Raw Recap 09.29.08

Raw recap from Minneapolis, MN:

Raw opens with Michael Cole and Lance Cade announcing that Shawn Michaels gets to choose a partner for the main event when he faces Chris Jericho and Lance Cade. Cole also reminded fans that this Thursday will be the world premiere of Wrestlemania XXIV on MyNetworkTV. Tonight there will be a preview of the event on Raw. Batista's music came on sending the crowd into a frenzy as The Animal comes out from backstage.

Santino Marella vs. Batista

Santino comes out from backstage with Beth Phoenix and a mic in his hand. Santino told Batista to check out the "Honk-a-Meter" which shows Santino has held the IC title for 6 weeks, and has just 58 weeks to beat Honkey Tonk man's reign. Santino then had the Brain Barometer put up, showing he has 10 Trillion brain cells more than the average human brain. Santino had Batista's chart put up which showed he has just 12 brain cells. Santino then said he'd knock out 10 of the brain cells and leave him in worst shape than the US economy.

Batista immediately clotheslined down Santino as the bell rang, then rammed him into the corner. After whipping Santino to the other corner, Batista hit the Spinebuster, then got riled up. As Santino stood, Batista looked out at Beth Phoenix and delivered the Batista Bomb for a quick win.

Beth stood up on the apron, talking trash to Batista to distract him. All of a sudden, JBL was in the ring and as Batista turned, he received a Clothesline from Hell.

Winner: Batista wins via pinfall over Santino Marella.

Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed HBK about the main event against Cade and Jericho. Michaels said he trained Cade years ago, and never expected him to show off his skills at HBK's expense. HBK then said Jericho has just 6 days to be champ, until HBK walks out from No Mercy as the new champ. HBK said as for his partner, he was considering a "Real American", a "Texas Rattlesnake", or "the Best there was, best there is and best there ever will be". HBK said he wants to find a tag partner who actually likes him.

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JTG vs. The Miz

JTG was accompanied by Big Shad. Michael Cole reminded fans of the "Word Up" show on WWE.com that Cryme Tyme has. An excerpt was shown of The Dirt Sheet where Miz and Morrison mocked Cryme Tyme's fathers as nerdy type characters.

During the match, Miz had the upperhand but as he came at JTG from the ropes, JTG avoided him. JTG used a clothesline style takedown. Before he could get momentum, John Morrison was on the side apron. Big Shad rushed over to swipe Morrison's leg, causing him to fall on the apron. JTG was distracted as he watched the incident, allowing the Miz to stun him, then hit the Reality Check for the win.

Miz and Morrison taunted Cryme Tyme as they backed up the ramp.

Winner: The Miz wins via pinfall over JTG.

Backstage, Jamie Noble went up to Jillian Hall. Jamie said even though he doesn't like her singing talents he needs a partner for an inter-gender tag match. Jillian said if Layla didn't want to be seen with him, she wouldn't either. Just then Dolph Ziggler came up to them and introduced himself to Jillian. He tried to shake Noble's hand, but Noble walked off angrily.

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Jamie Noble & Mickie James vs. Paul Burchill & Katie Lea

Before the match started, William Regal came out to the top of the ramp where a throne was set up. Regal was accompanied by Layla who stood next to the throne to watch the match. Noble had to fight solo against the brother-sister duo, until all of a sudden, Mickie James emerged from backstage to be his partner.

Under inter-gender rules, men could battle against women in this matchup. Noble looked out at Regal and Layla as he went to the top ropes and did a dropkick onto Burchill. Katie Lea came in to break up the pin attempt, so Mickie charged in to knock Katie Lea out of the ring. Burchill tried to set up Noble for a finisher, but Noble countered and put an armbar submission hold on. Burchill quickly tapped out in pain. Noble went to the corner ropes after the bell and looked straight out at Layla/Regal.

Winners: Mickie James & Jamie Noble win via pinfall over Paul Burchill & Katie Lea.

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Raw returned with a backstage shot of Rhodes, Manu and Dibiae cautiously entering a back hallway. Rhodes told Manu to let him do the talking. Rhodes walked up to Kane who had his back turned to them. Rhodes said since Kane's father is Paul Bearer, that makes him a second generation superstar like them. Rhodes said they need to act as a unit tonight in their 8 man tag match. Dibiase said they want to make sure they're on the same page. Kane turned and said he doesn't take orders from anyone, but he will massacre Rey Mysterio tonight. Kane warned the 3 men to stay out of his way or they'd be a second generation pile of bodies.

