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Elsewhere backstage: Cody and Ted talked up “The Marine 2″ DVD coming out tomorrow, then they approached Randy Orton. Orton matter-of-factly said he thinks it’s time to break up Legacy. He said he’s sitting here thinking he’s wasted the last year-and-a-half of his life working with them. Orton said three men who have never teamed together before beat them last week. “I think we’re finished,” Orton said. He said none of them are champs and he doesn’t associate himself with failure. Cody said they’ve bailed out Orton so many times this year, especially in title matches. DiBiase said they’ve put their bodies on the line time after time to save his butt. Orton said he’s going to test them with two singles matches tonight. DiBiase has Bourne and Cody has Henry. Orton said he’ll be watching. Cody didn’t take Orton’s threat seriously about being kicked out of Legacy. Orton brushed that off and vowed to kick each one out of Legacy and “beat the living hell” out of them. He walked off, leaving Cody to take a deep breath.
Randy Orton then came out to the ring ahead of the Legacy matches.
Randy Orton was watching his ring entrance back from break while seated ringside. Out came Ted DiBiase, Jr. for the first Legacy survival match. Cole gave a quick plug for the new movie coming out tomorrow as DiBiase completed his entrance. Lawler suggested Orton is jealous of DiBiase being a movie star. They cut to a video package of behind-the-scenes clips from the movie. Back live, DiBiase was staring down at Orton from inside the ring. Evan Bourne then came out to face DiBiase.
TED DIBIASE, JR. (w/Randy Orton neutral ringside) vs. EVAN BOURNE
It appears WWE has addressed the most-obvious criticism of the lack of promotion/marketing for the “Marine 2″ movie by finally incorporating the movie into a storyline – the announcers sold that perhaps Orton believes DiBiase has lost his focus on wrestling with the movie role. DiBiase was in control early on, but Bourne came back with a rapid-fire top rope huracanrana and a close two count. Bourne teased Air Bourne, but DiBiase blocked and dropped Bourne face-first on the mat in the corner. That looked off when it appeared DiBiase was going for a corner turnbuckle face-plant. DiBiase then followed up immediately with Dream Street for the pin and the win. Orton didn’t appear to be convinced while DiBiase simply paced the ring post-victory.
WINNER: DiBiase at 2:31
Randy Orton was still sitting ringside, this time in the dark. He was selling complete boredom. Cody Rhodes then came out and Orton focused back on the ring. Cody shot Orton a look, then Mark Henry came out a-smilin’ for the crowd. Announcers sold it as either Henry or Orton “beating the hell out of Cody” here.
CODY RHODES (w/Randy Orton neutral ringside) vs. MARK HENRY
The bell sounded and Henry tossed Cody clear across the ring before delivering a big shoulder tackle. Henry then teased a sit-out bomb, but Cody moved and kinda rolled across Henry’s stomach like a kid jumping on dad sitting around the Christmas tree. Henry then ran over Cody with clotheslines before nailing a headbutt. Henry followed with a running butt bomb to crunch Cody’s neck into the ropes. Henry slid through the ropes on the way down and started selling a knee injury. He slapped the mat in frustration to sell it some more. Back in the ring, Cody slipped out of a press slam and took out the knee. Cody then stomped Henry’s foot and delivered a DDT for the pin and the win.
Post-match: Orton just slumped down in his chair and let his body dangle in a mix of frustration and fake enthusiasm. Orton got up from his chair and shook hands with Cody before playfully slapping him on the head to escort him away from ringside. Cody left with Orton patting him on the back.
WINNER: Cody at 2:05.
U.S. champion THE MIZ vs. KOFI KINGSTON — U.S. Title match
The action was joined in progress coming back from break with Kofi in control with multiple nearfalls. Kofi then connected with a twisting Boom Drop. He did his multiple clap motion to warm up the TiP and he connected. Miz rolled to the ropes and the ref began a count, but Randy Orton stormed the ring and yanked Kofi out of the ring for the match to be thrown out. Orton assaulted Kofi before dropping him on the floor with the RKO. Orton stared down at Kofi and the camera stayed with Orton for a while as he simply stared down at Kofi.
WINNER: Kofi via DQ at 1:32; Miz retains the U.S. Title. Rough night for Miz, who had zero offense here. Good to see WWE resuming the Orton-Kofi feud with Orton back to his awesome heel ways as one of the top characters on the roster. Good focus on Orton here.
Backstage: Mathews caught up with Randy Orton for a word. Orton said the issue with him and Kofi isn’t over until he says it’s over. Orton said he can’t think of a better way to start the new year than by kicking somebody in the skull. Orton was apparently hinting at a singles match next week here.
Opened: July 16th, 2004
