Monday Night RAW Results (11/24) — New #1 Contender!

Full Credit: Wade Keller, PWTorch.com
[Q1]
-A very expensive sports car sped up to the arena. An energetic Shane McMahon drove up. Cryme Tyme shook his hand and admired his car. He hugged Kelly Kelly and said it’s a sold out show and it’s going to be a hot night. He shook hands with Dolf Diggler and kept walking before Diggler could introduce himself. He told the crew to hit his music. He cuts that close! Then he walked out onto the stage as his music played and danced a little.
He said last night John Cena became the new World Heavyweight Champion. The crowd mostly cheered, but there was some booing. Shane said two individuals have rematch clauses in their contracts – Chris Jericho and Batista. He said that’s a problem, so tonight they’re going to compete tonight to determine who faces Cena at Armageddon. He said Cena is in Providence. Stephanie McMahon‘s music played and she walked out onto the stage. She kissed Shane on the cheek and said she has an announcement of her own. She said as a former champion who was also recently injured, Randy Orton has a valid case for a title shot. They zoomed in on Shane’s face and he seemed slightly taken aback. She said she was adding to his match, making it a Triple Threat. Shane nodded as if it was an okay augmentation of his plan. She said she would have told him soon, “but I know how much you love surprises.” He pushed her mic down a ways and tried to have a private chat with her, showing he wasn’t exactly okay with her showing him up like that. A loud “Cena” chant broke out, so fans obviously didn’t care that much about their dispute. I like that they’re finally doing this, though. It’s been years in the making and totally plays off of their real dynamic from when they were teenagers, but dramatized of course for the sake of TV.
Steph then announced that Miz & John Morrison would wrestle next. Shane jumped in and announced their opponents would be Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio. Steph seemed irritated at Shane stealing his thunder. Steph said, “Shane, I guess you didn’t hear me before when I said this is my show.” She said she didn’t want to do this publicly, but she gave her no choice because he showed up unannounced at the last second and is making matches with championship implications (she meant “ramifications”). She said he’s tried to stab her in the back her entire life and she’s not going to let it happen. “I’ll be damned if I’ll let you ruin this show. This is my show,” she said.
Shane replied: “First off, you’re way off base.” He said he’s there for two reasons: To have a little fun and to make Raw a better show. She told him to make Raw better, jump back in his Ferrari and drive back to New York City where he came from. “You’re really doing this now?” he asked. She shot back, “You can run the corporation, I will run the show.” Shane said since she wants to publicly get this out, he asked if she wants to run it by herself or if she’s going to sleep with yet another WWE Superstar and get maybe a new husband. She slapped Shane. He took a deep breath and told her, “You wanna run Raw? Then I’m going to watch you run it right into the ground.” She leered back at him, then followed a few steps behind.
-At ringside, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler looked shocked. Lawler said he didn’t know what to say. Cole called it a startling and shocking start due to the sibling rivalry erupting.
1 — MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. SHAWN MICHAELS & REY MYSTERIO
Michaels’s left eye was black and blue and bandaged, apparently from the JBL clothesline at Survivor Series. Match began ten minutes into the show. They cut to JBL getting into a limousine that just happened to have a camera at crotch-level. JBL told the driver to take him to the ring. The driver, off camera, said there’s a match going on. JBL said he doesn’t pay him to talk or think. As the match was going on, JBL’s music played and his limo drove out. Morrison, who had control of Michaels, was distracted and looked that direction. Miz tagged in, but was also distracted. At 3:00 they cut to a break.
