The 927th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. After an epic and unforgettable face-off with the one and only Undertaker last week, RAW would see the return of a thirteen time World Champion as the one and only “The Game” Triple H would make a special appearance on RAW just five weeks before he faces The Undertaker in the biggest match of his legendary career at WrestleMania!
Match Results
- Evan Bourne (in his in-ring return) def. King Sheamus by pin following Air Bourne.
- Win To Be In CM Punk’s Corner: The New Nexus Banned: Randy Orton def. Michael McGillicutty by pin following the RKO. As a result, Michael McGillicutty will not be allowed in CM Punk’s corner at WrestleMania.
- Divas #1 Contender’s Battle Royal: Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella) def. Natalya, Melina, Maryse, Alicia Fox, Tamina, Gail Kim, & Nikki Bella to become the new #1 Contender for the Divas Title.
- Steel Cage Match: Escape Only: Awesome Proclamation Vs. Alex Riley’s Firing: John Cena def. Alex Riley (with The Miz) by escaping the cage. As a result, Alex Riley is fired.
Detailed Results
RAW kicks off in a huge way as, just one week after his unforgettable confrontation with The Undertaker that would lead to an epic one-on-one match at WrestleMania in just over a month’s time, the show kicks off with the thirteen time World Champion, “The Game” Triple H who would address the RAW fans live for the first time in almost a year! Triple H states that he has done “everything” that there is to do in the WWE as he has received every “accolade”, made the Elimination Chamber Match and Hell in a Cell what it is and has been a thirteen time World Champion, as well as one of the founding members of D-Generation X and Evolution! Triple H continues that, for sixteen years, he has “outlasted everybody” except for “one” and that is The Undertaker and states that The Undertaker is not “The Last Outlaw” as there are “two”! Triple H continues that there is no “big test” in front of Undertaker right now, but he is the “only true challenge” that Undertaker has left and, when he looks around at the locker room, the “only true challenge” he has is ending the 18-0 undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker! Triple H then proclaims that the two of them will “define an era” and, on April 3 at WrestleMania, “nothing else will matter” because there can “be only one”! Triple H then states that, when the WrestleMania streak “dies”, then The Undertaker “dies” and, if he can not end the streak, then he will “die trying”!
After saying his piece regarding his epic match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania, Triple H is interrupted by the man who took him out last year in the 2010 King of the Ring, King Sheamus, who, upon entering the ring, receives a kick to the gut by “The Game”! Triple H would then toss Sheamus to the outside and hurl him into the ringside barricade before sending the King of the Ring into the steel ring post and throwing him to the concrete floor in front of the fans! Triple H would then dismantle the announce table before drilling Sheamus through the table with the Pedigree, leaving Sheamus in shambles among the remains of the announce table at ringside! Triple H has sent a clear and defiant message to The Undertaker for their showdown at WrestleMania, but how will The Undertaker respond when “The Deadman” returns to SmackDown this Friday night?
As Sheamus is helped to the back by referees, the anonymous General Manager of RAW chimes in with an email and, as read by Jerry “The King” Lawler, the GM states that, despite the vicious attack Sheamus just suffered at the hands of Triple H, it is not his “problem”! The GM then makes the announcement that King Sheamus will still compete in his scheduled match and that match would be against the returning Evan Bourne! With the clear advantage due to a weakened King Sheamus, Evan Bourne was able to hit Air Bourne on Sheamus en route to picking up the win!
After denying Jerry “The King” Lawler’s WrestleMania Challenge last week and throwing water in the Hall of Famer’s face before escaping through the crowd, the self-proclaimed “Voice of the WWE” Michael Cole would make an appearance on RAW to formally respond to the WrestleMania Challenge! Michael Cole would then confidently calls out Jerry “The King” Lawler and tells Lawler to get off of his “fat butt” and enter the ring and the Hall of Famer begins to enter the ring as Cole clarifies the rule from last week that they can not touch one another or they would both be fired and says that he read over the decree by the GM and it stated that Jerry Lawler can not touch Michael Cole or Lawler would be fired! A confident Cole then proclaims that “no one” has “more guts” than him and he “never, ever backs down from a fight” before answering Lawler’s WrestleMania Challenge with a “no”, but adds that he will accept the challenge, but only if his “trainer” is in his corner and only if he gets to “choose” a Special Referee for the match! Jerry Lawler then responds to the confident counter challenge by saying that he does not care who Cole has to back him up, he accepts! Cole then parades around the ring over the WrestleMania match before introducing his “trainer” for the match, none other than former World Heavyweight Champion, “The All-American American” Jack Swagger!
