1/16/12 WWE Raw Recap
by Dave Kilgore
Show starts with tribute to Martin Luther, King Jr.
Live from Anaheim, CA:
First out….King of Hardcore, Mick Foley, looking dapper in flannel. He says he is here for 2 reasons….Disneyland (Cheap pop) and to give his kids the chance to see their dad in the ring one more time. He announces he is entering the Royal Rumble, just 2 weeks away. Out comes Vicky Guerrero, shrieking, with Dolph Ziggler. They head to the ring for a face to face with Foley. Dolph can’t believe that Foley can just show up and take one of the Rumble spot, taking it away from another deserving superstar. Dolph says Foley’s shot would amount to nothing more than in and out of the ring. Foley says yes, it could happen or he could win it. He is in it to win it. Dolph says that’s great, but he works all year at that. Says Cena ran away from him last week and has beaten CM Punk two weeks in a row. Says when he beats Punk for the title, that facing Foley, should he win the Rumble, would be a disappointment. Says Foley is going to make a fool of himself. Dolph tells Foley it’s over….go home…go away! Out comes CM Punk. Punk says it’s great to see Foley…right here…in Anaheim! Dolph says they get their clothes from the same homeless man. Punk says he and Foley are alot alike. They don’t hide behind a woman. A poor excuse for a woman. Also, they have earned everything, unlike someone who has a special ref in their back pocket. At the end of the Rumble, Punk says he will still be champion because he’s the best in the world. Punk says it would be cool to face Foley at Wrestlemania. Out comes GM Laurinaitis. Announces that he will be completely unbiased in their match at the Rumble and that he’s trying to do what’s right…..tells Foley NO regarding being in the Rumble. Vicky laughs in Foley’s face. Cut to backstage where Kofi and Evan Bourne are walking down the hallway, minus their tag belts, due to them losing the titles last night to Epico and Primo.
Commercial.
Back from commercial:
In ring are the new tag champs, Epico and Primo with Rosa Mendes. Recap of how they won the titles last night. Out comes Kofi and Bourne. Quick roll up by Bourne, 1 count. Crossbody attempt by Bourne, countered by slam by both tag champs to Bourne. Bourne shoved back to corner, countered by hurricanrana by Bourne, tag to Kofi. Kofi takes down both men, Boom Drop to Primo. Epico quick roll up on Kofi, 2 count. Trouble in Paradise by Kofi, Evan to top rope, distracted by Kofi being thrown into post outside, followed by Back Stabber to Kofi. Winners and still champs, Primo and Epico.
Cut to GM’s office, where John is texting. Otunga walks in, says “you know who is waiting”, then GM is shown talking to someone about tonight’s main event…Ziggler, Mark Henry and Otunga vs. Punk, Daniel Bryan, and you. They pan over to show Jericho. Lights off to show Jericho’s lighted coat.
Commercial.
Back from commercial:
Promo for Sin City Smackdown in Vegas this Friday.
It is disclosed that envelope handed to GM was doctor’s report on Zach Ryder. Ryder (with Eve) says he hasn’t been cleared to compete. Ryder says he is going to ring, and Eve says she’s going with him. Recap of Kane’s actions over the last 2 weeks, first trying to pull Ryder down through ring, then last week, throwing Ryder off the loading dock and beating up Cena.
Back in ring, out comes Jack Swagger (with Vicky) for his title match against Zach Ryder. Recap is shown of last week’s controversial ending in the Punk/Swagger match. Cole says Laurinaitis believes ref blew that call last week.
Commercial
Back from commercial:
Out comes Ryder with Eve. *If Swagger wins, would it be legit if Ryder doesn’t have doctor’s clearance to wrestle?*
Bell rings, Swagger right to injured back. Slam on Ryder. Then thrown hard into turnbuckle. Knees to Ryder’s back. Swagger rushes in, knees to Swagger by Zach. But Swagger takes Ryder down again…2 count. Gutwrench suplex by Swagger…2 count. Swagger picks up Ryder, another slam. 2 count. Swagger getting frustrated. Elbow to Ryder’s back, followed by another slam, a 3rd. Swagger pins Ryder to become new United States Champion. *See question above*
Commercial.
