WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Albany, N.Y.

[Q1] The opening video aired... Fireworks exploded on the stage and then Jim Ross introduced the show and noted that he was ringside with Jerry Lawler... Lillian Garcia introduced William Regal, who was already standing in the ring...

Orton introduced Randy Orton and noted, "The age of Orton is upon us." Ross stated that Orton could beat anyone at anytime as long as he has the RKO. Regal then introduced JBL as "the most deserving number one contender in history." JBL's limo pulled onto the stage and he walked to the ring.

Once in the ring, JBL shook Regal's hand and then offered his hand to Orton, who stared at him and never shook his hand. Regal started hyping their singles match, but was interrupted by Triple H's entrance music. Hunter walked to the ring with a mic in hand.

Triple H approached Regal and asked: "Are you out of your frickin' mind? This is your main event for Backlash?" Hunter pointed out that he didn't lose the WrestleMania main event. "What was that big move you hit Cena with?" Hunter asked Orton. He said Orton was lucky to get the win.

Hunter asked how a guy who was retired for two years and whose biggest claim to fame since returning was slapping around a midget was suddenly the No. 1 contender. Regal said Hunter would have to earn his way into the title match by defeating Orton and JBL in a handicap match later in the show. If Hunter wins, there will be a Triple Threat match at Backlash. If Hunter loses, he's out.

Powell's POV: Hunter pointed out the obvious regarding Orton and JBL, but that wasn't a good thing in this case. He mocked the way Orton won at WrestleMania. It would be one thing for Hunter to point out that he was never pinned at WrestleMania, but why cheapen Orton's victory? And while he's 100 percent right about JBL, his assessment that JBL hasn't done anything other than slap around a midget since he returned doesn't exactly build up JBL as a strong contender for Backlash. The way Hunter was tearing everyone apart, I'm surprised he didn't make a crack that Chris Jericho was the midget that JBL slapped around. [C]

[Q2] 1. Umaga defeated Val Venis in 3:10. Before the match, Ross hyped the Antonio Tarver boxing pay-per-view for Saturday night. Pretty much what you'd expect. Umaga was dominant and won with the Samoan Spike...

Powell's POV: Count me among the people curious why Val hasn't been repackaged and given a better push. He's a talented guy and you'd think WWE could come up with something better for him.

Tonight's text poll: Did Shawn Michaels do the right thing by retiring Ric Flair at WrestleMania 24... Lawler hyped Michaels and Batista's appearance on The Highlight Reel for later in the show... [C]

2. Mickie James and Ashley defeated Melina and Jillian Hall at 2:11. Ross noted that Ashley always has interesting ring attire. That's one way of putting it. Mickie hollered to the crowd and then DDT'd Melina for the win...

Ross hyped a recap of Ric Flair's farewell address for after the break...

[Q3] [C] A highlight video featured footage of Flair vs. Michaels and the Raw tribute to Flair... [C] The WrestleMania 25 commercial aired...

3. Paul London and Brian Kendrick defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch at 3:14. Lawler pointed out that Murdoch looks orange and apparently didn't get his face inside the tanning booth.

[Q4] The match was solid until Cade and Kendrick blew a move that was supposed to set up the finish. They had no choice but to do the move again. It looked like Kendrick was out, but he surprised Murdoch by rolling him up for the pin. Cade and Murdoch bickered after the match.

Powell's POV: Lawler was right about Murdoch. I'm not sure if the folks backstage will be happy he pointed it out, but I don't see how he couldn't. Murdoch looked ridiculous. His "tan" made his entire body look orange and his face was white as a ghost.

Backstage, Orton told JBL to save the "we need to work together" speech. He said he's beaten Triple H before and would do so again if JBL stayed out of his way. On commentary, Ross said the match was coming up next... [C]

4. Triple H defeated Randy Orton and JBL in a handicap match in 8:00. William Regal watched the match from ringside. When JBL checked in, Ross said it was the first time he and Hunter had squared off in a one-on-one type of situation. JBL backed Hunter into a corner and put himself over as a wrestling god. Hunter laughed at him.

[Q5] Late in the match, JBL was setting up for the Clothesline from Hell, but Orton reached in and tagged himself into the match. Orton went for the RKO, but Hunter recovered and shoved him into JBL. Triple H hit the Pedigree for the win. After the match, Regal entered the ring and announced that there would be a Triple Threat match for the WWE Title at Backlash.

Suddenly, John Cena's music started and he walked to the ring with a mic. Cena pointed out that he beat Hunter at the Royal Rumble and at WrestleMania 23. He said he also defeated JBL to win his first World Title and later forced him to quit. He also noted some of his wins over Orton. Cena preposed a Fatal Four-way match for the WWE Title at Backlash. Regal took the mic and said Cena would compete in a handicap match against JBL and Triple H to earn his spot in the Backlash main event... [C]

Powell's POV: It did seem odd that they were going with another Triple Threat match coming out of WrestleMania 24, so a four-way match is a logical idea. I'm just not crazy about sitting through another handicap match.

