WWE taped matches for this week’s Main Event & an upcoming episode of Saturday Morning Slam on Tuesday night from the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. Here are the results:
WWE Saturday Morning Slam
* Damien Sandow defeated Zack Ryder.
* Antonio Cesaro defeated Justin Gabriel.
WWE Main Event (Airing Wednesday)
* Chris Jericho hosted the Highlight Reel. His guest was supposed to be The Miz, but he announced The Miz was injured by Antonio Cesaro on RAW, so his new guest is Alberto Del Rio. Chris Jericho told Del Rio that he’s going to win the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday and wrestle him for the World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania. As the two were arguing back and forth, Dolph Ziggler came out with AJ Lee and Big E. Langston. Ziggler promised to cash his Money in the Bank briefcase by WrestleMania 29. Del Rio challenged Ziggler and he accepted.
* Alberto Del Rio defeated Dolph Ziggler by submission with his cross armbreaker.
* Matt Striker interviewed Paul Heyman, who had the WWE Championship belt with him. Heyman talked about the stipulation of Punk’s match with The Rock at Elimination Chamber, where Rock will be stripped of the title if he gets disqualified or counted out.
– Comcast announced today that they are buying General Electric’s 49% stake in NBC Universal for $16.7 billion dollars. NBC Universal is the parent company USA Network and Syfy, homes of WWE RAW and SmackDown.
– This Friday night in Los Angeles, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s new DVD/Blu-Ray action movie, “The Package” will have a special screening at the Laemmle’s NoHo 7 Theaters. After the 7pm screening, Austin will host a Q&A session with fans in attendance. Here’s the movie synopsis, from a press release sent out today:
Austin plays Tommy Wick, a nightclub bouncer and enforcer for Seattle crime boss Big Doug (Eric Keenleyside, Dreamcatcher, Firewall). When Big Doug instructs Tommy to hand-deliver a secret package to the mysterious international crime lord “The German,” (Lundgren), he does so with the hopes that Big Doug will forgive the debt Tommy’s brother Eddie (Lochlyn Munro, White Chicks, Freddy vs. Jason) owes. Facing incredible odds, Tommy races against the ticking clock – and a small army of hit men, mercenaries, assassins and sadists — to complete delivery.
– WWE.com has a new article looking at Ted DiBiase Sr.’s Million Dollar Championship belt. After much speculation about how much the belt cost to create, DiBiase reveals that it cost $40,000 (back in 1988) and is covered in 700 cubic zirconia stones.
– Monday’s WWE RAW scored a Trendrr.tv social media socre of 268,154, down 9% from last week.
– Santino Marella tweeted the following on Tuesday about his ongoing neck injury:
I've never really missed work from an injury before, damn it sucks! Can't wait to get back in the ring!
Earlier in the day, WWE announced that Brodus Clay & Tensai will wrestle the reunited Team Rhodes Scholars on the online pre-show of Sunday’s Elimination Chamber event. Tuesday evening, WWE also announced WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro will defend against The Miz on the pay-per-view.
With those matches set, here’s the updated card:
WWE Championship Match
The Rock (c) vs. CM Punk
* If The Rock gets himself disqualified or counted out, CM Punk wins the title
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show
Elimination Chamber Match
Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho vs. Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane vs. Jack Swagger
* Winner gets a World Heavyweight Title shot at WrestleMania 29
Team Cena vs. The Shield
John Cena, Ryback and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns
United States Championship Match:
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. The Miz
Divas Championship Match
Kaitlyn (c) vs. Tamina Snuka
30-Minute Online Pre-show
Team Rhodes Scholars vs. Brodus Clay & Tensai
– TNA will be running 3 shows in West Virginia this weekend, on Friday (2/15) from Huntington, Saturday (2/16) in Beckley and Sunday (2/17) from Morgantown. A steel cage match and the following card is advertised for all 3 shows:
* World Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Austin Aries
* TV Champion Devon vs. Bully Ray
* Bobby Roode vs. James Storm
* Matt Morgan & Joey Ryan vs. Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez
* Knockouts Champion Tara vs. Velvet Sky
– Hulk Hogan has will be appearing at TNA’s live events during Wrestlemania weekend. TNA will be in Westbury, NY on Friday, April 4th. TNA will be running another show the following day, but has not announced a venue yet.
Viewership data is for Monday’s 2/11 edition of WWE RAW. RAW averaged 4.26 million viewers for the 3-hour broadcast, down half a million from last week.
