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We are in Sacramento, California and your announcers are John ‘How great is Alberto Del Rio . . . he had Jason Barsky interview him’ Layfield and Josh ‘I am not Tough Enough to deal with Jason Barsky’ Mathews.
Kane and Daniel Bryan make their way to the ring but they are not going to wrestle yet, because this is Smackdown and they only talk about fighting at the start of the show.
We take a look back at the graduation ceremony for Kane and Daniel Bryan and the uber Hug Fest.
Kane says that they have come out here to address the rumors that started this week that they have gone soft because they have learned to channel their anger. Bryan says that nothing could be further from the truth. Kane tells everyone to watch the Royal Rumble. After they beat Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes and retain the Tag Titles, Kane says that he will eliminate 29 others and win the Royal Rumble and go to Wrestlemania.
Daniel wants to make sure that he heard Kane right.
Kane reminds Daniel that he has been in thirteen Royal Rumbles and he has eliminated eleven men in one match.
Bryan points out that Kane has never won the Royal Rumble and then we get both men declaring that they will win the Royal Rumble Match.
Big Show’s music interrupts and he makes his way to the ring.
Show tells Daniel and Kane that no one cares about their plans. They have a one in thirty chance of winning the Royal Rumble while Show says that he has a one hundred percent chance of winning the World Title from Alberto Del Rio.
He tells them that the only plans that they should have if they win the Royal Rumble are retirement plans because they will never beat him at Wrestlemania.
Daniel Bryan reminds Show that he beat Show for the World Title already.
Show will not listen to any crap from Daniel Bryan. Show says that Del Rio stole the World Title from him. Del Rio snuck into the World Title picture like a cockroach scurrying across the border. On Sunday, he will squish that bug and if either of them don’t get out of his ring, he will squish them right now.
Kane tells Show they are not a couple of bugs. They are the tag team champions. They are not going anywhere.
Bryan translates for the WWE Universe and he says ‘No’ a few times.
Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes make their way to the stage and then to the ring. Damien tells Kane and Daniel Bryan that they are making a critical error of putting the cart before the horse . . . or the goat. They should be more concerned with their tag title match on Sunday. Just as Goliath underestimated David, they are underestimating him and Cody. On Sunday, their destruction will be of biblical proportions.
Cody tells Damien that they are wasting their breath because of who they are talking to and in front of. Cody is going to simplify it for the simpletons. Damien clarifies that he is talking about the people. Cody says that they are going to take the Tag Titles.
Damien suggests an alliance with Big Show. Seeing how by this time next week, they will all be champions, why not make an example by destroying Daniel and Kane post haste.
Alberto Del Rio’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring with Ricardo Rodriguez.
All six men look like they are about to fight . . . that can only mean one thing. We are Condition Booker and Booker T’s music plays and he is confused at first because there are six men in the ring and how do you do a ‘standard’ tag match with six men?
Booker says that he appreciates their passion to fight because that is what we do on Smackdown. Booker suggests that they make this fight official. The main event will be Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, and Big Show against Daniel Bryan, Kane, and Alberto Del Rio. To add something to the mix, there will be a stipulation. It will be an elimination match.
Booker wants to know if we are ready to dig.
Cody and Damien go to the floor and Show goes after Del Rio but Del Rio with a drop toe hold. We have a stand off and Del Rio with a wink in Show’s direction.
We go to commercial.
Wade Barrett and Sheamus walk in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Sheamus versus Wade Barrett from Raw.
Match Number One: Wade Barrett versus Sheamus
Barrett with a kick and elbow to the back of the head but Sheamus with punches. Sheamus sends Barrett into the turnbuckles. Barrett with punches and he tries for a hip toss but Sheamus blocks it and hits a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Sheamus with punches to Barrett in the corner.
Barrett with a punch while the referee pulls Sheamus out of the corner. Barrett with a drop kick for a near fall. Barrett with kicks to Sheamus but Sheamus with kicks to the knee. Sheamus with a knee drop and an arm bar and chin lock. Barrett with a kick to the chest and he sees Sheamus try for a Brogue Kick but Barrett goes to the floor.
