Josh Mathews interviewed Randy Orton, who said if it was a singles match, he would beat John Cena or Triple H, but in a Triple Threat match, he could lose without being pinned. Orton said he was counting on their egos to destroy each other. Randy Orton said maybe someday the fans will cheer him the way they do Cena and HHH, but until then, he will remain the WWE Champion.
Women's Champion Michelle McCool vs. Melina.
They recapped that incredible angle from Smackdown this week that set up the match (yes, that is sarcasm). As Melina did her entrance, McCool knocked her off the apron. Melina got back in and speared McCool. Melina matrixed under a clothesline, then hit an armdrag. Melina hit some back elbows, then a back kick in the corner. McCool tried to get out of the ring, but Melina pulled her back in, then dropkicked her in the face. Melina hit a tilt-a-whirl back kick, then a boot to the face. Melina missed a dropkick, and Melina went through the ropes and to the floor. McCool hit a running knee on the floor, sending Melina into the security wall. Back in the ring, McCool put Melina in a half Crab, bending her leg past her shoulder.
Melina made the ropes, and McCool bent her over the middle rope, then shoved her to the floor. McCool missed a running kick on the floor, catching herself on the security wall. Melina and McCool stood up on the security wall, jockeying for position, and McCool hit a DDT, driving Melina into the top of the security wall. Melina got onto the apron, and McCool missed a baseball slide kick and fell to the floor. Melina used a headscissors on McCool near the apron, then hit a face driver off the apron to the floor. Back in the ring, McCool hit a kick to the face, but Melina tripped McCool into the ropes, and delivered a double jumping knee to the back. Melina put McCool across the middle rope, then drilled her with a double kneedrop to the midsection. Melina hit a spinkick for another two count. McCool came back with a belly to belly suplex. McCool rammed Melina in a corner, but Melina hit headscissors, then went for a Thesz Press, but McCool reversed positions and rolled Melina, pushing her legs over her head, up for the pin at the seven minute mark.
Winner: Michelle McCool.
John Cena was shown in the back getting ready for his match.
The events leading to the WWE Title match were shown.
WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena in a Triple Threat match.
Cena came out first, then Triple H, then Orton. They did the "big fight intros" and Triple H got more cheers than Cena. Orton got more boos than both, but there were cheers as well. Orton slid out of the ring at the bell, but Cena and Triple H got out on opposite sides and cornered Orton. Orton went back into the ring, as did his opponents. Orton went after Triple H, who hit him with right hands. Orton slid out of the ring, but Cena went out and clotheslined Orton on the floor, then tossed him back in. Triple H worked over Orton with punches in a corner, then Orton ran into a Triple H boot after reversing a whip. Cena hit a bulldog on Orton, and Triple H and Cena took turns punching Orton, who bailed out to the floor. Cena and Triple H went out after him, throwing him into the security wall. Cena threw Orton into the ring, and as Cena got on the apron, Orton knocked him back to the floor, into Triple H.
Orton tossed Cena into the ring and hit some punches. There was a chant for Cena as Orton pounded him on the mat, then stomped his arm. Triple H got onto the apron, but Orton knocked him back to the floor. Cena gave Orton a pair of shoulderblocks, then a powerbomb. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and dropped the five knuckle shuffle fistdrop. Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Triple H broke it up and threw Cena into the ringpost and to the floor. Orton went after Triple H, stomping him down in a corner. Orton hit a dropkick, then put HHH into a chinlock. Triple H fought up and they exchanged punches, the Orton hit a powerslam for a two count. Orton measured Triple H for a RKO, but Triple H blocked it and hit a DDT. Cena came in off the top rope and did what was supposed to be a double Rocker Dropper, but he overshot both of them. They fell down anyway.
