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January 30th
On this day in history in ....
1904 - George Hackenschmidt defeats Ahmed Madrali in London, England to become the recognized undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, outside of North America. Hackenschmidt, who had been claiming the title for four years by then, had already won World Championship tournaments in Austria, France, Germany and Russia in 1901. He would gain worldwide championship recognition on May 4, 1905, when he defeated American Heavyweight Champion Tom Jenkins in New York City, New York.
1948 - Yukon Eric defeats Sonny Myers for the Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1951 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Primo Carnera and Sandor Szabo to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title, beginning their third reign.
1959 - Maurice and Paul Vachon defeat George and Sandy Scott to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta.
1963 - Édouard Carpentier defeats Killer Kowalski in Montreal, Quebec to win Montreal's World Heavyweight Title. This began Carpentier's third reign and ended Kowalski's 12th.
1964 - Fred Blassie wins his fourth WWA World Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California, defeating Édouard Carpentier, ending his second reign.
1965 - Larry Hennig and Harley Race defeat The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ending Bruiser and Crusher's second reign.
1967 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Ricky Sexton defeated Tony Nero by disqualification.
- Bobo Brazil and Arman Hussian defeated Luke Graham and Tank Morgan.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna and WWWF United States Tag Team Champion Antonio Pugliese fought to a draw.
- WWWF United States Tag Team Champion Spiros Arion defeated Bill Miller.
- The Ox defeated Smasher Sloan.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Lou Albano (subbing for Louis Cerdan).
- The Sheik defeated Miguel Perez.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bull Ortega.
1967 - Jackie Fargo and Herb Welch defeat Professor Ito (Umanosuke Ueda) and Tojo Yamamoto to win the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1968 - Billy Red Lyons and Fritz Von Erich defeat Spiler #1 (Don Jardine) and Gary Hart for the NWA American Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1968 - Lloyd and Orest Antonation defeat Jake and John Banman for the Madison Wrestling Club All-Star Tag Team Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1968 - Frank Dalton defeats Eddie Sullivan for the NWA Louisiana Heavyweight Title in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1970 - Abdullah the Butcher defeats Dave Ruhl to win the Calgary NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending Ruhl's fifth reign.
1970 - Nick Bockwinkel defeats Joe Scarpa (Chief Jay Strongbow) for the NWA Georgia Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1970 - Danny Hodge wins the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title for the fifth time, defeating Umanosuke Ueda.
1970 - Aiko Kyo and Yoshiko Miyamoto defeat The Masked Killer and Masked Marie in Tokyo, Japan for the American Girls' Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title.
1971 - The Professional (Doug Gilbert) defeats Takachiho (The Great Kabuki) in a tournament final for the vacant NWA Beat the Champ Television Title.
1971 - Ciclón Negro defeats Tarzan Tyler to win the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Miami, Florida.
1972 - Eddie Sullivan and Rip Tyler defeat Mike Boyette and Bob Kelly for the Gulf Coast NWA United States Tag Team Title in Pensacola, Florida, beginning their second reign.
1976 - Dusty Rhodes defeats The Spoiler in Atlanta, Georgia to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title, ending Spoiler's second reign.
1982 - El Modulo defeats Rocky Morton for the Mexican National Featherweight Title in Azteca, Mexico.
1982 - Woody Farmer defeats Mike York to win the California State Heavyweight Title in Bakersfield, California.
1983 - Jacques Rougeau defeats Terry Taylor for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1984 - World Class Championship Wrestling held a Wrestling Star Wars event in Fort Worth, Texas at the Terrant County Convention Center. The results:
- The Junkyard Dog defeated Kamala by disqualification.
- The Super Destroyers (Bill and WCCW Television Champion Scott Irwin) defeated WCCW American Tag Team Champions Brian Adias and Iceman King Parsons to win the title, beginning their second reign.
- The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes) defeated Kerry Von Erich and WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion David Von Erich.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought Mike Von Erich to a draw to retain the title.
- WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion Chris Adams defeated WCCW American Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Garvin to win the Heavyweight title. This ended Garvin's second reign and began Adams' second.
1986 - Dos Caras defeats Canek in Toluca, Mexico to win the UWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Canek's sixth reign and beginning his second.
1987 - Makhan Singh (Mike Shaw) defeats Owen Hart for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, beginning his second reign.
1991 - WCW held Clash of the Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville, Georgia. The show aired live on TBS, earning a 3.9 rating. The results:
- Sting and WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Doom (Butch Reed and Ron Simmons) by disqualification, when Simmons threw Sting over the top rope.
- WCW World Television Champion Tom Zenk pinned Bobby Eaton with a backslide.
- The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) defeated Allen Iron Eagle and Tommy Rich, when Garvin pinned Eagle following a double-team DDT behind the referee's back. The referee was getting Rich out of the ring after he tagged in Eagle without the referee seeing the tag.
- Sid Vicious pinned Joey Maggs after the powerbomb.
- Terry Taylor pinned Ricky Morton, when Morton landed on his head after missing a dropkick and bouncing off the ropes. During the match, Alexandra York came to the ring and a pre-taped promo played announcing Taylor as the latest member of the York Foundation.
- Ranger Ross pinned El Cubano with a sunset flip.
- Arn Anderson and Barry Windham defeated Chris and Mark Youngblood, when Anderson pinned Chris after a lariat and a superplex from Windham.
- Brian Pillman pinned Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker with a crossbody off the top.
- Missy Hyatt defeated Paul E. Dangerously in an arm wrestling match, after Dangerously became distracted by Missy's cleavage. Two-time Billboard Disc Jockey of the Year, Warren "Rhubarb" Jones of WYAY 106.7 FM in Atlanta, Georgia, was the ring announcer for the match.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought WCW United States Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner fought to a draw to retain the title. The winner of the match was to defend against New Japan Pro Wrestling's Tatsumi Fujinami in Tokyo, Japan in March.
1992 - Tarzan Goto defeats Big Titan to win the FMW World Martial Arts Title in Osaka, Japan.
1993 - Terry Gordy and Steve Williams win their fifth AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title, ending the second reign of Toshiaki Kawada and Mitsuharu Misawa in Chiba, Japan.
1994 - The Universal Wrestling Association held its 19th Anniversary Show at El Toreo in Naucalpan, Mexico. The results:
- Pequeño Goliath and Fuercita Guerrera defeated Pequeño Chucky and Micro Konnan.
- Blackman II and Shogun defeated Bad Boy I and Lobo Rubio.
- Adrian el Exotico, Pimpinela Escarlata and Luis Mariscal vs. Nuevo Audaz, Super Pinochio and Super Ratón ended in a draw.
- Super Astro, Halcon Dorado, Jr. and King I defeated Black Power, Shu el Guerrero and UWA World Tag Team Champion Villano IV.
- Karloff Lagarde, Jr. defeated UWA World Welterweight Champion Celestial to win the title, ending Celestial's third reign.
- Villano III, UWA World Light Heavyweight and Tag Team Champion Villano V and Yamato defeated UWA World Heavyweight Champion Canek, UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion Gran Hamada and Transformer.
1997 - Chad Ripley defeats Spice Richards to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1998 - Chip Fairway wins his second IWA Mid-South Television Title in Lexington, Kentucky, defeating Cash Flo, ending his second reign.
1998 - Robert Thompson defeats Michael Modest to win the All Pro Wrestling Universal Heavyweight Title in San Jose, California. This ended and began both men's second reign.
1999 - Robby Royce defeated Hysteria for the NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, ending Hysteria's second reign.
1999 - Brickhouse Brown defeats Don Brodie in Cleveland, Mississippi to win the NWA Southern Television Title.
1999 - Pat McGuire defeats Gator B. Long for the Future of Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Oakland Park, Florida.
1999 - Rik Ratchett defeats Lupus to win the Independent Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Verona, New Jersey, to begin his second reign.
1999 - Iron Cross defeats Steve Flynn in Kingsport, Tennessee for the Southern States Wrestling Appalachian Heavyweight Title. At the same event, Frank Parker and Roger Anderson win their seventh SSW Tag Team Title, ending the fourth reign for Bam Bam and Danny Christian.
2000 - The PRIDE Fighting Championships held Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The event featured the opening round of that year's 16-man Openweight Grand Prix Tournament, PRIDE's first-ever tournament. The winners advanced to PRIDE's next event on May 1, also at the Tokyo Dome, featuring the remainder of the tournament. The results of the show were:
- In an opening non-tournament bout, Wanderlei Silva defeated Bob Schrijber by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:42.
- Gary Goodridge defeated Osamu Tachihikari by submission (forearm choke) at 0:51.
- Akira Shoji defeated Ebenezer Fontes Braga by decision after 15:00.
- Kazuyuki Fujita defeated Hans Nijman by submission (choke) at 2:48.
- Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Guy Mezger by forfeit after 15:00. The forfeiture occurred due to Mezger and his corner refusing to continue into overtime, citing the conditions of his PRIDE contract, which stated that he would only fight 15 minutes with no overtime.
- Mark Coleman defeated Masaaki Satake by submission (neck crank) at 1:14.
- Igor Vovchanchyn defeated Alexander Otsuka by decision after 15:00.
- Mark Kerr defeated Enson Inoue by decision after 15:00.
- Royce Gracie defeated Nobuhiko Takada by decision after 15:00.
2000 - Minoru Tanaka defeats Naoki Sano in Tokyo, Japan for the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Title.
2001 - Tony Jones is awarded the vacant UPW Southern California Heavyweight Title in Santa Ana, California, after he made Frankie Kazarian submit in a six-man tag team match.
2003 - Danny Doring defeats The Bruiser to win the Maryland Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Glen Burnie, Maryland, ending Bruiser's fifth reign.
2004 - The first NWA New South Cruiserweight and Heavyweight Champions are crowned in Greenville, Mississippi, as Krazy D defeats Chris Sanders for the Cruiserweight title, and Doug Gilbert defeats Black Jack Tatum for the Heavyweight title.
2005 - WWE holds the 18th-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. This event made Fresno the first city to host more than one Royal Rumble event. San Antonio, Texas and New York City, New York would join that list in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In the main event, Batista won the Royal Rumble match from the #28 entry position, last eliminating #25 entrant John Cena. Both men had gone out of the ring at the same time, ala 1994 with Bret Hart and Lex Luger, prompting Vince McMahon to come to the ring to start the match, McMahon was injured while getting into the ring, slamming his thighs into the metal frame on the side of the ring, resulting in a double quadricep tear. The ironman of this Rumble match, for the second straight year, was Chris Benoit, who was the second man in, and lasted 47 minutes and 26 seconds, and was one of the final five men in the ring along with Batista, Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Ric Flair, before being eliminated by Flair.
Here is Buck Woodward's original report on the event:
2005 ROYAL RUMBLE REPORT
by Buck Woodward
The Royal Rumble PPV broadcast opened with a video package on the history of the Royal Rumble (different than the one that closed Heat), followed by the "West Side Story" Rumble commercial, with action clips inserted.
Edge vs. Shawn Michaels.
Edge charged Michaels as he entered the ring, but Michaels backdropped him and clotheslined him from the ring. Michaels skinned the cat back into the ring, leaving Edge frustrated on the floor. They locked up in the ring, and Michaels hit some chops in the corner, then rammed Edge headfirst into the opposite turnbuckle. Michaels went for a backdrop, but Edge caught him with a neckbreaker. Edge slugged Michaels to the mat over and over with punches, but Michaels responded with a series of rights. Edge raked the eyes of Michaels, but HBK caught him with a Thesz press and hit a series of rights. Michaels flung Edge over the top rope and to the floor. Michaels missed a baseball slide, and they slugged it out on the floor. Edge drove Michaels into the floor by the back of his head, and went back into the ring. Edge hit a baseball slide, and rammed Michaels face first into the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Edge hit a series of punches, then whipped Michaels hard into a corner. Edge kicked Michaels, and used the ropes to jump up for a kneedrop. Edge elbowed Michaels in the back of the head, but Michaels fought back with chops and punches. Michaels went for a rana, but Edge dropped him into a powerbomb for a two count. Edge applied a chinlock and bodyscissors on Michaels. There was blood on Edge's arm, I believe from a cut on the arm. Michaels fought out of the bodyscissors, but Edge maintained the chinlock and turned it into a sleeper. Edge slugged Shawn Michaels to the mat and mocked HBK's pose. Edge whipped Michaels hard into a corner, but HBK backdropped Edge to the apron. Edge grabbed Michaels and pulled him throat first across the top rope. Edge picked Micheals up off the mat and threw him down by the hair.
