The NXT Twitter account revealed the top two matches for the upcoming NXT live event during the Royal Rumble weekend.
The NXT Women’s title will be on the line as Bayley will defend her title against number one contender Carmella while Samoa Joe will face Sami Zayn with the winner getting a future shot at the NXT title currently held by Finn Balor.
This event, to be held on January 22, will be live from the CFE Arena on the main campus of The University of Central Florida. It will be a television taping as well and tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com, selling for $20, $30, $40, and $75.
The Stone Cold Podcast with the 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair will drop on the WWE Network this coming Monday immediately following Raw.
With Breaking Ground now over, the Stone Cold Podcast regains its time slot although just like the last one with Shawn Michaels, this podcast will not be live as it was taped several weeks ago at Austin’s ranch in Texas.
This will be the eighth Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network with Austin previously welcoming Vince McMahon, Triple H, Paul Heyman, Paige, Edge & Christian, Brock Lesnar, and Shawn Michaels.
The Associated Press covered TNA’s latest reboot on Pop TV with the article picked up by several other news websites.
Perhaps the most interesting quotes from the article come from TNA President Dixie Carter, who said that while they’ve always been criticized for taking WWE talent, the roles have now reversed and it’s WWE now trying to raid their talent.
“Our competitors, our competition have been after our talent,” said Carter, without mentioning any names. “A lot of times they come back,” referring to James Storm, who signed a new TNA deal after he was given twice the money that WWE offered. “The grass isn’t always greener and what we have here is very special.”
The new TNA champion, Ethan Carter III, himself a former WWE developmental wrestler, said that WWE are the “top dog in the game” but they need to provide an alternative and focus on themselves. “I don’t think signing big names in wrestling is what fans are interested in as much as seeing new characters develop into something out of nothing,” EC3 said.
TNA has been around since 2002 and came close several times to closing up shop due to money problems and potential lack of a network partner. But perhaps Kurt Angle said it best. “It’s amazing we’re still alive,” the Olympic gold medalist told the Associated Press. “There have been some crazy things that we’ve done.”
New Japan’s IWGP Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura told the Tokyo Sports publication that he is leaving NJPW at the end of January and heading for a bigger stage, WWE.
This is the first official confirmation from Nakamura – who is still under a NJPW contract – that put rumors to rest about his future and the rumors of his NJPW buddies also jumping ship.
AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson are also on the way to Stamford, Connecticut, with all three giving notice to NJPW.
All four wrestled at the NJPW WrestleKingdom 10 mega event last week, with Styles booted from the Bullet Club while Gallows and Anderson losing their IWGP Tag Team titles. Nakamura retained his title however he already seems to be dropping the title to the new leader of the Bullet Club, Kenny Omega.
The first episode of Impact on Pop TV drew in a total of 255,000 viewers, similar to what the show had been doing on Destination America last year.
There were two other Best Of shows that have aired on Pop leading up to the official launch and those shows did in the low 100,000 viewers. Apart from changing networks, Impact also moved to Tuesday night.
Pop TV is in far more homes than Destination America, close to what Spike TV’s numbers are however it remains to be seen if TNA can recoup all the viewers they lost since moving to the smaller Destination America. TNA did around 900,000 to 1 million viewers while on Spike TV. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
Smackdown debuts on USA Network tonight, its new permanent home going forward in the same time slot of 8PM EST. While there are no major changes to the show, a new lead commentator will take over the broadcast booth, with veteran wrestling and MMA announcer Mauro Ranallo calling the action along with Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton.
The top two WWE shows now both reside on USA Network as Smackdown ended its partnership with SyFy at the end of 2015 after a 5 year deal. The actual move was announced back in April 2015. This is Smackdown’s fifth home, having previously aired on UPN, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and SyFy.
Tonight’s “premiere” on USA Network will be episode number 855 in 16 years.
John Cena’s return to the WWE was short lived as the former WWE champion will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to undergo shoulder surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center under the care of Dr. James Andrews.
