[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[inspirational music playing]
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
[man] Tonight…
is about one thing…
opportunity to compete.
[announcer] Everything on the line…
[man] To trailblaze.
[announcer] Thirty of the top stars…
[man] To make history.
[announcer] It is gonna be excitement…
[man] History is always made at the Rumble.
And tonight there will be more rumble than ever.
-[ominous music playing] -[wrestler cackling]
[man] Monsters will evolve.
[roaring]
[Corey] This match could quite possibly level Philadelphia.
[Paul] The Beast versus The Monster versus The Machine.
There's not a being alive that can put down Brock Lesnar.
[Kane] Face your demon.
[Strowman] I'm the only alpha monster around here.
[Michael] Reinforce the ring.
[man] Power will shift.
Can't do anything on your own? Why don't you make it a handicap match?
[man 2] That's it.
The handicap match!
We are going to turn the house that AJ Styles built
into the Sami and Kevin show.
The first-ever co-champions. Yep!
["A King Is Born" by Aloe Blacc playing]
[man] One man will again become legendary.
♪ A king is born, I told you before ♪
♪ A king is born ♪
[Jerry] Who's gonna main event WrestleMania?
♪ A king is born ♪
[Corey] At the Royal Rumble Match it's every man for himself.
[Tom] The opportunity of a lifetime.
[Corey] The pinnacle of sports entertainment.
The main event of WrestleMania.
[announcer] It is time for the Royal Rumble.
♪ Confess I'm a bad, bad man ♪
[Stephanie] But that's not enough.
[woman] My turn. 30 women…
[robotic voice] ♪ Who got the power ♪
[woman] …will change history.
What do you say, ladies? You make history once again.
[woman] On the shoulders of those before them.
[Stephanie] Every single woman to ever step foot inside the squared circle,
for the very first time an all-women's Royal Rumble match.
[woman] This revolution is now their evolution.
This is a rumble for us.
-[man 2] Hold up! -[music fades]
["King is Born" playing]
[man] Tonight, Philly is the city of monsters.
[inaudible]
[man] The city where danger meets phenomenal.
Tonight, we rumble again.
[crowd] Four, three…
[man] As the revolution continues…
[crowd] Two, one…
[man] …The Road To WrestleMania
starts now.
[music, cheering fades]
["A King Is Born" playing]
[man] And now, Rocket League
and KFC present WWE Royal Rumble.
♪ A king is born ♪
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Tom] We are live from a sold out Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Seventeen thousand, six hundred and twenty-nine WWE fans on hand
to witness history.
Tonight, we begin the Road To WrestleMania.
Welcome to the 31st annual Royal Rumble.
[music fades]
["Worlds Apart" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
[crowd] ♪ Let's go! ♪
[inaudible]
[Tom] This is a night, gentlemen, where opportunity is everything.
And we start things off with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
perhaps getting one step closer to the WWE Championship.
Welcome to ringside here.
It's an incredible atmosphere here in Philadelphia.
Tom Phillips along with Byron Saxton and Corey Graves from SmackDown Live.
This year there's more rumble than ever.
[Byron] Not only the traditional Royal Rumble Match,
but we're talking about for the first time ever,
we are gonna bear witness to a women's Royal Rumble match.
I got goosebumps.
[Corey] But we can see history before that.
We can see the first-ever co-WWE Champion by the end of this very match.
[Byron] That'd be a horrible experience.
[Tom] Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, their "Yep" movement.
["Fight" by CFO$ playing]
[Tom chuckling] It's in full force here at the Wells Fargo Center.
[Corey] The WWE universe here in Philly is jacked up,
and I'm as excited as anybody.
[Tom] Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn earlier tonight
were in the social media lounge.
They didn't really care, Byron, what the WWE universe was asking them,
but Kevin Owens did send out a tweet saying quote,
"The only thing that matters is that tonight,
the road to KO Mania III kicks off the right way."
[Byron] Oh, again. I've said it before, yeah.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn wanna become WWE Champion,
not to honor the legacy of that title,
not to honor the history of the WWE Title,
but to just further their narrative on SmackDown Live.
[Corey] That narrative being freeing SmackDown Live
from the tyranny of commissioner Shane McMahon.
I think it's very honorable. I think it's poetic.
Best friends, parallel careers,
they could be co-WWE Champion. I mean, that's… that's beautiful.
[Byron] Yeah, like a Hallmark movie.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[inaudible]
["Phenomenal" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[dramatic sting playing] -[music fades]
[music crescendos]
[Tom] As the old adage goes, "Be careful what you wish for."
Tonight, AJ Styles must endure a two-on-one disadvantage.
And, of course, for every WWE Network Pay-Per-View,
we are joined at ringside by our Spanish announce team,
Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez.
[speaking Spanish]
[Tom in English] And as well our German announce team,
Calvin Knie, Carsten Schaefer, and Tim Haber.
[speaking German]
[Knie in German]
[in English] The Road To WrestleMania…
[Tom] Flat out, Graves, can AJ Styles beat the odds tonight?
[Corey] I don't like AJ's chances,
but if any one man can do it, it's the phenomenal one.
[inaudible]
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is a two-on-one Handicap Match,
and it is for the WWE Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challengers first,
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Weighing in at 212 pounds,
Sami Zayn!
[crowd cheering]
And his tag team partner, from Marieville, Quebec, Canada.
Weighing in at 266 pounds,
Kevin Owens!
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible]
And their opponent, from Gainesville, Georgia.
[crowd cheering]
Weighing in at 218 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion.
The Phenomenal…
[crowd and announcer] AJ Styles!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And we saw Styles mouthing off to Kevin and Sami moments ago.
That is the mindset that the champion has adopted here.
He had a couple doubts the last few weeks over whether he could be successful,
but he has convinced himself tonight he cannot be beat.
[crowd] AJ Styles!
[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[crowd] AJ Styles!
AJ Styles!
[Tom] This event has been magic for AJ Styles.
Debuted in the Royal Rumble Match two years ago,
and last year, competed in defense of this same championship…
-[bell ringing] -…against John Cena in an instant classic.
[Corey] There's the bell. The time for talking is through.
And that's good for AJ Styles
because AJ talked himself into this predicament.
[Tom] It was, uh, AJ Styles who got very frustrated
after a series of matchups with AJ Styles and Kevin Owens,
and said, "Why don't we make it a handicap match?"
And our general manager, Daniel Bryan, uh, was happy to oblige.
[Corey] And to AJ's credit, he manned up.
He said, "This is the situation I'm in,
I'm going to come in prepared, and I'm going to defend my title."
[Tom] This is the way this is gonna work.
Kevin Owens and, uh, Sami Zayn rather, must tag in and out.
And AJ Styles has been very blunt.
The longer this match goes,
the longer it's gonna benefit Owens and Zayn.
[Byron] Absolutely. Right now, Kevin and Sami doing their best
to get inside the mind of the champion.
Psyching AJ out slightly.
Letting them know-- Reminding AJ there's two of them and only one of him.
[Owens grunting]
[Tom] And now AJ Styles firing right off here on Kevin Owens.
He said he has to hit hard and hit early against these two men.
[Corey] Of course, Styles is gonna want to try to end this as quickly as possible.
[Tom] Look at Kevin Owens already trying to think about a tag.
And makes the tag to his guardian angel.
[Corey] It's smart.
When you're given the benefit of this sort of advantage, you utilize it.
That's exactly what Kevin and Sami are gonna do.
[Byron] I notice AJ has not taken his eye off both Sami Zayn or Kevin Owens
despite the attempted mind games.
[Tom] Hey, guys, we heard what the WWE Hall of Famer,
The Nature Boy Ric Flair said on the kickoff show.
He's referred to AJ Styles as the--
Oh! Cover here on Zayn, and a kickout.
The Shawn Michaels of this generation.
[AJ] Come on!
[Tom] Can AJ Styles endure this for however long this match continues?
You wanna go, tough guy?!
[Corey] So that's incredibly high praise
coming from maybe the greatest to ever do it, Ric Flair.
And a lot of people, myself included, would agree AJ is of that ilk.
That said, Shawn Michaels was never in this situation.
[Tom] The fact the WWE Championship has never been won in a handicap match
behooves AJ Styles.
But still, Kevin Owens trying to break free here.
Legal here against Styles.
[crowd cheering, chanting indistinctly]
[Byron] Styles, as an amateur wrestler as a kid,
he always said, "I love…" [grunting] "…taking on guys who are bigger than me.
-Guys who are stronger. -[Tom] Uh-oh!
Oh! And there goes Owens!
[Byron] We're seeing the quickness of AJ.
[Tom] Look how smart Styles is putting himself between Owens and Zayn.
[Byron] AJ has relished the opportunity to prove critics wrong.
And he has that chance here tonight.
[Tom] Kevin Owens choosing to slide out and make a tag.
-[Byron] Isn't that cute? -[Corey] That was genius!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] It's not about being cute. It's about winning and making history.
[Tom] Byron, are you surprised?
Sami and Kevin are taking advantage of every single loophole in front of them.
[Byron] Nothing would surprise me with these two.
Sami and Kevin only care about Sami and Kevin. Period.
[Corey] I don't understand why you're so biased, Byron.
You and Shane McMahon seem to have this vendetta against Kevin and Sami.
-Kevin and Sami-- -[Byron] I'm not biased--
[Corey] Would you shut up, Saxton, I'm making a point.
Kevin and Sami have maximized their opportunities.
Every chance they have been given, they have capitalized on.
That's to be celebrated, not punished.
[Byron] Don't tell me to shut up! How about you shut your mouth and listen?
I call what I see here.
We've seen every week what Zayn and Owens have done--
[Tom] Oh! And a dropkick.
[Byron] …to cut corners to get ahead.
[Tom] AJ trying to get to a cover,
but Sami Zayn able to get to his corner and makes another tag.
[Byron] Imagine how much these two would be crying and whining
if… if the script were flipped.
[Corey] This isn't about imagination, Byron.
The facts are the facts. The situation is what it is.
[indistinct arguing]
-[AJ grunting] -[Tom] Oh!
And Owens had the official's attention and now comes right in hard on AJ Styles.
[Owens] Okay, okay.
And that's why this is my show!
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Trying to tear down the house that AJ Styles built on SmackDown Live.
Make it the Sami and Kevin Show on Tuesday nights.
-Tag. -[Owens] Get him!
[both grunting]
[Tom] And Sami Zayn now an opportunity to wear out the champion.
[Byron] AJ Styles in the wrong part of town.
No question about it here.
-[Tom] Oh, come on! -[Byron] Sami and Kevin tee away at will.
[Tom] Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, they can take their time just…
[exclaiming] …picking apart AJ Styles.
You know, Byron, maybe there's part of Daniel Bryan
that would love to see these two come out on top tonight.
[Byron] I… I don't doubt that. I mean, look--
-[Zayn yelling] -[crowd exclaiming]
[Byron] We've heard it from our own champion, AJ Styles,
who has doubted the allegiance… or questioned the allegiance of Daniel Bryan.
[Tom] Uh-oh.
Oh! Big back body drop!
[Corey] Incredible height on the back body drop. Covered here by Sami.
[Tom] Cover for the title, and a quick kickout.
[Corey] Listen, it's simple, it's business.
The opportunity to have the first-ever co-WWE Champions
would be good for SmackDown Live.
It would get the world talking, it would be on ESPN,
it would be big, big news.
[Tom] Tag made. Back in comes Kevin Owens.
[Byron] Uh, you're right, Corey.
It would make headlines, it would get people talking.
Just for all the wrong reasons.
[Owens yelling]
[Styles grunting, groaning]
[Tom] Sent right into the turnbuckle.
And now Owens, to win the championship, and a kickout.
[both grunting]
[Tom] Owens giving no quarter to Styles.
That's the one smart part of this strategy from Owens and Zayn.
[Byron] Owens has gotta be careful
because if he gets too aggressive he can be disqualified.
-[man] Come on, Owens! -[Owens] We'll play outside!
-[Tom] Now following Styles. -[Corey] Look out!
[Tom] Oh man!
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Remember, the only way for Kevin and Sami
to win the championship is by pinfall or submission inside the ring.
[Corey] Yeah, but at this particular point in time
this is a great strategy by Kevin utilizing the outside of the ring
to inflict punishment on the champion.
[Tom] Now, Owens rolls back inside here
trying to collect a cover, out at one.
[both grunting]
[Tom] Grinding that forearm right in the face.
[Styles panting]
[Byron] Owens and Zayn doing a good job of thwarting the--
[Styles yelling]
[Byron] …earlier strategy of AJ Styles to hit hard and fast.
[Tom] Tag.
[Byron] Owens driving all the breath out of AJ Styles with that double stomp.
Come on, tough guy!
[Byron] Yeah, that could have certainly injured the ribs of AJ Styles.
If that were to happen,
that would completely change the complexion of this match.
[Tom] And Graves, these are two men in Sami and Kevin at the hands of--
[both yelling]
[Tom] The reports were they nearly didn't have a job here on WWE.
So, this is as much about winning the championship
as it is rubbing it in the face of Shane McMahon and AJ Styles.
[Corey] Poetic justice in its purest form.
Athletic competition, Sami and Kevin can stick it to Shane O-Mac
and it would be a beautiful thing.
[Byron] Athletic competition in its purest form
when the stipulation is not fair for a clear-cut athletic competition.
And let's not forget that Daniel Bryan had everything to do
with making this match.
It wasn't that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn earned this opportunity
to have a handicap match.
[Tom] And took a sarcastic comment right out of the mouth of AJ Styles.
Oh! And turned it into a match here at the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] AJ is swinging with everything he's got left.
Taking it to both Kevin and Sami.
[Tom] Styles doing the smart thing, battling out of the opponent's corner.
[Styles yelling]
[Tom] Here comes Owens!
All the battles between Styles and Owens in 2017.
[Corey] Uh-oh. This does not end well for Styles!
[all exclaiming]
[Tom] Face-first on the canvas! Cover and a kickout!
That was three!
[Owens roaring]
[Tom] And now Owens right on top of AJ Styles.
[Corey] This is classic Kevin Owens right now. Just grinding down AJ.
Let's take one more look at the height, and the…
-[all exclaiming] -…sudden stop at the end.
Nearly crowned new champions there.
Kevin Owens just gonna grind on AJ Styles,
wear him down, test AJ's endurance.
[Byron] That's the key. We're gonna find out.
We're gonna find out what AJ Styles is made of in this matchup.
[indistinct chatter]
[Tom] Styles has been a man that's been true to his word.
Just this past week on SmackDown Live,
back-to-back separate matches against Owens and Zayn.
[Byron] Well, the life motto of AJ Styles has been,
"I always…" [exclaiming] "…bet on myself no matter what the situation."
[official] Stay off him!
[Byron] AJ Styles has been an underdog champion, and he relishes that role.
But when you think about this situation, I mean, this is ridiculous.
Watch it!
-[Owens roaring] -[Tom] Owens and Zayn!
Oh!
-And the Cannonball from Owens-- -[Corey] Oh no!
Kevin might have re-aggravated the ankle injury from SmackDown this past week.
[Tom] Tag made and Sami Zayn's back in.
And how does that shift the tables here now.
How healthy is Kevin Owens?
[Corey] It evens the odds for AJ Styles, I'll tell you that much.
Remember, it was a few moments spent in the Calf Crusher,
then a vicious attack by Styles
that left Kevin with one good leg last week.
[both grunting]
[Tom] Styles getting a measure of retribution as well last week
after all the annoyances and nuisances these two have been.
Now trying to isolate Sami Zayn up here on the top.
Ooh! Look at these sharp elbows.
[Byron] Sami just covering up.
-[Tom] Oh! There goes Zayn! -[Zayn screaming]
[Byron] This could be prime real estate for AJ Styles.
[Corey] Doesn't look like AJ's got enough gas left in the tank to make the cover.
[Zayn groaning]
[Tom] And again, it's been a two-on-one attack here
for this entire match for AJ Styles.
You can't blame the man as he's trying to gather himself here.
Zayn trying to get to the corner, makes the tag to Kevin Owens,
but where is the left knee at?
-[Styles grunting] -[Tom] Oh! The Pelé Kick!
[Owens groaning]
[Corey] Oh, neither of Kevin's legs are working too well after the Pelé Kick.
Down goes Owens.
Once again, Styles with a few moments to gather himself.
You see immediately-- Watch this again.
Styles knowing where he is, the placement, boom!
And the connection!
[Owens groaning]
[Corey] Kevin Owens doing the wise thing.
-[Tom] Tag. -[Corey] Tagging Sami Zayn back in.
Uh-oh. Uh-oh!
[Tom] Think about the Helluva Kick! Oh, and a boot from Styles!
[Corey] Styles knew it was coming.
[Tom] Oh! Oh, and the Moonsault! Oh!
Turns it into a reverse DDT.
[Corey] I don't know where AJ is getting this from,
but Styles is still in the fight.
[Byron] Styles increasing his lifespan in this matchup.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Corey, is this like watching a boxer, you know, fight between rounds,
taking a moment to pick himself up and fighting off whatever comes at him.
[Corey] Take another look at this beautiful Moonsault into the reverse DDT.
But Sami Zayn, almost instinctively,
climbing toward his own corner and tags Kevin.
[Tom] And again Styles answers.
And Kevin Owens a little bit slow getting into the corner.
[Corey] Kevin certainly moving a little gingerly.
[Byron] Wait a minute. Come on, ref. Get Sami Zayn out of there.
-[Corey] Wow! -[Tom] Uh-oh!
-[crowd exclaiming] -[Tom] You gotta be kidding me! Wow.
[Corey] How on earth did Styles have the wherewithal to land that?
[Byron] I have no idea.
[Tom] Styles again!
[Byron] This could be it!
[Tom] What a turnaround, Calf Crusher!
[Corey] Kevin Owens submitted to this last week in record time.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Tom] Reinjured the knee earlier on in this match.
Can AJ Styles put away Owens?
[Byron] This is the best opportunity Styles has had!
[Corey] Styles just cranking on the Calf Crusher
with everything he's got left.
Can Kevin Owens hold on?
[Tom] Pulling back on it!
[Byron] Kevin Owens is so close. Is he gonna tap?
[Tom] And Sami Zayn breaks it up.
[crowd jeering]
[Byron] Sami Zayn just saved Kevin Owens,
but what kind of condition is the ankle of Kevin Owens in at this point?
[Corey] These are the perils of a handicap match.
Kevin was able to withstand the Calf Crusher long enough
for Sami to break the hold.
[Byron] Come on, come on! Oh!
[Tom] And now Sami Zayn is still in the way,
and what a clothesline from Styles!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] If Sami won't get out of the ring,
AJ Styles will forcibly remove him.
[Corey] AJ's trying to--
[Tom] Owens trying to take advantage. Shoulder's down, and a kickout.
[Corey] Styles is realizing he needs to isolate one of the opposing team…
[Tom] Shoulder first!
Right into the post!
[Corey] AJ sidestepped Owens.
Owens definitely worse for wear after tasting the ring post.
Listen to this.
-[Owens screaming] -[crowd exclaiming]
[Corey] But look how quickly Sami, once again, tags himself in.
[Tom] Uh-oh. Misses wildly there. Think about the Blue Thunder Bomb.
[Corey] Styles fighting out.
-[both grunting] -[Byron] AJ Styles in desperation mode.
Two, three. Come on!
[Tom] Has found a couple opportunities. Oh!
And Kevin Owens with a cheap shot!
-[Byron] Oh no, no, no! -[Tom] Blue Thunder Bomb!
-[Corey] New champions! New champions! -[crowd] One, two…
-[crowd exclaiming] -[Tom] Oh! And AJ kicked out.
[Corey] Wow.
I, uh…
Look at this. The referee distracted with Sami Zayn momentarily.
Kevin-- Boom!
Picture-perfect superkick into the Blue Thunder Bomb.
And somehow AJ Styles fights on.
[Tom] Sami Zayn used that same move to score a pinfall against Styles
this past week on SmackDown Live.
Tonight, it doesn't pay dividends.
[Corey] I thought we were about to see co-WWE Champions.
[Tom] And the plan for Zayn and Owens
has slowly disintegrated here at the Royal Rumble.
Get him out of the corner, Zayn!
Listen up!
[both grunting]
[Corey] Disrespect from a defiant Sami Zayn.
Come on!
[Sami straining]
[Corey] You have to respect the strategy that Styles has employed.
He's chipped away at both Owens and Zayn enough
to where Kevin and Sami had seen some sort of peril.
[Tom] Going up top here, Sami Zayn.
[Byron] You talk about peril, this could be disastrous for the champion.
[Sami grunting, panting]
[Tom] This could be catastrophic if Sami Zayn's able to pull it off here.
Trying to rip the WWE Champion off the top.
Oh!
[Corey] Face-first goes Sami.
[Byron] Again, that cat-like quickness of Styles coming in handy.
[Tom] And Styles… Whoa!
Out onto the apron.
Oh! And a shot to Owens!
[Corey] Right between Kevin's eyes.
[Byron] Look where Styles is.
[Tom] This could be it! Styles up top!
-Phenomenal Forearm! -[Byron] He hit it!
-[Tom] Styles! Cover! -[crowd] One, two…
[Tom] And Owens is all over him.
[Corey] The numbers just too much for AJ Styles.
[Byron] Watch Styles here. He knew he had to strike fast.
Phenomenal Forearm hit the mark.
But just in the nick of time,
again, as you said, Corey, the numbers come into play.
[Corey] Sami still looks a little bit out of it.
But can Zayn make his way to his corner?
I don't even know if Kevin's in much better condition than Sami.
[Byron] Styles wisely positioning himself in the pathway of Sami.
[commentators exclaiming]
[Tom] Oh man. Hear the thud.
-Oh! -[Zayn screaming]
[Owens] Sami!
-[Byron] Oh! -[Tom] Listen to these sickening…
-[Zayn roaring] -Mother!
-[crowd exclaiming] -[Corey] Oh! Good God, man!
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] Zayn might be out on his feet right now.
[Byron] Zayn may have a broken jaw.
[Corey] Those were some of the hardest shots I've ever seen.
[Tom] Oh, man. Now, Sami Zayn. Sami trying to make the tag!
Trying to get to Kevin Owens!
Fingertips away. Missed with the tag.
And now Styles able to pull Zayn and throw him over the top.
-[Byron] Watch out! -[Tom] Oh! Superkick.
Look at that. The official's gotta get this under control.
[Byron] Uh-oh!
[Tom] Thought about the Pop-Up Powerbomb
-Cover! -[crowd] Two, three!
[Tom] Styles pulled it off!
["Phenomenal" by CFO$ playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the WWE Champion,
The Phenomenal…
[announcer and crowd] AJ Styles!
[Byron] AJ Styles has just done the impossible.
AJ Styles has fended off the threat of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
to retain his WWE Championship.
[Corey] Against all odds,
The Phenomenal One got it done.
[inaudible]
[Tom] Let's see, guys, down the stretch.
Let's see if Sami Zayn actually did tag in Kevin Owens.
Was a tag made right here?
[Corey] I'd like to see a different camera angle.
From that point, it didn't exactly look like it.
[Tom] It didn't appear that way and tossed Sami Zayn out of the ring.
Oh! The superkick, and then Kevin Owens tried to seal things with Owens.
[Corey] Looking for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Styles would reverse.
[bell ringing]
[Corey] I think another angle on AJ, shoulders being down as well.
I don't know how he did it,
but Styles just silenced all the doubters with the performance of a lifetime.
[Byron] Styles just proved that he is truly phenomenal.
[Owens and Zayn shouting]
[Tom] Styles knew he had a small window.
Had to hit hard and hit fast,
and he executed phenomenally.
[inaudible]
[Tom] Zayn and Owens's "Yep" movement halted here in Philadelphia
at the hands of the WWE Champion.
[music fades]
["New Orleans" by Kid Rock playing]
♪ I'm going down to New Orleans To see about a friend of mine ♪
♪ Burnin' through Mississippi With the Big Easy on my mind ♪
♪ When I get to New Orleans Someone gonna treat me right ♪
♪ I'm goin' down to New Orleans And leavin' all of this behind ♪
♪ Going down, down Down, downtown tonight ♪
♪ I said down to New Orleans Down to New Orleans ♪
♪ Down to New Orleans Down to New Orleans ♪
[Owens] Can't be happening.
How did you not see that?
No, no, listen. This can't be happening again.
-Again, the referree screws me. -He's right.
Did you not see? Do you even watch our matches?
-I was legal! -We never tagged!
-How was he getting covered? -He was the legal man. I wasn't legal.
-Did you put him up to this? -I came to check on my partner.
After AJ hauls him over the top rope like a psychopath!
Did you see it?
You can't have a referree screw me another… out of another title!
-Did you see it? -Have some dignity!
Did you see it?
-Did you see it? -Shane? Shane, I'm…
I'm sorry for yelling, but you need to make this right.
You can't have a referree cost me another title. Please.
This isn't fair and you know it.
So, did I see it?
-Yes. Did you watch? -Did you see that?
[crowd chattering]
Yep.
[crowd laughing, applauding]
[crowd cheering]
[Owens seething]
[Owens screaming]
[Corey] Shane McMahon certainly looked pleased.
[Byron] Referrees decision is final.
["Set It Off" by CFO$ playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is a Two Out Of Three Falls Match,
and it is for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship!
Introducing first, at a combined weight of 450 pounds,
Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable!
[Tom] Gable and Benjamin, speaking of referree issues,
have had plenty of those over the last few weeks.
In their time, just trying to get to the titles against the Usos.
And WWE Royal Rumble is presented by KFC.
It's fingerlickin' good.
And by Rocket League.
Join more than 40 million players
as they compete in the world's most exciting sports video game.
Rocket League, play for fun, live to play.
["Done With That (Day One Remix)" by CFO$ playing]
♪ Down since, day one ish ♪
♪ Yeah, down since, day one ish ♪
♪ We've been down since, day one… ♪
[Tom] The five-time Tag Team Champions,
Jimmy and Jey, the Usos.
♪ Let's welcome these fools To the Uso penitentiary ♪
♪ Okay ♪
Oh yeah!
Hey, we about to get real silly up in Philly
'cause tonight, we got a Two Out Of Three Falls Match
against these two chumps.
And they've been asking us all week,
"Hey yo, Uce, how you gonna get ready for this Two Out Of Three?"
Well, the answer's very, very simple.
We stay ready so we ain't even gotta get ready.
But we got a question for you two.
How do you prepare for two brothers who ain't got nothing to lose?
You can't!
How do you prepare for two brothers who ride from the womb to the tomb?
You can't!
How do you prepare for two brothers that's been down since day one?
Hey, Uce, we ain't trying to sell no t-shirts.
This ain't no merch. This is a lifestyle we live.
How do you prepare for the five-time WWE Tag Team Champions,
Jimmy and Jey, the U…
[crowd] Sos!
Hey, you can't and you won't!
Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin,
welcome to the Uso Penitentiary!
-[crowd cheering] -[inaudible]
[Byron] You think the champions are basking in confidence? [chuckling]
[Corey] I think we're in Philadelphia penitentiary.
Everyone here should feel at home.
[Tom] And the Usos set to defend their SmackDown Tag Team Titles
against Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin.
And, guys, I alluded to it earlier,
there was a previous matchup between these two
where the illegal Superstars were pinned, and as a result,
Gable and Benjamin did not win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
In fact, the very official that's officiating this match
was the one who reversed the decision.
[bell ringing]
[Byron] Hence the reason for this Two Out Of Three Falls matchup.
No excuses, no redos.
We're gonna find out who the rightful SmackDown Tag Team Champions should be.
[Tom] Oh! Now, Shelton Benjamin right in here on Jey Uso.
Two Out Of Three Falls Match.
Graves, you've been in these types of matches.
How do you navigate this atmosphere?
[Corey] The important thing is to land the first fall.
You wanna get it as early as possible.
[Tom] That's what Gable and Benjamin were thinking about right there.
And Jey Uso wisely getting out of the opposing corner.
[crowd chattering indistinctly]
[Corey] Chad Gable's gotta be feeling confident
after this past week on SmackDown.
Picking up a victory over Jey Uso.
In singles competition, that's gotta be in the brain of the Usos.
[Byron] Well, when Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin first started teaming up,
you know, five months ago, a lot of people said,
"Yo, Chad's got a great tag team. He's got a--"
[Tom] Oh! Went for the German.
Jimmy Uso's legal.
Oh! Went for the double superkicks.
And Gable just dodged a bullet.
[Byron] We're used to seeing Benjamin as the biggest threat.
Now, pepole are saying it's Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable
who are equal threats.
[Corey] I've gone on record saying,
I don't think anybody is in the league of the Usos
when it comes to the Tag Team Division right now.
