After several close calls, Roman Reigns is finally the WWE World Heavyweight champion, a title he won last night on Monday Night Raw after defeating Sheamus and even dropping Vince McMahon with the Superman punch.
The 30 year old won the Royal Rumble earlier this year and went on to main event WrestleMania 31, a match which he was expected to win. However the day before, the glory was taken away as the decision was made to have Seth Rollins walk out with the title after cashing in the Money In The Bank briefcase. Reigns ended up doing the job for Rollins that night as WWE opted to keep Lesnar strong by taking the title away from him without getting pinned.
At the Money In The Bank pay-per-view, Reigns was about to get the briefcase but was interrupted by Bray Wyatt, who cost him the match and Sheamus went on to win it. Following a few months feuding with Wyatt, Reigns got back in the title picture and earned a title shot against Seth Rollins at the Survivor Series.
As fate would have it, Rollins got injured and the title was vacated and a tournament was announced for the title. Roman Reigns went all the way in the tournament, winning the WWE title but his reign was short lived as Sheamus cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase and defeated Reigns for the title just 5 minutes and 15 seconds following his pinfall.
At the TLC pay-per-view last weekend, Reigns got his rematch but interference from the League of Nations made sure that Sheamus walked out of Boston with the title. The post-match affair however seemed to have finally turned Reigns on the good side of the crowd after he viciously attacked Triple H.
The luck for the Irish ran out yesterday as in Philadelphia Reigns won the WWE title, ironically enough at the same arena where just 12 months ago, the Philly crowd completely crapped on Reigns after winning the Royal Rumble. Not even an embrace in the middle of the ring by his cousin The Rock was enough to convince the Philly crowd who showered both of them with boos.
Monday Night Raw TV Report for December 14th, 2015 – “Actions Breed Consequences”
Introduction Segment: Video, Welcoming, and Arena Promo
Footage of the suspenseful (and I truly mean that, as there were times I thought it could actually go either way) TLC WWE World Heavyweight Championship match is shown, as well as the post-match demolishing of WWE COO Triple H by Roman Reigns.
Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon marches out with a scowl on her face. She rants about Reigns’ assault on her husband, Triple H, at TLC and insinuates that she will deal with it. Before she can go further, Roman himself enters through the fans and joins her in the ring.
He first wishes his daughter, JoJo, a happy birthday, which displeases Steph because she thinks he doesn’t care at all what happened twenty-four hours ago. Roman orders her to fire him soon if that’s what she wants to do, as he’d like to get home to his birthday-girl. McMahon says she is not going to do that, as “The Game” wants him kept around. However, she reveals that the big-man of the family, Mr. Vince McMahon, may give Roman his pink slip, and will be at Raw later tonight!
Up next, new Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose will be wrestling!
Commercials.
It is announced that next week’s Raw will be the annual Slammy Awards Special.
Match #1: Single – Dolph Ziggler VS. Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose (Non-Title)
The bell rings and Ambrose twists Dolph into a hammerlock and standing side headlock. He puts him to the mat with a wristlock, which Dolph backs out of, but is taken back down with a side headlock. They both hit a couple quick moves, then Dean takes control with a scoop-slam and Regal-Stretch. He ties Ziggler up in a surfboard stretch, but “The Show Off” stands up and kicks out of it. He hits a running flying forearm, then a splash in the corner, but Ambrose hits a clothesline back, sending Dolph to the floor. “The Lunatic Fringe” follows with his dive through the ropes! He climbs the turnbuckle and dives back in the ring, but Dolph moves and they go back-and-forth on pin combos. Both try their finishers but counter each other and Dean gives him the “that close” sign.
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Dean is on the top turnbuckle, but Dolph counters with a dropkick and almost takes this after covering! Dean does the same with a roll-up, but is soon planted with the Fameasser and near-fall by Ziggler! “The Show Off” stomps the mat in preparation for the superkick, but Ambrose counters with a face-plant and a two-count! He hits a front-dropkick from the top and running clothesline in the corner, but Dolph still continues. “The Show Off” locks on a sleeper, but Dean runs him back into the corner. Ziggler this a Superkick, but Dean turns him around with a big clothesline! Both men are down until former champion Kevin Owens walks out. he interjects himself and punches away on both competitors, causing the referee to call for the bell.
Winner: None due to Interference and a Non-Finish
Post-match, Owens continues the attack, Powerbombing both Ziggler and Ambrose, then looking at and holding the IC Title.
Recap of the opening of Raw, then picture-stills of the Triple-Threat Tag-Team Ladder Match for the Tag-Team Championship at T.L.C. is shown. The New Day, who are still Tag-Team Champions, will be out later.
Commercials.
