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We are live on tape from Little Rock, Arkansas and your announcers are Michael ‘Proud holder of immunity in 2012’ Cole and Josh ‘Good enough that he doesn’t need immunity’ Mathews.
We see footage from last week when Cody Rhodes attacked his brother in the ring when Dustin tried to play mediator.
Match Number One: Cody Rhodes versus Booker T for the Intercontinental Championship
They lock up and Booker with a hammer lock into a side head lock and Booker with a shoulder tackle and Cody backs into the corner. They lock up again and Booker with knees to the midsection followed by a forearm to the back and a back elbow. Booker gets a near fall. Booker works on the arm but Cody backs Booker into the corner and Cody with a knee and punches.
Cody with a side head lock and punches to the head. Cody with a kick to the midsection followed by another punch. Cody with a hard Irish whip to Booker and Cody with a kick. Cody works on the arm and he elbows the arm. Cody with a hammer lock but Booker with an elbow and chop. Cody with a chop and then they exchange chops with Booker getting the advantage and he knees Cody and follows with a back body drop.
Booker with a back heel kick and he gets a near fall. Booker with chops and then he sends Cody over the top rope but Cody skins the cat. Booker sees him come back in and Booker with a clothesline that sends Cody over the top rope to the floor.
Booker goes after Cody and Cody with a punch and a hot shot on the ringside barrier. Cody with a running boot to Booker and he returns to the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cody sends Booker into the turnbuckles. Booker blocks a hip toss and he counters with a back slide for a near fall. Booker with a savate kick and he gets a near fall. Booker chops Cody in the corner and follows with a forearm. Booker with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Cody with a moonsault for a near fall.
Cody limps after Booker kicks out. Cody kicks Booker in the corner and the referee warns him. Cody punches Booker. Cody with a snap mare and an underhook. Booker with punches and a running forearm followed by a side slam for a near fall. Booker with a spinebuster and he gets a near fall.
Booker with a kick and he tries for the scissors kick but Cody avoids it. Cody avoids a Bookend, but he misses Beautiful Disaster when Booker ducks. Booker with another kick and he tries for the scissors kick and he hits it. Cody is able to kick out at two and Booker is in shock. Cody pushes Booker away but Booker attacks Cody in the corner. Cody with an Irish whip and Booker wants to go with the float over into a sunset flip but Cody does not charge into the corner. Booker blocks a punch from Cody and responds with a punch of his own.
Booker with a knee and he tries for a scissors kick one more time but Cody moves out of the way. Cody with a punch and kick. Booker misses a side kick but Rhodes does not miss Beautiful Disaster and he gets the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Booker is in the ring thinking about his chance to become the Intercontinental Champion. He gets an ovation from the fans and then he acknowledges it.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment with Michael Cole doing the voice over.
Cody Rhodes walks triumphantly through the back and Dustin stops him and congratulates him on beating one of the all time greats.
Cody wants to know if this is flattery. He says that this is why they do not speak. Dustin had nothing of use to say last week and he has nothing to say of use this week. Cody says that he is more of a success than Dustin and may be a bigger success than dad. Cody says that if Dustin is thinking of putting on the gold paint and make one more run. He says that Dustin is not a joke or a laughing stock but it could end up that way. Cody tells Dustin to just ask Booker.
Zack Ryder is in Teddy Long’s office and he thanks Teddy for making him the Assistant General Manager. Teddy corrects Zack and says that he was the assistant to the General Manager. Zack says that now that he is the United States Champion it is time to move on. Zack says that he has found a suitable replacement.
Drew McIntyre comes in and Teddy wants to know if Zack is serious about having Drew as the assistant.
Drew says that he is not here and Zack says that he is talking about this man . . . and Santino enters.
Santino reminds Teddy when he applied for the job. He says that he can update his calendar, sync his iPod, and he can fix the paper jam in the printer. He can also give Teddy some information. Santino reminds Teddy about what he told Drew last week that he would fire him if he lost his match last week and Santino reminds Teddy that Drew lost last week.
Drew yells at Santino and Teddy tells Drew to stop it. Teddy tells Drew that if he doesn’t win tonight, he will be on very thin ice. Drew will face Santino tonight and if Santino wins, he will be Teddy’s assistant. Drew wants to know what happens when he wins. Teddy says that if Drew wins tonight, he might not fire Drew.
