Week in Photos, March 17, 2012
Monday's Raw SuperShow marks the return of "The Doctor of Thuganomics"!
John Cena opens the show in old-school style to kick off the Rap vs. Rock Concert.
In his barrage of insults, Cena calls Rock a "G.I. Joke"
The Great White Sheamus takes on The Show-Off Dolph Ziggler in a back and forth bout.
The Celtic Warrior sets The Show-Off up for a suplex.
The action (and Dolph Ziggler) spills to the outside of the ring.
Ziggler connects with a dropkick at ringside.
Ziggler launches Sheamus into the announce table, a move that leaves a noticeable red welt on The Great White’s back.
Sheamus proves to be too much for Dolph, as here The Celtic Warrior puts The Show-Off away with a huge slam.
In the end, the WrestleMania-bound Sheamus prevails.
John Laurinaitis, the board-appointed Interim GM of Raw, makes his way to the ring ...
... where he announces a Handicap Match pitting US Champion Santino Marella against David Otunga and Mark Henry.
Mark Henry takes advantage of Santino's clear disadvantage ...
... and delivers a skull-rattling blow to the Italian Superstar.
Things get worse from there for the US Champion.
In an attempt to even the odds, Kofi Kingston runs down to the ring to aid Santino.
The World's Strongest Slam stops Kofi in his tracks.
R-Truth also rushes out in defense of Santino, but he, too, meets a painful fate at the hands of Henry.
Before the match, battle lines were drawn for the 12-Man Tag Team Match at WrestleMania, as Santino was announced captain of Team Teddy, while Otunga was revealed as captain of Team Johnny. Team Johnny, it appears, has the better Monday night.
Raw SuperShow also marks the long-awaited return of The Funkasaurus to action!
Brodus makes quick work of Jinder Mahal ...
... and the dancing resumes immediately.
In a show-stopping moment, Shawn Michaels enters to familiar music and the cheers of the WWE Universe.
Two icons meet inside the ring as HBK finally comes face-to-face with The Undertaker.
Battles waged in the past are discussed ...
... as are future plans.
James Roday, star of USA Network’s hit show "Psych," is on hand to be the ring announcer for a matcup between CM Punk and Miz.
Miz, who guest starred on this week's episode of "Psych," enters the ring ready to face the WWE Champion.
WWE Champion CM Punk enters the arena.
Miz and Punk eye each other up before the bout really gets going.
Miz takes it to the champion early on in the match.
Miz attempts to slow Punk down, focusing his attack on pressure points.
Despite Miz's assault, Punk proves to be too much as he locks in the Anaconda Vise and forcesThe Awesome One to tap out.
Even with James Roday in The Awesome One's corner, Punk gets the victory over Miz.
Punk's celebration is short-lived, however ...
... as his WrestleMania opponent, Chris Jericho, appears on the TitanTron.
Jericho attacks Punk's Straight Edge lifestyle and seems to really get into the head of the champion.
Punk leaves the ring deflated, to say the least. Has Jericho gotten to the WWE Champion? And, if so, how will this affect their match at The Show of Shows?
After the dust settled between Punk and Jericho, Randy Orton takes on Jack Swagger.
Swagger controls the match's early stages, dominating Orton out of the gate.
The All-American American focuses his attack on The Viper's back as he slams Orton into the apron.
Orton rallies and battles back, throwing right hands in the center of the ring.
WWE's Apex Predator sets The All-American American up ...
... Then plants Swagger with a huge superplex off the top ropes.
The Viper strikes with a fast-as-lightning slam off the ropes.
Vintage Orton!
The Viper plants Swagger with a devastating RKO.
After the bout, everything goes red, but there's no Big Red Monster in sight as Orton is left to ponder inside the ring.
It's time to continue the Rap vs. Rock Concert, and The Rock enters to an explosive welcome from the WWE Universe.
The Rock plays perfectly to the Cleveland crowd, delivering an eviscerating set of songs directed at John Cena.
Rock pokes fun at Cena's hip-hop style, saying he looks like a mash-up between Vanilla Ice and one of the Teletubbies.
The Brahma Bull, who is just getting warmed up, starts to berate Cena with a barrage of insults to the tune of Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock."
Who better to close out the show than The Great One himself ... if you smell what we're cooking.
The beautiful Alicia!
William Regal, NXT’s Match Coordinator, kicks off the show by announcing a special theme for the night — tag teams.
The Usos’ high-octane entrance gets the tag team action going.
After Titus O'Neil & Darren Young mock the Uso’s entrance, the action gets going inside the ring.
High-flying action courtesy of the dynamic Usos.
The Usos get the win!
As per William Regal, if Tyler Reks & Curt Hawkins lose to Alex Riley & Percy Watson, they’ll have to do Regal's laundry.
Alex Riley, the self-proclaimed "Rare Breed," takes things up a notch with a spinebuster.
Hawkins slows the action down and takes back the advantage.
Hawkins drives an elbow through the heart of Alex Riley, leading to a pinfall victory.
Michael McGillicutty addressesTyson Kidd's request for a rematch.
When it became clear that McGillicutty had nothing nice to say, Kidd decided to take his argument directly to McGillicutty.
A heated exchange of words takes place, and business picks up from there.
After the scuffle, Kidd chases McGillicutty from the ring. Before he leaves the arena, though, McGillicutty agrees to a rematch.
Derrick Bateman & Kaitlyn ("Kait-Man") takes on Johnny Curtis & Maxine ("Curta-Max") in tag team action.
A big bodyslam by Curtis.
Kaitlyn watches on as Curtis takes it to Bateman ...
... In the end, though, "Kait-Man" prevails.
