Here are the results from last night’s UFC on FUEL 7: Barao vs McDonald which took place at the Wembley Arena in London, England.
Preliminary Card (aired on Facebook)
Phil Harris defeated Ulysses Gomez
Vaughan Lee defeated Motonobu Tezuka
Tom Watson defeated Stanislav Nedkov
Andy Ogle defeated Josh Grispi
Danny Castillo defeated Paul Sass
Renee Forte defeated Terry Etim
Main Card (aired on Fuel TV)
Matthew Riddle defeated Che Mills
James Te Huna defeated Ryan Jimmo
Gunnar Nelson defeated Jorge Santiago
Jimi Manuwa defeated Cyrille Diabate
Cub Swanson defeated Dustin Poirier
Renan Barao defeated Michael McDonald to retain UFC Bantamweight title
Submission of the night went to Renan Barao along with $50,000
Knockout of the Night went to Tom Watson who also won $50,000
Fight of the Night went to Tom Watson and Stanislav Nedkov who each won $50,000
You can see the post-fight press conference below.
Live tonight from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, WWE presents the Elimination Chamber on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
The Rock vs CM Punk for the WWE title with the stipulation that if The Rock is counted out or disqualified, CM Punk wins the title; Alberto Del Rio vs Big Show for the World Heavyweight title; Randy Orton vs Jack Swagger vs Chris Jericho vs Mark Henry vs Kane vs Daniel Bryan in an Elimination Chamber match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight title; John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus vs The Shield in a six man tag team match; Antonio Cesaro vs The Miz for the U.S. title; Kaitlyn vs Tamina Snuka for the Divas title; and Brodus Clay and Tensai vs Team Rhodes Scholars in the pre-show match.
Tickets for the first IMPACT on the road at the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago have been selling pretty good and the only regular tickets remaining are the $15 ones.
TNA will be using a modified seating at the arena, using what seems to be half of what the Sears Centre can hold with the top seats also curtained off.
Tickets for the show ranged from $15 to $75 and there is also a limited number of luxury suites available for $125 each.
The show will be live on March 14 and the company will also tape another show back-to-back which will air the following week.
TNA has announced that two dates for the One Night Only pay-per-views that will be taped at the IMPACT Zone in Orlando, Florida, have been changed.
Originally, TNA was going to tape six shows in total – twice a day – on March 17, 23, and 24. The March 17 tapings will remain the same, however the 23 and 24 shows have been moved to March 18 and 19 respectively.
This means that TNA will be taping six 3 hour shows in three consecutive days with shows starting at Noon and 6PM. The second taping of each day was supposed to start taping at 7PM but all three dates have been moved to an hour earlier.
Live from the Wembley Arena in London, England, the UFC presents UFC on FUEL 7: Barao vs McDonald. The full card is as follows:
Main Card (airing on Fuel TV)
Che Mills (170) vs Matthew Riddle (170)
Ryan Jimmo (205) vs James Te Huna (205)
Gunnar Nelson (169) vs Jorge Santiago (170)
Cyrille Diabate (206) vs Jimi Manuwa (204)
Dustin Poirier (145) vs Cub Swanson (146)
Renan Barao (134) vs Michael McDonald (134)
Preliminary Card (airing on Facebook)
Ulysses Gomez (126) vs Phil Harris (125)
Vaughan Lee (134) vs Motonobu Tezuka (135)
Stanislav Nedkov (185) vs Tom Watson (185)
Josh Grispi (144) vs Andy Ogle (145)
Danny Castillo (156) vs Paul Sass (156)
Terry Etim (155) vs Renee Forte (156)
WWE.COM will be carrying a press conference on Monday starting at Noon EST which will also be streamed live on WWE’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
“Something big is coming to WWE.com,” says the teaser for the announcement, which is expected to be the reveal of the location of WrestleMania 30.
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, The Rock, and John Cena will be present for the announcement.
UFC cameras continued to follow UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and her opponent Liz Carmouche as they get ready to make history by being the first females to headline a UFC pay-per-view.
You can see the second episode of UFC Primetime: Rousey vs Carmouhce below.
Several readers sent in word that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees wrote on his Twitter that WWE is bringing WrestleMania 30 to New Orleans in 2014.
“The word from the French Quarter is that @WWE is bringing @WrestleMania to our house in 2014! #NOLA @MBSuperDome #WM30,” Brees tweeted.
While there has been no official announcement from WWE yet, the company is expected to make the location official this week since they are in town for the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
The site of this year’s Super Bowl – the Mercedes-Benz Superdome – is expected to play host for the 30th WrestleMania.
The stadium holds just over 76,000 in a football setting.