“Rather upside down start to 2016 as tomorrow I will head to Birmingham for shoulder surgery. Life’s full of set backs but #nevergiveup,” Cena wrote on Twitter late last night.
While Cena did not specify what type of shoulder injury he has, PWInsider.com is reporting that the injury is thought to be a torn labrum. Recovery from such surgery requires up to 9 months on the sidelines, effectively putting Cena out of the biggest WrestleMania of all time unless he makes one of his trademark Superman returns although this time it seems highly unlikely considering WrestleMania is less than 3 months away.
He missed this week’s Raw due to the injury as well but appeared at the Smackdown tapings as advertised however he did not do anything physical. Cena just came back from a two month WWE hiatus where he was filming American Grit, a new reality TV show for FOX set to debut later this year.
ProWrestlingSheet.com, ran by a former TMZ reporter, revealed that TNA gave James Storm more than twice the money that WWE offered him to return to the company.
WWE apparently gave Storm less than $100,000 a year but TNA – apart from doubling the money – also gave him a portion of merchandise sales for the duration of his new 2 year contract. Those in WWE also get royalties from merchandise sold bearing their name or logos.
The website also reports that the $200,000+ money Storm is receiving from TNA is guaranteed and WWE left the door open for him to make his return if he wishes to in the future, suggesting that the breakup between the two parties was amicable.
Storm returned to Impact last night on the first show on Pop TV and teased a reunion with his former tag team partner Bobby Roode after the two shared a beer together in the ring.
Dwayne Johnson is a very busy individual and projects just keep coming and coming. The former WWE World Heavyweight champion announced that his production company Seven Bucks Productions is teaming up with FOX to bring a new show called Boost Unit.
The scripted cop drama revolves around the newest recruit of the LAPD’s Auto Theft Task Force, who’s a notorious getaway driver with a hidden past. Variety described the show as a “high-octane, action-packed hour,” and is said to capture Johnson’s “trademark edge and humor, along with the turbo-charged speed of the Fast and the Furious franchise.”
In a statement, Johnson said, “We’re bringing to life the high stakes street pursuits and grueling work of this very specialized elite task force and we’re excited to partner with Imperative Entertainment to combine an epic mix of gripping action and sophisticated storytelling.”
Writing on Twitter, The Rock added that the show will capture that kind of intense and entertaining action based off of the real life individuals who make up one of the most bad ass (and underground) street units of the LAPD.
The first Monday Night Raw of 2016 with a main event of Roman Reigns vs Sheamus with Vince McMahon as the special referee drew an average of 3,575,000 viewers. The number is slightly up, around 40,000, from last week’s show.
Hour one did 3,707,000 viewers, followed by 3,516,000 in the second hour, and then 3,503,000 for the third hour and the main event. From the first hour to the third hour, the show lost 200,000 viewers. Raw had no Monday Night Football to go against so it was a bit of a disappointment with only a 40,000 viewer jump but this is the second week Raw is on the rise which is good news at least. (Ratings credit: ShowBuzzDaily.com)
The popular Bullet Club – or a reincarnation of it – is coming to WWE as now even the WWE website is reporting on the “rumors” that AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows are coming along with IWGP Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura.
“The office of WWE COO and EVP of Talent Relations Triple H declined to comment on the rumors for WWE.com,” the story said, published today after yesterday the news leaked that the big four of New Japan Pro Wrestling are crossing over.
The Bullet Club is a faction which was led by current NXT champion Finn Balor under his previous character, Prince Devitt. During WrestleKingdom 10, Anderson won wrestling trunks that had Balor’s demon design on them and the Twitter account for the faction then told Balor to keep extra Balor Club shirts around in case they need them.
Earlier today, Balor posted a photo of him outside the WWE Performance Center, holding the door and looking at his watch saying that “They should have been here by now…” and the WWE Facebook page posted AJ Styles’ first match in WWE back in 2002 on the Jakked television show.
