Live tonight from the TNA IMPACT Zone in Orlando, Florida, TNA Wrestling presents Genesis on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
Jeff Hardy vs Austin Aries vs Bobby Roode in a triple threat elimination match for the TNA World title; Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez vs Matt Morgan and Joe Ryan for the TNA Tag Team titles; Christopher Daniels vs James Storm; Joseph Park vs Devon; Sting vs Doc from Aces & Eights; Kenny King vs Christian York in the X Division number one contender’s tournament final; Rob Van Dam vs the winner of the X Division tournament final for the X Division title; Gail Kim vs ODB vs Miss Tessmacher vs Mickie James vs Velvet Sky in a gauntlet match to determine the number one contender for the Knockout title.
It was a DX reunion earlier this week at the Full Sail University as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kevin Nash, Billy Gunn, and X-Pac appeared together in front of the crowd at the NXT tapings.
HBK took the stage first, followed by Triple H. Fans started chanting for Kevin Nash, who slowly came out to the ring as well. The DX theme song kicked in and X-Pac and Billy Gunn walked out much to the delight of the crowd.
Just like what happened at the RAW 1,000th episode, Damien Sandow interrupted the festivities and accused all of them of attacking him last time he was in the ring with them last year.
Triple H, on behalf of the nWo, DX, and the Outlaws, apologized to Sandow, shook his hand, and told him to show off in front of them and do his cartwheel.
Sandow removed his robe and proceeded to do his cartwheel but as soon as he landed back on his feet and turned around, he was met with Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music to end the segment.
Two items have been confirmed for this Monday’s 20th anniversary celebration of Monday Night RAW.
The first one is a match for the WWE Divas title as Eve Torres defend her strap against number one contender Kaitlyn.
The second is something which is guaranteed to get some laughs from the crowd – a Rock concert featuring The Rock! This will be his third Rock concert, with his first one performed just before WrestleMania XIX in Sacramento, and his second in March of last year in Cleveland.
You can see both his previous Rock concerts below.
WWE.COM officially announced Mick Foley as the first inductee to the Hall of Fame class of 2013 just moments ago.
The plan was to announce the first inductee on Monday during RAW but a story published on the New York Post today seems to have expedited the process.
Foley made his wrestling debut in 1983 and in 1991 moved to World Championship Wrestling under the name of Cactus Jack. He remained in WCW until 1994 where he had feuds with Sting, Paul Orndorff, Vader, and others.
In 1994, he jumped to ECW, then shortly to Smokey Mountain Wrestling, before heading to Japan.
In 1996, Mick Foley signed for the WWE and wrestled as Mankind, Dude Love, and Cactus Jack where he became the WWE champion twice. He stayed in WWE until retiring in 2000. He took the Commissioner role that year but left in 2001.
Foley appeared for WWE several times between 2003 and 2008 and even took the role of a color commentator for Smackdown. Unfortunately he didn’t appreciate Vince McMahon screaming in his ear too much and decided to leave WWE once again.
Later in 2008, Foley joined TNA Wrestling where he stayed there till 2011, before returning to WWE at the end of that same year.
Foley won the WCW tag team title once with Kevin Sullivan, the ECW tag team title twice with Mikey Whipwreck, the WWE title three times, the Hardcore title once, and the WWE tag team titles on eight different occasions, once with Steve Austin, once with Chainsaw Charlie, twice with Kane, once with Al Snow, and twice with The Rock. In TNA, he won the Legends title and the World Heavyweight title both on a single occasion.
Smackdown tonight will be a must-see show as there is one big surprise as well The Rock returns home, literally, and figuratively.
Smackdown was taped this past Tuesday from Miami, Florida, the home town of former WWE champion The Rock. The show – named after one of The Rock’s famous catchphrases – will welcome Miami’s favorite back for the first time since he left WWE in 2003.
During his WWE TV appearances over the past year, The Rock has only visited RAW but this time around he is almost working on a full-time basis up until WrestleMania, appearing on both shows when necessary, giving the blue brand what is hoped to be an extra push in terms of viewing figures.
The New York Post is running a story announcing that Mick Foley will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, the night before WrestleMania 29 in Madison Square Garden.
WWE has not made the official announcement yet and is expected to reveal the first person to be inducted on Monday during the 20th anniversary of RAW.
Foley has often said that it would be a dream to be inducted in the Hall of Fame in Madison Square Garden, which is considered to be the “mecca” for professional wrestling.
Tickets for the show has been on a pre-sale for around two weeks and they will go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Saturday, January 12, at Ticketmaster.com.
So far the Hall of Fame is the only WWE event to be held in New York during the WrestleMania 29 weekend.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Tyson Kidd torn his ACL and fractured his knee late last month and will be out of action for up to a year.
The 32 year old Calgary native hasn’t been used much on the RAW and Smackdown television shows but has been getting his airtime on the other “less-important” television shows during the week.
He last wrestled on pay-per-view at the Survivor Series where he teamed up with Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Brodus Clay and his tag team partner Justin Gabriel to take on Primo, Epico, Tensai, Darren Young, and Titus O’Neil.
TNA Wrestling announced a major overhaul to their pay-per-view business this week which will cut the ten remaining pay-per-views to just four a year.
The major shows that survived the cut include Genesis in January, Lockdown in March, Slammiversary in June, and Bound For Glory in October. The rest of the TNA pay-per-views have all been ditched.
