Punk Gets Rocked.
The 1024th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW was the first RAW of 2013 and it came to you, live, from the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, FL. WWE’s flagship show will kick off the new year with a bang as the very first RAW of the year would feature a WWE Title match as, after weeks and weeks of waiting, Ryback would finally get his shot at the WWE Title as “The Sin City Cyborg” challenges the sixth longest reigning WWE Champion in history, CM Punk, on Punk’s unbelievable 414th day as champion in the chaotic, unforgiving, and barbaric Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match! One man who will be paying extra close attention to the WWE Championship match and will be live in Tampa to witness the outcome will be none other than former seven-time WWE Champion The Rock as “The Great One” will no doubt be anxious to find out who he will be facing for the WWE Title in just three weeks at the Royal Rumble!
Match Results
- John Cena def. Dolph Ziggler (with AJ Lee & Big E. Langston) by pin following the Attitude Adjustment.
- Divas Championship: Kaitlyn def. Eve (c) by intentional count-out. As a result, Eve (c) retains.
- Non-Title: Team Rhodes Scholars def. Team Hell No by Cody Rhodes pinning Daniel Bryan following Cross Rhodes.
- Randy Orton def. Heath Slater (with Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre) by pin following the RKO.
- Non-Title: Wade Barrett def. Santino Marella by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow.
- Non-Title: Antonio Cesaro def. The Great Khali by pin following the Neutralizer.
- Sheamus def. Jinder Mahal (with Heath Slater & Drew McIntyre) by pin following the Brogue Kick.
- WWE Championship: TLC Match: CM Punk (c) (with The Shield) def. Ryback to retain.
- Non-Title: Big Show def. Kofi Kingston by pin following the K.O. Punch.
Detailed Results
After dousing Dolph Ziggler & AJ Lee in excrement on the New Year’s Eve edition of RAW last week, the first RAW of 2013 kicks off with the ten-time former WWE Champion, John Cena. Cena says that it is going to be a “special night”, mentioning the TLC Match for the WWE Title between CM Punk and Ryback. Cena continues that there is an electric feel to RAW as they welcome back “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment”, The Rock. Cena then says that, last week, he let the world know that he will be a part of the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match in three weeks. However, Cena is then interrupted by the arrival of “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Dolph Ziggler, AJ Lee, & Big E. Langston. Dolph says that the fans may have come to see Cena or The Rock, but one thing they will remember is him. AJ Lee then asks if Cena is happy now, saying that she cannot believe that she lost her job over him. AJ continues, calling Cena a “petty, pathetic, small man” and Cena responds, saying that he has a “doctorate in simpleton humor” before congratulating AJ on making her “first 6th Grade wiener joke”! Cena then leads the crowd in doing the wave for the “wiener joke” before Dolph Ziggler tries to put an end to the humor, saying that every time that Cena loses a match, he just “laughs it off”. Dolph then tells Cena to “cut the crap”, which leaves Ziggler open for Cena to remind Dolph that he “cut the crap” all over Dolph and AJ last week! Ziggler then accuses Cena of trying to run away from him before officially announcing that he, too, will be entering the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match! Ziggler then says that his “primary goal” is to keep John Cena from winning the Royal Rumble Match. Cena welcomes the challenge before laying out a challenge of his own, daring Ziggler to come to the ring and face him. Against the advisement of his cohorts, Big E. Langston takes the microphone for the first time, saying that Dolph is not Cena’s only problem. Langston then says that he’s got Cena’s answer, saying that “it’s on”! However, Dolph and AJ do not agree with Big E. accepting the challenge as the two argue with Langston before the trio reluctantly makes their way to the ring.
After Big E. Langston got him into the match, the opening match of the night saw “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Dolph Ziggler, with AJ Lee & Big E. Langston in his corner, went one-on-one with his bitter rival, John Cena. During the match, Dolph Ziggler would distract the referee, allowing Big E. Langston to get a cheap shot in on John Cena, allowing Dolph to take advantage. However, Cena would persevere, but later on in the match, AJ Lee would get on the apron, distracting Cena, again allowing Dolph to take advantage. A few minutes later, AJ Lee would take advantage of the referee’s back being turned as AJ slaps Cena across the face, but the referee would hear the slap and would turn around to spot AJ on the ring apron again and the referee takes action, ejecting both AJ and Big E. Langston from ringside! Left alone against John Cena, Dolph Ziggler would hit every move in his arsenal, from the Zig Zag to the super kick, but Cena would continue to kick out. Dolph would manage to get the sleeper hold locked in on Cena, but Cena was able to break free, but in doing so, would inadvertently take out the referee. Cena then locks in the STF on Dolph, but with no referee, Big E. Langston rushes to the ring, hitting the Big Ending on Cena. Langston then drapes Dolph Ziggler’s arm over Cena and a second referee makes his way to the ring, but Cena is still able to kick off. Cena then comes out nowhere with the Attitude Adjustment on Ziggler, pinning Dolph to pick up the hard-fought win.
