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Your host is Scott Stanford.
Scott says that we saw some monumental returns, stunning departures, and moments that happen once in a lifetime in the first part. We will look at the end of an era, celebrate an unprecedented milestone, and relive 365 unforgettable days.
The first moment is from Over the Limit when Big Show returned after being fired to help John Laurinaitis defeat Big Show.
We go to comments from Big Show from shortly after his return. Show says that he doesn’t care about being loved or even liked. This is all empty garbage. His legacy up to now has been being a fool. They wanted him to be some big smiling freak who made everyone happy. He is funny, he is a clown, he’s fat. Show says that he is fat and fed up. He saw a chance to make a deal and he took advantage of it. Now he can do what he wants to.
He does not care about anyone’s feelings. He felt good to beat down this cheap knockoff of what the world wanted him to be. Eighteen years of being suppressed and being held back. Eighteen years of doing meaningless crap that everyone wanted him to do. He is not an entertainer or someone who makes you happy. He is a giant.
Big Show won the title at Hell in a Cell from Sheamus and Sheamus has been on Show’s tail.
We go to highlights from the Big Show versus Sheamus ‘Lumberjack Frost’ Match from the Christmas Eve episode of Raw. (here is the full match report)
Match Number One: Big Show versus Sheamus in a LumberJack Frost Match
They lock up and Show sends Sheamus to the mat. They lock up again and Sheamus pushes Show into the ropes. Show wants a Greco Roman knuckle lock but Sheamus cannot reach Show’s hand so Sheamus stomps on Show’s foot and applies a side head lock. Show with a shoulder tackle.
Show with a head butt and chop in the corner and then he wishes Sheamus a Merry Christmas. Show misses a splash into the corner and then Sheamus drops Show across the top rope and he connects with the ten forearms across the chest. Sheamus goes up top and hits a shoulder tackle that knocks Show down.
Sheamus looks around and signals for the Brogue Kick but Show rolls to the floor. The lumberjacks think about sending Show back into the ring but 3MB aren’t stupid. They allow Show to enter at his own leisure and we go to commercial.
We are back and Show has something to say to Sheamus but Sheamus with a kick. We see footage from the commercial break when Sheamus was sent to the floor in front of 3MB and Sheamus had to fight his way into the ring. Show with a key lock. Seamus grabs Show’s nose and he punches Show.
Sheamus tries to slam Show but he collapses under Show’s weight and Show gets a near fall. Show sends Sheamus to the floor and 3MB attack Sheamus and we have a lumberjack brawl. Sheamus gets back into the ring while the lumberjacks continue to battle. Show with a head butt and the hostilities on the floor calm down. Maybe they will be able to settle their differences later.
Show with a suplex and Sheamus is down. Show chokes Sheamus in the ropes. Tensai punches Sheamus while Show talks to the referee. Show with a few chops to the chest. Show climbs the turnbuckles and he sets to punch Sheamus but Sheamus gets Show on his shoulders and he hits an Electric Chair Drop and both men are down.
Show and Sheamus exchange punches from their knees. Sheamus with the advantage but Show with a choke slam for a near fall. Show with a head butt but Sheamus with punches as he gets back to his feet. Show with a punch to the midsection and then he hits a step over leg drop for a near fall. Sheamsu with more punches but Show with a bear hug.
Sheamus with forearms to get out of the hold. Sheamus with a flying double sledge or two. Sheamus with a shoulder into the corner followed by another shoulder. Sheamus goes for the knee lift but Show knows it is coming and Show with a clothesline for a near fall. Show with an elbow drop for a near fall.
Show goes to the turnbuckles for a Vader Bomb but Sheamus moves. Sheamus gets Show up for White Noise and hits it. Sheamus gets a near fall on Show. Sheamus tries for the Brogue kick but Show blocks it and he sends Sheamus over the top rope to the floor. The lumberjacks battle around the ring while Tensai sends Sheamus back into the ring.
Show gets the fist ready but Sheamus ducks it and Sheamus with a Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, the Lumberjacks enter the ring and they brawl until the heel lumberjacks are sent to the floor.
We go to commercial.
At Wrestlemania it was the end of an era when Triple H faced the Undertaker at Hell in a Cell. We see highlights of the promo between Triple H and Undertaker from the February 20th episode of Raw (here is the full promo)
Taker says that for nearly a year, every passing moment of every passing day, he has lived the memory of the beating that he took at the hands of Triple H last year at Wrestlemania. It has been a living hell. Not a physical hell. The wounds have all healed. It has been a hell of uncertainty.
