12/19 WWE Raw Recap
Join the Starman as he covers the fallout from TLC Raw live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
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The Raw intro hits and a drum roll sounds as we are welcomed to the show by CM Punk, who introduces himself as the reigning WWE Champion, who defeated both Alberto Del Rio and the Miz in a TLC Match last night. Punk comes down to the ring to a loud “CM Punk!” chant and says much to the chagrin of John Laurinaitis, he retained the WWE Championship. CM Punk then asks the crowd who came out as the US Champion last night as the drum roll sounds once again and Punk introduces Zack Ryder.
Ryder’s music hits as he comes out and joins CM Punk in the ring with the US Championship. Punk goes on to say that he saved the biggest for last and said there was a chairs match between two of the biggest monsters in the business and asks who won the World Championship between Mark Henry and the Big Show. Punk says it was the Big Show but then the unthinkable happened and introduces Daniel Bryan as the new World Champion.
Bryan’s music hits as the new World Champion makes his way to the ring to join Punk and Ryder. Punk continues to say that if any city would appreciate the scene in the ring, it would be Philadelphia, as an “ECW!” chant begins. Punk goes on to say that both he and Bryan met 10 years ago down the street at the Murphy Rec Center and are now standing in the ring as champions. Punk says it’s not about him tonight, however, as it is about Bryan and Ryder, who have clawed their way to the top and says it’s time to hear from the two new champions.
Ryder says he had to call his dad this morning to see if he really was the US Champion. Bryan, on the other hand, said people never expected him to be in WWE, including Michael Cole, and says he is now the World Champion. The Miz then steps out onto the stage along with Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio and make their way towards the ring. Punk, Bryan and Ryder keep them out of the ring, however, Ryder dives out and lands on Ziggler as the other two chase Miz and Del Rio up the ramp.
John Laurinaitis then comes out and says being the creative GM that he is, he decided to make a match between the team of the Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio against CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Zack Ryder. He tells the wrestlers and the fans that this is his Christmas present to all of them.
We join the announce team who hypes the main event and says that we will revisit the ending of last week’s Raw and Kane’s return. We will hear from John Cena about the attack, but first Randy Orton will take on Wade Barrett, and that match is up after the commercial break.
Match 1: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
Prior to the match we see photos of how Orton won the tables match last night at TLC against Barrett. The bell rings a Barrett stomps Orton down to the canvas but Orton comes back with a clothesline and a dropkick for a two count. Barrett retreats to the floor and Orton follows him out where the fight continues. Barrett manages to take Orton down with a kick to the midsection before hanging him up on the guard railing. Barrett returns to the ring as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Barrett is still in control of the match as he knocks Orton out to the floor with a big boot to the face. Barrett follows him out and drives Orton into the apron before rolling him back in for a near fall. Barrett then locks Orton in a headlock but Orton fights his way out and takes Barrett down with a couple of clotheslines followed by a snap slam.
Orton then sets up for his DDT but Barrett counters and sets up for the Wasteland, however, Orton fights his way out and takes him down with a backbreaker. Orton then hits his DDT and sets up for the RKO but Barrett catches him with a thumb to the eye in front of the referee, who calls for the bell.
Barrett continues to stomp on Orton before taking him out with a side slam. Barrett then heads out to the floor and slides a table into the ring. Barrett then connects with a boot to Orton’s face before setting up the table and sending Orton through it with a Wasteland.
We join the announce team who talks about the brutal ladder match between Triple H and Kevin Nash. We are treated to photos of the match and see Nash was carried away from the ring on a stretcher. They tell us that Nash suffered a nasal fracture and will take at least six weeks for him to recover. Jerry Lawler says he would be surprised to ever see him in the ring again. Alicia Fox and Beth Phoenix are seen walking backstage and the two will be in action next as we head into a commercial break.
Footage from last week’s Slammy Awards is aired where Kelly Kelly won the Divalicious Moment of the Year. An outside shot of Philadelphia is aired before we head into the next match of the night.
January 2nd mystery video was revealed, and it is: www.youtube.com/prophetless2012
Match 2: Beth Phoenix vs. Alicia Fox
The bell sounds and Beth hits a side slam and as Michael Cole talks about how Alicia Fox is trending on Twitter, Alicia botches an inverted DDT before finally hitting it and pinning the Divas Champion. She then gets on the microphone and tells everyone to have a foxy holiday before leaving the ring.
The announce team hypes tonight’s six man tag team match as we head into a commercial break.
Match 3: Sheamus vs. Jinder Mahal
Mahal comes out and says Sheamus has no class and no honor and says it’s time for someone to put him in his place. The bell rings and the two go back and forth with a flurry of offense as the match starts. Mahal picks up a near fall after connecting with a knee to the head, however, Sheamus fights back and connects with a couple of clotheslines and an Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus then hits the Celtic Cross to pick up the pin fall.
The announce team hypes Kane’s return where he targeted John Cena. We will hear from Cena after the commercial break.
Footage of Kane’s return from last week is aired where he drove John Cena down to the mat with a chokeslam and removed a mask to reveal another mask and hair. John Cena’s music hits as he comes down to the ring to a mixture of boos and cheers. Cena says apparently there are people out there who don’t like him and says he can understand why Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson doesn’t like him.
