The Unified Champ is Here?
The 1071st edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. One week after the historic announcement that, in thirteen nights at WWE TLC, the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship will both be on the line in a TLC Match where either WWE Champion Randy Orton or World Heavyweight Champion John Cena will emerge from the match as the Undisputed WWE Champion, both John Cena and Randy Orton would be in the same ring at the same time as “The Champ” and the self-proclaimed “face of the WWE” will make the match official with a contract signing in the middle of the ring on RAW!
Match Results
- #1 Contender’s Match for the Intercontinental Title: Damien Sandow def. Dolph Ziggler by pin following the You’re Welcome to become the new #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title.
- 6-Diva Tag: Natalya & The Bella Twins def. AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka, & Summer Rae by Natalya rolling up AJ Lee.
- Daniel Bryan def. Erick Rowan (with Luke Harper) by roll-up.
- R-Truth & Xavier Woods def. Tons of Funk by Xavier Woods rolling up Brodus Clay.
- Sin Cara def. Alberto Del Rio by pin following the senton bomb.
- 6-Man Tag: The Shield def. Big Show, Goldust, & Cody Rhodes by Seth Rollins rolling up Goldust.
- Ryback & Curtis Axel def. The Miz & Kofi Kingston by Ryback pinning Kofi Kingston following Shell Shocked.
- Mark Henry def. Fandango (with Summer Rae) by pin following the World’s Strongest Slam.
- The Real Americans def. The Prime Time Players by Antonio Cesaro pinning Darren Young following the European Uppercut.
Detailed Results
After witnessing the abduction of Daniel Bryan at the hands of The Wyatt Family last week and, after he was inexplicably assaulted by The Shield, RAW kicks off with “The Best in the World” CM Punk. Punk says that he has been in “denial” for the past week, saying that he knows why The Shield attacked him last week, but he would love to be “wrong” about it. Punk continues, saying that he made the “cardinal sin” of criticizing The Authority and, more specifically, Triple H. Punk says that it was a comment that he was quick to forget about, saying that he did not see it as being that big of deal. Punk then says that, who is he, a “lowly peasant” to question “The King of Kings”, saying that he finds himself hoping that it was a “coincidence”. Punk continues, saying that he does not want anything to do with anyone in The Authority, saying that he enjoys living in his “own little universe”. Punk then says that Triple H cannot be “dense” enough to “kick a living hornet’s nest”, saying that the COO cannot be looking to “pick a fight” with one of the biggest anti-authority figures in WWE history. Punk continues, saying that, if he is “right”, then Triple H and The Authority are the “biggest group of sorry, ignorant, stupid douchebags” that he has ever come across in his entire life!
This brings Triple H’s wife and WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon out to the stage, saying that she hopes that CM Punk and everyone in the crowd had a great Thanksgiving. Stephanie then says that nobody is a bigger proponent of “free speech” than the McMahon family, saying that Triple H was one of the founding members of the most controversial group in WWE history, D-Generation X. Stephanie continues, saying that sending The Shield to attack CM Punk because Punk called Triple H a “bad name” is “beneath” them. Stephanie says that they have “matured”, claiming that they were just as “upset” about The Shield attacking CM Punk as Punk himself was. Stephanie continues, saying that they have bigger things to worry about, telling Punk that, if he has any other grievances, he can take them up with The Authority’s Director of Operations, Kane. Kane comes out, standing next to Stephanie, and, in a most professional matter, Kane tells Punk that it is his job to handle “day-to-day issues” and serve as “crisis management”, saying that The Authority had nothing to do with The Shield’s attack on Punk last week. Kane continues, saying that The Authority is “absolved from any wrong-doing”, labeling the issue as “resolved” and asking if Punk has any questions. Punk takes the opportunity to ask when Kane decided to become the “big red ass-kisser”, telling Kane not to “patronize” him. Kane threatens Punk, saying that he does not recommend Punk go down that “path”, so Punk provides another “path” to go down. Punk says that, since Kane “sold out”, he can come down to the ring and get “knocked out” or he can put the Director of Operations to “sleep”! Kane looks all but ready to collide with CM Punk, but Stephanie holds the Director of Operations back moments before The Shield arrives on the scene.