Michael Cole’s “trainer” for his WrestleMania match against Jerry “The King” Lawler then comes out as Jack Swagger comes out and stands face-to-face with the Hall of Famer as Michael Cole hides behind Swagger and shoves and even slaps Lawler, which enrages the Hall of Famer as “The King” tries to get his hands on Michael Cole, but Jack Swagger would intervene and would latch on the ankle lock on Lawler as Michael Cole taunts “The King”! What is the status of Jerry Lawler following the attack by Jack Swagger? What will happen in 34 days when Jerry “The King” Lawler faces Michael Cole, with “trainer” Jack Swagger in his corner, at WrestleMania?
A huge announcement was made regarding next week’s RAW was made on RAW as the Host of WWE Tough Enough will return on next week’s RAW as the Hall of Famer, the incomparable “Rattlesnake” Stone Cold Steve Austin will return to RAW, live, next week in his home state of Texas! What does Stone Cold have in store for RAW next week?
One week after he was warned not to come to RAW by New Nexus leader CM Punk, “The Viper” Randy Orton would ignore the threat as Orton would appear on RAW and states that “faith” will not protect CM Punk when he “crushes” the spine of CM Punk and be put in a permanent rehabilitation facility and all that CM Punk will have will be the “faith” that “failed” him! This prompts the leader of The New Nexus, CM Punk, to come out as Punk, along with The New Nexus, come out as Punk calls Orton an “arrogant, but predictable, hypocrite” as Punk states that Orton will “attempt” to put him in a rehab facility, he will put Orton “in the ground”! As CM Punk & The New Nexus march towards the ring, the anonymous General Manager of RAW chimes in with an email that announces that there is only “one way” that things can be settled and that is with a match at WrestleMania! The GM adds that, over the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, Randy Orton will go one-on-one with a member of The New Nexus and, if that member wins the match, then The New Nexus member will be allowed to be in CM Punk’s corner for the WrestleMania match and, if any member of The New Nexus interferes in the series of matches, then the GM will disband The New Nexus completely!
Thirty-four nights before he faces CM Punk at WrestleMania, Randy Orton would go one-on-one with New Nexus member Michael McGillicutty in one of a series of matches where, if The New Nexus member wins, then that member will be allowed to be in CM Punk’s corner for the WrestleMania match and, if any member of The New Nexus interferes, then the group will be disbanded! In the end, it was Randy Orton hitting the RKO on Michael McGillicutty en route to picking up a dominant victory, ensuring that McGillicutty will not be at ringside for Orton’s match against CM Punk at WrestleMania! After the match, Randy Orton would spot CM Punk standing on the stage and, much like he did several weeks ago to Husky Harris, Randy Orton would ready himself to punt Michael McGillicutty and CM Punk would plead with Orton to not to deliver the career-threatening punt, but Orton would not comply as “The Viper” would punt McGillicutty in the skull before escaping through the crowd just as CM Punk & The New Nexus rushed the ring! With Michael McGillicutty out of the equation altogether, CM Punk only has David Otunga & Mason Ryan for backup in The New Nexus, but in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, Randy Orton will go one-on-one with both of these Superstars and, if they lose, they will not be allowed at ringside when Randy Orton faces CM Punk at WrestleMania! Can Randy Orton continue picking off members of The New Nexus or will CM Punk find a way to salvage his group and have backup for WrestleMania?
One week after being forced to team with his WrestleMania opponent, John Cena, to ultimately win the WWE Tag Team Titles only to intentionally cost himself and Cena the titles minutes later, the WWE Champion would appear on RAW as The Miz, with “apprentice” Alex Riley in tow, would make an appearance just thirty-four nights before he defends the WWE Title against John Cena at WrestleMania! The Miz states that, like John Cena, he “called out” The Rock last week, but Rock did not respond and it is because Rock knows that he is “right”! Miz continues that RAW is “no longer” The Rock or John Cena’s show as Cena’s days are “numbered” and Rock’s are “over” before proclaiming that he is the “biggest star in the WWE” and is the “reason” the fans are in the arena and he is the “face” and he is the “most must-see WWE Champion in history”! Miz continues that it has “always been” about him and it “always will be” before claiming that he “won” the WWE Tag Team Titles last week while John Cena “lost” them before saying that Cena should not be worrying about The Rock, Cena should be worried about him! Miz then proclaims that he will “beat” John Cena at WrestleMania and, on the same night, he will “beat” The Rock and, then, “no one” will ever mention either of them again because he will be the “only person” anyone will be talking about as the “greatest Superstar of all time”! Alex Riley then tells the fans to get on their feet and “show some respect” for the man who will main event WrestleMania in thirty-four days before the #1 Contender for the WWE Title at WrestleMania, John Cena, comes out!
