About.com Rating



I love the idea of this DVD set. For years I have dreamed of such a DVD set that would take a look back at a particular year. Unfortunately, the execution of this set left a lot to be desired. Those flaws took away a lot from this set.

The Review

This 3-disc set takes a look back at the events that took place on Monday Night RAW in 2009. The set also features 23 matches on it.

There are two flaws with many of the matches on the DVD.


Many of the matches are cut for commercial breaks. Even worse, at the start of every month, there is a highlight chapter. Many of those highlight chapters feature either the endings or the post-match celebrations of the match you are about to see. In order to keep some suspense for the matches, I recommend skipping the chapter highlights before watching the matches and then watching them after you have watched everything else for the month on the DVD.

As far as the matches themselves go, many of them were either rematches or set-ups for matches that were far better and more significant on PPV. There are no must-see matches on this DVD.

Speaking of PPV, it would have been nice if Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler could have moved the action along better for the benefit of those that don't remember why certain things just happened or to tell us what happened at the PPV that was being hyped during a match. As an example, the DVD starts off with Shawn Michaels working for JBL. Then he isn't. It would have been nice for someone to explain what happened.

Overall Recommendation: If edited properly, this could have been much better. I don't recommend running out to buy this DVD and I don't endorse avoiding it either. If you are a fan of Monday Night RAW, I recommend buying either the RAW 15th Anniversary DVD or the hard-to-find Best of RAW Vol. 1 & 2 DVD sets before getting this one.

Disc One (January - May)

January Highlights

• 1/12: Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena
  
• The Birth of Legacy
  
• 1/19: No DQ Match: Intercontinental Champion CM William Regal vs. CM Punk
  
• Randy Orton assaults Mr. McMahon

February Highlights

• Randy Orton attacks Shane & Stephanie

March Highlights

• Orton selects his WrestleMania opponent
  
• Shawn Michaels & Undertaker
  
• Shawn visits a graveyard
  
• 3/23: Santino Marella vs. Mickie James

April Highlights

• 4/6: John Cena, Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, & Ricky Steamboat vs. Edge, Big Show, Matt Hardy, Kane, & Chris Jericho
  
• 4/20: John Cena vs. Chris Jericho
  
• 4/27: Randy Orton vs. MVP

May Highlights

• Santino makes fun of Chavo & Vickie
  
• The Denver Debacle

Disc Two (June - August)

June Highlights

• Josh Matthews Interviews MVP and Kofi Kingston
  
• 6/1: US Champion MVP vs. Kofi Kingston
  
• Miz 5 - John Cena 0
  
• Legacy attacks Batista
  
• 6/15: Fatal Fourway for the Vacant WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton vs. Big Show
  
• Mr. McMahon sells RAW to Donald Trump
  
• 6/22: Last Man Standing - WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H
  
• Mr. McMahon's limo breaks down
  
• Mr. McMahon buys back RAW
  
• 6/29: Gauntlet Match - Randy Orton vs. Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, and Mark Henry
  
• RAW celebrity guest hosts

July Highlights

• 7/6: Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase
  
• Big Show faces off with Shaq

August Highlights

• 8/10: #1 Contenders Match - Kelly Kelly vs. Alicia Fox vs. Gail Kim vs. Beth Phoenix
  
• I know what you're going to do this summer
  
• DX returns
  
• DX celebrates Mr. McMahon's Birthday
  
• 8/31: Chris Jericho vs. MVP
  
• 8/31: US Champion Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger vs. Carlito

Disc Three (September - December)

September Highlights

• The Price is RAW
  
• 9/7: Body Slam Contest - Big Show vs. Mark Henry
  
• Batista returns, Orton beware
  
• 9/14: No Holds Barred Match - Batista vs. Randy Orton

October Highlights

• 10/5: D-Generation X vs. Chris Jericho & Big Show
  
• 10/19: John Cena vs. Triple H
  
• 10/26: Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston

November Highlights

• 11/16: Chavo Guerrero vs. Santino Marella
  
• Randy Orton & Kofi Kingston wage war at Madison Square Garden
  
• 11/16: D-Generation X vs. Jeri-Show vs. John Cena & Undertaker
  
• 11/23: John Cena vs. CM Punk

December Highlights

• TLC Championship Showdown
  
• 12/14: Superstar of the Year Match - John Cena vs. Randy Orton

2009 RAW Recap


Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.