But in recent weeks, Gable and Benjamin have made believers out of me.
I would not be shocked to see new Tag Team Champions tonight.
[Tom] How much do you think it weighs on the mind of Chad,
who's former Tag Team Championship partner, Jason Jordan,
later on tonight is defending his new Raw Tag Team Titles with Seth Rollins?
[Corey] I think Chad Gable has kept his scratch-and-claw mentality.
It's gonna take him to success wherever he is, whoever his partner is.
[Tom] This is that amateur wrestling background, Graves,
that we saw all on display this past Tuesday night.
[Corey] Chad Gable, former United States olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling.
I mean, you don't wanna mess with Gable on the mat.
[Tom] Oh!
Oh! Jimmy Uso uncorks one.
[Jimmy growling]
[Tom] Oh!
Since the introduction of the SmackDown Tag Team Titles,
the Usos have held them for 52% of the time.
This is the main tag team on Tuesday nights.
[Byron] Tells you all you need to know.
[Tom] Cover, hook to the leg, and a kickout.
[Byron] About how good this team is, the Usos,
and they just keep getting better.
[Corey] A tag is made by Benjamin. I don't think Uso's aware.
[Tom] And Jimmy-- Whoa! Trying to take a shot there.
Benjamin-- Oh! Into the left knee of Jimmy Uso.
[Corey] Nasty chop block by Gable. Brilliant strategy.
Great teamwork, and Benjamin looking to finish the job.
-[Tom] Oh no. Oh! Wrapped around the post. -[official] Get the match inside!
[both grunting]
[Byron] And you're really seeing that-- Oh!
That sense of urgency from Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable.
[Tom] And think about how hungry Shelton Benjamin is.
It's been 15 years since Shelton Benjamin won his first Tag Team title in WWE.
Former member of-- Oh! …Team Angle.
Knows what it's all about, to be successful.
[Byron] We talked about this before.
Shelton Benjamin and his former partner, Charlie Haas, once mentors for the Usos.
-[both grunting] -[Byron] Helped show 'em the ropes.
[Tom] Graves, we talked about what Chad is able to do in amateur wrestling.
Shelton Benjamin equally good. A legend in the state of Minnesota.
[Corey] Absolutely right.
Both men have parleyed their amateur backgrounds
into successful careers here in WWE.
[Tom] And Jimmy Uso all tied up here.
And an injury perhaps this early on in the Two Out Of Three Falls Match
is only gonna get worse.
It's only gonna get harder for the champions.
-[official] Take it out! -[Jimmy yelling]
[Graves] Believe me, that is clearly on the mind of the challengers.
[Tom] And again, Two Out Of Three Falls Match.
-[Chad roaring] -[Corey] I love watching Chad in the ring.
Every maneuver he makes has such snap behind it.
-Oh! -[Jimmy yelling]
[Tom] Another cover here from Gable for the first fall,
and a kickout.
[Corey] You noticed how Gable and Benjamin effectively cut the ring in half already.
Jimmy Uso has been nowhere near his own corner since the knee was chopped out.
[Jey] Get up! Get up!
[Byron] If you ask the Usos, they love the maturation of Chad and Shelton.
It's made them have to push harder.
It's made them have to work a little more.
[Tom] And Byron, this match is coming about the same way,
similar to what happened with AJ Styles as a Handicap Match just moments ago.
Daniel Bryan took the words right out of, uh,
Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin's mouth.
[Byron] Yeah, but in this case, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin got what they wanted.
They wanted another opportunity.
Chad, one at a time!
[Tom] The same time, they still have to beat the Usos twice tonight
in order to become Tag Team Champions.
-This is what you asked for. -[Jimmy yelling]
This is what you asked for.
-[Tom] Oh! -[Jimmy yelling]
[Corey] Obviously the strategy that Benjamin and Gable are employing now
is do irreparable damage to Jimmy Uso,
get a fall somehow.
Whether it be submission or pinfall and keep on the injury.
Try to score two back-to-back quick falls.
-It's a great strategy. -[both grunting]
[Byron] You know, the Usos thrive in a very, very fast paced environment
inside that ring.
You take out an ankle, you take out a leg, that, uh, hampers that strategy.
[Corey] Look at the angle of Jimmy Uso's leg right now.
Benjamin with all of his weight, pressed on the inside of Uso's knee.
[official] Come on.
[Tom] And now, Jimmy Uso, he may have freed himself.
Can he get to Jey in the corner?
And again, Shelton Benjamin, so powerful, has a hold of the leg.
[Chad] Come on!
[Corey] Benjamin using his size advantage and reach to make a tag here to Gable.
This is beautiful teamwork.
[Tom] And now Gable is back in legal.
[Byron] This is going to quickly become a dire situation
if Jimmy Uso cannot find a way to tag in his brother.
[Corey] "Become," Saxton? It looks pretty dire to me already.
[Tom] And again, if Gable and Benjamin are able to pull off the first fall,
the second fall could come very quickly after that.
[Byron] Jimmy swinging, trying to create some separation.
[Tom] Oh, and now, look at Gable, just bullying Jimmy into the corner.
[Corey] Dragon screw takes Uso down, and-- [grunting]
[Tom] And again, now, the cover for a fall and a kickout.
-[Jimmy groaning] -[Shelton] You're about to go down!
[Tom] Jimmy Uso at this point, desperately needs to make a tag.
Benjamin and Gable have been in and out
on a regular, uh, fashion here in this match.
Oh gosh!
[official] Three!
[Tom] Oh, and the double knees and a shot on Jey Uso!
[crowd jeering]
[Byron] Add a little more insult to injury.
[Corey] I think Benjamin may be making a mistake here.
Listening to the crowd.
When you got Uso down and his brother, knocked off the apron,
that was a golden opportunity for a fall.
[Jimmy groaning]
[Byron] I think it's personal for Shelton.
I mean, he's truly enjoying this.
He's heard all the talk, all the rumblings of how good the Usos are.
He wants to put a stop to that tonight.
[Tom] Same time, Byron, I mean-- Oh!
A lot of talk about Shelton Benjamin, what he can do in this moment,
a lot of pressure on himself.
Oh, and the enziguri!
[Corey] Right on the ear of Shelton. Can Jimmy make the tag to his brother?
[Tom] Jimmy Uso down in a heap here.
And now, Jey, ready to get into this contest.
[crowd clapping]
[Byron] Corner's a long ways away.
See the concerned look on the face of Chad Gable.
-Jimmy almost there! -[Tom] Tag!
And now, Jey Uso legal against Benjamin.
And a shot on Gable!
[Corey] Jimmy Uso has been dying to get into this--
Or Jey rather, been dying to get into this match.
[Jey exclaiming]
[Tom] Uh-oh! Went for the Samoan Drop here.
Benjamin able to escape. Tag made by Gable.
And Jey Uso-- Oh! Sending Gable over the top!
[Byron] Uh-oh! Take off!
[Tom] Opposite side, down goes Benjamin!
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] And now, climbing back into the ring.
[Corey] Gentlemen, I think we're gonna have company!
-[Tom] Heads up! -[Byron] Oh!
Wow!
Oh, Jey Uso understands, "My brother's out."
"I gotta do this all on my own now."
[Corey] Jey sacrificing his own well-being to attempt to retain his championships.
[Tom] Going up to the top, still trying to focus in on the first fall.
Crossbody, hook to the leg,
kickout by Gable.
[Byron] Jey Uso…
[Corey] Unstoppable.
First taking out Benjamin, then Gable on opposing sides of the ring.
[Tom] Boom!
And now, Gable in a lot of trouble.
Going up to the top here.
Jey Uso, can he close in on this all-important first fall?
Thought about the splash, able to land on his feet.
Now, Gable don't wanna be there.
[Corey] Gable could be looking for that rolling German suplex.
[Tom] Two legal men for their teams, here's the cover, and a kickout.
Oh, and Gable led him right into Benjamin!
Cover here and a kickout.
[Jey grunting]
-[Corey] What a reversal-- -[Jey yelling]
[Corey] Gable with a Tiger Suplex!
[Tom] Shoulders are down,
into the bridge, and a kickout.
[Corey] Wow.
[Tom] Talk about momentum swings.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Corey] Chad Gable reaching deep into the playbook for this one.
Let's take another look.
Gable's gonna kick Uso right toward the ropes
where Shelton was waiting with a step-up knee.
But it still wasn't enough for that first fall.
[Tom] Jey Uso and Chad Gable, legal for their teams.
Now a tag. In comes Shelton Benjamin.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
Benjamin and Gable could be looking for this tandem powerbomb!
[Tom] This is going up top. Wait a minute.
Oh, and a dropkick! Great counter by Gable!
[Corey] Great mid-air adjustment by Chad Gable.
[Tom] Oh my God! Oh, and a powerbomb!
Jey sent into Jimmy!
Oh Paydirt!
Cover from Benjamin!
[crowd] One, two…
-[Tom] Oh, and a kickout! -[Byron] Oh! I thought he had him.
[Tom] What is it gonna take to get one fall in this match?
[Corey] That is a great question.
Shelton is asking himself that very one right now.
"What do I have to do?"
[Byron] Shelton looks like he just saw a ghost.
[crowd whistling]
[Tom] Two Out Of Three Falls Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
And now Benjamin--
Oh! Trying to get Jey Uso back inside the ring.
[Corey] Oh! Down goes Jey Uso.
[Tom] And Benjamin makes a tag into Chad Gable.
No way. No way. This is how bad Gable wants it!
[Tom] Oh! And a moonsault!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Chad Gable taking out both Usos
with a sky-high moonsault.
[official] Come on, Chad!
[Corey] It's what the SmackDown Tag Team Titles mean to Chad Gable.
Look at this!
-Picture perfect. -[official] Two…
[Byron] Chad Gable's-- Oh!
Right there, establishing the two-for-one special,
and placing the advantage firmly in the hands of his team.
[Tom] And again, Gable sending Jimmy Uso back inside the ring.
That's not Jey Uso!
That is-- No! That's the legal Uso.
[Corey] Jimmy Uso's not legal.
Jey Uso is!
[Tom] Jey with a huge superkick, and Jimmy with an answer.
-[Corey] Uh-oh, uh-oh! -[Tom] Going up top!
Jey Uso right position!
Splash!
-Cover! -[crowd] One, two…
[Tom] That is-- Oh!
-[Byron] Oh man. -[Corey] Are you kidding me?
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Tom] We still do not have one fall yet in this match.
[Byron] The look of shock and dismay we saw on Shelton a few moments ago,
now, we see that on the faces of the Usos.
[Corey] Pure disbelief.
A pair of superkicks and a…
-…Uso splash… -[Tom] Tag.
…still wouldn't keep Chad Gable down.
[Tom] Jimmy Uso directing traffic with his brother, going to the opposite corner.
And this could be it for Chad Gable in this first fall.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Here comes Shelton once again.
-[Tom] Oh! -[crowd exclaiming]
[Corey] Good night.
[Tom] Well, Benjamin trying to do it again.
Jimmy Uso on the move, and a superkick!
[Byron] Watch Chad.
[Corey] That's Jey in the ring right now. Jey, the legal one, caughtin an armbar.
[Tom] That's Jimmy Uso!
That's Jimmy Uso caught up there with Chad Gable.
The two legal Superstars in this match.
Tag made. Now Jey is legal.
I don't know if Gable saw the tag.
[Byron] He's finding out now.
[Corey] Once again, déjà vu.
[Tom] Oh, and a superkick!
Jey fires back!
[announcers] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Oh, right in the middle!
-Cover! -[crowd] One, two, three!
[Tom] That is one.
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Winners of the first fall, the Usos.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Props to the referee for being able to tell who's who.
I'm confused there.
[Tom] Oh!
Not easy from the womb to the tomb with the Usos.
And now, look at this, Jey Uso and Shelton Benjamin tied up.
[Byron] Now, no rest for the weary, this match continues.
Shelton Benjamin understands how valuable this chance is now to tie things up.
This is your survival, this is your existence in this match.
[referee] Come on!
Again now, Gable and Benjamin with a two-on-one advantage here.
Down one fall to nothing.
[Chad grunting]
Do-or-die for Benjamin and Gable.
[referee speaking indistinctly]
[referee] What are you doing?
And now, listen up!
Listen up, huh?
[Byron] Gable and Benjamin better watch themselves.
[Corey] Desperate times call for desperate measures.
[Byron] What are they--? Oh, you can't do this!
[Corey] Not on the outside of the ring!
-[announcers] Oh! -[crowd] Oh!
[referee] What are you doing?
[Corey] Well, that's one way to eliminate an Uso.
[scattered applause]
[Tom] And this is incredibly smart by Gable and Benjamin.
You essentially eliminate anyone for Jey Uso to tag right now.
[Byron] You see, uh…
Shelton Benjamin almost smirking there. He understands what he has done.
I got to talk to him. Hang on.
[Byron] The lifespan of this Uso team here…
[referee] Jey, you still wanna do this?
You sure? You sure you wanna do it?
-[Tom] The official… -[Corey] Jey Uso's calling Gable on.
[referee] Tag made!
[Chad yelling]
[Tom] Oh man!
And the overhead kick, but again, guys, the tag was made by Benjamin.
[Corey] Shelton Benjamin… looking to…
-Uh-oh! -[Tom] Oh, and shoulder's down!
-Shoulder's down! He got him! -[referee] …two, three!
-[bell ringing] -[Corey] That's it!
-[Byron] Oh my gosh! -[Corey] Two falls in a row!
[announcer] Here are your winners and still the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
the Usos!
[Corey] Back-to-back falls.
Nobody is more shocked than Gable and Benjamin.
But Jimmy and Jey escape with the Tag Team championship
for SmackDown Live.
[Byron] How about that? A clean sweep by the Usos.
[Tom] Even Chad Gable on Twitter said there will be no third fall.
He just didn't realize it would go down like this.
This was the first one.
[Chad yelling]
[Corey] Great, masterful teamwork
from the hottest tag team in the world right now.
Jimmy and Jey, superkicks left and right.
Gable caught in the middle and that would be fall number one.
[Tom] Jey Uso would collect a pinfall.
Meanwhile, this on the outside,
Jimmy Uso, look at the impact…
Boom… here on the outside on the floor.
[Corey] Benjamin and Gable certainly had a sound strategy
to get themselves back into this match,
but a bit of hesitation by Shelton Benjamin
and Gable would allow a roll-up from nowhere.
[bell ringing]
[Corey] And the Usos escape against all odds.
[indistinct chatter]
[Byron] The Uso Penitentiary has just claimed two more victims.
["Done With That (Day One Remix)" by CFO$ playing]
[both yelling]
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
[John] WrestleMania is about moments.
It's about emotion.
The culmination of a year's journey happening right in front of your eyes.
Will you marry me?
You were witnessing such a real moment.
I never thought I'd ever hear those words.
It was a secret for everyone, and that's what makes it special for the fans.
[Michael] One of the greatest WrestleMania moments ever!
I didn't just hear it, I felt it.
[Michael] Welcome home, Matt and Jeff.
[dramatic music playing]
[Roman] I'm gonna share the ring with the Undertaker in front of 70,000 people.
You don't get many moments like this, if ever, in your life.
This is the top of the mountain. He is that guy.
It's kinda surreal right now. 30-plus years of my life.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
[crowd chanting] Thank you, 'Taker! Thank you, 'Taker! Thank you, 'Taker!
[music fades]
The critically acclaimed WWE '24 documentary series
On The Road to WrestleMania.
That's where we are tonight, ladies and gentlemen
Live at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for the Royal Rumble.
It has been absolutely unbelievable to this point.
Philadelphia's been buzzing. I'm still fired up.
And we got a lot of people to thank for being here tonight.
[Corey] Absolutely.
We wanna thank Aloe Blacc for "King Is Born,"
one of the official themes of WWE Royal Rumble.
It's available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Michael] And ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
thirty men, every man for himself.
Last man standing guaranteed a title opportunity at WrestleMania.
The 31st Royal Rumble Match, where it's all about the numbers.
[music fades]
-[dramatic music playing] -[man] The Royal Rumble.
[commentator 1] This is what we've all been waiting for.
[man] Where memories are made.
[commentator 2] Only one of Shawn Michaels's feet hit the floor.
-[commentator 3] John Cena is number 30! -[Michael] The Phenomenal One!
[man] Legends are etched in history.
With a tear in my eye.
-[commentator 4] Stone Cold! -[Michael] Undertaker!
[man] And WWE's greatest compete for the ultimate opportunity.
-[commentator 5] The game, it's over! -[Michael] Edge has done it!
[commentator 6] Randy Orton wins the Rumble!
[man] The Road To WrestleMania begins here at the Royal Rumble.
And at the Royal Rumble, the numbers mean everything.
[announcer] Take a look, they're here in numbers!
[man] The rules are simple.
Thirty competitors enter, each trying to toss the others over the top rope.
If your two feet hit the floor, you're eliminated.
The last one standing is crowned the winner
and earns a championship opportunity
in the main event of WrestleMania.
[Michael] The greatest live event in entertainment!
[epic music playing]
[man] Since the Rumble's inception in 1988, 900 WWE Superstars have entered.
An astronomical mass of 240,292 pounds,
or over 120 tons.
More than the weight of three semi-trucks combined.
97% of those entrants, 869 to be exact,
have seen their dreams dashed as their two feet hit the floor.
A record 43 of those eliminations came at the hands of The Big Red Machine, Kane.
And in 2014, The Big Dog Roman Reigns set a single Rumble record
with 12 eliminations.
[commentator 7] What a showing by Roman Reigns.
This is my yard now.
[man] Fifty-two WWE Hall of Famers have walked the aisle to the Royal Rumble,
but only nine of them added a Rumble victory
to their legendary résumés.
Six WWE Superstars have managed to pull off the amazing feat
of winning the Rumble twice,
including last year's winner, The Viper Randy Orton.
But only The Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin
has managed to pull it off three times.
[Steve Austin] Oh, hell yeah!
[man] Winning the Rumble often takes endurance.
Something Santino Marella apparently did not know
when he became the shortest-lasting entrant
in Rumble history.
[Jerry] He didn't even last two seconds!
I wasn't ready! No. I'm going back in!
[man] Six Superstars have managed to last over an hour
in a single Royal Rumble Match.
Led by Rey Mysterio, who held on for an epic 62 minutes and 12 seconds
to pick up the victory in 2006.
[Michael] He did it! Rey Mysterio did it!
[man] But it's Chris Jericho
who has spent the longest cumulative amount of time in the Royal Rumble Match,
with an astonishing 4 hours, 58 minutes, and 12 seconds.
That's a record. You dig?
Drink it in, man!
[man] The numbers truly are pivotal at the Royal Rumble.
More specifically, what number you draw.
Twelve winners have emerged as one of the final four entrants
to the Royal Rumble.
In particular number 27, which boasts four winners.
But an early number doesn't mean you're necessarily out of luck
as four men have started the Rumble in the one or two position
and still come out victorious.
["King Is Born" playing]
[man] This year, the Royal Rumble will emanate from Philadelphia.
[Michael] Live at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
[man] A city full of history.
A city of underdogs.
And tonight, one man will outlast 29 others
to main event the grandest stage in all of sports entertainment,
WrestleMania.
Tonight, a king is born.
[music crescendos]
[Michael] Welcome to The Road To WrestleMania!
[Corey] At the Royal Rumble Match, it's every man for himself.
♪ Like a bull in the jungle ♪
♪ In the heat of the rumble ♪
♪ I ain't got nothing to lose ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ I've been fightin' these hard times In the ghettos of my mind ♪
♪ Now, it's victory that I choose ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ain't no one like me ♪
♪ I'm a legend ♪
♪ Ain't no one like me ♪
♪ I'm a legend, legend ♪
[Michael] It's more Rumble than ever.
History's waiting at the Royal Rumble.
[Jerry] Who's gonna main event WrestleMania?
[crowd] Three, two, one…
-♪ A king is born ♪ -[klaxon sounding]
[music stops]
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[announcer] The following is the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match.
[crowd roaring]
[announcer] In just a moment,
the first two Superstars will start in the ring.
Every 90 seconds, another Superstar will join the match,
and this will continue until all 30 Superstars have joined.
Eliminations occur when a Superstar is thrown over the top rope
with both feet hitting the floor.
The last man in the ring will be declared the Royal Rumble winner
and go on to face the champion of his choice at WrestleMania!
[crowd roaring]
[announcer] Introducing first, our special guest commentator.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE Hall of Famer,
Jerry The King Lawler!
[crowd cheering loudly]
["The Great Gate of Kiev" by Modest Mussorgsky playing]
[Michael] What an incredible honor for us here at ringside tonight
to be reunited with one of the greatest of all time,
Jerry The King Lawler.
And, gentlemen,
900 Superstars have entered the Royal Rumble Match over the years,
including this man on a number of occasions.
[Corey] King looks great. Like he could still enter if he wanted to this year.
[Byron chuckling]
[Michael] Jerry The King Lawler has been at ringside for, uh,
some of the most historic Royal Rumble matches in history.
Welcome, King. Good to see you back.
King.
Byron, he didn't really want to shake your hand.
You just happened to be here.
[Michael] King settling in here tonight at ringside.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] Introducing our first two entrants.
[man clearing throat melodically]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Philadelphia, what day is today?
[crowd] Rusev Day!
That's right, The Shakespeare of Song and The Lion of Bulgaria bring to you
the single greatest day of this, or any year.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is…
-♪ Rusev Day! ♪ -[crowd] Rusev Day!
[continues melody]
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Wow! -[Jerry chuckling] Nice!
["Roar of the Lion" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] So entering at number one in the 2018 Royal Rumble Match is Rusev.
For the fifth time in his career, he enters the Rumble.
And King, last year, I know you had the opportunity to call this match.
Rusev was impressive.
He lasted over 23 minutes before he was eliminatd by Goldberg.
[Jerry] You're right.
I can't remember Rusev never not being impressive.
And tonight on his own day?! Whoo!
[Corey] Absolutely. You get it, King. I miss having you out here.
[Byron] King, don't buy it. Please don't do it.
[Michael] Byron, in 2015, Rusev had an incredible Royal Rumble.
He eliminated four men in one match,
but he's gonna have to go post-to-post tonight to win this.
[Byron] Yeah. The pressure is on.
We're gonna find out not just how physically tough Rusev is,
but how mentally tough to go the distance.
[Corey] Can Rusev win the Rusev Rumble
and go on to headline RusevMania on Rusev Day?
[Michael] But who's gonna start this match with Rusev?
Entry number two.
[crowd chanting] Rusev Day!
[Jerry] I can't tell you how excited I am. [chuckling]
You're gonna have to forgive me for some of the things I may say tonight.
-[announcers chuckling] -[Jerry] Oh boy!
[Byron] You get a pass by me, King.
["Catch Your Breath" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Entering his first-ever Royal Rumble Match,
the extraordinary man who can do extraordinary things.
Corey, the first-ever, Universal Champion.
[Corey] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, welcome to Bálor Club.
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Only four times in Royal Rumble history
has the winner of the Royal Rumble Match come from either number one or number two.
King, it is quite the task to last the entire Rumble.
[Jerry] You're right.
[announcer] Introducing entrant number two,
from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland,
Finn Bálor!
[Michael] King, you've been in many Royal Rumble matches.
Your strategy if you were Finn or Rusev starting this match.
[Jerry] I'll tell you from experience, what worked was hiding under the ring.
[announcers chuckling]
[Jerry] That helped me stay in the Royal Rumble
for quite a number of minutes.
But right now, poor Finn.
He's gotta have butterflies in his stomach the size of eagles.
Can you imagine coming out here in front of this huge crowd
and having to face off with Rusev?
[Corey] On Rusev Day?!
-[Jerry] Yes! -[Byron] Oh.
[Corey] I wonder if Bálor Club has any sort of celebration on Rusev Day.
[Jerry] I probably doubt it.
[Michael] Well, Bálor Club, Anderson and Gallows, a member of it
where they lost to The Revival in the kickoff show here tonight.
[Byron] I guess it depends on the outcome of the match, Corey.
[Michael] So the first two men in the 2018 Royal Rumble Match face-to-face.
Rusev on your right, Finn Bálor on your left.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I thought Finn was gonna offer a handshake there.
I was gonna say, "Is he crazy?"
[Michael] Every man for himself in the Royal Rumble Match.
[bell ringing]
[Byron] Here we go!
[Michael] Rusev, the only Bulgarian to have ever wrestled in WWE.
Finn Bálor, of course, from Ireland.
International flavor kicking off the match here tonight.
[Corey] Uh-oh!
[Michael] And the power of Rusev looking to eliminate Finn Bálor early
as he tries to fight out of this situation.
-Rusev picked Bálor up… -[Jerry] Right over the top!
-This may not be long! -[Byron] Gonna be a short night for Bálor.
[Michael] Bálor lands on the apron.
[Jerry] Expect Finn--
Finn better try to stay away from those ropes, if he can.
[Corey] Finn needs to avoid Rusev, if he can.
[Byron] Yeah. Right now-- Oh!
Rusev manhandling Finn Bálor.
[Michael] Had the opportunity to see The Heartbreak Kid,
Shawn Michaels last night at the NXT TakeOver Event.
He talked about entering number one the year that he won
and how difficult it was to last that full hour.
[Corey] Look. This is where the size and weight advantage come into play.
Bálor gonna have a hard time dumping The Lion of Bulgaria over the top rope.
The Heartbreak Kid told me,
"Guys, it was the toughest thing he's ever done in his career."
And look at Bálor now, fighting back.
-Oh, and Rusev with a collision. -[Byron] Like running into a brick wall.
[Rusev roaring]
[Jerry] And here's the brick wall running into you. No!
That's the way you stop a brick wall.
[Michael] Dropkick by Bálor, both men down.
[Byron] You mentioned Hall of Famer, Heartbreak Kid and Nature Boy
on the kickoff show.
He mentioned, "Nothing else in your career matters
when you have an opportunity like this."
[Michael] Entry number 3 of 30 on the way.
[klaxon sounding]
["Tusk" by Jim Johnston playing"]
[Michael] He is The Man Beast, Rhyno, who is loved in Philadelphia.
An ECW product entering the Rumble for the second time in his career.
[Corey] King, you know all about that bingo hall.
[Jerry laughing] I was just there yesterday.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Oh, look at this.
[Michael] Yeah, Rusev and Rhyno,
two of the largest men in WWE today, and going right at it here.
[Jerry] Now, this is where if I were Finn Bálor,
I would execute my strategy I mentioned.
Hide in the corner over there. Stay under the radar.
[Corey] You should yell louder, King. I think Finn might be able to hear. Oh!
I think that's a great strategy. Uh-oh!
[Michael] Rhyno with a belly-to-belly, tossing Rusev across the ring with ease.
[Byron] We saw Rusev manhandling Bálor.
[Michael] One to Bálor as well.
[Byron] …Rhyno who's doing the manhandling.
[crowd chanting] ECW! ECW!
[Michael] And the familiar "ECW" chant here in the home of ECW, Philadelphia.
Again Rhyno, a longtime product of that promotion
as Rhyno takes down Bálor.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Rhyno's got that look in his eyes that a lot of Superstars had backstage.
"This could be my night where my life changes."
[Michael] And from behind, Rusev going right after Rhyno.
Weird sort of strategy there as it looked Rhyno may be close to eliminating Bálor.
And now, the power again of "The Man Beast."
[Jerry] This Rhyno is something else. Watch out.
[Michael] And Rusev,
that spinning heel kick caught Rhyno in the face as we await entry number four.
[Byron] This ring can get crowded in a hurry.
[Jerry] Not kidding.
[klaxon sounding]
[Jerry] Who's it gonna be?
["I Bring the Darkness" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Jerry] Oh no!
[Michael] Uh-oh!
From SmackDown Live, The Lone Wolf, Baron Corbin.
Rumble number two in his career,
and he's not wasting any time firing up for this match.
[Corey] Remember, Baron Corbin won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
This is right in his wheelhouse.
[Michael] Last year at the Rumble, remember what he accomplished.
He lasted over 33 minutes
and he eliminated Braun Strowman in last year's Rumble Match.
[Corey] Look at the agility. Under the ropes, Corbin still within the-- Oh!
…the rules of the match.
Just takes down Rusev.
[Byron] This is an extremely motivated Baron Corbin.
He's heard for months, people say he squanders opportunities.
Imagine if Corbin would win this entire Royal Rumble.
[Michael] The opportunity Byron was talking about,
the fact that Corbin won the Money In The Bank Ladder Match
and failed to win--
[Jerry] Uh-oh. Watch out. Look out, Corbin! Oh!
[Michael] Looked like he was going for a Gore, and he got caught by Corbin.
[Byron] An over 300-pound Deep Six.
