January 3rd 2011
Phoenix, ArizonaMichael Cole and Jerry Lawler introduce the audience at home to the first edition of Monday Night Raw of 2011 live from Phoenix, Arizona. Cole then runs down the main matches for tonight, talking about John Morrison's Handicap match against King Sheamus and a partner of his choosing. They then talk about WWE Champion The Miz taking on John Cena in one-on-one action, with Cole saying its unfair for The Miz to take on another big task, with Lawler saying to Cole that Morrison's match isn't so easy as well. They banter for a short until the bell rings and Justin Roberts announces that the next match is for the WWE United States Championship.
WWE United States Championship Match
Daniel Bryan (c) vs William RegalRegal offers a handshake before the match starts. Bryan looks around the arena before shaking Regal's hand. The referee then rings the bell and the match begins with Regal applying an armbar on Bryan. Bryan quickly gets out of the hold and applies an armbar of his own. Regal also gets of it quickly and both men back away from each other. They circle the ring for a bit before locking up in the center with Regal getting the upper-hand. Regal then beats down Bryan and pins him for a two count. Regal continues to control the match, applying several submission moves on Bryan, but Bryan breaks each attempt by getting to the ropes. Regal then his various suplex's on Bryan, pinning him after each one, but Bryan is able to kick out still. Regal beats down Bryan some more and tries to lock in his submission finisher, the Regal Stretch, but Bryan reverses it before Regal can lock it in and gets his submission finisher locked in, the LeBell Lock and makes Regal tap for the win.
Winner and still WWE United States Champion at 6:39 - Daniel BryanAfter the match, Bryan helps Regal up and raises his arm in the air. Bryan then leaves the ring, where The Bella Twins run down to him and celebrate his victory by hugging him, then kissing him on each cheek. Raw then cuts to its a commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns with Josh Mathews backstage about to interview King Sheamus. Josh asks Sheamus who will be his partner tonight in the Handicap match against John Morrison later tonight. Sheamus smiles and tells Josh that it'll ruin the surprise for Morrison. Sheamus then walks off. WWE Champion The Miz and Alex Riley then walk up to Josh and Miz tells Josh that tonight, the people will witness another piece of history when he beats John Cena once again. Riley cheers in agreement and asks for a high five from Josh, who reluctantly does. Cole then reminds everyone at home about the main event of the evening when The Miz takes on John Cena. Lawler then says that after this commercial break there will be divas action. Raw then goes to commercial.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns with Alicia Fox in the ring awaiting her opponent. WWE Divas Champion Natalya's theme hits and she makes her way to the ring for her match.
Alicia Fox vs WWE Divas Champion NatalyaFox tries to get an early advantage by attacking Natalya from behind but Natalya gets of the way in time and throws Fox into the corner. Natalya then sets up Fox for a gorilla press slam but Fox reverses it with a poke in the eye. Fox then clotheslines Natalya and pins her for a two count. Fox continues to keep Natalya on the ground by applying a headlock. Natalya then tries to power out of it with the help of the crowd getting behind her but Fox stops her momentum by pulling her hair and slamming her head hard onto the ring mat. Fox then gets ready to hit the scissors kick but Natalya reverses and locks in the Sharpshooter. Melina then runs down and kicks Natalya in the face, making her win by disqualification.
Winner by disqualification at 3:04 - WWE Divas Champion NatalyaMelina continues to beat up Natalya after the match until Eve Torres runs down to save her but Fox stops her before she can help. Fox and Melina then continue to beat both Eve and Natalya, ending the assaulting by hitting their finishers on each of them. Melina then poses with the Divas Championship over Natalya. We then cut to the backstage area where Randy Orton is walking down a hallway. Lawler tells the fans at home Orton will be out in the ring after the commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns with Randy Orton making his way to the ring. Orton tells the fans that in a few weeks it will be the Royal Rumble. Orton then tells the fans that he will be in the Royal Rumble match to detrime who gets a guarantee World title match at WrestleMania. Orton then lists some people who have won that match saying Jim Duggan, the first ever winner. Shawn Michaels, who won back to back Rumble matches. Stone Cold Steve Austin, who won three of them. Orton then says that back in 2009 he won the Rumble match, but did not win at WrestleMania. Orton then tells the fans that this year will be different as he will win both the Rumble match and his WrestleMania match and reclaim the WWE Championship. The anonymous Raw General Manager then sends an email which Cole reads out. Cole tells Orton that the General Manager says Orton hasn't officially been named in the Rumble match as he has to win a place in it. He then reads that Orton qualifying match will happen next. Orton awaits to see who his opponent is as Raw cuts to a commercial break.