ESPN.com has updated their weekly WWE Power Rankings and once again, CM Punk took the top spot. Here’s this week’s Top 10:
1. CM Punk
2. The Rock
3. Chris Jericho
4. Mark Henry
5. Antonio Cesaro
6. Alberto Del Rio
7. The Shield
8. Jack Swagger
9. John Cena
10. Kane
As part of the article, ESPN spoke to Chris Jericho about why his latest WWE run has been so successful. There had been plans of turning Jericho heel shortly after his surprise return at the Royal Rumble, but he’s been getting very positive reactions from crowds at WWE events. Jericho revealed the secret to his success: keeping his character fresh.
“Doing new things, changing your look, changing your personality in the ring, the way that you do interviews and promos … I’ve been doing this a long time,” said Jericho.
“I can come and go and when I come back, I’m always at the highest level just because I know what I’m doing. But more important than that, this is show business, and you always need to change things up in order to keep people interested. If you do the same thing for too long, it becomes boring, and I never want to be boring.”
WWE has announced that Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view with feature a 30-minute online pre-show that will be streamed live on the WWE Fan Nation YouTube channel.
The pre-show will feature a tag team match, with the new team of Brodus Clay & Tensai squaring off against Team Rhodes Scholars.
The Rhodes Scholars recently announced on SmackDown that they were splitting up, however they teamed up for this past weekend’s live events and now have a match together this Sunday.
– David Chao, the controversial sports surgeon who has performed multiple surgeries on Rey Mysterio, is risk of having his medical license revoked by the California board due to allegations of “gross negligence in his care of patients.”
Chao is the head physician for the San Diego Chargers and has been sued around 20 times by four chargers players for medical malpractice, negligence and fraud. No word yet on whether Mysterio still uses Dr. Chao, but he’s being cited by the NFL players union as an example of why players should have a say which doctors they see. For more on the story, visit USAToday.com.
– As we reported on Monday, WWE RAW is now being listed by cable companies as 3 consecutive 1-hour shows, which has caused issues for some fans who DVR RAW. According to PWInsider.com, this was a move initiated by the USA Network and will be the norm moving forward.
– WWE Hall of Famer the Iron Sheik is engaged in a Twitter war with NFL running back Arian Foster of the Houston Texans. The beef started when Foster asked followers to recommend a funny Twitter account he could follow and several of his fans mentioned the Sheik. Sheik tweeted Foster saying he would “make [him] humble old country way” and they’ve been going back and forth since
TNA sent out the following press release on Tuesday in response to the IOC announcing that wrestling will no longer be part of the Olympics starting in 2020. The article includes quotes from Kurt Angle and Dixie Carter, who urges the entire wrestling community, including WWE, to join the fight to #SaveOlympicWrestling:
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Raises Voice To Save Olympic Wrestling | #SaveOlympicWrestling
On Tuesday the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced “25 Core Sports” for the 2020 Olympic Games dropping one of the original Olympic sports: wrestling. Wrestling will now have to fight to remain a part of the 2020 games. TNA IMPACT WRESTLING is home to 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle and is dedicated to change this decision.
The IOC stated reasoning for the decision, according to the report, was an analysis of “more than three dozen criteria, including television ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy and global participation and popularity.” The IOC has decided to keep recreational sports such as badminton, handball and table tennis in the “25 Core Sports” category and to delete one of the oldest Olympic sport that premiered in the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896.
Kurt Angle is considered the best wrestler of all time to be in both amateur and professional wrestling and is gearing up to fight this decision and organize a battalion of like minds to save this Olympic sport.
“Wrestling is one of the most competitive sports in the world today,” stated TNA Superstar and 1996 Gold Medalist Kurt Angle. “Winning the gold for my country in one of the original Olympic sports was one of the greatest moments in my life.
“The wrestling community is in a state of shock with this decision– we can not sit back and allow this to happen. I will do whatever it takes and work with my company TNA WRESTLING and the competitive wrestling community to determine what we need to do to reverse this decision.”
“The news from the IOC is very disheartening to all of us at TNA as well as the tens of millions around the world who either participate in amateur wrestling or enjoy watching it in its entertainment form,” stated TNA President Dixie Carter. “We need to join together right now. We encourage our own IMPACT WRESTLING community, WWE and wrestling organizations worldwide as well as competitive amateur coaches and athletes to have a unified voice to make sure wrestling will be an Olympic sport in 2020.”
