He Has Risen.
The 1032nd edition of WWE Monday Night RAW would turn back the clock to revisit Monday night history as the second ever Old School RAW came to you, live, from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. A man who has had countless RAW moments throughout his career, including his raucous return to RAW in 2002 and being christened the first ever World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE would make an appearance on RAW as WWE Chief Operating Officer and thirteen-time World Champion “The Game” Triple H would be a part of Old School RAW just one week after his surprising return and subsequent bloody brawl with Brock Lesnar! Now that he knows that he will be defending the WWE Championship against John Cena in thirty-four nights at WrestleMania 29, “The People’s WWE Champion” The Rock would make an appearance on Old School RAW. Several WWE Legends and Hall of Famers would bring a definitive old school feel to Old School RAW as two-time Hall of Famer “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase would be among the trail-blazers appearing on RAW!
Match Results
- Non-Title: Ryback def. Antonio Cesaro by pin following Shell Shocked.
- Mark Henry def. Zack Ryder by pin following the World’s Strongest Slam.
- The Miz (with Ric Flair) def. Dolph Ziggler (with AJ Lee & Big E. Langston) by submission to the Figure-Four Leg Lock.
- Jack Swagger and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan fight to a No Contest after Jack Swagger grabs “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan’s two-by-four.
- Brodus Clay & Tensai def. Heath Slater & Drew McIntyre by Tensai rolling up Drew McIntyre.
- Champion vs. Champion: Non-Title: Alberto Del Rio def. Wade Barrett by submission to the cross armbreaker.
- The New Age Outlaws def. Primo & Epico by Billy Gunn pinning Primo following the Fame Asser.
- Fatal 4-Way Match: CM Punk def. Sheamus, Big Show, & Randy Orton by pinning Randy Orton following the GTS to earn the opportunity to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29.
Detailed Results
Old School RAW kicks off with the shocking re-emergence of WWE’s most tenured Superstar as, for the first time since July, “The Phenom” The Undertaker descends upon Monday Night RAW as “The Deadman” leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that he has his sights set on WrestleMania as the legend signifies that he will be a part of this year’s extravaganza by emerging in front of the WrestleMania logo!
One week after failing to defeat John Cena in an instant classic for the #1 Contender’s spot for the WWE Title in the main event of WrestleMania, Old School RAW officially kicks off with the self-proclaimed “Best in the World” CM Punk, along with Paul Heyman. Punk says that he should be in the main event of WrestleMania and the only reason that he is not is because of the fans, saying that they “screwed” him out of the WWE Championship. Punk continues, saying that, if he is not going to be in the main event of WrestleMania, then there is no point in him being present for WrestleMania. Punk then says what the world just saw gives him a “purpose”, saying that the fans took something away from him, so he is going to take something away from them and that is the undefeated WrestleMania streak of The Undertaker! Punk then proclaims that he has a new number for the fans and that is “20-1” and the “one” will be the “best in the world”, saying that, at WrestleMania, he ends the streak!
CM Punk is then interrupted by “The Viper” Randy Orton, who reminds CM Punk that he beat Punk at WrestleMania a couple of years ago and, eight years ago, he came within an eyelash of ending the streak of The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Orton continues, saying he is not a “rookie” anymore, he is the “most dangerous man” in the WWE. Orton then polls the fans on who they would rather see face The Undertaker at WrestleMania, CM Punk or Randy Orton. As Punk and Orton stare each other down, “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show comes out, saying he has also faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but, back then, he did not have the caveat of the Knockout Punch. Big Show continues, saying that, in order to end the undefeated streak of The Undertaker, you need to be more than a “viper” and you need to be more than “straightedge”, you need to be a “giant”. Big Show then says that he will knock The Undertaker’s streak into “oblivion” before Sheamus comes out. Sheamus says that, of the four of them, he has never faced The Undertaker and, with the “luck of the Irish” on his side, anything is possible. RAW Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero then interrupts to announce a Fatal 4-Way Match between CM Punk, Sheamus, Big Show, and Randy Orton with the winner earning the opportunity to go one-on-one with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29!
