January 3 , 2011 Monday Night RAW results The January 3 , 2011 Edition of RAW is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE ' s RAW brand , which took place on January 3 , 2011 at US Airways Center in Phoenix , Arizona . This was the 919th Monday Night Raw and the first of 2011 . Summary . There is no worse enemy than a former friend . After all , who knows your weaknesses quite as well ? John Morrison discovered that truth when he competed in a Falls Count Anywhere title match against his ex - tag team partner and current WWE Champion The Miz . The Shaman of Sexy simply could not overcome the relentless attack of The Awesome One in a memorable contest , the first of 2011 . Miz sycophant Michael Cole was joined by Josh Mathews at the announce table due to the absence of Jerry “ The King ” Lawler , who was still recuperating from an attack he suffered at the hands of Miz last week . As Cole and Mathews called the action , the former co - hosts of “ The Dirt Sheet ” battled in and around the ring until , finally , the WWE Champion managed to pin his opponent to retain the title . After exchanging painful slaps over the past two weeks , Divas Champion Natalya and Melina appeared eager to settle things in the ring . Nattie teamed with Eve & Brie against Melina , Maryse & Alicia Fox . During the bout , Brie ’ s sister Nikki emerged from under the ring and the two pulled off their increasingly infamous Twin Magic for the win – or so they thought . Instead of victory , though , the match was allowed to continue in light of the hijinx . No matter . Natalya ' s team shifted into a higher gear as Eve managed to pin Melina ’ s shoulders to the canvas for the win . Slap ’ s all she wrote . Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov ’ s plan for world domination will just have to wait . The WWE Tag Team Champions faced off against Jimmy & Jey Uso and dropped the bout to the twin sons of Rikishi . As their former associate , Tamina , cheered on her beau Santino , The Usos took control for the victory and fired a warning shot across the bow of the international men of misery . After the bout , though , Vlad , Santino and Tamina returned fire , pushing their opponents out of the ring and attacking with a double Cobra . Call it a case of too many chiefs , not enough idiots . Last week , CM Punk appeared to take the reins of the “ new ” Nexus . This week , though , The Second City Savior ran up against the group ’ s founder , Wade Barrett , who took issue with the power grab . The two even bickered over who could rightly claim credit for John Cena ’ s recent injury , which kept WWE ’ s 2010 Superstar of the Year out of action ( he may return next week ) . Before tensions could escalate , Raw ’ s anonymous General Manager announced that a Triple Threat Steel Cage Match would take place later in the evening in order to determine the No . 1 contender for the WWE Title . Upon hearing the news , Punk and Barrett agreed to a deal . Punk offered the Englishman his opportunity to compete in the match against King Sheamus and Randy Orton . Were Barrett to win , he would remain leader of The Nexus . However , were he to lose , he would be banished from the group forever . Money talks . In fact , judging by the affluent Alberto Del Rio , it won ’ t shut up . The SmackDown Superstar paid a visit to Raw to scout talent and sell the notion that he will emerge victorious at the Royal Rumble in four weeks . R - Truth , however , wasn ’ t buying . Truth confronted Del Rio and challenged him to a match , which the Raw GM mandated . In the end , the well - heeled Del Rio prospered once again , prevailing over the streetwise Superstar . Wade Barrett lie on the canvas as still as a guard at Buckingham Palace . Just moments earlier , the incapacitated Englishman appeared well on his way to victory over King Sheamus and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat Steel Cage Match to determine the No . 1 contender for the WWE Title . As he prepared to climb over the steel structure , however , his Nexus nemesis CM Punk offered to assist him . As Barrett took his hand , the Straight Edge Superstar ripped the Nexus armband from the Englishman and booted him down to the canvas . There , The Celtic Warrior greeted him with a Brogue Kick . Orton then leveled Sheamus with an RKO and slithered past his opponents and through the cage door to victory . As a result , Barrett will be forever banished from The Nexus while The Viper will face WWE Champion The Miz in a title match at Royal Rumble in four weeks .