WWE Monday Night Raw
December 17, 2012
Philadelphia, PA
Commentators: Michael Cole, JBL, and Jerry Lawler
Report by: Mr. V of Wrestleview.com
Dave Stephens is out attending the show LIVE in Philly, so I will be taking over. Remember my style is a bit different. If you don’t like it, well…to each their own.
Slammy Edition!
Previously announced Slammy winners are the following:
YouTube Show of the Year: Z! True Long Island Story
Feat of Strength of the Year: Sheamus hitting White Noise to Big Show
Best Dancer of the Year: Brodus Clay
Top Social Media Ambassador: Charlie Sheen
Tweet of the Year: Daniel Bryan addressing his “Goat Face”
Insult of the Year: When John Cena called Ziggler and Vickie exact opposites
Facial Hair of the Year: Daniel Bryan
Betrayal of the Year: Big Show knocking out John Cena.
Crowd Chant of the Year: “Feed Me More!”
WWE.com Exclusive of the Year: Lawler speaks about his miraculous return.
Upset of the Year: Daniel Bryan defeating the Big Show and Mark Henry at Royal Rumble.
Diva of the Year: AJ Lee
And now, time for the 3-hour extravaganza!
Then. Now. Forever. Time for Raw in Philly!
Hype for the Slammy Awards are featured at the start of the show.
They start off the show by talking about the big shocker of AJ Lee shoving John Cena while he was on the ladder. Also they showed a slo-mo clip of Seth Rollins meeting a table. Lawler wants an explanation from AJ.
Rey Mysterio (w/Sin Cara who may or may not have missed his cue to enter) vs. Damien Sandow (already in the ring)
(Michael Cole gives us directions to get to the WWE Active App.)
The match begins with a tie-up. Sandow goes to a corner with stomps, but Mysterio quickly gets out. Sandow quickly shoves Rey through the bottom rope and Sandow is in control outside of the ring. Sandow uses the post as a weapon, then goes to the ring for a pin, but Mysterio kicked out at two.
Sandow then hit the Elbow of Distain and wored down Mysterio. Sandow continues the work on Mysterio at the corner with shoulders to the abdominal area. Mysterio fights off a top corner attack with a Seated sendton and Mysterio speeds things up with his quickness. Wow, Sandow counters the attacks with a Rolling Neckbreaker. However, Mysterio regains momentum with a Tornado DDT. Mysterio connects with the 619 and then finishes it with a Top Rope Splash
Winner via Pinfall: Rey Mysterio.
Grade: C (leans towards C+)
We see replays after the match and the babyfaces celebrate. Then the commentators take us to the first Slammy Award presentation. Booker T will present. Booker T said it is an honor to present the award named after him. It is called “Tell me I did NOT just see that” Moment of the Year. The candidates are: Brad Maddox’s Low Blow, Daniel Bryan’s Wrestlemania loss in 18 seconds, Kofi’s miracle save in the Royal Rumble, and CM Punk attacks The Rock. Booker says something and then THE BOOGEYMAN appears! Remember, they had a feud a few years back. Booker T is shaking as The Boogeyman feasts on some worms and we go to our first break.
(Break #1)
Booker T asks if he did NOT see that? The winner is…WAIT. Brad Maddox enters, waiting for his Slammy. However, the winner is…KOFI KINGSTON.
Kingston said the WWE Universe spoke and he thanks the WWE Universe. He always wanted to be a Slammy winner. And he did. Congrats.
Kaitlyn vs. Eve Torres
Kaitlyn just goes right at Eve, and Eve follows suit. Well, both are just going at it on the mat. They are out of the ring and Kaitlyn rams Eve’s face to the barricade on a few occasions. Kaitlyn then gives Eve a slap and rolls her to the ring. Eve retaliates with a kick and then grounds Kaitlyn. Eve stomps Kaitlyn at the corner, then uses a bit of leverage with a chinlock while seated at the turnbuckle.
Wow, in a sudden moment Kaitlyn carries Eve on her shoulders and hits a Gut Buster for the victory.
Winner via Pinfall: Kaitlyn
Grade: C-
After the match, Kaitlyn “poses” for a picture.
The New Age Outlaws then announce the Comeback of the Year Slammy. Billy Gunn wants to go to the ring, but Road Dogg said they have to go to the podium. Road Dogg said welcome to The Dogg House and runs his introduction. Billy Gunn then said his line that made him popular in the years. Wait, SWERVE! He said “the nominees are”: Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho (in that AMAZING jacket), DX, and Jerry Lawler.
