-[bell ringing] -[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] There is a place
unlike any other.
[Howard] Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the Royal Rumble.
[narrator] A place where one great opportunity
has created countless legends.
A place we all remember.
[Ric] With a tear in my eye, this is the greatest moment in my life!
-Woo! -[narrator] Year after year.
-[Jerry] The first man in. -[Vince] And the last man standing.
[narrator] Moment after moment.
[Jim] Royal Rumble 3:16!
[narrator] Memory after memory.
[Jim] It's John Cena! Cena is number 30.
[Santino] I wasn't ready.
[Jerry] Look at this!
That has got to be the greatest thing I've ever seen!
[narrator] We will always remember.
Tonight, live from San Antonio's Alamodome,
we will remember the definitive battle.
[Kevin] There is nothing I will not do to make sure this stays with me.
[Mick] Chris Jericho will step into this shark cage,
suspended high above the ring, where he will never interfere again.
-[Roman] KO is one-on-one with me. -[Mick] In a "no disqualification" match.
[narrator] We will remember the dominance.
[Charlotte] Bow down to your queen. No one is on my level!
[Bayley] I will defeat you!
-[Charlotte] I am going to punish Bayley. -[Bayley] I'm walking out of the ring
with that Raw Women's Championship.
[narrator] You'll remember the line in the sand.
[John] I'm setting the record straight.
It ain't the new era, it's the My Time Is Now era!
[AJ] Has been.
If you don't get a win, you don't belong in the WWE.
We can do it without you, John.
[John] I don't need this match. Because I'm John Cena.
-Has been. -[John] Recognize.
[narrator] And above all else, remember the Rumble.
[Michael] One minute twenty-six seconds. A monumental upset!
[Paul] Eat, sleep. Elimination. Repeat.
[narrator] Tonight, it's friend versus friend, foe versus foe.
[Goldberg] Everyone is next.
[narrator] It's every man for himself.
[Michael] It could be the biggest Rumble match ever.
I've dug the 29 holes for 29 souls…
-[dramatic music plays] -…I'm back.
["Blow Your Mind" playing]
[narrator] Tonight, an event 30 years in the making.
[Bradshaw] History is waiting at the Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Welcome to the Road To WrestleMania.
[narrator] Forever and always, we will remember this Royal Rumble.
♪ We gon' blow your mind ♪ [song echoes, concludes]
[narrator] And now, WWE presents WWE Royal Rumble.
[epic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And this is indeed the starting line
on the Road to WrestleMania. You are looking live
at the Alamodome in San Antonio, 52,020 WWE fans
have come from all over the world to witness the 30th annual Royal Rumble.
And that's what it's all about.
The winner of tonight's Royal Rumble match will main-event WrestleMania.
-["Turn It Up" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ There ain't no stopping us now We celebrate on the floor ♪
[Byron] Look what we're kicking it off with, guys.
The Women's Championship.
And an Alamodome size, wacky,
waving, inflatable, arm-flailing Bayley buddies.
[Michael] It is the biggest opportunity of Bayley's heroic career,
the former NXT Champion, Corey, looks to knock off Charlotte here tonight.
[Graves] Listen, Bayley is looking to make her lifelong dream come true
and unfortunately tonight,
what Bayley is gonna face is the reality of the situation.
And as it is talented and tough as Bayley is,
she is not-- Well, will she ever beat The Queen of Pay-Per-Views?
[Byron] You see the back of the jacket,
you know, the back of Bayley's jacket reads, "Just Bayley."
That's a message for Charlotte
or anyone else who said, "Bayley, you're just average."
That's Bayley telling the world, "I am who I am."
"And I'm proud of who I am."
[Michael] Bayley has said that things you are passionate about are not random.
They are your calling and Bayley believes that this is her calling, Corey.
[Graves] Listen, I sat down with Bayley face-to-face
and asked her what's going through her mind right now,
and Bayley seems supremely confident. She seems very, very focused.
I have no doubt she brought her A-game to the Alamodome.
That said, when you're in the ring with the Queen,
you need better than the A-game.
[Michael] No denying the connection that this young lady has
-with the WWE Universe, though. -[song concludes]
-["Recognition" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And here is the Raw Women's Champion and--
Well, here's the number that you have to know, 15.
Charlotte is 15-0 in championship matches in her career on pay-per-view.
[Graves] It's a Flair family tradition at the Royal Rumble.
They excel at the highest level. Tonight will be absolutely no different.
[Michael] Charlotte versus Bayley for the Raw Women's Championship.
Hello again, everybody.
At ringside, I'm Michael Cole joined by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
Also, some international player at ringside tonight,
our Spanish colleagues, Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez with us as well.
[speaking in Spanish]
[Michael] And our German announce team
of Holger Böschen and Manu Thiele.
[speaking in German]
[Graves] Saxton, what are the odds we can trade you
to the German team for the night?
[Byron] Aw, you don't mean that, you love me.
[Michael] It was at last year's Royal Rumble event
that Charlotte retained the then-Divas Championship
in a victory over Becky Lynch
and looks to do the same with the Raw Women's title tonight
against Bayley.
[Graves] Well, and calls herself "The Queen of Pay-Per-View"
and the franchise player of WWE.
-[song concludes] -[bell ringing]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the Raw Women's Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger
from San Jose, California, Bayley!
[crowd cheering]
Her opponent, from the Queen City,
she is the Raw Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I heard that Serena Williams has started to call herself
the Charlotte Flair of the Women's Tennis Tour.
Another Grand Slam victory for Serena over the weekend in Australia. Tonight,
it's Charlotte defending against Bayley at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
And Byron, those-- These two ladies know each other so well.
[Byron] Oh, you go all the way back to NXT,
Charlotte's very first match in NXT was against Bayley.
But I think somehow along the line when Charlotte realized
that Bayley was gonna be a threat to her championship,
-that's when things changed. -[Michael] Incredible view here
over 52,000 on hand for the Royal Rumble.
[Graves] Imagine the incredible size
of the WWE Universe here inside the Alamodome.
I wonder if that's gonna play into Bayley's mentality.
This is the biggest stage Bayley has been on.
Charlotte has been to bigger. Charlotte has been to WrestleMania.
This is Bayley's first shot at the big-time on this level.
Can she succeed?
[Michael] And Charlotte showing her dominance early,
manhandling Bayley early on.
Bayley however likes to boast about her two victories
over Charlotte in recent months.
You have to wonder if she perhaps has the Queen's number--
And a nice shoulder tackle by Charlotte to Bayley.
[Byron] Like, in many ways, this is the proverbial
home court advantage for Charlotte. But Bayley has to remind herself
throughout this match, "I can do this. I can beat Charlotte."
[Michael] Reminder, champion's advantage in this match tonight,
Bayley needs to either pin
or get Charlotte to submit to win the Championship.
And look at Bayley trying to stand up toe-to-toe with Charlotte.
Hey, hey, come on, ladies. Come on.
[Byron] Things are getting scrappy in a hurry here.
-[Graves] Yes, they are. -[Michael] Now, Bayley sends Charlotte
out of the ring, quickly back up to the apron,
shoulder to the midsection and--
Oh, hanging Charlotte up on the second rope.
And Bayley has taken over. And Charlotte cannot take Bayley lightly.
-[Graves] Bayley-- Oh… -[Michael] Oh, look at this,
sending Charlotte flying with the headscissors.
[Byron] Just think about how impassioned Bayley is right now.
All the shade-throwing Charlotte's been doing,
trying to devalue Bayley's credibility.
[Michael] And Charlotte said she's not trying to embarrass Bayley,
she's just trying to let the fans know what Bayley's all about.
Bayley, second rope, crossbody, takes out Charlotte.
But again, Bayley's got to get the champion back in the ring
to win the championship.
[Byron] That's exactly what Bayley is doing.
[Michael] Bayley, underneath the bottom rope, cover on the champ,
hooks the leg and the arm, and Charlotte kicks out at two.
[Graves] It's a brilliant maneuver by Charlotte, rolling outside of the ring,
buying herself some time, utilizing the champion's advantage.
Charlotte could get counted out here and lose the championship.
[Micheal] But Bayley is not going to allow that to happen, Corey,
quickly right back on the attack.
-And now Charlotte-- Oh wow -[Graves] Oh, man,
[Micheal] She just banged Bayley right off the apron,
the hardest part of the ring and then driving Bayley
-spine-first into the steps. -[official] Bayley, I'm gonna give you
a ten-count, get it back inside, all right?
[Michael] You see the way that Bayley's face
was smashed into the apron. Watch this here.
-[Graves] And Charlotte-- -[Micheal] Oh, man.
[Graves] That's the first blow.
The solid steel girders underneath that ring skirt.
[Byron] And you saw that immediate smile of confidence
on the face of the champion.
[Micheal] Again, cover by Charlotte on the challenger and a kick-out.
Bayley with a big victory over Nia Jax to gain this opportunity tonight.
We saw Nia victorious over Sasha Banks
in a Royal Rumble kick-off show earlier on.
[Graves] This is what separates Charlotte from everybody else,
that next gear, that next level of competition.
When the Queen gets rolling,
she's next to impossible to slow--
[Michael] A nice suplex, great throw by Charlotte.
And again, gonna go for the cover on Bayley,
look to put her away early, and Bayley fights out.
[Graves] Everyone's so hung up on telling Bayley's story,
the feel-good story, the dream come true.
What about Charlotte Flair's story? The opportunity tonight
to continue to eclipse the legacy of her legendary father.
1992, the Royal Rumble, Ric Flair won one of his 16 championships.
[Micheal] Yeah, the only time in the Royal Rumble match history
that the WWE Championship was up for grabs in the Royal Rumble match.
And look at Charlotte just rag-dolling Bayley here.
And Charlotte claims she's the greatest athlete
the WWE has ever seen, that no one is in the same league as her.
-[Graves] She very well may be. -[Byron] Well, she even told you, Corey,
that she wants to punish Bayley for even thinking
that she belongs in the same ring as the champ.
[Graves] That's the mentality of a champion, Byron.
That's how you retain the throne.
[crowd chanting] Bayley! Bayley!
[Michael] And the connection we've talked about with Bayley
and the WWE Universe as the WWE fans backing her in this matchup tonight.
[Byron] Charlotte always talks about all the sport she excelled at
ever since she was a little girl, volleyball, basketball, softball.
On the flip side, Bayley is just-- This is always-- Hold on.
[Michael] Cover. Kick-out by Bayley.
[Byron] Being inside that ring has always been Bayley's passion,
ever since she was ten years old.
[Michael] She said it's all about the memories.
The greatest memories are being a lifelong WWE fan.
And Charlotte uses the three-count there.
[Graves] It's relatable. I'm sure a lot of the WWE Universe
is used to coming up short in life.
Charlotte realizes that second place sucks.
[Michael] Charlotte again.
Look at this, rolls Bayley back towards the center of the ring
and another near fall for the Champion.
But Bayley continues to fight
and perhaps Charlotte's starting to get a bit frustrated.
[Byron] Well, deep down inside, I mean, there's a little respect
that Charlotte has to have for Bayley. Even brought it up before the fact
that Bayley has proven she can secure a victory over the Queen.
[Michael] Bayley lands on her feet, Charlotte going for that suplex again,
roll-up at the champ, Charlotte at one.
Now, Bayley, looking for a backslide.
-[Byron] Oh, can she get her? -[Graves] I don't know
if anyone's gonna overpower Charlotte Flair.
[Michael] A great counter by Charlotte into a neckbreaker.
-And a big boot right to the face. -[Graves] Good night.
[Michael] Charlotte looking to retain
the championship here at the Royal Rumble event.
Bayley powers out at two.
[Graves] And you got to respect the will of Bayley kicking out.
Bayley knows what's at stake. I'll give her that.
But when you're frustrating the Queen,
the Queen's just gonna bring it twice as hard as evidenced by that boot.
[Michael] And look at Charlotte banging face-first Bayley into the mat.
The Queen's not letting up either. Yeah, those long legs
wrapped around the side of the face, the jaws of Bayley and Charlotte
continues the pressure here.
And Bayley really struggling, the referee in perfect position
to make sure that that-- and look again, this time it was Charlotte…
[Graves] Oh, incredible core strength by the Queen,
the figure-four locked around the head of Bayley
and Charlotte just imposing her will, slamming Bayley back and forth.
Look at that athleticism.
[Byron] You got to wonder if it's moments like these
that the pressure now starts to get to Bayley a little bit.
[Graves] I've said it before the match even started, Saxton,
it's a feel-good story for Bayley but she's going to get a reality check.
Bayley right now is realizing she is just not in Charlotte's league.
[Byron] Oh, Charlotte was kind of toying with Bayley a moment ago.
Get up and fight me.
[Byron] There's nobody in Charlotte's league.
-You are just a fan. -[Byron] There hasn't been so far.
-You're one of them. -Hands off.
[Graves] That's settled.
-This is you. -[Michael] Charlotte telling Bayley,
-"You're just one of them." -That's you.
[Byron] I don't know about this.
[Michael] Oh, just angered Bayley, Bayley firing back on Charlotte,
surprising Charlotte, went for the neckbreaker.
Oh, double clothesline, both women down center of the ring.
[Graves] Bayley may have bought herself a few moments to recover,
temporarily wounded the Queen but…
[Byron] Uncharacteristic mistake from the champion,
-only to talk trash and show off-- -[Micheal] And watch this impact
by these two superstars.
And Bayley with a chop. And here comes Bayley firing back.
[Byron] That's some of Charlotte's own medicine.
[Michael] And Charlotte though, driving Bayley back toward the corner.
[Graves] What you get for disrespecting the champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Bayley-- Oh, second rope. Great arm drag.
And Bayley takedown and now unloading on Charlotte.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Bayley lands on the apron, now, what's she going to do?
There's the crossbody, that springboard crossbody by Bayley.
[Graves] It's unorthodox, but it worked.
[Michael] And now Bayley's firing up, she's feeling it.
[Graves] And now you see the momentum firmly in the corner of Bayley.
[Michael] Could it be Bayley's moment, could it be her night
on this huge stage of the Royal Rumble?
Bayley, face-first goes Charlotte.
[Graves] And this could be Bayley's chance.
[Graves] What's Bayley thinking?
[Micheal] Anything she can do to-- To put Charlotte away
and win the championship.
High-risk maneuver here for the challenger.
[Graves] Bayley taking a lot of time to perch herself on the top rope.
Bayley is certainly not the athlete that Charlotte is.
[Michael] And Bayley thought twice about it.
She saw Charlotte moving too close to the corner.
Now, she goes into the cover,
hook of the leg, and a kick-out. Wise move by Bayley.
[Graves] Look at this. Face-plant maneuver from Bayley.
[Micheal] And now Bayley going up top again, Corey.
This time she has Charlotte positioned exactly where she wants her.
Bayley top rope. Elbow!
[Graves] Oh, a little ode to the macho man.
[Michael] Hook of the leg on Charlotte for the title and Charlotte--
-[Graves chuckles] -[Michael] Bayley almost had her.
Many here at the Alamodome thought it was three-count.
[Graves] I got a little nervous for a moment.
I'll admit it, Bayley driving an elbow right to the heart
of Charlotte but it wasn't quite enough.
[Michael] It wasn't a three-count. No, Charlotte at two and three quarters.
[Byron] Well, look at Bayley right there, getting set, Charlotte in position.
[Graves] Yeah, but if that was Bayley's best shot?
Charlotte going right to the knee, you know, Charlotte's got to be thinking…
[Michael] Figure-four into the figure eight.
Here's the Figure Four looking to bridge now into the Figure Eight.
[Graves] Dead center of the ring.
Bayley's got to be feeling her dreams slipping through her fingers
-in front of over 50,000 people. -[Michael] Well, look at Bayley.
Look at-- Bayley's trying to fight here.
Trying to battle and fight out of this,
trying to flip Charlotte over on her belly somehow.
[Byron] From extreme confidence to extreme agony.
-[Michael] Reversed the pressure. -[Graves] No way, no way, no way.
-[Michael] Reversed the pressure. -[Graves] No way.
[Michael] That's what Bayley is doing. Now, it's Charlotte in trouble.
Charlotte's in trouble.
The Champ, is she going to tap out? Is Charlotte going to tap out to Bayley?
If she makes it-- Oh, now she--
[Graves] Charlotte reverses it back into the Figure Eight.
[Michael] Great reverse, great counters, Charlotte's got the rope,
using the rope for leverage.
[Michael] Charlotte using the rope for leverage here
and now the official catches her.
Break the hold. One, two…
[Graves] This is a smart move by Charlotte,
using all five seconds of the referee's count
to inflict maximum damage.
[Byron] And the bottom rope too.
[Micheal] We talked a lot about Bayley being able to reverse,
but how about Charlotte to counter back into the Figure Eight?
And again, here's the elbow from Bayley early on.
And she almost put Charlotte away
at two and three quarters count on the Champion.
[Graves] Like her or not, it just speaks to volumes
as to how good Charlotte really is to have Bayley come so close.
You can see the wounds of battle on the face of the Queen
from the facebuster executed by Bayley.
[Byron] Oh, well, well, wait a minute.
[Graves] But her excellence is gonna take to the skies.
Watch this.
[Michael] Top rope for Charlotte. Moonsault.
-[Graves] Oh, Bayley got her knee up. -[Michael] Bayley countered.
Bayley for the title. Bayley gonna steal one here.
And a kick-out by Charlotte at two.
[Graves] Oh, my goodness. That was entirely too close for comfort.
Bayley at the last second able to get up a knee
to block the impact of Charlotte's Moonsault but…
[Byron] I think that the impact actually got Bayley's knee in the process.
Watch this again.
This is a thing of beauty. Look at the height, the form.
Charlotte crashing down, but just at the last second
Bayley able to deliver a knee.
[Michael] And not just the impact on the knee there, Byron,
but the fact that Charlotte had been working on the knee
throughout the earlier part of this matchup.
And now Bayley again with the rights in the corner.
The Queen's in trouble. Bayley firing up.
Come on. Out of that corner. Let's go.
I'm telling you, get her down from there.
[Graves] Bayley trying to get Charlotte first up on that top rope.
Get her down. Get her down right now. Come on.
-[Graves] Ooh. -[Michael] Fell into a slap.
[Graves] Defiance from the queen.
[Micheal] And now Bayley sent over--
Oh, off the rope, off the apron, and to the floor.
Come on, let's go. Get down, Charlotte. Bayley, bring it back inside. Let's go.
[Byron] Bayley just shoved from the top rope
all the way down to the floor.
Come back to the ring, let's go.
[Graves] The Queen now perched atop, stalking the challenger.
[Micheal] Yeah, Bayley, quite sure where she's at.
[Byron] Oh, no, no, no, no way.
[Michael] Oh, natural selection on the apron.
-Charlotte for the victory. -[Graves] That's it.
[Michael] Hooks the leg of Bayley. Done.
-[bell ringing] -["Recognition" playing]
[Michael] And Charlotte puts Bayley away with natural selection on the apron.
[JoJo] …the Raw Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
[Michael] Charlotte makes it 16-0 in Championship matches on pay-per-view.
The best start to any career in the history of WWE.
[Graves] Charlotte's streak of Championship excellence
on pay-per-view continues.
This is where Bayley's dream came crashing down.
Natural selection on the apron. Take another look at this.
[Michael] Natural selection by Charlotte. Quickly the queen back into the ring
and able to put Bayley away with the three-count.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Charlotte retains
the Raw Women's Championship at the Royal Rumble event.
[Graves] And listen, nobody will question the effort
that Bayley brought forth to this match,
but Charlotte owned her victory here tonight.
[Michael] And the thing right now, Corey, is Charlotte is on a different level.
She's on a different plane right now.
[Graves] Charlotte has completely changed the game,
continues to reign on top the women's division.
Charlotte may be champion forever.
[song concludes]
[Michael] And what an incredible host city for the 2017 Royal Rumble event,
San Antonio, Texas, that of course the world-famous river walk,
Corey, I know you spent a couple of nights there.
[Graves] Hey, listen, when you're in San Antonio,
you have to do what the locals do and there's no better place to hang out
and have a good time than on the river walk.
I'm very impressed with San Antonio.
And, Byron, in fact right now,
we've got a dream match at the Royal Rumble event.
You can hear the music. You can see the spotlight
on the shark cage which is being lowered to the ring.
Inside the shark cage, locked inside will be Kevin Owen's best friend,
the United States champion, Chris Jericho.
[Graves] How dare you refer to anything about that as dream-like?
Chris Jericho is agoraphobic and acrophobic
and he's gonna be locked like some sort of common animal
way above the ring.
[Byron] Oh, waah, waah, it's a reality and it's about to happen.
Kevin Owens has to defend the WWE Universal Championship
against Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification match.
And I can't wait. We're gonna finally see it.
Chris Jericho inside the shark cage.
[Michael] And this story took on a life of its own last month,
the WWE Roadblock: End of the Line.
[dramatic music playing]
[Michael] This is for the WWE Universal Championship.
Can Roman Reigns cancel the Kevin Owens Show?
Spear!
Chris Jericho.
[Graves] Kevin has the most loyal best friend by his side.
[Michael] Codebreaker!
[bell ringing]
[Graves] Jericho caused an intentional disqualification so Owens can retain.
Once again, Chris Jericho saved the Universal Championship
for Kevin Owens.
[Michael] 2-on-1 "handicap" match,
Owens and Jericho versus Roman Reigns for the United States Championship.
[Graves] Spear by Reigns.
Oh, it's Owens again. Codebreaker.
The numbers game is just too much for Roman Reigns.
There is no better team in the history of the WWE
than team Chris and Kevin.
[Michael] We've got our new United States champion.
[Chris] We're best friends, we're on top of the world.
[Kevin] We're national treasures.
[Chris] And now that we're stronger than ever…
This is officially known as the Chris and Kevin Show.
[Mick] Hold it right there.
Every single time you defend that Universal Championship,
Jericho finds a way to interfere.
[Michael] Kevin Owens' best friend, Jericho, is in the cell.
Who the hell?
It's Jericho.
[Graves] Kevin Owens just stalled this. And that stops at the Royal Rumble.
[Mick] I'm putting you against Roman Reigns
in a No Disqualification match
and Chris Jericho will step into the shark cage.
Jericho will be suspended high above the ring.
It's not even safe.
-Where he will never… -Look how flimsy it looks.
-…interfere… -[Chris] This is ridiculous.
…again.
-Kevin. -Chris.
-Save me now. -[Mick] Help him.
Foley, you stupid idiot. Open the door. Get me down. Help.
[Roman] Chris Jericho is gonna be locked in a shark cage,
so, that means KO is one-on-one with me.
And KO can't beat me one-on-one.
[echoes] KO can't beat me one-on-one.
[Michael] Reigns is out.
And Owens slammed on the cage and Owens is inside.
And Owens just screaming for dear life.
Superman Punch.
[Roman] And at the Royal Rumble…
[Michael] This is what it's gonna look like.
[Roman] …I'm leaving as the Universal Champion.
[Graves] There's nothing Chris Jericho can do but just watch.
[Roman] I'm something you're never gonna be around here.
