WWE Monday Night Raw 3/23/09 Results and Review Orton Kills

We opened up the night with Ric Flair in the ring, and ready to speak. This cold opening of raw was interesting to note. Jericho came out from the back to talk a whole lot of crap. I do believe that Chris Jericho might be the best heel in the WWE right now. Forget Orton, he’s ok, but Jericho is turning a non feud into a nice change of pace and a classic respect feud. Ric Flair fired back nicely, which was good, but everyone in the building wanted Flair to come out of retirement to beat down Jericho. I didn’t mind this so much, but it seemed that they didn’t need this much time dedicated to fueling this feud, as it already was red hot. Jericho did manage to deck Flair with a right hand, getting even more heat from the crowd, creating a great amount of heat, as if he could get anymore. Flair was busted wide open, and Jericho continued to beat the hell out of him, which was adding even more heat.

Jeff Hardy defeated Dolph Ziggler

This was an extreme rules match and Dolph seemed to be trying to prove something with this match up. He took some major bumps at the hands of Hardy. Jeff was just a house of fire, going left to right destroying Dolph Ziggler like a jobber. How long before they fire Ziggler? Seriously, this is more than paying dues. Hardy did everything possible to defeat Ziggler. This match was awesome, but at what cost to Ziggler? At what cost? Man this was extreme.

CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, MVP, and Christian defeated Shelton Benjamin, Mark Henry, Finlay and Kane

This was a fast paced 8 man tag, nothing too crazy here. Christian got a pinfall for a change, but it was after the match that business picked up. Finlay introduced everyone to the ladder and laid everyone out with it, leaving himself standing in the middle of the ring, and maybe he’ll win Money in the Bank.

Big Show defeated Edge

Edge and the Big Show wrestled here, in a somewhat boring match up. I don’t know why they even have a brand separation, it seemed that they were working this thing out without any real brand split, and that’s how things should be all the time. This is a grand example of why they don’t need to have a draft at all, they just need to time things right and let things develop, just like the old days. Overall this match was boring, and you an tell Edge isn’t at 100% right now. Chavo interfered at one point, but was thrown out of the ring by Big Show. Big Show got distracted for a little bit, but got speared by Edge and Big Show knocked out Edge with a huge right handed closed fist. That was it, Big Show wins with ease, and maybe he might win at Wrestlemania.

Rey Mysterio defeated William Regal

Regal put the boots into Rey Mysterio. Seriously, he was working hard against Mysterio, which is a little weird to see. Mysterio was getting hit hard, and at one point looked like Regal stunned Mysterio and may have almost broken his nose, but may have been playing possum. Afterwards he hit the 619 and it was all over, Regal loses again. Regal is also gaining some weight, it seems weird; maybe he’s on his way out.

Mickie James defeated Santino

This was a weird match. It started with Santino having one armed tied behind his back and then it went on with both hands tied behind his back. Santino is the most entertaining non champion ever in the WWE. He even managed to get to the top rope, but this match ended with Mickie James beating him after kick to the head! This was a funny joke match up.

Randy Orton vs. Triple H no contest

This seemed like a bad idea. A handicap match between Randy Oton & Ted Dibiase against Triple H. This was just a bad idea, as it quickly turned into a three on one brawl. Triple H was fighting tooth and nail to get at Orton, but he was having problems, with a three on one assault! The priceless team ended up hand cuffing Triple H to a ring rope, and the real fun began for Priceless. Orton eventually pulled a sledgehammer out from under the ring, and was ready to use it on Triple H. The Game was fighting back still, even though he was handcuffed. Stephanie McMahon came down to save her husband, and Orton was ready. And you know what I was thinking?

WHAT HAPPENED TO PG RATING WWE? WHAT THE HELL?

I’m not a big Stephanie McMahon fan, I’m not, but Violence against women on a PG show? Nice one. At this point Randy Orton grabbed Stephanie McMahon through the middle ropes and dropped her on her head with a DDT! Mind you, HHH was still handcuffed to the ring ropes! This was definitely an interesting situation here. Randy Orton then proceeded to Kiss an unconscious Stephanie McMahon.

As much as I think this angle just got better, I’m tired of hearing about how the WWE wants to have a PG rated show. Whatever, lets throw that moniker out the window and lets get back to a more “attitude” era of wrestling, because it worked in the past and it works now.

Orton then took the Sledgehammer and smashed it into Triple H’s head. It was weird because there was a lot of RKO chants that the WWE couldn’t hide, and it’s interesting how the good guy isn’t getting cheered.

That is exactly the problem that Bret Hart had with the WWF back in the attitude era. Hart was getting pummeled by Austin and people were going nuts. Orton pummels Triple H and the crowd cheers more for him. Good times, I think, good times. Orton is a great heel, Triple H can’t hold down the roster if he’s tied to a ring rope huh? Yeah!
That was your raw, good stuff, fast paced, no brand separation, the WWE finally gets it right.

WWE Monday Night Raw 3/23/09 Results

Jeff Hardy defeated Dolph Ziggler
CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, MVP, and Christian defeated Shelton Benjamin, Mark Henry, Finlay and Kane
Big Show defeated Edge
Rey Mysterio defeated William Regal
Mickie James defeated Santino
Randy Orton vs. Triple H no contest

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