WWE TV Reports 6/16 Twilling's WWE Raw Live Coverage: John Cena vs. Umaga in a Street Fight, Shawn Michaels responds to Chris Jericho's attack, Million Dollar Mania By Rich Twilling Jun 16, 2008 - 10:01 PM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing WWE Raw on the USA Network Live 6/16/08 from Salt Lake City, UT [Q1] Jim Ross welcomed us to the show. John Cena’s music hit and he made his way to the ring. He stopped at McMahon’s phone and playfully picked it up. Mostly cheers for Cena tonight. Cena said he loves World Wrestling Entertainment and it gives the fans the best entertainment money can buy. Cena said every once in a while, WWE gives us moments that transcend time. He reminded us of the time Hogan slammed Andre, the night Shawn Michaels’ boyhood dream came true, and the first time Stone Cold whipped someone’s ass. Cena said this Sunday would provide one of those moments. Triple H’s music hit and he came out. He said Cena cost him his match last week and he would give him one warning, but “there would not be a twice.” Cena reminded H that he knocked him off the announce table. H said he has seen Cena wrestle and he is so uncoordinated that he would have probably fallen off anyway. Cena told Triple H he made him tap out the last time they wrestled. Triple H said a lot has changed. Cena said nothing has changed because they are still the top two guys in the business. H said he is now WWE Champion. He said Cena does not like to disappoint his fans, but luckily for him, most of them would already be in bed by the time the PPV ends. Cena shoved Triple H. They were about to go at it, but Vince’s money giveaway music hit. He came out and the cops put the money in the case. He said Cena would not face Triple H tonight, but he would face Umaga in a Street Fight. Cena looked surprised. I guess he did not read WWE.com today. Umaga came out for the match… 1. John Cena defeated Umaga in a Street Fight in 10:27. Cena attacked Umaga as soon as he entered the ring. Cena went for a bodyslam but Umaga fell on top of him for a nearfall… [C] [Q2] Both men were fighting on the outside as we came back from the break. Cena took a sick Samoan Drop on the steel ramp. Umaga placed Cena’s head against the post and went for the butt splash. He missed. Cena hit Umaga with a microphone. He went to the second rope and jumped at Umaga, but Umaga caught him and hit the swinging sidewalk slam. There is a sign in the stands that says, “Umaga ate my dream girl.” Umaga slid a chair into the ring, but Cena grabbed it and hit Umaga with it. He hit a blockbuster and a top rope Rocker Dropper. He picked up Umaga for a FU but he could not hold him up. He fell forward on his face with Umaga on his back and neck. Umaga threw the ring steps into the ring. Umaga charged at Cena with the steps, but Cena powered Umaga up and hit the FU for the victory… Twill’s Two Cents: Very good match in what is likely to be Umaga’s last on Raw. I don’t understand why everyone acted like the match was just made as the show began. Cena taking that face plant with Umaga on his shoulders was dangerous. Vince came out to give away the first prize of the night, $125,000. Vince had trouble dialing the phone again. Denzel from Virginia won the money. He had the guy bark like a dog. Vince announced there would be a Summer Bikini Blowout. Maria came out, followed by Eve Torres… [C] [Q3] Back from commercial, Jillian Hall, Layla, Lena Yada, Maryse, and Melina joined Eve and Maria in the ring. Charlie Haas was the host tonight. He sounded like he was doing a Val Venis impression. This was your basic bikini contest. When Charlie introduced Jillian, she grabbed the microphone and said she was here to sing. Maria is the new Stacy Keibler or Torrie Wilson of these contests. She received the loudest cheers by far and was announced as the winner. Eve slapped her on the ass. Nice… Vince was ready to give out $100,000. Michael from North Carolina won the money. Vince asked him who the most famous man to ever be born in North Carolina. Michael gave Ric Flair as his answer. Vince said he was wrong but still won the money. He told the girls to show everyone how they celebrate, so they danced around like bimbos… [C] Twill’s Two Cents: I would be very surprised if Vince does this for another week. The bloom is off of this rose. [Q4] Chris Jericho was backstage rubbing oil on himself. He was