Raw - January 3, 2011 - Phoenix, AZ

The first Raw of 2011 kicked off with the Falls Count Anywhere WWE Championship match between The Miz & John Morrison. These two battled hard, whether it was in the ring or on the entrance ramp. At one point, Morrison leaped off the WWE sign to take down The Miz & Alex Riley. Speaking of Riley, Morrsion knocked him out of action during the course of the match. The match concluded when Morrison went for his starship pain finisher on The Miz, but he crashed through the table instead. After The Miz finished off Morrison with the skull crushing finale on the floor, The Miz started the new year, still the WWE Champion.




In 6-diva tag team action, Melina, along with Alicia Fox & Maryse, took on Divas champion Natalya, Eve, & Brie Bella (who would switch with Nikki during the match). Despite Melina's tactics, Natalya set her up long enough for Eve to execute a sick neckbreaker & pick up the win for her team.




In a non-title match, The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) went up against the Tag Team Champions Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov with Tamina by their side, who at one time sided with the Usos. As the match concluded, Santino went for the cobra, but Jey Uso countered with a Samoan drop to pick up a big win against the champs. But after the match, with a little help from Kozlov, Santino & Tamina performed a double cobra on Jey & walked to the back together.




CM Punk came to the ring and proclaimed that he was the one responsible for John Cena's injury & that he was new leader of the Nexus. Soon after, Wade Barrett appeared, saying that he's the one who injured Cena & that he's still in charge of the group. Before the rest of Nexus could have their say, the Raw GM announced that there would be a triple threat steel cage match later to determine the #1 contender for the WWE championship at the Royal Rumble. It would involve Randy Orton, King Sheamus, & either CM Punk or Wade Barrett. CM Punk graciously allowed Barrett to be in the match & made a deal with him: If Barrett wins, he's the leader of Nexus, but if he doesn't, Punk is the leader & Barrett is out of Nexus. With a handshake, Barrett agreed to the terms. Moments later, it was announced that John Cena might return to action next week.




Alberto Del Rio paid a special visit to Raw, stating that it was his destiny to win the Royal Rumble & headline WrestleMania. After R-Truth cut him off, the two had a hard fought match, but Alberto managed to to execute his arm lock submission, forcing R-Truth to tap out. With this, Alberto builds momentum, heading into the Royal Rumble.




In the main event, Orton, Sheamus, & Barrett tried their best to escape the cage victorious, but they had to go through hell to do it. Near the end of the match, CM Punk ran down, climbed the cage, & offered to help Barrett get out to win the match. But instead, Punk ripped the Nexus armband from Barrett & kicked him back into the ring. Soon after, Sheamus kicked Barrett's head into cage before falling victim to a RKO. As Sheamus & Barrett laid unconscious, Orton walked out of the cage & now focuses his attention on regaining the WWE title from The Miz at the Royal Rumble.




*WWE announced that Tough Enough would makes its return to the USA network after WrestleMania. Also, Detroit gets the last Raw before the Royal Rumble as the WWE returns to the Joe Louis Arena on January 24.*