Edge went for a back suplex, but Michaels shifted his weight and landed on top for a two count. Edge came right back with a clothesline and returned to the chinlock. Michaels mounted a comeback, hitting two reverse atomic drops and a back elbow. Michaels hit a series of rights in a corner, and when Edge tried to grab Michaels, he went into a sunset flip for two. Michaels catapulted Edge into the corner and cradled him for a two count. Edge bailed out of the ring and headed up the aisle, but Michaels went after him and hit a chop, then rammed him face first into the ring apron. The referee tried to stop Michaels from fighting on the floor, which gave Edge the opening to spear Michaels on the floor. Michaels barely got in at the nine count.
Edge measured Michaels for a spear, mocking HBK's stomping in the corner. Edge hit the spear, but Michaels got a shoulder up at two. Edge put Michaels on the top rope for a superplex, but Michaels fought him and headbutted Edge to the mat. Michaels hit a top rope elbow, but was unable to make a cover. Michaels got up and started stomping in the corner. Michaels went for the superkick, but Edge ducked it and hit the electric chair for a two count. Edge whipped Michaels across the ring, and Michaels went for a sunset flip, but Edge rolled through it and applied his modified Sharpshoooter. Michaels went for the ropes, but Edge pulled him back into the center of the ring. Michaels finally made the ropes to force the break. Edge went for the move again, but Michaels turned it into a small package for a two count. Edge went for a slam, but Michaels floated over, and they traded reversals on a rollup, with Edge getting the three count by using the ropes for leverage at the nineteen minute mark.
Winner: Edge.
Edge was ecstatic over his win, while Michaels glared at him.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff and Teddy Long were arguing over who had the better brand. Torrie Wilson and Christy Hemme were with them, to assist in the number draw for the Royal Rumble. Ric Flair and Eddie Guerrero came in first. They both drew, and Ric Flair was happy with his number, while Guerrero was not happy with his. Guerrero shook hands with Flair and hugged him, wishing him luck in the Rumble. Guerrero left, and Flair realized that Guerrero switched numbers with him when they were hugging.
Backstage, Heidenreich talked about how he hated caskets. Gene Snitsky entered, and told Heidenreich that he hated caskets too, but he liked Heidenreich. They stared at each other, breathing heavy, for a long time.
The history leading to Undertaker vs. Heidenreich was shown.
Undertaker vs. Heidenreich - Casket match.
The four druids wheeled the casket to ringside, then left. Heidenreich came out, then Undertaker made his big entrance. Undertaker grabbed a side headlock at the bell and pulled Heidenreich towards the side of the ring where the casket was. Undertaker hit a shoulderblock, blocked a Heidenreich hiptoss, and hit his own hiptoss and followed with an armdrag. Taker dragged him near the casket again, but Heidenreich broke free. Heidenreich grabbed a headlock and hit his own shoulderblock. Heidenreich grabbed a headlock again, and hit another shoulderblock. Undertaker grabbed a single leg takedown and applied a single leg crab. Heidenreich went for the ropes, and after the break, left the ring. Heidenreich tried to regroup on the floor, but Taker went after him, hitting a knee to the midsection. Heidenreich reversed a whip and sent Undertaker back first into the casket, then rammed him head first into it twice.
Back in the ring, Heidenreich hit a series of punches in a corner and stomped Undertaker down. Heidenreich went to work on Taker's ribs with bodyshots, yelling "My World". Undertaker jumped up and applied a triangle choke while lying across the top ropes (which is legal, since this is a no-DQ match). They fell off the ropes, and Taker maintained the triangle choke. Gene Snitsky ran in and attacked Undertaker, hitting a clothesline. Snitsky helped Heidenreich up, and they gave Undertaker a double suplex. Heidenreich and Snitsky dropped elbows on Undertaker, and dragged him towards the casket. The referees opened the casket, and Kane popped out of it. Kane attacked Heidenreich and Snitsky, taking both men out of the ring. Kane battled Snitsky into the crowd, leaving Undertaker and Heidenreich.
Back at ringside, Heidenreich was wheeling the casket away from ringside. Undertaker rammed Heidenreich into the casket, but Heidenreich reversed a whip and sent Taker into the ring steps. Heidenreich pulled up the padding at ringside. Heidenreich rammed the casket into Undertaker, then took him into the ring and applied a cobra clutch. Undertaker was placed in the casket, but Heidenreich couldn't close the lid. Undertaker came back, and legdropped Heidenreich on the casket, but when they went back into the ring Heidenreich hit a sideslam. Heidenreich tried to cover for a pin, but there are no pins in the match. Heidenreich rolled Taker into the casket again, but Taker grabbed Heidenreich by the throat and battled out. Undertaker hit a chokeslam, then delivered the tombstone and rolled Heidenreich in for the pin at the 13 minute mark.
Winner: The Undertaker.
Backstage, Theodore R. Long wanted Eddie Guerrero to give him back the number. Evolution busted in demanding the number. Triple H called Guerrero a "jumping bean". Eddie played dumb, then gave Ric back the number. Long then told Guerrero to give "it" back. Turns out, Guerrero had also taken Flair's wallet. Guerrero and Long left, while Triple H and Batista argued over whether they should go over the game plan for Randy Orton now, or whether Batista should go draw his number. Flair made the peace.
Christian drew his number, and was very happy. John Cena entered, and Christian got in Cena's face, saying rapping wasn't that hard. Cena dared Christian to freestyle right now. Christian asked Tyson Tomko to give him a beat, and Tomko said no. Christian did a silly rap about winning the Rumble. Cena responded with a rap making fun of Christian's sexuality.
WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Kurt Angle vs. Big Show.
Angle came to the ring first, then Big Show, the JBL made his usual limo entrance. The match started with Big Show dominating JBL in the ring, slamming him and dropping a leg, while Angle watched from the floor. Angle ran in when Show covered JBL, and broke up the pin. Show swatted Angle around, whipping him hard into a corner. JBL tried to suplex Show, but Show reversed it. Show hit Angle with a big boot. Show clotheslined Angle and JBL over the top rope and to the floor. Show punched JBL and rammed Angle into the ring steps. Show whipped JBL into the ring post, and gave Angle a butt-butt. Show cleared off the announce table and set up the ring steps next to it. Show set up to chokeslam JBL through the table, but Angle hit Show with a lowblow. Angle hit Show with a TV monitor, and Show fell off the steps and through the table.
Angle then went after JBL, ramming him into the security wall. In the ring, Angle armdragged JBL and put him in an armbar. JBL fought out of it, but missed a big boot, and Angle applied a top wristlock. Angle droped his knee into JBL's arm, but JBL came back with a right hand. JBL clotheslined Angle in the corner, but missed a charge and Angle hit a German suplex. JBL fought off a second attempt and went for the Clothesline From Hell, but Angle ducked it and hit a second German suplex. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but JBL floated out and hit a boot to the face for a two count. Big Show made it back into the ring and cleaned house with clotheslines and headbutts. Show slammed JBL, then slammed Angle on top of him.
Show whipped JBL and Angle into the corner together, gave them a reverse avalanche, and clotheslined both to the mat. Show went for a double chokeslam, but Angle kicked his leg. Angle gave Show a chopblock and JBL gave Show a clothesline at the same time. Angle gave JBL a German suplex, then covered Show for a two count. Angle gave Big Show an Angle Slam, but JBL kicked Angle out of the ring. JBL set up for the Clothesline From Hell, but Big Show gave him a chokeslam. JBL got his foot on the bottom rope at the two count, then rolled out of the ring. Show rammed JBL with a shoulderblock at ringside, and they went through the security wall. Angle was in the ring with a chair, JBL was laid out at ringside, and Big Show headed back into the ring.
The Bashams came out to check on JBL. In the ring, Angle went to use the chair, but Show gave Angle a flapjack, with Angle going headfirst into the chair. Show covered Angle, but Mark Jindrak pulled the referee out of the ring. Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak attacked Big Show, ineffectively, in the aisle. Orlando Jordan came out and threw JBL back into the ring. JBL hit Angle with a clothesline and got the pin at the twelve minute mark, while Show was fighting Jindrak and Reigns in the aisle. Show tried to get back in, but was too late to break up the pin.
Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield.
Post-match, JBL celebrated in the aisle, while Show stared at him from the ring.
Backstage, Carlito Caribbean Cool sucked up the Batista, and asked him to sign his petition to get rid of Theodore R. Long. Batista said he wouldn't, and Carlito was about to spit apple, when Batista reminded Carlito of what he did with La Resistance last week on Raw. Batista said Carlito should imagine what he could do with a petition.
Batista went to draw his number, and Eric Bischoff was making fun of Theodore R. Long for all the interference in the previous match. Long said that everyone knew Evolution would be interfering in the Raw World Title match. Bischoff then said he would ban Evolution from ringside. Bischoff asked Batista if he wanted to tell Triple H about the new stipulation. Batista smirked and said he would.
A commercial for Wrestlemania was shown, spoofing Forrest Gump, with Eugene playing Forrest.
The history leading to Orton vs. Triple H was shown.
World Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton.
Triple H was bragging about being the champion before the bell, and Orton slapped him. Orton quickly grabbed a backslide for a two count and worked over Triple H with right hands, then hit a backdrop. Orton went for an RKO, but Triple H shoved it off and went to the floor. Orton followed him and rammed Triple H into the ring apron. Orton hit a dropkick for a two count, then beat Triple H down in a corner. Triple H hit a knee to the gut to stop Orton's momentum, then delivered a series of punches in a corner. Orton came back with a reverse atomic drop, then went for an RKO, but Triple H tossed Orton over the top rope and to the floor.
Triple H pulled Orton into the ring, and stomped him and choked him down. Triple H hit Randy Orton with a right hand, but ran into a boot to the face. Orton hit some right hands, but Triple H floated over a slam and clipped him knee. There was a brief "Randy sucks" chant. Triple H rammed Orton's leg into the ringpost. Triple H hit a chopblock to the leg, then dropped an elbow on it. Triple H lifted Orton by the leg and slammed his knee into the mat. Triple H yanked at the leg, the dropped an elbow on it. Triple H applied a leglock, then dropped a knee across it. Triple H went for a figure four, but Orton reversed it into a small package for two. Triple H went back after the leg and applied a figure four leglock.
Orton struggled in the hold for a long time, then made the ropes. Triple H went after the leg from the floor, but Orton kicked him into the Spanish announce table. Triple H made it back into the ring, and Orton a side neckbreaker. Orton hit a series of right hands and a neckbreaker for a two count. Orton hit another neckbreaker for another two count, then a powerslam for another two. Orton armdragged Triple H off the ropes, then hit a top rope bodypress for a two count. Orton complained about the count.
Orton went for a backdrop, but Triple H hit a facebuster on his knee and went for a Pedigree, but Orton countered it into a catapult. Orton went for an RKO, but Triple H shoved him into the corner and hit a jumping knee for a two count. Orton was bleeding from the mouth. Triple H went for a Pedigree, but took too long, and Orton spun out and hit a clothesline for a two count. They went to the floor, and Orton rammed Triple H into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Orton hit a series of punches and forearms in the corner. Orton went for a DDT, but Triple H hooked the top rope and Orton fell hard to the mat. Orton fell to the floor, dazed, as the announcers talked about how the back of his head hit the mat. The referee stopped a countout and asked Orton if he could continue. Orton slowly made it into the ring, and the referee was checking on him, when Triple H rammed Orton into the referee, knocking out the ref and sending Orton back to the floor. Triple H went under the ring and pulled out a sledgehammer. Triple H went towards Orton, but Orton grabbed Triple H by the trunks and sent him face first into the ringpost. Triple H rolled back into the ring.
Orton, still dazed, got in the ring and picked up the hammer, but Triple H hit him with a clothesline. Triple H picked up the hammer, but seeing the referee starting to get up, dropped it at ringside. Triple H hit a Pedigree and got the three count at the 21 minute mark.
Winner: Triple H.
The announcers were selling that Orton had suffered a concussion from the DDT attempt.
Backstage, we saw that Nunzio had become the final Smackdown entrant in the Royal Rumble, and he already had his number picked. Kurt Angle grabbed his number, and asked Nunzio if he wanted to fight over it. Nunzio backed away, and Angle took the number.
