The 849th edition of Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI.
Quick Match Results
- "American Dream" #1 Contender’s 6-Diva Battle Royal: Beth Phoenix def. Gail Kim, Jillian, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, & Rosa Mendes to become the #1 Contender for the Diva’s Title.
- Chris Jericho def. MVP by pin following the Codebreaker.
- Special Texas Bull Rope Match: Hornswoggle (with Evan Bourne) def. Chavo Guerrero
- Mark Henry def. Big Show by DQ after Big Show uses an exposed turnbuckle.
- United States Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) def. The Miz, Carlito, & Jack Swagger by pinning Carlito following Trouble In Paradise to retain.
- Diva’s Championship: Mickie James (c) def. Beth Phoenix by pin following a DDT counter to retain.
Match Quality
- Chris Jericho Vs. MVP
- United States Championship
- Mark Henry Vs. Big Show
- Diva’s Championship
- "American Dream" 6-Diva Battle Royal
- Special Bull Rope Match
Detailed Results
The show kicked off with the Guest Host for the evening, 2007 WWE Hall of Famer "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes! The legend stated that he is still proud of his son, Cody Rhodes, despite Cody’s devious association with Randy Orton & Ted DiBiase. "The American Dream" then said that he hopes that Cody will "see the light" someday before making the blockbuster announcement that Cody Rhodes will get a shot at the WWE Championship against his mentor and reigning champion, Randy Orton, in the main event! Dusty then announced that, not only would he be in the corner of his son for the match, but that he was assigning as Special Referee, the #1 Contender for the WWE Title at Breaking Point, John Cena! This led to WWE Champion Randy Orton coming out to confront the Hall of Famer and accuses Dusty of being "jealous" of him since Cody looks up to Orton more than he does to Dusty. The WWE Champion then refers to Dusty’s plan as "pathetic". Dusty fires back by saying that Cody is "hungrier" than Orton. A frustrated Orton referred to the Guest Host as "old man" and threatened to punt Dusty in the head just like he did two years ago! This brings out Cody Rhodes, who reminds Orton that the champion is talking to his father and that he will not pass up the "golden opportunity" and become the youngest WWE Champion in history, outdoing Orton’s similar accomplishment! Cody then tells Orton that it is "strictly business". Orton then turns to Dusty and asks "so the fix is in?", which Dusty gladly confirms to the WWE Champion! With Dusty in his son’s corner and John Cena as the Special Referee, how would Orton survive the night as WWE Champion?
The opening match of the night was an "American Dream" 6-Diva Battle Royal, with the winner getting a shot at the Diva’s Championship later on in the show! "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix was dominant in the match, eliminating the opposition of Gail Kim, Kelly Kelly, Rosa Mendes, Jillian, & Alicia Fox to secure a title opportunity against former rival Mickie James! Who would emerge as the Diva’s Champion?
In the first of two matches that would have a direct effect on the Unified Tag Team Title Match at Breaking Point, one-half of the Unified Tag Team Champions, Chris Jericho, squared off with one-half of the challenging team at Breaking Point, MVP. In the end, it was the veteran Chris Jericho who was able to hit the Codebreaker on MVP and pick up the win! Will it be a similar scene at Breaking Point with Jericho’s hand raised in victory?
Keeping busy as Guest Host, as well as hanging out with D-Generation X, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes made a "special" Texas Bull Rope Match between Hornswoggle and Chavo Guerrero! Hornswoggle came to the ring dressed as a cowbody while Chavo was forced to wear a cow costume, complete with a mascot-like head! The object of this special contest was for one of the competitors to tie up his opponent. With a timely distraction by Evan Bourne, Hornswoggle was once again able to humiliate Chavo Guerrero by tying "The Mexican Warrior" up for the win. After the match, Chavo knocked Bourne to the mat, but Bourne responded by laying Chavo out and assisting Hornswoggle in delivering a Tadpole Splash to Chavo!
Then it was time for "The World’s Largest Athlete" to go one-on-one with "The World’s Strongest Man" as Unified Tag Team Champion, Big Show, squared off with one of his challengers for Breaking Point, Mark Henry. Both men used their size to their advantage, but after Mark Henry started to pick up some solid momentum, Big Show resorted to desperate measures by exposing the metal turnbuckle! Show was able to outmaneuver Henry and send him face-first into the exposed steel. Unfortunately for Big Show, the referee saw this and disqualified Big Show! Big Show responded by knocking "The World’s Strongest Man" out could with his dangerous right hand! One way or another, both Big Show & Chris Jericho have shown their dominance over their challengers at Breaking Point. Can MVP & Mark Henry gain momentum as their title match nears?
United States Champion Kofi Kingston was faced with another difficult task as "The Jamaican Sensation" defended his United States Championship in a Fatal 4-Way against The Miz, Carlito, & Jack Swagger. Somehow, Kofi was able to overcome the odds once again and hang on to his United States Title!
The Diva’s Championship was also up for grabs as champion Mickie James defended her title against a familiar adversary, "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix. Despite being overpowered for almost the entire match, the quicker Mickie James was able to plant Phoenix with a DDT and survive the wrath of "The Glamazon" with her Diva’s Championship intact!
It was announced on RAW that next week’s Guest Host will be none other than legendary host of "The Price Is Right"- Bob Barker! What will the TV legend have in store for Monday Night RAW?
Then it was time for the main event as Randy Orton was set to defend the WWE Championship against one of his proteges, Cody Rhodes with Cody’s dad, Guest Host Dusty Rhodes, in his corner and the #1 Contender for the WWE Title, John Cena, as the Special Referee!
However, before the match could begin, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes apologized to John Cena for what was about to happen. Just as the Hall of Famer said that, Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes jumped on and assaulted John Cena. Ted DiBiase joined the fray and all three men pounded on Cena in this elaborate plan set up between Orton, Legacy, & Dusty Rhodes! Knowing all too well the damage that Randy Orton & Legacy can do, DX rushed to the aid of John Cena and was able to fend off the vicious trio until Dusty Rhodes blasted Triple H with his cowboy boot! This gave the advantage back to Orton & Legacy, who laid out Shawn Michaels! After the deviously planned assault of John Cena & D-Generation X, the four evil geniuses stood tall over the carnage they left in the ring as WWE Champion Randy Orton, Legacy, & Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes stood together in the ring, but then, out of nowhere, Orton delivered an RKO to Dusty Rhodes! With tears of anger in his eyes, Cody Rhodes stared down the heartless "Viper" Randy Orton. How will Cody Rhodes respond to this heinous act by his mentor, WWE Champion Randy Orton? Has Orton driven a stake into his own creation, Legacy?