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
JoJo catches up with Kevin Owens and inquires if his beating of Ambrose was “justified.” Owens tells her “I don’t feel I have to justify myself to anybody.” He warns her and Dean that he will do anything to get his Intercontinental Championship back.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
The Dudley Boyz are talking about how they didn’t get the job done against The Wyatt Family at T.L.C., and instead were destroyed. Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno chime in about the meaning of their careers in Philadelphia; all four vow to “bring this city back to ‘the extreme’” and want to go at it again with the entire Family.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Stephanie is hurrying an assistant to prepare for her father’s return.
Match #2: Single – R-Truth VS. Bo Dallas
They wrestle for a bit until a limousine is shown driving up backstage. Mr. McMahon gets out; Steph wants to walk with him, but Vince is going to do this on his own.
Back to the ring, Truth and Dallas are still going at it until Vince struts out in his style. He orders R and Bo to exit, hen says that he is going to make Roman wait for a bit; McMahon takes a seat at ringside.
Winner: None due to Non-Finish
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Segment #5: Arena Promo
Mr. McMahon continues to hold on, then eventually orders Reigns to join him. Vince puts himself over first then berates Roman for making his son-in-law feel pain. He commands him to say he is sorry, even to the point of begging on his hands and knees. Reigns shakes his head no, and McMahon threatens that he would “beat an apology out of you.” The Chairman goes to show him how, but WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus interrupts.
While Sheamus knows that Vince can beat Roman, Sheamus wants to do it; he’ll even let Reigns challenge again for the WWE Title. McMahon fakes making the match, until Roman makes fun of his “grapefruits,” calling them “prunes” now at seventy. This irritates McMahon of course, so he books the bout, with one condition – if Roman does not succeed, he’s “firrrrrrreeed!”
Commercials.
Match #3: Tag-Team – Ryback and Jack Swagger VS. The League Of Nations (United States Champion Alberto Del Rio and Rusev) (w/ Lana)
Ryback knock Rusev off the apron but turns around into an enziguri from Del Rio. The U.S. Champ pounds away, then tags in Rusev who repeatedly kicks at Ryback. He chokes him against the middle rope and dominates for a while.
Ryback makes the hot-tag, letting “The Real American” clothesline Rusev multiple times and then give him a belly-to-belly suplex. He attempts the Swaggerbomb, but Rusev counters. Jack catches him in the Patriot Ankle Lock, but Del Rio breaks it up. Ryback takes out Alberto, but Lana gets involved, allowing Del Rio to kick Swagger in the head, and Rusev to do the same. He covers and gets the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: The League Of Nations
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Segment #6; Video Promo
Adam Rose is back to dish the dirt on WWE. He makes fun of Divas Champion Charlotte, her father Ric Flair, and Tommy Dreamer.
Match #4: Single – Tyler Breeze (with Summer Rae) VS. Neville
Before this bout begins, The Miz walks out and demands everyone to get in their “places.” He calls for “action” and the bell rings. Tyler and Neville wrestle well and back-and-forth at first, then as Neville takes control, Miz is heard telling him what to do.
Breeze knees Neville out of the corner then punches and kicks away in the other corner. He continues to wear him down, but is tossed off a Tornado-DDT attempt. “The Man That Gravity Forgot” kicks back and flips Breeze over with an enziguri. Tyler jawbreaks Neville on the ropes, and Miz yells that wasn’t supposed to happen, so Neville hits back with a high-kick, then spins off the top turnbuckle with his Red Arrow Twisting Splash to take the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Neville
Commercials.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Miz and Neville are discussing the previous match, and Miz also wants Neville’s help in developing an English accent for himself, so he can be the next James Bond. Neville declines the offer and walks away.
Segment #8: Video Promo
“We are the way into the city of woe. We are the way into eternal pain. We are the way to go among the lost. We are the angels of the dirt. And tonight, Tommy Dreamer, Dudley Boyz, Rhyno, we will bury you in the same city you were born. Run!” quip all members of The Wyatt Family.
The Dudleyz, Rhyno, and Tommy Dreamer make their entrance for the Eight-Man Tag, next!
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Match #5: Eight-Man Tag-Team (Extreme Rulez) The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von), Tommy Dreamer, and Rhyno VS. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erik Rowan, Luke Harper, and Braun Strowman)
They all brawl to start out, then Tommy tosses in a trashcan full of weapons. Bubba whacks Harper with the can as D-Von wields a Kendo Stick on Rowan. Both teams are even until Luke kick both D-Von and Bubba in the head. He climbs the turnbuckle but is stopped by Dreamer, then suplexed by Bubba while Rowan powerbombs, Bubba all onto a chair!