Back live:
Promo for Wrestlemania 28, Rock vs Cena. April 1, 2012.
Recap of Swagger’s win over Zach Ryder moments ago. Backstage, the trainers are looking at Zach. Laurinaitis comes in and says he just opened envelope about Zach not being cleared. Says “my bad” *How come Cole and Lawler announced what was in envelope before GM opened it?*
Guest ring announcer for next match, Perez Hilton.
Next match….Kelly Kelly & Alicia Fox vs. Bella Twins. Kelly vs one of the Bellas . Kicks by Bella to Kelly. Kelly then goes for pin, only to be countered by other Bella. Alicia in, ref distracted, twin magic attempt by Bellas. But Perez Hilton pulls out Bella making cover. While the Bellas are focused on Hilton, Kelly gets roll up for win. In ring, winners celebrate with Perez, Bellas get in ring to confront Perez, pushing him down. Kelly and Alicia step in to protect Perez.
Cole and Lawler recap what happened on Smackdown between Big Show and A.J (Daniel Bryan’s girlfriend), where Big Show ran her over running around ringside, allegedly on accident.
Commercial.
Back live:
Promo for Royal Rumble, then reliving moments of 1992 Rumble with Flair, Savage, Hogan, Sid, Bossman. With Flair eliminating Sid to win.
R-Truth out. Then Wade Barrett out. Barrett says pardon the interruption R-Truth, if that’s your real name. Says he is entering the Rumble. Says thank God one of the 30 men isn’t Foley. Barrett then starts running down Truth. Says Little Jimmy wants him to ask Barrett if anyone has ever told him he talks funny. Truth says why all the hate Wade, being across from Disneyland. They then show pics of Truth with Disney characters. Truth says Pinnochio told him Barrett would win the Rumble then his nose grew due to that being a lie. Truth says he believes a mouse can talk and an elephant can fly but not that Barrett will win Rumble. Attack by Miz running in through crowd. 2 on 1 beatdown of Truth by Miz and Barrett until Sheamus makes the save. Out comes Smackdown GM Teddy Long, making an over the top rope challenge between the 4 men…..now!
Sheamus and Barret, Truth and Miz. Back and forth action, till Sheamus and Truth try to eliminate Barrett, only to be helped by Miz. Barrett eliminated. Miz then goes after Truth till Sheamus starts pounding on Miz. Truth now after Sheamus, tries to eliminate Great White. No luck. Then Miz beats on Truth. Miz throws Truth over but not to floor. Miz runs at Sheamus, clothesline by Sheamus. Follows with 10 forearms to Miz’s chest. Miz down. Truth down. Sheamus gets ready for Brogue Kick and misses, straddling top rope. Miz runs at Sheamus, Sheamus catches him, and tries to throw Miz over, but while hanging over top rope, Truth runs over and tosses both men over. Winner…R-Truth. Outside the ring, Miz gets Brogue Kick by Sheamus.
Backstage, Cena storms into GM office, upset over the Zach Ryder incident earlier. GM says Cena vs. Kane at Rumble. Also says next, how about Cena vs Jack Swagger.
Commercial.
Back live:
Jack Swagger in ring. Cena then out. Cole can’t believe Swagger has to wrestle again. Cena’s pissed. Right to ring and beating on Swagger before bell rings. Punches to Swagger, thrown to outside. Swagger into ring post. Then into announcer table. Punches to Swagger. Knee lift to Swagger and Cole complains. More punches to Swagger, then kicks. Swagger thrown into steps. Kick to Swagger’s head then rammed into steps. Cena stands over Swagger on steps, Swagger’s out. Cena picks up steps, as Cole hyperventilates. Kane’s music hits. Cena gets in center of ring, waiting. Cena on Titan Tron, saying that by Rumble, Cena will have embraced the hate.
Commercial.
