[intro music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] Everyone has a calling.
It starts as a whisper.
[whispered voice echoing] Become the one…
[narrator] A tiny voice inside, pushing you
to realize the gravity of the moment before you.
But hearing the call is the easy part.
Answering is what ultimately defines us.
[man 1] My prediction is true! Shawn Michaels has won the Royal Rumble!
-[man 2] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin! -[man 3] Unbelievable! Hell yeah!
[man 2] This is it!
[man 4] Millions and millions are chanting The Rock's name now.
[man 5] Triple H has won the Royal Rumble.
[man 6] John Cena has prevailed!
[man 7] Becky did it!
Man, oh man!
[narrator] It all comes down to the Royal Rumble.
[dramatic music playing]
[man 8] Chaos, change, challenge, and opportunity.
[man 9] Thirty men will enter.
Thirty women will compete.
With the ultimate prize at stake.
The championship opportunity
at WrestleMania.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
[narrator] Tonight is about who answered the call…
[dramatic music playing]
[Kevin] I will give everything to get back to the top.
I'm gonna be last man standing!
[Roman] This is my yard, my island, my WWE.
Drew McIntyre! I am coming to challenge you.
-You're next. -[Drew] Goldberg.
Fighting you would be like fighting my own dad.
…and those whose calling is tonight.
Right here and right now there are no second chances.
What began as a whisper…
[voice] Become the one.
…is now a rumble.
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
["Rumble" playing]
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
♪ I've got danger in my favor ♪
♪ Like a razor ♪
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
♪ Diamond breaker, it's my nature ♪
♪ Get ready for thunder ♪
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
[man] Drew McIntyre is on top of the mountain.
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
[timer buzzes]
[narrator] And now Cricket presents
WWE Royal Rumble.
[fireworks exploding]
["Rumble" continues playing]
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
[Tom] The moment is upon us.
We are live from the award-winning and critically-acclaimed WWE ThunderDome
at Tropicana Field.
Tonight we begin the road to WrestleMania.
Welcome to the 34th annual Royal Rumble.
["Invasion" playing]
And what a way to begin the Rumble.
A titanic clash for the WWE Championship.
[Byron] I have got goosebumps right now.
[Joe] Tonight's gonna be one of those nights that'll be described as
"it escalated quickly."
["Invasion" continues playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Goldberg!
[Tom] The iconic entrance of the WWE Hall of Famer,
direct, raw, and explosive.
This is Goldberg.
What a way this is to begin the Royal Rumble event.
Representing Raw, Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, and Byron Saxton.
On tap this evening, two Royal Rumble matches.
Not only a live performance by multi-platinum recording artist Bad Bunny,
who will be here later on tonight.
An, of course, three championship matches.
One of which is about to begin.
[Byron] My favorite event of the year.
What better way to start off, with a WWE Championship matchup.
[Tom] Drew McIntyre set to defend.
Will Goldberg be the man to stop one of the most dominant WWE Champions
in recent memory?
[Rome] He is the Scottish Warrior.
He is your WWE Champion.
[Hamilton] Drew McIntyre!
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[Drew] I'm the champion that does not crack under pressure.
I thrive under pressure.
I'm looking forward to my next opponent.
I'm looking forward to my next challenge.
[Cole] What in the hell?
[Corey] Oh my gosh.
It's him! It's Goldberg!
[Cole] The icon! The WWE Hall of Famer!
[Goldberg] Drew McIntyre,
you got size,
you got speed.
There couldn't be a better representative to be the WWE Champion.
But the one thing that you don't got
is respect.
And that's where I step in.
[man] Goldberg has really taken this sport by storm.
[announcer 1] Just blasted him! Goldberg remains unbeaten!
[announcer 2] Put another mark in the win column.
Who's next?
[announcer 1] The first undefeated man to ever win the World Championship!
So I am coming to challenge you
and that at the Royal Rumble.
I'm gonna put it bluntly. Think about yourself 20 years ago.
[announcer] So quick and so intense.
[Drew] Think back, that's not you now.
Honestly, fighting you would be like fighting my own dad, mate.
[laughs]
Yeah?
[Corey] Oh!
[crowd gasps]
[dramatic music playing]
You got me all wrong.
I'm a firm believer in giving respect to get respect.
That's what a true WWE Champion does.
You don't know anything about being WWE Champion, do you, Billy?
[Cole] It's the one title that has eluded Goldberg
throughout his illustrious career.
That's why you challenged me. And in your own words,
you're next.
[Cole] At the Royal Rumble,
Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship
against the Hall of Famer Goldberg.
You set a new streak.
[Cole] Every time Goldberg right here in WWE
to challenge the champion,
he has been successful.
[Corey] After 12 years, Goldberg returns and destroys The Beast!
[Cole] There is a new chapter written
in the myth of Goldberg.
At the Royal Rumble, you…
[Corey] Spear!
-Jackhammer! -…me.
[Cole] Goldberg's the champion!
First of all, Drew McIntyre remains…
[Corey] Claymore!
…WWE Champion.
[Goldberg] You're next.
["Gallantry" playing]
[Joe] This will be interesting.
[crowd chanting] Goldberg!
[Tom] A battle of the generations.
[Byron] When you talk about legacy, when Drew McIntyre talks about his legacy,
tonight, nights like these,
these are where his legacy is built.
With wins like this over men like Goldberg.
[Tom] McIntyre's called this the most crucial title defense of his reign.
[crowd chanting] Goldberg!
["Gallantry" playing]
[Tom] The Scottish Warrior marching in the WWE ThunderDome.
Ready for battle.
[Byron] Intensity on the face of the challenger
now emphatically matched by the champion.
Drew McIntyre marching to the ring,
and his sole purpose, defeat Goldberg.
[Byron] Drew McIntyre understands the gravity
of this opportunity ahead of him.
Not only does he have to deal with
the explosiveness, the power, and the myth of Goldberg,
but he's gotta come into this with confidence,
as Goldberg is showing him no respect.
[Joe] Make no mistake, Drew McIntyre is confident,
but that is also the look of a wary man.
A man who realizes what kind of dangerous individual,
what kind of dangerous force of nature he is stepping in the ring against.
[Tom] Joe, I think Drew McIntyre wants that danger.
It's why Drew McIntyre said, "Goldberg, bring your intensity."
"Bring the Goldberg of old."
"I want the best of you tonight at the Royal Rumble."
[Joe] Drew better be careful what he asks for.
He very well may be staring that very thing in the eye right now.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] This will be one for the ages.
The WWE Championship.
For the first time ever, Goldberg versus McIntyre.
[bell rings]
[Hamilton] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the WWE Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[Hamilton] Introducing the challenger,
from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 285 pounds,
WWE Hall of Famer
Goldberg!
[crowd cheering]
[Hamilton] And his opponent,
from Ayr, Scotland,
weighing in 265 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
Drew McIntyre!
[crowd cheering]
[announcers exclaiming]
[Tom] Look at McIntyre!
The bell hasn't rung. Oh my God!
A spear to Goldberg from McIntyre!
[Byron] McIntyre just took a page out of Goldberg's playbook.
[Tom] This WWE title match has not yet been made official.
The bell did not ring.
-Oh! -[Joe laughs]
That's not gonna stop these men.
[Byron] Whatever Goldberg said,
McIntyre did not like.
And responded in kind.
[Tom] Trying to instigate.
And now the WWE Champion looks hurt.
-Shoulder into the steel. -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Now Goldberg buries his shoulder into the ribs of McIntyre!
Through the barricade!
[Joe] The steel barricade!
[Byron] That was Goldberg's message to the champion.
This is how it's done. This is how you deliver the spear.
[Tom] A spear for a spear.
And this match is still not official.
This is how the physicality started here moments ago.
Goldberg getting in the face of McIntyre.
-McIntyre would have none of it. -[Byron] Boom!
Something Goldberg said there ticked off McIntyre.
[Tom] And then with the spear
through the barricade, leveling the WWE Champion.
[Byron] I can't knock McIntyre, it was a brilliant strategy.
Unfortunately, it did not work out how he planned it would.
[Tom] But now, Byron, he's been obliterated through the barricade,
that being McIntyre.
How does he get back into this?
The match hasn't even started.
[Byron] The big question is, what are the condition of McIntyre's ribs?
What kind of damage was done from that spear?
That could severely hamper McIntyre throughout this match.
[Joe] It absolutely could.
An injury to the ribs at this point,
before the match even started,
could be absolutely disastrous.
[Tom] McIntyre isn't getting back to his feet.
[Joe] Look at Goldberg.
[referee] You sure about this?
Can you go, Drew?
Ring the damn bell.
All right. Ring the bell!
[bell rings]
[Tom] McIntyre's ready to go!
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Meets Goldberg's charge.
-Oh, Claymore! -[Byron] This could be it.
[Tom] McIntyre, cover!
Goldberg kicked out of the Claymore.
Think about this now, McIntyre tried to fire his best shot.
And Goldberg kicked out.
[Byron] Think about it? I believe Brock Lesnar--
[Joe] They're all best shots.
[Byron] Brock Lesnar, I believe,
the only other man who's kicked out of the Claymore.
[Byron] Clearly, significant damage done to the ribs of McIntyre.
[Tom] Went for another Claymore, this time Goldberg ducked it.
Goldberg trying to shake his head.
Trying to get back into this.
-[Byron] Goldberg looking-- -[Tom] Another spear!
To the injured ribs!
[Byron] Goldberg, I think, is looking for the trifecta.
[Tom] Now Goldberg measuring McIntyre.
[Joe] McIntyre better get off the tracks!
[Tom] Another spear!
[Byron] Goldberg may be on the verge
to win the WWE Title!
[Tom] A kick-out!
But how much did that hurt McIntyre?
Just to stay in this.
[Joe] McIntyre is broken in half right now.
[Tom] Goldberg has gotta be loving this.
A wounded WWE Champion
at the mercy of Goldberg.
It is what McIntyre knew was coming.
Going up!
[Tom] Could it be time for the Jackhammer?
The vaunted Jackhammer.
-[Joe] Oh, yes it is. -[Byron] About to see it.
Goldberg said, "I'm putting away Drew McIntyre
right here, right now."
[Tom] Oh! Got him up, and a Jackhammer!
Cover by Goldberg!
To win the title-- Oh!
McIntyre kicked out of the Jackhammer!
[Byron] My goodness. Even Goldberg looks shocked.
[Joe] Just barely kicked out.
And I don't think Goldberg understands.
[Tom] Goldberg is stunned.
How many men in history have kicked out of the Jackhammer?
[Byron] Goldberg not allowing that stunned feeling to resonate much longer.
Goldberg back in position.
-Ready to strike again. -[Joe] This is what Goldberg does best.
He's one of the best finishers ever in the history of WWE.
[Tom] Goldberg remaining inside his zone.
Going for another spear-- Oh! Into the top turnbuckle.
McIntyre able to evade.
-[Byron] Watch McIntyre now. -[Joe] Buying himself space and time.
[Byron] McIntyre's trying to muster the strength.
Might be thinking Claymore one more time.
[Tom] Gritting through the pain.
McIntyre wants Goldberg.
-Oh! -[Byron] Claymore!
[Tom] Another Claymore!
-McIntyre! -One, two three!
-[bell rings] -[Tom] McIntyre slays Goldberg!
["Gallantry" playing]
[Hamilton] Here is your winner and still the WWE Champion,
Drew McIntyre!
[Tom] This match did not start the way McIntyre expected.
But McIntyre found a way to gut it out,
to will himself on,
and retain the WWE Championship.
[Joe] An incredible performance by Drew McIntyre.
A legacy-building performance by Drew McIntyre.
[Tom] McIntyre said it, Joe.
"I need this win to take myself and my reign to another level."
[Byron] This opened a lot of eyes tonight.
The WWE Universe watches.
Goldberg hoisting up the 265-pound McIntyre
for the Jackhammer.
How many in history have ever kicked out of the Jackhammer?
[Byron] This is after multiple spears, rib cage damage, and a Jackhammer.
And yet McIntyre still had enough to do this.
[Tom] The Claymore right between the eyes.
In this battle of generations,
McIntyre defeats the legendary Goldberg.
[Byron] He once looked up to,
now tonight stands over victorious,
the conquered challenger.
[crowd cheering]
You passed.
You passed the test.
You deserve it.
[crowd cheering]
["Gallantry" playing]
[Tom] A match that was centered around respect.
Now finally it seems that Drew McIntyre,
the WWE Champion,
has earned the respect of Goldberg.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Look at McIntyre.
Smiling, enjoying this moment.
He finally can enjoy this with a man hew grew up watching in Goldberg.
[Joe] These hard-fought battles can make strange friends.
Tonight,
Drew McIntyre has earned the respect and admiration of one Bill Goldberg.
[Tom] This was an absolute barrage
between two of the great heavyweight powerhouses
in all of WWE.
Hats off to the effort of the Hall of Famer Goldberg.
He knows he was in a fight.
But Drew McIntyre stands tall.
And still WWE Champion!
[crowd cheering]
["Feel Good" playing]
♪ Got a little obsession And a dream that's coming true ♪
♪ In the end I'm doing what I came to do ♪
♪ Gimme something That will make me feel good ♪
♪ Whoo-ooh ♪
♪ Gimme something That will make me feel good ♪
-♪ Good, good ♪ -♪ Gimme some of that good ♪
♪ Good, good, good ♪
♪ So many things I want ♪ -♪ Give it all to me ♪
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next at the Royal Rumble event,
from Friday Night SmackDown, it is Sasha Banks,
defending the SmackDown Women's Championship
against Carmella.
Welcome to ringside, everybody, inside the WWE ThunderDome.
Michael Cole, Corey Graves from Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Carmella gets another opportunity, Corey.
Will she make the most of it?
We are officially on the road to WrestleMania.
I feel like we're gonna kick everything off
with a brand-new SmackDown Women's Champion.
Speaking about the road to WrestleMania,
later on tonight, of course, we have two Royal Rumble matches
inside the ThunderDome.
In case I don't get a chance later, who's gonna win the men's match?
[Corey] I can't give my prognostications this early in the evening.
-I'll tell you mid-match. -[Cole] What about the women's?
[Corey] Same thing.
[Cole] Here comes the challenger for the SmackDown Women's Title.
["Tredici" playing]
[fireworks exploding]
[Corey] Cole, you wanna give me a hand picking my jaw off the desk?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Surprised you can even talk.
Carmella, of course, accompanied by Reginald.
Her sommelier.
One of the reasons that Carmella actually has this match tonight.
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the SmackDown Women's Championship!
Introducing the challenger, accompanied by Reginald,
Carmella!
[Cole] So, Corey, a couple of weeks ago Sasha Banks told Carmella,
"You can have your championship opportunity
at the Royal Rumble event,
if I get your sommelier Reginald in a matchup."
[Corey] Carmella actually pinned Sasha Banks
in a matchup a week prior, but yes,
this was Sasha's request. Sasha wanted to humiliate Reginald.
Meanwhile, I think Reginald stole the imagination of the WWE Universe.
[Cole] Yeah, and Carmella was very pleased with what she saw early on.
But then Sasha Banks would lock Reginald in the Bank Statement,
forcing him to tap out,
and continue to embarrass Carmella.
[Corey] Sasha was able to make a statement in front of Carmella,
but Banks knows very well what a competitor Carmella is
from bell to bell.
Sasha Banks had better be laser focused on her challenger tonight.
[Cole] Carmella a former SmackDown Women's Champion.
A Money in the Bank winner. She also won a WrestleMania Battle Royal.
Meanwhile, our colleague Kayla Braxton standing by.
Sasha, just behind that curtain,
Carmella awaits with aspirations of finally taking away
your SmackDown Women's Championship.
And with her pesky sommelier, Reginald, ringside,
are the odds stacked against you?
[laughs]
Kayla, it does not matter what the odds are.
Because when you are the best, you find a way to win.
Now, I am ready for whatever tricks Carmella and Reggie wanna play this time.
'Cause in the end, I'm the one that's gonna be celebrating
when I drink the finest champagne of Carmella's tears.
When I watch the women's Royal Rumble
to see who wants to step to The Boss
at WrestleMania.
["Sky's the Limit" playing]
[Cole] Well, here at the Royal Rumble,
it's Boss Time!
[Rome] And her opponent, from Boston, Massachusetts,
she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Sasha Banks!
[Corey] Sasha Banks the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Obviously never short on confidence.
I assure you, Carmella is prepared for tonight.
And if Sasha Makes one mistake, Carmella's gonna capitalize.
[Cole] Sasha Banks has been the SmackDown Women's Champion for 98 days.
She won the title back at the end of October.
Inside Hell in a Cell
against her former best friend Bayley.
Ending Bayley's 380-day reign as Women's Champion.
♪ S-A-S-H-A, how you do that there? ♪
♪ She's a legit boss ♪
♪ But y'all knew that ♪
♪ Da Big Boss Dogg Yeah, I had to do that ♪
♪ That's my family and we so G ♪
♪ Bow down to the new champ of WWE ♪
♪ Had a dream that I made it ♪
♪ Now there's nothing dragging down me ♪
♪ 'Cause I gon' gon' Pushed it all out the way ♪
♪ Destined to break in I found my way, yeah ♪
♪ Now I'm made, nobody gonna take it ♪
♪ 'Cause I gon' gon' Pushed 'em all out the way… ♪
[Cole] So, Corey, for Carmella, what does she have to do tonight
to knock off The Boss and win her second SmackDown Women's Title?
[Corey] Hopefully Carmella has maintained the confidence
she has had over the past several weeks,
specifically since the last time these two competed against one another.
Carmella nearly dethroned The Boss last time.
Tonight could be her night.
[Cole] The last matchup,
many believed it was one of the best matches of Carmella's career.
So we're under way now.
Sasha Banks defending against Carmella for the SmackDown Women's Title.
-[Corey] Uh-oh! -[Cole] Looking for the Bank Statement.
Carmella able to block.
But just like that, Sasha Banks just put Carmella on notice.
[Corey] Smart strategy by Sasha Banks.
It shows she's got a little more respect for Carmella than the last time they met.
Sasha looking to end this one quick.
Three!
There's a new boss around here and that's me, honey, not you!
[Cole] What does Carmella do when she's in trouble? Looks great.
She goes back to trash talking.
Playing mind games.
Hoping to win the psychological game against Sasha.
And Banks with a nice waist lock takedown to Carmella.
Looking to control Carmella in this match.
But again be able to set up the Bank Statement to tap Carmella out.
[Sasha grunts]
[Cole] Carmella with a body shot.
Sends Sasha to the corner, but there's the reversal.
-Carmella lands on her feet. -[Corey] Uh-oh. Uh-oh!
[Cole] Went for a handful of hair and paid for it.
[Corey] We talked about Carmella's need to step up her game.
Obviously, Sasha Banks continues to improve, even as champion.
[Cole] Off the deep arm drag.
A slap by Banks.
A big smile by the SmackDown Women's Champ.
I got my eyes on you, Reggie.
[Corey] This could be part of a master plan if you're Carmella.
Allow Banks to get over-confident.
Let Sasha think she's in control.
And then you summon Reggie!
-All the way off the apron. -[Corey] Oh no!
[Cole] Reggie pays for it, face first off the apron.
But that distraction allows Carmella to take over now.
Carmella's gotta get Banks back to the ring.
Can only win the championship tonight
via pinfall or submission.
Champion's advantage!
Now using Reginald!
[Corey] We got the best seat in the house, Cole.
[Cole] And Banks hits our announce table hard.
Carmella again.
Banks into the ring.
Carmella looking for a cover to win the championship!
And Banks kicks at two.
You already saw Carmella's sommelier, Reginald, brings to the table
That distraction allowed Carmella to take control.
-Where? -Out of corner.
-All the way? -One!
[Cole] Carmella says she has all the natural talent.
-Back it out! One! -[grunts]
[Cole] That she is untouchable.
Three! Get her out!
[Cole] She's gonna raise the standard tonight
and toss out the blueprint that is Sasha Banks.
-[crowd booing] -Relax!
[Corey] That would have the Friday Night SmackDown women's division seeing red.
[Cole] Carmella says it's time for a shakeup at the top.
A new boss to be calling shots around here.
[Corey] Where are you getting quotes about Carmella?
Just curious. Asking for a friend.
[Cole] I'm a journalist, Corey.
[referee] Off of there! Break!
[Corey] Look at this.
Carmella bending the rules and The Boss in half.
[Cole] Carmella got to use a full five-count almost there.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] Perfectly legal.
Some of the best Superstars in WWE history
have mastered manipulating the rule book.
[Cole] I'm surprised you don't have inside information
about Carmella's strategy here tonight.
-Carmella soaking it in. -I know I'm hot, baby!
Sasha!
[Corey] Oh, and Banks!
Carmella can't make the mistake of getting too comfortable.
We've learned, throughout her career, the resilience of Sasha-- Oh!
[Cole] Back of her neck hits hard.
Carmella to win the SmackDown Women's Championship!
Banks able to kick. But Carmella, no separation granted.
[Corey] Very wisely not allowing Sasha Banks any space to recover.
-Rear chin lock. Simple, but effective. -I'm better than you in every way!
[Cole] This is the WWE ThunderDome
at Tropicana Field.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Home, of course, to Major League Baseball's Tampa Rays.
Tonight, home of the Royal Rumble.
The 34th annual Royal Rumble event.
Banks into the corner.
Hard! And an elbow to Carmella.
[Corey] You can see the agony etched on the face of the champion.
Just got rocked by another forearm.
I need you both down off that corner.
[Corey] This is where Carmella's playing a risky game.
You can't get too confident when Banks is involved.
[Cole] Sasha shows you why right there.
Meteora by Banks!
[Corey] Sasha landed awkwardly on her left knee.
Immediately grasping for it.
[Cole] I'm not sure Carmella say that, Corey.
Not sure if she'll be able to capitalize.
Meteora, Sasha hit hard.
[Corey] Sasha immediately clutching at her left knee.
Remains to be seen if that'll play a factor.
If she can let the adrenaline do the work.
[Cole] Will that be the story?
As this match continues.
-Carmella now sends Banks off the ropes. -What are you doing? Get off that!
[Corey] We're getting a little creative here.
Get it out of there!
[Cole] Carmella's gotta be careful she's not disqualified.
-Two! Get off her. -[Carmella] I'm off!
[Cole] Tying Banks up in the bottom rope by her hair.
Now Carmella stomping away on the champion.
Get off her! You can't do that. Go, get her out!
[crowd booing]
I'm better than you, Sasha!
I'm hotter than you! I'm smarter than you!
I'm badder than you!
I'm stronger than you!
-I'm Carmella! -[Cole] At least she believes it.
[Corey] Trying to imply that you don't believe it, Cole?
Right now the proof is right in front of our very eyes.
Look at this relentless side of the Untouchable One.
[Cole] Carmella punishing the champion!
[crowd chanting] You suck!
[Cole] Sasha's been rendered almost helpless.
-I suck?! -[crowd continues chanting] You suck!
-Me? -Bravo! Bravo!
[Cole] Reginald loves it.
[Corey] What's not to love, Cole?
[Cole] Look at Sasha trying to fight back.
[grunts]
[Cole] Banks with a high elbow.
Now Carmella sent into the second turnbuckle.
-[crowd cheering] -Get back inside now.
[Cole] And Banks will run Carmella into the other corner.
[yells]
-[Carmella screaming] -[Corey] Oh no. Oh no!
-Three! Get back inside the ring. -[Cole] Sasha…
A trick out of Carmella's play book!
Now double knees to Carmella.
Drags her into the center of the ring.
Hooks the leg. Kick-out by Carmella at two.
This matchup continues.
[Corey] A frustrated look on the face of Banks.
-[Cole] Boom! -[Corey] Look back at the double knees.
Right to the collar bones of the challenger.
Two!
[Corey] Definitely respect the toughness displayed by Carmella at this point.
[Cole] Nice suplex by Sasha Banks.
Perhaps she's gonna go here for the Three Amigos.
Paying homage to her idol.
The late, great Eddie Guerrero.
But Carmella able to counter. Banks caught her with a knee.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Sasha now with an opportunity to make something happen--
[Cole] Banks sent out!
And Reginald may have saved the day for The Boss!
-[Sasha] Put me down! -[referee] Hey!
-[Corey] Wait a minute! -[Cole] Reginald pays for it as well!
[Corey] That's not how you repay a favor!
[Cole] I don't think it was a favor, I just think it caught Reggie by surprise.
That's it, man. You have-- Reginald, look at me now.
You are out of here, man!
-What? -That's twice!
[Cole] Reginald's been sent back to the locker room.
-Go on! Get out of here! -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] I knew it all along.
It was a mistake having Reginald out here.
-Oh! -[Cole] Meanwhile, Carmella, my goodness!
Carmella came flying through the ropes!
And hit hard.
But Carmella's back on her feet.
She's okay. Banks is hurt!
This could be Carmella's opportunity.
[Corey] Adrenaline's an amazing thing.
[Cole] Cover by Carmella to win the title!
Banks survives at two!
[Corey] Carmella with a Hail Mary.
-Utilizing her own body to take out Banks. -[Cole] That was nasty!
