1/27 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: TEN YEARS AGO TODAY, PWINSIDER IS BORN!

By Mike Johnson on 2014-01-27 08:00:00

January 27th

On this day in history in ....

1904 - Frank Gotch defeats Tom Jenkins in Bellingham, Washington to win the American Heavyweight Title, ending Jenkins' second reign.

1916 - Joe Stecher defeats The Masked Marvel to retain the World Heavyweight Title in two straight falls at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The Masked Marvel unmasked as Mort Henderson.

1936 - George Dussette defeats The Great Mephisto to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Light Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan.

1945 - Bert Assirati defeat Michael O'Leary for the British Heavyweight Title in Manchester, England.

1947 - Danny McShain wins his eighth World Light Heavyweight Title in Hollywood, California, ending Martino Angelo's second reign.

1954 - Oyama Kato defeated Frankie Talaber in Mansfield, Ohio to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Talaber's ninth reign.

1960 - Hard Boiled Haggerty and Bill Savage defeat Lord James Blears and Jerry Gordet for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1960 - Bobby and Don Fields defeat The Corsicans (Jean and Joe) in Mobile, Alabama to win the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.

1965 - Fred Blassie and Tarzan Tyler defeat Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat to win the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title in Jacksonville, Florida, ending Graham and Steamboat's second reign.

1967 - Paul Jones and Pepper Martin defeat Tony Borne and Moondog Mayne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1969 - The WWWF holds an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- The Jamaica Kid and Joey Russell defeated Billy the Kid and Cowboy Bradley in a two-out-of-three falls match.
- Lou Albano defeated Ron Sanders.
- Tony Altimore defeated Bob Harmon.
- Johnny Rodz defeated Carlos Colon.
- Bull Ramos defeated Louis Cerdan.
- Spiros Arion and Baron Mikel Scicluna fought to a draw.
- Haystacks Calhoun defeated The Sheik by disqualification, after The Sheik took a camera away from a ringside photographer and smashed it on the mat. While Sheik was leaving the arena a small riot broke out in the crowd, with an elderly woman getting trampled in the process. This resulted in The Sheik being banned from Madison Square Garden.
- Killer Kowalski and Gorilla Monsoon defeated Victor Rivera and WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino in three falls in a two-out-of-three falls match.

1972 - Omar Atlas and Danny Little Bear defeat Yasu Fuji and Chati Yokouchi to win the Central States NWA North American Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.

1972 - Boris Malenko wins the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title for the seventh time, defeating Bobby Duncum in Tampa, Florida, ending his second reign.

1973 - The Sheik defeats Bobo Brazil for the Detroit NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan, to begin his fourth reign and end Brazil's sixth.

1976 - Rufus R. Jones and Wahoo McDaniel defeat Gene and Ole Anderson in Columbia, South Carolina for the Mid-Atlantic NWA World Tag Team Title.

1976 - Bob Orton, Jr. and Bob Roop defeat Eddie and Mike Graham to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.

1980 - Bobby Eaton and George Gulas defeat The Blond Bombers (Larry Latham and Wayne Farris) to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1981 - Roddy Piper defeats Ric Flair for the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Raleigh, North Carolina, ending Flair's fifth reign. As a result, Piper's NWA Television Title was vacated. Piper held that title since defeating The Masked Superstar in Richmond, Virginia on November 1.

1984 - Mocho Cota defeats Americo Rocca for the NWA World Welterweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending Rocca's second reign.

1985 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
- Moondog Rex defeated Rick McGraw.
- George Wells defeated RenÃ© Goulet.
- Jim Neidhart defeated Chief Jay Strongbow.
- Angelo Mosca, Jr. defeated Nick DeCarlo.
- WWF Tag Team Champion Barry Windham defeated The Iron Sheik.
- Nikolai Volkoff defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Mike Rotundo.
- The Spoiler defeated Bret Hart.
- Tony Atlas and Jimmy Snuka vs. Bob Orton, Jr. and Roddy Piper ended in a double-countout.

1985 - Eddie Gilbert defeats Jerry Lawler to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's 31st reign.

1986 - The WWF holds an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with a sellout crowd of 20,225 fans. The results were:
- Danny Spivey pinned RenÃ© Goulet after a bulldog.
- Iron Mike Sharpe vs. George Wells ended in a draw.
- Ted Arcidi defeated Tiger Chung Lee by submission with a bearhug.
- Paul Orndorff defeated Big John Studd (with Bobby Heenan) by disqualification, when Heenan interfered as Orndorff attempted to bodyslam Studd.
- Terry Funk (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Scott McGhee after blocking a top rope attack by lifting his knees. Funk branded McGhee after the match.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by countout after Hogan hit one of the ringpost shoulder-first, when Elizabeth kept blocking Hogan from ramming Savage into the post. Hogan locked Savage in a bearhug after the match, with other wrestlers and officials having to break it up.
- Pedro Morales pinned Moondog Spot with a reverse roll-up.
- Sivi Afi pinned Ron Shaw with a flying bodypress.
- Adrian Adonis defeated The Junkyard Dog by disqualification.
- George Steele defeated Barry O by submission with a flying hammerlock.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine (with Johnny V) defeated The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid (with Lou Albano)), when Beefcake pinned Dynamite after Johnny V interfered and reversed Dynamite's pin attempt, putting Beefcake on top for the cover.

1986 - Al Madril and Magnificent Zulu defeat American Force (Paul Diamond and Shawn Michaels) for the Texas All-Star Wrestling Texas Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas, ending American Force's second reign. The same day, in a fictitious title change, Austin Idol defeats Big Bubba (Fred Ottman) to win the TASW USA Heavyweight Title in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Ottman had actually left Texas All-Star for Florida.

1987 - The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeat Buddy Rose and Doug Somers in St. Paul, Minnesota to win the AWA World Tag Team Title.

1987 - El Symbolo defeats Solar II for the vacant Mexican National Welterweight Title. Fuerza Guerrera had vacated the title in August 1986 when he left CMLL.

1990 - The WWF's 25th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event airs on NBC, earning an 11.1 rating. The show was taped January 3 in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the UTC Arena. The results:
- Randy Savage (with Sensational Sherri) pinned Jim Duggan, after Sensational Sherri grabbed Duggan's leg during a suplex into the ring.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and WWF Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior defeated The Genius and Mr. Perfect, when Hogan pinned Genius after the Legdrop, following Warrior's press slam. After the match, the Warrior accidentally clotheslined Hogan after Hogan grabbed him from behind as Warrior was fighting off Perfect and The Genius, with them having a shoving match as a result.
- Jake Roberts defeated Greg Valentine by disqualification after Ted DiBiase interfered.
- Dusty Rhodes (with Sapphire) and Rick Rude (Bobby Heenan) fought to a double-countout. Both managers had been ejected from ringside during the match, with Sapphire returning to a ringside seat after buying a ticket.
- Dino Bravo (with Earthquake) pinned Ronnie Garvin, when Bravo reversed a top-rope crossbody into a pin. Earthquake attacked Garvin after the match, with Garvin being taken from the ring on a stretcher.

1990 - Eddie Watts defeats Super Medico I for the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

1990 - The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll and Rex King) win their fourth NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon, defeating Brian Adams and The Grappler.

1991 - The Universal Wrestling Association holds its 16th Anniversary Show at El Toreo in Naucalpan, Mexico. The results:
- Fantasma and Los Cowboys (Silver King and El Texano) defeated Black Power, Khaos and Scorpio.
- El Engendro, Baby Face and El Signo defeated UWA World Trios Champions Los Villanos (I, IV and V) in two straight falls in a two-out-of-three falls match.
- UWA World Welterweight Champion El Hijo del Santo, Enrique Vera and WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Villano III defeated Negro Casas, Fishman, and Killer.
- UWA World Heavyweight Champion Canek, Dos Caras and Mil MÃ¡scaras defeated The Wild Samoans (Samu, Fatu and Kokina (Yokozuna))

1992 - The WWF tapes the 30th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, which aired on February 8 on FOX, at the Municipal Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. The results:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper pinned The Mountie to retain the title, after using Mountie's shockstick on him. The Mountie had tried to shock Piper with it, but couldn't because Piper had a rubber vest on under his T-shirt. Before the match, it was announced that Bret Hart would face the Intercontinental Champion for the title at WrestleMania VIII on April 5.
- Hulk Hogan (with Brutus Beefcake) and Sid Justice defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) and WWF Champion Ric Flair (with Mr. Perfect) by disqualification), when Flair pushed the referee down as Hogan was being double teamed, moments after Justice walked out on his partner.
- Jim Duggan and Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake (with The Genius)), when Duggan pinned Blake after a running clothesline after Slaughter hit Blake with The Genius' scroll.
- Randy Savage pinned Jake Roberts after the flying elbowdrop.

1993 - The legendary Andre the Giant passes away from congestive heart failure, due to a tumor on his pituitary gland causing it to produce excess growth hormone, a condition known as acromegaly. Andre died in his sleep in a Paris, France hotel room, where he was in town for his father's funeral. He was born Andre Rene Roussimoff in Coulmmiers, France on May 19, 1946, and was trained by former World Heavyweight Champion Edouard Carpentier in the late 1960s. Andre made his WWWF debut on October 24, 1972 in White Plains, New York, teaming with WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales against WWWF Tag Team Champions Prof. Tanaka and Mr. Fuji. He also won the WWF World Title in 1988 in a controversial match which ended with Andre giving the title to Ted DiBiase, which was later disallowed. Andre's last match in the WWF came on April 13, 1990 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, before 53,742 fans. The event was called the Wrestling Summit, and featured wrestlers from the WWF as well as All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Andre teamed with Giant Baba to defeat WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (Ax and Smash) in a non-title match, when Andre pinned Smash with an elbowdrop.

Posthumously, Andre the Giant was the first wrestler inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.

1994 - WCW holds Clash of the Champions XXVI at the Centroplex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The live show got a 3.5 rating on TBS. The results:
- Marcus Bagwell and 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Pretty Wonderful (Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma), when Bagwell pinned Roma.
- Ron Simmons pinned Ice Train.
- Brian Pillman pinned Robert Parker in a "loser wears a chicken suit" match.
- Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) in a non-title match, when Cactus pinned Knobbs.
- WCW World Television Champion Lord Steven Regal fought Dustin Rhodes to a 15-minute time-limit draw to retain the title.
- Sting and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Rick Rude and Vader in an elimination match. Flair and Vader were both counted out, and Sting pinned Rude to win.

1996 - ECW held an event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Hack Myers defeated Mr. Hughes.
- Judge Dread defeated The Blue Meanie.
- Buh Buh Ray and Dances with Dudley defeted Axl Rotten and J.T. Smith.
- The Headhunters defeated The Bad Crew.
- ECW World Television Champion 2 Cold Scorpio defeted El Puerto Ricano to retain the title.
- The Gangstas (Mustapha Saed and New Jack) defeated The Pitbulls.
- Sabu defeated Rob Van Dam by disqualfiication.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck defeated Shane Douglas and Tommy Dreamer to retain the title.
- Raven defeated ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Sandman to win the title, ending Sandman's third reign.

1996 - Inferno and Michelle Starr defeat The Billionaire Boys' Club (Johnny Canuck and Mike Starr) for the West Coast Championship Wrestling International Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.

1997 - In this week of the Monday Night War, WCW Monday Nitro's 3.6 rating defeated WWF Monday Night RAW's 2.2 rating.

WWF Monday Night RAW was taped on January 20 in Beaumont, Texas at the Beaumont Civic Center. The results were:
- Crush pinned Ahmed Johnson.
- WWF Tag Team Champion Davey Boy Smith defeated Doug Furnas.
- The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) defeated Mankind and Vader by countout.

WCW Monday Nitro was live from Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. The results:
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Faces of Fear (The Barbarian and Meng).
- The Giant defeated Roadblock.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Eddy Guerrero by disqualification.
- Ultimo Dragon defeated Billy Pearl.
- Lex Luger defeated Ron Powers.
- Arn Anderson and Steve McMichael defeated The Amazing French Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Carl Oulette).
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) defeated Ace Darling and Devon Storm.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Joe Gomez.
- Dean Malenko defeated Jerry Flynn.
- Hugh Morrus defeated Chris Benoit.
- The Giant defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan by disqualification.

1998 - The Tennessee Volunteers (Steven Dunn and Reno Riggins) defeat Shane Eden and The Thrillbilly for the Music City Wrestling Southern Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee.

1999 - The masked Borkcin Brothers defeat David C. and Damaja to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Title in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The team unmasked after the match as The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore). This began their seventh reign.

1999 - Julie Starr wins her second British Women's Title in Norwich, England, defeating Sweet Saraya.

2000 - Bad Boy Basil defeats J.D. Dempsey in a tournament final in Santa Ana, California to win the vacant UPW Heavyweight Title. The title had been stripped from Mike Bell on January 9.

2001 - The WWF holds an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with 19,448 fans attending. The results were:
- Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) defeated The Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather).
- WWF Women's Champion Ivory defeated Molly Holly, after Steven Richards interfered.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Raven pinned Steve Blackman after a DDT on a chair.
- Billy Gunn defeated Steven Richards.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) and The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) in an elimination match.
- WWF Champion Kurt Angle pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho.
- Perry Saturn pinned K-Kwik.
- Hardcore Holly defeated Albert.
- WWF European Champion Test pinned Christian.
- Steve Austin, Kane, The Rock and The Undertaker defeated Chris Benoit, Haku, Rikishi and Triple H, when Rock pinned Benoit.

2001 - Carlos Colon defeats The One Man Gang for the WWC Hardcore Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, beginning his second reign.

2001 - Big Dick Dudley defeats Chris Candido and Sabu in a three-way match for the vacant NWA Jersey Hardcore Title in Toms River, New Jersey. Crowbar had vacated the title in November.

2001 - RodRageous (Rodney of the Mean Street Posse) defeats Bulldog Raines in Memphis, Tennessee to win the Power Pro Wrestling Television Title.

2001 - Powerhouse Hughes defeats Pittsburgh Wrestling League Triple Jeopardy Champion Super Mantis and Pro Wrestling eXpress Television Champion Scott Venom in a three-way match in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to win both titles. At the same show, Homicide defeats Guido Corleone for the PWX Heavyweight Title.

2003 - The WWE held a live RAW at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, which earned a 4.1 rating on SpikeTV. The February 2 edition of Sunday Night Heat was taped as well. The results:
Dark matches:
- Johnny Stamboli pinned Chad Collyer after a powerslam.
- Sean O'Haire pinned Michael Shane after a crucifix powerbomb.
Sunday Night Heat:
- Goldust pinned Steven Richards after a powerslam.
- 3-Minute Warning (Rosey and Jamal) defeated Ken Anderson and Andy Sealo, when Jamal got the pin after a Samoan drop.
- Christian pinned Maven after the Unprettier.
- Spike Dudley pinned Rico with a roll-up.
RAW:
- Booker T pinned Jeff Hardy with a sunset flip.
- D'Lo Brown (with Theodore Long) pinned The Hurricane with the Sky High.
- WWE Women's Champion Victoria (with Steven Richards) pinned Trish Stratus on the floor in a Chicago Street Fight, after Richards prevented Trish's bulldog off the apron by pushing her off and into the ring barrier. After the match, Jazz made her return, running to the ring and attacking Trish.
- World Tag Team Champions William Regal and Lance Storm defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) in a Tables match, after 3-Minute Warning, Rico and Spike Dudley all interfered. Regal and Storm won the match after 3-Minute Warning powerbombed Bubba Ray Dudley through a table.
- Fresh off their Tough Enough III victories which occurred the previous Thursday night, Matt Cappotelli and John Hennigan fought to a no contest when Christopher Nowinski came out and threw Al Snow, who was at ringside and ran down Cappotelli and Hennigan on the mic before Tommy Dreamer chased Nowinski out of the ring with his Singapore cane, but then laid out Cappotelli and Hennigan with it.
- Batista and World Heavyweight Champion Triple H (with Ric Flair and Randy Orton) defeated Kane and Rob Van Dam, when Batista pinned RVD with the Batista Bomb. Kane had ran out of the arena after being unmasked.

2004 – A switch is flipped and hello world, here we are! On this day, PWInsider.com went live and online! On behalf of everyone past and present who has made this site what it is, we humbly thank each and every single one of you.

2006 - Ring of Honor holds "Tag Wars 2006" at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio. The event featured the 2006 Trios Tournament. The results were:
- Shane Hagadorn defeated Rhett Titus.
- Lotus defeated Crazy J.
- Smash Bradley, Marco Cordova and Jayson Reign defeated The Dempsey Brothers and Pelle Primeau.
- In a Trios Tournament semifinal match, Jimmy Yang and Generation Next (Jack Evans and Matt Sydal) defeat Adam Pearce and Lacey's Angels (B.J. Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs (with Lacey)).
- In a Trios Tournament semifinal match, The Embassy (Abyss, Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave (with Prince Nana)) defeat Jay Furt, Sal Rinauro and Tony Mamaluke.
- Claudio Castagnoli defeated Chad Collyer. During the match, CZW wrestlers Chris Hero and Necro Butcher appeared in the audience and began to heckle the wrestlers.
- Ace Steel vs. Sterling James Keenan ended in a no contest after Steel stopped wrestling after the continuous heckling from Hero and Necro. He got on the microphone and began to yell at the two, telling Hero he wasn't good enough to wrestle in ROH and saying Necro Butcher was nothing but a "garbage wrestler". Hero and Necro jumped over the guard, resulting in a massive brawl as the ROH locker room emptied and dragged them from the arena. During the melee backstage, ROH Commissioner Jim Cornette got one of his teeth knocked out by an unknown assailant. Cornette went to the ring and cut a heated promo on Combat Zone Wrestling, saying it was full of nothing but garbage wrestlers, and challenged CZW to a fight at the ECW Arena on March 11.
- ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness defeated Delirious.
- Low Ki defeated Christopher Daniels (with Allison Danger).
- In the Trios Tournament finals, The Embassy (Abyss, Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave (with Prince Nana)) defeated Jimmy Yang and Generation Next (Jack Evans and Matt Sydal) to win the tournament.
- ROH Tag Team Champions Austin Aries and Roderick Strong defeated Jay Lethal and ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson to retain the title.

