11/24 Twilling's WWE Raw Live Coverage: John Cena returns, Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison and The Miz, Intercontinental Championship number one contender tournament

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Providence, RI

[Q1] Shane McMahon pulled in a silver Ferrari. He was greeted by Cryme Tyme and Kelly Kelly. He took his coat off and handed it to Dolph Ziggler, who was trying to shake his hand. Shane told the production guy to hit his music. Shane came out to the stage...

Shane reminded everyone that John Cena won the World Heavyweight Championship last night. He said both Chris Jericho and Batista have rematch clauses in their contracts. Shane booked Jericho vs. Batista for the right to face Cena at Armageddon. Stephanie McMahon's music hit and she joined Shane on the stage.

Stephanie said Randy Orton had a valid claim for a championship match, so she added him to Shane's match. Shane and Stephanie began arguing away from their microphones. Stephanie could be heard saying it was her show. She began to announce Miz and Morrison vs. Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio, but Shane interrupted and made the announcement.

Stephanie completely lost it and told Shane he has been stabbing her in the back her entire life. She told Shane to run the corporation and she would run the show. Shane asked, "Are you going to sleep with yet another WWE superstar and find a new husband?" Stephanie slapped Shane in the face. Shane told Stephanie he would watch her run the show into the ground...

Twill's Two Cents: Is Vince Russo back? That was the fastest heel turn ever! Sure, Stephanie has been teasing it, but I was surprised to see that so quickly. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to "As the McMahon's Turn" version 2008.

1. Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz and John Morrison in 8:32. Within the first minute of the match, JBL entered his limousine and told his driver to proceed to the ring. The driver told him a match was going on. JBL told him he does not pay him to think. JBL was driven out and walked to the aisle to watch the match... [C]

[Q2] Back from commercial, Michaels and Miz were in the ring while Mysterio was recuperating on the floor. JBL just stood in front of his limousine to watch the match. Shawn tried to make a tag but Rey was not yet in able to make it back up to the apron.

Mysterio finally made the hot tag. He hit the 619 on Miz but Morrison distracted him. Michaels tried to take out Morrison but received the worst of the attack. In the ring, Mysterio hit a sunset flip powerbomb off of the top rope for the win...

After the match, Morrison attacked Michaels and really beat him down. Miz was nowhere to be found. JBL came to the ring and Morrison held up Michaels for him. JBL then hit Morrison with a big boot. He calmly walked to the back as Michaels looked on in a confused state... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: The commercial killed the momentum of the match and last week's win for Miz and Morrison looks like it is only going to benefit Morrison. JBL as a face is intriguing but I bet there is way more to it than that. By the way, my fantasy team is getting screwed this week. I need nine points out of Marques Colston tonight and he is doing nothing. My opponent has Matt Cassel and Michael Turner. Ugh. I guess that evens things out for the great weekend I had.

Backstage, Todd Grisham asked JBL to explain what he did and why. JBL said he made Shawn Michaels an offer earlier and Michaels was mulling over the offer. What he did tonight was a sign of good faith...

Lillian Garcia introduced the star of "Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia," Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy came out to the stage to a mild reaction. He cut a face promo and put over our new President Elect. Kennedy asked a bunch of fans in line to get into the show which WWE superstar reminded them of Barack Obama.

A bunch of douchebags basically ran down the entire roster. Some fat kid mentioned Vince McMahon and then Kennedy screwed with the footage to make it look like the kid was making fun of Vince. He then had a split screen picture of Obama and McMahon, focusing on their big ears. Kennedy then gave his catchphrase after saying he was Presidential too...

Twill's Two Cents: That segment was horrible. Where can I get my five minutes back?

[Q3] Batista cut a promo backstage congratulating John Cena and expressing his desire to reach the top of the mountain again... [C]

Two weeks from tonight, a three hour Raw special will see the return of the Slammy Awards...

Lillian Garcia ran down the premise of the Intercontinental Championship tournament. Pat Patterson was introduced and he joined Cole and King at the announce table. They plugged the History of the Intercontinental Championship DVD set that comes out tomorrow. Patterson called it the best thing WWE has ever done. If that is true, I guess there is no reason to watch anymore...

2. Kofi Kingston defeated Kane by disqualification in a first round Intercontinental Championship tournament match in 2:39. Patterson at ringside meant the terms "wrestler" and "wrestling" were fair game. Kane was disqualified when he would not break a move on the floor with Kofi wrapped around the ringpost...

He attacked Kofi after the match with the ring steps. Stephanie came out and said Kane could continue to beat up Kofi, or he could go one on one with Cena next week. So, she booked that match... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: I hope this is an effort to make the Intercontinental Championship relevant again.

[Q4] Footage aired of Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes winning their Survivor Series elimination match last night. Jericho made his ring entrance. Rhodes and Manu watched a monitor backstage as Orton made his entrance...

