Full Credit: PWInsider.com
The 7/17 edition of Monday Night Raw followed an episode that saw DX get the better of the McMahons and Spirit Squad again. Also, on SNME, they, you guessed it, got the better of the Spirit Squad. Also, Edge retained his title due to Lita’s interference and Randy Orton vs. Hulk Hogan is officially set for Summerslam.
Are you ready? DX is kicking things off with a special PSA. Clips of their recent antics are shown. They make their way to the ring as JR welcomes us to San Antonio, Texas, the home of Shawn Michaels. They shill for the new shirts and Shopzone. Shots at the Miz are taken. They talk about Vince being mad and wonder what they could have done to him. The audience says no. Shawn reiterates that the McMahons are angry with them. HHH says no one will want to see the McMahons fight DX…especially not the San Antonio fans. The crowd corrects him. HHH says perhaps they should make a match. Shawn says it is official but HHH wonders if they can do that. Shawn – “Who’s going to stop us?”
Right on cue, Vince’s music plays and the Chairman has some words for DX. He says they don’t run things around here. As far as their challenge is concerned, Vince has two words: Shane O’Mac. It will be Shawn Michaels one on one with Shane McMahon. Shane looks reluctant and tells the home crowd to shut up. Shane dogs Shawn’s impression of him. Shane brags of his God-given athletic talent. Shane says that Triple H can be in Shawn’s corner because Vince is going to be in his. Shane promises to defeat their hometown boy, 1-2-3. And now we have our main event. Clips of Umaga are shown in anticipation of his match with Cena. Commercial.
Todd Grisham announces that the next match is for the number one contendership to the “Cruiserweight” Championship. Seriously. JR ridicules him. Carlito is out first, followed by Shelton Benjamin.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Carlito to determine #1 Contender for Intercontinental Title
They lock up to start. Shelton takes down Carlito with a headlock and armdrag. He puts an arm wrench on Carlito, but Carlito pokes his eye and gets a couple of roll ups. Carlito with some left hands. He does the backflip spot off the top to avoid Shelton, but Shelton counters with a boot to the face. Shelton gets a headlock on Carlito, who then punches out. Benjamin misses a clothesline but tosses Carlito in the air for a two count. Shelton with punches and another headlock. Carlito hits a Million Dollar Kneelift and a springboard back elbow for two. Shelton misses the dragon whip, but dodges the Backcracker. Shelton counters a pin attempt into one of his own, but Carlito reverses it and grabs the ropes for the win.
Your winner, Carlito!
A replay of the World Title match from SNME is shown. Commercial.
Trish runs suggestively into Carlito and he says he will be checking it out. WWE 24/7 This Week in Wrestling History presents the MTV special “The Brawl to End It All”. Wendi Richter beat the Fabulous Moolah with Cyndi Lauper in her corner. Special Guest Referee Candice Michelle is in the ring for a Divas Tag Match.
Trish Stratus & Torrie Wilson vs. Mickie James & Victoria
JR calls Mickie “Nancy Grace on a double latte”. Torrie and Mickie start. Torrie fumbles around and hits a bodyslam before Victoria and Trish get involved. Mickie recovers and tags in Victoria. Victoria hits a scoop slam, but fails on a standing moonsault attempt. The announcers sell that RAW is the longest running show in prime time history, and JR says they’ve been around longer than Matt Dillon…not quite JR. Trish hits Air Canada on Victoria then a bulldog on Mickie. The action gets out of control and slaps Mickie. Trish uses the opportunity to hit Stratusfaction on Victoria for the win. So Candice is a face now?
Your winners, Torrie Wilson and Trish Stratus!
Maria has Umaga and Armando Alejandro Estrada in the back. AAE says ‘Yan’ Cena’s career is in a downward spiral. Maria asks Umaga is this is the biggest match of his short career. Umaga stares her down. AAE takes over the mic and promises an Umaga victory. Commercial. Ricky Bobby looks hilarious.
Mick Foley is in Stamford for a promo. He says he wasn’t trying to win the Vengeance match. He intended to leave Flair laying. He doesn’t want to face Ric Flair ever again. No rematch. A replay of the Lillian-Haas-Viscera love triangle turned Lillian squash is shown. Maria is in the back with Haas and Viscera. Charlie says they can explain their actions, but Viscera says they won’t.
A recap of the Diva Boot Camp is shown. I can’t do it any justice here. Please check out Buck Woodward’s fabulous recap, located in the Columns section of PWInsider.com. Layla L. won immunity from elimination tonight. Commercial.
The Highlanders enter for their tag team contest. How many pounds is in a stone?
The Highlanders vs. Jared Steele and Russell Simpson
Obviously, this is a squash match to show the Highlanders double team skills off. They hit a battering ram for two. Robbie counters a sunset flip attempt for two. Flapjack on one, Scot Drop on the other and it is over.
Your winners, the Highlanders.
Rory and Robbie cut a promo about wanting the Tag Belts. They officially challenge the Spirit Squad for the Tag Team Titles.
The Highlanders and DX meet in the back. DX welcomes them to the US and tell the Highlanders to make themselves comfortable in Vince’s office, and make sure to speak up for Vince. Oh, and be sure to pat Vince on the butt. Triple H wonders which one is Robbie. Shawn: “The one with the kilt.”
