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By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
APRIL 7, 2008
ON USA - LIVE FROM ALBANY, N.Y.

WHAT HAPPENED: 1ST HOUR

Welcome to the thousands of you who heard about us today through Sports Illustrated's website. We reported on Raw, ECW, Impact, Smackdown, and all PPVs live as they happen, usually with multiple reports, plus update news and commentary multiple times throughout the day every day We hope you'll bookmark us and make us a daily web stop.

-After the Raw opening, Jim Ross introduced the show with Jerry Lawler. He said "the backlash" from WrestleMania continues tonight, a play on words with the next PPV, obviously. Lilian Garcia introduced G.M. William Regal mid-ring.

-Regal announced that Randy Orton would defend his World Hvt. Title (the graphic billed him as "WWE Champion") at Backlash. He introduced Orton first. Ross talked about Orton defying all odds. Regal then announced "the most deserving number one contender in WWE history, John Bradshaw Layfield." Orton sneered as JBL came out in his white limo. Ross touted him as the longest-reining WWE Champion in history. JBL entered the ring and offered a handshake to Orton. Orton slowly shook his head no and let out a cocky subtle smile. Regal said the match between them would be among the most fiercely battled matches ever. Triple H's music interrupted. He walked out onto the stage with water bottle in hand as Lawler exclaimed, "Oh my!" Ross said, "Business has picked up here on Monday Night Raw."

Triple H entered the ring and looked around at the fans cheering him. He'll like this - being the sole babyface against two heels. Triple H said he must have missed something along the way because "while Randy Orton said he was finished with me, that seems odd because while Randy did win the match at WrestleMania, he really didn't beat anybody, did ya' Randy," Orton didn't like that. Triple H asked what big move he hit Cena with before he got the 1-2-3. "Oh, that's right, you didn't do anything, did ya'?" Triple H said he got a cheap win. He asked Orton to explain to him how a guy who spent the last two years retired as an announcer on Smackdown suddenly becomes a no. 1 contender when his biggest claim to fame is slapping around a midget. Was he talking about Finlay or Hornswoggle? JBL yelled back at Triple H. Regal told Triple H he'll have to earn his way into a title match at Backlash. He said he will face both JBL and Orton in a handicapped match later. He said if he wins, then the Triple Threat match will take place at Backlash. Regal added if he loses, he's out. Orton gathered his thought pensively as JBL chewed out Regal. Hunter just looked cool and relatively satisified with the opportunity.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- UMAGA vs. VAL VENIS

A fan held up a sign that said, "Umaga ate my cheeseburger." I don't get it. Ross said Batista will be on Chris Jericho's "Highlight Reel" later with Shawn Michaels to follow up on what happened on Smackdown. Lawler said that'll be the biggest Highlight Reel ever and quite a coup for Jericho. Ross plugged an IBF Heavyweight Title match on Saturday night and told people to "check their local listings." Umaga went right after Val, but Val avoided an Umaga splash seconds into the match. He didn't gain any advantage, though, and was soon taken down by a punch to the throat. A longish nerve hold, a Samoan Freight Train corner splash, and a Samoan Spike later, Val was done.

WINNER: Umaga in 3:00.

-Ross plugged a text poll asking whether Shawn Michaels did the right thing at WrestleMania.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- ASHLEY & MICKIE JAMES vs. MELINA & JILLIAN HALL

Ashley landed awkwardly on her knees and seemed to sell an injury afterward, but seemed mobile a minute later. Not a lot to it as it was short, but at least when Mickie was in there, you were less worried about the women hurting each other as when the others were in there. When Mickie and Ashley won, Ross said, "It's nice to see partners hug. We should hug more."

WINNERS: Mickie & Ashley when Mickie pinned Melina after a DDT in 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross and Lawler plugged the Highlight Reel again, then they showed the exterior of the arena in Albany, N.Y. They threw to a music video dedicated to the Ric Flair retirement.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK vs. LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH

Lawler said these two have a lot of momentum and have been opening a lot of eyes lately. Huh? They've been treated as jobbers, broke up and reunited with little fanfare, and have lost most recent matches (except, as Ross said, last week). Murdoch tripped London coming off the ropes, leading to London taking a beating from Cade. Lawler commented on Murdoch sporting some sort of "orange" tan after having a "trucker's tan" for years. Lawler and Ross wondered if it was a result of a tanning bed. They noted that his face was still pale and white. Kendrock got a hot-tag and went on a flurry of offense. Cade intervened and they botched a spot, but Cade followed up right away with a sitout powerbomb. Kendrick then surprised legal-man Murdoch with a small package for a win. Murdoch then chewed out Cade.

