WWE Monday Night Raw & Saturday Night’s Main Event Report
Monday, July 28, 2008
Verizon Center – Washington, D.C.
By John Massey, PWTorch.com correspondent
SHOW NOTES:
The arena was a near sellout and the most crowded that I have seen it for a WWE show in a few years. The crowd was live and into most of the show throughout the night. Bell time for the show was slated for 7:30 but the show began a few minutes late. Local print media was advertising a Raw show along with an ECW taping, while television ads have just recently over the last couple of weeks been correct, advertising Raw and Saturday Night's Main Event.
Prior to the beginning of the show, a number of videos ran including the Wrestlemania 24 video that is commonplace before all television tapings.
DARK MATCH:
Paul London defeated Charlie Haas in 6 minutes via pinfall.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler then made their way out to the broadcast area. CM Punk made his way out next, prior to the opening of Saturday Night's Main Event to join Ross and Lawler at ringside.
The Saturday Night's Main Event opening played to the song of “Boom” by P.O.D.
(1) JBL & Kane & Cody Rhodes & Mike Dibiase defeated John Cena & Batista & Cryme Time in 11 minutes via pinfall when JBL pinned JTG. A decent, competitive eight man tag that got hot towards the end. Interesting to note that JBL came to the ring, followed by Cryme Tyme, followed by Rhodes and Dibiase, followed by Cena, then Kane, and finally Batista for ring introductions. JBL got the pin with the clothsline from hell and stared down CM Punk, perhaps previewing the Summerslam World Title matchup.
Backstage: We see The Great Khali preparing to come to the ring.
Video: Jeff Foxworthy speaks about Autism.
In-House Video: Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 Video Game
(2) The Great Khali defeated Jimmy Wang Yang in 90 seconds via pinfall. Between entrances, Carmen Electra spoke via video about Autism. The match was a complete squash.
Video: Ben Stiller speaks about Autism. Up next is Jenny McCarthy.
Stage Segment: Jenny McCarthy made her way out and spoke very briefly about Autism, thanking the WWE and the fans for all their help and support.
In-House Video: Raw 15th Anniversary Flashback
(3) Edge defeated Jeff Hardy in 12 minutes via pinfall. Edge went for the spear on Jeff but Jeff moved out of the way and Edge fell to the floor. Jeff was laying on top of the bottom rope with his head over the apron selling an earlier beatdown from Edge. MVP made his way out of the crowd and kicked Hardy in the head. A moment later, Edge hit the spear on Hardy and made the cover for the victory. MVP escaped through the crowd. It appears this is where Saturday Night's Main Event will end.
SNME THOUGHTS: The eight man tag was a little slow until the end. The Edge-Jeff Hardy potential dream match was worked very slowly as well until the last few minutes. The Khali match is nothing more than a squash. Decent show but definitely not one that you would think is worthy of a Saturday night special.
BETWEEN SNME & RAW:
A WWE International Video aired to Shinedown's "I Dare You." During the switchover of the sets, a number of videos aired speaking of the company's charitable work. We had a quick live shot of the crowd to air on USA at 8:55 between the end of Law and Order and the credits, then Lillian Garcia made her way out and performed the National Anthem.
RAW NOTES:
The Tribute to the Troops video aired for the crowd in attendance after the Beth Phoenix/Santino in-ring segment concluded.
After it was announced that Michael Cole would replace Jim Duggan in the tag team match, Cole was reluctant to enter the ring and hesitated leaving the broadcast booth during much of the commercial break prior to the start of the match.
A WWE Magazine commercial aired for the fans after Kofi Kingston's one minute squash of Jamie Noble.
During the setup for the Highlight Reel, A Vladamir Koslov video aired as well as a video for the new Ric Flair DVD.
After the Smackdown Rebound and Shane McMahon/Todd Grisham backstage segment, Mae Young came out for the Kiss-Cam for the live audience. She ended up attacking the referee and making her own kiss-cam in the end.
There was a Triple H DVD video that aired prior to the start of the main event.
When the show ended, Batista and John Cena had a staredown before Cena finally left the ring. Batista then took the mic and explained how he was bouncing just two blocks away eight years ago and he never thought he'd be in the position he's in now. He said he loves DC and he loves the fans and was glad to be back home for the night. His music played and he left the ring to conclude the night.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A pretty good night overall at the Verizon Center. It was a notable Raw, with the first in-ring confrontation between Batista and John Cena and their first time teaming up in the ring. We had an appearance by Shane McMahon, the return of William Regal, the final Highlight Reel, and the announcement of a new General Manager. While the final announcement may have been a letdown, it was a more newsworthy Raw than most of late.
The crowd was into the show just about all night, but began to quiet down a bit near the end of the show. Batista was over huge in his hometown and probably received the biggest pops of the night. Shane McMahon's first appearance during Raw received a nice pop. Cryme Tyme also received a big ovation. John Cena got a very passionate mixed reaction from the crowd. The one thing about Cena is that people love to love him and people love to hate him.
Everyone worked hard and all in all a good show. Raw returns to the Verizon Center live on Monday night, Dec. 1.
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