Another TNA show will be airing on Pop prior to the official launch of Impact on January 5. This Is Impact will be ringing the new year on TNA’s new home with the one hour broadcast set to air at 1AM on January 1, 2016.
The show will be taking a look at Impact Wrestling and the wrestlers, feuds, and history to introduce new fans to the product. It will also feature a look at the TNA World Title Series which will wrap up on the first live Impact on Pop a week later.
After a short Christmas break, WWE returns on tour tomorrow, kicking off their Holiday Tour with two shows, one of which is at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Tomorrow’s event at MSG will be the first time that John Cena steps back into the ring since the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view this past October. He will face Alberto Del Rio for the United States title, a match which the two will also have live on the final Raw of 2015 on Monday night.
Only one other match was announced by the MSG website for tomorrow and that’s between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental title. Others set to appear include The Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer, Big Show, Mark Henry, Ryback, Rusev, Paige, Charlotte, Ric Flair, and others.
This year’s Tribute to the Troops show on USA Network which aired on Wednesday drew 1,802,000 viewers for the two hour broadcast at 8PM EST.
The number was good enough to place second overall in the Top 50 cable shows of the night behind the college football game on ESPN which also went head to head with the show.
Last year the show did 2,230,000 viewers so year over year it lost over 400,000 viewers. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
The first TNA broadcast on Pop TV, the first part of “Best of 2015” which aired on Tuesday did 111,000 viewers with virtually no advertising apart from a few posts on social media and Internet “word of mouth.”
The second part of the show will air next week before the official debut of TNA Impact on January 5 which will be live and featuring the semi finals and final match of the TNA World Title Series.
With a new home and a new air day, viewership will take a while to pick up. TNA averaged around 250,000 viewers on Destination America, far less than the 900,000 it usually did on Spike TV. Pop TV is in more homes than Destination America which should be great news for TNA.
TNA will be airing a live pay-per-view on Friday, January 8 titled One Night Only: LIVE, with the synopsis reading, “It’s the dawn of a new era, where anything can and will happen. For one night only, the stars of Impact Wrestling discover what 2016 has in store.” InDemand is carrying the show.
The show will be held at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as part of the several days of tapings for Impact on Pop TV. This particular show was supposed to be taped in India before TNA canceled the tour and on the TNA website it’s listed as a “PPV international television taping.”
The next day on January 9 they will also do another One Night Only taping. This is to fulfill their International broadcast deals after TNA cut down on their monthly pay-per-views.
Speaking to British-based website DigitalSpy.com to promote the upcoming season of Total Divas, Natalya said that she likes the new kid on the block – Mandy from this year’s Tough Enough – even though the former contestant got a lot of flack during the reality show where she placed second.
“Joining Total Divas I didn’t know how she would be, because everybody’s really nice when you first meet them – but so far I really get along with her,” Nattie said. She called her very genuine although if you look at her she could be anything but due to the “awesome body” and just based on how she looks.
“But I feel like she brings the right attitude. After spending time with her I feel like she’s really genuine. I feel like she makes a great cast member,” the former Divas champ added.
Mattie said that she endorsed her because so far she has treated her with respect and when she trained with her at the WWE Performance Center she wanted to work hard. “Granted yes, she’s human. She’s going to make all sorts of rookie mistakes because that’s what we all do when we’re new,” she concluded.
Total Divas returns on January 19 at 9PM EST on E! while it debuts on UK’s E! on January 24 at 6PM.
The live Smackdown on USA Network last night did 2,264,000 viewers, down from last Thursday’s episode which did just over 2.3 million viewers. Apart from that, it was the best number in a month for the show.
Last week, USA Network’s 8PM broadcast on Tuesday did not even register in the top 150 cable shows so you can see why USA wanted Smackdown to go along with Raw on their network. The live Smackdown was third overall this week. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
For the weekly WWE segment on ESPN SportsCenter, former champion The Big Show was the latest guest of Jonathan Coachman.
Coach called Show an “old friend of mine” and went straight to the Tribute to the Troops show, a tradition which Big Show has been part of since 2003 with the exception of 2 years. Show recently returned from Afghanistan with the boss and a few other WWE personnel to spread some holiday cheer.
