[dramatic music playing]
[Randy] I want this more than anything in the world. [echoing]
[Cody] If I win…
[Wade] I'm guaranteed a headline match at WrestleMania. [echoing]
[Kofi] But that isn't the only thing I want.
[Miz] I want the world to know, I was victorious at the most…
-[wrestler 1] Difficult, grueling… -[wrestler 2] Exhausting event…
[narrator 1] In all of WWE, 30 Superstars, one ring.
-[Miz] I want them all to know… -[Kofi] I won.
[Wade] I won the Royal Rumble.
-[Sheamus] I won the Royal Rumble. -[Wade] I won the Royal Rumble.
[Randy] I won the Royal Rumble. [echoing]
[narrator 1] Tonight, the Road to WrestleMania begins.
And 30 Superstars start their journey toward immortality.
-[commentator 1] This is the Royal Rumble. -[crowd cheering]
[narrator 1] For 25 years,
the Royal Rumble match has been the event that's launched careers.
[Ross] The Rock has won the Rumble.
[narrator 1] And paved the way for future champions.
[Ross] Stone Cold is going to WrestleMania.
[narrator 1] Now, on this historic night, who is destined for greatness?
Tonight, 30 elite WWE Superstars,
-["Dark Horses" playing] -[narrator 1] One match, one opportunity.
Who is going to WrestleMania?
-[crowd cheering] -[buzzer blaring]
[music fades out]
[narrator 1] And now, WWE presents,
the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble,
the Road to WrestleMania begins now.
-[fireworks popping] -[crowd cheering]
["Dark Horses" playing]
♪ You can't count us out ♪
♪ We've been running up Against the crowd ♪
♪ Yeah, we are the dark horses… ♪
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the silver anniversary
of the most unique event in WWE. This is the Royal Rumble.
You are looking live at a sold-out Scottrade Center
in St. Louis, 18,121 WWE fans are here
as we start, gentlemen, the Road to WrestleMania.
And the atmosphere is absolutely electric.
I can't wait. Let's get going.
-Are you excited? -Man, look at these people.
-[laughs] -I mean, everybody's hot, I'm hot.
-Let's get kicked off, man. -All right, and what a way
we're gonna kick things off, ladies and gentlemen.
Because we're gonna start things off inside a steel cage
with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
The cage is designed to keep competitors in.
Although one of the ways you can win is by escaping the steel cage.
However, the cage can also be used as a weapon.
Tonight, it hosts the World Championship.
[bell ringing]
[Lilián] The following is a Triple Threat match,
and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
This match will be contested inside a steel cage,
and the only way to obtain victory is by pinfall, submission,
or escaping the cage.
["Flight of the Valkyries" starts playing]
[Michael] Well, I can't stand this guy.
The World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan.
I mean, first off, the guy's a nerd and he's a geek.
He was an underachiever,
and now he steals the World Championship from a knocked-out Big Show
and he's running around acting like he's all that all of a sudden.
[Booker] Man, you can say what you wanna say about D. Bryan,
but D. Bryan is the World Heavyweight Champ.
Let me say that again. The World Heavyweight Champion, D. Bryan.
-What's the plan for tonight, dawg? -Yes!
[Jerry] Well, he is right now,
-Booker T, but you gotta admit… -World Heavyweight Champion!
[Jerry] …I don't know if there's any more dangerous situation…
[crowd booing]
[Jerry] …to have to defend that championship in than a steel cage,
and to have your two opponents, the Big Show and Mark Henry.
[Michael] If there's one thing I can't stand in this life,
it's a conceited egotist.
-I can't stand conceited people. -[Jerry] What? Wait a minute.
[Michael] Daniel Bryan hasn't done anything.
He's escaped with the title week after week after week,
-and he's strutting around out here like… -World Heavyweight Champion!
[Michael] …he's the greatest World Champion of all time.
[Jerry] Well, how do you stand to look
-in the mirror every morning, Cole? -[Booker] Exactly.
-[Michael] Funny. -[Booker] Ego?
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, you.
[chuckling]
[Jerry] Daniel Bryan getting familiar with the surroundings.
[Booker] Let me tell you, D. Bryan's the kid
who's proud of himself, proud of the accomplishment
he has made, and that's becoming World Champion.
I mean, this kid has come a long way. Cole, you got to give it to him.
["Some Bodies Gonna Get It" playing]
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Booker] Oh, my goodness.
♪ Somebody gon' get they ass kicked Somebody gon' get… ♪
[Michael] He is the world's strongest man.
[Jerry chuckles] Maybe the widest.
[Michael] Mark Henry has had a bitter rivalry with the Big Show
'cause he took Big Show out of action for four months this summer.
Mark Henry has also had a developing rivalry
with Daniel Bryan, the World Champion.
This is an extremely volatile situation for that man Daniel Bryan.
[Booker] Of course, Cole, we got rivalries, man,
but this thing, it's not about rivalries, man.
It's about that World Heavyweight Championship
and holding on to it. Man, you've got a whole lot right there.
♪ Somebody gon' get they ass kicked Somebody gon' get their wig split ♪
♪ Beat 'em up, beat 'em up Break his neck, break his neck ♪
♪ Beat 'em up, beat 'em up Break his neck… ♪
[Michael] Glad you could join us. Sold out here tonight in St. Louis.
Michael Cole, the hall of famer Jerry "The King" Lawler,
and, of course, the legendary Booker T at ringside.
♪ Well, it's the Big Show! ♪
-[fireworks crackling] -[crowd cheering]
♪ It's the Big Bad Show now ♪
[Michael] Well, Big Show is the world's largest athlete,
-and a former world champion. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] But is he focused mentally?
Because the past couple of weeks, he's really been out of it
ever since a situation that happened a couple of weeks ago on SmackDown.
[Jerry] Yeah, he may be in the world's worst mood,
and it's all because of Daniel Bryan.
[Michael] It was 16 nights ago on Friday Night SmackDown.
-[crowd chuckling] -[commentators laughing]
I know who your daddy is.
[Michael] Yeah, he has that effect on people.
[Jerry] Nonetheless, that’s way too big for her.
[Michael] On Friday Night SmackDown a couple of weeks ago,
Big Show versus Daniel Bryan.
No disqualification, no count-out matchup. And watch this.
-[Jerry] Oh, my gosh. -[Michael] A tragic accident.
Big Show falling over Daniel Bryan's girlfriend, A.J.
[crowd groans]
[Michael] Just tragic developments.
[Jerry] Well, there's still some question as to whether that was an accident or not.
[Michael] This past Friday night, Daniel Bryan challenged the Big Show.
You put a 95-pound woman in the hospital.
[crowd jeering]
You're not a man, you're a monster!
[mic drops]
[crowd cheering]
What happened to A.J. was an accident, you arrogant little ass!
[crowd cheers]
What happens to you this Sunday… won't be.
[Michael] Ominous words from Big Show directed at Daniel Bryan.
Nonetheless, we've been told, ladies and gentlemen,
Daniel Bryan has actually dedicated this match tonight
to his girlfriend A.J.,
who is still recovering from a head trauma and a cervical sprain.
[Lilián] Introducing the challengers.
First, from Silsbee, Texas, weighing in at 412 pounds,
he is the world's strongest man, Mark Henry.
[crowd cheering]
[Lilián] Standing at over seven feet tall, weighing in at 441 pounds,
the Big Show!
[crowd cheering]
[Lilián] And from Aberdeen, Washington, weighing in at 210 pounds,
-he is the World Heavyweight Champion… -[crowd cheering]
[Lilián] …Daniel Bryan!
[crowd jeering]
-Yes! -[crowd member] Let's go!
[Jerry] Well, I got a feeling
that young man isn't gonna be champion for long.
[Michael] I agree with you. Ladies and gentlemen,
this is a Triple Threat match
for the World Heavyweight Championship inside a steel cage.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Bryan!
[Michael] Now again, the rules of this matchup,
the first man to gain a pinfall, a submission,
or escape the cage where both feet hit the floor,
will become the World Heavyweight Champion.
Booker, who do you think's in charge here?
[Booker] Right now, you could say what you want to say,
-but D. Bryan has been resilient… -[bell ringing]
-…since capturing the world title. -[Jerry] Oh! There he goes.
[Booker] And the kid is crafty. He's gonna figure out something tonight.
-That's my money right there. -[Michael] Yeah, but look at the--
And look, big shoulder knockdown by Big Show.
First cover of the matchup, Mark Henry makes sure it doesn't happen.
You have got Big Show and Mark Henry in the ring,
combined weight of 857 pounds.
Daniel Bryan just weighs a shade over 200.
-[Jerry] No! -[Michael] And another big knockdown
by the Big Show.
Big Show is still angry. You gotta remember, guys,
he had a nine-year drought of not winning the World Heavyweight Championship
before he won at TLC back in December.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's Big Show thinking here?
-Oh! -[Booker] Oh, my goodness!
[Michael] How to use the cage as a weapon.
[Booker] Let me tell you, if D. Bryan could just stay out of harm's way,
like he's doing right now,
this kid could win this match tonight, guys.
[Michael] And again, Big Show only held that World Heavyweight Championship
-for 45 seconds. -[Booker] Oh!
[Jerry] Look at Bryan!
[Michael] And Bryan trying to climb the steel cage
and hold the championship, and Big Show holding on again.
[Booker] D. Bryan trying to sneak out, and that's exactly what I'm saying.
D. Bryan trying to figure out, "How am I gonna leave tonight,
still World Champion?"
[Jerry] Leave? I'm trying to figure that out myself, Booker.
[Michael] Daniel Bryan's gonna be lucky to walk out of the ring.
-[Jerry] Watch this. Ramming and… Oh, man! -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Mark Henry was stuck between a-- I was gonna say a rock and a hard place,
but no, he was stuck between steel and the Big Show.
-He couldn't go anywhere. -[Michael] And again, Daniel Bryan
looking to escape the cage, which may be the only way
he has a chance in this, guys.
-Ooh! -[Booker] Whoa!
[Michael] I can't see him pinning either one of these men
or getting them to submit.
[Jerry] Well, Daniel Bryan could just give up.
[Michael] Yeah, well, he may want to do that. Man!
[Booker] Big Show is a force and that guy's a--
Like I said, I'm picking D. Bryan, but I don't know what's gonna stop
-this angry giant right here tonight. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
-Weapon of mass destruction. -[Booker] My God!
[Michael] Went for the big right hand, but instead connected with the steel cage.
And now, Daniel Bryan looking to take advantage.
You see the size of Big Show's hand?
Enveloping the skull of Daniel Bryan again.
[Jerry] Well, if you talk about size,
when you look at the Big Show and you look at Mark Henry,
and then you look at Daniel Bryan, you don't think he has a chance,
but somehow, as you say, he's been crafty.
[Booker] He's been crafty.
[Michael] And Daniel Bryan again takes the big man off his feet.
[Booker] Not just crafty, D. Bryan is smart.
I mean, the guy knows every inch of that ring,
so I'd say don't count D. Bryan out. He is the champion.
[Michael] Look what he's doing here. He's keeping the big men off their feet.
And Daniel Bryan, we saw the expression changed.
Bryan now has gone into attack mode.
There's no doubting the credentials of Daniel Bryan.
I mean, for ten years, he battled his way to get to this position in WWE.
He's a very accomplished wrestler, there's no doubt about that.
[Booker] You know what that tells me, Cole?
That tells me this kid has no quit in his body.
This kid will do whatever he had to-- that he had to do to stay in the game
-and that's what he's doing right now. -[Jerry] If I were him right now,
I'd try to climb out of that cage while he's got both these giants down.
-[Michael] Look, the door's open. -[Jerry] The door's open.
[Michael] Daniel Bryan looking to just waltz out of the door
and keep his championship here.
Mark Henry's gonna make sure that that doesn't happen.
The world's strongest man
trying to drag Daniel Bryan back into the ring.
Close that door!
[Michael] Yes, sir.
Oh, man. Mark Henry is dangerous-- Oh, look at this.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Booker] Whoa!
[Michael] Mark Henry's dangerous enough,
and then you give him this steel cage to play with?
-[crowd gasping] -[Jerry winces]
Daniel Bryan just slingshotted face-first right into that steel cage.
[Booker] There's the goal I was talking about.
I mean, as far as using this cage as a weapon.
These guys can use this cage, and it's totally legal.
That's the good part.
Check this out right here.
[crowd groaning]
[Booker] Mark Henry just created a new move
and used the cage to his own advantage, man.
This is gonna get dangerous.
-[Jerry] I'd call that a steel slingshot. -[Michael] Yeah. Hey.
Big Show, with that big kick up underneath the jaw of Mark Henry,
has neutralized the world's strongest man.
And now Big Show's turned his attention to Bryan.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Big Show just-- He--
The man was embarrassed back in December, number one,
when he only held the world title for 45 seconds
before being preyed on by Daniel Bryan
-and cash in on that briefcase. -[Jerry] Was that a record, Cole?
[Michael] Pretty-- Yeah, I think it was, actually.
-[Jerry] Oh, watch this. Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Big Show has been waiting a long time for this.
Daniel Bryan bowed off the Big Show in recent weeks,
calling what Big Show did to Bryan's girlfriend not an accident.
[Booker] I'm gonna tell you what's not an accident.
That's this beatdown that the Big Show is putting
on this kid right now, man.
[Jerry] Oh, you're right. Big Show's been waiting for this.
[Michael] Big Show was called, by Daniel Bryan,
a monster, a freak, a bitter and vengeful, selfish man.
[Jerry] Did anybody ever think about the fact that
that accident would never have taken place
if Daniel Bryan had not had his girlfriend out there at ringside?
[Michael] That's the point I've been making all along.
I mean, he brought his girlfriend out here.
[Booker] I'ma tell you something, man.
Love, you know, make you do strange things. I said it before,
this kid is one of those guys who's now the world champion,
probably never had a girlfriend in his life,
and he's living it up right now. He's the man.
He's the World Heavyweight Champ.
[Jerry] Booker, I gotta take exception.
I think Daniel Bryan is more in love with that world championship
-than he is his girlfriend. -[Michael] Well, that's what you say,
but we know A.J. loves Daniel Bryan. She's told him that
when Daniel Bryan said, "How much?" She said, "I love you dearly."
I mean, A.J. is enamored with this man.
And now Mark Henry on the prowl, 412-pounder.
[Jerry] You know when you think about it, do you recall if--
I don't recall hearing Daniel Bryan say that he loved A.J. back.
[Michael] What would this guy know about love anyway?
I don't think the guy's ever had a girlfriend before A.J.
[Booker] The one thing D. Bryan said, he said, "I appreciate."
That's kinda like saying, "I love you."
Sometimes, men-- it's hard for men to say that word.
-[Michael] Booker, come on! -[crowd chanting] Let's go, Bryan!
[Michael] Can you keep making excuses for this guy?
[Jerry] Did you say, "I appreciate you", that's the same as saying "I love you"?
[Booker] Because, you know, like, it's hard for some to say--
-[Michael] No! -[Booker] Whoa!
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Whoa!
And now--
[Booker] D. Bryan, make your move right now, son.
[Michael] Could this be--
And look at this. Daniel Bryan, here's the cover on Mark Henry,
who kicks out at two. And remember,
you win pinfall, submission, or escape from the cage,
first man to do that is the World Champion.
[Jerry] I still say if Daniel Bryan's gonna retain that championship,
his best bet is to try to escape. Oh!
[Big Show grunts loudly]
[Michael] Oh, man.
[Booker] Whatever endurance that D. Bryan has,
Big Show is taking it out of him right now.
-This is it. -[Michael] And Big Show in control.
Daniel Bryan is about to go for a-- I thought he was going for a ride.
Bryan battled back into this.
-[Jerry] Oh, look at this! -[Michael] Call that a DDT by Bryan.
[Jerry] My gosh, I've never seen anything like that.
-[Michael] Can Bryan capitalize-- -[Jerry] How did he pull that off?
Crawling to the cover on Big Show,
-who kicks out with authority. -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] And again, that's the uphill task.
And now Daniel Bryan going for submission maneuver.
[Booker] Oh, if D. Bryan get this locked in, Big Show can tap--
[Michael] Yeah, LeBell lock. LeBell lock locked in.
If Big Show taps out, Bryan retains the championship.
The LeBell lock is locked in on the big man.
And Mark Henry makes sure
that Big Show doesn't have a chance to tap out.
-Saves the matchup for himself. -[Booker] I'ma tell you,
it looked like Big Show was real close to puttin' that hand on that mat
and it was over with.
-Real close, dawg. -[Jerry] Yeah, and you know-- Oh!
You know Mark Henry didn't break that up just to save the Big Show.
He broke it up to make sure that Daniel Bryan didn't win the--
-[Michael] Oh! -[Jerry] Oh, man!
Was that a knockout punch? I think so.
[Booker] We got a new champion right here.
[Michael] Big Show gonna win the championship--
-And Daniel Bryan saves his title. -[crowd gasping]
[Booker] Wow.
[Jerry] Yeah, I'd run too. Fast!
[Michael] And Daniel Bryan again trying to escape the cage.
-Big Show's in pursuit. -[Jerry] He's out!
-[Booker] Not tonight. -[Michael] Daniel Bryan staying there.
Daniel Bryan trying to get down from the cage here.
[Booker] Big Show's not gonna let it happen right there.
Big Show's got this kid by the throat.
And he's about to choke the life out of him.
[Jerry chuckles]
[Michael] And Daniel Bryan trying to fight back into this thing.
Big Show hanging on to the champion.
Daniel Bryan teetering high on top of the cage.
[Jerry] Everybody's on their feet,
and Daniel Bryan wants to get his feet down on the floor.
Oh!
Daniel Bryan able to break the hold, Booker. Look at this!
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] D. Bryan, all he has to do is just get his feet down to the floor,
he's got that championship secured, man.
[Jerry] Oh my gosh. Look at that. How dangerous is this?
[Booker] Big Show isn't gonna let it happen, man.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Booker] Wow!
-[Michael] Look at this. -[Jerry] Ahold of Daniel Bryan's wrist.
[Michael] Big Show hanging on--
-and Daniel Bryan has won! -[bell ringing]
-["Flight of The Valkyries" playing] -[Booker] Whoa! What a match.
[Lilián] Here is your winner and still World Heavyweight Champion,
Daniel Bryan.
[Michael] How in the world did this guy-- He pulled it out again.
Daniel Bryan pulled it out again!
Now, if that wasn't luck, straight out luck.
[Booker] I wouldn't call it luck. Like I said, this kid is crafty.
[Michael] Daniel Bryan staring right up at the Big Show.
Big Show was so, so close again.
[Michael] How was that crafty?
[Jerry] Daniel Bryan was able to get to the top of that cage,
get on the other side.
Even though the Big Show had him by his wrist,
Bryan was able to somehow break that grip and drop to the floor.
[Booker] D. Bryan took a beating inside that steel cage,
but he weathered the storm.
D. Bryan is truly the World Heavyweight Champion.
-Let's give it up for this kid. -[Bryan] Yes!
[Michael] Yeah, he's still the World Heavyweight Champion, but--
Yes!
[Michael] I mean, I don't know how Daniel Bryan survived again.
Big Show had ahold of Daniel Bryan, and Bryan just slipped away from him
and fell in a heap to the floor, and managed to retain the championship.
-[Booker] Look at this kid. -[Michael] Yeah,
-he's gonna be proud about this, isn't he? -[Booker] Look at him,
look how happy this guy is. I mean, that's what I'm talking about.
When you become world champion, it seems to give you that extra energy
that you can go for miles and miles and miles.
That's what this boy D. Bryan is on right there, adrenaline.
[Jerry] Maybe he can go tell his girlfriend he loves her now.
-Still the World Heavyweight Champion! -[Booker] Perhaps.