2006 - Mammoth Sasaki and Shadow WX defeat Abdullah Kobayashi and Daisuke Sekimoto to win the Big Japan Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in Kawasaki, Japan.

2006 - Sweet Daddy Devastation defeats Juggernaut in Vancouver, British Columbia for the ECCW Heavyweight Title, ending Juggernaut's sixth reign.

2007 - MsChif defeats Christie Ricci for the NWA World Women's Title in Lebanon, Tennessee. At the same show, Motley and 187 defeat Will Owens and Nick Roberts to win the NWA Top Rope Southern Tag Team Title, and Doug Harrison defeats Jason James for the NWA Top Rope Junior Heavyweight Title.

2007 - Hiram Tua wins his second IWA Hardcore Title in BayamÃ³n, Puerto Rico, ending Angel's fourth reign.

2007 - Danny Eckos and Sean Royal defeat Billy Bax and Rob Eckos for the ECWA Tag Team Title in Newark, Delaware, ending Bax and Eckos' second reign.

2007 - The Latin Tornado wins his third House of Pain Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Hagerstown, Maryland, defeating Professor Egon Ecton.

2007 - Bobby Bonecrusher defeats Blade Walker in Orlando, Florida to win the NWA South Atlantic Heavyweight Title.

2007 - The Texas Outlaw defeated Eric Shred for the New World Wrestling United States Title in Worcester, Massachusetts.

2008 – WWE holds the Royal Rumble in Madison Square Garden in NYC on PPV. Richard Trionfo filed the following PPV report:

Welcome to the first pay per view from the WWE for the year 2008 as they present the Royal Rumble. This yearâ€™s event comes to you from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tonight, we will find out who will earn a spot in the main event at Wrestlemania 24, which will come to you from Orlando, Florida. We might also be witnessing the final WWE wrestling match for Ric Flair because of Vince McMahonâ€™s â€˜Win or you are firedâ€™ edict? Will Edge continue to dominate the Smackdown brand with the help of his â€˜girlfriendâ€™ Vickie Guerrero, ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero, and his protÃ©gÃ©s Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins or will Rey Mysterio win the World Title? Will Jeff Hardy get revenge on Randy Orton for what Orton did to Matt Hardy and win the WWE Title? Who will be the first two in the Royal Rumble match? Who will be the final man to enter with the â€˜luckyâ€™ number 30?

Make sure to check out all of the coverage on PWInsider.com including the audio shows about the past Royal Rumbles, the Royal Rumble Tip Sheet, and the numerous audio shows recapping tonightâ€™s pay per view on the site.

The matches announced for tonightâ€™s show:
Royal Rumble Match featuring:
The Undertaker
Triple H
Ken Kennedy
Shawn Michaels
Batista
Tommy Dreamer
Hornswoggle
Shelton Benjamin
Santino Marella
Mick Foley
Umaga
Snitsky
Kane
Finlay
Jamie Noble
Chuck Palumbo
Cody Rhodes
Great Khali
John Morrison
The Miz
Hardcore Holly
Carlito
Mark Henry
Big Daddy V
CM Punk

WWE Title Match: Randy Orton versus Jeff Hardy
World Heavyweight Title Match: Edge versus Rey Mysterio
Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair versus Montel Vontavious Porter
Chris Jericho versus John Bradshaw Layfield

Tonightâ€™s coverage starts with the Royal Rumble commercial. Jack Korpela hosts the Free For All for the Royal Rumble. Jack mentions the Royal Rumble match and what is on the line in the match. We then see the video packages that aired for Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy in the last few weeks. We see a video package for the Chris Jericho/John Bradshaw Layfield match. We next saw the excellent buildup for the Montel Vontavious Porter/Ric Flair match. It was then time to take a look at the final non-Rumble match announced for the pay per view, Edge versus Rey Mysterio. We then see the excellent video package that aired this week about the history of the Royal Rumble match by the numbers.

The pay per view begins with the start of the Royal Rumble subway commercial that has aired for the last few weeks and then we see a montage of the Royal Rumble graphics. We see a video package of the winners of the Royal Rumble match.

Michael Cole welcomes us to the Royal Rumble in HD and talks about how we are starting on the Road to Wrestlemania XXIV.

On the way to the ring, Michael Cole mentions Ric Flairâ€™s first match over thirty-five years ago as he walks to the ring.

Ric Flair gets on the mic before the match and he says that it has been an honor to wrestle all of these years in Madison Square Garden. There is no place like it in the world and he agrees with everyone who says that. His first match in MSG was in March 1976 before most of the people in the building were born. The level of respect that the fans have paid him over the years is unbelievable. As Flair continues to talk, he is interrupted by Montel Vontavious Porterâ€™s music and Porter comes to the ring.

Match Number One: Ric Flair versus Montel Vontavious Porter in a Career Threatening Match
Your referee is â€œLittle Naytchâ€Â Charles Robinson. Before they lock up Flair struts and woooos for the crowd. Porter with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Flair woooos at Porter. They lock up again and Porter backs Flair into the corner and he gives a clean break but continues to show little respect for Flair. Flair with an arm bar and hammer lock and Porter makes it to the corner. Porter slaps Flair but Flair chops and punches Porter around the ring. Flair with a shoulder tackle but Porter with a drop toe hold and then he sets for the boot to the head and he connects. Porter with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Porter with punches to Flairâ€™s head. Flair with a chop but Porter with a punch and snap mare into an arm bar. Porter with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow and Porter is clipped by Flair. Flair with more chops but Porter with a side head lock and Flair with an atomic drop. Porter with an elbow and punches in the corner. Flair with a chop but Porter with punches. Porter with a running boot into the corner and Porter thinks he got the three count but the referee says that he did not get the three count because Flair had his foot on the ropes. While Porter argues with the referee, Flair with a near fall with a rollup. Porter with a butterfly suplex for a near fall.

Porter puts Flair on the top turnbuckle and he hits a superplex for a near fall. Flair with more chops and then he Irish whips Porter into the corner but they bump heads and both men are down. The referee starts to count out both men but they each get back to their feet. Flair with a kick and chop. Flair with an inside cradle for a two count. Flair then gets another two count with a backslide. Flair with chops and punches to Porter. Porter with a jawbreaker and then he tries for the Playmaker but Flair gets out of the hold and he puts Porter in the Figure Four Leg lock and Porter taps out.
Winner: Ric Flair

After the match, Montel Vontavious Porter follows the referee to the back and argues with him while Flair celebrates in the ring. Flair lets out a woooo for the fans.

I thought this was a good match, but I wish they would have gotten a little more time. I think they can have a better match while it was definitely a good opening match. I liked the false finish. I wonder if Porter will bring up the whole Charles Robinson/Ric Flair situation and demand a rematch.

Vince is in his office with Hornswoggle and Vince talks about how Flair appears to be lucky. Vince talks about the luck of the Irish and his grandfather and father. Vince talks about his entire family, and his bastard son. Vince reminds Hornswoggle that it is every man for themselves and that Hornswoggle cannot even trust Finlay. Vince tells Hornswoggle that he is expected to win.

Finlay enters the office and Vince tells Finlay what he said to Hornswoggle about not trusting anyone. Vince tells Finlay that he cannot trust Hornswoggle either. Hornswoggle hugs Finlay and then they leave the office together.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talk about the media coverage in New York for the Royal Rumble. Jim Ross introduces the newest member of the announce team and Jim Ross mentions the XFL. We go to Mike Adamle.

Mike is at ringside and he says that he was here for Flairâ€™s first match in Madison Square Garden in 1976. Mike talks about the electricity and then he segues into the issues between Chris Jericho and John Bradshaw Layfield. We go to the video package.

Match Number Two: Chris Jericho versus John Bradshaw Layfield
Jericho and Bradshaw stare each other down before locking up and Jericho backs Bradshaw into the corner and he gives a clean break but the referee holds him back. They lock up again and Jericho is forced into a clean break by the referee. Bradshaw backs into the ropes and the referee pulls Jericho away again. Bradshaw with punches to Jericho while Jericho is preoccupied. Jericho with a flying forearm and take down followed by punches. Bradshaw sends Jericho to the floor but Jericho returns and he punches Bradshaw followed by a series of kicks to the midsection. Bradshaw misses a clothesline and Jericho applies the Walls of Jericho but Bradshaw gets to the ropes immediately and then goes to the floor. Jericho with a baseball slide that takes Bradshaw down outside the ring. Jericho slams Bradshawâ€™s head into the exposed ringside barrier. Jericho tries for a suplex but Bradshaw blocks it. Jericho sends Bradshaw into the ring apron and then the ring steps as he works on Bradshawâ€™s back. Bradshaw with a hot shot to a charging Jericho and both men are down.

Bradshaw is the first man to return to his feet and then he connects with a short arm clothesline. Bradshaw hits another short arm clothesline and then he chokes Jericho on the bottom rope. Bradshaw catapults Jerichoâ€™s throat into the middle rope. Bradshaw continues to use the ropes as he chokes Jericho with them. Bradshaw with punches in the corner as Jericho slumps in the corner. Jericho fights back with punches of his own but Bradshaw applies the sleeper as he takes Jericho down to the mat. Jericho gets out of the hold and he clotheslines Bradshaw. Bradshaw with a big boot to Jericho and then he sends Jericho shoulder first into the ring post.

Jericho goes to the floor and Jericho is bleeding as Bradshaw kicks Jericho in the head and then he punches Jericho. They return to the ring and Bradshaw maintains control as he peppers Jericho with kicks and punches. The referee tries to pull Bradshaw out of the way but Bradshaw continues to punch Jericho. Jericho with a forearm and shoulder tackle to Bradshaw. Jericho with a bulldog and drop kick followed by an elbow drop. Jericho with the Lionsault. Jericho clotheslines Bradshaw over the top rope to the floor and the battle continues on the floor. Bradshaw sends Jericho into the ECW announce table and then Jericho rearranges the announce table. Jericho hits Bradshaw in the head with a steel chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield by disqualification

After the match, Jericho throws the chair at Bradshaw and then he punches Bradshaw. Jericho gets a cable to return the favor on Bradshaw and he chokes Bradshaw and then uses the ring ropes for more leverage. Jericho gets on the ECW announce table and then he lets go but then he goes for the cable one more time before heading to the back.

Lillian Garcia announces the result of the match and the crowd shows their disapproval.

I thought this match was okay but the problem is that the one image that I will remember was the bulldog that did not connect and Bradshaw going down anyway. I donâ€™t know if I want to see another match between the two, but this was one of Jerichoâ€™s better performances during his return.

Ashley Massaro is walking in the back and she knocks on Mariaâ€™s locker room door. Santino comes out says that Maria cannot talk now because she is getting ready for the first High Definition Kiss Cam. Santino says that Maria cannot say no to anything or anyone. Ashley suggests that is the reason why Maria is still with Santino. Santino tells Ashley that Maria is not interested in her or the â€˜Boobie Magazine.â€™ Santino then says that he wishes that he could vote her out of the WWE just like they did on Survivor.

I have not been the biggest fan of Santino Marella, but when he can take shots at Ashley Massaro, I like him more every day.

We return to Cole and Coach and we are now 63 days from Wrestlemania. It is time for the Rey Mysterio/Edge match and we go to the video package.

Match Number Three: Edge versus Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Title

Before Rey comes to the ring, Vickie Guerrero is wheeled to the ring in her wheelchair by Teddy Long. The Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder come to ringside as Cole and Coach wonder if there are ulterior motives.

Edge pushes Rey into the corner as the match begins. They lock up and Edge with an arm bar and he works on Reyâ€™s wrist. Rey with forearms and then he hits a springboard head scissors. They lock up again and Edge with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Rey with a single leg trip and a drop kick for a near fall. Rey with another near fall and Edge backs into the ropes to slow things down. Edge with a kick and punch to Rey. Rey ducks through Edgeâ€™s legs but Edge throws Rey out of the ring. Rey tries to get back in but Edge with a baseball slide. Hawkins and Ryder approach Rey while the referee was distracted, but the referee sees them before they can attack Rey and Hawkins and Ryder are sent to the back by the referee.

Rey with a head scissors that sends Edge into the ropes and Edge goes to the floor when Rey sets for a 619. Rey hits a pescado onto Edge. Rey with a springboard seated senton when they return to the ring for a near fall. Rey with a kick and chop. Edge sends Rey into the turnbuckles but Rey lands on the middle turnbuckle. Edge with a kick to the leg and Rey goes down. Rey goes to the floor and Edge goes after him. Edge with a kick to the leg and then he rolls Rey back into the ring. Edge works on Reyâ€™s leg. Edge with a single leg Boston crab on Rey after Rey could not stay on his feet when Edge Irish whipped him. Rey with a kick to get out of the hold. Rey with an enzuigiri and Edge falls into the ropes. Rey tries for the 619 but Rey was too slow and Edge hits a power slam for a near fall. Edge with an ankle lock and then he goes to the knee. Rey with a kick to the head. Edge kicks Rey in the leg after the referee checks on Reyâ€™s knee. Rey cannot get up and then he goes for the knee brace.

Rey kicks Edge in the knee but Rey with a bulldog off a wheelbarrow move and both men are down. Rey with chops and kicks as he continues to hobble in the ring. Edge with a sunset flip but Rey rolls through with a kick for a near fall. We see Vickie applaud Edgeâ€™s escape from the near fall. Edge with an Irish whip into the corner but Edge charges into a boot. Rey with a senton counter out of a potential power bomb attempt by Edge. Rey goes to the apron and then he goes up top but Edge punches Rey. Rey with forearms that knock Edge off the top turnbuckle and Rey with a double stomp for a two count. Rey with a rana that sends Edge out of the ring. Rey slides under the bottom rope and hits a DDT on the floor. Rey rolls Edge back into the ring and Edge kicks out at two. Edge with a boot to a charging Mysterio. Edge sets for the spear but Rey moves when Edge approaches. Rey with a head scissors that sends Edge into the ropes. Rey with a 619 and then Rey goes up for a splash and Vickie pulls the referee out of position. Rey sends Edge into the ropes again when Edge tries for a spear while Vickie argues with the referee. Vickie takes the impact of the 619 and then when Rey tries for a springboard move but Edge with a spear for the three count.
Winner: Edge

After the match, Edge, Hawkins, and Ryder check on Vickie outside the ring along with the referee.

I liked the ring introductions because as Michael Cole said, it gave a big fight feel. I donâ€™t know if it was the â€˜missedâ€™ moves by Rey but the crowd quickly went from mixed to clearly in favor of Edge. I thought this was a really good match. I do not like the fact that many of Reyâ€™s big matches involve him hobbling around the ring because of his knee, but he can hit every high impact maneuver with no problem. The DDT by Rey on the floor was an impressive move.

Ric Flair is in the locker room and Ken Kennedy applauds Flair as he comes out of the shower. Kennedy gives Flair a woooo. Kennedy says that after he wins the Royal Rumble tonight, that since he will have so much time on his hands until Wrestlemania . . .

Kennedy is interrupted by Shawn Michaelsâ€™s arrival. He says that he will see Flair and Michaels later. Michaels talks about how a trash talking blonde with a catchphrase will never work. Flair tells Michaels that nobody will beat him in his quest for the title. Batista and Hunter enter the locker room as well and Michaels says that it has gotten a little awkward. Hunter says that tonight, the best man will win and Michaels tries to separate Batista and Hunter. Michaels says that the best man will win wearing the new Shawn Michaels shirt. Hunter says that he hates shilling. Michaels gives Flair his shirt.

We see Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton in the back getting ready for their match.

Maria comes out for the Royal Rumble kiss cam. Ashley comes out and she tells Maria that she got a call from Hugh Hefner and says that Hugh wanted to know if Maria wanted to pose for Playboy. Santino Marella comes out with someone under a black tarp. Santino says that the answer is no. Nobody wants to see Maria with no clothes on. He tells her not to listen to the fans because they have nothing to cheer about. Santino mentions the Mets and Yankees and then makes reference to the mosquitoes in Cleveland. He calls them chokers. He says the Knicks and Rangers are not good enough to choke. Santino says that the only team the fans can cheer for play in New Jersey. The crowd starts a â€œLetâ€™s Go Giantsâ€Â chant. Santino says that nobody cares about the Giants. Ashley tells Santino that this is not a decision for Santino to make, it is for Maria to make. Maria hesitates and then she asks the fans if they want to see her pose for Playboy. Santino says the fans are sheep and they will cheer for hepatitis if someone asks for it. Santino has a special present for Ashley. Since the fans like to see the boobies, we see Big Dick Johnson with a Patriots tattoo across his chest and a cut off Brady shirt. Ashley slaps and hits Big Dick Johnson with rubber chickens.

