Raw Recap 07.06.09

Raw Recap from San Jose, CA:

After the pyrotechnics, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcomed fans to the show with tonight's main event match the tournament Finals for Night of Champions #1 Contender between John Cena and Triple H. Lillian Garcia was in the ring to announce tonight's special guest host for Raw, Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. Dibiase came out carrying his million dollar belt over his shoulder, then motioned for Dibiase and Rhodes of Legacy to come out from backstage. The trio walked to the ring together.

In the ring, Ted Dibiase Sr. said a few weeks ago when he heard that guests could run Raw for a night, he made a call and wrote a check. Dibiase said two of the most talented and gifted superstars in the WWE were in the ring with him. He said tonight he's going to showcase them, and although no titles will be on the line before Night of Champions, they'll have some fun tonight. Dibiase announced that at Night of Champions, Jericho and Edge will be defeated by Legacy for the tag team titles. Dibiase then announced that Cody Rhodes will face Mark Henry to teach him a lesson tonight. Dibiase's son asked his dad what he was doing. Million Dollar Man then told his son he saw a look in his eye the night he told Randy Orton off. Million Dollar Man told his son that Orton is just holding him down because he knows he's more talented. Dibiase then announced that his son will face Randy Orton in a match tonight, which will make statements. Million Dollar Man said his son will defeat Orton tonight.

Just as Dibiase left the ring, Edge's theme music hit and the Unified Tag team champions arrived down to the ring with their belts. Edge and Jericho entered the ring to stare at Rhodes and Dibiase prior to their upcoming match.

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Primo & Carlito Colon vs. Chris Jericho & Edge

Footage was shown of last week's rematch where Carlito slipped on the rope due to Primo being shoved into it outside the ring by Jericho. Edge grabbed the win due to the mishap.

In tonight's match, the heels gained the early advantage against Carlito, keeping him away from a tag to Primo. Carlito finally was able to hit his elbow from off the ropes to take Jericho down, then managed to crawl to make a tag to Primo. Primo came in to knock Jericho off the apron then gained momentum against Edge. At one point, Edge had Primo tangled up in the ropes. Carlito came over on the apron to free Primo but Edge rushed into Primo causing Carlito to go flying off and into the crowd barrier. Primo tried to pin Edge who kicked out. Carlito slipped back into the ring and tried to go for Edge, and the ref intercepted him. While the ref was occupied, Jericho slipped in and hit the Codebreaker on Primo, then Edge caught him with a Spear to make the pin.

Winners: Edge & Chris Jericho win via pinfall over The Colons.

In the ring following the loss, Carlito attacked Primo throwing him shoulder first into the ringpost and then out of the ring. Carlito continued to hammer on Primo then tossed him over the commentators' table before walking off up the ramp.

Backstage, Rhodes asked Dibiase about the match he was booked into against Orton. Dibiase said he didn't have much choice in the matter. Just then, Orton walked in and asked Dibiase if he was serious about this. Dibiase said his dad's stubborn. Orton then claimed he'd beat Dibiase in the match, causing Dibiase to get uspet and say he would beat Orton. Dibiase left the locker room with Orton and Rhodes standing there.

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler discussed the 15 Superstar Trade and who Raw received in the deal: Evan Bourne, Gail Kim, Alicia Fox, Jack Swagger, and Mark Henry.

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Gail Kim & Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox & Maryse

Alicia Fox and Gail Kim made their debuts in a WWE Divas tag team match. In 3 weeks at Night of Champions, Mickie James will go for Maryse's Divas Championship.

Mickie and Maryse started the match with Maryse able to get under the top rope to break a grapple hold. Mickie did a flip move to escape an arm hold but Maryse grabbed her hair and yanked her to the mat. Alicia tagged in but Mickie took control against her, eventually hittign a neckbreaker, then going over to punch Maryse off the apron. Gail Kim got in on the action and hit several impressive moves including a flying bodypress off the corner. Maryse got several cheapshots in on Gail while Alicia had the ref distracted. Maryse tagged in to hit a backbreaker on Gail, but missed when she charged at her in the corner. Gail crawled to make a tag to Mickie with Maryse rushing over to knock Mickie off the apron. Maryse went to whip Gail to the ropes, but Gail countered and delivered an impressive kick move to pin Maryse.