Show recounted a story from 2005 when he was joined by Coachman on the trip and Big Show said that WWE gave them a small duffle bag to put toothpaste, toilet paper and other personal items to take with them. Show decided to dump all the things and filled his bag with food, a move which Coach continuously laughed at. Eventually after walking for several hours, Coach was the one who was asking for food from Big Show and the situation was not funny anymore for Coach.
Big Show then talked about he was recruited by WCW as an opponent for Hogan and was trained by Terry Taylor, Diamond Dallas Page, and even Paul Levesque (HHH). He called his kick off to his career as “an overwhelming unbelievable start,” and he’s blessed for the 20 year career he had.
Coach quickly touches on WrestleMania 24 where Show faced Floyd Mayweather Jr as one of the main events on the card. Show said that Mayweather is “an amazing, amazing brilliant promoter,” and the “smartest boxer on the planet.”
To close things off, Show explained how he travels due to his big size, and said he doesn’t fit in rental cars or airplane seats anymore. He said he barely fit in the studio he’s in, and then stood up and just misses hitting the ceiling with his head!
You can see the whole interview below.
The annual Tributes to the Troops shows airs tonight on USA Network. The two hour broadcast was taped on December 8 from Jacksonville, Florida, in conjunction with that day’s Smackdown tapings.
Matches set to air tonight include Ryback vs Kevin Owens, Jack Swagger vs Rusev, Mark Henry vs Bo Dallas; Team B.A.D. and Paige vs Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Alicia Fox, and Brie Bella; and a big 16 man tag team match featuring The Dudley Boyz, The Usos, Dean Ambrose, Kane, Ryback, and Roman Reigns vs Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper, Braun Strowman, Wade Barrett, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, and Sheamus.
Footage from the overseas tour in Afghanistan which featured Vince McMahon, Big Show, R-Truth, Eva Marie, and Alicia Fox is also expected to air.
Tribute to the Troops airs at 8PM EST as part of WWE Week on USA Network.
The Slammy Awards Raw did an average of 3,334,000 viewers this week and failed to keep up with the momentum that last week’s show set, losing a total of 500,000 viewers from the post-TLC Raw which also crowned Roman Reigns as the new champion.
Hour one was the strongest with 3,443,000 viewers, followed by 3,374,000 in the second hour, and then 3,316,000 in the third and final hour with the cage match as the main event. The only good sign this week is that between hour one and hour three the show only lost 127,000 viewers.
The NFL game on ESPN, which topped the night, did less viewers than last week’s show with 10.9 million viewers. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
Former TNA champion Jeff Hardy appeared on Ric Flair’s WOOOOO! Nation podcast to discuss a variety of subjects including a potential return to the WWE.
The charismatic and popular Hardy said that there is a “huge possibility” that he returns to WWE later down the road although he’s not sure when that would happen. He said that both himself and his brother Matt want to end their careers in the WWE and have one more go at the Dudley Boyz.
“As far as us returning and having some more matches with them…it all depends on how long they’re going to be there for and how long it takes us to get there,” Jeff said.
Hardy also said that while he’s done pretty much everything there is to do in wrestling, there are two things that he has not accomplished yet – participate in a Hell In A Cell match and main event WrestleMania.
WWE announced that John Cena will be making his return on WWE television next Monday live on Raw and will be facing Alberto Del Rio, the man he lost the United States title to at Hell In A Cell this past October.
Cena has been absent from WWE television since then as he was filming the new FOX reality TV series American Grit in the state of Washington. His absence was not addressed immediately and WWE only touched the subject once FOX officially announced the series.
The former WWE champion is expected to return to the non-televised live events this Saturday with his first show at Madison Square Garden. Cena is expected to take another short break after the Royal Rumble and will return on the February 8 Raw.
Smackdown will be airing live tonight on USA Network as part of the WWE Week starting at 8PM EST. SyFy will still air the encore on December 24 in Smackdown’s regular time slot of 8PM.
Two matches announced for tonight are Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens vs Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental title and The New Day vs The Luca Dragons for the Tag Team titles.