Commercials.
The Wyatts are in control until Rhyno cleans house and Dreamer dropkicks Harper who was hanging upside down from the turnbuckle. Bubba tumbles Bray into the crowd, and Braun soars across the announce table. Bray punches back at Bubba against the barricade and Dreamer gives Harper a Death Valley Driver from the stage through two tables!
Bubba and Wyatt are continuing to scuffle in the fans until Braun helps out. Tommy makes the save with Kendo stick shots, but Strowman carries him and over-the-shoulder slams him through the timekeeper’s barrier!
Rowan and Luke double-team Bubba, then Harper boots both Dudleyz in the ring a bit later. He props up a table, but is put through it with a 3-D! D-Von covers, but Bray pulls him out before the three. He drives D-Von down with Sister Abigail, then Rowan roundhouse-kicks Bubba! Rhyno’s back in and gives Erik a belly-to-belly and signals for a Gore but he is stopped by a Sister Abigail from Bray!
Rowan places Rhyno on a table then ascends the turnbuckle. He dives off with a splash and The Wyatts take this one!
Winners via Pinfall: The Wyatt Family
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Segment #9: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Champions The New Day come out and celebrate their big win, then they call out both The Usos and Lucha Dragons. The other two teams agree to join, and Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston surprisingly give respect to Jimmy and Jey, Kalisto and Sin Cara. They shake hands, then New Day continue to proclaim themselves Tag Champs; The Usos and Luchas don’t take kindly to this and decide to blindside Woods, E., and Kingston!
Commercials.
Match #6: Tag-Team – Team Bella (Brie Bella and Alicia Fox) VS. Becky Lynch and Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair)
(Note: Team B.A.D. – Sasha Banks, Tamina, and Naomi – are at ringside.)
Charlotte and Bri3e start, with Charlotte giving Bella a neckbreaker, but she is soon flipped off the turnbuckle. Brie wears her down with a rear choke-and-scissors submission, then locks on a surfboard stretch after trying to get the pin.
Charlotte fights out and tags in Lynch, who dropkicks Alicia. She kicks her in the corner then gives her a t-bone suplex. Fox kicks out at two, but Charlotte runs in and spears Brie. Becky whips Alicia into the ropes, where Flair trips her up and puts her in a position for Lynch to lock on her Disarmer, forcing Fox to tap!
Winners via Submission: Becky Lynch and Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair)
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Following an advertisement for WWEshop.com, another recall of TLC is shown. Backstage, Mr. McMahon is chatting with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus, United States Champion Alberto Del Rio and Rusev. The main-event is up next!
Commercials.
Match #7: Single for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Sheamus (Champion) VS. Roman Reigns (Challenger)
(Stipulation: If Roman does not win, he is fired.)
After formal intros, Reigns slugs away on Sheamus with ten clotheslines in the corner and a big boot! Sheamus cuts him off on the apron, then kicks him to the outside a couple moves later. Reigns comes back with an uppercut, but Sheamus counters and suplexes Roman onto the announce table.
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Sheamus now has Roman in a grounding rear chinlock. Reigns battles out and backdrops Sheamus. They both slug away, then Roman gets the better with a couple clotheslines and a flying forearm! He runs at Sheamus in the corner but is dumped to the apron and then kicked to the floor. Roman trips up Sheamus then punches him against the bottom rope from the apron. He hits the Drive-By running front-dropkick, but Sheamus elbows out of a Samoan Drop in the ring.
Sheamus boots Reigns out of the corner, then climbs the turnbuckle. He is punched down and given a middle rope Samoan Drop, but Reigns only gets two on the subsequent cover! Sheamus jawbreaks Roman between the ropes and rolls him up, but Reigns kicks out! Sheamus plants Roman with a backbreaker, but still only gets two! He goes for White Noise, but Roman reverses into a sit-down powerbomb for a very near-fall!
Roman goes for a Superman Punch, but Sheamus catches him by the throat then powerbombs him! Reigns kicks out again though as neither Vince or Sheamus can believe! Sheamus locks on a modified Cloverleaf, but Reigns struggles to and reaches the ropes!
Roman headbutts Sheamus, and is now busted open big! He hits a Superman Punch and covers, but Vince pulls the referee out just after two! Sheamus runs Roman into the ring post and plants him with White Noise, but Roman still gets his shoulder up!
With McMahon and the referee having a talk on the outside, Rusev and Del Rio run down to help Sheamus. Reigns manages to fend them off though, and Superman Punches both Sheamus and McMahon, collapsing him to the apron. He turns around into a Brogue kick and Sheamus drapes over him! 1 – 2 – Roman kicks out! The WWE Champion tries again, but Reigns counters with a Spear and covers! The referee counts,
1 – 2 – 3! Roman receives the hard-wrestled victory!
