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January 7th
On this day in history in ....
1913 - Jess Westergaard defeats Henry Ordemann for the American Heavyweight Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1929 - In a disputed victory, Charlie Fischer defeats World Middleweight Champion Johnny Meyers in Chicago, Illinois. Meyers obtained a court order preventing the Illinois State Athletic Commission from awarding the title to anyone else, however the commission would recognize Gus Kallio as champion, who defeated Meyers by decision after a 2½ hour match on August 7, 1928.
1941 - Ivan Rasputin defeats Bobby Managoff in San Francisco, California to win the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title for the second time.
1949 - Chavo Guerrero, Sr. is born in El Paso, Texas.
1953 - Carl Engstrom and Frank Stojack defeat Johnny Cretorian and Kurt Von Poppenheim for the Big Time Wrestling Northwest Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1954 - Hombre Montana and Whipper Billy Watson defeat Al and Tiny Mills to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario, ending the Mills' second reign.
1958 - Casey and Danny McShain win a tournament for the vacant NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1961 - Don Leo Jonathan defeats Dr. X (Bill Miller) to win the Omaha version of the World Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska.
1965 - Mr. Fujiwara and Curtis Iaukea defeat Lord James Blears and Neff Maivia for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, ending Blears and Maivia's fourth reign.
1966 - Gene Kiniski defeats Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in St. Louis, Missouri, ending Thesz's third reign.
1966 - Bob Geigel wins his second NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri, ending the 11th reign of Sonny Myers.
1971 - Chris "C.W. Anderson" Wright is born in Emit, North Carolina.
1974 - Sharon Lee and Jackie West defeat Mariko Akagi and Peggy Kuroda to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Niigata, Japan, ending Akagi and Kuroda's second reign.
1976 - Greg Valentine and Bill Watts defeat The Hollywood Blonds (Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts) to win the vacant Tri-State version of the NWA United States Tag Team Title. Previous champions Killer Karl Kox and Dick Murdoch had split up in December.
1978 - Ted DiBiase wins the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title for the second time, defeating Bob Brown in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Brown's ninth reign.
1979 - Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes defeat Bobby Eaton and George Gulas in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title.
1980 - The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) defeat Ricky and Robert Gibson for their third AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, just six days after the Gibsons' defeated the Assassins to win their own second title.
1984 - Spike Huber defeats Bobby Colt to win the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in Indianapolis, Indiana. At the same show, Dick the Bruiser and Jeff Van Kamp defeat Abdullah the Great and Jerry Valiant for the WWA World Tag Team Title.
1985 - Billy Haynes defeats Gino Hernandez (subbing for an absent Chris Adams) for Adams' World Class Television Title in Fort Worth, Texas, ending Adams' third reign.
1986 - The fourth edition of the WWF's "Saturday Night's Main Event" airs on NBC, earning a 10.4 rating. The show was taped at The Sundome in Tampa, Florida on December 19, and was the second-ever WWF event in Tampa. The results:
- Bob Orton, Jr., Roddy Piper and Jesse Ventura defeated Hillbilly Jim, Uncle Elmer and Cousin Luke, when Piper made Luke submit to a sleeper hold following Orton hitting Luke in the head with his cast.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned Terry Funk after a lariat.
- Randy Savage pinned George Steele after a double axehandle.
- Nikolai Volkoff pinned Corporal Kirchner after a stungun and knee to the chest in a Peace match.
- The Junkyard Dog and Ricky Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji and Don Muraco, when JYD pinned Fuji.
1986 - Rocky Morgan defeats Chic Cullen in Croydon, England to win the British Heavy Middleweight Title, ending Cullen's second reign.
1987 - Coco Samoa and Ricky Santana defeat Abbuda Dein and Mike Miller for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon, ending Dein and Miller's second reign.
1989 - The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll and Scott Peterson) defeat Abbuda Dein and The Grappler to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon, beginning their sixth reign.
1990 - Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski, a fullback for the Chicago Bears as well as a multiple-title winning wrestler, dies at age 81 in International Falls, Minnesota. He was one of the first football players to succeed as a professional wrestler. Nagurski won the World Heavyweight Title in 1937 and also held the Los Angeles, Minneapolis and National Wrestling Association versions of the title, as well as winning the Minneapolis NWA World Tag Team Title with Verne Gagne in 1957. Nagurski played eight seasons with the Bears, two of those years championship years (1931 and 1932), and is a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).
1991 - The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) defeat Tony Anthony and Doug Gilbert for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Anthony and Gilbert's second reign.
1993 - Masayoshi Motegi defeats Ray Gonzalez to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. This began the title's 14-month period in the W*ING promotion until its close.
1995 - Kevin Von Erich defeats Greg Valentine in Dallas, Texas to win the NWA North American Heavyweight Title.
1996 - Mabel defeats Carlos Colón for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in San Germán, Puerto Rico, ending Colón's 16th reign. Colón had just defeated Mabel the previous day in Caguas for the title, which was held up after a match between the two on December 16 in Bayamón.
1999 - Jun Akiyama and Kenta Kobashi end the fifth AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title reign of Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue in Kochi, Japan.
1999 - BDL defeats Twiggy Ramirez and The Suicide Kid in a three-way match to win the vacant IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky. The title was stripped from Adam Pearce for not defending.
1999 - Romeo Valentino defeats King Kong Bundy for the Maryland Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Glen Burnie, Maryland, becoming the first two-time champion.
2000 - Gary Albright suffers a heart attack in the ring wrestling for his father-in-law, Afa Anoa'i's World Xtreme Wrestling in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He was pronounced dead just minutes after being taken from the ring. Albright was 36. Albright was a state amateur wrestling champion in his home state of Rhode Island, as well as a two-time All-Japan Tag Team Champion with Stan Hansen and Steve Williams. Albright also worked in Nobuhiko Takada's UWF International.
2000 - Tomoaki Honda and Ryuji Yamakawa defeat Kamikaze and Shunme Matsuzaki to win the BJW Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.
2000 - Mr. Showtime defeats Joey Venture for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
2001 - ECW holds its final pay-per-view event, "Guilty as Charged", at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York. The results:
- Bilvis Wesley pinned Mike Bell in a dark match.
- Cyrus and Jerry Lynn defeated Joey Matthews and Christian York, when Cyrus pinned Matthews after Lynn hit Matthews with the cradle piledriver. After the match, Da Baldies (Angel and DeVito) attacked Matthews and York, as well as their manager Joel Gertner. Cyrus then paid off Da Baldies, and took Gertner's place on commentary with Joey Styles.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Danny Doring and Roadkill defeated Hot Commodity (Julio Dinero and EZ Money), when Doring pinned Dinero, to retain the titles. All three members of Hot Commodity (Dinero, Money and Chris Hamrick) all attacked the champs until Nova made his surprise return and cleared the ring.
- Nova pinned Chris Hamrick in an impromptu match.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated C.W. Anderson in an I Quit match.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) and Super Crazy and Kid Kash in three-way dance to become #1 contenders for the ECW World Tag Team Title. Mamaluke pinned Kash after Sal E. Graziano interfered and splashed Kash, then Whipwreck pinned Guido and Tajiri pinned Mamaluke with simultaneous tiger suplexes.
- Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger fought Balls Mahoney and Chilly Willy to a no contest after Rhino interfered. Rhino ducked a chair from Mahoney, then Gored Mahoney, Dawn Marie, Chilly Willy and The Blue Boy in succession, and gave Jasmin St. Claire a second-rope piledriver.
- The Sandman defeated ECW World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino and Justin Credible in a Tables, Ladders, Chairs and Canes match to win the title, after both Corino and Credible went through tables. They shook the new champion's hand before being attacked by Da Baldies, with the four men then fighting to the locker room. Rhino ran in and Gored the new champion, and got him to defend the title.
- ECW World Television Champion Rhino pinned ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Sandman to win the World Heavyweight Title in an impromptu match after a piledriver on a piece of one of the broken tables. Cyrus celebrated with Rhino in the ring and challenged anyone to come out and face him. Rob Van Dam, who hadn't appeared at an ECW show in over two months, came out and had a staredown with Rhino before Jerry Lynn attacked RVD.
- Rob Van Dam pinned Jerry Lynn in an impromptu match after the Van Terminator, with Joel Gertner holding the chair.
- Closing the PPV, Justin Credible & Steve Corino cut a promo announcing their alliance as the new Impact Players. That alliance would never be seen as ECW would only run two more live events and would never return to PPV or TV....until 2005, when WWE promoted the first ECW One Night Stand PPV reunion.
2001 - FMW holds a pay-per-view event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Kyoko Inoue won a battle royal.
- Chris Candido pinned Azusa Kudo.
- Ricky Fuji and Flying Kid Ichihara defeated WEW Six-Man Tag Team Champion Jado and Kaori Nakayama, when Ichihara pinned Nakayama.
- WEW Hardcore Champion Kintaro Kanemura pinned Masato Tanaka.
- Goemon and Onryo defeated WEW Hardcore Tag Team Champions Hideki Hosaka and Mammoth Sasaki, when Goemon pinned Sasaki, to win the title, ending Hosaka and Sasaki's second reign.
- Masato Tanaka and WEW Six-Man Tag Team Champion Gedo defeated WEW Tag Team Champions Tetsuhiro Kuroda and WEW Heavyweight Champion Kodo Fuyuki, when Gedo pinned Fuyuki, to win the title. The title would be vacated on February 21, when Gedo and Tanaka left FMW.
2001 - One Man Gang defeats champion Carlos Colon and Abdullah the Butcher in a three-way match to win the WWC Hardcore Title in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
2002 - WWE RAW at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York featured the long-awaited return of Triple H from his first quadricep tear, suffered on May 21 in San Jose, California. He stated on the "Triple H: The Game" DVD that even he was taken back by the tremendous ovation when his music hit in the Garden. Triple H came to the ring and announced he was entering the Royal Rumble match, followed by Kurt Angle doing the same. The show ended with Triple H hitting Angle with the Pedigree. Match results from the event were.
In dark matches:
- Brock Lesnar pinned Rico Constantino.
- Randy Orton pinned Ron Waterman.
In matches taped for the following weekend's "Jakked":
- The Hurricane pinned Funaki with a flying crossbody.
- Crash Holly pinned Prince Nana with a tornado bulldog.
- Perry Saturn defeated John Jirus (future ROH champion Xavier) by submission with the Rings of Saturn.
- Christian pinned Low Ki after the Unprettier.
In RAW matches:
- Rob Van Dam pinned Test after the Van Daminator and Five-Star Frog Splash.
- Billy and Chuck defeated Albert and Scotty 2 Hotty, when Gunn pinned Scotty after the Fameasser.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Edge pinned Lance Storm after the Edgecution.
- Steve Austin and The Rock defeated Big Bossman and Booker T, when Austin pinned Bossman after the Stone Cold Stunner.
- WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho pinned Rikishi after hitting him with one of his title belts.
- Spike Dudley and Tazz defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) to win the title, ending the Dudleys' sixth reign.
- WWF Women's Champion Trish Stratus and Terri had a no contest in a wet T-shirt contest when Jazz attacked Trish.
2002 - Richard Garza, known professionally as "The World's Strongest Wrestler" Mighty Igor Vodic, among other names, dies at age 70. Vodic held the AWA World Heavyweight Title for one week in 1965, as well as titles in his native Detroit, Michigan.
2004 - TNA holds its 76th weekly pay-per-view event at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The results:
In dark matches:
- Sonny Siaki defeated Dirty Money.
- Elix Skipper defeated Justin Kage.
- Glenn Gilberti and David Young defeated Sean Lee and Matt Power.
- Kid Kash defeated Matt Sydal.
In pay-per-view matches:
- Abyss and Red Shirt Security (Joe Legend and Kevin Northcutt) defeated A.J. Styles and America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm), when Abyss pinned Styles.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions 3Live Kru (B.G. James and Ron Killings) defeated Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger, when Killings pinned Diamond, to retain the title.
- Chris Vaughn pinned Kid Kash.
- Julio Dinero and CM Punk defeated Raven and The Sandman, when Punk pinned Raven.
- Chris Sabin defeated champion Michael Shane, Christopher Daniels and Low Ki in an Ultimate X match to win the TNA X Division Title for the second time.
2004 - Nick Dinsmore defeats Johnny Jeter for the vacant OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning his eighth reign. The title was vacated on December 10, after a three-way match on December 3 between then-champion Mark Magnus, Dinsmore and Jeter resulted in Magnus being pinned by both of the challengers at once.
2006 - J.D. Escalade and The Juggulator leave with three the NWA Tri-State titles between them, by winning a tag team match in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They defeated NWA Tri-State X Division Champion Vance Desmond and Heavyweight Champion Chris Kahn to win their singles titles, as well as the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title. This ended Desmond's third X Division Title reign.
2006 - Jersey All Pro Wrestling holds "Wild Card II" at the Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, New Jersey. The results:
- Mercedes Martinez defeated Alicia by disqualification.
- Monsta Mack defeated Trent Acid.
- Monty Brown defeated EC Negro.
- Frankie Kazarian defeated Xavier.
- JAPW Tag Team Champions The S.A.T. (Joél and José Maximo) defeated The Outcast Killaz (Diablo Santiago and Oman Turtuga) and The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe) to retain the title.
- Teddy Hart defeated JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion Azrieal in the finals of a Gauntlet match to win the title, ending Azrieal's third reign. The match also included Arcadia, Javi Air, Quiet Storm, Grim Reefer and M-Dogg20.
- Rhino defeated JAPW Heavyweight Champion Jay Lethal to win the title.
2006 - Handsome Joe defeats TAKA Michinoku to win the Kaientai Dojo Strongest-K Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2006 - Jason Blackman and Jeremy V defeat Pomp and Circumstance (Ace Rockwell and Shaun Tempers) for the NWA Anarchy Tag Team Title in Cornelia, Georgia.
2006 - Mike Carter defeats Kevin Northcutt to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Magee, Mississippi, ending Northcutt's second reign.
2006 - Rob McBride defeats Mitch Connor to win the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Television Title.
2007 - At WORLD-1's two "Rebirth of Destruction" events in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Cheerleader Melissa defeats Allison Danger to win the Queen's Cup tournament at the afternoon event. At the evening show, Josh Daniels defeats Greg Spitz for the King's Cup, Kirby Mack wins a six-way match over champion T.J. Mack, Shane Hagadorn, Pelle Primeau, Alex Payne and Rhett Titus to win the AWA World Light Heavyweight Title, and Steve Corino defeats Ric Converse for the AWA World Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
2007 - The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe) defeat Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Takashi Sugiura to win the Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Kanemaru and Sugiura's second reign. The bout was the Briscoes' first NOAH bout.
2007 - Gedo and Jado defeat Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki for the Dragon Gate I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2007 - Yuji Hino and Saburo Inamatsu defeat Handsome Joe and Yasu Urano for the Kaientai Dojo Strongest-K Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2007 - WWE holds the third-annual "New Year's Revolution" pay-per-view at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. Here is the original coverage of the show:
They went immediately to the arena, and showed the steel cage being lowered for the Intercontinental Title match, which will open the PPV. They then went to the usual pre-PPV video package for the show.
Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro, with Melina - Steel Cage Match
There was a Hardy chant at the start. Nitro hit a knee to the gut and worked over Hardy with kicks and punches in a corner. Hardy returned fire, stomping Nitro down. Hardy whipped Nitro hard into the opposite corner, and they continued to throw punches. Hardy got on the second rope, punched Nitro down in the corner, then swung down off the top rope with a kick to the chest. Nitro came back with a faceplant takedown for a two count. Nitro tried to ram Hardy into the cage, but Hardy put the brakes on and delivered a gourdbuster.
Hardy missed a charge in the corner, and Nitro hit a springboard kick off the middle rope for a two count. Nitro started to climb up the cage, but Hardy pulled him back down. Nitro went for a backdrop after reversing a whip, but Hardy kicked it away and hit a clothesline. Hardy crawled for the door, but Nitro pulled him back in by the leg. Hardy gave Nitro a mule kick to break free, then began to climb up the cage. He kicked Nitro away once, but Nitro dropkicked Hardy so he would fall between the ropes and cage wall. Nitro hit some knees to the trapped Hardy, then dropkicked him.
Nitro climbed up, but Hardy grabbed him, and soon they were both fights on the ropes. Hardy jumped off the top rope and dropkicked Nitro, who was seated on the top rope, and they both fell hard to the mat. Nitro reversed a whip, and Hardy lept to the top rope, then went to go over the cage, but Nitro managed to grab his pants and stop him. Nitro delivered a second rope back superplex, laying out both men. Nitro mounted Hardy and hit some forearm shots. Nitro charged Hardy, but Hardy flung Nitro over his head, and Nitro went face first into the cage. Hardy then started to climb, and Nitro joined him. They slugged it out on the top rope, and Hardy hit a side Russian legsweep, driving both men to the mat.
Hardy climbed up, and Nitro followed. Nitro actually stepped on Hardy's back to get above him on the cage. They battled it out, with Nitro sitting on the cage and Hardy standing on the top rope, and Nitro gave Hardy a sunset flip into a powerbomb. Nitro started to climb up again, but Hardy got behind him, and Nitro ended up hung upside down with his legs entwined in the scaffolding that ran along the top of the cage. Nitro managed to free himself and fall back into the cage. Hardy climbed up another side, but Melina whipped the cage with a belt, catching Hardy's fingers and sending him stumbling back into the ring, where Nitro nailed him with a top rope dropkick.
Nitro delivered a neckbreaker, then went to the top rope for a flying bodypress, but Hardy caught it and planted Nitro with a powerslam. Hardy then hit a Swanton Bomb off the top rope. He was slow to cover and Nitro got his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pin. Hardy hit a forearm and a trio of clotheslines. Hardy backdropped Nitro, but ran into a boot in the corner. Nitro climbed up the cage, but Hardy followed him up. Nitro got one leg out of the cage, but Hardy grabbed him by the hair and pulled him back in. Hardy tried a top rope Twist of Fate, but Nitro held onto the cage and Hardy fell to the mat.
Nitro regained his footing on the top rope, and went to climb out. Hardy went to crawl for the door, and Melina stood between the outside referee and the door. By the time the ref moved her and unlocked the door, Nitro was coming down the cage, right over the door. Hardy dropkicked the door, it swung open, and Nitro crotched himself on the top of the door. With Nitro crotched on the door, Hardy crawled out of it and got to the floor for the win at the fifteen minute mark.
Winner: Jeff Hardy.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Edge and Randy Orton. Edge said they needed to take out DX to assume their spot at the top of the company. He said tonight they would show DX that their run is over. Orton bragged about busting open Ric Flair and DX. He said they were fighting for their future. Edge said the DX reunion was "fun while it lasted, and sold a lot of t-shirts" but it would end tonight.
Lilian Garcia announced we would get a "bonus match", a Tag Team Turmoil match with the winning team receiving a future tag title match.
Tag Team Turmoil: Highlanders vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin.
Haas started out with Rory, going for a hiptoss, but getting his eyes raked. The Highlanders hit a double suplex, and Robbie scored a two count. Robbie hit an uppercut, then tagged in Rory. Haas ducked a double elbow, but was caught with a drop toe hold/elbow drop combo. Rory missed a charge in the corner when Shelton pulled Haas out of the way. Haas hit Rory with a clothesline and tagged Benjamin. Benjamin straddled Rory on the top rope as Haas held him, and scored a two count as Robbie ran in to break it up. Benjamin slammed Rory across Haas' knee into a backbreaker for a two count. Haas decked Rory with a right hand, then tagged Shelton, who kneed Rory in the back. Shelton put Rory in a rear chinlock, driving his knee into Rory's back. Shelton went for a slam, but Rory managed to shift his weight and fall on top of him. Rory went for some quick pins, but Shelton tripped him. Rory managed to break free and tag Robbie, who slammed Shelton and Haas. Robbie dropkicked both opponents, then clotheslined Shelton to the floor. Robbie slammed Haas, then went to the top rope for a rocket launcher, but Haas rolled away. Rory went after Haas, and Haas pulled Rory through the ropes and to the floor. Meanwhile, Shelton got on the apron, jumped to the top rope, and grabbed Robbie with a superplex for the pin at the six minute mark.
Tag Team Turmoil: Hacksaw Duggan & Super Crazy vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin.
Hacksaw and Benjamin traded punches, and Haas clipped him from behind. Haas & Benjamin worked over Hacksaw in their corner. There was actually a chant for Super Crazy as Hacksaw was being worked over. Duggan battled back against Haas, and hit the three point stance clothesline. Super Crazy got tagged in and dropkicked Haas twice. Haas then snapmared Haas and dropkicked him in the face. On the floor, Shelton rammed Hacksaw into the steps. Crazy hit a standing moonsault on Haas for a two count. Crazy went to jump on the ropes, but Benjamin clipped him, and Haas hit a German suplex with a bridge for the win at the three minute mark.
Tag Team Turmoil: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin.
Cade and Murdoch ran down and immediately ambushed Haas & Benjamin. Cade slammed Benjamin, and they gave him a reverse atomic drop/boot to the face combo. Murdoch then unloaded with punches on Benjamin. Murdoch put Benjamin in an armbar. Cade tagged in and hit a neckbreaker for a pair of two counts, then dropped an elbow for another two. Cade slammed Benjamin, then dropped Murdoch into a legdrop on top of Benjamin for a two count. Murdoch went for a vertical suplex, but Benjamin floated over and hit a neckbreaker. Benjamin tagged in Haas, who cleaned house with punches. He dropkicked Murdoch, backdropped Cade, gave Murdoch a boot to the face, and gave Cade an exploder suplex. Haas gave Murdoch a top rope dropkick. The match degenerated into a brawl. Haas put Murdoch in the Haas Of Pain, but Cade jumped off the ropes and nailed Haas while Benjamin was being escorted out of the ring by the referee. Murdoch crawled onto Haas for the pin at the four minute mark.
Tag Team Turmoil: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch vs. Cryme Tyme.
Chad ran in and immediately went to work on Cade. JTG came in for a cannonball type move on Cade for a two count. Cade and Murdoch pulled JTG into their corner to work him over, but JTG grabbed Murdoch with a backslide for a two count. Murdoch kicked away a backdrop attempt, and Cade & Murdoch hit a legsweep/clothesline combo for a two count. Cade worked over JTG with elbows and punches, then Murdoch tagged in and hit a back elbow. Cade & Murdoch continued to work over JTG, tagging in and out and pounding him. JTG managed to grab Murdoch in a small package, but the referee was busy with Cade. Murdoch slammed JTG, but then jumped off the second rope into a boot. Cade cut off the hot tag to Chad, and set up JTG for a double suplex. He floated over and made the hot tag to Chad, who hit a double clothesline and began cleaning house. Chad eventually succumbed to the two-on-one, but Chad dodged the legsweep/clothesline combo. Murdoch was sent from the ring, and Cryme Tyme hit a Samoan Drop/neckbreaker combo on Cade for the pin at the seven minute mark.
Winners: Cryme Tyme.
Vince McMahon was backstage chatting with Jonathan Coachman about the Donald Trump-Rosie O'Donnell feud. They both commented that it was like something out of WWE. Vince said they should settle it with "physical violence". Vince said he was going to put together Donald Trump vs. Rosie O'Donnell for Monday Night Raw tomorrow. Coach kissed up to Vince for inventing the "You're Fired" line, and Vince got bored with him and walked off. Coach then turned around, and Ron Simmons was standing there. Ron said "Damn".
Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair.
Dykstra came out in a poor man's version of a Ric Flair robe, then had them air footage of Flair being attacked by DX last Monday. Dykstra said everyone was tired of watching Flair get beat down every week, but Dykstra said that was too bad, as he was going to beat him down again. Flair's music interrupted Dykstra, and Flair made his entrance.
Dykstra grabbed a headlock at the start and hit a shoulderblock as Flair shoved him into the ropes. Kenny did the Flair strut. Flair hit a shoulderblock of his own, then Kenny leapfrogged Flair and dropkicked him. Kenny hit a fistdrop, and pounded Flair in a corner. Flair responded with some chops, and they went back and forth. Flair hit some chops, then a back elbow. Flair chopped Kenny over the top rope and to the floor. Kenny got on the apron, and Flair yanked him throat first across the top rope. Kenny fell back to the floor, but grabbed Flair by the foot and dragged him to the outside. Kenny suplexed Flair on the floor, then rolled him into the ring for a two count. Dykstra hit a suplex for a two count, then elbowed Flair in the back three times.
Kenny went for a Boston Crab, turning it over and Flair initially fought it off. Flair struggled in the hold, stuck in the center of the ring. Flair managed to move a little towards the ropes, really selling the pain of the move. Flair finally made the ropes for a break. Kenny hit a fistdrop, then stomped Flair. Kenny hit some punches in the corner, but Flair returned fire with punches and chops. Kenny got the better of the exchange, and went for a figure four, but Flair rolled him into a small package for a two count. Flair hit some punches, then chops. Kenny ran into a Flair elbow, then Flair went to the top rope. Kenny caught him, and slammed him off the top rope. The announcers pointed out how rarely that move works for Flair.
Kenny hit a top rope dropkick for a two count. Kenny went after Flair in a corner, but Flair poked him in the eyes and chopblocked his leg out. Flair hit another chopblock, then delivered a kneedrop. Flair grabbed Kenny by the leg, paused to stand on Kenny's groin, then applied the figure four leglock. The crowd, which was into Flair throughout the match, chanted for Kenny to tap. Kenny's shoulders went down, but he lifted them up at two. Flair slapped Kenny while maintaining the hold. Kenny eventually made the ropes, forcing a break. Flair pounded Kenny in the corner with chops and punches. The referee kept getting in Flair's way. Flair moved the ref to the side, and Kenny hit Flair with a low blow (that the ref didn't see). Kenny rolled Flair into a small package for the pin at the ten minute mark. The announcers put over that Kenny beat Flair using an old Flair trick.
Winner: Kenny Dykstra.
Backstage, Johnny Nitro was having his shoulder iced down. He told Melina to call Mercury, and that the Hardys would pay for this. As Melina went to go make the call, Victoria approached her. Victoria told Melina her name isn't on her checklist. Victoria told Melina that they could work together, and if Melina helps Victoria win the Women's Title, she would get the first title shot. Victoria told Melina to think about it and walked off.
They recapped how Victoria has been decimating the Women's division on Raw.
Women's Champion Mickie James vs. Victoria.
They locked up, and Victoria shoved Mickie to the mat. Victoria took Mickie down with a waistlock and applied a chinlock with a bridge. Victoria went into a front facelock, but Mickie reversed into an armbar. Victoria reversed into her own armbar, and Mickie cartwheeled out of it and hit a monkeyflip. They exchanged arm wringers, then Victoria grabbed a side headlock. Mickie shoved Victoria into the ropes, and Victoria hit a shoulderblock, but Mickie tripped her. Mickie hit a pair of armdrags, then a dropkick for a two count. Mickie kicked Victoria in the corner, but Victoria reversed a whip. Victoria ran into an elbow. Mickie went for a headscissors, but Victoria tossed her off onto the ring apron, then kicked her to the floor. Victoria hit a baseball slide dropkick, then dropped Mickie face first on the security wall.
Victoria yelled something at Lilian Garcia as she got back in the ring, and Mickie grabbed Victoria into a small package, but Victoria kicked out. Victoria stomped Mickie, then choked her against the ropes. Victoria flung Mickie across the ring by the hair and got a two count. Victoria went to the middle rope for a moonsault, but Mickie rolled out of the way. Mickie hit some right hands, then a series of reverse elbows. Mickie threw some jabs, then decked Victoria with a punch for a two count. Mickie gave Victoria a back elbow and caught her with a rana. Victoria rolled to the apron. Mickie gave Victoria a forearm, knocking her to the floor. Melina came out to help Victoria up. Mickie rolled out of the ring and decked Melina, then kicked Victoria and threw her back into the ring. Mickie went for a DDT, but Melina hooked her foot. Maria and Candice came out to counteract Melina, engaging in a brief brawl, as Mickie rolled up Victoria for a two count. Victoria lifted Mickie for a slam, but Mickie reversed it into a DDT for the pin at the seven minute mark. Maria, Candice and Lilian celebrated with Mickie as Melina yelled at them from ringside.
Winner: Mickie James.
The history between DX and Rated RKO was recapped.
World Tag Team Champions Edge & Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels & Triple H.
The DX intro only took about five minutes this time. DX charged Edge & Orton in the aisle as they came out and they began brawling at ringside. Triple H suplexed Edge on the floor. Michaels chopped Orton on the outside. Triple H backdropped Edge on the rampway. Michaels floated over a suplex attempt by Orton and rammed him into the ring steps. Triple H rubbed Edge's face across the ramp, then tossed him into the ring to officially start the match. DX worked over Edge in their corner, with Triple H tearing at Edge's face. Triple H hit a clothesline in the corner, then stomped his hand. Triple H continued to try and rearrange Edge's face. Triple H rammed Edge into the outstretched boots of Shawn Michaels, then tagged him in. Michaels hit a chop, but missed a charge in the corner.
Edge tagged in Orton, who went to work on Michaels with right hands. Orton ran into a boot by Michaels, then hit a chop, snap mared Orton, then stomped him in the face. Michaels kicked Orton in the midsection, then stomped him in the side of the head. Triple H tagged in and decked Orton with a right hand. Triple H dropped a knee, then pulled Orton across the ring apron and elbowed him from the outside. Michaels then hit a ring apron legdrop. Triple H covered Orton for a two count. Michaels tagged in and chopped Orton, then stomped him in the head again. Orton was busted open. Michaels bit the forehead of Orton. Michaels tagged in Triple H, and the took turns slugging Orton. Triple H worked over the cut with punches. Edge tried to knee HHH from the apron, but Triple H grabbed Edge and pulled him into the ring. Triple H worked over both men, but Edge clipped his knee, taking him down.
Orton legally tagged in Edge, who began pounding the leg of Triple H. Edge kept kicking at the leg, then wrapped it around the middle rope and yanked it. Edge pulled Triple H's leg from the outside and whipped it into the ringpost. Edge let out a "Whoo" and went for a figure four, but Triple H kicked him off into a corner. Michaels tagged in and gave Edge a flying forearm, kipped up, and gave Edge a reverse atomic drop. Michaels knocked Orton off the apron. Michaels slammed Edge, then went to the top rope and hit the elbowdrop. Orton ran in and clotheslined Michaels. Triple H clotheslined Orton over the top rope to the floor. The referee got Triple H out of the ring. Michaels backdropped Edge to the floor, then hit a tope con hilo onto Edge and Orton. Michaels tossed Edge back in. As Michaels got on the apron, Orton grabbed his leg, and that allowed Edge to spear Michaels between the ropes, knocking him back to the floor. Orton nailed Michaels with one of the tag title belts. Triple H ran over and hit Orton, but Michaels was busted open.
