Raw 9: Austin Defends Title; New Faces Debut

Stone Cold Steve Austin entered the night as WWE Champion, but would he leave Raw with the gold?

Raw started with CM Punk in the ring.  Punk was visibly disappointed at losing his WWE title match against Steve Austin.  He went onto say that the match was a great battle that he ultimately came up just a bit short.  However, he said that he knows what it’ll take to beat the Rattlesnake now that that he’d like a rematch at Extreme Rules.

But then he was reminded that Austin has to face Jack Swagger later tonight for the title.  So, he amended his original statement, telling the WWE fans that he wants to face whoever the Champion is.  He explained that he didn’t think he needed a match to qualify as #1 contender as he was the former champion.  Punk said that he’d wait for the Champion’s decision next week on Raw.

Wrestlemania Recap: Major Title Changes Hands; Betrayal in the Tag Match

Did Brock Lesnar get the revenge he was seeking against the Big Show?

Chris Jericho vs Edge (C) vs Antonio Cesaro vs Dolph Ziggler
Intercontinental Title Match
The four eventually paired off and Jericho and Cesaro found themselves battling inside the ring with many near falls. At one point, Edge jumped from the top rope onto Ziggler, who was on the floor. The unpredictable nature of the match lead many nearfalls and a simultaneous kickout by Jericho and Ziggler. Ziggler hit the Zig Zag on Cesaro, but the pinfall was broken up by Jericho, who hit the Codebreaker. Edge saved his title at the last moment and the four battled once again. Eventually, Jericho and Cesaro spilled out onto the floor and the Ultimate Opportunist took advantage, planting Ziggler with the Edgucution, retaining his title.

Winner: Edge

John Cena vs Shawn Michaels
World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contenders Match

This match-up determined the top contender for the belt at the next PPV and it did not disappoint. Cena and Michaels battled all over the ring, and even on the outside. Cena performed an Attitude Adjustment on the padding outside of the ring and rolled back into the ring to try and force a count-out on Michaels. But HBK beat the referees count and got back in the ring. Cena wore him down even more and went for another AA. But Michaels struggled out of it, pushed back Cena and landed the Sweet Chin Music. Cena kicked out, but HBK landed another super kick and stole the win.

Winner: Shawn Michaels

Wrestlemania Preview

Chris Jericho vs Edge (C) vs Antonio Cesaro vs Dolph Ziggler
Intercontinental Title Match

The Intercontinental Championship was owned by Dolph Ziggler, who was tired of fighting jobbers. He was finally defeated on Raw by Edge, but Edge’s celebration was short lived when Antonio Cesaro came to the ring. Cesaro declared he should have been given a title shot but Chris Jericho, who Cesaro had been feuding with, got involved as well. During a tag team match, Jericho walked out on his partner Edge, leaving some bad blood between the two.

Smackdown 8: Number One Contender’s Match Set

Smackdown kicked off with some tag team action. The Rock n Sock connection was set to take on the team of Kofi Kingston and Rey Mysterio in a preview of the fatal fourway tag match at Wrestlemania on Sunday. The legendary team won the match after The Rock landed the Rockbottom on Kofi and got the pin.

Commissioner Roose came out to talk a little bit about Wrestlemania. He had to announce that he was one match short for his billing at Mania and wanted to hold a number one contender’s match for the World Heavyweight Championship at the next Pay-Per View. He was interrupted by Mr. Wrestlemania himself, Shawn Michaels. “Woah woah woah, you know you can’t have a Wrestlemania without the Showstopper himself!”

Raw Week 8: Swagger Returns, Team USA Ready

The Shield took on Rhodes Scholars in the first match. This has been a rivalry brewing for the past month. A brutal match but the Shield wouldn’t let the Scholars make any easy tags, wearing the team down. Rollins picked up the victory for his team, pinning Sandow.

Backstage, we see Real Deal in his office where he is interrupted by Jack Swagger and a doctor. Swagger says the doctor has cleared him and that he’d like to make his match with Del Rio official tonight. Real Deal says he wants to see Swagger in the ring first. He tells Swagger to get ready because he’s going to take on R-Truth.

Intercontinental Champion Edge teamed with Chris Jericho to take on Dolph Ziggler and Antonio Cesaro in a bit of a preview for the fatal fourway match at Wrestlemania. Edge and Jericho had the advantage in this uptempo match due to their history, but any teamwork started to crumble when Edge tagged himself in to get a piece of Ziggler. During the end of the match, Jericho hit the Codebreaker on Cesaro and then went for a clothesline on Ziggler, when he hit Edge instead. He chuckled and left the ring as Ziggler hit the superkick on the Intercontinental Champion for the pin and the win.

Swagger was out for his match against R-Truth. Swagger looked healthy as he quickly disposed of R-Truth. Swagger then cut a promo telling Del Rio that he was next for ruining his Wrestlemania title shot. Swagger told fans that he wanted his title shot as soon as possible. Real Deal came out and agreed. He told Swagger that he was impressed with his match tonight and as the Royal Rumble winner, he still deserved his title shot. Real Deal told Swagger that if he defeats Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania, he can have his WWE title shot the next night on Raw.

