
The Rock – 30/1
Bret Hart – 40/1
Roddy Piper – 60/1
Abraham Washington – 1000/1
Don’t forget to cast your vote, and if you have any suggestions please feel free to drop an email to contactus@wweblog.co.uk or enter it in the ‘other’ box on the Poll below!
Best suggestions might make it into future sets of odds!
Jack Swagger wins by Submission.
Segment 4
Straight Edge Recap
C.M Punk and his Society are next to hit the ring, without Serena. I wonder if they’ll mention her absence.
Punk asks the audience if they know who he’s better than, then surprises everyone by saying The Rock.
He says that he doesn’t drink, smoke or make crappy movies like The Tooth Fairy (cheap shot, but true enough.)
He asks the fans if they miss The Rock on Monday Night Raw, then tells them that he doesn’t, because he epitomises this septic tank of a show.
Punk says for 900 weeks Raw has been promoting poor family values, and if people don’t believe him he’s got 2 words for them; Katie Vick.
He says he’s got some examples, then rolls some clips from previous episodes.
Clip 1, entitled Property Damage shows Triple H breaking into Randy Orton’s house and destroying the place.
Clip 2, entitled Irresponsible Behaviour showed Cena throwing Edge into the Long Island Sound.
Clip 3, entitled Trespassing showed DX’s invasion of WCW.
Finally, Clip 4, entitled Dumb showed Stone Cold giving the Corporation a beer bath.
I thought for all the world we were going to see Mae Young give birth to a hand again, but I guess the WWE writers rate that even lower than the whole Katie Vick thing in terms of embarrassing storyline.
Punk says he’s sure the crowd would love nothing more than to see Stone Cole walk down the ramp and spray him with beer.
Cue breaking glass.
Punk looks shocked, but then begins to smile and roll about laughing as he reveals that it was all an elaborate joke.
He says the disappointment they are feeling is exactly how he feels when he comes to Boston and sees every single one of them, and he’s happy that he’s made them disappointed.
Punk then rolls the footage of Brock Lesnar Superplexing The Big Show and collapsing the ring, saying he could watch that clip over and over, because it represents everything he could never be.
Before Punk can rant any more The Big Show’s music hits and he walks to the ring looking rather dapper in a waistcoat and shirt.
Show says he’s disappointed that Punk took a cheap shot with a fat joke, and he should have brought up something truly embarrassing, like when Eddie Guerrero gave him a tainted burrito which gave him chronic diarrhoea, when he did the whole Sumo thing, or when he was caught on camera kissing Vickie Guerrero.
Show says he’s entertaining, then does an impression of Hulk Hogan ending with an attempted High Five, which Punk rejects and brands boring.
Punk rants about how no part of the S.E.S is ‘high’, but Show eventually loses his cool and slaps him with the still-raised High Five hand, before clearing the ring.
No mention of Serena then, I guess we’re just brushing that under the carpet.
Segment 5
Sheamus Interviewed
In a break from the norm Josh Mathews brings Sheamus out to the top of the ramp to ask him some questions.
However, before he can even get out a full sentence Sheamus snatches the microphone away.
He says that everyone is here to celebrate the 900th episode tonight, apart from Triple H, which seems to be why he’s being punished with a 6-Pack Challenge at Night of Champions.
He calls the Boston crowd a bunch of ‘Plastic Paddies’ and says that he’s the only real Irishman in the building.
After moaning on about being discriminated against Edge emerges and cuts him off.
He tells Sheamus that since his début on Raw episode 265 he’s experienced it all, he’s been thrown in the Long Island Sound, had his weddings interrupted, had deranged ex-employees rush through the crowd and attack him and much, much more.
But for every atrocity he’s endured, he’s given back twice as many.
He lists all his achievements, including winning The Rumble, The King of the Ring and numerous title victories.
He calls Sheamus ‘Beaker’ from the Muppets and promises to win the WWE Championship at Night of Champions.