Michaels was a bloody mess as he crawled back onto the apron. Edge pulled Michaels up on the apron and hit a series of right hands. Orton tagged in and hit a side neckbreaker for a two count. Orton stomped Michaels, then hit a kneedrop to the back of the head for a two count. Edge tagged in and worked over Michaels with punches. Edge whipped Michaels hard into a corner, then hit a backbreaker for a two count. Orton tagged in and gave Michaels repeated forearms to the back. Orton stood on Michaels' chest and posed. Michaels battled back, exchanging shots with Orton. Orton raked Michaels eyes when he started getting the better of the exchange.
Edge tagged in and they hit a double backbreaker on Michaels. Triple H broke up the count. Edge put Michaels in a surfboard. Michaels hulked up and broke out of it, then exchanged shots with Edge. Michaels hit a back suplex on Edge, but Edge scored with a kick before Michaels could go make the tag. Orton tagged in and trash talked Michaels, measuring him for the RKO. Orton went for the move, but Michaels tossed him away and made the hot tag to Triple H as Orton tagged in Edge.
HHH nailed Edge with clotheslines and a jumping knee. Triple H pounded both Edge and Orton. Triple H gave Edge a facebuster on the knee, then clothesline him out of the ring. Triple H gave Orton a spinebuster for two (even though he isn't legal). Triple H got up limping, and gave Edge a spinebuster as he ran back in. Triple H got up limping again, and went for a Pedigree on Edge. Orton grabbed Triple H and gave him a sloppy RKO. Michaels superkicked Orton, but Edge shoved Michaels through the ropes and to the floor. Edge then crawled onto Triple H for a two count. Edge measured Triple H for a spear, but Triple H moved out of the way and Edge hit the corner.
Triple H went for a Pedigree on Edge. Orton ran in with a chair, in front of the referee, looked like he was about to hit Triple H, then turned around and ran back out without using it. That was bizarre. Triple H hit a weak pedigree on Edge, and Edge kicked out of it. Shawn Michaels got into the ring, ran across it, and hit Orton with a tope on the other side. Michaels then grabbed the referee and decked him. Michaels and Triple H then grabbed some chairs and beat the crap out of Edge and Orton. Orton was a bloody mess. DX cleared off both of the announce tables. Triple H set up Edge for a pedigree on one table, while Michaels put Orton on the other. Triple H gave Edge a pedigree on the table, but the table didn't break. Triple H pointed at Michaels, and Michaels came off the top rope with an elbowdrop, putting Orton through the table (that one did break) at the twenty four minute mark. Michaels and Triple H then celebrated and walked off triumphant.
Results: No contest (I guess).
Todd Grisham interviewed John Cena backstage. Cena intentionally overhyped the match, making jokes about Umaga. Cena then got serious, noting that Umaga has never been pinned or forced to submit. Cena said he wouldn't just hand over the WWE Title because Umaga is supposed to be unbeatable. He said nothing lasts forever, nothing is impossible, and nothing would stop him from walking out the WWE Champion.
Carlito, with Torrie Wilson, vs. Chris Masters.
As Carlito made his entrance, they showed the recent events between Carlito and Masters.
Masters stalled at the start, then locked up and pushed Carlito into the ropes. Carlito came right back with a double leg takedown and hit some right hands and chops. Carlito hit a shoulderblock in the corner, then booted Masters in the face and hit a facebuster off the second rope. Masters reversed a whip and hit a backdrop, then flexed his muscles for Torrie at ringside. Masters slammed Carlito, then kicked him in the gut. Masters went for a back suplex, but Carlito flipped over it and hit a dropkick. Masters backdropped Carlito to the ring apron and tried to ram him into the ringpost, but Carlito blocked it and kicked masters. Carlito then hit a double springboard moonsault onto a standing Masters for a two count. Masters grabbed Carlito by the trunks and pulled him into the middle turnbuckle.
Masters went for the Masterlock, and Carlito reversed it, then Masters reversed it, but couldn't get the hold locked in, so he gave Carlito a one armed back suplex instead. Masters dragged Carlito around the ring by the hair, then hit a backbreaker for a two count. Masters hit a backbreaker and pushed down on Carlito's chin to stretch him across his knee. Carlito kicked up his knee into Master's head to break free. Carlito leapfrogged Masters, but got caught with a clothesline for a two count. Masters trash talked Carlito, saying he was trying to impress Torrie. Carlito ducked a clothesline and hit a springboard reverse elbow. Carlito hit a kneelift and a clothesline, then gave Masters a flapjack for a two count. Masters reversed a whip, and Carlito went for a bodyscissors, but Masters blocked it and went for the Masterlock. Carlito dropped down to avoid it, trying to grab a bodyscissors for a rollup again, but Masters dropped down on him and grabbed his trunks for the win at the six minute mark.
Winner: Chris Masters.
Post-match, Masters laid out Carlito. He teased going back to get Torrie, but then turned back around and left.
The events leading to Cena vs. Umaga were shown.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Umaga, with Armando Alejandro Estrada.
They did the "big match" style introductions after the entrances. Cena is giving up over a hundred pounded to Umaga. Cena dodged an advancing Umaga and threw some punches and shoulderblocks. He dodged another Umaga charge, and hit a bulldog. Cena sidestepped Umaga and threw him out of the ring. Umaga freaked out at ringside, then got on the apron. Cena tried to knock him off, but Umaga gave him a shoulderblock through the ropes, then grabbed Cena by the back of the neck and tossed him over the top rope and to the floor. Umaga tossed Cena into the ringsteps. Back in the ring, Umaga hit Cena with right hands, but ran into a Cena elbow. Cena ran into an Umaga clothesline.
Umaga threw some shots at Cena's arm, then Cena fought back with punches, but Umaga planted him with a Samoan Drop. Cena rolled to the apron, stood up, and Umaga knocked him off the apron and into the announce table at ringside. Umaga rammed Cena into the table, then went back into the ring. Cena threw a pair of shoulderblocks from the apron, then tried a slingshot sunset flip. Umaga didn't go down, then went to drop his weight on Cena, but Cena moved out of the way. Cena lifted Umaga for a slam, but Umaga shifted his weight and Cena went down. Cena kicked out at two. Umaga dropped a leg, then kicked Cena in the chest. Cena went to the apron, and pulled Umaga down throat first on the top rope. Cena scurried to the top rope and went for a flying bodypress, but Umaga caught him and planted him with a spinning sidewalk slam. Cena got his foot on the bottom rope at the two count.
Umaga delivered a headbutt, then hit a clothesline. Cena slid under Umaga after a whip into the ropes, and he hit the Throwback, but Umaga got right back up and hit a spinkick. Umaga hit a headbutt, then chopped Cena in the head. Umaga chopped Cena to the mat, then game off the second rope with a Banzai Drop. Umaga gave Cena a second, and Armando called for a third. Cena got his knees up on the third one, and Cena went for an FU, but collapsed under the weight and went face first into the mat. Umaga grabbed Cena and flung him over the top rope and to the floor. Umaga hit Cena in the back of the head as he crawled back in. Umaga hit some shots to the shoulder, setting up for the Samoan Spike. Umaga applied a nerve hold, and continued to pound him.
Cena struggled in the nerve hold and finally broke out of it, but Umaga took him right down with a back elbow. Umaga went to the second rope and dove off for a Spike, but Cena moved out of the way. Both men got to their feet and began trading punches. Cena got the better of it, then hit two clotheslines, but Umaga cut him down with a shot to the gut. Umaga missed a charge in the corner, and Cena rammed Umaga head first into the steel ringpost, sending Umaga over the turnbuckles in doing so. Cena suplexed Umaga to a huge pop. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" bit, then dropped the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop. Cena went for the FU, but couldn't get Umaga up, and Umaga gave him a belly to belly suplex.
Umaga hung Cena in the Tree Of Woe, then drove in a flying headbutt to the chest. Cena fell out of the Tree of Woe, and was slumped down in the corner. Umaga charged, but Cena threw his feet up and caught Umaga in the face, then grabbed a cradle for the pin at the 18 minute mark. The announcers put over that Cena was unable to use the FU, so he went with a basic move and got the win.
Winner: John Cena.
Cena left almost immediately, and Umaga freaked out at ringside. Cena came back out on the stage and held the belt up while Umaga was wrecking the monitors at ringside. That closed the show.
2008 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
It seems like whenever the WWE is in a gambling mecca, they have the desire to turn Raw into an episode of Impact with a lot of gimmicks. Tonight, Raw Roulette returns and we will be able to see what the wheel of fortune reveals for the Raw Superstars. Last week, we saw Ric Flair remain a member of the Raw roster after his victory, by disqualification, against Triple H. What is next for the man who caused the disqualification, William Regal and what is next for the Nature Boy now that Montel Vontavious Porter is looking for the sixteen (or more according to Buck and Dave) time World Champion to make up for his shortcoming against Finlay. What kind of tough love will we see between Vince McMahon and Hornswoggle? Will we see MAH THUN and Bob Holly defend the World Tag Titles? What is next for Jeff Hardy as he continues to get ready for Randy Orton and the WWE Title Match at the Royal Rumble? Will Hardy get any revenge on Randy Orton for what he did to his brother Matt last week? Will we see any more people qualify for the Royal Rumble Match on tonight’s show?
We start off with the Ric Flair video package recapping how Flair’s next match could be his last match. We see footage from last week’s match when Ric Flair faced Triple H. We see William Regal tell Hunter that if he loses to Flair, he will not be in the Rumble match at the Royal Rumble.
William Regal and Vince McMahon are in Vince’s office and Regal wants to talk to Vince. Vince says that he does not have time for Regal. Vince says that tonight is the first Raw of the year and fans are looking for something innovative. Wrestlers do not know who they are wrestling, but the ones who know have no idea what their stipulation is.
Vince reveals the Raw Roulette Wheel and he goes through the gimmicks on the wheel. Regal says that it is a wonderful innovation but Regal wants to talk about last week when he almost hit Hornswoggle. Regal says that he would redeem himself by taking Triple HHHeytch out of the Royal Rumble Match. Vince suggests that maybe if Triple H was injured tonight, and that could happen tonight against William Regal. It is time to spin the wheel to make the deal for the match. We will see them in a First Blood Match.
Regal leaves the office and he is attacked by Triple H. Hunter throws Regal into a table and the officials hold Hunter back while Regal leaves.
We are live from Uncasville, Connecticut and your announcers are Jim ‘Baccarat’ Ross and Jerry ‘Dealer Holds on 17’ Lawler.
We see footage of Ken Kennedy defeating Shawn Michaels on last week’s Raw.
Vince spins the magic wheel and it lands on Strange Bedfellows Match so it will not be Ken Kennedy versus Shawn Michaels but Shawn Michaels and Ken Kennedy in a tag match. We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Shawn Michaels and Ken Kennedy versus Charlie Haas and Trevor Murdoch in a Strange Bedfellows Match
We are back and the match is joined in progress and Kennedy hits a neck breaker on Haas. Kennedy with a forearm to Haas. Michaels makes the blind tag and then he kicks Kennedy and throws him out of the ring. Michaels throws Haas over the top rope to the floor. Haas rolls under the ring and he appears with a mask. Michaels brings Haas into the ring and then he hits a flying forearm before posing. Murdoch with a clothesline to Michaels. Murdoch tags in and hits a reverse atomic drop followed by a running Yakuza kick for a near fall. Haas tags back in and Murdoch with a back breaker and then Haas jumps from the top turnbuckle and hits an elbow drop for a near fall. Kennedy refuses to make the tag and Haas tries for a suplex but Michaels counters and he takes off Haas’s mask. Michaels with a flying forearm and then he kips up and hits a reverse atomic drop. Michaels with a punch and another reverse atomic drop. Michaels with a slam and then he goes up top for the elbow drop. Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music on Murdoch and then he sets for it on Haas. Kennedy makes the blind tag and after Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music on Haas, Kennedy hits the mic check on Michaels before pinning Haas.
Winners: Shawn Michaels and Ken Kennedy
After the match, Michaels gets down on the mat and has some words for Shawn Michaels.
We go to commercial.
We are back for our next match and it is a Trading Places Match where the opponents must dress as each other.
Match Number Two: Carlito dressed as Bob Holly with Santino Marella versus Bob Holly dressed as Carlito with MAH THUN Cody Rhodes
Holly takes off his wig and shirt but then he puts his wig back on. Carlito punches and kicks Holly followed by a running back elbow and boot to the chest. Carlito hits a suplex on Holly for a near fall. Carlito slams Holly’s head into the turnbuckles followed by punches. Carlito with an Irish whip followed by a belly-to-back suplex for a two count. Carlito works on Holly’s back but Holly gets to his feet and Carlito hits an inverted DDT. Carlito with a Holly-esque chop to Holly. Holly moves and Holly with Holly-esque chops. Holly with a back body drop to Carlito. Holly hits a drop kick and then Santino gets on the apron to distract the referee. Holly takes a bite of the apple and then he spits it in Carlito’s face and then hits an Alabama Slam for the three count.
Winner: Bob Redneck Riviera Cool Holly
Maria is in the wheel room and Vince says that she will get to determine the match for the Divas. The wheel lands on Submission Match but Vince tells Maria to close her eyes and Maria is told to open her eyes and it is now a Lingerie Pillow Fight. Vince explains what a Lingerie Pillow Fight entails. Vince tells Maria that the Divas cannot put any foreign objects in their pillow and Maria points out that her pillows are natural. We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at last week when Randy Orton cut his year end promo and then we see Jeff Hardy’s promo about their match at the Royal Rumble. We also see Matt stop by to visit Jeff. Unfortunately, I don’t think Matt remembers much after Randy kicked him in the head.
Todd Grisham is with Jeff Hardy in the interview area. Todd asks Jeff about Matt’s condition. Jeff says that he spent New Year’s at his brother’s side in the hospital. Jeff says that Matt has been with him since day one and if Orton wants to kick Matt in the head, not only is he going to take Randy’s title, but take him out.
We return to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross says that Jeff Hardy will be facing Umaga in a Steel Cage Match.
We see Hornswoggle in the Wheel Room and Vince talks to Hornswoggle about the Royal Rumble and says that Hornswoggle will be in the Rumble match if he wins his match tonight. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment when we hear what Vince was saying to Hornswoggle earlier. Vince says that it was tough love. Vince asks Hornswoggle if he remembers who won the Rumble in 1999 and Hornswoggle remembers that it was Vince. If Hornswoggle qualifies tonight he will have a chance to win the Rumble. Either Hornswoggle and his partner can be in the Rumble or Hornswoggle’s opponents.
