WWE Raw
Hampton, Virginia
January 21, 2008
Triple Play
By Greg Adkins
January 21, 2008
The road to redemption was a rocky one for Triple H on Monday night. The 11-time
World Champion needed to overcome three daunting roadblocks before he could
reclaim a spot at this Sunday’s Royal Rumble Match.
After displaying a menacing unpredictability last week, Mr. McMahon offered his
rival a second – and final – chance to qualify for this Sunday’s Royal Rumble.
The Chairman, however, gave no indication of who The Game might face or what
type of match he would be competing in.
He found out soon enough. Raw General Manager William Regal told him he’d
arranged an Over-The-Top Rope Gauntlet Match, requiring The Game to throw three
opponents over the top rope, Royal Rumble-style.
The first barrier in The Game’s path to the Rumble was the yellow-toothed ogre,
Snitsky. The yuck-mouthed monster was determined to avenge himself from last
week, when Triple H repeatedly struck him with his sledgehammer. But Triple H’s
resolve proved too steely to overcome, and Snitsky found himself hurled from the
ring.
Next up, Regal introduced another massive obstacle, SmackDown’s Mark Henry. The
World’s Strongest Man assaulted his opponent with a series of thunderous blows.
But a beaten down Cerebral Assassin pulled down the top rope and tricked Henry
into propelling himself out of the ring.
Two down, one to go. The final opponent in the match was… Regal himself. The Raw
GM, who cost Triple H his Rumble spot to begin with, had suffered greatly at his
hands two weeks ago in a First Blood Match. Monday night, the vengeful GM nearly
toppled his opponent over the top rope before The Game managed to reverse course
and send Regal out of the ring.
The Game’s “three strikes, you’re in” comeback ensures him a spot at the Royal
Rumble and a possible look ahead at the main event at WrestleMania XXIV and a
12th World Championship.
Green Bay Decay
First, his beloved Green Bay Packers lost their NFL Championship game on Sunday,
then, the following night, Mr. Kennedy dropped his match to Shawn Michaels. The
Showstopper now takes both the momentum and the bragging rights from Monday
night’s match with him into this Sunday’s Royal Rumble.
Broken Promise
Mickie James came out fired up this week, but ended up in a smoldering funk. She
had vowed to pin Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix – a foe she’s never defeated –
but she came up frustratingly short when The Glamazon’s size and strength
advantage once again proved insurmountable.
Blueprint for Victory?
Hornswoggle may have been given short odds for winning the Royal Rumble this
Sunday, but he and Finlay proved just how the two could pull off the most
unlikely of victories. The pair cooperated together against The Highlanders and
managed to toss both of the Cousins McAllister over the top rope.
Wall of Words
Chris Jericho returned to Raw this week after getting dragged across the floor
by JBL with an electrical cord around his neck two weeks ago. Y2J lambasted the
Lonestar Loudmouth for trying to scare his children and insisted he would not
relent until he took out his rival.
Royal Letdown
The excitement Brian Kendrick felt at earning a chance to qualify for the Royal
Rumble quickly turned to dread when he learned that he would have to face Umaga.
Despite a valiant effort, the high-flyer just couldn’t soar above the challenge
of the Samoan Bulldozer.
Trading Places… Again
Two weeks after their Trading Places Match, in which Hardcore Holly prevailed,
Carlito and one-half of the current World Tag Team Champions once again faced
off. Only this time, Carlito managed to overcome the powerful onslaught of Holly
for the win.
Shake, Rattle and Roll
At the insistence of Mr. McMahon, WWE Champion Randy Orton and Intercontinental
Champion Jeff Hardy met in the squared circle to shake hands one week after the
“Rainbow-haired Warrior” dropped a devastating Swanton Bomb onto Orton from 30
feet. Instead, Hardy shook the hands of nearly everyone in the arena except
Orton. To cap things off, Hardy hit his nemesis with a Twist of Fate and left
him rattled on the floor
Matches
Shawn Michaels def. Mr. Kennedy
Women's Champion Beth Phoenix def. Mickie James
Finlay & Hornswoggle def. The Highlanders
Umaga def. Brian Kendrick
Carlito def. Hardcore Holly
Triple H def. Snitsky,
Mark Henry and William Regal (Over-the-Top Rope Gauntlet Match)