[Corey] But how much effect did it have on the challenger?
Carmella landed hard.
[Cole] But she quickly got back to her feet to capitalize.
-Why'd you throw him out? -Because that's twice…
[Cole] Now she's trying to figure out why the official kicked Reginald out.
-He didn't need to be here. -He didn't do anything, she hit him!
-He's not in this. -You kidding?
-Twice I've had to tell him. He's gone. -[yells]
[referee] No.
[Cole] Carmella has to go it alone. Let's see what she's made of.
[Corey] Look on the bright side.
Reginald can start choosing the beverage selection for the after party.
[Cole] Sasha roll up now. Shoulders down, hook of the leg.
Carmella at two.
Banks slips underneath.
Another cover on Carmella.
Kick-out again near fall.
Banks dips underneath, looking for a backslide.
Third straight time and a third straight kick-out.
Now, Banks…
Third Amigo finally appears.
And now Sasha has Carmella where she wants her.
Top rope.
À la Eddie Guererro.
-The Frog Splash-- -[Corey] No, look, knees up!
[Cole] Got the knees up to counter!
Drop toehold.
'Mella looking for her submission hold, the Code of Silence.
[Corey] Great ring positioning for Carmella.
Sasha's in trouble.
[Cole] Is Banks gonna tap out?
-Can you continue? -Tap!
[Cole] If Banks taps, Carmella's the champion.
No!
[Corey] Banks able to counter!
Caught her with a sliding knee.
Smart move by Sasha, able to destabilize Carmella's position
by using 'Mella's own arm.
Take another look at this.
Sasha looked for the Frog Splash,
but Carmella had the wherewithal.
It was a desperate move but it bought valuable time.
The playing field is even once again.
This comes down to which woman wants it more.
[Cole] A critical moment in this match.
Both women back to their feet. Banks able to slip underneath.
-[Corey] Wants a backstabber. -[Cole] Carmella countered.
These women know each other so well.
Banks out to the apron.
Shoulder to the midsection, Banks with a high knee.
[Corey] Right on the temple of Carmella.
The challenger's rocked.
The champion, once again from the top rope.
[Cole] Sasha now-- Caught!
-Kicked by Carmella! -[Corey] Superkick!
[Cole] Another one!
Banks is down!
To win the SmackDown Women's Title--
Two and a half!
A near fall for Carmella.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] My goodness, it doesn't get any closer.
First a superkick to the sternum of the champion.
The second one right in the lips.
Sasha Banks nearly knocked off.
But Carmella cannot close the deal.
[Cole] Frustration beginning to come into play
as it comes to the challenger, Carmella.
[Corey] Judging by the look on her face,
absolutely, unequivocally, Sasha Banks has frustrated the challenger.
[Cole] The Bank Statement!
Bank Statement, center of the ring.
Banks caught Carmella.
-Carmella made a slight mistake, taps out. -[bell rings]
-[crowd cheering] -["Sky's the Limit" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner, by submission,
and still the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Sasha Banks!
[Cole] The next time we see Sasha Banks,
Friday night on SmackDown,
her title reign will be well over 100 days.
Sasha Banks retains
with a gutsy win over Carmella here at the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] You said it, Cole, it was gutsy.
Sasha Banks was able to hang on,
able to endure all of Carmella's offense.
Particularly in the closing moments of the matchup.
-Sasha Banks all the way from the top. -[Cole] Oh!
-[Corey] Suffers a superkick. -[Cole] Bang!
[Corey] The second one right on point.
Carmella a fraction of a second away from becoming SmackDown Women's Champion.
But the frustration played key.
Sasha able to manipulate Carmella down to the mat
just long enough to cinch in the Bank Statement.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Carmella just couldn't hang on any longer.
[Cole] The Boss rules.
WrestleMania is on the horizon.
Sasha Banks retains the SmackDown Women's Title.
♪ And if you in the way Let me say she comin' for you ♪
[man 1] The most athletic big man in the history of wrestling.
[man 2] One of the greatest big men ever.
[announcer 1] Look at the size of this man.
[announcer 2] Very, very impressive.
[man 3] Yokozuna became an attraction immediately.
He became the big star that he was.
[man 4] But the audience never got to know the human being behind that.
He will be the most massive presence that our family ever puts out there.
He opened the doors for the newer generation
of Polynesian wrestlers.
[man 5] This was the Yokozuna that people didn't know.
The man, the legend, the icon.
[dramatic music playing]
Did Retribution beat your ah last week?
Yeah, they did.
And did they beat your ah the week prior?
They did.
-But tonight, when you-- -Well…
They actually beat my ad one more time.
They did beat your ah one more time.
Well, Woods, tonight all I need from you
is 60 minutes, max.
Sixty minutes from you and myself to change our wrestling lives forever.
Sixty minutes, max, to etch our names amongst the wrestling gods!
-The what? -The wrestling gods!
-The who? -The wrestling gods!
Oh, from on high.
The wrestling gods.
Please, wrestling gods, do more for us.
Haven't the wrestling gods done enough for you?
When they gifted you with my Intercontinental Championship?
But, you know what, there are no wrestling gods.
There's only WWE management.
And you're the poster boys, aren't you?
I wouldn't be surprised if they handed you cushy spots in tonight's Royal Rumble.
Maybe number 28, number 29.
Honestly, I'm must shocked I'm not number one or number two.
It's not bad enough I gotta deal with you every Friday on SmackDown,
I gotta deal with your brother?
-You can't call him "brother." -Don't call me "brother."
Whatever. I gotta deal with SmackDown Superstars,
I gotta worry about Raw Superstars.
You know what? I'm not worried.
I'm not worried because I see everything.
Yeah. I have eyes in the back of my head.
-You know-- -[screams]
[laughing]
-Got him! -You did not get me.
-You did not. -Yeah, I got you!
You did not. What are you doing here?
In serious, all jokes aside…
All jokes aside, what?
Sami, respectfully, I said all jokes aside.
-[laughs] -Get gone!
-Got him again! -Get gone!
-[laughing] -Keep stepping.
-Kick rocks.
-You're gonna get it tonight. -Get gone.
Nothing to do here.
-Bye. -[Sami] You wait!
Oh man. Hey, look, I might not be medically cleared to compete here tonight,
but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from wearing this sick gear!
And representing our boy!
You know what I mean?
I also wanted to be here to support you guys
because we all know the implications of tonight, don't we?
Yes, sir.
Tonight could be the night that sets us on our path to WrestleMania, baby!
And I do mean us.
Because even though we're on different shows,
the rule still does apply.
And that rule is
when one of us wins the Royal Rumble,
we all win the Royal Rumble!
-So let's go! -Let's do this!
-Tonight.
-Let's go! -You ready?
Tonight!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
the Royal Rumble is presented by Cricket Wireless.
When awesome calls, you answer.
Smile, you're on Cricket.
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the biggest Latin artist in the world,
here to perform his hit song "Booker T,"
Bad Bunny!
-[crowd cheering] -["Booker T" playing]
What's up, WWE?
[speaks in Spanish]
[whoops]
[in English] Latino gang, hey!
[speaking in Spanish]
[in English] Hey.
[singing in Spanish]
Can you dig it, sucka?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
exclusive Bad Bunny merchandise is available
on wweshop.com.
["Booker T" continues playing]
[Cole] What a performance by two-time Grammy award winner Bad Bunny.
My question is, first,
A, how does Booker T get a song about him?
And B, is that his old GI Bro outfit?
It absolutely is.
But somehow Booker T is still way cooler than you or I will ever be.
Of course, well, coming up next
it is our first Royal Rumble match of the evening.
And when it comes to the Royal Rumble, it's all about the numbers.
[narrator] The Royal Rumble match.
[man] This is what we've all been waiting for!
[narrator] Thirty men and 30 women battling for the ultimate prize,
a championship opportunity in the main event at WrestleMania.
What began as a spectacle in 1988,
has created some of the most iconic moments in sports entertainment history.
[Flair] With a tear in my eye,
this is the greatest moment of my life.
[announcer] He did it! Rey Mysterio did it!
[The Rock] Finally, The Rock is going to WrestleMania.
[narrator] You never know who's going to show up.
[crowd cheering]
["Metalingus" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[King] You gotta be kidding me.
[Cole] It's been nine long years.
Edge is back!
[narrator] Since its inception,
there have been 1,130 entrants into the Royal Rumble match.
Of those 1,130 participants, only 30 individuals can say they've won.
[Cole] John Cena! Becky Lynch!
[Corey] Batista! Triple H!
[Cole] Undertaker!
[narrator] This incredibly rare achievement has propelled 18 Superstars
to win a world championship at WrestleMania.
Including the last four Rumble winners.
Skill, endurance, and the luck of the draw are the keys to success.
And while victory at an early number is improbable,
Shawn Michaels proved it was not impossible.
Entering at number one
and outlasting the entire field to win in dramatic fashion.
[announcer] Only one of Shawn Michaels' feet hit the floor.
[narrator] Not everyone can survive.
[announcer 1] What did he last, one second?
No redoes, Santino.
[narrator] Some struggle to even get in the ring.
[Cole] Oh my God, what did Titus just do?
I can't believe what I just saw!
[narrator] While others defy the laws of physics to avoid elimination.
[Cole] What a move!
Kingston's a Rumble highlight reel!
[narrator] Speaking of highlight reels,
Kane has competed in a record 17 Rumble matches,
where the Big Red Machine decimated his opponents
with a record 43 total eliminations.
As for the single Rumble match elimination record,
Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman laid waste to an unfathomable 13 Superstars apiece.
This year, the 34th annual Royal Rumble
features a lineup of all stars.
in an incredible show of endurance,
Daniel Bryan achieved an astronomical record
with one hour, sixteen minutes, and six seconds in the Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] What an incredible performance by Bryan!
[narrator] An accomplishment Bryan's looking to build on
with his first Royal Rumble victory.
Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler both made their Royal Rumble debuts last year
and eliminated a record eight women apiece.
Will these athletically gifted Superstars prove to be imposing threats yet again?
Back in 2019, Nia Jax became one of only four women
to compete in the men's Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] Nia Jax to eliminate! She does!
[narrator] The Irresistible Force took it a step further,
competing in both the men's and women's Rumble matches
in the same night.
Last year's Rumble winner, Charlotte Flair,
looks to win her second straight Rumble match.
Joining Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels,
and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as the only back-to-back Royal Rumble winners.
A feat that hasn't been accomplished in 23 years.
If winning two Rumbles wasn't impressive enough,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin stands alone
as the only man to win three Royal Rumble matches.
[Steve] Oh, hell yeah!
[narrator] With Randy Orton triumphant in two Rumbles already,
Could The Viper join The Rattlesnake as the ultimate Royal Rumble icons?
[dramatic music playing]
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
[narrator] But no matter the odds,
each of the 30 men and women…
[Cole] What an atmosphere this is tonight!
[Corey] Stars are gonna be made, legends created!
…competing in their two respective Royal Rumble matches…
[Cole] The road to WrestleMania starts now.
…can be the one to make history.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
[timer buzzes]
[bell rings]
The following is the 30-woman Royal Rumble match!
[crowd cheering]
This match begins with two Superstars starting inside the ring.
Every 90 seconds another Superstar will enter the match.
Eliminations will occur when a Superstar is thrown over the top rope,
with both feet hitting the floor.
The last woman standing will be declared the winner
and will receive a championship match
at WrestleMania!
[crowd cheering]
["Role Model" playing]
[Tom] And just like that, the women's Royal Rumble is underway.
And it's the Role Model who draws the first entry position.
[Byron] A highly unenviable position
for the former SmackDown Women's Champion.
[Tom] 380 days as the SmackDown Women's Champion.
The longest reigning SmackDown Women's Champion ever.
I think Bayley wins this Royal Rumble! This is my year!
It wouldn't be the Royal Rumble match or Royal Rumble event
without WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler.
King, you've been in the Rumble, you've called countless moments,
as we heard just a few moments ago, how special is it to be here?
Michael Cole!
I put my damn hair just like on Cole!
If I win this match, I'm challenging him.
-We'll let him know. -Michael Cole, not Jerry.
Bayley shaved "Cole" into the back of her head.
-It's a little weird. -[King] That is very weird.
But I think it's great.
She's gonna challenge Cole if she wins.
[Tom] She's got motivation, that's for sure.
Maybe Cole will finally be beaten in Mania.
Tonight, the Royal Rumble
is brought to you in part by Tapout.
Available now at tapout.com.
As Byron was saying, King, this is not a great thing for Bayley,
To start off in the number one position,
however, it has been done before, winning from this position.
[King] If anybody can do it, Bayley can do it.
Especially, like you said, with that extra incentive.
But who is number two gonna be?
["Amazing" playing]
[Byron] Whoa! [laughs]
[Tom] The Royal Rumble is always full of surprises and returns.
It is great to welcome back Naomi!
[King] Oh my gosh.
[Tom] We're gonna feel the glow, I love it.
[King laughs] This is awesome.
[Tom] The two-time SmackDown champ!
[Rome] Introducing entrant number two, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi!
[Tom] Byron, we haven't seen Naomi in action in quite some time.
-[Byron] It's been months. -[Tom] Oh yeah!
[Byron] Naomi has actually thrived in this atmosphere before.
A couple years ago winning the WrestleMania women's Battle Royal.
[Tom] The first ever WrestleMania women's Battle Royal.
On top of that, King, Naomi's had a lot of acrobatics.
Some really eye-popping moments in the women's Royal Rumble.
[King] Without a doubt, I remember it well.
Did you see the look on Bayley's face?
I don't think Bayley's too impressed by Naomi right now.
[Tom] Look at the smile on Naomi.
She's gotta be thrilled to be back in a WWE ring.
[bell rings]
Naomi understands very well what's at stake here.
Last time I saw you, you had your boots stuck in your pants.
-[laughs] -[Byron] Uh-oh.
Remember? When I beat you. You remember?
Do you remember? Oh!
[King] That didn't work out.
[Byron] Unsuccessfully tried to get in the head of Naomi, who's having none of it.
[Tom] I believe it was back in August Naomi and Bayley squared off.
I believe Naomi won that match, Byron.
Naomi certainly--
[Byron] There's a counter right here.
[Tom] There goes Bayley, who maybe running her mouth a little early here, King.
Not the greatest idea.
[King] No, you're right. Many times, your words will come back to haunt you.
Wow!
[Tom] A kick right to the face by Naomi.
[Byron] Naomi was having a little fun at Bayley's expense.
[Tom] The unenviable position of starting the Royal Rumble,
however it has been done before.
The likes of Shawn Michaels in 1995.
Rey Mysterio, 2006.
It can be done,
but it is a very difficult task.
And the rearview to Bayley.
[Byron] Bayley's night may be on the verge of a conclusion here.
[King] Actually started to-- Whoa!
[Tom] Looking for an elimination early on.
[King] Starting one or two, it's the same thing.
[Tom] You're absolutely right, King, wire to wire.
Oh! And now dropping Naomi.
I love the fact that Bayley has "Cole"
cut into the back of her head in her hair, that's awesome!
[Tom] I'm sure you've been paying attention to SmackDown,
-Cole has not made friends with Bayley. -[Byron] No.
[King] Who could make friends with Michael Cole? Come on.
[Byron] I'd love to see that match.
[Tom] Here we go.
Who is number three in the 2021 women's Royal Rumble?
-[Byron] Here we go! -[timer buzzes]
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
-[Tom] Oh! -[King] Uh-oh.
[Byron] Someone who is highly familiar with Bayley.
Defeated Bayley this past Friday night on SmackDown on Fox.
Bianca Belair,
who last year in this match matched the performance of Shayna Baszler,
in that she has eight total eliminations.
Oh! The most in women's Royal Rumble history.
Alongside Baszler.
[Byron] Lasted over 30 minutes in last year's Royal Rumble.
[Tom] Oh my God, Bayley could be over in a few minutes here!
[King] Wait a minute. Oh!
[Tom] Bayley over the top rope.
Both feet have to touch the floor.
The cagey Bayley back into the ring.
[King] Hang in there, Bayley.
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Bianca Belair, many have picked as a potential winner for this…
Oh! …entire Royal Rumble match.
[Byron] The athleticism of Belair is off the charts.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Talk about athleticism,
many have said Naomi one of the best pure athletes as well.
[Tom] You might be looking at the two best athletes in WWE, let's be honest.
The power of Bianca Belair.
Trying to hoist Naomi over the top rope.
Naomi saying, not today.
[Tom] Naomi trying to use her own strength here
against the EST of WWE.
-That being Bianca Belair. -[King] Oh! Oh! Oh!
No doubt. Whoa!
-Oh, look at this! -Oh my gosh!
-[King laughs] -[Tom] That is unbelievable!
[Byron] Never seen that.
[King] That's how I roll.
[Tom] Naomi has gotta be careful on the top rope.
Bayley trying to get involved.
[King] Bayley-- Oh!
[Byron] Naomi hanging on for dear life.
-Oh! Wait-- Oh! -[King] Whoa!
[Tom] Over the top.
Naomi's gotta be careful now.
Bayley trying to eliminate Belair.
-As number four is inbound. -[King] Is she down?
-Did her feet touch? -[timer buzzes]
[Tom] Not quite.
["Seduction" playing]
[Tom] From SmackDown, it is Billie Kay,
who I guess is part of the Riott Squad?
[Byron] Doesn't appear, in terms of her attire tonight.
[Tom] I thought that partnership ended.
[King] She has been trying so hard to fit in.
[Byron] Wait, does Billie Kay have eight-by-tens in her hand?
-[King] I'll take one. -[Tom] It's autographed.
[King] Yeah, no kidding.
[Byron] This is a unique way to make an entrance.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Not entering the ring.
She's taking her time.
-I'll just take a seat first. -[Tom] Oh, I see.
That's how this is working out.
[Byron] Okay, put your headset on there, Billie Kay.
-Hi, Billie. -[King whoops]
Oh, I don't-- Oh.
-[Tom] Oh, King, this is for you. -[King] This is awesome.
-[Billie] For you, darling. -[King] Thank you.
-[Byron] That's what you wanted. -[Tom] Oh, Naomi!
[Byron] Billie, do you plan on entering the Royal Rumble since you're number four?
[Billie] Yeah, I'm thinking about it.
Uh, stacked in the ring at the moment.
Stacked in the ring.
-[Tom] Yeah. -[Billie] I'm going to wait.
[Tom] Whoa! Belair nearly eliminated!
[King] What are you doing for her?
[Tom] Nearly eliminated by Bayley!
-[King] Oh! -She's hanging on.
[Tom] Oh! And Belair does hang on.
-[Byron] Close call. -[Billie] I'm gonna wait.
Maybe find a partner to enter the Royal Rumble with.
-Right. -Smart.
So that doesn't mean you're actually fearful of entering?
[Billie] I mean, what-- What--
Back to the action in the ring.
[Byron] Just wondering.
So, Billie, can you walk King through your headshot and résumé?
[King] I love this shot.
But I just wanna see who the next entrant is.
-Sure. -They might need the headshot, résumé.
[Byron] We'll take care of it for you.
[Tom] Number five is…
["Severed Head" playing]
-[Billie] Okay! -[Tom] All right!
I like the tank. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
This could be it.
I'll be back.
-[King] Look at this. -[Tom] From NXT, Shotzi Blackheart!
Who enters her second Royal Rumble match.
[Byron] Talk about a wild card entry into the Royal Rumble match.
That indeed is Shotzi Blackheart.
[King] My favorite entrance so far. This is awesome.
Look out, I think that thing's loaded!
-[Tom] Whoa! -[Byron] Billie Kay better be careful.
Okay. You wanna be friends?
-[King] Whoa! -[Tom] Oh my God!
[Byron] I don't think Shotzi wants an 8x10.
[crowd cheering]
-[King] That hit you, Byron? -[Byron] Almost.
[Tom] That would've been great.
[Byron] I don't know if Billie Kay is gonna find a teammate or friend,
or ally, or whatever in Shotzi Blackheart.
[Tom] Blackheart trying to get in the ring to officially enter the Royal Rumble,
[Byron] From the top!
-[King] Here she comes! -[Tom] Doing it in style.
Remember, Billie Kay has to physically enter the ring
in order to officially enter the Royal Rumble.
[Byron] Something tells me she's going to re-enter
the announce desk position here.
[Tom] Shotzi Blackheart, who's currently competing in the first ever
women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament on NXT.
[King] Look out here!
[Tom] Oh! Shotzi Blackheart.
[Byron] Unique offense there from Shotzi Blackheart.
[Billie] Yeah, very unique offense there.
She didn't accept the headshot-résumé, so I'm still on the lookout/.
-[Tom laughs] -[Byron] Are you okay?
You seemed shell shocked when Shotzi came down in her tank.
She startled me.
She shot something at me.
-Flew right by me head! -[Byron] A warning shot.
[Billie] It was. Got the warning loud and clear.
[King] She was actually shooting at Byron, but she missed.
[Billie] Ah, right she was.
[Tom] Bianca Belair's in a difficult situation.
Over the top rope, Belair trying to navigate things.
-As we wait for number six. -[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[King] Who is it?
["Loyalty is Everything" playing]
-[Billie] Oy! -[Tom] Oh boy!
[Billie laughs]
[crowd cheering]
[King] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Billie Kay likes this.
Here comes one half of the new Women's Tag Team Champions, Shayna Baszler.
[Byron] Billie better turn back around and sit next to us.
I guarantee Baszler's not looking for a partnership with Billie Kay.
-Me and you. -[King] Barely gets along with Nia Jax.
You and me?
Oh!
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Baszler not interested in teaming with Kay.
[Byron] He told her.
[Tom] Baszler and Nia Jax on the Royal Rumble kickoff show.
Knocked off Charlotte Flair and the Raw Women's Champion, Asuka,
to capture the Women's Tag Team Titles.
[King] What a knee.
[Tom] Remember, Shayna Baszler… Oh!
…was in the final two of last year's Royal Rumble.
Alongside eventual winner Charlotte Flair.
[Byron] There's a lot of leftover angst from last year's performance.
Shayna Baszler now unleashing her fury on everyone possible.
[Tom] I mentioned earlier both the women tied up right now,
Belair and Baszler share the overall eliminations record
in a single Royal Rumble match, with eight.
[King] Bianca Belair was in trouble there.
Managed to get momentarily out of trouble.
[Tom] Now there's Shotzi Blackheart trying to eliminate the Role Model.
Bianca Belair, look at the power.
[Byron] Bayley's had a rough go since the Rumble started.
Uh-oh, here is the countdown again, gentlemen.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two…
[King] Who's it gonna be?
[timer buzzes]
[Superstars grunting]
["Lightning Thunder" playing]
[Tom laughs] Yes!
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] From NXT, it is indeed Toni time here at the Royal Rumble.
-Toni Storm! -[King] Whoa, look out. Wait a minute.
Here comes Billie Kay again.
Wait. Me and you… how about it?
[Tom] Is Toni Storm gonna buy in?
-[Byron] Uh, no. -[Tom] Nope.
[King] Just say no.
[Tom] NXT's resident rockstar.
Who's got herself an NXT Women's Title opportunity
at NXT TakeOver two weeks from tonight.
[Byron] Going right after Shotzi Blackheart.
-Now Bayley-- -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] German suplexes from the former NXT United Kingdom Women's Champion.
-[King] Watch out! -[Tom] Oh!
Toni Storm really clearing house.
Toni Storm, the rockstar of NXT.
-[King] Right about that. -[Byron] Oh!
[King] She's rocking the women's division right now.
And this Royal Rumble.
Another rearview by Naomi.
As I believe we are again joined on commentary.
Billie Kay, these offers of yours aren't really being greeted very well.
[Superstars grunting]
[Byron] Oh!
[King] You're lucky that Shayna Baszler punched your headshot instead of head.
Lookout!
You know, it might be a wise strategy--
-Oh, whoa! -[Tom] Oh!
Shotzi Blackheart's been eliminated by Baszler.
[Shotzi growls]
[Byron] Good effort from Shotzi Blackheart.
But her Royal Rumble dreams are now over.
[Tom] So with that, we await number eight.
Billie Kay's smart. The field has thinned, to a degree.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[Byron] Billie might wanna consider just going alone.
["Sliced Bread" playing]
-[Byron] Oh! [laughs] -[Tom] Oh my God!
-[King] No way! -[Byron] What?
What?
♪ I'm the hottest thing Since sliced bread ♪
♪ And when the boys see me They turn red ♪
[King] Oh my goodness.
♪ Every day I wanna run away… ♪
-[King] Are my ears bleeding yet? -[Tom] Yes.
I haven't heard this in a decade.
-Oh my goodness! -[King] Jillian Hall!
Headshot, résumé. You and me, huh?
Maybe team up with you? What do you reckon?
Billie and Jillie, what do you reckon?
What do you reckon? Yeah?
Billie and Jillie?
-Billie and Jillie. -I love it!
-[both scream] -[Byron] What?!
-Let's do this. -Let's get in there.
[Byron] This is happening?
[Tom] At least Jillian Hall's done singing, I hope.
-[King] I hope so. -[Byron] I was enjoying it.
