In an interview published today by Channel Guide Magazine, former two time Divas champion Paige revealed that she’s been out of action due to a slight concussion.
“I took a bad bump in one of my matches,” Paige said. “I’m losing my mind because I’m not at work right now so it’s been a few straight weeks of not leaving the house.” Paige explained that she does to to the WWE Performance Center and trains in the ring there under the care of the doctors and taking imPACT tests.
Paige said that it was only a “slight concussion” and hopes to get back in the ring soon since it was “no big deal” however WWE doctors immediately put her on the injured list as she has to be 100% before returning.
The young Brit talked to Channel Guide Magazine about the upcoming season of Total Divas where once again she forms part of the cast. She said the future about her engagement is resolved in the first episode.
Continuing their casual relationship with EVOLVE, WWE is sending Jason Jordan, Chad Gable, and William Regal to the EVOLVE 54 live iPPV event in Orlando, Florida, on January 23.
Gable and Jordan will be signing autographs starting at 7PM, an hour before the start of the show. It will take place at the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex at North Parramore Avenue. All VIP ticket holders will be able to get one free autograph and one free picture with Jason Jordan and Chad Gable. VIP ticket holders will also receive a free 8×10.
William Regal will be appearing during the live event although highly unlikely that he will be part of the iPPV broadcast. The same thing happened when Sami Zayn was allowed to go to EVOLVE a few months ago, appearing for the crowd but not on the actual broadcast.
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s IWGP Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura is being stripped off his title according to NJPW, days after he publicly announced that he’s going to the WWE at the end of the month.
Nakamura’s last date with NJPW is on January 30 at the Korakuen Hall and has several dates in between, dates that he’s expect to honor. His title will be up for grabs next month with Kenny Omega, the new leader of the Bullet Club, being one of the contenders for the title.
Shinsuke Nakamura, along with AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson of the Bullet Club are expected to show up on WWE television over the next few weeks.
There were several rumors that Rusev was injured during a non-televised live event in Bossier City, Louisiana, on Saturday night.
Rusev wrestled Ryback during that show and lost to the Big Guy. Today, Rusev took it to Twitter to address these injury rumors, and in full character, he slammed the “stupid American propaganda.”
Rusev wrote on Twitter, “I’m not injured. Just because I didn’t go beat up Brock it doesn’t mean I’m injured. I go to India now.”
The former United States champion is part of a group of WWE Superstars who will be off to India today for two shows later this week.
We continue towards Royal Rumble in the town that brought us WrestleMania 30, New Orleans! With less than two weeks to go, who else is going to make their presence in the ‘Rumble match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? What other stakes may Champion Roman Reigns face at the Network/Pay-Per-View show?
As well, the Intercontinental Championship match did not conclude properly last week on Smackdown!, so what is going to be the next development in the rivalry between I.C. Champ Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens?
The League of Nations has been dominate the last few weeks, so who will be their next opponent(s)?
The Divas Championship contest ended in controversy too, with Charlotte using the ropes to gain the pin. Can Becky Lynch use this as evidence for another shot at the title, or will “The Nature Boy’s Girl” be able to move on?
Lastly, both will the first Hall of Famer for 2016 be announced and a Happy Birthday to Raw! Exactly 23-years ago tonight, WWE’s now flagship program started up and has been the staple in professional-wrestling television for the last 17 and ¾ years!
All this and much more, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for January 11th, 2016 – “’One For All And All For One’”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo, Welcoming, and Arena Promo
A recap of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns’ struggles with The McMahons airs, then Michael Cole greets us live from New Orleans. Most of the roster is on the stage, and Vince and Stephanie strut out, seemingly happy.
They talk about the wrestlers on the set, building them up on their chance to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion as the title is on the line in the Royal Rumble match. The lights go out and The Wyatt Family appear by the commentator’s table. Bray Wyatt declares “like I’ve said before, ‘anyone but you Roman.’”
The WWE World Heavyweight Champion himself now interrupts. He meets Mr. McMahon and Mrs. Levesque in the ring, asking them “what happens if I win?” Stephanie laughs at that inquiry, and Vince books him in a “One VS. All match,” which will involve anywhere from 1/3 to half of the Royal Rumble roster. However, Vince also books Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose in the first match of Raw, facing Sheamus who just hits him on the back. Sheamus walks over a tumbled Dean to the ring, and their bout is next!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose VS. Sheamus (Non-Title)
Sheamus is pounding away, then gives Dean a backdrop. The IC Champion turns Sheamus around in the corner and punches, then bites him. Sheamus kicks back and throws Ambrose to the outside, then hits him tied up against the ropes. He clotheslines Dean on the apron, and then chokes him with his boot. Sheamus wears down Ambrose with a grounding rear chinlock. He is countered for a short bit, but hurls Dean into the corner barrier, and then suplexes him onto the announce table.
