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WWE Raw - May 26, 2008
Vince McMahon starts us off by announcing that tonight, the hell he plans on putting Triple H through will continue. Triple H will face WWE Tag Team champions Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von in a handicap match! If he loses, he forfeits his right to face MVP for the WWE Championship.
Steve Corino is in the ring, holding a microphone. Last week's loss was just a fluke, and he plans on getting back on track tonight. He will show everybody why he is the King of Old School.
Corino's opponent is Eugene, fresh off a victory against Stevie McMahon last week. And with a 76% Crowd Reaction and 82% Match Quality, this match only netted a 71% Overall Rating, so this will be a non-clicking show unfortunately. Damn. Anyway, Eugene brings his A game, but Corino lives up to his word and locks away a victory following a Northern Lights Bomb.
When we come back from commercial, we see Eugene backstage...still looking optimstic as he shakes off his injuries. Then from out of nowhere, he is blasted in the back with a steel chair! The culprit is Stevie McMahon, obviously incensed over the loss last week. Several midcard faces intervene before Stevie can do anymore damage. Stevie probably WOULD have gotten some overness from this segment...but once again, non-clicking show.
Shawn Michaels is backstage to deliver a promo. He reiterates what he said last week, he is through wasting his time on Jeff Hardy. And tonight, he is going to send that message further by defeating his brother Matt and retaining his Intercontinental Title.
Bobby Lashley faced Mr. Kennedy next. Both men were looking to avenge disappointments from last week...Lashley from getting attacked by the tag champions, and Kennedy from losing to Triple H. Really intense match here, far better than I was expecting in terms of match quality (86%). Shame the overall rating still wound up low, that episode of 24 had to have been must-see TV. Lashley picks up a huge win with a Dominator.
Mickie James continues to be a fighting WWE Women's Champion, putting her gold on the line against Victoria. Victoria unloads offense on Mickie but she simply can't put the champ down. Mickie gets a head of steam and fires back, until Molly Holly runs in and clotheslines her. Mickie wins by DQ and keeps her title. But that's of little concern to her as Victoria and Molly put a beatdown on Mickie. Melina runs out from the back and chases off the heels, officially turning face and giving WWE a much-needed secondary face diva.
WWE Champion MVP is next in line to cut a promo, and he trashes Triple H. MVP says that if by some miracle Triple H can defeat both tag team champions tonight, he will grant Triple H a match next week.
Matt Hardy and Shawn Michaels put on a simply awesome display in their Intercontinental Title match....crowd reaction and match quality both got 90% but unfortunately only an 80% overall rating. Hardy got several near falls before the champ came back and hit a cross body. HBK tuned up the band, went for the Sweet Chin Music...Matt Hardy ducked, and rolled up HBK...who in turn rolled through and wound up pinning Matt, grabbing the ropes with his hands for extra leverage. Michaels retains in a most imperfect way. As Shawn walks up the ramp, Jeff Hardy thwarts him and hits a few punches before throwing him back into the ring. Twist of Fate from Matt and then Swanton from Jeff. The brothers have made HBK pay.
Triple H delivers a message to MVP: Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von are merely obstacles in getting his hands on the champ and that title gold again. He looks forward to meeting him in the ring next week. Our main event is NEXT!
After Triple H got off to a hot start, the WWE Tag Team champions put on an extremely valiant effort against The Game, making frequent tags and utilizing double team maneuvers to keep Hunter on edge. The tag champs appear poised to finish Triple H off, the numbers game appears to be too much. But the crowd erupts when Bobby Lashley starts walking down the ramp. Cor Von goes to confront Lashley, as the champs forget that that leaves Burke alone with Triple H! Pedigree, three count, and Triple H gets his match next week. MVP can't believe it!
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How will the arena be able to stand next week after Triple H finally gets his hand on MVP? Shawn Michaels might be done with Jeff Hardy, but Jeff Hardy clearly is not done with Shawn Michaels...how will this be resolved? Will Stevie McMahon explain his actions and assaulting the innocent Eugene? Watch Raw, next week!
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