This Week In WWE TV – February 18-24, 2013

This week: The spinner belt’s reign of terror and making people annoyed and nostalgic for the winged eagle belt is over. Long live the new belt, which has already made some people annoyed and nostalgic for the winged eagle belt. The more things change. Plus, The Shield compete on Raw for the first time, Big Show compete on Main Event a bunch of times and the Brickie Era begins.

RAW

– Cena opened the show, but was quickly interrupted by Punk and Heyman. Punk said Cena had never beaten him and he’d earned the right to main event Wrestlemania more than Cena had. He told Cena to walk away but Cena declined. Cena admitted he hadn’t beaten Punk or Rock and challenged Punk to a match, with the Wrestlemania title shot on the line. Punk agreed, but next week, which the crowd weren’t happy about.

– Striker interviewed Sheamus. Ryback paced around which distracted Sheamus. Sheamus and Ryback almost went at it, but Jericho pulled them apart. He said he’d been around the NWO and Nexus and they had to stick together to save the company. Jericho suggested they team up against The Shield tonight and they both agreed.

– Mark Henry d. Sin Cara in 1:35. Henry won easily with the World’s Strongest Slam and teased another after the match, but Khali came out and Henry left. Henry made fun of Khali’s dancing because he’s awesome.

– No Disqualification Match: The Miz d. Antonio Cesaro by submission in 3:39. This was no DQ after Miz lost by disqualification at Elimination Chamber. Miz attacked immediately but Cesaro sent his injured shoulder into the post. Cesaro used a kendo stick and chairs. He ran knee first into a chair though, before Miz managed to drop toe hold him into a chair and apply the figure four for the win though.

– They showed a video of Swagger and Colter talking about immigration.

– Bryan ran into Kane backstage. He said since Kane hit him at Elimination Chamber, he requested a singles match tonight and told Kane not to come out with him. Orton showed up and Kane talked about disliking snakes. Orton said he wasn’t intimidated and compared him to Barney the Dinosaur.

– Vickie teased Heyman about Punk’s loss. She said she had big news that would affect Heyman’s life and career.

– Alberto Del Rio d. Dolph Ziggler in 6:25. Big E got a cheap shot in as Ziggler controlled. Swagger and Coulter watched backstage. They had a mini version of their Main Event match towards the end, with Ziggler tapping out to the cross armbreaker. After the match Big E attacked Alberto and Ziggler considered cashing in. But Ricardo stole the briefcase and gave Del Rio time to recover.

– Barrett bragged to the crowd about his new movie role and showed a trailer. Sheamus interrupted on the big screen and said it was a great film, mostly because Wade was barely in it.

– Brodus Clay, Tensai and Naomi d. Primo, Epico and Rosa Mendes (Brodus pinned Primo) in 1:30. Naomi got a chance to shine, even giving Epico a hurricanrana, before Tensai and Brodus gave Primo a double splash for the pin.

– Jack Swagger d. Daniel Bryan by submission in 8:07. Swagger and Colter did a “State Of The Union Address” before the match. He also has new music. Swagger worked on Bryan’s bad ribs. Bryan fought back and got the NO Lock but Swagger got a foot on the rope. And after a missed dropkick in the corner, Swagger went after the leg, setting up the Patriot Lock.

– Vickie brought Heyman to the ring for her big news. She announced Brad Maddox as the Assistant To The Managing Supervisor. Catchy title. Brad said this was his reward for shopping Heyman. They’re doing the whole “Assistant To” routine from The Office. Before Heyman could leave, Vince appeared on the screen and told him they’d be having a “fight” next week.

– The Shield d. Chris Jericho, Sheamus and Ryback (Ambrose pinned Jericho) in 10:32. Things started evenly until Sheamus hit White Noise, but Rollins saved Reigns from a Brogue Kick. So Sheamus kicked Ambrose off the apron instead. Sheamus was cut off, before Ryback ran wild. He went for Shell Shocked, but Reigns speared him to save Rollins and Ryback was isolated. Jericho eventually made a comeback and got Ambrose in the Walls. But Rollins flew off the top with a knee and Ambrose got the pin.

– Sandow and Kofi were scheduled for a match. Before the match Sandow claimed his family had worked with US Presidents over the years. Sandow then attacked Kofi, for some reason, until R-Truth made the save.

– Randy Orton d. Kane in 6:29. As Kane teased a chokeslam, Bryan distracted Kane, allowing Orton to hit an RKO for the win.

– Rock came out for his “WWE Championship Celebration”, with a full marching band entourage. People talk about faces acting as heels a lot, too much even, but a full marching band for a title defence is a bit much. He said he was going to Wrestlemania, but not with the belt in his hand. Rock buried the belt for looking like a toy and for spinning, which it hasn’t done for years but did here. He then unveiled a new belt, which also sort of looks like a toy and is probably a marginal improvement over the old one. Rock was then going to say who he’d prefer to face at Wrestlemania when Cena interrupted. But Punk laid out Cena with the old title and pointed at Rock, saying he wanted the new title instead.

MAIN EVENT

– Big Show came out ranting at Cole and Miz for discussing his loss at Elimination Chamber. He complained about Booker T and threatened to decimate his entire locker room.

– Two On One Handicap Match: Big Show d. The Usos in 3:38. Usos put up a fight for a while, before Show pinned them both with a pair of chokeslams.

– Big Show d. Brodus Clay in 6:39. Brodus came out immediately to also answer the open challenge. Show worked Brodus over before Brodus fought back. Brodus hit the big splash, but Show kicked out. And moments later, Brodus ran into the KO punch.