Kevin.
[Roman] I'm the guy.
[music concludes]
[Michael] And there is the shark cage, Chris Jericho will be locked inside.
-["Fight" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And here's the Universal champion, Kevin Owens,
and the United States champion, Chris Jericho.
[Graves] You know what this is Kevin Owens,
this is a golden opportunity to silence all the doubters, to beat Roman Reigns
one-on-one in front of over 50,000 members of the WWE Universe.
This could be a huge night in Kevin Owens' career.
[Byron] So, then you admit that Kevin Owens has not been able
to defend his Universal Championship on his own without Chris Jericho.
[Graves] I said nothing of the sort, Byron.
I said this is an opportunity for Owens to silence people like you.
Byron, you sit here week after week, and cast doubt on Kevin Owens
and his worthiness of being WWE Universal Champion.
Kevin Owens is one of the most talented superstars in WWE
and he's at the top of the mountain right now.
Tonight, he's gonna shut a lot of people's mouths.
[Byron] I'm not casting doubt on Kevin Owens.
It's Kevin Owens who has undermined the credibility
of his own championship reign
because of his actions.
[Graves] What are you talking about, Saxton?
Kevin Owens has his best friend
-helping him out… -[Byron] Okay.
-…from time to time. -[Byron] In layman's terms,
Kevin Owens can't win without cheating.
And look at-- look at Jericho, I think I see tears coming down his cheek.
-[song concludes] -[Byron] Scared to death.
[Graves] I'm sure you're really, really enjoying this, aren't you, Saxton?
[Byron] I feel kind of bad for him.
[Michael] Kevin Owens was locked in the shark cage
this past Monday night on Raw. He can tell Chris what it's all about.
-["The Truth Reigns" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And here comes the big dog.
And think about what an opportunity this is for Roman Reigns tonight.
The fact that he won't have to worry about Chris Jericho
who has cost him so many championship opportunities
and it's No Disqualification,
so, Kevin Owens can't weasel his way out of this matchup tonight.
[Graves] Oh, you're as bad as Saxton.
Kevin Owens doesn't have to weasel his way anywhere.
Kevin Owens is supremely talented.
He's one of the most ruthless superstars in the roster.
[Byron] Will you-- will you admit
that if Roman Reigns comes up short tonight
that Kevin Owens is the better man?
[Michael] Yeah, I'll admit that he's the better superstar
in this particular matchup. No doubt about it.
[Byron] You know, earlier on today on WWE.com,
Roman Reigns kind of joked,
"You know what, I'm used to going to airport security
with a little extra gold in my bag and it hasn't been the case
in the last few weeks. Well, tonight, I'm gonna change that."
[Graves] Well, I'm glad Roman Reigns is concerned with his carry-on luggage
because Kevin Owens is only concerned with destroying Roman Reigns.
[Michael] And this is a No Disqualification matchup,
so, Kevin Owens loses complete championship advantage here.
He cannot get himself disqualified or counted out out to keep the title.
[Byron] Look at Jericho, he's still-- he's still trying to come to terms
with his soon-to-be habitat.
[Graves] Saxton, you're afraid to step off the curb that's too high.
Can you imagine being locked in a cage and hoisted way up in the sky?
[Byron] No, I can't but, well,
for Chris Jericho it's about to become a reality.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Jericho may pass out.
Look at him already, I think he's weak in the knees.
Maybe he should bring a bottle of water with him.
[song concludes]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is a No Disqualification match
and it is for the WWE Universal Championship.
Introducing first the challenger from Pensacola, Florida,
weighing 265 pounds, Roman Reigns.
[crowd cheering]
His opponent from Marieville, Quebec, Canada, weighing 266 pounds,
he is the WWE Universal Champion,
Kevin Owens.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Okay. So, before this matchup gets underway,
Jericho is gonna be locked in the shark cage.
[Graves] And I'm sure Saxton will sit there and giggle like an idiot.
Much like most of the WWE Universe who thinks this is
-absolutely hysterical that the… -[Graves] Oh, oh.
…United States Champion has to be locked up and embarrassed
in front of over 50,000 people.
[Graves] Well, listen, listen, I admit, I'm a little concerned
about Chris Jericho's safety and that's what it's about.
[Graves] Okay. I just… #UniversalTitle.
[Graves] You are a detestable human being, Saxton.
[Byron] Come on, Chris.
Hyperventilating.
One step at a time.
The cage. Come on, go in. Go in there.
[Byron] Jericho reminds me of a first grader
on his first day of school.
[Graves] What first grader gets locked up way up in the sky?
-[Byron] Hey, oh, come on. -[Michael] Oh, Owens and Jericho
going right after Roman Reigns
looking to do maximum damage on the challenger
for the Universal Championship.
[Byron] This is why they are co-United States Universal Champions.
[Michael] This is why Jericho deserves to be locked in a shark cage.
[Byron] Exactly.
Case in point, same story over and over.
[Graves] Kevin Owens has to get an extra edge,
thanks to his little buddy, Chris Jericho.
[Michael] And Roman Reigns fighting out of the corner.
This match not even officially underway
and it won't begin until Jericho is finally locked in the cage.
[Byron] Familiar experience for Reigns, two-on-one.
Right now, it's Reigns in control.
[Michael] And now, Jericho chin up chin first on the shark cage.
[Graves] Challenger just launched
Jericho face first into the unforgiving steel…
-[Michael] Look at this. Look at this. -[Graves] What is this?
[Byron] Citizen's arrest, that's what it was.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now, Chris Jericho has nowhere to go.
The official has padlocked the door of the shark cage shut.
Well, that's the problem.
[Byron] Jericho does have somewhere to go, straight up.
-[Michael] Oh, yeah. You're right. -No, please. No. No.
[Michaell] Up, up, and away.
-Chris Jericho… -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] And look at the bright side. If the sexy pinata blows,
there'll be enough gasket. We might all get free candy.
-[Byron] I think Chris is crying. -No.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] And now the match is underway and Kevin Owens ambushing from behind
Roman Reigns as Reigns was watching Chris Jericho
being raised above the ring,
and here's the Universal Champion with the right hands.
-Remember, No Disqualification. -[Chris] No.
Kevin.
[Byron] This is what you want, one-on-one. Let's see who the better man really is.
[Micheal] Owens with a shot to the midsection
and another one to Reigns.
It's electric inside the Alamodome tonight.
You can tell that we are indeed on the road to WrestleMania.
[Byron] Kevin Owens better focus on Reigns and not Chris Jericho above the ring.
[Graves] Yeah, right,
he's become a distraction of sorts thus far for Kevin Owens.
[Michael] Owens driven out of the ring
by a number of right hands by Roman Reigns.
And now Reigns brings the fight outside the ring.
Right hand off the nose of Kevin Owens who now finds his way
in the middle of the WWE Universe. And I have a feeling, guys,
when the No Disqualification rule was put into effect
that this thing was gonna be battled all around the Alamodome.
[Byron] Yeah, anything goes. Nothing is off limits.
[Graves] I mean, this rivalry is so deeply personal.
These two men don't just wanna defeat one another.
They wanna destroy one another.
And again, fighting right out in the sea of WWE fans.
[Michael] That's international row where our international-- look out.
-[Byron] Oh, whoa, whoa. -[Michael] Roman Reigns
with that stanchion there right off the ribcage of Owens.
And he bounced off--
that's Funaki from the Japanese announce team,
calling the action live tonight, and now, Roman Reigns driving Kevin Owens
back towards the ringside area.
[Graves] The Universal Champion is in retreat mode,
understandably so, the big dog has been on full attack
since they left the ringside area.
[Michael] And, uh-oh, look Kevin Owens using the German announce table.
-What an idiot. -[Michael] But not successfully at all.
[Byron] But so far-- so far, everything is backfiring for the champ.
And now, Owens bounced off the German announce table
as Roman Reigns continues to take a fight to the Universal Champion, Kevin Owens.
Reversal. Reigns, shoulder first into the steps.
[Graves] Owens just bought himself some much needed time to recover.
[Micheal] And now, here comes Kevin Owens
and now, he goes toward the Spanish announce table
and drops the hood of the table right on top of Roman Reigns.
The official, Chad Patton, over there checking on Roman Reigns.
-Now, Kevin Owens looks to… -[Graves] Oh, no.
-…looks to grab his next weapon. -[Graves] Next weapon?
-That's an… -[Byron] Oh, wow.
[Graves] That's an artillery right there of chairs.
We're about to find out how vicious the Universal Champion can get.
[Michael] Now, Owens to the ribs of Reigns.
[Graves] If you fracture a rib with a shot from a steel chair,
completely changes the game.
-[Byron] Oh, don't… -[Michael] Roman Reigns can't breathe,
-he can't fight. -[Michael] Oh, and Roman Reigns
was driven ribs first into the steps, Corey, that's where it all began.
And now, Kevin Owens and…
[Graves] I can only imagine what is going through the mind of Kevin Owens.
[Michael] I don't think he's gonna play musical chairs.
-Kevin Owens… -You'll see.
…he screamed up to Jericho again as Roman Reigns caught him with a right.
[Graves] Again, that momentary hesitation to acknowledge
his best friend, Jericho, cost Kevin Owens.
Roman Reigns planted a right hand…
[Michael] Oh, and there's that monitor right to the ribs.
And again, Roman Reigns driven rib first again into the barricade.
-[Graves] Wait, look out. -[Michael] And now, Kevin Owens
clearing the path. It's cannonball time. Owens crushing Reigns.
[Graves] Kevin Owens almost drove Roman Reigns through the barricade.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And Owens trying to bask in the glory of his accomplishment.
-[Graves] And why shouldn't he? -[Byron] What the?
[Michael] Kevin…
[Byron] Corey, what is he doing?
[Graves] It's like a-- like an erector set made of steel chairs.
-I'm sure Kevin Owens-- -[Byron] Even more the chairs.
[Graves] Kevin Owens has got some big plans to destroy Roman Reigns,
I can assure you of that.
[Michael] Owens right to the midsection of Reigns.
[Byron] Yeah, at the very least, destroy the ribs of Roman Reigns.
[Michael] And look at Kevin go at the ribs again.
[Graves] And continuing to construct this instrument of…
-[Byron] Destruction? -[Graves] Yeah.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] I have a feeling Roman Reigns might be going right through
the structure that Kevin Owens just built.
[Michael] Kevin Owens has Roman Reigns perched on the-- Oh, my God.
-He's not gonna do this. -[Byron] Oh, no.
[Graves] This is it. If you wanna silence the doubters, champ,
this is how you do it.
[Michael] Kevin Owens looking for a powerbomb.
Roman Reigns blocks the second time and now, a right hand by Reigns,
and Roman Reigns averted disaster there.
[Graves] Let's be honest, if Kevin Owens would've connected with the powerbomb,
that could shorten Roman Reigns' career.
[Michael] I think it has dawned on Reigns what could've happened
-and now, Reigns… -[Byron] Oh, no.
[Michael] He'll make Kevin Owens pay for it.
Looking for a suplex. Kevin Owens looking to block.
[Byron] Owens hanging on to that rope for dear life.
[Michael] Owens blocks the second time
and now, hanging Reigns up on the top rope.
[Graves] Crashing through that structure
could be catastrophic for each one of these superstars.
[Byron] Oh, oh, oh. Roman Reigns teetering.
-[Graves] Another right by Owens. -[Michael] Reigns just hanging on.
Kevin Owens looking for a full head of steam,
and he ran into a clothesline by the challenger, and here comes Reigns.
[Byron] The dynamically explosive offense of Roman Reigns on display.
[Graves] Massive clothesline from the big dog
and Roman Reigns starting to roll.
[Chris] Come on, Kevin.
[Michael] And Chris Jericho can only look on.
[Chris] Come on.
[Michael] Owens, shoulder first into the post.
[Graves] It got to be frustrating for Jericho, knowing that his best friend
is at risk of losing his WWE Universal Championship.
-[Michael] Yeah, Jericho screaming… -[Byron] He deserves it.
…from the shark cage down at Kevin Owens, trying to cheer him on.
[Graves] You know, we see the wheel spinning in Roman Reigns' head.
What could Reigns have in mind for the champ?
[Byron] Oh, ho, ho.
There is No Disqualification. This is all completely legal.
[Micheal] Tables time.
Roman Reigns looking to set up the table
for the WWE Universal Champion.
-[Byron] Oh, watch out. -[Michael] Kevin Owens coming from behind.
[Graves] Backstabber. Cover.
[Michael] Cover by Owens, hooks the leg, and a kick-out.
A backstabber by Owens almost won it.
[Graves] And now, it's Owens who-- yeah, I think he's gonna try
to utilize this table to his advantage.
[Graves] Jericho looking down,
trying to figure out what his friend is doing.
[Michael] Oh, Kevin Owens is getting the table out of there.
[Graves] That might be the wisest thing the champion has done.
[Byron] Maybe he doesn't want anything to do with that sort of…
[Graves] And Roman Reigns doesn't need weapons and Owens realizes that.
You don't wanna put a weapon in Reigns' hand.
Owens has already hit him with one cannonball into the barricade.
[Michael] Oh, my… Now, just mocking Roman Reigns
and Roman with a boot.
[Byron] Momentary hesitation by the champ cost him.
-[Graves] Oh, man. -[Byron] Oh, it's gonna cost him big.
[Michael] Sit-out powerbomb. Almost had the title.
[Graves] Roman Reigns
just planted the WWE Universal Champion with a brutal powerbomb.
You can hear Jericho planking the steel high above the ring.
Come on, Kevin.
[Graves] And cheering on Kevin Owens.
But the big dog is in full control.
And I think Roman is about to lock and load.
[Michael] And Kevin Owens realizes, scoots out of harm's way.
[Graves] Oh, whoa, wait a minute.
I'm not sure if Kevin Owens is out of harm's way.
[Michael] Drive by by Reigns.
And over the years, Roman Reigns
has had such a mixed Royal Rumble event, hasn't he?
Won it a couple of years ago.
Last year, he found himself actually in the Royal Rumble match
with his championship up for grabs,
only the second time ever as we take another look at the drive by.
Flair won the title in '92,
Reigns had his championship on the line at the Rumble match last year
and Triple H would go on to win the title.
[Graves] I can guarantee you right now, Roman Reigns
is only thinking about the future, looking forward,
winning the Universal Championship tonight and taking it to WrestleMania.
[Michael] That was very clear.
I mean, Roman came out here a couple weeks ago and said,
"No one, Kevin Owens or anyone, can beat me."
Especially with Jericho locked in a shark cage.
And Kevin Owens,, though.
-[Graves] The second time… -[Michael] And now, another superkick.
…Roman Reigns attempting to utilize the table has backfired.
It could backfire even bigger right here.
[Michael] Oh, no. Kevin Owens is going up to the top rope.
-[Graves] No way. -[Michael] Roman Reigns is in trouble.
Remember the bad ribs? Remember the bad ribs, if he connects…
-Frog splash. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Frog splash to the table. -[Graves] Good grief.
[Michael] If Roman Reigns didn't have crushed ribs before, he sure got him now.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] That might've been the home run for Kevin Owens.
[Graves] You're right. Kevin Owens knows,
somehow dragged Roman Reigns' body back
into the ring, and you retain your championship.
[Michael] Kevin Owens taking advantage of No Disqualification rules.
Here's the cover, hook to the leg, Roman Reigns powers at two.
[Graves] How? How? How on earth? Let's take another look back at this.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Kevin Owens, 270-- 280 pounds crashing from about 12 feet in the sky
right through Roman Reigns and somehow, Reigns was able to kick-out.
[Byron] But again, we always ask the question,
how much energy did Reigns have to exert just to kick-out in that predicament?
[Michael] And the other issue, Corey, is that Reigns does that busted ribs.
It makes it so hard to breathe
and even compete in this type of the matchup.
[Graves] Well, if you injure a man's ribs in the ring,
you take away their offense, you take away their ability to breathe.
[Byron] What about Kevin Owens' ribs?
Kevin Owens could've cracked his own rib crashing down from that height.
[Michael] Yeah, but Kevin Owens doesn't look like he is as worse for wear
as Roman Reigns is.
[Graves] This is just the kind of competitor that Kevin Owens is.
To retain the WWE Universal Championship, he will risk his own life and limb.
[Michael] Well, this is the-- you know, Kevin Owens is a proud man, Corey,
and he's heard what everybody's had to say about
he's needed Jericho's help for everything. Oh, and again, to Reigns.
[Graves] Kevin Owens just yelled to Chris Jericho, "This is for you."
[Michael] Cover by Owens to retain the championship but a kick-out again.
Again, for Kevin Owens, he wants to punish Reigns.
He wants to prove to the world that he doesn't need anybody's help
to retain the championship tonight.
[Graves] Kevin Owens reminded the WWE Universe,
Roman Reigns in particular,
a few weeks ago when all on his own, Owens powerbombed Roman Reigns
through our announce table on Monday Night Raw.
[Michael] You could hear Chris Jericho, Corey.
Screaming at his buddy, Owens.
[Graves] Screaming words of encouragement.
[Michael] Exactly.
He's looking to Irish whip Reigns across the ring into the steel chair
he had set up, but Reigns reverses. And now…
[Graves] I don't know where Roman Reigns is getting this burst of power,
but it is doing a number on Kevin Owens.
[Michael] Always had extra gear
that Reigns is able to tap into, bad ribs and all.
Oh, and a collision in the middle of the ring
by champion and challenger.
wens runs into a right this time.
And Kevin Owens had the breath knocked out of him.
Boot right to the midsection.
These two men giving it everything they have
for the WWE Universal title.
A kick right to the face. Kevin Owens… Into the chair goes Reigns.
Cover by the champion to retain-- Reigns again at two and a half.
[Graves] Incredibly well scouted by Kevin Owens.
The familiarity with his opponents served him very, very well.
Owens with a-- wait, whoa, whoa, whoa…
And what the hell is Jericho doing? What is that?
[Byron] Is that-- it's-- is that brass knuckles?
-[Graves] Brass knuckles. -[Michael] Jericho with brass knuckles.
[Byron] Oh, God, no, no.
[Michael] He just gave brass knuckles to Kevin Owens.
[Byron] Give me a break.
[Michael] And again, this is legal. There's No Disqualification.
[Graves] It's good to have friends in high places.
[Byron] It never ends between these two. This is nonsense.
[Michael] And now, mocking Roman Reigns, locked and loaded for Kevin Owens.
Owens went for a Superman Punch, blocked by Reigns.
-[Chris] No, no, no. -[Michael] And Roman Reigns
trying to get the brass knuckles away from Owens.
-He realizes he's got the knucks. -[Graves] Kevin Owens to the eyes.
Oh, there's a Superman Punch. Looking to retain.
Owens hooks the leg and Reigns…
-[Byron] Oh, no, no. -…powers out again.
[Byron] Reigns is still in it.
Yeah, panic now. Your brass knuckles didn't work.
[Chris] No.
[Michael] Kevin Owens cannot believe
that he did not put Roman Reigns away there.
Jericho's beside himself. Watch this. Kevin Owens right to the face. Boom.
[Graves] Yeah, his very own version of the Superman Punch
but it wasn't enough.
[Byron] It would have been such poetic justice for Kevin Owens
to topple Roman Reigns with Roman's own maneuver but it wasn't meant to be.
[Michael] KO can't believe it.
He's-- he didn't know what do at this point.
He's tried everything he can. He's thrown everything he has
at Roman Reigns and still Roman Reigns is-- he's still alive.
[Graves] Still alive and on wobbly legs.
[Michael] Looking for, perhaps, for the powerbomb through the steel chair.
[Graves] Kevin Owens will shatter Roman Reigns' spine.
Kevin Owens patented powerbomb.
[Michael] Roman Reigns, though. Reigns have Kevin Owens on his shoulders.
Samoan drop through the chair.
[Byron] A Samoan drop.
[Michael] Here's the cover
for the championship and Owens got the shoulder up.
[Graves] That steel chair was completely mangled
under the impact of Kevin Owens
being driven into it, back and ribs first.
[Michael] Steel chair, a twisted mess as are the bodies
of Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens. Watch this impact.
Incredible.
[Byron] As you realized how close we came
to see the title reign of Kevin Owens come to an end.
[Michael] Yeah, but you got to give it to Owens kicking out.
[Chris] Come on, Owens, get up.
-[Michael] Now, Roman Reigns… -[Graves] Watch it one more time.
Owens lower back, right there.
The seat of the steel chair bent in half like a piece of paper.
That was unbelievable. Right in the small of Kevin Owens' back.
[Michael] And now, what is Roman Reigns thinking of this juncture?
[Byron] Reigns is almost disgusted that Kevin Owens is still in this match.
[Graves] Roman Reigns has to be as frustrated as anybody.
Reigns is throwing everything he could think of
at the WWE Universal Champion
and still has not been able to put Owens away.
[Byron] And one more time, Reigns going to grab that table.
We saw him try it earlier on.
[Graves] Roman hasn't had the best luck with tables to this point in this match.
At this point, I'm questioning his decision.
[Michael] Yeah, the first table he brought out,
Kevin Owens would use it to deliver a frog splash
through Reigns to the floor.
And now, Roman Reigns setting up a table yet again in the ring.
No disqualification rules for the Universal Championship.
Owens from behind, rolling up Roman Reigns,
and a kick-out at two by Reigns.
And Reigns, Superman Punch!
Cover toward the Universal Championship and Owens again with a shoulder.
Absolutely incredible guys.
[Graves] Both of these superstars putting themselves through hell
just to call themself champion.
Superman Punch right on the jaw of the champion.
[Michael] You know, Corey,
both of these men understand what's at stake here.
The probability of the winner of this matchup
defending that championship in WrestleMania is real.
[Graves] Uh-uh-uh-uh. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
What is going through Roman Reigns mind right now?
[Byron] Oh, Reigns got Kevin Owens in his sight and he's ready to strike.
[Michael] Went for the spear. Owens caught him.
Oh, stunner by Owens. A stunner by Owens.
Hooks the leg and a kickout.
Paying homage to the three-time Royal Rumble match winner,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin. A stunner by Kevin Owens.
[Byron] So many anxious moments for both these men.
Coming a mere half a second away.
[Graves] When you run out of moves in your own arsenal,
it's quite acceptable to borrow from some of the all-time greats,
which is exactly what Kevin Owens just did.
Unfortunately, with no success.
[Michael] Yeah, but a stunner by Owens almost stunned the world
but Roman Reigns again, somehow able to stay in this match.
[Graves] You could see the disbelief in the eyes of the WWE Universal Champion
melting away to disdain.
-[Bryon] Reigns can barely stand. -[coughs]
[Graves] Roman Reigns may have a busted nose, busted ribs.
And Owens continues a ruthless assault.
[Michael] Just an absolute all-out assault by Kevin Owens on Roman Reigns.
Kevin Owens, maybe he's getting frustrated.
What does he got to do?
-Cannonball. -[Graves] Oh!
[Michael] Roman Reigns has sustained a tremendous amount of punishment here.
[Graves] You're right. Owens may be frustrated
but Owens possesses the ability to focus that frustration and right now,
Roman Reigns is on the receiving end of the champion's frustration.
