Raw house show from 3.8.08 w/ pics

[The Genius]

so i just finally got around to uploading my pics from last saturday's raw brand house show.
here is the somewhat empty arena, i did get there almost an hour before the start of the show. the madison, wi alliant energy center is a small venue and was at least 75% full.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/Arena.jpg

show starts with Super Crazy and Charlie Haas. Haas tried to get some heat early by telling the fans that Cena wasnt there tonight (which he wasnt). Midway thru the match Haas went under the ring and changed his outfit and put on the mask. SC eventually won with a roll up :nono:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/SuperCrazyCharlieHaas.jpg

second match was Val Venis and DH Smith. Smith got no reaction and was talking about his wrestling lineage, Val got the crowd into it by stating some fans could kick DH smith's ass. Val won with the MOney Shot after a suprisingly longer than anticipated match.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/ValVenisDHSmith.jpg

[The Genius]

next match was Regal and Kennedy. Regal was great on the mic cutting a promo about how terrible the state of wisconsin is. Kennedy's music hits and comes out to the second biggest pop of the night (after DX). Excellent long match with Kennedy getting the win with the standing green bay plunge.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/KennedyRegal.jpg

We then saw DX vs Cade and Murdoch.
DX easily got the biggest pop of the night. HBK went into the crowd during the match and got some guy's cell phone and took a pic of himself and then HHH. match ends with HBK giving the sweet chin music to Murdoch and then HHH pedigreeing him. They stay for a long time after the match going to all the fans around the ring. shawn was repeatedly saying thank you to the crowd.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/DXRednecks.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/DX.jpg

we got an intermission and then a short match between Beth Phoenix and Mickie for the womens title. Beth dominated throughout and the guys sitting behind me were sure that she could beat most guys on the roster if given a chance. :shifty: Beth won with her fisherman brainbuster move.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/BethPhoenixMickieJames.jpg

Next up was Umaga and Hardcore Holly. Holly came out to little reaction carrying his tag title belt and Umaga got some decent heat. The little kid in front of me was legitimately afraid of Umaga :lol: Umaga dominated the short match with the samoan spike.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/UmagaHardcoreHolly.jpg

Last was Jericho vs Orton for the wwe title in a street fight. people were pissed since all month we were promised Hardy vs Orton and Snitsky vs Jericho. Of course we now know why hardy wasnt there. Orton got the most heat all night and Jericho got a very good response. Orton did the blade job which suprised me and got the win with the RKO. After orton went to smash jericho's head with a chair but jericho jumped up and used the chair with his codebreaker on ortons face which the crowd loved.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/OrtonJericho.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/mpgleisten/OrtonJericho2.jpg

[Mr. JL]

RKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Volchok]

lol at the last picture

[Mr. Nerfect]

DH Smith is playing a heel character? Interesting.

[The Genius]

yup, which suprised me too since i thought they were pushing him as a face the few times on saw him on tv. but he was telling the crowd to shut up and that he was part of the greatest wrestling familly etc...of course he was doing the heelish things in the ring too like holding the ropes for leverage in rest holds and putting his feet on the ropes when pinning venis.

[Mr. Nerfect]

yup, which suprised me too since i thought they were pushing him as a face the few times on saw him on tv. but he was telling the crowd to shut up and that he was part of the greatest wrestling familly etc...of course he was doing the heelish things in the ring too like holding the ropes for leverage in rest holds and putting his feet on the ropes when pinning venis.

I guess they're trying him out as a heel character. Which is fair enough, because he went nowhere as the happy-go-lucky babyface we knew him as on Heat.

Mr. Kennedy was also in an odd role, but his sort of makes sense, as it was his hometown.