Raw Recap 06.01.09

Raw Recap from Birmingham, AL:

As Raw opened, Randy Orton and Legacy were in the ring surrounded by a steel cage. Orton discussed his upcoming steel cage match this Sunday against Batista at Extreme Rules. Orton said Batista needs to be worried about him, since he kicked Batista in the skull and sidelined him from Wrestlemania 25. Orton said he'll give Batista the beating of his life Sunday to defend the WWE Title. Orton announced he talked to GM Vickie Guerrero earlier, and Batista has a steel cage match tonight. Orton held up a coin and said heads, Batista faces Rhodes, tails he faces Dibiase. Orton flipped the coin, and said congratulated Cody. Cody spoke about how cage matches are in his blood, because of how many his father fought in. Orton then demonstrated himself exiting the steel cage easily through the door, saying the fans need to remember that image of him still as WWE Champion.

All of a sudden, Ric Flair's music came on and Flair came onto the ramp with a mic in hand. Flair said he was there to tell Orton what he's gonna do to him tonight. Flair said he'll walk out on Raw every week and call Orton out until he faces him one on one. Flair repeatedly called Orton a punk. Orton told Flair he was retired, but Flair said he's calling him out for a fight in the parking lot to the finish where one man walks away the winner. Orton said he accepted, and this will be a night Flair never forgets because it will be a night he never remembers.

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Batista vs. Cody Rhodes
Steel Cage Match

The only ways to win the match are by pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage with both feet on the floor. Rhodes tried to climb the wall for a quick escape but Batista yanked him down. The Animal began punishing Rhodes, stomping him in the ring and pressing his boot against Rhodes' throat. Batista rammed Rhodes in the corner and tossed him face first into the wall, before a spear takedown. Orton came down the ramp as the match was in progress, distracting Batista. Batista picked up Rhodes for a Spinebuster and stared down Orton. Rhodes tried to sneak up the cage wall, but Batista got under him and with Rhodes on his shoulders, hit the Batista Bomb for a pinfall win.

Winner: Batista wins via pinfall over Cody Rhodes.

Chavo and Vickie Guerrero were in an office backstage where they discussed a match with Big Show. Vickie said John Cena and a partner to be named to face Big Show and the Miz. Show said he doesn't like The Miz and how he runs his mouth. Show asked who Cena's partner will be. Vickie and Chavo produced a bag of names of Raw superstars and told Show he gets to pick one out to be Cena's partner. Show pulled out "Chavo Guerrero" and then warned Chavo if he gets in Show's way tonight he'll hurt him.

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Kelly Kelly & Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix & Maryse

Rosa Mendes accompanied her mentor Beth to the ring. As the bell sounded Mickie went after Maryse who escaped out of the ring, leaving Beth to fight Mickie. Mickie gained the upperhand against Beth then tagged Kelly in. Beth was able to press Kelly overhead, with Kelly sliding off and using a legscissors move to try to pin Beth. Michael Cole announced that Maryse was the most downloaded diva on WWE.com last week.

At one point in the match, Kelly was trying to crawl over for a tag to Mickie. Rosa got up on the apron to distract the ref, and Beth came over to yank Mickie off the apron to the floor. Kelly was back up and swung through the ropes to dropkick Beth down. As Kelly got up and turned in the ring, Maryse kicked her in the stomach then DDT'd her for the victory.

Winners: Maryse & Beth Phoenix win via pinfall over Mickie James & Kelly Kelly.

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WWE Rewind showed last week's WWE Superstars match with The Colons facing Benjamin and Haas. Cryme Tyme showed up to distract Shelton from ringside, allowing Carlito to get the Backstabber on Haas for the win.

The Colons vs. William Regal & Matt Hardy

Hardy and Regal worked effectively to keep Primo from making a tag out to Carlito, using a barrage of moves. Regal hammered him on the back, as Matt held Primo. Primo started to fight back, but Regal did a slam/toss before Matt slapped Regal's back to tag back in. Hardy continued the onslaught with several legdrops, but Primo moved away. Primo managed to jump over and tag in Carlito as Regal tagged in as well. Carlito gained serious momentum with all sorts of high-powered offensive moves. Carlito hit an elbow by jumping off the ropes to hit Regal. Hardy came in to break up a pinfall attempt, and Primo came in as well. The ref tried to restore order. Meanwhile, Regal tried to shove Carlito into Matt's cast in the corner, but Carlito threw Regal into it instead. With Regal stunned, Carlito grabbed him for the Backstabber to win it.

