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January 2nd
On this day in history in ....
1958 - Herb Freeman and Henry Lenz defeat Kurt Von Himmler and Juan Oinada for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1959 - Fred Blassie defeats Ray Gunkel in Atlanta, Georgia to win the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Title for the eighth time, ending Gunkel's third reign.
1965 - Sonny Myers defeats Tom Clark for the Central States version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Waterloo, Iowa, beginning his second reign.
1970 - Dick Dunn defeats Rocket Monroe to win the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama.
1971 - Ripper Collins defeats Johnny Barend for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii. This ended Barend's second reign and began Collins' seventh.
1979 - Dick Slater defeats Jos LeDuc to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.
1979 - Randy Alls (Randy Rose) defeats Dick Murdoch to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri.
1980 - Ox Baker defeats Bruiser Brody for the World Class American Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California, ending Brody's fourth reign and beginning Baker's second.
1981 - Mike Graham and Barry Windham defeat The Cowboy Connection (Bobby Jaggers and R.T. Tyler) to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Orlando, Florida.
1982 - Jimmy Valiant defeats Ivan Koloff for the NWA Television Title in Hampton, Virginia, ending Koloff's second reign.
1983 - Jacques Rougeau defeats Sabu the Wildman (Coco Samoa) to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning Rougeau's second reign.
1987 - The MOD Squad (Basher and Spike) defeat Todd Champion and Dave Peterson for the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1988 - The WWF's 14th "Saturday Night's Main Event" show, which was taped on December 7 in Landover, Maryland at Capital Centre, airs on NBC. The results:
- WWF Tag Team Champions Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) defeats The Bolsheviks (Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov) in a Two out of Three Falls match in two straight falls to retain the titles. Martel made Zhukov submit with the Boston Crab to win the first fall, and Santana pinned Zhukov to win the second.
- Jake Roberts pinned Sika with a roll-up.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned King Kong Bundy with the legdrop.
- Greg Valentine defeated Koko B. Ware by submission with the figure-four leglock.
1988 - I-Ton and Dory Singh defeat Atomic Kid and The Frog for the Universal Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
1990 - Arn Anderson defeats The Great Muta in Gainesville, Georgia to win the NWA World Television Title. This match aired on the January 13th edition of "Power Hour" and began Anderson's second reign.
1991 - Danny Davis defeats Joseph Magliano (Joey Maggs) for the USWA Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning his second reign.
1996 - The Equalizer and George South end The Italian Stallion and Star Ryder's second reign as Pro Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions in Mooresville, North Carolina.
1997 - Brian Christopher wins his 23rd USWA Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, defeating Wolfie D.
1997 - Caveman Broda and Steve Stryker defeat Todd Bullet and Wildman Firpo to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title.
1998 - Yoshihiro Tajiri and Ryuji Yamakawa win their second BJW Tag Team Title, defeating Gedo and Jado in Tokyo, Japan.
1999 - Samu defeats Sean Evans to win the Pro Wrestling eXpress Heavyweight Title in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, ending and beginning each's second reign.
1999 - Baldo (Matt Bloom) defeats Lance Jade for the Power Pro Wrestling Young Guns Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
2000 - Tomoaki Honma defeats Ryuji Yamakawa to win the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Yamakawa's second reign.
2000 - Yasushi Kanda and Susumu Mochizuki defeat Black Dragon and Fantasy in a tournament final to become the first IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Champions in Naucalpan, Mexico.
2002 - Bison and Rapture defeat Axl Law and Scott Venom to win the NWA PWX Tag Team Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
2003 - WWE holds an event at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, taping the January 4th Velocity. SmackDown! aired live on UPN, featuring the wedding of Al Wilson and Dawn Marie. The results:
Velocity:
- Jamie Noble and Nunzio defeated Jim Lucas and Jeff Michaels, when Noble made Michaels submit with the Trailer Hitch.
- A-Train pinned Derek Selsvold after a backbreaker.
- Funaki pinned Charles Schipporeit after a tornado DDT.
- WWE Tag Team Champion Chavo Guerrero pinned Tajiri with his feet on the ropes.
SmackDown!:
- John Cena pinned Rikishi with a roll-up.
- Bill DeMott pinned Chuck Palumbo after a reverse neckbreaker.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman pinned WWE Tag Team Champion Eddie Guerrero with the Shooting Star Press after John Cena ran in and hit Eddie with his chain.
- Chris Benoit and Edge defeated Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) by disqualification after Angle hit Benoit with his WWE Title belt.
- Nunzio pinned Crash Holly after a flying armbar DDT.
- Brock Lesnar pinned Matt Hardy after the F5.