[Corey] Oh, oh.
-[Michael] And Rhyno eliminated! -[Jerry] Oh, he's gone!
[Corey] Corbin with the first elimination of the match of what could be many.
[Michael] Instead Bálor eliminated Corbin!
-[Corey] Are you kidding me?! -[Byron] Goodbye, Corbin.
[Jerry] Oh, wait!
[Michael] Baron Corbin so upset he now is assaulting Bálor!
Driving him shoulder-first into the barricade,
and Finn, of course, with a history of shoulder injuries.
[Byron] Imagine what this does to the ego--
[Corey] Not done yet.
-[Michael] And now… -[Byron] End of Days!
[Michael] …to Rusev!
-[Jerry] On the floor! -[Byron] Corbin has lost it!
[Michael] Baron Corbin, a wrecking machine.
Corbin's out, Rhyno's out.
Rusev and Bálor are both still in the match.
They haven't been eliminated.
[Byron] Corbin may ruin the entire Royal Rumble Match.
-[Jerry] Oh, no, no! -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] Backbreaker to Bálor.
[indistinct shouting]
[crowd] Five, four…
[Michael] As we await now entry number five.
[Corey] Corbin is irate!
-[klaxon sounding] -[Jerry] Whoever's coming out now is…
["More Than One Man" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] Heath Slater.
[Michael] From Monday Night Raw.
The teammate of Rhyno. Third Rumble match for Heath Slater.
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] And Baron Corbin just running him over!
-[crowd jeering] -[Jerry] Good grief!
[Michael] Has not been a good week for Slater.
Put through a table by the Dudley Boyz on the 25th anniversary of Raw,
and tonight, plowed over by Corbin.
[Jerry] Guys, look. There's not one man left standing.
[Corey] Looks like a crime scene out here, courtesy of The Lone Wolf.
[Michael] Again, Rusev and Bálor haven't been eliminated, correct?
[Corey] No, and Heath Slater never even made it into the ring yet.
[Byron] I… [chuckling]
I don't think we've had a situation like this in Royal Rumble.
-[Jerry] Is the clock running? -[Corey] Absolutely it is, King.
[Michael] Just a path of destruction left by The Lone Wolf, Baron Corbin.
[Byron] Corbin, obviously, was one of the favorites to win this thing.
[Jerry] Finn, it's either his shoulder or his right forearm.
He's hurting.
[Byron] You know, Finn Bálor has a history of shoulder issues.
[Corey] Take a look at this. Slater making his way.
-[Jerry yelling] -[Corey exclaiming]
[Corey] Just tattooed by Corbin.
You can see the look in Rusev's eye moments ago.
If it wasn't Rusev Day, he wouldn't know what day it is.
[Michael] Well, guys, the good new is that they finally have gotten Baron Corbin
out of the arena here.
[announcers] Thank goodness.
[Michael] And we now await entry number six.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
[guitar strums]
-[Michael] Yes! -[announcers] Oh!
[Jerry] You don't have to sing a lullaby. Everybody's already asleep out here.
Hello. I am Elias.
[crowd cheering]
[funky guitar playing]
[Corey] Elias's lullabies are the number one cause of insomnia in the world.
[Jerry] Oh!
He has a reason to believe as he heads his way to the ring,
uh, after everybody's been taken out.
[funky guitar continues]
First Rumble Match for Elias,
and the first time anyone's ever played guitar
on his way to the ring in the Royal Rumble.
[Byron] Royal Rumble just got transformed into America's Got Talent.
I've got one question for everybody here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
Who wants to walk…
[Elias and crowd] …with Elias?
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] All of Philly does.
Now,
I am here to let you all know that time is just an illusion.
And the only thing that's real is the light that shines within me.
Now, that countdown clock will not start
until I give you all the performance of the year.
[Jerry] Oh no. The clock has stopped?
[Michael] I certainly hope not.
So right now, I need you all to silence your cell phones,
hold your applause, and shut your mouths.
[crowd cheering]
[funky guitar playing]
♪ When I win the Rumble ♪
♪ I'll finally show respect To this place ♪
♪ I'll walk to the Rocky statue ♪
♪ And I'll spit right in his face ♪
[Jerry chuckling] What?!
Yeah.
[Jerry] You can't say that to Philadelphia.
♪ It's Elias's night ♪
[crowd] Seven, six…
[Michael] Uh-oh. The clock didn't stop, Elias. 'Cause here comes number seven.
[crowd] …Two, one…
[Jerry] Corey, you glad he got rid of the guitar?
[Corey] Never been happier.
["Making A Difference" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] I'll tell you, this is incredible!
This is the NXT Champion,
Andrade Cien Almas accompanied by Zelina Vega.
And what a match this man had last night.
A TakeOver classic for NXT with Johnny Gargano here in Philadelphia.
[Corey] You wanna talk about having momentum on your side
after putting on an unbelievable match,
Andrade Cien Almas could be headed to WrestleMania.
[Michael] I think he wiped out Heath Slater again.
-[Corey] Good. -[Jerry] Poor Heath Slater.
[Michael] And here's Almas now.
Again, the NXT Champion going after Elias.
-And right there, his trademark. -[Corey chuckling]
-[Corey speaking Spanish] -[Michael] Almas.
[Jerry] Looked like Spider-Man catching himself.
[Michael] Flashy, precise, a highflier.
Very arrogant as well, but…
[Corey] He can back it all up. Oh!
[Michael] Back elbow caught Elias,
a third-generation competitor.
[Corey] Uh-oh, uh-oh. I think we're gonna see it.
[announcers] Boom!
-[Michael] The running knees from Almas. -[Byron] Elias is out.
[Jerry] And he didn't even have to listen to his own lullaby.
[Byron] Uh-oh. Here it comes, Corey!
[Michael] Looking for the hammerlock DDT.
Meanwhile, Elias got him up on his shoulders,
caught him with his own back elbow.
Whoa. Almas lands on his feet.
[Elias roars]
[Michael] Oh, and what a clothesline by Elias!
[Jerry] Man…
[Corey] A clothesline from Elias will stop anybody's momentum,
even Andrade Cien Almas.
[Michael] Welcome to the Rumble.
-As we now head toward entry number eight. -[crowd] Eight, seven, six…
[Corey] After going 30 minutes last night,
you gotta wonder how Almas's wind is today.
[klaxon sounding]
["Live In Fear" by Mark Crozer playing]
[Jerry] Oh boy.
[Michael] The Eater of Worlds entering his fourth Royal Rumble Match.
Last year, he lasted nearly a half an hour
before being eliminated by Roman Reigns.
And he's in the midst of this strange, weird, philosophical rivalry almost
with Broken Matt Hardy.
[Corey] Bray Wyatt wants the world to follow him.
Winning the Royal Rumble Match would be a great head start.
[Jerry] I think Bray and Matt Hardy are trying to out-weird each other.
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt now focuses on Heath Slater.
Poor Heath still has not made it into the ring.
[Jerry] But he's still in the match, right?
[Michael] Finn and Rusev still out there as well.
As Bray Wyatt with a uranage plants Elias.
[Corey] Here we go.
Bray is entering that trance.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] One of the weirdest individuals…
ever at WWE looking for Sister Abigail.
And Finn Bálor, who had quite the rivalry with Bray Wyatt as well,
goes right after him and he runs into a clothesline.
[Corey] No shortage of history between Wyatt and Bálor.
[Michael] Again, Elias and Almas in this match, so are Rusev and Bálor.
Heath Slater is, but he still hasn't entered the ring.
[Jerry] I remember when Bray Wyatt first entered the WWE.
He hasn't made any friends since.
[Michael] Not at all, but he has won a WWE and a SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
[crowd chanting] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
[Michael] Hear the "Rusev Day" chants.
[Corey] They're fueling The Lion of Bulgaria.
[Michael] Bray Wyatt not allowing Rusev into the ring.
At least not that time, or… or that one.
[Byron] Credit Rusev. He keeps fighting.
He's trying to get back in that ring.
[Jerry] Watch the clock. Here we go.
[Michael] Number nine about to enter the Royal Rumble Match.
[crowd] …Two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["New Day, New Way" by Jim Johnston playing]
[man] Philly!
[Jerry] Uh-oh!
[man and crowd] Don't you dare be sour!
Clap for your world-famous, four-time champs
and feel the power!
[Michael] Well, we know it's one member of The New Day, but who is it gonna be?
-[Byron] Big E! -[Michael] There he is!
[Corey] It just became wildly inappropriate.
Leave it to New Day to spoil my Rusev Day.
[Michael] Big E entering the Rumble for the fourth time in his career.
Is he gonna give Heath Slater a little assist here?
[Jerry] Help him out.
At least let Heath see what it's like to be in the ring for a minute.
[Byron] Uh, what's he…
Oh, awesome!
-[Michael] Power pancakes. -[Byron] Ugh!
-[Jerry] Oh no. -[Corey] That was disgusting.
-[Michael] He needs carbs for energy. -[Byron] See?
[Michael] And Big E got caught with a boot by Bray Wyatt.
And Bray has been so dominating since entering this matchup.
Big E, though, the…
[Byron] Here's some dominance for you.
[Michael] Belly-to-belly from the former USA Powerlifting Champion.
[Byron] Those 23-inch arms at work.
[Corey] There we go!
[Michael] Rusev and Elias, double-team effort on Big E there.
[Corey] Tell you what, Rusev's performance
has been so inspiring here in Philadelphia.
They may rename the Rocky Steps the Rusev Steps.
[Michael] Rusev and Bálor entered one and two in the Rumble Match.
And Rusev now turning his attention to the NXT Champion.
[Rusev roaring]
[Michael] And Almas hanging on as Rusev looks for an elimination here.
[Corey] Could you guys imagine how great a Sylvester Stallone produced movie
about Rusev would be?
[Byron] I'd rather not, actually.
[Jerry] I've seen better film on teeth.
But anyway, we'll have to see that somewhere down the line, I'm sure.
[Michael] And we're about to go a third of the way into this Rumble
with entry number ten.
[crowd] …three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Ten" by CFO$ playing]
-[Byron chuckling] -[Corey] Again?
[Michael] Byron, from your neck of the woods on SmackDown Live.
[Byron] How appropriate.
[Michael] Tye Dillinger, who debuted at the Rumble last year.
-[Byron] Yeah. -[Corey] Where's he at?
[Michael] And he's in no hurry to make his way out here tonight.
[Corey] Maybe that's a great strategy.
-King, you ever employ that? -[Jerry] Yes.
[Corey] Enter the Rumble and just not come to the ring.
[Michael] Meanwhile, the action continues as we await--
Wait a minute! Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn assaulting a--
Yes, that is Dillinger.
[all grunting]
[Byron] What is this about?
[referee] Hey, hey. Back it up, back it up! Back up!
-All right! -Get it out of here!
You guys, back it up!
-I got this. -No, no. Hey, hey, hey.
-I got this. -[referee] Get it out of here.
[Michael] He's got what?
Obviously, Owens and Zayn are still upset
after what happened in the championship match earlier tonight.
[Corey] The Kevin and Sami Show was cut short this evening.
What did Sami mean by, "I got this"?
[Jerry] I don't know.
[Tom] Tye is supposed to enter at number ten--
-[Corey] Oh! We've got company. -[Michael] Wait a minute!
[Byron] You've got to be kidding me.
[Michael] Sami Zayn wiping out Heath on his way to the ring.
And apparently, he's inserted himself into number ten.
-[Byron] No. Sami can't do this! -[Corey] Sure, he can. He just did.
[Byron] So you're bitter because you couldn't win the WWE Championship earlier,
and now you insert yourself?
[Corey] Sami's not bitter.
Sami's just trying to right what he feels is wrong.
This is a great idea.
[Michael] Whether or not you agree with this,
Sami Zayn last year, if you remember correctly,
had a tremendous Rumble.
He lasted over 47 minutes before being elminated by The Undertaker.
[Corey] Hey, what's the only thing better than becoming co-WWE Champion
with your best friend?
Headlining WrestleMania.
[Byron] How is this okay?
[Michael] On the other side, Finn Bálor over the top rope
landing on the apron and in the ring.
Remember the rules.
You have to go over the top rope, both feet have to hit the floor.
Both feet before you're eliminated.
[Corey] Andrade Cien Almas is in a great deal of jeopardy there,
but able to hang on.
-[crowd] Three, two, one… -[Jerry] Already? Another entrant?
[klaxon sounding]
["Hellfire" by CFO$ playing]
[Jerry] Oh boy!
[Michael] At least representing The Bar,
they have a Tag Team Championship opportunity later tonight,
but it's The Celtic Warrior, Sheamus.
Guys, back in 2012,
Sheamus won the Royal Rumble Match.
-[Byron] Oh, not again. -[Jerry] Poor Heath.
-He got in the ring! -[Michael] He's in the ring!
-He's-- Oh no! -[Jerry yelping]
-[Michael] Oh my God! -[Byron] What?!
[Michael] Slater eliminated Sheamus on Sheamus's birthday!
[Byron] What?!
[Michael] Tonight is Sheamus's birthday and he was eliminated by Slater!
[Corey] Wait. Sheamus's birthday is on Rusev Day?
[Jerry] That's the worst present ever. I can't believe it!
[Byron] I love it!
[Michael] The ring can't believe it.
All the Superstars staring over the fact that Slater eliminated Sheamus.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] And got planted by Bray Wyatt.
[Byron] The celebration ended.
[Byron] Oh!
[Michael] And Slater eliminated.
[crowd jeering]
[Michael] But what an effort by Heath Slater tonight.
[Byron] And immediately Bray Wyatt on the receiving end of attack from Elias.
[Jerry] I'm still in shock over Cesaro on his birthday.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Finn Bálor in trouble right now.
[Michael] And Sheamus-- Oh, Bálor, Bálor, Bálor!
Rusev looking to eliminate Bálor.
[Jerry] Oh, oh. Nope.
[Michael] Again, landing on the apron.
And I wanna go back to Sheamus. This does not bode well for Sheamus.
He and Cesaro have a Tag Title Match
against Rollins and Jordan later on tonight.
[Corey] Look on the bright side. At least Sheamus is gonna be, uh…
-[Jerry] Fresh. -…gonna be fresh.
-[Byron] Fresh with a bruised ego. -[crowd chanting] Rusev Day!
[Michael] The thunderous "Rusev Day" chants
here at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Number 12 on the way.
[Jerry] Man, time flies when you're in the Royal Rumble.
[crowd] One…
[klaxon sounding]
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Michael] One of the other two members of The New Day will be joining Big E.
It's Xavier Woods.
[Byron] Fired up Xavier Woods.
[Michael] Xavier Woods entering number 12,
and now in his second Rumble in his career.
[Corey] If I were Xavier, I'd go after Big E,
throw him over the top.
-No one would see that coming. -[Jerry laughing] You're right about that.
[Michael] The man with a PhD in educational psychology
looking to use that doctorate to his advantage tonight.
[Byron] Uh-oh!
[Michael] And there is the teamwork with The New Day!
And despite it being every man for themselves,
sometimes, Corey, you see some teamwork.
-Oh! -[Big E] Here we go, baby!
-[Jerry] As well you should! -[Byron] Use the numbers while you can.
New Day!
[Michael] Big E using Xavier Woods to his advantage to flatten Elias.
[Byron] Xavier had the chance of possible championship success a couple of weeks ago
when he took former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal to the limit.
[Jerry] This is the way you work if you're a tag team.
[Michael] And Elias may be singing the blues, guys.
Over the top, lands on the apron.
-[Jerry] Hey. -[Byron] Watch out, Big E.
[Michael] Still in it. Rusev, with a hold of Big E, drives him in the corner.
But Elias is still in this.
[Corey] Look at the power of Rusev, one of the few Superstars
who can match strength with Big E.
[Jerry] Look at the size of Big E.
Even Rusev's having trouble getting that guy over the ropes.
[Michael] Bray Wyatt is knocking Xavier and Zayn face-to-face.
Impressive so far has been the NXT Champion.
Almas still in this match.
[Jerry] I forgot to ask you guys. Who's your pick to win this thing?
-[Corey] Ask me in about 20 minutes. -[Jerry chuckling]
[crowd] Seven…
[Michael] We are now waiting for arrival number 13.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Cruise Control" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] And from Titus Worldwide, his second Rumble, is Apollo Crews.
And guys, number 13 is an interesting number
because over the years,
only four winners in history have come from an entry in the teens.
When you enter the teens, the odds aren't in your favor.
-[Jerry] Well, 13's an unlucky number too. -[Michael] Exactly.
Well, that's the number drawn by Apollo Crews from Titus Worldwide.
[Corey] Things have been looking up for Apollo Crews and Titus Worldwide.
-Maybe that momentum continues. -[Michael] Nice dropkick.
Apollo Crews and Titus Worldwide with a couple victories over The Bar.
[Jerry] Sami Zayn.
[Byron] Please get rid of Sami Zayn, who illegally entered this Rumble.
-[Michael] Byron, what happened to you? -[Byron] What do you mean?
[Corey] He's still not good, he's just on SmackDown now.
[Michael] Finn Bálor and Rusev, who started this one and two,
Rusev one, Bálor two.
And both men in this match for over 20 minutes.
[Byron] Oh!
[Michael] And Bálor and Rusev still going strong.
The point I was making is you used to be unbiased.
[Byron] I call things as I see it. In fact, we all saw it.
Sami Zayn was not supposed to be in this Rumble.
That was Tye Dillinger's opportunity, which was stolen.
[Corey] By hook or by crook,
it still remains the fact that Sami Zayn took the spot.
-I like it. -[Jerry] Bray Wyatt again.
[Michael] Looking for Sister Abigail on Finn, who has felt this in his career.
But Bálor able to turn it around as 14 is about to enter the fray.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
["The Rising Sun" by CFO$ playing]
[Byron] Oh, yeah!
[crowd vocalizing]
[Michael] WWE's rockstar.
And guys, this is the first Royal Rumble ever for this man,
The King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura from SmackDown.
[Byron] King, you asked for our picks.
I'm picking that man right there, Shinsuke Nakamura
to win this Royal Rumble.
[Jerry] So that's your pick, Byron? We'll see.
[Corey] Philadelphia still serenading Nakamura with his music.
This is beautiful!
[Michael] Apollo Crews gonna try his fare with Shinsuke.
One thing I do wanna point out, King, is the ring is filling up with Superstars.
This has gotta make it more difficult at this juncture of the match, right?
[Jerry] Without a doubt. The more--
Well, unless you're out here watching, the more the merrier.
But you're right. Inside there, it makes it more difficult to perform.
[Michael] But it's easier to hide, isn't it, with that many people?
[Jerry] Is anybody under the ring yet? Should they go check?
That's the best place to hide.
[Michael] Now Shinsuke turning his attention to Elias.
A pretty good pick, Byron.
I got to agree Shinsuke Nakamura, entering the middle of the pack at 14.
[Byron] Good vibrations as Shinsuke able to…
-[Michael] Listen to this place. -[Byron] Pick a spot.
Sami went for the Helluva Kick and got caught.
Shinsuke…
-[Byron] Here's the windup. -[Michael] Sami doesn't wanna be there…
-[Jerry] And there he goes! -[Michael] Sami's eliminated!
[Byron] Thank goodness.
[Michael] Shinsuke Nakamura eliminates Sami Zayn.
They had quite the history as well.
[Byron] That's your boo-hoo party, Sami Zayn.
-[Jerry] Right has prevailed, huh, Byron? -[Byron] Yes.
I feel better now.
-[Michael] Guys, we are halfway through… -[Jerry] Are you kidding me?
[Michael] …the entrants for the Royal Rumble
with number 15 on it's way.
["Hellfire" playing]
[Michael] And it's The Swiss Cyborg, Cesaro,
for the fifth time in his career entering the Royal Rumble Match.
[Corey] Cesaro, a former… Oh goodness!
…Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner,
The Swiss Cyborg could absolutely surprise everyone.
[Michael] Again, later on tonight, Sheamus and Cesaro
to face Rollins and Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Titles.
-[Corey] Oh, look at Finn Bálor. -[Michael] Finn Bálor trying to hang on.
Finn may be eliminated here,
but from behind, Almas went after Cesaro, and Finn stays alive.
[Corey] I don't know if I agree with Cien's method.
[Michael] And now, Apollo Crews--
And I think, in Cien's defense, he came in from behind.
He might not have seen Bálor hanging off the top rope, Corey.
[Jerry] I agree. I agree, Corey.
Whenever I was in a Royal Rumble, I never tried to save anybody.
The more eliminations, the better.
And the quicker.
[crowd chanting] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
[Michael] Rusev hammering away on Cesaro.
Cesaro, though, hung on the top rope.
Will he be eliminated almost as quick as his partner, Sheamus?
[Cesaro] Yeah!
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[both grunting]
[crowd jeering]
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] The fact Rusev came in here at number one
and is trading blows with a fresh Cesaro is amazing.
[Corey] Rusev is a super athlete in every sense of the word,
and proving it tonight.
-[Michael] Number 16. -[Jerry] Here we go. Who is it?
[klaxon sounding]
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Michael] This is pretty incredible
because with Kofi Kingston now entering this match,
it means all three members of New Day will be in the ring at the same time.
[Jerry] It'll make it a long day for somebody.
[Byron] Not only all three members, but a highly experienced member
when it comes to Kofi Kingston in the Royal Rumble.
[announcers] Oh!
[Byron] That wasn't too good.
[Michael] And, Corey-- I should say Byron, to your point,
this is now the 12th Royal Rumble for Kofi Kingston.
-[Corey] Check out the power of Crews! -[Michael] Apollo Crews!
-[Jerry] Hang on, Cesaro! -[Michael] Cesaro trying to hang on.
[Jerry] Whoo!
-[Michael] And now Crews… -[Jerry] He hangs on!
[Michael] …lands on the apron.
Right hand by Cesaro.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Three rights from The Swiss Cyborg.
And Crews now…
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Michael] Can Crews eliminate Cesaro? Cesaro hanging on the top rope!
-[Jerry] Man… -[Michael] That kidney shot cost him.
And Crews is eliminated!
[Jerry] Crews is gone.
[Michael] Cesaro with a bit of revenge
after having some problems with Titus Worldwide as of late.
[Corey] Your pick's about to go bye-bye, Byron.
[Byron] My pick almost getting eliminated by my favorites.
[Michael] You see Kofi Kingston in the corner.
He's now tied for fourth all-time in Royal Rumble appearances.
That's the history of the entire WWE.
And we've seen him do some amazing things to stave off elimination in years past.
[Corey] You know, it would be amazing if Kofi actually won a Royal Rumble.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
[Michael] Item number 17 entering in the match.
The Modern Day Maharaja,
former WWE Champion from SmackDown Live.
And guys, I was doing some research earlier this week.
Do you believe that this is the first time
Mahal has ever entered a Royal Rumble Match?
[Corey] Great opportunity for The Modern Day Maharaja.
[Byron] Oh!
This is a man in Jinder Mahal who is hungry for retribution.
Hungry for championship redemption, and he has that chance.
[Michael] And Byron, he had an incredible 2017.
[Jerry] Can I get a word in here?
I studied, I pored over all the statistics,
all the Superstars for three days now,
and Jinder Mahal is my pick.
-[Michael] Really? -[Jerry] He's the man I pick to win.
I know it's a surprise pick, but I'm picking Jinder Mahal.
[Corey] I like it, King.
[Michael] Meanwhile, Elias up in the corner.
Finn Bálor continues to battle with Elias.
Xavier Woods sent flying.
-Oh! And eliminated! -[Jerry] Oh my goodness!
[Michael] Xavier eliminated by Jinder.
[Byron] Jinder may join him!
[Jerry] Whoa! No. Don't worry about him. He's all right. [chuckling]
-[Corey] Jinder trying… -[Jerry] Get rid of… get rid of Big E.
[Corey] Jinder has got that front face lock applied.
[Michael] This is a perilous situation. Both men on the apron.
Big E eliminated by Jinder Mahal!
-[Jerry] What did I tell you? -[Byron] One member of New Day left.
[Jerry] Can I pick 'em, or can I pick 'em?
[Corey] You're The King for a reason.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[crowd] Seven…
[Michael] Number 18 about to enter the fray.
-[crowd] …three, two, one… -[Jerry] Who's this gonna be?
[klaxon sounding]
["The Second Coming (Burn It Down)" by CFO$ playing]
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] One half of the Tag Team Champions, Seth Rollins The Kingslayer.
For the second time in his career in a Rumble match.
Remember, Corey, last year he was injured at this time. Knee injury caused by…
-[Byron] Watch out! -[Michael] …Samoa Joe!
[Jerry] Whoa, man!
[Corey] Making a splash in the Rumble match.
-[Byron] Rollins going airborne. -[Michael] Oh! And a Sling Blade now.
And Finn tried for a sling blade of his own and got caught by Seth Rollins.
And there's Seth, delivers it to Bálor.
Both those Superstars use that move so effectively.
And now Cesaro, who meets Rollins later on for the tag titles,
looking to weaken one half of the tag champs.
[Corey] Cesaro knows what's at stake later on tonight.
The Raw Tag Team Titles.
Would love to get an upper hand right now.
-[Cesaro yelling] -[Jerry] Oh no, no!
[Michael] Cesaro eliminated!
And perhaps the momentum goes to the tag champs.
[Corey] Wow.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] What an elimination by Seth Rollins.
[Jerry] Yeah. A big smile came on the face of Seth Rollins when he saw--
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[Michael] Meanwhile, Kofi Kingston may be the third New Day member eliminated here
by Jinder Mahal.
Jinder took out Woods and Big E.
[Jerry] We're gonna see Jinder Mahal eliminate a lot of Superstars here.
[Michael] If he doesn't get eliminated.
-[Jerry] Wait, wait a minute! -[Michael] Your pick's in trouble.
-[Seth straining] -[Jerry] No, he's not.
-[Michael] And now, Kofi Kingston… -[Jerry exclaiming]
-[Corey] Wait a minute! One foot! -[Byron] He's still in! [laughing]
How clutch is that?
[Michael] The right foot did not hit the floor!
The right foot did not hit the floor!
Kofi Kingston is still in this!
Xavier Woods with a save,
and now Big E with a plate of pancakes.
[Corey] He pulled them out from under our table.
-[Michael] Still not on the floor! -[Byron] Amazing!
[Michael] Pancake power!
-[Byron] Kofi is still legal! -[Corey] This is ridiculous!
[Michael] We've seen Kofi stay in this match so many ways over the years,
but perhaps no more unique as this.
[Corey] But Jinder's blocking the path!
[Michael] And Kingston trying to hobble around on one foot.
Both feet have to hit the floor. Those are the rules.
[Jerry] Watch out, Jinder. Don't let them hit you with the pancakes.
What… what do they got going on here?
[crowd cheering, chanting indistinctly]
-[Michael] New Day acting as a pogo stick! -[Byron] Uh-oh.
-[Jerry] What?! -[Michael] Kingston launched in the ring.
Jinder can't believe it! Kofi is still alive!
[Corey] That was ridiculous!
[Byron] That was wonderful!
[Michael] He has become a Rumble match highlight film.
-[Corey] Oh, trouble in paradise! -[Jerry] No, no, no. What?!
-[Michael] Bye! -[Jerry] What are you doing?!
[Michael] And now a pancake hangover for Jinder Mahal.
[Corey] This is disgusting.
-[Jerry] You gotta be kidding! -[Byron] Corey, you know what that's like.
New Day!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron laughing] I feel like…
[Corey] Oh no, but look in the ring!
Andrade Cien Almas just planted Kofi into the mat.
[Michael] That's that hammerlock DDT that Almas uses.
-[Jerry] Throw him out the other side. -[Michael] Now Kofi eliminated by Almas.
[Michael] And that, guys, an incredible performance so far by the NXT Champion.
[Corey] That is a very smart move by Almas,
throwing Kofi to the opposite side of where New Day was.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
[Jerry] Can't believe my pick got pancaked.
["The Deletion Anthem" by CFO$ playing]
[Jerry] Oh, brother.
[inaudible]
[Michael] And here comes Matt Hardy.
He reached his breaking point, and now he's woken,
for the eighth time in his career in the Rumble match.
[Jerry] He's not woken, he's nuttier than squirrel poop.
This guy's out there.
Get rid of him quick.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Guys, Rusev entered number one, Finn Bálor number two,
both in this match over 30 minutes already.
And Rusev breaks up the little issue between Hardy and Bray.
[Jerry] Ooh.
[Rusev grunting]
[Jerry] Look at this. Wait a minute. Are my eyes deceiving me?
[Corey] Wyatt and Hardy…
[Michael] And Rusev eliminated by Wyatt and Hardy!
Rusev lasted over 30 minutes in this match.
