Post by Slade on Jan 10, 2021 16:45:46 GMT -5
Date: January 1, 2021
From: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentary Team: Michael Cole, Paul Heyman, and John Bradshaw Layfield
Ring Announcer: Lillian Garcia
***
The week’s show begins with the ring entrance of WALTER, who is accompanied by the rest of Imperium. When Imperium gets to the ring, WALTER takes a mic and cuts a short promo about how Imperium proved that in beating Hogan and the latest crew of his disposable friends, they proved that the wrestling mat – the sacred ground on which they stand – belongs to Imperium. And tonight Booker T is going to learn that the hard way. The WWE Championship will belong to the Ring General!
BOOKER T vs. WALTER
After getting his chest lit up by chops and having the air choked out of him for much of the match, Booker T ducked a Burning Lariat attempt and dropped WALTER with a jumping roundhouse. He mounted a comeback using a variety of kicks that led up to him hitting an axe kick and doing a spin-a-roonie. After that, Booker climbed the turnbuckle and went for the Harlem Hangover. However, WALTER rolled out of the way. When they got up, WALTER put his big boot in Booker T’s face, dropping him hard to the canvas. Then, WALTER executed a folding powerbomb, and when Booker T managed to kick out of the pinfall, he immediately picked him up and gave him a Golden Bomb and pinned him again. This time, Booker T didn’t kick out. (14:05)
Winner: WALTER
***
The Wall Street stock exchange bell rang, signalling the entrance of a stretch limo with cattle horns on the front of it. John Bradshaw Layfield made his entrance and joined Michael Cole and Paul Heyman at ringside for the remainder of the broadcast. Upon his arrival, it was acknowledged that JBL was filling in for Tony Schiavone this week. Schiavone was injured earlier in the week on Monday Night RAW in an unprovoked attack by RAW’s Kevin Owens, who has been suspended two months without pay. Cole and Heyman talked to Bradshaw about his surprise debut last week and what business he has with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. JBL defends himself, saying he beat Dominik Dijakovic fair and square and says that DiBiase is a friend and business associate, who he felt certain would defeat Keith Lee later tonight, and when he does, Lee will bask in the glory of The Million Dollar Man!
***
REY MYSTERIO JR. vs. BOBBY ROODE
After executing a wheelbarrow bulldog, Rey Mysterio went to the top rope. Roode got up and tripped him up. He went to the top rope and executed a superplex, but Mysterio kicked out of the pinfall. Roode decided to go up to the middle turnbuckle and attempt a diving knee drop, but Mysterio moved. When they got up, Roode missed a clothesline attempt and Mysterio took him down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors that put him in the ropes. Then, Mysterio executed the 6-1-9 and the West Coast Pop to get the win. (14:25)
Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr.
***
RHEA RIPLEY vs. JAZZ
Rhea Ripley and Jazz began to brawl from the moment the bell rang. There were a few wrestling moves executed in between the thrown fists and the vicious kicks. It wasn’t long before they spilled to the outside, where they whipped each other into the barricade and ring steps. Ripley began to tear apart the announce table, but Jazz recovered and attacked. The referee called for the bell, having counted them both out. That didn’t stop them. Eventually, Jazz clotheslined Ripley over the barricade and into the audience. She hopped the rail and kept bringing the fight. Our cameras stayed on them as they fought over to the side of the stage and through the curtain into the backstage area. (2:52)
Double Countout
***
Jonathan Coachman was standing by with the Bella Twins who did nothing but complain about last week’s MUW Women’s World Title Match. Nikki Bella continued to claim she was victim of a carriage of misjustice. She claimed she was the rightful Women’s World Champion after pinning Asuka at Survivor Series and last week losing only after Asuka spat an illegal substance in her face. She demanded Asuka come to Smackdown next week for one more –
Ripley and Jazz come brawling through the interview area, bringing a trail of referees and security along with them. Nikki and Brie flee the scene. Coach gets knocked over when Jazz throws an open water bottle in Ripley’s direction and she ducks and backs into him. Then the entire backdrop of the interview set falls down when Ripley rushes Jazz and tackles her into it.
