December 8th, 2008The RAW opening video aired, followed by Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcoming everyone to the show, and plugging the fact that tonight’s RAW was a three hour special featuring the Slammy awards, and a big champion vs. Champion match between
John Cena and Edge.
Beth Phoenix & Michelle McCool vs.
Mickie James & Kelly KellyNot a terrible match to kick off this three hour edition of RAW, with the four divas up for diva of the year involved, trying to prove why they deserve the award. Quite frankly, Beth Phoenix put on the best performance by far, and was dominant throughout. All four divas got in their fair share of the action, but it was the ending stretch that was most impressive, with all four divas hitting their finishers at one point or another, only for Beth to pin Kelly following the Glam Slam.
Winners: Beth Phoenix & Michelle McCoolTodd Grisham then came out to announce the winner for the first award,
couple of the year, with the nominations being - Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix, Edge & Vickie Guerrero, William Regal & Layla and Finlay & Hornswoggle. The winner was announced as
Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix, who came out to pick up the award. Marella did the victory speech, and thanked himself for being the “greatest boyfriend in the world” before walking backstage with the award, leaving Beth Phoenix looking pretty miffed.
Todd Grisham then went on to announce the nominations for
Extreme Moment of the Year - Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb on Randy Orton from the Raw set, Undertaker falls off ladder through table as Edge wins TLC Match, JBL throws John Cena off stage into car windshield and Chris Jericho smashes Shawn Michaels' head through Jeri-Tron , with the winner being announced as
Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb on Randy Orton from the Raw set. The clip was replayed before RAW cut a commercial.
RAW returned from the commercial break to the sight of the WWE champion Edge backstage. Edge cut a promo on his World Heavyweight Championship at Armageddon, making it clear that since Triple H and Jeff Hardy cant co-exist, then they don’t have a chance of taking the title. Edge then promised to show exactly why he is the best champion in the WWE, when he faced John Cena later tonight.
The Miz & John Morrison vs.
Carlito & Primo ColonTwo teams up for tag team of the year clashed here, in what was a highly anticipated tag match. Carlito and Morrison shared some great spots in the opening minutes of the match, but it was the funnier sections of the match between Primo and Miz that got the crowd going. Either team could have got the win, with the match being very open from start to finish, but it was Carlito that got the pinfall for his team following the Backstabber on the Miz.
Winners: Carlito & Primo ColonFollowing the match Todd Grisham announced the nominees for
Best Finishing Manoeuvre - Randy Orton's RKO, Undertaker's Hell's Gate, Big Show's Knockout Punch and Evan Bourne's Shooting Star Press, with the winner being announced as
Evan Bourne’s Shooting Star Press. Bourne made his way out onto the ramp, using a single crutch to assist him, and collected his award.
Grisham then introduced the teams up for
Tag Team of the Year - The Miz & John Morrison, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase (although only Cody Rhodes was present), Cryme Tyme and Carlito & Primo, with the winning team being
The Miz & John Morrison. Miz and Morrison went to get their award, but Carlito & Primo jumped them from behind, and during the brawl Cryme Time sneaked around them and stole the award, before running backstage. RAW then cut to a commercial.
Returning from commercial RAW cut backstage to Chris Jericho. Jericho cut a promo on his World Heavyweight Championship match against John Cena this Sunday, promising to not only end Cena’s “pathetic title reign, but also his “pathetic” career.
Todd Grisham was then joined by Ron Simmons for the
“Damn” Moment of the Year award, with the nominations being Khali Kiss Cam (SmackDown, Nov. 7), Jim Ross in sailor suit (SmackDown, Oct. 31), CM Punk disguised in Mariachi Band, lays out Chavo Guerrero (ECW, Jan. 29) and Santino Marella attempts Melina’s Entrance (Raw, Dec. 1) all of which were followed by a “Damn”. The winner was announced as
Santino Marella attempts Melina’s Entrance. Marella once again came out to accept his award, this time only receiving a “Damn” from Ron Simmons.
Shawn Michaels vs.
Cody RhodesSimply an incredible match, and possibly the best match of Cody Rhodes career so far. The early parts of the match looked like it would be Shawn Michaels controlling the match, but a well timed distraction by Manu allowed Rhodes to fight back, and really take control of the match. The later stages of the match saw Shawn Michaels fight back, and the match became very evenly fought between the two. Rhodes went for the flying crossbody, only for Michaels to drop to the ground to avoid the move. Michaels followed up with the Sweet Chin Music for the pinfall.
