CM Punk comes out for his match with John Laurinaitis, and finally, Laurinaitis comes out wearing a "Future Endeavored" shirt with cutoff sleeves.  Laurinaitis gets on the mic, and says he has some news to share.

The fax was from the board of directors, and he has Otunga read it out.  The board has become concerned with Laurinaitis' judgement, especially his admittance to planning on screwing CM Punk at the Royal Rumble.  His status as the Interim Raw GM is under review, and next week, he will have a job evaluation given to him by none other than Triple H. 

Punk takes his shirt off and says that this means if Laurinaitis screws him, he loses his job.  Punk is ready for a fight, Laurinaitis instead apologizes to everyone, trying to save his gig.  Punk asks if this is just supposed to be a big misunderstanding, if Foley not getting into the Rumble was a misunderstanding.  Laurinaitis says that Foley is in the Rumble, Punk says it's too little too late.

Punk hopes that Laurinaitis gets fired.  Laurinaitis tells him that their match is off, but he has an adequate substitute...David Otunga.

Otunga jumps him, but Punk quickly takes control and makes him tap with the Anaconda Vice.  He stares down Laurinaitis, then hits Otunga with a back kick as he tries to take him out from behind, then lays him out with a roundhouse kick.  

Punk catches Laurinaitis trying to blindside him.  Laurinaitis offers to shake his hand, the crowd explodes, and Punk grabs his hand, and pulls him onto his shoulders.  He hits Laurinaitis with the GTS!

Ziggler runs in behind him and hits him with the Zig Zag to close the show.  

That's a lot to take in, what a show!

The Miz vs. R-Truth:

After a great mix of back and forth action, both men are countering each other's finishers.  Out of no where, R-Truth hits his finisher, and that's a wrap.  Kind of an anticlimactic finish, and it feels like these two finally facing each other should be a bigger deal, but it was relevant.

R-Truth def. The Miz via Pinfall

The medical update on Zack Ryder comes in, and he has a broken back.  They recap the Kane/Ryder match, and Eve telling off Cena.

Backstage, John Laurinaitis is warming up for his match, and David Otunga brings him a fax that "he's not going to like".  Laurinaitis reads it, and doesn't look pleased.  Punk is coming out for their match, up next.

Awwww funk, here comes Brodus Clay!  William Regal is on the announce team as well.

The breakaway pants botched the rip away!  

Brodus Clay vs. Heath Slater:

He crushes Heath Slater, typical.  

Brodus Clay def. Heath Slater via Pinfall

Somebody call my momma!  Wait, don't, she's probably sleeping.

Jinder Mahal vs. Sheamus:

Sheamus starts taking it to Jinder, and Wade Barrett comes out to join the announce team.  

It's sad that Sheamus is stuck being paired with Jinder Mahal.  The sooner WWE gets away from making his gimmick a racial thing, the sooner he can actually tap into his potential.  

Barrett is talking about Orton returning to SmackDown on Friday, and says he'll throw him down five sets of stairs and will never walk again.  Sheamus flattens Jinder with a Brogue Kick, and gets the pin.  

Sheamus def. Jinder Mahal via Pinfall

Sheamus tries to provoke him to get into the ring, calling him out, but Barrett heads up the ring.  Sheamus tells him that he better get used to the sight of him being the last man standing in the ring, because that's what's going to happen Sunday at the Royal Rumble.

Josh Matthews interviews the Miz, asking about facing R-Truth.  Miz says that those who turn on him become irrelevant, and that R-Truth will be no different.  He's going to go on to win the Royal Rumble, never heard that one before.

R-Truth walks on and pretends to be a research analyst and tells him what all Miz is number one at, and it's things like being annoying, etc.

Laurinaitis walks up, with his sleeves rolled up from preparing for his match.  He says they need to shut up, and the loser of their match will be the number one entrant in the Royal Rumble match.  Ouch. 

R-Truth ends the segment with "Quack quack!"  I laughed myself to tears.

Brodus Clay is next!  

"I used to be a contender!"

We return to see Ryder being lifted on the stretcher.  Michael Cole's "someone is injured" voice is hilariously serious.  

They take Ryder to an ambulance, Cena tells Ryder he's going to take care of this.  Eve tells Cena that this is all his fault, and that he's done enough.  

Josh Matthews shows up with a microphone to ask him how he feels about this, and Cena smacks the mic out of his hands.  Cena stares into the camera and makes a hilarious angry face.

The Kane vs. Zack Ryder falls count anywhere match is coming up next.

R-Truth will be facing the Miz later tonight as well.  

Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole plug the Royal Rumble, and a classy video package on the Rumble plays, focused on the "numbers" of the Rumble.  

Zack Ryder and Eve Torres are backstage talking about his match with Kane, Mick Foley walks up and tells him deep down, Kane is just a human.

John Cena walks up after Foley leaves, and tells him he'll help despite Laurinaitis saying if Cena interferes, Ryder will never get a United States title shot again.  Ryder tells him he's fine, and doesn't need his help.  After Eve tries to keep him from going, he heads to the ring.  

Kane vs. Zack Ryder:

Kane targets Ryder's ribs and back, Kane sends Ryder flying off the apron early with a big boot.  

Kane starts to destroy Ryder, Eve has come out to support Zack.  

After a commercial break, we return to a shocking development, Ryder is still getting owned!  Surprise!  

Ryder kicks out after being thrown into the steps.  Kane busts out the Big Red Death Grip (where he covers the nose and mouth of the opponent, you know, that one) and Ryder doesn't tap.

