Raw
Detroit, Michigan
January 24, 2011
results thanks to wrestleview.com
Are you baffled as to why
the theme song to the PG Era Raw is an ode to getting drunk? Then stop
questioning your heart and join me because it is time for Monday Night Raw!!!
Edge's music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way down to the
ring. He begins a rant on how much he can't stand waiting. He wants Miz to come
down to the ring now so that they can have their match.
*GeneralMail Alert
and I quote
Edge, I know you're very anxious to have your match against the Miz, but I have
scheduled that attraction for later tonight. I haven't forgotten about the way
you treated me when you were a member of the Raw roster. Whichever of the three
men that can throw Edge over the top rope in the about to occur exhibition match
will be the 40th entry in the Royal Rumble.
Exhibition Match: Over the Top Rope Challenge
Edge v. Jack Swagger, Tyson Kidd & Drew McIntyre
Jack Swagger runs down to the ring, and gets immediately speared. Drew McIntyre
and Tyson Kidd follow after him. Kidd attempts a springboard, but gets scoop
slammed. Kidd is sent over the top rope, as are Swagger and eventually McIntyre.
Winner: Edge
After the match, Edge thanks the GM for that waste of time. Edge says that he'll
go and get ready for his match against the Miz, but first he has something else
to do. Edge asks the crowd if they want to see a smashed laptop. The crowd roars
its approval. Edge walks over to the podium, as Michael Cole walks in front to
try and defend the GM. It's probably his only friend in the entire WWE Universe.
The New Nexus, of all people, make their way down to the ring. CM Punk climbs
and perches a top the turnbuckle. The former Second City Saint grabs the mic and
saunters to the center of the ring. Punk tells the crowd that only the strong
survive. Not just because of brute strength, but also because they evolve. Punk
reiterates that the Royal Rumble has evolved and will now have 40 participants
this year. As his surroundings change, the Straight Edge Superstar must also
evolve.
The New Nexus has even expanded. Punk introduces the newest member, Mason Ryan.
(aka BatistTWO). Ryan takes the mic and says he only has one thing to say,
"faith". Punk says that the men in the ring are bonded by faith. Unlike John
Cena, and unlike The Corre over on Smackdown, the faith of the New Nexus will be
united under one common goal at the Royal Rumble. That goal is to propel Punk to
victory in the Rumble. Punk says that not only will he go on to main event
Wrestlemania, but the New Nexus will go on to become the most dominating force
in the history of the WWE.
The Corre's music hits (and wow, that's terrible music). Wade Barrett, Justin
Gabriel, Heath Slater & Ezekiel Jackson make their way down to the ring. Wade
has the mic and says that the only poor man's Nexus is Punk's group. Wade says
that The Corre is not about a dictatorship, it is about four men who are equals.
Jackson says that at the Royal Rumble, the Corre will be united in making sure
that Punk is eliminated. Mason Ryan stands up to stare down Jackson.
*GeneralMail Alert
and I quote...
If I'm going to give Smackdown Superstars an open invitation to be on Raw, then
they'll have to play by my rules. Tonight, Wade Barrett will face CM Punk. The
stakes are high, because whoever loses will see himself and his entire group out
of the Royal Rumble match. One last thing, the special guest referee for the
match will be John Cena!!
****Commercial****
King Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio v. John Morrison & Mark Henry
Morrison and Sheamus start things off. Morrison misses a lariat which Sheamus
uses to his advantage. Sheamus grounds the Parkour master, and then tags in Rio.
Alberto charges into the ring, but Morrison uses his speed to gain the upper
hand. Morrison looks for Starship Pain, but back flips onto his feet instead as
Del Rio bails out of the ring.
****Commercial****
Back from the break, Alberto Del Rio is working the back of Morrison. Cover
attempt, but Morrison kicks out. Morrison bounces on one foot to try and make
the tag, but Rio pulls him back into the center of the ring. Sheamus gets the
tag and stomps on the back of Morrison. In the back, Michael Tarver is watching
the match on a TV. I don't know.
Sheamus applies an arm bar chin lock. Morrison is struggling to get to his feet,
but Sheamus slams him down and into the mat. Sheamus then goes back to the chin
lock, after clubbing the chest of Morrison. Tilt-a-whirl attempt by Morrison is
countered into a back breaker. Sheamus is pumping up for the Brogue kick, he
misses and gets drilled with a spin kick to the temple.
Morrison makes it to the corner and tags in Henry. Rio gets the tag as well.
