WWE RAW Results: 1-16-12Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Caldwell's complete report). Condensed here to in-ring results only.
1 -- WWE tag champions EPICO & PRIMO vs. AIR BOOM (KOFI KINGSTON & EVAN BOURNE w/Rosa Mendes) -- WWE Tag Title match
Before the bell sounded, they showed handheld footage of the Tag Title change from last night's Raw house show. They quickly worked to a hot tag to Kofi, who delivered signature offense before Epico rolled him up from behind for a quick two count. Kofi then hit Trouble in Paradise and Bourne tried to finish Epico with Air Boom, but Primo attacked Kofi ringside, causing a distraction. Epico then crotched Bourne and Primo hit the back-stabber for the pin and the win.
WINNERS: Epico & Primo at 2:18. That was short work of Kofi and Bourne's re-match clause. It will be interesting to see what the fall-out is for Kofi and Bourne.
2 -- U.S. champion ZACK RYDER (w/Eve) vs. JACK SWAGGER (w/Vickie Guerrero) -- U.S. Title match
Swagger quickly targeted the injured ribs and back as Vickie shouted at Eve across the ringside area. The crowd started a "Let's Go Ryder...woo woo woo-woo-woo" chant as Cole promoted an upcoming update on A.J.'s condition following the injury angle at the end of Friday's Smackdown. Lawler talked dejectedly about Ryder needing to live to fight another day as Swagger continued to wear down Ryder. Swagger delivered a gutwrench powerbomb, but Ryder kicked out. Angered, Swagger pounded away on Ryder's back as the crowd tried to rally behind Ryder again. Swagger delivered another gutwrench and this one was good for the win. Swagger is the new U.S. champion and Ryder had zero offense in the match.
WINNER: Swagger at 2:23 to retain the U.S. Title. You could see this coming last week when WWE created the injury angle to give Ryder an "out" ahead of his title defense. Like Kofi & Bourne dropping the Tag Titles this weekend, it will be interesting to see the fall-out for Ryder.
3 -- KELLY KELLY & ALICIA FOX vs. BELLA TWINS
Perez got involved in the finish, arguing with one of the Bellas ringside after they tried Twin Magic. Kelly then rolled up the other Bella in the ring for the pin. Afterward, the Bellas shoved down Perez, but Kelly and Fox stood up to the Bellas, sending them scampering to the outside.
WINNERS: Kelly & A. Fox at 0:56.
4 -- SHEAMUS vs. WADE BARRETT vs. R-TRUTH vs. THE MIZ -- over-the-top rope battle royal
Truth and Sheamus tried to eliminate Barrett early on, then Miz surprisingly helped them eliminate Barrett. Barrett slammed the ring apron in frustration, then the three remaining men went to work on each other. Miz received plenty of focus before running into a barrage of fist smashes from Sheamus. Sheamus then set up Miz for ten consecutive forearm smashes to Miz's chest, turning Miz's upper body red. Sheamus then pounded his own chest to warm up for the Brogue Kick, but Miz pulled down the top rope and Sheamus crotched himself. Suddenly, Truth came up behind Sheamus and Miz to eliminate them simultaneously. Truth, in jeans, wins the mini-battle royal. Post-match: Miz glared into the ring as Truth celebrated. Sheamus then wiped the glare off Miz's face with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus's music played and he pointed to Truth to sell respect, but also competition. Cole said anyone can win the Rumble in two weeks.
WINNER: Truth at 4:10.
In-ring: Back live, new U.S. champion Jack Swagger was parading around in the ring. Notably, Vickie Guerrero was not ringside. Cole complained about Swagger having to wrestle again tonight as they went to a replay from earlier in the show when Swagger captured the U.S. Title from Zack Ryder. Cole then accused Cena of whining to Laurinaitis as Swagger held up his title belt for the hard camera. After a pause, John Cena's music played to bring out Cena to a strong, mixed reaction. Cena threw down his cap, stormed the ring, and blasted away at Swagger. No bell sounded.
