12/27 WWE House Show Results New York City: Punk v Miz and More

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WWE Raw house show report
December 27, 2011
New York City at Madison Square Garden
Report by Mike Omansky, PWTorch correspondent

Estimated crowd: 13,000-14,000 range. Very good show overall.

Next MSG show announced: Sunday, March 18 with a 5:00 p.m. start for a Raw/Smackdown Supershow. Tickets on-sale Saturday, Jan. 7. Pre-sale is Wednesday, Jan. 4 with Ticketmaster code WRESTLEMANIA .

The show started with The Miz coming out. He said he’d end the year winning the WWE Title tonight in the steel cage main event. Then, he talked about R Truth. He said Truth attacked him this week, and he’s fine and here tonight. He said when he attacked Truth, it put him out for a month. Truth then attacked Miz from behind, and sent him running for the dressing room.

John Laurinaitis came out and ordered Truth to leave the ring. Laurinaitis said the first match would be a 12-man battle royal, with the winner getting a U.S. Title shot tonight against Zack Ryder. He then wished the crowd a happy new year, to a chorus of boos.

(1) Dolph Ziggler won a 12-man battle royal to earn a U.S. Title shot. Santino eliminated three men with The Cobra along the way, and also knocked Ziggler out of the ring mid-match, but through the middle ropes. Ziggler hid. The final two in the ring were Kofi Kingston and Mason Ryan. Kofi threw Ryan out and started celebrating; Ziggler jumped in to toss him out and win. Good opener. (**)

(2) Divas champion Beth Phoenix beat Eve to retain the Divas Title. One Bella twin was referee and the other was timekeeper. Beth won with aid along the way from the heel ref. When Eve had Beth pinned, the ref couldn’t hit the mat for the three count due to a "sore arm." Throughout the match, Eve stopped from attacking Beth when she was done. All well done. The Bellas attacked Eve after the match and Kelly Kelly made the save. (*1/2)

(3) Alex Riley beat Leo Kruger (FCW developmental wrestler). Riley won with the TKO. Bad match. (DUD)

After the third match, Mick Foley came out/was introduced as "guest host" for the evening. He talked about how special The Garden is for him seeing Snuka dive off the top of the cage, fighting Triple H in a Street Fight, etc. He was interrupted by Jack Swagger, who said he didn't want ot hear about his past. Swagger came to N.Y. to compete, so he challenged Foley to a match. Foley said he didn't have his gear and wasn't ready. However, he had another Legend in the back who was ready to fight. Jerry Lawler's music hit and the fans popped. Foley said he's stay ringside to watch Lawler "do his magic."

(4) Jerry Lawler beat Jack Swagger. Lawler won with a fist drop from the middle rope. A “feel good” match. The fans kept chanting “Jerry, Jerry” through most of the bout. The finish was when Lawler lowered his strap and came off the rope. Prior to the finish, Swagger had attacked Foley outside of the ring. After Lawler won, Foley jumped in with “Mr. Socko” to also attack Swagger. (*1/2)

(5) Santino beat Michael McGillicutty. Santino won with a Cobra and pin. Santino was amusing as always; not much for Michael. The crowd was not active before the finish, but big pop for the Cobra. (*)

Ziggler attacked Santino after the match, then Ryder made the save to set up the next match.

(6) U.S. champion Zack Ryder beat Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) to retain the U.S. Title. Ryder won with the Rough Ryder and a pin. Typically good action match from the two. The false finish was where Ziggler pinned Ryder with Ryder’s foot on the ropes. As Dolph grabbed the belt and celebrated, the ref saw his mistake and re-started the match. It lasted about 10 seconds from there. (**)

(7) WWE tag champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston) beat Primo & Epico (w/Rosa Mendes) to retain the WWE Tag Titles. Tag champs scored the pin via Air Bourne. Same match that has been at other house shows, TV, and PPV. (*1/2)

(8) John Cena beat Kane via DQ. Kane good sort of a face reaction coming in; Cena a mix of cheers and boos. Usual “Let’s Go Cena / Cena Sucks” and “You Can’t Wrestle” chants throughout. The match was fairly even, maybe slightly dominated by Kane, who was presented as a worthy monster opponent. The crowd totally into the match, and they worked very well together. Finish: Kane threw Cena out of the ring, followed him out, and beat him up. Kane tossed Cena back into the ring and brought in a chair. The ref warned him not to use it, but Kane hit Cena with the chair for the DQ. (***)

After the DQ, Kane left the ring, turned around, and came back to deliver a chokeslam. He left a second time, came back, but this time, Cena hit him with the Attitude Adjustment. Kane got up, but left the ring.

(9) WWE champion C.M. Punk beat The Miz in a steel cage match to retain the WWE Title. Punk won with the Go To Sleep for a pin. Very strong match. It went about 20 minutes. Loads of “near escapes” by both, through the door and over the top. Also, near pinfalls along the way. Fast-paced match throughout. (***)

the cage match sounds awesome.

I agree.

This house show seemed pretty solid and I think I would be happy to see this if it happens in 2 weeks when I go to a Raw house show.

» 7/21 WWE House Show Results Sioux City, Iowa: Punk/Bryan/Kane Main Event With A.J. Involved
» 7/28 WWE House Show Results Johnson City, Tenn.: Punk Wrestles as Face in 1st Match Since Heel Turn
» 8/3 WWE House Show Results Jacksonville, FL.: Cena/Show, Punk/Bryan Street Fight Title Match
» 11/30 House Show Results From Yokohoma, Japan: Punk vs. Del Rio, Show/Ryder vs. Nash/Ziggler
» 1/21 WWE House Show Results: Punk/Miz Cage Match, Bryan/Show, Every Champ on the Card etc!