Raw Recap 1.28.08

Raw recap from Philadelphia, PA:

Raw kicked off with footage from last night's Royal Rumble match at Madison Square Garden. 30 men entered the over the top rope battle royal. Triple H came out second to last, but the big surprise when John Cena's music hit and he came out at the #30 spot. Cena and Triple H battled with Cena eliminating the Game to win the 2008 Royal Rumble.

Raw opened with the Royal Rumble winner John Cena coming to the ring to a mix of boos and cheers. Cena said he wanted to answer everyone's question "how is this possible?" Cena said in October 2007 he suffered an injury to his pectoral muscle. Cena said his life crumbled when he had to deal with the injury. Cena said he risked his health and career for a chance to go to Wrestlemania again. Cena told the crowd he wants his title back and wants his Wrestlemania match tonight. Cena said let's give the fans Cena vs. Orton for the title tonight in Philly. Cena called out Orton, who then came to the top of the ramp.

Orton told Cena he's been issued all sorts of challenges from the likes of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho and Jeff Hardy. Orton said in the end of every challenge he has defeated them. Cena told Orton he has never beaten him, but he took him out. Cena removed his shirt to show the scar on his arm from surgery. Cena asked Orton if he wants to let him heal up more so he can defeat him at Wrestlemania. Orton told Cena since he put him on the shelf, he's become a bigger deal than Cena. Orton said no to Cena's challenge for the title tonight, but will put the title on the line at No Way Out. Cena accepted the challenge for the PPV but said as for tonight he will "get some" in the ring.

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Mickie James & Ashley vs. Jillian & Beth Phoenix

Early on Mickie faced off with Beth and was able to score a dropkick off the ropes. Jillian took control and tagged in Beth. Beth taunted Mickie causing her to attack. Mickie ran at Beth in the corner, but Beth moved aside and tossed Mickie into the ringpost. Beth scored a side slam then tagged Jillian back in.

Jillian used a handspring elbow on Mickie then tossed her to the corner again. Mickie got a headscissors out of the corner, but Beth was able to tag back in. Mickie and Beth continued to battle. Jillian came in and tried to help Beth doubleteam Mickie. Mickie was able to use another headscissors and tossed Jillian out. Mickie was grabbed by Beth Phoenix who put her into the fishermen's suplex for the win. Ashley wasn't tagged in during the matchup, but came in to check on Mickie afterwards.

Winner: Beth Phoenix and Jillian win via pinfall over Mickie James and Ashley Massaro.

Backstage Vince told Regal to let them have a Cena vs Orton title match at Wrestlemania. Vince asked Regal who would face the WWE champ at Wrestlemania. Regal said the winner of the barbaric match he had suggested before. Vince told Regal he was brilliant and to go announce it to the fans.

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Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin dvd promo was shown. The DVD is available on February 12th.

William Regal came out to the top of the ramp. Regal said the winner of the Cena vs. Orton match at No Way Out will face the winner of a brutal match at the Pay Per View. Regal had footage shown on the Titantron of the Elimination Chamber and said it will be the first time in Raw history. Highlights were shown of previous Chamber matches. Regal explained the rules of the contest. Regal announced the contestants, Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, JBL, Jeff Hardy and Triple H. See more about No Way Out at WWE.com.

JR and Lawler introduced sideline reporter Mike Adamle who was standing by fans with a mic. Mike said later tonight Umaga and Snitsky will face Triple H and a partner of his choice. In another tag team match, Y2J and Jeff Hardy will face Orton and JBL.

Highlights shown from last night's Royal Rumble. Ashley came to the ring to ask Maria to pose for Playboy at the request of Hugh Heffner. Santino Marella told her and the fans no way, and had Big Dick Johnson come out to dance. Ashley beat on Johnson and forced him out of the ring.

Cody Rhodes vs. Carlito

Carlito was accompanied by Maria and Santino, with Hardcore Holly coming to the ring with Rhodes.

Cody managed to escape Carlito in the corner by jumping over him then getting an armbar takedown. Rhodes kept Carlito down, wrenching his arm back. Carlito tried to turn the tables in the corner, beating on Rhodes, but Rhodes regained momentum again. Carlito grabbed the ropes while Rhodes was holding his arm back. Rhodes continued working on the injured arm of Carlito. At one point the two battled near the ropes with Carlito flipping onto the apron. Rhodes jumped off the corner at him and punched him, knocking Carlito to the floor. Santino tried to get involved and Hardcore Holly chased him around the ring. The distraction allowed Carlito to hit the Backstabber on Rhodes and get the win.