Next week’s Smackdown on New Year’s Eve will be the final show on SyFy as then Smackdown moves to USA Network as well starting January 7.
Last night on Raw, WWE presented its annual Slammy Awards which were voted by the fans throughout the week on social media and the WWE app.
During Raw, several Slammy Awards were given out while during the pre-show and on WWE.COM, the winners of the rest of the Slammy Awards were announced.
The winners which were announced on Raw are:
Breakout Star of the Year: Neville; LOL! Moment of the Year: R-Truth (Raw from June 8); OMG! Shocking Moment of the Year: Kalisto (Salida del Sol through a ladder at TLC); Superstar of the Year: Seth Rollins; The Hero in All of Us Award: John Cena; Surprise Return of the Year: Sting (posing instead of Rollins’ statue on the August 24 Raw); Diva of the Year: Nikki Bella; This is Awesome! Moment of the Year: The Rock and Ronda Rousey (WrestleMania 31); Match of the Year: The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar (Hell In A Cell)
The rest of the winners announced on WWE.COM are:
WWE Tag Team of the Year: The Usos; Rivalry of the Year: The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar; Double-Cross of the Year: Damien Mizdow (Eliminating The Miz at the Andre The Giant battle royal at WM); Extreme Moment of the Year: Roman Reigns (destroying Triple H at TLC); Best Original WWE Network Show: Stone Cold Podcast; Best John Cena U.S. Open Challenge: John Cena vs Cesaro; Hashtag of the Year: #SuplexCity; Celebrity Moment of the Year: Stephen Amell dives onto Stardust at SummerSlam; “Tell Me You Didn’t Just Say That” Moment of the Year: Brock Lesnar and his Suplex City at WrestleMania 31.
Following the tumultuous time that was last week in WWE, we begin a new one tonight with “The Slammy Awards.” I have a feeling all those are put aside for now, to answer the big question: what will be of NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns after he assaulted both COO Triple H and Owner Mr. Vince McMahon?
As well, who is The Wyatt Family going to go after now that they have seemingly rid themselves of The Dudleyz, Tommy Dreamer, and Rhyno?
The Intercontinental Championship scenario is in chaos, as new champ Dean Ambrose is embattled with both Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens; who is going to get a chance at “The Lunatic Fringe’s” title?
Lastly, Divas Champion Charlotte continues her mischievous winning-ways, which have put-off her friend Becky Lynch; in the home-state of her father, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, who may feel cheated tonight?
All this, plus many more winners from the year of 2015, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for December 21st, 2015 – “Recognition”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo
Recalling of Roman Reigns’ major win and the events that led up to it is shown.
Segment #2: Welcoming and Arena Promo
A voice-over greets us to the Slammy Awards from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon walks out happy, while Michael Cole, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Byron Saxton (all decked-out in fancy attire) speculate on her feelings.
In the ring, McMahon puts over some of the categories of the Slammys, but doesn’t get too far before being interrupted. Roman Reigns, ,WWE World Heavyweight Champion, walks through the fans to a good pop. He meets her, and while he notices that Stephanie seems to be glad, he isn’t sure if she has The League Of Nations waiting to attack. Roman then tells her that if her father, Vince, wants to see him, he is easy to find because he has the big WWE Title on his shoulder.
McMahon becomes irate, screaming at him to leave, but Reigns says the fans won’t have any of it and that she is mimicking a kid’s behavior. He turns his back on her, which infuriates her more, and as he goes back through the fans, she books matches for his family and friends that may not be in favor. His cousins, The Usos, will take on Tag-Team Champions The New Day in a 3-On-2 match; and his “brother” Dean Ambrose will wrestle Sheamus in a Steel Cage! Roman laughs at her and she storms away.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
After the announcers tell us how to vote with our phones, Dolph Ziggler walks out dressed in a tux. The stages is adorned with Christmas trees and Slammy Award statues. He is here to present the Slammy for “Breakout Star.” A video shows the nominees of Kevin Owens, Neville, Tyler Breeze, Charlotte, and Braun Strowman. The winner will be revealed next!
Commercials.
