Tonight's RAW Supershow opens with the usual video package and pyro as Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcome us to the show from Tampa, FL. King hypes the Beat The Clock Contest Tonight, plus the next chapter in the United States Championship Chase and fallout from the latest actions of John Cena's Nexus.
WWE Champion CM Punk enters and sarcastically apologizes for bending the rules in his rematch with Alberto Del Rio last week, and is careful to mention that Del Rio would have done the exact same thing given the same opportunity. Punk shifts his attention to tonight's Beat The Clock Contest and mentions that "Paul was kind enough as COO to give his champion the night off to take in the action." Punk says that he's a fighting champion and doesn't operate that way. Punk insists on a match tonight and Hunter is quick to oblige.
Triple H enters and grants Punk a non-title match with the man he's trying to keep in check, John Cena. Punk tells Triple H that if the objective was to keep Cena and the Nexus in check that The Game has done an incredibly lousy job, which Punk says doesn't surprise him in the least, since as The Chairman's son-in-law he wouldn't know the first thing about "doing the job" for someone.
Cena enters, sans the Nexus, and immediately objects to the COO's decision, telling Triple H that he's demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that no one is more deserving and no force more dominant to hold the WWE Championship than The Nexus. Triple H tells Cena that all he's shown him is that Cena is defenseless unless surrounded by nine lackeys. Cena warns The Game that bad things happen to people who stand in the path of an oncoming bus; and that he and anyone else who is foolish enough to team with Triple H at TLC will discover this in the most agonizing manner imaginable.
Hunter fires back, reminding Cena that they don’t call him The Cerebral Assassin for nothing and to be on constant watch for a few aces that may be hidden up his sleeve. The COO storms off, making the main event official as Punk and Cena lock in a staredown.
Chris Hero versus James Storm ended in a Double Disqualification
Finish came with Storm setting up for the Last Call and getting jumped from behind by THE DUDLEYZ. Spike directs traffic as Bubba and D’Von drop Storm with a 3D and nails Hero with the Whazzup Diving Headbutt before Claudio and Roode respectively run down to make the save, only to get double teamed by all three Dudleyz and the returning PAUL LONDON and BRIAN KENDRICK. The Tag Team Division is becoming a hot mess of teams vying for the gold at TLC.
Triple H in his office with MVP, who is thanking him for his chance at a rematch with Brodus Clay at TLC. Shawn Michaels enters, and they discuss the elimination tag match at TLC. Michaels says that some of the talent on Smackdown are taking a little extra persuasion but that he should be able to close the deal for the whole team by the end of the show. The Game reciprocates, telling him that his Tables, Ladders and Chairs match with JBL for full control of RAW is good to go.
Michaels exits as JBL enters and tells Hunter that he’s just about sick to death tired of whatever game of nepotism he has going on here. Bradshaw duly tells the COO that he is prepared to make his life a living hell when he comes away with full control on December 18.
Backstage with Beth and Natalya. The Women’s Champion announces a Diva’s Battle Royal to take place next week with a title shot at TLC going to the winner.
More hype/build-up for tonight’s main event between Punk and Cena, Lawler teases the possibility of Nexus interfering in the contest.
Another mysterious promo runs saying “One Seemingly Insurmountable Goal Upon My Return...Second2012--SHARE HIM, REJOICE 102101.”
Evan Bourne def. Kaval in 14:12
Fantastic opening match with momentum shifting between the two several times. Finish came as Kaval attempted a Tree of Woe Ghetto Stomp only to have Bourne dodge the attack, sending Kaval crashing ankles first to the mat. Bourne skins the cat back onto the top rope and hits Air Bourne to pick up the win.
Backstage with Michaels and Triple H. Michaels says he’s locked up four willing superstars on Smackdown!, but the fifth dropped out at the last minute. Michaels remains confident that he’ll find a replacement by the end of the evening. Hunter tells him to go to it and he’ll pursue a coalition of RAW superstars.
