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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of WWE’s Royal Rumble 2025 from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Make sure to check out all of the coverage on the site including interviews, news, previews, and more.
Your host is Michael Cole. He is joined by Pat McAfee, Big E, and Wade Barrett.
They run through the card for the show.
Byron Saxton talks about the men's Rumble match and some of the dark horses. He mentions Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, and Jacob Fatu.
Cathy Kelley talks about the women's Rumble match. She says one or two members of the NXT roster will be in the match.
We take a look at the highlights from the Rumble match careers of the four panelists.
The discussion turns to the John Cena Retirement Tour.
Peter Rosenberg does the walk to the ring, but he stops to talk to Carmelo Hayes.
Hayes says it isn't every day you win the Royal Rumble. He says he won't miss. Peter asks him about the fans and Hayes asks what did he say that was a lie?
The panel open some WWE trading cards.
Pat McAfee and his staff discuss WWE's history with Indianapolis.
We take a look at the Ladder Match between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes.
We have a video package for the Ladder Match.
We take a look at some community outreach that WWE did in Indianapolis.
Joe Tessitore replaces Big E on the panel.
Discussion turns to the Tag Title Match.
We go to an interview that Jackie Redmond held with CM Punk.
She brings up Punk's history with the Royal Rumble. She brings up 2014 and what people considered his end in WWE. Punk says he is nervous talking about 2014 because it was litigated. There was a time when his name could not be mentioned in the company. That Rumble was a big reason.
She asks about the triceps injury. Punk says he is fighting Cody and Gunther, but he was fighting with himself. He says he cried for about 8 minutes before calling his wife about the injury. She told him to come home and they will take care of it.
Jackie asks if there was a silver lining. Punk says losing gives you perspective.
Jackie asks Punk about the favor and she wants to know if Punk will give any insight into what the favor is. Punk refuses to discuss it. Jackie asks 'when'. Punk says he does not know when he will have to cash it in. People think it relates to someone else Paul is close with.
Jackie asks what his relationship with Paul Heyman was during that time. Punk says things were tough during that time so they didn't really talk.
She asks when did it resume. Punk says it was when he returned and it was a long and uncomfortable for some hug.
Jackie asks what if all of the training and preparation does not lead to a win. Punk says he has come up short in every other Rumble. He does not know what it feels like to win. It is empty to lose. This business is a runaway freight train. There is next year.
Jackie asks what happens if you win. Punk says he has not thought about that until now. He says winning is a scarier feeling. What if he wins? What if he main events Wrestlemania? He might be scared that what he has in his heart for this business fades or goes away. Maybe he needs the constant hunger. He will be ready when the music plays.
Cole asks for predictions. Joe says it comes down to Drew, Punk, Roman, and Seth. Wade picks Drew McIntyre. Pat is torn between CM Punk and John Cena. Cole says his favorite is Roman Reigns. His dark horse is Jacob Fatu.
Jackie Redmond takes over hosting duties for the second hour of the Countdown show.
We look at the Royal Rumble 'By the Numbers'.
Big E has returned to the panel and Peter Rosenberg replaces Pat McAfee.
The panel discusses what surprises could there be tonight.
We have a video feature for John Cena.
Cathy is in the back with Gunther.
She asks him who he hopes will win to challenge him. Gunther says whoever wins today will not challenge him. The winner will challenge Cody because he is the easier opponent. Gunther says he is the real threat. The Rumble is a spectacular match. He reminds Cathy he has the record for the longest in a Rumble match.
She asks who might last as long as him. Gunther says there will come a time when the egos and characters will clash. With the drama going on, he is looking forward to watching it.
We have a video package for the Tag Title match.
Jackie mentions that the Women's Royal Rumble match will start the match.
Cathy Kelley waits for Miz to come out of the Number Picking Room and he emerges. She asks him how will he do this year with only two eliminations. Miz asks for another question. She asks what number he has and he refuses to tell. He says no one picked him to win the Rumble. He was never picked to be the World Champion and he did it twice. No one picked him to main event Wrestlemania and when he wins tonight, he will do it twice.
Byron is with fans to get their picks for the Rumble match.
Bubba Ray Dudley has taken Wade's spot on the panel to talk about the tag title match.
Discussion turns to LFG and we see a video package for it, debuting on February 16th.
Bubba is asked about his coaching style and he says he is not there to make friends. He will learn their names if they win. They are there to make wrestlers and sports entertainers. Him, Booker T, Undertaker, and Mickie James did not have it easy to get where they got. He talks about getting the loudest and most egotistical of the crew, but the kid has talent and if he listens, he has a chance.
She asks how the contestants handle each other. He says they are learning that you might be friends today, but when there is only one spot, there are no friends.
Bubba is asked about the ladder match and he says this is the first time he sees Cody in danger since he won the title at last year's Wrestlemania.
We take a look at the Wrestlemania sign with a video package.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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