Tonight, it is the annual Slammy Awards. In all honesty, they’ve been pretty meaningless for at least the last few years or maybe since 1997, when it was a separate show that didn’t invade with current storylines before a Pay-Per-View. (Slight rant!) Nonetheless, Raw will be filled with little golden statues being given out for “Wrestler Of The Year,” “Match Of The Year,” “Moment Of The Year,” “Diva Of The Year,” etc… all I hope is for a good show as we build towards Tables, Ladders, and Chairs this Sunday!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for December 8th, 2014 – “Award-Winning”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo
Recap from Survivor Series and recent Raw airs.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
After greetings from Michael Cole and John “Bradshaw” Layfield, along with the announcement of John Cena VS. The Big Show, Jerry “The King” Lawler is welcomed and brings out tonight’s host of the Slammys and Raw, actor Seth Green.
Green comes on out and is excited to be here, listing what will go down. He is quickly interrupted by the Tag-Team Champions, The Miz and Damien Mizdow. Miz wants to be the next star in one of Green’s upcoming productions, however Seth sees Mizdow as his main-guy. Miz moves on, showing the nominees for “This Is Awesome” moment of the year – Occupy Raw, featuring Daniel Bryan and “fans” taking over Raw, Stephanie McMahon getting arrested after assaulting Brie Bella, the WrestleMania XXX opening with Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and The Rock, and the Survivor Series ending with Sting’s debut. The winner(s) will be revealed later.
Match #1: Singe – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. Seth Rollins (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Both try to get the best of each other until Dolph sends Rollins to the outside for a break.
Commercials.
Rollins in firm control, pounding away with elbows then kicking Dolph down. He locks in a grounding rear chinlock to wear down Ziggler, who battles out with a sit-down jawbreaker. They go back-and-forth until Dolph brings Seth down with a jumping-DDT for a near-fall! Seth regains dominance and ascends the turnbuckle. Ziggler leaps up and meets Seth, then back-body drops him off. Noble distracts the referee, allowing Mercury to push Dolph off the turnbuckle and Seth plant him with the Curb Stomp for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Segment #3: Arena Promo
Seth Green announces that Sting debuting at Survivor Series is the “This Is Awesome” moment of the year. This makes Seth Rollins upset, as he blames Sting for his loss at Survivor Series and the firing of The Authority.
The New Day make their entrance, as Kofi Kingston will be in action next!
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Match #2: Single – Kofi Kingston (with New Day partners Big E. and Xavier Woods) VS. Stardust (with Goldust)
Kofi starts out hot with quick kicks, but misses a springboard kick. Stardust follows up with a springboard chop, then stomps away on Kingston. Stardust dances about a little, but then gets caught as Kofi kips up and tosses Stardust with a modified headscissors/hurricanrana. He runs and nails Stardust in the corner with double-knees, then quickly gets the 1 – 2 – 3 with a top-rope crossbody!
Winner via Pinfall: Kofi Kingston (with New Day partners Big E. and Xavier Woods)
Segment #4: Arena Promo
Lillian Garcia brings out the man who brought us “People Power,” John Laurinaitis. At first, he wants to be back running Raw as “Big Johnny,” then gives us the nominees for “Surprise Return Of The Year.” They are Hulk Hogan, Batista, The Rock, and (the late-great) Ultimate Warrior. Winner revealed next.
Commercials.
“Big Johnny” tells us the winner for “Surprise Return of The Year” is the late-great Ultimate Warrior. Cole and Lawler talk about him while still-pictures right up to the Hall-Of-Fame ceremony earlier this year are shown.
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Seth Rollins is congratulating his “boys,” Noble and Mercury, when he walks into Paul Heyman. The advocate for WWE World Heavyweight Champion is anticipating “a clean-sweep of The Slammys.” Heyman then begins to tell Rollins that “if” he gets by Cena, but Seth says he will get by him, showing Paul E. the briefcase and threatening that he will cash in without Lesnar or Heyman knowing when or where.
Heyman puts over Rollins as “the future,” even when he Curb-Stomped his own client. Heyman pumps up Rollins to “make sure that John Cena is firmly entrenched in the past.”
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte, then daughter of Ric Flair, makes her debut on Raw and will be wrestling Natalya next!
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Match #3: Single – NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte VS. Natalya (with Tyson Kidd) (Non-Title)
Charlotte takes after her father, getting in the face of Natalya and “whoo-ing” her! She then gives Natalya an elbow and stomps her down. She gives her shoulder-rams in the corner, but Natalya elbows her way out. she hops on Charlotte’s back, but Charlotte counters with a sit-down jawbreaker. She mount-punches Natalya repeatedly, but is turned over into an Indian Death Lock by Natalya. Charlotte reverses into a rear chinlock, standing, then chops at Natalya a few times. Much like her dad Ric, Charlotte gives Nattie a kneedrop, then rolls through a Sharpshooter attempt into a Figure-4 try. Natalya rolls through and takes this one with a small-package!
