Here are the results from last night’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view which took place from the Scottrade Center in St Louis, Missouri.
The Miz defeated Cody Rhodes in the pre-show match; Chris Jericho defeated Fandango; Dean Ambrose of The Shield defeated Kofi Kingston to win the U.S. title; Sheamus defeated Mark Henry in a strap match; Alberto Del Rio defeated Jack Swagger in an I quit match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight title; Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins of The Shield defeated Kane and Daniel Bryan in a Tornado tag team match to become the new Tag Team champions; Randy Orton defeated Big Show in an extreme rules match; John Cena vs Ryback in a last man standing match for the WWE title ended in a no contest; and Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in a steel cage match.
Live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, WWE presents Extreme Rules on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
John Cena vs Ryback for the WWE title in a last man standing match; Alberto Del Rio vs Jack Swagger in an I quit match for the number one contendership for the World Heavyweight title; Brock Lesnar vs Triple H in a steel cage match; Sheamus vs Mark Henry in a strap match; Randy Orton vs Big Show in an extreme rules match; Chris Jericho vs Fandango; Kofi Kingston vs Dean Ambrose of The Shield for the U.S. title; Daniel Bryan and Kane vs Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a tornado tag team match for the Tag Team titles; plus The Miz vs Cody Rhodes in the PPV pre-show match.
A fund raising effort for TNA’s Zema Ion has kicked off with the target of $30,000 to help cover his medical expenses after the former TNA X Division champion was diagnosed with appendicitis and a colon tumor.
Ion – real name Michael Paris – unfortunately has no medical insurance and has to foot all the bills. The tumor found on his colon is still yet to be determined if it is cancerous or not but he has to undergo surgery to remove it. If it is diagnosed as cancerous, the road to recovery will be even longer.
You can help by donating here. As of this writing, over $4,000 have been raised with 91 days left.
Deadline.com is reporting that WWE has hired Julie Tustin as the new Vice President of Marketing for WWE Studios and will be overseeing all marketing, publicity, and brand development for the company’s film division.
Tustin was working as the Senior Vice President of Special Marketing Projects at Paramount Pictures before joining WWE. She also previously worked for Miaramax Films.
While most of the staff at WWE Studios is based in Los Angeles, Tustin will be based in Stamford, Connecticut, at the WWE headquarters.
In an interview with Emmy winning entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet, former WWE champion The Rock talked about his match at WrestleMania 29 and his future while promoting his Fast & Furious 6 movie.
Rock said it was a “dream scenario” for him to walk into the biggest WrestleMania as the WWE champion and then passing the torch to John Cena, doing what’s right for the business. Asked if it was indeed his last wrestling match, The Rock didn’t exactly answer the question but said that if it was his last match, he’s happy with it and considering the injuries he suffered, he’s glad to have been able to finish the match and not let anyone know about the injuries.
Vliet then asked The Rock who he thinks will make it big next in the world of professional wrestling. The former champ name checked Roman Reigns (a cousin of his), The Shield, and Fandango. He had great things to say about Fandango saying to play a character like that is not easy and the man behind the character embraces it to the fullest.
It’s a great interview that runs for 8 minutes and it was supposed to be all about the Fast 6 movie but ended up being 95% wrestling related. You can check it out below.
Bob Costas was on Piers Morgan Live yesterday on CNN and one of the topics discussed for a short time was his interview that he did with Vince McMahon back in March 2001 on his show “On The Record.”
A clip aired showing Vince McMahon tearing Costas a new one, leaning over the table, intimidating him, and telling Costas that if he saw some WWE he would actually know what he was talking about.
Costas told Morgan that the segment was originally set for 15 minutes but the HBO producers thought it was so great they let it run for almost 30 minutes with no commercials.
Costas said that he didn’t think Vince McMahon would actually do that to him and since he outweighed him by 2 to 1 he decided to stand back and let Vince be the aggressor. Plus, he couldn’t go far back with his seat since he’d fall off the stage.
The WWE Chairman and CEO sent Piers Morgan a statement to read about Costas on the show, which Morgan read.
“I used to think Bob Costas was a pompous, arrogant, self absorbed, pseudo-intellectual little twerp. I used to think that. But now, 12 years later, I’ve come to realize he’s not really a twerp. LOL,” McMahon wrote.
The day after the actual show in 2001, Costas said that McMahon called him and asked for a rematch!
You can see the segment from the CNN show below. Thanks to W-O reader Victor Sanchez for the heads up about the segment.
TNA’s Zema Ion was rushed to a hospital two days ago and had to undergo surgery to remove his appendix yesterday according to a post on his Facebook account.
Ion wrote on his Twitter that he’s been sick for a few days thinking he got some kind of food poisoning since he had been “hugging the toilet” vomiting. Eventually sharp pains in his stomach were too much to handle and took a trip to the hospital where he was diagnosed with appendicitis.
However the appendicitis might be the least of his problem as he also revealed that a CAT scan showed that he has a tumor in his colon and will need another surgery to remove it.
“Hoping it is not cancerous. Pray for me,” the former TNA X Division champion wrote.
In a story carried by USA Today in the sports section it was revealed that the WWE is donating $1.2 million over three years to further research aimed at developing a treatment for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the brain disease associated with repeated concussions which is often linked to depression and dementia.
