Manu def. Hardcore Holly
Marty Wright def. Santino Marella
Angelina Love def. Mickie James
Bubba-Ray Dudley +D-Von Dudley def. D-Lo Brown +Paul London
A video begins to play on the titantron. It shows a limo pull up next to a hotel where a crowd has gathered. Some people roll out a red carpet leading from the limousine to the hotel’s entrance. Paparazzi then hit the scene and point their cameras at the limo’s door, waiting for someone to step out. Then the chauffeur steps out and opens the door, where a man steps out. The man is wearing a fur coat and an expensive suit, and looks to be very rich. He speaks to the camera:
Man- You may remember me. I was in the WWE a few years ago but I left. In my absence I became richer and built a vast wealth. Now I didn’t lose that passion for wrestling and I always wanted to return. I started training again; I spent thousands of dollars on expensive equipment and personal trainers. And now I’m back, as a new man. I am a new... Joey Mercury.
The crowd surrounding the red carpet goes wild as Mercury begins to walk towards the expensive hotel. The paparazzi begin to take photographs and security usher away a pair of women who break the crowd and attempt to get at Mercury.
Mercury- You may think I have it all, but there is one thing missing from my life, and that is WWE gold around my waist. But believe me, that won’t take long. And if you want proof... just look at me.
Joey reaches the end of the red carpet and smiles for the camera. A personal assistant takes off his expensive coat and he walks through the hotel’s doors. Mercury turns slightly to face the camera behind him.
The doors close behind him and the scene fades to black.
Team 3D are standing on the stage.
Bubba- Two weeks ago we won our number one contendership to the World Tag Team Championship. And we were only expecting to fight one team of losers for our chance. But since last week, we now have to face two teams of freaks at Backlash. This is an outrage! We didn’t know we would have to get through two midgets and two freaks to get the titles that should have been awarded to us as soon as we set foot in this brand. Me and D-Von here, we’re sick of being mistreated like this.
Devon- We’re damn sick. At Backlash, the day will come when we will finally get the respect we deserve. It will all happen once we beat the big red fire engines and the mini Mexican mafia to secure the tag titles here on Raw.
Bubba- Don’t you worry-
Kane’s music suddenly explodes out of the speakers and he and Abyss step out on the stage. They glare at Team 3D and advance on them but then Bubba and Devon run away to the side of the stage and disappear backstage. The champions walk down to the ring for their match.
The team of Kane and Abyss choose to fight this match masked. Shad and Kane begin in the ring, and they begin by trading punches. Neither gets the upper hand so they begin to trade uppercuts. Still no man has shown weakness so Shad takes the initiative to go for a big boot, but his leg is grabbed. Kane throws Shad’s leg to the ground and then delivers a big boot of his own, before tagging in his partner Abyss. Abyss immediately shows his power by hitting a side slam backbreaker, but he chooses to stay in the pendulum backbreaker position. Abyss then goes for the Shock Treatment, but Shad powers out of the position and falls into a tag from JTG. Abyss turns around, right into a dropkick from JTG. JTG then runs and bounces off the ropes closest to Abyss, hitting a springboard lariat. He covers, 1.....2..... Abyss grabs him by the throat and pushes him off. Abyss gets to his feet and keeps holding him by the throat, before hitting a huge Chokeslam! Cover, 1.....2..... Kick out!
Kane is then tagged in and he continues the powerful offense, hitting his side slam and diving clothesline combination. He whips JTG into the corner and goes for the corner clothesline, but JTG gets his boots up at the last second and Kane staggers away holding his face. JTG then pulls himself up to the top rope and hits the Diving Leg Lariat on Kane! JTG crawls over and tags in Shad, who pulls Kane away from tagging Abyss. He lifts Kane up and whips him into the ropes, before hitting him with a big boot on the rebound. Shad then lifts him up and hits a European uppercut before picking him up for the Samoan Drop, but Kane floats over. He then picks up Shad and puts him over his shoulder, before hitting him with the Tombstone Piledriver! Kane covers, 1.....2.....3 The tag champs win!
