411’s WWE Raw Report 03.24.08

Posted by Arnold Furious on 03.24.2008

Wrestlemania Showcase night as all the Raw main eventers get thrown together and Old Yella comes up trumps!

Welcome to 411's exclusive Raw coverage. If you see it someplace else it means they borrowed it. I don't see how hard it is to write a report on something though? Is it really that hard?

In the meantime and you're waiting for updates why not read the IWA-MS Sweet Science Sixteen 2000 recap I did the other day. The show is terrible but the write up isn't! And if you're done with that I've also got NWA Bunkhouse Stampede all reviewed and rated. I'm always open to suggestions on what material to cover in the future so feel free to shoot ‘em my way.

This week's Raw seems billed around the three WWE title competitors. With the added bonus of CM Punk/Chris Jericho v MVP/Carlito to build up the Money in the Bank match now the field is somewhat open following the departure of the suspended Jeff Hardy. Should be interesting to see who shines in that one. Also members of all three rosters are in attendance this evening so we should see multi-branded antics at some point this evening.

We're in Colombia, South Carolina. Flair Country. Hosts are Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. JR reminds us that Wrestlemania is in SIX DAYS. That's next Sunday folks.

PROMO TIME – John Cena. He's all revved up for Wrestlemania. He reminds us what happened over the past few weeks and all the injuries those involved in the main events have suffered before segueing into impressions, good ones, of HHH & Orton & himself. He says we're 6 days away from the big dance. He says he's doing pretty good after surviving 17 guys last week and thinks he'll win at Mania and become WWE champion. Very mixed reaction for the promo as per usual. He gets cut off continuing by THE BIG SHOW. He says Wrestlemania is all about him ending Floyd Mayweather's career. He says everyone, including Mayweather's family, is pulling for him to win. This also gets mixed reactions. He says him knocking out Mayweather will replace Hogan slamming Andre as the most replayed moment in the history of Wrestlemania. But before he can continue out comes JBL. "You can eat Floyd Mayweather for all I care". He says he makes history not Big Show. He revealed Finlay for what he is and put Hornswoggle in hospital. He says he'll deliver the greatest beating in Wrestlemania history because his match has no rules. JBL pushes his luck by running his mouth at Cena who retorts by telling him he didn't hear what he said because he was remembering how he beat JBL for his title at Wrestlemania. This brings out RANDY ORTON. He runs through all the possibilities of outcomes at Mania and that no one thinks he'll retain his title. But he likes that and feeds off it. He says he'll be the one people are talking about when he wins the triple threat match and retains his title. Out comes UMAGA. He grabs the mic. "Batista!" Samoan gibberish follows. I think he's saying he's going to fuck him up. Cena is fluent in Samoan and translates. He says Umaga said Orton loves boy bands, sperm whales and watches My Two Dad's all the time. Out comes TRIPLE H to a really big reaction. He stops off to plug his new t-shirt. He says everyone had a great argument…apart from Randy Orton. He says there's ONE reason they're in this business and it's the WWE title. He says they'd all change their spot in a heartbeat to get a shot at the belt. H's says there's a reason Mania is taking place in a building with no roof because if there was a roof they'd blow it off. H's says the King of Kings is going back on his throne. JBL interrupts and everyone starts jawing at each other. Out comes Raw GM WILLIAM REGAL. He says they all have a claim for being the stand out draw at Mania. So tonight's main event is a Wrestlemania Showcase match. 8 man. No DQ. Orton/Umanga/JBL/Show v Cena/HHH/Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair. That's your main event!

CHRIS JERICHO/CM PUNK v MVP/CARLITO

We get clips from Smackdown where Jericho guested and shoved MVP off a ladder. The Wrestlemania Press Conference is at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York Wednesday at Noon. 4 of the 7 MITB competitors are in this match. Punk starts out sweeping MVP's legs. They really start quite fast and Punk gets a leaping calf kick. Jericho in but MVP avoids him by tagging out to Carlito. Jericho dominates with a back elbow and some forearms. Carlito gets dumped on the ropes and Jericho connects with a springboard dropkick. MVP thinks about coming in but Jericho sees him and scares him off. Ad break! We come back with Carlito stomping Jericho. Jericho suckers Carlito in though and sets up the Rope Ride. Jericho thinks about a quebrada but opts for a slam instead then misses the Lionsault. Carlito gets caught in the Walls anyway only for MVP to save and Jericho straps him in it instead. Carlito saves. Jericho lost his focus there. Carlito is able to take over with a neckbreaker for 2. Now MVP wants in. Jericho avoids the Yakuza Kick though and hits a flying forearm. Hot tag to Punk. He boots MVP in the face. Snap powerslam gets 2. Punk with knees and the high one in the corner. Carlito gets knocked off the apron and bulldog leaves MVP down. Punk is ready but MVP ducks the springboard crossbody. Jericho stops the count and they start wailing on each other. Jericho misses an Enzuigiri and clocks Punk with it instead leaving him down for an MVP pin.