“Obviously, I think it’s such a huge concern for everybody right now in sports and in the military. As we learn more and more about concussions and what can become of it, I think it’s a problem for everybody,” said WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
The donation is being made to the Sports Legacy Institute, a non-profit organization in Boston which was co-founded by former WWE Superstar Chris “Harvard” Nowinski.
Nowinski was the one who approached WWE in an appeal for funding. The former Superstar suffered a nasty concussion himself back in 2003 thanks to a kick to the head from Bubba Ray Dudley.
WWE’s $1.2 million will be used by researchers at Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. The research will be led by neurologist/neuropathologist Ann McKee, co-director of the center, and Lee Goldstein, one of the investigators.
PWInsider.com is reporting that WWE went on a firing spree today, getting rid of seven NXT developmental talent.
The unlucky ones are Derek Bateman, Briley Pierce (Dolph Ziggler’s younger brother), Tensai’s former manager Sakamoto, Brandon Traven, Percy Watson, and Divas-in-training Anna Bogomazova and Audrey Marie.
WWE usually fires a bunch of people from the main roster right after WrestleMania although that hasn’t happened this year, yet.
While she was in the UK just recently, TNA President Dixie Carter did an interview with entertainment website Digital Spy to discuss the upcoming TNA tour in the UK in 2014 and an idea that will probably never happen.
Carter said that she would be open to hold a TNA/WWE crossover event although she doesn’t think that WWE shares her belief.
“I absolutely would do that. I’m not sure if they would do that, but I absolutely would,” Carter said.
The TNA President also said that the “rivalry” between the two companies benefits both as competition is healthy.
“I think it’s important for fans and for us. To have one company dominate, a) it’s boring, and b) you are not being challenged enough. It’s always better to have other options out there and I truly believe it makes both companies better.”
Impact begins with Hulk Hogan walking to the ring. Hogan is shocked at how wild Hulkamania is running here in Tupelo. I don’t suffer from Hulkamania, so I’m always a little shocked when it runs wild. Hogan is also shocked that AJ Styles walked out on TNA last week. So Hogan has decided to make a match between AJ Styles and Kurt Angle for Slammiversary.
Hogan has some more announcements; there will be a contract signing later tonight between current champ (and Hogan’s son-in-law) Bully Ray, and Sting. Hogan also wants to thank Abyss for coming to the aid of TNA last week, but Abyss’ brother Joe Park comes out instead.
Joe Park sounds shocked that he finally saw his brother Abyss after all the time he’s spent looking for him. Abyss did show up a couple times when Joe Park was feuding with Bully Ray last year, but I guess he forgot that. Hogan says that Abyss is what TNA needs now, and he wants Joe to get in touch with him and get him here.
Devon comes out with Aces and Eights and says he also wants a piece of Abyss; specifically he says he wants a “chunk of his ass.” I’m not sure why he would rather have a chunk of ass than an arm, leg, or nut; I guess Devon is an ass man.
Joe Park says he wants to fight Devon for the TV title right now; Devon says Park hasn’t beaten anyone, why should he get a TV title shot? D Lo Brown says he wants to kick Park’s ass himself and Devon agrees. D Lo is trying to get back into the club as a full member; right now he’s not allowed to wear a member’s leather vest, he just gets a prospect’s t-shirt.
Hogan makes the match between Park and D Lo and further stipulates that if Joe Park wins he gets a TV title shot against Devon next week.
Commercial
Match #1: Bobby Roode versus Chavo Guerrero.
Chavo and Roode lock up. Roode gets behind Chavo but Chavo takes him down with a hip toss. They lock up again and Roode gets Chavo in a headlock. Chavo whips Roode to the ropes and Roode downs Chavo with a shoulder block. Chavo hip tosses Roode again and then puts him in a headlock.
Chavo sends Roode out to the floor with a hurricanrana. Chavo jumps out onto the ring apron but Roode trips him up and then slams him into the guard rail. Roode hits Chavo with an elbow and then rolls him back into the ring. Roode hits Chavo with a bodyslam and a knee drop.
Chavo lands a kick and Roode responds with an eye poke followed by a blockbuster. The two men exchange punches until Chavo lands a kick, a shoulder block, and then a slingshot senton. Chavo tries for a tornado DDT but Roode blocks it. Chavo hits three straight vertical suplexes and then climbs to the top.
Roode falls into the ropes, causing Chavo to fall to the floor. James Storm walks to the ring with beer bottle in hand and spits beer into Roode’s face. Roode rolls out to the floor while Storm brandishes the beer bottle as a weapon. The ref calls for the bell, ending the match on a disqualification.
Commercial
When we return, Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring to call out AJ Styles. AJ doesn’t come out, but Ken Anderson does.
Anderson says that Angle sounds like a woman. That could be an insult I suppose, but it really depends which woman he sounds like. If he sounds like Fran Drescher, that’s a problem, but if he sounds like Grace Jones that could be pretty intimidating.
Anderson says AJ will be joining Aces and Eights next week, and he double dog dares Angle to come. Angle says he doesn’t want to wait a week for a fight and pummels Ken Anderson. AJ Styles comes up behind Angle and knocks him down with an enzuigiri. Anderson celebrates at ringside.
