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January 26th
On this day in history in ....
1957 - Road Warrior Hawk, real name Mike Hegstrand, was born.
1979 - Seiji Sakaguchi defeats Johnny Powers in Okayama, Japan to win the NWF North American Heavyweight Title, ending Powers sixth, and final, reign with the belt.
1980 - Mr. Fuji defeated Invader I in Bayamon, Puerto Rico to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title, ending Invader's second reign.
1985 - WWF ran three separate house shows in one night, which wasn't unusual for this period in the business. What was unusual was that WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan didn't headline, or even appear, on any of the show. One event in Vancouver, British Columbia was headlined by Andre The Giant & Blackjack Mulligan vs. Big John Studd & Ken Patera, a second event in Cincinnati, Ohio was headlined by Junkyard Dog & Ivan Putski defeating Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff, and a third event in Canton, Ohio was headlined by Tito Santana defeating Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine by countout.
1986 - Former Impact Wrestling star Taylor Wilde is born.
1987 - New Japan Pro Wrestling star EVIL is born.
1987 - At a WWF television taping in Tampa, Florida at the Sundome, The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) defeat The British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship. Manager Jimmy Hart knocked out Dynamite (who was injured and couldn't wrestle) with his megaphone before the match, and heel referee Danny Davis paid no attention to the Hart Foundation illegally double teaming Smith before counting the pin following a Hart Attack. This ended the Bulldogs' only WWF World Tag Team Title run, and was Bret Hart's first WWF championship of any kind.
During the same taping, three editions of Piper's Pit were taped. In the first, Andre The Giant turned heel, revealing Bobby Heenan to be his new manager, and challenged Hulk Hogan to a title match, tearing off Hogan's shirt and crucifix. In the second edition, Hogan accepted Andre's challenge, setting up the main event to Wrestlemania III. In the third edition, Roddy Piper revealed that he would retire following his match with Adrian Adonis at Wrestlemania III.
Also, in a lesser remembered moment, Outback Jack, WWF's "Crocodile Dundee"-like character made his WWF television debut, defeating Steve Lombardi with the Boomerang clothesline.
1992 - Sasha Banks is born.
1996 - Konnan defeated Pierroth Jr. in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico to become the first International Wrestling All Stars World Heavyweight Champion. He would also be the last champion, as the title was later abandoned.
1996 - WWF ran at Madison Square Garden with the following results:
- Tatanka & Isaac Yankem defeated Bob Holly & Fatu.
- Duke Drose defeated 1-2-3 Kid.
- Owen Hart defeated Hakushi.
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Jeff Jarrett.
- Steve Austin, in his Madison Square Garden debut, defeated Henry Godwinn.
- The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns defeated The Bodydonnas.
- Savio Vega defeated Intercontinental Champion Goldust via countout when Goldust walked out after Savio scored a near fall with a spin kick. Savio had dominated the match to that point.
- Shawn Michaels defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
- WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Diesel in a steel cage match after the Undertaker interfered, costing Diesel the match as revenge on Diesel costing Undertaker his Royal Rumble match with Hart.
1999 - Prior to an edition of Raw in Tucson, Arizona, WWF filmed an Empty Arena match in which Mankind pinned The Rock with a wooden palette on a forklift to win the WWF World Heavyweight Title. The match was aired on January 31st as a "Halftime Heat" special, set up to air during halftime of the Superbowl.
2001 - Chad Collyer defeats Race Steele for the Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Rising Sun, Indiana.
2003 - Jushin Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeat Pro Wrestling Noah's Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win back New Japan's IWGP World Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Kobe, Japan.
2004 - During an edition of Raw from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chris Benoit switched brands from Smackdown, using the fact that he won the Royal Rumble and had earned a Wrestlemania main event title bout to challenge for the World Title on the Raw brand.
2008 - Ring of Honor ran Chicago Ridge, IL. Michael Lee-Thompson filed the following live report:
1. Bryan Danielson and Austin Aries defeated Jay Briscoe and Erick Stevens
to advance to Ultimate Endurance.
This was a fun match. At one point, Danielson and Aries weren't doing too well:
Danielson: Can we work as a team here?
Aries: Well, what do you want to do?
Danielson: Double hiptoss!
The crowd ate this up and started chanting "teamwork, teamwork" and then did so every subsequent time Danielson and Aries worked together. The finish came when Danielson did his MMA elbows and Aries did his repeated knees to the head on Jay Briscoe simultaneously and then Danielson rolled him up in a small package for the win. Good tag action here. Aries refuses to shake hands after, going with his current persona.
2. Shane Hagadorn defeated Pelle Primeau.
This was pretty short. Hagadorn knocked Pelle in the face with some brass knucks behind the referee's back for the pin. He then cut a promo about how the Hangmen Three were going to win their other matches tonight. The crowd chanted "What" and "Boring" during it.
Sweet N' Sour Inc. came out and Larry Sweeney talked about his outrage at the fact that ROH officials weren't recognizing the Intergender World Tag Team Titles. He said that he arranged to bring in the top intergender tag team in the world, from Thailand, but they didn't make the flight, so he found the next best thing, which was "Sugartits" (as he put it) Alex Payne and Tyler Durden.
3. Chris Hero and Sara Del Rey defeated Alex Payne and Tyler Durden to
retain the Intergender World Tag Team Titles.
The students got in a bit of offense, but the finish came when Sara Del Rey hit an axe kick-like maneuver on Payne for the 3 count.
Afterwards, Sweeney raved about how the Intergender World Tag Team Titles were more prestigious than the ROH World Tag Team Titles and the ROH World Title. Daizee Haze came out and said the only champion worth anything in the ring was Sara Del Rey, the SHIMMER Champion. She called Sweeney a joke, which led to Hero clocking her. Jigsaw came out for the save, leading to an intergender tag match. Sweeney said that Jigsaw and Haze weren't ranked in the World Intergender Tag Team rankings, so this wouldn't be for the titles.
4. Chris Hero and Sara Del Rey defeated Jigsaw and Daizee Haze.
There were some interesting spots in this one, and more male vs. female fighting than I expected. Hero got the pin on Jigsaw after a sitout cravate driver.
5. Claudio Castagnoli and El Generico wrestled to a 20 minute time-limit
draw in a rematch from the Race To The Top Tournament finals.
If you've seen the RTTT finals, you know that there's no way they could possibly top that match. This match was much slower and more scientific, which to some people in my section meant "boring". Claudio worked the leg for most of the match. There were some cool spots at the end, such as Generico flipping over a Ricola Bomb attempt into a powerbomb of his own and reversing a top rope Ricola Bomb attempt into a huracanrana. After the time limit expired, the fans and Claudio and Generico wanted 5 more minutes, but
Todd Sinclair said they couldn't due to time constraints. The crowd was not happy.
6. Mark Briscoe defeated Joey Matthews.
Jimmy Jacobs cut a promo inviting Austin Aries to join the Age of the Fall. The beginning of this match was very slow, as Joey went to the outside several times and just stood there. This one was ok. Matthews didn't do a whole lot of wrestling, but rather did clotheslines and punches and things of that nature. Mark got the pin after the Shooting Star Press.
- Intermission: Bobby Cruise announced the return as being April 19th, and DDT's Kota Ibushi would be at the show. Not many people seemed to know who he was, as I was one of the only in my section who applauded this news.
7. Delirious defeated Adam Pearce in a dog collar match.
This was OK. Not a whole lot of heat for it. Despite the red, Delirious didn't seem much different. There was some brawling in the crowd. Hagadorn brought a table in the ring but Delirious spit green mist in his face then splashed Pearce through the table for the three. Pearce teased hitting Hagadorn after the match, but hugged him instead.
8. Ultimate Endurance: Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black vs. Brent Albright and
BJ Whitmer vs. Davey Richards and Rocky Romero vs. Austin Aries and Bryan
Danielson.
During the Hangmen 3 entrance, someone threw Cheetos in the ring (not sure why). The crowd thought it was hilarious. BJ ate a couple and threw them back into the crowd.
Fall 1: Scramble
As you might expect, this was all over the place. Aries didn't seem too keen on helping Danielson when he was in trouble. The end of the fall came when Davey Richards rolled Tyler Black up off the ropes for the pin, and the tag champs were eliminated first. This quite surprised the crowd.
Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black are eliminated.
Fall 2: I Quit
Some good wrestling in this fall, which was mostly Whitmer and Albright working over Danielson's leg and Aries not really trying to help. Danielson eventually got Whitmer in a triangle choke for the win.
Brent Albright and BJ Whitmer are eliminated.
Fall 3: For the Tag Titles
There was a lot of really good action here. Everyone got in their signature submission at some point. The finish came when Davey reversed a brainbuster attempt and rolled up Aries for the win and the tag titles. Davey shook Danielson's hand then kicked him in the leg. Aries left without shaking Danielson's hand.
9. Nigel McGuinness defeated Roderick Strong to retain the ROH World Title.
A good match. The crowd was about 50/50 in this one. This was a hard-hitting match that saw Strong get many chops in. It wasn't as heat-filled as it could have been, and some people around me wondered why Strong was even getting a shot. Nigel ended up getting the pin after a jawbreaker lariat.
All in all, an average show. There was nothing outstanding, but most of the matches were solid. I was really surprised AotF lost the tag titles at all, and especially in the first fall of Ultimate Endurance. I was assuming that the final two would be AotF and Aries/Danielson and something would happen angle-wise there. Davey and Rocky deserve it, though. I'm excited to see Ibushi next time, and I hope Go Shiozaki is there as well.
2009 - ROH and HDNet announced the following:
Ring of Honor and HDNet announced the following today:
HDNET FIGHTS ANNOUNCES LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH “RING OF HONOR” WRESTLING
New partnership brings unique brand of professional wrestling to HDNet.
DALLAS (January 26, 2009) HDNet Fights today announced a long term partnership with “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”
Coming soon, HDNet will debut a new weekly television series, which will bring “Ring of Honor Wrestling” to a national television audience for the very first time. “Ring of Honor Wrestling” and its stars are prominently featured in the recent, critically acclaimed movie “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke.
“’Ring of Honor’ is an exciting addition to our programming lineup at HDNet,” said Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder of HDNet. “ROH has developed a cult following thanks to its special brand of professional wrestling and we are pleased to present it for the first time to a mass television audience.”
“’Ring of Honor’ is proud and excited to enter a partnership with HDNet,” said Cary Silkin, president of Ring of Honor. “Our in-ring action is the perfect compliment to HDNet's respected programming and growing statur e in the broadcast industry. It's a match most definitely made for a Main Event."
Founded in 2002, “Ring of Honor” has become one of the most successful and recognized promotions in the world thanks to its focus on authentic professional wrestling. Over the last seven years it has produced some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Samoa Joe and CM Punk, while featuring the best in-ring competition in the world.
The stars of “Ring of Honor” include ROH World Champion Nigel McGuiness, the 3-time reigning Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Outstanding Wrestler Bryan Danielson, Necro Butcher, Austin Aries, Tyler Black, Jerry Lynn, and Mark and Jay Briscoe.
Air dates and times will be announced at a later date.
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.
HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and “ NASA on HDNet” (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring Major League Soccer, the NASCAR Camping World Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup re-broadcasts, and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from “HDNet Fights;” behind-the-scenes sports news with “Inside MMA;” groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more; and entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including “Deadline!,” “Art Mann Presents,” and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning “Arrested Development,” “The Black Donnellys,” “Dead Like Me,” “Smallville” and the hit series “Torchwood.”
HDNet Movies features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases – all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.
Only HDNet Movies’ exclusive Sneak Previews bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies Sneak Previews have included the Academy Award nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” Toronto Film Festival nominee “Th e War Within,” and “Bubble,” the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films. Other featured films include “Cashback,” written and produced by Sean Ellis, “Broken English,” from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne, the critically acclaimed “Redacted” directed by Brian De Palma, “Flawless,” starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore, “Quid Pro Quo,” starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, “Finding Amanda,” starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, “Red,” starring Brian Cox and most recently “Humboldt County,” starring Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich and Frances Conroy and “Special,” starring Michael Rapaport. Upcoming Sneak Previews include “Great Buck Howard,” starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, and “Harlem Aria,” starring Damon Wayans.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.
About Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor Wrestling (www.rohwrestling.com) was created as a response to wrestling fans that appreciated the athleticism and entertainment that the sport can bring. Founded in 2002, Ring of Honor's hard hitting, action packed style has been its hallmark with wrestling fans throughout the world. In its 7 year history, ROH has promoted over 200 live events between 15 states in addition to international events held in Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom. Since 2007, Ring of Honor Wrestling has been available on PPV though Direct TV, iN DEMAND, DISH Network and TVN cable systems in the U.S. as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell ExpressVu in Canada.
The series would run for two years, ending in 2011.
2009 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Last night was the Royal Rumble and we saw a man conflicted get involved with the brand’s title match. What will Matt Hardy. . . whoops, wrong show with catatonic person who interfered in a title match. What will Shawn Michaels do now that he has cost his boss the World Title and his chance to headline Wrestlemania in his home state? What is next for the man who kicked Vince McMahon in the head last week? Will he still have a job after his heinous attack on the man in charge of the company? Who won the Royal Rumble match and the right to exclusively point to the Wrestlemania 25 sign until another match is announced for the pay per view? Who will participate in the Elimination Chamber Match? How will the McMahon family punish Randy Orton since he has the title match at Wrestlemania? Will the spot be on the line at No Way Out? After seeing Mike Knox and Rey Mysterio battle for much of the Rumble match, what is the next step in their feud? Will William Regal get another shot at the Intercontinental Title that he lost to CM Punk after battering Punk during the Rumble match? Will Beth Phoenix get revenge on Melina for losing the Women’s Title? Will Beth use Melina’s foot to attack Melina again? Will Rosa Mendez get involved this time? Who is next for John Cena? Will those who have been shunned from The Legacy try to get back at three of the final four men from the Royal Rumble match? Will anyone else be announced for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this week?
Make sure to check out the other coverage of Raw on the site. This week’s Mike and Mike Post Raw Audio is sponsored by Jimmy James Industries who make ShamMeow (for spills caused by your cats [credit for this goes to Greg Gutfeld on Friday’s Red Eye]). Check out Buck’s written thoughts about Raw and Dave’s audio on Tuesday.
Tonight’s show starts off with a look back at last night’s Royal Rumble video package that featured the incident between Randy Orton and the McMahon family. In case you missed it on Monday when it happened live, on Tuesday when it was shown again, on Friday when shown even more, and on Sunday when it got more screen time than The Brian Kendrick.
We are live from Cleveland, Ohio and your announcers are Michael ‘Mistake by the Mic’ Cole and Jerry ‘How far are we from Cheeques’ Lawler.
Randy Orton comes to the ring with the right to point at the Wrestlemania 25 sign. He is joined by the rest of the Legacy, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. Randy has his phalanx of attorneys. Randy has the mic and he pulls a Dolph Ziggler and introduces himself to the crowd. He introduces his lawyers and therapist. Randy also introduces the other two members of Legacy. Randy says that he is out here is to discuss what happened last week on Raw. Randy says that he is a third generation superstar and the WWE is in his blood. It is a part of him. Unfortunately, something else is a part of him. That thing is something that he has been living with for a long time. Randy says that it is ‘I.E.D’ Intermittent Explosive Disorder. It affects sixteen million people and is a mental condition and when provoked, it leads to outbursts of physical violence. When he was slapped by Stephanie and had his job threatened by Vince McMahon, he was sufficiently provoked. Randy mentions his face on Monday night and he says that he is not responsible for his actions. His therapist can confirm that the WWE was aware of the condition and did nothing about it. If Stephanie chooses to fire him, he will sue Stephanie and World Wrestling Entertainment.