2003 - Kaori Yoneyama defeats Princesa Sandy for the vacant BJW Women's Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2004 - Great Kosuke (Satoshi Kojima) and Shiryu (Kaz Hayashi) defeat Mr. Gannosuke and Tetsuhiro Kuroda to win the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2004 - Red Devil defeats Andy Simmonz in a tournament final for the vacant Italian Championship Wrestling Italian Heavyweight Title in Barzio, Italy. The title was vacated because previous champion Manuel Majoli had been injured.
2004 - Shockwave defeats Kid Krush to win the World of Hurt Wrestling Fusion Cruiserweight and Dynamite Titles in Hudson Falls, New York.
2004 - Craziness defeats Dynamite Dan for the United States Wrestling Organization Television Title in Madison, Tennessee.
2007 - Brian Jennings defeats Jon Moxley to win the Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2008 - The Associated Press reported the following this evening:
Father of late wrestler says verbal agreement over estate reached
ATLANTA --A verbal agreement has been reached in the fight over the estate of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, who killed his wife, 7-year-old son and then himself in June, Benoit's father said Wednesday.
"In principle, it's there. It just needs to be documented," Michael Benoit said in a telephone interview from Alberta, Canada.
Benoit said the agreement calls for the proceeds from the estate to "pretty much" be evenly split between his son's two children from a previous marriage - a 15-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl - and the family of his slain wife Nancy. Michael Benoit, who has been acting on the children's behalf, declined to provide the exact terms.
Benoit said attorneys fees and expenses of roughly $500,000 to $600,000 will reduce the ultimate value of the estate, which consists of two homes, several bank and investment accounts and other assets. One estimate of the estate has put its value at $1.5 million to $3 million.
"There's lots of things that need to take place, properties that have to be disposed of, tax returns that have to be filed, a whole number of things over the next three to five months," Benoit said.
Cary Ichter, Michael Benoit's attorney, and Richard Decker, an attorney for Nancy Benoit's mother, did not return several phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.
Lawyers for Nancy Benoit's mother, Maureen Toffoloni, filed a petition in August asking a court to determine the order of the deaths, which they argued could affect whether she was entitled to any of the estate.
Investigators have repeatedly said that Chris Benoit killed his wife, then their son and himself during the weekend of June 22, 2007, at their suburban Atlanta home.
District Attorney Scott Ballard has said the wrestler used a cord to strangle his wife, then killed his son with a choke hold, then placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment.
Under that scenario, the estate would pass to Benoit's surviving two children, according to Ichter.
But if the boy was killed first and then the wife, under Georgia law at least some of the estate would pass to Toffoloni, lawyers in the case have said.
That's because of a forfeiture statute that takes into account the fact that Benoit was the killer. As such, the law for purposes of estate distribution would consider Benoit to have died before his wife and son.
Ichter has said that if the boy was killed first, the estate would pass to the wife and, since she was killed, it would then pass to her family.
An attorney for Toffoloni, of Daytona Beach, Fla., has said he doesn't believe the order of deaths is clear, and that is why he asked the Fayette County court to make a determination based on the law.
Michael Benoit said Wednesday he always believed the Toffoloni family should get some of the estate.
"It's beyond me why we needed to spend $600,000 to get here," he said.
Investigators have not given a motive for the killings, but the question of whether steroids played a role has lingered. Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, and tests showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system when he died.
Some experts believe that use of testosterone can contribute to paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."
Benoit's father believes years of head trauma his son suffered while in the ring contributed to the killings.
"It goes far beyond the steroid issue," Michael Benoit said Wednesday.
2009 - In news that can only be described as a complete embarrassment to the professional wrestling world, United States Senator Henry Waxman filed a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy's Director, John P. Walters, providing the results of the Congressional Oversight Committee’s investigation into the steroid use within the professional wrestling industry.
In the letter, Waxman notes that he is leaving the Committee to become the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, requesting that ONDCP examine the widespread steroid abuse within the business and the industry's policing methods and "take appropriate steps to address this problem."
Waxman's letter notes, among other points:
*Chris Benoit tested positive three times for steroids by World Wrestling Entertainment prior to his June 2006 murder/suicide of his family, but was never penalized by the promotion beyond "only a warning."
*40% of WWE talents tested positive for steroids and other drugs despite being aware they would be tested when the company instituted their "Wellness Policy."
*25% of TNA's talent roster tested positive for steroids during the promotion's first baseline test while 11 talents tested positives for other substances. Waxman went on to note that while the company has instituted a policy, there are "significant weaknesses" within the TNA program.
*Waxman was critical of WWE making changes to their Wellness Policy several months after instituting it to allow wrestlers to continue to perform (without pay) on TV and PPV events in order to maintain storyline consistency after they were nailed with suspensions. In an interview with Aegis Science's Dr. Black (who oversees the WWE Wellness program), Black noted that change was instituted, "because it was becoming difficult to deal with the talent who were being suspended". Black also noted he was "unaccustomed to programs that suspend and you're not suspended."