Commercial
Match #2: Gut Check Winner Jay Bradley versus Gut Check Winner Christian York. The winner gets one step closer to qualifying for the Bound For Glory Series.
Jay gets off to a strong start and lands a long series of strikes; elbows, chops, punches, and a big boot to the head. Bradley puts York in a chin lock but York gets out of it. York hits Jay with a springboard back elbow and Bradley responds with a bodyslam. York hits Bradley with an enzuigiri and a hurricanrana.
York hits Bradley in the corner with a running back senton. The two men exchange punches again until York lands a pair of kicks. York climbs to the top rope but Bradley dodges. Bradley hits York with the Boomstick clothesline for the win.
Commercial
When we return, Brooke Hogan is talking to Mickie James and tells her she will get a title shot at Velvet Sky next week. They are interrupted by Brooke’s ‘husband’ Bully Ray. Bully tells Brooke to tell ‘dad’ that the contract signing with Sting later tonight is going to be more of a negotiation. Bully also promises to never divorce Brooke.
Match #3: Gail Kim versus Velvet Sky.
Gail and Velvet start fighting immediately. Velvet is going into the match with an injured leg. Velvet gets the early advantage and scores with a pair of arm drags and several kicks followed by a hurricanrana. Gail blocks a kick and then goes after the injured leg of Velvet Sky.
Gail pounds and twists Velvet’s leg for several minutes. Gail gets Velvet in a Texas Cloverleaf but Velvet makes it to the ropes. Gail puts her boot to Velvet’s face in the corner. Gail lands a pair of kicks and climbs to the top rope. Velvet cuts her off and throws her to mat, but can’t capitalize because of her bad leg.
Velvet manages to land a pair of clotheslines before her knee gives out and she falls to the mat again. Velvet lands a kick and then tries to tie Gail up for “In Yo Face” but Gail blocks it. Gail twists Velvet’s bad leg, but Velvet pushes Gail off with her good leg.
Gail hits the corner and Velvet rolls her up as she bounces out of the corner and covers her for the three count! After the match, Gail attacks Velvet and puts her in a figure four leg lock in the steel post.
After the match, the three men fighting for the X division title tonight (Chris Sabin, Kenny King, and Petey Williams) talk a little trash. Sabin says Kenny King is the king of nothing, except maybe male strippers. (Why is that bad? If people paid me money to strip, I’d be naked now. And I wouldn’t tell you about it either, so now you’ll have to wonder every week.)
Kenny King calls Sabin “Frail Sabin” (a pun on the “Hail Sabin” chant that often accompanies Sabin to the ring) and declares himself royalty, and Petey Williams thinks he’s got it figured out.
Next week, Suicide returns.
Commercial
Match #4: Chris Sabin versus Petey Williams versus Kenny King.
King rolls out to the floor as the match starts leaving Sabin and Petey to fight each other. Williams puts Sabin in a headlock but Sabin escapes and twists Petey’s arm. Sabin takes Williams down with a series of armdrags. Williams trips Sabin into the ropes, and then King reaches in to trip up Williams.
King drags Williams to the floor and then enters the ring himself. Sabin trips King and then hits him with some chops and a kick. King responds with an elbow and a rolling wheel kick. Petey dropkicks Sabin out to the floor but then gets choked on the top rope by King. King hits Williams with a punch and then hits Sabin with a baseball slide dropkick. King hits Petey with a body slam and springboard legdrop.
King tries to tie up Petey’s arm and head, but Williams gets free. King snaps Williams’ head on the top rope while leaping to the floor. Sabin hits King with a couple forearms and then a suplex. Sabin and Williams exchange strikes and Williams knocks Sabin to the floor.
Petey hits Sabin with a suicide dive and then hits King with a side Russian leg sweep back in the ring. Petey hits King with a cradle DDT and gets a 2 count. Sabin lands several strikes to Williams and then tries a tornado DDT on King but King blocks it. King hits Sabin with a pair of kicks and then hits Williams with a swinging neckbreaker. Sabin hits King with an enzuigiri and a back kick to the gut.
Sabin hangs King upside down in the corner. Petey tries to hit Sabin with the Canadian destroyer but Sabin blocks it and throws Williams into King. Sabin powerbombs Williams but is then hit with a flying knee by King. King hits Sabin with the Royal Flush for the win.
Commercial
Match #5: Christopher Daniels with Kaz versus Hernandez.
Hernandez pushes Daniels to the corner; Daniels responds with an eye poke, a kick, and an eye rake. Daniels tries a bodyslam but can’t get Hernandez up. Hernandez drops Daniels with a delayed vertical suplex. Hernandez hits Daniels with a backbreaker and then walks up the entrance ramp.
Hernandez runs back to the ring and leaps over the top rope into Daniels. Hernandez lands a kick but is then tripped by Kaz. Daniels hits Hernandez in the back with a clubbing blow. Daniels hits Hernandez with a neckbreaker and then throws him to the floor where Kaz stomps on him.
Hernandez climbs back up to the edge of the ring and slingshots himself into Daniels. Hernandez knocks Daniels down a couple more time and then misses a Stinger splash. James Storm walks out to the ring with a beer again. Hernandez knocks Daniels down again after the distraction and covers him for the win!
After the match, Storm announces that he was told by Hogan that at Slammiversary, Chavo and Hernandez will have to defend against Roode/Aries, Bad Influence, and James Storm with a partner of his choosing.