Back in the ring, the “Celtic Warrior” tears at Ambrose’s chin until Dean punches back. He drops out of a suplex and hits Sheamus with a boot out of the corner. Dean chops away and gains momentum, ducking a Brogue Kick; he follows with a dive through the ropes!
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Sheamus is back in control, tying up “The Lunatic Fringe” in a modified-Cloverleaf. Dean puts Sheamus to the mat with a swinging neckbreaker, then ascends the turnbuckle. Sheamus hits him atop the turnbuckle and goes for White Noise, but Dean counters and plants Sheamus with a Tornado-DDT from the other corner for a near-fall!
Dean dives off another turnbuckle with an elbow drop, then measures Sheamus against the ropes. Sheamus elbows back, and turns a Dirty Deeds attempt into another White Noise Try. Ambrose reverses and clotheslines Sheamus hard, sending him to the floor. Dean runs again, but Sheamus meets him with a forearm! He chucks Ambrose into two corners on the outside, then the barrier behind the commentators. He throws him into the steps, but Ambrose drops out and shoves Sheamus into the post. Referee John Coan gets to ten for the finish.
Winner: None due to Double Count-Out
Post-match, Ambrose throws Sheamus around again, and Sheamus ends up busted open in his forehead. Kevin Owens suddenly appears and fights with Dean until referees separate.
Later tonight, Chris Jericho will host his “Highlight Reel” show with Tag-Team Champions The New Day!
Commercials.
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is by the Trainer’s Locker Room, waiting to get a word with Dean Ambrose. “The Lunatic Fringe” barges out and vows to continue his fight.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Vince and Stephanie are chatting in the hallways when they walk into Paul Heyman. They listen to him sucking up, and then Heyman pitches Brock Lesnar VS. the winner of the Royal Rumble at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Vince isn’t a fan, and all three walk into his office to talk further.
Stardust makes his entrance and will be wrestling Titus O’Neil after the break!
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Match #2: Single – Stardust VS. Titus O’Neil
Titus governs most of this until Stardust gains an advantage, stomping in the corner. He gives O’Neil a side-effect slam and climbs the turnbuckle, but drops to his feet and runs into Titus’ “Clash Of The Titus” sit-down spinebuster; Titus takes this one!
Post-match, as O’Neil is celebrating with fans, Cody attacks him from behind in frustration.
Up next is the “Highlight Reel!”
Commercials.
Segment #4: Arena Promo
Chris Jericho enters grandly and a replay of his return from last week is shown. He soaks in the “Y2J” chants from the crowd, then brags about the love on the internet his comeback has gotten. He declares that he will be the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion after Royal Rumble, but his guests now join him before he goes on.
Tag-Team Champions Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston have had enough of Jericho’s antics, but “Y2J” entices them more. The trio fire back with shots at Chris’ looks until The Usos interrupt. They want to go against The New Day, and Jericho offers to help out by being in their corner to even against the trio.
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Match #3: Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E.) (with Tag-Team Champion New Day partner Xavier Woods) VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) (with Chris Jericho)
Kofi and an Uso start out with a measure, then both Twins double drop Kingston. Jey stays and controls until Kofi makes the tag to Big E. he comes in and is also double-teamed. Tags are continuously traded, then Jimmy winds up for the rear-end splash; he hits it but then is pushed from the top to the floor. Xavier brags on the outside with some trumpet playing, but Jericho faces him and scares him to the stop of the stage.
Commercials.
Kofi is leading until he misses splash. Big E. is now in and splashes Jimmy on the apron. Jey eventually gets the hot-tag from his brother, and is all over New Day. He runs off the ropes and rockets himself over with a plancha onto both E and Kofi. A bit later, Big. E. is superkicked and so is Kofi, but Xavier yanks down Jimmy as he went for a splash. Jericho gets back at Woods, using his trombone against him. The distraction allows Jimmy to roll-up Kofi in the ring for the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Usos (with Chris Jericho)
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Segment #5: Office Promo
Stephanie tells Paul that Mr. McMahon is still annoyed with his insistence on Lesnar competing at WrestleMania. She is trying to convince him to put Lesnar in the Royal Rumble, but Paul E. declines on Brock’s behalf. McMahon fires back, informing Heyman that her father has made it so that Brock HAS to wrestle in the Rumble.