We see a Wrestlemania commercial with a Baywatch theme and Kelly is the lifeguard who saves the man in the water. When it was time for mouth to mouth, Kelly is replaced by Mae Young.

Mike Adamle talks about Jeff Hardyâ€™s quest to win the title and how he will do anything to make history. It is time for the Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton video packages.

Match Number Four: Jeff Hardy versus Randy Orton for the WWE Title
The referee gives his final instructions before the bell rings. Hardy and Orton lock up and they fight around the ring in the collar and elbow tie up. Orton with a clean break but Hardy pushes Orton. Orton with a side head lock but Hardy with a shoulder tackle. Hardy with a side head lock and take down. Orton tries for a few rollups while Orton tries to get out of the side head lock. Orton gets Hardy into a head scissors while Hardy maintains the side head lock. Orton gets out of the hold. Hardy with a reverse atomic drop followed by a leg drop and drop kick for a near fall. Orton with a knee to the midsection and then he slams Hardyâ€™s head into the turnbuckle followed by punches. Orton tries to rile up the Hardy fans in the crowd. Hardy with a kick to Orton and then Orton is clotheslined over the top rope to the floor. Hardy with a baseball slide that sends Orton into the ringside barrier and Orton is down. The referee starts his count and then Hardy with a pescado onto Orton. Orton grabs his belt and he heads towards the entrance but Hardy stops him. They return to the ring and Orton with a standing drop kick when Hardy tries for a springboard move from the apron and Hardy goes to the floor and he hits the apron. Orton goes out after Hardy and hits a suplex on the floor. Orton rolls Hardy back into the ring and gets a two count. Orton with a kick to Hardy and then he stomps on Hardy before choking him. Orton with a series of knee drops for a near fall. Hardy tries to get back to his feet and Orton helps him up before connecting with a forearm. Hardy with a series of kicks and then he sends Orton over the top rope to the floor. Hardy goes to the apron and hits a flying clothesline from the apron.

Hardy rolls Orton back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Hardy with an Irish whip and then he charges into the corner but Orton moves out of the way and Hardy goes shoulder first into the ring post. Orton with a body scissors and reverse chin lock. Hardy returns to his feet but Orton with a power slam for a two count. Orton returns to the reverse chin lock. Hardy and Orton with forearms to the back but Hardy hits a leaping clothesline and both men are down. Hardy with punches to Orton and a running forearm and clothesline followed by an elbow. Hardy backs Orton into the corner and then he hits Whisper in the Wind but can only get a two count. Hardy with a mule kick and he sends Orton into the corner and Hardy with the delayed baseball slide in the corner. Hardy goes up top but Orton rolls to the apron. Hardy hits a missile drop kick that knocks Orton off the apron. Hardy goes up top again and hits a moonsault onto Orton on the floor. The referee checks on both men.

Hardy rolls Orton back in and Hardy returns to the ring. Hardy gets his second wind and he waits for Orton for the Twist of Fate but Orton counters and he hits the RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton

I thought this was a good match and there was definitely a big time feel to the match as it started. Both men gave everything in the match. I do not mind that Orton won the match, but I hope they will meet again at Wrestlemania because like everyone on the site has said, to not give Hardy a run at the top would be a mistake. The RKO out of nowhere was a good touch and it was interesting because it happened just as it appeared that Hardy was going to take control of the match.

We see Jeff Hardy in the ring as he realizes that he fell short but then he salutes the crowd and he gets an ovation for his performance.

Joey Styles and Tazz make their show debut as they talk about the result of the WWE Title Match. Joey talks about the Royal Rumble match. Tazz points out that the last seven winners have won the main event at Wrestlemania. We go to the excellent Royal Rumble Match by the Numbers video package.

Match Number Five: Royal Rumble Match
Entrant Number One: Undertaker and Entrant Number Two: Shawn Michaels
Taker is ready to punch Michaels but Michaels moves and he chops Taker. Taker with an Irish whip and Michaels with the Michaels flip. Taker with a vertical choke of Michaels and Michaels is sent into the corner. Taker with punches and head butts in the corner. Taker Irish whips Michaels and Michaels lands on the top turnbuckle and Taker kicks him. Taker goes for a big boot into the corner but Michaels moves out of the way and Taker goes to the apron. Taker grabs a charging Michaels but the throat and returns to the ring. Taker with a big boot to Michaels.

Entrant Number Three: Santino Marella. Michaels with Sweet Chin Music from Michaels and then Taker eliminates Marella. Michaels tries to eliminate Taker but Taker stays in. Taker goes Old School but Michaels tosses Taker across the ring. Michaels with a reverse atomic drop and chops followed by another reverse atomic drop and chop. Michaels with a flying forearm and kip up. Entrant Number Four: Great Khali. Taker with a choke slam to Michaels. Taker punches Khali as Khali enters the ring. Khali with the chop to the top of the head. Khali slams Takerâ€™s head into the corner and he connects with kicks in the corner. Khali punches Taker but Taker responds with punches of his own. Khali sets for a choke slam but Taker grabs Khali by the throat. Khali backs Taker against the ropes but misses the chop. Taker eliminates Khali and Michaels tries to eliminate Taker again. Michaels goes up in the corner but Taker tries for the Last Ride. Taker and Michaels go to the apron. Entrant Number Five: Bob Holly. Holly goes after Taker and Taker punches Holly and then works him over in the corner. Holly with punches to Taker but Taker with a big boot. Michaels tries to eliminate Taker again but Taker gets Michaels on his shoulders. Michaels holds on to the ropes and Holly kicks Taker. Michaels with chops to Holly and Holly responds with chops of his own. Entrant Number Six: John Morrison. Morrison goes after Taker, Michaels, and Holly. Morrison avoids Taker when his back is not turned. Michaels tries to eliminate Morrison but Morrison rolls back in. Michaels slams Morrison while Taker chokes Holly. Michaels goes up top for the elbow drop and then he sets up for Sweet Chin Music and Morrison blocks it. Entrant Number Seven: Tommy Dreamer.

Dreamer punches Michaels and then he goes after Taker. Dreamer clotheslines Morrison and then he runs into a boot from Taker. Michaels tries to suplex Morrison over the top rope to the floor and Morrison is on the apron but he is able to get back into the ring. Morrison with a European uppercut to Holly. Morrison tries to eliminate Holly and Morrison tries to get rid of Morrison as well. Entrant Number Eight: Batista. Batista with a spinebuster to Dreamer followed by clotheslines to Holly and Michaels. Batista with a back body drop to Morrison. Taker and Batista square off but Dreamer tries for a DDT on Batista but Batista eliminates Dreamer. Holly tries to eliminate Michaels but Michaels gets off the turnbuckle. Morrison gets speared by Batista. Taker with boots to Batista and then he chokes him in the corner. Michaels tries to get rid of Holly.

Entrant Number Nine: Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle sees Taker in the center of the ring and he freezes. Hornswoggle goes under the ring. Batista with a spear to Taker and then he tries to eliminate Taker. Holly chops Morrison while Taker works over Batista. Holly with a suplex to Morrison and Michaels chops Holly. Holly with a back body drop to Michaels and then he clotheslines Michaels to the apron and Michaels returns to the ring. Entrant Number Ten: Chuck Palumbo. Chuck goes after Batista with chops and punches. He punches Michaels and Holly as well. Palumbo punches and chops Michaels. Holly chokes Batista in the ropes. Morrison is able to save himself. Taker backs Palumbo into the corner and he head butts Palumbo. Michaels tries to eliminate Morrison in the corner but Morrison with a head scissors.

Entrant Number Eleven: Jamie Noble. Noble has his ribs taped and he goes after Palumbo. Noble with kicks and punches to Palumbo as he works over Palumbo in the corner. Palumbo sends Noble to the apron and then Palumbo with a boot to the ribs to eliminate Noble. Taker with a back elbow to Palumbo. Batista with shoulders to Holly in the corner. The medical staff checks on Noble outside the ring. Entrant Number Twelve: CM Punk. Punk with a running boot to Palumbo, Michaels and Morrison. Taker grabs Punk but the throat but Punk with kicks. Punk tries for a bulldog on Michaels but Taker with a clothesline to Punk. Palumbo tries to eliminate Punk but Punk sends Palumbo to the apron and Punk with a running knee to eliminate Palumbo. Michaels tires to suplex Punk to the floor but Punk blocks it. Entrant Number Thirteen: Cody Rhodes. Rhodes goes after Punk and sends him to the apron. Rhodes goes after Taker and punches him. Taker grabs Rhodes by the throat but Rhodes with a punch and drop kick. Batista with a back body drop to Michaels. Taker with an Irish whip to Rhodes. Entrant Number Fourteen: Umaga. Umaga with clotheslines to everyone but Holly who chops Umaga. Umaga sends Holly over the top rope to eliminate him. Umaga works over Batista in the corner. Umaga with a running butt splash into the corner. Rhodes tries to eliminate Michaels but Shawn returns to the ring from the apron. Morrison and Rhodes exchange punches, forearms, and chops. Entrant Number Fifteen: Gene Snitsky. Snitsky goes after Morrison and Punk before turning his attention to Michaels and Rhodes. Snitsky with a short arm clothesline to Rhodes and a punch to Morrison. Snitsky with boots to Morrison. Rhodes sends Snitsky over the top but he stays on the apron and Punk cannot help Rhodes. Morrison puts Michaels on the top rope but Michaels punches Morrison. Morrison punches Punk as the former ECW champions battle.

Entrant Number Sixteen: Mike Mizanin. Morrison and Mizanin work over Punk as Taker tries to eliminate Umaga. Entrant Number Seventeen: Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin jumps to the turnbuckle and tries to eliminate Mizanin and Morrison. Benjamin goes after Punk but then Michaels with Sweet Chin Music that eliminates Benjamin. Snitsky with a running clothesline into the corner. Entrant Number Eighteen: Jimmy Snuka Snuka with chops to Morrison and Punk followed by Michaels. Snuka with a head butt to Taker. Snuka with a chop to Snitsky and Mizanin. Snuka with a head butt to Mizanin. Snuka with a chop to Batista. Entrant Number Nineteen: Roddy Piper. Everyone waits for Piper to enter the ring and he wants a piece of Snuka. Piper punches Snuka but Snuka does not feel it. Snuka with a chop to Piper but Piper with a thumb to the eye. Snuka and Piper battle and everyone else returns to what they were doing. Entrant Number Twenty: Kane. Rhodes and Snitsky continue to battle. Kane eliminates Piper followed by Snuka. Kane with punches around and then he choke slams Mizanin. Kane works over Umaga with uppercuts and elbows in the corner. Rhodes with an elbow to the midsection of John Morrison. Taker sets for a choke slam on Kane but then he sees Michaels. Umaga hits Taker from behind. Entrant Number Twenty-One: Carlito. Carlito goes after Rhodes and then he works his way around the ring. Michaels rolls back in one more time. Carlito tries for a back elbow but Punk and Morrison catch him. Carlito uses the ropes. Carlito hits a lungblower on Punk but Rhodes with a bulldog on Carlito.

Entrant Number Twenty-Two: Mick Foley. Foley goes after Kane and Morrison as he enters the ring and then he works his way into everyone who comes after him. Foley with a DDT on Kane but Umaga with a Samoan drop on Taker. Snitsky with a boot to Taker followed by a side slam. Morrison with a jumping side kick to Foley. As the bodies are strewn on the mat, it is time for Entrant Number Twenty-Three: Ken Kennedy. Kennedy goes after Rhodes and he hits the running boot on Rhodes. Kennedy with a flatliner on Mizanin and Punk. Taker sits up and Kennedy with a kick. Kennedy stands over Taker and Taker grabs him by the throat and hits a choke slam on Kennedy. Taker sends Morrison into Snitsky and then he hits a splash in the corner on both of them. Taker with a chop to Morrison. Entrant Number Twenty-Four: Big Daddy V. Taker pushes Snitsky over the top rope and then Michaels eliminates Taker but Kennedy eliminates Michaels right after that. Taker and Snitsky fight outside the ring. Taker hits a leg drop on Snitsky on the announce table. Carlito sends Mizanin to the apron. Rhodes holds on and he tries to skin the cat but Kennedy tries to eliminate him again. Rhodes and Kennedy make it back in. Entrant Number Twenty-Five: Mark Henry. Big Daddy V with head butts to Punk. Kane and Henry battle in the ring and Henry with a shoulder block. Hornswoggle comes out from under the ring and he pulls Mizanin to the floor to eliminate him. Hornswoggle returns to his hiding place under the ring. Big Daddy V tries to eliminate Kennedy and Morrison. Entrant Number Twenty-Six: Chavo Guerrero. Chavo and Punk battle in the ring and they exchange punches. Morrison is eliminated by Kane. Carlito chops Rhodes but Umaga chops Carlito. Carlito is sent to the apron but he returns to the ring. Henry tries to eliminate Rhodes and Hornswoggle tries to eliminate Rhodes but Henry pulls Hornswoggle in. Henry and Big Daddy V surround Hornswoggle and Finlay comes out with the shillelagh to make the save. Finlay takes Hornswoggle to the back with him. Kane with a boot to Kennedy but Kennedy punches Kane while Henry holds him. Carlito goes to the apron but rolls back in. We are told that Finlay has been disqualified. Entrant Number Twenty-Eight: Elijah Burke. Burke goes after Chavo. Batista is on the floor but they do not know if he has been eliminated. Chavo is sent to the apron but Chavo eliminates Punk. Big Daddy V with a sit out power bomb on Kane. We see that Batista rolled under the bottom rope after a Samoan Spike. Entrant Number Twenty-Nine: Triple H. Hunter comes in and he eliminates Cody Rhodes.

Hunter with a jawbreaker to Big Daddy V and then he eliminates Big Daddy V. Hunter with a jawbreaker to Umaga and then he punches Foley. Hunter and Foley exchange punches and then Hunter eliminates Foley and Burke when Hunter sends Foley into Burke. Hunter slams Umaga into the turnbuckles and then he punches Umaga. Umaga misses a splash into the corner and then he sends Umaga into the top of the ring post. Hunter with a Pedigree to Umaga. Entrant Number Thirty: John Cena

Everyone in the ring is in shock that Cena is in the match. Cena has some words for Hunter. Henry attacks Hunter from behind. Foley has been eliminated. Cena with a flying shoulder tackle to Henry and then he eliminates Carlito, Chavo, and Henry. Hunter and Cena get ready for their meeting in the ring and they get nose to nose. Hunter punches Cena but Cena punches back. Cena with a kick to Hunter but Hunter with a spinebuster. Umaga with an uppercut to Hunter. Umaga sets for the Samoan Spike but Batista with a spear. Batista eliminates Kennedy. Batista eliminates Umaga with a clothesline. Kane grabs Batista and Hunter but they escape and eliminate Kane.

We are down to the final three and it is Triple H, John Cena, and Batista. Batista gives the thumbs down to Cena and Hunter. Cena says that he canâ€™t see either of them. Hunter decides to give each of them a crotch chop. The battle is on as all three men battle. Batista with a back elbow to Cena and a clothesline to Hunter in the corner and another clothesline. Cena punches Batista and Hunter joins in. Batista with a double clothesline. Batista charges into a boot but Batista with a spinebuster to Cena. Batista with a spinebuster to Hunter. Batista tries for the Batista Bomb on Cena but Cena with a back body drop. Hunter eliminates Batista.

We are down to the final two and it is John Cena and Triple H. Hunter points to the Wrestlemania XXIV sign and so does Cena. Hunter with a kick and punch but Cena with punches of his own. Hunter punches and the crowd cheers while Cena punches and the crowd boos. Cena with a Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena sets for the FU and he gets Hunter up but Hunter gets out of the hold. Cena and Hunter each hit clotheslines and both men are down. Cena gets Hunter up for the FU and they are by the ropes. Hunter gets back to his feet and he hits a DDT on Cena. Hunter tries to eliminate Cena but Cena holds on to the top rope. Cena with another attempt for an FU. Hunter gets out of the hold but Cena eliminates Hunter with an FU to win the match.
Winner: John Cena

Lawler and Ross wonder which title Cena will go after at Wrestlemania as they go to credits.

I thought this was a good Royal Rumble match and went about 52 minutes. I did not expect to see Cena return. It was interesting to see who filled in the final spots (Elijah Burke, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, John Cena, and Chavo Guerrero). If Chavo had won the match, could he challenge himself and not have to worry about an opponent at Mania? I think it was a good thing to have Cenaâ€™s return be a surprise because I think if the fans in the Garden knew he was coming out, it would have affected the reaction to his entrance and music. Someone in the chat room was talking about the return of Cena and if it will affect Hardy getting the title from Orton. I thought there were a number of interesting spots and while there was nothing that is going to be memorable for years, it was a solid match. I wish that it would have been Howard Finkel (with the old MSG microphones) instead of Michael Buffer

Overall Pay Per View Thoughts
I thought this was a decent pay per view. It will probably not be the best one of the year, but it will not be the worst one of the year. I thought there were a few spots during the show that would have looked better on HD because I saw some wrestlers punching off the screen on my non-HD television. The best match of the night (non-Rumble match) was Edge and Rey. I thought the weakest match of the night was the Bradshaw/Jericho match but it was because I had low expectations compared to the other three matches (non-Rumble). Flair/Porter would have been better if it was a longer match but it made me want to see them wrestle again on pay per view and be given twenty minutes. I thought the crowd at the Garden was great throughout the night and made a decent pay per view even better on television.

