Once Again: The Big Red RAW Machine

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Monday, June 30, 2008 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

source: WWE.com - Monday’s RAW saw the largest crowd ever for a WWE live event in Oklahoma City, with 11,560 fans in attendance to witness Jim Ross’ farewell to Raw.

The night before, Kane had lost his ECW Championship to Mark Henry, so he probably wasn’t the best person to show aggression toward on Monday Night RAW. Jamie Noble, however, was hoping to impress Katie Lea Burchill backstage by issuing a warning to the biggest, baddest guy around, who happened to be the Big Red Machine. Kane, taking exception to Noble’s teasing, grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up for a chokeslam. Noble's foot found a mark in Kane's stomach and before you knew it, Noble took off like a shot. Kane took a moment, then made his way out to the ring.

At the ringside announce table, Cole said over at Smackdown, Noble had a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth. Noble scampered down the ramp and tried to hide under the announce table but King and Cole were having none of it. Jamie hid at ringside and began to pray. Kane's pryo blasted and he strolled down to the ring. Noble actually dove at Kane and tackled him to the floor then stomped on him until KANE sat up and batted Noble away. Back in the ring, Jamie tried to put up a fight, only to have Kane knock him knock him to the outside where Kane grabbed him up into a chokeslam on the announce table. As Noble rolled off the table, Kane laughed maniacally.

WWE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS PPV

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Sunday, June 29, 2008 - DALLAS, TX
ECW CHAMPION KANE vs BIG SHOW vs MARK HENRY

source: WWE.com - Triple Threat Match: Similar to what the Land of the Extreme endured at the 2007 Draft, this year’s Draft took the ECW Championship away from its home brand, as Kane was drafted to Raw. At Sunday's Night of Champions, however, the gold returned in the form of new ECW Champion Mark Henry when he pinned the Big Red Machine in their Triple Threat Match.

Kane suffered a knee injury early on in the contest, leaving him outside of the ring for much of the match. After regaining his strength, the Big Red Machine put everything he had left into throwing Big Show off the top turnbuckle, leaving both giants involved in the maneuver gasping on the canvas. Henry quickly capitalized with a splash and a three-count to become ECW Champion.

The night saw other championships change hands as well as brand homes . . . RAW's Kofi Kingston defeated Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title, Cody Rhodes changed partners mid-match and now holds the World Tag Team Title with Ted Dibiase, and Mickie James still holds the Women's Championship Title on RAW. ECW's tag duo held on to the WWE Tag Team Title, and Matt Hardy brought his United States Championship with him to ECW. SmackDown hung on to the World Heavyweight Title and now hosts the WWE Title as well.

KANE & BIG SHOW vs MVP & MARK HENRY

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Friday, June 27, 2008 - HOUSTON, TX

source: WWE.com - The WWE Universe got a Night of Champions preview when ECW Champion Kane & Big Show faced Mark Henry & Montel Vontavious Porter in tag team action. The three giants involved are all set to fight for the ECW Title in a Triple Threat Match at the pay-per-view, but it’s not hard to tell they are chomping at the bit.

MVP worked on Kane's legs with a series of well aimed kicks then sent the Giant stumbling with a resounding kick to the head. Kane managed to toss off a near pin and get to his feet before giving a red hot tag in to The Big Show, who demonstrated his strength by lifting MVP up over his head. MVP quickly tagged in Mark Henry who locked up with Big Show and then Kane.

Just when it looked like Henry was in control of the Big Red Machine and the tag match, MVP tagged himself back in, but when Kane battled back, MVP tried to skip out, shouting at his tag partner before heading up the ramp to get in there and get the job done. Henry jumped down off the apron, retrieved MVP and tossed him back into the ring where Kane got the job done with a chokeslam and the winning pin.

Kane watches as Big Show steps into the ring, signaling that he has his eye on the Big Red Machine and Mark Henry motions wearing the coveted ECW Championship belt around his waist. Kane will certainly have his hands full at Night of Champions as he battles to keep his Title, but will the other mastodons work together to eliminate the displaced Champion then clash claim the ECW Title as their own? Will the Title end up back around an ECW waist? Will SmackDown! own three Championship Titles, or will it stay firmly in place on RAW's Kane? Be sure to find out this Sunday at the Night of Champions on Pay-per-view.

TANGLED TITLES

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

source: WWE.com, Aubrey Sitterson - In the wake of the WWE Draft, four championships have been displaced. With all of them being defended Sunday night, where will these titles end up after Night of Champions?

