WWE will present it’s first RAW of 2013 tonight with a three hour broadcast headlined by a TLC match between the current WWE champion CM Punk and Ryback.
The main event was supposed to headline the TLC pay-per-view last month however emergency knee surgery prevented Punk – who is over 400 consecutive days as champion – to be part of the show. Ryback’s only defeat so far has come at the hands of CM Punk.
Plus, the one and only The Rock will return to WWE television for the first time since July’s RAW 1000 celebration. The Rock will be appearing frequently on WWE TV in the next quarter as he goes for the gold at the Royal Rumble and then his involvement at the Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania pay-per-views.
With the 20th anniversary of Monday Night RAW just slightly over a week away, former WWE and WCW champion Kevin Nash has ruled out an appearance during the show.
“Will not be on RAW’s 20th,” Nash wrote on Twitter, adding that he’d never go back to TNA either.
Nash wrote that Triple H is like a brother to him and if he needs anything he would do it. He then wrote that going back to TNA would break that trust despite his love for TNA President Dixie Carter and their crew.
The former NWO member was also missing from the RAW 1000th episode despite recently working with WWE again.
ComicBookMovie.com is reporting that former WWE and World Heavyweight champion Batista has made the shortlist to play the role of Drax The Destroyer in Marvel’s upcoming movie Guardians of the Galaxy.
According to the site, Batista, Isaiah Mustafa, and Brian Patrick Wade are all in negotiations with Marvel to play the role.
In the comic book world, Drax was a human whose family was attacked and killed by the supervillain Thanos. To combat Thanos, Drax – whose name in the comic book is Arthur Douglas – has his spirit taken away by another character, Kronos – and placed into a new body which has enhanced strength and resilience, flight, and the ability to project energy blasts from his hands.
AdAge.com is reporting that John Cena is about to boot Fred Flintstone from the Fruity Pebbles boxes in a promotion covering 4 million boxes of the cereal along with Cocoa Pebbles.
Cena already did this last year thanks to The Rock when he called him Fruity Pebbles, triggering the company to take advantage of the free advertising. However last year, Cena was only featured at the top of the box while Fred Flintstone still commanded the front artwork of the cereal. This time, the former WWE champ will take the front and center position, something that AdAge says it is a rare feat for a non-Flintstones character.
Andrew Judelson, WWE’s exec VP-sales and sponsorship, says that other similar deals are in the works involving other WWE Superstars.
On January 12, TNA will be taping two 3-hour special shows that will be broadcast internationally to make up for the two less pay-per-views that the company will not do this calendar year.
The two shows will be titled ‘X-Travaganza’ and ‘Jokers Wild Tag Team Tournament’ and will taped at the IMPACT Zone at Universal Studios at 1PM and 7PM respectively.
The ‘X-Travaganza’ show will feature an Ultimate X Match, an X-Scape Cage Match, and the return of former X Division stars including Petey Williams, Amazing Red, Matt Bentley and Jimmy Rave. Rob Van Dam will also be in the house as he wrestles Jerry Lynn as part of Lynn’s farewell tour.
The ‘Jokers Wild Tag Team Tournament’ will feature teams selected at random competing with winning teams advancing to a 12-man Gauntlet Match with the winner receiving $100,000.
The first IMPACT of 2013 combined with the return of Sting paid dividends for TNA as the show secured its largest audience since the August 23 episode, getting over 1.6 million viewers.
The show did nearly over 300,000 more viewers than the previous week and almost over 400,000 viewers more than the two shows prior to that one. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
Former WWE Superstar Mike Knox was unveiled as a member of the Aces & Eights during yesterday’s IMPACT on Spike.
Knox was part of a tag team cage match in the main event of the show which saw the return of Sting and he was unmasked by Kurt Angle after he ended up alone in the ring against Samoa Joe, Sting, and Angle himself.
Knox wrestled for WWE during the company’s failed attempt at reviving the ECW brand and he played the role of Kelly Kelly’s boyfriend. He then switched to RAW in 2008 and moved to Smackdown in 2009 but was released a year after following WrestleMania XXVI.
The Elimination Chamber 2013 pay-per-view poster features an interesting choice of wrestlers inside the giant cage.
Scheduled to take place from New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 17, the poster has Sheamus, Ryback, Big Show, John Cena, CM Punk…and The Rock all digitally inserted in the Chamber.
The Rock has been rumored to be part of the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view leading up to his WrestleMania match however the poster suggests that all six of them will be part of one of the two Chamber main events.
Usually the pay-per-view features two Elimination Chamber main events, one which will determine the number one contender for either the WWE or World title depending on which title the Rumble winner goes for and the other is a title defense.
You can see the large version of the poster below.
After dismissing the federal lawsuit against Gawker for the posting of his sex tape, Hulk Hogan refiled the lawsuit against the same company in a Florida state court.
TMZ.COM is reporting that Hogan is once again seeking $100 million from Gawker and has refiled the case to consolidate his claims against the NY-based media company and Heather Clem, the person who he had sex with in the tape.
Hogan – who already had a lawsuit filed against Clem in Florida – claims that the former wife of Bubba “The Love Sponge” played a part in leaking the sex tape to the media.