That is the first lawsuit. Randy says that there is a second one. Last night he won the 2009 Royal Rumble. He proved that he is more superior than everyone in this company. That is why he will sue for breach of contract if he does not get what he is legally entitled to and that is to be in the main event at Wrestlemania. He tells Stephanie if she fires him, she will face two separate lawsuits and they will lose Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes because they will walk when he is fired. With the three of them gone, when it comes to superstars on Raw, there will virtually be none left.
Randy says that he has one more piece of business to attend to. Randy has a written statement handed to him. He apologizes for the trauma that befell Mr. McMahon last week. He apologizes for the trauma that his family is suffering. Randy says that as the father of a newborn, he can feel the same things that the McMahons are feeling. He hopes that they can put things behind them. Randy says that he is a man of honor and he offers his sincerest apologies to Mr. McMahon, his family, and to everyone else.
We see Stephanie in the office and she does not look happy. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from last week when Cryme Tyme earned their shot at Miz and Morrison for the tag titles.
Match Number One: John Morrison and The Miz versus Cryme Tyme for the World Tag Titles
Miz and JTG start things off and Miz with a knee to the head and punches in the corner. JTG with an Irish whip and a modified X Factor for a near fall. JTG with an Irish whip and he is sent to the apron. Morrison tries to interfere but JTG stops Morrison. Miz takes care of JTG and gets a near fall. Morrison tags in and he kicks JTG. Morrison with a boot to the midsection and then he punches Morrison for a near fall. Morrison with a cravate but JTG with punches. Morrison tries for a suplex, but JTG escapes the hold and Shad is tagged in and he clotheslines Morrison and knocks Miz off the apron. Shad with a biel to Morrison and then he charges into a boot. Shad with a power slam for a near fall.
Morrison with a punch to the ribs and then he tries for Moonlight Drive but Shad with an STO for a near fall. JTG tries to get rid of Miz and then Shad with a kick to Miz. Morrison with a kick to the back of the leg and then Morrison with Moonlight Drive for the three count.
Winners: John Morrison and The Miz
Jerry Lawler says that Vince McMahon lives by the idea of the show must go on. At No Way Out, the Elimination Chamber returns. Time for a video package.
Jerry Lawler says that the World Title and WWE Title will be defended in the Elimination Chamber.
John Bradshaw Layfield comes out and he has a mic. He apologizes for interrupting Jerry Lawler, but he wanted to announce a qualifying match. On his behalf, his employee will wrestle. Bradshaw wants to be entered into the Elimination Chamber Match. Shawn Michaels will face the man he beat two weeks ago, Shawn Michaels.
We go to commercial.
We are back and tonight is the World Premiere of the 12 Rounds Trailer starring John Cena.
Match Number Two: Kofi Kingston versus Kane in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Kofi with kicks to Kane and then he tries for a cross body but Kane catches him and slams Kofi. Kane with a drop kick to Kofi and then he punches Kofi in the corner. Kane with an Irish whip and running clothesline. Kane gets a near fall. Kane with a forearm to Kofi followed by another Irish whip but Kofi moves out of the way. Kofi cannot avoid a boot from Kane. Kane goes up top and it is time for the clothesline and he hits it. Kane sets for the choke slam as Kofi gets up and Kofi hits a spinning heel kick that staggers Kane. Kofi with another spinning heel kick but Kane grabs Kofi by the throat. Kofi with a sunset flip for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
We see Randy Orton go IED on Vince McMahon. We go to commercial.
We are back and Chris Jericho comes to the ring and he is dressed like Randy Orton’s therapist. Chris has something to say and he mentions that it seems like the entire WWE roster has been raving about The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. Time for a clip from the movie.
Chris Jericho says that one of the people who gave it a glowing review was WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. Even though Flair is retired, he has to stay in the spotlight that he craves. Now Mickey Rourke and Flair became friends. Jericho thinks that Flair gave Rourke some bad advice. We go to comments from Mickey at the SAG Awards when Mickey challenged Chris Jericho.
Chris says that he is going to say it very slowly. He says that Mickey Rourke is out of line. It is one thing to play a wrestler, it is another thing to be one. Jericho says that he has been offended. Jericho says that it is the last thing that Rourke or Flair would want to do and that is offend Chris Jericho.
We see Bradshaw in the locker room and he wants to talk to Shawn. Shawn says that he tried everything. Shawn says that he superkicked Bradshaw to lower Cena’s guard. Shawn says that he did everything humanly possible to help Bradshaw win. Bradshaw says that Shawn also assumed that someone was watching his money. Bradshaw tells Shawn that he has to be the Showstopper again against John Cena. Bradshaw tells Shawn that he has one more last chance and he needs to beat Cena.
We go to commercial.
It is time for a Wrestlemania video package and the mainstream impact of the likes of Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan.
Match Number Three: Shawn Michaels playing the part of John Bradshaw Layfield with John Bradshaw Layfield versus John Cena in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match for John Bradshaw Layfield
Shawn and John meet in the center of the ring and Cena with a punch and Michaels responds. They exchange punches until Michaels starts to chop Cena. Cena with an Irihs whip but Michaels blocks the bulldog attempt. Michaels with a slap but Cena responds with a punch. Cena gets Michaels up for ‘That patented move’ but Michaels goes to the floor. We go to commercial while Shawn waits on the apron.
We are back and Cena gets a near fall. Michaels with a figure four leg lock but Cena reverses it immediately. Cena with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Cena with a reverse chin lock on Michaels while Bradshaw watches. Michaels with punches to Cena but Cena with a back body drop and Michaels is down. Cena with a hard Irish whip as he tries to work on Michaels’s back. Cena with a punch to Michaels but Michaels with a kick and chop followed by a punch. Michaels with a flying forearm and it is kip up time followed by a reverse atomic drop and punch. Michaels with a slam and then he makes his way to the apron. Cena gets up and Michaels with a shoulder and forearm. Cena with a drop toe hold but Michaels pushes him off. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles and it is time for the Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena gets ready to finish off the moves of doom with the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Michaels is playing possum and he puts Cena in the Crippler Crossface. Cena is able to fight off Michaels and he gets Michaels on his back for the ‘That Patented Move’ but Michaels with elbows to Cena. Cena with a drop toe hold and then it is time for the STF. Shawn tries to reach for the ropes and the referee tells Bradshaw not to touch the ropes to help Shawn. Michaels makes his way to the ropes and the referee tells Cena to release the hold. Cena waits for Shawn to get up and it is time for the FU but Michaels counters with a sunset flip for a near fall. Michaels with a chop and then he sends Cena into the turnbuckles and follows it with a chop. Michaels with the Michaels flip into the corner but he comes out of the corner with a clothesline and both men are down.
Bradshaw tells Shawn something and Shawn gets up to his feet. Shawn with a slam but Michaels is still clutching his back. Michaels goes to the apron but Bradshaw tells him to super kick him. Shawn says that he is going to do it his way. Shawn goes up top and Bradshaw gets on the apron and Cena pushes Bradshaw into Michaels. Cena hits the FU for the three count.
Winner: John Cena
After the match, Bradshaw enters the ring and he stands over a defeated Shawn Michaels.
Did you know that Randy Orton kicked Vince McMahon last week? We have the footage to prove it. Jerry and Michael talk about Randy Orton’s actions from earlier tonight when he read an apology.
Todd Grisham is with Stephanie McMahon and he asks what action will she take. Stephanie says that there will be action tonight and it will be public and to Randy Orton’s face. We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Photos of Melina defeating photos of Beth Phoenix to win the Women’s Title at the Royal Rumble.
Match Number Four: Melina and Kelly Kelly versus Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall with Santino Marella
Santino joins Jerry and Michael at the announce table.
Beth and Melina start things off and Beth sends Melina into the turnbuckles and punches her. Melina with a Thesz Press and punches. Beth with an Irish whip but she misses a charge into the corner. Melina with an arm bar to Jillian and then Kelly tags in with a sunset flip. Jillian works on the arm but Kelly with a springboard arm drag. Jillian sends Kelly to the apron and then Beth distracts Kelly long enough to allow Jillian to knock her off the apron. Jillian returns Kelly to the ring and then Beth tags in. Beth slams Kelly’s face into the mat but she misses an elbow drop. Kelly tries to make the tag but Jillian distracts the referee. From out of nowhere, Rosa Mendez pulls Melina off the apron. Beth with the Implant Driver for the three count.
Winners: Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall
We see footage from Wrestlemania 21 with the movie parody commercials. It was also the debut of the Money in the Bank Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Mike Knox destroying Rey Mysterio last week.
Match Number Five: Rey Mysterio versus William Regal with Layla in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Regal goes for the arm but Rey with kicks and a side head lock. Rey with a knee to Regal and then Rey hits the springboard seated senton. Rey tries for a tilt-a-whirl head scissors but Regal slams Rey to the mat. Regal with knees to Rey’s head followed by a forearm for a near fall. Real with an arm bar and chin lock combination. Rey with punches to Regal followed by back kick. Rey tries for a wheelbarrow move but Regal counters with a wheelbarrow suplex of his own. Regal with a series of near falls followed by a knee drop for a near fall. Regal with a forearm and knees to Rey. Regal with an Irish whip and forearm to Rey for a near fall.
Regal with punches to the head and he gets another near fall. Rey with a kick to the leg and Regal with forearms. Regal with a knee and then he tries for a butterfly suplex, but Rey counters with an arm drag and kick to the head. Regal with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Rey with a monkey flip that sends Regal into the ropes. Rey with a forearm to the back that sends Regal into that Patented Position in the ropes and Rey hits the 619 followed by the springboard splash for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
After the match, Rey celebrates in the ring and we go to commercial.
Santino is in the back with Rosa and Rosa asks if she did okay. Rosa says that what happened last night was a disgrace. She says that she had to take a stand for women everywhere. Beth shows up and Santino tries to make things right with his girl. Beth says that they can keep her.
It is time for the World Television Premiere of that Patented Preview Clip for John Cena’s new movie 12 Rounds.
We go to commercial.
We see footage from last week when Punk won the Intercontinental Title from William Regal.
Match Number Six: CM Punk versus Chris Jericho in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
They lock up and Punk with a side head lock into gutwrench for a near fall. Punk with knees and then he sends Jericho into the turnbuckles. Punk with a knee but Jericho pulls Punk off the turnbuckles and Punk holds his back. Jericho with boots to the back and a kick to the ribs. Jericho with a snap mare into a reverse chin lock with the arm isolated. Punk gets back to his feet and he hits a leg lariat and clothesline followed by a back elbow and knee in the corner. Punk hits the bulldog and then Punk goes to the apron and hits the springboard clothesline for a near fall. Punk puts Jericho on the top turnbuckle and Punk with a forearm and kick. Punk with a superrana for a near fall. Punk waits for Jericho to get up and he puts Jericho on his shoulders for the Go To Sleep but Jericho with a sunset flip. Punk and Jericho exchange near falls. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Punk powers out of the hold. Punk with a cover but Jericho bridges out of it and he tries for backslide but Punk blocks it. Jericho with a Codebreaker for the three count.
Winner: Chris Jericho
For those of you with short term memory loss, it is time to see the incident between Randy Orton and Vince McMahon for the first time. For the rest of us, it has aired as many times as one of the Bravo Reality shows.
Stephanie is walking in the back while Orton stands around waiting for his chance to walk. We go to commercial.
We are back and Stephanie McMahon is introduced by Lillian Garcia. She comes to the ring. She says that she is out here to address the actions of Randy Orton from last week. Stephanie says that Orton is not off the hook because he won last night. He is not off the hook because of his alleged lawsuits or some half hearted apology. Stephanie wants Randy to come to the ring.
Randy comes to the ring with his entire Entourage. Orton has a mic and he asks Stephanie to ask herself if she wants to go through with this. Orton says that if he is fired, Stephanie will open herself to a firestorm because he will be gone along with Cody and Ted. Randy’s attorney takes the mic and he says that IED is very real and the fact that the company has ignored this problem, that is an example of negligence. He says that Randy will not get down on his knees and apologize. He says that if they fire him, there will be consequences.
Stephanie wants to know if this is a threat and Randy says that it is a threat. Randy says that he will sue the WWE and he will file and injunction to stop Wrestlemania. He says that is not a threat, it is a promise.
The rest of the locker room comes out and they are on the ramp and Orton wants to know what they are looking at. Orton says that he does not care if they have a Wrestlemania. Orton says that if he is fired, he will take each and every one of them down with him. Orton says that may be what they need to do. Orton demands to be fired so he can sue the company and cancel Wrestlemania. Orton wants to hear the words that Stephanie’s father was going to say before he kicked him in the skull.
Stephanie says that firing Orton would be too easy. Stephanie says that she has bigger plans.
Shane McMahon comes out as the WWE wrestlers play the Red Sea and they part for him. Shane takes off his jacket and he comes to the ring. Shane stands in the ring with Orton, DiBiase, and Rhodes. Orton backs off and then Shane spears Orton while DiBiase and Rhodes hold Shane. Shane fights off and he goes after Orton again. Shane starts to fight Rhodes and DiBiase and Ted goes to the floor. Shane takes Orton down one more time and Cody pulls Shane off Orton. Orton is staggered and then he gets back to his feet. Shane with more punches to Orton and Orton goes down again. Shane punches and kicks Rhodes. Ted helps Orton to the back while Rhodes gets out of the ring as well. Shane follows Legacy up the ramp and he attacks Orton again. Shane wants to know where Orton went as we go to credits.
2010 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Cincinnati, Ohio and your announcers are Byron ‘Venus Fly Trap’ Saxton and Josh ‘Andy Travis’ Mathews.
William Regal is in the ring and he says that it is his honor and the fan’s privilege to introduce the next ECW Champion, Ezekiel Jackson.
We see footage from last week when Jackson attacked Christian during Christian’s match against William Regal. We then see the post match attack by Regal and Jackson.
Jackson tells Christian that he only has five days left. They left last week with Christian laying sprawled at his feet. That image will repeat itself on Sunday. As Christian drifts in and out of consciousness, he will hear ‘Your winner and new ECW Champion . . . Ezekiel Jackson.’ He tells Christian that the end has come and it has awakened against him.
Christian’s music plays and he comes out and he is looking for something in the crowd. Christian tells Zeke that if he likes biblical quotes, so does he because his name is Christian. He says that Zeke quoted something from the Book of Ezekiel. Christian says ‘I will strike down on those with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Captain Charisma. When I lay my vengeance upon thee.’
Zeke tells Christian that he hasn’t faced anyone like him. Christian says that he is a two time ECW champion and he has defended his title against All American Americans, ECW originals, and pale British guys. He knows that Zeke is one of the biggest freaks of nature but Christian says that he is going to look forward to facing him next week. Christian points out that Zeke failed to mention that it was a two-on-one beat down. Christian says that he has equaled the score and out comes Christian’s tag team opponent and it is Kane.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Christian and Kane versus Ezekiel Jackson and William Regal
Christian and Regal start things off and Regal works on the arm but Christian reverses. Regal with a hammer lock but Christian with an elbow and side head lock. Christian with a snap mare and monkey flip after a shoulder tackle results in a deadlock. Jackson tags in and Christian tags Kane into the match. They come off the ropes and try for shoulder tackles but neither man goes down. Kane with a side head lock and Kane with a shoulder tackle but Jackson stays on his feet and he taunts Kane for his inability to take him down. Kane with punches and an uppercut. Kane with a clothesline that takes Jackson to the mat and Kane gets a near fall. Christian tags in and he goes up top with a forearm and he works on the arm before punching Jackson. Christian with more punches as he avoids Jackson. Jackson with a slam but he misses an elbow drop. Kane tags back in and he punches Jackson and continues to work on the arm. Jackson backs Kane into the corner and he kicks Kane in the leg. Regal tags in and he works on Kane’s leg.
