WWE Vengeance PPV
October 23, 2011
San Antonio, Texas
Report by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
The WWE opening promo plays.
A video package runs focusing on the definition of vengeance. We see recent events of Vince McMahon removing Triple H from his duties of running Raw, Big Show seeking revenge from Mark Henry, Triple H and CM Punk seeking revenge against The Miz and R-Truth and John Cena seeking back the WWE Championship from Alberto Del Rio.
A graphic opening hits welcoming us to WWE Vengeance. We go live to the AT&T Center in San Antonio where a huge display of pyro goes off. Michael Cole is the first to welcome us to the show. Cole is joined at ringside by Booker T and Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Vickie Guerrero is out first to introduce “your next WWE Tag Team Champions” – Jack Swagger and the WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler. We are informed that Ziggler will defending his WWE United States Championship against Zack Ryder immediately following this match.
WWE Tag Team Championships
Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (c’s) vs. WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger w/ Vickie Guerrero
We start with Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler. Both exchange headlock takedowns early. Kofi with a big spinning elbow and a huge monkey flip that sends Ziggler flying across the ring. Tag to Evan Bourne who drops Ziggler with a dropkick. Tag to Swagger and Bourne lights him up with a few kicks. Quick tag to Kofi, Bourne drops Swagger over the ropes and Kofi drops down over him. Kofi and Bourne with a double team dropkick to Swagger. Tag to Kofi and they hit a double bulldog. Bourne went for the cover, but the referee tells him that Kofi is the legal man. Swagger catches Kofi after a springboard off the ropes and plants him with a big powerslam. Tag to Ziggler who drops Kofi with a big standing dropkick. Tag to Swagger who drops Kofi with a big shoulder block. Booker and Cole start arguing on commentary. Booker lost his words and we can see a shot of Cole breaking down in laughter at the table. Tag to Bourne who drops Swagger with a series of kicks and tosses Ziggler off the ring apron. Bourne with a kick to the jaw of Swagger for a two count. Bourne heads up top, Swagger moves, Bourne kicks Swagger into Ziggler, goes back up top, executes the Shooting Star Press and Swagger gets his knees up. Ziggler gets the tag and starts grounding Bourne stretching him. Tag to Swagger who body splashes Bourne in the corner. Kofi with a right hand to Swagger allowing Bourne to get a close rollup. Swagger drops Kofi down face first over the ring apron. Tag to Ziggler who stomps over Bourne. Quick tag to Swagger who starts choking Bourne with his boot. Bourne counters another Swagger splash in the corner. Hot tag to Kofi and Ziggler. Kofi with a springboard forearm and a big dropkick. Ziggler counters SOS, but Kofi catches Ziggler and Swagger with some big kicks to the head. Kofi with a huge crossbody on Ziggler for a close two count. Kofi with the Boom Drop over Ziggler. Kofi with the SOS on Ziggler and Swagger tries to break it up taking out Ziggler when Kofi moves. Swagger has the ankle lock on Kofi. Bourne breaks it up coming off the top rope. Ziggler rolls up Kofi and gets a two count. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise on Ziggler. Tag to Bourne. Bourne goes up top and connects with the Shooting Star Press. Bourne hooks the leg of Ziggler and gets the pinfall.
Winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne
No rest for Ziggler here as we go right into his title defense.
WWE United States Championship
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Zack Ryder
The bell rings and Zack Ryder goes after Dolph Ziggler in the corner. Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne are looking on from the outside along with Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero who are cheering on Ziggler. Ziggler slows down Ryder’s offense with a quick swinging neckbreaker. Ryder drops Ziggler with a clothesline. Ziggler bails to the outside. A tired Ziggler starts crawling up the ramp when both Kingston and Bourne toss him back inside. The referee sends Kingston and Bourne to the back. Vickie waves goodbye to both. Ryder with forearm shots dropping Ziggler followed by a face plant. Ryder jumps and hits the ropes when Ziggler moves. Ziggler with a quick elbow drop on Ryder and then begins stretching him sitting over his back. Ziggler then drops a big elbow over the back of Ryder. Ziggler splashes Ryder in the corner and tosses him face first into the mat. Ziggler misses a splash in the corner and Ryder misses a boot to Ziggler. Ziggler with a fameasser on Ryder for a two count. Ryder gets his knees up dropping Ziggler in the corner. Ryder with a big running boot to the head of Ziggler. Swagger tries to trip up Ryder and he kicks him away. Ryder holds the ropes during a Zig Zag attempt. Ryder kicks away Swagger again and then Ziggler drops Ryder with a big superkick. Ziggler covers Ryder and gets the win.
