Digitals

In-ring: Justin Roberts introduced WWE champion C.M. Punk to a tepid reaction with the crowd worn out from a lot of big moments on the show. Punk, sporting an announcing jacket, came to the ring to commentate on the main event battle royal. Punk made one girl’s night ringside before joining Cole and Lawler to discuss the match.
Out first was Big Show, who was selling the effects of the Chamber last night. IC champion Cody Rhodes, sporting a taped right thigh, was out second. R-Truth was out third, followed by Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero), Wade Barrett, Great Khali, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, Santino selling multiple injuries, and Chris Jericho out last after the arena lights shut off for Jericho’s light-up jacket to make his presence known. Jericho made his way to ringside and locked eyes with Punk before entering the ring.

CHRIS JERICHO vs. THE MIZ vs. IC champion CODY RHODES vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. WADE BARRETT vs. BIG SHOW vs. KOFI KINGSTON vs. R-TRUTH vs. GREAT KHALI vs. SANTINO — #1 contender’s Battle Royal — winner faces WWE champion C.M. Punk at WrestleMania
Punk targeted Jericho on commentary as Cole tried to badger Punk with exaggerated claims. The entire crew ganged up on Show, but then turned toward Khali and eliminated him at 0:55. On the floor, Khali simply sat on his rump staring into the ring in disbelief before they cut to break.
[Commercial Break]
Back live at 4:00, Punk introduced the show and reset the broadcast, interrupting Cole. The camera focused on Kofi and Miz battling to avoid elimination while Vickie screeched ringside. Barrett and Rhodes tried to eliminate Show, but Show fought them off.
Cole reset the show at the top of the hour. Kofi and Truth then double-dropkicked Miz, eliminating him from the match and ending his WrestleMania headline attempt. Show then double-chokeslammed Kofi and Truth, but Jericho dropped Show with a Codebreaker. Zig-Zag from Ziggler. Cross Rhodes to Ziggler. Winds of Change from Barrett to Rhodes. Barrett then tried to cut Santino, but Santino made a mid-air counter to eliminate Barrett. Truth was then eliminated by Santino. And, Ziggler ended it with a high-impact dropkick to Santino.
Show then press-slammed Ziggler over the top rope onto Barrett and Truth for a big visual. Barrett screamed and cussed like a sailor, selling that he injured his arm, which was taped to sell Chamber injuries. Cole said Ziggler may have been injured, which seemed like the storyline injury, and Lawler said Barrett may have injured his arm. Meanwhile, ref Scott Armstrong ran from ringside to the middle of the hard camera shot to give the “X” signal in the background. Back in the ring, Jericho eliminated Kingston as more refs came to ringside to check on the wrestlers ringside.
Now, a Final Four of Rhodes, Show, Jericho, and Santino. All four wrestlers paused in the ring as more medical personnel came to ringside to check on Barrett and Ziggler. They eventually started up the action with Rhodes, Jericho, and Santino trying to wear down Show. Santino then busted out The Cobra for Jericho and he connected. But, Rhodes clotheslined Santino over the top rope. Rhodes screamed that Santino’s 15 minutes are over.
So, it was Rhodes and JeriShow. Punk noted Rhodes is against a former tag champion team. Show then double-suplexed Jericho and Rhodes before Show clotheslined Rhodes over the top rope. So, it was down to JeriShow. Show grabbed Jericho for a clothesline, but Rhodes grabbed Show’s leg from the outside. The distraction gave Jericho an opening to try to pull Show over the top rope. Rhodes then snuck back to ringside and helped Jericho pull Rhodes over the top rope, giving Jericho the win. Cole noted Rhodes cost Show a match with major title implications two nights in a row.

WINNER: Jericho at 12:17 to become #1 contender to the WWE Title. Not exactly an emphatic victory for Jericho to set up Punk-Jericho for the WWE Title at Mania.

Digitals

WWE champion C.M. PUNK vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. THE MIZ vs. KOFI KINGSTON vs. R-TRUTH — WWE Title match — Raw brand Elimination Chamber match
Punk and Kofi went through a bit of a feeling-out process to start the match before Kofi went flying over the top rope and landed on his feet on the Chamber platform. Back to a feeling-out process before they traded rapid-fire pin attempts. The match moved to the Chamber platform, where Kofi back-dropped Punk hip-first onto the platform. Punk came back with a catapult, sending Kofi flying into the exterior of Jericho’s Plexiglas pod. The crowd chanted for Punk as Jericho watched intently inside his pod. Back in the ring, Punk worked on Kofi while selling a hip injury.
At 5:00, it was time for entrant #3 – Dolph Ziggler, who looked even more like Billy Gunn tonight. Ziggler went right after Punk before doing standing ab crunches while hanging on the Chamber wall. After “showing off,” Ziggler tried a Rockerdropper out of the ab crunch, but Punk moved. Back in the ring, Ziggler ate a top turnbuckle attempting a corner splash. Punk and Kofi then double-teamed Ziggler before Punk and Kofi suddenly collided in mid-air attempting a double springboard on Ziggler.
With all three men on the mat, the #4 entrant (at 9:00 instead of 10:00) was R-Truth, who went after Ziggler before hip-tossing Ziggler over the top rope onto the Chamber platform. Truth followed with a slingshot splash that seemed to inflict damage to both men. Back in the ring, Truth covered Ziggler, but only scored a two count. Cole noted the pace is quickening inside the Chamber. Punk then blasted Truth with a knee and executed a superplex, but Truth kicked out of a pin attempt. Punk went to the top turnbuckle in front of Jericho, who pounded his pod glass to yell at Punk, then Punk came off the top rope with an elbow drop on Truth. It was good for a pin and elimination.

