WWE Raw Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

Episode - December 5, 2011

(1) WWE Title Picture / U.S. Title Picture

John Cena opened Raw, enduring a mixed crowd reaction. Cena spoke of the previous week’s Piper’s Pit segment and reiterated the line that the fans can react any way they want to. Cena quickly turned to the WWE Title, again hyping that Cena vs. Rock would be a bigger match with the title.

Alberto Del Rio came out and made his case, which was interrupted by Cena pointing out how he lost his title match the week before. Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler then came out and Ziggler also made his case, reminding everyone that he defeated Randy Orton the week before and said that he’s currently the longest reigning champion.

Reax: He's right. C.M. Punk is at 22 days, Beth Phoenix is at 71, Mark Henry is at 85, Air Boom is at 112, Cody Rhodes is at 125, and Dolph Ziggler is at 176 days.

The Miz then came to the ring and said that his title reign lasted longer than a month. John Laurinaitis then interrupted and booked all the wrestlers in matches against Smackdown wrestlers, with the winners going in a match against Punk against TLC. Laurinaitis labelled Cena’s match a “social experiment."

The Miz defeated Randy Orton by count-out to earn his spot in the WWE Title match after Orton chased Barrett, who was at ringside. Orton returned to the ring, but was attacked by Barrett.

Alberto Del Rio defeated Daniel Bryan cleanly in a short match, to earn his spot in the WWE Title match. Daniel Bryan was injured, from his match with Mark Henry, and so had his ribs wrapped.

Dolph Ziggler lost to Sheamus, meaning he does not get a WWE Title Shot. Ziggler lost after being distracted by Ryder. Notably, Ziggler told Jack Swagger not to be at ringside.

Backstage, Laurinaitis announced Cena against Zack Ryder, stating that if Ryder wins, he’ll get a U.S. Title shot. John Cena defeated Zack Ryder in a back-and-forth match. Dolph Ziggler was shown watching the match backstage.

After the match, Ryder was annoyed at Cena about not getting his title shot. Cena then headed backstage, where jr demanded Ryder get a title shot. Laurinaitis offered Ryder another chance of getting a title shot, but Cena had to give up his title shot, to which Cena eventually agreed.

Zack Ryder defeated Mark Henry in a match that was announced as having no disqualifications or countouts. Cena interfered, hitting the Attitude Adjustment on Henry to help Ryder win.

Reax: Ryder doesn’t deserve a title shot. At least he doesn’t for losing to Cena. If Cena had said that John Morrison had gotten a shot for beating Ziggler, but Ryder beat Ziggler the week before that (the 10/31 edition of Raw) and didn’t get a title shot. Ryder has even since beaten Ziggler in tag team competition. Zack Ryder deserves a title shot because he’s won matches, and then Cena could throw in the fact that the fans also want him to have one (and John Laurinaitis wants to please the fans), as shown by the petition.

Also, Cena should not be giving up a WWE Title shot so that Zack Ryder has the possibility of a United States Title shot. That doesn’t make much sense at all.

Finally, Zack Ryder’s entitled attitude is horrible. He lost the match fairly, knowing the stipulations. Then, later, he distracted Ziggler during his match against Sheamus. I don’t want to cheer someone that behaves like that.

Raw ended with a contract signing between Miz, Del Rio, and Punk (as Cena was now out of the match, having giving up his title shot). Punk moved the table out of the way, as contract signings always end in a pier six brawl. Laurinaitis announced the match as a TLC match. Miz reminded everyone that he took out R-Truth and Morrison, and Punk used a wordplay to insinuate that Miz took them on a date. Laurinaitis wished John Morrison the best in his future endeavours.

Del Rio and Miz agreed that Punk wouldn’t walk out as champion. After everyone signed the contract, Laurinaitis wanted them to all pose for a photo. Punk, in wanting the signing to end in violence, attacked Miz and Del Rio. Punk hit his high knee to a bulldog on Del Rio, putting him through a table. Punk then hit the GTS on Miz, dropping him on Del Rio.

Other Stories

- A video package aired on the WWE Network. The video hyped footage from past companies and announced the first, and only, show, “Legends House."

- David Otunga told Kevin Nash that Nash would face Triple H at the pay-per-view in a Ladder match, where a sledgehammer would be hanging above the ring. Otunga said that Hunter should be medically cleared in time. Nash had a match against Santino. Nash squashed Santino in a minute. After the match, Nash teased hitting Santino with a sledgehammer, which he had brought to ringside.

- Kelly Kelly and Eve defeated Beth Phoenix and Natalya. Phoenix and Natalya had a pre-recorded promo that was interrupted by the viral YouTube vignette.

- The options for Superstar of the Year are John Cena, The Miz, Mark Henry, C.M. Punk, Alberto Del Rio, and Randy Orton. In the last twelve months, Cena has been WWE Champion twice for a total of 35 days. The Miz has been WWE Champion once for a total of 160 days (121 occurred in 2011). Henry has been World Champion for 85 (and counting). Punk has been WWE Champion twice for a total of 50 days (and counting). Del Rio won the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and has been WWE Champion twice for a total of 84 days. Orton has been World Champion twice for a total of 110 days. Interestingly, based on the numbers, Cena and Orton are the least deserving.

- Another Kane Resurrected video aired. This time, there were flashes of various WWE wrestlers in the mirror, before the mirror is smashed. The burning mask continues to indicate the mask is coming back in some form.

- Following "It Begins" and "Second," the latest vignette is called "Look Within." It aired on Raw during a Beth Phoenix and Natalya Pin-up Strong pre-recorded promo. The vignette contained a girl and a ball in addition to the boy writing at his desk. The boy said "Behold, the power will come with vengeance to render his anger with fury. The deception the weak have perpetrated will be castigated. The second day of 2012, the prophet will emerge and destroy the weak. It will be the end of the world as you know it." This time referencing Isaiah 35:4.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt