Welcome to WrestleZone.com’s exclusive LIVE Raw coverage!
Tonight, Raw is being brought to you live from Jacksonville, Florida.
We kick things off tonight with a video package highlighting what happened with Randy Orton and Triple H last week on Raw. We then see highlights of the beating Triple H received from Legacy on Smackdown. We then cut to a shot of Randy Orton’s home in St. Louis where we learn that he will join us live via satellite later in the evening to discuss what has happened between him and Triple H. We then head into the arena, Shawn Michaels’ music hits, and he comes out to address the crowd. HBK says that as impressive as a 16-0 streak at Wrestlemania is, the streak was meant to be broken and at the PPV Michales will be the one to do it. He then rolls a highlight video package of Wrestlemania moments featuring The Undertaker. Following the video, The Undertaker made his way to the ring and told HBK that he has once again allowed his arrogance to get in the way of his judgment. Shawn retaliates by saying that he shouldn’t have had to qualify to face ‘Taker as he is Mr. Wrestlemania and will prove it to The Dead Man when he beats his streak. Undertaker then says that Michaels is too concerned with the streak, and too concerned with winning the match, when he really should be concerned with what ‘Taker is going to do to him physically. He says HBK’s dream to end the streak is simply that; a dream. He finally says that at Wrestlemania Shawn will rest…but HBK cuts him off and says that he will rest comfortably that night because he will have won their match. He ends by saying that ‘Taker may have beaten all his opponents at Mania, but he has never beaten Shawn Michaels. We then head to our first commercial break of the night.
Back from break and it’s time for our first match of the evening, CM Punk vs JBL for the Intercontinental Title. The action starts off back and forth, as JBL hits some rights and lefts, followed by a few kicks to the gut of Punk. Punk fights back with a slide through the legs of JBL and then lays some stiff kicks into the hamstring of Bradshaw. He hits a snap mare from the corner followed by a cover but JBL quickly kicks out. Following an attempt to hit a bulldog, JBL blocks it and rolls out of the ring. Punk then hits him with a big suicide dive to the outside as we head to commercial break. Back from break and we see that during the commercial JBL hit a big boot on Punk and is now in control. He then hits a fall away slam on the Champ before going into a bear hug submission hold. He backs Punk into the corner but Punk is able to grab hold of JBL’s head and hit a big tornado DDT to put both guys down. Punk goes for the cover but gets a 2 count. He then hits a springboard clothesline off the top as JBL is getting up and lands another 2 count. Punk then picks JBL up, whips him into the corner and hits a running knee following by a bulldog. Another 2 count. As JBL is getting up Punk tries for the GTS, but JBL counters it, takes a run off the ropes and hits the Clothesline From Hell for the 1,2,3!
Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: JBL
Back from break and it is now time for an interview with Randy Orton in his home via satellite. But before that we head to the back where JBL thanks Vickie Guerrero for giving him an IC title shot, and Vickie says that he has to do something for her in return. At that point Edge interrupts and tells Vickie that he has to know what Cena whispered in her ear last week. She says it’s not important, and Edge says that what is important is his contract signing which happens later on tonight.
We then head to St. Louis, where Randy Orton is shown in his home with his wife Samantha. After introducing her, Cole asks Orton why he violated his own stipulation by attacking Triple H on Smackdown last week. Orton asks Cole to run the footage of the beating in case people missed it, so the package runs. Back to Orton when the video is finished and he said that he didn’t attack Triple H, instead he showed restraint. He said he could have punted HHH like he did Vince or RKO’d him like he did Stephanie. But instead he used self-control and avoided making the situation worse. He then added that no matter where Triple H goes, Raw or Smackdown, he will always be there to take a little more from the Champ but leave enough so that he is able to defend the title at Wrestlemania. Cole tells us we will hear more from Orton later in the night. We head to commercial.
Back from break and it’s now time for Maryse vs Melina in a Champion vs Champion match. The ring is surrounded by Divas from both Raw and Smackdown. The action is back and forth throughout the match, with the two girls exchanging missed kicks to begin things and Melina finally catching Maryse with a leg sweep. Melina then hits an elbow drop before Maryse counters a kick and ends up catching Melina in a reverse chin lock type submission hold. Melina finally battles out and hits a nice looking face plant on Maryse by grabbing her by the hair. She whips Maryse into the corner then blocks a kick attempt and lays Maryse across the middle turnbuckle. She rams her knees into Maryse’s back but Maryse then counters a running attack in the corner. Melina gets hung up on the turnbuckle and Maryse grabs her by the hair and whips her down onto her back. She goes for the cover and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Maryse
After the match, the Divas from Raw and Smackdown hit the ring and brawl. The fight ends with the face Divas of Raw and SD eliminating the heel Divas of Raw and SD who retreat to the back.
Back from break and Vickie Guerrero is in the ring for the contract signing. She announces to the crowd that at Wrestlemania 25 there will be a 25 Diva Battle Royal which will feature Divas from Raw, Smackdown, ECW and Divas of the past. She then says the winner of the Battle Royal will be crowned Ms. Wrestlemania.