TNA encourages fans to take to social media to let your voices be heard. Speak out using #SaveOlympicWrestling and @Olympics.
WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, who competed for Iran in the 1968 Olympics and then became an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1970’s, is not pleased about the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove wrestling from the Olympics starting in 2020. The Sheik told TMZ.com today:
“After 1000 years they take away the best sport in the world? This is the first time the dumb motherf**kers have no balls for they make the walking an Olympic sport.”
“If I see anybody on the street that work from the IOC I swear to the Jesus I suplex them put them in camel clutch break their back make them humble.”
“The #TEAMSHEIKIE respect the Olympic now they can all go f**k themselves and make the Curling Olympic sport because they all the biggest piece of no good s**t and I never watch the Olympic again. Also buy my t shirt [on my website] or go f**k yourself.”
Iron Sheik also tweeted these messages today:
I wake up i get phone call from my agents @pagemagen he tell me no more wrestling in the Olympics it break my heart forever
– Randy Orton appeared in a WWE App backstage video on Monday night and said he’ll be the last man standing during Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match on pay-per-view. Orton also promised to get revenge on Mark Henry with an RKO when they wrestle this Friday on SmackDown.
– After teaming together for several weeks now, Brodus Clay and Tensai are officially a tag team. In a WWE App exclusive interview, Clay told Tensai he’s impressed with his dance moves and suggested the two becoming a full-time tag team. Tensai agreed, on the condition that Clay puts in a good word for him with WWE Diva Cameron.
– WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn and Tamina Snuka also appeared in a backstage segment on the WWE App. Kaitlyn approached Vickie Guerrero asked Vickie Guerrero why she hasn’t been booked on RAW over the past few weeks. Vickie said Kaitlyn will get some ring time this Sunday, when she defends the Divas title against Tamina at Elimination Chamber. Kaitlyn tried to shake Tamina’s hand, but Tamina refused and said she’s not deserving of her respect. The two brawled in Vickie Guerrero’s office and the segment ended with Tamina throwing Kaitlyn through a table.
TNA wrestler Kurt Angle spoke to Fox Sports today about the about the International Olympic Committee’s decision to drop wrestling from the Olympics, starting in 2020. Angle, who won a gold medal for wrestling in 1996, told Fox:
“We’re going to fight this. They can’t just drop it. They’re keeping badminton and that sport where you jump on a trampoline, and they’re dropping wrestling. It’s just crazy. I don’t know what this world is coming to. Things are changing.”
The Fox Sports report also notes that fellow gold medalist Dan Gable, who is the name-sake to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, plans to fight the decision. 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs tweeted:
“It’s not over yet. We will keep fighting to save the sport we love. Don’t stop dreaming and don’t stop believing
Bruce Braley, a congressman from the prominent wrestling state of Iowa, tweeted:
“Outrageous decision by @IOCMedia @Olympics to drop Wrestling from the Olympics. One of @Olympics oldest sports — absurd.”
Even Scott Blackmun, the CEO of the United States Olympic Committee, said Tuesday he was surprised about the decision, given the “history and tradition of wrestling, and its popularity and universality.”
A final vote by the IOC to eliminate wrestling from the Olympics will take place in September.
– Monday’s WWE RAW had a Trendrr.tv social media score of 268,154. This was down 9% from last week, but still enough to keep RAW at the #1 spot on cable for the third week in a row.
– R-Truth was backstage at Monday’s RAW and did a WWE app exclusive interview with Tony Dawson, where he talked about his promotional tour of Qatar for WWE.
– WWE appears to have dropped the idea of having Sunday’s Team Cena vs. The Shield match take place inside of the Elimination Chamber. Ryback teased on Twitter that justice would be served to the Shield inside of the chamber, but there was no mention on RAW of the match being held in the structure.
– NXT stars Corey Graves and Conor O’Brian were backstage at last night’s RAW from Nashville, according to f4wonline.com. Both men worked this past weekend’s WWE live events and are expected to be called up to the main roster soon.
– Rey Mysterio, who has been pulled from Sunday’s Elimination Chamber PPV to sell the effects of Mark Henry’s attack last week, tweeted the following during RAW:
Missed being @ Raw tonight! WSM Did sum damage on me last week, but been through much worse and have come back! 619 luv
– Here’s the latest edition of WWE’s Backstage Fallout:
In the Raw edition of “Backstage Fallout,” Chris Jericho tells the WWE Universe why he’s going to have an epic night in the Chamber. Plus, what does Jack Swagger have to say to his critics?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that wrestling has been dropped from the Olypmics, starting at the 2020 Games. The unexpected decision was made via secret ballot on Tuesday in Lausanne, Switzerland where officials were discussing ways to “streamline” the Olympics.
