WWE Monday Night RAW – March 2nd, 2009
Live from Boston, MA at the TD Banknorth Garden
Report by Marc Middleton

- Tonight’s WWE RAW kicks off with a video package of Triple H talking to Jim Ross in their sitdown interview with clips of what Randy Orton has done to the McMahon family. We see what happened with Triple H chasing Legacy through the building on last week’s show. We cut to RAW’s opening video.

- The pyro explodes as Michael Cole welcomes us to a packed RAW in Boston at the TD Banknorth Garden. Cole hypes Randy Orton’s WrestleMania decision tonight and some “huge news regarding the WWE Title.”

Jerry Lawler is in the ring and says Vickie Guerrero has asked him to make this announcement tonight. Lawler says tonight, there will be a World Heavyweight Championship match with Edge defending against John Cena.

- Roddy Piper’s music hits and we see the Piper’s Pit stage setup at the entrance way. Piper’s music plays and Chris Jericho’s interrupts and out comes Jericho.

Jericho says he wasn’t planning on doing this today, but welcome to Piper’s Pit. Jericho says he has the original Pit set here tonight and talks about the segment’s history. He says the most famous incident was with Jimmy Snuka and shows us a video of Piper, Snuka and the coconut. Jericho introduces Jimmy Snuka and out comes Superfly to a pop.

Jericho has Snuka take a seat and talks about some of the matches Snuka had with Piper over the years and we see some classic footage. Jericho calls Snuka a grim reminder of what can happen and says he is the poster boy for what Mickey Rourke’s The Wrestler is all about. Jericho says Snuka embarrasses himself every weekend by working indy shows. Jericho calls Piper and Snuka selfish for entering the Royal Rumble last year. Jericho puts down the fans and says he brought Snuka out tonight to show all the guys in the back what can happen to them if they’re not careful.

Jericho stands up and calls Snuka a pathetic excuse. Snuka gets up and they’re face to face. Jericho tells Snuka he is finished and nobody wants to see him anymore. Jericho tells him to pack up and head home. Jericho asks him if he understands. Snuka says no, he doesn’t understand. Jericho says he isn’t getting through to Snuka, the fans or any Legends at home so let’s go old school. Jericho has a bag of stuff to remind Snuka of his career. He pulls out a pineapple and some bananas, taunting Snuka. Jericho pulls out the cocount and asks Snuka if he wants to relive his past. Jericho is tossing the coconut when Snuka snatches it out of the air and tosses the chairs out of the way. He abcks Jericho against the wall. Jericho goes running behind the Pit stage. Snuka drops to one knee, his music hits and he poses for the fans.

Jericho comes and knocks the Piper’s Pit walls down, knocking them over onto Snuka who is still posing. The spot doesn’t look too good on camera and it’s not one of the best Legends segments we’ve seen. Jericho taunts and stomps on Snuka before taking his belt off. Jericho starts whipping Snuka with the belt and stomping on him some more. The crowd starts chanting “asshole” at Jericho as we go to commercial.

- Back from commercial and Cole shows us a replay of what just happened between Chris Jericho and Superfly Snuka. Lawler talks about how bad this is and says Jericho’s actions are absolutely inexcusable. Cole plugs the Edge vs. Cena match tonight for the main event.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Kane vs. Mike Knox

The Money in the Bank briefcase is shown hanging above the ring as Lilian Garcia introduces Rey Mysterio to a nice pop from the crowd. Out next is Mike Knox followed by Kane.

Rey is outside the ring and Knox chases him back into it. Kane charges Rey as he enters and Knox gets knocked off the apron Rey goes for a hurrancanrana off the top but Kane catches him. Rey knocks Kane down but turns around to Mike Knox. Knox tosses Rey over the top to the floor. Kane decks Knox and rams him in the corner. Knox and Kane hit each other with big boots and go down at the same time while Rey is on the floor. We go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Knox has Rey in the ring with his back bent over his knee. Rey fights out with knees to the head. Kane is on the outside. Rey kicks at Knox but Kane pulls his leg from the outside and drags Rey to the floor. Kane comes in and Knox goes to work on him. Rights by Knox in the corner on Kane. Knox hits a big running splash on Kane in the corner and takes him down with a headlock.