(Break #2)
(After Break #2, my wife’s car does not start, so you will get a brief things right now)
Jerry Lawler wins the Comeback of the Year.
Kofi Kingston vs. Tensai
I am so sorry again for the car breaking down, but I will be honest and just give you a quick rundown.
From a friend at the arena, he told me I did not miss much, after some back and forth, Kofi Kingston hits the Trouble in Paradise for the win.
Winner via Pinfall: Kofi Kingston
Vickie Guerrero is going to present the Kiss of the Year. Regardless, AJ Lee will win, but will it be with Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Kane, or John Cena.
(Break #3)
Vickie Guerrero excuses herself and said she would never abuse her powers. The winner of the Award goes to AJ Lee and John Cena! AJ enters, and Vickie wants an explanation for what she did to Cena last night. AJ snatches the award and said she does not owe anyone anything. Vickie calls her trash and everyone knows it. They argue and then Dolph Ziggler enters and gets between them.
AJ Lee then stated that what will happen now is nothing compared to what will happen. AJ Lee then leaps into Ziggler’s arms and then plants one on him while Vickie screams. Ziggler then is enjoying this more and more and then AJ skips her way out of the ramp. Ziggler runs after her.
(Break #4)
The Great Khali (w/Natalya) vs. David Otunga
Otunga tries a club, but Khali with a chop. Khali then takes Otunga to a corner and then delivers a couple hard chops. Otunga avoids a boot in the corner and quickly attacks Khali’s knee. However, near the end of the match The Great Khali gives Otunga the boot, a Brain Chop, and a pinfall win.
Winner via Pinfall: The Great Khali
Grade: D-
After the match, Natalya and Khali dance in celebration.
Cole then announced that the next award is Superstar of the Year and the presenter will surprise everyone. Then we hear a WOOOOOOOO and the nominees are: Sheamus, John Cena, The Big Show, and CM Punk.
(Break #5)
RIC FLAIR is the next presenter and he will declare who the winner of Superstar of the Year will be. Flair WOOs a bit and said it is great to be back in Philadelphia. Flair said the crowd is as loud as ever and he is back in town. Falir said the winner of the Superstar of the Year goes to John Cena! Cena accepts the award and then looks around the crowd for a moment. Cena agreed that it is a lively crowd. He thanks the crod for all the noise. He talks about the award being about Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect. The he mentions that the winner must have all these. He then said out of respect he awards it to Ric Flair.
CM Punk and Paul Heyman enter the ring and Punk is not happy. Punk calls the crowd “stupid” and “ridiculous”. He said this was the worst year for Cena and runs down his losses in 2012. Punk then stated that he did not want to be Flair and acknowledges his 393 days as WWE Champion. Flair asked what time it was and it is time to rock and roll. Flair said that he has been watching Punk’s title reign, and Punk stated could beat Flair with one leg. He pokes fun at Flair’s baggage and then Flair said “Let’s do it”. Flair walks down the aisle to the ring. Heyman pleads to stop but Punk wants none of it.
(Break #6)
Punk and Heyman taunt Flair, then Punk clobbers Flair with his crutches. Punk then mocks Flair until Flair uses a cheap tactic to take Punk out and then he applied the Figure Four Leglock to Paul Heyman. Flair celebrates his triumph.
After replays, Flair then talked about having a good time, and said that he loves Jerry Laler. Flair said that he wanted to die here in the ring or with a woman in Philadelphia. He continues to plug the city until The Shield makes their way through the crowd (looks like Rollins is ok after that fall last night). Flair said “come on down” and we go to break.
(Break #7)
We are now back on Raw and Kane and Daniel Bryan run in to help Ric Flair fight off The Shield. Dean Ambrose takes out Ric Flair and The Shield now have the advantage. Roman Reigns tells the commentary team to get out of the way and he cleans the commentary table. Just when The Shield was about to put Flair through the table, Ryback makes his way for the save. Ryback cleans house and now Kane and Bryan are back up. Ryback then Gorilla Press slams Seth Rollins to the commentary table (which the table did not break). The Shield retreats and Hell No, Ryback, and Flair stand tall. They celebrate even more when Flair is lift about the shoulders of Kane and Ryback.
(Break #8)
Backstage, Flair thanks Team Hell No for helping him. Kane is happy that they had a moral victory over The Shield that he said YES. Bryan said NO. Flair said WOO. This happens a while until Ron Simmons said DAMN!
