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World champ Alberto Del Rio vs. Rob Van Dam
Van Dam started out strong with some hard kicks to the face and a series of shoulderblocks. RVD hit a monkey flip out of the corner followed by a standing moonsault for a two count. He preened to the crowd, and whipped ADR into the ropes. ADR held on and nailed him with a dropkick. RVD rolled out of the way of a move and dropkicked ADR through the ropes to the floor.
RVD draped him on the guard rail and nailed a corkscrew legdrop. RVD went for a suplex into the ring but ADR reversed it and sent him to the floor. ADR hit a tope to the outside, then tossed Rob hard into the railing.
Del Rio tossed Van Dam back into the ring and cinched in a side chinlock. Rob fought his way out but was suplexed over and drilled in the back with a stiff kick.
Del Rio continued working him over and nailed a belly to back suplex. Rob rolled out to the apron but was drilled with an enziguri when he stepped up to his feet. Del Rio went for another dive but RVD stepped out of the way and no money in the pool. RVD drilled him with a series of clotheslines but was caught and whipped into the corner. RVD nailed an elbow and killed him with a thrust kick out of the corner for a two count.
RVD went to the top for a Ryder Kick off the ropes. He went for Rolling Thunder but Del Rio rolled out of the way and nailed the Backstabber for a two count. Del Rio nailed RVD with several slaps to the back of the head and placed him atop the turnbuckles for a reverse suplex. RVD fought back and nailed ADR to the mat.
Rob went to the top and nailed a flip dive for a two count. Del Rio came back to nail a series of near falls. He looked to set up RVD for the armbreaker but RVD drilled him and nailed the Hollywood Star Press for a two count. ADR made a comeback and worked over RVD but went to the top, only to be caught with a heel kick.
RVD called or the Frog Splash and went to the top. He nailed the move but ADR pulled his knees up and locked in the Crossarmbreaker in the center of the ring. RVD finally fought to the ropes and broke the hold, only ADR refused to break and was disqualified.
What an absolutely sh**ty finish to a PPV World title match.
Your winner by DQ, Rob Van Dam!
The match was OK, but nothing out of the ordinary. It's a shame because with the level of talent involved, this should have been awesome. The creative didn't help either.
After the match, Del Rio attacked Van Dam and worked him over. He grabbed a chair but Ricardo grabbed it. RVD made a comeback and Ricardo suggested they do the Van Terminator, although they didn't use that name. RVD nailed it and Alberto sold it like he was dead. That spot is always fun to see but it doesn't make up for the finish. Michael Cole called the move the "Van Daminator." Whoops!
So far, the show is just eh. I liked the opening stuff but there's been nothing truly memorable so far.
Backstage, Paul Heyman warned a confident Curtis Axel that if he doesn't make sure CM Punk doesn't get to him, Heyman won't be here tomorrow or after that to help him maintain his family's legacy. He said that HHH is out to ruin it and take it away. Axel asked Heyman whether he believed in him. Heyman said he believes in Axel but tonight Axel needs to believe in himself.
They announced that WWE.com voters decided that Booker T was the Greatest World champion of all time....in a poll that included Undertaker and RIC FLAIR. Oh come on. Shut up people. I like Booker as much as anyone but compared to FLAIR? Whatever!
Backstage, Randy Orton asked HHH what he was doing tonight. HHH said he was trying to make sure he picked the right guy as the face of the WWE. Orton told him, "You did" and walked out.
Fandango came out for his dance. Big pop for his music.
Miz vs. Fandango.
They went back and forth early. Summer got on the apron to distract Miz on the top. Fandango tried to wear him out on the mat. He went for a back suplex but Miz landed on his feet and sent Fandango to the floor. Miz came of the apron with a double axehandle, but was kicked hard inthe mid-section as he came off.
