By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Report
August 2, 2008 on NBC prime time
Taped July 28 in Washington, D.C.

The show started with JBL in the limo for the opening eight-man tag match. Cryme Tyme, then Cody & Ted, John Cena, Kane, and Batista rounded out the field. C.M. Punk is on commentary scouting opponents for a World Title defense at Summerslam.

1 -- JOHN CENA & BATISTA & CRYME TYME (SHAD GASPAR & J.T.G.) vs. JBL & KANE & World tag champions CODY RHODES & TED DIBIASE, JR.

Back and forth to start things off with no one in clear control.

[Commercial Break]

They returned from break with the heel team working over Shad Gaspar. They worked him over for a good, long time. An eight-man tag with editing should not have four or five minutes of extended babyface isolation. Nevertheless, Cena and JBL took tags and Cena cleaned house to a chorus of boos. Cena hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle on JBL, then wanted the FU, but Kane kicked Cena square in the head. Batista then entered and cleaned house on everyone. Cena then tagged out to JTG, who Cena launched onto DiBiase. Unfortunately, DiBiase wasn't legal to be pinned, so JBL re-entered the picture and smashed JTG with a Clothesline from Hell for the pin and the win. Announcers made the point that JBL seems deserving of a World Title shot.

WINNERS: Team JBL in 12:00. Fine showcase match of several stars at once. Punk held his own on commentary and they got across the larger point of the men competing for a potential title shot against Punk at Summerslam. (*1/2)

[Q2]

Backstage: They showed Great Khali walking around with Singh directing his path. Actually, they only showed his upper-body flailing around.

Video promo: Jeff Foxworthy commented on autism, the theme of the night.

[Commercial Break]

Video promo: Carmen Electra told us to support Jenny McCarthy's fight against autism.

In-ring: Great Khali was led to the ring by Singh for a demonstration of Khali's power. They went to a video package on Khali's history of beating up people. Jimmy Wang Yang was in the ring as the designated jobber tonight.

2 -- GREAT KHALI (w/Singh) vs. Jimmy Wang Yang

Ross commented on Khali being a national sports hero in India like Yao Ming in China. Yang tried to attack Khali from the ropes, but Khali quickly knocked him down to the mat. He landed the chokebomb and put a boot on the chest for the pin and the win. Ross said it could be a long night at Summerslam for Triple H.

WINNER: Khali in 2:00. Squash. No sign of Triple H to hammer home the point, though. (n/a)

Video promo: Ben Stiller commented on autism. Jenny McCarthy up next.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Raw promo: Monday on Raw, Cena and Batista team up against Cody & Ted for the World tag titles. Nice use of the old Austin/Taker formula for two top babyfaces to challenge for the tag titles while feuding.

On-stage: Jenny McCarthy came out on stage to a nice ovation. She said WWE has done an amazing job of generating awareness for autism. Jenny thanked WWE for their support and encouraged donations for Generation Rescue.

Video package: They aired clips on the turbulent relationship between Edge and Vickie Guerrero over the past month. And now we have Edge vs. Taker in the Cell at Summerslam. ... Up next is Jeff Hardy vs. Edge.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Ross and Lawler broke down the Summerslam PPV card coming up in two weeks.

In-ring: Edge came out for the main event, followed by superstar Jeff Hardy. Nice showcase match for Smackdown for those of us (ahem, me) who have failed to make time for Smackdown in recent weeks.

[Q4]

3 -- JEFF HARDY vs. EDGE

Nice back-and-forth start, then Hardy and Edge took it to the floor where Hardy was rammed into the guardrail. They cut to break with Hardy in peril.

[Commercial Break]

They returned with Edge playing the classic cocky heel working over Hardy in the ring. Edge worked over the left knee for a while, with Hardy unable to pull off his classic moves until catching Edge with a swinging slam in mid-ring. Hardy wanted the Twist of Fate at 10:00, but Edge blocked and nailed an impaler DDT for a close nearfall. Edge's eyes bugged out of his head, then he set up for the spear, but Hardy side-stepped him on one good leg, then flew off the top with a Whisper in the Wind out of nowhere. Hardy made a cover, but it was only good for a nearfall. His leg gave out again, then he ducked a spear amazingly. Both men were laid out, then MVP snuck over to the ringside area from the crowd and smashed Hardy with a Chono boot to the head. Edge then came to and speared Hardy for the pin and the win. Hardy was KO'ed post-match while Edge hobbled out of the ring to close the show.

WINNER: Edge in 14:00. Nice match. Two top performers having a solid showcase battle on broadcast TV. MVP's interference was subtle-enough to be heat-inducing, not eye-rolling inducing. (**1/4)

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.

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