The fifth longest reigning Divas Champion in history put her title on the line on RAW as Eve would defend the Divas Championship against longtime rival, Kaitlyn. During the match, Kaitlyn would come within an eyelash of becoming the Divas Champion, but Eve would sense this, as well as the Divas Champion would flee the ring. Kaitlyn would do everything in her power to get Eve back into the ring, but Eve would manage to slip away as Eve makes a quick escape through the crowd, taking a count-out loss to keep her Divas Title.
Backstage, Santino Marella is reminiscing with WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat about Steamboat’s WrestleMania III match against “Macho Man” Randy Savage, mentioning that he is also a former Intercontinental Champion. The new Intercontinental Champion, Wade Barrett, then inserts himself into the conversation, saying that, now he is the Intercontinental Champion, the title “means something” again. Barrett then tells Steamboat that he is no longer “The Dragon”, he’s just an “old man blowing smoke”! This fires up the Hall of Famer, who vows to be in Santino’s corner when he faces Barrett later on in the evening!
The WWE Tag Team Champions were in action on RAW as Team Hell No, Kane & Daniel Bryan, faced their longtime rivals, Team Rhodes Scholars, Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow, in a non-title match. During the match, Daniel Bryan would land awkwardly on his right knee, a weakness which Team Rhodes Scholars immediately targets. This would lead to Daniel Bryan’s downfall as, with Kane and Damien Sandow battling on the outside, Cody Rhodes hits Cross Rhodes on Daniel Bryan en route to picking up the win for Team Rhodes Scholars.
After an earlier confrontation backstage, two of the participants in the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match would face off on RAW as “The Viper” Randy Orton went one-on-one with the self-proclaimed “front man” of 3MB, Heath Slater, with fellow Rumble Match entrants and “band mates” Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre in his corner. Throughout the match, Randy Orton would combat the interference from Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre, finally putting Heath Slater down with the RKO en route to picking up the win. After the match, Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre would try and get the jump on Randy Orton, but “The Viper” would take both men out with the RKO!
The Intercontinental Champion was in action on RAW as Wade Barrett would face Santino Marella, with Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat in his corner, in a non-title match. In the end, it was Wade Barrett putting Santino Marella down with the Bull Hammer Elbow en route to picking up the win. After the match, Ricky Steamboat would enter the ring to check on Santino Marella and Barrett would try and catch the Hall of Famer from behind with the Bull Hammer Elbow, but the veteran would turn to face Barrett, not backing down from the Intercontinental Champion. However, Wade Barrett would laugh at Steamboat before leaving the ring.
With The Miz a guest on commentary, United States Champion Antonio Cesaro went one-on-one with “The Punjabi Giant” The Great Khali, with Natalya & Hornswoggle in his corner, in a non-title match. Just like he did on Main Event last week, Antonio Cesaro would show his unbridled strength by planting The Great Khali with the Neutralizer en route to picking up the win.
Despite telling him to get out of his life last week, Paul Heyman was once again confronted by Brad Maddox backstage. Heyman again tells Maddox that he does not want anything to do with Maddox, but the brash Maddox tells Heyman that he will not be spoken to in such a manner. Maddox continues, saying that he can be an important asset to both Heyman and WWE Champion CM Punk. Heyman humors Maddox, letting Maddox explain that he just so happened to bring his referee shirt with him and he was thinking of convincing RAW Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero to let him referee the WWE Title match later tonight. However, Heyman says that he does not want Maddox talking to Vickie or anyone else, telling Maddox to crawl back into whatever hole Maddox crawled out of and leave him alone. Heyman then threatens Maddox, saying that he does not know how Maddox “exists”, if he sees Maddox’s face again, he will make sure that Maddox will no longer exist!
On what was already a bad night for 3MB, 3MB member Jinder Mahal would have the unenviable task of going one-on-one with “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus. Throughout the match, Sheamus would take joy in humiliating 3MB, easily dominating all three men. After taking Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre out on the outside of the ring with the Brogue Kick, Sheamus would put Jinder Mahal down with the Brogue Kick, as well, en route to picking up the win.
