WWE Monday Night RAW Results
San Jose, California
January 21,2012
Commentators: Jerry Lawler & Michael Cole
Report by: David Stephens of Wrestleview.com
Vickie Guerrero makes her way out onto the entrance ramp and she is walking arm in arm with Paul Heyman. She has a microphone and says that she always wants her show to be entertaining. She says that she is a professional and makes the best decisions for the show, whether they are popular or not. This includes The Rock.
Heyman is next to speak and says that he is out here tonight to show solidarity with Vickie. Last week on RAW, The Rock defamed the character of both Heyman and Vickie. Video is shown of The Rock’s concert from last week. Heyman says that a poor defenseless widow like Vickie should not be vilified. Heyman plays the clip of The Rock singing about Vickie.
Vickie is not pleased, and announces that if The Rock tries to make it into the building tonight, he will be arrested. Vickie finds out that The Rock has just arrived and we cut to a video of The Rock at the security gate. Rock is pleading with the guards to let him in, by explaining why so many others should be arrested instead. Rock claims that Punk should be arrested for impersonating a Champion. Rock says there is absolutely no way that Vickie will be able to keep him out of the arena tonight.
Vickie it not going to stand for this and is on a tirade. She says that nothing Rock say was funny, and the fans should stop laughing. She even tosses in a “If you smell what The Vick is cooking”.
****Commercial****
Beat the Clock Challenge
Randy Orton v. Antonio Cesaro
The beat the clock challenges tonight will help determine the order of entrants for the Rumble.
Orton tries for a quick cover, but Cesaro kicks out and moves towards a side headlock submission. Cesaro attempts a small package as we learn from Cole that Cesaro owns 12 Swiss watches.
****Commercial****
Cesaro hits a Gutwrench Powerbomb and attempts a cover as we pass the 8 minute mark of the match. Orton connects with a snap suplex, but Cesaro stomps on his gut and tries for a cover at the 9 minute mark. Orton kicks out. Orton sets up Cesaro for the suspended DDT, but Cesaro rolls through and hits a strong European Uppercut. Cover, but Orton kicks out. Orton rolls out of the ring. Cesaro rolls him back in and glances back at the clock. Orton takes advantage of the moment and hits an RKO. This match is over.
Winner via RKO: Randy Orton
If anyone can beat Orton’s time of 11:36, they will be able to select their entrance number for the Rumble. If not, Orton will choose for himself.
****Commercial*****
Brad Maddox has popped up behind the announce booth, and will apparently be joining in. Cole doesn’t know what Brad is doing here considering he doesn’t work for the company. Maddox says there was such a strong Twitter reaction after his last appearance he felt obligated to come out.
Big Show v. Zack Ryder
Show knocks Ryder to the mat a couple of times before hitting the Knockout Blow. This match is quickly over.
Winner: Big Show
After the match, Show starts to cut a promo in preparation for his match against Del Rio. The crowd starts in with some ‘what’ chants, which doesn’t please Show so he exits.
****Commercial****
Paul Heyman is in the locker room on the phone, as Brad Maddox walks in with a camera and is apparently shooting a show. Maddox says that like Heyman, there is nothing that he wouldn’t do to keep his dreams alive. Heyman says that he admires Brad’s determination and announces that he will be partnering with Maddox. Heyman admits that he was wrong about Brad.
Heath Slater w/ 3MB v. Ryback
Ryback hits a spinebuster and then follows up with his clothesline. Mahal and Drew attempt to run into the ring, but it is for naught as they are quickly tossed to the outside. Ryback hits Shell Shocked and this match is over.
Winner: Ryback
Ryback grabs a microphone after the match and exclaims that his job is fun. He puts over the Rumble and claims that he will win.
The Rock is still in the back with the security guards and is still trying to make his case. This time his method is to convince them that their job is to protect the people, and he is the people’s champ, thus he should be let in to give the people what they paid for tonight. One of the security guards let’s Rock know that he has an extra ticket. Vickie walks up and tells them that if Rock gets inside, she will suspend them. Vickie lets Rock know that if he apologizes to her, she will lift the ban. Rock says that there are a couple of problems with that including that Vickie still looks horrible. She walks away and The Rock says that he has an idea.
****Commercial****
CM Punk makes his way down to the ring and Heyman holds the mic as Punk holds the Title. He says that he has proven over the past 428 days that he is the man. Punk says that he worked half of his life to obtain the most prestigious Title that the company has to offer. Punk claims that he will not let anyone take the belt away. Rock is here to entertain; Punk is here to hurt people. Punk won’t let Rock leave the Rumble as Champion. The belt is important because Punk has made it prestigious. The Rock cares more about the people than the belt. Rock cares about being the people’s champion, while Punk cares about being the real Champion.
Punk says that he has earned the right to be called the Champion and be the man over the past 428 days. Punk tells Rock to enjoy the cheers of the fans because in 6 days he will be on a crash course with Punk. Punk learned a long time ago that the people don’t matter; it’s only the Title that matters.
