By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
JUNE 23, 2008
LIVE ON USA NETWORK

WHAT HAPPENED: HOUR THREE

Cena locked Edge into an STFU mid-ring. Edge crawled to the ropes and forced a break. Edge then dropped to the floor and snapped Cena's neck over the top rope. Edge dove at Cena on the floor, but Cena caught him and carried him up the steps. Edge escaped, but Cena punched him to the floor again, then entered the ring to beat the ref's count. Edge walked up the ramp and was counted out.

WINNER: Cena via countout in 7:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* - Not a lot to it.

-Afterward, Batista met Edge on the ring apron and beat him back into the ring. He took him down with a clothesline. Edge rolled out and fled to the back.

-The next Raw draft pick was revealed to be Batista. Batista just happened to be standing mid-ring for a reaction shot. Cena looked at Batista with bug-eyes. Edge smiled and waved bye-bye to Batista. Cole said Batista will still have his opportunity at Edge's title and he could win it Sunday and bring it to Raw next Monday. This is also a good move. Batista badly needed a new situation, although with Cole calling his matches and Rey on Raw, it's not going to feel completely fresh. The question now is which top babyface is headed to Smackdown to make up for the gap with the loss of Rey, Batista, and Undertaker. At this point, the deck is clear for Jeff Hardy to be a top tier babyface.

[Commercial Break]

-Vickie and Edge shared a laugh over the look on Batista's face when he was drafted. Vince walked in and reminded Edge that all title matches will take place as scheduled on Sunday. Vickie asked what would happen if Edge lost the title to Batista. Vince interrupted and said it's even possible Edge might be drafted somewhere else. Vickie got panicky, saying she needed Edge with her since they're a team.

7 -- MVP vs. TOMMY DREAMER (w/Colin Delaney)

Adamle called this match, joined by Foley. How many people just saw Delaney for the first time and wondered what was going on. Adamle said a lot of people think Dreamer doesn't have a lot left in his tank, but he thinks he does. He said Dreamer also thinks he does. Adamle noted that MVP wanted to be drafted off of Smackdown to a show where he could be better utilized. Tazz interrupted Foley and Adamle and called them on not paying attention to the match in the ring on commentary. Foley said he's pulling for Dreamer because ECW could use some talent. MVP won with a big boot at 2:00. Foley said it hasn't been a good night for Smackdown, which must make Matt Hardy feel honored.

WINNER: MVP in 2:00.

-The Smackdown draft pick was Umaga. That was the most inevitable move of the night. Umaga walked to the ring. Adamle said something about Umaga bulldozing through opponents on Smackdown. Ross said, "That's a snappy segue." Umaga entered the ring and gave Dreamer a Samoan Drop. Then he gave Delaney a corner splash. He followed by giving Dreamer a Buttdozer in the corner. He finished Delaney with a nasty slam.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole and Lawler recapped the draft so far. Ross and Foley talked about acquiring Hardy. Foley said to Ross, "I know this is a big change for you, but I hope it's one you'll grow to appreciate." That implied Ross was expressing displeasure with the move off camera as he has been a pro to this point on the air, although his initial facial expression did indicate a dream of a lifetime wasn't being fulfilled.

8 -- JBL vs. KOFI KINGSTON

Tazz joined Cole on commentary. As JBL walked to the ring, Tazz said this felt like old times on Smackdown. Cole plugged the next money giveaway by McMahon. JBL would be a good pick to send to ECW. A JBL vs. Hardy feud on top could actually do both wrestlers some good. Kofi showed off some innovative athleticism. JBL, though, took control early and stomped away at Kofi on the mat. JBL applied a sleeper hold that Tazz called "a Million Dollar Dream of sorts." JBL cut off a Kofi comeback by sidestepping a top rope dive and then nailing a Clothesline from Hell for the win.

WINNER: JBL in 3:00.

-Raw received a draft pick of Kane. That's another good move for Kane, who had done everything he could on ECW. He's enough of a legacy name that he's worth doing something with on Raw again, where he'll feel as fresh as he can. A heel turn would also be a good move at this point as his babyface character is as flat as it gets.

[Commercial Break]

-McMahon went solo on this money giveaway. Venessa answered the phone. She was actually at the show. That was bound to happen with that many people gathered, but strangely, the camera found her almost immediately. Cole said he got chills.

-Cole and Lawler hyped the Night of Champions line-up.

