The following are spoiler results for this week’s episode of WWE Main Event, taped Tuesday night from Uncasville, CT:
* Alberto Del Rio defeated Dolph Ziggler with the cross arm-breaker. The crowd was solidly behind Ziggler during the opener.
* Damien Sandow defeated Santino Marella with his finisher.
* Triple H was shown on the big screen and said he wants “one WWE Champion” and wants to unify the titles at TLC.
* Kofi Kingston defeated Fandango.
WWE RAW on Monday night scored a final cable rating of 2.93, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 2.93 final rating marks an increase from the 2.73 number that the show drew the previous week.
As noted earlier, Monday’s RAW averaged 4.135 million viewers, which was also up from the 3.802 million viewers that the show drew the previous week.
The first hour of RAW on Monday night averaged 4.318 million viewers. The second hour drew 4.292 million viewers. The third and final hour of the show averaged 3.796 million viewers.
As far as competition is concerned, the NFL “Monday Night Football” game on ESPN averaged 13.159 million viewers, which was a slight decrease from the 15.772 million viewers that the game drew the week before.
– The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom picked up the story of One Direction member Liam Payne wrestling TNA star Kurt Angle at the “1D Day” event in Los Angeles, California this past weekend. Angle noted that Payne was “more skilled than he had anticipated” in their mock wrestling match.
You can check out the complete article online at DailyMail.co.uk.
– The following are highlights from a v2 Wrestling interview with TNA Knockout Brooke Tessmacher:
On playing heel instead of babyface: “I think it’s just more rewarding to get out there and feel the hate from the crowd that means you’re doing your job. It’s so much more fun to be over the top and annoying and mean, and to play dirty”
On winning the TNA Knockouts Title: “It was something I never saw coming. I never thought I’d be good enough to hold the title and be looked at as the champion of this company… I’ll always remember that, and I remember that feeling of, ‘Now I’m finally somebody, now I’ve made a point that I’m not just some dancing chick.'”
You can check out the complete interview online at V2Wrestling.Podomatic.com.
TNA issued the following on Tuesday afternoon:
Ticket Presale Info For the Jan. 16 Genesis in Huntsville, AL | New TNA Live Events Announced
The ticket pre-sale for TNA Genesis in Huntsville, Alabama on January 16 starts on Wednesday at 10am through Thursday at 10pm
Pre-sale code: VBC
Please also note our Black Friday offer on 11/29 only: BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on $25 and $45 tickets on Black Friday only! Facility fees may apply.
NEW TNA LIVE EVENTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED
January 3: Batesville, AR (Live Event)
Southside High School 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at Mark Martin Ford or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
January 4: Jonesboro, AR (Live Event)
Earl Bell Community Center 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at Front Page Cafe or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
January 5: Jackson, TN (Live Event)
Jackson Northside High School 6 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at HaliHannigan’s Cupcakery or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
TNA issued the following on Tuesday afternoon:
TNA Wrestling Signs Multi-Year Television Deal In Japan As International Growth Continues
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING has continued its recent global expansion by signing a new multi-year agreement with Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) in Japan.
NTV channel G+ will continue to air TNA IMPACT WRESTLING every Saturday night at 10pm, as well as broadcasting TNA’s monthly PPV and One Night Only events.
nipponOther sports shown on the station include NFL, NASCAR, MotoGP and international soccer. It also broadcasts baseball games featuring Japan’s most famous team, Yomiuri Giants.
G+ started showing TNA IMPACT WRESTLING in January 2013, bringing the most innovative experience in professional wrestling to Japan for the first time ever.
TNA Executive Vice President, Andy Barton, said: “TNA IMPACT WRESTLING has enjoyed phenomenal success during our first year of broadcast on Japanese television and we are very excited about this new multiple-year commitment with Nippon Television’s G+.
“It’s another example of the success we are enjoying around the world, which also includes new deals in France and Portugal and a very successful launch on Sony SIX in India.”
G+ can be found on the satellite platform Sky PerfecTV! and various cable networks across Japan.
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING is currently the No1 rated weekly wrestling programme in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The show also airs in more than 120 other countries around the world.
