WWE Monday Night RAW
March 22, 2010 – San Jose, California
Announcers: Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler
[REVIEWED BY SHANE ST. GERMAIN]
IN THE RING
Shawn Michaels + RAW guest host Pete Rose: Shawn said he’s got a feeling, the same feeling he had back in January in 1992 right before he threw Marty Janetty through a barber shop window. He said it’s the same feeling he had in 1996 when he beat Bret Hart for the WWE championship, and it’s the exact same feeling he had last week right before he kicked The Undertaker’s teeth right down his throat. Shawn said it’s the feeling that he can do anything, including beating Taker at WrestleMania! Shawn said he’s got to hand it to the WWE, it might be coincidence, but there happens to be a new Shawn Michaels DVD out, right when he’s putting his career on the line, almost as if his career is ending. Shawn said to clear out the space on your DVD shelf, because he’s going to give you volume 2, because this is not the end, it’s only the beginning! Shawn said after WrestleMania he will no longer be known as the headliner, the showstopper, the main event, he will no longer be known as the heart break kid, he will no longer be known as the co-founder of DX, he won’t even be known as Shawn Michaels. Shawn said but he can assure you that he will be remembered in eternity as the one and only man who ended Taker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak. Shawn said in 6 days Taker is going to- – but the lights went out! A video package played showing Shawn’s career highlights up until WrestleMania 25. At the end it said Shawn Michael’s career 1985-2010. Shawn said he appreciated Taker’s attempt to intimidate him, but if he really wanted to intimidate him, he would come out and do it to his face! Suddenly Pete Rose came out. Pete wished Shawn good luck. Pete said 17 in a row is a great streak, but Shawn is the right man to end that streak. Pete said as guest host he would like for Shawn to compete tonight against Kane! Pete said same stipulations as WrestleMania. Pete said he needed someone to get revenge for him, over all the things Kane has done to him over the years. Shawn said he would get revenge for Pete, and for himself!
NON (WWE UNITED STATES) TITLE MATCH
John Morrison w/R-Truth defeated WWE United States champion Mike “The Miz” Mizanin w/The Big Show: The Big Show and R-Truth were on commentary. Morrison was in control for the opening and kicked Miz out of the ring. John jumped over the top rope, but Miz moved. John stayed on the apron, hit a big kick, and followed up with a moonsault! Back from commercial, the Miz had Morrison in an Orton like chin lock. Over the commercial, the Miz had been attacking Morrison’s neck. Morrison nearly got the pin with a roll up, but Miz got out at 2 and kicked Morrison in the face. Morrison finally managed to fight back with a big knee to the face. Morrison managed to hit a sunset flip powerbomb off the turnbuckle followed by starship pain for the win! Show pushed Truth down and walked into a dropkick from Morrison after the match. An enraged Big Show jumped in the ring but Morrison & Truth had already escaped!
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Triple H + Randy Orton: HHH was getting ready for the match later tonight when Orton walked in. Hunter asked why Orton thought he would talk to him. Hunter said that just because they have common enemies doesn’t mean their past has gone away, and that if Orton messes with him he’ll drop him where he stands. Orton said he would keep that in mind but at the same time Hunter needs to make it to WrestleMania.
MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH
Kofi Kingston defeated Vladimir Kozlov to qualify: For some reason Jack Swagger was on commentary, like there’s some chance of him winning MIIB. Vladimir threw Kofi around for a bit before Kofi won in about 3 minutes with the Trouble in Paradise.
3 ON 2 HANDICAP MATCH
Sheamus & Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Jr.) defeated Triple H & Randy Orton: Legacy cut a promo before the match. Cody said this Sunday it would be every man for themselves. Cody said 18 months of verbal tirades and temper tantrums. 18 months of physical abuse and after 18 months Ted and himself are finally free. Cody said everybody wants to think that Randy took them under his wing, but they would have been Superstars no matter what. Cody said the biggest misconception going is that they NEEDED Randy Orton. Cody said, NO NO, Orton needed them. Ted said at WrestleMania, it doesn’t matter which one of them wins, just as long as Orton loses. Ted said Orton’s ignorance would finally be exposed. Cody said people used to say that Orton was the future of the WWE, but Cody is 6 years younger than Orton and 3 years younger than Ted. Ted said he realizes no one likes them, but that jealousy is human nature and it’s not their fault that they were not born into a life of luxury like him. Ted said the point is that no one respects them, but by next week they will. Cody said it would be because he’ll be the winner. This comment caught Ted off guard. Sheamus and HHH started but Sheamus tagged in Cody immediately. Hunter took care of Cody but when Ted got tagged in he took over. Sheamus tagged in and began stomping on Hunter. The next generation made frequent tags beating up Hunter. Hunter finally got the hot tag after hitting Cody with a spine buster. Orton threw both members of Legacy out of the ring and hit the inverted neckbreaker on Sheamus. Orton got ready for the RKO but Cody tried to sneak up on him. Orton got ready to hit the slingshot DDT (my new name for the rope DDT) but Sheamus hit the bicycle kick for the win! After the match, Legacy rolled Triple H into the ring. Sheamus got ready for his kick but Hunter ducked it and clotheslined Sheamus out of the ring.
