It’s six nights until Elimination Chamber! We obviously know the main event of the pay-per-view, so the question is how will C.M. Punk and WWE Champion The Rock duke it out one final time before their showdown on Sunday?

Who will Brock Lesnar assault next, if at all?

Apparently, their is a certain “Deadman” hanging around Nashville – will “The Phenom” make an appearance and/or start an angle toward Wrestlemania?

And, what other matches could be added to February’s annual show?

One thing is for sure, according to WWE.com, Paul Heyman is expected to make a HUGE announcement, so on that note, let’s find out what it is right now! Read on below ….

Monday Night Raw Report for February 11th, 2013 – “Elimination For Motivation”

Introduction Segment: Recap and Welcoming

Footage of last week’s ending with John Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback standing up to The Shield plays, plus highlights of C.M Punk VS. The Rock’s feud for the WWE Champion.

Michael Cole introduces us to Nashville with over 13,000 fans in attendance.

Segment #1: Arena Promo

Paul Heyman is already in the ring and reiterates who he is. His “shocking” announcement is that tonight will be the last time you see him. He totes about his career and passion, claiming that he has made great sacrifices of family and friends to bring us the single greatest product in “professional wrestling and sports entertainment.”

He then sacrificed for a rookie in 2002 that he saw the utmost potential in, the man now known as Brock Lesnar. Paul E. then saw his next protege as someone that could gain a grasp on the WWE for a long, long time to come and should still be WWE Champion tonight. He is C.M. Punk.

Heyman declares that he can see the future, and something that is hanging around will happen to everyone, including C.M. Punk. Those are “the sins of his mentor,” and they are bad. This is the reason that Heyman is resigning. He rips the fans for not showing him compassion and tells them that he won’t miss the fans at all.

Heyman is stepping down, so that he does not stand in C.M. Punk’s way of becoming WWE Champion again. “At this moment, I’m sorry, I say ‘goodbye.'”

C.M. Punk then walks out with a look of confusion and disbelief. He asks Paul what’s up, and Heyman restates that he is in Punk’s way. “The Straight-Edge Superstar” tries to convince Heyman otherwise, saying that fans actually do love him like Punk does. “There’s a lot of ‘Paul Heyman guys’ out there.”

Punk calls what’s going on right now a “bad dream” and after Elimination Chamber, it will all go back to “normal,” when he beats The Rock for his 455th day as WWE Champion. Heyman has a change of heart, and hugs “The Second-City Saint” after convincingly telling Punk that he will be the reigning WWE Champion and that Paul will be in his corner to witness it.

Heyman holds C.M.’s arms high and looks up to the Heavens, mouthing “thank you.”

Commercials.

Match #1: Single – The Great Khali (with Hornswoggle and Natalya) VS. “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry

(Give you three guess on who’s winning this quickly!) Clubbing blows from Khali begin fast and he corners Henry with kicks and chops. Mark reverses with a running clothesline, knocking the 7-footer on his back. “The World’s Strongest Man” picks up Khali with the “World’s Strongest Slam” for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Mark Henry

Post-match, as Hornswoggle is checking on his friend, Henry sneaks up from behind and drop shim with the “W.S.S.” too. He yells “that’s what I do!”

Ads.

Segment #2: Backstage Promo

Teddy Long and Smackdown General Manager Booker T. are talking about Mark Henry when Chris Jericho walks in. He advertises his successes as a six-time World Champion and that he has been in more Elimination Chamber matches than anyone else in the history of WWE.

He wants to be in this Sunday’s match and requests, on sensibility and fairness. Long agrees, but Booker makes a match with Teddy’s suggestion, to prove he belongs. The man Jericho has to face is Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan, and “Y2J” looks forward to it, beating him and then winning the Chamber bout for a shot to become a 7-time World Champion.

Segment #3: Office Promo

Paul Heyman meets with Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero. He wants a stipulation added to the WWE Championship bout, but before she can respond, the only man who can make that decision gives her a call on her cellular phone.

Mr. McMahon listens to Heyman’s suggestion that The Rock would be stripped of the WWE Championship if he gets himself counted-out or disqualified. Vince agrees then promptly hangs up as Heyman begins to suck-up some more.

Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan makes his entrance to take on Chris Jericho next!

Commercials.

Match #2: Single – Tag-Team Champion Daniel Bryan VS. Chris Jericho (Non-Title)

Jericho catches Daniel with a couple quick roll-ups then a couple of armdrags. Bryan reverses into a hammer lock and delivers a running knee-to-the-gut, with two kicks following. They trade wrist locks, but Jericho gets dumped over the top rope after an attempted running clothesline. He also misses a springboard turnbuckle dropkick, then Bryan flies through the ropes with a suicide dive.

Ads.

Back live, Daniel drops out of a suplex and rolls-up Jericho for a two-count! Jericho puts Bryan in the corner and chokes him with his boot, to huge “Y2J” chants. Chris runs the ropes with some shoulder blocks, but misses a diving standing attack, allowing Daniel to hit him with a running elbow clothesline.

Daniel almost gets caught in a Walls Of Jericho, but he rolls out of it and blocks the Lionsault too with knees in Jericho’s gut.

Bryan ascends the top rope, but gets cut off. He ends up shoving Chris to the canvas and nail a diving headbutt! 1 – 2 – Jericho kicks out/gets the shoulder up! Bryan connects with a couple more knees, but then does get caught in a full-on Walls Of Jericho submission!

Daniel pushes himself up and rolls through into the “No Lock!” Jericho battles out of that and almost into another Walls, which is countered by Bryan. He stiff-kicks Jericho in the head to knock him out! 1 – 2 – 2 1/2 – Chris gets the shoulder up!

Daniel misses another kick and Jericho rolls him up, 1 – 2 – Bryan kicks out! Out of nowhere, Jericho clocks Bryan with the “Codebreaker” double-knee facebuster for the hard-earned and respected spot in the Chamber!

Winner via Pinfall: Chris Jericho

Commercials.

Match #3: 6-Man Tag-Team – “3.M.B.” (Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre) VS. Sheamus, Ryback, and John Cena

(I’m sorry, I can’t stand “3.M.B.” and I think (hope) we all know who’s going to pick up the win here.) Bottom line, “The Supergroup” gets the duke with a White Noise, Shell-Shock, and Attitude Adjustment!

Winners via Pinfall: Sheamus, Ryback, and John Cena

Post-match, the faces all declare what they are going to do Sunday and tonight to “The Shield.”

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Yoshi Tatsu and Alex Riley are chatting about Big Show’s mishap with paint from Friday’s Smackdown (read that fine report on this fine website!), then they are fastly taken out by Big Show himself.

Ads.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

Matt Striker is set to interview Big Show in the ring, but the 7-foot giant knocks him out right away. A frustrated Big has trouble getting his words out, then slams the microphone down and stomps off.

Segment #6: Hall-Of-Fame Recap

Rightfully so, the montage of Bruno Sammartino’s life and career replays, proving why he is truly one of the greatest of all time and that grudges can be buried and people can come together for better reasons.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single – “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder VS. “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Coulter)

Much like his last few matches, Jack out-wrestles Zack and finishes him off with the gut-wrench powerbomb and the “Patriot Act” ankle lock for the tap-out!

Winner via Submission: “A Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Coulter)

Post-match, Swagger introduces his new manager. Zeb takes the microphone and states what’s wrong with American. He says the war in Vietnam proved that those men were real Americans, whereas today, no people will talk to them.

He wants to get rid of these people and Coulter claims that he and Swagger “knows the truth.” He goes on a tirade about defending “our land” and America, claiming “we the people.”

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Booker T. and Teddy Long agree to put Jack Swagger in the Elimination Chamber. Dolph Ziggler, A.J., and Big E. Langston walk by. “The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” protests Jericho being in there, as he won a match with Jericho’s contract at stake last August.

He wants to be in the Chamber too, as Big E. says, to attain two World Championship shots. Booker complies, only if Ziggler can get past “The Big Red Machine!”

Up next, “The Awesome One” The Miz is in a match.

Ads.

Match #5: Single – “The Awesome One” The Miz VS. Cody Rhodes

(Note: United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is on commentary). Elbow/collar tie-up by both, then The Miz executes a hammer lock. He rolls out of a sunset flip attempt and kicks Rhodes in the head. Cody drops down with an uppercut and kick to Miz’s stomach.

