Gauntlet Surprise.
The fourteenth edition of WWE Main Event was the first Main Event of 2013 and it came to you from the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA. After surviving nineteen other Superstars in a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal, “The Punjabi Giant” stood tall and earned himself a title opportunity as The Great Khali would challenge Antonio Cesaro for the United States Championship on WWE Main Event!
Match Results
- United States Championship: Antonio Cesaro (c) def. The Great Khali (with Natalya & Hornswoggle) by pin following the Neutralizer to retain.
- Gauntlet Match: Non-Title: Kofi Kingston def. Wade Barrett by pin following Trouble in Paradise.
- Wade Barrett def. Yoshi Tatsu by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow.
- Wade Barrett def. JTG by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow.
- Wade Barrett def. Justin Gabriel by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow.
- Kofi Kingston def. Wade Barrett by pin following Trouble in Paradise.
Detailed Results
After a brief video package highlighting the short, albeit impressive, WWE career of Antonio Cesaro, the United States Champion comes to the ring for his title defense, but not before reprimanding the makers of his video package. Cesaro says that the video package showed “nothing”, saying that the video was put together “in minutes to bad music”. Cesaro asks where the “orchestra” and “sophistication” is at. Having heard enough, The Miz mocks Cesaro, telling Cesaro that, if the United States Champion does not like America, he can call “Swiss Air” and get the first flight out of the country! Michael Cole then diffuses the situation before saying that Cesaro has been impressive as the United States Champion, but Cesaro has never faced a Superstar the likes of The Great Khali. A video package of The Great Khali is then shown, exhibiting Khali’s passion for fun and entertainment, as well as dominance in the ring. Backstage, Matt Striker tries to interview The Great Khali, but both Hornswoggle and Natalya do not let Khali be interviewed as they are obsessed with making sure that Khali is ready. Khali then hushes them, saying they “stress too much”, before chanting “U.S.A.” on his way out to the ring.
In his toughest title defense to date, Antonio Cesaro would defend the United States Championship against the over seven-foot, four hundred pound, “Punjabi Giant” The Great Khali, with Natalya and Hornswoggle in his corner. Despite The Great Khali dominating most of the match, Antonio Cesaro would mount a comeback, using a springboard shoulder block to finally take Khali off of his feet. Then, in a surreal feat of strength, Antonio Cesaro would hoist the four hundred pound Great Khali up, driving the giant down with the Neutralizer en route to picking up the win and successfully retaining the United States Title! After the match, Antonio Cesaro turns his attention to The Miz, telling Miz to face him “like a man”. Miz tells Cesaro that he does not know the first thing about America, saying that there is no group of people tougher than the United States of America! Miz then calls Cesaro “Eurotrash”, saying that they will “come together” and rid their country of naysayers. Miz then proclaims that “you’re in America and it’s awesome!”
On RAW, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon made the announcement that, if WWE Champion CM Punk is unable to defend the WWE Championship against Ryback in a TLC Match on RAW, then Punk’s representative, Paul Heyman, would be forced to face “The Sin City Cyborg”. On WWE Main Event, it was revealed, via a Tout from WWE physician Dr. Michael Sampson, that CM Punk is “100%” and, as of now, is medically cleared to compete on RAW, meaning that CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship in a Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match against Ryback on the first RAW of 2013 next week!
Two nights after losing the Intercontinental Title to Wade Barrett on RAW, former champion Kofi Kingston appears on Main Event for his first interview since losing the gold. Kofi admits that Wade Barrett did get the better of him on RAW, but he has defeated Barrett before and he will defeat Barrett again when he gets his rematch for the title this Friday on SmackDown! However, new Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett would take issue with this as Barrett makes his way to the ring, accusing Kofi of dismissing his title win as a fluke. Kofi tells Barrett that he respects him as an athlete, but he made one mistake on RAW and he will not make the same mistake twice. Kofi continues, reminding Barrett that he has won the Intercontinental Title on four different occasions, saying the title is a part of him and he has to have it back. Kofi then says that, when he holds the title above his head, it means something to him and every WWE fan. Barrett argues that, what it meant was that “mediocrity” won, saying that the title deserves to be around the waist of a “real fighter” like himself, vowing that Kofi will never take the title away from him. Barrett then says that he is so confident in his own abilities that he is challenging any number of WWE Superstars to face him a non-title Gauntlet Match!
With Kofi Kingston a guest on commentary, new Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett would face a host of mystery opponents in a non-title Gauntlet Match! Barrett’s first opponent in the Gauntlet Match was Yoshi Tatsu, who Barrett makes quick work of with the Bull Hammer Elbow. The second Superstar to face the new Intercontinental Champion was JTG. JTG would put up a little more of a fight, but Barrett would still put JTG down with the Bull Hammer Elbow. Barrett’s third opponent in the Gauntlet Match was Barrett’s former teammate and former follower, Justin Gabriel. Justin Gabriel would put up the toughest fight up to that point, but Wade Barrett would survive the onslaught, putting Gabriel down with the Bull Hammer Elbow. The final Superstar to take Wade Barrett on in the Gauntlet Match was then revealed as none other than Kofi Kingston! The former champion would dominate the worn-down Intercontinental Champion, putting Wade Barrett down with Trouble in Paradise en route to pinning the new Intercontinental Champion for the win. Can Kofi Kingston do the same this Friday night on SmackDown when he challenges Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Title?
What did you think of the first Main Event of 2013? Post your comments in the box below.
