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WWE Main Event comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 2, 2013) at 8 p.m. ET on Ion Television featuring a United States championship match pitting reigning titleholder Antonio Cesaro against Great Khali.
This is Khali's reward for winning that 20-man battle royal last week.
Come back here at 8 p.m. ET for complete results and the running live blog.
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WWE MAIN EVENT RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JAN 2.
C.J. here for the first WWE show of the new year!
Broadcast is live.
Michael Cole informs us that we will have news on whether CM Punk is able to compete on next week's Monday Night Raw (Jan. 7) against Ryback.
Video package of Antonio Cesaro dominating his opponents. These are amazingly done, and credit to WWE for finding a place to exhibit and promote its midcarders.
Ceasro out to the ring first. He is trashing the video package, saying it has "no substance." He wants more nuance and sophistication for his video package.
The Miz in the ring and on the mic, telling Cesaro if he doesn't like America he can take the first Swiss flight out of here.
A U-S-A chant breaks out. I do love American exceptionalism in my pro wrestling.
The Great Khali's video package plays.
Backstage interview with Khali and Matt Striker. Hornswaggle runs in play the role of hype man. And here comes Natalya to hug his arm. She is making sure he had enough water, did his stretching, carb us, etc. Hornswaggle answers in the affirmative for each question.
Khali: "Shut up! U-S-A! U-S-A!"
An odd choice for the American hero, but sometimes cheap pop is the best pop.
Khali making his way to the ring, with a recap of his win on last week's Main Event.
The United States Championship will be on the line, NEXT!
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Antonio Cesaro vs. The Great Khali for the United States Championship
The bell rings, and here we go!
Cesaro with a few kicks, trying to feel the big man out. Khali catches the leg and shoves Cesaro into the corner. A stiff chop gets a big crowd reaction. Cesaro limps to another corner. Khali follows and delivers another huge chop. Over the top rope Cesaro goes, trying to get a breather.
Cesaro is slow to make his way back into the ring. He dives at Khali's legs, but is met with a clubbing blow. Khali send Cesaro over the top rope.
Hornswaggle takes the opportunity to kick Cesaro when he is down. The Swiss Champion chases after him, but Natalya stands in his way. The two argue for a moment, but Khali picks Cesaro up with one hand and pulls him back into the ring. He then sends Cesaro right back over the top rope.
Khali tries to follow, but gets hung up on the rope. Cesaro quick to take advantage. He gets Khali down on the mat and goes to work on the giant's legs.
Khali is hurting. A stomp to the chest from Cesaro gets him a two count. He goes right back to working the legs.
Cesaro venturs too close into Khali's range, though. A blow to the head knocks Cesaro off. But the champion is quick to regain control. Khali again tries to fight him off with a few blows to the dome. This pushes Cesaro off for a second, but he goes right back to work. An standing elbow drop gets the two count.
Khali with stiff chop to the chest. Cesaro is feeling that one. Khali makes his way back to his feet as we go to commercial.
One problem with Main Event. The breaks really disrupt the feel of the matchs. This is free TV, though, so I understand the logic behind it.
We come back, and apparently didn't miss anything. Cesaro crawling away from Khali, but the Indian giant makes sure he stays in the ring. Khali is dominating right now. Another chop, followed by a pair of clothesline. Kahli goes for the dome chop.
Cesaro ducks under it. He hits the uppercut, and Khali is stunned. He sets Khali up for the Neutralizer.
He's not going to be able to do it.
He's lifting him up. He can't do it.
He has Khali in position. He might do it.
HOLY CRAP CESARO HIT THE NEUTRALIZER ON THE GREAT KHALI!
It wasn't pretty. But it happened.
And it was awesome.
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Striker in the ring to give a post match interview. He asks why Cesaro hates America so much. The reigning US Champion corrects him and says that he doesn't hate America. He says that he is just better than everyone of us. This is about him coming here and taking whatever he wants. Because we are all soft.
He calls out The Miz, saying if "the pudgy chimpmunk" has a problem with what Cesaro does, then he should come into the ring and settle it like a man.
The Miz says that Cesaro doesn't understand what America is all about. We may like burgers and sleeping in our own beds, but there is no group tougher than Americans.
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
The Miz is going to change his catchphrase tonight. Because Cesaro is in America, and America is...
AWESOME!
Cheap? Yep. But the classics never die.
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Recap of Wade Barrett defeating Kofi Kingston on Raw.
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A Tout from WWE's doctor informs us that Punk is 100% ready to go against Ryback in a TLC Match on Raw.
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Kofi Kingston at ringside. Cole is asking how he feels about losing the Intercontinental Championship. He says that it was a "one time thing," and he will defeat Wade again.
Out comes Wade to settle things. He is not pleased about Kofi's word choice.
Kofi counters saying that the IC title is in his blood, and everytime he holds it above his head it means something.
Wade states that the title needs someone with prestige. He speaks about his past, how he has clawed his way up the ladder to become champion. He then issues an open challenge to the entire roster in a Gauntlet Match.
Not for the title, of course. But just to show that he can defeat anyone who comes his way.
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Recap of Raw's ending. I'm going to ignore this.
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Yoshi Tatsu's music hits, and we have our first opponent for Wade.
Wade Barrett vs. Yoshi Tatsu
A Bullhammer from Wade, and that gets the three count. I swear I didn't skip anything.
Now it's JTG's turn
Wade Barrett vs. JTG
Wade tosses JTG into the corner and lands a few punches to the gut. An Irish Whip to the opposing corner and JTG is hurting. A suplex by Wade only gets one.
Kofi and Miz bickering at ringside about being a "fighting champion." It's really just a lot of noise that I can do without.
JTG landing some offense. A few shoulder blocks has Wade reeling into the corner. JTG tries to go for the Mug Shot, but the IC Champion is able to toss him across the ring. A Bull Hammer gets the three count.
Out comes Justin Gabriel.
Wade Barrett vs. Justin Gabriel
Gabriel getting some early offense in. A clothesline from Wade, though, sends the little guy over the top rope. Wade follows him outside, tossing him into the barricade near Kofi.
Back into the ring they go. Wade goes for the cover, but Gabriel kicks out at two. Wade continues to dominate the little fellow, but can't put him away. Another two count, and Wade is getting frustrated.
Gabriel gets tied up in the ropes. Wade takes advantage by choking him with the top rope followed by a boot to the dome.
Only good for two.
Up to the top rope Wade goes, and he drops the elbow.
Only good for two.
Gabriel makes it to his feet and the pair exchange punches. Gabriel takes advantage of the match. A spinning drop kick puts Wade down. Gabriel goes to the top rope and lands a diving kick. He can only get a two count. A moonsault from the ropes, but again Wade kicks out at two.
Wade makes his way to his feet and tries to hit the Wasteland. Gabriel is able to grab the top rope, but Wade simply drops him onto the ropes. Gabriel is reeling.
And he reels right into a Bull Hammer. Wade is three for three.
He is looking at the ramp to see who his opponent will be.
Kofi's music hits! He's up next!
Wade Barrett vs. Kofi Kingston
Kofi rips off his shirt and into the ring he goes. He connects with a couple of shoulder blocks and hits the Boom Drop. He follows that up with a Trouble In Paradise, and Kofi gets the victory.
That was odd.
Cole informs us that next week's Main Event will feature Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler.
Should be a great match.
We fade to black with Kofi celebrating his win.
End.