Winner and still WWE United States Champion: Dolph Ziggler
Backstage, we see Ted DiBiase talking with CM Punk. Triple H walks up and wants a second as DiBiase walks off. He wants to clear the air about his “immigration” problem on Monday night. Punk said he understands and trusts him – maybe not a few months ago, but he does now. Triple H wants to spare each other the hype speech. Punk agrees and wants to truly show Miz and R-Truth that WWE is an unsafe working environment tonight.
Backstage, we see Beth Phoenix attacking Kelly Kelly during an interview. Eve jumps in to go after Beth.
WWE Divas Championship
Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Eve Torres
Eve has new music. Beth tosses Eve up on the top rope, Eve hits a few shots and jumps off hitting a quick sunset flip that Beth quickly kicks out of. Eve with a kick to the back of Beth’s head. Eve handcuffs Beth to the middle rope using her outfit. Eve starts kicking Beth in the back. Beth breaks free and Eve drops her with a big forearm sending Beth to the outside. Beth drops Eve over the ring apron and she power lifts her over her head dropping Eve over the padded ring barricade. Beth tosses Eve back in the ring and applies an abdominal stretch. Beth puts Eve up on her shoulder and drops down with force. Beth with a leg scissors applied around Eve’s body. Beth starts slapping Eve over the head repeatedly screaming, “Come on Eve, cry! Cry! Let the tears flow!” Eve fights out of it, hits the ropes and drops Beth with a big clothesline. Eve with her flipping body splash over Beth. Eve with a triangle choke applied over the shoulders of Beth. Eve yells at Beth to tap. Beth breaks it getting to the bottom rope. Eve counters a Glam Slam and gets a close rollup. Eve with a kick to the head of Beth near the corner. Eve goes up top and misses a moonsault. Beth lifts up Eve and drops her with the Glam Slam. Beth hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.
Winner and still WWE Divas Champion: Beth Phoenix
Backstage, Matt Striker is with the Big Show. Striker asks him if he is prepared. Big Show said Striker should ask Mark Henry that question. He said Henry will experience what he went through the last few months – getting put out of action. Big Show promises that vengeance will be his and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
A promo runs for the new Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart DVD.
Sheamus vs. Christian
The bell rings and Christian catches Sheamus with a big slap early. Christian with big right hands to Sheamus. Sheamus cuts him off with a big knee and forearm shots. Sheamus with a shoulder block and tosses Christian into the corner hitting a series of kicks. Sheamus with forearm shots to the chest of Christian against the ropes. Sheamus gets Christian up in a vertical suplex and drops him down hard. Christian with a quick neckbreaker. Christian starts choking Sheamus with his boot against the bottom rope. Christian sends Sheamus into the corner and gets a close rollup. Christian with some elbow drops over the back of Sheamus’ neck and then jumps on his back applying a headlock. Sheamus breaks it up dropping Christian back first on the mat. Christian pushes down on the back of Sheamus against the ropes and connects with a twisting elbow off the second rope. Christian catches Sheamus with a dropkick off the second rope. Christian comes off the top this time and misses a body splash. Sheamus catches Christian and connects with a fallaway slam. Christian dumps Sheamus to the outside, but Sheamus catches him with a flying shoulder block launching himself back in the ring. Sheamus with a clothesline, but Christian catches him with an inverted DDT. Sheamus blocks Christian’s boots in the corner. Counters between the two. Christian kicks Sheamus in the face twice in the corner in the ropes. Sheamus catches Christian springboarding from the corner into a backbreaker. Christian with a Spear on Sheamus. Christian covers and Sheamus kicks out. Sheamus catches Christian with a knee to the head and goes up top. Christian crotches Sheamus and hits a series of big right hand slaps. Christian with a huricanrana from the top on Sheamus. Christian goes for a Spear, but Sheamus catches him with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus gets the pinfall.
Winner: Sheamus
Backstage, John Laurinaitis is with David Otunga. Otunga said tonight is huge for Laurinaitis this being his first WWE PPV as the interim GM of Raw. The Miz and R-Truth walk up thanking him for hiring them back. Laurinaitis believes they could be the world’s greatest tag team of all time. Miz says really? Laurinaitis says no and likes the way they suck up. Truth said he sucks up better than Miz. Miz tells some bad suck jokes about Triple H. Truth says the state of Texas also sucks.
A video package runs hyping Triple H and CM Punk vs. The Miz and R-Truth.
