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RAW STORYLINE TRACKER 12/19 - Punk/Bryan/Ryder Celebrate, Cena-Kane, Orton-Barrett, World Title Picture

Dec 26, 2011 - 5:11:29 PM
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WWE Raw Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

Episode - December 19, 2011

PunkCMArt_130GG_208.jpg

(1) C.M. Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Zack Ryder as Champions

Raw started with C.M. Punk’s voice announcing the winner of the TLC main event. In the ring, he announced the United States Champion, Zack Ryder, and the World Heavyweight Champion, Big Show ... who then promptly lost the title to Daniel Bryan. Punk stressed the big deal of Bryan and he as the World and WWE champions, respectively, and how Bryan and Ryder worked their way from the bottom to the top.

Ryder said that he can’t believe what happened, and Bryan said being World Heavyweight Champion is unbelievable.

Then, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and Alberto Del Rio appeared on the stage and headed to the ring. After the faces had the upper hand, the heels regrouped and discussed a plan. Ryder flew out of the ring at Dolph Ziggler, though, and the all fought again. John Laurinaitis announced a six-man tag for the main event.

For the main event, the babyfaces made their entrances through the crowd. In a good six-man tag match, Punk, Bryan, and Ryder defeated Del Rio, The Miz, and Dolph Ziggler after Bryan submitted Del Rio with the LeBell Lock. After the match, the babyfaces celebrated as Cole hoped this wasn’t the dawn of a new era.

***

(2) John Cena vs. Kane

Cena came to the ring and talks about being surprised by people that do not like him. Cena then plugged his match with The Rock. Cena moved onto talking about a monster attacking him for no reason the week before. He said that if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s fine, but if not, they need to handle business.

Mark Henry then came out and said that he had Cena knocked out last week, and he’d be a member of the Hall of Pain if not for Kane. Henry wanted Cena out of the ring, but Kane then came out as the arena lights cut out. Henry left, while Cena remained in the ring. Kane walked around to Henry, but then turned towards Cena, indicating that it was not a mistake.

Kane, approaching Cena, was met with a clothesline from Cena. Kane managed to get Cena out the ring, and then threw him onto the announce table. Kane choked Cena before ripping off Cena’s t-shirt and leaving with it. Cena’s lip seem to be bleeding.

Reax: The reasons for Kane going after Cena and not Mark Henry need to be explored. The announcers did wonder about this, so it will be interesting to see if the question receives an answer.

***

(3) World Heavyweight Title Picture

At TLC, Big Show defeated Mark Henry in a chairs match to win the title. However, Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to win the title straight after.

Reax: The referee did not even check if Big Show was conscious, let alone stand him up before the fight began.

In a backstage interview on Raw, Big Show said that it took him nine years to get to the top and seconds for that to be gone. He blamed himself as he encouraged Bryan to cash in against Mark Henry. Josh Mathews challenged Show and said that he had the shortest World Title reign in history. Show was affected by this, but didn’t snap. He just said, “Okay,” and walked off.

Reax: It is hard for Big Show to be annoyed at Daniel Bryan reasonably, as, like he said, he was encouraging Bryan to cash in when it affected Mark Henry. So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Big Show turned heel, rather than Bryan. Big Show will get his re-match, and if Daniel Bryan isn’t the better man, he should walk away with the title again.

***

(4) Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

At TLC, Randy Orton defeated Wade Barrett by hitting an RKO through a table. On Raw, in a re-match, Randy Orton defeated Wade Barrett again, by disqualification, after Barrett thumbed Orton in the eye. After the match, Barrett put Orton through a table.

Reax: Although Wade Barrett ultimately got the advantage of Randy Orton, he has lost to him three times in a row since his singles victory and Survivor Series team victory. Mark Henry, Big Show, Randy Orton, and Sheamus would be ahead of Barrett for a title shot right now.

***

(5) Tag Team Title Picture

At TLC, Air Boom defeated Epico & Primo to retain the Tag Team Titles. This week, Epico & Primo (with Rosa Mendes) defeated The Usos in a short match.

Reax: The tag divison seems to consist of Air Boom, Epico & Primo, The Usos, and Curt Hawkings & Tyler Rex. Epico & Primo’s win here suggests they will get another title shot soon or at least a non-title match against the champions.

***

(6) Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T

At TLC, Cody Rhodes attacked Booker T twice throughout the night. Their scheduled match went ahead, resulting in Rhodes defeating Booker.

***

(7) Mystery Vignette

This time, the vignette featured more shots of the girl. The boy was shown standing in the corner of the room as the girl knocks his notebook to the floor. The girl spoke “I cannot help you anymore. Do you understand?” before the word “Prophetless” is shown on the screen. The videos so far have been called It Begins, Second, Look Within, Control, and Prophetless.

Reax: I really like these videos. Mysteries are a big part of why I enjoyed shows like Lost, and I’m all for WWE having more mysteries, on the condition that they answer them. Some people think the word "Chris" may be written written and crossed out on the cover.

***

(8) Triple H vs. Kevin Nash

Triple H defeated Kevin Nash at TLC after a blow to the head with the sledgehammer, followed by a pinfall. After the match, Nash was stretchered out. On Raw, the announcers said Nash would be out for at least six weeks, but that they wouldn’t be surprised if he never returned.

***

Other Stories

- Alicia Fox defeated Beth Phoenix in a short match.

- Jinder Mahal came to the ring saying that Sheamus is without honour and that he needed to be put in his place. Sheamus squashed Jinder Mahal for a second victory over him.

- Backstage, Cody Rhodes mocked Booker T for him thinking that he could return to the ring. Santino presented a “cobra in a box” gift for Cody. In a match that followed, Rhodes squashed Santino, hitting the Alabama Slam for the victory.

- Backstage, The Bella Twins were unhappy with how Teddy Long behaved at TLC, where he uncharacteristically, spoke suggestively. Laurinaitis said that the Board of Directors is watching Long. The Bellas both kissed Otunga.

Reax: Are the Board of Directors concerned about anything else or that one incident? Also, technically, Long is still on probation from 2009. This sounds like a possible re-do of that forgotten storyline.

- Backstage, Vickie Guerrero angrily demanded Dolph Ziggler’s United States Title re-match. However, Hornswoggle appeared and kissed Vickie as he had some mistletoe.

Feel free to email any comments to scannell.torch@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @robinocracy for my thoughts on the pay-per-view and non-wrestling related things.

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


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