2009 - On Larry King Live, Mickey Rourke and Chris Jericho both appeared to promote Rourke's appearance at Wrestlemania XXV. Rourke discussed his comeback and said the highlight of the experience was that the wrestling community had embraced the film, bringing up Ric Flair and Vince McMahon in particular.

Jericho appeared via satellite and said that Rourke did a great job and "made no mistakes" in his role of Randy the Ram. Jericho said the film made a nice representation of the minor leagues and what it's like on the way up and the way down, but not what Jericho does in WWE. He said Rourke made a mistake calling him out on the red carpet of the SAG Awards. Jericho said there's a difference between playing a wrestler and being one in real life. He said Rourke got some bad advice and his story would end differently if they stepped in the ring.

Rourke said "he may have put his foot in his mouth." Rourke said wrestling was Jericho's world and he wouldn't step into it but could take Jericho in a "boxing match or a bare fisted match." Jericho smirked and said Rourke should be careful what he wishes for because he may just get it. Rourke said he was going to take the high road and said that he respected Jericho. Jericho responded saying that he wasn't going to do that and didn't respect Rourke. He warned Rourke that he might think he knows the wrestling world but he really doesn't.

Jericho closed out saying, "I'll be seeing you, Mister Rourke. I'll be seeing you."

2009 – WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

On Sunday night, we saw Jack Swagger successfully defend his title against Matt Hardy. Did the loss cause Matt to turn on his brother later in the night? What will Matt say about the chair shot that caused a bit of a frenzy on a certain person’s MySpace page? Who will be the next to challenge the man from Oklahoma?

We are live on tape from Cleveland, Ohio and your announcers are Matt ‘Can I point to the Wrestlemania Sign’ Striker and Todd ‘Triple Crown’ Grisham.

Teddy Long comes out and he is walking like Vince McMahon to the ring. Teddy says that it was a historic Royal Rumble on Sunday involving a member of the ECW roster. Time for the video package about the Royal Rumble. This one features a look at what Matt Hardy did to his brother and the catatonic look on his face.

Teddy says that as a result of what we just saw, Matt asked for his release from ECW and requested to be a part of Smackdown. Teddy says that is okay and he wishes Matt good luck. Teddy says that we have a great show and the Boogeyman is in action.

Before we get that action, Jack Swagger comes to the ring. Jack takes the mic and he smiles before telling Teddy that he is right. The show is great because of the new face of the franchise. That will be celebrated tonight. We will have the official championship celebration for the new ECW Champion, Jack Swagger.

Jack’s music is interrupted by the Boogeyman’s music as he emerges from Hornswoggle’s house under the ring.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to take a look back to the start of Wrestlemania.

The Boogeyman is still in the ring as he gets ready for his match.

Ricky Ortiz gets on the mic and he tells Boogeyman that he does not need to eat worms to get people behind them. He needs a Ricky O Rally Towel.

Match Number One: Boogeyman versus Ricky Ortiz
Boogeyman punches Ricky and then he clotheslines Ricky over the top rope to the floor. Ricky goes to the back and this match kind of never happened.

Teddy Long is in his office and Jack enters. Jack says that someone stole his title belt. Teddy asks him if he misplaced it. Jack says that he laid it down for a few seconds and it is gone. Jack wants Teddy to help him, but Teddy tells Jack to ask Tiffany.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we are reminded that the other two brand’s titles will be defended in the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out while the ECW Title might be defended.

Match Number One: Paul Burchill with Katie Lea versus Fit Finlay
They lock up and Finlay with a side head lock and a shoulder tackle. Finlay pulls Burchill to the mat by his hair and then he hits a European uppercut followed by a boot to the solar plexus. Finlay with another European uppercut and a forearm across the chest. Finlay with another European uppercut and elbow to the head. Burchill with a kick to the chest followed by a clothesline. Burchill with a knee drop and a front face lock. Burchill with a clothesline in the corner followed by a reverse chin lock. Finlay with a knee but Burchill with a back elbow and boot. Burchill with an arm bar and chin lock followed by a knee to the midsection. Burchill with an Irish whip followed by knees to the back. Hornswoggle comes out from under the ring to bother Katie and that draws Burchill out of the ring. Finlay uses his ‘son’s’ distraction to hit a baseball slide and then he slams Burchill’s head into the announce table. Finlay with a series of clotheslines followed by a seated splash for a near fall. Finlay with a rolling fireman’s carry slam followed by a back body drop. Finlay hits the Celtic Cross for the three count.
Winner: Fit Finlay

Ricky Ortiz is in the back talking to Tiffany and Tiffany is glad that Ricky didn’t get the worms. Jack Swagger arrives and he tells Tiffany that she is going to help him find his title belt. We go to commercial.

We are back with the trailer to 12 Rounds, the prequel to Buck Woodward’s Orange Sash: The Marine 3.

Mark Henry is walking in the back with Tony Atlas. Jack Swagger stops them and wants to know where his belt is. Mark asks Jack if he thinks he took the belt. Mark wonders what Jack would do if he really took it. Mark and Tony walk away and Jack wonders where Scooby and Shaggy are. We go to commercial.

We are back and the Barry O Moments return.

It is time for the Raw Rebound.

Match Number Two: Mark Henry with Tony Atlas versus Tommy Dreamer
They lock up and Henry sends Dreamer to the mat. Dreamer with punches but Henry pushes him away. Dreamer with kicks as well followed by more punches. Henry misses a charge into the corner and Dreamer tries for a schoolboy, but Henry does not go down and Henry drops down onto Dreamer’s arm. Henry works on the arm and then he puts Dreamer in a hammer lock and sends Dreamer into the turnbuckles. Henry with a head butt and then he turns the arm in positions it probably should not go. Henry with a body block and Dreamer goes down again. Henry works on the arm one more time and he kicks Dreamer in the back. Dreamer punches Henry and Henry sends Dreamer to the mat one more time. Henry gets a near fall and he puts Dreamer in a hammer lock and Henry adds pressure. Dreamer with a jawbreaker and Henry releases the hold. Henry with a kick to the chest followed by punches and a slam. Henry misses an elbow drop when Dreamer moves. Dreamer with a drop kick to Henry. Dreamer goes into the corner and he kicks Henry as Mark charges. Dreamer with a clothesline from the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Dreamer with a drop kick to the knee and Henry is staggered. Dreamer with another drop kick to the knee but Henry is in the corner. Dreamer with the drop kick to a seated Henry and then Dreamer goes to the turnbuckles again. Henry catches Dreamer and Henry with the standing power slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry

Jack and Tiffany are with Teddy and they say that they have been everywhere. Jack wants to know what Teddy is going to do. Teddy tells Jack that they are going to go to the ring to get his title belt back.

We go to the Wrestlemania 21 recap with the commercials and the debut of Money in the Bank.

We are back and we are less than 10 weeks away from Wrestlemania 25.

Jack Swagger is in the ring and he is pouting. Teddy says that he feels like a third grade teacher more than a General Manager. Teddy tells the rapscallion to bring out the belt. Teddy says that there will be no harm and no foul, but if it is not brought out, that person will face disciplinary action.

Jack says that this is lame. He says that he is the face of the organization and he wants his title back.

Fit Finlay comes out but he only has a mic with him as he walks to the ring. Finlay tells Jack that he might know who has it. He has a good idea. Finlay goes to SwoggleVille and he brings out Hornswoggle and the he has the belt. Finlay tells him to give the belt back and be a good ‘adult who grunts’. Finlay tells Jack, Teddy, and random blonde that his son gets into things that he shouldn’t do. Jack tells Hornswoggle not to put his grubby fingers on it again. Finlay tells Jack that if he wanted Jack’s title, he would take it off him, not get his son to take it. Jack questions Finlay’s parenting skills. Hornswoggle gives the belt to Jack and Jack pushes Hornswoggle down. Finlay hits Swagger and then he hits the champion with the title belt. Finlay hands the belt to Teddy Long and then they leave the ring.

2010 - Rob Terry defeated Eric Young to become the new TNA Global Champion at a house show in Cardiff, Wales.

2010 - Chris Jericho and Gregory Helms were arrested in Kenton County, KY around 5 a.m. by the Erlanger (KY) Police Department. Both men were charged with Alcohol Intoxication In A Public Place. They were both bonded out in a little more than an hour. Kenton County is close to Cincinnati, OH, where WWE taped Smackdown the previous evening.

2011 – TNA ran Glasgow, Scotland. Michael Prentice filed the following live report:

*X-Division champ Kaz defeated Shannon Moore, Chris Sabin and Mark Harkins.

*Mickie James and angelina love defeated Madison Rayne and Tara.

*Jeff Jarrett defeated Lionheart with Greg Hempil as the special referee after a guitar shot.

*TNA Tag Team champions Beer Money with Ric Flair defeated The British Invasion. Money played babyfaces.

*Dixie Carter came out and talked up Impact on Challenge TV.

*Matt Morgan defeated the Pope. Didn't like this match.

*TNA champion Ken Anderson and Rob Van Dam defeated the Hardys.

A guy proposed to his girlfriend when Jeremy Borash went into the crowd.

They were pushing Impact's move to Challenge TV all night.

2011 – WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We start off this week with the Smackdown brand and your announcers are Matt Striker and Jack Korpela.

Match Number One: Trent Barreta versus Tyler Reks

They lock up and Reks backs Trent into the corner and he gives Trent a clean break. Trent puts Tyler in the corner but does not do anything. Trent with a side head lock but Reks sends Trent to the mat. Tyler sends Trent to the mat and Trent responds with a slap and forearm. Tyler goes to the floor. He returns and sends Trent into the turnbuckles. Trent with a European uppercut but Tyler with a knee and then he hits a gutbuster out of a dominator position. Tyler with elbow drops and then he connects with a knee drop and gets a near fall.

Tyler with a kick to the ribs and then he stands on Trent’s chest. Tyler with a seated abdominal stretch. Trent with punches and forearms but Tyler with a kick to the midsection. Tyler with a gourdbuster and gets a near fall. Tyler with a boot to the head and a knee to the back as he puts Trent in a chin lock with his knee in the chest. Trent gets to his feet and Tyler with a forearm to the back.

Tyler sends Barreta into the turnbuckles and then hits a forearm. Reks pulls Trent into the ring post with a version of a bow and arrow as he works on the ribs. Trent kicks Tyler as he returns to the ring and then Trent hits a drop kick to Reks and both men are down. Trent with an enzuigiri and Reks goes down. Trent with a running elbow into the corner followed by a running clothesline and Trent gets a near fall.

Trent misses the running knee. Reks misses a suplex and Trent lands on his feet. Trent with a flying knee and he gets a near fall. Trent goes to the apron and tries for a springboard move and Reks kicks the ropes and Trent goes down. Reks hits the Burning Hammer for the three count.

Winner: Tyler Reks

We take a look back at NXT with footage from the Fatal Four Way when Brodus Clay changed pros.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for the Raw three-quarters of this week’s Superstars and your announcers are Josh Mathews and Scott Stanford.

Before our next match Zack Ryder gets on the mic and he says that they deserved a better reaction. He says that they are the two most overlooked superstars in the WWE. Zack gives everyone a chance to give them a better reaction.

Primo says that if the people don’t want to appreciate them, they don’t care about the people. He says that they deserve to be on Raw.

Zack says that after they win, they are going to go to the clubs.

Match Number Two: Primo and Zack Ryder versus Yoshi Tatsu and David Hart Smith

Ryder and Smith start things off and Smith pushes Ryder away. Smith with an arm drag into a cover but Ryder rolls through. Smith with a front face lock on Smith and he rolls through and gets a near fall. Smith with an arm drag but Ryder with a head scissors. Smith escapes and gives Ryder another arm drag into an arm bar.

Yoshi tags in and he goes up top and chops Ryder’s arm. Yoshi with a chop and he gets a near fall. Ryder with a knee and forearm to the back. Primo tags in and Yoshi with a drop toe hold and a La Magistral for a near fall. Yoshi with a Japanese arm drag followed by another arm drag into an arm bar. Smith tags back in and they hit a double kick and double chop. Smith with an Irish whip and belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall.

Yoshi tags in and he kicks Primo before working on the arm. Smith is tagged back in and Smith hits a suplex and gets a near fall. Smith gets another near fall. Primo goes to the floor and then he gets back on the apron but Smith kicks Primo off with a running boot.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Primo has Smith in a reverse chin lock so that means that momentum shifted during the break. We see Ryder sending Smith into the ringside barrier during the commercial break. Primo kicks Smith in the corner and then Ryder gets in a few shots while Primo deals with the referee. Ryder is tagged back in and he punches Smith. Ryder with a snap mare and a drop kick to the back of the head for a near fall.

Ryder tries for a neck breaker but Smith counters with a back slide. Ryder with a leg drop and he gets a near fall. Ryder with a reverse chin lock on Smith. Smith punches Ryder but Ryder with a back elbow and he keeps control of the match. Primo gets tagged in and he hits a diving head butt while Ryder holds Smith. Primo with punches and then Smith gets in some punches. Primo tags Ryder back in and Ryder with kicks to the back.

Ryder slaps Smith in the head and punches him. Ryder runs Smith into the corner and tags Primo back in. Primo sends Ryder into the corner with a forearm and it connects on Smith. Primo with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Ryder tags back in and he punches Smith and connects with a head butt. Smith with a Saito suplex and both men are down.

Smith crawls to his corner and Yoshi and Primo tag in. Yoshi with chops and a drop kick followed by a back body drop. Yoshi with kicks to Primo and then he hits a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Yoshi goes up top and Primo is having trouble getting up but Yoshi is able to hit the spinning heel kick from the turnbuckles. Smith tries to power bomb Ryder but Primo sends them to the floor. Primo with a lungblower on Yoshi for the three count.

Winners: Zack Ryder and Primo

We go to commercial.

We have a video package for Dolph Ziggler.

It is time for the Royal Rumble By The Numbers Video Package.

It is time to run through the card for the Royal Rumble.

Match Number Three: R Truth versus Tyson Kidd

Truth wants to know ‘what’s up’ as the bell rings and then he dances and does a split in the center of the ring. Kidd does not look impressed. They lock up and Kidd works on the wrist. Truth with a reversal but Kidd backs Truth into the corner. The referee separates both men for a clean break. Truth wants to know ‘what’s up’ one more time. Kidd with a side head lock take down and he is impressed with what he just did.

Kidd with a shoulder tackle and he wants to know what is up with that. They lock up and Truth with a waist lock. Kidd with a hammer lock but Truth with a side head lock. Truth with a shoulder tackle and he dances some more. Kidd with a kick to the midsection followed by an elbow to the head. Kidd kicks Truth in the midsection as he backs him into the corner. Kidd with an Irish whip but Truth floats over and hits the hip toss and then clotheslines Kidd and both men go over the top rope to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Kidd with a reverse chin lock as he leans back to add more pressure. Truth tries to get back to his feet. We see footage from the commercial break when Kidd hits a leg drop on Truth while Truth was hanging into the ring from the apron. Truth gets back to his feet and he punches Kidd. Kidd with an elbow to the midsection followed by a snap mare and drop kick to the back of the head and gets a near fall.

Kidd chokes Truth in the ropes and then he drop kicks Truth from the apron. Kidd with an elbow to the chest and then he returns to the reverse chin lock. Truth punches Kidd but Kidd with a back kick. Truth with a flapjack to Kidd and Kidd holds his ribs so momentum may have shifted to Truth. Truth with punches and clotheslines to Kidd followed by a suplex into a stunner and gets a near fall when Kidd gets a hold of the rope. Truth pulls Kidd into the center of the ring and can only get a near fall. Kidd with a back heel kick and drop kick to the head and he gets another near fall.

Kidd sets for the Sharpshooter but Truth kicks Kidd to the floor. Kidd with an elbow from the apron and then he tries for a rollup from the apron. Truth with a near fall after a rollup. Truth hits the What’s Up for the three count.

Winner: R Truth

2011 – TNA broadcast Impact. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:

We open with a recap of last week's ongoing situation between Kurt Angle and Jeff & Karen Jarrett, culminating with Immortal beating Kurt down and then Abyss coming out of the entranceway and collapsing with Janice buried in his back, and then Crimson coming out to warn Immortal that they're coming.

We head to the Impact Zone as Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring to address the crowd, telling us that he came out here to speak with the Jarretts in peace and put their heat behind them. Instead, the Jarretts decided to dig at Kurt's wounds and make it personal even though he didn't want to go down that road. Angle said he'd retire if he lost at Bound For Glory and he hasn't wrestled since, but Jeff Jarrett's forcing his hand and making him do what a man has to do. Angle is the best in the world and when he comes to a crossroads, he looks to the fans because they're the best in the world, and he wants to know how many of them want to see Kurt Angle in the ring one more time to beat the living (beep) out of Jeff Jarrett? Okay, we knew this was coming: Eric Bischoff comes out with his gang and says he's tired of listening to Angle trying to con the people into getting him back on the roster. Bischoff says he's retired and tells him to raise horses or play golf or something because his wrestling days are over, but if he wants an ass kicking, then he came to the right place. Bischoff sends Immortal down to the ring and they beat Angle down in the ring by virtue of their overwhelming numbers as Flair, Bischoff, and the Jarretts watch from the top of the ramp. Suddenly, Crimson runs in and clears out the ring with a baseball bat, and Flair says he doesn't care what his story is because next week, they're going to stick They up their own asses. He tells Angle that if he wants to wrestle again, Flair's lifted the ban and he's got Jeff Jarrett tonight. The Jarretts freak out on Flair, but Flair tells them to relax because Angle and his dumbass partner have Jarrett, and Beer Money, and Kazarian, and Gunner & Muffin (whose names Flair doesn't seem to know), and Rob Terry.