Henry hits a couple of punches and head butts before whipping Rio into the
ropes. A strong shoulder block sends the former luchadore to the mat. Sheamus
breaks the tag. Sheamus is sent hard into the corner. Rio comes in to distract
Henry, but gets floored. Sheamus connects with the Brogue kick! Morrison runs
into the ring and knocks Morrison to the outside with a leg lariat. Morrison
slingshots to the outside of the ring with a spinning crossbody. He may have
landed badly on his knee. Del Rio locks on his patented arm breaker and Henry
taps out! This match is over.
Winners via arm breaker: Alberto Del Rio & Sheamus
****Commercial****
Divas Championship Match
Natalya v. Melina
Melina is strong at the start of the match. She goes for a quick cover, but
Natalya kicks free. Melina locks on a very strange Full Nelson by contorting her
knees around Natalya. The Champ uses her strength to break free. Melina goes for
a leg scissors, but Natalya counters into an arm drag. Melina counters a punch,
and then goes for a Sharpshooter. Natalya senses the move, and reverses into one
of her own. Melina gets absolutely DESTROYED by the maneuver. This match is
over. Wow.
Winner via a Crazy Contorting Clutch: Natalya
****Commercial****
CM Punk walks into the Nexus locker room and tries to cheer up the troops. He
senses that there is low morale. Husky looks down trodden. He asks what will
happen if Punk gets eliminated before any member of the New Nexus enters the
Rumble. Mason interrupts to say that Punk will not be eliminated. McGillicutty
asks about John Cena as the special guest referee. CM points out that it was
Wade that has made Cena's life a living hell. Punk says he is just making the
world a better place. He tells the group to have faith.
Josh Mathews is in the back with John Cena. Cena says that he will call the
match fairly. Regardless of who wins, he will be eliminating them in the Rumble.
Miz interrupts and tells Cena that winning the Rumble will be the worst thing
that has ever happened to him. Because it will mean that Cena will have to face
Miz. Cena walks away after laughing it off. Miz kicks out Mathews. Riley calls
to the production booth to play the clip of Miz and Riley attacking Randy Orton
last week.
The Miz w/ Alex Riley v. Edge
Vickie Guerrero & Dolph Ziggler join commentary for the match.
The two square off and are very cautious at the offset of the match. Edge
connects with the first punch. Edge slashes at the gut of Miz. He plants him
with a running knee, and then a punt to the gut. Miz is pushed into the corner,
but escapes before Edge can attack. Edge shakes off the moment, and sets up to
square off again. They lock up, and then Edge wrenches the arm of Miz behind his
back. Miz slides to a rear defense, but Edge throws him to the outside of the
ring.
****Commercial****
Back from the break, Miz is able to get behind Edge and apply a choke. Edge
breaks free with his elbow, and then connects with a neck breaker. Miz kicks him
in the gut, and sends him into the ropes. Edge hits another swinging neck
breaker. Miz is on all fours as Edge sets up for the spear. Miz slides out of
the ring. Edge runs after him, but Miz kicks him in the injured ribs. Edge
scurries free and whips Miz into the guard rail. Edge throws Miz back into the
ring.
Edge climbs to the top turnbuckle. Miz follows to counter. Miz scales the ropes
and is looking for a Superplex. Miz is countered as Edge punches his ribs. Edge
is perched alone as he leaps into the ring for a huge crossbody. Cover attempt,
but Miz kicks out. Edge grabs the head of Miz and whips him towards the corner.
Edge kicks him in the gut before the referee makes him back off. Miz dodges a
splash, and grabs the head Edge. Miz lifts Edge up into the air and drops him
midsection first onto the top rope!
****Commercial****
Back from the break, Miz is channeling his inner Melina and has Edge trapped in
a body scissors. Edge then channels his inner Natalya, and uses brute strength
to lift and then drop Miz. Edge attacks the knee of Miz, but gets whipped into
the ropes. Edge connects with a duo of clotheslines followed by a side slam.
Cover attempt, but Edge kicks outs.
Edge is stranded in the corner as Miz backs up to pick up speed. Miz charges
full force towards the corner, but Edge moves out of the way! Edge goes for a
quick roll up, but Miz kicks out at the last second. Riley distracts Edge on the
outside, which leads to Edge chasing after Miz's lackey. Miz attempts a roll up
as he reenters the ring, but Edge is able to kick out. Edge whips Miz into the
ropes, which also knocks Riley to the outside. Edge then plants Miz and is
looking for the spear.
Dolph Ziggler runs into the ring and attacks Edge!