What will be the state of the ECW Championship held by Kane, who was drafted over to RAW on Monday? Although ECW gained the services of United States Champion Matt Hardy, the Land of the Extreme is now left with no World Champion of their own, and only a one-in-three chance to win it back at Night of Champions.

On Sunday, the Big Red Machine will defend the title in a Triple Threat Match against Big Show and Mark Henry. While the World's Largest Athlete remains on SmackDown!, the World's Strongest Man was pulled to ECW in Wednesday's Supplemental Draft, and is that brand's chance to bring the title back to the Land of the Extreme. But, if Kane retains his Title, RAW will be the new home of the ECW Championship Title; or, if Triple H, Edge and Big Show have an extremely good Night of Champions, SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero could conceivably find her brand the home of all three World Championships, with both RAW and ECW left out in the cold.

KANE TAKES SECOND SLAM

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - HOUSTON, TX

source: WWE.com - Five days prior to Night of Champions and one day after being pulled away from the Land of the Extreme in the stunning 2008 WWE Draft, ECW Champion Kane squared off a in a non-title match against The World's Strongest Man, Mark Henry.

To the surprise of all, Henry pinned the ECW Champion in the middle of the ring while The Big Show watched from the announce table at ringside. The monumental win brings credibility to Henry's recent claims that he belongs in championship competition with the likes of the Big Red Machine and the World’s Largest Athlete, Big Show.

Afterwards, ECW General Manager Theodore Long announced the ECW Championship will now be contested in a Triple Threat Match between Kane, Big Show and Mark Henry at Night of Champions.

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT 2008 DRAFT

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Monday, June 23, 2008 - SAN ANTONIO, TX

source: WWE.com - Just days before Night of Champions, seismic shifts took place across the WWE rosters, with ECW Champion Kane drafted to RAW, while SmackDown! gained WWE Champion 3H, giving that brand two World Championships. RAW, SmackDown! and ECW earned random draft picks competing in inter-brand bouts and 9 SuperStars changed home brands.

With five Superstars drafted to the brand throughout the night, RAW came away from the draft with a lot of new talent in their roster. First Rey Mysterio was drafted from SmackDown!, then John Cena defeated Edge to bring Batista back to Monday nights. Next, Mr. Money in the Bank 2008, CM Punk was drafted from ECW to RAW.

JBL defeated ECW’s Kofi Kingston to earn Raw another draft pick. When the random lottery machine ran, it was ECW Champion Kane who joined RAW along with his coveted title, though he will still defend it against Big Show at Night of Champions.

RAW lost Jeff Hardy, Umaga, and Mr. Kennedy along with Triple H. Jim Ross will also have a new home, having been drafted from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown! Michael Cole will now sit in JR's seat on RAW.

United States Champion Matt Hardy was drafted from SmackDown! to ECW. read more on the draft.

KANE vs MVP, Non-Title Match

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Friday, June 20, 2008 - SAN JOSE, CA

source: WWE.com - It would seem SmackDown! GM Vickie Guerrero has a mighty reach - evidenced by her ability to book Kane, the current ECW Champion, against MVP, a wrestler on her own roster with whom she is most displeased. Vickie sought to put MVP in his place after he used his VIP Lounge spot to voice his grievances regarding her, his perceived misuse on SmackDown!, and his desire to go anywhere where his talents would be recognized and utilized.

The Big Red Machine quickly deflated MVP's hot air in a match that had the playa bouncing all over the ring. Porter saw an out when Kane clotheslined him over the top rope and the ref began to slow ten-count. After teasing a return to the ring, MVP took the count out, turning his back on Kane and the ring.

Almost immediately, Mark Henry stormed to the ring to get revenge for the double chokeslam Kane and the Big Show laid on him earlier in the week on ECW. The World's Strongest Man hit the World's Strongest Slam on the ECW Champion, leaving him lying in the ring.

GIANT EYES ON THE PRIZE

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - SAN JOSE, CA

source: WWE.com - Less than two weeks before their Night of Champions match, ECW Champion Kane and Big Show took part in a colossal staredown on ECW on Sci Fi. General Manager Theodore Long offered the Night of Champions opponents an open forum to speak their minds before next Sunday.

