WWE Raw on the USA Network 5/4/09
Live from Buffalo, N.Y.
The show opened with a video recap of Randy Orton vs. MVP, which featured Shane McMahon's attack on Orton.
The opening montage aired. Several of the recent Raw draftees are now featured prominently.
Fireworks exploded on the stage. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler checked in on commentary from ringside.
1. Randy Orton fought Shane McMahon to an apparent no-contest in a non-title match in 2:00. Orton made his entrance first. Shane's music played and he didn't come out through the entrance. Rather, he attacked Orton from behind in the ring to start the match. Orton and Shane immediately took the fight to ringside and then fought into the crowd. They fought back to ringside. Shane was in control of the action. He set up Orton on the announcers table and then climbed up to the top rope, but Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes attacked him. MVP ran out to make the save, but he was quickly outnumbered by Legacy. Orton and company tossed MVP to ringside and then focussed their attack on Shane. Batista ran out and roughed up Ted and Cody while Orton headed to ringside.
Vickie Guerrero walked onto the stage and reminded the world that she's the general manager of Raw. She said Shane would face Orton in another match later in the show. She also announced Batista vs. DiBiase, and MVP vs. Rhodes for later in the show. She said that whoever won those two matches could join either Shane or Orton in the main event.
-commercial-
2. Kofi Kingston defeated Matt Hardy in 4:10. Cole played up the possibility that Hardy's hand isn't really broken. Lawler defended Hardy. Matt took the mic before the match and said his brother broke his metacarpal in three places. He said he filed an official protest because he's being forced to wrestle. Late in the match, Matt tried to hit Kofi with the cast, but Kofi ducked and hit Trouble in Paradise for the clean win. After the match, Matt struck Kofi with the cast while he was celebrating. "That had to hurt Matt's arm bad," Lawler said.
The announcers hyped the two "Win and You're In" matches for later in the show.
-commercial-
Backstage, Santino Marella told Kelly Kelly that Santina wouldn't appear on the show because she's suffering from the swine flu. However, she's going to be teaming with Kelly on WWE Superstars. Santino said Vickie is a pig and gave her the swine flu. Chavo entered the scene and Santino mimicked his entrance music. Chavo told Santino it's not wise to make fun of him or anyone in his family. Santino told Chavo to convey a message to his aunt and then squealed like a pig.
The announcers laughed at ringside. Cole said Vickie was too busy to worry about Santino. They recapped the Big Show vs. John Cena feud.
Backstage, Big Show entered Vickie's dressing room and said they need to talk. Show said he wants to end Cena's career. Vickie said Cena is physically unable to compete. Vickie said the doctors won't clear Cena for another two weeks. However, she said she could book them in a match for Judgment Day.
Backstage, The Bella Twins acted super excited that MVP would be appearing on "The View" tomorrow. He said he had business to tend to. The announcers said his match was coming up after the break.
-commercial-
3. Cody Rhodes beat MVP by countout in 4:00. William Regal joined the announcers on commentary for the match. Cody dominated the early action by working over MVP's knee. MVP came back and hit the Ballin' elbow drop to a ho-hum response. Cody and MVP fought to ringside. Regal stood up and clipped MVP's knee. The referee counted out MVP. As such, Cody will team with Orton in the match against Shane.
-commercial-
Highlights aired from Smackdown of the Layla vs. Eve dance contest.
In the ring, Jerry Lawler said they were going to top Smackdown by having a "sing-off." The fans groaned. The competitors were Jillian Hall and Festus. Jillian sang first to the usual chorus of boos, while Festus stood there wearing a bow tie with a blank expression on his face. Festus stood there until Lawler called for the bell to be rang. Festus made his usual noise and then broke into "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow." Fortunately, someone rang the bell and he stopped. Festus won via crowd reaction.
The Miz's entrance music played. He came out and beat up the comatose Festus. "Get that fat, bald, virgin out of my ring," Miz said. "I am The Miz." He reminded viewers that he called out John Cena last week. He said Cena is clearly afraid of him. Miz taunted Cena again this week by asking where his hustle, loyalty, and respect are tonight. "Or is that some hollow catchphrase that you use to sell t-shirts with," Miz said.
The fans chanted Cena's name. Miz noted that the fans are calling for him. "And I challenge you again tonight," Miz said. A shot aired of Cena on the big screen. "Come on, Cena, hurry up," Miz said as the show cut to commercial.
-commercial-
After the break, Miz took exception to the crowd booing him. "You boo me?" he asked. "Really? Really? Really?" The Miz said Cena still isn't coming out. "Maybe you're wandering around trying to find your next movie script," Miz said. "I mailed it to The Rock. He used it as toilet paper." Nice!!! Miz referred to himself as the most talented Raw superstar there is. "Step up to the plate, Cena, come on."
