- Tonight's three-hour RAW kicks off with Michael Cole welcoming us
to Hershey, PA. Tonight, we will see WWE Champion John Cena take on CM
Punk in a first. Justin Roberts introduces tonight's RAW host Jesse
Ventura. Instead, Voices starts playing and Randy Orton marches to the
ring.
Orton says he knows Jesse Ventura has a major announcement regarding
the WWE Title tonight but he also knows what his father told him about
Ventura and that's he's a radical, someone who isn't afraid to speak
his mind. Orton wants Ventura to prove this to him. Orton wants Ventura
to put him in a WWE Title match with Cena. Orton says he deserves it
more than anyone else.
The music hits and out comes WWE Hall of Famer Jesse "The Body"
Ventura to a nice reaction from the crowd. Ventura says he's back and
he's dressed like pro wrestling tonight, not a Governor. Ventura says
he's in charge tonight and what he says goes. Ventura says he respects
Orton and that he reminds him of a younger version of himself. Ventura
says he is bringing something totally new to WWE tonight. Ventura says
Orton won't get a title shot because he is here for something new.
Ventura says there's been too many of the same people getting title
shots and it's time to change that. Ventura says no Orton, no Big Show,
no HBK, no Triple H, no Jericho, none of the usuals getting title
shots. Ventura says there will be a series of matches. To qualify, you
can never have been a World Champion. The winners will go into a
"Breakthrough Battle Royal" with the winner getting a World Title Shot,
he says. Presumably the WWE Title.
Orton says Ventura is making a mistake. Ventura says he moves on
from his mistakes and what he says goes. Ventura announces CM Punk vs.
John Cena and DX vs. The Hart Dynasty for tonight as well as the
qualifying matches with winners going on to the battle royal. Ventura
says the first match starts right now.
Breakthrough Battle Royal Qualifier: Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler
The music hits and out comes Kofi Kingston to a big pop. Randy Orton
locks eyes with Orton as they pass on the ramp. RAW goes to commercial
as Kofi enters the ring. Back from a quick break and we see some
replays from Kofi. Out comes his opponent, Dolph Ziggler.
They lock up and go to the corner. Dolph with a cheap shot. Dolph
beats Kofi down in the corner. Kofi turns things around and unloads on
Dolph. They trade near falls. Dolph with knees to the face and kicks.
Dolph with another 2 count. They go back and forth some more until
Dolph drops Kofi on his face for another 2 count. Headlock by Dolph.
Dolph keeps in control and gets another 2 count. Dolph with a chinlock
and body scissors. Kofi starts fighting back with kicks and a big right
hand. Kofi hits the Boom Drop and Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall
and the win.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
- Cole leads us to The Miz backstage at a Thanksgiving dinner table,
telling what he's thankful for. He's thankful for his team at Survivor
Series and being the most dominant US Champion of all-time. Actually,
he's not thankful for those things because he expects greatness. He
says the people should be thankful for getting the chance to watch him
because he's awesome. We go to commercial.
Breakthrough Battle Royal Qualifier: Sheamus vs. Finlay
Back from the break and we get some replays of Sheamus. Out he comes
for the next qualifier. Out comes his opponent, Finlay. The bell rings
and Sheamus attacks but Finlay ducks. Finlay unloads and kicks Sheamus
to the floor. They brawl onto the announcers table.
Sheamus knocks Finlay down in the ring for a 2 count. Sheamus rushes
in the corner but Finlay hits him with a knee. Finlay unloads with
rights until Sheamus comes back with a big double ax handle blow.
Sheamus rams Finlay into the ring post. Sheamus drops Finlay with the
Border Toss type move for the pinfall and the win.
Winner: Sheamus
- After the match, Sheamus runs back to the ring and brings Finlay
to the floor. Sheamus tosses Finlay into the steps and fan barrier.
Sheamus hits the big kick to the face, sending Finlay into the crowd.
We go to another break.
- Back from the break and Teddy Long is backstage, telling what he's
thankful for. Vickie Guerrero interrupts and says he should be thankful
that Vince appointed her as Teddy's assistant. Eric Escobar is with
Vickie and says something about being eye candy. Vickie tells Teddy to
pass the potatoes. He picks up a big bowl and goes to toss them on her.
