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Last night's episode of WWE Raw includes four Team Raw Bragging Rights qualifying matches, two Divas title matches, a 6 Diva tag team match, and a main event tag team match with Randy Orton teaming with John Cena vs. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes, and much more.
Emanating tonight from the beautiful Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Right out of the gate, Chris Jericho is backstage and he introduces himself, and announces that he is the captain of Team Smackdown for the seven on seven (Raw vs. Smackdown) match at the upcoming Bragging Rights PPV. (Finally, the name is explained!) He is interrupted by tonight’s special guest host, the very lovely Nancy O’Dell of Access Hollywood. She informs poor Mr. Jericho that we’re starting out Raw with Degeneration X. Cut to the ring, cue the DX music, and out comes HHH (sans HBK). Funny bit, as HHH brings in the timekeeper to play the part of HBK running around Hunter to hand him the mic. Trips explains that Shawn won’t be at the show, so he pulls out a cell phone and calls HBK at home. If you don’t laugh at HBK’s outgoing message, you don’t know what comedy is. He sings his own theme song, a la George Costanza (believe it or not). When Shawn finally picks up, he explains that he couldn’t be at the arena tonight because he is taking care of his sick daughter. The two then pimp the new DX book. HHH is interrupted by Jerishow. Chris and HHH argue over which brand is better. Trips goads Biggie into admitting that he carries the Showicho team. CJ takes offense and now those two argue over various subjects. CJ reminds Show about getting knocked out by Floyd Mayweather at Wrestlemania 24. (I was there). Show says he wants to be on the Raw team for the BR PPV. HHH tells him he has to earn his spot on the team by beating Jericho. And that match is NOW! (or at least until after the ad break).
Team Raw Bragging Rights qualifying match. Chris Jericho vs. Big Show.
First bell at 21 minutes into show. Not really a great match. Endgame: Jericho attempts a code-breaker, Biggie blocks it, and gently rests him on the top tunbuckle. While perched there, Show tries to calm Jericho down. This only angers CJ, and he slaps his the big fella. An enraged Show then slaps the ever living hell out of CJ’s chest, knocking him to the floor, Show chases, and nearly gets counted out. As CJ runs back into the ring, Show pulls him out and crawls into the ring, avoiding the 10 count.
Your winner as a result of a count out, well, it’s The Big Show. (He’s now on Team Raw at the BR PPV)
Post match, special correspondent for the night, showbiz insider Maria Menounos, from Access Hollywood, interviews Legacy. She informs them that tonight they are in a Triple Threat Team Raw Bragging Rights qualifying match against John Cena. I must tell you, dear reader, that not only is Maria Menudo stunning, she seems to know her stuff.
Divas Championship match. Champion Mickie James vs. Jillian.
Bizarre finish here as Jillian power bombs Mickie and uses the ropes for leverage. Mickie’s feet are also on the ropes. Blind referee makes a 1-2-3 count anyway, and ladies and gentleman your winner as a result of a pin fall and NEW Divas Champion, Jillian! She then proceeds to sing??? a victory song, but is interrupted by O’Dell. (thank GOD!) She informs Jillian that she must defend her title against the newly acquired Melina, who was traded from Smackdown.
Divas Championship match. Champion Jillian vs. Melina
The newly acquired Melina enters the ring and makes short work of the new champ.
Ladies and gentleman, your winner as a result of a pin fall, and NEW Divas Champion, Melina.
After break, we find out that next week your Raw special guest host will be Snoop Dogg. Nice. Cut to a DX dressing room segment featuring HHH talking to a speakerphone with HBK on the other end, a cardboard cut-out of HBK, and Hornswoggle dressed as HBK. Enough said. Cut to the pre-requisite backstage segment featuring the uber-hot co-hosts, and of course, Santino Morella. We find out that the diva who has been traded to Smackdown is Beth Phoenix. She appears and begins to choke Maria Macanudo. Santino then books Maria into a 6 diva tag team match, much to the dismay of poor Maria. Before break, we get a recap of the Orton/Cena feud and recent matches.
Team Raw Triple Threat Bragging Rights qualifying match between Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and John Cena. If Rhodes or DiBiase win, the one who gets the pin, joins Team Raw at the BR PPV. If Cena wins, neither of them join the team.
Rhodes and DiBiase look perplexed as they walk to the ring. During the match, Legacy pretty much double teams the crap out of Cena. Lots of near falls and high spots. Cool moment as they double drop kick Cena, shades of the Rock N Roll Express. And since this is a good match, of course….they take an ad break in the MIDDLE OF THE MATCH! (I hate it a little less, because this is a live show….but still.) Back from break, Cody pulls Teddy off of John just as Teddy’s about to score a pin fall. A hint of what’s to come, as during endgame, Randy Orton appears at ringside, distracting Cena enough for Rhodes to roll up DiBiase for the 1-2-3.
Your winner as a result of a pin fall, Cody Rhodes. He then joins Big Show, HHH, and HBK on Team Raw. Nancy O’Dell then appears on the TitanTron to inform Legacy that they must team up against John Cena and Randy Orton later in tonight’s show.
Team Raw Bragging Rights qualifying match: Jack Swagger vs. MVP. Not much to report here. Swagger hits a gut-wrench power-bomb for the 1-2-3.
Your winner as result of a pin fall, Jack Swagger. (he then joins Rhodes, Show, HHH, and HBK on the Team Raw graphic).
Backstage we see Legacy discussing their upcoming match tonight.
Team Raw Bragging Rights qualifying match between Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne.
This match is what you would expect between these two. High spots and near falls abound. Endgame features EB going to the middle ropes for a springboard move, but KK catches him with a mid-air Trouble in Paradise kick and scores the 1-2-3. During the match Michael Cole informs us that WWE Superstars this Thursday on WGN will have the last qualifying match pitting Mark Henry vs. Chris Masters.
Your winner, as a result of a pin fall, Kofi Kingston. (he then joins Swagger, Rhodes, Show, HHH, and HBK on the Team Raw graphic.)
Back in the DX locker room, we see HHH, the HBK cutout, and our guest hosts. Here comes Chavo getting kicked in the nuts by Maria Meningitis. Funny stuff.
6 Diva tag team match featuring Beth Phoenix, Alicia Fox, and Rosa vs. Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, and Maria Mennonites (or as I like to call them, the hot girl United Nations). Maria does get some ring time, and looks good doing it. She hot shots Rosa’s head over the top rope, allowing Kelly squared to hit an impressive springboard legdrop for the 1-2-3.
Your winners as a result of a pin fall, the Hot Girl UN.
After the break, the US Champion The Miz cuts a ramp way promo. He informs us that he will be taking on his former tag team partner John Morrison at the BR PPV. Lawler (for mayor) and Cole pimp the Bragging Rights PPV. WWE Champ Randy Orton then enters the ring. His match, is next.
Tag team match featuring WWE Champ Randy Orton and John Cena vs. Legacy.
During the match, Orton pretty much stays outside the ring until he his tagged in by Cena against his will. Rhodes and DiBiase both try to pin the champ on different occasions. Orton tags Cena. Cena attacks Ted, and gets him up for the Attitude Adjustment. As he does, Orton attacks Cena, and DiBiase pins a distracted Orton for the 1-2-3. Post match, Cena delivers an Attitude Adjustment on Orton, while Cody and Teddy look on outside the ring.
Your winners as a result of a pin fall, Legacy.
Also post match, Cena discovers that, in what could be his last match on Raw next week, his opponent will be HHH. Needless to say, Mr. Cena does not look pleased.
Thank you and good night from Indianapolis.
James Serino
Views: 821
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