JBL and his cabinet came into the Rumble drawing room, celebrating with champagne. JBL said he was going to buy Theodore R. Long a "40-ounce of Malt", and was acting drunk. Long informed JBL that at No Way Out, he would face Big Show in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match. JBL quickly sobered up after hearing that.
Jim Ross and Tazz got to call the Rumble together.
The Royal Rumble.
Wrestlers will enter in 90 second intervals. As always, I will do my best to keep up with the action.
Eddie Guerrero was number one. He made his entrance in a lowrider.
Chris Benoit was number two.
They locked up, and struggled on the ropes. They locked up again, and Benoit hit an armdrag. They mat wrestled, with Guerrero grabbing a hammerlock and a headlock. Guerrero snapmared Benoit and applied a headlock. Guerrero hit a shoulderblock and Benoit retaliated with a chop.
Daniel Puder was number three.
Guerrero and Benoit were fighting it out in a corner, and Benoit stomped down Guerrero. Puder stalled on the floor, then took the mic and said the fans were about to witness history. Puder said he was going to be the first Tough Enough champion to win the Royal Rumble. Puder got in the ring, and was beaten down in a corner by Benoit and Guerrero. They took turns chopping Puder hard in the corner, then gave him a double suplex. Benoit gave Puder a back suplex, and Guerrero gave him the Three Amigos.
Hardcore Holly was number four.
Holly picked up Puder and chopped him in the corner while Benoit and Guerrero watched. Guerrero said he wanted to hear who chopped louder, so Holly and Benoit took turns. Then, Guerrero took a turn chopping him. Holly hung Puder on the ropes and kicked him in the gut. Holly gave Puder the Alabama Slam.
Hurricane was number five.
Holly threw Puder over the top rope. Daniel Puder is eliminated.
Benoit and Guerrero tossed Holly over the top rope as Hurricane was coming out. Hardcore Holly is eliminated.
Benoit and Guerrero went after Hurricane, but Guerrero turned on Benoit and tried to eliminate him. Hurricane hit Guerrero with a blockbuster, but Benoit chopped him.
Guerrero backdropped Hurricane over the top rope. Hurricane is eliminated.
Kenzo Suzuki was number six.
Guerrero dropkicked Kenzo, and Benoit hit a snap suplex. Kenzo tried to battle back with chops, but Guerrero and Benoit double teamed him. Guerrero hit a back suplex on Kenzo, then Benoit grabbed Guerrero and tossed him over the top rope, but Guerrero landed on the apron.
Edge was number seven.
Edge rammed Guerrero in a corner with shoulderblocks, went to fight with Benoit and Kenzo, then went back to Guerrero, hitting a dropkick. Edge tried to dump Guerrero out, but Eddie held on. Edge then went to work on Kenzo, but Benoit chopped Edge and hit a clothesline. Kenzo went after Benoit again.
Rey Mysterio was number eight.
Mysterio went after everyone when he first got in, and gave Edge a bulldog. Mysterio dropkicked Benoit.
Mysterio used a headscissors to pull Suzuki over the top rope and to the floor. Kenzo Suzuki is eliminated.
Guerrero hit Mysterio and Benoit with tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. Edge went after Eddie in a corner, choking him.
Shelton Benjamin was number nine.
Benjamin hit Edge with a reverse elbow, then punched Eddie Guerrero and backdropped him. Benoit kicked Mysterio in the corner. Benoit tried to dump Mysterio, and Guerrero tried to dump Benoit. They all twisted together in the ropes. Benoit teased eliminating Guerrero with a suplex. Mysterio gave Benjamin a spinning headscissors.
Booker T was number ten.
Rey Mysterio and Benjamin went over the top rope, but both kept their feet off the floor. Eric Bischoff came down, cheering on Edge.
Chris Jericho was number eleven.
Jericho gave Benjamin a reverse elbow, then chopped Edge in a corner. Jericho gave Edge a back suplex. Benoit chopped Benjamin. Booker T worked over Jericho on the ropes. Theodore R. Long came down, cheering on Mysterio. Bischoff was cheering on Jericho now.
Luther Reigns was number twelve.
Reigns went after Jericho, choking him in a corner. The fighting settled down into a four on four, Smackdown vs. Raw fight. The fans went nuts as they lined up, staring at each other, and then started brawling. Guerrero backdropped Benjamin to the apron, but he held on.
Muhammad Hussan was number thirteen.
Everyone stopped fighting to watch Hussan walk to the ring. They surrounded him as he entered the ring, and pounded him down.
Rey gave Hussan a 619, then everyone lifted him and tossed him out. Muhammad Hussan has been eliminated.
Orlando Jordan was number fourteen.
Jordan went right after Luther Reigns, but Benoit started chopping him. Benjamin beat Jericho down in a corner. Mysterio was on the apron, hiding from the action. Jericho was put on the apron, while Benjamin tried to punch him off. Mysterio went after Luther Reigns with a kick.
Scotty 2 Hotty was number fifteen.
Hassan attacked Scotty as he was coming to the ring and put him in a camel clutch before leaving. Benoit and Mysterio tried to put Jordan over the top rope. Benjamin gave Edge a Stinger Splash and dumped him over the top rope, but Edge landed on the apron.
Charlie Haas was number sixteen.
Booker gave Haas a spinkick and Jordan a superkick.
Booker T eliminated Luther Reigns and Orlando Jordan, one after the other.
Mysterio dropkicked Booker T in the back, sending him towards Eddie Guerrero, and Guerrero pulled down the top rope so he would fall over it and out of the ring. Booker T was eliminated.
Scotty 2 Hotty was helped to the back from the Hassan attack, so he is eliminated due to being unable to compete.
Benjamin gave Mysterio an exploder suplex.
Rene Dupree was number seventeen.
Haas and Benjamin double teamed Dupree, using their old tag team maneuvers.
Benjamin charged Edge, Edge ducked, and Benjamin jumped onto the top rope, but Edge shoved him off the top and to the floor. Shelton Benjamin is eliminated.
Simon Dean was number eighteen.
Mysterio gave Guerrero a rana, and a facebuster.
Edge grabbed Guerrero and threw him over the top rope to the floor. Eddie Guerrero is eliminated.
Simon Dean was warming up at ringside, entering just before the next one came out.
Shawn Michaels was number nineteen.
Michaels went right after Edge, then clotheslined Simon Dean over the top rope and to the floor. Simon Dean is eliminated.
The fans chanted for Eddie Guerrero as he was walking to the back.
Haas and Michaels went at it, while Benoit went after Dupree. Jericho joined in on stomping Dupree. Rey kept ducking away from Edge.
Michaels backdropped Haas over the top rope. Charlie Haas is eliminated. JR mistakenly called him Rene Dupree.
Kurt Angle is number 20.
Kurt Angle started suplexing and Angle Slamming everyone. Michaels went for a superkick, but Angle caught it and applied an ankle lock. Michaels escaped it and superkicked Angle, sending him over the top rope. Kurt Angle is eliminated.
Jonathan Coachman was number twenty one.
Coach hit Benoit, then scurried away form him. Benoit went after Coach, while Coach held onto the bottom rope as tightly as he could. Jericho straddled Dupree on the middle rope. Jericho tried to eliminated Rey Mysterio, with Mysterio trying to pull him out with a headscissors, but neither went over.
Mark Jindrak was number twenty two.
Kurt Angle ran back in, tossed Shawn Michaels over the top rope, then hit him with the ring steps. Michaels was busted open, and Angle mauled him with punches, then applied an ankle lock. Agents and referees came out to pull Angle away. I guess Michaels is eliminated due to being unable to continue, or due to Angle tossing him over the top.
Jericho and Benoit double teamed Coach.
Viscera was number twenty three.
Jindrak tossed Mysterio over the top rope, but Mysterio held on. Viscera knocked down Jericho and slammed Mysterio. Benoit fought Dupree. Edge stomped Coach.
Paul London was number twenty four.
London went after Dupree, and was thrown down on the mat. Dupree did the French Tickler dance, and Jericho grabbed Dupree and tossed him over the top rope. Rene Dupree is eliminated.
John Cena was number twenty five.
Cena went after everyone, until Viscera stopped his assault. Cena came right back and backdropped Viscera out of the ring. Viscera is eliminated.
Benoit and Cena went at it. Mysterio gave Coach a bronco buster.
Gene Snitsky was number twenty six.
Snitsky went after Edge, then Jericho. London jumped on Snitsky's back with a sleeper. Snitsky dumped London to the apron. Snitsky clotheslined London, who did a flip bump to the floor. Paul London is eliminated.
Cena lifted Snitsky for an FU, but Snitsky floated out and hit a boot to the face.
Kane was number twenty seven.
Kane hit Snitsky with a clothesline, then chokeslammed Edge, then Benoit, then Cena, then Jericho, then Mysterio, then tossed Jindrak over the top rope. Mark Jindral is eliminated.
They brought out a stretcher for Paul London. Coach went after Kane, then Kane grabbed him by the throat. Snitsky saved Coach, and gave Kane a powerslam.
Batista was number twenty eight.
Batista clotheslined Snitsky out of the ring. Gene Snitsky is eliminated.
Batista and Kane went face to face. They exchanged shots, and Batista powerbombed Kane.
Jericho dove at Batista, and Batista caught him and dumped him over the top rope. Chris Jericho is eliminated.
Christian was number twenty nine.
Batista was fighting Edge, Benoit was fighting Mysterio. Coach was hiding. Christian went after Cena.
Mysterio gave Kane 619, and Cena lifted Kane and dumped him out. Kane is eliminated.
Mysterio and Cena seemed to be talking about working together.
Ric Flair was number thirty.
Flair tossed Coach into Batista, and Batista gave him a spinebuster. Flair then tossed Coach from the ring. Jonathan Coachman is eliminated.
Batista eliminated Christian with a press lam over the top rope.
Flair and Batista eliminated Chris Benoit together. Chris Benoit is eliminated.
Flair tried to eliminated Batista, which didn't work. Edge and Rey Mysterio dropkicked Batista.
Edge tossed Ric Flair from the ring. Ric Flair is eliminated.
Final four are John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Batista and Edge.
Edge gave Batista a spear, then gave one to Cena. Edge measured Mysterio for one, but Mysterio leapfrogged him. Mysterio gave Edge the 619. Edge ducked a West Coast Pop, and tossed Rey over the top rope. Rey held on, but Edge speared him and knocked him to the floor. Rey Mysterio is eliminated.
Cena and Batista gave Edge a double backdrop over the top rope to the floor. Edge is eliminated.
Cena and Batista were the final two men. They traded punches, then Cena lifted Batista in a fireman's carry. Batista kept grabbing the ropes to block elimination and punched his way out of it. Batista lifted Cena for a powerbomb, but they fell towards the ropes, and both went over the top rope and fell to the floor.
The Raw referees said Batista won. The Smackdown referees said Cena won.
Vince McMahon, ran (yes, ran) to the ring, ticked off. He even slipped getting into the ring, and looked annoyed. (It was later revealed he tore his quad) Batista grabbed Cena and tossed him over the top rope again. Cena ran back in, grabbed Batista and tossed him over the top rope. Howard Finkel announced that, by order of Vince McMahon, the match be restarted.
Cena grabbed Batista and went for an FU, but Batista floated out and hit a spinebuster. Batista then tossed Cena over the top rope to win the match. John Cena is eliminated.
Batista is the winner of the 2005 Royal Rumble, and will be in the main event at Wrestlemania!
2005 - Puck defeats Pain to win the Italian Championship Wrestling Interregional Heavyweight Title in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
2005 - "Portuguese Princess" Ariel defeats Cindy Rogers to win the NWA North Jersey Women's Title in Passaic, New Jersey. Warpath also defeats Chris Candido for the NWA North Jersey Heavyweight Title at the same event, with Warpath then losing that title to Rockin' Rebel.
2005 - Dick Togo defeats MIKAMI in Tokyo, Japan for the Dramatic Dream Team KO-D Openweight Title, ending MIKAMI's third reign.
2006 - WWE held a "Supershow", airing a live RAW and taping the February 3 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida. RAW got a 4.5 rating on USA Network, SmackDown! got a 2.9 on The CW. The results:
RAW:
- Rob Van Dam pinned Snitsky with the Five-Star Frog Splash.
- Triple H pinned Chavo Guerrero after the Pedigree.
