Event: WWE Monday Night RAW
Airdate: Monday, December 28th, 2009 (USA Network)
Location: The XL Center in Hartford, CT
Results by 411 Mania
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…”
-Live from the XL Center in Hartford, CT
-Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
-We start the show with Chris Jericho in the parking lot with a megaphone begging fans to sign his petition to get him back on Raw. When fans refuse he says he feels scared for the children of America.
-We start things off with a rapper, but not the one you were expecting. John Cena heads to the ring for a few words to kick things off. Cena goes under the ring, and gets a table which he brings into the ring. Cena sits on the far right corner, and says two weeks ago this is where WWE Champion. He points at the table, and says that right there is how Sheamus champion. He says tonight on the final Raw of 2009 he gets his rematch. He suggests we go ahead and have the rematch right now, and we can’t just have a regular match. He wants a tables match. Sheamus comes out and asks if Cena is for real. He says Cena is the challenger and he is the one with something to prove. He doesn’t have to prove anything because he is the Champion. He says that means Raw belongs to him. Cena corrects him saying that Raw belongs to the fans WWE Universe. Sheamus says the match will be on his terms, so the match will not be a tables match. Sheamus says he’s going to beat Cena straight up, one on one, in the main event later tonight. He says the last image on Raw of 2009 is him standing over Cena’s bruised and battered body holding his WWE Championship. Sheamus starts to walk away, but Cena goes after him and delivers an Attitude Adjustment through the table.
-We head back to Timbaland’s party where he is joined by the Bella’s and Gail Kim. Josh Mathews stops by for a few questions, and he wants to know the status of tonight’s WWE Championship. Timbaland says he’s the captain of the ship, and why would he postpone “the biggest match of the century.” He asks the fans if they want to see Sheamus and Cena get it on for the title. The fans of course respond in the affirmative, so he says its official.
-Cody and Ted head through the locker room discussing Ted’s movie when they run into Orton. Randy thinks it’s time to break up Legacy. He says he’s wasted the last year and a half of his life with them. He says last week three men who have nothing in common beat them, and wants to know how that happens. They ask if he’s serious, but he says he’s not WWE Champion and they’re not Tag Team Champions. He doesn’t associate with failures. They say they shouldn’t be called failures, because they’ve saved his ass so many times. He does arrange for them to prove themselves tonight by facing the men who beat them last week. Dibiase faces Evan Bourne while Cody faces Mark Henry. If they lose they’re out of Legacy, and he’s going to “beat the living hell out of them.”
-Jericho is now picketing outside with a sign that reads “STOP THE JERICHO EMBARGO.”
Ted Dibiase vs. Evan Bourne
Orton came out prior to the break, and took a seat at ringside. Dibiase stares him down before the match begins. Dibiase attacks early, but misses an elbow drop and catches a low dropkick. Bourne hits a spinning heel kick, but hits the ropes running into a clothesline for two. Dibiase delivers a delayed vertical suplex for two, and hits a series of elbow drops. Dibiase grabs a chinlock, but Bourne comes free and hits a spin kick. Bourne connects with a hurracanrana off the top rope, and a rollup then gets two. Bourne delivers a knee to the face, and goes for Air Bourne but Dibiase stops him. Bourne dives off with the double knees but misses and Dibiase flap jacks him into the turnbuckle. Dibiase follows that up with Dream Street to finish at 2:32 which keeps him in Legacy in for the time being. Dibiase stares down Orton as Orton looks unimpressed. I smell something brewing.
Winner: Ted Dibiase (Pinfall-Dream Street **)
Cody Rhodes vs. Mark Henry
Cody bails to the corner, and stares down Orton before getting thrown across the ring by Henry. Henry goes for a vertical splash which misses, and Rhodes connects with a crossbody. Rhodes ducks a clothesline and hits a dropkick before running into a clothesline. Henry hits a headbutt which sends Cody crashing into the second rope. Henry hits the ropes and comes down on top of Cody but he injures his knee as he falls to the floor. Henry slides back inside, but walks into a double boot. Henry goes for a press slam, but can’t hold him due to the injury and Cody hits a chopblock for two. Cody then kicks the leg out from under Henry and delivers a DDT which picks up the win at 2:04. Shocking upset. Afterward Orton looks pleased as he applauds and shakes hands with Cody. Well that was pretty much a waste of time.