Impact begins with the traditional recap of the evil doings of Aces and Eights. The first person to the ring is Hulk Hogan. Hulk tells the crowd at England’s Wembley arena that he has 8 guys competing in 4 matches to determine the number one contender for Jeff Hardy’s title.
The matches will be 1) James Storm versus RVD, 2) Christopher Daniels versus Magnus, 3) Samoa Joe versus Kurt Angle, and Bobby Roode versus Austin Aries. There will also be a 4 on 4 elimination match between 4 members of Aces and Eights, and four members of TNA led by Sting.
Commercial
Match #1: Christopher Daniels with Kazarian versus Magnus.
The English crowd gives Magnus a decent pop. The two men lock up and trade arm locks and reversals. Daniels puts Magnus in a headlock; Magnus escapes and shoulder blocks Daniels. Daniels pushes Magnus to the corner and hits him with a shoulder block.
Magnus lands a couple punches and a suplex and then slams Daniels into the corner face first. Magnus hits Daniels with an elbow, but then gets distracted by a cheap shot from Kazarian. Daniels hits Magnus with an STO, a clothesline, and then a chinlock. Magnus fights out but is then tripped by Kaz.
Daniels lands several punches and Magnus responds with a couple punches. Daniels takes Magnus down with a urinagi. Daniels misses a BME and Magnus responds with a big boot. Kaz interferes again and this time the ref takes away his managers license and banishes him from ringside.
Magnus lands a couple clotheslines and Daniels responds with a punch. Magnus hits another clothesline and then bodyslams Daniels. Magnus climbs to the top rope and hits Daniels with a flying elbow drop for the win.
In the back, Brooke Hogan and Bully Ray waste a little time with a painfully boring segment.
Commercial
Match #2: Samoa Joe versus Kurt Angle.
Before the match we hear some comments from Kurt Angle about the recent decision to scrap amateur wrestling from the Olympics. Worst decision EVER, wrestling is one of the original Olympic sports and one of the foundational styles in MMA, the fastest growing sport in the world. But at least we still have synchronized swimming; a sport that virtually NO ONE IN THE WORLD thinks is a sport.
The two men start off exchanging strikes until Joe takes Angle down with a snapmare and follows up with a splash. Joe lands a chop and a headbutt; Kurt responds with a belly to belly suplex. Angle stomps Joe into the mat near the corner. Angle takes Joe down with a suplex and then applies a chin lock. Joe fights out and Angle hits him with an elbow.
Commercial
When we return, Joe lands a couple strikes and then throws Angle out of the ring. Joe flies out of the ring and hits Angle with a suicide dive/forearm shot. Back in the ring, Joe hits Angle with a reverse atomic drop, a kick, and a backsplash.
Kurt responds with three German Suplexes. Angle goes for an Angle Slam but Joe blocks it and takes Angle down with an STO. Joe puts Angle on the top rope but Angle kicks him away and hits a missile dropkick. Angle goes for the Angle slam and hits it, but Joe gets right back to his feet and puts the rear naked choke on Angle.
Angle escapes and gets Joe in the ankle lock. Joe eventually rolls through and they both hit each other with a clothesline at the same time. Before Angle and Joe get back to their feet, they are attacked by Aces and Eights members Garrett Bischoff and Wes Briscoe. Angle and Joe get to their feet and chase Briscoe and Bischoff out of the ring.
Commercial
Match #3: Party Marty and the Blossom twins (From British Boot Camp) versus Gail Kim, Tara and Jesse.
Tazz makes a comment about Tara and Jesse being a unit, and also liking each other’s units. Tazz must be feeling romantic because it’s Valentine’s Day. Jesse and Party Marty start the match off with some strikes. Marty hits Jesse with a springboard moonsault.
Commercial
Jesse tags in Tara and Marty tags in Blossom twin #1. Both Blossom twins double team Tara and Tara tags in Gail. Gail gets hit with a forearm and a back elbow. Tara hits Blossom with a cheap shot and Gail takes advantage with a clothesline.
Gail slams Blossom into Tara’s boot, and then Tara slams Blossom into Gail’s boot. Gail hits Blossom with a few kicks, a backbreaker, and a diving shoulder block. Gail tags Tara and Tara hits Blossom with a bodyslam and a standing moonsault.
Blossom gets her knees up in time to block the moonsault and tags the other Blossom twin. Blossom hits Tara with a forearm shot and a clothesline. The Blossoms hit Tara with a double flapjack, and then Blossom 1 does a big splash from Blossom 2’s shoulders.
All the competitors run in and chaos reigns. Jesse ends up getting knocked out of the ring and Party Marty tries to hit him with a suicide dive, but mostly misses and hits the security barrier hard. Back in the ring, Gail Kim gets the win with Eat Defeet.
