Raw tapings results for Monday including a title change

WWE Raw Supershow Taping - 12-29 at Verizon Center (Washington, DC). We arrived at 7:40, missing a dark match or two.

The taping is starting a little before 7:45 pm. For the holiday season in 21st century wrestling, the attendance looks pretty good -- about 20 percent of the upper level is tarped off. Otherwise, the house appears full, but there may be paper. There are lots of families, and the Saturday night crowd is energetic. Perhaps, others are excited for UFC 155 too!

The Miz is out for the opening with a Miz TV segment near the Titan Tron. Tonight is Champions' Choice where champions can select their opponents. Cena ("a 10-time world champion") is the guest. (Wow, will Cena catch Flair before HHH?)

The discussion pertains to AJ Lee. Cena says that "it's over" with Lee, but Miz says there will be a New Year's toast with AJ, Dolph, and Cena.

Team Rhodes Scholars is out, and Cena makes a reference to RG III for cheap heat. There's not much substance to the interaction, but it leads to Cena and Miz opening against Team Rhodes Scholars.

1. John Cena and Miz defeated Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow after Cena pinned Sandow after an Attitude Adjustment.

The crowd was into an enjoyable match during which Cena received more cheers than boos. Miz was quite over.

US Champion Antonio Cesaro is out after the first bout. Cesaro went to Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Memorial (which may be closed for repairs), and the Pentagon -- "things he is all champions of." He says that he ran into Sgt. Slaughter at the Pentagon, who comes out to a big reaction.

2. US Title: US Champion Antonio Cesaro pinned Sgt. Slaughter with his face-first piledriver in a short match and gave him another one after the match.

Kane and Bryan wanted The Shield as opponents, but instead, they got 3MB.

3. WWE Tag Title: WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan downed Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre when Bryan pinned McIntyre. Kane hit a chokeslam after which Bryant delivered a Harley Race-like top rope head butt to Slater.

CM Punk is out next, on crutches, to a significant pop with Paul Heyman and a slight gentleman in a suit (allegedly Punk's doctor). The doctor is showing pictures of knees, including Punk's, to illustrate Punk's serious injury.

Punk says that, despite the injury, he'll defend against Ryback next week. But Punk's doctor says that he can't compete next week. In response, Vince comes out. Vince says that WWE officials will evaluate Punk's condition next week, and if the officials say that Punk can compete, he'll face Ryback in a TLC match next week. Vince also says that the investigation into Punk's relationship with Brad Maddux and The Shield will continue. Heyman says that Vince has become a "flesh peddling promotor" in the very city in which Vince Sr. Started promoting sports entertain. Vince's response -- If Punk can't go next week then Heyman must compete in Punk's place!

4. Dolph Zigler (with AJ Lee and Big E) and and Sheamus had a lengthy match that ended with The Shield attacking Sheamus and incapacitating him with a triple powerbomb. Prior to The Shield's interference, a Big E-Sheamus confrontation was teased.

Kofi and Wade Barrett will wrestle later.

Heyman throws Maddux out of Punk's locker room.

5. Eve is out. She says that she challenged Mae Young, who is not here, so she should win by forfeit. Kaitlyn (sp?) comes out, and they have a short brawl.

6. World Title: World Champion Big Show defeated Ricardo Rodriguez by DQ when Alberto Del Rio interfered.

7. IC Title: In a back-and-forth match, Wade Barrett pinned Kofi Kingston to win the IC Championship after Kingston missed a flying body press, and Barrett used his elbow finisher.

8. 3-on-1 match: Ryback vs. The Shield never started. The Shield attacked Ryback. Sheamus tried to make the save, but was overwelmed. Randy Orton made the save to a HUGE pop. He ended up laying out Ambrose with an RKO. The Shield fled. As an aside, The Shield's theme music sounds like something from the early 1990's WCW soundtrack.

Last Raw before Mania on 4-1 will be in DC. The Rock will return to The District on that evening.

Dolph, AJ Lee and Big E are out for the New Year's toast. Dolph is in a white tux, and AJ is in a white dress. Strangely, Big E remains in his wrestling gear.

Dolph complains about the attention that Cena receives, and belittles Cena for losing to The Rock, and getting beaten up by Brock Lesnar, among other things. Dolph points out that he too defeated Cena. Dolph has disinvited Cena, and asks Big E to stand guard. AJ toasts Dolph. Dolph kisses AJ, and out comes Cena. Cena says that Dolph was right, 2012 was not a great year. But Cena shows some funny pictures of how an AJ-Dolph wedding might look and what AJ's children might look like.

Cena cuts a promo on Dolph about Dolph's underachieving in WWE. And Cena says he is entering the Royal Rumble, and that, in 2013, he will be the WWE Champion. Cena also says he'll toast to the one thing Dolph and AJ are full of -- and (fake) manure comes out of the rafters onto Dolph and AJ, ruining their white dress clothes. A tantrum ensues, and that's the show!

Enjoyable Raw.

WWE personnel are cleaning the ring for the dark match main event of Cena and Sheamus against Zigler and Big Show