Match Number Three: Melina versus Jillian Hall versus Maria versus Mickie James versus Ashley Massaro in a Lingerie Pillow Fight
Melina and Jillian start off on the bed as they jump around. The bell rings and it is time for everyone to jump around until Melina and Jillian are knocked off. It is time for some pillow shots from the women as Jillian and Melina pull off the comforter. Jillian and Melina are hiding under the comforter but they are discovered. Maria with a running butt splash on Jillian and then it is time for the Bronco Buster. Mickie spanks Melina and then she hits a powerbomb onto the bed. Jillian with a back body drop to Ashley on the bed. Maria slams Jillian’s head into the bed. Melina punches Mickie and throws her out of the ring. Jillian and Melina try to smother Ashley in the bed. Mickie and Maria double team Melina and throw her into Jillian. Maria and Mickie hold Jillian for Ashley to hit an elbow drop and Ashley gets the three count.
Winner: Ashley Massaro
Triple H is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Hornswoggle is looking for a tag team partner and Super Crazy says no. Hornswoggle sees another option as he barks down the hallway.
Jim Ross reminds us about the stipulation for Hornswoggle’s match tonight and his chance to get into the Royal Rumble Match.
As William Regal walks to the ring we see an Earlier Tonight Moment as Hunter attacked William Regal after their match was announced.
Match Number Four: William Regal versus Triple H in a First Blood Match
Hunter with a punch to Regal but Regal punches back until Hunter knocks him to the mat. They go outside the ring and Hunter tries to slam Regal’s head into the ring steps. Regal grabs the brass knuckles as Regal goes down. Hunter slams Regal’s head into the announce table followed by a punch. Hunter punches Regal and then he rubs Regal’s forehead against the ring steps. Hunter grabs the steps and he throws them at Regal, but Regal moves. Regal pulls Hunter’s arm into the ring post. But Regal accidentally kicks the ring post when Hunter moves out of the way. Regal slams Hunter’s head into the ring steps two times. Regal rolls into the ring and then he kicks Hunter in the head. Regal with an overhead T-Bone suplex. Regal exposes the turnbuckle but Hunter punches Regal. Regal punches Hunter in the head and then Regal slams Hunter’s head into the exposed turnbuckle but Hunter is not bleeding. Regal with a series of punches to Hunter’s head followed by a knee to the head. Hunter is not bleeding and then Regal tries to send Hunter into the turnbuckle again but Hunter blocks it. Hunter slams Regal’s head into the turnbuckle followed by punches. Hunter with a facebuster followed by an attempted Pedigree but Hunter goes into the turnbuckle on a catapult. Regal with a running knee to the head. Regal goes to the floor and he picks up the brass knuckles and puts them on. Regal tries to hit Hunter with the brass knuckles but Hunter with a spinebuster when Regal charges at him. Hunter punches Regal in the head. Hunter gets Regal to bleed and he wins the match.
Winner: Triple H
After the match, Hunter holds Regal and then he gives Regal a Pedigree.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Hornswoggle is with Santino Marella. Santino suggests getting Count Chocula or put him in the loony bin with Britney Spears. Santino says that he does not want to get on Hornswoggle’s dad’s bad side. Santino says that little people creep him out.
We go to a video package to highlight the Bradshaw/Chris Jericho feud, including the pomp and circumstance from last week’s Raw.
We see Vince in the Wheel Room as we go to commercial with the wheel spinning.
Match Number Five: Chris Jericho versus Snitsky and Bradshaw with JBLimo in a Handicap Match
Snitsky attacks Jericho as the bell rings and Jericho responds with a chop. Jericho with a flying forearm but Snitsky with a clothesline followed by boots to the chest. Snitsky with a biel to Jericho but he misses the big boot. Jericho hits the springboard drop kick but Bradshaw pushes Jericho out of the ring. Jericho with a knee and then he slams Bradshaw’s head into the announce table. Bradshaw hits Jericho with the ring bell and then Bradshaw attacks the referee as he was about to stop the match. Bradshaw punches Jericho and then he chokes Jericho with the camera cables. Bradshaw chokes Jericho with the cable as he drags Jericho around the ring. Bradshaw with a clothesline to Jericho and then he continues to drag Jericho towards the back. Bradshaw punches Jericho. Bradshaw puts the cable on the scaffolding and he tries to hang Jericho. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Chris Jericho being attacked by Bradshaw during their match and then being dragged around the arena by a cable.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talk about Bradshaw and Jericho’s match at the Royal Rumble. Speaking of the Royal Rumble, Jerry Lawler talks about who is already in the Royal Rumble Match.
Match Number Six: The Highlanders versus Hornswoggle and B.K. Jordan in a match to determine entrants in the Royal Rumble Match
Before the match starts, Mick Foley comes out and replaces Jordan. Robbie with an arm bar but Foley reverses. Mick with a running punch to Robbie. Hornswoggle is tagged in and Hornswoggle with a boot to the shin followed by a running boot and a seated senton. Rory is tagged in and he grabs Hornswoggle by the back and throws him down. Foley breaks up the cover and then Foley is tagged in. Foley punches Rory in the head in the corner and then he hits the running knee into the corner. Foley with a kick and running knee lift. Robbie pulls Foley by the hair but Foley punches Robbie. Rory punches Foley and Robbie is tagged in and sent into Foley in the corner. Rory with a head butt to Foley and then Robbie is tagged in. Rory charges at Foley but Rory goes to the floor when Foley ducks down. Foley gets his sock and he gives Rory a Mandible Claw when Rory comes off the turnbuckles. Foley with a double underhook DDT to Robbie and then Hornswoggle is tagged in and hits a Frog Splash for the three count.
Winners: Hornswoggle and Mick Foley
It is time for the Official Cage Lowering Music as the steel cage comes from the ceiling to the floor. We go to commercial.
Before our main event starts, Randy Orton comes to the ring with the same methodical nature that he applies a side head lock.
Match Number Seven: Jeff Hardy versus Umaga in a Steel Cage Match
Umaga punches Hardy as the match begins. Umaga with a shoulder tackle and Hardy goes down again. Hardy tries for a sunset flip but Umaga tries for a seated splash. Hardy moves out of the way and hits a drop kick for a near fall. Hardy with a seated jawbreaker but Umaga with a kick to Hardy. Umaga with a punch to Hardy. Umaga misses a splash into the corner and then Hardy with a delayed baseball slide drop kick for a near fall. Umaga tries to back body drop Hardy into the cage but Hardy lands on the cage and tries to escape. Umaga pulls Hardy off the cage and to the mat as Orton rises from his position at ringside and we go to commercial.
We are back and Umaga has a nerve hold on Hardy. We see footage from during the commercial of Umaga tosses Hardy with an uranage. Back to live action and Umaga with elbows to the head. Hardy gets to his feet and he kicks Umaga. Hardy charges at Umaga but Umaga back body drops Hardy into the steel cage. Umaga with a head butt to Hardy and then he slams Hardy’s head into the cage. Umaga with a splash onto Hardy as Hardy is still against the cage. Umaga covers Hardy but Hardy gets his foot on the rope. Orton tosses a chair into the cage and then he tosses two more into the cage. Umaga hits Hardy in the back with the steel chair and Umaga is only able to get a two count. Umaga climbs the cage but Hardy hits the ropes and Umaga is crotched on the top rope. Hardy with Poetry in Motion off the chair and Umaga goes down. Hardy tries for a Twist of Fate but Umaga sends Hardy into the ropes and Umaga connects with a palm thrust to the throat. Umaga puts Hardy in the corner and then he sets for the running butt splash but Hardy moves out of the way. Hardy with clotheslines and forearms followed by a mule kick. Hardy throws a chair at Umaga’s head and it connects. Hardy hits a DDT onto the steel chair but he only gets a two count. Hardy tries to escapes the cage but Orton slams the door into Hardy’s head and then he closes the cage door. Both men are down in the ring. Umaga covers Hardy but he kicks out at two. Umaga sets for the Samoan Spike but Hardy is able to hit the Twist of Fate before the Spike. Hardy climbs the cage and goes up top but Orton gets in the way. Umaga gets up and Hardy hits a corkscrew moonsault onto Umaga for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match, Hardy celebrates on the top of the cage as Orton stands under him. We go to credits.
2009 - The Associated Press reported this evening that the long-troubled Adam "Pacman" Jones was released by The Dallas Cowboys today. Jones, who was used by TNA Wrestling and once held the TNA Tag Team championship with Ron Killings (R-Truth), will be officially let go from the team on 2/9.
"He was surprised, and I think he was obviously somewhat hurt," Worrick Robinson, Jones' attorney told Sports Illustrated. "At the same time, he understands the business behind what is happening here."
2009 - The Durham Herald Sun in North Carolina reported that Ric Flair's daughter Ashley Fleihr plead guilty yesterday to being intoxicated, resisting a police officer and being disruptive after police were called to the scene of an incident between the WWE Hall of Famer and her boyfriend that led to a black eye the former NWA, WCW and WWF World champion was seen sporting in the recently released Ric Flair shoot interview.
The guilty plea came as part of a plea bargain agreement that saw authorities dismiss a charge of assault on a law enforcement officer.
On 9/5/08, police were called to an apartment complex after receiving a 3 AM 911 call about a fight. Police followed a trail of blood to an apartment where Ashley and her boyfriend resided. Ric Flair was in the apartment injured, but according to Assistant District Attorney Jeff Nieman, "When the officer was trying to see what was going on with them, she was trying to get in the way."
After several warnings, Ashley was removed from the residence, but pulled away and kicked the officer once she was outside. Ashley was shot twice with a Taser during the incident.
Ashley apologized before the court for the incident, was fined $200 and court costs and was given a 45 day jail sentence which was suspended for one year. She was also put on supervised probation and was ordered to get alcohol and drug assessment. If required, she will then be ordered to receive treatment. She will be subject to random drug tests and searches during that time period as well.
Ric Flair was not in attendance at the proceedings and his agent, Elaine Gillespie, declined comment, only to note that the incident would not have any bearing on his career.
2010 - WWE issued the following announcement:
WWE(R) Promotes Whitaker to Head WWE International
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. today announced that Andrew Whitaker will take on additional responsibilities and head up WWE International effective immediately.
In his new role as Executive Vice President, Whitaker will be responsible for determining the strategic direction for WWE's business outside of the U.S. across all revenue streams. He will report directly to WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and has been named an Executive Officer of the company. Whitaker will relocate back to WWE's global headquarters in Stamford.
Whitaker joined WWE in 1987 as part of the team delivering television syndication and developing WWE's pay-per-view business. He moved to WWE's international division in 1991, working in live events, international television and the pay-per-view business from WWE's London office, where Whitaker negotiated the largest international television contracts in the company's history. In November 2007, Whitaker began managing several of WWE's regional business units internationally and his role was expanded in January 2009 to include all areas outside of the U.S.
"Andrew has been instrumental to WWE's international growth. We are confident that he will continue to expand the breadth and depth of opportunities for WWE internationally," said Vince McMahon.
Whitaker commenced his career at NBC in New York, working on shows that include NBC News, Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show, Saturday Night Live and The Cosby Show. He sits on the international program advisory board for the Banff World Television Festival and nextMedia, International Interactive Media Festival and is also a member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
2010 - The scheduled debut of New England Championship Wrestling on Comcast Sportsnet picked up some attention in the Boston market with a front page article of the 1/7/10 edition of the Boston Herald.
The article featured comments from NECW promoter and co-owner Sheldon Goldberg detailing the growth of the company over the last few years. He presented his local talents as wrestlers so good, they could be in the WWE tomorrow.
“We just want to be your friendly neighborhood wrestling promotion,” Goldberg said. “We’ll approach the TV show like everything has been approached since Day One. We start down that road, and we just keep walking ’til we get there. I’m not kidding myself, it’s not gonna be easy.”
As it turned out, Comcast's parent company stepped in and prevented the series from running weekly, despite a signed contract. The series would instead be placed on their VOD offerings and would disappear after a year, leading to NECW taking time off to regroup.
2010 - The website for Human Resource Executive featured an article on the WWE Wellness Policy today, profiling the program and noting the then-recent passings of Ecki "Umaga" Fatu and Andrew "Test" Martin.
In the article, Robert Zimmerman, vice president of corporate communications and public relations at WWE, noted that four percent of former WWE performers they have contacted have taken the company up on their offer of free rehab if needed. He also noted that some deaths of wrestlers after they leave the company are due to decisions they make after they leave the company.
"We don't know what they took as kids. We don't know what they've done after they've left," he commented. "So the only thing we can do is obviously do what we're trying to do, which is make them abide by the Talent Wellness Program when they are contracted by us and then offer any kind of rehab assistance after they've left."
2010 - WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
It is time for the first episode of Superstars for 2010 and we get a look at the talent from all three brands.
We start off with a match from the Raw brand and it is a tournament match for the Divas Title. Your announcers are Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole.
Before the match starts, Jillian says that she is excited to become a two time Divas Champion. She says that she thinks she has a good chance to win the tournament. Then she sings something from the Black Eyed Peas.
Match Number One: Jillian Hall versus Gail Kim in a First Round Divas Tournament Match
They lock up and Gail works on the arm but Jillian rolls through and takes Gail down for a near fall. Jillian with a side head lock but Jillian with a shoulder tackle. Gail trips Jillian and gets a near fall. Gail with a forearm but Jillian with an Irish whip. Gail goes to the apron to avoid Jillian. Jillian with a forearm to Gail but when she goes for a shoulder, Gail avoids it and lands on Jillian’s back. Gail goes up top for a cross body and gets a two count. Gail with a rana and then she misses the cross body into the turnbuckles. Jillian sends Gail to the floor and then she runs Gail’s back into the apron. Jillian returns Gail to the ring and gets a near fall. Jillian with a side slam for a near fall. Jillian with a hard Irish whip and then she stands over Gail before pulling Gail by the hair. Gail goes to the turnbuckles and Jillian kicks Gail in the back of the legs and the referee stops the count because Jillian was using the ropes for additional leverage. Jillian tries to pull Gail away from the ropes but Gail is able to get a rollup and the three count.
Winner: Gail Kim
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that even Superstars beats CNN in the ratings.
Match Number Two: Ted DiBiase versus Chris Masters with Eve
DiBiase with a kick and punch and then he works on the leg with elbows to the knee. Masters with a forearm to the back and then he puts DiBiase in a full nelson but DiBiase gets to the ropes and then he goes to the floor to stop Masters’ momentum. DiBiase with a forearm to the back and then he puts Masters in a key lock. Masters tries to put DiBiase in the Master Lock as he tries for a counter but DiBiase gets to the apron. DiBiase tries for a punch but Masters avoids it. Masters with some punches followed by a slam and leg drop for a near fall. DiBiase with a clothesline to Masters followed by punches to the head. DiBiase with a series of elbow drops and he gets a near fall. DiBiase puts Masters in an arm bar with cross face but Masters gets out of the hold. DiBiase with a drop kick to Masters for a near fall. Masters with punches to the abdomen but DiBiase with a snap mare and kick to the head for a near fall. DiBiase with a punch that sends Masters to the canvas. DiBiase returns to the arm bar and cross face but Masters with a belly-to-back suplex but DiBiase with one of his own and both men are down. Masters with a reverse atomic drop and clotheslines. DiBiase with a kick to Masters on a back body attempt but Masters with a power slam. Masters with the pectacular and then he tries for the Masterlock. DiBiase avoids it and he tries for the clothesline but Masters counters and tries for the Masterlock again. DiBiase runs to the corner and Masters is sent into the turnbuckles. DiBiase hits Dream Street for the three count.