Regal tries to hyperextend the leg and drops an elbow on the knee as he continues to work on the leg. Kane kicks Regal away. Jackson tags in and he kicks Kane and connects with a forearm to the back. Jackson with a shoulder in the corner and then he Irish whips Kane and hits a splash into the corner for a near fall. Jackson with a front face lock. And Kane with forearms but Jackson holds on to the front face lock. Jackson with an Irish whip but Kane moves out of the way when Jackson charges. Christian tags in and he connects with forearms but Jackson stays up. Jackson charges into a boot from Christian and then Christian with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Christian sets for the Killswitch but Jackson with a knee. Christian with the inverted DDT and then he knocks Regal off the apron. Christian sends Jackson to the floor and then he hits the double jump cross body onto Regal and Jackson as we go to commercial.
We are back and Kane with a short arm clothesline followed by a drop kick to Jackson for a near fall. Christian tags in and he hits a double sledge off the turnbuckles. Jackson sends Christian over the top rope and Regal gets close to Christian but the referee warns Regal and Christian attacks Regal. Christian turns around and he is knocked down by a Jackson body block. They return to the ring and Regal with a knee drop to Christian after he tags in. Regal gets a near fall and then he works on Christian’s arms and neck. Christian with punches to Regal and Christian with a rare move from the turnbuckles for a sunset flip. Regal with a forearm and he tags Jackson in and Zeke with a slam. Jackson with a back breaker to Christian and he gets a near fall. Jackson stands on Christian’s throat and then Christian returns to his feet and he punches Jackson but he doesn’t feel the punches and he sends Christian into the turnbuckles and he tags Regal back into the match. Jackson chokes Christian while Regal and Kane take the referee’s attention. Regal with a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Jackson tags in and he kicks Christian and chokes him. Jackson with a forearm across the chest and then he punches Christian. Jackson with a front face lock and modified choke. Kane tries to get involved but the referee stops him and that allows Regal and Jackson to double team Christian. Jackson gets another near fall.
Regal tags in and he connects with a forearm on Christian. Regal with European uppercuts. Regal with knees to the head and then he sends Christian onto the turnbuckles. Christian punches Regal off the turnbuckles and Christian with a vintage back elbow from the turnbuckles and both men are down. Kane tags in and he punches Regal and throws in an uppercut. Kane with an Irish whip and back body drop followed by a clothesline into the corner and then he hits a vintage side slam. Kane uses this opportunity to go up top and he hits the flying clothesline. Kane sets for the clothesline and Jackson attacks Kane from behind. Kane launches Christian onto Jackson. Kane and Jackson fight on the floor while Regal hits an Exploder suplex. Regal misses the running knee. Christian hits the Killswitch but Jackson makes a blind tag and Jackson hits the uranage for the three count.
Winners: William Regal and Ezekiel Jackson
After the match, Jackson poses over Christian and has his foot on Christian’s head.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to talk about the Royal Rumble and the ECW Title match. It is time to look at the rest of the card.
It is time for the Royal Rumble by the Numbers video package.
Shelton Benjamin is in the back and he has something to say about the Royal Rumble. He says that it doesn’t matter if you are the first one, the last one, in the longest, or eliminate the most because all that matters is winning the match to get into the main event at Wrestlemania. Vance Archer attacks Shelton while he discusses the Royal Rumble.
We see footage from last week when Zack Ryder unveiled his new nickname.
Match Number Two: Trent Barreta, Caylen Croft, and Zack Ryder with Rosa Mendes versus Goldust, Yoshi Tatsu, and The Hurricane
Croft and Goldust start things off and they lock up. Goldust with a clean break. Goldust with a side head lock. Goldust catapults Croft into the turnbuckles and then hits a flying clothesline. Goldust takes care of Barreta and Ryder on the apron and then he hits a reverse atomic drop on Croft followed by a knee to the head for a near fall. Goldust with a snap mare and leg drop before he applies an arm bar. Croft backs Goldust into the turnbuckles. Croft with an Irish whip but he misses the charge into the corner. Goldust with an arm drag into an arm bar. Hurricane tags in and he hits a drop kick and gets a near fall. Croft with a knee and he tags in Ryder but Hurricane with an arm drag. Ryder with a forearm to Hurricane. Hurricane with a pose and then Ryder charges at him and Ryder goes over the top rope to the floor. Croft and Barreta try to get involved but they go to the floor as well. We go to commercial.
We are back and Yoshi with an arm drag to Croft into an arm bar. Goldust tags back in and he punches Croft. Goldust with a leg drop to the arm and then he sends Croft into the turnbuckles after a hammer lock. Barreta tags in and Goldust with an arm drag. Hurricane tags in and he punches Barreta. Barreta with an Irish whip and then he hits a rana from the turnbuckles and he sets for the Shining Wizard but Barreta goes to the apron and Hurricane with a drop kick that sends Barreta to the floor and then hits a pescado. Ryder distracts Hurricane on the apron and that allows Barreta to clip Hurricane. Ryder tags in and he attacks Hurricane on the floor. Ryder with a leaping leg lariat and then he punches Hurricane. Croft tags in and he kicks Hurricane in the head and gets a near fall. Croft with an elbow to Hurricane and then he puts Hurricane in a full nelson. Hurricane with a rollup for a near fall but Croft responds with a clothesline for a near fall. Croft slams Hurricane and Barreta tags in and he slingshots in and then gives Hurricane a light tap with his boot. Hurricane with punches to Barreta but Barreta with a standing drop kick for a near fall. Barreta with a rear chin lock to Hurricane. Barreta takes Hurricane back to the mat and tags Ryder back in. Ryder chokes Hurricane in the ropes and then he puts Hurricane in a reverse chin lock. Ryder with a knee to Hurricane and Hurricane with a sunset flip for a near fall. Ryder tags Croft in and Caylen with a knee drop and a near fall. Croft punches Hurricane in the head. Barreta tags in and he kicks Hurricane. Croft tags back in and he kicks Hurricane and he gets a near fall. Croft knocks Goldust off the apron but Hurricane with a back body drop and a Shining Wizard and both men are down. Hurricane tags in Yoshi while Barreta tags in. Yoshi with a drop kick and a jumping spin kick and back body drop. Yoshi with a series of kicks to Barreta. Barreta sends Yoshi to the apron. Yoshi goes up top and hits a spin kick for a near fall. Goldust sends Ryder to the floor. Goldust with a drop down uppercut to Croft and then Yoshi with a round kick for the three count.
Winners: Goldust, Yoshi Tatsu, and Hurricane
2011 - Bruce Hart's autobiography "Straight from the Hart" is released.
2011 - Ring of Honor issued the following announcement that The Briscoes had signed new deals with the company:
Bristol, PA- January 25, 2010) ROH officials are happy to announce that the 6-time ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe have signed a new contract which is an extension to the contracts finalized in the fall of 2010 (http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jay-mark-briscoe-re-sign-with-roh/)!
Heading into Los Angeles where Mark Briscoe will challenge for the ROH World TV Title against “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels and Jay Briscoe will take on Colt Cabana for the first time in singles competition, the two veterans look forward to cementing their legacies as ROH legends.
“This is our home.” stated Jay Briscoe, “Ring of Honor is the place that made me and Mark the men we are today. If it wasn’t for ROH, we wouldn’t be half the wrestlers we are and we wouldn’t be six time champions. All we can say is thank you to ROH, thank you to the fans, and maybe 2011 will bring these two Delaware boys title number seven!”
2011 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from the internet and your announcers are Josh ‘Can Les Thatcher be my pro’ Mathews and Todd ‘Can Jim Ross be my pro’ Grisham. Your host is Matt ‘Can Wink Martindale be my pro’ Striker.
The rookies are in the ring with Matt Striker. Matt reminds everyone what the winner of this season of NXT means. There will be two challenges tonight for immunity points. The second challenge will be a Fatal Four Way Match where the rookie can change his pro if he wins.
Our first challenge will start in a moment after Derrick Bateman is dealt with because of a rules violation. We see footage of Ninja Bateman telling Daniel Bryan that he is going to pull off the biggest theft in NXT history. We see him give Daniel Bryan the answers for the challenge. Daniel wonders if this is cheating and Bateman says that it is NXT so are there really any rules. Bateman sneaks out ninja style.
Matt tells Derrick that he will be penalized. Daniel says that Bateman doesn’t wear face paint, it must have been the Ultimate Warrior.
It is time for ‘Out Think the Fink’ with ‘difficult’ trivia questions. Everyone except Derrick gets thirty seconds while Derrick only gets twenty seconds. The winner gets two points.
If it is Out Think the Fink, we need The Fink and he comes to the ring.
Striker talks about how much WWE stuff Fink knows. If you can outscore The Fink, you get two extra points.
The Fink goes first and he gives the cheap pop. Fink only gets two correct answers.
The first rookie to challenge the Fink is Johnny Curtis. Curtis only gets one question right.
Derrick Bateman is next and he only gets one question right.
Daniel Bryan tells Striker that he is too slow with the questions.
Byron Saxton goes next and he only gets one point as well.
Brodus Clay goes last and he gets one point as well.
Nobody gets any immunity points in this contest.
Todd and Josh talk about the Fatal Four Way with the rookies and their ability to change their pro. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see the fact that Daniel Bryan is now with Gail Kim instead of the Bellas.
Match Number One: Ted DiBiase with Brodus Clay and Maryse versus Daniel Bryan with Derrick Bateman
They lock up and Bryan with a waist lock but DiBiase with a reversal. Bryan with a hammer lock and then he gets a near fall before returning to the hammer lock. DiBiase with an elbow and arm drag into an arm bar. Bryan with a wrist lock. Ted with a punch to Bryan and a side head lock while Josh gets an autograph from Maryse. Ted with a shoulder tackle but Bryan with a drop toe hold and arm bar. Bryan works on the wrist and returns to the hammer lock. Bryan with a bow and arrow on Ted and then he gets a near fall.
Bryan and Ted with a Greco Roman Knuckle lock but Ted with a kick and he puts Bryan on the mat but Bryan kicks out and bridges. Ted tries to use his weight but Bryan continues to bridge. Bryan gets his feet up and monkey flips Ted. Bryan with a hammer lock and he tries for the LeBell Lock but Ted gets to the apron and then goes to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ted kicks and punches Bryan in the corner. Bryan returns the favor with kicks and Brodus and Maryse cannot watch. Bryan with an Irish whip but he misses the drop kick into the corner but Bryan lands on his side instead of his head this time. Ted punches Bryan and kicks him. Ted with a knee drop and he gets a near fall. Ted with a chin lock. Bryan with forearms while Dolph tells the fans not to cheer for Bryan. Ted with a neck breaker and drop kick to the back of the head and he gets a near fall. Ted with another neck breaker and another near fall.
R Truth tries to get the crowd behind Bryan while Dolph is not too supportive.
Bryan is sent to the floor and Bateman protects Bryan from Brodus. Ted with a double sledge from the apron and then he sends Bryan into the ringside barrier. Ted sends Bryan into the apron and then into the announce table. Ted returns to the ring and the referee starts his count on Bryan.
Daniel gets back into the ring and Ted with kicks to Bryan in the corner. Bryan with a punch and European uppercuts. Ted stops Bryan and he drops another knee to the head and gets a near fall. Ted with a snap mare and a boot to the head and gets a near fall. Ted with a reverse chin lock on Bryan. Bryan with elbows and more European uppercuts. Ted with an Irish whip but Bryan flips over and hits a running forearm to the head and both men are down. Ted with a kick to Bryan but Bryan with a kick to the chest and then Bryan goes up top and hits a missile drop kick for a near fall.
Bryan with kicks to the chest but Ted ducks down and gets a near fall. Ted with an inside cradle for a near fall. Ted sets for Dream Street but Bryan counters. Ted with a sit out spinebuster for a near fall. Ted with a kick to the midsection and punches. The referee warns Ted and Bryan with an elbow and a kick to the head. Ted tries for a spinebuster but Bryan with a Dragon Sleeper into the LeBell Lock and Ted gets to the ropes. Bryan with a kick across the chest and then he hits a drop kick to Ted in the ropes and Ted goes to the floor.
Bryan tries for a suicide dive but Ted with a forearm to Bryan. Ted with Dream Street and he gets the three count.
Winner: Ted DiBiase
After the match, Maryse is in shock that Ted won the match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Royal Rumble by the Numbers video package.
Todd and Josh wonder who will win the Royal Rumble.
Ted and Maryse are in the back and Maryse is happy that Ted did won a match. Ted tells Brodus that the other rookies will want to choose him if they win because he just beat Daniel Bryan. Ted says that Brodus might have flaws, but Brodus is his best chance to win the Tag Titles. Brodus vows to win for his boss. Brodus walks away and Maryse talks in French. Ted reminds Maryse that he doesn’t understand French.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Rookie Fatal Four Way Elimination Match: Brodus Clay versus Derrick Bateman versus Johnny Curtis versus Byron Saxton
All four men start off in the ring and they all go after Clay, but then they go after Bateman. Saxton with shoulders to Bateman while Curtis with a European uppercut. They send Bateman to Clay and Clay with an overhead suplex. Clay eliminates Derrick Bateman.
Saxton and Curtis exchange looks and go after Clay. Clay grabs both men by the throat but they kick Clay and hit a double suplex on Clay. Clay rolls to the floor and Curtis with a rollup on Saxton for a near fall. Saxton with a clothesline to Curtis and then he kicks Clay on the floor. Curtis charges at Saxton and Byron sends Curtis over the top rope onto Clay. We go to commercial while Saxton is praised by his pro.
We are back and Clay with a body block on Saxton. Curtis is on the floor while Clay hits a suplex on Saxton. Dolph tells his rookie to get out of there. Clay gets a near fall. Curtis with a stunner on the top rope to Clay. Saxton with a facebuster on Clay and then he crotches Curtis before getting a near fall on Clay. Curtis with head butts to Saxton on the turnbuckles and Saxton goes to the mat. Curtis hits a double leg drop and he pins Byron Saxton.
Curtis covers Clay and gets another near fall. Curtis with European uppercuts to Clay. Clay works over Curtis and hits a running butt splash while Ziggler tells Saxton to do squats in the back until he gets back there.
Clay with a nerve hold on Curtis while we get some more commentary from the pros. Clay with a knee and then he connects with shots to the collarbone. Clay chokes Curtis in the corner. Curtis punches Clay and sends him into the turnbuckles. Curtis with shoulders in the corner. Clay with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Clay catches Curtis and hits an STO while he has Curtis in the Tongan Death Grip.
Winner: Brodus Clay
After the match, Ted DiBiase and Maryse come to ringside to celebrate with Brodus. Matt joins Brodus in the ring and he wants to know if Brodus is going to change pros. Brodus says that his pro has the money, the power, class, and will probably destroy everyone in the Royal Rumble. What he isn’t is Ted DiBiase. He says that Ted cannot control his girl and he is the brokest rich person he knows. His new pro is Alberto Del Rio.
Brodus wants Ted to listen to him closely. Brodus with the Tongan Death Grip and STO to DiBiase. Brodus walks up to Maryse and then leaves the ring.
2012 -TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!