However, last week Kane came out and chokeslammed him to hell and wonders if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he wasn’t, though, then the two of them have business and they should handle things right now. Mark Henry’s music hits as the World’s Strongest Man limps out to the ring. Henry says he had Cena laid out in the ring last week and if it wasn’t for Kane, Cena would be the newest member of the Hall of Pain as the fans in Philly starts a “Sexual Chocolate!” chant.
Henry says he is out there to address his injuries and why he lost last night. He then tells Cena to get out of his face but the two are cut off by Kane’s pyro and music. Kane comes out in his Predator-like welding mask as Henry leaves the ring, but Cena stays put. Kane makes his way towards Henry but turns his attention to Cena and gets in the ring, where Cena nails him with a series of punches and a clothesline.
Kane, though, drags Cena out to the floor and tosses him over the announce table and nails Cena with a punch to the throat. Kane then chokes Cena out by putting his gloved hand over Cena’s mouth and tears Cena’s shirt off of him. Cena is seen bleeding from the mouth as Kane walks away with Cena’s shirt. Cena recovers and has a look of shock on his face as we head into a commercial break.
Footage of the Liberty Bell is aired before we see what just happened between John Cena and Kane before the break. We then head into the next match of the night.
Match 4: Primo & Epico vs. Jimmy & Jay Uso
The Uso’s start off strong against Primo in the early part of the match. Epico is able to cause a distraction and turns the tide of the match into their favor as we see AirBoom watching the match on a monitor in the back. Jay Uso fights his way back into the match and tags in Jimmy, who takes out both Epico and Primo. The match then breaks down as Epico hits the Back Stabber on Jimmy to pick up the pin fall.
The announce team hypes the Royal Rumble as a commercial for the event is aired. We then head backstage where Josh Mathews is backstage with Cody Rhodes. Rhodes says the Royal Rumble commercial with Santino Marella is about as ridiculous as Booker T thinking that he can defeat him. Santino appears with a wicker basket and wants to give him a Christmas present. Santino then reveals his sock cobra in it and hisses at Rhodes as we head into a commercial break.
Match 5: Santino Marella vs. Cody Rhodes
Rhodes takes Santino down with a series of strikes and kicks before hitting a Russian leg sweep. Rhodes begins to work over Santino’s arm but Santino begins to fight back. Santino then goes for the Cobra but Rhodes hits Santino with an Alabama Slam to pick up the pin fall.
Footage of the Tribute to the Troops special from last week is aired and we are unfortunately treated to yet another Nickelback song. The announce team then hypes the six man tag team main event as we head into a commercial break.
The Bella Twins are backstage with John Laurinaitis and David Otunga. They are upset over how Teddy Long talked to them last night at TLC and Laurinaitis says they are looking in to it and wish them both a Merry Christmas. The Bella’s kiss Laurinaitis on the cheeks as Vickie Guerrero comes in yelling about Dolph Ziggler’s match last night. Hornswaggle walks in with mistletoe and kisses Vickie, which gets her to scream. I feel about the same after watching tonight’s show.
We see footage of Zack Ryder’s father’s reaction of his son winning the US Championship last night. We then head to Josh Mathews who is standing by with the Big Show. Mathews wants to know his state of mind who says he had the title in his hands for the first time in nine years and in seconds it went away. Show says he was speechless but says it was his fault for encouraging Daniel Bryan a few weeks ago. Show gives him credit but Mathews presses for a real response, however, Show just stares him down before walking away.
Prior to the main event, another January 2nd video is aired that ends with the girl tossing a notebook of the desk and saying that she cannot help you anymore. Prophetless.
Match 6: The Miz/Dolph Ziggler/Alberto Del Rio vs. Zack Ryder/Daniel Bryan/CM Punk
Zack Ryder, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk walk through the crowd to get to the ring for tonight’s main event. The bell rings as Punk and Bryan work over the Miz in the early going and pick up a near fall in the process. Zack Ryder is tagged into the match as he and Bryan eliminate Ziggler, Miz and Del Rio from the ring as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see the Miz take control of the match by driving Bryan down to the match with a DDT. Bryan is then isolated to their corner of the ring as Del Rio, Ziggler and the Miz wear him down with quick tags in and out of the ring. Bryan finally stops their offense by connecting with a boot to Ziggler’s face and makes the hot tag to Ryder.
Ryder comes in a hits Ziggler with a flurry of offense and picks up a near fall in the process. Ziggler is able to stop Ziggler and tags the Miz into the ring, who comes in and puts Ryder in a headlock. The trio begins to work over Ryder for a moment until he is able to send Del Rio out to the floor and make another hot tag to CM Punk.
Punk comes in and hits the Miz with a swinging neckbreaker and a bulldog before heading to the top rope and hitting an elbow drop. The Miz is able to kick out and Punk then goes for the Anaconda Vice but Ziggler breaks it up. The match begins to break down as Punk then hits the Miz with the GTS. Del Rio then takes out Punk and Bryan but Bryan comes back and puts Del Rio in the LaBell Lock until he taps out.
The trio of champions celebrate their victory in the ring and with the ringside fans as Raw comes to a close. Merry Christmas everybody!
Quick Results
– Randy Orton defeated Wade Barrett by disqualification.
– Alicia Fox defeated Beth Phoenix by pin fall.
– Sheamus defeated Jinder Mahal by pin fall.
– Primo & Epico defeated Jimmy & Jay Uso by pin fall.
– Cody Rhodes defeated Santino Marella by pin fall.
– Zack Ryder/Daniel Bryan/CM Punk defeated The Miz/Dolph Ziggler/Alberto Del Rio by submission.