*WWE hired five of eight wrestlers who tested positive for steroids and other drugs during pre-hiring tests, despite their positives. It should be noted that according to material given to the Committee by WWE, those talents were only hired after later receiving negative tests at a later period.
*Waxman noted that WWE was allowing "therapeutic usage" of steroids from talents who were using a "testosterone replacement therapy" to combat issues brought on by previous steroid use in their past.
*Despite being a performer within his own company, Waxman noted WWE's Vince McMahon is not subject to the WWE's Wellness Policy testing procedures. Waxman noted McMahon would not comment on his own steroid use and claimed not to know of the damages brought on by long-term steroid use, claiming he was "not a doctor."
Waxman's letter included transcripts of interviews with World Wrestling Entertainment's Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, Aegis Science's Dr. David Black, TNA President Dixie Carter, Dr. Tracy Ray (who works with Black on the WWE Wellness program) and Dr. Frederick Feurerbach (who works on the WWE Wellness program's cardiovascular testing). The letter included details on WWE and TNA's drug testing policies.
Amazingly (or perhaps not so amazingly), the investigation went nowhere and did nothing to change the face of the business, unless you count Linda McMahon attempting to run several times for State Senator for Connecticut.
2009 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
It is a new year for the WWE and we move closer to the Royal Rumble. We should find out who Jeff Hardy will defend his title against. We should also find out who is in the 30 Man Duck and Boost Invitational. Will Edge and Big Show be able to work together tonight or will there be trouble in paradise?
We are live on tape from East Rutherford, New Jersey and your announcers are Tazz and Jim ‘Hoffa’ Ross.
Vickie Guerrero comes to the ring and she wishes everyone a Happy New Year. She says that 2008 was really great and 2009 will be really fine. Vickie mentions the Royal Rumble and she says that Jeff Hardy will defend his title against Mr. Vickie Guerrero. She also mentions the Royal Rumble match. The Smackdown superstars in the match will be announced later on the show.
Triple H comes out and he has something to drink and to say. Hunter wishes Vickie a happy new year. Hunter says that it is time for the Royal Rumble again. He says that he cannot wait to hear Vickie say his name, but Vickie tells Hunter that he has to wait. Hunter points out that he is impatient and so are the fans. He suggests that the fans could get unruly and follow her around. Hunter has the fans chant “Triple H” and then he gets them to say ‘Suck it’. Hunter is told that if he misbehaves, he will not be in the Rumble match. Hunter says that if he is not in the Rumble, someone from Smackdown will not win and then Vickie will get embarrassed and fired and fall into obscurity. Hunter brings out the Vickie Guerrero action figure. Hunter says that it has the same vacant look on its face and then Hunter comments on Vickie’s physical appearance. Vickie tells Hunter that he is in the match and then he is told to leave the ring. Hunter says that he has one other thing to deal with. Hunter says that he was playing with the action figure and he comments on the size of the action figure. Hunter says that the action figure is hot and he found some nude photos of Vickie on eBay. Vickie says that she does not know about them. Hunter tells Vickie that the auction is about to end in a few minutes and he mentions that he is outbid by someone using the name ChavoG2009.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Umaga will be back soon.
Match Number One: Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder versus Great Khali and Finlay with Hornswoggle and Runjin Singh
Khali and Hawkins start things off and Hawkins with a forearm to Khali’s chest but Khali blocks a kick and then he brings Ryder into the ring. Khali with a double noggin knocker and then while Finlay was distracting the ref, Hornswoggle with a double noggin knocker. Finlay tags in and he connects with a European uppercut and boots to the hand. Finlay with a slam and a seated splash for a near fall. Finlay with another European uppercut followed by a short arm clothesline. Finlay goes outside and Hawkins tries for a baseball slide but Finlay pulls out the ring apron. Ryder tries to attack Finlay but Finlay with a clothesline. Hawkins with a baseball slide that connects.
They return to the ring and Ryder tags in. Ryder with a snap mare and rear chin lock with his knee in Finlay’s back. Finlay with a knee to Ryder but Ryder sends Finlay into the turnbuckles. Finlay and Ryder bang heads and Ryder goes down and Finlay is staggered. Khali tags in and he chops Ryder. Khali with an elbow to Hawkins and then he sends Hawkins into Ryder and he chops Hawkins. Khali with the vertical choke slam on Ryder for the three count.
Winner: Great Khali and Finlay
After the match, Finlay gives Hawkins the Celtic Cross and Hornswoggle with a frog splash. Then it is time to see some dancing.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Eve is in the interview area with Michelle McCool. Eve asks Michelle about what happened last week and we have footage from the match and the post match activities when Michelle attacked a defenseless referee. Eve asks Michelle if her and Maria are still friends. Michelle says that Maria cost her the title and she got what she deserved. Eve suggests that Michelle apologize to Maria and Michelle tells Eve to mind her own business.
