This week’s three hour RAW starts with music and pyro.

JR and King talk about the upcoming three brand tag match. They also talk about the presidential candidates talking to the fans. And there will be a “match” between Clinton and Obama. The last thing is about the King Of The Ring Tournament.

Lillian announces the first person in the first mate of the KOTR Tournament – Y2J comes out to the ring. JR says even they don’t know who’s going to be in the KOTR matches, so they don’t know who will be facing Y2J. MVP’s music and he comes out. He eyes the throne on the stage and points to it as Y2J rolls his eyes. So the first match is between the U.S. Champion and the IC Champion.
MVP goes on the offensive and takes Y2J down quickly. Y2J is fighting back with a knee to the side of MVP’s head. Y2J hangs MVP up top. MVP lands on his feet outside but Y2J hits a baseball slide. MVP goes back in the ring. Y2J follows and is attacked on his way in. “Y2J” chants. MVP covers for two. Sitting abdominal stretch on Y2J in the center of the ring. It doesn’t look very clean, but semi-effective. “Y2J” chants. Y2J fights to his feet. Y2J elbows out and takes MVP down a couple times. MVP comes back with a quick belly to belly. MVP covers for two. Y2J hits a northern light suplex and bridge for two. MVP back slides Y2J for two. MVP boots Y2J in the feet and covers again for two. MVP gets Y2J over his shoulders and drops him hard. Y2J comes back with a clothesline for two. MVP has a goose egg over his right eye and Y2J throws punches there. Bulldog from Y2J. Y2J misses his lionsault. MVP tries for his finisher, but Y2J counters and locks on the walls. MVP taps out.

– Winner: Y2J

Y2J raises his title belt on his way out of the ring. Y2J is in the semi-finals for the KOTR. Video replay of the end of the match. Close up of the big bump on MVP’s forehead.
Y2J goes up the ramp and climbs up into the throne. He sits comfortably and grins.

Out back CM PUNK is getting ready for a match.

– Commercial

CM PUNK comes down for his KOTR Match. Matt Hardy comes out to face him. Punk looks shocked at first, then grins.
They lock up and push each other around. “Hardy” chants. They muscles each other with arm holds. A forearm to Hardy followed by a forearm to Punk. Punk manages to take Matt down for two. Punk takes Matt down for one. Chinlock on Matt. “Hardy” chants. Matt gets to his feet but Punk takes him over and back to the mat. Punk backs Matt into a corner and throws knees to Matt’s gut. Matt gets set up top. Punk goes up but gets punched down. Matt flies with a double axe handle to the back of Punk’s neck. A clothesline to Punk in a corner but Punk comes back with a knee to Matt’s face. Punk covers for two. Punk out on the apron and jumps to the top rope to fly. Matt counters with the side effect. Matt covers for two. The twist of fate is countered. Matt counters that. Matt takes Punk down and covers for two. Punk reverses the cover and manages to get the three.

– Winner: CM PUNK

Punk quickly leaves the ring and goes to sit on the throne with his briefcase.

The ‘brackets’ are up on the screen JR talks about Punk facing Y2J and not knowing who else is competing.

– Commercial

Video of Obama and Hillary on the SD! Vs RAW video game. They beat the heck out of each other in the ring. They end in a standoff.

Video of HHH facing JBL last week. Orton attacks HHH on the ramp during the match. In the ring HHH was beating on Orton, but JBL attacked HHH. Then JBL attacked Orton.

The Backlash Fatal Four Way has been changed to an Elimination Fatal Four Way.

Video of JBL talking about how he’s going to win at Backlash. He talks about money, his new company and wrestling. He says the torch he passed will come home on Sunday.

Khali comes out for the next KOTR Match. He sits in the throne.

