By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

WWE Raw Live Report
October 8 from Grand Rapids, Mich.

The show started with Vince McMahon's signature ring entrance and strut. He was quite happy and seemingly content with life at this moment. Ross and Lawler discussed McMahon's current state of bliss. McMahon opened with a statement that he is a man of his word and he proved it last night at No Mercy. He listed the guarantees he fulfilled last night, but the fans didn't appreciate it and chanted, "You suck". They rolled footage from last night's PPV. Actually, they showed the highpoints of the PPV to cut into replay buys, culminating with Orton regaining the WWE Title to become champion again. Back live, McMahon guaranteed history to be made again tonight. He demanded every WWE wrestler show up at one time to shake hands and give respect to Randy Orton. McMahon said Orton's next title defense will be at Cyber Sunday, where he gives up all his power to the fans to make the matches. Before McMahon could finish, Triple H's music hit and Hunter walked out dressed to wrestle. He was sporting a bandage on his forehead. Hunter told McMahon to shut up, then he said the fans tonight don't care about Cyber Sunday; they care about tonight. Hunter said he is invoking his re-match clause tonight, just like Orton did last night. McMahon told Hunter to be careful what he wishes for since he was in three matches last night. Hunter gave him an icy glare. McMahon sat through the "You suck" chant, then booked the re-match, against his better judgment. McMahon's music stopped, then he reconsidered. He announced Orton & Umaga vs. Hunter for tonight. Hunter gave him another icy glare as McMahon smirked from the entrance ramp.

John Cena speaks on the injury tonight.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Beth Phoenix came out with the Women's Title for a big six-woman tag match. Melina followed out with Jillian Hall as her partners. The babyface team came out color coordinated in hot pink to Candice's techno dance music.

1 -- Women's champion BETH PHOENIX & MELINA & JILLIAN HALL vs. CANDICE MICHELLE & MICKIE JAMES & MARIA

Lawler commented that he hasn't seen enough of Mickie James lately. Ross asked how much more he wants to see and Lawler said that's a loaded question. Melina then hung Mickie up side down in the corner and Mickie struggled to free herself from the top turnbuckle. Mickie appeared to injure her knee, or at least she started selling an injury. The heels worked over Mickie for a few minutes before Candice took a tag and nearly had a pin on Jillian. The action broke down on the outside before Candice caught Jillian in the corner with a victory head roll for the pin and the win. Afterward, Beth held up her title belt for Candice to get a good look at.

WINNERS: Candice & Mickie & Maria in 4:00. A chance to get all the divas in the ring on a restart with Beth as new champion. Not much to it, though. (3/4*)

[Commercial Break]

They cut backstage where William Regal was redecorating the office with British-themed paintings and photos. Coach congratulated Regal on his redecorating, then they talked back and forth about Coach's random injury and Regal's random photos of the Queen, Elton John, and George Michael. McMahon walked in and asked the status of his son. Regal said he was taking a nap. Coach tried to kiss up to McMahon, but he was having none of it. Regal then told Coach to check on Hornswoggle in the closet. Coach checked and there was no one in there. They tried to come up with a plan to find him. Not a good segment right there.

Ross and Lawler talked about Cyber Sunday, then they showed footage from last year's event.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Santino Marella came out dressed to wrestle. No movie segment this week. They recapped Santino's attack on Val Venis last week. Naturally, it's Santino vs. Venis tonight. And Venis is a bit limp this week. Santino backed out of the ring when Venis entered the ring, then Santino approached Lillian Garcia and mentioned her band's performance later tonight. Santino grabbed Lillian on the rear end, then said he has a previous engagement he forgot about tonight. Santino said William Regal picked a formidable substitution for him tonight. Snitsky's music hit and he emerged from an apparent Wellness vacation.

2 -- SNITSKY (w/Santino Marella) vs. VAL VENIS

Snitsky quickly went after the injured knee as the announcers commented on Snitsky's foul appearance. Snitsky quickly cut off a brief comeback with a big boot to the face, then he picked up Venis with a pumphandle slam for the win.

WINNER: Snitsky in 2:00. Well, he's back. Absence certainly didn't make the heart grow fonder. (1/2*)

They plugged Evander Holyfield's PPV fight coming up, then showed footage from his appearance on the last SNME against Matt Hardy before KO'ing MVP.

