WWE RAW Results
March 23, 2009
By: Matt Boone for WrestleZone.com
In-Ring Opener: Ric Flair & Chris Jericho
RAW opens with Ric Flair in the ring and his music playing. Woooo numero uno and dos. Strut numero uno followed by Wooo tres. Flair address Chris Jericho. Says on behalf of Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat, he accepts your challenge for the 3-on-1 handicap match at WrestleMania 25. He says "The Nature Boy" will be honored in their corner. He says as Jericho knows, he can compete, but he’ll be happy to stand in the ring with those three great legends, and hold their hands high after they beat him and shut him up forever. Jericho appears on the titan-tron. Jericho tells Flair to be quiet. He says listen to him. He was nearly a child when WrestleMania 1 took place, but he remembers Piper, Snuka and Steamboat. He says they were great, but that was 25 years ago. He said 25 years ago he never dreamed he’d be a bigger star than all three of them, but he has. He asks if Flair thinks this situation is a movie like "The Wrestler". He brings up the four beating him up last week. He says it’s not a movie, this is real. You’re not an actor like Mickey Rourke. Rourke has a director that says cut. Rourke can sip on a drink while he thinks about losing the Oscar. He says the movie gave Flair false hope that he still matters. He says no one cares about Ric Flair anymore. Jericho now makes his way to the top of the ramp. Jericho says he knew all along the three legends would accept his challenge. He says it was obvious because all of them and Flair as well, are afraid. Afraid to stay out of the spotlight. Jericho enters the ring. He approaches Flair saying they’ll end up being forgotten nobodies. Jericho says it’s better to be a nobody than to continue to drag your name through the mud. At WrestleMania, Jericho says he’s gonna beat up Flair’s friends. He said Flair will be forced to stand at ringside and watch, screaming for him to stop – but he won’t. He says Mickey Rourke will be sitting at ringside witnissing the carnage he’s caused. Flair says Jericho is wrong. He says they refuse to be judged by insignificant little punks, that’ll never be Hall of Fame material. He says they refuse to be told when it’s over. They love to be respected for the accomplishments that they’ve achieved. He says they in return respect the people who respect them. Flair says he’ll be so proud to stand by his Hall of Fame brothers as they beat him. Jericho asks if Flair’s finished. Flair said no. Flair says he’s looking forward to standing in the middle of the ring and looking for Mickey Rourke. He says he’ll invite him to stand in the ring next to him, Piper, Snuka and Steamboat. He says he’ll tell Rourke in front of 70,000 fans to look at this beaten corpse and say "Woooo". Jericho hits a cheap-shot in mid-Woo. Jericho commences to punching away at Flair. He battles to the outside and continues pummeling Flair. He rips Flair right out of his dress shirt. Flair is a bloody mess as Jericho still continues his attack. Jericho clears off the announcer table. Jericho throws Flair over the barracade. Jericho continues punching away at a bloody Flair. Jericho takes Flair’s shoes off and throws them into the crowd. Jericho continues pummeling the bloody Flair. Jericho takes a camera-man’s camera and nails Flair with it. Flair over-sells the hell out of it. "You suck" chant from the audience as Jericho stands above a beaten Flair. Jericho takes Flair’s watch off, puts it on the top ring step and stomps it to break it. Jericho walks away as we go to commercial.
We return to Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole’s reaction to the previous Flair-Jericho segment.
Jeff Hardy vs. Dolph Ziggler
Jeff Hardy’s music hits and Lilian Garcia announces this will be an "extreme rules" match. His opponent, already in the ring, is Dolph Ziggler.
Hardy gets the early lead. He throws a trash can in the ring and Ziggler gets it and hits Hardy with it. Going for a superplex, Swagger gets blocked by Hardy and goes down face first into the trash can. Hardy with the "Twist of Fate" as he goes to the floor. He comes in with a chair and nails Swagger repeatedly with it. He gives him another "Twist of Fate" on the chair and goes to the top. He lands a swanton bomb and gets the three count and victory.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Jeff grabs a microphone and says he knows Matt Hardy is watching. He says what he just did wasn’t extreme, but what he’s gonna do to Matt at WrestleMania 25 will be.