Wrestling has roots in the ancient Greek games and has been part of the Olympics since 1896.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said, “This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics. In the view of the executive board, this was the best program for the Olympic Games in 2020. It’s not a case of what’s wrong with wrestling, it is what’s right with the (other) 25 core sports.” Now wrestling will have to face off with seven other sports that are fighting for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics.
The professional wrestling world is venting their frustrations on Twitter, with superstars expressing shock and Jim Ross calling the decision “ignorant.” 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle tweeted:
@dynodavid17: I'm Shocked. Will Do an Exclusive Interview Later today. Wrestling Will Stay in Olympics.
– Tonight’s WWE television tapings take place from Little Rock, Arkansas with the final hype for Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. WWE Main Event will feature the return of Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel talk show with his guest The Miz.
As for SmackDown, WWE Champion The Rock will be in the house, Mark Henry will face Randy Orton in a battle of the former World Heavyweight champions and we’ll get more from Big Show & Del Rio.
The advertised dark match main event for the tapings will see World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show.
We’ll have live spoiler results here later tonight, so make sure to check back for that.
– Kayfabe Commentaries has released the following trailer for a new “Breaking Kayfabe” shoot interview with WWE Hall of Famer Sunny. Sunny goes in-depth talking about her time in jail and rehab, how WWE officials reacted to her being in rehab during Linda McMahon’s senate campaign and more.
WWE has announced that WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn will defend against Tamina this Sunday at Elimination Chamber. With that match set, here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
WWE Championship Match
The Rock (c) vs. CM Punk
* If The Rock gets himself disqualified or counted out, CM Punk wins the title
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show
Elimination Chamber Match
Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho vs. Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane vs. Jack Swagger
* Winner gets a World Heavyweight Title shot at WrestleMania 29
Team Cena vs. The Shield
John Cena, Ryback and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns
Divas Championship Match
Kaitlyn (c) vs. Tamina Snuka
– The big Team Cena vs. The Shield 6-man tag match that we’ll see at Sunday’s elimination Chamber pay-per-view will be taking place at WWE RAW house shows in March. The match is already being advertised for the RAW live event from Providence, RI on March 16.
– Despite being in Nashville, TN at the Predators hockey game on Sunday, The Undertaker was not backstage at RAW at any point on Monday.
After Monday’s WWE RAW from Nashville went off the air, Damien Sandow came out as The Rock was getting up from CM Punk’s attack. Sandow had a microphone with him and ran down the people of Nashville for cheering The Rock’s story, including the man of “questionable
Sandow got a Rock Bottom and a People’s Elbow. The Rock began to celebrate and as he began walking to the back, John Cena’s music hit. Rock and Cena had a stare down and both men pointed to the WrestleMania 29 sign hanging at the top of the arena.
The dark match main event, which was originally scheduled to be a tag team match, was John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler. The match was said to be great, with the referee getting knocked out at one point and Big E. Langston interfering on Ziggler’s behalf. In the end, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment and got the win.
Justin Roberts thanked everyone for attending RAW and said WWE will be back in Nashville soon.
During The Rock’s promo at the end of Monday’s WWE RAW, The Rock referenced his old buddy Jeff Jarrett when talking about his early days in the wrestling industry. After RAW, The Rock tweeted:
WWE RAW opens up with a recap of The Shield’s reign of terror in WWE and their confrontation with John Cena, Sheamus & Ryback last week. Plus – The Rock is in the house.