Segment #6: Video Promo
John “Bradshaw” Layfield is in the ring to reveal the first inductee into the 2016 Hall of Fame; this person is “the man they call ‘Sting!’” A montage of his career in WCW and WWE plays.
Commercials.
Match #4: Eight-Man Tag-Team – The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erik Rowan, and Braun Strowman) VS. The Social Outcasts (Heath Slater, Adam Rose, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas)
Rose and Strowman begin, and then Adam quickly switches with Bo after getting shoved. Dallas does them same, and Curtis is in, but gets pushed to the mat with a shoulder block. This breaks down quickly after Ryback gets involved.
Winner via Disqualification: None due to Interference
Post-match, “The Big Guy” helps fend-off The Family.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Kalisto is interviewed and gives a typical face promo about overcoming his larger opponent, U.S. Champion Del Rio.
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Match #5: Single for the United States Championship – Alberto Del Rio (Champion) VS. Kalisto (Challenger)
Del Rio is aggressive early, driving Kalisto to the mat with a spike-DDT. The Lucha Dragon tries a comeback, but is countered quickly from a hurricanrana into a sit-down powerbomb. He continues to work him over for a while until Kalisto counters with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. He tries a dive-to-the-outside, but Alberto moves and Kalisto hits the floor mat!
Commercials.
As we comeback, Kalisto is on the top turnbuckle, but Del Rio moves again and Kalisto eats canvas. The Champ carries on ruling, snap-suplexing him. He climbs the turnbuckle, but is crotched by Kalisto. The Dragon follows with a hurricanrana from the top and both men are down! Kalisto increases momentum until, almost getting this with a kick!
Alberto hits Kalisto on his back atop the turnbuckle, then brings him backward with a reverse-suplex! He hangs Kalisto upside down in the corner then goes for his double foot-stomp, but Kalisto moves and plants him with the hurricanrana-facebuster! 1 – 2 – Del Rio gets his shoulder up!
Kalisto sets up for the Salito-Del-Sole, but Alberto stops him. He picks Kalisto up from behind, but Kalisto reveres into a victory-roll for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall and NEW United States Champion: Kalisto
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
JoJo interviews Divas Champion Charlotte, who is with her father Ric. She claims to be the “victim” in her situation with Becky Lynch; Flair concurs.
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Match #6: Single – Brie Bella (with Team Bella member Alicia Fox) VS. Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair)
This one doesn’t even get started when Becky Lynch charges in and attacks the Divas Champion. She hammers away on Charlotte for a while, until more referees break them apart.
Commercials.
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
JoJo catches up with an infuriated Lynch, who is upset with Charlotte for going back on her word.
After a review of Paul Heyman and Stephanie’s confrontation, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns makes his entrance for his huge challenge, next!
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Announcements for Smackdown! this week include Neville and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose taking on Sheamus and Kevin Owens; The Dudley Boyz facing The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Erik Rowan) in a Tables Match; and Kalisto defending his U.S. Title against Alberto Del Rio!
Mr. McMahon and Stephanie bring out Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio, The Wyatt Family, Kevin Owens, Tag-Team Champions The New Day, The Ascension (Viktor and Konnor), Stardust, and Tyler Breeze; they decide on Owens to begin.
Match #7: One-Vs.-All – WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns VS. Kevin Owens,
Owens starts out with Reigns with a lockup, then Roman gives Kevin a shoulder-block. Owens goes to the outside for a break, then powers over for a time.
Commercials.
Owens is still managing this bout until Reigns counters a side headlock with a backdrop. Kevin hits back with a semi-superkick, but only gets two! He goes for a running-senton, but Roman moves and Owens hits the canvas!
Reigns boots back out of the corner, then both trade punches. Roman gets the advantage with a leaping-clothesline, but runs into an elbow form the corner. He turns Owens around and carries him to the corner. He hits nine clotheslines, but can’t get the tenth. He counters Kevin again and gears up for the Superman Punch.
The Ascension hop up on the apron, so Roman knocks down them, then Stardust. Vince orders the rest of them in, and Roman gives it a go to defend himself, but the numbers are too many. That is until Brock Lesnar walks out!
He dismantles everyone with clotheslines and suplexes, then is left alone in the ring with Reigns. “The Beast” picks up the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and drops him with an F-5, then walks away with Heyman. Brock and Roman stare at each other, with Reigns even smiling, to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings
I quite enjoyed this Raw, both from a story-telling point and match-wise. Here’s my take:
Excellence: matches between Ambrose/Sheamus, Usos/New Day, and Kalisto/Del Rio. Heyman is always at his best in verbal, and tonight was no different.