[Byron] You expect weirdness when Bray and Matt are out. Case in point.
-[Corey] Wait a minute. -[Jerry] They're working together!
They are crazy.
[Michael] Maybe they just wanna clear the ring out so they can beat each other.
[Byron] Probably right.
-[Jerry] Here we go. -[Michael] Now we finally come to blows.
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt,
who met at the 25th anniversary of Raw last week in the Manhattan Center,
King ringside for that.
[Jerry] Now all is right with the world.
[Michael] Both men eliminated each other!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Fight each other out to the Liberty Bell for all we care.
[Michael] And now we wait for entry number 20.
[crowd] …three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["The Time Is Now" by John Cena & The Trademarc playing]
[Jerry] Yes! My pick!
Guys, this is my pick to win the Royal Rumble! I'm so excited!
[Michael] King, it's a great pick. He's a two-time winner.
[Jerry] Yes!
[crowd chanting] John Cena! John Cena!
I'm… I'm a top-rated guy!
[Jerry] They love him.
[crowd chanting] John Cena! John Cena!
[Michael] John Cena won this match in 2008 and 2013.
Go to work!
[Michael] And this is why this is important to John Cena tonight, guys.
If Cena wins the Royal Rumble Match,
he would have an opportunity to break Ric Flair's record
and become a 17-time champion at WrestleMania!
[Byron] Cena just became target number one.
[Corey] Looks like an uphill battle
for John Cena to break any sort of record right now.
[Michael] And here's Elias, who almost broke Cena's back last week
when he crashed a guitar over him and then hit him with Drift Away.
-[Jerry] Oh no. -[Corey] Like he's about to do now.
-[Jerry] Look at this! Look at this! -[Michael] John Cena gonna make Elias pay!
-[Jerry] Hey, hey, hey! My pick! -[Michael] Eliminates Elias!
-[crowd jeering] -[Michael] Payback for Cena.
[Jerry] John Cena's shining now.
[Byron] King, you're oh for one on picks, but I like your chances with this one.
[Jerry] What do you mean?
[Michael] This is John Cena's eighth Royal Rumble Match in his career,
as we now await entry number 21.
[crowd] …three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Eye of the Hurricane" by Jim Johnston playing]
-[Jerry gasping] -[Michael] Are you kidding me?!
-[Corey] What's up with that? -[Byron] Is it really?
-Oh, there he is! -[Jerry chuckling]
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] The Hurricane is back with his superhero persona
that was a huge hit with the young WWE fans a decade ago.
[Corey] Looks like Hurricane's been spending some time at Tony Luke's.
-[Jerry chuckling] -[Michael] Cena can't believe it!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Look at this. Like two superheroes meeting.
Uh-oh.
[Corey chuckling]
[crowd cheering]
-[Byron] No! -[Jerry] What?
-[Michael] Hurricane-- Oh no! -[Jerry] Oh no!
[Michael] He may be flying here.
-[Jerry] Wait a minute. Oh! -[Michael] Cena eliminates The Hurricane.
[Jerry] What the heck?!
[crowd jeering]
[Jerry] The Hurricane just got downgraded to a light drizzle.
[Corey chuckling]
-[Michael] Nice seeing you. -[Jerry] Whoa.
Stepped in the pancakes. Look out.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Back to The Hurri-Cave.
[Jerry chuckling] He's still got the pose down pat.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] John Cena now looking to eliminate his third man in this matchup.
That would be "The Architect," Seth Rollins,
who's trying to hang on to the top rope.
[Corey] Bálor and Nakamura battling it out in the corner.
[Byron] And my pick, Nakamura, still fighting for survival.
[Michael] King's second pick, John Cena, still in it. Remember, King picked Jinder.
[Jerry] No, uh, Cena was my real pick.
[Michael] Mahal did well.
Mentioned earlier it was his first Rumble, it was actually his second, as…
["Bel Canto" by CFO$ playing]
[Jerry chuckling]
[Michael] Aiden English enters at number 22.
A very emotional performance to kickoff the night for Rusev.
[Corey] It brought a tear to my eye.
Much like it would if Aiden English won the Royal Rumble Match.
[Michael] And number 22 is an interesting number, guys,
because nearly 65% of all Rumble winners
come from entering at number 22 or later.
So, a good spot for Aiden English to be in.
[Byron] So if Aiden English wins the Royal Rumble,
does that mean Rusev Day is canceled?
[Corey] Bite your tongue, Saxton! Don't speak of such nonsense!
-[Byron] Just wondering. -[Corey] Every day is Rusev Day.
[Michael] And you see Finn Bálor still in this matchup.
Entered number two,
and has been in the Royal Rumble Match over 35 minutes already.
[Jerry] Corey, do you have to work with Byron every week?
[Corey] Unfortunately.
[Jerry] Man.
I used to work with JR, his initials.
Now you can call him his initials, BS.
-[Byron] Huh? -[Corey laughing]
[Michael] "Used to?" You worked with JR last week.
[Jerry] Well, that's in the past.
And that was fun.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Byron] Shinsuke Nakamura was almost on the verge
of getting rid of Aiden English.
My-- Oh!
[Michael] It's pretty interesting, Cena and Bálor battling over in the far corner.
And we're awaiting, now, entry number 23.
[Corey] It is loud here in the Wells Fargo Center.
[Jerry] Yes, it is.
[crowd] …two, one…
-[Jerry] Get up, Cena. -[klaxon sounding]
["Undisputed" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, from the Undisputed Era in NXT. His name is Adam Cole.
And last night at NXT TakeOver,
was involved in a hellacious Extreme Rules Match with Aleister Black.
The reason he is taped up tonight.
[Corey] Adam Cole made much of his name for himself here in the Philadelphia area,
and that continued last night with an awesome match.
Could you imagine straight from NXT TakeOver,
the next night winning the Royal Rumble Match
and heading to WrestleMania?
That would be big, big news, baby.
[Jerry] Corey, he's gotta be hurting. Look, he's taped up.
And after that match last night, he can't be 100%.
[Corey] I didn't say it was likely, I thought it'd be cool.
[Michael] Guys, what's interesting about this right now,
two members of the NXT roster now in this match.
Adam Cole and the NXT Champion--
[Byron] Oh no!
[Michael] Aiden English eliminated by Bálor.
[Byron] Huh. So much for Rusev Day today.
[Jerry] Finn Bálor got about ten feet in the air with that kick.
[Michael] Been an impressive performance so far for the NXT Champion
Almas entered this match back at number seven.
[Corey] We see Bálor--
[Michael] Over 26 minutes for the NXT Champ.
[Corey] Bálor and Rollins fighting out in the corner.
Remember, the match to crown the first-ever Universal Champion
came down between Rollins and Bálor.
[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] Who's coming in at number 24?
[Byron] Getting down to the nitty gritty.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Voices feat. Rev Theory" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] He's a two-time Rumble Match winner.
Two thousand-nine and then last year, Randy Orton.
And, guys, who was the last man to win back-to-back Rumbles?
It was Stone Cold in '97, '98.
HBK did back-to-back the two years before that.
[Corey] We had a rattlesnake do it, could we have a viper? Look at Orton.
[Jerry] And another interesting fact is Stone Cold
is the only man to win three Royal Rumbles.
Randy Orton can tie that feat tonight.
[Michael] Yes, he could. John Cena could tie as well.
[Jerry] Yeah. My pick, where is he?
[Michael] Almas still in it. Gonna launch himself.
-RKO! -[Jerry] Oh my gosh!
-[Byron] Out of nowhere. -[Jerry] Whoo-hoo!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh my goodness!
[Byron] Andrade… goodnight.
[Michael] And the 13-time World Champion eliminates the NXT Champion.
But Almas has nothing to be ashamed of. 29 minutes in this match.
[Jerry] That may have been a record RKO for length.
[Michael] Hey, Corey, what about Almas? Nearly 30 minutes in the Rumble Match.
[Corey] Very, very impressive for Andrade Cien Almas.
Especially coming off of that incredible match last night at NXT TakeOver.
[Michael] Now Randy Orton and, uh, Seth Rollins set up on top rope.
Now back to his feet.
And now over in the far corner,
Bálor looking to be eliminated perhaps here by Adam Cole.
[Corey] Adam Cole and Finn Bálor, I'm sure the internet's about to explode right now.
-[Michael] Here comes number 25. -[klaxon sounding]
["Making Moves" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] Byron, you're happy. Titus Worldwide's here.
Titus O'Neil.
[Byron] A fellow Florida Gator alumni, I… I'm down with Titus Worldwide.
[Michael] He's a lot cooler than you are.
-[Byron] What? -[Corey chuckling]
[Jerry] So is everybody.
[Michael] Titus makes his way into the ring.
And meanwhile, there's Randy Orton with Finn Bálor up on his shoulders.
[Byron] Going after your pick, King.
[Michael] Bálor still on the apron now.
Meanwhile, Cena and Titus O'Neil,
and there's Adam Cole in the corner with Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Jerry] You know, Michael, you talk about impressive performances?
There's been a lot of 'em over the years and even tonight,
but the cold-hard fact about the Royal Rumble
is nobody remembers anybody but the winner.
[Corey] You're right.
Randy Orton found himself in jeopardy there for a moment,
courtesy of Finn Bálor.
[Jerry] Come on. Come on, Shinsuke. Easy.
[Michael] Randy Orton's been an eliminating machine in his career,
eliminating 20 men over the years.
Titus O'Neil turning his attention to Adam Cole of the Undisputed Era from NXT.
Lands on the apron.
Cole, of course, joined by Fish and O'Reilly.
Oh, and there's Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Jerry] Take your leg out.
[Michael] Titus O'Neil is…
Oh! Echoing through the Wells Fargo Center.
You saw the big WrestleMania sign in the background.
That's what this is all about.
Winner, guaranteed title opportunity at WrestleMania.
-Here comes number 26. -[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["I Came to Play feat. Downstait" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] He's the new Intercontinental Champion
after beating Roman Reigns this past Monday night
at the 25th anniversary of Raw.
[Corey] And he's my pick to win the whole thing.
[Byron] Now we know what your pick is.
-At number 26. -[Corey] That's right.
Flanked by the Miz-tourage,
the Intercontinental Champion, everything is coming up Miz.
[Michael] And the thing for Miz is, uh…
Right away goes to his vintage moves on Seth Rollins.
The Miz is in his 11th Rumble match tonight.
Quite the rivalry with John Cena last year.
-Planting Cena face-first. -[Byron] Man.
[Jerry] I may want to change my pick.
[Byron] Again?
[Michael] Guys, The Miz just tied Goldust and The Undertaker
for third all-time in Rumble Match appearances.
[Corey] We could share a pick, King. I mean, it's an A-lister.
It's the It Kicks!
-Look at this! -[Jerry chuckling]
[crowd cheering in-sync with strikes]
[crowd] Oh!
[Michael] Made famous by SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan.
[Jerry] Oh, no!
[Michael] Uh-oh. Skull crushing finale by The Miz to Cena.
[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] And Rollins with a superkick.
[Jerry] Corey, was that weird seeing that this entire crowd here love The Miz?
[Corey] Yeah. This place erupted.
They understand it's… it's about being an A-lister.
It's about being Hollywood
[Michael] Miz lands on the apron.
[Jerry] I don't know if they do understand here.
I saw this crowd once boo Santa Claus.
[Michael] We're awaiting now number 27.
[Corey] I was hoping they were gonna throw batteries at Saxton.
[Byron] You have an evil mind, you know that?
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
[Jerry] Who's next?
["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D. playing]
-[Byron gasping] -[Michael] Oh my God!
[Jerry] Are you kidding me?
-[Michael] He's here! -[Byron] We're not kidding you, King.
-[Jerry] My pick! -[Michael] Rey Mysterio!
[Jerry] My pick is here!
-[Byron] Your pick?! -[Jerry] Yes!
[Michael] Rey Mysterio, the man who won the 2006 Royal Rumble Match!
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[Michael] And he set a record for lasting longer than anyone in history
at 62 minutes.
[Corey] Mysterio looks to be in unbelievable shape.
Welcome back, Rey.
[Jerry] What is he doing here?
[Byron] Can you imagine the headlines tomorrow
if Rey Mysterio wins this whole thing?
[Jerry exclaiming]
[Michael] The Wells Fargo Center can't believe it.
Rey Mysterio is here!
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[Michael] Adam Cole off the second turnbuckle.
-And Rey Mysterio… -[announcers] Oh, oh, oh!
-[Jerry] There he goes! -[Michael] Adam Cole!
Mysterio still has it!
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Down goes Miz!
[Jerry] This is unbelievable.
[Michael] Oh, here we go!
Are we gonna see it? Are we gonna see it?
Take it, King!
-[Jerry] 619 from Rey Mysterio! -[Corey chuckling]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And guys, he entered in the plumb spot, number 27.
More winners from that number than any slot in Rumble Match History!
[Corey] I just can't get over the shape that Mysterio is in right now.
He looks as great as he ever looked any point in his career.
[Byron] He looks incredible!
[Michael] I'll never forget that 2006 Rumble that Rey Mysterio won.
And it's just an incredible, incredible moment as we await number 28.
[Corey] You might not have to forget, you might get to relive it.
["The Truth Reigns" by Jim Johnston playing]
-[crowd jeering] -[Jerry] Oh, boy.
[Michael] Here comes…
The Big Dog.
[Jerry] Well, he's coming out to his yard.
[Michael] Guys, remember 2015, right here in Philadelphia,
the night that Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble Match.
And that was really the start, Corey, of the Roman Empire.
And he goes after Cena. Cena, though, underneath the bottom ropes.
Still in it, on the apron.
Roman Reigns wiping everybody out.
Not in a great mood after losing the Intercontinental Title Monday night.
-[Jerry] Man! -[Michael] Comes at Shinsuke!
[Jerry] Roman Reigns throwing bombs out here.
[Michael] Back in 2014, Roman Reigns-- Oh, there we go.
…matchup from Monday when The Miz won
the eighth Intercontinental Championship from Roman.
[Jerry] Oh, boy.
[Byron] Oh!
Remember back in 2014, Roman Reigns eliminated a record 12 men
in one Rumble Match.
[crowd jeering]
[Jerry] Reversal by The Miz, but that didn't last long.
Big clothesline, Miz back on his back.
[Michael] Roman Reigns…
wanting to torture and punish Miz here.
[Jerry and Byron] Oh!
[Corey] Oh, watch out, Titus!
[Michael] Titus O'Neil eliminated by Reigns.
[Byron] Roman Reigns is a game-changing presence in this match.
-[Corey] Uh-oh, uh-oh. -[Jerry] No, no, no. Hang on!
-That's our pick! -[Corey] Oh, The Miztourage!
[Michael] The Miztourage went, and saving Miz momentarily.
Superman punch in stereo!
[Jerry] Ooh.
[Michael] Seth Rollins right for The Miz now and two members of The Shield…
Oh, the stomp!
[Corey] A blackout in Philly!
[Michael] Face-off between two members of The Shield.
[inaudible]
[Jerry] Oh, no. Once again…
Looks like they're gonna team up.
Oh, no. Wait, you can't do this to The Miz.
[Byron] I think they're about to, King.
Oh, no!
[Michael] The Miz is eliminated.
[Corey] King, your pick got eliminated.
[Jerry] John Cena's my pick.
No, Rey Mysterio is.
[Michael] Oh, Roman-- Every man for himself, sends out Seth Rollins.
[Jerry] Did you see that?
[Michael] Three eliminations by Roman Reigns.
[Byron] Every man for themselves.
Don't forget it, gentlemen.
[Corey] You can see the understanding smirk on the face of The Architect.
Rollins knows it was just business, Big Dog.
-[Michael] He would've done the same. -[Corey] You're absolutely right.
[Michael] Number 29 on his way.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Gold-Lust" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Jerry] Goldust?!
[Michael] Guys, this is really a historic moment for Goldust
because with this entry tonight,
he enters the Royal Rumble for the 12th time in his career,
which now ties him with Shawn Michaels and The Big Show for second all-time.
Kane is the leader.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Atomic drop from Goldust to Randy Orton.
You see Finn Bálor in the corner.
Finn Bálor entered number two in this match,
and he has been in the Royal Rumble Match over 45 minutes.
[Jerry] Goldust almost eliminated Randy Orton.
[Michael] On the apron,
Randy Orton's gotta get back in the ring.
[Corey] Goldust can play spoiler in a lot of people's Royal Rumble pools
by eliminating The Viper right here.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio's in there, John Cena, Roman Reigns,
Randy Orton, Nakamura, Goldust, Bálor.
-An all-star cast. -[Jerry] You're not kidding.
[Byron] My pick, by the way, Nakamura.
-[Jerry] He's still there? -[Byron] He's still there.
[Michael] And Goldust now, a headbutt to Roman Reigns.
[Byron] It's one of your 500 picks, King.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Went for the AA, there's the inverted atomic drop from Goldust.
And there's the classic Goldust, down to his knees with the right hand.
And now we come to number 30.
The final man to enter the 2018 Royal Rumble Match.
-Who will it be? -[Byron] I'm nervous.
[klaxon sounding]
["Here To Show The World" by Jim Johnston feat. Downstait playing]
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] I thought he retired.
[Byron] Uh… uh, I thought he was done too.
[Michael] Dolph Ziggler won the United States Championship,
relinquished it, and then walked away from SmackDown Live last month
saying the fans didn't deserve him.
[Byron] I mean, for all intents and purposes,
we thought Dolph Ziggler was gone from SmackDown, gone from WWE,
and apparently not.
[Michael] Meanwhile, the action continues.
Dolph Ziggler goes right after John Cena.
[Dolph yelling]
[Byron] You talk about unexpected?
[Jerry] Almost bordering on changing my pick… No, never mind.
-[Michael] Yeah. -[Jerry] Cena's still my pick.
[Michael] Looking for The Attitude Adjustment to Dolph.
[Corey] Dolph abole to block it.
[Michael] Out of harms way and hits Cena with a superkick.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
-[Michael] Looking to eliminate John Cena. -[Jerry] Hang on, John!
[Michael] Randy Orton caught Ziggler.
Kick to Randy Orton, caught The Viper on the chin.
[Byron] I still can't believe Dolph Ziggler is back.
And in the Royal Rumble of all places.
[Michael] There's the powerslam by Goldust.
[Jerry] Dolph landed on his back hard.
[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang in there.
[Byron] Oh…
-[Jerry] Oh no. -[Michael] Goldust eliminated.
Shinsuke Nakamura from behind.
[Byron] These two, no strangers to each other on SmackDown Live.
[Michael] Zig-Zag by Ziggler.
[Jerry] Has Shinsuke been hiding somewhere?
[Byron] He's been in the ring the entire time, King.
[Michael] Yeah, he's been very, very impressive here in this matchup.
Tuning up the band!
[Byron] I don't like Shinsuke's chances here.
-[Shinsuke grunting] -[Jerry] Oh, caught.
-[Michael] Look at this! Dolph Ziggler! -[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Byron] Oh!
[Michael] Lands on the apron.
[Jerry] Ooh.
-Look out! -[Michael] Bálor caught him!
Ziggler eliminated by Finn Bálor!
[Corey] Well, the comeback tour was short-lived for Dolph Ziggler tonight.
[Jerry] I think Finn Bálor was actually trying to hit Shinsuke.
[Byron] Well, gentlemen, look what we have here.
We now know one of these men,
one of these Superstars will win the Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Orton, Cena, Mysterio, Reigns, Nakamura, Bálor.
What an incredible array of talent in the ring right now.
Some of the all-time greats and some of the great up-and-comers.
[Byron] Well, the battle lines have been drawn.
[Jerry] Man.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] This is a showdown.
[Corey] Like a clash of generations.
[inaudible]
[Michael] And John Cena, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio
go right after Reigns, Bálor, and Nakamura.
Six men remain,
one is going to WrestleMania for a guaranteed title opportunity.
Mysterio's got Reigns where he wants him.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Corey] AA from Cena.
-[Byron] Dial it up again. -[Michael] 619 from Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
[Shinsuke grunting]
[Byron] Nakamura with those lethal strikes.
-[Jerry] Look at Orton. -[announcers] Oh!
[Jerry] Cover him! That won't do any good.
[Michael] They were teammates in SmackDown, weren't they, Byron?
[Byron] Doesn't matter now.
It's all about earning a championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
[Michael] Three Rumble winners standing up tall right now, and Mysterio-- Oh!
-[Jerry] Nope. That didn't work. -[Michael] …RKO.
Reigns with a superman punch.
Roman Reigns eliminating Randy Orton!
[Jerry] Look at this!
[Michael] Mysterio!
[Jerry] Oh! Are you kidding me?! Watch this!
Double 619!
[crowd roaring]
[Jerry] My pick, Rey Mysterio.
[Michael] And now Mysterio off the top rope again.
-And now Finn Bálor eliminating Mysterio! -[Jerry] What?!
[Michael] What a performance tonight by Finn Bálor…
-…who entered number two. -[Jerry] You gotta be kidding.
[Michael] Guys, we are down to four.
Reigns, Cena, Nakamura, Bálor.
[Corey] What a performance tonight for Rey Mysterio.
A shocking return, and Bálor spoiling…
[Michael] You wanna talk about incredible performances? Finn Bálor.
[Jerry] John Cena.
[Michael] 52 minutes after entering at number two.
-[Corey] Wow. -[Michael] 52 minutes!
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, man. One of these four guys,
one of these four Superstars are going to WrestleMania.
You see John looking up at that WrestleMania sign.
[Byron] This is your proverbial moment of truth.
One of these men's lives is going to change tonight.
[Michael] Roman Reigns and John Cena have headlined WrestleMania.
Finn Bálor, Shinsuke Nakamura looking for their first opportunity to do that.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Jerry] I don't know about you, but the hair on my neck is standing a bit.
Look at this.
[Corey] All four of these Superstars surveying the scene.
[Jerry] Who's gonna blink first?
[Michael] Pressure cooker here for all four.
Interesting to see the strategy unfolds at this juncture of the match.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Jerry] I don't know if you have any strategy now.
It's just fight for survival, fight for your life.
[crowd chanting, clapping rhythmically] Nakamura! Nakamura!
[chanting continues]
[inaudible]
[Michael] Cena on Nakamura.
And Reigns and Bálor now exchanging blows.
[wrestlers grunting]
[Corey] Reigns considerably fresher than Bálor and Nakamura both.
[Byron] You see that nod from Cena to Roman Reigns?
[Jerry] Oh, oh. Here we go.
-[Michael] It's all about WrestleMania. -[Byron] Here we go.
[Corey] Familiar territory for both of these men.
The Big Dog and The Franchise both want that WrestleMania moment once again.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] And drawing the ire of the WWE fans here in Philadelphia.
[Corey] All those hostile fans in the sporting world.
[Michael] Bálor and Nakamura back in the game.
[Byron] Nakamura and Bálor spoiling the party saying,
"We want this opportunity just as bad as you do."
[Jerry] Oh. Now look at these two.
[Michael] Yeah. Bálor and Nakamura,
two of the greatest stars in Japan now have come full circle.
They meet tonight on the grand stage of the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] Potentially career-defining moment for both of these men right now.
-[Jerry] Ooh. -[Michael] Bálor with a right.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Bálor outstriking The King of Strong Style at the moment.
[Byron] Not so fast.
[Corey] This is how Sami Zayn made his exit.
[Michael] Shinsuke Nakamura looking to eliminate Bálor, who's on the apron.
[Jerry] No. He's not gone.
[Byron] Bálor's reeling. He's barely hanging on.
[Michael] Bálor caught Nakamura,
but Finn's gotta get back into the ring, and he does.
-[Jerry] Wow. -[Michael] Down goes Shinsuke Nakamura.
Finn Bálor looking to pick up momentum.
Four men remain.
Nakamura, a knee right to the midsection of Bálor.
-Caught him right in the back of the neck. -[Jerry] Let me do it.
[Byron] Bálor's been rocked.
[Corey] Nakamura cautiously approaching Finn.
[Jerry] Cautious is right. Don't do anything stupid here.
[Michael] Nakamura still in it.
Roll-through by Bálor.
[crowd gasping]
[Michael] A basement dropkick right into the face of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Finn Bálor now at 55 minutes.
Shinsuke Nakamura nearing 35 minutes in this match.
Incredible performances by both those men.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] But to King's point,
you can be in this match as long as you can, but if you don't win--
[Jerry] Oh!
[Corey] No one remembers.
[Jerry] Cena almost took Shinsuke's head off.
[Michael] Roman Reigns is hurting.
Now it's John Cena and Roman Reigns to go face-to-face.
Cena, in my estimation, the greatest of all time.
All they want…
[Michael] Roman Reigns trying to knock him off that ledge.
[inaudible]
[crowd chanting]
[Michael] Reigns with a right. Cena with a right.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] Oh!
John Cena shoulder tackle.
[Byron] King, we've seen this…
[Michael] Oh, Samoa Drop by Reigns.
[Jerry] I thought Cena was about to set him up
for the old Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but it didn't happen.
[Byron] Roman Reigns has other plans.
The wheels are turning.
[Michael] You know, John Cena, at one point in his career,
the most polarizing figure in WWE.
Roman Reigns, I believe, has taken that title.
[Jerry] Oh, boy.
Roman Reigns is cocked and loaded.
Look out, John!
[Michael] Reigns superman punch, John Cena caught him, plants him.
-Here we go, King!. -[Jerry] Yes, yes!
You can't see me.
You're gonna see a bit of this Five-Knuckle Shuffle. [exclaiming]
-[Michael] Sling Blade by Bálor. -[Jerry] What in the world?!
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] Cena driven into the corner.
Now Finn Bálor with a Sling Blade to Roman Reigns.
[Byron] The fact that Finn Bálor is even still on his feet is a miracle
[Michael] This is a career-making performance for Bálor tonight.
Sling Blade!
[Corey] Finn Bálor is rocking and rolling over everything that moves.
[Jerry] He's not only on his feet, he's on fire. Here he comes again.
[Michael] Nakamura caught him, now in the center.
[Byron] Uh-oh. My pick!
My pick is standing tall!
[Corey] Nakamura feeling some kind of way.
-[Jerry] Oh, no! -[Corey] Here we go!
Oh, no!
[Michael] Oh, double stomp by Bálor.
Down goes Shin.
-[announcers] Whoa. -[Michael] Finn Bálor eliminated by Cena.
[Jerry] My pick!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What an incredible performance by Finn Bálor.
Fifty-seven minutes, 30 seconds after entering at number two.
But as Cena pointed to the WrestleMania sign as if to say it's about WrestleMania.
[Jerry] That's what it's all about. You're right.
[Michael] No hard feelings, no friends, it's about WrestleMania.
There's a reason Cena's won two Rumble matches in his career.
[Corey] There's a reason why John Cena may be the greatest of all time.
Here we see Nakamura setting up for the Kinshasa Knee Strike.
Bálor counters, but Cena would capitalize
and eliminate a lot of people's pick to win the thing.
[Michael] You could see the fatigue in Bálor
as he made it to his feet off the double stomp.
[Corey] Understandably so.
[Jerry] Guys, John Cena didn't have to be in this Royal Rumble tonight.
I mean, he's out in Hollywood.
He's Ferdinand the Bull, he's the talking elephant in the commercials.
But he got in this thing to win it.
-He wants to headline WrestleMania. -[Corey] This is Cena's passion.
This is the one thing he loves more than anything.
[Jerry] I know. Tha's what I'm trying to tell you, BS.
[Corey] What?
[Michael] Cena and Roman Reigns now double-teaming Nakamura.
[Corey] I don't like this at all.
[Nakamura grunting]
[Michael] Cena, a free agent, Reigns from Raw, Nakamura from SmackDown.
Roman Reigns, there's the shoulder tackle by Cena, and another one.
Cena plants Reigns center of the ring, and perhaps this time…
[crowd cheering, jeering]
I will get there.
[Jerry] All right. Try this one more time.
You can't see me, but you can feel this Five-Knuckle Shuffle. He got it.
[Michael] This time connecting to Reigns.
And now, John Cena with Reigns in position for an AA,
an Attitude Adjustment.
Reigns lands on his feet, however…
There's the superman punch, and Cena could be out.
[Jerry] I don't know if he hit him square. I don't know if he got all of it.
Come on, John. Get up.
[Michael] Roman Reigns moving Nakamura out of the way.
He was in the lane of a possible…
[Jerry] You better concentrate on Shinsuke.
[Corey] Reigns wants as much impact as possible for what he's setting up.
-[Reigns roaring] -[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Went for the spear, Cena caught him!
AA from Cena to Reigns.
-[Jerry] Watch out, John! [yelling] -[Byron] Shinsuke!
[Michael] Nakamura!