Brodus Clay (already dancing with Cameron and Naomi) vs. JTG
JTG tries to go at Clay, but Clay with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex and a leg drop. JTG then counters a corner attack with a pair of boots and then hits a sloppy Blockbuster. After a two count, JTG wears Clay down with a chinlock. Clay powers out then hits a Corner Splash. After a My Bad Suplex, a Head Butt to the chest, and a “Call my Momma” Splash it is over.
Winner via Pinfall: Brodus Clay
Grade: D-
After the match we get more dancing and replays.
Justin Roberts announces that the next award is presented by Santino Marella and Tensai. Marella is happy and smiling while Tensai flops like The Shockmaster. Marella just barely (in laughter) announces that they will award the LOL Moment of the Year. Santino said that it is Albert’s turn to talk and then speaks for him. Marella then said that Tensai is Japanese for “Fat Albert”. Tensai then said “there is no teleprompter for him to say that”. The nominees are Rock’s Tea Part, Team Hell No’s therapy sessions, Orton’s buffet brawl, and Vickie’s Dancing.
(Break #9)
Marella announces that the winner of the LOL Moment of the Year goes to The Rock. Marella said that The Rock is not here so he will accept it on his behalf. Daniel Bryan then runs to the podium and said NO I SHOULD BE THE WINNER! Kane then picks him up and they exit with Bryan screaming “NO”!
Sin Cara (w/Rey Mysterio) vs. Cody Rhodes (w/Damien Sandow)
The match is under the blue lights. Rhodes grounds Sin Cara early. Sin Cara then comes back with a handspring elbow. Sin Cara then hits his theatrical wrist lock takedown and then executes a wonderful suicide dive through the middle ropes.
When the action is back inside the ring, Rhodes takes advantage. Rhodes then hits a delayed Front Suplex then gets a two count. Rhodes then wears down Sin Cara by working the head and neck region. Rhodes then used the ropes to use leverage with his stomps. Rhodes goes for another cover, but only gets another two count.
Rhodes then clubs the back and attacks the back a bit more. Rhodes then turns away only to see Sin Cara use the ropes to give Rhodes a kick. Sin Cara then connects with a Springboard Dropkick and takes Rhodes down with the head scissors. However, in the end of the match Rhodes perfectly catches Sin Cara and finishes him off with the Cross Rhodes.
Winner via Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Grade: C+
After the match, Rhodes and Damien Sandow celebrate like gentlemen.
Justin Roberts introduces Zack Ryder and Layla. Layla talks about social media being important and that the WWE trends a good bit. They are presenting the Trending Now Hashtag of the Year. The nominees are: #FeedMeMore, #PeoplePower, #LittleJimmy, #WWWYKI.
(Break #10)
And the winner for Trending Now Hashtag of the Year is…#FeedMeMore! Ryder then WWWYKIs and they both leave.
The Big Show enters with a giant chair. He talks about the snub for Superstar of the year. The crowd is not really interested in what The Big Show has to say and Sheamus enters. Sheamus said he had no regrets about last night and they had a fight of their lives. After some exchanges in words, Show calls Sheamus a “potato-eating Irishman and to get in the back of the line”.
Sheamus does not like that and goes off on Show with the big chair. Sheamus then hits the Brouge Kick and is out cold. Dolph Ziggler is out and is ready to cash in the Money in the Bank case. However before the match begins John Cena runs down and clotheslines Ziggler. Cena then destroys Ziggler with a couple whips to the barricade. Cena then goes to Ziggler and said it won’t happen on Raw.
The bell never rang, so the match does not count.
3MB, Alberto Del Rio, and The Miz make their way to the ring. Looks like a 6-man tag will be next.
(Break #11)
Before the match, Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero are arguing backstage about how Cena cost Ziggler the title. Vickie wants answers over AJ and TLC. Ziggler said that Vickie’s act was getting old. Vickie announced that there will be a match. It will be AJ and Ziggler vs. Cena and…VICKIE!
The Miz announces that their mystery opponent today will be…TOMMY DREAMER!
3MB (Drew McIntyre, Heath Slater, and Jinder Mahal) vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodrieguez), The Miz, and Tommy Dreamer
(Due to time constraints, I will be brief because of car issues. Sorry folks, family does come first. I will take responsibility.)
McIntyre and Del Rio started the match. They exchanged with nothing spectacular. When Dreamer was tagged in, the crowd was extremely intense (no pun intended). After a Del Rio suicide dive and a Miz Baseball Slide, Dreamer went up top and hit a dive from the top to take out all the members of 3MB.