Winner: Ted DiBiase
Yoshi Tatsu is walking in the back with Goldust as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Brand that Time and Most of WWE Management Forgot . . . ECW. Your announcers are Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton.
Match Number Three: Yoshi Tatsu with Goldust versus Caylen Croft with Trent Barreta
They lock up and Yoshi works on the arm but Croft with a single leg take down and he works on the knee. Yoshi kicks Croft away and then Yoshi hits a couple of Japanese arm drags followed by a drop kick. Croft sends Yoshi to the floor and Goldust goes over to help his friend and to keep Barreta away. We go to commercial.
We are back and Yoshi with a sunset flip for a near fall. Croft with a running forearm to Yoshi and then he kicks Yoshi in the head. Croft gets a near fall on Yoshi. Croft chokes Yoshi in the ropes and then he kicks Yoshi in the back. Croft with a snap suplex for a near fall. Croft with a reverse chin lock. Yoshi with punches as he returns to his feet. Croft with a drop toe hold and a forearm to the back of the head. Croft with punches to Yoshi and the referee warns him. Croft gets another near fall on Yoshi. Croft with a modified sleeper on Yoshi and Yoshi tries to get to his feet and he succeeds but Croft sends him back to the mat with a pull of the hair. Croft misses a knee drop and Yoshi with chops and kicks to Croft. Yoshi with the running knees into the corner followed by the rolling mare followed by a kick to the chest for a near fall. Croft with a clothesline for a near fall. Croft then decides to go to the turnbuckles and he goes up top but Yoshi with a forearm to stop Croft. Yoshi tries for the Yoshicanrana but Croft holds the ropes. Croft with a cross body but Yoshi rolls through and gets a near fall. Croft with a neck breaker for a two count. Croft tries for a suplex but Yoshi escapes and then he hits the roundhouse kick for the three count.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound and then we go back to commercial.
It is time for the main event from the Smackdown brand. Your announcers are Matt Striker and Todd Grisham.
Match Number Four: Finlay versus Mike Knox
They lock up and Knox backs Finlay into the turnbuckles and Knox appears to give a clean break but he pushes Finlay. They lock up again and Knox sends Finlay to the mat. Finlay with a waist lock and Knox with a series of elbows. Finlay sends Knox to the mat and then he kicks Knox in the arm and he works on the arm with an arm bar but Knox gets to the ropes. Finlay with a kick to the arm as he returns to the same arm he worked on moments ago. Finlay with an elbow to the arm. Knox with a punch to Finlay but Finlay with a kick to Knox. Knox responds with a bicycle kick that sends Finlay to the floor. Finlay with a drop toe hold to Knox that sends the bearded man into the announce table. Finlay is sent into the ring steps but he is able to avoid the impact but he cannot avoid a power slam on the floor when he charges at Knox. The referee comes out to check on Finlay and sends Knox into the ring. Finlay struggles to get back into the ring but he does return. Knox with kicks to the back followed by a slam that adds more pressure to the back and Knox gets a near fall. Knox with a knee to the back followed by forearms and shoulders to the back. Finlay with an open hand slap to Knox but Knox with a kick and back breaker for a near fall. Knox with a rear chin lock with his knee in Finlay’s back. Finlay with a jawbreaker and then he kicks Knox as he charges a few times. Finlay tries for a cross body from the turnbuckles but Knox catches him and runs Finlay into the turnbuckles. Knox charges into the corner but he hits the ring post when Finlay moves. Finlay with a rollup for a two count. Finlay with clotheslines to Knox followed by the seated senton splash but he can only get a two count. Finlay gets Knox up for the fireman’s carry slam and then he gets a two count. Finlay with an Irish whip but Knox comes out of the corner with the cross body but he only gets a two count. Knox rips off the middle turnbuckle pad and then he splashes Finlay in the corner. The referee throws the pad out of the ring and that allows Finlay to get the shillelagh and illegally hit Knox with it and he gets the three count.
Winner: Finlay
2011 - Valentino "Big Val" Puccio, who competed in the original Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1995, passed away at the age of 45. Puccio appeared for several months in ECW playing a large monster heel against the likes of Mikey Whipwreck and Hack Myers, also using the nickname the "Big Valley." He was briefly aligned with JT Smith after Smith began doing his Italian gimmick. Trained by WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz, Puccio was originally one half of a tag team known as The Undertakers with his brother, Tony Puccio. The pair worked for a number of Northeastern staples at the time, including the Savoldi's ICW.
When WWF created The Undertaker character, The Undertakers team was brought into WWF for a series of house show appearances under the team name Double Trouble. Urban legend at the time was that the team received the bookings as part of an agreement that the brothers would stop using the name, which they had been utilizing prior to the WWF character's debut. On his Facebook page, Tony Puccio stated, "The world lost a great man tonight!!!! And God got his Soldier!! We shared a lifetime of good Memories. But it will not stop here, you will always be in our hearts. And I will finish what we set out to do!!!!! I love you, Bubba!!!!! Remember we didn't come here to lose T-Bird!!!!"
2011 - TNA ran Westbury, Long Island at the NYCB Theater. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
TNA returned to the Theater in Westbury, Long Island, NY on Friday January 7th with an extremely entertaining show. Full results saw:
TNA X-Division champion Jay Lethal pinned Kazarian. The crowd was all over Kazarian before the bell. He stalled so Lethal chased him around and into the ring, then worked him over with punches. Lethal nailed a hiptoss and Kazarian retreated to the floor. Lethal teased a dive but Kazarian ducked so Jay stopped and hit a slingshot plancha. The crowd chanted for Lethal. Lethal hiptossed Kazarian then hit a handstand into a dropkick for a two count. He chopped away in the corner but was caught and sent into the turnbuckles when Kazarian reversed an Irish whip. Kazarian peppered him with punches, then choked Lethal, using his boot. Lethal rolled out to the floor. The dueling chants started up. Lethal began firing back with offense but was thumbed in the eye. Kazarian slammed him and hit a springboard legdrop. He choked Lethal in the corner but when the referee admonished him, Lethal fought back. They exchanged punches. Lethal came back with a handspring elbow. They fought back and forth. Lethal charged across the ring and leapt over the ropes to the floor, snapping Kazarian's neck in the process. Lethal tried to slingshot himself back in the ring but was caught and slammed down for a two count. Kazarian set Lethal up for a superplex but Lethal began fighting him off on the ropes. Lethal nailed a sunset flip powerbomb for a two count, then drilled Kazarian with the Lethal Combination for a two count. The crowd thought was that finish. Lethal went for a piledriver but Kazarian rolled through. He leapt off the apron and over the ropes, catching Lethal with a DDT for a two count. Great near fall. Kazarian slapped Lethal in the face. Lethal shot him into the air and dropped him into a back suplex for the pin. Hot opener! Kazarian's facial expressions were great here and Lethal did a nice job connecting with the crowd. Real good stuff all around.
*TNA Knockouts champion Madison Rayne pinned Mickie James. Earl Hebner was the referee here and was announced as the most infamous referee in wrestling. He went after some heckling fans and then unveiled a shirt that said "Damn right I did" in regard to the Montreal Screwjob. Rayne mocked James country music early. James controlled the early portion of the match. James scored several nearfalls and trapped Rayne in a rolling armbar but Rayne got to the ropes. Rayne slipped outside and grabbed James' legs, pulling her down to the mat. She worked over James who came back with several dropkicks for near falls. James came off the ropes with a headscissors from the ropes. She went to the top rope but Rayne grabbed her by the hair snd slammed her into the ring. Rayne scraped James' face into the mat and pulled at her hair, then went back to mocking her country music. Rayne controlled her with a cravate. James escaped and rolled her up off the ropes for a near fall. Rayne kicked James hard in the head for a two count. She didn't like Hebner's count and got in his face. She rolled James facefirst and used her legs to drive her into the mat over and over. Rayne scored another two count and again had words with the referee. That allowed Mickie to surprise her with a neckbreaker. James began firing away on Rayne but was kicked away. She ducked a clothesline and nailed her own, then hit a flapjack. James came off the top with the Thesz Press. She began spanking Rayne in the corner. Rayne was almost whipped into Hebner and yelled at him. James punched Rayne and she fell into Hebner's arms, so he kissed her and did the worst strut ever. Rayne used the distraction to nail James with her loaded glove. Barry Windham would be proud. James kissed Hebner on the way out after she recovered. This was great from bell to bell with Rayne just awesome as the shrieking evil heel and James looking great as the fiery babyface. There was a real spring in their step here. Loved this.
Jeremy Borash introduced Taz. Taz lives right up the road, so he was at the show. Big ECW chant. Taz thanked everyone and said he wanted to say what's up to all his fellow Long Islanders. He plugged the Genesis PPV on Sunday. He checked to see if there were any Giants or Jets fans in the house and thanked everyone for coming in the snow. Borash pushed Taz to do his catchphrase. Taz said no one remembers that. Fans chanted ECW again. Taz said that as proud as he is to be a former ECW guy, its TNA time. The crowd chanted for TNA. He teased leaving without saying it but the crowd booed so he did his deal. The crowd loved it.
Jeremy Borash announced Jeff Jarrett was going to have an open challenge for any New Yorker who wanted to try and tap him out and if they did, they would win $100,000.
Pope Dinero pinned Robbie E, who had Cookie with him. There were a lot of fans doing the fist pump in the crowd when E came to the ring. They started out with some nice back and forth wrestling. Pope worked him over and set up for the running knee on the ropes but Cookie pulled E out. Pope followed and dove off the apron with an elbow. He slammed E facefirst into the apron. E stumbled behind Cookie to use her a shield, then jumped Pope and tossed him back in the ring. E slammed Pope into the buckles and choked him against the ropes. The ref admonished him, which allowed Cookie to choke Pope. E cinched in a side chinlock but Pope made his way back to his feet. E sweeped him back to the mat and cinched the hold back on. The crowd rallied Pope, who started to come alive. He made a comeback with a ton of offensive maneuvers and finally hit the running slide over E. Pope nailed a flying bodypress for a two count. E caught him with a cutter for near fall and began getting frustrated. Cookie tossed E her spray can but the ref took it away. Pope charged E but Cookie nailed him with her Missy Hyatt purse. Pope kicked out and the crowd came alive chanting for him Pope used an uppercut, then hit the Elijah Experience for the pin. Good match. Both were over and did a good job playing to the crowd. Cookie, who looks to have dropped weight since I saw her last, was great with her reactions and playing off the crowd.
After the match, Cookie went after Pope and challenged him, so Pope kissed her. Cookie crumbled into a fit.
Beer Money defeated Ink, Inc. Ink, Inc. received one of the biggest reactions of the night at this point. Roode gave the glare of death to some kids at ringside and they froze in fear. Hilarious. They did some good back and forth wrestling. Beer Money controlled early and they did some comedy spots. Storm missed a charge in the corner and Moore made the hot tag, then hit some great looking offense. He nailed Roode with head scissors and a bulldog but Storm broke up the pin. Ink, Inc doubled on Roode for several near falls. Storm pushed Moore off the ropes and tried to spit beer at Neal but got his own partner instead. Neal went for a spear but was killed with the most beautiful superkick ever. Chris Adams would have been impressed. Beer Money nailed DWI and scored the pin. Another really good match with some fun shenanigans early. After intermission, Jeff Jarrett came out for his $100,000 challenge. He said it was great to be back in New Jersey, which got a lot of heat. He ripped on the fans and asked where his challengers were. He pointed out fans in the crowd and ripped on them in hilarious fashion, getting a ton of heat.
Jeremy Borash came to ringside and said that Jarrett's challenge was answered and that he was asked to deliver a challenge, an Extreme Challenge.
Out came Tommy Dreamer who said he wanted to challenge Jarrett to a No DQ, anything goes Extreme Challenge. Jarrett attacked him and said he accepted.
Jeff Jarrett pinned Tommy Dreamer in a Hardcore Match with a Stroke on a chair in an entertaining brawl. Jarrett worked over Dreamer early but Dreamer made a comeback and took him to the floor and into the crowd. Dreamer pulled out a cookie sheet and nailed Jarrett with it. Back in the ring, Dreamer missed a charge in the corner and hit his shoulder on the ringpost. Dreamer was nailed with a pizza sheet and locked in a sleeper. Dreamer made a comeback and grabbed a bell. He rang Jarrett's cojones with it. He grabbed a chair but Jarrett cut him off. Jarrett came off the ropes with it but Dreamer kicked it. Dreamer went for the Spicoli Driver on the chair but Jarrett slipped out and nailed the Stroke.
After the match fans chanted for Dreamer and he took the mic and talked about how he always says the fans are his family. He then pointed out Atlas' Ronnie Lang and said that Lang's mother passed away yesterday but Lang wanted to be with his TNA family and hugged him.
TNA champ Jeff Hardy defeated Ken Anderson and Matt Morgan in a good three way. Hardy let the challengers fight it out early, then they realized what he was trying to pull. Anderson chased Hardy around the ring. Hardy tripped and took a facefirst flop. Anderson slammed him into the apron. Morgan worked over Hardy but Anderson broke up the pinfall. Morgan and Anderson went back and forth. Morgan went for a big boot but Anderson ducked and Morgan crotched himself and took a nasty bump to the floor. Hardy pounced on Anderson but was caught in the Mic Check. He slipped out and went for the Twist of Hate. Anderson shoved him off and Brian Hebner got killed with a hell of a bump. Anderson caught Hardy with an uranage as Earl Hebner hit the ring, not to check on his own son but to count the fall. Hardy kicked out. Morgan returned and they went back and forth until Hardy surprised Morgan with a rollup and hooked the tights.
Excellent house show from top to bottom. Even if you don't enjoy the TV product, you are missing out by not checking out a TNA house show if you get the chance.
Notes: The crowd was really into the product and all the characters...I'd peg the crowd at 900 to 1,100....Jeremy Borash did his usual great job riling up the crowd for potential backstage passes. Its ridiculous how over the whole bit gets with the audience....Don West was doing his thing, pushing merchandise and a special "Hardy Party" where fans got a hat, a signed Hardy truck and a meet and greet...As noted, Ronnie Lang's Atlas Security was in the house. Our deepest condolences to Lang on his loss...D'Lo Brown was backstage was working as an agent backstage....They did their customary autograph party after the show with Jeff Hardy taking pictures in the ring, Mickie James and Jeff Jarrett signing in the lobby and just about everyone else making their way around ringside greeting fans.
2011 - WWE's Raw brand ran Augusta, Georgia. Mark Haberland filed the following results:
Daniel Bryan beat Ted DiBiase (with Maryse) and Primo to defend the US Title. It was a good match. When Maryse tried to help Ted, The Bellas came to the rescue.
Alberto Del Rio lost to R Truth. I hope they are only doing this because it was a house show and the fans were into Truth. Obviously, this was a "Smackdown match".
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov beat the Usos to keep the tag titles.
(Jimmy & Jey) to retain the WWE Tag Titles. Santino got a nice pop and the crowd was into him the whole match. There were even a couple of "Koslov" chants. Lots of comedy spots as you would imagine. Santino and Koslov won after Santino hit a double Cobra on both Usos.
Yoshi Tatsu beat Zack Ryder after they had a dance contest, which Tatsu also won.
Gail Kim and Tamina beat Alicia Fox and Maryse.
John Morrison beat Sheamus in a street fight. This was also really good.