[Jerry] Check this out. Look at the Big Show.
He's got a death grip on Daniel Bryan's wrist,
trying to pull him back inside that steel cage.
But somehow, you're gonna see here,
Daniel Bryan breaks the grip, drops to the floor.
Lucky he didn't break an ankle there,
but he retains the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Michael] Yes, folks, Daniel Bryan is…
he's still the World Heavyweight Champion.
Big Show can't believe it, he was so close again.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
-Yes! -[Jerry] Okay, try not to look so amazed.
[Michael] Well, folks, Daniel Bryan survived tonight.
If Daniel Bryan can survive the Elimination Chamber next month,
-he could main event WrestleMania. -Yes!
Yes!
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 25th anniversary
of the Royal Rumble. We're at the gateway to the west.
This is St. Louis, Missouri, the world-famous arch,
of course, on the Mississippi River.
What a night it's been as we're really on the Road to WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Well, you're right about that.
["Invincible" playing]
[Jerry] Check out this huge crowd here in St. Louis.
And, you know, talking about the Road to WrestleMania,
we know one Superstar headlining WrestleMania,
and, of course, we already know of another match headlining WrestleMania.
[Michael] Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed the biggest match
-in the history of sports entertainment. -[Jerry] Wow.
[Michael] The people's champion, The Rock, versus ten-time WWE champion, John Cena.
Right now, an inside look at the man whose mantra
is "hustle, loyalty, and respect," the megastar, John Cena.
-[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena! Cena! Cena! -I think they want you.
I don't blame a portion of the audience for getting complacent with me,
but I'm not gonna change who I am.
Stop looking at John Cena and look at me, everyone. Andrew--
-Face forward, everybody, face forward. -Everyone, look at momma.
["Invincible" playing]
John Cena, since 2002, I seen him from the beginning to now
and the way he's just come up.
Whether you love him or hate him, you got to respect him for that.
["Invincible" continues]
I don't like John Cena 'cause he's a phony.
Like, I'm tired of the phoniness, man.
Coming from Australia, it's really important to me
so I can see John Cena 'cause he's like a hero to me. [chuckles]
He stands up for what he believes in and he's not fake.
I hated Cena myself. But let me tell you,
after years of what he's done,
he's earned my respect like no one has ever earned my respect.
[crowd chanting] Cena sucks! Cena sucks! Cena sucks! Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
♪ Voices in the air I hear ‘em loud and clear ♪
♪ Telling me to listen ♪
♪ Whispers in my ear Nothing can compare ♪
♪ I just wanna listen ♪
♪ As my world turns, the heart beats ♪
♪ Not only in my chest But the heart in the streets ♪
♪ So, when they feel this, they feel me ♪
♪ But I can’t feel nothin’ Outside these Dre Beats ♪
♪ I am from the city of people Came from the bottom ♪
♪ Standing on top of What was supposed to be my coffin ♪
♪ What's up? ♪
♪ Inception shows me As a dead man walkin' ♪
♪ But reflections show This kid’s still got it ♪
♪ Better be known I got the throne Like I don’t know that there’s a king ♪
♪ Never grew up around a family 'Cause I’m not a human being ♪
♪ And anyone under my level That’s coming in my spot, for the top ♪
♪ Let ‘em have it, cause when I leave The whole world drops ♪
♪ Lace up Kells ♪
♪ I hear voices in the air ♪
♪ I hear it loud and clear Telling me to listen ♪
♪ Whispers in my ear Nothing can compare ♪
♪ I just wanna listen ♪
♪ Telling me I am invincible ♪
♪ I am invincible I am invincible, oh, oh ♪
♪ Telling me I am invincible ♪
♪ I am invincible, I am invincible ♪
♪ Oh, oh, I am… ♪
Dedication is the word.
He's dedicated to what he does. He loves what he does.
-[child] How often are you home? -Not enough.
This kinda is my home.
We will sell out at the TD Garden.
-Gonna do one more take of-- -[John] You got to be Johnny-on-the-spot.
I love this, l love it!
Great, you guys are gonna be my special guests tonight at Raw.
-[woman 1] All right. -[woman 2] Oh my God!
[child] Oh, my God!
I was handsome at one time.
-Can I hug? -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
-[camera shutter clicks] -That's an easy one.
-Ah! Look at you. -[crowd screaming]
I mean, I don't pander for admiration, I'm just me.
♪ I hear voices in the air ♪
♪ I hear 'em loud and clear ♪
♪ Telling me to listen… ♪
The upcoming match at WrestleMania…
♪ Nothing can compare ♪
…to me, means everything.
♪ I just wanna listen ♪
♪ Telling me I am invincible ♪
♪ I am invincible, I am invincible ♪
♪ Oh, oh, I am ♪
Everything.
[crowd cheering]
["Glamazon" playing]
[crowd cheering]
["Glamazon" continues playing]
[bell ringing]
[Justin] This is an Eight-Diva Tag Team bout, set for one fall.
-Introducing first… -[Jerry] Whoa!
[Justin] The team of Nikki and Brie, The Bella Twins,
Natalya, and the Divas Champion, "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix!
[Jerry] Booker, do you ever think about this?
-When God, you know-- -[Booker chuckling]
I think you know you gotta talk to me about this.
You can't talk to Cole about this.
When God made The Bella Twins, he was just showing off, right?
[Booker] Oh, my goodness. Let me tell you something,
this matchup right here, I've been looking forward to all night
because you know we're gonna see a whole lot of great moves,
as well as a lot of great curves.
-[Jerry laughing] -[Michael] You probably thought
about that line all day, didn't you?
[Booker] I was just thinking about it right here.
[Jerry] More curves than a race track, Cole.
[Booker laughing]
[Michael] And there's the Divas Champion, Beth Phoenix, been dominant as of late.
Why don't you guys talk about Natalya? She's a beautiful woman as well.
[Booker] Man!
-Don't do it like that, baby. -[Jerry chuckling]
-["Holla" playing] -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
♪ So all my girls in the club say hm 'Cause you know just how we do… ♪
[Justin] And their opponents, the team of Tamina, Alicia Fox,
Eve Torres, and Kelly Kelly.
[Michael] Of course, Alicia, Kelly and Eve,
they've been writing a fitness blog at perezhilton.com.
Alicia, we understand, gonna have the latest blog coming out tomorrow
but you see Eve smiling there, guys, but it, you know,
it's been a real tough couple of weeks for Eve
because of the situation with her boyfriend Zack Ryder and Kane.
There's been a lot of concern from the Divas about the mental state of Eve,
and in an exclusive interview at wwe.com,
Alicia was saying that Eve's not been in a talkative mood, that she's scared.
Well, they hope their relationship is strong enough to get through this.
[Jerry] I'm sorry, something's wrong with my eyes, Cole.
[Booker] What did you say?
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Glad I got professionals out here working with me.
As Natalya gets set to start things off with Tamina.
Of course, Booker, this has been a developing story on SmackDown.
Natalya, the daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart,
of course a legendary WWE Superstar.
Tamina, the daughter of hall of famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
[Booker] Tamina, the warrior princess, definitely has been on a roll lately.
Hitting that big splash off the top.
Shades of her dad. You gotta love her, man.
Oh!
[Michael] Natalya been so upset with the fact that Tamina--
[Jerry] I tell you, as long as Tamina took to get that hair done today,
-I guarantee that makes up… -[Michael] Here's the cover again.
[Booker] You don't wanna get in a chop fest with Tamina, man.
-[Michael] And here comes the tag to Eve. -[Booker] Wait a minute.
-[Jerry] Whoa-ho-ho! -[Booker] Bounce.
[Jerry] Baby, I got the fries to go with that shake.
-[Michael] Eve calls that the Booty Pop. -[Jerry] The what?
[Michael] Eve drop.
-As you see, Natalya now… -[Jerry, Booker chuckling]
-[Michael] Well, that's what she says. -[Jerry] I like it, though.
[Michael] What you laughing at? Booker, you think I make that stuff up?
-[Booker] No. -[Michael] I do my research,
-unlike other people here. -[Booker chuckling] I know you do.
[Michael] Beth, the Divas Champion, into the ring now.
[Jerry] I'd gladly research the Booty Pop.
-[Booker] I like it. I like it. -[Michael] Sure you will. [chuckles]
-Eve up over the top. -[Jerry] Nice move by Eve.
And Eve trying to get focus on this matchup here tonight
because of the situation with her boyfriend Zack Ryder,
who's been the subject of many attacks by Kane over the past couple of weeks.
-[Jerry] Oh, look at that. -[Michael] Beth Phoenix.
Knees to the spine and the Divas Champion now on the attack.
[Booker] Ooh! Eve got a lot of high-risk moves
and that was one of 'em right there, just didn't pay off.
[Scott] Let's go.
[Michael] Here's a cover again, and Eve kicks out.
Beth Phoenix on Twitter this week
called herself the most dominant champion ever.
-[Jerry] You follow Beth, right? -[Michael] Yeah, I do.
-[Beth] Get her, Brie! -[Nikki] Come on, Brie!
-[Jerry] She doesn't follow you. -[Michael] A lot of people follow me.
-I have more followers than Booker does. -[Booker] No, I don't think so.
-Three! -Come on, ref!
[Booker] Just checked my Twitter account and I'm up to 500,000.
-[Michael] Wow-- -[Jerry] Yeah, okay! Okay. [laughing]
-Yay! -[Booker laughing]
[Jerry] I bet The Bella Twins have tons of followers.
-One, two-- -[Michael] Over again with the leg,
on Eve, who kicks out.
[Kelly] Come on, Eve! Come on, Eve!
[Booker] King, what's it you like about the Bellas?
-[Jerry] Everything. Everything. -[Booker] I mean-- I knew that.
[Jerry] I like the double--
-The… -[Michael] Yes?
-[Jerry] Double… They're double trouble! -[Michael laughing]
-What? -[Jerry] Well…
[Michael] The Bellas, a great tag team as well.
-Remind me of Harlem Heat in the day. -[Booker] No, no.
[Michael] And here we go. Alicia…
in on the tag, and here comes Alicia Fox!
Alicia, go.
[Booker] Alicia's one of my favorite Divas.
I mean, she just gets in the ring and just go all out, and I love that.
[Michael] I notice you've been spending a lot of time with Alicia,
going over some of those moves.
[Booker] Well, you know, she's a big fan of mine.
I actually taught her that scissor kick.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, this is, of course, the Royal Rumble.
We're live tonight in St. Louis, and I'd like to thank the fans
all over the world watching tonight
in places like the United Kingdom on Sky Box Office,
-Canada, Australia, New Zealand… -[screams]
[Michael] …and all over the Middle East.
[Jerry] They're enjoying the Divas all over the world right now.
[Michael] Alicia didn't enjoy that move.
Eighteen thousand one hundred twenty-one WWE fans here
in St. Louis tonight as we begin the Road to WrestleMania.
-Come on, Fox! -Come on!
[Booker] You know what impresses me more about these females?
I mean, they go in the ring and they are so tough,
as well as beautiful.
They go out in the ring and get it done, and you gotta love that.
-Check it out. Beautiful move. -[Tamina] Come on, come on, come on!
[Michael] And here comes Kelly, former Divas Champion.
[Jerry chuckling]
[Kelly grunts]
-[Nikki grunts] -[Kelly screams]
-[Jerry] Oh! Damn. -[Michael] Look at Kelly go!
-I'm dizzy. -[Booker] Wow.
[Jerry] There's still something wrong with my eyes.
-I can't take 'em off Kelly Kelly. -[Booker] Check it out.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Kelly's on a roll. This could be it.
-One, two… -[Michael] Looking to put the twins away,
-and there's a little twin magic. -[Booker] Come on.
[Michael] Got Eve into the ring now.
-[Jerry] Look out. Is it Nikki or Brie? -[Michael] And there's Natalya.
[Jerry] Oh, Eve going to the floor.
[Michael] And Tamina getting involved as well, and now
we've got a melee outside the ring.
[Booker] We got a donnybrook.
[Jerry] I love a melee and a donnybrook,
as long as it involves Divas.
[Booker] It's a Diva-brook.
-[Jerry] Need to break 'em down. -[Michael] There are Divas everywhere.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] Wait, Kelly. Kelly Kelly, look out!
-[Booker] Whoa! -[Michael] Kelly from the top.
-[Booker laughing] -[Michael] Diva dominoes.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Nice move.
[Jerry] And now Kelly back into the ring. She, of course, is legal.
[Jerry chuckles] What's the-- Is that a…
headband around her face?
-[Michael] Watch it-- Ow! -[Booker] Whoa!
That's a tag.
-[Booker] That was a hell of a tag. -Get out of my ring!
[Jerry] No kidding.
[Michael] And now Beth--
[Jerry] I think Beth Phoenix seems like she's had enough of this foolishness.
-She's getting very serious! -[Michael] Oh! Glam Slam.
-One, two, three. -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] How dominant is Beth? -[bell ringing]
["Glamazon" playing]
-[Jerry] Yeah, they got it. -[Justin] The winners of this match,
the team of The Bella Twins, Natalya, and Beth Phoenix.
[Michael] Beth Phoenix, the Divas Champion,
has been on a major roll. She has dominated everyone.
-[Booker] Wow. -[Michael] Thanks to the moves
like the Glam Slam.
How do you stop her, Book?
[Booker] Let me tell ya, Beth just said, "Look, I'm tired of playing around."
But check this out right here.
Kelly Kelly went airborne right there, it was beautiful.
[Jerry] But what about this tag, Booker?
-Ouch! -[crowd jeering]
[Booker] What about the tag? Almost broke her shoulder.
[Beth] Get out of my ring!
[Michael] And then she almost broke Kelly Kelly in half.
-One, two, three. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Beth Phoenix,
-with an emphatic win. -[bell ringing]
-[Booker] No playing, no jiving,
just business.
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, great Divas action here tonight
at the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble.
We talked a little bit earlier about the huge main event,
the biggest main event in sports entertainment history,
The Rock versus John Cena at WrestleMania.
But the question is, what-- Well, what type of a condition
is John Cena gonna be in come WrestleMania?
Remember, he's got a match with Kane tonight,
and as we take you back to this past Monday night on Raw,
we're gonna show you what Kane has been doing to Zack Ryder.
Remember, Jerry, this was a Falls Count Anywhere matchup.
[Jerry] Yeah, and this got real ugly.
These guys fought back to the-- Well, they fought all over the arena
and then back up on that metal stage.
And Kane with the Chokeslam. And--
-[loud crash] -[Jerry] Oh, my gosh!
[crowd cheering]
-[loud crash] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] That's hard to watch again, it's…
-Words can't describe that. -[Eve] Zack, are you okay?
-[medic] Here, I'll get this one. -[Eve] Is he okay?
[Michael] Remember, Zack had wrestled the week before
when he wasn't even medically cleared. And then, of course, last week…
Hang in there, bud. Zack.
Hang in there, I'm gonna take care of this, all right, bud?
-This is all your fault. -It's not my fault.
Look, you've done enough, okay? I'm going with Zack.
Keep wheelin' me.
Yeah, my back's all messed up, I gotta wear this brace,
but I gotta be here.
I gotta see Cena kick Kane's ass.
Zack! Welcome to the Royal Rumble event.
I've got you your own dressing room, complete with a TV
and catered with all your favorite foods, okay?
And Zack…
if there's anything you need, just let me know and I'll get it.
Whoo, whoo, whoo. You know it.
Excuse me. I got him from here.
Mr. Laurinaitis, I think you've done enough.
Not only did you make Zack compete when he wasn't medically cleared,
but one week later, you put him in a match with the sadistic monster, Kane.
[exhales] As far as I'm concerned,
you are vindictive, you're pompous, and you're insequious.
[scoffs]
And I hope that tomorrow night on Raw, you're fired.
[crowd cheering]
That's gratitude for you.
-What an ass. -Whoo, whoo, whoo.
You know it.
["The Time Is Now" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Your time is up, my time is now… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Justin] This contest is set for one fall.
Originally from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing 251 pounds, John Cena.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn't matter
if they boo him or they cheer him,
John Cena evokes an emotional response out of the WWE Universe
and people are interested in him. Listen to this.
John Cena, at 12:01 p.m., a minute after noon today,
John Cena passed ten million fans, ten million, on Facebook.
He has more followers than the likes of Tiger Woods,
LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, the Dalai Lama, and The Rock.
[Jerry] Uh-oh. More fans on Facebook than The Rock?
[Michael] Yes, sir.
♪ …I drop your whole clan ♪
♪ Lay your ass down For the three second tap ♪
♪ Your time is up, my time is now You can't see me… ♪
[Michael] The problem with John Cena now, ladies and gentlemen,
is that his refusal to change, his refusal to embrace hate,
which is what Kane wants him to do,
has caused major injury to those around him.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Is Cena really ready?
Maybe physically, but mentally?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd loudly cheering]
[fireworks pops, crackles]
[crowd cheering]
["Veil of Fire" playing]
[Justin] And his opponent, weighing 323 pounds, Kane.
[Jerry] You know, I don't know if anyone can ever
be physically and mentally prepared to face Kane.
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, the resurrection of Kane
has brought with it punishment.
The cold, ruthless attitude of the man who "embraces hate."
He has exorcised his past demons
and now, Booker, Kane is more heinous than he's ever been in his career.
[Booker] Make no mistake about it,
this is a position Cena has seen many times
but since that Big Red Machine
has been back in action, he has bent hell
-to stop Cena. -[firework sputters]
[Booker] Whoa! Watch your back, son.
[Michael] Kane says Cena's request for the WWE Universe
to rise above hate is a fallacy.
Kane says that humans are hateful by nature.
It is natural to allow hate to consume you.
And Kane is frustrated that Cena will not allow that to happen,
not as of yet.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] But Kane is Kane,
pushing Cena to the point where he may have to embrace hate.
[Booker] A fight just broke out right here, dawg.
And Cena's getting the best of it-- Ooh!
[Jerry] Well, that didn't take long.
[Michael] And again, Kane, the seven-footer,
former WWE Champion, a former World Champion,
back with a vengeance.
[Jerry] I just-- you know, I can't
contemplate or understand the twisted way of thinking that Kane possesses.
-[Booker] Wow. -[Jerry] I mean, what's he gonna get
if he does get Cena to, as he says, "embrace the hate?"
I don't think you'd wanna embrace the hate from John Cena.
[Booker] I don't think that's gonna happen.
John Cena, like I said, he-- Whoa!
John Cena plays to the beat of his own drum.
He's his own man and I don't think that's gonna happen, King.
[Michael] And here we go. Breaking outside the ring now,
Kane and John Cena.
We knew this was gonna be a brawl from the get-go.
John Cena's so emash-- emotionally wrapped up in this.
He's seen his good friend, Zack Ryder, week after week be assaulted by Kane.
-Ooh! -[Booker] Whoa!
John Cena's taking the fight
straight to this Big Red Machine.
He's not backing down,
and he proved it as soon as this match started out, dawg.
[Michael] But, Jerry, can Cena be to blame
for a lot of what's happening around here lately?
[Jerry] I don't even understand the question, like what?
[Michael] Well, I mean, Zack Ryder, for instance.
Zack Ryder's got a herniated disc in his back, he's been beaten up,
he's in a wheelchair today
-and I thought-- -[Jerry] Look at this!
[Michael] Cena going for the Attitude Adjustment.
Perhaps trying to put Kane away-- Couldn't do it.
But I mean, can Cena be blamed for all these constant attacks on Ryder?
[Jerry] You know what? Let me say this. How about John Laurinaitis
-taking a little bit of that blame? -[Booker] Exactly.
He's the guy that makes the matches around here.
[Booker] I feel that same way, King, right there.
I mean, John Laurinaitis is making it pure hell around him
with some of the decisions that he is making.
