WWE Monday Night Raw
Austin, TX
December 20th 2010
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler & CM Punk
Report by: Wrestleview VIP Member, Greg McNeish
Raw Recapper Dave Stephens is under the weather, but while he’s wrapped up in his DX Snuggie, I know he wants you to stop questioning your heart, and join me for another exciting edition of Monday Night Raw!
No pyro tonight. Justin Roberts brings out WWE Champion, The Miz, wearing a nice suit, with a manly pink tie. Looks like there’s no Michael Cole on commentary tonight. Lawler & Punk are alone at the desk.
Miz rubs it in that he’s STILL the WWE Champion, milking the boos. Spooky music cuts him off, and Alex Riley comes out as the Ghost of Christmas Past. He introduces a video of Miz vs. Lawler, from 3 weeks ago. Miz rubs it in to King, but is cut off by Michael Cole as the Ghost of Christmas Present. He tells Miz that he needs to change, because he retained his title through “nefarious ways”. Miz tells everyone that all that matters is whether you keep the title. Miz Girl is the Ghost of Christmas Future, making this the greatest start to RAW in history, as CM Punk points out. She warns Miz of John Morrison, the new #1 Contender.
Morrison strolls out to the ring at the end of Miz telling us how awesome he is. JoMo calls this Dickins parody stupid, but is happy that he’ll be facing Miz for the title, because he’s beaten him in the past, present, and future. A-Ri shoves Morrison, but gets owned. Sheamus rolls down and steam rolls Morrison. Jerry Lawler PUNCHES~ Alex Riley!!!
GeneralMail Alert
And I quote…
Miz will collide with his ghosts of the past, present and future. It’ll be Miz, Riley, and Sheamus vs. Morrison, Jerry Lawler, and Randy Orton.
Orton clotheslines Miz, as he tried to walk to the back.
They show a video of Cena dropping the chairs on Wade Barrett, after last night’s match. Tonight “the John Cena of old is BACK.”
****Commercial****
Michael Cole is back on commentary, and so is Divas Champion, Natalya.
Divas Championship #1 Contender Triple Threat
Melina vs. Alicia Fox vs. Eve Torres
Dave Stephens must be thrilled that he’s not calling an Alicia Fox match. Alicia goes straight for Eve, and drops her into the corner. She does the same for Melina, before tossing Eve to the outside. She’s getting booked VERY strong at the start. Melina turns it around, drapes Fox across the second rope, grabs a head of steam, and drives a pair of knees into her back. Everyone trades a roll-up attempt, but no dice. Fox hits a powerbomb out of the corner on Melina. Eve takes control, and hits a standing moonsault of Alicia, for a two count. Melina & Eve fight up the turnbuckle, Alicia lifts Melina for a Doomsday Device, but as Eve jumps, Melina hits a victory roll on Alicia Fox.
Winner: Melina
Natalya offers a handshake after the match, but Melina slaps the taste out of her mouth.
The Bellas chat in the back, before each grabbing an arm of Daniel Bryan, and walking him towards the ring. Michael Cole can’t believe Bryan’s got TWO girls.
****Commercial****
Daniel Bryan w/ Brie & Nikki Bella vs. William Regal
They acknowledge that Regal trained Bryan, once upon a time. Tie up, and they trade takedowns. Regal controls the arm, until Bryan hits a dropkick. They’re doing a very slow-build in this match. So much for that, as Daniel Bryan hits 15 kicks to Regal, before Regal cuts him off with a clothesline. They work a fun spot with Regal keeping a cravat on through a bodyslam attempt. Regal switches to a striking game, then hooks in a seated full nelson. Both men trade a looooooong series of european uppercuts. Bryan goes for a backslide, Regal attempts a Regal Stretch, but Bryan is able to eventually counter into a LaBelle Lock. Regal taps immediately.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
The Bellas celebrate by each passionately kissing Bryan. He looks confused, and might faint….
****Commercial****
Be a good sport, and help John Cena grant more wishes, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Head to wwe.com for details.
John Morrison and Randy Orton have a discussion in Morrison’s locker room. Orton promises to come after the title, if Morrison wins, and tells him that it’s a mistake to trust the Viper.
Tamina is walking on Santino’s back, when Maryse comes in to talk trash. They BOTH end up on Marella’s back squacking away, neither in English. I believe they’re wrestling each other later tonight, but my French/Polynesian is rusty.
Mark Henry & Gail Kim have a heart-to-heart, loving that the Nexus has been taken out. Vickie Guerrero & Dolph Ziggler wreck their good mood, with a simple EXCUSE ME.
****Commercial****
Mixed-Tag Team
Santino Marella & Tamina vs. Ted Dibiase & Maryse
Santino’s back is messed up, from everyone walking on it, but Tamina gives him a big squeeze, and he’s all better. Santino hits an early hip toss, but gets mauled by Dibiase. Standing dropkick by Dibiase, for a near fall. The crowd rallies Santino out of a chinlock, and he hits a flurry of offense on Dibiase. Santino loads up the Cobra, but Maryse tags in, turns his hand around, and makes the Cobra strike its own master. Tamina kills her with a superkick, and scales the ropes for a Superfly Splash.
Winners: Santino & Tamina
****Commercial****
John Cena receives a hero’s welcome, as he comes to the ring to celebrate. Cena starts by hugging it out with someone in a “We Hate Cena” t-shirt. He follows up by singing and dancing, because RAW is Nexus-free. He has a lot of fun playing replays of dropping chairs on Barrett, post-match. Apparantly there were 23 chairs, all told. Cena’s focus is turning to winning the Royal Rumble, but…
EXCUSE ME! Vickie Guerrero & Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler join Cena in the ring. LOTS of heat for Vickie, and Cena is laughing his butt off. Ladies and gentleman, THIS is what’s so great about the crowds in Texas. John Cena actually repeats what Vickie says, because the crowd was shouting her down so thoroughly.
