WWE Raw Results (3-28-11) - Cena, Rock, Miz; 'Taker Faces Triple H, HBK Returns!

"Yes sir, we promised you a great main event."

We open live to CM Punk squatting inside the middle of the ring, to a loud "CM Punk" chant from his hometown in Chicago. He says that he's going to miss this, he doubts that the fans in Atlanta will warmly receive him like his Chicago people. He talks about Orton taking out each of his Nexus members, saying Orton lives in a fantasy world where he's a realist. But when he starts calling his Chicago peeps mindless sheep, getting them to do whatever he wants, the crowd starts to boo him and we get a Randy chant. Punk shows the clip from last week of his ambush on Orton outside his tourbus. He says that Orton should have never punted him in the head 2 years ago, it cost him a championship and now he's cost Orton the respect of his family. Punk says he will close this sick & twisted chapter this Sunday at Wrestlemania. He drops the mic and his promo is over, but as he climbs out of the ring, Orton's music hits and he comes out to the stage. His right knee is bandaged & in a brace and he limps to the ring. Punk jumps him as he gets in the ring, but Orton eventually takes control, DDT'ing Punk from the second rope. He coils as Punk lays there and "he gets that look in his eye." He goes back for the punt position, and as he goes for the kick, his leg gives out from him. He collapses in the corner as Punk makes it outside of the ring. Punk looks to the screen, but turns around to look into the ring at the wounded viper who is severely limping at this point, to a loud Randy chant from the crowd. But the Punk fans show their support as well. Punk corners Orton, kicking him in the leg, eventually picking him and nailing the GTS on him, leaving him lying in the ring like a sack of potatoes.

They announce HHH & Taker face to face, as well as Cena, Miz, & The Rock in the ring later tonight. Christian is shown backstage knocking on the door of Edge's dressing room who comes out in his old trenchcoat. Edge is confused that Long won't let him touch Del Rio on SD, but he can on Raw per the Raw GM. Christian asks if he's ready, and they go out to the ring and we go to our first commercial break.

We're back, and naturally, we get a rewind of the Del Rio/Christian match from SD on Friday.

Christian & World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs Alberto Del Rio & Brodus Clay (Tag Match)

Edge comes out first, followed by Christian. Ricardo calls out Del Rio, out in a black Bentley, and Clay is already at ringside. Edge & Clay start out with the two of them trading blows. Edge & Christian make a few quick tags & double team Clay before throwing him outside the ring. Christian tries a cross body, but is caught on the outside by Clay, Edge kicks them to take them down and we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Del Rio has control over Christian in the middle of the ring. During the break, after he was tagged in, Del Rio threw Christian into the ringpost shoulder first. Christian tries to fight out of the hold, and gets a kick, followed by a quick 2 count from Del Rio. Clay comes in, drops a two elbows, and gets a 2 count on Captain Charisma. Brodus tags in Christian, lands a lateral press as Del Rio nails a shoulder drop and another 2 count. Del Rio hammers Christian in the corner, tries to charge back in, but Christian kicks out and follows it with a bulldog off the turnbuckle. He tags in Edge as Del Rio tags in Clay. He tries a few clothesline to take the big man down, but is caught, and Edge flips over Clay and slams him to the mat. He sets up for the spear, but Del Rio pulls him down. Christian comes over & takes out Del Rio. Edge recovers, dodges a charging Clay, and nails the spear followed by the 1 ? 2 ? 3 pinfall.

Winner: Edge & Christian (with a spear from Edge)

Postmatch: Right after the pinfall, Del Rio locks Christian in the cross arm breaker at the base of the ramp. Edge chases Del Rio off, who goes backstage. But Edge turns around, goes back to Christian, Del Rio returns and nails Ege from behind. He then locks on the cross arm on the champion, taunting him afterwards.

Matthews & Lawler talk about what just happened and whats coming at Wrestlemania. Cole, who is in his penalty box (and appears to be behaving himself after what happened this weekend), talks about the Mania match with Snooki this Sunday. We see Trish & Snooki at a bar in Jersey, the first of the footage shot last week. And we go to another commercial break.

Back from break to another Sin Cara clip. Miz is shown backstage with his reformatted belt. Josh & Lawler talk about Rock, Miz, & Cena for later tonight. And the Raw GM chimes in. As Lawler gets up, he calls to Cole to come out of his box. But Cole tells Lawler "I've got this." He does his "May I have your attention?" spiel. He says he received an email from the GM on his "i-Pad." (One thing Cole, I saw what you have, and an iPad doesn't fold like a laptop.) Cole announces that Lawler will face off against Swagger for later tonight. Lawler says that is fine, as the security outside the penalty box try to look tough. We go to a very good promo for H vs Taker at Mania and to another commercial break.