Ross and Lawler said they would be joined by John Cena later in the broadcast, then they showed footage from Raw last week when Cena was injured during his match with Mr. Kennedy before Randy Orton picked up the scrap heaps to further injure Cena.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

The viral video aired, with focus on Revelations 22:12. It reads: "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." Sounds like retribution is on order for some heels who have wronged others.

Ross and Lawler welcomed John Cena from Tampa, Fla. where he's rehabbing. Stronger fan cheers than boos. Cena said he's out seven to twelve months. Lawler asked him about Orton's comments that Cena was better off not showing up at the PPV where he would have been embarrassed. Cena said it's better to fight than to give up. He said Orton will have his hands full when he has to shake hands with every WWE superstar on the roster, as they'll all be gunning for the title belt. Cena said he would keep fighting and be back soon.

Randy Orton walked out with the title belt in hand ahead of the handicap match.

[Commercial Break]

Umaga came out as Orton's partner, then Triple H made his full entrance.

3 -- WWE champion RANDY ORTON & UMAGA vs. TRIPLE H

Orton accidentally knocked Umaga out of the ring in the opening minute, then Hunter gave Orton a DDT. The action spilled to the outside and Umaga pounded on Hunter with right hand blows to the forehead. The heels started ganging up on Hunter and they opened up last night's cut to the forehead.

[Q5]

Orton and Umaga got greedy with a top rope combo and Hunter crotched Orton into Umaga. Hunter then dumped Umaga to the outside before landing a spinebuster on Orton. He measured Orton for the Pedigree, but Umaga returned to the ring and landed a chair shot to the back. The ref threw the match out.

Afterward, Umaga worked on the injured ribs while Orton stared at Hunter's broken body. Umaga then held up Hunter and Orton landed an RKO in center ring. Orton was done with Hunter, but Umaga wasn't. Umaga dragged Hunter to the corner, then warmed up the train for a big flying rear end splash straight to the head. And a second one. Umaga then went to the corner and nailed a flying splash from the top rope. Umaga finished off Hunter with a Samoan Spike and wiped his hands in Hunter's blood while Hunter remained motionless in the ring. Umaga's music stopped and officials checked on Hunter, who coughed up blood and drooled out the corner of his mouth. The fans popped as Hunter was helped to his knees and rolled out of the ring. The announcers went silent for this portion. Hunter landed on his feet on the floor and shoved the referees away, not wanting any help. He took a few steps before collapsing on the ground. Referees tried to help him up again before they cut to a break.

WINNER: No Contest in 5:00. Intense post-match segment to get Umaga back on track as a vicious killer heel. Hunter now gets to play the Cena role of taking huge beatings before making huge comebacks. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, officials were still helping Hunter up the entrance ramp to the backstage area. They recapped the end of the handicap match and post-match beating from Umaga and Orton. They cut backstage where Hunter gasped for every breath. McMahon came up to Hunter and said he didn't see what happened out there. Hunter gasped while McMahon stared him down. McMahon told Hunter not to make this into an excuse not to shake Orton's hand tonight. McMahon made it known that Hunter would be the first one out there to shake his hand, and he doesn't care if Hunter has to come out on a stretcher to do it.

[Q6]

4 -- PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK vs. THE HIGHLANDERS (RORY & ROBBIE)

The New Rockers nailed a dual plancha on the floor in the opening minute. The Highlanders took the momentum back in the ring, but a hot tag was made and the action broke down. London nailed a back flip on the floor on Rory, but back in the ring, Robbie nailed a spear on Kendrick and rolled him up with his feet on the ropes for the win.

WINNERS: Highlanders in 3:00. Not much to it. It's the tag division, after all. (1/2*)

They proceeded to follow with a diva search video package longer than the tag match. They aired a graphic for which divas has been eliminated. Ah, poor Jessica.

Backstage, Coach asked a random person if he had seen a leprechaun. The guy had no answer. Coach then asked Cody Rhodes if he had seen him. Rhodes said he hasn't. Ah, what a great appearance for Cody. Not. Regal then approached Coach and asked if he had found him. Coach said he's trying. Regal told him to try harder.

