NEWS: RAW was in Tampa, FL this time as we get closer and closer to Unforgiven…

Current Intercontinental champion Carlito starts RAW with Carlito’s Cabana. Carlito introduces his guest tonight, Shawn Michaels. Carlito thanks HBK for paving the way for guys like him. But he says it’s ironic that HBK is a guest on the Cabana. HBK says he cannot take anymore egos right now and wonders when was the last time he defended the title. Carlito says it doesn’t matter and it’s not cool that he disrespected him (as he picks up an apple). HBK tells Carlito he’ll kick the apple down his throat if he takes even one bite. Carlito tells HBK to save his aggression because there’s another guest tonight, Chris Masters. Masters comes down and threatens HBK with the Master Lock. HBK makes an early attack on Masters, but is outnumbered as Carlito gets involved. To HBK’s rescue comes Flair. Flair runs down to even the odds and Carlito and Masters are thrown out of the ring. Both HBK and Flair strut a little bit and then hug.

Backstage, Carlito and Masters are arguing with Bischoff. Bischoff tells Masters that the Master Lock challenge is delayed till next week because tonight it will be Masters & Carlito versus Flair & HBK.

Next up is a match between Big Show and two jobbers. The match is two on one, but Show has no trouble beating them. He gets the win with a double chokeslam. Right after Show is announced the winner, Snitsky jumps him. Show throws him out of the ring so Snitsky grabs the ringbell, runs in and hits him twice in the head.

Out next is Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle. Torrie & Candice say they took things too far last week with Ashlet Massaro and they want to apologize. Ashley comes out to hear what they have to say. Both Torrie & Candice apologize, but Ashley questions their motives. Ashley accepts their apology. Torrie & Candice say they know how much she wants to wrestle, so they pulled a few strings with the GM to get Ashley her first match. Candice says after this match, Ashley will know her place and learn to keep her mouth shut. Ashley realizes what’s going on and asks which two she will wrestle tonight. Candice says neither, it’s her. Victoria’s music hits and she comes down to wrestle Ashley. Ashley tries to attack Victoria early, but she is no match for Victoria. Ashley loses when Victoria hits the Widow’s Peak.

Commercial. It should be noted that an ad for TNA is played.

Promo played for Cade and Murdoch.

Backstage, Edge is hanging out with the band who does his theme music. Todd interrupts them and asks Edge where Lita is and his thoughts on his match with Matt Hardy. Edge says Lita is running an errand and tonight he will bury Matt Hardy’s career.

Elsewhere backstage, Hardy is getting ready for his match when Lita walks into the hallway. Lita says she spent a lot of time “warming” up Edge for his match. She also asks him how it feels to know that he can never have her again (while she takes off her jacket to show a skimpy outfit). Lita answers her own question and simply says Hardy is pathetic and he can go to hell. Hardy, giving Lita an evil look, says he will go to hell, but he’s taking Edge with him.

Elsewhere backstage, a WWE worker runs into the locker room to get Shawn Michaels. The worker informs HBK that Flair is down. They both run out and find Flair on the floor covered in blood. HBK is asking everyone who did this as he tries to revive Flair.

Back in the arena, Edge and Matt Hardy come out for their street fight. The two exchange right hands and fight into the crowd. They make their way back to ringside as Hardy throws Edge over the barricade and gives him a double ax handle. Edge is thrown into the ring as Hardy looks under the ring for a weapon. He pulls a trash can lid out and nails Edge in the head with it. Hardy goes under the ring again and brings out a ladder. Just as Hardy lifts the ladder to his chest, Edge delivers a baseball slide. Edge rolls out of the ring to join Hardy as go to commercial. When we come back, Hardy is punching Edge in the middle of the ring. Hardy hits Edge with a trash can lid, throws him into the ladder in the corner, sets up the ladder and climbs up. Edge gets up and climbs the ladder as the two exchange blows. Hardy punches Edge off the ladder and then follows up with a huge leg drop off the ladder. Hardy makes the cover, but only gets a two count. Hardy goes to the outside and grabs a chair. Hardy rolls back in and lifts the chair up, but Edge nails him in the stomach with a kendo stick and then nails him in the head. Hardy is down and Edge lays his head on top of the flat chair. Edge gets another chair and looks to hit Hardy in the head with it, but Hardy sweeps Edge. Edge hits a flapjack with Hardy’s head hitting the rung of the ladder. Then he hits Hardy with the trash can lid several times. Edge punches Hardy over and over as Matt gets his hands up to protect himself. The ref keeps checking on Matt in between Edge’s assaults. Edge grabs Hardy and sandwiches his head in between the steel steps. Edge kicks the steps, but Hardy pulls his head at the last second. Matt fights back and gives Edge a DDT on the steel steps. As Lita looks on, Hardy slams Edge’s head into the steps over and over again. Matt grabs a chair and goes to hit Edge, but Lita stops him by hitting him with the briefcase. Hardy goes for Lita, but Edge cuts him off. Hardy and Edge fight into the ring and Hardy rams the ladder into Edge. The ladder crashes to the mat and Hardy sets Edge on top of it. Hardy goes for a moonsault, but Edge moves and Hardy lands on the ladder! Edge sees his chance and the two roll out to ringside as Edge delivers a trash can to Hardy’s head. Hardy slowly gets up and starts swinging wildly at the air. Hardy doesn’t know what’s going on. Edge runs and starts punching again as they make their way up the ramp to the stage. Hardy throws Edge into the set. Hardy grabs Lita and looks to powerbomb her off the stage, but Edge makes the save. Edge lifts up Matt and goes to powerslam him off the stage, but Hardy fights out of it. Hardy retreats to the middle of stage and goes for the twist of fate. Edge pushes Hardy off. Edge runs over to spear him. Hardy sidesteps and Edge stops himself before he goes off the stage. Edge turns around and Hardy starts punching. Edge swings at Hardy, but Hardy ducks it, locks up with Edge, jumps!! Tables crash, sparks pop off and Edge & Matt are just laying their motionless. The ref yells to turn the power off as officials, EMT’s, Coach, King and Bischoff come out to check up on them. We go to commercial as EMT’s put a neck brace on Hardy. The match is clearly over with no definitive winner.