[Tom] Wait, is JBL still here? His image consultant's here.
[Byron] The growth is gone too.
[Tom] Oh!
Jillian Hall dropping Naomi.
And I guess we've got Jillie and Billie, King.
There's the first alliance that we see in the women's Royal Rumble match.
[Byron] Billie Kay has coaxed Jillian Hall
into being her tag team partner in the Royal Rumble match.
[Tom] Jillian Hall a former champion in her own right.
Teaming up with a former Women's Tag Team Champion in Billie Kay.
[King] I remember Jillian Hall used to serenade us.
Every week, she told me, "King, don't I sing like a bird?"
I said, "Yeah, a vulture."
She said, "Well, that's a bird!"
[Tom] And now Billie and Jillie teaming up to try and get Naomi out of the match.
Bayley focusing again on Shayna Baszler.
[Byron] The countdown on again. Who's next?
[crowd] Three, two…
[King] I didn't get a prediction out of you guys.
Who you got your money on tonight?
["We Riot" playing]
[Tom] Oh, this is interesting.
Representing the Riott Squad,
it's Ruby Riott, who enters her third Royal Rumble match.
[King] She does not look like she's in a good mood right now.
[Byron] Ruby Riott has been through a lot the last year.
Suffered a serious injury,
this would be a great comeback story for Riott.
[Tom] Double shoulder surgery in 2020.
Been trying to pursue the Women's Tag Team Titles for some time.
[King] Look at those moves by Riott.
-Oh! -[Tom] Tied up with Toni Storm from NXT.
[King] Whoa, went for the big one but missed.
-No! -[Byron] Oh my!
-[Tom] Back elbow by Riott. -[King] That didn't miss.
-[yells] -[Tom] Oh!
Storm still standing.
[Tom] Oh, Toni Storm!
With another German suplex!
Toni Storm has been all over this Rumble.
[Byron] Storm is making a huge statement right now.
If she continues this momentum, she may find herself--
-[Tom] Whoa, whoa! -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Oh! Billie Kay!
-Did she just help out Ruby Riott? -[King] I think she did.
What happened to Jillian Hall?
[Tom] I mean, alliances,
King, you know better than anybody, are quick and…
Okay, that was close.
[Tom] Billie still has a warm place in her heart for Ruby.
[Tom] Wait, is she asking…
You're good to go.
[Tom] Are Billie and Jillie trying to team up with Ruby?
That would seem to be the case.
And Ruby Riott doesn't appear interested in help.
I respect Billie Kay
for at least trying to create some semblance of a strategy here.
[Tom] At least she physically got in the ring.
[King] Might get a new version of the Riott Squad.
-Whoa, look out now. -[timer buzzes]
["Don't Mess With" playing]
-[Byron] Whoa! -[Tom] Oh!
Things just got dangerous inside the women's Royal Rumble match.
The Black Widow, Victoria.
[King] Oh my gosh!
This is awesome!
Victoria is back!
[Byron] Doesn't Victoria make a you a little bit nervous?
[King] Yeah, but it's a good kind of nervous.
[Tom laughs]
Two-time Women's Champion.
A malicious and nasty competitor when she wants to be.
There's some evidence right there.
[King] No kidding.
[Byron] Talk about experience, experience could be the key for her.
-Victoria! -[Tom] Oh!
[Byron] Shocked the world here.
[Tom] Indeed one of the trailblazers in the women's division in WWE.
And look at Victoria scanning the field.
As the ring continues to fill up with Superstars.
[Byron] Victoria almost just daring any one of these Superstars,
step up, come get yours.
-[King] Whoa! -[Byron] Oh!
And down goes Riott!
And now Victoria has got a hold of Bayley.
Come on!
[King] She's asking for more competition.
[Tom] Uh-oh. Here comes--
Oh! A dropkick by Naomi brings down Victoria.
[King] Tripped right over Bayley. Whoa, look out!
[Tom] Whoa, Victoria went through the ropes.
You have to go over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor.
[King] Again, back inside. Ow.
[Tom] Victoria trying to fight her way.
Calling for it.
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Went for the leg drop off of the apron.
Dangerous situation in the far right corner.
Toni Storm, Bianca Belair, and Billie Kay tied up
as number 11 about to make their way down the aisle.
[timer buzzes]
["Honey" playing]
[Tom] Here comes Peyton Royce from Raw.
[King] This keeps getting better and better.
[Tom] Peyton Royce, who has of late been teaming up with Lacey Evans.
Because the former team
of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce was dissolved a number of months ago.
[Byron] If Billie Kay had waited for a few more entrants,
maybe we could've seen an IIconics reunion here.
[Tom] Billie Kay slides into the ring.
Who's been trying to go it on her own lately.
-[King] Look out! -[Superstars grunt]
[Tom] Got a critical win thanks to help from Lacey Evans and Rick Flair
against Charlotte Flair recently on Raw.
-[King] Hang on! -[Tom] Ruby Riott's over.
Has gotta be careful.
Now Peyton Royce going for Victoria.
[Superstars grunting]
[Tom] Center of the-- Oh my gosh.
[Byron laughs] We're gonna see it!
We are seeing it!
The IIconics back together!
-[Tom] An IIconic reunion. -[both] IIconic!
[Tom] In the Royal Rumble match!
-[Byron] Oh, hold on. -IIconic!
[crowd booing]
-[King] Oh! -[Tom] Oh!
-There's Bayley. -[Byron] Awkward moment there.
New partner meeting the new partner.
-[King] Right. -[Byron] The old partner.
[Tom] Hold on a second.
-[King] Oh no. -[Tom] Oh!
[Byron] Victoria's gotta be a little bit ticked off.
A version of a Widow's Peak.
[Tom] Yeah. Victoria about to get her revenge.
[crowd] Nine, eight, seven, six…
[Tom] Now Victoria in the center of the ring.
Trying to show Peyton Royce how it's done!
-There's the Widow's Peak! -[timer buzzes]
["I Wanna Jump" playing]
[Tom] This is an interesting entrant.
It's Santana Garrett from NXT.
Byron, you got to know Santana quite well
when you were working at the WWE Performance Center.
[Byron] Yeah, Santana Garrett's a second generation athlete.
So much untapped potential.
All it takes is one big night.
Can you imagine if Santana Garrett were able to shock the world?
Without a doubt the biggest opportunity of Santana Garrett's career.
-Happening right now. -[announcers] Oh!
[Byron] Going up against another NXT Superstar in Toni Storm.
King, you know what it's like to enter the Royal Rumble match.
How chaotic is this type of situation?
[King] Well, I'll tell you, just watching this women's Royal Rumble match,
it's sort of my idea of what I hope heaven is gonna be like.
-[Tom laughs] -[King] This is just awesome.
-You know how you can enjoy this more? -[Byron] How's that?
[King] Pretend that these women are all fighting over you.
[Byron] That's not gonna happen.
[Tom laughs]
-Oh my God, it's-- -[King] Look out!
[Tom] Santana Garrett maybe eliminating Ruby Riott, who's over the top rope.
[Byron] Ruby's found herself in this predicament a number of times.
Is barely hanging on.
[Tom] So far one elimination.
That being Shotzi Blackheart.
Whoa! Look at Bianca Belair.
-In a dangerous spot. -[King] Whoa, very dangerous.
-Look out! -[Tom] Bayley and Royce.
All trying to get rid of the EST.
[Byron] Bianca continuing to fight everybody off.
And you know what.
King, you asked for predictions, I'm gonna put my money on Bianca Belair.
[King] I'll tell you, the world is talking about Bianca Belair right now.
[Tom] Nearly halfway, you make your bet.
[Byron] It took me a while.
["We Riot" playing]
[Tom] It appears the other half of the Riott Squad, Liv Morgan--
And Ruby Riott's gonna have some backup.
[King] Whoa!
[Tom] Liv Morgan entering her fourth Royal Rumble.
[King] She didn't wait to get in the ring to start kicking.
-[Byron] Wasted no time-- -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Bayley sent into obLIVion.
[Byron] Wasted no time saving Ruby Riott.
Right now-- Oh!
[Tom] Oh! Double knees.
[Byron] Leaving her imprint on this match.
[Tom] Now up against Shayna Baszler.
-[yells] -[Tom] Oh!
What a superkick!
Great teamwork from the Riott Squad.
[Byron] A comforting sight. Oh!
[Tom] There's Jillian Hall to ruin the celebration.
[King] Byron, your pick may be on her way out.
[Tom] Bianca Belair tied up with Victoria.
Center of the ring.
Billie and Jillie has imploded.
-[King] You're right. -[Byron] It was fun while it lasted.
[Tom] Alliances are short-lasted, King, in the Royal Rumble match.
[King] Without a doubt. Oh!
[Tom] Now Jillian Hall over the top rope. The Riott Squad trying to eliminate…
Oh! …another Superstar from this Rumble.
-Oh! -[King] Look out!
[Tom] It's Billie Kay who does it!
-Yes! -[Byron] Think she'll give a performance?
Let's rock!
-[screams] -[King] Hey, whoa!
[Tom] And there goes Billie Kay.
The strategy did not pan out too well there for Billie Kay.
[King] No, that alliance went by the wayside pretty quick.
[Byron] We're stuck with about 50 8x10s here.
-[King laughs] -[Tom] Hold on, Peyton Royce.
Could be joining her former IIconics partner, Billie Kay.
Nearly was.
Here comes number 14.
-[crowd] Two, one. -[timer buzzes]
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
-[Tom] Oh my God. -[Byron] Yes.
-[King] Rhea Ripley? -[Tom] Yes!
-[King] Rhea Ripley?! -[Tom] Yes, King!
The Nightmare returns to the Royal Rumble.
With a vengeance!
The look on the face of Ripley.
Remember last year's Royal Rumble winner, Charlotte Flair,
she used her guaranteed title opportunity
to go to WrestleMania.
She took the NXT Women's Title from Rhea Ripley
at this past WrestleMania.
[Byron] I will never forget that match as long as I live.
[Tom] Rhea Ripley,
you better believe this is personal this year in the Rumble.
And look.
Rhea Ripley sends her longtime rival, Toni Storm, out of the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Ripley better not celebrate too long.
[Tom] Still a long ways to go.
Plenty of eliminations thus far,
but gotta worry about Ruby Riott now,
does Rhea Ripley.
Now look at this.
[King] Uh-oh, Victoria.
[Byron] My gosh, Bayley's all tied up here.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Rhea Ripley the former NXT Women's Champion.
Trying to get back to the grandest stage of them all.
-[King] Oh boy. -[Tom] Oh!
Look at Shayna Baszler with the Kirifuda Clutch!
[Byron] Jeez!
[Tom] And there goes Victoria.
[King] Her head hit the floor before her feet.
[Tom] Two eliminations thus far for Baszler.
[Byron] Baszler loves every second of it.
The more torture, the happier Shayna Baszler is.
[King] She finds humor in the misfortunes of others.
-[Tom] Santana Garrett over the top. -[King] Look out!
-Missed-- -[Tom] Oh!
-And Rhea Ripley-- Oh! -[King] Oh! Ow.
[Tom] Was trying to survive, but eliminated.
[Byron] The effort was there.
Just not able to finish off.
And Rhea Ripley, once again, has another elimination under her belt.
[Tom] Two eliminations for Ripley.
As Naomi just dropped Bayley.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[King] Who we got? -[timer buzzes]
["Recognition" playing]
[King] Oh!
[Tom] Here comes The Queen!
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Talk about the timing of Royal Rumble entrants.
Number 14, Rhea Ripley, number 15, Charlotte Flair.
Who's gotta be in a mood after losing the Women's Tag Team Championship
on the kickoff show earlier tonight.
[Byron] This is gonna be the ultimate test for the psychological state of Charlotte.
Can she translate the frustration of losing the Women's Tag Team Titles
to an impressive performance in the Royal Rumble?
King, this is wise by Flair not rushing onto the scene.
[King] I don't know.
I'm almost at a loss for words.
-I'm just so disappointed-- -[Tom] Oh!
[King] I'm so disappointed lately in Charlotte Flair.
[Tom] How's that?
[King] Just the way she's treating her father.
-[Tom] How Charlotte's treating Ric? -[King] Yes!
[Tom] Ric cost his daughter, Charlotte, the Women's Tag Team Titles earlier,
helping out Lacey Evans.
[King] Guys, come on.
We're talking about one of the greatest of all time.
-Ric Flair, the Nature Boy. -[Tom] Oh!
Right now, center of the ring.
Charlotte Flair went right after Rhea Ripley.
Former WrestleMania opponents.
Now zeroes in on Naomi.
[Byron] You were wondering how Charlotte would respond.
-We're seeing it. -[Tom] Uh-oh.
Royce and Riott, hold on a second.
-Bayley went under the bottom rope. -[King] Oh!
[Tom] Bayley's not eliminated, but Ruby Riott is.
[Byron] Very creative way to make sure Ruby Riott got eliminated.
[Bayley] I did it, she's eliminated!
She's out, you get back in there.
-That's it. She's out. -[crowd] Ten, nine, eight, seven…
Girl!
[Byron] The count is on again.
Who is our next entrant?
[Tom] Number 16.
[timer buzzes]
["Respectful" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Dana Brooke is in now.
Entering her fourth women's Royal Rumble.
Got a long standing rivalry with Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax on Raw.
Who are now the new Women's Tag Team Champions.
[King] Dana Brooke looking good as she comes into the Rumble match.
-Whoa! What a shot. -[Tom] Oh!
Right to the face of Rhea Ripley.
[Byron] Right to the top.
[Tom] How bold Dana Brooke has become as of late.
-Dropkick off the top. -[King] Oh!
[Byron] This new attitude Dana Brooke has adopted has served her well.
More moxie, more confidence.
More drive.
-[Tom] Hold on a second. -[King] More risks apparently.
[Tom] Dana Brooke again to the top turnbuckle.
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Taking down a host of Superstars.
-But look in the near left corner. -[Dana] Come on!
[Tom] Charlotte Flair and Shayna Baszler tied up.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Dana Brooke has got something in mind here.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Dana Brooke, nobody home in the corner.
-This time-- -[King] Oh!
[Tom] Brooke finds her target in Bianca Belair.
Oh! Catches Bayley, center of the ring.
Will this be Dana Brooke's year
to guarantee herself a title opportunity at WrestleMania?
[Byron] Brooke is going after everybody.
[grunting]
[Tom] Going after Rhea Ripley in the corner.
Liv Morgan in a dangerous spot here, King.
Went over the top rope.
Is now out on the apron.
-Oh! -[King] Gotta get back in the ring.
-Here she comes. -[Tom] Uh-oh.
-Look at this. -[King] Bayley-- Oh no!
Hang on, Bayley!
[Tom] She may not-- Oh!
Look at that, Liv Morgan eliminated by Peyton Royce.
[crowd cheering]
-[Byron] Peyton Royce just saved Bayley. -Oh my God.
[King] I don't know if I told you this,
but Bayley is my pick to win this women's Royal Rumble match.
[Byron] Now it comes, all right.
One and two.
[King] I want her to win and challenge Michael Cole.
["Need a Little Time" playing]
-[Tom] Oh yes! -[King] What?!
[Tom] One of your favorites, King.
Torrie Wilson!
[King] Without a doubt, one of my all time favorites.
Torrie Wilson!
[Tom] This is a great entry point for Torrie Wilson.
Last year's winner, Charlotte Flair, came in at number 17 as well.
[King] Guys, it's Torrie Wilson.
-Torrie Wilson! -[Tom laughs]
Torrie Wilson, who we got to see as part of Raw Legends Night not too long ago.
[Byron] Torrie Wilson always in superb physical condition.
[Tom] One of the legends of the women's division here in WWE.
-Oh! -[Byron] Oh man.
[King] Watch out.
[Tom] Tossing Dana Brooke around the ring.
Now meets Bayley.
[King] Torrie, ease up on Bayley.
-Come on, take it easy. -[Byron] Don't think she heard you.
She didn't. Look at this.
[grunts]
[Tom] Peyton Royce was talking trash, and now she's gonna pay for it.
[Byron] Look at Torrie Wilson.
[Tom] A suplex from Torrie.
Down goes The Queen.
[King] I may change my pick here in a minute.
[Byron] You can't do that, King.
[Tom] Oh! There goes Rhea Ripley across the ring.
Dana Brooke holding her own.
And Rhea Ripley.
-On the top rope. -[King] No, no, no.
Hang in there.
[Tom] Oh…
Look at Dana Brooke.
This would be a big elimination, Byron, if Rhea Ripley was gone.
[King] She did technically go over the top rope, right?
[Tom] Oh! Did go over the top rope, yes, King.
Needs to have both feet touch the floor
for it to be an elimination.
[Byron] Look at the power by Ripley.
-[yells] -[Byron] Oh man!
-[King] Whoa. -[Tom] This is scary.
[King] Is that gonna work?
[Tom] Look at Ripley, holding onto the rope.
-[King] Oh my goodness! -[Tom] All the way off the apron!
Dana Brooke is gone.
[King] Oh my goodness.
[Tom] Three eliminations for The Nightmare.
[Byron] Wow. Just wow.
That was incredible for Rhea Ripley.
[crowd] Six, five, four, three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[Tom] Number 17.
["Dawn" playing]
[Tom] Wait.
-[Byron] What? -[King] Wait a minute.
Ric Flair?
[Byron] Ric Flair can't enter the women's Royal Rumble.
[King] He's certainly on his way out here.
[Tom] You know what this-- No, this is--
["Like a Lady" playing]
[Tom] Oh, okay. I get it now.
[Byron] Ric Flair was out here for the grand entrance of one Lacey Evans.
Once again donning the robe of the Nature Boy.
[King] Wait a minute, that's not just any robe.
That's the same robe that Charlotte wore out here.
It's purple, the same robe!
It looks just like it. Look at that!
[Byron] How low will Lacey Evans stoop
to get into the head of Charlotte Flair?
[Tom] Using the distraction with Naomi.
The distraction of Evans and Ric Flair
has already cost Charlotte the Women's Tag Team Titles tonight.
[Byron] You gotta agree, King, something is wrong with this situation.
The amount of effort Lacey Evans and the Nature Boy are putting in
to try and throw Charlotte Flair off her game.
[King] You gotta think back a couple of weeks ago.
I sat at home and I watched Charlotte Flair
confront her father, her dad,
the greatest wrestler of all time,
Ric Flair,
and say he's become an old man?
Come on!
[Byron] Charlotte Flair apologized for all that.
Was water under the bridge.
[Tom] Oh!
Attacking Lacey Evans.
Lacey Evans deserves this.
Charlotte Flair is all over the Southern Belle.
[Byron] You do not ignite the fury of The Queen.
That's exactly what Lacey Evans has done.
[Tom] Lacey Evans under the bottom rope, same with Flair.
Both are still in this Royal Rumble.
[Byron] Charlotte Flair is seeing red now.
And red is Lacey Evans.
[Tom] That's the thing, Byron.
Charlotte Flair for weeks has maintained her composure,
since she deals with obstacles well.
-But this is too much. -[Byron] It is too much.
Yeah.
You're messing with Charlotte Flair's personal life.
That's crossing a line.
[King] You guys are really off your rockers
if that's the way you look at this thing.
I mean, she showed nothing but disrespect to her father.
Whoa, look out!
[Tom] There goes Peyton Royce.
Eliminated by an angry Queen.
[Byron] Maybe Lacey Evans at fault for some of this stuff, King?
[King] If you ask me, I thought Lacey looked much better
in that robe than Charlotte.
-[Byron] Stop. -Quick shot to the hamstring.
Charlotte Flair's favoring it.
Now Shayna Baszler's got Torrie Wilson over the top rope.
[Bayley yells]
[Tom] Oh!
-Torrie Wilson is gone thanks to Baszler. -[Byron] What are we up to now, Tom?
[Tom] Number 18.
Rather, 19, excuse me.
You leave me alone! You follow me everywhere! Come on!
["Obsession" playing]
[Byron] Another legend!
[Tom] Six-time Women's Champion!
[King] Mickie James! Oh yes!
[Tom] The luck of the draw always coming into play.
I'm sure Mickie James had no complaints
about entering this Royal Rumble match at 19.
[King] Guys, what happened to Bayley?
[Tom] Take you back and show you what happened.
[King] No way!
[Tom] She was eliminated by Bianca Belair as Mickie James was making her entrance.
-[King] Oh no! -[Tom] There goes your pick.
Bayley had lasted over 30 minutes in this Royal Rumble.
Same could be said for Naomi, who's still in it.
That is a huge elimination by Belair.
[Byron] How furious do you think Bayley is
being eliminated at the hands of Bianca Belair
of all people?
[Tom] Michael Cole has a smile that'll have to be surgically removed.
I've been waiting for this a long time, baby.
-You want some of this? -[Tom] Oh!
What you got?
[Tom] Stand off here.
[Byron] Shoving match between James and Flair.
[Tom] A meeting of the generations.
Two of the all time greats, Flair and James.
-[Mickie] Come on! -What you got?
[Tom] The mood that Charlotte is in thanks to Lacey Evans,
this might not be a wise strategy.
[King] Not at all.
[Tom] King, this is just a down and outright fight.
[King] I like it.
[Mickie yells]
[Tom] Mickie James along the top turnbuckle.
Gotta be careful against The Queen.
[King] Oh. Oh!
-Here we go. -[Tom] Down goes Charlotte.
[Byron] Mickie James might use Charlotte's fury against her here.
[King] I don't even understand what you're talking about, "Charlotte's fury."
If anybody should be furious, it's Charlotte's father, Ric Flair.
Charlotte just-- What does she expect?
Her dad to just walk off into the sunset
and get in a La-Z-Boy recliner, and watch her?
She certainly doesn't expect her father to try to ruin her career, King.
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Tom] We're waiting on number 20.
Thus far, Belair's been in for over 28 minutes,
Naomi over 30 minutes
in this Royal Rumble match.
["Breakout" playing]
[Tom] Here comes the underdog, Nikki Cross.
Who only found out earlier today from WWE official, Adam Pearce,
she was in the Rumble.
-[Byron] I love this. -[King] I do too.
[Byron] Nikki Cross has dealt with so much emotionally.
over the last year here at WWE.
[Tom] Nikki Cross charges right into the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Trying to prove a lot of doubters wrong.
All those people who say the Women's Tag Team Championships…
[King] Look out!
…that Nikki Cross captured alongside Alexa Bliss,
that Cross didn't have anything to do with that.
Cross is motivated.
[Byron] How can you not get fired up when Nikki Cross is out here?
[King] Speaking of fired up,
when you were a kid, did you ever light a string of firecrackers?
That's what Nikki Cross reminds me of.
She's just going every different direction.
[Byron] Oh wow!
[Tom] Fiery competitor, and a bulldog, center of the ring.
Now Shayna Baszler hit by a crossbody from Nikki.
[Byron] It's all about what your personal motivation is,
and for Nikki it's proving people wrong.
-Proving the critics wrong. -[Tom] Oh!
Double shot right to the throat then to the midsection.
Look at Nikki Cross go.
[Byron] Looking for that Tornado DDT.
-[King] Right on her head! -[Tom] Finds it against The Nightmare.
Rhea Ripley could be in a bad way here.
Same for Naomi.
As Mickie James trying to hoist Naomi over the top rope.
Now Cross tied up with Flair.
[Byron] Naomi trying to keep her hands on her
to stop the progression.
[King] My pick over here with Shayna Baszler, Lacey Evans.
-[Byron] Lacey is your new pick, King? -[King] Yes!
-Of course! -[Tom] Thanks for confirming.
[timer buzzes]
["Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Party" playing]
[Tom laughs[ Number 21.
-[King] Oh no! -[Tom] Yeah, King!
[King] I may have another pick right here.
It's Alicia Fox!
[Byron] Talk about volatility.
[King] This is great!
[Byron] One of the most erratic Superstars we've ever seen in the women's division?
[Tom] Very true, entering at number 21 this year.
[Byron] I thought she had a crush on you, Tom?
[Tom] Long time ago.
-["What's Up?" playing] -No!
-[King] Wait a minute. -[Byron] Hey.
[Tom] Truth?
[Byron] The 24/7 Champion.
-Someone must have… -No!
-[King] Is he being chased? -This is the wrong…
-Get out of here! -Wrong Rumble!
-[Truth] My bad!
[Tom] "My bad"? Oh!
[King] He is being chased.
-I knew it. -[Tom] Truth was being chased.
The 24/7 title's gotta be defended anytime, anywhere.
[King] Just don't let them come here.
[Byron] Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the?
[Tom] Trying to fight over it.
Drew Gulak, and I believe that's Humberto Carrillo.
And Akira Tozawa.
-[King] Alicia Fox is helping R-Truth. -[Byron] Truth is…
[Tom] I mean, reluctantly. Truth is fighting for his life here.
In the women's Royal Rumble.
[Byron] Whoa, whoa, no, no!
-Hold on! -[King] Wait a minute!
[Tom] Alicia Fox is 24/7 Champion!
[Rome] Here's your winner, and the new 24/7 Champion,
Alicia Fox!
