Raw 20th Anniversary Show Coverage

Jan 14, 2013 - by Michael Riba

The 20th Anniversary Raw Show kicks off the an opening video featuring a mix of all the previous theme songs and footage from each video.

Vince McMahon’s music hits and he is in the ring ready to go. He welcomes us to the show. He says we’ve seen it all over the years, including entertainment. He says over four billion viewers have enjoyed Monday Night Raw. He says they have enjoyed it because he is a certifiable genius. He says we will continue to make history tonight with matches like Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena inside a steel cage, and a Rock Concert. The Big Show’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Show says the celebration has to wait because they have to address the travesty that happened to him on Smackdown. Vince says he doesn’t like being interrupted and doesn’t like being referred to by his first name. Vince says Show looks like he has lost some weight, and Show says he has been cutting back on the carbs. Vince says he means the lack of Championship gold with Show. Show says he needs to talk about the travesty, and Vince says they should look at the footage. Footage airs of Alberto Del Rio beating The Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Show says he wasn’t prepared for that type of match and doesn’t understand why Booker T would do something like that. Show says Booker is jealous of him because he has an iron-clad, no-cut contract, which makes everyone in the world inferior to him. Show suggests that Vince strip Del Rio of the title, which cues Del Rio’s music. Ricardo Rodriguez introduces him and he comes to the ring. Del Rio says for someone who talks so much about being a giant, Show comes off very small. Del Rio says Show cries like a baby when someone beats him. Del Rio tells Show to do something about it instead of complaining to Vince about it. Del Rio says he will defend the title against Show tonight, but Show says no. Show says much like Smackdown, he is not prepared for a match. Del Rio tells Show to show some cojones. Show says he will fight Del Rio when he wants to fight Del Rio. Show suggests the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Show says when all is said and done at the Rumble, everyone will be talking about The Big Show. Show says he’s going to knock Del Rio out and take back his World Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio calls Show a “fat jackass” and then says he and Ricardo have a present for Show. Ricardo uncovers a bucket and Show says he will break Ricardo in half if he throws water on his suit. Ricardo empties the bucket on Show, and it’s confetti. Show goes after Ricardo, but Del Rio goes after him. Del Rio takes Show does with a hurricanrana with some help from Ricardo and then enziguiri’s him out of the ring. Del Rio shakes hands with Vince and he and Ricardo celebrate in the ring to end the segment.

We take a look back at a Raw moment, and it was from the night when Bob Barker hosted the show.

Match #1: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
They lock up and Orton backs Barrett into the corner. They lock up again and Barrett backs Orton into the corner and lands some right hands on Orton. Barrett comes off the ropes and takes Barrett down with the Thesz Press and delivers some right hands. Barrett rolls to the floor, but Orton comes after him and slams him into the announce table. Orton delivers an uppercut and then back-drops Barrett on the barricade. Orton tosses Barrett back into the ring and goes for the pin, but Barrett kicks out at two. Orton stomps away on Barrett as Michael Cole announces that Wade Barrett is in the Royal Rumble Match. Orton dumps Barrett to the outside as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Barrett takes Orton down with a knee to the midsection. Barrett pummels Orton on the mat and applies a headlock. Orton fights out, but Barrett takes him down again and gets a two count. Barrett places Orton on the apron and kicks him in the head. Barrett covers Orton for another two count. Barrett applies the headlock again, but Orton reverses with a back drop. Barrett sends Orton to the corner, but Orton comes back with a couple of clotheslines and a power slam. Orton goes for his middle rope DDT, but Barrett drapes him over the top rope. Orton connects with a back-breaker and then nails the middle rope DDT. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Barrett sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Barrett nails the Bull Hammer Elbow for the pin fall.
Winner: Wade Barrett.

We are reminded that The Rock Concert will happen later tonight, and we see that the first inductee for the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be revealed later tonight.

We’re back and we see Eve Torres walking backstage. She runs into Booker T, who informs her that if she tries to get counted out or disqualified, she will be stripped of the WWE Divas Championship and that it will go to Kaitlyn. Eve tries to hit on Booker, but he and Teddy laugh at her and she slaps Teddy and walks away.

