WWE House Show Report From Yokohama, Japan (12/1 With Videos): Nash & Miz Vs. Cena & Big Show
Thanks to WrestlingINC.com reader Rionne McAvoy for sending in these results and videos from WWE's house show in Yokohama, Japan on 12/1:
The opening bout was between Zack Ryder and Jack Swagger. Ryder again came out to big pops, the Japanese fans love him. They continually chanted "Let's go Ryder" throughout the match and were generally much more vocal overall than the night before. After a lot of back and forth, Swagger had Ryder down and tried splashing him from the top turn buckle, only for Ryder to get his feet up. Ryder then hit the Rough Rider for the win.
William Regal came out next, which was a pleasant surprise as he wasn't supposed to be on the card. Santino followed him out next, to BIG pops. Justin Roberts asked the crowd to join in with helping Santino to "warm up" by counting itch (one), ni (two), san (three) tino. The crowd kept the chant up right through the match. Both wrestlers really entertained the crowd with their antics, with Santino hitting the Cobra for the win.
Primo came out next to face Alex Riley again, a rematch from last night. Riley came out to a pretty good applause again, but it was pretty much a repeat of last night. Riley caught Primo with a spine buster and then his finisher and hit the 1-2-3 for the pin.
Dolph Ziggler came out next to face Drew McIntyre and Mason Ryan in a 3 way for the US strap. McIntyre came out after Ziggler but the audio crew messed up his music and when Drew came out, he let the audio crew know in no uncertain terms that he was pissed, even giving them a DX crotch chop. After continuing on his rant right until he got in the ring, Mason Ryan came out.
The match was mostly Ryan showing off his strength, particularly dominating McIntyre. The crowd kept chanting "USA" throughout the match, and were particularly behind Ziggler a lot. Ryan threw both Ziggler and McIntyre out of the ring then jumped on the top turn rope and started showing off his physique. Ziggler and McIntyre regrouped outside and decided to double team Ryan. Although initially successful, McIntyre turned on Ziggler and they went at it. McIntyre tried to throw Ziggler out of the ring, but he landed on the apron and shoulder charged Drew. Ziggler then jumped over the top rope from the outside and over McIntyre and tried to roll him up, but Drew held onto the ropes. With Ziggler on his back, and his head right under McIntyre's crotch, Ryan came over and grabbed Ziggler's feet and shot him up and into McIntyre's crutch area. McIntyre was able to stumble away and when Ryan went after Ziggler and threw him outside, McIntyre went to the drop rope and hit Ryan with a flying elbow. McIntyre went for his finisher but Ryan reversed it and hit a full nelson buster on McIntyre and went for the cover, but Ziggler, who was still outside the ring, slid in and knee chopped Ryan before quickly covering McIntyre for the win. After the match, Zack Ryder came running down and thew Ziggler into the ring, and Ryan hit a full nelson buster on him before celebrating with the crowd. Ryan left the ring, and at one stage picked up Dolph's US title and raised it in the air for the crowd. Ziggler left to "USA" chants, as he was helped to the back by a referee.
Before the next match, former WWE Superstar Funaki was announced as the special guest referee to referee a non-title match Divas match. Kelly Kelly and Beth Phoenix were the only two Divas on the tour, and when both women entered the ring, Funaki had the task of patting them down, making sure each Divas had no weapons. The crowd lapped it up when Kelly Kelly started shaking her ass at Funaki. It was a pretty even match, both Divas showcasing their skills, but when Beth power bombed Kelly, she put Kelly over her knee and started spanking her ass. She then went wild, lashing out at Kelly before Funaki broke it up. Beth walked it off, but Kelly sprung up and rolled up Beth for the quick 1-2-3 and the victory. Beth stormed off with her Divas title but while Kelly Kelly was celebrating in the ring, The Miz came out and told Kelly Kelly to get out of the ring. As she did, Funaki looked at Miz, who gestured back that he wasn't going to do anything, and with his hand, ushered Funaki out of the ring.
Just as Funaki was about to leave, Miz ran up behind him and brought him back to the ring for a Skull Crushing Finale before announcing his "enforcer", his tag team partner Kevin Nash. The Big Show came out next to a huge pop, followed by Cena in never before seen ring attire. It ended when Cena hit Miz with the Attitude Adjustment for the 1-2-3.
The last match of the night was a rematch between CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Title. There were constant "CM Punk" chants throughout the match. Decent back and forth match, but the planned finished looked like it didn't happen, as Del Rio kicked out of the GTS on 2 and a half, but the audio guys made another mistake and hit the "ring bell sound effect" too early, quickly followed by Punk's music. It was a clear mistake as the referee didn't signal the match was over. Del Rio stormed off, clearly angry with what had happened.
After the match, Punk went over to Japanese wrestler Yoshiro Takayama, who raised Punk's arm up in the air.
Biggest Pops: Zack Ryder, CM Punk, John Cena, Big Show, Santino, Kelly Kelly,
Most heat: The Miz (after speech), Del Rio.
Rionne McAvoy contributed to this article.