The removal of the other pay-per-views leads to 3 hours of less programming every month for international distributors however TNA will be taping three hour specials that will air in the overseas market and as well in the USA on pay-per-view for a lower price.
These specials will be titled One Night Only and will debut in April of this year and will continue every month for the rest of the year for $20 less than the other pay-per-views.
“The Pay-Per-View industry has changed so much in the last decade,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “The traditional pay-per-view wrestling model needed to evolve and we believe this strategy will positively impact not only the Pay-Per-View events but the weekly television programming as well.”
After the traditional TNA recap, Sting is the first person to make his way to the ring, and he’s accompanied by Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle.
Sting says he made his return on the 13th just like he said he would, and now he wants to fight DOC at the Genesis Pay Per View this Sunday. Sting says he’s just getting started, and has the support of the “shooter” and the “killer” (Angle and Joe.)
The crowd starts chanting for Joe and Joe promises to beat up and choke out anyone in Aces and Eights. Angle grabs the mic next and the crowd starts chanting for Angle. Angle promises to continue unmasking more members of Aces and Eights until they are all unmasked. Angle unmasked Mike Knox last week.
This week, Angle wants to call out Ken Anderson, the man that has been recruited by Aces and Eights recently. Anderson comes out the ring and he’s mad. Anderson reminds them that a couple months ago he was supposed to tag with Sting and got beat down in the back by Aces and Eights, and no one came to help him, not even his partner, Sting.
Sting says nothing, and Anderson continues speaking to Angle, telling him he doesn’t answer to him, and he never liked him. Angle says it’s mutual, and then punches him in the face. Anderson falls out to the floor and walks away.
Commercial
Match #1: X division title tournament. Kenny King versus Zema Ion.
The two men lock up and King lands several strikes. King knocks Zema to the floor with a kick and tries a corkscrew dive to the floor, but Zema gets out of the way. Zema re enters the ring and then flips back out onto King.
Zema rolls King back into the ring, and King hits Ion with a big spin kick. King mounts and pounds Zema. King slams Zema into the corner and hits him with an elbow. Zema grabs King’s head and snaps his neck down on the top rope and follows up with a DDT.
King tries his finishing move, the Royal Flush, but Zema reverses it and rolls King up for a 2 count. Zema hits King with a suplex and then climbs to the top rope. Zema goes for a 450 splash but King rolls out of the way. King hits Zema with the Royal flush for the win.
In the back, Robbie E and Robbie T are talking, and Robbie E sounds sad. Robbie E is upset that the Jersey Shore was canceled, and he’s sad that he lost the bro-off to Robbie T recently, and now he has to find a female wrestler to team with him for a mixed tag match.
Robbie asks Miss Tessmacher, but she is disgusted by him. Robbie says he’ll do anything, and Tessmacher agrees, but only if she gets to tag with Robbie T instead.
Commercial
When we return, we see Joe Park leaving wrestling school, preparing to return to TNA as a wrestler. He walks into the door on his way out.
Match #2: Robbie T and Miss Tessmacher versus Tara and Jesse.
Jesse and Robbie T start things off and Jesse can’t move big Rob. Robbie throws Jesse around easily until Jesse tags Tara in. Tara and Tessmacher square off. Miss Tessmacher hits Tara with a couple clotheslines and then hits her in the face repeatedly with her vagina, then repeatedly hits her in the face with her ass.
I’m not making this crap up. This is not wrestling, it’s soft core porn. I’m sure lots of people are turned on by it, but it’s kind of stupid and makes no sense. Vaginal and anal tissues are soft; at least that’s what I’ve heard.
Tara tags in Big Rob and Robbie grabs Jesse by the throat, kicks him, and powerbombs him for the win. After the match, Tessmacher and Robbie T dance and make out. Tessmacher lays on the ground swooning as Robbie E looks on in disbelief.
Commercial
Match #3: Gut Check match.
This will be the first Gut Check match in which both competitors (Jay Bradley and Brian Cage) will be competing against each other instead of an established star. The two men lock up and push each other around the cage and exchange go-behind attempts.
Cage takes Bradley down first, but Bradley reverse and tries to roll Cage up. Cage puts Bradley in a headlock and Bradley escapes. The two men trade punches and forearm shots. Cage lands a European uppercut and Bradley responds with boot to the face.
Bradley stomps on cage and hits him with an elbow to the head. Bradley bodyslams Cage and then drops the knee on him. Bradley looks to be setting Cage up for a clothesline, but Cage lands a dropkick first that sends Bradley out to the floor.
Cage climbs onto the second rope, away from the turnbuckle, and slingshot suplexes Bradley back into the ring. Cage misses a discuss clothesline and Bradley hits him with a big lariat for the win.
Back at the Aces and Eights clubhouse, everyone is having fun except Ken Anderson. Anderson is mad that Angle hit him and he wants payback. The boss agrees, but says they have something else to take care of first.
The boss asks Mike Knox if he has anything to say for himself after allowing himself to be unmasked. The boss also tells Knox that he has to re-earn his spot in the club after getting unmasked, just like Doc did.
Commercial
Joe Park makes his way to the ring to call out Hulk Hogan. Park tells Hogan that he’s finished wrestling school and now wants a match with Aces and Eights. Hogan still doesn’t want to give him a match because he’s still too green. (or a “Green Hornet” in Park’s words.)
Park persists and Hogan finally agrees to let him have a match against Aces and Eights member Devon at Genesis. Joe is glad.