Footage was shown of HBK in a handicap match last week against Cade and Jericho. Jericho almost received a Superkick, but he fell back to the corner. Just then, Lance Cade delivered his finisher on Michaels to win it for his team.

Cade came to the top of the ramp, mic in hand. Cade declared he was the man to beat his one-time mentor, HBK. Cade said he's learned more from Jericho in a short time, then in his long-time training under HBK. Cade said tonight Michaels will either lose to him or Chris Jericho, just like he will Sunday. Cade said Jericho will still be World Heavyweight Champion after No Mercy.

CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne & Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, Manu & Kane
8 Man Tag Match

At one point in the match, the action got fast and furious. The ring was cleared of the heels, and then Kingston and Punk ran across the ring and dove through the ropes out into Rhodes & Dibiase. Rey Mysterio did a springboard off the top ropes and jumped out onto Kane as Raw hit a commercial break.

Raw resumed with the heels in control of Evan Bourne, and they worked to isolate him from his partners. Bourne finally escaped to tag in CM Punk. Punk began to take out his frustrations on Manu. Ted Dibiase ran over on the apron, but Punk delivered a kick to his head. Just then, Manu clipped Punk's leg, taking him down. Rhodes tagged in to continue the punishment. Kane tagged in and began to kick Punk repeatedly on the mat.

The heels continued to keep Punk away from a tag and worked on his hurt knee. With the crowd behind him, Punk avoided an elbow drop from Rhodes and tagged in Kofi Kingston. Kingston went into a frenzy knocking Rhodes around the ring. Kingston got riled up and hit a double leg drop on Rhodes. Manu came into the ring to break up the pin. Evan Bourne rushed into the ring to take out Manu. As things got wild, Kane made a tag in and was about to deliver a chokeslam on Kofi. Just then, Mysterio did a springboard off the top ropes and dropkicked Kane to the corner. Dibiase came in and went after Rey, but Rey was able to flip them both over the top rope out of the ring. Kingston ran at Kane in the corner, but Kane caught him in mid air with his hand on his throat, then Chokeslammed him down.

After the win, Kane diabolically smiled and talked trash to Rey Mysterio as he headed up the ramp.

Winners: The team of Kane, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase & Manu wins via pinfall over Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne & CM Punk.

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Raw GM Mike Adamle was in the ring as Raw returned. Adamle said earlier that Kane made a request. Adamle said he told Kane if he won tonight, that he would honor the request. Adamle said Kane's request was that if he beats Rey Mysterio at No Mercy, Rey must remove his mask in the ring. Just then as Adamle was speaking, Randy Orton's music came on and Orton came down to interrupt.

Orton asked Adamle if he needs to call Shane McMahon about his decisions to make sure they're ok. Orton told Adamle he doesn't like how he allowed Shane McMahon to overrule his suspension decision on CM Punk last week. Orton told Adamle to re-suspend CM Punk, and to start standing up for himself. Orton said once he returns he will own things on Raw, just like when he was champ. Orton said Adamle will need him on his side. Just then, JBL's music came on. JBL came out from backstage with a mic in hand, and JBL walked down to the ring.

JBL said next week he'll defeat Batista at No Mercy, and then will face Jericho or Michaels to become the next champ. JBL said this is right now, and while Orton's past was glorious, it's over. JBL said Orton is still living in the past. JBL started asking Adamle to make a stipulation that when JBL beats Batista at No Mercy, that Orton never gets a title shot ever. Just then, Batista's music came on. Orton and Adamle cleared out of the ring, and JBL stared up the ramp ready for Batista to charge down. Batista snuck into the ring behind him. As JBL turned, Batista caught him with a Spear taking JBL to the mat. Batista grabbed the mic and said JBL may have had a bad week, but at No Mercy it will get a lot worse.

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Backstage, Santino Marella was shown talking on his cell phone. As Santino turned the corner he saw Beth Phoenix and started pretending he was talking to a "Frank". Beth asked who it was and Santino said it was a sick kid who he promised to win a match for. Beth told Santino to stay backstage because she didn't want him messing up her match tonight. Beth said Santino caused her to lose last week, and she didn't want a repeat.

Kelly Kelly and Candice were shown walking backstage on their way out to the ring.

