RAW this week starts with music and pyro.
Lillian announces Regal who’s in the ring. He says the WWE Championship Match at Backlash will be contested between these two men... He announces Orton first saying ‘The age of Orton is upon us’. Orton comes out to the ring. Orton poses on a corner with his title belt and then shakes Regal’s hand. Regal then introduces the number one contender, JBL. JBL’s white limo pulls out as far as it can. His driver opens the door and JBL comes down to the ring. Both wrestlers are dressed for the ring. JBL glares at Orton as he walks down the ramp and enters the ring. JBL shakes Regal’s hand. JBL extends his hand to Orton. Orton smirks, but doesn’t extend his.
Regal says he knows their match at Backlash will be one of the most fiercely competitive matches...
HHH’s music cuts off Regal. HHH comes out to the ring dressed for action. JBL looks at Regal, points at HHH and says something as HHH enters the ring. The fans are wild for Trip.
“HHH” chants. When they die down HHH points to his ear and they start again. HHH says he’s confused and needs clarification. He means no disrespect... He asks Regal if he’s out of his fricken mind. He knows he was busy with Flair’s retirement last week, but he seems to have missed something. He knows Orton says he’s done with him, but he didn’t really beat anyone. He asks Orton the move he did just before covering Cena. Oh, it was nothing, he took advantage and fell on Cena for the win. And how is JBL the number one contender when he’s been retired for two years and announcing on SD! The biggest thing he’s done since coming back is slapping around a midget. While it was funny, it wasn’t anything big.
Regal says if HHH wants to get into the main event at Backlash he’ll have to earn his way by being in a Handicap Match against Orton and JBL tonight. If he loses, he’s out.
Orton starts screaming at Regal, off mic, asking if Regal is crazy.
- Commercial
Umaga comes down to the ring. Val comes out to face him.
Umaga throws a bunch of punches and a back elbow that drops Val. Val comes back with punches but is whipped. Umaga tries to splash but Val moves. Val gets flung shoulder first into the ring post. A kick to Val’s back and then a nerve hold. Val works his way to his feet and out of the hold, but is dropped and the hold reapplied. Val again gets to his feet and punches out. A big Samoan drop and Val is on the mat with his eyes rolled back. Val gets dragged into a corner and sat up leaning in. A couple punches and Umaga back up to the opposite corner. A bum slam to Val. “You tapped out” chants derail Umaga for a moment. A Samoan spike and Umaga covers for three.
- Winner: Umaga
Video replay of the major moves of the match. Umaga leaves the ring while the ref tends to Val.
JR and King talk about how both Batista and HBK will be on Y2J’s Highlight Reel tonight.
- Commercial
Melina comes out to the ring in a black and silver version of her wrestling gear. Jillian is with her in black pants and a yellow halter. Ashley comes out in a tiny pink and black mini and a matching tiny top. Mickie is with her in her pink and purple wrestling outfit.
Jillian nails a couple of forearms but Ashley comes back with a hurricanrana. Mickie distract the ref and Melina attacks Ashley form the apron. Melina tags in and covers, Mickie breaks the count. Ashley is able to tag out. Mickie works Melina over and drop kicks Jillian from the apron. Melina comes back and takes Mickie down. Mickie is about to get a foot up into one of Melina’s attack. Melina got hit high on the thigh and it actually seemed to hurt. Mickie hit her screaming DDT and covered for three.
- Winners: Mickie & Ashley
Mickie and Ashley celebrate in the ring. Video of high points of the match.
- Commercial
Video of Flair being beaten by HBK at WM. It’s followed by Flair’s beautiful retirement speech. Then HHH comes out and conducts the amazing tribute of last week. The Horsemen come out followed by Batista, Race, Malenko, Flair’s family, Cena, Y2J, HBK and then EVERYBODY else. (Brings tears to my eyes again.)
- Commercial
Cade and Murdoch come out to the ring. London and Kendrick come out to face them.
The bells rings and London and Kendrick attack Cade and Murdoch from behind. Kendrick gets tossed London is able to take Cade down for two. Murdoch attacks from outside taking London down. A huge clothesline from Cade for two. Murdoch tags in and Cade drops Murdoch’s leg on London. Murdoch drops an elbow on the back of London’s head for two. Cade tags in. A knee to London’s back and then a chinlock. London eats turnbuckle pad thanks to Cade. Cade rushes London who gets an elbow up. Kendrick is able to tag in and use his speed hitting a couple dropkicks to Cade. Murdoch tags in. Cade power bombs Kendrick behind the ref’s back. Murdoch rushes over to cover Kendrick, but Kendrick is able to roll Murdoch up for three.
- Winners: London & Kendrick
Orton is out back in a locker room. JBL comes up and says he doesn’t want to hear the ‘we don’t get along’ speech. Orton says he’s beaten HHH before and will do it again. JBL just needs to stay out of the way. Orton stomps out.
