Raw Recap 03.10.08 - Wrestlemania Rewind

Raw Recap from Milwaukee, WI:

A special 3 hour Raw kicked off with the Wrestlemania Rewind theme. Matches tonight would consist of rematches from Wrestlemanias of the past. Jim Ross announced a Casket Match between Undertaker and Mark Henry. The camera cut to a casket sitting up on the ramp. Ross also announced that Big Show and Floyd Mayweather will have their official weigh-in later tonight.

Ric Flair came down to the ring in a suit to start off the show. Flair discussed how last week Shawn Michaels asked Flair to back out of the career ending match at Wrestlemania. Flair asked Michaels to come down to the ring for a face to face. Flair told Michaels sympathy and pity are not part of his wrestling vocab. Flair told Michaels he wants respect not pity from him. Flair asked Michaels to give 100% commitment to the match. Michaels told Flair at Wrestlemania he is the man, and the showstopper, but it's not something he can control. HBK said that at WM24 in their match "the show is gonna get stolen". HBK reminded Flair of the steel cage match he has on Smackdown against Edge and his 2 friends. HBK said he will accompany Flair to the match.

Just then, Randy Orton arrived to the ramp, mic in hand. Orton told everyone tonight he is in charge of Raw. Orton said he set up a Wrestlemania rematch for Triple H against Kane, and then Shawn Michaels will get a rematch against John Cena.


Highlights shown of Wrestlemania 22's Casket match between Undertaker and Mark Henry. Taker won the match after slamming Henry into a casket then closing the lid. JR said the two will have a rematch coming up next.

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Mark Henry vs. Undertaker
Casket Match

Druids stood on opposite sides of the ramp holding torches up as the two competitors came down for the match.

Taker went for an early toss of Henry into the casket, but the massive Henry escaped. Taker continued to punch away at him in the corner, then went for Old School on the ropes. Henry caught Undertaker in a Bear Hug when he jumped off the ropes. Henry continued to squeeze Taker, but the Deadman fought his way out. The match eventually went to the outside of the ring, with Henry able to whip Taker into the crowd security wall. The two men kept fighting and Taker was able to reverse a move to whip Henry to the ringpost. Taker slammed Henry face first into the casket then rolled him back in the ring.

Henry gained the advantage briefly, until Taker was able to put him into the Indian Death lock submission. Henry began to spit up blood and rolled to the edge of the ring near the open casket. Taker got up, went over and began to kick Henry until he fell into the coffin. The refs slammed the lid down, giving Undertaker the victory.

Winner: Undertaker wins by putting Mark Henry into the casket first.

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Floyd Mayweather shown chillin backstage with his entourage. Footage shown with boxing personalities giving their opinions about the Show vs. Mayweather match. Michael Buffer the ring announcer, boxer Antonio Tarver and Bert Sugar (Boxing historian) were all shown.

Backstage interview shown with Triple H discussing how he never got the rematch between he and Cena for the title at WM23. HHH said he had the title for just a few hours before Orton took it away. Triple H said he never got that rematch either, so at WM24 he will fight for the WWE title like his life depends on it. Triple H told Cena and Orton it's "Game On" for Wrestlemania.

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Replay of highlights from last week's Raw were shown with Finlay going to the ring to confront JBL. JBL appeared live on the Titantron, from the hotel room of Hornswoggle. JBL slapped Finlay in the face before turning out the light to do more damage.

Mr. Kennedy vs. Finlay

Piror to the match, JBL appeared on the Titantron. JBL said Finlay asked for a Belfast Brawl at Wrestlemania 24, and that's perfect so JBL can beat him up enough to give him a bed next to his son in the hospital.

As the bell rang, Finlay became enraged thanks to the JBL comments. Finlay hit the shilaleigh into Kennedy's leg and kept attacking him. The ref called for the bell quickly. Kennedy rolled out of the ring clutching at his midsection. Finlay went out and continued to attack with the shilaleigh, then tossed Kennedy back into the ring. Finlay kept trying to attack Kennedy until 3 refs got into the ring to break things up. As the refs were helping Kennedy up the ramp, Finlay came over yet again for more of a beatdown with the shilaleigh. A hard shot to the head left Kennedy laying on the ramp.

Winner: Mr. Kennedy wins due to disqualification when Finlay attacked with the shilaleigh.