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Raw returns to see Orton still waiting to see who his opponent is. The Nexus' theme hits and every member of Nexus walk out onto the stage. Wade Barrett then tells Orton that if the member of Nexus wins this match, they will all qualify for the Rumble match. Husky Harris then volunteers to face Orton and makes his way to the ring with Michael McGillicutty.
Royal Rumble Qualifying Match
Husky Harris (w/Michael McGillicutty) vs Randy OrtonMcGillicutty whispers in Harris' ear before the match begins. Harris and Orton circle the ring for a bit until Orton tries to get Harris, but Harris backs into the corner and the referee pulls Orton away from him. Orton tries to get Harris again but Harris goes back into the corner, making the referee pull Orton away again. The third time Orton tries it and Harris backs in the corner again, Orton pushes the referee away and attacks Harris. Orton beats down Harris as the referee starts to count. Orton stops the assault at the count of four and brings Harris out of the corner and pulls him into a clothesline. Orton then does his signature stomps on Harris before turning his concentration on McGillicutty. McGillicutty starts to walk up the ramp with Orton slowly walking up after him. McGillicutty then tries to attack Orton but Orton ducks the clothesline attempt and hits an RKO on McGillicutty. Orton returns to the ring at the count of eight, only to have Harris continually stomp Orton. The referee breaks the attack up and Harris then taunts the crowd. Harris then starts to beat down Orton some more, then pins him for a two count. As Harris continues to control the match, David Otunga comes out to replace McGillicutty as Harris' manager. Raw then cuts to a quick commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns to see Orton regain control of the match, only for Harris to gain it back. A replay is then shown to see how Orton got back in the match. Harris continues to slowly beat down Orton. Otunga shouts to Harris to end the match now, but Harris doesn't listen to him and locks in a sleeper hold on Orton. After the referee raises Orton's arm for a third time, Orton stops his arm from dropping completely and gets out of the sleeper hold. Harris runs to the ropes and gets power slammed by Orton. Orton then taunts for the RKO but Otunga jumps up onto the apron. Orton runs over to him to knock him off but Otunga jumps down before. As the referee continues to warn Otunga, Harris tries to use his boot as a weapon but Orton ducks the attack and as Harris turns around he gets RKO'ed by Orton who gets the three count for the win.
Winner at 12:43 - Randy OrtonAfter the match Orton celebrates his win. Cole and Lawler then officially confirm to the fans at home that Orton is the first man to qualify for the 2011 Royal Rumble match. They then quickly remind everyone about the WWE Championship match that will take place at the Royal Rumble between champion The Miz and the challenger John Morrison. Cole then says Morrison's Handicap match will be happening after this commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
John Morrison's theme hits and he makes his way to the ring. King Sheamus' theme then hits and he makes his way out to the stage. He tells Morrison that he has been thinking all week about who would be best to choose as a partner in this match. He then says that he couldn't think of anybody better than this man. Sheamus then turns around and signals for his partner to come out. Tyson Kidd's music hits and both Kidd and Jackson Andrews walk out. Sheamus then tells Morrison that Kidd and Andrews will be his opponent's instead as he came to an agreement with the anonymous Raw General Manager just a few moments ago.
Handicap Match
John Morrison vs Tyson Kidd and Jackson Andrews (w/King Sheamus)Kidd starts the match off against Morrison. Kidd tries to sweep Morrison's legs but Morrison jumps in time. Morrison then tries the same to Kidd, but Kidd also jumps in time. Kidd and Morrison then lock up, with Kidd getting the upper-hand and putting Morrison in a headlock. Kidd then tags in Andrews, who hits Morrison in the gut. Andrews then shoulder blocks Morrison into the corner and repeatedly hits Morrison with shoulder blocks into the midsection. Andrews then throws Morrison in the air, sending him to the other side of the ring. Sheamus goes up to Morrison and talks trash to him, then laughs at the punishment he gets from Andrews. Andrews tags in Kidd, who stomps down Morrison in the corner and tags Andrews back in. Andrews then chokes Morrison with his boot, breaking the hold at four and again tags Kidd back in. Kidd continues to punish Morrison in the corner as Raw cuts to a commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns as Morrison is in a headlock submission by Andrews. Cole then shows us a replay saying that Morrison got some control in the match until Sheamus attacked him without the referee seeing. Morrison then fights out of the headlock and starts to try and knock Andrews down but Andrews clotheslines Morrison and regains control. Kidd then gets tagged in and tries to end the match with the Sharpshooter but Morrison reverses it with a roll up for a two count. Morrison then gets back into the match, building momentum by hitting Kidd with his signature moves. Morrison then takes out Andrews, which makes him hit the corner of the announcer table. Sheamus then gets up onto the apron and Morrison knocks him off with a springboard dropkick. Morrison then hits a running knee smash on Kidd before he could recover. He then sets Kidd up ready for Starship Pain, hitting it for the three count.