Triple H and CM Punk vs. The Miz and R-Truth
We start with CM Punk and The Miz. Punk backs Miz into the corner smiling. Miz with big kicks to Miz, snapmare and kick to the back. Triple H tags himself in and Miz tags in R-Truth. Triple H drops Truth right away. Truth counters Triple H, flips back and jumps down doing the splits mocking him. Triple H then drops Truth with a quick right hand. Tag to Punk who blows a kiss to Miz and drops Truth with a front suplex. Tag to Miz who Punk trips up, slaps the back of Miz and tosses Miz into Triple H’s boot. Triple H and Punk with a double suplex as Triple H gets the tag. Triple H with a chop block to Miz and then applies a Figure Four. Triple H grabs the hands of Punk to wrench back more on the Figure Four with the referee distracted by Truth yelling. Tag to Punk and both Punk and Triple H split the legs of Miz. Punk with an armbar and getting help from Triple H to wrench back on the shoulder of Miz. Miz fights off Punk getting in some kicks and Truth gets the tag. Truth with a headlock. Punk with a back suplex on Truth. Triple H gets the tag and hits a knee to the face on Miz. Triple H double clotheslines both Miz and Truth over the top rope. Triple H with a right hand to Miz on the outside, but takes a big dropkick from Truth. Tag to Miz who stomps over Triple H. Truth gets the quick tag and hits a spinning corkscrew elbow on Triple H. Quick tag to Miz who connects with a high knee to Triple H. Miz with a backbreaker and neckbreaker combo. Tag to Truth as Miz and Truth hit a double kick to the head on Triple H. Triple H with an electric chair back drop on Truth. Tag to Miz who takes a big clothesline from Triple H. Great camera shot over the shoulder of Punk wanting the hot tag. Tag to Truth who takes a quick DDT from Triple H. Hot tag to Punk who hits a springboard clothesline on Miz. Punk drops Truth with a big kick. Punk with a high knee to Truth and catches Miz with a clothesline on the way down for a bulldog. Punk plants Miz near the corner, goes up top, Truth interferes and Triple H pulls himd own sending him into the timekeepers area. Punk is up top and connects with the flying elbow on Miz. Punk calling for GTS. Triple H is beating down Truth on the outside when Kevin Nash decks Triple H from the crowd. Punk has Miz up for GTS. Truth jumps in and hits his facebuster on Punk as Miz comes down with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz covers Punk for the win.
Winners: The Miz and R-Truth
After the match, Kevin Nash tosses Triple H into the steel steps on the outside. Nash tosses Triple H back in the ring and hits his knees to Triple H in the corner. Nash drops Triple H with a big clothesline. Nash then drops Triple H with a big Jacknife Powerbomb. We see a shot of Nash leaving through the crowd. We see a replay of Nash’s attack. The Jacknife Powerbomb looked nasty.
Backstage, John Laurinaitis is on the phone trying to get to the bottom of Kevin Nash’s attack on Triple H. WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio walks up. Laurinaitis tells Del Rio he is busy. Del Rio says he is the WWE Champion and should be top priority. He complains about being put in a Last Man Standing match tonight. Laurinaitis tells Del Rio to calm down bringing up that he had his first Hell in a Cell just weeks ago and walked out WWE Champion. Del Rio agrees and walks off. Laurinaitis starts texting someone as we fade out.
WWE’s Be A Star anti-bullying commercial airs.
Non-title match
Randy Orton vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes
The bell rings and Orton drops Rhodes with a quick clothesline. Rhodes attempts a bulldog and Orton pushes him away with force. Orton sends Rhodes to the outside and bounces his face off the steel ring steps. Orton tosses Rhodes back inside and dodges a springboard kick from Rhodes. Rhodes with a headbutt and goes on the attack. Rhodes with a front suplex. Orton with a series of uppercuts. Rhodes fires back with a clothesline. Orton with a back suplex. Rhodes with a standing dropkick. Rhodes with a boston crab applied on Orton. Orton counters out. The two exchange right hands. Rhodes with an Alabama Slam. Roll Tide. Rhodes attempts a huge moonsault and Orton moves out of the way. Orton with a snap powerslam on Rhodes. Rhodes from the top turnbuckle and Orton catches him in mid-air with a dropkick. Rhodes with his Beautiful Disaster springboard kick to the face. Rhodes counters a DDT through the ropes, but Orton drops Rhodes off his back. Orton with a quick neckbreaker on Rhodes. Orton puts Rhodes up on the top turnbuckle, hits a few rights, Rhodes with a headbutt and this time catches Orton with a moonsault. Rhodes misses a knee drop on Orton from the second rope. One of Rhodes’ baggers jumps up on the ring apron. Orton drops him with a right hand. Rhodes with the Cross Rhodes, cover and Orton kicks out. Rhodes yells out in frustration. Rhodes drops to his chest and starts pounding on the mat mocking Orton. Orton with a dropkick to Rhodes when Rhodes attempt an RKO. Orton with a DDT through the ropes. Now Orton drops down and starts hitting the mat getting ready for the RKO. The second bagger jumps up on the ring apron. Orton sends Rhodes into him. Orton with an RKO and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, we see a replay of the finish. Back live, Orton celebrates up on the turnbuckle.
