WWE RAW Rewind: Is Orton About to Play The Game?

Tonight’s broadcast opens with the arrival of SmackDown’s GM Vickie Guerrero.

Introduction: Edge and Vickie

Vickie comes out and presents the RAW fans to the “new” World Heavyweight Champion, Edge. A gloatful Rated R Superstar comes out with his blushing bride to a sea of boos. Jerry Lawler goes on to confirm that Edge is indeed the World Heavyweight Champion.

Edge starts off by gloating that he was indeed the smartest individual last night. As Edge sprints around the ring and tells everyone that they were wrong and that he is Jesus, Vickie reveals that she is the one that is responsible for putting Edge in RAW’s Elimination Chamber. As SD’s Power Couple exchange a romantic moment, John Cena comes out and heads to the ring to confront Team SmackDown.

Cena comes out to congratulate the Rated R Superstar. He then makes it clear that he is eyeing a rematch. Edge then decides that he will not fight Cena tonight.

So what does Cena do? He tells him that he will get his rematch. Edge tries to insult Cena and walk away, but Cena tells him that he will catch him, he will find him and he will hurt him.

In the back, Shane McMahon tells Orton that he wants The Legend Killer in the ring in an Unsanctioned Fight. He then guarantees that one way or the other, this war ends tonight.

Cryme Tyme & CM Punk vs. The Legacy and William Regal

Punk and Cody Rhodes start off the bout, and Rhodes gets way in over his head when he slaps the former World Champion. Punk retaliates with a kick to the head and lands the GTS on Rhodes before Regal comes in to prevent the pinfall victory.

Back on the program, DiBiase manages to get control thanks to Regal’s distraction. Regal then comes in and locks a vicious headlock on the IC Champion. Both men slug it out until Cody comes in and takes control of the match. But Punk breaks the momentum with a kick to the head and manages to tag in JTG. But thanks to Cody Rhodes, DiBiase hits Dream Street to pick up the win. Again, another pointless victory where the minority gets dropped again. WWE is losing its Minority audience…

In the back, Stephanie McMahon tries to prevent Shane from going through with the battle with Orton tonight. But Shane looks at her and says it has to be done.

In the ring, Chris Jericho has arrived to voice his opinion on the current situation with Edge. He implores the Academy Awards committee not to vote for Mickey Rourke for Best Actor. As Jericho continues his rant, he is graced with the presence of Rowdy Roddy Piper. Piper comes out and says that Jericho used to be entertaining. Jericho tries to put in some words, but Piper cuts him off.

Piper tells him that The Wrestler is about what life is like as a professional wrestler. But Jericho isn’t hearing anything as he kicks Hot Rod in the knee and decides to further add insult to injury. But instead of fighting, he walks out of the ring. In the back, Randy Orton accepts the challenge of Shane McMahon. He then promises that if Shane wants to end this by one of them not walking away after it’s over, then so be it…he can make that happen.

After a trip back to Wrestlemania IX, Jamie Noble is in the ring talking about a Wrestlemania moment. As he is talking about his possible Wrestlemania moment, Kane starts walking down to the ring.

Kane vs. Jamie Noble

Despite a quick tough effort from Noble, he doesn’t last long as Kane catches him from up top and choke slams him straight to hell to pick up the quick victory. The time of the match was 16 seconds.

After the match, a black-eyed JBL is heading towards the ring to make a “monumental“ announcement.

Intermission: JBL’s Blockbuster Announcement

JBL comes out and confirms that HBK is no longer his employee. He goes on to make excuses about last night’s match and Shawn’s big payday. He claims that he had an epiphany last night. He then drops a bombshell that he intends that he will end The Streak of The Undertaker. As JBL continues his speech, Shawn Michaels comes out to interrupt the spewing of JBL. A smiling HBK comes out and says he can’t spell it…but he had an epiphany last night as well. He then announces that he wants The Undertaker at Wrestlemania instead of JBL. Shawn then proposes a match, which JBL accepts: Next week, JBL vs. Shawn Michaels where the winner will challenge The Undertaker @ Wrestlemania.

After the video package involving Shane and Randy, we go back live with Shane prepping for the fight in the back.

Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox

Knox starts out with a kick to the gut of Mysterio followed by a punch to the head. Rey manages to escape a pump handle slam but gets leveled with a clothesline. Knox then slides Rey out of the ring. Back in the ring, Rey tries to fight back, but Knox and his strength continue to show their dominance. Rey continues to use his legs to try to slow the momentum, but Knox catches him in a backbreaker. But somehow, Rey kicks out of the pin attempt.

After a brief moment out of the ring, Rey is brought back just to get dropped again. Knox continues the assault and begins to toy with the undersized Mysterio. He then picks up his opponent and locks in a huge bear hug on the injured ribs of Mysterio. But Mysterio begins to fight back with a face buster followed by a enzugiri. And after countless attempts over the last few weeks, Mysterio hits the 619 but misses the West Coast Pop.

Knox locks in the Tree of Woe, but Mysterio counters into a roll up to pick up the upset win over the Monster known as Mike Knox. In the back, a clean shaven Santino and a motivated Rosa accompany Beth Phoenix to the ring for her match with Melina.

Women’s Championship

Beth Phoenix vs. Melina

Phoenix goes on the offensive early with a series of shots to the head. But everyone seems to be more focused on the new look of Santino. Meanwhile, Phoenix locks in a vicious armbar on the current Women’s Champion. Melina gets tossed out of the ring, and Rosa gets a kick in for good measure. But all of a sudden, the RAW Divas come out and ambush Santino.

But it is Rosa that provides the equalizer when she inadvertently snags Beth’s leg, allowing Melina to get the roll up and the win to retain the Women’s Championship. Following the match, we are informed of who will be joining Stone Cold Steve Austin in this year’s Hall of Fame:

Terry and Dory Jr. ..better known as The Funks!!

Back on the program, we have to hear about Edge’s actions from last night. In the back, Stephanie McMahon is on the phone talking to someone about Shane’s actions from tonight. But she loses the call and we are still unaware of who is coming to stop the fight tonight.

Main Event

Unsanctioned Brawl

Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon

Shane waste no time in letting the physicality begin as he sprints out of the ring to meet Orton head on. The fight spills all over the place as Shane launches Orton over the barrier and hits a diving clothesline off the barricade. Shane continues the assault with a series of punches near the electronics table. But Orton begins to fight back and brings the brawl back over the barricade.

Orton lands a shot that sends Shane to the outside of the ring. On the outside, Orton rams McMahon’s back into the ring apron, but Shane starts fighting back by launching him into the announce table and landing a series of punches. Shane then grabs the ringbell and introduces it to Orton’s skull. Shane grabs the bell again and plows it into the back of Orton’s skull this time.

He then grabs a chair and places it on the front of Orton’s face. But as he prepares for the Coast to Coast, Legacy comes out and ambushes Shane once again. Orton gets back to his feet and pushes Legacy aside. Orton then lands the punt on Shane McMahon. A distraught Stephanie McMahon then sprints into the ring to check on her fallen brother.

But Orton gets that look in his eyes again.

Orton then turns around and lands the RKO on a pleading Stephanie McMahon. As Orton examines the damage done by Orton, Triple H comes out of nowhere and sprints into the ring. A seething Game locks eyes with a fearful Legend Killer.

Does this mark the return of The King of Kings and the new WWE Champion to RAW? What does this mean for the main event at Wrestlemania? And what will Triple H have to say to Orton this Friday night on SmackDown?