And John Cena right now is feeling the brunt of it.
[Jerry] You heard Eve earlier say that she hopes that
John Laurinaitis is fired tomorrow night,
and that's why Triple H is gonna be here tomorrow night on Raw,
-to evaluate-- -Listen up, Kane.
[Jerry] Ooh! The job actually that John Laurinaitis has done up to date.
[Michael] Yeah, John Laurinaitis should get an "A" in my book…
-[Jerry] An "A"? -[Michael] We'll talk about that later on.
As you see, Kane continuing to put the pressure on Cena.
[Booker] Yeah, Cena is in big trouble right now.
Cena came out of the block so far, trying to get the game in his court
but, right there, that Big Red Machine is rolling downhill,
and he's getting bigger, stronger and faster.
[Michael] The thing is, Kane says that Cena and, in turn,
the WWE Universe not embracing hate is a "cowardly act."
That's the words of Kane.
They live lives filled with delusions.
They all want to cheer for John Cena or at least be a part of his life,
or they want to boo him, but they want to live vicariously through Cena.
That is a cowardly way out in Kane's estimation.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Well, if you're gonna try to make sense out of anything that Kane thinks,
-good luck. -[grunts]
[Michael] Cena trying to fight back into this, but again,
Kane has been as vicious as I've ever seen him.
[Jerry] I wonder what Zack Ryder and Eve are thinking back there.
Zack, given his own personal dressing room
by John Laurinaitis to watch this match.
[Michael] Oh, what a right by Kane, and Cena just can't get rolling here.
Kane again into the cover on Cena.
Hooks the leg this time. Shoulders down. Two-count--
-And a kick-out. -Two!
[Booker] I mean, Laurinaitis is just doing his best job he possibly can--
-[Michael] Of course he is. -[Booker] He's sucking up in every way.
He even said "hello" to me today.
That's something this guy has never did before, come on.
[Michael] He's the executive vice president of talent relations,
the man cares about every Superstar on the roster.
Here's the cover by Kane, shoulders down yet again, and a kick-out.
[Booker] Well, like giving Zack his own locker room
-after what happened last week. -[Michael] Of course.
[Booker] That's the least he could do, right?
[Michael] Well, he shows compassion for the man.
Poor Zack is in a wheelchair and John Laurinaitis is doing what he can
to make sure he feels okay.
[Jerry] And you know what, Booker? John Laurinaitis even asked me
if I wanted a cup of coffee. He knows I don't drink coffee.
[Michael] He was being nice.
-[Jerry] Being nice! -[Michael] Why can't you guys just accept
the fact that he's a nice guy?
-[crowd chanting] Cena sucks!- -[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] John wanted to park my car earlier today, guys.
Can you believe that? The man-- But that's not that unusual,
but nonetheless, I wouldn't let him do it.
[Jerry] Cole, keep talking, maybe someday you'll say something intelligent.
If you think that this guy John Laurinaitis is a nice guy,
-good luck. -[Booker] Check it out.
Cena's thinking about trying mount a comeback, you know?
That's what I'm talking about.
Cena's endurance is what's gonna keep him in this matchup.
I'm telling you, dawg. Whoa!
[Michael] But again, another right hand floors Cena.
[Booker] That upper cut that Kane throws, man,
he throws it from left field, and when it connects, it can do damage.
[Michael] But Kane's resurrection has brought him…
-[Mike] Get him out! -[Michael] …back as a different person.
Mentally, physically.
-[Cena grunts] -[Booker] Oh!
[Michael] A new purpose, a new anger.
[Jerry] It's so hard to get-- to maintain any sustained offense against Kane.
I mean, you may get a shot in here or there, but I mean,
his resilience, this guy just keeps coming back. Oh!
-[Booker] Whoa. -[Michael] Off the drop toe-hold,
this could be the opening perhaps that he needs
as John Cena tries to get things going here.
Went for the bulldog, and Kane almost launched him out of the ring.
[Booker] It's called being one step ahead, right there.
Not only is the big man back with a vengeance,
but he's thinking on his feet right now.
[Michael] And now Cena…
buys himself a little bit of time.
Oh! And again, runs into a big clothesline.
[Jerry] See what I tell you? Just when you think you got the best of Kane.
That is a twisted, mangled mind to go with that mad eye.
-[Booker] He's going for his-- -[Michael] Oh! His brain.
He was going for that move, that move that suffocates his opponent.
[Booker] Cena blocked it, though. Cena's got a hand up.
[Michael] Trying to block it but there we go, Kane.
Trying to lock that huge hand around the face of Cena.
Cut off the air passages, the mouth and nose of Cena.
Kane trying to wear Cena down.
Such a powerful man.
A grip so powerful, he's brought Cena to his knees.
[Booker] Cena's still got a hand on it though. Cena's not out totally yet.
Wait a minute.
[Michael] And he got Kane here…
[Jerry] Will Kane tap out?
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And again Kane powering out of it.
[Jerry] He's just so strong. Oh, no.
[Michael] And a side slam. That's vintage Kane.
[Booker] I mean, Cena just keep comin' after this big man left and right,
but every time, the big man got an answer.
That's scary right there, dawg.
[Jerry] Now Kane, methodical.
[Michael] Yeah, talk about scary.
You see this man, seven feet tall…
-[Jerry] This monster. -[Michael] …300 pounds up to the top rope.
Got his sights set on Cena.
Cena doesn't even realize that Kane is perched.
[Booker] Whoa, bam.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] The worst shot is the one you don't see coming.
I'll tell ya, right there, John Cena didn't see that big shot coming
-and it could be over. -[Jerry] No.
[Booker] It could be over right now, man.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Michael] Kane is setting Cena up perhaps for a Chokeslam
to put Cena out of his misery.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Cena…
using that shoulder knockdown as a part of that-- There he goes.
-[Booker] Whoa! -[Jerry] Right now.
[crowd whistling]
[Jerry] Look at that strength of John Cena. Don't ever count John out.
[chuckling] Oh, yeah!
[Booker] Wow. Look at the eyes of John Cena.
Look at the intensity of this man right here.
You gotta love it!
-[Jerry] He's gonna tell the mo-- -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Michael] John was going for the "you can't see me"
and Kane made him pay.
[Jerry] Oh, what a boot.
[Booker] Wow.
-[Michael] And Kane… -[Booker] John Cena's put up a good fight.
[Michael] Again, lowered over the carcass, hook of the leg, and Cena again at two.
[Booker] I thought that was it right there.
John Cena still had a little bit left in the tank.
[Jerry] Somehow, there's a little fight left in John Cena.
[Michael] Yeah, it's been Cena's M.O. though, his entire career.
Being able to fight back out of dire straits.
[Mike] Come on, Kane. Cut it out.
-[Booker] Goodness. -Out of the corner. Listen up.
[crowd chanting] Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
[Jerry] The referee can admonish Kane all he wants to,
but I can assure you that's falling on deaf ears.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Booker] Listen to these people. Maybe they be the one to get
Cena back into the game.
Oh, my goodness.
[Jerry] John trying to block that…
whatever it is that Kane has in mind, a suplex-- Oh, there you go.
[Michael] And now Cena…
[Jerry] I don't know if this is a wise move, John.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] This is… [chuckles]
A "you can't see me" from the top rope again.
[Michael] Five Knuckle Shuffle from the top rope by Cena.
-[Booker laughing] -[Michael] And now Cena's fired up.
[Booker] Cena look like he got a second wind right now.
[Jerry] This may be the game changer he's been waiting for.
-[Michael] Kane is up top. Can Cena do it? -[Jerry] No, no.
[Michael] You see the elbow right to the jaw.
Oh, and again.
Back and forth we go.
[Booker] Cena's a fighter, man. That's what I like about this kid,
I mean, no matter what, I mean, sick, tired, torn, ragged and worn,
this guy's willing to take the ball and score with it.
That's what I like about John Cena.
[screams]
[Michael] Kidney-first to the apron.
[Booker] I'll tell you, that shot right there, that kidney shot,
John Cena's gonna wake up in the morning
and have to roll out of bed, just from that shot right there.
Trust me, I know.
[Michael] I don't know how many of these headbutts and these right hands…
[Jerry] How high is the count? Is the count up to seven or eight?
-[Michael] I believe that, uh… -Nine!
[Michael] …the official's at nine now.
-And that's it. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] The brawl continues,
despite the fact the bells rang. Cena and Kane still going at it.
-And now Cena… -[Jerry] Oh!
[Jerry] The ringing of the bell means nothing to these two guys right now.
[Booker] Let me tell you, Kane ain't worried about no paycheck.
He's not worried about the rent. He's worried about hurting
and maiming somebody, but not tonight.
[Michael] And Kane came into this matchup hoping to destroy Cena.
-[Jerry] Man. -[Michael] Cena stood toe-to-toe
with the Big Red Monster.
And the fight continues through the arena here at St. Louis.
They're back in the tech area now, guys.
[Jerry] You know Kane would love to get John Cena up on that steel stage there
and try to slam him through that.
-[Michael] It's come to this. -[Jerry] Now they're in the back.
[Michael] This fight's been brewing for weeks.
-[loud thud] -[Cena grunts]
-[groans] -[Jerry] Whoa!
[Kane] Give it up, Cena. Give it up.
-[Kane groans] -[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] There's Cena fighting back again.
[grunts]
[Booker] Whoa!
[Kane panting]
[Jerry] Need some help back there, but I don't think anybody's
crazy enough to get in between these two.
-[Booker] Would you? -[Jerry] No.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena!
-Oh! -[Jerry] Chair.
[Cena groans]
-[screams] -[Booker] Oh my goodness!
[Kane] You're learning, Cena.
-[screams] -[Michael] Oh, god. Mm-mm-mm.
[Kane grunts]
[chair clatters]
[crowd jeering]
-[Jerry] Oh! God. -[Zack] No!
[Kane] That's right, huh?
[Zack grunts]
[both grunt]
[Kane breathing heavily]
[Jerry] What's he doing? God.
Somebody-- Come on, guys. Somebody stop this.
[Michael] What's Kane--
-[Booker] I think… -[Michael] I don't know what you guys--
[Booker] Stop it? I think this is the beginning right here, Cole.
[Michael] Is-- is-- is Kane whe--
-[Booker] What the hell… -[Michael] Kane's wheeling Ryder out here.
[Booker] What the hell is he thinking?
[Michael splutters] And Zack's out of it.
What in the world?
[crowd jeering]
[Booker] Somebody needs to stop this.
Oh, come on.
Come on.
[audience member] Are you serious, bro?
[crowd jeering]
[Michael] No, no, no, Eve.
[muffled pleas]
[Eve] No, no! No, please! Please!
-[crowd roaring] -[Michael] What in the world? I mean…
[commentators groan]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Cena…
He's got nothing left after those steel chairs.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Oh, what a Chokeslam.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] This is… -["Veil of Fire" starts playing]
["Veil of Fire" fades out]
[crowd chanting] Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
[indistinct chatter]
[muffled radio chatter]
[Jerry] Look at this monster.
Look at the sick, evil smile on his face as he looks right at Eve.
[Booker] Well, it's Zack Ryder.
[Jerry] You talk about blaming John Cena or even blaming…
John Laurinaitis, but…
how about blaming that Big Red Monster for what he's doing, his own actions?
[Booker] Check out John Cena right here. I mean, oh, God.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] Just wonder how bad Zack is…
Zack is hurting, man. He took…
He took that Tombstone, and he took it hard.
[Michael] Yeah, Zack Ryder was Chokeslammed off a ramp,
a parking deck a number of weeks ago, suffered a neck injury.
Last week, he was Chokeslammed through a steel cage.
He suffered a herniated disc in his back and…
And then tonight, just…
the tragedy of the Tombstone Piledriver and…
As you see them putting Zack on the back board,
you got to look at Cena in the background there
and imagine what's going through that man's mind and--
-[Jerry] And Eve's as well. -[Michael] Of course.
[Booker] I mean, this kid's got a lot of heart,
but the thing is, after something like this,
over the past few weeks what he's gone through,
this could be the end of Zack Ryder's career.
I mean, Kane can't be in his right mind right now.
[crowd chanting] Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
-[Booker] Wow. -[crowd chanting] Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
[David] It's hard enough growing up and trying to figure out the world in general,
and to have people sort of attack you, it's not fair.
[uplifting music playing]
Believe it or not, we've all been through it.
I was bullied my entire life.
I was always made fun of 'cause I was small, short, and fat.
Color of my hair, the music I listened to…
The way I dressed, the way I looked…
And I was dangerously uncoordinated in sports, so that didn't help.
I was called everything in the book. I mean…
The ones that hurt the most, like, you can't really say, you know?
-People called me "Dumbo." -They called me a boy.
I always like to block out negative things in my life.
It was really tough.
There are people who can help you, people you can trust.
Just believe in yourself, even when it's difficult.
Please don't change who you are. Please be proud of who you are.
-Don't be a bully. -Be a star.
Show tolerance and respect.
[music concludes]
Well, you gotta know that what we just witnessed
is certainly not the way John Cena wanted this to turn out tonight.
You know, and the thing about Cena, I mean,
he's concerned obviously for his friend Zack Ryder.
He's got so much on his mind mentally, of course, as we talked about it earlier,
just we're 63 days away from the biggest main event
in the history of WrestleMania when John Cena goes one-on-one with The Rock.
["Invincible" playing]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, once again, it happens April 1st in Miami.
It is The Rock versus John Cena.
Earlier tonight, we took an in-depth look at John Cena.
Now it's time to focus on his opponent, the worldwide megastar, The Rock.
[traffic sounds]
I was 25 years old.
["Wild Ones" playing]
It was just about the opportunity. And since that night,
my life has been a hell of a run.
♪ Hey, I heard you are a wild one… ♪
Finally, The Rock has come back to--
New York City. Shreveport, Louisiana. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Took a nine-hour flight. We came from Taiwan.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[Rock] I could be shooting any type of movie. I could be not shooting a movie.
I could be on vacation.
I could be anywhere around the world, doing anything.
♪ Wild ones, wild ones, wild ones… ♪
On the move, let's go.
This is coming back home. Coming back home into a world,
into a space that I grew up in,
that I love, that's part of my wiring and my DNA and my makeup.
The transition happens just like that.
♪ Ready to get live Ain't no surprise ♪
♪ Take me so high, jump and nose dive Surfing the crowd… ♪
We did some historic things tonight in Boston.
We started trending worldwide at the drop of a dime, boots to asses.
[crowd cheering]
My sole interest in getting involved in Twitter and Facebook
was to motivate or inspire or entertain.
"I did yesterday what they wouldn't,
so today I can accomplish what they can't."
Tweet. And that, it goes out to the millions.
-Love you, Rock. -I love you too, but go to class.
-[crowd cheering] -[chuckles]
♪ Hey, I heard you like the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones… ♪
Here we go. Stars align in New York City.
Not only is the image cool. Love the color, it's vibrant.
It booms.
Best part about it, it's here in Times Square.
♪ Then I make that move ♪
♪ Somehow, some way Gotta raise the roof, roof ♪
♪ All black shades When the sun come through, uh-oh ♪
♪ It's on like everything goes Wild out baby, 'til the freak, it shows ♪
♪ What happens to that body Is a private show ♪
♪ Stays right here, pri-private show ♪
♪ I like 'em untamed I'm talkin' high pain ♪
♪ Tolerance, bottoms up With the champagne ♪
♪ My life, call my homie Then we hit Spain ♪
♪ Keep it busy with the bail We get insane… ♪
When I left the WWE, I didn't leave and
just quietly walk away, never to be seen again.
I left into a world I wanted to find success in.
[honking]
Rolling down a highway in my 18-wheeler, I love action.
[metal crashing, screeching]
We tie Dwayne into everything in this.
Thank you, brother.
He's just one of those guys that's the full package,
that's a true movie star. A true superstar,
but an unbelievable actor at the same time.
And that's a rarity.
You know, a lot of times, it's just like you feel like
you're working with Superman.
[crowd cheering]
He turned around and just blasted me with his million-dollar smile
and I immediately melted. I was, like, [gasps] "Hi."
♪ Hey, I heard you were a wild one… ♪
[Ata] He's half black and half Samoan.
Knowing the culture, loving the dances,
he's very, very proud of who he is.
I'm proud of The Rock 'cause he represents our country.
I want to be The Rock.
He's like common everywhere in the world.
[April] I really like that he came back to his alma mater.
[Rock] Tiger pride.
[everyone cheering]
I think he's pretty famous, especially to me.
[Rock] I've come to visit my grandfather, high chief Peter Maivia,
and my grandmother Lia Maivia.
Growing up, I adored my grandfather. He was this incredibly charismatic
warrior of a man in the wrestling ring.
My match regarding John Cena,
both of them, they would say it in English
and then they would say it in Samoan,
"You go out and basically shine with all heart."
["Wild Ones" fades out]
[crowd cheering]
["Broken Dreams" playing]
♪ Out of time So say goodbye ♪
♪ What is yours… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Lilián] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Ayr, Scotland, weighing in at 254 pounds,
Drew McIntyre!
[Michael] Well, Drew McIntyre, earlier today, we understand,
went to SmackDown general manager Theodore Long,
upset he wasn't in the Royal Rumble match tonight.
So Long, well, gave him a match to be a part of the Royal Rumble.
Of course, Drew from Scotland, international flair at ringside.
Joining us, our Spanish colleagues, Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodríguez.
[speaking Spanish]
[Carlos speaking Spanish]
[Michael] Nonetheless, Drew McIntyre, Booker, on SmackDown,
-really fighting for his job. -["Broken Dreams" fades out]
[Michael] Needs a big win. Who's the opponent gonna be?
[Booker] Drew McIntyre, like I said,
just gives a standout, just looking
-forward to him doing something. -[Lilián] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the only livin',
breathing, romping, stomping
Funkasaurus in captivity,
Mr. Brodus Clay!
-[Michael chuckles] -[Booker] Here we go.
["Somebody Call My Momma" playing]
♪ Funk is on a roll Funk is on a roll ♪
♪ Can somebody call my momma It's about to get funky up in here ♪
♪ Know what I'm sayin' Yeah, yeah, yeah… ♪
[Michael] It's B-Funk!
[Booker] Shucky ducky.
-[Jerry chuckles] -[Booker] Wet, wet…
[commentators laughing]
♪ Somebody call my momma… ♪
[Booker] It's funk time, baby.
-[Michael] Look at him go. -[Booker] With the chicken.
-I call that the chicken. -[Michael] No, no,
-look at what he's doing. -[Booker] It's a pterodactyl.
-[Jerry] It's a what? -[Booker] It's a pterodactyl.
[Michael] He does the pterodactyl with his claws, like a dinosaur.
-[Booker] Oh, my-- -[Michael] Oh, yeah, Cameron and Naomi!
You know, Cameron winked at me earlier today.
[Booker] At you?
[Michael] And then Naomi said she had something in her eye.
-Nonetheless, check this out. -[Booker] Oh…
[chuckling]
[Michael] Drew McIntyre’s throwing a fit at ringside.
[Booker] He better be on top of his game.
[Michael laughs] Look at him.
-[Jerry] There it is, the pterodactyl! -[Booker] That is a 'dactyl.
-[Michael] There's a 'dactyl. -[Booker] It is a pterodactyl.
-[Michael] Is a 'dactyl. -[Booker chuckles]
Give me the cell phone now. I gotta call somebody's momma.
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
-[fireworks pop, fizz] -[Booker laughing]
-You gotta love it. -He's a disgrace,
an absolute disgrace.
[Jerry] Well, Drew McIntyre certainly does not love it.
-He was over there screaming. -[Drew] How do you take this guy serious?
This atrocity is mocking my business.