WWE RAW on Monday night, November 25, 2013, the post-Survivor Series edition of the show, averaged 4.135 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 4.135 million average following Survivor Series on Sunday night marks a pretty healthy increase from the 3.802 million viewers that the show drew last Monday night heading into the pay-per-view.
The first hour of RAW on Monday night averaged 4.318 million viewers. The second hour drew 4.292 million viewers. The third and final hour of the show averaged 3.796 million viewers.
We should have the final cable rating for Monday’s RAW up on the website in a few hours.
WWE has announced two matches for this week’s episode of SmackDown, which will be taped later tonight from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
– The WWE Tag Team titles will be on the line when Cody Rhodes and Goldust defend against the men who they beat for the gold, The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
– El Torito will make his in-ring debut.
Check back later tonight for our ongoing spoiler results from the tapings.
The following are highlights from a recent WGD Weekly interview with Jake “The Snake” Roberts:
On the possibility of buying TNA: “I want to run an Indigogo and raise the money to buy that son of a bitch and do it right. Not to be in competition with Vince, but to do wrestling the way I liked it. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t. But, now I hear the guy from Smashing Pumpkins is snatching it, so maybe I should just buy the band Smashing Pumpkins and go on with my life and start singing.”
On how he would run TNA if he were able to purchase it: “I got all the thoughts, bro. There ain’t nobody better at that. I would make it simple, there would be good guys and there would be bad guys. There wouldn’t be no bullshit and there wouldn’t be twenty minute interviews. We would actually, ‘rassle…the world needs it, man.”
On he wants in the 2014 Royal Rumble match: “All I can hope for right now, you know, I’m trying to get myself in shape to do the Royal Rumble, one last time…You know, I’d like to go out on my own terms with my head held high, I think I deserve that. I’ve had thirty seven years in the ring and it was a wonderful life, it was crazy, insane, I did a lot of things wrong, but I did a lot of things right too, brother.”
On turning down Vince McMahon in 1984: “Vince McMahon had tried to hire me before when I was with Georgia Championship Wrestling, because he bought out Georgia Championship Wrestling from some individuals at the time. He tried to hire me and I did my stupid shit, cussed him out, called him a fag, and that’s not a cigarette by the way, and told him to shove it up his ass and walked out…then…I was back asking the man for a job.”
On a classic Andre The Giant story: “One instance that was pretty horrifying for me, it was his birthday and we were up in Montreal…he had quite a few bottles of wine, and a couple bottles of vodka too. We got in the ring and there is something you never want to see if you are an opponent, and that is a playful fucking giant. It’s dangerous…if they are giggling and they are hopping around, so, I think, ‘my god, are you fucking serious, what am I gonna do now?’…during the match, we would usually do a spot…he’d grab both ropes…and he’d squat down on me, it looked great, it normally didn’t bother me at all, but this night hi hand slipped off the rope and he adjusted every frigging vertebrae in my body…I just couldn’t believe it, it knocked the breath out of me, then I turned on my side and all of a sudden I felt my shoulder vibrating, I’m thinking, ‘What the fuck is that?’…and he is laughing…Dave Hebner came over and said, ‘Andre, what are
you doing laughing’…’I’m farting,’ he says, and my shoulder is vibrating, I don’t know what the world record for a fart is, but it was well into the thirty second range, and the stench, it would have gagged the maggots. My first thought was to get up and paint brush the son of a bitch, but, I quickly got over that.”
On his memories of traveling with a young Undertaker early in his WWE run: “He came to me and he says, ‘I hear you know all the great strip joints,’ I said, ‘yes, I do, worldwide,’ he says, ‘I’ll travel with you’…so, he tried to hang with me, and it’s a chemical world, so I was cheating. After about three or four weeks, we went to TV and Vince looked at him and said, ‘Mark, I don’t think you need the makeup today, you look like hell. Jake is killing you and a few days later, he was in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Finally, I had to smarten him up and tell him how I was doing it, and we then became very, very good friends. I have all the respect in the world for Mark. He has earned everything that he has gotten. He is a unique character, I love the fact that he upholds kayfabe, just a great guy, and of course he was there for the stripper times with me, and we did it well.”
– The next TNA “One Night Only” pay-per-view will be the International Tournament, which is scheduled to debut in the first week of December.