We open with a video package looking back at last week when Sting made a #1 contender's match between James Storm and Jeff Hardy to determine Robert Roode's next challenger, only for Bully Ray to attack both men and again leave us without a challenger. And in a perfectly logical follow up to that attack, we begin tonight's episode backstage where Jeff Hardy is beating the CRAP out of Bully Ray and choking him with a broomstick. He rams him into every ladder and wall he can find, past a couple of barbed wire boartds that just happen to be laying around in the background, and then they obliviously keep fighting as Bobby Roode pulls up in a giant white pickup truck, gets out and slams the door behind him, and attacks Hardy from behind. Hardy goes down, and Bubba continues working him over with a pipe before throwing a big wooden pallet down on top of him. Bubba tells Roode to open the back of the truck, and they dump him into the back and get ready to make off with Hardy, no doubt to bury him in the desert, but James Storm runs in to make the save and goes after both men. He busts Bubba open hardway it seems, but Roode jumps him from behind and they manage to beat him down as well. They get ready to put Storm in the truck with Hardy, but Sting comes out with his baseball bat and nails both of them until they run off.
From there, we go right to the ring for our opening match...
#1 Contender's Match: Velvet Sky vs Mickie James vs Tara
They all shake hands and then Tara boots Velvet in the midsection, Mickie goes for a clothesline but Tara falls into a back bridge and Mickie wipes Velvet out with a clothesline. Velvet recovers and dumps Mickie to the floor, then goes to cover Tara but Tara picks her up and rams her to the corner and goes for the Widow's Peak. Mickie breaks that up with a boot to the midsection and gets an O'Connor roll for 2. Mickie and Tara go at it in the corner and Tara just slams Mickie face first into the mat by the hair. Tara charges Mickie in the corner and runs into Mickie's elbow as we go to commercial.
We come back as Velvet hits a monkey flip on Tara and goes for the Pedigree, but Mickie stops her with a hanging neckbreaker. Tara slams Mickie and does the ass shaking standing moonsault, Mickie rolls out of the way and Velvet starts beating them both up. Velvet with a flying headscissors on Mickie but Tara takes her out with a clothesline. Mickie with a flapjack on Tara as I think I see Ron Jeremy sitting in the audience behind her, then she goes up top and takes Velvet out with the flying hooch to the mouth. Tara dumps Velvet to the floor, Mickie spinkicks Tara in the jaw and covers, but Tara gets her hand on the bottom rope at 2. Mickie goes for the DDT, Velvet takes her out with a clothesline, Tara gives Velvet a spinning side suplex onto Mickie and covers Mickie for the win.
Winner: Tara
Well, that was a bit of a surprise. Gotta admit, I expected Mickie to win here but Tara and Gail have had good matches in recent weeks so all good by me. Gail Kim is backstage watching on a monitor and congratulates her, saying the best woman won, but she's going to show why she's the best Knockout in history is. She and Tara know each other inside and out (???) but she'll prove she's the best at Against All Odds.
Sting is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
We take a look back at the brawl that opened the show, and then Sting comes out to the ring with a still selling Hardy and Storm. I like to see that. He tells Bully Ray and Robert Roode to get down to the ring right now, leading to a brawl between the two sides until Sting uses a...shall we say, show of authority (with his bat) and separates everyone. They start fighting again, so Sting drops his microphone and goes after Bubba and Roode with the bat again. Sting says it's obvious you can't tame wild animals, then agrees with the crowd to let them fight, so Hardy and Storm will take on Roode and Bubba tonight in a tag match. The fight starts again and Storm suggests to Sting that they make it a tables match. Sting asks the crowd what they think, and Ron Jeremy says it sounds great, so we have a tables match tonight.
Alex Shelley is backstage saying he's gone longer without being in the ring than he has since he was 18, and tonight he's got Zema Ion who is good, but he's not X Division Title material, and when he gets Aries he's going to win the title because Aries isn't in his class.
Eric Young is backstage getting ready for his match and runs into a guy he thinks is Sammy Davis Jr, but then Winter and Angelina Love come out and pretend to seduce him so Angelina can try and kick him in the cajones, but he's wearing a cup for, as Eric says, his yeast infection. They run off as ODB shows up and tells him they're wrestling Winter and Angelina later and he better hit those hussies.
Alex Shelley vs Zema Ion
They tie up and Ion takes Shelley to the ropes, Shelley gets a side headlock and really cranks on it, Ion shoots him to the ropes but Shelley gets a series of chain wrestling moves ending in a stack for 2. Shelley opens up on Ion with chops, then a snapmare and the indy kick to the back. Ion begs for mercy as Shelley goes after him in the corner, but cheapshots Shelley when he backs off and hits a twisting crossbody off the second rope for 2. Ion goes for a headscissors, but Shelley just dumps him on his face and sends him to the outside. Ion dodges a baseball slide, but Shelley dodges an elbowdrop as he comes back into the ring. Ion hits a hotshot and a neckbreaker for 2 and then pokes Shelley in the eye, but doesn't get disqualified for some reason. Hmmm, I thought they changed the rule. This allows Shelley to recover and run over Ion with some clotheslines and a Flatliner into the second turnbuckle, then Shelley comes off the ropes with a double stomp, Ion moves and hits a DDT out of nowhere. Ion goes to the top for the 450, Shelley dodges (and Ion would have fallen way short anyway), and Shelley hits Sliced Bread #2 for 3.
Winner: Alex Shelley
AJ Styles is backstage wondering what kind of effect the business has had on everyone because all his buddies in Fortune have kind of turned their backs on him, so he knew it was only a matter of time with Frankie. He can be Daniels' puppet, but they're going to get to the bottom of this TONIGHT.
Tara is also backstage, and she's thrilled to be the #1 contender and will have the belt around her size 28 waist soon. She knows Gail's repertoire and all her dirty tricks, but she'll be ready for them.
Eric Bischoff shows up at Garett Bischoff's MMA gym and wants to know where his trainer is. We'll find out who it is...NEXT!
We come back to Eric Bischoff at Garett's gym, and Eric is clearly stunned to see who it is, but tells the cameraman to stop filming and get out of here and we don't get a chance to find out who it is.
Angelina Love & Winter vs Eric Young & ODB
EY and Angelina start, and of course EY goes to tie up with the referee instead of one of his opponents. Then he does it again. Then he cartwheels and claps to the crowd. Then he ties up with the referee again and Winter finally nails him from behind. He slowly turns around and takes his pants off, so Winter bails out of the ring. Angelina comes in so ODB tags herself in and runs over Angelina with a clothesline and smashes her with an avalanche in the corner. She hits the Bronco Buster, knocks Winter off the apron, then goes toe to toe with Angelina while EY ties up with the referee AGAIN. Winter hooks ODB's foot from the outside and Angelina yanks her down by the hair and covers for 2. Winter with a side backbreaker for 2, then hangs ODB in the Tree of Woe and chokes her with her boot. Winter distracts the referee while Angelina chokes her from the outside and then Winter comes over and kicks her in the vajayjay and covers for 2. ODB goes to make the hot tag, stops to take a hit of the ol' bird, and goes toe to toe with Angelina instead. ODB with a series of shoulderblocks and a fallaway slam, then EY gets Winter up in a fireman's carry while ODB gets Angelina up in what I suppose is a firewoman's carry, they do stereo airplane spins and ODB hits a Samoan drop for the win.
Winner: Eric Young & ODB
ODB gives Young a big smooch as they celebrate in the ring, and then we go backstage to Bully Ray who asks Roode when his partner grew a set of balls. Roode says he didn't see that coming, and Bubba says he didn't keep him in check like he did with Devon. Bubba says he's the World Champion, Roode says yeah, and Bubba says "not for long." Roode asks what that meant and Bubba says never mind because they need to go do this, but neither wants to turn their back on the other and leave first. Dissension!
We see a video package recapping the history between Matt Morgan & Crimson and Samoa Joe & Brutus Magnus, including last week when Crimson beat Magnus but the champs got laid out by Joe and Magnus.
Samoa Joe vs Matt Morgan
Joe tries to take Morgan's legs out with kicks, then takes Morgan to the corner and fires off some right jabs. Morgan throttles Joe and backs him across the ring and lays in some hard right hands and a chop, followed by a Boss Man Drop on the top rope. Morgan with a legdrop on the ring apron and a headbutt, never a good idea against a Samoan. Joe gets to the top rope and gets the Kokina clutch, but Morgan just backs into the corner to get Joe to break the hold. Morgan with some hard elbows and a running clothesline for 2. Morgan charges Joe in the corner and eats his elbow, does it again and catches the boot, and Joe comes off the second rope with a boot to the face. Joe with a running elbow and leaping enziguiri in the corner for 2, then they go toe to toe in the corner and Morgan comes out on top of that exchange and starts rolling again with more clotheslines. Morgan with a running clothesline in the corner, across the ring for another one, and a side suplex for 2. Morgan signals that he's going to finish, but takes too long and Joe gets an inverted atomic drop and senton for 2. Joe gets a spinning toehold, but Morgan kicks him off into the corner and hits a discus clothesline for the win.
Winner: Matt Morgan
Magnus goes after Crimson on the floor and Morgan goes to save, but Joe comes after him from behind and takes out his legs, setting Magnus up to connect with a top rope elbowdrop, then they head up the ramp and taunt Morgan and Crimson from the entryway.
AJ Styles is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
James Storm and Jeff Hardy are backstage saying how funny it is that they went from kicking each other's butts to watching each other's backs, but that's because it's business and they don't take it personally. Tonight they started the show with a bang and end it with a BOOM!
AJ Styles comes out to the ring and says he wants to know why Kazarian turned on him and why he's letting Daniels order him around like a dog, but Daniels' music hits and he comes out with Kazarian, who can't even make eye contact with Styles. Kazarian starts to talk, but Daniels snaps his fingers and Kazarian hands him the microphone. Daniels says it's familiar to see him standing in the ring complaining because for ten years, whenever he faces some adversity, he comes out and gets a microphone to complain so everyone can hear, and if the Golden Boy doesn't get his way, he throws a tantrum, he throws microphones, fists, chairs, or whatever at other athletes. They're not playing this game because Kazarian doesn't owe AJ and answers or a damn thing. AJ says that's fine because there's other ways of getting answers, he climbs out of the ring and goes after them but Daniels says do it just like a thug from Gainesville, Georgia. AJ says he's got a better way: he'll turn his back and let Kazarian get in the ring and take his head off and he wants Kazarian to make his decision right now. Kazarian turns to leave, but Daniels stops him and tells him to go get him right now. Kazarian marches to the ring...but stops. Daniels asks him what he's doing and tells him to just take his head off, then goes after AJ himself. AJ quickly takes him out with a leaping enziguiri, then tells Kazarian that he doesn't care what's going on between he and Daniels, but he needs to make it right, make his decision, and get in the ring with him right now. Kazarian looks down at Daniels, then gets up on the apron and hesitates before getting in the ring. AJ sticks his hand out, but Daniels tells him to stop and says he knows exactly why he can't shake AJ's hand and to get out of the ring right now. Kazarian hangs his head and follows Daniels out of the ring, and Daniels says he's had it up to here and AJ has put his hands on him for the last time, so he's going to go to Sting to propose a match to settle this once and for all: he wants AJ Styles to take on Frankie Kazarian, and tells Kazarian to go to Sting and ask for the match right now.
It's main event time!
Jeff Hardy & James Storm vs Robert Roode & Bully Ray
Bubba's still got the blood on his head from earlier, really nice touch. The match immediately spills out to the floor and they fight around ringside and occasionally ram each other into the ominous tables at ringside. Bully Ray tries to suplex Hardy through a table, but Hardy hooks his foot on the ropes and sinks back down before ramming Bubba into the steps and coming off the apron with a double axhandle. Storm goes for a suplex on the ramp, Roode blocks and reverses to one of his own as Hardy unsuccessfully tries to suplex Bubba into the table and gets slammed as a result. Bubba tells Roode to put Storm's head on the table and goes to whip it with the chain, but Storm fights his way out and Hardy comes out of nowhere to come to the rescue as we go to commercial.
After the commercial (where I saw some lunatic fighting an alligator while doing a cell phone commercial), we're back and Storm is spewing beer in Bubba's face and ramming him into the guardrail. Hardy catapults Roode into the ringpost and then slides a table into the ring. Storm rolls the champion into the ring and they set the table up and try to suplex Roode through it, but Bubba pulls the table out of the way and wipes both men out with a double clothesline. Bubba drills both men square in the face with right hands, then tries to backdrop Hardy through the table, but now Storm moves the table and saves Hardy, then clotheslines Bubba out to the floor. Storm goes out after him, but Roode puts the boots to Storm from the apron before going back after Hardy. Roode sets a table up in the corner and Hardy starts to fight back, but Bubba nails him and tries to charge Hardy with a big boot. Hardy moves and Bubba's foot goes through the table, and Storm dumps him to the outside again, but turns around right into a spinebuster from Roode. Bubba drags Hardy over to the corner and pulls him into the ringpost by the hair as Roode takes Storm outside and slams his face into the ring steps. Roode brings Storm back in and tries to superplex him onto the table, but Hardy comes in from behind and hits the Twist of Fate, then sets Roode up on the table so Storm can come off the top rope with a flying elbowdrop that sends Roode through the table and brings this match to an end.
Winners: James Storm & Jeff Hardy
Bully Ray comes in after the match and just DESTROYS both men with a chair while Taz explains how embarrassed he must be at losing a tables match. Bubba pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up on the inside, he grabs Hardy and tells Roode to hit Storm. Roode kicks Storm in the face, then they set Hardy up and deliver a Super Bomb through the table, leaving him a flattened mess as EMTs come in to check on him and Bubba and Roode again stand tall to close the show.
Another great episode of Impact, I love that the focus is not on long promos, but between four guys who want to kick each other's butts. Wrestling really has mattered on this show the last couple of months and I'm really enjoying it!
2013 - WWE broadcast Saturday Morning Slam. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
This week, Kofi Kingston will be in the main event, but first we will see The Miz getting ready for his United States Title Match.
We take a look back at last week’s show when the Miz was confronted by Titus O’Neil and Darren Young.
We take a look at the participants in the match. Miz has turned things around and has gone from behind ‘awful’ to being ‘awesome’. Titus and Darren have been taking care of the competition.
Your announcers are Josh Mathews and Daniel Bryan.
Match Number One: Darren Young (with Titus O’Neil) versus The Miz
Before locking up, Titus takes some time from blowing his whistle to work on Darren’s hair. Miz relaxes on the turnbuckles before eventually locking up. Young backs Miz into the corner and he misses a chop and Miz messes with Darren’s hair. Miz with an arm drag into an arm bar and wrist lock. Miz with a hammer lock into a side head lock.
Young with forearms and a shoulder tackle. Miz with a flapjack to Young and then he hits the Awesome Clothesline. Miz goes up top and misses the double sledge but he hits an arm drag. Young with a knee to the midsection and then he charges at Miz and Miz drops down and Darren goes over the top rope to the floor. Titus calls for a time out and we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with another arm drag into an arm bar. Miz with a sunset flip but then they alternate covers and get near falls. Young with a knee to the midsection and a seated splash to the midsection twice for a near fall.
Young with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Young with an abdominal stretch on Miz but Miz escapes. Young with a knee and he tries for a suplex but Miz blocks it and he hits a suplex of his own and both men are down.
Miz with a clothesline but Young with a knee. Young misses a charge into the corner and then Miz hits a knee lift and hits a neck breaker but the referee is distracted by Titus O’Neil on the apron. Miz with a drop kick to Titus that sends him off the apron. Darren tries to get Miz on his shoulders but Miz escapes and hits the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.
