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We begin with the annual footage of Martin Luther King, Junior’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
John Cena’s music plays and he comes out to the ring and he is going to address the fans in Little Rock and on television all over the world. We see the footage of Nexus attacking John Cena three weeks ago and the revelation that CM Punk was in fact the leader of Nexus.
John Cena says that was three weeks ago and was last year. He says that this is the first time that he has been in a WWE ring in 2011 and he is ready. John says that he has his New Year’s Resolution. One, take care of the world’s most deranged psychopath, CM Punk. Two, find a copy of Reggie’s Prayer for later in the show. Three, win the Royal Rumble. Four, win the main event at Wrestlemania.
John Cena wants CM Punk to come out but instead, Michael Cole’s favorite person comes out and he is joined by his minion Alex Riley. Miz gives us a ‘really’ and says that Cena thinks that he is going to win the WWE Title at Wrestlemania. Miz says that nobody wants that because Cena is played out. Miz says that he is the most must see champion in WWE history. Since he became champion, Raw and the WWE have been more entertaining and exciting than they have been in years. Miz says that the odds state that John Cena is not going to win the Royal Rumble. Miz tells Cena and everyone else that there will be forty men in the Royal Rumble match so he wishes Cena luck. The winner can choose which champion they will face at Wrestlemania. Miz tells whoever wins the Royal Rumble, not to come after him.
Miz says that if that person comes after him, they will face the same fate as Randy Orton in their title match in two weeks. They will lose.
Cena applauds Miz’s comments and then does an Andre/Arnold hybrid. Cena says that he sounded like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Cena gives us the post match speech from the end of the movie. Cena says that if it wasn’t for Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler would be the WWE Champion. If it wasn’t for Alex Riley, Randy Orton would be the WWE Champion. Miz compares Cena and Riley to the Kardashians and The Jonas Brothers. Cena then goes for the poopy level. He says that the only thing he must see about the WWE Champion is see him actually have a match. Miz could have faced Randy Orton but he let his human Mogwai lose to Jerry Lawler. Cena congratulates Lawler for actually wanting to fight.
Miz tells Cena that he is so corny. He says that he is so sick of the label that Miz is afraid to fight because it is lame and generic, just like Cena. Miz says that he can fight with the best brawlers in WWE history. Everyone knows that is true. There is no doubt that he can outwrestle the greatest technicians in WWE history. Miz tells us that he is . . . going to finish that sentence when he beats Randy Orton.
Cena says that is the first thing that made sense from Miz. Cena says that he has seen Orton versus Cena at Wrestlemania and that is a title worthy match. He says that is Wrestlemania. Cena says that Miz will not make it past the Royal Rumble and he won’t make it to Wrestlemania. Cena says that if they have a difference of opinion, he must see Miz do something about that.
Music plays and the Nexus B Team comes out to the stage. Punk is joined by Harris, McGillicutty, and Otunga and he has something to say. Punk apologizes to the Miz for the interruption and says that he does not have to explain himself to the jerk known as John Cena. Punk points out that Miz is the WWE Champion and Cena is not. Punk says that John Cena will not be WWE Champion because there are forty participants in the Royal Rumble so the odds of him winning are lower than ever. Punk says that he is in the Royal Rumble match along with the rest of Newxus. He says that they have proven their toughness with last week’s initiation. Every member of the Newxus is going to be in the Royal Rumble to ensure that Punk wins the Royal Rumble. Punk says that he cannot and will not wait to see Cena take on those odds.
Harris, Otunga, and McGillicutty go to the ring and Cena is ready for them. Cena tries to fight all three men off and Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov come out and the Newxus leaves the ring.
Nexus B Team meet and then Punk asks if he is ready for these odds.
