This Day In Wrestling History - April 20

Date: April 20, 2009 (5 years ago)

Feature: WWE Raw five years ago from the U.K. featured a main event of Triple H vs. Randy Orton, plus John Cena vs. Chris Jericho, C.M. Punk vs. Kane, and Big Show vs. Rey Mysterio.

Torch Back-Issue: PWTorch Newsletter #491.

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KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
APRIL 20, 2009
TAPE-DELAYED FROM THE U.K.
AIRED ON USA NETWORK

1 -- BATISTA vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

The bell rang and Batista didn't move from his standing position with hands on hips mid-ring. Chavo charged at him, and Batista powerbombed him immediately for the win.

WINNER: Batista in 0:06.

-Afterward, Chavo apologized to Aunt Vickie. He said it would never happen again. "I wasn't ready; I wasn't ready, Vickie. I promise you, never again." Batista returned to the ring as the crowd chanted "Ba-ti-sta!" Chavo then panicked and said, "No, I was ready!" Batista gave him another Batista-bomb.

2 -- KANE vs. C.M. PUNK

Clips aired during Kane's ring intro of the battles between Kane and Punk during the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 25. Cole said this was their final match on Raw before moving to Smackdown. He said the draft "takes full effect" next Monday on Raw after Backlash. When Kane went for an early chokeslam, Punk countered with a small package and scored the quick win.

WINNER: Punk in 2:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Not much to it, and it's yet another one of too many super-short TV matches between equally matched wrestlers. If this happened once a month and a bigger deal was made of it, that'd be one thing, but it's just too often that they cut these so short.

3 -- MELINA vs. BETH PHOENIX (w/Rosa Mendes)

Melina fought out of a torture rack type hold at 1:00. Phoenix rammed her into the corner, then began kicking her in the back of her head with her own boot in the corner. Lawler was impressed and asked Cole if he could try that on him. Melina hit a facebuster at 3:00. Rosa jumped on the ring apron and distracted Melina. Phoenix charged, but Melina moved and Rosa took the shoulder tackle, knocking her to the floor. Melina then rolled up Phoenix for the three count.

WINNER: Melina in 4:00 to retain the Women's Title.

STAR RATING: *

-They cut backstage to Triple H lacing up his boots. Shane entered the room and told him to be safe and wished him luck. Shane said on Sunday they have to be careful not to screw things up. He said they can all get riled up. He said they can't let Orton win the title via DQ on Sunday because then he'll have accomplished everything he set out to do. Triple H said he's going to get it out of his system tonight. They shook hands.

-They showed Jericho heading to the entrance tunnel for his match against Cena.

4 -- JOHN CENA vs. CHRIS JERICHO

Cena jumped off the top rope for an apparent dropkick. Jericho stepped back and applied a Walls of Jericho. Cena crawled toward the bottom rope, but Jericho pulled him back to the middle. Jericho called for Cena to tap. Lawler said he can't remember ever seeing Cena tapout. Cena countered and quickly applied the STF. Jerihco flailed and crawled to the bottom rope. Cena yanked Jericho back to the middle, but Jericho surprised him with an enzuigiri (or "en-see-guh-rhee!" as Cole called it.) Jericho scored a two count. Jericho set up a superplex, but Cena reversed position. Edge then came out and and shoved Cena to the mat. He entered the ring and pounded away at his head.

WINNER: Cena via DQ in 16:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Very good match.

-Edge continued the beatdown, giving him a spear and then looking out into the crowd. He brought a chair into the ring and set Cena's head on it. He took another chair and took a deep, sinister breath and smashed Cena across the head. He brought a mic into the ring and said, "The winner in a Last Man Standing match is the man who knocks his opponent unconscious for a count of ten." He began to count. He got to ten. Lawler said that could happen on Sunday. He did a dry run of being announced as the new World Heavyweight Champion.

5 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. THE BIG SHOW

Cole billed this as Rey's last match on Monday Night Raw. Lawler said they'd miss him. Show bullied Rey at the bell, including picking him up by his head and throwing him to the floor. He then pulled him back into the ring by grabbing his head with one hand. Rey kicked him and then head scissored him into the top turnbuckle. He followed with a 619 to his back and then a 619 attempt to the face. Show caught him and held him and then punched him on the side of his head for the KO win. The ref and a trainer tended to Rey, who wasn't moving.

WINNER: The Big Show in 1:00. They ought to ban closed fist punches again. It seems so unfair (that someone can use that "move" as their finisher).

-They went backstage to Cody Rhodes asking Ted DiBiase how his back is. DiBiase said fine, then asked how his face is. Cody said unlike them, none of their Backlash opponents are on the same page. DiBiase said it's not as cool being in Legacy when the leader doesn't... at which point Orton walked in and asked him if he was about to say it's not as good when the leader doesn't have the title. Orton said everyone is jealous of him because he's better than all of them. He said Triple H is on borrowed time. He said he used the sledgehammer at WrestleMania because he knew he'd lose otherwise. He said on Sunday they'll win, and first tonight he guarantees victory against Triple H. He walked away and then the camera stayed on DiBiase and Rhodes uncomfortably long.

6 -- TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON

Late in the match, Rhodes and DiBiase charged to the ring and attacked Triple H. Shane ran to the ring to make the save, knocking Rhodes and DiBiase around briefly with punches. DiBiase pulled the top rope down and Rhodes reversed Shane into the ropes to the floor. Rhodes and DiBiase double-teamed Triple H. Batista ran to the ring (carefully) and hit clotheslines on Rhodes and DiBiase and then a spear on Orton. Batista went for a spear on Rhodes, but hit Shane instead. Triple H got up and seemed to question Batista's spear of Shane. Batista shoved Triple H to the side as DiBiase charged. He threw DiBiase to the floor, then went after Rhodes. Rhodes reversed Batista into the ringpost. Orton then surprised Triple H with an RKO. Cole declared, "This match is still going on! It's no-disqualification!" The ref counted Orton's three count on Triple H.

WINNER: Orton in 17:00.

STAR RATING: *** -- Served its purpose well with a strong rematch from WrestleMania that felt like a worthy big time main event (but understandably past its peak freshness date, thus not hurting a potential PPV buy) and parlayed effectively into promoting Backlash on Sunday.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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