As United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns make their way through the crowd, CM Punk quickly grabs a steel chair, ready to fight The Shield. However, Stephanie McMahon stops The Shield , saying that she is not going to allow a repeat of last week, saying that Punk is to be “respected” and “admired”. Stephanie then walks to the back as Kane announces that, at WWE TLC, Punk will face all three members of The Shield in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match!
With Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston a guest on commentary, the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title would be determined on RAW as “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler would go one-on-one with Damien Sandow with the winner facing Big E. Langston for the Intercontinental Title at WWE TLC. In the end, it was Damien Sandow hitting the You’re Welcome on Dolph Ziggler, pinning Ziggler to become the new #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title.
In 6-Diva Tag action, Natalya would team with The Bella Twins to face Divas Champion AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka, & Summer Rae. Throughout the match, AJ Lee would lend no support to her team as the Divas Champion opts to skip around the ring throughout the match, but would eventually allow herself to be tagged into the match. AJ Lee would take her attention off of the match for a moment and it would allow Natalya to roll AJ Lee up, pinning the Divas Champion for the win. After the match, AJ Lee would resume her skip around the ring.
With a podium set up at ringside, Wade Barrett would appear at ringside for his new segment, “Bad News Barrett”. The former Intercontinental Champion says that he has some “good news” and some “bad news”, saying that the good news is that they are live on RAW, but the bad news is that they are stuck in an arena full of “hillbillies and overweight miscreants”.
For the first time since being abducted by The Wyatt Family last week, Daniel Bryan was in action on RAW as Bryan would go one-on-one with The Wyatt Family’s Erick Rowan, with Luke Harper in his corner. After being dominated throughout much of the match, Daniel Bryan would use his speed to surprise Erick Rowan with a roll-up to pick up the win. After the match, Bray Wyatt appears on the Tron, telling Luke Harper & Erick Rowan to not attack Daniel Bryan, saying that they will only harm Bryan if he tells them to. Wyatt says that he is man enough to admit when he is wrong and he was “wrong” about Daniel Bryan, saying that he “understands” Bryan and he knows who Bryan really is. Wyatt continues, saying that he sees the “monster” in Bryan and, together, they can bring “the machine” down, telling Bryan to open his eyes!
Backstage, Daniel Bryan runs into his former tag team partner, Kane, as the Director of Operations congratulates Daniel Bryan on his victory. Kane then states that, at WWE TLC, Daniel Bryan will face the same challenge that CM Punk will face as Bryan will compete against all three members of The Wyatt Family in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match!
In a rematch from SmackDown, Tons of Funk, Brodus Clay & Tensai, would face R-Truth & Xavier Woods in tag team action on RAW. In the end, Brodus Clay would go for the splash off of the second rope on Xavier Woods, but Xavier would narrowly move out of the way, surprising the big man with a roll-up to pick up the win for himself and R-Truth. After the match, Brodus Clay gets in Tensai’s face, but cooler heads would prevail among the tag team partners.
Alberto Del Rio was in action on RAW as “The Mexican Aristocrat” would go one-on-one with Sin Cara. In an upset victory, Sin Cara would hit a senton bomb off of the top rope, pinning Del Rio for the surprising win!
Two weeks before they face CM Punk in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match at WWE TLC, The Shield was in action on RAW as United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns would face the team of “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show and WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust & Cody Rhodes in a 6-Man Tag match. In the end, it was Goldust going for a superplex on Dean Ambrose that would result in Ambrose landing on Seth Rollins, but Rollins would roll out of the way and, after Goldust puts Ambrose down with the superplex, Rollins would capitalize, scoring a roll-up on Goldust to pick up the win for The Shield.
Willing to give their partnership another try, The Miz would team with Kofi Kingston to face Ryback & Curtis Axel on RAW. During the match, Ryback would go for a right hand on Kofi Kingston, but Kofi would duck out of the way and Ryback would inadvertently deck The Miz. Shortly after this, Ryback would plant Kofi with Shell Shocked en route to picking up the win for himself and Curtis Axel. After the match, The Miz would appear to help Kofi Kingston to his feet, only to slap Kofi across the face.
“The World’s Strongest Man” was in action on RAW as Mark Henry went one-on-one with Fandango, with Summer Rae in his corner. In the end, it was Mark Henry squashing Fandango with the World’s Strongest Slam, picking up the win.
