Raw 12-26-11

Last Raw of 2011! Let's goooooooo!!!!!!

Matches:

1. Booker T v. Cody Rhodes - 3 out of 5
2. Zack Ryder & Eve v. Tyson Kidd & Natalya - 4 out of 5
3. John Cena v. The Miz - 2 out of 5
4. Big Show v. David Otunga - 2 out of 5
5. CM Punk v. Jack Swagger - 4 out of 5
6. CM Punk v. Dolph Ziggler - 4 out of 5


Not a terribly strong show overall this week, but continuing storylines did get played up A LOT. We started the night with John Laurinaitis, Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim General Manager of Raw (in case you didn't know already), doing Punk's entrance. Punk accused him of baiting, and Mr. Ace tried to show he was unpredictable by setting the main event as a gauntlet for Punk. First Jack Swagger, then Dolph Ziggler, then Mark Henry would have a shot at the WWE champion for a chance to face him next week. Punk thinks he should have a chance at Johnny should he survive the gauntlet, but the point became moot when Laurinaitis essentially screwed Punk during his match with Ziggler. He first distracted the ref from a certain pin to make him eject Vickie and Swagger from ringside, and then he took the opportunity to address Punk about his proposed prize for beating all three opponents. Before the GM could even finish his thought, Ziggler hit the Zig-Zag and gained his spot at the main event next week. Mr. Perfect 2.0, incoming!

R-Truth returned and beat the ever-living hell out of Miz after he'd been counted out for his match with Cena. It's okay; the attack is Little Jimmy approved!

An injured Alberto Del Rio was pushed onto the stage in a wheelchair by an injured Ricardo Rodriguez. His promo was all but overshadowed by the tantalizing sound of an imminent Bella Twins break-up. Let's just hope they don't drag this one out the way they did Michelle McCool and Layla.

And then, there was Kane. Kane started to talk and was quickly interrupted by John Cena's music. He made plain that he was not going to be silenced by summoning a wall of flame at the stage to stop Cena in his tracks. He got all philosophical on the WWE universe by stating that humans were hateful by nature, and he even showed he's been hanging out with Cody Rhodes by making sure he spoke as slowly and clearly as possible. He urged Cena to let the hate flow through him; only then can he defeat Kane, and then his turn to the Dark Side will be complete!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!