After commercial, we go to Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair in the office where Bischoff is chewing Flair out for letting Angle back in after how hard they worked to manipulate Angle into putting himself in retirement. Flair says that he's not drinking the Kool Aid and promises that Angle's going down tonight.

Tonight: Dixie Carter will address the fans and Ken Anderson will face Matt Hardy!

Now let's head to the ring for our opening match...

Elimination Match: Sarita, Madison Rayne & Tara vs Mickie James, Angelina Love & Velvet Sky

Winter grabs Angelina on her way to the ring to try and keep her from going out there without her, and Angelina finally lays down the law and says that Velvet is her BFF and Winter will have to deal with it. The Beautiful People leave and Winter throws a fit and starts banging on the walls and screaming. The match starts out as a pier six brawl with all the girls fighting it out in the ring. Mickie and Madison go to the floor, as do Velvet and Sarata, and they leave Tara alone in the ring with Angelina as the legal participants. Tara's still selling the elbow so Angelina twists the arm with a wristlock but Tara kicks Angelina and tags out to Madison. Angelina goes through her as well and tags to Mickie, but Madison runs and tags Sarita in and the two of them do a chain wrestling sequence until Mickie tags out to Velvet, and Velvet now beats Sarita up, sweeping the legs and then hitting a diving dropkick, but Sarita counters a flying headscissors into a backbreaker. Velvet gets a straitjacket drop and goes for the cover, but Madison comes in and nails Velvet and holds her so Madison can nail Velvet with the loaded glove but Velvet moves and Madison nearly nails Sarita but stops at the last second. Velvet sends Madison to the floor but Sarita gets a rollup to eliminate Velvet and then all hell breaks loose in the ring and Mickie somehow knocks Madison out with her own glove to eliminate her, and then Sarita immediately cradles Mickie and eliminates her as well. So now we're down to a 2-on-1 with Angelina by herself against both Sarita and Tara as we go to commercial.

We come back and Angelina nails Sarita with a leg lariat for 2 as we take a moment for an instant replay to see that Madison knocked herself out by falling on her own glove right before she got eliminated. Speaking of head trauma, we continue our break in the action to look backstage at Velvet Sky writhing around on the floor holding her head. Now why would she be doing that? Angelina continues to hold her own against both heels until Tara nails Angelina with her elbow brace and Sarita covers for 2. Tara and Sarita now tag in and out on Angelina and continue to work her over with Tara continuing to sell her elbow on every single move she performs on Angelina. Angelina suddenly hit the Botox Injection out of nowhere on Tara to eliminate her and then Sarita comes right in with an O'Connor Roll and then Angelina reverses to one of her own for the come from behind victory.

Winner: Angelina Love

We go backstage to Kurt Angle, who's talking to somebody on the phone and saying they need to speed up the process and he needs them here. Who was Kurt talking to? Maybe we'll find out...after this commercial!

Matt Hardy's backstage talking about how Ken Anderson got lucky and he thinks that saying his name twice is stupid, and his purpose tonight is to make sure that Anderson doesn't even make it to next Thursday and he's going to do it for his brother thanks to the cold blood flowing through his icy veins.

Frankie Kazarian joins us on commentary for our next match...

X-Division #1 Contender's Tournament: Amazing Red vs Max Buck vs Chris Sabin

Seems like this is the first of three qualifying matches for a final three way to determine the #1 contender to the X Division Title, and each man gives prematch comments talking about how they're going to win this match and then become X Division Champion. Chris Sabin clears the ring and then Red comes in and do a fast paced exchange ending in the indy stalemate. Max comes in and tosses Sabin and then he goes after Red and works him over in the corner, but misses a charge and Red clears him out with a flying headscissors and then goes for a dive, but Sabin cuts him off with a clothesline for 2 and then springs out of the corner and hits a dive on Max on the floor. Sabin springboard into the ring and gets a thumb in the eye from Max, who then tosses Red and rolls Sabin up for 2. Buck with a cartwheel dropkick for 2 and then gets a chinlock as we see Jeremy choking Red on the floor with his boot. Red breaks free and comes in with a double missile dropkick and a tilt-a-whirl DDT for 2. Red goes for a springboard something but Sabin catches him and Rolls The Dice off the top rope for 2 and Max gets a Victory Dog on Sabin for 2. Red hits Code Red on Sabin, but Jeremy jumps on the apron to distract the referee and keep him from making the count. Red nails Jeremy and then goes up top, but Jeremy yanks him down and crotches him on the top rope, allowing Max to hit a top rope DDT for the win.

Winner: Max Buck

Karen Jarrett walks in on Jeff and asks what he's doing and Jeff says he's getting ready for his match. Karen says Kurt was on the phone calling for backup, but Jarrett says he was probably just on the phone looking for protein bars and tells Karen to loosen him up.

Jeff Hardy is backstage, and looks like he's been sleeping on a park bench all week. AND HE'S WALKING!

The Beautiful People are backstage and Velvet Sky is telling Angelina that Winter knocked her out while Angelina was in the ring. Angelina asked if she was sure it was Winter and not Sarita since Sarita's a crazy Mexican. Angelina's words, not mine. Velvet is convinced it was Winter and she storms out.

We go to a video package looking back at the rise of Ken Anderson: Babyface Asshole, Jeff Hardy's turn to the Dark Side, and Anderson's World Title victory at Genesis, followed by Anderson talking about how he could crap a better looking World Title belt than the one Jeff Hardy created.

Speaking of Jeff Hardy, he (or a homeless man who looks just like him) comes strolling out to the ring to let the fans know that he is troubled by them because he's been destroying himself for years for them, but they're just a bunch of marks who don't care about him. Turning at Bound For Glory was the smartest thing he ever did because he is TNA, and now he wants to address the asshole becuase they're all a bunch of assholes. Ken Anderson beat him at Genesis but he's seven days away from his rematch, and when he gets his title back he's going to shove that moment up all their asses. Now Ken Anderson's music hits, and the WWE Divas Champion himself comes out to the ring to have a word with Mr Hardy. Anderson says Hardy sure does bitch a lot, and he thought he knew that the only things that matter in this business are Ws and Ls, and he's got a big W. He also notes that it has Hardy's face on it, and that's because he took it from Hardy. Hardy looks really angry. It's all about that belt, and next week he's going to continue being the Total Nonstop Action, Total Nonstop Asshole World Champion...Champion.

Crimson is backstage saying he was here for his brother Red and he always will be, but he was given a very lucrative offer he couldn't refuse, and next week we'll find out what They have planned. We then look at what Crimson did to Abyss last week, and we discover that Abyss has suffered nerve damage to his spine and will be out indefinitely.

Velvet Sky comes out to the ring holding the back of her head, calls Winter a bitch, and tells her she can't come to TNA and just break up the Beautiful People, she can't show up out of nowhere and attack her from behind, and if Angelina won't take care of her ass, she will, and she tells Winter to get in the ring with her right now. Winter comes out to the ring and Velvet goes out to the floor and attacks her, ramming her into the apron over and over and then into the guardrail. Velvet lays in kicks and chops and Winter bails into the ring but Velvet follows her in and bashes her head into the mat as she screams at Winter that Angelina is her partner, not Winter's. Suddenly Winter screams in Velvet's face and Velvet freezes, giving Winter the opening to take her down and try to rip Velvet's head off. Finally Angelina comes into the ring and pulls Winter off of Velvet, and Angelina tells her to get out of the ring as Velvet stands there sneering at Velvet before suddenly breaking into a smile as she backs her way up the ramp. Angelina tries to help Velvet out of the ring but Velvet breaks away from her and storms off to the back.

The Pope is backstage, and he's...WALKING!

We're back from commercial, and the Pope is out to address the Congregation. A few weeks ago, Pope allowed his emotions to get the best of him and he may have said some stuff he shouldn't have, and he's out here right now to do what none of us would ever do: he's going to lead by example and confess. So many people watching this are sitting next to someone they can't stand and act like everything's great, then wait for them to leave and stab them in the back, there's people who are going to finish watching Impact and get to bed and they know they're sleeping with the enemy, but they do it for the kids. But as the Pope, he's bigger and better than that, and he's better than all the fans, and he's going to kneel down and say right now to Samoa Joe...Joe...I don't like you, I don't like who you are, I don't like what you stand for, and asks who goes around in modern society saying "I'm gonna kill you", who sits in the crowd chanting "Joe's gonna kill you", and he's not going to bother with him because there's no hope and he can't work wonders. But what he can do is give a member of his Congregation the chance next week to follow Pope's lead and come onto Confession With The Pope and confess their faults, and he's going to do what he's always done and change this world one smile at a time. Pope has spoken.

We go back to Immortal's locker room as Flair gives his crew (and Eric Young, who is at the meeting for some reason) a pep talk and tells Rob Terry that he looks like a million dollars, but is nobody until he grinds someone. Gold medals don't matter in their world, and he tells Immortal to go get them. Immortal storms out the door to take care of business as Flair asks Young who the hell he is, and Young holds up the Legends/Global/TV Title belt and says he's the champion. Flair said he's no champion because that's a piece of crap that they threw out, and then he throws Young out of their locker room.

We see a video package looking back at the announcement that Hulk Hogan was coming on board at TNA, and everything that has happened since then, culminating in Hogan and Bischoff stealing the company from Dixie and Immortal running rampant over TNA, and then Dixie presenting the injunction on Thanksgiving night. We then go out to Mike Tenay and Taz, who have Dixie Carter on the phone and ask her for her thoughts on next week's ruling on the legal proceedings regarding the status of the company. She says she's confident that things will work out in her favor and her attorneys have assured her that she'll be back in control after next week. We then go to Eric Bischoff, who says that she's been drinking her own Kool Aid for so long that she can't tell the difference between Kool Aid and scotch. Two things will happen next week: Jeff Hardy will regain the WWE Divas Title, and Hulk Hogan will prevail in the lawsuit and everything will be as they should be with Immortal in control. Bischoff also puts the They thing in the same category as the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus: there is no They.

Ken Anderson is backstage, and he's...WALKING! Matt Hardy's backstage as well, and he's...CONVULSING!

Time for our next match...

Matt Hardy vs WWE Divas Champion Ken Anderson

They tie up and Matt uses his overwhelming mass to drive Anderson to the corner, but Anderson comes out fighting and Matt tries to climb the corner, but can't seem to make it to the top rope so he takes Anderson's arm and snaps it across the top rope, then hits a single arm DDT for 2. Hardy works the wristlock and slams the elbow over his shoulder and then repeatedly rams Anderson's shoulder into the ringpost several times until the referee stands in the way to prevent further damage. Hardy works the hammerlock and takes Anderson down to the mat, but Anderson makes it to his feet and fights his way free and runs over Hardy with a clothesline, running elbow, and neckbreaker for 2. Anderson picks Hardy up for a fireman's carry but can't seem to support his weight, and Hardy slips out and hits a Death Valley Driver for 2 and then goes for the Twist Of Hate, but Anderson slips out and, with a Herculean effort, picks Hardy back up and (very quickly) delivers a Finlay Roll for 2. Anderson goes for the Mic Check but Hardy blocks and hits the Side Effect for 2, but goes for an arrogant cover and Anderson rolls Hardy to his back for 3.

Winner: Ken Anderson

Anderson goes to leave but Jeff Hardy runs out of the back and nails Anderson, then rolls him into the ring and the Hardys beat Anderson down 2-on-1. Rob Van Dam's music hits and he comes running out to make the save and spinkicks Matt as Jeff bails out the second he sees RVD and heads for the hills.

Kurt Angle & Crimson are WALKING backstage, and Angle tells Crimson not to worry, because they won't be alone out there. We're at commercial.

It's main event time!

Kurt Angle & Crimson vs Jeff Jarrett, Frankie Kazarian, Rob Terry, AJ Styles, Beer Money, Gunner & Muffin

I always love when the main event starts at 10:56, that's when I know I'm in for a real quality match. Styles is out in street clothes, and Jeff Jarrett is nowhere to be seen. Roode and Crimson start and Roode drives Crimson to the corner and unloads with boots and rights and beats Crimson down in the corner, but Crimson comes back with a leaping clothesline off the ropes and a Falcon Arrow suplex for 2. Crimson tags Angle in but Roode takes Angle to the corner and tags Kazarian in, and Angle catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker so Kazarian tags out to Storm and they jockey for position until Angle gets an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and then takes out the entire Immortal team on the apron. Storm with a lungblower from behind and Flair nearly topples over the top rope yelling at Angle, but Storm goes for a superkick and Angle ducks so Storm hits the referee. Angle hits the Angle Slam on Storm, but now the entire group start to beat Angle and Crimson down, and now Jeff Jarrett comes out with his full entrance with music and pyro. He tells the rest of Immortal to back off and he waits for Angle to get to his feet and goes for a punch, but Angle ducks and hits a German Suplex so Immortal all bum rush Angle and beat him down again as Jarrett eggs them on. Jarrett finally hits the Stroke and Jackson James slides in to count 3.

Winners: Jeff Jarrett, Frankie Kazarian, Rob Terry, AJ Styles, Beer Money, Gunner & Muffin

Karen gives Jeff a big kiss as Immortal celebrates. They continue beating Angle down even after the match, and suddenly Matt Morgan's music hits and he comes into the ring to make the save and he gets swarmed and overwhelmed by the numbers, too. Suddenly, the lights go out and the sirens hit, and when they come back up, Scott Steiner is in the ring with a lead pipe and he clears Immortal out. Immortal backs up the rampway in fear as Steiner stands there swearing at them and daring them to come back and fight him. Steiner turns to Angle and they share a smile and a nod as we go off the air.

2012 - DGUSA held the Open the Golden Gate iPPV. Stu Carapola filed the following iPPV report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Dragon Gate USA: Open The Golden Gate! For information on ordering the iPPV of the show, click on the poster above.

Low Ki vs BxB Hulk

Low Ki takes Hulk down with a waistlock and gets a double leg ride, Hulk slips out the back but Ki gets a heel hook. Hulk rolls out and Low Ki gets behind and tries what looks like some kind of chinlock, but Hulk counters to a stepover toehold and gets a rear chinlock to boot. Ki gets out and takes Hulk to the ropes where he tears into him with a hard chop to the chest. The camera work is awful here, they keep wandering across the ring and the camera doesn't move with them, like right now where I can just barely tell Ki has Hulk in a headscissors. Hulk gets out so Ki goes to a side headlock, then some European uppercuts. Ki with a Mongolian chop, but Hulk gets a kick to the midsection and then a short dropkick to the ribs. Hulk with a chop, but Ki with a series of his own in retaliation and covers for 2. Ki chokes Hulk in the corner with his boot and takes him over with a side headlock. Ki with the mount and slaps Hulk in the head, then floats in front to take a double underhook and turn it into a suplex for 2. Ki with a bodyscissors and a rear chinlock, but Hulk makes the ropes. Ki with a full nelson, Hulk kicks his way out and hits a twisting enziguiri to gain a bit of momentum.

Hulk with a flurry of kicks and a cover for 2, then he shuts Ki down with a rear chinlock and then converts that into a seated abdominal stretch while repeatedly punching Ki in the ribs. He picks Ki up and gets a scissor kick to the top of the head for 2, Ki tries to fight back but Hulk with a big kick and then ties Ki up in a surfboard and repeatedly kicks Ki while he's got him trapped in the hold. He turns it into a half crab and more kicks, this time to the back of the head. Ki with an enziguiri out of nowhere and then opens up with more kicks. Ki with a series of runnig forearms off the ropes, then a snapmare and indy kick to the back for 2. Ki ducks a kick and gets one right to the jaw and another to the back of Hulk's head and gets 2. Hulk reverses a whip, but instead of a whip of his own he pulls Ki into a spinkick to the side of the head. Sweet. Ki with a double stomp off the top rope and covers Hulk for the win.

Winner: BxB Hulk

Solid match, but nowhere near what I would have expected from these two. They never seemed to get into gear, but Ki was so over with the crowd that I don't think it really mattered.

Chuck Taylor comes out before the next match and I can't really make out what he says, but the gist seems to be that Rich Swann's not here so he'll take on one of the Young Bucks in a singles match instead. The Bucks come out and say that they came here for a tag match, so they guess it'll be 2-on-1. They jump Taylor, but Scorpio Sky of all people comes running out of the back and clears the Bucks out. I again can't hear what Taylor says, but I'm pretty sure I know what he was trying to say.