After the match, Bateman “officially” breaks things off with Maxine, and tells Kaitlyn, “Tag, you’re it!”
The Bella Twins, just hanging out.
On WWE Superstars, R-Truth and Kofi Kingston take on Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins.
Kofi's in trouble here.
Beth Phoenix applies the pressure to Kelly Kelly.
Kelly Kelly stretches Beth's neck, using the ropes for leverage.
Justin Gabriel battles Hunico on WWE Superstars and the fight is taken to the top rope.
Hunico goes on the offensive.
The stunning Aksana.
Christian makes his return to SmackDown for a special edition of "The Peep Show."
A recruiting trip for Team Johnny? Raw's Interim GM butters Christian up with compliments.
SmackDown GM Teddy Long enters with the beautiful Aksana at his side and with a few things to say to Christian.
Well, at least we know how Michael Cole feels about the issue.
With complete control of both Raw and SmackDown at stake, Christian gives the dueling GMs the chance to woo the Superstar to their respective teams. Christian says he “deserves” one more match for the World Heavyweight Championship ...
... But Teddy Long disagrees. “Mr. Excitement,” however, says it’ll be an honor to have Christian on Team Johnny and promises a chance at the title if Christian competes on his squad. Christian officially joins Team Johnny.
In a match set up by Teddy Long, Team Johnny captain David Otunga takes on Kofi Kingston, who Long officially announces as the newest member of Team Teddy. Kofi entered with Team Teddy captain Santino Marella.
Because the bout was announced on the spot, Otunga is forced to compete in street clothes.
Otunga takes control early on with a monster slam off the ropes.
Kofi's high-flying tactics light up the SmackDown arena.
Kofi connects with a sky-high dropkick.
Christian grabs Kofi’s leg, preventing him from landing a Boom Drop, and eventually getting Christian ejected from ringside.
The in (and out of) ring action leads to another heated exchange between the GMs.
As the action around the ring heats up, Otunga takes off his belt and intends to use it as a weapon ...
... But Santino is there to stop him.
Kofi lands Trouble in Paradise, dropping Otunga and leading to a pinfall victory.
Team Teddy celebrates their win ...
... As Team Johnny wallows in their defeat.
With the World Heavyweight Champion in her corner, AJ takes on Nikki Bella in Divas single action.
AJ is hot right out of the gate ...
... But Nikki slows the action down with a hold.
AJ connects with a big kick.
A crossbody off the top rope brings Nikki down.
Daniel Bryan helps prevent "Twin Magic," and AJ rolls Nikki up for the pin.
AJ and Bryan celebrate "their" victory.
With his WrestleMania match against Big Show on the horizon, Cody Rhodes takes on another giant, Great Khali, in what is certainly a big test for the Intercontinental Champion.
Khali's size and strength advantage is on display as he hammers away at Rhodes.
Rhodes turns the tables thanks to a Disaster Kick that levels the giant ...
... Bringing Khali to his knees ...
... And securing the victory for the Intercontinental Champion.
Cody Rhodes' "chess game" on The Road to WrestleMania includes taking on and defeating The Punjabi Nightmare.
Randy Orton is on hand to address the developing and increasingly violent situation with The Big Red Monster Kane. The Viper says they are on a path leading to the destruction of them both. Orton says that's fine, but he demands to know why.
Orton says that "hate embraces me," and he calls out Kane, who is more than happy to oblige.
The arena goes red as the monster speaks, telling Orton that last summer's Street Fight was the inciting incident that has driven Kane to hunt WWE's Apex Predator.
Kane challenges Orton to a match at WrestleMania, then leaves in a blaze of fire ...
... Leaving Orton alone in the ring with the voices in his head.
After “earning” his job back last week with a victory over Hornswoggle, Teddy Long welcomes Drew McIntyre back to SmackDown with a match against Big Show.
The World’s Largest Athlete mounts a focused, powerful attack against McIntyre.
A huge spear by Show!
What goes up ...
... Must come down as Big Show plants Drew with a devastating chokeslam.
A WMD dedicated to Cody Rhodes knocks McIntyre out and leads the referee to stop the match.
In a battle of David against Goliath, Yoshi Tatsu takes on Team Johnny member Mark Henry.
The World’s Strongest Man dominates the bout from the start.
A powerslam from Henry, and Yoshi hits the mat hard.
A massive chop in the corner ...
... Sends shockwaves of pain through Tatsu's body.
Henry follows it up with The World's Strongest Slam ...
... And Yoshi Tatsu officially enters the Hall of Pain.
Before Chris Jericho takes on Sheamus, he addresses his comments Monday night about CM Punk.
After Jericho stokes the flames of the fire in his rivalry with Punk, The Great White enters to a huge ovation from the WWE Universe.
In their first-ever match against one another, the brutality of Sheamus shines through as he pounds away at Jericho.
But the crafty veteran Jericho turns the tables ...
... And goes on the offensive with a baseball slide.
Jericho dictates the pace of the match inside the ring ...
... As Daniel Bryan and AJ appear at ringside.
After Jericho dodges a Brogue Kick, Sheamus gets tied up in the ropes.
Jericho sets Sheamus up ...
... And makes The Great White pay.
Jericho locks in The Walls of Jericho, but Sheamus somehow gets to the ropes to break the hold.
Sheamus sends Jericho flying over the ropes and to the outside.
Then The Great White sends his opponent flying into Daniel Bryan ...
... Which proves to be to Sheamus’ disadvantage, as Bryan levels The Celtic Warrior with a sickening kick.
Unable to get back inside the ring, Sheamus loses via count-out.
Jericho is riding high thanks to an assist by the World Heavyweight Champion.
