Hand picked by the Chairman of the WWE, Drew McIntyre's ascent in the company is apparent; he now gracefully strides to every match as a symbol of his greatness. Three weeks ago, Drew was involved in a triple-threat qualifier match against John Morrison, the former I-C champion, and Kane. While the rivalry against Morrison over the I-C belt may be over, a feud with Kane is emanate.A title defense victory over Kane can go either one of two ways: it can either bolster McIntyre's career; or leave it stagnant. Since Kane has been used to elevate numerous superstars in the past, a victory over the Big Red Monster may be insignificant.
McIntyre and Kane's match-up was unwavering, though, there was a major difference in style. While Kane exerted brute force through diving clotheslines and boots to the face, Drew applied more technical maneuvers, such as arm locks and a double underhook DDT known as Future Shock.
Drew McIntyre's Scottish background has most likely been a burden, as he is pressured to become the next best national hero since Rowdy Piper. Dubbed as The Chosen One, Drew has been given a considerable push by becoming the Intercontinental Champion and going undefeated in single's competition since arriving in August 2009. Yet, he hasn't always won every match fairly; the thumb to the eye, obviously an illegal move, has played a vital role of insuring that the Intercontinental Title remains around his waist; hence, how he went on to successfully defend the title against Kane.
In mid-match, Drew turned away from the ring and started ascending back up the ramp in order to be counted out and retain. But Kane, unwilling to let him just walk away, nabbed and rolled him back into the ring. Then when the referee tried to separate the two, McIntyre jabbed Kane in the eye, followed by the Future Shock DDT. But who's to say that McIntyre was not deliberately luring Kane into a false sense of security in order to capitalize? With another title defense under his belt, has McIntyre seen the last of Kane?
After Vickie Guerrero postponed the Divas' Title match for a tedious RAW versus SmackDown Divas' tag team match, MVP issued another challenge for The Miz's United States Title. He claims since he pinned Miz last Monday Night on RAW, it allots him a U.S. title shot. Granted, MVP did pin Miz but in a tag team match, meaning that MVP has the right to challenge for the Unified Tag Team belts, not the single's title belt.In the second consecutive pay-per-view of the new year, the WWE Universe were treated to another impromptu United States Title bout between the defending champion and MVP. This fifth title match was slightly different, with MVP and The Miz's tag team partners residing in their respective corners.
Since the last title defense, The Miz has become an even bigger superstar in the WWE by teaming up with The Big Show to become the Unified Tag Team Champions. Aside from the two new World Champions, no one is more impressive than "The Awesome One."
The Miz was evidently confident in his abilities as a champion without underestimating the tenacity of MVP. Last Monday, Miz was pinned by taking MVP too lightly, but after executing a double knee buster to a bridging MVP, he would not make that same mistake again. MVP, as well, put out all the stops by tossing Miz off the top turnbuckle with a Belly-to-Belly throw, and going for his signature Ballin' Elbow drop. But with Miz evading the Drive-By kick; instinctively placing his foot on the bottom rope to break a cover; and a right-handed knockout hook by The Big Show, he was able to secured another title defense against MVP. Indeed, MVP had Mark Henry in his corner, but Big Show Irish-whipped him through a barricade, which his massive body destroyed.
With another awesome title defense for The Miz, he will walk into NXT still the United States Champion, and one-half of the Unified Tag Team Champions, as he mentors the internationally famous Daniel Bryan. In addition, it looks as if The Miz and Drew McIntyre will enter WrestleMania XXVI as champions.
The end has finally come, it has awakened; but against who? Last week, Ezekiel Jackson pinned Christian in a tag team match, so has the end awakened against Christian?
This impromptu title match meant only one thing, either the 30-Man Rumble would be shortened, or one of the three remaining scheduled title matches would be cut short.
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. have both set their sights on winning the Royal Rumble, which leads to the possibility of a member of Legacy facing off against Randy Orton, if successful, to a WWE Title Match come WrestleMania. With each member expressing concern over the outcome of this match, Orton ordered that neither assist him tonight.
Since coming over to SmackDown, Mickie James has suffered humiliation each week by the hands of Lay-Cool. With references of This little piggy and Old McDonald's Farm, McCool attacks Mickie on two levels: her country music aspirations, and her weight problem.
DiBiase and Rhodes reinstated. The first challenge issued by Orton was Ted DiBiase against Evan Bourne. It is no secret that DiBiase respects Orton, but he also resents him. At times, DiBiase wants to impress Orton, but he also wants to surpass him. Last week, Bourne showed some improvement, but also fell short when he exhausted all his high flying in a short amount of time. Another weakness of Bourne is his constant dependance on his high knee lifts and kicks; instead, he should be issuing more grapple holds to render the oponent for a move like Shooting Star Press. DiBiase kept Bourne grounded with a number of chin locks, a suplex, and finishing it off with Dream Street.