On his 414th day as WWE Champion, the sixth longest reigning WWE Champion of all-time, CM Punk, with Paul Heyman in his corner, would defend the WWE Championship, live on RAW, against a #1 Contender who has been ‘hungry’ for the gold for months now, “The Sin City Cyborg” Ryback, in a Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match where all three weapons are legal and, the first man to climb a ladder and successfully retrieve the WWE Title that is hanging high above the ring will walk out as the WWE Champion! Throughout the match, CM Punk and Ryback would use the provided weapons to their advantage, but Punk would look close to putting Ryback away as Punk wears Ryback’s ankle out with a steel chair. However, when Punk looked to crush the ankle of Ryback with a steel chair, Ryback would dodge the attack and Punk would seemingly land hard on his surgically-repaired knee. Ryback would then briefly take advantage, looking to put Punk through a table on the outside of the ring, but Punk narrowly moves out of the way and Ryback charges right through the table! Punk then tries to climb the ladder, but the freaky resilience of Ryback would bring “The Sin City Cyborg” back into the ring. Both men prevent the other from climbing the ladder, but Ryback would grab Punk and toss him into the propped-up ladder, crippling the ladder. Punk then somehow manages to get back into the match, but Ryback spots a small window of opportunity following Punk’s signature high knee in the corner as Ryback hoists Punk up and over the top rope, sending Punk crashing through the table set up at ringside!
Ryback then heads to the outside of the ring and gets a better ladder, but when Ryback gets to the top of the ladder and actually gets his hand on the title belt, the lights go out in the arena and, when they come back on, two-thirds of The Shield, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins, are across from Ryback atop the ladder! Ryback is able to know Ambrose and Rollins off of the ladder, but the missing Shield member, Roman Reigns, enters the ring, pulling Ryback off of the ladder. However, Ryback would quickly deal with The Shield as “The Sin City Cyborg” tosses each man over the top rope to the outside. Ryback then climbs the ladder again, but The Shield returns as a unit with Roman Reigns carrying a steel chair. The three-on-one assault would then commence as Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns pummel Ryback around ringside before The Shield hoists Ryback up, sending Ryback through a table and on top of the steel steps with their three-man powerbomb! With the damage done, The Shield quickly leave the scene of the crime as CM Punk slowly and painfully climbs the ladder, taking a moment to look down and smile at the destroyed Ryback before grabbing the WWE Title to successfully retain the WWE Championship with a major assist from The Shield! CM Punk now must look towards the Royal Rumble in three weeks where the self-proclaimed “Best in the World” will go one-on-one with “The Great One” himself, The Rock, with the WWE Championship on the line!
Before he goes one-on-one with Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match on SmackDown, World Heavyweight Champion Big Show would go one-on-one with Kofi Kingston on RAW. However, Big Show would make quick work of the former Intercontinental Champion as Kofi Kingston would try and rush Big Show in the corner, but Big Show would spot an opening to deliver his K.O. Punch, knocking Kofi out and defeating Kingston in well under 30 seconds!
With the world anxiously awaiting the return of The Rock, WWE Champion CM Punk, along with his representative, Paul Heyman, would make their way to the ring just moments after The Shield against cost Ryback the WWE Championship in a TLC Match. Still showing the wounds of war from the WWE Title match, CM Punk grabs a microphone and taking the “WWE” logo box off before saying that he has something “very personal” to tell the fans. Punk continues, saying that no one in the WWE seems to know what a “pipe bomb” truly is, saying that the essence of a pipe bomb is “honesty”, something that the fans lack. Punk then says that he publicly aired his grievances back in the summer of 2011 before complaining about not getting any respect and turning his back on the fans. Punk argues that he never turned his back on the fans and he could have just accepted his position in the company and moved on like everyone else in the locker room would have done or he could have simply left. Punk then says that, to the fans, he “sold out”, but, to him, he “cashed in”. Punk continues that, in the WWE, it does not matter how good you are in or out of the ring, there is a “glass ceiling” and “no one is allowed to break it”, saying that, the more the fans cheer for you, the more opportunities you are given. Punk gives John Cena as an example, saying that Cena’s popularity with the fans allowed him to get countless opportunities throughout 2012, despite failing to capitalize on them. Punk then says that a “serious submission specialist” like Daniel Bryan humbles himself and belittles himself to gain favor with the fans. Punk continues, saying that an “imaginary child” like Little Jimmy is placed as a higher priority on the roster than a “workhorse” like Tyson Kidd. Punk then says that the fans cannot handle anything “complicated”, so they are the ones who have created the “circus” that makes the fans’ approval necessary to succeed in the WWE.
