Starts with a Lethal/Steen in ring confrontation. Lethal says that to destroy ROH, he has to destroy Steen who is honorable clearly trying to get Steen to change his mind. Steen accepts so its look like we will get Steen versus Lethal in the future.
Top Prospect Tournament Round 1: Silas Young def Adam Page with a full nelson stretch
Charlie Haas is out with new music. He is pissed that BJ Whitmer has a TV title shot and he doesnt Says ROH tried to censor him. Haas then attacks a ringside crew member while the fans have fun trying to hit him with tp and streamers.
Matt Hardy def Rhett Titus with the Twist of Fate. Fans booed the finish.
Adam Cole [c] def BJ Whitmer with the Florida Key to retain the ROH World TV Championship
Ring of Honor show results January 19, 2013 Milwaukee, Wis. at Turner Hall Estimated Attendance: 350+ Results submitted by VIP member Blake (EReport1) & Chris of PWPonderings.com
Four camera shoot for the DVD and Kevin Kelly is here for television purposes.
(1) ROH TV champion Adam Cole beat Silas Young in a non-title match. From Blake: For the finish, Young was doing a handstand on the top rope, then Cole superkicked him off into a bridge for the pin. Fantastic ten minute match.
(2) Bobby Fish (w/Kyle O'Reilly) beat Tadarius Thomas via submission. From Blake: Truth Martini walked out mid-way through, taking everyone's attention off the match. Fish got Thomas to tap out to a sloppy anklelock. Fish refused to shake Thomas's hand after the match; instead O'Reilly and Fish almost attacked him. Truth did nothing.
(3) Charlie Haas beat Rhett Titus. From Blake: Haas came out downing a 12-pack of beer. Cheap heat from Hass saying, "I'm going to be like Prince Fielder and get the hell out of this s---hole!" Haas put the crowd into a frenzy. Haas hit an Angle Slam, which drew an "Angle's better!" chant. Titus went for Sky High after hitting a beer in Haas's face, but Haas got his knees up and pinned him with a roll-up.
(4) S.C.U.M. (Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs & Rhino) beat Jay Lethal & ROH tag champions The Briscoes. From Blake: A brawl started the action. Then, it turned into a tag match with actual tagging. Lethal played face in peril. They used every trick in the book to avoid the tag to the Briscoes. Rhino won with a Gore on Mark. What an exciting match!
[Intermission]
(5) Matt Hardy beat B.J. Whitmer via submission with a 45-minute time limit. Matt won with a submission move that looked like some kind of a clutch, and Rhett Titus threw in the towel from the outside.
Post-match, B.J. was upset with Titus. ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness then came out. Hardy grabbed the mic next and challenged Adam Cole, which led to a pull-apart. Hardy kicked Cole in the groin and walked away with Cole's TV Title.
(6) Davey Richards beat Kyle O'Reilly via buzzsaw kick. From Blake: Match of the Night! Davey won after a piledriver, foot stomp, and two kicks to the side of O'Reilly's head. Wow!
(7) ROH World Hvt. champion Kevin Steen won a four-way Defy or Deny elimination match over Roderick Strong, Eddie Edwards, and Michael Elgin. Order of Elimination: Elgin eliminated by Strong, Strong eliminated by Steen and Edwards. Steen then hit the Package Piledriver on Edwards for the win. Edwards is now frozen out of title contention as long as Steen is champ.
On this weeks edition of ROH TV we are back at the Hammerstein ballroom as this as we have another Final Battle 2012 edition of Road Rage. We hear or going to see Jay Lethal versus Rhino Highlights of Jerry Lynn versus Mike Bennet as ell as the ladder war between Kevin Steen and El Generico and the main event of the show the tag team sudden death match for the titles as the Briscoes go against Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander versus Scum.
We begin backstage as Veda Scott talks with Jay Lethal, who says the upcoming match with Rhino has nothing on the line but he promised that he will make an impact and be in the main event tonight.
Jay Lethal defeats Rhino with a Lethal Injection. Afterwards Steve Corio who was on commentary during their match and said that the man beast was a mercenary of Scum gets on the apron and begins to antagonize Jay Until Jimmy Jacobs comes out and begins to beat down Lethal. Steve and Jimmy restrain lethal as rhino gives him the Gore.
We see commercial as the TV champion Adam Cole shills for the pay-per-view replay.
They show highlights of Jerry Lynn versus Mike Bennett in which the Prodigy came out on top They show Jerry Lynn and his goodbye speech and the award presentation with Nigel McGuinness Before switching to the conversation between Jay Lethal and the ROH matchmaker in which Jay, that gets more and more until he spits on Nigel causing lethal to be kicked out of the building.
Next up, we see highlights of Ladder War 4 which I can say is pretty good
We hear a promo from Truth Martini about ordering the replay saying after final battle he and the House of Truth will never be the same
And the main event we have a new set of tag champions crowned as the Briscoes defeat Corino and Jimmy Jacobs after a doomsday device to become 8 time ROH tag champions in an excellent contest.
WWE Raw Results - 1/28/13 Posted by Steve Carrier on 01/28/2013 at 07:37 PM
- Tonight's WWE RAW opens up with a promo for RAW Roulette. We get a look back at the Royal Rumble with John Cena's victory plus The Rock capturing the WWE Title from CM Punk.
- We're live from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Vickie Guerrero is backstage with three Roulette wheels. One for Superstars, one for stipulations and the "Vickie Vegas Challenge" wheel. Randy Orton vs. Antonio Cesaro is up first. Vickie spins the wheel and it lands on the "special guest referee" stipulation.
- We go to the ring and out comes CM Punk with Paul Heyman. Punk is pissed and storms to the ring, pushing the camera out of the way. Punk is on a rampage as he grabs the mic and hits the ring. Punk yells to cut his music and the crowd boos him. Punk says this is day 435 of the most historic WWE Title reign.
Punk yells about how he won last night. Punk says he is The People's Champ now. The crowd chants for Rocky. Punk calls The Rock a cheater. Punk says the fans are just like Vince McMahon and The Rock. Punk says Vince screwed him worse than he screwed Bret Hart in Montreal. Punk calls it the Phoenix Screwjob and cries about getting screwed. Punk says he's here to crash the party for The Rock tonight. The music hits and out comes Vince McMahon to the stage. Punk calls him a thief and a cheater.
Vince says someone who wants to remain anonymous will deliver video proof to him later that shows CM Punk was involved with Paul Heyman and The Shield last night. Heyman goes to speak and Vince cuts him off. Vince has had enough of Heyman's crap. Vince says they will have a little chat later in the ring. Vince says this footage could result in Heyman's termination. Vince tells them to have a nice party and heads back to the back. Punk continues to throw a fit as Heyman looks worried. Michael Cole welcomes us to RAW and he's joined by JBL and Jerry Lawler.
- Still to come, WWE Champion The Rock will speak.
Randy Orton vs. Antonio Cesaro
We go to the ring for tonight's first RAW Roulette match. Out next comes WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro. The special guest referee is The Miz and out he comes.
Back from the break and Orton covers Cesaro for 2. Orton with a suplex and another 2 count. Cesaro turns it around and takes Orton to the corner with body shots. Orton comes out of the corner with a big clothesline. Orton with a 2 count. Orton with a big backdrop and another 2 count. Cesaro takes it outside and works Orton over. Orton blocks s shot into the fan barrier and drops Cesaro's back over it.
Orton with a pair of uppercuts on the apron. Orton stomps away and slingshots Cesaro under the bottom rope. Orton with another 2 count. They trade a bunch of uppercuts now. Cesaro gets the upperhand but gets backdropped out to the floor. Orton with a clothesline on the floor as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Cesaro back drops Orton as special referee Miz looks on. Cesaro goes to the top but Orton cuts him off. They trade shots and Cesaro drops Orton's face over the top turnbuckle. Cesaro brings Orton back in the ring and covers for 2. Orton fights out of a hold but Cesaro scoop slams him for another 2 count. Cesaro with a chest stomp and gutwrench slam for another 2 count. Cesaro mocks Orton and applies a hold. Orton fights out again and ducks a clothesline. Orton blocks a suplex and unloads. More back and forth action. Cesaro with a flying uppercut from the corner but Orton kicks out at 2. Miz and Cesaro argue about the count. Cesaro turns around and misses a clothesline. Orton with the backbreaker. Cesaro with a thumb to the eye and Miz sees it. Miz pulls Cesaro off and they argue some more. Cesaro turns around to a RKO for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
- After the match, Miz helps Cesaro up but lays him back down with a Skull Crushing Finale.
- Vickie Guerrero is backstage with Ryback and the RAW Roulette wheels. It lands on "Make Me Laugh." Vickie tells Ryback to go make her laugh.
- Ryback comes out to the ring as we go to commercial.
- Back from the break and Matt Striker is in the ring with Ryback, Darren Young and Titus O'Neil for a "Make Me Laugh Challenge." The contestants have to tell jokes to make the fans laugh. Whoever makes them laugh the most wins. They make a joke about Striker and the fans boo them. Ryback is up next. He asks what has 4 eyes, 20 fingers and is about to be unconscious. Ryback attacks and Young goes running. Titus fights Ryback but gets hit with a big spinebuster. Ryback nails the big clothesline and Shellshocked on Titus to end it. The fans chant "feed me more" as Striker announces Ryback the winner of the challenge. Ryback stares Striker down now. Ryback kicks Striker and lays him out with Shellshocked.
- We get a Hall of Fame video for Bob Backlund.
- Still to come, The Rock will speak. Back to commercial.
Bo Dallas vs. Wade Barrett
Vickie Guerrero is with the wheels as WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett comes out. He says he wants to fight Bo Dallas for eliminating him at the Rumble. Barrett says he will end Bo's career tonight. Out comes Dallas to a decent reaction.
Barrett takes Dallas to the corner but Dallas turns it around. Dallas with arm drags and a big elbow. Dallas sends Barrett into the corner holding his jaw. Barrett comes back with a big kick and a toss into the corner. Barrett stomps away now. Barrett with a headbutt and a big boot, sending Dallas down on the apron. Barrett with more offense.