A promo runs hyping the return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his return to action for the first time in 7 years at the WWE Survivor Series PPV on Sunday, November 20.
A video package runs hyping Mark Henry vs. Big Show.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mark Henry (c) vs. Big Show
Big fight feel here. The bell rings, big lock up and Henry pushes Big Show away. Second lock up and Henry pushes Big Show into the corner. Big Show tosses Henry to the corner and hits some big rights and lefts. Henry is down and rolls out to avoid the offense from Big Show. Henry gets up on the ring apron and Big Show tosses him back inside. Big Show drops Henry with a superkick to the jaw. Henry again rolls out and tries to regain his composure. Henry calls for his title and starts leaving when Big Show catches up with him hitting him over the back. Big Show tosses Henry in the ring. Henry with a big chop block takedown on Big Show. Henry then lifts up Big Show and plants him with a scoop slam with little effort. Henry drops a big elbow over the back of Big Show. Henry drives Big Show’s knee into the mat with force. Henry drops an elbow over the hip and knee of Big Show. Henry drops another elbow over Big Show’s knee and locks his foot in his legs to apply more pressure. Big Show turns over Henry and drops a boot across his face. Big Show tries for a scoop slam on Henry, but his knee gives out and Henry splashes over Big Show. Henry starts twisting the ankle of Big Show who screams out in pain. We get a double clothesline spot with both men landing with a loud thud. Both get up to their knees and exchange shots. Big Show with a splash to Henry and a quick shoulder block. Big Show with a scoop slam on Henry. Big Show calls out for the chokeslam. Big Show connects with the chokeslam and Henry powers out after two. Big Show gets the fist ready, but Henry cuts him off with a kick to the gut and connects with the World’s Strongest Slam! Henry covers Big Show…and Big Show powers out after two. Henry is shocked. Henry is going up top, Big Show cuts him off and executes a chokeslam on Henry back to the mat below! Big Show hooks the leg and Henry somehow powers out after two again. Big Show is going up top when Henry cuts him off. Henry gives Big Show a superplex and when Big Show lands the entire ring collapses.
WWE officials and EMT’s run down to check on both Henry and Big Show. We see a series of replays. John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long are shown walking down to the ring. Big Show is put on the back of a cart and taken to the back. Henry falls out of the ring and has officials attend to him. Henry pushes WWE ref’s and EMT officials away when they try to help him. Teddy Long screams at Henry to let people help him. Henry tries to stand and keeps falling down saying he doesn’t need help. Henry eventually gets to his feet and is helped to the back.
John Laurinaitis gets on the mic and assures everyone that the WWE Championship match will still take place tonight.
Winner: No Contest
A video package runs hyping Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena.
WWE Championship – Last Man Standing Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) w/ Ricardo Rodriguez vs. John Cena
John Cena is sporting a new “Rise Above Hate” red, white and blue slogan on a black t-shirt. He ditched the jean shorts or “jorts” for tonight.