Winners: Gail Kim and Mickie James win via pinfall over Alicia Fox and Maryse.

Backstage, Million Dollar Man was getting his nails done when Cody Rhodes rushed in. Rhodes had a handful of cash, and Dibiase asked if he didn't really want to face Mark Henry. Dibiase reminded Rhodes he's the son of a WWE legend. Dibiase then said he despised Dusty Rhodes for being in the WWE Hall of Fame when he's not. Dibiase said Rhodes will face Henry and if he doesn't leave the office now he'll be wrestling wearing polka dots like his old man did.

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WWE Slam of the Week covered highlights from last week's Raw 3-on-1 Gauntlet match. Randy Orton's final opponent was Mark Henry, and he got on the mic to say he'd make an impression for his first night on Raw. Orton went for the RKO at one point but Henry countered and hit the World's Strongest Slam to pin Orton.

Cody Rhodes vs. Mark Henry

Early in the match, Rhodes tried to mount some offense and jumped off the corner at Henry for a flying bodypress. Henry caught Rhodes from the air and then hit the World's Strongest Slam. Rhodes rolled out of the ring and the ref started the count. Rhodes went up the ramp and headed backstage as the ref counted him out.

Winner: Mark Henry wins due to countout of Cody Rhodes.

John Cena was shown backstage throwing punches in the air in preparation of his match against Triple H.

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Ted Dibiase vs. Randy Orton

Dibiase fought the leader of Legacy in a non-title bout set up by Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. Early on, Orton brought Dibiase down in a headlock, with Dibiase countering and using a leglock around Orton's neck. Dibiase turned around and punched Dibiase at one point, then after an armbar takedown, he dropkicked Orton to the outside as Raw took a commercial break.

Raw returned with Orton in the control in the ring, taking it to Dibiase. Orton shook his head at Dibiase before he started to kick away at him and stomp on him. Dibiase nearly stole a few pinfalls, but Orton viciously responded to level Dibiase after them. Orton knocked Dibiase to the apron, and as Dibiase got up, Orton hammered on him again then set him up for a DDT from the middle rope. Orton cockily tried for the pin, and Dibiase kicked out several times. An angry Orton started to punch away on Dibiase then kneed him. Orton hit a huge knee on Dibiase and tried again for a cover with no luck. Orton locked on a headlock until Dibiase stood up and hit the backdrop to break it.

After a backbreaker, Orton slithered away and prepared to hit the RKO as he saw Dibiase getting up. Dibiase countered the move with a backslide pin, and Orton kicked out. Orton came off the ropes at Dibiase who hit a powerslam and tried another pinfall. Dibiase countered an Orton move and tried for Dream Street. Orton escaped the hold and hit a surprise RKO to win it.

Winner: Randy Orton wins via pinfall over Ted Dibiase.

Backstage, Josh Matthews stopped Triple H for comments about the match against John Cena tonight. Triple H called the match tonight "epic". HHH said he doesn't care who he has to hurt or go through to get what he wants, including John Cena.

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Highlights were shown of MVP accompanying Sherri Shepherd to the BET Awards Show. Various celebs gave their comments about the duo including Arsenio Hall and rapper Wale.

MVP hosted his in-ring show "The VIP Lounge" with special guest Jack Swagger. MVP called Swagger a fraud for getting the automatic countout against Randy Orton in his debut on Raw last week. Swagger called out MVP for spending time in prison, saying he's the fraud pretending to be an MVP athlete. Swagger said if anyone is the MVP on Raw it's him. MVP said when he was younger he made bad decisions when he ran the streets. MVP said now that he's a superstar he uses his influence to teach kids not to do the same things he did. MVP told Swagger that they have a major difference, that MVP has never been afraid of a fight. MVP took off his shirt and jewelry and got right in Swagger's face. Swagger backed up and exited the ring, saying he doesn't fight criminals. MVP said it's obvious to everyone that Swagger doesn't fight at all. MVP said Swagger knows exactly where to find him when he wants to man up.