We are in the office and Edge is angry that there are naked pictures of his wife on eBay. Show says that he saw those pictures. Edge reminds Show that it is wife. Show reminds Edge that it is the wife that he hides behind and fights his fights. Show tells Edge that he should be embarrassed. Edge talks about being embarrassed by being knocked out by a flyweight. He tells Show to knock out Jeff Hardy and then try to win the Royal Rumble match.
Match Number Two: Jesse and Festus versus The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel Jackson
The bell rings and Festus starts punching people. Festus with a flying shoulder tackle to Jackson and then he sends Kendrick into the corner and connects with a Kane-like uppercut. Festus with a slam and then Jesse is tagged in. Festus slams Jesse onto Kendrick for a near fall. Jesse with a snap mare and he applies an arm bar with a cross face. Jesse with a near fall after a knee to the midsection. Festus tags in and Jesse Irish whips Kendrick into an uppercut. Festus with a seated splash on Kendrick. Kendrick gets his knees up. Festus catches Kendrick, but he wrenches his knee. Kendrick tags in Ezekiel and he clips Festus and kicks him in the hamstring. Kendrick tags back in and he goes up top and connects with a boot to the leg. Kendrick with more kicks to the knee. Festus tosses Kendrick away to tag in Jesse. Jesse with a series of running thrusts to Kendrick followed by a reverse atomic drop and running forearm. Jesse with an Irish whip and running clotheslines. Jesse with clotheslines in the corner and hits a snap fisherman’s suplex but Ezekiel breaks up the cover. Festus reinjures his leg. Jesse hits a belly-to-back suplex but Ezekiel tagged in and hits the uranage for the three count.
Winners: The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel Jackson
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Vladimir Kozlov versus Hurricane Helms
Helms with a kick to Kozlov’s leg but Kozlov blocks the next attempt. Kozlov with a hip lock take down into a key lock. Kozlov with knees and then he sends Helms into the corner but Kozlov charges into an elbow. Kozlov with head butts to Helms and then he sends Helms into the turnbuckles. Kozlov with shoulders in the corner. Kozlov throws Helms across the ring and he returns to the key lock. Helms with knees but Kozlov with knees and a forearm. Kozlov puts Helms on his shoulders and then he puts Helms on the turnbuckles and kicks Helms in the chest. Kozlov with a fallaway slam. Helms with a series of kicks to Kozlov and he gets Kozlov to his knees. Helms charges at Kozlov but Kozlov with a head butt followed by a spinebuster for the three count.
Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to find out who is in the Royal Rumble. Jim Ross is in the ring to make the announcement. Jim Ross tells us that the man who is not ducked and boosted over the top rope will win the match and go to the main event of Wrestlemania and point to the sign. Triple H, Big Show, Vladimir Kozlov, and Shelton Benjamin are announced.
Shelton Benjamin comes out and he wants to interject. He wants to know what is wrong with Jim Ross. He is not to be introduced as a participant, he should be announced as the odds-on favorite to win the Royal Rumble. Shelton tells Jim that he should take his leave from the ring. Shelton says that he has been the United States Champion for six months and he will leave Wrestlemania as the World Champion. He is the Gold Standard for a reason. Nobody in the Royal Rumble can compare to him. He does not care if it is Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Fit Finlay, or R-Truth because there is no one who compares.
There is a voice from the TitanTron and the Undertaker’s bell rings and he is in the ring after the lights go out and back on. Taker with a choke slam and then he poses. I guess Taker is in the Rumble match. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kizarny is tizalking and he will be there tonight.
Michelle McCool comes to the ring and she says that a friend of hers brought something to her attention and she was right. Michelle says that she owes Maria an apology and it is because of what Michelle did. Michelle tells Maria to accept her apology. Michelle says that there is someone else that she needs to apologize to. She asks Eve to come out. Michelle says that she feels horrible for taking it out on Eve earlier because it is not cool. Eve accepts Michelle’s apology and they hug. Eve leaves the ring and then when Eve talks to some fans at ringside, the Sting transformation is complete as Michelle attacks Eve. Michelle sends Eve into the ring post and then she goes to the back while the referees check on Eve.
Vickie is in the office with Chavo and she likes his idea. Vickie cannot believe the pictures are out there. Chavo says that he has not seen them. Hunter enters the office. Vickie tells Hunter that she demands an apology. Hunter says that Vickie should be apologizing for having nude photos on the internet. Vickie says that Hunter will be in three matches next week, a Tables Match, a Handicap Match, and a Last Man Standing Match. Chavo calls it Triple Jeopardy and Vickie likes it. We go to commercial.
