IF YOU GO• What: WWE’s Raw World Tour.• When: 7:30 p.m. today.• Where: McKenzie Arena, Fourth and Mabel streets.• Admission: $15-$60, plus service charges.• Phone: 266-6627.• Website: www.tickettracks.com.
Scheduling conflicts delayed the original July date, but the Raw World Tour is set for a show tonight at UTC’s McKenzie Arena.
The six-month delay means the return of John Cena, who had been fired from World Wrestling Entertainment over the summer, as the storyline went, but whose masked “Mexican cousin,” Juan Cena, was tapped as his fill-in for a triple-threat match for the WWE Championship. Now slated for the match are The Miz vs. Wade Barrett vs. John Cena.
The Miz, the self-proclaimed “Awesome One,” is a former reality show star who is living out his dream as a WWE superstar, according to his bio at www.wwe.com.Wade Barrett is the Brit who banded together with his fellow 2010 rookies to form The Nexus, a band of brawlers who left many superstars in their path of destruction.
John Cena, known as the Dr. of Thuganomics, is the blue-collar superstar who was originally signed to the SmackDown roster in 2002.
ALSO ON THE CARD (Subject to change)
• “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus: Part of ECW’s New Superstar initiative, he has dominated Raw by defeating John Cena to capture the WWE championship.
• R Truth: Looking to escape the bad decisions he made growing up in the rough neighborhoods of Charlotte, N.C., he is bringing “The Truth” to WWE with his high-octane style inside the ring.
• “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry: After competing in the Olympics and Pan American Games, he joined the WWE in 1996. After being drafted to the league’s Land of the Extreme, he captured the ECW Championship.
• John Morrison: Once known as Johnny Nitro, he renamed himself after capturing the historic ECW Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions in 2007. After migrating to Raw in the 2010 WWE draft, he is living up to his new nickname, Monday Night Delight.
• Ted DiBiase: This third-generation wrestler inherited the Million Dollar Championship from his father, “The Million Dollar Man,” and is using his newfound access to a trust fund to employ other superstars to attack his enemies to rise to the top.
• Santino Marella: The Italian began his career on April 16, 2007, when he volunteered to enter the ring against reigning Intercontinental Champion Umaga for the title. The “Milan Miracle” became one of the most improbable moments in Raw history.
• The Nexus: These wrestlers originally consist-ed of eight contestants but dissension in the ranks has whittled the number to five: David Otunga, Skip Sheffield, Husky Harris, Michael McGillicutty and leader CM Punk.
• Daniel Bryan: Known for his hybrid of Japanese and American offensive styles, he has both banded with The Nexus and been cast out for expressing remorse for a Monday night Raw assault. He captured his first U.S. championship at Night of Champions when he defeated his former WWW pro, The Miz.
• Goldust: A master of deception, he uses his black and gold face paint, blond wig, flowing golden robe and ring attire to throw opponents off their game, a deception that flummoxes his opponents and sets him apart from his famous father, “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.
• The Bellas: Brie Bella debuted on Smackdown in summer 2008, defeating former Women’s Champion Victoria. She was followed into the ring by her twin, Nikki, in November 2008.