Kane throws Ryder into the crowd, and they fight through the crowd.  Ryder gets thrown into some cases, and answers back with a steel case to Kane's head, but it doesn't stop him.  Kane tosses Ryder onto the entrance ramp, and punts him in the ribs.  

On the stage, Kane throws Ryder into the big WWE sign, which breaks a little.  Ryder kicks out, then eats another kick to the ribs.  The crowd begins to chant for Ryder, but it looks like they're chanting in vain.  

Ryder fights back, but is choke slammed through the stage.  Kane starts plodding after Eve, prompting John Cena to come out.  Kane leaves through the crowd, and Cena checks on Ryder.  Cena covers his mouth, and we get a shot of Ryder laid out, unconscious, and being put on a stretcher.  Cena's face is emotionless, and we head to commercial.

Kane def. Zack Ryder via KO? 

We return, and the "Slam of the Week" is Chris Jericho walking out on the 6-man tag team match from last week.  That's humorous.

Chris Jericho comes out for the Highlight Reel.  Look at that jacket!!  He's an announced participant in the Royal Rumble.

He comes out, grabs a mic, and starts telling the crowd to "shush".  He runs off after the crowd doesn't get it, and he runs backstage telling everyone "hold on" but not on the mic.  He comes back with a t-shirt gun, and the crowd goes nuts for it.  

He grabs a camera and films the crowd, then gives it back.  He grabs the mic and tells them to shush again.  He points at the highlight reel screen, and the old countdown clock plays, and we get a Chris Jericho WWE career highlight.  When it's done, he smiles and tells the crowd to shush again. 

Some fan in the crowd says he's wasting their time.  He finally speaks!

"This Sunday at the Royal Rumble, it's going to be the end of the world as you know it."

CM Punk & John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger:

Dolph Ziggler "shows off" while in the ring with John Cena, and gets some serious head.  Great crowd tonight.  John Cena answers with a little showing off of his own, squaring off with Jack Swagger now.

Cena is struggling in the ring as he's beaten down by the opposing team, but finally makes the tag.  Punk hits his clothesline off the top rope, flattening Ziggler.  Punk lays out Ziggler with a roundhouse, and is about to get the pin, but Swagger makes the save.

Cena takes Swagger out, and gets him out of the ring.  Swagger gets the upper hand and looks for the ankle lock, but Cena counters.

Punk is about to hit his elbow drop off the top rope, but Laurinaitis jumps on the apron, complaining about Punk pushing the ref.  Punk grabs him, but Ziggler rolls him up, and grabs the tights, getting the pin.

Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger def. CM Punk & John Cena via Pinfall

After the match, Punk grabs a mic and challenges Laurinaitis to be for one night, something he's never been in his life.  He wants him to be a WWE Superstar, and face him.  Laurinaitis accepts with a smirk.

Chris Jericho is backstage, and tonight he'll be holding a Highlight Reel!  He won't be talking, I guarantee it.

CM Punk comes out to a massive pop, and heads for the ring.  We're reminded by the announce team of last week's "pipe bomb" session where John Laurinaitis openly claimed he was going to screw Punk out of the WWE Championship.

Punk sits crosslegged in the ring and plugs the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble, and goes on to discuss the main event WWE Championship match between him and Dolph Ziggler.  He says all of Ziggler's wins over him were due to gift wrapped victories thanks to John Laurinaitis.  

Punk calls Laurinaitis a failure, and that he sucks at life.  He says he was shocked last week when Laurinaitis "told the truth", and they play a clip of Laurinaitis saying he will screw CM Punk, and dropping Mick Foley with a microphone.  

He says it's safe to say that Punk is screwed, but there's an option for him that let's him keep his title.  He says it's hard to referee a match with two broken arms, and issues a personal invitation to Laurinaitis to come out and say all those things he said last week to Punk's face.  He uses the "take the balls out of your purse" line again.

After a moment of waiting, Punk says that he gave him a chance, now he's coming for him.  As Punk goes to step out of the ring, John Cena's music hits, and he comes out with a serious look on his face, and a single salute.  

Interesting.

Punk says that Cena must be confused, he's talking about another company man, but the John that wanted is the corporate ass kisser, not the boyscout.  

Cena says all Punk is out here to do is talk, Cena's here to take care of business.  Cena goes on, saying that in moments, Laurinaitis will come out, and give him a one on one match with Kane, then resign from his position as Interim Raw GM.

They pause, waiting, then Punk goes at Cena, but before he can get started, Laurinaitis comes out and introduces himself.  Laurinaitis stands by what he said last week, and won't be intimidated by either of them.  Punk tries to coax him into the ring, but it's not working.  

Laurinaitis says he made a mistake with Ryder wrestling last week.  Now, he's giving Ryder a falls count anywhere match against Kane.  Ouch.  

Laurinaitis exits after making a tag team match between the team of John Cena and CM Punk against Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger.

After Vickie Guerrero introduces the two men, Ziggler cuts a promo on Punk, saying he's going to flat out beat him.  Swagger is up next, and tells Cena that he's dead meat.  No, literally, that's what he said.  How cartoonishly horrible was that?  

Laurinaitis follows them to the ring, apparently he'll be sitting ringside.  

Match breakdown coming up next.

The WWE Monday Night Raw SuperShow is live, and the Royal Rumble is just days away!  Live coverage of the opening segment is coming up next.