WWE Raw
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
September 24, 2007
thanks to: wwe.com
Raw gets Hardcore with
Holly's return
By Corey Clayton
September 24, 2007
MILWAUKEE – After five months off with a broken arm, Hardcore Holly was ready to
make his mark in the ring.
And in a town famous for its beer, trouble was brewing for Cody Rhodes at the
hands of the returning ring veteran. As punishment for disobeying Acting General
Manager Jonathan Coachman and attacking Randy Orton last week on Raw, Rhodes
faced the returning former six-time Hardcore Champion in his first match back.
Holly chided Rhodes in the ring before their match.
“With a name like that, you should be in a boy band and not in a wrestling
ring,” Holly said. “You don’t get my respect based on your name. If you want my
respect, you need to earn it.”
The young Rhodes didn’t back down from the returning veteran, pelting him with
punches and dropkicks. But Holly was able to dodge Rhodes’ springboard plancha
attempt, then finish him off with a powerful Alabama Slam.
With an impressive return, Holly put the Raw locker room on notice that he’s
back and better than ever.
In other Raw action:
Tag turmoil
Paul London & Brian Kendrick knew that a victory over World Tag Team Champions
Lance Cade &Trevor Murdoch in a non-title contest would ensure them a title
match next week on Raw. As Kendrick had Murdoch covered for the pinfall, The
Highlanders came in and beat down Kendrick & London, causing a disqualification.
The Scottish cousins were upset that they weren’t granted a title opportunity,
and wanted to thwart London & Kendrick’s chance for yet another title match.
Italian iced
Santino Marella and Ron Simmons squared off in an attempt to settle their recent
rivalry over Santino’s girlfriend, Maria. But after taking a pummeling from the
former three-time World Tag Team Champion, Marella fled. Maria implored Marella
to return to the ring, but Marella took Maria’s arm and led her away, conceding
the “damn” count-out to Simmons.
Flying high
Beth Phoenix continued to show her dominance over Raw Divas and put Women’s
Champion Candice Michelle on notice when she and Shelton Benjamin defeated the
championship pair of Women’s Champion Candice Michelle & Intercontinental
Champion Jeff Hardy. As the men battled outside the ring, the Glamazon hit a
distracted Candice from behind, and then flattened her with powerful cradle
suplex to pick up the pinfall.
Handicap cage
Triple H came into Raw thinking he’d only have Carlito to deal with inside the
15-foot-high steel cage. But as payback for The Game’s humiliating treatment,
Mr. McMahon added himself to the cage match and won the match for Carlito and
himself, escaping over the top.
Mini-mayhem
Hornswoggle had an eyeful of action all night long, pairing up with the
vivacious Melina. The A-list Diva seemed interested in the little love machine
at first, but then revealed that Coachman had promised her a Women’s
Championship opportunity if she took the leprechaun out.
Feeling Green
WWE Champion John Cena was told to keep his hands off of Acting Raw GM Jonathan
Coachman, but couldn’t resist charging through security to get his hands on him.
As Coachman prepared to strip Cena of his title, Mr. McMahon stepped in and
overruled the GM, ordering him to face The Champ in a Tables Match. But it
wasn’t the “Mr. McMahon” you might be thinking of.
Matches
Hardcore Holly def. Cody Rhodes
Ron Simmons def. Santino Marella (count out)
Mr. McMahon & Carlito def. Triple H (Handicap Steel Cage Match, McMahon escaped cage)
Paul London & Brian Kendrick def. World Tag Team Champions Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch (disqualification, non-title)
Beth Phoenix & Shelton Benjamin def. Women's Champion Candice Michelle & Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy (Mixed Tag Team Match)
WWE Champion John Cena def. Jonathan Coachman (Tables Match, non-title)