[King] No. Are you serious?
-[Byron] Did that just happen? -[Tom] The hits keep coming.
In the Royal Rumble we have a new champion,
and here's Mandy Rose at 22.
["I've Arrived" playing]
[Byron] So much to unpack right now.
[King] What has just happened?
[Fox] So we got Alicia Fox celebrating her new 24/7 Championship win,
and yet the women's Royal Rumble continues.
[King] And R-Truth, a man, just lost his title
in the women's Royal Rumble match.
[Tom] Truth thinks he was in the Rumble. Whoa, and look at Rose.
Now the new 24/7 Champion, Alicia Fox, will have to focus on the task at hand.
[King laughs] This is awesome.
[Tom] I thought her championship was still in the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Mandy Rose, tag team partner with Dana Brooke.
-Alicia Fox trying to battle it out. -[King] Wow!
[Tom] A bumped knee.
[Byron] Down goes the 24/7 Champion.
-[Tom] Alicia Fox has been eliminated! -[King] Oh!
[Byron] At least Fox earned one victory tonight.
-[King] Look at this! -[Byron] Wait a minute!
-One, two, three! -[King] No, come on.
[Tom] Truth got his baby back.
[Rome] Here's your winner, and the new 24/7 Champion,
R-Truth!
-[Tom] I spoke too soon for Fox. -[Byron] Oh!
[King] R-Truth is still being chased.
-Look out! -[Byron] That way!
That way! Go, go, go!
[King] Uh-oh, they got him. No, they don't.
[Tom] Uh, no. This is every weekend.
[announcers laugh]
-[Tom] Alicia Fox is… -[King] Alicia Fox is chasing him as well.
Oh! Meanwhile, focusing back on the action here, the Royal Rumble match,
Mandy Rose and Nikki Cross enter the ring.
[Tom] Rhea Ripley still in this as well.
[Byron] And another Superstar is on the way.
[crowd] Four, three, two…
[Tom] Number 23.
-[King] Who is this gonna be? -[timer buzzes]
["Kombat" playing]
-[King] Ooh! -[Tom] Another Superstar from NXT.
Dakota Kai, who I believe entering her second Royal Rumble match.
[Byron] Dakota Kai one of several NXT Superstars
who could certainly change the landscape of WWE
with a win here in the Royal Rumble match.
[Tom] Has got quite the history with Rhea Ripley.
Especially as these two go at it.
Dakota Kai, middle of the ring.
-[King] Oh… -[Tom] Uh-oh.
[yells]
[Tom] Rhea Ripley was trying to wrangle Kai.
-Mickie James trying to avoid the contact. -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Oh! And a kick by Kai.
[King] There's so much action going on here, it's hard to focus.
[Byron] Captain of Team Kick going to work here on Ripley.
[Tom] For those playing the home game,
Alicia Fox's 24/7 title reign was two minutes and five seconds.
We're all about the statistics in the Royal Rumble.
-[Byron] Good job, Tom. -[King] Two minutes.
[Tom] Meanwhile, near side, on the left side of your screen,
Dakota Kai trying to get rid of Rhea Ripley.
Shayna Baszler in trouble with Nikki Cross.
Bianca Belair is over the top rope, courtesy of Mandy Rose, far side
[King] Look out.
[Tom] On the apron.
-Oh! -[King] Oh no!
[Tom] A shot to Lacey Evans.
Oh! And a Women's Right.
Down goes Mickie James, she's gone.
[groans]
[Byron] That Women's Right benefited Lacey Evans a couple times.
[Tom] Earlier tonight it was loaded thanks to Ric Flair.
That helped Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler take the Women's Tag Title.
[King] Quit living in the past. Let's talk about the women's Rumble match.
-[Tom] Naomi over the top. -Don't do that. Come on.
[Tom] Bianca's been in for over 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, Naomi been in for over 37 minutes.
[Byron] You can see the exhaustion starting to set in for Naomi and Bianca.
Understandably so.
[Tom] Naomi entered at two, Belair at three.
Who's number 24? As Dakota Kai's in bad shape.
[Byron] Getting down to the nitty gritty.
-[timer buzzes] -[King] Another surprise?
["Tredici" playing]
[King] Whoa!
[Tom] It's another opportunity for Carmella tonight.
Who, earlier on, did not capture the SmackDown Women's Title from Sasha Banks.
-There's Reginald. -[Byron] Reginald.
[King] Oh.
[Byron] Make sure Carmella's hydrated before she enters the match.
[Tom] This time not with champagne or wine.
This time some H20. That's probably better.
Is that a mirror, King?
[King] I don't know, but didn't he--
-[Tom] Oh! Dakota Kai out hard! -[King] Whoa! Oh!
-[Tom] Thanks to Ripley. -[King] She's gotta be hurt.
[Tom] Ripley's got four eliminations.
Mandy Rose trying to get rid of Ripley.
[King] Speaking of eliminated, wasn't Reginald thrown out of ringside?
-Does he get to come back? -[Tom] For that one match.
-[King] Oh no! -[Tom] Oh!
Mandy Rose is gone thanks to The Nightmare.
[Byron] We're still waiting for Carmella to actually enter the Rumble match.
[Tom] That is five eliminations for Ripley.
-As Carmella looks, uh… -[Byron] Ready?
You okay, Carmella?
[Tom] Not interested in getting in too quickly.
[King] She doesn't wanna mess up all that makeup she put on earlier.
Look at this. Nice.
[Byron] A little assistance. Good quad strength.
[Tom] Who needs stairs when you have Reginald?
Now Nikki Cross there to meet Carmella.
-Carmella over the top! -[King] Whoa!
-Whoa! -[Tom] Oh my gosh!
-And Reggie! -[Byron] Oh jeez.
[Tom] Reginald trying to save Carmella.
Thank goodness for Reginald, huh?
-Back in. She looks okay. -A good sommelier.
[Tom] Oh!
Carmella the former SmackDown Women's Champion.
-[King] Watch it! -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Sending Nikki Cross over the top.
-Nikki Cross is gone! -[Byron] Aw, man.
[King] Reginald didn't bother to try to catch Nikki Cross, did he?
[Byron] oh!
-[Tom] Didn't even flinch. -[timer buzzes]
["What You Think" playing]
-[Tom] Number 25. -[King] Oh no, look out.
[Tom] Tamina, who last night battled Natalya on WWE Backstage on FS1,
for the number 30 position,
but this worked out pretty well.
-Number 25 -[King] Watch it, Reginald!
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Reginald is out cold!
[King] Carmella is eliminated as well! Here feet touched the ground!
[Tom] Reginald was trying to help Carmella.
Carmella's gone!
-Went from bad to worse for Carmella. -Reginald!
Come on!
[King] Looks like it may go from bad to worse for Reginald.
[Byron] Tamina couldn't care less. She has got her eyes on Rhea Ripley.
Now this is interesting.
[King] You're right about that.
[Tom] Two absolute powerhouses.
-What, you want me? Huh? -Yeah, yeah.
[King] Here they go!
[Tom] Tamina and Ripley!
In the middle of the Rumble!
[Byron] These are the kind of moments I love about the Royal Rumble.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] It is a slug fest between Tamina and Rhea Ripley.
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Big open pops by Tamina.
Asuka won the first ever women's Royal Rumble
from the 25 spot.
-Could it be the lucky number for Tamina? -[Byron] Uh-ho, Naomi!
[Tom] Naomi over the top.
Entered at number two.
The number three entrant, Bianca Belair, trying to get rid of Naomi.
[Byron] Same strategy she tried earlier on.
[Tom] Naomi's gotta be careful.
[King] She avoided it.
[Tom] Look at the left side of your screen.
Shayna Baszler and Charlotte Flair.
Shayna Baszler trying to get rid of The Queen.
[King] Go ahead!
-[Tom] Oh! -[King] Look out!
-[Tom] Naomi will-- Hold on a sec. -[Byron] The feet didn't touch.
-Feet are up. Feet never touched. -[Bianca] She's out!
[Tom] Naomi is still legally in the Royal Rumble.
-[King] But what can she do? -[Tom] Evans trying to eliminate Belair!
-[Byron] Don't know how she gets back in. -[Tom] Wait a minute.
-Naomi's got ahold of Belair hair. -[King] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
-[Byron] What the-- What? -Okay.
[Tom] Belair's only hanging on by her boots on the bottom rope.
[King] I can't believe what I'm seeing.
[Byron] You and me both.
[Tom] Look at Belair!
Seeing that Naomi was trying to use her to get back in.
-Stop! Don't grab my hair. -[King] Their feet haven't touched.
-The only thing holding them. -[Naomi] We gotta work together. Come on.
Ready?
[King] They're gonna help each other.
-[Bianca] One, two… -[Naomi yells]
[Tom] Some odd teamwork…
[Byron] Are you kidding me?
…in a Royal Rumble.
-[King] It worked! -[Byron] That was impressive!
[Tom] Naomi and Bianca continue on.
["Ravishing" playing]
-[Tom] No way! -[King] Oh!
-I love Lana! -[Byron] Lana's back!
[Tom] Byron, we haven't seen Lana on Raw
since before the TLC pay-per-view last month.
[Byron] Lana has returned, and what a time to do so.
[Tom] Lana was supposed to compete at TLC, alongside Asuka,
to challenge Jax and Baszler for their then Women's Tag Titles,
but was injured brutally by Jax and Baszler before TLC.
[Byron] Lana seems to be in a bit of a trance.
Gotta believe she's eyeing down Shayna Baszler here.
-But immediately going after… -[King] Wait, here she goes.
[Tom] Lana's trying to eliminate Rhea Ripley,
who's been a star thus far in the Rumble.
[King] Oh!
[Tom] Tamina rushing in on Lana.
[Byron] What a redemptive story this would be for Lana.
[Tom] Lana is motivated as ever.
Coming in and going after one of the biggest Superstars
in this entire fight.
[Byron] You gotta shoot your shot, Tom.
You can't hold back.
[Tom] Now Rhea Ripley has got herself back up.
Oh! Middle of the ring,
Naomi and Bianca Belair continue to do battle.
Oh! And Belair over the top.
-Belair over the top! -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Is Belair gonna be eliminated?
-No, scrambles. -[King] Back in.
[Naomi screams]
[Tom] Scrambles back inside the ring.
Tamina just floored Ripley.
[Byron] Naomi and Bianca Belair doing an extremely good job frustrating each other.
[Tom] Byron I can't get over it, Lana's back.
We haven't heard from Lana in months.
[Byron] You wonder how long has Lana been planning this.
When was it actually official that Lana knew she was gonna enter the Royal Rumble?
[King] I was wondering how many times or how long
Lana was gonna get put through a table every week.
-[Byron] Right? -[King] You just stood there and watched.
[Byron] I tried to help, but Tom told me not to.
[Tom] Lana trying to send Lacey Evans over the top.
[King] No, don't do that! Lacey Evans, that's my pick.
-[Tom] Oh. -[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
-["Good Friendship Song" playing] -[Tom] Oh no.
♪ We're really glad That you're our friend… ♪
[Tom] Number 27.
[King laughs]
[Tom] The twisted, the demented Alexa Bliss.
Byron, some of the things Alexa Bliss has done lately on Raw
have been deeply disturbing.
[Byron] That's putting it mildly, Tom.
You never quite know what is circulating through the mind of Alexa Bliss.
[King] You never know.
[Tom] A woman who-- Oh!
Burned the face of Randy Orton.
-Oh! -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Tried to torment the Raw Women's Champion, Asuka, as of late.
Oh! Look at Alexa Bliss go.
[King] Everything that she does,
she does it with that sly little smile on her face. Look at her!
[Byron] Sometimes. Frankly, King,
sometimes we don't know what version of Alexa Bliss we're even gonna see.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] We've seen the darkest sides of Alexa Bliss.
Look at Rhea Ripley.
[King] Look out, everybody's on Alexa Bliss.
[Byron] This is a wise strategy.
[Tom] The bulk of the field have seen how Alexa Bliss can transform.
[King laughs]
Look at Lacey Evans.
[Byron] Don't let Alexa Bliss hang around for that transformation.
[Tom] This is very wise.
[electricity powering down]
[Byron] Oh my God.
[Lacey] Get up!
[electricity powering up]
[King] Who said transformation?
-[Byron] Oh, whoa, whoa! -[Tom] Oh, wait a minute!
Ripley, not gonna give Alexa Bliss the time for a metamorphosis.
[crowd cheering]
-What you gonna do now, huh? -[Byron] Kudos to Rhea Ripley for not…
See you in a little bit.
…getting shell shocked by what was going on.
[King] She may have saved us all tonight.
[Tom] A tremendous threat in Alexa Bliss has been eliminated from the Rumble.
[Byron] Everyone in that ring is breathing a huge sigh of relief now.
[Tom] Ripley's got six eliminations.
Here comes number 28.
[timer buzzes]
["Rise From the Ashes" playing]
♪ Ember Moon ♪
[Tom] The former NXT Women's Champion,
Ember Moon.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] We saw her tag team partner competing in the Royal Rumble earlier,
Shotzi Blackheart.
The two are part of the NXT Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
[Byron] Ember Moon having the distinction of competing on nearly every brand in WWE.
[King] Watch out.
Incoming!
-Whoa, man! -[Tom] Eclipse!
The Eclipse to Baszler!
[Byron] Been a while since we've seen that.
[Tom] A lot of history between those two. Now, middle of the ring!
Ripley and Moon no strangers to each other.
[King] Watch out, Lacey. Oh!
[Superstars grunting]
This is what Moon believes--
-[Byron] King, your pick! -[King] No!
-Hang on. -[Tom] Trying to enact Ember's Law.
Now sends Evans over the top rope.
Tamina now trying to slow down Moon.
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] That one right to the face of Naomi.
-[King] Goodness gracious. -[yells]
[King] Watch out.
Once Tamina gets her hands on you, you're in trouble.
[Tom] Tamina trying to put out the fire that is Ember Moon.
-Now look at this, Charlotte Flair… -[King] What?
[announcers] Whoa!
-[Tom] Both got caught by Moon! -[roars]
[Byron] Way to make an entrance, Ember Moon.
[King] Uh-oh!
[Tom] That could be short-lived. Look at Lana!
-Look at Lana! -[crowd] Seven, six, five…
[King] I was about to say, "Way to make an exit, Ember Moon," but no.
-She saved herself. -[Byron] Oh!
[timer buzzes]
-[Tom] Oh! -[King] Oh! Lana!
-["Force of Greatness" playing] -[Byron] Oh boy.
[Tom] Here comes the Irresistible Force.
One half of the new Women's Tag Team Champions.
-Nia Jax. -[King] Oh my goodness.
I had forgotten about her.
[Byron] I said Bianca Belair was my pick,
but, uh, this might be a pick that's too hard to overcome.
[Tom] In 2019--
As Shayna Baszler rolled outside the ring, as you can see.
Baszler was not eliminated.
Baszler not eliminated, went through the ropes.
The tag team championship partner of Jax.
[Byron] This is a frightening proposition for every Superstar in this match.
-Because the Women's Tag Team Champions-- -[King] Oh no, Lacey.
[Tom] Oh, working together.
How long will that allegiance live?
[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Evans taken out by Baszler.
[Byron] King, you're oh-for-two.
[Tom] Now Ember Moon sent over the top rope.
-[King] Oh! -[Tom] Trying to fight back.
And Nia Jax gets rid of Moon!
[crowd booing]
[Byron] Nia Jax missed out on last year's Royal Rumble match.
[King] Oh! Look at the power, look at the strength.
-[Tom] Oh, look at this. -Not this again!
[Tom] Naomi, who entered at number two, taken out.
[crowd booing]
[Byron] Here's the worst case scenario if you're not Nia Jax or Shayna Baszler.
[Tom] Naomi entered at number two,
lasted 47 minutes, 43 seconds.
What a performance.
She's family. She's family.
What? Are you kidding me?
[Nia] She's family.
I can't--
[Tom] The family bond between Tamina and Nia Jax coming into play here.
-[King] Jax said she's family, but… -[Byron] Whoa!
[King] So much for family.
-[Tom] That was short lived. -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] That is what the Royal Rumble match will do to people.
A guaranteed title opportunity at WrestleMania at stake!
And now Baszler…
Now Baszler and Jax back on the same page.
-[King] Look out! -[Tom] Tamina's gone.
[Byron] This late in the Royal Rumble,
to have Baszler and Jax working together?
-Oh! -[Tom] Oh! For only a limited time.
[King] Did you say working together?
[Byron] Why do I ever bother?
[Tom] The Women's Tag Team Champions are beating the hell out of each other
in the middle of the ring!
Now Rhea Ripley getting involved.
[crowd cheering]
Baszler's trying to maneuver Rhea Ripley
while Jax has a hold of The Queen.
[King] We still have one other entrant left.
Hey, we already know who that's gonna be.
[Byron] Of course.
[Tom] In the meantime, it's Jax and Baszler.
-Oh, wait a minute! -[King] Oh!
-[Tom] Jax eliminates Baszler! -[King] Oh man!
[Byron] Well, you knew it had to happen.
[King] No, I didn't know that would happen.
[Nia] Sorry.
I had to do it.
[Lana yells]
-[Byron] Every woman for herself. -[Tom] Oh! It's Lana!
Lana from behind on Nia Jax!
[Byron] Lana looking for some revenge against Nia Jax.
For all the tormenting and…
[King] Poor Lana. Don't come over around the announce table.
[Tom] Nia Jax and Lana went through the ropes.
They're not eliminated yet.
[Byron] This is wise strategy from Lana. Just run.
You do not wanna get caught in the grasp of Nia Jax.
[King] Don't run this way.
-[Tom] Oh! A slap to the face of Jax. -[Byron] I wouldn't have done that.
-Nope. -[screams]
[King] Oh no!
[Tom] Oh! And Nia Jax eliminated by Lana!
-[King] Unbelievable! -[Byron] I would've done that.
-Great strategy, Lana. -[King] Unbelievable!
No!
[crowd] Seven, six…
-No! -[Tom] A tremendous elimination.
It was worth it!
-[Byron] Lana just got one over Nia Jax. -You're out!
[Tom] Lana gets her revenge.
-["New Foundation" playing] -Here comes number 30.
As determined last night on FS1
on WWE Backstage,
by virtue of Natalya defeating Tamina.
But this moments ago.
[Byron] Lana used Nia Jax's temper against her.
Caused the elimination.
[King] Look at the surprise and smile on the face of Lana.
[Byron] Come on!
[Tom] Look at the frustration of the Women's Tag Team Champions.
Both eliminated.
-Taking it out on Natalya. -[Byron] How many times have we seen this?
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler suffer a loss and they don't know how to handle it.
[Tom] Now they roll back into the ring.
There's not disqualifications in the Royal Rumble.
-This is all legal. -[King] Whoa!
What do you mean, it's all legal? Come on.
-[Shayna grunts] -[Byron] Oh!
[Tom] There goes Bianca Belair.
Who's been in an absolute battle tonight.
[Byron] We learned a long time ago, Baszler and Jax don't care what's legal.
-[Tom] Oh! -You're eliminated, get out!
You gotta go now!
[Tom] Jax and Baszler might be eliminated,
but Lana could be in a world of trouble right now.
[King] The officials are telling these two they gotta get out of here.
[Byron] Seems, finally, they will adhere to that suggestion.
Maybe not.
Come on now, you're gonna have fun.
[King] My new pick was Natalya, but I don't know now.
[Tom] Natalya officially enters the Royal Rumble by force.
-[King] Okay, I pick Natalya. -[Byron] It's anybody's game right now.
Everyone got beat up by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
[Tom] Look at some of the faces inside the ring.
Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair,
Natalya, Lana, and Charlotte Flair.
[Byron] Belair has gotta be spent.
[King] There are no fresh faces in this match right now.
I'm sorry.
[King] One of these women we're looking at right now is going to WrestleMania.
[Byron] Former partners in crime there, Natalya and Lana.
Perhaps reuniting?
Best friends.
[King] Not in here.
-Oh! -[Tom] Oh!
Alliances don't last long in the Rumble.
[Byron] Natalya the longest reigning active Superstar in the women's division.
[King] Not when WrestleMania's at stake.
[Tom] There goes Lana. King, you're absolutely right.
It's all about main-eventing WrestleMania.
And we are down to four.
-[Byron] Charlotte Flair to-- -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Big discs clothesline.
[Byron] Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair,
one of these ladies is headed to WrestleMania.
[Natalya grunting]
[Tom] Look at Natalya.
Who was very emotional earlier today on social media.
Believes she's earned this opportunity after years--
Bianca Belair over the top rope.
Who's been in this match ever since position number three.
[Rhea grunts]
-[Natalya yells] -[announcers] Oh!
[Tom] Ripley goes down.
[Byron] She may be hurt.
[Tom] Natalya, the savvy veteran,
gets the number 30, the highly coveted number 30 entrance.
[Byron] Could not ask for a better scenario if you are Natalya.
Oh!
[Tom] The field has thinned, down to four.
Ripley, Natalya, Belair, and Flair.
[King] The only thing that would've been better for Natalya
is if she hadn't gotten beaten up by Nia Jax.
[Byron] I think she's rebounded pretty well.
-[Tom] Rhea Ripley's over the top! -[King] Here we go!
-[Tom] Rhea Ripley could be out cold! -[Natalya] Stay down!
[Byron] On the apron--
-[King] Oh! Whoa! -[Tom] Bianca Belair eliminates Natalya!
My pick is still alive!
[Tom] We are down to three.
[King] Natalya, you let me down.
-[referee] You're eliminated. -[Tom] Belair, Ripley, Charlotte Flair.
[Byron] Who wants it the most?
A smile etched on the face of The Queen.
A smile of confidence.
[Tom] All three of these women understanding the gravity of the moment.
[Byron] Look at Flair.
[Tom] Here inside WWE ThunderDome, we're about to find out
who is going to challenge the champion of their choosing
at WrestleMania.
[Byron] Flair just opened up. Ripley and Belair…
[crowd cheering]
Last three.
-[grunting] -[King] Here we go!
[Tom] Belair has been at this for over 52 minutes.
Here comes Charlotte Flair, who entered at 15.
Ripley, who entered at 14.
[Byron] It's not about how long you've been in, how tired you feel,
it's all about getting to WrestleMania.
-[King] Look at this beatdown! -[groans]
-[roars] -[King] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Charlotte Flair's been in this match for 32 minutes.
Right now, Ripley and Belair--
Ripley's been in for 34 minutes.
Ripley and Belair trying to eliminate last year's winner,
Charlotte Flair, from the Rumble.
[Charlotte yells]
[Byron] They're undaunted.
Fighting with passion.
[Tom] And The Queen tossing Belair!
[King] Byron, your pick is in trouble.
My pick, Rhea Ripley, she's looking okay over there.
[Tom] That's what it's all about,
headlining WrestleMania.
Charlotte Flair one of the three women to have ever main-evented WrestleMania.
[Byron] You gotta love this competitive fire
that we're seeing from Rhea Ripley, from Charlotte Flair,
from Bianca Belair.
[Tom] Now last year's WrestleMania foes,
Ripley and Flair.
[King] Come on. Who wants it the most?
Can The Queen make it back-to-back…
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] With a crazed look in her eyes.
-[King] That's a look-- Whoa! -[Tom] Over the top!
Over the top, Charlotte Flair teetering!
-[King] Not even one foot touched. -[Byron] They're still in.
[Tom] Went over the top rope.
Oh! And a boot to the face.
[Bianca yells]
-[King watch out! -[Tom] Wait a minute!
Charlotte Flair hit by Belair!
[Bianca] Let's get her.
[Byron] Might take one more good shot.
-To eliminate The Queen… -[King] Two shots!
[Tom] And The Queen is gone!
[crowd cheering]
You got me last year!
I got you this year!
-[crowd cheering] -You got me last year.
-[Tom] 33 minutes, 45 seconds Flair. -[Bianca] Woooo!
[Tom] Belair got revenge for last year's Rumble.
[Byron] Incredibly valiant effort by Charlotte Flair.
-[King] Look out! -[Byron] We're down to the final two!
[Tom] Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair!
-Oh man. -[King] They're both out.
-No! -[Tom] Look at the feet!
Both feet have to touch.
[King] Back in-- No, they're not back in.
[Byron] Not back totally in.
Calm. Calm down.
Don't try to do anything stupid. Let's go back in the ring.
Let's get back in. Let's get back in.
Let's get back in.
-[Byron] The voice of reason. -Easy does it, Bianca.
[Byron] They're in…
Calm down.
[Byron] Ripley's--
-[King] Watch out! -[Tom] Both very wary of each other.
Showing sportsmanship and respect.
They wanna fight it out inside the ring.
[Byron] As it should be.
[Tom] But can Belair get Ripley over the top rope
and eliminate Ripley?
-[King] Oh! No! -[Tom] Oh!
Now Ripley caught, Ripley on the top rope.
-Ripley could be done for. -[Byron] Bianca's halfway there.
Bianca's gotta stay on top of Ripley.
[Tom] Brining Ripley out on the apron.
Bianca Belair looking for a punch.
Instead, Rhea Ripley slides in through the legs.