Gawker posted a one minute video clip of Hulkamania running wild all over Clem a few months ago and then gave a detailed description of the whole video, almost blow by blow.
His lawsuit against Bubba was dropped after the two reached an agreement out of court and then Bubba apologized twice to Hogan on his radio show.
The New Year’s Eve Monday Night RAW drew a 2.31 rating with an average of 3,552,000 viewers, up just slightly from last week’s 2.2 rating on Christmas Eve.
Hour one did 3,397,000 viewers, hour two did 3,644,000, while hour three did 3,614,000. It marked the second time in a row that hour three gained viewers on hour one in months however the third hour kept losing viewers over the second as it has been the norm since RAW moved to 180 minutes. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
Impact begin with a recap of recent events, including the news that Sting will be returning tonight to get revenge on Aces and Eights. Jeremy Borash is the first person in the ring as Impact begins.
Borash tells us that he has the 5 finalists, and winner, of the TNA wrestler of the year award. The nominees are Bully Ray, James Storm, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, and Jeff Hardy. Roode and Aries are each convinced it will be them, and argue back and forth as they make their way to the ring. Jeff Hardy is announced as the winner; Aries and Roode are both outraged. Roode claims that as the longest reigning heavyweight champ ever in TNA, he should have won.
Aries argues that as the longest reigning X division champ and the man that beat Roode for the heavyweight title, he should have won. Hardy proclaims that 2012 was the year of the enigma and challenges both of them to a title match at Genesis. Aries swings Hardy’s trophy at him, but Hardy ducks and Aries hits Roode instead. Hardy hits Aries with the Twist of Fate and stands triumphantly over both of them.
In the back, James Storm is approached for an interview when they are interrupted by Kaz and Daniels. Daniels does a Storm impersonation and tells Storm’s fans he’s sorry he loses so much lately and that he’s “sorry about my damn luck.” Storm says he’ll fight either one of them right now and walks to the ring.
Commercial
Match #1: James Storm versus Kaz.
Daniels gets into the ring to fight Storm, but Kaz runs in and hits Storm from behind. Daniels leaves after the distraction and Kaz goes to work on Storm. Storm and Kaz trade strikes and Kaz throws Storm over the top rope.
Storm holds onto the top rope and pulls himself back in. Storm downs Kaz with a Thesz press and throws him out of the ring. Storm leaps out of the ring onto Kaz on the floor. Daniels and Kaz take turns distracting the ref so the other can land some cheap shots on Storm.
Kaz puts Storm in a chin lock; Storm fights out but Kaz knocks him down again. Kaz hits Storm with a leg drop and then slaps him. Storm hits kaz with closing time and follows up with several punches. Storm hits Kaz with a side Russian leg sweep and then a flying elbow drop from the top rope.
Storm goes for a cover and gets 2. Kaz hits Storm with a fireman’s carry cutter and gets a 2 count. Storm hits Kaz with closing time again and sets up for the last call superkick. Daniels tries to distract Storm but Storm hits him with an Enzuigiri. Kaz climbs to the top rope and leaps off, but Storm hits him with the superkick before he lands and then covers him for the win.
In the Aces and Eights clubhouse, Devon and Doc are still trying to recruit Ken Anderson. They’re giving him beer and biker girls and he’s loving it, but is in no hurry to make up his mind. Doc runs out of patience and tells Anderson they need to know now. Anderson seems to be in.
Commercial
When we return, Kenny Kash approaches Kid Kash to wish him luck tonight in his X division tournament match. Kash claims to have seen Kash many years ago on VHS tapes. I think he’s implying Kash is old. I have to rewind my VHS tape to make sure that’s what he said. I should also probably turn up my hearing aid because I’m even older than Kid Kash.
Doc is in the ring calling out Sting, the man he assaulted with a hammer weeks ago. A bat falls out of the sky and lands in the ring near Doc.
Commercial
Match #2: Kid Kash versus Christian York.
X Division tournament match. Kash attacks York right away, landing several strikes. York responds with an elbow and a clothesline that knocks Kash to the floor. Kash pulls York out to the floor and chops him. Kash rolls back in and then flies back out, hitting York with a hurricanrana.
Kash rakes York’s back and then rolls him back in. Kash slingshots himself back into the ring but York hits him with a dropkick in mid air. York hits Kash with an Enzuigiri and then climbs to the top. York comes off the top rope and misses but then hits Kash with a boot to the face.
York hits Kash with a half nelson suplex and Kash responds with a suplex of his own. Kash hits York with a few crossface shots and then goes for a moonsault but York gets his knees up. York lands a couple kicks and then Kash responds with a chinbreaker. York hits Kash with a modified flatliner and tries to roll him up with an inside cradle. Kash lands a kick and goes for a backslide, but York counters with “Mood Swings” (a swinging neckbreaker) for the win!
Match #3: Matt Morgan versus Hernandez with Chavo.
Morgan comes out with Joey Ryan wearing a sling. Morgan claims he hurt himself training, but Joey Ryan will kick his ass instead. Joey seems a little upset about this at first. Not much of a match, Hernandez hits Ryan a kick, a bodyslam, and a backbreaker before Matt Morgan interferes.
