« Screen Captures · Digitals »
JOHN CENA vs. CODY RHODES
Suddenly, Randy Orton hit the ring and distracted Cena leading to the ref DQ’ing Cody. Orton then slithered right back out of the ring and Cena scooped up Cody to deliver an FU in center ring. Cena was officially announced as the winner while Orton stared at him from the entrance ramp. Cena smiled in Orton’s direction as Orton did his evil look.
Backstage: The camera mysteriously showed Orton and Masters talking strategy off in the back. Orton was apparently telling him what’s going down against DX. Masters.
In-ring: The DX theme music hit and out came Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Cole with more empty descriptions, this time for the “legendary” Triple H and the “controversial” Shawn Michaels. Once they hit the ring, Michaels took the mic, then ran circles around Hunter, who politely requested the mic once HBK ran out of steam. Hunter waited out the loud crowd cheers before Hunter declared he loves this city. He asked Chicago if they’re ready, then finished the Michael Buffer routine. His pause this week was for Cody and Ted. “Because they are a great team. They are great partners (emphasis on partners).” Imagine that, Hunter with his weekly homophobic rhetoric. He continued: “They’re like WWE’s version of Siegfried and Roy. And boys, this Sunday, you’re looking at the two white tigers who are going to be hanging off your jugulars.” Hunter and HBK finished their routine, then Chris Masters came out to zero reaction. WWE champion Randy Orton came out last to finish the intros ten minutes before the top of the hour.
WWE champion RANDY ORTON & CHRIS MASTERS vs. DX (SHAWN MICHAELS & TRIPLE H)
Bell sounded and Michaels started with Masters. Michaels got in one move, Masters rolled to the floor to regroup, and they went to break 35 seconds into the match.
Back from break, Hunter was in control working over Orton. Hunter then teased the Pedigee, but Orton blocked and back dropped Hunter to the mat. Orton tried to follow with the RKO, but Hunter shoved him away and executed a suplex. He then delivered crotch chop into a knee drop for a two count. Michaels tagged in, but lost control for his team against Chris Masters. Masters vs. Michaels – flash back to that absurd program after Summerslam 2005. Orton tagged in and worked over Michaels, then Masters tagged back in. Heels tagged in and out leading to the top of the hour.
Orton slowly let Michaels get up, then he delivered a standing dropkick to knock Michaels right back down to the mat. Nice set-up for a nice move. Michaels finally escaped Orton’s attack, then Hunter fired up the crowd asking for a tag. Masters tagged in, then Michaels kipped up and tagged in Hunter. Hunter ran over Masters, then ducked an errant clothesline and hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Orton then stalked Hunter, who eyed Orton back to his corner and dropped Masters with a spinebuster. Michaels then tagged in and dropped a top rope elbow on Masters. Michaels then tuned up the band, but Orton distracted him. Hunter took out Orton on the floor, but back in the ring, Masters ducked Sweet Chin Music and slapped on the Masterlock center ring. Michaels faded, but Hunter re-entered and broke up the hold. Michaels then stunned Masters with the superkick as chaos broke out. Michaels then put Masters in the figure four while Hunter put Orton in the Sharpshooter for no reason whatsoever. So inorganic. Why would they ever use a submission in that spot other than six days before a submissions PPV? Masters flopped around like a fish in the figure four, then tapped out to Michaels.
WINNERS: DX at 14:10. WWE’s backwards booking on display trying to make the storylines fit the PPV concept instead of letting the storylines naturally flow into the PPV. Tag match was okay with Masters just there to bump around for DX, but not add much. Post-match immediately picked up…
Post-match: Cody and Ted dragged Orton out of the ring to high-tail it out of there. DX followed and a brawl was on leading to backstage. Orton held back, though, and was suddenly the only man left standing. Everyone else disappeared, then Orton crawled onto the stage. He thought he was all alone as the announcers talked up his smartness.
Back in the ring, Orton was all alone. Crowd booed when the camera focused on him. Orton said that was the look of disappointment on DX’s faces. He said Legacy is going to make DX submit on Sunday. And in the main event, he said he’s going to retain the WWE Title. He name-dropped John Cena and Cena’s music hit. Cena slowly came out on stage sporting his John Deere baseball cap. Cena took it off, then stormed the ring. Cena and Orton brawled in the ring, then the fight spilled to the floor. Orton ate the announce table, but suddenly sprung on Cena with the horizontal Jake Roberts DDT to leave Cena implanted on the mat. Orton’s IED kicked in, then he went to the floor and grabbed a chair. Kids and women screaming in horror as Orton teased a chair attack on Cena. Orton slowly picked up Cena, then his eyes bulged out of his head like an evil, demented individual. He teased the RKO and Cena didn’t block it, leaving Cena out cold after taking an RKO into the chair. Orton paced around the ring before standing over Cena’s fallen body to scream down at him that he will say I Quit on Sunday. The screams of the kids filled the air with Orton standing over Cena to close the show. Great intensity from Orton to close the show and try to sell the PPV on Sunday. Two straight weeks of great character display from Orton to close Raw.
