By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

WWE Raw Live Report
August 11, 2008
Richmond, Va.

The show opened with a video package on how Cena & Batista captured the World tag titles from Rhodes & DiBiase last week.

In-ring: Six nights before Summerslam, John Cena's music hit to officially kick off the show. Cena came to the ring sporting one of the tag title belts, then his music stopped and the boos showered down on him. Cena began talking about his match against Batista at Summerslam, then talked about Mike Adamle asking him for some ideas on how they could hype the match even more. He said there's nothing more to hype this match than simply looking to the headline: Cena and Batista - first-time-ever.

Batista's music hit after Cena paused and Batista came to the ring sporting the other tag title belt. Batista asked Cena what he wants. Cena said the good news is they are the new tag champs. The bad news is they need to find a way to co-exist in their tag title re-match against Rhodes & DiBiase. Cena said things will be different at Summerslam because he's been watching Batista for six years after he was hand-picked and groomed by Ric Flair and Triple H. Cena said he never had that opportunity, but he did what he had to do every week: turned critics into believers and now every Monday, he stands before a nation that goes to battle with him.

Cena paused, then quietly talked about their resumes being impressive with a lot of answers except the answer to which one of them is better. The crowd cast their vote as both men took a step back to survey the audience response. Cena then said they answer the question on Sunday, "and it's going to be me." Batista smirked and said he's been watching Cena as well. They've each won Rumbles, they've each won main events at WrestleMania, they've each won their fair share of title belts, but one thing is Cena has never changed who is, and he respects that.

Batista said he wouldn't be caught dead doing some of the things Cena does (mocked the Shuffle), and he understands why some people over the age of 15 want to see Cena beat senseless. Ouch. Cena started to get ready for a fight, but Batista told him to calm down a sec. Batista was interrupted by loud cheering on who the better man is, then Batista said the answer at Summerslam will be him as the better man. Cena clinched his fist and circled around Batista before extending his hand. Batista nonchalantly shook the hand, then Cena backed away and Batista's music hit to close the segment.

Mobile voting: Who is the bigger star - Cena or Batista?

[Q2]

[Commercial Break]

CINE plug: They focused on WWE being awarded two CINE golden eagle awards for TV presentation. WWE received on award for the presentation of WrestleMania and the second acknowledgment was for the fifth-annual Tribute to the Troops.

In-ring: Kelly Kelly came to the ring in a bright hot pink outfit. Beth Phoenix then came out with Santino to face Kelly. And Santino on commentary with Jerry stupid Lawler. Yes.

1 -- BETH PHOENIX (w/Santino Marella) vs. KELLY KELLY

Santino said he has great confidence in Beth to handle Kelly here. Beth nearly killed Kelly a minute into the match with a back-drop attempt where Kelly didn't quite flip over to land on her back. Everyone held their breath momentarily, as Santino talked about Beth tossing him around like Beth is tossing around Kelly. Suddenly, Kelly countered a press slam into a roll-up for a nearfall. Beth had enough and finished off Kelly with a sit-down implant buster for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Beth in 2:00. Fine for establishing Beth's dominance heading into Summerslam. (1/2*)

Post-match: Santino took the mic and said they need to send a message to Kofi and Mickie for the Summerslam winner-take-all match. Santino said he wanted her to do that thing where she quashes her, but Mickie and Kofi ran to the ring to make the save. Santino casually slipped out of the ring with Beth and said they'll settle this at Summerslam. Santino then suggested him in a match here right now. Kofi accepted the challenge, then Santino said he meant Mickie. See, he needs practice for Summerslam on when and where he can put his hands. Mickie wasn't amused and Kofi tried to defend her, but Santino played the "hometown" card to goat Mickie into accepting the challenge against Kofi's judgment.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

2 -- Women's champion MICKIE JAMES (w/IC champion Kofi Kingston) vs. SANTINO MARELLA (w/Beth Phoenix)

This was so great to start off with Mickie matching Santino move-for-move in a game of can-you-top-this? Santino then smashed Mickie hard to the mat and went for the big knee drop, but Mickie moved in time. Santino feigned a knee injury, but Mickie showed no sympathy and went on the attack. Kofi then accidentally ran interference, allowing Beth to sneak into the ring and send Mickie hard into the ringpost. Santino took advantage with a roll-up for like a four count to secure the pin. Afterward, Santino celebrated ringside in classic Santino-wins-the-Super-Bowl fashion while taunting Mickie's parents in the process. Meanwhile, Mickie and Kofi tried to re-collect themselves in the ring.

