“Hail to the King” plays as highlights are shown from REBELLION. Josh Daniels and Scott Michaels welcome everyone to Phoenix, where tonight John Cena’s future will be revealed; The Bella Twins, Nikki and Brie will square off in a non-title match; and Randy Orton will be in singles action.
John Cena’s music blares through the arena as he walks down to the ring, wearing the Heavyweight Championship around his waist. With a bandage covering his forehead, and the beginning of a black eye showing, Cena grabs a microphone and says that he and CM Punk went through absolute hell last night. He says that for weeks Punk would come out here and talk about being the best in the world. Well, last night, Cena beat him and now will no longer have to face him as long as Cena holds the title. He says it gives him so much pleasure to stand in the ring and say “the champ is here”! Cena says that all of Punk’s fans can go home and cry and leave horrible messages all over the internet, but nothing will change the fact that last night he proved that CM Punk is not in the same league as John Cena!
Peter Bradshaw appears on-stage to a mixed reaction from the crowd. Bradshaw praises both Cena and Punk for the night they went through and says that it is true: Punk took one hell of a beating last night and has been given the night off. Cena also took a beating last night, but as Champion, Bradshaw would only expect him to be here tonight. Bradshaw is glad the champ is here, just as he’s sure Cena is glad to see him. He says that Cena should know first-hand that, as champion, he never gets time off because there is always something coming for that title. Bradshaw tells Cena that, right now, there are FOUR men, all with their eyes locked on Cena’s back, who want what he has. And tonight, one of those four will prove that he wants it more, as they will compete in a Fatal Four Way Match to determine who faces Cena at Fully Loaded. Bradshaw announces those four men as JAY BRISCOE, X-Division Champion KEVIN STEEN, Tag Team Champion AJ STYLES and CODY RHODES! Bradshaw wishes Cena well before leaving the stage. Inside the ring, Cena is seen with a pissed-off smirk on his face.
Backstage, Women’s Champion BRIE BELLA is seen with LEVA BATES and Alisha Hicks. Brie is asked how it feels to be back in Phoenix where, nearly a year ago, she stepped into the ring with her sister Nikki for the Women’s Title. Brie, smiling, says that she knows that their family is in attendance again tonight. She knows that they’re hoping Nikki can even things up between them in Phoenix. But she promises that, just like last night, she is going to come out victorious. Brie says this match may not be for a title, but couldn’t be more important because it will continue to prove that she is and always has been the better twin.
Commercial Break
Matt Morgan (0-1) vs. Eddie Edwards (0-2)
The show started off with two men looking to pick up their first victories since the start of the new rating system. Despite Edwards’ attempts on using his quickness to counter Morgan’s power output, he was not able to overcome “The Blueprint”. Morgan connected with a Carbon Footprint to pick up the win.
Matt Morgan pinned Eddie Edwards with the Carbon Footprint in 8:03.
Rating: 2.25
After the match, NIKKI BELLA is seen backstage with Alisha Hicks. Alisha asks what’s going through Nikki’s mind, knowing that she will step back into the ring with her sister Brie a night after losing to Angelina Love at Rebellion. Nikki says that it never feels good to lose, especially to someone who’s just returning. But the loss last night made Nikki realize that she needed to get better. And, there’s no one that’s going to push her more than Brie, so tonight is going to be a good thing. A restart, Nikki says.
Just then, ANGELINA LOVE interrupts the interview, mocking Nikki and what she had just said. She says that no one wants to here Nikki’s sob story because it’s obvious that the better woman won last night. Angelina says that the more she watches Nikki and Brie, the clearer it becomes that the better Bella is Champion. Angelina walks away, laughing, as Nikki stares in her direction, fuming.
