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RAW Report 8/7
By Brandon Holloway

Raw starts with the usual opening video and pyro.

Lillian introduces Ted DiBiase Senior who comes out to a big pop. He is followed out by Cody and Ted Jr. They all come down to the ring. Dibiase says that McMahon and Trump have proven that everyone has a price. He says that he had his people make a phone call, write out a check, and now Raw is being run by the Million Dollar Man. Crowd cheers. He says that in the ring with him are two of the most naturally gifted young superstars we will ever see, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. He says that he has been informed that there will be no title defenses before NOC, but that does not mean that he can’t have a little fun. He then goes on to say that at NOC, The unified tag champs, Edge and Y2J will go up against Legacy and be defeated. He then asked Cody how he felt last week when Henry beat Orton in the gauntlet match. Cody said that he felt mad and couldn’t believe hw henry treated Orton. DiBiase asked if henry should be punished? Cody says without question. DiBiase says that tonight he will be taught a lesson when he faces Cody. Ted asks his father what is he doing? DiBiase says he is making an impact. He says that he is sorry he didn’t get to Ted earlier. Ted asks what? DiBiase says he knows Ted told off Orton at the Bash but they made up later. But he saw the look in his sons eyes. He knows what everyone else knows, that Orton is keeping Ted down. Orton is holding him back. So tonight Orton has a match. Its not a title match, but it will change careers. Tonight it will be Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase Jr. Ted says that he won’t face Orton. His father says that he will not just face him, he will beat him. DiBiase laughs his awesome laugh and leaves the ring. Legacy are left in the ring when Rated Y2J come out to Edge’s music. The 4 of them all glare at each other.

Brandon’s Analysis - Decent opening segment, which allowed for two matches to be made for the show, and one for NOC. Ted Senior was good on the mic, as were Legacy.

-Commercial-

We are back with Rated Y2J holding up the unified titles. The Colons make there way to the ring.

Non Title Match - Rated Y2J vs. The Colons
Carlito and Edge start off with a lock up. Edge bounced off the rope, then kicked in the mid section, kneed in the face and clotheslined for two. Carlito bouced off the rope and eats a big boot for two. Tag made and Jericho enters the ring. Huge elbow by Carlito which drops Carlito, followed by a back body drop and a stomp to the face. Edge is tagged back in. Carlito begins to fight back but Edge drops Carlito and hits him with a elbow drop for two. Edge stomps down on Carlito and distracts the ref, as Jericho cheap shots Carlito. Jericho gets tagged back in. Rear naked choke applied by Jericho. Carlito works to his feet and hits a few punches, then bounces off the second rope and hits y2j with a back elbow. Both men are down. Edge and Primo are in. Huge elbow, clothesline and drop kick by Primo. Then a drop kick to y2j. Hude head scissors followed by a cross body to Edge for two. Edge hangs Primo up and tangles him in the ropes. Edge goes to spear Primo as he is tangled in the ropes, but Primo moves and Edge ends up spearing Carlito to the floor. Roll up by Primo on Edge for two. Carlito gets onto the apron whcih distracts Primo and the ref, as primo turns into a code breaker, followed by a spear for the 3 count.
Winners - Rated Y2J

Carlito is pissed off in the ring, as Primo is on his knees in pain. Carilto throws Primo into the ring post then tosses him out of the ring. He pounds down onto Primo on the outside with rights, then throws him over the announce table. King and the ref check on Primo as Carlito leaves.

Brandon’s Analysis - A fairly good opener. Too bad half the match was Smackdown guys. (*1/2)

We cut backstage to Legacy, where Cody asks Ted if he’s going to do it? Ted says he has too, as Randy walks in. Randy says he doesn’t have to, but Ted says that his father his stubborn. Orton says that him beating Ted on television won’t accomplish anything. Losing to you? Says Ted. What you dont think I can beat you? Orton tells Ted to not let his pride get in the way. The reality is that I am WWE Champion and that Im going to beat you, so go tell your father thanks but no thanks. If it was my father, WELL IT ISN’T YOUR FATHER! Says Ted. The reality is that my father is a hell of a lot better than your father, and what Im going to do is face you, and Im going to beat you! Ted walks off.

