Raw 8-31

The American Dream Dusty Rhodes is tonight's Raw GM. I like him and it should be a good show. DX and Legacy will continue tonight. Cena vs Orton was already made for the ppv. I know Show vs Henry and Jericho vs MVP have been announced. I do not know how they could possibly top the World Cage Match on Smackdown last Friday but I am sure they will try.

I just want to say that this maybe one of my shortest Raw Blogs. I had surgery today to take out 2 of my wisdom teeth so I am a little under the weather. Also, a big thank you goes out to Jeff Hardy. You put on two fantastic matches in 3 days. The TLC and followed up with a Cage match. Oh and way to add more heat on Punk to "punk" Hardy out right before Smackdown went off the air. Great touch by the writers.

Raw starts with The American Dream Dusty Rhodes. I love his music. I dance everytime I hear it, probably because it has a cowbell on it. I have a fever and the only cure is more cowbell. He is just a common man! Rhodes is charismatic, fan favorite, and a great talker. Dusty talks about how he is proud of his son, Cody Rhodes. Dusty makes a match with Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes for the WWE Title. Awesome! I think that is some much added drama. Rhodes also said he will be in Cody's corner and makes Cena the special referee for that match. I remember the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase did sort of the same thing for his son, Teddy. Raw needs to add some depth to Legacy's characters. The WWE champ Randy Orton walks out and tells Rhodes he is upset that Cody looks up more to Orton then his own father. Rhodes tells him Cody is hungrier than him. Orton says he is setting up for a disappointment and asks to give him one good reason he shouldn't kick Dusty like he did two years ago. The young man, Cody comes out. Cody actually talks about his father's legacy is bigger than his or Randy's. Cody says he will not pass up this opportunity. Randy says the fix is it. Randy struts away a little befuddled at what just happened.

6 diva battle royal. The winner will get a Diva title shot later tonight. 2 segments of women, couldn't we just make Beth vs Mickie? The participants are Jillian Hall, Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, Alica Fox, and Rosa. Beth throws out Rosa first. Kelly starts mounting an offense until Alicia hits her axe kick. Alicia gets tossed out. Followed by Kelly eliminated by Beth. Gail up on Jillian's shoulders twice but she was unsuccessful. Gail held on the top rope and eliminated Jillian and Beth stood by and watched. Gail got up on the apron and Beth booted her out. Beth wins!!! Beth wins!! Thank you, I will be here all night. Beth vs Mickie for the Diva Championship later tonight.

Right after the battle royal, my boy Y2J, Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring. Jericho vs MVP is next. The longest reigning United States champion in WWE history MVP comes to the ring with his sweet pyro. Match starts with some amateur wrestling. Smackdown also had the tag champs vs Cryme Tyme. A great rematch from Summerslam and established the tag champs. Momentum swung a few times with a few counters. MVP chant by the crowd. MVP starts to dominate the match heading for the break. MVP was dropkicked off the apron by Y2J. I love that move. MVP in a sleeper when Raw returns from the commercials. MVP starts hitting some quick moves but then countered again into a bulldog by Jericho. Lionsault was missed and now MVP has another shot. Ballin elbow for 2 and MVP goes for the playmaker is countered. Walls of Jericho into a small package for 2 again. Crazy finish, MVP turns around Jericho nails the Codebreaker for the victory. I really enjoy the Codebreaker. Jericho has a finisher that can come out of no where and is fun to watch. Great match.

DX with Rhodes in the backstage area. Rhodes says after Cody wins the title, they will get a shot at the title. DX says they are bored. Dusty says they can hang out with him and watch the new WCW dvd. Rhodes then plugs his own dvd. HHH says if it is one thing they hate its a shameless plug. Triple H goes on to plug the DX dvd. Hornswaggle in the back heading towards the ring in a cowboy suit. I can't wait. Had the dentist not pulled my wisdom teeth today, I may have done it during the Hornswaggle match tonight.

Last week Evan came out to help Hornswaggle, I thought maybe we would see that tonight. Instead, we get Chavo, dressed as a cow, vs Hornswaggle in a bull rope match. Before the match starts the ref adds a cow hat to Chavo's wardrobe. This is just a waste of time. Hornswaggle wins in a match that degrates the entire history of bull rope matches. By the way if you want to see a real bullrope match, shameless plug for me, heres a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0lJm_47mGY&feature=channel_page Im the man out first. Yes I am a Legend!

Well its the BIG SHOW! I hope the WWE reinforced the ring for this bout. Big Show weighs in at 485 lbs and Henry at 418. Close to a half a ton of beef in the ring. A test of strength and Show was going down until a boot to the gut. Henry is about two steps ahead of Show tonight. I didn't figure this to be a classic wrestling contest but its having moments. The biggest spear ever by Show on Henry. Unbelievable! Henry slamming Show into the corner and one more in the middle of the ring followed it up with a big splash for 2. Show takes the turnbuckle cover off and Henry runs into it for a dq win. Henry dazed, turns around for the knock out punch. Show is starting to perfect his right hand. Big Show hit a thunderous shot at Summerslam on JTG. Shad received the same treatment on Smackdown. Tonight was Mark Henry's turn to feel the shot.