Santino w/Big Show, Kane, Koslov & Tamina vs Tag Champ Justin Gabriel w/The Corre

Back from break and Justin Gabriel and his Corre co-horts are already in the ring, including new IC Champ, Wade Barrett. Big Show & Kane come out first, then Santino along with Koslov & Tamina. They announce Big Show, Kane, Santino & Koslov against Corre for Wrestlemania this Sunday. After the quick lockup & traded blows, Gabriel takes control by landing a spin kick to Santino, with a 2 count. He locks Santino up, before is taken down by Santino. Gabriel tries a fist, but Santino dodges it, who gets up and nails a few punches to Gabriel. Santino gets fired up, lands a headbutt on Gabriel. Slater gets on the apron, but Santino chase him off, as Slater gets taken down by Kane, who then goes after Barrett. On the other side, Koslov takes down Gabriel behind the ref's back, and Big Show gives Big Zeke a big boot. Santino readys for the cobra, nails it, and gets the pinfall much to the crowd's delight.

Winner: Santino via the Cobra

Postmatch: No beating here, just an hilarious moment all for the fun of the crowd. Santino, Koslov, & Tamina celebrate in the ring. Santino does his trombone thing, as Koslov & Tamina do it with him. Now here's the funny part. Big Show & Kane get into the ring. Big Show, who shows his sense of humor, does the trombone. Kane, goes all evil and imposing, stares down Santino and the Big Show. Both of them try to get Kane to do it. All of a sudden, Kane turns around and does it himself! Completely out of character! Big Show is wowed, even though Kane makes a quick exit from the ring right afterwards. We're shown Triple H making his way to the ring and we go to break!

Back from break, and Taker's bell tolls, to a large pop from the crowd, but it won't be the loudest one tonight we all know that. Pyro & Johnny Cash, and out comes Undertaker first. Whether its respect for Cash, or respect for the Phenom, the announcers are quiet during his entrance. Taker gets in the ring, poses, and H's music hits to another large pop. As H does his pose on the ring apron, Undertaker knods his head, H's music suddenly is interuppted by a bell toll. The bell tolls again, and the lights are back on with the two of them in the ring, face to face. The air is electric! Suddenly, HBK's music hits, and the largest pop explodes sooner than expected! I think we can all see what is coming here. Michaels grabs a mic, as the other two are still just standing there, so it looks like Michaels is going to run things here. He acts like he's stepping on eggshells here, as the crowd chants HBK. He apologizes for interrupting, but there was no way he was going to miss this. He pumps their match as the biggest of their careers. He rounds off through all their accolades, the streak, the phenom, the game, thirteen time champion, even calling H his best friend. He says that after this Sunday, neither of them will be the same again. He plugs the match at No Holds Barred, and says he has just one question. He looks at Taker "What in the world, makes you think, (then turns to look at Triple H) that you could do what I couldn't?" He gets a quick boo, then another HBK chant. Triple H replies "Truth is, you went soft." He says that somewhere along the way he decided that it was more important to be the showstopper and Mr Wrestlemania. But he doesn't need to win to be all those things. And that he's not Shawn Michaels, that he has to win, and that he will win. He then approaches Taker. He talks about his entry into the company 16 years ago and there was one person that stood out to him. I am loving this promo here, but I cannot get out everything that he is saying. Wait for the video that will be posted in a few days. Words of RESPECT from H as he talked about The Undertaker. Talking about him getting injured, but still wrestling. He learned that's what the business was about, not because he was told to, but because that's who he was. And that he should pattern himself after "that guy" and he tells Taker that "the guy" was him, and that he learned to respect him more and more every single day. And there is only one guy he respect as much as Taker, and that's HBK. He came back from a year off for one thing, to stand there out of respect, to look at The Undertaker & tell him "It's time." Taker looks livid at this point, being that H is telling him its time to retire. H tells him that he will always be the Phenom, the Deadman, but in six days he will no longer be undefeated at Wrestlemania. He tells him that he will be the one, 18 & 1, and that in six days him and his streak will rest in piece. Taker finally takes the mic, and says if there was ever a time that he had to be put down by any other person, that he would want the person to be him, because of the respect that he has for him. But it ain't that time. He knows that H will die trying, but in the end the streak will still be alive, and so will he. He says if H doesn't want to take his word for it, then ask him as he points to HBK. He says Shawn walks around as the man that gave him the two greatest Mania matches of his career. And he came so close, but still didn't get it done. Now when he looks in the eyes of Michaels, he doesn't see the same confidence or arrogance. He only sees a man that he humbled. He sees a man that will go into the HOF full of regrets, & a man who's career that he ended. HBK is now the livid one at this point. HBK backs off, and tries for sweet chin music, but Taker grabs his foot. He drops it and goes for the choke slam, but H breaks it up and gets in Taker's face. He tells Shawn to tell Taker why he will beat him at Wrestlemania. HBK won't answer, he stalls for a few moments. The crowd starts to chant "One more match." Michaels doesn't answer, instead he leaves the ring as H demands an answer. HBK says "I can't" turns around and walks backstage. Did Taker strike a nerve in more ways than one? Speaking of Taker, he is still in the ring. H turns to him, but Taker only answers with a tip of the hat, and leaves H standing in the ring. He stops at the bottom of the ramp, then walks to the stage. Only then at that point, he stops and turns back to look at H who is still in the ring. The announcers had a good coffee break at this point. Not a single word out of them during the entire promo. A quiet reminder of Cena, Miz, and Rock for later, and we go to another break.

Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Jack Swagger w/Michael Cole

Swagger & Cole are already in the ring, as Jerry comes out. Matthews is going solo during this match. Cole distracts Lawler from the apron long enough to allow Swagger to get control. After a pounding in the ring, the fight leads to the outside. Swagger throws Lawler into the ringbell area. Swagger poses, giving Lawler a chance to recover. As Swagger pulls Lawler up, he fights Swagger off and grabs a chair. He beats Swagger down with it, then goes after Cole who runs into his penalty box. Because of the chair, the match ends in a DQ win for Swagger. Security holds off Lawler, who hits the booth with the chair, and tries to climb in. Cole is trembling in fear for a moment until he throws his drink into King's face. We go to another break as Cole stands on his desk, taunting Lawler saying "It's all about Sunday."

Winner: Jack Swagger, via DQ

Back from break to a replay of Vicki pinning John Morrison last week on Raw. Vicki comes out, no mic in hand, but she pulls out a pair of John Morrison's sunglasses, puts them on, and does a Morrison pose to his entrance music. She does hit the ring and grabs a mic. She does her "Excuse me" bit and is barely able to talk over the loud heat she is getting from the crowd.

Dolph Ziggler & U.S. Champion Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan & John Morrison

Ziggler comes out first, followed by U.S. Champ Sheamus. Daniel Bryan is out next and a replay is shown of Raw last week of Sheamus' answer to Bryan's challenge for a rematch. Morrison & Sheamus start things out, with the US Champ getting control first. Morrison is thrown into a corner, who kicks out a charging Sheamus & pops Ziggler to the outside. Morrison tries an attack off the ropes, but is caught by Sheamus, hammered over his knee, and gets a quick 2 count. And we have another commercial break.

Back from break, and Sheamus is still in control. Morrison counters a hold of Sheamus, kicking out of it, and makes the tag to Bryan as Sheamus tags in Ziggler. Bryan in a house afire, clotheslines Ziggler twice, and kicks Sheamus to the outside. Ziggler tries a roll up on Bryan, but gets a 2 count, and Bryan answers that with an attempt of the Labelle lock. But Sheamus comes in to break it up with a kick to the back of Bryan's skull. Ziggler tags out, Sheamus in and clocks Bryan with an axe handle, follows that with a pin attempt broken up by Morrison. Ziggler back in to take out Morrison, but John hits him with a kick taking him outside. Sheamus gets up, throws Morrsion out, and turns around into a Labelle lock from Bryan who can't lock it in. Sheamus throws Bryan into the turnbuckle. Sheamus charges in, but Bryan dodges, and charges in & leaps, but Sheamus dodges, and Bryan misses landing on his head in the corner. Sheamus grabs him and nails the Irish Cross, getting the pinfall.

Winner: Sheamus & Ziggler w/the Irish Cross from Sheamus

A replay of Orton & Punk from earlier tonight is shown. Orton is shown backstage, looking exhausted but is iced up as he is asked if he will make it to Wrestlemania this Sunday. He talks about his anger issues, ruining the careers of men simply because he could. He says that he has never despised a man more than CM Punk. He says the question shouldn't be if he will make it to Mania, but should be if Punk will make it out. We are reminded of Cena, Miz, & Rock for later and we have another break.

Back from break, to the announcement of The Road Warriors (aka Legion of Doom) as the next inductees to the Hall of Fame.

