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Week in Photos: January 28, 2012
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9 c* D! r) {+ t! N. bWWE Champion CM Punk called out Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis at the start of Monday's Raw SuperShow.* ~: a- T. _- Z- H" @/ O
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4 S) J3 Z8 y8 }! dJohn Cena interrupted The Straight Edge Superstar, demanding a match with Kane and a United StatesTitle rematch for his broski, Zack Ryder.
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9 u7 J" [4 m, C% f* w4 |( iLaurinaitis instead puts Long Island Iced-Z in a Falls Count Anywhere Match against The Big Red Monster, while Punk and Cena must face Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger.; ]: l* N+ c( t1 H {
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5 c. M8 o$ Z2 s3 Q _' J+ hThe leader of the Cenation picks up where he left off last Monday, putting a beat down on The All-American American.
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# M) K% t+ w; eCena traps Swagger in the STF on the arena floor.
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9 ?/ r% a6 k6 aLaurinaitis distracts Punk ...) a! \5 }* r' J9 e" x6 b! E$ y$ C
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... giving Ziggler the opportunity to pick up the win for his team.
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The WWE Champion issues a challenge to the GM for a one-on-one contest that night, which Laurinaitis surprisingly accepts!* k% L1 Z! X- Z# o
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The WWE Universe awaits Chris Jericho's first words since returning on "The Highlight Reel."
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+ I; J) y' @/ W# zJericho asks the crowd to quiet down before he speaks.
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! z9 k7 b8 B6 E e EHe stalls once again, going backstage to get a t-shirt gun ...
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... then comandeers a WWE television camera ...
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... and follows up by airing a career retrospective video.
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8 n9 C% X6 _7 z, w/ {1 Z/ qAfter all of that, Jericho finally speaks, cryptically saying that the Royal Rumble will be "the end of the world as you know it."
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Kane muscles around an injured Zack Ryder during their Falls Count Anywhere Match.
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: e; F) r! B0 YLong Island Iced-Z tries to fight back .
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The Big Red Monster shocks Eve and the WWE Universe by chokeslamming Ryder through the stage!; x8 ?# r1 h1 d3 g4 Z0 k
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4 u2 M# v7 ~8 b5 t" xThe Diva can only watch as medics tend to the former United States Champion.( y0 ^! o I; B8 ?6 I
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& l8 k: t9 X4 G/ f4 B% oJinder Mahal has Sheamus in a precarious position.8 O% @3 E- f% z
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2 D; \6 S; V% K6 y8 aWade Barrett watches the battle with interest.! K. Q5 R. k0 c
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( I' o' J! A' B1 O$ _The Great White delivers a stunning Brogue Kick to Mahal.
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Sheamus picks up a win heading into Sunday's Royal Rumble Match.
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* z8 r6 z: S4 v7 Y7 yBrodus Clay boogies down to ringside on Raw SuperShow.
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William Regal joins commentary to get a closer look at the man who squashed him on SmackDown.
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Heath Slater is on the receiving end of a big splash from The Funkasaurus., C0 M- N! ]! t' B- j
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! `6 ^: S6 P, ~+ gCameron and Naomi watch Brodus from ringside.
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After a quick victory, The Funkasaurus gets down with his backup dancers.6 I$ c4 O4 k; Q2 g+ q, h7 p( X
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' ^. C, f6 d- z2 OThe Miz waits intently for his match against former partner R-Truth.
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, \/ j$ ^9 i+ o: n, rThe Awesome One takes to the air.
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R-Truth recovers and beats his former partner.1 l7 U5 b: l: j% ?. H/ }
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8 S! U( R' ]: Z+ v1 N' Y8 ^The loss means The Miz will enter the Royal Rumble at No. 1.
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1 Z- X2 P Z7 q# e! \1 zCM Punk is ready to get his hands on John Laurinaitis.
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8 y. b+ a. m& L! Y/ Q' y. WBefore the match can begin, David Otunga reads a memo stating the GM will undergo a job evaluation by WWE COO Triple H next Monday.$ }' E8 i8 w5 F
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The WWE Champion goes off on the special referee for his defense at the Royal Rumble.
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; M; d7 s& @, o! \! v; {The Straight Edge Superstar locks Otunga in the Anaconda Vise ...
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+ F2 n$ S7 ?2 o4 M* \... then hits Laurinaitis with the GTS!
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With the champion distracted, Dolph Ziggler lays Punk out with the Zig Zag.
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Rosa Mendes looks beautiful in blue.
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Titus O'Neil attacks his former friend Percy Watson at the start of WWE NXT.
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The Usos look dominating in a tag-team victory over Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.
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Heath Slater rocks his way to a win against Trent Barreta.
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Derrick Bateman and Maxine confront Johnny Curtis about his actions over the past few weeks.
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Maxine puts an exclamation point on the evening by hitting Curtis below the belt.
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+ {% w. X) V# z' v. J: kTitus O'Neil looks powerful against Percy Watson; L! _- ^. N# e
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Alex Riley runs out to save Watson from a post-match beatdown.& b6 g( i7 a2 k) }3 h9 k
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The lovely Kaitlyn is looking to make an impact in WWE8 f9 P& u2 c# u1 @( p. A
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Kofi Kingston takes flight against Michael McGillicutty on "WWE Superstars."
