Shawn Michaels def. World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho by Count-out
Triple H vs. Randy Orton ended in a No Contest
WWE Champion Batista def. Kofi Kingston
SAN DIEGO – When the most popular Superstar in WWE history returns to guest host Monday Night Raw, certain rules apply. First, that Superstar should behave in a manner befitting WWE’s image. Secondly, that Superstar should speak in respectful tones. And lastly, that Superstar should demonstrate sufficient reverence to their former employer.
As “Stone Cold” Steve Austin demonstrated, however, when The Texas Rattlesnake is that Superstar, no rules apply!
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin opened the show
In his capacity as Raw’s special guest host, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin let the WWE Universe know just how jubilant he felt being back inside a WWE ring. The Texas Rattlesnake also described how special WrestleMania is, alluding to why he decided to arrange a series of WrestleMania Rewind matches for the night and why he would oversee the contract signing for the Bret Hart vs. Mr. McMahon WrestleMania match.
Pete Rose will serve as Raw’s special guest host next week
The man many call the greatest baseball player ever, Pete Rose, will be honored next week as Raw’s special guest host. As a man who has seen action inside of a WWE ring, the WWE Hall of Fame Inductee is sure to make things interesting with just six days to go until WrestleMania.
WWE Champion Batista def. Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston has proven himself to be one of the most agile, athletic and fierce competitors in WWE. For Batista, however, he seemed like little more than an appetizer on the way to a colossal entrée. The WWE Champion appeared to send a message to his WrestleMania opponent, John Cena, when he punished Cena’s one-time ally and stood tall in the ring displaying his WWE Title.
2010 WWE Hall of Fame inductee announcement: Gorgeous George
One of WWE’s most innovative and charismatic personalities, Gorgeous George, has been announced as the latest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010. The legendary blond wrestler, whose robes were equally as spectacular, became a cultural sensation in the 1940s and 1950s.
Triple H vs. Randy Orton ended in a No Contest
With the memory of their epic main event match from last year’s 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania still fresh, Triple H and Randy Orton took up the gauntlet one more time. The two, however, would never reach a conclusion. Instead, their respective WrestleMania foes – Sheamus, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes – interceded. The three attacked, kicking up a five-man melee that resulted in The Game and The Viper being left motionless on the canvas.
WrestleMania Match announcement: Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes in a Triple Threat Match
The tension that strangled the camaraderie out of The Legacy will be on full display when Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes clash in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania. Will DiBiase and Rhodes continue to join forces against their former mentor? Or will the most important match of their young careers bring out a selfish side?
Shawn Michaels def. World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho by Count-out
Chris Jericho probably thought he was being cute. Rather than continue fighting Shawn Michaels in a rematch from their WrestleMania XIX bout, the World Heavyweight Champion instead lost by deliberately getting himself counted out. Well, the joke was on him when his WrestleMania rival Edge decided to join the festivities. The Ultimate Opportunist battered the World Heavyweight Champion, flipped him into the ring and hammered him with a Spear.
Divas Champion Maryse def. Kelly Kelly
Perhaps Maryse’s frustration with losing two weeks in a row is beginning to take a toll. Why else would the Divas Champion continue to attack Kelly Kelly even after handily defeating her?
After the conceited Canadian secured the win in a singles match, she set up Kelly Kelly for more punishment, but Eve and Gail Kim bolted in for the save. Just when it appeared Maryse would receive her comeuppance from the three, SmackDown’s Women’s Champion Michelle McCool and Layla shot in to protect her. As Maryse, Michelle and Layla snaked away, Vickie Guerrero emerged to greet them, leaving many in the WWE Universe pondering the strange alliance.
Evan Bourne vs. Sheamus ended in a No Contest
The match between Evan Bourne and Sheamus was over before it began. The bell hadn’t yet rung when The Celtic Warrior drove his boot into the high flyer, and a crucifix bomb sent him spilling out of the ring. The fierce Irishman then took to the mic and described how he intends to devastate his WrestleMania opponent, Triple H.
Unified Tag Team Champion Big Show def. John Cena
In the first WrestleMania Rewind Match of the night, John Cena faced off against Big Show, his opponent from WrestleMania XX. While the two powerhouses exchanged sturdy blows, it was Cena who finally seemed to best The World’s Largest Athlete as he prepared to slam Show with an Attitude Adjustment. WWE Champion Batista, who will battle Cena at this year’s extravaganza, walked to the ring and distracted Cena enough for one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions to gain his composure before leveling him with a knockout punch.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin moderated Bret Hart and Mr. McMahon’s contract signing
After inviting Mr. McMahon and his WrestleMania opponent Bret Hart to the ring, special guest host “Stone Cold” Steve Austin did what he does best – made The Chairman squirm.
Austin announced that, under his orders, Bret Hart’s father, Stu, would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010. Austin then recalled how tough The “Hit Man” was in their WrestleMania 13 match as his fellow WWE Hall of Famer signed the match contract. As Mr. McMahon glared across the table at his hobbled opponent’s crutches and broken leg, he also gleefully signed his name to the document. And that’s when the trap was slowly, sweetly revealed.
As Austin departed, he implored Hart to “tell Vince.” Much to Mr. McMahon’s chagrin, The Excellence of Execution then tossed his crutch aside, removed his cast and informed the man who had screwed him more than 12 years earlier that his leg was perfectly fine. He also told a shocked Chairman that if he tried to back out of their match, he would sue him for every cent just before he clobbered The Chairman with his cast. As a final verbal backhand, Hart paraphrased Mr. McMahon from 12 years ago: "Vince just screwed Vince.”