[Michael] I don't think he's mocking anything,
but Drew better concentrate on trying to win a matchup because
it has been well documented he makes a lot of money
since Teddy Long signed him over here to SmackDown,
and Teddy Long said, "You gotta start performing
-or you're going home." -[Booker] Look to the left of me, Cole.
-Do you see what I see? -[Michael] Woo-hoo!
-[Booker] My goodness. -[Michael] What I hear is
a "Funkasaurus" chant
-with the 18,000-strong in St. Louis. -[bell ringing]
[Booker] Testify, my brother.
[Jerry spluttering] What?
[Booker] Shake, that's a jiggle.
[Michael] Oh, and McIntyre’s--
That was a wise move though, playing to the girls and getting Brodus's
attention. Off the ball, here comes McIntyre.
There's no doubt, Booker, McIntyre’s got all the tools.
[Booker] Drew Mac ain't no joke.
I pick 2012 to be his year.
Just look at for a play, god, momma, will it be tonight with the Funkasaurus?
-I don't think so. -[Michael] What's he doing?
[Booker] He's jiggling. I call that jiggling.
[Michael] So the jiggle, like, is what?
[Charles] One, two…
-[Jerry] What? Is that a question? -[Booker] Yeah.
[Michael] I'm just trying to figure out what the jiggle does.
Oh, I guess it--
[Booker] It gets him going. It get… [sputtering]
You know, the commercial-- You know, the Jell-O pudding.
-[Michael] Yeah. -[Booker] Bill Cosby…
-[Michael] Yeah. -[Booker] It's kinda like that.
He got the jiggle, he got the Jell-O going.
That's what the big Brodus is all about.
[Jerry] Oh, splat.
-[Michael] Here we go. Are you ready? -[Booker] I like this right here.
-[Michael] He calls that "what the funk." -[Bookers] What the funk!
[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Brodus wins! -[bell ringing]
-[Booker laughing] -["Somebody Call My Momma" plays]
[Booker] Check this out right here.
-[Lilián] Here's your Brodus Clay! -[Booker] Here's the best part right here.
[Michael] Well, McIntyre loses again as his losing streak continues,
and Brodus Clay begins to celebrate.
[Jerry] Booker, did you notice the outfits the--
those two beauties are wearing? If you look closely,
-I think they're see-through. -[Booker] The only thing I can say, King,
momma, I'm coming home. I wish I was at home right now,
they're doing that thing-- Oh, they're-- My shucky ducky.
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] I hope he does the pterodactyl.
[Booker] Here it comes, right here, check it out.
[Michael chuckles]
♪ Funk is on the roll… ♪
-[Michael] There it is, pterodactyl. -[Booker] That is it.
-[Michael] The 'dactyl. -[Booker] That's the 'dactyl.
-["Somebody Call My Momma" fades out] -[Booker chuckling]
So tomorrow night in Kansas City,
John Laurinaitis's job is on the line
as interim General Manager of Monday Night Raw,
which means in this matchup coming up next,
he better do a pretty good job as special guest referee.
[Jerry] Well, you're right about that. He may be gone tomorrow night,
but before that, he can do some serious damage
as he referees the match for the WWE Championship
between CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler.
[Michael] And ladies and gentlemen,
John Laurinaitis has really taken center stage
in this rivalry between Punk and Ziggler.
[Laurinaitis] My name is Mr. John Laurinaitis.
I'm the executive vice president of talent relations
and the interim General Manager of Monday Night Raw.
John Laurinaitis sucks at life.
He's a failure as a human being.
-You're pathetic. -[crowd cheering]
I'm sick and tired of being disrespected.
[CM Punk] Johnny Laurinaitis was a failure as a wrestler.
He's a failure as an executive.
I do my job, and I do it well.
And like this mannequin, this person is boring,
sorely lacking in intelligence,
and I will describe him in one word…
Failure!
[crowd cheering]
I will not be intimidated by CM Punk.
CM Punk, you're gonna be in a gauntlet match.
Are you poking the WWE Champion with a stick, John?
[Laurinaitis] And if one of those opponents beats you,
they will get a WWE Championship match.
-[Jerry] He got him! -[Michael] Punk's knocked off Swagger.
Here comes the show-off, Dolph Ziggler.
And there's our interim general manager, John Laurinaitis.
-[Jerry] What does he want now? -[Laurinaitis] Punk.
Punk, I'm not gonna get into the ring right now.
-I'm not going to. -[Michael] Ziggler! Zig Zag!
Ziggler did it. Ziggler did it.
Dolph Ziggler's given himself a chance at the WWE title.
[Jerry] Aw, come on. This isn't right at all.
First off, at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view,
I'm the guest referee at the WWE Championship match
between Dolph Ziggler and CM Punk.
I assure you, I will be completely unbiased in the match.
Just admit it, Johnny.
Did you intend to screw Punk at the Royal Rumble?
[CM Punk] John Laurinaitis sucks at life. Pathetic! Failure!
You're damn right I will!
[crowd cheering]
[CM Punk] You're gonna screw me at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view,
but you're gonna try to screw me based on one thing.
You can't stand the fact that the last year of my career,
I've achieved more than you have in your entire life.
Punk, you know what your problem is? It isn't with me.
It's with Dolph Ziggler.
Dolph has defeated you and now deserves a championship match.
[David] Mr. Laurinaitis, a fax came in for you.
"Dear Mr. Laurinaitis,
the board has become concerned about the questionable judgment
you have exhibited while running Monday Night Raw."
"Especially troubling is your declaration that you intend to abuse your authority
by intentionally favoring Dolph Ziggler
against WWE Champion CM Punk at the Royal Rumble event."
"Therefore, your status as the interim general manager
will be officially under review by WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H."
The board of directors is right.
And I'd like to extend my apology to you, Punk.
[Jerry] No, no, no! Don't do that!
Oh, my God. The Go To Sleep to the General Manager.
[Michael] Oh, my God.
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Ziggler from behind.
[Dolph] You shouldn't be worried about John Laurinaitis.
You should be worried about me.
-[bell ringing] -[Justin] This contest is set for one fall
and it is for the WWE Championship.
Now, please welcome at this time
the executive vice president of talent relations
and interim general manager of Monday Night Raw,
Mr. John Laurinaitis.
[crowd booing]
[Jerry] Well…
Here's my concern.
-[Michael] Look at him. -[Jerry] Yeah. I think John Laurinaitis…
I think John Laurinaitis has to feel like--
[Booker] I mean, what's up with the guns--
I mean, what's up with that t-shirt? You gotta be kidding me.
[Michael] It's a ref shirt and he's got big arms.
[Booker] I mean, what? Like 16 inches, about one size bigger than yours?
[Jerry] Well, let me just say this. I'm concerned that…
He's got to think right now that he's history after tomorrow night.
-[Booker chuckles] -[Michael] After Triple H reviews him,
he's gonna be fired. I think he's gonna try to go out
in a blaze of glory tonight and screw CM Punk out of the title.
-[Booker] You know what? You know what? -[Michael] I disagree.
-[Booker] I wouldn't doubt that, King. -My name is Mr. John Laurinaitis.
-[Jerry] We know. -[crowd booing]
I'm the executive vice president of talent relations
and the interim general manager of Monday Night Raw.
Even though I've been assigned as a special guest referee
-in the WWE Championship match… -[crowd whooping]
…in the interest of fairness, impartiality…
-and conduct above reproach… -[crowd whooping]
…I've decided that I will oversee the officiating from outside the ring.
[Jerry] What?
And leave the officiating inside the ring to a WWE referee.
Can I have a referee please?
-[Michael] Awesome. That's awesome. -[Jerry] Wow.
[Michael] I mean, well, Laurinaitis did say last week that,
well, this job evaluation was really his wake-up call,
and he's buying it, Jerry.
-I think he's got a chance to-- -["Here to Show the World" plays]
[Michael] To survive tomorrow night in this job review
by making decisions like that.
Hello, Mr. Laurinaitis, nice to see you tonight.
You look wonderful in your referee gear.
-[Jerry] What up, man? You all right? -["Here to Show the World" playing]
[Jerry] I was gonna tell him he's got a string hanging off his shirt,
-but that's his arm. What the hell? -[Booker laughing]
[Michael] Okay, guys, stop the laughing
because here's the number one contender for the WWE title.
The man who has defeated CM Punk four times over the past month,
Dolph Ziggler.
He's got all the tools,
and I believe you're looking at the new WWE Champion.
[Booker] Well, I mean, the kid's a show-off.
He has a whole lot of talent.
He goes out there in the middle of that ring.
He backs it up week in and week out. Dolph Ziggler could be the ticket.
This could be his night with John Laurinaitis out here.
You got to give it to him.
-[Michael] Dolph Ziggler… -[screaming] Oh, yeah!
[Michael] …former world champion…
would love to win this matchup tonight
and begin his Road to WrestleMania as the WWE Champion.
[Jerry] And I'll be the first one to admit,
as you said, Booker, Dolph's got all the tools.
He doesn't need any help.
If he's gonna be the WWE Champion, let him do it on his own.
[Booker] I mean, look at the kid. I mean, he's in great shape.
You can tell he's been at the gym, he's been on that tanning board.
You know, he get-- making his body look real good.
This kid is ready for prime time. You got to love Zig Zag, man.
[Michael] I mean, this is so impartial on the part of John Laurinaitis
to appoint another referee for this matchup.
Tremendous move, he should be applauded.
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
[Michael] And I hope Triple H takes that into consideration
as he's watching this event tonight.
-["Cult of Personality" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Look in my eyes What do you see? ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
♪ I know your anger… ♪
-What time is it? -[crowd cheering]
-It's clobberin' time! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] All right, come on, you want to talk about bad attitudes.
I mean, what's the deal with CM Punk?
I can't believe that this man actually put his hands
on the executive vice president of talent relations, John Laurinaitis, last week.
He actually gave him a Go To Sleep in the middle of the ring.
He's the man who should be punished, CM Punk,
and I think it's gonna happen tonight when he loses the WWE title--
[Jerry] Let me just say this. You talk about wake-up calls,
I think that Go To Sleep was a wake-up call,
if you will, for John Laurinaitis. He needed it.
[Booker] I like CM Punk. This guy's straight-up, man.
He goes out there and does it the way he wants
to go out there and do it, each and every week.
That what this kid, CM Punk, is all about.
He's telling a nation of people you can do it however you want to do it,
if you put your mind.
That's what I like about this kid, he's great.
Check him out, look--
-Look at the confidence. -[crowd cheering]
[Booker] There's CM Punk, the WWE Champ.
[Justin] Introducing first, the challenger,
accompanied to the ring by Vickie Guerrero,
from Hollywood, Florida, weighing 213 pounds,
-Dolph Ziggler. -[crowd cheering]
And his opponent from Chicago, Illinois,
weighing 218 pounds, he is the current WWE Champion,
-CM Punk. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And you're right about Punk, Booker.
He's his own man. He doesn't follow any rules.
He does what he wants to do.
[Michael] Well, I have an issue with him being WWE Champion
-because… -[Jerry] Why's that?
[Michael] …he's a terribly bad example to represent this company.
-[Jerry] What? -[Michael] The man disobeys authority.
[Jerry] Well, when the authority figure is John Laurinaitis, sometimes you have to.
[Michael] So there it is,
the most prestigious championship in all of sports entertainment.
The WWE title has been in existence for over 50 years.
[Jerry] So has Vickie Guerrero.
[Michael] And tonight, they'll battle it out, Punk and Ziggler,
at the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble.
[Jerry] Now what's John Laurinaitis doing?
[Michael] Well, he is the official in charge at ringside.
-[crowd cheering] Yeah! -[Michael] Yes.
-[Vicki] What? -[Michael] This is a great move
and I'll tell you why.
[Jerry] Oh, wait, I agree.
[Vickie screaming] No!
[Jerry] John Laurinaitis is barring Vickie Guerrero at the ringside.
[Michael] But remember, Vickie's not supposed
-to be out here at all. -[Vickie screaming]
[Michael] Remember, CM Punk defeated Jack Swagger a couple of weeks ago.
-With that victory, it ensured… -[bell ringing]
[Michael] …that Swagger and Guerrero would not be at ringside for this matchup.
Great move by Laurinaitis.
[Booker] I just think he's sucking up. That's the way--
[Michael] Here we go. Punk, shoulders down and a kick-out.
Sucking up? He followed the rules, Booker.
I mean, give the man some credit for once in your life.
I mean, what, did you have an issue back in the day at WCW with Johnny?
That's why you're all upset with this man? Because he was a better worker than you?
-A better wrestler than you? -[Booker] What?
-You gotta be kidding me. -[Michael] Come on now.
John Laurinaitis is-- he's awesome.
[Booker] You talkin' about the guy who has done nothing in his business, right?
-[Michael] No, John? -[Booker] Yes.
[Michael] He was a world champion in Japan.
-That's what he was. -[Booker] Of Japan?
[Michael] Yes.
-[Jerry] The world of Japan. -[Booker] The world of Japan.
[Jerry] Now, I mean, John Laurinaitis, right now--
I know you say he's got a lot of things on his plate,
a lot of things to take care of and be concerned with,
but he's got his phone out, he's texting out here.
[Michael] Yeah, well, he just text me
to tell me what a wonderful job I'm doing tonight
and how glad he is to have me calling the Rumble. Here we go now.
Dolph Ziggler, number one contender. Punk, the champion.
[Rod] One, two…
-[Michael] And a clean break by Punk. -[grunts]
-[Dolph groans] -[Jerry] Wow.
His boot right to the legs of Dolph Ziggler.
[Michael] And look at Ziggler, nice go-behind.
No doubt that Dolph Ziggler is a tremendous athlete…
as is CM Punk.
[Booker] The thing is getting real quick.
-[Michael] There it is, The Showoff. -[Booker] The Showoff, right there.
[Michael] Many of the fans enjoying Dolph here tonight in St. Louis
for the Royal Rumble, as they are all over the world,
watching tonight in places like Italy, Germany, Austria.
And, of course, our men and women serving in our armed forces
around the world and on our ships at sea,
-watching on the-- -[Jerry] Whoa, nice move!
[Michael] …American Forces Network-- And Ziggler kicks out at two.
[Booker] Ziggler shot in right there.
CM Punk was waiting on him. Now he's trying to finish it early.
[Jerry] Dolph Ziggler can strut around and smile and show off,
but he's gotta realize all that's gonna do is raise the ire of his opponent.
[Booker] You know, I'd give credit where credit's due. I mean,
Zig Zag man is getting to every inch of that ring.
This kid is in good shape, you can look at his body right there
and tell he's in the gym each and every day and he--
One thing I like about him, he don't put all that Fake Bake on
like a lot of these guys.
[Michael] And you know that Vickie Guerrero had a great interview
-with wwe.com talking about the fact that… -[groans]
[Michael] …Dolph Ziggler does 1,000 crunches before the match each day.
Also does 100 laps, forward and backward around the arena.
-Look at Punk. -[Jerry] Who told you that? Vickie?
[Michael] Yeah.
-[Jerry] Yeah, she's quite enamored-- -Best in the world!
[Jerry] Vickie's quite enamored with Dolph Ziggler.
Unfortunately, Dolph's already found the love of his life.
Too bad he can't marry himself.
-[Michael] And Punk… -[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] Saw Ziggler, his neck bouncing off the top rope.
-[Jerry] That was dangerous. -[Booker] CM Punk just hung that boy
out to dry, man.
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
-[Jerry] Whoa! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] CM Punk, the WWE Champion, is in control.
[Booker] Time is right there. That's the important--
Don't mind, you know, taking it to another level.
Two different skill sets right here between these two guys.
Punk, educated thief. I mean, that Zig Zag man, technically sound.
This match can last all night, guys.
[Michael] Yeah, CM Punk calls himself the best wrestler in the world.
But Dolph Ziggler is right there with him.
Great move by Ziggler. Looks to take advantage, into the cover.
Will we have a new champion?
Hook to the leg on Punk, who kicks out at two.
But you can see the effect to the neck.
[Jerry] Awkward landing by--
Watch this. As Dolph turns things around,
but look at the way that CM Punk landed
on the back of his neck from the top rope.
[Booker] Almost like a whiplash right there.
CM Punk could be in a whole lot of trouble right--
He is. Whoa. He's in a lot of trouble. Cover him, kid.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Ziggler! CM Punk!
[Michael] And Ziggler continues the pressure, dropping the elbows
to the heart of Punk and Dolph Ziggler picking up to the next level now.
[Booker] That's a show-off right there, 'cause I would've covered CM Punk.
[Jerry] No kidding. That's just what I was gonna say.
[Booker] I'd have went for a cover, you know, get back in the locker room,
taking a shower, on my way to the hotel right now.
[Michael] Maybe Ziggler doesn't believe that Punk's taken enough punishment.
Taking that, one, two, three… Maybe that there's the exclamation point.
-Here's the cover. And again, Punk at one. -[CM Punk groans]
[Jerry] That's got to be a little disconcerting to The Showoff there.
About 11 or 12 straight elbow drops and Punk kicks out at one.
[Michael] Well, Ziggler can wear Punk down. There's no doubt.
He has a tremendous amateur background.
-He had 121 wins… -[Rod] What do you say, Punk?
-No! -[Michael] …in high school.
Eighty-two wins at the college level.
[Jerry] Say what you want about John Laurinaitis doing the right thing
and calling Vickie Guerrero out of here,
and he said he's gonna be totally impartial,
I just got a bad feeling of him lurking here at ringside.
[Michael] There you are, Mr. Conspiracy Theorist.
Once again, the man hasn't done anything tonight,
-you're already called him guilty. -[Booker] Whoa.
[Michael] And now, Punk looking to buy himself some time.
[Rod] One!
[Jerry] So you don't think that it goes through John Laurinaitis's mind that
when Triple H shows up on Raw tomorrow night to evaluate his job,
that he may be gone?
[Michael] Well, it possibly could've,
but he's made a lot of great strides over the past few--
[Booker] Well, what are you talking about, "great strides"?
I mean, if he stick around too much longer,
-I mean, he might kill this business. -[groans]
[Michael] And look at Punk.
I've no idea what you're talking about. I think he's done a fine job.
In fact, I had a little more money in my paycheck this week.
-As you see, Punk continuing to… -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] …go to work on Ziggler. And look at…
Ziggler from behind, there's a sleeper hold.
Sleeper hold, remember, if CM Punk passes out to the sleeper hold,
we'll have a new champion.
And look at Punk, going for the Anaconda Vise,
trying to lock it in on Dolph Ziggler here.
Submission maneuver. And Ziggler counters.
Got the cat-based style of Dolph Ziggler helping him there.
[Jerry] This is a great match between these two young men.
Very evenly matched.
[Booker] You could say this kid's a show-off,
but one thing I’ve noticed about Dolph Ziggler, he don't show off
unless it's for his own advantage. I mean, he's not gonna run into anything.
This kid is solid, and I like that about Dolph Ziggler.
[groans]
[Michael] Punk-- Punk gave him-- Oh, nice dropkick by Ziggler.
-[Booker] Beautiful dropkick. -[Michael] Is this enough
to crown a new champion?
Hook to the leg and Punk again powers out.
[Booker] But that dead dropkick was precision timing, right on the snout.
-[Jerry] What? -[Booker] The snout, the nose.
-[Jerry] Oh, okay. -[Booker chuckles]
[Jerry] Thought it hit his chest.
[Michael] At least your vocabulary's improving.
-[Jerry] The snout. -[Booker chuckles]
[Jerry] Uh-oh. What's going through this man's mind now?
[Michael] I think he believes he has Punk exactly where he wants him.
[Booker] That could be a mistake. 'Cause CM Punk is most dangerous…
-[Michael] He got caught. -[Booker] …in situations just like this.
-Beautiful. -[Michael] Man.