When we come back, EMT’s have Edge and Hardy on stretchers. We see a closeup of Edge as he looks scared with tears in his eyes. Both men are wheeled out as we go to another commercial.

Out next is WWE Champion John Cena. Cena says he has a cheap haircut, gas is too high, 50 Cent was cursing at the VMA’s, and he got attacked by Angle last week. Cena says that’s the bad news. But the good news is he just saved a bunch of money on his car insurance. Cena says, “THE CHAMP IS STILL HERE! IF YOU WANT SOME, COME GET SOME!!!” Angle comes out and says he’s not stupid. He wants the title bad and he will get it at the PPV. Cena doesn’t care what Angle says and is still calling him out. Angle slowly walks down to the ring, but turns around and walks right back up. Fans start chanting “YOU SUCK!” Angle is yelling at the fans and marches down the ramp again. Angle grabs the rope to pull himself up, but stops. Angle turns around again. As Angle is walking up, Cena says he forgot, after last week he realizes Angle only likes to hit guys from behind. Angle stops dead in his tracks on the ramp. Cena slowly turns around and sticks his ass out a little bit and provokes Angle. Angle is pissed now over the insinuation and he rushes the ring. Angle tries to get Cena into the ankle lock, but Cena kicks him off and Angle retreats.

Next match up is Tyson Tomko versus Rosey. Tomko attacks Rosey early on and never stops. Rosey jumps off the second rope from the turnbuckle, but Tomko gets his leg up and delivers a vicious kick to his stomach. The ref checks on Rosey and rings the bell. Tomko wins by knockout. Hurricane comes in now and gets kicked too.

In the final match on RAW, HBK versus Carlito & Masters in a handicap match since Flair is in the hospital now. Carlito is the first man to get into the ring with HBK. Carlito is getting frustrated because he cannot get the advantage so tags in Masters. Masters has better luck as he stomps HBK into the mat. Carlito tags in. Chops by Carlito, then a reverse elbow and the cover. HBK kicks out and Masters tags in. Masters distracts the ref which gives Carlito the chance to choke HBK. Tag again. Carlito throws HBK into he turnbuckle and then applies the sleeper hold. HBK fights out with a back suplex. Chop by HBK then a swinging neck breaker. Inverted atomic drop by HBK then a clothesline that sends Carlito out of the ring. Masters runs in, but is also thrown out by HBK. Commercial. When we come back, HBK is getting control of the match. He delivers a flying elbow drop on Carlito. HBK goes to the corner and signals for Sweet Chin Music. However, Masters trips him up when he grabs his leg from the outside. HBK is in bad shape and is being pummeled by Masters & Carlito. Then from the ramp, Flair runs down with a bandage over this head. Flair jumps on the apron and HBK tags him in. Flair runs in and starts going crazy. But, Flair receives a low blow and is incapacitated. Carlito is thrown to the outside and HBK hits him with a splash by jumping over the top rope. Back in the ring, Masters come up from behind and puts the Master Lock on a hurting Flair. Flair cannot power out of it and the ref rings the bell. Carlito & Masters walk up the ring with a smug look on their faces as HBK check on Flair.

Wow, I loved RAW. I seriously loved it. The street fight between Edge and Hardy was great and renewed my interest in their feud. Damn good match. Simply great.

One great part about RAW tonight was the ever changing main event. First, it was going to be HBK versus Masters. Then it became Masters & Carlito versus Flair & HBK. Then Flair dropped out of the match. Since the main event kept changing, I didn’t change the channel once. I wish Masters didn’t get the win on Flair because he doesn’t deserve it all. The win was pretty much clean (though Flair was low blowed). But still, I wish he used chair or something. All in all, good main event and a great show. Flair & HBK are a great team and I’ll admit, Masters looked good tonight.

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