24 hours removed from a No Way Out PPV full of controversy, Raw was live from Anaheim, California. The show kicked off with John Cena, the man that lost his WWE Championship at No Way Out in an elimination chamber match.
"I'm not here to complain. I'm not here to make excuses. First off, welcome to Monday Nigh Raw!" The fans cheered. "I am here to say, congratulations to Kane. Kane, you deserve it, you've had one hell of a career. However...I do have a rematch clause. So, I'm cashing in that rematch...TONIGHT! Right here in Anaheim!" Cena said to the delight of the crowd.
Raw GM William Regal walked to the stage.
"John, I'm happy to inform you that you, as it turns out, do not have a rematch clause. In your contract, it states that you only get a rematch if you lose the championship in a one on one match. Due to the fact that you lost the championship in an Elimination Chamber match, you do not have a rematch. In fact, I'm not going to give you a chance to earn a rematch. I want to freshen up the WWE Championship picture. Of course, you will have a match at WrestleMania. Tonight, you will face Randy Orton, and the winner of that match will represent Raw in the annual WrestleMania Raw vs. Smackdown match. Maybe, just maybe, if you win that match, you can have a chance to earn a rematch."
Regal walked away laughing as the crowd booed. Randy Orton ran in from the crowd and dropped Cena with an RKO.
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Shad vs. Paul London vs. Hardcore Holly
The first match on Raw was a triple threat match between Shad, Paul London, and Hardcore Holly. Shad was accompanied by his allies, the new WWE tag team champions Tyler Reks and JTG, while Holly was accompanied by his new partner new United States Champion Ted Dibiase. Holly cost his former partner Cody Rhodes the United States Championship at No Way Out.
London/Shad/Holly went back and forth for a few minutes. In a shocking turn of events, Reks dropped Shad with a clothesline and then a Burning Hammer. JTG stood over Shad, his former partner, and walked away with Reks. Another tag team has broken up by the method of betrayal. Moments later, Cody Rhodes rushed to the ring and attacked Ted Dibiase. With Hardcore Holly distracted, Paul London rolled up the veteran Holly and won the match, qualifying for the MITB match.
One Night Only: DX vs. World's Greatest Tag Team
DX reunited once more, pitting the Royal Rumble winner Triple H and his friend Shawn Michaels against the superstars who lost the World Tag Team Championship at No Way out to Mercury and Nitro. This match was fantastic, a true five star match. The end came when Michaels hit Haas with a Sweet Chin Music, and Triple H clotheslined Charlie over the top rope. Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music on Benjamin, but Shelton countered Triple H's Pedigree and back dropped him over the rope. Shelton hit an enziguiri, and a Paydirt on Michaels for the win.
After the match, World's Greatest Tag Team challenged Mercury and Nitro to a rematch for the tag titles at WrestleMania. Mercury and Nitro came to ringside. The new champions said, since they beat World's Greatest Tag Team, that automatically meant that Nitro and Mercury was the real World's Greatest Tag Team. However, Nitro accepted their challenge. Mercury said that he wanted the match to have a stipulation, since Mercury and Nitro already beat WGTT. Mercury said that if MNM won again, World's Greatest Tag Team must disband. Benjamin accepted, and the match was official.
After the commercial break, DX was still in the ring, celebrating as it was likely to be the last time DX teamed for a long while. Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair walked to the ramp. Flair said that Michaels nearly beat him in the battle royal match last night for the Intercontinental Championship, but fell just short. Flair said that he wanted a true challenge at WrestleMania. Ric Flair challenged Shawn Michaels to a match, at WrestleMania 24, for the Intercontinental Championship. As if that were not enough, Flair said that if he lost, he would retire from wrestling. Michaels refused, but Triple H convinced him to accept the challenge, and reluctantly, Michaels did.
Money In The Bank Qualifier: Gregory Helms vs. Super Crazy
The second MITB qualifier saw a battle of two fast, technical wrestlers in Helms and Super Crazy. The two went back and forth, and in a insane spot, Super Crazy dodged a top rope moonsault, sending Gregory Helms through the announce table. The end came with a roundhouse kick and springboard elbow from Helms for the win.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton; winner represents Raw at WrestleMania in Raw vs. Smackdown match.
These two former WWE Champions went back and forth. Cena kicked out of an RKO, and an FU had Orton down. In a shocking turn of events, Chris Jericho, the man who eliminated Cena in the Elimination Chamber match, rushed to the ring. Jericho attacked not only Cena, but also Randy Orton, dropping both with Codebreakers. Jericho, even more shockingly, took off his jacket to reveal that he was wearing a blue Smackdown shirt. It looks like Chris Jericho has defected to Smackdown.
WWE Champion Kane vs. Snitsky:
Kane's first night as WWE champion kicked off with a match against Snitsky. Kane absolutely dominated from start to finish. Two chokeslams,and Kane choked out Snitsky for the win. After the match, Kane hit a Tombstone on Undertaker.
Kane said: "As a child, I take my goldfish...pinch its tail and hold it high above its bowl.I'd watch as it withered in pain, gasping for air, slowly dying. That's how I felt for the past 11 years until last night. That's when five bruised, battered and lifeless souls were laid to rest, as I won the Elimination Chamber match, and became the new WWE champion. It was the most gratifying moment of my entire career."
"As I stood over Chris Masters, grabbed him by the throat, I could feel his pulse in my hand, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. I chokslammed him to the mat, with all my force. And that would have been enough, but my primeval animal instincts took over. And I scraped up Chris Masters' remains, dropped him on his head [with a Tombstone] and became WWE Champion. And you all applauded. I did it. I DID IT! I DID IT! But I didn't do it for myself. I did it for my brother. I brought the WWE Title back to where it rightfully belongs, back to the dark side. So I vowed to myself, that nothing and no one would ever tear this Holy Grail from my grasp! HELL WILL RAIN SUPREME."
Royal Rumble Winner Triple H's music hit, and he boldly walked to the ring.
"Congratulations, Kane. You have done it. Not to rain on your parade or anything, but I've decided to make my announcement, as to who I'm facing at WrestleMania. What title I'm challenging for, thanks to my Royal Rumble Win. At WrestleMania, I'm facing...you, Kane, for the WWE Championship."
The fans cheered wildly.
"Why? Think about it. Over on Smackdown, they've got so many contenders, guys wanting the title, deserving the title. Rey Mysterio should have a rematch, Edge wants a shot, JBL won the Elimination....you know what, just tune over to Smackdown to find out. On Raw? John Cena doesn't get a rematch. Who else would you face? Chris Masters?" [verbal burying, lol]
"I'm the only one worthy of a title shot, and I am going to face you, Kane, at WrestleMania." The fans cheered again.
Kane and Triple H had a staredown, with Kane holding the WWE Championship above his head. Suddenly, the lights went out, and the gong sounded. When the lights came back on, Kane and Triple H were nowhere to be seen, and it was the Undertaker in the ring, raising the WWE Championship over his head as Raw ended.
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