Hype/build-up for the United States Championship Chase still to come tonight as we go to commercial.
J.R. and King give us an update on The Rock’s condition, saying that he’s in stable condition with five broken ribs and several lacerations following Cena and the Nexus’ heinous assault at Survivor Series.
Suddenly, the Nexus arrives in their cruiser on the entrance ramp, and unload three more victims from the bus. This time, Cena’s mercenaries have somehow seized none other than Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan...and Sting. Rolling them one by one into the ring, Cena taunts the legends, particularly Sting. Cena asks Sting how it feels to finally set foot in a WWE ring and Sting remains silent. Cena tells Sting that that was always his problem, that Sting thought he was too good to play in the big leagues, that he would under no circumstances work for Vince McMahon and did everything in his power to help the little guy drive him out of business. Cena tells him that for someone who professed to be #1 for most of his career, that he had no problem constantly working for the #2 promotion.
Cena tells the crowd that he has nothing but respect for the three men standing in the ring with him, but that there comes a time where greatness fades and in order to preserve that greatness so as to ensure that the fans remember you as such is to step aside. Cena says that his qualm with them is on that point. Cena tells them that instead of preserving the legacy and walking away, these men chose to soldier on, tarnishing their legend and immortalizing themselves among the fans as shells of their former selves. As The Nexus pours into the ring, Cena says instead of making the decision to end their careers on their own terms, The Nexus is forced to make the decision for them and effectively end three legendary careers tonight.
The 10-on-3 assault begins and ends with Barrett pulling back the padding around the arena floor, allowing Cena to drop Flair with an F-U from the ring to the concrete. A trio of other Nexus members guide a semi-conscious Hogan to the outside and sandwich his head between the steel ring steps and the ring post before Slater, Gabriel and McGillicutty all take turns baseball sliding into the steps. This leaves Sting who Barrett drops with Wasteland. Cena retreats to the outside and grabs a steel chair, placing Sting’s head in the fold. Justin Gabriel ascends to the top rope and delivers a devastating 450 Splash to the chair. As the legends lay motionless, Cena and his troops raise their fists in solidarity to the “Greater Cause.” and we go to commercial.
Kofi Kingston def. Steven Richards in 12:56
Another great back-and-forth match between Kofi and the returning Steven Richards. Kofi captured Richards’ foot on an attempted Steven Kick and countered with a Dragon Whip, meanwhile Richards evaded Trouble in Paradise and locked in his signature Rat Trap Camel Clutch. Finish came when Kofi fought out of the submission hold and executed a rolling Prawn hold to score the three count. After the match, Richards shook hands with and congratulated Kofi, officially making his return to WWE.
Dolph Ziggler backstage with Jack Swagger, telling him not to let him down in the Championship Chase tonight. Ziggler encourages Swagger to go to TLC, win the match and become the new United States Champion. Ziggler coerces Swagger into giving him the first shot at the title should Swagger win it all.
Dolph Ziggler and MVP fail to beat the clock after Randy Orton interfered
Finish came as Ziggler connected with the Zig Zag with only seconds to spare, but before Dolph could attempt a cover, Orton hit the ring from out of nowhere and dropped Ziggler with an RKO as time expired, thus avoiding disqualification since the match had ended. Swagger charges down to the ring with revenge on his mind, but walks directly into a Viper DDT as he climbs onto the ring apron. Orton leaves the ring satisfied for another week leading into his Tables match with Ziggler at TLC.
An unconscious Swagger brings Riley, McIntyre and Ryder RACING down the entrance ramp in an effort to be the first man to pick up the pinfall as the match gets underway.
Drew McIntyre def. Zack Ryder (c), Jack Swagger and Alex Riley in the U.S. Championship Chase (Zack Ryder eliminated)
Finish came when Alex Riley fell victim to Swagger’s Ankle Lock, but Ryder broke the hold with the Rough Ryder. Before Ryder could regain his senses, McIntyre slithered back into the ring and delivered an inverted Jumping Arm Breaker and planted Ryder with FutureShock to pick up the win.