Commercial
Match #6: D Lo versus Joe Park.
D Lo starts off with a knee, a punch, and a bodyslam. Park responds with several awkward looking punches. D Lo throws Park to the floor and slams his head into the edge of the ring before throwing him back in. Park lands a few more punches, D Lo responds with a dropkick to the knee followed by a shining wizard.
D Lo hits park with a clothesline but misses a Stinger splash. D Lo hits Park with a leg lariat and then pummels him in the corner. D lo punches at the head of Park repeatedly until his knuckles get bloody. Park sees the blood on his hands and in his eyes and becomes enraged.
Park hits D Lo with a pair of stiff clotheslines and a Stinger splash and then beats him with a Black Hole Slam!! After the match, Park regains his composure and asks what happened.
Commercial
When we return Jeremy Borash is in the ring behind a podium. Jeremy calls out Bully Ray and Sting for their contract signing. Bully comes out first and violently shoves Borash out of the ring and asks if we know who he is. He tells us in case some people forgot. Bully also calls out Sting and Hogan.
Sting comes to the ring and Hogan waits outside the ring. Bully notes that this is the first time he’s been face to face with Sting since he screwed him, Hogan, and especially Hogan’s daughter. Bully says he is apologizing for none of it. Sting says Bully should probably break his arm in two, break his legs and make him bleed.
Sting says if Bully Ray does NOT do those things, then Sting will definitely do them to Bully Ray, with emphasis on the bleeding. Sting says he wants the match to be no holds barred. Bully says a lot of people would probably like to see him bleed at Sting’s hands, but he doesn’t seem scared.
Bully says if Sting wants a no holds barred match, he’s got it on 1 condition; if Sting loses he is never allowed to compete for the TNA title again. Hogan tells Sting not to do it, but Bully tells Hulk to shut up and asks Sting if he’s going to let Hogan tell him what to do again.
Sting says yes and Bully pushes him. Sting responds with a punch and they start punching back and forth. Sting appears to be getting the upper hand as Impact goes off the air.
WWE and 2K announced that the next WWE video game which will be titled WWE 2K14 will be hitting stores nationwide on October 29 while Europe will get the game a few days later on November 1.
2K now holds the license to produce and distribute WWE video games around the world after they bought the rights from THQ which went bankrupt earlier this year. This will be the first WWE game from 2K and the franchise will adopt the new naming of 2K and the year rather than just previous titles such as WWE ’13.
WWE 2K14 will continue to be developed by Yukes in Japan.
TMZ.COM is reporting that former TNA champion Austin Aries was hit with a big fine from TNA for shoving his crotch into Christy Hemme’s face last week during the live IMPACT following an honest mistake by the ring announcer.
Hemme mistakenly called Aries and Storm as Kazarian and Daniels during their entrance, and Aries followed by cornering Hemme, forcing her to announce their names properly and then climbed the middle rope with his crotch coming straight in Hemme’s face.
The former WWE Diva Search winner didn’t appreciate the impromptu move and called it “unacceptable” on her Twitter although she removed her comment afterward. Aries has since reached out privately to Hemme according to TMZ and apologized for his move.
Hemme told TNA that she was okay with the apology delivered by Aries.
WWE will be invading the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, for the first time ever with a live Monday Night RAW on July 15 and the pre-sale has kicked off today.
Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster.com with prices ranging from $26.50 up to $76.50 plus additional fees. The pre-sale ends tomorrow, Friday May 17, at 10PM EST. The code needed to purchase tickets now is WWERAW.
Tickets go on sale to the general public this coming Saturday at 10AM EST.
TNA President Dixie Carter addressed the incident between Austin Aries and Christy Hemme from last week’s IMPACT on her Twitter today saying that the issue was taken seriously and handled immediately.
“TNA has ZERO tolerance for inappropriate behavior,” Carter wrote on Twitter.
Last week, Hemme introduced Aries and his partner Bobby Roode as Christopher Daniels and Kazarian by mistake. Aries wasn’t thrilled about the genuine mistake and cornered Hemme as she re-introduced the duo.
While Hemme was cornered announcing the names again, Aries climbed on the second rope and had his crotch in her face. Hemme put her hands up to protect herself and said, “Okay okay I get it!”
You can see the incident below.
WWE has announced that it has signed a multi-year extension for home video distribution with Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.
The new agreement will continue to give GVE distribution rights to release 12 WWE pay-per-view events each year, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, as well as a robust catalog of collectible titles throughout the U.S. on physical and digital platforms.
“WWE has been a true partner for us in every sense of the word,” said Bill Sondheim, President of Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment. “Their dedicated fan base continues to power our promotions year after year, and this deal helps to energize our retail partners and further fuel our growth. We are excited to continue building exciting cross-promotional and merchandising opportunities with our physical and on-line retailers and key WWE partners.”
TNA is in Las Vegas today to hold a press conference at 1PM EST with Hulk Hogan, Jeremy Borash and Kenny King appearing for an announcement.
LVCVA Host Committee Chairman Oscar B. Goodman as well as execs from the Orleans Arena will be in attendance as well as TNA announces that IMPACT Wrestling will be coming to Sin City on June 29 for tapings at the Orleans Arena inside The Orleans Hotel & Casino.
