August 18, 2008 – Chicago, Illinois
Announcers: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
DARK MATCH: Takeshi Morishima defeated Charlie Haas..
DARK MATCH: William Regal defeated Jake Hager..
IN THE RING
Chris Jericho: Chris Jericho said if anybody should be held responsible for what happened to Shawn Michaels’ wife (Rebecca) at SummerSlam is Shawn Michaels himself. Jericho showed a video package highlighting the controversial moments that accured between Jericho and the Michaels family. Jericho said Michaels could have sent in a letter of resignation and a tribute video, but no, he had to placate his ego one last time. Jericho said the fans are also responsible for what happened to Rebecca and we should be ashamed about that. Jericho said all Michaels had to do was admit that he (Jericho) was the real reason he was retiring, and all of this could have been avoided. Jericho said Michaels tarnished his career, and he’ll have to live with it the rest of his life. Jericho said he thinks Shawn deserved it and had it coming.
SQUASH MATCH
Batista defeated “The Ripper” Paul Burchill:
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Mike Adamle & Primo Colon + John Cena + Batista: Mike Adamle introduced the newest member of the RAW roster, Primo Colon, the brother of Carlito, but immediately ditched him when he saw John Cena arriving to the building. Disrespect! John Cena blew Adamle off and approached Batista as he came through the curtain after his match. Cena said they had a great match at SummerSlam and the better man won, before offering a handshake and adding, “but that was last night.” Cena left and Batista grinned.
DIVAS TAG TEAM MATCH
Mickie James & Kelly Kelly defeated Katie Lea & Jillian Hall: Before the match, Jillian Hall sang one of her favorite songs by the band “Chicago” – in honor of the city of Chicago.
SQUASH MATCH
John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Jamie Noble by referee stoppage: JBL literally destroyed Jamie Noble and had him pinned but the referee decided to call off the match and award the victory to the mean spirited JBL.
ON THE STAGE
RAW General Manager Mike Adamle: Mike Adamle booked C.M. Punk in a match with Chris Jericho later tonight. Adamle then announced that at Unforgiven will feature a new WWE championship concept will be presented involving five Superstars including the current World champion will competing in a 20-minute match. Adamle predicted that the championship might change hands several times throughout the match but whoever is champion at the end of 20-minutes will become champion. Adamle introduced the participants; C.M. Punk, Kane, JBL, Batista, and John Cena. Adamle said this innovative concept will be called the “Championship Scramble.”
HANDICAP MATCH
John Cena defeated World Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Jr.: Before the match, Cryme Tyme ran down and Shad Gaspard distracted Rhodes & DiBiase while JTG ran around the ring and stole the World Tag Team titles. Cryme Tyme then retreated backstage with Rhodes & DiBiase’s championships! John Cena managed to overcome major odds and defeated the World Tag Team champions when he forced Cody Rhodes to tap out to the STF-U!
BACKSTAGE FOOTAGE FROM SUMMERSLAM
Michael Cole & Shawn Michaels & Rebecca (with swollen lip): Michael Cole tried to get a comment from Shawn Michaels about the condition of his wife, Rebecca. Shawn said he was going home to confort his wife and kids who just watched their mother get punched in the face because of him. Shawn added “and then………….” before walking away….
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW
Todd Grisham & World Heavyweight champion C.M. Punk: C.M. Punk said Chris Jericho was one of the lowest human beings on earth because of what he did at SummerSlam. Punk he was going to show Jericho what they do to people like that in Chicago!
NON (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL) TITLE MATCH
D-Lo Brown defeated WWE Intercontinental champion Santino Marella w/Beth Phoenix by DQ: Former WWE Intercontinental champion Kofi Kingston joined Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler on commentary for the match. Late in the match, D-Lo went for a Sky-High but Beth Phoenix jumped into the ring and acted as a human shield to protect Santino. D-Lo got down and told Beth to “get to steppin’!” but she hauled off and slapped him for the disqualification. Santino stepped in and said he would take care of it, but he got thrown out of the ring where Kofi Kingston slammed Santino’s head into the announce table. Beth gathered her dazed boyfriend and the IC belt and dragged them both backstage.