- World Tag Team Champions Big Show and Kane defeated Carlito and Chris Masters, when Show pinned Masters after a double chokeslam.
- Shelton Benajmin (with Momma Benjamin) pinned Goldust after an Exploder suplex.
- Edge (with Lita) defeated WWE Champion John Cena by disqualification, when Lita grabbed the title belt and hit Edge in the head with it, to save him, as Cena had Edge up for the FU.
SmackDown!:
- WWE Tag Team Champions MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro (with Melina)) defeated The Mexicools (Psicosis and Super Crazy), when Mercury pinned Crazy after Melina hit Crazy with her boot.
- Bobby Lashley pinned Chad Dick (with James Dick) after the Dominator.
- Tsuki pinned Octagóncito with an armdrag into a crucifix.
- Chris Benoit defeated Finlay (subbing for the injured WWE United States Champion Booker T (with Sharmell), who did guest commentary) by disqualification, when Sharmell hit Benoit with one of Booker's crutches while Benoit had Finlay in the Crippler Crossface, with The Boogeyman making the save.
- Mark Henry (with Daivari) and Randy Orton defeated Rey Mysterio and World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, when Orton pinned Mysterio by blocking a sunset flip attempt.
2006 - Esteban Molina defeats Ruff Ryder Rashaan in Pound, Wisconsin to win the NWA Wisconsin Heavyweight Title.
2007 - WWE tapes the February 2 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! and airs a live edition of ECW from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. ECW got a 1.7 rating on SciFi, while SmackDown! got a 3.1 rating on The CW. The results of the show:
ECW:
- Matt Striker pinned CM Punk by blocking a sunset flip into the ring and grabbing the ropes.
- Hardcore Holly pinned Rob Van Dam after the Alabamaslam.
- ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley pinned Test after a running powerslam. After the match, the lights in the arena went out, The Undertaker's bell sounded, and when the lights came back on The Undertaker, who had won the Royal Rumble Match two nights earlier, and Lashley stood alone in the ring. Test attempted to hit Taker with a chair but was chokeslammed for his efforts. Undertaker then motioned that he wanted Lashley's title.
SmackDown!:
- WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit pinned Finlay with a roll-up.
- Deuce 'N Domino defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick, when Domino pinned Kendrick after Deuce hit the Crack 'Em in the Mouth.
- Mr. Kennedy pinned Vito after the Green Bay Plunge.
- Ashley defeated Jillian Hall and Kristal in a bikini contest, hosted by JBL. Jillian opted to sing Britney Spears' 'Oops...I Did it Again' instead of disrobe, JBL took the mic from her and said that "Michael Hayes singing 'Badstreet' was better than that."
- The Miz pinned Matt Hardy after the Mizard of Oz, after Joey Mercury interfered and hit Hardy in the jaw with his protective facemask.
2007 - Peter Goodman defeats champion Lil' Nate, John Williams and Frankie Kazarian in a four-way match to win the Impact Zone Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Tempe, Arizona, beginning his second reign.
2011 - We're live in Boston, Massachusetts and our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Matt Striker.
The World Title match is up first, and Vickie Guerrero comes out before the match to remind us that the spear is banned in this match, and tries to lead the crowd in a chant of spear. They don't follow her lead, so Vickie reminds us that if Edge uses the spear, he'll lose the title to Ziggler.
World Title Match: Edge vs Dolph Ziggler
They tie up and Ziggler gets a kick to the ribs and takes Edge to the corner and starts pounding him repeatedly with rights, but Edge gets an opening and whips Ziggler hard into the corner. Edge lays in a few kneedrops and covers for 2, then hits a gutbuster for another 2. Edge whips Ziggler to the ropes and gets a knee to the midsection for 2, and Ziggler rolls to the apron so Edge slides between Ziggler's legs to the floor and yanks Ziggler's legs out from under him and he crashes down onto the apron, then rams Ziggler into the barricade. Edge picks Ziggler up and dumps him on the barricade, then rolls him back in the ring. Edge is too slow coming in and Ziggler hits him with a running boot to the head and a neckbreaker over the second rope for 2. Ziggler puts the boots to Edge and chokes him over the second rope, then covers for 2. Ziggler gets a chinlock but Edge fights his way out and sends him to the corner, but Ziggler boots him in the face and tries a sunset flip from the second rope and Edge rolls through and catapults him into the top turnbuckle for 2. Ziggler with a neckbreaker for 2, then the Mr Perfect necksnap for 2 and then goes back to the chinlock. Ziggler drops the chinlock and gets a textbook elbowdrop for 2 and Edge rolls out to the apron, so Ziggler takes a run and rams Edge off the apron. Ziggler goes out and rols the champion back in and covers for 2, then goes back to the chinlock again. Edge fiths his way free and sends Ziggler to the ropes and they wipe each other out with simultaneous crossbody blocks. Edge pulls himself up in the corner and Ziggler charges him, but Edge move and Ziggler crashes into the turnbuckle. Edge gets a pair of forearms and a Turk flapjack for 2, but Ziggler with a head and arm jawbreaker for 2 and Ziggler goes for the Fameasser but Edge counters to a sitout powerbomb for 2. Edge climbs to the top rope but Ziggler nails him and climbs up top to try a superplex, but Edge blocks and knocks Ziggler into the ring. Edge gets a flying bodypress but Ziggler rolls through and gets 2, then dropkicks Edge for another 2. Vickie is looking impatient at ringside as Ziggler goes for the Zig Zag and Edge blocks, then picks Ziggler's legs and gets a modified Sharpshooter, then drives his elbow into Ziggler's ribs over and over until Ziggler somehow makes it to the ropes. Edge chokes Ziggler on the second rope and goes for a crossbody but Ziggler moves and Edge hits the ropes, and Ziggler immediately capitalizes and hits the Fameasser and hooks the leg deep, but Edge kicks out at 2. Crowd popped for that one. Edge reverses an Irish whip and hits a big boot and sets up for the spear, but then remembers that he can't do that, and the hesitation is enough for Ziggler to get the spear. Edge escapes and pulls the Edgecution out of cobwebs and covers, but Vickie pulls the referee out of the ring and slaps Edge. Ziggler tries a charge but Edge gets an O'Connor Roll for 2, then gets right up in Vickie's face and Vickie slaps him repeatedly until Kelly Kelly comes out, pulls Vickie off the apron, and beat her senseless. Edge stands there watching the whole thing and Ziggler comes out of nowhere and hits the Zig Zag for a very close 2. Ziggler is now very frustrated but pulls it together and stalks Edge, and gets a sleeper right in the middle of the ring. Edge starts to fade but then starts to Hulk up and swings Dolph around and accidentally wipes the referee out. Edge finally drops down and gets a jawbreaker, and with the referee and Vickie both down, Edge realizes he can go for the spear. Edge sets up for it and nails Ziggler with the spear, and then plays dead as the referee comes to. All the referee sees is Edge and Ziggler both down on the ground and Edge "comes to" and hits the Unprettier for the win.
Winner: Edge
Edge smirks at the con he just perpetrated as Vickie stands screaming and slapping the mat from the floor. Terrific match, Ziggler looked like a million bucks here and appeared to have Edge beaten several times.
We see a video package promoting Wrestlemania 27 on April 3rd, just 63 days away!
Miz cuts a backstage promo saying that all the critics are calling him a lucky champion, saying that Jerry Lawler would be champion if it weren't for Michael Cole, and Randy Orton would be champion if it weren't for Alex Riley. Riley says that tonight, he's going to outclass Orton, and then Miz says that he's going to silence the critics because he's the Miz...and he's awesome.
WWE Title Match: The Miz vs Randy Orton
Someone in the crowd has a "CONGRATS YAMATO" sign. I love it. Miz tries a swing at Orton but Orton blocks and beats Miz down in the corner and puts the boots to him. He tosses Miz to the floor and rams him into the barricade, then does it again, then runs Miz over with a clothesline. He rolls Miz into the ring and kicks him a bunch. Then he stomps on him a bunch. Orton catapults Miz into the bottom rope and covers for 2, then punches him in the corner, then whips Miz across the ring and charges, Miz gets the boot up but Orton doesn't dig that selling thing, so he doesn't, and continues to beat Miz down. Miz whips Orton to the ropes and Orton holds on, but Riley hops up on the apron and snaps Orton's neck across the top rope and now Miz gets the advantage. Miz whips Orton into the corner but Orton comes out with a clothesline and Miz is down again. Orton waits for him to get to his feet and charges him, but Miz moves and Orton hits the turnbuckle and now Miz stomps him. Miz hits the Sydal clothesline and covers for 2, then gouges Orton's face and chokes him on the second rope. Miz distracts the referee while Riley nails Orton from the floor and Miz covers for 2 then goes to the chinlock. Orton makes it back to his feet and headbutts Miz, but Miz whips Orton to the ropes and gets a knee to the midsection and covers for 1. Miz comes at Orton and...yep, you guessed it, stomps him. Miz does more punching and kicking and then Orton starts punching and kicking back at him. Miz gets a back elbow and Orton, the king of selling that her is, kicks out at 1 again. Miz drapes Orton off the apron and hits a running kneelift and covers for 2, then goes back to the chinlock. Orton reverses to a sleeper of his own and Miz switches behind him and goes for a suplex and Orton blocks and gets a suplex of his own. Miz wakes me up by catching Orton with a Yakuza Kick to the face for 2 and then climbs up top, but Orton nails him and slowly goes up top, stares at the crowd for 20 or 30 minutes, and then finally hits a superplex for 2. Orton and Miz exchange blows in the middle of the ring but Orton gets the advantage and hits his neckbreaker across the back, but Miz backdrops Orton to the floor and Riley comes over and puts the boots to him. Miz goes out to the floor and rams Orton back and forth between the barricade and the ring apron, then rolls him back in for 2. Miz goes up top and comes off with a double axhandle for 2. Miz tries several more covers but Orton keeps kicking out so Miz gouges at his face and we go back to the chinlock. Orton starts to escape so Miz tosses Orton to the floor, Miz goes after him and catapults him into the ringpost and then rolls back in and the referee starts counting. Orton comes back in and he's done with this selling stuff, and hits Orton with a Thesz Press and starts unloading with rights. Miz fires back with some shots of his own, but Orton comes out of the corner and starts running Miz over with clotheslines and a powerslam. Orton does more stomping, but Riley distracts Orton and allows Miz to hit the backbreaker/neckbreaker for 2. Orton goes for the RKO, but Miz blocks so Orton hits the Angle Slam for 2. Miz rolls to the floor and grabs his belt and tries to leave, but Orton nails him and tosses him back in the ring and they distracted me with a replay so I missed what Miz did after that, but it knocked Orton down so Miz could cover for 2. Miz goes for a running boot to the head and Orton rolls him up for 2, then a European uppercut drives Miz to the apron. Orton pulls him back in and gives him the suspension DDT, then he starts slithering and pounding the mat to set up for the RKO. Suddenly, Nexus (minus CM Punk) comes down to ringside and Orton just stands there staring at them. Riley tried to sneak up behind him but Orton saw him coming and LAUNCHED him over the top rope onto Nexus. Orton hits the RKO, but the referee is nowhere to be seen so CM Punk runs in and hits the GTS and Miz covers for the win.
Winner: The Miz
CM Punk takes Nexus and heads to the back as Miz celebrates in the ring. I'm glad Miz won, but this match was absolutely atrocious, and it made Miz look weak because it took Nexus, Riley, and CM Punk all interfering for him to be able to beat Orton. Orton kicking out of Miz's stuff at 1 didn't help either. Absolutely awful stuff, and I'm glad they got this match out of the way on a PPV where they weren't the focus.
Todd Grisham reads a statement from the injured Cody Rhodes, who says that he was going to win the Royal Rumble and headline Wrestlemania, but Rey Mysterio shattered his face and hasn't yet apologized, so he would like everyone to respect his privacy in this serious time.
We see a video package of the fans in Boston giving their thoughts on who is going to win the Royal Rumble.
Divas Title Match: Natalya vs LayCool
Wait a minute, the Anonymous GM rears his head, and he says that he's in charge since Teddy Long is on the shelf, and he's not going to allow for the possibility of LayCool co-holding the Divas Title, and is going to change the title match. He gets a lot of email about how annoying Michael Cole is, but he doesn't want email about LayCool doubling the spam in his inbox, so he's changing it to a Fatal Four Way.
