WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from San Antonio, Tex.

[Q1] The opening montage aired... Fireworks exploded on the stage as the horrible Raw theme song played. Jim Ross introduced the show by saying 16,183 fans had sold out the show. At ringside, Ross and Lawler hyped "the annual" WWE draft. Lawler explained that there would be a series of interpromotional matches that would determine which brand gets a draft pick.

Ross and Lawler turned it over to Michael Cole and Mick Foley, who discussed the draft. They introduced Mike Adamle and "The Tazz," who hyped Vince McMahon's million dollar giveaway... Tonight's million dollar giveaway password is "Night of Champions"...

1. Triple H pinned Mark Henry in 5:15. The winner of the match scores a draft pick for his brand. Ross and Foley worked the match together. Hunter gave Henry a DX chop to start the match. Foley said he was rooting for Henry because there was so much on the line for his brand. What if Foley gets drafted?

Henry controlled the first few minutes, as Hunter sold his power. Hunter made the comeback and hit the Pedigree and scored the clean pin to give Raw the first pick in the 2008 draft...

They did the old bit where all the images appear on the screen and the wrestlers are chose randomly...

The first pick in the draft was Rey Mysterio to Raw. Mysterio walked to the ring and shook hands with Triple H...

Powell's POV: I'm surprised by that pick simply because one of Smackdown's claims to fame has been its appeal with Hispanic viewers. I guess they're hoping to bring those viewers to Raw. This will be a big year for Mysterio, who has to prove that he can stay healthy after missing 10 months due to recent injuries.

[Q2] [C] Vince McMahon stood at the podium and announced that one winner will win $500,000, and five other winners will win $100,000. He introduced Kelly Kelly to help him give away the money. He had her dial the number for him (thank you!). Crystal Vega from the Bronx won answered the phone and gave the correct password.

Vince said the woman had the wrong password and lost. Second later, he said Kelly told him that the woman had it right. Kelly danced while Vince looked awkwardly away from her...

Backstage, Triple H welcomed Rey to Raw. John Cena showed up and shook Rey's hand. Triple H dismissed Rey (get used to that, Rey) so that he and Cena could talk. They bickered and admitted the situation had become personal. Hunter said he never got over Cena beating him because he knows Cena is not and never will be as good as he is. Cena said maybe it was a fluke, but he won. Cena paraphrased Ric Flair's "To be the man..." catchphrase. Hunter held up the belt and said that Cena is nothing until he takes it from him... [C]

Powell's POV: The draft is definitely overshadowing the Night of Champions pay-per-view in my mind. I was more interested in hearing what Mysterio had to say about going to Raw than listening to Hunter and Cena set up their match. WWE better hope I'm in the minority on that one.

2. Finlay and Hornswoggle beat Santino Marella and Carlito in a draft pick match. Raw and Smackdown are battling for the pick. Cole and Lawler called the match together. They pointed out that the Night of Champions card will stay the same regardless of how the draft plays out. Santino debuted his new mustache on television. Hilarious.

[Q3] Santino's mustache didn't help him. Horny hit the Tadpole Splash on him and scored the clean pin to give Smackdown the next draft pick...

The second pick in the draft was Jeff Hardy to Smackdown. Hardy danced his way onto the stage and clapped while Finlay and Hornswoggle cheered in the ring. Meanwhile, a shot aired of Randy Orton (with his arm in a sling) watching on a backstage monitor... [C]

Powell's POV: I like this pick a lot. Smackdown lead writer Michael Hayes has always been a big backer of the Hardys, so Jeff should get a big push on the Friday night show. I guess we should have seen this one coming given the way the Raw writers did their best to establish that Jeff was beneath Triple H and John Cena in recent matches.

On the stage, Vince introduced Orton to help him give away the next $100,000. Orton took the mic and said he was forced to be at the show because he's eligible for the draft. He addressed John Cena and Triple H by saying that he doesn't care who wins the WWE Title on Sunday. He said they better hope he's drafted Smackdown. He also vowed to be back sooner than anyone expects and said he would be WWE Champion again.