Enjoying the feud between Usos/Jericho/New Day; I see Usos taking the Tag-Straps soon, perhaps at the ‘Rumble or next week, then a rematch at ‘Rumble.
Very cool, and a little surprised (I don’t know exactly why), that Sting is the first Hall of Famer for 2016. obviously well-deserved, but I just wasn’t thinking him for the main-person this year.
Was very surprised that Kalisto took the U.S. Title; glad he did though, as has achieved a lot of fan-momentum lately, so it was smart to capitalize on it, even if his title reign may be short.
LOVED the aggressiveness and furiousness from Lynch tonight, thereby adding more intensity to their feud.
Bogus: Again, could’ve done without Stardust/Titus; this “feud” does nothing for me, so end it! Where was Paige?
Instead of Social Outcasts meeting Wyatts, one of them, other than Slater, should’ve faced Ziggler again, to continue with Heath upsetting Dolph last week.
I understand the meaning behind Lesnar also F-5ing Reigns, (him being a “monster” and not caring about anyone but himself) but I think he should’ve left the WWE World Heavyweight Champ alone, to create a little question leading to the ‘Rumble, and not having them touch each other until then to keep us wondering who will have the power.
Until Smackdown!, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!
WWE Superstars and Divas will be going for a quick tour in India for two shows in New Delhi, with everyone expected to leave the United States tomorrow after Raw with nearly 24 hours of traveling.
The two shows – on January 15 and 16 – will both be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, a 14,000 seater arena which was built in 1982. This will be the first time that WWE has gone to India in 13 years.
Those expected to perform there include WWE World Heavyweight champion Roman Reigns, Big Show, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Bray Wyatt, Charlotte, Summer Rae, Rusev, Tyler Breeze, and others. John Cena was supposed to lead the group however due to his injury he had to cancel and was replaced by Reigns.
Former WCW champion Sting was announced today as the headliner and the first inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016. Sting will be inducted on April 2, the eve of WrestleMania, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Sting made his debut in 1985 with Continental Wrestling Association before moving to the Universal Wrestling Federation a year later with his tag team partner Jim “Warrior” Hellwig where the duo were known as the Blade Runners.
In 1987, Sting moved to to NWA and made his debut there at Starrcade ’87 and as the saying goes, the rest is history. During his time in NWA and WCW, Sting catapulted himself as the hero of the company and main evented countless of pay-per-views. His feuds with the Four Horsemen, Vader, Dangerous Alliance, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and the nWo are legendary and the Stinger has the honor to say that he shared the last Nitro match ever with perhaps his biggest rival, Ric Flair.
His WCW career came to an end in 2001 when WCW was sold to WWE and Sting moved to TNA in 2003 and resisted attempts made by WWE to jump ship. The dream became a reality however in 2014 when Sting made his WWE debut at the Survivor Series, attacking Triple H. He wrestled at WrestleMania 31 against The Game and then wrestled Seth Rollins at Night of Champions, losing both matches.
During his wrestling career which he says it’s not over yet despite the injury he suffered late last year, Sting won the NWA title twice, the WCW US title twice, the WCW Tag Team titles three times, the WCW World Heavyweight title 6 times, the TNA Tag Team titles once and the TNA World title four times.
It’s a career that many wrestlers dream to have, a career that cemented Sting as The Icon in the world of professional wrestling.
23 years ago to the date, Monday Night Raw made its debut on USA Network as a one hour broadcast replacing Prime Time Wrestling and taped from the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios in New York City.
1,180 episodes later, WWE’s flagship show is the longest running weekly episodic program in primetime TV history, and while its ratings are way down from the Attitude Era, Raw delivers enough numbers to keep the show in the top 5 on cable and is often the most watched show on cable on Monday nights.
Throughout the 23 years, Raw went through 3 different networks and 12 different theme songs. After ending its relationship with USA Network in 2000, Raw moved to TNN and later to Spike TV which was a TNN rebrand. After 8 years, USA Network got the rights for Raw again and WWE has called USA Network its home ever since. Marilyn Manson, Papa Roach, Nickelback, and Outasight are some of those artists who recorded a Raw theme song.
Monday Night Raw airs pretty much in every country that WWE has a broadcast deal with and it apart from airing live in the United States, the show also airs live in several other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Latin America, Australia and others.
Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, the man who was responsible with performing the surgery on John Cena, said that that the former WWE champion had a complete tear of a small portion of the rear rotator cuff tendon toward the top-back of his shoulder as well as a large piece of loose tissue in his shoulder that needed to be removed.
It was not revealed when Cena suffered the tear as he just recently returned to the ring – on December 26 – after a two month hiatus from WWE to film the reality TV show American Grit for FOX.
