Hey everyone. It is Royal Rumble time! I will have live, up to the minute results here.
After the traditional opening, Michael Cole told us that we are starting with the Steel Cage Match!
Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Bryan (c) vs Big Show vs Mark Henry
Bryan tried escaping early, but Henry pulled him down and speared him. Henry and Show exchanged jabs then Show knocked him down. Show splashed into Henry a couple of times into the cage. Bryan tried escaping but Show pulled him down with a powerslam. Bryan tried again but Show got him with a slap. Show went for the KO Punch but Bryan moved and Show punched the cage. Bryan worked over Show's knee. Bryan then connected on some kick's with Henry. It wasn't enough to stop Henry from stopping Bryan from leaving the cage, then work Bryan over on the cage. Show caught Henry with a crescent kick then worked over Bryan. Show launched Bryan into the cage then worked over Bryan with some punches.
Henry got up and went to work on Show. Bryan caught Henry with a kick, but Show got back up and went to work on Bryan. Bryan caught Show with a kick then hit a tornado DDT from the top for two. Bryan then caught Big Show in the LaBell Lock, but Henry broke it up. Show then hit the KO Punch on Henry, but Bryan broke up the pin. Bryan went to escape, but Show stopped him. Bryan continued to try and climb over. Show had Bryan hanging in the air by his arm, but Bryan broke free and fell to the floor to win.
WINNER: Daniel Bryan in 12 minutes to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
**3/4: Nothing extraordinary but a decent three man cage match. Henry was obviously limited by his knee injury but played his part well. Bryan was good in the cowardly heel role trying to escape. Show continues to impress me in the last few months. Solid wrestling to start the show.
A John Cena video package aired, telling us how great of a human being he is.
Beth Phoenix, Natalya and the Bellas vs Eve, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox and Tamina
Natalya and Tamina started. Eve came in and hit her booty shake backflip. She then caught Beth with a kick and a clothesline, but Beth hit her with some knees to her spine. Eve escaped one of the Bellas and tagged in Alicia. Alicia then tagged in Kelly who hit her scissors tilt a whirl. A melee broke out. Kelly dove onto everyone from the top rope to the outside. Back in the ring, Beth tagged herself in and hit the GlamSlam on Kelly for the win.
WINNERS: Beth Phoenix, Natalya and the Bellas
After replaying what happened to Ryder on RAW, he showed up in a wheelchair and back brace. John Laurinaitis came in and told Zack he had his own private dressing room and that if he needed anything to not hesitate and ask. "Woo Woo Woo, you know it!" Ha. I love Laurinaitis. Eve came in and told him he had done enough and yelled at Laurinaitis.
John Cena vs Kane
They started off with punches. Kane caught Cena with an elbow. Cena dumped Kane to the outside but Kane dragged him out. Cena reversed Kane into the steps. Back in the ring, Cena went for an AA but Kane countered. He caught Cena with a flying kick. Kane applied a chinlock. The two exchanged punches but Kane got the upper hand with a stiff upper cut. Kane applied another chinlock. Kane charged Cena in the corner, but Cena hit a drop toe hold. Cena went for a bulldog but got tossed by Kane. Kane caught a charging Cena with a clothesline. Kane eventually locked in the Suffocation Claw, but Cena countered into an STF that Kane rolled out of. Kane hit a side slam, then his clothesline from the top. Kane went for a chokeslam, but Cena ducked and went into CENA MODE!!!
Cena went for the "You Can't See Me," but Kane caught him and hit a big boot for two. Kane put Cena on the top, but Cena pushed Kane off and hit the Five Knucke Shuffle from the top rope. Cena went for the AA, but Kane caught him with an elbow. Cena kicked Kane's knee out, but Kane shoved Cena to the outside. The two brawled on the outside and there was a double countout.
Cena caught Kane with a light structure. They brawled into the backstage area. Kane caught Cena with a chair. They coincidentally fought to right in front of Zack Ryder's locker room. Kane kicked the door in and suffocated out Ryder then took him back to inside the arena. Kane dumped Ryder out of the wheelchair then into the ring. Eve ran out and begged Kane to stop. Cena ran out and went for the AA but his back gave out. Kane hit a chokeslam on Cena and left. Ryder was backboarded out.