Orton told Vince that he's not in the mood to give away $100,000. Orton left the stage. Vince stood at the podium and booked Edge vs. John Cena as the main event for tonight's show. Vince dialed the next winner's number himself. Someone named Samira answered the phone and had the password. Before the person could react, Vince asked who would win the match between Triple H and John Cena at the pay-per-view. The person selected Triple H...

Lawler hyped a 15-man tri-branded battle royal and said the winner would earn two draft picks for his brand... [C]

Powell's POV: I think that was a woman who won, but I'm not sure. Good promo by Orton. He was a little more intense than usual. I wouldn't be surprised if he also included that line about being forced to attend the show as a shoot. Let me guess, ECW wins the battle royal just so they don't have to show ECW wrestlers beating Raw or Smackdown wrestlers?

[Q4] 3. Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly defeated Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely in a Raw vs. ECW draft pick match in 2:00. Ted DiBiase Jr. sat in on commentary with Adamle and Lawler. He held up a copy of his father's book while he was shown on camera. He declined to say who his mystery partner will be at the pay-per-view. Ted said Cody is a lot like him, but he's not priceless.

Ted added that his mystery partner isn't priceless either, but "is close to it." In the ring, Holly used the Alabama Slam to finish off Chavo and scored the clean pin to give Raw the next draft pick...

The third pick in the draft was C.M. Punk to Raw. Punk walked onto the stage with the Money in the Bank briefcase. In the ring, Holly and Rhodes clapped for Punk... [C] A shot aired of Chris Jericho walking backstage...

Powell's POV: I'm happy to see Punk escape the ECW brand. I think he would have been a better fit on Smackdown, but only time will tell whether I'll feel that way by the end of the show. Either way, WWE started off the draft with a bang. That's three big picks. The matches to determine those picks haven't been anything special, but the picks themselves have been newsworthy.

Chris Jericho walked to the ring for a promo while Ross and Lawler recapped his recent angle with Shawn Michaels. Jericho said the fans have been brainwashed into believing that HBK is a decent human being. "You should be ashamed of yourselves for that," he said in a normal speaking voice. "How dare you treat me like that?" he added.

Jericho predicted that Michaels will turn on the fans sooner or later. He aired video highlights from January 1992 of Michaels ramming Marty Jannetty through the Barbershop window. Other HBK attack victims included Diesel, Hulk Hogan, and John Cena. The video also showed him feigning the knee injury against Batista.

Back live, Jericho said the fans are no longer allowed to chant or cheer for him. "I'm not like any one of you," he said. "I'm an honest man. I'm a good hearted person." He introduced Lance Cade as a man who didn't want to wait for HBK to turn on him. Cade appeared on the big screen.

Jericho pointed out that Cade was a graduate of Shawn Michaels's wrestling school. Cade said he was the best athlete at the school. He said Jericho is someone he can trust. Cade added that he won't give Michaels a chance to turn on him. "Chris, all these people may not appreciate you, but I do," he said.

[Q5] Jericho pointed out that he still doesn't have an opponent for Night of Champions. He said he would love to face Shawn Michaels, but it couldn't happen due to HBK's injuries. Jericho aired highlights of his recent attack on Michaels. Jericho warned that the worst is yet to come for Michaels.

HBK's music played and he walked onto the stage with a piece of tape next to right eye. Michaels removed his hat and then charged the ring. He speared Jericho and punched him repeatedly. They tumbled to the floor, where Jericho performed a drop toe hold that rammed HBK into the announcers' table. Michaels held his eye in pain and screamed out in pain. A trainer and some referees ran out to help Michaels, while Jericho shot him the skeptical look... [C]

Powell's POV: Damn, this feud is so good. It just blows away everything else on the show. Let me guess, they're booking most of their own material?

After the break, Ross and Lawler recapped the Jericho and Michaels angle... They turned it over to Michael Cole and Tazz, who recapped the draft picks. Cole announced that there would be exclusive interviews with the draftees at the WWE website...