They show a video of Jerry Lawler making fat jokes at Vickie’s expense, rather than the Intercontinental Title match highlights, she’d intended. Guerrero demands an apology from King, but he and Cena take turns making fat jokes instead. Vickie slaps Cena in the face, and Ziggler steps between them.
GeneralMail Alert
And I quote…
Since Vickie Guerrero is threatening to have Dolph Ziggler beat people up, he’ll be facing John Cena… RIGHT NOW!
****Commercial****
Non-Title
Dolph Ziggler w/Vickie Guerrero vs. John Cena
Dolph Ziggler takes it to the mat, early on, looking to steal a pinfall. Cena responds with a headlock takedown, showing he’s game. Dolph fakes a test of stength, but unloads with punches and kicks instead. Cena reversal a whip to the buckle, hitting a running bulldog. He catches a kick, and connects with a fisherman suplex. Unfortunately, he also connects with the turnbuckle, on a charge attempt. Ziggler hits an irish whip to the buckle for a pinfall attempt, then staggers Cena with a series of punches. Cena responds with a gutwrench suplex, for two. Ziggler continues to go for pin attempts, before grounding Cena with a chinlock. Cena powers out, and goes for an Attitude Adjustment, but Dolph Ziggler counters with a sitout facebuster.
****Commercial****
We return to see Cena punching Ziggler, and hitting a sidewalk slam. Both men think clothesline, and they are down. Isnt’ this the kind of thing you do DURING the commercial? Ziggler with a jawbreaker into a pin attempt, and follows up with standing dropkick. Dolph goes to the well again, but Cena swats the dropkick aside. He nails the 5-Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the AA, Ziggler grabs a Sleeper Hold, but Cena rolls through. Cena catches him in a STF, and Ziggler is tapping. Vickie Guerrero distracts the referee, though. Ziggler hits his legdrop-bulldog (Rocker Drop), then unties the turnbuckle cover. Vickie hands Ziggler the Intercontinental Title, and he takes a mighty swing at Cena’s head. It’s a big whiff, though, and Dolph has his Attitude Adjusted.
Winner: John Cena
After the bell, CM Punk hops into the ring, and SLAMS John Cena with a steel chair, before walking to the back! That looks to have made Cena VERY angry.
****Commercial****
During the break, Josh Matthews caught up with CM Punk in the parking lot. He says that after what Cena did to Wade Barrett last night, he’s just giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler is getting ready in the back, when Sheamus shows up. Sheamus says there’s only room for one king, and that’s him. Lawler explains that he’s been King since the 70s, but Sheamus isn’t having any of it.
Vickie yells at Dolph Ziggler for embarrassing her. Ziggler says that he’s challenging Cena to a rematch tomorrow, on the LIVE Smackdown. Vickie likes that, and makes it a handicap match: John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero
****Commercial****
The Miz, Alex Riley, & Sheamus vs. John Morrison, Jerry Lawler, & Randy Orton
Josh Matthews has joined commentary for the main event, as they’ve been dropping like flies. Orton and The Miz start things off. Nope, Alex Riley tags in, before contact. Orton quickly bullies Riley into the corner, then drags him out for a knee drop. John Morrison comes in, and he keeps up the momentum. Jerry Lawler is in, and he’s PUNCHING~! King with a dropkick. Riley is able to muscle him into the corner, and Miz tags in. Lawler tags him with a PUNCH~, and drags him over for Orton. Miz craps his pants, runs away, and tags in Sheamus. The Champion wants nothing to do with the Viper.
****Commercial****
Jerry Lawler is down, getting mugged by Sheamus. “Let’s go Jerry” chant, as he fights back with PUNCHES~! Sheamus runs his shoulder into the ring post, and Morrison gets the tag. He hits a big kick, but his leg is still hurting from last night. Morrison is able to hit the Flying Chuck, but Sheamus clubs his leg going for Starship Pain. The Miz tags in, and goes after JoMo’s busted wheel. Back to Sheamus, who continues the leg work. Morrison spins out, and crawls for the tag, but Alex Riley cuts him off, continuing the assault.
Miz returns to the match, works Morrison in the ropes, but gets kicked out of the ring. Miz is JUST able to cut off the tag, dragging Morrison back to Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior clubs away at Morrison’s chest, before returning to the leg with a knee bar. Morrison misses on an enziguri, and Sheamus slaps on a camel clutch, with JoMo facing his teammates. Hal-crab now, as Lawler distracts the ref, allowing Randy Orton to break the hold. Sheamus clears King off the apron, but this gives Morrison the opportunity to hit a Pele kick. Both men tag out.
Orton unloads on The Miz, with a powerslam and and Angle Slam. Suspended DDT, but Sheamus breaks it up. Morrison crossbody’s Sheamus out of the ring. Orton with an RKO on the oncoming A-Ri. King tags in, Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but gets caught by an RKO. Jerry Lawler pins the WWE Champion!!!
Winners: Morrison, Lawler, & Orton
GeneralMail Alert
And I quote…
At the LIVE Smackdown, tomorrow night, The Miz will face Randy Orton.
Miz looks to Pearl Harbor Orton, but it doesn’t work. Miz scurries away, while Orton fumes in the ring. They stare down from a distance, as we head off the air.
Thanks for reading along with me, in my first ever live recap. Dave Stephens will hopefully be back next week, once he’s feeling better. Remember that Smackdown is LIVE, tomorrow night at 9pm EST. Until then…
Stay sexy, Wrestleview.