[Commercial Break]
[Q2]
They showed that during the break, Miz threw Rey into the security wall. He had yet to tag into the match. Miz had Michaels down with a headlock as the camera showed JBL watching from afar near the stage. Michaels reached for a tag, but there was no sign of Rey. He crawled back to the corner, but Morrison had already stomped Michaels into the mat. Michaels finally hot-tagged Rey at 7:00. He took Miz down with a headscissors, then hit a split-legged Arabian moonsault in the corner. He kicked a charging Morrison off the apron, then hit a “seated senton” on Miz followed by a 619. Morrison grabbed Rey’s leg as he climbed to the top rope. Michaels made the save, but Morrison reversed a Michaels whip at ringside, sending him face-first into the ringpost. Rey then hit a sunset flip powerbomb on Miz for the win.
WINNERS: Rey & Michaels in 8:00.
STAR RATING: *1/4 — Not a ton to it, but okay for what it was.
-Afterward, Morrison and Miz attacked Michaels and Rey. Morrison really went after Michaels’s eye with vicious MMA-style elbows from a full mount position. JBL walked into the ring, but instead of kicking Michaels, he kicked Morrison. Then he walked away. “What on Earth?” asked Cole. Yeah, what on Earth?
-Cole plugged the Triple Threat match to determine the no. 1 contender. Lawler plugged the return of Cena to Raw later.
[Commercial Break]
-ECW announcer Todd Grisham interviewed JBL backstage. He asked for an explanation for his actions. JBL said he made Michaels an offer this morning that he thinks would be beneficial for both of them. He said understands Michaels is strongly considering it. What he did, he says, was an act of good faith that Michaels will make the right decision. By the way, the way to define a wrestler as a total loser is for that wrestler to take a cheapshot boot to the face and not respond at all. It’ll be interesting to see if Morrison is given any time to respond or if the bookers don’t deem him worthy of such TV time.
-Lilian Garcia introduced Mr. Kennedy, making his return to Raw. He said he’s got a movie coming out. He said it’s called “Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia.” He said he portrays a Navy Seal who gets caught in a sticky situation in hostile enemy territory. He shifted to talking about Survivor Series. “And I thought to myself: Self, let’s get a camera crew and invade a different kind of line.” He brought up that Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. The crowd mostly cheered with some boos. He said he decided to ask fans a “relevant question” – which WWE Superstar best reminds you of President-Elect Barack Obama. There were scattered boos, deservedly so because really, who cares? Shelton Benjamin (of course). Undertaker, Batista, The Rock, Hacksaw Duggan, The Big Show, Randy Orton, Carlito, Kofi Kingston, John Cena, Primo, Cryme Tyme, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, Batista (because they’re both winners), MVP, Shawn Michaels, and Vince McMahon (the kid who said this explained, “Because he’s stubborn and they both have big ears.” They put a goofy graphic on the screen of their ears growing bigger. Kennedy said he was surprised he wasn’t mentioned, “a certain someone with a presidential ring to his name.” He said that Superstar is “young, fresh, charismatic… Miiisssster Kennneedy!” Kennedy has totally morphed into being 75 percent Shane Douglas and only 25 percent the old Mr. Kennedy. His goatee, mannerisms, vocal inflections, everything. Uncanny. I half expected him to go off on a rant against “Dick Flair.”
[Q3]
-Grisham interviewed Batista backstage. He said he wants to congratulate Cena for coming back from a “horrible injury” and walks into his hometown and reclaims the WWE Title. He said you could feel the energy in the air after the win. He said he knows that feeling and wants to get back to the mountain top himself. “More than anything in the world, I want to be World Heavyweight Champion again.”
[Commercial Break]
-A three-hour Raw special airs two weeks from tonight featuring the Slammy Awards.