- Commercial
HHH comes out to the ring to huge pop. JBL and Orton are already in the ring!
Orton starts with HHH. They circle and then lock up. HHH is backed into a corner. Orton tries for a dirty break, but HHH catches the punch and reverses it. HHH comes out of the corner with a clothesline. A knee to HHH’s gut and then an upper but. HHH gets dragged into the heel corner and throws punches to both of them. JBL tags in against Orton’s want. They lock up and HHH is backed into a corner with a clean break. JBL talks smack and HHH grins talking back. They go back and forth verbally until the ref makes JBL back off. Shoulder block to JBL. “Orton sucks” chants. Side headlock to JBL, but he gets to his feet and pushes HHH into the heel corner. Orton tags in. Orton distracts the ref while JBL stomps HHH. Orton stomps HHH until the ref stops him as HHH is in the ropes. Orton backs off and JBL enters to continue. The ref stops him. Orton stomps his way around HHH. Orton poses and gets major heat. Orton drops a knee to HHH’s face and covers for two.
JBL tags in. Swinging neck breaker to HHH. JBL drops a couple elbows and covers for two. Regal watches from a chair by the announce table. “HHH” chants. Orton tags in and beats HHH down in a corner. HHH starts fighting back. Scoop slam to HHH for a two count. JBL tags in and stomps HHH. They exchange blows. JBL catches HHH in a sleeper. HHH drops to one knee. It’s not locked on correctly and HHH gets back to his feet and throws punches. JBL telegraphs and HHH hits a face buster. JBL gets whipped but gets a foot up into HHH’s face.
Orton gets a blind tag and they argue. Orton tries for an RKO, but HHH pushes him off and he slams hard into JBL who’s still in the ring looking pissed. Both heels go down. HHH hits a pedigree and covers Orton for three.
- Winner: HHH
Regal gets in the ring and announces the Triple Threat Match for Backlash. Cena’s music hits. He comes out to the stage. He congratulates HHH for going to Backlash to fight for the title. He has a proposition for HHH. Cena says that he took the pedigree that ended the WM match. He says they can play who beat who all night. Cena beat HHH, heck, Cena made JBL quit. They could play that game all night. Heck, the other night Orton beat JBL while he was asleep the other night.
Cena looks at Regal and proposes a Fatal Four Way for Backlash. No one is really happy about it except Cena.
Regal says he’s been given a fantastic idea. As GM of RAW, it’s his job to make sure the main event match at Backlash is the beast it can be. He’s giving Cena the same deal he gave HHH. Cena has to earn his way into the match by fighting in a Handicap Match against JBL and HHH tonight.
- Commercial
Holly and Cody come down to the ring. Carlito and Santino come down to face them.
Cody and Carlito start. Cody takes Carlito down but Carlito comes back with a hammer lock. A side headlock to Carlito. Holly tags in and they double team Carlito. Holly throws punches I a corner but Carlito gets away and tags out. Santino rushes in and straight into a fist. Holly goes for an Alabama slam but Carlito comes in and takes Holly down. The ref has his back turned and won’t accept Carlito’s cover. They exchange tags until Carlito comes in and beats down Holly.
Santino comes in and taunts Cody. Santino covers Holly for one. Carlito tags in and suplexes Holly for two. A chinlock on Holly in the center of the ring. Carlito lets go and drops punches on the top of Holly’s head. Carlito covers for two. Carlito throws some punches then kicks Holly. They collide and both go down. Santino tags in and grabs Holly’s leg so he can’t tag out. Holly kicks him away and tags out.
Cody hits a drop toe hold and a slam to Santino. Cody sets Santino up top and Cody somehow lands hard on his neck. Santino drops a slam onto Cody and covers for three.
- Winners: Santino & Carlito
The winners celebrate way to much while Cody is still prone in the ring.
- Commercial
Cryme Tyme are out back having a WM clearance sale. They have a shaker of soul that they scraped off the Rock. It’s great for white boys at weddings. They have a signed Maria Playboy. They open it up and start drooling. They then say it’s no longer available. They have Kim Kardashian’s thong. Shad says it’s wasn’t Kim’s dressing room, it’s was Mae Young’s. They then start singing their money money song.
JR and King talk about the starting feud between Khali and Big Show. The video of Khali coming out to face Show, but then backing off. At SD! Khali came out and attacked four people. Show then comes out to face Khali. Khali backs off again.
HHH is out back taping up. JBL comes up and says it’s a numbers game. It’s better if it’s only three in the match. JBL rattles on. HHH then turns and asks if he said something. JBL stomps off asking why no one listens to him. HHH says, “Pretty much because you’re an ass.”
- Commercial
Maria comes out to the ring in funky leopard pats and matching bra top. Beth comes out in a shiny black and green jumpsuit with lacing up the sides of the legs, with no back and sides.