– Commercial

Khali is in the ring. Video of Show taking Khali down with one punch. More video of Khali taking Show apart by Khali after having to face Henry on SD! Finlay comes out to the ring, Horney is by his side.
Finlay throws kicks and punches but is slammed down. Khali scoops Finlay up onto his shoulder and slams him down. Finlay takes Khali down and hits a couple low dropkicks. Khali gets his hand wrapped around Finlay’s neck and to his feet. Finlay gets slammed around and down.
Horney enters with the sheleighly. Khali turns and goes after him. Finlay protects his son. Finlay gets Horney out of the ring. Khali goes outside and starts slamming Finlay’s leg into the ring post. The ref counts Khali out.

– Winner: Finlay

Big Show’s music and he comes stomping out. They glare at each other as Show slowly approaches. Khali backs away and around the ring. Show keeps advancing, Khali keeps backing off. Show gets in the ring and call Khali in. Khali points and shouts, but then leaves.

– Commercial

Refs are helping Finlay out back. His left knee is the possibly injured one.

The next person out for the KOTR Tournament is Regal! He’s wrestling! He’s facing Horney. Finlay and Horney are at the top of the ramp. Finlay tells him no and they keep going out back.
Regal goes up the ramp and grabs Horney. Horney gets tossed in the ring and Regal glares at him. Regal rushes Horney and pushes him down. He applies the Regal stretch and Horney taps out.

– Winner: Regal

Finlay somehow got back in the ring to help his son. Regal cheap shots Finlay from behind with a kick to Finlay’s knee. The refs are trying to help both father and son in the ring.

HBK is out back heading for the ring. He’s in a suit jacket and looks rather mad.

– Commercial

Video of the European Tour. Looks like it was amazing!

HBK comes out to the ring in jeans, an HBK t-shirt, light beige suit jacket and cowboy hat. He says the last thing he thought he’d have to do after facing Flair was to come into the ring and talk about having to face his close, personal friend Batista at Backlash. He knows Batista is there and he has a question for him. He invited Batista to the ring.
A rather long lull. It appears as though he’s not coming, then the music starts. Batista is in a wife beater and jeans, not one of his normal dapper looking suits.
HBK says he appreciates him coming out. Last week on SD! Y2J asked him a question, but Batista didn’t give an answer. HBK asks if that’s the problem Batista has with him? That he wanted to be the one to face Flair at WM?
Batista asks if he wants HBK to say yes? To absolve HBK of any blame? Well, this has nothing to do with Flair. It’s personal now. He respects where HBK is in his career, but not how he got there. He’s sick of talking only six days from Backlash. It doesn’t matter how HBK fells, at Backlash, he’s going to finish it.
HBK says he appreciates the honesty. He’s everything Batista says he is. He says he’s the Heart Break Kid, The Showstopper, Mr. WM. And he’s ‘the man’. This last little bit gets him some shock from the fans. They’ve talked about the blood on HBK’s hands. It’s there. It’s called collateral damage. He knows Batista is focused on facing Taker for the title this week on SD! But the man Batista is saying all these things about, is the man he’s facing at Backlash.
They get right up in each other’s faces. HBK backs away, then gives a little motion like he’s going to jump Batista or super kick him. Batista drops his mic and smirks. He walks past HBK, brushing him hard with his shoulder. HBK stays there while Batista leaves the ring and goes up the ramp. HBK glares at a retreating Batista.

– Commercial

Hillary Clinton’s video to the fans. She says we can call her ‘Hill Rock’. She gives a speech about going to the mat for us, taking a hit for us, maybe even dropping ‘The People’s Elbow’. She’s staying out of the ring, so Orton’s safe for now. (I have to say it was a well written, well delivered and cute speech. I’m staying out of the political side of things, but I thought it was very well done.)