When the group is expected to arrive remains to be seen however Nakamura is holding an IWGP title for New Japan and will most likely be allowed to drop the title before moving to WWE. There are already rumors that AJ Styles is set to be a surprise entrant at the Royal Rumble.
Ethan Carter III regained the TNA World title last night during the first Impact Wrestling television show on Pop TV, defeating Matt Hardy in the final match of the TNA World Title Series.
This is the second title reign for Carter, who won the first TNA World title back in June 2015 after defeating Kurt Angle also on Impact. Carter lost his title at Bound For Glory in October to Matt Hardy in a triple threat match that also involved Drew Galloway but then the storyline moved towards Carter filing an injunction against Hardy preventing him from appearing on Impact, forcing Hardy to vacate the title.
The TNA World Title Series was launched afterward but in reality it was all planned out several months in advance as the tournament was taped back in July without any mention. Only the semi finals and the final were live yesterday, TNA’s first new Impact taping since July 2015.
Carter is also a former WWE Superstar having previously competed there as part of the NXT seasons under the name of Derrick Bateman.
The WWE Network launched in five new countries today and it’s now available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Japan.
All five listed countries will get the U.S. version of the network for $9.99 including the 12 pay-per-views live. For now, the WWE Network will be available on desktop, laptop and mobile devices, followed by Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku and Smart TVs in time for the Royal Rumble.
Germany was the last big market in Europe to adopt the Network due to contractual obligations with the local broadcaster while there were similar problems in Japan as well. The new subscribers from these countries will get their first month free which includes the Royal Rumble.
The free month is expected to stop in March or April temporarily as WWE maximizes its revenues for WrestleMania.
The Royal Rumble 30-man over-the-top rope battle royal has 10 spots reserved already, 8 of which were announced on Raw last night.
Joining Big Show and Curtis Axel who had already threw in their names for the match last week are Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns. Reigns is defending his WWE World Heavyweight title in the match.
If history serves correct, not all 30 Superstars are usually announced before the match and some spots are left open for potential surprises. Last year, Bubba Ray Dudley, The Boogeyman, and Diamond Dallas Page were the three surprise entrants.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was named the top international box office star of 2015 with the movies he was part of bringing in a whooping $1.48 billion, beating other Hollywood A list movie stars such as Vin Diesel, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., and many others.
Johnson took the number 1 rank in 2013 thanks to Pain & Gain, GI Joe: Retaliation, and Fast & Furious 6 but in 2015, the Furious 7 and San Andreas movies catapulted him above anyone else. Vin Diesel came in second place with $1.25 billion.
Johnson’s Hollywood career started in 2001 when he filmed a small part in the The Mummy Returns, portraying The Scorpion King which eventually branched in its own movie.
TNA Impact will debut on Pop TV tonight at 9PM EST, Impact’s first live broadcast in years with the show emanating from the Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Five matches were announced already for this evening, including the two semi final matches and final in the TNA World Title Series. The first semi final is Ethan Carter III vs Bobby Lashley and the second one is Matt Hardy vs Eric Young. The winners of those two matches will face off against each other for the vacant TNA World title.
The King of the Mountain title will also be defended as Bobby Roode puts his belt on the line against a yet to be announced opponent while the Knockouts will be represented as The Beautiful People will take on the Dollhouse.
These will be the first new Impact tapings since July of last year when TNA taped the final episodes of Impact on Destination America. TNA will tape a couple of weeks of shows and One Night Only pay-per-view events over the next couple of days.
The big unconfirmed rumor today is that WWE has signed four of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest stars – AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson. All four participated at the WrestleKingdom 10 event over the weekend which is NJPW’s version of WrestleMania.
AJ Styles has been one of the hottest free agents in the United States ever since leaving TNA. The former TNA and IWGP champion also wrestles for Ring of Honor, something that will obviously stop if he really is signed to WWE.
