Monday Night Raw TV report for 01/23/2012

Reported by Earnest I Aguilar

The countdown is on! It is the last Raw before the Royal Rumble this Sunday, so what will go down tonight to build to the big show? (And not the wrestler!) What will, if any, repercussions be from John Laurinaitis' meltdown last week, and how will Dolph Ziggler try to antagonize his opponent for the Pay-Per-View, WWE Champion C.M. Punk? 

Also, what will happen with the continuing bitterness between Kane & John Cena. And (since I predicted wrong last week), will we get another Hall-Of-Fame announcement? (I hope so!) All this and much more, plus my picks for the Royal Rumble at the end of the report. Read on and enjoy...!

Monday Night Raw for January 23rd, 2012 - "Over The Top"

Introduction Segment: Arena Promo

The regular Raw video plays but no pyro follows. Instead, "Mr. Cult Of Personality" WWE Champion C.M. Punk walks out and sits down in the ring. He puts over his WWE Championship match with Dolph Ziggler, and referee John Laurinaitis at the 25th Anniversary of the Royal Rumble. 

Punk calls Johnny Laurinaitis a "failure" at everything - wrestler, executive, human being. John L. sucks at life according to C.M. He then reminds us of John's blow up from last week (via video footage) since this is the first time he told the truth. Punk then threatens to break Laurinaitis' arms, so that he can get the desired result and not get screwed out of his title. 

"The Straight Edge Superstar" dares the Raw Interim General Manager to say those things he did last week to his face. Punk gives him a chance but to no avail. Instead, he decides to go find him, but gets another John making an appearance. John Cena interjects and marches to the squared circle.

Cena claims that Punk is just rambling, while Cena is out for business. He demands that Laurinaitis book both a rematch for Zack Ryder and the U.S. Championship, and a contest with Kane (for Cena) tonight and at the 'Rumble. He also declares that "Big Johnny" will resign as Raw Interim G.M. 

The WWE Champion says that everyone has spoken, but quickly gets cut off by the man he is berating. Laurinaitis walks out and throws his power around. He sticks by what he said last week, and swerves the booking. 

He makes the matches of Zack Ryder VS. Kane in a Falls-Count-Anywhere match (and if John Cena interferes, Ryder will NEVER get another title shot), as well as C.M. Punk & John Cena teaming up to face Dolph Ziggler and U.S. Champion Jack Swagger.

The heels walk out and cut a promo, saying they will beat both the faces. (Dolph's was better articulated though). Swagger & Ziggler walk to the ring and Laurinaitis joins by the commentary table.

Match #1: Tag-Team - John Cena & WWE Champion C.M. Punk VS. Dolph Ziggler & United States Champion "The All American-American" Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero)

Cena and Ziggler start out. Lock up and side head lock takedown from Cena. Dolph corners him but Cena quickly gains control and delivers a bulldog for a two-count! Wrist lock and tag to Punk. Snapmare and harsh kick-to-the-back for another quick count by Punk. Dolph counters a suplex and wiggles out of a Go To Sleep try. The teams stare each other down to send us a break.

Commercials.

Back live, Cena has a cover on Ziggler, but "Perfection" kicks out at 2! Another lock up, which Dolph kicks out of and ducks a clothesline attempt before showing off with a Ric Flair-esque strut. He slaps hands with Swagger, who immediately gets taken down with a suplex, but knocks down Cena with a clothesline.

The "All-American-American" stomps away on John and begins to work him over with a butterfly submission. Cena reverses the hold with an Northern light suplex, but gets dropped by Dolph with a dropkick and several elbows to follow. The heels double-team Cena and Swagger hits the Swaggerbomb for a near fall!

Another submission is gripped around the body of Cena by Jack, but John quickly reverses that into an Attitude Adjustment. Both men are laid out and both make tags to their partners. Punk all over Dolph with a corner knee/bulldog combo. He tries another G.T.S. but Ziggler gets out, only to receive a stiff kick-to-the-head. Swagger breaks up the subsequent pin attempt, but gets locked in the S.T.F on the outside. 

Punk climbs the top rope to go for an elbow, but Laurinaitis blatantly distracts C.M., which allows Ziggler to roll-up from behind and get the 1 - 2 - 3 for the fourth time on Punk!

Winners via Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler and United States Champion "The All-American-American" Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero)

Post match, Punk wants to make Laurinaitis famous - to be a WWE Superstar - so he challenges him to a match 1 - 1 tonight! After a bit of thought, "Big Johnny" accepts for a bout!

Backstage, Chris Jericho is enthusiastic walking toward the ring as we learn the Highlight Reel will commence shortly!