Punk then says that was the case until he showed up, saying that he is the “most successful WWE Champion of all-time” and, in the WWE, you do not get noticed until you move a couple of t-shirts. Punk continues, saying that, if he competed in Bruno Sammartino’s era, he would have been the champion for 20 years too, adding that wrestling one night a month in Madison Square Garden is easy. Punk then says that you’ve never seen Hulk Hogan wrestle a TLC Match against a guy like Ryback because Hogan had it “easy” and his repeated title defenses on free television over his 414 days as the WWE Champion has made one modern year equal to thirty years in Hogan or Sammartino’s respective eras. Punk then says that he is successful despite the fans, saying that he is the “most honest man” in the WWE, saying that he does not care about the people in Tampa. Punk continues that he is a “bad, bad man”, but guys like Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and Edge come out there and claim that they did it for the fans. Punk says that men like them are either “weak” or “dishonest”, but says that he is neither of those things because he is the “best in the world”. Punk continues that, in this world, there are “winners” and “losers” and the fans are the ones who pay to see champions like him, adding that he is a “real Superstar”. Punk then asks if the Superstars are really the fans’ friends, then they would come out there and hand out their millions and millions of dollars. The WWE Champion is then interrupted by a stagehand, who tells Punk that they need to take a commercial break, but Punk argues that they will only go to break when he wants to go to break. CM Punk then continues on, saying that The Rock is going to come out there soon, but says that he is going to tell the fans the most important thing they will hear all night. As RAW goes to a commercial break, Punk tells the fans that none of them matter and no one cares what they want.
When RAW comes back from commercial, WWE Champion CM Punk is still in the ring, saying that The Rock will come out there, but that does not change the fact that he is the WWE Champion. Punk continues that, ever since defeating Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Title in Madison Square Garden, he has beaten all of the fans’ “heroes” and he will do the same thing to The Rock, telling all of them that, just like The Rock, they do not “get to win”.
Then it was finally time for the return of “The Great One” himself as, for the first time since RAW’s 1,000th Episode in July, The Rock would appear, live, on RAW to confront his opponent at the Royal Rumble, WWE Champion CM Punk! The Rock says that he wanted to wait until CM Punk said everything that he had to say so that he could get a firm grasp on just who he will be going up against, calling Punk “delusional”. The Rock admits that CM Punk’s 414 day reign as champion is impressive, but the real number going through Punk’s head is the number 20, which is the number of days Punk has left as the WWE Champion! The Rock continues, saying that the people “rejected” Punk despite all of his promises of change. Rock says that, in the WWE, there is no such thing as the “voiceless” as the fans use their voice each and every night. Rock continues, saying that they are going to use their voices to make the loudest crowd chant ever as The Rock leads the fans in a chant of “cookie puss”. Punk says that he was able to get the fans to chant for him too, but that does not change the fact that the fans still don’t get to win. However, The Rock says that the fans have already won because he has finally come back to Tampa! The Rock says that he is back for three reasons, to entertain the fans, to stop CM Punk, and, after ten long years, he is back to win the WWE Championship. Rock continues, saying that he has watched RAW each and every week and what he has seen is a guy who claims to be straightedge, but looks like “Popeye on crack”! The Rock says that CM Punk fails to use the creative mind that he has, saying that Punk has become the biggest “jerk” in the WWE, warning Punk to never say that the fans don’t matter, and saying that Punk is the one who doesn’t matter. The Rock then vows that there is “no way” that CM Punk is going to stop him from becoming the WWE Champion at the Royal Rumble. Punk then lays the WWE Title down in the center of the ring before saying that he does not care what The Rock’s schedule is, saying that, every time The Rock shows up in the WWE, he will kick his ass! Punk continues, saying that he is the best guy that The Rock has ever faced, saying that The Rock has bitten off more than he can chew. Punk then says that The Rock can toss around his insults and his rhymes, but that is all “games”. Punk then tells The Rock that, at the Royal Rumble, Rock will realize that his “arms are just too short to box with god”! The Rock argues that he knows how “bad” CM Punk is and he remembers the GTS that he received from Punk. Rock then tells Punk to get a tattoo to commemorate the night that CM Punk got his ass kicked by The Rock! The Rock then grabs hold of CM Punk, planting the WWE Champion with the Rock Bottom, sending a clear-cut message to CM Punk for the Royal Rumble!
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