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Josh Mathews welcomed us to the "starting line" of the road to Wrestlemania. He welcomed everyone to the panel of experts, Hacksaw Duggan, Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair.
Michaels and Flair showed off their twin Rolexes and "synchronized".
Michaels was asked what the strategy is like winning the Rumble. He said you don't want to go over the top and have both feet touch the floor, because you will then be eliminated.
You can hear the dueling Cena/Cena sucks chants already.
Duggan said he isn't a really big strategy guy, so he just sees a target and whacks them.
They went to Renee Young who pushed people to Tweet about the Rumble, so I guess I can push that you can check us out on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PWInsider and www.Twitter.com/PWInsidercom if you want to interact with us about the PPV!
They reviewed the recent events between Randy Orton and John Cena. Flair predicted Orton would walk out as the WWE World Heavyweight champion. Michaels and Duggan predicted John Cena.
They went to a backstage vignette where wrestlers were picking their numbers. Alberto Del Rio was really happy with his pick and said he would take everyone out. Kofi Kingston said his "could be better." R-Truth wasn't happy at all with his. The Real Americans argued over who would go first. Of the two, Jack Swagger was happier with his pick. Great Khali wasn't happy at all. Damien Sandow mocked him, then apparently picked an even worse number. Khali laughed at him.
They discussed the Daniel Bryan-Bray Wyatt situation. Michaels said he never kicked anyone he didn't like or respect and he still likes Bryan and predicted him. Flair said he likes the bad boys, not the criers and predicted Bray.
WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. The New Age Outlaws
Road Dogg and Road Dogg locked up. They went to the corner and Rhodes broke cleanly. Roadie kicked him and worked him over. Rhodes tried to go or the Disaster Kick but Road Dogg moved out of the way. Rhodes backdropped the Outlaws over the top. Goldust leapt off the apron and nailed one of the Outlaws. Rhodes then took them out with a dive.
They went to commercial. Come on WWE, if we are watching this show, we are ordering the Rumble!
When they returned to the ring, Road Dogg was working over Goldust and locked him in a rear chinlock. Goldust fired back with elbows but missed a dropkick. Road Dogg nailed an elbow and scored a two count. Goldust came back with a Code Red for a two count. Gunn tagged in and drilled Goldust with a hard right. He then whipped him hard into the buckles.
Goldust finally fought off Gunn and tagged on Rhodes. Cody cleaned house with a pair of clotheslines and nailed a high knee on Road Dogg. He caught Gunn coming into the ring, nailed him and then nailed a missile dropkick on both.
Rhodes got rid of Gunn. Road Dogg nailed him and went for the pumphandle slam but Cody turned it into the CrossRhodes. Gunn broke it up and brawled on the floor with Goldust, who he sent into the guard rail. Road Dogg blind tagged Gunn, who caught the unaware Rhodes with a Famouser and scored the pin.
Your winners and new WWE Tag Team champions, The New Age Outlaws!
Solid opener.
They aired that awesome video on the Royal Rumble stats.
They announced Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt would kick off the PPV.
RUMBLE PPV
For whatever it's worth, Batista has had a camera crew following him around all day documenting him as he prepares for the Rumble.
Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt
Big reaction for Bryan coming out. Luke Harper and Eric Rowan ARE with Bray so I guess Daniel Bryan's logic that Bray would be alone because they are competing in the Rumble wasn't exactly sound.
They locked up and Bray took him out with a big back elbow as Bryan rebounded off the ropes. Daniel came back with a big kick to the mid-section but then distracted by The Wyatts, allowing Bray to drill him from behind. Bryan ducked a clothesline and took out Harper with a dive. Rowan went after Bryan and referee John Cone tossed them out. They refused but Bray said that he didn't need them to fight this war for him and sent them to the back.
Bray turned around and Bryan dove off the top to the floor. The crowd was chanting for him like crazy. Bryan tossed him into the ring and nailed a flying bodypress for a two count. He drilled Bray with kicks in the corner. Bray reversed a whip into the corner but Bryan kicked him off. Bryan went to nail him again but Bray caught him and dumped him over the ropes. The announcers claimed that Bryan looked to have hit his head on the ring steps on the way down and brought up "reports" that Bryan had recently suffered a concussion. Bray charged him but was sent into the ring steps.
Bryan began working over Wyatt's leg as they returned to the ring. He nailed Bray with a curb stomp. Bray kicked up before he could get a count. Wyatt, now limping fired up at Bryan, beating him in the corner with fists. Bryan came back with a series of kicks, focusing on the leg and hamstring he's been working on.
Bray went to the apron. Bryan tried to suplex him in but Bray reversed it. Bryan landed on the apron and they battled back and forth on it. Bray grabbed Bryan's arm and leapt off to the floor, yanking Bryan down to the apron.
Bray worked over Bryan and sent him to the floor again. He placed Bryan's head near the ringpost and driled him over and over with punches and a running shot, bouncing Bryan's head against the ringpost. Bryan rolled off and went to the floor, holding his ears as if they were ringing. Wyatt nailed a back senton splash on Bryan. He told the crowd that he tried to warn Bryan and asked them why they didn't help him.
Bryan returned to the apron. Bray yanked him by his arm into the ropes, snapping his head against them. Bray began ripping at Bryan's face and neck before locking in a submission. Bray did the spider walk as he waited for Bryan to return to his feet, then nailed a charge in the corner for a two count.
Bryan tried to fight back but was quickly cut off and slammed. Bray went for another back senton slam but Bryan rolled out of the way. Bryan worked him over and placed Bray on the top for a top rope hurancanrana. Bray kicked out at two. The crow chanted, "This is awesome."
Bray went for a back suplex but Bryan landed on his feet. He rebounded off the ropes but Bray killed him with a hard back elbow. Bray charged Bryan, who dropped down and grabbed them. Bray went over the top the floor. Bryan dove off the apron and caught Bray with a tornado DDT to the floor. Bray was bleeding from the mouth after that move. Bryan nailed a running dropkick against the rails.
Bray was sent back in the ring. Bryan nailed a missile dropkick. He drilled Bray with a kick to the head for a two count. Bryan nailed a series of dropkicks in the corner but on the third, Bray nailed him with a lariat and sent Bryan flying upside down. That was awesome. Bryan kicked out at the last second.
Bray went for Sister Abigail but Bryan slipped out and rolled him up for a two count, then went right for the Yes Lock. Bryan began biting his hand to break it and laid him out. Bray placed him on the ropes but Bryan tried to headbutt him away. Bray fired back with his own but Bryan won that battle.
Wyatt crashed into the ring. Bryan nailed a big splash off the ropes. Bryan called for the running knee but Wyatt rolled out of the ring. Bryan kicked him through the ropes and went for a suicide dive but Bray caught him and drilled him with Sister Abigail into the guard rail. Bryan was out like he was dead. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."
Bray dragged the unconscious Bryan into the ring, kissed him and nailed another Sister Abigail for the pin.
Your winner, Bray Wyatt!
The Wyatt Family returned after the bell.
Absolutely incredible match. What a war. If they can keep this sort of momentum going, what a show this is going to be.
Paul Heyman did a promo backstage apologizing in advance for what Brock Lesnar is going to do in advance tonight. He said that Big Show is a monster but Lesnar is a fighter with no compassion and is going to destroy him. He said this is the dawning of a new era and everyone is going to be subject to Brock the Unmerciful.
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