bragging to some random broad about what he did to Shawn Michaels last week. They showed historical footage from the past couple of months. I wonder how many people even recognize the similarities to the BarberShop segment from so many years ago… Vince called out Hacksaw Jim Duggan to help him give out the next prize. Duggan and his 2x4 were both wearing tuxedos. Ron could have won $50,000 but he did not answer his phone. Vince gladly left him the upsetting message. The next guy had a DX ringback tone. Vince knew what it was this time. Jesse gave the password and won the money. He started to say the “if you aren’t down with that…” DX bit, but Vince had him do a Hacksaw impression instead… Jeff Hardy came out next for his upcoming match… [C] Twill’s Two Cents: Unless Ron was on a date with Carrie Underwood, he is going to be pissed when he gets that message. 2. Jeff Hardy defeated Carlito in 5:47. Hardy hit a somersault plancha onto Carlito on the floor at about 1:00. Carlito hit a neckbreaker while Hardy’s feet were cupped on the top rope. Sweet move. Carlito scored a nearfall with a very nice dropkick. He locked in a reverse chin lock. JR and King were speculating about the draft. King asked JR if JR campaigned to have King traded for Mike Adamle. Hardy hit the reverse mule kick, knocking Carlito into the corner. He tried the delayed dropkick in the corner but he missed. [Q5] Carlito put Hardy into the tree of woe but missed a running dropkick. Hardy hit a slower version of the Whisper in the Wind, perhaps breaking Carlito’s nose. Carlito went for the Backstabber, but Hardy hit the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton Bomb for the win… Twill’s Two Cents: Very good match. Carlito may be lingering in the mid-card, but he is coming to work at least. This was an extremely good six minute match. Vince gave away $175,000 to Kyle from Minnesota. Vince asked him to sing the National Anthem. Kyle obliged but sucked. Vince said he thought Jillian was bad but not as bad as Kyle. I wonder if Jason Powell knows this guy… Chris Jericho came out to the ring in his ring gears sans the Intercontinental Championship. Jericho played the footage of him attacking HBK last week. Jericho said it was déjà vu all over again with him being booed despite his honesty. He said the attack was the fault of each and every fan. Jericho said we he came back, he did so to “Save us.” However, these fans did not deserve to be saved. Jericho said the fans identify with a backstabber like Shawn Michaels. He said he did not want the fans to cheer for him anymore. He said Shawn’s blood was on the hands of the fans. Jericho demanded that Michaels come out to face him knowing he was not in the building. He started a HBK chant. Michaels did not come out. However, Ric Flair did. The fans, the announcers, Chris Jericho, and I were shocked… [C] Twill’s Two Cents: Jericho’s solo promo was fantastic. He makes great points. He does get booed for things Michaels would get cheered for. How great is it to see Ric Flair? [Q6] Flair and Jericho stood face to face. Flair slapped Jericho’s microphone away. He said he could not wrestle but wanted to fight Jericho in the parking lot. Jericho was reluctant at first, but he followed Flair outside. Flair went out the door. Jericho followed him but was met by Triple H. Triple H said that since Jericho almost blinded Michaels and wants to go after Flair, he wants to fight him. He said since Jericho came back to “Save us,” he has been looking to get himself involved in Jericho’s business. Jericho walked away… [C] Twill’s Two Cents: Was that a three minute segment? That was weird. Flair told Triple H he loved him and he always fights his battles for him. Vince approached him and shook his hand. He said he was doing a great job as WWE ambassador but he threw him out of the building. He then told Triple H he would be facing Chris Jericho tonight… 3. Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes defeated Cryme Tyme in a non-title match in :11. Ted Dibiase came out. Holly rolled up one the members of Cryme Tyme for the surprise victory… Vince gave away $16 to Becky from North Carolina. Vince chose that amount because Ric Flair was a 16 time World Heavyweight Champion. Hmmm, they told us earlier there would be a $16 winner tonight and it just so happens she is from North Carolina?