After hearing the bold and unrealistic aspirations of WWE Champion The Miz for WrestleMania, the #1 Contender for Miz’s WWE Title at WrestleMania, John Cena, would come out and say that The Miz is “not well” before saying that Miz has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder! Cena continues that Miz is “obsessed” with being awesome, but is actually “below average” and is “obsessed with blue khaki” and also “pees in milk jugs” before saying that Alex Riley sits in a closet and “eats toilet paper”! Alex Riley responds by saying that he now knows why people refer to toilets as “Johns” because everything Cena says is “full of crap”! Cena responds by telling The Miz that Riley may be the reason that no one is respecting Miz as the WWE Champion before telling The Miz that, if Miz wants to “leave a legacy”, he needs to do it “by himself” because Miz does not want to look back on his career and realized that he shared his “legacy” with “another man”! Cena then dares Miz to do something “shocking” by firing Alex Riley so that WrestleMania can be The Miz Vs. John Cena! The Miz responds by saying that he is “mentoring” the “next generation of Superstars” and he is “generously sharing” his knowledge with Alex Riley instead of “hocking merchandise” and deciding that kind of shorts to wear! Cena responds with another idea by proposing that Miz and Riley be “co-champions” and “move in together” before Cena offers a more serious idea by challenging Alex Riley to a one-on-one match where, if Cena wins, then Riley will be fired as the “apprentice” of The Miz and, after some discussion with Riley, Miz accepts on “one condition” as Miz states that he will not interfere, but if Alex Riley wins, then John Cena must publicly call The Miz “awesome” and Cena accepts this stipulation! The anonymous General Manager of RAW then chimes in with an email that makes the match official, but adds that, to ensure that there will be no interference, the match will take place inside a Steel Cage and the only way to win is to escape the cage with both feet touching the floor! Can John Cena defeat Alex Riley in a Steel Cage Match to force the firing of Riley as The Miz’s “apprentice” or do The Miz and Alex Riley have a plan for Cena to lose?
With Divas Champion Eve Torres a guest on commentary, a Divas Battle Royal would take place on RAW to determine the new #1 Contender for the Divas Title as Natalya, Melina, Maryse, Gail Kim, Alicia Fox, Tamina, & The Bella Twins would compete for the opportunity! The first elimination would see Natalya eliminating one of The Bella Twins, followed by Natalya eliminating Alicia Fox and Melina eliminating Tamina! The Divas Battle Royal would continue, but in the end, it was The Bella Twins pulling their Twin Magic that would allow Brie Bella to win the Battle Royal and become the new #1 Contender for the Divas Title! When will Brie Bella get her shot at the Divas Title?
After John Cena’s personal and hard-hitting rap about The Rock last week, The Rock himself would appear, live from his home, to respond to John Cena’s comments! The WrestleMania Host states that the “electricity” brought by himself and the fans has gotten the attention of John Cena! The Rock states that, two weeks ago, he addressed John Cena “like a man” and Cena responds with a “rap” for The Rock and Rock says that’s how the guy in the purple shirt and the jean shorts with the gold chain would react! The Rock would then remind Cena and everyone how it started a long time ago when Cena called Rock a “liar” for Rock saying that he “loves the WWE” and, by saying that, Cena insulted him and his family! The Rock continues that his “love for the WWE” is “endless” because his “blood is the WWE” as he is the grandson of “High Chief” Peter Maivia and the son of Rocky Johnson, both of which he personally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame! The Rock then shows his collection of every title he has won in the WWE and states that he displays them “proudly” in his home and said that Cena thinks he does not “love the WWE” because he accomplished everything in the WWE and wanted to accomplish things beyond the WWE and he helped “open the door” for the entire WWE roster to enter the realm of Hollywood to be actors! Rock continues that he “paved the way” for John Cena to get into acting and Cena respond by “publicly insulting” him and, now, there are “consequences”! The Rock then proclaims that he is hosting WrestleMania and he will be addressing Cena “sooner” than Cena thinks! The Rock continues that his “spirit” and “electricity” is everywhere and, with the snap of his fingers, he can electrify Buffalo and, with said snap, the lights go out in the arena as Rock proclaims that, when he addresses John Cena, he will not be “alone” because he will be joined by the “millions and millions” of The Rock’s fans! The Rock proclaims that he is not a “rapper”, but neither is John Cena, before delivering a “special gift” in the form of his own rap by telling Cena to “enjoy” his “Fruity Pebbles” and calls Cena a “yabba dabba bitch” and he will address Cena like a “man” and in that exact moment, Cena will “smell what The Rock is cooking”! As the war of words continue, what else will go down between The Rock and John Cena en route to WrestleMania?