Morgan has discarded his sling and now seems fine. Hernandez shoulder blocks Ryan across the ring, but is then clotheslined out of the ring by Morgan. Chavo goes after Ryan, but Morgan takes Chavo out with the Carbon Footprint.
Commercial
When we return, Hulk Hogan calls out Bully Ray and his daughter Brooke. Hogan is mad that Brooke and Bully have been sneaKash around behind his back instead of coming to him directly. Bully Ray acknowledges he was wrong and seems apologetic.
Hogan suspends him indefinitely without pay and tells Brooke to leave as well. Ray is shocked that he just got suspended and wants to know why. TNA sucks at this sort of thing; they have great wrestlers, they do NOT have great writers. They should focus on what they do well, fighting, and stop doing what they suck at, which is talKash.
Commercial
Joseph Park is apparently doing well learning how to wrestle at OVW.
Match #4: Gail Kim and Tara versus Miss Tessmacher and Mickie James.
Gail and Tessmacher start the match off. Gail whips Tessmacher to the ropes and Tessmacher leaps back to knock Gail down with a clothesline. Tara hits Tessmacher with a cheap shot and then Gail tags Tara in. Tara hits Tessmacher with a kick and a chop.
Tessmacher takes Tara down with a snapmare and tags in Mickie. Mickie dropkicks Tara and then dropkicks Gail as well, knocKash them both to the floor. Mickie and Tessmacher pursue Tara and Gail outside the ring and knock them into each other. After order is restored, Tara and Gail double team Mickie.
Commercial
Gail and Tara double team Mickie, but Mickie ducks an attack from Tara and then clotheslines Gail. Mickie tags in Tessmacher, and Tessmacher clotheslines Tara. Tessmacher whips Tara into the corner and the violently rams her vagina into Tara’s face.
I feel weird writing that every week, but Divas and Knockouts use their vaginas, asses, and boobs as weapons every week. I know this is to turn on the young straight men that watch wrestling in large numbers, but it really should scare them. If you watch TNA every week, you must conclude that a woman’s naughty bits are DEADLY!
Gail hits Tessmacher with a cheap shot, and Tara mounts her. Tara blatantly chokes Tessmacher on the mat and then throws her by her hair across the ring. Tara hits Tessmacher with a backbreaker and then tags in Gail. Gail hits Tessmacher with several kicks, a gut buster, and a forearm shot.
Gail slams Tessmacher’s face to the mat and then tags Tara in. Tara hits Tessmacher with a leg drop then pulls her arms back in a bow and arrow. Tara slams Tessmacher to the mat and then goes for a standing moonsault.
Tessmacher gets her knees up in time to block the moonsault and then slams Tara to the mat. Tara and Tessmacher make tags at the same time. Mickie pounds on Gail and then hits her with a hurricanrana and then a neckbreaker. Mickie goes for a cover and Tara makes the save. Tessmacher comes in to attack Tara and Jesse pulls his girlfriend to safety.
Tessmacher goes to the top rope and hits Tara and Jesse with a flying crossbody on the floor. Gail goes after Mickie but Mickie sidesteps the attack and plants Gail with a DDT for the win.
Commercial
When we return, ODB tells us that her hubby Eric Young is not ready to come back yet, but he will be soon. In Hogan’s office, Roode and Aries are arguing with Hogan about the triple threat match they have with Hardy at Genesis.
Hogan doesn’t want to listen to them and makes the match a 3 way elimination match. He also tells them they will be teaming up next week against Hardy and a partner of his choosing.
Commercial
Match #5: Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe versus Devon and a large masked man from Aces and Eights.
Doc hits Kurt Angle in the back with the steel door before the match begins and locks Angle out of the cage, giving Devon and the masked man a 2 on 1 advantage. Joe puts a beating on both members of Aces and Eights the first few minutes, landing several strikes on each of them. Joe drops the masked man in the corner and gives him a facewash with his boot.
Joe prepares to give the masked man a running boot to the face but is cut off by a flying forearm from Devon. Devon and the masked man take turns holding Joe so the other can beat him, but Joe eventually gets the upper hand again until Devon rakes his eyes.
The masked man hits Joe with a big boot and Joe responds with an open palm strike to the face. Angle tries to climb into the cage, but is cut off by Doc. Devon and the masked man continue to double team Joe inside the cage.
Commercial
Joe hits both opponents with strikes, and then comes off the top rope to knock Devon down. Joe hits the masked man with a t-bone suplex. Outside the ring Kurt Angle tries to get into the cage but is again cut off by Doc. Angle kicks Doc in the nuts and then unlocks the door.
Angle hits Devon with a pair of clotheslines and then a forearm. Angle hits the masked man with an elbow and then a missile dropkick. Angle tries to pull off the masked mans mask, but is hit by Doc with another cheap shot. Devon and the masked man double team Joe. Devon whips the masked man into Joe, and then runs over Kurt.
The masked man hits Kurt with a side slam as Devon climbs to the top rope. Devon tries to hit Angle with a flying headbutt but Angle rolls out of the way. Joe hits the masked man with a kick. Angle hits Devon with three consecutive German Suplexes and then hits the masked man with another one.
