Triple threat set for TLC
Punk to defend title against Miz and Del Rio at WWE TLC
By James Coyle. Last Updated: December 6, 2011 12:55pm
CM Punk: Will put his WWE title on the line
In two weeks, WWE champion CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio and The Miz will square off in a Triple Threat Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match with the WWE title on the line.
The trio will go head-to-head in a match that will headline WWE's final pay-per-view of 2011 entitled WWE TLC, and it's an event you can see exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office HD on December 18.
On this week's edition of Monday Night RAW SuperShow, a number of WWE Superstars put forward their own case with a view to facing WWE champion CM Punk at the upcoming Tables, Ladders and Chairs themed show.
And Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis didn't waste any time in breaking up the verbal battle between John Cena, United States champion Dolph Ziggler, Del Rio and The Miz.
Proving that he's not as dull as The Straight Edge Superstar says he is, the executive came up with the following decision - Miz, Ziggler and Del Rio would compete against SmackDown Superstars and if they win, they will be entered in the WWE Championship Match at WWE TLC. Cena, on the other hand, would undergo a "social experiment".
Count Out
In the first qualifying match of the night, The Awesome One rubber stamped his way to the main event in Baltimore and has Wade Barrett to thank for it. In the middle of The Miz's showdown with The Viper Randy Orton, the British Brawler entered the mix and distracted Orton on the outside of the ring, which led to WWE's Apex Predator being counted out.
Still suffering the effects of a brutal encounter with World Heavyweight champion Mark Henry on SmackDown, Daniel Bryan bravely faced The Mexican Aristocrat, but was too vulnerable to combat the crossarm breaker. With this victory, Alberto Del Rio qualified for a WWE Championship opportunity at WWE TLC.
Although friends outside of the ring, Cena and Zack Ryder were forced to battle on Monday Night RAW as a part of a "social experiment" organised by Laurinaitis.
If Ryder won the match, he would earn a future United States Title opportunity. If Cena was victorious, he would compete for the WWE Title at WWE TLC.
With stakes high, both Superstars put it all on the line, and it was the Cenation leader who came out on top. But, even with the victory, the man who currently splits the WWE fans didn't look happy as he exited the ring.
Backstage, Cena agreed to forfeit his WWE Championship opportunity at TLC if Ryder was given one more chance of a shot at the United States Championship, Laurinaitis scheduled the bout with obvious intentions to see the fan favourite defeated.
But what seemed like a horrendous challenge for The "Woo Woo Woo" Superstar soon turned to triumph as Cena blasted Mark Henry with an Attitude Adjustment in this no count-out, no disqualification match to help Ryder score the win. Ryder now has a future United States Title Match against Ziggler.
Slammy Awards
The 2011 Slammy Awards will be handed out during next Monday's special three-hour edition of WWE Raw SuperShow and you have the opportunity to choose the winner in one of the most important categories - "2011 WWE Superstar of the Year."
Vote now at wwe.com and decide whether John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, The Miz, Mark Henry or Alberto Del Rio had the best year. Then, watch RAW next Monday to see the winner, the debut of Brodus Clay and an explosive showdown between World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry and John Cena.
The 2011 Slammy Awards comes to you as part of a special three-hour WWE RAW SuperShow next Monday Night at 1am on Sky Sports HD3.