“Only good things can happen.” Ever since Dennis Miller suggested Bret “The Hitman” Hart guest host RAW, the WWE Universe has been overzealous of the possibility that Canada’s favorite son, absent for twelve years, would finally make his triumphant return home to the WWE. Vince McMahon, no doubt anti-Hart, stated that Bret Hart would never guest host Monday Night RAW. Then enter the Heart Break Kid, the man who carried out the hit on The Hitman in the infamous – real life – Montreal Screw job. Shawn and Bret had an intense, well documented, rivalry on-and-off screen, culminating in Bret disgraced in the Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; but when Michaels mentioned to McMahon that there are some rivalries that are bigger than this business, he wasn't talking about Bret. Shawn Michaels believes that he can end The Undertaker’s Streak, and demanded a rematch at WrestleMania. McMahon did not consent, but he did, however, announce that Bret Hart would indeed guest host. Why did he agree to this? Could it be that TNA will be going up against RAW next week with Hulk Hogan as their main powerhouse superstar? Or can it be, as Michaels said, it’s time for McMahon to get closure...?
Sheamus on top of the WWE mountain. The WWE Championship Match where many believed would be Cena's night ended in disqualification. The WWE Champion Sheamus proves why he is at the top of the mountain because he is able to scout and counter Cena's moves. John Cena matches are a set formula, he builds momentum and he hits with the running bulldog... followed by the 5-knuckle shuffle... a few open fist punches... maybe a top rope leg drop... eventually going into an STF or an Attitude Adjuster. At the start of the match, Sheamus managed to knock Cena in mid-running bulldog. And to futher testify Sheamus' in-ring prowess, he dominated Cena by thrashing his back with a series of punches. The match would have ended with John Cena the WWE Champion, but thanks to Sheamus grabbing on to the referee's shirt during the Attitude Adjustment, that did not occur. Trying to build momentum to the next encounter, Cena ran up the ramp and grabbed Sheamus and tossed him back in the ring. Every time Cena does this, he rolls back into the ring to connect with the Attitude Adjuster, but instead, Sheamus delivered a boot to the face as soon as Cena entered. Sheamus shocked the WWE Universe, and if that did not get the attention of John Cena, then a second boot to the face sure did. Sheamus might not have won the match as he wanted, but he did manage to retain his title and appear, holding the championship, as the final image on RAW 2009.
Third Match: (C) Melina vs. Alicia Fox (Divas' Championship Match). The Champion came out first, which is a major sign of disrespect because the challenger is supposed to come out first. The special guest ring announcer for the Divas’ Title match was “30 Rock’s” Judah Friedlander, also known as the World’s Greatest Champion. Alicia Fox was set to have a one-on-one match, until Friedlander announced that the match would now become a Divas’ Lumber Jill match. Why is it that WWE thinks that making a Divas’ match into a lumber Jill match is suppose to be innovative? And apparently, Alicia’s only wrestling move is the Tilt-a-Whirl BackBreaker, but since she’s the only heel on RAW right now, she gets the title shots. Melina retained the title with The Last Call. Instead of seeing Melina’s hand raised in victory, all the divas, which coincidentally are all a part of the Survivor Series Traditional Elimination Match, broke out into a fight, with Mickie’s team maintaining dominance.
Main Event: D-Generation X vs. Jeri-Show vs. John Cena and The Undertaker (Triple Threat Tag Team Match). Madison Square Garden is the arena where history is made, so where else can you see two World Champions teaming up against The Unified Tag Team Champions, and the industry’s Greatest Tag Team of all time, except in the WWE? After the competitors were in the ring, the Garden echoed with the Gregorian chants from the Druids, aligning the entrance with rows of lit torches. The most respected professional wrestler in the WWE, The Undertaker, walked slowly down the aisle, soaking in the adoration; and also for the fact that, at MSG, the entrance way is much shorter. As you would expect from a legendary confrontation between these six larger-than-life superstars, shades of past matches were made emanate. Shawn Michaels, who was tagged in, took off his DX wrist bands as a sign of respect to The Undertaker. It’s known that Shawn Michaels is a completely different person when he is in his DX gear, but once he takes them off he becomes “The Show Stopper,” “The Main Event,” “Mr. WrestleMania!” We have not seen Michaels and Taker together in the ring since WrestleMania 25; and what would have been another instant classic, was cut short in order to relive another moment. Two years ago, at the Royal Rumble, John Cena and Triple H were the last two competitors remaining, before Cena would toss the Game over the ropes; and now, two years later, these two find themselves staring each other down, in the same arena, with the same result. While everyone executed their finishers, it was Cena who got the pin over Triple H; but before the night at MSG could end with Cena’s music again, Taker delivered a devastating Tombstone piledriver to the WWE Champion, reminding everyone that this may be the most famous arena in the world, but on this night, it will be known as the garden of evil.
Now, Mickie and Beth have a great rivalry dating back in 2008 with the Women's Title. James even defended the Women's title against Phoenix and Melina in a Triple Threat Match, which if you pay attention to women's wrestling, it does not occur that often. But tonight, there was no build up to it - it was selected at random.