IN THE RING
Bret “The Hitman” Hart + Vince McMahon: Bret Hart said when he came back to the WWE he never believed in his wildest dreams that he would get another shot to go to WrestleMania. Bret said this was going to be a chance that he’s been waiting for, for a long time. Bret said 12 years ago he left the WWE, and it left a bad taste in his mouth for years. Bret said he has a chance to leave on a good note now, because he got just what he wanted, a No Holds Barred match against Vince McMahon. Bret said for years he’s heard Vince say “Bret screwed Bret” and he’s sick of hearing it, but after next week you’ll hear “Bret beat Vince!” Bret said last week Vince referred to his family as a bunch of dysfunctional derelicts. Bret said next week there will be a lot of dysfunctional Harts hanging around Phoenix because they’re coming to induct his father (Stu Hart) into the Hall of Fame. Bret said Vince has somehow managed to drive half his family out of the WWE (Shane & Linda), but the Harts will all be there in full force because they want to watch Bret give him the beat down of his life. Bret said that Shawn said that if Bret was allowed to come back to the WWE good things would happen, and good things WILL happen! Bret said he can’t wait to get his hands on Vince and give his fans what they’ve been waiting for. Bret said WrestleMania is a special thing for him. Bret remembered the match he had against Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, the Iron Man match he had against Shawn at WrestleMania 12, winning the Intercontinental title from Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 8, the match against Owen at WrestleMania 10, and the beating Yokozuna for the World title for the third time. Bret said he’s had some great memories, but WrestleMania 26 is going to be the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be! Vince came out and said “this Sunday one way or another, you’re screwed!”
NO DQ MATCH
Shawn Michaels defeated Kane: Kane quickly took control with a big boot and began working on Shawn for several minutes. Shawn managed to reverse Kane’s top rope lariat into a crossface! Kane went for the chokeslam right after but Shawn turned it into an ankle lock! Shawn knocked Kane down and hit the diving elbow. Shawn got ready for the SCM but the lights went out! When they came back on Undertaker was there! Taker gave Shawn a chokeslam and the lights went back out. When they came back on Taker was gone. Kane pinned Shawn but he kicked out. Shawn hit Sweet Chin Music moments later for the shocking win!
HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCEMENT: They announced Bob Uecker going into the WWE Hall of Fame..
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Christian & Pete Rose + Kane: RAW guest host Pete Rose was talking about how he finally got one on Kane, and talked a bit about baseball to Christian. Pete said his luck has finally changed for the better. Pete walked into his office but Kane’s music hit. Kane yelled “your luck has changed, has it? don’t bet on it!” Kane pulled Pete in and beat him up off camera to really cheesy sound effects.
SIX DIVA TAG TEAM MATCH
Maryse Ouellet & Michelle McCool & Layla El (w/Vickie Guerrero & Alicia Fox) defeated Beth Phoenix & Gail Kim & Eve Torres (w/Mickie James & Kelly Kelly): Michelle and Gail Kim started off and Michelle won with the Styles clash on Gail in about a minute. Completely pointless match, and pointless to bring various face and heel Divas to stand around ringside.
IN THE RING
WWE champion Batista + John Cena: Batista came out with tons of security. Batista referred to himself as the bad guy and told the fans to boo him all they want. Batista said they were going to have to get used to him being the WWE champion, and John Cena losing at WrestleMania. Batista said John Cena has never beaten him and never will. Batista said he’s said it before, and he’ll say it again, when John Cena and him are in the same ring, bad things happen to him. Batista said it will not change on Sunday. Batista said everyone loves John Cena, because he comes out there, runs his mouth to get everyone all excited. Batista said they hate him because he’s the bad guy, he speaks the truth and tells it like it is. Batista said they all mean nothing to him, he’s there to win titles and make money. Batista said when he looks at them he doesn’t see fans or people, he sees money! Batista said he gets that they hate him for his honesty, but they all pay to see him anyway. Batista said he appreciates the money. Batista said they pay to see greatness; something they will never be. Batista said Cena will disappoint at WrestleMania, again. Batista said he’s done talking because he knows they want John Cena to come out there, run his mouth, get everyone excited, and give false hope. Cena came out. Cena said he’s already disappointed those people and let them down. Cena said that happened the second Batista became the WWE champion. Cena said he lost confidence in himself, and the fans lost confidence in him, and ever since Batista has won the WWE championship he has come out to make fun of the fans. Cena said every week he tries to stop Batista but fails. Cena said he never saw this coming, and doesn’t know if he can stop it. Cena said he’s been in a lot of bad spots in his career but he’s always given people a chance to believe. Cena said it’s because no matter how bad the situation was, he believed that he was in the fight. Cena said after all that’s happened, he doesn’t know if all the fight in the world will give him the chance. Batista said Cena is a common loser like all the fans. Cena said all the crap Batista’s been saying, that was the only thing that made sense, that he’s just like all of those people, and they’re all sick and tired of Batista’s garbage. Cena said Batista sounds foolish putting himself above everyone else. Cena said Batista thinks he’s the animal, being paid money to take people out. Cena said Batista isn’t very good at it and should quit, if he was good at his job he wouldn’t need security. Cena said if Batista was any good he wouldn’t be there at all! Cena said Batista had him pretty shook, but now that he can see his eyes he doesn’t see an animal, he sees Batista, and Batista can and will be beat! Cena said Batista needs to know that at WrestleMania Cena is taking back the championship. Cena said if Batista isn’t going to make a move than he’s done talking. Batista started yelling insults and Cena attacked him! The security tried to break it up but didn’t do a very good job. Batista ended up getting out of the ring and leaving. Cena took out all of the security guards and stood in the ring posing.