-But an elbow to the back of the neck… -[Jerry] Thank goodness.
…by John Cena.
And now looking to eliminate Nakamura.
-[Byron] Come on. Hold on. Hold on. -[Jerry] Get him up.
[Michael] Been a great run for Nakamura, but caught Cena with a knee.
[Jerry] Wait.
[Michael] Now Shinsuke Nakamura with Cena on the apron.
John Cena's in a terrible situation here.
[Corey] Blocks the kick.
[Jerry] Get back in the ring.
[Michael] Nakamura out of harm's way.
-John Cena eliminated! -[Jerry] What?!
-[Byron] Yes! Yes! -[Michael] We are down to two!
Nakamura…
[Byron] Come on, Nakamura, take it home!
[Michael] …and Roman Reigns.
[Jerry] How did he do that?
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] That's why he's my pick, King.
[Michael] What an incredible scene we've developed here in Philadelphia.
After the elimination of John Cena, two men remain.
From Monday Night Raw, "The Big Dog," Roman Reigns.
From SmackDown Live, Shinsuke Nakamura,
who has lasted in this Rumble match for over 40 minutes.
[Jerry] It's your man, Byron.
[Byron] There's a reason why Shinsuke Nakamura was highly recruited,
highly praised when it came to WWE,
because he was expected to do something special,
and that special moment could be upon us.
[Jerry] Let's see what's gonna happen when your pick goes against my pick.
Come on, Roman!
[Michael] Shinsuke face-to-face with The Big Dog.
-Come on! -[crowd roaring]
[Byron] Yeah.
I love it. I love the moxie. I love the fight in Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Michael] But you're not gonna psych-out Roman Reigns that way. You know it.
And look at Reigns and Shin exchanging blows
center of the ring tonight in Philadelphia.
[Corey] You don't wanna stand and strike with The King of Strong Style,
as Roman's finding out right now.
There's the quickness of Nakamura, but he ran into a superman punch.
A superman punch that may end the dream.
[Jerry] Everybody knows nothing's stronger than Superman.
You get hit with one of those, you're done for the night.
[Byron] Shake it off, Shinsuke.
[Michael] Reigns won here in Philly. Can he do it again tonight?
Nakamura lands on the apron.
Reigns thinks he won.
I think Reigns thinks he just eliminated Nakamura.
[Corey] Roman knows. Roman well aware that there's still more work to be done.
[Jerry] One more little dog in your yard.
[Michael] Uh-oh. Kick caught Reigns on the jaw.
Reigns stunned by Nakamura.
Nakamura's gotta get back in the ring.
Perilous situation here.
-[Byron] Shinsuke, what are you… -[Corey] Nakamura…
-Look it-- No way. Hanging triangle. -[Michael] Oh my God.
-[Corey] This is terribly dangerous. -[Byron] I don't know about this.
[Michael] Nakamura's over the top rope.
He can be eliminated here if Roman Reigns can break this hold.
[Jerry] Slip your head out, he'll fall to the floor.
[Michael] The triangle locked in!
Roman Reigns, the power now.
Couldn't break it now trying to just bring Shinsuke back in the ring
to somehow break this hold.
[Jerry] He's out of it.
[Byron] Shinsuke's strategy coming back to haunt him.
[Michael] Powerbomb by Reigns.
Both men are down.
These are the final two.
One of these men are going to WrestleMania
to battle for the championship of their choice.
[Jerry] Yeah. What a Royal Rumble this has been.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Who's got the most left?
[crowd chanting, clapping rhythmically] Nakamura! Nakamura!
[Corey] At this point, I'm kinda shocked that either man has anything left.
[Jerry] No kidding.
[Byron] How bad do you want it?
[Jerry] You see that WrestleMania sign looming in the background.
Look up at it, Roman. Think about it.
[Michael] Roman Reigns taking his time stalking Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Byron] Shinsuke, realize where you're at, man.
Look what you have coming for you.
-[Roman roaring] -[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Went for the spear! Shin caught him! Caught him with a knee!
[Byron] Shinsuke might have been playing possum.
[Michael] Reigns again got caught.
Nakamura second rope, knee to the side of the face!
[Byron] Shinsuke Nakamura has new life!
[Jerry] This isn't looking good for Reigns.
[Corey] Nakamura, here we go!
To head to WrestleMania!
[Jerry] You gotta be kidding me! Oh my gosh!
-[Michael] Spear by Reigns! -[Byron] No!
[Jerry] That was a game-saver right there.
[Corey] Could've been a game-ender.
if Roman can somehow get Nakamura's carcass over the top rope,
this thing's done!
[commentators] Boom!
[Jerry] Man, oh man.
[Byron] I thought for sure Shinsuke had him.
[Corey] That took all of the momentum right out of Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Byron] And how much did it take out of Roman Reigns to deliver that spear?
[Jerry] If all he had to do was cover him, this match could be over.
But you gotta get him out. Get him over that top rope.
[Michael] Reigns keeps looking at the WrestleMania sign.
He knows what it's like to win this match. He did it years ago.
He wants to get back to the dance, to battle for the championship.
[Jerry] That's what it's all about.
That's your inspiration here, Roman.
[Jerry grunting]
[Michael] Roman Reigns with Shinsuke on his shoulder,
looking to eliminate Shinsuke Nakamura who is now hanging on.
Shin's trying to hang on, now.
[Byron] Hold on like your life depends on it!
[Jerry] Get him over there. Push!
[Michael] Roman Reigns trying to power Shinsuke over the top.
Reigns…
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] Shinsuke caught him right in the face.
[Jerry] Oh no.
-No, Roman. -[Michael] And now Shinsuke…
[Jerry] Wait, wait.
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Shinsuke Nakamura is going to WrestleMania!
[Byron] I called it! I called it!
[announcer] Here is your winner of the Royal Rumble Match…
-…Shinsuke Nakamura! -["The Rising Sun" playing]
[Michael] Guys, Shinsuke Nakamura lasted almost 45 minutes in this match
to pick up the victory in his Royal Rumble Match debut tonight.
[Corey] As much as Nakamura has accomplished
in his storied career around the world,
there is nobody that gets in this industry
that doesn't dream of doing it at WrestleMania.
Congratulations to The King of Strong Style
[Byron] Two years ago to the month Nakamura signed his WWE contract,
and now Shinsuke Nakamura is heading to WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Unbelievable.
[Michael] And the celebration begins.
[Corey] Nakamura would be looking for the Kinshasa,
and Reigns nails a massive spear.
[Jerry] I thought it was over for sure right then.
[Corey] Everybody did, including Roman.
But here you see Nakamura delivering the knee right on the jaw of Reigns,
and The Big Dog staggered to his feet…
[Jerry] Yeah. That was his mistake.
[Corey] …before the artist delivered the final elimination
of 2018's Royal Rumble Match.
[Byron] That is a moment that will be entrenched
in the mind of Shinsuke Nakamura forever.
Wow. Congratulations, Shinsuke Nakamura, the winner of the Royal Rumble Match.
[crowd roaring]
So Shinsuke, you've now won the right to face the champion of your choosing.
So, have you made a decision?
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
AJ Styles!
[Corey] Yes! [chuckling]
[Michael] Corey, it is gonna happen.
The match that the WWE universe has wanted is gonna happen.
[Corey] I could not be more excited for WrestleMania.
Get me to New Orleans already.
Nakamura and Styles for the WWE Championship.
Unbelievable.
[Byron] The dream match, ladies and gentlemen, is going to come true.
[Michael] Forty-four minutes, forty seconds.
The exact time that Shinsuke Nakamura lasted in the Royal Rumble.
And yes indeed, Shin, you're going to WrestleMania.
[Jerry] Guys, what a Royal Rumble.
Amazing.
I can't believe that Byron,
the guy who thinks Dun & Bradstreet is an intersection picked the winner.
[Byron] Hey. You should give me more credit, King.
[Jerry] Wow.
[music fades]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, just announced this past week
the 32nd Annual Royal Rumble comes next January to Arizona.
Congratulations, Phoenix Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks,
now the home of the Royal Rumble.
["King is Born" playing]
-Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. -Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Oh! So good!
Nakamua, I'm loving it.
Yeah. Absolutely.
Uh, I mean…
Okay. Guys, guys, okay. I get it, I get it.
Congratulations.
-Oh, you mean… Did you just see that? -Yeah, we saw.
SmackDown's own Shinsuke Nakamura wins the Royal Rumble,
and is going on to WrestleMania to face AJ Styles.
-AJ Styles, yes. -Yes.
-Congratulations, congratulations. -Thank you.
Rough night, Kurt.
SmackDown Superstar goes on, wins the men's Rumble Match.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Listen, there's no shame in that.
My hat's off to Nakamura.
But there's plenty for Raw for tonight, what Raw's going to do,
like the Universal Championship Match.
That's gonna be incredible.
It is gonna be incredible, as is the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match.
This is true.
I mean, there's no doubt
that one of our incredible Raw Superstars is gonna win the Women's Royal Rumble.
We'll just see about that, right?
But you know what?
I just have to say, either way, honestly, guys,
this is about making history tonight.
And I think either way we're all gonna be very pleasantly surprised.
[Shane] Hmm.
-Can I say it now? -You can say it now, yes.
Oh, it's true. It's damn true.
It's true, it's SmackDown. Let's do it.
[Michael] I can't wait to see what's in store for us tonight with 17,629.
Sold out tonight at the Wells Fargo Center at Philadelphia.
A wonderful city and a wonderful home to WWE over the years.
But this year the Wells Fargo Center was the home
to the first-ever KFC Colonel Rumble.
[music fades]
[inspirational music playing]
[man] Many have battled for the title.
You know, I came to this event to be entertained.
[man] But only one can be crowned.
Finger lickin' good!
[man] Who will be the next WWE KFC Colonel?
[bell ringing]
[announger] Welcome to the KFC Colonel Rumble.
[Michael] Miz will start things off, Rusev already in the ring.
[Corey] Miz could be the first-ever A-list Colonel,
or will every day be Rusev Day?
[Michael] Titus Worldwide!
[rock music playing]
[Corey] Slater better toughen up quick if he wants to be the next Colonel.
[Michael] Mojo Rawley heading to the ring.
Mojo eliminated!
[Corey] See ya!
[Michael] Titus, good night.
[Corey] Adios, Slater.
[Michael] Who's gonna be the next Colonel?
Here comes Fandango.
[Corey] And Tyler Breeze.
Breezango working together beautifully.
[Michael] Oh no!
[Corey] But there can be only one Colonel.
[Michael] Every man for himself!
[klaxon sounding]
[Michael] Goldust!
[Corey] This is the most bizarre Colonel I've ever seen.
[Michael] Well, he's eliminated. So is Breeze!
It's down to Rusev and Miz.
The opportunity of a lifetime!
Who's gonna be the next Colonel?
[crowd cheering]
[klaxon sounding]
[Ric] Woo!
[Corey] Could it be?
[Michael] The Nature Boy, Ric Flair!
The two-time Hall of Famer!
[Corey] Could Nature Boy become the next Colonel?
-Woo! Woo! -[dramatic music playing]
[Michael] And now Rusev and Miz going at it.
And Miz trying to eliminate Rusev.
[Corey] Wait a minute! From behind!
[Michael] Rusev eliminated, Miz eliminated!
-The Nature Boy does it! -[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Colonel Ric Flair!
[Ric] KFC, it's finger lickin' woo!
[music fades]
Back here at ringside, we're joined by Hall-of-Famer Booker T.
Booker, everything Ric Flair's accomplished in his career,
but now he is Colonel Ric Flair.
There's nobody better than The Nature Boy.
That was so much fun.
Limousine ridin', jet flyin, chicken eatin' son of a gun, I guess.
They talked a lot about that on social media a little bit earlier on,
but the Superstars have been all over social media all night long,
including WWE Champion AJ Styles,
who won a 2-on-1 Handicap Match earlier.
[Corey] "They wanted the match. They got the match.
But they were never going to get my title."
Looking forward to WrestleMania is The Phenomenal One.
[Michael] And also very active on social media as well,
the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos,
who knocked off Gable and Benjamin.
Jimmy and Jey, uh,
"Any team on any day. Only one team that matters."
Speaking of Tag Team Titles, now set to have the Raw Tag Team Titles defended.
["The Second Coming (Burn It Down)" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-♪ Burn it down! ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Burn it down! ♪
[bell ringing]
[JoJo] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
And it is for the Raw Tag Team Championship.
Introducing first, he is one half of the Raw Tag Team Champions,
Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Seth Rollins along with The Bar, Cesaro and Sheamus,
who were involved in the Royal Rumble Match
just a few moments ago.
And we're gonna show you some action between Seth Rollins
and Cesaro in this match.
Rollins was looking great for a while.
[Corey] Rollins was firing on all cylinders, but Cesaro did his best
to bring The Architect's momentum to a screeching halt.
[Michael] And as it looked like Cesaro was going to eliminate Seth Rollins,
Seth, with just an incredible move here,
launching Cesaro over the top rope and eliminating one half of The Bar.
[Corey] Rollins will be pleased.
Would go on to continue to battle a little longer, but it begs the question,
how much gas does Seth Rollins have left in the tank for the title match?
[Michael] Can I help with momentum?
[Booker T] You said it. Second wind, he's gonna have to catch one.
["Next Generation of Great" by CFO$ playing]
♪ I'm the next generation of great ♪
[JoJo] His tag team partner, one half of the Raw Tag Team Champions, Jason Jordan.
[Michael] The son of General Manager Kurt Angle.
As Jordan gets set for action with Seth Rollins,
we invite you to watch your favorite TV shows and movies online
with Hulu and get next day, unlimited instant streaming access
to all of WWE's weekly programs
including Raw, SmackDown, Main Event, NXT, and 205 Live.
Visit hulu.com for a free trial, and start watching your favorite WWE shows today.
[Corey] Jason Jordan is now undeniably the freshest competitor
in this Tag Team Championship Match.
That has to play into the favor of Rollins and Jordan.
[Booker T] I hope Jason knows what this night is really, truly all about.
-[Corey] The Raw Tag Team Titles. -[Booker T] Exactly.
["Hellfire" playing]
[JoJo] Their opponents, the team of Sheamus and Cesaro.
[Corey] Sheamus has to be feeling relatively fresh,
as he only spent a few seconds in the Royal Rumble Match.
[Michael] So, of course, Cesaro from Switzerland, Sheamus from Ireland.
We had a Royal Rumble Match winner from Japan.
An international flavor here tonight in Philadelphia.
That's why we've got a whole team of international announcers with us tonight.
Starting with the Portuguese team of Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaking Portuguese]
[Michael in English] The Russian team of Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaking Russian]
[Michael in English] The Japanese team of Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki.
[speaking Japanese]
[Michael in English] The Hindi team of Obaid Kadwani and Shez Sardar.
[speaking Hindi]
[Michael in English] From Groupe AB France,
Christophe Agius and Philippe Chéreau.
[speaking French]
[Michael in English] And the Mandarin team of Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Michael in English] For the Raw Tag Team Championship tonight,
interesting situation here because remember last Monday night on Raw,
the 25th anniversary of Raw during The Peep Show, hosted by Christian,
a little bit of miscommunication
between Seth Rollins and, you know, his partner Jason Jordan.
[Corey] Seth Rollins, while attempting to deliver one of his patented flying knees,
would unintentionally take out Jason Jordan.
And I think all that was, was fuel for all the naysayers,
all the haters out there
that are looking to drive a wedge between Jordan and Rollins.
[Michael] So Booker, we start things off with Cesaro
against the man who eliminated him from tonight's Rumble, Seth Rollins.
[Booker T] Well, Seth Rollins, he put a lot of time in in the Rumble.
He's gonna have to catch a second wind,
and trust me, Cesaro, I think has a lot of energy left to go.
[Michael] The Bar looking to become four-time Tag Team Champions.
They were surprised by the unorthodox pairing
of Rollins and Jordan back on Christmas night
when Rollins and Jordan won the Tag Team Gold.
[Booker T] Beautiful move right there by Seth Rollins.
[Michael] And Cesaro, the power, and-- Oh! Rollins a nice deep arm drag.
[Corey] Great counter by The Architect, and once again…
[Michael] The back drop.
And Seth Rollins has Cesaro out of whack here early on in the match.
[Booker T] One thing Seth don't have to worry about
is building up a sweat or anything, and he's using it to his advantage.
[Corey] Rollins coming out of the gate at a breakneck pace.
Good strategy by the champion.
[Michael] Had some incredible tag team history
here in the city of Philadelphia over the years with WWE.
[Booker T] Talking about miscommunication, guys,
last week could be no miscommunication.
Tonight, Jason Jordan need to be on top of his game.
[Corey] I agree with you, Booker. You know Sheamus and Cesaro prepared, as always.
[Michael] And Sheamus now in, off the tag, going to work on Rollins.
[Booker T] If you know Sheamus, he's got to be pretty upset
not getting that ticket to go to WrestleMania.
[Michael] Crossbody by Seth.
Five times the Tag Team Titles have changed hands at this Royal Rumble event,
including last year
when Anderson and Gallows knocked off Sheamus and Cesaro.
[Corey] Wait, Cesaro, threw the attention of Jason Jordan by running down the apron.
[Michael] And now it allows The Bar to double team.
And here's Cesaro off the tag.
[Booker T] That's a big mistake right there
because Seth Rollins may have used all the gas in his tank at the outset, guys.
[Corey] Well, you can't blame that on Jason Jordan.
He was simply trying to keep the odds even.
Maybe a little bit--
[Booker T] Wait, Corey. Who do you blame it on?
[Corey] I blame it on spectacular teamwork by Cesaro and Sheamus.
[both yelling]
[Booker T] I blame it on a kid not being focused out here
on one of the biggest nights of his career.
[Michael] Cover, and a kickout.
I don't understand, Book, what you're trying to say.
[Booker T] Well, I'm trying to say Jason Jordan is not on his Ps and Qs.
That's what I'm saying. He should've made that tag.
[Michael] I don't think anyone has to be blamed.
Jason hasn't been in the match.
[Booker T] You must not be watching what we're watching, Michael Cole.
-[Corey] Has he tagged in yet? -[Booker T] No, but he should've.
[Michael] Seth with a kick to the back of the neck.
[Corey] But by Booker logic, he's still at fault.
[Michael] I like that, Booker logic.
Meanwhile, Sheamus and Rollins continue to battle,
and Rollins trying to make it to his corner.
And Cesaro, sent through the second rope. Seth needs to make a tag.
[Corey] Here you go. Jordan ready to come in guns-a-blazing.
[Michael] Sheamus preventing Rollins from making a tag.
Sheamus sent back into the ropes.
Seth Rollins--
[Corey] Cesaro pulled Jordan--
[Michael] And Cesaro pulled Jordan off the apron and face-first into the post!
[Booker T] Don't say that was great tag team--
[Michael] Went for the Brogue Kick.
[Sheamus grunting]
[Michael] Second time Sheamus went over the top rope.
And here's Seth Rollins with a suicide dive, taking out both men!
[Seth] Hey. Hey, you okay?
-Jordan… I don't know what's wrong. -[referee] He's all right? Jason!
[Corey] I don't think Rollins knows what happened.
[Michael] This is what happened. Watch Jason Jordan.
He goes face-first right there into the ring post.
[Booker T] Wow.
[Michael] Meanwhile, Seth turned his attention to his partner for the moment,
and Sheamus and Cesaro attacked.
[Booker T] The things is, there are no time-outs in tag team wrestling, guys.
[Corey] There are no timeouts ever in wrestling.
[Booker T] I said "timeouts," okay?
[Corey] I said timeouts, Book. [chuckling]
[Michael] And here's Sheamus back out to the apron.
Rollins back into the ring.
Sheamus going up to the top rope, here comes The Celtic Warrior.
[Corey] Rollins finds himself outnumbered right now.
[Michael] And Sheamus with a clothesline as he launches himself.
Here's the cover. Could be new tag champs!
And a kickout.
[Booker T] Only thing Sheamus and Cesaro needs to do now
is just keep the pressure on.
[Corey] Well, you see Jason Jordan being tended to by medical staff
at ringside.
I mean, Rollins right now, essentially, in a Handicap Match.
And his Raw Tag Team Championship's on the line.
[inaudible]
[Michael] Yeah, the doctors out there with Jason Jordan does not look good.
Cesaro, again making sure that Jordan is still down.
[Cesaro roaring]
[Michael] And the attack continues in the ring.
[Booker T] Everything looks pretty good for Sheamus and Cesaro.
[Michael] Yeah. Showing absolutely no remorse at all for Seth Rollins.
-[indistinct shouting] -[Cesaro] Come on!
[Michael] The Bar about punishing, and that's what they're doing tonight.
[Booker T] You said it right there.
It's not just about winning the match right now, it's about punishing Ces--
Excuse me. Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Saw Jason Jordan trying to wave away the doctors at ringside,
as Cesaro continues the pressure.
[Booker T] The thing is, we don't know how banged up Jason Jordan really is.
That was a hard shot.
[Michael] Yeah. He looks pretty banged up, and…
[Corey] Tag is made.
Here comes The Celtic Warrior, now legal. Rollins doing his best to fight through.
[Michael] Yeah, but again, Corey, this is a handicap situation
for Seth Rollins here.
[Sheamus grunting, yelling]
[Michael] Knee from The Celtic Warrior.
[Booker T] I'll tell you, Seth Rollins is in dire straits.
He needs… he need to make a tag, he needs to make one quick.
-[Sheamus grunting] -[Michael] There's nobody to tag.
[Booker T] Exactly my point.
There's nobody there to help him.
He's, like, on Gilligan's Island. He's stranded right now.
[Corey] There were a bunch of people on Gilligan's Island, Book. [chuckling]
[Booker T] And? What's your point?
[Corey] Uh, nothing. I'm exhausted.
-[Booker T] Yeah, yeah. -[Corey chuckling]
[Corey] Rollins fighting now…
[Michael] Rollins hanging Sheamus up on the top rope,
and Seth Rollins showing signs of life here.
Sheamus!
[Michael] Seth up to the apron,
measuring his man, looking to launch himself, top rope…
-Rollins caught by Sheamus! -[Corey] Uh-oh.
Seth, still managing to fight.
[Michael] One thing we learned about Seth Rollins, tremendous heart.
-[Booker T] Whoa. -[Michael] There's Cesaro.
[Booker T] Wow. Bad spot right there.
[Corey] Cesaro came close to being caught by the official there.
[Michael] Numbers game.
[Booker T] As well as he fell right on the back of his head from that clothesline.
[Michael] Double team! Cover by Cesaro to win the Tag Team Titles!
Almost had him.
[Cesaro] Come on. Come on, ref!
-[Corey] Jordan still out of it. -[referee] …two…
[Corey] On the far side of the ring-- Oh, goodness!
Cover here by Cesaro.
[Michael] Yet again, to win the Tag Team Gold for a fourth time.
And Rollins stays in the match.
[Booker T] I gotta say a whole lot about Seth Rollins. He's… he's manning up.
Two…
[Michael] Somehow staying in this match.
Oh! May not much longer.
Cover, Sheamus. Off the back breaker, the double team.
And again Rollins gets the shoulder up.
[Corey] You've gotta respect the effort, the heart, the will of Seth Rollins,
but let's take one more look back at what happened to Jason Jordan moments ago.
Boom!
Launched face-first into the steel ring post.
[Michael] One thing you noticed in the background of that shot
was Rollins checking on his partner,
which allowed Sheamus and Cesaro to ambush him from behind
and take control of this match.
[Corey] It has been all The Bar since.
[Booker T] Let's talk about Seth.
He was in that Royal Rumble Match and he exerted a lot of energy, guys.
We don't know how much he has left in the tank, if any.
[indistinct shouting]
And we'll continue to do so…
[Michael] And look at Rollins fighting back.
Cesaro trash talking.
Seth Rollins, though, trying to survive here with the Tag Team Titles intact.
Knee to the midsection again.
[Corey] Right now it's Seth Rollins against the world.
I mean, Seth's a man without a partner,
and could be a man without Tag Team Gold momentarily.
-[Booker T] One big shot… -[Michael] Oh, look at Rollins!
Rollins able to avoid disaster there.
Sheamus shoulder first into the post, and, guys, we've got an even matchup here,
at least momentarily.
[Corey] For the moment.
How much does Rollins have left?
Does Rollins have enough to figure out a plan?
[Michael] His partner, Jason, still down and out.
Seth Rollins in the ring, trying now to catch his breath.
Trying to just take a moment here.
[Corey] Ideally, Rollins would love to make a tag in this particular situation,
but at this particular juncture…
[Michael] Tag, though, Cesaro.
[Corey] …Jordan's useless.
[Michael] And Rollins caught Cesaro with an elbow to the face.
[Booker T] You know sometimes, guys, you gotta do it yourself.
You cannot wait, and Seth Rollins is doing it.
[Michael] Yeah. Seth Rollins continues to chop away at Cesaro,
trying to buck the odds tonight and retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
with a Sling Blade!
[Booker T] How many times have we seen that move tonight from Rollins?
-[Michael] It's been effective every time. -[Booker T] Letting it all hang out.
[Corey] Blockbuster!
[crowd applauding]
[Seth breathing heavily]
[Corey] Rollins trying to keep his foot on the gas.
Trying to topple the challengers.
[Michael] Yeah. It's a monumental task if he could pull it off, Corey.
[Corey] You're right,
but The Celtic Warrior still isolated on the outside.
Rollins with a suplex.
Rolls through. Gonna deliver a…
Looked like he was going for the Falcon Arrow there,
and now he rolls Cesaro up, shoulders down!
Cesaro able to kickout at two.
[Booker T] Where is Seth Rollins getting this extra energy from?
Where is he getting it?
[Corey] There's the Falcon Arrow!
[Michael] Is it enough to retain the championship?
Hooks the leg, and Cesaro at two!
[Seth grunting]
[Michael] Kick to the jaw!
Into the cover!
Sheamus into the ring and gonna break things up for his team.
[Booker T] Seth Rollins has been in this match since the beginning, guys.
Come on! That's enough! Get out of the ring!
[Corey] Right now, Rollins functioning on guts, will, determination, defiance,
anything but physical well-being.
-[announcers] Oh! -[Booker T] Wow!
[Seth grunting]
Come on, Sheamus, out of the corner!
[Booker T] It's called grinding right here.
Sheamus is ready to just take it home and finish this kid.
[Michael] Seth Rollins somehow still managing to stay alive in the match.
[fan yelling indistinctly]
[Michael] A brutal attack by Sheamus and Cesaro.
[Booker T] Talk about Sheamus being pretty fresh too.
[Corey] Oh no. If Sheamus lands this,
Rollins's title reign's over, and maybe career.
[Michael] Looking for White Noise from the top.
[both breathing heavily]
[Corey] Rollins able to slither his way out.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Look at this.
Very similar to the Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens situation
we saw in the first match of the night.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Able to tag in and out at will.
[Booker T] Wow. What can you say about Seth Rollins?
He's… he's trying to do it.
[Michael] He's a survivor, Book.
[Cesaro yelling]
[Corey] Oh no, no, no!
[Michael] And Cesaro trying to shift the balance here.
Hang on! Top rope drop by Rollins!
[Seth breathing heavily]
[Michael] Man, what a…
what a gutsy effort here by Seth tonight.
[Corey] Wait a minute. You don't think…
Yes!
[Michael] Frog Splash to both members of The Bar!
[Cesaro groaning]
[Michael] But can Rollins capitalize? He may have hurt his knee, Corey.
[Corey] Yeah. Rollins immediately came up clutching his left knee.
We know Rollins's history of knee problems.
[Michael] And here's Jason Jordan trying to fight his way back into the match.
[Booker T] Jason Jordan is dazed, Cole.
[Corey] Not since Lazarus have we seen such an important resurrection.
[Michael] Jason Jordan tagged his way into this match.
And it doesn't look like Jason Jordan has any clue where he's at.
[Corey] Jordan… Guys, I mean, speaking from experience,
Jordan doesn't look like he belongs in the ring right now.
[Booker T] Taking one on the chin, that's what happened, Corey.
[Michael] He went face-first, and now he's gotta tag himself out of the match.
He can't go.
-Jordan tried. -[Corey] Hey, listen, it's…
Again, this is… this is about career longevity for Jason Jordan.
What're you doing? What're you doing? Get back in here and fight!
[Michael] Rollins screaming at Jordan.
Meanwhile, Cesaro taking advantage of Rollins, who's now legal.
[Seth grunting]
[Michael] And look at Rollins fighting back against both members of The Bar!
-[Cesaro yelling] -[Michael] Oh, an uppercut!
[Booker T] In a two-on-one situation,
I'm going with the two guys every time, guys.