With the epic showdown between Triple H and The Undertaker, RAW would feature a very special guest to comment on the upcoming match as the longtime best friend of Triple H and the man who faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania two years in a row would appear as 2011 WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels would give his take on the epic match between his good friend and the man who forced him into retirement! Shawn Michaels states that there is a “mix of emotions” and he has been in the ring with both Triple H and The Undertaker and, when facing Undertaker, he feels like he is facing more of a “legacy” than a “man” and to beat Undertaker, it is a “mountain”! Shawn Michaels comments on facing his friend, Triple H, and states that there is a part of Triple H that can be “vicious” and every time he faced Triple H, he has never seen a “hint of compassion” out of Triple H and, if there is a man who could defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, it is Triple H! Shawn Michaels then reveals that he is cheering for Triple H, but there is no telling how he is going to “feel” if or when Triple H beats the legendary WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker! Shawn Michaels has made his feelings felt on the epic showdown between Triple H and The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but can Triple H end the WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker?
United States Champion Daniel Bryan was set for a match on RAW, but while making his entrance, Bryan would be blindsided by WWE Champion The Miz, who would viciously assault the United States Champion, hurling Daniel Bryan into the ringside barricade and delivering a kick to the head on Bryan before standing on the skull of Daniel Bryan with all his might before smashing Daniel Bryan’s face onto the arena floor with the Skull Crushing Finale as The Miz’s eyes told a story of anger and unbalance! The Miz would then pick up his WWE Title and would make his way to ringside to explain his actions by saying that he assaulted Daniel Bryan because he “can” and states that he is “done waiting” before ordering the Steel Cage to lower for the main event between John Cena and Miz’s “apprentice” Alex Riley!
With WWE Champion The Miz a guest on commentary, it was time for the main event as, thirty-four nights before he challenges The Miz for the WWE Title at WrestleMania, John Cena would go one-on-one with The Miz’s “apprentice” Alex Riley inside an unforgiving Steel Cage Match where the only way to win is by escaping the cage with both feet touching the floor and, if Cena wins, then Alex Riley will be fired as the “apprentice” of The Miz, but if Riley wins, then John Cena must publicly proclaim that The Miz is “awesome” on next week’s RAW! During the match, John Cena would get ready to escape the cage through the door, but, despite his “word” not to interfere earlier, The Miz would slam the cage door on Cena before taking a picture of the match with his cell phone before sliding his cell phone in to Alex Riley to use as a weapon against John Cena! Alex Riley would almost escape the cage, but would be grabbed by Cena, prompting The Miz to interfere again and trying to pull Riley out to the floor, but Cena would pull Riley back in and force Riley to tap out to Cena’s STF, but it would not matter with the only way to win being to escape from the cage! Cena would once again try and escape, but Miz would grab a steel chair and distract Cena by banging on the cage with it! Later on in the match, John Cena would hit the Attitude Adjustment on Alex Riley, but before attempting to escape the cage, Cena would pick up the cell phone of The Miz to take a picture of a downed Alex Riley, prompting Miz to use himself to barricade the cage door in an attempt to keep Cena from escaping! However, Cena would use his strength, and possibly Miz letting go, to force his way out of the steel cage to ensure that Alex Riley is fired! Showing no emotion regarding the firing of Alex Riley, The Miz would immediately grab John Cena and deliver the Skull Crushing Finale on the arena floor! How will John Cena respond to The Miz’s actions? How will The Miz fare now that Alex Riley has been fired?
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