Dallas blocks the Bullhammer Elbow and turns it into a big slam for the non-title win out of nowhere.
Winner: Bo Dallas
- Vickie is backstage with Cody Rhodes. He spins the wheel and his opponent is John Cena. We go to commercial.
Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena
Back from the break and Cody Rhodes is making his entrance. Cole plugs Cena's new deal with Fruity Pebbles cereal. Out comes John Cena to a big pop next.
They lock up and Cody applies a headlock. Back and forth. Cena hits a dropkick to the jaw. They go at it and Cena hits a fisherman's suplex. Cody goes to the floor and takes a mic. He says this is a waste of Cody Rhodes and he's leaving. Cena goes after Rhodes and brings him back to the ring. Cena hits his usual moves and then the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena nails the Attitude Adjustment for the win.
Winner: John Cena
- After the match, Cena takes the mic and talks about winning the Royal Rumble. Cena says when someone wins the Royal Rumble, the next step is to issue a challenge to the champion they want to face. Cena says this is his most difficult step. A "Cena sucks" chant breaks out. Rock talks about CM Punk and The Rock. He says Punk has been impossible for him to beat for two years now. Cena talks about his first match with The Rock that he lost. Cena says his once in a lifetime moment was stolen. Cena asks should he choose the World Heavyweight title because he has better odds. Or does he challenge either WWE Champion Rock or WWE Champion Punk. Cena goes to make his announcement and looks up at the WrestleMania 29 sign. The crowd chant for Rocky. Cena challenges the WWE Champion. Cena sends a message to Rock and Punk, calling them marked men. The Shield's music hits and out comes Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. They beat Cena down despite his efforts. Out comes Sheamus to make the save but they beat him down also. Ryback is out next to a big pop. Ryback tosses Ambrose and Rollins. He fights with Reigns but they beat him down and throw him into the steel steps. Sheamus comes back but they lay him out on the floor also. The Shield pose in the ring but Cena attacks from behind. They beat him back down as the crowd chants for The Rock. They hit the triple powerbomb on Cena in the middle of the ring. The Shield escape through the crowd, leaving Sheamus, Ryback and Cena laid out. We go to commercial.
- Vickie is backstage spinning the wheel again. It lands on Lingerie Pillow Fight but we see Tensai and Brodus Clay standing there. Tensai says no, he's a monster and walks off. Vickie says there's no way she's doing that tonight. She tells Clay to spin another wheel and it lands on a Dance Off. Clay says he will inform Tensai of the change and walks off.
- Cole shows us a video with highlights from the Royal Rumble Fan Fest.
- We go to the ring and out first comes Brodus Clay with Cameron and Naomi. They dance their way to the ring as we go to commercial.
- Back from the break and Jerry Lawler is in the ring with Tensai, Clay, Cameron and Naomi. Tensai is wearing a robe. He says he's ready to get this over with. Tensai takes the robe off and he's wearing lingerie. Clay never informed him of the stipulation change. Lawler informs Tensai this is a Dance Off. Tensai throws a fit and picks his rear end again. Clay is up first and he does his usual dance. Tensai is up next but he doesn't want to dance. Lawler talks him into it. Tensai starts dancing and really gets into it. We see Ron Simmons watching backstage on a monitor. He lets out a big "Damn!" and Tensai leaves the ring with his head covered in shame.
- Alberto Del Rio is backstage with Ricardo Rodriguez and Vickie Guerrero to spin the wheel. It lands on a Bodyslam Challenge. His opponent will be Big Show. Del Rio says anything can happen in Vegas. We go to commercial.
- Back from the break and out comes Ricardo Rodriguez. He introduces World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio for a Bodyslam Challenge. Out next is his opponent Big Show.
Before the challenge can begin, Show knocks Ricardo out of the way and attacks Del Rio. Show knocks Del Rio out with a WMD punch and then hits Ricardo. Show pulls out a roll of duct tape and tapes Del Rio's arm to the middle rope. Show roughs up Ricardo in the corner and hits a big chop to the chest. Show continues the assault and makes Del Rio watch. Another big chop to the chest. Show takes Ricardo outside and tosses him into the fan barrier. Del Rio screams at Show and tries to break free from the duct tape. A "Big Show sucks" chant breaks out. Show slams Ricardo in front of Del Rio and taunts him. Show stomps away on Del Rio now. Show reinforces the tape on Del Rio's arm. Show with another big chop to Ricardo's chest. Show taunts Del Rio some more and drops Ricardo with a big knockout punch. Del Rio kicks at Show but Show blocks it and trips him. Show with kicks to the back now. Del Rio finally goes down after a big knockout punch from Show. The crowd boos Big Show as he leaves Del Rio and Rodriguez laid out. We go to commercial.
- Back from the break and we see what Big Show just did to Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez. During the commercial, Del Rio was helped backstage by officials.
Lumberjills Match: Tamina Snuka vs. Kaitlyn
Alicia Fox, Aksana, Layla, Cameron, Naomi, Rosa Mendes are at ringside dressed as Las Vegas Showgirls. The bell rings and they lock up. Kaitlyn takes it to the corner but Tamina turns it around and slams her on her back. Tamina works Kaitlyn over now. Tamina keeps control and keeps Kaitlyn grounded with a headlock.
Kaitlyn gets kicked outside and attacked by Aksana. Kaitlyn gets up and knocks her down. Kaitlyn fights her way in and unloads on Tamina. Kaitlyn with a bunch of rights to the face. Kaitlyn goes for a pin but the Lumberjills rush the ring and everyone starts brawling. Kaitlyn stands up and watches everyone else fight. Tamina is also watching from the apron. Referees finally clear the ring and that's it.
- Up next, The Rock will speak.
- Back from the commercial and we see footage of The Shield beating down Ryback, Sheamus and John Cena earlier.
- We go to the ring and out comes new WWE Champion The Rock to a huge pop.
The Rock hits the ring with the WWE Title and the crowd takes a few minutes to calm down. Rock says finally he's returned to Las Vegas. Rock says tonight with the WWE Title is the proudest moment of his career. Rock says he's thanked his friends and family already but now he wants to thank the fans. Rock brings up how CM Punk said the fans were nothing. Rock says those crap days are over. Rock says Punk looks like a homeless tattooed freak. Rock knocks Heyman and uses the Twinkie tits phrase again. Rock says we usher in a new era tonight - The People's Era.
The Rock says everyone gets pie tonight. CM Punk's music hits and out he comes to the stage pissed off, without Heyman. Punk says Rock is embarrassing the both of them. Punk says he made the title special and Rock is now flushing it down the toilet. Punk says Rock was handed the title like everything else in his crappy spoon fed life. Punk says if Rock had respect for himself, for his father and grandfather, then he would come hand him the title over. Rock challenges Punk to come take the title from him.
Rock tells Punk to come get it or stand up there like a punk ass bitch. Punk slowly walks towards the ring but stops. Punk backs up and says he will stand there like a punk ass bitch. Punk says he does things when he wants to, not on Rock's terms. Punk proposes a rematch for this weekend's live events. Punk says he will be there. And he will be back on RAW. But if that doesn't fit Rock's schedule, he will give him a rematch in three weeks at Elimination Chamber. Rock accepts the challenge and says Punk won't be taking anything but an ass whooping. If you smell... Rock's music hits and Punk storms off to the back.
- Still to come, Heyman's performance review from Vince McMahon. Also, Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow in a Tables Match.
Tables Match: Damien Sandow vs. Sheamus
After the commercial, we see footage from earlier tonight where Damien Sandow did the wheel and chose a Tables Match. Sandow waits in the ring as Sheamus makes his way out.
The bell rings and they lock up. Sandow goes to the floor and runs around the ring. Sandow atches Sheamus coming back in but Sheamus knocks him down. Sheamus works Sandow over now. Sandow goes to escape again but Sheamus comes after him on the floor and attacks from behind. Sheamus throws Sandow into the steel steps and grabs a table from under the ring. Sheamus sets the table up at ringside and scoops Sandow. Sandow slides out and runs in the ring, out the other side. Sandow catches Sheamus coming out of the ring and dropkicks him. Sandow pulls a table out now.
Sandow uses the table but Sheamus turns it around and knocks Sandow down with it. Sheamus brings a table and Sandow in the ring. Sandow counters and drops Sheamus on his injured shoulder. Sandow stomps away and continues working on the arm. Sandow brings another table from under the ring and brings it in. Sandow shoves the table in Sheamus' face as he charges. Sandow stomps on Sheamus' arm while it's trapped in the steel table legs. Sandow props a table up in the corner. Sheamus blocks a shot into the table and turns things around. Sheamus tosses Sandow to the apron and he hangs on. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick. Sandow pushes Sheamus off the rope and they tangle on the apron. Sheamus comes back in the ring with a battering ram and knocks Sandow down. Sheamus grabs Sandow's beard and works him over int he corner. Sandow with the leg sweep and Elbow of Disdain. Sandow sets another table on its side and slams Sheamus into it. Sandow puts Sheamus on a table and goes up to the top. Sheamus knocks him off and hits forearms to the chest. Sheamus tries to suplex Sandow through the table but can't. Sheamus catches Sandow and hits White Noise through the table in the corner for the win.
Winner: Sheamus
- Back from the break and Jerry Lawler is in the ring with Zack Ryder, Hornswoggle, Natalya and The Great Khali for WWE Karaoke. Khali is up first and he has to sing Shawn Michaels' theme song. Before Ryder can go, they're interrupted by Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal. They cut promos and Khali ends up dropping Drew with a big chop. Jinder gets taken out by Ryder. Slater fights with Khali but gets tossed. Hornswoggle climbs up top and hits the Tadpole Splash on Slater.
- We see Chris Jericho walking backstage. Back to commercial.
- Back from the break and out comes Chris Jericho to a big pop. The fans chant his name. Jericho talks about how good it is to be back. He calls the Rumble one of the greatest nights of his career. He thanks all the fans. He goes on and out comes Dolph Ziggler, Big E Langston and AJ Lee to the ring.