Regal and Hardy argued in the ring after the bell, with Regal trying to punk Matt out.

Winners: The Colons win via pinfall over Matt Hardy and William Regal.

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Flair was shown pacing in the parking lot/parking garage area. Batista came up to Flair, and Flair told him to not even say a word. Batista told Flair he doesn't have anything to prove anymore. Flair said he misses what he loved his entire life, being in the ring for over 35 years. Flair told Batista to let "Ric Flair be himself one more time". Flair promised he'd make Batista proud tonight, but asked Batista not to be involved, but to be his friend.

Backstage, Hardy and Regal were in Vickie's office. They both tried to say the other man screwed up their match. Vickie asked why she needed to give them another chance. Matt told Vickie she's taking on Santina tonight, but suggested she also put Santino in a warm up match, then whispered a plan into her ear. Vickie said she liked it and started snort laughing.

John Cena was shown walking backstage en route to his match when he came up to Chavo Guerrero. Chavo was preparing for the match with some resistance band. Cena gave him a look then walked off as Chavo yelled he has Cena's back and guarantees they'll win.

Chavo Guerrero & John Cena vs. The Miz & Big Show

Miz said he's now 6-0 against Cena, and said kids love Cena like they love the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and Spongebob Squarepants. Miz told the crowd to look at the man in the ring, because he's what a winner looks like. Miz said he plans to go 7-0 tonight because he's "awesome". Highlights were shown from last week's 10 man tag match where Cena and Batista escaped a double chokeslam to do a do double suplex on Show.

Cena and Show started things off, with Show able to hit a sideslam on Cena. Show kept hammering down on Cena and then another slam. Show went for a submission attempt but Cena countered and barely had the STF, until Show kicked him outside the ring. Miz dropped off the apron and went over to punch Cena in the face. As Miz got back to the apron, Show ran at him saying he told Miz not to touch Cena. Miz yelled they were on a tag team and Show told him there is no team. Cena crawled back in the ring for more punishment. Cena managed to avoid Show charging at him in the corner, but then when he tried to slam Show fell under his weight for a near pin. Show went back against the ropes and Miz slapped his back for a pin attempt. Miz went around the ring to avoid Show and then tried to grab a pin on Cena.

Miz continued to take advantage of an already beaten up Cena. Cena finally retaliated going punch for punch, then slamming Miz down and hitting the 5 Knuckles Shuffle. Cena hoisted up Miz for the Attitude Adjustment right near Show. Show slapped Miz' boot but the ref missed it. As Show got into the ring he Chokeslammed Cena but the ref ordered Show back to the apron. Show dragged Miz over to his corner and demanded he tag him, but Miz told Show he was running things now. Show clocked Miz in the head with a KO punch to knock him to the mat. Cena was near Chavo in the corner and Chavo slapped him to quickly get in the ring and take the pin on mat.

Chavo kept bragging to Cena after the victory, so Cena hit him with the Attitude Adjustment. Show got into the ring and Cena and he went toe to toe, until Show knocked Cena to the mat and put him into a Camel Clutch style submission hold.

Winners: Chavo Guerrero & John Cena win via pinfall over Big Show & The Miz.

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When Raw returned, Cole and Lawler ran through highlights of what just went down in the ring with Big Show choking out Cena.

Backstage, Josh Matthews spoke to both MVP and Kofi Kingston. MVP and Kofi complimented each other for their accomplishments. Matthews asked which man will leave as US Champion. Both men said "I am". MVP said just because he respects Kofi doesn't mean he won't beat him.

Kofi Kingston vs. MVP
United States Title match

Highlights were shown of Kofi defeating Regal and Hardy in last week's Triple Threat match.

