Examiner.com

Monday Night Raw took place in Portland, OR on March 8, 2010. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler were the commentators for the evening. The guest host was illusionist Criss Angel.

The show began with The Undertaker making his way to the ring for WrestleMania build up. Undertaker said that last week was symbolic to his opponent, Shawn Michaels, since Michaels was the seventeenth victim of Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak. Undertaker mentioned that in Michaels' life there loomed a dark cloud that he was unable to shake. Undertaker wanted Michaels to know after WrestleMania there will be no sense of triumph as Michaels will lose and his career will end as a result. Michaels would only have the same dark cloud above his head for the rest of his life.

As soon as Undertaker tried to say his "Rest In Peace" line, Shawn Michaels entered the ring and told Undertaker that he did not earn the right to say those three words. Michaels admitted that last year there was a dark cloud. However last week, Michaels had an epiphany. The reason why he cost Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber was because Michaels had no choice. It occurred to Michaels that inside Undertaker's heart, fear existed. Undertaker told Michaels to choose his next words very carefully. Michaels simply said "fear".

Michaels believed that Undertaker was afraid because last year his streak was broken. Michaels said his life has been in professional wrestling for twenty five years and that "no one lives a perfect life". Michaels then stated at WrestleMania, he will prove it. Undertaker then asked Michaels if that was correct. Undertaker continued when he asked Michaels if his recent speech was out of confidence, or out of desperation. Michaels responded, and said "not desperate".

Michaels said this year, there will be so much on the line and he requested that this match be a No Disqualification and No Countout Streak vs. Career match. Undertaker simple said "so it shall be" and Michaels chose his demise. Undertaker noticed fire, passion, and a will inside Michaels. Undertaker said the fans call Michaels "Mr. WrestleMania", but it won't be this year. In Undertaker's opinion Michaels may be the greatest superstars in the WWE, but on March 28th Michaels' career will end. Michaels told Taker to keep thinking about that opinion. Michaels said that at the end of WrestleMania, there will be a dark cloud that will loom on Undertaker as the cloud will be an image of Michaels ending "The Streak".

Match #1: Eve Torres, Gail Kim, and Kelly Kelly defeated WWE Diva's Champion Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Katie Lea in a 6-Diva Tag Team Match.

Last Week, Eve Torres won the pillow match  when she did a rolling moonsault to secure the pinfall victory. This week after a little bit of exchanges from both Fox and Kim, Torres showed wrestling fans that she is more than just a pretty face when she made Maryse submit to an Armbar Submission hold. With two victories in a row for Torres she might be climbing the ladder of success which could lead to a Diva's Championship in the future.

The cameras then go backstage were the viewers saw Criss Angel and Hornswoggle. Angel told Hornswoggle that he was stoked to be on Raw. After Angel said that, The Bella Twins entered the scene and wanted to be assistants to Angel's show. Angel said that can't be done because they are twins. Angel then did a magic trick in which he swallowed a string and pulled it out from his eye. Jillian Hall then interrupted the conversation and said that she could sing for Angel. Hall then sang "Angel" by Aerosmith. After a disastrous performance, Angel snapped his fingers and Hall had no voice.

Match #2: WWE Unified Tag Team Champions The Miz and The Big Show vs. John Morrison and R-Truth ended in a no contest. The match was a non-title match.

After The Miz cut a promo about how Morrison and R-Truth were not a real tag team, Morrison and R-Truth came out of the gates firing away on the tag team champions. Morrison and R-Truth made a statement at the end when they dropkicked, clotheslined, and even showed dominance outside the ring until the referee in charge called for the bell.

After the match, Morrison said that The Miz and The Big Show are looking at the real tag team. R-Truth ended the segment when he said that was the truth.

After a commercial break, the viewers were shown clips on the feud regarding Batista and John Cena.

After the clips, Josh Mathews was backstage with John Cena. Cena said that he was speechless because Batista was right. Cena went on saying that Batista had his number, but he will beat "The Animal" at WrestleMania. When Mathews asked if Cena was ready for a Batista run-in, Cena simply replied "counting on interference".

We then go to the guest host's office once again, and this time Evan Bourne was shaking hands with Criss Angel. Bourne thanked Angel for putting him in a Money in the Bank qualifier tonight. William Regal and NXT rookie Skip Sheffield then entered the scene and Sheffield said that he was a huge fan of Angel's. After Regal insulted Angel, Angel told Regal to write a number on the notepad that he provided. Regal wrote the number 56 and Angel correctly guessed the number. Sheffield said to Regal that he owed him a Travis Tritt CD.