AJ and Ziggler remind him that he was forced to quit last year. A loud "Y2J" chant breaks out. Jericho tells Ziggler to put a leash on his little dog before it pees all over the ring. Langston tells Jericho to leave before he ruins his return. Jericho asks if the E stands for Langston's bra size for his giant pecs. Ziggler asks Jericho why he is here and tells him to leave. Vickie appears on the big screen and says she is the person who signed Jericho to a WWE contract because it's best for business. Vickie spins the wheel and it lands on "Strange Bedfellows." It'll be Jericho and Ziggler vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan.
Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler and Chris Jericho
Out come the WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No. Ziggler starts off and we take an early commercial break.
Back from the break and Ziggler is going at it with Bryan. Ziggler drops an elbow for a 2 count. Ziggler teases a tag but won't do it. Jericho slaps Ziggler's back to tag himself in and unloads on the champs. Bryan dropkicks Jericho and tags in Kane. Jericho shoves Bryan into Kane and the champs start arguing. Ziggler tags himself in but Jericho makes it looks like Ziggler hit Kane from behind. Kane chokeslams Ziggler for the win.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
- It's announced Trish Stratus will be going into the Hall of Fame this year. Back to commercial.
Vince McMahon comes out and says he's ready to have some fun. Vince calls Paul Heyman to the ring. Heyman extends his hand but Vince doesn't want to shake it. Vince asks if Heyman was in with The Shield or Brad Maddox. Vince asks if Heyman has ever lied. Heyman says he has lied every single day of his stinking life because he's a promoter. Heyman says he doesn't regret it because that's what kept him alive. Heyman goes on and swears to Vince that he's not lying now. Vince asks if Heyman is an honorable man. Heyman says he doesn't know but he's trying to become one. Maybe he can learn from Vince. Heyman says he wants to be here. Vince has the cameras do a close-up on Heyman's face. He asks the fans if this is an honorable face, an honest man. The fans say no. Vince shows us some footage that was shot a few weeks ago in Northern California. It's footage of Heyman walking with Brad Maddox. Heyman tells Brad's cameraman to turn his camera off but he keeps recording. It reveals Heyman and Punk hired Maddox to screw Ryback at Hell In a Cell. Heyman also reveals they pay The Shield to do jobs for them. The Shield appear and surround Maddox. Maddox tells Heyman he will leave, Heyman tells Maddox to take the beating like a man. Maddox tells Heyman to tell Punk he's sorry. Heyman tells Maddox to take this as a learning experience. The Shield beat Maddox down.
Fans chant "you got busted" at Heyman. Next they start singing goodbye to Heyman. Vince wants an explanation. Heyman says that wasn't him in the video. Heyman says Vince can relate to being falsely accused. Heyman says his accent is very easy to imitate. Heyman says he is being set up because of jealousy. Because of his success with ECW and CM Punk. Heyman still insists it wasn't him in the video. Vince asks fans if Heyman is lying and if he deserves to be fired. Heyman tells Vince not to do this. Vince wishes Heyman well in his future endeavors. You're... Brock Lesnar's music hits and out he comes to a big pop.
As noted before, Jake "The Snake" Roberts has been living with Diamond Dallas
Page in an effort to get back in shape and change his life. Page posted the
following "before & after" photos of Roberts:
Dixie Carter revealed the poster for TNA's
Lockdown pay-per-view on Twitter with the following caption, "Cannot wait for
Lockdown in San Antonio. Here's a first look at the poster."
Darren Young may have been injured at last night's Royal Rumble pay-per-view after he was eliminated. Referees threw up the "X" signal and Young was helped to the back.
Brock Lesnar Signs New WWE Deal Posted by Steve Carrier on 01/28/2013 at 06:32 AM
PWInsider reports that Brock Lesnar has signed the two-year contract extension that we noted was previously offered to him. This would keep Lesnar in the company through WrestleMania 31.
Jericho Says He's Back With WWE & Taunts Ziggler Posted by Dave Mitchell on 01/28/2013 at 01:32 AM
- Chris Jericho tweeted the following about his surprise return at the Royal Rumble:
Fooled ya!!!! One of the best nights of my career Thank you guys!! #47min53seconds
- WWE.com conducted an exclusive backstage interview with Chris Jericho after the Royal Rumble match.
Jericho spoke about the significance of keeping his return a surprise and was interrupted by Dolph Ziggler. Jericho said Dolph Ziggler got him fired last year, but he's now been rehired - and he's gonna be on Ziggler's case day in and day out every day, month and year ahead.
Backstage News and Notes from WWE's Royal Rumble Posted by Steve Carrier on 01/27/2013 at 11:40 PM
- Shelton Benjamin and Carlito did not return in the Rumble match, despite previous reports. PWInsider reports that the two ended up being booked at the same hotel WWE used because they were in town for an indy show.
- Surprise entrants besides Chris Jericho in the 2013 Royal Rumble match were Goldust and The Godfather. Santino Marella also returned from injury in the match.
- Regarding The Godfather, he quietly drove from Las Vegas to Phoenix to hide from fans staked out at the airports. Godfather arrived Sunday afternoon and checked into the WWE hotel before going to the arena.
- Ted DiBiase was backstage at the Rumble and should be returning from a hand injury soon.
- Chris Jericho was hidden in a bus outside until his entrance. Word backstage was that a deal was quietly made for him to work the show when WWE reached out to him for RAW. No word yet on his future with the company.
- Mark Henry was also backstage. WWE had plans in place for him to return but that didn't happen.
The 2013 WWE Royal Rumble pre-show opens with Matt Striker and Tony Dawson at ringside as fans pile into the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. They hype tonight's pay-per-view card.
- Josh Mathews is backstage with Big Show. We see footage of Alberto Del Rio winning the World Heavyweight Title three weeks ago. Show is upset the footage was shown again. He goes on about Del Rio and says he hit the lottery when he won the title. Show says Del Rio doesn't have what it takes to beat him twice. Show says it's not happening. WWE's pre-show feed keeps stalling. The feed comes back on and we're in the middle of a "Rumble by the Numbers" video.
WWE United States Title Match: The Miz vs. Antonio Cesaro
We go to the ring and out first comes WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro. The Miz is out next to a decent reaction.
They lock up and Miz goes for a quick roll up. They lock up again and Miz applies a headlock. Cesaro fights out and they trade holds. Cesaro drops Miz but misses a clothesline. Miz drops Cesaro for 2. Miz with another roll up for 2. Miz with a headlock takeodown now. More back and forth action. Cesaro catches Miz in mid-air with a backbreaker for 2. Miz comes back but Cesaro catches him in mid-air with a slam this time for another pin attempt. Cesaro with another 2 count. Cesaro uses the ropes now.
Cesaro with an uppercut and a gutwrench suplex for a 2 count. Cesaro with lefts and rights in the corner now. Miz fights back and charges but once again gets caught in mid-air with a big slam for another pin attempt. Cesaro with a chest stomp and kick to the back. Miz fights out of a hold and hits the backbreaker neckbreaker combo. Miz unloads in the corner and hits a big clothesline. Miz goes to the top but lands bad on his leg after Cesaro counters. Miz still manages to hit a DDT for 2. Cesaro gets caught with his feet on the ropes. More back and forth. Miz with a big kick to the face. More back and forth. Cesaro gets the win with The Neutralizer.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
- We get a hype video for CM Punk vs. The Rock.
Rumble: World Heavyweight Championship Posted by Steve Carrier on 01/27/2013 at 08:34 PM
- The 2013 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view kicks off with a hype video for tonight's 30-man main event. The focus shifts to CM Punk's WWE Title reign and The Rock challenging him tonight.
- We're live from a sold out US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona as the pyro goes off. Michael Cole welcomes us to the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania. He's joined by JBL and Jerry Lawler.
Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Title: Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio
Lilian Garcia is in the ring for tonight's opener. She introduces Big Show and out he comes first. We see Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez walking backstage. Ricardo seems concerned for Del Rio. Bret Hart appears and shakes Del Rio's hand, wishing him good luck. Hart says Big Show is about as big and bad as they come. Hart says Del Rio reminds him of a Mexican Bret Hart. Del Rio leaves and Ricardo tells Bret how big of a fan he is. Del Rio comes back to get Ricardo. Bret gives his shades to Ricardo and finally they head to the ring. We meet the announcers and it feels like they are stalling. Ricardo comes out wearing Bret's glasses and begins the introduction for Del Rio. Finally out comes the World Heavyweight Champion.
The bell rings and Show takes Del Rio to the corner with body shots and a headbutt. Show with a massive chop to the chest. Del Rio with a kick and punches. Show runs over Del Rio and knocks him down. Show with a scoop slam and some trash talking to the fans. Del Rio fights back and goes to the second rope. Show knocks him out in mid-air with a big chop to the chest. Show with another headbutt and a big back splash int he corner. Del Rio dropkicks Show's leg out and he goes down. Del Rio with a big kick to the head. Del Rio with another kick. Show comes back and goes for a powerbomb. Del Rio turns it into a hurricanrana and goes back up top. Del Rio comes down with a seated senton.
Del Rio goes for the cross armbreaker but Show turns it into a big slam. The referee counts but Del Rio makes it up. Show with another big chop to the chest. Show brings a steel chair in the ring but Del Rio kicks it into him. Show grabs the chair and unloads on Show with it. Fans chant "si" as Del Rio beats on Show with the chair. Del Rio comes off the top but Show grabs him and chokeslams him. Show takes it to the floor and slams Del Rio. The referee continues to count but Del Rio makes it up and stumbles around towards the ramp. Del Rio hits Show with a knee below the belt. Del Rio with a kick to the head and Show goes down.
The referee counts but Show makes it up at 9. Show fights back and they're at the entrance area now. Del Rio gets dropped into the floor. Show whips Del Rio into part of the set. Show beats Del Rio over the back with a large plastic bulb from the set and then breaks it. Show sets up a table and smacks Del Rio in the chest again. Show climbs up on part of the set and brings Del Rio up by his hair. Show fights Del Rio up higher on the set piece. Show tosses Del Rio by his throat off the set and through a table. Del Rio smacks his head on the floor it looks like. Del Rio barely gets up at 9 and falls right back down. Show grabs Del Rio and brings him back towards the ring.