Before they get to the ring, the mood is destroyed by the dingy dingy from the General Messenger and Michael Cole climbs the podium of computers. He wonders what the odds of Punk beating Cena tonight if the Nexus members are barred from ringside. If any Nexus member is involved in the Punk/Cena match, they will be out of the Royal Rumble match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov with Tamina versus The Usos for the WWE Tag Titles
Jey and Santino start things off and Santino with a hip toss and Irish whip. Jimmy distracts Santino and Jey hits a drop kick for a near fall. Jimmy tags in and they hit a double back elbow and they get a near fall. Jimmy with a boot and Jey tags back in and he punches and kicks Santino. Jey gets a near fall and he applies a reverse chin lock. Santino with an arm drag and he kicks Jey off the ropes and hits a monkey flip. Santino rolls to make the tag to Kozlov and Jimmy tags in and he sends Jimmy into the turnbuckles and follows it with a boot and head butt. Kozlov with a power slam but Jey breaks it up. Kozlov throws Jey to the floor but Jimmy with a thrust kick to the midsection but Kozlov with a head butt to the midsection. Santino tags in and he winds up for the cobra and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winners: Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov
Nexus Part Two are in the locker room and they are arguing until CM Punk enters. Punk looks at his followers and then he tells them to have faith.
John Morrison walks up to Daniel Bryan in the back but he is intercepted by the Bellas and they walk away as we go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: John Morrison defeating Sheamus last week on Raw.
Match Number Two: John Morrison versus Daniel Bryan with the Bellas
They lock up and Bryan with a waist lock and then he works on the arm. Morrison rolls through and he reverses with an arm wringer. Morrison with an arm bar. Bryan reverses with an overhead arm drag into a hammer lock. Morrison with an elbow but Bryan with a drop kick that sends Morrison to the floor. Bryan goes to the floor on a baseball slide but Morrison moves out of the way. They return to the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Morrison has Bryan in a chin lock but Bryan gets to his feet and he punches Morrison. Morrison with a kick and then he takes Bryan down. Morrison sets for the corkscrew split legged moonsault, but he takes way too long and he misses. Bryan with a kick to Morrison for a near fall. Bryan with an arm bar but Morrison gets to his feet. Both men try for a cross body and both men go down. Bryan with forearms and Morrison with punches. Bryan with kicks to the leg and then he kicks the arm. Morrison with a release German suplex but Morrison lands on his feet. Morrison with a rana but Bryan rolls through for a near fall. Morrison avoids a round kick and Bryan tries to apply the LaBell Lock but Morrison escapes and he catapults Bryan into the turnbuckles. Morrison with a springboard round kick and then he hits the Shining Wizard for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
After the match, they shake hands. Then Sheamus’ music plays and he comes out with his robe and walking stick.
Sheamus says that Morrison must have thought a lot about himself. He says that before he got to Sheamus, Morrison was languishing in a pool of mediocrity. He says that he made Morrison and he can break him. He tells Bryan and Morrison that neither of them are in his league. Sheamus says that when he beats thirty-nine men at the Royal Rumble, he will prove himself. He says that the Royal Rumble is a match designed for a king. He says that he will eliminate Morrison and Bryan in the Royal Rumble.
We go to commercial with the Slam of the Week: Jerry Lawler and Randy Orton beat the Miz and Alex Riley last week.
We are back and the Stand Up for WWE campaign won two social media awards.
The Bellas are walking in the back and they are talking about John Morrison now that Daniel Bryan lost. Nikki and Brie talk about being Daniel’s first.
Since we are on Raw, what better place for the official consultant of Smackdown, Vickie Guerrero.
Vickie throws out a few ‘excuse mes’. She says that she is here to introduce the man who will beat Edge at the Royal Rumble. He will become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Match Number Three: Randy Orton versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero in a Number One Contenders Challenge Match
They lock up and Ziggler backs Orton into the corner. Ziggler with a punch while the referee tries to separate them in the corner. Ziggler with kicks to Orton and then he punches Orton in the head and it staggers Orton. Orton with a Thesz Press and he punches Ziggler. Ziggler with an Irish whip but Orton comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Orton with a forearm across the chest and then he keeps Ziggler from getting to the floor. Orton with boots to Ziggler’s chest and then he catapults him into the bottom rope.