Winner: The Miz
After the match, we find out from The Dazzler that the match was ‘Half Dazzling’.
We go to commercial.
We are back with highlights of the match between Miz and Darren Young.
Now it is time to look at Kofi Kingston in the Saturday Morning Spotlight.
Match Number Two: Kofi Kingston versus Epico (with Primo)
Epico with a top wrist lock but Kofi uses the ropes to counter and escape. Kofi with a cross body from the middle turnbuckle for a near fall. Kofi with an arm bar but Epico with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kofi tries for the leaping back elbow but Epico anticipates it. Epico tries for a monkey flip but Kofi lands on his feet and he gives Epico a monkey flip and gets a near fall.
Epico with a leg sweep and cover. Kofi returns the favor and gets a near fall with a jackknife cover but Epico bridges out. Epico has a drop kick blocked by Kofi and he catapults Epico over the top rope onto Primo and we go to commercial.
We are back and Kofi teases a dive to the floor but he bounces off the ropes. Epico and Primo argue for a moment before Epico returns to the ring and Kofi with an arm drag into an arm bar. Epico sends Kofi into the turnbuckles and then he kicks Kofi and gets a near fall.
Epico returns to the shoulder and applies a key lock. Kofi gets back to his feet and he escapes with an arm drag and a back body drop. Kofi with chops to Epico followed by a drop kick. Kofi with a leaping clothesline and then he circles Epico before the Boom Drop. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Primo gets on the apron and distracts Kofi. Kofi with an airplane spin and Primo tries to interfere but Primo gets hit on one of the rotations.
Kofi with the SOS for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Unfortunately, this match did not rate on the Dazzler scale.
Natalya is in the interview area with Zack Ryder. She asks Zack about his match against Dolph Ziggler next week. Zack says that he likes his chances even though Dolph is Mr. Money in the Bank and the Show Off. Zack reminds us that he beat Dolph Ziggler to become the United States Champion last year. Zack says that 2013 will be the Year of the Broski.
Dolph interrupts and he says that the headband might be too tight and he is cutting off circulation to the brain. Dolph says that Zack had a few fluke wins. He is on the biggest roll of his career. He has the biggest and baddest man standing behind him. He says that he has the greatest Diva of all time on his other side.
Zack says that is crazy and AJ reacts to the ‘c’ word.
2013 - Ring of Honor broadcast ROH TV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Last week, the Tag Titles were defended by the Briscoes against the other challengers at Final Battle. We also saw the latest developments in the road to Jay Lethal getting a World Title Match against Kevin Steen even though he cannot get one due to his actions reacting to his mom’s assault and battery of the champion. Who will advance in the Top Prospect Tournament? What will happen when Adam Cole defends the television title against BJ Whitmer?
We are in Baltimore, Maryland and your announcers are Kevin Kelly and Caleb Seltzer.
Nigel McGuinness is in the ring with security in and around the ring.
Nigel brings out Jay Lethal first. Nigel then brings out the World Champion Kevin Steen. Kevin is accompanied by Steve Corino, Jimmy Jacobs, and Rhino.
Nigel tells Jay that he wanted this chance to talk so he should talk.
Jay says that he is surprised that Kevin had the balls to come out here, but wherever Kevin goes, his scumbags are sure to follow. Jay says that this is not about them or the security guards or Kevin. It is about them. He wants Kevin to accept his challenge for the Ring of Honor Title.
Steve Corino wants to know how Jay Lethal could do this. He thought Jay’s beautiful mother would have taught him better. Steve tells Jay that he does not understand that it was his mother was spit upon because Jay’s father threw water on Kevin Steen.
Steve wants to know if Jay is angry at him.
Jay tells Kevin that he is not a real Ring of Honor champion. He is not like the other great champions. He is a vile human being who spits in the face of 58 year old women. He is a disgusting human being who only cares about himself. Jay says that Kevin is here to kill Ring of Honor because of what it did to him in the past. Will he kill it by defeating everyone who believes in the idea that ‘Honor Lives’? The biggest believer is standing in his face challenging him, but Steen is telling everyone that he is too scared.
Jay tells Kevin that not only is he too scared, but they need each other. Jay says that Kevin needs to help him fulfill his dream of becoming the Ring of Honor Champion. Jay says that Kevin needs to beat him to stick it to Ring of Honor. He would do it by defeating one of the most honorable people in the back.
The sad part is that he knows that he can beat Kevin for the World Title. He is fueled by more than winning the title. He is fueled by his family and his hatred of Kevin Steen. He sees it as clear as day. Kevin knows that until he can beat Jay, he ain’t s***.
Jay tells Kevin that he challenges him for the World Title.
Kevin thinks about a response but he decides to go to the apron.
Steen accepts the challenge and leaves.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kevin and Caleb talk about the challenge that Jay Lethal made and Kevin Steen’s acceptance of the challenge.
Truth Martini is with Kevin and Caleb.
Match Number One: Silas Young versus Adam Page in a Top Prospect Tournament First Round Match
They lock up and Young backs Page into the corner and he connects with a knee and chop but Page with a chop. Young with a side head lock and Page with a side head lock of his own. Page with a few shoulder tackles and he blocks a hip toss and connects with a hip toss of his own. Page with a few chops to Young but Young with a kick. Page with an Irish whip and punch to the midsection.
Page with a running knee lift and Young goes to the apron. Young drops Page’s throat across the top rope and Young runs into a boot. Page with a clothesline from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Page misses a boot from the apron and Young sends Page’s head into the turnbuckles.
Young with a DDT while Page is hanging from the second rope and Young gets a near fall. Young with a snap mare and he wants silence for a back heel kick after kicking over Page’s head intentionally. Young with a waist lock. Young with a matrix followed by a back breaker and clothesline for a near fall.
Page slaps Young and punches him. Page with another punch and chops to Young. Young with a boot to the chest and he gets Page on his shoulders. Page escapes and hits a power slam for a near fall. Young sends Page over the top rope but he lands on the apron. Page misses a shoulder from the apron and Young with a forearm to the back. Page with a back body drop that sends Young over the top rope to the floor.
Page with a running shooting star press off the apron onto Young. Page sends Young back into the ring and he goes up top. Page with a cross body but Young is able to get his shoulder up. Young gets pulled up and lands on his feet and Young with a Bubba Bomb and then he applies the Stopwatch and gets Page to tap out.
Winner: Silas Young (Advances to face the winner of the ACH versus Matt Taven match)
We go to commercial.
We are back and Charlie Haas is at ringside and he has a beverage with him.
Charlie gets a mic and he listens to the adoration of his fans. He says that he is not happy to be back in Baltimore because this city sucks. He says that he knows why Ray Lewis is retiring. Maybe it is because he is a big pussy.
Charlie says that he is a little pissed off about a few things. Charlie says that he is being told that he is going to be censored by ROH offices, but he says that he lives in the United States and he has the freedom of speech. He tells ROH to ‘censor that’.
Charlie says that nobody knew about BJ Whitmer until he sent Haas through a table with a Haasplex from the top rope through a table. Now BJ gets a TV Title match. That is a load of crap.
He wants to talk about Nigel McGuinness. He thinks that because he has the pen and he will set up a tag team gauntlet knowing that Shelton Benjamin won’t be there. He says that is a load of crap.
A member of the ring crew tries to get some of the toilet paper out of the ring and Haas tells him not to get in his ring and then he wants him in the ring. Charlie asks him what his name is. Charlie says that his name should be hungry because he wants to eat a cheeseburger every time he sees him. He calls him Cheeseburger. He wants to know if he is a wrestler and why should he be in the ring with him.
He says that he is a wrestler. Charlie asks him if he is a member of the ROH Dojo. Charlie says that he will give him his chance. Tonight, Charlie Haas faces Cheeseburger one-on-one.
Haas shakes his hand and then he hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Haas pulls him into the center of the ring and applies the Haas of Pain and he taps out.
Haas poses and has his boot on Brendell’s head.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Rhett Titus versus Matt Hardy
They lock up and Hardy sends Titus into the corner and he pats the taped ribs of Titus before giving a clean break. Titus works on the wrist but Hardy with a reversal. Titus with a reversal of his own. Hardy gets to the ropes and Titus with a break but Hardy punches Titus in the ribs.
Titus with a hurdle leap frog and punches to Hardy. Matt with a knee to the midsection and a side head lock. Titus with a leaping back elbow and a cross body for a near fall. Hardy rolls to the floor. Titus with a pescado but Hardy gets back into the ring and Titus hits the floor. Matt goes to the floor and he punches Titus in the ribs and he sends Titus back into the ring. Hardy with shoulders in the corner followed by a punch.
Hardy with a side slam for a near fall. Hardy with a kick to the midsection. Titus with punches to Hardy. Hardy with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner but Titus counters a bulldog with an O’Connor Roll for a near fall. Hardy with a bulldog for a near fall. Hardy goes to the turnbuckles for the screaming elbow but Titus with a drop kick to counter and both men are down.
Titus with a running drop kick into the corner and he connects. Titus with a sit out spinebuster for a near fall. Titus with a front face lock. Titus block a kick and kicks Hardy. Hardy with a side effect for a near fall. Hardy signals for the Twist of Fate and Titus counters with a back slide and he gets a near fall. Titus with a chop and Hardy rolls to the floor.
Titus with a baseball slide but Hardy avoids it. Titus pulls Hardy from the apron. Hardy with punches to the ribs and then he runs Titus into the ring post. Hardy with a standing power slam on the floor and he returns to the ring to break the count. Hardy brings Titus back into the ring and he hits the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Winner: Matt Hardy
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Adam Cole versus BJ Whitmer for the Ring of Honor Television Title
They lock up and Whitmer works on the wrist. Cole rolls through and reverses. Whitmer with a back body drop to reverse the wrist lock. Whitmer with a knee drop to the shoulder into an arm bar. Something is going on in the ring as we watch Matt Hardy walking to the announce table to join Kevin and Caleb for commentary.
Cole with an arm drag and drop kick for a near fall. Cole with an arm bar. Cole continues to work on the arm and shoulder. Cole with a leaping neck breaker. Cole charges at Whitmer but BJ drops down and Cole goes to the floor. Whitmer sets for a suicide dive but Cole with an enzuigiri.
Cole goes up top but misses a splash and we go to commercial with both men down on the mat.
We are back and Whitmer with a boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Whitmer kicks Cole in the head and then he punches Cole. Cole and Whitmer exchange forearms until Cole gets the advantage. Cole with an enzuigiri and he hits a Yakuza Kick to the head and gets a near fall.
Whitmer with a running knee into the corner followed by a suplex following into Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a near fall. Whitmer with two perfectplexes for a near fall. Cole with an Irish whip but Cole is sent to the apron. Cole goes up top and hits a cross body for a near fall.
Cole runs into an Exploder suplex from Whitmer but BJ can only get a two count. Whitmer puts Cole on the top turnbuckle and he punches and chops Cole. Whitmer sets for a superplex and he hits it but both men are down. Whitmer holds his head after the impact on the superplex and he cannot take advantage of the situation.
The referee keeps Cole from Whitmer but Whitmer slaps Cole. Cole with a superplex followed by a German suplex and shoulder breaker for a near fall. Cole signals that it is over and he hits the Florida Key for the three count.
Winner: Adam Cole
We go to credits with the image of Matt Hardy and Adam Cole staring each other down from a distance.
2014 - CM Punk wrestled his final match for WWE as a competitor in the 2014 Royal Rumble. The next day, Punk walked out of WWE, never to return. He would sign to become a UFC fighter towards the end of 2014 and would not return to professional wrestling as a performer until signing with AEW in August 2021. Here is Mike Johnson's PPV coverage:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of the 2014 Royal Rumble PPV from Pittsburgh, PA at the CONSOL Center!
Josh Mathews welcomed us to the "starting line" of the road to Wrestlemania. He welcomed everyone to the panel of experts, Hacksaw Duggan, Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair.
Michaels and Flair showed off their twin Rolexes and "synchronized".
Michaels was asked what the strategy is like winning the Rumble. He said you don't want to go over the top and have both feet touch the floor, because you will then be eliminated.
You can hear the dueling Cena/Cena sucks chants already.
Duggan said he isn't a really big strategy guy, so he just sees a target and whacks them.
They went to Renee Young who pushed people to Tweet about the Rumble, so I guess I can push that you can check us out on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PWInsider and www.Twitter.com/PWInsidercom if you want to interact with us about the PPV!
They reviewed the recent events between Randy Orton and John Cena. Flair predicted Orton would walk out as the WWE World Heavyweight champion. Michaels and Duggan predicted John Cena.
They went to a backstage vignette where wrestlers were picking their numbers. Alberto Del Rio was really happy with his pick and said he would take everyone out. Kofi Kingston said his "could be better." R-Truth wasn't happy at all with his. The Real Americans argued over who would go first. Of the two, Jack Swagger was happier with his pick. Great Khali wasn't happy at all. Damien Sandow mocked him, then apparently picked an even worse number. Khali laughed at him.
They discussed the Daniel Bryan-Bray Wyatt situation. Michaels said he never kicked anyone he didn't like or respect and he still likes Bryan and predicted him. Flair said he likes the bad boys, not the criers and predicted Bray.
WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. The New Age Outlaws
Road Dogg and Road Dogg locked up. They went to the corner and Rhodes broke cleanly. Roadie kicked him and worked him over. Rhodes tried to go or the Disaster Kick but Road Dogg moved out of the way. Rhodes backdropped the Outlaws over the top. Goldust leapt off the apron and nailed one of the Outlaws. Rhodes then took them out with a dive.
They went to commercial. Come on WWE, if we are watching this show, we are ordering the Rumble!
When they returned to the ring, Road Dogg was working over Goldust and locked him in a rear chinlock. Goldust fired back with elbows but missed a dropkick. Road Dogg nailed an elbow and scored a two count. Goldust came back with a Code Red for a two count. Gunn tagged in and drilled Goldust with a hard right. He then whipped him hard into the buckles.
Goldust finally fought off Gunn and tagged on Rhodes. Cody cleaned house with a pair of clotheslines and nailed a high knee on Road Dogg. He caught Gunn coming into the ring, nailed him and then nailed a missile dropkick on both.
Rhodes got rid of Gunn. Road Dogg nailed him and went for the pumphandle slam but Cody turned it into the CrossRhodes. Gunn broke it up and brawled on the floor with Goldust, who he sent into the guard rail. Road Dogg blind tagged Gunn, who caught the unaware Rhodes with a Famouser and scored the pin.
Your winners and new WWE Tag Team champions, The New Age Outlaws!
Solid opener.
They aired that awesome video on the Royal Rumble stats.
They announced Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt would kick off the PPV.
RUMBLE PPV
For whatever it's worth, Batista has had a camera crew following him around all day documenting him as he prepares for the Rumble.
Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt
Big reaction for Bryan coming out. Luke Harper and Eric Rowan ARE with Bray so I guess Daniel Bryan's logic that Bray would be alone because they are competing in the Rumble wasn't exactly sound.
They locked up and Bray took him out with a big back elbow as Bryan rebounded off the ropes. Daniel came back with a big kick to the mid-section but then distracted by The Wyatts, allowing Bray to drill him from behind. Bryan ducked a clothesline and took out Harper with a dive. Rowan went after Bryan and referee John Cone tossed them out. They refused but Bray said that he didn't need them to fight this war for him and sent them to the back.