[Byron] Yeah, rib injuries being sort of
a Godsend to Kevin Owens in this matchup…
[Graves] What do you mean a Godsend, Saxton?
Kevin Owens inflicted the rib injury.
[Byron] But it has given him a target to continually focus on in this match.
[Graves] Kevin Owens isn't the WWE Universal Champion
through divine intervention because he's ruthless.
Because Owens is willing to do what he wants.
[Michael] Oh, he is the champion because of divine intervention.
Triple H was that divine intervention.
That's the reason Kevin Owens has the title.
Let's not forget about that.
-[Byron] Uh, guys… -[Michael] And here's Kevin Owens…
[Graves] No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
[Michael] What the hell is Kevin Owens gonna do to Roman Reigns here?
[Graves] Whatever Kevin Owens has to do to Roman Reigns to retain the championship.
[Michael] Reigns trying to block.
Owens trying to deliver maybe a suplex through the chairs.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Reigns-- A big slam through the chairs!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Jericho, a look of concern on his face.
-[Graves] Understandably so. -[Michael] Kevin Owens may be out cold.
[Byron] You gotta wonder if Kevin Owens evil intentions
could become his own undoing.
[Michael] Roman Reigns saw the moment. He saw the opportunity and he seized it.
[Bryon] Hey, what goes around comes around.
Kevin Owens tried to utilize those steel steps to his favor
-but instead, it was Owens. -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] A tower of steel constructed by the champion
could be his own demise,
but enough damage has been inflicted to Roman Reigns.
[Bryon] Poetic justice, that's what it is.
[Michael] Now the question is, what does Roman Reigns do at this point?
He's got to get the champion back into the ring.
He's gotta get the champ in the ring.
Roman Reigns looking to win the Universal Championship,
trying to drag the 270-pound body of Kevin…
-[Byron] Oh, no. -[Michael] I don't like that look.
-[Byron] Neither do I. -[Michael] I do not like that look.
Roman Reigns just staring down our announce table and…
It's a familiar look in the eyes of the big dog.
[Michael] Yeah, those of you who remember the shield
and the way they look at the ringside announce table.
You know, that look is-- that look is by any means necessary
to destroy your opponent.
[Graves] Owens hasn't really moved,, though.
I don't quite understand. Roman, though-- You gotta question.
Roman Reigns might have been able to pin Kevin Owens by this point.
A lot of time has elapsed.
[Michael] But, Corey, he might have been able to.
Roman Reigns has thrown everything he's had to Kevin Owens
and hasn't been able to put him out. Perhaps he feels one more blow,
like right here at the announce table, will put Owens away.
[Graves] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Roman Reigns with Kevin Owens up high, tremendous power by Reigns.
This is shield-like for Roman Reigns. Kevin Owens on the announce table.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Owens shattering the announce table.
[Byron] I think that was Roman Reigns' way
of putting an exclamation point on this match.
[Graves] Kevin Owens is out cold.
[Michael] First through the chairs, then through the announce table.
Roman Reigns closing in perhaps on the Universal Championship.
Reigns lying in wait.
[Byron] Owens is vulnerable. Owens is in trouble.
[Graves] The Big Dog's stalking Owens.
-What the hell? -[Byron] Oh, my God.
-[Graves] Who the hell?! -[Byron] Braun Strowman!
Braun Strowman. Braun Strowman's here.
He's attacking Reigns.
[Graves] It's No Disqualification. This is all legal.
[Byron] Oh, watch out. Watch out.
[Graves] And he just bounced Roman Reigns off the German announce table.
[Byron] Why? -[Micheal] Braun Strowman,
that mountain of a man has assaulted Reigns.
-[Graves] Why? -[Michael] And he's not done yet.
[Byron] What do you mean why?
Roman Reigns and Goldberg
speared Braun Strowman on Monday Night Raw.
[Michael] And now Strowman sending Reigns through a table.
Don't forget, Reigns also speared Strowman on a stage
a couple of weeks ago.
And Strowman, he may be here for revenge.
Braun Strowman just laid waste to Roman Reigns.
[Graves] The monster among men just destroyed The Big Dog.
[Michael] Braun Strowman says he does what he wants when he wants.
-[Graves] Oh, no, not like this. -[Michael] And now Kevin Owens
is gonna reap the benefits. Kevin Owens retains the Universal title.
[crowd cheering]
[JoJo] Here is your winner and still the WWE Universal Champion,
Kevin Owens.
[Graves] Guys, I think it's safe to say
Kevin Owens had no idea what Strowman was up to just now.
That's a monster possessed by his own intention.
[Byron] You know what I say? Another Godsend.
First Triple H, and now Braun Strowman,
and Kevin Owens as a result is still your Universal Champion.
[Graves] Listen, Saxton, you don't have to like it, but you have to accept it.
Kevin Owens is the WWE Universal Champion.
And Kevin Owens' show continues thanks to Braun Strowman.
[Byron] Yeah, but he didn't do it by himself.
Kevin Owens couldn't defend this Championship by himself.
He needed Braun Strowman.
[Michael] The bottom line is this, Roman Reigns put Owens through chairs,
he put him through the announce table, he was setting him up for the spear,
he was gonna win the Universal Championship,
and he had it robbed, taken from him by Braun Strowman tonight.
-Get me out of here. -[Graves] You should never be surprised
when your past decides to come back to haunt you.
That is exactly what happened to Roman Reigns tonight.
[Byron] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, celebrate. Best friends…
[Graves] Of course, they should celebrate, Saxton.
-What a title defense by Kevin Owens. -[Byron] Yeah, celebrate your luck.
[Michael] And with this right here,
Roman Reigns putting Kevin Owens through the announce table,
set Kevin Owens up for the, perhaps, spear by Roman Reigns
when Braun Strowman, from out of nowhere, assaulted Roman Reigns, ambushed him.
[Graves] Take a look right here.
I think Roman Reigns' skull may have bounced off the monitor
as Strowman spiked him into the announce table.
But Braun wouldn't stop there.
[Byron] Yeah, Braun Strowman would finish the job.
Braun Strowman would serve as the executioner.
And Kevin Owens, all he had to do was roll over and enjoy the spoils.
[Michael] Kevin Owens is still the Champion.
He will celebrate with Chris Jericho here tonight.
[Byron] Kevin Owens just survived.
[Michael] And you got to wonder, guys, if Roman Reigns is--
Does he even know what just happened?
Does he even realize that he just lost the championship?
Roman Reigns has barely moved since the attack by Braun Strowman.
[Graves] Roman Reigns just endured the human form of a natural disaster
in the form of Braun Strowman.
Kevin Owens is still the WWE Universal Champion.
[music concludes]
-["Greenlight" playing] -♪ Give me the green light, oh, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm ready to go Give me the green light ♪
♪ I got the green light mami And you know what that means ♪
♪ That we can do anything Anything that you dream ♪
♪ I wanna make you ooh, ah Till you scream ♪
♪ And I practice what I preach If you know what I mean ♪
♪ Give me what I asked for I got a passport mister international ♪
♪ I hit the airport If you knew the kind of work ♪
♪ That I transport that Rihanna do me dirt To the crash course ♪
♪ Red light, green light What you waiting for ♪
♪ Give me the green light, oh, yeah 'Cause I'm ready to go ♪
♪ Let's have a good time, let's go What you waiting for ♪
-♪ We only got one life ♪ -[song concludes]
[Michael] And we are at the Alamodome at San Antonio, Texas,
52,020 WWE fans here tonight
for the 30th annual Royal Rumble event.
And still here at ringside, it is an absolute mess.
There is a wreckage strewn everywhere,
the result of that Universal Championship match
between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens where Kevin Owens retained,
thanks to an attack on Reigns by Braun Strowman.
Yeah, but we can't necessarily even speculate
if Kevin Owens knew anything about Braun Strowman's involvement.
Owens was out cold.
Braun Strowman of his own volition came to ringside.
So what it is, it's the same story in a different character.
Kevin Owens, thanks to insert-the-name, still Universal Champion.
But we saw what Braun Strowman did to Roman Reigns.
Braun Strowman is still gonna be in the Royal Rumble match later on tonight.
Imagine the damage he could cause in that matchup.
-And speaking… -Yeah, Braun Strowman could do
the same exact thing to 29 other superstars on his way to WrestleMania.
It is the 30th annual Royal Rumble event and the 30th annual Royal Rumble match.
So we're gonna do a bit of a countdown tonight,
the top 30 moments in Royal Rumble history.
Let's start now with 30 through 15.
[narrator] The Royal Rumble, a WWE tradition since 1988.
[Howard] Welcome to Copps Coliseum. Yes, this is the Royal Rumble.
[narrator] The rules are simple.
Thirty men, each trying to toss the other over the top rope.
If your two feet hit the floor, your day is done.
If you outlast your 29 opponents,
your prize, a trip straight to the main event of WrestleMania.
And on this, the occasion of the 30th annual Royal Rumble,
we bring you 30 facts to help you remember the Rumble.
The Royal Rumble debuted in 1988.
Its first ever entrant, none other than WWE Hall of Famer,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Since then, 870 superstars have walked the aisle
to enter the Royal Rumble,
including three females who've all managed to eliminate
at least one member of their male competition.
[Michael] Oh, my God. Beth Phoenix has eliminated The Great Khali.
[narrator] Of those 870 participants,
only 23 have actually won the Royal Rumble.
That means 98% of those who enter the Royal Rumble
have failed in their quest to win it.
[Jerry] Only one man can emerge victorious.
[Michael] Will main-event WrestleMania.
[narrator] This year, the Royal Rumble emanates
from the Alamodome in San Antonio,
the fourth time the Rumble has come from the great state of Texas.
[Micheal] These fans in San Antonio on their feet.
[narrator] Which states have hosted the most Royal Rumbles?
California and Florida, with five Rumbles each.
Five hundred seven thousand one hundred and two.
Over half a million members of the WWE Universe
have attended the Royal Rumble in person.
[Jerry] Take a look. They're here in numbers.
[narrator] To put that in perspective,
that is larger than the population of Miami,
New Orleans, and Atlanta,
all of whom have hosted Rumbles in the past.
Now, when it comes to winning the Rumble,
some people like to take their time, like Rey Mysterio.
[announcer] Mysterio approaching record time.
[narrator] Who lasted a record one hour two minutes and 12 seconds
to win it in 2006.
Others like to get it done quickly.
Like Edge who entered at number 29 in 2010,
and took only
seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds to come away victorious.
[Michael] Edge has done it. Edge has done it.
[narrator] Of course, you don't wanna be too quick like Santino Marella,
who owns the unfortunate distinction of the shortest time in a Rumble
-at only one second. -I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready.
No, I'm going back in.
[narrator] The longest time spent in a Rumble match
without actually winning, that would be Bob Backlund,
who lasted one hour one minute and ten seconds.
Triple H holds the record for most accumulated time spent in the Rumble.
[Jerry] How the hell is Triple H still in this match?
[narrator] Having endured four hours six minutes and eight seconds
over nine Royal Rumble matches.
In total, 46 WWE Hall of Famers have competed in the Royal Rumble.
And nine WWE Hall of Famers have won the Royal Rumble.
But only one man entered a single Royal Rumble more than once,
current Raw general manager, Mick Foley,
whose Three Faces of Foley, Mankind, Cactus Jack,
and Dude Love, all entered the 1998 Royal Rumble.
Unfortunately, none of them were able to have a nice day in winning.
Fifteen down, 15 to go.
Later, we'll continue to show you
just how important a role the numbers play in the Royal Rumble.
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Are you kidding me?
-[Jerry] This arena is shaking. -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
So, the shark cage, totally ineffective.
-I did not foresee that, Stephanie. -Clearly did not foresee.
I will address tomorrow on Raw, but can we just enjoy the Rumble?
-You're right. You're right, I'm sorry. -[Daniel] Let's enjoy the Rumble.
-And now we can. -I know. Daniel, nice to see you.
-Foley, good to see you. -I know.
How are you?
Is this the tumbler?
-This is a tumble. Yeah. -It is.
All right, and it's been in your guys' possession?
-So no one else had been here, right? -No.
All right, well, let me get--
you have to spin just for integrity's sake.
-Right… -Integrity, yeah.
You know what? Mick, if you don't mind?
Give it a couple spins for integrity's sake.
-For integrity. -Yeah.
-[Sami] Guys, hello. -[all] Hey!
-Gee, it's Sami Zayn. -How you doin'?
-How are you? -It's good to see you.
-Hello, how are you, Sami. -All right.
It's so great. Such a good timing.
Again, I don't wanna interrupt you, I just, or the tumbler. I came to pick my…
-Do it, man. -Great.
-…my number here for the Rumble. -Reach right in there.
-Grab one quickly… -Drumroll.
Please don't that, it kind of throws me off.
Okay.
-I-- I have a problem. -Just a reaching.
To grab the ball out of the tumbler?
-Here, I'll hold it. -I want this.
-Is that okay? -It's exactly that simple, Sami.
Some of these are dented.
-Sami, just grab your ball. -Okay. One sec, one sec.
Oh, here we go, we got a winner. We got a winner.
-There it is. -Oh, blue ball.
-It's blue. -Blue, yes. [exhales]
-Oh, Dean. -Yeah. You're damn right.
-Hey, what's up, man? Long time no see. -[crowd cheering]
How you been?
They said they were churros in here. Were there some churros in here?
-No. -Churros?
-No churros in here. -But while you're here,
why don't you pick your number?
-Oh, yeah. I'll just-- -Quicker, quicker.
-Perfect. -Well, that was easy.
-Check it out. -If the churros come--
No, I'm gonna take a nap and stuff.
-Wake me up when my music hits, boss? -Yeah, will do, will do.
-Okay. -Will do.
-Do you want me to open it for you? -Would you?
He got something.
[whispering] Come on. Trying to make sure I don't…
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
-You have eight. -Eight?
-Really, eight? -Wait, no, wait, it's upside down.
-Eight. -[crowd cheering]
Eight is great. Come on, Sami. Eight is great.
-You want me to open yours? -No. I want a surprise.
-You gonna pick that up? -Eight.
-I can do eight. -Hey, that's-- Eight's a good number.
-You can do it? -All right. Let's do it.
-You can do it, Sami. -Why don't you get ready?
["Blow Your Mind" playing]
Well, there'll be a total of 30 men entering the 30th annual Royal Rumble
and boy, talking about numbers, Corey,
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns doing the number on the announcer's table.
Absolutely did do a number.
But we're not talking about the WWE Universal Championship right now,
we're gonna switch gears to the Cruiserweight Championship,
which we're gonna get to in a minute.
But first off, we wanna thank Ohana Bam for "Blow Your Mind,"
it's the official theme of WWE Royal Rumble.
It's available now on iTunes and Spotify.
Tonight, Rich Swann will defend his WWE Cruiserweight Championship
against the self-proclaimed King of the Cruiserweights, Neville,
who looks to take his throne in the Cruiserweight division.
For the past couple of weeks, there's been a man calling himself
-the King of the Cruiserweights. -The king of the Cruiserweights.
Well, news flash, I am the WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
which means 205 Live is still my sh--
Ay, ay, ay. What are you talking about, Rich, huh?
You're sure with the beatings I've been dishing out recently…
I beg to differ.
[tense music playing]
When I first saw Rich Swann, I'll be honest, I was impressed.
It's hard not to be impressed with a man of that talent.
[Mauro] He's not just style, lots of substance to his skill set.
My bone of contention is simply, he's not on my level.
Me and Rich Swann had a very good relationship in Japan.
Neville was a guy that I looked up to. I thought he had integrity.
I thought he had respect for what we did.
We were like brothers.
I took him under my wing and I told him everything I know.
He always took a liking to me.
[Neville] And to arrive in the WWE,
and to see him get elevated at such heights,
whilst I sit back and watch?
[Mauro] Rich Swann, who overcame the loss of his parents at a young age,
now celebrates becoming WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
That was something I couldn't accept.
[Mauro] Oh, Neville blasting Swann.
This is not about Rich Swann, this is about Neville.
I feel betrayed.
And Rich Swann feels betrayed by me, who knew?
Rich Swann is a champion and he should expect this.
It's heartbreaking to see what he's turned into.
[Neville] I don't need your pity.
So you can take your tears and you can stick them.
When he first came to the WWE, he was like a hero,
[Neville] I made the realization that in life…
there are no heroes. The monsters win.
At Royal Rumble, you're going to have no choice
but to appreciate me
because I am going to beat the Cruiserweight Champion, Rich Swann.
He's humiliated me.
[Mauro] Neville calls himself the King of the Cruiserweights.
He's beaten me down.
[Neville] Rich, you bring your little unbreakable spirit.
Bring me my crown.
Come Royal Rumble…
Because I will break you.
[Rich] …I'm gonna show him what it's like.
[Neville] I want the recognition that I never got for a long time.
When you claim to be a king and you step in there with the true champ.
[music concludes]
["Break Orbit" playing]
[Mauro] Oh, here comes the man who was transmogrified
into the terror of the Cruiserweight division,
as nasty as he wants to be,
the self-proclaimed "King of the Cruiserweights" Neville.
[Graves] It could be moments away from Neville not having to proclaim himself
-the King of the cruiserweights. -[bell ringing]
[Hamilton] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
the self-proclaimed "King of the Cruiserweights" Neville.
[Graves] If Neville claims the throne tonight,
everyone will proclaim him
the King of the Cruiserweights, undisputed.
["Around the World" playing]
[Hamilton] And his opponent, from Baltimore, Maryland,
weighing in at 180 pounds, he is the WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
Rich Swann.
[Mauro] And let's all welcome in our broadcast brethren from around the world.
From Brazil, Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaks Portuguese]
[Mauro] Our Mandarin colleagues, Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[speaks mandarin]
[both speak mandarin]
[Mauro] Our Russian colleagues, Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaks Russian]
[Mauro] And handling the Japanese commentary,
Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki.
[speaks Japanese]
[both speak Japanese]
[Graves] All right, I don't expect you to understand all those different languages,
but I can translate,
every table we just visited said, "Mauro Ranallo was terrible."
-[Mauro] Thank you. -[Austin] I got the same thing. Yeah.
[Mauro] And this is why I love working with my 205 Live colleagues
as we get set for the prestigious WWE Cruiserweight Championship match.
-The champion is Rich Swann… -[bell ringing]
…and his former friend
that used to travel the highways and byways together, but not anymore,
Neville, have definitely exhibited a sour disposition since returning to WWE.
[Graves] Austin, as someone who has held championships around the globe,
what sort of disposition, what sort of mindset does Rich Swann
need to have tonight to be successful?
[Austin] Very simple, Corey, do whatever it takes.
You don't leave anything in the ring.
You-- Don't be afraid to cut a corner or two if you need to.
If you wanna walk out the WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
[Mauro] It was at the Raw exclusive pay-per-view Roadblock: End of the Line
where Neville returned and shocked the WWE Universe,
attacking both Rich Swann and T. J. Perkins.
But Swann looking to defend the title.
One that means everything to him and all that he's showcasing his athleticism,
-but Neville one step ahead. -[Graves] And scouting…
-Oh! -[Mauro] Beautiful dropkick by Swann.
[Austin] I talked to both of these guys the other day, they're highly…
[Mauro] Whoa! What a pescado by Rich Swann.
[Austin] I was gonna say they're highly motivated to come out here tonight
and show the WWE Universe what they're all about.
They both think they're the best Cruiserweight in the 205 Live roster
and here's their chance to prove it.
[Graves] I got to be honest with you, I'm impressed by the mean streak thus far
that Rich Swann's displayed.
You said, Austin, that's the sort of mentality Swann's going to need
looks like he brought it tonight.
[Austin] Hey, he got to fight fire with fire, Corey, in the last few weeks.
[Graves] Take a look at this, Swann almost decapitating Neville
with a plancha to the outside,
and the King of the Cruiserweight is on the ropes for a moment.
[Mauro] WWE Cruiserweight Champion with the grace of his surname
and the skill set to become his first name.
But now Neville turning the tables and putting the boots
to his former young boy, as he called him when they were in Japan
honing their skills.
[Austin] Well, Rich Swann is not a young boy anymore.
He's the WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
-It's his championship to lose. -[Mauro] Wow.
What a body slam with authority by Neville.
[Austin] This is what you've seen the last few weeks,
when Neville takes control,
he's methodical and he's very pointed in his attack.
He's not rushing or anything. He's not nervous.
He's calculated and cold.
[Graves] Neville's new attitude making him that much more dangerous
and, dare I say, effective, known for his aerial assaults,
just like Swann and his perched on the top turnbuckle.
-[Mauro] Missile dropkick. -[Austin] What a dropkick.
[Mauro] And a quick jackknife cover, and Swann escapes it too.
[Graves] You could feel the impact from the dropkick.
Neville delivered right to the heart of Swann.
Watch the extra leg pump with Neville.
Almost like a double stomp through the heart from the sky.
And this mean streak that Neville's been lacking
maybe his whole career has served him incredibly well.
I love this Neville.
Let it go. Come on, Neville, let that go.
Look at this, just stomping on the back of the neck of Rich Swann.
Not gonna win the match, but it'll do a lot of damage.
[Mauro] And as it's usually the case, former friends makes extra bitter foes.
And Neville with a cover and again Swann able to power out
and hold on to his WWE Cruiserweight title for now.
-[Austin] There's two kinds of… -Is this it, huh?
-[Graves] I'm sorry to cut you off. -[Austin] No, it's okay. I said…
[Graves I thought the King was gonna speak.
[Austin] Well, I said there's two kinds of punishment
you can dish out in a match,
one's physical and the other one's mental-emotional,
and I think Neville's been the master of both of those
over the last month or so.
[Mauro] Oh, rolling crucifix here by Swann.
-Reversal by Neville looking for… -[Graves] Oh, Neville looking
for the submission that he's put away multiple opponents recently with.
[Mauro] Yeah, looking for that crossface, butterfly armbar,
but Swann quick to scurry too.
[Graves] It's great ring awareness by the champion.
-[Mauro] Bottom of the rope. -[Austin] Total desperation by Rich.
No, he couldn't get locked in that if he wants to survive.
[Mauro] Vicious kick to the head by Neville
who is methodical, cold, and calculated.
[Austin] I already said that, Mauro. Stop stealing my lines.
[Mauro] Well, excuse me, if I may not listen to everything you say,
as Neville continues to work.
[Graves] Listen, we like this aggression from Neville,
but Neville needs to be careful not to get too aggressive
and get himself disqualified.
It could be a waste of a golden opportunity.
[Mauro] Snap suplex, shades of his compatriot Dynamite Kid,
and Rich Swann desperate to get back up to his feet,
using the ropes, gingerly getting up.
What a crushing forearm in the corner by Neville.
Lateral press, hooks the leg.
[Austin] Man, you noticed the deep leg hook by Neville.
For the last few weeks, he's been maybe playing around with Rich Swann.
-He's not playing around tonight. -[Mauro] Oh!
[Austin] You gotta put Rich Swann away, he's got big heart,
and he hits that kick, I like to call it "The Rich kick," out of nowhere.