We see footage from earlier today when Daniel Bryan and Kane met up with Dr. Shelby. Bryan says they need to lie and tell Dr. Shelby whatever he wants to hear. They shake hands and Dr. Shelby walks in and they share a group hug. Bryan asks if they can go, but Dr. Shelby says he has a question for both of them. Dr. Shelby asks Bryan what his favorite thing about Kane. Bryan says he likes how Kane is tall, can set things on fire by lowering his arms, and is a good dancer. Dr. Shelby asks Kane’s favorite thing about Bryan. Kane says he is agile in the ring, has a great beard, and is not afraid to admit that he sometimes wears women’s clothing. Dr. Shelby says they have both made great progess and are free to go, but calls for Kristen to send someone in. Team Rhodes Scholars walks in and Dr. Shelby says they are going to do something to trigger Kane and Bryan’s anger. Dr. Shelby says when Bryan and Kane start to feel anger, they will push the angers away and go to their happy place. Rhodes and Sandow critique Dr. Shelby and argue with him about psychology. Rhodes says by the way Bryan and Kane act, he wonders is Dr. Shelby is a bigger failure than both of them. Sandow brings up Dr. Phil and Dr. Shelby gets angry and tells Kane and Bryan to get Team Rhodes Scholars. Kane says, “Now that’s what I call a happy place,” and he, Bryan, and Dr. Shelby chant “YES! YES! YES!” to end the segment.

Match #2: Kane (w/Daniel Bryan) vs. Damien Sandow (w/Cody Rhodes)
Before the match begins, Michael Cole reveals that Team Hell No will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Team Rhodes Scholars at the Royal Rumble.
Kane control the early part of the match and slams Sandow down to the ring. Kane hits a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane and Sandow go to the outside and Kane delivers an uppercut. Kane tosses Sandow back into the ring, but Sandow comes back and takes Kane down with a side-Russian leg sweep and then drops some elbows before finally dropping the Elbow of Disdain, which gets him a two count. Sandow goes to the middle rope and dives off, but Kane catches him and chokeslams him for the pin fall.
Winner: Kane.

Michael Cole informs us that the first inductee into the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be revealed next, and that we will hear from the person after the commercial break.

We take a look back at earlier tonight and see a replay of the confrontation between Alberto Del Rio and The Big Show.

Justin Roberts introduces the first inductee into the Hall of Fame Class of 2013, and it’s Mick Foley! Foley goes for the cheap pop in Houston and The Shield’s music hits and they make their way through the crowd. Ryback’s music hits as The Shield enters the ring. The Shield go after Ryback and he tosses Rollins and Ambrose out of the ring and takes Reigns down. Rollins and Ambrose get back into the ring and they triple-team Ryback before Orton and Sheamus run down to the ring. Sheamus and Orton clear the ring and Ryback hits Ambrose with Shell Shocked.

Josh Mathews gets into the ring and interviews Ryback. Ryback says every time he has been in the ring with CM Punk, The Shield have allowed Punk to escape with the WWE Championship. He says he doesn’t care about conspiracy theories or investigations because he cannot rest until he gives back to The Shield what they have taken from him. He starts a “Field Me Shield” chant and the crowd joins in.

We take a look at some of the most memorable gimmicks in the history of Raw. We see Goldust, The Goon, Duke “The Dumpster” Droese, Bastion Booger, Gillberg, Rockabilly, Max Moon, The Mantaur, The Boogeyman, Naked Mideon, “The Real Man’s Man” Steven Regal, among many others.

We see that Eve Torres will defend the WWE Divas Championship against Kaitlyn after the commercial break.