Orton gets a near fall on Ziggler. Orton applies a reverse chin lock on Ziggler. Ziggler gets to his feet and he hits a jaw breaker followed by a drop kick to the knee for a near fall. Ziggler with boots to the knee as he tries to limit Orton’s mobility. Ziggler uses the ropes to add more leverage as he continues to work on the leg. Ziggler slams Orton’s leg into the ring apron. Ziggler wrings Orton’s knee into the ring post. Ziggler returns to the ring and Orton with a kick and punch followed by a European uppercut. Orton with more punches in the corner and the referee warns him. Ziggler with a drop kick to Orton and he gets a near fall.
Ziggler returns to the knee but Orton with punches to get Ziggler to release the hold. Orton punches Ziggler and Ziggler returns fire. Orton with a European uppercut but Ziggler with a kick. Orton with a back breaker but he cannot capitalize on the situation. Vickie tells Dolph to finish Orton. Ziggler tries for a splash into the corner but Ziggler hits the ring post when Orton moves. Orton with clotheslines followed by a power slam. Ziggler rolls to the apron again to stop Orton. Orton with a kick to Ziggler and he sets for the IEDDT but Ziggler gets into the ring and he hits Orton behind the knee. Ziggler with a Fameasser for a near fall.
Orton with another European uppercut and then he tries for the Olympic Slam but Ziggler escapes it and he tries to lock in the sleeper. Ziggler gets on Orton’s back to prevent Orton from escaping the hold. Orton gets to the ropes. Ziggler tries for the Zig Zag but Orton holds on to the ropes. Orton is able to counter the Zig Zag with an RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, Alex Riley and Miz attack Randy Orton. They pick up Orton and Orton with a kick to both men but Miz sends Orton into the ring steps. Miz decides to rearrange the announce table but Jerry Lawler protects Orton. Riley tries to stop Lawler but Lawler punches him. Miz sends Lawler over the ringside barrier into the crowd. Miz sends Orton into the announce table. Miz runs Orton’s back into the ring post. Miz and Riley send Orton through the ringside barrier that separates the ring announcer and ring bell.
Miz tells Orton that he is the Miz . . . and he is awesome.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that a lot of people who buy WWE Magazine do it at Wal-Mart.
We have a Moments Ago Moment of Randy Orton’s victory over Dolph Ziggler and the post match beat down by Miz with an assist from Alex Riley.
CM Punk is with the Newxus and he keeps saying faith. He says that you need humility to have faith. You need to bow before the temptation of the bloodthirsty. The soul must be sanctified. Millions of voices of the undead will ring out in the heart and soul of the manbeast.
Eve Torres and Melina join Michael Cole at the announce table for our next match.
Maryse versus Natalya in a Non Title Match
Maryse with a slap but Natalya with a double leg take down and she tries for the sharpshooter but Maryse makes it to the ropes. Maryse with a take down for a near fall. Maryse slams Natalya’s head into the mat and then applies a rear chin lock. Natalya gets Maryse on her back and runs her into the turnbuckles. Maryse with a slap but Natalya with a kick. Natalya with a discus clothesline and she puts Maryse in the Sharpshooter and Maryse taps out.
Winner: Natalya
After the match, Maryse walks over to the announce table and Eve pushes her. Maryse yells at Cole and then Ted DiBiase shows up and Maryse yells at her again. Maryse calls Ted a loser and Ted gets the mic and says that Maryse doesn’t think he can win the Royal Rumble. Ted says that he will thrown anyone over the top rope right now.
Ted makes a challenge to anyone on the Raw roster.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ted DiBiase says that no one has accepted his challenge because they know they can’t beat him.
Mark Henry comes to the ring.
Match Number Five: Mark Henry versus Ted DiBiase in an Over the Top Rope Royal Rumble Preview
Ted with a punch but Henry with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Ted with a drop kick but he runs into an elbow from Henry and Henry throws him over the top rope to the floor.