Things in the room get blue as the saxophones start to play. Aksana makes her way into the office and Santino leaves. Teddy says that he misses Aksana and he says that maybe they can go someplace and get dinner after the show ends.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from the 2008 Royal Rumble when John Cena made his shocking return to win.
Alicia Fox and AJ Lee are in the back and Alicia asks her how her New Year’s went. AJ says that things were great for her and Daniel. She says that he is the quiet and sensitive type, but she is worried about his match with Big Show. Alicia says that she hopes her boyfriend’s ego can handle a loss.
Daniel enters and he asks if they were talking about his ego because if they don’t remember, he already beat the Big Show.
Alicia says that she is going to let them have some time alone together (along with the video cameras filming this).
Bryan asks AJ why she is friends with Alicia. AJ says that Alicia is concerned about him and so is she. Bryan asks AJ if she thinks that he cannot beat the Big Show. AJ says that she is a little worried. Bryan says that after he wins tonight, they can celebrate.
We see comments from Heath Slater last week when he was insulting Hornswoggle.
Match Number Two: Heath Slater versus Hornswoggle in an Over the Rope Challenge
Hornswoggle tells Heath to look up but Heath will not play Hornswoggle’s games. Eventually he looks up and Hornswoggle stomps on his foot and punches Slater. Hornswoggle bites Slater in the rear end. Hornswoggle with a head butt to the midsection followed by a knee lift and then Slater grabs Hornswoggle and throws him to the mat. Slater chokes Hornswoggle in the corner.
Slater puts Hornswoggle on the turnbuckles and then he tries for a cross body but Slater catches him and Hornswoggle lands on the apron and he pulls Slater over by the hair and eliminates Slater.
Winner: Hornswoggle
After the match, Slater returns to the ring and he kicks Hornswoggle in the head. Justin Gabriel makes his way to the ring and he hits a flying shoulder tackle on Slater. Slater with an STO and then he goes up top for the 450 splash and he hits it.
Gabriel and Hornswoggle celebrate as we go to commercial.
Before our next match, Hunico tells Ted that he hears that Ted likes a good time, but him and Camacho have not been invited to be a part of his posse. Camacho asks if they are not good enough to party with his posse and wonders if they are being disrespected.
Match Number Three: Ted DiBiase versus Hunico with Camacho and THE BICYCLE
They lock up and Ted with a side head lock take down and Hunico with a head scissors and Ted escapes. Ted with a few arm drags and arm bar. Hunico pushes Ted and Ted pushes back. Ted punches Hunico and then he counters a head scissors take down with a sit out front driver for a near fall.
Ted sends Hunico into the turnbuckles followed by an Irish whip bu thTed runs into a boot from Hunico. Hunico sends Ted into the turnbuckles and then he kicks Ted and starts to work on the arm by trying to hyper extend it. Hunico with an arm bar. Ted with punches and Hunico with a Fujiwara arm bar.
Hunico with a hammer lock but Ted escapes with a back body drop. Hunico charges into the corner and Ted moves out of the way. Ted with a drop kick and then he hits a reverse atomic drop followed by a punch and a flying knee. Ted with the rebound clothesline and he gets a near fall.
Ted tries for Dream Street but Hunico works on the shoulder again and stops DiBiase. Hunico sends DiBiase into the turnbuckles and then he rolls up DiBiase with the injured am trapped to get the three count.
Winner: Hunico
Wade Barrett is in the back talking to the medical staff and we cannot hear what they are saying so we go to commercial.
We are back and Wade Barrett brings the barrage to the ring.
Wade says that he told our doctors not to bother coming to the ring because he can handle the medical update tonight. Wade wants us to see what happened to Randy Orton last week on Smackdown.
Wade says that Randy’s injury was just a byproduct of a Falls Count Anywhere match. Randy has a herniated disc in his lower back. As for his career . . . he’s finished. Orton may try to come back but he is not going to be the same mentally. He is another victim of the Barrett Barrage.
In less than four weeks, the Royal Rumble will take place ironically in Randy Orton’s home town. It is ironic because the hometown hero could have eliminated twenty-nine other people to get in the main event at Wrestlemania. Instead, Orton will have to sit in the crowd and watch Wade Barrett do it because there is nobody in the company who can beat him.
Sheamus’ music plays and he comes to the ring.