[Michael] That's a great-- Oh! Knee!
Tag, Sheamus. Not sure Rollins realizes Sheamus is the legal man!
He does that with a Brogue Kick!
-[Booker T] That's it. -[Michael] Tag!
They wanna make sure.
[Sheamus straining]
[Booker T] It's the nail in the coffin right here.
[Michael] Oh! Rollins is down!
Cesaro with the cover!
One, two, three.
[Michael] And for a fourth time, The Bar are Tag Team Champs.
[JoJo] Here are your winners, and the new Raw Tag Team Champions,
Sheamus and Cesaro!
[Michael] You gotta applaud Seth Rollins and his effort tonight,
but at the end of the day, Cesaro and Sheamus just way too strong.
[Corey] You have to be concerned with the state of Jason Jordan right now.
I mean, Jordan took a nasty spill into the ring post.
As you can see, some… some symptoms still affecting Jordan.
I mean, I hope he's all right.
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, as The Bar celebrate,
we are on The Road to WrestleMania.
["Hellfire" playing]
[Michael] And this here is what you have to look forward to on the WWE Network.
[music fades]
-[dramatic music playing] -[Tom] It is a beautiful disaster.
Welcome, everyone, to Elimination Chamber.
[Corey] Step on the gas.
[Michael] This is WWE Fastlane!
[tires screeching]
♪ Come on, baby, let the good times roll ♪
[jazzy music playing]
-♪ Oh, baby! ♪ -♪ Let it roll ♪
-♪ Come on, baby ♪
♪ Baby, let the good times roll ♪
♪ Come on, baby, let it roll ♪
[man] There is nothing like WrestleMania.
And we are on the road right now.
[music fades]
Indeed, we are on our way to New Orleans and WrestleMania.
And coming up next, we may have an idea who the Universal Champion is going to be
at WrestleMania.
Are you guys ready for this?
A Triple Threat Match to determine the Universal Champion.
It is The Monster, The Beast, and The Machine.
Strowman, Lesnar, and Kane.
["King is Born" playing]
[dramatic music playing]
[Paul] The Beast…
versus The Monster…
versus The Machine.
[inaudible]
[crowd cheering]
[roaring]
[crowd cheering]
[man shrieking]
[crowd gasping]
[straining]
[crowd cheering]
[music quiets]
[ominous music playing]
[Paul] Brock Lesnar does not believe in monsters
and Brock Lesnar highly doubts that Kane is The Devil's Favorite.
Brock Lesnar walks into the Royal Rumble with only one cliffhanger in mind.
Will Brock Lesnar pin Kane, Braun Strowman,
or will Brock Lesnar stack them on top of each other
and pin them both?
[music crescendos]
[Kane] Look at us, Braun.
We can tame The Beast.
[all grunting]
[Braun] I don't care about you or your plan.
When I take down Brock Lesnar…
[man 2] Huh, grappling hook.
[Braun] …I'm gonna do it on my own terms.
[people clamoring]
It's coming down!
[metal creaking, straining]
[Braun roaring]
[people clamoring]
Oh my God! What did you do?!
[men shouting, clamoring]
[Braun roaring]
[music fades]
[roaring]
[Michael] Reinforce the ring.
At the Royal Rumble,
three of the baddest men in sports entertainment history
are gonna be in the ring at the same time.
[epic music playing]
[Paul] This is the most dominant champion in history.
[Michael] Kane just sat up.
[Kane] Brock Lesnar's list of victims does not include me.
[Corey] Lesnar's laughing!
[Braun] I'm the only alpha monster around here.
-[Corey] Oh God! -[Michael] Through the ring!
[Corey] What?!
The Beast's championship in jeopardy, maybe more than we have ever seen.
[Paul] Brock Lesnar fears no challenge.
[Kane] I've caused more destruction than anyone.
[Michael] Kane just crushed Strowman!
[Braun] Brock Lesnar, this is your future!
[Michael] The Beast, The Machine, The Monster.
Triple Threat for the Universal Title!
[Corey] This match could quite possibly level Philadelphia.
[music fades]
["Monster of All Monsters" by def rebel playing]
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] Guys, forgive me if I get nervous out here at ringside,
sitting this close to that man, Braun Strowman.
I felt firsthand a couple of weeks ago what this man is capable of.
But what about what he's done to the likes of Kane and Lesnar
over the past number of months?
[Corey] It's not about what Braun Strowman has done in the past,
it's about what he is capable of doing tonight.
Strowman wants to be Universal Champion,
and what Braun Strowman has wanted to this point,
he has just taken, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
[Michael] Booker, how do you stop him? Besides throwing me in front of him?
[Booker T] You don't. Let me tell you, Braun Strowman has come on the scene,
has taken over the whole game, man.
He's a monster.
[Corey] Look at Braun planting his feet like a bull ready for battle.
["Veil of Fire" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] Here's a man, who over the years has made history
in the Royal Rumble event.
And he could do it again tonight.
If Kane wins this match,
he'd be the first person to win WWE World Championship
and Universal Titles in his career.
[Corey] I think Kane might be the dark horse in this matchup.
All the hype has been about Strowman and all about Lesnar.
You're talking about someone who has dominated for 20 years in the WWE.
The Big Red Machine could very well be the next Universal Champion.
[Michael] And this is an interesting stat about Kane.
Do you realize in his long, illustrious career,
that he's only been in the ring for a match with Brock Lesnar
on two different occasions?
Back in 2003 in a Royal Rumble Match and then momentarily,
in the Royal Rumble Match last year.
["Next Big Thing" by Jim Johnston playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] He is the longest-reigning active champion in the WWE today.
He has held the Universal Title for 301 days.
There have only been four reigns of over 300 days in the last 25 years.
That's The Beast, Brock Lesnar.
[Booker T] Guys, we've seen Triple Threat Matches before many times,
but I don't think we've ever seen a Triple Threat Match of this magnitude.
[Corey] This is less like a Triple Threat Match,
and more like a trailer for the new Pacific Rim movie.
You got monsters all over the place.
[Michael] Brock Lesnar, a winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble Match,
hasn't fared well in Triple Threat Matches in his career, believe it or not.
However, he did win a big one for the WWE Championship,
back in 2015 at this event.
Remember, Lesnar does not have to be pinned or submitted
to lose his championship.
Triple Threat rules.
[music fades]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is a Triple Threat Match
for the Universal Championship.
Introducing the challengers, first,
weighing in at 385 pounds,
Braun Strowman.
[crowd roaring]
Next, weighing in at 323 pounds,
Kane.
[crowd cheering]
And their opponent--
[crowd cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen, my name…
[Paul and crowd] …is Paul Heyman.
Introducing, fighting out of the Champion's corner…
[Paul and crowd] …the reigning, defending,
undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion,
Brock Lesnar!
[Michael] Again, rules. First man to gain pinfall or submission
is the Universal Champion.
Lesnar taunting Kane and Strowman.
Big smile on his face.
[Corey] Yeah. Listen to what you just said,
Brock Lesnar is taunting Braun Strowman and Kane.
[Michael] Philadelphia, a big fight city, and this is a big fight tonight.
[Booker T] Guys, I think the playbook is gonna go out of the window
real quick here.
[Michael chuckling] Great analysis, Book.
-That's why you're a Hall of Famer, kid. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Lesnar, Strowman, Kane, here we go!
And Lesnar backs Kane into the corner. And now, Braun--
-Oh my-- -[Corey] Oh wow!
-[Michael] Now it's Strowman. -[Booker T] How do you plan for that?
[Michael] What about the quickness of this freight train?
-[Corey] Whoa! -[Michael] Front kick, Lesnar's down!
[Corey] It's like being drop kicked by a T-Rex.
[Michael chuckling] Oh my Lord!
-Braun Strowman-- -[Corey] Wait a minute.
[Michael] Now Lesnar trying to pick the leg of Strowman,
and got a knee to the jaw… a knee to the jaw.
He caught Lesnar good.
A knee to the jaw caught Brock good, and Brock got him back.
[Corey] Lesnar just threw a bomb, tattooed Strowman.
[Michael] Looking for the F5, now Kane looking for a Chokeslam.
[Kane yelling]
[Michael] And there's the Chokeslam by Kane!
And Strowman now!
[Corey] Just bulldozing Kane back into the corner.
[Booker T] No strategy, Cole. You said it, it's a fight.
[Michael] I couldn't believe that knee that Strowman delivered to Lesnar.
It shook the champion.
[Corey] It would've knocked out a lesser man.
[Booker T] But Brock Lesnar came right back with a big right hand, guys.
-[Corey] Yes. -[Michael] Strowman focuses on Kane.
Brock Lesnar just wandering around outside the ring, looking to regroup.
[Kane grunting]
[Michael] Kane now has Strowman where he wants him.
Meanwhile, Lesnar with a steel chair! And, again, legal!
No disqualification, Triple Threat…
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] Strowman just punched the chair out of Lesnar's hand and floored him!
[Corey] Good God, man!
[Michael] Are you kidding me?!
Lesnar over the top rope.
[Corey] Brock Lesnar might be out…
[Booker T] Let me tell you. I just saw a look in Brock Lesnar's eyes
that I've never seen before.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] You should see the look on Paul Heyman's face out here.
Heyman doesn't believe what just happened.
-[Corey] It's the same look we all have. -[Michael] There's the knee!
There's the knee that caught him on the ear.
And now Lesnar driven into the barricade.
And this is a little uncomfortable out here.
[Corey] And take a look at this right hand from Lesnar.
Wham!
If that didn't scramble Strowman's brains, I don't know what will.
[Booker T] That right hand shook Braun Strowman…
[Michael] And now Strowman carrying steps around.
Just banged it off the face of Kane, now off the shoulder of Lesnar!
And Braun Strowman is a one-man wrecking machine!
[crowd whistling]
[Michael] Hey, Corey, I ask you this every week.
But now, watching the damage he's caused here tonight,
how do you stop Brock Lesnar?
-[Corey] Uh… -[Michael] Seriously!
[Corey] Braun Strowman… I mean, you don't stop Braun Strowman.
[Michael] I mean, now, Braun is trying to find a weapon,
just what this guy needs.
What I meant to say was how do you stop Braun?
[Corey] Let's give Godzilla a machine gun!
-[Michael laughing] -[Booker T] No disqualification, guys.
No rules.
[Michael] Indeed.
And Braun Strowman with a table is just not a sight you wanna see.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And they love tables in Philadelphia, there's no doubt about that.
But, I mean, guys, Kane and Lesnar are still down and out outside the ring.
[Booker T] Braun Strowman, guys, is trying to let the world know
that he's staking his claim here tonight at the Royal Rumble.
[Michael] Gonna show you earlier on in this match.
Watch this knee from Strowman.
How the hell Brock Lesnar wasn't knocked out by that is beyond me.
[Corey] And then Lesnar would answer with his right hand.
[Michael] Here you go.
[Corey and Michael] Boom!
[Booker T] When you hit a man with a shot like Braun hit Brock with,
you come back with a right hand, you wonder about yourself.
[Corey] That… that right hand…
[Michael] If I got hit by that right hand, I would never move again.
-[Booker T] Exactly my point. -[Corey chuckling]
[Michael] And here's Strowman now setting up a table
Again, what does The Monster need with a table?
[Strowman grunting]
[Booker T] Started at a very quick pace, guys.
It's slowing down just a bit.
[Michael] Not in a good way.
[Booker T] Exactly. Braun Strowman is in total control.
[Michael] Strowman now, uh… strategically, he's setting up a table.
Kane, looking to get to his feet.
[crowd cheering, applauding rhythmically]
[Michael] You know what they say about Philly fans?
Oh my God, Kane!
-[Kane grunting] -[Michael] And Strowman!
[Corey] Two behemoths, and Strowman…
[Michael] Chokeslam!
Cover, for the Universal Title!
Brock Lesnar barrelling over the official to save the match.
[Corey] Uh-oh, uh-oh.
[Michael] German Suplex to Strowman!
[Booker T] Brock is not gonna lose the title that way, guys.
[Michael] You know where we're going, Corey!
[Corey] Suplex City!
[Michael] Triple Germans to Strowman.
[Booker T] That'll rattle your brain a little bit.
[Michael] Brock Lesnar just went to Beast Mode.
[Corey] Wait a minute.
[Michael] Meanwhile, Strowman picking Brock up and put him through a table!
[Booker T] Ow.
-[Corey] Cover… -[Michael] For the title!
Kane breaks it up!
[Booker T] I'll tell you. I wonder if Brock would've kicked out
if Kane wouldn't have been there to make that save.
You gotta wonder.
[Michael] He was driven through with authority
to the table.
[Corey] But let's be honest,
we just watched Strowman be taken to Suplex City with three Germans,
and now he's doing this to Kane.
[Michael] Easily picks up Kane,
and Strowman shoulder first into the table.
And it almost looked like Braun knew it was coming, guys,
and he said, "Let me just drive myself through it to try to brace it."
I guess.
Who knows what he's thinking?
[Booker T] Kane is not ready to give it up just that easy, guys.
[Corey] I'm not totally certain that Strowman's still feeling okay
after that right hand from Lesnar.
[Michael] And now Kane measuring Braun Strowman.
Could it be The Big Red Machine's night?
Chokeslam to Braun!
Cover by Kane for the Universal Championship!
And Brock Lesnar breaks it up.
[Corey chuckling] Lesnar just dragging Kane around the ring.
This is freaky. Uh-oh!
-Uh-oh! -[Brock roaring]
[Michael] F5 by Lesnar.
Universal Champion looking to retain…
Strowman with a waistlock, and then a…
[Corey] He just German Suplexed Brock!
[Michael] He picked him off the ground in a waistlock
and then delivered a German Suplex out of the ring.
[Booker T] Wait a minute. You gotta be kidding me.
[Michael] No, we're not. [chuckling]
Booker, the look on your face right now is incredible.
[Corey] Look at the power of Strowman here.
Powerslam right through the table.
Several moments ago, Lesnar has since recovered, but…
[Michael] How strong do you have to be
to waistlock Brock Lesnar into a German Suplex out of the ring?
[Corey] I'm not an expert on strongman competitions
like Strowman used to compete in,
but I assure you throwing the Universal Champion
was not one of the events.
[Michael] And-- Come on.
Braun and Brock Lesnar out here at ringside.
This is a very uncomfortable situation for us and for Lesnar!
Into the barricade!
[Booker T] What impresses me about Braun is his stamina.
It seems like he's got a motor that just won't quit.
[Corey] At 385 pounds, to have a gas tank like that-- Uh-oh!
[Michael] The German announce team
better hope he doesn't deliver a German Suplex through their table.
Because-- Oh, there they go.
Braun Strowman is rearranging furniture again.
-[Booker T] Stand in front of me, Cole. -[Michael] Yeah.
[Corey] We're gonna throw him there anyway, Book.
[Michael] And now, Braun Strowman with the champion, Brock Lesnar.
Dragging Lesnar back out to the table here at ringside.
And now it's Brock Lesnar with Strowman up on his shoulder!
F5! And through the table!
[Corey] Strowman's face bounced off the top of the table.
-That's gotta be it! -[Michael] Brock Lesnar with a vicious F5!
[Booker T] That's the difference about this Brock Lesnar here.
He's cunning, he's calculating, he waited till the right moment.
[Michael] And he's strong as hell!
[Corey] There was nothing cunning about that. That was brute force.
[Michael] There's a reason he's called The Beast.
And now what does Brock Lesnar have in mind here?
Lesnar now turning his attention to our table.
[Michael] We have nowhere to go.
[Corey] I'm about to throw the German guy in front of me.
-[Michael] This is ridiculous. -[Corey] Wait a minute.
[Michael] Oh my God!
Oh my God, Lesnar!
-Lesnar with our table on top of Strowman! -[Corey] Oh!
He's dead.
[Michael] Braun Strowman… Braun Strowman has been buried!
Buried under the announce table by the champion, Lesnar.
[Corey] What lengths is Lesnar willing to go…
-[Brock grunting] -[Corey] …to retain his Universal Title?
[Michael] Kane's back on his feet.
And Kane turns his attention to Lesnar.
And now Kane with Lesnar in a Chokeslam situation.
Lesnar able to reverse it, Kane up top!
[Booker T] Oh wow!
[Michael] Kane onto the Spanish announce table!
-And it finally crashes through! -[Brock roaring]
[Corey] Guys, Braun Strowman hasn't moved.
He is lifeless under the announce table.
[Booker T] Talking about the beast in Brock Lesnar,
you're seeing it right now, guys.
[Michael] This man is the most incredible champion we've ever seen.
Braun Strowman just flipped the table!
-Just picked up the table and tossed it! -[Booker T] Wait a minute, Cole.
[Michael] And now The Beast and The Monster are face-to-face.
And Lesnar can't believe it.
A look of disbelief in the face of Brock Lesnar.
And now, Lesnar-- Get the hell out of the way! Get the hell out of here!
Strowman with a kick right to the face!
[Corey] And Brock's skull just bounced off the steel ring stairs.
[Michael] Now, Strowman with the champion back in the ring.
Braun Strowman, looking to somehow to win the Universal Championship.
[Booker T] Definitely not for the faint of heart,
this match here tonight, guys.
This is as real as real can get.
[Michael] And Braun Strowman now has the champion in his sights.
And now, there it is, the powerslam!
-[Corey] New champ… Whoa! -[Booker T] Oh no, no.
[Michael] Strowman wants to punish him.
He realizes it's gonna take more than a powerslam to take out Lesnar.
And once again, the powerslam.
Cover. No, Kane, chair.
Back of the spine of Braun Strowman.
[Braun grunting]
[Michael] And now Kane with a weapon in hand.
[Corey] Oh! Right to the abdomen.
[Booker T] Guys, Kane is very familiar with this position right here.
This is nothing new.
[chair clatters]
[Michael] Braun Strowman has been sent outside the ring.
Kane now turns his attention to the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar.
[Paul] No!
[Booker T] How many men have we seen go down to this Big Red Machine, Kane?
-How many? -[Corey] Countless, Booker.
[Michael] …it's a disaster here at ringside.
[Corey] And The Beast could join the list.
[Michael] Braun Strowman back on the apron.
Kane driven into The Monster. Brock Lesnar with Kane on his shoulders!
Brock Lesnar with an F5 onto the chair!
Cover by Brock!
Hooks the leg.
Ladies and gentlemen, Lesnar retains the Universal Title.
[JoJo] Here is your winner and still the Universal Champion,
Brock Lesnar!
[Michael] What an incredible match.
[Corey] Pure chaos, pure carnage.
Uh, the entire ringside area has been destroyed.
Bodies have been broken.
It was barbaric.
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Corey] But Brock Lesnar remains your Universal Champion.
[Michael] And Brock Lesnar still the champion.
[Booker T] Talk about The Monster, but The Beast definitely stepped up tonight.
And still the Universal Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It is an absolute just disaster area at ringside.
[Corey] How apropos is the name of Lesnar's F5 maneuver?
'Cause that's what it looks like just ran through ringside.
[Michael] Wait. Strowman is back on his feet.
Braun Strowman is back on his feet.
-And he's screaming… -[Braun] You didn't beat me!
[Michael] …that you didn't beat me, that you didn't pin me.
Strowman yelling at the champion.
[Booker T] Got a feeling we're gonna see these two back in the ring
sometime very soon.
[Michael] Lesnar survives as Universal Champion.
Get a good look.
[dramatic music playing]
[John] WrestleMania is about moments.
It's about emotion.
The culmination of a year's journey happening right in front of your eyes.
Will you marry me?
You were witnessing such a real moment.
I never thought I'd ever hear those words.
It was a secret from everyone, and that's what makes is speacial for the fans.
[Michael] One of the greatest WrestleMania moments ever.
I didn't just hear it, I felt it.
[Michael] Welcome home, Matt and Jeff.
[Roman] I'm gonna share the ring with The Undertaker in front of 70,000 people.
You don't get many moments like this, if ever, in your life.
This is the top of the mountain. He is that guy.
It's kinda surreal right now. 30-plus years of my life.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
[crowd clapping rhythmically] Thank you 'Taker! Thank you 'Taker!
[music fades]
We're on The Road To WrestleMania.
Many potholes, many pitfalls, as you can tell.
Our next stop is next month, the Elimination Chamber Match.
Devastating, foreboding. The structure, one of the most dangerous in WWE history.
Sixteen feet tall, ten tons, two people start,
four others locked in pods, to be released at regular intervals,
last man standing wins.
Elimination Chamber, the Raw exclusive Pay-Per-View event
comes to Las Vegas, Nevada, four weeks from tonight.
Of course, on the WWE Network.
But this is the Royal Rumble, sold out in Philadelphia.
Absolutely unbelievable couple of days.
We wanna send a special thanks to Little Mix, featuring Stormzy for "Power."
One of the official themes of WWE Royal Rumble
from the album "Glory Days,"
available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, up next is history.
For the first time every, 30 women will compete in a Royal Rumble Match
with the ultimate prize at stake.
A guaranteed opportunity at WrestleMania.
The journey began with a bombshell announcement from Stephanie McMahon.
[pensive music playing]
[Stephanie] Three years ago a revolution started in the WWE
led by all of the women in this ring
and every single woman to ever step foot inside the squared circle.
All of you turned that revolution into an evolution.
[Michael] The first-ever Women's 30-minute Iron Man Match.
For the first time ever women will step foot inside Hell In A Cell.
[Tom] First-ever Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
[Stephanie] Because of you, the Divas Division
became the Women's Division.
You became the Superstars
and the headliners main eventing just like the guys.
But that's not enough.
[music fades]
[Stephanie] What do you say, ladies?
-You make history once again. -["Power" by Little Mix playing]
For the very first time an all-women's Royal Rumble Match.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Hold up, no, you didn't bow, bow ♪
♪ I ain't the chick To walk behind you 'round town ♪
♪ Just 'cause you're packing, packing Whoop, down south ♪
♪ That don't mean I'm ever gonna take it lying down ♪
♪ Baby, oh, I'm a machine when I do it ♪
♪ I'll be catching fire Gasoline when I do it ♪
♪ You're the man ♪
♪ But I got the I got the, I got the power ♪
♪ You make rain ♪
♪ But I make it I make it, I make it shower ♪
♪ You should know ♪
♪ I'm the one who's in control ♪
♪ I'll let you come take the wheel Long as you don't forget ♪
♪ Who got the power ♪
[Asuka] No one is ready for Asuka.
[Naomi] This year's Royal Rumble is popping off!
Everyone will feel the glow.
♪ Who got the power ♪
[Carmella] Everybody knows when it comes to making history, I'm money.
[Sasha] Being part of history isn't enough.
I won't settle for anything less than being the last woman standing.
♪ Hold up ♪
[Nia] The Road to WrestleMania is clear.
It's one irresistible force plowing through 29 highly movable objects.
[Sonya] So, ladies, put your hair up and square up.
'Cause everything I have fought for has led me to this moment.
♪ You're the man ♪
♪ But I got the I got the, I got the power ♪
[Michael] It's every woman for herself!
The first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match.
[Corey] Someone's gonna earn a guaranteed championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
[Stephanie] You make history once again.
♪ Who got the power ♪
[music stops]
[crowd cheering]
[JoJo] The following contest is the first-ever
30-Woman Royal Rumble Match.
[Michael] A standing ovation.
[JoJo] In a moment, the two Superstars
that drew number one and number two will start in the ring.
Every 90 seconds another Superstar will join the match.
This will continue until all 30 Superstars have joined in.
Eliminations occur when a Superstar is thrown over the top rope
with both feet hitting the floor.
The last woman standing in the ring
will be declared your Royal Rumble winner
and will go on to face the champion of her choice
at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
[JoJo] Now, please welcome the special guest ring announcer,
Maria Menounos.
Thanks, JoJo.
No one has worked harder for this moment than these ladies.
And I am honored to be a part of this historic moment
and a part of the Women's Evolution.
[scattered cheering, applauding]
I get it.
I get it. [chuckling]
And now, introducing our special guest commentator…
[crowd jeering]
…Stephanie McMahon.
["Welcome To The Queendom" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, a true honor for Stephanie McMahon
to be joining Corey and myself at ringside tonight
for the historic Women's Royal Rumble Match.
She is the Chief Brand Officer of WWE,
and, of course, the Commissioner for Monday Night Raw.
She's a former Women's Champion in her own right.
And, Corey, really one of the trailblazers.
She won't tell you so, but she really is one of the trailblazers
in this Women's Evolution.
[Corey] I absolutely believe and agree with that 100%.
Stephanie has been integral to the Women's Evolution here in WWE.
She is as proud of what's about to go down as anybody in the world,
and with very good reason.
And Stephanie joining us here tonight.
Just an honor and a privilege to be a part of this.
Very proud moment for everyone here.
["Fight Me" by def rebel playing]
[Maria] Introducing our Raw Women's Champion,
Alexa Bliss!
[Michael] We wanna officially welcome Stephanie McMahon
to the commentary table tonight.
And Stephanie, here is a woman, Alexa Bliss who's made history.
She was the first woman to hold the Raw and then the SmackDown Live
Women's Championships.
[Stephanie] Yes. I am, uh… I'm overwhelmed at the moment, Michael, Corey.
It's great to be here. I am just absolutely blown away.
[Corey] Very exciting to be a part of, absolutely.
["Recognition" by CFO$ playing]
[Maria] And introducing our SmackDown Women's Champion,
Charlotte Flair!
[Michael] Charlotte's held both the Raw and SmackDown Women's Titles.
She's a five-time champion,
and, Stephanie, she made history
when she competed with Sasha Banks back in 2016
for the first-ever Hell In A Cell Match for the women.
[Stephanie] That's correct. First-ever Hell In A Cell Match,
there was the first-ever Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match,
and now the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match.
[Michael] The winner of this Rumble Match will choose one of those two ladies
to meet for the championship at WrestleMania.
[Corey] Obviously, Alexa and Sasha want the best seats in the house.
And the moment you've been waiting for entrant number one is…
["Sky's the Limit" by CFO$ playing]
[Maria] …Sasha Banks!
[Michael] It's Boss Time!
And it's almost appropriate that Sasha Banks kicks off
the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble
because back in July of 2015, Stephanie McMahon brought Sasha Banks
along with Charlotte and Becky Lynch to WWE,
and it took the Women's Evolution to the next step.
[Corey] Banks certainly has a tall task ahead of her.
As much as Sasha would love to make history
and win the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match,
that is gonna be a lot easier talked about than actually acted on.
[Stephanie] Sasha's making history right now just by being the first entrant.
[Michael] Indeed, and the…
And our second entrant is…
["Celtic Invasion" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Maria] …Becky Lynch!
[Michael] And another trailblazer in the Women's Evolution,
Becky Lynch from SmackDown Live to square off with Sasha Banks of Raw
to kickoff the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble.
And this match is presented by Rocket League.
Available for Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Rocket League has always been supportive of the Women's Revolution.
They were the sponsors to the 2017 Mae Young Classic,
and it's great to have them back at the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match
as well.
[Corey] Obviously, tonight has been very emotional for all these women
that have been and will be involved in the Women's Evolution.
I think it's gonna be key to any one of these competitors
to keep their emotions in check
and not let the magnitude of the moment get to them.
[Michael] And Stephanie, Becky Lynch, someone with a long, hard, arduous road
to finally make it to WWE.
[Stephanie] She's traveled all over the world, held numerous jobs,
and was actually thinking about not coming back to WWE
until she had a conversation with Finn Bálor, who actually trained her,
and she said, "I feel like I'm missing out on a huge part of my life."
And he said, "You need to go for this."
And that's exactly what Becky Lynch did, and look where she is now.
[Michael] And what a performance by Finn Bálor earlier tonight
in the Men's Royal Rumble Match.
And Sasha Banks, probably wearing the Wonder Woman gear here tonight as well.
Becky and Sasha underway, first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match.
And again, the rules.
Over the top rope both feet hit the floor, you're eliminated.
Last woman standing is heading to WrestleMania.
Corey, early strategy for these two women?
[Corey] I think at this point you wanna eliminate people as fast as possible,
maybe get a little downtime-- There you go.
[Michael] Oh, went for the Backstabber, Becky hung on.
[Corey] It's harder to succeed the more full that the ring gets.
[Michael] Again, you gotta imagine the nerves, the butterflies
for these two women kicking off the Rumble Match.
Deep arm drag by Becky.
And another one.
And now into the armbar.
Stephanie, you even admitted how nervous you were heading into tonight.
[Stephanie] I am. I'm incredibly nervous.
I'm excited. This is… this is history in the making right now.
[Corey] You haven't stopped smiling all day!
[Michael] Sasha looking for The Bank Statement.
Not sure what that would get her, though, Corey. And Becky with the Disarm-Her.