… [C] [Q7] 4. Paul Burchill and Katie Lea defeated Mr. Kennedy and Mickie James in 4:04. Kennedy and Burchill worked a competitive match for the first few minutes. JR called Kennedy a future champion. Katie tagged in and considered slapping Kennedy, but Mickie slapped Katie instead. Mickie went to the top rope. Burchill approached her but Kennedy speared him all the way to the floor. Mickie missed the Thesz Press from the top. Katie hit a reverse neck breaker into a backbreaker for the pin… Vince congratulated “the winners.” I think he forgot their names. Alana from Illinois was psyched when she picked up the phone. She told Vince how much she loved him. Vince asked her who the most handsome WWE superstar, past or present, was. She said Vince McMahon. Vince awarded her $174, 984… JR plugged tonight’s main event: WWE Champion Triple H vs. Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho… [C] Twill’s Two Cents: Everyone thought Burchill was going to be a star. He could be, but Katie will probably beat him there. Is the money giveaway over yet? [Q8] Peter won $75,000 because Wrestlemania XXIV had about that many people in attendance. JR and King ran down the Night of Champions card. The Triple H. vs. John Cena match reminds me of the Cena vs. Bobby Lashley match from last year’s NOC in the sense of it being sold as a very big deal… Triple H exited his locker room and was met by John Cena. Cena wished Triple H luck and told him not to get hurt… [C] Vince McMahon readied himself to give away $300,000. He said he was going to give away another million next week. Frank from New Jersey said he loved Vince McMahon. Vince said, “Let’s hear it for Vince McMahon.” Only the crickets made noise. Vince awarded Frank the money and said he was glad no one from Salt Lake City won the money… 5. Triple H defeated Chris Jericho in a non-title match by disqualification in 9:45. Triple H looks silly trying to be serious while wearing that belt. They seriously need to get rid of that thing. King made an unintentional shoot comment by saying Triple H is someone you do not want to make an enemy out of. The opening bell rang before Mike Chioda called for it. [Overrun] Jericho landed shots on Triple H in the corner, but H quickly turned things around. Both men worked a quick and impressive pace. H threw Jericho into the post and he crumbled to the floor. You could hear Chioda saying “What do you say Jericho?” but it sounded like he said, “What do you say jerkoff?”… [C] Back from commercial, Triple H was on the outside. Jericho broke the count by dropkicking him through the ropes and following him outside. Jericho was on the offensive back in the ring until Triple H hit a closeline, causing both men to struggle to recover. Jericho went for the Walls, but Triple H was able to hit a spinebuster. He went for the Pedigree, but Jericho countered it. He hit the bulldog but missed the Lionsault. He went for another Pedigree and after a struggle, Jericho finally countered it with a backdrop. Jericho tried the springboard dropkick but missed. Triple H followed him to the floor. He was immediately attacked by Lance Cade. Lance Cade? Jericho and Cade worked on Triple H but John Cena made the save. H then attacked Cena and all four men went at it. Jericho hit the Codebreaker and both Cena and H were laid out. Jericho and Cade stood tall as the show went off the air… Twill’s Two Cents: As expected, the match was very good until the finish. Also, I like Lance Cade. I think he could be a star. However, while they need to produce new stars, you cannot do it overnight. Cade won one unimpressive match vs. Trevor Murdoch. Fans are not going to see him as a top guy right now. Now, if they are planning to have Jericho lead an Edge like faction with Cade as one of his guys, I am all for that. By the way, did it look like Cena’s teeth were loosened during that close up shot? After the first hour, I did not think we were going to get much in ring action. However, the action in the ring was pretty solid tonight. Hopefully next week is the end of the money giveaway. Vince should know better than anyone that you do not hotshot angles to get and keep viewers. This is not WCW. You get and keep viewers with quality programming, thoughtful storylines, and athletic in ring action. Let me know what you thought of the show. I can be reached at dotnetrich@gmail.com. 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