In the arena, Paul Heyman is in the ring and introduces himself. He says this is not how he envisioned things going down – but it’s something he feels compelled to do. He says – tonight is the last time we’re ever going to see Paul Heyman. He may be a lot of things, but he’ll never play the victim. Everything he’s ever done, it’s been with great passion and with great sacrifice. He admits that his passions usually end up betraying him. He’s sacrificed everything to give the fans ECW, he came to WWE for Brock Lesnar’s first run and more recently, he saw a man that could carry WWE into the future and even surpass Bruno Sammartino’s legacy – CM Punk. He can see the future – and something really bad is going to happen here, not just to him, but onto everybody around him, including CM Punk. Paul gets emotional as he said Punk needs to be focused and he’s become a distraction for Punk. The sins of the mentor will befall upon his protege – and he can’t let that happen. For that reason, he must tender his resignation. He can’t believe the fans aren’t upset to see him go – and he says he won’t miss them either. Punk needs to be focused on becoming WWE Champion again, he loves Punk and he needs to leave so Punk can fulfill his destiny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NxJWn2vUOY
CM Punk’s music hits and out comes the former WWE Champion. Punk enters the ring and pleads with Heyman, asking, “What are you doing?” Heyman says he’s in his way and Vince McMahon thinks he paid The Shield and Brad Maddox to interfere on Punk’s behalf. Vince thinks Paul had something to do with Brock Lesnar attacking him. Punk says he won’t allow Heyman to quit. Punk says everybody looks up to Heyman, just like he does. Heyman says Vince McMahon is going to make their lives hell and he needs to leave. Punk says he won’t allow Heyman to leave. This Sunday will be the 455th day of his WWE title reign and Paul Heyman will be in his corner this Sunday when he regains what is rightfully his. Heyman’s face lights up. Heyman says Punk is right. Punk will win the WWE title this weekend and the two embrace in an emotional hug. Paul looks to the sky and says “thank you” as he tells CM Punk that he’s the Best in the World. Jerry Lawler says Paul Heyman was just trying to upstage the Pope by quitting. Considering CM Punk’s comments about the Pope today, maybe that wasn’t the best comparison!
Later tonight – WWE Champion The Rock will address the WWE Universe.
Backstage, we see Mark Henry walking to the ring to induct someone into the Hall of Pain next.
Back from commercial, Great Khali is dancing in the ring with Natalya & Hornswoggle.
Mark Henry vs. Great Khali:
Footgae is shown of Mark Henry’s return last week and his destruction of multiple superstars on RAW and Friday’s SmackDown. Khali surprisingly gets the upper hand early on and throws Mark Henry into the corner and goes to work on him. It doesn’t take long for Mark Henry to take control, drop Khali with a clothesline and deliver an impressive powerslam for the win in around 2 minutes. Henry leaves the ring, but then returns and delivers a powerslam to Hornswoggle. The crowd chants, “1 more time!”
Winner: Mark Henry
Friday night on SmackDown, Mark Henry takes on Randy Orton in the battle of former World Heavyweight Champions.
Later tonight, Elimination Chamber partners John Cena, Ryback and Sheamus will take on the team of 3MB.
Backstage, Teddy Long is talking to Booker T as Chris Jericho interrupts them. Jericho says he’s a former World Heavyweight champion, he’s been in more Elimination Chamber matches than anybody in history and it makes good business sense to allow him to participate him in the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday. Booker says everybody has had to earn their way into the match. Teddy Long whispers an idea into Booker T’s ear and he says the idea sucks. Booker T says Jericho has to wrestle Daniel Bryan tonight – and if he wins, he’s in the match. Jericho says Daniel Bryan’s good and has a great beard. Jericho says he accepts and says this Sunday, he’ll be the 7-time, 7-time, 7-time World Heavyweight champion. Now can you dig that, sucka?!
Vickie Guerrero is shown backstage and Paul Heyman approaches her. Paul Heyman says Vickie should add a stipulation to the Rock vs. CM Punk WWE Championshp match this Sunday. Vickie’s phone rings and it’s Mr. McMahon. She puts Vince on speaker. Paul Heyman tells Vince he’s sorry for Brock Lesnar’s actions and he knows Vince is making a Hurculean effort to recover. Vince calls Heyman a weasel and asks what he has in mind for the stipulation. Heyman says The Rock has a huge ego and will do anything to win – including getting counted out or disqualified. He wants Vince to strip The Rock of the title if he tries to get counted out or disqualified. Vince says he wants the stipulation in writing. Heyman thanks Vince profusely and Vince hangs up in his face.
A promo video airs for Fandango.