[Michael] Did you see Ziggler's skull bounce off the mat?
And he got it-- No, in two and a half.
Took advantage on instinct alone to kick out.
[Booker] I'ma tell you, Zig Zag was out cold,
like you said, Cole, right there,
instinct alone is what made him kick out right there.
[Jerry] Well, I'm gonna tell you what made me feel good,
Let's watch this one more time.
Caught in midair and a huge powerbomb.
I'll tell you what made me feel good about this.
I think we all thought that CM Punk had the match won there.
But you know what? John Laurinaitis didn't do anything to interfere.
[screams]
[Booker] Gotta love that. I mean, Laurin--
-[Jerry] That's a good thing. -[Booker] Laurinaitis looking
at this thing right down the middle and I like that.
Stay out of it. Let these two guys go out here
and fight for that championship, which is what it's all about.
[Michael] And Punk with a high knee,
and now CM Punk beginning to build momentum.
-Ziggler missed wildly. Nice. -[Booker] Great neckbreaker.
[Michael] Took a little neckbreaker that time by Punk.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And suddenly, Punk with a vintage high running knee.
Punk usually follows this up with a running bulldog.
-[Jerry] Look out! -[Michael] And he connects.
[Booker] Beautiful combination right there by CM Punk.
Looking to get out of here right now.
Will you put this boy to sleep and let's go home?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I think he heard you.
[Michael] Ah, look at this, going for the Go To Sleep.
And Ziggler with a nice counter.
[Booker] Nice double leg right there by the Zig Zag man.
-[Michael] And Punk hanging on. -[Jerry] Clocked, clocked…
[Michael] Crossbody, lateral press. Ziggler rolls through.
-Hook to the leg! -[Booker] Beautiful, beautiful.
-[Michael] And a kick-out at two. -[crowd booing]
[Michael] Punk missed wildly.
Ziggler and Punk hanging on.
-[commentators] Oh. -[Booker] Wow.
-[Michael] Did you hear that? -[Jerry] That is it.
[Michael] Dolph may be out cold. Can Punk capitalize?
[Booker] Punk need to get him over and cover him quick.
[Michael] He does cover him. He does hook the leg. Referee in position.
-And again, Ziggler. -[crowd jeering]
[Booker] That was a mistake right there by CM Punk.
Should've double hooked him, covered that second leg.
He could be going home right now, still champion.
[Jerry] Man, CM Punk got a punt to the head of Dolph Ziggler,
but that was not enough to keep Ziggler down.
[Booker] I think it was not covering that inside leg, King.
I think Punk had this match won right there.
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
[Michael] Punk trying to feed off the 18,000-plus in St. Louis.
And I think Dolph's right where Punk wants him.
[Booker] Check this out. This is vintage CM Punk right here
with that elbow straight to the heart. You gotta love it!
[Michael] And after the glance of a warning at Laurinaitis,
Punk delivers with the elbow. Hook to the leg. He's got him here.
-At two, Ziggler kicks out again. -[Booker] Man!
Cannot say anything about the officiating up to this point, guys, huh?
[Jerry] I'm at a loss for words, quite frankly.
[Booker] Actually, Mr. Laurinaitis has been doing a hell of a job,
just staying out and just letting these two men go out here,
toe-to-toe and let it put--
Let the cards fall where they may. That's what I'm liking.
[Jerry] Well, that tells me that John Laurinaitis is really concerned
about his job evaluation coming up tomorrow night.
-[Booker] You might be right. -[Michael] I just think he's a fair guy.
-Oh, man! -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Booker] Wow. Referee just was out of position right there,
that's all that was.
That was totally an accident right there, I think, guys.
[Jerry] Position or not, he was knocked through--
[Michael] Well, with the official down, the matchup, guys, though,
continues in the ring. CM Punk, arm dragging to--
Well, looks like going for the Vise. He's gonna put the Vise on.
The Anaconda Vise, trying to lock it in here.
-[Jerry] He's got it. -[Michael] He does. And Ziggler's tapping.
Ziggler's tapping the Anaconda Vise, but it's--
[Booker] It's over.
[Michael] There's no official in the ring. The official's been knocked down.
-[Jerry] John! Laurinaitis! Turn and look! -[Booker] Laurinaitis!
[Michael] Ziggler was tapping to the Vise and nobody saw it.
[Booker] What the hell is he doing?
[Michael] Checking. He's concerned for his fellow employee.
He's concerned for the man. He's compassionate.
Referee got knocked out of the ring, almost hit his head on the steps.
-Laurinaitis! -[Booker] I mean, Punk just got screwed.
-What are you doing? I had him out. -I'm checking on the referee.
You saw him, Punk.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Watch out! Ziggler from behind. -[Booker] You've got--
[Michael] Punk rolls through again. Shoulders down.
-[crowd counting] -[Jerry] Come on, John, look!
[Michael] That was about a four-count before Ziggler kicked out,
but again, there's no official in the ring.
Johnny's doing the right thing. He doesn't want to get in there.
-He said he didn't want to get in there. -[Jerry] Well, then he needs to call
-another official down there. -[Michael] Well, he wants to be impartial.
He's trying to get-- Yeah, see? See what he's doing?
-Helping the other official in the ring. -[Booker] The referee is down. He's hurt.
Why would he be rolling him back in the ring? You gotta be kidding me.
[Michael] Because he's trying to get this match some sort of official.
He doesn't want to appear to be partial in this match.
[Booker] CM Punk, don't do nothing stupid, Punk.
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Ziggler! Uh-oh, look at Punk. Oh.
[Michael] There goes Johnny.
Oh, Go To Sleep connecting.
Punk is alive. Ziggler's down. The referee's coming to.
Ziggler's out.
[Booker] The referee is-- I mean, he's hurt.
What are you talking about? He's not coming to.
-[Laurinaitis shouts indistinctly] -I just beat him three times.
I just beat him three times.
[Michael] I think John Laurinaitis thinks that Punk did that intentionally.
[Jerry] I do too.
Next GTS is for you, clown shoes.
[Michael] Punk is upset. He was screaming to Laurinaitis,
"I had Dolph beaten three times."
[Booker] What can you say? He did. I mean, he had him beat, I mean,
the referee was out of position. The referee is actually hurt.
John Laurinaitis should be in the middle of that ring.
[Michael] It's not John Laurinaitis's fault
the referee was hurt.
He should be in there, making a three-count for him.
[Michael] Look at this. Ziggler is out cold, waiting to go to sleep.
Ziggler countered. We have a new champion.
-Hook to the leg. He got it. He got it. -[Booker] No.
-No! -[Michael] No, no, no.
-[Booker] Wow! -[Michael laughing] Oh!
[Booker] You talking about close.
[Jerry] Well, I'm gonna give Ziggler credit.
That was a brilliant move, but it…
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Not quite enough.
[Michael] You see Johnny again asking the referee if he's okay.
[Jerry] How did CM Punk kick out of that?
That was on instinct alone because he's still dazed.
[Michael] Ziggler continues the attack
on the champion, perhaps getting a bit frustrated here.
Ziggler's got to keep it in control though.
-Come on, hey! -[Michael] He's frustrated.
-Ziggler's the luckiest man in this arena. -Dolph, get off right now! Come on.
[Jerry] CM Punk had him beat three or four times.
[Booker] Ziggler just snapped then.
I mean, he need to watch himself before he get disqualified.
[Michael] Uh-oh, look at this. Hooked.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Whoa, Ziggler!
-[Booker] Oh, here we go. -[Michael] Go To Sleep.
-The official's there. -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] And look at this. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Doing the right thing. Punk retains the title.
-["Cult of Personality" playing] -[Justin] Winner of this match,
and still WWE Champion, CM Punk.
[Michael] What an unselfish man.
John Laurinaitis doing the right thing,
he wanted to prove that he was not biased here tonight.
And now, he's going to hand the title to the deserving champion, Punk.
[Booker] Would somebody tell me what the hell just happened?
[Jerry] If it's not obvious--
[Michael] What happened was is that John Laurinaitis was--
-No, don't be impartial. -[Jerry] Cole, please shut up.
John Laurinaitis is running scared.
-[Michael] Running scared? -[Jerry] He is so afraid
he's gonna be fired tomorrow night on Raw by Triple H.
[Booker] You're exactly right.
[Michael] Listen, whether he's running scared or not,
he was completely impartial,
and just like he said he was gonna be.
And he would've been that way
whether his job was gonna be reviewed tomorrow night or not.
It doesn't matter. And did you see the pride
that John Laurinaitis took in this matchup?
[Jerry] Well, this is earlier in the match.
Watch Laurinaitis. He gets hit from behind.
That was an accident, but Laurinaitis thought it was intentional.
I think he thought that CM Punk just slugged him in the back of the head.
-[Michael] He might've. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] We don't know that. Nonetheless, there was at least a count of four
and that was what Punk was talking about.
[Jerry] Well…
[Michael] And then we thought Ziggler had the victory here,
-but somehow, CM Punk survived. -[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] And I want you to watch this. As CM Punk puts Dolph
and gets him with the Go To Sleep. Watch John Laurinaitis.
Watch the pride of this man, the pride he has for this company.
The pride he has for the championship. The pride he has for Punk,
to get in there, get down in the trenches, get down and dirty with his fellow referee
and count the one, two, three. That's what John Laurinaitis is all about.
-[Booker] Wow! -[Jerry] Please, Cole.
You're gonna have to have your lips surgically removed from his butt.
[Booker] Get that boy some ChapStick because he's been sucking up tonight.
[Michael] Such a proud leader.
That's the type of guy you want to go to battle for.
And I hope he's leading Raw for years and years to come.
[Jerry] We'll find out tomorrow night.
[Michael] And ladies and gentlemen, this is St. Louis, Missouri.
That is Busch Stadium.
This is the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble.
We're, indeed, on the Road to WrestleMania.
[Jerry] And we want to send out a special "thank you"
right now, listen to this.
Yeah, you're listening to "Dark Horses." It's by Switchfoot.
It's the official Royal Rumble theme song.
And it's off the album Vice Verses. Available now on iTunes.
[Michael] It is time for the Royal Rumble match,
-where it's all about the numbers. -[Jerry chuckling] Oh!
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator 2] It's anticipation of the amazing.
[Michael] Edge is going to WrestleMania.
[narrator 2] Unvarying in unpredictability and the epitome of excitement.
[commentator 1] Welcome to the Royal Rumble.
[narrator 2] For a quarter century, it has shown us how to defy the odds.
Thirty Superstars, one winner.
A main event championship opportunity at WrestleMania XXVIII awaits.
On the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble match,
the numbers tell the story.
Thirty-one, the total number of WWE Hall of Famers
who have competed in the Royal Rumble match.
These legends combine to headline 21 main events at WrestleMania.
Six hundred and ninety-five. Since 1988,
nearly 700 entrants have tried to win the Rumble match,
only to be eliminated.
Thirty-nine.
Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels holds the all-time record
for eliminating the most competitors.
[Michael] How does he do that?
[narrator 2] Not far behind is the Big Red Monster, Kane,
who has tossed a total of 35 participants in 13 consecutive Rumbles,
with a record 11 eliminations in 2001.
[Ross] Kane is going crazy here.
[narrator 2] One hundred, ninety-four thousand,
one hundred seven pounds, the astronomical mass of humanity
that has competed in the Royal Rumble match.
[Bradshaw] You wanna know where the beef is? There's there big pal.
[narrator 2] That's over 97 tons, or 430 Big Shows.
Four hundred, twenty-one thousand, eight hundred eighty-three.
[Bradshaw] That's a lot, they're here in numbers.
[narrator 2] That's how many members of the WWE Universe
have been in attendance at the Royal Rumble
to witness a number of memorable moments.
Sixty-two minutes, 12 seconds. Rey Mysterio survived brutal competition
for over an hour, to set the record
for the longest appearance in a Rumble match.
-[Michael] He did it! -[Jerry] No way!
[Michael] He did it. Rey Mysterio did it!
[narrator 2] Three… Stone Cold victories in the Royal Rumble match,
more than any other Superstar in history.
Two seconds. For 20 long years,
The Warlord held the record for the shortest time in the Rumble match.
That was until 2009.
[Ross] I think The Warlord's record may have been broken.
-[crowd cheering] -I wasn't ready.
[narrator] Two, the number of women who have competed in the Royal Rumble.
Unfortunately for their male counterparts,
these Divas had their number.
[Jerry] Beth Phoenix eliminated The Great Khali.
[narrator 2] Number one, the first entrant is at a definite disadvantage
where time isn't on their side, yet a number that has produced
the same amount of winners as the coveted number 30 spot.
Twenty-seven, perhaps the luckiest number in the Rumble match,
producing a record four winners.
And since 1993, 55% of Royal Rumble winners
have gone on to win the championship at WrestleMania.
And now, for the first time ever,
every WWE Superstar is eligible to enter the Royal Rumble,
making this the most unpredictable in history.
["Dark Horses" playing]
♪ Hey, you can't count us out ♪
♪ We've been running up Against the crowd ♪
♪ Yeah, we're the dark horses ♪
♪ We're singing We don't care what they say ♪
♪ We know we'll find a way ♪
[narrator 2] There's only one Road to WrestleMania
and it begins at the 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble.
[crowd chanting] Five, four, three, two, one.
[buzzer blaring]
["Dark Horses" concludes]
[bell ringing]
[Justin] Ladies and gentlemen, this is a Royal Rumble match.
-[Michael chuckles] -[Jerry] Here we go.
-[Booker] Yeah! -Two Superstars will start in the ring
at the same time. Every 90 seconds, a new Superstar will enter the match.
Elimination occurs when you are thrown over the top rope
and both feet touch the floor.
Now, this will continue until all 30 participants have entered the match.
The last remaining Superstar will be declared the winner
and will earn a championship match at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
-[Miz] Awesome! -["I Came To Play" playing]
♪ I came to play There's a price to pay… ♪
[Michael] Oh, what a way to start the Rumble.
[Justin] Introducing the first entrant, from Cleveland, Ohio,
weighing 220 pounds, The Miz.
[Michael] Now, The Miz lost to R-Truth Monday night on Raw
so he's assigned the number one spot here in the Royal Rumble match,
but I believe by the next time we come your way on pay-per-view,
three weeks from tonight,
it is the Elimination Chamber, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I think this man, The Miz, will have gone coast to coast
by the time we get to Milwaukee, have gone from one all the way through 30
and won the Royal Rumble matchup and headed to WrestleMania.
[Booker] Talk about a suck-up. Oh, boy.
I mean, give him a little bit more build-up than that.
[Jerry] You know, Cole, if brains were rain, you'd be a desert.
If you think The Miz is gonna last this entire Royal Rumble.
["I Came To Play" fades out]
[crowd cheering]
Every Superstar backstage has been snickering at me all day.
They think I'm actually bothered by the fact
that I'm the number one entrant in the Royal Rumble match.
They think it scares me. They think I'm intimidated by it.
They don't think I will make it to the end.
But those are the same people, the same Superstars
that told me I would never main event WrestleMania,
that I would never be in the main event,
that I would never be in this ring a WWE Champion.
[crowd whoops]
Every time they have denied me,
I've went above and beyond and proved them wrong,
and tonight will be no different.
[crowd cheering]
I may be the first one out here, but I will be the last man standing.
[crowd cheering]
And I will go on to headline WrestleMania XXVIII…
because I'm The Miz.
And I'm…
-[crowd] Awesome! -…awesome.
[Michael] The Miz, ladies and gentlemen,
set to participate in his fifth Rumble match of all time.
-["Say It To My Face" playing] -[Michael] Who enters at number two?
None other than Miz's former protégé.
[Justin] Introducing the second participant, from Washington D.C.,
-weighing 236 pounds, Alex Riley. -All right, go to WrestleMania, huh?
[Michael] And again, it's Alex Riley, getting set to take out his former mentor.
Want to remind everybody again, next time we're on pay-per-view,
three weeks from tonight, the Elimination Chamber,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the final pay-per-view
before WrestleMania.
[Jerry] I guess it's appropriate that this is The Miz's first opponent here
because I think Alex is the first friend that Miz stabbed in the back, wasn't he?
[Michael] Well, no, it's the first piece of trash that The Miz threw out.
-Remember. -[Booker] You said it right, King.
[Michael] Remember, Miz was the mentor of Alex Riley.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Started Alex Riley
on his career, on his road here, really was a role model for Riley
-before Riley turned his back on Miz. -[Jerry] No, no, no.
The better Alex Riley got, the more jealous The Miz became.
[Booker] Tell it like it is. Miz used this kid as much as he could
and for what he was worth and he got rid of him. That's what he did.
[Michael] Well, I just think Alex Riley didn't treat The Miz with any respect.
Nonetheless, here we go.
First two men of the 2012 Royal Rumble, the silver anniversary.
And here we go!
And what's the strategy, guys, for the first two men out of the box?
-[Jerry] Survive. -[Booker] Yeah, exactly right.
-That's the strategy in the Royal Rumble. -[screams]
[Booker] Just last as long as you can and hopefully,
you'll be the last man standing, like Miz said.
[Jerry] He got-- Alex Riley just turned The Miz inside out.
[Michael] Yeah, and remember the rules.
You're eliminated when you go over the top rope
-and both of your feet hit the floor. -[groans]
[Booker] I mean, the last-- The test of time to weather the storm,
you know, from the first man, and Miz got his job cut out for him tonight.
Hopefully, you got a good seat for this Raw champion
because it's gonna be a long night, dawg.
[Miz] Really, huh? Is this you, huh? Is this you?
You remember me, kid? You remember me, huh?
[Michael] Miz trash-talking Riley early on and Alex--
-[Booker] Oh! Wow! -[Michael] Miz hanging on the apron.
-[Booker] That was close. -[Michael] And there goes Alex Riley.
He's eliminated.
[Booker] That was inexperience, right there. The kid just--
I mean, that's a step off right there.
[Michael] Yeah, The Miz eliminating Alex Riley, one man down,
-twenty-eight to go for The Miz. -[Booker] Inexperience
on A. Riley's part right there. Next year'll be a better year for A. Riley.
[Jerry] You know, you asked about the strategy, Cole,
when it was one-on-one. That's your best opportunity
in the Royal Rumble, when it is just one-on-one.
Because the more crowded that ring gets, well, your chances go down.
[Michael] Only two men have gone from number one to actually win
the Royal Rumble matchup, one of them 1995, Shawn Michaels.
Great interview on wwe.com with Shawn Michaels right now,
advice for The Miz on how to survive from Number One.
[crowd counting down]
[buzzer blaring]
-[R-Truth] The Truth has set me free. -[Jerry] Oh! [chuckles]
[Michael] Now, here we go. Entry number three, former friend,
-former buddy. -[Booker] Former homies.
[Michael] R-Truth. He beat The Miz Monday night
to avoid being number one, but
Truth didn't get much better at the draw here,
coming in at number three.
-[Jerry] You're right about that. -[Booker] Oh! Double leg.
Sweet double leg, Truth coming in, taking care of business tonight.
[Michael] And here we go. R-Truth in his fifth Royal Rumble match
of all time as well. Miz and Truth going at it.
-Former friends and buddies. -[Jerry] Look at that.
-[Michael] Went through a lot together. -[Booker] Beautiful.
[Michael] And there's the athletic R-Truth, taking out Miz early on.
-What's up? -[crowd] What's up?
[Jerry] "What's up" is right. Here goes what's up.
[Booker] R-Truth back in rare form tonight, baby.
[Michael] R-Truth looking to eliminate Miz early on.
Miz hanging on, though.
-[groans] -[Michael] R-Truth said in an interview
that Miz is, quote, "No HPK."
"He's The Miz and he's awful."
And Miz was going for the Skull-Crushing Finale,
his finishing move there. Oh, and R-Truth missed.
