WWE | The Second Rebellion

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The WWE's pinnacle was the Attitude Era in the late 90s and early 00s. Then the Ruthless Aggression took place and it ran its course. Now, the WWE needs to figure out what to do in order to keep the product relevant.

So what does Vince McMahon do? He dubs this next era "The Second Rebellion." Meaning, the WWE will hold TV-14 shows and produce edgier content to continue relating to the demographic of fans who helped the company survive during the Attitude Era.

This was a steady incline leading to this point.


Timeline of WWE:

WRESTLEMANIA 24 (March 2008) - The final match for Ric Flair after losing to Shawn Michaels, who would then leave WWE television after a farewell on Raw. CM Punk won Money in the Bank, citing a cash-in at any point in time, while Randy Orton and The Undertaker walked away from WrestleMania as world champions. Yet the following evening on SmackDown, CM Punk cashed in and defeated The Undertaker, turning heel, and becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

SUMMERSLAM (August 2008) - CM Punk continued in his reign as World Heavyweight Champion but Triple H's WWE Championship reign came to a screeching halt at the hands of Batista.

SURVIVOR SERIES (November 2008) - In an evening that saw both Team SmackDown of women's and men's teams go over, CM Punk would not recapture his World Heavyweight Championship lost on an episode of SmackDown to Shawn Michaels. And the WWE Championship was successfully defended by John Cena against Chris Jericho.

ROYAL RUMBLE (January 2009) - Chris Jericho found a way to eliminate The Undertaker and win the Royal Rumble match, as Shawn Michaels and John Cena continued their reign as champions.

WRESTLEMANIA 25 (April 2009) - WrestleMania 25 was one for the ages. John Morrison won the Money in the Bank ladder match. Matt Hardy would come out on top of Jeff Hardy in a long feud between brothers. Rey Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship from JBL. The Undertaker's Streak continued by beating Triple H. John Cena would successfully defend the title against Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels would successfully defend the title against Chris Jericho.

Eight days after WrestleMania, Vince McMahon announced a new Draft with new General Managers... Vince McMahon announced himself as the General Manager of Monday Night Raw, but was confronted by his daughter Stephanie about her taking over Friday Night SmackDown.

The rosters were set as follows:

Monday Night Raw:
GM: Vince McMahon
WWE Tag Team Champion Carlito
Christian
Curt Hawkins
Edge
Ezekiel Jackson
Finlay
Goldust
Hornswoggle
Jack Swagger
John Bradshaw Layfield
Kane
Kofi Kingston
Manu
Mark Henry
Matt Hardy
Mike Knox
Montel Vontavious Porter
Intercontinental Champion Mr. Kennedy
Paul Burchill
WWE Tag Team Champion Primo
R-Truth
Randy Orton
Santino Marella
World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels
Shelton Benjamin
The Undertaker
Tommy Dreamer
Umaga
Vladamir Kozlov
William Regal
Zack Ryder

Alicia Fox
Candice Michelle
Eve Torres
Layla
Katie Lea Burchill
Kelly Kelly
Maria Kanellis
Maryse
Tiffany


Friday Night SmackDown:
GM: Stephanie McMahon
Batista
Big Show
Boogeyman
Charlie Haas
Chavo Guerrero
Chris Jericho
CM Punk
World Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes
DH Smith
United States Champion Dolph Ziggler
Evan Bourne
Festus
Funaki
Hardcore Holly
Hurricane
Jamie Noble
Jeff Hardy
Jessie
Jimmy Wang Yang
WWE Champion John Cena
John Morrison
JTG
Rey Mysterio
Ricky Ortiz
Shad Gaspard
Sim Snuka
World Tag Team Champion Ted DiBiase Jr.
The Brian Kendrick
The Great Khali
The Miz
Triple H

Beth Phoenix
Brie Bella
Jillian
Melina
Michelle McCool
Mickie James
Natalya
Nikki Bella
Women's Champion Victoria


The companies are now at Backlash 2009 where the card is laid out:
Chris Jericho vs. Triple H
CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy
Edge vs. Finlay
Christian vs. Kane
Victoria(c) vs. Natalya for the Women's Championship
Dolph Ziggler(c) vs. Evan Bourne for the United States Championship
Mr. Kennedy(c) vs. Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels(c) vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship
John Cena(c) vs. Batista for the WWE Championship