IN THE RING
Kane + Batista: Kane said there is a reason Rey Mysterio hasn’t been seen for six weeks. Kane said he has never liked Rey Mysterio, and doesn’t like people who do like him. Kane said Mysterio was like a fungus that grows in the marshes of your psyche. Kane said that Rey is still alive, but his spirit is broken, crushed… DEAD! Kane laughed and asked, “is he alive, or is he dead?” Muhahahahahahahaha! Batista interrupted and spoiled Kane’s fun. Batista limped to the ring to defend the honor of his friend, Rey Mysterio. Kane immediately targetted Batista’s knee and delivered a Choke-slam before retreating backstage.
NON (WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT) TITLE MATCH
Chris Jericho w/Lance Cade defeated World Heavyweight champion C.M. Punk: After a hard-fought match, Lance Cade caused a distraction and Chris Jericho nailed C.M. Punk (hometown hero) with a Code-breaker and scored a pinfall over the World Heavyweight champion!
| Dr. Keith Lipinski wrote
As Punk was mid-ring, JBL came down the aisle and said that he was going to win the belt tonight. Color the crowd confused as the post show dark match was scheduled to be JOHN CENA & SHAWN MICHAELS vs. JBL & CHRIS JERICHO. JBL called Punk a loser “like the Chicago Cubs” and that tonight Punk would be like the cubs, and he couldn’t blame anyone but himself. “Not Steve Bartman (man who in 2003 during a Cubs playoff game went after a foul ball and was blamed for the Cubs losing the National League Title that year), Not a goat (legand says that the owner of the Billy Goat cafe attempted to bring a goat to wrigley for a game, was denied and put a curse on the Cubs)” Punk, looking crestfallen but loving the Chicago Cubs references, kissed the belt goodbye and the match started. CM Punk defeated John Bradshaw Layfield in 6 minutes with the Go 2 Sleep. The match was primarily JBL beating on Punk, who was still groggy from his loss to Jericho a few moments ago. JBL hit a lariat and was clobberin on Punk for 5 minutes. Punk made a comeback with his kicks, a very nice knee into the corner, the bulldog out of the corner and the Go 2 Sleep for the pin. The crowd was definitely sent home happy. A huge CM Punk chant went around the building. Punk looked happier than I have ever seen him, well ever. He went all around the ring, posing on the turnbuckles, playing with the crowd, going to shake hands to the fans on ringside and hugging his sister (who was in the front row with the clowns who were removed from hard camera earlier in the evening). Punk then got on the mic and said the following “You know (inaudable) bad head. I got some pain from the stitches in my head, but you guys make it all go away. I don’t care who knows but two and a half years ago at wrestlemania I was hanging out in the John Cena gangster car and I was on that ramp right there and i stood right there and I watched Triple H stand right here and I watched John Cena stand at the top of the ramp and I said to myself with a phony tommy gun over my shoulder, someday the tommy gun would be the world heavyweight championship and someday I’m going to be standing in that ring. And hey, what do you know, two and a half years later, I’m here! Even though a whole bunch of people said I couldn’t do it, i’m not going to dwell on the negative i’m dwell on the positive in front of you thousands and thousands of people. While I’m sure there is a few of you in here who said I would never do it I’m a bit of an optimist, I try to overcome and follow my heart, I listen to my little sister and hey here I am and it goes to show that anybody out there right now, sitting in your seat, you paid your hard earned money to see one hell of a show, maybe in two and a half years you will be standing here with the world championship! I love Chicago!” With that Punk was off, but not before laying back in the ring and making a snow angel, looking up to the Allstate Arena ceiling, taking in his homecoming. It was quite the moment. |