Kane fights out with a big side slam but gets knocked back to the mat by Knox. Rey comes in and fights with Knox on the apron. Rey takes Knox down with a head scissors move, runs the ropes and hits the big bulldog. 2 count by Rey on Knox. It really looked like a three count. Knox picks Rey up with a big side slam and gets a 2 count of his own. Knox picks Rey up on his shoulder but Rey slides out with a big DDT but Kane comes in to stop the pin. Rey drops Kane face first into the turnbuckle and kicks off Knox. Knox throws Rey through the air and he lands on Kane. Rey drops Knox for the 619 but Kane grabs Rey by the throat and kicks Knox down. Rey slides out of the chokeslam and hits the 619 on Kane. Rey hits the big senton off the top rope for a 2 count as Knox makes the save.

Knox hits his finisher on Rey and lays him out. Kane comes up and chokeslams big Mike Knox for the pinfall, the win and the spot at Money in the Bank.

Winner: Kane

After the match, Kane picks Rey Mysterio up and drops him with a big chokeslam. Kane looks at the briefcase hanging above the ring and smiles before walking off to the back as Knox and Mysterio lay in the ring.

- Cole plugs Randy Orton’s big WrestleMania decision tonight and we see Vladimir Kozlov getting ready backstage as we go back to commercial break.

- Back from commercial and we get a WrestleMania highlight package showing clips from WrestleMania 12 with the Iron Match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, one of my favorite WWE matches of all-time.

- Todd Grisham is backstage with Shawn Michaels, asking about Kozlov and The Undertaker. HBK talks about overcoming obstacles this past year and says in this same building he headlined WrestleMania 14 with a broken back. HBK talks about always headlining WrestleMania and says he will end The Undertaker’s streak.

Mickie James and Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall

Mickie James and Kelly Kelly come out for this Divas tag team match but before their opponents come out, we get another commercial break. After the break, Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall are in the ring with Santino and Rosa at ringside. Melina and Maryse are on commentary. Maryse says she was invited here tonight and asks Melina what she’s doing in here. Beth dominates Kelly in the ring.

Jillian comes in and continues to beat Kelly around, dropping her head off the second turnbuckle. Maryse talks about being able to beat Beth Phoenix better than Melina. Kelly kicks Jillian in the face and tags in Mickie. Mickie dropkicks Jillian in the face and kicks Beth on the apron. Mickie counters Jillian and ends up kicking her in the back to the mat. Mickie hits the press off the top rope for a pin but Beth makes the save.

Kelly comes in off the top rope and nails Jillian, hitting a roll-up for the pinfall and the win.

Winners: Kelly Kelly and Mickie James

After the match, Rosa rushes the ring and attacks Kelly. Melina goes in to make the save but Maryse pulls her off the apron, smacking her face on the ring. Maryse hits a nasty DDT on Melina on the floor, leaving her hurt. Team Beth leaves as Maryse leaves smiling to her theme music.

- Cole and Lawler lead us into another video package showing Triple H talking to Jim Ross and what has happened between Randy Orton and the McMahons & Triple H.

- Voices plays in the arena as Randy Orton makes his way out with Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and an army of security behind them with his lawyers and shrink. Legacy and their crew enter the ring and Orton stares the crowd down as we go back to another commercial break.

Back from commercial and Randy Orton has the microphone. Orton says as the winner of the Royal Rumble, he gets a Championship match at WrestleMania and says he is officially challenging the winner of the Edge vs. John Cena match tonight. He says everyone thought he would challenge Triple H, but he is going to jail. Orton says he is pressing charges against Triple H for committing assault with a deadly weapon last week. Orton says he dropped his sledgehammer last week but Triple H wouldn’t.

Orton says Triple H assaulted him, Rhodes and DiBiase. He tells Triple H it’s time to face the music and if he has anything to say, come out and say it because very soon you’re going to be going away for a very long time. Triple H’s theme music hits and out comes the WWE Champion with a sledgehammer in hand.

Triple H stops at the entrance way and talks about how Orton’s doctors say he has IED and he is not in control of his actions. Triple H makes something perfectly clear – he is in complete control of his. Triple H starts walking towards the ring. Security gather around Orton and his team. Triple H just stares at them with the sledgehammer held up. He drops it and shows them he doesn’t have one in his jacket. Triple H enters the ring.