Nakamura is currently the IWGP Intercontinental champion and the 35 year old wrestled AJ Styles at WrestleKingdom 10, defending his title. He spent his whole career with New Japan Pro Wrestling and is one of the most popular wrestlers in the country.
Doc Gallows is not new to the WWE as he previously worked there under the names of Festus and Luke Gallows. Although he wrestled for both WWE and later TNA for around two years, Gallows’ popularity is more evident over in Japan where he has been wrestling since 2013 for NJPW. At WrestleKingdom 10, he and his tag team partner Karl Anderson lost the IWGP Tag Team titles. Gallows is also a big friend of CM Punk and the two worked together during the Straight Edge Society days.
Karl Anderson has never wrestled for WWE or TNA but has featured for Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Global Force Wrestling as well. He made his NJPW debut in 2008 and has been wrestling there ever since, forming part of the Bullet Club with Styles and Gallows as well. Anderson was also the tag team partner of Giant Bernard at NJPW, the man whose real name is Matt Bloom, the head trainer at WWE Performance Center.
If the rumors are true, WWE has managed to scoop up some of the hottest stars over in Japan and they would make a great addition to either the NXT or WWE main roster.
The Royal Rumble match received a big twist yesterday at Raw as WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon stacked up the odds against WWE World Heavyweight champion Roman Reigns, ordering him to participate in the Royal Rumble match and defend the title as well in the same match.
The stipulation will be that if Roman Reigns is eliminated from the 30-man over-the-top Rumble match, Reigns will lose the WWE title and then whoever wins the Rumble will be crowned the new WWE champion.
The last time that a new champion was crowned with the Royal Rumble match back in 1992 when Ric Flair won the vacant title following the whole Hulk Hogan/Undertaker saga. A reigning WWE champion has never defended the title during the Rumble so this will be a first for the Rumble.
Over the past two decades, the winner of the Royal Rumble received a shot at the WWE title at WrestleMania so this year that will not be the case as everyone will go in there with hopes of being the WWE champion. The number one contender is likely to be figured out at the Fastlane February pay-per-view event.
James Storm’s WWE career seems to have finished before it even properly started as the former TNA champion is scheduled to be back with TNA starting from tonight according to PWInsider.com.
Storm is currently in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and will be participating in most – if not all – television tapings starting with tonight’s live Impact on Pop. Storm made a handful of appearances for NXT over the past few months but was never signed to a deal. He last wrestled for NXT in November of last year and was not used again despite his name recognition.
His surprise appearance at NXT television tapings a couple of months ago was met with “holy sh!t” chants from the crowd and in several tweets, Storm alluded that we would be seeing more of him in NXT however that never transpired.
The “Cowboy” is one of the TNA originals and was with the company from 2002 till 2015.
Happy New Year everyone! I wish you Best-Wishes and Blessings for 2016!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for January 4th, 2016 – “A New Year, A New Confrontation”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo
Recap of the last couple of weeks featuring WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and The McMahons is shown first.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
We go live to the building in San Antonio, Texas, and hear Principle Owner Stephanie McMahon’s music. She walks to the ring but is sharply cut off by the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He informs Stephanie that he is not looking for her, but wants to have a chat with Vince himself. Ms. McMahon spoils his request, as The Boss has not arrived yet.
She goes on a tirade about the fans only supporting him for a time being, then moving onto another “arrogant” wrestler who thinks they can win against The McMahons. She threatens that NO ONE beats a McMahon, but Roman warns back that “if anybody screws me, then you won’t be picking up your daddy in jail; you’ll be picking him up in a hospital.”
Stephanie walks away, and Reigns follows, greeting his friend, Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose, who is out on commentary for the first match after the break. During Dean’s entrance, clips of his and Owens’ fights over the last couple of weeks are played.