2 — KANE vs. KOFI KINGSTON — First Round of IC Contenders Tournament
This was the first match in a tournament to earn an IC Title shot. Before the match, Lilian Garcia introduced Pat Patterson at ringside, the first-ever IC Champion. He waved to the fans, then joined Lawler and Cole at ringside. This could be fun. Patterson said the new IC Title DVD is going to be the best DVD ever put out by WWE. He said there will be great matches and stars, such as Pedro Morales, Honky Tonk Man, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. Cole brought up Steve Austin and The Rock. Kane nailed Kofi with an early big boot. Patterson said it’ll be interesting to see which one of these guys will face Regal for the IC Championship. I wonder if McMahon is chewing out Patterson for calling WWE Superstars “guys.” That’s on the “WWE Announcer No-No List” that everyone gets on Day One. Kofi slipped a bit on a springboard dive onto Kane at ringside at 3:00, but caught most of Kane on impact. Kane took over and bent Kofi backwards around the ringpost. Patterson said Kofi reminds him of him when he was younger, a real high-flyer. Kane was disqualified.
WINNER: Kingston via DQ in 4:00.
-Kane threw a fit afterward. He tossed the metal steps into the ring and then bashed Kofi in the head with it. Steph stepped out onto the stage and told Kane he can take his aggression out on Kofi, or else next week he can take it out on the new World Hvt. Champion. He paused and smiled. She said, “That’s what I thought,” then announced Kane vs. Cena. Cole said Steph is in charge, then plugged the Triple Threat for later.
[Q4]
[Commercial Break]
3 — RANDY ORTON vs. BATISTA vs. CHRIS JERICHO
They showed Cody Rhodes and Manu watching ring intros on a monitor backstage. They used a few new camera angles on this show, which gave things a subtle fresh appearance. With Batista at ringside and Orton in control of Jericho, they cut to a break at 3:00.
[Commercial Break]
They showed Orton during the break was setting up an RKO, but Batista yanked him out of the ring. Orton had Batista down in the ring back live.
[Q5]
Orton and Jericho double-teamed Batista for a minute. With Batista down, Orton gave Jericho a cheap-shot. Jericho came back with a kick to Orton’s head and then covered Batistsa. Orton broke up the pin. Batista came back against Orton and Jericho, scoring a near fall on Jericho after a slam, broken up by Orton. Batista powerslammed Orton for a two count, which Jericho broke up. The mic totally caught a spot being called by Orton as he whipped Batista off the ropes: “Reversal into a spinebuster.” Batista shook the top rope, but Jericho went for a Code Breaker. Batista powered out and set up a Batista Bomb. Jericho escaped and applied the Walls of Jericho center-ring. Orton broke it up from behind and then took over. He waited for Batista to slowly rise so he could deliver an RKO. Batista caught Orton with a spear instead. When he went for the cover, Jericho basement dropkicked him and then covered Orton to score the three count. Cole said Jericho was an opportunist as Batista did all of the damage.
WINNER: Jericho in 11:00 to earn the no. 1 contender slot.
STAR RATING: **
-Lawler plugged that The Champ is Back, as Cena will appear later.
[Commercial Break]
-Santino Marella walked out with Beth Phoenix. He said as far as he is considered, he is the greatest IC Champion of all-the-times. He said leaving him off the IC DVD is a mistake. And an even bigger mistake was leaving him out of the tournament. He said to the “hater” who challenged him tonight, he brought two soldiers – his biceps which he named Francesco and Paquale. Then out came Goldust.
4 — GOLDUST vs. SANTINO MARELLA (w/Beth Phoenix)
Cole raved about Goldust, Kennedy, and Patterson all returning to Raw, with Cean still to come. When Goldust shoved Santino in the chest, Santino acted like he got bad germs from the contact. When Goldust gestured toward Santino, Santino told him he’d get it. Instead, he got a flying butt to the face. Goldust settled into his obligatory chinlock in mid-ring. (That’s Randy Orton gimmick infringement.) Goldust soon finsihed Santino with a reverse atomic drop and twisting suplex finisher, the Final Cut.
WINNER: Goldust in 3:00. Santino should be slightly better protected than this, but it is good to see Goldust back if Dustin Runnels is actually motivated to stay in shape. Being a mid-card gimmick act is okay, too. I hope they do more with him and reintroduce his character to viewers. Assuming viewers are going to want to watch him based on just his silly outfit and rubbing his chest may be wrong. Why not really redefine him and add some depth to what makes him the way he is. Otherwise, really, why bother?