Show brings it back in the ring and calls for the knockout punch. Del Rio avoids it and stumbles out to the floor. Show grabs a piece of the steel steps but Del Rio moves out of the way. Ricardo attacks Show from behind but Show tosses him into the fan barrier. Show goes for a spear but Del Rio moves and Show crashes through the fan barrier. As the referee counts, Del Rio waits. Del Rio grabs a chair and wails away on Show's back with it. Del Rio puts Show's arm over the steel steps piece and whacks it with the chair. Del Rio grabs a fire extinguisher and sprays Show with it. Show rolls in the ring and Del Rio follows with a chair. Fans chant "this is awesome" as Del Rio applies the cross armbreaker while Ricardo duct tapes Show's feet to the bottom rope. Del Rio breaks the hold and the ref counts. Show is stuck to the bottom rope and can't get up. Del Rio wins the match.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Striker is backstage with AJ Lee, Big E Langston and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says Vickie Guerrero is bitter for making him pick 1 or 2 in the Royal Rumble. Ziggler picks 1 because that's what he is. AJ interrupts Striker and makes him run off or face Langston. Langston takes the mic and talks like a crazy sportscaster, asking Ziggler about the Rumble. Ziggler says he's going to win tonight, cash in later and unify the WWE Title and the World Title at WrestleMania.
- We see a video from Antonio Cesaro taped earlier. Cesaro talks about how he will win the Royal Rumble tonight. Darren Young and Titus O'Neil also talk about winning the match. Randy Orton is up next. He says tonight is his kind of night. Orton says he needs the win and he's going to take it. John Cena is up next. Cena says at the end of the night, everyone will realize the champ is here. Wade Barrett speaks next. He says he will restore credibility to the Rumble tonight. Sheamus says it's time to fight. Ryback is up last. Every 90 seconds a Superstar enters the match and he will just say feed me more.
- We get a look back at the pre-show where Antonio Cesaro retained over The Miz.
WWE Tag Team Title Match: Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
We go to the ring and out first comes Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes. The WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan are out next. It will be Rhodes and Bryan starting things out.
Back and forth to start the match. Bryan ends up applying a surfboard submission. Bryan tags Kane in and he dropkicks Rhodes. Kane with a 2 count. Kane takes Rhodes to the corner and works him over. Cody fights back and dropkicks Kane into the corner. Sandow tags in for some double teaming but Kane fights them off. Kane scoop slams Sandow and drops an elbow for a 2 count. Bryan comes back in and hits Sandow with a bunch of kicks as the crowd chants "yes." Kane tags back in and boots Sandow in the head. Sandow blocks a shot but Kane kicks him out of the ring. Cody comes in but Kane sends him to the floor also. Bryan runs the ropes and dives out on both men.
They come back in and Cody helps Sandow send Cody to the floor. Sandow rams Bryan into the apron twice and brings it back in. Sandow stomps away and tags in Rhodes. Cody goes at it with Bryan now. Sandow comes back in and drops an elbow for 2. Sandow with the side Russian leg sweep and then the Elbow of Disdain on Bryan for another 2 count. Sandow with another quick pin attempt. Sandow drops knees and covers again. Cody comes back in and takes Bryan to the corner. Bryan turns it around with a kick to the jaw. Cody tags in Sandow and stops Bryan from tagging. Cody comes right back in for some double teaming. Cody with a submission but Bryan fights out. Kane finally comes in for a chokeslam but Sandow counters. Kane drops Sandow with a big right hand and a clothesline in the corner. Another splash in the corner by Kane. Kane with the sideslam on Sandow for 2.
Kane goes to the top but Sandow cuts him off and they trade shots. Kane sends Sandow to the mat. Kane comes crashing down but Sandow moves and hits a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Rhodes comes in and they block a double chokeslam. They hit a double chokeslam on Kane but didn't see that Bryan tagged himself in. Sandow turns around to a missile dropkick from Bryan. Kane chokeslams Cody. Bryan with the Yes Lock on Sandow now. Sandow taps out to end the match.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
- Striker is backstage with AJ Lee, Big E Langston and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says Vickie Guerrero is bitter for making him pick 1 or 2 in the Royal Rumble. Ziggler picks 1 because that's what he is. AJ interrupts Striker and makes him run off or face Langston. Langston takes the mic and talks like a crazy sportscaster, asking Ziggler about the Rumble. Ziggler says he's going to win tonight, cash in later and unify the WWE Title and the World Title at WrestleMania.
- We see a video from Antonio Cesaro taped earlier. Cesaro talks about how he will win the Royal Rumble tonight. Darren Young and Titus O'Neil also talk about winning the match. Randy Orton is up next. He says tonight is his kind of night. Orton says he needs the win and he's going to take it. John Cena is up next. Cena says at the end of the night, everyone will realize the champ is here. Wade Barrett speaks next. He says he will restore credibility to the Rumble tonight. Sheamus says it's time to fight. Ryback is up last. Every 90 seconds a Superstar enters the match and he will just say feed me more.
- We get a look back at the pre-show where Antonio Cesaro retained over The Miz.
WWE Tag Team Title Match: Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
We go to the ring and out first comes Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes. The WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan are out next. It will be Rhodes and Bryan starting things out.
Back and forth to start the match. Bryan ends up applying a surfboard submission. Bryan tags Kane in and he dropkicks Rhodes. Kane with a 2 count. Kane takes Rhodes to the corner and works him over. Cody fights back and dropkicks Kane into the corner. Sandow tags in for some double teaming but Kane fights them off. Kane scoop slams Sandow and drops an elbow for a 2 count. Bryan comes back in and hits Sandow with a bunch of kicks as the crowd chants "yes." Kane tags back in and boots Sandow in the head. Sandow blocks a shot but Kane kicks him out of the ring. Cody comes in but Kane sends him to the floor also. Bryan runs the ropes and dives out on both men.
They come back in and Cody helps Sandow send Cody to the floor. Sandow rams Bryan into the apron twice and brings it back in. Sandow stomps away and tags in Rhodes. Cody goes at it with Bryan now. Sandow comes back in and drops an elbow for 2. Sandow with the side Russian leg sweep and then the Elbow of Disdain on Bryan for another 2 count. Sandow with another quick pin attempt. Sandow drops knees and covers again. Cody comes back in and takes Bryan to the corner. Bryan turns it around with a kick to the jaw. Cody tags in Sandow and stops Bryan from tagging. Cody comes right back in for some double teaming. Cody with a submission but Bryan fights out. Kane finally comes in for a chokeslam but Sandow counters. Kane drops Sandow with a big right hand and a clothesline in the corner. Another splash in the corner by Kane. Kane with the sideslam on Sandow for 2.
Kane goes to the top but Sandow cuts him off and they trade shots. Kane sends Sandow to the mat. Kane comes crashing down but Sandow moves and hits a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Rhodes comes in and they block a double chokeslam. They hit a double chokeslam on Kane but didn't see that Bryan tagged himself in. Sandow turns around to a missile dropkick from Bryan. Kane chokeslams Cody. Bryan with the Yes Lock on Sandow now. Sandow taps out to end the match.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
- We see the "Rumble by the Numbers" video again.
- Kane and Daniel Bryan are backstage when Vickie Guerrero walks up. She hands them their entry numbers for the Rumble match. Kane says Bryan's number is interesting. Bryan wants Kane to show him his number now. Kane says no. Kane says it's a bad strategy to reveal your number. Kane says he will see Bryan out there.
- We get a RAW Roulette promo for tomorrow night.
- We see highlights from the Royal Rumble Fan Fest on Saturday, including Bo Dallas winning the NXT tournament to earn a spot in the 30-man Royal Rumble.
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
We go to the ring and Justin Roberts is in the ring explaining the rules of the Royal Rumble. Out first comes Dolph Ziggler with AJ Lee and Big E Langston. AJ kisses Ziggler and he heads to the ring by himself. Ziggler takes the mic and says he's right where he belongs - in the spotlight. Ziggler says when the match is over, it will still be just him in the ring alone. Out comes the number 2 entrant - Chris Jericho, to a huge pop.
Jericho gets a big entrance and the crowd goes nuts. The bell rings and here we go. Back and forth to start the match. Jericho avoids elimination and clotheslines Ziggler to the apron. The crowd chants "you still got it" at Jericho. Jericho superplexes Ziggler as Cody Rhodes makes his way out next.
Jericho with clothesliens on Cody. Cody and Ziggler team up and take Jericho down in the corner. Jericho applies Walls of Jericho on Cody but Ziggler breaks it. The next man out is Kofi Kingston. He leaps off th top and takes out Cody. Kofi unloads on Cody but gets cut off. Jericho works over Cody now as Kofi tries to dump Ziggler. Cody tries to eliminate both of them. The next man out is Santino Marella, returning from injury.
Santino tries to eliminate Cody and Jericho but they hang on and come back in. Santino stops everything in the middle of the ring and pulls out the Cobra. He hits Kofi with it. Jericho and Cody take out Santino and he's eliminated. Jericho tries to take Cody out now. Cody and Ziggler try to eliminate Kofi now. Kofi fights them off and the next man out is Drew McIntyre. Drew goes at it with everyone but Kofi fires back. Drew with a big boot and Kofi goes down. Cody stomps on Jericho now. Drew tries to eliminate Kofi and Jericho tries to get them both out.
Drew works over Kofi in the corner now. Jericho almost gets eliminated but he hangs on without touching the floor. The next man out is Titus O'Neil at #7. Titus runs over Cody and Kofi. Titus double clotheslines them when they try to double team him. Titus manhandles Kofi and tosses him across the ring. Jericho eliminates McIntyre. Ziggler tries to eliminate Jericho. Titus tries to eliminate them both but they hang on. The next man out is Goldust. He rushes the ring as Cody waits for him. The two brothers start brawling in the middle of the ring. Ziggler comes in but Goldust drops him. Cody assists Goldust but they go back to it. Goldust with a right hand on Cody. Goldust dumps Cody over the top but he hangs on. Goldust stomps away on Cody and works him over in the corner. The crowd chants for Goldust.