Miz said that Cena always says if you want some, come get some. "I want the whole damn thing," he said. "Once again, let the record book show that The Miz called out Cena, and The Miz beat Cena for a second straight week. Let the scoreboard show Miz 2 Cena 0." Miz told Lillian Garcia to stand up and announce it. She didn't, so he headed to ringside to do it himself. Cue Cena's music.
John Cena walked slowly onto the stage while selling his injury. Cole reminded viewers that Cena isn't medically cleared to compete until Judgment Day. Cena eventually made it to the ring and gingerly entered it.
Big Show's music played. "Oh no," said one of the announcers. Big Show walked to the ring. Cena kissed his dog tags and tossed them down as Show entered the ring. Miz had already cleared out. Cena struck a fighter's pose while Show glared at him. They stared at one another for a minute.
Show smiled and then kicked Cena in the gut. Show struck Cena with repeated punches to the ribs. Show applied a version of the Camel Clutch while the announcers pleaded with him to stop on commentary. Show released the hold and then stood over the fallen Cena.
On WWE Superstars, Edge will interview Jeff Hardy on The Cutting Edge.
-commercial-
After the break the announcers narrated the footage of Big Show attacking Cena.
Lillian Garcia introduced Jared from Subway. He stood in the ring and introduced the Divas match.
4. Mickie James pinned Maryse in a non-title match in 2:45. In the end, Mickie DDT'd Maryse and scored the clean pin. Jared introduced her as the winner.
-commercial-
5. Ted DiBiase defeated Batista by DQ in 4:00. Late in the match, DiBiase slapped Batista, who responded by beating him down in the corner. Batista was disqualified for ignoring the referee's count in the corner. He bickered afterward, but the announcers replayed the footage and showed that he blew off the referee's count. DiBiase will join Orton and Cody in a three-on-one handicap match against Shane.
-commercial-
Backstage, Chavo Guerrero sucked up to Vickie. He said he's not the general manager, but if he was he'd strip MVP of the U.S. Title, and take away Batista's WWE Title match if they interfered in the main event. Before Vickie could say anything, Chavo stood up and said he was going to pass along "her decision" to them right away.
6. Carlito beat The Brian Kendrick in 1:20. Primo came out with Carlito, who sent him to the back while gesturing that he could handle it without him. He was right. Carlito broke up The Kendrick finisher and then hit the Backstabber for the clean pin.
Highlights aired from Friday's hot Smackdown show.
A backstage shot aired of Randy Orton talking strategy with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase.
-commercial-
The announcers introduced footage of MVP and Sherri Shepherd's recent antics. They also hyped MVP's appearance on "The View."
The announcers explained how MVP and Batista lost their matches to set up the main event.
Backstage, Batista apologized to Shane McMahon for getting disqualified. He said Shane could count on him beating Orton and making him pay at the pay-per-view.
The Legacy made their entrance. Meanwhile, Highlights aired from Backlash of Orton taking out Triple H.
-commercial-
7. Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes fought Shane McMahon to a no-contest in a handicap match. Shane beat up DiBiase to start the match. At 2:50, Shane hit the top rope elbow drop. He had the pin on DiBiase, but Cody ran in and broke it up. Shane slammed the heads of Rhodes and DiBiase into the ring steps at ringside. Shane picked up a chair and Orton attacked him from behind. Orton picked up DiBiase and put him on the ring apron so that he could tag himself into the match. Orton put the boots to Super Shane. After Orton softened up Shane, Rhodes was allowed to sneak in some offense. It didn't last long, though, as Shane avoided the moonsault. Cody tagged Ted into the match. Shane kicked his ass too.
Shane continued to beat the hell out of two men and then made it three when he got the better of Orton. Shane carefully picked apart the announcers' table and placed Orton on top of it. Shane entered the ring and went back up to the top rope. Shane dove off the top and went for an elbow drop onto Orton on the table, but Randy moved and Shane crashed through the table.
Cody and Ted positioned Shane so that his leg was placed on the ring steps. Randy picked up a chair and slammed it onto Shane's leg. Shane writhed in agony. They held down Shane and Orton teased hitting him with a chair again. However, Orton threw the chair down, picked up the ring steps, and dropped those on Shane's leg. Batista eventually ran out to help Shane while Legacy slipped away and ran backstage. Shane continued to sell the injury at ringside by begging the EMTs not to touch his injured leg. Meanwhile, Randy took the mic and said Batista's judgment day is coming. Orton stood on the stage and stared at Batista, who stared back from the ring to close the show.