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Kevin Owens VS. Neville
Neville starts fast with a hit and rocketing over the ropes with a twisting plancha! He continues the aerial attacks with a Shooting Star Press from the top turnbuckle to Owens on the floor! Neville hops on the apron but is stopped by Kevin, and the big, agile man takes over. He drives Neville from the top turnbuckle to the canvas with a spike-DDT, but Neville rolls to the floor for a break.
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Kevin is still in control until he tries to shove Neville into the ring post and Neville flips out of it and does the same. “The Man That Gravity Forgot” gives Owens a 450-splash from the apron, then almost takes this after a two-count in the ring! he kicks Owens hard in the head in the corner, then props him atop the turnbuckle. Owens shoves him off, but Neville flips and lands on his feet. Neville tries again, but Owens trips him up and Cannonballs him in the corner while Neville was hanging upside down. He takes advantage and Pop-Up Powerbombs, then covers to get the hard-fought victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Kevin Owens
Post-match, Owens goes to powerbomb Neville again against the apron, but Dean makes the save. He brawls with Owens, then sets him up on the announce table and dives from the barricade with an elbow drop! Dean presses against him, holding Kevin’s head and says “you want a shot? You know where to find me?” Ambrose goes to the aisle and holds his Intercontinental Title high.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
A limousine pulls into the garage and Vince McMahon exits. Jojo meets him and asks why he has not talked about the main event scenario. The Boss defines irony by saying that last week, he was in the hands of the law, and this week, he now is “the law.”
Commercials.
Match #2: Single – Stardust VS. Titus O’Neil
Titus starts out strong, but Stardust counters and dominates for a while. O’Neil hits back with a big clothesline and the Clash Of The Titans Spinebuster for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Titus O’Neil
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Divas Champion Charlotte walks up to Becky Lynch and asks if she wanted the match between the two. Lynch denies that, but both agree to have it in the “spirit of competition.”
Ads.
Match #3: Single – Divas Champion Charlotte VS. Becky Lynch (Non-Title)
They lockup up and push each other into the corner; they break it and lock up again, and Charlotte turns Becky over. Lynch comes back with a couple of armdrags and a sweep. She hops over and bridges out of a cover. It is back-and-forth with different covers for a bit until gains control after slamming Becky from the corner to the mat.
Commercials.
Charlotte is still governing, kneeing Becky a number of times. She wears Lynch down with a standing headlock, then a Figure-4 Necklock. She T-Bone Suplexes Lynch, then puts her on the top turnbuckle. Becky kicks Charlotte back and dives off, but the Divas Champ catches her. Lynch works her way out and slams Charlotte, then gains some momentum.
Becky almost takes it with a small package, then continues to fire up. She runs the ropes but is tripped by Ric; this distracts her and allows Charlotte to roll-up, but Lynch reverses into one of her own and takes this!
Winner via Pinfall: Becky Lynch
Post-match, Charlotte turns full-heel and lays the boots to Becky. She poses with her championship while Daddy struts in the background.
Segment #5: Office Promo
Mr. McMahon is talking with a man when Sheamus walks in. The bigger Irishman compliments Vince, and then is given the rules for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout later tonight; McMahon wants a completely clean contest.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – Ryback VS. The Big Show
Ryback takes it to Show at first, but then the giant chokeslams him. Before he can continue, The Wyatt Family’s video plays and they are surrounding Ryback on the outside. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erik Rowan, and Braun Strowman beat down “The Big Guy,” then move on to decimate Show. Afterwards, Bray yells from the aisle that they are back with a vengeance.
Winner: No Contest due to Outside Interference
Commercials.
Match #5: Tag-Team – The League of Nations (United States Champion Alberto Del Rio and Rusev) VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
Jey and Del Rio begin, with Alberto headlocking Jey and giving him a shoulder-block. Uso counters a hip toss into a clothesline, then tags in his brother who splashes the U.S. Champion in the corner. Jimmy snapmares Del Rio, but is twisted with an armlock. Alberto switches with Rusev, who stomps away at Jimmy in the corner.