John Morrison and The Miz made their ring entrance. Vickie Guerrero was wheeled onto the stage by Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins. She said she was originally going to have Ryder and Hawkins face them so that Smackdown could collect another draft pick, but "recent developments" changed her mind...

4. John Morrison and The Miz defeated The Hardys in a Smackdown vs. ECW draft pick match in 8:15. The live crowd went crazy for the Hardy reunion. Speaking of reunions, Cole and Tazz called the match together.

[Q6] Jeff tagged in for the first time and the Hardys performed one of their signature tag team spots. Miz and Morrison quickly took control and worked over Jeff for the next few minutes. Eventually, Jeff made the hot tag to Matt, who hit some of his usual moves on the heels. A short time later, Morrison rolled up Matt and held his tights, er, pants while scoring the pin to earn a draft pick for ECW...

The fourth pick in the draft was Matt Hardy to ECW. Matt hugged Jeff and kissed his cheek and then played to the crowd. The announcers pointed out that the U.S. Title will move to ECW with Hardy...

Powell's POV: I like this move for ECW more than I like it for Matt. I'm not sure this one will stick simply because I don't see there being two title belts on ECW. My guess is that Chavo is traded to Smackdown and then beats Matt for the U.S. Title at the pay-per-view. I guess this means Edge doesn't have to banish Matt Hardy from Smackdown.

Ross and Lawler hyped the 15-man battle royal... At the podium, Vince relived some of his favorite giveaway moments. No, really. He said he was overzealous last week when he threw out Ric Flair. He introduced him to help him give away the next $100,000. The crowd went nuts for Flair. Vince cracked that the crowd was almost as loud for Flair as they were for him earlier in the show. A woman named Donna from New York won the prize. Flair delivered a "Wooooo!"

A backstage shot aired of Melina and Mickie James walking together...

Powell's POV: They wasted a Flair appearance on that? Wow. Really lame.

[Q7] [C] The ring announcer stated that the following match was an "announcers only draft pick match." He said the only people eligible to be drafted were announcers, interviewers, and ring announcers...

5. Mickie James and Melina fought Natalya and Victoria to a DDQ in 3:00 in an announcers only draft pick match. The Raw and Smackdown announcers called the match. Foley said he and Ross could be a legendary combo. "You never know, Mick," replied Ross. Cole noted that Ross didn't sound very excited about the possibility of a switch. The announcers laughed.

Late in the match, Melina climbed to the top rope and was shoved to the floor by Victoria. Mickie ran over to comfort her. After a long pause, the heels darted to ringside and brawled briefly with Mickie. The ref called for the double DQ. The ring announcer stated that both brands earned a draft pick...

The fifth pick in the draft was Jim Ross to Smackdown. Ross shook his head. He took off his headset and walked over to the Smackdown table. He shook Michael Cole's hand and took the headsets from him.

The sixth pick in the draft was Micahel Cole to Raw. Cole sat down by Lawler. He said he's called all but two Smackdown shows since it debuted and therefore had mixed feelings about going to Raw... Ross hyped the Edge vs. Cena main event...

Powell's POV: I really hope I was right in my blog when I wrote in my blog earlier today that it wouldn't surprise me to see Vince and Brian Gewirtz mess with Ross by drafting him and then moving him back to Raw via trade.

[Q8] [C] The announcers discussed their new fates at ringside briefly. They also narrated highlights of Melina landing awkwardly and being carried away from ringside by a trainer and a referee. Don't they have stretchers for these things?

Vince introduced Great Khali as one of the stars of "Get Smart." He also brought up Dwayne Johnson's involvement and said WWE fans might know him as The Rock. He held up Rock's new WWE DVD and pitched it briefly before dialing a new number. After several rings, a man finally picked up and said, "Wrong number, I guess." Khali glared at the phone and immediately cut a promo in Indian. Hilarious.

Someone brought Vince a new number to call. Someone answered the phone and asked Vince to hold on. He put someone else on the phone. Khali yelled at the man. Funny again. The next person on the phone knew the password and won $100,000. Khali yelled at the man again and Vince pointed out that he was yelling at the phone...

Powell's POV: Khali was great here. Absolutely hilarious.