WINNERS- Abyss +Kane by PINFALL in 13:09
Katie Lea Burchill walks down to the ring accompanied by her brother Paul.
Katie- May I please have some hush? Ahem, ahem. Listen to me you ignorant Americans!
Katie- Now that you are paying respect to the WWE Women’s Champion, I have something to say. Last week I watched 5 women battle it out to get a chance to face me for my title. However, I have a problem with this match, and the problem is that the bet women did not win! I expected the Number One Contender to be a worthy and skilled challenger, not the piece of fake trailer trash that is Melina!
Melina’s music plays and she walks out onto the stage accompanied by Jack Gabriel, who is holding hands with her. They walk together to the ring and stand opposite to the Burchills.
Melina- I’m sorry, you’re calling me fake?
Katie- Not you, just those two lumps of silicon on your chest.
Melina- Excuse me? I am 100 percent real, and my new boyfriend can tell you that.
Gabriel blushes and smiles awkwardly as Melina gives him the mic.
Gabriel- Uh... yeah. They’re real...
Melina- Thank you Jacky. But Katie, I found your comment quite ironic; as the fakest thing about you is the thing you are trying to be. You have pretended to be this you’re whole career, and now I am the first person to uncover your secret. Katie, you’re accent is fake, you’re apparent hometown is fake and your nationality is fake because Katie, I know your big secret. You’re not even British!
Katie- I am appalled! How dare you make such claims about the highest female entity in the WWE!
Melina- Cut the crap Katie, I have exposed your secret, you are nothing now.
Katie- Proof! I demand you show me proof
Melina- Show her Jacky.
Gabriel takes out a bunch of papers and hands them to Melina.
Melina- This Katie, this is your birth certificate. Read it right here; it says your hometown is Phoenix, Arizona!
Katie- This... this is obviously fake, err...
Melina- Oh and I also asked around the locker room and found out one more thing that proves you’re American.
Melina walks over to Katie and yanks her top off, revealing a bra with the pattern of an American flag on it. Katie quickly covers up as Paul goes to attack Melina, only for Gabriel to step between them. Mike Adamle then walks out onto the stage to stop the commotion.
Adamle- Come on now guys lets save the fighting. I have three huge announcements to deliver to you right now. And well, I wouldn’t usually mind a brawl in this circumstance but that’s where the first announcement comes in. There will be a match next pitting the Burchills against Jack Gabriel and Melina. And Katie, I can’t say I’m happy about you pretending to be from another country this whole time and I don’t respect liars, so next week, I am forcing you to explain your actions to the entire WWE Universe. And the third announcement is concerning Melina’s Number One Contendership. Melina, you will get your Women’s Championship match at Backlash, and since I enjoyed seeing Katie in her lingerie tonight, I am making that match a Bra & Panties match.
Melina- I’m glad you liked seeing Katie in her negligee Mike, because she will be in the same situation come Backlash!
Katie- Oh please, do you honestly think that-
Adamle- Thank you men and women, but please let’s stop with the talking now, because now we’re gonna see some action!
Paul Burchill +Katie Lea Burchill v Jack Gabriel +Melina
Paul and Jack begin in the ring, taking notice of the rule stating that only members of the same gender can be in the ring at once. The match starts quite evenly with a few reversals, but the momentum goes to the Burchills once Paul connects with an eye rake followed by a suplex powerslam. Paul then goes for a vertical suplex but Gabriel shifts his weight to get back down and hit a cutter! Jack then hits Paul with a standing leg drop before tagging in Melina, meaning Katie Lea is now also legal. The two divas grapple in the ring, but then Katie grabs Melina’s hair and pulls her to the ground. Katie keeps hold of Melina’s hair and pulls her into her knee, stretching her back in the process. The referee tells her to stop this illegal maneuver and she breaks the hold at 4. Katie picks Melina up and throws her face first in the corner. Melina falls back and Katie goes for the Twisted Sister but she holds onto the ropes and Katie crashes into the mat. Melina pulls herself to tag her boyfriend as Paul runs into the ring as well.
