Seven years ago on Raw, WWE held a one-night King of the Ring tournament. In the finals, William Regal beat C.M. Punk to claim the crown.

Also during the tournament, Punk beat Chris Jericho in the semi-finals and Punk beat Matt Hardy in the quarter-finals. Oh, and Regal beat Hornswoggle in 15 seconds in a quarter-final match.

Regal vs. Punk was not the main event, nor the top story of the show, which was expanded to three hours on this night. A brewing feud between Shawn Michaels and Batista dominated the show, plus the main event featured Randy Orton, Edge, JBL, and Chavo Guerrero facing John Cena, The Undertaker, Kane, and Triple H in the main event...

THE RAW PAGE
April 21, 2008
Originally Published PWTorch Newsletter #1022
By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

MICHAELS-BATISTA SUMMIT

After several weeks of various in-ring segments with Batista and Shawn Michaels talking about each other and to each other, Michaels called Batista to the ring to try to get to the heart of Batista's beef with him.

Michaels made a full ring intro, then said he didn't expect to be talking every week about Ric Flair after his match with him at WrestleMania. He said he had a question for Batista. Batista's full ring entrance took place. Michaels said last Friday night on Smackdown, Jericho asked him a question. He said he didn't answer him. He said he doesn't trust anything Jericho says, but he touched on something. He asked if he wanted to be the man to face Flair at WrestleMania. Batista asked if it'd make him feel better if he said yes. He said he can't give him that satisfaction. He said this is now about "you and me." He said he respects where he's at in his career, but he doesn't like the way he got there. He said he's sick and tired of talking about it, so the last thing he's going to say to him is: "You can point your finger all you want; you can make accusations all you want; at Backlash, I'm gonna finish this."

Michaels tilted his head and half-smiled. "Well, Dave, I appreciate your honesty," Michaels shot back. "Since we're being so honest, I have a little confession of my own to make. I'm everything that you say that I am." He went through his list of nicknames, and ended with, "Whether anyone likes it or not, I am the man." He admitted he has blood on his hands. He said the casualties along the way are called collateral damage. He brought up his match on Smackdown against The Undertaker. He said the man he believes he's morally superior to because he'll do anything he can to win is the guy he's going to face at Backlash. he wished him luck and said he'd need it.

Michaels extended a hand. Batista shook it. Batista held on longer than Michaels and yanked him in close for a staredown and a little intimidation. Batista dropped the mic and bumped shoulders with Michaels as he left the ring. Michaels stood looking down at the mat with his back to Batista. An "HBK" chant broke out. Batista shot another look back at Michaels half way to the back. Batista's music played. Michaels remained still in the ring.

Raw Box Score Basics

HR. 1: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show as pyro blasted like mad in the arena. They plugged that all three Presidential candidates would appear on Raw and the King of the Ring tournament.

(1) Chris Jericho defeated MVP via tapout in 5:00 in a King of the Ring first round match. Jericho gave MVP a goose egg on his forehead with a stiff forearm. (3/4*)

C.M. Punk rolled his wrists backstage.

(2) C.M. Punk beat Matt Hardy in 4:00 of a King of the Ring first round match. Punk finished off Hardy by sitting down on a sunset flip attempt after blocked one another's finisher. (3/4*)

They aired a video game rendition of Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton. Hillary's character was based on Mickie James and Obama on Batista as they did all of their mannerisms and signature moves.

JBL cut a promo where he bragged about being on the front page of the New York Times business section. The headline was: "Selling Chat on Fox, and a Sex-Enhancing Potion on the Side."

(3) Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) beat The Great Khali in 2:00 in a King of the Ring first round match. Khali was DQ'd for ramming Finlay's leg into the ringpost over and over and over.

Big Show walked to the ring to make the save. Lawler said Show vs. Khali will literally be the biggest match in WWE history. Khali lumbered to the back to escape Show. Everything was slo-mo. Finlay was helped to the back after a break.

(4) William Regal defeated Hornswoggle in 0:15 in a King of the Ring first round match. Regal showed Hornswoggle down and applied the Regal Stretch submission for a quick tapout.

A video feature aired on WWE's tour of Europe.

Shawn Michaels walked out and called Batista to the ring. They talked out their differences and hugged. Not really.

HR. 2: The Clinton video aired.

(5) Carlito (w/Santino Marella) beat Hardcore Holly (w/Cody Rhodes) in 4:00. Carlito gave Holly a Back Stabber after Holly's back out during an Alabama Slam attempt.

A Triple H pretaped promo aired regarding the Backlash main event.

(6) C.M. Punk beat Chris Jericho in a King of the Ring semi-finals match in 6:00. Punk won clean with an enzuigiri and GTS. Some sloppy spots here. Not Jericho's night. (*1/2)

The Obama video aired.

(7) William Regal beat Finlay in a King of the Ring semi-finals in 4:00. Regal won with a Regal Stretch when the ref called for the bell when Finlay couldn't continue. (3/4*)

McCain's video aired. A pretaped Backlash promo aired with John Cena. Then a WWE charity video aired.

HR. 3: The Clinton vs. Obama match took place with impersonators of Hillary and Bill Clinton and Obama. Umaga eventually came out and gave Obama a Samoan Spike and Hillary the Samoan Drop.

Maria, Ashley, Candice Michelle, Cherry, and Kelly Kelly stood together in the ring. Maria said Mickie James did the seemingly impossible last week in beating "Glamazon" Beth Phoenix. Glamazon's music interrupted Mickie as Mickie said the belt means everything to her. Glamazon walked to the ring with four heel divas - Jillian Hall, Victoria, Melina, and Natalia. A brawl broke out with everyone. The babyfaces cleared the ring of the five heels. (Mike Adamle was surely shocked.)

(8) William Regal beat C.M. Punk in 6:00 to win the King of the Ring tourney after a Regal Stretch. (*1/2)

(9) Randy Orton & JBL & Chavo Guerrero & Edge beat Triple H & John Cena & Kane & Undertaker. Too many wrestlers and not enough time. Edge surprised Kane with a spear for the surprise pin. Afterward, Cena, Hunter, Orton, and JBL all got into it, then Taker downed everyone and stood over them to end the show. (*1/4)

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