Winner and NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns
Post-match, Reigns celebrates as Sheamus is in disbelief and McMahon is kicked to the floor. Roman holds the championship high to close the show.
NXT is once again packing the bags and going on the road as Triple H today announced that NXT will be visiting five different cities next month.
The tour kicks off on January 14 for three days visiting Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Chicago, and then picks up again on January 29 and 30 with NXT going to Detroit and Pittsburgh.
This is the first time that NXT will be going to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, having previously been to Pennsylvania earlier this year. All tickets go on sale on Friday, December 18 at NXTTickets.com.
The last time the Royal Rumble had a change in its logo was back in 2005 and now after 11 yeas WWE has decided to give the Rumble logo a face lift and go with a completely different design.
The previous logo used more of a block type of font whereas the new logo is more, well, royal-looking.
This is the sixth Royal Rumble logo change. The first logo from 1988 was replaced in 1996. In 2000 and 2001 different logos were used and in 2002 a new one was introduced which stayed in play until 2004. In 2005 the logo the Rumble is mostly associated with made its debut and was used up until the 2015 event.
The 2016 Royal Rumble takes place at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, on January 24.
The NXT Superstars and Divas are enjoying their time in the United Kingdom with fans coming up with several creative chants that take over the whole arena.
The most popular of the group seems to be the tag team of Jason Jordan and Chad Gable with fans chanting their names to the tune of the popular Yaya/Kolo Toure chant from football (or soccer for American readers). The NXT Women’s champion Bayley has also been on the receiving end of some popular football chants.
The atmosphere is expected to be the same, if not better, this Wednesday for the Takeover: London show on the WWE Network. Overseas fans tend to be very creative with their chants as clearly visible from the Raw after WrestleMania where the majority of fans are all international.
There are three days left on the NXT United Kingdom tour with one show tonight in Nottingham, one tomorrow in Cardiff, and the Takeover show on Wednesday in London.
This week’s Impact on Destination America will be airing at 11PM EST and ending at 1AM EST as Destination America has bumped off their broadcast for a Mountain Monsters marathon that will start at 1PM EST.
There will be no replay for this week’s Impact and going by what’s on the schedule for Destination America, there are no more Impact broadcasts for the remainder of the year. This means that this week’s show is the last one on the network and TNA will be off television for two weeks before returning on Pop on January 5.
WWE and NBCUniversal today announced that Coca-Cola will be the presenting partner of this year’s Tribute to the Troops event, a new collaboration which will include brand integration throughout the broadcast on USA Network.
Coca-Cola commercial spots will air during the broadcast and on WWE Network, and WWE will develop behind-the-scenes content with WWE Superstars and Divas for its global digital and social media platforms.
“We are excited to partner with Coca-Cola, an iconic, blue-chip brand that is dedicated to giving back to our nation’s heroes,” said Michelle Wilson, WWE Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer. “Supporting our servicemen and women is a key part of Coca-Cola’s DNA and we are proud to highlight their important efforts during our annual Tribute to the Troops event.”
Dan Lovinger, Executive Vice President, Advertising Sales at NBCUniversal, said, “We are thrilled to share in this special event with WWE and Coca-Cola. WWE is known for family-friendly programming and they go above and beyond in their support of veterans and the military. Tribute to the Troops is such a unique opportunity to showcase that passion and we’re proud to partner with them.”
When Smackdown debuts on the USA Network on January 7, a new voice will be leading the announcing booth, popular MMA and boxing announcer Mauro Ranallo. The news was reported yesterday by Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole.
Ranallo has been doing commentary for Showtime Championship Boxing, Glory Kickboxing and Invicta Fighting Championships as well as doing play by play for New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV. His new role on Smackdown will not be exclusive as Ranallo said that WWE allowed him to keep doing all the commentary for Showtime events, although his role at NJPW will probably not continue.
“The boyhood dream has come true for me. The fact that I get to do all of my passions in one calendar year, I can’t believe it yet,” Ranallo said. The life-long wrestling fan said that he was contacted by Michael Cole to see if he’s interested in doing Smackdown on USA.
“Pro wrestling was my first love and my first entry into broadcasting,” Ranallo added. “And here I am, about to turn 46 with nearly 30 years as a broadcaster and it’s come full circle.”