We are back and Montel Vontavious Porter is in the ring. He says to bring out who he has to wrestle so he can get it over with.
Match Number Fizour: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Kizarny
The bell rings and Kizarny goes for the leg. Kizarny with a back slide for a near fall. He follows that with Japanese arm drags and a slam and a leg drop. Kizarny with a baseball slide that sends Porter to the floor and then Kizarny with a suicide dive. They return to the ring and Kizarny with a near fall. Kizarny with a cross body from the second rope for a near fall. Porter with a shoulder to the ribs and then he rolls Kizarny under the bottom rope to the floor. Porter hot shots Kizarny on the ringside barrier and then he gets a near fall. Porter with punches to Kizarny and then he hits an elbow drop. Porter with a waist lock on Kizarny. Porter with a low kick and then he connects with knees to the midsection. Porter tosses Kizarny into the mat and he connects with a knee drop for a near fall. Kizarny punches Porter but Porter with an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Kizarny with a jawbreaker and a drop kick to the knee. Kizarny with a drop kick and then he slams Porter’s head into the turnbuckles. Porter with a facebuster and then he sets for the Playmaker but Kizarny counters and hits a double underhook DDT for the three count.
Winner: Kizarny
After the match, Ken Kennedy comes out and he reminds Porter that he got whooped. It is time for a plug for Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jim Ross and Tazz talk about next week’s Triple Jeopardy match. We also see the tag titles get defended next week as The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel Jackson face Carlito and Primo.
Before our main event, Edge has something to say. He says naked pictures or not, you will respect his wife. He says that you will also respect him because he will be the WWE Champion for a seventh time after the Royal Rumble. Instead of respecting him, everyone will blame him because everything is his fault. He says that people thought he was taking advantage of a poor defenseless woman, but he is still in love with Vickie. Then they blamed him for taking out Jeff Hardy the night before the Survivor Series. That is despite the fact that Jeff is a screw up. When the embarrassing, juvenile, and irrational period known as the Jeff Hardy era as champion comes to an end, then blame him.
Match Number Five: Edge and Big Show versus Matt and Jeff Hardy
Matt and Edge start things off and they lock up and Matt with an arm drag. They lock up again and Edge backs Matt into the corner. Edge misses a punch and Matt with another arm drag. They lock up one more time and Matt with an arm bar into a hammer lock. Edge with a side head lock but Matt with a belly-to-back suplex and Jeff is tagged in. The Hardys double team Edge and then they hit a double drop kick to knock Show off the apron. Edge is sent over the top rope and he is caught by Show. We go to commercial.
We are back and Edge punches Jeff and chokes him in the ropes. We see footage during the break of Big Show attacking Jeff from the apron. Jeff with Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. Matt tags in and slams Edge. Matt goes up top for the moonsault but Edge moves. Show tags in and he chops Matt in the corner followed by a head butt. Show with a suplex to Matt and he gets a near fall. Show sends Matt into the corner to tag in Edge. Edge punches Matt but Matt punches back. Edge puts Matt in the ropes and he hits a splash into Matt’s back. Edge with an arm bar. Edge with a knee to the midsection and Show is tagged back in. Show works on Matt’s arm and then he chops Matt as he keeps Matt away from his brother. Show with chops and punches in the corner followed by a head butt before Edge takes over and gets the near fall. Edge with a front face lock as he keeps Matt from making the tag. Edge with a sunset flip and Matt almost makes the tag. Edge with a clothesline to Matt and he returns to the arm bar. Matt punches Edge but Edge with a big boot to Matt.
Show leaves the ring and Edge wonders what is going on. Matt punches Edge but Edge with a knee. Matt tries for the Twist of Fate but Edge counters with a breakdown for a near fall. Edge sets for the Spear but he charges into a boot and Matt with a Side Effect and both men are down. Jeff tags in and he punches Edge and hits a running forearm and reverse atomic drop and double leg drop and drop kick for a near fall. Matt is tagged in and the Hardys hit Poetry in Motion and then Matt with a bulldog. Matt hits the Twist of Fate and Jeff is tagged in for the Swanton and the three count.
Winners: Matt and Jeff Hardy
2010 - SpikeTV announced plans to broadcast the reality series "Half Pint Brawlers", focusing on hardcore midget wrestling. The series ran for one season.
2011 - It was announced that former WCW World champion (we know, we know) David Arquette checked into alcohol rehab on New Years Eve.
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin with a video package of Kane with his promo from last week mixed in.
We are live from Memphis, Tennessee and your announcers are Michael ‘I hope the return is Downtown Bruno’ Cole and Jerry ‘I hope the return is Lord Humongous’ Lawler.
The show starts off with the 2012 debut of John Cena and he makes his way to the ring. We also get the 2012 debut of the Twitter Ticker.