– TNA has added the following video preview for their Thanksgiving special edition of Impact Wrestling:
http://youtu.be/_7OlKN99jbs
– Speaking of TNA videos, the company has added the latest “#IMPACT365” video online, which features Kurt Angle with One Direction. You can watch that below:
http://youtu.be/Wz4_U-pDE80
According to a source backstage at Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view from Boston, a few WWE officials were upset that halfway through the show, “Bret Hart” was the only WWE-related term that was trending on Twitter.
While the real higher-ups in the company had bigger fish to fry at that point with such a big event going on, other officials in the company were said to be in a bad mood over the company’s inability to get stuff to trend past the NFL game and music awards show on at the time.
The Friday, November 22nd Survivor Series “go-home” edition of WWE SmackDown scored a final cable rating of 2.15, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 2.15 final draw marks a significant increase from the 1.9 rating that the show drew the previous week.
Friday’s SmackDown averaged 3.106 million viewers, which was also a healthy increase compared to the 2.684 million viewers that the show drew the week before.
It should be noted that Friday’s SmackDown drew the highest rating and viewership dating all the way back to February of this year.
– Many of the WWE NXT Superstars are heading home for the Thanksgiving holiday this week. NXT has no live events scheduled for several weeks.
– Independent wrestler Logan Shulo, who has worked all over the Pittsburgh scene, has signed a developmental deal with WWE.
– Yahoo! Sports has a featured article up on their website where they look at some of the top moments for each of WWE’s 50 years. Fans interested in checking that out can do so online at Yahoo.com.
– WWE has released new t-shirts for Rey Mysterio, who recently made his return to WWE television, as well as CM Punk, with the shirt showcasing his long title reign.
Former WWE Superstar Matt Hardy questioned the point behind the Michael Strahan segment on MizTV on Monday’s post-Survivor Series edition of RAW in Long Island, New York.
“Can you please explain to me what the Miz-Michael Strahan segment was supposed to accomplish on Raw? That was good? Or productive?”
Hardy spoke back-and-forth with his fans for a while and then elaborated further.
“Yes, have [Strahan] on the show, that’s smart business. But the creative behind his segment was counterproductive and confusing, in my opinion.”
“A fictional show doesn’t have to be complex. If it sets parameters, stay true to them, makes sense, keeps continuity, it works.”
Hardy concluded, “WWE’s product has to become more sophisticated in an era where TV like Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, & Sons Of Anarchy thrive. The problem is NOT the PG content. It’s the substance of the content and continuity of the product.”
WWE’s World Heavyweight champion John Cena was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on FOX Business on Tuesday morning to promote his new line of children’s clothing, available exclusively at Kmart. Cena made a number of newsworthy comments during the segment, talking about how long he plans to continue wrestling and revealing that his character generates $100 million a year for WWE.
Regarding his new clothing line, Cena said, “Essentially, the message of the clothing is to empower you through a positive messageI think that’s why we were able to leverage our brand (WWE), my brand especially with Kmart, because it wasn’t just a typical sponsor deal. A lot of athletes get a sponsorship – ‘here’s your upfront money, we’re going to use your likeness.’ I wanted to hold on to my asset, do it correctly, and create an inspirational line. So, it’s not a ‘wrestling-driven’ line. The line is called ‘Never Give Up,’ and truly my character on WWE plays one of aspiration, inspiration, and motivation. I try to defy all odds and do what I can to do the right thing.”
He added, “Kmart picked up on this concept. And, from a branding standpoint, I just didn’t outright leverage myself; I wanted a piece and equity in the brand. So, there was upfront money, plus equity in the brand.”
When asked about how long he continues to wrestle, Cena says he made a pact with himself to “gracefully walk away” from WWE when he feels like he can’t hang with the young wrestlers on the roster anymore. 36-year-old Cena said that most professional athletes are winding down their careers in their mid-30’s, but stopped short of saying how close he is to retirement.
“A lot of these athletes that are married to their sport think this is going to last forever,” Cena said. “Then, they blow out an ACL, they look around when they’re 35 or 36 and their career is coming to an end and they act like the income stream is going to continue.”
“I truly am obsessed with my action in the ring, but I am also truly obsessed with the business of WWE,” he said. “I enjoy the workings of the company and how we create success in WWE, both in a brand perspective and an individual perspective. So, I take the model that my boss Vince McMahon has stretched out throughout the globe and try to copy it at an individual level.”