William Regal, Tyson Kidd, and Yoshi Tatsu come to the ring. So does Zack Ryder, R Truth, Darren Young, David Hart Smith, and Primo. They fight in the ring in a preview of the Royal Rumble. Truth throws Regal over the top rope to the floor. Primo punches Kidd and then Primo clotheslines Primo over the top rope and both go to the floor. Sheamus comes from behind and he clips Mark Henry while he presses Ryder over his head. Sheamus sends Ryder and a few others over the top rope. Henry sends Sheamus over the top rope to the apron. Henry throws Sheamus over the top rope to the floor.
It is time for Alberto Del Rio to make his way into Raw as he drives his way to this week’s Smackdown.
Alberto reminds us who he is. He says that it is his destiny to win the biggest Royal Rumble in history. It is his destiny to be a champion at Wrestlemania. It is his destiny to be the greatest of the great.
Mark Henry wants Del Rio to come to the ring but Del Rio does not oblige Henry.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Derrick Bateman talks about a new cologne called ‘World’s Strongest Man†because it comes from Mark Henry. The warning talks about the side effects.
Cole says something about Lawler sticking his nose in Orton’s business again and he wants to punch Cole but Cole says that he can’t.
It is time for the annual ‘Royal Rumble by the Numbers’ video package.
It is time to run through the card for the Royal Rumble.
Michael Cole tells us that we have a main event for next week thanks to the General Blackberry Messenger. Miz will face Edge in a Champion versus Champion match
John Cena walks in the back as we go to commercial for the main event.
We see the highlights from last week when the people who decided to join the Nexus B Team passed their initiations.
Match Number Six: CM Punk versus John Cena
They get face to face before doing anything. Punk and Cena have words before the punches start flying. Cena with an Irish whip and bulldog. Cena with punches as Punk tries to get away. Cena sends Punk into the turnbuckles and then he punches Punk. Cena with a hard Irish whip. Cena with a forearm to the back of the head and then he punches Punk in the midsection and head. Cena gets a near fall. Punk with a kick to the chest and then he hits a baseball slide that sends Cena to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Punk has Cena in a figure four head scissors and he connects with a series of elbows to the head. Punk gets a near fall. Cena gets out of the hold but Punk takes Cena back to the mat and gets a near fall. Punk with kicks to the back and to the head and he gets another near fall. Punk returns to the figure four head scissors. Cena escapes but Punk kicks Cena away. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time to finish the Legendary sequence with the five knuckle shuffle. Cena gets Punk up for the Attitude Adjustment but Punk gets out of the hold and hits a leg lariat for a near fall.
Punk sets for the running knee into the corner and he hits it followed by the bulldog and he gets a near fall. Punk signals that it is time for the Go To Sleep but Cena counters and takes Punk to the mat with a modified dragon screw leg whip and he puts Punk in the STF and Punk gets to the ropes.
Punk and Cena each hit clotheslines and they go down again. They get to their feet at eight and Cena gets Punk up for the Attitude Adjustment but Punk was close enough to the ropes to get to the apron. Punk with a kick to Cena and then he hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall.
Punk with kicks and forearms to Cena but Cena gets Punk on his shoulders. Punk gets to his feet and Punk with a Flatline and a Koji Clutch. Cena tries to roll over to get Punk on his shoulders. Then Cena tries to get to his feet, but he cannot. Cena gets to the ropes and Punk has to release the hold. Cena rolls to the apron to recover. Punk with a limping boot to the head and Cena goes to the floor.
Punk with a pescado but Cena catches Punk and he sends Punk back first into the ring post. Punk is back in the ring and Cena makes his way back to the ring. He goes up top but Punk punches Cena and he kicks Cena in the chest. Punk with a head butt and then he tries for a superplex but Cena uses his Kryptonian powers to send Punk to the mat with a head butt. Cena sets for the Rocker Dropper and he hits it but Punk kicks out at two.
A man gets on the apron and distracts John Cena. Punk with a kick to the head. Punk smiles at this man (Mason Ryan) and he appears to be happy that he is on Raw. Punk holds his arms out for this man but he gives Punk a boot to the head.
Winner: CM Punk by disqualification
Ryan gives Cena a spinebuster. The members of Nexus Version 2.0 come out to protect their leader. Punk tells them that it is okay. Ryan gets down on his knee to accept the arm band.
We go to credits.
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