Holly and Cody come down to the ring. Carlito comes down to the ring. Santino is by his side. Holly is the one fighting.
They lock up and Holly gets a side headlock on Carlito. Carlito gets slammed down. They go back and forth with slams until Holly covers for two. Holly backs Carlito into a corner and stomps him. Carlito gets whipped but get his foot up. Carlito gets slammed in the center of the ring and Holly covers for two. Carlito comes back with lots of punches to a downed Holly. Side slam to Holly and Carlito covers for two. Holly runs into a drop kick. Carlito covers for two. A forearm to Holly’s back and then a knee to Holly’s kidney. Scoop slam to Holly and Carlito covers for one. Holly face first into the top turn buckle until the ref makes Carlito back off. Hard chop to Carlito. Holly hits a bunch of punches. A couple clotheslines to Carlito and Holly then hits a drop kick. Holly sets up for the Alabama slam, but can’t do it. Carlito reverses into the back stabber for three.

– Winner: Carlito

Santino grabs a mic and tells them to get used to that feeling. They are number one contenders to Holly and his little boyfriend.
Cody grabs a mic and tells Santino to shut up. He asks Santino “What’s Italian for please hit me in the head with this microphone?”
Santino starts creaming that Cody can’t talk to him like that.
Cody says, “That’s what I thought.” Cody proceeds to smirk and hit Santino in the head with the mic. Holly and Cody clear the ring.

– Commercial

HHH video talking about the match at Backlash. He says they can say all they want, but this Sunday they will have to prove it. There will be only one winner. One will be WWE Champion. He says he can tell with every bit of his being that it will be him. It’s up to them to prove him wrong.

Lillian announces the next KOTR match. Y2J comes out to the ring. Video of Y2J beating MVP to advance. Punk comes out to face him. Video of Punk beating Matt to advance.
“Y2J” chants. They lock up. Side headlock to Punk and they’re down on the mat. Punk pushes out. Shoulder block by Y2J and he covers for less than one. A couple head leg kicks from Punk. Snap mare from Punk who covers for one. Y2J tries to hang Punk up top, but they’re too close and miss the move. Y2J then goes for a springboard and Punk moves. Y2J lands flat in the ring. Punk jumps to the top rope to fly and Y2J dropkicks the rope out form under Punk’s feet. Punk lands flat and Y2J covers for two. Y2J stretches Punk over his knee. Punk wraps a hammerlock into a clothesline on Y2J. Punk covers for two. Y2J hits a hurricanrana and covers for two. They exchange covers. An enziguri from Y2J and he covers for two. Power slam from Punk who covers for two. Y2J gets whipped but gets an elbow up. Punk tries for the GTS but Y2J counters. They go back and forth, Y2J lands on his feet and locks on the walls. Punk manages to get to the ropes and break the hold. The fans are not happy. Y2J stomps Punk until the ref makes him stop. Y2J rushes Punk and gets lifted over the top rope. Y2J lands on the apron. Y2J works over Punk’s upper back. Y2J climbs but Punk hits a high enziguri laying Y2J across the top of a corner. Punk gets Y2J across his shoulders and hits the GTS. Punk is able to cover for three. (Great match!!!)

– Winner: CM PUNK

Video replay of high points of the match. A couple replays of the GTS. Punk leaves the ring as Y2J slowly gets to his feet. Punk gets to the stage and smirks back at Y2J.

– Commercial

Obama gives his speech. He talks about Orton’s reign probably coming to an end, like in Washington. He asks if we smell what he’s cookin’. (He’s obviously reading off a teleprompter or cure cards. He’s also very stiff. It was very well written, but not at all well delivered.)

Regal’s music and he comes down to the ring. Video of Horney losing to Regal. Finlay’s music and he limps to the ring himself. His knee is heavily taped.
Regal tries to go after Finlay’s knee, but can’t get a hold on it. Finlay is able to monkey flip Regal with one leg. Regal hit the ropes as they were off their Mark. Finlay goes out of the ring after Regal. Regal slams Finlay legs first into the stairs. Regal kicks and pummels Finlay’s knee. Huge “Regal sucks” chants. Regal keeps working over that knee. Finlay comes back with punches and forearms. Regal gets tossed shoulder first into the ring post. Finlay covers for two. They go back and forth, fighting hard. Finlay tries for a backslide and has to use Regal’s hair to do it. Regal manages to get the Regal stretch on Finlay. Finlay’s knee is at a bad angle and both arms are tied up. He can’t tap out and the ref finally calls for the bell ending the match.