Winners: MVP/Carlito via pinfall. **. Match was fine and they add another layer of tension ahead of Money in the Bank. I want to see Punk-MVP long term because their cameos here were very tidy.

BACKSTAGE Mr Kennedy gets his chance to talk about Wrestlemania. He predicts history will be made. Ric Flair will be retired. Undertaker's undefeated streak ends. And Mr Kennedy will win Money in the Bank and he promises to cash the briefcase in THAT NIGHT and win the WWE title.

VIDEO PACKAGE – Ric Flair. Fuel's "Leave the Memories Alone" plays while we see footage of him over the past 30 odd years. The promos are worth it alone. We move on with some cheating, limo riding, kiss stealing and bleeding. WOOOOOOO! Chopping. Strutting. Titles. Respect. Great video package from the WWE. His family is at ringside and they applaud the footage. Meanwhile Flair wants to confront HBK tonight.

VIDEO PACKAGE – Big Show training. He's been working on his boxing and studying Mayweather's fights. Show persists that Floyd can't hurt him and is trapped in the ring with him. The shot of Jericho getting knocked out a few weeks back shows his punching power.

HARDCORE HOLLY v GREAT KHALI

24 man battle royal has been booked for Wrestlemania. The winner gets a shot at the ECW title. Holly tries getting a few punches in but Khali's big arms block everything. A couple of big elbows slow Holly right down. Khali with a nervehold. Holly elbows out of it but gets BRAIN CHOPPED. Tree Slam! Goodnight Bob.

Winner: Great Khali via pinfall . Squash!

PROMO TIME – Ric Flair. Lots of love for Flair including much bowing. He says it's nice to hear people respect Ric Flair. He's pissed off because he doesn't know if he beat Vince McMahon. He won the match but Shawn Michaels, who he told not to interfere, did so and helped him. Flair thinks HBK has no confidence and faith in him and because of that he's losing respect for him. He says there's a failure to communicate so he calls Shawn's ass out right now. Shawn says he's sorry Flair has lost respect for him. He says he never lost faith in him. Shawn puts Flair over saying he always had back up and had his bases covered. He says he thought he was doing what Flair would do. He says Flair will always be a 16 time world champion and continues to go on until Flair cuts him off. "SHUT UP". Flair he says he doesn't need anybody to tell him who he is. He's feeling good about himself. He pulls out the NWA world title belt he won in 1981. Cool. Flair gets excited and lists off all the guys he beat to defend it. Flair reminds us he picked Shawn for Wrestlemania not anyone else because he wants to prove he can get it done at the biggest stage of them all. He says he needs Shawn to bring out the best in him so he can carry on with his life. Shawn assures him he'll bring everything. They shake hands. Flair goes to leave but Shawn isn't done. He has a story. The story of Old Yella. They loved that dog. But when it was time they took him out back and finished him. Shawn calls Flair "Old Yella" and says on Sunday he'll put him out of his misery. Flair considers that fighting talk and throws down his belt, mic and jacket. "Old Yella, are you kiddin' me?" SLAP! OHHHHHHH! "Why don't you take Old Yella out right now? I'm beggin' ya". Shawn is having none of it and he walks off. Crowd doesn't like it.

VIDEO PACKAGE – Floyd Mayweather. We see his hand speed. He says he's mentally stronger and physically quicker.

CLIPS – Big Show on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

MARIA KANELLIS v MELINA PEREZ w/Beth Phoenix

Candice Michelle re-broke her clavicle last week so she's out of Wrestlemania. She had surgery today. Melina starts fast but runs into both of Maria's feet. Beth trips her up behind the ref's back. This brings Ashley Massaro out here. She's in the ring and Beth comes in to argue. Crowd boo's the hell out of this. Santino Marella is down here as well. Jerry Lawler decides to try and tidy the situation up. A 6-person fight ensues. Regal is out here and he books an Intergender tag match RIGHT NOW!