[Corey] Both of these women will look for submissions 'cause it's their go-to,
and, ultimately, they wanna incapacitate their opponents.
Even though you may not be able to pick up a submission victory,
you can do significant damage to a limb or a body part of your opponent.
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Michael] Who will be entry number three in the Women's Rumble Match?
[Corey] Double clotheline. Both ladies go down.
[klaxon sounding]
["We Riot" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] And from SmackDown Live and The Riott Squad,
here comes Sarah Logan.
And here is a young lady, Stephanie, with a very interesting background.
She joined SmackDown Live from NXT with Liv Morgan and Ruby Riot back in November,
and, uh, she's from Kentucky, considers herself a backwoods girl.
[women grunting]
[Corey] She's got that country attitude right now,
stomping a mudhole in Becky Lynch.
[Michael] And now Sasha from behind, looking to take the fight to Sarah Logan.
The Riott Squad really put the women on notice over on SmackDown Live.
[Corey] Riott Squad burst on the scene on SmackDown
and have done anything and everything they want.
Made a lot of enemies in a short period of time.
[Michael] Sarah Logan was once a member of the boys wrestling team,
and set records in high school.
[Stephanie] She's used to making history.
[Michael] And Sarah says it's all about WrestleMania.
[Stephanie] Oh, oh. Look out!
[Michael] Looking to eliminate Becky Lynch.
-[Michael] Sasha from behind. -[Corey] I question Sasha's strategy.
I don't know why you would save Becky from elimination.
We heard Jerry Lawler talk about it earlier…
-Oh my God! -[Michael] What a headbutt!
[Corey] Banks is out.
-[Michael] Right to the face. -[Corey] That was pretty awesome!
[Michael] The point, Corey, every woman for her--
Sarah went through the second rope,
so even if she hits the floor she wouldn't be eliminated here
'cause you have to go over the top rope.
Watch the headbutt again from Sarah Logan.
[Michael exclaiming]
[Corey] That was very, very unique.
Very impressive from Sarah Logan, who continues to just beat down Becky Lynch.
[Michael] Logan very impressive so far in the early going in this Rumble Match.
[both straining]
[Michael] Entry number four about to come into the arena.
[crowd] …four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Stars in the Night" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] And from Absolution in Monday Night Raw,
it's Mandy Rose.
[Corey] Whoa, ho, ho.
[Michael] Of course, Paige, the leader of Absolution,
she's not able to compete in the Royal Rumble Match due to a neck injury.
And Stephanie, I know how much Paige was upset about that
after all she's done for the Women's Evolution.
[Stephanie] Absolutely, she was. I mean, can you imagine?
But Paige is a huge part of why this women's match is even happening.
[Michael] Yeah. And Mandy Rose, now a female runner-up
at 2015 Tough Enough competition, goes right after Sasha Banks.
[Corey] Mandy Rose is my pick to win this thing.
[Michael] I'm not surprised at that, Corey.
[Corey] God's greatest creation.
[Stephanie] Did you know Mandy Rose can squat over 300 pounds?
[Corey] Of course, I did. I may know more about her than anyone should.
[Michael] She used to be on Total Divas as well.
[Stephanie] Well, that strength will help Mandy in this match.
[Michael] And there's an example of it.
-[Corey] I'm curious to see-- -[Michael] Sasha's in trouble!
Sasha's in trouble on the top rope!
[Stephanie] So is Becky Lynch.
[Michael] Uh-oh. Becky almost eliminated.
[Corey] We've seen Absolution run roughshod on Monday--
[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] …Monday nights much like the Riott Squad has on Tuesday on SmackDown.
I'm curious to see how these two factions interact with one another.
And I'm just curious to see Mandy Rose at any point in time
doing anything, basically.
-[Michael] Mandy graduated… -[Stephanie] Calm down over there. Jeez!
[Michael] …with a BA in Speech-Language Pathology from Iona College.
As Sasha banks now tries to stave off elimination again.
-[Mandy yelling] -[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] No eliminations yet as we await entry number five.
[crowd] …four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["LoveFuryPassionEnergy" by Boy Hits Car playing]
-[announcers] Oh! -[Michael] Yeah!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The WWE Hall of Famer,
a four-time Women's Champion.
[Corey chuckling]
[Michael] And who will ever forget the year 2004 on Monday Night Raw
when Lita battled Trish Stratus for the championship
in the main event of WWE's flagship show.
[crowd chanting] Lita! Lita! Lita!
[Michael] The only woman to ever be involved
in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match.
[Corey] This is awesome.
You know this moment means as much to Lita
as any of the women in this business right now.
[Michael] And Becky and Sasha go right after Lita, former member of Team Extreme.
It's so great to see Lita back in the ring.
I had an opportunity to work with her this past summer in the Mae Young Classic.
She was a commentator for that event.
[Corey] She hasn't missed a step.
[Michael] Now Mandy Rose from behind.
All these young girls so hungry to make a name for themselves.
[Corey] You gotta imagine a Hall of Famer enters a match like this
with a big, big target on her back.
Everyone wants to make their name at the expense of Lita.
[Michael] Stephanie, you've been close to Lita.
[Stephanie] Yes, I have.
And actually the names that you see written on Lita's right forearm
are in honor of the women who actually couldn't be here tonight.
[Michael] Yeah, many greats.
Of course, the late, great Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young.
Others like who's on the kickoff show tonight,
The Great Alundra Blayze, Sensational Sherri,
Miss Elizabeth, Wendi Richter.
So many.
[Stephanie] Don't forget "The 9th Wonder of the World," Chyna.
[Michael] Indeed. And look at this.
Lita rolls through and catches with a right hand.
-And now Sarah Logan… -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] …hanging onto the apron, and caught by a right.
[Corey] Curious to see the elimination strategies for some of these ladies.
Going over the top rope to the floor is not something you see very often.
[Michael] Mandy Rose now on the apron.
Five women have entered, five still in this.
Mandy Rose with a knee to the side of the face of Lita.
[Corey] Goodnight, Lita.
[Stephanie] I wouldn't count Lita out just yet.
[Michael] Mandy Rose shouldn't be celebrating!
-[Stephanie] Oh! All right! -[Michael] She's eliminated by Lita!
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] That's what inexperience will get you.
[Michael] Indeed.
[Stephanie] Or maybe too much arrogance.
[Corey] I was happy to see Lita until that just happened.
[Michael] This is entry number six.
[klaxon sounding]
["Voyager" by def rebel playing]
[Michael] The winner of the inaugural Mae Young Classic,
the women's… [unintelligible]
…now part of NXT, Kairi Sane.
From Toyko, Japan, a huge sensation,
where she was the World Stardom Champion.
And, Corey, we've heard so much about this young lady. She's the real deal.
[Corey] Kairi Sane opened a lot of eyes during the Mae Young Classic,
and it'll continue right here on this grand stage.
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] Taking out Sasha and Becky.
I love Kairi Sane's elbow from the top rope called The Sailing Seas.
[Corey] And I know how impressed Lita was with Kairi Sane
during the Mae Young Classic.
[Michael] And there she goes walking the plank, Kairi Sane.
She loves boating, hence her yacht persona.
[Stephanie] She better be careful if she's gonna climb these ropes.
[Kairi yelling]
[Michael] Kairi fired up!
-[Michael] Oh! Right to Lita! -[Corey] Oh! Good God!
[Michael] Welcome back, Lita.
[Stephanie] Oh, there she goes.
[Michael] And Kairi heading up top.
[Corey] Wait a minute. Oh!
[Michael] Goes Sarah Logan.
[Stephanie chuckling]
[Michael] And Sasha Banks get caught.
[Corey] Wow, that was awesome. What a unique takedown.
[Michael] Oh! Neckbreaker to Sasha!
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Corey] Kairi Sane very, very impressive here in the early moments.
[Michael] There it is!
[Corey] If you haven't seen this, open your eyes, this is breathtaking.
[Michael] This right here…
would make Macho Man proud!
[Stephanie] Most unique elbow drop ever.
[Michael] Down goes Becky Lynch as we await number seven.
[crowd] …six, five, four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Savagery" by def rebel playing]
[Michael] And another elbow by Kairi to Becky
As here comes Tamina from SmackDown Live.
[Stephanie] Everybody better look out.
[Corey] You're absolutely right, Steph.
Tamina has the power to completely change the game in this matchup.
[both grunting]
[Corey] But Kairi Sane showing no fear, but maybe she should have.
[Michael] And Tamina with a kick right to Sasha Banks.
[Stephanie] I wouldn't wanna mess with any of these women, but especially not Tamina.
[Michael] Tamina, a business associate of Lana, of course, over on SmackDown.
And Lita…
[announcers] Oh!
[Michael] …planting Tamina!
[Corey] Lita showed no fear.
[Stephanie] Lita and Sasha, that's a dream match.
[Michael] Twist of Fate to Sasha Banks!
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] And one to Becky!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] The Hall of Famer, she's not going up top.
-[Corey] You're kidding me! -[Michael] No way!
[Corey] WrestleMania's on the horizon.
Could Lita make even more history?
[Michael] Lita to the top rope! You gotta be kidding me!
[Corey] Double Litasault
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] Oh my goodness!
What a performance!
And Tamina, as Lita ducked out of the way.
Still those Matrix-like moves.
[Stephanie] Do you hear this?
-[crowd chanting] You still got it! -[Michael] You still got it.
-Oh. -[Corey] There goes Tamina.
[Michael] Eliminated by Lita! Two eliminations tonight.
[Stephanie] Look out, Lita! No!
[Michael] Lita eliminated by Becky Lynch.
[crowd jeering]
[Corey] Hey, listen. The WWE Universe, not exactly thrilled with Becky,
but Becky doing what it's all about.
It's every woman for herself.
[Stephanie] It's WrestleMania on the line.
[Michael] Here comes number eight.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Respectful" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] From Titus Worldwide, their statistician,
Dana Brooke,
who as you saw there has taken gymnastics for 18 years,
and a graduate from Kent State University is into the matchup.
[Corey] Listen, we know
that Dana Brooke's found some success since joining Titus Worldwide.
How about making a little history? That would be great for Titus Worldwide!
[Michael] Corey, she is an… she holds an IFBB Pro Card,
she's placed well in the Arnold Classic over the years.
[Stephanie] Well, and not only that,
but also while she was competing as a WWE Superstar.
It shows just the mental and physical prowess that Dana has.
[Michael] Speaking of physical, what a clothesline by Dana, and there again…
the great athleticism of Dana Brooke.
[Stephanie] Here comes Kairi.
[Michael] And Kairi Sane, uh…
[both grunting]
[Michael] …driven into the corner as well.
[Corey] Dana just relentless to this point. Very impressive.
[Michael] And Kairi with a boot right to the face.
Kairi Sane is so much fun to watch
-[Stephanie] Oh! But she's gone. -[Michael] Oh! But she's out.
-Eliminated by Dana Brooke. -[Stephanie] Both feet hit the floor.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Dana Brooke now stomping on Banks in the corner,
Sarah Logan taking the fight to Becky Lynch,
and we're about to have a new entrant to the party.
[Michael] Yeah. This'll be number nine.
[crowd] …three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Need a Little Time" by Jim Johnston playing]
-[Michael] Torrie Wilson! -[Stephanie] All right!
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] Part of the Attitude Era at points here in WWE,
and began her career of course in WCW,
star of the Women's Division for many years.
Now a web-based fitness instructor and blogger.
And Torrie…
[Stephanie] One of the few women to compete in both WCW and WWE.
[Michael] Oh! Face-first goes Dana.
And look at Torrie go.
[Corey] Torrie in immaculate physical condition.
[Michael] Tremendous condition for Torrie as she takes it to Becky Lynch!
[Corey] Oh, Sarah Logan.
-Welcome back, Torrie. -[Sarah roaring]
[Michael] Sarah Logan very impressive, guys,
here in the early going of this match.
[Michael] Oh my God! Just drove Dana Brooke through the entire mat.
Sarah Logan, who entered number three.
Sasha, Becky, one and two, they are still in this match as well.
[Corey] I don't understand Banks's issue.
Why does she keep stopping people from eliminating other people?
It's a terrible strategy by The Boss.
[Michael] None of these women have been through a Women's Royal Rumble before.
[Corey] I'm sure they've watched them.
[Stephanie] They understand rules and strategy, Michael.
I'm sure Banks has a game plan.
[Michael] Indeed. And much of it is learn-as-you-go.
Develop the game plan as you go along.
[Corey] Banks just wants as much camera time as she could get.
[Stephanie] Oh, give me a break, Corey.
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] Dana Brooke on the apron.
Torrie looking to eliminate Dana, and she did!
[Stephanie] And she does.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I meant to mention, Steph. Corey has an issue with Sasha Banks.
[Stephanie] Oh why?
[Corey] It's not an issue. Don't put words in my mouth, Cole.
I simply call things how I see them.
[Michael] We're a third of the way through now with the entry of number ten.
[klaxon sounding]
["Stars in the Night" playing]
[Michael] From Absolution, this can only mean, Sonya Deville.
She says, "Put your hair up and square up."
She owns a victory over Sasha Banks, and a very, very dangerous lady.
[Corey] Absolutely.
Mixed martial arts background, Sonya Deville, alongside Absolution,
has completely changed the game in Monday Night Raw Women's Division.
[Michael] Torrie in trouble.
[Stephanie] Here she comes.
[Michael] Sonya goes right after Sasha.
She knocked off Sasha Banks a couple weeks ago on Monday Night Raw.
[Stephanie] One of the most lethal strikers, right?
[Corey] You're absolutely right. As you can see right now,
Sonya Deville putting on a display.
[Michael] And Sonya trained in Judo, Muay Thai,
boxing, wrestling, Jiujitsu,
trained at the American Top Team Academy.
And Deville now looks to eliminate Becky Lynch.
-Becky's still in. -[Stephanie] Becky hung on.
[Sonya yelling]
[Corey] These wicked Muay Thai knees to the midsection of Logan.
Here we see our first glimpse of Absolution versus The Riott Squad.
[Sonya yelling]
[Michael] Oh. And Sonya Deville loving to perform in Philadelphia
because her favorite athlete growing up
was Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers.
[Corey] The Answer.
[Michael] She said she used to dress like him…
[Stephanie] Is she gonna get Torrie off the apron?
-[Michael] And Torrie, eliminated… -[Stephanie] She did!
[Michael] …by Sonya Deville.
[crowd jeering]
-[Sonya] What?! -[Michael] Again, uh…
[Corey] Becky Lynch from behind.
[Stephanie] Becky told me her gear represents the future.
[crowd] …five, four, three…
[Michael] Number 11 will be on her way.
[klaxon sounding]
["We Riot" playing]
-[Michael] From the Riott Squad. -[Stephanie] Here we go.
[Michael] Liv Morgan from just across the river and up north a ways
in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.
This young lady believed Lita was the coolest thing ever
when she was watching WWE,
and now Liv Morgan performing in the Royal Rumble Match.
[women grunting]
[Michael] Again, part of the Riott Squad with Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan.
[Corey] I'm curious to see if there's any sort of alliance in this match
with an every-woman-for-herself mentality.
Liv Morgan could end up doing battle with Sarah Logain at this point. Wow!
[Michael] Oh! Face-first…
goes The Boss.
Again, Becky and Sasha, Sarah Logan first three of the match,
and they are still in this matchup.
[Corey] Stephanie, what are your thoughts on the faction mentality
of The Riott Squad and Absolution?
[Stephanie] Well, I think right now it seems to be working for sure.
If you're a faction, why not work together
until it's time to prove every woman for herself?
[Corey] You know who's not in a faction? Sasha. You know why? Nobody likes her.
[Stephanie chuckling] 'Cause she's The Boss.
It's lonely at the top, Corey. Believe me, I know, you wouldn't.
[crowd] …five, four, three…
-[Michael] Number 12. -[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Molly Holly Theme" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Corey] Oh!
[Michael] "The Pure and Wholesome," Molly Holly
a two-time Women's Champion, a former Hardcore Champion.
And you wanna know how tough this lady is?
She was trained by Dean Malenko and Finlay.
And now Molly Holly into this matchup.
She once said her favorite rivalry of all time…
[Sarah grunting]
[Corey] Favorite rivalry of all time was who, Cole?
[Michael] Trish Stratus…
Sarah Logan goes, as Holly eliminates Sarah Logan.
What a performance so far by Sasha and Becky, right?
[Corey] Wait a minute. We're not gonna…
-[Stephanie] Oh, come on. -[Corey] No way.
-Molly-Go-Round! -[Michael] Oh my Lord!
[Corey] Wow!
[Michael] Talk about tremendous shape, Molly Holly looks incredible.
[Corey] If that doesn't earn a "you still got it" chant,
I don't know what will.
[Michael] In many ways, Steph, Molly Holly was really the forerunner
of The Riott Squad going after Becky and company--
As you're taking a look at Molly Holly.
And the point I was making was Molly was really in many ways
the real forerunner of the Women's Revolution,
fighting stereotypes of women Superstars over the years.
[Stephanie] Absolutely.
She's one of the most respected women to ever compete in the Women's Division.
[Michael] The Beck-Sploder by Becky.
Who will be number 13?
[crowd] …four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Ravishing" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] She is the wife of Rusev,
who had a great Royal Rumble earlier tonight, Lana.
She's now working in a manager-type capacity with Tamina.
Cast of Total Divas, she's a part.
[Corey] Could you imagine if Lana won
the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match on Rusev Day?
[Michael] They're chanting "Rusev Day" here in Philadelphia. And again--
This is interesting.
Absolution and The Riott Squad working together against Lana.
Rusev Day?! Yeah?! [chuckling]
[Corey] Looks that both Sonya and Liv
are familiar with one another from their time spent in NXT.
A lot of these women have long backstories
from the time spent together at the WWE Performance Center
and learning their trade.
[Michael] The first two women in this matchup again, Becky and Sasha Banks,
they are coming up on 20 minutes so far in this match tonight.
[Stephanie] They can chant "Rusev Day" all they want,
but this is about one thing, it's about WrestleMania.
[Michael] Indeed, getting there and taking on the champion of your choice.
Both those champions at ringside, Bliss and Charlotte.
-[announcers] Oh! -[crowd gasping]
What now?!
-[Michael] Lana fired up. -[Corey] Where did this come from?
[Michael] Number 14.
[crowd] …three, two…
[Michael] Out of the gate.
[klaxon sounding]
["Not Enough For Me" by Jim Johnston playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] One of the best pure athletes in the history of the Women's Division.
A four-time Women's Champion
and one of the top women Superstars in the last 15 years,
Michelle McCool.
And Michelle McCool looks great as well.
[Corey] Phenomenal physical condition.
Michelle can very well be headed to WrestleMania at this point.
[Michael] Well, Michelle was a part of one of the most successful women's teams ever
with Layla, LayCool.
In fact, they became co-champions when they beat Beth Phoenix.
[Stephanie] Look at her go.
[Michael] And Michelle McCool putting the hurting on everybody.
[Stephanie] She still looks flawless.
[Michelle grunting]
[Michael] And Michelle taking it to Sonya Deville.
Looking to eliminate Sonya, and she does!
[Corey] Michelle McCool-- Now there goes Liv Morgan!
-My goodness! -[Michael] Michelle!
[Stephanie] Look out, Michelle. Oh.
[Corey] Molly Holly from behind takes out Michelle,
who's been on a warpath since getting in the ring.
[Michelle grunting]
-[Michael] Looking to eliminate Molly-- -[Stephanie] Oh, she does!
[Michael] Michelle McCool has eliminated three women so far.
[Corey] Lana from behind.
It's Lana's Day!
I'm going to WrestleMania!
[Michael] Lana said, "It's Lana Day." And well, she's been eliminated.
-Michelle McCool is eliminating everybody. -[Stephanie] Oh.
Here comes Becky Lynch.
[Michael] Becky still--
[Stephanie] Oh, is she gonna get Michelle McCool?
[Michael] Entry 15. We're halfway through the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match.
[klaxon sounding]
["We Riot" playing]
[Michael] With the leader of the Riott Squad, Ruby Riott
[Corey] I think Ruby Riott's my pick to win the entire thing, Cole.
[Michael] And Corey, here's her mantra.
"If I was in the business of pleasing people, I wouldn't be here."
[Corey] It's do it yourself, it's that punk-rock mentality, that ethos.
Get to the top however you have to, step on anyone you need to.
[Michael] And she refuses to conform to anyone's image.
She's always been a rebel.
The reason for the makeup, the piercings, the tattoos to express her individuality.
Michelle McCool now looking to eliminate Riott.
[Corey] I think Michelle's height advantage over these other girls
has really given her a great elimination tool.
[Michael] Sasha Banks looking to eliminate Riott!
Riott hangs on!
[Corey] We're halfway through, Stephanie. Who's been most impressive thus far?
[Stephanie] Well, I just have to say one thing.
I have always loved the Royal Rumble Match,
but I think I love the Women's Royal Rumble Match even better.
[Michael] Ruby hanging on, she's out to the apron.
Becky Lynch trying to eliminate Ruby, drop her to the floor here.
Becky hung up, Ruby staying in it momentarily, and back in the ring.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] Down goes Becky!
[Stephanie] Oh, and what about Sasha? She's hanging on.
[Michael] Michelle McCool looking to continue
a tremendous amount of eliminations here tonight.
Sasha Banks has got Michelle!
[Stephanie] She's got Michelle. Oh, is she going?
[Michael] Michelle's still on the apron. We're awaiting number 16.
[crowd] …two, one…
-[klaxon sounding] -[Stephanie] That was close.
-[woman] Excuse me! -[Stephanie chuckling]
[Michael] Oh my God.
[crowd cheering loudly]
Excuse me!
-[inaudible] -[Michael] What?!
Vickie Guerrero, one of the most powerful businesswomen in WWE history.
Excuse me!
[Corey] Stop talking, Cole. Excuse Vickie!
She hasn't been around in a while.
[Michael] A former Raw and SmackDown general manager.
I said excuse me!
Excuse me!
I said excuse me!
-[Corey laughing] -[Stephanie laughing] Vickie's strategy…
I am Vickie Guerrero.
When I speak, all of you will listen to me.
[Stephanie] It may be to get these girls to throw themselves out,
so they don't have to listen to her.
[Vickie] Michelle…
buddy, oh…
Nope!
[Michael] Vickie Guerrero just trying to crawl her way out of the ring,
but she was caught.
[Stephanie chuckling]
[Michael] You know I once beat her in a dance off?
[Corey] It's hard to believe you beat anybody at dancing.
[Michael] Vickie Guerrero with the top rope trying to hang on.
[announcers] Oh no!
[Michael] Vickie Guerrero over the top rope,
and Vickie Guerrero's been eliminated!
[Corey] Excuse her.
[Stephanie] Excuse her, is right.
[inaudible]
-[Michael] Poor Vickie. -[Vickie] What's wrong with you?!
[Michael] Well, Vickie's out, and we're awaiting number 17.
Thanks for coming, Vick!
-[crowd] …two, one… -[Vickie screaming]
[klaxon sounding]
["Fabulous" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] Here's a woman who's made history.
The first-ever Miss Money in the Bank.
In that contract… I mean, in the briefcase, sorry,
a contract she can cash in at any time for a championship opportunity.
[both speaking indistinctly]
I'm Miss Money in the Bank!
[Corey] Oh no! What?!
Vickie just flattened Carmella with her own briefcase!
[Michael] Meanwhile, the match continues.
Becky Lynch and company in the ring.
Carmella's been floored, Vickie Guerrero's upset.
[Stephanie] Vickie had to take her aggression out on somebody.
[Vickie screaming]
[Michael] Sasha and Michelle, Becky and Ruby.
Four women in this matchup along, of course, with Carmella,
if she can get into it.
[women grunting]
[Michael] Sasha and Becky started this match and they're still going strong.
[Corey] This isn't fair to Carmella,
she was just flattened by a Halliburton briefcase.
Now she's supposed to compete?
[Michael] The point I was gonna make, if she can compete, Corey,
if she wins, she would then have really two championship opportunities.
One in WrestleMania and the one with the contract.
[Corey] I agree. I mean, that would be great for Carmella's career.
I mean, it's almost a sure fire guarantee that you're gonna become Women's Champion…
[Michael] As Becky and Sasha go over 26 minutes in this match,
we now await number 18.
[klaxon sounding]
["New Foundation" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Stephanie] Here she comes.
[Michael] She is the first-ever third generation women's Superstar.
Natalya The Queen of Hearts, a two-time champion,
of course her father, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart,
her granddad, Stu Hart, is up.
Her uncle "The Hit Man" Bret Hart, the WWE Hall of Famer,
and Natalya no love lost for Carmella.
Oh, and Carmella goes right after Natalya!
[unintelligible]
[Stephanie] If there's anybody who's ever helped blaze this path, it's Natalya.
[Michael] And Natalya, just a tremendous career in WWE.
She, of course, is star of Total Divas, as Carmella finally gets into this match.
Carmella is part of Total Divas as well.
[Stephanie] But she can't be 100%.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Wait, uh-oh.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Corey] The struggle in there, neither woman able to get the upper hand.
[Michael] Becky and Carmella have an interesting rivalry,
as she delivers a kick right to Ruby Riott.
[women grunting]
[Michael] Burying a shoulder in Becky in the corner.
Sasha, Michelle, both still in the match but down and out at this juncture.
[both grunting]
[Michael] We now await number 19.
[crowd] …five, four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Holla" by Desiree Jackson playing]
[Michael] A former champion,
Kelly Kelly, who debuted as part of the revamped ECW back in 2006.
[Stephanie] When she was just 19.
[Michael] Nineteen years old, and Kelly Kelly is back.
And there you saw Charlotte and Alexa Bliss--
[announcers exclaiming]
[Stephanie] She hung on.
[Corey] Uh, Natalya's celebrating a bit prematurely here.
[Michael] Yeah, does not realize that Kelly's still in this match.
Michelle McCool, and now Kelly back to Michelle.
Ring beginning to fill up.
Getting a little more crowded with women Superstars.
[Michelle yelling]
[Michael] There goes Michelle!
-And look at Michelle… -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] Eliminated by Natalya. What a performance though tonight.
[Corey] Very, very impressive and memorable for Michelle McCool,
but Natalya right now looks determined
like a woman on a mission to make history.
[women grunting]
[Stephanie] Again, all these women are making history tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And look at Ruby Riott trying to hang on.
Number 20 coming. Two-thirds of the way through.
Who's it gonna be?
[crowd] …four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Amazing (Remix)" by CFO$ playing]
-[Stephanie] Oh yeah. -[Michael] Feel the glow!
Two-time Women's Champion from SmackDown Live, Naomi.
And there's an interesting little note here, guys.
You know, back in the original NXT,
Naomi's mentor is in the ring right now, Kelly Kelly.
[Corey] The ridiculous athleticism from Naomi.
Just running through the competition right now.
Naomi's gotta love her entrance spot in this match.
[Sasha grunting]
[Michael] Sasha right to the midsection. Naomi.
[Naomi grunting]
[Michael] Sasha from Monday Night Raw.
Naomi SmackDown Live.
-[announcers] Oh! -[Michael] What a kick. You can hear that.
Sasha through the bottom rope, still in it.
She's been in the match over 30 minutes at this juncture.
[Stephanie] Becky took Naomi down.
-[Michael] Becky top rope. -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] Down goes Naomi again.
[Stephanie] And Kelly Kelly might go out.
[Corey] Kelly Kelly in a lot of trouble right now.
Natalya doing her best to…
Uh-oh.
See, I don't understand this strategy. Why would you do this, Becky?
[women grunting]
[Michael] And Becky again.
Another great suplex.
And now Ruby Riott runs into Becky Lynch.
And Ruby Riott… Becky trying to eliminate her.
Ruby trying to eliminate Becky!
Becky's still in it, she's hanging on!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Ruby prying at the fingers of The Irish Lass Kicker.
[Michael] Becky's finally eliminated! 31 minutes, Becky Lynch.
-[Corey] Uh-oh, Natalya. -[Stephanie] Impressive.
[Michael] Lasted in this match.
Number 21 on the way.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Pretty Mean Sister" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Stephanie] Oh, yes!
-[Michael] A Hall of Famer. -[Stephanie] Miss Jacqueline.
[Michael] From the class of 2016, a two-time Women's Champion,
first African-American Women's Champion.
Her second reign ended,
losing the Women's Championship to the woman on our right, Corey…
-[Stephanie] That is correct. -[Michael] …Stephanie McMahon.
[Stephanie] I did all the dirty work myself.
[Corey] I almost wish Booker was here because Booker loves to tell stories
about how Jackie is the single toughest woman he has ever known in his life.
And she's showing it right now.