Ziggler announces, surprisingly, that “The Man That Gravity Forgot” is the “Breakout Star!” Neville gives a quick talk before he is interjected by Kevin Owens, who claims he really should have gotten the award. (I agree!) Neville brushes him off and leaves Owens to tirade. Kevin notices Dolph to the side and they engage in a brawl, which referees soon separate..
The lights go out and The Wyatt Family appear in the ring. Cole says that Bray will be wrestling, and then pyro suddenly bursts from the stage; Kane marches out!
Match #1: Single – Bray Wyatt (with Wyatt Family members Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan) VS. Kane
Bray punches away but Kane quickly hits him with a big boot. He goes to the corner, but Bray counters with a clothesline. He gets ready upside down in the corner, but Kane sits up. Rowan hops the apron and Kane ends up fighting all members of The Family. The four gang-up on “The Big Red Machine,” but The Dudley Boyz and Tommy Dreamer run out to help.
Winner via Disqualification: Kane
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Match #2: Eight-Man Tag-Team – The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erik Rowan, and Braun Strowman) VS. Kane, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Tommy Dreamer
Harper and Dreamer are going at it until Luke tags in Braun, who scoop-slams Tommy. Harper is back in shortly, but Dreamer manages to make a tag to Kane after reversing a headlock into a backdrop. “The Demon” knocks around all members, then switches with Bubba Ray, who slams Harper down. Again, all go at it, with Bubba and Luke being left alone.
The Dudley “Brothers” double-team Harper with the “What’s Up” Headbutt, then Ray asks D-Von to get the tables. Erik is in, but gets a 3-D instead! Braun is double-clotheslines both, then Kane takes Strowman out. Harper slides in and gives D-Von a Discus Clothesline, and subsequently covers to get the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Wyatt Family
Segment #5: Arena Promo
A returning Santino Marella bestow the award for “L.O.L. [Laugh-Out-Loud] Moment.” The nominees are Edge/Christian/New Day backstage Band-Battle, The Bushwackers Hall-Of-Fame induction speech, The Miz/Mizdow’s “Niagra” commercial, Stephanie and Triple H dancing with The New Day, and R-Truth thinking he was really in the Money In The Bank Ladder Match when he actually wasn’t. The winner seen, next.
Commercials.
Santino opens the envelope to tell us that R-Truth wins, but he wants to keep the award himself because he has never gotten one. Truth walks out, but Marella tricks him and scoots away!
It is announced that Kevin Owens will wrestle Dolph Ziggler later tonight!
Segment #6: Video Promo
Mick Foley dressed as Santa, and two of his children dressed as elves, talk about Christmas time and how the WWE Fans are good people; he even gets a cheap-pop in referring to Minneapolis!
Segment #7: Arena Promo
Paul Heyman comes back to give out the “O.M.G. Shocking Moment.” First, though, he pronounces that his client Brock Lesnar should undoubtedly be declared “Superstar Of The Year.” The contestants for “shocker” are Seth Rollins cashing in to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXXI, Lesnar destroying Rollins and Cole the night after WrestleMania, Kalisto performing his finisher on an Uso at TLC from ladder-to-ladder, The Wyatt Family demolishing The Undertaker after his Hell In A Cell match with Brock Lesnar at HIAC, and Sheamus ruining Roman Reigns’ first WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series.
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Heyman lets us know that, actually shockingly, Kalisto wins! (I would rank this second, but I think that Seth Rollins should’ve won; perhaps he would’ve had he not been injured.) Kalisto walks out and gives the cliche determination speech and thank yous.
Match #3: Single – Kevin Owens VS. Dolph Ziggler
They immediately punch away evenly, then Owens starts to gain an advantage before Ziggler his a dropkick. He tries to lock on a neck submission, but Kevin fights him off and elbows him down. Dolph ducks a clothesline and leaps on Owens’ back with a Sleeper, but Kevin drops back to break it.
Kevin stomps away then gives “The Show Off” a hard elbow and goes to the outside with him. He runs Dolph into the barrier, and continues the punishment inside the ring. He clamps on a grounding chinlock to wear Ziggler down, but Dolph reverses with a sit-down jawbreaker. Owens picks him up though and gives him a knee-gut-buster and senton for a near-fall!