Winner: Cody Rhodes (Pinfall-DDT *)
-In the back Jillian wants to talk to Timbaland, but gets rebuffed by Gail Kim. Meanwhile we go over to HHH who has duct taped a skateboard to Hornswoggle. HHH says Shawn had him all week and all he did was take the little heathen to church. HHH is going to do what anyone does when they get a new midget. Shawn is pretty serious about this whole Bret Hart situation and thinks he should go talk to Vince, but HHH thinks he should just stay out of it because we all know what happened last time Shawn got in Vince’s business. HHH tells him not to do anything stupid, but Shawn just disgustingly looks at a midget taped to a skateboard and walks away. Shawn leaves, and HHH bowls the skateboard into a waiting Jillian. Timbaland approves. Lost in all the sillyness is the groundwork is being laid for DX tension.
Kelly Kelly vs. Maryse
Kelly starts things off with a forearm, and fires Maryse across the ring. That leads to lots of rolling around and hair pulling with Maryse getting the better of it with a right hand. Maryse delivers a forearm, but Kelly is back with a clothesline. Kelly connects with a dropkick, and hits a flying crossbody off the top for two. Kelly goes for the back handspring elbow, but Maryse moves and then armdrags Kelly off the second rope. Maryse then finishes abruptly with the DDT at 1:41. I’ve seen worse, and if I’m going to watch bad women’s wrestling it might as well be these two. After the match Maryse calls out Melina in both French and English. I have no idea what she said, but I could watch her talk all night.
Winner: Maryse (Pinfall-DDT *)
Vince McMahon is shown walking to the ring. He’s NEXT!!
-Show stops by to talk to Jericho, and tells him it’s over. Show wants to move on because long distance relationships don’t work. He tells him to let it go, but Jericho wants to know if there’s something else. Show hands him an envelope and tells him to let it go. Jericho looks inside and grins. Please tell me we’re getting Jericho in a mask.
-Mr. McMahon is out to address the Bret Hart rumors, and immediately greeted with a huge “WE WANT BRET” chant. He says we all are enjoying his ingenious guest host concept, and it shows he will do anything for us. He wants to address the rumors that next week we will have a special guest host and his name is Bret “Hitman” Hart. For the benefit of the younger fans Vince has put together a brief, but unbiased history of the Hitman. It starts off nice enough with all the classic Hitman clips, but of course we flash to Montreal and the “Bret Screwed Bret” promo. Vince says Bret didn’t leave his company on the best of terms. He says that he did not screw Bret Hart, but Bret Hart screwed Bret Hart. He says in spite of Bret’s selfish egomaniacal actions he allowed Bret to come back to the WWE and being inducted to the Hall of Fame. He says that weekend Bret did not have a word with him, and after Bret gave his speech Vince offered him a handshake. Vince says he expected Bret to shake his hand, but Bret showed him nothing but utter contempt. He says despite all of that to show us that he’s the better man, and that he will do anything for us. Vince says next week the guest host will be…but he stops as he can’t just get the words out. Vince says he just can’t do it. Vince apologizes, and says Bret Hart will never be a guest host on Monday Night Raw. Vince starts to leave, but here comes Shawn Michaels. Shawn says sometimes, not often, but sometimes there are rivalries that are even bigger than the industry. He says they are so big you can’t deny the people, and you can’t deny yourself. Vince says he knows he’s talking about Bret Hart, but Shawn says he’s not talking about Bret. He’s talking about the Undertaker. He says he knows he can beat him, and knows he can end the streak. He says he’s not here to appeal to his heart, but he knows he likes to make money. He’s appealing to his wallet. He says at Wrestlemania 26 he wants the rematch. Vince says he won’t make the match because if this match is going to happen then Shawn has to make it happen. Shawn says before Vince leaves he wants to say one more thing. He can understand being afraid of the Undertaker, but Bret Hart? He says Vince doesn’t have many open chapters left in his life, and maybe it’s time he had some closure for this one. Shawn tells him to bring Bret to WWE and to Monday Night Raw, and he promises only good things will happen. Vince wants to clear things up. He’s not afraid of Taker, Bret, Shawn, or any man. He says he is fearless, and then asks Shawn what that phrase was he just used. Shawn says “only good things will happen” again. Vince gets a grin as he thinks he’s on to him, and Shawn says he for one would be very happy to see Bret one more time. Vince says if only good things will happen then next week the guest host will in fact be…Bret Hart. Absolutely epic promo that gave me goosebumps. Something I haven’t had while watching Raw in a long time. Can’t wait for next week.
-John Cena joins Josh Mathews, but before he can say anything he is attacked by Sheamus. He gets a few kicks in before being pulled off by referees.
-MVP is in the back playing PSP with Timbaland as he is joined by Kofi Kingston who wants to thank him for giving him a chance to earn a US Title shot as he has unfinished business with Miz as he beat him for the title. MVP says speaking of unfinished business since Kofi beat him for the title when he beats Miz he deserves a shot. Miz stops by to say MVP won’t be able to beat Kofi for the title since Kofi will never have the title. He then tells Gail that she can’t keep up with Maryse and he knows. Timbaland then decides to tell Miz if Kofi beats him tonight then he’ll get his title shot immediately afterward.