The Twin fights back with punches, but is kneed hard in the gut. Jimmy rams Rusev into the turnbuckle, then both Usos try a double-hip toss; that doesn’t work bout a double-flapjack does! Jey is in but is taken to the mat quickly. Rusev runs at Jey in the corner with an impressive overhead belly-to-belly suplex!
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Jey is continuing to be controlled by Rusev for a bit longer. He comes back with quick punches and a Samoan Drop, then gets the hot-tag to his bro! Jimmy is all over Del Rio, who also got tagged in, but Alberto trips Jimmy up on the top turnbuckle. Jimmy is hanging, but ducks Del Rio’s diving foot-stomp. The Twins just about get the W with a superkick/splash combo, but Rusev broke up the cover! Jey soars through the ropes onto Rusev after ‘The Bulgarian Brute” kicked Jimmy hard on the outside. Alberto capitalizes with a hard kick and the diving foot stomp for the finish!
Winners via Pinfall: The League of Nations
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Dolph Ziggler VS. Heath Slater (with Adam Rose, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas)
An elbow/collar tie-up starts, then both square off. Heath waistlocks Dolph, but Ziggler trips him up and ties him in a bow-and-arrow. Heath picks up Ziggler, but “The Show-Off” reverses into a small package and hits a dropkick and elbow subsequently. He also hits a neckbreaker, but misses a corner splash and eats a knee in his head.
Slater takes control for a while then Dolph retorts with his leaping-DDT. He gears up for the superkick, but Adam Rose gets his attention. Ziggler is rolled-up, but reverses it, however is pushed off. Bo now distracts, and Heath rolls up Ziggler again, actually getting it!
Winner via Pinfall: Heath Slater (with Adam Rose, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas)
Post-match, a stunned Dolph looks on as Heath declares his new group to be the “Social Outcasts.”
Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Roman is looking on intensely when Vince walks in. He goes over the same regulations for his title defense too, then walks away.
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Segment #7: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Champions The New Day make fun of Mike Tyson and his hover board accident, as well as Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz. They go to show us something on the Titantron, but their countdown turns into a very familiar one… the lights go out, pyro blasts, and Chris Jericho returns!
“Y2J” declares that ratings and Network subscriptions were down, so he decided to revisit to up the numbers! Jericho rants in his usual style, making fun of New Day along the way, and then proclaims he will be in the Royal Rumble Match!
Commercials.
Match #7: Six-Man Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and
Kalisto and Xavier are going to start, but Xavier wants Bubba since he was driven through a table by Ray on Smackdown! last week. Bubba obliges and chops Woods a couple times, then works over Kofi with a wristlock. Kalisto is in and does the same then Bubba is back and drops Kofi after a long stalling-suplex. The Lucha Dragon re-enters, and then tags D-Von. He tosses all New Day members to the outside, then Kalisto is launched from the ring by Bubba onto the trio!
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Bubba and Big E. are in the ring now, and Big gives Bubba a belly-to-belly suplex. New Day dominate until Kofi misses a corner splash, and Bubba launches Kalisto again from atop his shoulders and the middle turnbuckle. The Lucha Dragon is all over Kofi and Big E., but Woods trips him up; Big follows with a splash! They triple-team Kalisto with kicks and exchanges for a time. Kalisto breaks free and hot-tags D-Von, who clotheslines Xavier and gives him a shoulder-tackle!
D-Von drops Kingston with a spinebuster, then hits another shoulder-tackle on Woods. He switches with Bubba who gives Bionic Elbows, but the New Day soon gets the W with a roll-up by Xavier!
Winners via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champions The New Day
Commercials.
Segment #8: Video Promo
The same montage that kicked off Raw re-airs to put over the main-event.
Mr. McMahon makes his grand entrance, donned in a sleeveless referee shirt to show off his muscles. The title is on the line, next!
