411’s WWE Raw Report 7.21.08

We get highlights from The Bash and Raw starts now.

Batista leaves the production truck!

Michael Cole and The King are your hosts.

Batista is out. He planned on coming out as the new champion but because of Kane, that isn’t happening. Tonight, since Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon are not here, he is putting himself in charge. And he’s making a match: Punk defending against Batista. If Kane has a problem, he should find him before he finds Kane.

JBL is on the tron. He says Batista is in charge of nothing. He lost last night and he doesn’t care who ran down and interfered. JBL is special. He walked out of the NYC victorious, so he is the entitled to the next world title opportunity. Batista tells him to come out so they can discuss this. JBL doesn’t answer to Batista; he is the boss and he is in charge. His body doesn’t feel like a world title match tonight, but Batista won’t get one either. Tonight, JBL finishes off Cena. JBL tells Batista to go and find Kane if he wants a match so badly.

CM Punk is here! Punk says this is the law of the jungle, and becomes he is champ, that makes him king. He doesn’t have to listen to JBL. Punk says Kane screwed stuff up for him too because he wants to prove that he can beat Batista. So instead of talking about it, let’s do it until we get it right. The title match is on! JBL says he is in charge. Batista says to shut him up, and the sound goes off. Batista says we’re on. We go to break.

This was an average opening segment, but did it’s job of setting up the main event and a potential Batista/JBL feud down the line.

Shawn Michaels is here! Oh, but really, it’s Lance Cade. Cade knows that Shawn is here tonight, and invites him to come out here. But if he does, they will have words that they should have had a long time ago. Paul London is out.

Paul London vs. Lance Cade

London goes behind and grabs a waistlock, then fires off with forearms as we get a loud “Let’s go London!” chant. London misses a crossbody and Cade hits a backbreaker, then drives a knee into the back. Cade hits another backbreaker now and stretches London across the knee. London fights out of it with rights and knees to the head, but Cade whips him to the corner. London comes back with a springboard crossbody for 2, but then runs into a big shoulder tackle. Cade tosses London gut-first into the ringpost, drags him back to the middle and pulls London up. Sit-out spinebuster finishes.

Winner: Lance Cade

Fun little match. The crowd got behind London, and they worked a fast pace. Had this gone a few more minutes it could have got really good. *3/4

Cade says if that wasn’t enough to bring him out, maybe this will be. Cade introduces Chris Jericho, who is looking ridiculously sharp in a suit, as we go to break.

Jericho says as much as the fans want Shawn Michaels here, the fact is, he’s not coming. We get footage from the Bash showing why. Everything that happened last night is on us, the fans. It’s our fault. There is no blood on his hands (nice way to come full circle there). Shawn spurred himself on for all of the fans; he took one chance too many and now he is paying for our sins. He said he was coming back to save the fans but then he realized we don’t deserve to be saved. We sided with an egomaniac and we will regret, just like Shawn. His career is over. He has a detached retina and won’t see properly for the rest of his life. Jericho has no remorse. The ironic thing is, by closing Shawn’s eye he opened his. He doesn’t have to be obsessed with pleasing a bunch of people who can’t think for themselves. He says the people vilified him when he came back. They wanted the Jericho with the long hair who cut jokes, but he has grown up. Shawn Michaels never grew up and neither did the fans. He says he is proud of what he did. By ending Shawn’s career, he considers himself, saved. We go to commercial.

Stunning promo from Jericho there, from bringing the Shawn Michaels saga full circle with the “blood on my hands” line to the delivery of the final statement, this was vintage Jericho.

Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix

Beth shoves Kelly, but Kelly responds in time and goes on the assault, cuts the leg out from under her and hits a dropkick. Beth blocks a roll up and pulls Kelly up. She comes back with forearms but Beth dumps her into the turnbuckles. Scoop slam by Beth. The fans really rally behind Kelly, which helps her fight out of a half-nelson-ish hol. Kelly back flips out of an arm wrench and hits a few forearms and then Beth charges into a back elbow. Kelly catches Beth with an enzuigiri and snaps off a tilt-a-whirl head scissors, then connects with a dropkick. She handsprings into the corner but gets caught in the chicken wing, but she rolls through, but Beth counters and hits a wheelbarrow slam for 3.