Winner via Pinfall: Natalya (with Tyson Kidd)
Segment #5: Arena Promo
Santino Marella is now out to show us the “OMG Shocking Moment Of The Year.” The nominees are Rollins betraying his Shield brethren, Nikki Bella betraying her sister Brie, Bray Wyatt’s “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” with the children segment from Raw, and The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak coming to an end at WrestleMania XXX against Brock Lesnar. Winners revealed next.
Commercials.
As pretty-much expected, Brock Lesnar defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX has been picked for the “OMG Moment Of The Year.” Paul Heyman comes out and accepts on Lesnar’s behalf. The “one behind the one in twenty-one” puts over his client’s huge accomplishment and true shocker.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
Bray Wyatt makes his eerie entrance, then begins another of his classic oratories. “I will never forget the first time that I saw her. She was sitting in that rocking chair underneath the cypress tree. That was her chair.” Footage of Dean Ambrose destroying Wyatt’s rocking chair from last week is now shown. “Dean Ambrose destroyed a piece of me that night. He took something that did not belong to him, he took something from me that I could never replace. So, I decided that, perhaps, I should take something from him.” Footage from Smackdown last week is shown, where Bray put chair-to-throat of Ambrose. “Does that shock you? Does that frighten you? I don’t think anyone here has any idea who they’re dealing with man. I am a monster, I am fear incarnate, and I despise each-and-every last one of you. To me, you are merely (inaudible) drawn in by my flame, but be careful, because if you get too close to me, I will burn you. And this Sunday, at the T.L.C. Pay-Per-View, all of you will bear witness to my vile, as I stand on top of that ladder victorious, conqueror. I will look down at Dean Ambrose’s mangled body, and none of you will shed a tear. (Laughing maniacally) I will not allow you to cry for him, because he deserves everything that’s got coming to him. The end is near. Tables, ladders, and chairs. Tables, ladders, and chairs. Tables, ladders, and chairs.” A siren suddenly blares with an ambulance backing into the arena.
Dean Ambrose, with smoke billowing, appears! He pulls out tables, chairs, and ladders, carrying them to the ring. He hurls the chair to tempt him by lying on the table and holding a chair. Bray takes the bait and runs into a thrown chair by Dean. He tells Wyatt that his only exit from Tables, Ladders, and Chairs is inside the ambulance. “I am going to become the monster and I’m going to eat you alive!”
Segment #7: Arena Promo
Seth Green is back and asks Jerry “The King” Lawler to present the “Diva Of The Year” award. The nominees are Brie Bella, Paige, A.J. Lee, and Nikki Bella. Winner next!
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Lawler makes known A.J. Lee as the “Diva Of The Year.” She walks out and is proud of reinventing what a “Diva” has been. She lists Emma, Paige, Bailey, and Sasha Banks as contenders for this award, but she still wants to reign and regain her Divas Title from Nikki Bella on Sunday.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Rene Young is with John Cena, who talks about what he is going to do to the Big Show tonight and what he will do to Seth Rollins this Sunday at T.L.C.
Erick Rowan makes his entrance for his bout next!
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – Erick Rowan VS. Intercontinental Champion Luke Harper (Non-Title)
Both big-men get the best of each other with punches, then Harper hits Rowan with a big running dropkick! He stomps away then locks on the Gator Roll. Rowan breaks out of it, but is nailed with a boot. Harper tries a powerbomb, but is backdropped. Rowan stomps, then Luke rolls to the outside. They both punch away again, then Luke uses the ladder against Erick’s head, which causes the dq.
Winner via Disqualification: Erick Rowan
Post-match, they continue to brawl, with Rowan dumping Luke face-first onto the steel stairs! Erick utilizes the steps again, ramming them into Harper’s head one more time.
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
Naomi is checking herself out in the mirror when The Usos walk up. She informs her husband, Jimmy, that she talked to The Miz’s talent person and they are legitimate. She is off to Hollywood for an audition, and so is her husband Jimmy to keep an eye on her. He does not trust The Miz.
Segment #9: Arena Promo
Adam Rose and his Party Posse present the “L.O.L. Moment Of The Year” – Mr. T’s Hall-Of-Fame Speech, WEE.L.C., Mizdow, and Vickie chucking Stephanie into a pool of “mud.”