[announcers] Oh!
-[Tom] Belair over the top. -[King] Oh man!
Now it's Belair in peril.
Right to the midsection by Belair.
[King] Come on, Rhea, here's your shot. Look out!
[King and Byron] Oh!
[Tom] Both women meet in the center of the ring!
[Byron] Man, oh man.
[King] Both face first into the mat.
Watch this.
Look at the-- Oh man!
[Tom] With handfuls of hair.
Driving each other into the mat.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[King] Rhea Ripley may have broken her nose.
[Tom] What a moment here at the Royal Rumble.
It has come down to this.
Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair.
One of these two will main event WrestleMania.
[Byron] This is where you dig deep to find out who you really are.
How bad you wanna walk down that ramp
and be part of that stage at WrestleMania.
[King] This is awesome.
-You're right. This is-- Oh! -[Byron] Oh!
[King] Shot caught Bianca right in the jaw.
[Tom] Perched on the shoulders of Ripley.
Trying to create some sort of counter.
-[King] Hang on. Look out! -[Tom] Oh…
-Look at this! -[Byron] No.
[Tom] Was trying to set up for Glam Slam.
-Instead Belair countered by Ripley. -[King and Byron] Oh!
[Byron] Man.
[Tom] So many momentum shifts back and forth between Ripley and Belair.
Now Ripley and Belair center of the ring.
Hold on a sec!
Looking for Rip Tide.
-Looking for Rip Tide-- No! -[King] Oh no!
[Byron] Oh…
-[Tom] Belair! -[King] Oh!
[Tom] Belair with the KOD-- No.
Ripley lands on her feet.
[King] This is great!
-Oh! Oh no! -[Tom] Ripley over the top!
[bell rings]
Bianca Belair is going to WrestleMania!
-[Byron whoops] -[Rome] Here is your winner.
Bianca Belair!
[Byron] What'd I tell you? I told you, King!
Congratulations, Bianca Belair!
-The EST is headed to WrestleMania! -["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] What an effort by Rhea Ripley.
But Bianca Belair enters at number three
and wins the 2021 women's Royal Rumble.
Fifty-six, 49 seconds.
The women's record has been set by Bianca Belair.
[King] That's amazing.
Congratulations.
Yeah, you're going to WrestleMania!
[Byron] Let all the emotion pour out now, Bianca Belair.
Enjoy the moment.
Soak it in!
You are headed to WrestleMania.
[King] What was it again, Tom? She set the record?
[Tom] Over 56 minutes, breaking Natalya's single Rumble record.
[King] Here's what happened to Charlotte Flair.
[Tom] Charlotte Flair eliminated by both Ripley and Belair.
Then we were down to two.
Ripley and Belair happy to duke it out.
Then back inside the ring.
[Byron] We thought it was Bianca Belair.
This is a moment Bianca Belair will never forget for her entire life.
Winning the women's Royal Rumble match.
[Rome] Belair!
Bianca!
What an incredibly successful year you're having.
After everything you've accomplished,
you came out here tonight.
You entered the women's Royal Rumble at number three.
And you won the whole thing.
And you are going to WrestleMania.
Bianca, can you even put into words what this means to you?
[crowd cheering]
I won.
I won. I been telling everybody I'm the strongest and I'm the fastest.
I'm the roughest, toughest, quickest, greatest, the best.
But tonight I showed everybody.
And after everything, I won the women's…
Royal Rumble.
[crying]
[crowd cheering]
All I can say is,
Mama and Daddy,
my husband Tez,
I did it.
Now I'm gonna put EST in WrestleMania.
That's what I'm gonna do.
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[Tom] Bianca Belair will put the EST in the grandest stage of them all,
WrestleMania!
And now the first competitor at WrestleMania 37 has been identified.
And we are so pleased to welcome Snickers back
as the presenting partner at WrestleMania yet again.
Our big thanks to our partners at Snickers.
[King] What a match, guys, I love it.
[fireworks exploding]
That's mine!
[Byron] An incredible young lady celebrating an incredible moment.
Bianca Belair
is headed to WrestleMania.
♪ I will never fall ♪
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar… ♪
[King] She talked about her mama and daddy,
how proud do you think they are right now?
[Byron] I'm sure they're in tears too, King.
♪ I'm living large now I never needed you at all ♪
♪ Think I'd fall down? I'mma watch you fall down ♪
♪ I'm living large now I never needed you at all… ♪
[Tom] What a moment for Bianca Belair.
Belair showed everybody.
Bianca Belair is going to WrestleMania.
Congratulations to Bianca!
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[man 1] The most athletic big man in the history of wrestling.
[man 2] One of the greatest big men ever.
[announcer 1] Look a the size of this man.
[announcer 2] Very, very, very impressive.
[man 3] Yokozuna became an attraction immediately.
[man 4] He became the big start that he was.
[man 5] But the audience never got to know the human being behind that.
He will be the most massive presence that our family ever puts out there.
He opened the doors for the newer generation of Polynesian wrestlers.
[man 5] This was the Yokozuna that people didn't know.
The man, the legend, the icon.
[dramatic music playing]
No, we're doing it.
-This is gonna be big, man. -Huge.
-[laughs] Here we go.
-You ready? -Yeah.
[speaks in Spanish]
-Bad Bunny! -Oh!
What a performance! Bravo, my friend.
We just want to introduce ourselves.
Give our compliments A-listers to A-lister.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
You appreciate it, but don't thank us just yet.
Don't thank us just yet, Mr. Bunny, because, uh,
we have an incredible offer for you.
Just imagine, Bad Bunny Grammy-winning, chart topping, record breaking virtuoso
merging brands with the most must-see WWE Superstar of all time, The Miz…
[speaks in Spanish]
John Morrison.
This collab could do wonders for your career.
-Hey, hey! -Hop, hop.
♪ Bunny, Miz, and Jomo going straight to the… ♪
♪ People gonna move When this record drops ♪
Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
-This verse is free. -We got more.
We understand you are a megastar.
But with our help, you joining us,
we could take you around WWE, turn you into a bona fide Superstar.
-What do you say? -Cross over.
Oh, um… no thanks, guys.
I'm fine.
-What? -You're fine?
-Yeah. -You're turning--
Do you understand that we are the odds-on favorites
to win tonight's Royal Rumble, and, I don't know if you know this,
but I am practically guaranteed a WWE Championship
thanks to the Money in the Bank contract.
You wanna hang around with Booker T?
Do you understand that we are in the prime of our careers?
Meanwhile, Booker T is clinging on to every shred
of relevancy that he has.
I mean, I'm gonna stand around in your stupid music video?
-Hey. Hey! -Looking like an absolute idiot?
[crowd cheering]
You didn't say that.
Tell me
you didn't just say that.
He said it.
I didn't say anything.
[laughs weakly]
[Bad Bunny] Good luck in the Rumble.
Yeah, good luck.
Let's get out of here, man. Come on. Come on!
♪ I'm here to rumble ♪
All right. Booker T back there sorting some things out.
Normally he would be out here with all of us.
But obviously he had some business to take care of backstage with Bad Bunny.
Everybody, you know us, we are the kickoff panel from earlier this evening.
I'm Charly Caruso, we have Sonya Deville, we have JBL, Peter Rosenberg.
Thanks for being here with us.
A lot has already happened this evening.
We just saw Bianca Belair a bona fide Superstar.
It is every Superstar's dream to stand in that ring,
be able to point to the WrestleMania sign.
She just got to live that dream.
Entering number three and winning.
Bianca Belair is a competitor I can get behind.
She goes out there, she talks the talk, she walks the walk.
She does exactly what she says she's gonna do.
On my brand, that's the kind of Superstar I wanna get behind.
I felt downright emotional seeing Bianca in there.
This is a dream realized.
She's an amazing athlete, an amazing person.
That was a Rumble moment.
It was a Rumble moment
and she's now in the catbird seat on the road to WrestleMania.
I have been in title matches at WrestleMania,
it changes your life forever.
It changes the perception of the entire world about you.
Now it's up to her to enjoy this next couple months.
Main thing is to win at WrestleMania.
Absolutely. Immortalized in sports entertainment history.
Bianca Belair now is.
But also, gentlemen, and also our female-- Loving having you out here with us.
I can't speak right now.
-We have two women… -I make you nervous?
…who are now our new Women's Tag Team Champions.
Of course, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
Repeat Tag Team Champions, if you will.
So let's take a look back
at how their victory transpired earlier this evening on kickoff.
[Peter] This is the kickoff show earlier.
It was Charlotte and Asuka
defending against the former champs, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax.
When again, someone who's become a thorn in the side of Charlotte Flair,
her father, the Hall of Famer, Ric Flair,
would come out to once again provide a distraction.
[Corey] But Ric Flair wouldn't make an appearance alone.
So would Lacey Evans.
Who, Nat, she's been spending quite a bit of time with recently.
Lacey Evans made her presence felt in a big, big way.
[Cole] Charlotte Flair upset with everything
Lacey's been putting her and her dad through,
over the past couple of weeks,
and Nat would come to Lacey Evans' rescue.
I'd like to know the scuttlebutt of what's going on between those two.
[Corey] What was potentially a loaded right hand
in the possession of Lacey Evans.
-[Cole] A Women's Right. -[Corey] Turned The Queen's lights out.
That would be the beginning of the end for Asuka and Charlotte Flair.
Nia Jax with the leg drop.
[Cole] The Cover on Charlotte.
And Nia and Shayna Baszler, once again, with the Women's Tag Team Titles
thanks in part to Charlotte's dad, Ric Flair, and Lacey Evans.
[Rome] Tag Team Champions, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax!
[Corey] Done it again.
On top of the mountain, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
I still am very interested
to know what is going on between Lacey Evans and Ric Flair.
It's a little dicey.
We won't get into all that.
Sonya, what are you thoughts now
on Shayna and Nia becoming repeat Tag Team Champs?
Yeah, two-time Tag Team Champions.
-It's an accomplishment-- -I'm sorry, y'all. Excuse me.
Can I get this seat?
-This is my-- Okay. -I'm all shaken up. You know?
I've seen foxes, I've seen bunnies.
Royal Rumble, it should be called Royal Rumble Farms.
What else do I expect to see?
Talk to me, tell me something.
There's more than that, Truth.
-What you got? -You didn't see this?
John Cena's here.
-Where he at? -John Cena's right over there.
-Excuse me, I gotta go. John! -John's right over there.
JC!
-John. Oh! -Oh!
Wait-- Oh my--
[grunting]
[Sonya] Is this really happening?
-[Charly] Oh my goodness! -One, two, three!
24/7 Champ!
[Rome] Here is your winner, and the new 24/7 Champion,
Peter Rosenberg!
-[Charly] Uh-- Oh… -I'm gonna get you, Michael K!
[Charly] My…
What? What just…
Peter Rosenberg is our new 24/7 Champion.
That just happened.
My mind is blown.
I don't know what I just saw. I'm really confused right now.
Oh my goodness.
This could be the worst event in wrestling history.
-I… -[Charly sighs]
Peter Rosenberg is a champion.
We might have to treat him differently on the kickoff show next time, JBL.
I feel your disdain right now. I'm with JBL on this one.
I think we are at a loss for words here on the panel.
So, Michael Cole, take it over please.
Corey, can you imagine the radio airwaves in New York City
tomorrow morning and afternoon,
with Peter Rosenberg as the 24/7 Champion?
Any sort of bright side to this is that David Arquette is finally off the hook.
Well, we gotta take care of some business here at the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] We wanna send a special thank you to Zayde Wolf for "Rumble."
An official theme song of the WWE Royal Rumble.
It's available right now on Apple Music and Spotify.
[Cole] You know what's available right now?
Last Man Standing for the Universal Championship.
Roman Reigns defends against the irrepressible Kevin Owens.
For Roman Reigns, it's about one word, respect.
["Rumble" playing]
I like Kevin Owens.
I respect someone as ambitious…
[Cole] Owens with a clear path to the Universal Championship!
And Roman Reigns with a low blow!
…someone who keeps getting up,
like a cockroach.
[Cole] Kevin Owens with a stunner!
The champion is down!
What the hell is Uso doing?
[Corey] Jey Uso's got handcuffs.
[Cole] For the second time, Kevin Owens screwed again!
I never wanted anything bad to happen to him.
[crowd cheering]
[Roman] People are saying I'm the bad guy.
[dramatic music playing]
If there's somebody to blame,
Adam Pearce.
You threw him right back into the shark tank.
I bring you back to redeem yourself,
and what does he do.
You book a gauntlet match?
I pulled a few strings.
You're in the gauntlet match.
[Cole] The last man standing gets an opportunity at Roman Reigns
for the Universal Championship.
[Roman] This is my show.
When people around here don't respect me…
there's consequences. You understand?
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[bell rings]
[Cole] Adam Pearce is going to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble?
I want a Last Man Standing match.
Tell him that he's gonna sign this contract in the ring.
[dramatic music playing]
I've waited all night for you to do that.
It's one of the damnedest things. It's one of those old injuries, you know.
Don't worry.
Standard WWE contracts all say the same thing.
"Card subject to change."
["Fight" playing]
[Cole] Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns
at the Rumble.
[Paul] You just disrespected a tribal chief.
Paul, you better straighten him out.
Adam Pearce
versus Paul Heyman.
[Cole] It is gonna happen!
Adam Pearce against Reigns' special counsel, Paul Heyman.
[dramatic music playing]
Really?
This what we're doing?
Card subject to change.
["The Truth Reigns" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Roman] Just remember
there's consequences for everything that happens.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Adam Pearce is about to be sacrificed here.
[grunting]
[Roman] This is my yard, my island.
My WWE.
[Cole] Kevin Owens attacking Reigns!
KO's here!
Roman, at the Royal Rumble, there's no more strings for you to pull.
You've told me to stay away and just stop fighting,
but I can't do that.
You watching, Paul?
Are you watching?
I will just keep fighting.
And that's why…
I'm gonna be last man standing!
[bell rings]
[Hamilton] The following contest is a Last Man Standing match
for the Universal Championship!
In this match there are no pinfalls,
submissions, count-outs or disqualifications.
The only way to win
is to incapacitate your opponent
to the point that they cannot reach their feet
by the count of ten.
["Fight" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] There's a reason this man, Kevin Owens,
goes by the moniker "Fight, Owens, Fight."
That is what it is all about for Kevin Owens.
KO looking to wrestle the Universal Championship
away from Roman Reigns tonight.
To win it for the second time in his career.
Welcome back to ringside,
from Friday Night SmackDown, Michael Cole and Corey Graves.
Corey, it's been said that Kevin Owens fights for his family,
where Roman Reigns uses his family.
[Corey] Throughout KO's tenure in WWE,
he has never hesitated to stab someone in the back when need be.
To do the wrong thing that benefits him.
I hope for Kevin's own sake and his family's,
he can tap into that tonight
and somehow knock off the Universal Champion.
[Cole] That is why he is irrepressible.
Tonight, WWE Royal Rumble is brought to you in part by Credit One Bank.
Visit gocreditone.com,
life ever rewarded.
And what a reward it would be for Kevin Owens
if he can knock off Reigns and win the Universal title.
Come on!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Champion making the challenger wait.
["The Truth Reigns" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] He is the man who thinks he runs it all in WWE.
A very pompous and arrogant, yet successful Universal Champion.
[Corey] All the adjectives you used prior to "successful," Cole,
don't matter one bit.
You are looking at the Universal Champion.
The most dominant Roman Reigns we have ever seen before.
[Cole] You know, Corey, Roman Reigns, of course, from the Hawaii family.
One of the most prestigious families in the history of sports entertainment.
Roman Reigns' cousin, the late, great Yokozuna--
All you have to do is watch, on the WWE Network,
the Icons program
to get an idea of what the importance of The Bloodline,
the heritage of what Roman Reigns talks about
is all about.
Yokozuna paved the way.
Roman Reigns now takes it to the next level,
defending the title, Last Man Standing.
[Corey] You talk about the Hawaii family, about Roman Reigns,
and the importance of The Bloodline.
Those aren't just buzz words.
Those are catchphrases we spew out so they look cool on a t-shirt.
This is real life.
Every time Roman steps between the ropes,
he does so for himself and his entire family.
[Cole] Kevin Owens, as we mentioned before,
does it for his family as well.
Two completely polar-opposite individuals
battling for one prize tonight,
the most prestigious prize in WWE,
the Universal title.
But tonight, there are no champion's advantage, Corey,
because there are no pinfalls and submissions.
No count-outs and no disqualifications.
It's about incapacitating your opponent.
Beating the hell out of him
so they can't reach their feet by the count of ten.
[Corey] There may be no other match type that lends itself to brutality
quite like Last Man Standing.
Both of these men will have to leave it all in the ring,
on the floor, heck, somewhere in the ThunderDome.
We must have a winner.
[Cole] Roman Reigns has made a habit of gaslighting just about everybody
in WWE nowadays,
but he has not really, Corey,
been able to get under the skin of Kevin Owens.
It doesn't seem like those mental games have worked with KO.
[Corey] Roman has made the comparisons between Kevin Owens and a cockroach
that just won't die.
Just won't go away.
Tonight, Reigns wants to exterminate Owens once and for all.
For the 21st time in WWE history,
a championship will be defended in a Last Man Standing match.
[Cole] Let's not forget that The Miz has said, he's hinted,
that he'll be watching this matchup closely.
Miz the Money in the Bank contract holder.
Can cash in a contract at any time on a champion of his choosing.
[Corey] Miz is watching this match like a meteorologist watches a storm system.
You wanna keep track of it, pay attention to it,
you wanna stay the hell out of the way.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 266 pounds,
Kevin Owens!
[crowd cheering]
[speaking indistinctly]
[Greg] And his opponent,
accompanied by his special counsel, Paul Heyman,
weighing in at 265 pounds,
he is the Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns!
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Roman Reigns has defended his title successfully
in a steel cage
and on quick matches,
Hell in a Cell, extreme rules, no disqualification,
and now, for the first time, he looks to defend Last Man Standing.
The WWE ThunderDome.
Tropicana Field.
The host of this championship match tonight.
They are talking about it
around the world on social media.
The potential for disaster is high for both.
[Corey] Owens and Reigns go right after one another
as the bell rings, and we are underway.
Kevin Owens taking the fight to Roman,
and Roman throwing haymakers as well.
[Corey] As tough as Kevin Owens is,
I don't know if you ever want a punching contest with Roman.
[Cole] Look at Roman Reigns now.
Whoa! Was being backed up by the rights by Owens.
Then a right by Roman, went for the Superman Punch.
-[Corey] Uh-oh! -[Cole] Kevin Owens looked for a stunner.
Superman Punch right on the jaw!
KO's down.
[referee] You have time, Kevin.
[Cole] Now the official will begin the count.
Owens has to make it back to his feet by ten
or he's out of the matchup.
He's up.
[Cole] Count of four, Owens back to his feet.
Reigns now-- Runs into a knee.
[Corey] Kevin could be setting Roman up. Here it comes!
[Cole] Looking for the pop-up powerbomb just like that!
Reigns stunned!
Reigns is down!
-The official will begin the count. -One…
[Cole] Kevin Owens shocking Roman Reigns with a pop-up powerbomb.
[Corey] Both Superstars landing major offensive blows
in the opening moments of this contest.
But Reigns is up.
[Cole] Just like KO, Reigns made it to his feet in four.
But Roman is going to bail out,
as we take a look at the first Superman Punch.
Right on the jaw by Reigns.
[Corey] Somehow Kevin Owens was able to make it back to his feet,
and follow up with a pop-up powerbomb. Incoming!
[Cole] Now Roman Reigns with Kevin Owens on his shoulder.
He may have been looking for a Samoan Drop,
and Kevin Owens able to drop to his feet.
-[yells] -[grunts]
[Cole] Reigns bounced off the ring post.
[Corey] The Universal Champion is stunned.
Kevin Owens with an opportunity to capitalize.
[Cole] Now Owens driven into the steps
shoulder first.
[Corey] Here's the second major blow landed.
That being the pop-up powerbomb. This time from Kevin Owens.
Driving the champion down on the back of his neck.
[Cole] Now Roman Reigns with a spear!
Kevin Owens flattened,
steamrolled by Reigns.
-And this could be a quick one. -[referee] One!
Two…
[Corey] I look for the longer this match to go,
to see more of the same.
Roman luring Kevin Owens in using KO's emotions,
waiting for Kevin to make a mistake.
[Cole] But Kevin Owens back to his feet.
That "never say die" attitude
and the scrappiness of Kevin Owens
could help him in this match.
Remember, no disqualifications.
All this is legal.
-Reigns, steel steps in hand. -[yells]
[Cole] Bang! Right off the face of Kevin Owens.
[referee] He's up.
[Cole] Reigns again with the steps to KO.
KO dropped
at the head of the ramp.
[Corey] I think at this point is when it becomes abundantly clear,
it becomes clear to Kevin Owens exactly what he signed up for.
-[yells] -[Cole] Oh! And again!
The steps to Owens.
Yeah, Roman Reigns has made it very clear, Corey,
how much the Universal Title means to him.
What it means about putting food on the table of his family.
To be the top dog in this business.
[referee] Five! He's up.
[Cole] At a count of five, KO back.
-KO with a kick! -[Corey] Oh no!
[Cole] Stops Roman Reigns in his tracks.
The same with you.
[Cole] Perhaps more importantly than anything, Corey,
that gives Kevin Owens an opportunity
to regain some composure, catch his breath.
[Corey] And plan, plot, think, decide
what the next brutal step will be in his offense.
[Cole] Smart move by Owens.
He knew Reigns wasn't gonna be down for a count of ten.
So he grabbed Reigns before he could make it back to his feet
to continue the assault.
[Kevin] Come on, let's see your people, huh?!
[Cole] Bang!
Right into those big LED boards
that host the virtual WWE fans here at ThunderDome.
[Roman yells]
[Corey] Reigns is down, and KO showing his relentless side.
The fight can spill anywhere throughout ThunderDome.
It does not have to end in the ring.
[announcers] Oh!
[Cole] Tropicana Field
is Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns' playground.
As Owens now delivers a boot.
You gonna play, Paul?
[Corey] Paul Heyman was trying to get a closer look at the action,
but was sent scurrying.
The look in KO's eyes now.
[Cole] KO, steel steps,
now it's Kevin Owens' turn to blast the steps off Reigns.
Roman Reigns now on an equipment table.
[Corey] Oh, wait a minute.
[Cole] Does this bring back memories, Corey?
[Corey] Kevin Owens knows all about those equipment tables.
[Cole] This is déjà vu,
Because Kevin Owens was tossed
off the platform, through the tables by Reigns.
[Corey] This isn't déjà vu, Cole.
This is payback.
[Cole] Roman not allowing Owens the opportunity.
-Reigns! -[Corey] Went to the eyes.
Perfectly legal and smart in this situation.
[Cole] Owens blinded momentarily and Reigns able to go on the attack.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Now this could be déjà vu for Kevin Owens.
[Cole] Precarious position now for Owens.
The Head of the Table, Roman Reigns…
-[yells] -[grunts]
[Corey] Steel chair to the midsection of Kevin Owens.
-[yells] -[Cole] And again to the ribs.
-And across the spine! -[Kevin yells]
-[groaning] -[Cole] A punishing attack.
[Roman] Come on. You're the best, huh?
Oh!
[Cole] Kevin right back to his feet, fired back with a right hand.
Reigns caught him right on the top of the head.
[Corey] The word "irrepressible" has been thrown around a lot lately,
as pertains to Kevin Owens,
and I can't think of a more accurate description.
Even at his own peril, Owens refuses to stay down.
[Cole] Yeah, he doesn't go away.
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns now up a bit higher.
[both yelling]
[Cole] What is Reigns doing?
[yells]
[Cole] How much higher are they gonna climb, Corey?
-[Corey] This is a massive structure. -You have ten. One…
[Corey] Beyond the walls of the ThunderDome,
Tropicana Field is a massive stadium.
[Cole] Kevin Owens with a superkick to the jaw!
Reigns stunned, he collapses.
That'll force the official to start the count again.
Two!
[Corey] Owens now with a weapon.
[referee] Three!
Four!
Five!
[Corey] Official's count of five. Roman still struggling back to his feet.
-[yells] -[Corey] He catch him on the knee?
[Cole] Yes, both legs being attacked.
[Corey] This is a smart strategy by the challenger.
[Cole] Very unique strategy by Owens.
-Changing things up a bit. -[referee] One! Two!
[Cole] That's great strategy, Corey.
You take out the legs,
you can't make it back to your feet by the ten count.
[Corey] Absolutely right.
Reigns now needs to summon the power to regain a vertical base.
[Cole] Trying to make it back to his feet, does.
It'll wave off the count of seven.
Reigns is hurting, and again back to the knee.
Kevin Owens…
a thinking man's wrestler.
And he's thinking right here.
Reigns is trying to fight back and create some distance and separation.
-[Roman yells] -[Kevin] Oh!
-[Cole] Big boot. -[Corey] Oh no.
[Cole] Look how high they are up above the ThunderDome.
Both of these Superstars teetering inches from catastrophe.