Jericho fights off Titus. The next man out is David Otunga to boos from the crowd. Otunga hits the ring and goes after Goldust and then Jericho. Cody and Goldust try to eliminate Titus now. Cody tries to dump his brother but everyone hangs on. The next man out is Heath Slater. Slater goes after Otunga and then Goldust. Jericho works on Ziggler in the corner. The next man out is Sheamus to a big pop. Sheamus runs over Goldust, Otunga, Titus and then Ziggler. Cody catches a backbreaker. Slater catches the plunge, as does Jericho. Sheamus with forearms on Titus to the chest. Sheamus tosses Otunga into Titus and Titus is eliminated. Otunga gets forearms on the apron now. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick and Otunga is eliminated.
The next man out is Tensai. Tensai goes right after Sheamus and hits him with headbutts. An "Albert" chant breaks out. The next man out is Brodus Clay with Cameron and Naomi dancing. Clay runs to the ring and takes out Jericho, working him over in the corner. Tensai and Clay go at it now. Cody and Goldust tangle some more. Cody mocks his brother and gets sent to the apron. Goldust charges but Cody hits him in the gut. They fight on the apron now. Goldust clotheslines Cody into the ring. Cody sends Goldust into the ring post and Goldust is eliminated. Rey Mysterio is out next. He hits 619 on Ziggler and then 619 on Jericho. Rey with a big splash on Jericho. Cody grabs Rey and tries to dump him but Rey slides out. Sheamus tries to eliminate Tensai. Rey dropkicks Ziggler and the next man out is Darren Young at 15.
Several stars eliminate Clay with the help of Young. Kofi leaps in over Tensai and takes him over the top rope. Tensai is eliminated. Rey almost eliminates Young. Ziggler tries to eliminate Kofi but Kofi leaps out onto Tensai's back. Kofi gets slammed on the announcers table and his feet still haven't touched the floor. Kofi grabs JBL's announcers chair as the next man out is Bo Dallas from NXT. Dallas goes at it with Cody. Kofi puts JBL's chair on the floor and makes it hop like a pogo stick to the apron. The crowd pops as Kofi keeps himself in the match. Cody eliminates Young and then Kofi with Disaster kicks. Cody celebrates and here comes Sheamus but he hangs on. The next man out is The Godfather.
Godfather comes out with a couple of his ho's. He hits the ring but gets dropkicked right back out by Dolph Ziggler. Godfather is eliminated as everyone else looks on. Godfather puts his pimp gear back on and struts up the aisle with his girls. Jericho works over Dallas. The next man out is Wade Barrett. Barrett lays out Slater and goes after Mysterio, then Jericho. Barrett goes back to Slater and then hits a big sideslam on Sheamus. Barrett and Jericho work on eliminating Sheamus but he hangs on.
The next man out is John Cena at 19. Everyone looks on as Cena comes out. Cody, Barrett, Ziggler and Slater form a wall and attack Cena as he rushes the ring. Everyone goes after Cena but he fights them off. Cena eliminates Heath Slater and Cody Rhodes. Jericho and Cena go at it now. Jericho hangs on and Ziggler saves him. Cena goes after Dallas now. Dallas tries to eliminate Cena. The next man out is Damien Sandow. Sandow goes right to work on Dallas. Barrett catches Rey on the top and they both tangle on the apron. Barrett kicks Rey off the apron and Rey is eliminated. Barrett poses and turns around to shots from Sheamus. Jericho counters an Attitude Adjustment and goes for Walls of Jericho on Cena but can't get it. The next man out is Daniel Bryan. Bryan goes at it with Sandow and kicks away.
Bryan unloads with more kicks on Barrett. Bryan tries to eliminate Jericho and Sheamus tries to help him. Jericho hangs on as Sheamus takes Bryan to the corner. Dueling chants for Cena from the crowd as he fights off Barrett. Antonio Cesaro is the next man out. Cesaro and Sheamus go at it. Dallas and Ziggler fight in the corner. Cesaro drops Dallas with an uppercut and works over Jericho in the corner. The next man out is The Great Khali. Khali chops Barrett and Sandow. Dallas catches one too. Khali drops Jericho and puts a boot to his throat. Cesaro works on eliminating Sheamus still. The next man out is Kane.
Kane hits Jericho and goes to eliminate Ziggler but he hangs on. Kane with shots for Jericho and Khali. Sheams works on Sandow in the corner. Khali fights Kane and Bryan off. Sandow pushes Sheamus over the ropes but he hangs on. Kane with a headbutt for Cesaro. The next man out is Zack Ryder. Ryder leaps and takes down Ziggler. Bryan eliminates Kane. Kane looks shocked. Cesaro knocks Bryan off the apron into Kane's arms. Bryan wants Kane to take him back to the apron but Kane says no. Kane drops Bryan and Bryan is eliminated. The next man out is Randy Orton to a big pop. Orton takes down Barrett, Sheamus and Ziggler. Then Ryder and Dallas. Orton tosses Dallas but he hangs on. Orton with a double draping DDT for Ziggler and Dallas. Ryder catches a RKO. Ryder is eliminated. Cesaro and Barrett beat Orton down in the corner now. The next man out is Jinder Mahal at 27.
Cesaro works on Cena but he hangs on. Cena turns it around and eliminates Cesaro. Jericho works on Ziggler. Cena catapults Ziggler to the apron but he hangs on. Sheamus with a clothesline for Barrett. The next man out is The Miz. Miz meets Cesaro on the aisle and they brawl. Miz drops Cesaro and heads to the ring. Cole says Miz injured his ankle in the pre-show earlier tonight. Jinder is eliminated. Sin Cara is out at 29. Cara kicks Ziggler in the head and then goes after Jericho and Sandow. Sheamus works on eliminating Cena but he hangs on. Dallas works on eliminating Barrett and gets him. Barrett is eliminated. Ziggler works on Cena. Jericho hangs on. Barrett comes back and pulls Dallas out, eliminating him. Barrett waits for Dallas to get up and hits the Bullhammer elbow on the floor. The last man out at 30 is Ryback.
Ryback comes in and unloads, shoving everyone down. Ryback scoops Sandow and eliminates him. Cara comes with kicks but Ryback just takes them. Cara comes from the top but Ryback shoves him out of the air. Ryback lifts Cara high and throws him out on Sandow. Cara is eliminated. Miz comes from behind on Ryback but Ryback tosses him. Miz is eliminated. Jericho with a Codebreaker on Ryback. Jericho drops Cena and hits the Lionsault. Jericho tosses Sheamus to the apron and dropkicks him. Sheamus hangs on. Jericho with clotheslines for Orton and a Codebreaker to Ziggler. Ziggler superkicks Jericho and he is eliminated. It's down to Ziggler, Sheamus, Orton, Ryback and Cena.
Orton winth clotheslines nd RKO's for Cena and Ziggler. RKO for Sheamus now. Orton with the second rope DDT to Ryback. Orton goes for RKO on Ryback but Ryback clotheslines him out. Orton is eliminated. Bodies flying everywhere now. Ziggler hangs on but Sheamus hits a big Brogue Kick on the apron and he goes down. Ziggler is eliminated. It's down to Cena, Sheamus and Ryback now. Cena and Sheamus attack Ryback and hit a double suplex. Cena and Sheams look up at the WrestleMania 29 sign before they start brawling. Cena hits his usual moves and calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Ryback stops it with a massive clothesline on Cena. Ryback goes for Shellshocked on Sheamus but it's blocked. Sheamus with White Noise on Ryback. Sheamus readies for a Brogue on Ryback but it's blocked. Ryback scoops Sheamus up and over the top rope. It's down to Cena and Ryback.
Ryback gets a chant going. Cena starts brawling. Ryback hits a spinebuster and the chant starts up. Ryback readies for a big clothesline but Cena drops him and locks in the STF. Cena keeps the hold locked as the crowd does dueling chants. Ryback looks to have passed out in the hold. Cena rolls him over and tries to pick him up. Cena picks Ryback and sits him on the top rope. Ryback wakes up and fights back with a Thesz Press. Ryback slams Cena's head into the mat. Ryback scoops Cena but Cena slides out. Cena shoves Ryback over the top for the win.
Winner: John Cena
- After the match, Cena's music hits and he celebrates as the pyro goes off. Cena meets with a fan at ringside and then an anti-Cena fan before going back in the ring for one last pose.
- We get a promo for tonight's main event.
- Josh Mathews is backstage with The Rock. Rock cuts Mathews off and the crowd chants for Rocky. Rock says finally he has come back to Phoenix. Rock addresses The Shield attacking him and talks about always facing tough situations. Rock brings up his mother beating cancer and being here to watch him tonight. We see Rock's mom in the crowd. Rock says he will never quit. Rock says Punk thinks the fans don't count. Rock says the fans count to him for all the love, all the support. Rock says it inspires him. Rock goes on and says tonight, they will end 434 days of misery. Rock says tonight is the night we beat CM Punk, win the WWE title and become one.
WWE Title Match: The Rock vs. CM Punk
We go to the ring and out first comes WWE Champion CM Punk with Paul Heyman. Out next comes The Rock to a big pop from the crowd.
- The 2013 WWE Royal Rumble pre-show opens with Matt Striker and Tony Dawson at ringside as fans pile into the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. They hype tonight's pay-per-view card.
- Josh Mathews is backstage with Big Show. We see footage of Alberto Del Rio winning the World Heavyweight Title three weeks ago. Show is upset the footage was shown again. He goes on about Del Rio and says he hit the lottery when he won the title. Show says Del Rio doesn't have what it takes to beat him twice. Show says it's not happening. WWE's pre-show feed keeps stalling. The feed comes back on and we're in the middle of a "Rumble by the Numbers" video.
WWE United States Title Match: The Miz vs. Antonio Cesaro
We go to the ring and out first comes WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro. The Miz is out next to a decent reaction.
They lock up and Miz goes for a quick roll up. They lock up again and Miz applies a headlock. Cesaro fights out and they trade holds. Cesaro drops Miz but misses a clothesline. Miz drops Cesaro for 2. Miz with another roll up for 2. Miz with a headlock takeodown now. More back and forth action. Cesaro catches Miz in mid-air with a backbreaker for 2. Miz comes back but Cesaro catches him in mid-air with a slam this time for another pin attempt. Cesaro with another 2 count. Cesaro uses the ropes now.