[Booker] Smart move right there by The Miz.
[Michael] And these two know each other so well.
They were great tag team partners for a time.
-I will say R-Truth didn't-- -[Booker] Whoa, whoa.
[Michael] Now, look at this.
Miz in deep trouble. What's R-Truth gonna do here?
[Booker] Wow. Miz just took one right there,
but R-Truth muscled that boy up right there, dawg.
[Jerry] Yeah, but you know, a move like that, I mean, it'll help you
-but you've got get your opponent… -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] …over the top rope and both feet on the floor.
[Michael] Miz survives again as we await entry number four.
[crowd counting down]
[buzzer blaring]
["Smoke and Mirrors" playing]
[Michael] The Intercontinental Champion, Cody Rhodes.
[Booker] Cody Rhodes.
[Michael] Hey, guys, I said on SmackDown this past Friday night,
Rhodes is my dark horse to win this thing.
I think Cody's got all the tools
and he's got some great Royal Rumble history.
And Cody Rhodes, beautiful Disaster Kick
-to the back of Miz's head. -[Booker] Wow!
[Michael] Glanced off R-Truth as well.
And Cody Rhodes, coming out like a ball of fire.
And you got to remember, folks, back in 2008,
Cody Rhodes lasted 23 minutes in this event
-before being eliminated by Triple H. -[R-Truth groans]
In 2009, Cody Rhodes lasted 37 minutes
and was one of the final four men in this match.
[Jerry] You know, this is supposed to be every man for himself,
but you can see what's happening here.
A quick partnership being formed by Cody Rhodes and The Miz.
[Booker] Let me tell you, that's what Cody's all about, I mean, this kid--
If this kid can get an edge, trust me, he'll take it,
but soon as he get that edge, he'll stab you in the back in a minute.
You better watch yourself out there, man. Watch yourself, Miz.
[Michael] Yeah, Miz, again. Remember, this is every--
Look at this, Cody hanging on.
Remember, this is every man for himself in this matchup.
Cody's got to get back into the ring.
A dangerous position, hanging on by the apron.
[Jerry] You said Cody Rhodes had better watch himself, Booker.
If you ask me, it looked like The Miz was kind of sneaking up behind Cody.
[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] There's The Miz as we await entry number five.
[crowd counting down]
[buzzer blaring]
["The Rising" playing]
[Michael] And here comes Justin Gabriel from Cape Town, South Africa.
-The high-flyer. -[Booker] This kid's got a lot of energy.
Looking forward to seeing what Justin bring to the table.
-And here it is, right here. -[Michael] And there it is.
Justin, who's had an issue with Cody Rhodes
the past couple of weeks on SmackDown.
A part of just his second Royal Rumble match of all time.
[Jerry] Well, one thing this does, it kinda evens the playing field
and it takes all the heat off of R-Truth there for a couple of minutes at least.
[Booker] Definitely. Justin Gabriel come in here totally on fire
and this kid got a lot of high-flying moves.
You got to watch this kid 'cause he'll go up top in a heartbeat.
[Michael] Problem is, Booker, with Justin Gabriel,
that high-risk offense, gotta be very careful
that he doesn't get up in that top rope area
where he could get himself eliminated.
[Jerry] Yeah, you got to change your strategy in the Royal Rumble.
[Booker] I tell you, it don't take but a second to be
out of position in a matchup like this and it could be all over for you.
[Jerry] Once again, you gotta go over the top rope
and both feet touch the floor before you're eliminated.
[Michael] Four men in this matchup, as you can see.
Miz and R-Truth, Cody Rhodes and Justin Gabriel.
One man's been eliminated thus far, that being Alex Riley.
-Five men have entered. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And the last man standing in the Royal Rumble goes to WrestleMania.
[Booker] Gabriel and Cody's going one-on-one, baby, and it's looking good.
-Oh, my goodness. -[crowd counting down]
[Michael] Royal entry number six, five seconds away. Who's it gonna be?
[crowd counting down]
[buzzer blaring]
["Barcode" playing]
[Michael] Oh, one half of the Tag Team Champions there.
-It's Primo. -[Booker] That's Primo right there, dawg.
[Michael] Primo and Epico, of course,
the cousins, and the current Tag Team Champions in the WWE.
And Primo.
[Jerry] Could he have at least brought Rosa Mendes with him?
[Booker] That's what I was looking for when I heard that music.
[Michael] Yeah, but look at Primo go. Entering at number six.
Nice move right here. Ouch.
[Booker] Like I said, guys, a matchup like this,
Being in the right place at the right time.
-Oh, my-- Beautiful move. -[Jerry] Wow!
Primo is amazing to watch.
-[Booker] Primo's got a lot of-- -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
-[Michael] And that's where the-- -[Jerry] And R-Truth.
[Michael] R-Truth rolling, knocking Cody down. And there goes Miz.
-[Booker] There goes R-Truth. -[Michael] See ya, Truth.
-[Michael] Miz eliminates Truth. -[Booker] Right after
that corkscrew elbow, he was a little dazed and confused, man.
-Hey, hey! Hey! -[Michael] Now, look at Truth.
[Jerry] Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
-[Michael] Look at that. -[Booker] Oh, my goodness.
[Michael] Now, listen, Miz has not been eliminated, guys.
[Jerry] Okay, we know, we know.
[Michael] He went underneath the bottom rope, not over the top.
[Jerry] At least he got what he had coming.
[Michael] Miz is still in this matchup, but he may be out cold.
[Booker] Like I say, after taking that move right there,
he may not get up for tonight.
[Jerry] He just ate a little floor there, courtesy of R-Truth.
-I like it. -[Michael] Truth's been eliminated.
We've got Primo, Justin, Cody, and The Miz…
still part of this matchup, as we await entry number seven.
[crowd counting down]
[buzzer blaring]
-[Booker] Who's it gonna be? -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] This is gonna be a car wreck, all right.
[Booker] Ah, here we go, baby.
[Michael] Mick Foley, the three-time WWE Champion.
[Booker] Hardcore legend, baby,
Mick Foley has hit the ring with a vengeance.
[Jerry] And listen to this crowd. That's not a cheap talk.
-That's a real talk. -[Booker laughs]
[Michael] Mick Foley in his fourth Rumble match of all time.
Remember, he was placed into this matchup
out of the kindness of John Laurinaitis's heart,
this past Monday night on Raw.
[Jerry] Okay, another thing John Laurinaitis did right.
-That makes two out of his career. -[Michael] Whoa!
-[Michael] There goes Primo. Woo-hoo! -[Booker] There goes Primo.
Cody trying to take advantage of Mick Foley right here,
but it ain't happening.
[Michael] And Mick Foley, again, look at him go.
-He said he believes in magic. -[Booker] Those right hands.
Trust me, I know how those right hands feel.
[Michael] He said magic may be in the air tonight.
-He wants to go to WrestleMania. -[Booker] Bang, bang. He's just hit it.
[Michael] I wish he would have bang-banged himself.
-[Booker chuckles] -[Jerry] Look at this.
Oh, that's vintage Mick Foley right there, baby.
[Jerry] Get him up, Mick, get him over.
-[Michael] Look at that double arm DDT. -[Booker] Wow.
-[Michael] Mick Foley. -[Jerry] Mick looking good.
[Booker] Mick looking to win this whole thing, man.
[Jerry] He came at-- What number's Mick?
-[Michael] Number seven. -[Jerry] Number seven?
[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] Could be a good test to Mick's stamina here tonight.
[Booker] Exactly. I mean, his cardio can't be 100% these days,
but Mick Foley is experienced.
-[Michael] Hey. -[Booker] What the hell?
[Michael] He's back. Alberto Del Rio,
last year's Royal Rumble match winner is back.
-[car horn blaring] -["Realeza" playing]
[Michael] This is gonna be awesome.
-[car horn blaring] -[Jerry] What's that?
[Booker] What the hell? He got a old 280, Datsun 280ZX?
-[Michael] And th-- Who-- -[Booker] Worth about--
[Jerry] That's not Alberto Del Rio, look.
-[Booker] Worth about 600 dollars. -[Michael] Is that…
-[shouts indistinctly] -[Michael] Is that Ricardo?
[Jerry] I don't know,
-but his back window is a Hefty bag. -[Michael] It is.
It's Del Rio's personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez.
[Jerry] And that's his car?
[Michael] Yeah, I mean, you know, he's never been champion.
[Booker] Wow. Vintage 1985 Datsun…
-[Jerry] I guarantee you… -[Booker] …280Z.
[Jerry] …the anti-theft device is the way it looks.
[Michael] And look, the scarf he has is a bit more weathered
-than the one Del Rio usually lands. -[Booker chuckles]
[Jerry] He's proud of that car.
[Michael] Well, at least he's got something to ride.
[Booker] Twin brothers from different mothers.
[Jerry] Look at this guy, I've seen better heads on a pimple.
-[crowd chanting] Ricardo! Ricardo! -[Michael] Listen to the Ricardo chants.
-[crowd chanting] Ricardo! Ricardo! -[Michael chuckles]
-[Booker] Gotta be kiddin' me. -[Jerry] Nice love handles.
[Michael] Remember, Del Rio is out with a groin injury,
so I guess Rodriguez is the second-best thing.
I thought I was in bad shape.
[Jerry chuckles]
-[Michael] Well… -[Jerry chuckles]
[Michael] He better get on a treadmill.
[Booker chuckles]
-Ally? -[indistinct chatter]
Go, get him.
-[Michael] Now, wait, wait, wait. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] It looked like Ricardo was trying to work out
-some sort of strategy with Mick. -He was coming at me.
-He's just a civilian. -[Michael] …with Mick.
What you want me to do?
[Jerry] Mick might like this guy's car.
[Michael] Yeah, Mick would be right at home in that thing.
He looks like a homeless guy. -[Booker] Check out the-- I mean,
look at Rodriguez. He look like he's in a pair of drawers.
[Michael and Jerry chuckle]
[Michael] Whoa, there goes Gabriel.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] You gotta love it.
-This guy's my favorite Superstar. -[crowd counting down]
-[Booker] He would be. -[buzzer blaring]
[Michael] And who is gonna be number nine?
["La Vittoria E Mia" playing]
[Michael] Oh, things just got even more goofy.
[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] The assistant to the SmackDown general manager.
[Jerry] Here comes that power walk. Santino Marella.
Jerry, remember last year, Marella was one of the final two men remaining
in the Rumble match before he was eliminated by Del Rio.
In 2009, he actually set the record
for the shortest time ever in a Rumble match, one second.
-[Jerry] Look at Ricardo. -[Michael] Ricardo.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Go get him. Go get him.
-[Michael] Yikes! -[Booker] Wow, that was handy.
[Santino grunts]
[shouts indistinctly]
[Michael] Santino, having some fun with Ricardo.
[Jerry] A couple of inverted Atomic Drops and…
[Jerry] What the…
-What… [chuckles] -[Booker chuckles]
-[Ricardo grunts] -[Jerry chuckles]
[Michael] That was, uh… unique.
-A little chain wrestling, right? -[Booker chuckles] Yeah.
[Jerry] Oh, no. Hey, the world's biggest wedgie.
[Michael] Yeah, I know how that feels.
Oh, Ricardo, see you, bye.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd chanting] Socko! Socko!
-[Jerry] Wait a minute, look at this. -[Michael] No.
[Booker] You have the glove fight. It's like a glove fight right here.
-[Jerry] It's Socko. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry chuckles] This is great.
[Michael] What's great about two smelly, stinky socks?
Yeah, just think where their socks have been.
[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] Looks like one's scared and the other's glad of it.
[Booker] Wait a minute, guys.
-[buzzer blaring] -["Barcode" playing]
[Michael] And here comes the other half of the Tag Team Champions,
Epico, at number ten.
[Jerry] I'm begging one of these guys to bring Rosa Mendes out here.
[Michael] And Epico going after San--
-[Jerry] Oh! Cobra. -[Booker] Cobra.
-[Michael] Oh, no, Socko. -[Jerry] Mr. Socko!
[Michael] That stinky sock. [groans]
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Well, both of you remember The Rock 'n' Sock Connection.
This may be the Sock 'n' Snake Connection.
[Booker] This might be a hell of a duo right here, I mean,
with the Cobra and the Socko, I mean…
-[Michael] You guys understand-- -[Booker] Whoa, wait a minute.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Booker] They're locking up.
[Michael] And Miz is back in it. And so is Cody Rhodes.
Remember, Miz still alive in this Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Like Miz, with a lot of time to recover out there.
Getting a second wind, and now he is on the attack.
[Michael] And Santino,
-eliminated by Cody. -[Booker] There goes Santino.
-[Jerry] Santino and the Cobra. -[Booker] Man.
[Michael] And now, Mick Foley and The Miz going at it.
No, come on, get that out of Miz's mouth.
-[Jerry] Yes! -[Michael] That's disgusting.
[Booker] There goes The Miz. He's going over, baby.
[Michael] That is disgusting.
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Michael] Good, see you, bye, Mick.
[Booker] You gotta be kidding me.
[Michael] You're missing your AARP meeting.
[crowd counting down]
[Booker] Talk about the snake in the grass.
-That's Cody Rhodes, man. -[Jerry] Let's see these two go at it.
[Booker] Do it.
[buzzer blaring]
["S.O.S." playing]
[Michael] Uh-oh.
-[Booker] Oh my goodness. -[Michael] Number 11, Kofi Kingston.
[Booker in Jamaican accent] Kofi Kingston is about to come to the ring right now
-and-- -[fireworks popping]
[Michael chuckles] By the way, that's Booker's Jamaican accent,
even though Kofi's from Ghana in West Africa.
And nonetheless, Kofi Kingston, taking it to Miz and Cody Rhodes
-and look at Kofi go. -[Booker] Look at the kid go.
Look at the kid go.
[Michael] Kofi had a great Royal Rumble match last year.
-[Booker] Oh, wow! -[Michael] Lasted 22 minutes.
And he's off to a great start
-in this one. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Booker] Take your time, Kingston.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Booker] Wow, that was beautiful.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Kofi Kingston got both of these guys down,
-but you got to get 'em up and over. -[Booker] He's gonna do it.
He's gonna do that Boom. He's gonna do that Boom Drop.
-Oh, Boom Drop. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] That's a double Boom Drop.
Send him sailing. Goodbye, Miz.
[Michael] And Miz-- Is he--
Remember, both feet have to hit the floor once you go over the top rope.
[Jerry] That's about three times Miz has hung on like a spider monkey
-on the outside. -[Michael] Now, Cody from behind.
[Booker] Oh, straight opportunist, this kid, Cody Rhodes.
Yeah, he's gonna wait till he see an advantage before he step in.
That's what this kid-- I don't like that about this kid. I hate him.
-[Michael] Who, Cody? -[Booker] Yeah. I hate this kid.
-He's always looking for a way out. -[Michael] As we await entry number 12
in the Royal Rumble match, Kofi in trouble from the top rope.
[Booker] He needs a little bit of help right now.
-Kofi needs a little help. -[buzzer blaring]
-[Jerry] Yes, he does. And you know what? -["The Great Gates of Kiev" playing]
What would the Royal Rumble be without a little royalty?
-You've got to be kidding me. -What the hell?
-What are you doing? -You didn't tell me you was in it, King.
Where are you going?
-This is ridiculous. -[Booker] No doubt about that.
That championship, get that shot,
-it make you do something crazy. -[Michael] Come on, Booker.
I mean, he's just basically taking away another spot
from somebody in this roster that deserves one.
[Booker] Hey, man, this is the King. I mean,
he gets the victory, just being The King.
What are you talking about? He's exempt.
[Michael] How does Lawler-- Why is he in this matchup?
Can you imagine Jerry Lawler, main event in WrestleMania?
[Booker] Yeah, I can imagine it.
I can imagine him being the champion as well.
[Michael] I'm sure you can. And look at
Lawler and Miz, who've had a longstanding rivalry.
[Booker] Miz slammed by the King. Keep dropping on him, baby.
Drop the strap, that's what I want to see.
[Michael] Lawler has no business being in this match.
[Booker] I want to see him kick off the strap. I want to see--
-Oh, here we go. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Come on! -[Booker] Vintage King, right there, baby.
[Michael] You stole-- Now, you're stealing my lines.
-[Booker chuckles] Damn it! -[Michael] Good. Thank God.
-Thank you, Cody. -[crowd booing]
-[Michael applauding] -[screams]
[Michael] Great job, Cody. Serves him right.
-[Booker] What you talking about? -[Michael] Come back here
and do his job, what he's supposed to be doing.
-[grunts] -[Michael] Instead of in there,
playing like he's going to WrestleMania.
[Booker] King did a hell of a job right there, man.
He almost stayed in there and pulled it out.
-[Michael] As we await entry number 13. -[crowd counting down]
[Michael] No announcer should enter
-the Royal Rumble match. -[Booker] Why not?
-[Michael] Because we got a job… -[buzzer blaring]
…to do out here. It's hard enough keeping track of all 40 entrants.
["Domination" playing]
-[Michael] And here is Ezekiel Jackson. -[Booker] Here comes Big Zeke.
This kid is looking for a break-out moment.
Could the Royal Rumble be it? King, you did a hell of a job, son.
[Michael] And here's Ezekiel Jackson, Personification of Domination.
-[Booker] You did a hell of a job, King. -[Michael] Looking at the bright side,
you lasted longer than the four seconds you did 14 years ago.
[screams]
[Michael] Nice try. What are you thinking about anyway?
[Jerry] I'm thinking about going to WrestleMania,
just like every other Superstar in the WWE. What are you talking about?
-[Booker] Wow! -[Michael] Can you do your job now
and call the action on Ezekiel Jackson in this?
-[screams] -[crowd chanting]
[Booker] King, you make me wish I'd have took up, you know--
Took that invitation and jumped in myself, dawg.
And you did a helluva job. You did a helluva job.
[Michael] And remember, ladies and gentlemen,
The Miz has been in this matchup since number one.
He's been in the Royal Rumble match for over 18 minutes so far.
[Booker] This kind of match right here
is set for Big Zeke. This could--
This type of match, he could make a breakout moment here
in the WWE.
-Let's see exactly what happens. -[Michael] Look out here.
-[screams] -[Michael] Oh, Zeke.
Wow, what a sideslam.
[Booker] Zeke, start throwing them suckers over the top rope, man.
What are you waiting on?
[both grunt]
[Michael] And Jackson just pounding away at everybody in his path.
[Jerry] Hammer those guys.
-[Booker] Did anybody tell Zeke the rules? -[crowd counting down]
[Michael] Yeah, you gotta eliminate your opponent.
[Booker] You got to put him over the top of the--
[Michael] Yeah, he's trying to do that here
as we await number 14.
-[Booker] Number 14. -[buzzer blaring]
[Booker] This number right here
-probably is gonna be a lucky number. -["Main Yush Hun" playing]
-[Michael] Here he is. -[Booker] Oh! Here we go.
[Michael] Jinder Mahal.
-[Booker] Talking about money. -[Michael] The Sikh Punjabi.
And of course, wearing the-- Well, it's called the pagri,
which is actually on his head there, the maroon color means he's affluent.
[Booker] I thought it was called a turban.
[Michael] Well, no, it's a pagri, that's what the Sikhs call it.
-Nonetheless-- -[Jerry] He's got so much money,
Booker, he's got a Persian rug made out of real Persians.
[Michael] It is worn by warriors and saints and soldiers.
And Jinder Mahal slowly taking his time to the ring as Ezekiel Jackson
who's had his issues in the past with Jinder Mahal…
You can see what Jackson has done.
Kofi, Miz, and Cody are all down in the center of the ring.
[Booker] Mahal taking his sweet time, getting that turban off there.
Don't want to tarnish it.