She then introduces both Big Show and Edge for the contract signing. Before they sign, Edge explains to Show that he and Show are the two biggest stars in WWE right now. He says that he was watching clips of Wrestlemania 6 where Ultimate Warrior wrestled Hulk Hogan and that he knows Show is better than Warrior and that he is better than Hogan. He says the two of them can have an epic match at Wrestlemania. Show agrees and they both sign the contract. John Cena’s music hits and he comes to the ring. He says that he will now be involved in the match at Wrestlemania because Vickie added him to the bout. He says this past week on Smackdown, when he whispered in Vickie’s ear, he told her that he was in love with her. He then said after he told her that she added him to the main event at Wrestlemania and he would see Edge and Show there. He made his way to the entrance ramp and then turned to the ring and said that he was lying. He doesn’t love Vickie. He says in fact the sight of her makes him sick. He says the truth is he told Vickie that when Raw was in his hometown of Boston he knew a lot of people that worked the show. The guy who sells shirts, the ticket taker and even the guy who runs the security camera. Cena then rolls a video clip of Big Show coming into Edge’s dressing room last week on Raw. Vickie is there and asks why Show is there as Edge is in the shower and could see the two of them. Show says he needed to see her and she says that they need to keep their "urges" for one another under control. He agrees, but asks her for a kiss and they exchange one. He then leaves. Back to Raw and Cena tells Vickie she has some explaining to do. Edge looks at her and becomes furious as we head to commercial break.
Back from break and in a qualifying bout for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania it’s Kofi Kingston vs Chris Jericho. Jericho starts off with a headlock on Kingston, but Kofi pushes him off into the ropes then hits a flying elbow followed by an arm drag then a dropkick. Jericho retreats into the corner, Kofi gets a running start and mounts him on the top turnbuckle and delivers some right hands. Jericho counters the punches into a powerbomb as we head to commercial break.
Back from break and we see that during the commercial Jericho hit Kingston with a springboard dropkick to the outside. Jericho is in control now and hits Kingston with some rights and a follows that with an inzuguri. Jeircho attempts the Lionsault while Kofi is down but Kofi is able to move out of the way and then counter a clothesline attempt with a side Russian leg sweep but is unable to hit his standing leg drop and Jericho reverses it into the Walls of Jericho. It looks as if Kingston will tap when suddenly WOOO! Flair’s music hits and The Nature Boy makes his way to the top of the entrance ramp. He distracts Jericho long enough for Kofi to hit Trouble in Paradise and get the victory.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match we head back to St. Louis where Cole asks Orton why he is not in attendance for Raw this evening. Orton asks Cole if he’s implying that he is trying to hide from Triple H and he says that he is showing restraint by not being there. He tells Cole that he is not always in control of his actions and that he’s avoiding seriously hurting HHH by not showing up at Raw tonight. He then says he is going to enjoy watching the main event from his home. We then head to break.
Back from commercial and Todd Grisham has Chris Jericho in the back and he asks him if he’s disappointed in the outcome of his match. Jericho says that he blames Flair for stealing his Wrestlemania glory and that next week he will have his own Wrestlemania moment. He challenges Flair to come out of retirement to face him next week in one more match on Raw. He says that Flair will have his final moment next week if he accepts Jericho’s challenge, because like Rourke’s character in The Wrestler, Flair’s career will die against Jericho in a match.
Before the break, it is announced that Koko B. Ware will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009.
Back to ringside and Rey Mysterio’s music hits. It’s followed by Finlay’s music and finally Christian’s music. After the break the three stars will tag together in a match.
Back from break and in a 6 man tag match it’s Rey Mysterio, Finlay and Christian vs The Miz, John Morrison and Kane. The action in this match is very fast paced as Christian starts off against The Miz. He hits a reverse DDT on The Miz quickly but Miz gets to the corner and tags in Kane. Kane comes in and goes to work on Christian. He whips Christian to the corner, hits a clothesline and then a big powerslam out of the corner. He gets a tag into The Miz who is back in and hits a double team gutbuster on Christian with Morrison. Morrison in now and he goes to work on Christian with a hard kick to the face. Christian is able to drop Morrison in time to make a tag to Finlay who clears the ring. He hits a double clothesline on Miz and Morrison then tags in Mysterio. Rey springboards in and hits Morrison with a Thesz off the top then blocks an Irish Whip into the corner from Morrison and climbs to the top to hit a big Hurricanrana. Rey then goes for the 619 on Morrison but Kane comes in and attempts a chokeslam. Rey slides out of it and Christian and Finlay clear Kane out of the ring. Rey in the meantime is able to hit the 619 on Morrison followed by The West Coast Pop for the win.
Winners: Rey Mysterio, Finlay and Christian
Back from break and Cole announces that in tag team action next week on Raw, The Undertaker will team with Shawn Michaels to face JBL and Vladimir Kozlov.
A trailer is then shown for John Cena’s upcoming film "12 Rounds."
After the trailer it’s time for our main event, Legacy vs Triple H in a handicap match. Legacy comes out to ringside, and then Triple H’s music hits twice but the champ does not come out. The ref declares that Legacy is the winner of the match via forfeit and Orton comes on the TitanTron and says that Triple H let everyone down tonight by not showing up at Raw. There is then a knock on Orton’s door and Orton tells his wife to answer it. He then quickly realizes what he’s done and tells her to stay away from the door as you hear a loud bang and Triple H bursts through Orton’s door with a sledgehammer. Orton flees and HHH searches for him in the house. Eventually, Orton comes busting out of a closet and attacks HHH with a golf club. HHH kicks Orton then punches him to the ground and the two brawl. HHH tosses Orton into a lamp and then throws him into the wall. He then picks up Orton and throws him head first through the main window of Orton’s living room and Orton goes flying onto the front lawn. HHH comes through the window and is assaulting Orton on the front lawn when the police arrive. They arrest Triple H and throw him in the back of a police cruiser and restrain Orton as Raw goes off the air.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