An uncertainty that he can no longer bear. Three weeks ago, he came into this very ring to challenge Triple H for one more match at Wrestlemania to end the uncertainty forever. Never in his wildest nightmares would he have expected the answer he got.
Hunter said no.
The choice was not Hunter’s to make. This has to come to an end. We are on the verge of apocalypse of an era of wrestling. Whether he likes it or not they are the last of a kind. The suit, the tie, and all of the corporate liabilities are simply layers to cover up who Hunter really is. They need to end the uncertainty. This is something that Hunter cannot lie to himself about.
He can lie to Shawn, but Hunter cannot lie to him. Hunter will come out and look him in the eyes. This thing is far bigger than you and I. It is the apocalypse.
Triple H comes out and he is all business.
Hunter enters the ring that is bathed in blue light. Hunter talks about the challenge made three weeks ago for Wrestlemania. Hunter says that he looked Taker in the eye.
Taker cuts off Hunter and he tells Hunter he can save his pity. He says that pitiful is the excuses that Hunter comes up with not to do it.
Hunter says that he understands how much Taker wants this. Hunter says that this is the last of an era, but their fate is not to end it. It is to ensure that this carries on. It is to make sure that this business is here and that the WWE exists in the future. Taker’s fate is what it has always been. It is to be the leader and to carry the torch for the next generation. It is to carry the torch and lead the way.
Hunter says that he will not be the one to extinguish the flame because it is bad for business.
Taker tells the businessman to make it clear for him. Is it bad for business if Taker is gone or is it bad for business that Hunter will be gone.
Hunter says that it is just plain bad for business. Hunter says that he gets it. While Taker has been living in an uncertainty, Hunter says that he has never been more certain in his life. He says that Taker is certain of it too. Hunter says that Taker is not asking for Redemption or Salvation. He is not asking for Vengeance. Taker is asking for an end. He says that in order to beat Taker, he has to finish him and that is what Taker really wants.
Hunter says that Taker wants him to put an end to it but he will not do it. Hunter says that he will not be the one to finish it.
Taker tells Hunter he can put whatever spin he wants on this, but when Hunter looks in the mirror, all he will see is a coward.
Hunter says that he is sick to death of the coward thing. If Taker wants the coward . . . He sees what Taker is trying to do and it won’t work. Hunter apologizes and says that the answer is no.
Hunter leaves the ring.
Taker says that he figured it out. He says that Hunter cannot do what his buddy Shawn Michaels couldn’t do. Taker says that Shawn was always better than you.
Hunter takes off his jacket and tie and the shirt is unbuttoned as Hunter makes his way back to the ring.
Hunter says that this isn’t about Shawn and who is better. Shawn couldn’t get the job done and Hunter says that he knows that he can do what Shawn couldn’t do. He says that he can finish it. The layers covered by the suit are gone.
Hunter says that he is looking Taker in the eye and he is more certain that he has been before. If Taker wants an end at Wrestlemania. Hunter says that Taker has it. Hunter tells Taker that if they do this, they go all the way. No Return. No Uncertainty. No Excuses. The streak ends. The era ends. Taker gets his end. They do it and they go all the way. Hunter says that he will face Taker under one condition. Hell in a Cell.
Taker taps Hunter on the shoulder and leaves the ring.
A third variable was added to this match with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.
We get comments about Hell in a Cell.
John Cena says the match lived up to the hype. Randy Orton mentions the electricity in the building for the match was like no other. Cody Rhodes says that he was on the edge of his seat. CM Punk says that everyone was lost in the moment of this epic battle between these two superstars.
William Regal says that you knew it was going to be an incredible match but it meant more than that for the wrestlers. Cena talks about what each other went through in the match. Regal says that they suffered a lot in that one match. Miz says that he still hears the sound of the fifty chair shots. Show mentions that neither man would give up. Miz says that he felt the emotion of Shawn being in there with his best friend and calling things down the middle until Taker put him in Hell’s Gate and then Shawn hit a super kick and Hunter gave Taker a pedigree.
Cody and Daniel Bryan thought the streak was over. Show says that when Taker kicked out. . . Miz says that you could not believe what you saw. Cody says that only Taker could kick out of that. Show says that Shawn tried to screw the devil and got caught. Punk says that was only going to piss off Taker. Show says Triple H brought his heart and soul into the match and what could you do?
