LIVE RAW COVERAGE

Tonight's WWE RAW opens up live from the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York as Josh Matthews welcomes us to a sold-out RAW. Triple H's music hits and out he comes to a massive pop to kick off RAW. 


We see Jerry Lawler and Matthews on commentary, no Michael Cole yet. Triple H does his usual entrance and is dressed in street clothes tonight. We get the first official graphic for Triple H vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania 27. Triple H tries to begin his promo but the crowd is still rowdy for his return. They start chanting for Triple H now. He says it's good to see the fans too. He says he's done everything there is to do in WWE. Triple H talks about some of his accomplishments and happenings during his WWE career. Triple H says he has outlasted everyone for 16 years, except one - The Deadman. 


Triple H says Taker's now referred to as The Last Outlaw. Triple H says not yet, because there's two outlaws. Triple H says he and Taker are a lot alike. Triple H talks about Taker's streak now. He says when Taker looks around the locker room, he is the only true challenge he has left. Triple H says the only true challenge he has left is ending the streak. Triple H says it will happen at WrestleMania 27, and looks up at the banner hanging. Triple H says they will define an era at WrestleMania. Triple H says nothing else will matter that night because there can only be one. Triple H says all Taker has left is the streak, and when it dies Taker dies. Triple H says if he can't end the streak, he will die trying. Triple H's music hits and he tosses the mic before posing in the corner. Sheamus' music hits and out he comes to the stage. 


Sheamus makes his way down to the ring. As he enters, Triple H hits him with a knee to the gut and Sheamus goes down. Triple H tosses Sheamus over the ropes and to the floor. Triple H follows him and unloads with right hands and throws him into the barrier and then the ring post. Triple H continues the assault, bringing Sheamus to the announcer's table and putting him on top. Triple H puts Sheamus through the announcer's table with a Pedigree. Triple H poses as the fans pop and his music plays. Sheamus is laid out on the broken announcer's table. 


- Lawler announces that Shawn Michaels will speak out tonight about Triple H and The Undertaker. Josh Matthews says we will hear from Michael Cole later tonight to respond to Jerry Lawler. It's announced that The Rock has invited us into his home tonight for his response to John Cena. We go to commercial. 


- Back from the break and we see a replay of Triple H destroying Sheamus. WWE officials are helping Sheamus to the back when the e-mail alert goes off. Lawler says he's always wanted to do this and makes the General Manager's announcement. Sheamus still must wrestle tonight and it will be against... Evan Bourne, making his return to RAW. 


Sheamus vs. Evan Bourne 


Evan Bourne gets a nice pop for his return. Sheamus struggles to get in the ring as the bell rings. Bourne attacks with a dropkick in the corner and unloads on Sheamus. Sheamus manages to shove him off but Bourne kicks him to the mat. Bourne goes up top and hits Air Bourne for the quick pin and the win. 


Winner: Evan Bourne 


- After the match, Michael Cole comes down to ringside and stands in front of Jerry Lawler. Cole says he's going to let us all know what he's doing at WrestleMania in just a few minutes. We go to commercial. 


- Back from the break and Michael Cole is in the ring, asking for our attention. Lawler comes into the ring and Cole says he can't touch him or he's fired. Lawler gets in Cole's face. Cole says he wasn't intimidated last week on RAW. Cole says there is nobody on earth that has more guts than him. Cole says he never backs down from a fight. Cole says no to Lawler's WrestleMania challenge. Unless, Lawler accepts two conditions. Cole says one, his trainer can be in his corner. Two, Cole gets to choose the special referee. Lawler says he doesn't care who Cole has with him, the answer is yes. Cole is happy that we've got the match set for WrestleMania. Cole introduces his trainer and out comes Jack Swagger. 


Swagger comes down and Cole is feeling more confident. Swagger ends up putting the ankle lock on Lawler. Lawler is tapping out but Swagger won't let go as Cole yells in his face. Swagger finally lets up and raises Cole's hand in the air as his music plays. 


- We get more hype for The Rock tonight. Randy Orton is shown walking backstage as we go to commercial. 


- We go to the ring and out comes Randy Orton to a big pop. Orton says he made a big mistake and should have kicked CM Punk harder. Orton talks about how faith won't stop him from kicking Punk's head off this time. Punk's music hits and out he comes with Nexus on the stage. Punk calls Orton an arrogant, predictable hypocrite. Punk says he's going to put Orton in the ground. Nexus huddles up and begins to march down to the ring when the e-mail alert goes off. Cole says he won't keep stealing the spotlight and lets Matthews make this announcement. The GM announces Randy Orton vs. CM Punk for WrestleMania. Orton will face members of Nexus over the next few weeks and if he wins, that member will be banned from ringside at WrestleMania. If Nexus members win, they can legally be in Punk's corner. 