Triple H tells Orton he is going to tell him what he needs to hear. Triple H says this isn’t about anyone else but Randy Orton and how he wants this to end. How he needs this story to end. Triple H says Orton took out the entire McMahon family and now he needs to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania for the WWE Title. He says Orton needs it to avenge the moment that defined his life – Evolution. Triple H talks about turning on Orton after he won the World Title and beating the hell out of him. Triple H reminds him he didn’t hold the World Title very long. Triple H says he don’t run from his past, he’s not a good person and never has been, and wasn’t happy for Orton’s success.

Triple H says he took what was his that night and now Orton has the same opportunity. Triple H says Orton can put it all behind them by wrestling him at WrestleMania 25 but instead Orton decides to run, because he is afraid. Triple H and Orton are face to face now. Triple H says Orton has been afraid his entire life because he knows he don’t have what it takes. Triple H says Orton can talk tough but he knows the truth. He says Orton is that same little kid that was carrying Triple H’s bags around in Evolution. That same little boy with all the talent in the world but ultimately gutless. Orton is getting pissed. A lawyer speaks up and says his client has nothing more to say to Triple H unless he turns himself into authorities, security will remove him from the ring. Triple H stares down Randy Orton as security take The Game out of the ring. Orton tells them to wait and let him go.

Orton tells security to get back. Orton says he has changed his mind, he won’t be facing Edge or John Cena at WrestleMania, he’s going to be facing Triple H under one condition. Orton says we settle this at WrestleMania and Triple H does not put his hands on Orton unless physically provoked. Orton says neither of them touch either and if that is broken, he presses charges and Triple H spends WrestleMania behind bars. Triple H says they have a deal and walks off up the ramp. Orton stops him and says since Triple H wants to get all person, he says it felt great when he kicked Vince in the skull. It felt even better when he did the same thing to Shane but when he hit the RKO on his wife, he replays that over and over in his head. Orton says he can still smell her scent, her soft skin. Orton says that’s what he remembers and wonders what Stephanie remembered when he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her face to the ground. Triple H rushes the ring and comes face to face with Orton in an intense moment. Triple H says the last time they fought in the ring, he broke Orton’s collarbone. He says that was just business and this is personal. Triple H is furious as he tells Orton he’s going to break his neck. Triple H heads off to the back as Orton looks on.

- Cole and Lawler plug the Cena vs. Edge main event for tonight as we go back to commercial break.

Shawn Michaels vs. Vladimir Kozlov

Back from commercial and we see a replay of last week’s RAW with HBK vs. JBL. Shawn Michaels comes out first to a nice pop to face Vladimir Kozlov with the winner facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25. Kozlov is out next.

Kozlov goes for HBK but he moves around him to start the match. Kozlov throws HBK back into the corner and hits him with rights. HBK gets out of the corner. Kozlov goes for HBK’s leg but gets caught in a headlock. Kozlov backs HBK in the corner and connects with more shots. HBK goes for a rollup but Kozlov picks him up and squeezes. HBK fights out of it and takes Kozlov’s knees out.

HBK locks on the figure four but Kozlov quickly reverses it and applies the pressure on HBK. The hold is broken and Michaels retreats to the floor to regroup as Kozlov yells in the ring. We go back to commercial.

Back from commercial and Kozlov is working HBK over in the corner. HBK kicks him in the head and nails some chops. Kozlov launches HBK into the corner and picks him up on his shoulders, dropping HBK over the top turnbuckle. Kozlov headbutts HBK in the ribs while he sits on the top turnbuckle. Kozlov lifts HBK on his shoulders again and drops a huge running powerslam for a 2 count. Kozlov scoops HBK again and drops him over his knee twice.

Kozlov lifts HBK on his shoulders again and puts on the torture rack, working on HBK’s back. Kozlov just walks around with HBK in the rack. HBK fights off with fists to the head but gets dropped by a Kozlov elbow to the mouth. 2 count by Kozlov. Kozlov mounts HBK and hits him with big right hands. Kozlov goes to the mat and locks on a bear hug on HBK. The fans start to get behind Michaels. HBK fights out of the hug with shots to the back of Kozlov. Big chops by HBK. Kozlov throws HBK off the ropes and goes for his vintage forearm but Kozlov knocks him out of the air with a headbutt for a 2 count.