Mark Henry says that there has never been anyone like the Undertaker with twenty wins in a row. Regal says that will never happen again. Cena says that this match proved that Taker does not lose at Mania. Show says that this will be remembered as the greatest match of all time. Orton says that match stole the show. Miz says that his father would tell him about Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, but he will be telling his kids about this match.
Cena says that to see the three men in this match arm in arm couldn’t have been a better moment. Orton says that with what they had been through, it is the end of an era.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at the Anger Management segments and the greatest hug in WWE history and the awkward situation after the hug.
Scott says that anything can happen in WWE, but few did not expect to see Kane and Daniel Bryan hugging in the middle of a ring. This led to the birth of a tag team. There were problems the first time they teamed up. We go to the September 10th Raw.
Match Number Two: Daniel Bryan and Kane versus Darren Young and Titus O’Neil in a Number One Contender Match
Bryan and Kane argue over who will start but Kane will face Titus and Titus with punches. Kane with a clothesline and punches in the corner. Kane with an elbow and uppercut and sends him into the turnbuckles. Bryan is tagged in and he kicks Titus in the corner. Bryan tries for an O’Connor Roll but Titus holds on to the ropes. Young with a blind tag and he gets a near fall after a clothesline.
Titus tags in and they hit a double shoulder tackle and Titus gets a near fall. Titus with a slam. Titus with elbows in the corner followed by punches and the referee warns Titus. Young with a knee to the head and Bryan appears to be bleeding.
Young tags in and hits a Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a near fall. Young with a cravate. Bryan with punches but Young with a back elbow. Titus tags in and Young gets dropped on Bryan with a gourdbuster. Titus chokes Bryan in the ropes.
Bryan with kicks and a European uppercut. Bryan with more kicks but Titus with a back breaker and he gets a near fall. Titus kicks Bryan in the ribs and Titus mocks Bryan by saying yes as he kicks him and then he barks.
Titus with a reverse chin lock. Young tags in but Bryan tries to fight his way out of the corner. Bryan with European uppercuts while Young connects with knees. Young with a snap mare and a reverse chin lock. Young with a knee drop. Bryan with kicks to Young followed by a butterfly suplex and both men are down.
Kane wants to be tagged in and Bryan says no. Bryan goes up top but misses the diving head butt. Young gets a near fall. Young with a reverse chin lock. Bryan with elbows to Young but Bryan with a flying clothesline and both men are down again.
Bryan refuses to make the tag again and he kicks Young in the chest. Bryan hits the round kick and Kane makes the blind tag. Kane with an uppercut to Titus on the apron. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner followed by a side slam for a near fall. Kane goes up top and hits the clothesline and then he signals for the choke slam, making sure to stay away from Daniel Bryan so he cannot make the tag. Kane with a choke slam to Young and then he sends Titus over the top rope to the floor.
Bryan tags himself back in. Kane grabs Bryan and choke slams him onto Young and Bryan gets the three count.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
After the match, Kane raises Bryan’s hand but Bryan falls to the mat.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look at Raw 1000.
There was more on the 1000th episode of Raw. John Cena cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase against CM Punk for the WWE Title.
Match Number Three: John Cena versus CM Punk for the WWE Title
Punk offers his hand and Cena accepts so this will be a match of honor.
They lock up and Cena with a side head lock. Cena with a shoulder tackle. They lock up again and Cena with a side head lock. Cena with another shoulder tackle. Cena blocks a hip toss but Punk gets a near fall with a backslide. They lock up again and Punk works on the arm and applies a hammer lock.
Punk with an abdominal stretch and he works on the ribs with an elbow. Cena with a hip toss to escape and he tries for the STF but Punk kicks Cena away. They lock up again and Cena backs Punk into the turnbuckles and Cena with a clean break. Punk with chops and knees to Cena. Cena with a kick and forearms followed by punches. Cena sends Punk into the turnbuckles followed by a side head lock take down.
Punk with a belly-to-back suplex and Punk with a kick to the back. Punk with a back breaker for a near fall. Punk with a reverse chin lock but Cena gets back to his feet. Cena with a kick to the midsection and then we see punches exchanged by both men.