Match #3: WWE Divas Championship Match: Eve Torres (c) vs. Kaitlyn
They lock up and Eve applies a side headlock. Kaitlyn fights out and takes Eve down. Eve rolls to the outside and Kaitlyn tries to dropkick her. Eve gets back into the corner and cowers in the corner. Eve kicks Kaitlyn away and then kicks her in the head and gets a two count. Eve takes Kaitlyn down with a clothesline and gets another two count. Eve flips onto Kaitlyn and goes for another pin, but only gets a two count. Eve takes Kaitlyn to the corner and chokes her. Eve flips off the top rope and applies a submission in the center of the ring. Kaitlyn gets to the ropes and rolls Eve up for a two count. Kaitlyn fights Eve off and takes her down with a couple of clotheslines and a shoulder block. Kaitlyn takes Eve down with a slam, but only gets a two count. Eve kicks Kaitlyn in the head a couple of times and plants her with the neck-breaker, but only gets a two count. Eve pounds away on Kaitlyn, but Kaitlyn picks her up and plants her across her knee with a gut-buster. Eve rolls out of the ring, and Kaitlyn goes out after her. Eve tosses Kaitlyn into the barricade and then over it. Kaitlyn comes right back and sneaks up from behind Eve and delivers a Spear for the pin fall.
Winner and new WWE Divas Champion: Kaitlyn.

Josh Mathews is backstage interviewing Brodus Clay. We take a look back at CM Punk mentioning Brodus Clay during his promo last week. Clay says Punk needs to keep his name out of his mouth. Clay says Punk’s pipe bomb is about to blow up is his face.

We see another Raw moment, and it is the contract signing between Donald Trump and Vince McMahon for the Hair vs. Hair Match at WrestleMania 23.

Match #4: Brodus Clay (w/Cameron and Naomi) vs. CM Punk (w/Paul Heyman)
Clay tosses Punk into the corner and punches him in the midsection and then takes Punk down with a shoulder block. Clay brings Punk back into the ring and pummels him in the corner. Clay slams Punk down to the mat and then drops a couple of elbows. Clay tosses Punk to the corner, but Punk gets a boot up and delivers a forearm shot from the top rope. Punk drops Clay with a neck-breaker and mocks Clay’s dance moves. Punk puts Clay in a headlock down on the mat. Clay fights out, and belly-to-belly suplexes Punk to the mat. Clay takes Punk down with a shoulder block and then charges from the corner, but Punk moves out of the way. Punk takes Clay’s knee out and goes up top. Punk delivers the Macho Man Elbow and locks in the Anaconda Vice and Clay taps out.
Winner: CM Punk.
After the match, Punk said he just did what he comes to do every night and says Rock will come out to do whatever he does. Punk says nobody is entitled to their own facts. He says it’s a fact that he just made a 400-pound monster tap out. He says it’s a fact that the WWE Championship has been his for 421 days. Punk says it’s a fact that The Rock will not leave the Royal Rumble as the WWE Champion and it is a fact that he is the best in the world.

We are reminded of The Rock Concert later tonight and that the main event will be John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler inside a steel cage.

We take a look at the best vehicular moments in Raw history. Steve Austin’s beer truck/beer bath, Kane putting Lita in the ambulance, Austin driving over McMahon’s limo with a four wheeler. Del Rio running over Santa Clause. Austin pouring cement in McMahon’s car. DX sabotaging Vince’s limo. Edge imitating Ric Flair. McMahon dumping Eric Bischoff in a dump truck. Sheamus stealing Del Rio’s car. Cena and Cryme Tyme destroying JBL’s limo. Austin driving a zamboni and then a monster truck over The Rock’s car. Kofi Kingston destroying Orton’s NASCAR. And finally..Vince’s limo blowing up. Just to name a few.

We see Foley backstage talking on the phone when The Rock walks up. Foley extends his hand, but The Rock pulls him in for a hug. They do the “Finally, The Rock ‘n Sock Connection have come back to Houston” bit and Vickie Guerrero walks up. She asks them if they could get any louder and they need to shut up so she can run her show. Vickie says WWE should be like baseball and elect nobody to the Hall of Fame. She asks if The Rock has anything to say to her. He says no. Foley says he thought The Rock would lay the verbal Smackdown on her, but The Rock says there’s a time and a place for everything.