Escobar takes them and licks them off his finger for Vickie.
- Jesse Ventura is backstage looking through some of his old gear.
Randy Orton walks in and says he wants in the battle royal. He says he
is a victim of conspiracy. Ventura plugs his new show and says he knows
about conspiracies. Ventura says he knows Orton is a victim of
conspiracy. Ventura says he can't go against what he's already made
just for Orton. Ventura says he likes what Orton does and how he
retires old guys who need to go. Ventura says he won't break the rules
for Orton and Orton walks off.
CM Punk vs. John Cena
We go to the ring where CM Punk is making his way our for the next
match. Punk takes the mic and says he has a whole lot to be thankful
for. He is thankful for being straight-edge, thankful that it makes him
different because he wouldn't want to be like any of the fans. Punk
tells everyone what straight-edge means again. Punk rips on the crowd
and talks about them stuffing their fat faces at Thanksgiving. Punk
says tonight he will face a turkey named John Cena. We cut to a
commercial.
Back from the break and out comes the WWE Champion John Cena. Punk
takes off his shirt and throws it at Cena. Cena takes off his shirt and
the crowd pops. The bell rings and Punk goes to the corner stalling.
Punk with a headlock on Cena. They collide with shoulder blocks in the
middle of the ring. Punk kicks at Cena and backs him into the corner.
Punk with a right hand. Punk with shoulders in the corner. Cena
reverses and hits the bulldog on Punk for a 2 count.
Cena hits a drop toe hold and goes for the STF but Punk scrambles to the floor. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Punk has his legs wrapped around Cena's
neck. During the break, Cena went for an Attitude Adjuster but Punk
countered and hit a clothesline off the top. Cena fights out of the
scissors and stands up with Punk on his shoulders. Cena falls back and
drops Punk. Punk hits a clothesline for a quick 2 count. Punk with
knees to the head and knees to the gut in the corner. Punk launches
Cena into the corner and he goes down.
Punk nails a bunch of elbows and forearms on Cena for another 2
count. Cena fights back and hits shoulder blocks off the ropes. Cena
with the big slam and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the
Adjuster but Punk flips out and lands on his feet. Punk goes for the
GTS but Cena catches his leg and locks on the STF. Punk goes for the
ropes and finally makes it, breaking the hold. Punk drops Cena out of
nowhere and gets a 2 count. Punk hits the knee to the face in the
corner and goes for the bulldog but Cena counters it and pushes Punk to
the mat.
Cena goes to the top rope and hits the leg drop. Cena covers for
only a 2 count. Cena goes for the AA again but Punk counters and lays
Cena out with a dropkick to the jaw. 2 count for Punk. Punk goes for
the knee in the corner again but misses and lands on the top. Cena hits
the Attitude Adjustment from the second rope for the pinfall and the
win.
Winner: John Cena
- We go backstage where Vince McMahon walks up on Jesse Ventura and
greets him. Vince says if he's going to do like Roddy Piper and
challenge him, then he declines. Ventura says he wouldn't stoop low
enough to wrestle Vince. He says when he wrestled Vince was an
announcer. Ventura says he's here to hit Vince below the belt, where it
hurts. Vince talks about him being a billionaire and Ventura being a
Governor. Ventura says Vince's father had no confidence in him and
didn't believe in him because he made him an announcer. Ventura says he
and Vince are returning to commentary together like the old days. Jesse
says he's in charge and hands Vince a tuxedo. Ventura says we're going
back to what Vince's father thought he could do. Ventura has a red
bowtie for Vince, just like the old days. We go to commercial.
Breakthrough Battle Royal Qualifier: Chavo Guerrero, Chris Masters and Jack Swagger vs. MVP, Mark Henry and R-Truth
Back from the break and Chavo, Masters and Swagger wait in the ring.
It's announced that the winning team will have all three of it's
members enter the battle royal. Out next is R-Truth, MVP and Mark Henry.
Swagger and MVP start the match. Swagger takes MVP to the mat and
applies a headlock. Swagger with a big shoulder off the ropes. MVP
comes back with a big hip toss and right hand for a 1 count. Swagger
backs MVP into the corner with shoulder thrusts. Chavo is tagged in. He
comes off the ropes for a dropkick but MVP catches him with a belly to
belly suplex. Masters was tagged in. He comes in working on MVP and
tags back in Chavo. Chavo beats MVP down with right hands.