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Vince McMahon
Carlito
Christian
Curt Hawkins
Edge
Ezekiel Jackson
Finlay
Goldust
Hornswoggle
Jack Swagger
John Bradshaw Layfield
Kane
Kofi Kingston
Manu
Mark Henry
Matt Hardy
Mike Knox
Montel Vontavious Porter
Mr. Kennedy
Paul Burchill
Primo
R-Truth
Randy Orton
Santino Marella
Shawn Michaels
Shelton Benjamin
The Undertaker
Tommy Dreamer
Umaga
Vladamir Kozlov
William Regal
Zack Ryder

Alicia Fox
Candice Michelle
Eve Torres
Layla
Katie Lea Burchill
Kelly Kelly
Maria Kanellis
Maryse
Tiffany

World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels
Intercontinental Champion Mr. Kennedy
WWE Tag Team Champion Carlito
WWE Tag Team Champion Primo

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Stephanie McMahon

Batista

Big Show

Boogeyman

Charlie Haas

Chavo Guerrero

Chris Jericho

CM Punk

Cody Rhodes

DH Smith

Dolph Ziggler

Evan Bourne

Festus

Funaki

Hardcore Holly

Hurricane

Jamie Noble

Jeff Hardy

Jessie

Jimmy Wang Yang

John Cena

John Morrison

JTG

Rey Mysterio

Ricky Ortiz

Shad Gaspard

Sim Snuka

Ted DiBiase Jr.

The Brian Kendrick

The Great Khali

The Miz

Triple H

Beth Phoenix

Brie Bella

Jillian

Melina

Michelle McCool

Mickie James

Natalya

Nikki Bella

Victoria

WWE Champion John Cena

United States Champion Dolph Ziggler

World Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes

World Tag Team Champion Ted DiBiase Jr.

Women's Champion Victoria 

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FREE

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You can post now! Backlash 2009 will be my first show and you'll see me working on the front page when I'm not so tired lol

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vs
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
DOLPH ZIGGLER VS EVAN BOURNE
Dolph Ziggler and Evan Bourne have an incredible athletic match at Backlash that sees Evan Bourne missing the Shooting Star Press as Ziggler rolls out of the way and pops up for a Zig-Zag to retain his championship.

vs
CM PUNK VS JEFF HARDY
CM Punk was willing to match whatever Jeff Hardy brought to the table in terms of insanity. The match spilled to the outside where the official called a double count-out, yet these two didn't have a care. Jeff Hardy scaled the titantron, in which CM Punk followed. The two would battle it out before CM Punk grabbed Jeff Hardy's arm and pulled him off and Hardy fell through the pyrotechnics. CM Punk dropped safely and Jeff Hardy needed medical attention.

vs
EDGE VS FINLAY
Edge had majority of the match to his advantage except when Finlay would get in some hard strikes. Yet, Edge had Finlay in the way of a Spear when Hornswoggle emerged and attacked Edge in the leg with a shillelagh. Edge complained to the official, but the official didn't see it, and Finlay came and took out the leg of Edge before hooking in a Single Leg Boston Crab and forcing Edge to submit. 

vs
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
MR. KENNEDY VS KOFI KINGSTON
Kingston came close way too many times but it was Mr. Kennedy hitting Mic Check on Kingston. It was close to the ropes and Kingston got his foot on the ropes, but the official didn't see it in time, and Kennedy knocked the foot off before he could, as Kennedy retains his title.

vs
CHRISTIAN VS KANE
Christian had no reprieve in the match and Kane finishes the contest off with the Chokeslam.

 vs 
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SHAWN MICHAELS VS RANDY ORTON
Randy Orton had so many close calls, including after an RKO, but Shawn Michaels was resilient. Michaels almost got caught with another RKO, but pushed Orton off and hit a Sweet Chin Music to connect for the first time and covered Orton for the win.

vs
CHRIS JERICHO VS TRIPLE H
After being set up by Chris Jericho making comments of Triple H being drafted by his wife, Triple H went over the top with this match. Triple H even brought the Sledgehammer out, but as the official didn't allow him to use it and took it away, Jericho used the opening to hit a Codebreaker and pin The Game!

vs
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
VICTORIA VS NATALYA
Victoria almost had her title retained with a Widow's Peak, but Natalya rolled up underneath and almost got a pin, but Victoria kicked out at the last second. When both popped up, Natalya pulled the champion's legs out and locked in the Sharpshooter. With nowhere else to go, Victoria submitted to the Hart family's infamous move.

 vs 
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN CENA VS BATISTA
The biggest match of their careers, the same ones who won their first world titles four years ago at WrestleMania 21, battled it out tonight for the company's top prize. Yet, Cena overcame all the odds, including two Batista Bombs, to hit the Attitude Adjustment and lock in the STF. With a depleted rib cage worked on in the match, Batista taps out to the STF as Cena wins big.

