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Week in Photos: February 25, 2012" r X [- v- P1 v1 S
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2 x# x$ t' a s& I: ]The week started off with a bang as Superstars entered the Elimination Chamber.4 @6 P# k; K% w# d
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9 p8 X$ _3 U" C% QChris Jericho solemnly turns the lights out on his jacket before entering the ominous structure.
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Dolph Ziggler tries to rake the face of WWE Champion CM Punk across the chained chamber walls.
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" h# K# F G7 I# r3 F0 B5 s, V; cThe Straight Edge Superstar taunts Jericho, who is locked in his pod.
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$ `# C2 S3 m8 lPunk tries to force Jericho out into the Chamber.. }/ @% Z9 f% p5 _+ P9 d$ ~7 R
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! A! N6 _, @% U9 }9 h# m4 |# ROnce he enters the melee, Jericho forces Kofi Kingston to submit to the Walls of Jericho.
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0 S, l6 A3 \4 F( ]After dumping Kingston, Jericho is sent crashing to the arena floor thanks to a devastating kick from Punk, leaving him unable to continue.( p, j9 @" t/ H$ x; @. i
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' p0 ~. N; Q* R2 m& {5 T: oWWE officials tend to the fallen Superstar.( `' X& ~% o( [# H/ A
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CM Punk goes on to retain his title, ensuring a main event spot at WrestleMania.( o$ N; M: m( D5 Z! l
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7 R1 |. x4 E* S* p8 n, U/ tWWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix offers Tamina Snuka the chance to leave their match at Elimination Chamber.
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Snuka opts to stay and brings the fight to The Glamazon.
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The second-generation Diva cannot believe that Phoenix was able to kick out of the Superfly Splash.
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Phoenix recovers from the onslaught and finishes off her opponent with a devastating Glam Slam.7 B. }6 f4 w! S; x
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Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis, flanked by David Otunga, announces his intentions to ask the WWE board of directors to give him control of SmackDown, as well.
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Former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio returns to endorse Laurinaitis.
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, u( g5 \: C5 }( ~Mark Henry, who was recently suspended by SmackDown GM Theodore Long, also gave the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations his full support./ S2 P, W- O1 h) n" L& M
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6 I2 C5 L% J: ~9 p3 c5 M& VChristian surprises the WWE Universe with his return. In his quest for one more match for the World Heavyweight Championship, Captain Charisma says he wants "Mr. Excitement" in charge of SmackDown.
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Harvard Law Grad and amateur photographer David Otunga snaps a photo to commemorate the occasion.
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# e' {* T5 }, [. tSantino Marella, winner of the Wild Card Battle Royal, is extremely pumped for the World Heavyweight Championship Eliminaton Chamber.
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Big Show knocks the wind out of Wade Barrett with a monstrous chop to the chest. Y4 G" }5 g3 Q1 A' g
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2 e# y) }) M b2 }$ l% ~1 MIntercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes takes the Punjabi Plunge, courtesy of The Great Khali.
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The World's Largest Athlete brings the fight to Daniel Bryan, tearing the chained roof of his pod off and climbing in.
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$ c5 K6 g, R* p; j( p) o: I" O9 TBryan is trapped in his pod and the clutches of the giant.
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Big Show is on a roll, tossing his competitors around with ease until Rhodes surprisingly eliminates him.
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The World Heavyweight Champion finds himself in a precarious position.
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8 {1 L$ J8 B9 w. Z) P; EWade Barrett is introduced to the right hand of Santino ...4 Y' @7 g) l% u4 W! L3 L, E/ O
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7 C$ v& a# i0 H0 q& \- c& z... while Daniel Bryan gets up close and personal with the Cobra.
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Bryan puts an end to Marella's miracle run, forcing the valiant Italian Superstar to submit to the Lebell Lock.9 G5 |, x" _/ P9 v' V" _% H% S
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6 |( y' P( H+ i0 M7 N U0 @, i' kSheamus, winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble Match, sends a message to the World Heavyweight Champion following his victory in the Elimination Chamber.
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: n0 G. x) ]' MUnited States Champion Jack Swagger takes a premature victory lap before his bout on Sunday.# _0 N O# X7 h+ j
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+ v" B, V, }+ ?9 nJustin Gabriel takes to the air in hopes of defeating The All-American American.% M$ x6 Q/ G! s$ m! M$ I$ h
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9 Y: p* f3 |- OSwagger grounds the high-flyer and picks up the win with the Ankle Lock.
