ATLANTA - The 2009 Draft saw the entire WWE roster shaken up, and even after a special three-hour Raw, the changes are still coming with the Supplemental Draft, live on WWE.com all day Wednesday. While the WWE Universe certainly won, with such high-profile Superstars as Rey Mysterio, Matt Hardy, CM Punk andBig Show changing brands and WWE Champion Triple H bringing Raw its second World Title, the night was a rough one for Randy Orton.
Not only did the Draft bring Orton’s nemesis Triple H to Monday nights, but his protégés in The Legacy failed to defeat The Game, Batista & Shane McMahon, meaning that The Legend Killer will have to face The King of Kings on the next Raw.
WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon def. The Legacy; The Game earned an opportunity to go one-on-one with Randy Orton on the next Raw.
In Raw’s main event, there wasn’t a Draft pick on the line, but instead something far more valuable to the competitors: An opportunity to exact retribution from Randy Orton. With the ring warrior scoring the pinfall earning a match against The Legend Killer on the next Raw, WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon were more concerned with getting a victory for themselves than with working as a team. As Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase did their best to take advantage of their opponents’ strife, their opponents did themselves no favors, with Shane going so far as to break up Batista’s pin. As The Animal and Shane O’Mac argued, however, Triple H took advantage of the situation to pin Ted DiBiase after a devastating Pedigree, dashing The Legacy’s hopes of keeping their leader out of competition the following week.
Chris Jericho (SmackDown) def. Tommy Dreamer(ECW); Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio drafted to SmackDown.
Though he had made Raw his home since returning to WWE, Chris Jericho competed in the night’s last interpromotional Draft match on behalf of SmackDown, where he had been drafted earlier in the evening. The nefarious Superstar proved what a valuable addition he will be to SmackDown’s roster by defeating ECW Original Tommy Dreamer and bringing more championship gold to Friday nights with Draftee, Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio.
Matt Hardy (Raw) def. CM Punk (SmackDown); Divas Champion Maryse drafted to Raw.
Matt Hardy and CM Punk entered the 2009 WWE Draft representing SmackDown and Raw respectively, but by the time they faced off in the ring, their brand allegiances had switched. As the two ring warriors slugged it out,Jeff Hardy rushed to the ring and attacked his sibling, resulting in the disqualification of Mr. Money in the Bank and allowing Matt to pick up another random selection for Raw. With Women’s Champion Melina drafted to SmackDown earlier, Monday nights were in sore need of women’s division gold, and found it in the form of the newest Raw Diva: Divas Champion Maryse.
Christian (ECW) def. Shelton Benjamin (SmackDown);Vladimir Kozlov drafted to ECW.
Christian took to the ring to compete against Shelton Benjamin, and managed to show The Gold Standard what being Captain Charisma is all about, picking up a win and a Draft pick for his home brand of ECW. Though it was the only selection of the night for the Land of the Extreme, interim ECW General Manager Tiffany couldn’t be disappointed as it brought Vladimir Kozlov, The Moscow Mauler to Tuesday nights.
Edge (SmackDown) won the Tri-Branded Battle Royal;Kane & Chris Jericho drafted to SmackDown.
Five Superstars from each of WWE’s three brands took to the ring for a 15-Man Tri-Branded Battle Royal, with the victor earning two Draft picks for their respective brand. With so much talent loaded into the ring, the match could have gone any way, but it was The Ultimate Opportunist Edge who outlasted the competition – including Big Show, Mark Henry and Finlay – and was the last Superstar left in the ring. Though Raw had gained numerous new ring warriors throughout the night, this win did a lot to even the score by bringing both Kane and Chris Jericho to SmackDown.
Kofi Kingston (Raw) def. The Miz (ECW); The Miz drafted to Raw.
Representing Raw, Kofi Kingston competed against ECW’s The Miz, accompanied by his tag team partner,John Morrison. Perhaps not accustomed to working alone, The Shaman of Sexy was caught interfering in the match on behalf of the self-proclaimed “chick magnet,” leading to The Miz’s loss by disqualification, and another Draft pick for Raw. The former reality TV star will be getting more chances to work solo, as he was randomly selected to move to Monday nights. After embracing his “Dirt Sheet” partner, The Miz turned on him, leveling him with a Reality Check.