Big Show pointed out that he’s been an opponent, partner and champion alongside Kane, but now the Big Red Machine has something he wants – the ECW Championship. The World’s Largest Athlete – who said he went through hell to earn his Night of Champions match – promised he’ll take back the Extreme gold next Sunday. Kane, determined to retain, had these words for Big Show: “Well, big man, hell is standing right here in front of you."

While the two Superstars stood toe-to-toe in the middle of the ECW ring, Mark Henry marched down the ramp with an important message: save your strength.

“Because if I’m not drafted Monday night, you can bet your bottom dollar that after Night of Champions, whichever one of you two is holding the ECW title, I’m coming after,” the World’s Strongest Man claimed.

The Big Red Machine and his Night of Champions opponent didn’t take Henry’s big statement lightly, as the duo brutally double-chokeslammed him to the ECW mat, before continuing their staredown.

NEW KANE COLLAGE T-SHIRT

WWESHOP.com has a new T-shirt available for wrestling fans to sport and show their support for the Big Red Machine.

Made of 100% cotton, the fire-hued screen print features a Kane collage of some of his most awe inspiring postures on front with a retro version of the KANE logo and "The Monster Within" scratched into the back. Comes in black only, in sizes small through triple x-tra large.

There's monstrously little available in the way of KANE merhcandise, so get this while it's hot! Head over to WWESHOP.com to get yours!

SPORTS-ENTERTAINMENT'S MOST INCREDIBLE HULKS

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

source: WWE.com - With the June 13th debut of the Incredible Hulk movie looming, WWE.com has a page up now paying tribute to it's own "hulking" grapplers, past and present.

Kane, Big Show, Umaga, Mark Henry, Big Vis and The Great Khali are featured along with Andre The Giant, Yokozuna, Big John Studd and Vader.

There's a section in the July issue of WWE Magazine where fans can see how their favorite WWE grapplers compare to the 'summer's hottest heroes', as well as a poll right now on WWE.com to find out who the fans think is the most incredible monster.

KANE & CM Punk vs The Miz & Morrison: Tag Team Title Match

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - Fresno, CA

source: WWE.com - Kane, who was still seething after being attacked by the WWE Tag Team Champions on last week’s ECW, was determined to walk out of the Save Mart Center with two championships in his giant hands, alongside Punk. But after Morrison hit Punk with a Moonlight Drive and pinned him, Miz & Morrison retained their Extreme gold.

Earlier, Mark Henry visited the Land of the Extreme in hopes of meeting Big Show. The World’s Strongest Man congratulated The World's Largest Athlete on his One Night Stand victory and shook his hand, adding a prediction that Big Show will win at Night of Champions over Kane. After issuing a warning to Henry, Big Show exited the ring, coming face-to-face with none other than his Night of Champions opponent, ECW Champion Kane, who was entering the ring for a tag team match with CM Punk against the WWE Tag Team Champions. The two giants were locked in a stare for a few moments before Big Show stepped aside and let Kane continue to the ring.

Now that Henry and Big Show have made their intentions known, what might Kane have to say about the future of the ECW Championship?

KANE vs CM Punk: Non-Title Match

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA

source: WWE.com - There’s a new General Manager in the Land of the Extreme, and his name is Theodore Long. On the former SmackDown Manager’s first night, there was plenty of action on ECW on Sci Fi.

In-ring: The opening match of the night was a fatal-four way with the winner Main Eventing against ECW Champion Kane in a non-title match. The participants were The Miz, Morrison, Chavo and Mr. Money in the Bank - C.M. Punk who hit Guerrero with a GTS to earn his chance to face Kane.

MAIN EVENT: Kane dominated the match from the start, knocking Punk to the floor with a big boot before they cut to commercial break. Kane was still dominating out of the break, but Punk came back with a sunset flip for a nearfall. Kane cut him down with an uppercut before smashing Punk out of the corner with a clothesline then settling into a keylock.

Punk broke free and smashed Kane with a leg kick, but Kane cut off Punk's comeback with a blow to the head. Punk tried a bulldog, but Kane blocked with a sidewalk slam for a nearfall. Kane then landed a top rope clothesline and teased the chokeslam. Punk blocked the chokeslam twice before trying the G2S but he couldn't keep Kane on his shoulders and Kane slipped out to nail the chokeslam for the pin and win.

Post-match: WWE tag champions Miz and Morrison jumped into the ring and attacked Kane. Kane nearly had them with a double chokeslam, but they kicked out of Kane's clutches before Miz introduced him to a swinging neckbreaker that left Kane down as they left the ring.