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Match #8: Single for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship with Special Guest Referee – Sheamus (Challenger) VS. Roman Reigns (Champion) (Special Referee – Mr. McMahon)
Following formal introductions by ring announcer Lillian Garcia, Roman and Vince have a tug-a-war with the championship, which allows Sheamus to promptly slug away. Vince produces a fast two-count, then Sheamus continues the beating.
Reigns counters and kicks Sheamus in the corner, but is whipped hard into the opposite one. he hits back again with fists and a flying forearm, then consecutive clotheslines in the corner. He clotheslines Sheamus over the ropes, but Vince will not count yet. Sheamus throws Roman into the steps, and McMahon becomes “distracted” across the ring. Sheamus uses the opportunity to hurl the steps at Reigns.
Commercials.
Sheamus has Roman in a chinlock now, but Reigns battles out. He is quickly turned over with a running-knee by Sheamus though, and “The Celtic Warrior” continues his assault. He gives Roman a rolling senton, but cannot finish. Reigns strikes back and spins him around with a backdrop! He fires up again and hits the Drive-By running front-dropkick!
In the ring, Roman gives Sheamus a Samoan Drop, but McMahon counts real slow, allowing Sheamus to kick out. McMahon plays more games with refereeing, which frustrates Reigns to the point he Superman Punches The Boss!
Unfortunately, he realizes what he’s done and can’t get the pin; Stephanie marches out and begs Roman to stop beating up her father. She is flipped into the ring and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion gears up for the Spear, but is met with a couple of Brogue Kicks! Sheamus covers and Scott Armstrong, The Authority’s “paid referee” charges out and counts, but Reigns still raises his shoulder before three!
Armstrong and Sheamus argue, then Roman knocks out Scott. He Spears Sheamus and a third referee runs in to make the count; Reigns prevails to retain!
Winner via Pinfall and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns
Post-match, Vince berates referee Armstrong then informs Roman that his next title match will be at the Royal Rumble. This time, Reigns will be putting his championship up against every other superstar entered in the Royal Rumble Match! The show closes with this major twist.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings
This was an okay Raw to kick off the New Year; some very good story-telling and a couple of surprises, but also a couple of matches that we could’ve done without. Onto the critiques:
Excellence: matches between Owens/Neville, Charlotte/Lynch, Usos/League, Dolph/Slater, and Reigns/Sheamus.
Loving the story between Ambrose and Owens, and it is bringing the I.C. Title to prominence again. These two can go at it for a long while for my liking! Glad Charlotte turned completely bad, and now it will be great to see her aggressive and deliberate-cheating side.
Chris Jericho returning was a nice startle, and even though it was more of the same, he still hasn’t missed a beat. Liked The Wyatts destroying both Show and Ryback; with Bray’s proclamation, I hope they really do make a significant impact this year and end up in the main-event scene for a long while.
I am intrigued by The Social Outcasts and hope this is a new, much-needed push for these guys. They all can hold their own on the microphone and are decent wrestlers, so it’s time to give them some attention for a little while. I was skeptical at first about the League of Nations forming, but they have been pushed as a forceful group, which is very good; their rivalry with The Usos is going well, and I want it to continue!
Bogus: Titus/Stardust should’ve been on the Main-Event show, not on Raw; I know they’ve been feuding for a while, but Titus got the clean win, so now there’s nowhere to go and it was pointless/boring.
Seen The Dudleyz VS. The New Day enough, so was not thrilled with the Six-Man rematch from last week/last year’s Smackdown!
While I absolutely expected McMahon to play favorites at one point, I did not expect the announcement of the Royal Rumble Match being for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I’m not sure what side I’m on; it provides more interest for the ‘Rumble, but it takes away from the specialty of the Rumble winner going to WrestleMania for that Championship Match. I will wait at least one week before finally deciding.
Overall, a decent start to 2016; we shall see if it can continue at least on this level and then raise it. until Smackdown!, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Fans!
