Matt Striker is with Antonio Cesaro and Matt asks Antonio how he is going to win back the title. Antonio says that he will dominate with his technical skill and his extraordinary tenacity. Kofi took something from him and no one takes something from Antonio Cesaro. Everyone took his pride, his dignity, and his identity. Tonight, he will take it all back.
We are in Detroit, Michigan and your announcers are Michael ‘If they have the Joe, what about the Mike’ Cole and John ‘We fight like Gordie Howe on Wednesday nights’ Layfield.
Match Number One: Antonio Cesaro versus Kofi Kingston for the United States Title
Cesaro goes for the legs but Kofi moves out of the way and Kofi with a front face lock. Cesaro with a single leg trip and Kofi gets away from Cesaro. Cesaro with a waist lock out of a wrist lock. Kofi avoids an abdominal stretch and Kofi with a unique abdominal stretch. Cesaro with a wrist lock and Cesaro with a rollup for a near fall.
Cesaro with another near fall in a waist lock. Kofi with a body scissors roll up for a near fall. Cesaro with a front face lock into a double underhook and he gets a near fall. Cesaro works on the arm and wrist. Kofi with an arm drag into an arm bar.
Kofi starts to work on the arm with a splash. Cesaro pulls Kofi to the mat by the hair and he gets a near fall. Cesaro with a side head lock. Kofi goes for a leap frog but Cesaro catches him and hits a German suplex followed by a dead lift side salto. Cesaro slaps Kofi in the head but Kofi with a head scissors and kick to the head.
Kofi goes for a springboard corkscrew splash for a near fall. Cesaro goes to the floor and the referee holds Kofi back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with a European uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro with a rear chin lock and head butt to the midsection. Cesaro with a leg drop to the back of the neck for a near fall. Cesaro with a front face lock and he chokes Kofi in the ropes. Cesaro with an elbow drop for a near fall.
Cesaro with a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Cesaro returns to the rear chin lock. Cesaro with knees to stop Kofi’s attempt to get back into the match. Cesaro kicks and slaps Kofi in the ropes. Kofi with punches but Cesaro with another knee to stop Kofi. Kofi with chops and a drop kick followed by a leaping clothesline and then he hits the Boom Drop.
Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Cesaro rolls to the apron. Cesaro puts Kofi in the ropes and Cesaro pulls Kofi into the ropes and Kofi has his leg caught in the ropes. Kofi with SOS for a near fall. Cesaro with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Cesaro with a running European uppercut into the corner but he can only get a two count. Cesaro tries for another dead lift side salto but Kofi counters for a sunset flip but Cesaro does not go over and he gets a near fall. We go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with punches in the corner. Cesaro misses a charge into the corner when Kofi moves. Kofi with a forearm to send Cesaro to the floor. Kofi goes for a slingshot rana but Cesaro catches him. Kofi is able to hit the rana and Kofi sends Cesaro into the ring steps. Kofi with a clothesline off the apron and then he brings Cesaro back into the ring for a near fall.
Kofi runs into an elbow. Cesaro sends Kofi over his shoulders but Kofi lands on the turnbuckles. Kofi goes for a cross body but Cesaro catches him. Kofi counters with a rollup for a near fall. Cesaro with a European uppercut and then he connects with a double stomp to the injured knee.
Cesaro with a single leg crab. Kofi kicks Cesaro to escape the hold. Kofi with a rollup for a near fall. Kofi tries for Trouble in Paradise but Cesaro blocks it and he applies a single leg giant swing and goes into a single leg crab. Cesaro pulls Kofi into the center of the ring.
Kofi fights through the pain and he is able to make it to the ropes. Cesaro sends Kofi into the turnbuckle from the apron. Cesaro goes for a superplex to Kofi on the apron and he gets a near fall. Cesaro with a slam and he hits another double stomp, this time to the midsection but Kofi kicks out at two. Cesaro returns to the single leg crab.
Kofi kicks Cesaro away but Kofi has trouble getting back to his feet. Cesaro with a drop kick and then he tries for the Gotch Style Neutralizer. Kofi with a back body drop but Cesaro lands on his feet. Kofi sends Cesaro into the ropes and then he hits Trouble in Paradise to the back of the head and he gets the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Matt Striker interviews Kofi and asks how it feels to be champion again. He says 2013 got off to a very bad start, but you never know when you get your opportunity. Two weeks ago he got that opportunity and he beat Antonio Cesaro to become the United States Champion. Then he had his first son last week. He says that he has a message for his wife and son. He says that daddy is coming home a champion.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kofi is walking in the back but he is attacked by Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro puts a case on top of Kofi and he chokes him. Antonio tells Kofi that he doesn’t take from Antonio Cesaro. Antonio Cesaro takes from him. Antonio rips out a few of Kofi’s dreadlocks and leaves.
It is time for the Raw Rebound with a look at the main event from Raw.
Match Number Two: Justin Gabriel versus Heath Slater (with Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre)
Slater wants Gabriel held back so Slater can do some 3MB stuff before locking up. Slater sends Gabriel into the corner and he does some air guitar work. Slater with a waist lock but Gabriel with a few arm drags and he mocks the air guitar work. Gabriel with a drop toe hold and rollup for a near fall. Gabriel with a front face lock into an arm bar.
Gabriel with a rollup for a near fall. Gabriel holds on to the arm bar and wrist lock. Slater with a punch but Gabriel with a punch of his own. Gabriel with a forearm and side head lock. Gabriel with a shoulder tackle and arm drag into an arm bar.
Slater gets to the ropes and then he takes Gabriel down and applies a side head lock and he gets a near fall. Gabriel takes Slater to the mat and he applies a head lock of his own. Gabriel with a shoulder tackle and he lands on his feet on a hip toss attempt. Gabriel with a monkey flip followed by an arm drag into an arm bar.
Slater with a punch and kick in the corner. Gabriel floats over on an Irish whip and he sends Slater to the floor with head scissors. 3MB discuss strategy and Gabriel with a suicide dive onto Mahal and McIntyre. Gabriel sends Slater back into the ring. Mahal and McIntyre get onto the apron and then into the ring. The referee sends Drew and Jinder to the back and Slater complains. Slater with a forearm and punch to Gabriel.
Gabriel sends Slater to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Gabriel with an arm bar. Slater with punches but Gabriel with an Irish whip. Gabriel with an enzuigiri from the apron. Gabriel goes up top but Slater recovers and hits a power slam off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Slater with boots to Gabriel’s chest and then he argues with the referee.
Slater with a rear chin lock. Gabriel with punches but Slater with a knee. Slater with jabs to Gabriel followed by a roundhouse punch and he performs some air guitar. Slater with a knee drop to the head followed by a hard Irish whip and a kick to the head. Slater gets a near fall.
Slater goes to the turnbuckles and he is met with a boot when he tries to finish off Gabriel. Gabriel with a leg sweep and Slater lands on his face. Slater misses a charge into the corner. Gabriel with a series of kicks and then he hits a spinning back heel kick followed by a discus clothesline. Gabriel with a cross body into the corner and he hits a springboard cross body for a near fall.
Gabriel with forearms in the corner but the referee pulls Justin out of the corner. Gabriel with a back heel kick in the corner but Slater stops him. Slater goes for a superplex but Gabriel pushes Slater off the turnbuckles. Gabriel hits the 450 splash for the three count.
Winner: Justin Gabriel
We go to credits.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!