– The latest Steve Austin Show podcast is now online with his guest Dave Metlzer of the Wrestling Observer. You can listen at PodcastOne.com.
– Both Cody Rhodes and The Miz are doing media appearances today to promote tonight’s SmackDown tapings.
– A fan tweeted to Bill Goldberg last night and told him that WWE RAW audiences are still chanting his name during Ryback matches. Golberg replied:
Thank you….it's a huge honor for me and greatly appreciated RT @AmandaSnB: the @Goldberg chants continues on #RAW…you are sorely missed!
— Bill Goldberg (@Goldberg) November 26, 2013
– WWE posted this Tout video of Brie Bella reacting to the Wyatt Family abducting Daniel Bryan on RAW:
Sunday’s episode of WWE Total Divas on E! dropped to 920,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Total Divas likely took a hit from competing with WWE’s Survivor Series pay-per-view and the Sunday Night Football game, which featured the highly anticipated showdown between Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Last week’s episode of Total Divas averaged 1.411 million viewers, so the drop to 920,000 viewers is a pretty significant one.
Former WWE writer Scott Keith has updated his blog at RSPWFAQ.net and answered an interesting question about whether today’s current legends would be able to become top stars if they were just entering the business in 2013. As much as WWE has done to develop talent through the NXT and the new Performance Center, Keith’s answer exposes the huge flaws that still exist in the process. He was asked:
Given today’s environment in WWE’s creative and corporate structure, do you think many of today’s legends would even make it to the top if starting today? How many would be buried for trying to get themselves over or having more fan support than they should have? Do you think any would still get over regardless, such as The Rock?
Basically, how do you think many of wrestling’s (or at least WWE’s) legends would be treated today if they were just starting? I shudder to think of how, say, The Undertaker would handle starting today.
Keith replied:
“The ropewalk spot wouldn’t be approved in developmental, he’d get shit for not having a good body, they’d make him do goofy promos because he couldn’t talk without a manager and they’d want to rib him, and then he’d get saddled with a Rhinestone Cowboy gimmick because he’s from Texas and acts like a tough guy. Think I’m close there?”
What do you think about Scott Keith’s response? Comment below if you think he’s right – and what that says about the state of WWE, talent development and the company’s ability to build new stars.
Episodes nine and ten of Chris Jericho’s new online reality show, “But I’m Chris Jericho!” have been added online. You can watch those two new shows below:
But I’m Chris Jericho! Episode #109 — “Miserably”
http://youtu.be/k8dkeqrKS3o
But I’m Chris Jericho! Episode #110 — “PSA’ed Off”
http://youtu.be/pjxaI_q6_eg
Recap of The Miz On “The Rack” Hosted” by Lindsey Ward & Sir Rockin
Heard Live Thursday Nights 11pm ET at Wildtalkradio.com (.MP3)
Former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, United State Champion, Tag Team Champion and star of the ‘Marine 3:Homefront’ and ABC Family’s new Christmas film “Christmas Bounty’ WWE Superstar Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin joined “2012 Award Winning Best New Show” the Rack Extra. In a nearly 15 minute interview, he discussed his recent win at Survivor Series, his new film ‘Christmas Bounty’ on ABC Family, the difference between it and Marine 3, his favorite Christmas film of all time, his thoughts on co-star Francia Raisa, what other role he’d like to play, his favorite WrestleMania moment, what it’s like to be part of the Christmas film legacy, his Christmas traditions, if he’s been naughty or nice and what he’d like for Christmas and much more.
His victory at Survivor Series: “It was a great victory; the only problem is at the end of that victory, I got slapped by Kofi. I was trying to make a good gesture in shaking his hand after the match and the guy reached out and slaps me. The thing is people have been saying that I’m the bad guy; that I wronged Kofi, but then I try and show good sportsmanship and what happens? He slaps me! But, at the end of the day, I won and that’s all that really matters.”