Fandango tossed him back into the ring and scored a two count, then cinched in a rear waistlock to attempt a submission. Miz made a comeback and caught Fandango in the corner. He draped his leg across the rope and nailed a dropkick,wearing him down for a figure four leglock. The crowd started chanting, "We want tables" because they were bored, or something, I guess
Fandango sent Miz, who was on the apron, into the ringpost. He clotheslined Miz down and went to the top for the flying legdrop. Miz rolled out of the way and covered him for a two count.
Miz locked in the figure four leglock and Fandango tapped.
Your winner, The Miz!
It was OK, but just standard fare.
WWE Intercontinental champ Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman vs. CM Punk - Handicap Elimination, No DQ
Punk screamed "Time to Die" when he came out, a shout-out to Cliff Compton.
Punk and Axel both have Kendo Sticks. Axel nailed him but Punk got the better of the exchange and began nailing him over and over. Punk used a White Russian Legsweep and then hit a dive on Heyman, who was standing there lost in thought. Punk grabbed Heyman and tossed him into the ring.
Heyman began scampering around trying to escape but Punk grabbed him. He asked the crowd whether they gave Paul a thumbs up or down. He grabbed the kendo stick but was nailed with a low blow by Axel. Axel worked on Punk and covered him for a two count. Heyman yelled that he believed in Axel. The crowd chanted, "Walrus" as Heyman.
Punk made a comeback with strikes and forearms. He went to use a chair but was dropkick for a two count. The crowd chanted for Tables. Heyman began bouncing around like Brock Lesnar, seeing Punk was on the defensive. Punk fired back with chops on Axel and tried to whip him into a chair in the corner but Axel ducked down and came back with a clothesline to send Punk down to the mat.
Axel went outside and pulled a table out. He set it up in the table and teased sending him into it. Punk fought back but Axel took him down and locked in a rear chin lock. Axel came off the ropes with a Bret Hart elbow but Punk rolled out of the way. He went Axel into the chair in the corner and the champion went down to the floor outside.
Axel returned to the ring and was nailed with a leg lariat and a swinging neckbreaker. Punk nailed his high knee in the corner, then yanked out Axel for a clothesline. Punk went to the top for the Randy Savage elbowsmash. Axel rolled out of the ring to prevent it. Punk went for a dive but was nailed with a chair to the head as he came at Axel.
Axel rolled Punk back into the ring but scored only a two count. Axel nailed a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. He ripped at Punk and raked his face into the mat. He nailed Punk with the Kendo Stick. Punk made a comeback, nailed the GTS and locked in the Anaconda Vise. Axel tapped and Punk held it on until he was completely unconscious.
Axel has been eliminated.
Heyman, stunned, tried to run away and Punk chased him all over the Arena until catching him in the ring. Heyman was grabbed by nose and pulled up. Punk grabbed the kendo stick. Heyman tried to embrace Punk but was beaten over and over with the stick.
Punk called for the GTS but then shook his head No. He pulled handcuffs out of his boots and cuffed Heyman behind his back. Heyman said he was tapping and began kicking his feet but they didn't call for the bell. Punk beat him over and over with the stick. Punk told him to remember that "I did this to you" and beat him over and over.
Punk told Heyman, "I broke your heart and now I am gonna break your face." Ryback hit the ring and speared Punk through the table in the corner. He placed Heyman on top of Punk and the referee counted three.
Your winner, Paul Heyman!
Ryback carried Heyman out, so apparently we have a new Heyman guy.
The match itself was OK, but nowhere near the usual level of a Punk match given the scenario. For what this was meant to be, however, it was fine and the crowd was into it because they wanted to see the dastardly Heyman get his. The Paul Heyman stuff was especially entertaining in that we got to watch Punk get his revenge for awhile. Ryback and Heyman as a duo should work towards getting Ryback to the next level. Kudos to Axel for his work ethic tonight.
Punk was bleeding from a gash in his back after the match. He made the officials and the medical staff back off and was pissed about losing.
Coverage continues on Page 3!
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