Cesaro with an uppercut and a gutwrench suplex for a 2 count. Cesaro with lefts and rights in the corner now. Miz fights back and charges but once again gets caught in mid-air with a big slam for another pin attempt. Cesaro with a chest stomp and kick to the back. Miz fights out of a hold and hits the backbreaker neckbreaker combo. Miz unloads in the corner and hits a big clothesline. Miz goes to the top but lands bad on his leg after Cesaro counters. Miz still manages to hit a DDT for 2. Cesaro gets caught with his feet on the ropes. More back and forth. Miz with a big kick to the face. More back and forth. Cesaro gets the win with The Neutralizer.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
- We get a hype video for CM Punk vs. The Rock.
- The 2013 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view kicks off with a hype video for tonight's 30-man main event. The focus shifts to CM Punk's WWE Title reign and The Rock challenging him tonight.
- We're live from a sold out US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona as the pyro goes off. Michael Cole welcomes us to the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania. He's joined by JBL and Jerry Lawler.
Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Title: Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio
Lilian Garcia is in the ring for tonight's opener. She introduces Big Show and out he comes first. We see Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez walking backstage. Ricardo seems concerned for Del Rio. Bret Hart appears and shakes Del Rio's hand, wishing him good luck. Hart says Big Show is about as big and bad as they come. Hart says Del Rio reminds him of a Mexican Bret Hart. Del Rio leaves and Ricardo tells Bret how big of a fan he is. Del Rio comes back to get Ricardo. Bret gives his shades to Ricardo and finally they head to the ring. We meet the announcers and it feels like they are stalling. Ricardo comes out wearing Bret's glasses and begins the introduction for Del Rio. Finally out comes the World Heavyweight Champion.
The bell rings and Show takes Del Rio to the corner with body shots and a headbutt. Show with a massive chop to the chest. Del Rio with a kick and punches. Show runs over Del Rio and knocks him down. Show with a scoop slam and some trash talking to the fans. Del Rio fights back and goes to the second rope. Show knocks him out in mid-air with a big chop to the chest. Show with another headbutt and a big back splash int he corner. Del Rio dropkicks Show's leg out and he goes down. Del Rio with a big kick to the head. Del Rio with another kick. Show comes back and goes for a powerbomb. Del Rio turns it into a hurricanrana and goes back up top. Del Rio comes down with a seated senton.
Del Rio goes for the cross armbreaker but Show turns it into a big slam. The referee counts but Del Rio makes it up. Show with another big chop to the chest. Show brings a steel chair in the ring but Del Rio kicks it into him. Show grabs the chair and unloads on Show with it. Fans chant "si" as Del Rio beats on Show with the chair. Del Rio comes off the top but Show grabs him and chokeslams him. Show takes it to the floor and slams Del Rio. The referee continues to count but Del Rio makes it up and stumbles around towards the ramp. Del Rio hits Show with a knee below the belt. Del Rio with a kick to the head and Show goes down.
The referee counts but Show makes it up at 9. Show fights back and they're at the entrance area now. Del Rio gets dropped into the floor. Show whips Del Rio into part of the set. Show beats Del Rio over the back with a large plastic bulb from the set and then breaks it. Show sets up a table and smacks Del Rio in the chest again. Show climbs up on part of the set and brings Del Rio up by his hair. Show fights Del Rio up higher on the set piece. Show tosses Del Rio by his throat off the set and through a table. Del Rio smacks his head on the floor it looks like. Del Rio barely gets up at 9 and falls right back down. Show grabs Del Rio and brings him back towards the ring.
Show brings it back in the ring and calls for the knockout punch. Del Rio avoids it and stumbles out to the floor. Show grabs a piece of the steel steps but Del Rio moves out of the way. Ricardo attacks Show from behind but Show tosses him into the fan barrier. Show goes for a spear but Del Rio moves and Show crashes through the fan barrier. As the referee counts, Del Rio waits. Del Rio grabs a chair and wails away on Show's back with it. Del Rio puts Show's arm over the steel steps piece and whacks it with the chair. Del Rio grabs a fire extinguisher and sprays Show with it. Show rolls in the ring and Del Rio follows with a chair. Fans chant "this is awesome" as Del Rio applies the cross armbreaker while Ricardo duct tapes Show's feet to the bottom rope. Del Rio breaks the hold and the ref counts. Show is stuck to the bottom rope and can't get up. Del Rio wins the match.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
- Striker is backstage with AJ Lee, Big E Langston and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says Vickie Guerrero is bitter for making him pick 1 or 2 in the Royal Rumble. Ziggler picks 1 because that's what he is. AJ interrupts Striker and makes him run off or face Langston. Langston takes the mic and talks like a crazy sportscaster, asking Ziggler about the Rumble. Ziggler says he's going to win tonight, cash in later and unify the WWE Title and the World Title at WrestleMania.
- We see a video from Antonio Cesaro taped earlier. Cesaro talks about how he will win the Royal Rumble tonight. Darren Young and Titus O'Neil also talk about winning the match. Randy Orton is up next. He says tonight is his kind of night. Orton says he needs the win and he's going to take it. John Cena is up next. Cena says at the end of the night, everyone will realize the champ is here. Wade Barrett speaks next. He says he will restore credibility to the Rumble tonight. Sheamus says it's time to fight. Ryback is up last. Every 90 seconds a Superstar enters the match and he will just say feed me more.
- We get a look back at the pre-show where Antonio Cesaro retained over The Miz.
WWE Tag Team Title Match: Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
We go to the ring and out first comes Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes. The WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan are out next. It will be Rhodes and Bryan starting things out.
Back and forth to start the match. Bryan ends up applying a surfboard submission. Bryan tags Kane in and he dropkicks Rhodes. Kane with a 2 count. Kane takes Rhodes to the corner and works him over. Cody fights back and dropkicks Kane into the corner. Sandow tags in for some double teaming but Kane fights them off. Kane scoop slams Sandow and drops an elbow for a 2 count. Bryan comes back in and hits Sandow with a bunch of kicks as the crowd chants "yes." Kane tags back in and boots Sandow in the head. Sandow blocks a shot but Kane kicks him out of the ring. Cody comes in but Kane sends him to the floor also. Bryan runs the ropes and dives out on both men.
They come back in and Cody helps Sandow send Cody to the floor. Sandow rams Bryan into the apron twice and brings it back in. Sandow stomps away and tags in Rhodes. Cody goes at it with Bryan now. Sandow comes back in and drops an elbow for 2. Sandow with the side Russian leg sweep and then the Elbow of Disdain on Bryan for another 2 count. Sandow with another quick pin attempt. Sandow drops knees and covers again. Cody comes back in and takes Bryan to the corner. Bryan turns it around with a kick to the jaw. Cody tags in Sandow and stops Bryan from tagging. Cody comes right back in for some double teaming. Cody with a submission but Bryan fights out. Kane finally comes in for a chokeslam but Sandow counters. Kane drops Sandow with a big right hand and a clothesline in the corner. Another splash in the corner by Kane. Kane with the sideslam on Sandow for 2.
Kane goes to the top but Sandow cuts him off and they trade shots. Kane sends Sandow to the mat. Kane comes crashing down but Sandow moves and hits a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Rhodes comes in and they block a double chokeslam. They hit a double chokeslam on Kane but didn't see that Bryan tagged himself in. Sandow turns around to a missile dropkick from Bryan. Kane chokeslams Cody. Bryan with the Yes Lock on Sandow now. Sandow taps out to end the match.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
- We see the "Rumble by the Numbers" video again.
- Kane and Daniel Bryan are backstage when Vickie Guerrero walks up. She hands them their entry numbers for the Rumble match. Kane says Bryan's number is interesting. Bryan wants Kane to show him his number now. Kane says no. Kane says it's a bad strategy to reveal your number. Kane says he will see Bryan out there.
- We get a RAW Roulette promo for tomorrow night.
- We see highlights from the Royal Rumble Fan Fest on Saturday, including Bo Dallas winning the NXT tournament to earn a spot in the 30-man Royal Rumble.
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
We go to the ring and Justin Roberts is in the ring explaining the rules of the Royal Rumble. Out first comes Dolph Ziggler with AJ Lee and Big E Langston. AJ kisses Ziggler and he heads to the ring by himself. Ziggler takes the mic and says he's right where he belongs - in the spotlight. Ziggler says when the match is over, it will still be just him in the ring alone. Out comes the number 2 entrant - Chris Jericho, to a huge pop.
Jericho gets a big entrance and the crowd goes nuts. The bell rings and here we go. Back and forth to start the match. Jericho avoids elimination and clotheslines Ziggler to the apron. The crowd chants "you still got it" at Jericho. Jericho superplexes Ziggler as Cody Rhodes makes his way out next.
Jericho with clothesliens on Cody. Cody and Ziggler team up and take Jericho down in the corner. Jericho applies Walls of Jericho on Cody but Ziggler breaks it. The next man out is Kofi Kingston. He leaps off th top and takes out Cody. Kofi unloads on Cody but gets cut off. Jericho works over Cody now as Kofi tries to dump Ziggler. Cody tries to eliminate both of them. The next man out is Santino Marella, returning from injury.
Santino tries to eliminate Cody and Jericho but they hang on and come back in. Santino stops everything in the middle of the ring and pulls out the Cobra. He hits Kofi with it. Jericho and Cody take out Santino and he's eliminated. Jericho tries to take Cody out now. Cody and Ziggler try to eliminate Kofi now. Kofi fights them off and the next man out is Drew McIntyre. Drew goes at it with everyone but Kofi fires back. Drew with a big boot and Kofi goes down. Cody stomps on Jericho now. Drew tries to eliminate Kofi and Jericho tries to get them both out.