3. Chris Jericho defeated Batista and Randy Orton in a triple threat match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship in 11:25. Batista dominated both men early on, but Jericho momentarily eliminated Batista by hitting the springboard dropkick with Batista standing on the apron. The show went to commercial as Orton was readying himself to hit the RKO on Jericho... [C]

Jericho had Batista rolled up for a pin but Orton broke it up. Orton and Jericho worked together to stomp the shit out of Batista. Orton hit a huge uppercut on Jericho after working together with Jericho to put down Batista. Jericho scored the first nearfall after hitting an ensiguiri on Orton.

[Q5] All three men scored nearfalls with the third guy breaking them up. Jericho locked in the Walls on Batista but Orton broke it up. Orton then set up Batista for the punt but Batista speared him. Jericho broke up the cover and covered Orton himself for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Solid triple threat match. It looks like Jericho gets fed to Cena at Armageddon.

King plugged the return of John Cena to Raw tonight... [C]

Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix stood in the middle of the ring. Santino was pissed because he was not in the tournament or the Intercontinental Title DVD...

4. Goldust defeated Santino Marella (with Beth Phoenix) in 1:58. Goldust squashed Santino to the tune of a completely silent crowd...

Twill's Two Cents: Here's hoping Goldust's return will go better than D-Lo Brown's.

Footage aired of Mike Knox attacking Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne last week... [C]

[Q6] Randy Orton was met backstage by Cody Rhodes and Manu. They stared at each other and nobody said a word. They all did that cocky nod thing...

5. CM Punk defeated in a first round Intercontinental Championship tournament match in 5:14. After Punk's entrance, William Regal and Layla came out to watch the match. Snitsky's music hit and everyone knew they could go grab a sandwich or drink. Regal said he told Stephanie McMahon people should have to win tournaments to face him...

Twill's Two Cents: I'm all for this. Come on creative team; run with this and give us a great IC title feud with Regal and Punk.

Snitsky surprisingly controlled the entire match. Regal said he would retire as the Intercontinental champion. Punk came back at the end. He hit his spots and won the match with the GTS...

Twill's Two Cents: Given the way Snitsky has been booked, I was surprised to see him dominate the match before losing. I loved how Regal announced like a heel champion would, but at the same time put over Punk as legitimate competition.

Todd Grisham interviewed his little brother errrr, Rey Mysterio backstage. The Miz and Rey Mysterio will go one on one next week in the Intercontinental Championship tournament. Mysterio put over the DVD. Mike Knox approached and stared down Mysterio. He walked away... [C]

[Q7] DX plugged a bunch of their new merchandise. Kelly Kelly came in wearing one of the new DX jerseys. She corrected Shawn every time he tried to say something. DX threw her out of the shot for trying to steal Shawn's thunder. Triple H said they wanted their shirt back. Kelly threw it to them. "Jingle bells! It is going to be a Merry Christmas," said H...

Beth Phoenix and her teammates, Katie Lea and Jillian, came out to the ring. Beth cut a promo pimping herself and her performance last night. Jillian interrupted and said she was going to be nominated for a lot of Slammy Awards. She sang. It sucked... [C]

6. Mickie James, Candice Michelle, and Melina defeated Beth Phoenix, Jillian, Katie Lea in 3:23. The guy running the screen messed up the surprise by putting up Melina's Titantron during Candice's entrance. Melina hit a modified Canadian Destroyer on Katie Lea. Nice. She pinned Katie Lea after the splits leg drop...

Twill's Two Cents: The face side of the woman's division is stacked.

[Q8] Chris Jericho made his way through the backstage area. Stephanie stopped him and congratulated him. Jericho said he was going to be Cena's one man welcoming committee tonight... [C]

Chris Jericho cut a promo on Cena in the middle of the ring. Cena, in his new AWA style shirt, stood amongst a bunch of fans and retorted on the Titantron. Cena made his entrance through the crowd. Is that Amish Roadkill in the front row?

Cena cut a "yay for the fans" promo that we have heard from him over and over again. The fans appreciated it this time around but they won't agree repeatedly. Cena told Jericho he talks business but Cena means business.

[Overrun] Jericho exited the ring and Cena said he knew he was going to do that. Cena sounded like he wasn't sure what to say because he repeated himself from just a few minutes ago. Cena called himself a fan and him being the champion meant the fans were good enough.

Jericho reentered the ring. He pointed at himself and said, "The champ is right here. I think you are scared of me. Look at me when I'm talking to you boy." Jericho said he would beat him and Cena would do absolutely nothing about it. Cena then attacked Jericho and hit several moves on him before throwing him out of the ring.

Cena followed Jericho outside and threw him over the announce table. He then threw him into the steps. Cena grabbed the steps and hit Jericho in the head. He pulled Jericho back into the ring and the fans chanted "FU." Cena locked in the full nelson and the STFU. Jericho tapped. Cena relinquished the hold and held his belt up high...

Kane watched a monitor backstage as Cena continued to celebrate...

Twill's Two Cents: Good thing Jericho got back into the ring because that segment was weak before that. Jericho's talking and Cena's subsequent beatdown were well done. By the way, why would you tap when you know that would not do a damn thing?

What did you think of the show? Let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.