Cena blasted Swagger to the outside and pounded away on Swagger, taking out his frustrations with Kane. Cena glared at the ref as the crowd picked up a dueling chant. Mr. Belding was behind the announcers on the front row, of note. Cena placed Swagger on the announce table and choked him, then punched him and kicked him. Lawler said it's like Cena wants to hurt Swagger as much as Swagger wanted to hurt Ryder earlier. Cena then whipped Swagger hard into the ring steps, drawing oohs from the crowd. For his next move, Cena removed the top ring steps, then placed Swagger on the bottom steps.
Cena contemplated smashing the ring steps on Swagger, but Kane's music suddenly played and the arena turned red. Kane appeared on the video screen and said that's impressive. He said they will meet at the Rumble, and, by then, Cena will have embraced the hate. Kane's pyro shot off in the ring and Cole said Kane is driving Cena to a place he's never been to before. Cena wiped his head in frustration before they cut to break.
5 -- BRODUS CLAY vs. JTG
Clay danced around to freak out JTG, who tried a right hand and a takedown, but Clay wiggled before punching JTG in the face. Lawler noted there were a lot of things moving there. Clay delivered a headbutt before asking the crowd if he should get him. Brodus delivered a t-bone suplex before noting, "My bad." Clay with a big corner splash, then a flying bodypress for the pin and the win. Cole said he calls that move, "Ah, funk it." Post-match: Clay danced with the dancers before they cut to a replay of Clay's power offense. They even went to a slow-motion replay of Clay shaking his body fat.
WINNER: Funkasauras at 1:09. I'm still not quite sure I have the words. They're at the "repeat and reinforce" stage at this point.
6 -- WWE champion C.M. PUNK & World Hvt. champion DANIEL BRYAN & CHRIS JERICHO vs. MARK HENRY & DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) & DAVID OTUNGA -- six-man tag match
Punk and Ziggler started things off as Jericho continued to smile ringside. Bryan then tagged in to boos and collided with Ziggler on a botched leap frog spot. Bryan sold a right knee injury, then Otunga tagged in and began working on Bryan. The crowd chanted for Jericho as Cole was forced to mention that "Daniel Bryan" is trending on Twitter. Ziggler re-entered the ring and wore down Bryan, but Bryan made it across the ring to tag in Punk as Jericho was comically too late extending his hand for a tag. Punk lost control of the match, though, and the heels began working on Punk.
Punk broke free momentarily and the crowd anticipated Jericho tagging in, but the heels cut off Punk and resumed an attack. Henry shouted encouragement toward Otunga, who went for a superplex on Punk, but Punk blocked and delivered a top-rope Macho Man elbow drop. Jericho was hilarious selling excitement from the ring apron. Punk then went for a tag and brought in Jericho to a huge pop. Jericho did the classic fired-up babyface hot tag routine and played to all sections of the arena. Jericho was done, though, and slap-tagged Bryan. Jericho then left the ring and walked up the entranceramp while still fired up. Jericho screamed and shouted in excitement, then disappeared to the back. Suddenly, they cut to break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Ziggler was wearing down Bryan as Punk shouted encouragement from ringside. Bryan broke free from Ziggler, though, and hot-tagged Punk, who ran over Ziggler with clotheslines. Punk with a neckbreaker, then corner attack and bulldog. Punk wanted a springboard move and connected with a flying forearm. Henry, who had been absent for most of the match, broke up a pin, then confronted Bryan. Bryan bailed from the ring and hobbled away, but Henry caught up to him and chucked Bryan clear across the entrance ramp.
Suddenly, Mick Foley's music played. Foley bounced out to the ring and sent a message from Laurinaitis that he's now in the match. The referee wasn't buying it, but Foley convinced him and grabbed a tag rope. In the ring, Punk tried to tag in Foley, but Ziggler cut him off and delivered a Rocker Dropper for a two count. Punk then blasted Ziggler with a kick and reached out to Foley, who tagged in as Otunga tagged in for the heels. Foley unloaded on Otunga before delivering a running knee in the corner. Next, Foley dropped Otunga with a DDT before whipping out Mr. Socko. Otunga ate Socko and Foley pressed him down to the mat. The bell sounded, declaring Foley and Punk the winners.
Post-match: Laurinaitis stomped out to the ring and said he never gave Foley permission to enter the match. He said Foley is not a legal participant in the match, so he is reversing the decision. The winners are now Ziggler, Otunga, and Henry.
WINNERS: Ziggler & Henry & Otunga via reverse decision at 14:12.