Over the Limit 2012
Venue: PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
Attendance: 12,000
Announce Team: Michael Cole/Jerry Lawler
Pre-Show: Zack Ryder (c) (w/Eve Torres) d. Curt Hawkins for the WWE United States Championship
We get a simple story of Hawkins getting jealous at Zack's success as US champion, trying to take his belt but being beaten with the Rough Ryder as Zack continues his run.
The Sisterhood (Natalya/Tamina) d. The Bella Twins
We extend the Bellas' run to one more month to get this moment of destruction. Even with Beth out on the shelf with a bad arm, the Sisterhood continues strong by wrecking the Bellas, Brie taking the Sharpshooter and getting stretchered out. Nikki gets a two-on-one after the match, getting put in the Sharpshooter and stretchered out. That's two. Competition is thinning out, AJ. You'll soon have nowhere to run.
Battle Royal Winner: Sheamus
Entrants: Heath Slater, Michael McGillicutty, JTG, Yoshi Tatsu, Ezekiel Jackson, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, Kane, Tyler Reks, Jinder Mahal, The Great Khali, Titus O'Neil, R-Truth, Cody Rhodes, Darren Young, Alex Riley, Tyson Kidd, David Otunga, The Miz, Christian
The winner gets a shot for the Intercontinental Title tonight. Notable, Christian eliminates himself immediately, walking out in anger. Big Zeke goes for Khali on Jinder's orders, and any eliminations Jinder gets goes to Zeke's payday, of course. Sheamus gets the monster eliminations, sending out Kane and Jackson and Brogue Kicks the Miz out of the ring to win a shot against Daniel Bryan later in the evening.
The Empire (Wade Barrett/Drew McIntyre) (c) (w/William Regal) d. The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championship
We add Regal to the Empire package, giving them an additional mouthpiece and giving Regal some screentime, which I can dig so much. Regal directs them quite nicely as they keep over the Uso with a Spinebuster/Claymore combo.
Ryback d. Camacho/Hunico in a Handicap Match
Ryback destroys the barrio brothers, hitting Camacho and Hunico with a Shell Shocked at the same time. Feed him.
AJ Lee (c) (w/Layla) d. Alicia Fox for the WWE Women's Championship
AJ Lee records another successful defense, this time using the Shiranui out of fear of breaking Fox's arm with the Octopus. Layla's there as moral support and in case of an attack by the Sisterhood. We play up the age difference a bit, make Layla into a big sister and mentor to AJ to help her with her nerves at being Women's champion. It's a big thing and AJ's become more nervous about holding it now that everyone is chasing to get it from her. Stuff like that.
Dolph Ziggler d. Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero)
We start the risky experiment of babyface Ziggler by pitting him against his former tag partner and manager. These two can put on a good match, given they both come from amateur backgrounds. Ziggler wins with the Zig Zag, and here's hoping the crowd gets behind him, but there's just as likely a chance he'll get indifference. You can never tell with wrestling audiences.
Sheamus d. Daniel Bryan (c) for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The second match between the two and sadly, D-Bry's reign as IC champion gets cut short. To lessen the blow, it's thanks to shenanigans. The ref goes down and then suddenly, William Regal appears on the ramp and calls out Barrett and McIntyre. The Empire's storming the ring! They're beating down on Daniel Bryan! They hold D-Bry up and Sheamus calls for it... no, he wouldn't. He can't
Brogue Kick. He pins the American Dragon as McIntyre wakes the ref. 1-2-3! Sheamus is the new Intercontinental Champion! Sheamus has joined the Empire! The three continue to beat on D-Bry as Regal watches with manic glee.
Randy Orton d. Chris Jericho
I like having Jericho. He's a dude who you can have put over other guys and he'll still be over with the fans. He can go so well and get over as a character no matter how many times he loses We give them around fifteen minutes, Orton winning with the RKO as we get to the main event.
CM Punk (c) (w/Brodus Clay) d. Alberto del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) for the WWE World Championship
Finally, Punk main events again. Cena's out of the way and Laurinaitis ain't getting this spot, so we do Punk/del Rio, which isn't too bad. And hey, we got del Rio's former bodyguard Brodus here to do some Brodus spots, maybe have him toss Rodriguez at Alberto for fun. We give them 25 mintues to do some good wrestling action, ending with an Anaconda Vice to del Rio. Punk retains, continuing to be the best in the world.