WWE Raw
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 10, 2008
results thanks to wwe.com
Intercontinental Shift
By: Greg Adkins
March 10, 2008
MILWAUKEE – After six months, seven days and countless Swanton Bombs, Jeff
Hardy’s high-flying reign as Intercontinental Champion has finally been
grounded. In a title match at the Bradley Center, the “Rainbow-haired Warrior”
found himself dragged back down to earth by the resolute hands of Chris Jericho.
Ever since his return to competition from a two-year absence last November, Y2J
has been anxious to win some gold. After tackling the challenge of the
self-proclaimed “wrestling god,” JBL, Jericho refocused his efforts, determined
to recapture that which he’d held many times before, the Intercontinental
Championship.
While Hardy had been on an enviable winning streak for months, his lion-hearted
rival would not be rebuffed. The pair swapped blows, ascending the ropes and
taking to the air throughout the match. In the end, however, the determination
fixed on Y2J’s face proved too overwhelming to surmount.
Jericho’s victory will likely reverberate far beyond the Bradley Center, as the
new Intercontinental Champion recaptures not only his coveted gold, but also
seizes the momentum leading up to this year’s Money in the Bank Match at
WrestleMania XXIV.
Odd Man In
When Ric Flair called out his friend and WrestleMania opponent Shawn Michaels,
the rhetoric between the two became heated at times, but the mutual respect
shone through. So close is their bond that HBK announced he’ll be at SmackDown
this Friday to back up the “Nature Boy” in his 3-on-1 Handicap Steel Cage Match
against Edge, Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder.
Dead Again
In a rematch of their chilling Casket Match at WrestleMania 22, Undertaker and
Mark Henry rammed heads again. As might be expected, The Deadman’s familiarity
with the afterlife proved invaluable, as he once again laid waste to the World’s
Strongest Man.
Caught in the Crossfire
Finlay was prepared to battle Mr. Kennedy in a match pitting two former Money in
the Bank participants against each other. Before the match, though, JBL did his
best to rile the Irishman, who in turn was disqualified for rapping his
shillelagh against the loudmouth from Green Bay, Wis., in order to send a
vicious message back to JBL. These two will have one ugly meeting of the minds
at WrestleMania XXIV during their Belfast Brawl.
Cold Warriors
In a flashback to 1985’s WrestleMania I, Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda, better
known as U.S. Express, were slated to tackle the menace of Nikolai Volkoff &
Iron Sheik. Before the match, however, the tag teams discovered a common threat
when a shrieking Jillian Hall attempted to croon the U.S. Express’s former
entrance song, “Born in the USA.” Rather than endure the Diva’s caterwauling,
Rotunda silenced the Diva with an airplane spin.
Kane Unable
With Randy Orton in charge of the Triple Threat Takeover this week, the current
WWE Champion arranged a match between Triple H and The Game’s WrestleMania XV
opponent, Kane. The two towering figures rumbled throughout the ring before
Triple H pinned Kane’s shoulders to the mat and stared down Orton as he watched
from the wings.
Boy Troubles
It was a beauty of a battle pitting Maria against Melina, each accompanied by
their respective BunnyMania tag team partners, Candice Michelle and Beth
Phoenix. The Playboy cover girl held her own until her jealous beau Santino
Marella showed up ringside and tore in half her Playboy cover. The diversion
allowed Melina to take advantage and roll up her stunning adversary.
Weighing In
At the Big Show-Floyd Mayweather weigh-in, The World’s Largest Athlete
outweighed The Greatest Fighter in the World by a daunting 300 pounds. While
Show reveled in the disparity, Mayweather made it clear that he would not be
intimidated. That’s when a fuming Big Show scooped up the WBC welterweight
champion and hurled him into a crowd of fellow Superstars. Show then lumbered
out of the ring as trainers attended to Mayweather.
Maintaining Edge
Money in the Bank opponents last year at WrestleMania, Edge and CM Punk
revisited their rivalry in a non-title match. Perhaps trying to send Ric Flair
and his WrestleMania opponent Undertaker a message, the current World
Heavyweight Champion edged past Punk for the three-count.
Strike Up the Brand
Raw General Manager William Regal wanted to make a statement about the Battle
for Brand Supremacy that will take place at this year’s WrestleMania. He brought
Raw’s representative, Umaga, to the ring. But SmackDown representative, Batista,
interrupted the festivities. The two went at it before Batista was able to spear
the Samoan Bulldozer out of the ring. It’s highly unlikely, though, that Batista
has heard the last of Umaga.
Takeover Turnaround
Taking advantage of his Triple Threat Takeover, Randy Orton threw John Cena in a
match against his WrestleMania 23 opponent, Shawn Michaels. Things didn’t turn
out exactly as the Legend Killer had hoped. In an attempt at throwing the
victory to HBK, Orton attacked The Showstopper and then went to RKO “The Champ.”
But then Cena turned the tables and leveled Orton with an FU.
Matches
Undertaker def. Mark Henry
Mr. Kennedy def. Finlay (disqualification)
Chris Jericho def. Jeff Hardy (Intercontinental Championship)
US Express vs. Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik (no contest)
Triple H def. Kane
Melina def. Maria
Edge def. CM Punk
Shawn Michaels def. John Cena (disqualification)