WWE Championship
The Miz (c) w/ Alex Riley vs. Randy Orton
Justin Roberts did ring introductions for the challenger Randy Orton and champion The Miz.
Randy Orton tosses The Miz out early and throws him into the padded ring barricades. Orton levels Miz on the outside with a quick clothesline. Back in the ring, Orton stomps over Miz. Orton catapults Miz into the bottom rope. Orton with some big right hands dropping Miz in the corner. Riley interfered dropping Orton against the ropes without the referee seeing. Orton recovers with a big clothesline on Miz after bouncing off the corner. Miz fights back with big left hands and knees to Orton in the corner. Miz with his corner clothesline, quick cover and Orton powers out after two. Riley with another cheap shot. Riley high fives Michael Cole at ringside. Miz with a big knee to the gut as Orton came off the ropes. Miz follows that up with a big boot to the jaw, another cover and Orton gets a shoulder up after two. Miz with a knee to the face on Orton and goes into headlock right away. Orton breaks free, but then takes a big boot from Miz. Miz goes up top and Orton crotches him. Orton with a big superplex on Miz. Miz with left hands, Orton with right hands, Orton with clotheslines and Orton drops Miz over his back. Miz counters Orton’s DDT attempt through the ropes and tosses him over the top rope to the outside. Miz drives Orton back first into the ring barricade. Miz does the same to Orton against the ring. Miz is back up top and connects with a sledgehammer, cover and Orton kicks out after two. Miz mounts Orton, hits some big lefts, another cover, Orton kicks out, more left hands from Miz and the referee pulls him off. Miz applies a modified Crossface. Orton breaks free and rolls to the outside. Orton kicks Miz and looks to hit a powerbomb on the floor when Miz counters and catapults Orton into the steel ring post. Miz rolls back in and the referee starts the count. The referee gets to 8 when Orton rolls back in and jumps on Miz hitting a big Lou Thesz Press with big right hands. Orton with a series of clotheslines and a big snap powerslam. Orton stomps over The Miz, drops a knee, goes for a cover and Miz kicks out. Orton with a kick to the gut. Riley jumps up and Orton chases him away. Miz drops Orton over his knee and hits a reverse neckbreaker for a close two count. Orton with a turning slam on Miz. Miz rolls out, grabs the WWE Championship, Orton rolls out and drops Miz with a huge clothesline. Orton tosses Miz back in the ring and chases off Riley. In the ring, we miss Miz dropping Orton with something that resulted in a two count. Orton with a close rollup for a two count. Orton with his DDT using the ropes on Miz. Orton is ready to hit the RKO waiting for Miz to get up when members of the new Nexus walk down minus CM Punk. The referee gets out to make them leave. Riley is in the ring. Orton grabs him and tosses Riley over the top rope into Nexus. Orton with an RKO on Miz. CM Punk is in the ring and hits Orton with the GTS. Punk puts Miz over Orton and leaves the ring. The referee counts the pinfall.
Winner & still WWE Champion: The Miz
After the match, Michael Cole is jumping up and down at ringside clapping for The Miz. We see a replay of all the events leading to the finish. Back live, Orton is recovering as The Miz and Alex Riley head up the ramp as the new Nexus looks on.
A promo for WWE Elimination Chamber on Sunday, February 20 airs.
Backstage, Todd Grisham has a public statement from Cody Rhodes. Rhodes said tonight was supposed to be his night, but because of Rey Mysterio, he now has a shattered face and Mysterio has yet to apologize or reach out to him.
Video airs of WWE asking fans in Boston who they think will win the Royal Rumble.
* Natalya vs. Laycool in a 2 on 1 Handicap match for the WWE Divas Championship is up next.