DH Smith beat Tyson Kidd.
C.M. Punk (with some of the Nexus) beat Mark Henry. Afterwards, Nexus attacked Henry and some faces came down and made the save. Great mic work by Punk before the match.
The Miz beat Randy Orton to keep the WWE Title when Alex Riley distracted Orton. Good match.
After it aired, the Raw GM (who can apparently watch house shows) sent a message that Orton would get a match with Riley. Orton killed him with the RKO and sent the fans home happy.
2011 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Tucson, Arizona and your announcers are Matt ‘Steve Kerr’ Striker, Josh ‘Kenny Lofton’ Mathews, and Michael ‘Last Announcer Standing’ Cole.
Cole, Striker, and Mathews talk about the two main events. They first talk about the final match between Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio in a two out of three falls match. Then they talk about the Last Man Standing Match between Edge and Kane for the World Title.
Match Number One: Edge versus Kane in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Title
Kane tries for a punch but Edge evades Kane and he connects with some punches. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Kane with punches and a knee followed by a snap mare and drop kick. Kane with another punch to Edge but Edge with a swinging neck breaker. Kane with a side slam and he charges at Edge but Edge drops down and Kane goes over the top rope to the floor. Edge with a baseball slide and spear that knocks Kane off the apron and to the floor. The referee starts his count but Kane returns to his feet in time. Kane with an uppercut on the floor and then he hot shots Edge on the ringside barrier. Kane with a forearm to the back of the head and then he sends Edge into the barrier on the ramp.
The battle moves to the back as they exchange punches by the stands. They fight into the concourse and Kane sends Edge into a water fountain. Kane sends Edge into the gate of a concession stand and then the battle moves back into the arena. Kane tries for a choke slam off the bleachers to the floor but Edge stops him. They fight up the stands and go into the ‘Bob Uecker’ seats. Edge sends Kane into the wall of the concession stand and the referee starts his count. Kane gets back to his feet and he hits Edge with a trash can.
Kane with an uppercut to Edge and then he sends Edge into a bench. Kane sees the stairs and has an idea while Edge is being counted out by the referee. Kane takes a wheelchair from a fan and Kane puts Edge in it and he punches Edge. Kane tries to send Edge down the stairs in the wheelchair but Edge gets out of the chair in time as the chair travels down the stairs. Edge with a boot to the head and the referee starts his count. Edge punches Kane as we go to commercial.
We are back and the battle has returned to ringside and Kane sends Edge back into the ringside area by the announce table. Edge sends Kane into the apron and then Kane decides to do some rearranging of the announce table. Edge reverses an Irish whip into the ring steps and the referee starts his count. Kane gets up in time but Edge sends Kane back into the ring. Edge goes up top but he is met with an uppercut from Kane and Edge is down and the referee starts the count.
Edge gets back to his feet but Kane with a slam and he goes up top while the referee counts. Edge gets to his feet and Kane tries for the clothesline from top but Edge moves out of the way and Edge with a kick to the midsection followed by the Impaler DDT and both men are down.
We are told by the announcers that if both men are counted out, the match will be restarted so there is a winner.
They both get to their feet and Kane gives Edge a choke slam and the count begins anew. Edge is able to get to his feet at nine and uses the ropes to save his title. Edge rolls to the floor and Kane goes after him. Edge sends Kane into the ring steps and then he punches Edge. Kane decides to move the ring steps and Kane sets for a tombstone piledriver on the steps but Edge is able to counter with an Edge-o-Matic onto the steps.
The referee makes his count and edge gets to his feet at seven while Kane gets to his feet at nine but goes back to his knees. Edge waits for Kane to get up for a spear but Edge runs into a boot from Kane. Kane grabs Edge when he gets up and he choke slams Edge through the announce table. Everyone thinks that we have a new champion but Edge starts moving at eight and uses Matt Striker to get himself to his feet but then he falls to his knees again.
Kane sends Edge back into the ring and Kane throws chairs into the ring and he has a third one in his hand as he returns to the ring. Edge picks up one of the chairs and throws it at Kane’s head and Kane falls to the mat from the turnbuckles. Edge hits Kane in the knee with the chair and then he returns to the knee for another chair shot. Kane struggles to get to his feet while Edge prepares for a spear. Edge hits a spear on Kane and then Edge goes to the floor for a chair. Edge puts the chair under Kane’s knee and then Edge hits Kane in the knee with another chair. The referee starts his count and Kane tries to get to his feet but his knee buckles and Kane falls back to the mat as the referee gets to ten.
Winner: Edge
Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and we see the warzone that the announce table and surrounding area became during the Last Man Standing Match.
We see highlights from last week’s Intercontinental Title Match where Vickie Guerrero saved the title for Dolph. Michael Cole mentions that because of what happened last week, Teddy Long ordered this rematch.
Match Number Two: Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero versus Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Title
Kofi with a kick and forearm to Ziggler followed by kicks and punches in the corner. The referee pulls Kofi out of the corner but he runs into a boot from Ziggler. Dolph with a forearm followed by an Irish whip. Kofi moves and hits the pendulum kick. Kofi tries for a cross body but Ziggler sees him coming and moves out of the way. Ziggler kicks Kofi and then connects with an elbow to the top of the head. Kofi with punches to Ziggler but Dolph with a knee and neck breaker to regain momentum and gets a near fall. Ziggler locks in a reverse chin lock. Kofi with elbows to Ziggler followed by a forearms but Dolph fights back. Dolph with an Irish whip but he misses a splash into the corner. Kofi with chops to Ziggler followed by a drop kick. Ziggler avoids the Superman punch and SOS and then gets a near fall with a rollup.
Kofi hits the Superman punch and then he hits the Boom drop on Ziggler. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise and Dolph ducks it and Ziggler puts Kofi in the sleeper but he is not able to maximize the effect. Kofi is able to escape and he hits a jawbreaker on Ziggler. Kofi hits the SOS but he can only get a two count. Kofi goes to the apron and the turnbuckles but Ziggler gets to his feet and stops Kofi. Ziggler tries for a superplex but Kofi blocks it. Kofi sends Ziggler to the mat with a gourdbuster from the turnbuckles. Kofi with a cross body for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Kofi celebrates in the ring, but Ziggler attacks him from behind and hits the Zig Zag. Vickie Guerrero gets on the mic and she gives us a few Excuse Mes. Vickie says that since Teddy Long is not here tonight, she is in charge. Vickie says that Dolph Ziggler gets his rematch right now.
The referee checks on Kofi to make sure that he can wrestle after the attack and he determines that Kingston is okay to wrestle.
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Title
Ziggler charges into the corner but Kofi moves out of the way and he connects with a forearm. Ziggler with punches and then he slams Kofi’s head into the mat. Ziggler with a kick to the head. Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise and gets the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Vickie stands over Dolph while Kofi continues to celebrate in the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Dolph and Vickie are in Vickie’s office. Dolph wants to know why Vickie made the rematch and he calls it a bonehead move. Vickie tells Dolph that it isn’t her fault because Dolph should have won the first match. Then she reminds Dolph that he had Kofi down before she announced the rematch. Vickie points out that Dolph lost twice and he is two time loser. Dolph tells Vickie that maybe she should look for a new boyfriend. Dolph leaves and Vickie screams.
It is time for the Raw Rebound with a look at the Number One Contender Steel Cage Match when the control of Nexus was officially transferred from Wade Barrett to CM Punk when Barrett showed that he is somehow related to Sting and Trish Stratus, but by marriage.
Kelly Kelly is walking in the back without a care in the world and Drew McIntyre stops her to talk. Drew tells Kelly that he wanted to wish her luck in her match and Kelly says that she can’t tell if Drew means it. Drew says that Kelly might not like the man in the ring, but this is all that he dreamt about. He has a number one contender match tonight to make his dreams come true and be the World Champion. He is not asking Kelly to trust him yet, he only wants her support.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Big Show versus ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes versus Drew McIntyre in a Number One Contender Match
Before the match starts, Vickie Guerrero comes out and she says that as the Acting General Manager, this Triple Threat Match is now a Fatal Four Way Match. The fourth man in the match is Dolph Ziggler.
Show, Drew, and Cody all show their frustration with the addition of the new man into the match.
The hatred over Dolph being in the match quickly goes away for Cody and Drew as all three men focus on Show. Show is not deterred as he kicks Drew and sends him to the floor. Show with a forearm to Cody’s back followed by a head butt to Cody and a slam to Dolph. Show with a side slam to Cody for a near fall when Ziggler breaks up the cover. Show with a chop to Dolph and he goes to the floor. Show with a chop in the corner. Show knocks Drew off the apron with a shoulder and then he returns his focus to Cody. Show with a side slam and clothesline combination for a near fall.
Show picks up Dolph and sends him to the mat and gets a near fall but Drew breaks up the cover. Show sends Drew over the top rope to the floor and Drew throws a tantrum. Show with a kick to Cody’s ribs and then he puts his large posterior in Cody’s face. Show with a chop across the chest and then Show turns his focus to Dolph. Show with the step over leg lariat but Cody breaks up the cover. Cody punches Show but Show with a head butt and Cody goes down. Show kicks Drew back to the floor. Cody backs into the corner and he chokes Cody with his boot.
Show tries for the Shhh chop on Dolph but he moves out of the way and Cody hits Show with a running forearm and kicks. Dolph joins in and kicks Show. They try for a double Irish whip but Show sends Dolph and Cody over the top rope to the floor. Show goes to the floor as well and that means that Drew can get in some offense with kicks and punches to Show. Show with a head butt to Drew followed by a chop. Show tries to send Drew into the ring post but Drew is the one who sends him into the ring post. Cody, Drew, and Dolph send Show through the ringside barrier in front of the timekeeper, bell ringer, and ring announcer. We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody with an arm drag from the turnbuckles on Dolph and he gets a near fall. Cody goes to the turnbuckles for a moonsault, but his former tag team partner throws him off the turnbuckles and onto Big Show. Drew finally returns to the ring and he punches and kicks Dolph in the corner. Drew with a boot to the head but Cody stops Drew and hits a drop down uppercut and then he clotheslines Drew over the top rope to the floor. Cody with a punch but Dolph returns fire. They exchange punches in the ring but Drew with a double clothesline to Cody and Dolph. Drew tries to kick Show from the apron but Show grabs Drew’s boot and then sends Drew back first onto the apron. Show pushes Dolph away as he returns to the ring. Show with a clothesline to Cody followed by a back body drop. Show with a running butt splash and a shoulder tackle. Show with a spinebuster to Ziggler.
Show signals for the choke slam, but he is taken down from behind by a kick to the leg from Wade Barrett. Barrett kicks Show and then he punches Show while the referee tells him to leave. Barrett goes to the turnbuckles and hits an elbow drop on Show. Barrett leaves the ring.
Cody hits Beautiful Disaster but Show is able to kick out with authority. Dolph hits the Zig Zag on Show but Show kicks out again with authority. Drew with the Future Shock DDT on Show but Show kicks out of that as well. Drew yells at the referee but explains that it was only a two count. Drew goes to the turnbuckles and Show grabs Drew and sends him out of the ring. Dolph and Cody discuss strategy, but it was a trap and Dolph hits the Zig Zag on Cody for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Dolph and Vickie celebrate on the ramp.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Michelle McCool with Layla versus Kelly Kelly
They lock up and Michelle backs Kelly into the corner and Michelle with a series of kicks. Kelly with a kick as Michelle returns to the corner. Kelly with a head scissors in the ropes and then she takes Michelle to the mat. Kelly pushes Layla down on the floor. Michelle with a kick when Kelly returns to the ring. Michelle works on the leg and uses the ropes for extra leverage. Kelly kicks Michelle and hits a spinning head scissors to take Michelle down and she tries for the K2 and focuses on Layla at ringside. That allows Michelle to counter and hit the Faithbreaker for the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool
After the match, Michelle and Layla celebrate in the ring and then they decide to do some more to Kelly. They give her a double Stroke and then taunt Kelly. Drew McIntyre comes into the ring and tells Michelle and Layla to get out of the ring. Drew checks on Kelly.
We go to commercial.
Before our main event, Alberto Del Rio reminds us who he is. On Monday night, he proved to the idiot rapper R Truth that the truth is no match for destiny and his destiny is to win the Royal Rumble and be the main event at Wrestlemania. Tonight, he is going to destroy Rey Mysterio. There are only two types of Latino, the Puro Latino and the gardners, car washers, and his little amigito Rey Mysterio.
Match Number Six: Rey Mysterio versus Alberto Del Rio in a Two out of Three Falls Match
Fall Number One8:22
Alberto with kicks to Rey at the start of the match and he sends Rey into the turnbuckles. Alberto chokes Rey in the corner. Alberto with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Rey. Alberto with a kick but Rey with a kick of his own followed by a head scissors and 619 attempt. Alberto is able to duck the 619 and then he puts Rey in the cross arm breaker. Rey tries to fight out of the hold but then he sacrifices this fall by tapping out to possibly help him in the other two falls.
Fall Number One to Alberto Del Rio [Del Rio 1 Fall, Mysterio 0 Falls]
We go to commercial.
Fall Number Two
We join the second fall in progress and Del Rio with an arm bar but Rey with forearms. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Del Rio with a kick to the head and he follows it with an Irish whip. Rey with a boot to the head when Del Rio charges. Alberto tries for another tilt-a-whirl back breaker but Rey lands on his feet. Del Rio with a kick and he throws Rey under the ropes to the floor. Del Rio takes too much time to gloat over his success so far in the match and that allows Rey to get back on the apron without any trouble.
Rey with a shoulder and forearms from the apron followed by a springboard head scissors that takes Del Rio to the mat. Rey holds his left arm because of the damage already done to it by Del Rio. Rey with a knee to Del Rio but Alberto with an Irish whip. Rey with an elbow. Del Rio tries for the cross arm breaker again, but he doesn’t have it locked in and that allows Rey to get a near fall with a rollup.
Rey with a drop toe hold and Alberto goes into the ropes. Del Rio gets back to his feet but Rey with a head scissors into a La Magistral for the three count.
Fall Number Two to Rey Mysterio [Del Rio 1 Fall, Mysterio 1 Fall]
We go to commercial before the third fall begins.
Fall Number Three
The third fall is joined in progress and Del Rio with a key lock. Rey with a series of kicks to escape the hold. Rey with a kick to the chest. Del Rio with a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall. Del Rio puts Rey on the turnbuckles and appears to try to unmask Rey. Rey knocks Del Rio to the mat and he connects with a battering ram for a near fall. Rey with a springboard cross body for another near fall.
Rey with kicks to the ribs and then Rey tries for a springboard move but he does not connect, allowing Alberto to hit an arm breaker and get a near fall. Del Rio shows some frustration over not being able to finish Rey. Del Rio gets Rey on his shoulders but Rey gets to his feet and he hits a DDT and both men are down. Rey gets a near fall on Del Rio. Rey goes to the apron and takes his time climbing the turnbuckles for a moonsault but Alberto recovers and he crotches Rey and Rey is hanging from the turnbuckles in the tree of woe.