Back from commercial:
Out comes Brodus Clay, the 4th RUN DMC member with his dancers. In ring dancing segment, with Cole saying Somebody Call My Momma. *Wasn’t that stolen from Ernest the Cat Miller?* Brodus’ opponent is JTG. Punches by JTG with no affect. Punch by Clay, followed by overhead suplex by Clay. Across ring run by Clay, splash in corner followed by Crossbody by the Funkasaurus, Brodus Clay, 1-2-3, Clay wins. More dancing.
Highlight of Big Show/AJ incident from Smackdown.
Commercial.
Back live:
Promo for Vegas Smackdown airs.
Cole and Lawler discuss Big Show/AJ incident. While chasing Daniel Bryan around the ring, Show runs into her. Accident? Or did Bryan set Show up by having her be there? Bryan goes off on Show as Show is visibly upset. Daniel Bryan out to the ring, then lights out. Lighted jacket appears…..Y2J out…goes around ringside giving high fives to fans.
Commercial.
Back live:
Jericho still with fans at ringside. All other members of the match are in the ring….except CM Punk. Out comes the WWE Champion.
Starting out is Ziggler vs Punk. Control and takedown by Punk. Slam by Punk. Chops to Ziggler’s chest, followed by suplex…2 count by Punk. Tag to Daniel Bryan. Shoulder tackle by Bryan then Bryan goes to jump over Ziggler and doesn’t quite clear Ziggler, apparently hurting his knee. Tag to Otunga who works on Bryan’s knee, then tag to Ziggler who continues the punishment on Bryan. 2 count on Bryan. Half Boston crab on Bryan, working on the leg still. Missed splash by Ziggler in the corner, Punk tagged in to face Otunga. Takedown by Punk, followed by head to Otunga’s midsection. Kick by Otunga to Punk, then tags in Ziggler. Neckbreaker to Punk. Headlock by Ziggler, followed by counter by Punk. Otunga tagged in, kicks to Punk in the corner. Punk lifter to top turnbuckle, punches by Punk, Otunga down. Punk with Macho Man-like elbow to Otunga. Punk tags Y2J. Who plays to crowd. Then tags in Bryan and leaves the ring and the match. WTH?
Commercial.
Back live:
Ziggler working over Bryan, missed punch by Dolph, kick to head by Bryan. Tag to Punk. Punches to Dolph, slam, and running knee in corner by Punk followed by bulldog. 2 count broken up by Henry. Bryan punches Henry. Then both men head up ramp. Henry throws Bryan up ramp. Foley’s music hits. To the ring he comes. New tag partner for Punk. Dolph prevents tag. More punches by Ziggler, another neckbreaker by Dolph…2 count. Kick to Dolph’s head by Punk. Tag to Foley! Punches to Otunga. Beating down Otunga in corner followed by running knee in corner to Otunga. DDT to Otunga…out comes Mr. Socko! Socko to Otunga……down goes Otunga…winners…CM Punk and Mick Foley!
GM Laurenitis out…says he never gave Foley permission to wrestle and reverses decision. Winners are Otunga, Henry, and Ziggler. Punk grabs mic. Punk says GM will listen to him, take his balls out of his purse right now. Says Laurinaitis had the look but boy did he suck as a competitor and that he must be jealous of his brother, Road Warrior Animal. Punk says John is jealous because he has achieved more in a year than John did in his career. Punk says he knows John will try and screw him at Royal Rumble but that no matter the outcome, Punk will still be better than he is. Says that if John screws him at PPV, he will kick John’s ass. Punk acts like he will punch John…John ducks out of way. Punk leaves ring. Foley and John still in ring. Laurinaitis, grabs the mic and says he will not be intimidated by Punk. Foley says just admit it, you’re going to screw Punk at PPV and calls GM a kiss ass. Laurinaitis says who the hell do you think you’re talking to? GM admits to going to screw Punk. Says he’s tired of being disrespected and being bullied. He’s not going to take it anymore. Then he hits Foley in the head with the mic and leaves the ring.
End of show.