He goes for a short-arm clothesline, but Dolph ducks again and rolls him up! 1 – 2 – Owens kicks out! Kevin goes back to the grounding rear chinlock and wants referee Mike Chioda to question Dolph if he gives in. Ziggler does not and pushes Owens into the corner, then splashes him, but is quickly clotheslined down again. Dolph fends off again and brings Kevin down with his Leaping-DDT!
Commercials.
Both men are now on the top turnbuckle, and Kevin gets the advantage by dropping Dolph with a huge suplex! Ziggler still gets his shoulder up, and Owens goes back to work. He throws Dolph into the ropes and tries the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Ziggler hops over and gives him a Superkick! Kevin tumbles to the floor, but manages to slam “The Show Off” into the commentator’s table. He puts Dolph back in the ring, but is planted with the Fameasser! Ziggler covers, 1 – 2 – Owens raises his shoulder! Dolph runs at him again, but Kevin catches him with the Pop-Up Powerbomb and suddenly takes this contest!
Winner via Pinfall: Kevin Owens
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Stephanie McMahon is back out to give the “Superstar Of The Year.” She says she is sorry for her lack-of-manners from the beginning of the show, then tells us that every WWE wrestler can win this trophy. The contenders are Roman Reigns, Sheamus, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, the entire New Day, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Kane, Seth Rollins, and Sting. (My vote goes to either Reigns or Rollins!) The man of 2015 is after
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Stephanie is all-too-happy to inform us that Seth Rollins is the Superstar Of The Year; and he is actually here to receive the award! Seth slowly walks out on crutches, hugs McMahon, and soaks in the “Thank You, Seth” chants for a few seconds. Rollins says he expected to win and recounts his accomplishments during the ten months he was in action. He gets really serious, proclaiming “in twenty-sixteen, I will redesign Seth Rollins; I will rebuild myself; and I will comeback and reclaim the title that I never lost. So whether it’s Roman Reigns or anybody else, you keep that title warm because I will return and I will take back what’s mine!”
Michael Cole announces that John Cena will be back on Raw to meet Alberto Del Rio for a match, next week!
Match #4: Single – Jack Swagger VS. United States Champion Alberto Del Rio (with League Of Nations partners Sheamus, Rusev, and ‘King’ Barrett) (Non-Title)
Swagger is aggressive and all-over Alberto to begin, but Del Rio soon gets himself back up and throws Jack into the barrier on the outside.
Commercials.
Alberto is still dominating back in the ring, front-dropkicking Swagger after snap-marring him. He hits Jack with a clothesline in the corner, then drops him with a hard DDT. He hooks the leg, but Swagger gets his shoulder up! The U.S. Champion winds up and goes for his patented kick, but “The Real American-American” counters into an exploder-suplex! He runs and jumps off the middle rope with his Swaggerbomb, but is hung up a short-time after in another corner and plunged with Del Rio’s double-stomp for the finish!
Winner via Pinfall: United States Champion Alberto Del Rio (with League Of Nations partners)
Post-match, Rusev and Barrett hold up Jack while Sheamus delivers a Brogue Kick! All four pose over Jack.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
“The World’s Strongest Man” stands on stage to hand over “The Hero In All Of Us,” which commemorates the Superstars and Divas who have given back to community with charities. The nominees are Natalya for U.S.O. Metro, The Special Olympics, and Be A Star; Roman Reigns for Ad Council Fatherhood Campaign, Susan G. Komen, and Dosomething.org Anti-Bullying Campaign; The Big Show for WrestleMania Reading Challenge, United States Armed Forces, and The Special Olympics; Titus O’Neil for his work with the homeless, Susan G. Komen, and Ad Council Fatherhood Campaign; John Cena for United States Armed Forces, Susan G. Komen, and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. (This really shouldn’t be a competitive category, as all should win!)
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Mark Henry names John Cena as the winner, but unfortunately he is not in attendance. Mark takes the trophy in courtesy for Cena, but says that all who are involved in charity “do it from our hearts, for the love from the WWE, and for all of you.”