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% i. h: F1 i" H, F/ M' }Kane makes his ominous entrance ahead of his Ambulance Match with John Cena." ~: h9 _- s+ t7 W: s" r9 r, @9 E
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/ ^# q/ U+ ^' M$ iThe Devil's Favorite Demon overpowers Cena in the opening minutes of the contest., }+ m1 k: S% }6 W" D
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The Cenation leader is able to take control and battle the monster.
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" X' _& g/ ~- t& \" rKane looks to have things wrapped up after chokeslamming Cena through the Spanish announce table.! R9 M' E: F7 g" d
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) g( o% n7 e! @4 ]& J/ g! GCena can't escape the black hand of Kane.
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# Q/ M' f" w9 @% GThe Big Red Monster dumps John Cena on a stretcher and wheels him toward the ambulance.
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: t; O, L) E8 t9 B$ [$ gThe Cenation leader escapes from the ambulance and vanquishes the monster with a vicious Attitude Adjustment off the vehicle's roof!! W V' \, V- E
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( P! y: j6 s7 U5 @0 vThe lovely Kaitlyn has her hands full with Maxine on WWE NXT.$ X3 i+ b7 |$ S- \7 p0 D2 x
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After his victory against Kane, John Cena lets the WWE Universe know on Raw SuperShow that his main focus is WrestleMania XXVIII and The Rock.
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, U, j6 c# v2 `- R1 X t1 y% N( NEve interrupts and tries to explain her earlier comments about using Zack Ryder and Cena to further her career. |( {4 B7 V0 e; ~' g. R
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Cena lets the Diva know he won't be used, especially after she ruined his friendship with Ryder.3 S+ F7 Y& j0 g/ e8 x& c4 U
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# _+ i" Z/ y) n* n' k$ G, L' IEve tries to use her feminine wiles to sway Cena, but he's having none of it.
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4 f+ ~) j' ~. n A- COfficials escort a hysterical Eve to the back.
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3 ]$ C8 R* a" ~Two of WWE's most powerful Superstars, Sheamus and Mark Henry, lock horns on Monday night.5 I% F, r$ v/ {. |3 g2 {5 n: F5 m
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The Great White attacks Henry with fury.
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9 i+ s2 }0 C& f4 J2 q0 sThe World's Strongest Man battles back with clubbing forearms.
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After a bone-crunching Brogue Kick, The Celtic Warrior claims victory. S8 z% K7 J; S3 [1 s) J
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Sheamus has one date on his mind: April 1, when he challenges Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania.
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Rosa Mendes accompanies WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico to the ring on Raw SuperShow.) D. n p: v1 `( y5 t$ W: O) ^
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. P6 R& z! V8 y: R0 x9 qThe champions do battle with the new tandem of R-Truth and Kofi Kingston.
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$ A9 X0 o# A" n8 u. xThe fast-paced, high-flying offense is too much for the champions to handle.+ M' T" i3 D- V. H
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Kingston and Truth make an immediate impact in WWE's tag team ranks.3 v# `. U. \0 M% F: r' H! u: ~
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2 S7 t8 z& t1 J7 c5 V( FInterim Raw GM John Laurinaitis' legal counsel, David Otunga, faces Ezekiel Jackson.2 ?+ \& H9 p8 B5 [# r! F
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The Personification of Domination is handpicked by SmackDown GM Theodore Long to face the Harvard Law grad.: y/ ^1 M! T/ ~- V3 Y
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Laurinaitis sends a quick text during the action.# Z6 O, ^0 O4 }% |
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Otunga picks up the victory after a big slam./ H* t- c6 S5 ~
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$ r- _ _$ ?$ |0 k SThe Interim Raw GM is all smiles, having outdone Long on this evening.
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5 x- H9 m+ k9 V) J/ h- C/ |5 _The Undertaker makes his otherworldy presence felt.7 K8 | W7 q* z( M- c* Q
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. a$ X! W% y( l" K- N( {8 pHe explains that he will not accept no for an answer from Triple H.. W- e: T2 _# d: |! f; _
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The WWE COO calmly explains that he won't be the Superstar to end The Streak and ruin The Phenom's "brand." m& I) W# ~8 G9 ~
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( u* G' f9 {) \- n2 HUndertaker finally pushes The Game over the edge when he unfavorably compares him to his best friend, Shawn Michaels.: {! G: [' I( z! ^8 R4 ]" b* V; @
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Triple H accepts, but only on his terms: they wage war inside Hell in a Cell!
