30-Minute Youtube.com Pre-Show:
Backstage, Primo, Epico and Rosa Mendes are shown arguing with Abraham Washington. They ask when AW is going to get them their tag title shot – and AW says tonight, they’ll be fighting in a fatal four-way tag team match to determine the #1 contenders to R-Truth and Kofi Kingston.
The match will be The Usos vs. Primo and Epico vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel vs. Titus O’Neil and Darren Young.
Footage is shown from SmackDown David Otunga attacking Brodus Clay.
Brodus Clay vs. David Otunga
Brodus Clay is out first with Cameron and Naomi. They do their dance routine. David Otunga is out next. The bell rings and Otunga goes right for the injured knee. Clay gets Otunga into the corner and takes him down to the mat. Headbutts to the back by Brodus Clay, followed by a big suplex. Otunga thrown back into the corner again and Clay takes him down with a series of strikes. Otunga takes out Clay’s knee and down goes the big man. Otunga working on Clay’s bad knee. Clay tries to fight back but Otunga beats him down. 2 count for Otunga. Otunga continues to work on the knee.
Clay tries fighting back but Otunga nails him with a neck breaker. Otunga poses for the crowd and gets a loud round of boos. Otunga continues to work for the knee and goes for a pin attempt. Clay fights back and takes Otunga down. Several headbutts by Brodus Clay, who hits a suplex and sends Otunga outside of the ring.
Otunga tries to get back into the ring but decides not to return to the match and intentionally gets himself counted out.
Winner by Count Out: Brodus Clay
Otunga poses as the referee calls for the bell. Clay and his girls dance.
Promo air for the 1,000th RAW celebration.
The announcers run down the card again.
John Cena is backstage with Josh Mathews, who says this could be the last time we see him. Cena hypes tonight’s cage match and says the fallout will shake th foundation of WWE. Cena says the face of WWE will change tonight and there is No Way Out.
WWE No Way Out 2012
The show opens with a video package hyping tonight’s steel cage main event between John Cena and John Laurinaitis. If Cena wins, Laurinaitis is fired. If Cena loses, he’s fired.
We’re live from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Pyro goes of and we’re welcomed by Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Booker T. Up first, the World Heavyweight tile match.
World Heavyweight Title Match: Sheamus (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus is out first – followed by the challenger, along with Vickie Guerrero. Lilian Garcia does formal ring introductions.
The bell rings and Dolph consults Vickie Guerrero in the corner. She kisses him on the cheek and Dolph almost gets nailed with a Brogue Kick from Sheamus. Dolph exits the ring but quickly returns and argues with the ref. Ziggler avoids another big boot from Sheamus and exits the ring again to regroup. Ziggler comes back in and goes behind on a lock up. They tangle until Sheaumus drops him with an elbow to the head. Sheamus with a headlock takedown now. Sheamus drops Ziggler with a shoulder. Sheamus takes him down again and is firmly in control. That is – until Ziggler connects with a picture perfect dropkick.
Sheamus takes Ziggler down again with a shoulder tackle and then goes for a sleeper hold, but doesn’t lock it in. Ziggler make it to the ropes and the hold is broken. Ziggler slaps Sheamus in the face. He responds by knocking Ziggler to the floor and slamming him into the side of the ring before bringing him back into the ring. Sheamus launches himself over the top with a big shoulder for a 2 count. Sheamus works on Ziggler’s arm now. Ziggler fights out and wails away on Sheamus in the corner. Dolph goes to the top rope and jumps onto Sheamus – who catches him in mid-air. Ziggler breaks free but Sheamus takes him down with an elbow to the back. Sheamus nails a neckbreaker and gets a 2 count. Ziggler is on the apron and fighting with Sheamus. Ziggler pulls Sheamus into the turnbuckle and he gets knocked outside. Ziggler the champion the ring and hits a big DDT for a 2 count.