After the match, Gail Kim insists that she is the best Knockouts competitor and wants a shot at Tara’s title. Tara seems upset about that but they are soon interrupted by Brooke Hogan. Brooke does give Gail her title match, but makes it part of a 4 way elimination match including Miss Tessmacher and Velvet Sky.
In the back, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode talk about their match later tonight. They are former rivals that now hold the tag titles together, but they often seem to still be in competition with each other. They claim to be on the same page now and between the two of them they want to win ALL the TNA titles, including the women’s title.
They believe Hogan is trying to stir things up between them by making them wrestle each other, so they decide to cooperate. They agree that one of them should do the right thing for business but never determine which of them will do lay down for the other. I foresee a problem with this plan.
Commercial
Match #4: RVD versus James Storm.
The two men lock up and Storm puts RVD in a headlock; RVD hip tosses Storm. They exchange kicks and RVD hits Storm with a monkey flip. RVD lands a couple more kicks followed by Rolling Thunder. RVD lands a couple more kicks, a backbreaker, and then a split legged moonsault for a two count.
The two men exchange strikes and Storm hits a DDT. They trade some more punches and Storm takes RVD down with an Alabama Slamma (also known as a Tennessee slam) RVD misses a leg drop and Storm hits a Codebreaker. Storm goes for a Superkick, but RVD catches it and hits Storm with a kick of his own.
RVD climbs to the top but Storm cuts him off. RVD lands a kick that knocks Storm down in the corner. RVD climbs to the top of the opposite corner and flies end to end, but Storm rolls out of the way and RVD misses. Storm hits the Last Call superkick for the win!
Tazz observes that if RVD hit the Van Terminator at the end, then Storm would not have hit the Superkick. Tazz also notes that if his aunt had nuts she’d be an uncle.
In the back, Joe Park is trying to get a title shot, and heard from the boys that you have to do ‘politics’ to get a shot. So Joe is arranging to have some campaign materials drawn up and asks Hogan for his vote. Hogan asks Joe if he knows what a ‘rib’ is; and not the kind that you eat. Joe doesn’t know. Hogan thinks he should find out.
Commercial
When we return, Brooke Hogan is trying to get her father to give Bully Ray a title shot.
Match #5: Austin Aries versus Bobby Roode.
Before the match, both men agree to do what is right for business. They ask for the bell to be rung and then…they give each other the one finger poke of doom and wait for the other to lie down. Neither man lays down and they are both pissed off about it.
Finally Aries grabs a mic and says “I’ll be the bigger man..” and Roode cuts him off yelling “I’m the bigger man!!” Austin starts again and says “I’ll be the bigger man” and then lies down so Roode can pin him. Aries tries a sneaky rollup when Roode gets down on the mat but Roode kicks out.
Commercial
The two men lock up and jockey for position, pushing each other back and forth. Aries hits a slingshot sunset flip, Roode rolls Aries up and goes for a cover with his feet on the ropes. Aries is mad that Roode tried to cheat, but Aries does the same thing on his next pin attempt.
The two men exchange punches and Aries gets the edge with a roaring elbow. Roode gets back to his feet and takes Aries down with a spinebuster. Aries goes to the top rope but Roode cuts him off and tries a superplex but struggles getting Aries over. Aries boxes Roode’s ears and then goes for a 450 splash but Roode rolls out of the way.
Roode goes for a spear but Aries dodges it and gets Roode in the Last Chancery. Roode almost taps but escapes by raking the eyes. Roode gets Aries in the Crossface, but Aries rolls Roode over into a pinning predicament and Roode has to release the hold. Aries lands a kick and then tries for a suplex; Roode reverses and tries for a suplex but Aries counters.
The ref gets knocked down and out as they battle back and forth. Roode goes to the floor and grabs a steel chair, but instead of hitting Aries, he hits the ring and drops, like Eddie Guerrero used to do. Roode did it too quickly though, so Aries grabs the chair, hits the ground with it, and also drops. The ref turns around to see both men pretending to be unconscious.
As the ref checks on one wrestler, the other makes angry faces and obscene gestures at his opponent/partner behind the refs back. When Roode and Aries finally get back to their feet, they are distracted by the approach of former tag champs; Chavo and Hernandez. Aries and Roode leave the ring together to confront their tag team rivals and realize too late that they are being counted out.
They both run back to the ring trying to cut the other off, but neither man makes it in time and both get counted out. This may not have been the best technical wrestling match these two have ever had, but it was pretty good and an awful lot of fun to watch. Roode and Aries have amazing chemistry together, I would like to see them stay together and win ALL of the titles between the two of them, including the Knockout title.
Commercial
When we return, Hogan makes his way to the ring to give us his decision on who the number one contender should be. Before Hogan can tell us, the ring is surrounded by Aces and Eights.
