WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > John Cena Vs. John Lourinites (Photos)

Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and General Manager of Raw and SmackDown prepares to face John Cena.

If the man behind "People Power" loses, he will be terminated, per WWE's Board of Directors.

Nothing would make Cena happier than to see Laurinaitis out of WWE.

Cena immediately goes on the offensive and takes it to the executive.

The Cenation Leader brutalizes Big Johnny all around ringside.

Cena douses Laurinaitis with water ...

... and sprays him with a fire extinguisher.

Cena delivers a crushing elbow.

Cena locks Laurinaitis in the STF submission maneuver.

Laurinaitis attempts to escape through the crowd, but the recently fired Big Show is present to drag Johnny back to the ring.

Out of nowhere, Show nails Cena with the WMD, helping Laurinaitis get the pin.

The WWE Universe cannot believe Big Show's actions and Laurinaitis' shocking win over Cena.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > John Laurinatis Vs. John Cena

RALEIGH, N.C. — John Laurinatis was done for.

Beaten and battered by an intensely focused John Cena in a match where the megalomaniacal General Manager’s career was on the line, Mr. Laurinaitis was only a three count away from finding himself on the unemployment line. And then something big happened.

Shocking the WWE fans crammed into Raleigh’s PNC Arena, the mighty Big Show stormed into the ring and aided the man who fired him on Monday night in a way the WWE Universe never expected to see.

Had The World’s Largest Athlete not changed the clear outcome of this bout, the landscape of WWE would look a lot different right now. A polarizing figure since he grasped complete power over both Raw and SmackDown, John Laurinaitis stirred up serious controversy when he reintroduced the unpredictable Brock Lesnar to WWE rings. Promoted as the new face of the company by the General Manager, the former MMA fighter went on to nearly end John Cena’s career at WWE Extreme Rules before quitting WWE and then threatening to sue for millions.

As if Mr. Laurinaitis hadn’t created enough of a quagmire, the executive then recruited the dangerous Lord Tensai and his follower, Sakamoto, to aid him in a vicious attack on Cena the night after the Superstar’s showdown with Lesnar. After ruthlessly targeting the Cenation’s leader’s injured arm, a crazed Laurinaitis announced that he would meet Cena one-on-one at WWE Over the Limit.

It may have been the most baffling managerial decision since Mr. McMahon orchestrated the kidnapping of his own daughter during WWE’s “Attitude Era.” A suit-and-tie guy willingly stepping into the ring with a former 10-time WWE Champion? It was madness. Laurinaitis may have once been a respected grappler in the hardnosed world of Japanese professional wrestling, but that was more than a decade ago. Did the executive really think he could hold his own against a man who just stood toe to toe with Brock Lesnar and won?

As it turns out, he did. Well, he did until WWE’s Board of Directors stepped in. Decreeing that not only would John Laurinaitis be fired if he lost the match, but any contracted Superstar who interfered in the bout would also be terminated, the committee stacked the deck against the already in-over-his-head GM.

Clearly lacking confidence after the Board rejected his last minute plea to reverse at least one of the stipulations, (FULL STORY) Laurinaitis sulked to the ring like a man headed down the green mile. If the self-proclaimed Mr. Excitement wasn’t such a conniving egomaniac, the WWE fans may have felt sorry for him. Instead, they cheered John Cena on as he picked apart Mr. Laurinaitis in a bout that resembled more of a televised mugging than a sports-entertainment showdown.

Cena took slow pleasure in manhandling the executive who orchestrated a vicious attack on him as he dumped a garbage can over Big Johnny’s head, doused him with a fire extinguisher, and locked him in the STF for 10-second bursts of brutality. When Laurinaitis briefly mounted a comeback by grabbing a steel chair, he paid the price when Cena drove the hunk of metal right into his red face.

The General Manager’s night only got worse when the man he fired on Monday night — Big Show — suddenly appeared among the WWE fans in the PNC Arena and dragged a retreating Laurinaitis back to the squared circle by his neck. Surrounded on both sides by the Cenation leader and The World’s Largest Athlete, the executive was clearly done for. And then it happened.

With Laurinaitis propped on Cena’s shoulders, only moments away from feeling the AA, Big Show drove his Thor’s hammer of a fist directly into Cena’s jaw. It was the last thing the WWE Universe expected to see from the giant who was humiliated by the GM, but there was no mistaking what had happened. The World’s Largest Athlete deliberately K.O.’d the Cenation leader and saved John Laurinaitis' career. And since Show wasn't a contracted Superstar, there was nothing WWE's Board of Directors could do about it.