Backstage, Million Dollar Man tried to congratulate his son for the effort against Orton, saying one day he'll be the champ. Ted Dibiase told his dad he set him up to fail. Dibiase said it's still all about him, stealing the spotlight isn't it. Million Dollar Man said it's not like that at all, and Dibiase said yes it is, before slapping his father hard in the face. Dibiase left the office.

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Raw Rewind showed highlights of last week's Big Show-Kofi Kingston match which ended in a double countout.

Kofi Kingston vs. Evan Bourne

Early on both men traded interesting pinfall attempts, and Bourne missed on a high kick. Kofi grabbed his ankle to lock in a half Sharpshooter. Bourne managed to crawl over and grab the bottom rope to break it. As the match progressed, Kofi hit a high dropkick and a splash in the corner. Kofi tried to do the same in the opposite corner, with Bourne kneeing him. With Kofi Kingston down, Evan Bourne hit the Shooting Starpress off the corner to win it.

After the win, Bourne shook hands with Kofi Kingston. Just then, Big Show emerged from backstage and walked down to the ring. Kofi told Bourne to stay back as Show got into the ring. Show started to attack Kofi and Bourne kept trying to attack Show from behind. Show shoved Bourne away, threw him with both hands and at one point Speared Bourne down. Show continued to beat up Kofi and then locked in the Camel Clutch backbreaker on Kofi.

Winner: Evan Bourne wins via pinfall over Kofi Kingston.

Josh Matthews interviewed John Cena backstage. Cena said HHH was right earlier, that all bets are off. Cena said tonight's Raw is like a Wrestlemania, with two greats doing battle for a ticket at the WWE Title. Cena said two of the biggest forces in WWE will lock horns tonight, with one person standing tall at the end of it. Cena said it's been way too long since he said the words "the champ is here".

John Cena vs. Triple H
Night of Champions Tournament Finals

Cena and HHH got in a staredown early on as they looked to the crowd to sense the excitement over the match. The two grappled then tossed each other away to regroup. The two grappled again and HHH came out on top punchign away. Cena responded with punches of his own and a shoulder block from off he ropes. HHH knocked Cena down, and Cena managed to whip HHH over the top rope. Cena went to the outside to try to hit the Attitude Adjustment, and HHH shoved Cena into the ringpost as Raw went to commercial.

The match progressed with Cena and HHH trading momentum. HHH gained the upperhand as he hit several moves on Cena including a fist to Cena's back near the ropes. HHH continued to hammer away on Cena then did a knee drop on him. Cena eventually gained control of the match and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena prepared for his finisher, but HHH slid off Cena's shoulders and began to punch away. Cena sent HHH to the ropes, but HHH came back for a Facebuster and then a hard clothesline. HHH sent Cena to the corner, then Cena kicked him as he charged. Cena ran at HHH and met the Spinebuster.

HHH went for a Pedigree and Cena countered with a backdrop. HHH put a Sleeper hold on Cena, but Cena started to power out of it, then sent HHH to the ropes. As HHH came back, Cena locked in a Sleeper hold of his own on The Game. HHH started to fade but eventually gained the strength to slam Cena back. Both men layed on the mat as the ref counted. Cena and HHH both got up and started to trade punches back and forth with the crowd reacting. Cena hit his bulldog move from the ropes to take HHH down, then went to the corner. Cena missed on the legdrop attempt.

Cena eventually tripped HHH down and locked in the STF, but HHH started to crawl frantically and grabbed the bottom rope to break it. Both men ended up goin down yet again and were able to get up prior to the ref's count. All of a sudden, Legacy rushed into the ring and attacked Cena & HHH. The ref immediately called for the bell.

Winner:Match ruled a double disqualification when Legacy interfered.

Lillian Garcia started to make the ref's announcement, but Orton was on the ramp with a mic to interrupt. He said the match was a double DQ, meaning there is no winner and that means he won't be facing either man at Night of Champions. Just then, Million Dollar Man's music hit. Dibiase Sr. came out onto the ramp looking at Orton. Dibiase told Orton neither HHH nor Cena lost and tonight Million Dollar Man's word counts more than his. Dibiase announced Orton will defend the WWE title in a Triple Threat match at Night of Champions, Orton vs. Cena vs. HHH.

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