Chuck Taylor & Scorpio Sky vs Young Bucks

Taylor dumps Matt to the floor and follows him out with a dropkick through the ropes as Sky takes Nick out with a flying headscissors. Sky whips Nick hard into the corner and covers for 2, then hits a side backbreaker on Nick and holds him over his knee for a dropkick from Taylor for 2. Nick manages to drag Taylor back to his own corner and tags out to Matt, who beats Taylor down with double axhandles. Bucks with a double team something that I missed because the cameraman was behind the referee, but it got 2 on Taylor. Matt spits at Sky on the apron, then whips Taylor to the corner but charges right into his boots, and Taylor htis a dropkick off the second rope, ducks to avoid a charging Nick, and makes the hot tag. Scorpio Sky comes in and cleans house on Nick, hitting a springboard crossbody off the second rope and suplexing Matt to the floor. Sky coversNick for 2, then tags out to Taylor, who runs right into a superkick from Nick. Taylor responds with a high knee, as does Sky, followed by a Lionsault from Taylor for 2. Bucks with a double clothesline in the corner, Nick with a double stomp off the top on Sky, followed by a twisting Diamond Cutter off the top rope for 2. Taylor hits Sole Food on the apron on Nick, Sky follows Nick to the floor with a dive through, and Taylor gets Matt in a half crab in the ring. Bucks with a double Tombstone on Sky that only gets 2. Bucks go for their finish, but Taylor nails Nick and Sky hits a top rope Frankensteiner. Taylor with the Awful Waffle on Matt for 2, but Nick hits Sky low and they hit More Bang For Your Buck for the win.

Winners: Young Bucks

Good match, tons of action in this one, but the camera work isn't the greatest so far.

Masato Yoshino vs Naruki Doi

Bit of a technical problem on my end: my internet connection drops for several minutes, and comes back as Yoshino hits the Lightning Spiral on Doi. Yoshino with Sol Naciente, but Doi becomes the first person I've ever seen get out of the move and Catches Yoshino with a Tiger suplex for 2. Doi with a fast series of open hand strikes, but Yoshino with Tormelino and then Sol Naciente again, Yoshino picks Doi's leg out from under him, and Doi goes down and eventually passes out.

Winner: Masato Yoshino

I can't really give much in the way of thoughts on this one since I only saw the last few minutes, but what I saw was very good. Incidentally, technical issue was on my end, not DGUSA's.

AR Fox comes out before the next match and says that since Sami Callihan destroyed his mentor Sabu and put him through a table, he wants the Anything Goes Match to become a Tables Match now.

Tables Match: Sami Callihan vs AR Fox

Fox and Callihan go at it on the floor, with Callihan booting Fox in the face and Fox responding in kind before ramming him into the ring apron. Fox gets into the ring, then comes right back out with a flipping move that wipes Callihan out. Fox goes back inside and comes through the ropes with another dive, but Callihan moves and Fox lands ribs first right on top of the guardrail. That looked really painful. Callihan chokes Fox out with his ring jacket, then rolls him into the ring and sends a table in after him. Callihan repeatedly bashes Fox in the head with the table, then puts the table flat, legs up, on the mat and slams Fox on top of it. Drool is dripping from Callihan's face as he picks Fox up and slams him onto the table a second time. Callihan sits on Fox's back, hooks his arms under his legs, and rams forearms into the unprotected back of Fox's head. Callihan sets the table up, but the legs appear to have broken from when he was slamming Fox on them earlier, and Fox baseball slides Callihan's legs out from under him, then hits a rolling cannonball in the corner. Callihan rolls out to the apron and Fox tries to come off the top rope with a legdrop, but Callihan moves and Fox lands hard on his rear end. Callihan takes one of the ringside chairs and bashes Fox with it, then takes a piece of the guardrail, turns it into a bridge between the rail and the ring apron, and backdrops Fox onto it. Fox is in a lot of trouble here as Callihan rolls him back into the ring and slaps him around, Callihan spits in Callihan's face and hits a Codebreaker to send Callihan out into a laying position on that piece of rail. Fox with a standing moonsault that almost sends Callihan through the rail, then sends him back into the ring and sets up the table in the corner. Fox lays Callihan on the table and goes to the top rope for a coast to coast, but Callihan pops up and nails him and hits a running power bomb over the top rope and onto that piece of guardrail. That was SICK. Callihan takes the table and throws it onto Fox at ringside, then sets it up at ringside and puts Fox through it with a running powerbomb.

Winner: Sami Callihan

Ye gads, these two destroyed each other in this one. They were hampered a bit by a table that just didn't want to behave and do what they needed it to, but they improvised and got to the finish regardless, plus the spots with the guardrail were insane and I hope Fox is okay.

INTERMISSION

Jon Davis vs Caleb Konley

Konley with a go behind into a waistlock, then goes to a headlock but Davis counters to a side headlock of his own and avoids a leg sweep to get a rolling cradle for 2. Wow! Davis continues to outwrestle Konley in a chain wrestling sequence, and Konley makes it to the ropes to get a break. Konley tries an Irish whip, but Davis won't budge so Konley gets a boot to the midsection, then gets the whip but Davis comes back and catches Konley on a leapfrog attempt and powerslams him for 2. Konley rolls out to the floor so Davis goes after him and continues brutalizing him before knocking Larry Dallas on his ass. Konley uses the distraction to jump Davis from behind, then rolls him into the ring and hits a running European uppercut for 2 before catching him in a rear chinlock. Chop exchange that Davis wins handily, and Davis reverses another Irish whip, misses a big boot, and Konley tries a Frankensteiner but Davis holds his ground and powerbombs Konley into the turnbuckles. Konley with a rollup out of nowhere, then a running knee and goes for a Lionsault, but Davis gets the knees up and takes him out with a hard clothesline and a Pounce...and the iPPV goes out completely. When it comes back, we're already onto the next match and I have no idea what happened in the finish here, so we'll just pick back up with the next match already in progress.

PAC vs Akira Tozawa

PAC tries a springboard dropkick into the ring, but Tozawa falls to his back and gets the knees up and PAC crashes down midesction first on Tozawa's knees. Tozawa appears to be busted open hardway, and he hits a series of sentons on PAC before licking the blood off his own face. They go toe to toe in the ring before Tozawa goes to the eyes and catches a three quarter nelson. Tozawa snapmares PAC and gets a modified surfboard, then chokes PAC in the corner with his boot. Tozawa tries to whip PAC across the ring, PAC blocks and gets a sole butt, whips Tozawa across the ring and charges, gets backdropped to the apron, tries to springboard back in, but gets dropkicked to the apron and Tozawa hits a baseball slide to send him out to the floor. Tozawa goes for a dive through the ropes, but PAC *catches him*, hits an overhead release suplex on the floor, and pops back into the ring to hit a dive that plows through Tozawa and nearly send them both through the guardrail. PAC takes a good long time to recover before rolling Tozawa back into the ring and popping him about eight feet in the air for a flapjack and follows up with a northern lights suplex for 2. That just made Tozawa mad, and he destroys PAC with Kobashi chops in the corner. PAC says to bring it on, so Tozawa gets a straight right jab to PAC's jaw and sends him to the ropes, PAC tries a sunset flip, Tozawa rolls through and gets a Shining Wizard for 2. Tozawa calls for the brainbsuter, PAC drops down to block, Tozawa gets a pair of rolling elbows and a bicycle kick, PAC dodges another and hits a bicycle kick of his own but Tozawa flattens him with a backdrop suplex, then Tozawa charges PAC and PAC sidesteps so Tozawa comes off the ropes right into a snap German suplex. AWESOME sequence. PAC goes to the top rope and comes off with something Tozawa dodges, so he goes across the ring and to the top rope but Tozawa follows him up and hits a top rope German suplex that gets full rotation. Tozawa slowly crawls over and makes a cover, but PAC gets out at 2 so Tozawa hauls him back to his feet, and PAC is almost dead weight. Tozawa puts PAC back up top and goes for a backdrop suplex, but PAC blocks and elbows Tozawa off the corner and then goes for the Spiral Tap, Tozawa gets his knees up and goes for a German suplex but PAC reverses to one of his own for 2. Tozawa with a bicycle kick, German suplex, and then a second one with a bridge for a V-E-R-Y close 2. Tozawa goes for another German but PAC blocks it so PAC straitjackets the arms and hits the suplex and finally manages to put PAC down for 3.

Winner: Akira Tozawa

Holy crap was this awesome! This was really, really, really good and easily the match of the night so far.

Open The United Gate Title Match: CIMA & Ricochet vs Masaaki Mochizuki & Jimmy Susumu

CIMA and Mochizuki start us off as I discover that CIMA apparently got booted out of Blood Warriors. CIMA beat Mochizuki for the Open The Dream Gate Title, and Mochizuki gets some revenge by just destroying CIMA with kicks. Susumu and Ricochet come in and Ricochet outmaneuvers him with a series of armdrags that send Susumu to the floor. Susumu comes back in and tags out to Mochizuki, who destroysRicochet with more kicks, including one to take Ricochet's leg out from under him, and gets a heel hook. CIMA comes in and Mochizuki picks his ankle as well and gets a double single leg crab. They both make the ropes, so Susumu comes in and ties up CIMA's leg with a stepover toehold. CIMA escapes and takes Susumu down and ties him up in a figure four stump puller. He rolls it backward into a cradle for 2, then tags out to Ricochet and they connect with a double dropkick for 2. Susumu drives Ricochet back into his own corner and tags out to Mochizuki, who continues gleefully disassembling Ricochet. Ricochet blocks a suplex and shoves him backward into CIMA, who refuses to double team Mochizuki and instead comes in and gets a snapmare and legdrop for 2. Mochizuki pops up and just kicks CIMA in the face and CIMA goes down in a heap. Susumu with a double leg on CIMA and Mochizuki comes off the ropes with a running kick to the chest. Susumu covers for 2, then gets a seated abdominal stretch on CIMA that he rolls backward into a guillotine for 2.

CIMA blocks a bodyslam and gets a slam of his own and a rolling senton, then Ricochet tags in and immediately covers for 2. Ricochet with a modified triangle choke on Susumu, but Susumu makes the ropes to force the break. Ricochet with a snapmare and comes off the ropes, but fakes Susumu out and dropkicks Mochizuki off the apron instead. CIMA comes back in and gets a drop toehold on Susumu, gets an Indian deathlock, and suplexes Mochizuki as Ricochet comes off the ropes with a baseball slide to Susumu's grill. CIMA back to the Indian deathlock, putting all his weight on Susumu's knees, but Susumu makes it to the ropes so the champions hit a series of kicks to Susumu and then CIMA with a running bulldog/clothesline that takes out both opponents. Susumu gets an exploder suplex out of nowhere on CIMA, then one on Ricochet, and he makes the hot tag to Mochizuki, who takes CIMA out with a twisting kick off the second rope and then takes Ricochet's head off with a running boot. Mochizuki with another big boot, but Ricochet no-sells and hits a lungblower and a standing 630 for 2. Ricochet blocks a kick from Mochizuki and fires in several of his own, but Mochizuki isn't fazed and flattens Ricochet with another kick. Ricochet tries a Pelle kick but Mochizuki catches the boot and goes to an anklelock as Susumu gets CIMA in a figure four. Ricochet escapes with an enziguiri, but Susumu dumps Ricochet to the floor before going for a figure four on CIMA, who catches him in a figure four for 2. CIMA with a bridging O'Connor roll for 2, Susumu goes for a backslide, CIMA rolls through and Susumu gets a DDT for 2. CIMA rolls through a sunset flip and hits a series of kicks and an elbowdrop, then Ricochet springboards off his back into a shooting star press for 2 on Susumu. Mochizuki kills both champions with kicks, but Ricochet with a Codebreaker, CIMA with a lungblower, and Ricochet with a standing shooting star press for 2. Mah goodness.

CIMA with running double knees in the corner on Mochizuki followed by the Perfect Driver for 2. CIMA and Susumu fight on the floor as Mochizuki blocks a suplex and knocks Ricochet silly with another spinning kick to the face. Ricochet really needs to stop daring Mochizuki to bring it with the kicks. Mochizuki with a running Yakuza kick in the corner, followed by one from Susumu, double knees from Mochizuki, and a double team kick into a powerbomb that CIMA barely breaks at 2. Double clothesline to CIMA, he no-sells, so Mochizuki destroys him with kicks, CIMA no-sells, so Mochizuki with more kicks, lariat to the back of the head by Susumu, and CIMA drives Mochizuki to the floor. Susumu backdrops CIMA to the apron, CIMA with a headscissors back in, Ricochet out of nowhere with a 619 around the ringpost, and CIMA with a coast to coast on Susumu, Air Raid Crash on Mochizuki, and Ricochet hits a 630 on both men for the closest 2 you've ever seen. Ricochet goes back up and Susumu nails him and goes for a top rope suplex, CIMA comes over and gets Susumu on his shoulders and Ricochet dropkicks Susumu into an Ocean Cyclone suplex for 2. CIMA picks Susumu up, but Susumu with a pair of lariats, CIMA goes for another Schwein but Susumu counters to a crucifix for 2. Susumu kills him with a lariat, CIMA with a superkick, Susumu with a lariat, Mochizuki with a flying kick, and Susumu with another hard lariat for 2. Ricochet gets a spinning enziguiri on Susumu and CIMA hits another Schwein, but Susumu gets out at 2. CIMA with an implant DDT and top rope double knees for the win.

Winners: CIMA & Ricochet

Great match, but the champions barely have time to celebrate when Akira Tozawa and BxB Hulk run in, dump Ricochet out of the way, and attack CIMA, Susumu,and Mochizuki. Low Ki runs in and everybody stops and stares at him, then he gets the microphone...and I can't hear a word he says. The crowd chants for Tozawa, and then he puts over Mochizuki and Ricochet, and then turns his attention to CIMA. They were both in Zero-One back in the day but never crossed paths, so they're going to do it here. He tells CIMA to shake his hand, and CIMA obliges. I had my volume all the way up and couldn't hear most of what he said, so I apologize if my recap was a little light on that one.

Well, some good wrestling on here, but this show was absolutely fraught with technical issues. The camera work was all over the place for the first couple of matches, you could barely hear most people on the house mic, and the show dropped completely for about ten minutes, and when it came back up the chat window next to the video was full of people asking what happened, what they missed, and whether anyone else got kicked out. I'll give them a Mulligan on this one since their production values are usually top notch, but between stuff like that, Johnny Gargano having to cancel out due to his injury, and Rich Swann missing the show due to travel issues, this show had a lot working against it.

Still, Tozawa-PAC and the main event were great and I'm really looking forward to watching Low Ki face off against Tozawa and CIMA, so once they have the chance to take the video home, edit it, and put it up on WWNlive.com, I'd say it's worth the cost of watching the replay for sure.

2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We begin with a look back at the horrible attack by Big Show when he inflicted serious bodily harm on AJ Lee who was innocently standing at ringside watching her boyfriend’s match.

We are live on tape from Tucson, Arizona and your announcers are Josh ‘Signed Epstein’s Mother’ Mathews, Booker ‘Manny Esposito’ T and Michael ‘Sal Garrelli’ Cole.

Big Show makes his way to the ring to address the fans before his big Triple Threat Steel Cage Match on Sunday night.

Show starts off by saying he is sorry. Show says that he already told AJ but he wants to tell everyone else that he is sorry and that he apologized and AJ forgave him immediately. Show wants everyone else to do the same. Show says that he is having trouble forgiving himself. The collision was not an isolated incident. When he was young, he didn’t know his own strength. He always ended up hurting other kids when he was younger. When he came to the WWE, he thought all of that was behind him.

He thought that being a freak and things not being his fault would go away when he came to the WWE. Show says that he loves what he does. Show says that he has been here for thirteen years and he loves his job.

After what happened to AJ, he says that he doesn’t have the heart to go on with his career. Show says that he is very honored and proud to be in the Triple Threat Match on Sunday, but after Sunday he is going to have to do some soul searching . . .

Daniel Bryan’s music interrupts Show and Daniel makes his way to the ring and it does not look like Show apologized to him.

Bryan stands face to pec with Show and he says that everything is okay because Show is sorry. Bryan tells Show that he put a 95 pound woman in the hospital. Show says that it was an accident. Bryan says that AJ may have accepted the apology, but she was heavily medicated and does not even remember the visit.

Bryan says that he remembers because he remembers everything. Bryan says that he always thought that the WWE was a place for athletes, not genetic freaks. Bryan tells Show not to mention Andre because Show is no Andre the Giant.

Bryan tells everyone that Show has them fooled. Show has no plans to reassess his career. It is empty talk just like all of the apologies. If Show was really repentant, he would not be apologizing to AJ, him, or the people. Show would do the honorable thing and retire right now. Bryan pokes the giant and he tells him to do the right thing and leave.

Bryan slaps Show in the face and Show looks like he wants to pull of Bryan’s head. Bryan slaps Show again and Show grabs Bryan by the throat and he backs him into the corner. Show tells Bryan that what happened to AJ was an accident. He calls Bryan an ass and then he tells Bryan that what happens on Sunday will not be.

Mark Henry’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring because he is in the Triple Threat Match on Sunday and shouldn’t be kept out of the segment.

Henry says that he was compelled to come out and remind Bryan and Show that it is a Triple Threat Steel Cage Match on Sunday. Henry says that he doesn’t care about Show’s hurt feelings. He doesn’t care about Bryan’s Napoleon Complex. He sure doesn’t care about some 95 pound girl in a training bra. Henry says that Show knows what he is capable of so he doesn’t have to sweet talk him. Henry tells Bryan to get in his face if he wants to talk to him.

Henry tells Bryan that after weaseling out of the title match last week, he is going to rip off his skin on principle.

Bryan blames the lumberjacks for what happened.