Up later is Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Kennedy.

[Commercial Break]

They went to the stage where Lillian Garcia sang the lead single off her new album.

[Q7]

After Lillian was done, Santino walked out and called her Jillian. He told her and the band to scram because he has a song of his own tonight. Santino called for some music, then he started to sing Karaoke. Eek. He was done, then Ross and Lawler put over Lillian's singing. They showed Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy on a split screen walking backstage for their match.

[Commercial Break]

Next week on Raw, Cody vs. Holly III. Respect is kinda earned.

5 -- Intercontinental champion JEFF HARDY vs. MR. KENNEDY -- non-title match

Mr. Kennedy came out and said he wasn't going to give a bunch of lip service, but let his actions speak louder than his words. He proceeded to cut a lip service promo and the fans cut him off with a "You suck" chant before he could announce his name a second time. Hardy and Kennedy got into a shoving match, so Hardy had enough and straight shoved Kennedy through the ropes to the floor. Hardy returned to the apron and went for a splash on the floor, but Kennedy moved and Hardy ate the guardrail.

[Commercial Break]

[Q8]

Back from break, Kennedy was on control until Hardy came up with a huge clothesline. Hardy limped to the corner turnbuckle and went up top, but Kennedy dropkicked Hardy to the mat. Kennedy then applied a half crab in center ring and bent the knee backward, but Hardy reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Kennedy went back to the knee with a chopblock, but for a two count only. The fans were hot as Hardy fired back and landed a leaping jaw breaker. he landed successive forearm blows, but Kennedy cut him off with another blow to the knee. They went into a rapid fire series of finisher counters, then Hardy landed a pancake suplex. He went up top to the corner and set up for the Sentaun Bomb, but Kennedy moved out of the way. Kennedy then went for a lazy cover, which Hardy countered into a crucifix pin for the win.

WINNER: Hardy in 13:00. Cena's injury might finally be Hardy's opportunity to be a legit main eventer. Might. Great drama, crowd heat, drama, and in-ring performances. One of the better Raw main events in some time. (***)

Backstage, McMahon asked Regal where Hornswoggle is. Regal said he's taking an extended nap. Coach walked in and tried to explain where Hornswoggle is, but neither authority figure was on the same page. Finally, Hornswoggle popped out from a trunk and yawned from his extended nap. McMahon stared at him, then told Regal and Coach to watch him. Coach ended up trying to stuff him in the trunk, but Hornswoggle grabbed Coach's cane and smashed him in the knee with it. Ah, the hilarity continues.

Raw roster members walked out on stage for the Orton segment.

[Commercial Break]

Mr. McMahon was in the ring next to a red-cloth platform. He told each and every wrestler on the roster to shake hands with the new champion. McMahon then introduced Orton, who slowly walked out past the wrestlers on the stage. Sporting a black suit, Orton entered the ring and stood on the platform. McMahon looked up to Orton and asked for the honor of being the first one to shake Orton's hand. McMahon shook his hand, then handed the mic to Orton.

[Q9 -- over-run]

Orton said there is one absolute truth that no one deserves to be champion more than himself. He said he has the perfect combination of size, speed, strength, and skill. He's like the male equivalent of Beth Phoenix, apparently. Orton said he looks at the wrestlers on the stage and sees despair on their faces because they realize the one-man dynasty has just begun. McMahon asked for Triple H to walk out and shake Orton's hand, but no one could find him. He screamed for someone to bring him out to the ring. McMahon said that if Hunter doesn't show, he would give Orton the pleasure of going backstage to drag him out to the ring. Suddenly, Shawn Michaels's music hit and HBK walked out in a cowboy hat and with a tough-man beard. He's gonna John Wayne Orton's ass. Orton slowly backed down the entrance ramp while HBK stalked him down the ramp. Orton ran into the ring and tried to grab the belt as a weapon, but HBK speared Orton in center ring. He then dropped Orton straight in the face with Sweet Chin Music. Michaels jumped on the platform and started doing crotch chops while McMahon sat down ringside with a stunned look on his face. A perfect facial expression from McMahon of disbelief. Ross called the moment while Michaels continued to celebrate in the ring.

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