Ted DiBiase def. Evan Bourne
Cody Rhodes def. Mark Henry
Maryse def. Kelly Kelly
Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion The Miz in a Non-Title Match
Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion The Miz by Disqualification
Unified Tag Team Champions DX def. Big Show & Chavo Guerrero
John Cena def. WWE Champion Sheamus by Disqualification

HARTFORD, Conn. - While brilliant singer, rapper and music producer Timbaland dropped some thick beats from his new CD, "Shock Value 2," on the WWE Universe as special guest host, in many ways, the night belonged to a man who wasn’t even in attendance. Mr. McMahon announced that, after a 12-year absence, WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart will make a stunning return to WWE to host the very first Raw of the New Year. The pink and black attack is back!

John Cena def. WWE Champion Sheamus by Disqualification (PHOTOS | WATCH)
To kick off the night, John Cena put WWE Champion Sheamus through a table. In retaliation, The Celtic Warrior ambushed his unsuspecting nemesis from behind during an interview. Then, it was time for the two to finally – and officially – clash in the ring during a WWE Title Match.

While the two behemoths rattled the ring, it was Cena who would prevail thanks to a disqualification caused when Sheamus grabbed the referee.

Knowing that a title cannot change hands due to disqualification, a disappointed Cena contemplated the ramifications and suddenly charged The Celtic Warrior, dragging him back into the ring. It was there that Sheamus leveled his rival with a surprise boot to the jaw, not once but twice, before finally leaving the squared circle with his championship.

Unified Tag Team Champions DX def. Big Show & Chavo Guerrero (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Big Show may no longer have Chris Jericho as a partner, but there was one man more than willing to fill his boots: Chavo Guerrero. The self-proclaimed “Mexican Warrior” teamed with Show against Unified Tag Team Champions DX.

Guerrero felt he could help neutralize DX mascot Hornswoggle. Well, things didn’t exactly work out that way. In fact, when the little guy made an appearance, it distracted Guerrero enough to ensure Triple H & Shawn Michaels the victory.

The fun wasn’t over just then. Like a man possessed, Jericho had been standing outside The XL Center earlier in the evening pleading for WWE Universe members to sign a petition allowing him back on Raw. When that failed, his former partner snuck him a front row ticket. From that vantage point, the self-important Superstar watched DX prevail and attempted an attack on the pair.

Weary of Jericho’s antics, The Game & HBK relented and agreed to face Jeri-Show the following Monday night in a title match as long as Jericho forgoes his Raw reinstatement campaign if Jeri-Show loses.

Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion The Miz in a Non-Title Match; Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion The Miz by Disqualification (PHOTOS | WATCH)
It’s almost a shame that words don’t equal reality. If they did, United States Champion The Miz would never lose. In real life, though, reality bites. When the boastful braggart butted heads with Kofi Kingston, the crowd favorite came out on top after pegging Miz with Trouble in Paradise.

Thanks to the stipulations of the match, Kofi’s win allowed him to immediately compete against Miz in a match for the title.

As a result of his victory over Miz in the previous bout, Kofi was granted a title match. Fortunately for The Dreadlock Dynamo, Miz still appeared dazed after their initial clash in which Kofi prevailed with Trouble in Paradise.

Just when it looked as if Kofi would capture the U.S. Title, Randy Orton interfered. His unprovoked attack on Kofi quickly caused a disqualification, which meant that the title could not change hands. While Kofi may have secured the victory, The Viper’s strike robbed him of the championship. To help settle their months-in-the-making dispute, Kofi and Orton will battle in the ring next Monday night.

Mr. McMahon announced Bret Hart’s WWE return to host Raw (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Never say never. Mr. McMahon accepted Bret “Hit Man” Hart’s request to serve as special guest host of the first Raw in 2010! While The Chairman initially declined the WWE Hall of Famer’s appeal, the goading of Shawn Michaels, of all people, appeared to change Mr. McMahon’s mind.

Michaels had interrupted The Chairman to ask for a rematch between himself and The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI. Mr. McMahon informed Michaels that not even he can impose his will upon The Deadman. At that point, HBK turned his attention to Hart, who he insisted he would be more than happy to see host Raw. "Only good things can happen with Bret in WWE," according to Michaels. He then shared a furtive glance with The Chairman, appeared to have a change of heart and gleefully granted Bret’s request.

Maryse def. Kelly Kelly (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Last week, Kelly Kelly earned herself an early Christmas present during a “Santa’s Little Helper” Match when she pinned Maryse. This week, however, the conceited French Canadian was only too happy to exchange Kelly Kelly’s triumph for one of her own. Even after the bell had sounded to signal that Maryse had won, she continued to attack her adversary and then offered Divas Champion Melina a message: Her title would soon belong to Maryse.

Cody Rhodes def. Mark Henry (PHOTOS | WATCH)
It’s amazing what one can overcome when their back is to the wall. With Randy Orton still seated ringside from the earlier match featuring Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes could feel the pressure bearing down on him – not only from his Legacy leader but also from his sizable opponent, Mark Henry. Rhodes faced The World’s Strongest Man in a match requested by The Viper as a test of sorts. Fortunately for the young Superstar, he won after rising above the significant strength and size advantage of Henry.

Ted DiBiase def. Evan Bourne (PHOTOS | WATCH)
In the wake of a harsh assessment of The Legacy’s 2009 performance compliments of Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase stepped into the ring against Evan Bourne with more than a few things to prove. As The Viper sat in judgment at ringside after threatening to pummel either DiBiase or Cody Rhodes if they lost, the star of The Marine 2, out on DVD December 29, proved his worth to Legacy by downing the high-flyer and showing his mettle to the group’s demanding leader.

John Cena challenged WWE Champion Sheamus to a rematch (PHOTOS)
John Cena may have been a pretty good boy this year, but he still didn’t find the WWE Championship in his Christmas stocking. Rather than wait until next year, though, Cena instead set up a table in the ring and called out current WWE Champion Sheamus.

Cena seemed hungry to start their rematch and to make it a Tables Match, the same bout in which Cena lost the title at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs two weeks earlier. The Celtic Warrior, however, refused to be dictated to. He dismissed Cena’s suggestions and attempted to leave, but the chiseled challenger had other ideas. Cena grabbed the WWE Champion, slamming him through the table with an Attitude Adjustment and setting the stage for a WWE Title Match to take place later in the night.

Monday Night Raw 28.12.09