Here are the results from last night’s TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view which took place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sasha Banks defeated Becky Lynch in the Kickoff match; The New Day defeated The Usos and The Lucha Dragons to retain the Tag Team titles in a triple threat tag team ladder match; Rusev defeated Ryback; Alberto Del Rio defeated Jack Swagger to retain the United States title in a chair match; The Wyatt Family defeated The Dudley Boyz, Rhyno, and Tommy Dreamer in an eight-man tag team elimination tables match; Dean Ambrose defeated Kevin Owens to become the new Intercontinental champion; Charlotte defeated Paige to retain the Divas title; Sheamus defeated Roman Reigns in a TLC match to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title.
In the latest round with the media in Singapore, former champ Daniel Bryan is now stating that he’s trying to work on a “compromise” with WWE to try and get back in the ring as Dr. Joseph Maroon, the lead WWE doctor, does not want to clear him due to the concussions he received.
“Because of my history with concussions, the WWE medical doctor wouldn’t clear me. We’re in the process of trying to figure out some compromise,” Bryan told The Straits Times newspaper. “They keep sending me to do more tests, brain MRIs, brain EGs and all my tests have come back great to the point where my brain is better than someone my age with no concussion.”
Bryan has already repeated the last part before to the press and said that all the tests he did showed that his brain looks in better shape than others despite suffering from several concussions throughout his wrestling career.
In earlier interviews this week Bryan said that WWE offered him a TV announcer job and a trainer at the Performance Center but he doesn’t want to take up that offer at this point in his career as he still feels he can wrestle.
Live tonight from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, WWE presents TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on pay-per-view and WWE Network. The full card is as follows:
Sheamus vs Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight title in a TLC match; Kevin Owens vs Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental title; The New Day vs The Usos vs The Lucha Dragons for the Tag Team titles in a triple threat tag team ladder match; Charlotte vs Paige for the Divas title; Alberto Del Rio vs Jack Swagger for the US title; Ryback vs Rusev; and The Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer, and Rhyno vs The Wyatt Family in an eight-man tag team elimination tables match.
The Kickoff show will start at 7PM EST but no match has been announced yet. It airs on WWE.COM, Facebook, YouTube, and the WWE Network.
The current WWE World Heavyweight champion Sheamus is the favorite to retain the title tonight according to the bookies, standing at 1/7 in the odds while Reigns is distant at 4/1.
In the other title matches, all the champions are favorites, with Del Rio at 2/9, The New Day at 4/9, Kevin Owens at 1/3, and Charlotte at 1/4. Their opponents stand at 3/1 for Swagger, 11/5 for The Usos and 13/2 for The Lucha Dragons, Ambrose at 2/1, and Paige at 11/4.
In the remaining non-title matches, Rusev is at 1/2 to win vs Ryback at 6/4, and The Wyatt Family at 2/9 while the ECW Originals are at 3/1.
If you consider Charlotte as a heel, this pay-per-view has all the heels favorites to win their matches.
The Texas Tribune is running an article about Texas governor Greg Abbott agreeing to spend up to $2.7 million in taxpayer funds to bring WrestleMania to the state next year.
The article notes that during his campaign last year, the governor was against such ideas using taxpayer money however last week his office signed off on the $2.7 million payment from the Events Trust Fund. The Events Trust Fund is designed to defray the costs of some large events by paying state taxes collected during the events, such as those levied on hotel reservations and car rentals, back to event organizers.
“It’s a massive event,” CFO for Stadium Events Organizing Committee Marty MacInnis said. “They’ve got fan festivals. They’ve got golf tournaments. They’ve got rallies. It’s one of those things where people from all over the world will come to this.”
State subsidy helped the organizing committee plan out its bid and determine how much it could ultimately agree to pay WWE. The total funding WWE is receiving for the event is still being worked out, McInnis said.
WrestleMania 32 received the second biggest incentive since governor Abbott’s office took over the trust fund. The Formula One race in October received nearly $20 million.
Former World Heavyweight champion Rey Mysterio has joined El Rey’s Lucha Underground, making a surprise appearance yesterday at their television tapings. He will be part of the second season of the series which kicks off next month.
“When it comes to in-ring performers, Rey Mysterio is among the elite and we are thrilled to welcome him and his skills to the ‘Lucha Underground’ franchise reinforcing our promise to bring US audiences the very best in lucha libre wrestling,” said Executive Producer and Showrunner, Eric Van Wagenen.
There were rumors that Mysterio would be going to Lucha Underground for the past few weeks. Ever since leaving the WWE, Mysterio has worked for AAA in Mexico and other independent organizations there. He is the second high profile main event wrestler to join Lucha Underground after Alberto Del Rio joined for the first season however Del Rio left after there were some problems between the two parties.
“I am excited by the opportunity to join such an extraordinary group of athletes and be a part of the Lucha Underground family,” Mysterio said. “It is a privilege to be able to represent this sport and have a chance to share my love of Lucha with passionate wrestling fans around the globe.”