[Michael] Well, of course, it's a very, very important object.
[Jerry] Yeah, I just don't think he's in a hurry to get in there.
[Michael] It protects their hair, keeps it clean.
-[Booker] Whoa! -[Jerry] What?
[Michael] And-- Yeah, that's what it's used for.
And Jinder Mahal now, going right after Ezekiel Jackson.
-[Booker] Man. -[Michael] There's a neckbreaker,
and Mahal taking it to Kofi Kingston.
[Miz grunts]
[Michael] Miz and Cody and Zeke and Jinder and Kofi,
still in the Royal Rumble match 2012.
[Booker] I mean, these young guys in there, going,
you know, all out, trying to win that shot.
And that's really what it's all about. Trying to win that shot
-to get that title shot. -[buzzer blaring]
[Booker] If I had a chance to be out there,
-I would too, man. -["Land of Five Rivers" playing]
[Michael] Uh oh!
-[Jerry] My God. -[Booker] Here we go.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
The Great Khali, the brother-in-law of Jinder Mahal.
-[Booker] Got the Punjabi gang there. -[Michael] And they don't get along.
Khali was taken out in Mark Henry's Hall of Fame,
back in September.
And now, he's going after the man, Jinder Mahal,
who has treated him horribly ever since Mahal has come to the WWE.
Khali entering his sixth Rumble match.
-He's 7'4", 445-- -[Booker] Hold on. Check it out.
[Michael] Look at the size of Khali. And now, he turns his attention to Mahal.
[Jerry] Look at-- [chuckles] And there he goes.
[Booker] First one out, right there.
-[grunts] -[Michael] And now, Zeke.
Trying to take it to the big man.
-[screams] -[Jerry chuckles] Big man?
Zeke is huge, but he's dwarfed by The Great Khali.
-And there goes Zeke! -[Booker] Whoa!
Big Zeke just got took out of the game, dawg.
[Jerry] I think there's a new favorite in the Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Yeah, he's eliminated Mahal and Jackson.
-His name is The Great Khali. -[Jerry] Get The Miz and get Cody.
[Michael] Cody and Kofi, Khali and Miz.
[grunts]
[Booker] There goes Cody Rhodes, he's going.
[Michael] Yeah. Oh, come on, Cody. Hang on in there. Hang on there, Cody.
As we get ready for entry number 16. Who's it gonna be?
-[crowd counting down] -[Booker] You talking about action, guy.
-This thing is action personified tonight. -[crowd counting down]
-[Michael] We're more than halfway. -[buzzer blaring]
["Respecto" playing]
[Michael] Oh!
Check it out. On a lowrider bicycle,
driven by Camacho,
it is Hunico entering at number 16.
[Jerry] A lowrider bicycle. That thing looks worse than Ricardo's car.
[Booker] Was Camacho just giving him a ride
-to the ring right here, what? -[Michael] How can you say that?
That lowrider bicycle is outfitted in gold.
Gold spokes on that bike.
Well, Hunico. The high-flyer, taking it right to Kofi Kingston here.
Huni going after The Miz and Hunico's rolling.
[Booker] I really like this kid, Hunico. I mean, he's not really a WWE hero,
but making a move like no other, man.
[Jerry] Well, he's got some moves, all right.
[Booker] Oh! Just took one right there, though. [chuckles]
[Jerry] The Great Khali has that huge right hand.
When he chops your head off, you're done.
[Booker] Stay away from The Great Khali
'cause right now, he's dropping the hammer.
[Jerry] Please, somebody. Cody is…
-[Michael] Cody Rhodes as well… -[screams]
[Michael] …having a great Royal Rumble matchup so far.
Cody Rhodes, who entered in number four,
has been in this match well over 20 minutes.
[groans]
[Booker] You know, I just wanna see somebody
-give Cody a beating, man. -[Michael] Of course you do,
-but Cody's still in this thing. -[Booker] Something
-about that kid I really don't like. -[Michael] As we get ready
for number 17.
[crowd counting down]
[Michael] Who's it gonna be?
[buzzer blaring]
[Booker] Can you dig it, suckers?
[Jerry] What? Now you? [chuckles]
You gotta be kidding me.
-Yes. [chuckles] -Now you?
Go get 'em, Booker. Go get 'em, sucker.
What are you doing?
[Jerry] What do you think, Cole? Look at this. [laughs]
[Michael] He's going right after Cody. What business does Booker T have
-to be in this matchup? -[Jerry] What do you mean, what business?
Booker T can go to WrestleMania, baby. He's been a champ before.
He can do it again.
[Michael] Uh-oh. Yeah, but he just ran face-first into The Great Khali.
And again, just like you,
Booker should be doing his job out here as a commentator.
[Jerry] What do you mean? He's still a Superstar.
[Michael] Didn't he learn his lesson when he had that rivalry
with Cody Rhodes last month?
[Jerry] I thought Booker T took it to Cody Rhodes every time they locked up.
[crowd chanting] Booker T!
[Michael] Hear the Booker T chants for some reason
out of this WWE Universe.
[Jerry] Did it almost make you barf
when you heard the King chants?
[Michael] Yeah, it made me sick to my stomach.
-[crowd booing] -[Jerry chuckles]
[Michael] You'd think you'd be out here doing your real job
instead of trying to play Superstars.
[Jerry] You just try to do your job and watch Booker T go in there.
[Michael] Well, he's in there. And so's Miz,
who's lasted longer than anybody,
coming in at the number one spot.
-[Jerry] Whoa, look at this. -[Michael] And Cody kicks Kofi Kingston,
-Skinnin' the cat. Miz is in trouble. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Kofi still alive. Hands on the floor.
Remember, both feet have to hit the floor.
-My God, dangerous situation. -[Jerry] Look at this.
-Look at this. -[Michael] My God.
[Jerry] Look at this!
-[Michael] Are you kidding me? -[Jerry] He saved himself.
[Michael] Are you kidding me?
[Jerry] Kofi Kingston… [chuckles] …what a move!
[Michael] That has got to be the greatest thing
-I've ever seen. -[Jerry laughs] Even you admit it, huh?
[Michael] That has got to be the greatest thing
I've ever seen in the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Kofi Kingston facing sure elimination
-from The Miz and he-- -[buzzer blaring]
-[Jerry] He walked on his hands. -["Here to Show the World" playing]
[Michael] And here comes Dolph Ziggler.
Remember, since he wasn't successful in the WWE title match earlier on tonight,
he has an opportunity to enter the Royal Rumble match,
and that's what he's doing at 18.
[Jerry] He brings the plumber's idea of Cleopatra,
Vickie Guerrero, out here to the ring.
[Michael] Vickie can legally be involved out here now,
or at least accompany him to ringside. She's not banned from this matchup.
And Dolph Ziggler, who came so close
to winning the WWE Championship earlier tonight,
goes right after Kofi Kingston.
I'm still in awe of what we saw earlier.
The way that Kofi survived, doing a handstand.
Literally walking his hands on the floor to the steps
to stay in this matchup.
[Jerry] Absolutely amazing, Kofi Kingston still in this thing.
I thought Kofi was done for sure.
Somehow The Miz still in this thing but The Great Khali-- Hey!
[Michael] Hunico, did he--
[Jerry] I thought Booker eliminated, but no, he's still--
[Michael] No, the official's right there.
Hunico stayed in there, both feet didn't hit the floor there.
[Jerry] Booker hanging tough.
You gotta-- Well, you mean, you wouldn't like to see
your broadcast partner from SmackDown, Booker T,
go on to WrestleMania? Headline WrestleMania?
[Michael] No, because I'd have to listen to him every week.
It's bad enough sitting out here with him as it is.
-[grunts] -[Michael] Oh, Booker.
Booker still hanging in there though. He lasted longer than you did.
-[Jerry] The Great Khali. -[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] When it's all said and done, I won't have done worse
-than about 29 Superstars. -[crowd counting down]
-[Michael] That's true. -[buzzer blaring]
-[Michael] Who is number 19? -["Two by Four" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] What? There he is! [chuckles]
[Michael] The winner of the very first Royal Rumble.
-[Jerry] He's back! -[Michael] In 1988.
-The Hall Of Famer, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. -[Jerry] Look at this.
Oh!
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] And look at Duggan go.
Listen to this place. It is insane in St. Louis.
[Jerry] Duggan taking care of business here.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
[Jerry] USA chant going throughout this arena.
-Oh! -[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry laughing] -[grunts]
[grunts]
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Michael] Look at Duggan go.
[Michael] A meeting of the minds between Cody and The Miz.
USA!
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA! USA!
[Jerry chuckles] Jim Duggan, 25 years later.
-Oh! -[Jerry] …still banging 'em
-around in there. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I can't believe Duggan is still going strong.
Uh-oh, look at this. Duggan, Duggan!
-[Jerry] Watch it, Jim. -[Michael] TMI, Cody Rhodes.
[crowd booing]
[Jerry] This Cody Rhodes is really beginning to get on my nerves.
What a story that would've been.
[Michael] Good try, Duggan. So long. Go back to your retirement home.
And look at this.
Khali's got Booker in trouble right here in front of us.
Ziggler as well.
And Cody. And there goes Khali and Booker.
[Jerry] Man, my favorites are falling by the wayside.
[Michael] Who is going to enter at number 20?
-Who's going to enter at number 20? -[crowd counting down]
[Michael] I think I know. I got a hunch.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Michael] I got a hunch.
-["Burn It To The Ground" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Yes! -[Jerry] What?
-Yes. -Oh, tell me this isn't so.
Tell me that Michael Cole
-isn't in the Royal-- -[Booker] What the hell you doing?
You not in the Rumble.
Keep your pants on. Nobody wants to see it.
Get in-- Just get up there.
Just go like that. Just go. Get outta here.
-Ah, this… -[Booker] This is ridiculous.
This may be the most ridiculous thing I've--
You don't need those earmuffs.
[Booker] Man, King, I was that close
-to winning the Rumble. -[Jerry] Booker, you did great.
But look at this clown.
-[Booker] Man, I was that close. -[Jerry] Look at Cole.
He actually thinks he's gonna win this thing and go to WrestleMania.
-[crowd cheering] -[Booker] Look at…
[Jerry] The Miz has just passed the 30-minute mark.
I don't expect Miz to try to eliminate Cole, they're best buds.
[Booker] That's a test right there,
-the last 30 minutes, but-- -[Jerry] Look at Cole,
-avoiding any contact with anybody. -[Booker] Look at his stomach.
I mean, looks like he's been eating donuts all month.
-[Jerry] It's the way he works out. -[crowd counting down]
-[buzzer blaring] -[Jerry] Somebody get in there
-and get him. -[Booker] It's just breaking my heart.
-["Bad Karma" playing] -[Jerry] What?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Wait a minute. Am I seeing
-what I think I'm seeing? -[Booker] Wait a minute.
-[Jerry] Kharma! -[Booker] King, check this out.
This is only the third time something like this has ever happened.
Kharma is about to break somebody off a little somethin' proper-like, dawg.
[Jerry] I hope she goes right after Cole.
[Booker] I hope she just eats him like a piece of chicken.
[Jerry] Michael Cole is already crying. I see tears running-- Oh, yes!
[Booker and Jerry laugh]
[Jerry] She knocked his headgear right off.
[Booker] She's looking at that boy like a chicken bone she finna eat.
[Jerry] Oh, look at Cole.
[Booker] King…
[crowd cheering]
Hey! What are you doing? Get out!
Get out! [grunts]
[Jerry] Cole is gone. He is eliminated. Look at Kharma!
-[Booker laughs] -[Jerry] Kharma just--
[Booker] Yo, give me some, dawg. Gimme…
[Jerry] Look at this confrontation.
[Booker laughs]
-Wow! -[crowd cheering]
[Booker] Oh, my goodness. Dolph Ziggler just did the impossible.
-[crowd booing] -[laughs]
-[Booker] Wow. -[Jerry] Vickie Guerrero is loving it.
Kharma is eliminated, but what a showing!
[Booker] Cole, you okay? You okay?
[Michael] You guys just cost me my spot at WrestleMania.
-I was gonna win the thing. -[Booker] We tried to help you out, dawg.
[Michael] I didn't want to touch a woman,
-that was why I climbed over the top rope. -[buzzer blaring]
-["Written in My Face" playing] -[Jerry] I see.
[Booker laughs] Here comes my number one pick
to win the Rumble right here, Sheamus, that Celtic warrior,
-coming in to do business. -[Michael] I may agree with you.
Here's Sheamus.
[Booker] What, you agree? But you said--
You said Miz was gonna win it. What are you talking about?
[Michael] I think he is, and I think Dolph is too. No, I think Cody.
Oh, look at Sheamus go.
[grunts]
[crowd cheering]
[grunts]
[Michael] All right, getting some information. I'm pretty proud of this.
-Booker, first off, congratulations. -[Booker] Thank you.
[Michael] You lasted longer than any of the announcers
in the 2012 Royal Rumble match.
[Booker] You know what? I feel good about that.
-[Michael] Guess who was second? -[Booker] Who's that?
-[Michael] I lasted almost as long as you. -[Jerry] What?
[Michael] You know who lasted the least amount in the match?
-[Booker] Who's that? -[Michael] Lawler.
-[Jerry] Cole, you-- -[Michael] And Kofi Kingston's
been eliminated.
[Jerry] You weren't even in there 90 seconds.
[Michael] By Sheamus. Longer than you.
And you cost my spot at WrestleMania. Nonetheless,
-here's Sheamus, The Great White… -[screams]
[Michael] …who's eliminated Kofi, turning his ire on Cody Rhodes.
[Booker] Here comes-- Sheamus is going to town right here.
I like this right here. I just call this a beatdown
-and Sheamus is rocking this boy. -[crowd counting] …eight, nine, ten!
[Jerry] Cody Rhodes trying to block those massive blows.
[Michael] Come on, guys, give some credit. Miz is still in this thing.
-[crowd counting] -[Booker] I'm giving him some credit
right there because he's doing a hell of a job taking a beating
-by this boy, Sheamus. -[crowd counting] …eight, nine, ten.
[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] Watch out from behind.
[Booker] Oh, man.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Michael] Who is entering now,
-ladies and gentlemen? -[Road Dogg] Oh, you didn't know?
-["Oh You Didn't Know" playing] -[Michael] Oh, my.
-[Booker] Gotta love it. -[crowd cheering]
You got to love it. It's Road Dogg.
[Michael] At number 23, Road Dogg of The New Age Outlaws
and D-Generation X is here.
[Booker] Look at the people, the people are going, "Yes."
[Michael] And look at him go. Go, Dogg, go.
-A little shake, rattle, and roll, baby. -[Booker] I wanna see him shimmy.
I want to see Road Dogg do that shimmy like he always has.
Check it out. Here it is right here. Bam.
There it is right here. Shimmy!
-[Jerry laughs] Boom! Yeah! -[Michael] Boom!
-[Booker] Beautiful, baby. -[Michael laughs]
[Booker] That boy can go.
[Michael] Oh, does this bring back memories!
Cody Rhodes, ladies and gentlemen,
has just made it over 30 minutes. Miz has bettered that.
Just Miz entered at number one.
[Jerry] Cody Rhodes eating some turnbuckle.
[Booker] I tell you,
-Road Dogg hasn't lost a step, dawg. -[crowd chanting] You still got it!
[Booker] He's in there right now and he's going and he's going strong, man.
[Michael] So, again, Cody Rhodes over 30 minutes, Miz over 33 minutes
in the 2012 Royal Rumble matchup. What a match for those two so far!
[Booker] Listen to the people, "You still got it. You still got it."
Road Dogg's still got it, dawg.
[Michael] Were they chanting for me when I was in there?
-[Booker] No. -[Jerry] No, "You never had it."
That's what they were chanting, "You never had it."
[Michael] Okay, I beat you at WrestleMania
-and lasted longer in the Rumble. -[buzzer blaring]
-[Jerry] Please, Cole. -["So Close Now" playing]
[Jerry] You got eliminated by a woman. [laughs]
-[Michael] Hey! -[Booker] Uso!
[Michael] You call her a woman? She's a Diva.
-[Jerry] Got eliminated by a woman. -[Booker] Check this out.
Jey Uso is hitting the ring right there.
[Michael] What happened to the Uso brothers?
-Great tag team here in the WWE. -[Booker] Wait a minute,
he gonna try to show Road Dogg up with a little boogaloo action.
[Michael] Of course, the son of legendary WWE Superstar, Rikishi.
And here it is. Paying homage to Rikishi.
[Booker] Road Dogg is out.
[Jerry] Well, not technically. He's still in the Rumble.
But he may be knocked out.
[Jerry] Sheamus trying to eliminate Dolph Ziggler over here.
Cody Rhodes back up and going.
[Booker] Got to give it to Cody Rhodes. He's in there, tooth and nail. I mean--
[Michael] Are you gonna say something nice about Miz?
[Booker] I mean, the guy is banging out.
Miz, of course, Miz is in there, hanging in there
like a true champion. He is. I like that.
These guys are going one on-- Toe-to-toe in here, in this ring.
I like that these guys are going at it.
[Michael] Road Dogg, a five-time Tag Team Champion,
standing toe-to-toe with Ziggler.
Look at Road Dogg, go.
Miz still hanging in there, as is Cody.
[Jerry] I can't concentrate from the screaming by Vickie Guerrero over here.
[Booker] She's just Catholic, man.
-I mean, she's going on. -[Jerry laughs]
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] Can you believe
Miz could do this?
Miz could last from number one and win this thing.
-[buzzer blaring] -[Michael] Because this is entry number 25
-right now. -["Get on Your Knees" playing]
[Booker] Oh, man.
[Michael] Speaking of Vickie Guerrero, another one of her clients.
There he is, the United States Champion, Jack Swagger.
[Booker] The All-American American, who has been on fire lately,
has hit the ring and here he-- Whoa.
[Michael] And it's gonna be hard to stop a man like Swagger.
-Nearly 270 pounds, 6'6". -[Road Dogg] Hey, hey, hey, hey!
[Michael] And Swagger and Sheamus.
And look at Swagger go with a belly-to-belly to Sheamus,
-and Swagger's rolling. -[Booker] Another thing,
you know Sheamus is going to battle it out but I'm gonna tell you,
this guy right here, Swag, his cardio is gonna be totally up
and he's gonna be hard to stop in this match right here, man,
-coming in this late. -[Jerry] Jack Swagger, he's fresh.
Look at Road Dogg still in there.
[chuckles] Looks like Road Dogg is trying to tag out.
Road Dogg, this isn't a tag match. It's the Royal Rumble, buddy.
[Booker] No, they always say it's a young man's game,
you know, but Road Dogg has the experience
-to last in this matchup. -[Michael] By the way,
if it's a young man's game then you and Jerry
shouldn't have gotten in the match.
-Nonetheless-- -[Jerry] You've got no room to talk
about who shouldn't have been in the match.
[Booker] And what are you, 60 years old, 58?
-[Michael] Sixty? -[Jerry] You were a total chicken
-in there. -[Michael] J.R.?
[Jerry] And you got eliminated by a woman.
-[Michael] Jerry. -[Jerry] You'll never live that down.
[Michael] She's a Diva. And a strong one at that.
[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] Right now, there are seven men in this match.
Swagger, Uso, Ziggler, Sheamus, Miz
-Road Dogg. -[crowd counting down]
-[Michael] And who is next? -[Booker] Who's it gonna be?
-[buzzer blaring] -[Michael] Only five men remain.
-["Just Don't Care Anymore" playing] -[Michael] At number 26,
my pick for the Rumble,
-Wade Barrett, the Barrett Barrage. -[Booker] I like this guy right here.
He has been on a roll ever since, you know, breaking off,
you know, from those guys. What were those guys, Nexus?
[Jerry] I don't like anything about him.
