Opened: July 16th, 2004
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Vickie congratulated her husband on his World Title victory last night, then she brought out the new WWE champion Randy Orton. Orton came out with Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes while Jerry Lawler talked about the entire McMahon family feeling sick watching this. Orton took his sweet time showing off the title belt for everyone to get a good look. Michael Cole said Orton is making sure the entire world knows he’s WWE champion.
Orton finally finished his great heel parade of his championship, then he slowly accepted the mic from Vickie. Orton surveyed the arena with his piercing eyes, then he slowly looked toward the hard camera and began… “The McMahon Family is mourning. All of them. Their last hope, their protector, their champion… has fallen.” Orton said that after five long years, he beat Triple H. Not only beat him, but he kicked Hunter as hard as he could in the skull just like he said he was going to do.
Orton said all the fans are exactly the same. Everyone in their 20s and younger hope for big things, but the odds are that we will amount to nothing. I remember this promo. Wasn’t this the promo from the night after Summerslam 2004 when he won his first WWE Title and asked people to stand up if they’re 20 years old and above? Anyways, “I am a success!” Orton screamed. Orton said he made an example of the entire McMahon Family.
Cue up the “Punt the McMahons” video package going back to the IED days of Orton punting Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon, DDT’ing Stephanie, and Punting Hunter last night. Back live, Orton finished watching the video package before posing in the corner one more time with the WWE Title belt. Vickie then said she’s so excited to have Orton on her show. (Boos) She’s happy to announce that Orton will have his first title match in three weeks at Judgment Day. His opponent will be the winner of Big Show vs. Batista in a #1 contender match tonight. Vickie giddily congratulated Orton one more time before giving Orton the mic again.
Orton said we need to know something. He said he is all that there is left on this show. “No need to like me, but no choice but to respect me,” he said. Orton told the wrestlers in the locker room to respect him too. He said Vickie might be the GM, but everyone in the locker room must answer to him. Orton said if he doesn’t get respect, they will end up just like Triple H. He said he doesn’t care if someone’s been here a day or ten years.
Cue up MVP’s theme music for the interruption…
U.S. champion MVP came out on stage straight ballin’ while Orton didn’t look too pleased. MVP introduced himself, stealing Dolph’s gimmick apparently. MVP said what Orton has done is extremely impressive, but he’s U.S. champion and he doesn’t answer to anyone. Ouch. MVP waited for Orton to respond, but he handed the mic to Ted DiBiase. DiBiase welcomed him to Raw and said he doesn’t seem to be too bright. Unless he wants his first night on Raw to be the worst ever, he better turn around and leave. MVP said he’s not listening to Orton’s lackey. He said he doesn’t have a couple of A&F models to do his bidding, so he’s telling Orton straight up this isn’t the Randy Orton show.
MVP said no one came here to be talked down to, so dig this…Orton is the WWE champion, but that’s not going to last forever. If Batista or Big Show don’t beat Orton at Judgment Day, he’ll handle that himself. Cody took the mic and begged Orton to make an example out of MVP. Cody said they’ll beat MVP down, then Orton will land The Punt. It’s that simple. Orton thought things over, then he talked to Vickie about some booking decisions to be made. Vickie took the input, then booked a second main event tonight. First time ever…U.S. champion MVP vs. WWE champion Randy Orton.
Backstage, Randy Orton was walking down the hallway with everyone getting a good look at his WWE Title belt. Orton vs. MVP is next.
In-ring: Randy Orton’s music played for about the fourth time on the show. Out came Orton alone for the semi-main event tonight. He took his time, then MVP came out to challenge Orton to a champions vs. champions match.
WWE champion Randy Orton vs. U.S. champion MVP — non-title match
Cole recapped MVP’s history in WWE dating back to his entrance on Smackdown two years ago as the highest-paid athlete on the brand. Cole gave us a word that Triple H will be “out of action for some time.” Lawler said Batista was out four months following Orton’s Punt on him. He said Hunter could be out for some time depending on how hard and where the Punt landed. Match went a little mat-based early on, with each man exchanging leverage. MVP landed knees to the gut, then he landed a knee drop to the stomach for a two count. MVP doesn’t have “hops” like Kofi, though, so he’s better off sticking to the ground attack.
Orton came back with knees to the gut in the corner before surveying the arena for a heel reaction. MVP avoided a corner splash, then he pulled out a hard arm drag to ground Orton again. MVP followed with a Chono boot to the head that flipped Orton to the outside. MVP was in control going to break as Orton was motionless on the floor.
Back from break, Orton was in control with a headlock on the mat. Orton then landed his fallaway backbreaker for a two count before going back to the chinlock. He’s making that look real believable now with that sinister look on his face. MVP then escaped with a fallaway slam and both men recovered on the mat. They went into a standing exchange of right hands. Boos for Orton. Yeahs for MVP. Crowd joined in nicely before Orton smashed MVP off the ropes with an elbow, but MVP landed an overhead throw. Orton found himself facing the lights before MVP warmed up the ballin’ elbow drop for a two count. Starting to give MVP the Cena/Rock treatment on the trademark mid-match move.
MVP missed with a Chono boot in the corner, though, and Orton dumped MVP over the top rope to the floor. Suddenly, Shane McMahon stormed the ring with Kendo Stick in hand to blast the crap out of Orton. Shane then went up top and nailed a big elbow drop on Orton. Cody and Ted then stormed ringside with chairs in hand, but Shane took off from the ring and ran up the arena steps to the top of the arena. Shane wound up in the Skybox posing from the top of the arena toward Orton, Cody, and Ted, who glared up at him.
WINNER: No Contest, but technically Orton via DQ at 11:17.