He's gonna retain the title.
[Graves] Sharp elbows to the crown of Swann's skull.
And the King of the Cruiserweights is absolutely dominant right now.
Austin, if you're Rich Swann, and you're in this position,
what do you gotta do to mount some offense?
[Austin] Well, Corey, I mean, I've got my old trusty go-to,
but right now, he just needs to get up.
He needs to get off the mat. He needs to get moving.
He needs to create some space.
And of course Neville's not gonna make that easy for him.
[Graves] No, Neville seems to be enjoying grinding down the Cruiserweight Champion.
[Austin] But if I'm in this position, I'll do whatever it takes.
I'll grab the guy's hair, grab his face, whatever you gotta do.
[Mauro] Rich Swann desperately trying
to relieve the pressure of the stronger Neville,
who drops a knee right across the forehead,
goes for the cover again, and Swann able to slip out.
[Graves] And right back to a hold.
[Mauro] You know, you could talk about Neville's accomplishments
and his aerial artistry,
but we have definitely seen a different side of his skill set
in recent weeks as he's able to breakdown his opponent's body
and punish them mercilessly.
[Graves] And the scariest part about the entire thing, Mauro,
is that Neville seems to enjoy the punishment.
Neville seems to derive some pleasure
from inflicting punishment on his opponents.
[Mauro] Sadistic pleasure, but now Rich Swann attacking the body.
Oh, and lights him up with that knife-edged chop,
and another one by the WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
trying to get back into this championship match.
[Graves] Great ring awareness by Neville.
[Neville screams]
[Austin] Oh, man.
[Mauro] The crown of Rich Swann's head driven into the barricade by Neville.
[Austin] Smart maneuver by Neville, going out of the ring,
stopping the momentum that Rich was trying to get going,
and now he's firmly back in control.
[Graves] Neville withstood the early flurry of offense
from the champion.
-And right now… -[Austin] Oh!
[Mauro] And that's one way to jack the back and realign the spine
of the WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] If Neville achieves his goal tonight
and takes the throne in the Cruiserweight division,
I'm gonna ask that he issue an order, you never use that line again, Mauro.
[Mauro] Remember champion's advantage.
And Neville smart to be cognizant to the referee's count.
If he wants to become WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
he needs to do it inside the ropes.
[Graves] Neville is oozing confidence right now,
stalking Rich Swann. Take a look in the eyes of the man
we're about to call the King of the Cruiserweights,
no self-proclamation.
[all groaning]
[Mauro] Beautifully timed Swann song superkick by Rich Swann,
and will this be enough for the WWE Cruiserweight kingpin?
[Austin] And just that quick.
[Graves] I don't know that it's gonna be enough to topple Neville,
but it definitely bought Swann some valuable time.
-Look at the precision. -[Austin] Oh, right on the jaw of Neville.
[Mauro] And the WWE Cruiserweight Champion could not have timed that any better.
It was Neville's momentum that actually hurt him even more.
[Graves] But listen, Rich Swann didn't get to the top of the Cruiserweight division
by being a slouch.
Rich Swann is incredibly talented and dangerous.
That was just an example of why Swann is where he is.
[Austin] And just that quick, he got himself right back in this match.
[all] Oh!
[Mauro] And just that quick, another kick and wow!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Beautiful hurricanrana from the corner,
standing hurricanrana by Rich Swann.
-[Austin] Neville rolling… -[Graves] Neville rolling to the outside
for a breather, but I don't think Swann's gonna give him any time.
[Mauro] Phoenix splash by the WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
[Graves] Spectacular desperation offense from the Cruiserweight Champion,
bringing the Alamodome to its feet. Wow!
[Mauro] And a crowd of over 52,000
electrified by this WWE Cruiserweight title match.
[Graves] Twisting 450 splat tumbleweed from Rich Swann,
crashing down onto the challenger,
and this might be Swann's best opportunity to this point.
[Mauro] High risk, high reward.
And the reward is not greater than the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
[Graves] Look in the eyes of the champion.
Rich Swann wants to finish this and settle this.
[Mauro] And remember, Neville has dominated
-since coming to 205 Live… -[Graves] Here we go!
…Cruiserweight division,
but now it's Swann unloading with ground and pound.
[Graves] Swann having flashbacks to a good old charm city throw down.
-Neville. -[all groaning]
[Mauro] Third time to the jaw with that roundhouse kick,
and yet Neville able to kick out. And guys, you have to admit,
we haven't seen Neville in this much trouble
since he showcased his new attitude.
[Graves] You knew that Rich Swann was gonna bring his A-game,
we knew we were gonna see spectacular action,
like you could see every Tuesday on 205 Live of the WWE network.
[Austin] I think what's made Rich Swann such a great champion so far
is he can absorb an incredible amount of punishment
and then still comeback and dish it right back out,
like he's doing right now.
[Mauro] And Neville just dished out the back elbow,
catching Rich Swann on the jaw.
-[Graves] Oh, man. -[Mauro] Oh! Running lariat by Swann.
[Graves] Look at this unbelievable unique offense from Swann,
jumping frog splash and a cover.
[Mauro] And, oh, Neville just able to kick out
as Rich Swann firing in all cylinders.
That was just a tadpole splash, you know, it wasn't from the top rope, Corey.
[Graves] Listen to Rich Swann, you could see it in his face
beginning to feel the frustration.
This was high impact, incredible vertical leap
by the Cruiserweight Champion,
but it wasn't enough to finish off Neville.
[Mauro] Rich Swann overcoming unspeakable tragedy,
losing his parents at a young age.
He has been very vocal about the fact that sports entertainment saved his life,
and what he's overcome has fueled his fire as a competitor…
-[Graves] What's he got here? -…here in the cruiserweight division.
Oh, Neville, just scrambled Swann's legs on the top turnbuckle.
[Austin] Yeah, do whatever it takes.
[Graves] Rich Swann took just a moment too long, obviously exhaustion,
pain coming into play, Swann attempted to mount the top rope, but…
Oh, Neville made him pay.
[Austin] Not where Rich wants to be, we've seen Neville finish guys off
with that superplex.
-This is a bad decision. -[Mauro] A forearm smash, setting him up.
Neville eyeing the center of the ring,
has the WWE Cruiserweight Champion in a precarious position.
[Graves] Precarious position, it looks like a superplex,
which few people can execute as well as Neville.
-[Mauro] But Swann… -[Graves] Oh, my God.
…valiantly fights it up, but look at athleticism of Neville.
Oh, and a back kick right to the breadbasket of Neville.
[Graves] Could have knocked all the wind out of the challenger.
That could have just turned the lights out on the champion.
[Mauro] Swann stepped-- stopped dead in his tracks with that superkick.
-[Graves] Oh, look at the power. -[Mauro] Dead lifting.
Oh, roll up here by Swann, shoulders are down for Neville,
-and he just kicks out. -[Austin] Nice counter.
-Oh, here is it. There it is. -[Mauro] Oh, wow!
-[Graves] That's it. -[Mauro] Major impact,
back press hooks the leg and all the wherewithal,
I don't know how Neville had the ring,
the presence of mind after getting his clock cleaned by that kick.
[Graves] It's in ring experience, Neville might not know what state he's in,
but when it comes the inside the ropes, Neville has never lost.
What a great example of ring awareness,
what a kick right in the side of the temple.
I think Neville might have been out at least momentarily,
but Swann wasn't able to capitalize.
[Austin] You got to wonder if it's almost demoralizing for Rich Swann
to hit that so perfectly,
not walk out of here with the championship yet.
[Mauro] The biggest stage
that these two Cruiserweight Superstars have ever competed on.
Here at the 30th annual Royal Rumble,
Rich Swann, again willing to throw caution to the wind.
[Graves] I don't know if it's just will, Mauro,
it's a necessity at this point with--
Neville on the top rope, here we go.
-Whoa! -[Mauro] Superplex by Neville.
The cover. Do we have a new Cruiserweight Champion? No.
[Graves] Oh, look, Neville wasting absolutely no time
looking for the submission. It's locked in in the center of the ring.
Rich Swann's dream is crashing down,
the Cruiserweight Championship slipping through Swann's fingers.
[Austin] And Rich has nowhere to go, he's right in the middle of the ring.
-[Graves] The cross-- That's it. -[Austin] There it is.
-[Mauro] It's over. -[bell ringing]
[Mauro] The coronation has happened at the Royal Rumble.
[Austin] Neville refusing to relinquish the submission.
[Hamilton] Here is your winner by submission,
and the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
-Neville. -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] In front of over 50,000 members of the WWE Universe,
Neville has taken his seat in the throne of the Cruiserweight division.
[Mauro] And the referee just brought him his crown,
the WWE Cruiserweight title.
[Graves] Let it be known, there is no more self-proclamation.
Neville is the King of the Cruiserweights
and the suplex was the reason why from the top rope,
a superplex second to none, followed by this brutal submission.
Malicious intent and aggression. Long live the king.
-Neville… -[Mauro] The coronation…
[Graves] …is the King of the Cruiserweights.
[Mauro] …via devastation as Neville defeats Rich Swann
to become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion
here at the Royal Rumble.
[Tom] We are live in the Alamo City, San Antonio, Texas.
Tonight, we will fight down to the last man to find out
who will main-event WrestleMania, Remember the Rumble,
and it is time for SmackDown Live's opportunity
here at the Royal Rumble event.
Tom Phillips along with former WWE Champion, JBL,
Mauro Ranallo, and David Otunga. John, you know, what it's all about
to defend the WWE title here at Royal Rumble.
I certainly do. Not a greater landmark in the nation of Texas like Alamo,
there's not a greater title in sports entertainment
than the WWE Championship, that prestigious lineage,
and it will be defended tonight.
It is the epicenter of everything we do in this business.
[Tom] In moments, AJ Styles,
defends his WWE Championship against John Cena,
but for Styles, tonight is another chapter in his journey in WWE
that began at last year's Royal Rumble.
-[thrilling music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Micheal] AJ Styles is here.
[Striker] The 18-year veteran.
[Micheal] The hottest free agent in sports entertainment.
I have been all over the world.
-[Graves] Oh, my God. -[Byron] Here he goes.
[AJ] That's what I do when I step into the ring.
I am "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
-[crowd cheering] -[music concludes]
[thrilling music playing]
I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
I know we've been in two different worlds, but here we are right now.
I just wanted to come out here and say Cena sucks.
[crowd cheering]
You don't belong in this ring with me, John.
Even on your best day, you can't beat me.
[Bradshaw] Phenomenal forearm and he nailed him!
-He just beat John Cena at SummerSlam! -[bell rings]
[AJ] I am the face that runs this place!
[Mauro] Referee missed the low blow! AJ Styles has done it!
The champ that runs the camp. You don't have to be Cena fans anymore.
Face that runs this place. You can be AJ Styles fans.
You hear me world? The champ is here!
[music concludes]
-[uplifting music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[John] A lot of people have been speculating and planning my future.
I heard that I'm damaged goods, I'm washed up.
Hell, I've been called a part-timer.
I'm setting the record straight. I'm not done. I'm not leaving.
You have something that belongs to me, that championship.
And if I can hold that gold just one more time then Whoo!
[AJ] I'll give you credit, John Cena has been great for the WWE.
Has been.
[John] You've been hot for like six months.
I held this place down for well over a decade.
-[AJ] I'm the face that replaced you. -[John] You're not on my level.
-You're not even on the level below me. -[AJ] And when it comes to this ring…
[John] You're just a guy.
[AJ] …you will never be as good as AJ Styles.
[John] On Sunday, we'll find out what everybody already knows.
There's only one John Cena and my time is now.
[AJ] Your time is up. My time is now.
-["Phenomenal" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] It was at the 2016 Royal Rumble
that AJ Styles made a shocking WWE debut
in the Royal Rumble match at number three.
He comes to this 2017 Royal Rumble event as the number one man
in the sports entertainment sphere.
The most prestigious title is around his waist, John,
-the WWE Champion. -[Bradshaw] Mauro, you better believe it,
I got goosebumps. There is nothing like a big fight-feel
and we have got a big fight-feel here
in Alamo City for the most prestigious title
in all of the sports entertainment.
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
[David] You know, the world thought that Dr. J, Julius Erving,
was the best basketball player in the world,
he proved that when he got to the NBA.
The world thought that AJ Styles was the best in the world,
he proved that when he came to the WWE.
His rookie year here, his debut year has been nothing short but phenomenal.
[Tom] And David, he has a huge psychological advantage
over his opponent tonight, John Cena, he is undefeated in singles competition
against the leader of the Cenation.
[David] Yeah, he is, I mean, but I wouldn't go so far
as saying he has a huge psychological advantage.
I mean, sure, he has some confidence, but I think it's pretty hard
to have a mental advantage over John Cena for anybody.
[Bradshaw] But if anybody does though, David,
it's that man right there, AJ Styles. He called the shot.
He said he's gonna come here and beat John Cena.
He said he's gonna be a WWE Champion.
He has done everything he said he was gonna do.
-["The Time Is Now" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Krrr, Amadou! ♪
[crowd cheers]
[scattered crowd chanting] John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks!
Feel it. They're even behind me. But some of them ain't behind me.
I'm gonna take one second and just look around.
-It feels like a big fight. -[crowd cheering]
No matter what, always, always, always. Let's go to work, Stu.
[Mauro] And those are words that John Cena lives by
from nearly a dozen years he has been the WWE franchise player.
And he says tonight will mark the beginning
of the "My Time Is Now" era.
[Bradshaw] Mauro, I wish we just have the words to describe
the feeling of sitting here in front 50,000 plus, all on their feet
getting ready for a big match, a title match for WWE Championship.
[Tom] It feels so big. It feels like the Super Bowl came early.
I mean, we have dynasty from new England
against the new kid on the block from Atlanta.
[David] Hey, hey. There's very few people in sports.
Look at Michael George, you look at Joe Montana
who have the ability to rise to the occasion every single time.
Big Match John, John Cena is one of those guys.
Can he do it again and can he do it tonight
walk out here the WWE champion?
[Mauro] They delivered an instant classic at SummerSlam last year.
What do we have in store for the encore here at the Royal Rumble?
[bell ringing]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
-is for the WWE Championship. -[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 251 pounds…
-John Cena! -[crowd cheering]
[inaudible dialogue]
And his opponent from Gainesville, Georgia…
weighing in at 218 pounds…
who would like to be announced as the face that runs the place.
He is WWE Champion,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Mauro] They are coming off an epic verbal confrontation on SmackDown Live
and here in front of over 50,000 fans at the Alamodome.
I have little doubt, John,
that we are in store for an epic physical confrontation.
[Bradshaw] And look no farther
than the physical wellbeing right now of AJ Styles.
Look what kind of shape he's in coming into this title match.
That tells you right there how important this is.
This must be the best AJ Styles we've ever seen
because this is the biggest match of AJ Styles' career.
[David] But look at the kind of shape John Cena is in. I can tell you this.
When that vein in his right shoulder starts pumping, AJ's in trouble.
John Cena doesn't miss any days from the gym, I can tell you that.
[inaudible]
-[bell ringing] -[Bradshaw] That's what we're in for,
what I believe is gonna be a classic, David.
[Mauro] The bell goes. AJ Styles became WWE Champion
defeating Dean Ambrose
at the SmackDown Live exclusive pay-per-view, backlash.
[Tom] John Cena won his first WWE title against my broadcast partner, JBL
at WrestleMania 2005.
He won his 15th and last WWE Championship in a Ladder Match
at Money in the Bank that was in 2015.
[Bradshaw] I forgot, I knew John Cena at that time was great.
I was at the top of my game. I had defeated all challengers
except for John Cena,
but I don't think anybody could have ever imagine that John Cena
these many years later would have done the things
that he has done and won the championships that he has won.
[David] AJ Styles 2-0 in singles competition.
What do you look for early out of John Cena?
[Mauro] Well, there's your answer. A vicious clothesline.
[Tom] But David, what does John Cena have to do a better job off in this match
if he's to walk out of here WWE Champion?
[David] I mean, he just has to stick to his game plan.
I mean, John Cena's been very successful for over a decade.
[Mauro] None against AJ Styles.
[David] Okay. Some people have beaten John here and there,
but it's very difficult to find somebody who can beat John Cena consistently.
The guy's bulletproof. I mean, like I said,
he never misses a day in the gym. One of the strongest there is.
He's great on the mic getting in his opponent's heads.
I mean, John Cena does it all.
[Bradshaw] But you didn't answer the question.
What does he have to do? What?
[Mauro] He's a lawyer.
[Bradshaw] When you talk about him being bulletproof,
when you talk about in being super Cena,
apparently, AJ Styles has kryptonite somewhere on him
because he has found the way successfully to consistently beat John Cena.
[David] I wouldn't necessarily say consistently
and one of the times, the club helped him out and--
Gallows and Anderson, so I'm gonna put an asterisk by this.
[Tom] I'm gonna ask you the question again.
[David] Tonight he can prove something to you.
[Tom] What does John Cena have to do to win?
[David] Stick to his game plan that's made him a 15-time World Champion.
[Mauro] Forearm smash by AJ Styles and he drops the knee
right across the head of John Cena.
[Tom] Think he's gonna stick to the same game plan he lost at SummerSlam?
[David] I'll tell you this.
John Cena has probably got a couple of tricks up his sleeves,
because one of the things that has made him so successful
is his ability to evolve over the past decade.
[Bradshaw] You are a lawyer.
[Mauro] John, look at the confidence though that AJ Styles is exuding.
It was one year ago, he made his WWE debut here at Royal Rumble
and now, he's at the top of the mountain.
[Bradshaw] Well, AJ Styles has done everything he said he was gonna do.
And once he came here, he said he's gonna beat up John Cena,
he's beat up John Cena. He said he was gonna defeat AJ--
and he said he's gonna defeat Dean Ambrose and John Cena
in a triple threat, he did that.
He said he's gonna be WWE Champion, he's done that.
He's in the shape of his life, in the match of his life,
why wouldn't AJ Styles be exuding confidence?
[Mauro] A near two-decade veteran. A champion everywhere he's been.
And now, he continues to punish John Cena.
-You can't see me. -[Mauro] And taunting.
[Bradshaw] There is nothing like beating a guy in his own game.
[Mauro] But that time, Cena avoided the knee drop,
that towering back body drop by John Cena.
[David] And that's the difference right there, John Cena's power.
Did you see how high he threw AJ up?
[Bradshaw] Well, I certainly did. And I think you're right, David.
I think the power of John Cena-- is the one thing that John Cena has
that he has to utilize.
[Mauro] John Cena quickly going on the attack.
-[Tom] This is the bomb. -[Mauro] Looking for that AA.
Oh, but Styles avoids it, and nails John Cena with an enzuigiri.
[David] How about that for a one two kick?
He go to that hamstring, John Cena puts his hands down,
he goes straight to the opening that's the side of the head.
[Mauro] And we talked about the confidence and yet, maybe a sign of frustration
on the part of AJ Styles knowing again that John Cena,
someone who has been a 15-time WWE Champion,
is not going to go quietly into the good night.
[Bradshaw] I don't think AJ Styles wants John Cena to go quietly in the good night.
I think AJ Styles wants to beat the best.
-He wants to beat John Cena at his best. -[crowd cheering]
[Bradshaw] AJ Styles wants to put on a clinic tonight, a classic.
[Mauro] Two of the most decorated champions
in sports entertainment history
-putting it all on the line here tonight. -[speaks indistinctly] I don't think so.
-[Mauro] Flying shoulder tackle by Cena… -[David] There you go.
-[David] He's up and running. -…and another one on AJ Styles.
[Mauro] Beautiful counter into the hurricanrana by AJ Styles.
Oh, what a crushing corner clothesline.
[Bradshaw] I think AJ Styles had learned a thing or two
in these matches with John Cena, constantly evolving, constantly changing.
[Mauro] A quick cover here by Styles, and Cena powers out after eating
another vicious forearm.
[David] But that's what AJ is gonna have to do,
is keep pulling out these counters.
However, sooner or later, John's gonna get wise to them.
[Bradshaw] Oh, look at this.
-[Mauro] Wow. -[Bradshaw laughs] Cena got wise to that.
[David] Nothing like a fist in the mouth…
-[commentators] Oh! -…wisdom.
[Mauro] And face first, AJ Styles crashes to the canvas.
-[grunts] -[Mauro] Oh!
And Cena drives the WWE Champion back first into the canvas.
[David] And that's a little bit confidence right there on John Cena's face.
[crowd cheering]
[speaks indistinctly]
[grunts]
[Mauro] Styles on his feet, kicks John Cena.
Oh, beautiful German suplex by AJ Styles.
-Oh! -[David] Oh! Planted.
[Mauro] Facebuster, hooked, and gets a two-count with the cover.
Wheelbarrow facebuster by AJ Styles, and yet John Cena able to kick out.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The wheels in motion.
And AJ Styles-- there's The Phenomenal blitz.
Oh, and an equally phenomenal running lariat.
[Tom laughs] It's more of a right hook.
[David] It just turned AJ Styles inside out.
[Mauro] And he-- and John Cena just turned the tables in this WWE championship match.
-[David] Look at this. Man. -[Bradshaw] That is a thing of beauty.
You can't see me.
[Bradshaw] You may not get to see it, but here comes the five knuckle shuffle.
[Mauro] And you know that John Cena seized
a 16th WWE championship reign in his future,
but he has to vanquish one of the best in AJ Styles.
-[AJ Styles screams] -Get off the hair.
[Mauro] And Cena uncorks a right hand, and another one to Styles.
[Bradshaw] Oh, wow. That's a straight right hand.
Those big ham hocks of John Cena.
There's a lot of force behind those clubbing blows.
[Mauro] And look, John Cena willing to pull out all the stops.
He's gonna go all the way to the top turnbuckle.
[David] Oh, man.
[Mauro] Oh! And slipping out quickly is AJ Styles turning the tables
or trying to own-- Argentine backbreaker rack.
-[crowd cheering] -[AJ Styles grunts]
[David] Oh!
[Mauro] And the jackknife cover by AJ Styles. Cena kicks out.
From the Argentine backbreaker rack into the spin up powerbomb.
[Bradshaw] AJ Styles got a great cover here. Look at this.
As soon as he hits his move, he gets his cover,
and he gets his hips up above his shoulders,
which makes Cena exert a lot of effort to get out of that.
[Mauro] Pain written all over the face of John Cena.
Consternation on the face of AJ Styles,
wondering what's it going to take to put away John Cena
for the third time in singles competition and retain the WWE title.
[Bradshaw] Hey, there's more and it took Roger Federer five sets,
greatness doesn't mind taking a while.
[Mauro] Oh, and Styles was looking for The Phenomenal forearm,
-and Cena avoided it, and AA by John Cena! -[David] He made it. He made it.
[Mauro] Do we have a new WWE champion? No.
What a reversal by John Cena able to deliver the AA,
but unable to put away AJ Styles.
[Bradshaw] AJ going for that phenomenal forearm.
John counters with a big finish, the AA,
and AJ Styles finds a way to stay in this championship match.