The doctor also said that there was some deterioration in the AC joint and did not give a specific time frame for his return in the story posted on WWE.COM. “The first hurdle is getting the cuts to heal and getting cartilage to form over the defect,“ Dugas said. “After that, we’ll get back to function.”
A typical rehab for a torn rotator cuff takes from 6 to 9 months. Cena joins Cesaro, Rollins, Bryan, and Tyson Kidd on the injured list.
Family and friends said goodbye to Motorhead frontman Lemmy yesterday during a private memorial service at the Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles which was streamed live on YouTube.
Triple H was there in the front row representing the WWE. The two were big friends and Lemmy and his band recorded three of the most well known theme songs in WWE, The Game and King of Kings for Triple H and Line In The Sand for Evolution. Some of Motorhead’s songs were also used as theme songs for pay-per-views and events over the years.
Speaking to a packed house, Triple H said that he was honored to be there and Lemmy would not have wanted people crying, but rather laughing and enjoying themselves as they heard several wicked stories.
HHH said he grew up a fan of Motorhead’s music and after he got in the wrestling business and became successful, there was a time where he had a say in his theme song. He said he wanted his theme to have the passion and power of Motorhead, something that WWE failed to replicate in house.
Triple H eventually asked if he can get Motorhead to record the theme and WWE gave the go ahead and he said that Motorhead gave him the greatest gift of all time, their sound.
HHH recounted stories how Lemmy would come over for shows when they were in Los Angeles and he would wait for Triple H in his limo until the show is over and then the two would talk about music and life for hours. Hunter then said one time, when he was playing the bad guy, lost a match at the STAPLES Center and Lemmy was at ringside. After the match he went to hug him and Lemmy told him that he sucks because he can’t win a match whenever he’s there.
He then told the audience a story when he and his wife Stephanie went to see Motorhead backstage at a show and as soon as Triple H opened the door, Lemmy was there just wearing a towel accompanied by two naked women and some questionable items on the table. When he saw Steph was there, he told Triple H to go back out and wait and then after a few minutes, a dressed up Lemmy came out and the room was clear. He said that he was always very respectful to his wife.
2 months before he died, WWE taped a long interview with Lemmy, an interview which has not seen the light of day yet and will probably be part of a WWE Network special.
A folded up WWE flag was in a wooden case displayed along with his trademark hat and boots and other memorabilia front and center at the funeral service.
You can see the photo and Triple H’s speech at the service below.
Brock Lesnar worked an 8 minute match last night in Houston, Texas, during a non-televised live event against former WWE champ Sheamus.
Lesnar was accompanied – and introduced – by his advocate Paul Heyman and Lesnar took Sheamus to Suplex City immediately and delivered more suplexes throughout the match.
Sheamus got his fair share of offense during the match, hitting Lesnar with the White Noise and even hit the Brogue Kick a couple of times. His final attempt however was blocked, turned into four German suplexes followed by an F5 for the victory.
Towards the final moments of the match, Lesnar was cut on his cheek, probably from one of the Brogue Kicks but trainers did not go in to check on him. After the match was over Lesnar simply left the ring and walked to the backstage area.
Brock and Heyman are advertised for this Monday’s Raw in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the road to the Royal Rumble continues.
You can see the full Lesnar vs Sheamus match which was filmed at the show below.
Speaking to Bill Apter in a video for 1wrestling.com, James Storm explained why he eventually returned to TNA rather than signing with WWE.
Storm said it all went down to supporting his wife and two kids and TNA gave him the best offer and he had to take it. The former champ also said that he had “unfinished business” at TNA however he did not close the door on a WWE return.
He called his short stint at NXT a “mutual agreement” and said that the door is still open for him to go back. “I talked to Hunter and to me he is one of the greatest minds and one of the best guys I’ve talked to especially business wise.” Storm added that Triple H treats the boys with respect and everyone gives him respect back.
Storm returned to TNA during the live Impact on Pop earlier this week. It was reported earlier that TNA offered Storm more than twice the money that WWE offered him to come back.
The injured Nikki Bella will be at the Golden Globes after party tomorrow night representing WWE on the E! After Party special which will kick off at 11PM EST. Nikki will join a celebrity panel to recap one of Hollywood’s hottest awards show live from the Beverly Hilton.
The new season of Total Divas will kick off in 10 days and during these days you will be seeing some of the cast popping up on different shows hyping up the new season.
Nikki Bella will not be the only WWE affiliated person at the Globes as The Rock will also be presenting an award during the actual ceremony.
