WWE Daily

WWE® MOVES RAW® TO STAPLES CENTER
May 20, 2009

STAMFORD, Conn., May 20, 2009 – World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that due to the debacle caused by Kroenke Sports Enterprises regarding Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs, WWE is moving the May 25, 2009 edition of Monday Night RAW® from the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event will begin at 5:30 PM PT.

In addition, due to the overwhelming support shown by the Staples Center, Los Angeles Lakers and the California WWE Fans, WWE will hold back-to-back nights of action at the Staples Center, with a second event on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 PM PT. Both shows go on sale tonight at 11 PM ET/8 PM PT through Ticketmaster.

WWE will be returning to Denver for an event at the Denver Coliseum on Friday, August 7. Refunds for the Pepsi Center event can be obtained by returning tickets to the place of purchase.

“WWE is extremely grateful to the Lakers and the Staples Center for the hospitality and professionalism shown to WWE during this whole situation,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment. “We apologize to all of the WWE fans in the Denver area who have been inconvenienced by Kroenke Sports Enterprises. We look forward to bringing two consecutive nights of WWE excitement to Staples Center this Monday and Tuesday night.”

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

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The May 25th edition of Monday Night Raw vs. Game 4 of the Western Finals Nuggets host the LA Lakers have finally come to an conclusion.

According to Los Angeles NBC affiliate KNBC that World Wrestling Entertainment has finally selected the LA’s Staples Center to host next weeks Monday Night Raw. The network is reporting that WWE will be holding a press conference later today to announce the move.

The LA Staples Center will also host SummerSlam 2009 PPV on August 23.

There is no word on how WWE will handle the ticket situation, but fans will likely get an refund or honor the tickets for an later date. There is no listing on TicketMaster for the event.

WWE has update the debacle between Monday night Raw vs. Game 4 of the Western Finals at The Denver’s Pepsi Center. Bragging about numerous other venues have offered to extend their helping hand. Here is an snippet from the article.

While working to resolve the scheduling conflict between Raw and the Denver Nuggets’ NBA Western Conference Semifinals game against the Los Angeles Lakers, WWE officials have received proposals from numerous venues including Madison Square Garden and, ironically, the STAPLES Center – the home of the Nuggets’ Monday night opponents, the Lakers.

You can read the full article here.

-Alternative plans for next Monday’s Raw taping is to do the show at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.

This was one option WWE has discussed yesterday plus WWE has tried booking more than 100 hotel rooms for Sunday night in Colorado Springs.

As of late last night, company officials have not informed talent about anything pertaining to next weeks editon of Monday Night Raw on the 25th.

-When WWE has overseas doing their European Tour, Monday Night Raw superstar “The Miz” was on hand for snap shots. Check them out at WWE.com.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Less than 24 hours after Judgment Day and the entire Raw roster was already looking toward Extreme Rules. Monday night saw two huge matches made for the pay-per-view, as John Cena & Batista took on WWE Champion Randy Orton and his Legacy in the main event. Things looked grim for The Animal when he was left to face the multi-generational Superstars by himself, but the tables turned on “The Viper” when WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair once again rushed to Batista’s aide against The Legend Killer.

-Ric Flair interrupts WWE Champion Randy Orton to reveal that The Legend Killer will defend his title in a Steel Cage Match against Batista at Extreme Rules, causing a brawl to break out between Legacy, Flair, Batista and John Cena

-Raw General Manager Vickie Guerrero set WWE Champion Randy Orton & The Legacy vs. John Cena & Batista as the night’s main event; Kelly Kelly won a Diva Battle Royal to earn a future Divas Championship Match

-Santino Marella def. Chavo Guerrero

-Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito & Primo def. The Brian Kendrick & Goldust

-The Miz once again called out John Cena, and claimed he is now 5-0 in spite of Jerry Lawler challenging his logic; Big Show revealed that he will face Cena again at Extreme Rules in a Submission Match

-United States Champion MVP def. Matt Hardy

-Vickie Guerrero def. Santina Marella to become the new Miss WrestleMania

-John Cena & Batista def. WWE Champion Randy Orton & The Legacy in a match that saw involvement from Big Show and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair

World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon told the The Associated Press they are going to show up at the Pepsi Center in Denver next Monday night, regardless of the Western Conference finals, Nuggets hosting the Lakers in Game 4.

“That’s what we intend to do,” he said. “We’re going to show up.”

WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the organization secured the Pepsi Center last Aug. 15 2008 and has already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the event. He says the organization expects to be an sellout.

Zimmerman said the Pepsi Center confirmed in March with the WWE that the organization wanted to keep the May 25 date, and sent a contract on April 15 — the final night of the regular season — which WWE signed and returned. Tickets went on sale April 11.