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2 B; S1 H& I% Y3 k8 [; g6 w- hThe Phenom exits the ring, satisfied that he will have his chance at immortality.
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5 z% N% J. W/ lWorld Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan is jubilant after retaining his title in the Elimination Chamber.0 l1 R+ I6 H6 M* r1 h) Y3 G
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- T3 l' [* ~/ BBryan takes on the competitor he defeated to hold onto his championship, Santino Marella.
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' f7 P" R* y! G, Z4 l0 RMarella hopes the Cobra will work for him tonight.
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Unfortunately, Bryan stops him from fully preparing the devastating strike and traps Marella in the Lebell Lock.
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6 z; y1 I$ T8 e* a4 VThe Italian Superstar is forced to tap out, just inches away from the Cobra.' w. l9 i7 w4 L! d3 V# f C
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Kelly Kelly teams up with Aksana to take on the devious Bella Twins.
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0 o, f$ `$ }; v" w! i; m3 ^) }9 ZAksana falls victim to "Twin Magic" as the Bellas escape with a win.
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7 S: s) v; k5 D2 J: ?# S+ q' T( hKelly tends to her fallen partner ...
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; u5 V L8 Y& z& [4 I( Ywhile the Bellas taunt their foes.
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John Cena hit the ring once again to try and address The Rock without interruption.. q, F- A$ w. d" z6 {
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Cena makes it clear that he will be ready come April 1, and is eagerly awaiting Rock's arrival next Monday.+ E3 C; X5 ~9 N0 Q
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WWE Champion CM Punk, looking spiffy in a blazer, joins the Raw announce team for the main event.
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9 e5 _4 t0 m) k4 _1 C' v8 v* |- _The 10 Raw and SmackDown Superstars who were eliminated from Sunday's title matches clash in a Battle Royal for a WWE Championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
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Kingston and R-Truth team up again, this time to eliminate The Miz.
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Big Show tosses Dolph Ziggler onto R-Truth and Wade Barrett, who is injured in the melee.8 H" H% U* \1 I- ]0 r# Q8 \
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Cody Rhodes dumps Marella from the proceedings.
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" c+ B( w9 U9 t( J, R2 c# D/ ]Big Show gets retribution on Rhodes, taking him out of the Battle Royal ...
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... but the Intercontinental Champion gets the final blow in, helping Chris Jericho take out the massive Superstar.' F) M" `1 ] _) u: `4 Y
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, ?8 L& G1 A5 a0 c, L' ]4 ~' hJericho will now face CM Punk for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVIII on April 1.$ R' M; m! X' }/ H0 f3 {/ [" D- S
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3 J# Z m$ R8 [( {( [& @- F5 t- T/ FWWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix claims she'll hold onto her title forever.
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+ z5 V E b) c5 `3 SWorld Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan sings his own praises at the beginning of SuperSmackDown LIVE.5 S/ G- W9 R: {1 f
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1 T0 Q, P; y. Y1 h( lBryan's former Pro on WWE NXT, The Miz, comes to the ring and gives the champion some adulation, as well.
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# n9 U; C* M) \Sheamus, fed up with Bryan's self-praise, reminds him of their impending WrestleMania showdown." z& e( X o9 h! n# f' V' C1 n
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The Awesome One calls The Great White out for having the gall to speak to a champion like that.
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Surprisingly agreeing with his former rival, Bryan slaps Sheamus and scurries to the back before The Celtic Warrior can strike back.* k( k; w/ G- D) {/ `* D" [) Z7 [
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The Miz, however, isn't so lucky. He faces Sheamus in singles competition.
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The former WWE Champion temporarily takes control of the bout ...# j& g, H+ }! l x- r2 q% ~1 t
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K: f8 `$ U, B... but he cannot match the raw power of Sheamus.
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7 |7 I$ L% d5 w( m: P( g) HThe Great White puts The Miz out for the count with his vicious new finisher.& Y1 d) A5 E4 J7 ~6 A0 f9 v
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Sheamus is counting down the days until The Show of Shows and his World Heavyweight Title Match.' {7 K0 n7 ^' n- V4 \1 Z4 K
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8 D) ]7 z" h- O0 f w6 G3 JDolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger team up to battle the red-hot tandem of Kofi Kingston and R-Truth.# z' |' l0 y0 m* y( Q8 `% w3 q3 C% u
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+ @6 v! i7 Q- ?, q0 e% x9 r& i; AThe United States Champion crushes Truth in the corner.