A video package from SmackDown! airs about Edge, Big Show and Vicky Guerrero.
Backstage – John Cena
Cena on a "live satelitte feed" says he hears Vicky is under weather. He reads a comedic poem about her and Edge/Big Show love triangle with pictures to go along with it for the TV/live crowd. They promote Cena on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" tonight.
Lawler and Cole run down tonight’s matches, Big Show vs. Edge and Triple H in a handicap match.
MVP, Kofi Kingston, Christian & CM Punk vs. Shelton Benjamin, Kane, Mark Hendy & Finlay
Great match that went about 6-8 minutes. Finish saw Christian get the pin and victory for his team. After the match, Finlay attatcked everyone in sight with a ladder.
Winners: MVP, Kofi Kingston, Christian & CM Punk
A trailer for John Cena’s "12 Rounds" movie airs.
Triple H vs. Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase handicap match is confirmed for tonight. Lawler says they’ll hear from Orton when they return from commercial.
Todd Grisham Interviews Randy Orton Backstage:
Orton says HHH accuses him of being a coward. He said he doesn’t attack people in their homes with a sledgehammer. He says he’s the one who put his hands on Stephanie McMahon knowing full well who she’s married to. He asks Todd if that sounds like a coward. Orton says HHH needs to remember who he’s dealing with. He said he could have waited until WrestleMania, but HHH had to up the ante. Orton says tonight he’ll raise-him. He says he’ll do something that made what HHH did look tame by comparison. He says after tonight no one will be calling Randy Orton a coward.
Edge (c) vs. Big Show
Edge’s music hits as he comes out wearing the World title looking ready for action. Out next is the General Manager of RAW, Vicky Guerrero in a wheel chair being pushed to the ring by Chavo Guerrero. We come back from commercial with Edge trying to kiss Vicky on the outside, but Vicky turns her face angrily. Big Show’s music hits and he’s out next. He immediately walks to Vicky as well, but she snubs him too. As the two begin to start the match, Cena "live via satelitte from Califorina" says he wants to see the two beat each other up. He says before that, whether they love Vicky isn’t important, she’s not wrestling them at WrestleMania – he is. She says Edge is a multiple time champ and Big Show is the biggest man in sports. Who cares who Vicky likes, fight like men. He insults Vicky some more and the bell rings to begin the match. Both men when getting the upper-hand in the match talk to Vicky and try their best to get her on their side. Match ends with Big Show tieing Edge into the ropes, but Vicky screams for Chavo to interfere and end the match. He does, ref calls for a DQ. Edge geats loose and spears Chavo. Big Show nails Edge. Big Show tells Vicky he did that for her, as his music hits.
Winner: Double Disqualification
Rey Mysterio vs. William Regal
Rey Mysterio’s music hits as he makes his way to the ring. Out next is WWE Intercontinental champion JBL in his limo. He steps out with William Regal. I guess JBL was just giving William Regal and Layla a ride to the ring. JBL joins Lawler and Cole for commentary. The two battle to the outside where JBL interferes and allows Regal to attack Mysterio from behind. Regal with the advantage now. Mysterio pretends to be hurt and that helps him gain the upper hand. Mysterio with the 6-1-9 and the pinfall victory. Mysterio hits JBL with the 6-1-9 on the outside.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
In-Ring: Undertaker (with HBK at the cemetary)
Up next will be The Undertaker. We come back from commercial and Undertaker is in the ring with the dark purple lights. He has a microphone and addresses Shawn Michaels. ‘Taker says HBK’s obssession with being Mr. WrestleMania and his obsession with beating ‘Taker at WrestleMania is getting him in trouble. Undertaker says it’s true, he’s never beaten HBK one-on-one. Never, not once. He said he should remind him, the last time they did battle, HBK spent the next five years on the shelf in pain trying to recover. Undertaker says we’ll find out at WrestleMania if HBK isn’t afraid of him like he claims. When he’s standing across from Undertaker, starting to question his own faith. Undertaker says for him to remember he opened the gates of hell. With that said, HBK’s music hits and we go to a video. HBK is in a cemetary talking about Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak coming to an end. HBK says he always seizes the opportunity and stays one step ahead. He says that’s why he’s on Undertaker’s turf at the cemetary breathing the very air he consumes. He says Undertaker may intimidate the others, but he will not intimidate HBK. He says he’s not afraid of a confrontation with Undertaker. He says ‘Taker left 16-past ‘Mania opponents, but it does not intimidate HBK. HBK says he’s streak began with a victory over Jimmy Snuka. Diesel-power proved to be no match. HBK continues to tell the history of Undertaker in WWE with past video clips. Too many to keep up with. HBK puts himself over throughout the package as well. HBK comes to a pre-dug grave. He says this is for Undertaker. His undefeated ‘Mania streak will be buried forever. Down to the depths of hell. He kicks over a cemetary stone that reads 16-1. HBK finishes by saying "Undefeated streak….rest in peace," as he buries the headstone into the grave. We come back to Undertaker in the ring. He looks pissed. We go to commercial.