Burchill goes for a lariat but Gabriel ducks and turns around to hit a bulldog! He then picks Paul up and hits a snap spinning neckbreaker, before going up to the second rope. Jack jumps for the Corkscrew Diving European Uppercut but Burchill sidesteps the blow and grabs Jack in mid air, turning the move into a gutbuster in Burchill’s favor. Paul stomps on the back of Gabriel’s head and then lifts his arms for the Curb Stomp but Gabriel grabs Paul’s arms and tosses him forward over himself. Gabriel then rolls over to his corner to tag Melina and now two women are in this match again. Melina runs and hits a spinning facebuster, before picking her up and going for the splits leg drop, only for Katie to reverse it into a leg drag. Melina limps back to a standing base as Katie hits her with a few right hands. Katie goes to slap Melina across the face but Melina grabs her arm and kicks her in the gut, before jumping on her and hitting the Last Call. She lands in a pinning position, 1.....2..... Paul kicks Melina in the face and the referee rings the bell due to disqualification. Gabriel attacks Paul and the two teams brawl as the show goes to commercial.
WINNERS- Jack Gabriel +Melina by DISQUALIFICATION in 6:05
CM Punk is backstage with Jeremy Borash for an interview.
Borash- Umm... can I start yet?
Cameraman- Yes, we’re already filming!
Borash- Oh, can you edit that out?
Cameraman- We’re live!
Punk- We don’t have much time here!
Borash- Sorry... is there anything you want to say?
Punk- But you’re the interviewer!
Borash- Oh yeah, sorry about that... so anyway... err...
Borash gasps and looks around before quickly running off.
Punk- I got something to say and I want to make sure one man hears this. That man is the other man who won a World Heavyweight Championship tournament match last week, and he is the man I will face next week. That man is Chris Jericho and I have been observing his antics here on Raw lately, and I must say I don’t know what to think of him. I am impressed of his in ring and technical skills but I am definitely not impressed of his attitude. Like my opponent last week, Randy Orton, Jericho is cocky, arrogant, and expects everything to be handed to him without effort. Well Chris, it’s gonna take you a damn lot of effort to beat me next week because I am bringing my A game. You don’t stand a chance against me. And Randy, don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about you just yet, and I doubt you’ve forgotten about me. We’ll meet again soon enough, I can tell you that, but for now I proved that I am better than you. And there’s nothing you can do about-
Punk is suddenly attacked from behind by Chris Jericho, who begins to knock him with punches. He throws him into the wall and kicks him, as the camera shifts to the side, showing Randy Orton watching the attack with a smile on his face.
Orton- You’re right Punk, I haven’t forgotten, and I won’t until I beat you. So I’d watch yourself over the next few weeks, as you can consider yourself a marked man.
Jericho then leaves the bruised Punk and walks over to Orton.
Jericho- Now men and Orton here aren’t partners, or even friends, but we do want one thing in common, and that thing is CM Punk being taken out. And next week Punk, in our match, I will take you out.
Jericho and Orton walk off as Punk is just left there bloodied on the floor.
Lance Cade v Chris Sabin
Cade starts off trying to grab Sabin, who retaliates with a number of kicks. Chris capitalizes on his speedy moveset by staying one step ahead of Cade and not letting himself be caught. On more then one occasion Sabin goes to the top rope and uses high flying moves to keep Cade from getting any noticeable advantage. However, Lance soon puts a stop to Chris’s offense after dodging a flying leg drop and then hitting a big boot after the weakened Chris Sabin slowly got to his feet. Cade gets only a two count from this but does not give up, hitting various powerful slams before settling with a sleeper hold in the centre of the ring. The smaller Sabin finds it hard to cope with the strong submission and the referee notices this. To check whether Chris is still able to participate, the referee raises his hand, and it stays in the air. After another minute in the hold, Sabin really does look to be out of it so the referee tries this method again. Chris’s hand falls down twice, but on the third time, it manages to stay suspended in the air, continuing the match.