Winner: Shawn MichaelsBefore Shawn Michaels could even leave the ring John Bradshaw Layfield made his entrance, much to the disdain of the live crowd, and talked about how he made Michaels an offer he can’t refuse, and that it’s time for a decision. JBL then produced a briefcase full of money, and told Michaels to think of it as an incentive clause. Michaels took the briefcase, before delivering some Sweet Chin Music to JBL, to a massive reaction. Michaels then opened the briefcase, and began throwing money to the crowd, telling them to have a happy Christmas. RAW then cut to commercial.
Todd Grisham then announced the nominations for
OMG Moment of the Year - CM Punk cashes in Money In the Bank and becomes the World Heavyweight Champion (Raw, June 30), Undertaker sends Edge to Hell (SummerSlam), Floyd Mayweather punches Big Show and breaks his nose (No Way Out) and John Cena's surprise return at the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble), with the winner being
Undertaker sends Edge to Hell.
Chris Jericho vs.
Jeff HardyAn excellent match, and the first of three massive matches here on RAW. Jeff really went for Jericho from the start of the match, and looked much more psychotic than ever before, showing no care what so ever what happened to himself or Jericho. Jericho attempted to ground Jeff, using a slow, submission based offence against Hardy, only for Jeff to explode with a series of moves, topped off by a Swanton bomb, which Jericho managed to kick out off. Jeff attempted a twist of fate, but Jericho pushed him away, and connected with the Codebreaker when he turned around for the win.
Winner: Chris JerichoTodd Grisham then introduced the nominations for the
Diva of the Year award - Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool. The winner was announced as
Beth Phoenix. A brawl nearly erupted between the Women’s champion and Michelle McCool, but Beth took her award and left backstage.
Randy Orton made his way to the ring, and was about to cut a promo when the lights went out, and a video package aired, showing Randy Orton’s best moments. Half way through the video froze, before falling away to reveal the words “The Age of Orton is Dead, soon the man himself will suffer the same fate”. The lights came back on to show Orton fuming in the ring, before RAW cut to a commercial.
Triple H vs.
BatistaA good match, but there seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm from the crowd during this match. The match was pretty basic, with two powerhouses going at it. The opening moments of the match were filled with brawling, before Triple H began working away at the legs of Batista to wear him down. Batista fought back, and seemed to hurt Triple H’s ribs with a massive spear, and nearly got the win following a Spinebuster. Batista attempted to hit the Batista Bomb, but Triple H reversed it with several punches to the skull, and connected with the Pedigree on a dazed Batista for the pinfall.
Winner: Triple HAfter the match Triple H and Batista shook hands, before Todd Grisham announced the nominations for
Match of the Year - 2008 Royal Rumble Match, Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair (Career Threatening Match, WrestleMania 24), Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Wrestlemania 24), Undertaker vs. Edge (Hell in a Cell Match at SummerSlam). The winner was announced as
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair. RAW then cut to commercial.
RAW returned from commercial to the sight of Vladamir Kozlov standing in the ring. Kozlov cut a promo on what seemed like his assault on Matt Hardy. Kozlov announced that he will be on ECW on sci-fi tomorrow to confront the ECW Heavyweight Champion.
Champion vs.
ChampionJohn Cena vs.
EdgeSimply an incredible match, with two wrestlers who seem to be at the top of their game going at it. Edge seemed to know every move Cena was going to attempt, and counted everything Cena threw at him, and quickly took control. Cena began to think outside of the box, hitting Edge with moves that nobody really expected, most of which were out of fellow wrestlers arsenal. Edge attempted to hit the spear, but Cena dodged the move, and went for the F-U. Edge escaped the move, and rolled out of the ring. The referee made the ten count, and Edge showed no interest in returning to the ring, giving Cena the win.
Winner (via Countout): John CenaTodd Grisham then introduced the nominations for the
Superstar of the Year award – Batista, Chris Jericho, Edge, Jeff Hardy, John Cena and Triple H. Grisham sounded honestly shocked when he announced the winner –
Edge! Before Edge could leave the ring and collect his award he was attacked by Triple H, and a six man brawl erupted in the ring. Triple H blasted Edge with a Pedigree, Cena hit Jericho with the F-U, and Batista threw Jeff Hardy to the outside. RAW came to an end with Triple H, John Cena and Batista playing to the crowd.