Was the attack a gutsy move by Big Show, done deliberately to save his own career? Or was it part of a beautifully constructed plot, pieced together by Mr. Laurinaitis and his sharp advisers in David Otunga and Eve? Whatever it was, there will be hell to pay when John Cena arrives on Raw.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > Intercontinental Championship > Christian Vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes

RALEIGH, N.C. – After his shocking return and impressive victory in the "People Power" Battle Royal earlier in the night, Christian seemingly had his sights set on Santino Marella’s United States Championship. However, after catching Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes doing some good, old-fashioned trash talking backstage to Eve where the second generation Superstar said he would "embarrass" Christian if the two went head-to-head, Captain Charisma decided to throw a bit of a curveball and challenge Rhodes for his beloved title instead. (PHOTOS)

Rhodes, who has held the title since his Extreme Rules victory over former WWE Superstar Big Show, was cocky right up to the moment the bell rang on his unexpected title defense. When his entrance music played, Rhodes made a final statement before taking on Christian, saying he is a better man than his opponent.

Christian was unfazed, however, and his sights were set squarely on Rhodes and his Intercontinental Title.

The younger Rhodes got off to a fast start against Christian, whose stamina was called into question after his long layoff and a hard-fought Battle Royal victory earlier in the night. Rhodes was relentless, slamming his opponent into the steel stairs at ringside and then hammering away at the former champion.

But the wily veteran was able to mount a comeback and buy himself some recovery time by taking advantage of any opening Cody gave him. When Rhodes focused more on taunting his downed opponent than finishing him off, Christian was able to hit the Killswitch from out of nowhere and cover Rhodes for a shocking victory.

The match capped off an incredible night for Captain Charisma, whose ring return culminated in Intercontinental Championship gold for the fourth time in his career.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > Ryback Vs. Camacho

RALEIGH, N.C. – Of all the Superstars who have made their debuts on both Raw and SmackDown over the last several months, none have made a thunderous impact quite like the authoritative Ryback. As soon as the WWE Universe hears his music, they know pure destruction is imminent.

Luckily for Raleigh, N.C., natives, Ryback has moved on from facing off with local athletes, and has graduated to crushing regular members of the WWE roster. At WWE Over the Limit, Ryback was beyond impressive, manhandling Camacho, while his opponent's ally, Hunico, looked on from ringside in awe. (PHOTOS)

The pair from south of the border arrived on their bicycle making a bold statement that they would have better luck than others against their foe. Perhaps Hunico and Camacho believed they had a numbers advantage over , but arithmetic means little to the undefeated man from Sin City. Like a couple of hapless gamblers, the rough pair played their hand, but quickly folded under the pure might of the near 300-pounder.

Ryback's appetite shows no signs of being satiated as he continues to devour the competition. Tonight, he annihilated Camacho, sending both he and Hunico back on their paper route. Feed him more.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > WWE Championship Match > CM Punk (c) Vs. Daniel Bryan

RALEIGH, N.C.– Far from their humble beginnings competing inside state armories and high school gymnasiums, WWE Champion CM Punk and No. 1 contender Daniel Bryan battled in an instant classic that left the WWE Universe absolutely breathless and Bryan incredulous. When the smoke cleared and the chants of “This is awesome” quieted, Punk was left holding the WWE Title, although the pinfall he used to achieve that end has already been called into controversy. (PHOTOS)

From their many travels around the globe perfecting their craft, to their current statuses as two of the world’s premier talents, Punk and Bryan have been on parallel paths for most of their careers. (Punk & Bryan’s Long Road to the Top)

At WWE Over the Limit, those paths intersected.

With arguably WWE’s two most technically proficient grapplers clashing head-on, the match was projected from the outset to be a wrestling purist’s dream, and it more than lived up to those lofty expectations. Despite their obvious scientific wrestling prowess, neither the 6-foot-2 Punk nor the 5-foot-11 Bryan has ever been confused for anything resembling a WWE poster boy.

Instead of boasting larger-than-life chiseled physiques, Punk and Bryan have established themselves as ring generals, and at WWE Over the Limit, vindication for their hard work – in the form of the ultimate symbol of excellence in sports-entertainment, the WWE Championship – was up for grabs.

