Tonight's RAW Supershow comes to us live from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX as Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show. Tonight five more superstars will qualify for the Royal Rumble Match and WWE Champion CM Punk and his challenger at the Royal Rumble, Chris Jericho, will each have tune-up contests. For Jericho, this will be his first in-ring singles match since September 2010.
Executive Vice President of Talent Relations Shawn Michaels enters to an INSANE pop and makes the announcement that in addition to the superstars actively qualifying for the Royal Rumble Match and those qualifying at the PPV, Five spots are being reserved for surprise entrants; some who haven't been seen in WWE for a couple of years, some who haven't seen a WWE ring in nearly twenty years. Michaels promises that all five will garner a huge response at the Rumble.
Alberto Del Rio interrupts the warm reception Michaels was receiving to demand a match with The Miz following the fallout from the tag team match at Saturday Night's Main Event. Michaels sympathizes with Del Rio's complaint and invites him into a "Shell Game" of sorts. WWE officials roll out a set of three cabinets, with doors labeled "RAW", "ECW" and "Smackdown". Michaels explains that behind each door is a WWE superstar waiting to accept Del Rio's challenge tonight. HBK says The Miz is concealed behind one of the three doors and if Del Rio selects the correct door, he'll get his match.
Naturally, Del Rio selects the door labeled "RAW". Michaels tells Del Rio that he likes to play "What If" and invites Del Rio to find out who was behind the doors he didn't select. Before the ECW door can open, Michaels drops Del Rio with Sweet Chin Music and leaves the ring. The door opens and out emerges BRODIE LEE. The Big Rig waits for Del Rio to get back to his feet and nearly decapitates the Mexican Aristocrat with a Big Rig Boot and leaves the ring. The door labeled "Smackdown" begins to rattle before getting knocked off of its hinges as THE BIG SHOW punches through it. Show takes his time coming down to the ring, then levels Del Rio with WMD as he struggles to get back to his feet. On his way out of the ring, Show clocks Ricardo Rodriguez with WMD also.
This leaves only the "RAW" door that Del Rio selected in the first place. But instead of The Miz as HBK promised, the door opens and the last remaining superstar and thus Del Rio's opponent tonight is--BATISTA.
Batista def. Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio has just enough time to use the ropes to pull himself back to a standing position and take a Spear from the Animal. Batista charges up on the ropes and drops the former WWE Champion with a spine-shattering Batista Bomb for the three count.
Michaels re-examines the clipboard containing tonight's docket and apologizes to Del Rio for making "an honest mistake" and realizing too late that The Miz was actually scheduled for a Royal Rumble qualifying match tonight. Michaels tells Del Rio that this may not be the best time, but introduces The Miz for the next contest of the evening as Del Rio is being helped from the ring by officials.
The Miz says it's irrelevant as to who "The Powers That Be" elected to be his victim tonight, because he will qualify tonight, win the Royal Rumble, headline Wrestlemania and come away once again as the WWE Champion..."BE-CAUSE I'M THE MIZ...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNND IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'M AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEESOOOOOOOOOOOME!!!"
After a pause, the music kicks in and it turns out the qualifying challenge for The Miz appears in the guise of VAL VENIS.
The Miz def. Val Venis to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Decent match, Venis even had Miz on the verge of tapping out after locking in the Venis Flytrap. Finish came as Venis attempted The Money Shot and The Miz rolled out of the ring at the last second sending Val to the mat. Miz rolls back in and drops The Big Valbowski with a Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
Advertised for later is the double main event; Chris Jericho in action for the first time in a year and a half and CM Punk-- in a Last Man Standing Match as we go to commercial.
The WWE Slam of the Week is Drew McIntyre’s FutureShock DDTs on Natalya and Jeff Hardy at SNME.
Michael McGillicutty comes to the ring and informs everyone that his opponent for the Royal Rumble Qualifying Match tonight was supposed to have been Jeff Hardy. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Hardy has been advised by doctor’s orders not to participate tonight. McGillicutty insists on presenting himself as the victor by forfeit and automatically advancing to the Rumble, but incredibly, Jeff Hardy storms down to the ring, fighting officials the whole way before forcing his way into the ring, whereupon McGillicutty continued the beatdown that McIntyre started Saturday. The ref separates the two to enable Hardy to get back to his feet and asks Hardy if he feels he can compete. Hardy insists and the ref rings the bell.
Jeff Hardy def. Michael McGillicutty to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Somehow, some way, Hardy persevered through the beating. Finish came as Hardy, battered and barely able to stand, countered the McGillicutter, perhaps out of desperation, into a Twist of Fate. Hardy forced himself to the top rope and delivered a gruesome Swanton Bomb and exhaustedly picked up the three count. After the match, Husky Harris and Mason Ryan helped finish the job, hitting a Senton Splash and a House of Pain respectively. As Hardy lay motionless waiting for the EMTs, the Nexus salute Cena, who admires the carnage from the stage.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler recap the PPV card, which now includes twelve entrants in the Rumble, The Iron Man Match for the WWE Title, The Triple Threat Match for the World Title and one qualifying match of the five that will eventually be booked.
The All-American American, Jack Swagger is headed to the ring for his ECW qualifying match before the qualifying match as we go to break.
Jack Swagger def. Tommy Dreamer in an Extreme Rules Match to earn a qualifying match at the Royal Rumble
Finish comes when Swagger hits a Gutwrench Powerbomb from the ring apron through the Spanish Announcers Table to pick up the duke.