-A replay aired of Mike Knox attacking Evan Bourne.
[Q6]
[Commercial Break]
-A commercial aired for WWE Mobile featuring Charlie Haas dressed up as Bret Hart. Clips aired of Vladimir Kozlov beating up Haas when he was dressed up as Bret.
-Backstage, Orton walked up to Cody Rhodes and Manu. He glared at them, then walked away.
5 — C.M. PUNK vs. SNITSKY — IC Top Contender Tournament
After Punk’s ring intro, Regal walked out with IC Title accompanied by Leyla. Cole called Snitsky “surly and terrifying,” likely Snitsky’s official adjectives now. Regal joined Regal and Lawler at ringside. Regal said no one should get a title shot without earning it in a tournament. He claimed the IC Title is as prestigious as any in WWE. Regal said he hopes Snitsky wins. He said he thinks he and Snitsky will “have a feud for the ages,” attributing the hunch to a psychic sixth sense. Regal said he saw Patterson out there earlier and “he sings like a nightingale.” He said he went to Rio De Janeiro to win the first IC Title and he wants to uphold that fine tradition he started. Regal talked about having watched the IC Title History DVD and “everybody should watch it.” Punk hit Snitsky with a running knee in the corner and then went for a bulldog. Snitsky threw him off and then gave him a big boot to drop him. Punk eventually finished Snitsky with the Go To Sleep out of nowhere for the win.
WINNER: Punk in 4:00 to advance to the semi-finals of the IC Contenders’ Tournament.
-Grisham interviewed Rey Mysterio backstage about facing Miz one-on-one next week in an IC Tournament match. Rey said he watched the IC DVD and he knows his history about that title. Ge talked about Michaels, Rock, and Austin and said he’ll be added to the list. Knox walked in and stared him down – literally. There seems to be a rule in WWE that Rey can never finish an interview without being interrupted.
[Q7]
[Commercial Break]
-Cole plugged coverage of Survivor Series at the WWE website.
-A new commercial aired with Triple H and Shawn Michaels pushing DX merchandise. Michaels said the holidays can be a stressful time. Triple H said everyone should buy DX gifts for their “so-called loved ones.” He showed off a new DX basketball jersey. Triple H called in a “model” to show off the jersey. Mihaels looked nervous around her. Triple H said he met her at the video game filming. Michaels then plugged the videogame. Michaels got mock-mad that she stole his line about WWE Shopzone. Off camera she took off the jersey and Michaels covered his eyes.
-Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, and Katie Lea walked out. Phoenix bragged about being the sole survivor on her team last night. Jillian said she’s very excited because in two weeks the Slammy Awards are back. She said she knows she’s going to be nominated for a lot of awards. She sang and danced intentionally poorly. Phoenix got upset when Katie began dancing with her.
[Commercial Break]
-Cole plugged Cena vs. Kane next week.
6 — BETH PHOENIX & JILLIAN HALL & KATIE LEA vs. MICKIE JAMES & CANDICE MICHELLE & MELINA
The video screen said Melina, but it was Candice’s music. Candice came out. Then Melina made her (not-so-surprising) surprise return as the third member of the babyface team. Lawler said he knows women well because he watched Oxygen all the time. Melina tagged in at 3:00 and knocked Beth and Jillian off the ring apron, then ducked a Katie Lea punch Matrix-style. Chaos broke out with the heels charging into the ring. Melina finished Lea with a power legdrop. Cole said, “It’s nice to see Melina back.” Lawler: “I like her front as well.”
WINNERS: Melina & Michelle & Mickie in 4:00.
[Q8]
-Jericho told Steph backstage that he’s going to serve as Cena’s personal one-man welcoming commmittee.
