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Cena! Ziggler! AJ! Vickie! Big E?! Money in the Bank!
Well this angle got real crazy, real fast, didn't it?
A quick recap of the past 48 hours is probably in order. At TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (Dec. 16), Dolph Ziggler defeated John Cena in a Ladders Match for the Money in the Bank championship. Ziggler was able to win because AJ Lee toppled Cena off of a ladder, as he was mere inches away from grabbing the blue briefcase hanging above the ring. We don't know why AJ decided to help Ziggler instead of Cena, but fans most likely assumed we would find out on the following Monday Night Raw.
Instead of an answer, though, we only received more questions.
The theme of last night's show (Dec. 17) was "interruptions". It started when Ziggler broke up an argument between AJ and Vickie Guerrero. For stopping the cat fight, "The Showoff" was rewarded by a quick game of tonsil hockey with AJ. The theme would continue with Sheamus barging in as The Big Show regaled the Philly crowd with his glorious victory at TLC. This would lead directly to a Brogue Kick to the World Heavyweight Champion's dome, and a near MitB cash-in by Ziggler.
Which, of course, Cena had to ruin by running out and sticking Ziggler with a clothesline. The silver lining is that the bell did not ring, so Ziggler is still "Mr. Money in the Bank". He looks to be getting closer to the inevitable cash in, but he is not quite there, yet.
The intrusions would continue! AJ, perched high on top of a ladder, was just about to inform the WWE Universe exactly why she had betrayed John Cena... but, before the explanation could slip past her lips, Vickie Guerrero's infamously grating "Excuse Me" filled the arena. It seemed as if we would never find out AJ's train of thought.
However, we would receive a strange hint only moments later.
AJ and Ziggler were scheduled to face Cena and Vickie in a mixed tag team match. AJ would roll out of the ring, walking to the back, instead of continuing to get beat down by Vickie. This left Ziggler all alone, and it looked like Cena would get his win back sooner rather than later...
Suddenly, AJ comes waltzing out of the back with with Big E Langston. Cena then ate a Big Ending for his troubles.
So where exactly does that leave us?
Well, it seems AJ's motives are murkier than anyone could have anticipated. Instead of attacking Cena because she wants to stand on her own -- as I predicted -- or because she was in love with Ziggler -- as I had feared -- it seems AJ has much bigger plans.
Whatever scheme she has hatched up, it is sure as hell going to be interesting.
Tonight, we get a few more pieces of the puzzle when AJ and Ziggler make an appearance on Miz TV. As bad as the last few talk-show segments have been with The Miz, it's safe to assume AJ and Ziggler have to keep this thing entertaining.
At least that is what I keep telling myself.
In addition, the main event will feature John Cena partnering with Sheamus to take on Dolph Ziggler and The Big Show. If you have a strange sense of déjà vu, that is because we just saw this exact same matchup back on the Dec 3 episode of Raw. Nevertheless, we shall be getting it again.
And we shall like it!
For the first time in what feels like forever, I am actually excited to see what happens on SmackDown. Part of it is the live nature of Tuesday nights. Part of it is the fact WWE seems to have remembered that plot lines can advance on the "Blue Brand." Everything is finally moving in a forward direction.
I am fascinated to see where this will lead.
Show! Sheamus! Ziggler! Brief! To the Point!
The Big Show defeated Sheamus at TLC to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Dolph Ziggler was thiiis close to finally cashing in, but Cena got in his way. With SmackDown being live tonight, this could very well be the night he starts his run with "The Big Gold Belt." WWE is going to have to pull the trigger eventually.
At the very least, I am thankful to have another storyline to carry this week's Precap.
Hopefully, this has prepared you for the night's festivities. Leave a comment below about what you are looking forward to, and please join Geno, myself, and the entire CSS Tuesday night gang in the live blog, right here.