WINNERS: Kendrick & London in 4:00

-Orton told JBL backstage that he's defeated Triple H before, so he'll do so again. He told JBL to just stay out of his way. JBL just stood and watched. Ross said a "must win" for Triple H was next.

[Commercial Break]

-An ECW commercial hyped that Kane is the new ECW Champion, but Chavo Guerrero wants a rematch and C.M. Punk may cash in his briefcase. In other words, nothing was advertised.

4 -- TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON & JBL

Ross said, "It's main event time!" as Hunter walked to the ring. After a test of strength and leverage battles with Orton and Hunter, Orton tagged in JBL. Ross noted it was a first one-on-one battle between Triple H and JBL. JBL shoved Hunter into the corner, then tagged Orton back in. The heels took turns stomping and kicking Triple H for a few minutes. Hunter teased a comeback, but Orton fired back with a snap powerslam for a two count. JBL tagged in and applied a sleeper. Hunter escaped and gave JBL a jawbreaker. Orton blind-tagged himself in. JBL protested. The ref ordered him out of the ring. Triple H shoved Orton into JBL, then gave Orton his Pedigree for the win.

WINNER: Triple H in 7:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4

WHAT HAPPENED: 2ND HOUR

-After the match, as Triple H celebrated his win, his music stopped and Regal entered the ring. He announced that Triple H was officially added to Backlash. No sooner did he say that than John Cena's music played. He walked out to an eruption of high-pitched jeers and deep-voiced boos and a "You suck!" chant. Cena congratulated Triple H. He said, though, that he has a proposition. He said since Triple H claimed Cena lost at WrestleMania to the Pedigree, he pointed out he beat Triple H at the Rumble and the last time they wrestled at WrestleMania. He also pointed out be beat JBL and made him quit. He pointed out at Backlash he beat Randy Orton. Orton was just coming to in the corner of the ring, leaning into the bottom turnbuckle. Cena talked about how Orton claims he beats everybody. "Just last week he beat JBL when JBL was passed out on a coach. Randy even tried to beat J.R., but J.R.'s too old; he's not much of a free thinker." He added, "Randy's fetishes aside, my proposition is something big." He proposed that Regal add him to the match at Backlash. Regal, after soaking up the fan reaction, told Cena he just gave him a fantastic idea. He said it's his duty to make sure Backlash is the biggest it can possibly be, "but if you want to be in the championship match at Backlash, I'll offer you the same deal I made Triple H." He said he will take on JBL and Triple H in a two-on-one match later. If he wins, he's added to Backlash. You knew something was up when this "main event" occurred before the end of the first hour.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- CODY RHODES & HARDCORE HOLLY vs. CARLITO & SANTINO MARELLA

They were proud of the crowd in this arena as they've done more panning wide shots of the packed arena than you usually see on Raw. Holly took a beating for a while, then hot-tagged Cody. Cody slammed Santino and landed a kneedrop, but when he charged in the corner, Santino lifted his knees. Cody came back and went for a superplex, but Carlito distracted Cody briefly. Santino kicked Cody to the mat, then hit a diving headbutt for the win. Santino celebrated like he just won the lottery and was voted Best Human Being in All of Europe. Ross said Cody landed on his neck when he got knocked off the second rope. He sold it convincingly, but was moving and came to when checked on by Holly.

WINNERS: Santino & Carlito in 6:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Decent filler tag match. It's always disappointing to see Santino and not hear from him, but is post-match celebration was fun.

[Commercial Break]

-Cryme Tyme were shown backstage having an "authentic WrestleMania clearance sale." They tried to auction a pepper shaker called a "Soul Shaker." He said if you sprinkle it on a white guy at a wedding, he'll be able to dance. They also hawked an autographed Playboy with Maria on the cover. They gawked over her being nude inside. Then they said that item was no longer available. Next came a Kim Kardashian thong. Shad told J.T. that the dressing room he snuck into wasn't Kim's, it was Mae Young. J.T. threw the thong away. They did their "money, money, yeah, yeah" chant.

-Lawler asked Ross if he thinks tear gas has ever been fired into their house. They threw to Big Show's angle on Raw last week against Great Khali followed by another confrontation at Smackdown. Lawler said he didn't know what to make of Khali bailing out of the ring.

-Backstage JBL approached Triple H. JBL told him it's a numbers game, and if Cena is in the match, their odds go from 33 down to 25 percent, so he wanted to know if they were on the same page. Hunter pulled out an ear plug and asked if he was talking. JBL, rather than repeat himself, asked, "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?" and walked away. Triple H answered the rhetorical question: "Pretty much because you're an ass."

[Commercial Break]

6 -- "GLAMAZON" BETH PHOENIX vs. MARIA

Two women's matches on one show? When was the last time that happened on Raw? Glamazon overpowered Maria early. Maria made a brief comeback, but Phoenix finished her with a fisherman's suplex.