[Cole] Precariously close to the edge.
Now it's Reigns' turn with the chair across the spine.
[referee] Kevin-- One!
Get up, man.
Two! Three!
Four!
-Five! -[Cole] Kevin still…
-Six! -[Cole] Dragging himself.
Back to his feet.
Let's go on a ride.
[referee] No, Roman. No!
[Roman yells]
[grunting]
[Cole] Kevin Owens with a stunner!
Oh no. No. No. Oh no!
Reigns is close to the edge.
-That could be catastrophe. -[Corey] The champion doesn't realize.
-[Kevin yells] -[Roman] Oh!
-[yells] -[Cole] Superman Punch!
-[referee] No, Roman. No! -[yells]
[Kevin yells]
-[Kevin groaning] -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Kevin Owens sent flying off the…
-Two! -[Cole] The trons through the table.
-Three! -[Kevin groaning]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And this could be it for Kevin Owens.
The official at a count of five.
-[referee] Six! -[Cole] A count of six now.
Kevin Owens' Universal Championship dreams could be going up in smoke.
Count of eight now!
At nine Owens drags himself to his feet.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Reigns can't believe it.
[Corey] No one can believe it.
But is Kevin Owens just delaying the inevitable?
Kevin Owens might never be able to compete again at this rate.
If it continues like this,
KO is risking permanent harm to himself.
[Cole] No idea where Kevin Owens is going.
[Corey] I don't know if Kevin knows.
The last time Kevin sustained a fall
from even less of a height than we just witnessed,
Owens missed several weeks.
And now, adrenaline is amazing.
[Cole] Kevin Owens is…
[Corey] Maybe Kevin's wised up and is retreating.
Maybe Kevin Owens finally realized he's in an unwinnable situation.
[Kevin gasping and groaning]
[Cole] That's the backstage area here at Tropicana Field.
You see one of the workout rings in the background.
[referee] You gotta be up on your feet.
[Cole] The official comes back into play to check on Kevin Owens.
To make sure he can make it back to his feet.
Or have to start the count again.
[Corey] You mentioned the amount of real estate available, look around.
Protect yourself, okay? Hey.
I need you to protect yourself or this match is over, all right?
-Whoa! -[Cole] Oh God! Are you kidding me?!
Roman Reigns just ran over Owens with a golf cart!
[Corey] Just stay down, Kevin.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] For your sake, for your family's sake, stay down.
[Cole] He may have no choice.
I think Kevin Owens is out cold.
Hey, back it up!
[Cole] He was blindsided by Roman Reigns.
[referee] Two!
Back up. What, are you crazy? What are you doing?
-Three! -[Cole] The official at a count of three.
Four!
Five!
-[Cole] Kevin Owens… -Six!
-[Cole] He's trying to stir here. -[Corey] No.
Kevin, think about your wife, your children. Stay down.
Eight!
-You better stay down. -Nine!
He's up.
[Cole] Kevin Owens made it back to his feet.
Roman Reigns can't believe it, and now he's teeing off.
[Corey] The defiant Kevin Owens.
Just incurring the wrath of the Universal Champion.
[Cole] Sometimes, Corey, defiance can get you hurt.
Like seriously hurt.
-Oh! -[Kevin yells]
[Corey] Kevin, at the last second, was able to turn his body
to maybe avoid permanent disaster, but it still…
[Cole] Right through the plexiglass windshield.
Six!
[Cole] Now a count of six.
Owens still trying to drag himself to his feet.
Eight! He's up.
-I tried to smarten you up. Your dad did. -[Cole] He does again.
And your grandfather did.
Owens' papas up there.
Huh? Look at him.
[crowd booing]
-[Cole] Kevin Owens now. -[Kevin yelling]
[Corey] Roman's imploring Kevin to stay down for his own safety.
[Cole] Kevin Owens won't.
[Kevin] Huh?!
Son of a bitch!
Huh?! Get up! Get your ass up!
Get your ass up!
[yells]
[Corey] Roman's skull ricocheting off the road cases.
[Cole] This is a crazed Kevin Owens.
A rabid Owens.
My grandfathers
were more man than you'll ever be!
Okay, Kevin, come on.
[Cole] Kevin mentioned his grandfathers--
-Oh my goodness! -[Roman yells]
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Roman Reigns poked that--
Roman Reigns started that conversation.
[Cole] Now Kevin Owens high above!
With a splash!
Through Reigns and through the table!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Now both men are down.
[referee] Gentlemen, you have ten. One!
[Cole] See the crimson on the lips of the Universal Champion.
[Corey] Wounds of battle, as we look at the tremendous impact,
Two-hundred and sixty pounds-plus,
crashing down on the Universal Champion.
And it looks like Kevin's about to make it to his feet.
Six!
[Cole] Kevin makes it to his feet at a count of six.
-Reigns is still down. -Seven!
-[Cole] Reigns is still down! -Eight!
[Cole] We're at a count of eight!
-Nine! -[Cole] A count of nine!
Reigns just beats the count back to his feet.
So close for Owens.
[Corey] But Reigns on spaghetti legs.
[Cole] Kevin Owens now has the Universal Champion,
the Head of the Table,
at his feet.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Reigns sent into the ladder, and down to the floor again.
Roman Reigns is hurt, Graves.
He's really hurt.
[Corey] There's no doubt about that.
[Corey] Could the Universal Champion have bitten off more than he can chew?
Has the Head of the Table finally met his match in Kevin Owens?
[Cole] A count of five, halfway to the championship is Owens.
A count of six again.
Reigns trying to drag himself to his feet at a count of seven.
He's now muttering to himself.
A count of eight now.
Reigns needs to use the table to beat the count.
Right on the attack again, Kevin Owens!
Move!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] See the wheels spinning in the mind of Kevin Owens.
[Corey] The challenger made it abundantly clear how much this means to him.
-[engine starts] -[Cole] What the hell is he doing?
[referee] What are you doing? Hey, Kevin, don't.
What are you thinking? Come on!
[engine revs]
[Corey] There's a reason you need a license to run these things.
Owens surely doesn't have one.
[Cole] Looks like he's doing okay.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] No…
[Corey] No.
[Cole] Where is he--
[Corey] You know exactly where he's going.
[Corey] You know exactly what Kevin Owens is thinking.
[Cole] Kevin Owens climbing to the top of that forklift!
Reigns is helpless down there, Corey!
He's not gonna do this. There's no way.
-Come on! -[Corey] Damn right, he is.
My dad sends his best, bitch!
[Cole] Oh my God!
Senton off the forklift through Reigns!
Through the table!
-[groaning] -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] That's gotta be it.
-[crowd chanting] KO! KO! KO! -[referee] One! Two!
[Cole] Kevin Owens doing everything in his power
to try to win the championship.
To teach Reigns a lesson in respect.
The official's now at a count of five.
-Six! -[Cole] A count of six now.
-Owens to his feet. -Seven!
[Cole] Reigns is down at seven.
It could be Owens' moment.
A count of eight now!
-Nine! -[Cole] A count of nine!
Reigns barely beats the count again.
But he can't stand.
[Corey] That brief moment was enough to break the official's count.
-Look at this. -[Cole] Oh my God.
[Corey] What else can you say about Owens
than he is a man possessed tonight?
A madman.
Willing to risk anything and everything
to topple the Roman empire.
[Cole] Roman Reigns is in retreat.
As we take another look at the death-defying stunt by Kevin Owens.
Off the top of the forklift,
through Reigns, through the table.
Now Reigns is crawling away from the challenger.
Look at me!
[crowd cheering]
Whose blood is that on your face, huh?!
It's not mine!
No, no, that's tribal blood!
-[yells] -[Roman groans]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Reigns can't even function.
[Kevin] Let's go back to where it started.
[Corey] Owens feels like a great white right now.
[yells]
[Corey] The Universal Champion's blood has been shed,
and Kevin wants to reap the benefits.
[Cole] Take another look.
Corey, I cannot believe the senton off the top of the forklift by Kevin Owens.
The question I have for you is this,
have you seen Roman Reigns, since he's become the Universal Champion,
on the defense like he is now,
in the state that he is now,
not in control of the moment and in the match?
[Corey] Not once.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Owens dragging Roman Reigns out
so the entire world and everyone inside the ThunderDome can see.
[Cole] I can't believe I'm saying this, but Roman Reigns looks helpless right now.
He's defenseless.
He can't even protect himself.
Now at a count of five,
Reigns is still down.
-Six! -Four more seconds.
-Seven! -And it's over.
-Eight! -[Cole] A count of eight!
-Nine! -[Cole] A count of nine.
Reigns barely makes it back.
[Corey] It looked like Reigns was almost begging off there.
[Cole] I…
-[Corey] Like he was asking for mercy. -[Cole] I agree with you.
[Corey] A Superman Punch out of desperation!
[Cole] But Reigns never asks for mercy. It was clearly a ploy.
Maybe just to buy Roman a moment.
[Corey] Now Reigns with a spear!
Through the screens!
[crowd booing]
[Cole] A desperation spear from Reigns.
[Corey] The official might want to think about stopping this altogether.
For both of their sake.
This could destroy two careers.
Gentlemen, you have ten.
-One! -[Cole] Now the count begins.
Roman Reigns will make it back to his feet easily at two.
Kevin Owens, though, is in deep trouble now.
-Five! -[Cole] A count of five.
-Halfway to a win for Reigns. -Six!
[Cole] Kevin Owens has not moved. A count of seven now.
-Eight! -[Cole] Owens at a count of eight.
Has not moved. Now he barely--
Kevin Owens rolled off the stage on to his feet.
Was that ten?
-No, he's on his feet. -Are you…
He's off the stage. Come on, Roman.
[Cole] Roman can't believe it.
But what a crafty move by Owens.
It is nothing short of miraculous
that Kevin Owens was able to regain any sort of base,
let alone remain in this battle.
Last Man Standing for the Universal Championship continues.
I think Owens may have just burned his arm on that light there.
[Corey] Kevin doesn't have any idea where he's at right now.
[referee] Come on.
[Cole] You're right, Corey, Owens is just trying to…
[Corey] Kevin's running on instinct alone.
What is in Roman's hand?
…shake the cobwebs and now…
Reigns, uh…
-[Roman] I don't want to quit. -[referee] Someone's gonna get hurt.
[Cole] You're right. Kevin has no idea where he is.
[referee] Come on. Someone's gonna get hurt.
-[Cole] Roman Reigns now has… -[Roman] See, I can't quit.
There's no way I can go home if I quit.
[referee] Come on.
[Roman yells]
[Corey] Roman has a pair of handcuffs.
[Cole] I thought that's what it looked like.
Now Reigns and Owens again exchanging blows.
[both grunting]
[Cole] Roman with the advantage.
[Corey] Owens just being bludgeoned at this point.
[Roman] There's too many that depend on me!
No, he's up.
[Cole] Still some fight left in him.
[referee] It's not an option.
Get up.
Come on, Roman. What are you doing?
[Roman yells]
[Cole] Kevin Owen does not wanna be handcuffed,
and that's what Roman Reigns was trying to do.
Now Roman Reigns banged into the stanchion there.
Now Kevin Owens-- Stunner!
[Corey] Reigns is down!
[Cole] How the hell is Owens still doing this?
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] We're never gonna get an answer to that, Cole.
But the fact is Kevin Owens is still in this battle.
[Cole] Right, and you talk about heart and guts and resilience.
Kevin Owens has got that and more.
And now he's got the handcuffs.
[Kevin yelling]
[referee] Roman, protect yourself or I'm stopping this. Come on, guys.
[Kevin] You wanna do this again, Roman?
Huh? Wanna do this again?
[referee] Hey. All right, Kevin, come on.
Guys…
[Cole] Oh my goodness.
It all comes full circle.
Kevin Owens…
He just handcuffed Roman Reigns!
He's handcuffed Roman Reigns!
-Reigns is trapped! -One! Two!
[Cole] Corey, I don't know if Roman can make it to his feet from that position.
Four!
[Cole] Kevin Owens handcuffed him so low on that stanchion
that I don't think Reigns can make it to his feet.
-Seven! -[Cole] A count of seven now!
[Corey] Kevin Owens is gonna steal the Universal Title!
-Nine! -[Cole] Roman Reigns-- Wait a minute!
At a count of nine, Roman Reigns just grabbed the official
and slammed him into steel.
The official couldn't complete his count.
[yells]
-[Cole] A low blow by Reigns. -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Oh my God, Corey. Kevin Owens had the championship won.
[Corey] What else could possibly happen?
[Cole] Reigns was gonna be counted out,
he couldn't make it to his feet by ten.
'Cause he's trapped.
And Reigns grabbed the official,
slammed him into the steel,
the official could not complete his count.
[Corey] It was desperation
of the highest order.
[Cole] The official's at a count of nine.
-Nine! -[Cole] Right now.
[yells]
[Cole] Right into the steel.
Reigns saving his championship.
[Corey] Exactly what that was.
-It was all about self-preservation. -Get me out of here.
[Corey] Now Paul Heyman…
[crowd booing]
[Paul] I got it.
[Cole] Heyman trying to…
[Roman] Get these off me.
Right there.
[Cole] Trying to get the handcuffs off. I believe Heyman has a key of some sort.
He's got something now. Yeah, a key.
He's trying to unhook the handcuffs.
There's a new official out, who's now counting to the count of five.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] A count of--
[Corey] If you're Roman Reigns, you're thanking God for Paul Heyman.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Reigns is still trapped.
[Corey] If it's illegal, if it's unsavory,
Paul Heyman is who you want in your corner.
No doubt about that.
But Kevin Owens is regaining his composure.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] Roman now able to get at least one foot underneath him.
I think this is gonna count as a vertical base.
As Heyman struggles to unhook the handcuffs
tethering the Universal Champion.
[Cole] Reigns is back to his feet.
Any count would've been waved off to this point.
But the fact is Reigns is still trapped.
As Paul Heyman tries to get the handcuffs unhooked.
And finally does.
Thanks to Paul Heyman loosening the handcuffs.
-Now Roman Reigns with a guillotine. -[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Kevin Owens still out of sorts.
But now it's nap time.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] A guillotine.
Reigns gonna squeeze the breath out of his challenger.
-This one's over. -[Cole] Locked in by Roman Reigns.
[yells]
[gasps]
[Cole] Kevin Owens is fading.
KO is fading.
Roman Reigns with a guillotine locked in.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Kevin Owens is out.
[Corey] You could count to 50 at this point.
Two!
[Cole] But both men are still down.
Reigns is exhausted.
Owens is out cold.
The official's at a count of four.
Now at a count of five.
Roman Reigns struggling back to his feet.
But Kevin Owens, Corey, has not moved.
-Eight! Nine! -[Cole] Owens has been choked out.
And Roman Reigns will retain as the last man standing.
[crowd booing]
[Greg] Here is your winner,
and still the Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns!
["The Truth Reigns" playing]
[Cole] It was as physical and as brutal as we expected.
[Corey] It was exactly what the Universal Champion promised.
[Cole] It took some ingenuity from Roman Reigns.
He almost lost the title before he grabbed the official,
knocked the official out,
so the count could not move to ten.
Kevin Owens did everything he could
and he survived everything he could as well.
[Corey] While Roman Reigns may never publicly admit it,
the Universal Champion has to have earned an iota of respect for Kevin Owens
for the fight KO brought tonight.
All over the WWE ThunderDome and beyond.
And in the closing moments,
it seemed as though Kevin Owens would achieve his dream
of becoming Universal Champion.
But a desperate champion
doing desperate things
would pay off in the end for the Head of the Table.
[Cole] Then Roman Reigns would use the guillotine
that has become his calling card.
[yells]
[Cole] He would choke out Owens, KO would not make the count.
Roman Reigns would retain the Universal Championship.
Roman Reigns is the last man standing.
-["The Truth Reigns" continues playing] -[crowd booing]
[booing intensifies]
-[dramatic music playing] -[narrator] They're bold.
Inspiring.
Powerful.
WWE Official Championships.
Feel like a champion.
And so much more.
♪ Yeah, live from the Gulf Coast ♪
♪ Welcome to the greatest spectacle Seen around the world ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Tonight's the night we face our enemy ♪
♪ All the gold is up for grabs ♪
♪ Always keep your eye on the prize ♪
♪ I'm a beast It's time to make them believe ♪
♪ Believe ♪
♪ There's no one defeating the team ♪
[haunting laughter]
♪ I heard that they said We were scared of the fire ♪
♪ I only hear the words I desire I don't care what you think ♪
♪ I'll be the one That makes you walk the plank ♪
♪ I'll be the one to defeat the kraken ♪
♪ I'm a beast always attacking Tell me what's happening ♪
♪ Raiding your village And lighting a match ♪
♪ So far from average, I'm a beast ♪
♪ I'm a beast ♪
♪ It's time to make them believe ♪
♪ Whoa, hey There's no one defeating the team ♪
♪ If you want it then you gotta grab it Raise your fist! You want it? You got it ♪
♪ Raise your fist! Ready for the challenge ♪
["All the Gold" playing]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, we are on the road to WrestleMania.
In a matter of moments,
we are going to determine which man will win the Royal Rumble
and headline WrestleMania.
["Save Your Tears" playing]
[bell rings]
[Greg] The following is the 30-man Royal Rumble match!
[crowd cheering]
["Metalingus" playing]
[Cole] Apparently Edge is not gonna wait.
Edge will enter the Royal Rumble match
at number one.
♪ On this day… ♪
[Cole] It is an historic night for Edge.
Eleven years ago, on this date,
January 31st,
2010, Edge would win his first Royal Rumble match.
But in order to do it tonight, Corey,
he's gonna have to run the gamut.
[Corey] Last year, Edge shocked the entire WWE Universe
by returning in the Royal Rumble match.
But hasn't necessarily had the best luck since then.
Has battled with injuries.
It is not gonna get any easier tonight for the Rated-R Superstar
Hello again, at ringside, Cole and Graves with SmackDown.
Samoa Joe from Monday Night Raw.
Thanks for joining us, Joe. This is gonna be an incredible night.
Yes, it will. Seeing Edge at number one, what a large task.
But if anybody could accomplish it, it's the Rated-R Superstar.
♪ I've been defeated and brought down ♪
♪ Dropped to my knees when hope ran out ♪
["Voices" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Entering the Rumble at number two,
a man who could make history tonight.
Edge is wasting no time going right after Randy Orton.
And think about the rivalry between these two men.
It dated back last year to WrestleMania, and beyond.
[Corey] Long time friends turned bitter rivals.
[Joe] The most bitter of rivals, Corey.
[Corey] You're absolutely right, Joe.
Who can forget the greatest wrestling match ever
that these two partook in several months back,
which lead to Edge's injury?
[Cole] Then back in Backlash in May,
Edge suffered a torn triceps in a match against Randy Orton.
Edge is back for the first time since May and he hasn't forgotten.
[bell rings]
The bell rings, the Royal Rumble 2021 is under way!
[Corey] Joe, I think you can appreciate the intensity
in the eyes of the Rated-R Superstar.
Oh, yes, I can. There's a special kind of malice behind those punches.
Especially when directed at Randy Orton.
[Cole] Edge now hammering away, right hands to Randy Orton.
I was gonna mention earlier--
As Orton now is sent into the barricade by Edge.
These men are still in the match.
They didn't go over the top rope, both feet hit the floor.
They went through the ropes, so Edge and Orton still alive.
[Corey] This is all legal,
but doesn't lend itself to either man lasting very long in this match.
There's a long, long way to go.
It's not a sprint, it's a marathon for both of these Superstars.
[Cole] If Orton can somehow pull this off, he'll tie "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
for three Royal Rumble match wins.
The most in history.
-Come on, Randy! -[Corey] Rarefied air at stake.
[Joe] I'll say this, Randy Orton and Edge,
they both experienced the wrath of the draw
instead of the luck of the draw tonight.
[Corey] It'll certainly not get any easier for either of these men.
[Cole] I don't think Edge would want it any other way.
Now Edge driving Randy off the barricade.
The fight now spills out toward us.
-Look out! -[Joe laughs]
-[Cole] Right into the announce table. -[Joe] Yes.
[Cole] Randy Orton on the announce table.
Edge bouncing Orton off the table.
Did you guys see the look in Edge's eyes?
Just this malice and this anger
in the Hall of Famer, the Rated-R Superstar!
Unloading on Orton!
[Corey] That is intensity that borders on insanity
in they eyes of the Rated-R Superstar.
[Cole] Meanwhile, as this brawl continues.
the number three entry comes to the ring.
["Worlds Apart" playing]
Mr. Conspiracy Theory.
[Corey] Not now, Sami. Now is not the time.
[Cole] Maybe Sami can get a re-draw.
His documentary team in tow.
as they continue to document the so-called persecution…
[Joe] If now's not the time, when is?
…of Sami Zayn.
Zayn entering his fourth Royal Rumble.
-Zayn has Orton! -[Joe] Beautiful!
[Corey] Sami Zayn takes out Edge at the knee.
[Cole] Randy Orton will not take his eyes off Edge.
The pummeling continues!
Joe, you gotta wonder if the animosity between Orton and Edge
are gonna cost them in this match.
[Joe] It very well could.
'Cause, let me explain, when you're one and two in the Rumble,
energy conservation is a must.
They're desperately waiting for more entrants to fill up the ring.
Though it adds to the danger,
the one thing you gotta realize, it shifts the focus,
and gives you breathing room and time.
[Corey] Joe, you could attest,
when you're out so long with an injury, ring rust plays a factor.
This is Edge's first match back and he's gotta go the distance?
That's downright impossible.
[Cole] Look at Orton working on the injured arm of Edge.
Took him out of action back in May.
Meanwhile, Sami Zayn, this could add to his conspiracy theories, Corey.
He entered at number three.
Number three is the worst number to draw,
on average,
having lasted the shortest amount of time in Rumble matches in the past.
[Corey] I'm sure Sami's really glad
you put that energy out into the universe, Cole, thank you.
[Joe] There might be something to this.
-[Cole] Exactly, right? -[crowd] Eight, seven six…
[Cole] Number four about to enter the ring.
[Joe] I'll look into it.
He's tougher than you think.
[timer buzzes]
["Shut 'Em Down" playing]
[Cole] Number four, from Retribution,
the leader, Joe.
-Mustafa Ali. -[Joe laughs]
[Cole] It's his second Rumble appearance.
[Corey] Keep an eye on Mustafa Ali.
I don't know if there's a Superstar as motivated as Ali
in the entire locker room right now.
[Cole] I don't know if you guys remember, but a couple of years ago,
Ali made his first appearance in the Rumble.
He lasted over 30 minutes
in what was a classic performance.
-Now Ali goes right after Edge. -[Joe] Brilliant strategy!
Mustafa Ali taking a look at the lay of the land,
and realizing this is the best course of action.
[Cole] Let's not forget, Ali very vocal over the past few of months
about how he believes aging Superstars,
Hall of Famers, are coming to WWE
and taking the spots of the young Superstars.
One of the reasons Ali went right after Edge.
[Ali] You wanna take a spot from me?
[Corey] You hear Ali asking Edge, "You wanna take a spot from me?"
-Hit him again! -[Corey] This is personal.
[Joe] Mustafa Ali with that special kind of charisma.
Both these men holding Edge while he just tees off on him.
Let it out! [yells]
[Cole] Orton loves anyone that'll beat the hell out of Edge.
That sick look.
Randy Orton, of course, who had all kinds of problems
with Alexa Bliss, with The Fiend over the past number of months.
You got a nuthouse going on over there on Raw.
-[Joe] It's a little wild. -And now you gotta go.
[Cole] Now three men looking to drag Edge and toss him over the top rope.
-As number five… -[Joe] It was a good run.
[crowd] Five, four…
[Cole] …will enter the ring. Edge just trying somehow to hang on.
-[timer buzzes] -[Cole] Who will it be?
-["No More Words" playing] -[Cole] The Charismatic Enigma.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Jeff Hardy!
[Joe] He's coming in full-steam.
[Corey] We know the long history between Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy.
[Cole] No doubt about it.
One of the reasons Jeff went right after Randy Orton.
Of course, The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian back in the day,
great tag team rivalries.
Helped invent the TLC match.
[Corey] Inspired Superstars such as Ali and Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Now Jeff Hardy, top rope.
Little Whisper in the Wind by Jeff Hardy.
[Joe] He's putting an inspiring hurting on him now, Corey.
[Corey] A true clash of generations right now in this Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] Jeff Hardy with a Twist of Fate try.
RKO by Orton!
[Sami] That's what you get!
That's what you get, pal!
That's what you get!
-[Cole] Jeff Hardy for the sixth time. -I like your fire!
-That is why! -I like your fire!
-You and me! -I like your--
-[Cole] RKO to Zayn! -[Corey] Oh!
[Joe] So much for that accord.
[Corey] The problem with a strategic alliance in a Royal Rumble
is you gotta know when it'll end.
[Cole] An RKO to Ali!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And a spear by Edge!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Edge somehow able to summon the power
to be able to deliver a spear but Randy Orton very wisely, astutely,
rolling under the bottom rope.
Not eliminated.
