DAY THREE RESULTS:
Just like Day 1 and Day 2 of the tour, Justin Roberts introduced the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim Raw GM, John Laurinaitis, to a chorus of boos. The crowd today was much smaller than the first two days, so the boos weren't as loud. Laurinaitis was accompanied to the ring by his Legal Counsel, David Otunga. He thanked Zayed Sports City and said it was an honor for WWE to perform for the first time ever in Abu Dhabi for the past two days and has a big card lined up for tonight. He set up the double main event for tonight and then told Otunga that he has a surprise for him. He said he is giving him an opportunity to wrestle for the United States Title tonight, IF he wins the 10-man Battle Royal coming up next!
(1) Santino won a 10-man Battle Royal for a shot at the U.S. Title. The Battle Royal included: Santino, Dolph Ziggler, David Otunga, Primo, Epico, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, Michael McGillicutty, Drew McIntyre, and Alex Riley. When all the wrestlers were in the ring, they circled around David Otunga (who wasn't dressed to wrestle) and ganged up on him, which resulted in Mason Ryan throwing him out of the ring for the first elimination.
The eliminations in order were: Dolph Ziggler eliminated Michael McGillicutty. Drew McIntyre eliminated Alex Riley. Mason Ryan eliminated Drew McIntyre. Primo & Epico double-teamed to eliminate Mason Ryan. Kofi eliminated Primo and Epico back-to-back. Dolph Ziggler eliminated Kofi. The Final Two in the ring were Santino and Dolph Ziggler. Santino eliminated Ziggler by hitting the Cobra and Ziggler went over the top rope to the floor. Santino was announced as the winner to a big pop. There were lots of "Santino" and "Kofi" chants throughout the match.
(2) WWE tag champions Primo & Epico beat Alex Riley & Mason Ryan via pinfall to retain the Tag Titles. This match involved some comedy with Mason playing the big man vs. small man role he did with Santino as his partner the past two nights. The tag champions played their roles well and I only wish that there was a real tag team division in WWE for the titles to mean anything. The match ended when Epico countered Alex Riley's High Crossbody from the top rope, rolled over him while, and held the tights for the pin and the win, marking the third consecutive title defense in as many days.
Next, David Otunga came out with a mic in-hand announcing that he is the Legal Counsel of the Interim Raw GM, and that he isn't known for making any excuses, but said that he was not ready for the Battle Royal and was not dressed for action. He also said that it was not fair because it was nine-on-one. He said he was ready now and called out his opponent. McGillicutty came out and Otunga used some "big words" on him that he said Michael and the crowd did not understand because of how stupid they were. He also said that he was always the Brains and the Brawn of the team and he was responsible for carrying him in the past. He said that he was the star and everyone is here to see him. Then, he called Michael worthless and attacked him before the bell.
(3) Michael McGillicutty beat David Otunga via pinfall. This was a re-match from Day 1 of the tour, and it's quite interesting to me how WWE made sure people cheered Michael by having his opponents diss the crowd before the match (Otunga and McIntyre did that the past two nights). "You Suck" chants from the crowd towards Otunga, who was dominant most of the match until McGillicutty caught him with a small package out of nowhere for the pin and the win.
(4) Kofi Kingston beat Dolph Ziggler via pinfall. "Kofi" chants to start the match. Towards the end of the match, Dolph caught Kofi with the sleeperhold, but Kofi survived it. Dolph then charged Kofi in the corner, but Kofi moved and Ziggler hit the turnbuckle and bounced back with an SOS for a close nearfall. Ziggler then caught Kofi with the Fameasser for a close nearfall before succumbing to Trouble in Paradise for the pin and the win. I must say that Ziggler is the most underrated WWE wrestler on the roster right now. I also think he is the best wrestler when it comes to making other wrestlers's finishers look good. He took the Trouble in Paradise finishing move so brilliantly, just as brilliant as he takes the GTS. He is a mix between a Curt Hennig and a Rick Martel, in my opinion.
[Intermission]
(5) U.S. champion Jack Swagger beat Santino via pinfall to retain the U.S. Title. "Santino" chants to start the match. The biggest spot before the finish was Santino hitting the Cobra on Swagger and going for the pin, but Swagger broke the pin with his feet on the ropes. Swagger ended the match with a gut-wrench powerbomb for the pin and the win. Post-match, Santino bowed to every section of the crowd and waved goodbye, showing a bit of disappointment for losing his opportunity at the U.S. gold.