[Booker] And the Corre. Since breaking off with those guys,
this guy right here, Wade Barrett, has stepped up.
[Michael] And again, you know, you look at a guy like Wade Barrett,
last year his first Rumble match, he lasted 22 minutes.
With a late entry this year, this could be the year for Barrett.
And Wade Barrett going after everybody in his path.
[Booker] And you always, you asked what the strategy is
in a matchup like this. I'ma tell you what the strategy is.
-[Michael] I asked an hour ago. -[Booker] I'm telling you right now.
-The strategy is… [chuckles] -[Jerry chuckles]
-[Booker] …come in-- -[Michael] Road Dogg.
[Booker] Come in at number 30, that's the strategy.
[Jerry] You didn't know, it's time to go.
-[laughs] -[Booker laughs]
[Michael] Oh, Wade Barrett.
I love the Royal Rumble match. It is so unpredictable.
The silver anniversary this year.
Great to see "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan back, the first ever winner.
[Jerry] You know what I can't stand is that we're gonna hear
for the rest of our lives
that Michael Cole competed in a Royal Rumble.
[Michael] At the silver anniversary, they needed all the stars.
-[Jerry chuckles] -[Michael] I lasted longer than you,
-by the way. -[Jerry] Cole.
[Michael] And I beat you at WrestleMania.
We could go on with this all night.
[Booker] Can we get off that?
-[Jerry] Look at Ziggler. -[Booker] It's Ziggler.
[Michael] Dolph starting to build some momentum.
-[crowd counting down] -[Booker] Uso is in trouble right there.
Just pick him up and toss him gingerly over that top rope.
-[Michael] Who is number 27? -[crowd counting down]
-[buzzer blaring] -[Jerry] This is the lucky number.
-Who is it? -["All About the Power" playing]
-[Michael] Well, I like this. -[Booker] Oh, man.
[Michael] The legal advisor for Raw interim general manager,
John Laurinaitis, David Otunga.
Enters the ring at number 27. Listen, guys, Miz, we understand,
has been in this matchup well over 40 minutes already.
He entered at number one.
Now, here's the thing about David Otunga. He's a lawyer, guys, listen.
Listen, no, listen, listen. He won a pro bono case
for a man illegally terminated in New York state this past weekend.
It runs his record as a lawyer to 20-and-0.
-What do you think about that? -[Jerry] I think I don't believe it.
-[Michael] Why not? -[Jerry] I think he thinks a lawsuit
is something you wear to court.
-[Michael] He graduated from Harvard. -[Booker laughs]
[Jerry] I'd have to see the degree. And I'd have to see him in court.
[Michael] You can read all about that story on wwe.com right now.
-You know they don't lie at dot-com. -[Jerry] Of course not.
Who wrote that story? Oh, you?
[Michael] And?
[Jerry, Booker chuckling]
[Michael] We're awaiting three more men into the 2012 Royal Rumble matchup.
It is getting down to crunch time, folks.
Remember, the winner will main event WrestleMania,
can pick the champion he wants to battle on April 1st in Miami.
[Jerry] If history means anything, Otunga came in at the lucky number.
More winners of the Royal Rumble came in at number 27.
[Booker] Let me tell you, the man I'm most impressed
at this matchup right here is the Zig Zag man.
Ziggler has been out here earlier and came out here
and still hanging in there, tooth and nail.
-This kid might do it tonight. -[Jerry] What about the Miz?
-I hate it, but-- -[buzzer blaring]
-[Jerry] Who's this? -["Voices" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, baby. St. Louis's own Randy Orton.
-[Booker] The Viper. -[Jerry] And here comes The Viper.
And he goes right after Barrett.
Barrett, the man who threw him down a set of stairs,
causing a herniated disc in Orton's back, causing Orton a month of his career.
And Randy Orton is coming back with a vengeance.
[Booker] But Jerry, you wouldn't tell he's got a herniated disc.
The Viper, Randy Orton,
-that man is on fire. -[Jerry] And look at the carnage.
[Booker] Oh, my goodness.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, Randy Orton,
who won the Royal Rumble in 2009, is attacked from behind
from a former buddy of his from Evolution, Cody Rhodes.
I'm sorry, The Legacy, that is. The Legacy. And look at Orton.
And Orton now turns his attention to Ziggler.
Randy Orton, again, won in 2009--
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Orton lasted 48 minutes.
-[Booker] Double up, y'all. -[Jerry] Do it, do it, do it.
[Jerry] Oh!
-[Michael] Double DDT by Randy. -[Booker] Wow.
[Jerry] Well, he may have had a bad back, but I think he is well and raining hell.
[Booker] Let me tell you, adrenaline has overruled
that bad back right there.
-Adrenaline is what this man is gonna do. -[Michael] There goes Uso.
-[Michael] RKO to Barrett. -[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] RKO to Barrett.
[Jerry] And Barrett's dreams of headlining WrestleMania just went
-over the top rope. -[Michael] Just like last year.
Barrett falls prey to The Viper.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] Who is number 29?
[buzzer blaring]
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry chuckles]
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[Michael] It is Chris Jericho.
For the seventh time, he enters the Royal Rumble match,
and Jericho, throwing blows and connecting physically
for the first time in nearly two years in the WWE.
Jericho predicted tonight would be the end
-of the world as we know it. -[Booker] There goes Otunga.
-[Michael] As he eliminates Otunga. -[Jerry] For number 27,
-being lucky here in this Royal Rumble. -[Booker] He can go
and watch the debate now.
[Michael] Chris Jericho, six-time world champion,
record-setting nine-time Intercontinental Champion.
[Booker] Let me tell you, I got a lot of history with Chris Jericho
and this kid right here, I mean, he is one of a kind.
He's a guy who leads his own ship. This guy tonight, can he pull it off?
[Jerry] Yeah, the first ever undisputed WWE champion, Chris Jericho.
You look at Miz and Cody, listen to these stats.
Cody Rhodes, over 40 minutes, Miz, over 43 minutes
-in the Royal Rumble match here tonight. -[Booker] Wow.
[Jerry] This is an amazing Royal Rumble.
Full of surprises, action-packed. I love it.
[Booker] It tells me how much these guys want it, man.
These guys are willing to go out here and leave it in the middle of that ring
for one thing, a world title shot, not the championship,
-but just a shot. -[Michael] At WrestleMania.
As you see Sheamus looking to eliminate Swagger.
Chris Jericho, who entered in 2000 at number one,
his last Rumble was 2010 where he entered last.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] He lasted nearly 40 minutes
in 2003. As we wait for number 30,
-the final man to enter the Rumble match. -[buzzer blaring]
-["Crank It Up" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Man. -[Jerry] Man.
-[Booker] Wow. -[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
after he suffered disappointment again earlier tonight
when Daniel Bryan slipped from his grasp to escape the cage
and retain the world title, Big Show has another opportunity.
See you, Swagger. Bye.
[Jerry] I'm sure the Big Show is thinking all's well
-that ends well tonight. -[Michael] No, punch.
Swagger's out cold.
And now, Big Show, the world's largest athlete.
[Jerry] Watch this right hand again.
-Oh, man. [chuckles] -[Booker] Oh, man.
[Booker] He might have broke that boy's jaw right there, dawg.
[Michael] And here's Big Show.
[Booker] Luck of the draw, man. Coming out at number 30,
Big Show is in total control right here.
This could be Big Show's night right here, man.
[Michael] In his entire career-- There goes Cody Rhodes.
-Yes! -[Booker] Who's gonna stop him?
-Who's gonna stop this big man right here? -[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
with the three eliminations so far tonight, in his entire career,
Big Show has eliminated 24,
twenty-four Superstars in a Royal Rumble match, make it 25…
-[Booker] He just tossed-- -[Michael] …in his career for Big Show.
[Booker] He's just tossing guys out left and right, right now, man.
[Jerry] Check it out, guys. We're down to the final four.
-[Booker] Wow! It's my people. -[Michael] Sheamus, Jericho…
-[crowd chanting] -[Michael] …Big Show, and Orton.
[Booker] The big Sheamus boy. I'ma tell you right there,
it's hard to call with these visuals, right here.
That Big Show coming in at 30, he's fresh.
[Michael] Big Show, twice a runner-up in the Royal Rumble matchup.
Orton has won a Rumble. Sheamus and Jericho have not.
-And here we go. -[Booker] Great strategy,
get the biggest man of them all, get him out.
[Jerry] Well, it ain't working.
-It's going nowhere. -[Michael] No, not at all.
[Jericho grunts]
-[Jerry] No. -[Michael] And Big Show.
[Booker] Jericho's going for the ride.
[Michael] Remember, they used to be Tag Team Champions.
-Big Show planting Jericho. -[Booker] I'ma tell you right now,
Jericho hadn't felt one of those in a long time.
[Jerry] RKO by Randy Orton on the Big Show.
Show is down, but not out.
[Michael] Yeah, two of SmackDown's biggest and brightest stars,
Sheamus and Orton, against another SmackDown star, Big Show.
-[Booker] Wow. -[Michael] Big Show eliminated by Orton.
-[Booker] Wow. -[Michael] Randy Orton…
-[Jerry] And Randy Orton-- -[Michael] …is eliminated by Jericho.
[crowd cheering]
And we're down to two men, Chris Jericho and Sheamus.
[Booker] Wow, my pick, Sheamus, is still in there,
but I'ma tell you, experience factor goes to Chris Jericho.
He knows exactly what it means to be in a matchup like this.
[Michael] Coyote. St. Louis in shock right now with the fact that
-home-grown Randy Orton was eliminated… -[Booker] Wow.
[Michael] …but we are down to two. One of these two men.
Number 28, Chris Jericho, number 22, Sheamus.
One of these two men are going to WrestleMania
to battle for a championship. This is what this is all about.
A chance to go to Miami on April 1st,
-and the grandest stage of all. -[Booker] Wow.
I mean, Randy took his eyes off the prize for just a moment
after getting that big man out and there he went.
[Michael] We're guaranteed now, folks, to have a first-time winner
of the Royal Rumble match tonight.
-Come on, fella! -[Michael] Can you imagine the emotion
and the nerves right now inside these two men?
Everything at stake.
Now that it's a one-on-one matchup, Jerry, does the strategy change at all?
[Jerry] No, it's still survival of the fittest.
And it's all about the big prize, going to WrestleMania to headline it,
so everything is at stake here.
-[Michael] And Chris Jericho in trouble. -[Booker] Whoa!
[Michael] Sheamus looking to eliminate Jericho.
Jericho trying to hang on,
desperately trying to hang on here in the corner.
Sheamus is gunning at Jericho, over the top rope.
Will both feet hit the floor?
[Booker] You gotta feel it-- I mean, if Sheamus beat Jericho
in this match, that's gonna do something for him.
I mean, because you know he watched Jericho coming up,
I mean, for many years, and to beat him in the middle of that ring.
-Man, that's gonna be big. -[Michael] And again, Jericho surviving.
Now, it's Sheamus trying to figure out what to do.
And it's just a missile dropkick by Jericho.
[Booker] Finish Jericho right now. I mean, don't take your eye off this guy
because, like I say, he's got a lot of moves.
He could go up top. He's agile, he's mobile, versatile.
-Jericho is done. It's a deal, dawg. -[Michael] And what about Sheamus?
The Great White, 6'6", 270, from Dublin, Ireland?
The first ever WWE Champion born in Ireland.
[Jerry] Boy, this is what makes the Royal Rumble so good.
I mean, the stakes couldn't be any higher and we're down to-- Oh!
-[Booker] Wow! -[Jerry] Two great Superstars.
Neither one of these men ever won a Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Yeah, you can't take chances here.
One mistake will cost you.
-And Sheamus-- -[screams]
[Michael] Here's the Irish Curse Backbreaker.
[Booker] Let me tell you something about Sheamus.
He can take it as well as he can dish it out
because this kid, it's gonna be a--
It's gonna take a whole lot to get rid of him.
He's going to his move right there. It's gonna be over with real soon.
[Michael] Sheamus, well aware
of what's at stake as he continues to look at…
-[Booker] Check it out! -[Michael] …the Road to WrestleMania sign.
Chris Jericho on the shoulders. Celtic Cross.
-[Booker] This is it, this is it. -[Michael] And Sheamus is looking
to eliminate Jericho with a Celtic Cross.
Jericho looking to eliminate Sheamus. Sheamus with one arm,
-hanging on. -[Booker] Wow!
[Michael] He's still alive. Referee, perfect position.
And now, Jericho.
-[Booker] Beautiful. -[Michael] Sheamus, hanging on again.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Barely surviving.
-[Jerry laughs] -[Michael] He's gotta roll himself back
-into the ring under that bottom rope. -[Jerry] He's gotta get back in.
[Booker] Jericho can't believe
this match isn't over with.
[Michael] He's gotta get in there. Come on, Sheamus.
Sheamus has gotta get underneath that bottom rope.
He's gotta get underneath that rope, he's gotta roll himself back in.
[Jerry] I don't think he's capable of pulling a Kofi Kingston,
he's not gonna do a handstand. He's gotta get back in that ring.
[Michael] Yeah, but Sheamus using pure power there
to kick Jericho right in the face.
[Booker] Let me tell you, Sheamus is a brawler, man.
[Michael] But he's gotta get back in the ring, Booker.
-It's a dangerous situation. -[Jerry] He's back in the ring here.
-Back in the ring. -[Booker] There he is right there.
-[Michael] Battering Ram off the top rope. -[Booker] I love that move right there.
Sheamus just-- I mean, 270 pounds flying like a 200-pounder.
-This guy's agile. -[Michael] And look at Jericho.
[Jerry] I think Jericho might've lost a tooth right there.
[Michael] Yeah, Sheamus kicked him in the face.
And now, Sheamus back in the ring. And now, it's Jericho who's in trouble.
[Jerry] Get him up. Get him up in the air.
[Michael] Again, the experience in Jericho's corner.
-[Jerry] Here we go. -[Michael] Sheamus with the strength
factor here.
-[Jerry] And look at this. Come on. -[Michael] Jericho, again on the top rope.
Come on, Sheamus, trying to eliminate him here, Jericho.
Can he hang on? And he does.
[Booker] The experience factor right there.
-Jericho knows exactly what it means. -[Michael] A high elbow.
-And again, Sheamus with the Brogue Kick. -[Jerry] Missed it.
[Michael] Went for the Brogue Kick. Jericho, here it comes now.
-Here it comes, King. -[Jerry] The Walls of Jericho
-aren't gonna do him any good. -[Booker] He's going for The Walls.
-He's trying to hurt this man right now. -[Michael] Walls of Jericho.
This is a submission maneuver. But it doesn't matter.
[Jerry] No, he's got to get Sheamus up and over the top rope,
-not on the floor. -[Booker] Yeah, he can.
If he can hurt Sheamus, he'll be doing himself some justice,
-putting this man in that position. -[Michael] But, guys, you gotta remember,
Sheamus gets to the rope, it doesn't force a break in this match.
There's no break by getting to the rope here.
And Jericho realizing now.
Maybe he's done enough damage to Sheamus,
now, he can get Sheamus up over the top rope.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Eighteen thousand people on their feet here.
Who is gonna win this Royal Rumble?
-[Booker] Sheamus is in big trouble. -[Jerry] Sheamus, watch your back.
-[Booker] It's over. -[Michael] Jericho.
And Jericho holding on somehow.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, wait, wait, watch his feet, watch his feet.
[Michael] Look at the referee, he's right there.
The referee is right there. Jericho hanging on.
Not eliminated.
[Jerry] Jericho's got to get back in the ring now.
[Michael] He does. He can't be hanging around on the apron
because he's already gone over the top rope. Jericho, this is--
[Booker] Watch yourself right here, Jericho.
[Michael] It's so hard. You can't go to the top rope,
guys, in this type of match.
[Booker] Very dangerous. Very dangerous move right here.
[Michael] My God, Sheamus is up there as well.
What the hell-- What are they--
-[crowd chanting] -[Jerry] Sheamus, I think,
wants to suplex Jericho back into the ring. But he'd be better--
[Booker] He's got one leg over the ropes.
There's no way he can suplex Jericho back in.
[Jerry] Yeah, he wants to try to get him out, off that top rope.
Jericho's still-- If his feet hit the floor, he's gone.
[Michael] Look at this. He's got to hang on. Both men!
-Both men on the apron. -[Booker] Wow!
[Michael] If one of them slip, it's over.
[Booker] If both men hit the ground right there, what would happen?
[Jerry] Now, Jericho back in the ring.
[Michael] We know what would've happened.
Precedent was set back in 2005 when Batista and Cena hit the ground
at the same time. They had to go to overtime.
-[Jerry] He's got-- Oh! -[Michael] And Jericho.
With a Codebreaker to the face of Sheamus.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Booker] You gotta give this guy, Jericho, a lot of credit.
Been doing his music for the past few years.
To be able to come back here at the Royal Rumble,
stay in here with this man, Sheamus. That's huge.
[Michael] And again, look at Jericho.
Again, there's no cover here. Remember that.
[Jerry] Yeah, you got to tell Jericho to remember that.
[Booker] He almost forgot. He almost forgot.
-[Michael] I think Jericho hit his head. -Get out!
[Michael] Remember when Sheamus kicked him in the head before.
-[Chris grunts] -[Sheamus groans]
-[Michael] Did you hear that? -[Jerry] Did I?
Unfortunately for Sheamus, he felt it as well.
[Michael] Now, Jericho's got Sheamus in a bit of trouble.
Sheamus is swinging wildly as Jericho continues the offense here.
[grunts]
[Michael] Jericho's gotta figure out how to get this huge body
-over the top rope. -[Jerry] He's got him teetering.
-He's got Sheamus teetering. -[Michael] Sheamus trying to hang on.
Will Chris Jericho win the Rumble? Will Jericho go to Mania?
[Booker] If Jericho could get that right arm under the leg-- Whoa.
[Jerry] Oh!
-[Booker] That was a bad move. -[crowd booing]
-[Jerry] That isn't smart. -[Booker] That was a bad move.
[Jerry] You don't want to anger The Great White.
[Michael] And Jericho did. And here comes Sheamus.
Went for the Brogue Kick again. Jericho ducks underneath it.
Went for a Codebreaker.
-[Jerry] Sheamus caught him in midair. -[Michael] Jericho!
No, they didn't hit. The referee's right there.
His feet didn't hit the floor. This match continues.
[Jerry] Once again, Jericho teeters and holds on for dear life. Brogue Kick.
-[Booker] Oh my goodness. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Sheamus is going to WrestleMania!
[Justin] Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble,
-Sheamus! -["Written in My Face" playing]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
The Great White is gonna be on the prowl on South Beach.
Sheamus is going to WrestleMania.
-[screams] -[Booker] Didn't I tell you?
Didn't I tell you this is my pick right here, The Great White Sheamus?
That Celtic warrior, a guy who has done so much.
2012 is gonna be great for this young man right here.
[Michael] The luck of the Irish prevails tonight.
[Jerry] Boy, I'll tell you, this thing was back and forth.
Could've gone either way. Sheamus almost went out at one point.
And then finally, well, you see, Jericho almost went out a couple of times.
He teetered on the very edge.
But then finally, Jericho goes for the Codebreaker.
Sheamus, so strong… didn't get him there.
-But he got him here. -[Michael] Watch Sheamus. A Brogue Kick.
-Jericho's eliminated. -[bell ringing]
Sheamus is going to WrestleMania. The question now, guys,
is, well, what title will Sheamus focus on?
-[Jerry] Congratulations. -[fireworks popping]
[Jerry] What a night!
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, Sheamus is the winner
-[fireworks fizzle, pop] -[Michael] …of the 2012 Royal Rumble.
[crowd cheering]
["Written in My Face" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Straight to Hell… ♪ g]