Brandon’s Analysis - Not too bad. Ted is really a future star in the WWE and proved it right there. Orton was awesome as always. Great little segment.

-Commercial-

Did you know that more than 6 times as many people watched Raw last Monday blah blah blah blah.

Cole and King go over the blockbuster 15 man trade that Donald Trump made. Evan Bourne, Gail Kim, Jack Swagger, Alicia Fox and Mark Henry!

Alicia Fox & The Divas Champion Maryse vs. Gail Kim & Mickie James
Maryse and Mickie start things off with a lock up. Mickie gets floored by maryse then tags in Fox who gets rolled up by Mickie for a 2 count. Solid elbows to Fox, then Mickie ducks under a clothesline attempt and hits a neck breaker. Drop kick to the jaw of Fox for 2. Mickie tags in Kim. HIGE clothesline followed by a huaricarrana to Fox. Cross body to Fox for 2. Fox then turns the tides and throws Kim into the ropes, she distracts the ref as Maryse nails Kim with a kick to the face. Maryse gets tagged in. Backbreaker by maryse for 2. Gail tries to tag in Mickie, but Maryse takes out Mickie. High impact move by Mickie who pins the Divas Champion!
Winners = Gail Kim and Mickie James

Brandon’s Analysis - Who cares about Mickie! Put Gail Kim in the title picture. Standard Diva’s tag match. (*)

We cut backstage to the Million Dollar Man. Cody walks in and thanks Ted for being on Raw. He tells Cody to get to the point. Cody has money in his hands, and Ted says that isn’t enough but I like your thinking. He says let me guess, you don’t really want to face Mark Henry do you? Cody says, No, I just think it would be wise to focus on the Unified tag team Championship match at NOC. Ted asks Cody what is he a part of? Legacy? Yes sir says Cody. Ted says legacy is about family, blood thicker than water. Yes Sir says Cody. Cody you are the son of a WWE Hall of Famer. Yep says Cody. Cody starts singing about the common man. Ted says that he despises Dusty Rhodes. Why would I want to have anything to do with a common man? He says that its a travesty for Dusty to be in the HOF and he isn’t. He tells Cody that he is versing Mark Henry tonight, and to get out of my office. Cody leaves.

Brandon’s Analysis - Good stuff from both. Ted has been great thus far!

Cody Rhodes vs. Mark henry
Cody comes to the ring looking annoyed. Henry comes marching to the ring and a decent pop. Cody looks nervous as the bell rings and gets fully overpowered. Rhodes gets destroyed, just as he looks to find some offense, he jumps off the top turnbuckle and eats a world’s strongest slam. Cody rolls out of the ring and Henry wins via countout.
Winner - Mark Henry via Countout

Brandon’s Analysis - Squash Squash Squash (1/2*)

We cut backstage to Cena getting warmed up for his match against Triple H later to determine the #1 Contender for NOC.

-Commercial-

Don’t Try This At Home!

Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase Jr.
We come back to Raw with Voices playing and here comes the CHAMP! Randy Orton! Cole plugs this match and says how historic it is going to be. Raw is brought to us by Autozone and Just for Men. Legacy music plays and here comes Ted. Orton starts in control with a side headlock on the mat in the centre of the ring. Orton yells at Ted as they get to there feet WHY! Ted punches Orton, then as Orton goes for a clothesline he gets arm dragged then drop kicked out of the ring. Nice. DiBiase baseball slides Orton on the outside. Orton is down and stunned on the outside. Commercial. We come back with Orton controlling Orton on with a side headlock. During the break, Orton slammed Ted on the outside into the steel steps. Orton plays with Ted, kicking him while he is down and stomping him as he shakes his head. What did I tell you? As he continues to stomp away on DiBiase. Orton attempts a high knee drop, but DiBiase moves out of the way and rolls Orton up for a 2 count. Small package by Ted for two. Orotn then retaliates and knocks Ted back down. Ted Ted Ted says Orton under his breath. DiBiase is trying to get to his feet as he is laying in between the second and third rope, right in position for that viper like DDT. Orton gets to his knees and says that he didn’t want to have to do this, as he gets to his feet and gets ready for the DDT. BAM! He drops DiBiase with the DDT. 1,2 kickout. Orton is in disbelief. 1,2 kickout. Orton starts pounding down on Ted and hits him with a solid knee. Orton shakes his head and hits Ted with the high knee drop. 2 count again. Orton locks in another headlock. Ted picks Orton up and drops him with a back body drop.           Orton charges at Ted in the corner but eats an elbow. Ted climbs the ropes and hits a flying elbow off the top rope. Ted starts laying into Orton with a few punches, he goes to throw Orton off the ropes, but Randy swings under and hits the vintage Orton backbreaker. Orton is setting up for the RKO. Ted gets to his feet and and Orton goes for it, but DiBiase counter with a backslide for a very convincing 2 count. Orton and Ted get to there feet and Randy kicks Ted in the midsection, bounces off the ropes and Ted picks Orton up and scoop slams him to the mat for another VERY convincing 3 count. The crowd is into it! Ted goes for his finisher, Dream Street, but Orton counters and rills him off, BOOM RKO RKO! Orton covers Ted for the win. Orton gets to his feet and stands over Ted gently slapping him in the face trying to wake him up. Orton gets his hand raised and nods at Ted who is still down. Orton gets his title and leaves, looking back at Ted and nodding.

Brandon’s Analysis - YES! That was a fantastic television match. Ted DiBiase has an extremely bright future and hung with the best of them right there. Great stuff! (**3/4)

We are backstage with Matthew's and Hunter. Apparently John Cena and Triple H equals epic.

-12 Rounds Commercial-

We’re back with highlights of the BET awards with MVP. Everyone there loves MVP.

It’s time for the VIP Lounge. Once again MVP is in the ring, which can only mean one thing, big things poppin, little things droppin? (I thinks thats how it goes) The legendary Million Dollar man is in charge and MVP is all about the money. Last week a man much wealthier than DiBiase made a blockbuster trade. Please welcome to our VIP Lounge, the All-American American, Jack Swagger. Cole does not like Swaggers hair. Swagger is acting black. Swagger doesn’t want to sit. MVP says the reason Swagger is here tonight, is cause he wants to know what it felt like for Swagger to debut last week. Jack tries to interrupt, as MVP stops him and says, that he knows he is drooling to get an answer out however this is my MVP lounge, and I wasn’t done. How did it feel to make a debut, to only expose yourself as a fraud? What type of all American Athlete does that? Swagger says that he is a 2 time All American, I went to the University of Arizona? Do you know what that means MVP? That means you can get into a better school? No it means I am a division 1 athlete. MVP you try to pass yourself of as an athlete, but really your just a fraud. Your a con. You spent almost 10 years behind bars! I have never got a parking ticket. The only thing you have ever been MVP of, is a prison basketball league. So if anyone is an MVP it is me. MVP says that he doesn’t hide his past. When I was a juvenile I ran the streets, I made some bad decisions which cost me dearly. I now influence children to not make mistakes like me. I take my mistakes on the chin. I served my time like a man. There is a huge difference between you and me, you didn’t go to prison which is good. The other difference is, MVP takes off his jacket and necklace. What you doing dog? Says Swagger.
MVP says, unlike you, I have never been afraid of a fight, as he gets in Swaggers face. Swagger backs off and says that he doesn’t fight people below him, especially criminals. Swagger steps out of the ring and steps backwards up the ramp. MVP says that since you have been on Raw, what’s obvious is that you don’t fight anyone and if you ever wanna fight, you can find me in this VIP Lounge, Straight Up...... Ballin!

Brandon’s Analysis - That was awesome! That’s the best I have seen and heard MVP on the mic, same goes with Swagger. Great stuff!

Backstage Ted is congratulating his Son and says that one day he will be WWE Champion. What? Says Ted Jr. You set me up to fail. You put me in an impossible situation. You wanted me to lose. Its all about you isn’t it? The great Million Dollar man, you can’t get over yourself. You came here to steal my spotlight. This is my time. Its not like that says his father. SLAP! Ted Jr. Slaps his father and says thanks a lot.. Dad.