Next was C.M. Punk & R-Truth vs. Chris Jericho & The Miz. Before the match started, Jericho finally spoke on the mic and told everyone to shut up and listen to what he says when he says it. He also said to remember two things: (1) He is the best in the world at what he does and (2) The Miz is the second best at what he does and he is awesome. This was funny and garnered some laughter from the crowd. He then threatened to leave if the crowd didn't shut up, but then said that he won't leave until he kicks their opponents's asses and then get the heck out of this country. He went outside and ripped a C.M. Punk sign from one of the fans at ringside. So, when it came for Punk to throw his shirt to the crowd, he gave that same guy his shirt. Then, he took the mic and said that he didn't come here to talk, but to fight and that's the truth. Jericho and Miz hugged on the outside before the match started, while Punk and Truth played to the crowd with "What's Up" shouts. Finally, the bell rang to signal the start of the match.
(6) WWE champion C.M. Punk & R-Truth beat Chris Jericho & The Miz via pinfall. "R-Truth" chants to start, as this match easily had the most heat of any match on the show. All four were popular with the crowd. There were even "Miz is Awesome" chants. There was a WrestleMania preview with Punk and Jericho wrestling briefly. When the faces cleared the heels out of the ring, Jericho consoled Miz on the outside by hugging him again, which the crowd ate up with laughter. "C.M. Punk" chants started again and Punk got fired up and channelled the Ultimate Warrior by shaking the ropes up and down. The match re-started with the heels double teaming Truth. Punk was in Warrior mode running up and down the apron raising his arm and waiting for the tag. At the end of the match, Punk went for GTS on Miz, but Jericho interfered and brawled with Truth to the outside. The Miz delivered the Skull Crushing Finale on Punk for a close three count. While the referee was still distracted by what was going on outside the ring, Miz brought in the title belt to use against Punk, but it back-fired against him when Punk ducked and Miz hit Jericho on the apron. Jericho then bounced back into the hands of Punk and the GTS for the pin and the win.
Before the Main Event of Cena vs. Kane started, Justin Roberts thanked the crowd for an unbelievable three days and said that because of the success of this tour, WWE will come back to Abu Dhabi next year. The crowd popped big for this. As was the case with the previous two nights, Cena received the biggest pop of the night coming to the ring.
(7) John Cena beat Kane in a Tables match. The match was similar to the No DQ match last night, except without the pinfall or submission attempts, even though there was the obligatory nervehold by Kane. Cena was the first to bring out a table from under the ring, but Kane recovered and threw Cena into the ring. When he tried bringing in the table, Cena delivered a baseball slide on the table to floor Kane on the outside. Back in the ring, the action continued. The crowd had a laugh when a WWE cameraman slipped on the mats outside and landed on his back, which resulted in a WWE security guard giving him the thumbs up. Back to the action, Kane brought in a chair and nailed Cena in the ribs and the back. Not long after, Cena returned the favor and went to the top rope, but got crotched. Kane tried a superplex, but Cena fended him off briefly before Kane punched him to the outside.
Back in the ring, Kane set up a table in the corner, then went for his clothesline from the top rope, but Cena ducked and the referee was clotheslined to the outside. Cena then delivers the Five Knuckle Shuffle and tried to Irish whip Kane through the table in the corner, but Kane reversed and Cena put on the brakes, which resulted in Kane dashing towards him and crashing through the table after Cena moved out of the way. The referee was still on the outside, so Cena tried to check on him. Kane used this opportunity to bring the bell into the ring and hit Cena with it, then went out and got another table and set it up mid-ring. He went for a chokeslam, but Cena avoided and hit the Attitude Adjustment on the table for the win. Cena then celebrated with the crowd briefly before going to the back and ending WWE's First Tour in Abu Dhabi.
FAN REPORT
I had the opportunity to attend all three shows and enjoyed every single one of them. In my opinion, Day 2 was the best in terms of the action in the ring, crowd reactions, the mic work, and the memorable ending to the night with CM Punk. Day 3 had the lowest attendance out of the three days, but was a good crowd nonetheless. I can't wait to see them return next year.
lmao