Before Mark can do anything, Interim Boyfriend of Aksana and General Manager of Smackdown Teddy Long comes out and he tells the playas in the ring that they are a few days from the Royal Rumble. Teddy says that Wade Barrett is going to face Randy Orton tonight in a main event, we might as well have another main event. Since Daniel Bryan faced the Big Show two weeks ago and he faced Mark Henry last week, so it is only fair that Mark Henry faces the Big Show tonight.

We see the Barrett Barrage: Viper Hunt Edition video package.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we go to the Goldman Box where Cody says that through the kindness of his heart, he is giving the Wish Troll meets Jap-Anime reject a non-title match. He says that Justin can tell his grandkids that he lost to the man who won the Royal Rumble Match.

Match Number One: Cody Rhodes versus Justin Gabriel in a Non Title Match

Rhodes with a kick but Gabriel flips over Rhodes’ back and he hits a round kick for a near fall. Rhodes hits the Alabama Slam for a near fall. Rhodes with kicks to Gabriel and then he knees Gabriel and hits a side Russian leg sweep. Rhodes with an arm bar. Gabriel with a punch and monkey flip followed by a kick to the leg and chest. Gabriel with a jumping back spin kick and a flying forearm.

Rhodes rolls to the floor and Gabriel hits a corkscrew pescado and then sends Rhodes back into the ring. Gabriel with a springboard cross body and Rhodes rolls through and gets a near fall. Gabriel with an STO and then he tries for the springboard moonsault but Rhodes moves. Gabriel lands on his feet but Rhodes with Beautiful Disaster followed by Cross Rhodes for the three count.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Santino is talking to Teddy in the office and he says that he has the perfect match. He says that it is an Extreme Loser Leaves Town Match where the loser has to join a group of monkeys, go into a spaceship and leave the planet Earth. Teddy says that he isn’t going to do that. Yoshi is in and he says that it is out of the world.

Santino says that he wants to introduce Teddy to the next Tag Team Champions, Santoshi.

Yoshi says they are Yoshitino.

They duck season/rabbit season for a while until the man who has been fired more times than Billy Martin, Drew McIntyre enters the office. Teddy says that Drew’s career has been on thin ice. Teddy points out that Drew said that he would be able to beat Santino in a blindfold match, but he couldn’t even win after cheating.

Drew tells Teddy that Babe Ruth struck out five times in a game. Teddy tells Drew that he might have struck out, but more often than not, Babe knocked it out of the park. Teddy tells Drew that he will have to knock it out of the park against Sheamus tonight.

Drew thanks Teddy for the opportunity and then Teddy tells Drew to batter up because his match is next.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Two: Drew McIntyre versus Sheamus in a This Time We Really Mean That You Will Be Fired If You Lose Match . . . We Really Do

Sheamus blocks a punch and Sheamus with punches. Drew with a kick and punches. Sheamus blocks a hip toss and Sheamus with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Sheamus sends Drew into the turnbuckles and Irish whips him. Drew with a kick but Sheamus with the rolling fireman’s carry slam and gets a near fall. Drew goes to the apron and Sheamus grabs him and Drew drops Sheamus on the top rope.

Drew with a drop kick to Sheamus. Drew with the Neverending Story in the corner followed by a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Drew with an arm bar but Sheamus with punches. Drew with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Drew with a kick to the back. Sheamus with a series of forearms to the back followed by a short arm clothesline and a few double sledges. Sheamus with a power slam.

Drew with a punch to the head but Sheamus with the Brogue Kick for the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Royal Rumble By the Numbers video package.

We have the WWE Rewind: Last week’s Texas Tornado Tag Match between the Usos and the tag champions.

Rosa Mendes es en La Caja De Goldman and she says two months ago, nobody knew Epico and Primo, but now they are tag team champions.

Match Number Three: Santino Marella and Yoshi Tatsu versus Epico and Hunico with Rosa Mendes in a Non Title Match

Santino and Yoshi bow with no end in sight. Santino and Primo start things off and Santino with a hip lock take down and then he floats over and then does the trombone after celebrating his achievement. Santino with a drop toe hold and Yoshi is tagged in and he hits a double sledge and then chops Primo. Primo kicks Yoshi and Epico makes the blind tag. Yoshi chops Primo and Epico hits him from behind.

Epico with a butterfly suplex and he gets a near fall. Epico with a rear chin lock but Yoshi punches Epico. Yoshi with a backslide for a near fall. Santino tags in and he punches Epico and does a split followed by a hip toss and a diving head butt for a near fall but Primo breaks up the cover. Primo clotheslines Yoshi over the top rope to the floor.

Primo turns around and gets hit with the Cobra but Epico is the legal man in the match and he hits the lungblower for the three count.

Winners: Epico and Primo

Mark Henry is getting ready for his match and Daniel Bryan stops by. Henry tells Daniel that he better have a good reason to be here after what happened last week. Daniel Bryan says that last week was because of Teddy Long since he sent out the lumberjacks. Daniel says that this week is on Teddy too. Daniel says that he was going to give Mark a rematch because he respects him. Daniel wants to talk about the Big Show and says that Show does not belong in the match on Sunday. Daniel says that Teddy wants Show to be the champion and that is why he is in the match on Sunday.

Henry wants to know what Bryan’s point is.

Daniel says that this is the last opportunity to right an obvious wrong. We know that Mark can pin Big Show, but he needs to hurt him. Daniel asks Mark how many people Show has injured and then Bryan points out that Show even hurt his girlfriend. Daniel says that for the good of every Superstar in the WWE, someone has to teach Show a valuable lesson and Mark is the person to teach him that lesson.

We go to commercial.

We are back and before our next match, Wade Barrett with his Black Barrage Blazer comes to the ring. Wade asks for some decorum in the building. He says that there is a lot of pageantry and emotion attached to tonight’s Smackdown. It must be due to the return of the Viper. Wade says that he has it on authority that Orton is letting his ego get the best of him. He might be physically ready to go, but he is broken spiritually.

You don’t go through what Orton did and come out the same person. It is time for a video package of the Barrage.

Barrett says that it looked like Orton had fallen and he couldn’t get up. That is why Orton is a shell of a man. The voices in Orton’s head are telling him that Barrett is a vicious competitor.

Randy Orton’s music plays and he is walking through the back.

Match Number Four: Wade Barrett versus Randy Orton

They fight in the ramp and then Orton with a clothesline when they enter the ring. Orton with a clothesline into the corner and then he punches Barrett. Officials come to the ring to break up a scheduled match.

Barrett gets out of the ring but Orton catches up to Barrett and hits him from behind. Orton sends Barrett into the apron and he punches him. Orton spits his venom at the referees and they back off.

Teddy Long appears on the stage and he half-heartedly waves some wrestlers to come out to restore some order.

Curt Hawkins, Trent Barreta, and Tyler Reks make their way to the ring and they do about as well as the referees.

Barrett punches Orton while they hold him. Barrett gets into the ring and Orton follows after him and he spears Barrett. People come into he ring to break things up and we have pandemonium as Barrett escapes.

Orton is held off by Reks, Hawkins, Barreta, and the Usos. Orton thanks them for being peacekeepers by getting RKOed. Reks is first, followed by Hawkins. Barrett leaves and Barreta gets one. The Usos feel left out and they get RKOed.

We go to commercial.

We are back with another Royal Rumble Flashback and it is to 2006 when Rey Mysterio set the record for longest time in the Rumble match that was previously held by someone.

Daniel Bryan is in the back with Kaitlyn and he tells her that she needs to do a favor for AJ since they are best friends. Bryan tells Kaitlyn to tell Show that Mark Henry is going to try to injure him tonight in the match to keep Show out of the match at the Royal Rumble.

Kaitlyn wants to know if she is doing AJ or Daniel a favor. Bryan points out that AJ loves Daniel. Kaitlyn agrees but she wants Daniel to tell her how he really feels about AJ. Bryan says that he is a private person and that Show needs to talk to Kaitlyn as soon as possible.

We see footage from last week’s Flag Match between Ted DiBiase and Hunico.

Match Number Four: Hunico with Camacho versus Ted DiBiase

Ted’s hand is taped up and he avoids Hunico and connects with a hip toss and clothesline. Ted with a boot to the head for a near fall. Hunico punches Ted’s wrist and then he takes Ted to the mat and he connects with a leg drop to the arm and he applies an arm bar. Ted with punches and then he hits the rebound clothesline.

Ted tries for Dream Street but Hunico is able to escape due to Ted’s injury. Hunico with an arm breaker and then he hits a twisting fireman’s carry slam for the three count.

Winner: Hunico

After the match, Hunico signals Camacho and they attack Ted. Camacho with forearms to the back and Ted writhes in pain against the ringside barrier. Camacho holds Ted’s arm while Hunico stomps on the broken wrist.

We go to the back where Aksana’s music and lighting precede her appearance on screen in Teddy’s office. Teddy excuses himself to do something and Natalya storms in and forces normal lighting in the office. Natalya wants a rematch against Tamina. Aksana say that she saw Tamina squash Natalya like grape a few weeks ago. Natalya says that she will beat that whack job and then she will take care of Aksana.

Aksana tell Natalya that what she do with Teddy in private . . . Teddy interrupts by telling Aksana to kayfabe their relationship.

Teddy tells Aksana since she wants to compete, she will face Natalya. Natalya tells Aksana that she cannot wait to make Aksana cry.

There is a questionable noise in the office and Natalya runs away.

Teddy says that he needs to check on Ted DiBiase. Aksana leaves with Teddy. Santino enters and he smells something bad.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Alex Riley is in the ring and he is going to have to feel the Funk in a few minutes.

Before our next match, we see the moment that William Regal made his play for the next season of Dancing with the Stars only to have Brodus hit the cross body.

Match Number Five: Alex Riley versus Brodus Clay with the Funkettes

Alex wants to show his dance moves and Brodus does the Shimmy before hitting an Exploder suplex and then Brodus with a splash into the corner and then he hits the cross body for the three count.

Winner: Brodus Clay

After the match, it is time for the Funkettes to join Brodus in the ring to dance.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound.

Match Number Six: Aksana versus Natalya

Natalya looks for Tamina and Aksana with a rollup for the three count.

Winner: Aksana

After the match, Natalya attacks Aksana from behind and she puts Aksana in the Sharpshooter and Aksana taps out.

Tamina comes to the ring and she hits a Samoan drop and then Tamina goes up top for the Superfly Splash.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Seven: Big Show versus Mark Henry

Before the match starts, the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to ringside to watch the match and see his opponents for Sunday up close and personal.

Show with a kick and forearms followed by a head butt and Henry goes to the floor. Show goes after Henry and he kicks and punches Henry. Show puts Henry back into the ring and he connects with a head butt. Show with chops to Henry. Henry with punches and Henry lands awkwardly and the referee checks on him.

We go to commercial with Henry on the ground.

We are back and Daniel Bryan enters the ring while Big Show is declared the winner by count out.

Winner: Big Show by count out

Bryan hits Show with the chair and then Show biels Bryan and leaves the ring.

Bryan gets his title belt and Show goes after him with the chair. Bryan back pedals and then he tosses the belt to Show and hits a drop kick. Bryan hits Show with the chair and then he chokes Show with the chair. Bryan continues to attack Show’s leg with the chair.

They go back into the ring and Bryan applies the LeBell Lock. Show powers out of the hold and Show choke slams Bryan and he gets ready to knock out Bryan but Daniel gets out of the ring and crawls up the ramp to safety.

2013 - WWE broadcast the 2013 Royal Rumble from New Orleans. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:

Pre-Game Show:

Matt Striker and Tony Dawson are the hosts. They reviewed tonight's PPV card.

Josh Mathews interviewed Big Show backstage about his Last Man Standing bout against WWE World champion Alberto Del Rio. They showed clips of how Del Rio won the belt on Smackdown a few weeks back. Show was upset looking at the footage and asked Mathews why he was showing that and not when Show buried Del Rio on Friday. He said that Alberto hit the lottery when he won the belt, but that doesn't mean he has what it takes to beat Show twice.

At that point, the feed crashed on both my iPad and Youtube. That's the first time that's happened to a WWE pre-game show feed. There are 51,000 people trying to watch it live as I post this, by the way, far more than usual. Interest is up folks!

The feed returned with a video feature on the Rumble match. It's the annual video of different stats.

WWE United States champion Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz

Big pop for Miz. They showed the clips of Miz having the figure four passed on to him on Raw by Ric Flair. The announcers pushed it as a tribute to Flair.

They locked up and exchanged standing headlocks. Cesaro shoulderblocked Miz down but Miz caught him with a small package for a two count.

Miz worked over Cesaro with a side headlock on the mat. Cesaro backed Miz up into the ropes and used a shot to the mid-section to wear him down. He used a tilowhirl backbreaker and cinched in a surfboard variation to wear Miz down.

Miz fought back with several rights but was caught with a sitdown slam while he was rebounding off the ropes. Cesaro peppered Miz with uppercuts.

Cesaro continued to work over Miz, garnering several two counts. Miz fired back and went back and forth with Cesaro. Miz got the better of him and hit the running clothesline in the corner. Dawson actually said, "What a maneuver!"

Miz covered Cesaro, who kicked out at the last second. Miz hurt his ankle. Cesaro took him down and tried pin Miz with his feet on the ropes but was caught. He argued with the ref but was rolled up for a two count.

Miz went for the figure four but Cesaro escaped and went to the floor. Miz went to grab him but was pulled into the ring apron. Cesaro rolled him in, hit the Neutralizer and scored the pin.

Your winner and still U.S. champion, Antonio Cesaro.

Decent but short match.

They pushed CM Punk vs. The Rock to close out the pre-game show.

WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2013 PPV

WWE World champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show - Last Man Standing

Backstage, Del Rio was walking with Ricardo when they encountered WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart. Hart wished him good luck but said Big Show is as big and bad as they come. He said he knows what it's like to be World champion and said Del Rio reminds him of a Mexican Bret Hart. Alberto thanked him and said Bret reminds him of a Canadian Alberto. Ricardo gushed over Bret, who gave him a pair of Hart sunglasses.

When the bell rang, Show went right after Alberto and chopped him hard in the chest. Del Rio fired back with several kicks but was wiped out. Show slammed Alberto but was kicked away during a charge into the corner. Del Rio came off the buckles but Show laid him out in mid-air. Show drilled him with a back splash but was nailed with a low dropkick, Del Rio nailed him with a kick, followed by a superkick.

Show shrugged it off and went for a powerbomb but Alberto turned it into a rana. Del Rio came off the ropes with a leaping enziguiri. He then nailed another in the corner. He went for the cross armbreaker but Show lifted him up mid-attempt and slammed him down. Del Rio went to the outside, where Show chopped him hard. He rolled the champion back into the ring, then grabbed a chair from ringside. Del Rio nailed Show before he could use it and peppered Show with a series of shots across the back.

Del Rio went to the top with the chair but was caught and chokeslammed on the way down. The referee began counting. Del Rio rolled to the outside, where Show slammed him on the floor. Show dragged Alberto to the aisle but was kicked low and then kicked in the head. The ref began counting Show out. Show barely made it up and was kicked off by Show. They battled towards the entrance staging.

Show whipped Del Rio into a hanging metal piece of the stage and then ripped a piece of fluorescent light tubes from it. He nailed Alberto with it twice, shattering it the second time. Show pulled a table over towards the set piece. He climbed up and then pulled Alberto up with one arm. They battled on top of the swinging piece and gave Del Rio a nasty looking chokeslam through the table. Del Rio's trajectory going down was crazy. Alberto pulled himself up at nine to break the count, then collapsed again. Show was stunned he even got up at all.

Show dragged the champion back to the ring and signaled for the KO punch. Alberto saw it coming and rolled back out of the ring. Show grabbed the top of the steel ring steps and threw them at Del Rio, who ducked. They hit the ringpost. Ricardo nailed Show and was wiped out. Show charged the champ, who moved out of the way. Show wiped out the area where the timekeeper and ring announcers sit. Show recovered at seven but was beaten with a chair over the back again and again.

Del Rio placed Show's KO hand on the ring steps and smashed it with a chair, then shot him with a fire extinguisher. Show was trapped in the cross armbreaker as Ricardo duct-taped Show's feet to the bottom ropes. Lying, cheating and stealing? Alberto let go and Show, hurt, was unable to get to his feet since he was trapped.

Your winner and still World champion, Alberto Del Rio!

Really good match that told a good story and had some fun plunder. I never thought I'd see the day where WWE uses light tubes. I thought the finish was a little hokey but the work from both men was really good and from a storyline standpoint, it gives Show a reason to demand a rematch. I would have preferred something clean, but that's just me.

Matt Striker interviewed Dolph Ziggler. He said that Vickie Guerrero is bitter and jaded. He said he was choosing number one because that's exactly what he is. Striker tried to tell him how long the odds were for him but AJ Lee cut him off and questioned him for saying "her Ziggy" not being able to do it and warned him to leave. Langston then began interviewing Ziggler like an old school sports reporter. Ziggler said he was going to break the record for longest lasting talent in the Rumble, win, cash in his Money in the Bank and become World champion, then win the WWE title and unify the belts at Wrestlemania.