Brooke Hogan interrupts her father on the big screen. Brooke says that she has been trying to get in touch with her dad for days but he won’t return her messages. Brooke wants to know if Hulk is going to reinstate her boyfriend Bully Ray.
Hogan says no, angrily, and leaves. Brooke looks sad. Sort of anyway, she’s not a great actress.
In the back, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode are arguing about what they are going to wear and who is the better wrestler. Aries says they should put aside their differences because they could be a dream team, or maybe even a wet dream team, in Aries words.
Commercial
Match #4: Austin Aries and Bobby Roode versus Jeff Hardy and James Storm.
Roode comes out first wearing his robe, and Aries comes out next wearing his shirt and cape. Storm and Hardy come to the ring next. Roode and hardy start the match off and lock up. Roode puts Hardy in a headlock and Hardy escapes.
Roode puts hardy back in the headlock and then shoulder blocks him to the mat. Hardy hits Roode with a hip toss and a shoulder block. Roode tags in Aries and they argue while tagging. Aries takes Hardy down and rotates on top of him and then applies a front chancery.
Hardy punches Aries and then hits him with a hurricanrana. Hardy hits Aries with an inverted atomic drop, and when Roode runs in to help, he hits Roode with an atomic drop as well. Storm and Hardy double team Aries and hit him with poetry in motion. Aries rolls out to the floor where he and Roode start shoving each other.
Commercial
When we return Hardy and Roode are the legal men, and Hardy hits Roode with an elbow. Hardy climbs to the top rope but Roode knocks him off and stomps on him. Aries tags himself in and hits Hardy, jumps on his leg, and puts him in a front chancery.
Aries tags in Roode and hardy takes Roode down with a sunset flip. Hardy goes for a pin but the ref was distracted by Aries. Roode tags in Aries and Aries lands an elbow and a knee to the head, then tags Roode back in. Roode hits Hardy with a kick, a bodyslam, and a Swagger Bomb.
Roode tags in Aries and Aries hits Hardy with a corkscrew splash. Aries repeatedly claps his arms on Hardy’s head and tags in Roode. Roode hits hardy with a vertical suplex and a knee drop. Roode tags in Aries and Aries hits Hardy with a suplex and a knee drop. Roode tags himself in and climbs to the top, but hardy hits him with whisper in the wind and tags in Storm.
Storm hits Roode and Aries with several punches. Storm hits Roode with an inverted backdrop, a clothesline, a backdrop and then an Alabama Slamma to Aries. Strorm hits Roode with a kick and a neckbreaker. Storm hits Aries with closing time and Aries rolls to the floor. Daniels and Kazarian run in to interfere in the match.
Hardy hits Roode with the Twist of Fate, but Aries runs in and hits Hardy in the head with the title belt. Aries and Storm get DQ’d, and then beat Hardy down. After the match, Aries and Roode argue over who gets to hold up Hardy’s title.
Commercial
When we return, Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan are bragging about their upcoming match for the tag titles at Genesis. Ryan calls their team “the Big Morgan and the Big Organ.” They get jumped and beat up by tag champs Chavo and Hernandez.
Ken Anderson walks to the ring and introduces himself as the golden glossolalia. (glossolalia refers to speaking in tongues) Anderson is going to have a match with Kurt Angle next.
Match #5: Ken Anderson versus Kurt Angle.
Anderson retreats to the floor and Angle calls him a little bitch. Angle tells Anderson he’d better get in the ring soon, or he’s coming after him. Mike Knox comes up behind Angle and hits him in the back of the neck with a hammer.
Bischoff, Briscoe, and Samoa Joe run out to help, but it’s too late. Angle is taken out on a stretcher.
After the match, Sting comes to the ring with bat in hand and challenges Mike Knox to a fight right then and there. Devon orders Knox to go in and fight Sting.
Commercial
When we return, Sting and Knox go after each other: Sting with a bat and Knox with a hammer. Sting hits Knox with the bat and Knox drops the hammer. Earl Hebner takes both weapons away and starts the match.
I thought the match was starting when we got back from commercial, so I don’t know why Sting was not DQ’d for hitting Knox with a bat.
Knox hits Sting with a punch and a clothesline and then chokes him on the ropes. Knox jumps on Sting’s back while Sting is draped on the ropes and then knocks him to the floor. Knox goes after Sting and they trade strikes on the floor. Sting gets the upper hand and throws Knox into the steel steps three times.
Sting slams Knox into the steel barrier and then hits him with a Stinger splash on the barrier. Sting rolls Knox back into the ring and attempts the Scorpion Death lock but Knox gets out of it. Knox tries to attack Sting but Sting no-sells it and then hits Knox with a Stinger splash.
Sting hits Knox with a Scorpion Death Drop for the win. After the match, Sting grabs the hammer that Knox had and smashes his hand with it. Sting prepares to hit Knox again but is interrupted by Devon.
Devon and the rest of Aces and Eights has taken Brooke Hogan hostage and asks Sting what he’s going to do about it. Devon promises 2013 will be Aces and Eights year, until Bully Ray comes out.
Bully runs right at Aces and Eights swinging his steel chain and he chases them all of. Bully saves his new sweetie, Brooke Hogan. Hulk Hogan comes out and he doesn’t look happy.
Commercial
When we return, instead of thanking Bully Ray for saving his daughter, Hogan blames him for putting her in harm’s way. Bully Ray says he has been a pro wrestler all his life and that was his only love, until now.