Winner: Carlito wins via pinfall over Cody Rhodes.

Backstage Triple H was with Shawn Michaels in the locker room. HHH told Michaels they would be beating the hell out of each other in the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out. HHH said for tonight they can be tag team partners. Triple H then removed his jacket to show his DX T shirt. Michaels asked for a minute then came back in his DX gear. The two left ready for their match.

Commercial shown for WWE Diva Candice Michelle on location filming the new Go Daddy Superbowl commercial.

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D-Generation X vs.Snitsky & Umaga

Prior to the match, Triple H riled up the fans with the DX narrative, after showing off Shawn Michael's "Banned DX T-shirt". Triple H added in that Michael Buffer stole their routine last night.

Snitsky faced off with HHH first. HHH picked up the mic after going to grapple with Snitsky and asked if anyone had a tic tac or tooth brush. Snitsky tried to send Triple H to the corner but HHH turned and clotheslined him down. Michaels and HHH began to tag in and out to work on Snitsky. Snitsky finally slammed HHH down but couldn't connect on an elbow drop.

Michaels tagged in and began to fly around the ring, knocking Snitsky down, then punching Umaga. Michaels went to the corner ropes, but with the ref's attention turned away, Umaga went over and kicked Michaels off. Michaels got back into the ring where Snitsky applied a bear hug. Umaga and Snitsky began to doubleteam Michaels. Umaga started to apply a tight hold around Michael's midsection as Raw hit a commercial break.

Raw returned with Michaels hanging upside down from the corner. Umaga ran over and headbutted into him then started punching away. Snitsky came in and Michaels tried to battle his way over for a tag. Snitsky rammed him into the corner then tagged Umaga back in. With HBK seated in the corner, Umaga ran at him for the hip splash. Michaels moved away then tried to run for a tag. Umaga caught him and then used a spinning DDT. Both men took some time to get up and HBK tagged in Triple H. HHH began to beat up both Umaga and Snitsky. Despite all the attacks, Umaga was able to score a Samoan drop on HHH. Michaels came over and hit him with Sweet Chin Music, then jumped over the ropes onto Umaga.

Snitsky was in the ring and went to deliver a boot on a staggering Triple H. HHH ducked then hit the Spinebuster, followed by a Pedigree for the win. DX posed from the ring corners after the win with Jim Ross mentioning they won't be a team when the elimination chamber match happens.

Winner: D-Generation X wins via pinfall over Umaga and Snitsky.

Orton shown preparing in the locker room tonight. JBL came up to him and said it will be a first tonight when they team up. JBL said there will be a first at Wrestlemania when he faces him for the WWE title too. Orton said to make sure he wins the elimination chamber because he knows he can beat him. JBL said tonight they will be partners and if Cena shows up they will both take care of him.

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Todd Grisham interviewed Jeff Hardy backstage about coming so close to winning the WWE title. Jeff Hardy said he could easily give up, or he can do everything in his power to get back to where he was. Jeff Hardy said last night was not the end of the road for him, it was only the beginning.

Vince McMahon angrily looked at Hornswoggle in an office backstage. Vince told Horn that he let him down last night because his last name is McMahon. Vince said that he came back a loser after last night. Vince told Hornswoggle he is ashamed of him and then yelled for him to get out of his sight immediately. A downtrodden Hornswoggle exited the office.

Raw Rewind showed MVP vs Ric Flair from the Rumble. MVP had a pin on Flair but Flair got a foot on the bottom rope. MVP went for the Playmaker, but Flair tripped him down then put a Figure Four leg hold on MVP to win the match.

Brian Kendrick vs. Mr. Kennedy

Kendrick charged into the ring then slapped Kennedy in the face. Jim Ross said Kendrick told him earlier he would do everything he could tonight to get a huge win.

Kennedy quickly took control and began to stomp away on Kendrick in the corner. Kennedy took advantage of an injury to Kendrick's arm and continued to attack it. Kendrick finally was able to hit a standing dropkick and knock Kennedy to the mat. Kendrick went to the ropes and jumped at Kennedy who moved away. Kennedy caught Kendrick in a Mic Check, then scored the pinfall victory.