***
TOMMASO CIAMPA vs. THE MIZ
After The Miz gave Tommaso Ciampa the flying clothesline in the corner, the threw him to the mat and gave him a springboard leg drop. Ciampa kicked out of the pin, so The Miz picked him up and tossed him out to the floor. He distracted the referee as his partner, John Morrison, put the boots to him and then shoved him into the barricade. Johnny Gargano came running down the entrance ramp and chased Morrison around the ring. As that was happening, The Miz went to the outside and gave Ciampa the Skull-Crushing Finale on the floor and then rolled him into the ring, where he quickly pinned him for the win. (8:43)
Winner: The Miz
***
LUCHA BROS. vs. THE HYBRID 2
Angelico attempted to give Rey Fénix a running crucifix bucklebomb, but Fénix slipped free and gave him a superkick. He tagged in Penta, who came off the turnbuckle with a diving double-foot stomp. Evans charged in and they gave him stereo superkicks, after which they went to both corners and gave Evans and Angelico assisted wheelbarrow cannonballs. Penta tagged Fénix back in and they gave him their package piledriver diving double-foot stomp combo. Fénix covered as Penta ensured that Evans couldn’t interrupt the pinfall. (13:28)
Winners: Lucha Bros.
***
Our cameras found Eddie Guerrero entering the locker room to congratulate Rey Mysterio Jr. on his win. Mysterio thanks him and says it is great to be one step closer to the WWE Universal Championship. Guerrero says that next week, he’s going to win his match and join him in the quarterfinals, and after they win those matches, they’ll face off in the semifinals. Then, John Cena entered the locker room to congratulate Mysterio. He also thanked Guerrero for being his partner last week and said that he’d be happy to return the favour whenever he needed it.
***
KEITH LEE vs. “THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN” TED DIBIASE
Keith Lee overpowered The Million Dollar Man early-on and had him on the run. DiBiase only managed to turn the tide after he’s been returned to the ring from the outside, and then got up and kicked the middle rope on Lee as he was climbing through the ropes. That took the wind out of Lee’s sails, so to speak, and allowed DiBiase to get Lee down to the mat, where he did his best to keep him with fist drops, punches, kicks, elbow and knee drops, and a variety of holds meant to wear him down. No matter what he did, he couldn’t get Lee to quit, so he went to the turnbuckle for a move with greater impact. This was a strategic mistake, as DiBiase went for a diving back elbow, but Lee caught him and gave him an atomic drop and then a belly-to-belly suplex. Lee put together a chain of high impact power moves.
Lee looked poised to win the match, but when he set up DiBiase for the Spirit Bomb, DiBiase fought to stay out of the air. Lee had to drive forearms into his back before he could lift him up. DiBiase threw fists at Lee’s face and then appeared to rake his eyes, causing Lee to fall backwards. DiBiase came down to the mat didn’t keep his balance and stumbled right into the referee, knocking him through the ropes. It was a fortuitous turn of events for The Million Dollar Man, who went outside to get a chair. He came back into the ring and stalked Lee, who blindly rubbed his eyes. DiBiase hit Lee, but he didn’t go down. He seemed to absorb the blow, and simply grew angry. He slowly turned around and DiBiase tried to hit him again, but Lee shielded himself with his big forearms and after taking the shot dropped DiBiase with a lariat.
Lee was picking DiBiase up off the mat when JBL left the play-by-play table and jumped into the ring. He looked like a freight train coming with a Clothesline From Hell for Lee, who had DiBiase set up for the Spirit Bomb. However, he was saved by Dominik Dijakovic, who delivered a running discus elbow to JBL. As he fought with JBL, Lee picked up DiBiase and executed the Spirit Bomb. He pinned The Million Dollar Man, but there was no referee.
Meanwhile, “Glorious” Bobby Roode and “Cowboy” James Storm entered the ring and gave Drinking While Investing to Dijakovic. Together, with JBL, they fought Lee three-on-one. The numbers were too much for him to handle and after the assault ended with a Clothesline From Hell, they helped DiBiase make the pin. The referee was thrown back into the ring to make the count. 1…2…3! After the match, JBL, Roode and Storm celebrated with The Million Dollar Man. (15:08)
Winners: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
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