– Winner: Regal

Video of the high points of the match.

– Commercial

McCain’s turn. He goes through a lot of call phrases. More so than any of the others. He says we watch wrestling to celebrate our freedom. (His is actually pretty good too. He used more call phrases and seemed to understand what they meant more than the other two.)

JR and King go through the matches slated for Backlash.

Cena’s video about his match at Backlash. He rips up JBL. He talks up HHH, but that he’ll be him. He rips on Orton who hasn’t spoken yet. He says he talks to send a message to the other three. Not that he’ll be the champ, that anyone’s ball game, but that they have to go through him to get there. He will make them earn it.

The ring is being decked out in red, white and blue.

– Commercial

Lillian announces ‘Hillary’. A really bad Hillary comes out with a really good Bill. She comes out to Hogan’s ‘Real American’ music. Bill falls on his ass getting in the ring. Hillary does Hogan’s ear call and gets booed every time. She calls people Hill-O-Maniacs. Bill bumps her and wants to help and they argue in a corner that it’s her turn now. “Monica” chants. She goes on with more political/Hogan catch phrases.
Lillian announce Obama. ‘Obama’ comes out to Rock’s music with really bad huge fake ears. He shakes hands on the way to the ring. He gets up on a corner and poses. He says he’s finally come back to South Carolina. (He’s actually doing a pretty good Rock impersonation.) Bill takes Hillary’s mic and goes to talk to Obama and Obama cuts him off with ‘it doesn’t matter…’
They put down their mics for their match. They back into their own corners. They ref is checking Hillary and bill tells the ref not to touch her. Bill says he’s not allowed to touch her, so the ref isn’t either. That no man has touched her in over twenty years.
She takes him down hard and throws punches. She hits a damn fine scoop slam and leg drop. She covers for two. Obama hits a knee lift and hits a HARD rock bottom. He goes for the people’s elbow and Bill trips him. Bill says, “I did not have illegal contact with that candidate.”
They’re both down and the ref is counting but Umaga’s music starts and he stomps out to the ring. Bill is in the corner with Hillary. The ref calls for the bell and leaves the ring. Umaga pulls up Obama and hits a Samoan spike. Bill goes out to shake Umaga’s hand saying he’s going to vote for her. Umaga moves at Bill and he runs up the ramp. He hits a HARD Samoan drop on Hillary. JR says the match appears to be a draw. (I have to say the woman playing Hillary has taken quite a few hard bumps tonight.)

– Commercial

Video replay of Umaga’s attack.

Maria’s music, but it’s not just her. Kelly, Michelle, Cherry and Ashley. Maria says they all wanted to come out because last week something happened that they never thought possible. Video of Mickie beating Beth for the strap. Ashley says, “Ding dong the witch is dead!” She introduces Mickie. Mickie comes bouncing out in tight black capris and a black halter. She’s all smiles and hugging her belt. Maria says she knows Mickie wasn’t expecting a celebration, but congratulations.
Mickie says this is great. Everyone said Beth was un-stoppable, but she proved her wrong.
She’s cut off by Beth’s music as she comes out with all the heel Divas. Beth says that they’re not all best friends, but they’re sick of the little love-fest. Mickie might have the title belt, but it’s not a matter of if Beth will win it back, but when. This whole thing is a slap in the face.
Mickie is ready to fight but the girls hold her back. Michelle grabs a mic and says that it’s not a slap in the face, “This is!” Michelle bitch slaps Beth. Beth takes Michelle down and all heck breaks loose. The face Divas clear the ring of the heel Divas. Cherry dumps the last heel from the ring. Beth is seething as she and her cronies are backing up the ramp.

