Week in Photos, June 23, 2012
Week in Photos, June 23, 2012
No Way Out kicks off in high style as World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus battles Dolph Ziggler with the title on the line.
Ziggler puts up a great fight ...
... But in the end, it's The Celtic Warrior who reigns supreme.
Next up, United States Champion Santino Marella faces off against Ricardo Rodriguez in a Tuxedo Match!
The Cobra makes a surprise appearance in the bout!
Cody Rhodes battles Intercontinental Champion Christian at No Way Out.
The athletic ability of both Superstars is on display throughout the back-and-forth battle.
The Prime Time Players step up in a big way on the pay-per-view stage.
With their shocking victory in the Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match, The Prime Time Players are No. 1 contender for the Tag Team Titles.
Triple H arrives at No Way Out with a message for Brock Lesnar: When The Game's arm is fully healed, he wants to face Lesnar at SummerSlam!
Beth Phoenix challenges Divas Champion Layla at No Way Out.
Beth's strength is on full display during their bout ...
... But Layla is able to counter The Glamazon's attack.
Layla retains her title with a huge win over Beth!
Competing in his first pay-per-view since his return to the ring, Sin Cara is impressive against Hunico.
WWE Champion CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Kane battle in a Triple Threat Title Match at No Way Out.
An (un)timely appearance by AJ seems to throw a wrench in Kane's battle plan.
In the end, Punk is victorious ...
... And Kane leaves with the girl.
Ryback takes on two local athletes in a 2-on-1 bout ...
... With familiar results.
Mr. McMahon and General Manager John Laurinaitis "greet" each other before John Cena takes on Big Show in an epic Steel Cage Match ...
... Well, maybe not "greet" each other, in the traditional sense.
Cena battles Big Show in one of the most harrowing bouts of the Cenation leader's career.
Cena gets a hand from Superstars who were recently attacked by The World's Largest Athlete, including Kofi Kingston.
After Cena pulls off the gigantic victory, he delivers an Attitude Adjustment to the now-FORMER General Manager!
Raw SuperShow has a different look to it this week thanks to John Cena's victory over Big Show at No Way Out. The first change? Mick Foley is named Interim GM!
Former GM John Laurinaitis arrives, looking to make his farewell address, but he is promptly greeted by chants of "You got fired!" by the WWE Universe.
Saying he would make his farewell address later, Laurinaitis says that as his final act as GM, he made a 3-on-1 Handicap Match pitting him, Big Show & David Otunga against John Cena.
But Foley gets the WWE Universe revved up again, announcing his first match as GM: WWE Champion CM Punk & World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus will battle Kane & Daniel Bryan!
Before Big Johnny can exit, The Second City Saint wants to officially say goodbye.
Punk nails Bryan through the ropes.
The Great White collides with the submission specialist in the middle of the ring.
The Devil's Favorite Demon gets a bit distracted when AJ appears, donning the monster's mask and ring gear.
When Kane leaves Bryan to fend for himself, the submission specialist walks into both a GTS and a resounding Brogue Kick!
A rift in the team? Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler face off to win Vickie Guerrero's affection.
Thre two Superstars are obviously familiar with each other's styles, and they have a back-and-forth battle.
In the end, The Showoff pulls off the win ...
... And gets a kiss from Vickie.
Brock Lesnar's representative Paul Heyman tells the WWE Universe that Brock will not agree to fight Triple H at SummerSlam!
Triple H, however, has something to say to that.
Things get a little ... touchy ... after Heyman brings up The Game's wife, Stephanie McMahon.
The COO then lays out Heyman ...
... Telling him that, "You tell Brock Lesnar I will see him at SummerSlam ... that is, unless he's afraid the same thing will happen to him."
United States Champion Santino Marella runs into a red-hot Alberto Del Rio.
Del Rio locks in the Cross Armbreaker and forces The Milan Miracle to tap out.