Triple H confirmed on his Twitter today that the NXT show in Dallas two nights before WrestleMania 32 will be a Takeover show and will be titled NXT Takeover: Dallas.
“This is the ticket you’re gonna want…@WWENXT the takeover continues. #NXTTakeOver: Dallas,” he wrote, adding a photo of himself holding a ticket in front of a WWE logo.
The initial news was that this would be a regular non-televised live event, similar to what the company did earlier this year in San Jose. That particular show started late not to conflict with Axxess and some other non-WWE related activities that were going on during the evening. During the SummerSlam weekend, WWE held their first Takeover show outside Full Sail University, selling out the Barclays Center immediately and giving fans one hell of a fantastic show.
NXT Takeover: Dallas will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Arena, located inside the Convention Center where WWE will host the multi-day Axxess fan interaction event. The arena hosts around 9,000 seats so it will have a smaller attendance than the Takeover: Brooklyn show.
Tickets for the April 1 Dallas Takeover show go on sale on December 19 on Ticketmaster.com.
John Cena will be taking another short break from WWE after the Royal Rumble and will return in time for the quick Germany tour in February.
The former WWE champion is only advertised up until the Raw after the Rumble and after that, Cena is nowhere on any advertising or any event listing on WWE.COM until the February 8 Raw in Seattle, Washington. On February 10, one half of the roster will travel to Germany for three live events for a tour headlined by Cena himself before heading into Anaheim for the final Raw before the Fastlane pay-per-view.
Cena has been off WWE television since Hell In A Cell where he lost the United States title to Alberto Del Rio. He is currently in Washington state filming the FOX reality series American Grit.
Brock Lesnar’s first night back in WWE since the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view in October will be next week at the non-televised live event in Inglewood, California at The Forum and his opponent will be the United States champion Alberto Del Rio. This will be the first time ever that the two will be meeting each other in the ring.
The only other two matches so far announced for that live event are Sheamus vs Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens.
Lesnar has been added to several Raw events leading up to WrestleMania but only one Raw in the lead-up to the Royal Rumble.
Thursday Night Smackdown! TV Report for December 10th, 2015
Match #1: Single – Roman Reigns (with Dean Ambrose and The Usos [Jimmy and Jey]) VS. United States Champion Alberto Del Rio (with League Of Nations partners Rusev, King Barrett, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus)
The bell rings and the two square off amid “Roman” chants. Reigns knocks Alberto down with a shoulder-block, then is pushed into the corner after Del Rio grabs him around the waist. The U.S. Champion punches in the corner but Roman turns it around and does the same! He whips Alberto into the other corner, but is snapmared down and given a dropkick to the back.
Del Rio wears Roman down with a grounding chinlock, but Reigns hits a clothesline and suplex. Del Rio kicks out at two, then rolls to the apron. Roman meets him, but Alberto uses the ropes to give him a jawbreaker. He whips Reigns hard into the corner again and takes control. Roman kicks back and clotheslines Del Rio over the ropes, but is distracted by The League, allowing Alberto to whip him into the steel steps.
Commercials.
Del Rio is still dominating, even locking in an armbar-scissors with the ropes. Reigns powers out and slugs him off the turnbuckle to the floor. Alberto runs back in but is planted with a Samoan Drop! Both men punch at each other for a bit, then Reigns hits a flying-forearm! He clotheslines Del Rio ten times in the corner then gives him a big boot. The #1 Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship signals for the Superman Punch, but Alberto ducks it and dirves him with the backstabber!
Del Rio goes for the cross armbreaker, but Reigns reverses into a roll-up powerbomb for a near-fall! The WWE World Heavyweight Champion gets Reigns’ attention again, giving Del Rio the chance to hit a running enziguri; he covers, but only gets two! Reigns ducks a running kick and hits the Superman Punch, but The Nations pull Alberto to safety.
This breaks down after The Usos and Ambrose get in their face, and Roman beats on Sheamus against the announce table! The bell suddenly rings.
Winner: Neither Due To No Contest
Post-match, a melee happens until The League manages to escape after other referees enter.
Later tonight, a contract signing for the Intercontinental Championship Match between Kevin Owens (c) and Dean Ambrose will take place!
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Match #2: Single – Tyler Breeze (with Summer Rae) VS. Dolph Ziggler
An elbow/collar tie-up begins and Dolph gets Tyler in a hammerlock. He rolls around with Breeze still grappled, then goes into a front-facelock. The referee counts as Tyler gets to the ropes for a break.