As Cena celebrated, the lights went out and red smoke came up from the ring. Cena was then smashed in the back of the head as glass shatters... Boogeyman is here! Boogeyman attacked John Cena with the clock as Backlash fades to black.

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Monday Night Raw
April 27, 2009
Bridgeport, CT

Raw starts with Mr. McMahon coming to the ring with majority of an ovation, but still some haters.

MR McMAHON "Welcome to Monday Night Rrrrawww! Now the reason I took this job upon myself, is quite honestly, nobody can do a better job than myself. Nobody can do a better job than Vincent Kennedy McMahon, dammit! My daughter Stephanie wanted to run Friday Night SmackDown. All the more power to her. She can do a fine job with the B-Show, but this is Monday Night Raw. This is the major leagues. This is where the WWE was born. As Monday Night Raw goes, the WWE goes. This is my baby, and no offence to any my children, but this is my favorite creation.

"I remember ten years ago, it was a great time to be a fan. We had this era called the Attitude Era. We had the likes of The Rock, Mankind, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and it was cool to be a fan. Now, I'm not bringing any of those guys back, and certainly not Austin. But I feel the WWE is in a state of uncertainty. We had the Attitude Era, and we're coming out of the Ruthless Aggression Era. We've been in this weird in-between state for the last year or so. So what's next?

"I believe we need to get back to our roots that made us great. We need to get back to our roots that made us the best show on television. We need a second rebellion! And we're going back to War."



The titantron lights up with the Raw is War logo as the crowd uproars fight the Raw theme blast, but the celebration is interrupted by several men walking down the ramp. It's Ezekiel Jackson, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, and Shelton Benjamin walking down to the ring together. They get inside the ring with cold expressions and Kingston has the microphone in his hand.

KOFI KINGSTON "If I remember correctly watching Raw is War as a teenager, it wasn't you that made Raw the superior show in all of television. As a matter of fact, you were the one holding it back. It wasn't until Stone Cold put you into your place.

"There's a common theme between Raw and its struggles, and it is you. But there won't be the same solution. Stone Cold's not coming back and bringing justice. But these men around me: Zeke, Truth, and Shelton, we are the solution. You're looking at the most talented black men in all of WWE history. Scratch that, you're looking at the most talented men in WWE history, period! And if you're looking at a second rebellion, you got it."

Ezekiel Jackson bulldozes Vince McMahon in the ring. Kingston drops the mic and he, R-Truth, and Shelton Benjamin join in on the assault. Kofi throws out instructions as each hit their finishing maneuvers, followed by Truth and Jackson pulling Vince to a vertical base to be hit with the Trouble in Paradise. The four men then stand tall as we hear Kofi shout "We are the solution!"

Following a commercial, we watch back what transpired moments ago. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are reunited at the commentary booth once again, announcing Michael Cole is now a part of SmackDown's booth. Ross reports Vince McMahon is being transported to a hospital for medical attention now, as we gear up for the first match of the evening.

---

JACK SWAGGER VS JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD
JBL has full control in the match before Swagger begins to gain momentum and while JBL gets back into control and tries finishing off with the Clothesline from Hell, Swagger ducks and hits a german suplex, followed by an ankle lock that forces JBL to tap in the ring.

Backstage, multiple people are hollering about who is in charge after Vince McMahon was taken out earlier this evening. Kofi Kingston and his crew hear this and Kingston stands up on a crate, shouting to get their attention.

KOFI KINGSTON "We don't need Vince. We've never needed Vince. We never needed anyone to tell us what to do. Tonight, the show goes on. Tonight, Raw is ours."

We cut to the ring where Finlay is ready for a familiar foe in William Regal.

---

FINLAY VS WILLIAM REGAL
Finlay is getting the best of his old rival William Regal until Edge runs down to the ring. Regal holds the official's shirt to keep his eyes off what is happening and Edge smashes Finlay with his own shillelagh, payback for last night at Backlash, and Regal gets the easy pinfall.

Backstage, Randy Orton is asked in an interview about his thoughts of Vince McMahon being taken out. Orton calls the four who assaulted Vince ungrateful for what he's given them, saying Vince gave them jobs and drafted them to Raw, that they should repay that with gratitude. When asked about tonight, Orton says he does like the idea of Raw being ours, and says he's challenging Shawn Michaels to a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship tonight.