5. Carlito and Santino Marella beat Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes in a non-title match in 5:00. For one of the first times in the history of the wrestling business, the referee wouldn't count a pin because he didn't see the heel team make a tag while his back was turned.

[Q6] In the end, Santino performed an awkward headbutt off the top rope onto Rhodes and scored the pin. It looked like the headbutt hit Rhodes on the arm. Nevertheless, that set up a fun over the top post-match celebration by Santino... [C]

Backstage, Cryme Tyme held a WrestleMania clearance sale. One of the items was a "shaker of soul" from Rocky Johnson. Don't ask. They also had a signed copy of Maria's Playboy. They decided to pull the Maria item once they looked at the photos. Then they decided to sell a pair of Kim Kardashian's panties, but they figured out that they really belonged to Mae Young.

Powell's POV: Wow, that was really lame.

Ross and Lawler introduced footage Big Show and Great Khali's recent confrontations... Backstage, JBL entered Triple H's locker room and pleaded with him to get on the same page. Hunter ignored him and then turned around and revealed that he was listening to music. JBL got upset and asked why no one listens to him while he left the room. Hunter said it's because JBL is an ass... [C]

Powell's POV: You see it's funny because Hunter really couldn't hear what JBL was saying. Ugh. The comedy is really bad tonight. For that matter, so is the overall show.

[Q7] 6. Beth Phoenix pinned Maria in a non-title match in 2:45. Ross and Lawler hyped the latest WWE Magazine interview with Maria. Beth hit a really cool backbreaker during the match. Maria did some silly handstands and tumbling moves. In the end, Beth used a fisherman's suplex to get the pin...

Split-screen shots aired of HBK and Batista walking backstage... [C]

Powell's POV: Can we get back to Beth vs. Mickie now that the Playboy hype has concluded?

Chris Jericho made his entrance for the Highlight Reel. He quickly introduced Batista, who entered the ring and remained expressionless. Jericho introduced HBK as the man who ended Ric Flair's career. Jericho announced that 65 percent of the text message voters felt HBK did the right thing by retiring Flair.

HBK reminded Jericho that Flair challenged him and asked him to bring his A-Game. Jericho showed clips of HBK crashing onto the announcers table at WrestleMania. He tried to stir shit by saying HBK did everything he could to retire Flair. Batista accused HBK of letting his ego get in the way.

Michaels mocked Batista's friendship with Flair by saying they've only been friends for five years. Shawn said he's idolized Flair since he was 16 years-old. "You wanna know why Ric Flair didn't ask you to be the other man with him at WrestleMania?" Michaels asked. "I'll tell you why, because he knew you didn't have the nerve. He knew that there was only one man that he could trust, one man to do the unthinkable, one man with the character to carry the burden with him for the rest of his life and you are looking at him."

[Q8] Michaels tired of the verbal exchange and said, "If you want some of me, do something about it." Batista removed his glasses, smirked at Shawn, and said, "I already have." Batista dropped the mic and laughed at Michaels as he exited the ring. Once outside the ropes, he put his shades on and the cameras cut backstage to a shot of Cena... [C]

Powell's POV: Another really good segment between these two. HBK's promo was great and made Batista look childish for getting so bent out of shape over a friendship he's had for only five years. Batista was great in his ultra-cocky, yet borderline unstable role.

Backstage, Regal told Orton that he just got off the phone with Vickie Guerrero. He said it's official that HBK will face Batista at Backlash in a one-on-one match. Orton griped about having to face three men at the pay-per-view. Regal pointed out that the show is being held in London and said Orton will have to wrestle him next week...

7. John Cena beat Triple H and JBL in a handicap match in 7:00. Orton walked out at the beginning the match and it distracted Cena and allowed JBL to take control early. JBL scored a few nearfalls and dominated Cena while Hunter watched from the corner and Orton lurked at ringside.

[Overrun] Cena made his comeback to a mix of cheers and boos. JBL tried to tag Hunter a few times, but he backed away and told JBL to go it alone. JBL wound up to hit Triple H, who blocked the shot and fired away with his own punches. They brawled to ringside, where JBL accidentally struck Orton. JBL and Hunter headed back to the ring. Orton recovered, snuck in, and hit the RKO on JBL. Cena shoved Orton out of the ring and then pinned JBL while Triple H watched from the corner.

After the match, Hunter and Cena exchanged a few looks while standing over JBL. The announcers hyped the four-way pay-per-view main event. At ringside, Orton raised his title belt to close the show.

Powell's POV: Predictable outcome. I like the pay-per-view lineup a lot more than the way they set it up tonight on Raw. I'd be a lot more intrigued by the four-way pay-per-view main event if Big Show were in and JBL was out.

Be sure to check back on Tuesday for the WWE Raw Hitlist.

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