Bray turned around and Bryan dove off the top to the floor. The crowd was chanting for him like crazy. Bryan tossed him into the ring and nailed a flying bodypress for a two count. He drilled Bray with kicks in the corner. Bray reversed a whip into the corner but Bryan kicked him off. Bryan went to nail him again but Bray caught him and dumped him over the ropes. The announcers claimed that Bryan looked to have hit his head on the ring steps on the way down and brought up "reports" that Bryan had recently suffered a concussion. Bray charged him but was sent into the ring steps.
Bryan began working over Wyatt's leg as they returned to the ring. He nailed Bray with a curb stomp. Bray kicked up before he could get a count. Wyatt, now limping fired up at Bryan, beating him in the corner with fists. Bryan came back with a series of kicks, focusing on the leg and hamstring he's been working on.
Bray went to the apron. Bryan tried to suplex him in but Bray reversed it. Bryan landed on the apron and they battled back and forth on it. Bray grabbed Bryan's arm and leapt off to the floor, yanking Bryan down to the apron.
Bray worked over Bryan and sent him to the floor again. He placed Bryan's head near the ringpost and driled him over and over with punches and a running shot, bouncing Bryan's head against the ringpost. Bryan rolled off and went to the floor, holding his ears as if they were ringing. Wyatt nailed a back senton splash on Bryan. He told the crowd that he tried to warn Bryan and asked them why they didn't help him.
Bryan returned to the apron. Bray yanked him by his arm into the ropes, snapping his head against them. Bray began ripping at Bryan's face and neck before locking in a submission. Bray did the spider walk as he waited for Bryan to return to his feet, then nailed a charge in the corner for a two count.
Bryan tried to fight back but was quickly cut off and slammed. Bray went for another back senton slam but Bryan rolled out of the way. Bryan worked him over and placed Bray on the top for a top rope hurancanrana. Bray kicked out at two. The crow chanted, "This is awesome."
Bray went for a back suplex but Bryan landed on his feet. He rebounded off the ropes but Bray killed him with a hard back elbow. Bray charged Bryan, who dropped down and grabbed them. Bray went over the top the floor. Bryan dove off the apron and caught Bray with a tornado DDT to the floor. Bray was bleeding from the mouth after that move. Bryan nailed a running dropkick against the rails.
Bray was sent back in the ring. Bryan nailed a missile dropkick. He drilled Bray with a kick to the head for a two count. Bryan nailed a series of dropkicks in the corner but on the third, Bray nailed him with a lariat and sent Bryan flying upside down. That was awesome. Bryan kicked out at the last second.
Bray went for Sister Abigail but Bryan slipped out and rolled him up for a two count, then went right for the Yes Lock. Bryan began biting his hand to break it and laid him out. Bray placed him on the ropes but Bryan tried to headbutt him away. Bray fired back with his own but Bryan won that battle.
Wyatt crashed into the ring. Bryan nailed a big splash off the ropes. Bryan called for the running knee but Wyatt rolled out of the ring. Bryan kicked him through the ropes and went for a suicide dive but Bray caught him and drilled him with Sister Abigail into the guard rail. Bryan was out like he was dead. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."
Bray dragged the unconscious Bryan into the ring, kissed him and nailed another Sister Abigail for the pin.
Your winner, Bray Wyatt!
The Wyatt Family returned after the bell.
Absolutely incredible match. What a war. If they can keep this sort of momentum going, what a show this is going to be.
Paul Heyman did a promo backstage apologizing in advance for what Brock Lesnar is going to do in advance tonight. He said that Big Show is a monster but Lesnar is a fighter with no compassion and is going to destroy him. He said this is the dawning of a new era and everyone is going to be subject to Brock the Unmerciful.
They went to the panel. Michaels said that the future of the company is in the hands of Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt and the future is looking good. He said Bryan may have lost but he has faith in Bryan and when the tide turns for him, things will be great. Flair told him he lives on a ranch and needs to learn to pick the right horse. They talked Lesnar vs. Show. Flair, sounding more like his old self then the last time I can recall, picked Lesnar in colorful fashion.
Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar attacked Show as soon as he got in the ring and began beating Show down with punches. He was passed a chair and drilled Show with it over and over before the bell rang. He continued beating Show with the chair. The shots were pretty brutal. Show rolled to the outside. Brock bounced around. Show finally rolled into the ring and Lesnar charged and kicked the hell out of him and charged him with another chair across the back.
The referee finally grabbed the chair and ran out of the ring with it. Heyman nonchalantly handed him another. Lesnar charged him as the referee rang the bell but was nailed with a KO punch by Show. Lesnar went to the floor. Show, his arm hanging as if his shoulder was injured, followed him to the outside and worked him over on the floor. He tossed Lesnar back in but was slow in returning due to the pain of his arm.
Show challenged Brock, who pulled himself to his feet. He went for another KO but Lesnar ducked and nailed the F5 on Show for the pin.
Your winner, Brock Lesnar!
Lesnar looked like he wasn't sure where he was after the match.
Lesnar grabbed another chair from ringside. He stalked around ringside as Show was down on the mat. He slammed it across Show's back over and over as Heyman yelled "No mercy! No compassion! Again!" Show rolled out to the floor as Lesnar followed. The beating continued on the floor. Lesnar just decimated. He actually broke the chair, so Heyman tossed Heyman another chair. The beating continued.
The referee finally tried to stop Lesnar as he went under the ring, so Brock shoved him down. Lesnar kept beating the hell out of Show before finally walking off.
This was a brutal beating. Lesnar is as legitimately scary as they come today in the business. More of an angle really, but this was entertaining from start to finish.
They had close-ups of the welts on Show's back after. Ouch!
He was slowly walked out by the officials. He took a hell of a beating.
Backstage, The Shield did a promo. Dean Ambrose said they have been dominant for over a year and that comes with a price. He said they have 27 enemies tonight but the hounds are hungry. He said they are all going to be tossed out. Roman Reigns said they would be left with the three of them at the end. Seth Rollins said that when it's all done, there will only be one man going to the main event of Wrestlemania, but they will still be united. Roman Reigns said that they both know his swagger is off the charts tonight and he feels he's got the right number. Ambrose questioned him which number he has. Reigns said he wasn't telling. Ambrose offered to tell him his, then said he wasn't going to tell anyone because he might have two numbers. Reigns said no one does. Ambrose said he has all the numbers. Rollins stopped them from arguing and said the only number that matters is three.
WWE World Heavyweight champion Randy Orton was interviewed. He said that it didn't matter if it was Batista, CM Punk, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan or anyone else, he was the true face of the WWE. He called Wyatt a Duck Dynasty lookalike Hillbilly reject. He said that tonight he was going to show the world that John Cena wasn't the face of WWE, either. Good promo.
WWE World Heavyweight champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena
John Cena came out all smiles and played to the crowd. Uh, didn't he want to murder Randy Orton last week for beating up his father?
The crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan LOUDLY at the bell.
They locked up and Orton used a side headlock takedown and they began exchanging holds. Orton caught Cena with a right hand and stomped the hell out of him. The crowd chanted for Bryan.
Cena came back with a bulldog for a two count. The crowd chanted for Bryan, Randy Savage and Y2J. Orton cut off Cena who came back and attempted a Boston Crab. Orton kicked him out of the ring. The crowd chanted for Undertaker.
Orton locked in a chinlock. The crowd chanted "Boring" which wasn't fair to them. Cena made a comeback and clotheslined Orton over the top to the floor. He followed Orton to the floor but was sent into the ring steps. Cena tried to go for the AA but Orton got free and worked over Cena with stomps. The crowd chanted, "You both suck." Ouch!
Orton played to the crowd on the ropes. Cena slipped from behind and nailed him with the Electric Chair. Cena nailed his usual series of offensive maneuvers and was booed out of the building for it. He went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but was kicked in the face and nailed with a snap powerslam for a two count.
Cena nailed a back suplex into a neckbreaker for a two count. Cena went to the top rope but Orton cut him off. Orton went for a superplex. He was knocked off. Cena hit the Sicilian Slice off the ropes for a two count. I bet Little Guido wishes he got royalties for that!
Cena went for the AA but Orton slipped out and nailed his backbreaker variation. He covered Cena for a two count. Orton went for the hanging DDT but Cena escaped and backdropped Orton over the top to the floor. Orton almost landed on the ring steps on the floor, which would have been disastrous. He recovered and caught Cena as he was leaving the ring with the hanging DDT on the floor.
Orton rolled him back in the ring and covered Cena for a two count. Orton went to grab Cena but was caught in the STF. Orton escaped but was nailed with the Blue Thunder Bomb and nailed with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He went for the AA but Orton grabbed the ropes and Cena tried to pull him off. The referee was nailed and was out.
Cena locked Orton in the STF and Orton tapped but there was no referee. A doctor checked on the referee as Orton drilled Cena with one of the title belts. Orton covered Cena as the referee recovered but Cena kicked out at two.
The crowd began chanting, "This is awful."
Cena caught Orton with the AA and covered him for a two count. Orton nailed the RKO for a two count. The crowd chanted, "We want Divas." Yes, seriously. The announcers said the crowd was trying to distract Orton.
Orton went for the punt but missed. Orton reversed a STF attempt and put on his own. Cena broke free but Orton caught him with an AA for a two count. Cena nailed a RKO for a two count.
They went to the top and Cena pulled Orton on his shoulders for an AA. Orton slipped off and landed on the floor but was kicked in the face. Cena nailed a modified DDT off the top and locked on an STF. Orton almost made it to the ropes but Cena was pulled him back.
The Wyatts appared at ringisde standing on the apron. Cena nailed Bray and when he turned, Orton killed him with the RKO and pinned Cena.
Your winner and still WWE World Heavyweight champion, Randy Orton!
Orton, evaded the Wyatts by exiting through the crowd.
The Wyatts remained at ringside. Bray instructed them to go for Cena. The crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan. The Wyatts beat down Cena. Bray kissed Cena and gave him Sister Abigail. The crowd popped and chanted, "Yes!"
Wow, I think the real winners are the fans in Pittsburgh, who made it really clear who they wanted to see in the WWE main event picture. Whether the company hears them or not, who knows?
The match itself was well, nothing to write home about. I saw them have a far superior match last month in Madison Square Garden. It was impossible for them to build any momentum with that crowd.
Renee Young interviewed the New Age Outlaws about their title win earlier. Road Dogg said that The Rhodes found out what everyone else knows, that they do tag teams better then anyone else. He said they have a party to go to and she isn't invited. He told Billy to give her the two words. He said, "New Champs!"
They did an old school style video with different talks talking about why they wanted to win the Royal Rumble. I really liked that they did this. It was a great part of the older Rumble shows.
The panel did their Rumble predictions. Duggan said he believed there would be a dark horse winner and picked Dolph Ziggler. Michaels said Punk or The Shield. Flair said Batista.
THE ROYAL RUMBLE
Punk was number one. Seth Rollins was number two. Punk went right after him and drove him into the corner. Rollins reversed that and tried to force Punk over the top. Punk raked his face and nailed a series of rights. Rollins cut him off but Punk kicked him. Rollins came back with a leg lariat and then a flying splash in the corner. Punk moved and Rollins hit the corner. Punk nailed the running knee into the corner and then a clothesline. Rollins came back with an enziguiri but was kicked down.
Number three was Damien Sandow. He went right after Punk and tried to force him over the top. Punk fought him off but Rollins attacked. The crowd chanted for Punk. He nailed a combination DDT and neckbreaker. Punk tried to toss Rollins over the top but couldn't get him over. Punk drilled him in the corner but was attacked from behind by Sandow.
Number four was Cody Rhodes. He charged the ring and exchanged punches with old foe Sandow. He nailed Crossrhodes on Sandow and struggled to pull him up to toss him out. Rollins attacked him from behind. Sandow tried to attack Punk but was backdropped over the top to the floor.
Sandow has been eliminated.
Punk worked over Rollins and Rhodes.
Number five was Kane as a surprise. He came out in his street clothes. What happened to him not being allowed to put his hands on WWE talents? He went right after Punk, whipping him into the corner and nailing a sideslam. He called for a chokeslam and went for it. Punk nailed a kick to the face and sent Kane over the to the floor.
Kane has been eliminated.
Number six is the debuting Alexander Rusev from NXT. No Lana with him. Rusev wiped out Rollins with a spinkick. He tossed Rollins over the top but he held on and pulled himself in. He then tossed Rhodes who did the same. Rusev caught Punk going for a kick and nailed him with a Fall Away Slam.
Number seven is Jack Swagger. He got some offense in and went face to face with Rusev. The crowd chanted "USA" and "We the People." Rusev got the better of him. Rollins nailed Rusev from behind in the legs. They all battled.
Number eight was Kofi Kingston, who clotheslined Punk and tried to toss him out. Rusev battled with Rollins. Rhodes nailed the Disaster Kick on Swagger. Punk escaped and Kingston went after Rusev, who he's been battling in NXT. Rusev drilled him with headbutts. Swagger almost tossed Rollins over the top but he escaped and tried to toss Swagger.
Number nine was Jimmy Uso. Everyone battled. Punk tried to put a sleeper on Rusev while riding his back.
Number ten was Goldust who battled with Uso as everyone else worked on Rusev and finally forced him over the top to the floor.
Rusev has been eliminated.
Kingston was tossed over the top and knocked off the apron. Rusev caught him and beat him atop the guard rail, leaving him there for dead, but not eliminated. Kingston recovered and timed himself then leapt from the guard rail to the apron. That was damn impressive.
Number eleven was Dean Ambrose. He went right after Kingston. Goldust worked over Swagger. The battle continued.
Number twelve was the returning-from-concussion Dolph Ziggler. He nailed a flashy move on Ambrose. Everyone battled in the ring.
Number thirteen was R-Truth. He and Ambrose battled in the center of the ring. Rollins joined in and they put the boots to him and tossed him over the top. He held on and nailed Rollins but Ambrose knocked him off the apron into the ringside table. Ambrose them shoved Uso off the top to the floor.
R-Truth and Jimmy Uso have been eliminated.
Swagger tossed Kingston over the top but he held on. Swagger used his boot to try and force Kingston out. Kingston pulled his boot off, pulled himself up and nailed Swagger with his own boot.
Number 14 was Kevin Nash, coming out to the NWO theme song. I guess that pilot was for the WWE Network. He tossed Swagger out immediately.
Jack Swagger was been eliminated.
Nash went after Ambrose and tried to force him over. Punk battled with Rollins.
Number 15 was Roman Reigns. He dropkicked Punk as he leapt on the apron. He speared Cody and went right after Nash, naling him. Kingston leapt at him but was caught and dumped over the top to the floor. Ziggler nailed a nasty looking DDT but Reigns came back to spear Ziggler and tossed him out. The crowd booed Ziggler being tossed.
Nash went after Reigns but he ducked and pulled the ropes down. Nash went out.
Ziggler, Nash and Kingston were all eliminated.
Number 16 was Great Khali. Reigns drilled him with the Superman Punch and out he went.
Khali is eliminated.
Cody and Goldust were tossed.
The Shield was left with Punk and beat him down.
Number 17 was the returning Sheamus, who cleaned house on all three members of The Shield. Sheamus beat Ambrose across the chest as he was trapped in the ropes. Rollins charged him but was caught with The Irish Curse. Reigns charged but was drilled with a big boot. Punk was out in the corner during all of this.
Number 18 was The Miz. Miz went right after Ambrose and tossed him over but Ambrose held on. The Shield warmed Miz and Sheamus. Punk was still out in the corner.