Joe and Angle slam the masked man to the cage and Joe hits him with an atomic drop. Angle hits the masked man with an Angle Slam for the win!!
After the match, Angle tries to pull of the masked man’s mask, but a massive number of Aces and Eights members run in to stop him. Aces and Eights put a beating on Angle and Joe inside the cage while Ken Anderson looks on from the outside.
Angle is starting to get very bloody when Sting comes to the rescue. Sting enters the cage with a baseball bat and starts swinging. Several members of Aces and Eights take big shots from Sting with the bat and the rest run away. Sting, Angle and Joe remain in the ring with 1 member of Aces and Eights; the masked man that teamed up with Devon.
They unmask the Aces and Eights members and we see that it’s Mike Knox. Angle, Joe, and Sting celebrate their victory in the cage as Impact goes off the air.
The first IMPACT of 2013 airing tonight on Spike will feature the return of former WCW and TNA champion Sting.
Sting returns to seek revenge on the Aces & Eights for putting him out of action back in early November when A&E member Doc smashed him with a ball peen hammer after he was put through a table.
Speaking of Aces & Eights, the group will be taking on Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe in a steel cage match plus Hogan will be looking for answers regarding his daughter Brooke and Bully Ray.
How do you say Wooooo! in Japanese? Well, probably the same! Fans in the Land of the Rising Sun will get their Ric Flair fix later this month as the Nature Boy will be wrestling for All Japan Pro Wrestling in an event to be held on January 26 in Tokyo.
Flair will team up with Keiji Mutoh – better known to American wrestling fans as the Great Muta – to take on Tatsumi Fujinami and Seiya Sanada.
Mutoh and Flair feuded for a while when he – under the name of The Great Muta, was brought in the NWA by manager Gary Hart. Muta went on to feud with Flair, Luger, and even Sting who he eventually won the NWA TV title from, only to lose it a few months later to Arn Anderson.
The 20th anniversary of Monday Night RAW will be electrified as former WWE champion The Rock has been added to the mix.
The Rock will be practically appearing every week on WWE television leading up to the Royal Rumble where he will be facing whoever the WWE champion will be at that time.
The match between CM Punk and The Rock has been in the works for the past few months and the two have been at it on Twitter however officially it cannot be announced yet as CM Punk has to defend the WWE title against Ryback this coming Monday on RAW in a TLC match.
Speaking of this coming Monday’s RAW, WWE is running commercials plugging the return of the self proclaimed people’s champion for the first RAW of 2013. He will be there – and then on Smackdown as well – to kick start his Rumble hype and it will be interesting to see if he will have any interference in the TLC main event.
You can see the TV commercial with The Rock below.
Olympic gold medalist and former TNA champion Kurt Angle and his wife Giovanna Yannotti welcomed their second child – and his fourth – yesterday.
“18 hours at the hospital,” tweeted Angle, before getting a congratulatory message from his employer, TNA President Dixie Carter for the new arrival.
The 7lbs 12oz baby girl was named Sophia Laine. Angle also tweeted a photo of his daughter’s tiny footprint on his hand.
Angle has two children with his former wife Karen, who is now married to Jeff Jarrett. The first child with Yannotti was born on January 22, 2011, and her name is Giuliana Marie.
Hogan’s Beach grand opening was a massive success on New Year’s eve and well over a 1,000 guests showed up to eat, drink, and party as they welcomed 2013 with the Hulkster.
Channel 10 in Tampa covered the launch with a live link during the news, even managing a short interview with the WWE Hall of Famer.
Hogan showed up for the masquerade event decked in all white with a bandana and obviously a mask, accompanied by his wife. Hogan told Channel 10 that you can’t wrestle forever so it was a good choice to branch out in this business using his image and likeness.
You can see a video of the report from the 20,000 square-foot bar and restaurant below.
This is it – the last Raw of 2012! How will WWE go out – on a high note “cliffhanger,” or the usual “blah” kind of show, knowing darn well that no one will be watching since it is New Year’s Eve when airing? (My vote is for the latter!). In any case, it is still Monday Night Raw and the year’s finale begins now!
Monday Night Raw Report for December 31st, 2012 – “A Champion’s Toast.”
Introduction Segment: Welcoming
The regular Raw video plays, followed by the pyro blasting in the Verizon arena of Washington, D.C. Michael Cole welcomes us to the New Year’s Eve edition, as does the following superstar…
Segment #1: Arena Promo
“The Awesome One” The Miz walks out to the stage for “MizTV.” He announces that courtesy of Supervising Manager Vickie Guerrero, tonight will be a “Championship” night, where all Titles are on the line. However, the Champions will be choosing their matches. (Ok, maybe this won’t be that lame-duck afterall?) Miz now introduces his guest, 10-Time WWE Champion and the former “Dr. Of Thuganomics,” John Cena!
The 2012 “Superstar Of The Year” is excited, until Miz starts asking him the hard questions. He inquires if John’s relationship w/ A.J. is truly over yet. Cena assures that it is, and to even show that further, he will attend Dolph Ziggler’s and A.J.’s New Year’s Eve party.
