World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 1/9/2012
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Footage from last weeks RAW involving Kane, John Cena, and Zack Ryder is shown. Kane nearly pulled Ryder to hell after the main event.
Kane starts off the program by making his way down to the ring. He says that he sees the disapproval looks and hears the whispers. He says the fans are predictable and in denial. Kane talks about everyone being with someone they hate, working a job they dislike and coming home to kids that they think deep down that they are disappointments. Everyone lives a life with pure hate! Cena represents hope and success, according to Kane. They should all see their short comings when they look at Cena. It should anger them. When the fans say that Cena sucks, they are really saying that they suck. He brings up Zack Ryder and how the fans made him a star. Kane was seconds away from dragging Ryder to hell, or just under the ring. Kane always gets what he wants and that is consequences for not embracing the hate. That brings out John Cena who runs down to the ring and attacks Kane. Cena sends Kane to the floor with a clothesline but follows him to the floor. They trade blows as they head towards the backstage area. Kane attacks a few random people backstage before ramming Cena into the walls several times. Cena hits Kane with a crowbar but Kane delivers a throat thrust. Cena gets back to his feet and Kane is gone as we go to commercial.
Opening Contest: Sheamus & Santino Marella vs. Wade Barrett & Jinder Mahal
Marella and Mahal started off the contest with Mahal nailing Marella with a high knee. Barrett tags in and delivers a swinging neck breaker. Mahal returns to the match but Marella takes him down with a jaw breaker. Sheamus gets the tag and clotheslines Mahal several times. Sheamus knocks Barrett off the apron and hits the Brogue kick on Mahal! Marella gets tagged in and hits the Cobra for the win.
Your Winners: Sheamus & Santino Marella via pin fall
Match Rating: 1/2*
Backstage, The Miz is talking to Johnny Ace about what’s going on with R-Truth. Johnny says that Miz brought this upon himself. Johnny talks about being the referee at the Royal Rumble between Punk and Ziggler. Miz wants a private security force. Johnny suggests that Miz find his own security. Johnny gets on his phone to text someone as Miz walks away.
We will find out the first member of the 2012 HOF inductee class, up next! It’s well deserved… Edge will be entering the Hall of Fame this year! There will be a second inductee announced later tonight.
Backstage, Miz is talking to Mason Ryan looking for a bodyguard but he isn’t interested.
Backstage, Zack Ryder is on the phone. He is talking to his father and is afraid of Kane. Eve Torres comes over and says that Ryder looks nervous. Ryder asks Eve out on a date right now. Eve thinks about it and says yes! In non-important news, she has a match with Beth Phoenix later tonight. Ryder leaves and Kane appears to open a door. He is stalking Ryder.
Second Contest: WWE World Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan
Apparently, this match was set up on the website. Kofi had been questioning how Bryan retained the title on Smackdown. Kofi kicks Bryan in the corner and hits a springboard cross body for a near fall. Bryan avoids a leaping kick and they trade roll ups. Bryan side steps a springboard twisting cross body and locks in the LeBell Lock. Kofi taps out in under two minutes.
Your Winner: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan via submission
Match Rating: *
Big Show makes his way out to the ring while Bryan celebrates his victory. Bryan has a microphone and says he hates how the match ended on Smackdown. The championship is far to important and offers to give Show a rematch whenever he wants. Show reveals they are going to have a rematch this Friday in a no disqualification/no count-out match. They shake hands and have a brief stare down.
Guess what? Brodus Clay makes his re-debut… NEXT!
In perhaps the dumbest decision in recent memory. Brodus Clay comes out with two dancers and is acting like PN Newz from WCW fame. I’m in complete and utter shock.
Third Contest: Brodus Clay vs. Curt Hawkins
Clay tosses Hawkins with an overhead suplex and delivers a running splash before a running cross body to end the squash.
Your Winner: Brodus Clay via pin fall
Match Rating: DUD
Backstage, Zack Ryder is talking to himself in the mirror getting himself pumped for Eve. Ryder leaves the bathroom nervous that Kane is following him.
Backstage, the Miz is still looking for protection but can’t find any. CM Punk walks over and laughs at him. He is in action next against Jack Swagger.
Before the next match, Johnny Ace comes out and says that if Punk beats Swagger tonight then Swagger and Vickie are banned from ringside at the Royal Rumble. Ziggler will be wrestling John Cena later tonight as well.
Fourth Contest: Jack Swagger vs. WWE Champion CM Punk
They start off with some basic mat wrestling with neither man getting the advantage. Punk scoop slams Swagger and heads up top but Swagger bails to the floor. Punk hits a springboard cross body in the ring for a near fall. Swagger counters an Irish whip and goes for the ankle lock but Punk gets out of it. Swagger gets a two count on a roll up and keeps control with a waist lock. Swagger dumps Punk to the floor. Ace prevents Ziggler from getting involved. Punk clotheslines Swagger to the floor and hits a suicide dive as we go to commercial.
