Finlay
HHH makes a return and he and Sheamus have that rematch at WrestleMania folks have been talking about- it's another Street Fight, like their Extreme Rules match. Sheamus gets the best of HHH for most of the match until The Game breaks out a sledgehammer. Sheamus runs away from the sledgehammer prompting HHH to grab a mic and inform Sheamus that he came to Atlanta to fight an Irishman and he's not leaving til he does.
"My name's Finlay, and I love to fight!" plays and the accompanying entrance music hits, signaling the return of Finlay, which is hopefully met with some sort of pop. Sheleighly in hand, Finlay comes down to the ring and squares off with The Game. They trade swings-and-misses with their respective weapons until Finlay catches Hunter with a shot. The shot drops him and Finlay takes the opportunity to land a few more as Sheamus enters the ring. Sheamus hits The Celtic Cross on HHH and gets the win. Sheamus and Finlay leave the ring together, leaving the commentary team to speculate about the nature of their relationship.
The next night on RAW Finlay cuts a promo explaining that he trained Sheamus to be his protege. He thinks Sheamus will be the best to ever lace up a pair of boots... so long as spiteful has-beens don't attack him with sledgehammers like greasy two-bit hoods. That's not wrestling, Finlay argues, but violent crime. He interfered because while his own well-being means very little to him, he'll do anything to protect Sheamus, who as his protege is the most perpetuable aspect of his legacy.
This sets up an April PPV match where Sheamus and Finlay, collectively known as The Shamrock Connection, take on HHH and a partner.. (let's just say...) Randy Orton. It follows the formula of the Mania match. Sheamus does pretty well then gets into trouble, at which point Finlay is tagged in and cleans house. The only difference is that this time Finlay actually gets the pinfall on HHH.
At this point Sheamus gets a big push. Attributed by the commentators to the more-involved approach of his mentor, Sheamus gets a bunch of wins. Sometimes he wrestles tag matches with Finlay as his partner, sometimes he wrestles singles with Finlay as his manager. Either way he wins and either way he gets pushed higher up the card.
Sheamus gets a number-one contendership to (let's just say...) Randy Orton's WWE Championship. This is around September. So they have the match at Night of Champions, with Finlay in Sheamus' corner, and Orton wins via RKO.
The next night on RAW, bitter about the loss, Sheamus attacks Orton from behind in the locker room. Finlay comes in a moment after, attempting to stop Sheamus. This doesn't work and so Finlay begrudgingly looks on as Sheamus lays out Orton. They leave and Randy Orton struggles to his feet, with a crazed look in his eye, mumbling about how Sheamus will soon regret doing that.
Later that night, the RAW main event is The Shamrock Connection against (let's just say...) John Cena & The Miz. Cena & Miz go over when Miz pins Sheamus. Cena & Miz leave the ring and go backstage.
Finlay is attempting to collect the battered Sheamus so that they can leave the ring as well. Orton's music hits and he runs down to the ring with a chair. He takes out Finlay with the chair and goes to work on Sheamus. Finlay gets back up eventually and tries to save Sheamus, and he gets another chair shot from Orton for his trouble.
Orton stares menancingly at the downed Finlay before withdrawing a pair of handcuffs from his tights. He handcuffs Finlay to the top rope, screaming at him that since he likes standing by and watching while the helpless are assaulted, he's in for a special treat.
Finlay helplessly watches in agony as Orton lines up Sheamus and punts him. He then looks at Finlay again and screams at him some more, reiterating his original point. As Sheamus lies unconscious in the middle of the ring, Orton grabs him and situates him in a prone position before lining up and delivering a second punt. Orton leaves the ring and RAW ends with Sheamus being stretchered out as Finlay, still handcuffed, screams and curses Orton.
The next RAW Finlay goes on a rampage looking for Orton. He's wearing street clothes and seems to have very little idea where he is. He tears through the locker room and hallways backstage. Mark Henry attempts to calm him down and gets a European uppercut for his trouble. The uppercut knocks out Mark Henry and he crumbles to the ground.
At the end of RAW Finlay interrupts the main event and throws all involved wrestlers and referees out of the ring. He grabs a mic and says that without Sheamus, without his legacy, he has nothing to lose. And all he can think to do is to make Randy Orton know what that feels like. He's going to take from Randy Orton everything that he has, and he's going to start with the WWE Championship. Randy could hide tonight, Finlay admits, but there is NOWHERE to hide inside the confines.. of... Hell in a Cell!
The commentators confirm that the match is set for Hell in a Cell: Finlay vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. (Only 2 RAWs separated Night of Champions and HIAC this year past, and I'm sticking with that format.)
Finlay, again wearing street clothes and seeming to have very little idea where he is, beats Randy Orton in a brutal match at Hell in a Cell to become the WWE Champion.
Next: The Eagle (Jack Swagger's mascot, played by Chavo Guerrero