The announcers sent it to a video feature where Rumble competitors cut promos about the match. Antonio Cesaro said he was going to be the latest non-American to win the Rumble, except he was better than Edge or Del Rio. The Prime Time Players had a funny promo. Randy Orton said tonight was his night. He said he needed the win and was gong to take it. John Cena cut a promo saying that he has a target on his back but at the end of the night, everyone will see the champ is here. Wade Barrett said he was going to bring prestige to the Rumble just like he did the IC strap. Sheamus said he was going to use the Brogue Kick to win back to back Rumbles. Ryback said that every 90 seconds, another man hits the ring and said, "Feed me more." Good package and it did more to sell the Rumble match than the segment that closed Raw this week!

WWE Tag Team champions Daniel Bryan & Kane vs. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow.

Cody and Bryan started out and went back and forth with some good back and forth exchanges. Bryan dropkicked Cody and then locked him into a bow and arrow. Kane tagged in and drilled Rhodes with a series of punches but was caught with a dropkick. Kane was backed into the challenger's corner and worked over. Kane fought his way out and nailed an elbow on Sandow before tagging Rhodes back in. Sandow's facial expressions are just so great.

Bryan drilled him with a series of kicks to the chest, followed by one of the head and a series of several more in the corner. Sandow went to the floor. Rhodes checked on him, Bryan hit a suicide dive through the ropes on both. Rhodes pulled the ropes down on Bryan as he rebounded and he crashed to the floor. Sandow drilled him into the apron and rolled him into the ring. Rhodes beat Bryan down and cinched in a single leg Boston Crab. Sandow and Rhodes worked over Bryan until he nailed Rhodes with a kick. Sandow cut Bryan off. Rhodes locked in an over the shoulder backbreaker.

Bryan tried to leap to make a tag to Kane but was caught by Rhodes. Bryan turned it into a DDT and tagged Kane. Kane went for a chokeslam on Sandow, who slipped out and ate a right hand instead. Kane nailed Rhodes and hit a side slam on Sandow for a two count. Sandow fought back but was caught for a chokeslam, Rhodes attacked Kane. Bryan made a blind tag and hit a missile dropkick on Sandow. He then sent Cody into a Kane chokeslam. Bryan locked in the No Lock and Sandow tapped.

Your winners and still WWE Tag Team champions, Daniel Bryan and Kane!

Another good match. Some nice back and forth wrestling here. I would have loved a little more time but you have got to save it for the Rumble.

They aired the always awesome Rumble stats video.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Kane were celebrating their win. Vickie Guerrero showed up and handed them their Rumble entrance numbers. Bryan showed Kane his and Kane said "No." Bryan said that was the rules - "I show you mine, you show me yours." Kane told him he would feel inadequate. Kane said he would see Bryan out there. Bryan said, "Not if I see you first." Kane said it was, "highly unlikely." Good bit.

The announcers discussed the Royal Rumble fanfest and showed highlights of their weekend.

They aired the always awesome Rumble stats video.

The announcers discussed the Royal Rumble fanfest and showed highlights of their weekend.

The Royal Rumble!

We will update as often as possible!

Dolph Ziggler was number one. He cut a promo saying the spotlight was on him and at the end, he would be again. He said he didn't care who would be number two so send him out.

Number two was the returning Chris Jericho and holy sh** , what a pop! Jericho had a huge smile on his face. Of course, all this plays into Ziggler having run Jericho out of the company. Jericho has a new tattoo on his left arm.

They locked up and started going back and forth with a hot pace. Jericho came off the ropes and nailed Ziggler, then tossed him over the top to the apron. He tried to nail Ziggler and toss him to the floor, but Ziggler fought back. They battled on the top and Jericho superplexed him into the ring.

#3 was Cody Rhodes. Rhodes clotheslined Jericho. He and Ziggler doubled up on Jericho and tried to toss him out. Ziggler was kicked off. Rhodes tried to kick him low but Jericho took down Cody and tried to turn it into the Walls of Jericho. Ziggler clotheslined Jericho and choked him against the ropes.

#4 was Kofi Kingston. He came in with a big springboard clothesline on Rhodes and peppered him with fists in the corner. Ziggler went after him but Kingston rebounded and went for Trouble in Paradise. Ziggler ducked and tried to toss Kingston out of the ring. Kingston bounced off the ropes and tossed Ziggler over. He landed on the apron. Everyone battled in the ring. Ziggler was almost tossed over again by Kofi but scissored his legs around Kingston.

#5 was Santino Marella. JBL said, "Don't blink." Santino tried to toss Jericho out but failed. He pulled out the Cobra but was quickly tossed. Marella is the first eliminated. Everyone else battled.

#6 was Drew McIntyre. He drilled Kingston with a hard kick to the chest. Rhodes worked over Ziggler in the corner. Jericho tried to force Kingston and Drew out. Jericho was tossed out but held onto the ropes, dangling above the floor, before pulling himself in. Lots of Jericho chants.

#7 was Titus O'Neal. He drilled everyone with shoulderblocks but was doubled on by Cody and Kingston. He clotheslined them both as they rebounded off the ropes. Titus drilled Kingston with a backbreaker and flung him down hard. Jericho hit a springboard dropkick off the buckles, sending Drew to the floor and eliminating him. Ziggler tried to toss Jericho, who saved himself and tossed Ziggler over the top. Ziggler again saved himself.

#8 was the returning Goldust. Cody Rhodes was immediately waiting for him and they battled in the center of the ring. Dolph got involved and was nailed. Dust hit the ring sliding uppercut on his brother and kicked away at Rhodes. Big "Goldust" chant.

#9 was David Otunga. He clotheslined Jericho in the corner and used his boot to choke him. Ziggler tried to toss Kingston over the top. The Rhodes brothers worked over Titus. Titus was tossed over the top but landed on the apron. Rhodes used that chance to try and toss his brother but failed.

#10 was Heath Slater.

#11 was last year's winner Sheamus. Big pop. He nailed the Irish Curse backbreaker and rolling Samoan Drop on everyone who dared get in his way. He tossed Titus over the top and drilled him with clubbing shots across the chest. Otunga tried to attack him but Sheamus tossed him into Titus, who crashed to the floor and was eliminated. Otunga then got drilled with the shots to the chest and ate a Brogue Kick. Otunga is eliminated. Ziggler and Rhodes attacked Sheamus and kicked him in the corner.

#12 was Tensai. He beat Sheamus in the corner with a series of headbutts as the crowd catcalled, "Albert." He nailed a series of shoulderblocks in the corner on Sheamus but turned his attention to Jericho. Sheamus tried to toss out Slater. Kingston worked over Ziggler. Jericho chopped away at Tensai.

#13 was Brodus Clay, who danced his way to the ring. Sheamus beat Ziggler all over the place and on the apron. Ziggler is working his rear off here. Goldust tossed his brother over the top but Cody landed on the apron. Goldust was pulled over the top as well and they battled on the apron. Rhodes was clotheslined back into the ring and ran his brother into the ringpost. Goldust crashed to the floor, eliminated.

#14 was Rey Mysterio. He hit the ring with ton of hot offense, nailing 619s on Ziggler and Jericho. Rhodes grabbed him or a Fireman's Carry, trying to toss him over. Sheamus and Clay doubled on Tensai. Slater battled with Clay and teamed with Rhodes to try and toss him

#15 was Darren Young. Everyone battled in the ring. Slater and Kingston battled back and forth. Ziggler ended up on the outside again as Jericho tried to force him to the floor. Otunga clotheslined Goldust down. Everyone worked to toss Clay. Kofi used a rana over the ropes to take out Tensai. He ended up on the apron and Dolph shoved him off. Kingston landed on Tensai's back and then leapt to the announcer's table, so he never hit the floor. He had no way back and asked JBL for his chair. JBL said he had to see this and Kingston stood on the chair and bounced it back to the ring. That is pretty damn inventive.

#16 was Bo Dallas. Kingston ducked Darren Young and pulled down the ropes, sending him to the floor. Rhodes nailed the Beautiful Disaster on Kingston and that sends him to the floor. That Kingston stuff was awesome.

#17 was the Godfather, who we broke would be in the Rumble during today's Elite-only Hot News Hotline. He had a couple of lovely ladies with him. He hit the ring and Ziggler immediately dropkicked him over the top to the floor, eliminating him. Godfather put his pimp hat back on and strutted back out with the ladies. Ziggler and Dallas battled in the corner.

#18 was Intercontinental champ Wade Barrett. He caught Sheamus with the Black Hole Slam and tried to force him over the top. Jericho joined in on the assault but Sheamus held onto the ropes. Rhodes dropkicked Rey.

#19 was John Cena. All the heels lined up waiting for Cena, agreeing to take him out Everyone except Rey and Sheamus, who were recovering, jumped Cena. He battled back and tossed Slater and Rhodes. Cena grabbed Jericho and tried to toss him but Ziggler saved him, then began battling Jericho. Dallas paired off with Cena and tried to toss him out.

#20 was Damien Sandow. Barrett tossed Rey out but Rey recovered. Barrett then wiped him out and sent him to the floor. Cena and Jericho reprised their battles.

#21 was Daniel Bryan, who went right to work on Sandow. Ziggler attacked him but was drilled with a series of kicks in the corner. Wade Barrett then ate a series of kicks as the Arena exploded with "Yes" chants. Bryan tossed Jericho over the top but he saved himself. Bryan and Sheamus battled. Cena and Barrett battled back and forth.

#22 Antonio Cesaro slowly stalked his way to the ring. He immediately went after Bryan and then Sheamus. Lots of dueling Cena chants. Dallas and Ziggler battled in the corner. The announcers pushed that Dallas even lasting the ten minutes he's been in the ring has been a victory for him. Sandow worked over Jericho in the corner.

#23 was Great Khali. Cesaro battled Sheamus in the corner as Khali chopped everyone else down in the ring. Cesaro almost tossed Sheamus. Khali chopped Dallas in the corner.

#24 was Kane. They noted this was his 14th Rumble in a row. Kane tossed Ziggler out but Ziggler held onto the ropes and saved himself again. Kane and Bryan briefly worked over Khali but he nailed them both. Sandow almost tossed Sheamus over but he survived. Cena worked over Dallas in the corner.

#25 was Zack Ryder. He charged the ring and nailed Ziggler with the Rough Ryder. Khali tossed over by Kane. Bryan then tossed his own partner over, eliminating Kane. Cesaro knocked Bryan out into Kane's arms. Bryan asked Kane to put him back in and they argued yes and no. Bryan pulled himself towards the ring but Kane dropped him to the floor. That was funny. Ziggler and Ryder battled back and forth.

#26 was Randy Orton. He laid out a ton of people and tossed Ryder.

#27 was Jinder Mahal. Cesaro tried to use a gut-wrench suplex to toss Cena but Cena out-maneuvered him and tossed Cesaro. You could hear the Arena booing that one. Jericho and Ziggler battled back and forth, Mahal battled with Dallas. Cena hit a catapult on Ziggler, who went over the top but saved himself. Cena and Mahal worked over Dallas.

#28 was Miz, who began brawling in the aisle with Cesaro before heading to the ring. The announcers claimed Miz hurt his ankle during the pre-show. Sheamus eliminated Mahal. Barrett attacked Sheaus and they battled back and forth. Miz nailed Censa with a neckbreaker and began battling with Jericho. Barrett worked over Sheamus' bac and tried to toss him. Orton worked over Ziggler, who again saved himself.

#29 was Sin Cara, making his return from his knee injury. He was cut off by Miz but nailed him with several kicks. Barrett and Dallas fought. Sheamus tossed Cena over the top but he landed on the apron. Dallas grabbed Barrett in a facelock and flips Barrett over the ropes to the floor. Sheamus tried to toss sandow but failed. Orton and Ziggler battled in the corner. Cena joined the fray and Ziggler aired off with him. Barrett grabbed Dallas from the floor and eliminated him. Barrett nailed him with the Bullhammer on the floor.

Miz was worked over Jericho

#30 was Ryback. He wiped out Cara and tossed him to the floor. Jericho nailed the Lionsault on Sheamus. Jericho tossed him over the top and nailed the springboard dropkick on him. Ziggler sent Jericho to the floor and finally kicked him to eliminate Jericho. Jericho was awesome here. Orton clotheslined Sheamus down, RKO'd Ziggler and Cena. He ducked a Brogue Kick and nailed Sheamus with another. He then nailed the hanging DDT on Ryback. He went to RKO Ryback but was sent into the ropes and clotheslined over the top to the floor. Sheamus and Ziggler battled back and forth until Sheamus nailed the Brogue Kick and wiped out Ziggler.

We are down to Ryback, Sheamus and Cena. They jumped Ryback and nailed a double suplex. Sheamus escaped Shellshock and hit White Noise on Ryback. He went for the Brogue Kick but Ryback ducked and backdropped him over the top to the floor. Sheamus is eliminated.

We are down to Cena and Ryback. They went nose to nose. The crowd began chanting, "Feed me more." Ryback nailed a spinebuster on Cena. Ryback went for the Meathook but Cena dropped down and locked in an STF following a drop toehold. Ryback fought his way out but Cena backed Ryback to the ropes. Cena was shoved off and Ryback came down with a Thesz Press. He worked over Cena but in the end, Cena tossed him out.

Your winner, John Cena!

That was an awesome Rumble. Ziggler, Jericho, Rhodes, Kingston, Barrett, and Dallas all had really good showings. Loved this match.

WWE champion CM Punk vs. The Rock

Great promo from Rock, saying that like his mother when she had cancer, he would not give up. They showed his mom in the crowd.

The ring entrances had a really big time feel to them. This may be the last real dream match in pro wrestling, folks.

They immediately began brawling at the bell. Punk got the better of the exchange nd worked him over in the corner. He whipped Rock into the corner but Rock came out charging with a clothesline. He went for the Rock Bottom but Punk slipped out. Rock clotheslined him to the floor and followed. He slammed Punk's face into the ringside table and then slammed him into the barricade. He went to use the Spanish table but Punk nailed him and tossed Rock back into the ring. He placed the lid back on the table and bowed to the announcers.

Punk returned to the ring where he and Punk battled back and forth. They ended up back on the floor, where Paul Heyman slapped Punk. Rock turned to him but was attacked by Punk from behind. Punk again put the lid back on the Spanish announce table and picked up Rock for a suplex on the floor, dropping him chest first across the guard rail, trying to "re-injure" Rock's Raw injuries.

Back in the ring, Punk worked over Rock and locked him in body scissors. Rock elbowed his way out of it but Punk nailed him in the mid-section to cut him back off. Punk locked in a triangle choke. Rock fought his way out but Punk cut him off with a clothesline. Punk acted like he was kicked dirt on Rock while he was down. Punk pulled Rock to the ropes and nailed him with a series of right hands and choked him against the ropes.

Punk continued the assault on Rock's mid-section. They claimed it looked like Punk may have hurt his knee again. Punk kept working over Rock on the floor, but missed a dive to the floor. They returned to the ring, where Rock began working over Punk's bad knee with stomps. He nailed a Side Russian Legsweep for a two count. Rock set up for the Rock Bottom but Punk nailed him with a series of elbows to the head. Punk went for GTS but Rock blocked the knee and took out Punk. Rock went for the Sharpshooter but Punk rolled it into the Anaconda Vise.

Rock fought his way out and nailed a DDT on Punk. He locked the Sharpshooter on Punk who battled and finally fought his way to the ropes. They went to the floor, where Rock laid out Punk with a clothesline and again tried to set up the Spanish Announcer's table. Punk tried to escape back into the ring but was stopped. Rock slammed his head into the table. Punk caught Rock with a kick to the head and set up for a GTS through a table. Punk was set up for the Rock Bottom but the table collapsed before the move could be executed. Rock grabbed at right knee Man, the last thing they need is for THAT guy to get hurt. Rock nailed the Rock Bottom on the floor. Both men fought to recover as the referee counted them down.

Rock tossed Punk into the ring and covered him for a close two count. Both men were down on the mat trying to recover but got back to their feet. Punk began drilling Rock with kicks but wobbled on his bad leg. Rock and Punk battled back and forth. Rock nailed a flying clothesline as he rebounded off the ropes and hit a spinebuster on Punk.

Rock went for the People's Elbow but the lights went out. The Shield attacked Rock but no one could see it. The announcers still said it was the Shield. They superbombed Rock through the other announcing table. The referee was apparently knocked silly during all this. Punk sat up in the ring smiling and acting like he didn't see anything. Punk tossed Rock into the ring and covered him for the win.

Your winner, CM Punk!

Punk stomped Rock out of the ring and celebrated with the title and Paul Heyman.

Out came Vince McMahon, looking pissed. He told Punk that his celebration was over. He told him that if the Shield got involved, Punk would be stripped of the title. Vince said that no one could see the Shield but they aren't stupid. He was about to strip Punk but Rock, down on the floor, grabbed a mic and told Vince McMahon they weren't ending the night like that.

"You don't take it from him. I am. We start the match now."

Punk protested but McMahon restarted the match. A beaten Rock rolled into the ring. They rang the bell and Punk stomped the hell out of him. Punk waited for Rock to get to his feet and nailed the running knee in the corner. Punk nailed the Macho Man flying elbow for a two count. Punk called for the GTS. Rock slipped out, hit the spinebuster and the People's Elbow, then pinned Punk.

Your winner and new WWE champion, The Rock!

Rock celebrated with the belt to close the PPV. They showed his mother celebrating and cheering in the first row.

A very good main event to close a really good PPV. No bad matches over the entire three hours. Great kick off to 2013 and Wrestlemania.

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