To interrupt, “The Rhodes Scholars” walk out. Damien Sandow quotes T.S. Elliott in saying “this is how the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper.” He then demands silence from the crowd, but does not get it from Cena. Instead, John retorts “I believe it was the famous poet, Robert Griffin the third, that said, and I quote ‘you guys suck!'” Damien pretends not to hear of the famous Washington Redskins NFL Quarterback (and helluva player awesome, personally writing), much to the chagrin and chants of “R.G.3.”
Cena makes fun of Cody Rhodes’ mustache, until “The Scholars” point out how far Cena’s and Miz’s stars have fallen, respectively, going from main-eventing WrestleManias to mid-card status. They want to propose a solution, but Cena beats them to it and challenges for a tag-team match. All is accepted and we begin the first bout of the night!
Match #1: Tag-Team – The Miz and John Cena VS. “The Rhodes Scholars” (Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes)
Cody and Cena start out, with Cena coming off the ropes with a shoulder-block tackle out of a side-headlock Irish whip. (follow me?!) Cena arm-wrenches Rhodes, and tags in the Miz, who drops a double-axe-handle smash on the outstretched arm. Cody elects to switch with Damien, so the “Intellectual Savior of the Masses” comes in and takes Miz down with a side-headlock. Miz counters a run into a flapjack, and Sandow rolls to the outside for a break.
Commercials.
Back (not-so-live), Cena and Sandow are wrestling, with Cena clamping on a grounding rear-chinlock. John trades again with The Miz, who stomps away on Damien. Miz is countered with an elbow and the “Scholars” double-stomp him in the corner. Miz reverses an Irish whip from Cody, then gives him a 9-punch in the corner, and one on the mat.
Cody drops to the canvas and delivers an uppercut to Miz, then tags in his partner. Damien hammers away and begins to work over Miz’s right arm. He covers for a two-count, then drops the “Elbow of Disdain.” Cody’s back in and head-butts Miz, then grapples him with a rear-chinlock.
Sandow returns but gets his suplex attempt reversed into a small package for a near-fall! Damien drags Miz to the corner and tags Cody back in. Rhodes drops Miz with a front-suplex and ties him in a hammerlock. Both heels continue to switch back and forth, corner and obscuring Miz from making a tag and saving himself.
Miz finally counters a bulldog attempt, and he and Cody make the hot-tags to their respective partners. Cena runs in and is all over Sandow with his usual moves, taking him down with the spin-out backdrop and 5-Knuckle-Shuffle fistdrop. However, he turns right around into the “Beautiful Disaster” kick from Cody, only for Rhodes to get planted with the Skull Krushing Finale. He then throws Sandow back into Cena, who finishes the contest off with the Attitude Adjustment and subsequent cover!
Winners via Pinfall: The Miz and John Cena
Segment #2: Locker Room Promo
Vickie Guerrero is hosting a New Year’s Eve bash with all the superstars. She turns around to see an uninvited guest – Dolph Ziggler. Guerrero informs “The Showoff” that he will be in a match, against Sheamus. “Happy New Year!”
Ads.
Segment #3: Locker Room Promo
WWE Champion C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman walk in on Guerrero’s party. Punk wants to bring a doctor to the ring, so they can explain C.M.’s injury in “layman’s terms” to the people, as he thinks that they do not believe the legitimacy of his injury. Vickie conquers that it is for real and gives permission for Punk’s promo later. She also, with “strong encouragement” books Ryback VS. The Shield.
Match #2: Single for the United States Championship – ??? (Challenger) VS. Antonio Cesaro (Champion)
As of now, the opponent is unknown. Cesaro reminds the fans that he is the champion of everything, which includes all the tourist attractions he visited in Washington, such as the Pentagon, the Monument, etc.. He tells us that he ran into someone that also represents “the red, white and blue,” and that person is his opponent tonight …. Sergeant Slaughter!
The WWE Hall-Of-Famer marches out in his military gear to challenge for the title. They lock up and standoff, then engage in traded waistlocks. Cesaro wears down Sarge with a side-headlock, until The Legend fights out of it and manages to clamp on his Cobra Clutch submission. Antonio battles to the ropes and following an uppercut, plants Slaughter with “The Neutralizer” cradle-faceplant for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall and STILL United States Champion: Antonio Cesaro
Post-match, Cesar drops Sergeant a second time with “The Neutralizer” and gloats with his championship overhead.
Commercials.
Segment #4: Locker Room Promo
Tag-Team Champions “Team Hell-No!” wanted to fight “The Shield” tonight, but since they’re already booked, they decide on “3MB” as their opponents, who were rehearsing on the other side of the room.
Segment #5: Locker Room Promo
Ricardo Rodriguez is pouring a drink when World Heavyweight Champion Big Show walks up to him. He offers Ricardo a chance at the Title, and a nervous Rodriguez spills his drink on Show’s shoes. This automatically puts him in the match, as Show wishes him “good luck.”
Elsewhere, WWE Hall-Of-Famer and Women’s Legend Mae Young gets friendly with the new generation of Divas. She is then courted by Divas Champion Eve to matchup for the championship.
Match #3: Tag-Team for the Tag-Team Championship – Kane and Daniel Bryan (Champions) VS. “3MB” (Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre) (Challengers)
“Team Hell-No!” makes their entrances, separately, prior to the break.