The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston
Miz takes control early with a suplex, and stomps Kofi down in the corner. Miz hits a corner clothesline, and heads to the rope but his dives meets trouble in paradise to pick up the win at 0:46. That sets up a US Title match after the break.
Winner: Kofi Kingston (Pinfall-Trouble in Paradise ¼*)
WWE United States Championship: Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz ©
Joined in progress out of the break Kofi hits a crossbody off the top rope for two. Kofi delivers the SOS for two, and follows up with a crucifix for another near fall. Kofi delivers a Side Russian Legsweep which sets up the boom drop. Kofi calls for another Trouble in Paradise which connects, but Orton runs out to break up the pin drawing the DQ at 2:17. Orton rams Kingston into the ringpost, and delivers an RKO on the floor as he stands over an unconscious Kofi. Nice segment to continue the Kingston-Orton feud, but the US champ looked like crap as a result.
Winner: Kofi Kingston (Disqualification-Ortonference/Miz retains US Title *)
-Josh Mathews stops Randy Orton in the back. Orton says the issues with him and Kofi are not over until he says it’s over. He says next week they’ll finish it, and he can’t think of a better way to start a new year than by kicking someone in the skull.
D-Generation X vs. The Big Show & Chavo Guerrero
After DX goes through their elaborate intro Chris Jericho heads through the crowd to take a front row seat as he was given a ticket by Show. Chavo is revealed as the mystery partner which is a huge letdown even by mystery partner standards. Jericho looks absolutely devastated at Show’s choice. Chavo starts with HHH and goes for three amigos right away, but HHH blocks the second one and hits a delayed vertical of his own. HHH delivers a kneedrop for two, but Chavo comes right back with a dropkick. HHH explodes out of the corner with a clothesline, and tags in Shawn who comes in with an inverted atomic drop. Shawn hits the ropes, but gets pulled down by his hair from Show. Chavo hits a spinning heel kick for two, and throws Shawn into the corner. The ref pulls Chavo out so Show takes advantage from the outside before tagging in. Show comes in and walks across the chest of Shawn, and then throws him away before tagging Chavo back inside. Shawn tries to fight back with a few chops before catching a European upper cut. Chavo tries to flip inside from the apron, but gets the knees of Shawn allowing the tag to HHH. Show tags in though, and he goes for a chokeslam immediately. HHH reverses that, and then side steps a charging Show. Chavo eats a spinebuster, and Show gets a facebuster. HHH hits the ropes and runs into a spear from Show who tags in Chavo. Chavo climbs onto Show’s shoulders and goes for a frog splash which misses. Shawn takes Show out of the match, and now here comes Hornswoggle. Swoggle hilariously goes for the pedigree on Chavo behind the officials back, but he gets a backdrop instead. HHH then comes back to pedigree Chavo to pick up the win at 4:55. Jericho jumps the railing to piss and moan, but eats a superkick from Shawn when he climbs to the apron. HHH says if Jericho wants his rematch he can have it next week, but when he loses he’s really gone. No disguises, no tickets, just him off the show forever.
Winners: D-Generation X (HHH pins Chavo-Pedigree **1/2)
The main event is next. Both men are shown walking to the ring as we head to break.
WWE Title Match: John Cena vs. Sheamus
We go to the ring where Justin Roberts introduces the special ring announcer for this match and out comes Timbaland with The Bella Twins on his arms. Timbaland takes the mic and tries to get the crowd hype before introducing the challenger and his friend, John Cena. Out comes Cena to a good pop. And out next is the WWE Champion Sheamus.
The bell rings and they meet in the middle of the ring with right hands. Cena hits his bulldog early but Sheamus counters and hits a clothesline. Sheamus starts stomping on Cena before a series of right hands. Sheamus with shoulder thrusts in the corner. Sheamus hits a suplex for a 2 count. Cena comes off the ropes with shoulder blocks and a back drop. Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He goes for an Attitude Adjustment but Sheamus hangs onto the ropes. Cena pulls him away from the ropes but Sheamus pulls the referee down. Cena slams Sheamus but the referee disqualifies Sheamus for pulling him down. Sheamus retains the WWE Title.
Winner by DQ: John Cena
– After the match, Sheamus takes his belt and starts heading up the ramp. John Cena comes over the ropes and attacks Shieamus from behind. Cena brings Sheamus back to the ring but gets kicked in the face and laid out. Cena gets up again but Sheamus hits him with another kick to the face. RAW goes off the air with Sheamus holding the WWE Title up on the ramp and Cena down in the ring.