[Cole] Edge now, again, takes his fight out to Randy Orton,
and you gotta wonder, Corey, the question I posed to Joe earlier.
Will the personal animosity between these two
cost them an opportunity to win the Rumble?
[Corey] The potential is there.
But to Samoa Joe's point, it could be exactly what these two Superstars need
to drive them all the way through the other 29 Superstars.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We have not had an elimination yet in this match.
And again Randy Orton bounced off our table!
I cannot overstate the look in Edge's eyes.
[Cole] Edge has this crazed look on his face. Like…
-Get out of the way, Cole. -[Joe] It's like Edge has blinders on.
[Corey] You're right, it's like he's got blinders on.
Laser focused on The Viper.
[Cole] What is…
My God, what is Edge planning to do here?
Randy Orton on our announce table, Edge as well!
Edge wants to do what he tried to do last year.
Randy Orton looking for the RKO!
Edge able to counter!
Randy Orton trying to fight through.
-And he does! Face first! -[Joe] Oh!
[Cole] Onto the table!
[Corey] Randy's out.
[Cole] The table buckled.
-[Joe] You hear that thud. -[Cole] Orton may be out.
-Number six about to enter the fray. -[groaning]
[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -["Here to Show the World" playing]
[Corey] It is chaos, it is carnage.
[Cole] Just to pause for a moment,
I've been looking forward to the entry of this man, Dolph Ziggler.
Because this is an historic night.
Dolph Ziggler entering the Royal Rumble now for the 14th time in his career.
Oh my God!
[Corey] Those stats are great,
but I think Dolph Ziggler wants to steer clear of this side of the ring.
'Cause this is hell on earth.
[Joe] Indeed he does.
[Cole] Edge with a steel chair to Orton.
Buckling him again.
And now right to the leg!
[Joe] The heavy metal is flying!
[Cole] Finally we got some officials out here to try to separate these two.
-Stop! -Keep them back!
[Corey] Edge doesn't wanna eliminate Orton from the match,
he wants to eliminate him from the business.
[referee] Are you okay?
[Cole] Edge has not forgotten what Randy Orton did to him.
-Corey, Randy Orton is a bloody mess. -[Corey] Randy's hurt.
He's hurt, he can't make it back to his feet.
-[Corey] Inside the ring, Dolph Ziggler-- -[Cole] Ziggler eliminated Jeff Hardy!
Dolph Ziggler eliminated Hardy as all this action was going on out here.
Boot by Edge. Edge now into the fray.
Edge looking to channel this emotion now in the ring.
[Sami yelling]
[Corey] Randy Orton is hurt here on the outside.
Edge now focusing on the task at hand,
eliminating Sami Zayn!
[Joe] Powering Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler now with a Zig Zag.
The reason I brought up the stats of Ziggler before, Corey,
is because with this entry into the Rumble,
he is now second all time only to Kane
in Royal Rumble match appearances.
[Corey] Randy Orton is hurt bad on the outside.
We got officials tending to him.
The frustration boiling over.
This is not how Randy saw his night going.
[Cole] You can understand the frustration.
He was hoping to tie Austin.
[Corey] Exactly, and head to WrestleMania again.
-[timer buzzes] -[Joe] Frustration started with the drama.
[Cole] Edge is hanging on.
-This is the number seven entry. -["Shadows of a Setting Sun" playing]
In what has been one of the more chaotic starts
in Royal Rumble match history.
This is the winner of the 2018 Royal Rumble,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Corey] Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura is a man you know very, very well.
Shinsuke's got momentum on his side coming into this match.
What does Shin need to do to emerge successful?
[Joe] Shinsuke needs to be doing this right here.
Putting on a striking exhibition and letting his talent shine.
[Cole] Again, we need to show you what happened to Randy Orton earlier.
First Edge face-first Randy Orton right into our announce table.
Then the assault would continue by Edge with steel chairs.
[Corey] I don't know which assault did the most damage,
but Randy Orton's knee certainly worse for wear.
Randy's gonna be assisted back.
You know this has gotta be a heartbreaking night for The Viper.
[Joe] To your point, Cole, the animosity has definitely spilled over.
That is not well for Randy Orton.
[Cole] Nakamura taking out Ali.
Meanwhile, Randy Orton just dragging his bad leg,
trying to somehow brace himself on the barricade.
He'd love to stay out here in this matchup.
[Corey] Over the past several weeks, it could be argued,
we have seen the re-emergence of the King of Strong Style.
Shinsuke Nakamura on a whole new level recently.
[Cole] Ali as well, with Retribution backing him up.
Randy Orton, again, has become the story here.
Injured already as we await the number eight entry.
[Joe] Whoa, whoa, Ziggler.
Hanging onto a tight rope there.
[timer buzzes]
[Carlito on recording] I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool.
[announcers laughing]
-["Cool" playing] -[Cole] You gotta be kidding me!
-[Joe] It got a lot cooler around here! -[Cole] Caribbean Cool!
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Carlito!
Apple and all!
Returning to WWE, God, it's gotta be over a decade!
[Corey] Carlito in unbelievable physical condition.
-My goodness! -[Joe] What's in those apples?
[Cole] Carlito's been in a number of Rumbles in his career,
as he goes toe-to-toe with Shin.
You want it? You wanna take it?
-[Cole] Oh no! -[Corey] Carlito with a backstabber!
[Cole] That brought back memories.] Orton can't put weight on his bad leg.
[Corey] Leave it to Carlito to create a diversion with an apple.
To take down Shinsuke Nakamura.
Ali now sent to the buckle.
[Cole] From behind, backstabber by Carlito.
Randy Orton, you can see the frustration, the anger.
Night appears to be over.
As Carlito now, handful of beard I believe.
-Zayn! -[Joe] Hairy situation.
[Cole] Hanging on, over the top rope, but both feet must hit the floor.
I see what you did there.
You need a minute?
[Corey] This may seem minor,
but I can't get over the fact that Randy Orton's left knee-pad
has been shredded.
That's a testament to the assault that was happening out here,
in front of us, at the hands of Edge.
[Joe] It was vicious.
One wonders if it was calculated.
Edge has been dying to get his hands on Orton.
[Corey] I assure you, Joe,
it was absolutely what Edge was looking to do tonight.
The ultimate opportunist.
[Cole] Randy Orton tried to end the career of Edge.
-As number nine will enter the ring. -[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[Cole] Uh-oh, Dolph again!
[Corey] Dolph hanging on.
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Cole] And it's Xavier Woods from The New Day.
[Corey] Kofi Kingston out with an injury.
-[Cole] Xavier Woods goes right after Ali. -[Joe] Yes, he does.
[Cole] Remember, Joe, what Ali said. He thanked Kofi Kingston for this spot.
[Joe] Obviously, Xavier Woods taking up for his man, Kofi Kingston.
Mustafa Ali has had a lot to say about The New Day.
[Corey] You heard The New Day all declare earlier
that a win for any is a win for all, meaning The New Day as a unit.
[Cole] As Sami Zayn,
who had a run in with Xavier Woods and Big E earlier on tonight.
[Joe] Sami Zayn's been doing a tremendous job
shutting down momentum when everything starting in the ring.
[Corey] Very cerebral competitor.
Picking his opportunities very wisely.
[Cole] Sami Zayn was upset.
He believes The New Day has been handed out a lot of opportunities,
when guys like himself, Sami Zayn, in his words, "Have been held down."
[Sami] Where's Kofi now? Huh?!
[Cole] Ali firing.
Xavier Woods, meanwhile, that is…
Dolph and Carlito on the far side of the ring.
There's Shinsuke in jeopardy of being eliminated by Edge.
[Joe] Edge has been working on Shinsuke for a minute.
He's really doing his best to get him over the top rope.
[Cole] We're a third of the way through the Rumble.
-Who's number ten? -[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Feel the Power" playing]
[Cole] Here comes the Intercontinental Champion
from Friday Night SmackDown.
-Big E! -[Corey] Oh, baby.
[Cole] Two-thirds of New Day now participants in the Royal Rumble.
Big E, the heavy hitter.
Right after Sami Zayn, the man he took the Intercontinental Title from.
-[Ali yells] -[Cole] Oh!
Uranage planting Ali!
Now Sami Zayn trying to side headlock Big E.
[Joe] Try to take away that momentum.
[Corey] Like trying to side headlock a bull.
[Cole[ Little New Day reunion there.
-Although Big E… -Let's go up.
-Lift him up. -Let's go up.
…did remind Xavier Woods eventually it's going to be every man for himself.
[Corey laughs] Look at the power of Woods.
[Joe] That's a lot of beef!
[Cole] A big splash to Sami Zayn.
-That's what you get! -[yelling]
-[wails] -Get him up!
[Cole] Big E in his eighth Rumble.
You wanna play? You wanna play?
[Cole] Looking to win his first one.
[Joe] The New Day are out here passing out work.
-[Cole] Double-team again! -[Joe] Oh!
[Xavier] Yeah!
-[Cole] Don't think they missed a step. -[Xavier] He's out!
-Come on. -[Big E] You ready to go?
-Let's go. -[Big E] You ready to go?
-Come on now! -[Big E] Bye-bye!
-[Cole] Sami Zayn sent over the top rope! -[Joe] Here we go!
[Cole] Eliminated!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] That has gotta be sweet for Big E.
[Corey] That's gonna fuel some conspiracies for Sami Zayn, no doubt.
Two-on-one against members of The New Day.
How's that fair to Sami?
-[crowd] Three, two, one. -[Cole] Shinsuke hangs on the apron.
-Number 11 coming. -[timer buzzes]
["Ain't No Make Believe" playing]
[Cole] Johnny Drip Drip.
[Corey] Why do you say it like that, Cole?
[Cole] John Morrison.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Entering the Rumble for the eighth time in his career.
John Morrison was one of those Superstars that was eliminated
in that onslaught last year by Brock Lesnar.
Where he set a record with 13 eliminations.
The first 13 of the match.
[Corey] Morrison made a beeline for Edge.
Ali now in jeopardy.
Able to fight his way out of the situation.
[Joe] Nobody can escape Woods.
[Cole] Woods planting Ali.
-Now trying to dump Ali over the top rope. -[Corey] Uh-oh! Edge in jeopardy!
[Cole] Ali gonna hang on.
Edge is in trouble right here in front of us.
-[Corey] Woods and Ali. -[Cole] A pile over here.
Feet did not hit the floor yet for Woods.
-[Joe] Getting crowded. -[Corey] Look at Mustafa Ali.
Still fighting while hanging precariously.
[Cole] Ziggler trying to break the grip of Woods.
Big E, though, saves his buddy.
-[yelling] -[Cole] Ali now gonna eliminated Woods.
[crowd booing]
[Joe] He is very satisfied with himself.
[Cole] Big E not happy, Ali eliminating Woods.
Big E-- Ali now laughing about everything.
[Joe] Oh no. Mustafa Ali looking-- Oh!
-[Big E] Get your ass out! -[Cole] Ali eliminated by Big E.
-[crowd cheering] -[Big E] That's what you get.
[Cole] I know Big E wasn't looking forward to Xavier Woods being eliminated.
But it just woke the Intercontinental Champion up, for sure.
[crowd ] Seven, six…
[Corey] Big E realizes he is all on his own.
No allies in this one.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[Cole] Number 12 on his way to the ring.
["One and Only" playing]
[Cole] From Monday Night Raw, it's Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Another guy who's had some issues with Retribution, Joe.
[Joe] Yes, he has. He'll take out a lot of those issues in this ring
as soon as he can.
[Cole] Ricochet laughing at Ali
as he makes his way back from the locker room.
High flyer off the top rope!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Monday Night Raw's resident superhero.
Wasting no time with the highlight reel.
[Cole] The quickness of Ricochet, Dolph Ziggler ran right into it.
[Joe laughs]
[Ricochet grunts]
Now it's Edge back to Ricochet.
Edge, of course, started the Rumble off at number one.
[grunts]
[Cole] Ricochet will land on his feet.
And Edge sent flying.
Ricochet to a kip-up, and a dropkick!
[Joe laughs]
The offense coming in flurries.
Nice little answer by John Morrison.
[Corey] Nothing fancy about that one.
[Cole] Nakamura and Big E engaged in the corner.
Morrison now looking to create a little offense.
Maybe get Ricochet out of the equation.
Big E trying to power Nakamura to the top rope.
Ricochet!
-Whoa! -[Cole] Suplex by Big E.
[Corey] As the ring fills up.
Real estate like that gonna be harder and harder to come by.
Might as well maximize it while it exists.
[Cole] Ricochet and Morrison in one corner,
Dolph and Carlito in the other.
Big E now goes right after Ziggler.
As we await the arrival of number 13.
[Joe laughs]
[Corey] Shinsuke right in the bread basket of Ricochet.
[Joe] Ugly bodywork by Shinsuke Nakamura.
[timer buzzes]
["Amen" playing]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Don't get so excited, Corey. It's Elias.
[Joe] Finally some culture.
[Cole] Elias at number 13.
[crowd continues booing]
[Joe] His album charted higher than that.
[Cole] Yeah.
Ricochet now--
Elias planting Ricochet!
[Corey] Car crashes get a lot of views on YouTube too.
-[Cole] And Elias! Drift Away to Morrison. -[Joe laughs]
-[Carlito groans] -Come on!
[Cole] Elias had a couple of good Rumbles in recent years.
Lasted almost a half hour a couple years ago.
[Corey] But, Cole, you know as well as anybody,
it's not about how long you last if you're not the last one left.
[Cole] Carlito looks great, doesn't he?
[Joe] Pinpoint accuracy on that dropkick.
[Cole] Oh! Elias catches him with a knee.
And now Elias gonna dump Carlito!
Out of the Rumble!
-[Corey] That is not cool. -[Joe] That is not cool.
-That's cool! -[Cole] Great seeing Carlito.
-That is cool. -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Now Elias turns his attention to Edge.
[Joe laughs] Ricochet putting a stop to that.
[Cole] Dolph back to his feet. Man, did Shin catch Ziggler.
Dolph Ziggler, one half of the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions
with Robert Roode.
Shin with a nice throw.
As we await the appearance of number 14.
[crowd] Five, four, three…
[Corey] Morrison trying to get something started with Big E in the corner.
[timer buzzes]
["Infamy" playing]
-[Cole] Oh yeah! -[Joe] Hey!
[Cole] From NXT!
-The Archer of Infamy! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Damian Priest.
[Corey] Chaos rampant, an age of distrust.
Confrontations await in the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Damian Priest is the real deal.
As Priest now takes it to Elias.
-And Priest! -[Corey] Hit the lights.
[Joe] Watch Ricochet in the corner.
[Cole] Damian Priest taking out Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Now Morrison goes after Priest.
Meanwhile, the man who started the Rumble at number one,
Edge, has been already involved in this match over 20 minutes.
And Priest showing off!
[Corey] Incredible agility from a man his size,
[Cole] First Royal Rumble appearance for Damian Priest.
[Corey] You know how dominant Priest has been in NXT.
This is a massive opportunity for the Archer of Infamy
to truly carve his name in history and live forever.
[Cole] 6'5", 250.
Moves like someone half his size.
And Elias eliminated by Priest.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The story of the match has been Edge and Orton starting this thing.
And just a vicious assault by Edge.
Randy Orton now is out of the match.
He's back in the trainers' room getting attended to.
His leg assaulted by Edge with a steel chair.
[Corey] Randy still hasn't been officially eliminated from this match.
But his night looks like it's over.
This is an interesting match-up. The veteran Edge…
[Cole] And Damian Priest!
Edge looking into the future of WWE.
-As number 15-- What the heck? -[Corey] Uh-oh!
[Joe] This could be huge for Priest.
[Corey] You're absolutely right.
This could make Damian Priest's name for him in one night.
-Edge and Priest both down! -["I Came to Play" playing]
[Cole] As The Miz will make his 13th Royal Rumble appearance.
Mr. Money in the Bank.
♪ I came to play… ♪
[Corey] MC M-I-Z with the M-I-T-B. I'm basically Bad Bunny these days, Cole.
[Cole] Listen, despite the fact that Miz has the Money in the Bank,
in order to hedge his bets for the WWE title he's out here.
If he wins tonight, he could hold two title opportunities!
-That'd be a first. -[Joe] Wait, hold.
[Cole] That's the DJ setup for Bad Bunny!
Miz is destroying it!
[Corey] When you've got a hip-hop icon like Miz out here, what do you need…
[Cole] Hip-hop what?! Who?
-[crowd booing] -Yeah! That's right!
[Cole] Miz?!
-If you think-- -[Joe] That was unnecessary.
-[Cole] Bad Bunny was our guest tonight! -[Corey] He should've cleaned up after.
[Cole] I think Miz is just-- Oh! Skullcrushing finale!
I think Miz is just ticked off Bad Bunny turned him down earlier
to start his big entertainment conglomerate.
Now the double-team by the former tag team champions,
Miz and Morrison.
-Oh! -[Corey] Wow.
Double DDT, Ricochet spiked.
-[Dolph whoops] -[Joe] Whoa, hey.
-[Cole] Dolph Ziggler. -[Joe] Maybe not.
[Cole] So much for that. Double-team again!
[Corey] Dolph might've learned his lesson.
That's all to you.
-[crowd booing]
-All right. -[John] Here they come.
[Joe] Thick as thieves, huh?
[crowd continues booing]
-[Cole] And that's Bad Bunny. -[Corey] Yeah. Sure is.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] I get that he's the biggest star in the world, in the music business,
this is not where you belong, Mr. Bunny.
[Corey] He's upset.
-Had his DJ turntables destroyed by Miz. -[referee] Stay back, okay?
-Yeah, you can try me. -[referee] No.
-Hey, come on. -Back it up!
[Corey] Oh no! Oh my God!
[Cole] Miz and Morrison both got eliminated by Priest!
[Corey] Damian Priest eliminated Miz and Morrison!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Off the distraction by Bad Bunny!
And where the hell is he going?
[Cole] Should've made a left at Albuquerque.
-[Corey] Are you kidding me?! -[Cole] Oh!
I've heard of flying squirrels, but flying bunnies?
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] They do exist, Cole!
-No, cabron. Can't do that. No! -Let's go! Come on!
[Corey] That's the most pain I've ever seen Samoa Joe in, Cole.
Well done. Bad Bunny just made his Royal Rumble moment
with a dive from the top rope onto the greatest tag team of the 21st century.
-[timer buzzes] -["We Up" playing]
[Cole] Here comes number 16.
-Number 16 now is Riddle. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The man who has an opportunity
at the United States Championship
after running the gauntlet against The Hurt Business.
[Joe] Oh, yes he does.
But right now he has an opportunity at WrestleMania glory.
And believe you me, he is going to take it.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] I like this strategy. Riddle never in any hurry to get anywhere.
Just takes his own time.
We're gonna have to relive the humiliation of Miz and Morrison.
First Damian Priest eliminates both members of the team,
and then this is the icing on the cake.
Bad Bunny from the top rope,
embarrassing Miz and Morrison.
[Joe] Riddle currently running roughshod over the field.
[Cole] Riddle pinned Priest in the corner.
Now turns his attention to Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Corey] An interesting match-up. Two of the best strikers in the game.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] You gotta pick one, Joe. Who do you got?
[Joe] I don't need to pick anybody, 'cause we're about to find out, Corey.
[Cole] Riddle getting the upper hand right now on Nakamura. Uh-oh.
[Corey] Riddle just bulldozing Shinsuke back into the crowded turnbuckle.
[Cole] Damian Priest has arrived from NXT.
Speaking of NXT,
NXT trainer/coach Fit Finlay celebrating a birthday today.
Happy birthday, Fit.
[crowd] Nine, eight, seven…
[Corey and Joe laugh]
[Corey] Priest making the most of this opportunity.
Stomping a hole in Riddle.
[Cole] Number 17 coming.
[timer buzzes]
-["Flight of the Valkyries" playing] -[Cole] Oh yeah.
-[Corey] No, no, Cole. -[Cole] Oh yes.
To many, a sentimental favorite in this year's Royal Rumble.
Daniel Bryan admitting, "Hey, my career is winding down."
"I don't have many WrestleMania moments left."
"The one thing I have not done in my career is win a Royal Rumble match."
Listen, Daniel Bryan, Joe, is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
But winning the Royal Rumble would just be…
Oh! …one of the biggest prizes of his career.
[Joe] There's great accomplishments that we all seek.
This one definitely is Daniel Bryan's Moby Dick of sorts.
[Cole] Bryan's had some great moments over the years.
He lasted an hour and 16 minutes in the Greatest Royal Rumble.
[Corey] In a Royal Rumble, Cole,
being the sentimental favorite and about 36 bucks
will get you a macchiato at Starbucks. It doesn't mean anything.
[Cole] Now Daniel Bryan and Ricochet--
-Ricochet, that was unique. Look at that! -[Corey] Whoa!
[Cole] That was power!
Uh-oh, Riddle now dangerously close to being eliminated.
-[Corey] That's Edge! -[Joe] Edge teetering.
[Corey] Riddle just avoided it. Now Edge about to join the party.
Damian Priest looking to eliminated Edge for the second time in the match!
He almost had Edge eliminated earlier on.
[Corey] All the blood rushing to Edge's head.
All that time spent upside down.
Big E, nothing fancy, just power.
[Cole] Edge has been in this Rumble at 27 minutes and counting.
[Joe] It's an astounding amount of time.
[Cole] Joe, I'll ask you about Bryan.
You know him arguably better than anyone in this business.
What are the odds?
Does Daniel have enough left in the tank to do it tonight?
[Joe] Without a doubt. Of course Daniel Bryan does.
-But it matters-- Oh, whoa. -[Cole] Oh yeah!
-Number 18! -["Veil of Fire" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] I take it back, Corey.
The odds of Daniel winning have gone down drastically.
[Cole] The Big Red Machine, Kane.
He keeps on making history.
Tonight, his 18th Royal Rumble appearance.
More than anyone, ever.
[Corey] The complexion of the entire match just changed.
[Cole] Here's Kane with trademark uppercuts.
Kane and Edge, this brings back memories.
-[Corey] Probably not the ones Edge wants. -[Cole] Chokeslam!
So many records for Kane.
Forty-three eliminations in his career.
More than anyone in a Royal Rumble match.
Dolph Ziggler now, second rope.
Kane catches Dolph.
-And Kane's gonna eliminated Ziggler! -[Joe] There you go!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Uh-oh.
Ricochet now out to the apron.
He caught Kane, stunned him--
-Maybe not at all. -[Joe laughs]
[Cole] Now it's Ricochet onto the apron, and eliminated by Kane!
-[Joe] Some things never change, Cole. -[Cole] Hey!
Kane, it's great to see you!
[Superstars grunting and groaning]
[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] They're gonna hug, aren't they? -[Cole] I think they are.
Because, remember, this is Team Hell No.
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Cole] Dr. Shelby's gotta be watching with a smile on his face somewhere.
[crowd cheering]
-Oh. -[Joe laughs]
[Cole] Kane making Bryan pay.
[Corey] No, no, no.
[Cole] Now it's Big E looking to eliminate Riddle.
[Corey] This is interesting.
[Joe] He's got Riddle in a bad position.
[Cole] Damian Priest and Kane
eye-to-eye.
[Shinsuke yells]
-[Kane grunts] -[announcers] Oh!
[Corey laughs]
Not wise to try to make your name
at the expense of the devil's favorite demon.
[Cole] Priest scooting out of harm's way. With a boot to Kane.
Damian Priest, martial arts background, look at him go.
Right hand now to Kane.
[Cole] The underground versus-- Whoa!
[Corey] Wow!
[Cole] Kane dumped over the top rope.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] You want your name in the bright lights?
That's a hell of a step in the right direction, Priest.
[Joe] Indeed it is, Corey.
But this is the Rumble.
You gotta keep your head on a swivel.
[Cole] Riddle and Priest in the corner.
-We await number 19. -[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["King's Darkness" playing]
-[Corey laughs] -[Cole] King Corbin.
Now it's a Royal Rumble match.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] The King, at number 19, makes his way to the ring.
Edge, meanwhile, started at number one,
has been in this match over 30 minutes already.
Corbin goes right after Riddle.
They had quite the rivalry on SmackDown at one point.
[Corey] Physically, King Corbin now the largest man in the ring.
That could be an advantage or a detriment.
Speaking of large men in the Rumble, Corey,
today's the birthday of The Giant, González.
Who, back in 1993, eliminated The Undertaker in the Rumble.
-[Cole] You don't remember? Too young. -[Corey] I remember the WrestleMania.
[Joe] Amazing amount of birthdays today.
[Cole] Yeah, it is.
It's called being a journalist, Joe.
Look at this now.
Oh! Deep Six.
[Corey] Corbin will bring an end to Shinsuke Nakamura's evening.
[Cole] Nakamura eliminated.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] Corbin the freshest man in the ring at the moment.
Capitalizing on the situation.
[Cole] Think about Edge, he's been in this match over a half hour.
He hasn't been in a ring since May.
[Corey] Right now I guarantee Edge's lungs are burning,
his legs feel like they're on fire,
like he's running through mud.