Ziggler continues the assault until Sheamus fights back with knees and punches. Ziggler stops him with a knee to the gut and a 1 count. Ziggler with a headlock now as he does some showing off with Sheamus on the mat. Sheamus fights to his feet and out of the hold. Sheamus puts Dolph on his shoulders but Dolph counters and brings him down with a big DDT. Ziggler with a 2 count. More offense from Ziggler. Sheamus fights back but Dolph dropkicks him for another 1 count. Ziggler applies a body scissors now. Sheamus fights out again. Ziggler counters and rolls Sheamus up for a close 2 count as he used the ropes for leverage but got caught. Ziggler argues and Sheamus rolls him up for a close 2 count. Ziggler with a swinging neckbreaker for another pin attempt. Ziggler goes back to the mat with a submission on Sheamus. Ziggler with a big kick to the face but Sheamus runs over him with two big ax handles. Sheamus misses the high knee and Ziggler jumps on his back with the sleeper. Sheamus dumps Ziggler to the apron and breaks the hold. Ziggler climbs up top and comes down with a crossbody but Sheamus barely catches him. They tangle and Sheamus goes for White Noise but it’s blocked. Sheamus misses a spear in the corner and Ziggler hits Zig Zag for a close 2 count.
The crowd chants for Ziggler now. Sheamus gets attacked in the corner but fights back. Sheamus goes up top but Ziggler runs up and grabs him. Ziggler drops Sheamus face first on the mat and covers him for a close 2 count. Ziggler grabs his knee in pain as Vickie screams at ringside. Ziggler goes for the sleeper but Sheamus counters with the Irish Curse backbreaker.
Sheamus with the big forearm shots to the chest on the apron now. Ziggler fights back and goes for the sleeper again. Sheamus turns it into White Noise and gets hyped up. Sheamus nails a stiff looking Brogue Kick and Ziggler sells it like he just got hit by a bus.
Winner & Still World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus
Backstage, Vince McMahon is shown walking and John Laurinaitis approaches him. Laurinaitis suggests that Vince stay away from ringside tonight due to the concussion he got from Big Show’s knockout punch. Vince doesn’t respond and walks off. Laurinaitis tries to talk to Vince, but Vince slams his dressing room door in Laurinaitis’ face. Josh Mathews appears and tries to get a comment from Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis talks down to him and says he is not getting fired tonight.
Tuxedo Match: Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Santino Marella
Santino is out first for this non-title match, sporting an old fashioned tuxedo. Ricardo Rodriguez comes out wearing his usual tuxedo. The first man to remove his opponent tuxdeo wins.
The crowd is very behind Santino, who shoves Ricardo but gets shoved back. Ricardo is the first to try stripping down his opponent by ripping off the front pocket from Santino’s jacket. Santino does the same to him and then rips off a sleeve. Ricardo rips Santino’s jacket but gets slapped. Santino with an atomic drop. He then rips Ricardo’s jacket off and taunts him with it like he’s a charging bull. Ricardo ends up on the floor. He comes back in and gets hit with a drop toe hold. Santino takes off Ricardo’s shoes next. The crowd chants boring as Santino takes Ricardo from corner to corner. Santino takes off Ricardo’s shirt next.
Ricardo is down to his bowtie and pants. Santino takes him down with a hip toss and takes out the Cobra. Ricardo rakes Santino’s eyes and throws the Cobra out of the ring. Ricardo takes off Santino’s shoes, socks and pants.
Santino down to his jacket and shirt. Santino hits Ricardo with a Cobra kick and strips off his pants for the win. Ricardo is wearing white underwear with Alberto Del Rio’s face on the back.
Winner: Santino Marella
– Ricardo runs off with Alberto’s face on his rear as Santino has his hand raised from the ring.
Backstage, CM Punk is interviewed by Matt Striker. The WWE Champion talks about AJ Lee and says tonight’s match isn’t about her – it’s about the title. AJ walks up and gives him a kiss on the cheek for good luck. Punk says thanks, but luck is for losers. He walks away and AJ smiles at him.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Christian
Cody Rhodes is out first followed by the WWE Intercontinental Champion. We go to the ring and out first comes Cody Rhodes followed by the WWE Intercontinental Champion Christian.
They lock up for a minute and Christian goes down first. Christian comes back with clotheslines, sending Cody to the corner. Cpdy shoves Christian but gets slapped to the mat. Cody comes in with a big shoulder thrust. He tries to suplex Christian to the floor but Christian ends up bringing him out to the floor. Christian runs the ropes and dropkicks Cody through the ropes. Cody trips Christian and he falls face first on the apron and rolls out to the floor. Cody brings it back in and drops Christian by his arm for a 2 count. Cody drops knees on Christian’s arm now.