(Break #12)
The Miz did some in-peril work due to 3MB’s excessive work in this tag match. Del Rio took the hot tag and showed great quickness. Del Rio almost went for the Cross Arm Breaker, but instead tagged Dreamer in. Dreamer hits the DDT on Slater for the pinfall victory.
Winners via Pinfall: Tommy Dreamer, The Miz, and Alberto Del Rio
Grade: C
After the match, the babyfaces celebrate.
Sheamus is at the Slammy podium to announce the Newcomer of the Year. The nominees are Antonio Cesaro, Brodus Clay, Damien Sandow, and Ryback. They tell us how to vote again and we go to another break.
(Break #13)
The winner for Newcomer of the Year is Ryback! Ryback quotes Owen Hart, stating “Enough is enough and it is time for a change”. He said that he is that change. FEED ME MORE!
Non-Title Match
Antonio Cesaro vs. Ryback
Before the match, Cesaro said this was a typical vote and that he should be the Newcomer of the Year because he is a champion.
Cesaro tries to uppercut and succeeds, but Ryback rams Cesaro’s head to the mat. Ryback picks him up, but Cesaro fights off the attack. Cesaro was eating some more power spots as Goldberg chants are loud. Ryback counters a Cesaro Suplex with a Delayed, Walking Vertical Suplex.
After both exchanged some Spinebusters, Ryback tried to hit Cesaro with a Lariat. Cesaro rolls out of the ring and takes his title. Ryback Press Slams Cesaro back into the ring, but again Cesaro retreats. Ryback wins by countout.
Winner via Countout: Ryback
Grade: C+
Mean Gene Okerlund, Ricky Steamboat, and Jim Ross are announced as the presenters for the Match of the Year Slammy. After some hype, the nominees were announced. They are HHH vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania, John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules, Sheamus vs. The Big Show at Hell in a Cell, and Rock vs. John Cena at WrestleMania.
(Break #14)
The winner for Match of the Year goes to: HHH vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania!
HHH walks to the podium in a wonderful buzzcut. He jokes about winning a Slammy for Best Hair. While he was trying to talk, the crowd wants The Undertaker. He talks about the magic at WrestleMania with The Undertaker. He talks about the respect of Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker after the brutal encounter.
HHH got a HUGE reaction from the crowd, as the crowd thanked the Undertaker. HHH thanks them and he answers the Million Dollar Question. We have NOT seen the last of The Undertaker.
After the wonderful segment with HHH, we cut backstage where The Shield is destroying Tommy Dreamer. Ricardo Rodriguez tried to run in for the save, but he too fell victim of The Shield’s attacks. The referees break up the brawl.
AJ Lee now skips her way to the ring and there is a big ladder up inside the ring.
(Break #15)
AJ is up the top of the ladder with a microphone. AJ mentions the fans reaction. The fans asked her “why”? Everyone asked “why”? Even Cena asked “why”? AJ said it is obvious, but before she could answer Vickie Guerrero excuses herself. Now we will have our main event.
Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee vs. Vickie Guerrero and John Cena
The match started with Ziggler and Cena mat wrestling. Ziggler then worked the arm, but Cena countered with a modified Side Slam. Wow, this crowd is really good tonight.
AJ was tagged in, so Vickie was tagged by rules of the match. The two women brawled for some moments. There was nothing truly special until AJ Lee left the ring. It was Cena and Ziggler once again. After a counter from a kick, Cena applied the STF. Ziggler was near tapping out until we see AJ Lee skipping back into the ring with NXT Wrestler Big E Langston! Langston runs off the rope and destroys Cena with a Body Block. The referee had no choice but to call for the bell.
Winners by DQ: John Cena and Vickie Guerrero
Grade: C-
After the result, Langston lifts Cena up and hits The Big Ending on Cena. AJ Lee skips around the carnage while Dolph Ziggler is in the corner puzzled.
Thoughts later after Wrestleview Radio or on Tuesday.
The Teacher’s Lounge (Sunday)
“The Teacher’s Lounge” is a weekly podcast archived every Saturday on the Wrestleview Radio Network featuring hosts David Stephens and “Mr. V” Anthony Valvo. The show reviews all of the news from the week, tosses out Gold Stars and Detentions, PPV previews and special guests. Past interviews include: Colt Cabana, Hernandez, Sara Del Rey, CZW Owner DJ Hyde, Shane Douglas and many more!