[Cole] Number 20, two-thirds of the way through.
-["Blue Collar Solid" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Here comes Otis!
[Joe laughs]
[Cole] This is his first Rumble match.
[Corey] He's not the brightest star in the match,
but he might be the heaviest at this point.
[Cole] He's part of Alpha Academy with Chad Gable.
Remember, he and Chad were helping Daniel Bryan train for this match.
Drive and strive, Corey. It's all in the hips.
-Oh! -[Corey] Big E got body slammed by Otis.
That in and of itself was pretty dang impressive.
[Cole] Now looking--
-Oh! What a throw to Priest. -[Joe laughs]
Otis is out here tossing people like he's a caveman.
[Corey] Incredible strength!
Good God, man.
Dumping Riddle on the back of his neck.
You're right, Joe. Otis going prehistoric on everybody right now.
-Oh yeah! -[Corey] Oh no.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joe] He's getting the vibes.
[Cole] Look at the Caterpillar!
Here I come! Yeah!
[Joe laughs]
[Corey] Crushing down across the rib cage of Damian Priest.
[Cole] Otis now, second rope.
-King Corbin will eliminate Otis. -[Joe laughs]
That's why he's the king.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] That was basically the Royal Rumble equivalent
of picking up a seven-ten split.
Low-hanging fruit, I know.
-Daniel Bryan now-- -[Cole] And you talk about me.
[Corey laughs] It's been a long night, Cole.
Daniel Bryan now bringing the fight to King Corbin.
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Joe] Launching those vicious kicks to the midsection. [laughs]
[Cole] Number 21 on the way…
[crowd] Seven, six…
…in the 2021 Royal Rumble match.
[timer buzzes]
["It Is My Time" playing]
[Cole] Dominik Mysterio.
What an incredible way, guys, to cap off what has been a great first year.
Mysterio, who's been having major issues with King Corbin in the past,
enters his first ever Rumble.
[Joe] King Corbin is waiting for him.
-Whoa! -[Corey] Oh man!
If you think Corbin didn't come ready for this,
you are mistaken.
Raining down rights, former Golden Gloves boxing champion.
[Cole] You gotta give Dominik credit though.
He's been beaten the last couple weeks by Corbin,
but he keeps going after The King.
[Corey] Since when do we celebrate ignorance, Cole?
Not a bright decision by Dominik.
[Cole] It's called guts.
Now Dominik!
-Dominik eliminating Corbin! -[Joe] Can you believe it?
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Dominik eliminating Corbin!
Talk about payback tonight!
[Corbin] You'll pay for it, you little punk!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Now Dominik feeling a little confident,
went right after the Intercontinental Champion, Big E.
[Cole] He should feel confident, he just eliminated that big-mouth Corbin.
[Joe] But now he's dealing with a very different type of big,
and that's Big E.
[Cole] Now Daniel Bryan and Riddle exchanging blows.
[Joe] Those aren't blows, they're dropping bombs!
[Cole] Now Damian Priest…
[Corey] Gets to show off his artillery.
-[Damian yells] -[Cole] Wow!
Just slinging Riddle around the ring.
[Corey] My goodness.
Priest showing no remorse,
no regard for anyone's well-being.
That's how it's gotta be in a Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Not pretty, but effective.
[Daniel groans]
-[deep thud] -[Cole] Riddle with a kick. You hear that?
[Corey] From the look on Damian Priest's face,
Priest's family's gonna be feeling that for a generation.
-[Cole] Number 22. -[Joe] Riddle with vicious body work.
-[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one. -[Cole] Number 22 on the way.
[timer buzzes]
["Titan" playing]
[Corey] Here comes the CEO.
[Joe] This is my pick.
The man that I think is gonna go all the way.
[Cole] The current United States Champion.
Lashley.
[Corey] As much as I'd like to disagree with you,
Samoa Joe, there is no way in hell I can.
I think Lashley might run the table now.
[Cole] Riddle, who has a United States Championship opportunity,
and Lashley not happy about it.
-Went right after Riddle. Now Dominik! -[Corey] Oh!
[Cole] Just tossed over the top rope with ease.
[Joe] Do you not believe?
[Cole] Now Damian Priest wants some of Lashley.
[Corey] I think Dominik Mysterio can relate to SpaceX at this point.
That was ridiculous.
-[Cole] Priest as well! -[Joe laughs]
[yells]
[Cole] And Lashley eliminating Damian Priest!
[Corey] You called it, Joe.
-[yells] -[Joe] There's a bad man on the prowl.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Oh, ho. Wait a minute.
[Joe] Here we go.
[Cole] Intercontinental Champion, Big E.
The United States Champion, Lashley.
Two big old bulls going at it!
-[both grunting] -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Looked like E, in the moment, had the upper hand.
-Oh my God, what athleticism. -[Joe] Did you see that?
[Cole] There's the power of E.
Lashley lands on his feet.
Lashley would love to headline WrestleMania.
Look at this!
[Joe] No, no, no.
Yeah!
[Cole] Stalemate between the two.
-[Joe] Look at the agility by E. -You want some? Let's go.
-[both grunting] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Big E and Lashley going at it.
-[both grunting] -[Joe laughs] Oh!
Riddle's getting him some too!
[Cole] Number 23 coming.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Eye of the Hurricane" playing]
♪ Stand back There's a Hurricane coming through ♪
[Cole] The Eye of the Storm has come to the ThunderDome.
Hurricane!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Look of surprise, disbelief even,
on the face of the Intercontinental Champion.
Hurricane looks like he's been doing a little hurri-training
since the last time we saw him.
-And Big E… -[Joe laughs]
Not that it's gonna matter, but…
[Cole] Oh! Hurricane's still in it.
[Corey laughs] Greco-Roman thumb to the eye!
[Joe] Oh! And he just ran into a wall.
[Cole laughs] Rock in a hard place analogy.
[Corey] It's been effective, right?
-Stick with what works, Hurricane. -[Joe] No way.
[Corey] There's a difference between being delusional and having a death wish.
[Joe laughs]
-[Cole] Hurricane gonna-- -[Corey] Oh!
-[Joe] Wow! -[Cole] Fly, fly, fly.
[Corey laughs] He really can!
[Cole] Hurricane eliminated, and now Lashley and Big E…
[Joe] Oh!
…go back to battle.
[Corey] Hurricane did last 30 seconds though.
[Riddle groaning]
[Corey] Lashley was on a roll, to say the least.
Launching Dominik Mysterio into the heavens here in the ThunderDome.
[Cole] Now Lashley turns his attention,
in the upper part of your screen, to Daniel Bryan.
[Corey] We've known for years Lashley's got what it takes to be the guy.
Just ask the Hurricane about what Lashley and Big E are capable of.
[groaning]
[Lashley grunts]
[Corey] Riddle now continuing to be a thorn in the side of Lashley.
[Cole] He wants the United States Championship at some point.
Number 24 coming.
[crowd] Six, five, four…
[Cole] Edge, number one, still in the match. Unbelievable.
-[timer buzzes] -[Joe] Somehow, some way.
["Just Close Your Eyes" playing
[Cole] Speaking of Edge,
here comes his former buddy, Christian!
-[crowd cheering] -[Corey] No!
-[Cole] Christian is here! -I'm back! What's up?
You didn't think I was coming, did you? Huh?
[Corey] Hell yeah!
[Cole] Captain Charisma is back!
♪ You'll see If you just close your eyes… ♪
[Cole] We gotta…
check a few things here, gentlemen.
It's been years since we've seen Christian.
[Joe] And look at the exultation on Edge's face.
Speaking of light in the darkness for Edge,
in the form of his best friend.
[Cole] Christian now!
-Hanging Lashley up! -[Joe] Whoa!
And look at this now.
Triple-team on Lashley.
Big E, Daniel Bryan, Riddle!
-[Corey] The CEO of The Hurt Business being mugged.
[Cole] Lashley eliminated by four men!
-Got you! -[yells]
[Cole] I'm being told now it's been seven years since Christian
has been in a WWE ring, in action.
[Corey] Peeps around the world, rejoice.
[Joe] Watch out. What do we got here?
-[Cole] Oh, perfect! -[Corey] Unprettier.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Bryan runs into a high elbow.
Christian looks great.
Former World Champion.
Edge and Christian reunited.
One of the greatest tag teams of all time.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] What an incredible moment.
Edge returning last year at the Rumble, Christian this year.
[Joe laughs]
I think Riddle was trying to get in on the action.
[Corey] I think Riddle was expecting a five-second pose.
[Cole] Maybe we'll get one.
-Double-team! -[Joe] Whoa!
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Cole] Number 25 coming.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Phenomenal" playing]
[Cole] The man who actually made his WWE debut in this match,
back in 2016, AJ Styles.
[Corey] Nobody can forget the night AJ Styles arrived in WWE.
But that seems like ancient history with all Styles has accomplished since.
[Joe] Gentlemen, I want you to notice that he comes to the ring
with that big compatriot of his, Omos.
[Corey] His own personal colossus.
You can never discount how Omos changes the complexion
of any match Styles is involved in.
[Cole] Edge has just crossed the 42 minute mark
in this year's Royal Rumble match.
Look at the size of this man.
[Corey] You can't fully appreciate the size of the shadow cast by Omos
until you've been in it.
[Cole] AJ Styles out to the apron.
Gotta be careful out there.
[Joe] AJ's measuring.
[Cole] AJ's picking his spot exactly.
Here it comes.
-And AJ Styles… -[Joe] Whoa.
[announcers] Spear!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Edge is still going.
And going and going and going.
[Joe] And still finding the strength to battle on.
This is incredible.
[Cole] Now it's Christian trying to eliminate Riddle.
Daniel Bryan turns his attention to Edge.
AJ Styles, Big E, as we await number 26.
-[crowd] Six, five, four, three, two, one. -[Superstars grunting]
-[timer buzzes] -["Booyaka 619" playing]
[Cole] This is the man who lasted over an hour,
back in 2006, to win the Royal Rumble.
Rey Mysterio, tonight, is wearing a Cerveza Victoria-themed mask.
because he's their new ambassador.
Victoria is an iconic beer from Mexico,
with a deep connection to Mexican heritage,
and just like Rey, as you see there,
Victoria is proudly Mexican.
WWE is proud to welcome Victoria beer as a new partner.
Look for much more from WWE,
Rey Mysterio, and Victoria beer.
[Joe laughs]
[Corey] Rey Mysterio caught in the clutches of The Phenomenal One.
[Cole] Styles lands on the apron.
[Corey] Oh my goodness!
[Cole] Safe! Safe!
His own personal colossus just save him.
[Corey] Yeah, but I don't even know if AJ realizes it.
[Cole] Mysterio does.
So does Big E.
[Corey] As long as AJ doesn't go over the top rope to the floor,
he's still in this matchup.
[Joe] Big E's licking his chops.
[Cole] Twelfth time in his career Rey Mysterio has been in this match.
Oh, Big E with a boot.
-Oh! -[Corey] Oh my God!
Look at the massive reach of Omos!
[Cole] Remember, no disqualifications in a Rumble match.
Big E dragged over the top rope and his feet hit the floor.
[crowd booing]
-[Corey] Oh God! Look out, fellas! -[Joe] Oh!
[Cole] Oh my goodness!
Big E sent flying over our announce table!
[Omos] What you think you're still doing here?
[crowd booing]
[Corey] There aren't too many men on earth who can manhandle Big E.
[Cole] Big E had lasted 29 minutes in this year's Royal Rumble.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Rey Mysterio trying to eliminate Riddle.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Christian now doing his best
to remove Daniel Bryan from the matchup.
[Cole] AJ's own personal colossus paying dividends.
[Joe] It's good to have an Omos in your corner.
[Corey] You can say that again.
Riddle now teeing off on Styles in the corner.
[Omos] Come on, AJ.
[Corey] Oh!
[crowd] Ten, nine, eight…
[Cole] Right now we are awaiting the entry of number 27…
[Joe] Daniel Bryan grabbing that arm of Christian.
…in this year's Rumble match.
[timer buzzes]
[Cole] And number 27 will be another former winner.
-["Hellfire" playing] -[Cole] Sheamus!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] In the best physical condition of his career.
Looking forward to tonight.
[Cole] Back in 2012, Sheamus would win the Royal Rumble match.
And now the Ten Beats of the Bodhran to Riddle.
[Corey] My goodness.
[Joe laughs] Sheamus is passing out those Bodhrán beats.
[Corey] Sheamus just caving in everybody's chest
to kick things off for himself tonight.
[Cole] That's the way Edge would celebrate being in this match 45 minutes.
With those clubbing blows to the chest by Sheamus.
Sheamus takes out Riddle and Edge!
Sheamus knows what it takes to win this match,
to headline WrestleMania.
Now Captain Charisma, Christian, teeing off on Sheamus.
Oh! Bro Kick!
[Daniel yelling]
[Cole] Now Bryan with the Yes Kicks to Sheamus.
They've got a history dating back to WrestleMania.
-Bro Kick! -[Corey] Oh man!
[Joe] Sheamus out here just getting a piece of everybody he can.
[Cole] Sheamus once won the World Title in like 18 seconds.
Looking to dump Daniel Bryan over the top rope.
Bryan, of course, his dream still alive.
Now Riddle from behind, looking to eliminate Sheamus.
Sheamus trying to hang on.
Omos still out there.
-619 by Mysterio caught! -[Joe] Not so fast!
What's up? There you go.
[Superstars grunting]
[Cole] Now Rey Mysterio to the apron.
Still in this thing.
Rey up over the top, caught!
And again, for the second time,
Omos has eliminated somebody from the Rumble!
[crowd booing]
[Joe] This is a brilliant strategy by AJ Styles.
[Corey] You're absolutely right it is.
AJ can go all night at this rate.
[Cole] Number 28 coming.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -["Return of the Fire" playing]
[Cole] A real dark horse in this match.
He picks a great spot, at 28.
Cesaro now.
-[yells] -[Cole] Who's been on quite the roll.
Knocked off Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler over the past couple weeks.
[Corey] Pound for pound, the strongest man in WWE.
Momentum on his side.
-You mentioned-- Uh-oh. -[Cole] The Bar.
Reunion for The Bar.
-[Cesaro] The Bar! -Yeah, man.
-[Cole] Cesaro said-- -[Joe] Not so fast.
-What are you doing? -Every man for himself!
[announcers laugh]
[Cole] That's right! Every man for himself, and a big swing!
Sheamus entered at number 27.
-More winners from that spot, but not-- -[Joe] Whoa!
[Cole] Not this year.
Sheamus able to hang on.
Sheamus still in it.
And now Daniel Bryan and Cesaro.
[Joe] He has to fire back.
[Cole] They had quite the battle a couple of weeks ago.
For the second time in a couple weeks, Bryan's gonna go for a swing.
There's Edge, still in this.
He entered at number one.
[Joe] Around and around we go.
-[Cole] Still going! -[Joe] Yes, he is!
[Cole] And still going!
[Joe laughs] This is incredible!
[crowd] Ten, nine. eight…
[Cole] Cesaro hung up on the top rope.
Riddle looking to eliminate.
Number 29 coming.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["The Rising" playing]
[Cole] We have not seen him since Survivor Series.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] But the Messiah is back!
Seth Rollins,
from Friday Night SmackDown, has arrived!
The man who won the Royal Rumble in 2019.
Seth Rollins is here.
[Joe] What an incredible draw for Seth Rollins.
At number 29,
a competitor like Seth Rollins enters the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Rollins a veteran of this matchup.
Taking his time entering the ring.
Letting the other opponents continue to beat the hell out of each other.
-Oh! An uppercut by Cesaro. -[Corey] Oh!
[Joe] Welcome to the Rumble.
[Cole] The last time we saw Rollins--
Rollins now up over the top rope, to the apron.
Cesaro almost eliminated Rollins.
-Rollins still in this thing. -You're my friend!
[Sheamus] Welcome back, Christian.
-Welcome back. -[yelling]
[Cole] Look at this brawl.
[Joe laughs] It's teeing off.
[Corey] No doubt Rollins would love to establish himself once again
and headline WrestleMania
as the Messiah of WWE.
[Joe] What better way to reintroduce yourself to the WWE Universe
than winning the Royal Rumble?
[crowd] Nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["I Am Stronger" playing]
[Cole] Entering at number 30…
[crowd cheering]
[Joe laughs]
[Cole] He made his presence felt Friday on SmackDown,
and now The Monster Among Men,
Braun Strowman, marching to the ring.
The final entry
in the 2021 Royal Rumble match.
-[Joe] Look at this strength! -[Cole] Oh! Just powering Riddle up!
Strowman, who was suspended the day after Survivor Series
for assaulting a WWE official--
-[Corey] Wait a minute. -[Joe] Wait!
[Cole] Omos saving AJ Styles.
-[AJ] I give up! -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Never turn your back on the Swiss Cyborg.
-Look at this power! -[Joe] Oh my goodness!
He's gonna take him over the top!
[Corey] Cesaro eliminated the Big Show--
[Cole] Strowman just eliminated Cesaro.
Now from behind it's Sheamus.
Sheamus going after Braun Strowman.
Strowman sending Sheamus over the top rope!
[Joe] Effortlessly!
Catch me, Omos!
[Cole] Now AJ Styles-- Now to the other side!
Strowman eliminates Styles!
Where Omos wasn't.
-[Joe] You see the adjustment? -[Cole] Exactly.
[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] Look at the eyes of Braun. -[Cole] Spear by Edge and Christian.
[crowd cheering]
[groans]
[Corey] Riddle, Edge,
Bryan, Christian, Strowman.
Fifty-two minutes for Edge.
Who started the Royal Rumble at number one.
-[crowd chanting] This is awesome! -[Cole] We are down now to these five men.
I should say six.
Because Seth Rollins is in this match.
He was not eliminated.
So we are down to six. You see Rollins there.
Edge over 52 minutes.
Daniel Bryan, Riddle, Christian, Strowman.
One of these men
will main event WrestleMania.
[crowd continues chanting] This is awesome!
[Joe] You can see the wear and fatigue on all these men's faces in the ring.
[Cole] Riddle and Bryan squaring off.
Bryan's dream
to win a Royal Rumble match before he calls it a career.
Riddle with his whole career still ahead of him.
Riddle's been in this match for 28 minutes.
[Joe] Whoa! Looks like these gentlemen are gonna fight in a phone booth.
[Cole] Daniel Bryan has been involved for 27 minutes.
Bryan lands on his feet, Edge misses wildly.
Now Daniel Bryan with a running knee!
That has taken out many men in his career. Will it take out Edge?
Will he put Edge over the top and eliminate Edge?
Edge still hanging in there.
[Corey] This is where the fairy tale comes to an end.
[Cole] Looking for the Unprettier again.
Daniel Bryan ducks underneath.
-A running-- -[Corey] Dropkick connects.
Down goes Christian.
Daniel Bryan now incredibly effective this deep into the Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] Strowman back to his feet.
Daniel Bryan will bury Braun in the corner.
Braun is now down.
[Joe] Daniel Bryan is starting to roll here.
-He's getting his momentum. -[Cole] Bryan is feeling it.
You know Bryan got all of that dropkick.
You saw how Strowman dropped.
Dead weight.
[Corey] Daniel Bryan has all the momentum on his side right now.
Will the sentimental favorite be able to figure this out?
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Cole] Daniel Bryan back face to face with Riddle.
-Riddle and Bryan exchanging blows. -[Joe] They wanna do it!
[Cole] Takedown by Bryan.
[Joe] Daniel Bryan picks the ankle-- Riddle rolls into the arm bar-- No.
Bryan switches. Oh! Back into the knee bar.
This is incredible!
[Cole] A technical showcase by these two.
[Joe] Bryan looking for the Lebell Lock. No!
Riddle back up into the triangle!
[Cole] Riddle now with Bryan.
Can he somehow dump Bryan over the top rope?
Daniel Bryan now over the top rope. Bryan hanging on!
[Joe] Hanging on by a thread.
Riddle doing his best to get him off.
[Cole] Bryan on the apron, still involved in the match.
Not eliminated yet.
[Corey] Daniel realizing it must be time to change strategy.
You won't win a strike-fest with Riddle.
[Cole] A missile dropkick by Bryan takes out Riddle.
Now Bryan again continuing to build momentum.
It seems like, Joe, the longer this goes, the stronger Bryan gets.
[Joe] He definitely has been getting stronger.
-He's starting to feel-- Whoa! -[Cole] Seth Rollins.
Seth Rollins looking for his moment.
-[Corey] Very wisely choosing his spot. -[Cole] Stomp by Rollins!
Seth now sends Bryan out of the ring!
-Bryan's eliminated. -[Corey] Wow!
[Cole] The Royal Rumble match dream is over.
[Corey] That's what sentiment will get you.
[Cole] Daniel Bryan lasted 29 minutes in the Rumble match.
[Corey] This is interesting.
These two men not fans of one another in any way, shape, or form.
[Joe] No, they are not.
[Cole] Rollins and Riddle.
The chops by Rollins driving Riddle back to the ropes.
Look at Riddle go.
Rollins caught.
Waist lock by Riddle.
Oh! Caught him.
[Corey] Ripcord Knee right on the jaw of the Messiah.
Rollins is rocked.
[Cole] Riddle looking to eliminate Seth Rollins.
The mismatch. Seth hanging on though.
Riddle out to the apron.
Strowman with a right hand!
Dangerous situation for Riddle, being on the apron.
-Oh! -[Corey] Oh my gosh!
[Cole] Riddle eliminated.
[Corey] Great showing tonight for Riddle.
But the Messiah, as usual, on a whole other level.
[Cole] Over 31 minutes for Riddle in this match.
We're down to four. Rollins, Edge, Christian, Strowman.
Big man.
This is our time.
We take these two guys out.
It's our time.
We're the future!
Not them!
You and me!
You on my side?
You guys are done for.
You don't stand a chance.
-[yells] -[Cole] Braun Strowman now!
Doesn't wanna hear anything that Rollins has to say.
[Corey] Rollins betrayed by Braun Strowman.
-Shocker. -[Cole] Now Edge and Christian.
Pounding away on Strowman, the double-team.
Strowman though--
Look at this!
Freight train coming!
The Strowman express!
[crowd cheering]
[Joe laughs]
[yells]
There's avalanches in these hills.
[Cole] Strowman, will he be able to eliminate Edge?
Edge trying to hang on.
Strowman now to the other side.
Edge still hanging on!
[Joe] Battling with everything he has.
-[Cole] Edge trying to shift the weight. -[Joe] What is this?
[Cole] Trying to get Braun to teeter over the top.
[Joe] He's up underneath him.
[Cole] Can Edge somehow pull Strowman over the top rope to eliminate him here?
-[Joe] Oh no. -[Corey] Oh my goodness.
[Joe] Strowman ain't having it.
Look at this raw strength from Strowman.
[Corey] No mortal we're talking about. The Monster Among Men.
[Cole] Christian from behind.
Looking to dump Strowman with the help of Edge!
Now Seth Rollins!
-Rollins dumped Strowman and Christian! -[Joe] Whoa!
[Cole] We're down to two!
Rollins and Edge!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rollins going for the stomp!
[Joe] Yes, he was. Oh!
[Cole] Rollins trying to hang on!
Edge trying to eliminate Rollins!
Rollins eliminated!
Edge has done it!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Wait a minute! Out of nowhere!
An RKO by Orton!
Orton is back in the match!
-Orton was never eliminated! -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Randy Orton!
Edge dumps him!
Edge wins! Edge wins!
-Edge going to WrestleMania! -[bell rings]
-[crowd cheering] -["Metalingus" playing]
[Hamilton] Here is your winner,
the Rated-R Superstar,
Edge!
[Cole] Edge wins his second Royal Rumble
eleven years to the day from his first victory!
[Joe] That's unbelievable and monumental effort.
[Corey] Edge just achieved the impossible.
[Cole] Over 58 minutes Edge lasted in this match
to pick up the victory.
And he becomes the third person in history
to win the Rumble match by running the table
all the way from spot number one.
[Corey] He's already a Hall of Famer.
He continues to add to his legacy.
Edge is going to WrestleMania!
["Metalingus" continues playing]
♪ Dropped to my knees when hope ran out ♪
[Corey] We see the closing moments.
Edge hanging on to Strowman for dear life.
Rollins very wisely dumping the heap.
But when Seth wanted to slam the door with the stomp,
the Rated-R Superstar a step ahead,
after a grueling Royal Rumble match
from the number one position.
[Cole] Randy Orton out of nowhere with the RKO.
Orton came back into the match.
He was never eliminated until this moment.
[Corey] Orton, with WrestleMania in his fingertips,
thwarted by the ultimate opportunist.
♪ To chase a dream… ♪
[Corey] And the emotion pouring out of the Rated-R Superstar.
-["Metalingus" continues playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] It is back to the future tonight
as Edge wins the 2021 Royal Rumble!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Edge has his choice
of battling for either the Universal or the WWE Title at WrestleMania!
♪ The time has come to change my ways ♪
♪ On this day… ♪
[Cole] Thank you for joining us.
The road to WrestleMania starts now.
♪ Bitter place and a broken dream ♪