Bully Ray comes out to defend his father in law with a chain in hand, and he is followed by Sting. Sting is walking to the ring with bats for himself, Hulk, and Bully Ray, but they aren’t baseball bats. Since this is England, Sting has brought cricket bats to the ring. Aces and Eights retreats into the crowd as Impact goes off the air.
Monday Night RAW this week drew a 3.1 rating and an average of 4,260,000 viewers, down considerably from last week. The show lost over half a million viewers – 550,000 to be exact – compared to the February 4 show.
Hour one did 4,350,000 viewers, hour two did 4,250,000, and hour three kept losing viewers, scoring a total of 4,180,000 viewers. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
WWE’s newest acquisition – El Generico – made his debut for NXT yesterday during a live event which was not being taped as part of the NXT series.
The popular and highly-rated former indy wrestler did not get physical in the ring however he joined Brodus Clay for a little dance after Clay defeated NXT’s Conor O’Brien.
For his appearance, El Generico kept his usual look of a masked luchador complete with the cape and his usual ring attire. It will be interesting to see if WWE will go ahead with the El Generico gimmick or give the 28 year old Canadian a new character.
Tammy Sytch’s comments on WWE’s rehab assistance in a recent interview with Kayfabe Commentaries has come back to haunt her as WWE has now said that they will not be paying anymore rehab stints for their Hall of Famer.
In the interview, Sytch said that when Linda McMahon was running for Senate, the company put her in a $1,000 a day rehab facility but after she lost the election, WWE moved to her to a $100 a day dump. Sytch called the company to get her moved and mentioned that WWE spent hundreds of thousands in rehabs for Scott Hall. According to Sytch, the person on the other end of the line told her that she’s “not Scott Hall.”
In a statement carried by CageSideSeats.com, WWE said that the company sent Sytch to rehab on numerous times with all costs covered but things have not improved.
“Unfortunately, Ms. Sytch has continued to make poor personal choices and is ultimately responsible for the consequences of these decisions. WWE has always provided rehabilitation at a certified treatment center, however, given Ms. Sytch’s inability to change her lifestyle and successfully complete treatment, WWE will no longer fund her rehabilitation.”
Bloomberg is reporting that Take-Two Interactive has agreed to take over the development and production of future WWE games from the dissolved THQ.
Court documents filed yesterday revealed that the agreement between THQ and Take-Two will save the company millions in bankruptcy claims.
Yuke’s, which develops the WWE video games for THQ, will continue working with WWE and Take-Two in a new agreement which will also see the makers of the “Grand Theft Auto” franchise take over the THQ employees that worked on the WWE video games.
As part of the deal, WWE has agreed to waive its pre-bankruptcy claim of $45 million and royalty advances of $7.5 million. THQ will now pay WWE $650,000 in royalty payments for the games sold while under bankruptcy protection.
Yuke’s 14% equity have been returned by THQ – valued at $4.5 million – in exchange of pre-bankruptcy claims waiver. The video game developers will also get $250,000 in royalties.
The pre-show match for the Elimination Chamber has been announced and it will be a tag team match that will probably contain some comedy.
The 30 minute pre-show, airing on the WWE YouTube channel and Facebook page will feature the team of Brodus Clay and Tensai taking on Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow, despite Team Rhodes Scholars announcing that they would be splitting up.
It’s six nights until Elimination Chamber! We obviously know the main event of the pay-per-view, so the question is how will C.M. Punk and WWE Champion The Rock duke it out one final time before their showdown on Sunday?
Who will Brock Lesnar assault next, if at all?
Apparently, their is a certain “Deadman” hanging around Nashville – will “The Phenom” make an appearance and/or start an angle toward Wrestlemania?
And, what other matches could be added to February’s annual show?
One thing is for sure, according to WWE.com, Paul Heyman is expected to make a HUGE announcement, so on that note, let’s find out what it is right now! Read on below ….
Monday Night Raw Report for February 11th, 2013 – “Elimination For Motivation”
Introduction Segment: Recap and Welcoming
Footage of last week’s ending with John Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback standing up to The Shield plays, plus highlights of C.M Punk VS. The Rock’s feud for the WWE Champion.
Michael Cole introduces us to Nashville with over 13,000 fans in attendance.
Segment #1: Arena Promo
Paul Heyman is already in the ring and reiterates who he is. His “shocking” announcement is that tonight will be the last time you see him. He totes about his career and passion, claiming that he has made great sacrifices of family and friends to bring us the single greatest product in “professional wrestling and sports entertainment.”
He then sacrificed for a rookie in 2002 that he saw the utmost potential in, the man now known as Brock Lesnar. Paul E. then saw his next protege as someone that could gain a grasp on the WWE for a long, long time to come and should still be WWE Champion tonight. He is C.M. Punk.