Masters comes back in and slams MVP, then applies a headlock. MVP
fights out but Masters beats him back down and kicks him in the gut.
Masters runs into a big clothesline from MVP. R-Truth is tagged in. He
works over Masters and does some moves out of the corner, hitting a
spinkick on Masters for a 2 count. Chavo comes in. Swagger comes in and
they brawl. Henry comes in the ring and slams Chavo over the top rope
onto Swagger on the floor. Truth hits the forearm off the ropes on
Masters for the pinfall and the win. Their team will go on to the
battle royal.
Winners: MVP, Mark Henry and R-Truth
- We go backstage where Triple H is looking right at Shawn Michaels.
Triple H asks him what was up with the kick last night. HBK is playing
scared here and says it was for the Championship but he's sorry. HBK
figured Triple H was going to Pedigree him first anyway. Triple H plays
it off and says Shawn kicked him three times last night. They get a
legal letter and it's Hornswoggle suing them. It says there will be a
"little people's court" on next week's RAW. They make short jokes and
we go to commercial.
Breakthrough Battle Royal Qualifier: Evan Bourne vs. Randy Orton
Back from the break and Evan Bourne makes his way to the ring. Primo
Colon heads down the ramp next but Randy Orton attacks him from behind.
Orton destroys Primo and heads to the ring. Orton tells the referee
he's taking Primo's spot and he's in the match now. Ventura appears on
the big screen and says to shut it down. Ventura says since Orton has
been on his case all night and rules are made to be broken, if Orton
can beat Bourne tonight then he will be in the battle royal. Ventura
says ring the bell. Orton attacks Bourne and gets a 2 count.
Orton with more offense and another 2 count. Orton goes for a
backbreaker but Bourne fights out with kicks and knees. Bourne with a
kick to the head. Bourne goes up top and hits the knee stomp for a
close 2 count. Bourne comes off the ropes but Orton catches him in a
powerslam. Orton nails the RKO for the pinfall and the win. Orton is in
the battle royal.
Winner: Randy Orton
- We see a video package of Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura
announcing together over the years. Melina, Mickie James and Kelly
Kelly are shown backstage headed to the ring for the Mayflower Melee
match as we go to commercial.
- Back from the break and Michael Cole hypes The Marine 2 with Ted
DiBiase and they premiere the trailer. We see Ted and Cody Rhodes
backstage talking as we head to the ring.
Mayflower Melee Match: Michelle McCool, Layla and Jillian vs. Mickie James, Kelly Kelly and Melina
Weird music starts playing as The Pilgrims come out, Michelle
McCool, Jillian and Layla. They're dressed as Pilgrims and don't look
too happy. McCool takes the mic and mocks the match saying this is
stupid. Roberts interrupts her and introduces the special timekeeper
for this match. It's the infamous Gobbledy Gooker. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and out comes The Indians. They come out to a
remix of Tatanka's music, looking pretty happy and hot. Melina and
Jillian start things off. Jillian takes her to the mat first. Melina
with a shoulder and rights in the corner. Jillian takes control and
tosses Melina around the ring. Jillian goes for a back elbow in the
corner but Melina kicks her. Melina with a faceplant and a 2 count.
Layla hits Melina but she gets decked off the apron. Layla and McCool
get fed up and start walking to the back, distracting Jillian. Melina
nails her as she turns around for the pinfall and the win.
Winners: Mickie James, Kelly Kelly and Melina
- After the match, Gobbledy and Jerry Lawler come in the ring to
interview them. Melina speaks but gets tackled by the Gooker out of
nowhere. The mask is removed and it's Maryse! She's back on RAW. Maryse
beats Melina down, takes off the costume and reveals a sexy black
dress. Maryse slams the garb down on Melina and poses as her music
plays.
DX vs. The Hart Dynasty
Back from the break and DX makes their way to the ring to a big pop
from the crowd. Out next is The Hart Dynasty with Natalya. Tyson Kidd
and HBK start things off. Tyson strikes first but HBK comes back with
chops. HBK with a forearm off the ropes. David Hart Smith is tagged in,
drops HBK and gets a 2 count. And another 2 count. DH with shots on HBK
in the corner.