His new movie ‘Christmas Bounty’: “I know! It’s incredible. I’ve been so fortunate these days with WWE; you know, a kid coming from (MTV’s) ‘The Real World’. In reality, you’re supposed to just be a reality star and stay on that reality round, but coming into the WWE it has allowed me so many different portals to showcase my talents, I guess you could say. I mean, I got to do ‘Marine 3: Homefront’ which is out on DVD right now and now, tomorrow, November 26th on ABC Family, my new movie will premiere at 7:00 pm, ‘Christmas Bounty’ and I’m really excited for it because it’s a Christmas movie! I mean, I grew up watching Christmas movies, great Christmas movies like ‘Christmas Vacation’ and ‘A Christmas Story’ and now I get to be in one and I hope it stands the test of time and that every year people will sit down and watch this movie and enjoy it with the entire family.”
The difference between ‘Christmas Bounty’ and ‘Marine 3: Homefront’: “This movie, I showcase a little bit more of layers than in Marine 3. Marine 3 was all about action, fighting and drama; this one has a little bit of romance, which I think the ladies might appreciate but it also shows action and drama and it’s a lot more story-oriented and family-oriented and I think you’ll get to see the love the entire cast had for each other and the connection we all had and I think it’ll showcase onto the screen.”
What was it like having a love interest for the film in Francia Raisa: “Francia was terrific; you know, it was a different element to put into me because even in WWE, I never really had a love interest, so it was a whole new thing for me. I even had my first on-screen kiss which Francia loves to brag that I was her first, or that she was MY first, ever, on screen. It was fun though; we were doing the screening and I’m sitting there with my fiancée Maryse (Ouellet, former WWE Diva) and my fiancée’s mother and then Francia’s there and I told my fiancée about it; that I had a kissing scene just to warn her, and she watched it and said ‘That’s it? That’s all’ and I was like ‘Well, what did you want? 50 Shades of Gray?!’ I mean, come on, it’s ABC Family!”
He’s been a bounty hunter and marine; what other role would he like to play: “You know, whatever role WWE Studios brings out to me, I want it. I’ll take anything more or less. Not necessarily anything but anything that’s fun and anything I really think I can do and just enjoy myself. That’s what life is all about; enjoying yourself, having fun and as long as I have a great cast around me, a great director and a good story, then I’m all for it. I won’t mind playing Santa Claus, I wouldn’t mind playing in a Freddie Kruger movie where I get killed. That was my dream, by the way; as a kid, I always grew up watching Freddie Kruger and I always wanted to be killed by Freddie Kruger. I love horror flicks. I always wanted to be… I didn’t want to be the guy who killed, I wanted to be the hero who is supposed to win but then ends up not winning.”
On his potential role with Wrestlemania XXX coming up soon: “Wrestlemania XXX tickets went on sale a couple weeks ago and did really, really well. I’m looking forward to WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans. I think it’s going to be a huge, huge event and I plan on being a major factor in it.”
His all-time favorite WrestleMania moment: “All time? I would have to be involved in it and I always say the main event of WrestleMania is always my most memorable moment. But my most memorable moment during that time, at WrestleMania 27, but there was a moment that nobody saw that I had with all my 10 best friends that were sitting front row. Those 10 guys would sit in my living room in 1998 and watch every WrestleMania, every Pay-Per-View, at my house. Those guys were sitting front-row during WrestleMania 27, when John Cena’s entrance is going on, and all the lights are on him and everyone is staring at him, I went over to my friends, showed them the title, looked at them and said ‘Guys, we did it!’ and they were just going nuts and going ecstatic. That’s my most memorable moment that I have, to this day.”
If he could choose a movie in which he could play a part in, what Christmas film would it be: “I would love to do ‘National Lampoons Christmas Vacation’; if I was a child, I would love to be in ‘A Christmas Story’; I think that would be amazing. I also enjoy ‘Elf’; I thought ‘Elf’ was incredible. I actually did a cameo in ‘The Campaign’ with Will Farrell and I have to say, I’ve met a lot of stars in being a WWE Superstar; we have a lot of stars that come into the WWE, but I got to talk to Will Farrell on set and what a terrific guy. Just absolutely above and beyond nice, made time for everyone on-set, talked to everyone; it wasn’t like he had to do it, he wanted to do it and it was just a wonderful experience. So, if I could do anything with Will Farrell, it would be absolutely fantastic again and if it could be a Christmas movie, so be it. Hey, I heard ‘Ghostbusters’ is opening up. Last time they did ‘Ghostbusters’, it was during the winter I believe, during the Christmas time. So, hey, I’m all for being Peter Venkman!”