[Commercial Break]
-Jericho stood mid-ring and said the hypocrite and lying fans were rejoicing in WWE begin different now that Cena is back and is champion. He said they thought that last time when Batista won the title, but he won it back eight days later. He said the same thing is going to happen to Cena because at the end of 2008, he’ll be champion again. Cena interrupted on the big screen in the concourse surrounded by fans wearing his vintage “AWA” logo t-shirt with “HLR” (Hustle, Loyalty, Respect) letters in place of AWA. He said the fans aren’t hypocrites and they do not like “a stuck-up, smug little man in a form-fitting suit telling them every week they are not good enough.” He said that Jericho said he wanted to be a one-man welcoming committee for him, but he didn’t come along. The camera panned the fans in the concourse. He then invited all of the fans to follow him to the ring pied-piper style. Cool scene, fitting of Cena’s “swell guy” and “man of the people” image. Cena shook hands with the fans as he worked his way down the steps through the crowd to the ring.
In the ring, he pointed Jericho toward the crowd and said they all share one thing in common – they all care about “the WWE.” He said every time they come to the arena, “these good people, these good families, spend their hard-earned money so they can stand up and cheer, so they can boo, so they can get rowdy, so they can stand up and make some noise.” He said they have passion. He said all they ask for in return is that every time they step in the ring, they share that passion. He said without the fans, “none of this exists,” pointing down at the ring. Cena said his goal isn’t to be a one-man legacy. He said he doesn’t know how many championships he’s had and that’s not what he’s about. He said he just wants to give all he has to the fans.
Jericho asked the fans if they agree with Cena. Jericho said he doesn’t care what they agree with. He told Cena to listen to the list of wrestlers he’s defeated. Cena interrupted and mocked his constant references to the list of people he’s defeated. Cena said the biggest difference between them is he talks business, whereas he means business. He took off his hat and shirt. Jericho backed out of the ring. Cena said he figured Jericho would walk. He said he’ll face him at Armageddon, but first he wanted to clear something up. He said at Survivor Series they had a hell of a match and no one can doubt Jericho’s ability to wrestle in the ring. Cena said where they don’t see eye-to-eye is that he comes out and claims he has to save WWE from what it’s become. Cena said he likes this place. He said the one thing that makes him want to tear him in half is that he comes out there and insults the fans every week, saying they’re not good enough. Cena said he can claim he’s an honest man, but he’s actually a liar. Cena held up the title belt and said he’s as much of a WWE fan as any of the people and him holding that championship proves he is good enough. Where’s Stuart Smiley? He’d fit right in with this promo. Cena proclaimed, “The Champ is Here!”
Jericho marched back into the ring. Jericho pointed at himself and said, “The Champ is Here.” When Cena looked away, Jericho said, “Look at me when I’m talking to you, boy.” Jericho said he’s a liar and hypocrite like the sycophants he panders to every week. “When it’s all said and done you are nothing more than a worm and a coward of a man,” Jericho said. Cena jumped him and aggressively beat him. Cole said, “Cena has snapped!” Cena suplexed him and elbow dropped him and tossed him out of the ring. He followed him to ringside and poured a sode on him, then rammed his face into the steps and whipped him into the steps. Cena rammed the top of the steps into him, knocking him into the crowd. He held the steps over his head, then dragged Jericho back into the ring and clotheslined him. He followed with a full nelson, threw him hard to the mat, and applied the STFU. Cole said he had no idea this existed inside of Cena. Cena held his title belt in the air, his music played, the fans cheered, and the scene ended as Lawler said that’s a side of Cena they’ve never seen. They cut backstage to Kane watching on a monitor. Lawler plugged that he would be Kane’s first opponent since he returned to Raw. Back to Cena in the ring as the show ended. Good final segment. Cena’s return had to feel monumental, and it was smart to get a match out of Jericho before moving on to the Road to WrestleMania. Jericho was strong in his role and Cena really drove him his Man of the People who will fight for their pride and defend their honor.