Heyman declares that he can see the future, and something that is hanging around will happen to everyone, including C.M. Punk. Those are “the sins of his mentor,” and they are bad. This is the reason that Heyman is resigning. He rips the fans for not showing him compassion and tells them that he won’t miss the fans at all.
Heyman is stepping down, so that he does not stand in C.M. Punk’s way of becoming WWE Champion again. “At this moment, I’m sorry, I say ‘goodbye.'”
C.M. Punk then walks out with a look of confusion and disbelief. He asks Paul what’s up, and Heyman restates that he is in Punk’s way. “The Straight-Edge Superstar” tries to convince Heyman otherwise, saying that fans actually do love him like Punk does. “There’s a lot of ‘Paul Heyman guys’ out there.”
Punk calls what’s going on right now a “bad dream” and after Elimination Chamber, it will all go back to “normal,” when he beats The Rock for his 455th day as WWE Champion. Heyman has a change of heart, and hugs “The Second-City Saint” after convincingly telling Punk that he will be the reigning WWE Champion and that Paul will be in his corner to witness it.
Heyman holds C.M.’s arms high and looks up to the Heavens, mouthing “thank you.”
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – The Great Khali (with Hornswoggle and Natalya) VS. “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry
(Give you three guess on who’s winning this quickly!) Clubbing blows from Khali begin fast and he corners Henry with kicks and chops. Mark reverses with a running clothesline, knocking the 7-footer on his back. “The World’s Strongest Man” picks up Khali with the “World’s Strongest Slam” for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Mark Henry
Post-match, as Hornswoggle is checking on his friend, Henry sneaks up from behind and drop shim with the “W.S.S.” too. He yells “that’s what I do!”
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Segment #2: Backstage Promo
Teddy Long and Smackdown General Manager Booker T. are talking about Mark Henry when Chris Jericho walks in. He advertises his successes as a six-time World Champion and that he has been in more Elimination Chamber matches than anyone else in the history of WWE.
He wants to be in this Sunday’s match and requests, on sensibility and fairness. Long agrees, but Booker makes a match with Teddy’s suggestion, to prove he belongs. The man Jericho has to face is Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan, and “Y2J” looks forward to it, beating him and then winning the Chamber bout for a shot to become a 7-time World Champion.
Segment #3: Office Promo
Paul Heyman meets with Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero. He wants a stipulation added to the WWE Championship bout, but before she can respond, the only man who can make that decision gives her a call on her cellular phone.
Mr. McMahon listens to Heyman’s suggestion that The Rock would be stripped of the WWE Championship if he gets himself counted-out or disqualified. Vince agrees then promptly hangs up as Heyman begins to suck-up some more.
Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan makes his entrance to take on Chris Jericho next!
Commercials.
Match #2: Single – Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan VS. Chris Jericho (Non-Title)
Jericho catches Daniel with a couple quick roll-ups then a couple of armdrags. Bryan reverses into a hammer lock and delivers a running knee-to-the-gut, with two kicks following. They trade wrist locks, but Jericho gets dumped over the top rope after an attempted running clothesline. He also misses a springboard turnbuckle dropkick, then Bryan flies through the ropes with a suicide dive.
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Back live, Daniel drops out of a suplex and rolls-up Jericho for a two-count! Jericho puts Bryan in the corner and chokes him with his boot, to huge “Y2J” chants. Chris runs the ropes with some shoulder blocks, but misses a diving standing attack, allowing Daniel to hit him with a running elbow clothesline.
Daniel almost gets caught in a Walls Of Jericho, but he rolls out of it and blocks the Lionsault too with knees in Jericho’s gut.
Bryan ascends the top rope, but gets cut off. He ends up shoving Chris to the canvas and nail a diving headbutt! 1 – 2 – Jericho kicks out/gets the shoulder up! Bryan connects with a couple more knees, but then does get caught in a full-on Walls Of Jericho submission!
Daniel pushes himself up and rolls through into the “No Lock!” Jericho battles out of that and almost into another Walls, which is countered by Bryan. He stiff-kicks Jericho in the head to knock him out! 1 – 2 – 2 1/2 – Chris gets the shoulder up!
Daniel misses another kick and Jericho rolls him up, 1 – 2 – Bryan kicks out! Out of nowhere, Jericho clocks Bryan with the “Codebreaker” double-knee facebuster for the hard-earned and respected spot in the Chamber!
Winner via Pinfall: Chris Jericho
Commercials.
Match #3: 6-Man Tag-Team – “3.M.B.” (Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre) VS. Sheamus, Ryback, and John Cena
(I’m sorry, I can’t stand “3.M.B.” and I think (hope) we all know who’s going to pick up the win here.) Bottom line, “The Supergroup” gets the duke with a White Noise, Shell-Shock, and Attitude Adjustment!