DH continues to work over HBK with stomps. Tyson is tagged in as DH
drop toe holds HBK. Nice double team kick by Kidd for a 2 count. Tyson
gets another 2 count before tagging in DH again. Double suplex by the
Harts. 2 count by DH. HBK finally counters a move but they butt heads
and both go down. Tyson and Triple H come in at the same time. Triple H
with right hands and a big knee to the face.
Triple H hits a spinebuster on DH and Kidd. He goes for a Pedigree
but DH makes the save with a big boot. They go for a double team move
but HBK superkicks DH, dropping him. Tyson comes off the rope but
Triple H catches him with the Pedigree for the pinfall and the win.
Winners: DX
- After the match, one-half of the Unified Tag Champions Chris
Jericho comes to the ramp and congratulates DX on their win. He says
Jesse Ventura made a match in three weeks at Tables, Ladders &
Chairs between Show and Jericho vs. DX. Jericho says Big Show is on a
personal vacation tonight. HBK says at TLC, there will be tables
matches, ladder matches and chair matches. He says the Tag Titles will
be on the line in a TLC match. Shawn says if he's not down with that..
and Jericho interrupts him screaming. Jericho cuts a promo on DX's
antics and says despite everything else, they have never been the Tag
Team Champions. Jericho says as long as he has the titles, DX never
will. Jericho heads to the back as we see Batista heading to the ring.
- Back from commercial and Rey Mysterio's music starts playing. Out
comes Batista which gets some heat from the crowd. Batista says Rey
won't be joining us tonight and will be spending his Thanksgiving in a
hospital bed. Batista says it's Rey's own fault. Batista says Rey tried
to play tough and tried to embarrass him so Batista chose to powerbomb
him until the EMT's had to scrape him off a chair last night. Batista
says if someone from SmackDown wins the Breakthrough Battle Royal, he
will hit the ring and make them wish they didn't win. He says The
Undertaker and the World Title are his. He says nobody alive is going
to stop... the pyro hits and out comes Kane to the ring.
Kane comes out and begs Batista to make an example out of him.
Batista stares Kane down, starts smirking and backs off out of the
ring. The crowd boos Batista as he backs up the ramp and Kane makes the
ring explode with pyro.
Breakthrough Battle Royal Qualifier: Cryme Tyme vs. Legacy
This is the final qualifier match. Each member of the winning team
will advance. Out first is Cryme Tyme followed by their opponents,
Legacy.
JTG and Cody start the match out. Cody hits rights until JTG throws
him into the corner and hits the faceplant from the top for a 2 count.
Ted is tagged in and hits JTG from behind. Ted beats down JTG and takes
it to the corner, tagging in Cody. Cody works over JTG and tags Ted
back in. Ted kicks JTG in the head and covers him for 2. Cody comes
back in from a tag and they hit a double team dropkick by Rhodes for a
2 count.
JTG finally kicks Cody to the mat and tags in Shad. Ted also comes
in and gets clotheslined by Shad. Shad with an atomic drop and a big
shoulder off the ropes. Ted jumps but gets caught in mid-air by Shad.
Shad hits a big powerbomb on Ted for a 2 count as Cody makes the save.
JTG comes in and dropkicks Cody. Cody pulls JTG to the floor. Shad
knocks Cody off the apron to the floor. Ted comes from behind and hits
Dream Street on Shad for the pinfall and the win.
Winners: Legacy
- Backstage, Gail Kim is about to tell what she's thankful for when
Alicia Fox interrupts and disses Gail's performance at Survivor Series.
They're about to throw pie on each other when Santino Marella
interrupts. He says they should be making a meal for their husbands or
boyfriends. Santino wants to see all the Divas cook him a meal. Alicia
and Gail hit him with pie. The Bella Twins walk in. He tries to get
them to cook him a meal and they pie him also. Eve Torres comes in to
help Santino get the pie off his face. He pisses her off and she pies
him with a hot pie. Santino can't see as Vickie Guerrero walks in with
a cake, snickering. He knocks the cake into her face without knowing
and walks off.