– Commercial

Regal comes out for the KOTR final match. CM PUNK comes out to face him. Punk is holding his lower back and cringing a bit.
They lock up and Punk is backed into a corner. Lots of rights and lefts to Punk. The ref backs him off and Punk comes back fighting. Knees and feet to Regal’s head and face. Regal comes back with a suplex. Regal covers for two. Regal stretches punks arms back with a knee in his back. Punk gets to his feet and out. They throw a lot of blows and kicks. Regal again pulls Punk’s arms back and forces him to his knees. Regal’s foot is in the center of Punk’s back. Punk is able to get up and out. A huge kick to Regal’s head. A back hand to Regal’s head. Punk covers for two. Punk tries to get Regal up. He gets him there, but Regal grabs the ropes and gets out. A huge knee to Punk’s head. Punk is down and trying to avoid the Regal stretch, but can’t Regal locks it in and Punk has to tap out.

– Winner & KOTR – Regal

Regal leaves the ring and backs up the ramp with a crazed look in his eyes. Video replay of the high points of the match. Regal climbs up and sits on the throne. He sits there glaring around.

– Commercial

Orton’s music and he comes out for the huge tag match. Orton says he’s sick and tired of hearing people saying they’ll be walking out of Backlash as the new champion. His actions speak louder than words, so he has nothing to say about that. He has nothing to say except… He rattles off the PPVs that he’s had successful championship victories. No one can do anything about the fact that he will remain the champion. JBL’s music and his huge white limo comes out as far as he can. JBL walks the rest of the way out. Chavito is the next one out to the ring. He’s all bouncy and happy while JBL and Orton are nose to nose glaring at each other. He ignores the other two when he gets in the ring. Edge comes out to round out the team. As he walks out the ref is between Orton and JBL to keep them from ripping each other’s heads off.

– Commercial

The heels are in the ring, ready to go. HHH is the first of the other team to come out. Cena’s next out to the ring. (As soon as HHH’s music ended, Cena’s started as if they were trying to make up time.) Kane’s music immediately starts and he quickly comes out to join his team in the ring. Fire from the corners and then the slightest lull before – gong! Out comes Taker.
Taker is starting. Orton acts like he’s starting, but Edge attacks from behind. The control doesn’t last. Taker hits old school and then cheap shots the rest from the apron.

– Commercial

Chavito pins HHH for two. Edge tags in and tries to spear but it’s countered by a spinebuster. HHH is able to tag out. Cena comes in. Side slam to Edge and he calls for the five knuckle but is low bridged by Chavito. He barely makes it over the top and out. Orton tags in. While Edge holds him, Orton kicks Cena in the gut. JBL tags in and hits a side Russian leg sweep for two. Hard punches to Cena in a corner. A big boot to Cena. A lariat to Cena for two. Edge tags in. JBL holds him while Edge throws punches until they’re admonished by the ref. Front face lock on Cena. Cena then runs into Edge’s boot. Orton tags in and covers for two. Orton gets a headlock on Cena with his legs wrapped around his waist. Cena gets to his feet with Orton on his back. Cena gets free, but they have a mid-ring collision. They’re both down for 7 . Chavito and Kane tag in. Kane sends Chavito air born. Kane climbs and flies taking Chavito down. Kane covers but all heck breaks loose in the ring.
Chavito goes up, Kane tries to grab him but Chavito pokes Kane in the eye. Chavito flies and Kane catches him. Kane choke slams him, but before he can cove Edge comes out of nowhere with a spear. Edge covers Kane for three.

– Winners: Orton, JBL, Chavito & Edge

Cena hits an FU on Edge. HHH enters and they fight. Cena can’t FU HHH, so HHH takes him down. JBL and Orton enter. Taker hits a double choke slam on them.

Biggest pop
Y2J
HHH
HBK
Matt Hardy

Biggest heat
Regal
Orton
The Candidate Match