Winner via DQ: Edge
Ziggler continues to attack Edge. Orton runs down to the ring and the crowd is
going insane. Orton clears out the ring which includes a snap scoop slam on
Ziggler. Edge runs out of the ring to chase after Miz. He catches him, and
slides back into the ring. Riley is hit with an RKO! Ziggler is hit with an RKO!
Miz senses the Viper's vulnerability and slams his briefcase into the back of
Orton's leg. Miz grabs his belt and runs up the entrance ramp.
****Commercial****
Josh Mathews is in the back with Wade Barrett. Wade explains that his obsession
with John Cena cost him the Nexus. However, every cloud has a silver lining.
Wade is happy as a member of The Corre. He says that the truth is they have no
leader. Wade says that he has learned to respect Cena, and hopes that one day
Cena
Daniel Bryan & The Bella Twins v. Ted Dibiase, Maryse & Alicia Fox
Bryan and Ted start the match off. They trade a couple of near falls and roll
ups. Maryse is tagged into the match, which means that one of the Bellas must
enter. Instead, they begin to argue about who should go in "first". Maryse
capitalizes with a roll up, and this match is over.
Winners via Roll Up: Ted Dibiase, Maryse & Alicia Fox
****Commercial****
In the back, The Bella Twins are arguing with each other about Daniel Bryan.
They enter his locker room to confront him about which one he prefers. When they
enter, Daniel is on a couch making out with Gail Kim! Daniel stands up and says
that he and Kim have been dating for about six months, they've just been trying
to keep it quiet. The Bellas ask why Bryan would ever go for somone like Gail.
Kim says that she feels bad for the Bellas. Without any guest hosts, they
haven't had anything to do! A cat fight breaks out.
****Commercial****
Santino & Kozlov w/ Tamina v. The New Nexus (Harris & McGillicutty)
Santino and Michael start the match. They exchange blows, and then Husky gets
the tag. He climbs behind Santino and is looking for a choke. He is able to
ground Santino and goes for a cover. Santino kicks out. Husky goes for the same
arm bar/chin lock combo that Sheamus used earlier in the evening. Kozlov looks
on in desperation as Santino struggles to get to his feet. To prevent the tag,
Husky runs to the corner and knocks Kozlov off of the apron. Santino counters
with a split, and then looks to pump up the cobra. Michael prevents the cobra,
and Husky follows up with a clothesline. Husky hits the stroke, and goes for the
cover. This match is over.
Winners via the Stroke: New Nexus
After the match, Jennifer Hudson's fiancé grabs the microphone. Otunga states
that they will be helping CM Punk propel himself to victory at the Royal Rumble
on Sunday. Otunga introduces Punk. The New Nexus hold their arms up into the air
with the New Nexus fists as they salute their fearless leader.
Cena is shown in the back getting ready to guest referee the match.
****Commercial****
Special Guest Referee: John Cena
CM Punk w/ New Nexus v. Wade Barrett w/ The Corre
The first act of Cena as referee of the match is to kick all of the Punk lackeys
to the back. The Corre members must head to their locker. Wade looks smug as the
odds are clearly in his favor. Cena then turns to The Corre, and kicks them to
the back!
Cena turns to Punk and slaps him in the face. Punk can't hit him back, because
he would be disqualified and eliminated from the Rumble. Cena then turns and
does the same to Wade. Punk runs over and attacks the back of Wade. He throws
Wade to the outside. Cena runs up behind Punk and throws him out of the ring!
Punk can't retaliate for fear of being disqualified. Wade gets back into the
ring and hits a strong slam on Punk and goes for the cover. Instead of counting
the pin, Cena slides out of the ring and begins to sign autographs for fans.
Wade brings him back into the ring and is not happy. Cena says that he, "thought
the match was over". Punk and Wade begin to attack each other again. Both men
are on their backs as Cena runs over to Justin Roberts. Cena motions for the
bell. He rules the match as a double DQ due to the talent using profane
language. This is a PG show after all.
Double DQ
Roberts announces that since both Punk and Wade were disqualified, neither team
will compete in the Rumble.
*GeneralMail Alert
and I quote...
Cena just showed a blatant abuse of his powers. Due to the result, both the New
Nexus & Corre will be featured in the Rumble. If Cena does not go back into the
ring and apologize, he will not be able to compete in the Rumble!
Cena counters that, "what I did was genius". However, he takes his shirt off and
heads back to the ring. He apologizes to Punk & Wade, but then begins to attack
them both! New Nexus and Corre run down to the ring. Cena looks to be vastly
outnumbered. The Big Show's music hits! A cavalry of stars runs down to the
ring. Raw goes off the air as a good ole fashioned bRawl breaks out in the ring.