Commercial Break
Returning from the break, a highlight clip is shown from the ending of the Tag Team Title match last night at Rebllion. When the clip ends, Alisha Hicks asks ALEX RILEY and CHRIS HERO about what happened. Riley says that the evidence is clear – they got robbed last night and those title should be with them right now. Hero says that he would take another approach. Last night, he and Riley proved that they were the toughest challenge that AJ Styles and Kofi Kingston have fought since becoming champions. Two incredibly jealous individuals were not happy that they lost on Anarchy last week and they wanted to make their point known. Well, they did. And in the process, all they did was show their true colors. He calls Colt Cabana and Edwin Colon cowards and says that he and Riley aren’t hard to find if they want to try anything face-to-face.
Non-Title Match
Nikki Bella (0-2) vs. © Brie Bella (w/Leva Bates) (1-0)
This sibling rivalry added another chapter tonight, once again, in their hometown. The twins came into this match after two different results last night at Rebellion. Nikki Bella, earlier tonight, said that she was hoping to look past that result and start anew with a victory over her sister. That fresh start was on the verge of happening, but LEVA BATES had other plans. Bates attacked Nikki from behind when the referee’s back was turned, allowing Brie to take control of the match, eventually hitting the Bella Buster for the 1-2-3.
[Non-Title Match]:
Brie Bella pinned Nikki Bella with the Bella Buster in 6:15.
Rating: 1.25
[Leva Bates interfered against Nikki Bella.]
After the match, Alisha Hicks asks AJ STYLES and KOFI KINGSTON or their thoughts on what took place last night. Kingston says that Cabana and Colon have been a thorn in their side for the past few months. But every time they pick that thorn and throw it away, another one seems to grow in its place. He says that this time, that thorn is not just bother he and AJ, but Alex Riley and Chris Hero, too. Kingston says that he and AJ have taken on all comers and always left the ring with the titles in their hands. He says they’re not afraid of a fight.
Alisha then asks AJ about the chance he has of becoming number one contender for the Heavyweight Title. Styles says that it’s been a long time since he’s been in the title picture because he’s been so focused on what he and Kingston have been doing. He says the three other men in this match are great athletes. Steen is the current X-Division Champion; Orton is a former Heavyweight Champion like himself; and Jay Briscoe is on the verge of doing great things in this business. Styles says if he’s fortunate enough to win tonight, then he’s going to give John Cena one hell of a match at Fully Loaded.
Commercial Break
The Independents (Rami Sebei & Steve Corino) (0-0) vs. Alex Riley & Chris Hero (2-1)
Alex Riley and Chris Hero came to the ring looking to make up for their performance at Rebellion after, in their eyes, being robbed of the Tag Team Titles by Colt Cabana and Edwin Colon. Standing in their way were Rami Sebei and Steve Corino, who would have liked to throw a wrench In Riley and Hero’s plans. After a ref bump late In the match led to Riley getting low-blowed by Corino, Sebei tried to pick up the victory. Riley kicked out at two-and-a-half and was able to fight back, making the hot tag to Hero, who cleared the ring to tremendous cheers from the crowd. Hero wound up connecting with The K.O. on Sebei to pick up the victory.
Alex Riley & Chris Hero defeated The Independents (Rami Sebei & Steve Corino) when Hero pinned Sebei with The K.O. in 8:07.
Rating: 2.50
Backstage, Alisha Hicks congratulates X-Division Champion Kevin Steen on his victory last night and asks for his thoughts on tonight’s Fatal Four Way Match. Steen says that congratulations aren’t needed, as he’s proven to be the best X-Division Champion the HWL has ever seen. As far as the Fatal Four Way Match, Steen says that whether or not John Cena admits it, he took “The Champ” to the limit the last time they were in the ring. Tonight is just another opportunity to prove that he’s worthy of challenging for the Heavyweight Title.
Commercial Break
Returning from the break, Cody Rhodes is seen with Alisha Hicks. When asked about his victory at Rebellion, Rhodes says that it has taken a long time to get back to feeling comfortable inside a wrestling ring, let alone an arena. Last night, beating Randy Orton signified his full return from hell, and it felt amazing. When asked about being a part of the Fatal Four Way Match, Rhodes says that he has held the Heavyweight Title twice, so it is something that he is not new to. But he is confident in his abilities and will just see what happens at the end of the night.