[Mauro] And Styles hanging on to the right foot of John Cena,
who kicks him away disdainfully.
[Tom] When you're in a championship match,
you grab your opponent's feet, you grab whatever you have to.
You claw, you scratch, you do whatever you have to do,
but you walk out of here
in front of 50,000 people as the WWE champion.
[David] And look at Cena's physique. I got to say something about this.
-Did you imagine being AJ Styles… -[Mauro] He's powering up.
…getting up and turning around to see that?
[Bradshaw] Oh, we have seen John Cena AA The Big Show.
We have seen him do some superhuman feats of strength.
[Mauro] There used to be a level of mutual professional respect,
but the enmity between these two is on an all-time high, and Cena…
-[Bradshaw] That is turn upside down. -…looked to decapitate AJ Styles
and came within a one-count of becoming 16-time WWE Champion.
[Bradshaw] Look at the malice this clothesline is thrown with.
[Mauro] Both of these superstars have had their moments
in this highly-anticipated WWE championship match.
And John Cena has delivered many memorable WWE championship matches
-at the Royal Rumble. -[David] Yes, he has.
And he's gonna deliver another one tonight.
I promise you, I could feel it. Look at him, look at him.
[Bradshaw] Look, I don't know if anybody--
maybe Bruno Sammartino has been as many big matches as John Cena has.
This is nothing new.
[Mauro] Well, it's nothing new for AJ Styles,
who has conquered the globe before coming to WWE
and asserting himself as the top dog in sports entertainment.
Cena measures him up. Styles ducking underneath.
-Pele kick catches Cena on the deltoid. -[crowd cheering]
[Bradshaw] Yeah, fortunately for John Cena,
he avoided it and caught most of that kick on his shoulder.
-Yeah! -[Mauro] Oh!
And Styles lands feet first on the apron.
Forearm to John Cena, rattles the former champion.
[David] Going for The Phenomenal forearm. He hit it. He hit it.
-[Mauro] He decks Cena. -[David] He has Cena's number.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And that number, though this time, John, only two.
-[grunts] -[Bradshaw] It's his first Pele kick here.
He-- fortunately, for John Cena, he was able to get that left shoulder up
and block part of it.
-But Cena didn't-- -[David] He wasn't able to block this.
[Bradshaw] You're right, David.
-This was landed… perfectly. -[Tom] Look at the height he achieves.
[Bradshaw] Championships won all over the world
and John Cena kicks out strong at two.
[Tom] AJ Styles racking up the frequent flyer miles,
but also John Cena and AJ Styles have traveled thousands of miles
-to earn their reputations, John. -[Bradshaw] but that's part of it.
Look, if Cena doesn't wait until two and half,
he kicks out strong at two, he wants to send a message to AJ Styles.
And you look at the frustration on AJ Styles' face--
that message was received.
[Mauro] Two of the very best to ever lace off the boots
going mano a mano here at the Royal Rumble for the WWE championship.
And AJ Styles currently in control.
-[coughs] -[AJ] Come on, Cena.
Come on.
[Bradshaw] Cena was able to kick out that phenomenal forearm,
but he-- John Cena is hurting.
[Mauro] Yeah, he's having trouble catching his breath
-and that's not gonna help matters, David. [David] No, it's not.
You know when it's from the kicking out
and AJ constantly targeting his chest and ribs.
You see Cena is having a difficult time breathing.
[Bradshaw] The wheels turning and AJ Styles had.
[Mauro] AJ Styles measuring up John Cena.
And Cena ducks in, now into the electric chair.
-[David] Ooh! -[Mauro] Ow.
Facebuster by John Cena, buying himself precious time to recover.
[Bradshaw] Yeah, but John Cena can't capitalize.
[Mauro] But it won't give him an opportunity, John.
Maybe not to capitalize, but an opportunity to catch his breath.
-[groans] -[coughs]
[Bradshaw] What John Cena needs right now is not just distance
and ability to recuperate. He does need that.
Yes, Mauro, but he gotta find a way to get back on offense.
[Mauro] It has become a war of attrition here.
[Bradshaw laughs] This is exactly what you expect
out of two great champions.
[Mauro] Oh, and AJ Styles unloads a right hand,
-quickly countered by John Cena. -[crowd cheering]
[Bradshaw] Wow. Wow.
-Oh, a right uppercut by… -[Mauro] And Cena catches Styles.
[Bradshaw] AJ Styles has blocked every Cena punch on his face.
-[groans] -Oh, going on that hamstring.
That's a smart move by AJ Styles.
[Bradshaw] He's been doing that since the beginning of the match.
[Mauro] Fireman's carry by Cena. Looking for the AA again.
No, it's Styles countering into the calf crusher.
-[crowd applauding] -[groans]
[Mauro] Can Cena survive the calf crusher? A debilitating submission, John.
[Bradshaw] Can you imagine John Cena having to tap out right here
in front of 50,000 people here in the Alamo City?
[Mauro] It would be-- in any minute--
He's gonna tap out, but that's the old John Cena's…
[Tom] Cena's trying to power out.
-[Mauro] And Cena looking for the STF. -[crowd cheering]
[David] How about that for reversal?
Now, what if AJ Styles is forced to tap out?
[Mauro] Unbelievable sequence
from one devastating submission to another.
[Bradshaw] That counter right there, it might have got John Cena
the WWE championship again.
[Mauro] And the veteran, John Cena, aware that Styles was close to the bottom rope.
[Bradshaw] He-- AJ Styles might as well be ten miles from that bottom rope.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] AJ Styles feeling the pressure, but look at the reversal jackknife cover.
Cena-- shoulders are down for two.
-[crowd cheering] -[Mauro] Oh, wow.
[David] Oh, creating submissions back and forth.
[Mauro] But look at this. AJ Styles wants to beat John Cena with his own submission.
[Bradshaw] That is audacious. And I love it.
Beat a man at his own game, rub it in his face.
Cena clenching his left fist. Is he going to tap?
-And talk about submitting a legacy. -[screams]
[David] A career-defining moment for AJ Styles.
[Mauro] Both of them already possess legendary legacies, but you're right.
[David] Look at this.
[Mauro] They would [indistinct] with a win here tonight.
-Look at the power of Cena, David. -[David] Yeah, that's just pure power.
That's how real power…
[Bradshaw] That's just God-given strength, right there.
[Mauro] Oh, back into the electric chair. Oh, reversal by Styles.
[Bradshaw] Styles going for the hurricanrana, couldn't…
-[Mauro] Wow. -[David] Figure-four.
[Mauro] John Cena with the figure-four leg lock.
[Bradshaw] Can you imagine?
[Mauro] Remember, Ric Flair won the 1992 Royal Rumble
to become WWE Champion.
And here, John Cena, looking to use the figure-four
to become a 16-time WWE title holder.
[David] It's the figure-four which Ric Flair made famous.
[Bradshaw] The symbolism of this is incredible.
[Mauro] Oh, and AJ Styles writhing in pain.
[Bradshaw] Those huge and powerful legs of John Cena.
And AJ Styles all wrapped up.
[Mauro] But what about the resiliency of Styles?
Looking for that cross armbreaker.
AJ Styles look-- a smorgasbord of submission attempts,
an amazing display here between AJ Styles and John Cena.
[Bradshaw] This is exactly what you expect when you got the best in the world.
Oh, but here's the difference right here. Look at the strength.
[Mauro] Unbelievable show of strength by John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] To deadlift someone like he just did, David,
you're a bodybuilder, you know all about weightlifting.
John Cena, one of the most powerful men in sports entertainment history.
[David] Well, it was more of a [indistinct].
It wasn't really quite a deadlift, there.
But after going through everything he's gone through in this match,
I mean, it's unbelievable, it shows his amazing core strength.
And John Cena does do a lot of deadlifts and heavy squatting.
[Bradshaw] Look at this. [groans]
-[Mauro] Yeah, that was a… -[Bradshaw] Wow.
That was a deadlift, my man, with the short-arm scissors. Almost putting…
[Bradshaw] I don't give a damn what you call it.
That is super-freaking-human. [chuckles] That is just amazing.
-[David] Almost-- -[Bradshaw] You don't teach that.
You don't coach that.
That's just something when you're that strong
and you're just a freak of nature, you can do it.
[Mauro] And what does a WWE title mean to John Cena?
He is ascending the turnbuckles. Putting his own welfare at risk.
[David] Time to go for the home run.
-[Bradshaw] Sty-- Cena go to-- hey. -[Mauro] Oh, no.
The counter powerbomb by AJ Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Styles looking for his time to Styles Clash…
-[Bradshaw] He's got it. He's got it. -[Mauro] He nailed it.
[Bradshaw] AJ Styles has got John Cena.
-[crowd cheering] One, two-- -[commentators] Oh!
-[Mauro] Wow. -[David] And still in it.
[Mauro] One count away from AJ Styles retaining the WWE championship
where his WWE career began at Royal Rumble.
[Bradshaw] Every eye in this place right now is on this match.
There's not a solid move but I love-- This is awesome.
[Mauro] Fifty-two thousand twenty fans soaking it all in.
[Bradshaw] Great counter by AJ.
AJ turns around, gets John, hits him with the Styles Clash.
[Bradshaw] And perfectly too.
How John kicks out of this is amazing.
[Mauro] Regardless of the outcome, these two superstars forever linked
in the annals of sports entertainment history, then.
[Bradshaw] Cena with that knees up.
[Mauro] Yes, Styles was looking for the springboard 450.
-Well-scouted by Cena. -[groans]
-[Mauro] Oh! Code red and Cena… -[Bradshaw laughs] Oh, man.
…almost put away AJ Styles
with a bit of an element of surprise there, John.
[Bradshaw laughs] Yeah, I know.
You can't get much closer as-- until-- unless you beat somebody.
Look at this. Cena gets his knees up. AJ Styles is hurt.
And John Cena pulling some tricks out of the bag.
Look how close this is.
[David] And this is what I was talking about.
[Bradshaw laughs] And that hand was just inches
from the mat by the referee.
[Mauro] What is left in their respective arsenals
is the question.
[Bradshaw laughs] I don't know what's left, but I can't…
-[David] I never knew that was in Cena. -[Bradshaw] I can't wait to see it.
-This is an epic title match. -[Mauro] Oh, ushigoroshi by AJ Styles.
-[crowd cheering] -[Mauro] This has to be it. No!
-[Bradshaw] Oh, wow. -[crowd cheering]
[Bradshaw] And Style has hurt his leg or it still hurt from that figure-four
that John had put on him earlier.
[Mauro] Wow. AJ Styles has put away a litany of opponents with this,
-the ushigoroshi, but not John Cena. -[Bradshaw] Look at this. Look at this.
True to what John Cena preaches and believes and never give up.
We have seen this for over a decade from this incredible athlete, John Cena.
From The Rock, and Edge, Undertaker, you name it.
Cena's been out there with the greatest and found a way to win.
[Mauro] Cena catapults AJ Styles face-first into the top turnbuckle.
-Ow! -[David] Oh!
-The counter by Cena. -[crowd cheering]
And Styles kicks out.
Now, have you ever seen John Cena pull that out of his bag of tricks?!
[Bradshaw] I've seen a variation of it from John, yes.
But, I mean, not exactly how he went into it there.
But-- what John's right now is doing is he's pulling everything out that he has.
[Mauro] So, what do you think it-- Wow.
What's it going to come down to, John?
What-- who was-- what does Styles or Cena have to do
to secure the WWE Championship tonight?
Because so far, they're throwing everything,
I think, including the kitchen sink at each other.
[David] Mauro, I'd love to say something smart right now,
but I don't know. I'm just a fan and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.
This is a championship match.
This is what you expect out of Royal Rumble.
This is what you expect out of Road to WrestleMania.
This is what you expect out of WWE.
You don't find it anywhere else in the world
and this is what you expect out of two great champions.
[Mauro] In their single's trilogy
more than living up to the hype, John Cena.
-Oh, mamma mia. -[David] Super AA.
-[crowd cheering] -[David] He-- oh, man.
[Mauro] And kicks out of the A+ AA, unbelievable.
[Bradshaw laughs] Oh, man.
[Mauro] And the look on John Cena's face says it all, disbelief.
[David] Bewilderment. How did AJ Styles kick out of that?
[Mauro] An avalanche AA, Cena thought he had buried AJ Styles
to claim the WWE title, but nope.
[Bradshaw] Look, look at this, the super AA, John Cena had no doubt,
I mean, absolutely no doubt. He had just won the WWE championship.
[Mauro] Oh, and Cena again lifts AJ Styles,
-Styles counters… -[crowd cheering]
…Styles Clash again.
[Bradshaw] But AJ is in no way to capitalize.
[David] There have been so many incredible trilogies.
[Bradshaw] Look it's a tremendous counter,
AJ Styles hits that on somebody else, AJ Styles hits that at different time,
he wins the match right there.
[Mauro] Combat sports has served up but none as great as this.
-Cena gets Styles again, AA one more time! -[crowd cheering]
-[David] Oh, my. What… -[Mauro] Wow. Wow.
The message sent loud and clear by John Cena.
-[crowd cheering] -[Mauro] History at the Royal Rumble.
[Hamilton] Here is your winner and the new WWE champion,
-John Cena. -["The Time Is Now" playing]
[Mauro] We mentioned The Nature Boy Ric Flair, John,
and John Cena has just equaled one of the most storied marks
in sports entertainment history.
[Bradshaw] And we have witnessed absolute greatness by both performers.
That was a championship match. Somebody call the San Antonio PD
'cause these boys just stole the damn show.
-[Mauro] Amen. -[Bradshaw] Wow.
[David] Unbelievable performance.
[Bradshaw] That is what a championship, that is what the WWE title means
the same title that Sammartino, that Hogan, that Austin, that The Rock,
that Triple H have, that's how you fight over the most prestigious title
in sports entertainment
and that right there is the WWE Champion, John Cena.
Big Match John, you've done it again.
[Mauro] And here at the Royal Rumble 2017,
it's the "My Time Is Now" era for John Cena.
[Bradshaw] That's right, and it's another reason
why 50,000 strong turn out tonight, look at this,
AJ Styles going for The Phenomenal forearm,
John Cena hits the AA, John Cena rolls through,
picks him up from a dead position and hits him with another AA
and John Cena becomes the WWE Champion again.
[Mauro] Sweet sixteen for John Cena.
[Bradshaw] When you talk about the greats in sports,
when you talk about the icons in any sport,
in any entertainment genre,
you better put that man right there at the top
'cause John Cena just won a classic, again.
We're on the Road to WrestleMania, boys. What a start.
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
[David] Wow. That was good.
♪ Your time is up, my time is now You can't see me, my time is now ♪
[Mauro] Not to take anything away from AJ Styles, to [indistinct]
a WWE career the best of times and the worst of times,
but hats off to both John Cena and AJ Styles tonight.
[Bradshaw] Be proud, John Cena, be proud.
I have been in this business for 25 years, and I have been on this earth for 50,
and I'm in the sports entertainment playing my whole life
that was one of the greatest things I had ever seen.
[David] I have to agree. And I know John Cena is proud.
He just established himself in this elite level
and one of the greatest champions there was.
[Mauro] And he's celebrating with the-- a man who was--
who's granted over 500 Make-A-Wish wishes
and then celebrating with a young member of the WWE Universe.
[Bradshaw] More than anybody in this-- anybody else for Make-A-Wish, John Cena,
one of the greatest moments of his career takes some time
-to make a young fan's day. -Now!
[Mauro] And John, he's been doing it longer
than any other sports entertainer.
Twelve years.
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
[Bradshaw] That's a class act.
And you couldn't have a better representation of the WWE,
or sports entertainment or anything than John Cena.
-Well done, champ. -[crowd cheering]
[Bradshaw] And congratulations to AJ Styles,
a phenomenal debut year AJ Styles had enough for--
it takes two to dance. That was a classic.
[David] Congratulations, John Cena, well done.
♪ The same reason ya'll can love me is The same reason ya'll condemn me ♪
♪ A man is measured By the way that he thinks ♪
♪ Not clothing lines, ice links Leather and minks ♪
♪ I spent 20 plus years Seeking knowledge of self ♪
♪ So, for now Marc records… ♪
-[Bradshaw] Get on your feet. -[Mauro] Yeah.
[Bradshaw] A picture no one will ever see another one like this one.
[Mauro] A picture the WWE Universe has seen on 16 different occasions.
-WWE Champion, John Cena. -[Bradshaw] Congratulations.
[music concludes]
-[dramatic music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael echoes] It will be a night forever etched in history.
Welcome to WrestleMania.
["How High" playing]
♪ Whoa! Whoa! ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ Say, it go like this ♪
♪ Tiring old siff 'Cause the music is bitch ♪
♪ And the punks can't play it I'ma tell the crowd just do as I say ♪
♪ Where will pass the mike to the right ♪
♪ I'ma give the crowd What they paid for tonight ♪
♪ Hey, be out on play ♪
♪ Told you All the loud spunk be out all day ♪
♪ So hot, but the bar so cold Excuse me, baby, it's time for the show ♪
♪ When I tell you to jump You say how high ♪
♪ When I tell you to move You say which side ♪
♪ I'm just saying the truth This ain't no lie ♪
♪ Came to give it to you So, what you like? ♪
♪ When I tell you to jump You say how high ♪
♪ Now I need you to jump Put 'em up, put 'em up ♪
♪ Put 'em up, put 'em up ♪
[Michael] This is the greatest night in live entertainment, WrestleMania.
♪ So, what? I'm about to go nuts ♪
♪ Hit the noise button and dial on my dots Just keep your hands up ♪
♪ Just keep your hands up Put 'em up… Whoa! ♪
♪ Whoa… ♪
♪ Put 'em up, put 'em up Put 'em up, put 'em up ♪
♪ When I tell you to jump You say how high ♪
[music concludes]
♪ We gonna blow your mind ♪
And ladies and gentlemen, congratulations once again to John Cena,
now a 16-time WWE Champion but no rest for the weary.
The next time we are on pay-per-view,
it's a SmackDown exclusive pay-per-view event two weeks from tonight,
Elimination Chamber, Phoenix, Arizona, on the WWE Network.
John Cena's gonna defend his championship inside Elimination Chamber.
You said it, "No rest for the weary."
John Cena better enjoy this 16th reign 'cause it may not last very long.
Well, coming up in a matter of minutes, it is the Royal Rumble match.
One man who will not be in the Royal Rumble match is Seth Rollins.
That is because last Monday on Raw, he lost a match to Sami Zayn
when he was distracted by music, Triple H's music.
This all began back at the end of August when Triple H cost Seth Rollins
an opportunity at the WWE Universal Championship
with a pedigree. Seth Rollins has demanded
that he finally get his hands on Triple H last night at NXT takeover.
You were there. You were in the middle and on camera when this happened.
When you have two bulldozers who will block for you
-and knock down anything in their path-- -Show's still takeover, right?
[crowd cheering]
The funny thing is this is where it all started
and I know… I know you are back there.
So, I am calling your ass out right now, Triple H.
-Come on, let's do this thing. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Seth Rollins would indeed go face-to-face with "The Game," Triple H.
But Corey, Triple H did not come alone.
[Graves] Triple H, of course, sending all sorts of security
to get Rollins out of the ring.
Rollins, to be fair, had no business inside of the NXT ring last night.
[Michael] Yeah, but Seth Rollins wanted to take the fight to Triple H.
Triple H would walk away and then chaos would ensue.
Seth Rollins taking out everybody in his path
and then later on after takeover,
Triple H had this to say on WWE Facebook live.
Seth Rollins will find out there's a big difference
between the creator that's here tonight and the destroyer.
He wants to come here and challenge the creator, great.
The destroyer is not far behind.
Sometimes in life, you got to be careful what you wish for.
I told you, you were the man one time… we'll see who's the man.
-["The Great Gates Of Kiev" playing] -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE hall of Famer,
Jerry "the King" Lawler.
[Michael] And ladies and gentlemen, joining us on commentary
for the Royal Rumble match tonight, none other than the hall of famer,
"The King" Jerry Lawler. Corey, I know you're excited.
You never called a match with Jerry "the King" Lawler.
This is a true honor and a pleasure.
Jerry Lawler, one of the all-time greats, one of my favorites.
No offense to you, Cole, but I've been looking forward
-to this for weeks. -It's the 30th annual Royal Rumble.
Now, for the top 15 moments in Royal Rumble match history.
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music playing]
[narrator] In the Royal Rumble, it really is all about the numbers.
In particular, what number you draw.
Only 16 of the 30 possible numbers have actually won the match.
Who stole my number?
[narrator] Seven men have won the Rumble from spots one through ten.
[Ross] Oh, my God. Orton did it.
[narrator] While only four winners have emerged from spots 11 through 20.
We've had 19 winners from spots 21 through 30,
so drawing a late number clearly puts you in a better position
to walk away victorious.
Now, you may think number 30 would be home to the most winners.
It's actually number 27.
[commentator] Big John Studd, Yokozuna, Bret Hart and Stone Cold
have all won from this position.
[narrator] And while drawing numbers one and two may not be ideal,
those numbers have produced four Royal Rumble winners.
Twice in Rumble history, the first two entrants have lasted
to become the final two competitors in the Rumble in 1995
when Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog pulled it off.
And again in 1999 when "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and Mr. McMahon himself went the distance.
However, if you're a former Rumble winner,
pray you don't pick the numbers you already won from.
Only one superstar has ever won from the same number twice.
Batista, from number 28.
The Royal Rumble is also a place where records are made and broken.
Kane holds two prestigious Royal Rumble records,
most Rumbles entered at 17.
[commentator] The greatest performer in Royal Rumble match history.
[narrator] And most career Royal Rumble eliminations at 43.
And for 13 years, Kane also held the record for most eliminations
in a single Rumble with 11.
But that record fell in 2014
when Roman Reigns tossed out 12 superstars.
The WWE championship has been on the line twice
in the history of the Royal Rumble.
First in 1992, when with a tear in his eye, Ric Flair became champion.
And then again last year,
when "The King of Kings" Triple H took home the crown.
[Michael] Triple H is the 14-time WWE Champion!
[narrator] Three men have twice come this close to winning the Royal Rumble
only to end up the runner-up. John Cena, Triple H and The Big Show.
John Cena and Triple H can at least take solace
in being two of five superstars who have managed to pull off
the amazing feat of winning the Royal Rumble twice in their career.
The others, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Batista.
But only one man has managed to pull it off three times,
WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Stone Cold] And that's the bottom line 'cause Stone Cold said so.
[crowd chanting] Austin! Austin! Austin…
[narrator] And that brings us to this year,
the 30th annual Royal Rumble match.
["Blow Your Mind" playing]
[narrator] A chance to main-event WrestleMania.
♪ You better not be the one to doubt us ♪
[narrator] Thirty years, 30 facts, one winner.
♪ 'Cuz we been putting in them hours ♪
[narrator] The road to WrestleMania begins here for one superstar.
This is their night to make history.
The Royal Rumble is a night to remember forever.
[commentator] At the Royal Rumble match, it's every man for himself.
[Undertaker] I dug 29 holes for 29 souls.