Early on both men displayed aggressiveness, but Kofi scored a near pinfall heading to a break. Kofi made sure to let MVP know he was that close to winning it. When Raw came back, MVP was in control, but Kofi stood up to try to battle out. Kofi used his leaping ability to leap over MVP from off the ropes, and to later use a headscissor to flip MVP down for a pin attempt. MVP responded with a kick to level MVP for a pin attempt.

Both men caught each other in the double clothesline after several attempted pinfalls by each. MVP used a German Suplex at one point, with Kofi pinned but barely able to escape. Kofi used a new maneuver to DDT and pin MVP in one swoop but only for 2. MVP went for the Playmaker, but Kofi escaped and tried for Trouble in Paradise. MVP ducked the kick and Kofi flew over him hitting the mat. Kofi managed to jump up on MVP's shoulders and pulled him down into a pin. MVP reversed for a pin but Kofi reversed and held MVP's legs tightly for a 3 count to win it!

After the loss, MVP took his US title belt and in a show of sportsmanship handed it over to Kofi before leaving the ring.

Winner: Kofi Kingston wins via pinfall over MVP to become the new US Champion.

Backstage, Orton spoke to Ted Dibiase saying tonight's fight to the finish with Flair in the parking lot is different than a wrestling match. Dibiase told Orton that Flair's desperate for the spotlight, and Orton has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Orton said he'll be in complete control.

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Santino Marella vs. Vickie Guerrero

Miss Wrestlemania Vickie Guerrero came to the ring with 2 buckets of slop. Highlights were shown from Mickie James pinning Beth Phoenix in the mixed tag match with Santino last week. Santino chose a stipulation of a Hog Pen match for Extreme Rules.

Santino grabbed a bucket of slop after the bell and walked towards Vickie, threatening to throw it on her. Just then, Hardy and Regal rushed into the ring behind Santino. Santino spun around and threw slop in Regal's face, and all around the ring, missing Hardy with it. Hardy and Regal began to beat down Santino and eventually had him subdued down on the mat. Hardy made sure he was out of it, and Vickie thanked both men for their help. They left the ring and Vickie grabbed the other bucket of slop to pour all over Santino as she laughed about it.

Winner: No winner due to interference by Hardy and Regal.

Ric Flair was shown backstage preparing for his parking lot fight with Orton.

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Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole were in the ring with mics as Raw returned and began talking about the Extreme Rules matches including Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio and John Cena vs. Big Show. The steel cage lowered around the ring with Lawler and Cole inside as they reminded fans of Batista vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Title.

Randy Orton was shown walking down a hall backstage on his way out to the ring.

Ric Flair vs. Randy Orton
Fight to the Finish

Orton was in the parking garage cautiously looking around for any sign of Flair. Orton began yelling for Flair, looking in cars. Just then Flair came running out from around some cars and shoved Orton into the parking garage metal door. Flair continued punching and slapping away at Orton. Orton started to gain some advantage, but once again Flair took control and shoved Orton through more of the set backstage. Orton's shirt was torn and he was visibly beaten up and bloody. The fight went into part of the arena, with Orton having the upperhand.

Orton started to stomp on Flair down by the top of the ramp and then punched away on him near the ramp before shoving him up there. Flair again controlled things as he battled Orton all the way down the ramp to the crowd barrier near the ring. Flair ripped the cover off the commentators table then shoved Orton face first into the steel cage wall. Flair put Orton on the table and started punching away at him. Flair eventually got up on the table and locked in the Figure Four. Just then, Legacy rushed down and started to attack Flair, pulling him off Orton and smashing him into the cage and crowd barrier.

Rhodes and Dibiase loaded Flair into the ring inside the cage. Flair was helpless as they double suplexed him and continued the beatdown. Orton gove involved as well and sent both men out of the cage, ordering them to lock the cage shut. Batista finally came rushing down to the ring and Legacy took off. Batista pulled on the door but couldn't rip it open. Orton stared at him then coldly leveled Flair in the ring. While Flair tried to get himself up, Orton backed up and ran to Punt Kick Flair in the head right in front of Batista. Orton got into his psychopath face and looked at Batista who yelled he was going to tear him apart. Raw ended with Orton staring out at Batista.

Winner: Orton wins Fight to the Finish over Flair.

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