411’s LIVE Raw Report 04.21.08: William Regal v CM Punk

Divas

Maria, Kelly, Michelle McCool, Cherry, Ashley come out here. They talk about last week and Mickie James’ win against the odds over Beth Phoenix. They introduce the new women’s champion and out comes a really happy MICKIE JAMES. Group hug! Maria says they just wanted to say congratulations. Mickie says it means a lot to her and you should never quit. Everyone said Beth Phoenix was unstoppable but she beat her. She’s interupted by BETH PHOENIX and the heel divas dubbed “flying monkeys” by Lawler. Melina, Victoria, Jillian, Layla and someone else. Beth calls this a pathetic love-fest. Beth says it’s not a question of if she’ll win it back but when. Mickie wants to fight right now. Beth calls the win a fluke and says these divas are inferior. Michelle belts Beth across the face for that. CATFIIIIIIIGHT! Where’s Joey Styles to call that! The faces clean the ring out.

NEXT WEEK – Mr Kennedy returns.

King of the Ring final – WILLIAM REGAL v CM PUNK

Crowd has opposed both men all night, which is probably not a good sign. Punk is still selling the back from the Walls of Jericho. Remember Regal has a bye basically in the quarter finals. Crowd decides hating on Regal in the way forward and Punk helps his cause by repeatedly kicking Regal in the head, high knee and he goes for the bulldog but Regal HARDWAYS him into a back suplex for 2. POWER! Regal works on the back and stretches Punk on the mat. Punk turns out of it and goes to kicks again but Regal retorts. BRAWL! Regal is throwing heavy strikes to counter Punk’s own heavy striking style. He’s gained some weight lately and he’s using it to increase the power on his strikes. Punk comes back with a few big roundhouse kicks and a spinning back hand. Another big roundhouse and Regal is down for 2. He tries for the GTS but Regal grabs the ropes making Punk use up his back injury. Regal gets out, kicks Punk in the head and goes for the REGAL STRETCH! IT’S ON! PUNK HAS NOWHERE TO GO! HE TAPS!

Winner & 2008 King of the Ring: William Regal. **3/4. Nifty striking but it could easily have gone another 5-10 minutes and really told a story behind that back so the crowd KNEW when the Regal Stretch went on it was over.