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Backstage, John Cena was holding a referee’s shirt. Wade Barrett asked him if he remembered the building and pointed out that it was the same Arena where the Nexus first attacked Cena, leaving him a broken, battered man. Barrett asked him if Cena ever thought he’d be part of Nexus or be the man giving Barrett the championship. He said the only reason he didn’t fire Cena after Raw is because he chose not to, because Cena will have to deliver him the championship. He told Cena to do the right thing and he’ll be done with Nexus forever. Cena said he remembered everything about the first night he was attacked and said that Barrett needed to remember that tonight, one way or another, he was done with Nexus and then, he knows exactly what he’s going to do. He walked off.
WWE Tag Team champions Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater (with Nexus) vs. Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov
They said Kozlov was teaching Marella Sambo. Marella used several throws on Slater and Gabriel early. Kozlov tagged in and kicked Gabriel in the chest. Gabriel went for a leaping attack but was shot down to the mat by Kozlov.
Gabriel came back with a legsweep and tagged in Slater who covered him for a two count. The Nexus took turns tagging in and out as they worked over Kozlov in the corner. Gabriel took down Kozlov with a front facelock. Santino made the tag but the referee didn’t see it. He forced Santino back out, allowing the Nexus to work over Kozlov even more.
Slater tagged in and drove Kozlov into the corner. He broke free of Slater and made the hot tag. Santino cleaned house on Slater but Gabriel broke up a pinfall attempt. Kozlov ended up on the outside. Santino went for the Cobra but the other members of Nexus jumped on the apron and he went after them. That allowed Slater to drill Santino backwards into the mat with a neckbreaker and Slater scored the pin.
Your winners and still WWE Tag Team champions, The Nexus.
Nexus began working over Marella and Kozlov. They took over the ring. The Raw GM emailed in and Cole reminded everyone that Nexus is banned from ringside for the WWE title match and if they interfere, the entire group will be indefinitely suspended. He then ordered them out of the ring, immediately.
Not much of a match here.
WWE champion Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett with John Cena as the special referee
Fans chanted for RKO early. Orton muscled Barrett into the corner and gave him a clean break. Orton shoulderblocked Barrett down. He grabbed Barrett in a headlock but Barrett scissored his head. They got back to their feet where Orton shoulderblocked Barrett back down. Barrett muscled Orton into the corner and nailed a series of kicks. Orton reversed and came out of the corner with a stiff clothesline.
Orton worked over Barrett with a series of back elbows, which caused Cena to step in and ask him to stop. That allowed Barrett to nail Orton and then pepper him with punches on the mat. Barrett smothered Orton’s throat into the ropes but broke when Cena admonished him. Barrett had words with Cena, allowing Orton to drill him in the face with a dropkick. Orton nailed him with a series of punches.
Barrett came back to work over Orton on the floor, then tossed him into the ring to score a two count. Barrett continued working over Orton, whipping him hard into the turnbuckles. Barrett cinched in a sidechinlock. Orton fought his way free but was caught coming off the ropes with a kick to the gut.
Barrett covered Orton for a two count and went right back to the rear chinlock. Orton pulled him up into a back suplex. Orton and Barrett began exchanging strikes in the middle of the ring. Orton got the better of the exchange and caught Barrett in the face with a kick, then a clothesline. Orton nailed a scoopslam, then clotheslined Barrett over the top to the floor.
Orton followed him but was caught and driven backwards into the ring post. Orton kicked Barrett in the face as he returned to the ring. Barrett caught Orton near the eye to stun him but Orton caught Barrett and drilled him into the mat. Orton is caught with a kick as he charged Barrett in the corner.
Barrett came off the middle turnbuckle with an elbowdrop, but Orton kicked out at two. Barrett and Cena had words over the count. Barrett locked in an abdominal stretch, then slammed Orton for a two count. Barrett was getting more and more angry at Cena. Barrett went for Wasteland but Orton slipped out. He rebounded off the ropes but was caught in a Black Hole Slam. Orton kicked up and Barrett began berating Cena over the count.
The fans began dueling chants for Cena. Orton made a comeback but Barrett rolled out of the ring when Randy went for the RKO. Orton followed him to the floor but was nailed. Barrett returned to the ring and kicked Orton in the temple as Orton returned to the ring. Barrett nailed Orton with Wasteland but Orton grabbed the ropes at two so Cena broke the count. Barrett began telling Cena that he was a member of Nexus. Cena told him he warned Wade he was going to call it down the middle.
Wade nailed Cena. Cena nailed him back. Orton drilled Barrett with the RKO. Cena counted one, two, hesitated, then counted three.
Your winner and still WWE champion, Randy Orton!
Cena looked sad as he knew what was coming, then ripped off his referee’s shirt and Nexus armband. Nexus hit the ring and brawled with Orton and Cena. They grabbed Barrett and walked him off. Cena grabbed the WWE title belt and looked at it for a long time, then handed it to Orton. They hugged. Orton celebrated on the corner.
Orton walked out, but stopped to look at Cena, “knowing what John sacrificed.†They followed Orton up the aisle and he raised his belt in victory, then went to the back.
Cena remained in the ring, looking forlorn, as if he knew it was over for him. He took his wristbands off and left them in the ring. Fans chanted for Cena and he quietly circled, looking out to the audience. He saluted the fans and hugged Michael Cole at ringside. Cena hugged some fans as he walked out. He looked into the cameras, pointed, and thanked the fans. He stood on the stage, looking at the audience, made the “Wordlife†symbol and walked off.
He teased walking off, then said, “Not going out like that†and ran into the crowed, hugging fans and high fiving hem as he walked from one end of the arena to the other, through the audience for a long time before finally returning to the stage. No music played during any of this and they treated it like Cena had just signed the death sentence on his career.
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