The following news story contains spoilers for an upcoming episode of TNA Impact so if you do not want to read it, please stop right here.
After the TNA One Night Only pay-per-view went off the air yesterday, the company taped another match for a future Impact show featuring Matt Hardy and Ethan Carter III for the TNA title, a match which was set up a few days earlier with the stipulation of title vs career.
Hardy won the TNA title, keeping his career and inflicting Ethan Carter III his first loss in TNA since he made his debut a couple of years ago. The match had a double turn with Hardy going heel and EC3 going face. Tyrus, who had been aligning himself with Carter, interfered on behalf of Matt Hardy.
This is the second title reign for Matt Hardy. He won the TNA title back at Bound For Glory in a three way match but had to vacate the title after storyline called for an injunction preventing him from appearing on TNA TV unless he drops the title. The series of events led to the TNA World Title Series which Carter won on the first live Impact on Pop this past Tuesday.
Former WWE World Heavyweight champion Randy Orton shot down the rumors that he will need neck surgery as well apart from the shoulder surgery he had last month.
Addressing the topic in an Instagram post, Orton said he went under the knife on December 8 and “things are ahead of schedule” while also stating that he’s “pumped to get back to work.” However he then said that he wants to debunk any rumors about his supposedly neck surgery, saying he does not need it.
His shoulder injury did not come from a result of a wrestling injury but happened when he was at home taking out the trash. He has been out of action since the end of September and during his time away from WWE, Orton got married again.
Thursday Night Smackdown! TV Report for January 7th, 2016 – “A New Face, A New ‘Home,’ Old Style”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming
A recap of Raw featuring the WWE World Heavyweight Championship main-event, (with Roman winning and retaining), and Vince’s announcement of Reigns having to defend the championship in the Royal Rumble match opens. The regular Smackdown! video plays and the pyro blasts in the arena, then Byron Saxton runs down the two championship matches schedule for tonight. Becky Lynch will challenge Charlotte for the Divas Championship, while Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose will go at it for the Intercontinental Title.
Jerry “The King” Lawler also has us meet new Smackdown! lead-announcer Mauro Ranallo, who has previously worked for The Score/Sportsnet here in Canada.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
John Cena kicks off Smackdown’s American home of the USA Network. He puts over the two title matches booked, but also wonders why we are without U.S. Champ Alberto Del Rio. He calls him out, and after a small delay, Del Rio responds. The champion bluntly informs Cena he doesn’t deserve a shot, but John disagrees, especially since the show is all about the move to the U.S.A. Network. He orders Alberto to give someone a shot, so he brings out Kalisto, who has gained a lot of momentum lately.
Del Rio can’t believe it, and thinks Cena is joking, but Kalisto rips the mike from Alberto’s hand and speaks to him in Spanish, then the two start it up and a referee slides in!
Match #1: Single – United States Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. Kalisto (with John Cena) (Non-Title)
Kalisto runs, but Del Rio moves and then kicks and punches in the corner.
Commercials.
Alberto starts to govern after giving Kalisto a big boot while the Lucha hung upside down from the middle rope. Del Rio continues the attack in the corner of the ring, but Kalisto fends him off and dives with a seated-senton! He goes for the Hurricanrana, but Alberto holds him and turns it into a sit-down powerbomb for a near-fall!
Del Rio clotheslines him a few times in the corner then drives him to the canvas with a DDT! Del Rio taunts Cena on the outside. The U.S. Champ throws Kalisto in the corner of the barricade, then winds up and taunts Cena more. he goes for the Cross Armbreaker, but Kalisto reverses into a Hurricanrana Pin combo and receives the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Kalisto (with John Cena)
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
JoJo interviews Becky Lynch about her championship bout.
Up next, The Miz will present a “Royal Rumble Special.”
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Segment #4: Arena Promo
The Miz is in the ring and begins to talk about the Royal Rumble for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship; he doesn’t get far when Tag-Team Champions The New Day interrupt. They disparage about what Chris Jericho said to them on Raw, then Goldust joins and makes fun of all four. 2015’s “Breakout Superstar of the Year” interrupts and tells Miz he can have anything he wants from/about him. Truth now comes out, but thinks this is the Open Challenge for Del Rio’s U.S. title. Miz brings him up to speed, but Truth hits him with the microphone and all fight. Woods is trying to hid on Miz’s chair, but he is noticed and superkicked by Dolph!
Commercials.
Match #2: Eight-Man Tag-Team – The Miz and Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E., and Xavier Woods) VS. Goldust, Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, and Neville
Truth and Miz are wrestling, with Truth leaping over and uppercutting Miz. Truth switches with Goldust, and they both give Miz a hip-toss. Kofi is in now and takes on Dolph, who dropkicks him. He twists Kofi with a wristlock, and Truth does the same when he’s tagged back in.