The announcers show us winners from WWE.com, including Brock Lesnar VS. Undertaker as “Rivalry Of The Year,” The Stone Cold Podcast winning “Best WWE Network Original Show,” Damien Mizdow taking “Double-cross,” and Roman Reigns demolishing Triple H at T.L.C. as “Extreme Moment.”
Segment #9: Arena Promo
“Santa Claus” is out to offer “Return Of The Year;” “Santa” is actually Bo Dallas! The “returnees” are: The Dudley Boyz, Chris Jericho, (now) United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, “Demon” Kane, and Sting.
Commercials.
Tag-Team Champions The New Day are in the ring and the visual/audio goes out. It comes back and goes to “Santa-Bo,” who takes the award instead of the real winner, Sting!
Match #5: Three-On-Two – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E.) VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
Prior to the bout, The New Day go on a rant about not being the Tag Team Of The Year. (I agree!) Instead, The Usos, who were injured more than half-the-year, are! Big E. wants to tick off the fans by spoiling the new “Star Wars” movie but Kofi stops him because he himself hasn’t seen it. His friends tease him on that, then Jimmy and Jey make their entrance.
Jimmy and Kofi begin, with Jimmy taking over after a big backdrop. He tags in his brother, who leaps off the top turnbuckle onto Kingston’s arm. Both hit Kofi in the corner, then Jimmy goes back to working over Kingston. He spins around with a kick-to-the-head, then goes for the rear-bump in the corner but Big E. and Xavier pull Kofi to the floor. The Twins go for their double-dive, but the trio run away.
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Jimmy and Jey are still governing for a bit, but New Day take over after Kofi gives Jimmy a kick in the back of his head from the apron. They triple-stomp Jimmy in the corner and rule for a while. Big tries a move form the turnbuckle, but Jimmy elbows him off and torque-somersault-splashes him! He gets the hot-tag to his brother, who is all over Xavier! He rear-bumps Woods in the corner and takes out Big E, then Jimmy dumps Kofi to the outside. They go for their double-dive, but Langston yanks Jimmy out. Jey superkicks in retaliation, and Woods rolls up Jey, but it is reversed and The Usos win!
Winners via Pinfall: The Usos
It is announced that The Lucha Dragons will meet The New Day for the Tag-Team Titles tomorrow (Tuesday) night on “Super Smackdown Live!”
Segment #10: Arena Promo
Previous Slammy winner R-Truth is going to provide “The Diva” award; he even has his trophy now! Truth puts over the Divas as having “style, grace, athleticism.” The women are Nikki Bella, Naomi, Paige, Sasha Banks, and current Divas Champion Charlotte.
Commercials.
R states Paige as the winner. She starts to give a speech, despite confessing that she didn’t have a speech ready; Truth interjects and tells her/us that he actually misread and says she was runner up! The real victor is Nikki Bella! The longest-reigning Divas Champion joins both on stage, and gives a genuine “thank you” to all the Divas, women wrestlers of NXT, the production staff, and fans. She hugs Paige and they walk off together.
Match #6: Single – Rusev (with League Of Nations members Sheamus, ‘King’ Barrett, and United States Champion Alberto Del Rio) VS. Neville)
(Note: The Miz is on commentary, talking about the advice he’s trying to give Neville that will make him a better wrestler.) Rusev dominates for most of this contest at first, stunning Neville by ramming him into the ring post.
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“The Man That Gravity Forgot” moves from a splash in the corner, then ascends the turnbuckle. He soars backwards with a moonsault to the floor! Neville springboards into the ring then kicks Rusev in the jaw and goes to the top turnbuckle again! Rusev moves and kicks Neville hard in the chest as he leapt off! Rusev puts The Accolade on and forces Neville to tap!
Winner via Submission: Rusev (with The League Of Nations)
Post-match, The League attack Neville and hug.