“Prince Pretty” turns around into a side-headlock takedown, then hits a shoulder-block and dropkick as Ziggler ran off the ropes. He focuses on Dolph’s left knee, clamping on a half-crab. He dropkicks Dolph’s knee, then drops an elbow and ties it up again. He goes for a move against the ring post, but “The Show-Off” drags him face-first into the steel!
As Tyler gets back in the ring, Dolph hits a superkick and covers for the sudden victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Later tonight, Ryback will take on the Ascension, 2 – 1.
Commercials.
Match #3: Tag-Team – Tag Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) (with Tag-Team Champion New Day member Big E.) VS. The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto)
Prior to the bout, The New Day comically complain about N..B.A. Champion Lebron James receiving a multi-million-dollar deal with Nike, while they feel they can sell shoes just as well. They also are not pleased about their upcoming Triple-Threat Ladder Match at T.L.C. against the Dragons and The Usos with their championships on the line.
Kofi and Kalisto start, flipping each other around. Kalisto tags in Sin, who gives his partner a monkey-flip where Kalisto lands on Kingston with a double-legdrop! Woods blind-tags himself in, and then he and Kofi catch Cara off the ropes when he sprung for a crossbody. They throw him out and pose for a break.
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The New Day are dominating with their double-mudhole-stomping in their corner on Cara. Both Kofi and Xavier trade tags while punishing Sin. The Dragons eventually counters with a roll-up powerbomb and gets the hot-tag to his partner.
Kalisto is all over Kofi, almost taking this after a hurricanrana! Cara comes in and throws Kingston to the outside, but Big E. catches his partner. Sin manages to follow with a dive through the ropes! Back in the ring, Woods and Kalisto trade O’Connor rolls, then Kalisto hits a high kick and his jumping reverse-DDT finisher for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: The Lucha Dragons
Up next is the I.C. Championship Contract Signing!
Commercials.
Segment #1: Arena Promo
Dean Ambrose comes out but not Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens. Instead, Owens’ lawyer, Matthew Douglas, is representing him. He signs while “The Lunatic Fringe” bangs his head against the table. Ambrose is perplexed by the switch and goes on about what usually happens during a contract signing. He goes to sign, but notices the apron, where Kevin shows up! He engages Dean in a brawl, throwing him into the barricade. He goes for the steps, but Ambrose reverses. The I.C. Champ escapes through the other side of the ring, shoving his attorney in front of a clothesline by Ambrose, who also drives Douglas down with a Dirty Deeds DDT, then signs the contract!
Our main-event tonight is an Eight-Man Tag-Team featuring Reigns, Ambrose, and The Usos against the entire League Of Nations.
Ryback is shown walking backstage and he will go against both Ascension members, next!
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Match #4: Two-On-One – The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) VS. Ryback
(Note: Rusev and Lana are on commentary.) Ryback polishes off the tag-team quickly with a Meathook Clothesline and Shellshock Samoan Drop on Viktor!
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback
Post-match, Ryback and Rusev glare and mouth-off, then Rusev and Lana walk away.
Segment #2: Video Promo
Recap of Raw, featuring The Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno, and The Wyatt Family is shown. It is announced that they will all wrestle in an Eight-Man Tag-Team Elimination Tables Match at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs this Sunday
Up next, Becky Lynch will take on Paige!
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Becky Lynch VS. Paige
They lockup and Paige takes Becky down with a side-headlock. Lynch scissors out of it, while Divas Champion Charlotte is shown watching backstage. Becky flips Paige over, then the former “Diva Of Tomorrow” wants a timeout on the outside. She re-enters and kicks Lynch hard, then knees her against the middle rope. She gives another knee in the turnbuckle, then one more on the mat. Paige ears at Lynch with a chin-arm stretch, but Becky flips her again. She hits a couple of uppercuts and clotheslines, then a dropkick and t-bone suplex!
Lynch gears up but misses a splash in the corner, and both women clothesline each other. Charlotte’s music abruptly plays and the Divas Champion walks down, appearing to turn Paige’s attention. It works, as Becky catches Paige in the Disarmer Armbar, making Paige give-up!
Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch
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Segment #3: Video Promo
The rivalry between WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and Roman Reigns is featured.
Roman Reigns enters through the fans for the Eight-Man, next!
Commercials.
Match #6: Eight-Man Tag-Team – Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. The League Of Nations (United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, King Barrett, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus)
Alberto is first again, with Jimmy Uso. He knocks the twin down with a shoulder-block, but Uso comes back with a couple of chops and then tags in his brother. Rusev is also in, hitting a spinning-wheel-kick on Jey. He rips at Uso’s head against the middle rope, and The League takes control after throwing Jey into the barricade.