After the win Kennedy took the mic from overhead as the spotlight went on him. Kennedy said he asked Regal to not include him in the Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out. Kennedy then said he wants to be the one to end Ric Flair's career. Kennedy spoke into the camera and said he would waste Ric Flair. Flair's music hit and Flair came to the top of the ramp. Flair told Kennedy "Good Luck" and "Woooo!" then started to shuffle his feet.

Winner: Mr. Kennedy wins via pinfall over Brian Kendrick.

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Maria vs. Melina

With Santino looking on at ringside, Maria reversed a hold from the mat by Melina. Maria came off the ropes to kick Melina then whipped her to the corner. Melina was seated in the corner and Maria hit her with the Bronco Buster. Maria tried to pick up Melina from the corner. Melina was able to trip Maria down causing her to hit bottom turnbuckle face first.

Melina took the upperhand but Maria tried to fight back. Off the ropes, Maria scored a headscissors on Melina then did a Belly Buster to slam Melina stomach first into her knee. Melina held her midsection as Maria ran at her in the corner. Melina moved away and then tried to pull Maria down for a pin. Melina pulled down Maria's pants causing the crowd to cheer. Maria was able to sit on Melina and get the pinfall. Santino immediately entered the ring and covered up Maria with his jacket. Marella grabbed the mic and told the crowd they made him sick with the way they are fantasizing about Maria. Santino said they will never see Maria in Playboy. Marella grabbed Maria and stormed off up the apron.

Winner: Maria wins via pinfall over Melina.

Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Chris Jericho about the new side of him we saw at the Rumble against JBL. Jericho said a new side of him has emerged and he will spend more time with JBL tonight and then in the elimination chamber. Jericho said come March 30th they will both go to Orlando, but Y2J will be going to Wrestlemania.

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Mike Adamle reported from near the crowd in Philly. Mike said Cena will face Orton at No Way Out for the WWE title and one of six men who wins the Elimination Chamber will face the champ.

Jeff Hardy & Chris Jericho vs. JBL & Randy Orton

Jericho faced off with Orton to start things off. Y2J applied a side headlock but Orton forced him to the ropes. Orton leapfrogged Y2J who came back with an offense, knocking Orton down then suplexing him. Jericho continued to beat up Orton and JBL entered the mix. Jericho punched JBL out of the ring and the two spilled to the floor. Jeff was able to tag Jericho before he left, then did a Swanton off the ropes. Hardy went for the pin, but somehow JBL came over to pull Orton out of the ring. Raw hit commercial with JBL and Orton out of the ring.

Raw returned with Orton stomping on Hardy in the ring. Orton sent Jeff to the ropes but Jeff came flying back at him and went for the pin. JBL tagged in to kick away at Hardy as Orton held him down. JBL missed on an elbow drop and Jeff was able to dropkick him then hit a double leg drop. JBL managed to hit a huge boot on Jeff after Orton kneed Jeff in the back.

Orton began to work on Jeff's arm which appeared injured. JBL tagged in to continue beating up Jeff and distracted the ref while Orton hit Jeff from behind in the corner. Jeff finally managed to knock Orton down when he tagged back in. The two men crawled to their partners and made the tags. Jericho ran into the ring and took JBL down, beating away on him. Jericho went for Walls of Jericho on JBL but was close to the ropes. Orton ran at him on the apron for a clothesline, Jeff ducked then jumped off the ropes to knock Orton off the apron.

The match continued and Jericho did a Lionsault off the ropes onto JBL. Orton ran in to break up the pin. Orton and Jeff ended going to the outside, with Jeff jumping at Orton and hitting the crowd barrier. The ref left the ring to check on the outer melee. Jericho put JBL into the Walls of Jericho. With the ref attending to Hardy, Orton ran into the ring then RKO'd Jericho down. JBl crawled over and made the pin as the ref got back into the ring.

Following the victory, JBL and Orton stood celebrating in the ring. All of a sudden, Cena's music came on. The two turned to face Cena as he came to the ramp, then JBL quickly exited, leaving Orton alone. Cena got into the ring and ducked Orton's attack, then hit him with a flying shoulder off the ropes. Cena picked up Orton and hit the F U, then posed in front of a riled up crowd.

Winners: JBL and Randy Orton win via pinfall over Chris Jericho and Jeff Hardy.