What’s it like being part of the Christmas film legacy to him: “When they told me that I was going to do a Christmas movie, I mean I was giddy. I was like a 5-year-old kid again, coming downstairs, seeing all the presents under the Christmas tree. It just reminds me of all traditions I used to do as a kid and I’m hoping ‘Christmas Bounty’ becomes some family’s; I don’t care how many families, if it’s just one, that’s fine, but it could become a tradition for them. That ever year, they sit down and watch this movie and have a feel-good moment with all of them. So, hopefully, it has that.”
Does he feel his recent character shift suits him better now: “I’ve found my niche; it’s called ‘being the Miz’ and whether people think it’s bad or good, it’s up to them. I’m not one of those people that harp on what people think, I think no matter what I’m going to entertain and people have said that there is a character switch happening and this, that and the other thing but I don’t see a character switch. I think it’s just the Miz making noise because he’s not getting the attention that he deserves and he’s not in the place he wants to be and so, he needs to switch it up and make some things happen.”
– Former WWE executive Linda McMahon was ringside for last night’s WWE RAW from Long Island, New York. Also ringside was Mean Street Posse member Pete Gas and “Supersize Me” director Morgan Spurlock.
Here’s a photo of Linda McMahon, ringside for all the “action” – what a view!
– Here’s the latest installment of WWE Backstage Fallout:
“Dolph Ziggler, Big E. Langston, Curtis Axel and Zack Ryder give their thoughts on the epic announcement made by “The Authority” that both John Cena and Randy Orton will put their respective championship on the line against each other in a TLC Match.”
– WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin interviewed Daniel Bryan for his Steve Austin Show podcast. Austin tweeted:
Just had a great talk w @WWEDanielBryan. Great cat. Coming next Tuesday to the #steveaustinshow. #WWE #WWE2K14.
— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) November 26, 2013
– WWE legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts tweeted the following last night about why John Cena’s “super hero” character is not connecting with fans:
Cena is booked as a super hero in a time when advanced wrestling fans don't believe in them. Tough spot. Would loved by all years ago.
— JakeSnakeDDT (@JakeSnakeDDT) November 26, 2013
– It was announced to the live crowd at RAW that WWE will return to the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island for a live event on Saturday, March 22nd. The pre-sale is live, with the password is WWELI.
– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown and Main Event tapings take place from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. No matches have been announced for either show but SmackDown will have a special Thanksgiving theme. Check back later tonight for our live ongoing spoilers of the event.
– WWE has published 2 more “Gobbledy Gooker Goes to Work” videos:
Credit to Bryan Blade (@SuperBlade) for sending in these live notes from after Monday’s WWE RAW went off the air:
RAW went off the air with Randy Orton standing over a fallen John Cena, holding up both the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight championship.
Randy Orton put the belts down and walked to the corner, setting up for a skull punt on John Cena. Cena moved out of the way at the last moment – and then tried getting Orton up for an Attitude Adjustment. Orton got free, jumped out of the ring and ran away.
Joh Cena then stood in the ring and held both belts up.
After Cena exited the ring, he and a referee helped Big Show to the back. Our live correspondent said it appeared that Big Show was legitimately injured. We’ll post an update when it becomes available.
There was no dark match main event.
Here’s a photo of Joh Cena helping Big Show to the back, courtesy of the one and only Solomonster:
WWE RAW opens with Justin Roberts introducing the WWE Champion Randy Orton. Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry Lawler talk about the controversial finish to Survivor Series as well as Michael Strahan guest-hosting tonight’s RAW. The Wyatt Family vs. CM Punk and Daniel Bryan is announced as a handicap match for later tonight.