Winner at 9:18 - John MorrisonStraight after the pinfall, Sheamus comes in the ring and attacks Morrison. Sheamus beats Morrison down for a bit before hitting the High Cross. Sheamus then poses over Morrison with one foot on Morrison's chest. Raw then cuts to a commercial.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns with Cole showing us a replay for what happened before the commercial break after John Morrison won his match. Cole then announces to the fans at home that King Sheamus will face John Morrison in one-on-one action next week by orders of the anonymous Raw General Manager. It then goes backstage to The Nexus' locker room. Wade Barrett tells the group he was disappointed at what he saw out there tonight. He goes on to say that after being out for two weeks, healing up he expected a victory tonight. He then tells them that he has just worked out a deal with the anonymous Raw General Manager that they can have a second qualifying match next week. Barrett then tells the group he will be the one choosing who will be in the match. It then goes to WWE Champion The Miz's locker room where he and Alex Riley are. Miz tells Riley that tonight, he wants to go out there alone, and finally put a stop to everyone who is badmouthing him. Raw then cuts to a commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns with WWE Tag Team Champions Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in the ring. Santino tells the fans that he is learning a lot of great moves from Kozlov and wants to show some new moves tonight. He then asks for someone to come out from the back to help him with it. Mark Henry's theme hits and he comes out. Santino with a nervous look on his face tries to get out of it, saying he has missed the page about lifting big people and other stuff before Kozlov shouts at him to do it. Santino then starts to slowly walks over to Henry. Henry smiles at Santino as Santino looks around the arena. Santino then tries to lift Henry but can't. Santino tries a few more times before The Usos run down and attack him, Kozlov and Henry. After a few moments of them beating all three of them down, they hit all of them with their tag team finisher before leaving the ring. Raw then cuts to a commercial break.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
Raw returns for the main event as WWE Champion The Miz's theme hits and he walks out alone to the ring. Miz tells the fans that tonight history will happen once again as he will defeat John Cena in the main event of Raw, then he will go on to defend the title against John Morrison at the Royal Rumble. Miz then says that John Cena made the biggest mistake of his career by letting Nexus leader Wade Barrett firing him so he can be free. Miz goes on to say that Cena could of used Nexus help his career greatly as he needed all the help he can get. Miz then states that is the difference between him and Cena, as he then says he doesn't need the extra help and then tells the fans that's why he told Alex Riley to watch the match from the locker room, with Miz ending it with his catchphrase, "
Because I'm The Miz, and I'm, AWESOME!" before John Cena's music hits and he makes his way to the ring for the match.
WWE Champion The Miz vs John CenaAs soon as the bell rings Miz hits Cena with the WWE Championship and gets disqualified. Miz then beats down Cena and calls for Alex Riley to come down. Riley comes down with a steel briefcase as Miz starts to talk trash to Cena. Riley and Miz start to double team Cena. Miz then tells Riley to hit Cena over the head with the briefcase. As Riley goes to the corner and gets ready Miz starts to trash talk Cena some more, which makes Cena try and hit the Attitude Adjustment on him but Riley stops Cena before he could. Miz then exits the ring, leaving Riley in the ring with Cena, as Riley turns back to Cena, Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment on him. Cena then locks in the STF, which makes Riley tap straight away. Cena then lets go and celebrates with the fans as Miz watches on from the stage as Raw goes off the air.
Quick Results:United States Champion Daniel Bryan defeated William Regal (United States Championship Match)
WWE Divas Champion Natalya defeated Alicia Fox by disqualification (Non-title match)
Randy Orton defeated Husky Harris (Royal Rumble Qualifying Match)
John Morrison defeated Tyson Kidd and Jackson Andrews (Handicap Match)
John Cena defeated WWE Champion The Miz by disqualification (Non-title match)