The opening match of Old School RAW would see “The Sin City Cyborg” Ryback squaring off with United States Champion Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match. In the end, it was Ryback countering the Neutralizer of Antonio Cesaro into Shell Shocked, dropping the United States Champion en route to picking up the win. After the match, Ryback would come face-to-face with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry as the two powerhouses cross paths as Mark Henry makes his way to the ring.
“The World’s Strongest Man” was in action on Old School RAW as Mark Henry faced Zack Ryder. It was a short night for Zack Ryder as Mark Henry squashes Ryder with the World’s Strongest Slam en route to picking up a dominant victory.
The Miz was set to go one-on-one with “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Dolph Ziggler, with AJ Lee & Big E. Langston in his corner, on Old School RAW, but before the match, The Miz brings out his mentor, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, to stand in his corner! During the match, AJ Lee would get on the ring apron, distracting the referee long enough for Big E. Langston to blast Miz with a clothesline. However, Ric Flair throws his jacket at Langston before trying to chop Big E. down to size, but Langston was unaffected by the attack. However, Miz gets a kick in on Langston, taking the heavy down before locking in the Figure-Four Leg Lock on Dolph Ziggler, forcing “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” to tap out to pick up the win.
Thirty-four nights before they square off in an epic rematch for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29, #1 Contender John Cena and “The People’s WWE Champion” The Rock would be in the same ring at the same time on Old School RAW! The Rock comes out first, saying that he has marked this date on his calendar because he knew that, when he came to Buffalo, it would be only thirty-four nights before WrestleMania. However, it does not take long before The Rock is interrupted by his opponent at WrestleMania for the WWE Championship, John Cena. Cena says that he has waited a year for a confrontation with The Rock, saying that The Rock succeeds at everything he does. Cena continues saying that, last year, he needed to defeat The Rock, but he failed and it made him feel “weak”. Cena then says that, after last year’s WrestleMania, his life was sent into a “tailspin” and the only way to fix it is to “rewrite” history by defeating The Rock! Cena then tells The Rock that he is not throwing the chance away to defeat The Rock at WrestleMania and regain the WWE Title. The Rock responds, saying that he knows that no one in the locker room has the same “fire” and “desire” as John Cena with the exception of one man, The Rock! The WWE Champion then says that, at WrestleMania, Cena is not getting “redemption”, he is getting his “ass kicked”! Cena argues that he has achieved every goal and jumped over every obstacle in his career except for The Rock before telling The Rock that his “time is up” and his time is now. The Rock then quotes Lance Armstrong, saying that “winning is about heart, you just got to have it in the right place” before telling Cena that Lance Armstrong was full of “crap” and so is Cena! Cena then vows that history will not repeat itself and, at WrestleMania 29, he will become the WWE Champion. The Rock then tells Cena that Cena “thinks” he can win, but he “knows” that he will retain, vowing to defeat Cena at WrestleMania for the second year in a row!
As his World Heavyweight Title match against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania draws ever closer, “A Real American” Jack Swagger, with Zeb Colter in his corner, would go one-on-one with a true patriot in the Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, who would be backed up by Sgt. Slaughter and “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes! However, after the match gets underway, Swagger grabs the signature two-by-four of Duggan, using it to lay waste to the three Hall of Famers in the center of the ring before locking in the Patriot Lock on a helpless Jim Duggan!
Backstage, tempers reach a boiling point as WrestleMania opponents Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger brawl through the backstage area before it was broken up by security and referees.
The WWE Tag Team Champions were in action on Old School RAW as Kane & Daniel Bryan faced The Prime Time Players, with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase positioned at ringside. In the end, it was Kane planting Darren Young with the chokeslam en route to picking up the win for Team Hell No. After the match, Ted DiBiase would produce a $100 bill, stuffing it into the mouth of Darren Young! However, after “The Million Dollar Man” departs, Daniel Bryan sneaks back to ringside and takes the $100 bill, stuffing it in his tights and walking off!
