411’s WWE Raw Report 12.15.08

-Welcome to 411’s Raw Report. I’m the new kid on the block Rob McNew debuting on this post Armageddon edition of Raw. Please keep the rookie hazing to a minimum. Tonight it’s the fallout from Armageddon and we get started down the road to the Royal Rumble.

-Live from Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

-Hosted by Michael Cole & Jerry “The King” Lawler

–Kelly Kelly & Melina vs. Beth Phoenix & Jillian Hall (w. Santino Marella)
We get started with a diva tag match right off the bat. Santino stops on the way to the ring to take a pic with a “fan” who has been planted at ringside the past few weeks. The fan wants no part of Santino, but wants a pic with Beth. Santino is forced to take the photo. Jillian starts with Kelly and works in an arm ringer which Kelly reverses into a headlock. Irish whip is turned into a hurracanrana by Kelly. Kelly hit’s the ropes by a handful of hair brings her down which gets two. Jillian takes control of the match with a trio of knees to the mid section. Kelly flips out of a backbreaker attempt and attempts to make the tag but is pulled back by Jillian. Jillian knocks Melina off the apron but that distraction allows Kelly to roll her up for the quick 3 count. Well that was quick.
WINNERS: Kelly Kelly & Melina (Kelly pins Jillian-Rollup DUD)

After the match Beth and Jillian try a beatdown on Kelly which is quickly interrupted by Kane of all people. The heels all bail which leaves Kelly in the ring to fend for herself. Kane comes to the ring to corner a petrified Kelly and offers his hand. She rolls out of the ring and Kane stalks her to the back. Well that was certainly random.

-During the commerical Kelly is shown trying to escape. Kane finally catches up with her and lets her know they need to talk.

Rey Mysterio vs. Deuce
Cody Rhodes and Manu are at ringside for this one. Deuce grabs the mic and says he would now like to be introduced by his real name. It is revealed he is Jimmy Snuka’s son and he would like to be called Sim. Snuka takes control early and hit’s a tilt a whirl slam for two. Snuka puts the boots to Rey and whips him into the buckle. Snuka continues to overpower Rey as he hit’s a chinlock. Snuka eventually misses a kneedrop and then Rey hit’s a dropkick. Series of kicks from Rey leads to a hurracanrana. Rey hit’s the ropes again but a gets put down again. This is followed up by a flying knee. Rey fights back out of the corner and tries to come off the top with another rana. Snuka catches him but only for a moment as Rey throws him into the ropes for the 619 attempt. Snuka bails to the outside and Rey dives onto him from the apron. He falls into Cody who takes exception to that and shoves Rey. Rey punches back as the ref calls for the DQ. Rey gets out of dodge to escape the beatdown but runs into Mike Knox who takes Rey out on the floor. Cody and Manu leave as Knox stands over Mysterio. They appear to be setting up Sim Snuka for a place in The Legacy.
Winner: Rey Mysterio (Disqualification-Cody Rhodes Interference *)

-Broke Shawn Michaels and Triple H shill DX merchandise. This is the same ad that ran on Smackdown.

-Back with Kane and Kelly Kelly in the back. Kane locks Kelly in a room and tells her that last week Kelly told him that “love is a wonderful thing” Kelly says they were just presenting an award. Kane says a lot of people have hurt him. He asks Kelly if she felt something or if she was just leading him on. He tells her if she was leading on she can get up and leave now. She gets up to leave, but Kane slams the door shut and tells her he knew she felt something.

-Todd Grisham is with Randy Orton. Orton says he challenged Batista to a rematch earlier today, but has not gotten an answer because Orton is a coward. Batista shows up and says he‘s got an answer. Orton slaps Batista and takes off running. Orton heads down the ramp with Batista following. This draws out Rhodes and Manu for the sneak attack. A 3 on 1 beatdown commences, but John Cena quickly makes the save. Cena fights off Rhodes and Manu while Orton watches from the top of the ramp.

-Batista is in the back with Cena. Batista thanks Cena for the help. Cena tells him he was looking forward to getting a hold of them since they took him out two weeks ago. Batista starts to tease a challenge, but Grisham interrupts telling them that Stephanie has made a match for tonight. Rhodes, Manu, and Orton vs. Batista and Cena. Batista says they’ll continue this conversation later

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Chris Jericho
Jericho comes to the ring in his suit and not his gear. He takes the mic and says he is refusing to wrestle tonight. He says he is the 2008 Superstar of the Year, and he has carried the show for the past year. He says it’s a slap in the face to have to compete against someone like Duggan. He compares wrestling Duggan after losing in the main event to LeBron James being benched after missing the game winning shot. He refuses to lower himself to a bottom of the barrel talent like Duggan. He says he will not wrestle again until he has an opponent worth of a man of his caliber. Duggan stands in the ring with his sad Grandpa face.
No Match

-More fun with Kane and Kelly. Kane asks Kelly if she wants to get to know him better. She reluctantly says no. Kane asks if there is someone else. She says nothing. Kane says she’s gonna tell him rather she wants to or not. This is a very disturbing angle.