Bully claims to have finally found something he loves more than wrestling: Brooke Hogan. Bully tells Brooke that she makes him laugh, and that he loves her. Bully then tells Brooke he knows it all happened very fast, but he wants to marry her.
Bully drops to one knee and places a ring on her finger. Brooke says yes and they smooch. Bully says he wants to do it in the Impact Zone, in the ring, next week. Brooke seems thrilled.
Bully and Brooke make out some more and Hulk walks away angry. Brooke and Bully show off the engagement ring for the camera as Impact goes off the air.
Our good friend Jeramie McPeek from the Phoenix Suns sent in word that the U.S. Airways Center – site of the Rumble – has launched a promotion in partnership with Doodle.ly to give away free tickets for the sold-out Royal Rumble and the Rumble FanFest the day before the event.
The promotion works by having fans showing their artistic abilities, painting a Doodle of their favorite WWE Superstar or Diva on the USAC Doodle pad and submitting it.
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair will be on RAW this Monday for the 20th anniversary show.
The Nature Boy will be resuming his angle with CM Punk which took life during the Slammy Awards episode last month. Punk attacked Flair but Flair fought back and even put Paul Heyman in the figure four before he was attacked by The Shield.
Flair has not signed a new WWE deal and is only working with the company when they need him although it is strongly believed that he will be offered a contract soon.
WWE will be holding the new NXT television tapings tonight in Florida at the Full Sail University and the one and only WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is going to be in the house.
Every time WWE holds a television taping for NXT, current or former WWE Superstars and Divas usually pop up for an appearance to help the talent and the show.
Meanwhile, Kevin Nash wrote on Twitter that he will also be going to NXT tonight to hang out with his buddies Shawn Michaels and Triple H, saying he got his Christmas gift a bit late but still stoked about joining his former partners.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will be in attendance to call matches. NXT airs on Hulu in the United States and is broadcast on TV in countries worldwide.
Monday Night RAW with the return of The Rock and a TLC match between CM Punk and Ryback pulled in 4,420,000 viewers with a rating of 3.1.
Hour one did 4,290,000 viewers, hour two did 4,320,000 viewers, and hour three did 4,650,000 viewers. This is the first time since the August 13 show that the viewers increased each hour and also the first time since that same show that the third hour was the highest rated.
Monday’s show did almost a million viewers more than last week’s show and the largest audience since the August 27 show. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham was somewhat offended by the CM Punk promo from RAW on Monday and called the last hour of RAW the “worst excuse for a show” he has ever seen.
Graham jumped in defense of Bruno Sammartino after Punk said that his 414 days as champion would amount to more if he wrestled like Sammartino just once a month at MSG, hence his status of best in the world.
“When that teenager looking CM Punk made that statement he was also talking about me, Ivan Koloff, Stan Hanson etc,” Graham said. He also added that he lost all the respect for Punk for what he said and for going with the script.
Just like Graham jumped in defense of Sammartino, Chris Jericho chimed in to defend Punk and his promo on RAW. On his Twitter, Jericho told Graham to shut his mouth and even went as far as calling him a mark.
Meanwhile, Paul Heyman suggested that CM Punk should defend the WWE title on Hall of Fame night at MSG against Billy Graham, then asked “flesh peddling promoter” Vince McMahon to book it.
“Hogan. Flair. Superstar. All great. @CMPunk #BestInTheWorld. That includes you, @TheRock! @WWE #Rumble,” Heyman wrote.
Elijah Burke, otherwise known as D’Angelo Dinero, announced yesterday on Twitter that his contract with TNA Wrestling expired on January 1 and he did not sign a new one, effectively ending his commitments with the company.
Burke started with TNA Wrestling in May 2009, around six months after he was released from his WWE contract. He has been off TNA television since August where he was attacked by the Aces & Eights at Hardcore Justice.
DK Publishing has released the WWE Encyclopedia: Updated & Expanded book which is written by former WWE staff members Kevin Sullivan and Brian Shields.
The ever-growing encyclopedia packs 416 pages of resources for anything WWE including title history details, profiles, photos, fact, statistics and much more.
Hundreds of Superstars of all eras, from the territorial days of the 60s and 70s to today’s WWE are all featured in the book as well as the great partnerships, tag teams and stables throughout WWE history.
Apart from that, there’s also coverage of the television shows that put the WWE into millions of households including pay-per-views plus WWE’s ventures outside the ring with toy lines, movies, music, and more!
The book retails for $45 and is available in bookstores nationwide.
Former STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem was granted his license again by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and will be able to fight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva on the February 2 show in Las Vegas.
His last fight was on December 30, 2011, where he defeated – and retired – Brock Lesnar from his MMA career, ending him quickly in the first round of the main event at UFC 141. Following his win, Overeem was scheduled to fight the then UFC Heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos in May.
In late March of last year, just over a month prior to his big fight, Overeem failed a pre-fight drug test administered by the NASC and later that month, UFC President Dana White removed him from his fight. The NASC eventually suspended him for 9 months.
As part of getting his license back, the 32 year old Dutch fighter underwent seven steroid tests in the second half of 2012 all of which were negative for any illegal substances.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission unanimously voted in favor of reinstating Overeem, making him eligible to fight in February.
WWE splashed the news all over Twitter and WWE.COM late last night as Alberto Del Rio defeated the Big Show on Smackdown to become the new World Heavyweight champion.
The tapings were held in Miami, Florida, yesterday, the same place where Del Rio received a massive ovation the night after WrestleMania when he interrupted Sheamus. The program is set to air Friday night on SyFy.