The press conference will be carried live on IMPACTWrestling.com.
Tonight is just six nights before Extreme Rules! We know most of the matches and their respective stipulations, so all that’s left is one final push. That will happen for sure in three segments, with Brock Lesnar and Triple H face-to-face, and … The other hot rivalry already featured will be a “Dance-Off” between Chris Jericho and his female companion against Fandango and his woman partner. Like I said last week, this typically waste-of-time-segment should be actually entertaining!
And what will be the fate of World Heavyweight Champion, “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler with his recent serious concussion injury. Can he still compete, or will they play it safe and change the match? Either way, I hope they don’t strip him of the World Title.
Plus, as usual at the end of this report, I will give my predictions for the upcoming pay-per-view. All this and much more for Raw, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for May 13th, 2013 – “Limits Pushed To The…EXTREME!”
Introduction Segment: Recap
A montage of the events with Ryback and “The Shield” from last week’s Raw is aired, as well as footage of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman brutalizing Triple H’s offices. It is speculated on what will happen tonight.
Segment #1: Dance-Off – Fandango and Summer Rae VS. “Y2J” Chris Jericho and Edyta Sliwinska
Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and is standing in the ring, although the canvas is covered in hardwood. Yes, after a clip of Fandango beating Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania XXIX is shown, Lawler brings out the four for their competition
After going over the rules, Lawler points out that Fandango already lost a dance-off to The Great Khali, but Fandango dismisses this as that crowd not knowing talent then. He says that these fans may not like him, but they do have to respect his performance as an artist. “As long as there’s a Chris Jericho, there will be a better man. And his name is Fan-dan-go,” he declares.
“The King” asks for “Y2J’s” response, and Jericho retorts with “Raw is Jericho!” He touts his previous entertainment success in the ring, winning acts like the Musical Chairs from a July 2004 Raw (in Winnipeg to-boot) and conquering Bob Barker’s “Price Is Raw.” Jericho proclaims that “this Sunday at Extreme Rules, I’m going to dance all over your face baby. And you will never, ever, never, e-e-e-ever be the same again!”
An earlier coin toss determined that Fandango will begin. He stalls for a bit, then takes the microphone. Fandango hushes the crowd and demands for silence to create his “masterpiece.” He starts off well, but then spins Summer and she falls. He orders her to “stop messing around.” Edyta checks on Rae and Fandango wants her to get away quickly. Trainers now check on the downed blonde.
Jericho is also looking on, and then Fandango suddenly kicks him down and punches away. He boots him out of the ring and slams hi against the announce table, then throws him into the steel steps. Fandango takes a piece of the hardwood and runs it into Jericho’s face, knocking him out on the floor. He climbs back in the ring and looks at Summer. It was a ruse all along, as she smiles and gets up easily. They pose in a provocative dance position, then exit.
Later tonight, it will be “The Shield” taking on Tag-Team Champions “Team Hell No” and WWE Champion John Cena in a 6-Man Elimination Tag-Team match. Up next, the number one contender to the WWE Title, Ryback, will be in action!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder VS. Ryback
Ryback is all over Ryder with kicks and hammering clubs to his back. He pushes Zack off the ropes to the mat and then clotheslines him. Ryback quickly picks him up and gives him the Shell-Shock for the oh-so-quick victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback
Ads.
Match #2: Tag-Team – “The Primetime Players” (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil) VS. “Tons Of Funk” (Sweet T. and “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay) (with “The Funkadactyls” Naomi and Cameron)
Darren and Sweet start out, with T controlling until O’Neil gets the tag. Sweet manages to switch with Brodus and he takes out the big-man with a T-Bone suplex and running corner splash. Young jabs Clay with his comb, allowing Titus to roll him up for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: “The Primetime Players” (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil)
Up next, Smackdown Senior Advisor Theodore Long will make a statement regarding the World Heavyweight Championship!
Commercials.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
Teddy Long is out on the stage with fellow announcer Matt Striker. Before he can give a statement, Jack Swagger, Zeb Colter, Big E. Langston, and A.J. all walk out and argue to make their case for the World Championship. Long finally says that Dolph Ziggler will NOT be stripped of his World Title (yay!) and instead, Swagger will take on Del Rio at Extreme Rules in an “I Quit” match.
The winner will be the #1 Contender. He also says that Big E. will take on either Alberto or Jack, depending on who the WWE fans choose.
Later, Mark Henry will call out Sheamus.
Ads.
Match #3: Single – United States Champion Kofi Kingston VS. “The Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses” Damien Sandow (Non-Title)
Prior to the bout, it is made known that Kofi will defend his title at Extreme Rules against “The Shield’s” Dean Ambrose. Kofi tries to end this one early with a roll-up but Sandow gets out of it. He runs right back him with a knee-to-the-gut and takes firm control.
Sandow continues to knee him, then drops down with a side Russian legsweep and the “Elbow Of Distain.” He clamps on an abdominal stretch, but Kingston reverses it. He drop toeholds Damien into the second turnbuckle and chops him down a couple times. Kofi flies around with a dropkick and forearms, then nails the Boom Drop double-legdrop, however he misses a springboard crossbody.
Damien capitalizes with a swinging neckbreaker for two, but gets knocked out quickly with the Trouble In Paradise spin-kick for the W by Kofi!