Divas Title Match: Natalya vs Michelle McCool vs Layla vs Eve Torres
Layla and Michelle beat Eve down and then work Natalya over, hitting a double facebuster, but Natalya comes back and works the both of them over and catapults Layla into Michelle. Natalya goes for the cover but Michelle drags Layla to the floor. Natalya goes after her and Layla takes her head off with a clothesline. Now it's Michelle and Layla alone in the ring and they have a staredown, but before they can lock up, Natalya trips Layla from outside as Eve rolls McCool up for 2. Eve and Natalya take LayCool out and Natalya goes for the Sharpshooter, but Layla comes in and nails Natalya so Natalya lays her out and puts both Layla and Eve in a double Sharpshooter. McCool comes in and kicks Natalya in the face and Eve rolls McCool up, but Layla nails Eve and gives her a neckbreaker and kicks her to the floor. LayCool stop to confer but Natalya runs them both over with clotheslines and hits a Michinoku Driver on McCool for 2. Natalya rams Layla into the corner and hits a discus clothesline, then picks Layla up for a powerslam but Layla slips out just as McCool goes for a big boot and Nattie moves, so McCool hits Layla. Eve comes in and hits a moonsault as McCool rolls Natalya up, but the referee counted for Eve and awarded her the win.
Winner and NEW Divas Champion: Eve Torres
McCool is absolutely livid that Eve's fall was counted and hers wasn't, but goes back to check on her BFF Layla.
We go backstage to Daniel Bryan (with Gail Kim), and Josh Matthews asks him what it would be like to go from NXT rookie to winning the Royal Rumble in less than one year. Bryan says that people may think he's a nerd, but it would be great to win the Rumble after less than a year. The Bellas come in with flowers and apologize for the way they acted last week because they didn't know they were a couple. They say Bryan and Gail make a great couple because they're the same, and they're not as good as they are. Gail gets offended by that and attacks the Bellas, and it turns into a big catfight with all three girls rolling around on top of Daniel Bryan. I bet this beats spending 60 minutes getting pounded in the head by Samoa Joe.
We see a video package looking at the various stats of the Royal Rumble match, including the total weight of everyone who's ever competed in the match, the person who's eliminated the most people in a single match and of all time, who's won the most Rumble matches, and more.
Note: from this point on I'll try and update every five entrants. Once I get to #35, I won't update again until the end of the show.
Okay, here we go!
Royal Rumble Match
CM Punk comes in at #1, and at #2...all of the Corre comes out and surrounds Punk in the ring. They come in and beat Punk down but Nexus comes out and a brawl breaks out before the match even begins. The GM sends another email and Michael Cole says that the GM wants everyone to stop this now and tells the referees to restore order. The GM says the only superstar who has the right to be in the ring right now is CM Punk, and everyone else must leave immediately and failure to comply will result in elimination from the Rumble match. So everyone else clears out and #2 is Daniel Bryan! Punk and Bryan tie up and Punk comes off the ropes and takes Bryan down with a shoulderblock, but comes off the ropes right into a dropkick from Bryan. Bryan with a pair of clotheslines and tries to dump Bryan, but Punk blocks and tries to dump Bryan and Bryan blocks and comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick. Bryan goes for a running dropkick in the corner but Punk moves and Bryan crashes into the corner. Justin Gabriel is #3, and he runs in and goes right after CM Punk. Punk dumps Gabriel to the apron and then he and Bryan knock each other out with a double clothesline, and Gabriel goes up top for the 450, but Punk moves and Bryan dumps Gabriel. It's back to Bryan and Punk, and Bryan lays Punk out with a European uppercut and tries to dump him again as Zack Ryder comes out at #4. Ryder goes after Bryan and beats him down in one corner, then works Punk over and stomps him down in the other. Bryan catches Ryder with European uppercuts and backdrops Ryder onto Punk, then tosses Ryder out of the match. Bryan snapmares Punk and repeatedly kicks him in the back and then tries to toss him, but Punk blocks and tries to toss Bryan. William Regal is #5.
Regal comes in and tears through both men with suplexes and kills Punk with a running knee to the head. Regal and Bryan trade European uppercuts in the middle of the ring with Bryan getting the edge. Punk nails Regal from behind but Bryan knocks both Punk and Regal out with kicks. Bryan tries to toss Regal as Ted Dibiase comes in at #6, giving Bryan a backbreaker and a dropkick, and then has a dropkick for Regal and a clothesline for Punk. Dibiase tries to eliminate Punk but Punk clings on to the ropes so Dibiase stomps him instead while Bryan DESTROYS Regal with kicks before hitting a knockout kick to the head. Bryan comes behind Dibiase and dumps him to the apron, but can't get him out. John Morrison comes in at #7 and comes over the top with a dropkick to Regal and then tears through everyone in the ring. He hit a springboard Tidal Crush to Punk and a Moonsaultplex to Punk. Dibiase tosses Morrison to the apron and Regal rams him off, but Morrison clings to the barricade and, as Regal is tossed from the match, Morrison climbs onto the barricade and leaps back to the steps and back into the ring. That was an unbelievable spot. Yoshi Tatsu is in at #8 and he goes at it with Dibiase before getting nailed by Punk. We see another replay of Morrison's incredible save a moment ago as not much happens in the ring. #9 comes out, and it's Husky Harris, and he comes in and fights everyone off and then stands protectively in front of Punk. Everyone goes after Harris, but he manages to stay alive as Chavo Guerrero comes in at #10.
Chavo comes in and gives the Three Amigos to Dibiase, but Punk disrupts it at 2 so Chavo gives them to Punk, and Morrison breaks it up at 2, so Chavo does it to Morrison and now Bryan nails him so Chavo finally gets all Three Amigos on Bryan. #11 is Mark Henry, and he comes in and destroys everybody. Chavo tries a crossbody onto Henry but Henry catches and dumps him. Henry goes to work on Punk and then Tatsu nails Henry from behind, but Henry no sells and clotheslines Tatsu out of the match. Punk catches Henry with a kick to the back of the head and Henry goes down, and now Husky Harris joins Punk in beating Henry down. JTG comes in at #12 and goes after everyone as Daniel Bryan continues to rip into Punk with kicks to the chest. Harris comes over and saves Punk and tries to dump Bryan as Morrison goes after Dibiase. JTG tries to dump Harris but he can't get him up. Now it's #13 and Michael McGillicutty runs out to join Punk and Harris in the ring. McGillicutty dumps JTG and then chokes Morrison on the second rope as everyone piles onto Husky Harris. Harris and McGillicutty dump Dibiase as Chris Masters comes out at #14 and goes right after Nexus. Masters hits a spinebuster on McGillicutty and gets Punk in the Masterlock and tries to toss Punk over the top but McGillicutty saves his leader. Bryan and McGillicutty go at it as David Otunga comes out at #15.
The Nexus now have enough numbers to rule the ring, and toss Daniel Bryan, Chris Masters, John Morrison, and Mark Henry and Nexus is left in the ring. Tyler Reks comes in at #16 and gets gang beaten in the corner. Punk stands Reks up, gives him a knockout kick in the head, and tosses him to the floor. #17 is Vladimir Kozlov and he comes in with a big boot to the chest of Punk, but the rest of them beat him down into a messy heap, and then Punk picks him up and tosses him. R-Truth comes out at #18 and they immediately swarm him and he tries to get away, but Harris hooks him and puts him into the corner so Punk can hit the climbing knee and bulldog. Punk picks Truth up tosses him out. Great Khali is back and he's out at #19, Nexus tries to swarm him like they have everyone else but he tears through the bunch of them and tosses Husky Harris. Khali goes after Punk and Punk begs off, but Khali grabs him and flattens him with a big right hand, and now #20 is out, and it's Mason Ryan.
Ryan and Khali go at it in the ring and Ryan singlehandedly lifts Khali over the top and dumps him to the floor. So Nexus is back at four guys as "Can You Dig It, SUCKA?" rings out, and Booker T comes out at #21. Ryan nails him as he comes into the ring but Booker T lays Ryan out with a scissor kick and then nails Otunga with an axe kick. McGillicutty nails him from behind but Booker nails the Book End, and Booker give the crowd the look and soaks in the cheers, and he does it...THE SPINAROONI! Punk tries to toss Booker but Booker reverses and tries to toss Punk instead and McGillicutty comes from behind to toss Booker. Nexus is dominant here, and #22 is...yeah, you knew this was coming: John Cena. Cena comes in and goes right after Ryan, bulldogs Otunga, and suplexes McGillicutty. Cena tosses McGillicutty and then clotheslines Ryan and Otunga out and it's down to Cena and Punk. Nope, didn't see that sequence coming the moment Nexus first wound up alone in the ring! Cena sends Punk to the corner and charges but Punk gets the elbow up and goes for the GTS, but Cena slips out and they wipe each other out with a double clothesline. #23 is out and it's Hornswoggle. WHY. He and Punk have a staredown and Punk but butts him and then turns his attention back to Cena. Punk stomps Cena down and goes for the GTS again, but Cena slips out and gives Punk the Attitude Adjustment over the top rope and Punk is out. Cena goes over and helps Hornswoggle up, and Tyson Kidd is out at #24. Cena lays him out and Hornswoggle gives him a flying headscissors before Cena gives him an Attitude Adjustment, then Hornswoggle picks Kidd up and gives him an Attitude Adjustment as well while doing You Can't See Me. Cena tosses Tyson Kidd and now they await #25, and it's Heath Slater.
Cena lays Slater out and then Hornswoggle gives him a Stunner. They do a double Five Knuckle Shuffle and Hornswoggle hits the Tadpole Splash and Cena tosses Slater. Now we WAIT SOME MORE for Kofi Kingston to come out at #26, and what's going to happen? I mean, they're all friends, right? Cena and Kingston come face to face and then they look up at the WRESTLEMANIA BANNER! IT BEGINS ALREADY! They decide that friendship is out the window and they tie up, Cena whips Kingston in and Kingston reverses and hits a back elbow. Kingston gets a dropkick and then leaps to the top rope for punches, but Cena rips his head off with a clothesline as Jack Swagger comes out at #27. Swagger runs over both Kingston and Cena with clotheslines and hits a Vader Bomb on Cena and another one on Kingston. Swagger hits another Vader Bomb on Cena and yells stuff at the crowd, but Hornswoggle nails him from behind. Swagger gets distracted by him and Kingston comes off the ropes with a flying bodypress and then springboards off of Hornswoggle for the double legdrop. Kingston goes to eliminate Swagger as Sheamus comes out at #28 and goes right after Swagger, killing him with a short clothesline, then nails Kingston, and hits the Irish Curse backbreaker on Cena. Hornswoggle goes face to knee with Sheamus and shoves him, but Sheamus just knocks him on his ass. Hornswoggle fires up and hits the Sweet Shin Music, but that just makes Sheamus mad and he goes after Hornswoggle again but Cena gives him a back suplex and Swagger chokes Cena out as Sheamus bicycle kicks Hornswoggle off the top rope and he is mercifully eliminated. Rey Mysterio is out at #29 and slides into the ring and Swagger tries to gutwrench him but Mysterio gives him a flying headscissors, then one for Sheamus, then a pop up bulldog on Cena and goes for the 619 on Swagger but Sheamus kills him with a clothesline and sits him up top. Mysterio fights him off and Kingston hits Trouble In Paradise and then Swagger nails Kingston and charges Mysterio and gets dumped to the apron. Mysterio hits a 619 on the outside and Swagger is eliminated as Wade Barrett comes in at #30.
Barrett goes after Kingston and tries to dump him, but Cena nails him so Barrett gives Cena a Boss Man Slam and then goes at it with Kingston again. Kingston chops Barrett down in the corner with kicks, and Dolph Ziggler comes out at #31, the first man to ever enter the Royal Rumble at that number. Ziggler comes in and nails Cena with a dropkick and then beats Sheamus down in the corner. Cena, Kingston, and Mysterio all try to toss Barrett but Barrett fights his way free and then he and Ziggler try to toss Cena but Mysterio saves. Barrett beats Cena down in the corner and chokes him with his boot as Diesel comes out at #32. Barrett goes right after Diesel but he goes through him and everyone else in the ring. Crowd starts a BIG Diesel chant as Diesel gives Kingston a Snake Eyes and then lays into Ziggler with elbows in the corner. Diesel with a short clothesline on Cena and then rams knees into Sheamus in the corner. Drew McIntyre comes out at #33 and goes right after Diesel and he and Sheamus work Diesel over in the corner. Crowd is cheering HUGE for Diesel as he gets choked on the second rope. Mysterio hits a 619 on Diesel and gets booed. Diesel and Barrett go at it as Sheamus and McIntyre stomps Mysterio out. Alex Riley is out at #34 and Cena nails him the second he gets in the ring and Barrett boots Diesel over the top rope. Big boos for that and Diesel gets a huge reaction as he exits the ring. Miz joins the commentary team as Ziggler beats Mysterio down in the corner. Big Show is out at #35.