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The Nations are still governing, with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion now in and all over Jey. He hits 10 Beats Of The Bowron, which brings in Reigns to break it up. The referee gets in Roman’s face for the illegal move, giving Sheamus a chance for a break. This also gave Jey an opportunity to make the hot-tag to Dean, who is now hitting Sheamus left, right, and center!
Dean runs at Sheamus in the corner then brings him out face-first with a bulldog! He hits rapid chops, but then is tripped up by Barrett from the apron. Rusev is tagged, and he punishes Ambrose with stomps, chokes, and punches. The League take turns until Del Rio misses an enziguri, which Dean capitalizes with a Tornado DDT out of the corner! He slaps hands with Roman for the much-needed switch!
Reigns cleans on Rusev and Sheamus, hitting a fast and impressive Samoan Drop on Rusev! He clotheslines him ten-consecutive times in the corner, and puts him to the canvas with a leaping-clothesline! Roman hits the Superman Punch, but Sheamus and Alberto stop the subsequent cover.
The Usos enter and take Del Rio and Sheamus to the outside, where they rocket over the ropes with a splash! In the ring, Reigns hits a Spear on Rusev and covers for the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and The Usos
Post-match, the two teams stare-down one another to close the show!
End Of Smackdown!
Reporter’s Rumblings
I liked Smackdown! better than Raw, but still found it “off the mark”/confusing, particularly when wrestlers are wrestling twice. There’s much more room on the show for everyone to have one match, so why not!? Onto the particulars and then my predictions for T.L.C.
Excellence: matches between Reigns/Del Rio, Ziggler/Breeze, Luchas/New Day, and Paige/Becky (although shorter than I hoped!)
Loved the swerve Owens pulled for the contract signing; it so fits in with his character!
Bogus: not a fan of wrestlers wrestling multiple times, unless it is a tournament; I didn’t see the sense for The League and Roman/Company to go at it twice on both Raw and Smackdown! It seems like they were just filling time. Also, Raw’s beginning was great, but they should’ve had that 16-Man as the main-event, and then the brawl between Sheamus/Reigns to close tonight; would’ve hyped up T.L.C. much more.
As well, The Wyatt Family and The Dudleyz should’ve been featured in a match of some-sort to push their bout at T.L.C.; I wasn’t satisfied by the Raw recap that my Dad and I fast-forward through when we watch!
Not sure what to make of the sudden switch by Alberto on Zeb Colter. While I’m liking his feud with Swagger, I thought they made a good combo, but can also see it as Del Rio fantastic on his own too. It seemed too quick for him to split, as he had just returned and paired up.
I wish they had save Dolph/Tyler for T.L.C., with a 2-out-of-3 Falls stipulations; great match tonight, but since they were one-apiece, it should’ve ended at the bigger event.
T.L.C. – I’m liking this line-up, so hopefully it plays out well! Sheamus to retain (would be really stupid, as it is already, for Reigns to win on a non-big show after winning at Survivor Series then losing shortly after); Dean to win I.C. Title to continue feud (or Owens to cheat/dq; either way, not a one-off bout); Luchas are going to be new Tag-Team Champions – their momentum would be halted if not; Charlotte to deliberately cheat-to-win (R.I.P. Eddie Guerrero), and further this new side of hers; Wyatt Family wins over E.C.W. vets; Rusev should win to show his dominance with return
Until Raw, have a wonderful weekend and Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Fans!
Sami Zayn made his in-ring return at the NXT live event tour in Newcastle, England, yesterday and wrestled NXT champion Finn Balor in the main event.
Breaking the usual tradition, the champion came out first for his match, leaving Zayn to get one of the biggest pops of the night. Fans chanted “Ole ole ole!” as the WWE production team waited a few before kicking in Zayn’s theme song to build up the anticipation. Fans gave the returning Canadian a standing ovation. Sami is also sporting a new hairstyle as he shaved his head.
The match ended with Balor picking up the win after hitting the Coup De Grâce on his opponent. Balor and Zayn then hugged after the match and Balor held up a sign welcoming back Zayn. Zayn was left alone in the ring afterward as fans showed their appreciation.
WWE announced that the WWE Network will be available in Japan starting on January 5, 2016, with the first month of service offered for free to those who sign up. This is another major market cleared for the Network which was unable to broadcast there due to TV contract issues.
The WWE Network in Japan will be similar to the US version of the Network, costing $9.99 per month with no commitment and the ability to cancel any time. All the 12 WWE pay-per-views will also air as part of the deal and all the available video-on-demand will be accessible from day one.
WWE Network will first 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 Royal Rumble.
“Japan is strategically important for WWE given our passionate and engaged fan base in the market,” said George Barrios, WWE Chief Strategy & Financial Officer. “The global expansion of WWE Network is critical to the continued growth of our brand internationally.”