He takes control, stomping on Miz’s back, then snapmaring him with a running knee. Miz battles out of a submission with clotheslines and a flapjack. He yanks Cody head-first to the apron, then boots Cesaro as the U.S. Champ tried an attack. He is successful next time, running Miz into the steel post, causing Rhodes to get DQ’ed.

Winner via Disqualification: The Miz

Post-match, Cesaro grabs Miz’s legs and swings him back and forth into the barricade.

WWE hypes their “WrestleMania Reading Challenge.”

Commercials.

Match #6: Tag-Team – Primo and Epico (with Rosa Mendes) VS. Tensai and “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay (with “The Funkettes” Naomi and Cameron)

Again, much like the earlier 6-man tag, I know who is taking this contest! Tensai finishes off Epico with his splash on the mat!

Winners via Pinfall: Tensai and “The Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay (with “The Funkettes” Naomi and Cameron)

Post-match, all faces dance and “The Funkettes” send Rosa to the outside with a baseball slide.

Ads.

Segment #8: Arena Promo

“The Shield,” Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns are in the ring. They declare that John Cena has been a problem of injustice for the past decade. Ambrose calls Cena living in his “John Cena smiling world,” the “John Cena problem.”

Cena has paved the way over the last 10 years for guys like Ryback and Sheamus, which does not sit well with the trio. This Sunday, Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns claim they will serve justice. A blackout ensues and Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus are in the ring, breaking out in a brawl with “The Shield.” They take them out and run up the crowd to the pleasure of the fans.

Commercials.

Match #7: Single – “The Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses” Damien Sandow VS. World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez)

Prior to the bout, Sandow rips on Nashville for their culture of country music. Damien is aggressive early with fast knees to Del Rio’s gut. a Russian legsweep, and then drops the “Elbow of Distain.” Alberto fires back with clotheslines, and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

The World Champ gears up for a mini-superkick for a nearfall, then quickly clutches on the Cross Armbreaker for the submission victory!

Winner via Pinfall: World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez)

Post-match, The World Champion is happy with Big Show’s promo, as he said nothing! Del Rio says the time for talking is done, as after the Elimination Chamber, Alberto will defeat Show and go on to “Wrestlemania!”

Up next, Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett is in action. Before he can get to the ring, Bo Dallas attacks him backstage until referees can pull him off.

Ads.

Match #8: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett (Non-Title)

Kofi tries to take advantage of a hurting Barrett with kicks, but the Intercontinental Champion soon fires back with short-arm clotheslines and a choking submission. Kofi counters and nails some chops and a dropkick.

Kofi tries an S.O.S. but Wade shoves him into the corner. Kingston counters and flies off the top with a standing-esque splash. 1 – 2 – Barrett shoves off! Another crossbody a bit later from Kofi nets another nearfall! Barrett ducks a springboard attack and slams Kofi down with “The Winds Of Change.” 1 – 2 – Kofi kicks out!

Wade gears up for the elbow, but misses as does Kingston with the “Trouble In Paradise” spinning kick. Barrett tricks Kofi, using the ring apron (literately) to cover Kingston and hit him with “The Bullhammer” elbow. 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett

Up next, the last Elimination Chamber spot will be determined!

Commercials.

Match #9: Single – Tag-Team Champion Kane VS. “The Showoff/Mr. Money In The Bank” Dolph Ziggler (with A.J. and Big E. Langston)

Ziggler hammers away at Kane with kicks and punches but gets quickly booted down. Kane drives him down with a float-over suplex and cover for two! Ziggler counters with a high dropkick to Kane, then kicks him in the back.

He corners Kane with punches and kicks again, but gets a few uppercuts in return. Ziggler quickly gets out of the ring for a break.

Ads.

Back live, Kane fights out of a grounding rear chinlock with his own snapmare. Kane runs at Dolph with a clothesline in the corner then tosses him to the outside. Kane faces off with Big E., giving Dolph an advantage to chop at Kane then drops him with a swinging neckbreaker as he had climbed back in.

Repetitive elbows are dropped by Ziggler for a two-count. Kane catches Dolph in a crossbody position, but Ziggler wiggles out and plants “The Big Red Machine” with a jumping DDT. 1 – 2 – Kane kicks out!