Orton gave Cena a side backbreaker, sending him to the floor. Triple H went for a Pedigree on Orton, but Orton backdropped him from the ring. Cena got on the apron, but Orton kicked him as he got in. Triple H got on the apron as well, and Orton went to DDT both Cena and HHH off the ropes, but they double backdropped him to the floor instead. Cena and HHH faced off in the ring, HHH mocked Cena's hand gestures. Cena and HHH exchanged punches with the crowd doing "Boo" (Cena) and "Yay" (HHH) with every punch. Cena hit a pair of shoulderblocks, but Triple H caught him with a jumping knee. Triple H hit a facebuster on the knee, but Cena came right back with a Throwback. They teased their finishers, but neither one could complete them. Triple H hit Cena with a spinebuster, then delivered the Pedigree. Orton pulled Triple H from the ring as he went for the cover. Orton tossed HHH into the ring steps, then cleared the Smackdown table and put him on it. Triple H got up and teased a Pedigree on the table, but Cena broke it up and tossed Orton into the crowd. Cena put Triple H in an STF on the table. Orton broke it up.
Orton and Cena got back into the ring, and Orton went for an RKO, but Cena threw him away. Cena put Orton in position for a superplex. Triple H came in and pulled Cena down. They traded attempts for finishers, then Cena catapulted HHH into the corner, crotching Orton on the top rope as he was trying to stand up. Cena put Triple H in an STF, and Orton went for a punt on Cena, but Cena moved, Orton missed the kick, and Cena rolled up Orton for two. Orton then nailed Cena with a clothesline. Orton stomped Cena and Triple H, then delivered repeated kneedrops to Cena, then Triple H. Orton finally missed one on HHH, and Cena chopblocked his leg. Triple H then dropped a knee on Orton's leg, and Cena then powerbombed Orton. Cena went for the "You Can't See Me" again, then as he ran the ropes, Triple H pulled down the top rope and Cena fell to the floor.
Triple H put Orton in a Sharpshooter. Cena came in and put Orton in an STF. Orton tapped out, but the referee didn't call for the bell, and stood there looking confused, since Orton was tapping out while in two different holds. DiBiase and Rhodes ran in and attacked Triple H and Cena. The announcers said there was no disqualifications. DiBiase took Triple H to the floor. In the ring, Cena lifted Cody for an Attitude Adjustment, and Orton hit Cena with an RKO for the pin at the 24-minute mark.
Winner: Randy Orton.
Backstage, Miz flirted with Maryse, but Maryse called him a loser. Miz said he wasted his time helping her last week. Maryse said she is a champion. Miz called her a tease, and said she would lose the title. Miz said she butchered her chance, the same way she butches the English language, and walked off.
Divas Champion Maryse vs. Mickie James.
The Divas trash talked before the bell rang. They locked up, and rolled to the mat in a collar and elbow tieup. They broke up and Maryse shoved Mickie, then ducked out of the ropes to avoid being hit. Maryse did her hair flip thing, and Mickie yanked her down, rolling her up for a two count. Mickie slid under a kick by Maryse, then hit a dropkick for two. Mickie hit a forearm, then a kick to the gut. Mickie went for a headscissors and was tossed to the apron. Mickie went for a springboard, but Maryse kicked her to the floor. Maryse prompted the referee to count, so she could retain the title. Mickie made it back in at eight, and Maryse stomped her. Mickie fought back with forearms, but Maryse hit a back elbow. Maryse applied a camel clutch, and Mickie battled up. Maryse threw Mickie to the floor. Then she threw her back in the ring. Maryse reached under the ring and pulled out a can of hairspray, but as she got in the ring, Mickie kicked her in the gut. Mickie grabbed the can, but the referee took it away. On the floor, Mickie worked over Maryse with shots, then threw her into the ring. Mickie went to the top rope, but missed a bodypress. Maryse put Mickie back in a camel clutch, but Mickie stood up and dropped backwards to break it. Mickie hit a neckbreaker, but Maryse reversed a whip. Mickie caught a headscissors, but Maryse botched something and rolled up Mickie for a two count. Mickie kicked Maryse and went to the middle rope, but Maryse slammed her off. Maryse went for a DDT, but Mickie reversed it and hit a DDT for the pin at the eight minute mark.
Winner and new Divas Champion: Mickie James.
Coverage continued on the next page.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!