Barrett pulls Sheamus to the floor and they exchange forearms. Sheamus sends Barrett into the apron and then back into the ring. Sheamus prepares for the ten forearms across the chest but Barrett with a back kick to the knee after two and Barrett with a forearm that sends Sheamus to his knees and then Barrett with a running boot that sends Sheamus to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a punch but Barrett with a clothesline that sends Sheamus over the top rope to the floor. Barrett pounds the mat as he waits for Sheamus to get back into the ring. Barrett with a kick and then he chokes Sheamus on the top rope. Barrett with knees to the chest on the apron and then he prepares for the boot to the head but he takes too long and Sheamus with a slingshot shoulder tackle from the apron and both men are down.
Sheamus gets up first and he hits two running double sledges. Sheamus with a shoulder in the corner and he sets for the running knee lift but Barrett moves out of the way. Sheamus sends Barrett over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus with a knee and then he sets for the ten forearms across the chest from inside the ring and he connects.
Sheamus gets Barrett on his shoulders and he hits a fireman’s carry slam but only gets a near fall. Sheamus sets for the uranage back breaker but Barrett with elbows and a back heel kick. Sheamus with a rollup for a near fall. Sheamus hits the uranage back breaker and gets a near fall.
Sheamus gets Barrett on his shoulder but Barrett escapes and Barrett sends Sheamus to the apron. Sheamus with shoulders and he goes up top but Barrett with an arm wringer that sends Sheamus to the mat. Barrett with a savate kick to the head and he gets a near fall. Barrett goes to the turnbuckles but Sheamus gets his knees up. Sheamus sets for the Cloverleaf but Barrett counters with an inside cradle for a near fall.
Sheamus gets Barrett up for White Noise and he hits it. Sheamus looks around and he is ready to pound his chest for the Brogue Kick. Barrett walks into a Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
We go to commercial.
Josh Mathews and John Layfield talk about the situation from Raw between The Rock and CM Punk. Did the Shield attack Rock as a result of what CM Punk said or did they act on their own?
CM Punk and Paul Heyman are in the back talking to each other away from microphones but John Layfield says that they will call out The Shield.
Match Number Two: Natalya (with Hornswoggle and Great Khali) versus Rosa Mendes (with Epico and Primo)
The people not wrestling in the match have made their way to the announce table.
They lock up and Natalya with a side head lock take down but Rosa with a head scissors. Natalya escapes and then she tries to kick Rosa but Rosa blocks the kick. Natalya takes Rosa to the mat and then Rosa with a side head lock.
Rosa with a kick to Natalya and then she pulls Natalya to the mat and gets a near fall. Rosa with a Japanese Stranglehold and then she stretches Natalya on her knees. Natalya with an arm drag followed by a discus clothesline for a near fall. Natalya gets Rosa up but Rosa with a sunset flip but Natalya rolls through and tries for the Sharpshooter but Rosa gets to the ropes.
Rosa with a clothesline and she slams Natalya’s head to the mat. Rosa dances because that is how you win in wrestling. Hornswoggle starts to dance and that distracts Rosa. Natalya applies the Sharpshooter and Rosa taps out.
Winner: Natalya
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the WWE Champion to make his way to the ring with his personal championship belt holder, Paul Heyman.
Punk says that he is scared. He says that he is so frightened that he cannot sleep at night. What he is afraid of is his own potential. For 432 days, he has been WWE Champion. Everything that you see is all just a surface that he has started to scratch at and it terrifies him.
One thing jeopardizes 432 days of brilliance. That one thing . . . is not the Rock. The Rock is a man. He is breakable and Punk says that he will break him. Punk says that he is talking about The Shield. Because of the Shield and their independent actions, the WWE has set forth a stipulation through a letter.
Paul reads the letter and it says that if the Shield interferes in the match at the Royal Rumble, CM Punk will be stripped of the Championship.