Del Rio battled Big Show in a Last Man Standing match in the main event of the show which also had The Rock coming back to Smackdown for the first time since he left the company almost 10 years ago.
This is Del Rio’s first run as a World Heavyweight champion having previously been the WWE champion on two other separate occasions.
Tonight is the start of a new year, and tonight (hopefully) is the start of something fresh and monumentus for Monday Night Raw! On the cards of course is the main event Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match between Ryback and WWE Champion C.M. Punk. Who will climb the ladder and claim WWE’s ultimate prize?
Also, “The Great One,” “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment,” the third-generation superstar, The Rock returns! What will “The Brahma Bull” have to say or do as he begins his quest to The Royal Rumble, where he will challenge for the WWE Championship?
How about Dolph Ziggler? What will “Mr. Money In The Bank” be up to tonight? Perhaps gain revenge for getting “crapped” all over by John Cena last week? Or would he possibly kick off his 2013 by cashing in said briefcase and potentially being a heavyweight champion?
Only one way to find out and that is to read on…
Monday Night Raw T.V. Report for January 7th, 2013 – “Here We Go Again!”
Introduction Segment: Recap and Welcoming
A video package, dating back to The Rock’s announcement regarding Royal Rumble, reminds us of the events leading up to tonight’s WWE Championship T.L.C. match, as well as the pending bout at the Pay-Per-View against The Rock.
Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler wish us a Happy New Year and also inform us of the same.
Segment #1: Arena Promo
John Cena is out first to kick off Raw. He also hypes up Raw’s card, as well as flashing back to last week’s “crap-tastic” (his words) end to 2012. John also reminds us that he is going to be in the Royal Rumble match, but cannot go further because his current rivalry interrupts.
“Mr. Money In The Bank”/”The Showoff” Dolph Ziggler, along with A.J. and Big E. Langston walk to the stage. Dolph puts himself over as usual, and A.J. rips into Cena for his antics last week. Cena and A.J. trade immature jokes about “size” until Ziggler brings the serious back in. He announces that he too will be in the Royal Rumble match and he is “not going away.” Cena jokes again, but then challenges Ziggler to a fight.
Suddenly, Langston takes the microphone and accepts on behalf of “The Showoff.” Ziggler and company discuss, then Dolph’s music plays, so apparently the match accepted for after the break!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – John Cena VS. Dolph Ziggler (with A.J. and Big E. Langston)
The bell rings and the wrestlers circle around, before Cena takes Dolph down with a shoulder block off the ropes. Ziggler replies with a side-headlock takedown but gets hip-tossed and arm-dragged to the canvas.
Dolph manages to corner and pummel Cena with punches, then presses his legs against Cena’s side as he performs sit-ups. Cena quickly counters into a quick pin and then drives him down with a bulldog, and clamps on a grounding rear facelock.
Dolph kicks out of a cover following a suplex, then goes back to the corner with Cena. He runs at him and nails a corner splash for another two-count! Picture-perfect dropkick is hit by “The Showoff” for another near-fall, then dances around before getting caught with a slingshot into the corner.
As Scott Armstrong, the referee, checks on Dolph, Big E. hits Cena with a right hand to put him down.
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Live again, Dolph is in control with a unique headlock submission on the ground, until Cena powers out and overthrows him. Big belly-to-belly suplex to drive Dolph down. A.J. hops up on the apron and glares at John, which distracts him enough to turn around into another dropkick by Ziggler.
Subsequent elbow drops for two! Dolph chokes Cena with the middle rope, and A.J.slaps Cena. This time, referee Armstrong sees it and orders A.J. and Langston to the back.
Cena gains a bit of momentum, planting Dolph with the spin-out backdrop after a couple of shoulder tackles. He goes for the “5-Knuckle Shuffle” fistdrop, but Ziggler kicks him in the head and drops the Fameasser on him. 1 – 2 – Cena kicks out!
John moves out of another corner splash and hits the fistdrop this time. He attempts the Attitude Adjustment, but Ziggler wiggles out and nails his Zig-Zag finisher. 1 – 2 – John kicks out!
Cena ducks a superkick and goes for the STF submission, but Ziggler counters-off and drives “The Dr. Of Thuganomics” down with a jumping DDT! Dolph ascends the turnbuckle and flys off, only to get caught in the A.A.! Dolph lands on his feet though, and nails the superkick to Cena’s chin! 1 – 2 – Cena still kicks out! (Wow, helluva match – come on Dolph!)
Ziggler pounds away on a grounded Cena, and fires himself up again. Punch to the gut from John, then some fists to the head. Back and forth punching now, and Dolph jumps on Cena’s back with the sleeper hold.He is wearing the (mostly) fan favourite down, but Cena backs Dolph into referee Armstrong.
He is knocked out of the ring, and while Cena has Ziggler tapping in the STF, Big E. Langston runs out and takes out Cena with his finisher. Dolph rolls over and drapes his arm. Another referee runs out, 1 – 2 – Cena still with the shoulder up! (And now loud “Cena” chants)
Cena again successful this time with the Attitude Adjustment and successful with the victory! (Darn!)
Winner via Pinfall: John Cena
Up next, Divas Champion Eve will defend her title!
(She makes her entrance prior to the break.)
Commercials.