Winners via Pinfall: Sheamus, Ryback, and John Cena
Post-match, the faces all declare what they are going to do Sunday and tonight to “The Shield.”
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Yoshi Tatsu and Alex Riley are chatting about Big Show’s mishap with paint from Friday’s Smackdown (read that fine report on this fine website!), then they are fastly taken out by Big Show himself.
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Segment #5: Arena Promo
Matt Striker is set to interview Big Show in the ring, but the 7-foot giant knocks him out right away. A frustrated Big has trouble getting his words out, then slams the microphone down and stomps off.
Segment #6: Hall-Of-Fame Recap
Rightfully so, the montage of Bruno Sammartino’s life and career replays, proving why he is truly one of the greatest of all time and that grudges can be buried and people can come together for better reasons.
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder VS. “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Coulter)
Much like his last few matches, Jack out-wrestles Zack and finishes him off with the gut-wrench powerbomb and the “Patriot Act” ankle lock for the tap-out!
Winner via Submission: “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Coulter)
Post-match, Swagger introduces his new manager. Zeb takes the microphone and states what’s wrong with American. He says the war in Vietnam proved that those men were real Americans, whereas today, no people will talk to them.
He wants to get rid of these people and Coulter claims that he and Swagger “knows the truth.” He goes on a tirade about defending “our land” and America, claiming “we the people.”
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Booker T. and Teddy Long agree to put Jack Swagger in the Elimination Chamber. Dolph Ziggler, A.J., and Big E. Langston walk by. “The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” protests Jericho being in there, as he won a match with Jericho’s contract at stake last August.
He wants to be in the Chamber too, as Big E. says, to attain two World Championship shots. Booker complies, only if Ziggler can get past “The Big Red Machine!”
Up next, “The Awesome One” The Miz is in a match.
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Match #5: Single – “The Awesome One” The Miz VS. Cody Rhodes
(Note: United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is on commentary). Elbow/collar tie-up by both, then The Miz executes a hammer lock. He rolls out of a sunset flip attempt and kicks Rhodes in the head. Cody drops down with an uppercut and kick to Miz’s stomach.
He takes control, stomping on Miz’s back, then snapmaring him with a running knee. Miz battles out of a submission with clotheslines and a flapjack. He yanks Cody head-first to the apron, then boots Cesaro as the U.S. Champ tried an attack. He is successful next time, running Miz into the steel post, causing Rhodes to get DQ’ed.
Winner via Disqualification: The Miz
Post-match, Cesaro grabs Miz’s legs and swings him back and forth into the barricade.
WWE hypes their “WrestleMania Reading Challenge.”
Commercials.
Match #6: Tag-Team – Primo and Epico (with Rosa Mendes) VS. Tensai and “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay (with “The Funkettes” Naomi and Cameron)
Again, much like the earlier 6-man tag, I know who is taking this contest! Tensai finishes off Epico with his splash on the mat!
Winners via Pinfall: Tensai and “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay (with “The Funkettes” Naomi and Cameron)
Post-match, all faces dance and “The Funkettes” send Rosa to the outside with a baseball slide.
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
“The Shield,” Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns are in the ring. They declare that John Cena has been a problem of injustice for the past decade. Ambrose calls Cena living in his “John Cena smiling world,” the “John Cena problem.”
Cena has paved the way over the last 10 years for guys like Ryback and Sheamus, which does not sit well with the trio. This Sunday, Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns claim they will serve justice. A blackout ensues and Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus are in the ring, breaking out in a brawl with “The Shield.” They take them out and run up the crowd to the pleasure of the fans.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – “The Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses” Damien Sandow VS. World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez)
Prior to the bout, Sandow rips on Nashville for their culture of country music. Damien is aggressive early with fast knees to Del Rio’s gut. a Russian legsweep, and then drops the “Elbow of Distain.” Alberto fires back with clotheslines, and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
The World Champ gears up for a mini-superkick for a nearfall, then quickly clutches on the Cross Armbreaker for the submission victory!
Winner via Pinfall: World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez)
Post-match, The World Champion is happy with Big Show’s promo, as he said nothing! Del Rio says the time for talking is done, as after the Elimination Chamber, Alberto will defeat Show and go on to “Wrestlemania!”
Up next, Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett is in action. Before he can get to the ring, Bo Dallas attacks him backstage until referees can pull him off.
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Match #8: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett (Non-Title)
Kofi tries to take advantage of a hurting Barrett with kicks, but the Intercontinental Champion soon fires back with short-arm clotheslines and a choking submission. Kofi counters and nails some chops and a dropkick.