Breakthrough Battle Royal: Randy Orton, Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, R-Truth, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Sheamus, MVP
Out first is Jesse Ventura on commentary. The Body comes down to a
nice pop and takes the mic, reminding us he's in charge tonight.
Ventura says he wanted to turn the clock back almost twenty years to
the WWF and introduces his broadcast partner, Vince McMahon. Out comes
Vince in a tux with a red bowtie. Vince struts over to the announcers
table and asks Jesse how good he looks. Out first for the match comes
Kofi Kingston.
Back from a quick break and Randy Orton is the next man out while
Vince and Jesse go at it on commentary. The other participants are
already in the ring as they came out during commercial. The bell rings
and everyone stands off. Legacy and Orton beat Kofi down until MVP and
Truth make the save. Kofi and Truth work on Ted in the corner. Orton is
out on the floor, playing it safe. Cody tries to get MVP over.
Sheamus stands back in a corner by himself while everyone goes at it
and Orton is on the floor. Legacy go at it with Henry, Kofi and Truth
while Sheamus just waits. Truth works on Kofi while Legacy on MVP.
Truth comes over and tries to dump Ted. Sheamus finally gets in it and
drops Truth. Sheamus throws Truth over the top rope. Orton rushes the
ring and attacks Kofi in the corner. Cody comes to assist until MVP
makes the save.
Sheamus dumps MVP over the top and goes at it with Henry. Henry
drops him with a headbutt. Henry tries to dump Sheamus over the top.
Legacy rush him and Sheamus lands on the apron. Henry double
clotheslines Ted and Cody over the rope. Sheamus takes advantage and
eliminates Henry. It's Orton, Kofi and Sheamus now. Orton works over
Kofi in the corner. They trade shots in the middle of the ring. Kofi
comes off the top with a big shot and mounts Orton with right hands.
Sheamus just stands back and watches.
Sheamus comes over but Orton drops him with the backbreaker. Orton
stomps on Sheamus and goes back to Kofi. Kofi dropkicks Orton into the
corner and jumps up on him. Kofi gets dumped over the ropes but hangs
on. He eliminates Orton with a head scissors. Sheamus attacks Kofi from
behind to win the battle royal and be the new #1 contender.
Winner and New #1 Contender: Sheamus
- After the match, we get ready for the WWE Title match contract signing. We go to commercial break.
- Back from the break and Sheamus is in the ring with Jesse Ventura
with the contract signing setup. Ventura says it's been great to be
back with WWE tonight. Ventura brings out the WWE Champion John Cena
for the signing and out he comes.
Cena has a seat at the table while Sheamus stands and stares him
down. Cena is introduced and gets some boo's. Ventura announces the
match with Sheamus getting a WWE Title shot. Cena just laughs to
himself. Sheamus declares himself the #1 contender and demands Cena
stand up and face him. Cena says when he hears that, usually it's from
a future Hall of Famer like HBK or Orton. Cena mocks what Sheamus has
done since coming to RAW. Cena cuts a promo about how he's never given
up and how this is his life, his passion and all he has. Cena gets
emotional.
Cena tells Sheamus to take a good look at the WWE Title and see what
signing the contract means. Cena says when he signs it, he goes to war.
Cena says Sheamus better be ready to make a statement. Sheamus says he
retires people because he can and beats up Hall of Famers because he
can but that's nothing compared to what he's going to do to Cena. They
face off as Ventura watches. Cena takes off his shirt and the crowd
pops. Sheamus signs the contract as does Cena. Ventura presents the
contract for the TLC pay-per-view as Sheamus and Cena face off. Ventura
thinks there's a conspiracy in WWE to keep Cena as the WWE Champion.
Ventura says Cena has the looks and calls him the perfect little
Champion that WWE wants. Ventura rips into Cena. Sheamus takes out Cena
with a big kick to the face. Ventura tells everyone to look at your
Champion as Sheamus throws him into the ring post. Sheamus slams Cena
through a table as Ventura announces the TLC pay-per-view match will be
a Tables Match for the WWE Title. We go to replays. Sheamus grabs the
WWE Title and holds it up over Cena as RAW goes off the air.
