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Randy Orton was out next to join the eclectic mix of teammates. Finally, John Cena’s music hit to bring out the hometown star. Cena stormed the ring as Cole called him “the franchise” and one of the reasons Raw has been on the air for 900 episodes. Cole plugged next Monday’s Raw in D.C. before Team WWE assembled in the ring. Nexus’s music hit to bring out the five remaining members of the group. It’s next. There are nine potential eliminations in a match that will begin near the top of the hour.
TEAM WWE (WWE champion SHEAMUS & JOHN CENA & RANDY ORTON & CHRIS JERICHO & EDGE) vs. THE NEXUS (WADE BARRETT & JUSTIN GABRIEL & HEATH SLATER & DAVID OTUNGA & MICHAEL TARVER) — elimination tag match
The bell sounded just before the top of the hour to begin the over-run. Jericho and Tarver started things off, but didn’t lock up. Jericho paused for a pro-Jericho chant, then decided just to bail from the ring. The ref started a ten count and Jericho teased running back into the ring, but smiled and walked off to the back. Jericho is gone at 1:15. Cena was upset, but went back to the ring as Edge entered the ring. Edge then shoved down the ref to be DQ’ed at 1:48. Nexus had a good laugh at this. So, it’s Cena, Orton, and Sheamus.
Cena entered the ring and battled Tarver. Cena shoved Tarver into the corner, then tagged in Sheamus while shooting a look to Orton. Slater tagged in and the red-headed kids battled in the ring. Sheamus slowed down the pace and knocked Slater to the outside before rolling him back into the ring. There just isn’t any energy to this match right now. Otunga tagged in to no reaction, then paced the ring and grabbed a basic side headlock. Sheamus and Otunga collided mid-ring, then Sheamus clotheslined Otunga, who tried posing in Sheamus’s face. Sheamus was then isolated – yes, the heel champion playing babyface in peril – as Nexus stomped away on him. Sheamus never made it out of the corner after a couple of hope spots and Slater eventually pinned Sheamus at 7:10. I don’t get that booking at all.
John Cena then came in hot and dropped the Five Knuckle Shuffle on Slater. He wanted the Attitude Adjustment and connected for a pin on Slater at 7:52. Wade Barrett entered next and dumped Cena to the outside. Nexus seized the opportunity to stomp away on Cena ringside. Barrett rammed Cena head-first into the announce table before rolling him back into the ring for a two count. Gabriel came in and landed some basic offense. Otunga then tagged in and showed how green he is in the ring before Cena countered a suplex attempt.
Otunga cleared Orton off the ring apron, but Cena sprung to life and slapped on the STF for a tap-out at 10:30. Gabriel then came right off the top with the 450 splash on Cena for a pin on Cena at 10:37. Orton then snuck in the back door and dropped Gabriel with the RKO for a pin at 10:52. Tarver came in next and took an RKO for another pin at 11:03. Barrett then hit the ring and dropped Orton with his overhead slam finisher. Barrett made the cover for the win at 11:14. Five decisions in less than one minute. Very fitting for this show. Barrett posed in the ring with a smile on his face as Cole suggested Barrett’s in control heading to Night of Champions. They signed off 12 minutes past the hour.
WINNERS: Team Nexus at 11:14.