[Michael] Jacqueline at one point in her career, was even a referee in WWE.
[Corey] Whoa! Great counter!
[Michael] Do you realize that Jacqueline once beat Chavo Guerrero
for the Cruiserweight Championship?
That's how tough Jackie is.
[Stephanie] Jackie's an incredible athlete.
[Corey] Running through everybody right now.
[women straining]
[Michael] And now looking to eliminate Kelly Kelly.
Jacqueline and Natalya working together.
Kelly is in trouble, trying to hang on.
[women grunting]
[Michael] Look at Kelly just…
[Stephanie] It's amazing she's able to hang on.
[Corey] Trying there.
[Michael] The athleticism of all these women, absolutely incredible.
-[Corey] Ruby Riott joining. -[Stephanie] Here we go.
Kelly's gotta go out now.
[Michael] Number 22's coming.
[crowd] …five, four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Force of Greatness" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] The Irresistible Force from Monday Night Raw,
the woman I picked weeks ago to win this thing, Nia Jax.
[Corey] The game is about to change.
[Michael] Nia Jax, a woman who has done it all.
She's a former model, she played college basketball.
Drafted to Raw back in--
-[Stephanie] Oh! Down goes Jackie. -[Michael] Eliminates Jacqueline!
[Corey] Nia Jax made that elimination look effortless.
-[Stephanie] There goes Kelly. -[Michael] Now eliminates Kelly.
[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] And now just flattens Natalya.
Good luck, Ruby Riott.
[Corey] I admire the gusto, Ruby.
But not the best decision you ever made, but.
[Stephanie chuckling]
-[Stephanie] Oh boy. -[Corey] Wow!
[Michael] Look at this!
[Corey] Unbelievable power from Jax!
[Michael] Ruby Riott on the top turnbuckle!
-[Corey] And Nia finishes the job. Yeah. -[Stephanie] Goodbye, Ruby Riott.
-Look out for Naomi, now. -[Corey] Ooh!
Smart strategy by Naomi, trying to take out the legs of Jax.
[crowd gasping]
-[Michael] Look at Naomi trying to send… -[Stephanie] Blocked.
[Corey] Wow.
[Stephanie] Oh, Naomi hung on.
[Michael] Naomi's on the apron. What is Nia… Nia Jax got caught in the face!
Naomi! She's still in it!
Naomi's still in it! Naomi has not hit the floor!
Naomi is now on the barricade!
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] How will she get back to the ring?
[Michael] Well, Nia Jax is all alone in the ring
as we now await the entry of number 23.
Naomi is still in the match, but she's on the barricade.
-[Stephanie] Don't know anyone will help. -[Michael] Exactly.
[klaxon sounding]
["Free the Flame" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michael] The NXT Women's Champion.
She's banged up.
Her left arm was hurt last night by Shayna Basler
in her title defense in NXT TakeOver.
But she's here and she's participating.
I don't know how she's able to move after that battle with Basler last night.
[Corey] Oh! What a right hand by Ember.
[Michael] Ember Moon now…
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] And here's Ember Moon, and a kick to Nia Jax!
[Stephanie] Beautiful kick.
[Ember screaming]
[Michael] Ember is fired up.
Booker T once trained Ember Moon, he's gotta be proud.
[Corey] Absolutely. Look, one armed!
I mean, Ember at a distinct disadvantage having a damaged left arm, but, yeah…
[Michael] It's one thing to be 100% against Nia.
-[Corey] Exactly. -[Michael] Oh my God!
-Landed on the bad arm! Not eliminated. -[Stephanie] Wait. Look at Naomi.
[Corey] What?
[Michael] What the hell is Naomi doing? She's walking a tightrope here.
[Naomi] Move! Move!
[Michael] That's Maria Menounos…
[Corey] Maria's trying to take selfie's or something. This is…
[Michael] Naomi now on the chair at ringside.
[Stephanie] Her feet have not touched the floor.
[Corey] Has Naomi been studying Kofi film?
[Stephanie] Oh my goodness.
-[Michael] This is incredible. -[Stephanie] That is incredible.
[Michael] I've never seen anything like this.
Naomi is literally walking on her hands.
[Stephanie] Man, you talk about an athlete, that's incredible.
[Michael] Her feet still haven't hit the floor.
-Naomi is still in this match! -[Stephanie] Wow!
-[Corey] That was awesome. -[Stephanie] That was amazing.
[Corey] Naomi now up top. Nia doesn't realize…
[Michael] Jax doesn't realize it, now she does. Naomi, top rope!
-Caught by Nia! -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Corey laughing]
[Stephanie] And-- Oh! After all that.
-[Michael] Naomi eliminated. -[Stephanie] Oh my goodness.
[Nia roaring]
[Corey] Nia Jax is feeling it right now.
-I don't see anybody stopping her. -[Stephanie] Nope.
[Michael] Number 24.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Glamazon" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] What did you say, Corey?
-[Corey laughing] -[Michael] How about a Glamazon?
[Corey] Counselor, I'd like to retract my previous statement.
[Michael] A four-time champion,
the youngest inducte ever into the WWE Hall of Fame.
And, guys, she's actually competed in a Royal Rumble Match before.
[Stephanie] Yes, she has.
[Michael] In a men's match in 2010 when she eliminated The Great Khali.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[inaudible]
[Michael] And now our partner in Mixed Match Challenge, Corey
[Stephanie] This is a Singles Match I'd wanna see.
[inaudible]
[Michael] I don't know if Nia's sure who she's messing with.
[Corey] I don't think Beth knows how to back down from a fight,
even if it is Nia Jax.
[Michael] Look at her go, Beth Phoenix and Nia.
[crowd chanting, applauding rhythmically] This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Michael] The "this is awesome" chants here in Philly.
This is incredible!
[Stephanie] This whole match has been incredible.
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -[Michael] The speed of Beth Phoenix.
-Wait a minute. -[Stephanie] No way, no way.
[Michael] Looking to try to power Nia Jax up.
Can Beth do it?
Beth trying to get Nia on her feet and not quite.
And Nia with a swipe to the small of the back.
[Stephanie] It's more than a swipe.
-[Michael] A club. [chuckling] -[Stephanie] Crushing blow.
-[Beth groaning] -It's about my time!
[Beth grunting]
[Corey] Nia better be careful not to get too confident. Uh-oh!
[Michael] Beth Phoenix has got Nia up!
Beth Phoenix with Nia up on her shoulders!
Looking to eliminate Nia Jax!
Can the Glamazon do it? Not quite.
-Nia just too much. -[Stephanie] Nia may have met her match.
[Michael] Natalya still in it.
Natalya still in the matchup. Was never eliminated.
-[Corey] Natalya and Beth… -[Michael] Natalya and Beth…
-[Corey] …came up strong together. -[Michael] …longtime friends.
[inaudible]
[Michael] Beth and Natalya looking to eliminate Nia Jax through the second rope.
[Stephanie] Second rope, doesn't count.
[Michael] Still in it.
[fan yelling indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] All right. Best friends. Let's see how long that lasts.
[Michael] Beth and Natalya have known each other for so long,
so many years, been through so much…
[Stephanie] That's what I thought was coming.
-[Michael] Every woman for herself. -[Stephanie] No!
[Michael] Natalya…
-…eliminated Beth Phoenix. -[Stephanie] Oh!
And in comes Carmella.
[Corey] Carmella wasting no time trying to get an advantage on Natalya,
and The Princess of Staten Island stomping on The Queen of Hearts.
[Michael] Guys, here comes number 25.
[crowd] …one…
[klaxon sounding]
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] Asuka.
-[Corey] Game over. -["The Future" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] How about game on?
The Empress of Tomorrow,
a former NXT Champion,
a reign that lasted 510 days when she retired undefeated,
and now she's on Monday Night Raw.
-Asuka into the Royal Rumble Match! -[Carmella screaming]
[Michael] Oh my Lord! Carmella wisely running away.
-[Corey] Out of harms way. Boom! -[Stephanie] Oh!
-[Corey] Did you hear that?! [chuckling] -[Stephanie] Oh my God!
[Michael] One of the most fierce strikers in the world today.
[Corey] Oh, Mella, that was not bright.
[Carmella yelling]
[Michael] Corey, you want to talk about strong style, right?
-[Corey] Oh my God! -[Michael] Oh my Lord!
[Stephanie] And down goes Carmella.
-[Michael] Asuka was the sole… -[Stephanie] Oh, wait. Look out.
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] What a rivalry these two had at NXT.
Ember Moon and Asuka
with a rivalry of the year, in my estimation.
[Corey] And Asuka's laughing at Ember.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Corey] That's how confident The Empress of Tomorrow is.
[Michael] Look at Ember. Ember with a kick, got caught by Asuka.
Down goes Asuka.
Ember Moon still in this match, bad arm and all.
-[Ember grunting] -[Corey] Oh.
Asuka evades.
Ember could be looking for her Eclipse off the ropes.
-One armed! -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] A one-armed Eclipse to Asuka!
Incredible!
[Stephanie] This is Ember's chance.
-Oh. -[Corey] Oh, no.
[Michael] Ember still in it. Ember still in it by one arm,
but Asuka wisely going to the bad arm of Ember Moon, and eliminates her.
[Corey] Great showing for the NXT Women's Champion,
but to this point, no one is ready for Asuka.
[Michael] What a… what a gutsy performance by Ember.
This is number 26 now.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Obsession" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] There's no doubt
that this lady is one of the all-time greats.
A six-time Women's Champion.
[inaudible]
[Corey] It would mean the world
for Mickie James to head to WrestleMania once again
to challenge for the Women's Championship of her choice.
[Michael] Mickie James takes out Carmella.
Now gonna head up to the top rope, high risk in a Royal Rumble Match.
-Mickie… down goes Asuka. -[Stephanie] Whoa!
[Michael] Mickie James, uh, was in the first-ever
Women's Falls Count Anywhere Match in WWE history against Melina.
[women grunting]
[Michael] And now it's Natalya.
Backing Mickie into the corner.
[Stephanie] And no doubt, Mickie has an advantage being number 26.
[Michael] Indeed.
Mickie lands on the apron.
[Corey] It'll come down to the luck of the draw,
but Sasha Banks is still in this match, the very first entrant.
[Stephanie] Very first one.
[Michael] Neckbreaker, Natalya. Sasha Banks…
[woman straining]
[Michael] …from Monday Night Raw still alive.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Natalya in a precarious position right now.
-[Asuka grunting] -[woman yelling]
[Corey] Asuka delivered a kick right to the thigh of…
[Stephanie] Wait. Carmella's gonna go out.
[Michael] Carmella's in trouble here as we look for number 27.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["You Can Look (But You Can't Touch)" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Michael] Nikki Bella,
a two-time champ and the longest-reigning champion with the old Divas title.
A decade in WWE.
[Corey] I'm changing my pick right now.
-Nikki Bella's gonna win the entire thing. -[Stephanie chuckling]
[Michael] Star of Total Divas, Total Bellas,
was on Dancing With The Stars last year.
And now Sasha.
-[Nikki grunting] -[Sasha grunting]
[Corey] Uh-oh. Boom!
What a kick from Nikki Bella, drops The Boss.
[Stephanie] She hasn't lost a step.
[Corey] Absolutely not. There goes our Total Divas…
[Stephanie] Oh. Calling out Charlotte right there.
[crowd chanting] John Cena sucks!
[Corey] Carmella taking advantage of the situation. Nikki was distracted.
Miss Money in the Bank.
What a-- Oh!
What a big get this would be for Carmella to eliminate Nikki Bella.
[Michael] Look at Carmella go.
[Stephanie] Oh, Moonwalk.
I don't know I'd be showboating.
[Michael] Oh, mocking of course, John Cena, who's engaged to Nikki Bella,
with a "you can't see me."
And now Carmella's in trouble.
[Carmella] Put me down! No!
[Corey] Carmella's attempting some sort of step-up headscissors, now…
[Carmella screaming]
[Michael] Carmella's screaming as she does not want to be eliminated here.
[Corey] Carmella's got her legs figure-foured around Nikki.
[Stephanie] Not anymore.
[Nikki grunting]
[Stephanie] Oh, and Nikki did it. Carmella is gone.
Oh, and Asuka just takes out Nikki.
[Corey] Yeah. Miss Money in the Bank has been deposited on the outside.
I've been waiting all night to use that one.
[Michael and Corey laughing]
[Corey] Asuka and Sasha throwing down on Nikki right now.
[crowd] …three, two, one…
[Michael] Here comes number 28.
[klaxon sounding]
["Beautiful Life" by CFO$ playing]
[Stephanie chuckling]
[Michael] A former champion as well.
Brie Bella. The Bella Twins are now in the Rumble Match.
[Stephanie] She's out of retirement.
[Corey] This is awesome.
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Michael] And of course, the "yes" chants.
Brie Bella married to the SmackDown General Manager, Daniel Bryan.
Of course, proud parents to a newborn baby.
And look at Brie go.
[Stephanie] All right. Brie Mode, here it comes.
[women grunting]
[Michael] And Brie taking it to Natalya.
[Stephanie] And Mickie James.
[Michael] And now Nikki Bella to Asuka and Sasha.
Sasha has been in this match, guys, for 45 minutes.
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] Bella power right there.
[Michael] Nikki and Brie together again.
[Corey] Oh, Nia Jax.
[Michael] Nia knocked down to the floor.
But again, she did not go over the top rope yet.
[Corey] The Bellas working together so very well.
Natalya in trouble.
[Michael] Number 29 coming.
[crowd] …six, five, four, three, two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Turn It Up" by CFO$ playing]
[Michael] It's Hug Life time.
Former Women's Champion…
Bayley, who, in 2015,
engaged in classic battles with Sasha Banks at NXT,
including the Iron Man Match.
[Stephanie] First-ever Women's Iron Man Match.
[Michael] Oh, and look at Bayley!
[Corey] Listen, we know Bayley's been a lifetime fan.
She's watched Royal Rumbles her entire life.
She's one that you concern yourself with
the emotion and the magnitude of the moment.
Can Bayley pull it off?
[Michael] And one of the four WWE Horsewomen,
with Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky.
The group they named themselves.
As Bayley delivers the elbow.
[Corey] Bayley certain has the entrance spot to go deep into this Rumble.
[Michael] Only one competitor to come.
[Corey] There's Asuka who defeated Bailey to win the NXT Women's Championship.
-[Michael] Yeah… -[Corey] Oh! Lights out, Bayley.
[Michael] Right to the face.
I believe that was NXT TakeOver Dallas on WrestleMania Weekend a couple years ago.
And now Bayley hung up by Asuka, looking to eliminate her here.
[women grunting]
[Michael] We are, uh, seven seconds away from the final entrant…
[Stephanie] Who's it gonna be?
[Michael] …in the Women's Royal Rumble Match.
[crowd] …two, one…
[klaxon sounding]
["Time to Rock & Roll" by Jim Johnston playing]
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] Perhaps the greatest WWE Women's Champion of all time.
Seven championship reigns,
a Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus, who, in 2013,
was inducted by Stephanie McMahon
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Michael] This is a surreal moment.
[Corey] The big target on the Hall of Famer's back, I must say.
[Michael] Trish goes after Natalya, and now Bayley,
and Asuka as well, and now Sasha Banks. And Trish Stratus taking it to everybody.
[Corey] I think surreal was the best possible term, Cole.
You talk about Trish Stratus inspiring so many of the women we have right now,
including Bayley and Sasha Banks.
[Michael] And the Bella Twins as well.
[women grunting]
[Corey] This is no time to be starstruck or starry-eyed.
[Michael] Here are some of the young women
who say Trish Stratus influenced their career.
Natalya, Kelly Kelly, Alexa Bliss, Carmella,
Sasha, Bayley, Mandy Rose among others.
-[Corey] We gonna get a little… -[Stephanie] A little…
-[Corey] …Double Stratusfaction! -[Stephanie] …Stratusfaction!
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] Talk about looking great.
Doesn't look like Trish has missed a beat.
[Corey] Definitely not.
[Michael] Bayley, though, stops the momentum, at least for now.
Trish Stratus gonna send Bayley for a ride!
[Stephanie] Wow.
-"You still got it" chants. -[crowd roaring]
[Stephanie chuckling] Here they are again.
[Michael] Who will ever forget this rivalry?
Trish and Mickie.
[Stephanie] Could one of them be going to WrestleMania?
[Michael] I just got goosebumps, guys.
[Stephanie] Oh!
[both grunting]
[Michael] This is one of the all-time great rivalries.
Mickie and Trish Stratus.
[Stephanie] And it continues.
[Michael] And Mickie…
[Corey] With an opportunity at WrestleMania on the line,
renewed the rivalries.
[Michael] Whipped across the ring, Mickie goes to the second rope.
Trish Stratus looking to send Mickie James for the ride as well.
Mickie says "not now."
Not today!
[Michael] Trish caught her!
-Mickie eliminated! -[Stephanie] Oh!
[Michael] Almost apropos
that Trish Stratus eliminated Mickie James from the Rumble.
-[Corey exclaiming] -[Michael] Oh my God!
Nia Jax!
[Corey] Trish Stratus has never encountered anyone
quite like The Irresistible Force.
[crowd roaring]
[Michael] And now everybody going after Nia!
[Nia grunting, roaring]
[Michael] Nia Jax exploding out of the pile.
[Corey] This could very well be Nia's night.
[Stephanie] Nia sure seems to have recovered.
[Bayley grunting]
[Michael] Nia Jax just cleaning house.
And there's Asuka!
The Empress of Tomorrow and Trish Stratus.
-[Corey] Oh, wait a minute. -[Michael] And now the Bella Twins!
Can it be?
[Stephanie] No way.
I don't think Nia's going out
[Corey] I think you're gonna need more twins.
[Michael] Well, Natalya and Bayley and Trish and Asuka.
Everybody trying to eliminate Nia Jax.
-Nia's eliminated! -[Stephanie] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] It seemed Nikki Bella almost breathe a sigh of relief.
[Michael] So to reset here.
Both Bellas are in this match, Sasha Banks and Bayley.
And look at Sasha!
-[Corey] I knew it! I knew it! -[Stephanie] I can't believe it.
[Michael] Eliminated her best friend!
Sasha Banks has been in this match over 51 minutes
and she's still eliminating people.
[Corey] It's every woman for herself, but I knew it. I've been saying it,
Sasha's the first one to stab her best friend in the back.
-[Michael] Corey, it's about WrestleMania. -[Corey] I've been calling it for years.
[Michael] I bet if anyone understands, it would be Bayley.
And now Natalya and Trish Stratus.
So we got Sasha, Natalya, Trish, The Bellas, and Asuka.
I believe that's who remains.
[Stephanie] So what happens if it comes down to The Bella Twins?
-[Michael] Every woman for herself, right? -[Stephanie] Mm-hmm.
[Michael] Natalya steps through looking for the Sharpshooter!
[Corey] Natalya just wants to incapacitate Trish.
[Stephanie] Staring at that WrestleMania sign.
[Michael] Natalya screaming at Trish to tap.
More, uh, trying to punish her than anything else.
[Corey] Right. Submission victory obviously wouldn't happen here,
but still, a great deal of damage can be done
to the Hall of Famer's back by Natalya.
[Michael] Trish Stratus trying to drag herself to the bottom rope here.
Trish Stratus able to break the Sharpshooter.
Many of these women Superstars just exhausted, just trying to hang on.
Trish Stratus looking to eliminate Natalya, and Natalya's still in it.
Trish!
-Natalya eliminated by Trish Stratus. -[Stephanie] Wow.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And can you imagine if Trish Stratus returned to WWE
to win the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble?
[Stephanie] I can imagine it.
I'm going to WrestleMania because I'm The Boss, that's right.
[Stephanie] Oh.
[Michael] Trish Stratus said, "You're the boss?"
-[Corey laughing] -[Michael] As she mocks Sasha Banks.
Here it comes, Corey!
-[Stephanie] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, Trish eliminated!
Fifty-three minutes in and Sasha Banks is still eliminating people.
[Stephanie] I did not see that coming. Trish is applauding Sasha.
[Michael] Uh, Sasha, turn around.
Turn around, Sasha!
[Corey and Stephanie chuckling]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[inaudible]
[Michael] What a moment.
Two of Raw's brightest stars.
[scattered applause]
[Michael] Oh, and Sasha.
Looked like they were gonna form some sort of alliance, and The Boss said, "No way."
[Corey] You know what they say, "If you got a back, Sasha's got a knife."
-[Stephanie] Is that what they say? -[Corey] Right.
[Michael] And now Sasha Banks and the Bella Twins going after Asuka.
[Stephanie] Biggest threat.
[Michael] Could be a wise strategy here.
Now Sasha letting The Bella Twins do all the dirty work.
Nikki and Brie looking to eliminate someone who is a lot of people's favorite,
that'd be Asuka.
Face-first off the knee, followed up by a clothesline.
[Sasha grunting]
[Michael] That running knee by Sasha, it's so effective.
[Corey] Asuka had to realize she was coming into this match with a big target
after laying claim to… that nobody was ready for Asuka,
she finds herself on the receiving end of a beatdown from all three competitors.
[Stephanie] I can't believe Sasha's still in it.
-And looking good. -[Michael] Sasha entered at number…
Nobody's ready for Asuka?!
[Michael] …at number one!
I'm ready for Asuka!
[Stephanie] Sasha said she's ready for Asuka.
[Michael] Well, she may well be if she can eliminate Asuka here.
-Went for the double knees! -[Stephanie] Oh. No way! Oh!
[Michael] By The Bella Twins!
-[Corey] Yes! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Fifty-four minutes, forty-three seconds for Sasha.
[Stephanie] That was an unbelievable performance.
[Michael] Incredible!
Sasha Banks deserves a standing ovation for that performance tonight.
And now The Bella Twins looking to eliminate Asuka.
[Stephanie] There she goes.
-[Michael] You may get your wish, Corey! -[Stephanie] Asuka's going over.
[Asuka] No!
[Stephanie] She's going over the top rope. Oh!
[Michael] Asuka's still fighting.
[Corey] I picked Asuka to win the entire thing.
[Michael] You'd wanted to figure out what would happen
if The Bella Twins were left as the final two remaining Superstars.
-[Stephanie] We may very well find out. -[Michael] Indeed.
-Look at Asuka! -[Stephanie] Ooh!
[Michael] Nikki and Brie,
I don't think they signed up for this when they returned to WWE.
[Corey] I bet retirement sounds pretty good to Brie right now.
[Asuka roaring]
[Stephanie] "Yes" chants working against Brie.
-[Corey] Oh! -[Michael] Oh my word! What a kick!
Asuka with a wicked kick again!
[Asuka yelling]
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] This is a historic match, indeed.
[Michael] Asuka fired up, looking to eliminate The Bella Twins.
[Corey] But Brie hanging on for dear life.
[Michael] Hanging on. Feet still haven't hit the floor.
[Corey] Oh, Nikki from behind.
[Michael] Nikki Bella taking out Asuka. Brie Bella still in this match as well.
Oh, Nikki…
This may well take Asuka out! Face-first goes Asuka!
[fan] Come on, Asuka!
[Michael] Bella Twins in many ways--
-Oh my Lord! -[Stephanie] Oh my goodness!
[Michael] Nikki just eliminated her own sister!
[Corey] Yes!
[inaudible]
[Corey] That's what it takes. It's every woman for herself.
Even if you're sisters!
[Michael] Stephanie's already seen that happen…
[Stephanie] I have. Up close and personal.
[Michael] As Asuka delivers a shoulder to the midsection.
We're down to Asuka and Nikki Bella.
[Corey] Definitely gonna be Nikki Bella or Asuka.
[Michael] It's about WrestleMania.
A championship opportunity.
Asuka from the top rope with a missile dropkick.
-[fan yelling] -[Michael] Who is it gonna be?
[Corey] Can Asuka summon the fighting spirit within
and eliminate Nikki Bella by throwing her over the top rope.
[woman] Come on, Nikki!
[Michael] Critical moment for both these Superstars here
trying to somehow…
get back in it, get back to their feet.
[Asuka yelling]
[Michael] Asuka caught by Nikki, up to the second rope.
-There's a kick that caught Asuka! -[Stephanie] Beautiful kick.
[Michael] Both women down again.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now Nikki Bella just taking her time.
[Corey] It's become a Singles Match at this point.
There's only one task left and that's to throw your opponent over the top rope,
which Nikki's about to do.
[Michael] Asuka may be eliminated!
Nikki Bella with Asuka hanging onto the top rope, out to the apron.
[Stephanie] She's hanging on.
[Michael] Asuka still barely in this match.
Nikki Bella again with a strong shot to the face, but Asuka lands on the apron.
[Stephanie] I don't know how Asuka's hanging on, but she sure is.
At least for now.
[Corey] Disbelief on the face of Nikki.
[Michael] Nikki Bella looking to use all her momentum.
Asuka caught her with a kick!
-[Corey] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[Michael] Look at Asuka!
-[Corey] What… -[Stephanie] What…
[Michael] Asuka trying to eliminate Nikki
in one of the most unique ways we've ever seen!
-[Stephanie] Oh! -[Michael] Nikki Bella to the apron!
-Asuka to the apron! -[Stephanie] Asuka almost fell.
[Corey] Both women teetering on the side of the ring.
Just feet away from defeat.
[Michael] High stakes, high pressure.
Asuka and Nikki Bella, both on the apron, both have fallen over the top rope.
Asuka floored. Asuka eliminates Nikki Bella!
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Asuka's going to WrestleMania!
["The Future" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] Unbelievable.
[Corey] I knew it! I called it from the start,
there was never any doubt.
No one was ready for Asuka!
[Michael] Asuka is a history maker!
Asuka is going to WrestleMania!
[Corey] Now the question is,
which championship will Asuka choose to challenge for in New Orleans?
[Michael] What an incredible night, what an incredible match,
what an incredible moment.
[Corey] It all broke down at the end,
that big right hand from Nikki,
but a desperate kick from Asuka would sweep Nikki's knees out just enough.
Nikki Bella goes down, Asuka goes to WrestleMania.
[Stephanie] I couldn't be more proud of all of these women
who competed in this match tonight, and every woman who paved the way.
[Michael] Including yourself, Stephanie. Congratulations.
[Stephanie] Congratulations to us all.
[Corey] Now you see the respective champions from Raw and SmackDown
joining Asuka in the ring.
What's it gonna be, Asuka?
Which championship would you challenge for?
[Michael] I'd love to see either one of those matches.
[music continues]
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[Stephanie] Oh.
Who's it gonna be?
[fan shouting indistinctly]
[Michael] Charlotte from SmackDown,
Alexa Bliss from Raw.
And Asuka with the choice and the opportunity of a lifetime.
[Corey] What?!
["Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh my God!
♪ Livin' in the past It's a new generation ♪
♪ A girl can do what she wants to do And that's what I'm gonna do ♪
[Michael] The rumors are true!
Ronda Rousey is here!
Stephanie, what do you know about this?!
[Stephanie] I'm speechless, Cole.
[Michael] I mean, you gotta know something about this!
[Stephanie] I know what I'm looking at.
[Michael] At WrestleMania 31 you had a run in with her.
♪ And I don't give a damn About my bad reputation ♪
[Maria] Ladies and gentlemen, Ronda Rousey!
[Michael] Uh, what's going on?!
♪ I don't give a damn About my reputation ♪
♪ Never been afraid of any deviation ♪
♪ And I don't really care If you think I'm strange ♪
[Michael] Corey, what does this mean?
[Corey] Cole, I talk for a living and I am speechless right now.
-[crowd cheering] -[music fades]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] Ronda's pointing at the WrestleMania sign!
[crowd gasping]
-[Corey] Whoa. -[Michael] Oh my.
["Bad Reputation" playing]
[Michael] We are sitting here with the boss.
We're sitting here with Stephanie McMahon,
and Stephanie has no idea what Ronda Rousey is doing out here
except for the fact that she's pointing at WrestleMania.
[inaudible]
♪ A girl can do what she wants to do And that's what I'm gonna do ♪
[Michael] Corey, Ronda marched out here
and got in the face of Charlotte, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka.
Arguably the three most powerful women in WWE today.
[Corey] The three most powerful women in WWE
just met one of the baddest women on the planet Earth.
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey is here!
♪ And I'm only doin' good When I'm havin' fun ♪
♪ And I don't have to please no one ♪
♪ And I don't give a damn About my bad reputation ♪
♪ Oh no, not me ♪
♪ Whoa no, not me ♪
♪ I don't give a damn About my reputation ♪
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, I… I… I could tell you this,
there's breaking news on social media right now concerning this situation
with Ronda Rousey.
It's breaking right now as we speak on social media.
This is absolutely incredible!
[music fades] tely incredible!