Punk and Cena add some kicks to the punches. Cena with the advantage and Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles but Punk escapes the Blue Thunder Bomb. Punk with a leg lariat followed by a clothesline but Punk misses the swinging neck breaker. Punk with a running knee into the corner and Cena counters the bulldog with the Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena tells Punk that he can’t see him but Punk with a kick to the face and then to the back of the head.
Punk tells everyone that someone is going to go to sleep. Punk gets Cena on his shoulders but Cena pushes Punk into the referee and the referee is down. Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment and would have gotten the three count.
Big Show comes to the ring and while Cena checks on the referee, Show hits Cena with a spear when he returns to the ring. Show waits for Cena to get up for the knockout punch. Cena gets up and Show connects. Show leaves the ring.
Punk doesn’t really know what to do and he goes to check on the referee. Punk rolls the referee back in and since it has been so long, Cena kicks out at two. Punk picks up Cena and gets him on his shoulders for the Go To Sleep but Cena counters and puts Punk in the STF. Big Show comes back to he ring and he attacks Cena. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: John Cena by disqualification
After the match, Big Show attacks John Cena and Punk thinks about what to do over the situation. Show slams Cena and then Rock’s music plays. Rock runs to the ring and he goes past CM Punk. Rock punches Show and then he hits a spinebuster. Rock sets for the People’s Elbow but Punk with a clothesline to Rock.
Punk waits for Rock to get up and he mocks Rock and then hits the Go To Sleep.
Scott reminds us that Rock will face CM Punk at the Royal Rumble, at least at this time.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look at the new face of the WWE. CM Punk says that he will cement his legacy as the WWE Champion with the spotlight on him. He has been the best since day one. We see Punk winning the title. He has beaten everyone who stood in front of him. He defeated everyone’s heroes. We see Punk continue to beat everyone as the title reign got longer.
Scott says that Punk has been the longest reigning champion in modern history, but Punk wants to be the longest reigning champion of all time.
Punk will face Ryback in two weeks on Raw. The last time they met, Punk was injured by Ryback.
We go to CM Punk on this week’s Raw.
Punk tells Heyman that there should be an escalator to help him into the ring.
Punk mocks Great Khali’s Christmas wish and he says that he must have been from Pittsburgh since he couldn’t understand him. Punk says that in all seriousness, Christmas has been ruined.
The crowd starts a Steelers chant and Punk says that he isn’t stupid enough to root for a bunch of losers like the Cubs and he is from Chicago. Punk says that Christmas has been ruined. Punk says that it was not his fault. He is not talking about when Santa got hit by a car.
Punk is talking about how the best in the world is clearly injured to the point where he cannot compete tonight. Punk says that if you want to boo anyone, the person to boo is Ryback. Ryback is the reason why Christmas is ruined. Punk says that he cannot even walk without these crutches.
Punk says that Ryback has ruined Christmas. Ryback has ruined Hanukkah. What do we do to the lowlife who has ruined Christmas and Hanukkah. Do we fire him? No. Do we suspend him? No. Do we fine him an obscene amount of money? No. What is the punishment for Ryback for hurting the champion? Nothing. He is rewarded with a championship match.
If it was proven that CM Punk has worked with Brad Maddox or the Shield, then maybe Ryback should be given a title match. Punk says that he is in obvious pain. He is not cleared by doctors. Ryback is believing his own crap.
Punk says that he is in a bad mood because he has been doing a lot of training to get ready to go back to the ring. Punk insults the people in the crowd.
Paul tells everyone to get one thing perfectly clear. They do not boo CM Punk. CM Punk has been your WWE Champion for 400 consecutive days. For each and every one of those 400 days, CM Punk has been the victim of a documented conspiracy in the WWE to take this championship away from him. Paul mentions the Ryback situation. He has received not one, but two extraordinary opportunities to wrestle the title from CM Punk. On both occasions, Ryback has failed.
Punk tells Ryback that on two legs he was better than him. On one leg he is better than him. He could have his leg amputated and he will be better than him. He says that he is the best in the world.
Ryback’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring.
Paul tells Ryback to listen to him. CM Punk is not medically cleared to wrestle. If Ryback places one finger on Punk, he will sue him for assault.
Ryback says that he does not have to lay a finger on him because he got his Christmas present. In two weeks, if Punk is medically cleared, they will have the match that they were supposed to have at the pay per view. It will be a TLC match.
Scott says that with three little words, everything that Punk has done can be ended. Will Ryback defeat CM Punk in the TLC match?
We go to credits.
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