Back to Trish & Snooki at the bar in Jersey. As they're being questioned by Josh, a guy comes in and starts hitting on them. They push him off and talk about Snooki's training. The guy comes back and tries to get them to leave, to which Snooki slaps the guy who is then hauled out of the bar. Matthews then talks about the match for a moment til we're back at the bar and we see Lay Cool at the bar, to which a fight breaks out between the women. Cena, Miz, and The Rock are up next and we have another break.

Back from break, and Rock is shown backstage pacing. The crowds see him on the tron, and chant his name until his music hits and he comes out to a very large pop. Not sure if it's larger than the one HBK got, but it is definitely loud. Music stops, and he gets a very loud cheer & chant from the fans. Mic in hand and he does his "Finally?" catchphrase and he has the crowd in his hands. He talks about Chicago, the place where it first started, and how special it is. Being in his first Wrestlemania match in Chicago, and he laments about being nervous that night. He talks about on that night, he did something that defined his career, that he decided to "Bring it" and the birth of "Team Bring it." He lets off a few more catchphrases to break the PG barrier, and soaks in another Rocky chant. He talks about having a dream, coming down and calling out John Cena. And at the mention of that name, the crowds let off a mix of cheers and boos, followed by a large "Cena sucks" chant from the crowd. He taunts Cena, knocks out a few more lines to punch the PG barrier, and says that the reality is this. The Rock is here, the great one is here. He says that he is not alone, he has the "millions?.." of fans with him, and that the people's champ is here. Cena's music hits. Can't tell the pop on this one, music is too loud, but I can only guess it's mixed. Rock stays in the ring as Cena gets in the ring and poses for the crowd. Music stops and Rock is pacing like a caged tiger at mealtime. Cena speaks first, saying this is what he wanted, that Rock is finally back in a WWE ring, and shooting off his catchphrases. He says this is where he blongs. Cena seems to be on Rock's side here, asking if Rock hears the people chanting his name. He says that years ago when he went off about him, that he was one of the millions. That he wanted him back for moments like this. That if he doesn't believe him, to look and listen, as we get more Rocky chants. If he doesn't believe him, to feel the electricity, that can only be brought by him. He tries to talk about everything he said, saying they had meaning and merit, but has to stop as a loud "Cena sucks" chant starts. He says he'll cover that in a second, and wants to know what problem the Rock has with him. He talks about his color, the way he talks, his type of music, & his hustle, loyalty, & respect ? his moral code, and lastly his audience as kids. He says he's proud of it. He's proud of who he is and what he's become, to which he gets a mixed reaction. He says if Rock has a legitimate grype about him not working his tail off & carrying the company, then they have something to talk about. If not, then he asks who he is, who he is to judge him and numbers off each of the "dislikes" he mentioned. He says that he comes out each week being himself, that there are people that like it and some that don't. He doesn't try to change their mind, because he is no position to change anyone. But he won't be judged by The Rock.

Rock answers back, that no man will judge him, the only one to judge him is The Good Lord himself. And that even the Good Lord himself won't save him from being whooped all over Chicago. Cena says Rock wanted him to address him like a man, and that he has answered everything to his face like a man. If he wants to fight?..and drops the mic. Miz's music hits, and out comes the champ, with Riley in tow.

Cena is ready for a fight as Miz gets in the ring. Miz answers "Really? Getting upstaged by the O Brothers, over hyped and over rated? He tells Cena that this past month he has owned him and that he will lose at Wrestlemania. But at least he will go down swinging, will come ready to fight. He turns to Rock, saying unlike him, Great One. He says he knows a secret that no one else knows. That he will not do a thing tonight. He talks about Rock's movies, that one of the biggest movie stars will not risk getting beaten up by him. He guaran-damn-tees that if Rock even looks at him funny, he will beat him so bad that he won't be able to go anywhere. Miz goes off about being the WWE champion, and will so after Mania. He taunts Rock to run his mouth, but he doesn't think he will because he's the Miz and he's awesome. He hands Rock the mic, and we get another Rocky chant. Rock says "You should know by now, it doesn't matter what you think." He gets in Miz's face, and Riley knocks down Rock, with Cena nowhere in the ring. Miz & Riley start beating down Rock in the corner. But Rock powers out of it, knocks out Riley, and then takes it to Miz giving him a DDT. He then sets up Miz for the People's Elbow. He nails it, throws out Miz, and runs into an AA from Cena. John stands over Rock, gives him the "You Can't See Me" and leaves the ring. Rock rolls over as Cena stands on the stage, points at the LED for Mania 6 days away, motions "You Can't See Me" again, and credits roll.