Edge made his ring entrance. Highlights aired from Smackdown of La Familia attacking Batista on Smackdown... [C]

6. John Cena defeated Edge via countout in a Raw vs. Smackdown draft pick match in 7:45. Ross and Foley called the match. Ross pointed out that it's a Raw vs. Smackdown match and said he's not sure why he's calling the match since he's no longer a member of Raw. Foley mentioned the possibility that Edge could win the match and then have Cena end up on Smackdown. Ross said anything can happen, as he knows.

Foley said he's joked about working with Ross in the past because he never thought it would happen. He started to say that if he had his way, he would have been the person switching tables. It sounded like he realized at the last moment that it wasn't going to sound good for Smackdown if he kept talking.

In the ring, Edge DDT'd Cena for a good nearfall at 5:45. He set up for the spear, but Cena caught him in the STFU. Edge reached the ropes to break the hold. Later, Cena picked up Edge on his shoulders at ringside and tried to carry him back inside the ring. Edge fought his way off Cena's shoulders while he was standing on the ring steps.

[Q9] They fought briefly and Cena knocked Edge back to the floor where he was counted out. After the match, Batista ran out and attacked Edge in the aisle. He rolled him into the ring and roughed him up briefly before Edge bailed...

The seventh pick in the draft was Batista to Raw. Yes, Batista was in the ring when they made the pick. It was kind of corny, but it set up Edge waving goodbye to him. It also let the announcers tease that Batista could bring the World Hvt. Championship to Raw. Plus, it gave Cena and Batista a chance to exchange looks... [C]

Powell's POV: No surprise there. It was time. Batista ran out of opponents on Smackdown and he'll really freshen things up on Raw. I really like the wrestler moves they've made so far. Very newsworthy and they should get people talking.

Backstage, Edge and Vickie celebrated Batista being moved to Raw. Vince entered the picture and reminded them that Edge still had to defend his title against Batista at the pay-per-view. Vince also planted the seed that Edge could be drafted to a different brand and be separated from Vickie...

7. MVP pinned Tommy Dreamer in a Smackdown vs. ECW draft pick match in 2:40. Adamle and Foley called the match together. The crowd was dead for this match. Foley mentioned that a Playboy Playmate he knows will be at Smackdown this week. Colin Delaney walked out and stood in Dreamer's corner. In the end, MVP hit a big boot to Dreamer's head for the win...

[Q10] The eighth pick of the draft was Umaga to Smackdown. Umaga walked to the ring and kicked the crap out of Dreamer and Delaney. He used his power moves and left them both lying. Foley said he was "sending a signal" to all the Smackdown wrestlers... [C]

Powell's POV: I'm really surprised they didn't have this one in the first hour of the show since the word was out about Umaga going to Smackdown. Keep in mind that Vince McMahon stated during the shareholders meeting that this move would probably take place. That being said, it's a good move. I just hope it doesn't lead to another series of matches between Umaga and Jeff Hardy.

The announcers recapped the draft picks and hyped that the interviews with the draftees would be available on the WWE website...

8. JBL pinned Kofi Kingston in an Raw vs. ECW draft pick match in 5:00. Cole and Tazz called the match and reminded viewers that Vince was still going to be giving away $600,000 during the show. Adamle chimed in with a "Jamaican me crazy." Mostly punches and kicks from JBL early.

JBL worked in a great fallaway slam, which Cole called with all the enthusiasm that Jim Ross showed while walking to the Smackdown table earlier int he show. Late in the match, Kofi ducked a clothesline and hit a nice dropkick. Moments later, Kofi went for a cross body block, but JBL ducked out of the way and followed up with a Clothesline from Hell for the win. Nice match.

[Q11] The ninth pick in the draft is Kane to Raw. In the ring, JBL looked concerned. The announcers noted that Kane would bring the ECW Title to Raw as he walked onto the stage, raised his hands, and dropped them as pyro exploded...

Powell's POV: The only thing that makes this pick intriguing is the ECW Title. For what it's worth, the ECW tapings are scheduled to move to Monday nights at a date to be announced.