John says that 2011 might not have ended the way he wanted, but it is a new day and a new year. John wishes everyone a Happy New Year. Cena says that it is a time for celebration and resolutions. John says that he will make some changes in 2012. The first resolution is that he will wear less underwear and when he does, it will be unusual. The second resolution is that his father is now banned from WWE. The final resolution will take place at Wrestlemania. After he slaps the face off Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s neck and win the biggest match in the history of the WWE, he will prove to Dwayne that he has lost his ladyparts.
There is one thing that will not change in 2012. It is the same thing that has not changed in the ten years that he has been in the WWE. He will remain the same person. Hustle, loyalty, and respect do not fall to pieces because someone throws fire in your face. A man’s character is not judged by how much he is loved, but how he is willing to get up when his back is against the wall.
Cena says that he was emotional last week, but it was not against anyone in the crowd. Everyone has paid their hard earned money and he is not going to prevent anyone from saying what they want to say.
Cena says that his disappointment was in Kane. He was an iconic WWE Superstar and he cannot settle things the way they are done in the WWE. Kane is upset with the way that Cena does things or what he wears. He does not want to settle it in the ring. Kane wants Cena to turn his back on what he loves the most. Cena says no and not tonight, not any night.
Cena says that there is no better feeling than being in the ring in front of everyone. Cena says that he will continue to enjoy any emotion response that he gets. He will start off this year, the way that it should be started and that is to thank everyone.
Before Cena can finish thanking people, Kane’s music plays and he says that Cena can hold off the inevitable all he wants but he will embrace the hate and enjoy the power of hate tonight.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Daniel Bryan versus Cody Rhodes
They lock up and Rhodes with a knee and punches to Bryan. Bryan with kicks to the arm in the corner. Bryan with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Cody. Cody wrings the arm and then he stomps on the shoulder. Rhodes sends Bryan shoulder first into the turnbuckles and gets a near fall. Rhodes with a knee to Bryan’s midsection followed by a shot to the arm.
Rhodes with a snap mare and then he has Bryan in an arm submission. Rhodes with a hammer lock and he punches Bryan. Bryan with an elbow and punches followed by a flying clothesline. Bryan with a kick to the chest but Rhodes with the drop down uppercut. Bryan sends Rhodes to the floor and Bryan goes to the apron and he hits a running knee off the apron.
Bryan sends Rhodes back into the ring and Bryan goes up top for a missile drop kick but Rhodes moves out of the way. Bryan is sent into the turnbuckles and then Rhodes hits Beautiful Disaster for a near fall. Rhodes with a gourdbuster and then he tries for a second one but Bryan with an inside cradle to counter for the three count.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
After the match, Bryan celebrates on the announce table and then on the ringside barrier around the ring.
We go to footage from last week when R Truth returned to Raw to get some revenge on The Miz.
John Laurinaitis is texting like it was 2011 and Miz enters. Miz wants to know what John is going to do about what Truth did last week. John says that what Truth did last week was unprofessional. Miz wants to know why John isn’t going to do anything about it.
John reminds Miz why Truth acted the way he did. We go back to the night that the Awesome Conspiracy was debunked.
Miz doesn’t know why Truth would want to attack him. John says that he will have people watching for R Truth, especially during Miz’s match. Miz wants to know about the match and John says that he will be facing Sheamus. Miz says that he will be a sitting duck and John says that it is better than being a lame duck.
Miz storms into the hallway and we see R Truth in the foreground flapping and quacking like a duck.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from the first Royal Rumble in 1988 which was won by Jim Duggan when he eliminated his UWF foe the One Man Gang.
We see highlights of the Falls Count Anywhere Match from last week’s Smackdown including the footage from the brawl in the elevator. Then we see Randy Orton playing the part of Zack Gowan to Wade Barrett’s Brock Lesnar.
Wade has a smile on his face and he says that he did not want to wish anyone a Happy New Year because he does not care about our new year just like he didn’t care about their old year. Barrett says that it has been a great 2012 because it is a 2012 devoid of Randy Orton. Barrett never planned on throwing Orton down a set of stairs on Smackdown, but it was either him or me.
Barrett says that Orton is another victim of the Barrett Barrage. That is the past and now he is looking to the future and winning the Royal Rumble and main eventing Wrestlemania. After what he did to Randy Orton, there isn’t a person on the planet . . .
Santino Marella interrupts and makes his way to the ring.
Santino wants to know who lasted longer in the Royal Rumble last year, him or Santino. Santino says that the Barrett Garage will get runned over by the Santino Marella choo choo trains.
Match Number Two: Wade Barrett versus Santino Marella
Barrett with jabs to Marella but Santino with a punch. Santino does the split but Barrett does not go through and Barrett with a kick to the head followed by a punch. Barrett punches Santino but he misses a charge into the corner.