Match #5: Over-the-Top-Rope Challenge: Sheamus vs. 3MB
3MB team up on Sheamus, but he fights all of them off. They keep up the triple-team attacks and he keeps fighting them off. He picks McIntyre up and delivers the Irish Plunge. He tries to eliminate McIntyre, but Mahal and Slater make the save. They go to eliminate Sheamus, but he fights out and they beat him down again. Mahal goes up top, but Sheamus shoves Slater into Mahal and eliminates him. Sheamus tosses McIntyre over the top rope and it’s down to Sheamus and Slater. Sheamus slams him down and he goes for the Brogue Kick, but Slater moves and Sheamus lands on the apron. Mahal and McIntyre attack Sheamus and his feet hit the floor.
Winners: 3MB (Really just Heath Slater, though).
After the match, Sheamus attacks 3MB and takes Slater and McIntyre down with a couple of Brogue Kicks.

We go backstage for a John Cena interview and he names a lot of people from the past ranging from Triple H all the way to Braden Walker. He says Ziggler’s gang will do exactly what the WWE did to the Federation 10 years ago: get the F out.

The Miz’ music hits and he makes his way to the stage. He says his guest is a WWE Hall of Famer and it’s going to be awesome. The Miz asks the WWE Universe if we would like a hint. He does a Ric Flair “WOOOOOOO!” and MizTV will take place after the break.

We take a look back at Ryback, Randy Orton, and Sheamus taking care of business against The Shield earlier tonight.

Back in the ring, The Miz is ready to host MizTV. He mentions The Cutting Edge, The Highlight Reel, and Piper’s Pit and welcomes everyone to MizTV. He introduces his guest: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. The Miz asks Flair his most memorable moment on Raw. Flair says it was the night after he lost to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV. Flair dances around the ring and he and The Miz “WOOOOO” back and forth. The Miz shows a video of some of the most memorable styles of voices and catchphrases of various WWE Superstars over the years. The Miz persuades Ric Flair to do the “Limousine ridin'” catchphrase we all know and love, and he is in the middle of it when Antonio Cesaro interrupts. Cesaro says he doesn’t need a catchphrase and mocks America again, and mocks Flair and The Miz. Cesaro says Flair is just like America; he used to be great, but now he has nothing to show for it. Cesaro gets into Flair’s face, but The Miz jumps in between them and challenges Cesaro to a fight. Cesaro says no and walks away, but Flair catches him and chops him down to the mat. Flair goes to lock in the Figure-Four, but doesn’t do it and tells The Miz to. The Miz does it and Flair drops an elbow on Cesaro. Flair and The Miz celebrate to end the segment.

We are reminded again of tonight’s main event, which is Cena vs. Ziggler inside a steel cage.

We see another Raw moment, and it is the confrontation between Steve Austin and Mike Tyson back in 1998.

Match #6: Daniel Bryan (w/Kane) vs. Cody Rhodes (w/Damien Sandow)
Bryan and Rhodes go back and forth for a second and then Bryan takes Rhodes down in the ring and locks in the No Lock and Rhodes taps out rather quickly.
Winner: Daniel Bryan.

We see a WWE App exclusive where we see Eve “quitting” the WWE.

We are reminded that The Rock Concert will take place later tonight as we go to a commercial break.

We see that Alberto Del Rio will have a Championship Fiesta this Friday on Smackdown.

We go backstage and see AJ Lee and Big E Langston backstage. She says her favorite part of Raw the past twenty years have been the love and romance. We see clips of Kane and Lita’s failed marriage as well as the failed attempt for Stephanie McMahon and Triple H to renew their vows. Big E says the next one almost made him shed a tear. We see the almost-marriage between AJ Lee and Daniel Bryan. She says that was the best moment of her life and John Cena ruined it. Ziggler comes in and says Cena will pay for everything he has ever done to them.

Jim Ross makes his way to the booth for the main event.