Neville now works over Kofi and splashes him with a Shooting Star Press from the mat! He works over Kofi, then gives him a backdrop and punches in the corner. Woods runs on the apron and trips up Neville, but “The Man That Gravity Forgot” holds onto the bottom rope to prevent the loss.
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New Day is in control, with Kofi running into Neville in the corner with a dropkick. The Miz dances away as Xavier plays his trumpet, which impresses the trio and they all dance. Kofi goes back to work on Neville and switches with Woods. He is soon back-dropped, and both Ziggler and Miz get hot-tags.
Dolph gives Miz a couple of clotheslines then a splash in the corner. He drops a couple elbows on the mat, then goes for the Famefasser, but Miz moves. He hits it after a roll-up attempt by Miz. This breaks down, and Miz is eventually in the ring surrounded by his four opponents. Ziggler Superkicks him to take this!
Winners via Pinfall: Goldsust, Dolph Ziggler, Neville, and R-Truth
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Ric Flair and his daughter, Divas Champion Charlotte, are walking backstage. JoJo asks them about Becky’s win on Monday in the non-title bout. Charlotte compares herself to other sports stars Michael Jordan (N.B.A.) and Tiger Woods (Golf) as to what champions are like. They walk away and make their entrance.
Commercials.
Match #3: Single for the Divas Championship – Charlotte (with Ric Flair) (Champion) VS. Becky Lynch (Challenger)
They lockup and struggle into the corner. The referee breaks them and Becky shoves Charlotte. The Divas Champion shoves back but is taken down soon with a couple of armdrags tat lead into an armlock by Lynch. Charlotte turns it into a quick roll-up, then the face-off again. Becky sunset-flips Charlotte out of the corner, and Charlotte flips over and tries a leg hold but Lynch stops it. She manoeuvres Charlotte into another arm hold, then dumps her to the outside a bit later.
Charlotte rolls to the floor for a break, then Ric blocks Becky. This gives Charlotte an advantage to kick Lynch in the head and place her back in the ring. She pounds away with fists, then gives her an Exploder Suplex. She continues to mount-punch Becky, and tosses her with another Exploder Suplex.
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Charlotte is still in control, slamming her around with a figure-four necklock! Lynch stands up, but is hit in the eye by Charlotte’s hand. This doesn’t phase her much as she punches back and gives Charlotte an Exploder Suplex of her own. Lynch really gains momentum and just about takes this with a victory roll! She gets Charlotte locked in the Disarmer, but Ric puts his daughter’s foot on the bottom rope. Charlotte taps, but the referee notices the foot and doesn’t call it, much to Becky’s dismay. Charlotte capitalizes and rolls Becky up, using the middle rope for leverage!
Winner via Pinfall and STILL Divas Champion: Charlotte (with Ric Flair)
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Kevin Owens is walking the halls when Rene Young meets him to ask about his Intercontinental Championship. He gives her one minute and connects Ambrose to a cockroach; he says that he has put away many in his life and will do the same tonight to Dean.
Commercials.
Segment #7: Video Promo
The same Raw clips from the beginning are recalled again.
Segment #8: Video Promo
Rene Young is interviewing Roman on Raw after the big match made for the Rumble; Reigns declares that despite the McMahon’s obstacles, he will come out on top.
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It is announced that Brock Lesnar will be back on Raw next week!
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose is questioned by Rene Young about his contest with Owens. He throws a bunch of Owens’ comments back in his face, and tells him “let’s ‘fight, Owens, fight.’”
Match #4: Single for the Intercontinental Championship – Kevin Owens (Challenger) VS. Dean Ambrose (Champion)
Following formal introductions by ring announcer Eden Stiles, the two engage in an elbow-collar tie-up. Dean takes control with a side headlock takedown , but Owens whips him in the corner. Dean leaps over and goes for Dirty Deeds, but Kevin rolls out for a break.
Commercials.
Owens is now governing, chopping Ambrose in the corner. Dean turns him around and mudhole-stomps Kevin, then clotheslines and takes him to the mat again with a side headlock. He kicks Owens hard, but then Kevin chops back. They both slug away concurrently, then Dean hits an elbow drop from the rope.
Both are on the outside now, and Dean chucks Owens hard into the barrier a couple times. He jumps from the apron with a clothesline, but is dropped with a DDT as he got climbed through the ropes.