Winner: Beth Phoenix

Kelly wasn’t as crisp as usual, but she showed more here. Beth is solid and held the match together, but Kelly has tremendous potential, and a ridiculous smile. I love this girl. **

Jim Duggan is in the ring, dressed in T-shirt and trousers. He is thinking about hanging up his boots. It’s been a great 30-year run. He made tons of friends and he survived kidney cancer. He thought about what DiBiase and Rhodes said last week and they may be right. This is a game for young men and it may be time for him to move on. He says thanks. Jerry Lawler cuts him off and gets in the ring. He knows this is none of his business, but there’s no age limit in the WWE. He doesn’t care what Rhodes and DiBiase said. As long as you’re passionate, you can do this as long as you want to do it. The fans chant USA and King asks if he really wants to give that up. Duggan says no, he just needed someone to tell him that. He thanks King as the champs are here.

DiBiase says just because King likes to date girls younger than them, doesn’t mean they relate to us. Cody says when Duggan one the first Rumble in 88, he was 2 years old. King slaps the taste out of Cody’s mouth. DiBiase holds Cody back, and says they will continue this another day but he suggests they leave the ring. JBL is here as we go to commercial.

This was another good segment as it gives the tag champs more mic time and sets up a feud, which is always a good thing.

John Cena and Cryme Tyme vs. JBL and Simply Priceless

The faces hit the ring and the heels bail. Cena has his arms taped. Cena and JBL start it out… until JBL tags out when the bell rings. Cody in and they lock up and Cody grabs a side headlock but Cena catches him with a hip toss for 1. Right by Cena. He whips him to the corner and hits a huge bulldog for 2. Cena hits a back body drop and tags in Shad who gets a 2 count. He sends Cody to the corner and hits a big clothesline, but runs into a big boot. DiBiase in but he gets caught with a T-bone suplex for 2. JTG in and Shad launches JTG into DiBiase and he gets a cover for 2. JTG catches Ted with a big right but Ted hangs him up on the top rope. JBL comes in and pummels JTG in the corner and catches him with some vicious rights. JBL hits a shoulder tackle and tags in Cody who fires off with rights and a knee. Cody grabs a side bear hug, which JTG eventually manages to elbow out of. JTG hits some forearms but Cody goes low to the ribs to slow him down. Ted in now and hey double team him with arm wrenches and right hands. That gets 2. Ted slams JTG and hits a double stomp from the second rope for 2. JBL in now and drives a knee into the gut of JTG, and again. Clubbing blows now by JBL, followed up with a few elbows. Cody comes in with a big kick to the gut. Cody applies that modified bearhug again, but JTG breaks the grip and gets a roll up for 2, only for Cody to punt him in the ribs. Ted in now and stomps away at JTG. Ted hits an elbow drop and a fist drop and scores with a big kick to the back. Body scissors applied now by Ted. JTG elbows his way to some separation, ducks a clothesline and scores with a dropkick! Cody in, prevents the tag with an elbow drop for 1. Cody gets a few turnbuckle thrusts but then charges right into the ring post. Ted in, Cena in! SHOULDER BLOCK, and again. PROTO PLEX! SPEAR for JBL! JBL bails and Cena decks both tag champs with rights. JBL leaves though the crowd as Cena gets the tag champs up for a DOUBLE FU! That’s it.

Winners: Cena and Cryme Tyme

Cena hugs his Dad at ringside and celebrates with Cryme Tyme.

Fun match, and it’s good to see the tag champs getting plenty of in-ring time. **1/2

In the back, Chris Jericho and Cade walk and open a door, and Kane is there with his bag. Be lucky you didn’t have a cup of coffee on you, Chris. Kane walks off.

Mickie James and Kofi Kingston vs. The Burchills

Intergender rules here. Mickie hits Air Mickie early and attacks with knees, and the Mickiecanrana! Paul tries to get involed and gets a slap. He stalks Mickie but Kofi comes from out of nowhere with a springboard crossbody. Kofi and Burchill in and Burchill hits some big knees and a slam. Kofi comes back with a back elbow and huge dropkick. Katie in and tries a kick but it’s blocked and Paul gets a chop block. Paul drops a couple of elbows down on the knee of Kofi, then adds to the injury with kicks. Kofi gets a quick sunset flip for 2, and catches Burchill coming with a clothesline. Kingston avoids a charge and fires off with rights, and Mickie intercepts Katie’s interference and they brawl on the floor. Paul out and slams Mickie on the floor. Kofi out and misses a spin kick and hits the ring post. Burchill hits the Twisted Sister and it’s over.