Segment #11: Arena Promo
The Miz is on stage to bestow “This Is Awesome.” He puts himself over first, but is disgruntled that he is not in contention. Those who are comprise: Brock Lesnar destroying then-WWE Champion Seth Rollins car on Raw; Randy Orton R.K.O.-ing Rollins at WrestleMania XXXI out of Seth’s Curb Stomp; The start of “The Divas Revolution;” the very-brief Shield reunion at Payback; and Ronda Rousey and The Rock facing off with Triple H and Stephanie at WrestleMania XXXI.
Commercials.
“This Is Awesome” belongs to The Rock and Ronda Rousey! However, The Miz is smirks and takes the award, while mocking The Rock in promoting his own movie, “Santa’s Little Helper.”
Match #7: Single – Brie Bella VS. Becky Lynch (with Divas Champion Charlotte)
Both trade roll-ups to start out, then Brie kicks Lynch hard in the stomach and takes control. She uses the top rope to pull Becky’s arm over, then presses her foot against the same arm against the corner rope. Bella grapples Lynch with an armlock, then slams her against the mat. Brie sets up and kicks her multiple times in the chest, then gives her a running knee against the bottom rope. She then clutches her fingers and arms around Becky’s neck and arm, then knees her left arm. Sasha Banks, Naomi, and Tamina are shown watching backstage.
Charlotte starts to cheer on her friend, which works as Lynch gets some momentum with clotheslines, an dropkick, and a splash. Brie counters and hits a middle-rope missile dropkick, then tries a La Majistral cradle. Becky reverses into her Disarmer submission to make Bella give up!
Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch
Segment #12: Arena Promo
“Woooo!” Ric Flair struts out to present the “Match Of The Year.” The nominees are John Cena VS. Brock Lesnar VS. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Royal Rumble, Sting VS. Triple H from WrestleMania XXXI, Kevin Owens VS. John Cena at Elimination Chamber, Roman Reigns VS. Dolph Ziggler VS. (then) Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens VS. United States Champion Alberto Del Rio from Raw, and Brock Lesnar VS. The Undertaker in a Hell In A Cell match at Hell In A Cell.
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The “Match Of The Year” is … Hell In A Cell! Paul Heyman parades out to accept for Lesnar. The fans call “we want Lesnar,” but Paul E. tells us that Brock doesn’t actually “accept awards.” We may want him, but Heyman says that “no one in that locker room is ‘man enough’ to want Brock Lesnar.” He applauds The Undertaker for being the one to go toe-to-toe with “The Beast Incarnate,” and touts Lesnar’s career accolades then walks away.
As the steel cage lowers, we are shown The League Of Nations assailing The Usos. Sheamus proclaims “two down, one to go!” They then enter the arena and Sheamus gets inside the cage.
Commercials.
Match #8: Single (Steel Cage Rules) – Sheamus (with League Of Nations members Rusev, ‘King’ Barrett, and United States Champion Alberto Del Rio) VS. Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose (Non-Title)
Sheamus immediately Brogue-Kicks Ambrose as he tried to enter. The League stomp away on Dean, ram his head into the cage door, then place him in the ring. Sheamus chucks him into the walls of the cage, then covers but Ambrose ups his shoulder! He directs this contest for a bit until Dean counters a run with a backdrop that sends Sheamus into the wall! Ambrose builds up with some chops and clotheslines him down. Backstage, Stephanie is viewing on a monitor.
Dean tries to climb out, but Sheamus stops him and then does the same. Ambrose meets him up there, but is slammed from the top turnbuckle with Sheamus’ White Noise! 1 – 2 – Dean kicks out! Sheamus climbs again, but “The Lunatic Fringe” holds him back, and punches him. Sheamus slips up and is crotched on the top rope!
Ambrose is standing on the top of the cage as Del Rio and Rusev climb on the outside to stop him. Dean rockets from the top with an elbow and covers! 1 – 2 – Sheamus still kicks out! Ambrose now makes his way to the door, but Alberto runs it into his head. A loud cheer comes from the crowd as Roman Reigns Spears Del Rio! He runs Rusev into the cage then Superman Punches him! The WWE Champion grabs a chair and hits Rusev, but misses Barrett as ‘King’ ran.