Santino sets up the Cobra but Barrett with a back heel kick and then he sends Santino shoulder first into the post. Barrett with the Winds of Change for the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
Miz is standing behind the Bellas because he figures they can distract Truth if she sees them. Miz asks if they saw R Truth but they have not.
Miz looks around the corner and walks away but we see R Truth emerge as we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz looks over his shoulder as he makes his way to the ring.
Match Number Three: Sheamus versus Miz
Miz attacks Sheamus before the bell rings and he hits a DDT. Miz ties up Sheamus in the ropes like he was Andre the Giant. Sheamus with a punch and kick to stop Miz. Sheamus with forearms across the chest with Miz on the apron. Miz falls to the floor.
Miz goes into the crowd and Sheamus does not follow.
R Truth gets on the mic and he tells Miz ‘surprise surprise surprise’. Truth says that he was watching from the crowd and he ran into Little Jimmy. Truth asks Jimmy a question and Truth says that Jimmy don’t like Miz. Truth says that Little Jimmy says that Miz needs to get got.
Miz returns to the ringside area and Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Miz and Miz is down.
Truth comes into the ringside area as well and he stands over Miz. Truth gets a water bottle and he hits Miz in the head with the bottle.
Truth goes back through the crowd. Truth says that this weekly Miz beat down is brought to you by Little Jimmy . . . where you will get got.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is almost time for the WWE Championship Match. We see highlights from last week when Dolph Ziggler defeated CM Punk despite some smoke and mirrors thanks to John Laurinaitis.
Dolph Ziggler is in the interview area and he is doing a headstand. Josh asks Dolph if he will be able to defeat CM Punk tonight. Dolph points out that he beat CM Punk last week and he is all about proving it. Dolph talks about how Tennessee is the reason why things are so bad in the United States. Ziggler calls himself a surplus of talent. He has everything except the WWE Championship. He tells everyone that they will want to note the time that Dolph Ziggler became WWE Champion.
Zack Ryder is with Eve Torres and he asks Eve if she wants to watch their tag match from last week.
Jack Swagger says that there is an impostor walking around with the United States Chamiponship.
Zack says that just because their names end with ‘er’ he won’t send Swagger to the ‘ER’.
Jack and Zack argue about having match right now, but General Manager Buzzkill says that he won’t reward Swagger with a title match. Jack Swagger will join forces with Mark Henry and Kane and they will face Zack Ryder, Big Show, and John Cena.
CM Punk walks in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Three: CM Punk versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero for the WWE Championship
They lock up and he backs Punk into the ropes but Punk with a rollup for a near fall. Punk gets another near fall. Punk with a full nelson into a waist lock. Ziggler goes for the ankle and he takes Punk down and Ziggler with a front face lock and rolls through but Punk escapes.
They lock up again and Punk with punches followed by a back breaker for a near fall. Punk with a cravate but Ziggler backs Punk into the corner and he punches Punk. Ziggler with a punch to Punk and he gets a near fall. Ziggler misses the leaping elbow drop when Punk moves out of the way. Punk with a slam followed by a snap leg drop. Punk with four more snap leg drops for a near fall.
Punk with a reverse chin lock that slips into a sleeper as he works on Ziggler’s neck. Punk with a shoulder tackle but Ziggler with a hot shot but Punk barely hits the ropes completely. Ziggler with kicks and a neck breaker for a near fall. Ziggler with the leaping elbow drop for a near fall.
Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. Punk with punches and a back heel kick that sends Ziggler to the floor. Punk with a suicide dive attempt but Ziggler with a punch to stop Punk followed by a neck breaker onto the apron. Ziggler picks up Punk and rolls him back into the ring and gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler and Punk exchange punches with Punk getting the advantage until he misses a clothesline attempt. Ziggler tries for the sleeper but Punk counters with a belly-to-back suplex and he gets a near fall. Punk with a leg lariat and Ziggler struggles to get to the corner.
Punk goes for the running knee into the corner but Ziggler with an uppercut. Ziggler charges at Punk and Punk with a power slam for a near fall. Punk tries for a suplex but Ziggler counters and gets a rollup for a near fall. Punk rolls through but Ziggler was in the ropes. Ziggler with a Fameasser for a near fall.
Ziggler with a splash into the corner and then he hits a reverse Exploder suplex for a near fall. Ziggler climbs on Punk’s back but Punk pushes him off. The turnbuckle pad gets removed. Punk with the running knee into the corner followed by the bulldog but he can only get a near fall.
Punk signals for the Go To Sleep but John Laurinaitis comes to the ring and he shows the referee the turnbuckle pad. The referee does not see Punk apply the Anaconda Vice and Ziggler tap because Laurinaitis was distracting the referee.
