♥ RANDY ORTON

Randy Orton is amongst the top WWE Superstars who have participated in an hour-long confrontation of this kind. At WWE Bragging Rights 2009, in the first-ever Anything Goes WWE Iron Man Match, John Cena barely defeated The Viper – six falls to Orton’s five – for the WWE Championship. But Orton’s relentless offense, and the use of TV monitors and even the pyrotechnics display, left a battered Cena hoping he never would have to face the Apex Predator for 60 minutes ever again.

The final WWE event from the Igloo in Pittsburgh opened with Randy Orton’s theme music to a big pop. He’s getting a near-John Cena-level pop right now. Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler plugged Orton vs. Edge at Over the Limit in two weeks. After Orton’s music stopped, the lights remained dimmed as the audience chanted, “Randy, Randy.” Orton speaks. He said he knows Edge and he knows Edge sees him as a threat. Suddenly, some random music interrupted to bring out musician Meat Loaf. He shouted “Randy Orton” over and over before plugging his album coming out. Mr. Loaf said he has a new theme song for Orton and he started giving Orton a “This is Your Life” moment. The fans chanted for an RKO, but Orton quieted them down and asked for a sample of the new track. Loaf started singing over a very soft pre-recorded track that drew Orton’s ire. Orton paced around the ring as Loaf just kept rambling and singing. Orton finally had enough and dropped the guy with an RKO. He didn’t know how to take it, so it looked clumsy.

Suddenly, Edge’s music hit to bring out Edge. Jerry Lawler couldn’t find the words to capture the train wreck opening to the show. Edge stood on stage and said it’s apparent Orton doesn’t like celebrities. He ran through the guest hosts Orton has assaulted and Edge said he agrees with Orton. Edge doesn’t like guest hosts, so he complained to WWE HQ and they Tweeted him back, agreeing with him. He said from here on out, celebrity guest hosts will have no authority on Raw. But, that wasn’t enough for him. Edge said he needed more than that and the show needs a new permanent GM. Edge said WWE HQ agreed with him again. He said Orton will never guess who HQ picked to be the permanent GM of Raw. Without further ado…

“Excuse me!” Vickie Guerrero shouted as she walked out on stage to massive heat. Cole noted it’s Edge’s ex-wife. So, so, so long ago. Vickie wanted to state for the record that despite her personal relationship with Edge in the past, she is here tonight to be a true professional. “And, Randy, speaking of professionalism, you attacking celebrities is something that we at WWE do not condone.” Vickie told Orton he’s going to be reprimanded. Orton shifted the heat to a big babyface pop telling Vickie to come down to the ring for a face-to-face reprimand.

Edge called Orton a bully and said tonight he’s going to find out what it’s like to be bullied. Vickie then booked Orton vs. Edge and a partner of his choice in a two-on-one handicap match. Edge promised Orton he’ll find out what it’s like to be threatened. Cue up Edge’s music. “I can’t believe WWE put her (Vickie) in charge of anything, much less WWE Raw,” Lawler said after the segment wrapped. Cole noted Vickie’s previous storyline botches in an authority role before they cut to the back.

They showed Orton slowly walking down the hallway in anticipation of the main event vs. Edge and a mystery partner. Randy Orton came out first for the TV main event tonight. Edge then came out with Vickie Guerrero as one-half of the heel tandem. Edge’s music stopped with Edge standing on stage, then Ted DiBiase’s music hit to bring out DiBiase with the Million Dollar Belt around his waist. Edge smiled as he walked to the ring with Orton’s former protégé. Legacy…must…continue. Lawler inserted a storyline that DiBiase would be entitled to the Trust Fund when he turned 30 or had his first WrestleMania match. Well, that’s better than nothing.

RANDY ORTON vs. EDGE (w/Vickie Guerrero) & TED DIBIASE
Orton and DiBiase started things off with Orton running over DiBiase with a hard shoulder tackle early on. DiBiase then took a clothesline, but Edge had blind-tagged into the match and he blind-sided Orton to take control of the match. Edge continued to work over Orton before tagging in DiBiase, who landed kicks and stomps on Orton. They showed Vickie casually sitting ringside observing the action as the heels continued to work over Orton.

Orton teased a comeback, but Edge dropped him with a strike to the head and scored a two count. DiBiase then tagged in and grounded Orton before Orton came back with an explosive clothesline. Orton then dropped DiBiase with a big powerslam and started his babyface IED routine. Orton bumped Edge off the ring apron to the announce table, then dropped DiBiase with a fallaway backbreaker. Orton grabbed his head and started to sense it before dropping to the mat to pound his fists to set up the RKO. DiBiase blocked, of course, but Orton back dropped DiBiase over the top rope to the floor. Suddenly, R-Truth walked down the ramp and DiBiase scampered back into the ring to avoid Truth. DiBiase fell right into Orton’s hands and Orton nailed an RKO center ring. Orton then made the cover for the win.

Winner: Orton at 4:55. Decent main event action (for five minutes, which was really long on this show), they gave DiBiase a main event spotlight, and they continued the DiBiase vs. Truth program that will probably spill over to the PPV. (*1/2)

Post-match, Orton slowly turned his head to look at Vickie Guerrero sitting ringside. Orton did his viper pose on the mat staring at Vickie as Vickie started calling for Edge to wake up. Orton then slowly walked out of the ring and stared down Vickie, who took a mic and told Orton, “Don’t do it.” Orton was within a few feet before Vickie warned him. She freaked out before announcing, “I resign! I resign!” Edge then came to his feet and Orton dropped Edge with an RKO on the floor right as Edge came to his feet. Vickie suddenly took off running as Orton watched her disappear from ringside up the ramp and to the backstage area. Orton returned to the ring and posed in the ring before staring down at Edge, who sold being out cold on the floor. After a replay of the ending, they showed Edge sprawled out on the floor and Orton staring down at him in the ring to close the show.