After the segment we saw a video package that featured the rivalry between Randy Orton and Legacy (Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes).

Match #3: Legacy (Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes) defeated Randy Orton in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match.

Orton started the match very quickly, as he attacked both members of Legacy before the bell rang. Orton was able to show signs of dominance, as he constantly had both men on the ropes. However, Legacy was one step ahead of their former mentor. Orton was slightly distracted by Rhodes, and DiBiase hit his Dream Street finisher to win the match by pinfall.

After the match, Rhodes hit his finisher (Cross Rhodes) on Orton.

The cameras then went backstage where Batista watched the last match on TV. Josh Mathews asked for Batista's thoughts on Cena. Batista said he was making Cena paranoid and that he would not get involved in the match between Cena and Vince McMahon tonight. Batista wished Cena luck and that he was pulling for him.

After a commercial break, it was announced that next week Stone Cold Steve Austin would guest host Monday Night Raw.

Triple H then entered the ring to discuss last week. In case one did not remember at the end of last week's main event Triple H was attacked by Sheamus. Triple H actually respected what Sheamus did. However, after Triple H said that line Sheamus entered the ring.

Sheamus said that he wanted to make a statement at WrestleMania. Sheamus asked Triple H if he had the guts to face him at WrestleMania. Triple H admitted that Sheamus had a great first year in the WWE, but Sheamus never wrestled on the biggest stage of all. Triple H told Sheamus that unless he won at WrestleMania, he accomplishments would account to nothing.

Triple H then told Sheamus that he wrestled a bit at previous WrestleMania events. Triple H said that he had to dig, claw, and reach out to be where he was at right now. Many opponents tried to beat Triple H at WrestleMania, and some succeeded. Triple H mentioned guys like John Cena and Batista had great careers. But he warned Sheamus that the men that beat him at WrestleMania is short. The men that failed to beat Triple H were in the long list and those men became footnotes. Triple H told Sheamus that he would have to risk it all at WrestleMania and hold "The Celtic Warrior" that he better make the right decision.

Sheamus paused for a moment and then charged at Triple H. However, Triple H dumped Sheamus out of the ring. Sheamus grabbed hold of Triple H and they fought back and forth outside the ring. The brawl ended when Triple H delivered the Spinebuster on Sheamus in the ring.

The cameras then went back to Criss Angel's room and he is joined by Santino Marella. Marella talked about different magicians, but did not get his facts straight (ex: called Houdini "Italian"). Marella then showed Angel the classic "magic thumb trick". Angel then showed Marella four cups and a sushi knife. He told Marella to place the knife, blade up, inside one of the cups.

Angel showed Marella a "muscle reading" trick. Angel then laid his hands above various cups, smashing then one by one until there was one left. The one that was left had the knife inside of the cup.

Match #4: Evan Bourne defeated William Regal (w/Skip Sheffield) to earn the final spot in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Even though Regal was able to ground Bourne for a few moments, Regal did made one error. As Regal set up The Knee Trembler, Bourne jumped in the air and kneed Regal in the head. Bourne followed it up with a Shooting Star Press known as "Air Bourne" and pinned Regal to end this match quickly.

After videos of past WrestleMania moments, the viewers then saw a video package that featured the rivalry between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart. On March 28th, Bret Hart will wrestle Vince McMahon at WrestleMania.

Next week on Monday Night Raw there will be at least three WrestleMania Rewind matches. The matches will be John Cena vs. The Big Show, Triple H vs. Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho. Also next will be the official contract signing between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart.

Match #5: Vince McMahon (w/Vladimir Kozlov, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, and Batista) defeated John Cena in a Handicap, No Disqualification Gauntlet Tag Team Match.

McMahon made the announcement of a Handicap match right before it began. Even though Kozlov, McIntyre, Swagger, and Henry delivered their signature moves Vince McMahon could not get the pinfall he needed to win the match.

McMahon then grabbed a ring bell and ordered Henry to clobber Cena with the bell. Henry declined and Batista took out Henry. Kofi Kingston tried to help out Cena, but Batista quickly took Kingston out of the picture with a Powerbomb.

Batista then finished off Cena with a Batista Bomb. McMahon easily pinned Cena.

After the match, Batista stood above the prone Cena. Batista then was under a spotlight, smiled, and the show went off the air for the night.

For an in-depth play-by-play recap on Monday Night Raw, please check out Dave Stephens recap, only on WrestleView.com.