Kofi tries an S.O.S. but Wade shoves him into the corner. Kingston counters and flies off the top with a standing-esque splash. 1 – 2 – Barrett shoves off! Another crossbody a bit later from Kofi nets another nearfall! Barrett ducks a springboard attack and slams Kofi down with “The Winds Of Change.” 1 – 2 – Kofi kicks out!
Wade gears up for the elbow, but misses as does Kingston with the “Trouble In Paradise” spinning kick. Barrett tricks Kofi, using the ring apron (literately) to cover Kingston and hit him with “The Bullhammer” elbow. 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett
Up next, the last Elimination Chamber spot will be determined!
Commercials.
Match #9: Single – Tag-Team Champion Kane VS. “The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” Dolph Ziggler (with A.J. and Big E. Langston)
Ziggler hammers away at Kane with kicks and punches but gets quickly booted down. Kane drives him down with a float-over suplex and cover for two! Ziggler counters with a high dropkick to Kane, then kicks him in the back.
He corners Kane with punches and kicks again, but gets a few uppercuts in return. Ziggler quickly gets out of the ring for a break.
Ads.
Back live, Kane fights out of a grounding rear chinlock with his own snapmare. Kane runs at Dolph with a clothesline in the corner then tosses him to the outside. Kane faces off with Big E., giving Dolph an advantage to chop at Kane then drops him with a swinging neckbreaker as he had climbed back in.
Repetitive elbows are dropped by Ziggler for a two-count. Kane catches Dolph in a crossbody position, but Ziggler wiggles out and plants “The Big Red Machine” with a jumping DDT. 1 – 2 – Kane kicks out!
Ziggler measures and runs at Kane with a splash, but misses. Big boot by Kane for another two-count, then Kane runs at him in the corners with clotheslines. Dolph gets out of the side slam and turns it around into the sleeper hold, but Kane throws him over.
Ziggler comes back with the Fameasser for another nearfall! Dolph runs at him for a Zig-Zag attempt, but Kane tosses him off and drops him with a side-slam. 1 – 2 – Ziggler kicks out!
As Kane climbs the turnbuckle, A.J. hops up on the apron to help out. Kane jumps down out of the way and Dolph hits A.J. into Big E’s arms! He turns around into a Chokeslam and Kane gets the final Chamber pod!
Winner via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champion Kane
Langston, A.J., and Dolph retreat while Kane celebrates.
Commercials.
Segment #9: Arena Promo
The WWE Champion is back and The Rock is happy to be in Nashville. He calls it “storytime” and recalls his life in Tennessee. The point of story was for him to say that after Elimination Chamber, he still will be the WWE Champion.
C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman walk out to the stage, and before they say a word, The Rock tells them to bring it and that he will “beat your ass at Elimination Chamber and beat your ass all over Nashville.” The Rock ditches his shirt, ready to fight, and after contemplating with Heyman, Punk runs into the ring and begins the fight!
Rock turns it around into a spinebuster and almost People’s Elbow, as Heyman grabbed his ankle. Punk knocks out Rock with the Go To Sleep, to the delight of Heyman. “The Straight-Edge” Superstar holds the WWE Championship and walks away with the title and Paul Heyman to the ramp. “Story time’s over Rock.
I want you to understand one thing: every time you want to ‘bring it,’ because it belongs to me, I’m just going to take it.” Punk holds the Championship high, taunting The Rock as he struggles back to his feet to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was a much better show than last week and greater build to Elimination Chamber. There was an excellent amount of matches, which is always good, and most of the promos were well-communicated to push their respective storylines. Onto the particulars:
Excellence: Paul Heyman’s “resignation” speech. I think this was some of his best work for “faking” it, but yet hammering home all believable and reasonable points as to why he wanted to. Obviously, it wasn’t for real as he used the oratory for motivation to C.M. Punk, which was a great “bait-and-switch.” He also plays the “ass-kisser” role beautifully.
Speaking of “ass,” I do like Mark Henry being back to his “ass-kicking” ways and dominating. Yes, he’s only squashed the little dudes, but he did beat Randy Orton on Smackdown and is already in the Elimination Chamber.
I honestly think and am hoping he’d be a great choice to battle Alberto Del Rio for the World Championship at Wrestlemania. Same with Jack Swagger, I am enjoying the “reboot” in him – however, I’m not sure on Zeb yet, dunno this dude/reference from the past?
Awesome wrestling by Bryan/Jericho (of course), Del Rio/Sandow, Ziggler/Kane, and Barrett/Kingston (creative finish too!)
While I didn’t like The Rock’s promo (really was pointless), the ending with big fight between them was satisfying.
Bogus: The Shield & Cena/Sheamus/Ryback is really just the holding pattern for Cena until ‘Mania 29. It will be interesting to see where the outlaw trio will go after this, as you know the “Supergroup” is going to win in order to propel John to his main-event match with The Rock.