Sheamus asks the Fella what’s cracking. He wonders if he was seeing Barrett in the ring or his great uncle Wilfred. Sheamus says that Wilfred loved the sound of his own voice and talking about the battles that he won. He says that Wilfred was a simple sheepherder. It was all fantasy, just like Barrett saying that he is going to win the Royal Rumble with no problems. He says that Barrett will have a problem and Sheamus will be the biggest one.
Sheamus says that Wilfred was kicked in the head by a mule at eight years old. That was the excuse for Wilfred’s fantasy stories but he wants to know Barrett’s excuse for being a horse’s arse.
Jinder Mahal’s music plays as the international nature of this segment expands to Asia. He makes his way to the ring while Barrett goes to the floor.
Jinder says something to Sheamus that cannot be heard on the mic and then Mahal slaps Sheamus but Sheamus attacks Mahal. Barrett attacks Sheamus from behind and Sheamus tries to fight from a two on one disadvantage. Sheamus takes care of Mahal and Barrett. Sheamsu with power slams to Mahal and then to Sheamus. Sheamus sets for the Celtic Cross but Mahal hits Sheamus. Sheamus with a double sledge to Mahal but Barrett hits the Winds of Change and then he stands over Sheamus with his fist in the air.
Mahal returns to the ring and he puts Sheamus in the Camel Clutch.
Josh and Michael talk about our main event and we see footage from TLC when Big Show won the title from Mark Henry. Then we see Mark Henry’s attack on Big Show after the match and Daniel Bryan cashing in.
We go to commercial with a Tale of the Tape.
Match Number Four: Santino Marella versus Drew McIntyre
They lock up and Drew sends Santino to the mat and then Santino gets into Drew’s chest. Drew misses a clothesline when Santino does a split. Santino with punches but Drew with an Irish whip. Santino tries to float over but Drew with a kick to the chest and he gets a near fall. Drew with kicks to Santino followed by an Irish whip and a suplex for a near fall.
Drew chokes Santino in the ropes and then kicks the ropes to continue to work on Santino’s neck. Drew sets for the Future Shock but Santino with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Drew with a clothesline followed by punches and kicks in the corner. The referee warns Drew and Drew puts Santino on the top turnbuckle. Drew tries for a superplex but Santino falls to the floor and the momentum pulls Drew onto the turnbuckles and he falls to the mat. Santino sets up the Cobra and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
After the match, we see the thrill of victory from Santino Marella and the agony of defeat from Drew McIntyre.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Drew is still in shock at his loss. Teddy stops by and Drew says that cannot count because the ropes were greased. Teddy says that he saw another loss and he says that is strike two. Teddy tells Drew that next week, if he loses, he might be out.
Santino Marella runs by and he tells Teddy that they are going to make beautiful music together.
Before our next match, we go to the Goldman Box where Rosa Mendes talks about Epico and Primo. Rosa goes all Rosetta Stone about Epico and Primo.
Match Number Five: Epico and Primo with Rosa Mendes versus Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston in a Non Title Match
Epico and Bourne start things off and Epico with a back body drop but Bourne counters into a rollup. Epico with a punch and snap mare but Bourne lands on his feet and he kicks Epico and tags in Kofi. Kofi with a drop kick to Epico and he gets a near fall. Epico drops Kofi on the ropes and chokes him and then Primo kicks Kofi and Epico gets a near fall.
Primo tags in and he kicks Kofi after Epico kicks Kofi. Epico tags back in and he kicks Kofi some more. Epico gets a near fall. Epico follows things up with a drop kick for a near fall. Epico with a reverse chin lock and Kofi gets to his feet and he punches Epico. Epico with an Irish whip but Kofi with an elbow and a double jump cross body and both men are down.
Primo and Bourne tag in and Bourne with a slingshot kick to Primo followed by a leaping leg lariat and a head scissors take down. Bourne with a kick to the chest and an elbow to Epico on the apron. Bourne with a leaping knee and then Primo tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Bourne lands on his feet and Bourne with a kick to Primo and forearm in the corner. Bourne goes up top for the double knee take down and he gets a near fall.
All four men are in the ring and Kofi takes care of Epico and then Rose gets in front of Epico on the floor so Kofi cannot hit a pescado onto Epico. Epico trips Kofi and pulls him to the floor. Bourne with a knee to Primo and then Bourne goes up top but Epico pulls Primo out of the way when Bourne goes for the Shooting Star Press. Primo gets the three count on Bourne.