Daniel Bryan vs. Chris Jericho
Daniel Bryan is out first, followed by Chris Jericho. Jericho and Bryan go at it as Booker T and Teddy Long are shown watching the match backstage. Daniel Bryan gets the early upper hand as he delivers a series of kicks to Jericho’s chest, hits a snap mare, drops a knee on Jericho’s chest and gets a 2 count. Jericho now in control as he chops Bryan down and throws him into the corner. Both men brawl on the outside. Bryan is on the apron as Jericho jumps to the middle rope and does a flying cross body attack, but nobody’s home. Jericho lands on the outside. Bryan goes into the ring, runs off the opposite ropes and hits a flying dive onto Jericho on the outside. Back from commercial, Jericho is in control as the crowd starts a loud “Y2J” chant. Jericho whips Bryan into the corner, runs after him but eats a boot. Daniel Bryan hits a dropkick into the corner. Rapid fire action action between both men and Bryan is now in control. Loud” Yes!” chant. Bryan goes for a dropkick but Jericho catches his feet and attempts the Walls of Jericho. No go. Jericho goes for a Lionsault but Bryan gets his knees up. Daniel Bryan goes to the top rope but Jericho knocks him off. Big chop to Bryan as Jericho climbs the ropes and attempts a Superplex. Bryan blocks it, throws Jericho to the mat and his a big flying headbutt off the top. 2 count for Bryan.Bryan delivers a series of knees to Jericho’s chest. Jericho attempts the Walls of Jericho and he’s got it locked in. Daniel Bryan attempts to power out of the move and actually reverses it into a No Lock. Impressive spot, but Jericho breaks free. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho again but Bryan counters and throws Jericho with his feet. Bryan lands a very stiff kick to Jericho’s head and gets a 2 count. The crowd chants “Yes!” as Bryan responds “No!” as he delivers kicks to Jericho’s chest. He goes for a big kick, but Jericho moves and attempts a small package. 2 count. Jericho hits the Codebreaker and gets the 3 count!
Winner: Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho has now officially been entered into Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match, his 8th time wrestling in the chamber. The participants now include Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan, with 2 spots remaining.
Later tonight, The Shield will address the WWE Universe.
3MB vs. John Cena, Sheamus & Ryback
3MB is in the ring first and Jerry Lawler says they’re upset they didn’t win a Grammy Award last night. Sheamus comes out first for the babyface team, followed by Ryback and John Cena. Michael Cole informs us that during the commercial break on WWE Active, 3MB made fun of Sheaus, Ryback & Cena. Ryback starts off with Slater. Slater talks trash to Ryback, dances in front of him and shoves him. Ryback kicks him down and gives him a huge gorilla press slam before tagging in Sheamus. Slater tags in McIntyre. Sheamus unloads on McIntyre with a series of strikes in the corner and an irish whip into the opposite corner. Drew McIntyre gets some offense but he’s no match for Sheamus. Sheamus delivers his 10 punch attack to McIntyre, who is standing outside the apron. Sheamus throws McIntyre back into the ring and tags in John Cena. Jinder Mahal tagged in. Mahal slaps Cena in the face but then pays for it dearly. Cena delivers the 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but 3MB hits the ring all jumps Cena. Sheamus and Ryback come in to even the oods and Ryback, Cena and Sheamus simultaneously hit Shellshock, AA & White Noise on 3MB.
Winners: John Cena, Ryback & Sheamus
After the match, Ryback, Sheamus and John Cena cut promos on The Shield. Sheamus wants justice tonight. Cena gets heavily booed. Cena questions why The Shield would address the WWE Universe tonight and leave themselves so exposed. Tonight, “The Shield gets the sword” and justice will be served.
Footage is shown from SmackDown of Del Rio & Big Show’s feud, with Del Rio pouring orange paint onto Big Show.
Footage is shown of of Alex Riley & Yoshi Tatsu from this afternoon, where they were making fun of the Big Show. Big Show lays out both men.
Big Show comes out for an in-ring interview. Matt Striker asks him, “Big Show, do you feel…” and Big Show knocks him out cold with a WMD Knockout Punch. Big Show holds the microphone for a while but doesn’t say anything. He drops the microphone and leaves the ring.
The Bruno Sammartino Hall of Fame induction video from last week is shown.
Zack Ryder vs. Jack Swagger
Swagger is accompanied to the ring by former WWE manager Zeb Coutler. Swagger starts off very aggressive, tackling Ryder and throwing him into the corner. Ryder hits a miissile dropkick off the top rope and hits the Broski Boot. Booker T and Teddy Long are shown backstage watching the match. Ryder gets in a little offense but Swagger is all over him with power moves. Swagger powerbombs Ryder into the turnbuckle, a nasty spot. Swagger locks in the Patriot Act aknle lock submission and it’s all over.