Promo commercial for WM24 was shown with the WWE Edge Undertaker match highlighted. Edge's title will be on the line against Taker's Wrestlemania undefeated streak.

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Footage shown about the WWE and Make a Wish Foundation partnership. At Wrestlemania 24 there will be a 50 kids from 50 states having their wishes granted. Make a Wish recognized John Cena for his hard work and devotion to the foundation. Next month, Cena will grant his 100th wish.

Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy
Intercontinental Title match

Footage shown from last week's Highlight Reel hosted by Chris Jericho. The segment ended with Jeff Hardy hitting the Twist of Fate on Jericho, setting up tonight's match.

A back and forth hard fought match between the two superstars in Wrestlemania 24's Money in the Bank Ladder match, with the action going in and out of the ring.

In this title match, Jeff seemed to have Y2J down on the mat. Jeff went for the Swanton but missed it on Jericho. Jericho ran over at him and delivered a "Bone Breaker" on Jeff, dropping Jeff's jaw and chest into Jericho's knees. Y2J picked up the 3 count and then the Intercontinental title! Jim Ross said this is Jericho's record 8th time as IC champ.

Winner: Chris Jericho wins via pinfall to become the new Intercontinental champion.

Nikolei Volkov and Iron Sheik shown walking backstage. Jerry Lawler said we will be rewinding all the way back to Wrestlemania 1 next!

Ad shown for this Friday's Smackdown which has Ric Flair in a 3 on 1 handicap match in a steel cage against Edge, Ryder & Hawkins.

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WWE Rewind showed March 31, 1985 with the WWE tag team title match involving US Erpess defending their titles against Iron Sheik and Nikolei Volkoff. The duo won the tag titles after Sheik used a cane/stick to hit an opponent from behind.

A much older Iron Sheik and Nikolei Volkoff waved their country's flags in the ring. Volkoff took a mic to sing the Soviet anthem. Sheik took the mic and told the fans to shut up.

US Express vs. Nikolei Volkoff & Iron Sheik

Rotundo and Barry Windham came to the ring with a US Flag. Before the match could start, Jillian Hall came down the ramp with a mic. Jillian said she wanted to sing the song Born in the USA which was US Epxress' theme song back then. Jillian began to belt out the tune, annoying fans and the wrestlers. Finally, Mike Rotundo picked up Jillian and did an airplane spin on her, putting her back on her feet. A dizzy Jillian fell to the mat, then rolled out of the ring.

Winner Match never happened due to Jillian interrupting.

WWE reporter Mike Adamle shown backstage and he ran dow nthe Class of 2008 WWE Hall of Fame inductees: Ric Flair, Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson and Mae Young. The next inductees announced were Jack and Jerry Brisco, legendary tag team of Wrestling. Highlight footage shown of their various matches and wins. The Brisco Brothers captured 20 Tag team championships during their career.

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March 28, 1999 Wrestlemnia XV Footage shown where Triple H defeated Kane. Backstage Randy Orton went up to Kane and tried to psych him up for the upcoming rematch against Triple H. Orton reminded Kane how Triple H has humiliated him over the years. Kane grabbed Orton around the throat and said he remembers everything.

Jerry Lawler reminded fans that John Legend will be performing "America the Beautiful" for Wrestlemania 24.

Kane vs. Triple H

This was a rematch set up by Randy Orton from Wrestlemania 15 featuring The Game against The Big Red Machine. JR noted how Triple H had to sit out last year's Wrestlemania due to his quadriceps injury.

Kane dominated early, beating up Triple H around the ring and whipping him hard to the corner. Triple H went over the corner and out of the ring. As Kane came out to attack, HHH managed to reverse things and whip Kane into the steel post. Back in the ring, Triple H took charge of the match until he got a boot in the face from Kane and then a dropkick to the face. WWE Kane seemed to have momentum and charged at a staggering HHH, but HHH delivered a spine buster.

HHH had the Pedigree set up after a Face buster on Kane. Kane tossed HHH over his back to prevent the Pedigree. Randy Orton came to the apron as Kane applied a chokehold with one hand on HHH's neck. Triple H fought out of it, then set up a Pedigree, but seeing Orton on the ramp distracted him, causing HHH to pause. Kane regained momentum knocking HHH down, then climbed up the corner ropes. HHH was able to get up and hit Kane, then put the Pedigree on for the win.