Kelly Kelly & Candice Michelle vs. Jillian Hall & Beth Phoenix

Kelly Kelly managed to flip out of Beth Phoenix's clutches and landed on her feet. Beth quickly knocked Kelly Kelly down. Beth tried for the pinfall but Candice came in to prevent it. Jillian who was outside the ring grabbed Candice's feet and yanked her outside the ring. Beth turned to watch what was going on as Kelly got up. Kelly went for a roll up pinfall, but Beth escaped it, countered and put Kelly into her finisher to slam her face first to the mat for the win.

Winners: Jillian Hall & Beth Phoenix win via pinfall over Kelly Kelly & Candice Michelle.

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Deuce vs. The Great Charli

Charlie Haas came out on stilts in a wig and fake chin as "The Great Charli". CHarli was accompanied by Khali's translator, Runjan Singh. Prior to the match, Charlie began yelling jibberish with Runjan Singh translating.

Deuce tried to come off the ropes to start things off, but caught a chop to the head. Charli hit a headbutt and was going to do a double-handed slam, but Deuce delivered a serious kick to his face. Deuce came running off the ropes to deliver an elbow drop, but Haas stuck a leg up. As Haas' wig came off he started going wild, with a flurry of punches on Deuce, then a dropkick, and finally a clothesline off the top turnbuckle.

After the bell, Runjan Singh arrived from backstage with the real Great Khali. Khali began to walk down the ramp towards the ring. Khali got into the ring to face Charli, and Runjan Singh translated for Khali. Singh introduced Great Charli to Great Khali. Khali was smiling as Charli put a hand out for a handshake. Khali chopped him down to the mat, then raised his arms up as he let out a roar.

Winner: The Great Charli wins via pinfall over Deuce.

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Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole ran down this week's WWE TV schedule. On Tuesday night, ECW has a new start time of 9PM on Sci-Fi. This Thursday at 8PM, the World Broadcast Premiere of Wrestlemania 24 debuts. Then the following night, Smackdown has its All-Star Kickoff on MyNetworkTV at 8PM EST. Sunday will be the next WWE PPV, No Mercy at 8 PM EST on PPV.

A promo tape was shown of Wrestlemania to hype up the Wrestlemania 24 World Broadcast Premiere this coming Thursday. Michael Cole & Lawler ran down the full card for this Sunday's No Mercy PPV.

Shawn Michaels & Mystery Partner vs. Chris Jericho & Lance Cade

In the ring, Jericho addressed the crowd as they booed and jeered him. Jericho said someone had the audacity to wish him good luck Sunday against HBK. Jericho said he doesn't need luck to win, because he's better than Michaels is. Jericho gave a demonstration, when he asked Lance Cade to get a ladder from under the ring.

Cade grabbed a ladder and Jericho narrated what he will do with the ladder to HBK. Cade slammed the ladder against the ringpost and steel post, then tossed it into the ring. Jericho made as if he was slamming the ladder on HBK's head over and over. Jericho said he'll finish off by caving in HBK's rib cage with the ladder. Jericho showed what he thought of luck by walking under the ladder then saying since he's best in the world he doesnt' need luck.

Michaels came out to the ramp briefly with his music playing, then went backstage to get his partner. All of a sudden, the DX Theme music came on. After a delay, Shawn Michaels came out with Triple H for a DX reunion. In the matchup, it went back and forth until Triple H gained an advantage finally against Lance Cade. As Cade stood up, Triple H put him into the Pedigree. Jericho rushed into the ring to ambush HHH, and hit the Codebreaker. Michaels ran into the ring to knock down Jericho, but as Michaels got up and turned around, Cade caught him with a vicious clothesline. Jericho and Cade began to stomp and pound on HBK down on the mat. The ref called for the bell as a DQ.

With HHH still on the outside, Cade held Michaels up as Jericho punched away at him. Jericho went to the outside and retrieved a ladder which he brought into the ring. All of a sudden the crowd went wild, as HHH came into the ring with Sledgehammer in hand. Jericho dropped the ladder and quickly escaped the ring. Cade turned around and caught the sledgehammer in his gut. Jericho yelled for Cade to get out of the ring, but he then caught Michaels' Sweet Chin Music followed by HHH's Pedigree. HHH set up the ladder near the corner of the ring. Michaels climbed the ladder then delivered a vicious splash down onto Cade from off the top of the ladder.

Winners: Triple H and Shawn Michaels win due to disqualification of Chris Jericho and Lance Cade.