After the match, EVP of Talent Relations Michaels regrettably informed the U.S. Champion that he had to suspend the United States Title until the PPV since the champion had been eliminated from contention. Michaels then stripped a devastated Ryder of the belt and left the ring.
Another vignette runs promoting the TLC PPV; now on the card is World Champion Bryan Danielson versus Mark Henry in a Chairs Match, The Nexus versus Team Triple H, The Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship, The United States Championship Match, The Tag Team Invitational Battle Royal, The Tables Match between Orton and Ziggler, a No Holds Barred Match between MVP and Brodus Clay, Beth Phoenix defending against the winner of next week’s battle royal, JBL versus HBK in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match for total control of RAW and of course, CM Punk’s WWE Championship will be defended in a LADDER Match.
Another promo for Punk and Cena’s non-title match in the main event tonight.
John Morrison is approaching the ring for his Beat The Clock Match next as we go to commercial.
John Morrison def. Joey Mercury in 8:56
Morrison downs his returning former tag partner after rolling through a Swinging Neckbreaker to counter with Moonlight Drive and follow up with Starship Pain to pick up the duke.
JBL seen backstage, piling into a limo with one, perhaps two, unidentified individuals before driving away.
Alberto Del Rio def. Santino Marella in 3:44
Quick finish with Del Rio countering The Cobra with a step up Enziguri before mercilessly locking in the Cross Armbar for a quick submission.
The Miz enters, unenthusiastically applauding Del Rio’s time before explaining his reasons for attacking R-Truth two weeks ago as elementary. Miz says he’s far too gifted to be wasted on tag team wrestling and took the steps necessary to refocus on the WWE Championship, and that meant cutting loose the dead weight. Miz tells Truth that for both of their sakes, the time for sneak attacks is over and to settle their differences face to face tonight. Miz says it won’t be until he beats the clock tonight and reclaims the belt at TLC that the WWE Championship will once again truly be AWESOME as we go to another commercial.
The Miz and R-Truth simultaneously pin each other at 3:44
Finish comes when Miz attempts the Skull Crushing Finale, only to have Truth counter and drop Miz with Lil’ Jimmy. The impact incapacitates both, landing with all four shoulders on the floor, but one arm draped over each other. The ref logs the pinfalls in unison, matching Del Rio’s time.
Del Rio celebrates, believing that since neither man won, nor beat his time, that he has secured another title shot. Michaels interrupts and makes his interpretation that while neither man decisively won, there WAS a pinfall logged and clearly both didn’t LOSE. As a result of matching Del Rio’s time, Michaels rules that all three men can lay claim to #1 contention, and all three men WILL. At TLC, CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship against Alberto Del Rio, The Miz AND R-Truth in a Fatal Four Way Ladder Match! Miz and Del Rio especially are INFURIATED with this decision.
CM Punk enters, shaking his head on his way down to the ring for the main event as we go to our final commercial of the night.
CM Punk def. John Cena by DQ when Del Rio, The Miz and The Nexus interfered
Finish came as Punk was setting Cena up for the GTS and Del Rio and The Miz attacked from opposite sides, leading the ref to call for the bell. Cena escaped to the ringside area to grab a steel chair, but while fighting off Miz and Del Rio, Punk somehow managed to steal the chair from Cena’s hands and use it against his opponents at TLC.
As Cena and The Nexus attempted to get back in the ring from all sides, Punk brandished the chair to keep them all at bay. This draws out Triple H, who has apparently selected his team to take on the Nexus. The Game is followed shortly thereafter by John Morrison, Air Boom, Zack Ryder and Michaels’ Smackdown acquisitions: Christian, Sheamus, The Big Show, Kane...and THE UNDERTAKER. While distracted by The Deadman’s presence, Cena easily falls prey to the GTS. Punk celebrates with the title on the corner to end the show.
No comments:
Post a Comment