Alberto with a drop kick to the chest and Rey falls to the mat. Del Rio goes to the apron and he picks up Rey and tries to superplex Rey to the floor but Rey blocks it. Del Rio decides on Plan B and he drops Rey’s arm on the top rope. Del Rio sends Rey into the turnbuckles while on the apron. Rey kicks Del Rio in the knee and Alberto is in the turnbuckles, but on the apron. Rey with a 619 to Del Rio that sends him to the floor. Ricardo Rodriguez checks on Del Rio while Rey goes up top and Rey hits a cross body onto both men. Rey brings Del Rio back into the ring but Rey does not return to the ring immediately and he tries to get back into the ring in front of Rodriguez. Rodriguez grabs Rey’s legs to prevent him from returning to the ring and the referee makes the ten count.
Fall Number Three to Alberto Del Rio
Winner: Alberto Del Rio [2 Falls to 1]
After the match, Rey shows his frustration and kicks the ring steps. While Del Rio has gone up the ramp, Ricardo Rodriguez remains at ringside, but Rodriguez is able to avoid Rey, but Rodriguez does not see Mysterio as he makes his way around the ring and Rey sends Rodriguez into the ringside barrier on the ramp. Rey kicks Rodriguez in the ribs and then Rey looks at Del Rio before kicking Rodriguez in the head. Rey sends Rodriguez into the ring and drop kicks Rodriguez into the back and Rey hits the 619 while Del Rio watches from the stage.
Rey points at Del Rio before hitting the springboard dive onto Rodriguez.
We take a look at the damage done to the ringside area while they talk about the Number One Contender Match and Last Man Standing Match. We see highlights of the Number One Contender Match and the appearance by Wade Barrett.
We go to credits with the announcement that Big Show will face Wade Barrett next week on Smackdown.
2012 - WWE ran Montgomery, Alabama. Nathan Caldwell filed the following live report:
Hornswoggle came out to warm up the crowd. Cody Rhodes came out told us how great he was because he beat Booker T last night on Smackdown, then Cody beat up Hornswoggle a bit until Ted DiBiase made the save.
DiBiase def. Jinder Mahal.
Zeke Jackson and Trent Beretta def. Drew McIntyre and some guy I don't know.
Hunico def. Tyson Kidd.
Cody Rhodes def. Justin Gabriel (IC Title match). After the match Cody continues to beat on Gabriel, DiBiase and Hornswoggle make the save. Hornswoggle does a splash off the top on Cody and Gabriel hits the 450 splash.
Natalya def. AJ, with special referee Aksana. After the match AJ complains about Natalya holding the ropes for extra leverage in the sharpshooter and gets double teamed by Aksana and Natalya for her troubles. Alicia Fox and Tamina make the save.
Sheamus def. Wade Barrett in a no-DQ match. They brawled around the arena a bit, spilling over the rail right in front of me and scaring the crap out of the security guard who never knew it was coming, which was quite funny.
Daniel Bryan def. Big Show in a steel cage match via escape from the cage. After the match Wade Barrett and Jinder Mahal attack Big Show, Sheamus comes out for the save and Big Show gives Barrett and Mahal a double chokeslam.
2012 - WWE ran Tyler, Texas. Colt Juster filed the following results:
The results tonight were very similar to last night, with the exception of Chris Jericho appearing.
They did the same open as Friday with The Miz did a promo about beating CM Punk later in the night. R-Truth came out, they brawled and Miz left. David Otunga came out and had a match with Truth, which Truth won.
Beth Phoenix beat Eve with The Glam Slam
Alex Riley and Mason Ryan beat Michael McGillicutty and Antonio Cesaro from FCW.
Zack Ryder beat Jack Swagger with The Rough Ryder to retain the US Title.
After this match the lights went out and Chris Jericho came out. He was wearing the flashing jacket from Raw. He sucked in the applause and was about to speak when Otunga came out and cut a promo on Jericho's coat. Jericho took off the jacket then popped Otunga and put him in The Walls Of Jericho. Jericho then sucked up cheers from the crowd before leaving.
Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne beat Primo and Epico (who were seconded by Rosa who was smoking).
John Cena beat Kane by DQ when Kane used a chair.
CM Punk beat The Miz in a really good match to retain the WWE Title.
2013 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight is a very important night for World Wrestling Entertainment because the Rock will be returning to WWE television to prepare for his match against CM Punk, or whoever the WWE Champion is at the Royal Rumble.
This week, Raw is in Tampa, Florida and your announcers are Jerry ‘I wrestled outside this building’ Lawler and Michael ‘Smells like a circus’ Cole.
John Cena makes his way to the ring. While he gets in the ring, we see Dolph and AJ get showered with love by John Cena at the end of Raw.
John says that was a craptacular end to 2012, but it is a great way to start off 2013. There are some special folks in the crowd and this is a special night. There will be a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match with CM Punk defending his title against Ryback. Cena says that it feels like electricity. The most electrifying man in all of entertainment returns tonight. The Rock will be back.
Cena says that we are on the Road to Wrestlemania. The Royal Rumble is in three weeks. The winner of that match gets into the main event of Wrestlemania.
John is interrupted by Dolph Ziggler and he is joined by AJ Lee and Big E Langston. Dolph says that they might have come to see Cena or the Rock, but they will remember the hottest superstar in the WWE, Dolph Ziggler.
AJ wants to know if this is what makes him feel better and allows him to sleep at night. That joke last week wasn’t enough? What about lying to her and playing with her emotions? AJ says that she couldn’t believe that she chose to lose her job over Cena. She calls John a petty, pathetic, and small man. She calls him a very small man.
Cena says that AJ’s sweet little innocent self made her first sixth grade weiner joke.
Cena says that AJ can knock that off her bucket list. Cena wants a wave. Cena says that it is time for his weiner joke. He quotes Andrew Clay and starts the Nantucket limerick but Ziggler stops him.
Dolph says that Cena always laughs off a loss and hopes that it will go away. He is not going away. Dolph says that he is officially in the Royal Rumble. He tells John he cannot hide any more. His primary goal is to not let Cena win.
Cena says that he wishes everyone luck. He says that 2013 will be looking up and then he tells Dolph and AJ to look out and they think Cena might do something. Did they think he would drop poop on them again. Cena says that AJ is rubbing off on Dolph and Big E.
Cena says that he is done talking and he wants to fight Dolph Ziggler right now.
Langston tells Cena that Dolph is not his only problem. Langston says that it is on.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: John Cena versus Dolph Ziggler (with Big E Langston and AJ Lee)
Cena with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. They lock up and Ziggler with a side head lock take down. Cena with a hip toss and arm drag into an arm bar. Ziggler with kicks and punches in the corner and the referee warns him. Ziggler with punches to the ribs.
Ziggler with an elbow to the top of the head and then he punches Cena in the corner. Ziggler with a kick and then he does sit ups. Cena with a rollup to take advantage of the situation. Cena with punches followed by an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall.
Cena with a front face lock. Cena with a delayed vertical suplex and Cena gets a near fall. Ziggler with a kick to the chest and then kicks in the corner followed by a splash into the corner for a near fall. Ziggler punches Cena and then he hits a drop kick and gets a near fall.
Ziggler with a punch to Cena and he shuffles around the ring. Ziggler tries for a drop kick but Cena blocks it and he catapults Ziggler into the turnbuckles. Ziggler with an elbow and Langston punches Cena from the apron while the referee was distracted.
Ziggler gets a near fall and we go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. Ziggler with a headstand while applying the chin lock and Ziggler with a bridge. Cena gets Ziggler on his back and Cena with a snap mare. Cena with a belly-to-belly suplex and both men are down. AJ gets on the apron and distracts the referee while Ziggler hits a drop kick and gets a near fall.
Ziggler with a series of elbow drops and he finishes with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler chokes Cena in the ropes and while Ziggler talks to the referee, AJ gets on the apron and slaps Cena. The referee did get a chance to see it and the referee sends AJ and Langston to the back.
Ziggler argues with the referee and then he turns around and Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Ziggler with a kick followed by the Fameasser but Cena kicks out.
Ziggler misses a splash into the corner and Cena with another Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he gets Ziggler on his shoulders but Ziggler escapes and hits a Zig Zag but Cena kicks out.
Ziggler misses a superkick and Cena tries for the STF. Ziggler escapes and he hits a DDT and gets a near fall. Ziggler goes up top for a cross body but Cena catches Ziggler and rolls through to get Ziggler on his shoulders. Ziggler gets to his feet and hits a super kick and gets a near fall.
Ziggler punches Cena and the referee warns him. Cena with a punch to the midsection but Ziggler punches back. They go back and forth and Cena gets the advantage. Ziggler applies the sleeper. Cena gets a second wind and he gets Ziggler off his back but Ziggler hits the referee and the referee goes to the floor.
Cena with a drop toe hold and STF to Ziggler. Langston comes to the ring and he attacks Cena and hits the Big Ending. Langston puts Ziggler on top of Cena and there is no referee. We have a second referee but Cena is able to kick out. Cena with an Attitude Adjustment and he gets the three count.
Winner: John Cena
Match Number Two: Eve Torres versus Kaitlyn for the Divas Title
They lock up and Kaitlyn pushes Eve to the ropes. They lock up again and Eve with a side head lock and take down. Kaitlyn with a head scissors but Eve escapes. Eve works on the leg. Kaitlyn kicks Eve away and she punches Eve. The referee holds Kaitlyn back because Kaitlyn’s boot is untied.
Eve with a kick and she punches Kaitlyn. Eve kicks Kaitlyn in the corner. Eve chokes Kaitlyn in the corner. Eve with a cravate over the shoulder followed by a forearm to the back. Kaitlyn with a side slam. Kaitlyn with an inverted DDT for a near fall.
Kaitlyn with a kick and then she gets Eve on her shoulders but Eve escapes and goes to the floor. Kaitlyn sends Eve back into the ring but Eve gets back to the floor. Kaitlyn follows Eve to the floor and Eve goes into the crowd. The referee makes the ten count.
Winner: Kaitlyn (by count out)
We go to commercial.
We are back and remember that next week is the 20th anniversary episode of Raw.
Santino Marella is in the locker room saying that he enjoyed watching Ricky Steamboat wrestling Randy Savage at Wrestlemania III. Ricky says that was a great match. Santino points out that he was a former Intercontinental champion.
Wade interrupts Santino and Ricky and calls them a has been and a never was. Now the Intercontinental Title means something again. He says that Steamboat is an old man blowing smoke.
Ricky tells Santino that he has an idea. The dragon will be in Santino’s corner tonight. Barrett will find out how much smoke this old man can blow.
Matt Striker is with Randy Orton and he brings up the people whose names are in the Royal Rumble. Randy says that he is a former winner and he will win this year. There is only one Randy Orton.
The 3MB interrupt and they say that they are in the match. Heath says that they are going to rock and roll to history and main event Wrestlemania.
Randy wonders who will face him tonight.
Slater runs through the members of the band and Orton chooses the front man. He says that Slater won’t be playing the air guitar, he will be playing the harp.
Match Number Three: Kane and Daniel Bryan versus Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes
Kane and Cody start things off and Cody goes into the corner. Kane with an uppercut and he sends Cody into the turnbuckles. Kane with an uppercut to the mustache. Kane with an Irish whip but Cody with an elbow and he tags in Sandow. Kane with an uppercut to Damien. Kane with a snap mare and drop kick for a near fall.
Bryan tags in and Kane sends Bryan into the corner for a drop kick and Bryan gets a near fall. Bryan works on the arm and applies a hammer lock. Sandow with an elbow and he tags in Cody. Bryan with a drop toe hold and kick to the midsection. Bryan with more kicks to Cody. Bryan with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Bryan with an uppercut and Irish whip but he runs into an elbow from Cody.
Cody puts Bryan on the ropes and kicks Daniel in the midsection. Sandow tags in and he kicks and chokes Bryan. Sandow with an elbow drop for a near fall. Cody tags back in and he punches Bryan and connects with a forearm to the back. Cody with a punch to the head and kicks.
Cody with more punches and he tags Sandow back in. Sandow with punches to Bryan and then he hits the side Russian leg sweep and it is time for the Elbow of Disdain and he connects and he tells everyone ‘You’re Welcome’. Sandow with a reverse chin lock. Sandow with a forearm to the back but Bryan with a leap frog and he tags in Kane.
Kane drops Sandow on the top rope and then he goes for the clothesline but Sandow stops him momentarily. Kane hits the clothesline and then he knocks Rhodes off the apron. Kane with a boot to Sandow for a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner and a second one. Kane with the side slam and he gets a near fall.
Sandow sees Kane go for the choke slam and Sandow goes to the floor. Bryan with a running knee off the apron to Sandow and Bryan returns Sandow into the ring. Bryan with kicks to the midsection. Sandow with an Irish whip and Bryan flips over Sandow and he lands awkwardly.
Rhodes tags in and he puts Bryan’s leg in the ropes and he kicks the knee. The referee warns Cody and Sandow kicks Bryan in the leg. Kane with a punch to Sandow and then Rhodes with a baseball slide to Kane. Bryan with an inside cradle for a near fall. Cody with a kick to the knee and Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winners: Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton walks through the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Randy Orton versus Heath Slater (with Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal)
Slater with a waist lock but Orton with a standing switch and shoulder tackle. Slater has a hip toss blocked and Orton with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Orton punches Slater in the corner and Slater gets into the ropes. Slater attacks Orton while the referee deals with Randy. Slater with punches but Orton with a head butt and European uppercut.
Orton takes care of Drew and Jinder on the floor and Slater kicks Orton from the apron and then Drew and Jinder attack Orton on the floor. Slater sends Orton back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Slater with a reverse chin lock. Orton with elbows and a head butt. Orton tries for a slam but Slater escapes and he hits a neck breaker and gets a near fall.
Slater goes to the turnbuckles but Orton crotches Heath and then sets for a superplex and hits it. Orton with two clotheslines and he avoids one from Slater. Orton with a power slam. Orton fights off Mahal and McIntyre. Orton sends Slater to the apron for the IEDDT and then he looks around and twists to the mat to pound it before hitting the RKO and gets the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, Mahal and Drew attack Orton but Orton gives Mahal and McIntyre RKOs.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Santino Marella (with Ricky Steamboat) versus Wade Barrett
Barrett misses a punch and Santino with a Steamboat-esque arm drag. Santino misses a second one and Barrett kicks and punches Santino. Barrett with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Barrett with a reverse chin lock. Barrett with a knee and he sets for a pump handle slam but Santino escapes and hits a super kick and gets a near fall.
Santino with punches and forearms followed by a split and hip toss. Santino for the diving head butt and then it is time to get the Cobra. Barrett goes to the apron on the cobra and Santino is dropped across the top rope. Barrett sets for the Bull Hammer and he connects and gets the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
After the match, Steamboat takes off his jacket after checking on Santino and Barrett leaves the ring.
Matt Striker is with Sheamus and he reminds Sheamus that he won the Royal Rumble and World Title last year. Matt asks Sheamus if he can do it again. Sheamus says that he couldn’t do it again. Sheamus says that he can win the Royal Rumble and World Title, but not in 18 seconds.
Sheamus sees 3MB and wants to know what is wrong with them. Sheamus says that Randy Orton kicked their arses.
Slater says that they got lucky.
Sheamus suggests that they go to the ring and sing a song. Sheamus says that whoever is still standing after a Brogue Kick can sing Danny Boy. Sheamus says that he will see him out there.
We see tables, ladders, and chairs in the building because there is a TLC match tonight.
We are back and Miz joins Cole and Lawler at the announce table.