Double Countout in 15 minutes
*: This angle, for some reason continues. I know they want Cena away from the WWE Title picture but this dragging on just makes things worse. The action was sub par at best. Zack Ryder gets buried even more. I don't know if there is anything to like about it. Assuming we get a re-match with a stipulation at Elimination Chamber.
A Rock video package aired.
Drew McIntyre vs Brodus Clay
Drew distracted Brouds by blowing a kiss to the girls and got some punched in, but Brodus fought black with a headbutt. He it the corner splash then the WHAT THE FUNK for the win.
WINNER: Brodus Clay
WWE Championship: C.M. Punk (c) vs Dolph Ziggler w/Special Guest Referee John Laurinaitis
John Laurinaitis said that in the interest of fairness, he will observe the officiating from the outside and allow another WWE official to referee. Before the start of the match Laurinaitis tossed Vickie from ringside. The two exchanged some quick moves to start. Punk gained control with some kicks. Punk tossed Ziggler into the ropes but Ziggler stopped himself and strutted. Punk went for the Anaconda Vice but Ziggler escaped. Punk locked in Ziggler in a gut wrench and hit some punches. Punk dropped Ziggler on the ropes then hit a suicide dive to the outside. Punk went to the top but Ziggler knocked Punk off the top and Punk hit his neck awkwardly. Ziggler hit multiple elbows on Punk then locked in a chinlock.
Punk and Ziggler exchanged punches. Dolph ducked a punch and locked in the sleeper. Punk got out but Ziggler hit a dropkick for two. Punk caught Ziggler mid air and hit a powerbomb for two. Nice move. Punk hit some chops, then a high knee and neckbreaker. Running knee then bulldog. Ziggler fought out of the GTS. Ziggler went for a catapult, but Punk caught himself and hit a crossbody for two. Punk kicked Ziggler in the head again for two. Punk hit the Macho Man elbow for another two. Ziggler countered out of another GTS and shoved Punk into the ref.
Punk locked in the Anaconda Vice and Ziggler was tapping, but Laurinaitis was too busy checking on the ref. Punk yelled at Laurinaitis. Punk rolled up Ziggler, still nothing. Punk went for the GTS, but kicked Laurinaitis and knocked him out of the ring. Punk hit the GTS but still no pin. Ziggler eventually hit the ZigZag, but only got a two. Ziggler looked frustrated and hit multiple punches and kicks. Ziggler went for the ZigZag again, but Punk caught him. Punk catapulted Ziggler into the post, then hit the GTS for the win. Laurinaitis also came in and made the count. Weird.
WINNER: C.M. Punk to retain the WWE Championship
***1/4: That was a little underwhelming. The action was still good, but I expected more. The ref bump was expected, but it didn't lead to anything much in the end. The match just seemed more like an angle to push tomorrow's RAW. So Ace wanted to show that he can be a good guy and save his job? Ziggler once again just seemed like a place holder.
WWE and YouTube are now partners I guess.
Wrestlemania is 63 days away.
Royal Rumble Match
Miz started as #1 as we already knew. Miz said everyone was making fun of him all day. But he is going to be the last man standing and go to Wrestlemania 28. Number 2 is Alex Riley. A-Ri tried dumping Miz but caught an elbow. Miz went over but hung on. He dropped the rope on Riley to eliminate him. #3 was R-Truth. Truth worked over Miz as Cody Rhodes came out at #4. Rhodes got the better of Truth as him and Miz worked Truth over. #5 is Justin Gabrel. He hit a flying crossbody on Rhodes and Miz. Rhodes eventually got the upper hand on him and worked him over with some kicks. #6 is Primo. Miz dumped R-Truth, then Truth took out Miz on the outside. #7 is Mick Foley. Foley dumped Primo over the top. Foley hit the double DDT on Cody. Alberto del Rio'S music hit at #8, but Ricardo came out instead. HA! Ricardo worked over Cody, then Justin Gabriel. Ricardo and Foley dumped Gabriel. #9 was Santino. Santino and Ricardo did some goofy chain wrestling, then Santino dumped Ricardo. Epico was out at #10, but he ate a Cobra then Mr.Socko and was eliminated. Miz came back in and worked over Foley. Cody dumped Santino, then saved Miz from Mr. Socko and eliminated Foley.