Although the title bout seemed forged by fate, it actually originated out of circumstance, when Bryan won a Beat the Clock Challenge on Raw SuperShow to claim his spot as the No. 1 contender. Since then, Bryan made every attempt to score an advantage on The Second City Saint. Bryan’s latest offense, an act of trickery that caused an irate Kane to brutalize Punk with a steel chair and two chokeslams following a match on SmackDown, appeared to have done the trick.

At the very least, Bryan’s dastardly tactic irritated Punk, who moments before the opening bell told Josh Mathews that even though their match should be seen as a “triumph” for himself and Bryan, the Yes!-man’s change of heart this past year has hampered the festivities. According to The Straight Edge Superstar, the bout would be much more than a five-star match – it’d be a “five-star beat down.”

Punk’s words, it turned out, would prove prescient.

At the sound of the opening bell, Punk and Bryan began the contest with a feeling-out process in which they peppered each other with sharp kicks. The Second City Saint quickly went on the offensive, using submission holds against the self-proclaimed “submission specialist.” Throughout the bout, Punk would return again and again to Bryan’s left leg.

After avoiding a Punk baseball slide, however, Bryan rammed the WWE Champion back-first into the ringside barrier, further weakening Punk’s ribs, which appeared to have not yet healed from Kane’s attack Friday.

From there, Bryan attacked with pit bull-like veracity. He kneed Punk’s midsection and used a torso-wrenching abdominal stretch to great effect.

Never one to be counted down, The Straight Edge Superstar would again turn the tables on his storied foe, reversing a Bryan kick into a dragon-screw leg whip before locking him into a seemingly inescapable figure-four – causing more damage to Bryan’s already smarting knee.

"How many near falls have there been in this match, not to mention the submission predicaments?" Jerry “The King” Lawler wondered aloud, as Punk and Bryan warred on to the sounds of the passionate WWE Universe vacillating between chants of “Daniel Bryan” and “CM Punk” (and, occasionally, “Yes!” and “No!).

Punk and Bryan’s intimate knowledge of each other's move sets was obvious, as they reversed signature holds and tried valiantly to check kicks. As Punk built momentum, he nailed his trademark high running knee in the corner.

Yet, as Punk then tried for the second half of his patented combo, the running bulldog, his effort was blocked by Bryan and reversed into a “Yes!" Lock.

Although the lock was clamped on for several moments, the WWE Champion nonetheless had the wherewithal to roll backward and turn the dangerous hold into a stunning pinfall. The win, however, was not without controversy, as immediately following the three-count, Punk was visibly tapping out.

With Punk barely able to hold his championship overhead in an exhausted celebration, Bryan – who clearly believed he was wronged – jawed angrily with the referee.

For once all the “Yes!” man could say was, “No! No! No!”

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > Brodus Clay Vs. The Miz

RALEIGH, N.C. – The undefeated Brodus Clay continued his funky roll at WWE Over the Limit, defeating his polar opposite, former WWE Champion The Miz at Raleigh, N.C.'s PNC Arena.

The bout was a rematch from earlier this month on Raw SuperShow, a contest which delivered The Funkasaurus his most arduous challenge to date (WATCH). After falling to the mighty Clay that night, The Awesome One came to Raleigh looking for a fight.

The brash loudmouth already had a busy evening, seeing action earlier as the runner-up in the "People Power" Battle Royal (FULL STORY), and approached ringside delivering one of his signature, unbecoming soliloquies. The Miz surprised no one when he arrogantly proclaimed himself to be a better dancer than the aforementioned man from Planet Funk. Proceeding to flaunt what he believed were his best moves to the unimpressed North Carolina crowd, Miz's claim was quickly put to rest by the fortunate sight of The Funkadactyls. The match itself was a back-and-forth affair, featuring the former WrestleMania main eventer's sly quickness and the undoubted power of The Funkasaurus. (PHOTOS)

The embattled "most must see WWE Champion in history" has struggled to regain his footing since losing the title more than one year ago. At Over the Limit, he was impressive, nailing his foe with a hard shot to the steel ring post and several boots to the face. But in the end, it was The Miz who needed to call his momma, succumbing to Clay's strength and What the Funk splash. The Awesome One retreated to the locker room licking his wounds while Brodus, Naomi, Cameron and young members of the WWE Universe celebrated with grooves of their own.