Punk runs into a big boot from Swagger who gets a near fall. Punk fights back with several strikes and hits a spinning heel kick. Punk drops Swagger with a swinging neck breaker. Punk delivers a running high knee in the corner but Swagger avoids a running bulldog. Swagger splashes Punk from the middle rope for only a near fall. Punk is caught in midair and slammed by Swagger for a two count. Punk counters a gut wrench power bomb but misses a high kick. Swagger hits a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Punk knocks Swagger off the middle rope and hits a top rope elbow drop. Punk covers and wins the match, but that was clearly not supposed to be the finish. The referee appears to have messed that one up.
Your Winner: WWE Champion CM Punk via pin fall
Match Rating: **3/4
Backstage, John Cena is talking to Zack Ryder. Ryder is happy for Cena having his back. Cena mentions that Ryder has passed the Miz on Twitter. Who cares about that? Cena assures Ryder everything will be okay. Ryder continues to look over his shoulder.
Backstage, the Belle Twins are talking when Ricardo Rodriquez appears. The Miz comes over and says that Ricardo is going to introduce R-Truth. Miz says everyone is afraid of Truth. He wants Ricardo to insult Truth badly. Miz threatens Ricardo if he doesn’t do that. Ricardo heads to the ring.
Who is the second inductee to the Hall of Fame this year? The Four Horsemen! Flair, Anderson, Blanchard, Windham and JJ Dillon . This is interesting since Flair is in TNA. I’m beyond happy that Arn Anderson is in the Hall of Fame.
Ricardo Rodriquez is in the ring really nervous trying to insult R-Truth so he comes out to the ring. Here comes R-Truth after a few insults. Truth doesn’t know why Ricardo wants to pick a fight with him. He isn’t a bad man, but rather a good R-Truth. Truth asks the fans if he should let Ricardo go. They say no. Ricardo wants Miz to come out. Truth wants Ricardo to sing a song. Ricardo begins to sing and gets into it. The fans actually give him props for that. Ricardo slaps the microphone out of his hands! That was a mistake. Truth drives Ricardo down to the mat face first only to be attacked by Miz who came out from the crowd. Truth fights back until Miz runs away through the crowd.
Chris Jericho will be up next on RAW.
Justin Roberts introduces Chris Jericho. He mentions that Jericho is the only person to beat Rock and Austin in the same night. That happened over ten years ago. This is kind of funny, he isn’t greeted with a good pop at all. He is doing the same routine he did last week. Well, now they are chanting his name so maybe he won them over again. Jericho is crying. He is saying “why” but hasn’t spoken into the microphone. He puts the microphone down and leaves.
So much for there being a Divas match this week. Eve Torres came out but instead of Beth Phoenix we hear Kane’s music. Zack Ryder runs out and runs from the ring with Eve in hand. Thank you Kane. We go outside and Ryder puts Eve in a car but one of the tires is flat. Ryder decides to change the tire. Seriously bro? Ryder is struggling with the tire.
Next week, WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder defends against Jack Swagger.
Main Event: Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena
Cena looks for the STF early on but Ziggler gets out of it and hits the Fame-Asser for a near fall. Ziggler works on Cena with several stomps in the corner. Ziggler has control with a headlock. Cena breaks the hold with a back suplex but misses a splash in the corner. Ziggler hits several standing elbow drops before doing some situps. Yes, he was doing situps. Ziggler misses another elbow drop attempt. Cena shoulder blocks Ziggler and hits a slam. Cena sees Ryder on the big screen. Kane has caught him and attacks Ryder! Ziggler has a sleeper hold on Cena. Kane choke slams Ryder off the loading dock. Ziggler puts the sleeper hold on Cena on the floor. Cena drives Ziggler back first into the ring steps.
Cena runs to the backstage area to help Ryder. Kane attacks Cena outside and suffocates him with his glove. Ryder is laying on a wooden crate. Kane stands tall to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Well, that was a rough episode to get through. I’m pretty sure Punk/Swagger was the only match that lasted more than three minutes. So, from a wrestling match standpoint, RAW didn’t deliver at all. Now, when it comes to the storylines and whatnot I have a few comments.
First of all, Brodus Clay coming back as a comedy character is awful. I understand that they are weak on the babyface side, but I don’t see there being any kind of long term success with this gimmick. I hope I’m wrong because I like Clay. However, I just feel strongly that it will not last.
Secondly, I liked how Daniel Bryan was given a squash. Sure, it hurts Kofi Kingston but the WWE doesn’t care about the tag division anyway. Bryan needs to get some wins under his belt. Hopefully he finds a way to beat Big Show this Friday.
Thirdly, the segment with Truth and Ricardo was done nicely. If the WWE were to ever use Ricardo as a wrestler he would be a great babyface.
Lastly, I have no problem with Jericho not talking. It works and keeps people talking.
Overall, I’m going to give the episode a thumbs down. I need more wrestling than what was offered and the angle advancements weren’t all that spectacular.
Thanks for reading.