[Heyman] Eat, sleep, elimination, repeat.
[Michael] This is about WrestleMania.
[Jerry] What an atmosphere this is tonight.
Stars are gonna be made, legends created at the Royal Rumble match.
Everyone is next.
♪ We gon' blow your mind ♪
-[upbeat music playing] -[bell ringing]
[JoJo] The following contest is the Royal Rumble match.
In a moment, the two superstars who drew number one
and number two will start in the ring.
Every two minutes, another superstar will join the match.
This will continue until all 30 superstars have joined in.
Eliminations occur when a superstar's thrown
over the top rope with both feet hitting the floor.
This will continue until the last man in this match
is declared the Royal Rumble winner
and will go on to main-event WrestleMania!
[crowd cheering]
[JoJo] And so, it is now time to find out who drew number one.
-["SAWFT Is a Sin" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I know you're happy, Corey.
[Graves] Any time I hear this annoying music,
my mood goes right in the toilet.
[Michael laughs]
[JoJo] Making his way to the ring, Big Cass.
[Michael] So, it's Big Cass at number one,
a rookie to the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] What about Enzo? Is he just along for the ride or what?
My name is Enzo Amore and I am a certified G
and a bona fide stud and you can't teach that.
And this right here, this is Big Cass, and he's…
[crowd] Seven foot tall and you can't teach that.
And he is the number one entry in the Royal Rumble match
-and you can't teach that. -[crowd] Can't teach that.
Bada boom, realest guys in the room.
-How you doing? -[Jerry laughs]
[Graves] If it were up to me, Enzo would be searching
for Pee-wee Herman's bike in the basement of the Alamo right now.
-[Jerry laughs] -[crowd cheering]
And there ain't no two stars shining brighter tonight
that your boys Enzo and Big Cass.
-San Antonio, how you doing? -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] King, I've had root canals I've enjoyed more than this.
-[Jerry laughs] -Cass… I got a question for you.
-What's that, Zo? -Pretty much common knowledge, I think.
-What is it that they say about Texas? -Hmm, I think it goes something like this.
-Everything is bigger in Texas. -[crowd cheering]
You're darn skippy, Cass,
'cause tonight is the biggest Royal Rumble match
of all time and it has some of the biggest names
in the history of the Royal Rumble…
What kind of names we talking here, Zo?
-Brock Lesnar. -[crowd cheering]
-Braun Strowman. -[crowd cheering]
-The Big Show. -[crowd cheering]
-Goldberg. -[crowd cheering]
-The Wyatt Family. -[crowd cheering]
-The Undertaker. -[crowd cheering]
But I'll tell you what, none of that matters
'cause Big Cass is entering this ring number one
like it's 1995 and he is HBK in his prime.
[crowd cheering]
It doesn't matter if you're number two or number 30
'cause the fact of the matter is this.
When the dust settles, I will be the last man standing
-in that ring right there. -[crowd cheering]
Because I am winning the Royal Rumble match
and I am going on to main-event WrestleMania.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Sounds pretty confident.
-Will that be your worst nightmare, Corey? -[Graves] Yes.
And as for the 29 other men in this match,
I will prove that there's only one word to describe you
and I'm gonna spell it out for you.
-S-A-W-F-T. -[crowd] S-A-W-F-T. [cheering]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, only two men in history have won
the Royal Rumble match from the number one position.
One of those Enzo alluded to, Shawn Michaels back in 1995.
[Graves] The first of back to back Rumble wins for Michaels.
Only two men in history can lower your IQ with every syllable they speak
and it's Enzo and Big Cass, you can't teach that either.
-["Break the Walls Down" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And entering at number two…
the United States Champion
who was locked in a shark cage earlier tonight.
[JoJo] Making his way to the ring at number two,
the United States champion, Chris Jericho.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Jericho entering
his tenth royal Rumble match of his career tonight,
16 eliminations in his career in the top ten and, well,
joining us my good friend, glad to have him back on commentary,
the Hall of Famer Jerry "the King" Lawler.
-It is such a pleasure to be back here. -Welcome back, King.
You've got to have a little royalty at the Royal Rumble, don't you?
Well, we're gonna have Corey tell you all about the rules
of how this Royal Rumble match will operate here tonight.
[Graves] We're gonna have another superstar enter every 20--
sorry, every two minutes in between and superstars are gonna be eliminated
by going over the top rope with both feet touching the floor
to be eliminated.
The winner of course will go on to main-event WrestleMania.
[Michael] King, here's an interesting statistic.
Over the years, 356 different characters, including you and me,
have entered the Royal Rumble match.
Only 23 superstars in history have actually won this event,
-that's how difficult it is. -[Jerry] Wow, you're not kidding.
And I'll tell you.
Talking a little bit more about that 1995 Royal Rumble,
I would've won that except Shawn Michaels dragged me out
from under the ring where I was hiding.
I hid under there for a while. I had it… I had it made in the shade.
[Michael] So, Jericho and Cass will start this matchup.
For Chris Jericho,
it is an opportunity to better his time from last year.
Last year, he lasted 50 minutes in the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] You don't wanna be referred to as the sexy pinata anymore?
[Michael] No, not anymore 'cause he's out of a cage.
[Graves] So, here we go, Cass and Jericho sizing each other up.
Chris Jericho two other times in his career entered at number two.
-Ooh. 2003 and 2013. -Oh!
[Graves] And look at Cass backing Jericho into the corner.
Big right hands to the midsection and the seven-footer goes to work.
[Jerry] Well, Chris Jericho's-- I mean, he's a veteran for sure.
He's got a lot of experience. But sometimes, I question his strategy.
Why would you slap a guy like-- Oh--
Big Cass right in the mouth to start the match?
[Michael] There's fallaway slam from Cass.
You know, Corey, only two… the two tallest winners
in Royal Rumble match history, Big John Studd and The Undertaker.
Big Cass at seven-foot will join that elite group.
[Graves] I think surprisingly throughout history,
the larger the superstar, the worse your luck.
You almost find yourself as a target.
In this year's Royal Rumble match, there are so many monsters,
so many giants, you're not gonna have that same situation.
[Michael] And Chris Jericho looking perhaps to put Big Cass
into the walls of Jericho but not quite sure
what the… [laughs] …strategy would be here.
[Jerry] Maybe Chris is still suffering from a little vertigo
from that shark cage.
[Graves] He was really high up there, King.
[Jerry] I know. Oh! Right in the mouth.
[grunts]
[Michael] Jericho sent over the top rope, lands on the apron.
Remember, both feet must hit the floor. Jericho, high risk here,
you don't often wanna go up to the top rope,
it puts you in a position-- Cass with a big boot.
-Here comes entry number three. -[Graves] And there goes Jericho.
-[buzzer blares] [Music] -["Lucha, Lucha" playing]
[Michael] And making his first Rumble match appearance ever,
from SmackDown Live, it's Kalisto.
Remember, it was from the number three spot in 1992
that Ric Flair won the Royal Rumble match, went on to win the WWE title that night.
[Graves] Listen. I understand Kalisto is excited to take part
in the Royal Rumble match but I don't know if it's the best maneuver to…
-[Jerry] Whoa, look out. -…spend so much energy coming down
the aisle full speed ahead like that.
-You need to conserve your energy. -[Micheal] Plenty of energy left is…
-[Jerry] Whoa! -…Kalisto--
Oh, and caught Jericho with a kick.
[Jerry] That is a long trip down that aisle, you guys…
-[commentators] Oh! -…65 yards down there.
[Graves] Also curious to see if Kalisto will be able to execute his high--
Oh, my goodness.
[Michael] Uh-oh, in trouble on the apron, Kalisto caught Cass with a kick.
[Graves] His high-risk offense as the ring fills up with superstars
but Kalisto's doing very well thus far.
[Michael] Yeah, but Big Cass has caught him,
-looking to perhaps eliminate Kalisto. -[groans]
[Jerry] Kalisto is elusive.
-[Michael] Very quick. -[Jerry] Look at… Look at that.
-Oh! Uh-oh, that's embarrassing. -[grunts]
[Micheal] Hamstrings, midsection, knees, the kicks from Kalisto
and one boot by Cass floors the high-flying Kalisto.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] And now, Jericho back to work on Big Cass.
[Michael] Chris Jericho closing in on history,
I'll tell you about that in a moment as we now wait for entry number four.
-[Jerry] Who's it gonna be? -[buzzer blares]
-[crowd cheering] -["Stay Hype, Bro" playing]
[Jerry] From SmackDown Live, Mojo Rawley.
[Graves] King, I have a feeling you like this kind of guy.
[Jerry] He's excitable.
[Michael] Mojo qualified in the SmackDown over the top rope challenge
this past Tuesday night.
And here's Mojo Rawley heading to the ring.
[Graves] SmackDown Live's resident blithering idiot.
[Jerry] Blithering idiot? That's an insult to idiots.
[Graves] Mojo-- Oh, what a shoulder tackle.
[Michael] Rawley, a high octane offensive style,
all energy, flooring Jericho there.
And now, Big Cass backing Rawley into the corner
and now exchanging right hands and look at Rawley fight out.
[Graves] They're getting scrappy in the corner.
[Michael] Mojo Rawley played football at University of Maryland
for the Green Bay Packers.
He joins other notable football stars to win the Rumble match
like Lex Luger and Roman Reigns.
[Jerry] Corey, I think his helmet was a little too small, though… [laughs]
He's almost over and out of here.
[Michael] Yeah, Big Cass looking to eliminate Mojo and now Chris Jericho…
[Jerry] There you go, that's how you take advantage.
[Michael] Working with Rawley to try and eliminate the big guy.
[Graves] This is what I was talking about.
The bigger you are, the bigger the target on your back in the Royal Rumble match.
[grunts]
[Michael] And now Jericho hammering away on Big Cass and, guys,
Chris Jericho just made history.
Chris Jericho now has-- he's been in the Royal Rumble match
combined longest time in history at over four hours now in his career.
[Jerry] More than any other superstar ever?
[Michael] More than any other superstar in history,
Chris Jericho just made history.
-["Les Toréadors" playing] -[Corey laughs]
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Entering number five, from 205 live,
the cruiserweight show on the WWE network, "The Gentleman" Jack Gallagher.
The Royal Rumble match is getting injected with a dose of class,
Jack Gallagher with William III, the umbrella.
[Michael] And perhaps number five's a lucky number for Jack Gallagher, guys,
because it was from this spot in 1997,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin won right here in the Alamodome.
The first of his back to back Rumble wins.
[Graves] King, I don't know if you've had an opportunity to see
a lot of Jack Gallagher but he is spectacular, so different.
And let me clarify, William III, the umbrella, is not an official entrant
into the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] The first time I saw Jack Gallagher,
he was wearing all black and I thought he was a closed umbrella.
-[wrestlers grunt] -[Graves] Oh!
-Drink it in, man. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Look at Jericho, so proud of himself.
Uh-oh, watch your back.
-Watch your back. -[Graves] He better look out from behind
because Jack Gallagher with umbrella in hand.
-[Michael] Oh! -[Jerry] Oh, singing in the rain.
-[Michael] Oh, no. -[Jerry laughs]
[Graves] Talk about embarrassing and Gallagher with a dropkick.
It has not been a great night for Jericho to remember, has it?
-[Jerry] Not yet. -[Corey laughs]
It's a night William III will never forget, I can assure you that.
[Michael] And now, Cass and Kalisto in the corner.
Kalisto up in the top rope now, does not wanna be up there,
-easier for Cass to dump him over. -[Graves] Holy cow.
[Michael] And he sends Kalisto back to the center of the ring.
[Graves] Kalisto had just finally recovered
from being obliterated by Mojo.
[Michael] And Mojo again, this time trying to get a little payback
on Cass who tried to eliminate him earlier on in the matchup.
[Jerry] And if Big Cass had thrown Kalisto the other direction,
he'd land in the fourth row.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] We're now awaiting number six.
[Jerry] I love this tension.
-Who's it gonna be? -[buzzer blares]
-["Some Bodies Gonna Get It" playing] -[Michael cheers]
-[Jerry] What? -[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Mark Henry? -[Michael] Texas born and bred.
The world's strongest man entering his ninth Royal Rumble match
of his career.
[Graves] The Alamodome just transformed into the hall of pain.
-Mark Henry's got to be a favorite. -[Jerry] Wait a minute, look at…
[Michael] And now, the ring filling up with superstars
awaiting the arrival of Mark Henry.
Mark Henry, guys, last year's Rumble, it took three men to eliminate Mark Henry
-from last year's Royal Rumble. -[speaks indistinctly]
[Graves] For the last we've seen Mark Henry,
and Mark looks reinvigorating.
[Jerry] I think… I think some bodies are about to start flying.
[Michael] Mark Henry has had a hall of fame career in the WWE
but way-- what a way to top things off by winning the Royal Rumble matchup.
[Jerry] And he goes right after the biggest guy in the ring.
-Well, the other biggest guy in the ring. -[Graves laughs]
[Graves] Gallagher head-butt has taken out many superstars.
Launched through the ropes, that was not an elimination.
[Jerry] He went through the ropes.
[Michael] Remember, you got to go over the top rope with both feet
hitting the floor, and Mark Henry head-butt to Jericho.
[Jerry] Trying to show Gallagher how to do those head-butts.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Put 'em horns.
[speaks indistinctly]
[Graves] The native Texan Mark Henry making a massive impact
in the Royal Rumble match.
-[Michael] Jack Gallagher… -[Graves] What is going on?
[Michael] He's doing his best Mary Poppins impersonation.
And I don't think Mark Henry likes Ms. Poppins.
Gallagher sent over the top rope.
[Graves] A spoon full of sugar will not help back Mr. Gallagher.
[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] Mark Henry has eliminated Jack Gallagher.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] And now, we await number seven.
[buzzer blares]
-["I Am Stronger" playing] -[Graves] Uh-oh. Brace yourself.
[Jerry cheers]
[Graves] King, this guy is a mountain among men.
[Jerry] No kidding.
[Michael] And you saw what Braun Strowman did earlier tonight
costing Roman Reigns the WWE Universal title.
What havoc will he reek here in the Rumble?
[Graves] As much havoc as Braun Strowman feels like reeking,
Michael, we know Braun Strowman only does what Braun Strowman wants to do.
[Michael] You know, last year it was Braun Strowman's rookie year
in the Rumble. He eliminated five people.
He lasted nearly 20 minutes and Strowman is back for more.
[Jerry] Look at this guy. Every time I see Braun Strowman
I wonder where he… where he parked his blue ox.
[Graves] And now, Mojo Rawley, got to give Mojo credit taking the ring
for Braun Strowman, but Braun still in his feet stunned a bit by Rawley,
splashed in the corner.
-[Michael] Oh, planting him. -[Jerry] Oh, my goodness.
[Jericho] He's huge.
[Graves] And you hear the voice of Chris Jericho behind us.
As Chris Jericho's come over behind the announce table.
[Jerry] Hey, Rawley's out.
[Michael] Rawley was just eliminated by Strowman.
[Jerry] Oh! What a big boot there.
Big Cass-- Uh-oh.
[Graves] Big Cass… Look at the acceleration of Strowman.
-Braun Strowman-- there goes Cass. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Graves] Kalisto from behind making an effort
but he might just be angering the monster.
-[Jerry] Barely budging Strowman. -[Graves] Uh-oh. No, no, no, no, no.
Braun Strowman has eliminated everything in his path.
-Look out. -[Jerry] Watch it. Watch it. Watch it. Ah.
[Michael] Oh, my God. Mojo, Cass, Kalisto.
[Jerry] Good grief. Stay over here, Chris.
[Graves] Uh-oh. Now, Strowman and Mark Henry face-to-face,
these two behemoths,
we talked about some of the biggest men in the history of this Rumble
and it is two of them, Strowman and Henry exchanging blows.
[Graves] Remember, you can see Jericho on the outside of your screen.
Chris Jericho has still entered in the Royal Rumble match,
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Graves] Strowman is gonna dump…
-[Jerry] Look at this, look at this. -[Michael] Henry is still in it.
Mark Henry is still in it.
-[Jerry] No! -[Michael] He's been eliminated.
[Michael] Strowman has eliminated four men in about two minutes.
-[screams] -[Jerry] He's owning this Royal Rumble.
[Michael] He could be on pace to break Roman Reigns' record of 12 set in 2014.
[Graves] Braun Strowman single-handedly cleared the entire ring.
[Michael] Now, remember, Jericho is still in the match.
He's been hanging outside of the ring here staying away from Strowman.
-[Jerry] Do you blame him? -["World's Apart" playing]
[Michael] Uh-oh, and here's Sami Zayn, he drew number eight in the tumbler roll
a little bit earlier on tonight.
He beat Seth Rollins Monday to earn this spot.
[Graves] But you know Sami Zayn can't be excited to see Braun Strowman.
-We know the history between these two. -[Jerry] Yeah, but look at Sami go.
[Michael] And remember, it started at last year's Rumble, guys.
Sami Zayn, a surprise entry, was actually eliminated by Braun Strowman
in last year's Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Well, Sami came in fist are flying but he's cut off quickly now by Strowman.
[Graves] Strowman with that primal concrete sledge to the heart of Sami Zayn.
[Jerry] Oh, watch out. Oh.
[Michael] And can you imagine
if Sami Zayn could eliminate Braun Strowman tonight?
You think that would be retribution revenge
for everything Strowman's put Sami through?
[Graves] I'm sure it's crossed Sami Zayn's mind
but you got to be realistic.
-This is… This is insanity. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Michael] Sami is still in it, lands on his feet.
[Jerry] Hey, hey, hey, oh.
[Michael] Sami Zayn may have had delusions of grandeur.
He went for that suplex but perhaps he's gonna…
it's gonna allow Sami Zayn to eliminate Strowman here.
[Graves] Listen, we know if nothing else, Sami Zayn is defiant.
He is a tough individual.
-There is no quit in Zayn… -[Jerry] Oh!
…but maybe right now, there should be. [chuckles]
[Jerry] I don't know if there's any one man in this Rumble
that could eliminate that guy by themselves.
[Michael] I don't know who it is.
Braun Strowman has just been on this incredible,
just path of carnage over the past number of months.
-[Graves] Oh, look out. -[Jerry] Ooh!
[Michael] Destroying and eliminating everything in his path.
He's already eliminated four men from this Rumble match tonight
as we now await entry number nine.
[crowd] …five, four three, two, one!
[buzzer blares]
-♪ Here's Big Show! ♪ -[Jerry laughs]
-["Crank It Up" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I may have spoke too soon.
I think this guy could eliminate Strowman by himself.
[Graves] I'm sure The Big Show intends on finding out,
but I also don't believe Braun Strowman has any intention
of receding the ring even for Big Show.
[Michael] The world's largest athlete, The Big Show,
face-to-face with a monster among men, Braun Strowman.
This is the 12th appearance in his career for Big Show.
Second most in Rumble history, tied with Shawn Michaels behind Kane, 17.
Big Show has eliminated 31 people in the Royal Rumble match,
but guys, last year, last year's Royal Rumble match,
Braun Strowman eliminated The Big Show.
[Jerry] Oh, I remember that well.
[Graves] I'm sure The Big Show does as well.
[Jerry] You're right about that.
And Big Show looks to be in the best shape of his life.
[Graves] Notice how The Big Show's icy gaze has not broken.
-Eyes locked on the monster among men. -[Michael] This is an incredible moment.
What a moment.
Big Show and Braun Strowman picking up where they left off
on Raw on Monday night.
-[Graves] Blocked. -[wrestlers grunt]
[Jerry] Big Show, big right hands to the midsection of Strowman.
Oh, and down goes Big Show in a wicked clothesline.
[Graves] A single clothesline from Strowman just fell The Big Show.
I don't know that I've ever seen that before.
[Michael] Now, Sami Zayn is still in this match as is Chris Jericho,
who's still roaming around out here at ringside,
staying out of the fray.
[Jerry] Well, I'll tell you something, this Braun Strowman is…
-And Strowman… -[Michael] He's…
Can he eliminate-- Oh, Big Show caught him.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Big Show chokeslam position for Strowman.
-[Jerry] He got him. -[Michael] Chokeslam to Strowman.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now, Jericho slides back in.
Remember, these guys used to be best friends,
Jericho and Big Show.
[Graves] Jericho is thinking codebreaker, but I…
-[Corey chuckles] Good night. -[Michael] Oh!
Well, the bigger they are, the harder they hit.
[Michael] The old WMD. The big old KO punch from Big Show.
[Jerry] Give him one. Uh-oh.
-[Graves] This is unbelievable. -[Michael] This is incredible.
-[Graves] The world's largest athlete. -[Michael] Incredible power.
[Michael] Strowman though lands on his feet,
-and there's power in his own-- -[Jerry] Oh!
-[Graves] Oh, my God. -[Jerry] Braun Strowman…
This is amazing.
[Michael] It's a stalemate between two monsters.
-Uh-oh. -[Jerry] Uh-oh!
-[Michael] Big Show, come on! -[Jerry] He's got the leverage.
-[Graves] No way! -[Jerry] He's got the leverage.
[Michael] Strowman looking to eliminate The Big Show.
[Graves] Big Show hanging on for dear life.
[Michael] Big Show desperately trying to hold.
-[Jerry] No, no, no! -[Michael] Oh!
[Graves] Big Show eliminated by Strowman.
-Five eliminations from Braun Strowman. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Well, here's comes number ten.
[Graves] The tension is still palpable
-between Big Show and Strowman. -[buzzer blares]
-[“Ten” playing] -[Jerry] I hate to admit,
Big Show is my pick to win it.
-[Michael] Oh, man. -[Graves] Guys, wait a minute.
-[Jerry] What? -[Michael] From NXT.
-[Michael] A perfe-- -[Graves] It's a perfect ten.
[Michael] In the tenth position.
[Graves] Tye Dillinger is in the Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] I can't believe it.
[Michael] Tye Dillinger in his first Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Unfortunately, Tye Dillinger at number ten
has to come in and face one-on-one Braun Strowman.
[Michael] What a match Dillinger had in NXT TakeOver last night
with Eric Young of Sanity,
and now, Dillinger trying to take out Strowman.
[Graves] Dillinger wasted no time taking the fight to Strowman.
[Michael] One thing we've learned about Dillinger,
Corey, you've covered his career, he never gives up, does he?
[Graves] Dillinger, one of the most wildly popular superstars in NXT.
You listen to the Alamodome rocking.
[Jerry] "Ten, ten, ten," they're screaming.
And now, Sami Zayn from behind.
[Graves] Sami Zayn extremely familiar with Dillinger
from their time together in NXT.
An alliance of sorts is what's needed if you want any chance
-against Braun Strowman. -[Michael] Yeah, two men…
forming a team to try to take out Braun Strowman.
Dillinger from behind again.
[wrestlers grunt]
[Jerry] Well, the good thing about teamwork is
you never have to take all the blame yourself.
Let's see what's gonna happen here with these two.
[Michael] Sami calling for Dillinger to help out here.
-[Jerry] Yeah, "Help, help." -[Graves] No way.
-[Michael] What on Earth? -[Graves] No way.