In tag team action, The Prime Time Players would face The Real Americans, with Zeb Colter in their corner. After the Cesaro Swing left Titus O’Neil in a sickened state, Titus would quickly tag out of the match and, while Darren Young would hold his own against The Real Americans, the numbers would catch up to Darren and Antonio Cesaro hits the European Uppercut on Darren en route to picking up the win for The Real Americans.
Then it was time to make the TLC Match for both the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE TLC official with the official contract signing for the epic match. WWE COO Triple H & WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon first drive the point home that, after WWE TLC, there will be a winner and there will be only one Undisputed Champion. After WWE Champion Randy Orton and World Heavyweight Champion John Cena are introduced, both champions come out and take their seats in the ring. Triple H says that the WWE Championship has a rich history, having been held by “all the greats”, including Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and, as Stephanie chimes in, her husband Triple H. Triple H also pays homage to the World Heavyweight Championship, saying that, in one form or another, the “Big Gold Belt” of professional wrestling has been held by the likes of Frank Gotch, Lou Thesz, Pat O’Connor, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and, as again pointed out by Stephanie, Triple H. The COO says that, before they could commit to a Unification Match to bring the two World Titles together, they needed to have two champions who were capable of becoming the one and only “face of the WWE”. Triple H continues, saying that, at WWE TLC, John Cena and Randy Orton will have the chance to “cement” their legacy forever.
After a powerful speech, WWE COO Triple H asks both Randy Orton and John Cena to sign the contract and both champions do not hesitate to sign, making the match official. Stephanie McMahon then leaves the floor open for both champions to speak and the WWE Champion is the first to speak up, saying that, no matter how great all of the men who have held the WWE Championship are, none of them are greater than him, not even Triple H! Orton continues, saying that Triple H, along with most of the fans, do not like John Cena and that is why the COO chose him to be the WWE Champion because Triple H knows that Orton is the only one capable of shutting Cena up and putting Cena out of his “misery”, vowing to beat Cena at WWE TLC and walk out with both titles. Orton then says that, since kicking John Cena’s father in the head several years ago, Orton has been making a career out of turning people’s dreams into nightmares. Orton continues, saying that the only reason that Cena was put on the Earth was to lose to Randy Orton.
John Cena fires back, saying that the only “dream” that Randy Orton has turned into a “nightmare” is Triple H’s dream. The World Heavyweight Champion explains, saying that, ten years ago, Triple H selected Orton as the next big star in the WWE, but Orton “never lived up” to his potential. Cena continues, saying that Orton is the “most gifted WWE Superstar ever” and Orton makes wrestling look easy. However, Cena says that all of the talent in the world led to Orton getting “cocky” and “lazy”, saying that Triple H gave Randy Orton Hall of Fame mentors like Ric Flair to learn from, but Orton still sat back and let “some scrappy kid in a t-shirt and a ball cap” ruin Triple H’s dream. Cena continues, saying that he is not like Randy Orton, he has never been asked to be called the “face” of anything, and he is just the first to show up and the last to leave. The World Heavyweight Champion says that Orton thinks that he should be given championships because of his family’s legacy and should be given opportunities because of his talent, saying that, at WWE TLC, if Orton gets anything from him, Orton will have “earned it”. Cena then gives Orton the ultimatum to either leave the ring or “make a move”, warning Orton that, if the WWE Champion makes a move, he will show everyone what a TLC Match is all about, vowing to put Orton through a table! Cena then asks Orton if he is going to “step up or step aside” and Orton chooses the former option, trying to turn the table over on Cena. However, Cena dodges and a brawl breaks out on the outside of the ring as Cena gets a steel ladder, ramming the ladder into Orton. Orton then fights back, sending the World Heavyweight Champion into the steel ring post before Orton dismantles the announce table. Cena then grabs another ladder, using it to knock Orton for a loop before driving a steel chair into the mid-section and the back of Orton. Cena then pops Orton in the head with a microphone, dragging Orton over to the steel steps and smacking Orton’s skull off of the steps.
Back in the ring, Randy Orton catches John Cena with a ladder to the face before Orton picks up a steel chair, smacking the steel on Cena’s spine before repeatedly jabbing Cena in the chest with the chair. The WWE Champion then clears room in the ring, setting up a table with malicious intent, but the time that Orton spent setting up the table would benefit Cena as Cena recovers, putting Orton through a table in the corner before hoisting the WWE Champion up and putting him through a table with the Attitude Adjustment! John Cena then grabs both the WWE and the World Heavyweight Titles, holding both championships high above his head
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