Ziggler measures and runs at Kane with a splash, but misses. Big boot by Kane for another two-count, then Kane runs at him in the corners with clotheslines. Dolph gets out of the side slam and turns it around into the sleeper hold, but Kane throws him over.

Ziggler comes back with the Fameasser for another nearfall! Dolph runs at him for a Zig-Zag attempt, but Kane tosses him off and drops him with a side-slam. 1 – 2 – Ziggler kicks out!

As Kane climbs the turnbuckle, A.J. hops up on the apron to help out. Kane jumps down out of the way and Dolph hits A.J. into Big E’s arms! He turns around into a Chokeslam and Kane gets the final Chamber pod!

Winner via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champion Kane

Langston, A.J., and Dolph retreat while Kane celebrates.

Commercials.

Segment #9: Arena Promo

The WWE Champion is back and The Rock is happy to be in Nashville. He calls it “storytime” and recalls his life in Tennessee. The point of story was for him to say that after Elimination Chamber, he still will be the WWE Champion.

C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman walk out to the stage, and before they say a word, The Rock tells them to bring it and that he will “beat your ass at Elimination Chamber and beat your ass all over Nashville.” The Rock ditches his shirt, ready to fight, and after contemplating with Heyman, Punk runs into the ring and begins the fight!

Rock turns it around into a spinebuster and almost People’s Elbow, as Heyman grabbed his ankle. Punk knocks out Rock with the Go To Sleep, to the delight of Heyman. “The Straight-Edge” Superstar holds the WWE Championship and walks away with the title and Paul Heyman to the ramp. “Story time’s over Rock.

I want you to understand one thing: every time you want to ‘bring it,’ because it belongs to me, I’m just going to take it.” Punk holds the Championship high, taunting The Rock as he struggles back to his feet to close the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

This was a much better show than last week and greater build to Elimination Chamber. There was an excellent amount of matches, which is always good, and most of the promos were well-communicated to push their respective storylines. Onto the particulars:

Excellence: Paul Heyman’s “resignation” speech. I think this was some of his best work for “faking” it, but yet hammering home all believable and reasonable points as to why he wanted to. Obviously, it wasn’t for real as he used the oratory for motivation to C.M. Punk, which was a great “bait-and-switch.” He also plays the “ass-kisser” role beautifully.

Speaking of “ass,” I do like Mark Henry being back to his “ass-kicking” ways and dominating. Yes, he’s only squashed the little dudes, but he did beat Randy Orton on Smackdown and is already in the Elimination Chamber.

I honestly think and am hoping he’d be a great choice to battle Alberto Del Rio for the World Championship at Wrestlemania. Same with Jack Swagger, I am enjoying the “reboot” in him – however, I’m not sure on Zeb yet, dunno this dude/reference from the past?

Awesome wrestling by Bryan/Jericho (of course), Del Rio/Sandow, Ziggler/Kane, and Barrett/Kingston (creative finish too!)

While I didn’t like The Rock’s promo (really was pointless), the ending with big fight between them was satisfying.

Bogus: The Shield & Cena/Sheamus/Ryback is really just the holding pattern for Cena until ‘Mania 29. It will be interesting to see where the outlaw trio will go after this, as you know the “Supergroup” is going to win in order to propel John to his main-event match with The Rock.

My how far and fast Tensai has fallen. He’s back to his early 2000 days of “Too Cool.” So much for the big push of another “monster.” (Not that I wanted that anyway).

Dolph Ziggler – not sure what’s going on. He’s also kind of in “limbo” right now, it seems at least until he cashes in his Money In The Bank briefcase. I think it would’ve been better for him to be in the Chamber, may be not win, but at least be in there for a match on the pay-per-view. As of now, what is his role?

Picks for Elimination Chamber:

The Rock will retain his WWE Championship over C.M. Punk. (unfortunately).

Alberto Del Rio defeats The Big Show for the World Title.

John Cena/Ryback/Sheamus either win or draw against “The Shield” of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns.

Mark Henry becomes the #1 Contender for Alberto Del Rio’s World Heavyweight Championship.

As always, until next week, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!