He had a reason to party. Match after match, The Funkasaurus continues to make his opponents extinct.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4-Way Match > Sheamus (c) Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Alberto Del Rio Vs. Randy Orton

RALEIGH, N.C. – In what was his greatest challenge as champion to date, Sheamus stood up to seemingly insurmountable odds in a brutal Fatal 4-Way Match on his way to retaining the World Heavyweight Title. It was certainly no easy feat, squaring off with three former multi-time World Champions – Alberto Del Rio, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton – but The Celtic Warrior’s triumph cements his rightful place as one of WWE’s most dominant Superstars. (PHOTOS)

The way in which The Great White picked up the victory was undoubtedly impressive – after all, he only had a one in four chance of leaving Raleigh, N.C., victorious. Fatal 4-Way Matches are especially treacherous for the defending champion as they can lose the title even if they don’t submit or succumb to pinfall. With that in mind, The Celtic Warrior’s victory leaves the WWE Universe wondering who could possibly dethrone the World Heavyweight Champion, and what the future holds for his challengers at WWE Over the Limit.

After ring announcer Lilian Garcia made each Superstar’s introduction, the opening bell sounded and each of the four gladiators immediately sized each other up. Clearly, there was a sense of trepidation among them over who to strike first. The free-for-all nature of the Fatal 4-Way leaves each competitor desperate to maintain momentum from the very beginning.

An all-out brawl erupted and Sheamus and Orton focused their attacks on Del Rio and Jericho, quickly removing them from the squared circle. The WWE Universe inside the PNC Arena rose to their feet at The Viper and The Great White sized each other up, ready to strike. The crowd waited with baited breath as the two Superstars taunted each other, only to be stopped by a returning Jericho and Del Rio.

Taking the battle to the outside of the ring, WWE’s Apex Predator and the World Heavyweight Champion once again left their opponents reeling and immediately returned to the ring to face off with one another. The WWE Universe watched anxiously as both Superstars challenged each other and finally went on the offensive.

Returning to the ring, Del Rio and Jericho formed an alliance to attack the venomous Viper and the World Champion. But as Fatal 4-Way Matches typically go, the cohesion between The Mexican Aristocrat and WWE’s first-ever Undisputed Champion was short-lived. As Del Rio and Jericho erupted, the true nature of the Fatal 4-Way was exposed, it was now every Superstar for himself.

When the dust settled, Jerry Lawler summed up the match perfectly by saying, “There was never a time that anyone had a clear advantage.” Momentum is key inside the squared circle, but it was never clearly in anyone’s grasp. The elite Superstars vying for the World Title knew that the only way to come out on top was to seize moments and opportunities. Jericho, fueled by his anger toward an article on WWE.com questioning whether he should have returned (FULL STORY), was the clear victor in terms of timing moments to take out his opponents with a Code Breaker or locking them in the devastating Walls of Jericho. There were many times when Jericho was half a count away from claiming the World Title.

However, to Jericho’s disadvantage, there were too many variables in the ring, including the most explosive, WWE’s Apex Predator. An impressive double DDT delivered to Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez delighted the WWE Universe in Raleigh, but not nearly as much as the flurry of high-impact RKOs that temporarily shifted momentum into The Viper’s corner.

As chaos erupted inside the squared circle, it would be a final opportunity seized by Sheamus that led to victory. With Del Rio reeling on the outside of the ring, The Celtic Warrior took out Orton with a Brogue Kick before delivering a crushing White Noise to Jericho to retain the World Title.

Since winning the 2012 Royal Rumble Match and defeating Daniel Bryan in a history-making 18 seconds for the World Heavyweight Championship, Sheamus’ momentum has made him nearly unstoppable. The Great White continued to build on his legacy after overcoming the odds inside Raleigh’s PNC Arena. Will Del Rio, Orton or Jericho continue to claim their place as No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Champion, or will a new challenger prove bold enough to challenge The Celtic Warrior? Stay tuned to WWE Raw SuperShow on USA and Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy to find out!

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > WWE Divas Championship Match > Layla (c) Vs. Beth Phoenix –

RALEIGH, N.C. – Former Divas Champion Beth Phoenix came to WWE Over the Limit looking to reestablish herself as the alpha female in WWE. Instead, she suffered a stinging defeat at the hands of the current titleholder, Layla. (PHOTOS)

It has been a precipitous decline for Phoenix, who just over a month ago complained to WWE.com that there were no worthy challengers to her title before predicting she would be a dominant champion forever.