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. I2 {0 G8 G- `6 k5 ^+ _Kingston takes to the air, hoping his team can continue their hot streak after defeating Primo & Epico on Raw.! X2 ?, E: K# e* f1 @+ [. E5 c
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+ J: ^& c; Y5 X9 p H3 C. u7 v6 ~& ^- hHowever, a distraction from Vickie Guerrero (and a thumb to the eye) give The Showoff and Swagger a victory.9 I% t& \8 n0 V/ M
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2 D3 j7 B" @% {2 vDrew McIntyre, looking to save his career once again, faces The Great Khali on Tuesday night.
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2 i1 ^- ]2 [, P8 t7 SThe Chosen One can't escape The Punjabi Nightmare.
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8 y/ }6 z+ a1 ]+ h R9 Y* u: oKhali viciously slams McIntyre to the canvas.
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The monstrous Superstar stands tall after his latest win.* b4 M, F" p5 e, w; o0 r8 R& H- D
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) h2 V3 x3 ]; v& N. n5 V2 M9 \, F; dBig Show and Mark Henry continuted their rivalry on SuperSmackDown LIVE.
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/ V/ h- s' c* r. vThe World's Strongest Man puts the boots to The World's Largest Athlete.
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" {8 J) S* s0 M$ y7 H: RBig Show appears to have the upper hand after a giant spear. }/ E$ e! {, M5 u4 P, C
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Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes interrupts the bout to taunt Show over his lackluster WrestleMania record, playing a video of his loss to Akebono for the WWE Universe.
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v2 [0 v" Z+ f) S6 [$ Y9 p' P* Z* Z0 XFollowing the video, The World's Largest Athlete knocked Henry out with the WMD and left the ring in pursuit of Rhodes, taking a loss by count-out.
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5 f/ H j' G/ v; m0 h" e' W0 KEzekiel Jackson asks for a rematch against David Otunga and gets it on Tuesday.
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Jackson appears to have the Harvard Law grad trapped in the torture rack, but Otunga escapes with the help of the ropes.$ K8 G% m: } I' G* h
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John Laurinatis' legal counsel picks up the duke once again with a bone-rattling spinebuster.
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Otunga has plenty to be proud of after his in-ring success this week.3 j* K# c* V' o1 F
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WWE Champion CM Punk and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan shake hands in a sign of respect before their Champion vs. Champion Match.
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* G: N" n1 ]5 ePunk tries to escape Bryan's submission attempt.- i" L; A6 X* M. l1 z8 A4 I
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% b! L4 X: z$ l$ Y7 N$ oThe Straight Edge Superstar thinks he's won ...6 P* [! z! @: q0 r
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.. but Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis restarts the match.
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0 @: D: M8 U2 W! [4 ABryan goes right back to work, trying to twist Punk into submission.4 M5 L. _: b! c6 u
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The battle soon spills to the arena floor.
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6 \6 B! W$ u6 y: KBryan uses nefarious tactics to claim victory for himself ...7 `; w8 T2 W2 s. l7 D
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' c! l7 i: W6 y... but SmackDown GM Theodore Long will not stand for it, ordering the match to be restarted once more.% T) ]6 o1 M4 f2 H( B
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Both Superstars think they've won the third battle, but both of their shoulders are pinned to the mat.
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$ _+ r" ]1 h0 |' b- oThe controversy continues when Long and Laurinaitis argue over who they feel is the victor.
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The lovely Kelly Kelly looks stunning., `+ r( c1 A2 Z& K, C' [
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Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins are determined to get whatever they want from WWE NXT host Matt Striker.. P7 Q# o* n% H% e B8 @
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Tyson Kidd comes to the ring and challenges Reks to a match.; F Z* K5 `8 H0 M6 n
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Reks has no choice but to tap out once Kidd locks in the sharpshooter.
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Rivals Titus O'Neil and Alex Riley face off. j) y* \3 N* c
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O'Neil takes control of the contest.
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After using the ropes for leverage, Titus celebrates with Darren Young. Striker cuts the party short, saying he has a major announcement for next week's show.
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Alicia Fox is simply beautiful.
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Michael McGillicutty has control over Alex Riley in their bout on "WWE Superstars."
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The powerful Mason Ryan manhandles Tyler Reks.
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) `0 n8 ~. u& LJinder Mahal traps Justin Gabriel in the devastating Camel Clutch. |
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