WINNER: Glamazon in 2:00.

-Ross plugged the Batista and Michaels "Highlight Reel."

[Commercial Break]

-The ECW TV plug hyped a contract signing for a Chavo Guerrero vs. Kane rematch for the ECW Title.

-Chris Jericho made his full ring intro for his "Highlight Reel" segment. Lawler and Ross gushed over the coup of getting both Batista and Michaels on his talk show. Batista came out next, then Michaels. Jericho revealed that in the text messaging poll, 65 percent sided with Michaels and only 35 percent with Batista. (Our similar PWTorch.com poll as of this airing live sided with Michaels by an 85-15 margin.) Jericho said none of those tears shed last week would have been necessary if not for his actions. Michaels said he needs to understand that it was Ric Flair who challenged him to the match at WrestleMania. "He asked me to be Mr. WrestleMania, and that's who he got," he said. Clips aired of Michaels landing hard on the flip into the announce table. Jericho said his goal was to end Flair's career. He quoted Michaels before his finishing superkick: "I'm sorry. I love you." He asked how much remorse he really had if he was willing to crush Flair on the announce table, had Flair not moved.

Michaels said he was sorry, but Batista interrupted and told him, "Like hell you are!" He said the only thing he's sorry about is that everyone is calling him out on his crap. He said his ego forced him to beat Ric so he can have another notch on his belt. "I hope you're proud!" he said. Jericho asked if Batista would have done the same thing. He said no. Michaels asked Batista if he was so high and mighty, he wouldn't have put his ego ahead of his friendship with Flair. "Where was your friendship, Dave, weeks prior to WrestleMania?" He asked him where it was at the Hall of Fame or the day of WrestleMania when he had plenty of opportunity to talk Flair out of stepping into the ring with him. He said Batista might want to know why Flair didn't ask him to be his opponent at WrestleMania. He said he didn't ask Batista because "he knew you didn't have the nerve. He knew there was only one man he could trust to do the unthinkable, with the character to carry the burden with him the rest of his life, and you are lookin' at him." The crowd cheered.

Michaels asked Batista to look at his hands. He said there is so much blood on those hands, and some of it he's proud of, some of it he's not. He said WrestleMania was the hardest night of his career, despite what he may think. Batista said it was because all of that blood on his hands that he trusted him to do the right thing. Michaels shot back, "I did the right thing." Batista said he'd never trust him again. Michaels said if he's got a problem with him, he's tired of the talk, so "do something about it." Batista took off his sunglasses. An "HBK" chant broke out. After a dramatic pause, Batista said, "I already have." He dropped the mic and backed out of the ring with a sinister smile on his face.

-Ross said tonight couldn't get more intense, or could it? Cena's chance to get into Backlash's main event was up next.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage Regal told Orton he just got off his cell phone with Vickie Guerrero and they just booked Michaels vs. Batista at Backlash. A nonplussed Orton turned the subject to his situation immediately. He complained about the Backlash match going from one-on-one to three-way or four-way. He said Regal overstepped his bounds and he demanded to be treated with more respect. Regal took offense and said he should take on all challengers. He said he'll teach him about respect. He booked him against himself in England next week. He snarled at Orton intensely. Orton walked away.

7 -- JOHN CENA vs. TRIPLE H & JBL

Cena made his full ring intro, but JBL and Triple H were already in the ring. When was the last time Triple H or JBL wrestled a match without their ring intro airing first? Orton walked to the ring as the match began. JBL jumped a distracted Cena. JBL refused to tag in Triple H despite two early offers. Orton encouraged JBL at ringside. JBL took it to ringside. Ross said if Cena loses by countout, he can forget about Backlash. JBL applied a nerve hold in center-ring at 4:00. Cena did a good job selling it and struggling to break free. Cena made a full comeback at 6:00. Cena did a fistdrop and signaled for an FU. JBL reached for a tag. Triple H backed off. Cena went for an FU, but JBL elbowed out of it, then gave Cena a big boot off the rebound. JBL didn't go for the pin, but instead took a swing at Triple H. Triple H blocked it. They brawled to the floor. Orton held Hunter, but JBL swung and hit Orton by mistake. Orton was upset, so he entered the ring and gave JBL an RKO. Cena threw Orton out of the ring, then covered JBL for an opportunistic win.

WINNER: Cena in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Not a great match, but passable as a TV main event given the stakes and the personality interplay. Not everyone acted particularly naturally in the sense that they went against their best interests. Hunter, JBL, and Orton all had incentive for Cena to lose, and they all took actions to help him win.

-We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.

-For another perspective on this episode of Raw right now, check out Jason Powell's Raw Report at our affiliate website, prowrestling.NET, along with many news stories and other exclusive features.