How quickly things can change.

Phoenix lost the butterfly-emblazoned belt to Nikki Bella on the April 23 edition of Raw SuperShow after suffering a severely sprained ankle. Unable to compete at Extreme Rules, The Glamazon was replaced by a shocking last-minute alternate – Layla – who returned to WWE after a yearlong absence to astonishingly win the title.

With a fully healed ankle and a desire to regain her place at the summit of WWE’s Divas division, The Glamazon battled Layla at WWE Over the Limit for the title she once held for more than six months.

However, The Fabulous Firebird’s bid for a second Divas Championship was foiled by Layla. Surviving Phoenix’s trademark aggression and powerhouse attacks, the British-born beauty was able to use her speed and agility to mount her own offense. The Glamazon focused her attacks on Layla's injured right knee, but she was unable to keep the champion down. After narrowly avoiding a Glam Slam attempt, Layla nailed Phoenix with a Lay-out neckbreaker out of nowhere to get the pin for an impressive and emotional win.

Although Phoenix performed admirably and nearly recaptured the title, it’s back to the drawing board for the former titleholder. Meanwhile, the tough and gutsy Layla has another successful title defense under her belt, and there’s no telling what’s next for the surging Divas Champion.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth Vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger

RALEIGH, N.C. – Kofi Kingston & R-Truth retained the WWE Tag Team Championships at WWE Over the Limit with a strong victory over an alliance that appears to be growing weaker – Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger. (PHOTOS)

With “Little Jimmy” on their side, Kingston & Truth proved there’s a simple reason why they still hold the tag titles – teamwork. Joining together to outfight and outsmart The Show Off and The All-American American, the exciting duo continued to ride a wave of momentum with the WWE Universe cheering them on.

Ziggler & Swagger came close to victory in the highly competitive bout, but they were constantly one-upped by the Tag Champs. Not long after Kingston hit a ring-shuddering Boom Drop on Ziggler, he landed a perfect Trouble in Paradise on The Show Off for the victory.

While Ziggler & Swagger couldn’t get in sync at the close of the match, a distracted Vickie Guerrero could be partially to blame for their loss. Before the bout, she offered a hello to the WWE Board of Directors and presented herself as a possible candidate for John Laurinaitis’ General Manager job in the event that he was terminated. With her mind on other matters, Guerrero’s leadership may have failed her protégés.

The Show Off and The All-American American have been on a steady decline lately, and with each loss, they seem to grow farther apart as a tag team. Tensions ran high after their WWE Over the Limit match, as the blonds staggered up the ramp with an irate Guerrero. While Ziggler & Swagger’s dissention escalated, WWE Tag Team Champions Kingston & Truth reveled in another victory.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > 20-Superstar "People Power" Battle Royal Results

RALEIGH, N.C. – Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes and United States Champion Santino Marella kept a close eye on The Great Khali, The Miz and David Otunga as they battled in the 20-Man Over-the-Top Rope “People Power” Battle Royal that kicked off WWE Over the Limit — and with good reason. (PHOTOS)

The winner of the melee, which was announced by Executive Administrator Eve in an effort to end a running dispute between Rhodes and Santino about the prestige of their respective championships, would be granted a Title Match later in the night to challenge for his choice of either the Intercontinental or the U.S. Championship.

If the announcement of the Battle Royal itself and the promise of an unexpected title match weren’t exciting enough, the sound of Christian’s entrance music sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe members in attendance.

Christian had not appeared in WWE since the March 16 episode of SmackDown, where he delivered a special edition of "The Peep Show." Before that, Christian was taken out by WWE Champion CM Punk on Raw SuperShow just days before Captain Charisma was to take part in the six-man tag match as a member of Team Johnny at WrestleMania XXVIII. That match against Punk ended in a no contest and Christian re-aggravated a prior neck injury thanks to an overlong Anaconda Vise by the champion.

Christian’s arrival sent the WWE Universe into a frenzy, and also left Rhodes and Santino clearly shaken as the two champions exchanged a worried glance at ringside when Captain Charisma made his entrance. When the bell rang, the ring was literally overflowing with Superstars as Drew McIntyre, Ezekiel Jackson, William Regal, The Usos and others all battled for a title opportunity.

As always with over-the-top rope matches, alliances were formed and broken in record time. Titus O'Neil and Darren Young were able to tag team The Great Khali, dumping the giant over the ropes and bringing a sigh of relief to the lips of Rhodes.