Ads.
Bryan and Slater start, with Heath arm-dragging him. Daniel comes back with a shoulder-block and flapjack, the locks on a surfboard-stretch. He tags in Kane, who gives a sitting Slater a running front-dropkick. The big-man for “3MB” is now in, but Drew quickly gets taken down with a shoulder-block by Kane, then an Irish-whipped dropkick in the corner from Bryan. McIntyre manages a little offense, but soon gets kicked-away at by Daniel. Drew moves, sending Bryan to the outside, and he gets a running knee from Jinder Mahal on the floor.
Slater is switched back in, and he grasps a side-headlock on, then takes Daniel down with a running neckbreaker. 1 – 2 – Bryan kicks out! Daniel elbows his way out of another headlock but then both he and Heath collide with a running crossbody. Kane and Drew are back it, with “The Big Red Machine” in complete control. Kane drops down with a huge sidewalk slam, then ascends the turnbuckle for a top-rope diving clothesline. Slater is tossed to the outside, as Bryan knees Jinder to relieve him.
Kane Chokeslams Drew, and Bryan gives his team the victory following a flying headbutt from the top!
Winners via Pinfall and STILL Tag-Team Champions: “Team Hell-No!” (Kane and Daniel Bryan)
Commercials.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
C.M. Punk, the WWE Champion for 407 consecutive days, hobbles out on crutches still, with Paul Heyman and the doctor. Punk recalls his 2012 year, in which he came out on top against huge-star names like Chris Jericho, Ryback, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, etc… He also recounts his numerous injuries throughout his championship reign and toughed it out. “The Straight-Edge Superstar” tells the WWE Universe they think he is faking it, which is why he travelled with his Chicago doctor to prove the opposite.
This doctor shows x-ray images of a normal-looking knee and the WWE Champion’s broken appendage. It is legitimate, and because of this, the doctor is not allowing Punk to compete next week against Ryback for the WWE Championship!
Or not, as the only man who overrides decisions like this, interrupts. Mr. Vince McMahon, the owner, first wishes everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Then, he wonders how Punk will “weasel your way out of this T.L.C. Championship match.” Heyman comes to Punk’s defense quickly. Mr. McMahon changes the order of things, and says that if the WWE Officials medically clear Punk, then the title bout is on.
The two then get into a debate about how C.M. has remained WWE Champion for so long. Punk retaliates by comparing his situation with Vince’s, when the Chairman was on trial (for real) in 1993 by the U.S. Government. Heyman again stands up for “The Second-City Saint” and calls McMahon a “flesh-peddling promoter.” McMahon steams at this comment, then informs them if Punk can’t compete next week, Paul Heyman himself will replace the WWE Champion! This worries Punk and Heyman, rightfully so, as McMahon walks off.
Up next, Sheamus will take on Dolph Ziggler.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – “The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” Dolph Ziggler (with A.J. and Big E. Langston) VS. Sheamus
The bell rings and Ziggler is aggressive early with kicks and punches in the corner. Sheamus fires back with a hard hand and short-arm clothesline. Scoop slam and elbow drop by Sheamus, but Dolph counters an arm-wrench with more punching. Sheamus counters a run from Ziggler into a (botched) backdrop-throw, then drives him back with a suplex for two! Sheamus hits a knee-to-the-face on Ziggler on the apron, then begins to pound away until Big E. Langston saves Dolph by pulling him off the side. (shouldn’t that be a dq?)
Commercials.
Back to the match, Dolph has Sheamus locked in a side-headlock until the big Irishman battles out with a couple double-axe handles and high-running-knee-lift. Dolph counters out of the corner with an elbow and jumping DDT! 1 – 2 – Sheamus gets the shoulder up! Dolph goes back to the grounding chinlock to wear Sheamus down. This works for a while, but Sheamus then gets some momentum with a huge tilt-a-whirl scoop-slam for two! He then cuts Ziggler off the top rope and chucks him backward with a fall-away slam off the turnbuckle! 1 – 2 – Dolph kicks out!
Sheamus goes to the corner, but this time Dolph crotches the former WWE Champion, until Sheamus punches him down and flies off with a shoulder-tackle. 1 – 2 – Ziggler kicks out again! Sheamus attempts his Cloverleaf submission but Dolph crawls to the ropes. Sheamus counters another jumping-DDT attempt into the Irish Curse and drops him down!
Momentum time, as Sheamus riles up the crowd for the Brogue Kick. Langston saves Ziggler, then measures Sheamus until “The Shield” run out and him, causing the dq.
Winner via Disqualification: Sheamus
Post-match, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns all pound away on Sheamus, then drop him with the triple-powerbomb. The stand over their latest victim with pleasure.
Ads.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston is checking on Sheamus, until Wade Barrett walks up and demands that he get the Championship Shot tonight. Kofi is all for it, saying “I beat you before, and I’ll beat you again.”
Segment #8: Locker Room Promo
Much to C.M. Punk’s dismay, Brad Maddox comes in and offers to help him out if they help him. Heyman gets in his face and orders the former referee and now job-hunting wrestler to just get out!