Winner via Pinfall: United States Champion Kofi Kingston
Up next, Mark Henry wants to induct Sheamus into the “Hall Of Pain.”
Commercials.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
As “The World’s Strongest Man” comes out, a clip of John Bradshaw Layfield and the late-great Eddie Guerrero’s WWE Championship “Four-Corners Bull-Rope” match from June 27th, 2004 at the Great American Bash is shown to display the idea of the upcoming bout between Sheamus and Henry.
Josh Matthews is in the ring and airs what happened last week, with Henry whipping the heck out of Sheamus. “The World’s Strongest Man” is happy with that and Friday’s Smackdown record-breaking pulling of two semi-trailers. Matthews asks Henry how he will defeat Sheamus on Sunday, but Mark just want to show him.
He orders Josh to put he strap on, and Henry hooks himself too. He shoves Matthews down and drags him around as he touches all four corners, the goal of the match. He rolls Josh out of the ring and challenges Sheamus to do it tonight.
Sheamus does not show up and Henry gloats. However, the Irishman does answer the call. Sheamus says that he has never backed down from a fight and marches to the ring. Henry doesn’t let him in, so Sheamus searches under the ring and pulls out a strap of his own. The two whip each other, and Sheamus gets the better, sending Henry up the ramp wincing in pain.
A clip from January 28th is aired of Brock Lesnar assaulting WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is shown, to emphasize the feud between he and Triple H.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – Antonio Cesaro VS. “The Viper” Randy Orton
An elbow/collar tie-up between the two begins and they both break. Cesaro locks Orton in a side headlock and shoves him down with a shoulder block. Orton leapfrogs a running Antonio and drops him with an elbow. Cesaro pushes against Randy in the corner and headbutts him.
He stomps away at him, then runs with an uppercut for a two-count. Antonio clutches on a grounding rear chinlock, but Orton fights out and tosses him over with a suplex. Orton kicks back and clotheslines, then catches Cesaro off the ropes with a powerslam. He tries to set up Cesaro with the slingshot-DDT, but Antonio wiggles out into a roll-up for a nearfall, but then Randy quickly plants him with the R.K.O. to finish this one!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Viper” Randy Orton
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Heath Slater (with 3.M.B. partners Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal) VS. “The Awesome One” The Miz
(Happy for one return, and sad for the other! I think you can figure the order out!), Miz looks awesome (pardon the pun) as he controls most of this bout, until he gets yanked from outside. Slater takes advantage and gains his own momentum.
He tries to wear Miz down with a rear chinlock, but Miz battles out and boots him in the face. Miz 9-punches Heath in the corner, then throws him onto his partners. Back in the ring, Miz low-dropkicks him then locks in the Figure-4 for the tap-out!
Winner via Submission: “The Awesome One” The Miz
Footage of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure of Breast Cancer walk airs, as Layla and Alicia Fox participated in Washington.
Up next, (and way too early!), is the 6-Man Elimination Tag!
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Match #6: 6-Man Tag-Team Elimination – Tag-Team Champions Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) and WWE Champion John Cena VS. The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns) (Non-Titles)
It is also announced that Reigns and Rollins will challenge Bryan and Kane for the Tag-Team Championship at Extreme Rules in a Tag-Team Tornado Match. (All competitors are in the ring at once)
Kane starts out with Ambrose and he grabs Dean in a wristlock. He runs off the ropes and shoulder blocks Dean, then gives him a headlock takedown. Kane puts Ambrose into his corner and tags in Daniel, who delivers repeated kicks to the chants of “yes.”
Daniel holds Ambrose down in an armlock, but Ambrose gets out and switches with Rollins. To the delight of fans, Cena is tagged in and grounds Rollins with a bulldog and front facelock.
Commercials.
Back live, Bryan is in again and has Ambrose locked in a unique surfboard submission. Bryan slaps hands with Kane, who comes in and front-dropkicks Dean. Kane switches back with Daniel, but he quickly gets shoved into The Shield’s corner. They take over and it is mainly Reigns who dominates over Bryan.
Rollins holds him as Ambrose comes in and jabs away. Dean fiercely stomps on Bryan’s stomach, but soon gets a knee-to-the-gut from Daniel! He manages to tag in his partner and Kane is on fire (no pun intended), taking out all three “Shield” members. He plants Ambrose with a DDT for a close fall, then flies off the top rope with a clothesline!
Kane grabs Ambrose by the throat, as well as Rollins and runs them out of the ring. On the outside, Kane uses the barricade, steel steps, and announce table to dismantle The Shield. He does get so hot, that in slamming Ambrose with the top of the commentator’s table, Kane gets himself DQ’d.
Elimination #1: Kane via Disqualification
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Back live, Ambrose drops Cena with a DDT and a nearfall! He tags in Reigns, who measures up the WWE Champion and comes at him with a jumping forearm. 1 – 2 – Cena kicks out. John reverses a suplex attempt into one of his own, but Reigns ended up in his own corner, so Seth was able to come in quickly. He dives off the turnbuckle with a knee-to-the-head for two!
Rollins clutches a rear naked choke on, and Cena manages to struggle to his feet and walk over to an anticipated Bryan. He gets the tag and Bryan double-front-dropkicks Ambrose and Reigns off the apron! He ducks Rollins and hits a suicide dive on Reigns, then nails Rollins with a front-missile-dropkick! 1 – 2 – Rollins kicks out!