Big Show walks past Diesel and they have a staredown in the aisle, then he gets in the ring and plows through Sheamus, McIntyre, and Barrett. Show chokeslams Barrett as Cena and Kingston try to toss Riley. Big Show tosses Dolph Ziggler and then McIntyre goes as Ezekile Jackson comes out at #36. Zeke rams right through Big Show and tosses him out of the ring before killing everyone else in the ring. So now Barrett has some backup and the two of them will work together in the Rumble match. Jackson chokes Mysterio in the corner with his boot as Sheamus and Barrett go at it. Santino Marella is out at #37 and he goes right after Sheamus and then goes after Zeke, but Zeke no sells him and Sheamus boots Santino in the face, and Santino rolls under the ropes to the floor. Sheamus and Zeke go at it next, then Zeke turns his attention to Cena and tries to toss him, and Barrett comes over to help but Barrett slips back in. Alberto Del Rio is out at #38 and slowly makes his way to the ring as Mysterio yells at him to get in and fight him. Sheamus nails Mysterio from behind and Del Rio still is coming to the ring when Randy Orton comes out at #39, and nails Del Rio, tosses him in the ring, and hits the RKO. RKO for Sheamus. Orton ducks Trouble In Paradise and gives him an RKO. Orton tosses Kingston. Orton clotheslines Sheamus out. Orton and Cena are the only ones on their feet and they slowly turn around and, in a scene reminiscent of Ultimate Warrior & Hulk Hogan in 1990, stare each other down. Cena points at THE WRESTLEMANIA BANNER and they prepare to fight it out as Kane comes in at #40.
Everyone has entered the ring now, and Kane beats everyone down and then starts beating Orton up in the corner. Kane with a running clothesline and side suplex for Orton, but Zeke runs Kane over with a hard clothesline, then picks him up for a powerslam. Kane slips out so Zeke charges him and Kane ducks down and Zeke flies over the top. Kane rams Barrett hard into the corner and then nails Mysterio. Mysterio comes off the ropes and Kane catches him with a goozle, but Mysterio headscissors Kane over the top rope and then Barrett nails Mysterio and he goes out. We're down to four (in the ring, Santino's still on the outside), and Barrett tries to toss Cena while Orton tries to toss Del Rio. Cena fights his way back in and lays Barrett out and gives him a gutwrench suplex. Cena and Orton stare down again and circle each other, and then finally begin exchanging blows. Orton goes for the RKO, Cena escapes and goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Barrett nails Cena and gives him a suplex before putting the boots to Orton. Del Rio works Cena over and nails him with a running clothesline. Del Rio goes for another clothesline but Cena catches him and htis the Attitude Adjustment. Suddenly, Alex Riley runs back to the ring and Cena nails him, but suddenly Miz runs up from the broadcast booth and tosses Cena. Cena is not happy and he goes and says...something to Michael Cole that we can't hear, and then heads to the back. Orton, Barrett, and Del Rio circle one another and Orton goes after Barrett, but Del Rio nails him and Del Rio and Barrett double team Orton and choke him out in the corner. Orton clotheslines both of them and powerslams Barrett, neckbreaker over the back on Del Rio, and Orton sets for the RKO on Del Rio, but Barrett gets up first so Orton tosses him and Del Rio immediately comes up from behind and tosses Orton. Del Rio wins! Oh, wait a minute, Santino gets back in the ring and comes up behind Del Rio, sets it up, and hits the Cobra. Please no. Santino points to the Wrestlemania banner and goes to toss Del Rio, but Del Rio turns it around and tosses Santino, and it's now official...
2011 Royal Rumble Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Alberto celebrates in the ring as we get about 67,000 shots of Alberto looking up at the Wrestlemania banner.
2012 - WWE announced the following:
Boxing legend and pop culture icon "Iron" Mike Tyson will be inducted into the WWE's 2012 Hall of Fame class on March 31 in Miami, WWE announced to major media markets throughout the nation Monday. Among the most decorated pugilists in history, Tyson established his place in WWE lore in 1998 when he served as a special "outside enforcer" for the WWE Championship main event of WrestleMania XIV between Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Kansas City, Missouri and your announcers are Michael ‘George Brett’s Hemorrhoid’ Cole and Jerry ‘I wish I knew someone who could tell me about BBQ in KC’ Lawler.
John Laurinaitis makes his way to the ring because he will be Defending His Life in front of Triple H. John shakes everyone’s hands on his way around the ring.
John says that he is looking forward to his performance review because he has done a good job. He says that he has made some mistakes and then he asks for the people to name someone who has never made a mistake. John says that he has never made the same mistake twice. John says that he is confident that he will be named the permanent General Manager.
John reminds us that his good friend Triple H will be reviewing his job performance.
John says that he called the match at the Royal Rumble down the middle like he said.
There is one stop on the way and it is the Elimination Pay Per View (Johnny called it that). He says that Punk will be defending the title against five men. They are Kofi Kingston, Miz, R Truth, Dolph Ziggler, and Chris Jericho.
John wants to talk about tonight’s show because Beth will be defending the Divas Title against Eve Torres. Miz will face Kofi Kingston. Randy Orton will face Dolph Ziggler. Daniel Bryan will face CM Punk.
CM Punk makes his way to the stage and he has something to say. Punk starts to hum the traditional good bye song and the crowd joins in.
Punk makes his way to the ring and he gets in Johnny’s face and starts to sing and says goodbye to Clown Shoes.
John says that Punk owes him an apology because he did not screw him over for the title last night.
Punk says that he does not owe him an apology. Punk says that Johnny is a man of his word if he is poorly dressed, dork. He says that he wanted to see Johnny’s dimwitted face one last time before he gets 86ed by Triple H. Punk says that he has given him great enjoyment over the last few weeks. The way he has trouble speaking into a mic or his grasp on the English language. Punk points out that Johnny has learned to both suck and blow at the same time.
Punk says that he cannot wait to see Triple H kick his carcass out the front door.
Johnny says that he will not take this personally and the company is about business. Everyone knows that he is honest, fair, creative, and he has taken Raw and his WWE Championship to new heights. Johnny wants to put their differences aside and start new.
Johnny offers his hand and Punk thinks about it and he wants to know if Johnny is sleepy. The only way that he would want Johnny to offer his hand to the best in the world is if he wants to go to sleep.
The World Champion makes his way to the ring and he joins CM Punk and John Laurinaitis.
Daniel points out that he is the World Champion. Bryan says that he wants to make sure that everyone remembers him. Nobody cares about their petty personal problems. While they were conducting their little soap opera last night, he won a Steel Cage match against the World’s Strongest Man and the World’s Biggest Athlete. People don’t recognize the magnitude of his accomplishment. (Pop Pop). Daniel says that it is no disrespect to Punk, but what he went through last night is not much of a challenge.
Punk says that all he is is the best wrestler in the world.
Bryan says that is fantastic but he says that he is more than a wrestler. He is a role model. He is a vegan. He says that he doesn’t even eat meat.
Punk says that he knows that, but he wants to know what does he eat.
He wants to know if Punk is making jokes. Bryan says that he will take his pipe bomb and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Punk says that Clown Shoes is trying to stir things up between the two of them because they have been friends for a decade. Punk suggests that they give Kansas City the best wrestling match in the world.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring because he has an interest in the two men in the ring.
Sheamus apologizes for breaking up the love fest to remind everyone that he won the 2012 Royal Rumble. He reminds them that at the Elimination Chamber, they will both be defending their title. Sheamus reminds Johnny that he could be fired tonight.
Sheamus says that he has earned the right to be in the main event at Wrestlemania (and priority in pointing to the Wrestlemania Sign). He says that he will be the next WWE or World Champion. Sheamus wishes them both luck and he wants to share an Irish saying with Johnny. May Triple H kick you in the arse so hard you will be coughing up your lace panties. He tells Johnny Erin Go Braugh.
Punk offers his hand and Bryan shakes it.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Footage from the Falls Count Anywhere Match when Randy Orton got send down a flight of stairs after fighting in an elevator.
Josh Mathews is in Wade Barrett’s luxury box and we are told that Wade has a vested interest in this next match. We are told that Wade and Randy will be wrestling on Smackdown on Friday night.
Josh asks Wade about Randy. Wade says that he got rid of Orton for a month last time and he will do something worse on Friday night.
Match Number One: Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero versus Randy Orton
They lock up and Ziggler backs Orton into the corner and connects with a knee and punch instead of giving a clean break. Ziggler stops short after some leap frogs and Ziggler poses. They lock up again and Orton with a side head lock take down. Orton with a shoulder tackle and then he punches Ziggler in the corner.
Ziggler with an Irish whip into the corner but that means that Orton comes out with a clothesline. Orton sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles and follows it with a European uppercut. Ziggler with an uppercut followed by a drop kick to the back of the head.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a reverse chin lock and he gets on Orton’s back to add extra pressure. Orton runs Ziggler into the turnbuckles. Orton with an Irish whip but he runs into boots from Ziggler and Dolph gets a near fall. Ziggler misses a Stinger splash into the corner.
Orton with two clotheslines and Ziggler with a drop kick to Orton and he gets a near fall. Ziggler with a neck breaker and then he does some sit ups during the match and then he gets on the turnbuckles and Orton knocks the leg away and Ziggler is crotched. Orton looks at Vickie and then he punches Ziggler.
Orton with a superplex for a near fall. Orton blocks a punch and he punches Ziggler. Orton with two clotheslines and he ducks a clothesline from Ziggler and that means it is time for a power slam from Orton. Orton sends Ziggler to the apron for the IEDDT but Ziggler gets out of the hold and he applies the sleeper on Orton. Orton gets out of the hold and Orton with a rollup for a near fall.
Ziggler with a kick followed by the Fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler sets for another sleeper but Orton holds on to the ropes. Orton clotheslines Ziggler over the top rope and then he sends Ziggler into the ringside barrier. Orton gets Ziggler on the apron for the IEDDT and he hits it.
Orton with the RKO and he gets the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
We go to commercial.
We go to photos from the 25th (Not the 25th Anniversary) of the Royal Rumble of the battle between Kane and John Cena after their match went to a double count out. We see what Kane did to Zack Ryder.
John Laurinaitis with more glad handing in the back and he sees William Regal. John asks about his son and Regal mentions that he has twin daughters.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Brodus Clay with the Funkettes and Disco Ball versus Tyler Reks
They lock up and Brodus sends Tyler to the mat and he lets the punches flip flop and fly and then he hits an elbow. Reks with a drop kick that staggers Clay followed by a boot and punches. Reks with a double sledge but Clay with a belly-to-belly suplex followed by a forearm and the cross body for the three count.
Winner: Brodus Clay
CM Punk is getting ready in his locker room and Daniel Bryan enters. Punk says that they have been friends for a long time and Punk says that Bryan is not a role model. He says that people don’t know what a vegan is. Bryan says that he does not condone the killing of animals. He talks about the agony that animals feel when you eat meat. Daniel says that people don’t know what straight edge is. Punk says that unlike Bryan, he does not claim to be a role model, he just claims to be the best in the world.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: CM Punk versus Daniel Bryan in a Champion versus Champion Non-Title Match and Best in the World Match
The Code of Honor Entertainment is followed and they lock up. Punk with a side head lock. Punk with a shoulder tackle but Bryan with a drop kick and he works on the leg and tries for the surfboard but Punk tries to stretch. Bryan drives the knees into the mat and Bryan with a kick to the chest. Bryan with a European uppercut but Punk with a snap mare and kick to the back.
Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a reverse chin lock followed by a knee to the back. Punk with a slam but he misses a leg drop. Bryan with a kick to the chest and a knee drop. Bryan with another knee drop to the head and he works on the wrist. Bryan stomps on the elbow and he applies an arm bar.