Winners: The Burchills

This was a very good match played at fast-forward, which is not a good thing because it means you’ll remember less. Good stuff though, for the time they had. **

Jamie Noble tries his luck with Layla. Batista is here and asks where Kane is. Noble talks himself into a two-handed chokehold. Batista wants to know where Kane is. We go to a commercial.

CM Punk says he decided to defend his gold tonight because if he is going down, he’s going down swinging. JBL says at Summerslam, he fully intends on wrestling for the title at Summerslam. JBL wishes him luck, because he is a footnote, a transitional champion. Punk points out that his first successful title defence came against him.

We the violent Michaels/Jericho footage again.

Santino says he wanted to fight a man last week. He only fights people with Adam apple. So he reissues that challenge tonight, for a man! D’LO BROWN BITCHES! DOWN WITH THE FUCKING BROWN?!?

Beth Phoenix comes out to observe.

Santino Marella vs. D’Lo Brown

Big D’Lo chants. D’Lo hits a shoulder tackle and tosses Santino to the corner and a right, and a shoulder thrust and another right. D’Lo hits some knees now and a vertical suplex. Vintage D’Lo leg drop. SUDDEN IMPACT by D’Lo! Up top, LO DOWN!

Winner: D’Lo Brown

Beth is in the ring now as we get replays. Back live, Beth drills Santino. She misses a second right and Santino grabs here. They switch waistlocks a few times and stand off. They eye each other up and Santino grabs her hair. She grabs his cheek and they kiss! Ha, they’re both embarrassed. Tremendous.

Cole and Lawler says Shane and Stephanie McMahon are looking for a new General Manager.

Batista comes out for the world title match, but Kane comes down. They slug it out in the ring and Kane chokeslams Batista! CM Punk is out and tosses Kane to the floor. Kane stalks a cameraman to the back.

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Batista

The ref asks Batista if he wants the match. Punk asks the same thing and Batista shoves him as we go to break. After the commercial, we get the introductions and we are underway. Punk grabs a side headlock and cinches it in for a while before running into a shoulder tackle. Punk gets shoved away but comes back with forearms until until he runs into a big boot from big Dave. Batista hammers Punk in the corner with knee and right hands and elbows. Punk catches him with a swinging neckbreaker and then hits a couple of big stomps. Forearms now by Punk, and elbows and boots in the corner. Punk hits a snapmare and a dropkick to the back of the head for 1. Punk drops a couple of elbows and now forearms, but Batista comes back with a right, a kick, a right. But Punk gets a drop toehold and goes right back on the attack with rights to the back of the head. Punk locks in a front facelock, but Batista powers out and dumps Punk. Punk connects with a running leg drop though and gets 2. Knees to the spine now by Punk, and another running leg drop, and a third. Punk locks in a modified crossface, but Batista works his way to his feet and snapmares out of it. He charges into a reverse elbow though, and Punk gets a neckbreaker for 2. Punk applies a grounded head scissors now. Batista gets some separation, but Punk catches him with a series of knees for a 2 count. Kicks to the ribs now, but Batista reverses an Irish whip and Punk crashes into the corner. Batista charges but Punk drop toeholds him into the turnbuckle. Running knee/bulldog combo! That gets 2. Punk tolls to the apron and springboards into a SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down but beat the referee’s 10 count, and Batista carries Punk into the corner and hits some thrusts and a clothesline, but then runs into a boot. Punk hops up to the top but misses a crossbody! SPEAR! Thumbs up, THUMBS DOWN! JBL is here and that’s a DQ!

CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL to Batista! John Cena is here and takes out JBL, but a right hand misses and Cena hits Batista! Cena tries to explain himself, but Batista goes for the bomb, Cena counters into a FU attempt, but Batista slides off and they slug it out. Referees separate them as we go off the air.