Match #2: Single for the Divas Championship – Eve (Champion) VS. Kaitlyn
The women lock up with Eve taking down Kaitlyn via a side headlock. Eve sweeps up Kaitlyn and works over her left leg, the injured ankle. Kaitlyn flips Torres over, but is stalled when she is told to tie her boot.
Eve takes advantage with a stiff kick to her head, then chokes her in the corner. Kaitlyn soon catches her off the ropes with a side-slam and drops her with a reverse DDT, but only receives a two-count!
Eve shoves Kaitlyn off and runs around the ring, in and out, then grabs her championship and begins to head out the crowd. This one is over, as Kaitlyn returns to the ring and Eve proceeds to the back.
Winner via Count-Out (but NOT Divas Champion): Kaitlyn
Up next, “The Rhodes Scholars” will take on “Team Hell-No.”
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Segment #2: Locker Room Promo
Santino Marella is putting over Hall-Of-Fame wrestler Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat until Intercontinental Champion walks in and insults both. Ricky gives Marella support by offering to be in his corner.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Matt Striker is with “The Viper” Randy Orton, who is also in the Royal Rumble match. Randy claims that he will win that match, until three others walk in and object. “3.M.B.” (Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre) all declare they will win, and also Orton has the choice of who he will face later tonight. He picks Slater.
Tag-Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan make their entrance prior to the break.
Commercials.
Match #3: Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions “Team Hell-No” (Kane and Daniel Bryan) VS. “The Rhodes Scholars” (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) (Non-Title)
Kane and Rhodes faceoff first, with Kane hammering away in the corner with fists. Cody counters with a quick kick then tags in Sandow. Damien gets snapmared then dropkicked from Kane. He also gets whipped into by both Kane and Bryan, then taken down to the mat with a wristlock from Daniel.
Vicious kicks by Bryan don’t let Rhodes off the mat, then he gets a near-fall with a Northernlight Suplex. Cody counters with an elbow, then kicks Bryan in the gut and switches with Damien, who quickly switches back to Cody. Damien clamps on a grounding rear chinlock, but is soon hopped over as Daniel tags in Kane.
“The Big Red Machine” launches himself off the top with a clothesline, then boots Sandow in the face for two! Kane measures for the Chokeslam, but smartly, Sandow rolls out of the ring, only to receive a running knee off the apron from Bryan! Kicks in the corner, and Bryan sommersaults off the turnbuckle. However, he when he landed, he immediately hurt it, and The Scholars take advantage.
Rhodes is in to work over his knee and then spins Bryan down with “The CrossRhodes” faceplant! 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: “The Rhodes Scholars” (Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes)
Up next, Randy Orton in his bout!
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Match #4: Single – Heath Slater (with “3.M.B.” members Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre) VS. “The Viper” Randy Orton
Side headlock and shoulder block from Orton, plus a clothesline to dominate the beginning of this bout. Slater takes a quick break in the corner then kicks Orton in the stomach and throws him out of the ring.
Orton jawbreaks Slater on the apron, and then takes down the other “3.M.B.” members. They come back and this allows Slater to now wear down Orton in the middle of the ring with a rear chinlock. Slater brings Orton down with a neckbreaker and goes for the cover, getting a close call!
Heath is cut off the the top rope then brought down with a superplex. Orton is “zoning up,” hitting clotheslines and a powerslam. He kicks down Mahal off the apron, then slingshot-DDTs Slater to the mat. Orton gains the momentum and R.K.O.’s Slater for the W!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Viper” Randy Orton
Post-match, Orton R.K.O.’s Mahal and McIntyre too as they tried an attack.
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett VS. Santino Marella (with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat) (Non-Title)
Santino ducks a quick clothesline and counters with an armdrag, however Barrett quickly dominates with mounted punches. Snap suplex by Wade, but Marella rolls out of a pump-handle slam try. He nails a side-kick and gets a two-count!
Marella is fired up, hitting a hip-toss and grounding head butt. He goes for “The Cobra” chop, but Barrett rolls out and hits Santino with the “BUll-Hammer” for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Matt Striker is with Sheamus and inquires about winning Royal Rumble and capturing the World Heavyweight Championship last year. He asks if Sheamus can do it again, and Sheamus conquers, only this time, just not in 18 seconds. A hurting “3.M.B.” walks, and Sheamus makes fun of their injuries. He then challenges them to a bout tonight.
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Match #5: Single – The Great Khali (with Hornswaggle and Natalya) VS. United States Champion Antonio Cesaro (Non-Title)
(Note: The Miz is on commentary). Khali dominates early until he makes a mistake and gets caught on the ropes. Cesaro capitalizes and kicks away on Khali’s leg. The 7-Footer pounds his way out of it and continues to counter with elbows and a boot. He hits a couple clotheslines, but gets taken down with a springboard uppercut, then “The Neutralizer” faceplant!
1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: United States Champion Antonio Cesaro
Post-match, Cesaro stares down The Miz.
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Paul Heyman is on his cellphone when Brad Maddox interrupts. He offers his referee services to the T.L.C. match, but Heyman turns him down quickly and walks off.
Next, Sheamus (who makes his entrance) is out for his contest.
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Sheamus VS. Jinder Mahal (with “3.M.B.” members Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre)
In short, pretty much like Randy Orton’s bout, Sheamus dominates, “3.M.B’s” interference doesn’t work, and the Irishman finishes off Mahal with the Brogue Kick.
Up next, is the WWE Championship T.L.C. match, and a highlight package of the circumstances leading up is aired!
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Match #6: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs for the WWE Championship – C.M. Punk (Champion) (with Paul Heyman) VS.
