WWE RAW
Orlando, Florida
March 31, 2008
results thanks to wwe.com
Y2J gets past Punk for payback
By: Corey Clayton
April 1, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. – CM Punk is learning that being
“Mr. Money in the Bank” has its privileges. But one of its biggest drawbacks is
that other Superstars want to use you as a stepping stone and test of their
mettle.
On Raw, the newest Money in the Bank winner went head-to-head with one of his
opponents from the night before – Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho. And
Y2J was out to prove that Punk’s victory over him and five other Superstars was
a fluke.
During the fast-paced match, Y2J countered Punk’s Go To Sleep, then pulled the
Straightedge Superstar in close and hit the Codebreaker to score the pinfall.
Jericho got the redemption he wanted, but Punk had the satisfaction that he took
the Intercontinental Champion to the limit – proving when the time comes to cash
in the Money in the Bank briefcase, he’ll be a threat to any champions’ gold.
Hands full for Orton
With the WWE Championship shining on his shoulder, Randy Orton crowed about
defeating both Triple H and John Cena at WrestleMania, declaring his reign as
champion the “Age of Orton.” But John “Bradshaw” Layfield had other ideas,
telling the third-generation Superstar he deserved a title match as a reward for
proving that he was the toughest Superstar on Raw in his Belfast Brawl victory
24 hours earlier.
As Orton yelled at the departing self-made millionaire, Matt Hardy slipped into
the ring and attacked the champion from behind. The man who Orton punted in the
head months ago, lengthening his recovery from a ruptured appendix, wanted
revenge on the Legend Killer. Hardy later demanded a match with Orton – a
request granted by General Manager William Regal.
Hardy had Orton on the ropes, hitting the Twist of Fate on the WWE Champion on
the floor. But instead of leaving Orton outside the ring and winning by countout,
Hardy rolled him back into the ring, where the cunning champion used his last
ounce of strength to shock Hardy with an RKO and cover him for the pinfall
victory.
As Orton caught his breath in the locker room, JBL approached the champion,
picked up the WWE Title for a long look, and dropped it back in the champ’s lap
– another reminder that the millionaire was gunning for Raw’s top Superstar and
his gold.
Settling the score
Maria begged her former boyfriend, Santino Marella, to call off their Anything
Goes Match on Raw. But her former beau refused, saying he thought Divas belonged
in the kitchen, not in the ring. Bad idea, buddy!
A cadre of Divas – Ashley, Victoria, Mickie James, Jillian, Michelle McCool,
Kelly Kelly and Melina – all attacked Santino during the match, aiding Maria.
They slammed him to the mat and held him down, allowing Maria to crush Marella’s
“grapefruits” with a booming head butt. She rolled up the wounded Italian for an
easy 1-2-3 as the Divas celebrated her victory.
Standing Tall
Sporting a bruised jaw from Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s loaded punch at
WrestleMania, the Big Show said that he was ready to go back to his old
championship ways, dominating the WWE as the Largest Athlete in the World.
But the Great Khali begged to differ. The Punjabi Giant interrupted Big Show,
and got in the giant’s face. Khali yelled at Show in his Punjab dialect, but
when the 441-pounder threatened to escalate the confrontation by raising his
fists, Khali chose to save it for another day.
Back on the attack
Even the best of friends have disagreements. Paul London and Brian Kendrick seem
to have patched up their recent problems, just in time to topple the World Tag
Team Champions, Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly, on Raw.
In the non-title match, Kendrick was able to roll up a distracted Rhodes and
bridge over for the winning pinfall. The two quick-as-a-hiccup high flyers
celebrated after the match, as they served notice to the tag-team ranks that the
former World and WWE Tag Team Champions are mended, and on the rise.
Brooklyn, Brooklyn…
While one tag team patched up their differences, another popular team of
Superstars returned to Raw, challenging the former World Tag Team Champions.
JTG & Shad – Cryme Tyme – entered the Amway Arena to an electric welcome for
their matchup with Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch, who saw their hats sold in an
impromptu ringside auction the last time they met. The boys from Brooklyn
capitalized on a Murdoch mistake, allowing JTG to roll him up for a surprising
pinfall victory.
Honoring the Greatest Ever
One night after “Nature Boy” Ric Flair’s career came to an end at the Citrus
Bowl, all of the WWE Superstars and notable friends and opponents from Flair’s
illustrious career honored the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee.
The night ended with Shawn Michaels embracing the "Nature Boy," as HBK finally
came to terms with his historic win over his good friend, and the burden he
carries as the man who ended Flair’s career.
Matches
Cryme Tyme def. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
Paul London & Brian Kendrick def. World Tag Team Champions Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (non-title)
Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho def. CM Punk (non-title)
WWE Champion Randy Orton def. Matt Hardy (non-title)
Maria def. Santino Marella in an Anything Goes
Match