More back and forth. Christian pulls Cody’s legs out around the ring post but Cody pulls him into the post. Cody brings Christian back in the ring and suplexes him face first for a 2 count. Cody goes back to work on Christian’s arm. Christian goes up top and ends up on the outside again after Cody shoves him. Christian slams Cody into the steel steps and hits a big tornado DDT from the steps to the floor. More back and forth action. Christian goes for Killswitch but Cody counters. Christian goes for the big right hand from the floor but it’s countered. Christian goes up top for a crossbody but Cody rolls through and turns it into a 2 count. Christian goes for a roll and Cody counters again.
Christian climbs up with Cody and brings him back down with a hurricanrana for a 2 count. More back and forth. Cody slams Christian down by his arm and covers for another 2 count. Cody blocks Killswitch again and hits the Alabama Slam for a 2 count. Christian counters this time with an inverted DDT. Christian readies for a spear but Cody scrambles out to the floor and back in the ring. Christian goes for the roll up again but Cody drops down for a 2 count. Christian hits Killswitch out of nowhere for another close 2 count. Christian goes for the frogsplash but Cody gets his knees up. Christian blocks the Disaster Kick. Christian has Killswitch blocked again. Cody misses the Disaster Kick again. Christian nails a spear for the win.
Winner: Christian
Primo and Epico vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel vs. Titus O’Neil and Darren Young vs. The Usos
Primo and Epico are the first team out to the ring with AW and Rose Mendes in tow. They don’t get much of a reaction at all. We get a backstage YouTube pre-show moment, where AW promised Primo and Epico the biggest spotlight of their lives.
Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel are the second team out to the ring, followed quickly by Darren Young and Titus O’Neil.
The last team out to the ring is the Uso’s who like everyone else, don’t get much of a reaction.
The bell rings and one of the Uso’s and Titus kick things off. Titus slams Jey to the mat before tagging in Young. Titus tries to suplex Young onto Jey, but Jey moves and tags in Jimmy. Jimmy hits a quick blow to the chest before tagging back out to Jey. Epico tags himself into the match and takes Jey to the mat. Jey is able to tag back out to Jimmy and Jimmy comes in and takes Epico to the mat with a bubba bomb. Gabriel tags himself in, and he and Uso show off a bit of their fancy footwork before locking up. Gabriel takes Uso to the mat with a headlock.
Jey tags back in and hits a huge Samoan drop. Titus tags himself in and tries to steal a pin on Gabriel but only gets two. Gabriel tries to fight back against Titus, but Titus takes him down to the mat. Young tags in and Titus suplexes him onto Gabriel. Young tosses Gabriel hard into the ropes before ripping at his face and locking in a rear chin lock. Gabriel fights up to his feet, and counters a back drop, landing on his feet and hitting a heel kick. Epico tags in and goes to work on Gabriel, using quick tags to take him to task. Gabriel fights his way out of a submission, but it back dropped to the mat three times in a row by Epico.
Primo tags in and kicks at Gabriel before dropping a big leg. Primo hits a couple of nasty elbows before blasting Gabriel with a kick to the mat. He picks him up to slam him back down again, but he misses a springboard senton. Kidd tags in and hits a big springboard dropkick. A series of kicks takes Primo down for a two count. Tyson drops a big leg over the ropes to the outside while Primo is draped across the bottom rope. Kidd hits a beautiful top rope move, but things are broken up by Epico. Things begin to break down. Primo hits Kidd with a backstabber, but it’s broken up by Titus. The Uso’s come in and take out everyone. Primo almost scores a pin, but Kidd kicks out.
Young makes a blind tag, but falls to the outside. Kidd puts Primo on the top rope and hits a crazy hurricanrana, sending Primo crashing into everyone on the floor on the outside. AW rolls Young and Primo back into the ring. Young hits a gutbuster and pins Primo for the three while Epico is held back by AW.
Winners: Titus O’Neil and Darren Young
After the match, AW entered the ring and raised the hands of O’Neil and Young. Epico and Primo argued with AW as Rosa enters the ring and also gets in AW’s face. Epico drops AW with a punch. O’Neil and Young then attacked Epico and Primo behind. AW raised their hands and it looks like we have a new paring.
We get a video package that details the recent events between Hunter and Brock Lesnar, including Lesnar’s people ‘suing’ Triple H and quitting the company.”
Hunter makes his way out to the arena, not wearing the brace on his arm that he’d been sporting recently. HHH makes his way to the ring to a huge ovation from the crowd. Michael Cole runs down a bit of Hunter’s history at No Way Out events in the past.