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Mizdow is the winner for “L.O.L. Moment Of The Year.” Both he and The Miz come out, with The Miz seeming proud. Before Mizdow can take the microphone, Miz barges in front and takes all the credit, with Mizdow mimicking his verbals.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
United States Champion Rusev and Lana walk out. “The Ravishing Russian” has the microphone and tells us that either the American Economy or President Obama are the real “L.O.L. Moment(s) Of The Year.,” but picks Jack Swagger as a “Real American” as her choice. Swagger quickly interjects, claiming that he will “snap your ankle” to Rusev, who broke Zeb Colter’s leg. They engage, and Swagger shows his aggression, locking on the Patriot Ankle Lock and hurting the United States Champion. Referees pull Jack off Rusev, then have to hold him back.
Commercials.
Match #5: Six-Man Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) and Ryback VS. Kane and Tag-Team Champions The Miz and Damien Mizdow (Non-Title)
Ryback and Kane begin, with Ryback giving Kane a Lou-Thesz press. Kane replies with a scoop-slam, but Ryback hits back with a diving shoulder-tackle. Jimmy Uso now in, who axe-handles Kane from the top and chops. He switches with his brother, who almost sunset-flips Kane, but is caught by “The Big Red Machine. Kane tags in Miz, who stomps away on Jey. A side headlock takedown by Miz, then a running shoulder block. Jey counters and hip-tosses Miz, then also gives him a side headlock takedown. Jey suplexes Miz then tosses him over the ropes, and of course, with being a stunt-double, Damien Mizdow follows suit!
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Jey gets a hot-tag to Ryback, who dominates over The Miz until Kane breaks up a pin attempt. Both Usos come in and double-superkicks Kane, then double-rockets to him on the floor. Miz ducks and sends Jimmy tumbling to the floor, but turns around into a Meathook Clothesline and Shellshock Marching Samoan Drop by Ryback to get the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) and Ryback
Segment #11: Video Promo
A montage of the first Slammys in 1986 (the year I was born!), then known as the MTV Slammy Wrestling Music Awards, is shown.
Segment #12: Arena Promo
Lillian Garcia welcomes Hall Of Famer Ricky Steamboat to present “Match Of The Year.” He touts the classics he’s been in the ring with, including Ric Flair and the late-great “Macho Man” Randy Savage. The nominees are Daniel Bryan VS. Batista VS. Randy Orton at WrestleMania XXX, John Cena VS. Bray Wyatt from Payback, The Shield VS. Evolution during Extreme Rules, and Team Authority VS. Team Cena at Survivor Series.
Diva Of The Year A.J. Lee skips out and is wrestling next!
Commercials.
Prior to the next bout, Ricky Steamboat announces the “Match Of The Year.” It is Team Authority VS. Team Cena at Survivor Series. Dolph Ziggler makes the acceptance speech, giving credit to the WWE Universe. (yes, us fans.)
Match #6: Single – A.J. Lee VS. Summer Rae
Summer gets a little bit of offense on A.J., but the “Diva Of The Year” soon forces Rae to give-in to the Black Widow Octopus Hold.
Winner via Submission: A.J. Lee
Segment #13: Arena Promo
Rob Van Dam, an E.C.W. Original, is in the arena to present the “Extreme Moment Of The Year.” The nominees are Brock Lesnar demolishing John Cena at SummerSlam, Kane tombstoning Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho soaring off the top of a steel cage onto Bray Wyatt, and Seth Rollins crushing Dean Ambrose’s head through a cinder block. Winner revealed next.
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Rob van Dam announces that it is Chris Jericho who has the “Extreme Moment Of The Year.” Instead of “Y2J” himself, Fandango and Rosa take the award. Fandango cites his WrestleMania debut and defeat of Jericho, then says he will “never eeeeeeever see it again.”
Segment #14: Video Promo
Mick “Santa Claus” Foley is plugging more merchandise for WWE.com that we can buy for Christmas.
Segment #15: Backstage Promo
The Big Show is interviewed by Rene Young. She asks him about his mindset going into his match with John Cena, while also knowing he will be taking on Erick Rowan in a Stairs Match at T.L.C. Show reiterates how people make mistakes, including Rene presuming he is not focused and his choices leading up to Survivor Series. “You know what’s going to be a mistake? The mistake is going to be when John Cena steps into the ring with me tonight. Because I’m going to unleash all that rage and all that fury on John Cena. John Cena’s not going to have to worry about facing Seth Rollins because I’ll knock John Cena off the top step tonight. And Erick Rowan? He’s out of his league. He’s stepping in the ring with me. 7-Foot, 500 Pounds. I’m very focused, and I’m very angry giant. So believe me, the only mistakes that are happening are John Cena and Erick Rowan step in the ring with me. That’s the mistakes.”
Commercials.