Competing in his first official match since Nov. 11, 2011, Christian demonstrated the absence of any "ring rust" as he tangled with and ultimately eliminated William Regal.

When The Miz eliminated Alex Riley, it was left to The Awesome One, Tyson Kidd, Otunga and Christian to duke it out. Kidd was impressive but was dumped over the top by Otunga as he and Miz battled on the apron.

Christian was then immediately double teamed by Miz and Otunga. Yet, despite months of inactivity, Captain Charisma fought his way out of trouble to eliminate Otunga. Miz and Christian were left to determine who would get a title chance later in the night, but it was the returning Christian who found an opening when The Awesome One spilled out onto the apron. A driving shoulder knocked Miz to ringside and catapulted Captain Charisma to victory.

As he departed the ring, Christian gestured to Santino, perhaps eyeing the Milan Miracle’s U.S. Championship for later in the night.

WWE Over The Limit 2012 Results > Pre-Show Match > Kane Vs. Zack Ryder

RALEIGH, N.C. - Zack Ryder had a perfect opportunity to find retribution for Kane’s devastating attack earlier this year after The Big Red Monster nearly ended Long Island Iced-Z’s career. However, on the WWE Over the Limit YouTube Pre-Show, Ryder failed to overcome the odds and was subsequently decimated at the hands of The Devil’s Favorite Demon.

The bout wasn’t completely one sided, though. Broskis inside Raleigh’s PNC Arena fist pumped in support of the self-proclaimed Internet Champion as he tried to build momentum against The Big Red Monster. Early on, Ryder did his best to stay aggressive, but even with the WWE Universe and the YouTube faithful in his corner, Zack Ryder had one clear disadvantage against Kane– experience.

A 15-year veteran inside a WWE ring, Kane has locked up with Legends and WWE Hall of Famers every bit as fast, agile and popular as Long Island Iced-Z. After numerous battles against everyone from Rey Mysterio to Mark Henry, Kane remains unfazed by just about every WWE Superstars he faces.

The Big Red Monster came to Raleigh, N.C. with one goal in mind – ruin Ryder’s night. From the moment the opening bell sounded, this rivalry was reignited after months of Ryder’s recovery and subsequent battles to build his confidence to the point where he was ready for Kane.

Long Island Iced-Z proved that he was back at full strength and ready for a battle. Throughout the contest, he managed to keep momentum shifts even, a daunting task for anyone challenging The Big Red Monster. However, with momentum seemingly in his corner, Ryder’s efforts were for naught as a powerful chokeslam served as a painful reminder of the torment he suffered at the hands of Kane earlier this year.

Ever since that agonizing Monday night in February when Kane sent a wheelchair-bound Ryder off the entrance stage, Long Island Iced-Z has not been the same. Much of his trouble has stemmed from Eve, whose new position with Raw and SmackDown General Manager John Laurinaitis could only make his life worse.

Although Kane claimed victory at WWE Over the Limit, Zack Ryder’s impressive effort against The Big Red Monster certainly proved that he is serious, bro.

Over The Limit 2012 » Matches » John Cena vs John Laurinaitis (If Laurinaitis loses, he will be fired.)

Before John Cena went to war with Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules, he accused Raw and SmackDown General Manager John Laurinaitis of trying to put him "out of business" by bringing Brock back to WWE.
Now, it looks like the power-hungry GM wants to personally eradicate Cena from WWE.
Still nursing the wounds from his punishing clash with Brock, the Cenation leader was asked to meet Laurinaitis in the ring on Raw SuperShow for a face-to-face talk, in which the GM would reveal who Cena's opponent at WWE Over the Limit would be. At first, it appeared that Lord Tensai was Laurinaitis' hand-picked Superstar, but following an unbelievable 3-on-1 assault, the choice became brutally clear: Laurinaitis will be the man who goes one-on-one with Cena on May 20.
On repeated occasions since WrestleMania XXVIII, Laurinaitis made it known which Superstar he believes represents the future of WWE, and it's definitely not Cena. The Raw and SmackDown General Manager proved he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep Brock happy by agreeing to the outrageous contract demands laid out by the behemoth prior to Extreme Rules.
Against all odds, Cena overcame the seemingly-unstoppable Lesnar in an Extreme Rules Match, but it still wasn't enough to convince Laurinaitis that it's the 10-time WWE Champion, not Brock, who rightfully deserves to be called the "face of WWE." Then, in a shocking confrontation on Raw SuperShow, Laurinaitis made his boldest power play yet, attacking and mocking Cena while his left arm was still healing.
Cena isn't the first Superstar to tangle with arguably the most polarizing figure in WWE. It was just a few months ago when WWE Champion CM Punk had it out with Laurinaitis, even going so far as to knock him out with the Go To Sleep on the Jan. 23 edition of Raw SuperShow. However, Laurinaitis didn't let his scuffles with Punk derail his quest to remain the dominant decision-making force on WWE programming, and he later took control of SmackDown in addition to Raw with a resounding victory over Team Teddy at WrestleMania.
At WWE Over the Limit, just three weeks will have passed since Cena's savage battle against Lesnar at Extreme Rules. Will the Cenation leader be able to recover in time for his collision with the Raw and SmackDown GM? Or can Laurinaitis pull off an upset and break Cena's spirit coming off one of the biggest victories of his career? Find out at Over the Limit on Sunday, May 20, live on pay-per-view.