The Great Khali (SmackDown) def. Santino Marella(Raw); Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk drafted to SmackDown.
In another interpromotional SmackDown vs. Raw match, Santino Marella was faced with the massive Great Khali. Before the match began, however, Beth Phoenix came to the stage with a special announcement regarding the impending contest. By order of GM Vickie Guerrero, in addition to the Draft pick already at stake, if Santino lost the match, his “twin sister,” Miss WrestleMania “Santina” Marella, would have to be a guest on the Khali Kiss Cam. Unfortunately for the Italian Superstar and Miss WrestleMania, The Great Khali was victorious. In addition to winning some time with Santina next week, The Punjabi Playboy also earned SmackDown a Draft pick, bringing CM Punk to Friday nights. The Straightedge Superstar brings with him his Money in the Bank contract, which if utilized properly, is as valuable as any World Title.
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena (Raw) def. ECW Champion Jack Swagger (ECW); Matt Hardy and WWE Champion Triple H drafted to Raw.
With two Draft picks up for grabs, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena faced off against ECW Champion Jack Swagger for the first time ever. Despite “The All-American” American’s earlier bragging, The Champ prevailed, handing Swagger a defeat courtesy of the STF, and bringing two of SmackDown’s most powerful ring warriors to Raw: The devious Matt Hardy and WWE Champion Triple H, giving Raw two World Titles. Following the match Cena was attacked by his Backlash opponent, Edge, but managed to turn the assault around, chasing The Ultimate Opportunist from the ring.
Divas Champion Maryse, Michelle McCool & Natalya(SmackDown) def. Women’s Champion Melina, Mickie James & Kelly Kelly (Raw); Melina drafted to SmackDown.
The Divas of Raw and SmackDown squared off in a Six-Diva Tag Team Match, which saw Divas Champion Maryse, Michelle McCool & Natalya defeat Women’s Champion Melina, Mickie James & Kelly Kelly, earning SmackDown the brand’s first Draft pick. The random selection was a lucky one for the ladies of SmackDown, as it brought Melina and her Women’s Championship to Friday nights.
Kane (Raw) def. The Brian Kendrick (SmackDown); Big Show drafted to Raw.
Representing SmackDown, The Brian Kendrick took on Kane with another Draft selection on the line. But even with the assistance of his bodyguard, Ezekiel Jackson, Kendrick was no match for the immense size and strength of The Big Red Monster. Kane’s victory earned Raw another Draftee, bringing in The World’s Largest Athlete, Big Show, and eliminating the 7-footer’s status as the biggest Superstar on Raw.
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio (Raw) def.Evan Bourne (ECW); United States Champion MVPdrafted to Raw.
The first match of the night pitted two high-flyers against one another in the form of Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio and ECW’s Evan Bourne. Unfortunately for “Air” Bourne, his aerial maneuvers were no match for the ring experience of The Master of the 619, who picked up the win. Like most of the matches on the Draft night, there was a randomized Draft pick at stake, which Mysterio picked up for Raw. With the first Draft selection of the evening, Monday nights gained another title as United States Champion MVP joined the roster.
WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon to face The Legacy on Raw with a match against Randy Orton at stake.
After returning to WWE the week before, Batista opened Raw on the night of the Draft with vengeance on his mind. Though he’ll have a chance to meet Randy Orton in the ring as part of the WWE Championship Tag Team Match at Backlash, The Animal made clear his desire to face The Legend Killer on Raw and take revenge for the vicious punt that kept him from the ring for months. But Batista wasn’t the only competitor with his sights set on Orton, as he was joined in the ring by both Shane McMahon and WWE Champion Triple H, who both wanted to get their hands on the venomous Superstar for what his attacks on Stephanie McMahon and the WWE Chairman himself, Mr. McMahon.
As the three argued over who would get first dibs on Orton, they were interrupted by Vickie Guerrero. Raw’s new General Manager announced that only one of them would get the opportunity to face The Legend Killer before Backlash, and that they would have to earn it. Guerrero then placed WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match against The Legacy for later in the night. Whoever scores the pinfall on either Rhodes or DiBiase will have earned themselves a match against Orton on the next Raw, but if The Legacy prevails, then none of “The Viper’s” enemies will be able to get their hands on him.
