PHILADELPHIA – When Raw rolled into the City of Brotherly Love for a special three-hour episode, it was one of the biggest shows of the year, featuring not one, but three massive main events, as well as the 2008 Slammy Awards. However, in spite of all that, the most pressing issue on the Superstars' minds was Armageddon. Though much of the night was colored by anticipation of this Sunday's event, the situation boiled over in the last minutes of Raw, with every Superstar involved in Armageddon's two World Title Matches rushing into the ring, creating a scene of complete and utter bedlam.Chris Jericho won the Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year; World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. WWE Champion Edge ended in a no contest
The last Slammy awarded on Raw was perhaps the most prestigious: Superstar of the Year. Demonstrating the weight of this honor, Stephanie McMahon herself emerged to declare the winner. In what came as a great disappointment to the WWE Universe, the name she read was that of the reviled Chris Jericho. Affecting his normal smarmy, elitist attitude, Jericho took the podium and spoke at length of why he deserved the award. Lucky for our fans, however, his diatribe was interrupted by World Heavyweight Champion John Cena. Though The Champ wanted to chase after his slippery Armageddon opponent, he was held back by a referee in order to compete in his Champion vs. Champion Match against WWE Champion Edge.
Cena and Edge are no stranger to one another in the ring, with an extended rivalry in their past, but their main event on Raw was as intense as any of their past matches. Though both champions fought hard, the match ended as a no contest, after a run-in from the cowardly Chris Jericho, who took advantage of the situation to attack Cena, mere days before their World Heavyweight Title Match. With Cena distracted, Triple H stormed the ring to attack Edge, and with the later involvement of Jeff Hardy, all three contenders in the WWE Championship Match at Armageddon battled it out in the ring, as Cena and Jericho's brawl spilled out into the crowd.
Dolph Ziggler def. R-Truth
As seen on WWE.com earlier today, R-Truth won a Slammy Award for Best Musical Performance. The rapping ring warrior's fortunes took a downturn on Raw, however, as he faced off against Dolph Ziggler, who beat the rapping Superstar by disqualification. Following the contest, the victor greeted the audience, saying "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the winner, Dolph Ziggler."
The Great Khali won the Slammy Award for "DAMN!" Moment of the Year
Who better to give out the award for "DAMN!" Moment of the Year than the man who can bark that word like none other, Ron Simmons? Along with Mickie James, Simmons presented the award to The Great Khali for his Khali Kiss Cam segments on SmackDown. The Punjabi Giant spoke of the fleeting nature of material possessions, which warmed Mickie's heart to the humongous Superstar. As they looked in one another's eyes, the arena was filled with Superstars such as Jillian Hall, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter, Kung Fu Naki and even WWE personality Howard Finkel, creating another "DAMN!" Moment right there on Raw. As The Great Khali and Mickie kissed, Ron Simmons had little choice but to brandish his signature catchphrase.
Randy Orton, Manu & Cody Rhodes def. Triple H & Batista in a Handicap Match
Making good on his challenge from earlier in the night, Orton and the team he calls "The Legacy," including Manu & Cody Rhodes faced off against Triple H & Batista. Though the contest was a 3-on-2 Handicap Match, the outcome was nowhere near certain, as Triple H & Batista are not only among the current roster's most dominant athletes, but are also two of the most powerful Superstars in WWE history. In spite of their wealth of strength and ability, however, they were unable to compete against the odds stacked against them, with Randy Orton hitting Batista with a vicious RKO to pick up the win in his team's first match together.
Shawn Michaels won the Slammy Award for Match of the Year, but the award was taken by JBL
The highly-coveted Slammy for Match of the Year was presented by SmackDown's Eve and the star of the upcoming film Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, Mr. Kennedy. Paying homage to the "Nature Boy" himself, this award went to Ric Flair's Career Threatening Match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV. HBK came to the podium to give an emotional acceptance speech, but was interrupted by JBL, who had one week prior made an employment offer to Michaels. The self-proclaimed "wrestling god" took the award from Shawn, and declared himself the winner for his Parking Lot Brawl Match against John Cena at The Great American Bash, before leaving the stage and a dejected Michaels standing empty-handed.
World Tag Team Champion CM Punk won the Slammy Award for OMG Moment of the Year; Rey Mysterio def. World Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston to advance to the finals of the Intercontinental Title Tournament; Rey Mysterio to face CM Punk at Armageddon
To give out the Slammy Award for OMG Moment of the Year, Lilian Garcia announced ECW's Alicia Fox and the WWE personality who can be heard saying "Oh my god!" weekly on WWE.com, Joey Styles. The two revealed the winner to be World Tag Team Champion CM Punk, for cashing in Money in the Bank to beat Edge and win his first World Heavyweight Championship. The Straightedge Superstar was gracious in his acceptance, stating his intention to go the distance and win the Intercontinental Title from William Regal after winning the tournament.