He tries for the “No Lock” crossface, but Ambrose gets the tag as Rollins is whipped off the ropes. Dean plants Daniel with the bulldog/DDT combo for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Elimination #2: Daniel Bryan via Pinfall
The fans cheer on Cena as he faces the insurmountable odds of 3 – 1 against The Shield. Like vultures, the trio attack, but the WWE Champion fights back. He hits a couple of diving shoulder tackles and a spin-out backdrop on Rollins. He takes out Ambrose and Reigns, then gives the Attitude Adjustment to send Rollins to the back.
Elimination #3: Seth Rollins via Pinfall
Cena has Dean on his shoulders quickly for the A.A., but Ambrose held onto the ropes. Reigns interferes, shoving referee Mike Chioda then spearing John. Chioda calls for a DQ on Roman for this move.
Elimination #4: Roman Reigns via Disqualification
Ambrose covers but only receives two! Cena soon catches him in the STF, but Reigns and Rollins jump in and attack again, causing another dq.
Elimination #5: Dean Ambrose via Disqualification
Winners via Elimination: Tag-Team Champions Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane) and WWE Champion John Cena
Post-match, The Shield triple-powerbomb Cena, stand over him, then walk off. As Cena is laid out, his challenger takes advantage. Ryback smashes a chair over his injured ankle and shouts “Ryback Rules” from the top of the ramp.
Up next, Big E. will face either Jack Swagger or Alberto Del Rio.
Still photos of Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s rematch at Wrestlemania XXIX are shown, with a reminder of their face-to-face later tonight.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – Big E. Langston (with A.J. Lee) VS. “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter)
The WWE fans had vote overwhelmingly for Langston, 65% – 35%! Both big men lock up and go nowhere. Swagger gets a headlock takedown, but Langston is immediately up and neither can shove the other down. They stared down and Langston takes control. He hits a few clubs, but misses a running splash in the corner. He does shove off a Patriot Lock ankle lock though, but gets suplex by Swagger.
Ads.
Back live, Langston gives Jack a fallaway backbreaker for two. He rams his shoulder into Jack’s stomach, but misses another run, and ends up shoulder-first against the post. Swagger takes advantage with the Swaggerbomb for two! Langston gets his momentum again, suplexing Jack from the top rope! 1 – 2 – Swagger manages to get out!
Big E. picks up Swagger for his finisher, but Jack drops out the back and chops him down. He grasps on the ankle lock, and Langston fights to the bottom rope, forcing a break! Langston tosses Swagger to the outside and into the barricade. As he sizes up Swagger, he runs but misses, and ends up on the other side of the wall into the crowd! Referee Scott Armstrong counts to 10 and it’s over!
Winner via Count-Out: “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter)
Post-match, Alberto Del Rio runs down and attacks Swagger, but Big E. comes in. They both take him out, then Del Rio clotheslines Swagger to the floor, where Langston is laying too. Alberto is in the ring alone and cheers with his friend, Ricardo Rodriguez.
Commercials.
It is announced that The Miz will take on Cody Rhodes at the pre-show for Extreme Rules.
Match #8: Single – A.J. Lee VS. Natalya (with The Great Khali and Hornswaggle)
(Note: The Bella Twins [Brie and Nikki] and Divas Champion Kaitlyn join for commentary.) A.J. plays games and skips around at first, but Natalya manages to catch her in a waistlock takedown. She shoves picks her up and runs her into the corner.
Lee escapes the ring and slaps A.J. as Natalya chases after. A.J. blows a kiss to Kaitlyn from the apron, but that distraction allows Natalya to push her down. Back in the ring, A.J. reverses a sidewalk pickup into the “Black Widow,” an octopus abdominal stretch hold for the tapout!
Winner via Submission: A.J. Lee
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Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Chris Jericho is questioned by Matt Striker if he felt foolish by Fandango’s actions at the “dance-off.” Jericho says he was distracted by trying to play games with him, however all that stops now. Jericho says that he is a 6-time World Champion and his name is Chris Jericho! “Y2J” asserts that he will teach Fandango “how to dance Chris Jericho style!”
Segment #5: Arena Promo
Triple H is back and prepares to face off with Brock Lesnar! He makes his entrance to the ring and the Steel Cage above the ring (which honestly, I did not notice at all throughout the show!) begins to lower!
Commercials.
“The Game” is now surrounded by the steel mesh walls. He and Lesnar have been at war for almost a year with broken bones and blood, but nothing has been settled. That will all be change this Sunday. HHH cites the ring as his home, as he grew up here, learned to be a man, and learned to fight there.
He says that a man who he respected once told him that he had to hate, and Triple H did just that. He excelled on it, and he felt no more at home than when he was in the ring enclosed in the steel. “Brock Lesnar, you’re here. I’m here. They’re (fans) here. And more importantly, the steel is here. So I’m at home. Why don’t you come and try to take it?”
“The Beast Incarnate” answers the challenge and proceeds out with Paul Heyman, however only to the top of the stage. Heyman stops them and starts to introduce themselves, but is immediately cut off by Triple H. He orders Brock to come on down and “do this,” but Paul E. gets back on the stick.