Punk says that after 432 days, because of the Shield, the toupee wearing flesh peddler Vince McMahon wants to do what no man could physically do to him. He is trying to take the WWE Championship from him. Take is not the proper word. Steal would be the proper word for what Vincent K. McMahon is trying to do with him.
Punk says that he is going to do what no one has had the stones to do since they debuted on the scene. Punk says that he wants the Shield to come out right now. Punk gets a chair and he says that he is not leaving. He says that he knows that they are here and they are probably in their clubhouse.
The Shield make their way to the ring as they come through the crowd. The Shield make their way into the ringside area and surround the ring.
Punk stands in the ring with the chair in his hands ready to strike at a member of the Shield who tries to get too close.
Punk says that he can explain himself in only the simplest way. He never asked them to attack Rock. He never asked them to attack Ryback at TLC. He never asked them for anything. He tells them to stay away. Punk asks them if they stand for justice and fight injustice. There would be no greater injustice than to have his historic title reign ended by their interference. Punk promises that he will beat the Rock.
It will not just be Day 434 of his title reign, it will be the biggest win of his career. He will do it by himself. He never asked for their help because he doesn’t want their help. He does not need their help because he is the best in the world. If justice if what they stand for and it is truly what they want around here, they never have to cross paths again.
The Shield stand on the apron while Punk stands in the middle of the ring and the crowd chants for Rock. The Shield leave the apron and retreat from the ring and go into the crowd.
Punk and Paul seem a little shocked that they would leave.
Punk says that is how the champ takes care of business. He does not whine and cry like everyone else. He meets the problem head on and solves it.
The Royal Rumble is in two days and the Rock is great, but Punk says that he is the best in the world. The Rock is the same when it comes to the champ. He is inferior. In two days, the Rock’s inferiority meets with greatness. Punk says that he will prove that he is the greatest of all time.
Rock’s music interrupts Punk and Rock gets to the stage and the does a Rock Version of the Brock Bounce.
Punk tells Rock he cannot have the WWE Title.
Rock gets a mic and he says that he will put an end to Punk’s garbage right now. His gut says that Punk is a liar. He says that Punk is working with the Shield. He says that he doesn’t give a damn because his boot says that on Sunday it is getting shoved right up Punk’s candy ass.
Rock tells Punk that the walls are closing in. On Sunday, Punk will panic and he will crack. When that happens, he will hook Punk for the Rock Bottom. He will launch Punk into the air and time will stand still. Punk will have one thought in his head. It will not be that he is the champion or that he is the greatest in the world. His only thought will be ‘It’s Over’. Rock says that he promises Punk that he will become the WWE Champion.
Rock asks Punk if he can smell what he is cooking.
Rock leaves the ring.
Randy Orton walks in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Drew McIntyre (with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal) versus Randy Orton (with voices in head)
Drew with a kick and punch to Orton followed by kicks and punches in the corner. The referee warns Drew and Drew throws his bandana at Orton. Drew with an Irish whip but Orton with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton with another clothesline and he avoids a clothesline from Drew. Orton with a power slam. Drew with an elbow to Randy but Randy with a back breaker. Orton prepares for the IEDDT but Jinder Mahal tries to interfere and the referee calls for the bell. Orton with an RKO to Mahal.
Winner: Randy Orton (by disqualification)
Orton gives Drew the IEDDT and then he looks at the same spot that Sheamus does and Slater tries to attack Orton but Orton with an RKO. Someone is missing an RKO and that means that Orton gives one to Drew.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Antonio Cesaro is with John and Josh at the announce table. Josh brings up what happened two weeks ago when Antonio Cesaro confronted Miz and Ric Flair.
Match Number Four: Miz versus Darren Young (with Titus O’Neil)
Miz goes after Titus and that allows Darren to hit Miz from behind. Darren with kicks and a clothesline followed by an elbow drop for a near fall. Darren with forearms across the chest followed by a reverse chin lock. Darren with a kick and punch followed by a forearm.