Ziggler tries for the Zig Zag but Punk moves and Laurinaitis and Ziggler collide. Punk gets Ziggler up for the Go To Sleep but Ziggler with elbows and Punk gets sent over the top rope to the floor when Laurinaitis pulls down the ropes.
Punk cannot get to the ring before the ten count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler by count out
Ziggler takes the title belt and celebrates but apparently a college education does not mean that you can understand WWE’s rules that you cannot win the title on a count out.
We go to commercial . . . or are we because ‘He is Here’.
We are going to commercial.
We are back with highlights from 1995’s Royal Rumble when Shawn Michaels won.
Match Number Four: The Bellas versus Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres
Brie and Kelly start things off and Brie spanks Kelly but Kelly with a slap and spank. Kelly sends Brie into the turnbuckles and then Kelly with the Stinkface to Brie. Kelly tries for the bulldog but Brie gets away. Nikki tags in and they send Kelly to the mat. Nikki gets a near fall. Kelly with a jawbreaker and Eve is tagged in.
Eve with a clothesline and a single foot drop kick. Eve with a kick and a bicycle kick followed by a clothesline. Eve with the rumpshaker moonsault set up but she takes care of Brie on the apron. Eve with an elbow and a kick to Nikki. Eve goes up top for a moonsault and hits it and Brie breaks up the cover.
Brie rolls Nikki out of the ring because of Kelly’s exuberance. Brie with an inside cradle type maneuver for the three count.
Winners: The Bellas
John Laurinaitis is with David Otunga and CM Punk enters the office. He says that John almost cost him the title this week. Punk says that he will not be disrespectful.
John says that the problem Punk has is with Ziggler. John says that since Ziggler has won twice, he is going to get a title match at the Royal Rumble. John says that he is going to have a special referee.
Punk tells John that if he screws him out of the title at the Royal Rumble, John will need his lawyer to deal with animal cruelty charges because he will beat John like a bitch.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is finally time to see who the videos that have run the last few weeks are all about.
The cameras are shaking to make it look like something is going to be destroyed. The lights go out and when they come back on . . .
A man in a sparkly jacket posing like Chris Jericho is on the stage and then Jericho’s music plays and it is Chris Jericho.
Jericho does a victory lap around the ring.
Jericho then tries to get the crowd to continue cheering for him once it dies down.
Jericho finally catches his breath and he drops the mic and he does another lap around the ring. If he is trying to be a heel, mission accomplished.
Jericho goes up the ramp to the stage and the fans are starting to get a little fed up with Jericho’s act.
Jericho goes to the back and the crowd is confused.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Big Show, John Cena, and Zack Ryder versus Mark Henry, Jack Swagger, and Kane in an Elimination Match
Kane does not make his way to the ring. Instead we get someone more grotesque looking in David Otunga. David has his coffee and he enters the ring and he tells Justin Roberts something. We find out that Kane is not participating so we have a handicap match.
Cena and Swagger start things off and Swagger with a side head lock. Swagger with a shoulder tackle and Cena with a hip toss and slam. Cena with an elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Cena with an Irish whip and drop kick to Swagger and he gets a near fall. Cena with a front face lock on Swagger.
Swagger with a kick and we go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger with a Swagger Bomb on Cena for a near fall. Swagger with a front face lock but Cena powers out of the hold and back body drops Swagger. Show tags in and he clotheslines Swagger twice followed by an Irish whip and running butt splash followed by a running shoulder tackle. Show sets for the punch and Swagger tags in Henry.
Henry enters the ring and Henry yells at Show and they get face to face. Henry and Show exchange punches and Show with head butts followed by a flying shoulder tackle. Henry rolls out of the ring and Show follows after. Henry gets a chair and Show punches it.
Show hits Henry with the chair and the referee disqualifies both Show and Henry.
Mark Henry and Big Show disqualified
Ryder with a running forearm followed by a clothesline to Swagger. Ryder with the running boot to the face in the corner and then he sets for the Rough Ryder but Swagger counters with a power bomb and then he puts Ryder in the ankle lock and Ryder makes the tag to Cena.
Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena with the Attitude Adjustment to Swagger and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winners: Zack Ryder, John Cena, and Big Show
After the match, John Cena celebrates while Ryder holds his ankle.
Kane’s pyro and lighting goes off and Cena goes up the ramp.
Kane has entered through Abyss’ hole in the mat and he attacks Ryder. Kane punches Cena as he tries to get back into the ring. Kane smothers Cena. Kane goes into the ring and Zack Ryder tries to escape but Kane grabs Ryder by the injured ankle. Kane pulls Ryder to HELL.
John Cena recovers to save Ryder from the place where Undertaker took Edge. Smoke emerges from Kane’s portal to hell and we go to credits.
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