[Jerry] Can they do it?
-Can they do… -[Michael] Oh, my God.
-[Jerry] No. -[Michael] No, but Strowman
with a double suplex of his own.
-[Graves] Oh, my God! -[buzzer blares]
[Michael] Here comes number 11.
-["Burbank" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Wait a minute.
[Michael] Well, I guess the WWE Universe is smoking.
James Ellsworth has been all over social media
lobbying for a spot on this matchup,
and here's, I guess his new girlfriend, Corey?
Carmella?
[Graves] Carmella's the best possible thing
that could've happen to Ellsworth.
-Ellsworth's career has skyrocketed… -[Jerry] Oh, please.
-…since these two came together. -[Jerry] This guy's a total waste of skin.
How on the Earth did he get a place in the Royal Rumble?
[Graves] King James Ellsworth has taken AJ Styles to the limit
on multiple occasions.
[Jerry] You just like him because you two obviously share
the same barber. He's a joke. Get him out of here. [chuckles]
[Michael] And Ellsworth-- Carmella trying to get Ellsworth into the ring,
and Ellsworth does not wanna get in there with Braun Strowman.
[Graves] Well, don't forget the very first time
the WWE Universe ever saw James Ellsworth. He was being destroyed by Braun Strowman.
-[Michael] And from behind-- -[Jerry exclaims]
-[Michael] Zayn and Dillinger… -[Jerry] Are you kidding?
…from behind, looking to eliminate Strowman.
Strowman trying to hang on. The big man is in trouble.
-[Jerry] Whoa! Whoa! -[Michael] He's hanging on.
[Michael] Feet have to touch, feet have to touch,
and Strowman gets his way back to the apron.
[Jerry] They're not through with him yet, though.
[Graves] Braun Strowman with the vise-like grip on the ropes.
Strowman background coming into play as he runs through two.
[Michael] And guys, that could've been the best opportunity
to eliminate Braun Strowman in this match.
[Jerry] Yeah, but I can tell you this,
if they had've eliminated Braun Strowman off
of that distraction from James Ellsworth,
Ellsworth would be a grease spot right now.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] Corey made the point,
Strowman destroyed Ellsworth
in Ellsworth's very first match here in WWE.
[Jerry] He didn't do a good enough job.
-Ellsworth is still standing over there. -[buzzer blares]
-["Retaliation" playing] -[Michael] Number 12.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] This could get interesting.
We knew Dean Ambrose is absolutely fearless.
We're about to find out what the lunatic fringe is made of
when he goes toe-to-toe with the monster among men.
[Jerry] Get rid of him, Dean.
[Michael] Oh, Ambrose is an intercontinental champion,
but also has had a quite the relationship over the past few months
with James Ellsworth.
[Graves] And Ambrose is pumping up Ellsworth.
Let's go. In three, two, one.
[Michael] Ambrose in his fourth Royal Rumble match. Let's go!
-[Michael] Ellsworth is in-- No, he's-- -[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] Well, Dean decided not to go along.
[Jerry] Oh, that's great.
[Michael] And Ellsworth ran right into Strowman.
[Graves] Even a lunatic can outsmart Ellsworth, apparently.
[Michael] This is the earliest Dean Ambrose has ever entered…
-[Graves] Oh, God, no, no, no, no, no. -…the Royal Rumble match in his career.
-[Jerry exclaims] -[Michael] Ellsworth's eliminated.
That is elimination number six
-for Braun Strowman. -[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] Again, Roman Reigns record of 12 eliminations could be in jeopardy.
-[Graves] And Ambrose, cagey maneuver. -[Jerry] Watch this, watch this.
Watch this landing. Oh!
[Michael] Meanwhile, Ambrose here, elbow off the top rope,
trying to take Braun Strowman out.
[Graves] That helped, just watching Ellsworth crack--
[Jerry] Now, Ellsworth needs a hip replacement.
[Graves] Well, the good news is Carmella can nurse him back to health.
[Michael] And let's not forget, guys.
Last year, Dean Ambrose finished second in the Royal Rumble match.
He was eliminated by the winner. Triple H.
-[Graves] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[Jerry] Oh!
[grunts]
-[Graves] Knee right to the ear. -[Michael] Knee right-- And now…
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] …Dillinger with the dropkick.
[Jerry] Right in the mouth.
[Graves] Incredible high vertical leap by Tye Dillinger.
[Michael] Now, we got not a double team, but a triple team working on Strowman.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, what right hand.
Strowman blasting Zayn.
And again, Corey, I ask you this question on Raw every week.
who's gonna stop this guy?
[Graves] Well, if it can be done, we'll find out tonight
because 29 superstars have the opportunity.
That said, I don't see anyone being able to do it.
-[Michael] Here comes number 13. -[buzzer blares]
-["Superhuman" playing] -[Jerry] That's an unlucky number.
-[Graves] Oh, this is about to get good. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry laughs] Yes, it is.
[Graves] SmackDown Live's Lone Wolf, Baron Corbin.
[Michael] Remember, Baron Corbin's first match ever in WWE?
He won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania,
so he can win a match like this.
-[Graves] Corbin was… -[Michael] Look at Ambrose.
-…staring a hole through Strowman. -[wrestlers grunt]
[Jerry] And now, we have four-on-one.
[Michael] Yeah, Baron Corbin entering at number 13.
[Graves] Gentleman, I believe this particular moment…
-[Jerry] Oh, Strowman battling out. -[Michael] Oh! Big boot to Corbin.
Dillinger eliminated.
That's elimination number seven by Strowman.
-[Graves] Thanks for coming, Tye. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It's interesting, the 13 number for Baron Corbin,
that is the spot where Hacksaw Jim Duggan won
the very first Royal Rumble match in 1988 from.
[Graves] Ambrose with a dropkick from the top rope, but still--
Oh, my goodness, the impact behind Corbin.
[Jerry] Oh, how do you know all this information?
I bet you know where Hidden Valley Ranch is.
-[Michael] I did my homework. -[Jerry] No, you didn't.
[Michael] Look at Zayn with a big helluva kick.
[Jerry] Caught him right in the jaw. Now, I…
[Michael] And now, Corbin eliminates Strowman.
[commentators] Whoa!
[Michael] Eliminates Strowman. Corbin eliminates Strowman.
[Graves] Michael Cole, you've been asking me for months,
How do you stop Braun Strowman? You do it with the Lone Wolf.
[Michael] And now, Dean Ambrose puts his attention
-with Dirty Deeds to Baron Corbin. -[Jerry] And I'm still in shock.
Braun Strowman eliminated right before our very eyes.
-Watch this. -[Michael] The helluva kick by Zayn.
-That must have felt good for Sami. -[Jerry] That rattled him.
This is what took him out.
[Graves] Corbin with a head full of steam
taking the monster among men out of the Royal Rumble match with authority.
[Michael] And now, it's Sami Zayn looking to eliminate
the intercontinental champion as we wait for number 14
to enter this matchup. Dean stays in it.
[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] And I wouldn't wanna be around Braun Strowman
-for about the next three or four weeks. -[Michael] No.
-[buzzer blares] -[Big E] It's a new day! Yes, it is!
-["New Day, New Way" playing] -[Jerry] Here we go. Who is it?
[Michael] Kofi Kingston.
The first member of New Day to enter the Royal Rumble match,
and this is Kofi's ninth Royal Rumble,
but think about all the ways over the years, guys,
Kofi Kingston has survived to stay in the Rumble match.
Some of the greatest feats we've ever seen.
[Jerry] No kidding.
[Graves] Kofi Kingston always spectacular,
but you know, he doesn't wanna be known in history
as the guy that always almost won it, but got eliminated in cool ways.
-[Michael] No. -[Jerry] Nobody does.
[Graves] Kofi Kingston wants to win the thing.
[Michael] Now, Sami looking to eliminate Dean.
Dean hangs on to the other side.
Kofi Kingston now from behind, looking to eliminate Sami Zayn,
and now, Baron Corbin blasting Sami.
[Graves] Big right hand by Baron, Corbin drops Kofi Kingston.
-[Jerry exclaims] -[Michael] King, you were out here.
Remember the one year that Kofi Kingston used JBL's chair
-like a pogo stick? -[Jerry laughing]
I was just trying to think of all the different--
I think we've seen him--
[Michael] Uh-oh! Corbin under the bottom rope,
still in it.
[Jerry] I think we've seen Kofi Kingston doing handstands,
walk on his hands, all sorts of things.
[Graves] Corbin is an absolutely horrifying blend
of power, speed, and intensity.
Incredibly agile for a man of his size, and man, does Corbin hit hard.
[Michael] And Corey, can you imagine that confidence now in Corbin
after eliminating Braun Strowman?
[Graves] You could see it in Corbin eyes when he walked to the ring.
Corbin was feeling confident.
He feels like he deserves to be in the ring with The Undertaker,
with Brock Lesnar,
with some of the biggest names in the game.
[Jerry] Well, Corey, is he your new pick to win? You're going with Corbin?
[Graves] I wouldn't bet against Baron Corbin.
[buzzer blares]
[Michael] And we're now halfway through with number 15.
-["I Came To Play" playing] -♪ I came to play! ♪
[Jerry] Oh, I might bet on this guy.
♪ Time for you to get down on your knees And pray… ♪
[Michael] He's a veteran of Royal Rumble matches,
accompanied by his wife, Maryse.
The Miz enters his tenth Royal Rumble match.
He is eighth all-time.
[Jerry] I actually know for a fact that he's gonna win.
He told me so himself.
[Graves] I was actually hoping The Miz would at least hang around
until the very end because we will get to see Maryse,
but she went through the back.
So, I don't really care what happens to him now.
[Michael] Been an interesting number of years
for The Miz in the Royal Rumble match.
There's the skull-crushing finale to Sami Zayn.
One year, going for the Dirty Deeds,
and remember Miz and Ambrose had that Lumberjack match
at SmackDown Live this past Tuesday night.
-Oh, what a clothesline. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Graves] Lot of bad blood between The Miz and Ambrose.
You know, it may--
[Michael] Ambrose still in it, dangling…
but survives for now.
[Graves] You know what?
You know, Miz would love to be the one to be able to say
he eliminated Dean Ambrose in the Royal Rumble match.
[Michael] You know, one year, Corey, Miz was eliminated by The Great Khali.
Another year, he was eliminated, King, by Hornswoggle.
[Jerry] How embarrassing. You never live that down.
-[Michael] And Miz-- Oh, man. -[Graves] Uh-oh!
-[Graves] Deep six. -[Michael] A deep six from Corbin.
[Graves] Corbin using Miz's own momentum against him, and drilled him.
[Michael] A little extra mustard on that, huh?
[Jerry] And lucky for Miz,
there were nobody standing up to throw him out of that.
[Michael] And now, Kofi Kingston.
-[grunts] -[Jerry] Oh!
[Graves] Kingston unceremoniously dumped.
[Jerry] Yeah, this Corbin, he's something special.
[Graves] He is impressive.
Baron Corbin has a chip on his shoulder as big as the state of Texas.
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh, he's still fighting back.
It's really risky to go up to the top rope in this Royal Rumble match.
[Jerry] Yeah, it doesn't take much to knock you right out
into the ringside area.
What's he doing? What's Kofi doing?
[Michael] I don't know, but he better get down from there,
because Baron Corbin, he's got his sights set on Kofi Kingston.
-[Graves] Oh, my God. -[Michael] Oh, my God, Kofi.
[Jerry] Oh!
[Graves] Kofi Kingston about impaled himself on the ring post.
[Michael] But still was able to hang on somehow.
[Jerry] How on Earth?
[Michael] And now, Kofi, trouble in paradise.
[Jerry] It looked like it fired Kofi up. It would've knocked me out.
[Graves] I can't believe Kofi doesn't have a few broken ribs
after spilling down onto the top of the ring post like that.
-My God. -[Michael] Entry number 16 is next.
[crowd] …six, five, four, three, two, one!
[buzzer blares]
-["Hellfire" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, and this guy is gonna be in a mood.
Sheamus and Cesaro lost the Tag Team titles earlier tonight
on the kick-off show to Anderson and Gallows.
[Jerry] And you know he's about to take it out on somebody.
[Michael] Corey, here's a man who in 2012 won the Royal Rumble match
from the 22 position.
[Graves] Well, the look in Sheamus' eyes, he thinks he's gonna do it again tonight.
What a way to redeem the evening.
Yeah, you lost your tag team championship, but you could still headline WrestleMania.
[Michael] How good is Sheamus been in the Royal Rumble matchup?
-[Jerry] Man. -[Michael] Only Sheamus and Randy Orton
have been in four or more final fours in the Royal Rumble over the past decade.
That's how good Sheamus has been in this match.
[Graves] Celtic warrior laying waste to everything moving inside the ring.
[Jerry] Yes, he is.
I don't blame you, I'd run, too, Miz.
Oh, no.
-Oh. -[Graves] "Ten Beats of The Bodhran."
[crowd] …four, five, six, seven,
-eight, nine, ten! -[Michael] The A-lister feeling it.
He's gonna need some of that Hollywood plastic.
-[Graves laughs] Oh, brogue kick! -[Michael] Brogue kick.
-And look at Kofi once again. -[Jerry] Yeah, watch his face.
Look at this. Ooh.
[Graves] Obviously, somehow Kofi was able to minimize the impact on the ring post,
-but incredible, incredible athleticism… -[Michael] I don't know how.
-…being able to maintain the grip. -[Jerry] And look at Sheamus, guys.
[Michael] Look at Ambrose and Zayn looking to eliminate Sheamus.
-The Celtic warrior in trouble. -[grunts]
[Michael] Ambrose and Sami Zayn, Sheamus just trying to hang on,
fighting back.
-Jericho is out cold from the brogue kick. -[Michael] Yeah.
Meanwhile, Kofi looking to eliminate Baron Corbin
as we now look at number 17.
[crowd] …five, four, three, two, one!
[buzzer blares]
[Big E over speakers] Aw, San Antone,
don't you dare be sour!
Clap for your longest-reigning tag champs
and feel the power!
-It's a new day. Yes, it is! -["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Michael] And it's the second New Day member
to enter in this matchup. It's the third Rumble for Big E.
It's gonna be interesting to see now how Big E and Kofi Kingston
play in this Royal Rumble match.
King, you think they're gonna work together as a team?
[Jerry] Oh, they have to.
I mean, you know, they're gonna have to work together
if they wanna get anything done.
And then maybe if it wound up down to them two being the last two,
then they'll go against each other, but until then, they gotta work together.
[Michael] Big E going right for the abdominal stretch
-early on The Miz. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
[Graves] Unusual strategy by Big E.
[crowd chanting] New Day Rocks! New Day Rocks!
[Jerry] Big E is not taking this Royal Rumble
-as serious as he should. -[Michael] No, I think he is.
I think he's just having fun with the 52,020 WWE fans on-hand
-here tonight at the Alamodome. -[Jerry] Did you say "52,020"?
-[Michael] No, 50,020. -[Jerry] Fifty thousand twenty--
[Michael] No, 52,020. You're getting me confused now, King.
[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] I was right the first or the second time.
[Graves] Sheamus and Corbin-- Look at New Day working together.
-[Jerry] Told you. -[Michael] Ambrose and Sami Zayn.
[Graves] And take a look at the corner of the matchup
of Baron Corbin and Sheamus,
two big, rugged superstars throwing down Sheamus.
[Michael] Sami lands on the apron.
[Graves] Sheamus in control right now, but…
This is what's great about the Royal Rumble match.
You see matchups and collisions you never thought you'd see.
[Michael] And we are now awaiting number 18.
[crowd] …six, five, four, three, two, one!
-[buzzer blares] -[Jerry] Who's it gonna be?
-♪ Rusev udrya, Rusev matchka! ♪ -[Jerry] Oh!
-["Roar of the Lion" playing] -[Graves] Things are gonna change now.
Rusev suffered a broken nose last week on Monday night Raw
on the receiving end of a Kofi Kingston crossbody.
You know Rusev hasn't forgotten.
[Michael] Accompanied, of course, by Lana, his wife,
Rusev entering this fourth Rumble.
-Last year, he ended number two. -[Jerry] This guy is massive.
[Michael] And Rusev-- Oh, look at-- Going right after Miz,
and now, right after Dean Ambrose.
[Graves] Super athlete living up to the moniker.
Look at the speed.
[Michael] Just taking out the whole pile in the corner.
[Jerry] He's going after anything that moves.
-[grunts] -[Jerry] Watch it.
[Michael] Rusev with that spin kick caught Sheamus.
Remember, these guys used to be buddies, The League of Nations.
[Jerry] Not tonight.
[Graves] The Bulgarian brute has any buddies tonight.
It's truly friend versus friend, foe versus foe,
-every man for himself. -[Jerry] Oh, Sami Zayn.
[Michael] John, lands on the apron, still in it.
[Jerry] And Rusev not paying total attention there.
He's not finishing the job he starts.
Gotta make sure once you throw somebody over the top,
-their feet hit the floor. -[wrestlers grunt]
[Michael] Ring beginning to fill up with WWE superstars.
-Starting to get crowded, King. -[Jerry] Yes, it is.
[Graves] What an uppercut
-by the Celtic warrior. -[Jerry] Whoo-hoo!
[Graves] Don't mess up the A-lister's dental work, Sheamus.
[Michael] And Miz getting bounced around the ring tonight,
but he's still in it.
-Sheamus now. -[Jerry] Now, watch out.
-[laughs] Oh! -[Graves] Oh, what a running knee.
-[Michael] Harley Race'd be proud. -[crowd counting down]
[Jerry] I love it when they get this many superstars in there.
-Chaos, panic, disorder. -[buzzer blares]
-["Swiss Made" playing] -[Jerry chuckle] Ho-ho!
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] And here comes number 19.
Sheamus' tag team partner, Cesaro, again,
losing their Tag Team titles earlier tonight.
[Jerry] He should be in a foul mood as well.
[Graves] I'm sure Sheamus is probably as excited as anybody to hear this music.
But we also know that if it comes down to it,
Sheamus and Cesaro would beat each other up all day.
[Jerry] Hey, look out. Watch out.
-[Graves] Again? -[Michael] Cesaro going for the swing.
[Jerry] Just keep swinging, use him as a weapon.
-[Michael laughs] -[Jerry] Cut these guys down.
Oh, no.
Dean Ambrose is already dizzy.
[Graves] And everybody in the Rumble match going swinging.
[Michael] And number 19, where Cesaro entered,
been a great number the last couple of years.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. No way, no way. -[Michael] Cena in 2013.
Reigns, 2015, winning from that spot.
[Graves] All that spinning finally got to Cesaro.
He may be a Swiss superman, but…
-Maybe I spoke too soon. -[Jerry] What?
[Graves] Baron Corbin is a monster of a man.
-[Jerry chuckles, exclaims] -[Michael chuckles]
[Jerry] It's your partner.
[Graves] It's every man for himself, Cesaro.
-Go for it. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Listen to the universe.
[Graves] Rusev threw some careful strategy.
He was the last man standing at the moment, the only man standing.
[Michael] Rusev looking to eliminate Cesaro.
[wrestlers grunt]
[Jerry] Dean Ambrose in a lot of trouble here.
[crowd] …seven, six, five, four…
[Jerry] You can really tell if he went over the top,
-or through the second rope. -…three, two, one!
-[buzzer blares] -[Michael] And here comes number 20.
-♪ It's a new day. Yes, it is! ♪ -[crowd cheering]
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Graves] We gotta know now, it's Xavier Woods.
[Michael] Third member of The New Day.
[Jerry] Guys, this should give The New Day a tremendous advantage here.
All three members in the Royal Rumble match
at the same time?
[Michael] And Xavier Woods' very first Royal Rumble match.
[Graves] I don't know, King.
We always hear The New Day talk about their unbreakable bond with one another.
-I think this may be the night. -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Graves] This may be the situation that destroys The New Day.
-At least I hope. -[Jerry chuckles]
[Michael] Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods having their way with Sheamus.
[Jerry] Oh!
[screams]
[Graves] A rapid fire assault from Kofi and Woods.
[Jerry] But that's good strategy, that's the way they gotta work.
[Michael] But don't forget, Sheamus and Cesaro cost The New Day
their record setting Tag Team title reign. Big E, big splash.
That's what I'm talking about, baby!
[Jerry] Well, looks like New Day certainly hadn't forgotten it.
Now, Cesaro-- Whoa.
[Michael] Cesaro trying to eliminate Big E.
Big E on the apron, hanging on.
[Graves] Corbin and Rusev still trading rights and lefts in the corner.
[crowd chanting] New Day rocks! New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Michael] Now, Xavier, still in it, lands on the apron.
-Kofi Kingston launched… -[Jerry laughs]
-Xavier caught him. -…on the shoulders of Xavier Woods,
-who saved his buddy. -[Jerry] Passes him back to Miz.
[Michael] Kofi, apron, other side.
Dangerous situation for Kofi and Xavier Woods out there.
[Jerry] Oh, Miz. Miz is in trouble now. Oh!
-[Michael] Oh, man. -[Graves] Into a pair of New Day boots.
[Michael] Triple team. Number 21 on his way.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] Miz almost eliminated.
[Jerry] He is still hanging on.
-[Michael] Oh, what an uppercut. -[Buzzer blaring]
-[crowd cheering] -["Live In Fear" playing]
[Jerry] You know what this means.
[Michael] Bray Wyatt, the patriarch of the Wyatt family,
and you have to wonder,
if all this internal strife within the Wyatt family
over the past few weeks is gonna bother Bray Wyatt here tonight
-as he enters the Royal Rumble match. -[Graves] Are you kidding me?
It's probably helped prepare Bray Wyatt better
than any other superstar. Turmoil in the Wyatt family?
Bray Wyatt's only concerned with one person right now,
and it's himself,
that's how he needs to be to win the Royal Rumble match.
[Michael] Bray Wyatt's third Royal Rumble match.
He lasted 46 minutes, and eliminated seven men two years ago.
[Jerry] Yeah, but it's not often.
[Graves] Look at all the fireflies in the San Antonio Alamodome.
[Jerry] Well, Bray Wyatt's gonna need that support,
because it's not often that you see him going alone,
going in there on his own without a Wyatt family member.
-[Graves] Oh. Oh! -[Jerry] Oh. Oh, man!
-[Graves] An ura-nage planting. -[wrestlers grunt]
[Michael] This has been taking a tremendous amount of…
[Graves] Oh, look out!
Bray Wyatt is so fast for a man of his size.
[Michael] And now, Rusev trying to confront Bray Wyatt.
Bray Wyatt going after just about anybody in his path.
[Jerry] This Bray Wyatt is so creepy.
Yeah, remember the issue
between Xavier Woods and Bray Wyatt months ago?
[Graves] Yeah, the issue is that Xavier Woods is completely terrified
of Bray Wyatt on every level.
[Michael] And Xavier Woods looking to put that fear behind him
as he runs in-- Uh-oh! Sister Abigail time.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Xavier Woods spins out of it.
-[Graves] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, man, what a clothesline.
[Jerry] Just stay away from him, Xavier.