In a special clash, “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay & “Sweet T” Tensai would face Heath Slater & Drew McIntyre of 3MB, but the dancing titans would be joined by a special guest, the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, the master of shake, rattle, and roll himself, The Honky Tonk Man! In the end of the match, it was Tensai rolling up Drew McIntyre for the win. After the match, Heath Slater would try and bring an early end to the celebration of Brodus Clay, Tensai, and The Honky Tonk Man, but would be the victim of a guitar over his head at the hands of The Honky Tonk Man!
Kofi Kingston was set for action on Old School RAW against the debuting Fandango, but after being introduced, Fandango criticizes ring announcer Justin Roberts for mispronouncing his name. Despite Justin’s best efforts to get the name right, Fandango again says that he will not make his official debut until everyone gets his name right!
One week after surprising the world by returning to the WWE and leaving Brock Lesnar a bloody mess in an intense brawl, WWE’s Chief Operating Officer and thirteen-time World Champion “The Game” Triple H returns to RAW to address Brock Lesnar! Triple H says that, the last time he stood in the ring with a microphone, it was eight nights after SummerSlam last year where he let everyone know his intentions to not wrestle again. Triple H continues, saying that, as soon as his broken arm was fully recovered, he was back in the gym working out again, but had no real goal in mind. Triple H says that he was doing his day job as the COO, but he continued to work out every day and waited for a “reason” to return. Triple H then explains that he then found himself sitting next to his father-in-law, Mr. McMahon, while he was hospitalized due to a broken hip while his wife, Stephanie, and their two kids cried at McMahon’s bedside, but he was “smiling inside” because he had found his “reason”! Triple H continues, saying that he saw his opportunity last week and he took it. Triple H then says that, if Brock Lesnar thinks that they were done after SummerSlam, then Brock should feel the eighteen staples in his skull and realize that they are just “getting started”! Triple H then calls Brock Lesnar out, saying that Brock is usually the guy who handles the destruction, but he laid Brock open last week. Triple H then declares that the “ass-kicker” is back and he is challenging Lesnar to a one-on-one fight at WrestleMania, asking if Brock is going to show up at WrestleMania or is Brock just going to sit there and “bleed”?
In a pre-recorded message from The Shield, the dangerous trio reminds both Sheamus and Randy Orton that they have unfinished business with The Shield, even addressing Big Show as Roman Reigns says that Big Show’s K.O. Punch was a “cheap shot” last week and it will “never happen again”. The Shield then gives the ominous warning to Orton, Sheamus, and Big Show, telling them to “enjoy their match”.
In a special Champion vs. Champion match, World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio, with Ricardo Rodriguez in his corner, went one-on-one with Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. During the match, Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter would come out, keeping an eye on the match. In the end, it was Alberto Del Rio locking in the cross armbreaker on Wade Barrett, forcing the Intercontinental Champion to tap out to pick up the win.
Oh, you didn’t know? Two patriarchs of the Attitude Era would return to action for one night only as the five-time tag team champions, the New Age Outlaws, Road Dogg & Billy Gunn, would re-unite to face Primo & Epico, with Rosa Mendes in their corner. In the end, it was the legends proving that they still got it as Billy Gunn hits the Fame Asser on Primo en route to picking up the win for the New Age Outlaws!
With every available Superstar on hand, Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund would make an appearance as “Mean” Gene brings out Mae Young to celebrate the Hall of Famer’s 90th birthday! However, in the middle of the arena singing “Happy Birthday” to the trailblazer, CM Punk breaks up the special moment, pushing his way past Mae Young on his way to the ring for the main event.
The Undertaker has made his intentions known to be a part of WrestleMania 29, but four deserving Superstars would battle for the right to go one-on-one with “The Deadman” as the self-proclaimed “Best in the World” CM Punk, “The Viper” Randy Orton, “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, and “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show squaring off in a Fatal 4-Way Match with the winner getting to try to break the undefeated streak of The Undertaker at WrestleMania! At the end of a chaotic match, it was Sheamus blasting Big Show with the Brogue Kick, Randy Orton hitting the RKO on Sheamus and, finally, CM Punk hitting the GTS on Orton as Punk picks up the win to earn the opportunity to go one-on-one with The Undertaker in thirty-four nights at WrestleMania 29! After the match, The Undertaker would re-emerge as he locks eyes with the man gunning for his undefeated streak at WrestleMania!
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