Cade is not happy and continues to brutalize Sabin, hitting him with some more power moves that keep him down. Lance then unties the turnbuckle but the referee notices this dirty tactic and goes to put the cover back on. Cade is not happy about this and whips Sabin into the corner where the referee is, and the match official gets knocked out. Cade then picks Sabin up and hits him with a low blow, using the ref’s incapacitation to his advantage. He then Irish whips Sabin into the exposed turnbuckle and then goes to hit him with a big boot but at the last possible moment Sabin moves and Lance gets his foot stuck on the top turnbuckle. Lance spends a lot of time getting his foot unstuck but when he finishes doing so, Chris musters up the energy to hit Cade with an enzugiri to the back of the head and Lance’s forehead gets hit forward into the exposed turnbuckle. Cade falls back to the ground, his head busted open. Sabin then drearily climbs to the top rope and comes down with the Somersault Leg Drop! Sabin covers as the referee recovers, 1.....2.....3 Chris Sabin has a non title win over the Intercontinental Champion!
WINNER- Chris Sabin by PINFALL in 9:49
John Cena walks down to the ring with his music playing.
Cena- Dave, can I ask you to come out here?
Batista’s music plays and he walks down to the ring.
Cena- Now, I am sure you heard the announcement Mike Adamle made on WWE.com and the match he has set up for us.
Cena- Now I don’t like you Batista, and you don’t like me, but for one night, we will have to work together to fight two different teams. Because let’s face it, we are the best of the best here on Raw, I admit that, but we can’t fight off six hungry men on our own.
Batista- You know what John, I’m actually happy that this match was made tonight. It will give me the perfect chance, before our match at Backlash, to outshine you and show the entire world why I am better.
Cena- We’ve gone through this before. All the things you can possibly say can make up for the fact that I beat you at-
Batista- And we’ve gone through that plenty of times as well, so I say we stop and focus on our match. For one night, I will pretend not to despise you as much as I do, John.
Priceless’ music hits and Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes walk down to the ring, as the first team in the gauntlet.
Ted DiBiase +Cody Rhodes v Batista +John Cena
Batista and young Cody Rhodes start the match off, with Batista using his power advantage to keep Cody grounded. He uses various power moves that showcase his superior strength but after being dominated for the first minute, Rhodes dodges a spear attempt and musters up the effort to perform a dropkick to the face, sending Batista staggering backward, into a blind tag from John Cena. Rhodes manages to momentarily avoid the fresh Cena and is able to tag in his partner, Ted DiBiase. Cena goes like a house on fire at DiBiase but his momentum is quickly stopped with a low blow that the referee misses thanks to distraction from Rhodes. The momentum changes after this and Ted is able to work over Cena’s arms. At one point he goes to lock in the Million$ Dream but Cena counters and hits the FU leaving both men down.
Both men then go for their respective tags but Batista jumps off the apron before Cena can tag him in, leaving him wounded against the a freshly tagged Cody Rhodes. Cena is worked over by Rhodes but the tide eventually turns after a minute when Cody misses an Asai Moonsault. Cena mounts a comeback and gets in his signature moves but when he runs to the ropes during the 5 Knuckle Shuffle, Batista tags himself in and hits the Batista Bomb on Rhodes. He goes for the pin but Ted breaks it up, only to be thrown out of the ring by Cena. Batista then nails a Spinebuster and makes another cover, under Cena’s heated glare. 1.....2.....3
WINNERS- Batista +John Cena by PINFALL in 5:11
Bubba-Ray Dudley +D-Von Dudley v Batista +John Cena
The next team is Team 3D and Bubba begins in the ring with Batista. He uses heelish moves such as an eye rake to wear down the Animal even more than he already is. At one point he hits the Bubba Cutter for a near fall and then tags in D-Von. Dudley continues to work Batista over and puts him in a bearhug to drain his energy. However, with the crowd rallying behind him, Batista manages to escape the hold and fight back with a Spinebuster. He then walks over to his own corner and reluctantly goes to tag his partner in but Cena tags himself in before Batista even moves his arm. Cena then dominates the next portion of the match; using most of his moveset, including the spin out powerbomb and diving fame asser. However, the tide changes when D-Von reverses an Irish whip and Cena into the ropes, where he is met with a forearm to the back from his own partner. John then falls forward right into the Saving Grace from D-Von for a near fall.