Winners: Epico and Primo
Matt Striker is in the interview area with the man who will try to win the World Championship later tonight, the Big Show. Show says that he never underestimates an opponent but he is very confident tonight. Show mentions that Bryan cashed in when Show was unconscious. Tonight he is looking forward to regaining his title tonight. He says that Daniel Bryan is a good wrestler.
Bryan enters and he says that he is a very good wrestler and Show acts like it isn’t something to be proud of. Bryan says that he worked his entire life to be a great wrestler and he is not a genetic freak. Bryan says that if he had Show’s size and his skills, it would not have been nine years between World Championships. Bryan says that he wouldn’t have had the shortest title reign in history.
Show tells Bryan not to hurt him out there tonight.
Bryan tells Show to get his damn hand off his shoulder.
Show wants to know if Bryan is a tough guy now and Show walks away.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jinder Mahal will face Sheamus next week because of what happened earlier tonight.
Before our next match, we see video footage of the fathers of the participants in the next match, Jim Neidhart and Jimmy Snuka.
Match Number Six: Natalya versus Tamina
Natalya with a take down and she punches Tamina. Natalya with a kick to the midsection followed by more punches. Natalya kicks Tamina while she controls things. Natalya tries for the Sharpshooter but Tamina kicks her away. Each woman tries for a cross body and they go down.
Natalya gets to her feet first but Tamina hits a Samoan drop and then Tamina looks to the turnbuckles and she goes up top for the Superfly Splash and the three count.
Winner: Tamina
We go to the Raw Rebound.
We go to commercial.
Mark Henry makes his way to ringside for the main event and he will join Josh and Michael at the announce table.
Before the match, Michael Cole is being Michael Cole and off Mark Henry’s comment that Daniel Bryan is a good fit for the midget division, he asks Mark who would win a match between Bryan and Hornswoggle. Henry looks like he wants to induct a new member into the Hall of Pain.
Match Number Seven: Big Show versus Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship
Bryan tries to avoid Show as Show tries to corner Bryan. Bryan with a kick and he runs away. Show grabs Bryan and gets him into the corner. Show with a punch to the midsection and chops. Show picks up Bryan by the neck and he head butts Bryan to the mat.
Bryan goes to the floor and we go to commercial as Bryan tries to figure out what to do.
We are back and Bryan kicks Show in the leg but Show sends Bryan to the floor. Show goes to the floor and Bryan goes back into the ring and he hits a baseball slide. Bryan with a pescado but Show catches him and he tries to send Show into the post but Bryan gets away and he sends Show into the post. Bryan with a flying knee off the apron.
Henry tells Show to get up while the referee counts Show out. Show gets back into the ring before the ten count. Show blocks a kick and Show with a chop. Bryan with a drop kick to the knee and kicks to the head. Bryan with more kicks and he gets a near fall but Show powers out of the cover.
Show runs into a knee from Bryan and Bryan with a drop kick from the second turnbuckles for a near fall but Show sends Bryan to the floor on the kick out. Henry tells Bryan not to take a rest on the floor and Show pulls Bryan to the apron. Bryan with a kick and he drops Show’s arm on the top rope. Bryan goes up top but Show with a punch to Bryan. Show with a shoulder tackle followed by an Irish whip but Show misses the splash into the corner.
Show with a spear and both men are down. Show with a cover but Bryan kicks out. The strap comes down and it is time for the choke slam. Show grabs Bryan by the throat but Bryan counters into a guillotine choke and Show goes to his knees. Show tries to fight out of the hold but Bryan with the LeBell Lock and he locks it in. Show tries to fight through the pain.
Show escapes the hold and Show goes for the punch but Bryan sees it coming and he leaves the ring. Henry yells at Bryan again to get back into the ring. Bryan gets in Henry’s face at the announce table and Henry pushes Bryan down. Henry gets up from the announce table and Bryan asks the referee if he is going to do something about this and he calls for the bell.
Winner: Daniel Bryan by disqualification
After the match, Show cannot believe the referee’s decision while Bryan celebrates his successful title defense. Bryan celebrates on the ringside barrier but the fans are not as enthusiastic as they were when he won the title at TLC.
Show and Henry argue as we go to credits.
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