Randy Orton vs. Michael McGillicutty 


Orton's first match is now as McGillicutty heads to the ring. They lock up and go at it. Orton turns it around and unloads with right hands in the corner. Orton with a big clothesline. Orton starts stomping and misses a knee drop. McGillicutty fires back. Orton clotheslines him out of the ring as we go to commercial. 


Back from the break and Orton runs into a dropkick. 2 count for McGillicutty. McGillicutty works Orton over in the corner now. Orton fights back but gets taken back to the mat. McGillicutty with a blockbuster and another 2 count. Orton fights out of a headlock with a back drop. McGillicutty runs into a big boot and two clotheslines from Orton. Orton with a powerslam and a backbreaker. Orton brings McGillicutty in from the apron with the second rope DDT. Orton nails the RKO for the pin and the win. McGillicutty is banned from Punk's corner at WrestleMania. 


Winner: Randy Orton 


- After the match, Orton poses before considering a punt kick on McGillicutty. Punk appears on the stage and orders Orton not to kick McGillicutty. Orton hits the punt on McGillicutty and flees the ring. Nexus chases Orton away from ringside. Orton goes into the crowd and stares down Nexus as his music plays. 


- We get footage of Sin Cara being introduces in Mexico last week before going back to commercial with The Miz making his way out. 




- Back from commercial and we see a replay of The Miz turning on his partner John Cena last week. Justin Roberts introduces our WWE Champion and out comes The Miz with Alex Riley. The Miz talks about The Rock responding to John Cena tonight. Miz said he called out Rock last week as well but he hasn't responded yet. Miz says Rock knows he is right, this is no longer Rock's show. Miz says Cena's days are numbered and Rock's are over. Miz says he is the biggest star in WWE, the reason everyone is there tonight. Miz goes on about how it's always about him. Miz says he will beat Cena at WrestleMania and beat The Rock on the same night. Miz says it again - he will beat Cena and Rock on the same night at WrestleMania. 


Riley tells everyone to get on their feet and show some respect for The Miz. John Cena's music hits and out he comes. 


Cena says Miz isn't well and pulls out a big mock doctor's note. Cena says Miz has obsessive compulsive disorder. Cena goes on picking on Miz until Alex Riley interrupts. Riley tries his hand at some comedy but it doesn't work. Cena tells Miz that Riley is bad for him as WWE Champion and mocks them both. Cena wants Miz to fire Riley tonight. Miz asks Cena if he's scared of Riley. Miz says he is mentoring the next generation of WWE Superstars, sharing his brilliance with Riley. Cena wants a match with Riley tonight and if Riley loses, he's fired. The Miz accepts... under one condition. Miz says he won't interfere but if Riley wins, Cena must admit that Miz is the greatest Superstar of all-time because he's The Miz and he's awesome. The Miz accepts for Riley. The e-mail alert goes off and it's announced that Riley vs. Cena tonight will be in a steel cage. The only way to win is by escaping the cage. We go to commercial. 


Divas Battle Royal: Alicia Fox, Melina, Natalya, The Bella Twins, Maryse, Tamina, Gail Kim 


WWE Divas Champion Eve Torres is on commentary as we come back and the Divas are going at it in the ring. This is to determine a new #1 contender. It comes down to one of the Bellas, Maryse and Gail Kim. Gail eliminates Maryse. Gail throws out the Bella as the referees aren't looking. The other Bella comes from under the ring and eliminates Gail. 


Winner: Bella 


- After the match, Eve Torres runs in and tries to tell them about the twins making the switch and cheating. The other Bella runs in and attacks Eve, laying her out. We go to commercial. 


- Back from the break and we see highlights from John Cena's rap against The Rock last week. We go live via satellite to The Rock at his home in Los Angeles. Rock's music hits in the arena and the crowd pops. We see The Rock at home with his back turned. He's mocking Cena, the rapper. Rock turns around and is wearing Cena's hat and pendant. Rock mocks Cena trying to rap. 


Rock rips off the Cena gear and goes to his normal self. Rock talks about the electricity in the air and says that after all that happened, Cena chose to rap to him. You address me in the form of rap, he says. Rock mocks Cena's look and mannerisms some more. Rock reminds us how this all started, when Cena called him a liar in public when Rock said he loves WWE. Rock says Cena insulted him and his family. Rock says his love for WWE is endless. Rock says his blood is WWE and talks about his grandfather and father, both Hall of Famers.