Edge is seen backstage getting settled into his new position as RAW GM and books the main event for next week’s show in Anaheim. It will be an Ten-Man Tag Team match featuring the teams of CM Punk, John Morrison, Jeff Hardy, Zack Ryder and Chris Jericho versus John Cena, Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre.
Another vignette for Rey Mysterio airs--this one says “In Five Weeks” as we go to commercial.
The announcement and tribute video for the next inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame is revealed and it’s the one and only, The most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment, The Jabroni Beating, (la la la) Pie Eating, Trailblazing, Eyebrow-Raising, People’s Hall of Famer, THE ROCK!!!!
John Cena and the Nexus interrupt the proceedings and Cena explains that The Rock couldn’t be here to accept the invitation in person, so Cena will be the better man and accept on his behalf. Cena says he’ll be the better man at Wrestlemania as well and that the while Rock may talk a big game, Cena plays a bigger one. Cena vows to win the Royal Rumble Match and become the first man to headline Wrestlemania in TWO main events, leaving the Show of Shows as both the man who sent the Rock packing for good after seven years away and the man that walks out as WWE Champion.
Edge interrupts and tells Cena that at the request of the WWE Universe, he’s decided to book the rematch of the contest that fans voted Match of 2011 and that match will take place RIGHT NOW. Enter WWE Champion CM Punk and the bell rings to get the contest underway.
CM Punk def. John Cena via DQ
Another solid 30-minute match between these two, Punk was incredibly over with the Corpus crowd and Cena was experiencing absurd levels of heat. Finish came as Punk dropped Cena with the GTS. Chris Jericho jumps up on the apron, but Punk cuts him off at the pass with a Roundhouse Kick and another GTS attempt, but Jericho struggles out and escapes the ring.
Punk grabs a mic and tells Jericho that he’s only step one in Punk’s Road to Wrestlemania. Punk addresses the end of SNME and says that clearly Taker is after him in an attempt to continue the streak. Punk tells Jericho that after he cements himself as “The Best In The World”, he’ll take down the Greatest Record the WWE has ever known. Punk addresses Taker directly and says there will be no “Resting In Peace”, because at Wrestlemania, Punk promises that The Deadman will “GO...TO...SLEEP!!!” Punk slams the mic and jumps the barricade to make his way through the crowd as we go to break.
Brian Kendrick is on his way to the ring for the next Royal Rumble Qualifying Match. Unfortunately for Kendrick, his opponent puts him at a dire size disadvantage as tonight’s RAW Supershow also marks the return of...THE WORLD’S LARGEST LOVE MACHINE--VISCERA...
Brian Kendrick def. Viscera to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Viscera practically owned this match. However, one mistake created an opening. After Vis missed a Corner Avalanche, Kendrick rebounded with Sliced Bread #2 and the pin.
Edge calls Jack Swagger into his office, finishes his phone conversation and informs him that his call was to Theodore Long. Apparently, Swagger’s qualifying match at the Royal Rumble will be a one-on-one contest with a Lucha Libre legend as Jack Swagger will be forced to qualify against--ULTIMO DRAGON.
Beer Money is backstage still attempting to iron out the issues created by the reappearance of “Wildcat” Chris Harris. Mostly Storm trying to hear out Robert Roode’s argument. Roode tells Storm to determine his priorities and give him an answer one way or the other before Wrestlemania. Storm sits in silence as Roode walks away and we go to break.
Zack Ryder is in the ring with his flipcam as Edge (coincidentally) announces that Ryder’s Rumble Qualifying Match will be one-on-one...with CURT HAWKINS.
Zack Ryder def. Curt Hawkins to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Decent match between the former tag partners. Finish came when Ryder rolled through a Hangman’s Neckbreaker to deliver the Rough Ryder for the pin. The Rumble field is now up to 14.
J.R. and King announce that wwe.com has set up an online poll to ask the fans who they believe should be the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame and informs them that the next selection will be made next week on RAW.
John Morrison enters for his Royal Rumble Qualifying Match and Dolph Ziggler interrupts, saying that he will not take a back seat to anyone, least of all Randy Orton this Friday in the Texas Bull Rope Match. Ziggler says in the event that he DOES get railroaded out of his spot in the World Title Match, he will ensure his spot at Wrestlemania by first qualifying for and then winning the Royal Rumble match, saying that his Road to Wrestlemania starts tonight.
John Morrison def. Dolph Ziggler to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Match of the night were it not for Cena-Punk II. Ziggler evades Starship Pain and picks up a two count, Morrison uses the ropes for leverage to block the ZigZag, then rebounded with a Flying Chuck. After countless near falls, the finish comes as Morrison takes Ziggler’s feet out from under him while perched on the top rope. While positioned on the top rope, Morrison executes a beautiful elevated Moonlight Drive for the win and the Rumble spot. After the match, Ziggler has to be escorted from the ring in an absolute conniption that he has been kept from the Rumble match.
Chris Jericho headed to the ring for his Last Man Standing Match as we go to our final break.
Chris Jericho def. Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match
Finish came as Jericho blasted The Game with a Steel Chair, then handcuffed Triple H to the base of the turnpost. Unable to get to his feet, Hunter flailed helplessly as Jericho watched him take the 10 count. After the match, Punk sneaks up on Jericho and drops him with a GTS. Punk stands over the fallen Jericho, taunting “The score’s tied now, Anton”.
The lights go out and the Undertaker spontaneously appears in the ring. Punk bolts from the ring and watches, first in horror, then intrigue, then admiration as The Undertaker plants Jericho with The Last Ride.
So the question remains unanswered...which one of these guys is The Deadman TRULY targeting? Taker stares down Punk as Punk raises the WWE Title in defiance as RAW goes off the air.
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