SRC- WWE.com

Over The Limit 2012 » Matches » Zack Ryder vs Kane (YouTube Pre-Show)

Months after Kane’s attack left him wheelchair-bound, Zack Ryder will have an opportunity to confront his tormentor when he and The Big Red Monster meet head-on during the free WWE Over the Limit Pre-Show event Sunday. The Pre-Show, which will stream live on YouTube.com/WWE, Facebook and WWE.com, begins at 7:30 ET/4:30 PT.

Announced during the May 14 edition of Raw SuperShow, the match could serve as the final battle in the long-brewing war between Long Island Iced-Z and The Devil’s Favorite Demon.

The bad feelings have been festering since January, when Ryder unwittingly became swept up in Kane’s “embrace the hate” campaign aimed at Ryder pal John Cena. Seemingly a pawn in Kane’s larger strategy to goad Cena into a fight, Ryder for weeks found himself on the receiving end of surprise attacks and hellacious intimidation tactics.

With the WWE Universe watching on in horror during the first Raw of the year, The Big Red Monster initially tried to drag Ryder beneath the ring and into hell. Although Ryder narrowly escaped the fiery trap, thanks to a hand from Cena, WWE’s resident broski remained an object of manipulation in Kane’s vengeful endgame.

Kane’s onslaught did not let up at all in the ensuing weeks. On the Jan. 9 edition of Raw, the masked Superstar chokeslammed Ryder off of a loading dock and onto wood pallets many feet below. The injuries that Ryder sustained as a result of the fall left him vulnerable the following week and arguably caused him to lose the United States Championship to Jack Swagger on Jan. 16.

From there, Ryder’s fate went from bad to worse. Competing against Kane in a Falls Count Anywhere Match on Jan. 23, Ryder – still feeling the effects of the attack one fortnight earlier – appeared wholly overmatched. Once the action spilled up the ramp and to the stage, Kane again set out to chokeslam Long Island Iced-Z. Only this time, The Devil’s Favorite Demon sent Ryder through the steel stage floor, causing a herniated disc for Ryder and landing the fun-loving broski in a wheelchair for several weeks.

Even while he was on the sidelines, however, Ryder could not escape Kane’s wrath. On the Feb. 13 episode of Raw, Kane again attacked, pushing Ryder and his wheelchair off the Raw stage altogether.

By all appearances, Ryder has recovered from the physical injuries he suffered at Kane’s hands earlier this year. However, there is no mistaking that the mental and emotional anguish caused is still fresh in his mind. When Kane and Randy Orton’s Falls Count Anywhere Match at Extreme Rules took them backstage, Ryder could not resist peppering The Big Red Monster with punches and forearm smashes.

Kane’s unprovoked affront against Ryder seemingly halted the Internet Wrestling Champion’s meteoric rise. Although the spiked-hair Superstar is undoubtedly outmatched physically by the 7-foot destroyer, does Ryder now have the ruthless mentality necessary to vanquish the monster? With several months to reflect on all he lost due to Kane, is Long Island Iced-Z more motivated than ever? Or will Kane, looking to rebound from his Extreme Rules loss to Orton, intensify his in-ring attack even further?