Luke Gallows (1-0) vs. Jesse Neal (1-1) vs. Adam Cole (1-1)
Adam Cole found himself in a tough spot tonight, needed to defeat two men to pick up the victory, just 24 hours after losing a heartbreaker to Kevin Steen for the X-Division Title. Cole had trouble with Luke Gallows to start the match. The bigger man used his power to control the match early on, even taking out Cole with a Gallows Pole onto the concrete floor! But Neal interjected himself, eventually stunning Gallows by using his feet on the ropes to leverage a roll-up for the first elimination. Neal then went after Cole, still recovering on the outside. The two men brawled outside the ring and back inside, until Cole hit a superkick out of nowhere right on Neal’s chin, dropping him for the 1-2-3.
[Triple Threat Match]:
Adam Cole defeated Luke Gallows and Jesse Neal:
X J. Neal beat L. Gallows via a roll-up in 9:13.
X A. Cole beat J. Neal via a superkick in 12:10.
Rating: 2.50
Commercial Break
Claudio Castagnoli (1-0) vs. Randy Orton (0-1)
Randy Orton had a huge chip on his shoulder after losing to Cody Rhodes last night at Rebellion. His plan to catch Rhodes off guard after returning from rehab did not go as planned, and Orton was looking to have better success here tonight. Castagnoli, who did not participate in last night’s event, was wanting to make a name for himself as a viable contender for the X-Division Title in the future. Castagnoli looked strong, holding his own against Orton throughout this match. And, with the help of the ring steps, Castagnoli looked poised for a shocking upset after hitting a Riccola Bomb on Orton. But “The Viper” kicked out at two which prompted an argument between Castagnoli, Shane Hagadorn and the official. This down time allowed Orton to recover, and as Castagnoli came back to continue the match, he was caught with an RKO! Orton made the cover for the 1-2-3.
Randy Orton pinned Claudio Castagnoli with the RKO in 8:43.
Rating: 4.00
After the match, Alisha Hicks asks Jay Briscoe about his match against The Esperanza Saturday night. Briscoe says that he has heard it from everyone online; people telling him that he couldn’t get the job done when it mattered. Briscoe says that, yes, he did lose Saturday night. But he had a duty as a husband and a father to protect his family, and that’s what he did. He says he’s going to take care of that situation when the time comes, but he is here tonight to make a statement. He is here tonight to prove that he can get the job done when it matters.
Commercial Break
A preview for Fully Loaded is shown. Fully Loaded will be LIVE from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 19th!
Fatal Four Way #1 Contenders Match
Jay Briscoe (2-0) vs. © Kevin Steen (2-0) vs. AJ Styles (2-0) vs. Cody Rhodes (2-0)
All four men in this match either carried a championship belt into this match or had held one at another occasion during their time in the HWL. Each one of these men had a different reason for winning this match: Jay Briscoe wanted to prove himself to all the nay-sayers. Kevin Steen was hoping to make that step to the next level and become a viable contender for the company’s top prize. AJ Styles was looking to continue his success as a tag team specialist and becoming a dual champion, if even for a short time. And Cody Rhodes was looking to complete his life’s transformation from the brink of despair and climb back to the top of the mountain which he had sat twice before. But tonight, Briscoe did his part to stay in the match, but allowed the three other men to take each other out before honing in on a worn-down Styles to hit the J-Driller for the 1-2-3!
After the match, Randy Orton slid into the ring, hitting an RKO on Briscoe! Anarchy went off the air with Orton standing over Briscoe, posing in the center of the ring.
[Fatal Four Way #1 Contenders Match]:
Jay Briscoe defeated Kevin Steen, AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes:
X K. Steen beat C. Rhodes with the Package Piledriver in 15:09.
X AJ Styles beat K. Steen via a flying legdrop in 20:34.
X J. Briscoe beat AJ Styles via the J-Driller in 24:46.
Rating: 3.25
Card rating: 3.00
HWL FULLY LOADED PPV - 05/19/13 - EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ
HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH — Jay Briscoe vs. (c) John Cena