Winner: Triple H wins via pinfall over Kane.

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Advertisement shown for WWE Shop which is offering exclusive Wrestlemania 24 merchandise.

Jim Ross discussed the Triple Threat title match for WM24. An interview was shown with John Cena discussing what Wrestlemania means to him. Cena said he took a risk in January 2008 because he wanted to be on the biggest stage of them all at Wrestlemania. Cena said he respects Randy Orton, and Wrestlemania will be the biggest competitors battling it out. Cena said his time will come again at Wrestlemania.

Melina w/Beth Phoenix vs. Maria w/Candice Michelle

The two WWE Divas battled it out on Wrestlemania Rewind night. Footage shown from Wrestlemania 23 where Melina defeated WWE Diva Ashley Massaro in a Lumberjill match. Melina got on the mic prior to the match saying Ashley is injured so she can't have a rematch against her tonight. Melina said they will have a Wrestlemania pre-match instead.

As WWE Diva Maria Kanellis came down the ramp, a banner of her Playboy cover dropped down in front of the Titantron. Maria seemed to have the upperhand in the match, until Santino Marella came walking down the ramp, Maria's Playboy in hand. Marella got up on the apron with the Playboy and showed Maria it as he tore it apart. Maria was distracted by the display, allowing WWE Diva Melina to grab her from behind and DDT her down to the mat for a pin.

After the match, Candice got into the ring to check on Maria, but Beth Phoenix quickly blindsided Candice, knocking her down as well. Beth and Melina raised their arms up with the ref, then Santino out on the ramp.

Winner: Melina wins via pinfall over Maria.

A closer look was shown at Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. Floyd Mayweather is current WBC Welterweight Champ and discussed how he's "money". A look was shown at Mayweather's spacious home and also at him counting out stacks of paper money. Mayweather said to turn the W of WWE upside down and call it Money Mayweather Entertainment.

Jerry Lawler informed fans the official weigh in between Mayweather and Big Show is up next.

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Big Show & Floyd Mayweather
Official Weigh-In

Shane McMahon came down to the ring to introduce Big Show, then Money Mayweather.

Mayweather showed up on the ramp with an entourage as the song "I Get Money" by 50 Cent played for his theme. The fans booed Mayweather as he got on the corner of the ring to pose, then stepped on the scale. Mayweather weighed in at 159 pounds. Big Show stepped on the scale next after staring at Mayweather's posse briefly. Show's weight came in at 441.4 pounds, almost a 300 pound difference. Shane then asked the two men to stand together for a photo. Show took the mic and said since Floyd had his posse, Show wanted to bring out his.

Various WWE Superstars from Raw, ECW and Smackdown came down the ramp, then surrounded the ring with Mayweather going crazy yelling at Shane for allowing this. Show told Mayweather nobody in the WWE locker room likes him, so they are here to see the "20 million dollar man". Show said that if Floyd continues to disrespect him, Big Show will guarantee he never boxes again. Show called Mayweather a "little runt" then shoved the mic into his chest. Floyd took the mic, then pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket to smell it.

Mayweather started to toss bills at Show. Mayweather started to talk and the fans started to chant "WHAT?" after each word. Show picked up some of the fallen bills and gave them to wrestlers outside the ring. Mayweather vowed once again that at WM24 he will break Big Show's jaw. Mayweather's entourage exited the ring as Shane did, leaving Show and Mayweather alone. Big Show went over and grabbed Mayweather, then tossed him over the ropes into several wrestlers. A melee broke out between Mayweather's posse members and the wrestlers. Mayweather appeared to have hurt his arm in the scuffle and ran backstage holding his arm. Shane McMahon also fell on the ramp, but wrestlers helped him up.

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Commercial was shown for the March 2008 edition of WWE magazine featuring 4 exclusive covers to collect: John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista and Undertaker.

Reply shown of what just went down between Show and Mayweather in the ring, then between Floyd's posse and the WWE wrestlers outside the ring.

Interview shown with WWE champ Randy Orton. Orton said you can take the skills and attributes of Cena/Triple H, combine them and get Randy Orton as a wrestler. Orton said he has 1 thing his opponents don't, the WWE title.

CM Punk vs. Edge w/Ryder & Hawkins

Straight edge superstar CM Punk took on Edge in this matchup of Smackdown & ECW stars.