The fourth match of the night was some Diva’s action where Lita teamed with Trish Stratus against Beth Phoenix and AJ. A fairly standard Diva’s tag match with AJ getting the pinfall over Lita.

CM Punk was backstage saying that Austin tried to give him a tough opponent last week but that it would only help him in his match against Austin. He says he’s prepared to go all out to defend his WWE title. Austin walks up, looks at Punk and says “good” and walks away.

Daniel Bryan then took on Kurt Angle as they would be opponents on Sunday in the tag team match. Both competitors were joined at ringside by their tag team partners (Kane and Mark Henry, respectively). A great technical match going back and forth but was ultimately won by Angle after a Bryan mistake lead to the Olympic Slam. As Team Hell No went up the ramp, Team USA motioned that they want the belts.

The main event was Brock Lesnar taking on Alberto Del Rio. Lesnar took his frustrations out on Del Rio, beating him mercilessly until Lesnar went for the F-5 and accidentally knocked out the referee with Del Rio’s leg. This brought out the Big Show who brawled with Lesnar. Del Rio tried to escape the ring, but was met by Jack Swagger, who had other ideas. Lesnar and Show battled into the crowd, as Swagger hit Del Rio with a chair. He went to put the chair around Del Rio’s ankle, when officials came out and broke it up. The original referee was taken to the back as the match was ruled a no contest.

Smackdown 7: Taker Announces Mania Match

Smackdown kicked off with the bare-knuckle brawler Wade Barrett strutting down to the ring. Fresh off of his huge win over Sheamus, Barrett grabbed the microphone and began to speak. He told the crowd that he will become the next WWE Champion, and that Sheamus is merely keeping the belt warm until Barrett takes it from him at Wrestlemania.

But Barrett was interrupted by Sheamus’ music. Sheamus came out with the title draped over his shoulder wearing a Preston North End F.C. soccer jersey. Sheamus then went on to compare Barrett to the League One soccer club from Barrett’s home city in England. “Much like that third rate football club in Preston, you fella, are a third rate super star in the WWE. After Wrestlemania, I will prove to the world that you are not worthy to wear this belt.” Sheamus then took the jersey off, spit in it and dropped it on the stage before turning around and walking away.

Raw 7: Punk, Austin Warm Up; IC Title Picture Muddled

WWE Champion CM Punk took on Kane, his opponent chosen by Steve Austin.

We kicked off Raw with Real Deal in the ring with CM Punk and Steve Austin.  Real Deal tells both that they get to pick their opponents tonight and as the challenger, Austin would select first.  Austin though of a guy that he’s battled with over the years and would give Punk a tough time.  He selected the Big Red Machine, Kane.  Punk chuckled and said he would select a guy he knows well, Daniel Bryan. Real Deal wished both guys good luck in their matches tonight as he had other matters to take care of and left the ring.

The first match of the night had John Morrison take on R-Truth. A fairly up tempo match with some high flying spots. Morrison picked up the victory after hitting Starship Pain.

Backstage Jack Swagger was in Real Deal’s office saying that he wanted to face Del Rio when he’s cleared. Real Deal explained that it sounded like the doctor would be able to clear him for action next week. He told Swagger that if the doctor cleared him, he’d like to see him in a tune up match. If all goes well, he’d give Swagger a match with Del Rio….at Wrestlemania.

Next we had Rob Van Dam taking on Seth Rollins. Another up tempo match with both guys showing off top rope moves. Rollins ended up superkicking RVD after a failed Van Daminator attempt for the win.

The third match of the night had new Intercontinental Champion Edge taking on Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match. We are shown highlights from last week’s title match where Edge defeated Dolph Ziggler but Cesaro interfered in the celebration. Edge asked for this match after the attack. During the match, Edge was in control as Cesaro rolled out of the ring and went for a chair. Before hitting Edge with it, Chris Jericho came out and clotheslined Cesaro. This brought out Ziggler and the four brawled.

Steve Austin then made his way out to the ring for his match with Daniel Bryan. Austin dominated the match, winning in decisive fashion. Kane helped his friend to the back, despite Bryan’s pleas not to.

The next match was the tag team tournament final between the APA and the newly formed Team USA. The two teams turned the match into a brawl. At one point, the chaos caused the referee to lose track of who the legal men were and while Faarooq was telling the ref that Kurt Angle was not the legal man, Angle snuck up behind him and hit the Olympic Slam for the victory, putting team USA into the tag team title match at Wrestlemania.

The final match of the night was Champion CM Punk taking on Kane. The two traded control throughout with many near falls. Towards the end of the match Daniel Bryan came out to watch his tag team partner. Trying to turn the tide, Bryan went to grab Punk’s leg but it was reversed and he grabbed Kane’s instead. While Kane glared at his partner, he turned right around into a GTS from Punk. That cemented the victory for Punk, as Kane and Bryan argued after the match. Punk celebrated his win while Austin appeared on the stage, watching the WWE champion.