 Truth eliminated by Punk at 11:42

Rapid-fire exchanges followed before Kofi tried to cover Punk, but the champ kicked out in time. Kofi then Spiderman’ed onto the Chamber wall before jumping onto Ziggler’s shoulders to deliver a swinging DDT onto the Chamber platform in one fluid motion. The crowd popped before things calmed down. This led to entry #5 – The Miz – at 13:23. Miz quickly threw Punk into a Chamber pod before trying to choke Kofi inside the Chamber hole openings. Ziggler took another beating, this time from Miz, before Miz shoved Kofi off the top turnbuckle onto the platform. Miz and Punk then teased finishers before Miz executed a DDT for a nearfall. The crowd rallied behind Punk as Jericho paced inside his pod and Ziggler remained KO’ed outside the ring on the platform.
Suddenly, Punk slapped on the Anaconda Vice on Miz center-ring. Miz fought the hold as the countdown clock led to Jericho entering the match as the final entrant at 17:45. Punk released the hold when Jericho entered the ring and they had a confrontation before Jericho took control. They teased finishers, which the crowd was into, then Jericho cut off Punk with a running bulldog, then followed with a Lionsault. Suddenly, Ziggler tried a roll-up on Jericho, but Jericho escaped and nailed the Codebreaker. That ended Ziggler’s night after Ziggler bounced around the Chamber for 20 minutes.

Ziggler eliminated by Jericho at 19:19

As Ziggler left the Chamber, Jericho cleared Kofi from the Chamber before resuming an exchange with Punk. Punk won the brief battle with a catapult over the top rope onto the platform. They resumed the battle on the platform, with Punk smashing Jericho into pod glass. Jericho then thumbed Punk in the eye and locked himself back inside his Chamber pod. Punk quickly took care of that, but Jericho yanked Punk shoulder-first into the pod door multiple times to floor Punk.
At 22:22, Jericho turned his attention to Kingston, who continued to take a beating until he came back with an STO on the platform. Miz quickly attacked Kingston, though, and blasted away with left hand strikes. Miz walked into a pendulum kick out of the corner, though, and Punk followed up with a corner powerbomb on Miz. Kofi then found himself on top of a Chamber pod and he flew onto Punk and Miz center-ring. Kofi covered Miz, but Miz kicked out in time. Jericho tried to take advantage of the situation with the Walls of Jericho on Kofi, who fought the hold before tapping out.

 Kingston eliminated at 25:33

Jericho kept the hold locked on a few extra seconds, drawing a reprimand from the referee. Jericho continued the assault on Kofi, even after eliminating him. Jericho then threw Kofi out of the Chamber to finish the assault. Suddenly, Punk kicked Jericho in the head and Jericho went flying out of the Chamber to the outside, knocking over the cameraman. The refs checked on Jericho, who sold unconsciousness. The refs said Jericho can’t continue, then asked for a ringside medic to check on Jericho. Audio of their conservation was picked up as they consulted on whether Jericho was conscious after Jericho struck the cameraman and a light fixture. Inside the Chamber, Punk sold concern. They went to a replay from another camera perspective, which showed how the injury angle came about.
Back inside the Chamber, Miz tried to sneak-attack Punk, but Punk delivered a kick to the head. Punk made a cover, but Miz kicked out in time. The announcers debated whether Jericho was officially out of the match as Punk surveyed his surroundings to decide what to do next. They cut to a ringside shot of Jericho still selling the injury. Back inside the Chamber, Punk measured Miz for a springboard move, but Miz countered with the Skullcrushing Finale. He made a cover, but Punk kicked out just in time, popping the crowd.
The action reset with an aggressive Miz punching and kicking and slapping and taunting Punk. Miz told Punk he’s nothing before pacing the ring to play to the crowd. Miz tried to follow with a corner attack, but Punk moved and Miz ate the pod. Punk then hoisted up Miz for the GTS and connected. Punk covered and it was good for the win. Punk advances to WrestleMania to defend the WWE Title.
Post-match: Punk celebrated the title victory before they replayed high points. Punk then walked out of the Chamber, stopped to look at Jericho still selling the injury, and walked on past Jericho to continue celebrating.

WINNER: Punk at 32:38 to retain the WWE Title. Very good match. Not an all-time classic Chamber match, but very good. Also, a very good set-up for a Punk-Jericho title match at WrestleMania, with Jericho being able to say he did not lose the Chamber match and deserves a one-on-one shot at Punk’s title

 

Wrestler The Miz (L) and his girlfriend, former WWE Diva Maryse attend the 2nd Annual Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards at Barker Hangar on February 18, 2012 in Santa Monica, California.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Official Photos > High Quality Photos > 2nd Annual Cartoon Network Hall Of Game Awards: View

GALLERY LINKS:
- WWE Related > Digitals > Worldwide > 2012 Digitals > 2012 RAW in Abu Dhabi – Day 1 + 2012 RAW in Abu Dhabi – Day 2

2/11/12

WWE Champion CM Punk & R-Truth b. Chris Jericho & The Miz