Ryback (Challenger)
The two archrivals circle around each other then begin the pounding! Punk with punches in the corner and Ryback with shoulders and kicks in the corner. Punk rolls to the outside and smashes Ryback with a chair he found under the ring.
It does little, as Ryback comes back with a flury of punches. Ryback picks up the chair now and goes to whale C.M. against the ring post with it, but misses, and Punk nails a kick instead.
The “Second-City Saint” brings a ladder into the ring, but Ryback dominates again. He calls out “chair, ladder” and holds Punk high in the air in a suplex position, then finally drops him on the ladder.
Heyman is aghast at the impact. Ryback dismantles the steel steps and runs them into Punk’s arm/shoulder area. Ryback tries again with the second set of steps, but Punk moves out of the way and uses the steps to jump and hit a knee in Ryback’s face.
The “Straight-Edge” Superstar delivers blows with the chair to Ryback’s knee to further hurt the beast.
Commercials.
Back live, Ryback is in control and scoop slams Punk on the floor. He now pulls a table from under the canvas and sets it up against the corner barricade. Punk counters with a chair again, but Ryback reverses a whip and chucks Punk over the announcer’s table.
He puts him back in the ring, but Punk immediately goes back to the knee. He grabs the chair and smashes it again. He then wraps the chair around Ryback’s ankle and goes to jump on it, but misses and may have reinjured his own knee.
Ryback fires back up with clotheslines, a backdrop, and spinebuster. He riles up for the “Meathook” clothesline, then sets him up for “Shellshock,” but Punk maneuvers out. He goats Ryback into running through the barricade-laid table!
This allows C.M. time to try to get the WWE Championship, but Ryback manages to meet him at the top. Punk is pushed off, but he comes back and tips the ladder. Ryback picks up Punk and drops him on a leg of the ladder, bending it useless!
Punk gets out of another pickup and hits Ryback in the head again with a high kick. Punk runs with the high knee at Ryback in the corner, twice, but gets chucked out of the ring through a table by Ryback! Heyman’s eyes almost popped out of his head at what he witnessed!
Ryback collects a new ladder and begins the climb. He has his hands on it, but the lights go out! They quickly turn back on to reveal Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose of “The Shield” fighting him. Roman Reigns also joins, and everytime Ryback gets close again to the title, the three outlaws for justice assault him.
They triple-powerbomb him through a table onto the steel steps and head to the back. Paul Heyman is coaxing Punk into consciousness so he can take advantage.
He is slow, slow, slow, to get to the ladder and Ryback is still down. C.M. is climbing with one arm and one leg, and as he reaches the top, he laughs at Ryback. Punk unhooks the title and stands atop the ladder, happily embraced in victory.
Winner via climbing the ladder and STILL WWE Champion: C.M Punk
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Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Matt Striker talks to the WWE Champion, C.M. Punk. Before he can utter a word, the winner of the T.L.C. match cuts him off and declares that of course he had nothing to do with Brad Maddox or The Shield. Instead, he threatens that he will come back out and drop a “pipebomb” of his own before The Rock makes his grand speech.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Tag-Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan are arguing about their earlier match. Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero interjects and informs them that their medical review from Dr. Shelby will take place next week! (Awesome!)
Up next, Kofi Kingston (who again makes his entrance before the break) will face World Heavyweight Champion The Big Show.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. World Heavyweight Champion The Big Show (Non-Title)
Kofi starts out on fire, until Big Show literately reaches over referee Mike Chioda and knocks out Kingston with the W.M.D. punch for the very quick 1 – 2 – 3! (The point?)
Winner via Pinfall: World Heavyweight Champion The Big Show
To hype up the impending confrontation between The Rock and WWE Champion C.M. Punk, Cole and Lawler via video remind us of Punk’s turn on The Rock from Raw 1000 on July 23rd, 2012.
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
WWE Champion C.M. Punk is out with Paul Heyman. He says that “the time has come to tell you all something very personal.” Punk defines what “pipebomb” is, which is “truth and honesty.” He says the fans lack those qualities, and recaps how is life has changed since June 27th, 2011 when he dropped his first “pipebomb.”
He says that he really did speak the truth, but in turn, “sold out” to everyone. He created a persona, but also realizes that it doesn’t matter if you are the best in everything, as the one with the most money is the only person who “breaks the glass ceiling.” He points out a number of “bad” examples (Brodus Clay/Little Jimmy) that are above the workhorses (Tyson Kidd) in the pecking order.
Punk says that you don’t get noticed unless “you move a couple of t-shirts around here.” He claims that he would be WWE Champion 20 or 30 years if he wrestled in the era of Bruno Sammartino or Hulk Hogan.
This is because they really only had to wrestle once or twice a month and not face superstar-beasts like Ryback in T.L.C. matches. Punk says that his 1 and a bit year as WWE Champion today is equal to 30 years from long ago.
Punk then calls legends like Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Ric Flair weak, dishonest, and liars, because they always say “they did it for you,” but turn their backs on the fans too at times. Punk says he is neither weak or dishonest, instead he is “the best in the world.”
He says that their are two types of people in the world: those born to be in the spotlight, and those born to pay to see the people in the spotlight. He puts the crowd in the latter category.
Punk speaks his truth when he says that he has “never ever done this for any of you.” A ringside crew member informs Punk that they have to go to break, but the “Straight-Edge Superstar” refuses and instead tells the entire arena that no one matters. The screen goes to black and break.