Ads.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

The set is all in the ring and ready to go. Chris Jericho comes out the same way he has in the last three weeks. Jerry "The King" Lawler informs us that Jericho is entered into the Royal Rumble match. The crowd chants "Y2J" and "speech" respectively, along with some cheers and boos. Chris motions for them to quiet down and then promptly exists the ring, telling us "wait one second, hold on." (sans microphone, keeping the gimmick going) 

He comes back out with a t-shirt gun and taunts each side of the crowd for a shirt. He then takes the camera in the ring and starts filming around the ring. Jericho grabs the microphone again and quiets down the crowd. He then airs a video package of his career highlights from his WWE debut in 1999 to present day. More cheers & boos.

Finally, he speaks! "This Sunday at the Royal Rumble, it's going to be the end of the world as you know it." The lights go out, his jacket lights up, and we go to break. (This was an awesome segment!)

Commercials.

Segment #3: Royal Rumble Promo

A video putting over the Royal Rumble match airs.

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Mick Foley pumps up Zack Ryder for his match with Kane. Eve Torres tries to talk him out of it, but Zack says "I have to do this." John Cena shows up and wants to back Ryder, but the "Woo-Woo-Man" tells him to stay out of it - he wants his U.S. Title shot again.

Match #2: Single (Falls-Count-Anywhere) Zack Ryder VS. Kane

Zack immediately jumps on Kane, punching away in the corner on him. Kane throws him off and kicks him, booting him from the apron to the announce table. "The Big Red Machine" takes over and decimates Ryder, throwing him all around the outside of the ring (into the post, steel steps, the table etc...). Eve has also come out to keep an eye on her man.

Ads.

Back live, Kane is still in huge domination. The action reaches to the WWE Logo on the Raw set, with Kane chokeslamming Ryder through a panel on the steel stage. Eve yells at him (not wise, darling!), which provokes Kane to stalk her. John Cena shows up on the stop of the ramp and Kane back-tracks into the crowd as John & Eve look on at the medical attention (complete with stretcher of course!) Ryder is receiving.

Winner: No Contest via No Official Word (although I'd give the "W" to Kane when you really think about and watch it!)

Commercials.

Segment #5: Backstage Promo

Back live, Ryder is eventually taken to the ambulance, with Cena saying he will take care of this. Torres blames Cena and climbs in the ambulance. Cena looks on and then gets questioned by Josh Matthews (nice timing!) on his feelings. John says nothing and slaps the microphone out of his hands. He makes a menacing, pissed-off face to the camera (although, it was a little over-dramatic).

Ads.

Match #3: Single - Jinder Mahal VS. Sheamus

(Ugh, again!? Please let this be a quick squash!) A lock up starts the match and Sheamus begins to gain momentum when Wade Barrett makes his way to the commentary booth. Sheamus all-over Mahal, but soon gets tossed off the top rope. 1 - 2 - Sheamus kicks out! Two knees-to-the-face from Jinder for another two-count. 

Rear chin lock by Mahal is clamped but Sheamus fights out with hammer blows and a rolling Samoan drop. A Celtic Cross Powerbomb attempt but Mahal fights out, however he walks right into the Brogue Kick for the win by Sheamus! (I'll give Jinder one thing - has one of the greater "out of it/stunned wonder" looks after being hit with a finisher!)

Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus

Post match, Sheamus orders Wade to look at the sight of him standing in the ring alone, because that's what will happen Sunday at the Royal Rumble when "Great White" wins it.

Segment #6: Backstage Promo

Josh Matthews now interviews The Miz on his match tonight with R-Truth. The Miz proclaims that when you drop him as a partner (like John Morrison and Big Show) consequences happen. No different for R-Truth, and The Miz declares he will win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania two years in a row.

R-Truth, dressed as "Eric Flasher - WWE Market Research". He informs Miz that he is #1 - annoying, whining, nincompoop, and "W.E.I.O" or whenever the Miz is on "What Else Is On!" He is also without question, "WWE's #1 jackass!" 

The two then engage in a verbal joust, which is broken by John Laurinaitis and David Otunga. He then adds a stipulation to their match, saying that whoever loses, will enter #1 in the Royal Rumble. They all walk off and R-Truth yells "quack-quack!"

Commercials.

Match #4: Single - "The Funkasaurus" Brodus Clay (with the "Funkettes") VS. Heath Slater

(Squash!) (Note: William Regal is providing commentary, continuing his storyline from Smackdown - read that report also on Wrestling-Online.com!)

Brodus hits a shoulder-block to begin, a head butt, suplex, corner splash, and running crossbody for the quick victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Brodus Clay (with the "Funkettes")

Ads.

Match #5: Single - The Miz VS. R-Truth

Lock up by both broken with a knee from Miz. Irish Whip reversed by R-Truth and a couple elbows to send Miz to the outside. Truth runs at him with a clothesline. Miz cuts him off as he climbs in the ring and stomps away. Truth quickly legsweeps Miz and punches away. Miz counters with a knee and slingshot suplex, hanging him on the ropes and then running his shoulder to the gut, sending Truth on his stomach to the mats below.

Commercials.

Miz still dominating, gripping an Abdominal Stretch on his former friend and tag-team partner. Truth elbows his way out and hip-tosses Miz over. Truth gets some momentum and runs off the ropes into a Victory Roll-up. 1 - 2 - Miz kicks out! Truth now executes a nice Suplex-Flapjack-Faceplant for another near fall! 

He misses a scissors kick but reverses a neckbreaker into a backslide for another 2! Miz manages to hit the neckbreaker, but also only receives two! Miz has his Skull-Krushing-Finale countered but drives Truth's head down with a hard DDT. He pounds away on Truth but quickly gets caught with the Jumping Flatliner! 1 - 2 - 3! (As per the stipulation, Miz now is the #1 entry in the Royal Rumble)

Winner via Pinfall: R-Truth

Post match, R-Truth celebrates and Jerry Lawler has an all-of-a-sudden update on Zack Ryder. He has a broken back. They replay the angle that gave him the injury tonight.

Segment #7: Office Promo

John Laurinaitis is warming up when David Otunga interrupts and gives him a fax that he does not like. (Oooh!)

Ads.

Match #6: Single - WWE Champion C.M. Punk VS. "Executive Vice President of Talent Relations/Interim Raw General Manager" John Laurinaitis

Prior to the bout, John on the microphone shares some unfortunate news. His fax stated that the WWE Board Of Directors is concerned about his judgments as Raw G.M. Therefore, the Board has decided that his status as the Raw G.M. is "under review" and next week, his role will be evaluated to either stay or be "terminated." Oh and the evaluation will be conducted by WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H!

Punk threatens and realizes there is now nothing Laurinaitis can do to prevent C.M. from "knocking your teeth out of your face, right before Triple H shows you the door." Laurinaitis tries an about-face, extending apologies to Punk & the WWE Universe. He also reinstates Mick Foley into the Royal Rumble match. 

Punk doesn't buy it and hopes HHH utters the words (as his father-in-law does best) "YOU'RE FIRED!" Laurinaitis says he is not going anywhere and the match isn't going to happen with him, but instead David Otunga.

Otunga assaults Punk right away, but falls victim quickly to the Anaconda Vice submission and a stiff kick. "The Straight-Edge Superstar" seethes at the opportunity and seizes it, clutching John Laurinaitis and dropping him with the G.T.S.

Before he can be too happy, his challenger attacks from behind with a Zig-Zag. Dolph Ziggler stares down a prone Punk and smiles, predicting his outcome for his WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble as Raw fades to black.

End Of Raw.

Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp

Another great show tonight, and better than last week - had a little more "give" to it. On to the dissection...

Excellence: Dolph Ziggler - both in his short promo tonight, getting the win in his match over his opponent for the PPV, and closing the show by taking down Punk once again. I say this because all three of these aspects have put him over as a legitimate threat to Punk's title and really makes me (and others I'm sure) he can win the championship on Sunday. 

John Laurinaitis in his entire role throughout the episode. Pretty much the same reasons as Ziggler, minus the fact that he didn't/doesn't wrestle. It's his abilities to be a jerk and play mind games that is awesome. 

Chris Jericho's segment - also awesome and while he did speak tonight, glad it was only one sentence which leaves many with a cliffhanger and speculation on what he truly means. Short, simple, to the point, and very effective. 

Miz/R-Truth's backstage promo - whether an alliance or foes, these two have beautiful chemistry and corroborate each other perfectly.

Bogus: Zack Ryder's "injury" - been there/done that, and especially with that new small stage, really doesn't look that effective anymore. However, still a bit of props go to the "serious tone" and Eve's appearance of actual concern and decent acting. 

Jinder Mahal/Sheamus - could've been saved for Smackdown. That was nothing special and hopefully there is no more of those two going at it, too much! Quick match/end/result to R-Truth & Miz - should've been saved for Pay-Per-View and built up a bit more.

Overall though, the "go-home" show finished off nicely, including another suspenseful "gotcha" for next week. My quick picks for the 'Rumble:

1. C.M. Punk retains his WWE Championship over Dolph Ziggler, somehow!

2. Daniel Bryan sneaks his way out of the cage to keep his World Heavyweight Championship from Big Show & Mark Henry

3. John Cena and Kane go to a no-contest due to a big brawl of pent-up emotion and aggression between the two.

4. Chris Jericho wins the Royal Rumble and begins his mission to "end the world."

Let us see how right I am in 7 days. Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online readers and wrestling fans!