Bubba is tagged back in and he and D-Von double team Cena with a double flapjack. Bubba continues dominating and puts Cena in a Full Nelson. Just when it looks like Cena will be escaping, Dudley hits the Bubba Bomb. However, before he can make the cover, Kane and Abyss suddenly appear on stage and begin to walk to the ring. However, before they can make it, Rey Mysterio and El Generico come out of the crowd and meet the two monsters with simultaneous missile dropkicks. A brawl begins on the ramp, and Bubba slides out of the ring to get in on the action. However, as he gets to the outside, he is met by Batista who slides him back into the ring. Batista then calls out for the tag and Cena looks to tag him but then instead turns around and delivers an FU to Bubba-Ray, before knocking D-Von off the apron. Cena covers Bubba, this time under the angry stare of Batista. 1.....2.....3
WINNERS- Batista +John Cena by PINFALL in 7:42
Randy Orton +Chris Jericho v Batista +John Cena
Batista and John Cena stand panting in the ring as Orton and Jericho walk out and stare them down cockily. Orton gets in the ring to start off with Cena, and as he is the fresher man, he uses his speed to maneuver around the worn-out John Cena. Orton nails the dropkick and double falling knee combo before tagging in his partner. Jericho strikes Cena with his boot and doesn’t even let him get up. He punishes him with the various elements of the ring, including choking him with the ropes and kicking his head into the turnbuckle. He lifts John up and hits the breakdown before walking cockily over to tag Orton in. Orton taunts Cena with the destiny pose but then Batista rushes in and takes Orton down with a clothesline. The referee restrains the Animal as a furious Orton asks for Batista to be disqualified. In the midst of this squabble, John musters up the energy to roll Orton up. 1.....2..... Kick out! Cena then crawls slowly towards his corner and reluctantly rags in Batista, seconds before Orton is able to reach him.
The Animal runs in and cleans house, taking Orton down with a clothesline. Jericho runs in but gets hit with a Spinebuster and rolls out of the ring. He turns back to Orton and runs before hitting him with a Spear! Batista covers RKO, 1.....2..... Kick out again, neither team is able to capitalize. John Cena calls for a tag but instead, Batista laughs at him and puts Orton in Batista Bomb position. However, Randy twists himself out and hits the inverted headlock backbreaker. Both men are down and Batista is hurt and is forced to make the tag. He is about to reach Cena but then on the outside of the ring, Chris Jericho knocks John off the apron and starts hammering at him on the outside. However, CM Punk then runs down the apron and takes Chris Jericho, the man he will face next week, down with a roundhouse to the face. Batista motions to leave the ring to join in the commotion but then Orton spins him around and hits an RKO, before sliding out of the ring himself. Randy goes over to Punk, the man who beat him last week, and kicks him blatantly below the belt, making him fall to the ground. Jericho then pulls Batista out of the ring and hits him with a Codebreaker. John Cena tries to fight Orton and Jericho but gets overcome and is left beaten down ringside. The referee finishes his count, 8...9...10 Neither team wins!
WINNERS- DOUBLE COUNTOUT in 9:39
Booker T is backstage and walks into the general manager Mike Adamle’s office.
Adamle- What is it Booker?