Commercials.
Punk is still in the ring, now holding his WWE Champion. He promises that he will stand in the ring on the first Raw of 2014(which is January 6th, by the way!) still the WWE Champion. Punk completely rips the fans, calling them “losers” and saying “you do not get to win.”
Before he can go on, the second main attraction for tonight walks out. The Rock is back and marches to the ring and stands in the squared circle with C.M. Punk. He says that he had to hear it all and waited until Punk was finished his tirade.
Now that he has, Rock calls him “delusional.” While 414 days as WWE Champion is incredible, that’s not the number that matters. According to The Rock, the number that counts is 20 – 20 days until Punk face him at the Rumble.
The Rock calls Punk out on his “broken promises” and missed opportunities for change. He tells C.M. to listen to the voices, as they are not “voiceless” like Punk calls them. Rock conducts the crowd in a chant of “cookiepuss,” which Punk actually encourages, because he calls them “puppets” and says this is the exact same way Punk got them to chant “ice cream” 18 months ago. He tells them and Rock they don’t get to win.
Rock calls that a contrary, as “they’ve already won.” They won when The Rock got to come here and say “finally, The Rock has come back to Tampa!” The Rock says he is back for three reasons – to entertain the fans, to stop Punk, and to win back the WWE Championship after 10 long years.
The Rock threatens to Punk not to say that “the people don’t matter.” They have always matter according to The Rock, it is instead Punk himself that does not matter. Rock says that there is no way that he will be stopped from becoming WWE Champion.
Punk lays his belt down and gets in Rock’s face. He also threatens, that no matter how many times Rock shows up, he will always “kick your ass.” “I’m going to kick your ass because I’m the ‘best in the world.’ I’m the best thing going today, I’m the best guy you’ve ever stepped in the ring with.”
Punk says that he is in the big leagues and swinging for the fences. “When you step in the ring, your arms are just too short to box with God.”
Rock retorts and informs Punk that he is going “one-on-one with ‘The Great One.'” He knows that Punk is bad and dangerous, but “in 20 days, times up.” Rock tells him to get a tatoo of Rock’s foot on his butt cheek, because he is going to kick his ass! The Rock then grabs C.M. and Rock Bottoms him!
Punk rolls out of the ring and glares at The Rock, as Rock motions “20” and signals for the WWE Championship to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
For the first Raw of 2013, I thought it was just “ok.” Unfortunately there were no real surprise (even Kaitlyn winnng the Divas title would’ve been a small “shot.”), but there were some great promos and one great WRESTLING match, so it kind of evens it out for an average. Onto the analysis.
Excellence: Cena/Dolph promo followed by the Cena/Ziggler match! Loved this bout – fantastic WRESTLING and SUSPENSE in it and allotted some great time! These two are another pair with chemistry both on the microphone and in the squared circle. “Rhodes Scholars” and “Team Hell-No” bout.
Also another great example of WRESTLING and old-school pyschology (no pun intended considering the storyline!) with the heels working over an injured knee. Plus, the return of Dr. Shelby and some wacky skits!
Antonio Cesaro – the U.S. Champ managed to get a decent match out of The Great Khali and impressively picked him up for his finisher. Way to go!
Rock/Punk promo – what I really liked was The Rock being pretty serious from the get-go. Yes, there was definitely “Rock-isms” in his oratory tonight, but he didn’t start off with any of them, and throughout the speech, his tone was “deeper.” He and Punk mixed well together, and it was done so much that I want them to have the match next week! They don’t need anymore hype after this – that is a win!
Bogus: The short pointless matches with Barrett/Marella (and Steamboat) as well as Kingston/Big Show, and “3.M.B.” versing Orton/Sheamus respectively. I think those were seriously just time fillers. Regarding the Divas match, it was actually ok, but why would Kaitlyn let Eve get herself counted out if she knew she couldn’t win the Championship that way? Chase after her and haul her back to the ring! Hello, common sense woman!
Also unfortunately, I thought the T.L.C. match was a let down. It was brutal at times, but short and I think they could’ve easily elminated at least one of the “pointless” matches I mentioned above to make more room for this match, especially since their was so much hype/drama/controversy surrounding it. Yes, there were a couple times I had the “ok, who really is going to win this” feeling in my stomach, but I had that much more in Dolph/Cena – speaking of which, my only grief with that match is the result!
Dolph should’ve won to gain revenge from the prank last week and really start himself off as the next “superstar” that he can/will be on a high note!
All in all, really just a regular show. No bombshells dropped, no unexpected returns for the first Raw of the New Year. Perhaps they’re saving all that for next week’s 20th Anniversary. That too is intriguing, and here’s hoping a big angle on that show to leave us satisfied. Plus, a lot of nostalgia!
Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling Online Readers and Wrestling Fans! Best wishes for an AWESOME 2013!
The Rock and CM Punk entertained the Tampa crowd a little bit more yesterday after the show went off the air, sending the people home happy.
After The Rock delivered the Rock Bottom to CM Punk and the show faded to black on television, the WWE champion came back out and told the People’s Champion that he wasn’t finished with him. Punk hit the ring but was welcomed with another Rock Bottom for interrupting.
The second Rock Bottom was not enough for the champion and once again interrupted The Rock and once again ate a Rock Bottom but this time it was followed by a People’s Elbow.
After the third Rock Bottom of the night and the elbow, Punk called it a night and The Rock got on the mic to thank the fans.