Drew works over Kofi in the corner now. Jericho almost gets eliminated but he hangs on without touching the floor. The next man out is Titus O'Neil at #7. Titus runs over Cody and Kofi. Titus double clotheslines them when they try to double team him. Titus manhandles Kofi and tosses him across the ring. Jericho eliminates McIntyre. Ziggler tries to eliminate Jericho. Titus tries to eliminate them both but they hang on. The next man out is Goldust. He rushes the ring as Cody waits for him. The two brothers start brawling in the middle of the ring. Ziggler comes in but Goldust drops him. Cody assists Goldust but they go back to it. Goldust with a right hand on Cody. Goldust dumps Cody over the top but he hangs on. Goldust stomps away on Cody and works him over in the corner. The crowd chants for Goldust.
Jericho fights off Titus. The next man out is David Otunga to boos from the crowd. Otunga hits the ring and goes after Goldust and then Jericho. Cody and Goldust try to eliminate Titus now. Cody tries to dump his brother but everyone hangs on. The next man out is Heath Slater. Slater goes after Otunga and then Goldust. Jericho works on Ziggler in the corner. The next man out is Sheamus to a big pop. Sheamus runs over Goldust, Otunga, Titus and then Ziggler. Cody catches a backbreaker. Slater catches the plunge, as does Jericho. Sheamus with forearms on Titus to the chest. Sheamus tosses Otunga into Titus and Titus is eliminated. Otunga gets forearms on the apron now. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick and Otunga is eliminated.
The next man out is Tensai. Tensai goes right after Sheamus and hits him with headbutts. An "Albert" chant breaks out. The next man out is Brodus Clay with Cameron and Naomi dancing. Clay runs to the ring and takes out Jericho, working him over in the corner. Tensai and Clay go at it now. Cody and Goldust tangle some more. Cody mocks his brother and gets sent to the apron. Goldust charges but Cody hits him in the gut. They fight on the apron now. Goldust clotheslines Cody into the ring. Cody sends Goldust into the ring post and Goldust is eliminated. Rey Mysterio is out next. He hits 619 on Ziggler and then 619 on Jericho. Rey with a big splash on Jericho. Cody grabs Rey and tries to dump him but Rey slides out. Sheamus tries to eliminate Tensai. Rey dropkicks Ziggler and the next man out is Darren Young at 15.
Several stars eliminate Clay with the help of Young. Kofi leaps in over Tensai and takes him over the top rope. Tensai is eliminated. Rey almost eliminates Young. Ziggler tries to eliminate Kofi but Kofi leaps out onto Tensai's back. Kofi gets slammed on the announcers table and his feet still haven't touched the floor. Kofi grabs JBL's announcers chair as the next man out is Bo Dallas from NXT. Dallas goes at it with Cody. Kofi puts JBL's chair on the floor and makes it hop like a pogo stick to the apron. The crowd pops as Kofi keeps himself in the match. Cody eliminates Young and then Kofi with Disaster kicks. Cody celebrates and here comes Sheamus but he hangs on. The next man out is The Godfather.
Godfather comes out with a couple of his ho's. He hits the ring but gets dropkicked right back out by Dolph Ziggler. Godfather is eliminated as everyone else looks on. Godfather puts his pimp gear back on and struts up the aisle with his girls. Jericho works over Dallas. The next man out is Wade Barrett. Barrett lays out Slater and goes after Mysterio, then Jericho. Barrett goes back to Slater and then hits a big sideslam on Sheamus. Barrett and Jericho work on eliminating Sheamus but he hangs on.
The next man out is John Cena at 19. Everyone looks on as Cena comes out. Cody, Barrett, Ziggler and Slater form a wall and attack Cena as he rushes the ring. Everyone goes after Cena but he fights them off. Cena eliminates Heath Slater and Cody Rhodes. Jericho and Cena go at it now. Jericho hangs on and Ziggler saves him. Cena goes after Dallas now. Dallas tries to eliminate Cena. The next man out is Damien Sandow. Sandow goes right to work on Dallas. Barrett catches Rey on the top and they both tangle on the apron. Barrett kicks Rey off the apron and Rey is eliminated. Barrett poses and turns around to shots from Sheamus. Jericho counters an Attitude Adjustment and goes for Walls of Jericho on Cena but can't get it. The next man out is Daniel Bryan. Bryan goes at it with Sandow and kicks away.
Bryan unloads with more kicks on Barrett. Bryan tries to eliminate Jericho and Sheamus tries to help him. Jericho hangs on as Sheamus takes Bryan to the corner. Dueling chants for Cena from the crowd as he fights off Barrett. Antonio Cesaro is the next man out. Cesaro and Sheamus go at it. Dallas and Ziggler fight in the corner. Cesaro drops Dallas with an uppercut and works over Jericho in the corner. The next man out is The Great Khali. Khali chops Barrett and Sandow. Dallas catches one too. Khali drops Jericho and puts a boot to his throat. Cesaro works on eliminating Sheamus still. The next man out is Kane.
Kane hits Jericho and goes to eliminate Ziggler but he hangs on. Kane with shots for Jericho and Khali. Sheams works on Sandow in the corner. Khali fights Kane and Bryan off. Sandow pushes Sheamus over the ropes but he hangs on. Kane with a headbutt for Cesaro. The next man out is Zack Ryder. Ryder leaps and takes down Ziggler. Bryan eliminates Kane. Kane looks shocked. Cesaro knocks Bryan off the apron into Kane's arms. Bryan wants Kane to take him back to the apron but Kane says no. Kane drops Bryan and Bryan is eliminated. The next man out is Randy Orton to a big pop. Orton takes down Barrett, Sheamus and Ziggler. Then Ryder and Dallas. Orton tosses Dallas but he hangs on. Orton with a double draping DDT for Ziggler and Dallas. Ryder catches a RKO. Ryder is eliminated. Cesaro and Barrett beat Orton down in the corner now. The next man out is Jinder Mahal at 27.
Cesaro works on Cena but he hangs on. Cena turns it around and eliminates Cesaro. Jericho works on Ziggler. Cena catapults Ziggler to the apron but he hangs on. Sheamus with a clothesline for Barrett. The next man out is The Miz. Miz meets Cesaro on the aisle and they brawl. Miz drops Cesaro and heads to the ring. Cole says Miz injured his ankle in the pre-show earlier tonight. Jinder is eliminated. Sin Cara is out at 29. Cara kicks Ziggler in the head and then goes after Jericho and Sandow. Sheamus works on eliminating Cena but he hangs on. Dallas works on eliminating Barrett and gets him. Barrett is eliminated. Ziggler works on Cena. Jericho hangs on. Barrett comes back and pulls Dallas out, eliminating him. Barrett waits for Dallas to get up and hits the Bullhammer elbow on the floor. The last man out at 30 is Ryback.
Ryback comes in and unloads, shoving everyone down. Ryback scoops Sandow and eliminates him. Cara comes with kicks but Ryback just takes them. Cara comes from the top but Ryback shoves him out of the air. Ryback lifts Cara high and throws him out on Sandow. Cara is eliminated. Miz comes from behind on Ryback but Ryback tosses him. Miz is eliminated. Jericho with a Codebreaker on Ryback. Jericho drops Cena and hits the Lionsault. Jericho tosses Sheamus to the apron and dropkicks him. Sheamus hangs on. Jericho with clotheslines for Orton and a Codebreaker to Ziggler. Ziggler superkicks Jericho and he is eliminated. It's down to Ziggler, Sheamus, Orton, Ryback and Cena.
Orton winth clotheslines nd RKO's for Cena and Ziggler. RKO for Sheamus now. Orton with the second rope DDT to Ryback. Orton goes for RKO on Ryback but Ryback clotheslines him out. Orton is eliminated. Bodies flying everywhere now. Ziggler hangs on but Sheamus hits a big Brogue Kick on the apron and he goes down. Ziggler is eliminated. It's down to Cena, Sheamus and Ryback now. Cena and Sheamus attack Ryback and hit a double suplex. Cena and Sheams look up at the WrestleMania 29 sign before they start brawling. Cena hits his usual moves and calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Ryback stops it with a massive clothesline on Cena. Ryback goes for Shellshocked on Sheamus but it's blocked. Sheamus with White Noise on Ryback. Sheamus readies for a Brogue on Ryback but it's blocked. Ryback scoops Sheamus up and over the top rope. It's down to Cena and Ryback.
Ryback gets a chant going. Cena starts brawling. Ryback hits a spinebuster and the chant starts up. Ryback readies for a big clothesline but Cena drops him and locks in the STF. Cena keeps the hold locked as the crowd does dueling chants. Ryback looks to have passed out in the hold. Cena rolls him over and tries to pick him up. Cena picks Ryback and sits him on the top rope. Ryback wakes up and fights back with a Thesz Press. Ryback slams Cena's head into the mat. Ryback scoops Cena but Cena slides out. Cena shoves Ryback over the top for the win.
Winner: John Cena
- After the match, Cena's music hits and he celebrates as the pyro goes off. Cena meets with a fan at ringside and then an anti-Cena fan before going back in the ring for one last pose.
- We get a promo for tonight's main event.
- Josh Mathews is backstage with The Rock. Rock cuts Mathews off and the crowd chants for Rocky. Rock says finally he has come back to Phoenix. Rock addresses The Shield attacking him and talks about always facing tough situations. Rock brings up his mother beating cancer and being here to watch him tonight. We see Rock's mom in the crowd. Rock says he will never quit. Rock says Punk thinks the fans don't count. Rock says the fans count to him for all the love, all the support. Rock says it inspires him. Rock goes on and says tonight, they will end 434 days of misery. Rock says tonight is the night we beat CM Punk, win the WWE title and become one.
WWE Title Match: The Rock vs. CM Punk
We go to the ring and out first comes WWE Champion CM Punk with Paul Heyman. Out next comes The Rock to a big pop from the crowd.
The bell rings and they start brawling. Punk comes back with kicks and beats Rock down in the corner. Rock with a big clothesline out of the corner. Punk blocks a Rock Bottom. Rock sends Punk to the floor in front of Heyman. Rock follows and slams Punk's face into the announcers table. Rock hits a big right hand and starts taking the Spanish announce table apart but Punk rolls him into the ring. Dueling chants from the crowd now. Punk comes back in but Rock meets him with a right hand. Rock works Punk over and whips him into the fan barrier on the floor. Heyman runs over and attacks Rock from behind while the referee isn't looking. Rock backs Heyman up but Punk attacks from behind and lays Rock out on the floor.