WINNER: Santino in 3:00. That was fun while it lasted. Really could have gone another few minutes and kept up the gig. Nice set-up for Summerslam to see Beth and Santino get their comeuppance. (*)

Backstage: They focused on a portrait of Ronald Reagan, then Mike Adamle was shown talking to Todd Grisham on his approach as General Manager. Kane then suddenly interrupted the conversation and Adamle booked him in a match against Chris Jericho tonight. Kane said that if that's all Adamle has planned, then that's fine. Adamle added that he wants the burlap bag handed over to him tonight because it's bad business for kids to imitate Kane when they go back to school. Kane said he's making a huge mistake.

[Commercial Break]

WWE 24:7 Classic clip: They went to Oct. 22, 1979 for a look at the Valiant Brothers vs. Tito Santana & Ivan Putski when TitoSki captured the tag titles at MSG.

Backstage: They showed Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Cody Rhodes looking into the camera. Nice segue. Cody said they weren't even born in 1979 but they can learn from history to look at how Tito and Putski worked as a team to win the belts. Rhodes said Cena and Batista can't work as a team because there's all kinds of hidden jealous. DiBiase said their careers are further along than any WWE Hall of Famers like Tito and Putski. DiBiase said they respect each other, then they earn everyone else's respect by winning back the tag titles tonight.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

3 -- CRYME TYME (SHAD GASPAR & J.T.G.) vs. THE HIGHLANDS (RORY & ROBBIE)

Well, look at that. Highlands back as tag team jobbers. Cole said the winners have an opportunity for a featured tag title match. Shad dominated early and often here, then he finished off Robbie with a hard leg sweep for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Cryme Tyme in 3:00. Short and to the point to give Cryme Tyme a dominating win. (3/4*)

Up next: JBL has some sort of challenge for World Hvt. champion C.M. Punk.

[Commercial Break]

ECW promo: As expected, it's Hardy & Henry vs. Miz & Morrison on ECW tomorrow night.

Announcers: Cole talked about Randy Orton's serious injury on a motorcycle. He plugged WWE's website for more information on the injury after saying Orton flew 300 feet. The website story had 30 feet. And the fish was "this big."

In-ring: JBL came to the ring as the announcers recapped last week's match where JBL won the right to face Punk for the World Title at Summerslam. Before JBL could talk once entering the ring, Punk's music hit. He posed for the crowd while JBL stared at him with an empty look on his face.

[Q5 -- second hour]

The top of the second hour started with JBL starting his usual speech, but Punk cut him off and said the World Title is around his waist because he earned the title. He said he might not fit the typical champion persona, according to the haters, but this is the crowning achievement of his career by walking in and out of Summerslam as World Hvt. champion. Punk said that with due respect to Cena and Batista, he will prove he's the man at Summerslam. JBL said he built this wrestling business and the people paid to see him. He told "Cinderella" that he came up through a no-name independent and ended up on ECW because they didn't want someone from the bingo hall, and midnight strikes at Summerslam when JBL takes the belt back.

JBL started to take off his jacket before rolling up his sleeves. He then pulled back the tarp covering a table in the ring. JBL revealed a big bottle of Jack Daniels and said Punk's lifestyle of straight-edge living is boring to him. He challenged Punk to a drinking contest with the old guard. JBL whispered in his ear that all he has to do is take one sip of that drink to win the contest. He said if Punk isn't willing to check his morals, ethics, and convictions at the door for the contest, then he won't walk out of Summerslam as champion. Punk said he doesn't want to be just another JBL. He said he'll check his body at the door at Summerslam, but he won't check his morals at the door. After all, it made him very successful and he is World Hvt. champion. He said he won't let a bully shoehorn him into his ideal of a champion. Punk put the shot glass down and said, "thanks, but no thanks."

JBL surveyed the scene and said he didn't realize Punk would bring his soapbox with him. JBL said he figured Punk would say that, so he's going to toast to Punk and his pathetic footnote championship run. Punk cut him off and said he might have a change of heart. He took the shot glass, took a whiff of the alcohol, then threw it in JBL's face. JBL's eyes burned as he backed into the corner to accept a knee smash to the face. Punk celebrated his victory here, then left the ring as JBL tried to gather himself. Excellent, excellent segment. JBL was back in form as the devil-sitting-on-the-shoulder character trying to convince Punk to bend the rules to find worldly success. Punk holding firm and holding his own to the bully was a good step for Punk's character. It felt like the same people who have been writing HBK-Jericho wrote this.

[Commercial Break]

Video package: They focused on Shawn Michaels's promo last week where he said he'll announce his future at Summerslam. ... In-ring: Segue to Chris Jericho coming to the ring with Lance Cade for one of the main events of the show. Kane then came out clutching his burlap sack.