The bell rings and Cena goes for an AA on Ricardo Rodriguez right away. Del Rio walks up and kicks Cena in the leg dropping him. Del Rio with a suplex on Cena over the broken ring. The referee starts the count. Cena is up at 3. Del Rio with more kicks. Referee counts. Cena is up at 3 again. Del Rio kicks Cena in the face. Cena gets back up after 4 and Del Rio tosses Cena face first into the steel ring post. Referee counts. Cena is up at 5 and gets back in the broken ring. More kicks to the head from Del Rio. Referee counts. Cena is up at 3. Cena with an awkward looking back body drop on Del Rio. Cena with a scoop slam and elbow drops on Del Rio. Referee counts. Del Rio is up at 4. Cena with right hands. Del Rio with a back suplex on Cena. Del Rio with a second. Del Rio then executes a third on the collapsed ring. Referee counts. Cena is up at 7 and drops Del Rio with a clothesline. Both men are down as the referee counts. Del Rio counters an AA and connects with a backcraker. Referee counts. Cena is up at 5. Del Rio with a snap suplex, a second snap suplex, Cena blocks a third and hits a suplex of his own. Cena plants Del Rio with his twisting powerbomb. Cena has no ropes to hit so he just drops the five knuckle shuffle. Del Rio jumps back up and connects with a quick german suplex with a release. Cena with an awkward looking gutwrench powerbomb. Referee starts the count. Del Rio is up at 4 and connects with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio follows that with a big kick to the back. Referee counts. Del Rio goes on the attack and puts Cena under the steel ring post that was already down over the ring. Del Rio jumps off the steel ring post driving it into the chest of Cena. Referee counts. Cena rolls out. Cena is up at 8 and connects with the AA on Del Rio who charges at him. Both men are down. Referee counts. Both are up at 8. Ricardo interefers during another AA attempt. Cena big boots him away. Del Rio gets a sleeper applied. Cena tries to fight out.
Del Rio locks it in and falls back to the mat looking it in more. The referee checks on Cena with three arm lifts and he is out. Del Rio jumps back up and the referee starts the count. Cena is fighting to his feet. Cena is up at 7 and he launches Del Rio from the ring to the ring barricade on the outside. That looked nasty on the replay. Referee counts. Del Rio is up at 6 using the barricade to lift himself back up. Del Rio then sends Cena shoulder first into the steel ring steps. Ricardo tries getting involved again and Cena crotches him over the steel ring post that was across the ring. Del Rio with a kick attack on Cena, but Cena launches Del Rio over the steel ring post which bounces back up into the crotch of Ricardo. Cena takes apart the other steel ring steps, picks up the top part and throws it at Del Rio who dodges the attack. Del Rio with right hands and kicks to Cena on the ground. Del Rio then sends Cena into the steel steps. Del Rio picks up the bottom part of the steel steps and launches them at Cena’s head who goes down. Referee counts. Cena is up at 8 and they brawl to the backstage area. A camera catches up with them as Cena sends Del Rio into a table full of food. Referee counts and Cena pushes a big production box over. Del Rio is able to avoid it and put Cena on top of the box. Del Rio gives Cena a scoop slam over the top of the box. Referee counts. Cena is up at 7 and stumbles to the interview area. Del Rio pushes a steel wall down and over Cena. Del Rio pushes a second one on top of Cena. Del Rio pushes a third wall on Cena and then a fourth. Cena is covered with four steel walls as the referee begins the count. Del Rio stands by waiting for the final count. Cena moves the walls over and is up at 8. They brawl back out into the arena near the Vengeance set. Cena unloads with right hands. Ricardo jumps on Cena’s back. Del Rio with a shot to Cena’s head. Ricardo falls of Cena’s back. Del Rio then tosses Cena into the giant “V” on the Vengeance set.
Cena falls out of the giant “V” in the Vengeance set and Del Rio sets up a table. Del Rio puts Cena over the table and starts climbing part of the set. Cena recovers and pulls Del Rio off the set who falls crashing through the table. The referee starts the count. A dazed Del Rio is up at 8. They continue to brawl into the crowd. Cena tosses Del Rio into the timekeepers area. Del Rio recovers and sends Cena flying into Lawler and Cole at the announcers table. Cena recovers and sends Del Rio into the ring barricade. Cena with a shot to Ricardo for good measure. Del Rio sends Cena back first into the steel ring post. Del Rio goes for a kick, but Cena ducks and Del Rio kicks the steel ring post. Del Rio screams out in pain holding his foot. Cena sets up the steel steps near the Spanish announce table that has been cleared off. Cena puts Del Rio on his shoulders and executes the AA on Del Rio sending him crashing through the Spanish announce table. Cena jumps back in the ring waiting for the referee count when The Miz and R-Truth hit the ring attacking Cena. Miz with the Skull Crushing Finale on Cena. Truth with his facebuster. The referee is distracted by this attack and wasn’t counting. The referee starts the count as Del Rio is recovering and back on his feet. Cena is up at 9. Del Rio hits Cena with the WWE Championship belt. Cena is down. Del Rio falls out. The referee starts the count. Del Rio is up at 9 on the outside. The referee reaches 10 and calls for the bell.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, John Cena struggles to his feet as Alberto Del Rio is handed the WWE Championship. The PPV goes off the air with Del Rio celebrating his win holding up the WWE Championship in the entrance area.