In the ring, Sheamus climbs but Roman meets him face-to-face with a chair. Reigns tosses the chair into the ring, which allows Ambrose to wale away! He gives him Dirty Deeds, then slowly uses the ropes to help himself. Dean is at the top of the cage when Sheamus meets him again. They both sit on top and slug away!
Both men now start to descend while still hitting each other! Dean hits a flurry of chops and punches, then Sheamus headbutts him, but Dean drops to the floor!
Winner via Escape: Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose
Post-match, Roman Spears Sheamus too, then the two champions embrace. Backstage, Tom Phillips supposedly asks Stephanie for her thoughts (the mike was not on/went out), and McMahon becomes furious, slapping and kicking the announcer. Sheamus looks on at a happy WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Dwayne Johnson posted the first photo of his baby daughter Jasmine, lying down on his bare chest with her eyes open.
“Christmas came early! Within minutes of being born she was laying on daddy’s chest,” Johnson wrote in a long post on his Instagram account. He said he was there for the full labor including watching his daughter being born, calling the process a “miracle we should witness.”
This is the first child of Johnson with his girlfriend Lauren Hashian. He already has another daughter, Simone, from his previous relationship. You can see the cute photo below.
It’s time for acceptance speeches and Slammy Awards to be distributed as WWE presents the 2015 Slammy Awards tonight live on Raw from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
During the three hour broadcast, eight Slammy Awards will be distributed including Match of the Year, Diva of the Year, Breakout Star of the Year, LOL! Moment of the Year, Extreme Moment of the Year, “This is Awesome!” Moment of the Year, The OMG Shocking Moment of the Year, and The Hero in All of Us Award, presented by Coca-Cola.
Voting is more complicated this year as it’s also being held on social media with several guidelines and rules that can easily put off those who want to vote. The categories that will be presented during Raw are also available to vote using the more simpler method – the WWE app.
Several other categories will have its winners announced during the Raw pre-show tonight starting at 7:30PM EST on the WWE Network. Voting for those categories close at 6PM EST tonight.
USA Network kicked off WWE Week yesterday with the screening of Santa’s Little Helper, the movie featuring The Miz, Paige, and former 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord.
Tonight there’s the live Monday Night Raw which will have the Slammy Awards and tomorrow there will also be a live Smackdown airing at 8PM EST on USA. On Wednesday, the two hour yearly Tribute to the Troops will air, a show which was taped earlier this month in conjunction with a Smackdown tapings.
During the week starting from today WWE Superstars and Divas will appear on USA Daytime from 11AM to 3PM with host Cat Greenleaf.
TNA today announced that a Lockdown-themed Impact will be taped at the SSE Arena Wembley as part of the upcoming Maximum Impact tour in the United Kingdom.
The taping will be held on January 30, part of the three day tour that will see TNA also visit Manchester and Birmingham. There will be two Impact tapings on each day, so Lockdown will be forming part of that four hour block.
The event in Manchester at the Manchester Arena on January 29 will have a Monster’s Ball match, the second time that such match is being taped in the United Kingdom.
A King of the Mountain match will headline the January 31 tapings in Birmingham at the Birmingham Barclaycard Arena. This is also the first time that a KOTM match is being taped overseas.
“We wanted to do something very special for the UK fans on this year’s MAXIMUM IMPACT Tour – and what could be more special than bringing Lockdown to the UK for the first time ever,” TNA President Dixie Carter said. “Plus, with Monster’s Ball in Manchester and King of the Mountain rounding things off in Birmingham, this is a Tour that no TNA fan in Britain will want to miss.”
The tour is also serving as Kurt Angle’s TNA farewell tour as he announced already that these will be his last tapings for TNA.
Former WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar returned to the ring last night at a non-televised live event at The Forum in Inglewood, California, his first house show with no cameras in over a decade.
Lesnar – accompanied by his advocate Paul Heyman – wrestled the United States champion Alberto Del Rio. Lesnar won the match via disqualification when League of Nations member Rusev interfered. Lesnar hit Rusev with two German suplexes and then delivered an F5.
Del Rio also received the same treatment after the match, first a belly-to-belly suplex and then an F5 to finish him off.
The whole thing from start to finish was around 14 minutes. You can see it all below.