– Big Show d. Great Khali by count out in 4:27. A tiring Show struggled here but survived by giving Khali the KO punch as he tried to enter the ring and took the count out. Miz then left commentary and went after Big Show, who after getting sent out of the ring decided to leave.

– Striker interviewed Maddox about his new job. He claimed it was a new era, bigger than the Attitude Era or the “Stone Cold and his tiny little tights” era, it was the Brickie Era. He booked Vince versus Heyman next week, despite it already being announced and left.

– Striker interviewed Gabriel. Gabriel said he wasn’t scared of anything. Titus interrupted and said he was African, not Gabriel. He promised to beat Gabriel 450 ways tonight.

– Justin Gabriel d. Titus O’Neil in 6:19. Gabriel hit a dive before being cut off. A big clothesline almost won it for Titus, but Gabriel hung in and surprised Titus with a kick, putting him in position for the 450.

NXT

– Bray Wyatt d. Yoshi Tatsu in 1:37. Bray won decisively with his spinning downward spiral. After the match, he brought Rowan and Harper into the ring and made them slap each other for losing the Tag Team Tournament final. They fought until Bray was satisfied and they all left together.

– Renee interviewed Sasha about her secret admirer. Audrey Marie attacked her from behind, revealing it was all a setup and told her to get out of NXT.

– Xavier Woods d. El Local in 4:40. Xavier’s entrance is a winner, although they changed his music which even though the new one fits him fine, I’m sad about. El Local is, well, that would be telling. Local fared well, but Xavier fought back and won with a tornado DDT.

– Renee spoke to Doctor Samson about Paige’s shoulder injury.

– Audrey Marie d. Sasha Banks in 2:05. Audrey won with a wheelbarrow face plant move.

– Renee interviewed Summer Rae, who was unsympathetic towards Paige. She said her only regret was that she broke a nail while slapping Paige around. She said she would become the greatest WWE diva ever and demanded to be known as the first lady of NXT.

– Dalton interviewed Tyson Kidd, who was still on crutches, in the ring. Kidd discussed his knee injury and said he would be back. Dalton asked him about CM Punk calling him a workhorse and Kidd said he was flattered. Leo Kruger interrupted and threatened to end Kidd’s career, but Gabriel ran him off.

– Big E Langston and Conor O’Brien went to a double DQ in 6:44. After matching power early on, Conor gained the advantage after Big E ran his shoulder into the post. Big E fought back and the match turned back into a fight, resulting in the match being thrown out when the referee got caught up in it. Big E sent Conor out of the ring, but Graves hit him from behind and stole the NXT Title.

SUPERSTARS

– Sin Cara d. Drew McIntyre in 9:34. Jinder and Slater both got involved to help out Drew. Their continued interference didn’t pay though, as the referee threw them out, causing Sin Cara to mock them with his own air guitar. That allowed Drew to attack from behind, but Sin Cara managed to get the win, giving Drew a spike hurricanrana while he was on one knee.

– The Funkadactyls d. Natalya and Alicia Fox (Naomi pinned Alicia) in 5:03. Alicia and Natalya, who seemingly turn every week to suit needs, were heels for this week at least. Cameron and Naomi looked good again (double meaning!) and won again with a springboard body press by Naomi. The Funkadactyls might be the best diva act in the company at this point.

SMACKDOWN

– Del Rio and Ricardo came out and addressed Swagger, standing up for the immigrants. He called Swagger out but got Orton instead. Orton said his chance to go to Wrestlemania was taken from him by Swagger and asked Del Rio to step aside for tonight, because Swagger was his. Booker interrupted and put Alberto versus Barrett and Orton versus Swagger.

– Sheamus d. Damien Sandow in 8:43. Sandow vowed to destroy Sheamus before the match. He didn’t quite succeed. Sheamus fought out of the Terminus, before missing a Brogue Kick. Sandow then missed a flipping neckbreaker and was hit with White Noise, followed with the Brogue Kick for the pin.

– Kaitlyn and Layla d. Tamina Snuka and Aksana (Kaitlyn pinned Tamina) in 3:29. Before the match, Kaitlyn bumped into Cody backstage and after an awkward moment said she liked his moustache even if nobody else did. Kaitlyn pinned Tamina with the spear. There was another awkward moment with Layla and the Diva’s Title afterwards.

– Barrett complimented Swagger and Colter backstage. They weren’t impressed and told Barrett he was part of the problem as well.

– Jack Swagger d. Randy Orton in 13:25. Swagger tried to go after Orton’s knee, but Orton seemed too much for him. Swagger gained the upper hand after sending Orton into the steps. Orton made his big comeback but Colter pulled Swagger to the apron, where Swagger poked the eyes, hung up Orton and stole the win with his feet on the ropes.

– The Miz d. Cody Rhodes by submission in 3:54. Cody did an inset promo, criticising people for being obsessed with his moustache, or ‘lovestache’. He went after the injured shoulder and dominated the match, but Miz got the figure four out of nowhere.

– Alberto Del Rio d. Wade Barrett in 8:45. Swagger and Colter watched the match from the stage. Del Rio took a nasty spill to the floor but recovered. Both men had chances to win at the end, before Swagger distracted Alberto. Wade rolled him up but Alberto kicked out. Barrett then tried the Bull Hammer, but Alberto turned it into the cross arm breaker. Swagger and Alberto stared each other down to end the show.