Orton starts by saying he’s owed an apology from everyone for thinking he wouldn’t show up here tonight as the WWE Champion. Orton says The Authority agreed to join him out at ringside tonight. With that said, out comes Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
Triple H starts off by congratulating Orton on his victory at Survivor Series. He says they couldn’t be any more pleased with his win over Big Show. HHH says when Orton first came into the company he knew he had the potential to be one of the greatest Superstars in the history of WWE. Stephanie says they gave him exactly what he needed last week – motivation. She says it’s always nice when she and Triple H are always right. Orton says he’s not shocked to hear Stephanie make this all about her. Orton says he didn’t need their help and they interfered right when he was about to win without help. HHH says they promised there wouldn’t be any physical interference. He says Orton may have trouble remembering because he was unconscious at the time and the reason they came out was because they thought there was about to be a new WWE Champion. Orton says he took everything Big Show had to offer, unlike someone he knows (referring to Triple H). Orton says he is the greatest Superstar in the 50 years this company has been around. He says no one can take that away from him. With that said, John Cena’s music hits.
The World Heavyweight Champion John Cena makes his way to the ring. Cena says, “how you doing, I’m John Cena — World Heavyweight Champion.” He almost calls Orton a giant piece of…but Stephanie cuts him off before he can say sh*t. Cena addresses the “Daniel Bryan” and “Yes” chants by saying the fans are sick of the administrative b.s. Cena says he asked one question that he found interesting — who is the champion. He says he sees two champions in the ring right now. He says they should cut through the administrative b.s. and make just one champion. Cena officially challenges Orton to unify the titles. Stephanie says they’ve actually been talking about this for a while now. Orton says he knew that’s what they were talking to Cena about at Survivor Series. Triple H tells Orton to grow up. He says a minute ago he was bragging about how good he is and now he’s crying about it. HHH says they’re going to do something epic. In three weeks at the WWE TLC pay-per-view, they are going to hang the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships above the ring and they’re going to make history. HHH says it will be Randy Orton going one-on-one against John Cena in a tables, ladders and chairs match. Both guys hold their titles up as HHH’s music hits. The Authority leave the ring while Cena and Orton stare each other down a little bit longer.
As we head to commercial, Michael Cole announces a six-man tag-team match that will take place after the break. It will be Rey Mysterio, Goldust and Cody Rhodes against all three members of The Shield.
Rey Mysterio, Goldust & Cody Rhodes vs. The Shield
As we return from commercial The Shield are already making their entrance into the ring. Michael Cole talks about tieing the record at Survivor Series for the most eliminations by an individual in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match. He’s only the second person in hsitory to eliminate four people in one match in the history of the pay-per-view. Goldust’s music hits and out he comes with his brother Cody Rhodes. As they enter the ring, Rey Mysterio’s music hits and out comes Mr. 6-1-9.
The bell rings and all three members of The Shield attack the babyfaces. When the smoke clears, Seth Rollins is beating up Goldust as the two legal men in the ring. Rollins quickly tags Dean Ambrose in and Ambrose continues the beatdown. Ambrose tags Rollins back in just seconds later. Rollins stomps Goldust a few times and tags Ambrose right back in. Ambrose chokes Goldust with the middle rope. Goldust catches Ambrose’s legs and launches Ambrose over the top. Goldust hits hit drop-down uppercut on Ambrose. Ambrose tags in Rollins and within seconds Goldust launches Rollins over the top as well. Rollins tags in Roman Reigns and Reigns blasts Goldust with a clothesline to prevent him from making the tag. We head to a mid-match commercial on that note.
When we return from commercial, Goldust is fighting back at Ambrose but Ambrose cuts him off and tags in Reigns. Goldust hits a double-DDT on both guys and starts crawling to his corner. Rollins is tagged back in and he tries to stop Goldust from making the tag. Goldust makes the tag to Mysterio anyways, who Cole points out is competing in his first match on RAW since February. Mysterio is beating up all three members of The Shield. Mysterio sets Rollins up for the 6-1-9 but Rollins avoids it and smashes into Mysterio. Both guys are down. Both guys make the tag. Rhodes and Ambrose are now the legal men in the match. Rhodes hits an Alabama slam on Rollins for a near fall. Rhodes tags back in Mysterio. Mysterio immediately sets Rollins back up for the 6-1-9. As he goes to hit Rollins with it, Reigns comes out of nowhere and spears Mysterio. Reigns sidewalk slams Goldust but Rhodes knocks Reigns out of the ring. Rhodes goes for his finisher on Rollins, but Ambrose, who was apparently the legal man, catches Rhodes from behind with the face-plant. 1-2-3. The Shield wins.