Match Number Six: Antonio Cesaro (with American Flag) versus Great Khali (with Hornswoggle and Natalya)
Cesaro with punches to Khali but Khali with a clothesline to the top of the head. Khali sends Cesaro into the turnbuckles and then connects with an elbow and chop. Khali with another chop and then he clotheslines Cesaro over the top rope to the floor. Hornswoggle wants to interfere again but Cesaro gets up.
Khali brings Cesaro back into the ring and connects with a clothesline. Cesaro drops Khali on the top rope and then pulls Khali’s leg onto the top rope. Cesaro dives into the knee and then he kicks Khali in the hamstring. Cesaro works on the leg and he rubs his elbow on the knee.
Khali with a chop to Cesaro. Cesaro runs into a boot from Khali. Khali with clotheslines and he sets for the choke slam but Cesaro with kicks to the knee followed by a European uppercut and a springboard European uppercut. Cesaro with the Gotch Style Neutralizer on Khali and he gets the three count.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
After the match, Cesaro holds the title over his head as he looks at Miz.
Paul Heyman is in the back and he is on the phone. Brad Maddox stops by and Paul reminds Brad what he said last week. He doesn’t want Brad in his life.
Brad wants to know who Paul thinks he is. Paul will not talk to him that way because he can be of service to Paul and Punk. Brad says that he has his referee’s shirt and he was going to suggest that Vickie put him in the match.
Paul does not want Brad talking to anyone and he tells Brad to slither under that rock he came out from and he tells Brad that if he ever pssssts him again, he won’t.
Match Number Seven: Sheamus versus Jinder Mahal (with Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre)
They lock up and Sheamus with a clean break and side head lock take down. Sheamus puts Jinder in the corner but Jinder with a kick and side head lock. Jinder with a shoulder tackle and he celebrats. Sheamus grabs Jinder by the face and applies a side head lock. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and then he kicks Jinder in the rear end.
Jinder with a waist lock and Jinder gets offended by what Sheamus was doing to Jinder’s rear end. Jinder has a kick blocked and Sheamus with a slap. Jinder avoids a slap the second time his kick is blocked. Sheamus kicks Jinder and slaps him before sending Jinder to the floor. Sheamus with forearms across the chest.
So Drew does not feel left out, he gives Drew ten forearms across the chest. Slater stays away and Sheamus punches Jinder and kicks him. Heath grabs the leg and Jinder knocks Sheamus to the floor. Drew with a clothesline to Sheamus on the floor.
Mahal with kicks and a near fall. Mahal with a knee drop. Mahal with a neck breaker for a near fall. Sheamsu with two running double sledges and then he runs Mahal into the corner and hits the knee lift. Sheamus gets Jinder up for White Noise but he sees Slater in the ring. Sheamus pulls Slater into the ring and sends him into Mahal. Sheamus with a double clothesline to Mahal and Slater and they go over the top rope.
Sheamus sends Jinder back into the ring and he hits Drew with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Slater from the apron. Sheamus with an elbow to escape a full nelson slam attempt and then Sheamus with White Noise. Sheamus makes his chest bleed to set for the Brogue Kick and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
We see a CM Punk video package and his ability to hold on to the title against Ryback.
The belt is above the ring and for some reason, the official cage lowering music of WWE is playing.
We are back and we take a look back at highlights from the John Cena versus Dolph Ziggler match.
Match Number Eight: Ryback versus CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) for the WWE Championship
They lock up and Ryback misses a punch and Punk with punches and kicks. Ryback with a forearm and shoulders in the corner. Ryback with an Irish whip to the sternum. Ryback kicks Punk and Punk rolls to the floor. Ryback follows after Punk as Punk gets a chair from under the ring. Punk hits Ryback in the back with the chair.
Ryback takes Punk down and punches him. Ryback grabs the chair and Punk tries to get away. Punk moves and Ryback hits the steps with the chair. Punk with a kick and a chair shot to the chest. Punk sends Ryback into the ringside barrier. Punk pulls out a ladder.
Ryback with a forearm to the back and he drapes Punk over the apron. Ryback points to the chair and ladder and he hits a suplex onto the ladder. Punk rolls to the floor and Heyman feels the pain as well. Ryback with a chop and forearm to the back. Ryback picks up the steps and he hits Punk in the shoulder with it and then he tosses the steps aside.
Ryback picks up the rest of the steps but Punk moves when Ryback tries to use them. Punk with a knee off the steps and both men are down. Punk uses the chair on Ryback’s ankle and then his back. We go to commercial.
We are back and Ryback with an Electric Chair Drop in the ring. A ladder is set up in the ring. Ryback sends Punk to the floor and he follows. Ryback slams Punk on the floor and then he looks under the ring for a table and gets it. Punk kicks a chair into Ryback’s knee. Punk sets up a table on the floor and then Ryback counters a hip toss and sends Punk across the announce table. Ryback hits Punk with the hood from the announce table.
Punk goes for the knee when they return to the ring. Punk stomps on the leg. Punk brings a chair into the ring and then he uses it on the calf. Punk hits Ryback in the ankle with the chair. Punk puts the chair on the ankle and Punk goes to the turnbuckles. Ryback moves and Punk appears to have reinjured his knee.
Ryback with a clothesline and he pushes Punk down and then hits a back body drop. Ryback with a spinebuster and then he hits the lariat and Ryback signals that it is over. Ryback with the marching muscle buster set up but Punk gets to the floor and then Ryback tries to spear Punk but Ryback goes through the table set up against the ringside barrier.
Punk returns to the ring and he sets up the ladder. Punk climbs the ladder but Ryback gets back into the ring. Ryback climbs the other side and they fight on the ladder. Ryback punches Punk off the ladder but Punk pushes the ladder over. Ryback press slams Punk onto the ladder and the ladder twists in a way that will not make it operable.
Ryback sets for a power slam but Punk with a round kick to the head. Punk tries to set up the ladder that Ryback mangled and then Punk with a running knee into the corner. Punk tries to fix the ladder but Punk with another knee into the corner but Ryback picks up Punk to counter the bulldog and Punk goes through a table on the floor.
Ryback switches ladders and he sets it up in the center of the ring. Ryback climbs the ladder and the lights go out. The Shield are on the ladder and Ryback knocks Rollins and Ambrose off. Reigns pulls Ryback off. Ryback sends Reigns, Rollins, and Ambrose over the top rope to the floor.
The Shield get a chair and they hit Ryback with it. They set for the three man power bomb through a table on the ring steps and hit it.
Punk gets back into the ring while Ryback tries to figure out where he is after that power bomb. Punk climbs the ladder and he sees Ryback on the steps. Punk grabs the belt and he wins the match.
Winner: CM Punk
We are back and Matt Striker wants to get some comments. Punk says that he had nothing to do with Brad Maddox and he doesn’t know the Shield. Punk says that he is going to go out and open his mouth before Rock can go out and entertain the Millions and Millions. It is time to drop a pipe bomb.
Kane asks Daniel Bryan how his knee is. Bryan blames Kane for losing to Cody and Damien. Kane and Daniel blame each other and they go back and forth with yes and no. Vickie interrupts and Kane and Daniel want to know why she is yelling.
Vickie says that she knew about Kane and Daniel’s issues. Next week will be their four month evaluations from Dr. Shelby. Kane calls Dr. Shelby a monster while Bryan calls him a nerd. Kane says that Shelby is a nerd. Bryan calls him a monster.
We see highlights from last week’s World Title Match during Champions’ Choice. On Friday night, Alberto will face Big Show.
Match Number Nine: Kofi Kingston versus Big Show
Kofi with kicks to Show and the referee pulls Kofi away from Show and Show with a punch and Kofi is out. Show gets the three count.
Winner: Big Show
We go back to the last time that Dwayne and Punk were in the ring together.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for a ‘Pre-Dwayne’ Pipe Bomb from CM Punk and he is accompanied by Paul Heyman and the WWE Title Belt.
Punk wipes some blood from his mouth onto his ‘Knees2Faces’ shirt.
Punk says that the time has come to tell everyone something personal. He keeps his ear to the ground and he hears everything that people have been saying. The words ‘pipe bomb’ have been misunderstood. No one understands what it means. A ‘pipe bomb’ in its truest form is the truth. It is honesty. It is what everyone lacks.
The perception of him is someone who is a little disgruntled and sat on a stage in Las Vegas and said pipe bomb. He became the voice of the voiceless and his ego might have gotten to be too much. Punk says that he turned his back on the people.
That is a lie. He tells people not to be mistaken. He meant everything he said . . . except ice cream because looking around the arena, the people don’t need ice cream. Punk says that he could have swallowed that bitter pill and accepted his position. He could have left the company. People think that he sold out. He says that people love to cheer for their superheroes.
The truth about Las Vegas and the WWE is that it does not matter if you are the best wrestler, talker, or make the two clowns sitting at ringside look bad . . . there is a glass ceiling. The more popular you are the more money you make. Punk says that is why John Cena, who had the worst year still got title matches. That is why Daniel Bryan puts a smile on his face and belittles himself. That is why Brodus Clay dirties his hands shucking and jiving with little kids. That is why Little Jimmy is better positioned on the flagship show than a workhorse like Tyson Kidd.
Punk says that everyone is falling for it. People cannot handle anything complicated or interesting. We are all here in the circus to entertain you. No one has been able to achieve a modicum of success without the people until he came around.
Punk says that he has become the most successful champion of all time, not just the modern era. Someone is probably getting ready to put it on a t-shirt. Punk says that he would have been champion for 20 or 30 years if he had to wrestle once a month. You never saw a Hulk Hogan wrestle a TLC match against Ryback. Punk says that he wrestles physically demanding match every week. His one year equals thirty years.
Punk says that he is successful not because of you, it is in spite of you.
Punk says that everyone has the same story that they do it for the people and then they do the cheap pop. Punk says that he watched Roddy Piper smash a coconut over Jimmy Snuka’s head and he never said that he was going to electrify the people of Tampa because he does not care.
Punk says that he is a bad guy. Ric Flair will come out and cry out his 182 year eyes out and say he did it for his fans. Shawn Michaels can lose and find his smile and then say that his entire career was done for the people. Edge can have his career ended and say that he misses doing it for the fans. Punk says that they are either weak or dishonest.
Punk says that he is the best in the world.
Punk says that there are two type of people. Those born to be in the spotlight and those born to pay to see the people in the spotlight.
He says that they were born to pay to see champions like him. Punk says that he has never done any of this for the people. There are superstars and there are nobodies. He is a superstar and everyone else is a nobody. If those people are your friends, why aren’t they giving you some of the millions and millions of dollars.
Punk says that he is being told to wrap it up and go to commercial break.
Punk says that you go to break when the champ wants to go to break. He tells everyone to listen up because the Rock is going to talk a whole lot. The most important thing you are going to hear is that you do not matter. What they want does not matter . . .
We go to commercial.
We are back and CM Punk is still in the ring and he says that he will be on the first Raw of 2014 still your WWE Champion. What fuels him is your constant disappointment in your self appointed superheroes and their inability to win the title.
Punk says that he will not let the Rock tear down everything that he attained. When he defeated Alberto Del Rio in Madison Square Garden in 2011, he beat the system. It did not matter who he defeated to keep the title, he was not beating just them, he was beating everyone. For 414 days, he has been beating them. He has stomped them out under his oppressive boot.
He does not care if the Rock is back, they do not get to win because they are losers.
Rock’s music interrupts CM Punk and he appears on the stage. He makes his way to the ring and he poses.
Rock circles Punk and he tells Punk that he had to hear it all. He wanted to wait until Punk was finished what he had to say so he could know what type of guy he is going to face at the Royal Rumble. He says that Punk is straight up delusional. He mentions 414 days as champion. That is incredible. The real number that haunts his dreams is 20. It is 20 excuses running around his mind. 20 hairs standing up on his Straight Edge Scrotum because in 20 days he will be defending his title against the Rock. They all know that in 20 days, Time’s Up.
Punk says that he wanted a revolution and that he rejected the people. Rock says that the people rejected Punk. He talks about change and revolution and he could not do it. He promised ice cream bars for everybody and Punk couldn’t do it. He says that Punk couldn’t deliver ice cream if Carvel, Dairy Queen, and Cookie Puss drove an ice cream truck up his ass.
Rock tells Punk to listen to the voices. He comes in and claims to be the voice of the voiceless but that is a bunch of hot garbage. There is no voiceless. They have voices and they love to use their voices.
They know something special is about to happen. They are going to use their voice to chant the loudest chant they ever heard. It will be something to follow Punk his entire life. They will chant what Punk is. They will chant ‘Cookie Puss’.
Punk tells them to be the puppets they are because Rock got the people to chant for ice cream the same way he did.
Punk says that the people and Rock don’t get to win.
Rock says that they have already won. That is something that Punk fails to realize. They won when the Rock woke up at 4:00 a.m. when he sent out his tweet. Then he went to the gym and ate his breakfast. He drove up I-75 and across Alligator Alley to say FINALLY . . . THE ROCK HAS COME BACK . . . TO TAMPA.
It isn’t just that the Rock is back, it is why he is back. 1) to entertain the fans; 2) to stop Punk; and 3) after ten long years, he is back to win the title. He has watched the show with Punk deceiving, back pedaling and lying.
Rock says that he would say to tell Punk to demand respect so he will shut up. Rock says that he wants to know if Punk has seen a doctor because he looks like Popeye on Crack.
He tells Punk that he has one of the most creative and innovative minds in the WWE but he failed to use it. He became the champion and the biggest jerk we have ever seen. He tells The Rock never to say that the people don’t matter. The people matter and they always matter. It is CM Punk who does not matter.
Punk says that he matters . . .
Rock says that it doesn’t matter if he matters. He tells Punk to get it in his head that there is no way that he will stop the Rock from becoming WWE Champion.
They circle each other and Punk puts the title belt on the mat between them.
Punk says that he is glad that Rock is back. He doesn’t care if he works 16 or 365 days a year. He will kick Rock’s ass. He doesn’t care how many movies Rock does. Every time Rock comes back, he will kick his ass. It is not Candy Land.
You can make fun of his t-shirt, you can talk about pie and rhyme and do his lame ass shtick. In three weeks, he will kick Rock’s ass because he is the best in the world. He tells Rock that he graduated from the kiddy table but he has moved to the major leagues. Punk says that he is swinging for the fences because everything that Rock is doing is kiddy games. When Rock stands in the ring, his arms are too short to box with God.
Rock tells Punk that he may think that the Rock is boxing with God. He knows for a fact that Punk is going one-on-one with The Great One. Not for one single second, he doesn’t know how bad and tough Punk is.
Rock remembers that Punk hit him with a GTS. He hurt and embarrassed the Rock. In twenty days, time’s up.
He tells Punk to go home and think about the next twenty days. He wants Punk to look in the mirror and strip naked. He tells Punk to look at his backside and try to find a small space not covered in ugly tattoos. He wants two more tattoos. On his left butt cheek, he wants Punk to get a big M&M. He tells Punk that he can’t put an Almond Joy on his butt because unlike Punk, they have nuts.
He tells Punk to get a tattoo of Rock’s size fifteen boot on the right cheek to remember how bad he will kick Punk’s candy ass at Royal Rumble.
Rock gives Punk a Rock Bottom and Punk goes to the floor. Rock holds the title belt and then throws it to Punk on the floor.
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