Number 19 was Fandango. Everyone was doing the song. He worked over Miz. Rollins and Reigns worked over Sheamus and Punk. The crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan.
Instead, number 20 came out and it was...El Torito. He nailed a springboard rana on Rollins. He called out Punk and charged but Punk grabbed his head by his his hand. Torito turned it into a headscissors takeover. Fandango wiped out Torito and pressed him over his head. Torito used a takeover to send Fandango over the top to the apron. Torito dropkicked him to the floor. Reigns grabbed Torito and tossed him out to the floor on top of Fandango.
Torito and Fandango have been eliminated.
Number 21 was Antonio Cesaro. He grabbed Miz and did the Big Swing and Punk dropkicked him as he swung Miz towards him. Cesaro went to nail Punk with it but was attacked by The Shield. He fought them off and gave Rollins a swing 22 times.
Number 22 was Luke Harper. Cesaro was speared by Reigns. Punk and Harper slugged it out. Ambrose tried to use a headscissor takedown on Sheamus who went over but held on. Harper clotheslined Punk hard. Sheamus and Harper exchanged blows. Everyone battled.
Number 23 was Jey Uso. Everyone battled. Cesaro and Harper exchanged blows. Harper nailed a big boot on the Swiss star.
Number 24 was JBL. He left the announcer position. Cole said the "JBL character" has never competed in the Rumble match. JBL entered the ring in his suit. He asked Cole to take his jacket. Reigns grabbed him and dumped him. Well, that was a waste.
JBL has been eliminated.
They couldn't have put Curt Hawkins or Zack Ryder in there for that?
The crowd chanted, "You still got it."
Number 25 was Eric Rowan. He tossed Miz over but he held on. Harper nailed a lariat to Miz on the apron and that was it for the former WWE champ.
Miz has been eliminated.
The Wyatts tossed Jey Uso.
Jey Uso has been eliminated.
Number 26 was Ryback. He went right after Sheamus. Lots of Goldberg chants. He almost dumped Sheamus over. Rollins almost went over but held on. Cesaro and Sheamus battled in the center of the ring. They had some nice, stiff exchanges. Punk battled with Rollins. Reigns battled with Harper. Rowan with Ambrose. Ryback stalked the ring.
Number 27 was Alberto Del Rio. He went right after Ryback. Cesaro and Ambrose battled in the center as everyone else battled in the corners. Harper tossed Ambrose over but he slid under the ropes. Cesaro slammed Rollins.
Number 28 was Batista. He killed everyone with clotheslines. Lots of boos when the music stopped. He forced Rowan over the top.
Eric Rowan has been eliminated.
Batista and Ryback began slugging it out. Ryback slammed him hard into the buckles. He called for the Meathook but Batista backdropped him over the top to the floor.
Ryback has been eliminated.
Del Rio drilled Batista with a enziguiri, knocking him to the mat. He went for the armbar but Batista powered up and tossed him over to the floor.
ADR has been eliminated
Number 29 was Big E Langston. He cleaned house and worked over Sheamus. He tossed him over. The fans chanted for Daniel Bryan. Sheamus held on and slipped under the ropes. Everyone battled in the ring. The crowd chanted "Yes!"
Number 30 was Rey Mysterio. The crowd booed the hell out this when the music stopped. Rey used a head scissors to take Rollins out but he held on. The crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan.
Rey and Punk battled and both went over the top. They were close to touching the floor. The crowd kept booing. Langston and Sheamus battled in the center. Langton was clotheslined over the top but held on. Sheamus clotheslined him off the apron.
Langston has been eliminated.
Mysterio nailed the 619 on Rollins. Rollins came back with a backdrop over the top to the apron, then dropkicked Rey to the floor. The crowd is still chanted for Daniel Bryan. The Shield battled with Harper but Reigns used the Superman punch to eliminate him.
Harper has been eliminated.
Ambrose tried to shove Reigns over the top. Rollins tries to stop him.
Cesaro, Ambrose and Rollins all battled near the ropes. Reigns shoved them all over to the floor.
We are down to the final four - Punk, Reigns, Batista and Sheamus. They all nailed their big moves.
Punk was about to nail a GTS on Batista but Kane grabbed him from outside and dragged him over the top to the floor. He tossed Punk into the guard rail then chokeslammed Kane through a table. Kane left through the crowd.
Punk has been eliminated.
The crowd is still chanting for Daniel Bryan.
It's down to Batista, Reigns and Sheamus and the crowd is booing them.
Sheamus clotheslined Reigns. Sheamus and Batista battled back and forth. Batista nailed a running clothesline in the corner. He then slammed Reigns. The crowd chanted, "NO!"
Sheamus nailed the rolling Samoan Drop and pointed at the Wrestlemania sign. He called for the Brogue Kick Everytime he beat his chest the crowd yelled "No." Batista ducked the kick. He went for a Batista Bomb but Sheamus escaped. Batista sent him over the top and Reigns drilled him off the apron.
Sheamus has been eliminated.
Batista dumped Reigns who pulled himself under the ropes. They faced off and the crowd booed them both. They faced off. Batista kicked him in the gut and sent him into the corner. Reigns came out with a big clothesline. He set up for the Superman Punch. The crowd, perhaps deciding on the lesser of two evils, chanted his name. He went for it but Batista nailed an awful looking spear. The place booed. Reigns came back with a good spear of his own.
He went to toss Batista but Batista caught him and tossed Reigns over instead.
Your winner, headlining Wrestlemania 30, Batista!
The crowd could be heard booing the win, even over Batista's music. There were also some "No" chants afterward.
They closed the show with Batista pointing at the Mania sign and lots of pyro going off.
Elite members, stay tuned for the Post-Game Show. I don't think you are going to want to miss this one!
2015 - WWE broadcast Raw live from WWE HQ in a blizzard after a taping in Hartford, CT was canceled after the State declared a State of Emergency. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Last night, the Royal Rumble, and its aftermath stampeded through the internet like a storm. Tonight, a real storm has forced the show to be delayed until Thursday night when we will have a live episode of Smackdown from Hartford.
We are in Stamford, Connecticut and your hosts are Michael Cole and Booker T. Michael says John Layfield will be joining them later.
They talk about the weather and they show the storm going on outside the studios. Michael mentions the travel ban in Connecticut.
Michael mentions the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title. We will see that match tonight.
Brock Lesnar will be interviewed tonight.
We will also see the Royal Rumble match in its entirety.
Michael Cole says that John Layfield is going to be their Al Roker. John is on the roof and he is going to give us the weather report. John says it is 85 degrees and he tells everyone they will need their sunscreen . . . if you are in Tahiti. John says he is the only one outside. He is with a sherpa and they found a wooly mammoth outside.
John says this version of the Weather Channel is off the air.
Here is the report of the Triple Threat Match from the Royal Rumble Report.
Match Number Four: WWE World Championship Match: Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) versus John Cena versus Seth Rollins (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Cena goes after Lesnar while Rollins goes to the floor and Cena falls victim to his first German suplex. Lesnar with German number two. Mercury and Noble save Rollins but Lesnar picks up Noble and Mercury by an arm and hits a German suplex. Cena tries for an Attitude Adjustment on Lesnar but he escapes. Rollins with an enzuigiri to Cena. Lesnar brings Rollins into the ring and Lesnar gives Rollins German suplex number one. Lesnar with German suplex number three to Cena.
Lesnar with another suplex to Cena. Lesnar with German suplex number two to Rollins and he lands on his shoulder. Lesnar picks up Cena and hits a suplex. Lesnar with another suplex to Rollins. Lesnar locks in the Kimura on Cena but Cena gets to his knees and he picks up Lesnar and Rollins with a springboard knee to Lesnar and everyone is down.
Rollins kicks Lesnar in the hamstring. Rollins with more kicks to Lesnar followed by punches. Lesnar with a knee to the midsection and Cena with punches to Lesnar. Cena and Rollins with a double suplex on Lesnar. Cena gets Lesnar up for an Attitude Adjustment and Rollins sends Cena to the floor but Lesnar kicks out. Cena punches Lesnar and Lesnar with a knee to Cena and he throws Rollins to the floor.
Lesnar with a suplex and Cena falls to the floor. Rollins with a running kick to the arm and Lesnar goes into the ring steps and ring post. Cena with a drop kick to Lesnar against the ring steps. Cena chases Rollins into the ring and Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and sets for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Rollins tries to kick him. Cena with another Blue Thunder Bomb to Rollins but Lesnar with Germans four and five to Cena. Rollins with a kick to Lesnar’s head.
Rollins with another kick to Lesnar’s shoulder and he turns into a Michinoku Driver from Cena for a near fall. Rollins with an elbow and he goes up top for a blockbuster but Lesnar breaks up the cover on Cena. Lesnar sends Rollins to the floor another time. Cena with punches and he clotheslines Brock but Brock does not move. He goes for a second one with no effect. Cena succeeds on attempt number three. Rollins pulls Cena to the floor. Rollins goes for a springboard move but Rollins is caught by Lesnar who hits an F-5 and Cena has to make the save to break up the cover.
Lesnar with German suplex number six to Cena. Lesnar decides that the announce tables are missing out on some action, and he throws the monitor into the steps. Cena hits a series of three Attitude Adjustments but Rollins makes the save. Rollins sends Cena into the ring steps. Rollins with Black Out but Cena makes the save.
Lesnar rolls to the floor. Lesnar is speared through the border to Yeatonville by Cena. Cena gets to the apron and he sees that Lesnar is still moving so Cena sends Lesnar into the ring steps and the ring steps ended up somewhere near the site of JFK Stadium after the impact. Lesnar gets to his feet and Cena picks up the top half of the ring steps and he hits Lesnar with them.
Rollins with a baseball slide to Cena and Lesnar lays on top of the announce table. Rollins goes up top and he hits an elbow drop and the table will need some immediate attention. Cena is the first one to move and he grabs Rollins and tries to bring him back into the ring. Cena rolls Rollins into the ring and Rollins with an inside cradle for a near fall. Rollins with a super kick and he gets a near fall. Rollins goes for a splash into the corner. Cena gets Rollins on his shoulders but Rollins lands on his feet on the Attitude Adjustment attempt. Cena with a pop up sit out power bomb for a near fall.
Cena picks up Rollins and they go to the turnbuckles while medical staff checks on Lesnar. We see the Wrestlemania sign in the distance and Rollins goes for a sunset flip into a buckle bomb for a near fall. The referee goes to check on Lesnar (and maybe try to figure out what happened to Mercury and Noble).
Rollins gets up first and Cena moves when Rollins tries for Black Out and Cena tries to lock in the STF but Mercury and Noble have risen from the dead to make the save and they attack Cena. We see a stretcher in the background to help Lesnar. Mercury and Noble pick up Cena for a mini Cerberus Bomb but Cena kicks out.
Rollins has the Money in the Bank briefcase in his hands and he is back body dropped over the top rope to the floor. Cena sends Noble into Mercury and he gets both men on his shoulders for a Super Attitude Adjustment. Rollins misses with the case again and Cena with an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall.
Rollins tries to crawl over to Cena while we are told that Lesnar has at least a broken rib. Rollins with a punch and Cena punches back. They go back and forth and Cena gets Rollins on his shoulders but Rollins with a kick. Cena gets Rollins up again but Rollins with an enzuigiri and Black Out for a near fall. Rollins pulls Cena into the corner and Rollins goes up top for the Phoenix Splash and he hits it but Lesnar picks up Rollins and hits a German suplex. Lensar with a German suplex to Rollins.
Rollins lands on his feet on a German suplex and Rollins hits Lesnar twice with the briefcase. Lesnar with an F-5 to Rollins for the three count.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Who is the man who will face Brock Lesnar for the title at Wrestlemania? We will find out when they show the Royal Rumble match in its entirety.
We will hear from Roman Reigns later tonight as he talks about the reaction to his win on Sunday night.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are told that Daniel Bryan will face Kane on Smackdown in a Casket Match.
Michael is joined by Seth Rollins.
Seth is asked if he deserved the opportunity he had last night. Seth says his performance last night at the Royal Rumble will speak for itself. Not only did he deserve to be in that match. He did everything to win the match and become the new WWE Champion.
We take a look at footage of a curb stomp to Lesnar and he is asked if he thought that would be enough to win the match. He says it has put down everybody before Brock and two should have gotten the job done.
Then we see Rollins with the elbow drop off the turnbuckles onto Lesnar on the Spanish Announce Table. Did he think it was over then? Seth says not only do you have to worry about the champion, but the other challenger. Seth says that he was doing whatever it took to get Brock out of the match. Seth says he is comfortable on top and he hit that elbow.
We see a photo of the Phoenix Splash and he is asked how shocked it was he didn’t win. Seth says he knew he was going to win. He hit the curb stomp and then when he went up for the Phoenix Splash, he knew it was over and he was the new WWE Champion.
Michael asks Seth what would happen if he met Brock one on one. Seth says he may have underestimated Brock Lesnar last night, but he says that he thinks Brock underestimated him as well. Brock may be the WWE Champion, but what he doesn’t have is something that he has. That is the Money in the Bank contract. . . Plan B.
Michael mentions that Brock will be on next and he thanks Seth for his time.
Seth says he is not going anywhere. If Brock wants to take his seat on the set, he will have to kick him off it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Seth Rollins is still with Michael Cole and Brock Lesnar enters the room and he suggests that Seth is in his chair.
Seth gets up and then he knocks the chair away before leaving the room.
Brock is joined by Paul Heyman and Brock says it looks like someone is upset that someone got their ass kicked last night, but he is fine.
Michael asks Brock about his health. Brock says that he has suffered from a lot of injuries during his career. When it comes time to win, he gets through it.
Michael asks Paul if Seth’s actions are due to them being at odds with the Authority.
Paul says that this is a mutually exploitative situation. If the Authority needs a box office draw, the answer is Brock Lesnar. If the Authority has an issue with anyone, the answer is Brock Lesnar. If they are willing to pay Brock’s price, he is available. It is a business.
Michael mentions the roll that Brock has been on since 2012 with matches against John Cena and Triple H. However, Brock will be best remembered for ending the Undertaker’s streak at last year’s Wrestlemania.
We have a video package.
Michael says Undertaker has made his career out of psychological warfare. How did you overcome the Phenom. Brock says he did it the same way he did when he had the odds against him. He respects nobody at any time. He is the beast. Plain and simple.
Paul asks why was anyone surprised last night. John Cena is the face of a generation. Seth Rollins is the future of the WWE. Brock is a once in a lifetime athlete. No one has accomplished what Brock has done. He does not throw away BROCK’s name because he is once in a lifetime. He brings into the ring in every match he is in. That is why his matches are can’t miss and must see. There are only a few times when you will see this man compete.
Michael asks Brock about his match against Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
Brock says he is happy for Roman. Good for him. He says he hopes Roman is up for the challenge because he is. Brock says he is on a roll, baby. He is a steamroller and you get out of the way of a steamroller.
Paul asks Michael if he has anything else.
Michael asks if Roman can stop Brock. Paul says no.
Paul asks Michael when he is going to talk to Roman. Michael says later tonight and Brock says he might stop by to say hello to him.
Last night, the Royal Rumble, and its aftermath stampeded through the internet like a storm. Tonight, a real storm has forced the show to be delayed until Thursday night when we will have a live episode of Smackdown from Hartford.
We are in Stamford, Connecticut and your hosts are Michael Cole and Booker T. Michael says John Layfield will be joining them later.
They talk about the weather and they show the storm going on outside the studios. Michael mentions the travel ban in Connecticut.
Michael mentions the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title. We will see that match tonight.
Brock Lesnar will be interviewed tonight.