The WWE Universe will get its answer Sunday during the WWE Over the Limit Pre-Show, which streams live on YouTube.com/WWE, Facebook and WWE.com at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT Sunday

SRC- WWE.com

Over The Limit 2012 » Matches » Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (Tag Team Championship)

Newly minted WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth will defend their titles for the first time at WWE Over the Limit, where they will do battle with the arrogant and aggressive duo of Jack Swagger & Dolph Ziggler at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Swagger & Ziggler have proven themselves as dominant singles competitors in the past, but the duo’s business advisor Vickie Guerrero is now determined to lead the former World Heavyweight Champions to the top of WWE’s growing tag team division. Since A.W. has yet to invoke the automatic rematch clause of his “All World” clients, former WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico, Swagger & Ziggler have emerged as the No. 1 contenders to Kingston & Truth’s illustrious titles – and they don’t intend on leaving WWE Over the Limit without them.

“The All-American American” & “The Show-Off” will have their hands full, however, even if they would never admit it. Garnering attention for their high-energy offense and uncanny ability to connect with the WWE Universe, Kingston & Truth rode a wave of momentum when they challenged Primo & Epico in a WWE Tag Team Championship clash on the April 30 edition of Raw SuperShow. Despite a distraction on the ring apron from Rosa Mendes, Kingston nailed Epico with Trouble in Paradise for the three-count to win the championships. The exciting tandem would go on to notch an impressive victory over Hunico & Camacho later that week on SmackDown, no doubt fueling Ziggler & Swagger’s desire to snatch the titles from their grasp.

Will Swagger & Ziggler overcome the kinetic WWE Tag Team Champions, or will Truth and his imaginary pal “Little Jimmy” join Kofi for a celebratory boom clap after sending Vickie’s blond blowhards packing? To find out, tune in to WWE Over the Limit, Sunday May 20 at 8 ET/5 PT, only on pay-per-view.

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Over The Limit 2012 » Matches » Sheamus vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton vs Alberto Del Rio (World Championship - Fatal 4 Way Match)

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus has said time and time again that he loves to fight. Well, at WWE Over the Limit, The Great White will get that opportunity – times three – when he battles challengers Alberto Del Rio, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the World Title.

Originally slated as a one-on-one title encounter against Del Rio, the pay-per-view showdown picked up two contenders on the May 7 edition of Raw SuperShow. This happened when John Laurinaitis, the General Manager of both Raw and SmackDown, announced that it would be a Fatal 4-Way Match aftter the competitors erupted in a brawl after an intense tag team battle on Raw.

Sheamus has been on an absolute tear since capturing the World Heavyweight Title from Daniel Bryan in a history-making 18 seconds at WrestleMania, including hard-fought victories over the former champion in a 2-out-of-3 Falls rematch at Extreme Rules and a tremendous win over The World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry on SmackDown. More than ever before, the Irish Superstar has been running on all cylinders, demonstrating the heart of a true World Champion.

Despite his recent success, however, the odds of The Great White walking out of Over the Limit with the coveted title around his waist are strongly against him. In a Fatal 4-Way Match, any of the four competitors can win the title by scoring a pinfall or submission on any of the other three. In short, Sheamus doesn’t technically have to be beaten to lose his championship.

In addition to the numbers game, the elite Superstars that The Great White will face are both successful and dangerous even on their worst days – with talents particularly well-suited to this type of match.

Chris Jericho is a four-time World Champion and one of the most highly decorated Superstars in the history of WWE. Translation: the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion has always, and will always, know how to win. He’s skilled, adaptable and completely merciless in any and all conditions. Therefore, his fourth World Title could be but a Codebreaker away.

Randy Orton is a nine-time World Champion, capable of waging war on any battlefield. Besides being an unpredictable and cunning grappler, The Viper’s ability to strike quickly in a number of ways gives him a decisive advantage in this type of contest. The crown jewel of his arsenal in particular – the RKO – is the perfect device to emerge triumphant in the fast-paced chaos of a Fatal 4-Way.

Del Rio is a two-time World Champion, who’s as confident as he is ruthless. Rising out of the luchador tradition of Mexico, the aristocrat Superstar is no stranger to the tornado-like atmosphere he will encounter at Over the Limit. In fact, he’s already reached the pinnacle of squared circle greatness in a similar environment, having won his second title in a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell WWE Championship Match in 2011.

At WWE Over the Limit, find out who will emerge from the mayhem of the Fatal 4-Way with the World Heavyweight Championship in his grasp, Sunday May 20 at 8 / 5 PT, only on pay-per-view.

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