-Still with Kane and Kelly Kelly. Kane tells Kelly she did the right thing by telling him. Kane has to leave now. Kelly pleads for Kane to please not hurt him. Kane gives his sinister laugh and says “love is a wonderful thing”

-William Regal and Layla are out to watch the next match from the ramp.

World Tag Team Championship Match: CM Punk & Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz & John Morrison (c)
This is a rematch from the shocking title change this past Saturday at a House Show in Hamilton, Ontario. Why they couldn’t have just done the title change tonight I don’t know, but at least we get the rematch. Kofi starts the match with Miz. Kofi grabs a headlock as Miz pushes him to the corner. No clean break as Miz kicks Kofi and grabs a headlock of his own. Kofi tries to power out of the headlock but Miz takes him down with a handful of hair. Miz hit’s the ropes but a pair of leapfrogs by Kofi and a back elbow gets 2. Tag to Punk who comes in with a legdrop which gets two. Spinning heel kick gets another two. Punk tags Kofi back in who hit’s a flying forearm for another two count. Punk back in with a kick to Miz. Miz gets a slap in on Punk and Punk chases him to the outside. Morrison tried to grab Punk on the way in to no avail as he got kicked to the guard rail for his trouble. Spinning neckbreaker by Punk gets two. Morrison comes in but gets met with a dropkick from Kofi. Kofi sends backdrops Punk to the outside onto the Champs as we head to commercial. Back from commercial as the Champs have taken control. Morrison has a headlock on Kofi who counters out with a chinbuster. Morrison makes the tag to Miz as Kofi makes the hot tag to Punk. Punk comes in with a series of clotheslines for Miz. Rollup gets two. Miz tries to backdrop Punk to the outside but he lands on the apron and kicks Miz. Morrison tries to take out Punk but gets taken out for his trouble. The distraction allows Miz to take control however as Punk gets slammed in. Miz puts the boots to Punk and covers for a 2 count. Tag to Morrison who comes in with the elbow drop which gets two. Morrison takes control with a series of kicks. Morrison locks in a leg scissors on Punk. Punk elbows out of that but gets a kick to the gut as they get to their feet. Tag to Miz as Morrison puts Punk on his shoulders. Morrison looks to come of the top but Punk is able to get to the corner and fight off Miz. Superplex to Morrison. Both men are down. Miz is able to tag to Morrison but Kofi gets the hot tag and its controlled frenzy! Kofi hits his double legdrop for two. Russian Legsweep into a cover is broken up by Miz after a two count. Punk is in to take Miz to the outside. Suicide dive by Punk. Kofi rolls up Morrison for two. Kofi tries a springboard splash but misses. Morrison comes of the second rope with a springboard boot of his own. Two count is broken up by Punk at the last moment. Miz sends Punk to the outside. Kofi dumps Miz but walks into a Moonlight Drive from Morrison which picks up the 3 count! Started a bit slow but a fantastic finishing sequence as the champs retain.
Winners: STILL World Tag Team Champions-The Miz and John Morrison (Morrison pins Kingston-Moonlight Drive ***)

-Kane comes to the ring and stares down the four men in the ring. He chokeslams Miz, and delivers a boot to Morrison. Punk and Kofi bail as Kane delivers a tombstone to Miz and leaves. I guess this means Miz is screwing Kelly Kelly. Better not tell Batista.

-JBL is out at the top of the ramp. He introduces the clip of Shawn’s speech from Armageddon where he explained why he took JBL up on his offer. The promo from Armageddon is shown in its entirety. Shawn explains that he lost a lot of money in investments after blowing most of his money in his younger days. He refuses to become a wrestling tragedy wrestling broke down in high school gyms or bagging groceries. The crowd delivers a “you sold out” chant. After the promo JBL and Shawn shook hands. When we return live JBL is on the ramp grinning. He says nothing more.

-Kelly is in the back with Candace Michelle and Mickie James. They are asking if she’s alright. She says she’s okay. Mickie asks Kelly about The Miz. Kelly responds as if she’s surprised. “The Miz? Are you serious?”

Dolph Ziggler vs. Santa Claas
Before the match Dolph introduces himself of course. Santa Claas is of course Charlie Haas in a Santa suit. Lillian introduces him as being from the South Pole. For a second I was expecting Xanta Klaus. If you don’t remember him, consider yourself lucky. Santa hands out presents to the crowd then gives a present to Ziggler. Ziggler doesn’t want any part of that telling the ref to ring the bell. Ziggler takes control early but takes time to introduce himself which plain pisses Santa off. Claas whips Ziggler into the buckle and hit’s the Stinger Splash in the corner. The extra padding takes away the effect though and Dolph takes control with a dropkick. Snap mare by Ziggler is followed up by a trio of elbow drops which gets two. Dolph locks in a headlock as we get a huge Santa chant from the crowd. Santa fights to his feet but gets put right back down. Dolph continues with the boots. Ziggler chokes out Jolly Ole St. Chuck on the ropes before going back to the headlock. Ziggler keeps the headlock seemingly forever before again making sure Santa has his name on his list. Ziggler misses an elbow drop as Santa makes his big comeback. Series of right hands from Santa is followed up by a dropkick. Santa misses a charge and Ziggler hits what appears to be some kind of reverse bulldog for the three count. Santa gets squashed this close to Christmas? Bah humbug! After the match Dolph rips the Santa costume as referee Marty Elias gets the line of the night by telling Dolph “Don’t do this to Santa.”
Winner: Dolph Ziggler (Pinfall-Reverse Bulldog ¾*)

-Kennedy shills his movie

-Hacksaw is shown in the back looking depressed. Cryme Tyme come by and say “its time.” They take him away.