After Punk's acceptance, his partner, World Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston, made his way to the ring to participate in that same Intercontinental Title Tournament. The Jamaican Superstar didn't have the same success as his partner, however, as Rey Mysterio defeated him in the two's first-ever match-up. The Master of the 619 will now go on to Armageddon this Sunday to compete against CM Punk for the opportunity to face Intercontinental Champion William Regal.
Edge & Vickie Guerrero won the Slammy Award for Couple of the Year; Finlay & Hornswoggle def. Santino Marella & Women's Champion Beth Phoenix; Beth Phoenix won the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year
To announce the winner of Couple of the Year, an unusual pairing made their way to the podium: The radiant Kelly Kelly and the Big Red Monster Kane. Giving the SmackDown General Manager a chance to subject Raw to her screeching, Vickie Guerrero was announced the winner along with her husband, WWE Champion Edge. One pair, however, was particularly put out that they had been looked over for the award, and Glamarella wasn't going to take it sitting down. Santino Marella & Women's Champion Beth Phoenix went on to challenge any "couple" in WWE to face them.
The two got more than they bargained for however, when Finlay & Hornswoggle emerged to accept the challenge. The Belfast Brawler & his diminutive son ran roughshod over Glamarella, further contributing to their discontent at the Slammy loss. But before the couple could leave the ring, ECW General Manager Teddy Long and Melina came out to the podium to announce the winner of Diva of the Year. Though it displeased her to announce it, Melina read Beth Phoenix's name. As The Glamazon attempted to accept her award, she broke out into a fight with her rival Diva that resulted in Santino getting hit in the groin.
Jeff Hardy won the Slammy Award for Extreme Moment of the Year; Chris Jericho def. Jeff Hardy
ECW Champion Matt Hardy made a special appearance on Raw to hand out the Slammy for Extreme Moment of the Year with the lovely Tiffany at his side. In what was a special moment for the two Hardys, Matt opened the envelope to discover that his brother Jeff had won for performing a Swanton Bomb on Randy Orton off the Raw set. Though Jeff was excited, and spoke of his plans to leave Armageddon having defeated WWE Champion Edge and Triple H to become the new champion, his exuberance quickly turned to dejection when he had to face the nefarious Chris Jericho. The first-ever Undisputed Champion proved why he continues to be a devastating force on Raw by pinning the Enigmatic Superstar for the win.
MVC (Most Valuable Charlie) def. MVP
SmackDown's MVP appeared on Raw hoping to break his long-running losing streak. After taunting Philadelphia Philly Jimmy Rollins at ringside, the Ballin' Superstar's opponent was revealed to be someone who looked very familiar. Charlie Haas, who had earlier in the day won the Slammy for Best Impersonation for his role as The GlamaHaas (as seen on WWE.com), came to the ring outfitted as MVP, bodysuit included. Unfortunately for Montel Vontavious Porter, his arrogant posturing got the best of him, leading to a win for the Most Valuable Charlie.
Evan Bourne won the Slammy Award for Best Finishing Maneuver; Randy Orton challenged Batista & Triple H to a Handicap Match
Evan Bourne's phenomenal Shooting Star Press was selected as the Best Finishing Maneuver of 2008, but it wasn't the high-flyer who arrived to accept the award from Candice Michelle and Cryme Tyme. Unfortunately, it was the man who had further injured the recuperating "Air" Bourne, Mike Knox. The Desert Destroyer took the coveted award before leaving the arena.
Following Knox's deplorable actions, another bitter Superstar emerged: Randy Orton. The Legend Killer was incensed that he was left out of the running for Superstar of the Year, and as a way of redeeming himself, challenged Triple H and Orton's Armageddon opponent, Batista, to a Handicap Match against the team of himself, Manu & Cody Rhodes, stating that "The Legacy is born."
The Miz & John Morrison won the Slammy Award for Tag Team of the Year; World Tag Team Champion CM Punk def. John Morrison to advance to the finals of the Intercontinental Title Tournament
Maria and Festus took to the stage at the top of the show to hand out the Slammy for Tag Team of the Year. The Miz & John Morrison were revealed to be the winners and the "Dirt Sheet" duo came out to accept, claiming to be not only the best tag team of 2008, but of the 21st century. Following the award, John Morrison entered the ring to compete against CM Punk in an effort to move ahead in the Intercontinental Title Tournament.
Though Morrison had claimed to be one-half of the finest ring tandem of this century, on Raw he was unable to stand up to the assault of one-half of the World Tag Team Champions. CM Punk defeated the Shaman of Sexy to move one step closer to facing 2008 King of the Ring William Regal for his Intercontinental Title.
Taken from: WWE.com