Match #7: Steel Cage Match: Dolph Ziggler (w/AJ Lee and Big E Langston) vs. John Cena
Ziggler tries to escape early, but Cena grabs him and pulls him back down to the ring. Cena applies a headlock. Ziggler fights out, but Cena sends him off of the ropes. Ziggler comes back with a dropkick for a two count. Ziggler tosses Cena into the cage and then drops him with a neck-breaker. Ziggler picks Cena up and attempts another neck-breaker, but Cena fights out and goes for the AA, but Ziggler reverses and takes Cena down for a two count. Ziggler kicks Cena and tries to climb the cage again, but Cena stops him and knocks him to the mat. Cena tries to escape now, but Ziggler stops him and they fight on the top rope and exchange right hands. Ziggler knocks Cena down, but Cena kicks the ropes and Ziggler straddles the top rope as we head to a commercial.
We’re back and Cena is trying to escape, but Ziggler stops him. Ziggler drops Cena with a dropkick and tosses Cena into the cage. Ziggler goes to slam Cena’s head into the cage again, but Cena stops him and begins the Five Moves of Doom. Cena connects with the Five-Knuckle Shuffle and goes for the AA, but Ziggler grabs the cage and begins to climb. Cena grabs Ziggler down and slams him into the cage. Ziggler comes back and delivers a beautiful Superkick for a two count. Ziggler crawls toward the door, but Cena grabs his feet and pulls him back in. Big E Langston pulls Ziggler from the outside, but Cena prevails and applies the STF on Ziggler. Ziggler counters into the Sleeper Hold in the middle of the ring. Cena climbs the ropes with Ziggler on his back and they collapse down to the mat. Ziggler goes to climb the cage as Cena goes for the door, but Ziggler hops down and stops him. Cena shoves Ziggler away and goes to walk out of the door again, but Langston slams the door in his face. Ziggler goes for the pin, but Cena kicks out at two. Ziggler tries to escape the door, but Cena climbs the cage and kicks the door into Ziggler. Langston swings a chair at Cena and Cena goes back inside the cage. Ziggler hits the Zig-Zag, but Cena kicks out at two. Ziggler climbs the cage again, but Cena rips him down again. Cena climbs the ropes, but Ziggler counters with a DDT from the top rope. AJ Lee goes crazy on the outside and begins to climb the cage. Langston goes in through the door with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but Cena stops him. Ziggler tries to hit Cena with the briefcase, but he hits Langston and Cena plants Ziggler with the AA for the pin fall.
Winner: John Cena.

The Rock Concert is up next.

The Rock’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring for The Rock Concert. The Rock says it is a pleasure to end Raw with the WWE Universe. We see a picture of The Rock’s debut on Raw, and he makes fun of it. He said he looked like “an escaped mental patient going to try out for the Backstreet Boys.” He says tonight is not about the past, it’s about the present and the return of The Rock Concert. His first song is about Paul Heyman, to the tune of “Heartbreak Hotel.” The Rock gives a shout out to Dusty from ZZ Top. His second song is for Vickie Guerrero, and he invites her out. She walks out onto the stage, hesitantly. He sings to her in the style of Eric Clapton. The Rock calls out CM Punk. Punk and Heyman walk out onto the stage. The Rock says it is a fact that no one has been able to stop Punk for 421. The Rock says it’s a fact that Heyman has “Twinkie tits.” The Rock says it’s a fact that CM Punk isn’t God. The Rock says in 13 days, he will beat CM Punk for the WWE Championship. Punk charges the ring and he and The Rock fight on the floor. Referees come out to pull them apart. They break away from the referees and fight again, so more trainers come out to stop them.

Raw comes to a close with CM Punk and The Rock staring each other down.

Quick Results:
1. Wade Barrett defeated Randy Orton
2. Kane defeated Damien Sandow
3. Kaitlyn defeated Eve Torres to win the WWE Divas Championship
4. CM Punk defeated Brodus Clay
5. Heath Slater defeated Sheamus, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre in an Over-the-Top-Rope Challenge
6. Daniel Bryan defeated Cody Rhodes
7. John Cena defeated Dolph Ziggler in a Steel Cage Match

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