My how far and fast Tensai has fallen. He’s back to his early 2000 days of “Too Cool.” So much for the big push of another “monster.” (Not that I wanted that anyway).
Dolph Ziggler – not sure what’s going on. He’s also kind of in “limbo” right now, it seems at least until he cashes in his Money In The Bank briefcase. I think it would’ve been better for him to be in the Chamber, may be not win, but at least be in there for a match on the pay-per-view. As of now, what is his role?
Picks for Elimination Chamber:
The Rock will retain his WWE Championship over C.M. Punk. (unfortunately).
Alberto Del Rio defeats The Big Show for the World Title.
John Cena/Ryback/Sheamus either win or draw against “The Shield” of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns.
Mark Henry becomes the #1 Contender for Alberto Del Rio’s World Heavyweight Championship.
As always, until next week, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
TNA Wrestling issued a press release today announcing its intention to help the fight to keep wrestling on the Olympics after the IOC dropped it starting from the 2020 Games.
“The IOC has decided to keep recreational sports such as badminton, handball and table tennis in the ’25 Core Sports’ category and to delete one of the oldest Olympic sport that premiered in the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896,” the press release stated.
Kurt Angle, the former WWE and TNA champion and Olympic gold medalist is ready to fight this decision and “organize a battalion of like minds” to save this Olympic sport.
“Wrestling is one of the most competitive sports in the world today. Winning the gold for my country in one of the original Olympic sports was one of the greatest moments in my life,” Angle said.
“The wrestling community is in a state of shock with this decision – we can not sit back and allow this to happen. I will do whatever it takes and work with my company TNA WRESTLING and the competitive wrestling community to determine what we need to do to reverse this decision.”
TNA President Dixie Carter said in the press release that everyone in the pro wrestling community need to join together to fight this.
“We need to join together right now. We encourage our own IMPACT Wrestling community, WWE and wrestling organizations worldwide as well as competitive amateur coaches and athletes to have a unified voice to make sure wrestling will be an Olympic sport in 2020.”
Today, the International Olympic Committee took the decision to withdraw the sport of wrestling starting from the 2020 Olympic Games. Wrestling has been part of the Olympics since 1896.
One person who didn’t take the decision nicely was former Olympian himself, the one and only Iron Sheik. TMZ caught up with Sheiky to get his opinions on the IOC for dropping wrestling and well, how can we put it, he wasn’t happy!
“After 1000 years they take away the best sport in the world? This is the first time the dumb motherf**kers have no balls for they make the walking an Olympic sport,” Sheik told TMZ.
He also threatened to harm IOC members if he sees them in the street. “If I see anybody on the street that work from the IOC I swear to the Jesus I suplex them put them in camel clutch break their back make them humble.”
Sheik was involved in the 1968 Olympics representing his country Iran and then joined Team USA as a coach afterward.
On his Twitter, the former WWE champion is on a rampage, telling the IOC to go and f**k themselves and that they have “rice dicks.” Comedy gold. God bless the Iron Sheik.
“Go f**k the Badminton and the walking they are not sports like wrestling,” Sheik said.
A tweet that The Rock sent to Jeff Jarrett after RAW was over was deleted from The Rock’s timeline however the actual tweet still comes up if you search for it.
“@JeffJarrettTNA Had to tell a few of our USWA stories tonight on #RAW my friend. From 40 bucks a night to @WWE Champ. #NashvilleDreams,” Rock wrote to Jarrett, a message which was retweeted 164 times.
“Congrats on all your success! #DowntownBruno,” Jarrett replied, adding the hashtag of Downtown Bruno, who WWE fans might now better as Harvey Wippleman. The Rock name-checked him during the promo which closed RAW yesterday.
The current WWE champion mentioned the former TNA champion on the broadcast while he was recounting stories from when he started wrestling in Nashville when he was 25 years old. Jeff Jarrett was fired in a TNA storyline at the end of 2011 following a steel cage match against Jeff Hardy at the Final Resolution pay-per-view.
Jarrett also wrote that after The Rock mentioned him on RAW, people made sure he knew about it!
The final two – or actually three – members for the Elimination Chamber match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania were chosen last night on RAW.
The first one to qualify for the Chamber match was the returning Chris Jericho who defeated tag team title holder Daniel Bryan to earn his spot. The other one to go through was Bryan’s tag team partner Kane, who defeated Dolph Ziggler. Rey Mysterio, who was previously in the match but pulled out after Mark Henry’s attack, was replaced by Jack Swagger.
With the new three entrants, the match now has Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho, Kane, and Swagger, all competing for a spot in one of the main events of WrestleMania.