We will also see the Royal Rumble match in its entirety.
Michael Cole says that John Layfield is going to be their Al Roker. John is on the roof and he is going to give us the weather report. John says it is 85 degrees and he tells everyone they will need their sunscreen . . . if you are in Tahiti. John says he is the only one outside. He is with a sherpa and they found a wooly mammoth outside.
John says this version of the Weather Channel is off the air.
Here is the report of the Triple Threat Match from the Royal Rumble Report.
Match Number Four: WWE World Championship Match: Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) versus John Cena versus Seth Rollins (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Cena goes after Lesnar while Rollins goes to the floor and Cena falls victim to his first German suplex. Lesnar with German number two. Mercury and Noble save Rollins but Lesnar picks up Noble and Mercury by an arm and hits a German suplex. Cena tries for an Attitude Adjustment on Lesnar but he escapes. Rollins with an enzuigiri to Cena. Lesnar brings Rollins into the ring and Lesnar gives Rollins German suplex number one. Lesnar with German suplex number three to Cena.
Lesnar with another suplex to Cena. Lesnar with German suplex number two to Rollins and he lands on his shoulder. Lesnar picks up Cena and hits a suplex. Lesnar with another suplex to Rollins. Lesnar locks in the Kimura on Cena but Cena gets to his knees and he picks up Lesnar and Rollins with a springboard knee to Lesnar and everyone is down.
Rollins kicks Lesnar in the hamstring. Rollins with more kicks to Lesnar followed by punches. Lesnar with a knee to the midsection and Cena with punches to Lesnar. Cena and Rollins with a double suplex on Lesnar. Cena gets Lesnar up for an Attitude Adjustment and Rollins sends Cena to the floor but Lesnar kicks out. Cena punches Lesnar and Lesnar with a knee to Cena and he throws Rollins to the floor.
Lesnar with a suplex and Cena falls to the floor. Rollins with a running kick to the arm and Lesnar goes into the ring steps and ring post. Cena with a drop kick to Lesnar against the ring steps. Cena chases Rollins into the ring and Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and sets for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Rollins tries to kick him. Cena with another Blue Thunder Bomb to Rollins but Lesnar with Germans four and five to Cena. Rollins with a kick to Lesnar’s head.
Rollins with another kick to Lesnar’s shoulder and he turns into a Michinoku Driver from Cena for a near fall. Rollins with an elbow and he goes up top for a blockbuster but Lesnar breaks up the cover on Cena. Lesnar sends Rollins to the floor another time. Cena with punches and he clotheslines Brock but Brock does not move. He goes for a second one with no effect. Cena succeeds on attempt number three. Rollins pulls Cena to the floor. Rollins goes for a springboard move but Rollins is caught by Lesnar who hits an F-5 and Cena has to make the save to break up the cover.
Lesnar with German suplex number six to Cena. Lesnar decides that the announce tables are missing out on some action, and he throws the monitor into the steps. Cena hits a series of three Attitude Adjustments but Rollins makes the save. Rollins sends Cena into the ring steps. Rollins with Black Out but Cena makes the save.
Lesnar rolls to the floor. Lesnar is speared through the border to Yeatonville by Cena. Cena gets to the apron and he sees that Lesnar is still moving so Cena sends Lesnar into the ring steps and the ring steps ended up somewhere near the site of JFK Stadium after the impact. Lesnar gets to his feet and Cena picks up the top half of the ring steps and he hits Lesnar with them.
Rollins with a baseball slide to Cena and Lesnar lays on top of the announce table. Rollins goes up top and he hits an elbow drop and the table will need some immediate attention. Cena is the first one to move and he grabs Rollins and tries to bring him back into the ring. Cena rolls Rollins into the ring and Rollins with an inside cradle for a near fall. Rollins with a super kick and he gets a near fall. Rollins goes for a splash into the corner. Cena gets Rollins on his shoulders but Rollins lands on his feet on the Attitude Adjustment attempt. Cena with a pop up sit out power bomb for a near fall.
Cena picks up Rollins and they go to the turnbuckles while medical staff checks on Lesnar. We see the Wrestlemania sign in the distance and Rollins goes for a sunset flip into a buckle bomb for a near fall. The referee goes to check on Lesnar (and maybe try to figure out what happened to Mercury and Noble).
Rollins gets up first and Cena moves when Rollins tries for Black Out and Cena tries to lock in the STF but Mercury and Noble have risen from the dead to make the save and they attack Cena. We see a stretcher in the background to help Lesnar. Mercury and Noble pick up Cena for a mini Cerberus Bomb but Cena kicks out.
Rollins has the Money in the Bank briefcase in his hands and he is back body dropped over the top rope to the floor. Cena sends Noble into Mercury and he gets both men on his shoulders for a Super Attitude Adjustment. Rollins misses with the case again and Cena with an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall.
Rollins tries to crawl over to Cena while we are told that Lesnar has at least a broken rib. Rollins with a punch and Cena punches back. They go back and forth and Cena gets Rollins on his shoulders but Rollins with a kick. Cena gets Rollins up again but Rollins with an enzuigiri and Black Out for a near fall. Rollins pulls Cena into the corner and Rollins goes up top for the Phoenix Splash and he hits it but Lesnar picks up Rollins and hits a German suplex. Lensar with a German suplex to Rollins.
Rollins lands on his feet on a German suplex and Rollins hits Lesnar twice with the briefcase. Lesnar with an F-5 to Rollins for the three count.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Who is the man who will face Brock Lesnar for the title at Wrestlemania? We will find out when they show the Royal Rumble match in its entirety.
We will hear from Roman Reigns later tonight as he talks about the reaction to his win on Sunday night.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are told that Daniel Bryan will face Kane on Smackdown in a Casket Match.
Michael is joined by Seth Rollins.
Seth is asked if he deserved the opportunity he had last night. Seth says his performance last night at the Royal Rumble will speak for itself. Not only did he deserve to be in that match. He did everything to win the match and become the new WWE Champion.
We take a look at footage of a curb stomp to Lesnar and he is asked if he thought that would be enough to win the match. He says it has put down everybody before Brock and two should have gotten the job done.
Then we see Rollins with the elbow drop off the turnbuckles onto Lesnar on the Spanish Announce Table. Did he think it was over then? Seth says not only do you have to worry about the champion, but the other challenger. Seth says that he was doing whatever it took to get Brock out of the match. Seth says he is comfortable on top and he hit that elbow.
We see a photo of the Phoenix Splash and he is asked how shocked it was he didn’t win. Seth says he knew he was going to win. He hit the curb stomp and then when he went up for the Phoenix Splash, he knew it was over and he was the new WWE Champion.
Michael asks Seth what would happen if he met Brock one on one. Seth says he may have underestimated Brock Lesnar last night, but he says that he thinks Brock underestimated him as well. Brock may be the WWE Champion, but what he doesn’t have is something that he has. That is the Money in the Bank contract. . . Plan B.
Michael mentions that Brock will be on next and he thanks Seth for his time.
Seth says he is not going anywhere. If Brock wants to take his seat on the set, he will have to kick him off it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Seth Rollins is still with Michael Cole and Brock Lesnar enters the room and he suggests that Seth is in his chair.
Seth gets up and then he knocks the chair away before leaving the room.
Brock is joined by Paul Heyman and Brock says it looks like someone is upset that someone got their ass kicked last night, but he is fine.
Michael asks Brock about his health. Brock says that he has suffered from a lot of injuries during his career. When it comes time to win, he gets through it.
Michael asks Paul if Seth’s actions are due to them being at odds with the Authority.
Paul says that this is a mutually exploitative situation. If the Authority needs a box office draw, the answer is Brock Lesnar. If the Authority has an issue with anyone, the answer is Brock Lesnar. If they are willing to pay Brock’s price, he is available. It is a business.
Michael mentions the roll that Brock has been on since 2012 with matches against John Cena and Triple H. However, Brock will be best remembered for ending the Undertaker’s streak at last year’s Wrestlemania.
We have a video package.
Michael says Undertaker has made his career out of psychological warfare. How did you overcome the Phenom. Brock says he did it the same way he did when he had the odds against him. He respects nobody at any time. He is the beast. Plain and simple.
Paul asks why was anyone surprised last night. John Cena is the face of a generation. Seth Rollins is the future of the WWE. Brock is a once in a lifetime athlete. No one has accomplished what Brock has done. He does not throw away BROCK’s name because he is once in a lifetime. He brings into the ring in every match he is in. That is why his matches are can’t miss and must see. There are only a few times when you will see this man compete.
Michael asks Brock about his match against Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
Brock says he is happy for Roman. Good for him. He says he hopes Roman is up for the challenge because he is. Brock says he is on a roll, baby. He is a steamroller and you get out of the way of a steamroller.
Paul asks Michael if he has anything else.
Michael asks if Roman can stop Brock. Paul says no.
Paul asks Michael when he is going to talk to Roman. Michael says later tonight and Brock says he might stop by to say hello to him.
We are back and John points out he could have done the weather in front of a green screen and his feet wouldn’t be frozen.
Michael asks John about the Royal Rumble. He says that Roman Reigns has come of age and he is the man since he won.
Byron Saxton is with Roman Reigns. Byron congratulates Roman and Roman says last night was really incredible. He is asked about the people who say he is not ready to face Brock Lesnar. Roman says everyone is entitled to their opinion. He might not be the best in the locker room, but he has been taught to react. His father, Sika, threw him into the deep end when he was learning to swim. Roman says he fought and clawed to get back to the surface. He learned to swim. He is fine with being thrown in the deep end to swim with the sharks.
Byron asks Roman about the Philadelphia crowd. Did he think he was treated unfairly? Roman says he was hoping for a warmer response, but is life fair? No, life is not fair. Those fans paid their money to go to the show and watch. When you go into the arena, you can boo or cheer whoever you want. As long as he can do his thing, he is happy. Roman says he is not thinking about fair.
Roman is asked about the critics who suggest he is hand picked by the higher ups. Roman says if that is the case, he would have to say thanks for the opportunity. You still have to deliver. He has to lace his boots, go down the stairs, and go into the ring by himself. When you are given the opportunity, you have to take advantage of the situation.
Byron mentions Roman eliminating Kane and Big Show, only to have them attack him, prior to the Rock helping him. When you are getting beaten up by mammoths, who better to have you with your family. He mentions his father, uncle, and family members. That is the blood that pumps through his veins. He was born in this business. He was fed by the WWE. The greatest favor he can do is return the favor. He is looking forward to performing at Wrestlemania in front of his father. He is looking forward to meeting Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania and meeting him tonight.
We go to commercial and when we come back, we will find out who John Cena will face at Fast Lane.
We are back and Michael mentions that Miz is on the season premiere of Sirens tomorrow night.
We go to footage from the Fallout Show when John Cena was interviewed and interrupted by Rusev.
At Fastlane, Rusev will face John Cena.
Booker says this will be John Cena’s toughest challenge to date. John says it will also be Rusev’s toughest challenge.
We see footage from the end of Raw, only to have the Vigilante Sting vigilantily appear to distract Seth Rollins and get Rollins pinned by John Cena.
At Fastlane, Sting has been challenged by Triple H to confront him.
We are back and we are told that the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame is in the Celebrity Wing and it is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Dean Ambrose makes his way into Titan Towers as we go to commercial.
We are back and Dean is asked by Byron Saxton how he got to Stamford from Hartford. Dean says he wanted to clear his head and walk. Dean is reminded he is not dressed for a blizzard. Dean says he caught a ride from Philadelphia and he is told that Raw is coming from Stamford. He got in the back of a pick up truck and he hopped off on I-95. He got into an altercation at a gas station and he made it to headquarters.
He did it to send a message. This is like the Road to Wrestlemania with obstacles and dangerous conditions. Dean says he loves dangerous conditions. Dean says he will make it to Wrestlemania.
Renee Young is with Daniel Bryan and he is described as one of the most news worthy participants from the Royal Rumble. Renee brings up the Yes Movement and Daniel’s WWE Title win at Wrestlemania. Daniel says he has dreamed about being a wrestler his whole life and he dreamed of winning Wrestlemania. Daniel says power isn’t with who thinks they have it. The people have the power. The Authority didn’t want to give him the chance, but the people did. When he got that opportunity, he won and it was not just a win for him, but for the people.
Renee brings up Daniel’s injuries from last year and being stripped of the title. Daniel says it was devastating. To have that dream and get there, only to have it taken from him, it is brutal. He says he let down the fans. You cannot feel sorry for yourself. Since he had the title stripped, he knew he had to win the title one more time.
Renee brings up the reaction to Daniel’s elimination. Daniel says they were disappointed Reigns won. Daniel was disappointed Reigns won because it wasn’t him who won the match. If he could get into the Rumble, he can main event Wrestlemania. It would have been the ultimate David and Goliath. Daniel says he failed. It is on him. Roman saw an opportunity and he took it. Daniel did not take the opportunity. He did not have the Rock to help him or did not have the WWE feed him growing up. He says that Roman can put on a great match against Lesnar at Wrestlemania.
Renee brings up Daniel’s match against Kane in a Casket Match. Daniel says the match favors Kane because he has won those matches before. Daniel says he will not be denied. Daniel says he might have a smile on his face, but he is pissed off. He needs to end this with Kane so he can move on.
We are back with more shots of the weather in Stamford.
Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns are together in the same room. Michael thanks them for joining them.
Paul shakes Roman’s hand and congratulates him for winning and he would like to ask the questions to Roman tonight.
Roman says he’s got nothing to hide and Paul says that might be your first mistake.
Paul says he asked Brock about this before, Paul says he has known Roman’s family longer than Roman has known his own family. He took photos of his father and Afa when they were Tag Team Champions. He took Yokozuna’s first promotional photos. He managed Fatu before he was known as Rikishi bring his children Jimmy and Jey to the ring and give each other frog splashes. Everything about your family is like a bird to air or fish to water. He has known Roman when he lived in Pensacola.
Paul says he is proud of Roman’s accomplishments last night. He also knows Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, but Dwayne knows Brock Lesnar.
In 2002, the Rock ruled the roost. Rock was the Undisputed WWE Champion, laying the smack down across the globe. The fantasy was that it would last forever. That lasted until the fantasy ran into the reality. It ran into the Next Big Thing in Brock Lesnar. When Brock got his hands on the Rock, he took the championship from the Rock. You remember their rematch on pay per view . . . you can’t because The Rock never asked for a rematch. One match with Brock Lesnar was all the Rock could handle.
Why doesn’t the Rock tell you what you are up against at Wrestlemania. Your blood doesn’t tell you, not just who you are fighting, but what you are fighting. You are the one . . . to beat the one . . . in twenty-one and one.
Paul’s question is Roman . . . with all due respect, how are you going to handle disappointing your family when you lose to Brock Lesnar because you cannot beat Brock Lesnar. Not today and certainly not at Wrestlemania. How will you handle losing at Wrestlemania.
Roman says with all due respect, he will answer that to Brock Lesnar. Reigns turns to Brock and he looks deep into his eyes and he says he knows who and what he is. Roman says he knows what he signed up for. He does not think Roman knows. He will beat Brock at Wrestlemania and take that title. He knows it and Brock knows it. If he can’t, he will take a piece of Brock with him. He believes that and so should you.
Brock gets up and we have a face to face situation. They shake hands and Brock says unlike him, he doesn’t respect you.
Roman tells Brock he will.
John says Roman got his first chance to look in the eyes of the beast and he did not blink.
Michael wonders who can stop the beast. John says he might hold the title until he retires. Booker wonders who can beat Brock Lesnar.
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