-Jericho is in Stephanie’s office. Stephanie wonders what that stunt was that Jericho pulled. Stephanie tells her if she tells him to wrestle she expects him to compete. Stephanie says even against Hacksaw Jim Duggan. She plays the “I’m the boss card.” Jericho tells her he doesn’t think she’s doing a very good job. Jericho informs her that Batista’s rematch clause has expired as it exceeded the 30 day time limit. She says next week all former champions will compete in four matches. The four winners will face off a week later in a fatal four way with the winner of that facing Cena for the World Title. Stephanie tells Jericho that furthermore the next time he has a problem with one of her decisions come talk to her about it, and not make a spectacle on national television. If he does anything like that again, she’ll make sure he’s never in another match worth of Superstar of the Year.

-Cody and Manu are arguing about their plans gone awry earlier in the evening. Orton interrupts and tells them if they can’t be 100% successful in everything they do “This Legacy is over”

Batista & John Cena vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, & Manu
Batista starts off with Manu. Manu powers Batista in to the corner and we get a clean break. Manu takes control with a knee to the gut and a head butt. He attempts an Irish whip but is reversed and runs into a Batista elbow. Batista works him over in the corner before tagging in to Cena. Slam by Cena is followed by an elbow drop for a one count. Manu rolls to his corner and tags in Cody. Rhodes grabs a headlock. Cena pushes Rhodes into the ropes and after a leapfrog takes him over into a headlock. Cody fights to his feet and pushes Cena into the corner. Cena reverses an Irish whip attempt and hit’s a suplex for two. Cena tags in Batista who takes down Rhodes with a big shoulder block. Batista follows up with a Davey Boy Smith like vertical suplex which picks up two. Tag to Cena who sends Cody to the turnbuckle and follows that up with a running bulldog for a two count. Another tag to Batista who comes in with a shoulder. Batista follows that up with a corner clothesline. He tries for another but Cody finally gets some offense in with a back elbow. Orton finally tags in with Batista down, but walks right in to a Batista clothesline. Snap mare from Batista sets up Orton for a boot to the face. Batista misses a charge into the corner which allows Orton to take control of the match with the stomps as we head to commercial. Back from break with Orton still in charge of Batista. Orton tags out to Rhodes as Batista is down in the heel corner. Rhodes puts the boots to Batista before tagging out to Manu. Batista tries to fight out of the corner but runs into a huge clothesline which gets a two count. Manu tags in Orton who goes to the Orton stomp. He follows that up with a knee drop which gets two. Tag to Manu who continues the assault. A head butt is followed with an open handed thrust to the throat for a two count. Tag to Rhodes who comes in with a few shots before tagging Orton. Orton grabs a headlock but Batista is able to slam his way out of that. Orton tags Manu and Batista makes the hot tag to Cena. A series of shoulder blocks is followed up with a slam. That sets up the five knuckle shuffle for Manu. Cena gets Manu up for the FU but Orton distracts the ref allowing Rhodes to hit a dropkick to break it up. Manu tags in Rhodes who puts the boots to Cena before tagging in Orton as the heels are back in control. European uppercut by Orton and few fists get two. Orton drags Cena to the apron for another European uppercut with Orton on the floor. Back in as Orton hits his DDT off the ropes. Batista breaks up the count at two and Orton tags in Manu. Head butt from Manu as he sends Cena to the corner. Avalanche in the corner and a big splash gets a two count. Rhodes tags in and he comes off the second rope with a fist. Cena is able to fight back and sends Orton to the buckle but misses a charge. Rhodes gets a moonsault for a two count. Rhodes mounts and pounds Cena down a bit. Side Russian legsweep from Rhodes followed by a knee drop gets another two count. Cena gets a small package for two but Rhodes comes right back with a clothesline. Rhodes misses a kneedrop which allows Cena to make the hot tag to Batista. Batista hits some clotheslines and a powerslam. He takes out Manu and sends Orton to the floor before hitting a spinebuster on Rhodes. Thumbs Down. A Batista Bomb attempt is broken up as Orton uses Manu as a battering ram. RKO to Batista. Cena is sent to the floor by Orton. Orton sends Manu and Rhodes to the floor to take out Cena. Orton lines up for the punt as the referee calls for the DQ due to the double teaming on the outside. That doesn’t stop Orton who punts Batista. Cena tries to make the save but its too late.
Winners: Batista & John Cena (Disqualification-Double Teaming **¾)

-Batista lays in the ring quivering as Cena stands over him. The Legacy celebrate in the aisle. Trainers come down to attend to Batista who is still out cold. The Legacy watch from the entrance way as we fade to black.