The announcers hyped another money giveaway for after the break... [C] On the stage, Vince gave away another $100,000 prize. This time, a woman named Vanessa, who was in the crowd, won the $100,000 prize...

Powell's POV: Let the accusations of a fix begin. She's in the house, Vince. Run! Get out!

The announcers hyped the pay-per-view matches...

The lame ass Raw theme song played. John Cena, Triple H, Batista, Kane, and C.M. Punk represented the brand by wearing red Raw shirts in the battle royal. The sappy ECW song played. They were represented by Chavo, Shelton Benjamin, Miz, John Morrison, and Matt Hardy, who all wore black shirts. The so-so Smackdown song played. They were represented by Big Show, Great Khali, MVP, Jeff Hardy, and Edge, who all wore blue shirts... [C]

9. Edge won a 15-man Battle Royal in 18:30 to earn Smackdown two draft picks. The match was joined in progress. Raw and ECW wrestlers joined forces to eliminate Great Khali. They all turned their attention to Big Show next. He like 20 headbutts in a row and then hit Hunter with a side slam. By the time that happened, the other ECW wrestlers had recovered from whatever they were selling.

[Q12] Shelton was out next. Batista threw Morrison into Miz and they both tumbled over the top to be eliminated. Edge dished out a series of spears. [C] Highlights aired from during the break of Show eliminating Punk. Ross noted that Raw had four men left, Smackdown had four men left, and ECW was down to two. "Oh, you're right," said a dejected Tazz. It got worse for ECW when Jeff Hardy eliminated Chavo.

Matt eliminated his old buddy MVP. The Hardys stood face to face. Jeff kicked Matt in the gut. They traded punches and then Jeff flipped Matt over the top, but he held onto the top rope. Moments later, Jeff kicked Matt off the apron. ECW is out of the mix.

Moments later, Edge and Batista both went for spears at the same time and they bumped heads. Batista came up bleeding big time and was woozy in the corner. Cena said something to him and Cena fell down to one knee. Meanwhile, Edge was standing in the other corner taking punches. Jeff Hardy was eliminated. Batista recovered enough to spear Edge. Big Show eliminated Batista, who was a bloody mess.

[Overrun] Big Show eliminated Kane. It was down to Show and Edge vs. Cena and Hunter. Cena and Hunter worked together to eliminate Hunter. Edge knocked Cena into Hunter, which caused Hunter to fall over the top rope. Edge quickly dumped Cena over the top rope to win the match...

The 10th pick of the draft was Mr. Kennedy to Smackdown. Kennedy walked onto the stage and pointed at Edge.

The 11th pick of the draft was Triple H to Smackdown. Hunter took a couple of steps back and looked stunned.

Powell's POV: Wow! I didn't see the Hunter switch coming. it makes sense on so many levels, but I didn't think he'd go through with it. I hope it sticks.

On the stage, Vince called another contestant. The man won $500,000. "I love you, Vince," screamed the man. Vince responded by saying, "You know I love you back." Suddenly, one of the stage lights crashed onto the stage. Vince put the mic down. A pyro flashed on the stage. Suddenly, the piece of stage that Vince was standing on collapsed.

Vince got to his feet and then the big tower with Vince's giveaway logo crashed onto the stage. Hunter, Cena, Edge, and other WWE crew members ran over to lift the tower off Vince. Two of the wrestlers lifted the tower, but Hunter instructed them to put it down because it could break and fall on Vince.

The EMTs placed a collar around Vince's neck. Hunter asked them to hurry because he was afraid the tower was going to fall on Vince. Once on the stretcher, Vince came to and asked, "What happened." He called out to Hunter by referring to him as "Paul" and said, "I can't feel my legs"...

Powell's POV: Wow, way to overshadow your own draft, Vince. This was a great show and that was a cool stunt, but the big shock of Hunter going to Smackdown lasted only a few minutes before Vince put the spotlight on himself. Let the whodunnit begin. I always enjoy those if they're done right. Overall, I really enjoyed this show and most of the draft picks. I'll have a lot more to say about it in the WWE Raw Hitlist.

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