Edge took control of Punk as he knocked him to the mat. Edge tried for the suplex, but Punk escaped then used a knee to Edge's face off the ropes. A dropkick leveled Edge, but Punk couldn't get the pin. Punk got flipped onto the apron by Edge, then moved away when Edge charged at him. Punk was able to stun Edge then springboard off the ropes to clothesline Edge down. Punk went for a bulldog on Edge from the corner, but Edge reversed for the DDT.

Punk gained momentum as Edge ran at him. Punk leapfrogged Edge and he hit the middle ropes which slingshotted him back at Punk. CM picked up Edge overhead to do the GTS, but just then Ryder and Hawkins got up on opposite side aprons. Punk dropped Edge then ran over to knock one of Edge's men off the side and did. Then Punk ran towards the other Edge head, but Edge was able to quickly get a surprise spear on Punk to tackle him down for a pin.

Winner: Edge wins via pinfall over CM Punk.

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Raw GM William Regal was in the ring, and discussed the Raw vs. Smackdown Brand Superiority match. Regal introduced a highlight package of Umaga as a dangerous, savage opponent. Regal then introduced Umaga to the ring. Regal started to discuss what Umaga will do to Batista at Wrestlemania 24. Just then Batista's music came on and The Animal made his way out to the ramp, then to the ring.

Batista got into the ring face to face with Umaga and the two men began to punch each other. Umaga finally knocked Batista down. As Batista stood back up, Umaga got up and charged at Batista with the Samoan Spike. Batista ran and delivered a Spinebuster on the Samoan Bulldozer who then rolled out of the ring. Regal and several WWE refs held back an enraged Umaga as he tried to get back in the ring.

Highlights shown from the Wrestlemania 23 main event match between Shawn Michaels and John Cena. Cena won it with the STFU submission hold causing Michaels to tap.

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Jim Ross and Lawler announced that Vince McMahon will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this Friday at 11:30AM. All fans are invited to attend the ceremony in Hollywood, CA.

Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena

A rematch of last year's Wrestlemania main event. Jim Ross announced this Thursday night that several WWE Superstars will appear on CNN's Larry King Live this Thursday night (CNN).

Cena and Michaels battled back and forth early on, with Michaels dropping Cena to the mat. HBK went for a Figure Four, but Cena flipped him over and tried to go for a STFU. Michaels scurried to the ropes and got out of the ring as Raw went to commercial break. When Raw returned, Cena was working over his left arm. HBK finally gained control of the match, knocking Cena down.

Fans continued to boo Cena as Shawn Michaels was able to toss him over the top rope. Cena hit the floor hard and got up, but Michaels came out to toss Cena back in. Back in the ring, HBK worked on Cena's leg down on the mat. HBK continued to go at Cena's leg as he stood up, causing Cena to fall to the mat. Cena finally was able to kick HBK away into the corner. Cena stood up then ran to kick the gut of Michaels in the corner. With HBK down on the mat, Cena delivered a Five Knuckle Shuffle, then tried to pick up Michaels for a F U. HBK slid off and the two men traded pinfall rollups. Eventually both men knocked each other onto the mat.

Michaels connected on a flying forearm, then both he and Cena were down again. HBK flipped up to his feet and gained momentum, slamming Cena. HBK climbed the corner ropes for a flying elbow drop. HBK set up for Sweet Chin Music as Cena got to his feet. HBK went to kick Cena, but Cena ducked, then tripped HBK to the mat. Cena went for the STFU, but HBK fought out of it and put a Figure Four onto Cena. Cena used his strength to crawl to the bottom rope, breaking the hold.

The two men ended up fighting outside the ring, but Randy Orton came down to attack, causing a DQ. Orton brought a beaten up Cena into the ring, then brought a steel chair in. After setting the chair up, Orton tried to RKO Cena on it. Cena pushed Orton off mid air, causing Orton to crash through the chair. Cena stood as Orton lay on the mat.

Winner: John Cena wins due to disqualification when Randy Orton interfered.

Triple H was shown backstage watching the match. Triple H said next week he's in charge and things will be very interesting. HHH then announced next week it will be Orton and Cena, but not as opponents but partners. Their opponents would be the entire Raw roster. HHH smiled as the camera cut to Cena in the ring with Orton down on the mat.

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