Bryan with a European uppercut and Punk sends Bryan over the top rope to the floor. Punk goes to the apron and he connects with an elbow from the apron. Punk with a European uppercut but Bryan responds and then Bryan sends Punk over the ringside barrier and into the bell chamber.
Punk gets back into the ring and Bryan with kicks to the chest. Bryan with a side head lock but Punk with a belly-to-back suplex to escape the hold. Punk goes to the apron and he hits the springboard clothesline and he gets a near fall. Punk with a back breaker and he gets a near fall.
Punk with chops to Bryan but Bryan with an Irish whip. Bryan misses the running drop kick into the corner and Punk with a near fall. Punk with a rear chin lock. Bryan flips over Punk in the corner and they both go for cross bodies and they are down in the center of the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and Bryan continues to work on the wrist of Punk. We see footage from the commercial break when Bryan hit a drop kick to the elbow. Punk gets a near fall standing on Punk’s arm. Bryan with a snap suplex and then he goes up top. Punk kicks the ropes and crotches Bryan. Punk chops Bryan and then he tells Bryan that he is the best in the world before hitting a rana.
Punk blocks a kick and he punches Bryan followed by a back heel kick and a leg lariat. Punk with a clothesline and a swinging neck breaker. Punk goes for the running knee into the corner followed by a bulldog. Punk signals for the Go To Sleep and then Bryan escapes and goes to the floor. Punk with a baseball side and he tries for a suicide dive but Bryan with a forearm.
Bryan goes up top for the missile drop kick and he hits it and gets a near fall. Bryan with a series of kicks to the chest but Punk ducks a round kick and gets a near fall with a rollup. Bryan avoids a German suplex and then Bryan with a rana but Punk rolls through and gets a near fall.
Bryan with a kick to the head and Punk kicks out at two. Bryan with a kick to the chest and then he puts Punk on the top turnbuckle. Bryan sets for a superplex but Punk holds on to the turnbuckles and he punches Bryan and head butts him to the mat. Punk sets for the elbow drop and he hits it but he can only get a two count.
Punk gets Bryan up for the Go To Sleep but Bryan with a crucifix for a near fall. Bryan tries for the LeBell Lock but Punk counters and catapults Bryan into the turnbuckles. P
Chris Jericho pulls Bryan out of the ring and sends Bryan into the ringside barrier and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Daniel Bryan by disqualification
After the match, Jericho goes into the ring and hits the Codebreaker on Punk.
Bryan goes up the ramp and celebrates his victory while Jericho and Punk stare at each other.
It is time to see who the newest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame . . . Mike Tyson.
R Truth makes his way to the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and Truth is with Cole and Lawler for the next match.
Miz has something to say before his match. He says that last night at the Royal Rumble, Kofi Kingston got a huge ovation for doing a handstand. Miz throws out a few reallys. Miz says that he was the number one entrant and lasted more than forty-five minutes. He lasted longer than five former champions and two Hall of Famers combined. Miz says that his Road to Wrestlemania has had a few detours but he will beat Kofi Kingston and everyone else in the Elimination Chamber to headline Wrestlemania again because he is the Miz and he is . . . awesome.
Match Number Four: Kofi Kingston versus Miz in a They are in the Elimination Chamber Match Match
They lock up and Miz with a waist lock and Kofi with a standing switch into a side head lock. Miz with forearms and Kofi tries to slide through Miz’s feet but Miz stops him and he punches Kofi and kicks him in the chest and gets a near fall. Miz with more kicks and then he punches Kofi in the corner and follows it with knees and kicks.
Kofi punches Miz and he Irish whips Miz but misses a splash into the corner. Miz with a running knee lift and then he looks at Truth at the announce table. Kofi gets a near fall but Miz with a clothesline. He waits for Kofi to get up and he hits the Awesome Clothesline. Miz with a double sledge from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Miz with a cravate.
Kofi with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with a kick and a DDT on Kofi and he gets a near fall. Kofi struggles to get to his feet and Miz sets for another Awesome Clothesline but Kofi goes to the apron and hits the pendulum kick. Kofi goes up top and hits a cross body and he gets a near fall. Miz with a kick to the head and Miz tries for the Reality Check but Kofi blocks it. Miz blocks the SOS. Miz misses a charge into the corner and Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
John Laurinaitis is texting and David Otunga is drinking coffee so both men are using their strengths. John wants to know if David is looking for his job. David says that he enjoys his job as legal counsel to the interim Raw General Manager.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we look at the Wrestlemania sign.
It is time for a Rock video package in case you missed it during the Royal Rumble.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Eve Torres versus Beth Phoenix for the Divas Championship
Eve with punches and kicks to Beth as the match starts but the referee has to pull her out of the corner. Beth with a clothesline and the Glam Slam for the three count.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
After the match, Kane’s music plays and he appears on the TitanTron. He wants to know how it feels to know that everything that happened to his friend Zack Ryder happened because Cena would not Embrace the Hate. Cena is looking past Kane on his way to the Rock at Wrestlemania. Until Cena Embraces the Hate, he won’t be able to beat Kane or the Rock. Kane will continue inflict as much pain as possible on Zack Ryder until Cena embraces the hate.
Kane says that he is going to use Eve as a conduit to pass that message along.
Eve doesn’t know what to do and the pyro goes off on the stage.
Kane comes from behind and Eve screams and cowers from Kane.
John Cena’s music plays and he comes to the ring and he punches Kane and he takes him down to the mat. Kane with punches to Kane and then Cena kicks Kane and they go to the floor. Cena sends Kane into the ringside barrier but Kane sends Cena into the ringside barrier as well.
They fight on the ramp and Cena punches Kane but Kane punches back and he kicks Cena. Kane sends Cena into the ringside barrier. Cena Irish whips Kane into the ringside steps. Cena sends Kane’s head into the ring steps. Cena takes time to take off his shirt before embracing the dislike. Cena picks up the ring steps and he hits Kane with them.
Cena hits Kane again with the steps and he tells Kane that whenever he gets up he will hit Kane with the steps. Cena hits Kane in the head with the steps. Cena adjusts the announce table and the hits Kane in the head with the mic. Cena carries Kane to the announce table area and Cena tries for the Attitude Adjustment on Kane but Kane gets into the crowd and he runs away.
John Laurinaitis walks through the back, maybe for the final time as we go to commercial.
We are back and Justin Roberts introduces John Laurinaitis and he eventually makes his way to the ring.
John says that he has been looking forward to this moment all week. John has a few things to say before Hunter comes out. John says that he knows what he has done on Raw and everyone appreciates what he has done. The facts are in the numbers. John says that ratings are up versus a year ago. John says that everyone has to go through a self-assessment on a 0 to 5 scale. John says that he gave himself a lot of fives. John goes through the categories he gave himself a five. One of them was probably not anticipating when someone’s music is about to play.
Triple H comes out and he is dressed to give an evaluation.
Hunter tells John that he gave himself a lot of fives. Hunter tells John that it is higher than four or three. He tells John to forget about the assessments. He has been watching John for a while, since he backstabbed Hunter. Hunter says that John is spineless and gutless and he is not very swift. He thought that John would not see the obvious grab for power in front of him. John says that he was worse than anyone else. Not only did he grab the power. He did what John could never do as a competitor in the ring. He used the spot to become a star.
John says that he respects Hunter but Hunter has it wrong.
Hunter tells John not to lie and make it worse. John has personally involved himself in things like the WWE Championship match. Hunter says that Johnny has put himself on the show week after week to the detriment of others to make himself a star.
John says that he was doing it to make Raw better.
Hunter says that Vince let personal judgments cloud his decisions and he had to be replaced. The same happened to Hunter. Hunter says that John has done the same thing.
John says that he will do anything to save his job.
Hunter says that ‘anything’ leaves a lot to interpretation. He could tell John to take the mic and apologize to everyone and if they accept the apology, he will reconsider his stance.
John says that Triple H has shown that he has made some errors. He says that to err is human and to forgive is divine. He wants to apologize to everyone for any mistakes that he has made.
Hunter asks everyone and wants to know if that was good enough. Hunter says that he couldn’t hear John but he saw that his lips were moving so he had to be lying.
Hunter suggests that he give John a chance to be a Superstar. He can put John in a Gauntlet Match. Hunter says that would not be fair.
Hunter thinks of something. He says this is one of the things that his Father in Law is a certifiable genius. When he had an employee who he needed to see where their loyalty lied, he would have that person become a member of a certain club.
John gets some Chap Stick and he gets on his knees.
Hunter laughs at John and calls him a freak for wanting to do it. Hunter wants to know why John thought he would get his lips anywhere near him.
Hunter says that he is not going to do some silly stuff. He came out to do what needs to be done. Personal issues in the past have clouded everyone’s decision on their way to this position. Hunter has put his personal problems behind him and they have told Hunter that if he wants to come back to run Raw, he can do it at any time. Hunter tells John that it truly warms him heart to let John know that he wishes him well in all . . .
Before Hunter can say what he wants, a gong goes off and the fires burn on the stage while the building is bathed in a bluish hue. That is right, Sin Cara is not back . . . it is the Undertaker.
Taker makes his way to the ring and Taker circles around Hunter in the ring.
Taker looks at Hunter and then he looks at the sign and then he does the throat slashing gesture to Hunter. Hunter is not sure of what to do. Does he crotch chop or not? Hunter taps Taker on the shoulder and Taker wonders why Hunter touched him. Hunter leaves the ring and walks away.
We go to credits.
2014 - MVP debuted for TNA on Impact Wrestling in an episode that was taped just a few hours before it aired in Glasgow, Scotland. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!
We start the show with a look back at last week when Brutus Magnus apparently ended the TNA career of Sting, then we go to the locker room where, earlier tonight, Kurt Angle got into a backstage scuffle with Magnus and his cronies, and they had to be pulled apart by TNA officials.
We go to the ring where Magnus, Spud, and Ethan Carter III are greeted with a loud round of boos by the crowd in Glasgow, Scotland. He starts to speak, then remembers that he's in Scotland and starts speaking slowly for their benefit. He reminds us that Sting has fallen to the Reign of Magnus just like Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles, and he says that Sting had a hell of a run, but he ended Sting just like he said he would. He says there's a word that the locals should know very well because it happens when the dead weight is dropped, and it's called "thinning the herd". He and Dixie Carter have decided to rid TNA of the dinosaurs who have been drifting around, put them out to pasture, and make way for the new stars of the business like the Bromans, Zema Ion, Rockstar Spud, and Magnus. EC3 gives Magnus a dirty look at that, but Magnus doesn't notice that while he talks about all the people he's singlehandedly eliminated from this business. EC3 takes issue with that and starts to cut a promo on Magnus, but Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe come out to the ring and chase Magnus and his crew out. Angle says they came out here for one reason, and that's to avenge the screwing of the herd. Saying goodbye to Sting last week was the worst thing he's done in all the years he's been in TNA, and Sting was right: Magnus will go down in history as nothing but a paper champion. Magnus tells Angle to watch his mouth before he says something he regrets, and the crowd chants "paper champion" at Magnus as Angle says the only thing he regrets is letting him into the Main Event Mafia because they thought he could be somebody. Magnus says he is somebody because he's the World Champion and neither of them are, but Joe says their patience has run out and they came to Glasgow to kick some ass. Magnus says it sounds like they came here to fight, so he challenges Angle and Joe to face EC3 and himself later in the evening, but if they win, both of them are gone from TNA for good. Joe says they'll agree to that on one condition: if one of them pin or beat him unconscious, that guy gets a World Title shot. Magnus tells Joe we're on, and it looks like we have our main event!
Wait a minute, no we don't. Dixie Carter comes out to tell us that the match is not happening tonight, and Magnus isn't happy with that, but Dixie says there's a lot going on and she doesn't want to worry about this as well. The new investor is on his way here right now, and we can't take the chance on Magnus losing the title to Joe or Kurt. The crowd continues to inform Magnus that he's a paper champion, so Magnus tells them they have a deal and he'll see them in the ring later on tonight.
The Wolves show up at the arena and promise that we'll find out who the investor is later on tonight, and anyone who wants to talk to him before then will have to go through them.
Time for our opening match!
The Beautiful People vs Gail Kim & Lei'D Tapa
Gail and Tapa attack Velvet and Madison from behind before the bell even rings, and Gail proceeds to beat the crap out of Madison before tossing her across the ring into the clutches of Tapa, who proceeds to choke Madison. This is the first time Madison and Velvet have teamed up in over three years, and they quickly turn the tide as Madison avoids a charge by Gail and tags in Velvet, who goes to town on Gail with kicks and a bulldog for 2. Velvet goes for In Your Face, Tapa comes in to stop her, but the Beautiful People take her out and Velvet hits Gail with In Your Face for the win.