Segment #9: Locker Room Promo
Mae Young is complaining of stomach pains, so a doctor checks her out. And in a really badly-rehashing, apparently, she is pregnant, again! (No Comment!)
Commercials.
Match #5: Single for the Divas Championship – Eve (Champion) VS. ??? (Challenger)
Eve demands a forfeit ruling, then for a photographer to take a picture of her winning pose. Instead, Kaitlyn storms out and engages in a brawl with the champion. She gets the best of her, but since this was not an official match, no resolution is given.
Winner: No Contest via No Official Match
Segment #10: Backstage Promo
Ricardo Rodriguez is nervous backstage, but ensures Alberto Del Rio that he will win the World Heavyweight Championship. Alberto ensures that he will be their in his corner and gives him his scarf and car keys to “do it in style!”
Ads.
Match #6: Single for the World Heavyweight Championship – The Big Show (Champion) VS. Ricardo Rodriguez (with Alberto Del Rio) (Challenger)
Ricardo rides out, just as happy as Del Rio would be, in a red-colored Mercedes SO 550, priced at $200,000! Del Rio follows behind him, clapping him on.
After formal introductions, the “contest” is on, which is really just Big Show toying with the (mainly) manager/ring announcer. Rodriguez actually gets some offense with a counter and Del Rio-esqe running Enziguri! He reverses the big-boot and jumps off the second rope, but gets slapped down quickly. Show signals for the K.O. Punch, but Alberto runs in and takes down show. This delights the crowd (seriously) and Del Rio knocks Show to the mat with a kick!
He drags Ricardo to the back and winks at show, as if “gotcha!”
Match #7: Single for the Intercontinental Championship – Kofi Kingston (Champion) VS. Wade Barrett (Challenger)
Kofi makes his entrances before the break.
Commercials.
Wade is out now and both lockup to begin. Wade whips Kingston into the corner, but Kofi reverses and kicks him in the gut. Barrett comes out of a side-headlock and delivers a shoulder tackle, followed by a couple high-dropkicks! Wade ties Kofi’s left arm in an upper-hammerlock, and avoids the Trouble In Paradise Kick. Another side-headlock by Kingston, whose monkey-flip is countered into a double-hip toss by both to the outside!
Ads.
Wade is back in control with a harsh kick to Kofi’s stomach, then chokes him against the middle rope. Using that rope, Kofi counters and flips up with a kick to send Barrett back to the floor, and then Kingston springboards off the ropes with a body splash!
Kofi goes back to chops and dropkicks, but gets countered into a pin combination for two by Barrett! Wade attempts “Wasteland,” but Kofi reverses into the S.O.S. for another near-fall! Kofi delivers punches in the corner, which Barrett reverses into a powerbomb pin, still only for two! Barrett ducks another Trouble In Paradise and nails the “Wasteland” fireman’s carry drop. 1 – 2 – Kofi kicks out!
In the corner, Barrett pounds away, but Kofi flips up with another kick. However, he misses the subsequent top rope Crossbody and walks into the “Brawlhammer” elbow! 1 – 2 – 3! Wade Barrett receives the victory and championship!
Winner via Pinfall and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Wade Barrett
Segment #11: Locker Room Promo
Following a great moment/match, is a dreadful one with Mae Young being shown “giving birth.” (Really, they have to go there again?)
Commercials.
Segment #12: Locker Room Promo
More of the Mae Young “birth,” which is revealed to be Hornswaggle dressed in “New Year’s baby attire” – for real. (Again, no comment.) Cole and Lawler just laugher, sincerely in the sense of “I can’t believe we witness this and why was this in the script?!”
Match #8: 3-On-1 – “The Shield” (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins) VS. Ryback
“The Shield” make their way to the ring through the crowd prior to the break.
Ads.
“Feed Me More” blares the speakers as the fan-favorite beast Ryback is intensified. Right off the bat, “The Shield” meet him in the aisle and the bell hasn’t even run. It is an all-out brawl. Ryback starts to take apart the trio, but they quickly gang up again. Ryback is beat up on until Sheamus runs back down and tries to help. He too is assaulted heavily.
The “rescuer?” How about “The Viper” Randy Orton! The third-generation superstar runs out and evens the odds, even R.K.O.-ing Dean Ambrose after Ryback military-pressed Rollins to the outside on top of Roman. “The Shield” retreat more or less still in one piece, as their previous victims stare down.
Up next, is the “New Year’s Toast” with A.J. and Dolph Ziggler.
Commercials.
Segment #13: Arena Promo
“The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” Dolph Ziggler, A.J., and Big E. Langston are in the ring, decorated in New Year’s garb. Ziggler gives a toast to the fans, for picking John Cena, “the golden boy,” as the 2012 “Superstar Of The Year.” Dolph brags about Cena’s faults last yea – first losing at WrestleMania XXVIII against The Rock in a match he must win, then getting beaten down with an F-5 by Brock Lesnar the next night on Raw, following that with a loss to John Laurinaitis (which Ziggler wonders if anyone even remembers), being the first superstar to cash in “Money In The Bank” and lose, and finally being screwed out of the T.L.C. match by A.J.