Segment #16: Arena Promo
WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T. is out to present the “Superstar Of The Year.” The nominees are Brock Lesnar, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins. The “Superstar Of The Year” is next!
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It is announced that Chris Jericho will be hosting Raw next week!
In a true surprise (even though he is awesome), the 2014 “Superstar Of The Year” is Roman Reigns! Even better, he comes out to the stage and accepts! Reigns proclaims that when he’s back, he’s climbing all the way to the top!
John Cena makes his usual entrance as he prepares to take on The Big Show, next!
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – John Cena VS. The Big Show
Big Show uses his power and strength to dominate most of this bout. Cena eventually moves out of the way, then drives Show down with a DDT. However, Cena runs back into a side-walk slam, as Show controls again. Again, Cena eventually makes a comeback and goes to finish Big with an Attitude Adjustment. As he covers, Mercury, Noble, and Rollins run out, causing the dq.
Winner via Disqualification: John Cena
Post-match, Mercury, Noble, and Seth beat on Cena. Rollins pulls a ladder from under the ring and sets it up. As he goes to dive off it, Dolph Ziggler’s music plays and he runs out. he helps Cena out, until The Big Show awakens and lays him and Cena out with Knockout Punches.
Erick Rowan joins the fray, but is quickly attacked from behind by the I.C. Champ, Luke Harper. He and Show run Rowan into the steel steps, then Show chokeslams Erick on them. Ryback charges out now and cleans house, but is whaled on by a chair-wielding Kane. Dolph comes back in and tries to help out, super-kicking Show twice, but then is face-planted through a table by Harper. Rollins Curb-Stomps John, then he, Mercury, and Noble triple-powerbomb Cena through the commentator’s table.
Rollins, Mercury, Noble, Harper, and Show stand tall over a prone Ziggler to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Well, I was certainly wrong and this was a much better Raw than I expected considering it was a “Slammy Special.” I was even happily-wrong about how the Slammys played into Raw/the build for T.L.C., and thought it was actually pretty-well done. Onto the particulars:
Excellence: Most of the awards/the way the awards were done. Liked almost all the winners/scenarios, and thought it was good that they weren’t too dragged out and somewhat flowed smoothly with the show. My favourite would be Roman Reigns, as that was a real surprise for him to be “Superstar Of The Year.” I’m glad it wasn’t the usual Cena pick, but really also thought it was going to be Daniel Bryan, so Reigns was a bit of a shock, in a nice way.
As always, Bray Wyatt’s promo was terrific. His feud with Ambrose is Attitude-Era intense, and I think this should be the main-event of T.L.C. because of the all-out brutality it can be, plus the fact that it is a full-on T.L.C. match!
Big Show’s promos from tonight and last week’s Smackdown were much better. Keep talking like this Show, and I’m liking you again as a heel! Also intense is Swagger & Rusev, and I’m enjoying their second-round rivalry. It is much better than their first encounter.
Intrigued by the Usos/Mizdow/Miz rivalry. Mizdow is awesome right now in his role, and The Usos are beginning to become great again.
Loved seeing Charlotte wrestle Natalya; however wish it was longer and Charlotte should’ve gotten the win to build her up and since she has a match this week on NXT as the Women’s Champion!
Bogus: While I liked the award for the late-great Ultimate Warrior, I did think it was a bit disrespectful for Cole to rush through the talk he gave about the late wrestler/husband/father, and only showing still-pictures. I wish they had a significant person make another speech about him instead, or at least Cole be a bit slower with his commemoration on the superstar.
Getting tired of the beat-down endings to Raw between Team Authority and Team Cena. We’ve seen this way too much. Hopefully T.L.C. does shake things up even more and new feuds/rivalries will begin, and new endings to Raw!
Glad they gave another surprise win to Jericho for “Extreme Moment Of The Year” (didn’t expect him to get that) but was really disinterested when Fandango took the award. Here’s hoping Jericho takes it back next week when he hosts Raw.
T.L.C. picks: Mizdow/Miz to retain Tag-Team Titles, perhaps with Naomi’s help; A.J. to regain Divas Championship; Rusev to hold on to his U.S. Title, either by straight pin/submission or a no-contest; Ziggler to get the I.C. Title back and continue climbing back into permanent-main-event status (I like Harper, but the Intercontinental Championship just doesn’t “fit” him); Rowan will destroy Big Show and continue his rise to a being a big face; hoping Rollins wins, but it will probably be Cena to set up another match VS. Lesnar; and hoping the main-event is really Ambrose/Wyatt. I’m really not sure who should win, so I’m happy with both!
All-in-all, a greater Raw than I was thinking! Hopefully next week’s landscape will have changed a bit and new begins again after T.L.C. Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