McMahon said he couldn’t guess how much he would make from the show, but that canceling wasn’t easy because of how much is involved in moving his equipment, plus filling its obligated time slot on USA Network. Litigation is likely — but he plans to be putting on a card.

“When you do have a date, you plan everything around it,” he said, adding, “we may be holding an event in a parking lot somewhere.”

World Wrestling Entertainment has issued an press release on next weeks Monday Night Raw being in jeopardy because of an “scheduling issue”.

The May 25th Monday Night Raw edition was currently scheduled to take place at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Game Four of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers is also scheduled to take place from the Pepsi Center next Monday night.

The WWE and Denver Nuggets are currently at an impasse in resolving a scheduling debacle by the team and the Pepsi Center. A sell-out crowd is expected to attend the WWE show at the same time the Denver Nuggets are slated to square off against the Los Angeles Lakers for Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals.

WWE has held the May 25th date with the Pepsi Center since August 15, 2008.

“Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs, obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25th date for a potential playoff game,” said WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

-WWE United States champion MVP vs. Matt Hardy

-Divas Battle Royal for a title shot against Divas Champion Maryse.

WNW reader Grégory Schmitt sent in the following:

Here’s what Maryse said last night in French Québécois:

“Il y a des gens qui parlent de moi en bien, comme il y a des gens qui parlent de moi en mal. Mais le plus important là-dedans, c’est qu’ils parlent de moi, finalement, non ?”

Which is a famous French saying. In English,

“Some people talk about me in a good way, some other in a bad way.
But what matters is that they talk about me, no?”

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Oftentimes, the days leading up to a WWE pay-per-view event see Superstars conserving their energy and trying to stay out of any serious action. On Raw, however, Batista threw this conventional wisdom out the window, as he competed against WWE Champion Randy Orton and his Legacy minions, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, who were laid to waste earlier in the night by The Animal, all just days before “The Viper” and Batista collide at Judgment Day.

-Batista refused to join WWE Champion Randy Orton’s Legacy; The Animal to face Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase to determine Raw’s main event

-Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase def. Batista by disqualification

-Mickie James & Kelly Kelly def. Divas Champion Maryse & Jillian; Cody Rhodes went missing

-John Cena to compete in an “Exhibition Match” against The Miz; WWE Champion Randy Orton finds Cody Rhodes, but Ted DiBiase is rendered unconscious

-The Brian Kendrick def. WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Carlito

-The Miz attacked John Cena after their “Exhibition Match” ended as a no-contest; WWE Champion Randy Orton sent Cody Rhodes to take out Batista

-Miss WrestleMania Santina Marella confronted by the Guerreros; Cody Rhodes’ attack on Batista backfired

-“Santina” Marella def. Beth Phoenix in a Miss WrestleMania Match

-William Regal’s appearance on United States Champion MVP’s VIP Lounge was interrupted by both Matt Hardy and Kofi Kingston; MVP & Kofi Kingston def. Matt Hardy & William Regal

-WWE Champion Randy Orton def. Batista by disqualification

LEGACY TAKEOVER

-Live tonight on USA Network,OPENING STATEMENT WWE Champion Randy Orton and Legacy open Raw by addressing their heinous acts last week that sent Shane McMahon out of the arena on a stretcher. How closely will Orton’s Judgment Day opponent, Batista be watching?

-*John Cena vs. The Miz in an “exhibition match”.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – With Judgment Day looming, the WWE Universe is crying out for Randy Orton and his Legacy to be held accountable for their actions. With the WWE Title firmly around his waist, “The Viper” and his associates, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase continue to terrorize the Raw roster, racking up victories at the expense of their opponents. The ring warrior who experienced the most acute loss however, was Shane McMahon, who had his ankle shattered by The Legacy on Raw.

-WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon ended in a no-contest

-Kofi Kingston def. Matt Hardy; Hardy attacked Kingston with his cast

-Vickie Guerrero sets John Cena vs. Big Show for Judgment Day

-Cody Rhodes def. United States Champion MVP in a non-title match, earning a spot in Raw’s main evet

-Festus def. Jillian in a singing contest; The Miz attacks Festus

-The Miz challenges John Cena to a match; Cena is attacked by Big Show

-Mickie James def. Divas Champion Maryse in a non-title match

-Ted DiBiase def. Batista by disqualification, earning a spot in Raw’s main event

-Unified WWE Tag Team Champion Carlito def. The Brian Kendrick

-Shane McMahon vs. The Legacy in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match ended in a no-contest after they shattered his ankle