WWE 2009 Bragging Rights – Raw Vs. Smackdown Play By Play

It’s the inaugural WWE Bragging Rights PPV and while there have been some cold shows before, I’m not sure there’s been one this cold going in all year long. I have to figure out something else to do while watching John Cena and Randy Orton go sixty minutes. Maybe I’ll fold laundry.

They just showed a trophy that the brand winner will take home. They just said that whichever brand wins 2 out of the 3 interbrand matches wins the trophy which is a cup.

1. The Miz Vs. John Morrison

The announcers are now crediting the Miz’s new meaner character to him jobbing to John Cena.

Wow, the Miz actually won the match. It was a nice opener, but nothing to necessarily write home about. They didn’t tease nearly enough to create any kind of drama. Morrison went for the Starship Pain and Miz pushed his feet out from under him. For some reason, falling off the top rope was enough to beat Morrison. Odd finish.

Winner: The Miz

Looks like the Smackdown girls are winning to settle the score.

2. Smackdown Divas vs. Raw Divas

On Smackdown, it’s Beth, Michelle, and Natalya and on Raw it’s Kelly, Gail, and Melina. At least I think.

There’s lots of screaming in this match. The finish was botched. Melina and Beth were in the corner and Beth was supposed to drop her like a snake eyes across the top turnbuckle. Melina didn’t come near the turnbuckle, but still acted like she hit it, and then came the Glam Slam.

Winner: Smackdown Divas

3. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk vs. The Undertaker

That was a very fun match, though it was messy as all hell, mostly thanks to Dave Batista. Interestingly enough, I thought the Undertaker would spend a lot of it outside of the ring, but he was the one who worked the most. The story was that Punk and Rey kept getting thrown out and Dave and the Taker kept going at it. Dave is terrible these days. It worked and didn’t at the same time.

They teased Big Dave and Rey not getting along when they were breaking up each other’s pin attempts. Punk tried to pin both Dave and Taker after they beat each other up. Taker finally pinned Batista after a Tombstone.

Winner: The Undertaker

They cut the weirdest of all weird interviews in the ring. Josh came in the ring to interview both Rey and Big Dave. I’m not sure if Dave missed his cue to speak or something, but Josh pretty much asked Rey the same question twice about coming close to winning. Dave had this look of confusion, exhaustion, and constipation all at the same time. He then tried to be diabolical Dave and said that Rey and he weren’t friends and beat the crap out of poor Rey with Rey begging him not to. I guess it was effective and Dave definitely needed the turn, but it was weird.

4. Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown

This match was ok, but I was expecting more. There wasn’t really enough time to do one of those great multi-man matches, but then again, if it was 4 on 4 or 5 on 5, it probably would’ve been better.

I think that part of the problem was that none of these guys had any real issues with each other except for past feuds like Jericho and HBK. Thus, like when Matt Hardy was in the ring with Shawn Michaels the crowd wasn’t into it. They did pop when guys like Triple H got into the match though.

The end was good though and I’m glad they didn’t change it because it was the obvious finish. The Big Show turned on Kofi and chokeslammed him off the top rope and then knocked out HHH with the punch of death. Jericho covered Kofi for the win. This hopefully sets up DX vs. Jericho and Show which is the right way to go.

Winner: Team Smackdown

Team Smackdown jumped up and down with the cup.

5. John Cena vs. Randy Orton

It’s going to take everything in me to sit with this match for one hour. I’ll probably update after every fall.

Randy Orton tapped out to the STFU right before the four minute mark. The idea is that Orton is smart for not allowing himself to be in that move for a long time and thus, hurting himself for the rest of the match. Cena is up 1-0.

At the 9 minute mark, Orton hit the RKO for the pin. This was right after Cena hit the leg drop from the top rope and was about to do his You Can’t See Me deal. 1-1.

There was a double pin about 17 minutes in. Orton bloodied up Cena and they tried to make it seem like they had to check the cut, but the blood fired up Cena and he made a comeback. Cena went for the FU and Orton hit the RKO. I think we’re supposed to think that both guys hit their moves on each other. They both were on their backs with one arm on the other guy and got the double pin. It’s now 2-2.

Cena hit the FU from the top rope and got the immediate pin. He’s now up 3-2.

Legacy came in and beat up Cena and Orton pinned him. It’s back tied 3-3. I wonder if we’ll reach ten pinfalls?

Just passed the 25 minute mark, Orton threw Cena into some of the light fixtures that make up the set and there was an “explosion”. He got the pin and is now up 4-3.

Orton just destroyed Cena for about the next 8 minutes. He even tried to get one of the pyros to explode on him, though unsuccessfully. Cena small packaged him out of desperation to tie it up. 4-4.

If this is no DQ, why is there a time interval between falls?

Orton DDT’d Cena from the apron to the floor and pinned Cena. He’s now up 5-4.

With just over 9 minutes left, Cena hit the FU on Orton through the announce table. It’s now 5-5.

Orton missed the kick of death and Cena put him in the STF and Orton tapped with 4 seconds left. Cena is the champ and he’s sticking around on Raw.

I have to admit that they did enough to keep my interested and I think it was probably the best match they’ve ever had together, though that’s not saying much.

Winner: John Cena

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