[Graves] I think, right now, Woods is wishing he stayed in the back,
and played his video game channel.
[Michael] Yeah, Bray Wyatt has been dominating SmackDown Live,
with Randy Orton and Luke Harper.
New Day, and Cesaro and Sheamus, again, the history between them,
we've talked about.
[Jerry] Kofi went over the top rope, but he's still on the apron.
[Graves] He's got Sheamus and Cesaro throwing hands with New Day,
Woods and Kofi in precarious position right now.
-[crowd counting down] -[Michael] And with number 22 on his way.
[buzzer blares]
-["Cruise Control" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Here comes Apollo Crews from SmackDown Live.
His very first Royal Rumble match.
And here is a kid, Corey, with all the tools.
[Graves] I couldn't agree with you anymore.
Apollo Crews' insanely strong, fast, agile.
[Michael] You're right, all of the tools.
A big win in the Royal Rumble match would do wonders for his career.
[Jerry] Well, he's gonna need to use every bit of that speed and agility,
because this ring is full of superstars that all wanna win
this Royal Rumble match.
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt, kick to the midsections,
slows the momentum of Apollo Crews. Dean Ambrose goes after Bray.
They've had a long history.
[Jerry] And it is really crowded in there now, ain't it?
[Michael] And still on the apron, Xavier and Kofi.
-[Graves] Oh, look at Big E. -[Michael] Still hanging in there.
Big E trying to prevent his teammates for being eliminated,
dragging both Xavier and Kofi back in.
[Jerry] What?
[Michael] And now, Sheamus and Cesaro eliminated
all three members of The New Day.
-[Jerry] Man, oh, man. -[crowd cheering]
-[Graves laughs] -[Jerry] Look at this! Look at this!
[Michael] And now, Sheamus-- Cesaro eliminated by Jericho.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Graves] Look how proud Jericho is of himself.
-[Michael] He was lying in wait. -[Jerry] Oh, look at these two.
-[Michael] They're gonna blow up. -[Michael] Tryna eliminate one another.
[Graves] It was only a matter of time. It's every man for himself.
[Michael] Friend versus friend, foe versus foe.
Yeah, I don't know if Sheamus is gonna have much luck
trying to explain that to Cesaro.
[crowd counting down]
[Michael] And as Sheamus and Cesaro continue to go face-to-face, we…
[Jerry] You think we've seen the last of that tag team?
-…look for number 23. -[buzzer blares]
-["Voices" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me… ♪
[Michael] And here is the man who won the 2009 Royal Rumble match, Randy Orton.
-[Jerry] Out of nowhere. Out of nowhere. -[Michael] This is his eighth Rumble.
He's eliminated 19 men over the years.
And, Corey, what's interesting about the number 23 position,
there have been three winners from this spot over the years.
[Jerry] All right, I'm picking Randy Orton.
That's my pick.
[Graves] It's hard to bet against Randy Orton.
[Jerry] Especially coming in at number 23.
[Michael] Randy Orton who had to go face-to-face
with his Wyatt family brother, Luke Harper,
this past Tuesday night.
SmackDown Live, it ended up with Harper running
into a Sister Abigail by Bray Wyatt. Now, Baron Corbin.
-[Graves] Oh! -[Michael] RKO.
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Out of nowhere.
-Look out. -[Michael] RKO.
[Graves] Rusev may have just had his nose rebroken.
-[Jerry laughs] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Sami Zayn from the second rope, top rope!
-RKO! Vintage Randy Orton. -[Michael laughs]
[Jerry] That was a thing of beauty right there.
Sami Zayn, now, you need some new teeth.
[Michael] And you see Chris Jericho in the corner
watching the Wyatt family pose.
Chris Jericho's been in this Royal Rumble match
over 42 minutes. He started at number two.
[Graves] This is an alliance I'm afraid of.
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton together,
working as a cohesive unit within the Royal Rumble match…
could change the entire complexion of the WWE.
[Jerry] Yes, it can.
[Michael] Dean Ambrose is in trouble. Now, he's down.
-[wrestlers grunt] -[crowd counting down]
[Michael] Number 24 coming next.
…eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!
[buzzer blares]
-["Here to Show The World" playing] -♪ I'm here to show the world ♪
-♪ I'm here to show the world… ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] From SmackDown Live, Dolph Ziggler,
who has a very different attitude as of late, as you can attest to, King.
[Jerry] Yeah, right.
[Graves] I like it, King.
I think Dolph Ziggler's new attitude is exactly what he needs.
[Michael] And Dolph Ziggler kicked King in the stomach a couple of weeks ago
in SmackDown Live, part of King's court. Ziggler now with superkicks around.
This is Dolph Ziggler's ninth Royal Rumble match.
[Graves] Poor Rusev's face.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[Michael] Double DDT.
[shouts indistinctly]
[Jerry] Well, he can change his attitude all he wants to.
He's gonna have to go a long way to prove to me
that he's gonna be anything other than what he's been
for the past few months, and that's a loser.
[Michael] Yeah, but what if he wins the Royal Rumble match tonight?
-[Jerry] Hey, I'll eat my words. -[Michael] Miz still alive, on the apron.
Now, Dean and Dolph going at one another. Jericho goes after Miz.
Uh-oh. Dean looking to eliminate Dolph Ziggler.
Dolph, top rope.
[Jerry] Can I be excused for a minute, and maybe go up there and grab his feet?
-[Michael] You did do that, remember? -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Look at Jericho.
[crowd counting down]
[Michael] And we now look for number 25 to enter the fray.
[Jerry] Randy Orton working over Baron Corbin
in the corner over there.
And now, Baron Corbin coming back with those big right hands.
[ominous music playing]
-["Live In Fear" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And the third member of the Wyatt family.
I guess he's still part of the Wyatt family, Luke Harper,
although he suffered a Sister Abigail at the hands of Bray Wyatt
last Tuesday night after losing to Randy Orton.
[Graves] I think it's safe to say Luke Harper probably isn't
in the best graces of Bray Wyatt right now.
But what a way to get back in with the family…
[Jerry] Look at Randy Orton.
-…to win the Royal Rumble match. -[Michael] Luke Harper…
[Graves] Luke paid absolutely no attention to Randy.
[Michael] None at all.
Harper going right to work on Apollo Crews.
-[shouts] Oh! -[Michael] Apollo sent over the--
-Oh, land on it. -[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Oh, and he's eliminated. Harper eliminates Crews.
-And now… -[Graves] Here we go.
…locks eyes with The Viper.
[Jerry] Look at those eyes.
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt trying to play peacekeeper.
[crowd jeering]
[Jerry] You talked about the combination of The Viper and Bray Wyatt together.
Imagine if all three of those worked as a cohesive unit.
-[Graves] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, no.
-[Jerry] What? What did he do? -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Harper with that lariat to Bray Wyatt,
and now, a boot to Orton.
-Luke Harper said, "Enough is enough." -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Luke Harper just lost his mind is what happened.
Why on Earth would you turn your back on your family?
[Michael] Perhaps he thought his family turned his back on him
-this past Tuesday night. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I still can't believe what we just witnessed.
[Graves] Oh, my God, no. Look it, look it! [gasps]
He's gonna do a Sister Abigail on Bray Wyatt.
He's going for a Sister Abigail on Bray Wyatt.
-And now, Orton with an RKO. -[Jerry exclaims]
[Michael] Orton saving Bray Wyatt.
[Graves] I still can't believe
-what we were about to witness. -[Jerry laughs]
We-- Still, I think we're seeing the complete implosion
-of the Wyatt family. -[grunts]
-[Michael] Or at least one-third of it. -[crowd] Ten, nine, eight…
-[Michael] Number 26 coming. -…seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!
-[buzzer blares] -["Next Big Thing" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Graves] Game over.
Batten down the hatches.
[Michael] The man who was humiliated at Survivor Series
in a minute twenty-six by Goldberg.
Brock Lesnar, the beast is coming to feast.
[Jerry exclaims]
[Graves] The conqueror has arrived.
[Jerry] Did I tell you guys this is my pick
to win the Royal Rumble match? Brock Lesnar.
[Graves] Lesnar enters his third Rumble. He won in 2003.
[Graves] You and me both, King.
Brock Lesnar has been my pick for a while, now.
-We'll split the pot, how's that sound? -[Jerry] I love it.
[Michael] Lesnar, one of nine men to win in his first Royal Rumble appearance.
Goes right after Dean Ambrose.
-Ambrose eliminated by Lesnar. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Graves] Oh, my God. Look at this, look at this.
[Michael] Ziggler eliminated by Lesnar.
-[Jerry] Look at-- Oh! -[Michael] German suplex.
Welcome to Suplex City.
-[Graves] "Eat. Sleep. Eliminate. Repeat." -[Jerry exclaims]
We heard the advocate call the shots.
[Jerry] Gosh.
[Graves] The Beast Incarnate is delivering.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. Oh, no. -[Michael] F5!
-[Jerry] Ooh! -[Michael] Randy Orton…
-F5. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] Lesnar has left carnage in his wake.
[Jerry] Is anyone left standing other than Lesnar?
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] "Eat. Sleep. Eliminate. Repeat."
[Jerry] I think now all Brock has to do is just start tossing them over the top.
[crowd counting down]
[Michael] Number 27, the luckiest number in the field.
Four winners over the years from this spot.
-Who has it? -[buzzer blares]
-["SAWFT Is a Sin" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Graves] Wait a minute, King. -[Jerry] What?
[Graves] I think I know what this means.
[Michael] Oh, my God, Corey, you can get your wish.
[Graves] Oh, my God, this may be the greatest moment of my life.
-This idiot, Enzo Amore… -[Jerry laughs]
…is gonna have to go face-to-face with the Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar.
[Jerry] Just turn around, and go back to the locker room.
[Graves] No, keep running, Enzo.
Keep running straight ahead into the storm.
I am begging you, Enzo. [laughs]
[Michael] Lesnar with a big old smirk on his face.
[crowd cheering, chanting indistinctly]
[Graves] Put your shirt back on, and go home, Enzo.
[Jerry] Or just use it as a blindfold because you're about to be
-in front of a firing squad. -[Graves laughs]
[Michael] Oh, my goodness.
-[Jerry exclaims] -[Michael] Oh!
-[Jerry laughs] -[Michael] Lesnar turning Enzo inside out.
[Jerry] Oh!
He's history already, that didn't take long.
-[Michael] And Enzo eliminated by Lesnar. -[Graves cackles]
[Michael] Now, we await number 28 as Brock Lesnar continues the destruction.
[Jerry] Watch this, watch this, watch-- Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Let me just tell you, Enzo is lucky that his head
is still attached to his shoulders after that clothesline.
[Michael] Did you see how far and how hard he just sent Jericho?
Suplex City has come to San Antonio.
[Jerry grunts]
-[Michael] Number 28th spot… -[Jerry] Look out!
…it's coming up. It's rather historic for Batista.
Twice, Batista won from number 28.
[crows] Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!
[Graves] I have it on good authority that the same people
that banned Ozzy Osbourne from San Antonio,
-just banned Enzo. -[buzzer blares]
-["Invasion" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Oh, yeah. -[Jerry exclaims] This is it.
[Michael] Lesnar's waited since Survivor Series for this moment.
[crowd chanting] Goldberg! Goldberg! Goldberg!
[chanting continues]
[Michael] He's vowed he has one more championship run in him.
In order to have that opportunity, he's got to win this match,
the Royal Rumble match. Here comes Goldberg.
Brock Lesnar's waiting for him. What a moment this is.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
The hair's standing up on the back of my neck.
This is unbelievable.
[Graves] There's not much in this world, for sure.
[Michael] And remember, Goldberg is the man who humiliated,
who embarrassed Brock Lesnar in a minute twenty-six at Survivor Series.
Lesnar's been chomping at the bit,
he's been waiting for this moment, face-to-face.
Lesnar and Goldberg here at the Rumble.
[crowd chanting] Goldberg! Goldberg!
[Jerry] And here they go.
-[Michael] And Goldberg-- Spear. Spear. -[Graves] No!
-[Michael] Just like at Survivor Series. -[Jerry] Are you kidding me?
[Michael] Goldberg has stunned Lesnar. He stunned him with a spear.
Goldberg stunned Lesnar again.
-And Lesnar's eliminated. -[Jerry] What?
-[Michael] Lesnar's eliminated. -[Graves] No!
-[Michael] Goldberg's eliminated Lesnar. -[Graves] Oh, my God, no.
[Michael] Goldberg's got Lesnar's number.
Goldberg's eliminated Lesnar.
[Jerry] How on Earth did that just happen?
[Michael] We'll remember this Rumble, all right.
-[Graves] I was about to say… -[Michael] Lesnar can't believe it.
…nothing in the world is for sure,
but I can guarantee you that history won't repeat itself.
-I couldn't have been more wrong. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] And now, Goldberg blasting Corbin,
and Rusev as well. But guys, the spear, again.
Lesnar got caught by that spear right when they went face-to-face.
It stunned him, it shocked him,
and it allowed Goldberg to eliminate Brock.
[Jerry] It stunned the world, and shocked the world.
[Graves] What is Sami Zayn thinking about?
-[crowd cheering] -[Graves] Retirement?
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Jackhammer.
And now, Bray and Randy trying to double team.
[Graves] Oh, this is interesting. This is interesting.
The Wyatt family ganging up on Goldberg.
[wrestlers grunt]
[Michael] Orton and Wyatt looking to eliminate Goldberg,
-stop this magical run. -[Jerry] Guys, there's 52,000 people--
[Michael] Oh! Goldberg, double spear.
[Jerry] Fifty-two thousand people are stunned.
-They're in shock, right now. -[Michael] I'm stunned.
I couldn't believe it could happen again. It happened once at Survivor Series.
Again, it's surprise factor. But again, tonight?
-And now number 29. -[crowd] Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!
[buzzer blares]
-["Rest In Peace" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Time for The Phenom, the man who won in 2007.
[cheering continues]
[Jerry] Hey, where's the--
-[Michael] Taker's in the ring. -[Graves] Oh, my God.
[Michael] Undertaker is in the ring. Goldberg feels the presence.
This is a moment.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh! -[Michael] Taker's got Goldberg.
-[Jerry] Wait a minute. -[Michael] And Corbin and Rusev
-breaking things up. -[Jerry] No, please, come on.
[Graves] 'Cause we know Baron Corbin wants to make a name for himself.
What better way to do it than to take The Undertaker out
of the Royal Rumble match.
[Michael] Corbin's already on him. Goldberg just eliminated Rusev.
And now, Baron Corbin
-eliminated by Undertaker. -[Jerry] There goes Corbin.
-[Jerry] Look out. -[Michael] Spear!
Goldberg with a spear to The Undertaker, flooring The Phenom.
And now, Luke Harper…
eliminated by Goldberg. Taker's back up. Undertaker's back up.
-Undertaker eliminates Goldberg. -[Jerry] Oh, my God.
-[Michael] Undertaker eliminated Goldberg. -[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Michael] Goldberg's dream to win the Royal Rumble match is over.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Here comes The Miz, not wasting any time,
-bringing the fight to The Undertaker. -[Michael] One more man still to enter.
Sami Zayn and Miz double teaming Undertaker.
[Jerry] Come on, Undertaker!
-[Michael] The big old haymaker… -[Jerry] Come on, Undertaker.
-…being thrown by The Undertaker. -[Jerry] He's my pick.
-I'm picking The Undertaker. -[Michael] The Phenom with the right hand.
Eleven Rumbles…
for Undertaker.
[Jerry] This has been amazing.
-Good night, Miz. -[Michael] Chokeslam.
-Undertaker… -[grunts]
-…in Phenom form tonight. -[Jerry] Whoa!
And it's appropriate that WrestleMania sign
is in the background like a halo on The Undertaker's head.
[Graves] We know, from the past, Bray Wyatt has challenged The Deadman.
-[crowd counting down] -[Jerry] Wait, guys.
-[Graves] Come out on the wrong end of it. -[Jerry] Guys, there's one more entrant.
[Michael] Number 30.
[buzzer blares]
-["The Truth Reigns" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The Big Dog is gonna hunt.
The man who won the 2015 Royal Rumble match,
the man who holds the record with 12 eliminations in 2014,
and the man who was attacked and ambushed by Braun Strowman earlier tonight
costing him the Universal Championship.
[Graves] I understand why Roman Reigns would wanna enter the Royal Rumble match,
but after what Roman suffered earlier tonight,
to go head on with The Deadman, to go on head on with Randy Orton,
with Bray Wyatt is absolutely a terrible idea by Roman.
[Jerry] Yeah, but he has no choice, now.
[Michael] And Roman Reigns with his eyes set
on the man standing in the ring, The Undertaker.
[Graves] I think The Big Dog just realized whose yard this actually is.
[crowd jeering, booing]
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, and a right by Undertaker.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] And Roman with one of his own.
And Reigns and Undertaker,
both men wanting to win the Royal Rumble match,
both men wanting to main-event WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Both men throwing bombs and haymakers
at each other right now.
[Graves] I don't know where Reigns is getting the power behind those rights,
but they were rocking the Taker for a minute.
[Jerry] Look out! Oh!
[Michael] Roman Reigns ran into a clothesline from The Deadman.
-Zayn, Bray Wyatt… -[Graves] Uh-oh. Look out.
…Orton, Jericho, Reigns, Undertaker, still in this thing, along with Miz.
-[Jerry] He got-- No. Got away. Watch it. -[Michael] Superman Punch.
-Undertaker is rocked. -[Jerry] He's rocked.
-[Jerry] Oh! [exclaims] -[Michael] Undertaker caught Roman Reigns.
-[crowd cheering] -[Graves] What was that, King?
-[laughs] -[Jerry] Well, there he goes.
[Michael] Chokeslam.
Orton looking for the RKO.
Bray Wyatt now trying to get Undertaker from behind,
and Undertaker taking out Wyatt. Everybody focusing now on The Deadman.
[Graves] Taker was literally been able to stand in the center of the ring,
and fight off everything that has come his way.
-This is so impressive. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Miz is eliminated by The Undertaker.
-Sami Zayn eliminated by The Undertaker. -[Jerry] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Chris Jericho now 59 minutes deep into this Rumble match.
[Michael] An incredible performance by Chris Jericho.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Roman--
Roman Reigns almost eliminated by…
[Michael] But Chris Jericho might not make the full hour.
-Undertaker, chokeslam to Jericho. -[Jerry] Oh!
-[crowd cheering] -[Jerry] Oh, this spells doom.
[Michael] Oh, no, Roman Reigns!
Reigns, Reigns eliminated The Undertaker.
-Roman Reigns eliminated The Undertaker. -[Jerry] What?
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Roman Reigns just said to The Undertaker,
"This is my yard, now."
[Michael] We are down to four men.
[Jerry] I don't know about you, Corey,
but that look in the eyes of The Undertaker said,
"This might not be over."
[Michael] We are down to Roman Reigns.
[Graves] I'm gonna say, I'm picking Roman Reigns.
I'm gonna change my pick.
The fact that Roman Reigns had the guts to eliminate The Undertaker,
and then claim the ring for his yard, that's my guy.
[Michael] We're down to four.
Reigns, Jericho, Bray Wyatt, and Randy Orton.
Chris Jericho has lasted over an hour so far
in this Royal Rumble match.
[speaks indistinctly] Huh?
[Michael] Roman Reigns, something happened to him tonight, Corey,
when Braun Strowman took Roman Reigns out…
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! -…in that Universal Championship match.
[Graves] And don't forget about the long history
between Reigns and Jericho.
Jericho took Roman Reigns' United States Championship,
and maybe cost him the Universal title in multiple occasions.
[Michael] Superman Punch!
-Down goes Jericho. -[Jerry] Oh, no!
We're down to three, Reigns, Wyatt, Orton.
One of these three men is going to WrestleMania.
Well, two of these three men are members of the Wyatt family.
[Michael] And Orton and Bray Wyatt team up against Roman Reigns,
and then decide amongst themselves who's going to WrestleMania.
High drama in the Alamodome.
[Jerry] It looks like Bray Wyatt likes these odds.
[Graves] It's not often you see The Big Dog outnumbered and hunted.
[Jerry] Here they go.
[Michael] And Wyatt and Orton now ganging up on Roman Reigns,
just like you would expect it to play out.
Roman underneath the bottom rope.
Remember, you got to go over the top.
Both feet have to hit the floor to be eliminated.
Finish him! Finish him! Finish him!
Randy looking back at Bray Wyatt for instruction.
[Jerry] Oh, boy.
[Michael] Randy Orton put Roman Reigns into position.
-Off the second rope, DDT. -[Jerry] Oh!
-[Michael] Plants Reigns. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] And Bray Wyatt is giddy.
[Michael] Yeah, 'cause he knows this could be his time.
This could be his moment.
Bray Wyatt looking to eliminate Roman Reigns,
take him out of the picture,
but first, some Sister Abigail perhaps into the RKO.
Wyatt family setting up for the double team.
-[Jerry] Whoa! -[Michael] No, could not connect.
-[Jerry] Blocked. Whoa! -[Michael] Superman Punch did, however.
[Graves] And another one. Roman Reigns is on fire right now.
-[Jerry] Look out. -[Graves] And there goes Bray Wyatt.
[Michael] Wyatt's eliminated. We are down to Reigns and Orton.
-We are down to Reigns and Orton. -[Graves] Reigns is gonna do it.
[Michael] Will Roman Reigns win the Rumble match
for the second time in three years?
[Graves] I knew it all along, Roman Reigns is gonna--
-Oh! -[Michael] RKO.
-RKO by Randy Orton. -[Jerry] Whoo-hoo! Look at this.
[Michael] Randy Orton wins the Rumble.
-Randy Orton's going to WrestleMania. -[bell dinging]
-["Voices" playing] -[Jerry] I was right.
-[crowd cheering] -[JoJo] Here is your winner, Randy Orton!
[Michael] The Viper strikes WrestleMania Paydirt!
[Jerry] This is a Randy Orton rebirth. Amazing.
[Michael] Randy Orton becomes the seventh man
to win two or more Rumbles.
Randy Orton's won a second Rumble in eight years.
[Graves] Randy Orton, the apex predator, now has the opportunity to compete in…
[Jerry] Remember? Look back.
We thought The Undertaker had this thing won,
but he took his eyes off of that man, Roman Reigns, just momentarily,
long enough for Roman Reigns to eliminate The Undertaker from behind.
And then watch this.
Bang! Superman Punch.
I thought Roman Reigns had this thing in the bag.
[Graves] Bray Wyatt would be tossed over the top rope,
and hit the floor,
and just when it looked like Roman Reigns was ready
to finish the job…
-[Jerry] Oh! -…RKO out of nowhere.
[Jerry] And bang!
-There goes Roman. -[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Braun Strowman dominant for a while,
eliminated by Baron Corbin.
Once again, Goldberg shocked Brock Lesnar tonight.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] An incredible performance by The Undertaker.
[Jerry] But finally, The Viper, victorious!
[crowd cheering]
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Michael] Good night, everybody, from San Antonio.
Randy Orton is going to WrestleMania.
[music concluding] g to WrestleMania.