He says that HHH gets his “perverse pleasure” from the “hate,” but Heyman gets his from seeing the two “hate” each other. He calls Lesnar a “cage-fighting carnivore” and Triple H “the biggest slab of meat in the WWE Universe.”
Paul E. declares that Triple H will “hate” facing his family after “Brock leaves you beaten and battered and disfigured in the cage.” HHH will “hate” facing his father-in-law, because he let down the WWE Universe. “One man will emerge from this war the winner (points to Lesnar), and here’s something you never had to face in your career.
One man (points to Triple H) is going to have to face the fact that he will go down in history as the ‘loser.’ And you Triple H will go down in history as the ‘loser,’ and I cannot imagine how much you’re going to ‘hate’ that. Now my client, Brock Lesnar, is here tonight, on Monday Night Raw, and he is ready for a fight! A fight that you’re going to have to wait ’till Sunday to experience, because you as the C.O.O. of WWE, know better than anyone else, that my client Brock Lesnar does not … fight … for … free.”
They begin to walk off, but Triple H calls them back. He has always wondered why Brock won’t face him “like a man.” HHH realized the truth is that Heyman can’t afford him to do that. “The Game” reminds them that he did the “unthinkable,” he knocked Lesnar out cold and beat him.
They know if Brock were to get his butt kicked in the cage, that it won’t go over well for Heyman the business men, much like Sunday if that happens too. HHH calls that his “mystique” going away and Heyman’s “meal ticket” existing no longer.
“The Cerebral Assassin” gives Lesnar two choices: “are you going to walk down that isle and step into this ring, and try and prove to the world that you are ‘Brock Lesnar, the beast!’ Or are you just going to stand up at the top of the ramp, looking for Heyman to tell you what to do, and prove to the world that you are ‘Brock Lesnar, the bitch!'”
Lesnar starts walking down the ramp and referees smartly get out of the way, all the while Heyman tries to convince him otherwise. He slowly ascends the steel steps and enters. He and Triple H glare at each other, then engage in a hard-hitting brawl.
Brock German suplexes HHH, but he misses a dive and ends up face-first in the steel cage wall. Triple H hurls Lesnar against the door, strong enough to send him to the floor and knock down Heyman! HHH wants more as Lesnar gets up. He collects a wincing Heyman and they walk to the top of the ramp, as Triple H walks around the ring inside the cage to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Excellence: Absolutely #1 is Dolph Ziggler still being World Heavyweight Champion! I’m not sure how long he will be out of action, but I’m really glad they didn’t use it as an excuse to strip him of the title. I like the switch too for the #1 Contender bout, and this could also put an end to the rivalry of Del Rio and Swagger – it’s time to move on, and I like Del Rio VS. Ziggler for a fresh feud. Also, Big E. and Swagger was an awesome “power-game/strength” match tonight. Love how Langston “stalked” Jack with a smile on the outside for the finish.
Great wrestling between Kingston/Sandow, Cesaro/Orton, and the 6-Man Tag. Henry’s promo was awesome! He is mean, aggressive, and actually has some personality and “umph” now in his voice. They are keeping his storyline with Sheamus fresh with the different scenarios too.
The ending segment – very old school and loved the passion in Triple H’s voice about growing up in the ring and making his living/career doing what he did. The brawl was also took me back to the days of two men fighting it out for “pride” and hype me the most for this match, more so than all the video package recaps of their feud that was aired leading up to the confrontation.
Bogus: The opening – Jericho/Fandango dance-off could’ve been much more and an actual entertaining dance-off. Plus, I think it should’ve been built up more and presented later in the show, not just jumping right into it. I was greatly disappointed. Ryback squashing Ryder was pointless – we get that he’s a “monster” and “unbeatable,” so don’t need to show it all the time. Why are “3.M.B” still together – them getting taken out and torn apart by “The Shield” should’ve been the end of that failing trio. Speaking of “The Shield,” hated that “Super Cena” took out two-thirds of them in the match. I feel this hurt the group’s unstoppable reputation, especially since Cena is hurt with an injury. They can (and hopefully will) rebound by winning all the Championships they are challenging for on Sunday. This also should’ve been the main-event!
“Primetime Players”/”Tons Of Funk” was just filler. I wanted matches like Damien/Kofi and Antonio/Randy to be longer, like last week. Natalya/A.J. could’ve been a much better match, had it been longer and not for the pointless commentary by the Divas Champ Kaitlyn and The Bellas – that was bad! Love A.J.’s potentially new finisher though, very cool!
Predictions: Alberto Del Rio will become the Number 1 Contender, John Cena will somehow put down Ryback to retain the WWE Championship (too soon for him to lose it), “The Shield” will gain the Tag-Team Titles and U.S. Championship. Triple H will defeat Lesnar to end the rivalry – honestly, hopefully they allow blood to enhance the brutality of this match. Henry should continue to look strong and go over Sheamus. Jericho will become almost-heelish again, get more aggressive, and win against Fandango to continue their storyline. Same with Orton over Show, even though I really don’t care about their mini-feud.
All in all, an average-to-low average Raw for the “go-home show,” but the 6-man, the switch of the World Title match, and the ending to Raw all made up for it. Here’s hoping my predictions are correct and in for some more surprises next Monday night! Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