JERRY LAWLER/MARIA KANELLIS/ASHLEY MASSARO v SANTINO MARELLA/BETH PHOENIX/MELINA PEREZ

JIP. Santino jumps off the top and Lawler punches him in the gut. Lawler with more punches and a backdrop. Dropkick! Atomic drop and Santino tags Melina. She provokes Lawler. JR calls this his dream come true. Ashley tags in and NAILS Melina with a forearm. Maria in and she gets the Broncobuster. Melina slaps her for that but Maria responds with a handstand kick. Beth tags in and spinebusters Maria. Santino tags in so Maria belts him across the face. Ashley comes in and they team up with repeated bitchslaps. Lawler gets involved with some punches. Maria gets clipped by the heel girls leaving Santino to cradle her for the pin.

Winners: heels via pinfall. * fun though technically poor 6-person thing. Santino's celebrations are a little elaborate.

BACKSTAGE Cena is goofing around with Val Venis & Cody Rhodes when H's turns up to get intense. He reminds us that Cena beat him two years ago at Wrestlemania. He says he lost but he's the better man. He seems upset that Cena keeps getting in his way of the title. If he does on Sunday H's will mow him down. Cena says he never lost that title. And if H's wants him he'll be standing in his way.

VIDEO PACKAGE – John Legend tells us he'll be performing "America the Beautiful" at Wrestlemania.

HALL OF FAME – JR says the final inductee is going to be named tomorrow on ECW.

SHILL – Wrestlemania 24. Show v Mayweather. Finlay v JBL (Belfast Brawl). Money in the Bank Ladder match. Bunnymania (with Ashley replacing Candice). Ric Flair v Shawn Michaels. Edge v Undertaker. Orton v Cena v HHH. That's the card. We get some video of the participants.

RANDY ORTON/THE BIG SHOW/JBL/UMAGA v JOHN CENA/TRIPLE H/SHAWN MICHAELS/RIC FLAIR

Show will be on the Today Show Wednesday morning with Mayweather. Tension between partners Flair & Michaels after their earlier confrontation. They eyeball each other before any of the other faces get out here. Show refuses to bail out with the rest of the heels. H's comes out last, which is interesting. Show moves out of H's way, which is even more interesting. There are certainly hints in those moments as to what'll go down at Wrestlemania. H's also plays peacemaker between Shawn and Flair. Shawn-Orton begins. Orton controls with punches. Shawn retorts with his chops. Maybe that's even more of a message to Flair than usual. Usually the message is one of respect. In the middle of them locking up FINLAY strolls out here. JBL immediately goes after him but Finlay nails him with the shillelagh. A brawl, of the Belfast variety, ensues and we have to take an ad break. We return with Orton-Shawn still going on. Umaga tags in to deliver more of a beating. Shawn is doing his usual job of selling for the monsters. Shawn chops away but Umaga thrust kicks him. Buttalanche!! Umaga wants the Spike but here comes BATISTA clearly upset with what Umaga said earlier. They brawl around at ringside and Batista hits a spinebuster on the floor. They're trying to remind the WWE they're actually on the card for Wrestlemania. Shawn gets bieled by Show as they leave. Show cleans house on all the faces. Orton seems to be suggesting don't need any partners because of Show's dominance. He slams Flair. Orton is directing traffic. Show seems content to mess Flair up. FACE BUMP! Flair gets a few chops in but Show backdrops him. Show stops off to tell Orton to shut his mouth and that gives Cena & HHH a tag. They go to suplex Show but can't get him over and he counters into a double suplex. Show asks Orton if he'd like a tag. "No" he replies so Show biels him in and chokeslams him. So much for Randy Orton's team. Show takes a walk. H's and Cena argue over who gets to beat up Orton. Wrestlemania Showcase folks! They brawl out to the floor over it leaving Flair to Figure Four Orton but Shawn lays him out! BOOOOO! Crowd don't like that and this match has totally broken down. Shawn goes for his finish so Flair nut shots him and Figure Four's Orton for the win.

Winners: Ric Flair via submission. **1/2. If that is to be Ric Flair's final appearance on Raw it was a fun way to go out. I'll miss you, Naitch. Thanks for the memories.

Have a good week folks and don't forget Wrestlemania next Sunday. As if you would…