Monday Night RAW – 1/4/10

This episode of Monday Night RAW has been teased for weeks now.  We finally get to see the return of the Hall of Famer, “The Hitman” Bret Hart.  Would he make peace or exact revenge for what happened 12 years ago?  Here’s what went down:

Video Package: The history of the Hitman with the WWE.

Justin Roberts announces the guest host for the evening, Bret Hart who comes to the ring.  He addresses the crowd, “Well I guess hell froze over!  It’s been 12 years… for that time I’ve tried to come back but Vince McMahon said it wasn’t possible!”  He then calls out Shawn Michaels.

• Bret says to HBK face to face, “I want a truce” and Michaels responds, “you deserved what you got that day, and there’s part of me that doesn’t regret it, but there’s another part that has changed.  I always respected you, I didn’t think you respected me.  When I think of Bret Hart, I don’t think of Montreal, I think of Anaheim and the 60 minute Iron Man Match.  I think of the “Excellence of Execution.”  You’re not the only one who wants to bury the hatchet.
• They shake hands, and it’s a very uneasy situation that you think something may happen, but Shawn turns around and gives Bret a hug!
• Bret then calls out Vince McMahon who does NOT come out.

Backstage: Josh Matthews is waiting outside of Mr. McMahon’s office as he approaches.  He informs Mr. McMahon of Bret calling him out and Vince is a little upset.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Diva’s Title has been vacated!  Champion Melina is injured and there will be a tournament to determine the new Diva’s Champion.

First Round – Divas Championship Tournament
Maryse vs. Nikki Bella with Brie Bella
WINNER: Maryse via pin fall after catching the Bella’s in a switch-out then hitting the French Kiss DDT.

• After the match, The Miz came out and tells Maryse that if she wins the title, maybe he’ll call her back.  Then he walks to the ring for commentary on the next match

#1 Contenders Match for the US Title
MVP vs. Mark Henry vs. Jack Swagger vs. Carlito
WINNER: MVP via pin fall after hitting the Playmaker

Backstage: Chris Jericho & Big Show are talking about their Tag Team Title Match with DX tonight.  Jericho says that he’s got a plan…

Backstage: Bret Hart is in the office when he’s approached by Jericho who says, “Deep down I know the real Bret Hart.  I want you to be the referee tonight in our match.  Just ring the bell…”

• Bret tells him, “This is no act and I don’t want to be like you, a hypocrite!

Backstage: Hornswoggle is looking at the new WWE action figures and Triple H tells him not till after the match.  Shawn Michaels walks in looking somewhat down, but somewhat relieved after making peace with Bret.  Trips tells him to get his head straight for the match tonight!

• Trips says to Shawn, “Check this out!”  Randomly, Santino Marella walks in dressed like Chris Jericho, and Trips says to Hornswoggle, “attack!”  The little guy springs into action beating up Santino, then gets a cookie for a job well done!

Unified Tag Team Title Match
DX (Shawn Michaels & Triple H) (champions) vs. JeriShow (Chris Jericho & Big Show)
WINNERS: DX via pin fall after Michaels hit Sweet Chin Music on Jericho

• Because of their loss, Jericho must go back to being just on the Smackdown show.  The crowd starts chanting, “Na na na na hey hey hey goodbye!”

Backstage: Randy Orton knocks on the office door of Vince McMahon and says, “I have an offer for you!”

• McMahon is pissed off already, and considering the bad blood between them he says, “What Bret did to me is NOTHING compared to what you did to my family!”
• Orton offers to be “the legend killer” once again and kick Bret Hart in the skull for Vince.  In return he wants the #30 spot in the Royal Rumble.  Vince goes back into the office to mull it over.
• Randy walks down the hall and is approached by Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase who say the same thing Orton told them last week, “If you lose, you’re out of Legacy and if that happens, we’ll beat the hell out of you!”

ANNOUNCEMENT: Next week’s RAW guest host, Mike Tyson!

Video Package: What happened last week in the rematch between WWE Champion Sheamus and John Cena.

Sheamus comes to the ring and talks about how he is still the WWE Champion and the last image of 2009 was him standing over John Cena’s broken body.  Now he wants a new challenger!

• Out walks Evan Bourne who says, “You have that title because someone gave you an opportunity… If I was given the same opportunity, I could beat you!”
• Sheamus chuckles to himself and says, “Little Evan Bourne, if you beat me tonight, I’ll give you a title shot at the Rumble!”

Non-title Match
Sheamus vs. Evan Bourne
WINNER: Sheamus via pin fall after hitting the Razor’s Edge

Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler acknowledge the death of Dr. Death.

Video Package: Another package on the history of Bret Hart.

Grudge Match
Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston
WINNER: Randy Orton via pin fall after blocking Trouble in Paradise then countering with an RKO

• Legacy, who was sitting ringside, looked bummed that Randy won.

Justin Roberts introduces Mr. McMahon who comes to the ring.  Mr. McMahon beats around the bush too long that Bret Hart decides to come to the ring on his own.  The second he gets in the ring, his trademark leather jacket comes off.

• Vince says, “I think I know what you’re thinking and what these people (crowd) are thinking.  They want to see you apply the Sharpshooter… I still think you screwed you!  I’ll never forget you spit on me, sucker punched me, disrespected me… I’m just being honest… I’m hoping you’ll say two words, I’m sorry!”
• Bret responds, “Those weren’t the two words I was thinking of… I came here tonight for closure and I’m halfway there.  You want this as bad as I do!
• Vince responds, “You’re right…” then reminisces about the past for a little bit.  Offers Bret the nomination of his dad, Stu Hart for the WWE Hall of Fame.  He then thanks him on behalf of the crowd and himself.
• They shake hands and pose together for the crowd, until Vince kicks Bret in the crotch and walks away!

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Same shit, different day with WWE, it’s just that they had a built in story line by bringing in Bret Hart.  I was intrigued to see what would happen between Vince and Bret, and I figured that something bad would go down.  It was good to see Bret on TV again.  I’m just wondering if he’s eventually going to have a match against Vince at Wrestlemania?

The silly DX segments with Hornswoggle are slightly amusing, but I would still rather see good wrestling.  Too many times do we see DX peddling their own merchandise, but this time they were just peddling the new line of WWE action figures which look silly!  The tag team title match was a disappointment because DX won.  I don’t like the fact that DX is invading Smackdown now.  I’d rather see Jericho on both shows!

Sucks to find out that Melina was injured and now must vacate the Diva’s Title.  In the scheme of things it sort of helps the division because now they have to actually do something to lead into the Royal Rumble that really means something.  It’s still WWE and I’m sure that it’s going to be ridiculous, and I have a feeling that the belt is still going to be put on Maryse like they were slowly aiming for.