Winner: Jack Swagger
After the match, Swagger says he wants to introduce a friend of his. He’s a great American, Zeb Coulter. Zeg says, “Fellow Americans, what’s wrong with America?” He says he knows what’s wrong, Jack Swagger knows what’s wrong – but most people have forgotten. He rambles about Vietnam and being a patriot and says he doesn’t recognize the country any more … He says many “American citizens” don’t look like him and don’t talk like him. People are crossing our borders in record numbers and .. he goes on with a bunch of very right-wing redneck talking points. They kept repeating, “We the People.”
Backstage, we cut to Booker T and Teddy Long, who say that Jack Swagger is in the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday. Dolph Ziggler, with AJ & Big E, approaches them and says he wants to be in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match. Booker T says first, he has to go through the Big Red Machine, Kane.
Footage is shown of Brock Lesnar destroying The Miz last week on RAW. Michael Cole informs us that Mr. McMahon underwent successful hip surgery but there is no time table for his return.
The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes
Antonio Cesaro is on commentary. This Wednesday on WWE Main Event, Chris Jericho hosts the Highlight Reel with his guest, The Miz. Solid match with both men getting in good offense, until the action goes to the outside and Antonio Cesaro charges The Miz. Miz delivers a big boot to Antonio Cesaro’s face. Cesaro attacks Miz back, throws him into the ring post and the bell sounds. After the match, Cesaro destroys Miz and throws him into the ringside barrier several times.
Result: No Contest
WrestleMania Reading Challenge video is shown.
https://i2.ytimg.com/vi/mngOrWpOE2w/mqdefault.jpg
Brodus Clay & Tensai vs. Primo & Epico
Brodus Clay and Tensai hit a few big-man spots to win this one in around one minute. After the match, Clay & Tensai dance with the Funkadactyls. Rosa Mendes gets in their faces and the Funkadactyls throw them out of the ring and they continue to dance.
Winners: Brodus Clay & Tensai
The Shield makes their way to the ring through the crowd to address the WWE Universe. Ambrose introduces the Shield and says they are here to shield WWE from atrocities, like the ones John Cena commits every day. Rollins & Reigns threaten Cena, Ryback and Sheamus and say that John Cena is a failure. He’s not just a superstar, he’s a philosphy. Ambrose says WWE has a “John Cena problem.” For the past decade, John Cena has poisoned WWE and this Sunday, they will right the wrong. They call out anybody that wants to challenge them. The lights go out and Cena, Ryback and Sheamus are in the ring. Everybody’s brawling and the Team Cena cleans house. Everybody escapes brawling through the crowd.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Damien Sandow
Sandow runs down Nashville and the local hockey team. Ricardo Rodriguez introduces the World Heavyweight champion. Quick match, with Del Rio hitting a stiff superkick to Sandow’s face and getting the submission win with the cross-arm breaker.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, Del Rio says Big Show gave the best promo of his life tonight by not saying a word. Del Rio says the time for talk is over – and this Sunday, he’s going to retain the World Heavyweight title and says he’s going to WrestleMania as champion.
Backstage, Wade Barrett is shown walking to the ring for his match against Kofi Kingston. Barrett is brutally attacked by Bo Dallas. Barrett is left laying, as WWE officials tend to him.
Another Fandango promo airs.
Kofi Kingston vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barret
Barrett is selling the effects of Bo Dallas’ backstgae attack, but still starts off strong. Footage is shown of Barrett capturing the Intercontinental championship from Kofi Kingston back on RAW in December. Kingston hits a big top rope splash onto Barrett’s back and gets a 2 count. Kingston follows up with a stiff kick. Barrett whips Kingston into the corner but nobody is home when Barrett follows up with a running attack. Barrett is clearly a few steps behind, but still has enough in him to hit the Winds of Change sideslam for a 2-count. Barrett loads up his elbow for the Bull Hammer, but Kingston ducks, goes for Trouble in Paradise but misses. Barrett ties up Kingston in the mat apron, hits the Bull Hammer and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Wade Barrett
– After the match, Barrett yells for Bo Dallas to come to the ring.
– Ziggler vs. Kane is up next. Back to commercial.
Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler
Back from the break and out comes one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions Kane. Out next comes Dolph Ziggler with AJ Lee and Big E Langston. The winner of this will get the final Elimination Chamber spot.