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Owens now is working over Dean with a grounding rear chinlock, but Ambrose tries to battle out. Owens slams him down, but misses a running senton. Ambrose profits with a couple of clotheslines, and then tries another Dirty Deeds but is pushed into the corner. He comes back with a Tornado DDT for a close one, but is tripped on the top turnbuckle. Kevin runs with the Cannonball Splash and almost takes this!
Owens goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Dean reverses into a Hurricanrana! He hits his slingshot-clothesline and also almost gets this! They both punch at each other again, then Dean hits a flurry of them. Kevin hits a clothesline and whips Dean into the ropes,. Ambrose holds on then hurls Owens to the floor. He follows with a dive-through-the-ropes. Both brawl around the commentator’s area and into the crowd, and the referee calls for the bell, signalling a count-out of both competitors!
Winner: None due to Double Count-Out (Ambrose remains Intercontinental Champion)
Post-match, Dean and Kevin scrap all the way to the stage, where Owens slams a laptop and briefcase on Ambrose, then tries to powerbomb or piledrive him on an equipment container. Dean reverses with a backdrop and then Ambrose soars both of them off, onto/through tables. Referees check on them to close the show.
End Of Smackdown!
I quite enjoyed this Smackdown! better than Raw, as both story and match were portrayed well! Onto the analysis:
Excellence: Mauro Ranallo – he is a “breath of fresh air” as the old saying goes and I LOVED him on commentary. He comes off extremely knowledgeable, and with his booming voice and vocabulary, reminds me of an old-school commentator only there to put over the matches and be a straight man. I hope those in the back like him and he stays for a long, long time! And taboot, he’s not only Canadian, but from my home-province of British Columbia!
Matches between Kalisto/Del Rio, Charlotte/Becky, and Owens/Ambrose were fantastic! I’m really happy they’re pushing the Luchas now and I believe they can be both great tag-team and singles competitors. They’ve obviously proven it in the ring, but on the microphone, they have some decent talking skills too!
Owens is also just perfect in the ring and on the mike; he is an incredibly believable, real heel.
Bogus: could’ve done without the big schmooze during MizTV and the following Eight-Man; I understand a bit of a way to get guys on TV, but was too predictable and since none of them are going to win the Royal Rumble, I was not overly invested.
Where has Paige been?; missing her in the mix.
While I’m happy that both Charlotte/Lynch’s feud, and Owens/Ambrose’s feuds are continuing, I was thinking there would’ve been at least one title change to show the new viewers that anything can happen on Smackdown! I believe this was a missed opportunity to gain more.
The first Smackdown on USA Network on Thursday did 2,757,000 viewers, the best number since the January 29, 2015 live special. The New Year’s Eve edition of the show, and the last one on SyFy, did 1.6 million viewers while the week before, another live special on USA on Tuesday did 2.2 million.
The last Thursday show on SyFy apart from the NY Eve one did 2,332,000 viewers so the show was up by around half a million. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
Former TNA champion Jeff Hardy returned to action during the Wednesday night Impact television tapings that will be airing next week on Pop.
Hardy has not wrestled for the past 8 months after he suffered a broken leg in a dirt bike accident. Prior to breaking his leg, he and his brother Matt were the TNA Tag Team champions after winning an Ultimate X match for the title. The duo had to vacate the title due to Jeff being unable to defend it.
He returned to Impact two months later in a non-wrestling role and then “quit” TNA in an episode that aired in September. At Bound For Glory he was the special guest referee in the three-way match for the TNA World title.
John Cena underwent successful shoulder surgery yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama, and is now recovering at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center. Dr. Jeffrey Dugas performed the operation.
Cena tore his right rotator cuff, an injury which was never explained how it happened especially since Cena has been out of the ring for two months and only returned the day after Christmas. He made his last televised appearance for a while during the opening segment of Smackdown in a non-physical confrontation.
Fellow WWE Superstar and friend Cesaro accompanied Cena to the surgery. Cesaro, along with Seth Rollins, are rehabbing there from their respective surgeries. Dr. Dugas operated both of them as well.
A typical recovery for the injury Cena usually takes from 6 to 9 months, effectively putting him out of a WrestleMania match.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be a presenter at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony, his third time as a presenter following 2008 and 2015.
“Can’t wait. The fun we’ll have and the kisses I’ll get from the ladies. And Ken Jeong,” Johnson wrote on his Twitter after the Golden Globes Twitter account announced him as one of the presenters. No word yet on which award the former WWE champ will present.
Speaking of awards, The Rock won a People’s Choice Award in the category Favorite Cable TV Actor for his role in HBO’s Ballers. Johnson was nominated in five different categories but only managed to bag one award.