Maria is able to slap, kick and punch away at Beth at first before getting slammed down. Maria is beaten down in a corner. Beth hits a low dropkick that slams Maria’s side into the ring post. Beth ties Maria’s legs up into a sharpshooter looking thing, then hits a back breaker from that hold. Maria somehow rolls Beth up for two. Beth then hits head scissors on Beth. Beth gets Maria into another hold and Maria counters and covers for two. Maria gets hung up on the top rope and then Beth hits her fisherman suplex for three.
- Winner: Maria
Split screen - HBK and Batista are out back heading for the ring.
- Commercial
Y2J comes down to the ring for the Highlight Reel. He says tonight could be one of the most emotional and intense because his two guest ignited some sparks on Friday and it could all go up in flames. He calls Batista out first. Y2J then introduces HBK using all his monikers. He calls him the Heart Break Kid who broke a lot of hearts at WM. Batista stares through HBK as he comes to the ring. The fans give HBK a mixed reaction.
Y2J says it’s very emotional for them all. He says the text message poll says 65% thinks HBK did the right thing at WM. They all stood in the ring last week shedding tears for Flair, but they wouldn’t have been if not for HBK.
HBK says Flair challenged him and asked for his best.
Y2J says we all know this. He says he knows HBK brought his A-game especially in one move. He shows the move that HBK slammed into the announce table breaking a few ribs. He got what he wanted, he ended Flair’s career. We’ve all seen the bit before the superkick where HBK said, “I’m sorry. I love you.” Y2J asks if he’s really sorry.
HBK says he is.
Batista says the only thing he’s sorry about it how he’s being treated now.
Y2J asks of Batista wouldn’t have done the same thing.
Batista says he wouldn’t have done it.
HBK says that Batista wouldn’t have put his ego first? His friendship of five years where HBK idolized Flair for most of his life. Where was Dave leading up to WM? Why didn’t he try to talk Flair out of it? Why didn’t Flair ask Batista to do it? Why didn’t Flair challenge Batista? Because he knew Batista didn’t have it in him to carry the hurt of it all. He demands Batista to look at his hands and the blood on them from WM and before.
Batista says it was because of that blood that he thought HBK would do the right thing at WM.
HBK says he’s sick of them going back and forth. If Batista is so mad why doesn’t he do something about it? HBK drops his mic. “HBK” chants.
Batista says he already has. Batista drops his mic and leaves the ring.
Out back Cena is heading for the ring.
- Commercial
Regal is out back on the phone. Orton comes up. Regal gets off the phone and says it’s signed - at Backlash it’s one on one, Batista against HBK.
Orton says tonight his match started off as a one on one, now it might be a Fatal Four Way. Orton says he’s the champion and deserves respect.
Regal says that next week RAW will be from London and Orton will be learning some respect as he faces Regal in the ring.
Cena comes down to the ring. JBL and HHH are already in the ring. (Seems like they’re shaving off time by not re-showing entrances tonight.)
JBL and HHH argue and HHH backs off to let JBL start. The bell rings but Orton is stomp down the ramp. This distracted Cena enough for JBL to get the drop on him. Punches and kicks to Cena. “Let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” dueling chants. JBL covers for two. Cena telegraphs and hits a hard forearm to Cena’s back. HHH wants a tag but JBL won’t. JBL covers for two. JBL keeps beating Cena down. HHH tries for another tag. A hard shoulder to a sitting Cena’s back. They exchange punches and Cena backs JBL into a corner. JBL gets whipped but moves so Cena eats turnbuckle. Orton cheers on JBL from outside. HHH wants a tag but JBL won’t JBL covers Cena again after a tackle. Cena tries to fight back and drops JBL but is rolled from the ring. JBL follows. Cena’s face is bounced off the apron. Cena is slammed to the floor with a lariat. JBL tosses Cena in the ring. JBL covers for two. A nerve hold on Cena who screams like a little girl. Orton is right at the apron screaming and yelling. Cena works his way to his feet and muscles out of the hold. Cena fights back and hits a clothesline. A bunch of shoulder blocks. JBL wants to tag and HHH won’t! Cena calls for the five knuckle shuffle and hits it. Again JBL wants to tag out but hh won’t. Cena tries for the FU but JBL punches out. A big boot to Cena’s face drops him.
JBL goes over to HHH while the ref is attending to Cena. HHH blocks JBL’s punch and enters the ring. They fight and end up outside. They fight outside. Orton tries to break it up but JBL accidentally clocks him. Back in the ring the ref tries to get HHH out of the ring. Orton enters the ring and hits an RKO on JBL. Cena covers JBL for three.
- Winner: Cena
Orton is pissed. He backs up the ramp holding his title high.
Biggest pop
HHH
Biggest heat
Orton
JBL
Most mixed
Cena
HBK