Punk drops Rock's ribs over the top of the barrier and brings it back in the ring. Punk with knees to the gut and a kick to the back. Rock fights out of a body scissors but Punk drops him again and applies another submission. Punk breaks the hold and Rock meets him with big right hands. Rock with an inverted atomic drop but Punk stops him with a heel kick to the face. Punk keeps control and wails away with forearms to the chest. Punk with more offense on the midsection. Heyman with another cheap shot as the referee is distracted. Punk kicks Rock out of the ring but lands odd on his recently injured knee. Punk goes to the top and leaps out onto Rock with a forearm.
They come back in and Rock starts working on Punk's injured knee. Punk sends Rock right back out to the floor. Punk leaps out to the floor again and takes Rock out with a suicide dive. Punk brings it back in the ring. Punk springboards in but misses. Rock starts stomping and working on Punk's knee. Rock with a leg sweep and a 2 count. Rock goes for a Rock Bottom but Punk fights him off with elbows. Punk goes for a GTS but Rock catches the leg and applies a Sharpshooter but Punk rolls through that. Punk applies the Anaconda Vice.
Rock rolls through for a 2 count. Rock with right hands now. Rock nails a DDT as Heyman looks on. Rock readies for another Rock Bottom attempt but Punk catches it and rolls Rock up. Rock rolls through and goes for another Sharpshooter. This time he gets it locked in. Punk makes it to the bottom rope and breaks the hold. Punk rolls out to the floor and Rock follows. Rock with a clothesline on the floor. Rock takes apart the Spanish announce table again. Punk crawls in the ring but Rock pulls him back out. Rock slams Punk into the announce table and lays him on top of it. More right hands from Rock. Punk kicks him in the head. Punk takes Rock up on the table and calls for GTS. Rock blocks it. Rock goes for a Rock Bottom but the table collapses and they just fall. Rock clutches his leg as he tries to get up.
Rock rolls in the ring to break the count. Rock goes back out and hits a Rock Bottom on the floor. The referee starts counting again but Rock brings Punk back in the ring. Rock with a 2 count. They get up and Punk lands a huge roundhouse kick and Rock goes down. They make it up at the 9 count. Punk with a big kick to the leg. Rock with a right. Punk with a right. They trade shots some more. Rock fires away with punches. Punk with forearms. Rock runs the ropes and hits a flying shot. Rock with a spinebuster. Rock calls for The People's Elbow but when he goes to hit it, the lights go out. We hear a fight going down it sounds like. The lights are still out but Cole is yelling about The Shield. They put Rock through an announce table with a triple powerbomb. The lights come on and Rock is laid outside the ring. No sign of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose or Roman Reigns. Punk starts smiling and laughing in the ring.
- After the bell, we see Rock's mother in the crowd looking worried. Punk takes his title and celebrates as his music plays. Punk stomps on Rock a few times in the corner and kicks him out of the ring before posing on the turnbuckles.
- Vince McMahon's music hits and out he comes. Vince says Punk's celebration is over. Vince says if The Shield got involved, he said he would strip Punk. Vince says yes, technically we couldn't see that The Shield got involved. Vince goes to strip Punk of the title as Heyman pleads from his knees. Rock takes the mic from the ground and says we ain't ending this night like that. Rock says Vince don't take the title from Punk, he will. Rock tells Vince to re-start the match now.
Vince restarts the match and here we go. Punk attacks Rock coming in the ring and unloads on him. The crowd is all into it. Punk nails a knee to the head int he corner. Punk goes to the top for the big elbow drop and nails it. Punk covers for a 2 count. Fans chant for Rocky as Punk calls for GTS. Rock slides out of GTS and hits a spinebuster off the ropes. Rock nails The People's Elbow this time and covers Punk for the win and the WWE Title.
Winner and New WWE Champion: The Rock
- After the bell, Rock takes the WWE Title and celebrates as his mother looks on and cheers. Rock holds the title up and says it's for the people. We go to replays of Rock winning. Rock celebrates some more before Royal Rumble goes off the air.
According to the Wrestling Observer, there is very little information regarding the outcome of the TNA vs WWE legal issues. Both TNA and the WWE have so far refused to issue any kind of public comment on the dismissal of the lawsuit.
The report goes on to say that WWE top officials issued strict orders not to have any kind of contact, including casual social contact with any TNA employees. The order was rumored to be so strict that WWE official Gerald Brisco was told to not have any contact with his son Wes Brisco who is under contract with TNA Impact Wrestling. That mandate included Ric Flair who was still bound by a lengthy no compete clause with TNA. Dave Meltzer indicates that Flair's non-compete clause ended with TNA on September 2012.
Upon hearing that former TNA employee Brian Wittenstein had leaked confidential TNA contractual information to his new employer, the WWE, TNA attempted to obtain an injunction against the WWE preventing them from hiring any TNA employees. A judge ruled against TNA when WWE corporate attourney Jerry McDevitt assured the judge that WWE had no interest in hiring Ric Flair or anyone else currently or formerly employed by TNA. The original legal complaint filed by TNA stated that Flair wanted out of his TNA contract because he had been given a better offer by the WWE
WWE re-started talks with Flair when TNA left the case dormant. The belief is that Flair may have agreed to a nightly appearance deal with WWE so it wouldn't prevent him from taking part in outside projects like his recent one with All Japan Pro Wrestling.
* WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No kicked off the show. Kane said despite what went down on RAW, he wants to prove that Team Hell No hasn't gone soft and will do so at the Royal Rumble. Big Show comes out, complains how he has been treated by Alberto Del Rio and tells both Kane and Daniel Bryan to leave. Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes come out to remind Kane and Bryan about the tag title match before the Rumble. Alberto Del Rio comes out next and Booker T announces a six man tag team match for later tonight.
* Sheamus def. WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett in a non-title match.
* Natalya def. Rosa Mendes.
* WWE Champion CM Punk and Paul Heyman were out next. Punk talked about his reign as champion. Heyman reads the executive order from WWE stating that if The Shield interferes this Sunday at the Royal Rumble then Punk will be stripped of the title. Punk then calls out The Shield. They come out and circle the ring. Punk tells them all to stay out of his way. The Rock comes out and exchanges words with Punk on the mic. When Rock leaves, Punk picks up the mic and starts trashing Sacramento. Rock returns to the ring and gives Punk a Rock Bottom.
* Randy Orton def. Drew McIntyre via DQ. Orton givesn an RKO to all members of 3MB.
* The Miz def. Darren Young.
* WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio and WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) def. Big Show, Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes.
- Below is the final card for tonight's WWE Royal Rumble
pay-per-view. Remember to join us
tonight at 7:30pm EST for live coverage beginning with the pre-show.
WWE Title
Match The Rock vs.
CM Punk
Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Title
Match Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio
WWE Tag Team Title Match Cody Rhodes and Damien
Sandow vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
30-Man Royal Rumble
Match John Cena, Sheamus, Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, Heath Slater,
Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, Antonio Cesaro, Wade Barrett, The Miz, Ryback, Bo
Dallas, Kane, Daniel Bryan, The Great Khali, Kofi Kingston, Darren Young, Titus
O'Neil
WWE United States Title Match (Pre-show) The
Miz vs. Antonio Cesaro
- As noted, 8 WWE NXT Superstars will compete in a tournament at today's Royal Rumble Fan Fest
in Phoenix to earn a spot in Sunday's 30-man match. A number of other NXT talents have made the trip to Phoenix,
including Paige and some of the other popular Divas.
- Speaking of the 30-man Rumble match, WWE has the
confirmed list to
17 names now. The winner of the NXT tournament will make 18 confirmed entrants:
* NXT tournament winner * Dolph Ziggler (either #1 or #2) * John
Cena * Sheamus * Randy Orton * Ryback * The Miz * Wade
Barrett * Antonio Cesaro * Kane * Daniel Bryan * Kofi Kingston
* Titus O'Neil * Darren Young
* Heath Slater * Drew McIntyre * Jinder Mahal * The Great Khali
Zack Ryder Reveals He Overcame Cancer Posted by Steve Carrier on 01/25/2013 at 11:25 AM
Zack Ryder reveals in the February 2013 issue of the WWE Magazine that while he was enrolled in high school, he overcame cancer.
When I was in high school, I had cancer. Its not something I talk about a lot because I dont want to turn it into a sympathy issue. To make a long story short, one summer I found a lump on my foot. It was a tumor and was removed, but a year later, the doctors found that it had returned in my lungs. They called the cancer a Synovial Sarcoma. The scars on my chest are from ports they inserted to put medicine into my body. It was scary. I had no white blood cells at one point, and my body couldnt fight off infection. It was brutal, and I missed an entire year of school, but Im completely healthy now, and Ive been cancer-free ever since.
The February 2013 issue of WWE Magazine is available on newsstands everywhere.
London24.com concerning the Road To Lockdown UK Tour
stops, TNA British Boot Camp, TNA's Ratings success in the UK, WWE and more.
Below is a quick recap:
On The (Currently Ongoing) Road
To Lockdown UK Tour:
This year on the
tour we are bringing the steel cage over for the first time, plus were going to
record a month worth of television in the UK which Im so excited
about
On TNA British Boot Camp winner Rockstar
Spud:
They were all great
and do all have great personalities, but he had a few more years on the other
guys.
We did a great job
finding the top talent over here and it was a tremendous success. Adding
Rockstar Spud to the roster is going to be really interesting and I cant wait
to see what hes got.
Attributing the English
Fans for TNA's Continued Success and the WWE:
I feel this is a
tipping point and this year is going to be big for us
A big part of our
expansion has been the UK and we are the best right now. We have the best
talent, our ratings are better and for a company that never acknowledged us the
big guys are starting to copy us.
Ik ben Boon Kenneth, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Sting.
Ik ben een man en woon in Dworp (Belgie) en mijn beroep is .
Ik ben geboren op 05/06/1989 en ben nu dus 36 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Worstelen en films.
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