Matt Striker is in the ring. His chalkboard says that “Edge>Cena”. He asks the crowd if they know what that means. Knowing that Texans won’t know the answer, he brings out his guest, John Cena. Striker asks John if he knows what the equation means. Striker says that SNME mathematically proves that Edge is greater than Cena. Cena takes the mic and calls him a stupid bastard. He says that Striker is wrong. The equation really means that Cena crushed Edge through the announcer’s table. He says it means tonight, he is going to kick somebody’s ass. He goes for Striker but Umaga comes to the ring. Cena starts throwing punches. He dodges a charge in the corner and hits a belly to belly suplex. Cena picks up Umaga, but Umaga gains control and throws Cena into the chalkboard. Excuse me, throws Cena THROUGH the chalkboard. The bell rings and the referee arrives.
John Cena vs. Umaga
Umaga punches Cena down. Cena fights back with punches, but Umaga hits a shot to the throat. Scoop slam and knee drop by Umaga. Stomps by Umaga. A punch staggers Cena again. Irish whip but Cena counters with a DDT. Drop toe hold into STFU but Umaga grabs the ropes. Clothesline by Umaga. Umaga ties Cena into the Tree of Woe. Edge and Lita come to ringside. Headbutt by Umaga. Umaga misses the Whipsplash in the corner as Cena ducks out of the ring and goes after Edge. Umaga attacks from behind and hurls Cena into the ringsteps. Cena is thrown back in the ring. Umaga goes to the top rope, but misses the Superfly Splash. Cena with shoulderblocks. Blue Thunder Driver by Cena and the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Estrada distracts the ref so Edge can interfere. Cena lifts Edge up for the FU, but Umaga kicks him in the face and hits the Samoan Spike for the win.
Your winner, Umaga!
The Highlanders are eating Mr. McMahon’s catering. He wants to know what they are doing there. Rory introduces the Highlanders. He says no one yells at Vince and orders them out of his office. Shill for GAB. Commercial.
Rewind is Wily E. McMahon missing with the net last week.
Randy Orton comes out. No mention is made of his grandfather’s passing. Eugene is out next, and still has green slime on his jacket and pads.
Randy Orton vs. Eugene
Orton kicks and punches Eugene as the crowd chants ‘Hogan’. Eugene imitates Orton, but gets clotheslined for his efforts. Orton with a sleeper hold into a backbreaker. Orton hits the RKO. It’s over.
Your winner, Randy Orton!
Orton tells Eugene not to take advantage of the McMahons, just like Randy would never take advantage of Brooke. He calls her pretty and promises to pick up her CD in a few months. He calls About Us one of his favorite hits, but his ALL TIME favorite hit is the RKO on Hogan at SNME. He hopes that it won’t affect his relationship with Brooke. Commercial.
Mick Foley is back and gives a shout out to Melina. He really wants to talk about Ric Flair’s hardcore match. Mick says Ric did it all in vain because Flair gets no rematch. At Vengeance, Mick came, he saw, and he kicked Flair’s old ass. He says if Flair really wants to be like Foley, he can drive a mini-van or sit in seat 26C by the crapper, but Flair is out of Foley’s life.
Flair comes out to the ring. He is bandaged. On the way to the ring, he goes for the handshake but pulls back. Oh, Naitch! Flair says the Nature Boy got his ass kicked Tuesday night. Highlights are shown from the ECW match. He calls Foley ‘fat boy’. He wants Foley in a hardcore match and as he is ranting, Nitro and Melina come out. Nitro says that he and Melina hang out with Mick Foley. Nitro says that Flair means nothing to Mick. He won’t get an answer from Mick. Melina screams at Mick as Nitro punches Flair and hits a scoop slam, but misses the breakdancing leg drop. Flair clips Nitro and hits some chops. Before he can get the Figure Four on Nitro, Melina gets on the apron and Ric knocks her off. Nitro goes out to help her. Flair says that they can tell Mick, “Wooooooo!” Commercial.
Hoorah! It’s time for the Diva Search Elimination, and here is Miz! Enter the divas. The fans have voted. Miz reiterates that Layla is safe. Amy is eliminated. She throws some thongs to the crowd. I guess she was too natural for the audience. Miz congratulates the remaining ladies and says that on Friday, there will be a Diva Dance-off.
Shane and Vince talk strategy in the back. After tonight, they will never be made fools of again. Vince turns around and has an “I love cocks” sign on his back. Shane has one that says “Me too”. Commercial.
DX welcomes us back from the break. Triple H does the usual Suck it bit. Shane McMahon dances out to the stage. Commercial.
Shawn Michaels w/ Triple H vs. Shane McMahon w/ Vince McMahon
The match started during the break with Shawn in a sleeper hold. Shawn gets out of it and hits some punches and backbody drop on Shane. Shane is clotheslined out and Michaels skins the cat. He then hits an Asai Moonsault on McMahon. Shawn goes to the top but Shane hits a right hand as he comes down. Shawn fights back but Vince distracts Michaels and Shane takes advantage. Shane with a flying forearm, then atomic drop. Scoop slam by Shane and he goes to the top. Flying elbow by Shane. Shane calls for the Sweet Chin Music. Michaels blocks and hits a right hand and then a flying forearm of his own. Inverted atomic drop and forearms. Scoop slam by Michaels and HE goes to the top. Shawn connects with his elbow and calls for his own Sweet Chin Music. Vince grabs his leg but Triple H comes to run off Vince. The Spirit Squad runs in from under the ring. Triple H gets low blowed by Shane McMahon. The Game is thrown into the ring steps. Shawn lands on his feet when the Squad throw him up, but they overwhelm him again. They go for it a second time and Michaels falls hard to the mat. HHH gets hit in the back with a steel chair. Two chairs are set up facing each other, but Triple H gets his sledgehammer and Michaels the chair as they clean house. No winner is announced, but presumably it would be Shawn Michaels. That’s the show!