Main Event Match
5 on 5 Elimination Match
John Cena, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Edge & Sheamus
Vs.
The Nexus
Interesting start to this match as Jericho walked out and Edge got himself disqualified before a punch had even been thrown.
Cena, Orton and Sheamus now face a 5 on 3 situation against The Nexus.
Elimination : Chris Jericho
Team Nexus : 5
Team WWE : 4
Elimination : Edge
Team Nexus : 5
Team WWE : 3
So far Sheamus has been very much on Team WWE’s side, although he has been reluctant to tag Orton and Cena, seemingly wanting to do it all himself.
Looks like Sheamus’ reluctance to tag has cost him here, Slater squirms out of the High Cross and after a kick from Gabriel on the apron hits his finisher for the 1..2..3.
Elimination : Sheamus
Team Nexus : 5
Team WWE : 2
Cena explodes into the ring and makes an immediate impact, hitting Slater with the Attitude Adjustment to get the first elimination over The Nexus.
Elimination : Heath Slater
Team Nexus : 4
Team WWE : 2
Wade Barrett is straight into the ring following the elimination, dumping Cena to the outside then distracting the referee while the rest of Nexus beat him down.
After a period of intense domination from Nexus, Cena somehow locks Otunga up in the STF and he taps instantly.
Elimination : David Otunga
Team Nexus : 3
Team WWE : 2
However, with Cena on the canvas following the elimination Justin Gabriel seizes the moment and hits a 450 to grab another elimination seconds later, Orton is the only Team WWE member still standing!
Elimination : John Cena
Team Nexus : 3
Team WWE : 1
Big elimination for Gabriel there, but he doesn’t have long to celebrate as Orton slithers in and catches him with an RKO, shortly followed by one to Tarver too!
Quickfire double elimination!
Elimination : Justin Gabriel
Team Nexus : 2
Team WWE : 1
Elimination : Michael Tarver
Team Nexus : 1
Team WWE : 1
Barrett is quickly into the ring again though and seconds later he hits Orton with ‘Wasteland’ to get the pinfall and take the match for his team.
Elimination : Randy Orton
Team Nexus : 1
Team WWE : 0
Interesting match, or at least it would have been if we hadn’t already seen a Team WWE/Team Nexus match that was far better at SummerSlam a few weeks ago.
All in all a pretty disappointing 900th episode, and not the big deal I was hoping for.
Oh well, roll on 1000!
The Nexus win by Elimination.
Let us know who you think the anonymous Raw General Manager is!
If you have any suggestions that aren’t on the list, please feel free to drop an email to contactus@wweblog.co.uk, use the Contact Us page or enter it into the poll below!
Best suggestions go into the next set of odds featured in future Raw Reviews!
The
®AW
Material
®
Kane, The Undertaker and Bret Hart had an altercation at the start of the show leading to the anonymous G.M booking a 1 on 1 match between The Deadman and The Hitman.
®
Lay-Cool challenged Melina to a Unification match at Night of Champions, which she accepted, adding the stipulation that it would be a Lumberjack Match.
®
Chris Jericho vowed to leave the WWE if he didn’t win the WWE Championship at Night of Champions.
®
R-Truth & Morrison took on Rhodes & McIntyre to decide the #1 contender for the Tag Titles but the match ended in a double disqualification.
®
The Nexus interrupted the Bret Hart Vs. The Undertaker match and with a little help from Kane decimated The Deadman.
®
Alberto Del Rio tried to put Evan Bourne on the shelf but got run off by Mark Henry.
®
The Straight Edge Society talked about the sordid history of Raw until The Big Show appeared and ran them out of the ring.
®
Sheamus claimed to be the victim of discrimination until Edge shut him up.
®
Edge and Jericho purposefully got eliminated from the main event, leaving Cena, Sheamus and Orton to a 5 on 3 situation.
®
Wade Barrett won the Main Event for his team, eliminating Randy Orton last to become the sole survivor.
®
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