She takes the mike now and declares that the WWE Universe are the ones who need help, for choosing Cena as Superstar despite all his failures. Ziggler proclaims that “your time is up, and my time is now!” (Couldn’t agree more!) Dolph orders Langston to make sure Cena does not interject in the upcoming toast, as he is no longer invited.
A.J. toasts “the man who will own 2013. ‘Mr. Money In The Bank,’ “The Showoff,’ the man I love, Dolph Ziggler!” Dolph toasts then they have another epic make-out session, until Cena’s music plays. He walks to the top of the stage and glares down Big E.
Cena says he is not here to fight, but instead agree with Dolph. He says that 2012 was not his year, but instead was the year of A.J. Cena then makes fun of Dolph and A.J.’s courtship with doctored photos of their “wedding” and “children.”
Back to seriousness, Cena says that “yes, 2012 wasn’t too good for me. I owned up to every single loss I had. Stayed in the fight and when all that was happening, I truly never gave up. And yes, the WWE Universe voted me ‘Superstar of the Year,’ and although I was flattered, out of respect, I didn’t accept the award. Like I said earlier, a man can own up to his flaws. I’ve been here 10 years, I had one bad season. You want to write me off, fine, but before you do, look deep into the mirror. This is not your first year here Dolph. It is your 7th, 7th.”
Cena talks about Ziggler complaining all the time backstage to get a push and never take the blame. “Only way a guy like you gets a set of nuts is by buying them at the concession stand!” Cena recaps Ziggler’s “not-so-hot” (until now) career, and makes a huge (but yet somewhat not unexpected) announcement – he is entering the 2013 Royal Rumble match!
Cena finishes his speech by saying that his “uniform” has not changed – he is still all about “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect.” John then toasts A.J. and Dolph the only way that is suitable to him – with a “dumping” full of brown liquid from the rafters. Cena declares that is what Dolph and A.J. are full off and wishes everyone a Happy New Year to close the show, and 2012 Raw.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Ok, I have to admit, this was actually a better show than I thought for a night when very few would actually be watching (and with it being pre-taped.) Obviously, no big “cliffhanger,” but at least it didn’t feel like they were “going through the motions” as in some past shows. Onto the final 2012 analysis:
Excellence: Honestly, pretty much everything. The show flowed smoothly, made sense (except for one segment highlighted in “bogus” and you’ll know what that is already, I’m sure!), and the idea of a “Champion’s” night gave some intrigue to the bouts. In particular, to name one, is actually the turn by Alberto. He is getting some great cheers, and I think he could make an awesome baby-face. Smart to put him against Show to help propel the result. And seriously, I think he would be a better World Champion as a good guy, gaining a bit more “dynamic” and personality.
Bogus: The obvious – Mae Young. That was really, really unnecessary. On the plus, it wasn’t a dragged out thing, but still, was totally not needed and completely stupid.
Alright, so the analysis was short, but I seriously just liked Raw tonight and felt (almost) everything was equal in review for the right reasons. They put in a decent effort and made me very happy. Now the real fun begins next week when the build for Royal Rumble (and really Wrestlemania XXIX) starts. Great way to finish off 2012 and let’s hope they begin 2013 Raws the same way and better!
Until next week, and since it is technically January 1st as of this typing, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans! Be Excellent and best wishes for a prosperous 2013!
With January comes one of the most anticipated WWE pay-per-views of the year – the Royal Rumble.
Throughout the next few weeks on RAW and Smackdown, WWE Superstars – and who knows, maybe even a Diva – will throw their name in the list of participants of the 30-men over the top rope match hoping to get a title shot at WrestleMania.
This year, the first person who announced himself as participating in the Rumble was John Cena, who revealed his intentions during yesterday’s RAW.
Cena himself is a winner of the 2008 Royal Rumble after he came out as a surprise entry following a few months sidelined with an injury.
In two weeks time, WWE will celebrate a major milestone with Monday Night RAW as the company will air the 20th anniversary show on January 14.
RAW made its debut on USA Network on January 11, 1993, and apart from a 5 year period between 2000 and 2005, WWE aired all their RAW shows on USA.
“A television event 20 years in the making. Superstars from two decades of television’s longest running weekly show are coming home,” says the TV commercial for this special event.
The show will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Tickets are available for $95, $65, $45, $30 and $20 at HoustonToyotaCenter.com.
Come Tuesday, January 1, Silver Vision will lose its license for WWE DVD and Blu-Ray releases in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, with FremantleMedia Enterprises picking up the license.
FremantleMedia will be releasing new WWE discs approximately one month after the U.S. release, meaning that fans in the EMEA region will enjoy quicker delivery of their favorite WWE shows on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The company will also be offering a range of back catalog titles that were currently produced by Silver Vision as all rights are being transferred come the first day of the new year.
Silver Vision will be allowed to sell whatever stock they have remaining for a limited amount of time and they have already reduced a bunch of titles starting at just 4.99 GBP.
One additional item that FremantleMedia will be doing that Silver Vision couldn’t was to distribute all video in digital format although it wasn’t revealed yet how will they be distributing the videos digitally and for what devices.
Silver Vision had the EMEA license for WWE videos for the past 22 years and released hundreds and hundreds of WWE content from the early days of Coliseum Video.