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, Q, e% i0 S. d$ ]" E& F y# yBeth Phoenix muscles her way to victory over Brie Bella .
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8 X: ?2 x1 {- U$ X [5 ~" NJinder Mahal avoids the aerial assault of Tyson Kidd.
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Beth Phoenix is always ready to create a racket in the Divas division.. M$ m0 g: E l4 ~
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The Big Show and Mark Henry confront Daniel Bryan on SmackDown. GM Teddy Long then puts the two monsters against each other in the main event of the evening.. c% e R4 @! Z8 Z
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/ N) W' C0 N; F1 w8 NIntercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes takes on Justin Gabriel in a non-title rematch from last Friday.. N; o0 q8 [% u6 E0 P
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The high-flyer comes close to upsetting the champion.; p. X' `% ]9 O) I
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, ?/ B+ B. ]* t. A+ \0 O3 ~5 x: j" kRhodes vanquishes his foe with the Cross-Rhodes.
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The champion is riding a wave of momentum into Sunday's Royal Rumble Match.
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2 J/ L3 T) d+ k+ sDrew McIntyre finds his job security in danger against Sheamus on Friday night.
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. k8 p9 c* w2 ~1 _# r9 D9 Y8 zA vicious Brogue Kick helps seal the win for The Great White.4 q1 v; G2 X1 a
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0 z6 q4 Y# D( Z8 r' `9 IThe Chosen One is left hurt and wondering whether he will be employed.- z! `1 |* \# I; ^) T0 ^. U0 U& y+ \
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5 m, D) |8 W9 v# `% O |Sheamus will be a force in the Royal Rumble.
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Santino Marella joins forces with Yoshi Tatsu for tag team action.
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W5 k! V6 g, eThey take on the WWE Tag Team Champions, Primo & Epico, accompanied by the lovely Rosa Mendes.: ]4 Z) i3 k: ?
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The Italian Superstar connects with a diving headbutt.$ U" c% w# x0 ?& @) N W
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) X) [/ r4 t) G; CRosa watches her team with concern.* V/ V4 k8 x+ U9 R4 n: o& G
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Epico picks up the win after a Backstabber.- K! |4 Z; O5 M( [# E/ {& G! K7 p
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) d% w1 ?5 T" [6 [# tThe Tag Team Champions have plenty of reasons to celebrate after their win.9 g+ j( o4 Y, d8 R
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1 H4 ^1 z# P$ Y) M9 E/ q# }3 QWade Barrett believes the Barrett Barrage will roll on after he defeats Randy Orton on SmackDown.
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The Viper, however, has retribution on his mind.
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& E: c$ g) y/ S" d6 d$ ^" UOrton rains down blows on his British foe.% j/ b: F' Z! k
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Barrett tries to escape, but The Apex Predator's attack is unending.% g4 X! b! M i
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Several Superstars try to restrain Orton ..." t, q8 k) y* c: T
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& h X+ y, ?1 U' U0 w... but The Viper strikes each of them down with an RKO.
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0 u5 d# n1 \) C$ ^* VTed DiBiase, suffering from a broken hand, takes on Hunico.$ z/ o% N4 h% Q
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The Mexican Superstar focuses his attack on DiBiase's injured appendage.: I9 w3 U1 S, F' `8 |$ G6 M& w. [
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After his victory, Hunico and Camacho do extra damage to the third-generation Superstar's hand.
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Brodus Clay brings the funk to Friday nights.
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5 L& p& A1 {5 _8 |- JAlex Riley tries to show The Funkasaurus some moves of his own.
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8 p" z% a; Q, b& x2 S! s0 d: eClay isn't impressed, and quickly crushes A-Ry for the win.; I" g8 I4 Y- p# c% s
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. l9 B& b5 l, z2 S. Z5 Y8 {4 DCameron and Naomi join The Funkasaurus for a little post-match boogie.. _# W$ _, ~) O- d
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" A; K/ T3 L; R/ SAksana quickly rolls up Natalya in her debut match, picking up the victory.) R+ @ d% {* _
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& m. G/ V& D! ~1 Z3 N( w* H2 Q3 kA frustrated Natalya was more concerned with a potential sneak attack by Tamina, costing herself a win.- ?- N6 S0 e+ I v8 T, R& b8 F
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The third-generation Diva attacks Aksana after the bell, locking the rookie Diva in the Sharpshooter.* \" y* p5 u& S4 A
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Natalya's fears come true as Tamina comes to the rescue.3 v) `6 `( m" K w# S
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9 q- ?: v! l8 @/ NThe daughter of WWE Hall of Famer "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka comes crashing down on her foe with a top-rope splash.
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8 Y0 q3 p' b7 ^2 A, T. |! mWorld Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan shows off his title as he makes his way to ringside for the main event.$ D4 `: V; ?9 B- j) D5 m! y
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Big Show and Mark Henry clubbed each other with vicious blows days ahead of their Triple Threat Steel Cage Match at the Royal Rumble.
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6 e- ?: l- I* z; |/ {The brawl eventually spilled to the outside.8 X# m3 c0 u/ |# T
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The World's Largest Athlete knocks The World's Strongest Man to the arena floor, picking up the count-out victory.
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2 U4 `* w& @ [# U+ k- jBryan assaults Big Show with a steel chair after the match.
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