In-Ring Segment: Santino Marella
We return and Santino Marella is in the ring. He discusses the 25-diva battle royal. He says he thinks he knows who’s gonna be the winner – Santino Marella! He says last week when Mickie James assaulted him, he went to Vicky Guerrero and demanded to be included. He was told if he beats Mickie James with one hand tied behind his back, he will be able to prove he’s man enough to be Ms. WrestleMania. Out comes Mickie James.
Santino Marella vs. Mickie James
It’s a match with Santino having one hand tied behind his back. Mickie James gets the early lead and is beating Santino around the ring, with his one arm tied behind his back. Very funny match, too many comedy spots to describe. Santino Marella is awesome. He tries climbing to the top rope with one arm behind his back. Needless to say that wasn’t easy. He falls and Mickie James gets the three-count, ending Santino’s WrestleMania hopes.
Winner: Mickie James
12 Rounds trailer airs. Another plug for John Cena on Jay Leno’s show tonight.
Handicap Match:
Randy Orton & Ted DiBiase vs. Triple H
Orton’s music hits after Lawler and Cole run down the WrestleMania 25 card, and out he comes with Ted Dibiase. Jerry Lawler calls out Chris Jericho for next week on RAW after a video package airs coming out of a commercial break. We see Orton and DiBiase in the ring as Triple H’s music hits and out comes "The Game". Very early into the match, Cody Rhodes comes out from under the ring when HHH was going for the sledgehammer. They handcuff HHH to the top rope. HHH is fighting them off with one arm but eventually the numbers are too much. The Legacy are beating down HHH. After some more punishment, Orton gets the mic and says only one person can save him now, and "she had better hurry". While DiBiase/Rhodes work over HHH, Orton grabs a sledgehammer from under the ring. HHH kicks Orton. Legacy quickly jumps on HHH, who is still handcuffed to the ropes. As Orton goes to hit him with the sledgehammer, out comes a concerned Stephanie McMahon. HHH yells from the ground to Stephanie to stay back. Orton hits HHH and tells her not to listen. Orton lifts the sledgehammer as Steph climbs up to the ring apron. Orton turns to Steph and she goes back to the floor, but DiBiase and Rhodes are behind her now. She runs but Orton grabs her in a headlock as a handcuffed HHH goes crazy. Right in front of HHH, Orton, with Steph’s feet on the ropes outside the ring, is DDT’d by Orton into the ring, face-first. Orton taunts HHH the same way he did to him last week, doing something worse as previously promised. Orton thens turns over an unconscious Steph and cheap-shots HHH. He moves Steph just far enough so HHH can’t reach her and he grabs the sledgehammer again. He approaches HHH but stops and turns to Steph. His eyes grow wide as HHH yells at him not to do it. Orton drops the sledgehammer and kneels down beside Steph. He kisses her as HHH goes crazy. Orton taunts HHH some more and picks up the sledgehammer. He and HHH stand up, HHH still handcuffed to the ropes though. He taunts HHH with the sledgehammer outside his reaching distance, then nails him in the face with it. Orton turns and looks at Steph while HHH lay unconscious. He turns back to HHH. Orton slowly exits with the sledgehammer. HHH and Steph are shown laying unconscious while Orton is shown again with an evil look on his face, half-way up the ramp as RAW ends.