Booker- I wanted to see you Michael. You see, up next I have my main event match with that midget Mexican Rey Mysterio. And well, I had an idea for this match after watching Smackdown last week. I saw their general manager Vickie Guerrero give Jeff Hardy a match against the Great Khali where Jeff had to win in 5 Minutes or less. And you see Michael; this gave me an idea for my match. How about you add the rule that Rey Mysterio only has 5 minutes to try and beat me?
Adamle- I’m sorry, but what any other general managers do does not influence what I do.
Booker- Come on Michael, you don’t want the fans to think that you are the worst of the general managers.
Adamle- Well I think the fans would rather have a fair match where the two competitors go all out.
Booker- Please, the other general managers are making all these groundbreaking announcements, but what are you doing?
Adamle- So Booker, you want a groundbreaking announcement? Well I’ll make announcement that will blow you away. Tonight, your match with Rey Mysterio will be a first blood match!
Booker- But I don’t want to have a match degraded by weapons. I want to beat that scum with my bare hands!
Adamle- Well then we can compromise. The first blood rule sticks, but I’ll keep disqualifications and countouts, so you get your wish of no weapons.
Booker- Well then I’m happy Michael, I’m going to enjoy making that little scum bleed, and then going to Backlash to fight for the title that will soon be mine. Tonight Rey, I will beat you in a real man’s first blood match.
Booker walks out of the office.
World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
(Real Man’s First Blood)
The match begins with Rey using his quickness to skip around Booker and annoy him. Booker gets annoyed and repeatedly tries to grab the cruiserweight, but alas, he is not quick enough. Booker shouts in frustration and corners Mysterio. He goes to grab him but once again Rey ducks and goes around him. However, this time, Booker is prepared and sticks his leg out to the side, striking Rey in the chest with the side of his boot. Mysterio falls to the ground and Booker stomps on the back of his head, trying to get him to bleed. The referee pushes Booker back as Rey rolls onto his back, and shields his nose, which is sensitive to bleeding. Booker goes to stomp on Rey again but Mysterio rolls out of the way and ducks out of the ring. Rey holds his face in pain as Booker steps onto the apron. Rey goes to pull Booker’s feet away but he holds onto the ropes and kicks Mysterio in the face.
Booker steps off the apron to the outside and attacks Mysterio using the various parts of the ring, targeting the face and mainly nose. Mysterio does the best he can to shield his nose and he manages to stop himself from bleeding for the time being. Booker throws Rey in the ring and keeps attacking the nose, using kicks to try and stimulate bleeding. He lifts Mysterio up and lands a spinning boot side kick but there is still no blood. Booker then decides to wear Rey down some more and hits him with some power moves, trying to drain Mysterio’s energy. He hits a side slam and a spinebuster and then goes for the Bookend. He lifts Rey up for the move but Mysterio reverses it midair and hits a Tornado DDT.
Both men are down and they get up at virtually the same time. Booker goes for a shuffle boot side kick but Rey dodges. Rey goes for a tilt a whirl head scissors but Booker uses his power to throw him away. Rey manages to slowly get up via the ropes and he rests against them. Booker charges for a spear but Mysterio moves and Booker gets hung up on the middle rope. Rey then runs for the 619 but Booker moves at the last minute and Rey spins out into the ring. The luchador gets to his feet but then gets taken down with a big boot. Booker whips Rey into the corner and runs at him, but Mysterio gets his boots up and kicks him in the chest. Rey then pulls himself to being seated on the top rope and goes for the West Coast Pop, but before he can jump, Booker walks up to face Rey and puts him in the position for the Bookend. However, instead of lifting and planting Rey forward as he usually does, Booker falls backwards and turns the move into a reverse STO, sending Rey face first into the canvas. Mysterio turns over and he is bleeding from the nose, forcing the referee to ring the bell. Booker is going to Backlash, and the show ends with him celebrating in the ring.
WINNER- Booker T by EVENT in 14:54
And you wrote them coming back in the second match and early on in the last match very well; they came back like true champions.