---

CARLITO & PRIMO VS CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER
In a non-title opportunity, Hawkins and Ryder seize the day as Zack's Rough Ryder on Carlito gets enough to gain the pin as Hawkins prevents Primo from breaking the pin up. And a win over the champions should grant them a title opportunity in the future.

Edge has an opportunity to have an interview about his actions earlier tonight, which he responds with Hornswoggle's actions last night at Backlash. Edge says it is far from over and he believes Hornswoggle is an issue, so he won't be continuing alone.

---

TOMMY DREAMER VS VLADIMIR KOZLOV
Vladimir Kozlov does away with the ECW Original and uses the Iron Curtain to finish Dreamer off.

A vignette is shown of best friends Kevin Steen and Sami Zayn from Canada. This home video shows an introduction of themselves and ends with a graphic saying they're coming soon to Raw.

---

KANE VS SANTINO MARELLA
Santino doesn't have much hope and is finished off quickly by the Big Red Monster's Chokeslam.

After a commercial, the ring is set up for the Peep Show.

CHRISTIAN "Peeps everywhere, welcome to the Peep Show! Let's get down to business and invite my guest at this time. He wanted to be on the Peep Show tonight, so I got the moving guys to bring the set to Bridgeport. Come on out, Matt Hardy!"

Matt Hardy's music hits and he comes out in a full black suit.

CHRISTIAN "So Matt, it's obvious you wanted the Peep Show as a platform to speak your mind. What's on that mind of yours?"

MATT HARDY "Christian, you and I had plenty of battles over the years. We had plenty of battles in the Attitude Era. We made the TLC match and we made it famous. Now, it's come to my attention, that over the last ten years, our brothers have overshadowed us. Edge is a former world champion and Jeff is still jumping off anything and everything. But you and I, we're special too. I'd make the argument you and I are the Shawn Michaels of our teams, E&C and the Hardy Boyz, while Edge and Jeff are the Marty Jannetty."

CHRISTIAN "I'd like to think so."

MATT HARDY "I was wondering what would have happened if The Rockers didn't have Marty Jannetty, but they had two Heartbreak Kids. We'd be talking about the greatest tag team of all-time. So Christian, I propose to you, what about you and I become the greatest tag team in WWE history? They'll no longer talk about the Hardy Boyz, E&C, and as a matter of fact, Edge and Jeff's names will never be mentioned again... unless they're talking about Marty Jannetty."

Christian seems to be pondering the idea, but Matt continues on.

MATT HARDY "You don't have to answer now. Give it a week to think on it. But I believe that this tag team division needs us. Monday Night Raw needs us. This 'second rebellion' needs us. And more importantly, our families need us. Our families need us to be the heroes they can be proud of."

Matt Hardy lays the microphone down and walks out of the ring, leaving Christian pondering this proposal as the Peep Show closes.

Backstage, World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels hears of the challenge laid down by Randy Orton earlier tonight and has accepted to put his title on the line in the main event tonight.

---

KATIE LEA BURCHILL & MARYSE VS LAYLA & KELLY KELLY
Katie Lea and Maryse worked masterfully together, but unfortunately a miscue allowed Kelly Kelly to hit a K2 on Maryse while Layla hit a suicide dive onto Katie Lea that kept her away.

Intercontinental Champion Mr. Kennedy is interviewed backstage and gloats about being the one to "break" Kofi Kingston that he needs three men backing him up. Mr. Kennedy says he is a solo guy, mainly because he doesn't play well with others, and begins to shine his Intercontinental Championship as he makes the claim that because he rides a solo life, he holds the title he does today.

---

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SHAWN MICHAELS VS RANDY ORTON
Orton believes to have the World Heavyweight Championship in his grasps after not winning it last night, but out comes the four men from earlier tonight: Ezekiel Jackson, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, and Shelton Benjamin. The four surround the ring as Michaels gets up to his feet and realizes what's going on. Michaels then decides to leap and hit a crossbody on Shelton Benjamin. Jackson, Kingston, and Truth rush the ring and attack Randy Orton. Michaels gets back inside and tries to take them on, but Jackson takes over and brawls with Michaels until Benjamin gets back in and gets back at HBK. The match is thrown out and the four men finish their attack as Orton is laid out with a scissors kick and Benjamin lays Michaels out with Pay Dirt. The four men stand tall over the two biggest names on Raw as the show fades to black.