Winners: The Beautiful People
Chris Sabin comes storming out and tells Madison to take a hike so he can have a word with his girlfriend, then he proceeds to yell at Velvet for not returning his calls and tweets. She's still his girlfriend and she's supposed to support him, not cost him championships. He doesn't know what's going on with her, but he's willing to give her one chance right here and now to apologize to him so they can put it all behind them, then they can go in the back and she can give him a massage and they can move on. Velvet says that she only has one thing to say to Sabin: WE'RE DONE! Velvet walks off as Sabin goes nuts in the ring.
Joe and Angle are backstage talking strategy, and they say that they're not going down like Sting and AJ, and they burst into Bobby Roode's locker room. Angle says it's just the person he wanted to see, and he and Joe proceed to pound the snot out of Roode as we go to commercial.
We come back to Joe pulling Angle off of Roode, and Angle says he doesn't want Roode to take them out like he did to AJ and Sting, and Roode says he's taken Angle out before and he'd do it again, but even he can't take both Angle and Joe out by himself. Joe chokes Roode out and says the only reason he doesn't end Roode right now is because he wants Roode to see how this feels, and to think about it. Joe and Angle leave, and Roode smiles after them as they go.
James Storm comes out to the ring and says he and Gunner were friends long before he even came to TNA, but somewhere along the way, things fell apart, so he wants Gunner to come out so they can put an end to this right now. Gunner and hit briefcase come out to tell Storm that they both came to TNA to be great, do great things, and be remembered, and he felt like they did that as a team and as friends. But once he got the briefcase, things blew up, and he's not sure what happened along the way, but he had to make a career decision that would affect him and his family. He knows what kind of man Storm is, they're friends, but Storm would have done the same thing for his own son and daughter. He knows Gunner's story about his time in the military and how he got the name Gunner for a reason, and his time in the Marines taught him that he's not fighting for the government, he's fighting for the man beside him. That actually got the Scottish fans to start a USA chant, and Gunner says some of his friends died there and didn't come home, but he did the same thing for Storm: he fought with them and beside them. Storm knows Gunner was a great Marine and he knows what kind of man he is, and he's not the kind of guy to take credit, but he should start to because he's a hell of a wrestler. He's just a redneck who likes to ride his tractor and drink beer, but the most important thing to him is his kids, and when his daughter asked him why he's mad at Gunner, Storm realized he's been selfish. He tells Gunner that he's proud of him and he has his back, and he wants to shake Gunner's hand and tell him he's sorry.
Gunner shakes his hand and they have a nice moment, but Bad Influence comes out and Kazarian asks if we expect those monkey farts to believe a word that just came out of his mouth. The only thing worse than a drunk, dime store cowboy is a lying drunk, dime store cowboy. He knows Gunner is all beard and no brains, but he knows that Storm desires beer, ugly fat women, and above all else, the TNA World Title. Daniels says that since they're the smartest men in the room, he has an idea: Bad Influence takes on Gunner and Storm, and if Bad Influence wins the match, one of them gets his title shot. The four men start brawling, and the bell rings...as we go to commercial!
Gunner & James Storm vs Bad Influence
We're back, and Storm and Gunner are taking turns working Kazarian over, but Daniels sneaks in with a cheapshot on Gunner and they turn the tide. They hit a series of double teams and get some near falls on Gunner, but Gunner fights his way free and goes for the tag. Daniels distracts Storm and keep him from tagging in, and the assault on Gunner continues. Gunner backdrops out of Angel's Wings and tags in Storm, who goes to town on Daniels with a series of punches, a leaping enziguiri, and a top rope bodypress for 2. Kazarian saves Daniels from the Eye of the Storm and nails Storm with a missiledropkick, but Gunner tags in and runs right over Kazarian with overwhelming power moves. Gunner with a slingshot suplex and then he goes to the top rope, Daniels tries to nail Gunner again, but Storm knocks Daniels out with the Last Call, then Gunner comes off the top rope with a swandive headbutt on Kazarian for the win.
Winners: James Storm & Gunner
Storm hands Gunner his briefcase and raises his hand. Good match.
Dixie Carter is backstage stressing out over whoever the mystery investor is, and she sends Spud to find out who it is right now.
We see a video package looking back at the history of Samoa Joe in TNA, and he'll put his TNA career on the line later on tonight!
Dixie Carter is on the phone yelling at her attorney when Bobby Roode walks in holding his neck. Dixie says she doesn't have a lot of time if he doesn't have info on this investor, and Roode says he wants a shot at the TNA World Title in the main event of Lockdown. He did what she asked with both AJ Styles and Sting, and he doesn't give a damn what's on her plate because they had a deal. Dixie goes for her wallet, and Roode says he doesn't want her money and that he'll give her one week to figure it out, and until that happens, he's not doing any more favors for her.
Eric Young is backstage raving about how awesome it will be to get a shot at the tag title with Abyss, and ODB wants to know if this is a good idea and that she's worried about him because they call Abyss the monster for a reason. Abyss walks in and EY asks him if he's ready, and Abyss holds up the bag of thumbtacks and walks off. EY smiles and follows him off screen.
Spud is backstage and he's going to get answers from the Wolves right now in the ring.
Spud comes out to the ring, busts on the Scots in the crowd, and says he wants answers about this secret investor, and calls the Wolves out to the ring to get to the bottom of this. He asks who the investors are, but they're not talking, so he takes his coat off and reminds them who he is. He says they may be the best tag team in the world, but he's Dixie Carter's Chief of Staff, he pushed Jeff Hardy off a steel ladder, beat Samoa Joe within an inch of his life, and Ethan Carter III told him he's a lion and a tiger, and orders them to alk. He slaps Davey Richards in his face, and Eddie smiles and shakes his head as the crowd goes "OHHHHHHHHHH!" The Wolves take their jackets off and roll up their sleeves, then beat the snot out of Spud and give him the pop-up Alarm Clock. Eddie tells Spud to go tell Dixie that she'll find out the identity of the investor at the same time as everybody else later tonight. The investor did send them out here with a message: they're very interested in tonight's tag team main event, and if anyone interferes in that match, they will be fired.
We see a video package looking back at the history of Eric Young dragging Abyss back out of Joseph Park, and they'll challenge for the TNA World Tag Team Title...NEXT!
TNA World Tag Team Title Match: The Bromans vs Eric Young & Abyss
The X Division Title Match graphic flashes before the match for some reason, and Young dominates Jessie to start the match, completely outwrestling him and getting a 2 count off a belly to belly suplex. Abyss comes in and chokes Jessie, and Young has to drag him off of Jessie and opens himself up to a cheapshot. Now EY is caught in the wrong part of town and takes a good stomping from the Bromans, but he breaks free before too long and tags in Abyss, who cleans house on the champs and also Zema Ion when he tries to interject himself. the referee stops Abyss from ending Ion, so Abyss picks the referee up and, despite Eric Young's pleas to put him down, hits the referee with Shock Treatment. EY goes to check on the referee, but turns around and gets chokeslammed by Abyss. Abyss walks off to the boos of the fans, but Young gets a microphone and asks his "friend" if this is it. If this is how Abyss wants it, there's only one experiment left, and if Abyss wants to get crazy, EY invented crazy. Eric Young challenges Abyss to face him next week, one-on-one, in Monster's Ball. Abyss smiles and tells Young that he's going to hurt him, then nods his head in agreement. Well, I guess we can call this...
NO CONTEST
The Mystery Cameraman finds the Wolves out in the parking lot and, as Davey is in the van talking with the investor, Eddie tells the cameraman to back off unless he wants to wind up like Spud.
Bully Ray is backstage pushing a casket around. We'll find out what he's up to...NEXT!
We go to video of Samuel Shaw's latest date with Christy Hemme. He has her back to his place and shows her around. He's acting super creepy, but since she's oblivious, she doesn't think anything of him burning his hand on a candle and no-selling it, stealing her hair tie thingy, smelling it, then kicking her out of a dark room he says she doesn't need to see. He sends her to go pour some wine, then he turns on the lights and, sure enough, it's a Christy shrine. He puts the hair tie on a poster of her he put hair on, kisses it, and walks out to join her.
Bully Ray comes out to the ring with his casket and says he used to be the President of Aces & Eights, he used to be the World Champion, but one man took both those things away from him: Ken Anderson. He keeps slapping Anderson down and Anderson keeps coming back, so Bubba is going to challenge him to one last match: no pinfall, no countout, no DQ, the only way to win is to put your opponent in the casket. Anderson comes out to the ring and goes face to face with Bubba right over the casket and asks him what he thinks he'll do once Anderson is in the casket, and Bubba says he'll piledrive his wife and kids. Anderson asks if he thinks he's going to do that, and Bubba says he'd love to piledrive his wife. Ha. Anderson says everyone is sick of Bubba running his mouth, so he's going to do everyone a favor and shut his mouth, and by the way, his wife and kids say hi. Anderson slams the casket lid open into Bubba's face and proceeds to lay a beating on him, and they make their way into the ring where Bubba goes to the second rope, gets punched in the ding ding, and Anderson gives him a Finlay roll onto a chair. Anderson then starts destroying Bubba with the chair, but Bubba heads for the hills before Anderson can finish him off.
We see a video package looking at Kurt Angle and how he's a cyborg who is unbreakable and unrelenting.
Magnus and EC3 are backstage getting ready for the main event, and Magnus says EC3 is all muscles and he's the brain, and he knows EC3 doesn't like him, but that's okay because even though he'd rather not have a green rookie as his partner, he's the champ and he'll bring it home. EC3 says it sounds like Magnus is setting up his excuses and the only thing green is the moeny EC3's family gives Magnus, but before they can get too much further into this, Dixie comes in and asks them how it's going and they're suddenly all smiles. Dixie tells them not to let her down, and they'll be in the main event...NEXT!
IT'S MAIN EVENT TIME!
Samoa Joe & Kurt Angle vs Brutus Magnus & Ethan Carter III
Angle and EC3 start, and Angle completely dominates Carter before tagging Joe in to dish out some of his own punishment to the boss' nephew. Angle tags in and gets caught by Carter, who tags out to Magnus as we go out to the parking lot where the Wolves are getting out of the investor's limo. They make the cameraman pan down to the ground where we only see the investor's feet hitting the ground and walking off. We're at commercial.
We're back, and Angle is still in the wrong corner getting double teamed by EC3 and Magnus. Angle finally dodges a charge from Carter, dumps him on his head with a German suplex, and tags out to Samoa Joe. Joe comes in and DESTROYS Magnus, pummeling him with one big move after another before catching Magnus with a snap powerslam and a cross armbreaker. EC3 nails Joe, but Angle drags him out to the floor and suplexes him onto the thin floor mats. Joe ducks the Marufuji clothesline and gets the Kokina Clutch, and Magnus tries to fight it, but eventually is forced to tap out.
Winners: Samoa Joe & Kurt Angle
Joe is now the #1 contender to the TNA World Title, and Dixie Carter comes down the ramp with Spud in tow, and tells Magnus she knew this could happen. The crowd tells Magnus that Joe is gonna kill him as Joe tells Magnus that the odds have caught up with him, and not only are he and Angle going to stay in TNA for a long, long time, but he's the #1 contender for the World Title. He tells Magnus not to blame this on EC3 because he's the one who tapped out. The fans chant "you tapped out" at Magnus as Joe tells him to shine his belt up because Joe is gonna kill him.
Now Angle has the mic and he says it's nights like these that make him proud to be in this business, and he thanks Glasgow for making the pain go away, and he says that he's been here for eight years, and now that he's beaten Bobby Roode in a cage, he's glad to say that Kurt Angle is back. He tells Dixie to bring her checkbook because it's time for Kurt Angle to be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame. He tells Dixie to invite the new investor because this is real, it's damn real, but Dixie isn't having it, and she demands the investor, whoever he or she is, to show their face right now. The Wolves come out to the top of the ramp as the investor's music hits, and out comes...MVP! Wait, we didn't hear it from him first!
Thanks for reading the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com, I'll be back tomorrow to discuss Impact and more with Dave Scherer on the Stu & Pid Show!
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