JOHN CENA (C) VS. SHEAMUS

 Sheamus won a #1 contenders battle royal on Raw (the night Jesse Ventura hosted) consisting of 15 wrestlers that have never won a World Championship before.

Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler and Matt Striker are on commentary for this match.

 

JOHN CENA © VS. SHEAMUS (Tables match)

WWE TLC 2009 (13^th December 2009)

  John Cena strikes first, backing Sheamus into the corner. Sheamus’ head hits turnbuckles, John Cena sends him across the ring into the corner and Sheamus walks out into a bulldog. Ground and pound by Cena, followed by right hands in the corner.

   Sheamus is sent into the corner but connects with a back elbow. Sheamus knocks Cena down with a clothesline and hits a suplex before mounting for some right hands. Sheamus hits a knee drop before taking his time to get a table. Cena intercepts, sending Sheamus into the announce table. Sheamus gets his head bounced off the announce table and is sent into the barricade. Sheamus sends Cena into the ring post and gets a laceration checked under his arm. Matt Striker goes over Sheamus’ stats and Cole reminds us he retired Jamie Noble. John Cena reverses an irish whip, sending Sheamus into the ring steps. Cena brings a table out from under the ring and sets it up at ringside. Sheamus is set up on the table, but he moves out of the way as Cena makes it to the top rope. Sheamus goes for a walk, Cena tries to cut him off so Sheamus changes direction, getting back in the ring. Sheamus jumps Cena, connecting with knee drops to Cena’s ribs.

 Sheamus hits a running powerslam in the ring and Cena crawls out to the apron. Cena hangs on precariously over the table as Sheamus connects with right hands. Cena connects with a shoulder through the ropes and they exchange right hands across the ring, John Cena ducks a shot and lifts Sheamus for the Attitude Adjustment. Sheamus scrambles to the apron and sends Cena’s head into the top turnbuckle. Sheamus drags Cena to the floor and drives him into the side of the ring. Sheamus connects with a right hand, Cena rests on the ring steps until Sheamus bounces his head off of the top. John Cena fights back, sending Sheamus’ head into the ring steps and lifts him for another Attitude Adjustment. Sheamus elbows his way free, setting up a High Cross powerbomb. John Cena slips out the back and forces Sheamus up the ramp with right hands. Sheamus breaks up the offence with a knee to the midsection.

  John Cena blocks a suplex and hits one of his own to Sheamus on the ramp. John Cena goes back to the table at ringside, collapsing it as Matt Striker shits all over WWECW. Sheamus rolls out of the way before Cena can swing the table at him. John Cena gives chase and knocks Sheamus down, they brawl into the crowd and Sheamus is sent into the guard rail. Cena beats Sheamus back to ringside, sending him over the barricade with a clothesline. John Cena brings Sheamus to his feet in a front facelock and sends him into the ring before setting up another table at ringside. Sheamus hits the Irish Curse Kick (now a Brogue Kick) on John Cena as the champion gets back in the ring, which gets an instant replay. Sheamus brings a table into the ring and sets it up in the corner. He lifts Cena, but John Cena rolls through into a sunset flip, he tries to put on the STF but Sheamus kicks him away. Sheamus gets to his feet, Cena knocks him down with the jumping shoulder tackles and Protobomb. Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle and Sheamus dumps the table out of the ring. John Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment in the middle of the ring before bringing a table back in and setting it up.

  Sheamus is set up on the top turnbuckle but he fights out of the Super Attitude Adjustment and shoves Cena to the mat. They exchange right hands, Sheamus is stunned in the corner as Cena climbs to meet him. They fight on the top rope and Sheamus shoves John Cena down through the table.

WINNER: SHEAMUS (NEW WWE Champion)

 This was pretty much what I expected going in. Sheamus got a great opportunity from the battle royal but the match had no heat, despite Sheamus’ WWECW dominance and recent table spots. The false finishes always look contrived in tables matches and the actual finish was a fluke. Not everyone gets a great first world title win I guess. [**] 3.5/10