Last night’s Monday Night Raw had a pleading message from Shane McMahon, a big time title change, a title rematch, a touching tribute to a local legend, the imposition of martial law, and the overarching theme of anarchy. Why anarchy? Well, what RAW didn’t have was a GM given Mr. McMahon’s “tragic accident”.
As a result the inmates ran the asylum. And how do the RAW inmates run their Oklahoma City asylum? They prefer comedy skits, long stretches on the microphone, and as little wrestling as possible. As far as wrestling and results go there is precious little to report …read more

WWE RAW Results 6/16/08

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Who could the WWE bring out alongside Vince McMahon to make the chairman look smart? Who could they put next to him that makes his delayed dialing synapses look lightning quick? There’s only one person:
Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan is in a tux and so is his 2×4. My IQ has just dropped about 40 points.
Jeff Hardy def. Carlito
We’re already at RAW’s halfway point and this is only the second match. Thankfully, it’s good. Carlito brings his A game and the two work well together. During the match our favorite high flyer takes 4 blind leaps …read more

I recently updated my b5 profile with the intention of explaining how www.jabandgrapple.com could cover both the scripted fun of pro wrestling entertainment and the unexpected life-threating tension of professional boxing. My answer wasn’t that they both take place in rings and involve some sort of combat.
No, my explanation was that they are bookends of the sporting world with everything else existing in between their emotional bounds. Friday night was evidence of this evocative breadth. WWE’s SmackDown and ESPN’s Friday Night Fights were broadcast simultaneously and my Motorola DVR only allowed me to watch one at a time while taping …read more

Two terrific interviews have appeared out there in cyberspace over the past few days revealing a great deal about the underbelly of pro wrestling.
Over on fighthype.com there is an interview with former WWE writer Christopher Bell, director of the soon to be released documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster*. He talks about which drug he thinks is the scourge of pro wrestling and definitively states the muscular legitimacy of one WWE Superstar. Here’s some hints: it’s not steroids and the wrestler in question made a triumphant return last RAW.
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Dark match: Kane won a 24-man Interpromotional Battle Royal
John “Bradshaw” Layfield defeated Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) in a Belfast Brawl
CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), Mr. Kennedy and John Morrison in a Money in the Bank ladder match
Batista defeated Umaga
Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the ECW Championship
Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair
Beth Phoenix and Melina (w/Santino Marella) defeated Maria and Ashley in a Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjill match
Randy Orton defeated Triple H and John Cena in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Championship
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. defeated The Big Show in a No Disqualification match via …read more

Ric Flair was defeated by Shawn Michaels tonight at Wrestlemania 24 and has retired.
Up next: Bunnymania Lumberjack Match

Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship: Edge (c) vs. The Undertaker
Money in the Bank ladder match: Mr. Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. Carlito vs. MVP vs. CM Punk vs. John Morrison
No Disqualification match: Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. The Big Show
Umaga vs. Batista
Career threatening match: Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match: Maria and Ashley vs. Beth Phoenix and Melina[43]
Belfast Brawl: Finlay vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
ECW Championship: Chavo Guerrero (c) vs. TBD
Pre-show: 24-man Interpromotional Battle Royal (Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Deuce, Domino, Tommy Dreamer, Jim …read more

United States Champion MVP & Carlito def. Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho & CM Punk
The Great Khali def. Hardcore Holly
Santino Marella, Melina & Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix def. Jerry “The King” Lawler, Maria & Ashley in an Intergender Tag Team Match
Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H & John Cena def. Umaga, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, The Big Show & WWE Champion Randy Orton in a No-Disqualification WrestleMania Showcase Match

Th main event this week on Raw was definitely above average in my book with Batista attacking Umaga and Finlay assaulting JBL but the hype for Wrestlemania doesn’t feel any bigger now then when …read more