Ziggler strikes first with right hands. Kane turns it around and beats him up in the corner. Kane with a 2 count. We see Booker and Teddy watching backstage. Kane with a slam and another 2 count. Ziggler cuts Kane off with a big dropkick. Ziggler turns it around now and takes Kane to the corner. Kane comes back and drops Ziggler on his face and calls for a chokeslam. Ziggler scrambles to the floor as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Kane slams Swagger. Kane with a clothesline in the corner. Kane runs into a boot but knocks Ziggler off the corner and out to the floor. Kane comes out on the floor and Langston stares him down. Ziggler sends Kane into the fan barrier. Ziggler comes in to break the count. Kane comes to the apron and Ziggler nails a neckbreaker. Ziggler drops a bunch of elbow drops now. Ziggler with another 2 count. Kane ends up catching Ziggler in mid-air. Ziggler slides out and nails a big DDT. Ziggler with a 2 count. Kane turns it around for a 2 count of his own now. Kane with a big clothesline in the corner. And another. Ziggler blocks the sideslam and locks in the sleeper hold. Kane tosses him to the mat but Ziggler hits the big leg drop for another pin attempt. Ziggler goes for the sleeper again but Kane nails the sideslam for 2. Kane climbs to the top but AJ gets on the apron and distracts him. Kane misses the shot from the top. Ziggler accidentally knocks AJ off the apron and into Langston’s arms. Kane takes advantage and hits the chokeslam for the win and the final Chamber spot.
Winner: Kane
– Up next, The Rock. Back to commercial.
– We get an in-depth look at the Elimination Chamber match.
– We go to the ring and out comes WWE Champion The Rock to a big pop from the crowd.
Rock says this is a very special night because not only are we sold out, but he’s been waiting a very long time to say this… “finally The Rock has come back to Nashville.” The crowd chants Rocky. Rock says Nashville is very special to him. Rock is going to tell us why and says it’s story time. He talks about a 15 year old Rock and his family moving to Nashville in 1987. Rock shouts out his high school. Rock name drops Jeff Jarrett. Rock tells a story about buying a car from a crackhead in a bar. Rock says another crackhead was sleeping in the backseat. Rock pulled it over and kicked the guy out. Rock then wondered if the car was stolen. What did he do next? Rock ditched that bitch in a Burger King parking lot and went right to a place called Tootsie’s Lounge. Rock says there’s two points here – never buy a car from a crackhead and don’t be like The Rock when he was 15, doing what he shouldn’t be doing. Rock talks about wrestling locally in Nashville when he was 25. Rock say she’s WWE Champion now and will still be after Elimination Chamber. CM Punk’s music hits and out he comes with Paul Heyman.
Rock compares their earlier segment to a love scene from Twilight. Rock calls Punk a homeless looking vampire boy. Rock tells them to bring it if they want to stack the odds against him. Rock says he will beat Punk’s punk ass at Elimination Chamber and if Punk comes down to the ring, he will beat him around Nashville tonight. Rock gets ready to fight as Punk walks to the ring. Punk stops at the foot of the ramp and talks with Heyman. Heyman says he has Punk’s back. They look to leave but Punk rushes the ring and starts brawling with Rock. Punk takes control in the corner but Rock nails him with a spinebuster. Rock goes for The People’s Elbow but Heyman pulls his leg and trips him. Punk takes advantage and drops Rock with a GTS. Punk grabs the WWE Title belt and leaves with it. Punk goes to the ramp and tells Rock story time is over. Punk says every time Rock wants to bring it, he’s just going to take it because it belongs to him. Punk drops the mic and raises the WWE Title up. RAW goes off with Rock getting to his feet and Heyman telling Punk he’s the best.
Dutch Mantel returned to WWE television on Monday’s RAW as the new manager of Jack Swagger. Now known as Zeb Colter, he cut a far right-wing conservative promo about “We The People” and how the United States is full of people that don’t look like him who he can’t understand.
Mantel wrestled in Memphis for many years, managed in WWE during the mid 1990’s and was on TNA’s creative team during the mid 2000’s.
– It was announced on RAW that The Rock’s WWE Championship defense against CM Punk at the Royal Rumble now carries the stipulation that The Rock will be stripped of the title if he gets disqualified or counted out.
– Rey Mysterio has been removed from the Elimination Chamber match as a result of the injuries he suffered last week at the hands of Mark Henry. On Monday’s RAW, Chris Jericho, Jack Swagger and Kane also qualified on RAW.
The participants now include Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, Jack Swagger and Kane. The winner gets a shot at the World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania 29.