[Q6]

4 -- CHRIS JERICHO (w/Lance Cade) vs. KANE

Jericho teased the Walls of Jericho at 3:00, but Kane battled out into a sidewalk slam. Kane then went up top, fought off Jericho, and came down on Jericho with a leaping clothesline. Suddenly, Adamle and a slew of security guards came to ringside. Kane was bewildered for a moment, but landed a big boot to the head. Kane then grabbed the burlap sack and clutched it to his chest. Jericho used the distraction to nail the codebreaker for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Jericho in 5:00. Not the best use of Jericho here. He gets a win, but Jericho shouldn't be positioned as an after-thought after the great character build-up the past few months. (*)

Post-match: Adamle sternly looked at Kane, who continued to clutch the bag. Adamle stepped into the ring to offer his help in resolving the issue with the bag. He said he knows what's inside the bag and he knows who Kane is referring to on "Is he alive or dead?" Adamle said "he" is Kane. He is the monster inside Kane. Adamle said Kane has tried to be a normal person, but he just can't do it. Adamle said that when Kane declared that he is dead, then Kane announced he can lead a normal life. Adamle slowly walked over to Kane and told Kane he could lead that normal life by giving up the bag. He said the people watching deserve to know what's inside the bag and it's time to stop fooling around so they can get to the bottom of this. Adamle promised a normal life if Kane could hand him that bag.

Kane then slowly walked over to Adamle and took the mic from him. Kane said there is a mask in the bag. And the man who wore it has been scarred and tortured and damaged beyond all human recognition. He said the problem is that it's not his mask. Kane then slowly opened the bag and reached inside to reveal a Rey Mysterio mask. Kane laughed maniacally, then shoved the mask into Adamle's chest and left the ring.

[Commercial Break]

[Q7]

In-ring: Jamie Noble was shown pacing inside the ring back from break. They recapped the brawl between Noble and William Regal last week, then Regal came out to face Noble in a match.

5 -- JAMIE NOBLE vs. WILLIAM REGAL

Regal made short work of Noble, nailing the big running knee strike to the head for a decisive pin and the win. Cole wanted to know what Layla thinks of that effort from Noble.

WINNER: Regal in 2:00. Well, that seemed a bit random. It might take a few weeks to see if this is going anywhere. (1/2*)

Smackdown Rebound: They focused on the greatness of Edge's character in getting his own form of revenge on Vickie Guerrero. What a troubling, yet riveting video package on Edge preparing for Hell in a Cell against Taker.

[Commercial Break]

Mobile voting: 73 percent for John Cena and 27 percent to Batista for the bigger star. Ouch. ... On cue, John Cena's music hit to lead out the participants in the main event. Batista came out next before they cut to a break.

[Q8]

[Commercial Break]

6 -- World tag team champions JOHN CENA & BATISTA vs. TED DIBIASE, JR. & CODY RHODES -- World tag title match

Former champs were in the ring out of the break, then Batista and Cena had a mild discussion about who would start. Batista firmly pronounced himself as the guy to start things off, then Cena slap-tagged himself into the match once the bell sounded. Cena had Rhodes positioned for the Five Knuckle Shuffle early on, then he calmly walked over to Batista and did the you-can't-see-me in his face, which drew a smirk from Batista. Cena then dropped the knuckles on Rhodes as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

After the break, Batista took a hot tag from Cena and cleaned house. He wanted the Batistabomb to finish off DiBiase, but Cena felt like Batista was teasing him, so he jumped into the ring. They had a confrontation, then DiBiase knocked Cena into Batista and rolled up Cena from behind for the pin and the win to re-capture the tag titles.

WINNERS: DiBiase & Rhodes in 8:00 to win the World tag titles. Rushed match after last week's solid effort. They played up the tension between Cena and Batista nicely, though. I'm not a fan of quick title changes, but if done infrequently and with the purpose of building up a mega-PPV match, then it's acceptable under the circumstances. (*1/2)

Post-match: Rhodes and DiBiase celebrated with the tag title belts on the floor. Cena remained in the ring while Batista paced on the outside. They nearly came to blows in the ring, then Rhodes and DiBiase tried to sneak attack them, but Cena and Batista took out their frustrations on the new tag champs. Cena then left the ring while Batista called for him to return. The fans showered Cena with boos, then he slowly started walking back to the ring to big cheers. Security busted it down to the ring and stood in between them while Mike Adamle also made his way to the ringside area. The fans shouted for Cena and Batista to fight, then they simultaneously busted through security for a mid-ring tackle. Security pulled them apart momentarily as chaos broke out in the ring. Batista got the best of this one as he made a big tackle on Cena and started pounding away as they closed the show with no over-run.

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