-Commercial-

Kofi Kingston vs. Evan Bourne
This is bound to be hard to follow. Fast paced to start, as Kofi eventually locks in a half boston crab. Bourne reaches the bottom rope. Chain wrestling by the two. SSP. 3 Count.
The two men shake hands after and then The Big Show interrupts. Show comes down to the ring. Show beats down on Kofi and then throws Evan as he tries to help. Bourne tries to help again but gets absolutely destroyed. Show begins to stomp and slap Kofi. Then he spears Bourne. Huge right hand to Kingston over and over to the stomach. Show locks in a submission and Kofi passes out.
Winner - Evan Bourne

Brandon’s Analysis - Way to short, but good for what we had. Show was not bad too. (*)

Up next is Cena vs. Triple H in the tournament finals.

-Commercial-

Highlights are shown of autograph

Cena is backstage with Matthews. He goes over what Hunter said earlier. Cena says that tonight Monday Night Raw has transformed itself in Wrestlemania. Two of the greatest are about to step into the ring and compete for an opportunity at the WWE Championship. Cena says he respects Triple H, but its been way to long since he has said the words everyone wants to hear, The Champ is here.

Finals of the NOC Tournament - Triple H vs. John Cena
Triple H enters first with a very nice pop. Cole and King say how this is like a Wrestlemania Main Event. Cena is out wit his game face on to his usual reaction.

Face to face to start things off, very similar to Hogan vs. Rock at Mania 18. We finally get a lock up after a minute as they both nip out of each other's moves. Cena, Triple H, Cena, Triple H, Cena, from the crowd. Shoulder block from Cena at 2.30 followed by a high knee from Hunter at 2.40. Slow but nice start from both, the crowd is really involved. At 3.05 Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment on the outside, but Hunter pushes off and throws Cena onto the ring post.

-Commercial-

We’re back at 5.05 into the match up with Cena getting irish whipped hard into the corner turnbuckle. A nice flurry of moves by Cena as he hits his usual arm drag and suplex. Hunter responds with a backbreaker at 6.05. Hunter hits a nice suplex of his own which he follows with an elbow drop to the back of Cena. Triple H is focusing on the back and ribs of Cena. A big right hand followed by a high knee to the floored Cena at 7.35. Hunter is in complete control, when the two start trading rights and lefts in the centre of the ring to the crowds pleasure. Cena with his usual 5 moves at 8.35, as he hits the 5 knuckle shuffle. Hunter avoided the AA and went on to hit the facebuster followed by a gigantic clothesline at 9.25. Bam as Hunter hits the double A Spinebuster at 9.45, however Cena counters the pedigree attempt with a backdrop. At 10.15 Hunter locks in a sleeperhold in the centre of the ring. Cena looks to be fading after a minute, however Super Cena fights out and pushes Hunter off the ropes and locks in his own sleeperhold at 11.30. Again after about a minute Hunter starts to fade, but eventually fights out of the hold in a Hulk Hogan like manner and hits a back body drop. Both men are down as the ref starts counting at 13.00. Both men are up at 8 and trade rights in the centre of the ring to the boos of Cena and cheers for Hunter. After countless shots, Cena hits his front flip bulldog, which is followed by a failed attempt of the top rope legdrop at 14.30. Both men try there finishers, but both are reversed. Cena locks in the STF at 15.15 but Hunter reaches the ropes. Rollup by Hunter at 15.40 for two. Again both men go for there finishers but again they are both reversed. Double clothesline at 16.20. Ref starts the count and is up to 9 as both men reach there feet. They trade in the center of the ring again, but Legacy run in and hit a cheap shot and flee. Orton comes out and announces that this match is a double DQ. Ted Senior comes out and says that that neither one of the men lost. So at the NOC’s Orton will defend his WWE Championship against Triple H and John Cena in a triple threat match! Orton looks pissed as Raw goes off air.
Winner - Double DQ at 17.05

Brandon’s Analysis - AWESOME! That was an epic way to end Raw, with a high class main event. It was obvious it wasn’t going to end with a clean finish, as Cena and Hunter both need to be on the NOC’s card. The ending was fine, and Ted was good in announcing the match for NOC. (***1/2)

Brandon’s Overall Analysis - I enjoyed this weeks installment of Raw, and the Main Event was indeed PPV quality. MVP was great in the VIP Lounge and Ted DiBiase Jr and Sr were both really good tonight.

Overall Rating - 7.5/10

Written By Brandon Holloway

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