Monday Night RAW starts the show by playing its opening video, featuring segments of some of RAW's top talent during their best moments including John Cena, Bully Ray, Sting, Wade Barrett, Mark Henry and Matt Hardy. After the video ends, the camera inside the J.S. Dorton Arena focuses on the top of the stage as a display of multicolored, seizure inducing fireworks shoots up, dazzling both the viewers at home and the live crowd in attendance. After the fireworks end, the camera pans around the arena, making sure to highlight the most excited faces amongst the live audience, the most clever homemade signs praising their favorite superstars and dissing their least favorite as well as the countless John Cena T-shirts, wristbands and headbands glorifying RAW's top dog and current WWE Champion, John Cena. While the WWE HD logo flashes on the bottom of the screen and fades away, Michaeol Cole, the color commentator of the RAW broadcast team, welcomes the viewers at home to another episode of Monday Night RAW.
::Michael Cole::
"Welcome everyone, to the first Monday Night RAW of the new year! We are live in the sold out J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina! With the Royal Rumble 4 weeks away, the Royal Rumble has been one of the hottest topics of the month, but of course, not as remotely hot as myself."
The cameras now pan to the Michael Cole and Jerry "The King Lawler", who can be seen rolling his eyes at Cole's irritating and narcissistic comment, but decides to let it go and do his job.
::Jerry "The King" Lawler::
"Well, with the Royal Rumble being four weeks away, you know that everyone in that locker room is shaking in their boots. No matter what kind of tough exterior they may have on the outside, everyone knows that the Royal Rumble is that one chance to make a name for yourself and sometimes, it's hard to even get in the Royal Rumble."
::Michael Cole::
"True, but the Royal Rumble doesn't just affect the superstars in the match. It also affects the superstars outside the match such as John Cena. Remember, the winner of the Royal Rumble can choose to face the world champion of any brand in the main event at Wrestlemania and that includes Cena. He could be facing Sting, Hernandez, Wade Barrett, Matt Hardy or even Rey Mysterio and that's just on RAW."
::Jerry "The King" Lawler::
"But John Cena might not even have to worry since he might lose the WWE championship at the Royal Rumble. Although we don't know who he might be facing yet, the RAW General Mana..."
An overall generic mixed reaction emits from the crowd as some boos and cheers can be heard.
::Jerry "The King" Lawler::
"Speak of the devil. Emphasis on the word "devil".
A cocky smirk spreads on Michael Cole's face, as he puts on reading glasses nearby and stands up from his chair. He grabs a microphone and states the all too familiar lines...
::Michael Cole::
"May I have your attention please? I have just recieved an email from the Anonymous RAW general manager."
Jerry Lawler groans and rolls his eyes at Michael Cole's annoying routine. Michael Cole places the microphone back down on the announce table and walks over to the GM's podium next to the announce table. He climbs up the steps of the podium and stops at the front step. He lifts the laptop, on the podium, up, adjusts the microphone and leans towards the microphone.
::Michael Cole::
"And I quote..."
::Jerry "The King" Lawler::
"(sarcastically) This should be good."
::Michael Cole::
"The RAW General Manager says that tonight, we will determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship. That status will be determined by a "Beat the Clock Challenge". There will be three one on one matches tonight. The winner out of the four matches, who beats their opponent in the shortest time, will become the number one contender for the WWE Championship and face John Cena in four weeks at the Royal Rumble. And one of those matches will take place...now."
After Michael Cole finishes reading the email, the theme music of Bully Ray sounds on the PA system. The live audience show their hatred towards Bully Ray by booing him as he emerge from the backstage curtain wearing a black sleeveless vest with his name in silver glitter on the left side. He also wears cameo shorts and a skull cap. The bell rings and Christy Hemme, one of RAW's ring announcers stands in the ring in order to give the official introductions of the match.
::Christy Hemme::
"The follwing contest is a "Beat the Clock Challenge" and it is scheduled for one fall. Making his way to the ring, from Hell's Kitchen, weighing in at 326 pounds, Bully Ray!"
Bully Ray quickly rolls under the ring and starts barking and shouting at the fans to be quiet as the crowd continous to rain down insults and boos at Bully Ray. The verbal assault comes to an end in favor of a more welcoming ovation, but not for Bully Ray. "Radio", Zack Ryder's theme song, plays on the PA system. Zack Ryder emerges from backstage accompanied by his tag team partner, Robbie E. They give each other a fist bump at the top of the ramp and Robbie E goes back to the backstage area as it appears that Ryder wants to do things on his own.
::Christy Hemme::
"And introducing his opponent, from Long Island, New York, weighing in at 214 pounds, Zack Ryder!!"
Zack Ryder slides under the bottom rope, climbs on the top turnbuckle, take off his sunglasses, throws them amongst the crowd and does his signature pose. Before he has a chance to climb back down, as soon as the bell rings, Bully Ray charges at Ryder and knocks him off. Ryder face collides with the turnbuckle as Bully Ray runs to the opposite corner and charges at Ryder again, crushing him between the corner and his massive girth. Ryder falls to the mat and Bully Ray pins Ryder while referee Charles Robinson begins the three count. Ryder kicks out at two. Bully Ray loooks at the titantron. 23 seconds have past. Bully tries to pin Ryder again for the three count but Ryder kicks out again. Bully Ray, pbviously frustrated, stands on Ryders chest while using the ropes to drive him farher into Ryder's sternum. Robinson begins the five count and Bully stops at four. Bully picks up Ryder so that is standing on his feet. Bully runs to the opposite side of the ring, bounces off the ropes and tries to cholthesline him but Ryder ducks and kicks Bully in the gut just as he is about to rebound off the ropes behind him. Ryder takes a few steps back, runs at Bully Ray, trying to hit the Rough Ryder, but Bully Ray pushes Ryder out of the way. Bully runs to the ropes, bounces off them and tries to body splash Ryder, but Ryder rolls out the way and Ray lands face first on the mat. Ryder goes for the three count but Robinson only slaps the mat twice as Bully kicks out at two. 2 minutes and 43 seconds have passed. Ryder picks Bully up so he is standing to his feet. Then, Ryder kicks at Bully's knee making him kneel on one knee. Ryder then wraps his arm around Bully's neck and drives his head into the mat with a DDT. Ryder goes for another pin attempt, but Bully kicks Ryder in the head as Ryder leans over to pin him. Bully shakes off the effects of the DDT and slips both his arms under Ryder's arms and clasps both his hands around Ryder's neck. He then lifts him up slightly and drives the bottom of his spine in the mat whilst in a sitting position delivering a brutal Full Nelson Bomb. Bully then picks up Ryder, slings him over his shoulder like a rag doll and drives his back into the mat in a Scoop Slam. He does another one, then another, then another and yet another Scoop Slam. When Bully thinks he's done enough, he makes Ryder stand to his feet. Bully positions himself in front of Ryder and wraps his arm around Ryder's neck, signaling he's about to deliver the *Bully Cutter. Before he can, Ryder pushes Bully away and jumps up in the air with his leg extended in the air. As soon As Bully turns around, Ryder perfectly hits the Rought Ryder on Bully Ray. Ryder goes for the three count and picks up the win on Bully Ray.
Winner: Zack Ryder via pinfall @ 6:12
Zack Ryder gets to his feet as "Radio" plays on the PA system signaling his victory. Ryder starts fist pumping with glee as a Chesire cat smile spreads on his face as Christy Hemme declares Zack Ryder the winner.
::Christy Hemme::
"Your winner of this match at 6 minutes and 12 seconds, Zack Ryder!"
Zack Ryder rolls out of the ring still estatic about his upset victory over Bully Ray.
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