DX back again with Rhodes backstage. They are talking about the Monday Night Wars. Dusty talks about WCW kicking WWE ass in the ratings from 1996-1998. Dusty says wasn't that during your era as champion? Shawn gets pissed after another rib and leaves. HHH talks about booking in back then. HBK comes back screaming about the attitude era.

In the ring Lillian announces a fatal four way match for the United States Championship. Jack Swagger out first and starts doing push ups with pyro in the back ground. That is something new. Carlito followed by Miz. The lightening rod and United States Champion Kofi Kingston out last. The way a title match should be, champ out last. Miz does the coward heel move and takes a powder on the outside. Kofi hits some offense followed up by Swagger, who gets thrown to the outside. First pinfall Carlito on top of Kofi but broken up by Miz. The action is fierce and I have no idea if I can keep up. All 3 heels are on the outside and Kofi takes a suicide dive on to all of them leading to a break. I will try and catch my breath now. I like both Swagger and Kofi. I use to think Kofi was just a nice mid card guy but I think this kid has a shot to be something more. He may never get a world title, but one of those guys that goes out and puts on solid matches and works hard. Swagger has every ingredient to be a World Champion. I also think if R Truth was booked correctly, now that Rey is suspended. Truth and Dolph Ziggler could feud for the Intercontinental title. Carlito makes a save as Raw returns. Kofi with another high flying cross body onto Carlito and Miz. Swagger gains the momentum and hits one splash off the 2nd rope for a 2 count on Carlito. Miz gets his knees up on the 2nd attempt by Swagger. Leg drop on to Carlito and Swagger for a 2 count. Miz hits his finisher for 2 count on Swagger. Carlito breaks it up and hits the backstabber on Miz. Before he can cover, Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise for the win on Carlito. Great fast paced match. Way to show off 4 very good wrestlers and give them time to develop a story in the ring. I enjoyed that.

The Glamazon Beth Phoenix taking on Mickie James for the Diva Title. After bitching for months for this match, its about time! Mickie uses speed for a quick pin for a 1 count to start the match. Beth using her power and slams Mickie into the corner. Beth hits a baseball slide into Mickie who nails the ring post. Beth runs her over when she gets to her feet. A huge shoulder breaker for 2 by the Glamazon. Beth starts to focus on the shoulder, smart wrestling. Crowd starts cheering and Mickie gets back to her feet and lands some kicks and right forearms. Low dropkick to the knee and one to the end gets Beth to the mat. Mickie with a head scissor to get Beth down again. Mickie climbed the ropes but Beth drills her and Mickie takes a nasty fall to the floor. Back in the ring for a 2 count. Beth with a sick kick and looked to win back a Women's belt. Somehow Beth lifted up Mickie and was countered into the Mickie DDT for the victory to retain her title. A great women's match for Raw.

DX and Rhodes again backstage. Triple H talks about the Shockmaster from back in the WCW days. He shows up plowing through the wall and DX wonders where the voice is coming from. Arn Anderson shown off camera had a mic in his hand. Santino was the Shockmaster.

Cena with a backstage interview. Cena talks about the story we have tonight. Cody Rhodes with his father in his corner and defeats Randy to become the youngest champion in WWE history. Cena said if Cody did that it would show Cody wouldnt need to hide in someone elses shadow or be the end of Legacy. Cena says he will not choose sides. Cena says who ever wins will run into a brick wall at Breaking Point. Cena says he will not quit!

You want something to watch Friday night, I have some good news for you. The Undertaker will be making his return to free television this Friday night. I am sure he will be focused on the Straightedged Superstar CM Punk. Plus Tuesday night on ECW, they are replaying Shawn Michaels and Undertaker from Wrestlemania 25. If you missed that match, just stop watching wrestling.

The WWE Champion Randy Orton is out first before the break. Cody with his father by his side make their entrance. The special guest ref gets the final entrance. I like Cena but as I said when a title is on the line, I want to see the champion out last. Rhodes grabs the mic and its a double cross. Rhodes turns on Cena and here comes Dibiase. Legacy triple team John Cena. Here come DX for the save! Triple H nailing Orton and HBK on Dibiase. Dusty hits Triple H with a cowboy boot. I guess the heels will finally get the upper hand tonight. RKO on Dusty! WTF? I did not see that coming. Cody looks pissed off. Huge Cody chant as Raw goes off the air. That was nuts! I loved the ending. Heels go out on top after being looked weak for weeks to John Cena. The RKO on Dusty was icing on the cake. Will Cody turn soon? The crowd sure got behind him which is probably what the WWE wanted to test. The crowd will get behind a man wanting to defend his father's honor and when your dad is a hall of famer, Dusty Rhodes. The crowd will really love you because they love him. A wild emotional ride to end Raw.

Next week it was announced Bob Barker will be the general manger. I will have to wait and see what the writers do with him. I have to say I love Bob Barker. I watched the Price is Right about as long as I have watched wrestling. We know he won't be in the ring wrestling for sure but maybe a few backstage skits with some of the wrestlers and announce a match or two would be a solid show in my eyes.

If you are a football fan, check out my NFC blog I wrote last week. Also I will be writing and AFC preview blog and that will be up Thursday morning. Can't get enough football or wrestling? Hit the radio tap and listen to John and Eric show and Showstoppers. BBSD Radio is ok to listen at work.

J Call