Winners: The Shield
Michael Cole runs down Michael Strahan’s credentials and accomplishments as we head to commercial. Our guest host, Michael Strahan is coming up on RAW after the break.
Before we head to commercial, Jerry Lawler reveals that the fans get to vote on the stipulation in a match on RAW tonight between Dolph Ziggler and Damien Sandow. The options are: a “Strong Island Street Fight” (not a typo), a “Long Island Lumberjack Match” and a “Hamptons Hardcore Match.” We head to commercial.
MizTV with Michael Strahan and Titus O’Neil
When we return from commercial, The Miz is standing in the ring for a MizTV segment. The Miz welcomes his guest tonight, the guest-host for WWE RAW this week — Michael Strahan. Instead of Strahan, out comes Titus O’Neil with a painted gap between his teeth to mock Strahan. Miz tells “Michael” that he’s never looked so good. O’Neil talks with a lisp to mock Strahan even further. O’Neil says it’s an honor to stand next to a former WrestleMania main eventer. Miz asks O’Neil “what’s with the gap?” talking about his teeth. He says he should pawn his Super Bowl ring and get his teeth fix. O’Neil says the gap is distinctive. Miz says the gap is bigger than the gap between the New York Giants and the playoffs. The crowd boo’s Miz and Miz says “ooh The Miz is a bad guy…it was just a joke everybody!” O’Neil wants to welcome Titus O’Neil.
Michael Strahan comes out smiling and pointing to the gap between his teeth. Strahan comes to the ring. He and O’Neil playfully bump chests. I guess O’Neil was doing that as a tribute to him? Strahan says he has to say than you to Titus and The Miz. Strahan says their jokes were weak. He says the towel boy makes better jokes. He says O’Neil’s “suit game” is strong but his “gap game” is weak. Strahan says the WWE is all about fun and asks the fans if they’re ready to have some fun tonight. Strahan thanks everyone for letting him be the honorary guest host. He says tonight we’re going to have a double tag-team main event. In one corner we’re going to have the WWE Champion Randy Orton and his partner Alberto Del Rio. Strahan says in the other corner will be Big Show and the World Heavyweight Champion John Cena. He’s holding his words to emphasize them “John Cenaaaaaaaaa” etc. Painful to listen to.
The Miz puts over himself as a wrestler. He asks Michael Strahan if he can “hack it” in the ring. Strahan says Kelly Ripa is tougher than him. Miz says he’s the most must-see Superstar in WWE history, he’s not sipping coffee next to Kelly Ripa every morning. The two keep arguing and Titus O’Neil cuts them off. O’Neil says he understands Strahan is a good athlete but this is not football. He says if Miz hits him with even a simple move than Strahan might not make it to work with Kelly Ripa tomorrow. Miz asks if Strahan thinks he can handle a simple hip-toss. Strahan says let’s try a simple hip-toss then. O’Neil clears away some of the MizTV set. Strahan and Miz keep talking over each other. This is brutal. O’Neil says he’s available if Strahan is can’t make it to work tomorrow.
O’Neil goes to hip-toss Strahan but Strahan blocks it. Miz mocks O’Neil a bit so he takes his sport coat off and he’s serious about it now. Miz asks the fans if they think he can do it. O’Neil tries again but Strahan blocks it once more. Miz says he’s afraid to take a hip-toss he understands. Now Miz is going to do something and O’Neil is standing back. Miz goes to hip-toss Strahan but Strahan reverses it and hip-tosses Miz. Miz is on the ground smiling. All the guys are talking over each other again. Jeez. O’Neil grabs Strahan and does the “millions of dollas” dance until Strahan, out of nowhere, hip-tosses O’Neil too. O’Neil gets up and smiles. All three guys do the “millions of dollars” dance. Michael Cole is shouting to the ring inviting Strahan to come do commentary all night with them. Strahan doesn’t hear it. I believe the segment is over, and thank god for that. I forgot how atrocious these celebrity guest host segments can be. We head to commercial after they plug the fans ability to vote for the Ziggler-Sandow match tonight.
– The 2013 WWE Slammy Awards will be returning in two weeks on the December 9th edition of RAW. This will be the “go home” show before TLC.
– There was no pre-show dark match prior to Monday’s WWE RAW from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.
– WWE taped the following matches for this week’s episode of Superstars:
