MATCH #1: United States Championship Match – Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase w/ Maryse
Bryan has been the champion since 9.19.10 and this is his second defense. They lock up and take it to the mat as the lights briefly shut off. Back on and Bryan kicks DiBiase to the apron. DiBiase comes back and suplexes Bryan down to the floor. He drapes Bryan across the apron and goes up to the second rope for an elbow drop. Back in the ring DiBiase continues wearing the champion down, working on the back. The champion comes back adn dropkicks DiBiase back into the corner. Both men get back to their feet and Bryan attacks with kicks and a running clothesline. Bryan knocks DiBiase to the floor and hits a flying tope to the floor, but appears to have injured his shoulder. It doesn’t stop him from hitting the shotgun missile dropkick for a two-count. He hits a series of kicks and then a small package for two. Striker acknowledges Bryan’s past success with that move, which is cool. Meanwhile DiBiase comes back with a hard clothesline that turns Bryan inside out. DiBiase tries Dream Street but Bryan pushes off the top turnbuckle and gets a two-count. The challenger comes right back with a spinebuster for two. DiBiase sets Bryan up top but Bryan slips out and hits the belly-to-back superplex, furtherig injuring his shoulder. Even so he gets a two-count. Bryan then goes for the LeBell Lock but DiBiase counters to a catapult, and follows with a rollup for two. Moments later Bryan is able to cinch in the LeBell Lock and DiBiase taps out.
WINNER, and STILL UNITED STATES CHAMPION – Daniel Bryan, ***1/4
The Miz comes from out of nowhere and blasts Bryan with his Money in the Bank briefcase. He and Alex Riley make their way to the ring. They have trouble with the lights again. He makes fun of LeBron James and the Heat, and threatens to cash in his title shot.
MATCH #2: Sheamus vs. John Morrison
Sheamus forces Morrison into the corner and slaps him, but Morrison fights right back. Morrison hits a rana and a dropkick to send Sheamus to the floor, and then follows him out with a corkscrew plancha. Back in the ring Sheamus resumes control and works Morrison over. He thwarts Morrison’s comeback attempts, and hits a thunderous powerslam for two. Sheamus goes for the Brogue Kick but misses and Morrison hits an enziguiri. Both men are down. They get back to their feet and trade shots, with Morrison surprisingly gaining control. Morrison hits a couple of clotheslines and a heel kick for two. Sheamus catches Morrison with the Irish Curse backbreaker but he kicks out at two. He goes for the High Cross but Morrison reverses to a catapult, and follows up with a side Russian legsweep two. Morrison tries a springboard maneuver but Sheamus sweeps his legs. He goes to work on the knee, locking in a Half Crab. Morrison reaches the ropes, and then slides to the apron and gets a modified sunset flip for two. Sheamus wisely goes back to the knee. Sheamus tries the High Cross again but Morrison slips out and unleashes an offensive flurry of kicks, and then hits a Shining Wizard for the pin. He won with a Shining Wizard?
WINNER – John Morrison, **3/4
John Cena and R-Truth wax philosophical about Cena’s responsibilities in the main event tonight.
MATCH #3: Intercontinental Championship Match – Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero vs. Kaval
Ziggler has been the champion since 8.6.10 and this is his seventh defense. The champ takes the early control and hits the Perfect neck snap, looking arrogant while he does it. Kaval comes back wtih a schoolboy rollup for two. Ziggler comes right back and talks trash to Kaval. That backfires though, and Kaval hits a springboard cross body block for two. Kaval backs Ziggler into the corner and hits springboard punches. Vickie briefly distracts Kaval, allowing Ziggler to slip out and drop Kaval on the top turnbuckle. Ziggler now locks in a chinlock with a body scissors. He picks Kaval up and hits a neckbreaker for two. He charges into the corner but runs right into a boot. Kaval hits a couple of forearms and a couple of kicks. He hits a modified Stinger Splash and a springboard Merosault for two. Kaval goes for the Tidal Crush but they have some kind of miscommunication and they blow it. Even so Kaval gets two. He goes up top but Ziggler knocks him down. Ziggler locks on the Sleeper but Kaval headbutts his way out of it. Kaval goes for the Phoenix Splash and lands on his feet and gets a backslide for two. Ziggler hits a Fame-Ass-Er for two (Cole calls it the Zig Zag and Striker corrects him). In the meantime Ziggler hurls Kaval into the buckles but he lands on his feet and hits a spinning kick to the face for two. Kaval lands a kick but Ziggler comes right back with a headbutt. Ziggler charges in the corner but Kaval avoids him and gets a schoolboy for two. The champ gets a small package but Kaval kicks out at two. Kaval gets a victory roll but Ziggler rolls through and hangs on to the tights to get the win!
WINNER, and STILL INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION – Dolph Ziggler, ***
Jack Swagger and Cody Rhodes cut a fun promo until Alberto Del Rio, Tyler Reks, and Drew McIntyre come out to cut them off and tell them to be serious.
MATCH #4: Team Rey Mysterio vs. Team Alberto Del Rio
Team Mysterio is of course Rey Mysterio, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Chris Masters, and MVP. Team Del Rio is the aforementioned quintet from the last promo.
Mysterio and Del Rio start the match, but before any contact can be made Del Rio tags out to Rhodes. Matt Striker makes the ridiculous claim that Ricky Henderson was the greatest baseball player of all time. Ricky was great and all but please. As soon as Mysterio is at a disadvantage Del Rio gets himself back in the match. Mysterio comes back with a headscissors and then a drop toehold. He hits a low dropkick to the face in the corner and then makes the tag to MVP. The Miami born MVP hits a kick to the face for a two-count. MVP throws Del Rio into the corner and hits the Driveby for two. Kingston and Masters take their turns abusing el capitan as well. Del Rio pushes Masters into his corner, and Reks and McIntyre take turns working on the Masterpiece. McIntyre misses a flying something or other off the rops, and MVP gets tagged back in. MVP goes Ballin’, and then knocks Del Rio to the floor. He tries to suplex McIntyre back in but Del Rio sweeps the legs and holds them down for McIntyre to get the pin and eliminate MVP. The crowd is pissed, and rightfully so.
Masters comes in and seems to be a house afire, but Del Rio weathers the storm and locks Masters in the Cross Armbreaker to eliminate him.
Big Show enters the ring now, so Del Rio tags Swagger, who has history with Show. Swagger gets the advantage and tags Del Rio, who foolishly taunts the monster. Show knocks Del Rio out with a punch, and then goes to work on McIntyre. Del Rio is unconscious, and then referees help him to the back.
Kingston and Rhodes get in the ring, and Kingston slaps him in the face. Rhodes goes crazy over his valuable face, and then walks right into another one! Show tags back in and knocks Rhodes out with a punch to eliminate him.
Reks comes in and takes Show off his feet, and then tags to Swagger. Show tries a Chokeslam but Swagger rolls through and locks in the Ankle Lock! While still in the hold Show makes the tag to Mysterio, who is on fire but gets cut off with a boot to the face. Kingston puts Mysterio in place for a 619, but Swagger catches Mysterio in an Ankle Lock. Mysterio cleverly counters that and goes for another 619 but Swagger tagged Reks. Kingston tags in and he’s all over the former surfer dude. He goes for a charge in the corner but Reks puts him into the Tree of Woe. Now Reks charges but Kingston rolls out and hits a kick to the face to eliminate Reks.
Swagger comes in and they exchange holds. Kingston tries the Trouble in Paradise but Swagger catches him in the Ankle Lock and Kingston taps out!
We’re down to a regular tag match now, but something tells me Del Rio will be back. Swagger and Mysterio go at it and Mysterio finally hits a 619. Mysterio then hits a splash off Show’s shoulders to eliminate Swagger.
McIntyre goes for the Future Shock but Mysterio counters and hits a 619. Show then follows up with a Chokeslam to eliminate McIntyre and win the match. I guess I was wrong about Del Rio.
WINNERS – Team Mysterio, Rey Mysterio and Big Show survive, **1/2
WWE TLC is coming on December 19!
Backstage Josh Mathews gets a word with Randy Orton, who promises to walk out of Survivor Series with the WWE Championship.
MATCH #5: Unified Divas Title Match – Michelle McCool & Layla vs. Natalya
McCool has been the champion since 9.19.10 and this is their fourth defense. LayCool dominates in the early going, which is to be expected. Natalya makes the comeback on the ring floor and dumps both members of LayCool into the crowd. Back in the ring Natalya locks McCool in the Sharpshooter and Natalya is the new Divas Champion! Good for her.
WINNER, and NEW DIVAS CHAMPION – Natalya, **
LayCool attack the new champion, and Beth Phoenix returns from injury to make the save. I find it hilarious when Natalya holds up both belts and says “yaaaaay” in the most childish way possible.
MATCH #6: World Heavyweight Title Match – Kane vs. Edge
Kane has been the champion since 7.18.10 and this is his fifth defense. Edge successfully uses his wits and quickness in the early going to subdue the much larger champion. He also reminds Kane that he kidnapped his father Paul Bearer and won’t tell him where he’s at. After a few minutes Kane regains his focus and kicks Edge to the floor. The champion uses his strength advantage to wear Edge down. Edge comes back with a cross body block off the top rope for two. Kane comes back and goes for a flying clothesline off the top rope but Edge dropkicks him out of the air. They go back and forth for a bit but neither man can put the other away. Kane hits a side slam for two. The champ continues to wear Edge down. He goes for a Chokeslam but Edge counters with the Impaler! Edge goes for the Spear but Kane kicks him in the face and then hits a Chokeslam but Edge kicks out at two! Kane goes for the Tombstone but Edge slips out and hits a Spear. He apparently covers Kane and gets the three-count, but it looks like they covered each other to me. Indeed, the referee tells the ring announcer that they did pin each other so it’s a tie and ties mean the champion retains. Terrible finish.
WINNER – Draw, and STILL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION – Kane, **1/4
The brawl continues out on the floor. Edge puts Kane into the wheelchair and rams him through the barricade.
John Cena and Wade Barrett talk strategy of sorts. Cena says he knows exactly what he’s going to do.
MATCH #7: WWE Tag Team Championship Match – Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater vs. Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov
Gabriel & Slater have been champions since 10.25.09 and this is their first defense. Santino and Gabriel start the match. I migth be a little lax on play by play for this one. I’m trying to fix the live coverage so I totally missed the match but Gabriel & Slater retain the titles as expected.
WINNERS, and STILL WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS – Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater
Michael Cole receives an e-mail from the Raw GM. He just reminds Nexus to leave ringside and not interfere in the main event.
MATCH #8: WWE Championship Match – Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
Orton has been the champion since 9.19.10 and this is his third defense. They start off cautiously and Barrett takes first control. Orton seems distracted by Cena as the referee. The battle spills to the floor and Barrett works on the back. They continue going back and forth and it feels like everyone is waiting for something big to happen. Barrett hits an elbow off the second rope for two. Orton comes back and hits the elevated DDT. Barrett slips to the floor and Orton follows him out to hit a clothesline. The challenger gets back in the ring and catches Orton with a knee to the face. Barrett then hits Wasteland but Orton grabs the bottom rope so Cena only counts two. The angry Barrett argues with Cena, so Cena pushes him right into an RKO and counts three. Orton retains, and Cena is fired.
WINNER, and STILL WWE CHAMPION – Randy Orton, **
The rest of Nexus come out to attack but Cena and Orton fight them off. Cena then hands the belt over and hugs the champion. Hmm, there’s a lot of PPV time left. Cena takes his wrist bands off, salutes the crowd, hugs Michael Cole and a couple of fans, and then makes his way to the back. He changes his mind and makes his way through the crowd, high-fiving fans.