#11 is Kofi Kingston. Kofi hit a double boom drop. Jerry Lawler came in at #12. Lawler hit the punch on Miz, but Cody then dumped him over the top. Ezekiel Jackson ran out at #13. He dominated for a bit. Jinder Mahal slowly walked to the ring at #14. Khali walked to the ring at #15. He chopped everyone then dumped Mahal and Jackson. Hunico came out on a pimped out bike at #16. Booker T's music hit at #17. Miz tried to dump Kofi, but Kofi did a hand stand and walked to the steps. Dolph Ziggler walked out at #18. Hunico skinned the cat. Hacksaw Jim Duggan came out at #19. Duggan got a big pop and cleaned house. Duggan charged at Cody and missed and was dumped by him. Rhodes and Ziggler dumped Khali and Booker. Michael Cole is #20. Cole danced around the ring until Kharma came out at #21.
Cole went over the top himself and Booker and Lawler pulled him off the apron. Kharma tossed Hunico then Ziggler dumped Kharma. Sheamus came in at #22 and went after everyone. Sheamus caught Kofi and dumped him over the top. Road Dogg came out at #23. He got a big pop from the crowd. Jey Uso at #24 to no reaction. Jack Swagger ran to the ring at #25. Wade Barrett came out at #26. Barrett immdeiately eliminated Road Dogg then went to work on Sheamus. David Otunga came out at #27. Randy Orton at #28. Orton cleared house but was taken out by Cody. Orton hit a middle rope DDT on Dolph and Cody. He then dumped Jey Uso. RKO to Barrett and over the top Wade went. Jericho came out at #29. Jericho eliminated Otunga. Big Show entered at #30 to no reaction. Underwhelming. Jack Swagger was eliminated. Big Show eliminated Miz and Cody, then Dolph.
That was stupid. Final 4 of Orton, Sheamus, Big Show and Jericho. Everyone ganged up on Show. He fought them off, but Orton eventually dumped him. Jericho snuck up from behind and elimianted Orton. Sheamus and Jericho stared each other down. Jericho went for a running bulldog but Sheamus caught him and tried to throw him over. Jericho hit a dropkick. Sheamus caught a running Jericho with the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus went to dump Jericho with the Celtic Cross but Jericho countered and tried to dump Sheamus and held on. Kick to Sheamus and he still hung on and eventually came back in the ring. After a couple of tease eliminations, Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho. Jericho charged at Sheamus but Sheamus ducked. Jericho skinned the cat. He went to the turnbuckle and both men fell off to the apron. Jericho slapped Sheamus and angered him. Sheamus went to dump Jericho but he skinned the cat again. Sheamus caught Jericho with the Brogue Kick and Jericho fell to the ground.
WINNER: Sheamus
***: That was defintiely a lackluster Rumble. But it had a surprising finish that no one saw coming. The comedy spot with Ricardo was funny. Road Dogg was good, but the Rumble did almost nothing else. I was PISSED beyond all belief to see Miz, Cody and Dolph Ziggler job out to Big Show like that. Total crap. Sheamus winning is surprising and it leads to a few interesting scenarios down the line. Do we really get Sheamus/Bryan at Mania? A match that was left off the card last year. I really don't know what to think. Having the announcers in was stupid as well. The Rumble lacked star power and didn't build new feuds. It had a few comedy spots and no real drama. Definitely lackluster.
OVERALL
That was definitely an underwhelming Royal Rumble. The opener was ok but nothing good. Kane/Cena continues to bore me and I am fearing that it gets dragged out for another month to Elimination Chamber. Punk/Ziggler had its moments but in the end didn't live up to the hype. Sheamus winning the Rumble was a surprise but for a guy winning after feuding with Jinder Mahal for a month seems like this was a last minuter decision. Quite disappointed with the show overall. I think I have to give it a 4. The PPV just seemed like a stop gap to Elimination Chamber. Nothing was finished.
That's all from me tonight. RAW Review tomorrow.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
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