-The five Raw wrestlers for the main event 15 man battle royal walked out - Punk, Cena, Kane, Batista, and Triple H. They all wore red t-shirts. Tell Punk two years ago he's be standing live in the ring on Raw with those four and he'd be quite happy with his future.

-Then out came ECW's group of Shelton Benjamin, Chavo Guerrero, Miz, John Morrison, and Matt Hardy (still the U.S. Champion, by the way, so that belt is based in ECW for now, for whatever the soft brand separation means these days). They all wore black t-shirts.

-Then Big Show, Great Khali, Jeff Hardy, MVP, and Edge walked to the ring representing Smackdown. They wore blue t-shirts with the Smackdown logo.

9 -- 15-MAN TRI-BRANDED BATTLE ROYAL

The battle royal was joined in progress. Ross noted how big it is that the winning team gets two draft picks. This could be the last Ross/Lawler match that's ever called. The opening minutes of this were lousy, as if the show was running short and they had some time to fill. Miz and Morrison were eliminated at once by Batista at 3:00. Tazz threw a mini-fit in disappointment. Punk jumped onto Show's back. Show dumped him over the top rope with MVP's help, but Punk held onto the top rope and dangled, then powered his way back into the ring. Shelton and Khali were also eliminated before the break. At 6:00 they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Show eliminated Punk during the break. Hardy kicked Chavo who leaped over the top rope to the floor. That left Hardy as the final ECW wrestler in the battle royal. Show splashed Triple H as MVP held his legs. MVP charged at Jeff. Jeff moved, and Matt dumped him over the top rope. Matt and Jeff then beat each other up. Jeff backdrpped Hardy over the top rope, then reverse sidekicked him off the apron to the floor. Lawler said he's sure that has happened in their backyard a few times. Tazz said he was logging out of commentary for the night. Batista bled from his forehead after butting heads with Edge. Ouch. That looked nasty. Batista seemed completely delirious, leaning in the corner and unable to get to his feet. Cena moved over to Edge and shared some information in a conference of sorts. Hardy went for a flip toward Triple H, but he avoided it. Hunter tossed Jeff over the top, but Jeff held on. Triple H checked him to the floor. Batista began to stumble around the ring, still looking punch-drunk. He managed to spear Edge. He shouldn't be still wrestling here, assuming he's not totally hamming it up. Show lifted Batista for a chokeslam. Batista held on with a choke over sorts. Show broke free and punched Batista to the floor. Kane surprised Show with a chokeslam attempt. Show fought it off and grabbed Kane by the throat. Kane elbowed out. Show tossed Kane to the floor. He actually landed on poor Batista. It just wasn't his night.

It came down to Show and Edge vs. Cena and Hunter. Show set up a chokeslam on both Hunter and Cena. Show powered them over with a double suplex. Show pressed Hunter. Cena punched Show. Cena and Hunter worked together and gave Show a double shoulder tackle. Then they tried to lift Show over the top rope. Show resisted, but eventually tumbled to the floor. Edge then knocked Cena into Hunter, who flipped to the floor. Hunter assumed Cena did it. Edge then threw Cena onto Hunter.

WINNER: Edge in 16:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- That got good by the end. It's always tough to rate battle royals on a traditional star rating scale, but it was dramatic in the final minutes.

-First Smackdown draft acquisition was Mr. Kennedy. That's good for him and Smackdown. Smackdown badly needed a top babyface and Kennedy badly needed to not be lost in the shuffle with Batista and Rey moving to Raw.

-Second Smackdown draft acquisition was Triple H. That makes Ross feel "less discarded." Poor Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy. Just when it looked like they might get a chance at the spotlight, over comes Hunter. Hunter, perhaps the only wrestler who knew his fate this night, overacted his surprise.

-Vince McMahon then made the final call of the evening. The winner declared, "I love you Vince!" A piece of the set fell and then sparks began to fly. McMahon collapsed at the shock of it all. Another part of the set tipped over. Wrestlers ran over to try to protect McMahon from the structure that fell on him. They lifted it as medics pulled Vince out from under it. It looked a little silly as it wasn't actually lying on Vince, but more of less was protecting him from more stuff that might fall. They zoomed in as medics carefully turned him over while isolating his neck. Hunter asked, "Is he okay? Is he conscious?" Medics said he was breathing, but he wasn't conscious. Triple H said he's afraid if they move the set any more, he's afraid more could collapse. They stretchered Vince away. He asked, "What happened?" He called out, "Paul. Paul." (See, that's Triple H's real name, so that made it seem "more real.") The show ended.

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