It's a Rock 'n' Wresting reunion as Cyndi Lauper and WWE Hall of Famer Wendi Richter arrive on Raw SuperShow!
"The One Man Southern Rock Band" Heath Slater does his best to ruin the party ...
... But "Rowdy" Roddy Piper makes a surprise appearance to keep the good times rolling.
Piper presents Lauper with a framed gold record on behalf of himself, the late, great Captain Lou Albano and the entire WWE Universe for her contributions.
Slater, however, is not a fan.
That's OK, though, because Cyndi has an answer for "The One Man Southern Rock Band"!
The Prime Time Players have their hands full with Primo & Epico in tag team action.
With The Prime Time Players knocked to the arena floor, A.W. senses trouble and pulls his clients to safety.
A.W.’s move results in an intentional count-out.
John Laurinaitis, donning neck brace and crutches, readies for his 3-on-1 Handicap Match against John Cena.
Big Show enters, seemingly ready for the match ...
... But The World's Largest Athlete says there's no reason he should be in the ring tonight, and walks out on Big Johnny and Otunga, making their match a 2-on-1 Handicap Match instead.
While Otunga took charge early on in the bout, the Cenation leader fought back.
When Otunga literally walks away from his former boss, Big Johnny is left to take on John Cena all by himself ...
... And that does not go well.
Farewell, Johnny!
Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel take on Tyler Reks & Curt Hawkins on "WWE Superstars."
Zack Ryder battles Drew McIntyre on "WWE Superstars."
Ezekiel Jackson locks horns with Hunico.
As Teddy Long kicks off Friday night’s festivities to tell the WWE Universe that Big Johnny is gone and the GM for tonight is Mick Foley, Big Show arrives to interrupt him.
The World’s Largest Athlete says the only person he cares about is himself and that he’s set his sights on Money in the Bank.
With Big Johnny no longer in charge, Brodus Clay comes out to get some payback on Big Show, but things don’t go The Funkasaurus’ way.
David Otunga adds insult to injury by dancing to Brodus’ music!
Ryback lays waste to two more opponents, continuing along on his absolute path of destruction.
"FEED! ME! MORE!"
Intercontinental Champion Christian clashes with Alberto Del Rio.
Christian connects off the top rope.
The Superstars engage in an epic back-and-forth battle.
Del Rio locks in the Cross Armbreaker and makes the champion tap out!
After the bell, Cody Rhodes comes out to make things worse for Christian.
Daniel Bryan looks to settle some unfinished business with Kane ...
... But first, AJ comes out to ringside.
With the "Yes!" Lock affixed, Kane struggles to get to the ropes ...
... But AJ rings the bell on the bout, sending Bryan into celebration mode.
But the referee rules that the match is not over ...
... And the break in the action costs Bryan as Kane follows up with a ring-rattling chokeslam!
Tonight’s Interim GM Mick Foley addresses the WWE Universe.
But Heath Slater arrives with a beef concerning Monday night's events.
Mick's answer? Slater will face off against Zack Ryder on SmackDown!
Ryder scores an impressive victory ...
... And the two Long Islanders celebrate in the ring!
The Usos take on the Prime Time Players in tag team action!
Led by A.W., the Prime Time Players are impressive in their victory.
United States Champion Santino Marella comes out to help pick out the best signs in the WWE Universe!
But it’s an "I Love Santino!" sign that prompts the champ to ask a fan to the ring!
The clearly excited WWE Universe member has her own Cobra, and the two Cobras kiss ...
... … Before the fan plants a big kiss on Santino himself!
In a No Way Out rematch, World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus takes on Dolph Ziggler.
The Showoff's athletic ability is on display, as he leaps over The Celtic Warrior.
Ziggler shows great heart throughout his battle with Sheamus ...
... But so does The Celtic Warrior. Sheamus connects with a resounding Brogue Kick that puts Ziggler on his back for good.
The Great White celebrates as SmackDown goes off the air!