Darren with a chop but Miz with a knee. Miz and Young exchange punches until Miz gains control. The referee pulls Miz out of the corner. Miz with an Awesome Clothesline and then he wants to go up top but he has to knock Titus off the apron when he tries to interfere. Miz goes up top for the double sledge.
Miz signals for the Skull Crushing Finale but Young with an elbow. Miz with a kick and then he applies the figure four leg lock and Young taps out.
Winner: Miz
After the match, Miz and Cesaro stare each other down. Cesaro waves his big flag while Miz gestures that he is going to be the next United States Champion.
In case you missed the Rock earlier, we see what he had to say to CM Punk.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Royal Rumble By the Numbers video feature.
Match Number Five: Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez), Daniel Bryan, and Kane versus Big Show, Cody Rhodes, and Damien Sandow in an Elimination Match
Del Rio and Rhodes start things off and they lock up. Cody works on the wrist but Del Rio reverses and he puts Cody in an arm bar. Rhodes with punches followed by an Irish whip but Del Rio with an elbow. Del Rio goes to the turnbuckles and he leaps over Rhodes and takes him down with a rana. Del Rio sends Cody into the air and then down to the mat. Del Rio with a kick.
Sandow tags in and so does Bryan. They lock up and Sandow with a snap mare but Bryan with a drop toe hold that sends Sandow into the turnbuckles. Bryan with kicks of no in the corner. Bryan with a snap mare and Kane is tagged in and Kane with a drop kick to Sandow. Rhodes distracts Kane long enough to allow Sandow to hit a drop kick to the knee. Sandow with punches to Kane.
Kane grabs Sandow by the throat and he hits a choke slam and Sandow is eliminated.
Damien Sandow Eliminated
Big Show enters the match and Kane punches Show and connects with clotheslines. Kane with a DDT for a near fall and Kane goes to the apron. Kane goes up top for the clothesline and he hits it. Kane clotheslines Show over the top rope to the floor.
Kane charges at Show on the floor and Show with the punch and Kane is counted out.
Kane Eliminated
Cody tags in and he faces Daniel Bryan as we go to commercial.
Bryan with elbows to Cody but Cody with a knee to Bryan’s midsection and Cody gets a near fall. Cody stretches Bryan but Bryan gets to his feet and he kicks Cody. Both men go for a cross body but they collide and go to the mat.
Show tags in and he keeps Bryan from making the tag to Del Rio. Show grabs Bryan by the throat but Bryan with kicks of no. Bryan is pushed into the corner and Show with a running butt splash. Show sets for the running shoulder tackle but Bryan with a drop kick to the knee and Show goes down.
Bryan goes to the apron and then to the top turnbuckle but Show with a chop to the face as he comes down. Show sends Bryan over the top rope but Bryan skins the cat and then when Bryan gets back into the ring, Show with a knock out punch and Bryan is counted out.
Daniel Bryan Eliminated
Show wants Del Rio to get in the ring but Del Rio takes his time. Del Rio with a back heel kick and more kicks and punches. Show grabs Del Rio and hits a choke slam and Del Rio rolls to the floor. The referee makes his count and Del Rio gets back into the ring at nine. Del Rio rolls back to the floor and then Show goes to the floor. Del Rio with punches to Show but Show punches back.
They return to the ring and Del Rio kicks the ropes while Show climbs over. Del Rio with a round kick to the head followed by a super kick that sends Show to the floor. The referee makes his count and he gets to ten.
Big Show Eliminated
Cody with a rollup for a near fall followed by a drop kick. Cody with boots to Del Rio. Cody misses the Beautiful Disaster and Del Rio with clotheslines and a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Del Rio with a super kick and he gets a near fall. Del Rio sets for the running step up enzuigiri and he hits it. Del Rio gets the three count.
Winners: Alberto Del Rio, Kane, and Daniel Bryan
After the match, while Alberto Del Rio celebrates his win, Big Show enters the ring and he spears Del Rio. Show tells the announcers to get up. Show picks up Del Rio and he punches Del Rio behind the announce table and then Show pushes the announce table onto Del Rio and he counts to ten.
We go to credits.
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