****Commercial****
Beat the Clock Challenge
Dolph Ziggler w/ AJ & Big E. Langston v. The Miz
Miz hits a shoulder knockdown and tries for a cover, but Miz kicks out. They trade covers back and forth until Ziggler hits a high dropkick. Cover, but Miz kicks out. Ziggler jumps on the back of Miz and applies a Sleeper. Miz escapes and hits a Thesz Press. Miz starts to attack the knee of Ziggler and looks for the Figure 4. Dolph tosses Miz out of the ring. Langston tosses Miz spine first into the apron. Dolph rolls Miz back inside and tries for the cover. Miz kicks out. We are nearing 8 minutes as we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
There is less than a minute left on the clock as we come back. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag and beats Orton’s time with 40 seconds remaining.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler now holds the new time to beat with 10:56.
****Commercial****
Anger Management Graduation
The ring is set up for Team Hell No’s graduation from the Shelby Academy for Anger Management. Shelby is at a podium and brings down the graduates. Daniel Bryan & Kane make their way down to the ring. Shelby says that they have come a long way. He presents them with their diplomas and caps. Shelby says that normally the top student is chosen to be the valedictorian, but since he doesn’t give out grades it will be up to the graduates to decide. They argue back and forth about who it should be until Shelby makes them stop. He has them hug it out, but not before Bryan and Kane start picking out people to hug.
****Commercial****
Kaitlyn def. Alicia Fox
Paul Heyman is talking to Punk backstage. He tells Punk that he has arranged for a private box for Punk to watch the next segment. Heyman says he is going to drop a ‘Paul-Bomb’.
****Commercial****
Heyman is in the ring and says that tonight he is going to serve as Punk’s interpreter. He’ll keep it simple for the fans. Heyman says that a lot of people think it’s a forgone conclusion that Rock will win the Title at the Rumble, but he won’t. Punk is the longest reigning Champion of the past 25 years. The Rock is stupid.
The Rock’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring, showing off his ticket. Heyman says that the ticket does not entitle Rock to get into the ring. Rock tells him to leave before he kicks his ass, so Heyman obliges.
Rock lets Punk know that tonight is his last night on RAW as the WWE Champion. Rock claims that he will rip Punk’s face off. Rock says that he has waited 10 years for this shot. Rock says that just like Martin Luther King had a dream, Rock has a dream to become WWE Champion one more time. Rock will free the people in six days. If you sme-ll-ll-ll-ll what The Rock is cooking.
The lights go out in the arena. When they come back on, Rock is being pulverized by The Shield. CM Punk grabs a microphone and says that if Rock makes it up the mountain top like he claims, he still won’t be able to topple Punk. Rock is laying in the ring and is bleeding from his mouth.
****Commercial****
Beat the Clock
Sheamus v. Wade Barrett
They brawl back and forth. Sheamus hits a clothesline and then connects with a rolling Samoan Drop. Wade kicks out of the cover. Wade rakes the arm, and then tosses Sheamus out of the ring. Wade tells the referee to count as we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
There is 4:41 left on the clock as we come back from the break. Both men exchange blows. Sheamus tries to toss Wade out but he stays on the apron. Sheamus unloads with some clubbing blows. Wade kicks out of the cover and then kicks Sheamus hard several times after countering a slam. There are two minutes left as Wade comes off the turnbuckle and tries for a cover. Sheamus kicks out. Wade lifts Sheamus up for Wasteland, but Sheamus counters and lifts up Wade for White Noise. The move connects. Sheamus is worn out and takes a moment to get up while looking at the clock. Sheamus is pumping up for the Brogue Kick.
AJ, Dolph & Langston run down to ringside. AJ jumps in and causes a distraction. Sheamus is forced to abort. Wade attempts his elbow as Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick. Sheamus looks for the cover, but time has expired.
Time Expired
Dolph Ziggler celebrates that he has won the Beat the Clock Challenge. Dolph has the choice of his entrance number for the Royal Rumble.
****Commercial****
Punk is in a hallway with Heyman and Vince. McMahon asks if they think they are clever for what happened with The Rock. Heyman and Punk claim ignorance. Heyman makes the point that The Shield has gotten involved in other matches. Vince says if The Shield gets involved in Punk’s Rumble match, then he will forfeit the Title.
****Commercial****
Alberto Del Rio v. Tensai
Tensai backs Rio into the corner and then whips him hard across the ring. Tensai leaps from the second rope and connects with a pair of splashes. Cover, but Rio kicks out. Rio hits a belly-to-belly suplex and then follows up with a brutal enziguiri. He follows with a moonsault and this match is over.
Winner via Moonsault: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, Rio cuts a promo about how he will be retaining his belt this Sunday against Show.
****Commercial****
John Cena is in the ring and starts to talk about this Sunday. He talks with the audience about what people do on Sundays, and then moves on to the Rumble. He puts over its importance to the Wrestlemania season. Superstars and history will be made this week. Cena boldly claims that this Sunday he will win the Rumble.
Sheamus hits the ring, followed by the PTP and then Orton. As is tradition, more and more superstars make their way into the ring claiming that they’ll win the Rumble. We get a massive brawl to close the show.
David Stephens Follow me on Twitter! @TheDaveStephens
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“The Teacher’s Lounge” is a weekly podcast archived every Sunday 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 & more!