RAW REPORT

(COURTESY GERWECK.NET)

- From The Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C.

- Tonight's Main Event; 8-Man Tag Team Match, World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker, ECW Champion Kane, Triple H & John Cena vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton, Edge, JBL & Chavo Guerrero

- Also tonight; the Presidential Showdown

- Lilian Garcia welcomes us to Raw and welcomes back the King of the Ring tournament, we will kick off with the 1st First Round Match.

(1) KOTR 1st Round Match - Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. United States Champion MVP
Y2J gets the victory after he reverses the Playmaker into the Walls of Jericho. After the match Jericho sits on the throne set up at the entrance way

(2) KOTR 1st Round Match - CM Punk vs. Matt Hardy
Punk gets the win after countering Hardy's roll up into a roll up of his own. Punk rests in the throne after the match. Punk advances to face Jericho in the Semi-Finals.

- We are shown footage of Clinton vs. Obama from the Raw vs. SmackDown video game

- It is announced that after the actions of last week, the WWE Championship match at Backlash will now be an elimination match.

- In a pre-recorded segment, JBL says he will not be eliminated at Backlash, he will once again become WWE Champions and take back the torch that he passed.

(3) KOTR 1st Round Match - The Great Khali vs. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle
Finlay wins via DQ after Khali ignores the referees count while using the ringpost against Finlay. After the match, Big Show makes his way to the ring, Show stares down Khali and Khali retreats.

- Back from the commercials, Finlay is being helped to the back after his knee was attacked by Khali.

(4) KOTR 1st Round Match - RAW GM William Regal vs. Hornswoggle
Regal beats Horny almost immediately with the Regal Stretch. Finlay comes back into the ring to help his son, Regal kicks Finlay in the knee. Regal will face Finlay in the Semi-Finals

- Shawn Michaels is walking backstage, he will come out to address Batista.

- We are shown highlights of WWE's European Tour.

- Shawn Michaels comes to the ring. He calls out Batista because he wants to ask him something face-to-face. HBK says last week on SmackDown Y2J had a good point when he asked Batista if he was jealous because he wanted to face Flair at WrestleMania? Batista asks if it would make HBK feel better if he said yes? He says the fact of the matter is he didn't want to be the one to end Flair's career. He says we are 6 days away from the match, and he's sick of talking about it. Shawn shows a part of the old HBK when he says that he IS the showstopper, main event, icon, Mr. WrestleMania and if people like it or not, he is, the man. HBK wishes Batista luck for this Sunday "You're gonna need it." They shake hands, Batista pulls Shawn in when he tries to walk away. Shawn teases Sweet Chin Music but Batista doesn't flinch. Batista laughs, barges past HBK and leaves.

- Up next, we will hear from Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.

- Hillary Clinton addresses the WWE fans. She speaks about what she promises to provide America, she uses wrestling references. She tells us she will use the People's Elbow and the last man standing, may just be a woman!

(5) World Tag Team Champion Hardcore Holly w/ Cody Rhodes vs. Carlito w/ Santino Marella
Carlito wins with the Back Stabber. After the match, Santino gets on the mic, he says he and Carlito will take the titles from Holly and Rhodes. Rhodes grabs the mic, asks Santino if he ever shuts up and then hits Santino in the head with it!

- In a pre-recorded segment, Triple H talks about the WWE Championship match this Sunday, he says the winner will be the best of the best, Triple H says he knows he is the best, it's up to the others to prove him wrong.

(6) KOTR Semi-Final Match - Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk
Punk defeats Jericho with the GTS. Punk advances to the Finals to face either Finlay or Regal.

- We hear from Barack Obama, he tells us America needs a change, he asks us if we can smell what Barack is cooking?!?

(7) KOTR Semi-Final Match - RAW GM William Regal vs. Finlay
Regal wins by submission after Finlay passes out from the pain of the Regal Stretch. Regal will face Punk in the finals

- We hear from John McCain. He also uses wrestling references when speaking about America and politics. He finishes with "that's the bottom line, because McCain said so!"

- J.R. and King run down the Backlash card

- In a 3rd pre-recorded segment, we hear from John Cena, he also talks about the WWE Title match this Sunday, he promises to give us everything he's got in trying to once again become WWE Champion.

- We are shown highlights of WWE's WrestleMania Reading Challenge and the awards WWE received for it.

(8) "Hillary Clinton" w/ "Bill Clinton" vs. "Barack Obama"
Hillary is acoompanied by Bill, she comes out to Hulk Hogan's music, she and Bill act like Hogan, hand to ear and all. Barack comes out to The Rock's music, he uses the Rock's catchphrases. The only one laughing is The King, crowd is DEAD. Umaga makes his was to the ring and lays out Obama and Clinton. Thank God.

- J.R. and King thank Clinton, Barack and McCain for addressing the WWE fans tonight and wish them luck after totally mocking them in the ring a few moments a go.hmm.

- Kelly Kelly, Cherry, Michelle, Maria & Ashley make their way to the ring to congratulate Mickie James on her Women's Championship win last week. Mickie comes to the ring to talk about beating The Glamazon. Beth Phoenix interrupts, with her are Jillian, Victoria, Natalia, Melina & Layla. Phoenix tells Mickie it's only a matter of time before she wins back the title. Beth says heaving there interior divas congratulate her is a slap in the face, Michelle interrupts and says "no, this is a slap in the face" Michelle slaps Beth and all the divas get in a fight. Babyfaces come out on top.

- Mr. Kennedy returns to Raw next Monday

(9) KOTR Finals - RAW GM William Regal vs. CM Punk
William Regal picks up the victory via submission to become the 2008 King of the Ring! After the match King Regal leaves the ring and sits in his throne.

(10) 8-Man Tag Team Match - WWE Champion Randy Orton, JBL, Chavo Guerrero & Edge vs. Triple H, John Cena, ECW Champion Kane & World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker
Kane and Chavo are the legal men, Kane Chokeslams Chavo, Edge gets the blind tag, Edge spears Kane and pins him for the victory. After the match, John Cena FU's Edge, Triple H tries to Pedigree Cena but gets hit with a Clothesline from Hell by JBL. Orton RKO's Cena. Orton and JBL stare each other down, Undertaker delivers a double Chokeslam to Orton and JBL! Undertaker's music plays and he drops down to one knee as Raw goes off air.

Credit: A1 Wrestling Newsletter