Kozlov throws HBK into the corner and chokes him with his boot. Kozlov puts HBK on the top turnbuckle and goes for a super overhead suplex but HBK fights him off for about a minute on the top turnbuckle. Kozlov goes to the mat. HBK nails the big elbow drop on Kozlov from the top and gets ready for Sweet Chin Music. HBK connects with the superkick and lays out Kozlov for the pinfall and the win, and the chance to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

Winner: Shawn Michaels

After the match, The Undertaker’s music hits and he comes out to the entrance way and stops. Taker is surrounded by flames and lightning as he cuts his throat to send a message to Shawn Michaels. Michaels stares at The Undertaker from the ring as we go back to break.

- Back from commercial and Lawler leads us into a video package showing what Detective Danny Fisher is all about. Fisher is the character that John Cena plays in the new 12 Rounds movie that releases soon.

- We get a new 2009 WWE Hall of Fame video package. This time it’s announced that “Cowboy” Bill Watts will be entering the Hall this year. We see highlights from Watts’ career. Watts will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Jim Ross.

- Todd Grisham is backstage with World Champion Edge. Grisham talks about Cena getting beat down by Big Show on SmackDown last week. Edge brings up Cena’s hometown near Boston and says he has always wanted to face him here and wants his family and friends to see him get squashed. Edge says he will still be World Champion after tonight and walks off as we go back to commercial. Lots of commercial breaks tonight.

World Heavyweight Title Match: Edge vs. John Cena

We see clips from SmackDown where John Cena got beat down. The music hits and out comes the World Heavyweight Champion as Edge enters the ring. Cena is out next to a huge pop. Lilian does the introductions and we get ready to go.

They lock up and Cena takes Edge to the mat with a headlock. Edge gets to his feet and backs Cena into the corner. Edge takes Cena down with a headlock of his own. Edge comes off the ropes and kicks Cena, then pushes him to the mat. Edge charges Cena on the ropes but Cena pulls the rope down and dumps him to the floor. We go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Edge has another chinlock applied on Cena. Cena fights out of it but Edge knocks him back down for a 2 count. Edge continues working over Cena, hitting him in the corner now. Edge knocks Cena back down for another 2 count. Cena finally comes back and hits the flying forearm and big back drop. Cena signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and misses it as Edge moves. Edge rolls Cena for a 2 count. Cena goes for the former FU and Edge counters with a DDT for another 2 count.

Cena tries a rollup for Edge drops an elbow on him. Edge goes for another move but Cena counters it and gets a 2 count. Edge plants a nasty inverted DDT on Cena but still only gets a 2 count. Edge climbs to the top turnbuckle and Cena meets him with a right hand. Cena goes for the former FU on the top but Edge slides out and kicks Cena from the turnbuckles to the apron to the floor. Cena is laying on the floor as the ref starts counting. Cena leaps back in the ring at the 9 count. Cena hits the blockbuster move on Edge and goes up top. Cena connects from the top and signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, this time nailing it on Edge.

Cena goes for the former FU again but Edge slides out again and locks on what looks like the Sharpshooter, trying to make Cena tap. Cena reaches the ropes and Edge has to break the hold. Edge gets ready to hit Cena with the spear. Cena counters the spear and locks the STF on Edge.

Edge makes it to the ropes and Cena has to break the STF. Edge hits the spear but only gets a 2 count on Cena. Edge is frustrated as he goes to the outside and grabs the World Title. He comes in the ring with it but Cena picks him up for the former FU. Cena struggles with Edge on his shoulders. Edge hits him with the belt in the head, knocking Cena to the mat. The referee calls for the ball. Lilian announces Cena as the winner but Edge as the Champion still.

Winner by DQ: John Cena

After the match, Edge escapes up the ramp with his World Title belt in hand as Cena’s music plays. Edge sits down at the top of the ramp as Cena recovers in the ring. Big Show appears at the ramp and stands beside Edge who is still sitting down. Edge extends his hand to Show and Show just stares back at Cena. Vickie Guerrero walks out with a mic in her hand.

Vickie announces Big Show as the new #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 25. Big Show looks happy, Edge looks shocked and Cena looks just as shocked as Edge does as RAW goes off the air with Big Show’s music playing.

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